by Thomas Hoccleve

Thomas Hoccleve (c. 1368–1426) spent most of his working life as a clerk of the Privy Seal, copying royal documents in a cramped London office for a wage that was often late and never generous. He called himself Chaucer's disciple, and he meant it literally: he had known Chaucer, he mourned him in verse, and in this very poem he had a portrait of his master painted in the manuscript's margin so that "the ymages that in the chirche been" might fix Chaucer's likeness for readers who had never seen his face. The Regement of Princes is Hoccleve's largest work, written around 1411 for Henry, Prince of Wales — the future Henry V — in the well-worn medieval genre of the "mirror for princes," advice literature drawing on Aristotle's supposed letters to Alexander, Giles of Rome, and a shelf of classical and Biblical exempla on justice, mercy, chastity, and peace.

What makes the Regement more than a conventional advice-poem is its enormous personal Prologue: some two thousand lines in which Hoccleve, before ever reaching his advice to the prince, tells us about his own sleeplessness, his anxiety, his money troubles, and a mental collapse severe enough that former friends crossed the street to avoid him — a directness about inner distress that is startling from a writer of this age, and that has made the Prologue a text of interest far beyond its original didactic frame. The Prologue is cast as a dialogue with an old beggar who draws Hoccleve's troubles out of him and needles him into finishing the book he owes the prince.

The text below follows F. J. Furnivall's 1897 edition for the Early English Text Society (Extra Series 72), which prints the Regement chiefly from Harleian MS. 4866 (with Royal MS. 17 D. vi supplying an early stretch and the poem's last leaf), together with fourteen of Hoccleve's shorter religious poems that Furnivall printed as an appendix from Egerton MS. 615, English versions of pieces from Guillaume de Deguileville's Pilgrimage of the Soul. Furnivall's own scholarly Forewords — an essay of some sixteen printed pages on Hoccleve's life, the Regement's sources, and its social and political context — are included below, alongside the poems themselves, his running notes, and his Glossary. Middle English þ (thorn) and ȝ (yogh) are preserved, restored where a twentieth-century library scan's optical character recognition had flattened them into Latin letters — method and limits are set out in the colophon.

Contents

• Furnivall's Forewords
• Appendix: Fourteen Poems from Egerton MS. 615
• Hoccleve's Introduction to his Regement
  • Prolog
  • Hoccleve's Meeting and Dialogue with an Old Beggar
• Hoccleve's Regement of Princes
  • The Proem
  • § 1. The Dignity of a King
  • § 2. His Coronation Oaths to be Kept
  • § 3. On Justice
  • § 4. On Observing the Laws
  • § 5. On Pity
  • § 6. On Mercy
  • § 7. On Patience
  • § 8. On Chastity
  • § 9. On Magnanimity
  • § 10. On Taking No Delight in Riches
  • § 11. On Generosity
  • § 12. On Avarice
  • § 13. On Prudence
  • § 14. On Taking Advice
  • § 15. On Peace
  • The Envoy
• Some Words and Meanings (to the Minor Poems)
• Index and Glossary

Furnivall's Forewords

Furnivall's own prefatory essay to this edition (pp. vii–xxii in his book), reproduced here from the source scan and reflowed into continuous prose paragraphs — the print sets it as running text broken only by short marginal topic-headers, which are given below as the section headings. Furnivall's own footnotes are preserved after the paragraph each belongs to, numbered as printed. Quoted Middle English retains his þ (thorn); no ȝ (yogh) occurs in the passages he quotes here. The book's own one-page topical index to these Forewords (a small grid of "§1 ... §7" page references at the head of p. vii) is not reproduced as such; the § numbers and headings below serve the same purpose. Furnivall dates the essay's close "Brit. Mus., 9 Dec., 1897," with a further note added "9 April, 1898," reproduced at the end below. Recovery method and limits are set out in the colophon.

§ 1. Hoccleve's "Compleynte of the Virgin," and the Egerton Manuscript

The first new point about Hoccleve's work that has turnd up since my edition of his Minor Poems I was issued by the Society in 1892 is, that his first poem in that volume is part of the englishing of Jn. Gallopez's prose version of the second of De Guilleville's three Pilgrimages — 1. of Human Life, 2. of the Soul, 3. of Jesus Christ — in the Egerton MS. 615 in the British Museum. This MS. was long ago copied for the Society by Mrs. Kellner, and the transcript has been since in her husband's hands for editing; but time has faild him, and money the Society, to print the text. The work is mainly in prose, with fourteen poems intersperst. I suppose that in or before 1413 Hoccleve englisht the Compleynte before the whole Soul-Pilgrimage was translated, and that he then lent his copy to the englisher of the treatise. The other thirteen poems or set of verses in 7-line stanzas in Egerton 615 did not at first strike me as Hoccleve's (nor did the prose), and I meant to leave Dr. Kellner to print them; but Mr. Gollancz urged that they ought to be printed at once, for comparison with Hoccleve's acknowledgd works. The result of this printing (in the Appendix, p. xxiii—lxii), and of after-working at the Poems has been, that I accept them as genuine. So this is the second new point. Members can judge for themselves. The only bother is that this Appendix-printing renders needless the next two and a half pages (viii—x) which were set long before the Appendix; but as they were so set, they may as well stand. It is odd that Hoccleve did not use the other 13 poems again in one of his later begging volumes, as he did his Cupid, his Envoy to the Regement, &c. As to the prose english of Egerton 615, Dr. Kellner will give us his opinion on Hoccleve's authorship of it when he edits the MS.

1 Here endith the dreem of the pilgrimage of the soule translated owt of frensche in [to] Englysche, the yeer of our lord m'cccc [xiii]m[o], lf. 106.—Ward, ii. 583. See Ward's Catalog of MS. Romances in the Brit. Mus. ii. 580-5. Years ago, Dr. Helwig of Vienna read for our Dictionary, Caxton's "pylgremage of the sowle" 1483, generally attributed to Lydgate. One of his slips was the same as one of my Hoccleve extracts. Dr. Murray sent them to me; and on looking up the Caxton Pylgremage, I found that its poem was Hoccleve's Compleynte of the Virgin.

Furnivall next sets, as his two and a half pages "which were set long before the Appendix," a specimen of that Compleynte — its opening stanzas, its close, and (immediately after) twelve lines set side by side with the French of the De Guilleville manuscript he was translating from, to show how closely Hoccleve keeps to his original. He gives no further prose commentary between these quotations; they are reproduced below as printed.

Beginning of Hoccleve's "Compleynte of the Virgin."

(Egerton MS. 615, leaf 63.)

(1)

O fader god, how fers and how cruel,
In whom the list or wilt, canst þou the make!
Whom wilt thu spare, ne wot I neuer a deel,
Sithe thu thi sone hast to the deth be-take,
That the offended neuere, ne dide wrake,
Or mystook him to the, or disobeyde;
Ne to non other dide he harme, or seide.

(2)

I had Ioye entier, & also gladnesse,
[leaf 68, back]
Whan þou be-took him me to clothe & wrappe
In mannes flesch: I wend in sothfastnesse
have had for evere Ioye be the lappe;
But now hath sorwe caught me with his trappe;
Mi ioye hath made a permutacioun
With wepynge & eek lamentacioun.

(3)

O Holy gost! þat art alle confortoure
Of woful hertes that wofull be,
And art hire verry helpe & counceyloure,
That of hey vertue shadowist me,
Whan þat the clernesse of thi diuinite
So shynyng in my fearful gost alight,
Which that me sore agasted & affright.

(4)

Whi hast þu me ek thi remembraunce,
Now, at this tyme, right as thu had tho?
Or whi is it noght to thin pleasaunce
Now for to schadwe me as weel also,
That, hid from me, myght be my sones woo,
Wherof, if þat I may no counfort haue,
From dethis strok there may no thing me save.

(5)

O Gaubriel, whan þat thu come a place,
And madest vnto me thi salewyng,
And seidist thus, "heil, Mary, ful of grace!"
Whi, ne had thu gové me warnyng
Of þat grace that beyn is and faylyng,
As thu now seest, & sey it weel beforne,
Sith my ioye is me rafte, my grace is lorne. (1)

(6)

O thu Elizabeth, my cosyn dere,
The word þat thu spak in the mowntayne
Be ended al in a-nothere manere
Than thu had wened: my blissyng in-to peyne
Retorned is: of ioye am I bareyne:
I song to sone; for I sang be the morwe
And now at evene, I wepe and make sorwe.

[leaf 64]

(7)

[O woman þat among the poepil speke, / How that the wombe blissed was þat bere, &c.]

— the last five stanzas of the Complaint, after Hoccleve ends, Minor Poems, I, p. 8, are —

(Egerton MS. 615, leaf 67.)

(36)

My dere childe, my fruyt þat on me growed,
Myn lusty appil, blisful, faire, and sweet,
Now deth hath him be-clapped with his clowde,
That him [hath] persed to the herté rote:
Go to thow man, þeye thu myght haue thi bote;
Go suke the Iuce; the is no thing so sweet;
Go take thin part; I rede the not for-gete.

(37)

Go nere, & see how put he is for-bete,
And alle for-persed sore and pietously:
See how there renné fyvé stremés grete,
That yelde[n] owt the Iuce habundauntly:
Go sowke therof, I say you faithfully:
In good tyme was he bore, þat hath þat grace,
In tho woundés to make his dwellyng place.

(38)

O Aduersarie, [t]how cruel drye tree!
To the speke I; nowe hast þou thi entent:
My sweet[e] fruyt þou hast be-reved me
A-geyn my will, nothing of myne assent:
I se how al to-Raced and to-rent
On the he hongith: is this weel I-doo?
I bare him monethis nyne, but no-thing so.

(39)

O cruel tree, sith thu hast thi desire,
Whi wilt þou not to my fruyt be fauorabille,
To saue it hool? but feruentere than the fiere
He findeth [it]; & no thing agreable
It is to me, but alle discounfortable,
To se myne herte attacched the vpon;
For he & I, oure hert is but one.

(40)

Now with my fruyt art þou here openly,
That alle the world it may be-holde & see
Restored; which, I sey the sekerly,
Is more of vertue and of dignyte
Than was the fruyt þat spoyled was from the;
Thu hast thi will; thin honowre schal suffice
To the; yelde me my fruyt in goodly wise. [leaf 67, back]

Than answered the drye tree & seid in this manere. Capitulum xxij. (&c. &c.)

1 (on stanza 5, line 7) — MS. reads "raste."

The manuscript's own rubric, following this specimen in the source, reads: "A lamentaciow of the grene tree, complaynyng of the losyng of hire appille." The specimen quoted here — which Furnivall calls the "Compleynte of the Virgin," citing his own earlier Minor Poems edition — and the poem the Appendix below prints as No. 7, "A Lamentation of the Green Tree," are the same work under two names: Furnivall says so himself in § 2 below ("the Virgin's Lamentation or Complaynte, No. 7, p. xxxvii—xlv, which we know is his"), and his footnote there records that the Appendix's print of it was let stand although the poem was "already printed" in the Minor Poems volume. The two printings are separate typesettings and differ in small editorial details (bracketed insertions, spelling, punctuation), so neither is a copy of the other; both are reproduced on this page as printed.

As a sample of how close the englishing is to the French original, take a dozen lines that I happened to copy into my Minor Poems when I was looking at the De Guilleville MS:

French (Addit. 22,987). / Hoccleve.

Et mes mamelles alletes, / Eek thee, to sowke, on my breestes yaf y,
Souuent gisant entre mes bras / Thee norisshyng faire & tendrely

(12)

Et te depart de moi la mort / Now thee fro me, withdrawith bittir deeth

(28)

Hee Iehan, beau tresdouz amis / O Iohn, my deare frend! ...

(32)

Non marie, mais marrie / Marie? nay / but 'marred' I thee call

(35)

Mere, ne veystes pieca / A modir þat so soone / hir cote taar
Qui si tost sa cotte fendist
Pour enfant quelle nowrrist,
Et pour mamelle lui donner / Or rente / sy men neuere noon or this,
Comme sest tost laissie forer, / For chyld / which þat shee of hir body baar,
Et son escorce hors percier, / To yeue her tete as my chyld, that heere is,
Pour vous faire son ius succier. / His cote hath torn / for your gilt, nat for his,
Venez, quar ma pomme foraige / And hath his blood despent in greet foysoun;
Est mise a partuy saige &c. &e. / And al it was for your Redemcioun.

1 (on the last line) — Cest tout [i.e., "That is all"].

Hoccleve's change in his last line is surely justifiable.

§ 2. The Regement's Personal Allusions

On Hoccleve's writing his Regement of Princes, doubtless in 1412, to Henry, Prince of Wales, who became King Henry V on 21 March, 1413; on his clerkship in the Privy Council Office (l. 802); his meaning to be a priest (l. 1147-8); his having but six marks or £4 a year (l. 935, 974, 1217); on his living in Chester's Inn in the Strand (loc. cit.); his marriage (l. 1453); his prodigality in youth (l. 4355-4396); his grievances over his writing or copying work (l. 988-1029), and his poverty (l. 960-973), I have dwelt in my Forewords to his Minor Poems, p. ix-xii, xiii-xviii, and on his love and praise of Chaucer in p. xxx-xxxiv, so that on these points I need say no more here. But note may well be made 1. of the hold that anxiety for his future had taken of Hoccleve at 44 or 45, when he ought to have been in full vigour; — it had well nigh fainted him to death, l/14; he was destitute of joy and hope, 2/34; his life was but a deadly gladness, 3/70; his great desire was to be alone, 4/86; he had often longd for death, 5/112; he took no heed of a man speaking to him, 5/124, and had to be shaken before he would attend and answer, 6/132; the topic occurs again and again; — 2. of the orthodoxy of Hoccleve's views of the Sacrament, 11/344-50, 15/379—385, and the duty of swallowing all the nonsense and pious frauds of Holy Church, because "oure goode faders olde" did so, 14/351-7; 3. of Hoccleve's fresh and gay small-pleated gown, like a lord's, 16/409-10, 17/435-7; 4. of his strong praise of John of Gaunt, young prince Henry's grandfather, p. 19-20, st. 74-5.

Eight pages are then taken up by a discourse of the Beggar with whom Hoccleve is chatting; and then the poet on p. 28 begins to talk about his own troubles, and want of money, as notist above and in my Forewords to his Minor Poems. He goes on, with intervals of the Beggar's chat, to p. 73, where his Proem to his Regement begins. In the kind young prince is his one hope of redress, p. 67-9. More than a third of his poem — 73 pages out of 197 — does Hoccleve take up in preliminary talk about himself and with his Beggar; and near the end of his Regement he recurs to his prodigality in youth, his poverty, and his annuity in arrear, on pages 157-8, 172-3.

§ 3. Its Political and Social Allusions; Prince Hal's Character

Most of the political and social questions treated by Hoccleve in his Regement are sumd up by Thomas Wright in the passage reprinted in the note on p. xix of the Minor Poems; ¹ but we may notice here our poet's allusion to the Deposition of Richard II in 1399, p. 2, l. 22-45; to the martyrdom of John Badby, an artificer (?tailor or blacksmith) of Evesham, Worcestershire, ² burnt at Smithfield on March 1, 1410, p. 11—13; to the extravagant scarlet gowns then worn, 12 yards wide, with sleeves hanging on the ground (and sweeping the streets, p. 20, st. 77), and £20 (now over £250) worth of fur on them, p. 16, st. 61-2, which leave the owners penniless when they've paid for 'em, 16/430; to lower-class men dressing like lords, p. 17, st. 64; to the "foul waste of cloth in a man's tippet," even a yard of broad cloth, p. 17, st. 65; ³ to the possibility of long-sleevd retainers defending their lord when he's attackt in the street, p. 18, st. 67; to the houses of London skinners being too small, so that they have to go into the country to carry on their trade, p. 68, st. 69, and curse their debtors who don't pay, st. 70; to the often-repeated complaint of the decay of households and hospitality thro' extravagance in dress, p. 19, st. 71-2; to common folk copying the newest fashions among lords, p. 19, st. 73; to long sleeves (instead of brooms) sweeping the streets, p. 20, st. 77; to a flatterer or bawd in fine clothes being preferd to Truth and Purity, p. 21, st. 79.

1 This was natural, as he was first meant for a priest, 53/1447-8.

2 In the middle of the next century, two of the most illustrious martyrs of Protestantism had been Bishops of Worcester, — Hugh Latimer and John Hooper. — Daily News, 16 March, 1897, p. 6, col. 2, reviewing the Rev. W. Urwick's Nonconformity in Worcester, 1897. This book assumes, without authority, that John Badby was of the family of Robert Badby, who held the honourable office of Escheator for the county of Worcester in 13 Ric. II, 1389-90. — Nash's Worcestershire, Introduction, p. xiii. See also Badby's Life in Dict. Nat. Biog.

3 Compare Henry VIII, I. i. 83-5, "O, many / Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em / For this great journey."

Then the Beggar, who has been talking about these things to Hoccleve, sketches his own life, that of Hoccleve and other fast young men of the day. He went to the Tavern, — which carries the lantern before Unthrift, p. 23, st. 88, — paid it his tithes, st. 89, playd at dice all night there and swore, st. 90, and spent 100 marks a year at this, say £700 now (st. 93), but kept clear of fighting, p. 24, st. 92; had women of all kinds, wives, maids, and nuns, st. 93-4; and altho' he had a good post, he spent all he got, whether rightly or wrongly, p. 25, st. 95, and at last lost everything but one old russet suit he stood in, p. 25, st. 95—7, and had but a needle and thread, and a leather thimble in his purse, st. 98. So his finery and his friends have all gone, p. 26, and he lives to repent and amend, p. 27. He recurs to his wealth in youth, and his poverty in age, on p. 48, st. 189, 190.

On pages 32, 33, Hoccleve appeals for help to the poor gentlemen who fought in France and were then left to starve, — reminding us of the state of some of our own Balaclava heroes. On pages 51-3 the evils of unjust Church-promotion and the holding of pluralities are dealt with; on pages 54-6 the bad treatment of the Privy-Seal Clerks; on p. 58—61 the ills arising from marriages for money, winding up with the declaration on p. 64, st. 252, that for Adultery "wers peple is non undir the sonne" than Englishmen. So Robert of Brunne's comparison no longer held, that Frenchmen's sin was Lechery; Englishmen's, Envy (Handlyng Synne 131/4154-5). At the top of p. 60 is an interesting confirmation of the practice of Child-Marriages in England: see my volume in the E.E.T.S., Original Series, 1897.

In the Regement itself, Hoccleve gives the young Prince Henry advice on his conduct under the 15 heads notist in the Contents above, p. vi. The chief political and social allusions in the poem are, that if a poor man breaks his promise, he's sent to prison, while a lord isn't punisht, but only thought ill of, p. 87, st. 343-4; that knights are losing honour (p. 89, st. 351), and England righteousness, st. 352; that in contrast to Henry IV, no doubt — benign Edward III often went alone in simple array among his people to hear what they said of him, ⁴ p. 93, st. 366; that good Duke Henry, the first Duke of Lancaster (unlike Henry IV's nobles, implied), did justice, and had all that belongd to knighthood in his excellent manhood, p. 96, st. 379; that Law is nigh banisht out of England, armd folk assembling in nearly every shire, taking the law into their own hands, doing wrong, and harrying the poor, while the rich go free, p. 101-2; that the Chapters ought freely to elect their own bishops, p. 105-6; that flatterers are the curses of lords, p. 110—112; that pardons for murder are too lightly given, p. 115, st. 455; that the Prince should recollect how merciful and benign his grandfather John of Gaunt was, and his father Henry IV is, p. 121, st. 479-81; that though good wives are as hard to find as a wind blowing south and north at once, p. 135, l. 3756-9, yet Hoccleve can't sufficiently express the virtue of Women, p. 137, st. 542; that luxurious living and lechery rob us "reasonable beasts" of our reason, p. 138-40; that he, Hoccleve, is poor, and his annuity in arrear, p. 158; that too frequent money Aids to the King for war, &c., are a curse, p. 159-60; that hearts are now as hard as stones, p. 169, and that many lords don't care a blackberry for folks' misfortunes, p. 170, st. 674; that the Prince should never grant a pension, and then stop the payment of it, as in Hoccleve's case, p. 172-3; that the kiss of Judas is widely spread in England, but small love had (p. 183, l. 5081-2), as men speak honied words, but their acts are gall, st. 727; that internal wars in England have slain thousands, and wasted our wealth, p. 188-9; that worthy Oxford and Cambridge clerks get no promotion, the prebends being held by flatterers, p. 190, st. 754; that men who've shed their blood in war can get no favour unless they flatter, st. 755; that sharp war, and hard, is at the door, p. 191, l. 5288-9; that France is in an agony of distress, and Hoccleve, tho' its foe, pities it, p. 191; that France and England should be one at heart, p. 192, st. 761; that peace should be made at once between them, p. 194, st. 769, and this can be done by Prince Henry marrying Princess Katherine, st. 771: —

For love of him that died upon the tree,
And of Mary, his blisful mother dear,
Follow that way, & your strife lay on bier;
Purchase ye peace by way of marriage,
And ye therin shall find your advantage.

4 Has this got into any ballad like "Edw. IV and the Tanner of Warkworth" in Percy? Edw. III and the Countess of Salisbury are in vol. iii of the Percy Folio as well as in the play of "Edward III," &c.

The above sketch of the Regement's contents shows how valuable the book is for the social life of the England of its time, and how right Mr. Wylie has been in using it and Hoccleve's Minor Poems for his "History of England under Henry IV." And surely the statesmanlike view that the poet takes in his last pages of the urgent need of union between England and France by peaceful means, the marriage of Henry and Katherine — ultimately brought about on 2 June, 1420, by long-fought wars — must be reckond to his credit. We may well believe too that Hoccleve's counsels to the young prince may have had some effect in turning him from his wild ways when he became King. For though Ewald and others have tried to show that Prince Henry was too busy in affairs of state to have time for larks, ⁵ yet here is an extract from a MS Chronicle of Henry V, written about twenty years after Hoccleve's Regement, by a contemporary of his, which shows that Shakspere was, as usual, about right in his judgment of Prince Hal, as well as all other historians:

5 Ewald, Stories from the State Papers, i. 42-3: 1409, Nov. 18. Grant to Henry, Prince of Wales of 500 marks yearly for the custody of Edmund, Earl of March, and his brother. 1410, March 18. Grant to Henry, Prince of Wales, of the house called Coldherbergh (Coldharbour), in the City of London. 1410, March 18. Henry, Prince of Wales, appointed Captain of Calais, vice John, Earl of Somerset, deceased. 1410, March 23. The King's officers and subjects ordered to obey the Prince of Wales as Captain of Calais. 1411, June 10. Appointment of the Captain of Calais as conservator of the truce between England and Burgundy for the security of the merchants of England and Flanders. 1412, May 1. Mandate from the King to the Prince of Wales, Constable of Dover and Warden of the Cinque Ports, to summon the barons of the ports to provide the service of ships. 1412, March 11. The King orders the Prince of Wales to publish the truce with Flanders. 1412, July 12. Appointment of the Prince as one of the conservators of the truce with Flanders. 1413, March 20. Henry becomes King, on the death of his father, Henry IV. 1422, Aug. 31, Henry V dies. (See other details in Dict. Nat. Biog.)

c. 1430, Cotton MS. Claudius A 8, leaf 11.

Of the lawde of Kyng Henry the fyfte .....

Here is to be noted that this Kyng Henry the .v. was a noble prince after he was Kyng and crouned, how-be-it, be-fore in his youthe he had bene wylde, recheles, and spared nothyng of his lustes ne desires, but accomplysshed theym after his lykyng . . . but as sonne as he was crouned, enoynted & sacred, anone sodenly he was chaunged in-to a new man, and al his intente [was] to lyff vertuously in mayntenynge of holy church, destroyng of heretikes, kepyng iustice, and defendyng of his Reame and subgettes.

Tho' Mr. C. L. Kingsford quotes this passage in the Dict. Nat. Biog., xxvi, 46/1, and admits "some youthful follies" in the Prince, he yet says that Henry's "youth was spent in the battlefield and council chamber" — a good deal of it certainly was — and the popular tradition (immortalised by Shakespeare [that is, Shakspere]) of his riotous and dissolute conduct is not supported by any contemporary authority. Let the reader judge.

(A footnote marker appears in the scan at "certainly was—", keyed to a note that would fall at the very foot of this page; the note text itself fell outside the extracted page image and was not recoverable. Not reconstructed or guessed.)

§ 4. The Sources of the Regement

As to the main sources of the Poem, Hoccleve states these himself, and quotes from them in his side-notes, — 1. (p. 74, st. 292) the supposititious Aristotle's Epistles to Alexander, or Secreta Secretorum; 2. (p. 75, st. 294) Gyles of [the] Regyment of Princes, i.e. Aegidius Romanus, Ordinis Fratrum Eremitarum S. Augustini, De regimine Principum lib. 3; ⁶ 3. (p. 77, st. 302) "the Chesse moralised" of Iacob de Cessoles, his Libellus de ludo scachorum. But to these have to be added, as the Latin side-notes or the text show, Boethius (p. 3, 132), Marcialis Cocus (p. 4, st. 13), Valerius Maximus (p. 83, st. 329; p. 93, st. 368; p. 117, st. 465; p. 146, st. 579), St. Chrysostom's 12th Homily on Matthew (p. 85), the 22nd Canon (p. 85), Quintilian (p. 86), St. James (p. 87, 88), Proverbs ⁷ and Ecclesiasticus (p. 88, 104, 123, 129, 163, 168, 176, 178, 181, 187), St. Anselm (p. 89, 130), the Book of Wisdom (p. 93, st. 367), St. Gregory (p. 48, 125), the Life of John the Almoner (p. 103, st. 409), Seneca ⁸ and St. Jerome ⁹ (p. 111), Hugo de St. Victore (p. 112), St. Augustine, ¹⁰ St. Matthew, and St. Ambrose ¹¹ (p. 120), the Sermon on the Mount (p. 121, st. 480), St. Bernard and Seneca (p. 122), the Book of Judges (p. 126), Saints Bernard, Basil, and Isidore ¹² (p. 129), Caesarius (p. 130), the Epistles to the Ephesians and Hebrews (p. 132, st. 525), the books of Daniel, Judges, and Genesis ¹³ (p. 139), Isaiah and Jeremiah (p. 162, l. 4500; p. 164, st. 651), Sallust (p. 164, st. 653; p. 165, st. 655), the Books of Tobias (p. 178, st. 706), of Kings (p. 178, l. 4948), of Job (p. 182, st. 721), the Psalmist (p. 183, st. 725), the Revelations of St. Bridget (p. 194, st. 770), besides several quotations, "Scriptum est," &c., some of which, at least, are from the Vulgate, as on p. 183, "Et factus est in pace locus ejus," Psalm lxxv. 3. ¹⁴ On p. 178, "Cum fatuis consilium non habes" is from Eccli. viii. 20. I cannot find any of the other "Scriptum est's" in the Concordance to the Vulgate.

6 See p. 88, st. 347; p. 99, st. 390 (this eye story is also in Secreta Secretorum, Pt. I, ch. 3, "de Obseruacione legum").

7 See p. 91, st. 358; p. 112, st. 444; p. 166, st. 659—665; p. 174, st. 692, 693. p. 9, st. 32 is from Proverbs xvii. 22, and st. 33 from Prov. xxv. 20.

8 Also on p. 147, l. 4075.

9 Also on p. 135, st. 534; p. 181, st. 718.

10 Also on p. 180, st. 715; p. 160, st. 637; p. 161, st. 638; p. 186, st. 738.

11 Also on p. 163, st. 649.

12 Also on p. 130, st. 514.

13 Also on p. 184, st. 731.

14 The lower side-note there is from Psalm lxxii. 3, "Quia zelavi super iniquos, [pacem] peccatorum videns." And "Qui loquuntur pacem cum proximo suo" is from Psalm xxvii. 3. "Initium sapientiae, timor Domini," p. 175, is from Psalm cx. 10.

Besides these, we have mentions or stories of Pompey (p. 117), Julius Cesar (p. 117, 118, 127), Scipio Africanus (p. 127, 133, from Secreta, Pt. III. ch. 3), Marcus Marcellus (p. 134, st. 531), Plato and Demosthenes (p. 136, st. 538-9), Codrus (p. 142, st. 565), Marcus Curtius (p. 145, st. 577), Diogenes (p. 147, st. 583), Tully (183/583), Judas Iscariot and the traitor Ganelon (183/5084), &c.

Stanza 523, p. 132, on lechery being a hog's life, destruction of body, corruption of virtue, and a scandal to a man who'd take the ways that reasonless beasts hold, is, as Hoccleve hints, Ca. viii of the Secreta —

"De castitate & continentia regis. Clemens imperator, noli inclinare femora tua ad coitum meretricum, quia coitus est porcorum quaedam proprietas. Quae gloria regni erit se exerceat vicium irrationabilium bestiarum & actus brutorum? Credes michi indubitanter, quia coitus est abbreuiatio uite, destructio corporis, virtutum corruptio, levis transgressio, & postremo, mores femineos generat." — Louvain Ed. 1485(?)

Again, st. 444, p. 112, on a Prince restraining his anger, is, as the side-note shows, from the Secreta, Ca. vi: "Decet etiam regem pium esse, & iras ciuium cohibere, ne improuisa commotione siue deliberacione progrediatur ad actum." Stanza 445, p. 112, is from Ch. x of the Secreta — "O Alexander, caue, quantum poteris, humanum sanguinem effundere. Noli etiam assumere diuinum officium ... 'da michi uindictam, & ego [retribuam,]' [dicit Dominus.]"

The quotation from the Secreta in the Latin sidenote to st. 590-4, p. 149—150, is from ch. i, while that to st. 630, p. 159, is from chapter ii, somewhat alterd, according to the Louvain edition, 1485(?): — "O Alexander, firmiter dico tibi, quod quicunque rex facit superfluas expensas ultra quod regnum suum possit sustinere, talis rex proculdubio destruit et destruitur."

The first sidenote and footnote on p. 160 — which have little to do with the text — are from ch. i: of the Secretum — "Hoc enim fuit causa subuersionis & destructionis principum & regni Anglorum. Nonne quia superfluitas expensarum superabat redditus ciuitatum. Et sic, deficientibus redditibus & expensis, extenderunt rex & principes manus ad possessiones subditorum rapiendas. Subditi uero, propter iniurias, clamauerunt ad deum excelsum & gloriosum, qui, mittens uentum calidum, afflixit illos tirannos uehementer, & insurrexit contra eos populus, & nomina eorum deleuit de terra." ¹⁵ The text continues, for the English lines following, "Debes igitur largiri bona tua iuxta posse tuum hominibus indigentibus atque dignis," and then continues nearly as the side-note to st. 591.

15 [The footnote calls for a correction; as extracted:] the last word should be "hominum".

Mr. Steele states that Stanzas 700—703 are also from the Secreta, tho' I cannot find them in the Louvain edition of 1485(?). The story of John of Canace and his three daughters, or "John de Canazath" as Caxton calls him, is from "the Chesse moralised," Bk. III, ch. 8 of Caxton's "Game and Playe of the Chesse," 1474, p. 148—150, ed. Axon, 1883; and that of Marcus Regulus, p. 82-3, is also from the Chess and Secreta, ch. iv (from Augustine, de Civitate Dei, lib. i, ca. 16, and Cicero, de Officiis, lib. i and iii).

§ 5. Why the Harleian Manuscript Was Chosen for the Text

I have printed the text from the Harleian MS. 4866, because it has the best portrait of Chaucer, and fewer superfluous final e's, and some older readings, than Reg. 17 D vi, which Thomas Wright edited for the Roxburghe Club in 1860.

The absence of many final e's may be due to a partly-Northern scribe, as knawit for knoweth (13/338), mak for make (11/294), spak, cum, &c. No doubt I ought to have put in more of these final e's, as in "styng" infinitive, ryming with the participial nouns "throwyng, lawhyng" in the oblique case; ¹⁶ but any one who likes can do this for himself. I'm on the side of those sensible scribes who didn't sound the e at the end of the line in their own reading — save in cases like "tymé . . . by me" 5/120-2, &c. — and therefore didn't write it. The Harleian man's dropping of the e where it was wanted metrically inside the line, and of syllables and words now and then, I cannot defend.

16 But see "may spring . . . is pesible suffryng" (nom.), 187/5194. See also "al, fal, gal" for "alle, falle, galle," 195/5413-16, &c., &c.

As to the older and better readings of H, — compare its cleft or "chynned lippés drye" 15/405, with R's "thynne"; its "Nessheth your hertes" 195/5412, with R's "softeth"; its prosperous or "weleful and wys" 33/908, with R's "wilfull" (which makes nonsense); its "pref" (proof, trial, trouble) with R's "myschief" weakly repeated from the line above, with which it rymes; its "cefté forth" 16/428, with R's "gode," wend; its "outen his langage" 140/3889, with R's "wttre"; its "thyristist sore, a riché man to be" with R's "trustest sone"; its "y herté-depe gan wade" 5/118, with R's "(wo)fulle hert deepe"; its "þis bare olde russet" 25/675, with R's "þis olde". ¹⁷ Of course there are instances on the other side, as R's eyes or "yen," 38/1027, for H's "than," which is nonsense (the MS. y and þ are often so alike that scribes often took the one for the other). But on the whole, I prefer the Harleian to the Royal MS.; and that was already in type.

17 H "þe lite," R "right," &c.?

Of the wrong or thwarted stress which I notist in the Minor Poems, p. xli, take a few instances from this Regement: —

He was in no thing abassht, ne eschu, 11/290.
As he þat was to þe fende acceptable, 12/319.
Of reson, or what he can ymagine, 13/347.
Byleue, as fer as þat holy writ seiþ, 15/385.
A foul wast of cloth, and an excessyf, 17/450.
He may not stand him in steed of a man, 18/469.
The skynner vnto þé feeld moot also, 18/477.
To beddé, than lakke of array outrage, 19/499.
Syn sydé sleués of penylees gromes, 20/535.
By þat sette I naght þé worth of a flye, 23/613.
In tymé dare by redé of nature, 23/625.
And encheson of my woful murnynge, 29/795.
To lakké mercy, and ben vnpitous, 122/3371.

Of é before a vowel (see Minor Poems I, p. xlii) cases occur, as "It is synné outragious and vyl" 17/460, and "And walke at large out of pi prisoun" 11/277. The pronoun heré, her, as two syllables (Minor Poems, p. xli) occurs in 9/238, "Or louest heré þat not louep þe," &c. The noun honour is honur in 4/97, 21/549. The double vowel for length (Minor Poems, p. xl, xli) is not a characteristic of Harleian 4866. Its scribe sometimes writes v for w; vas, vel, velthy for "was, well, wealthy," 215/2. Words which I suppose new, are wriesty, restless 5/116, syncope (v.t. cut down their wages) 170/4727, perhaps thughty, anxious 4/80, unsyte (sb. not-seeing), 180/5002, cercly (circular, curvd) 185/5127, harrageous (obstreperous), 187/5191, &c.

Of course the Regement isn't without some chaff on the Woman-question, and evidence that in Hoccleve's case the grey mare was the better horse. As he says, in pages 184-7, it's no wonder that women want to rule their husbands; they're choicer folk. Man was made only of slime; woman of a rib, a much finer thing. And as to suggesting that this crooked rib made woman's temper crooked, that's nonsense; all perfect things — the Heaven, Sun, Moon, the Heart, &c. — are round and crooked. Moreover, man was made out of Paradise, woman, in it; and as Christ servd his mother for 30 years, so men ought to serve their wives. As to women being "contrarious" to their husbands, it's only when the husbands go wrong. And even if they do bully their husbands, —

"Goode is, he suffre: therby pees may spring,
Housbondés pees is pesible suffryng."

18 Our Oxford Dict. has the word only as an adverb, from Huloet, 1552. Here is the adjective in 1412.

§ 6. Apologies

So Thomas Hoccleve grind and bore it; said "anything for a quiet life": see Minor Poems, p. xxxviii.

I am sorry that these Forewords are so slight and scrappy; but they have been written at intervals, other work or laziness coming between the bits, and putting the details of this text out of my head. Dictionary work is always going on; and marking words and cutting slips out of books and papers is so pleasant and easy, that it makes one neglect work that needs effort. Then there was the starting of my Hammersmith Girls' Sculling Club ¹⁹ in May 1896, for working-girls in shop sewing-rooms, and their brothers and friends, with the after housing of them, and the getting-up Sunday whole-day outings, ²⁰ Socials, dances and classes.

19 "Its object was to give healthful exercise and innocent enjoyment to hard-working girls; and without question this object has been fully attained. ... The boats have been out on afternoons with Home-Girls, on evenings with Work-Girls, and with both on moonlit nights and whole and half-day trips as far as the Tower Bridge down-river, and Kingston up. One big double-sculler was largely used during the girls' holidays, being out every day and all day, full of members, relations and friends; and it made some members declare that it had given them the happiest holiday they'd ever had in their lives. ... Difficulty was at first experienced in getting Meeting and Dressing rooms for the members. It was met by the President (F. J. F.) taking the house on the Riverbank, 19 Lower Mall, where the Club has been since August 1st, 1896, and letting the members use it free till they can pay rent and gas (£45 a year), which they hope soon partly to do. The first-floor rooms were fitted with gas-fires, incandescent lights, mirrors and pictures, and made as homelike as the donations and funds available allowed. The President sent down one of his pianos; and many pleasant Teas, Social Meetings, and Dances have been held. Friends at Petersham, Kingston, and Hammersmith Terrace have also frequently entertained boats' crews. Lately, the front ground-floor room of the Club has been fitted up for men Honorary Members. During the winter months, Dr. Batteson has kindly taken a Shakspere Class; Miss Lillie Davis an Elocution Class; and Mr. Jessurun a Singing Class, each meeting one evening a week for two hours. To these teachers the members are deeply indebted. The Club has thus benefited the minds as well as the bodies of members. It has enlarged their sympathies and their circle of friends; it has developed their muscles and their pluck, has strengthened their feeling of comradeship, and has given them a new and healthy interest in life." — Extract from the First Report, May, 1897.

20 I manage to get these weekly from May to October (less August) from Richmond, and from Nov. to April from Hammersmith whenever there's a tide to suit. When there isn't, I get the morning for a shorter scull.

Last August I took my bundle of Hoccleve papers down to the pleasant farm in which we spent our holiday month, Axhill House, Ashill, 8½ miles south of Taunton. But, alas, I never untied the string. There was the nice soft lawn to walk on barefooted, or lie on, all the morning; beautiful lanes and cross-country paths to stroll over in the afternoon or evening; songs and pieces to listen to at nightfall; crops and cattle to look at and chat about; a grand view round three-fourths of the horizon to see from our hill; visits to pay, churches to inspect, neighbours' stories to hear; — bother Hoccleve! where could he come in, with the sunshine, flowers, apple-orchards and harvest about? But here, in his London — his, and yet how different from his, — the present scraps have been put together, mainly under the electric light in the British Museum. Let them serve till the old poet's next editor treats him thoroughly, as Prof. Schick treated Lydgate.

Brit. Mus., 9 Dec., 1897.

§ 7. The Englisht De Guilleville Poems

Are the 14 poems that follow in the Appendix Hoccleve's? I think they are, as they show some of his characteristics, and I cannot distinguish between the style of the Virgin's Lamentation or Complaynte, No. 7, p. xxxvii—xlv, which we know is his, and that of the other 13 Poems. ²¹ In them we find: 1. his two-syllable "hiré" for their (tho' not her as in Minor Poems, p. xli): —

21 Mr. Henry Littlehales, our Editor of the Primer or Lay Folks' Prayer-Book, has kindly copied all but the first for me. This first, left out through a misunderstanding, I have transcribed, and printed last, to avoid shifting the 13 poems set before it. As he copied the already printed "Compleynte to the Virgin" among his lot, I let it stand.

Some of hem, but at hiré lyvés ende, xxix/30.
In heven is assigned hiré place, xxxiv/35.
Rewardyng hem with blisse for hiré mede, xxxvii/33.
Ne wil cessyn of hiré felle corage, lviii/214.

2. His é before a vowel and h (Minor Poems, p. xlii): —

Sest thu noght Age, with his whighté eres, xxv/66.
Shamé hath he, þat at the cheker pleith, xxvi/113.
And is to meward fallé in trespace, xxvii/131.
The falsé feend so soré hem asseyled, xxxiii/10.
ffor he & I, our herté is but one, xlv/273.
me schapyng to appelé and accuse, li/6.
Schul failé here, liii/44.
he and allé his, lix/252.
That thu for me purveyé and purchase, lii/66.
He wil hem casté in-to hellé dike, lvii/188.
But mercie, pite, goodnessé and grace, lviii/223.
My quareH now to helpé and excuse, lviii/236.
That is abowt to noyé and myshbede, lxii/346.

22 (on "fallé," above) — the right emendation may be "fallen," as in certain cases of the infinitive in the poems, now ending with é.

3. His spelling honure (tho' not his ryme: Minor Poems, p. xxxix), among several of hondwre (xxx/1, 8, 22, &c.) and hondure (noun xxxi/7): —

For euere honured be thi maieste, xxxii/14.
honured be thu, Ihesu souereyn, xxxiv/24.
Honured be the blissed Trinité, xlviii/28.
The thriddé festé, with his highe persone / To honure, turnyng watir into wyne, xlviii/16, 17.
All honure, vertue, and alle myghtynesse, xxxiv/3.
Who is honuré, may no thing deface, xxxvi/5.
Now be we glad, in honure of this maide, xlvi/15.
In honure of this [highe] solemnite, xlviii/27.

4. His thwarted accent or stress (Minor Poems, p. xli): —

And castith him nought amendis to make, xxvii/132 (aménded, xxxv/26; amendid, lxii/362).
Whil þat we in purgatory haue be, xxxii/25 (purgatory xxxv/27).
But wonder schort, in régard of oure synne, xxxii/28.
In a good accorde withowt ony peyne, xxxv/46.
And youre labouré nobly dispended, xxxv/23; lxii/361.
Youre selffé myghtely haue défendid, xxxv/25.
Be ended al in a-nothére manére, xxxviii/38.
So sore as this martirdam smertith me, xxxviii/55.
it semith þat thu makist départyng, xlii/174.
Weel fele I that deth his vengeable bowe, xlii/179.
And amendith right be his owné deth, xliv/237.
To gret distresse & gret desolacioun, xlvi/36.
A maidé first was déceyvéd be the, xlvi/37.
This flischeres alle be avoyded of slowthe, li/15.
If þat I shal myne réwarde vnderfonge, lii/27.
To éxcuse me have I none audience, lii/38.
If I hire, in ony place myght a-spie, liii/56.
I knowe nought, to whom I shal my selffe dresse, liv/86.
To the, will I now appelé beforne, liv/95; lvi/168.
Was neuere yitte none, to whom it was warned, liv/105.
That to haue spoké of adudcacie, lvi/150.
So be myne helpe to avoide and represse, lvi/171.
To précede in his accion as nowthe, lviii/242.
With tho that so be déformed in kende, lix/273.
The rélieff of youre excellent merites, lxii/351.

The reader must judge for himself of the worth of the evidence above. It satisfies me that these 13 Poems are Hoccleve's.

The scribe writes ze for ie in "piete" pity, and its compounds, in xxiv/53, xxxvi/4, xli/131, xliv/254, lvii/180, pietous lxi/325, lxii/348, and in pietaunce (pittance), lx/301, &c.; and the same ie for e, in "modier," xxxii/15, 18, 19, &c., xlvi/16, lvi/162, and in "fadier," xxxiii/2; while in xliii/221, "fery" is for "fiery." He has ea for e in "veari," very, xxiii/18, xxvi/98, xlvii/3, lvii/207; vearili, lvii/177; and ei for e in lxi/315, 330.

Shirley's participial e for i is seen in "e-graunted," 138/3124, and his ea for e in "fleobotomy," xxii/28.

Of new words, I note only "this infame" (scamp, rascal) for Satan, lix/258. "Stealthless," 66/1809, is also new, I suppose.

9 April, 1898.

Corrections

For Works I. Minor Poems: p. x, l. 17, for l. 1147, read l. 1447.

PAGE
14/378. Put the comma after "vnto."
19/507. Read "If lordes wolden [cessyn] in þis wyse."
111/3063. For "ffye" read "flye."

Appendix: Fourteen Poems from Egerton MS. 615

APPENDIX.

The XIII Poems in the englisht De Guilleville's 'Pilgrimage of the Soul.'

Egerton MS. 615, Brit. Mus.

1. The Epistle of Grace Dieu to the Sick Man

(1) The epistle of grace sent to the seek man. littera.

[26 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

I, Gracë quen), and heuenly princesse,—
As depute¹ be the souereyn kyng eterne, [¹ ? MS. deprite.]
In erthe a-lowe to be the gyderesse
That² liste the redy wey[ë]s for to lerne, [² That = of him that. (Tags t' r' f' &c. are not printed.)]
In pilgrymagë him selff to gouerne—
Gretyng, with yerde & lore of disciplyne,
To the that hast, and must be, one of myn).

(2)

It is me don) to knowe & vnderstonde,
þat, this dethës seruaunt, malady,
The hath arrest, and holdith now in hande,
And the oppressith, nought knowyng the forwhi.
I wil therfore, as for thi remedy,
Ordeyne[n] in my best[ë] manere wise;
I rede þe that thi self þou wel aduyse.

(3)

I haue be with the whan thu knewe it nought,
Enserchyng, lo, thi poin[t]is of conscïence,
Be wich I knewe the innermost of thought.
Thu hauest, thi self, with veari neclegence,
And also for defawte of diligence,
Noght take heed to thi gouernaunce,
Thi selffë brought in anguysshe & greuaunce.

(4)

Thu hast, with surfeet, leuyng sobirnesse,
fful greuously encombred thi corage,
In lust dispending al thin besynesse,
Syn) þat thu were a childe of tender age,
That the now doth ful gret disauauntage;
Wherfore the nature of thi maladye
Wil askë sothly a fleobotomye.

(5)

Also I see, þat ful art thu withinne
of córrupte humour' al a-bowt[ë] spred,
That rennyth ay betwyn [þi] flesch and skynne,
That causith þat thu kepist now thi bedde:
Than ydilnesse and slouthë hath this bred;
Thu hast nought swet owt of thin eye one tere;
Wich thing to the ful necessary were.

(6)

For if thu myghtist, dayës two or thre,
With mynde upon thi foulë wrechidnesse
haue suche a sweet, it wolde availë the;
ffor leue it weel,—I sey it the expresse—
but if thu do the rathere thi besynesse,
with suche a swet thi self[ë] to amende,
This malady wiH of the make an ende.

(7)

Take heed[ë] nowe, and to thi self conuerte,
And see what wrechidnesse is the withinne,
Or dethë take thi liffe out of thin herte;
To be my reed, anon) þat thu be-gynne
To make the clenë of thi sory synne,
As ferrë [forth] as þou canst think or spye,
And wasshe hem out with terës of thin eye.

(8)

For if þat deth the sudeynly assaile,
beleue it weel, he sparith no persone;
With him to trete, it may no thing avayle;
On the hath he no piete, thow thu grone;
Complayntis sothly he rewardith none,
But buskith you vnto the pittës brynk:
On this, I rede, thu besely bethink.

(9)

Take heed, and here, how þat to euery wight
With-in[në]-forth he clepith preuely:
"Arayeth you, and be al redi dight,
ffor I wil come—beleve it sikerly—
Or ye be ware, parauenture sudeynly:
And me by-for' ther may [no] praiere spede
Ne non) ne wele: I sparë for [no] mede."

(10)

"Beholde and see, how þat this messageres,
lo, in awaitë, [now] be leyd for the.
Sest thu noght Agë, with his whightë eres,
hath had¹ himselff ful nye,—canst thu not see?— [¹ ? hid]
And maladi[ë] hath arrest par-de.
Herist thu nowt, how thei crie lowde alwey,
'what eilith vs, to tarye so al day?'

(11)

"How oftë haue I warned the be-for',
Som while apert, somtymë preuely,
That redy schuldist thu have be euermor':
Witnesse upon thi self, I say the, whi
Thu might the nought excusë vtterly:
Synderesis, she knowith euery deel;
Sche wiH be thin appélloure, wete it weel,

(12)

"Aneinptes me, that alway wold thi prowe;
fful folili thu hast thi self mystake:
for thu behetest—this knowist weH I-nowe—
þat alle thin foli woldest thu for-sake,
And woldest thi-self very clenë make,
Puttyng [thi] flesch vnder subieccioun,
To be gouérned after thi reason).

(13)

"But sekerly she euery deel reuerse
vsurped hath hire ownë ladi right,
By here delites and lustës fuH dyuers
Oppressyng her' with alle hir' mayn̄ & myght.
A fool is he (as semith in my sight)
That be no lore ne wiH his freend[is] knowe
TiH þat he be in myschief ouerthrowe.

(14)

"But now I rede, take good entent & hepe,
Puttyng awey thi slombre & [thi] slouthe.
A fool he is, that leith him self to slepe,
To whom I springe, the veray sterre of trewthe.
How ofte hast thu refused, for thi yowthe,
To herë me? and sone hast thu for-yete
Myn lusty songës veary hony-swete.

(15)

"Now sey me, be thi feith, whethir þou were he
Alone of woman in this world I-bore,
So clene of wemme, that no thing is in the
To weylë ne to wepe thi synnës sore.
Nay, sekerly—and þat me for-thinke sore—
That thu ne canst [nat] se thi wrechidnesse,
Thi synne, thi surfeet, and thin vnthriftynesse,

(16)

"And hard conflicte of bataile, the withinne.
Thu felë myght (but if thu be vnwys),
How þat þi sowle assailed is with synne,
And vnder-cast þou art of hye malice,
And subiecte, thu madist thi selfe, to vice,
Wich þat of god, the Juge omnipotent,
Condempned is with-owt[en] iugëment.

(17)

"Shamë hath he þat at the cheker pleith,
Whan þat a powne saith to the kyng 'chek mate;'
And shame it is, whan that thi gost obeith
Vnto thi flessh, þat schuld obeye algate
Vnto thi goost. And now, thowe it be late,
Yilte helpe thi self, and cast her' vnder' fote,
Or elles þou art lost: þere is non) other bote.

(18)

"In bataylë, as it hath ofte be-tydde
a myghti man to falle, it is no schame,
The first[ë] tyme, the secunde, and the thridde,
And rysith weel—this holde I but a game;—
But gretly, me thinkith, is he to blame,
And worthi as [a] fool to be reproeved,
That not enforsith him to be releuyd.

(19)

"Now youthë may no lengere the excuse,
for age is come, and calengith his plase.
Yeld thi promyse! þou myght it not refuse.
A fool is he þat desobëyth grace,
And is to meward fallë in trespace,
And castith him nought ámendis to make:
Suche one, what wondir is, though I forsake?

(20)

"Ful long I haue a-beden and susteyned
to haue amendës for thi forfeture;
And or this tyme I haue me not compleyned.
I may no more the wrechidnesse endure:
I rede the do¹ thi besynesse and cure; [¹ MS. to do.]
Amende thi self; it is anow to me,
That is the amendës þat I askë the.

(21)

"Now chese thin port, at wich thu wilt aryve;
But to there ben), of solace and distresse:
At one, thow myght thi self[en] kepe a lyve,
And euere abide in ioye and lustynesse;
That othir, is but care and wrechidnesse;
here comë deth; and if þat he [schal] smyte
Thi liffe, there is non) leche that [may] respite.

(22)

"Se now thi self, that hauest no defence!
A-bove thin heed the swerd is redy drawe;
I redë the to look thi conscïence,
How þou hauest lyved a-geyn thi lorde-is lawe;
And after this, a-nothir wey thu drawe,
þat alle thi tyme in foly so dispended,
yit at the last[ë], lat it be amendyd.

(23)

"How oftë tyme have I the tolde & taught
The worthynesse of vertue, and the mede!
how ofte haue I the from the clowches caught
Of sathanas! yitte takist thu non) heed.
But now be ware, and nought withowt[ë] nede;
ffor sekirly the bowe is bent ful sore
To smytë the: than may I do no more.

(24)

"The birde that syngith on a braunche on hye,
And schewith him self a lusty Jolyvet,
Vnto the deth is sinet sudeingly
Or he be ware, and takë with a net.
I have the said, how deth hath the be-sette;
And almost vnder-myned is thi waH;
But thu be ware, ful grevous is thi faH.

(25)

"Allas! what thinkest thu? what wilt þou sayn,
In þat ilke day of anger' and of dreed,
Vn-to the heighë Iugë souereyne?
What dost þou, man? whi takist thu non) hede?
If þou wilt be releuyd in thi nede,
What helpith it, thus [for] to preche and teche?
But schewe thi soore, to me þat am thi leche,

(26)

"And [than] I schal a-voyde the of thi fylthe,
receyvyng the anon) vnder my cure.
I schal the bringe in redynesse of tylthe,
So that [thu] schalt thi selff[e] weel assure,
þat whan thi flesch is laid in sepulture,
Thu schalt be haved up in-to heven) blisse;
EternaH myrthës schalt þou neuere mysse."

2. The Charter of Pardon (by Christ)

(2) The chartre of pardon'.

[14 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

Ihesu, kyng of hie heuen) a-bove,
Vnto Michael my chief lieu-tenaunt,
And alle thin ássessourës wich I love,
That in my seruice be perséueraunt
have euermore, and to me ful pleasaunt—
My gretyng;—and, upon the peyne of dreed,
Vnto this present chartre take[th] heed.

(2)

Me hath be-sought, this present ladi here,
Misericorde; and at hire gret instaunce,
And also eek myn) ownë modier dere—
That alway redi is, at hire pleasaunce,
ffor synful men to makë purueaunce
Above thei have me bede; wich, of my grace,
Graunted hath, hire prayer' have his place.

(3)

Ther' be pilgrymës (as thei certifie)
That to meward hire weiës had [i]take,
Wich have mysgon), and erred folily
Be steryng of the foulë bestis blake,
That som) of hem hire iourney had forsake,
And efte hire iourney have a-geyn be-gunne,
But sudei[n]gly hath failed him the sonne.

(4)

Some have be lettid be foule temptacïoun
And steryng of hire fleschly wrechidnesse;
So, be disease and tribulacïoun
Thei have [i]falle in-to huge hevynesse;
And somme also to this worldes besynesse
So greuously hire hertës ouersette,
So þat thei have of hire iournéy be lette.

(5)

But thei haue[n] repented wondir' sore,
Some of hem, but at hirë lyvës ende;
& somme of hem, a litel what be-fore
Be-gan him selfë somwhat to amende,
In wil theraftir' neuer to offende,
But schreven) hem of alle hire olde trespace,
And put them self[ë] only in my grace.

(6)

At the instaunce of myn) owne modier swete—
To whom I may no maner' thing denye,
And mercy also may I nought for-gete;
But vnto hir' bone I wil myself applie:—
This grace I graunte them of my Regalye,
That I schal hem receyve vnto my peas;
Of hellë peyne I graunte hem ful relees.

(7)

So thei that han) me, Ihesu, mercy cried
Or that the breeth out of the body yeed,
And alle hire wrechid lustys have defied
In veray faith (as techith hem the crede)
So þat ye schal not a-geyn hem procede
As to iuge hem to hellë [bittre] peyne,
But that in this, your' rygoure ye restreyne.

(8)

And thow þat hir' wikked¹ workis counterpeise [¹ ? wikke.]
hire good[ë] dedës whan thei schul be weye,
So þat the beter' part hem selfë reyse
As for defawte of weighte, yit thus I seye
And wiH, þat [to] this chartre ye obeye,
Wich I have graunted for my modier sake:
To mercy also her' have I [i-]take.

(9)

Of tresour' of my bitter passïoun,
And of the merite of my modier' der—
To whom non) othir hath comparysoun—
With merite of myn) seintës alle in fer',
That to my biddyng ful obeysaunt were,
Of plente and of superhábundaunce
A forcet ful, wich puttith in the balaunce,

(10)

The countirpeis a-geyn the fendis part,
So that he faile of his entencïoun
To bringë hem, so with his subtile art,
To be iuged [vn-]to dampnacïoun
Withowt ony comfort of saluacïoun,
With cursidnesse of alle the synnës sevene,
Syn) the¹ that he was chased owt of hevene. [¹ Since that, since the time.]

(11)

And nought for-thi,—this is not myn) entent,—
Ne for this cause my blood ne shadde I nought,
That ony wight in mysgouérnëment
A-bidë schulde, and trust[en] in his thought
That this chart[r]e schulde [him] a-vaile[n] ought
As of this pardon̄ to be partenere,
Or of this grace þat I haue graunted her'.

(12)

Therfore, owt of this chartre I excepte
To allë which, vnto hir' lyvës ende,
Have euermore in cursed synnës slepte,
Purposyng nowt hire lyvës to amende,
Vpon trust here-of, hem selfë to defende
ffrom hellë peynë, be this present grace,
Alle tho þat schal be exiled fro my face;

(13)

And this also, wich that be obstynat,
and never wil [vn]to my lawe obeye;
This also þat be veray desperat,
That wil no gracë ne no mercy pray,
But right so in hire cursed synnës deye:
To them is due the hotë fier of helle,
With Sathanas eternally to dwelle.

(14)

Wherfore, no man so boldë ne so hardy be,
Trustyng upon this present pardonaunce,
To surfeet or to synne in no degre,
Vpon the trust of fynal répentaunce,
Wich is my gifte; and aftir my pleasaunce
I geve it him þat schul myn) mercy crave,
withowt[en] wich, no wight [ne] wil I save.² [² MS. crave.]

3. The Pilgrims' Song (in Honour of the Trinity and the Virgin)

(3) Cantus peregrinorum.

[5 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

Honowred be thu, blissed lord on hye,
That of the blisful maydë were I-bore,
That with thi deth us boughtist myght[i]ly:
Thin ownë flesch and blood, þou gaue us fore,
And for us suffred peynës wonder sore,
Bothe foot and hand [i]nayled to the rode,
And bledest alle thin veray hert[es] bloode!

(2)

Honowred be thu, fadir souereigne,
That vowchedsaff suche raunsom [us] to sende
Thin ownë lovëd sone to suffre peyne,
Oure mysease & myschief [for] to amende!
Thu holigost, þat art withowt[en] ende,
With fadier & sone, one god in trinite,
ffor euere honured be thi maieste!

(3)

And thu, [o] blisful maide & modier mylde,
Thu lady, qween of heven), emperice,
Whom Ihesu chees; and as thi ownë childe
Thow bare, his veray modiere & noryce,
Thu floure of vertue, modiere of delice,
Thu toure of trist, and [trew] tresoure of grace,
honowred mote thu be in euery place!

(4)

Honowred be þou, blissed lord Ihesu,
Suche grace and mercy have we found in the;
Suche godlihede, suche myght & suche vertue,
Whil þat we in purgátory haue be!
Of alle oure peynes, relesed now be we,
Wich long[ë] tyme we have a-byden) inne,
But wonder schort, in régard of oure synne,

(5)

With whiche we have the souereyn blisfulheed
fful grevously displeasyd & offended,
In word & werk, & with vnthryfty dede;
But thanked be thu, lord, it is amended;
But now is alle oure noyows laboure ended;
To the we come, as fyne of oure labour,
Whom willeth eueri trewë trauayloure.

4. The Song of the Angels (with the Pilgrims outside Heaven)

(4) What tyme þat the pilgrymes had songyne in this wise, hire aungeles wiche þat led them, ansuerid a-nothir song ful swete & ful delicious, as it sewith:

Cantus angelorum.

[5 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

AH-myghti lord, oure blisful lord Ihesu,
Thu myroure of the fadier in maieste,
In whom is seyn his myght and his vertue,
The welle of witte &¹ wisdaum is in the, [¹ MS. & of.]
To whom-is² presence now retourned we be [² whos.]
With this pylgrymës which to the we bringe;
To thin honoure ful ioyefully we synge.

(2)

Towardës the, ful longe thei haue trauayled;
Thu wost thi selfe, how thei han be distressed.
The falsë feend so sorë hem asseyled,
And greuously diseased & oppressed;
But be thi grace, his malice was repressed,
And thrughe thy³ mercy weel th[e]i be releved, [³ MS. his.]
And hire entent, fully thei han acheved.

(3)

What laboure & what anguysch have we had,
Sithe þat we took them in oure gouernaunce,
Thu wost Ihesu; and now, [lord,] we be gladde
Of alle þat we have don) to thi pleasaunce;
Wherfore thu wilt with reward us auaunce
Suche as the list a-bove[n] in thi blisse;
EternaH Ioye, we schul it neuere mysse.

(4)

Lo, we presente in-to thin hand a-geyn,
aHe-myghty lord, þat to vs þou hast betake,
honured be thu, Ihesu souereyn),
Of that we have labóurëd for thi sake,
Of this labourë, now an ende thu make!
Thi crëaturës, vnto thi presence,
Receyve hem of thin heighe benevolence!

(5)

For thow [that] thei¹ han erred or myswent, [¹ MS. thine.]
Thei have it a-bought with woundës hard & sore,
And purgeid with grete peyne & [with] torment,
And duely to hem was Iugëd therfore,
Alle-thow thei hadde deserued muchë more,
The remenaunt is relessed, of thi grace;
In heven) is assigned hirë place.

5. The Song of the Angels (inside Heaven)

(5) The aungelys song within.

[7 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

Al worshippe, wisdam, welthe and worthinesse,
AH bounte, beawte, ioye and blisfulheed,
AH honure, vertue, and alle myghtynesse,
AH grace & thankyng, vnto thin godheede,
ffrom whom alle grace & mercy doth procede!
Ay praised be thu, lord, in Trinite,
And euere honured be thi maieste!

(2)

That be mankynde oure nombre is encreased,
Of this that longe have be in pilgrymage;
And now is alle hire noyows laboure cessed,
That was be-gonne here first[ë] dayës age.
Here is the port of sekire áryuáge
Honured be thu, blissed lord on hye,
And wolcome be ye to owre companye!

(3)

Now passed be youre perilous auentures,
and alle youre Auenture hath an endë take.
Right wolcome be ye, blissed crëatures!
Tyme it is, þat scrippe & burdon) ye forsake,
ffor now ye schal no longere iourne make;
and aftir laboure, tyme is of quiete;
Alle hevinesse & Anguysch is for-gete.

(4)

For ye have don) a nobiH victory,
And youre labourë nobly díspended,
That so ageyn youre treble enemye
Youre selffë myghtely haue défendid;
And þat ye have mysdon), it is amended
Be sustenaunce of purgatory peyne;
Thanked be thu, [o] Ihesu souereyne!

(5)

In heven) blisse, here schul ye be with vs
Vnto the day of fynaH iugëment,
To wichë day ye schul a-bydë thus,
And preisë god with al youre hool entent,
While þat youre bodi, be assignëment
Of god, is turned to correpcïoun,
And fully schal haue hire purgacioun.

(6)

For Reasoun [sayeth] wele, & god-is lawe,
That he þat hath don alle his besynesse
(ffor god-is will) youre lustës to withdrawe—
Encombryng yow with muche vnthryftynesse,—
That from þat fowle and wofuH wrechidnesse
I-clensid be, and alle renewyd clene
That manere weye, youre flesch is, þat I mene.

(7)

So at the last[ë] day thei schal a-ryse,
And come be-fore that Iugë souereyn),
To yow conioyned in a wondere wise
In a good áccorde withowt ony peyne,
And in this ioye eternally remayne.
What ioye is here, ye schul assaye & see,
Honured be the hey[ë] maieste!

6. Honour to Jesus (Song of the Angels with a Pilgrim)

(6) [The Angels' Song. Honour to Jesus.]

[5 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

Honured be thu, blisful lord Ihesu,
and preysed mote thu be in eueri place,
So fuH of myght, [of] mercy and vertue,
Of blisse, of bounte, of piete and of grace!
Who is honurë, may no thing deface;
Who is [ther] that withstondë may thi myght?
But servë the, of fors mote eueri wight.

(2)

Honúred be thu, Ihesu, heven) kyng,
That hast be-taken to my gouernaunce
Suche one that hath, a-bove al othire thing,
Abowed to the with lowely obeysaunce,
And loued the with sadde perséueraunce,—
Thi counseil and thin hey comaundëment
Obseruyng with his hertely hool entent.

(3)

He hath nought walked be the wey[ë]s large,
That to the worlde so lusty be, & grene;
But he hath be ententif to thi charge,
ffrom dedly synne to kepe him selfë clene,
And gon) to the wey of trauayle & of tene,
Of penaunce and of tribulacïoun,
In grevous formës of temptacïoun.

(4)

So hath he had in erthe his purgatórye,
wich þat he hath susteyned wilfully;
Wherfor', now receyve him to thi glorye,
And take him up in[to] thi blisse an hye,
with the to be in ioye eternally,
In what degre that to him is condigne,
Right as thi selffë liketh to assigne.

(5)

Honoured be thu, Ihesu graciows,
That man became thi selfe, for mannës nede;
And man thu taughtist to be vertuows,
To servë the be veray love & dreed,
Rewardyng hem with blisse for hirë mede
That don) hire devoire as thei may & kan:
Thanked be thu, [o] Ihesu, god and man!

7. A Lamentation of the Green Tree (the Virgin), Complaining of Losing her Apple (Jesus)

(7) A lamentacioun of the grene tree, complaynyng of the losyng of hire appiH.

[40 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

O fader god, how fers & how cruel,
In whom the list or wilt, canst þou the make!
Whom wilt thu spare? ne wot I neuere a deel,
Sithe thu thi sone hast to the deth be-take,
That the offended neuere, ne dide wrake,
Or mystook him to the, or disobeyde,
Ne to non othere dide he harm, or seide.

(2)

I had ioye éntiere, & also gladnesse,
Whan þou be-took him me to clothe & wrappe
In mannës flesch. I wend, in sothfastnesse,
Have had for euere Ioyë be the lappe;
But now hath sorwe caught me with his trappe;
Mi ioye hath made a permutacioun
With wepyng & eek lamentacioun.

(3)

O holy gost, þat art alle comfortoure
Of woful hertës that wofullë be,
And art hire veray helpe & counceyloure,
That [eke] of hey vertue shadówist me
Whan þat the clernesse of thi diuinite
So shynyng in my feerful gost alight,
Which that me sore agasted & affright,—

(4)

Whi hast thu me not in thi rémembraunce
Now at this tymë, right as thu had tho?
O whi is it noght [vn-]to thin pleasaunce
Now for to schadwe me as weel also,
That hid from me myght be my sonës woo?
Wherof, if þat I may no counfort haue,
ffrom deth-is strok there may no thing me save.

(5)

O gaubriel, whan þat thu come a place,
And madest vnto me thi salewyng,
And seidist thus: "heil, Mary, ful of grace!"
Whi ne had thu gové [to] me warnyng
Of þat gracë that veyn is and faylyng?
As thu now seest, & sey it weel beforne,
Sith my ioye is me rafte, my grace is lorne.

(6)

O thu elizabeth, my cosyn dere,
The word[ës] þat thu spak in the mountayne
Be ended al in á-nothére manere
Than thu had wened; my blissyng in-to peyne
Retorned is; of ioye am I bareyne;
I song to sone; for I sang be the morwe,
And now at evene I wepe and makë sorwe.

(7) [See Minor Poems I, p. 1—8.]

O woman, þat among the poepil speke,
how that the wombë blissed was þat bere,
And the tetýs þat gave to sowkë eek
The sone of god, the which þat hongith hire,
What seist þou now? whi comest þou not nere?
Whi art thu not here? a, woman! where art thu,
That noght ne seest my woful body nowe?

(8)

O Symeon, þou seidist me ful sothe,
"the strook þat perchë schal my sones herte,
Myn sowle eek thirle it schal"; & so it doth;
The wonde of deth [ne] may I not astirte;
There may no martirdam me makë smerte
So sore as this martírdam smertith me:
So schuld he sey, þat myght myn) hurtë see.

(9)

O Ioachim, a, derë fadir myn),
And thu seint anne, my dere modire also,
To what entent, or to what ende or¹ fyne [¹ MS. of]
Engendred ye, me þat am greved soo?
Mirthe to me is become a veray foo:
Youre fadire dauid, þat an harpowre was,
Conforted men þat stod in hevy cas.

(10)

Me thinkith ye do not to me aright,
that were his súccessoures, sith instrument
Have ye now) left, wherwith to hauë light,
And me counfort in my woful turment.
Me to [doon] esë, have ye no talent,
And knowë my counfort[e]les distresse:
Ye aught to wepë for myn) hevynesse.

(11)

O blissed sone, on the wil I owt-throwe
My salt[ë] teres; for singulerly on the
My loke is sette. o, thinke how many a throwe
Thu on myn) armës lay, and on my knee
Thu sat, & had many a cusse of me;
Also, the to sowke, of my brestis yaf I,
Thé norissching [right] faire & tenderly.

(12)

Now the, from me, withdrawith bitter deth,
And makith a wrong[ful] disseueraunce.
Think þou not, sone, in me þat ony breth
Endurë may, þat fele al this greuaunce.
Mi martirdom), me hath at vtteraunce;
I nedës stervë mot, sith I the see
Shamefully naked, streit upon this tree.

(13)

And this me sleth, that in the open day
Thin hertis wondë schewith him so wide,
That allë men see and be-holde it may,
So largëly, lo, openèd is thi side;
O, wo is me, þat sith I may not hide!
And, among other of my smert[ë] grevës,
Thu art now put also among [the] thevës,

(14)

As thowe, my sone, had be a wiked wight.
And lest þat som men also, perauenture,
No knowleche had of thi persone a-right,
Pilate hath put up thi name in scripture,
That knowë it may eueri crëature,
ffor þat thi penaunce schuld[ë] not be hid.
O, wo is me, þat see alle this beted!

(15)

How maý my eynë [þat] be-holde alle this,
Refreynë hem to schewë by wepyng
Myn) hert[es] greef? mot I not wepe? o, yis.
Sone, if thu hadist here, fadire lievyng,
þat woldë wepe and makë weymentyng
ffor cause he had[de] part in thi persone,
That were [a] gret abreggyng of my mone.

(16)

But thu, in erthë, fadir had[dist] neuere;
No wight for the, suche cause hath for to wepe,
As now haue I. schalt thu fro me disseuere,
That art aH hooly myn)? my sorwes deepe
Have aH myn) hert-is ioyës leyd to slepe.
No wight with me, in the, my sone, hath part;
Alle holy of my blod, dere child, þou art.

(17)

That dowbleth al my torment & my greef;
Vn-to myn) hert it is confusïon),
Thi harme to see, þat art to me so leef.
Myght not this raunsom) or redempcïon)
Of man, have be withowt effusyon)
Of thi blood? Yis, if it had be thi lust;
But what þat it be do, suffre the must.

(18)

O deth, þat so kithest thi bittirnesse,
ffirst on my sone, and afterward on me,
Bittere art thu, and ful of crabydnesse,
That thus my sone hast slayne with cruelte,
And noght me slest! certayn I wil not flee.
Come of, come [of], and slee me here, as blyff;¹ [¹ MS. be lyff]
ffro him departë wil I not a-lyffe.

(19)

O mones, o sterrës, and thou¹ firmament, [¹ MS. the]
how may ye nowe from wepyng yow restreyne,
And see youre crëature in suche torment?
Ye owght, tourbled to be in euery veyne,
And his dispietows deth with me compleyne.
Wepith and crieth as lowde as euere ye may!
Oure crëature with wrong is slayn this day!

(20)

O Sonnë, with thi cleerë bemys bright,
That seest my child nakéd this non)-is tyde,
Whi suffrist him [thou] in the open sight
Here of this men, vncovered to abide?
Thu art, as muche or more, holde him to hide,
Than² Sem þat heled his fadir Noe [² MS. Tham]
Whan he aspyed þat naked so was he.

(21)

If thu his sonë be, do like there-to!
let see with-drawe thi bemës bright[e]nesse:
þou art to blame, but if þat thu so do.
ffor schame, hide my sones nakidnesse!
Is there in the no droppe of kendënesse?
Remembre, he is thi lord & crëature;
Now covere him for thi worshippe and honoure!

(22)

O erthe, what lust hast thu, so to susteyne
The crosse on which he þat the made, and it,
Is hongëd, and adornëd the with grene
Which þat thu on weredist? how hast thu the qwitte
Vnto thi lord? o, do this for him yitte!
Now qwakë yow for dool, & clevë thu in two,
And alle þat blood, restorë thu me to,

(23)

Which þou hast drunken): it is myn), & not thin.
Or elles thus, with owt[en] tarieng,
Tho bodies deed[ë] which þat in the lyne,
Cast owt: for thei be taste³ of such dewyng [³ MS. tasted]
hem owt to clothe⁴ a-geyn in hire clothing. [⁴ MS. calle hem]
Thu Caluary, art holdë, namëly
So for to do: parde, to the speke I.

(24)

O derë sone, my deth now neighith fast,
Sith to a-nothere thu hast goven me,
Than vnto the; And how may my liffe last,
þat me gevest to ony othere than to the,
Thow [it] so be that he a virgyne bee?
if thu, be Iuste Balaunce, woldest wey aH,
The weight of him & the is not egaH.

(25)

He a disciple is; thu art his lord;
Thu alwey art gretterë than he is;
Be-twyn) youre myghtis is there gret discorde.
My woful turnement¹ dowblyd is be this; [¹ torment]
I nedës mornë must, & fare a-mysse.
it semith þat thu makist départyng
Of the & me, for ay withowt endyng;

(26)

And,² namely, sith thu me but "woman" callest, [² ? MS.]
As I to the were straunge & al vnknowe;
There-throw, my sone, my Ioyës thu appallest;
Weel fele I thát deth hís vengeábiH bowe
hath bent, & me purpósith doun) to throwe;
Of sorwe, takë may I not Inowe,
Sith [that] my namë don) awey is nowe:

(27)

Wel may men calle or namë me "marra"
Fro³ hen[ne]s forth; and so men may me calle. [³ MS. For.]
How schuld I longere be called 'Mária,'
Sith 'I,' which is Ihesus,⁴ is fro me falle [⁴ MS. Sith he the which is called Ihc.]
This day, and my swetnesse [is] in-to galle
Turned, sith 'I'⁵ which was the bëawte, [⁵ MS. he.]
Lo, of my name, this day beraft is me.

(28)

O Iohn, my derë frende, thu hast receyved
A woful modier'; & an hevi sone
have I of the. deth hath myn) other' veyued:
How may we two the deth eschewe or schone?
We drery wightës two, where may we wone?
Thu art of counfort destitute, I se,
And so am I! o, carefull now be we!

(29)

Un-to oure hertës, deth hath sent his wonde;
Non) of vs may allegen othir-is peyne;
So many sorwis in vs two abounde,
We haue no myght fro¹ sorwe vs to restreyne. [¹ MS. for]
I se non othir', but deyë mot we tweyne;
Now let vs stervë here be companye:
Stervë thu there, & right here I wil dye.

(30)

O Aungeles, theï² ye mornë, wayle & wepe, [² though]
Ye do no wrong; for slayn is youre créatoure,
Be the poepil þat ye were wont to kepe,
To gide & lede: thei to the dedës³ schowre [³ death's]
have put him. thow ye have wo & langoure,
No wonder is it: who may blamë yowe?
And most chier' he had, of hem þat him slowe.

(31)

O special love, which þat me ioyned hast
Vnto my sone, ful strong is thi knettyng!
This day, there-inne fynde I a bitter tast;
ffor now I tast & felë the streynyng
Of deth, be thi deth: deth fele I me styng.
O purë modier', what schalt thu now seye?
Pore Maryë! thi witte is now awey.

(32)

Maria, nay, but 'marred' I the call;
So may I weel; for þou art, weel I wot,
Vessel of care & woo, & sorwes alle.
Now þou art frosty coold; now fery hoot;
And right as þat a schippe, or barge or boot,
Among the wawës dryveth sternëles,
So dost thu, woful woman counfortles.

(33)

And also of modier' hast þou lost the style;
No more may thu be called by that name.
O sones of Adam, al to long[ë] while
Ye tarie hens! hastith hedir for schame!
See how my sonë, for youre gilt and blame,
lo, hangith here, bibléd upon the crosse!
Bymeneth him in hert, in chiere & voysse!

(34)

His blody stremës, se now, & be-holde!
if ye to him have [any] affeccïoun,
Now, for his woo, youre hertës owt[en] colde;
Schewyth youre kendnesse & youre dileccioun,
ffor youre gilt makith he correccioun,
And ámendith right be his ownë deth:
That ye noght rewe on him, myn) hert it sleth.

(35)

A, modier', þat so sone hire cotë tare
Or rentë! say ye neuere none or this,
ffor child [the] which [she] of hire body bare,
To yeve hire tete. and my child þat here is,
his cote hath torne, for youre gilt, not for his,
[&] hath of his blood spilt in gret foysoun;
And alle his, lo, for youre redempcïoun!

(36)

My derë childe, my fruyt þat on [me] growed,
Myn) lusty appil, blisful faire and sweet,
Now deth hath him be-clapped with his clowde,
That him perced [vn]to the hertë rote.
Go to, thow man, þere thu myght haue thi bote!
Go suke the Iuce! the is no thing so sweet;
Go take thin part! I rede the not for-gete.

(37)

Go nere, & see how þat he is for-bete,
And alle for-persed sore and pietously!
See how there rennë fyvë stremës grete,
That yelde[n] owt the Iuce habundauntly!
Go sowke therof! I say you faithfully,
In good tyme was he bore, þat hath þat grace,
In tho woundes to make his duellyng place.

(38)

O Aduersari, [t]how cruel dryë tree,
To the speke I! nowe hast þou thi entent;
My sweet[ë] fruyt þou hast be-reved me
A-geyn) my wiH, nothing of myne assent.
I se how al to-Raced and to-rent
On the he hongith: is this weel I-doo?
I bare him monethis nyne, but no thing so.

(39)

O cruel tree, sith thu hast thi desire,
Whi wilt þou not, to my fruyt¹ be fauorábiH, [¹ Scan "to my fruyt" as one measure.]
To saue it hool? but feruentere than the fiere
he fyndeth, & nothing [in thee] agrëáble.
It is to me but alle discountfortáble
To se myn) herte attached the vpon),
ffor he & I, oure hert[ë] is but one.

(40)

Now with my fruyt art þou here openly,
That alle the world it may be-holde & see
Restored, which (I sey the sekerly)
Is more of vertue and of dignyte
Than was the fruyt þat spoyled was from the.
Thu hast thi wiH; thin honoure schal suffise
To the: yelde me my fruyt in goodly wise!

8. The Recording of the Angels' Song of the Nativity of Our Lady

(8) The recordyng of aungeles song of the Natiuite of oure lady.

[7 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

Honured be thu, blisseful lord benigne,
That now vntó man wil be merciáble
As he may se apertly be a signe,
A braunche, þat sprongen is ful profitable,
fful fresch & faire, & heily commendable
Of Iesse-is Rote, þat called is marie,
That schal the blisseful appil fructifie.

(2)

A blisful flour', owt of this spray schal springe;
The fruyt þer-of schal be ful precïous;
A causë haue [we] for to ioye & synge,
In honure of þat maidë gracïous,
That gret comfort schal cause[n] vnto vs;
ffor now schal faste oure company encrees,
And god with man schal makë smallë pees.

(3)

Now be we glad, in honure of this maide,
That schal be modier' of the kyng eterne,
Be whom the raunsom fully schal be paid
ffor man, þat loken is in hellë herne.
Now schal we haue no power' for to warne
Man for [to] entre in-to paradise;
The lord wil sette him at so highe a price.

(4)

Thu, lucifer', þat list in helle I-bounde,
That whylom were one of oure companye,
This maidë schal the vtterly confounde,
And do the muchë schame & vilanye,
Which Eua hast deceyuëd traytouresly,
And made hire trust[en] on thi fals behest,
Wherby thu hast hire lynage alle arest.

(5)

Thu cursed caitiff! mawgre thi malice¹! [¹ MS. malace.]
fful sone he schal be sette owt of thin hande;
Reseised schal he be with paradise;
Thu schalt not be of powire to with-stande;
But, as an hound þat tied is with a bande,
So schalt thu eternally lyn) in thi peyne;
Ne no counfort getist thu, thow þou pleyne.

(6)

To gret distresse & gret desólacioun
A maidë first was déceyvëd be the:
Vnto thi schame and [thi] confusïoun,
A blissed maidë schal thi ladi be.
But weel is him þat schal þat maidë see,
And schal be schent to salue hire, & grete,
And say "heil, mary, maidë faire & sweet!"

(7)

Who euere it be, þat schal do this messáge,
fful weel is him that fyndë may that grace:
It schal him weel suffisë for his wage,
To see þat blissed sweet[ë] lady face.
Now with alle ioyës, myrthë & soláce,
ffor loue of hire honure, we [synge] this day
With alle the songes & myrthës þat we may.

9. The Angels' Song (in Honour of the Virgin Mary)

(9) The aungeles song.

[2 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

Honured be thu, blisful heuene queene,
And worschepid mot þou be in eueri place,
That modier' art, and veari maidë clene!
Of god, oure lord, thu geten hast þat grace.
Thu, cause of Ioyës art, and alle soláce,
Be merite of thi gret humilite,
And by the floure of thi virginite.

(2)

Honured be thu blissed ladi bright!
Be thi persone, embasshëd is natúre;
Of heuene blisse, augmented is the light,
Be presence of so fare a crëature;
Thi worthinessë pasith aH mesúre;
ffor vnto thin astate imperiaH,
No praisyng is, þat may be peregaH.

10. The Angels' Song in the Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord

(10) The aungeles songe in the feste of the Epiphanie of oure lord.

[4 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

Honured be this blissed holy festë day
In worshippe of the sweet[ë] welle of liffe,
With alle the ioyes & mirthë þat we may,
for Crist, the kirke hath chosë to his wiffe;
And fynally abated is þat striffe,
þat him betwyn), & man, hath longë be;
Honured be this blessed Trinite!

(2)

Owt of this welle, so noble licoure ran),
So faire, so fressh, so lusty, hony-sweet,
That sith this first day þat the world be-gan),
With suche a wellë might[ë] no man mete.
Alle heuynesse & malice is for-gete
As toward man; excused clene is hee;
honured be the blissed Trinite!

(3)

This day, so lowe he wold him self incline,
The thrid[dë] festë with his highe persone
To honure, turnyng watir in-to wynne.
This day was Ihesu baptised of seint Iohn;
The fadir-is voice was herd owt of his trone:
"This is my loued sone, þat liketh me."
honured be the souereyn Trinite!

(4)

And þat he schuld haue recorde Autentyk,
The thrid[dë] persone, on oure lord a-light,
The holy gost, vn-to a dowe I-lyk,
That pleyn[ë]ly was seyn) of eueri wight.
Thus blissed hath he watir, god al-myght,
In honure of this [highe] solemnite.
Honured be the blissed Trinite!

11. The Angels' Song on Easter Day

(11) the aungeles song on pask day.

[5 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

Honurèd be thu, Ihesu saueour',
þat for mankendë were do on the rode;
And þerto woldest do vs þat honure,
To fede vs with thi flesche & with thi bloode.
was neuere to vs fleschë halfe so goode;
ffor wonderly oure ioyes it doth renewe.
honured be thu, blissed lord Ihesu!

(2)

Whan thu were died, to hellë þou descended,
And fette hem owt þat [longe] lay there in peyne;
ffor be thi deth, oure mis was alle a-mended.
The thrid day, thu a-roos to lyffe a-geyne
With highe tryumphe, & ioyë souereyn):
As champioun [the chef] of hie vertue,
Honured be þou, blissed lord Ihesu!

(3)

The grevous iourney þat thu took on hande,
hath clerly maad, to eueri wight appere,
In sothfastnesse to see & vnderstonde,—
To þat only was thi talent & thi chiere
So suffisaunt, lo,—that oure raunsoum were
Superhabundaunt over þat was due;
Honured be thu, blisseful lord Ihesu!

(4)

On thursday, a noble soper þou made,
Where thu ordeyned first thi sacrament;
But muchë more it doth oure hertës glade,
The worthi dyner' of this day present,
In which þou schewest thi self omnipotent,
Rising from deth to lyve, it is ful trewe:
Honured be thu, blisful lord Ihesu!

(5)

Now for this festë schal we say the graces,
And worthi is, with alle oure diligence,
And thank the here, & [eke] in allë places,
Of thi ful bountevous benevolence,
Thi myght, thi grace, thi souereyn excellence:
Thu art the ground & welle of alle vertue:
Honured be thu, blisfuH lord Ihesu!

12. The Song of Graces of All Saints on Easter Day

(12) The song of graces of alle seintes upon Paske day.

[4 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

Honured be thu, blisfuH lord a-bove,
That vowchidsaffë this iourny to take,
Man to become, only for man-is love,
And deth to suffre, for my synnës sake;
So hast thu vs owt of the bondë schake,
Of Sathanas, þat held us longe in peyne:
Honured be thu, Ihesu souereyne!

(2)

FuH evele I dede, whan I the appil took;
I wend to haue had therbi prosperite;
It satte so ny my sidës, þat thei ooke;
To greet myschief I fiH from hey degre,
And alle my issue, for be-cause of me;
Now hast þou, lord, restored aH a-geyn):
Honured be thu, Ihesu souereyne!

(3)

So richëly þou hast refresshèd vs,
And vs counfórted with thi feste riaH;
So swet a fruyt, & so delicïows,
So faire it is, and so celestiaH,
That oure disease now is forgotten aH,
This fruyt hath so visíted eueri veyne:
Honured be thu, Ihesu souereyne!

(4)

This may be called weel the fruyt of liff.
The fruyt of deth, was wherof I asaide;
That, be thi Iugëment diffinitiffe,
ffoure thowsande yere I was ful ille araide,
Til þat this fruyt, þat born) was of a maide,
haddë reformed: therefor lat vs seyn),
Honured be thu, Ihesu souereyn)!

13. The Song of Angels and All Saints on the Feast of Pentecost

(13) The aungeles song & alle othir seintes in the feste of Pentecost.

[3 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

Honured be thu, holy gost in hie,
That vn-to poeple of so pore astate
hast youe thi grace, to stondë myghtely
Ageyn tyrauntës fiers & obstynate,
ffor to endwe them with thi principate
To leve hire erroure, & hire liffe to amende:
honured be thu, lord, with-owt[en] ende!

(2)

Thu gave hem wete & cunnyng [for] to preche,
And corage for to stand[ë] be the lawe,
Alle maner' poepil, to wisshe & to teche,
ffrom vices alle hir' lustës to with-drawe,
And of hire lord [&] god to stande in awe,
To his pleasaunce hire hertës to intende:
Honured be thu, lord, with-owt[en] ende!

(3)

This ffischeres alle be ávoyded of slowthe:
ffor blaundisshing, for manasyng, ne for drede,
Thei spared nought, but stodë by the trowthe;
Of peynës & tormént toke thei non) heed,
But fayne to see hire heed & hire sides blede,
[aferd] fful myghtly thi lawys to offende:
Honured be thu, lord, with-owt[en] ende!

14. The Piteous Complaint of the Soul

(14) The pietous complainte of the Soule.

[52 stanzas of 7 lines each, ababb, cc.]

(1)

Blisful lord on heigh, what schall I do,
or in what place may I my selfë hide?
Refute ne wot i non) to drawë to.
no doute I must my Iugëment a-byde;
my foo is alwei redy be my side,
me schapyng to appelë and accuse;
I can no worde myn selffë to excuse.

(2)

I am aryved to a perilous port,
ne knowe I nought to whom I may retourne;
I am arrest; now kan) I non) confort;
mawgre my selfe, right here mot I soiourne;
For my mysshappe, A cause haue I to mourne;
And in my skrippe now fynde I no vetayle,
ne my burdonë doth me nought avayle.

(3)

Burdone ne skrippe may I no lengere bere,
Myne enemy so sore assaileth me;
I holde it best to cast awey this gere,
And shape my selfe preuély for to flee.
O blisful lord, I wis it wele nought be,
And weel þou woot, how þat me hath bywiled
Myne enemy that hath now me defiled.

(4)

Wherfore now I am brought to iugëment,
Sithe I am falle in myschieff and porcert,
Ne I ne may, to myn accusëment,
Ne can nought say but aftir my desert,
And my trespace, that knowë is apert,
If þat I shaH myne¹ réwarde vnderfonge: [¹ MS. alle myne]
Allas! whi have I be synfuH so longe.

(5)

But best it is, if reason) say me trowthe,
That of some helpe I make me purveaunce;
Parde, some wight on me wil havë rewthe;
Asay I shal; but, for my sustenaunce,
My burdone must I bere for suffisaunce,
For, myght withowt[en] it [ne] haue I none;
I bere it nought; it berith my persone.

(6)

Allas, but I haue now experience
Off wis[ë]dam, my selffë to demeane,
To éxcuse me have I none audience,
And alle my witte availeth not a beane;
Thus is myne hope alle discounfórted clene,
I kan nought do but cryë & compleyne,
That charite nought rekkith of my peyne.

(7)

Whi saith Powle, that othere yiftes alle
Schul failë here, but only charite
A-bydyng is, for he kowdë nought falle.
Whethir this be soth? but nay, as it semith me,
He wold[ë] than myne [good] aduócat be,
And somwhat say¹ to helpë in myne cause, [¹ MS. say I]
For I kan nother spekë word ne clause.

(8)

I am adred that charite is deed,
And slayne in erthe, of wikked[ë] men) there,
Withowt[en] eyre or issue of hire seed,
Left here on highë:—lo, this is my fere;
And if I wiste that sche on lyvë were,
I wold not spare to callë and [to] crie,
If I hire, in oný place myght a-spie.

(9)

O charite, so good & so gracious!
Thu hast be euere to tho þat have nede!
I that am in this brikë perilous,—
That, in myne schippe, my self[ë] for to fede
Haue I no bred now of thin almësdede,—
Somwhat thu helpe, myn hunger to abate,
Havyng reward vnto my pouer astate.

(10)

I meanë thus: if ony part of grace
Reserued be, in tresoure or ellës where,
That thu, for me purveyë and purchase
Wolde vouchësaff, gret wondere but there were
I-nowgh for me: nought ellës I require;
Do somwhat, than, aftir thi propirte,
And schewe whi thu art cleped charite.

(11)

But now, allas, ful weel I may recorde,
Whil I had myght and space of tyme I-nowgh,
Of this mattere, towchid I no word,
Ne, to seint, I tho my self[ë] drowgh,
That in myne nede for me may spekë now,
As for no service that I have to him do:
Wot I not, whom to make my monë to.

(12)

If I, to ony seint in specïal
Had ony thing [i]forsed myne entent
With ony service, othir' gret or smaH,
I wold me have avaylèd in present;
But thus have I be slowe and necligent,
That I no freend have made, ne no seint pleased;
Wherfore, as now, am I [right iH] disseased.

(13)

To hem am I a straunger' and vnknowe;
I knowe nought, to whom I shal my selffe dresse
To askë helpe, as I suppose and trowe,
Ther is none that wold done that besynesse;
And nought for this, I be-hotë expresse,
Vnto hem I wiH [both] compleyne and crye,
To make my causë knowen) openly.

(14)

To the, Ihesu, the sone of god above,
That were of mary, verray maidë, borne
In very flesch and blood, for mannës love,
To the, will I now áppelë beforne,
Syn) thu art man, and forthermore
Oure brothir', and a part of ourë kynde:
Good is to us that we thi fauoure fynde.

(15)

This dare I say, sithe that thu wilfully
Where done to deth, only for mannës sake,
And of thi selfe whas none encheasoun whi,
This knowe I weel, þou wilt it nought forsake,
To alle that wiH vnto thi grace him take,
And askë it: as oftë I haue lerned,
Was neuere yitte none, to whom it was warned.

(16)

This woot I weel, I haue ful sore offendid
Thi maiestes; wherof I me repente.
Ful late it was, or I my selfe amended,
But yitte ne come it neuere in myne entente
To disallowë thi gouérnëmente;
That 'lord and kyng' I have callëd the euere;
Thi lawës also ne forsoke I neuere.

(17)

My scrippe of feithë, haue I nought for-lete,
but hool, right as it was [i]takë me,
I have it kepte; but that no thinges gret[e]
(This knowe I weel) susteigned I for the,
Nor do that I was bound of duëte.
Yitte wote I weel, so gret is nought my synne,
as grace & mercy is, Ihesu withinne.¹ [¹ MS. the withinne.]

(18)

Away, yit nought, eueri deel that grace
Dispendid is, that tho in thi persone
was plentevous whan, with so pale a face,
For me thu hengë on the crosse alone;
But, for we beggyng wrecchis euerychone
Be procuryng alway for our purveaunce,
Thi grace thu woldest hiden) now purchaunce.

(19)

Yitte may we, by the persèd holës weH,
And be tho also that large be, & wide,
Behalde and see, that certeyn) euerideH
Now spended is, though that thu woldest it hide;
For thowe there ran) a Rever' from thi side,
That alle the world hath fully ouerflowen),
Thi grace is hool, as euery man may knowen.

(20)

Sithe yitte thi grace is nought dispendid aH,
With that thu hast me schewid to the tyme present,
And² come, and with the thus argue I schaH, [² ? Now]
"Sithe it alway hath ben) [so] affluent,
Discreasyng nought, ne none appeyrëment
Be-fallith it, thoughe neuere so largëly
Thou yeve it where thu list habundauntly,

(21)

Thu owist to defendë me this day,
kepyng my cause, that stondith al in dowte
A-geyn my foo, with aH that euere he may.
Thi grace, me to be-revyn) is a-bowte,
And, me for to passen al with-out;
Ful ofte he hath grevèd me here-be-fore,
And hopith now that aH I haue forlore.

(22)

Though þat my speche be sownyng to foly,
Yitte, blissed Lord, displease it nought to the,
That to haue spokë of aduócacie,
So that thu schuldest myn aduócat be:
Thu Art the souereigne iuge of equite,
And nought for-thi, to hem that to the truste,
Here aduocat thu art, whan that the liste.

(23)

For, sothe it is, where synne and wrechidnesse
A-boundeth most, there nedeth most[ë] grace,
To tho that askë thë for-gevënesse,
It sittith the nought to wrye awey thin face;
Thi charite wiH cleyme there is a place:
But this were southe, gret peril must redounde.
Al mortal men with mischief to confounde."

(24)

Now maide & modier', of this worlde Princesse,
So ful of gracë fulfilled thu were
Whan gaubriel his massage gan expresse,
And 'Aue' was resownyng in thin ere,
By wich oure lord, blissed saueoure thu bere,
And of thi blood he took his humanite,—
My cause also I áppele vnto the,

(25)

As aduocate for man, & procuresse
Approovid oftë be experience,
So be myne helpe to ávoide and represse
Myne enemy, wich that be violence
Wold schend[ë] me, but if¹ thi résistence, [¹ ? for]
Now be myne helpe, o blisful qwene!
So lat somwhat² of thi grace on me be sene! [² ? some]

(26)

Sith that thi sone and thu of one accorde
Be vearili, (as reason is that ye be),
I, that for dreed vnnethe kan) speke a worde,
But tremble as doth a leef vpon) a tree,
Thu, ladi ful of merci and piete,
Now must thu be myne helpe and myne socoure
Of refute, in this áuentóurës howre!

(27)

For, but thu wilt my causë [now] defende
A-geyn[ës] him wich is thyne enemy,
that redi is, to greve and to offende
Bothe the, and allë that wolde hertely
The servë, and thi blisful sone also,
he wiH hem castë in-to hellë dike,
And berith me an hande þat I am him like.

(28)

I ám like, now that I haue done a-mys,
Eternal deth deserued with my dede;
But, gracïous queen[ë] of heuene blisse,
Thu be myne helpe and counfort in this nede,
But I recordë—and this is my dreed,—
That wonder sympillë¹ I have the served, [¹ ? synfullye]
So that I haue no thing of the deserved.

(29)

And nought for-thi, thes burdon is my trest,
In wich I have my solace & my disport;
Of² this pomel wiH I my self[ë] rest, [² ? On]
That specially to me geuith gret counfort;
My febiH gost it helpith to support,
That is, thi selfë, moder', maide and wiffe,
The sustenaunce and solace of my liffe.

(30)

And I schal neuere trowë ne suppose,
Sithe he, the wich of merci is the welle,
Within thi sidës wold him selfë close,
Right as thi childe, in veari flesch & falle,
That he schuld lete the foulë feend of helle
To execute malice, or elles vengeaunce,
On hem þat the besekë with instaunce.

(31)

There is no lyon), ne cruel lyonesse,
So fiers ne so dispietous of corage,
That hire malice attempren¹ and oppresse [¹ ? nil tempren]
Ne wiH cessyn) of hirë felle corage
To the, that lowëly hem selfe wiH wage
With mekë hertë to the ground obeye:
Such is the nature, as this clerkës say.

(32)

I am the same that heighli hath mys-wrought
A-geyn thi childe Ihesu, and also the;
Yit knowe I wel that "lyon" is he nought,
Nor thu no "lyonessë" [fiers] may be.
In you there is no malice ne cruelte;
But mercie, pite, goodnessë & grace,
In you thei have hire veray propir' place.

(33)

Wherfore I schal the pray[ë] and be-seke,
That thu, a-geyn me, nothing be amoeved,
With lowely hertë sith I my-self meke.
Though þat I have thi sone and the agreved,
Be the is alle my trust to be releuyd,
And that thu schalt my quareH take an hande,
This foulë wightës malicë withstande.

(34)

For weel I wottë, thu wold[est] renome,
As for myne causë, wilt thu nought refuse,
Ne that thi grace thu wilt nought warnë me,
But that thu wilt thin ownë maner' vse,
My quareH now to helpë and excuse,
And be my socour' in this perilows day,
Chasyng this foulë gost from me a-way.

(35)

For alwey hath he be myn) enemy
Sith I was child, and [eke] tendre in yowthe.
Me think thu schuldest let[të] him for-thi
To prócede in his accïon) as nowthe,
Or suffre him accusë, thow he cowthe;
Thu schuldest¹ nought berë no fals witnesse, [¹ ? He scholdë]
That is him-self conuicte of cursidnesse.

(36)

For sekirly this is the comon lawe,
That he ne schulde non accion) procede,
That onës owt of courte hath be with-drawe
Convicte as fals,—now here-to takith hede!
This knoweth wel euery wight (it is no dreed),
Thi sone him banysshed from heuen) blisse,
as for enfamed; he and allë his.

(37)

Michael, prouost, on the I take recorde!
Thi selffe dedist this execucïon).
Thow I my selff wolde lyen ony worde,
Yit am I nought of this oppinïon),
To couere so be excusacïon)
Of this infame, the malise of my synne:
This were a folës purpoce to be-gynne.

(38)

But this put I in thi discreacïon̄,
That suche a fals deformèd one as he,
I may refusë be excepcïon),
That this quarel schal nought receyued be
Here in this courte; ne to accusë me
He schuld not be admitted, as be right,
But I-put away, this foulë fals[ë] wight.

(39)

For whi, sere prouost Michael gracïows,
And alle the Aungeles of thi company
That him enfamed, hath foriuged thus,
And fals convictë cleere and openly,
And him [sente] into peyne eternally,
In hellë to be [kepte] without[en] ende,
With tho that so be déformed in kende.

(40)

Ful mek[ë]ly at onës I reclayme
you alle to do your devere in this case:
This cursed gost, whom malice doth enflame,
Here in this court, his malice haue no place:
This aske I you of right, and also of grace,
That ye, his cry & [eke] his bost abate,
þat he neuére more bere aftir estate.

(41)

Seint Michael, if þou rekkest nought at alle,
Ne nought rewardest [on] myne heuynesse,
Alle manere of hope awey from me is falle,
So am I than) encombred with distresse;
For DanyeH the prophete seith expresse,
That in his myschief and suche aduersite
He fonde none othir helpe but only the.¹ [¹ Dan. x. 13: but lo, Michael, one of the chief princes [angels], came to help me. x. 21: And there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince. xii. 1: And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people.]

(42)

Wherfore, if I haue the displeased ought,
So that of me thu takest now none heed,
Aftir this oure, I mote with alle my thought
The done pleasaunce, for betere I schal spede;
For who þat weH be holpen at his nede,
Ful sekere, Placebo mvst go before,
As doth the Crosse in the litel childes lore.

(43)

Baptist, an holy man, martir, seint Iohn,
and alle prophetës of oure lord on heighe,
And ye euaungelistës euerichon),
And also aposteles, alle the company,
With alle myne herte I pray you humb[le]ly,
Of youre meritës superhábundaunce,
As grauntith me of almesse some pietaunce.

(44)

In youre tresoure suche plente is bestowe,
Of wich you nedith nought a deel I-wis,
And lorne it may not be—this weel I knowe,—
Discreasyn) may it nought—the sothe it is—
For whi, of almesse-dede (I pray you this)
That I some manere of porcïon) may haue,
Where-with I may my self[ë] helpe and saue.

(45)

Ye that haue suffird hard and grevous peyne
Of martirdam, for ihesu crist-is love,
Wich, weel I wottë, was not done in veyne,
Yit merite is youre medë muche a-bove;
I that am pore, and gret[e]ly be-hove,
Of helpe I pray you, and [of] almës-dede,
Of youre meriteis, helpith at this nede!

(46)

And sithë thei schul endëles endure,
Thei wastë nought be dymynucïon):
To me, that am so pore a crëature,
Of almesse grauntith now a porcïon),
I you require, with hool affeccïon),
That blisful that sittith an highe in trone,
Appelith him as töward my persone.

(47)

Ye cónfessourës, and ye othir seintes,
And uirginës þat to Crist be so dere,
Entendith to my pietous complayntes,
Be moevid [now] with rewthe vpon) my chiere;
For woman none, the wich that is ful nere
To childe-beryng, so of her' peynës dredeth,
As I woot that my iugëment procedeth.

(48)

And if that ye, of youre meriteis grete,
Somwhat departen) to so pouere a wight,
ye wil vouchesaff such gracë me to gete,
This foulë gost to putte owt of my sight,
Yitte wolde I hope to Ihesu ful of myght,
Of malice wich he hath a-geyn me spoke,
He schuld be¹ atteynt, & alle his barrës broke. [¹ Scan "He schuld be" as one measure.]

(49)

I have not whom, my selff to turnë to,
In specïal to speke, or elles compleyne,
That may me ony helpe and socoure do,
My symple cause to forthere or susteyne:
That doth me sorë¹ grevë and constreyne. [¹ MS. me sore doth]
The holy Court of Seintës I appele,
Betakyng you my quareH euerideH.

(50)

Ye knowë weel [right] now what is my nede
Ageyn the malice of myne enemy,
þat is a-bowte to noyë and mysbede
Me, nedi wrecchë: help[ë] me forththi!
Geve audience vnto my pietows cry,
And to my Kyng now reconsilë me,
Schewyng the feruoure of youre charite!

(51)

The relieff of youre excellent merites,
Ye preciows seintës chosen euerichon),
A-geyn the malice of this perilous wites
Wich þat the feend [now] puttith me upon,
þat whil I was levyng in flesch and bon),
With his disceiptës and his fraudës fele
He drowe me to, & now me doth appele.

(52)

Seint Poule him-selff[ë] writith in this wise,
And saith that "veray parfight charite
Is a thing þat may to muche poepil suffice";
Sche aboundith nought in propirte.
Sithe it behouith, than, in communalte
Among the nedi to be díspended,
Let myne estate somwhat be ámendid!

[Minor Poems, I, 38/417. Le Sire de Fournivall Tresourer, was appointed of Henry IV's Council on 27 Nov., 8 Hen. IV, 1406.—Proc. Privy Council, i. 295 (ed. Nicolas, 1834). See also Rot. Parl. iii. 572 b.]

Hoccleve's Introduction to his Regement

Che Aegement of Princes.
Leaf 1 in a hand about 1700 a.p.]
Heere begynnyth the Book how )
Prynceys sholden be governyd.

Prolog

(1)

Meene vpon the restles bisynesse
Which that this troubly? world hath ay on honde, _ this woria,
That othir thyng than fruyt of byttirnesse
Ne yeldeth nought, as I can vndirstonde,
At Chestre ynné,* right fast® be the stronde,
As I lay in my bed vp-on a nyght,
Thought me bereft of sleep with® force and myght.

(2)

And many a day and nyght that wykked hyne
Haddé* beforn vexid my poore goost
So grevously, that of anguysh and pyne
No richere man was nougher® in no coost ;
This dar I seyn, may no wight make his boost
That he with thought was bettir® than I aqveynted,
For to the deth it wel nigh hath me feynted. — 14 20 one worse.
1 The first leaf has been torn out of Harl. 4866, but the first
8 stanzas have been copied on another leaf of parchment by a
later hand about 1700 A.D.
2 Signature of Kdward Harley, 2nd Earl of Oxford, who made
the collection of Harleian MSS.
If the ‘B H’ is not the press-
mark, I don’t know what itis.
On the fly-leaf is “See another
copy of this book in this [Harley] Library marked 35 A. Win”

• troubly Reg. 17 D vi, om. H. * Chestres Inne R.
  6 the R.
  7 hadde R, had H.
  REGEMENT.
  Hoceleve fears Ill-Luck may befall him.

(3)

Bysily in my mynde I gan revolue
The welthe onsure of everye creature,
lov lightly that ffortune it can dissolue,
Whan that hir lyst that it no lenger! dure ;
And of the brotylnesse of hyre nature,
My tremlyng hert so greté? gastnesse hadde,
That my spiritis were of my lyfé? sadde.

(4)

andremem- Me fel to mynde* how that, not long ago,
ffortunés strok doun threst estaat royal
Into myscheef4 ; and I took heed also
Of many anothir lord that had a fall ;
In mene® estaat eek sikernesse® at all
Ne saw I noon; but I sey atté laste,
Wher séwrte, for to abyde,* hir caste.

(5)

Yn poore® estaat sche pyght hir paviloun,
To covere hire from the storm?! of descendyng ;
For [that] sche kneew no lowere discencion,
Save oonly deth, fro which no wight lyvyng
Defendyn™ hym may ; and thus, in my musyng, 33
I destitut was of!” joye and good hope,
And to myn esé no thyng koude I groope.

(6)

For right as blyvé ran it in my thought,
1 might lose
Though I be poore, yet som what leese I may ;
Than deemed I that seuréte® would nought
With me abyde, it is nought to hir pay,
Ther to soiurne as sche descendé may ;
And thus vnsikir of my smal lyfloode,
Thought leyd on me fu! many an hevy loode.

• no lenger R, not long H.
  2? grete.. lyfe R, gret.
• mynde R, my mynde H.
• The deposition of Richard IJ, a.p. 1399.
  5 sikirnesse R, siknnesse H.
  ~ sewete for to abide R, tabyde H.
• This page is in a later hand than the rest of the MS.
• In pouere R, Yn the poore H.
  ™ lo kever hir {ro the stroke.
  1 Defende R,
  12 of R, for H.
  14 futt R, om. H.
  Hfoceleve fears Poverty and Change of Fortune.

(7)

I thought eek, if I in-to povert creepe,
Than am I entred in-to sykirnesse ;
But swich seurete myght I ay wayle and weepe,
ffor poverte breedeth but? hevynesse.
Allas! wher is this worldis stabilnesse 2
Heer vp, heer doun ; heer honour, heer repreef ;
Now hool, now seek ; now bounte, now myscheef,

(8)

{ Boecius de’ And whan I haddé rolled vp and doun
‘This worldés? stormy wawés in my mynde
genus infor- T seey weel povert was exclusion?
inisse felicem = Of all weelfaré regnyng in mankynde ;
And how in bookés thus I wryten fynde,
The wersté kynde of wreechednessé is,
A man to hayé been weelfull or this.”

(9)

°** Allas!” poghte I, “ what sykirnesse ys þat
To lyue ay seur of greef and of nuisaunce ?
What schal I do? best is I stryué nat
Agayne þe pays® of fortunés balaunce ;
{for wele I wote, þat hir brotel constaunce,
A wyght no whilé suffer can soiourne
In a plyt; þus nat wiste’ I how to torne.

(10)

ffor whan a man weneþ stond most constant,
þan is he nexté to his ouer throwyng ;
So flyttyng is sche, and so wariant,
Ther is no trust vp-on hir fair lawhyng ;
After glad loue® sche schapiþ hir to styng ;
I was a-drad so of hir gerynesse,
That my lif was but a dedly gladnesse.”
1 but R, nought but H.
2 worldes R, world H.
3 pouertee was conclusion) R.
4 felicem &c. R, homines H.
5 The old writing, c. 1430-40, of Harl. 4866 begins here.
8 looke R.
7 o plite / thus I wist nat RK.
6 peys R.
Hoecleve wants Rest and Solitude.

(11)

Thus ilké nyught I walwyd to and fro,
Sekyng resté; but, certeynly sche
Appeerid noght, for þoght, my crewel fo,
Chaced hadde hir & slepe a-way fro me ;
And for I schuldé not a-loné he,
Agayn my luste, Wach profrid his seruise,
And I admittid hym in heuy wyse.

(12)

So long a nyught ne felde I neuer non,
As was þat samé to my iugément ;
Who so þat thoghty is, is wo-be-gon ;
he poghtful wight is vessel of tament,
per nys no greef to him equipolent ;
He graueþ deppest of seekenesses! alle ;
fful wo is him þat in swich thoght? is falle.

(13)

§] What whyght þat inly pensif is, I trowe,
His moste desire is to be solitarie ;
þat þis is sop, in my persone I knowe,'
ffor eueve whil þat fretynge aduersarie
Myn hert{e] madé to hym tributarie,
In sowkynge of þe fresschest of my blod,
To sorwe soule,* me thoght it dide me good.
1 4)
{] ffor þe nature of heuynesse is þis :
If it haboundé gretly in a wight,
he avoids the Je place eschew7t he where as ioye is,
flor ioye & he not mowe accorde a-ryght ;
As discordant as day is vn-to nyught,
And honur, aduersarie is vn-to schame,
Is heuynessé* so to ioye and game.
' sikenesses R, seekenesse H.
2 caas R.
° heuynes H, So heuynesse is R.
Foceleve is greeted by an old Beggar.

(15)

Whan to þe poghtful whizt is tolde a tale,
He heeriþ it as þogh he pennés were ;
Hys heuy thoghtés hym so plukke & hale
Hyder and pedir, and hym greue & dere,
þat hys erés auayle hym nat a pere ;
He vnderstondeþ no þing what men seye,
So ben his wyttés fer gon hem to pleye.

Hoccleve's Meeting and Dialogue with an Old Beggar

(16)

fe smert of þoght, I by experience
knowe as wel as any man dop lyuynge ;
His frosty swoot & fyry hote feruence,
And troubly dremés, drempt al in wakynge,
My mayzed heed sleeplees han of konnyuge,
And wyt dispoylyd, & so me be-iapyd,
þat after dep ful often haue I gapid.
[HOCCLEVE’S MEETING AND DIALOGUE
WITH AN OLD BEGGAR.

(17)

{ Passe ouer whanne þis stormy nyght was gon,
And day gan at my wyndowe in to prye,
I roos me vp, for booté fonde I non
In myn vnresty bed lenger to lye ;
In-to þe feld I dressed me in hye,
And in my wo, y berte-depe? gan wade,
As he þat was bareyne of þoghtés glade.

(18)

{ By þat I walkyd hadde a certeine tyme,
Were it an houre, I not or more or lesse,
A poore olde horé? man cam walkyng by me,
And seydé, ‘‘ good day, syre, & god yow blysse !”
But I no word; for my seekly distresse
ffor-bad myn eres vsen hire office,
ffor which þis® olde man helde me lewed & nyce,
1 in my wofut hert deepe h.
2 hore R, om. H,
3 this R, þus H.
The Old Beggar talks to Hoccleve,

(19)

Tyl he tooke hedé to my drery chere,
And to my deedly colour pale & wan ;
Thanne thoghte he þus :—þis man þat I se here,
Al wrong is wrestid, by oght þat! I se can:
He sterte vp to* me, & seyde, ‘‘ scleepys þou, man ?
Awake!” & gan me schaké wonder faste,
And wit/ a sigh I answerde atté laste.
Hoceleve and Beggar.)
“1,” quod þis oldé greye,
“Am heer,” & he me toldé the? manere
How he spak to me, as ye herd me seye ;
‘©O man,” quop I, “for eristés loué dere,
@ If þat þou welt aght done at my preyere,
As go þi way, talké to me no more,
þi wordés al annoyen me ful sore ;
Hoeeleve and Beggar.)
] “ Voydé fro me; me list no compaignye ;
Encressé noght my grife ; I haue I-now.”
“My sone, hast þou good lust þi sorwe drye,
And mayst relenéd be? what man art þou ?
Wirke after me! it schal be for þi prow ;
þou nart but ȝong, and hast but litel seen,
And ful seelde is, þat 30ng folk wysé been.
Hoccleve und Beggar.)
“| ‘<If þat þe liké to ben esyd wel,
As* suffre me with þe to talke a whyle.
Art þou aght lettred?”
“ ya,” quod I, “som dele.”
Blissed be god! þan hope I, by seint Gyle,
þat god to þe þi wit schal reconsyle,
Which þat me þinkeþ is fer fro þe went,
þorgh þe assent of þi greuouse tarment.

• wrest by ought that R, wrestid by oght H.
  4 Then R.
  The Old Beggar thinks he can cure Hoceleve.
  { “ Lettered! folk han gretter discreciouy,
  And bet conceyué konne a mannes saw,
  And raper wole apphé to resoun
  And from folyé? soner hem w7th-draw,
  þan he þat noper reson can, ne law,
  Ne lerned hap no manev of* lettrure :
  Plukke vp þin herte! I hope I schal þe cure.”
  1 “Curé, good man? ya, þow arte a fayre leche!
  Curé þi self, þat tremblest as þou gost,
  ffor al þin art wole enden# in þi speche ;
  It lip not in þi power, poré gost,
  To helé me; þou art as seek almost
  As I; first on þi self kypé þin art ;
  And if aght leue, late me þanne haué part.
  { “Go forth þi way, I þe preye, or be stylle ;
  jou dost me more annoy þan þat þou wenest ;
  þou art as ful of clap as is a mylle ;
  þou dost nought® heer, but greuest me & tenest.
  Good man, þou woste but lytyl what þou menest ; 173
  In þe, lipe not redressé my nuysance,®
  And ȝit þou mayste be wele willéd perchaunce.
  Hoccleve and Beggar.)
  4 ‘‘It mosté be a greter’ man of myght
  þan þat þou art, þat scholdé me releue.”
  { “What, sone myn! þou felist not a-right !
  To herkene me, what schal it harme or greue ?
  “ Peter!8 good man, þogh we talke here tyl eue,
  Al is in veyne; þi myght may nat atteyne
  To helé me, swich is my woful peyne.”
  1 Tettred R, Letterd H.
  4 enden R, ende H.
  5 nought R, not H.
  7 moste be a gretter R, most be a grete H.
  8 In the 17th cent. hand; ‘Peter Goodman was perhaps som
  olde man w*. whom hee consulted concerning his pension &c.”
  Peter = by St. Peter.
  The Beggar tells Hoceleve to stop his Loneliness.
  Beggar and Hoecleve.)
  qf “What þat I may or can, ne wost þou noght;
  Hardyly, soné, telle on how it is!”
  Hoecleve says {J “ Man, at a word, it is encombrous þoght
  þat causeþ me þis sorowe & fare! amys.”
  “ Now, sone, & if per no þing be but þis,
  Do as I schal fe seye, & þin estat
  Amende I schal, but þou be obstinat,
  it hell dows J “ And wilfully rebelle & dissobeye,
  And liste not to my loré the conforme ;
  ffor in swiche cas, what scholde I speke or seye,
  Or in my besté wysé þe enforme ?
  If þow it wayue, & take an oper forme
  After þi childissh mysruléd conceyt,
  jou dost vun-to þi self, harm & deceit.
  Ff ‘O þing seye I, if þou go feérlees?
  Al solytarie, & counsel lakke, & rede,
  come þinkeþ, þi gyse is doutelees,
  þou likly art to bere a dotyd? heed.
  Whil þou art soulé,* þoght is wastyng seed,
  Swich in þe, & þat in grete foysoun,
  And þou redeles, nat canst® voyde his poysown.
  ey ee Wf The hoke seiþ þus,—I redde it yore agon,—
  Wo be to hym þat list to ben allone !
  flor if he fallé, helpe ne hap he non
  To rysé’; þis seye I by þi persone ;
  I fonde þe soul, & þi wyttés echone
  ffer fro þe fled, & disparpled ful wyde ;
  Wherefore it semeþ, þe nediþ a gyde,
  1 fare R.
• without a ‘ fere’ or companion, felaweles H,
  3 fonned R,
  The Beggar tells Hoccleve to unburden his Trouble.
  “1 ‘‘ Which þat þe may vnto þi wyttés lede ;
  pout graspist heer & pere, as dop þe blynde,
  And ay mys-gost ; & ȝit haue I no drede,
  If þou receyué wold in-to þi mynde
  My lore, & execute it, þou schalt fynde
  pere-in swiche esé, þat þi maladye
  A-bregge it schal, & þi maléncolye.’
  “fful holsum were it, stynten of þi wo,
  And take vnto þe, spirit of gladnesse ;
  What profyt fyndest þou to mowrné sot
  Salamon seiþ, þat sorowe & heuynesse,
  Bonés of man dryeþ by his duresse,
  And herté glad makiþ florissching age ;
  perfore I redé þou þi wo a-swage.
  qG “ He seiþ, ‘as motthés to a clope annoyen,
  And of his wollé maken it al bare,
  And also as wormés a tre destruen
  porogh hir percyng, riȝt so sorowe and care
  By-reuen man his helpe & his welfare,
  And his dayés a-bregge, & schorte his lyf ;
  lo! what profyt is for to be pensyf ?
  1 ‘‘ Now, godé soné, telle on þi greuaunce ;
  What is þi cause of þoght in special ?
  Hast þou of worldly goodés habundaunce,
  And carist how þat it i-kept be schal ?
  Or art þou nedy, & hast nouȝt but smal,
  And thristist sore? a ryché man to be 4
  Or louest heré þat not loueþ pet?
  1 That R.
  2 trustest sone I.
  3 Or elles lovest thou hir that loveth not the R.
  Hoceleve must tell the Beggar his Troubles.
  q “I haue herd seyn, in kepyng of richesse
  Is thoght and wo, & besy a-wayte al-way ;
  The pore & nedy ek hab heuynesse,
  ffor to his purpos not atteyne he may ;
  þe louer also seen men day by day,
  Prolle after þat, þat he schal neuer fynde ;
  þus þoght turmentiþ folk in sondry kynde.
  “If þou þe fele in any of pese i-greued,
  Or elles what, tell on, in goddés name.
  þou seest al day, þe begger is releued,
  þat sitte and beggeþ, blynd, crokyd & lame ;
  And whi? for he ne lettiþ, for no schame,
  his harmés & his pouert to by-wreye
  To folk, as þey gon by hym in þe weye.
  “ffor, and he kepe hym cloos, & holde his pees,
  [leaf 50]
  And noght out schewe how seek he inward is,
  He may al day so sytten helpélees ;!
  And, soné myn, alpogh he faire? a-mys
  þat hydith so, god wot þe wyt is his ;
  But þis begger his hurtés wol not stele,
  He wele telle al and more ; he can nouȝt hele.
  q ‘‘Ryeht so, if þe liste haue a remedye
  Of þyn annoy þat prikkeþ þe so smerte,
  The verray cause of þin hyd maladye
  þou most discouer, & telle oute al þin herte.
  If þou it hydé, þou schalt not astarte
  þat þou ne fallé schalt in som myschaunce ;
  ffor-þi amendé þou þi gouernaunce.
  ' helpeles R, helplees H.
  5 Thow R, þe H.
  Thought is dangerous.
  Jn. Badby’s Heresy, A.D. 1410.
  {1 “Ge war of þoght, for it is perillous ;
  Tle þe streight wey to discomfdrt men lede ;
  His violence is ful outragéous ;
  Vuwise is he put besy þoght ne dredeþ.
  In whom þat he his mortel venym schedeþ,
  But if a vomyt after folwe blyue,
  At þe port of despeir he may arryue.
  { “Soné, swych thoghté lurkynge þe with-ynne,
  pit huntith after þi confusioun,
  Hy tyme it is to voyde & late hym twynne,
  And walke at largé out of þi prisoun.
  Be war þe fendés sly conclusioun,
  ffor if he may þe vnto déspeir brynge,
  þou morné schalt, & lawgh he wol, & synge.
  4 ‘‘Som man, for lak of occupacioun,
  Museþ forper þanne his wyt may strecche,
  And, at þe fendés instigaciown,
  Dampnable errour holdeþ, & can not flecche
  ffor no counseil ne reed, as dide a wrecche
  Not fern agoo, whiche þat of heresye
  Conuyct, and brent was vn-to ashen drye.
  q ‘<The precious body of oure lorde ihesu
  In forme of brede, he leued no[t]? at al ;
  He was in no þing abassht, ne eschu
  To seye it was but brede material ;
  He seyde, a prestés power was as smal
  As a Rakers, or swiche an oper wi3zte,
  And to mak it, hadde no gretter myȝt.
  1 This stanza has been crossed out with the pen.
  Henry V, when Prince of Wales, tries to save Badby.
  4 “ My lorde þe préncé—god him saue & blesse !— 295
  Was at his deedly castigaciown,
  And of his soulé hadde grete tendernesse,
  Thristyngé soré his sauaciown :
  Grete was his pitous lamentaciown,
  Whan þat þis renegat not woldé blynne
  Of þe stynkyng errour þat he was inne.
  [ ‘* This good lorde hiz3te hym to be sweche a mene 302
  To his fader, oure ligé lorde souereyne,
  renounce his If he renouncé wolde his errour clene,
  And come yn-to oure good byleue ageyne,
  He schulde of his lif seure ben & certeyne,
  And sufficiant lyflode eek scholde he haue,
  Vn-to þe day he clad were in his graue.
  ff ‘Also þis nobyl prince & worpy knyght—
  God quyte hym his charitable labour !—
  Or any stikké kyndled were or light,
  The sacrement, oure blissed saueoure,
  With reuerencé grete & hye honoure
  He fecché leet, þis wrecché to conuerte,
  And make oure feipe to synkyn in his herte.
  {1 “ But al for noght, it woldé not bytyde ;
  He heeld forp his oppynyown dampnable,
  aueopinie® And cast oure holy cristen feiþ a-syde,
  As he þat was to þe fende acceptable.
  By any outward tokyn resonable,
  If he inward hadde any repentaunce,
  þat wote he, þat of no þing hap doutaunce.
• The three following stanzas are all crossed out with the pen.
  Faith cannot be Provd:
  I ‘Lat þe diuinés of hym speke & muse
  Where his soule is by-come, or whider gon ;
  Myn vnkonyng? of þat me schal excuse,
  Of whiche materé knowleche haue I non.
  But woldé! god, tho cristes foos echon,
  as he heeldé? were I-seruéd soo,
  ffor I am seur þat per ben many moo,
  “ The more ruthe is: allas! what men ben þey
  þat hem delyten in swiche surquidrie ?
  ffor mannés reson may not preue oure fey,
  þat þey wole it dispreuen or denye.
  To oure lorde god þat sytte in heuenes hye,
  Schal þey desyre for to ben egal ?
  Nay, þat was neuer, certes, ne be schal.
  4 ‘þat oure lord god seiþ in holy scvipture
  May not be fals; þis knawit every whigt,
  But he be mad; & þogh a creature
  In his goddés werk? feelé not a-ryght,
  Schal he rebelle ageyn his lordés myght,
  _ Which þat þis wydé world hap made of noght,
  ffor reson may not knytte it in his thoght?
  {7 ‘‘ Was it not eek a moustre as in nature
  þat god I-boré was of a virgine !
  Zit is it sop, þogh man be* céniecture
  Of reson, or what he can ymagine,
  Not sanoure it, ne can it détermyne.
  He þat al myghty is, dop as hym lyste ;
  He wole his konnynge hydde be, & nat wyste. 350
  1 wolde R, wold H.
  4 by R.
  3 werkes R.
  The Beggar holds the orthodox Faith; and so does FToccleve.
  7 “Oure feiþ not were vnto vs meritorie
  Tf þat we myghten by reson it preue ;
  meri- Lat vs not fro god twynnen! & his glorie ;
  As holy chirche vs byt, lat vs be-leue ;
  But we pere-to obeye, it schal vs greue
  Importably ; lat vs do as sche byt,
  Oure goedé fadres olde? han folwyd it.
  { “Presumpciown, a! benedicite !
  Why vexest þou folk with þi franesie 4
  þogh no þing ellés were, I seye for me,
  ȝut se how þat þe worpi prelacie,
  And vnder hem þe suffissant clergye,
  Endowyd of profound intelligence,
  Of al þis land werreyen þi sentence ;
  { ‘* That selucé samé to me were a bridel,
  1 submit,
  ȝy whiche wolde I goudérned® ben & gyed,
  And ellis al my labour were in ydel.
  By holy churche I wole be iustitied ;
  To þat, al holly is myn herte applied,
  And euer schal; I truste in goddés grace,
  Swiche surquidrie in me schal haue no place.
  Beggar and Hoccleve.)
  ‘Sone, if god wolé, þou art non of þo
  Jat wrapped ben in þis dampnaciown ?”
  {i “1%* criste forbede it, sire!” seyde I þo;
  J banke it god, non inclinaciown
  Haue I to labour in probacioun
  Of his hy knowleche & his myghty werkys,
  ffur swiche mater, vn-to my wit to® derk is.
  1 twynne R.

For our faders at R.

• gouerned R, gouernend H.
  FToccleve is sound in the Faith, and is better.
  “Of oure feiþ wol I not despute at all ;
  But, at a! word, I in þe sacrament
  Of þe auter fully bileue,? & schal,
  With goddés helpe, while life is to me lent ;
  And, in despyt of þe fendés talent,
  In al oper articles of þe feiþ
  Byleue, as fer as þat holy writ® seiþ.”
  ““ Now good thrifte come vn-to þe, soné dere!
  þi gost is now a-wakyd, wel I se,
  And som-what eke amendid is þi chere ;
  And firste I was ful sore a-gast of þe,
  Lest þat þou thorgh thoght-ful aduersyte,
  Not haddest standen in þi feype a-ryght ;
  Now is myn herté* waxen glad & lygfit.
  Beggar and Hoccleve.)
  “Hast þou in me ony gretter sanour
  þan þat þou haddest first whan þou me sy,
  Whan I opposyd þe of þi langour ?
  {] Seye on þe sopé.”
  {] ‘‘My sone, in fayth, þat is seyde ful feyntly ; 397
  Thi sauour yit ful smal is, as I trowe ;
  But or oght longe, I schal þe sopé knowe.
  “I wote wel, sone, of me þus wold þou þinke :— 400
  þis oldé dotyd Grisel holte him wyse,
  He weneþ maken in myn heed to synke
  His lewed clap, of which set I no pryse ;
  He is a nobil prechowr at deuyse ;
  Gret noyse hap þorgh hys chynnéd® lippés drye
  þis day out past, þe deuel in his eye.
  2 beleue R, I bileue H.
  3 IT beleeue as holy writte R.
  5 This and the 15 following stanzas occur as a separate poem
  in Laud 735, If. 67, &e. (Bodl. Lib.), and I so printed em in ny
  Queene Llizubethes Achademy (Ki. BK. 'T. Soe.), p. 105.
  6 thynne Rh.
  The Abuse of wide furd Gowns and long Sleeves.
  “But þogh I olde & hore be, soné myin,
  And poré be my clethyng & aray,
  And not so wyde a gowne haue, as is þin,
  So smal I-pynchid, ne so fresche and gay,
  Mi redde, in happé,! ȝit the perfet? may ;
  And likly, þat þou demest for folye,®
  Is gretter wysdom þan þou canste espye.
  J “ Vndir an old pore habyt, regneþ oft
  Grete vertu, þogh it moustre porély ;
  And where as gret array is vp on loft,
  Vice is but seelden hid ; þat wel wote I.
  But not report, I pray þe, inwardly,
  þat fresch array I generally depraue ;
  þis worpi men mowe it wel vse & haue.
  {] “ But þis me þinkiþ an abusiown,
  Lo se ont walke in gownés of scarlet,
  Xij 3erdés wyd, wit® pendant sleues downe
  On þe grounde, & þe furrour þer-in set
  Amountyng vnto twenty® pound or bet ;
  And if he for it payde haue, he no good
  Hap lefte him where-wit for to bye an hood.
  ‘i “ ffor þogh he ietté* forth a-mong þe prees,
  And ouer loké euerey poré wight,
  Such wearers His cofre and eke his purs ben penylees
  He hap no moré þan he gop in ryght.
  ffor lond, rent, or catel, he may go liglit ;
  e it of hem schal not so moché peyse
  As dop his gowne: is swiche array to preyse? 434
  6 MS, xxti
  4 one R.
  The Poor wear too fine Clothes.
  {1 “ Nay sothely, sone, it is al a-mys me þinkyþ ;
  So pore a wight his lord to counterfete
  In his array, in my conceyit it stynkith.
  Certes to blamé ben þe lordés grete,
  If þat I dursté seyn, þat hir men lete
  Vsurpé swiche a lordly apparaille,
  Is! not worp, my childe, with-outen fayle.
  “ Som tyme, afer men myghten lordés knowe
  By there array, from oper folke ; but now
  A man schal stody and musen a long? throwe
  Whiche is whiche : 0 lordes, it sit to yowe
  Amendé þis, for it is for youre prowe.
  If twixt yow and youre men no difference
  Be in array, lesse is youre reuerence.
  {] “ Also ther is another newé get,
  A foul wast of cloth and an excessyf ;
  Ther goth no lesse in a mannés tipet
  Than of brood cloth a yerdé, by my lif;
  Me thynkyth this a verray inductif
  Vuto stelthe: ware hem of henmpen lane!
  ffor stelthe is medid with a chekelew bane.
  { “ Let euere lord, his owné men deffende
  Swiche gret array, and þan, on my peryl,
  This land within a whilé schal amende.
  In goddys namé, putte it in exyl!
  It is synné outragious and vyl ;
  Lordés, if ye your éstat and honour
  Louen, fleemyth this vicius errour !
  Cp. our modern slang ‘‘it is not good enongh.”
• muse a longe throwe R.
  REGEMENT,
  The Evils of Long Sleeves and wasteful Dress.
  “ What is a lord withouten his meynee ?
  I putté cas, þat his foos hym assaille
  Sodenly in þe stret,—What help schal he,
  Wos sleeués encombrous so sydé traille,
  Do to his lord? he may hym nat auaille ;
  In swych a cas he nys but a womman ;
  He may nat stand hym in steed of a man.
  His arms ean {| “ His armys two han ryght y-now to done,
  And sumwhat more, his sleeués vp to holde ;
  The taillours, trow I, moot heer-after soone
  Shape in þe feeld; thay shal nat sprede and folde
  On hir bord, thogh þei neuer sé fayn wolde,
  The cloth þat shal ben in a gowné wroght ;
  Take an hool cloth is best, for lesse is noght.
  “ The skynner vn-to þe feeld moot also,
  His hous in london is to streyt & scars
  To doon his craft; sum tyme it was nat so.
  O lordés, yeue vnto your men hir pars
  That so doon, and aqwente hem bet with mars,
  God of bataile ; he loueth non array
  That hurtyth manhode at preef or assay.
  “ Who now moost may bere on his bak at ones
  Of cloth and furrow, hath a fressch renoun ;
  clept for þe nones ;
  But drapers & eek skynners in þe toun,
  ffor swich folk han a special orisoun!
  That troppid is with curses heere & there,
  And ay schal, til þei paid be for hir gere.
  ' orisoune R, orsoun H.
  Dress stops Hospitality.
  John of Gaunt is praisd.
  “ In dayés oldé, whan smal apparaille
  Suffisid vn-to hy estat or mene,
  Was gret houshold wel stuffid of victaille ;
  But now housholdes ben ful sclender & lene,
  ffor al þe good þat men may repe or glene,
  Wasted is in outragéous array,
  So that housholdés men nat holdé may.
  “| “ Pryde hath wel leuer bere an hungry mawe
  To beddé, than lakke of array outrage ;
  He no prys settith! be mesurés lawe,
  Ne takith of hym cloth[é], mete, ne wage :
  Mesure is out of londe on pylgrymage ;
  But I suppose he schal resorte as blyue,
  flor verray needé wol? vs ther-to dryue.
  q “ Ther may no lord tak vp no? newé gyse
  But þat a knaué shal þe same vp take.
  If lordés wolden in þis wyse,
  ffor to do swiché gownés to hem make
  As men did in old tyme, I vndertake
  The samé get* sholde vp be take and vsid,
  And al þis costelew® outrage refusid.
  { “ Of lancastre duk Iohn, whos soule in heuene
  I fully deme, And trusté sit ful hye—
  A noble prince I may allegge & neuene,
  (Other may no man of hym testifye)—
  I neuer sy a lord that cowde hym gye
  Bet like his éstat ; al knyghtly prowesse
  Was to hym girt: o god! his soulé blisse !
  1 getteth R, setthit H.
  2 wole R, wel H.
  4 jette R.

costeleue R, costlew H.
The Streets are swept by Long Sleeves, not Brooms.
“ His garnamentés weren noght ful wyde,
And yit þei hym becam wondérly wel.
Now wold[é] god þe waast of cloth & pryde
Y-put were in exyl perpetuel,
ffor þe good and profet? vniuersel.
And lordes myght helpe? al this, if þei wolde
The olde get take, and it furth vse & holde.*
Then there'd € “ Than myghté* siluer walké moré thikke
Among þe peple þan þat it dop now ;
Ther wold I fayne þat were y-set þe prikke,—
Nat for my self; I schal doo wel ynow,—
But, soné, for þat swiché men as thow
That with þe world wrastlen, myght han plente
Of coyn, where as ye han now scarsetee.
“ Now hath þis lord® but litil neede of broomes
_.‘['o swepe a-way þe lilthe out of þe street,
Syn syde slenés of peny lees gromes
Wile it vp likké, be it drye or weet.
O engelond! stande vp-ryght on thy feet!
So foul a wast in so symple degree
Bannysshe! or sore it schal repenté the.
“Tf a wight vertuous, but narwe clothid®,
To lordés curtés now of? dayés go,
His compaignye is vn-to folkés lothid ;
Men passen by hym bothé to and fro,
And scorne hym, for he is arrayed so ;
To hir conceit is no wight vertuous,
But he þat of array is outrageous.
1 profite R.
2 do R.

• jette vp take, and it forth holde R.
  ® with narwe clothes R.
  7 courtes now a R.
  Lruth is put below Flattery.
  {] “ But he that flater can, or be a baude,
  And by tho tweyné, fressch array him gete,
  It holden is to him honur & laude.!
  Trouth and clennessé musten men for-gete
  In lordés courtés, for they hertés frete ;
  They hyndren folk: fy vpon tongés trewe !
  They displesaunce in lordés courtés breewe.
  { “ Lo, soné myn, þat? tale is at an eende:
  Now, goodé sone, haue of me no desdeyn,
  Thogh I be old, and myn array vntheende ;
  ffor many a yong man, wot I wel certeyn,
  Of corage is so prowde and so hauteyn,
  That to þe poore and old mannés doctrzne,
  fful seelde him deyneth bowen or enclyne.
  “ Senek seiþ, ‘ age is an infirmitee
  Jat leché non can curé, ne it hele,
  ffor to þe dep next neghéburgh is he ;
  Ther may no wight þe chartre of lyf ensele,
  The ende is dep of male & of femele ;
  No thyng is moré certein þan dep is,
  Ne more vneertein þan þe tyme I-wis.’
  q « As touchyng agé, god in holy writ
  Ryglit þus seiþ: ‘fader & moder honure,”
  þat þou mayste be longlyued :’ þus he byt.
  þan moot it folwen vpon þis scripture,
  Age is a guerdown to a creature,
  And longlyuéd is non weth-outen age ;
  Where-for I seye, in eld is auauntage.
  2 this R.
  1 Jaude R, laue H.
  3 Non-Chaucerian ryme -owre with -wre, as in the ** Mother
  See Forewords to Hoccleve’s Minor Poems, Part I,
  Youth goes to Taverns.
  “ And fe reuard of god may not be smal,
  His ȝiftés ben ful noble & profitabil ;
  ffor-þi ne lakké þou not age at al ;
  Whan yoube is past, is agé sesonable.
  Age hap in-sighte how vnsure & vnstable
  þis worldés cours is, by lengthe of his yeeres,
  And can deffende hym from his scharpé breres.
  “ Lord, wheper it be maystrie to knowe
  Whan a man ofte hap sundry weyés ride
  Which is þe besté? nay, for sope I trowe ;
  Right so he þat hap many a world abyde
  her he in youpé wroghté mis or dyde,
  His age it seep, & byt him it eschue,
  And seekiþ weyés couenable & due.
  “* Whan þat þou hast assaydé bopé two,
  Sad age, I seye, after þi skittish yoube,
  ONE þou must nedys atteyné ther-to,
  Or sterué ȝong, þan trowe I þou wolt bowe þe
  To swiché conceytés as I haue nowpe!;
  And panké god deuoutly in þin herte
  fat he hap suffred þe þi youthe asterte.
  {i “ Youthé? ful smal® reward hath to goodnesse,
  And peril dredith he non, wot I wel;
  Al his deuocioun and holynesse
  At tauerne is, as for þe mosté* del ;
  To Bachus signe & to þe leuésel
  His youpe him haliþ; & whan it him happiþ
  To chirché gon, of nyceti he clappiþ.
  The Beggar, when young, frequented the Tavern.
  “ The causé why men oghten pider gon,
  Nat conceyue! can his wyldé steerissh heed
  To telle it him, for thogh men sowen seed
  Of vertu in a yong man, it is deed
  As blyue, his rebel goost it mortifieþ ;
  Al þing sauf folye in a yong man dieþ.
  “ Whan I was yong I was ful rechélees,
  Prowde, nyce, and riotous for þe maystrie,
  And, among oper, consciencélees ;
  By þat sette I naght þe worp of a flye ;
  And of hem haunted I þe compaignie
  þat went on pylgrymagé to tauerne,
  Which be-for vnthrift beriþ þe lanterne.
  “ There offryd I wel moré þan my type,
  And wit-drowe holy chirche his? duétee ;
  My frendés me counseyléd often sipe,
  þat I, with lownesse & humylitee,
  To my curat go scholde, & make his gree ;
  But straw vnto hir reed! wolde I nat bowe
  ffor aght þey kouden preyen aH, or wowe.
  q “ Whan folk wel rulyd dressyd hem to bedde,
  In tymé due by redé of nature,
  To þe tauerné quykly I me spedde,
  And pleyde at dees while þe nyghte wolde endure.
  here, þe former of euery creature
  Dismembred y with opés grete, & rente
  Lyme for lyme, or þat I pennés wente.
  1 conceyue R, cause H.
  The Beggar used to adulterise and fornicate.
  Tea tei q “ And ofte it fals was þat I swoer or spak,
  ffor þe desire feruént of couetyse
  ffonde! in peritrie no defaute or lak,
  But euer entyced me þat in al wyse
  Myn opés greté I scholde excercyse ;
  And specially for lucre, in al manere
  Swere and for-swere with boldé face & chere. 637
  “ But þis condicioun, lo, hadde I euere :
  þoch I prowde were in wordés or in speche,
  Whan strokés cam a? place, I gan disseuere
  ffro? my felawés ; soghte I neuere leeche
  ffor hurt which I there* toke ; what scholde I seche
  A salué, whan I þer-of hadde no nede?
  IT hurtlees was ay, purgh impressyd drede.
  “ “Tho myghte I spende an hundred® mark by ȝere,
  Al thyng deduct,® my sone, I gabbé noght ;
  I was so prowde, I helde no man my pere ;
  In pryde & leccherye was al my þoght ;
  No more I haddé set þerby or roghit,
  A wif or mayde or nuné to deffoule,
  Than scheete, or pleyén’ at þe bal or boule.
  Thadaheap {J “ Ryght nycé girlés at my retenue
  Hadde I an heep, wyués & opere mo ;
  What so þey weré, I wolde non eschue :
  And yeerés felé I contynued so ;
  Allas! I no þing was war of þe wo
  Jat folwyd me; I lookyd nat behynde ;
  Conceytés yongé® ben ful derke & blynde.
  1 Fonde I R.
  3 Fro R, For H.
  4 there R, om. H.
  7 pleyn H, pleye R.
  8 yonge R, yong H.
  The Beggar loses all his Money, and has nothing.
  I “ An office also hadde I lucratyf,
  An wan y-nowgh, god wot, & mochel more ;
  But neuer þoght I, in al my yongé! lyf,
  What I iniustly gat, for to restore ;
  Wherefore I now repenté wonder sore ;
  As yt mysgoten was, mys was despendid,
  Of whiche oure lord god gretly was offendid.
  q ‘“ He sy I nolde absteené for no good
  Of myn outragéous iniquitee ;
  And whan þat his lust was, w7th-drow þe flood
  Of welpe, & at grounde ebbé sette he me;
  With pouert for my gylt me feffed he,
  Swiche? wreché toke he for my cursyd synne ;
  No moré good haue I þan I stond inne.
  { “ Gold, siluer, iewel, clop, beddyng, array,
  Ne haue I non, opir þan þou mayste se.
  þis bare olde® russet is nat gay,
  And in my purs so greté sommés be,
  þat pere nys countour in al cristente
  Which þat hem can at any noumbre sette ;
  þat schaltow se; my purs I wole vnschete.
  4 “Come hider to me, sone, & look whedir
  In þis purs per be any croyse or crouche,
  Sauf nedel and prede, & themel of leper ;
  Here seest þow naght þat man may handil or touche ; thimble.
  je feend, men seyn, may hoppen ina pouche
  Whan þat no croys pere-inné may a-pere ;
  And by my purs, þe same I may seye here.
  The Beggar knows God, but has lost his Freends,
  @ “ O wher is now al þe wantoun moneye
  That I was maister of, and gouernour,
  Whan I knewe nat what pouert was to sey ?
  | Now is pouert þe glas and þe merour
  In whiche I se my god, my sauyour.
  Or! pouert cam, wiste I nat what god was ;
  But now I knowe, & se hym in þis glas.
  All my fine q ‘And wheré be my gounés of scarlét,
  Sanguyn, murreye, & blewés sadde & ligihite,
  Grenés also, and þe fayre violet,
  Hors and harneys, fresche and lusty in syghite ?
  My wykked lyf hap put al þis to flighte ;
  But certes ȝit me greueþ most of al,
  My frendschipe is al clené fro me fal.
  “‘O while I stode in wele, I was honoured,
  And many on, of my compaignie glad,
  And now I am mys-lokyd on & loured ;
  pere rekkeþ non how wo? I be bystad.
  O lord! þis world? vnstabyl is, & vnsad,
  þis world hunuriþ* nat mannés persone
  ffor him self, soné, but for good® allone.
  “ ful sop fynde I þe word of salomon,
  þat to moneie obeien allé® þinges ;7
  Contrarien þei my wille & my byddynges ;
  þat in my welbé with here flaterynges
  Helden with me what þat I wroght or seyde,
  Now disobeien þey þat þanne obeyde.
  1 or R, of H.
  2 harde R.
  3 world R, wold H.
  ig honoureth R, hunriþ H.
  “Salamon, Omnia pecunie obediunt : (R. in margin, not in H),
  God has cast the Beggar down, and may raise him up.
  Now seyn bey þus—‘ I wisté wel al-way
  þat him destroyé wolde his fool largesse ;
  I tolde hym so; & euer he seydé nay :’
  And ȝit þey lyen, also! god me blisse ;
  þey me comforted ay in myn excesse,
  And seyde I was a manly man with-alle :
  Hire hony wordys tornen me to galle.
  {1 “God, whiche of his benyngné curteseye
  And of his cheeré? louyng tendirnesse,
  He of his synful hap nat wele? he die,4
  But lyué for tamende his wykkednesse ;
  Hym thanke I, and his infynyt goodnesse ;
  His gracé likiþ þat, porght® worldly peyne,
  My soule eschapé may þe fendés cheyne.
  { “ Iob hadde an heuyer fal þan I, pardee !
  ffor he was clumben hyer in rychesse ;
  And paciently he his aduer'site
  Took, as þe byble beré can wytnesse ;
  And after-ward, god al his heuynesse
  Torned to ioye; and so may he do myne,
  Whan þat it lykiþ to his myght dyuyne.
  { “ Lord, as þe lyst,® ryght so þou to me do,
  But euer I hopé seur ben of þat place
  Whiche þat þi mercy boght vs hap vnto,
  If þat vs list for to sué þi grace.
  A! lord almyghty, in my lyués space,
  Of my gylt graunté þou me répentaunce,
  And þi strook take in greable’ souffraunce.
  1 als H, as R.
  2 chere R, cheer H.
  3 wille R, ‘wele’ is H’s often spelling of ‘will’: see 1. 749.
  4 Scriptum est: Nolo mortem peccatoris, &c. (R. in margin,
  7 charitable R.
  5 thurgh R.
  6 thow lust R.
  Hoceleve begs the Beggars Pardon for his Rudeness.
  @ “TI coude of youpe han talkyd more & tolde
  þan I haue done, but þe day passiþ swipe,
  And eke me leuey is by many folde+
  py greef to knowé, whiche þat sit so ny þe.
  Telle on anon, my goodé sone,” and I the
  Schal® herken, as þou [so longe] hast done me ;
  And, as I can, wele I conseylé þe.”
  q “ Graunt mercy, deré fadir, of youre speche ;
  Ye han ryght wel me comforted & esyd ;
  And hertily I praye yowe, and byseche,
  What I firste to yow spak be nat displesyd ;
  It rewiþ me if I yow haue disesyd,
  And mekely yow byseche I of pavdoun,
  Me stibmittyng vn-to* correccioun.
  {J ‘ I wot wel, first whan þat I with yow mette,
  I was ful mad, and spak ful rudely,
  þogh I nat slepté, yit my spirit mette
  fful angry dremés ; þoght ful bysily
  Vexid my goost, so þat no þing wyste I
  What þat I to yow spak, or what I poghite,
  But here & peré I my seluen soghte.
  {] ‘* T preye yow demeth noght þat in dispyit
  I haddé yow, for age or poueretee ;
  I mente it noght ; but I stode in swiche plyit
  þat it was noping likly vn-to me,
  hogh ye had knowen al my pryuete,
  þat ye myghten my greef þus han abregged
  As ye han done; so sore I was aggregged.
  1 folde R, flode H.
  2 sone R, om. H.
  3 Shatt R, And schal H.
  4 ynto your R,
  . Hoccleve is grateful for the Beggar's Synvpathy.
  “ ffadir, as wisly god me saue and spede,
  Ye ben not he whom þat I wende han founde ;
  Ye ben to me ful welcome in þis nede ;
  I wot wel ye in hy vertu habounde.
  Your wys reed, hope I, helé schal my wounde;
  My day of helpe is present, as me þinkiþ ;
  Youre confort deepe in-to myn herté synketh.
  ““ Myn herté seiþ! þat youre beneuolence,
  Of reuthé meeuéd, & verray pytee
  Of my wo, dop his peyne & diligence
  Me to releue of myn infirmytee.
  O goodé? fadir, blissed mote ye be,
  þat han swich reuthe of my woful estat,
  Which wel ny was of helpé desperat.
  qj “ But, fadir, thogh ther be dyuersitee
  fful gret betwixt your excellent prudénce
  And þe folyé þat regneth in me,
  Yit god it wot, ful litil differénce
  Ts ther betwixt þe hete and þe feruénce
  Of lové wich to agid folk ye haue
  And myn, al-thogh ye deeme I hem depraue.
  Hoceleve and Beggar.)
  {] “ ffor if þat I þe sothé schal confesse,
  The lak of oldé mennés cherisshynge
  Ts cause and ground [eke]* of myn heuynesse,
  And éncheson of my woftt] murnynge ;
  That schal ye knowe, if it be your lykynge,
  þe causé wite of myn aduersitee.”
  ‘his telle on, in þe name of crist,” seyde he; 798
  1 secth R.
  2 goode R, good HH.
  ® cause of the ground R.
  Hoccleve is at the Privy Seal Office, and has an Annuity.
  Beggar and Hoccleve.)
  “ Sauf first, or þow any forthér preceede,!
  On tyng? of þe, wite wold I, my sone;
  Hoccleve has Wher dwelles*® þow?” [ Hoc. ] “ fadir, weth-outen drede,
  In þe office of þe priuee seal I wone ;
  And wryté per, is my custume and wone
  Vn-to þe seel, and haué xx"
  And iiij,* come estren, and that is neer.”’
  “ Now sekir, soné, that is a fair tyme ;
  The token is goode of thy continuance.
  Come hidir, goode,® and sitte a-doun heer by me,
  ffor I mot rest awhile, it is my penance ;
  To me thus longé walke, it doth nusance
  . Vnto my crookid feeble lymés olde,
  That ben so stif, vnnethe I may hem folde.”
  Beggar and Hoccleve.)
  {1 Whan I was set adon, as he me prayede,
  “Telle on,” seyde he, “ how is it with þe, how?” &
  An‘ T began my tale, and þus I seyde :—
  “My ligé lord, þe kyng wich þat is now,
  I fyndé to me gracious ynow ;
  God yelde him! he hap for my long seruise
  Guer-douned§ me in couenable wyse,
  Te {i “In thé schequér, he of his special grace,
  Hath to me grauntid an annuitee
  Of xx" mark, while I haue lyués space.
  Mighte I ay paid ben of þat duétee,
  It schuldé® stondé wel ynow with me ;
  But paiément is hard to gete adayes ;
  And þat me put in many foule affrayes.
  1 procede R.
  3 dwellest R.
• foure R (read ‘ fouré’ ).
  6 now R.
  8 Guerdouned® R, Euer “douned 1Hle
  ® shulde R, schuld H.
  But Hoccleve can’t get his 20 Marks a Year paid regularly.
  1 “It goht? ful streite and scharp or I it haue ;
  If I seur were of it be satisfiéd
  ffro yeer to yeer, than, so god me saue,
  My deepé? rootid grief were remediéd
  Souffissantly ; but how I schal be gyéd
  Heer-after, whan þat I no lenger serue,
  This heuyeth me, so þat I wel ny sterue.
  “ ffor syn þat I now, in myn agé grene,
  And beyng in court, with greté peyne vnneth
  Am paid; in elde, and out of court, I weene
  My purs for þat may be a ferthyng shethe.
  Lo, fader myn, þis dullith me to deth ;
  Now god helpe al! for but he me socoure,
  My futur yeerés lik ben to be soure.
  “‘Seruyse, I wot wel, is non heritage ;
  Whan I am out of court an oper day,
  As I mot, whan vpon me hastiþ age,
  And þat no lengeve I labouré* may,
  Vn-to my poré cote, it is no nay,
  I mote me drawe, & my fortune abyde,
  And suffre storm after þe mery tyde.
  | “Pere preue I schal þe mutabilitec
  Of þis wrechéd worldés affecciown,
  Which, whan þat youthe is past, begynneþ flee.
  ffrendchipe, a dieu! farwel, dileccioun !
  Age is put out of youre proteccioun ;
  His loke vnlusty, & his impotence,
  Qwenchiþ youre loue & youre beneuolence.
  3 crete, R, gret H.
  2 depe R, deep H.
  1 goth KR.

• Jaboure R, labour H.
  Distress of Hoccleve, and of old Fighters for England.
  1 ‘* That after-clap, in my myndé so deepe
  Y-fycched is, & hap swich roote y-caght,
  þat al my ioye & myrthe is leyde to slepe ;
  My schip is wel ney w7th dispeir y-fraght.
  þey þat nat konné lerned be ne taght
  By swiche ensaumples, smerte as þey han seen,
  Me þinkeþ, certes, ouer blyndé been.
  “ Allas! I se reuthe & pitée exiled
  Out of þis land ; allas, compassiown !
  Whan schol ye pre to vs be reconsiled ?
  Youre absence is my greuous passioun ;
  Resorte, I preye yow, to þis regioun ;
  O, come ageyn! þe lak of your presénce
  Manuaceþ me to sterue! in indigence.
  leaf 160)
  allas, þi variaunce !
  How many a gentilman may men nowe se,
  þat whilom in þe werrés olde of fraunce,
  Honured were, & holde in grete cheerte
  ffor hire prowesse in armés, & plente
  Of frendés hadde in youpe, & now, for schame,
  Allas! hir frendeschipe is crokéd & lame.
  “ Now age vnourne a-wey puttép fauour,
  at floury youpe in his seson conquerde ;
  Now al forgete is þe manly labour
  þorgh whiche ful ofté þey hire foos afferde ;
  Now be þo worpi men bet with þe yerde
  Of nede, allas! & non hap of hem routhe ;
  Pyte, I trowe, is beried, by my troupe.
  R, streue H (compare H.’s ‘flode’ for ‘folde,’ 1. 745,
  p. 28; ‘triste’ for ‘thirste,’ I, 901, p. 33)
  FHfoceleve asks for Help to poor old Soldiers.
  {i “If sche be deed, god haue hire soule, I preye;
  And so schal mo hereafter preye, I trowe.
  He þat pretendiþ him of most nobley,
  If he hire lakké,! schal wel wyte & knowe
  þat crueltee, hire foo, may but a throwe
  Hym suffre for to lyue in any welpe ;
  Herté petous, to body & soule is helpe.?
  ‘Ye oldé men of armés þat han knowe
  By syghte & by report hire worpynesse,
  Lat nat mescheef tho men thus ouer-throwe !
  Kythe vp-on hem youre manly gentillesse !
  Ye yongé men þat entre in-to prowesse
  Of armes, eek youre fadres olde hunurith? ;
  Helpe hem your self, or sum good hem procurith ! ¢
  “‘ Knyghthode, awaké! þou slepist to longe ;
  Thy brothir, se, ny dyeth for myschief ;
  A-wake, and rewe vp-on his peynés stronge !
  If þou heer-after come vn-to swych pref,?
  Thow wolt ful soré triste® after releef ;
  þou art nat seur what that ye schal be-fat :
  Welth is ful slipir, be ware lest þou fat!
  {1 “ou þat yclomben art in hy’ honoures,
  And hast þis worldés welth at thy deuys,
  And bathist now in youthés lusty floures,
  Be war, rede I! þou standist on þe ys:
  It hath ben seen, as weleful® and as wys
  As þou, han slide: and þou þat no pitee
  On othir folk hast, who schal rewe on þe ?
  1 lak H R.
  2 But ever after in sorwe and vnwelthe R.
  3 honoure R, hunrith H (as in 1. 706, p. 26).
  4 self with some gode of youre R.
  for ‘sterve,’ 1. 868, p. 32).
  6 thurst R (Compare H.’s ‘streve’
  7 hye R.
  8 wilfutt R.
  REGEMENT.
  Hoceleve has only £4 a Year, besides his Annuity.
  Every man’s] “ Leeué me wel, per is non erthly man
  þat hath so stable a welth, but þat it
  May failé, do he what þat he do kan:
  God, as hym list, visitith folk, & smyt.
  Wher-fore I deme and hold it grace & wit,
  In hy estat, man, god and himself knowe,
  And releeue hem þat myscheef hath doun throwe.
  4| “God willé þat þe nedy be releeued ;
  It is on of þe werkés of mercy ;
  And syn tho men þat ben in armés preeued,
  Ben in-to pouert fallé, trewély
  Ye! men of armés oghten specialy
  Helpe hem: allas! han ye no pitous blood
  That may yow stiré for to do hem good ?
  ‘* O now in ernest, deré fadir myn
  This worthi men to me þe? mirour shewe
  Of sliper frenchipe, and vn-to what fyn
  I drawé? schal w7th-in a yeerés fewe,
  YVp-on þis woful thoght I hakke & hewe,
  And musé so, that vn-to lite I madde,
  And leuer dyé þan lyuén I hadde.
  | ‘Tn faith, fadir, my lyflodé, by-side
  Thainuittee of which aboue I tolde,
  May nat exceedé yeerly in no tyde
  Vj mark ; þat sittiþ* to myn herte so colde,
  Whan þat I look abouten, and byholde
  How scars it is, if þat that othir faille,
  That I nat gladdé can, but murne & waille.
  1 Ye R, þe H.
  4 sitte R, sit H.
  ® glad kan be R, glad can H.
  Hoceleve looks with Anuiety to « Poor Old Age.
  ‘‘ And as ferforth, as I! can deeme or gesse,
  Whan I at homé dwelt in my poore cote,
  I fyndé? schal as frendly slipirnesse
  As tho men now doon, whos frendeschipe is rote.
  Nat wold I rekke as mochel as a mote,
  Thogh I no more hadde of yeerly encrees,
  So that I myght ay paiéd be doutlees.
  “Two partes of my lif, & mochil more,
  I seur am, past ben; I ne doute it noght ;
  And if þat I schold in my yeerés hore
  ffor-go my duétee,® that I haue boght
  With my flessh and my blode, þat heuy thoght
  Which I drede ay, schal fal, as I it thynke ;
  Me hasteth blyue vn-to my pittés brynke.
  | “ ffaylyng, fadir, myn annuite,
  ffoot hoot in me crepith disese and wo ;
  ffor þei þat han by-foré knowen me,
  ffaillyngé good, me failé wole also.
  Who no good hath, is fer his frendés fro ;
  In muk is al þis worldés frendlyhede ;
  My goost is wrappéd in an heuy drede.
  “If þat I hadde of custume, or þis tyme,
  lyued in indigences wrechednesse,
  The lesse heerafter schuld it sit*+ by me ;
  But in myn agé wrastle w7th hardenesse,
  That with hym stroglid® neuere in grennesse
  Of youthé, þat mutacion and chaunge
  An othir day me seemé shulde al straunge.
  3 duetee R, deutce H.
  2 fynde R, fynd H.
  4 sette R.
  5 stroglede R, stroglid H.
  FHoccleve caw’t get on with only £4 a Year.
  ‘He þat neueve knewe þe swetnesse of wele,
  Thogh he it lakke ay, lesse hym greue it schal,
  Than hym þat hath ben weleful yeerés fele,
  And in effect hath felt no greef at al.
  O pouert! god me sheldé fro thy fal!
  O deth! thy strok yit is more agreable
  8 pauper’s
  To me, þan lyue a lyf so miserable.
  £4 a year is {| “VI mare, yeerly, and no more þan þat,
  ffadir, to me, me thynkyth is ful lyte,
  Consideryng, how þat I am nat!
  In housbondryé, lerned worth a myte ;
  Scarsely cowde 1? charre a-way þe kyte
  That me bireué woldé my pullaille ;
  And more axith housbondly® gouernaylle.
  {] ‘* With plow can I nat medlen, ne with harwe,
  Ne wot nat what lond, good is for what corne ;
  And for to lade a cart or fille a barwe,—
  To which I neuer vsed vas* to-forne,—
  My bak vnbuxum hath swich thyng forsworne,
  At instance of writyng, his Werreyour,
  That stowpyng hath hym spilt with his labour.
  f “ Many men, fadir, wenen þat writynge
  No trauaile is; þei hold it but a game:
  Aart hath no foo but swich folk vnkonynge :
  But who so list disport hym in þat same,
  Let hym continue, and he schal fynd it grame;
  It is wel gretter labour þan it seemeth ;
  þe blyndé man of coloures al wrong deemeth. 994 cecus non
  1 T suppose this line to be deliberately made of 9 syllables,—
  ‘how’ serving, with a pause, for the usual 2,—to correspond
  with the 9-syllable line 974 which it rymes with, and in which
  ‘Six,’ with a pause, Tepresents a measure or ‘
  2 knowe I to R.
  ° R. continues: de coloribus ; et nota hie de scriptoribis.
  Writers can’t enjoy themselves :
  “A writer mot thre thyngés to hym kny tte,
  And in tho may be no disseuerance ;
  Mynde, ee, and hand, non may fro ie flitte,
  But in hem mot be ioynt continuance.
  The mynde al hoole with-outen variance
  On þe ee! and hand awayté moot alway,
  And þei two eek on hym;
  so schal wryté, may nat holde a tale
  With hym and hym, ne syngé? this ne that ;
  But al his wittés hoolé, grete and smale,
  Ther must appere, and halden hem ther-at ;
  And syn, he speké may, ne syngé? nat,
  But bothé? two he nedés moot forbere,
  Hir labour to hym is þe alengere.*
  {i “This artificers, se I day be day,
  In þe hotteste of al hir bysynesse
  Yalken and syng, and maké game and play,
  And forth® hir labour passith with gladnesse ;
  But we labour in trauaillous stilnesse ;
  We stowpe and stare vp-on þe sheþés skyn,
  And keepé muste our song and wordés in.
  q “ Wrytyng also doth grete annoyés thre,
  Of which ful fewé folkés taken heede
  Sauf we oure self; and thisé, lo, þei be :
  Stomak is on,® whom stowpyng out of dreede
  Annoyeth soore ; and to our bakkés, neede
  Mot it be? greuous; and þe thrid, our yen,
  Vp-on þe whyté mochel sorwe® dryen.
  3 bothe R, both H.
  2 syng HR.
  1 On eye R.
  6 one R.
  5 forth R, for H.
  4 elengere R.
  8 for to H.
  7 hbo R, om. H.
  Hoceleve has Pains all over.
  Writing for q «What man þat thre § twenti! yeere and more 1023
  23 years
  In wryting hath continued, as haue I,
  T dar wel seyn it smerteth? hym ful sore
  In euere veyne and place of his body ;
  And yen? moost it greeueth trewély*
  Of any crafte þat man can ymagyne:
  ffadir, in feth, it spilt® hath wel ny myne.
  q “Lo, fadir, tolde haue I yow þe substance
  Of al my greef, so as þat I can telle ;
  He knowshe But wel I wot it hath bene gret penance
  To yow with me so longé for to dwelle ;
  I am right sikir it hath ben an helle,
  Yow for to herken me þus iangle & clappe,
  So lewdly in my termés I me wrappe.
  (leaf 19} | “ But nathclees, truste I, your pacience
  Receyué wole in gree my wordés ait ;
  And what mys-seyd I haue, of negligence,
  Ye wole it lete asidé slippe and fait.
  My fadir dere, vn-to your grace I cal ;
  Ye wote my grief ; now redeth me® þe best,
  With-outen whom my goost can han no reste.
  Beggar and Hoccleve.)
  { “ Now, soné myn, hast þou al seid and spoke
  þat pé good likyth?”
  [Hoccl.] “ ya, fadir, as now.”
  Beg.| ‘Sone, if oght in þin herte elles be loke,
  Vnlokke it blyue! com of7; what seist þou?”
  Hocel.| “ ffadir, I can no moré tellé yow
  jan I beforé spoken haue and sayd.”
  Beg.| “A goddes half, sone, I am wel appayd.
  1 xxtiiij H.
  2 smerteth R, smerth H.

• yen R, than H (the same mistake occurs in the Minor

• trewly H, truly R.
  The Beggar remonstrates with Hoceleve.
  “I ‘Conceyued haue I, þat þou gret fere haast
  Of pouert, for to fallen in þe snare ;
  Thow haast per-inné! caght so deep a taast,
  þat of al ioyé þou art voide & bare ;
  jou ny dispeiéd art of al wele-fare,
  And þe strook of pouert art þou fer fro ;
  ffor shamé! why makest þou al this wo?
  4 “T put cas,—as god per-fro þe keepe ! —
  þou were y-faH in indigent pouert ;
  Suldest þou grucche, and thyn annoy by-weepe ?
  Nay! be þou riche or poore, or seke or quert,
  God thank alway, of thyn ese and þi smert ;
  Prydé þe noght for no prosperitee,
  Ne heuye þe for non aduersite.
  4 ‘‘ Pouert hath in himself ynow greuance,
  With-outen þat that man more him purchace ;
  Who-so it taketh in pacient suffraunce,
  It is ful plesant beforn cristés face ;
  And whoso gruchith, forfetith þat grace
  That he schuld han, if þat his pacience
  Withstoode þe grief, and made it résistence.
  q “My sone, as witnessith holy scripture,
  Discreet and honest pouert manyfold
  Commendid is; crist himself, I þe insure,
  To loue and teche and prechen it hath wold.
  He did al þis; be bou neuer so bold,
  A-gayn pouert heer-after grucche, I rede ;
  {fur forther-more in holy wryt I rede ;
  1 inne R, in U.
  The Good of Poverty, and Evil of Wealth.
  { “Beholde þe lyf [eek]1 of our sauéour,
  Right fro the tyme of his natiuite
  Vn-to his deth, as þat seith myn Auctour,
  And tokne in it schal þou non fynde or se,
  Bot of pouert, with which content was he.
  Is man better than god? schal man eschewe
  Swych lyf, syn god fat samé wolde ay swe!
  It’s an Abuse J ‘‘ffy! it is to gret an abusiown,
  To seen a man, þat is but wormés mete,
  Desire richés,? and gret possessioun,
  Wher as our lord god wold hym entremete
  Of no richés ; he deynéd it nat gete ;
  He lyued poorély, and pouert chees,
  þat myghte han ben ful riche ; it is no lees.
  1 ‘‘'The pooié man slepith ful sikirly
  On nyghtés, thogh his doré be noght shit,
  Where-as þe riche, a-beddé bisily
  Casteth and ymagineth in his wit,
  That necessarie vnto him is it
  Barrés and lokkés strongé® for to haue,
  His goed* from theeués for to keep & saue.
  ‘And when þe deed sleep fallith atté laste
  On hym, he dremeth theeués comen in,
  And on his cofres knokke, & leye on faste,
  And some hem pyké® with a sotil gyn,
  And vp is broken, lok, hasp, barre & þyn;
  And in, þe hande goth, and þe bagge out takiþ ;
  ffor sorwe of which, out of his slepe he wakiþ ;
  1 lyfe R,

• richesse R, riche H.
  5 stronge R, strong H.
  Money is valued above Reputation.
  q “ And vp he rysith, foot and hand tremblyng,
  As þat assailed hym þe parlésye? ;
  And at a stirt, withouten tarying,
  Vn-to his cofre he dressith hym in hye;
  Or he there come, he is in poynte to dye ;
  He it vndoth, and opneth, for to se
  If þat his falsé? goddés ther-in be :
  q “He dredith fynde it as þat he hath drempt.
  This worldés power and riche habundance,
  protons potees Of drede of peryl neuere ben exempt ;
  But in pouert is ay* sikir constance :
  Who holdith hym content, hath sufficiance.
  And soné, by my rede þou schalt do so,
  And by desir of good nat sette a slo.
  « Wilful þouért in princes ancien
  So ferforth was, þat þey desired more
  Good loos þan® good ; bot now-of-dayes, men
  Yerne® and desiren after muk so sore,
  þat they good fame han leyd a watir yore,’
  And rekken neuer how longe it per stipe,®
  Or thogh it drenché, so þei good may grype.” 1129
  q “Of Sizilé whilom'® fer was a kyng
  With erthen wessel serued at his table ;
  And men, wondryng faste!! vpon this thyng
  Seyd vn-to hym, it was nat honurable
  To his estat, ne nothyng comendable,
  Axynge hym why hym list be serued so ;
  ‘To which demandé he answerdé tho :
  2 fals H R.
  1 As that hym shoke the palsye R.
  3 SimiliR,
  7 'That her gode fame is leid’ a water thore Rh.
  11 fast wondrede RK.
  10 Cesile somtyme R.
  9 kepe Kt.
  Examples of the King of Sicily and Seipio Africanus.
  ] “He seyd: ‘thogh I kyng be of sizilé,
  A potter was my fadir, is no nay ;
  How long I schal induren, or what while
  In my prosperitee, nat knowe I may:
  ffortunés variance I drede alway ;
  Ryght as sche madé me to clymbe on highte
  Sodenly, so sche may me make alighte.
  q “<I thynke alway of my natiuitee,
  And of my pooré lenage & my blode ;
  ‘lirthen vessel, to swich a man as me
  fful sittyng is, and acceptable & good.’
  O, fewé ben ther now left of þe brood
  That he cam of ; he loued bet profyt
  Commun, than his a-vantage or delyte.
  f “ How seystow by affrycan Scipion ?—
  _-Affrican clept, for þat he affryk wan ;—
  To pouert hadde he swych affecciown,
  Of his owné free wil & lust, þat whan
  He dyed, no good had þis worthy man,
  Wher-with his body in the! erthé brynge,
  But þe comun cost made his enterynge.
  foughinet {| ‘‘ Be-forn þe senat was he bore on honde
  Ones, after he affrik wonnen hadde,
  That he was riche, as þey cowde vnderstonde,
  Of gold: to which, with wordes sobre and sadde,
  Answerde he þus: ‘thogh I be feble & badde, 1160
  The sooth is, vnto youre subieccioun
  I gat Affrik ; of þat haue I renoun.
  1 in the erthe to R, yp on erth H.
  Scipio cared only for Fame.
  The Beggar is very poor.
  {1 “* My namé was al þat I theré! gat ;
  To wynne honowr was only þe purpos
  Whiche þat I took, or þat I cam ther-at ;
  Othir good hadde I non þan riché? loos ;
  ffor al þe good there was, opne or cloos,
  Myn herté myghté*® nat so wel content,
  As þe renoun only, þat I ther hent.’
  41 “ Of coueytise he was no þing coupable,
  He setté4 nat per by, þou mayst wel se.
  ffy on þe! gredynes insaciable,
  Of many a man, þat can nat content be
  Of muk, al thogh neuer so moch haue he!
  The kynde is euere of wreched couetyse,
  To coueyte ay, and haue, and nat suffyse.
  q “TI wold, [that] euery knyght dide now þe same,
  And were of good no moré coueytous
  Than he was: what! to gete a noble fame,
  To knyghthode is tresér most precious ;
  But I was neuere so auenterous,
  Renoun to wynné by swerdés conquest,
  ffor I was bred in 4 pesible nest.
  q ‘“ Vpon my bak come neuere haburgeoun,
  Ne my knyf drew I neuere in violence ;
  I may nat contrefeté Scipion
  In armés, ne his worthi excellence
  Of wilful pouert ; but of indigence
  I am as riche as was euere any man,
  Suffre it in pacience if þat I can.
  2 riche R, rich H.
  1 there R, ther H.
  3 hert myght H R.
  Hoceleve is told that he can just live on £4 a Year.
  {] “ No richer! am I þan þou maist se ;
  OF myne haue I? no thyng to také to;
  So streyte, and lyuedest® as þat I do,
  I se þou woldest sorowe swyché two
  As I; but þou haast for to lyuen on
  A poore lyf; and swych ne haue I non.
  Solomon bade {J “‘ Salamon yaf conseil, men shulden preye
  Two thyngés vn-to god, in soothfastenesse :
  Now herkne, sone, he bad men þus to seye :
  ‘Enhancé þou me, lord, to no richesse,
  Ne by misérie me so sore oppresse,
  That needé for to beggé me compelle :’
  In his prouerhbés þus, lo! can he telle.

4. “ But þis pouert mené® conseiled he
   Men to desyr, þat was necéssarye
   To foode and clooth, dredyng lest plentee
   Of good hem myghté maké to miscarie,
   And fro the knowlegyng of god to varie ;
   And lest smert needé made hem god reneye :
   Now be war, soné, lest þat þou folye.
   ‘I “ Sone, in þis mené pouert holde I þe,
   Sauf þat þou canst nat taken it ful weel.
   ven if Hoc- What thogh þou lesé þin annuytee,
   Yit mayst þou leuen on þat othir del,
   Thogh nat ful delecate schal be þi meel.
   Of vj mare yeerly, mete & drinke & clooth
   Thow geté mayst, my child, with-outen oth.” 1218
   1 No richer R, Now riche H.
   2 TReor. He
   ® livedest R, lyuest H.
   4 tribue necessaria R.
   Hoceleve offers the Beggar half of all he'll. get him.
   i “ Ya, fadir myn, I am nat so perfite
   To take it so; I haue had habundance
   Of welfare ay ; and now stond in þe plite
   Of scarsetee, it were a gret penance
   ffor me: god scheldé me fro þat strait chance! 1223
   Vj marc yeerly, to scars is to sustene
   The charges þat I haue, as þat I wene.
   “Tow on my distaf haue I for to spynne,
   Moré, my fadir, þan ye wot of yit,
   Which ye schal know, or þat I fro yow twynne,
   Yf your good lust be for to heren it ;
   But, for as moche as it nat to me sit,
   Your talé for to! interrupte or breke,
   Here-after to yow wil I þer-of speke.
   “ Yit o worde, fader?; I haue herd men seyn,
   Who-so no good hath, þat he can no good ;
   And þat fynde I, a plat sooth and a pleyn ;
   ffor al-thogh that myn heed, vndir myn hood,
   Was neuere wys, yit while* it with me stood,
   So þat I had siluer resonable,
   litil wytte was sumwhat couenable.
   “ But now, for that I haue but a‘ lyte,
   And lykly am heer-aftir to han lesse,
   My dul wit can to me no-thyng profyte ;
   I am so drad of monyés scantnesse,
   That myn hert is al nakid of lightnesse.
   Wisseth me how to gete a golden salue ;
   And what I haue, I wele it with yow halue.” 1246 eG
   3 while R, wil H.
   2 fader R, om. H.
   1 to R, om. H.
   4 but a R, a large H.
   St. Ambrose’s rich Host.
   Make a Virtue of Necessity.
   {J “ Sone, as for me, nouthir avaunte ne rere ;
   But if disese algatés schal bityde,
   ffor to be pacient, rede I thow leere ;
   ffor any thyng, with-holde hir on þi side ;
   My reed wole it nat, soné, fro the hide ;
   Make of necessite, reed I, vertu ;
   ffor better rede can I non, by Ihesu.
   “ My soné, they þat swymmen in richesse
   Continuelly, and han prosperitee,
   And neuere han felt but weléful swetnesse,
   Vnscourgid ay of any aduersitee,
   Leest god forgete hem, oughten ferdful be ;
   Syn god in holy writ seith in þis wyse,
   ‘Whom so I loue, hym wole I chastyse.’! © 1260
   “ Seint Ambroses legendé seith, how he
   Ones to Romé-ward took his viage,
   And in Tuscié, toward þat contree,
   With a riche ost he took his herbergage ;
   Of whom, as blyué fair in his langage,
   Of his estate enqueren he be-gan ;

• And vnto þat, answerde anon this man:
  “* Right at my lust haue I al worldely welth;
  = Myn estat hath ben ay good, and yit is;
  Richesse haue I, frendschipe, and bodyes helth ;
  Was neuere thynge me happid yit amys.’
  And seint Ambrose,? astonéd sore of this,
  Anon right rowned to his compaignye,
  ‘Sires, it is tyme þat we hennés hye ;

• Quem diligo, castigo R, in margin.
  2 Ambrose R, Ambroses H.
  Lhe Poor spared, the Rich kild.
  Life is a Cherry-fair.
  {i “T am adrad, god is nat in þis place ;
  Go we fast hennés, lest þat hys vengeance
  ffal on vs!’ and with-in a litel space
  After they were agone, schop this myschance ;
  The groundé! claue and made disseuerance,
  And in sank man, womman, childe, hous, & al
  That to hym appertened, gret and smal.
  “ Whan þis come to Ambroses? audience,
  He seidé® to his felacheeþé þus :—
  ‘Lo, bretheren ! seeth heer in éxperience,
  How merciablely our lord Ihesus
  Of his henyngé grace hath sparid vs!
  He sparith hem that vnwelthy heer ben,
  And to þe velthy® dooth as þat ye seen.’
  ' ¥ “This lyf, my sone, is but a chirie faire ;
  Worldly riches, haue ay in þi memorye,
  Schal passe, al look it neuer on men so feire ;
  Whil þou art heer in þis world transitérie,
  Enable þe to wynne eternel glorie
  Wher no pouert is, but perfite richesse
  Of ioye and blysse, and vertuous gladnesse.
  { “O thyng tel I þe, soné, þat is soth :
  Thogh a man hadde als moch as men han al,
  But vertu, þat good gye, al he mys dooth,
  Al þat swetnessé tourné schal to gal.
  Whan þat richesse is on a man yfal,®
  If it be wrong dispendid or mys-kept,
  Another day ful sore it schal be wept.
  1 gyounde R, ground H.
  2 Ambroses R, Ambrose H.
  5 welthy R.
  4 benigne R, benyng H.
  6 falle R, fal H.
  The Beggar was rich, but is now poor.
  Of the selfish Rich.
  4 “Sum riche is large, and his good mys despendith
  In mayntenance of syn and harlotrie ;
  "To swich despenses his lust hym accendith ;
  And on þat othir parte, his nygardie
  Suffrith hys neghtburgh! by hym sterue & dye, 1307
  Rathir þan with a ferthyng hym releeue :?
  Tho two condicions ben to repreue.
  4 ‘ Whoso moost hath, he moost of schal answere ;
  On day schal comé, sum men schal par chaunce
  Desire he neuegre haddé ben rychere
  Than heer han hadde his baré sustinaunce.
  Whan þe day comth of ire and of vengeaunce,
  Than schal men see,° how in þis world, I gesse,
  Richesse is pouert, and þouért richesse.
  leaf 242]
  “ Whyl er, my soné, tolde I naghit to þe
  | What habundance in youth I hadde of good,
  And how me blenté* so prosperitee,
  þat what god was, y nothing vnderstood ?
  But ay whil þat I in my welthé® stood,
  After my flesshly lust my lif I ledde,
  And of his wreché no þing I me dredde.
  God strack ‘| “ And as I seid, he smot me with þe strook
  Of pouert, in which I contynue yit,
  Whos smert my good blood first so soré sook,
  Or þat I was acqueyntid wel with it,
  þat nye it haddé refte® fro me my wit ;
  But sithen, thanke I god, in pacience
  I haue it take, and schal, for myn offence.
  7” releueeue H, releeue R.
  ° welthe R, welth H.
  The Beggar gives Hoecleve good Advice.
  “If þe list fle, þat may pouert engendre,
  first synne eschue, and god honoure & drede ;
  Also, for þi lyflode is scars and sclendre,
  Despendé nat to largély, I rede.
  Mesure is good ; let hir þe gye and lede ;
  Be war of outrage, and be sobre & wys ;
  þus þou excludé hym, by myn avys.
  “‘ Nathélees þou maist ageyn me replie,
  ‘To sum folk, thogh þei doon al as I seye,
  Agayn pouert it is no remedye ;
  jel mow it nat eschué by no waye.’
  I graunté wel, but þan take heede, I preye,
  The iugément3 of god ben to vs hid ;
  Take al in gree, so is þi vertu kyd.
  {i “To þe plesaunce of god þou þe conforme,
  Abouté þat be bisy and éntentif ;
  þat þou mis-done hast, þou blyue it reforme ;
  Swych laborer! þe kythe heere in þis lyf,
  þat god þi soulé, which þat is his wyf,
  Reioisé may, for it is to him due,
  And his schal be, but þou fe deuors sue.
  { ‘<O þou, fortuné, fals and deceyuable !
  fful sop it is, if þou do a good deede,
  pu nat purpdsist it schal be durable ;
  OF good ententé schal it nat procede.
  Wel oghte vs þi promesses blyndé drede ;
  He sliperly stant who þat þou enhauncest,
  ffor sodeynliché þou hym disauauncest.
  1 « labour R.
  REGEMENT.
  The Beggar complains of changeable Fortune.
  q “Hadde I done, soné, as I þe consayle,
  Whan þat fortunés déceyudble cheere
  Lawhid on me, þan hadde I nat, san3 fayle,
  Ben in þis wrecched plyt as pu seest heere.
  Not knew my 30uthe! hir chaungeable maneere ;
  ffor whan I satte on hy vp-on hir wheel,
  Hir gladsum look me madé truste hire wel.
  { ‘‘I cowdé for no þing han wend or deemed
  þat sche a-bouté baar dowble visage ;
  I wende sche haddé ben swiche as sche semed.
  But nathéles, 31 is it auantage
  To him þat woful is, þat hir vsage
  Is for to flytté fro? placé to place ;
  Hire variance is vn-to sum folke grace,
  {1 “ Whom so þat nedé greueþ & trauaylliþ,
  [leaf 25 bd]
  Hire change is vn-to hym no grief or wo;
  But þe contrarie of þat no þing auaylliþ,
  As whan a man is wel, put hym perfro.
  What schal men calle hir? frende, or ellys fo? 1377
  I not; but catt hire frend, whan þat sche esiþ,
  And calle hir fo, whan þat sche man displesiþ.
  {1 “ But who so calle hir schal a sikir name 2
  Men mote hir clepe ‘my lady chaungeabil,’
  ffor hardily sche is þat selué same ;
  A! nay! I gabbe, I am vn-resonabil ;
  Sche is ‘ my lady stidéfast and stabil,’
  ffor I endure in pouertés distresse,
  And sche nat liste remué? my duresse.
  1 thought R.
  2 fro R, for H.
  3 releeue R.
  Courtiers take Cure of Souls for Money.
  ae ymagyné whi þat nat hir list
  With me now dele; age is colde & drye;
  And whan þo two ben to a lady wist,
  And þat I poore am eek for þe maystrie,
  Swiche a man is vnlusty to hire ye,
  And wers to gropé: straw for impotence !
  Sche loueþ yong folk, & large of dyspence.
  “i “ Al þis þat I haue of fortuné seyde,
  Is but a iapé, who! seith, or a knak:
  Now I a whilé bourdyd haue & pleyde,
  Resorte I wol to that þat? I first spake.
  By-holde, & cast þou pine yé a-bak,
  What þou god hast a-gilt in tymé past,
  Correct it, and to do so eft be a-gast.
  «* Of holy chirche, my soné, I conceyue
  As ȝit ne hast þou non a-vancément :
  Ye courteours, ful often ye deceyue
  Youre soulés, for þe désirous talént
  Ye han to good; & for þat þou art brent
  With couetysé now, par auenture
  Only for muk, þou ȝernest soulés cure.
  q “fful many men knowe I, þat gane and gape —- 1408 Many folk
  After som fat & riché benefice ;
  Chirche or prouendre® vnnepe hem may eschape,
  But þei as blyue it henten vp and trice :
  God graunté þei accepte hem for þe office,
  And noght for þe profet þat by hem hongeþ,*
  ffor þat conceyté nat to prestehode longeþ.
  1 as who R.
  2 þat, om. H R.
  3 prebende R.
  4 hongeth R, longeþ H.
  Parsons like Pluralities and fine Clothes, not Work.
  J “ A-dayés now, my sone, aS men may se,
  © chirche vn-to a! man may not suffise ;
  wants twoor But algate he mote han pluralite,
  Elles he can not lyuen in no wyse.
  Ententifly he kepiþ his seruise
  In courte ; his labour peré schal not moule ;
  But to his curé lokiþ he ful foule.
  [J ‘ Thogh þat his chauncel roof be al to-torn,
  And on þe hye? auter it reyne or snewe,
  He rekkiþ noght, þe cost may be for-born
  Cristes hous té repare or maké newe ;
  And þogh per be ful many a vicious hewe
  Vnder his cure, he takiþ of it no kepe,
  He rekkeþ neuer how rusty ben his schepe.? 1428
  {7 “ The oynément of holy sermonynge
  Hym lop is vp-on hem? for to despende ;
  Som person is so threde-bare of konnynge
  þat he can noght, þogh he hym wys pretende,
  And he þat can, may not his herté bende
  her-to, but from his cure he hym absentiþ,
  And what þer-of comeþ,® gredyliche he hentith.
  “How he despendiþ it, be as be may,
  ffor vn-to þat am I no-þing pryuee ;
  But wel I wot, as nycé, fressh, and gay
  Som of hem ben, as borel folkés be,
  And þat vnsittynge is to hire degree ;
  em hoghté' bo be mirours of sadnesse,
  And wayué iolitee and wantonnesse.
  2 hye R, om. H.
  3 shepe R, chepe H.
  4 hem R, hym H.
  Hoccleve didn't get a Benefice; and so he Married.
  Beggar and Hoecleve.)
  “ But neuerpeles I wote wel pere-agayn,
  Jat many of hem gye hem as hem oghite,
  And ellés were it grete pitee certayn:
  But what man wolt þou be for hym þe boghte?”
  (Hoccl.) “ffadir, I may not chese ; I whilom pogtite
  Han ben a prest ; now past am I þe raas.”
  (Beg.) “ jan art þou, sone, a weddid man per caas ?”
  {] “Ya, soply, fadir myn, ryght so I am.
  I gasyd longé firste, & waytid faste
  After some benefice ; and whan non cam,
  By proces I me weddid atté laste ;
  And god it wot, it soré me agaste
  To byndé me, where I was at my large ;
  But done it was; I toke on me þat charge.”
  Beggar and Hoccleve.)
  {1 ‘A, sone! I haue espied, and now se
  þis is þe tow þat þou speke! of ryght now.” (1. 1226) She was the
  “ Now, by þe rodé, fadir, sop seyn ye.”
  “Ya, soné myn, þou schalt do wel y-now ;
  Whan endyd is my talé, þan schalt þou
  Be put in swiche a way at? schal þe plese,
  And to þin herté do comforte and ese.
  { “So longe as þou, sone, in þe privé sel
  Dwelt hast, & woldest fayn han ben auaunced
  Vn-to som chirche or þis, I demé wel
  þat god not woldé haué þe enhanced
  In no swich plyt; I holdé þe wel chaunced;
  God wot and knowith euery hyd® entente ;
  He, for þi best, a wyf vn-to fe sente.
  1 spakest R,
  2 as (at = þat),
  5 mannes R.
  Mr. Nobody is the only one who helps all Hoccleve's Froends.
  Had Hoccleve {1 “If þat þou haddest per cas ben a prest,
  þou woldest han as wantonly þe gyéd
  As dop þe nycest of hem þat þou seest ;
  And god for-beedé þou þe haddist tyéd
  þer-to, but if þin herté myght han plyéd
  ffor to obserue it wel! be glade and merye,
  þat þou art as thou art,! god panke and herie!
  “Joe ordres of prestehode and of wedlok
  Ben bopé vertuous, with-outen fabil ;
  But vnderstondé wel, þe holy 30k
  Of prestehode is, as it is resonabil
  þat it so be, þe moré commendabil ;
  þe lesse of hem, of mede hap habundance ;
  Men han meryt, after here gouernaunce.
  Beggar and Hoccleve.)
  leaf 270)
  ‘ But how ben þi felawés lokyd to
  At hoom? ben þey not wel benéficéd 1”
  “ȝis, fadir, ȝis! per is on clept ‘nemo’
  He helpeþ hem ; by bym ben? per chericed
  Nere he, þey weren porély cheuycéd ;
  He hem auanceth ; he ful hir frende is ;
  Sauf only hym, þey han but fewé frendes.
  “ So many a man as þei þis many a yeer
  Han writen for, ȝit? fyndé can þei# non
  So gentel, or of hir estat so cheer,®
  þat onys liste for hem to ryde or gon,
  Ne for hem speke a worde ; but dombe as ston 1496
  ei standen, where hir speche hem myght awayle ;
  ffor swiche folk is vnlusty to trauaile.
  7 as thou art R, om. H.
  2 ben R, om. H.
  3 ȝit, om. HR.
  5 dere R.
  How Hoceleve and other Privy-Seal Clerks get
  {1 ‘‘ But if a wyght haué any! cause to sue
  To vs, som lordés man schal vndertake
  To sue it out; & þat þat is vs due
  ffor oure labour, hym deyneþ vs nat take ;
  He seiþ, his lord to panke vs wole he make ;
  It touchiþ hym, it is a man of his ;
  Where þe reuer's of þat, god wot, soop is,
  {i “ His letter he takiþ, and forp gop his way,
  And byddeþ vs to dowten vs no-thyng
  His lord schal panken vs an oper day ;
  And if we han to sué to þe kyng,
  His lord may peré haue al his askyng ;
  We schal be sped, as fer as þat oure bille
  Wole specifie þe éffecte? of our wylle.
  “ What schol we do? we dar non argument
  Make a-geyn him, but fayre & wel him trete,
  Leste he roporte amys, & make vs schent ;
  To haue his wil, we suffren him, & lete ;
  Hard is, be holden suspect wzth þe grete :
  His talé schal he leeuéd, but® nat ourys,
  And þat conclusiown to vs ful soure is.
  “ And whan þe mater is to ende I-broght,
  Of þe straunger, for whom þe suyte hap be,
  þan is he to þe lord knowén right noght ;
  He is to him as vn-knowén as we ;
  þe lord not wot? of al þis sotilte ;
  Ne we nat dar lete him of it to® knowe,
  Lest oure compleynte oure seluen ouerthrowe.
  3 pileeued and R.
  2 effect R, fecte H.
  5 Ne we ne dar not lete hym of it R.
  4 ne wote not R.
  How Hoceleve and his Fellow-Clerks are cheated.
  1 “‘ And where þis bribour hap no peny? payed
  In oure office, he seiþ be-hynde our bak,
  He payde, I not what’: þus ben we bytrayed,
  And disclaundrid, and put in wyte and lak,
  fful giltéles ; & eeke by swiche a knak
  þe man for whom fe suyte is, is deceyuéd,
  He weneþ we han of his gold receyuéd.
  “ fful many swyché pursuours pere ben,
  þat for vs take, & ȝeue vs nat a myte :
  þis makiþ vs þat we may neuer peen.
  Eek where as lordés bydde hir men vs quyte,
  Whan þat we for hemself laboure and write,
  And ben a-lowéd for oure payément,
  Oure handes þer-of ben ful Innocent.
  ‘I seyé nat, al? lordes men þus do
  þat sue vnto oure court; but many, I seye,
  þus bothe oure panke & lucre gon a-weye:
  God 3zeue hem sorowe þat so with vs pleye!
  ffor we it fynden ernest at þe fulle ;
  þis makyth vs of oure labéur to dulle.
  Hoccleve and Beggar.)
  “ Now, fadir myn, how þinkiþ yow here-by ?
  2 ppose ye may þat þis sittiþ vs
  “ Yis, certes, soné, þat ful wel wote I,
  Hast þou seyde, soné? wolt þou aght sey more?”
  “Nay, sir, as now ; but ay vp-on your lore
  I herkne as bisily as I4 best can.”
  “ Soné, þan lat vs spek as we by-gan:
  1 peny R, om. H.
  2 T sey not alle R.
  5 ye that this sitteth vs not R, sit H.
  Hoceleve married for Love only, not Lust or Money.
  Beggar and Hoccleve.)
  {1 “Seye on þe sope, I preye þe hertily,
  What was þi causé why þou toke a wyf?
  Was it to geté children lawfully,
  And in clennessé to ledé py lyf;
  Or, for luste, or muk!? what was þi motyf?”
  “‘ fladir, no thyng wole I it queynté make:
  Only for loue, I chees hire to my make.”
  {1 “Soné, qwat? holdest þou loue, I þe preye?
  þow demest lust and loue conuertible,
  Per cas; as whan þe list with þi wyf pleye,
  þi-conceyt holdeþ it good and lisible
  To doon ; art þou oght, soné myn, sensible
  In whiche cas þat þou oghtest the for-bere,
  And in whiche nat? canst þou to þis answere?”
  Hoccleve and Beggar.)
  { ‘‘ffadir, me þinkeþ al is good y-nowe ;
  She is my wyf; who may þer-of me lette?”
  “‘ Nay, sone, a-byde ; & I shal tellen how,
  If þat þou aght by goddés dredé sette,
  Thre causes ben, whiche I þe wole vnschette
  And open a-non, whi þou schalt w7th hire dele ;
  Now herkne, soné, for þi soulés hele.
  { joe firsté® causé, procreacioun
  Of children is, vn-to goddés honour ;
  To kepe eke thé fro fornicacioun ;
  þe next is, & þe thridde, of þat labour
  Yildé þi dette in whiche þou art dettow
  Vnto þi wyf; & othire ententes al,
  Ley hem apart, for aght þat may be-fal.*
  3 first H R.
  2 what R.
  1 Or first for mukke R.
  4 alle.
  Lustful Men use Provocatives to Lust.
  Beggar and Hoccleve.)
  “ ffor þisé causes thow hire vsé muste ;
  And for non othir, on peyne of dedly synne.”
  “ ffadir, right now me thoghte, how a-geyn luste
  Ye helden, & children be goten theriune?
  ‘‘o sone, or þat me a-twynne,?
  þou shalt wel vnderstondé how þat I
  Not holde agaynés luste al vttirly.
  @ ‘<I wote wel, leefful luste is necessarie ;
  With-outen þat, may be non engendrure ;
  Lust for ust But vsé luste for luste only, contrarie
  To goddés hestés is; for I thensure,
  þogh þou take of it litel heede or cure,
  A man may wyth his wyf do lecherie :
  The entente is al; be war ay of folye.?
  [leaf 296)
  Ff “‘ Weddé# folk many leden holy lyf;
  faieicewe obs sflOr þogh hire flesschly lustés hem assaile,
  And stire hem often, þe man to þe wif,
  And she to him; þei maken swiche batail
  And strif a-gayn hir flesche, þat he shal fail.
  Of his pwipos ; but somé® folke, as beestes
  Hire luste ay folwen ; in hem non areeste is. 1603
  q ‘“ A-dayés now per is swyche gouernaunce
  Among hem þat han paramours & wyues
  Provocatives Put, for luste of hire wommen & plesaunce,
  Nat suffice hem metés restauratyues,
  But þei receyuen eeke prouocatyues
  Tengendre hem luste, feyntyng® hire nature,
  And suche þing causiþ hastyf sepulture.
  ee ts Nanna R, thinne Tak
  2 twynne R.
  6 feyntyng R, feytyng H.
  Marriages for Money prove unhappy.
  { ‘‘ þis knowe I sop is, & knew it! fern a-gon,
  And thei þat so don, hyli god offende :
  Swich folk holde I homicidés echon ;
  þei slen hemself, or god dep to? hem sende.
  Mi sone, on goddés half I þe defende
  Swiche medycynés þat þou noght receyue,
  Syn þei god wrap,? & soule of man deceyue.
  ‘‘ Pas ouer þis: þou seydest penchesoun
  Why þat þou took vp-on þe maryage,
  Was vn-to non oper entenciown,
  But loue only þe senté þat corage :
  Now, soné myn, I am a man of age,
  And many wedded couples haue I knowe,—
  Non of myn agé, many mo, I trowe,—
  @ ‘But I ne sawe, ne I ne spydé neuer,
  As longe as þat I haué lyued jit,
  je loue of hem departen or disseuere
  þat for goode loué bounden were & knyt ;
  God loueþ loue, & he wole forpere it.
  At longé* rennyng, loué beste schal preue ;
  þus hap it ben, & ay schal, I bileue.
  q{ “ But þey þat marien hem for muk & good
  Only, & noght for® loue of þe persdne,
  Not haue I wist þey any whylé stood
  In resté; but of stryf is pee swiche wone,
  As for þe moré part, twixt hem echone,
  þat al hir lyf þei lede in heuynesse :
  Swich is þe fruyte to weddé for rychesse.
  3 wrapbpen R.
  4 longe R, long H.
  5 for R, for þe H.
  Rich Folk marry their Children when too young.
  Rich folk too {| ‘‘ Among þe ryche also is an vsage,
  Eche of hem his childe vn-to opres wedde,
  (seemy " och þei be al to yong & tendre of age,
  No-wher my ripe ynow to go to bedde ;
  And hire conceyt in loue is leyde to wedde,
  Men wit it wel, it is no questiown,
  Tyl yeerés come of hire discreciown.
  J “And whan þei han þe knoweleche of resown,
  jan may þei noper fynden in hire herte
  To loué oper ; al out of sesown
  þei knyt ben, þat in-td wedldk so sterte :
  þis makeþ many a couple for to smerte.
  O couetyse! þin is al þe gilt
  Of þis; & mo deceyué ȝit þow wilt,
  {F ‘ Also bey þat for luste chesen hir make
  Only, as oper while it is vsage,
  ‘Wayte wel, þat! whan hir luste is ouerschake,
  And pere-with wole hir loués hete asswage,
  anne is to hem? an helle, hire mariage
  Janne þei desyren for to be vnknyt,
  And to þat ende studie in al hir wyt.
  ‘i ““ Styntynge þe cause, þe éffect? styntiþ eek;
  No lenger forster, no lenger lemman ;
  Love ground- Loue on lust groundid, is not worp a lek.
  But who for vertu weddeþ a womman,
  And noper for muk ne for lust, þat man
  þe formé due of matrimoigné sueþ,
  And soulés hurt & bodyes grief eschueþ.
  2 hem R, hym H.
  ® be cause theffect R, cause þe feffect H.
  Some Lords marry without seeing their Brides.
  “T dar not medle of lordes mariagis,
  How þey hem knytten, hir makés vnseen ;
  But as to me it semeþ! swiche vsage is
  Not worp a strawe ; for, also mot I theen,
  Reportés not so sikyr iuges ben,
  As man to se þe womannés persone ;
  In whiche a choys, lat man hymself allone.
  “I ‘‘ Weddyng at hoom in þis land, holsom were,
  So þat a man hym weddé duély ;
  To se þe flesche firste, it may no þing dere,
  And hym avisé how hym lykiþ? per-by
  Or he be knyt; lo! þis conceyt haue I ;
  In þis materé? depper cowde I go,
  But passe I wole, & slippe away per-fro.
  “ Now sythen þou hast, to my Iugément,
  he maryéd vn-to goddés plesawnce,
  Be a trewe housbownde, as by myn assent ;
  kepé þi bond; be war of pencombraznce
  Of þe feend, which, wzth many a circumstaunce 1685
  fful sly, him castiþ pé wrappe in & wrye,
  To stiré þe for to done aduoutre.
  q “ Aduoutrie and periurie, and wylful slaghtre,
  Je book seiþ, lik ben, & o peys þei weye.
  War aduoutre! it is no pleye or laghtre
  To don it; fle also pise oper tweye!
  ffor þus wot I wel, seint Ierom can seye :
  ‘In peyne, aduoutre hap þe secownde place.’
  þo pre to eschue, god þe graunté grace |
  1 seemeth R, seme H.
  2 lykiþ = lykp.
  3 matere R, mater H.
  Abram’s Wife was taken unknowingly by Pharaoh.
  When Abram {| “T, in þe bible, rede how þat abram
  To Egipt wenté, with his wyf saray,
  And whan þat þei ny vn-to Egipt cam,
  þus seyde he vnto his wyf by þe way :
  ‘T wote wel þou art fair; it is no nay ;
  Whan þei of Egipt se þe, þei wol seye,
  “ þou art his wyf,” & for þe, do me deye.
  q <«* Thei welen kyllé me and þe reserue ;
  ffor-bi, vnto hem seye, I þe be-seche,
  þou art my sustre, leste I for þe sterue ;
  jus may I wel ben esyd by þi speche ;
  And þus þou mayste lengpé my lyf & eche.’
  And whan þei into Egipt entred were,
  þe gipcians! fasté behelden here,
  [leaf 312]
  “* And of hire beaute maden þei report
  To phariio ; & sche as blyue is take
  In-to his hous; & done is gret comfort
  Vnto Abram, for þis wommanés sake ;
  And grete desport and cheré men hem make.
  But for saray, greuously phariio
  Punysshyd was, & eke his hous þerto.
  “ Pharao clepte abram, & hym abreyde:
  ‘What is it þat þou hast don vn-to me?
  ‘Why naddest fou tolde vn-to me,’ he seyde,
  ‘How þat þis womman, wyf was vnto the?
  ffor what enchesoun seydestow,’ quod? he,
  ‘Sche was py suster? také þi wyf here,’
  Quod he, ‘and bopé go youre wey in fere !’
  1 Egipciens R,
  2 koth (always).
  Men’s Wives taken by Pharaoh, Abimelech, and David.
  {] “The bible makiþ no manér of mynde
  Wheper þat phariio lay by hire oght ;
  But looke in lyre,! & peré schalt þou fynde,
  ffor to han done it, was he in ful þoght ;
  But god preserued hire ; he myghté? noght ;
  And sethyn, for wil, god hym punissched?® so,
  How schal þe dedé vnpunysshed go?
  “ Also not knewe he þat a wif sche was.
  verum eciam Takyn and holde, and wth hem don trespas,4
  Stonde in harde plyt; soné, be ware, rede I;
  If þou per einne agylte, eter nelly
  þou smerté schalt, & in þis lif presént
  Han scharp aduersitee & gret turment.
  {] “ And to abymalech, god bade he shulde
  311d sara also to hir housbonde ;
  aes ffor he and his, echon, if he ne wolde,
  Shulden ben dede, he did hem vndirstonde.
  Take heede, o ong, þat þou clere ay stonde,
  ffor god stoppid eke the concepciown
  Of euery woman of his manciown.
  “* Ne þat she was a wif, wist he no þing ;
  Ne nogh® hir knew in no flesshly folye.
  My godé soné, rede of dauid kyng,
  How he bersabe toke, wyf of vrie,
  Into his house, and did aduout[e]rie ;
  And how he made vrié slayne to be,
  And how per-foré” punysshed was he.
  1 Nicolaus de Lyra, the celebrated medieval commentator on
  2 myght H R.
  . punysshed R, punissche H.
  3 for that will .
  4 Compare Robert of Brunne’s (Handlyng Synne, 1, 7420-7, A.D.

1303. reproach to the nobles for ravishing maidens and wives,
      See also H. S., lines 2928-83.
      and then boasting of it.
      5 eternelly R, enternelly H.
      7 fore R, for H.
      6 nought R, nogh H.
      Many exist in England.
      Adulterers are cursed.
      |] ‘‘ How was þe tribe also of beniamyn
      Punysshid, & put to destrucciown,
      ffor aduoutr[iJé which þei lyued inne,
      In þe abhomynable oppressiown
      Of þe leuytés wyfe: lo! menciown
      þer-of is made, if þou loke holy writte,
      In iudicium, ful redily! it syt.
      “ Who-so lith with his neyghéburés? wyfe
      Is cursyd ; & who is any aducutoure,
      þe kyngdome faillé shal of endles lyfe ;
      Of þat ne shal he be no possessoure.
      Alasse! this likerous dampnable errour,
      In this londe hath so large a prede I-sponne,
      þat wers peple is non vndir the® sonne.
      leaf 322]
      “‘ Of swiché stories cowde I telle an* heepe,
      But I supposé þisé schol suffise ;
      And for-þi, soné,® wole I make a leepe
      ffrom hem, and go wole I to þe empryse
      þat I first took ; if pu þe wel auyse,
      Whanne I þe mette, & sy þin heuynesse,
      Of comfort, soné, made I þe promesse :
      Beggar and Hoccleve.)
      | “ And of a trewé man, be-heste is dette.”
      “ffader, god ȝilde it 30w, and so ȝe diden ;
      Ye hyghten me in esé me to sette.”
      “ Now, sone, & þogh I longé haue abiden,
      Thi gryfe is noght out of my myndé slyden;
      To þi greuancé wole I now resorte,
      And schewé þe how þou þe schalt comforte.
      ' Tudicum fut redily R, redy H.

• neighbores R, neyghburs H.
  3 the R, om. H.

sone R, persone H.
Hoceleve is so hard up; he must beg, steal, or starve.
ota {ix 1700 {J “Tn schort, þis is of þi grief énchesoun :
Of þin annuitee, þe paiément,
Whiche for þi long seruyse is þi guerdoun,
þou dredest, whan þou art from court absent,
Schal be restreynéd, syn þou now present
‘Vnneþés mayst it gete, it is so streit ;
þus vnder-stode I, soné, þi conceit ;
Beggar and Hoccleve.)
4 “ifor of þi liflode is it þe substaunce ;
‘ȝis, sooply, fader, it.”
« Now, sone, to remedie þis greuance,
Canstow no weyés fynden in þi wyt?”
“‘ No, certes, fader, neuere koude I ȝit.’
‘May no lordscheþé, soné, þe auayle,
ffor al þi long seruice & þi trauaile ?”
q “ What, fadir? what? lordés han for to done
So mych for hem-self, þat my mateere
Out of hir myndé slippith away soone.
The world is naght swich now, my fadir deere,
As ye han seene ; farwel, frendely maneere!
So gofd] me amende, I am al destitut
Of my lyflodé ; god be my refut!
q «I am vn-to so streyt a poynt ydryue,
Of thre conclusions moot I cheese one:
Or begge, or stele, or sterue ; I am yschryue
So ny, þat oper way ne se I noon.
Myn hert is also deed as is a stoon ;
Nay, ther I faile, a stoon no thyng ne felith ;
But thoght me brenneth, and freesyngly keehth
REGEMENT.
The Beggar cheers him up.
Hoceleve wants to die.
J “To beggé, schame is myn impediment ;
I wot wel, rather schulde I die and sterue ;
And steltlés guerdon is swich paiément,
þat neuer thynke I his wages disserue.?
Wolde honest deth come, and me ouerterue,
And of my graué me put in seisyne,
To al my greef þat were a medecyne.”
eee: q “What, sone! how now? I se, wel smal effecte,
Or ellés non, my wordés in thé take ;
Outhir ful symple is þin intellect,
Or hokirly thow hast hem ouershake,
Or þi goost slept hath ; what, my sone! a-wake!
Whayl er þou seydist þou were of me glad,
And now it semeth þou art of me sad.
Beggar and Hoccleve.)
“TI demé so, syn þat my longe sermown
Profitith naght, it soré me repentith.”
“ffadir, beth nat of þat opynyown ;
ffor as ye wele I do, myn hert assentith ;
But ay among, fadir, thoght me tormentith
So sharply, and so trowblith and dispeireth,
That it my wit foule hyndryth and appeireth.”
{1 “O my good soné, wolt þou yit alate
Despeiréd be? nay, soné, lat be þat !
ou schalt as blyue entre in-to þe yate
now telle on pleyn and plat :
My lord fe princé, knowyth he þe nat?
If þat þou stonde in his beneuolence,
He may be salue vn-to þin indigence.
1 deserue R.
Hoceleve is to appeal to Prince Henry for his Help.
Beggar and Hoceleve.)
{1 “No man bet, next his fadir, our lord lige.” — 1835 Yes.
“Vis, fadir, he is my good gracious lord.”
“Wel, soné, þan wole I me oblige, —
And god of heuen vouch I to record,—
þat if þou wolt be ful of myn accord,
Thow schalt no cause have moré þus to muse,
But heuynessé! voide, and it refuse.
“Syn he þi good lord is, I am ful seur
His gracé to þe schal nat be denyed ;
Jou wost wele, he benyng is and demeur
To sue vnto; naght is his goost maistried
With daunger, but his hert is ful applied
To graunte, and nat þe needy werne his grace ;
To hym pursue, and þi releef purchace.
““ Compleyne ynto his excellent noblesse,
As I haue herd þe vn-to me compleyne ;
And but he qwenche þi greté* heuynesse,
My tongé? take, and slitte in peeces tweyne.
What, soné myn! for goddés deré peyne,
Endite in frensch or latyn þi greef clere,
And, for to write it wel, do thi poweer.
Beggar and Hoccleve.)
q “ Of allé4 thre þou oghtist be wele leerid,
Syn þou so long in hem labduréd haast,
ou of þe pryue seel art old I-yeerid.
“ Yit, fadir, of hem® ful smal is my taast.”’
“ Now, soné, þan, foulé hast þou® in waast
Despent þi tyme ; and nathelees, I trowe
þou canst do bet þan þou wilt do me knowe. 1862
1 heuynesse R, heuynes H.
2 srete R, gret H.
3 tunge R, tong H.
4 alle R, al H.
6 thou foule hast R.
Hoceleve wants his Pension paid from the Hanaper.
Beggar and Hoccleve.)
§ “What schal I callé þe? what is þi name?”
Hoecleve — ** Hoccleué,! sone?”
‘‘ l-wis, fadir, þat same.
“Sone, I haue herd, or this, men speke of þe ;
þou were aqueynted with Caucher,? pardee—
God haue his soulé best of any wyght !—
Sone, I wole holdé þe þat I haue hyght.*
‘ Al-thogh þou seyé þat þou in latyn,*
Ne in frenssh nowther, canst but smal endite,
Tn englyssh tongé canst þou wel afyn,*
ffor ther-of can I eeké® but a lite ;
Ye° straw! let be! þi penné take, and write
As þou canst, and þi sorowe towrne schal
Into gladnesse ; I doute it naght at al.
Beggar and Hoccleve.)
“ Syn þou maist nat be paied in thescheger,
Wnto my Jord þe princé make instance
paid from the Þat þi patent in-to þe hanaper
“ fadir, by your suffrance,
It may not so, bi-cause of þe ordenance ;
‘ Longe aftir þis schal no grant chargeable
Out passe ;’ fadir myn, this is no fable.’’
“ An egal change, my soné, is in soothe
No charge, I wot it wel ynow in dede.
What, soné myn! good hert take vnto þe!
Men seyn, who-so of euery grace hath drede,
Let hym beware to walk in any mede.
ay þou simple-hertid goost !
What grace is shapen þe, þou naght ne woost.”
2 Chaucers R.
3 the hight R.
4 latyne, afyne R.
Truly therof kan I R.
Hoceleve 1s to write a Tale or two for Prince Henry.
“ ffadir, as siker as I standé here,
Whethir þat I be simple, or argh or bolde,
Swych an eschangé get I non to yeere ;
Do as I can, with þat I haue in holde ;
ffor, as for þat, my comfort is but cold ;
But wel I fyndé your good wy] alway
Redy to me, in what ye can and! may.”
{i “That is sooth, soné; now, syn þou me toldist 1898
My lord þe princé is good lord þe to,
No maistri? is it for þe, if þou woldist
To be releeuéd ; wost þou what to do?
Writté to hym a goodly tale or two,
On which he may desporten hym by nyglite,
And his fre gracé schal vp-on þe lighte.
4“ Sharpé thi þenne, and write on lustily
Lat se, my soné, make it fresh and gay,

• Outé thyn art if? þou canst eraftily ;
  His hyé+ prudence hath insighte verray
  To iuge if it be wel y-made or nay ;
  Wher-foré,® sone, it is vn-to the neede,
  Vn-to þi werk, také® þe gretter heede.
  41 “ But of a thyng be wel waar in al wise,
  On flaterié fat þou þe nat fo
  ffor þer-of, soné, Salamon þe wise,—
  As þat I haue in his prouerbés found,—
  Seith thus: ‘thei þat in feynéd speche habounde,
  And glosyngly vnto hir freendés talke,
  Spreden a net bi-forne hem wher they walle.’
  2 maistrie R.
  1 or R.
  5 Wherfore R, Wher for H.
  4 hye R, hy H.
  Hoccleve must avoid i.
  Flattery is bad for Lords.
  | “If a deceyuowr yeue a man to sowke
  Wordés plesant, in hony al by-wrappid,
  Good is a man eschewé! swich a powke ;
  Thurgh fauel hap ful micialy ee ware
  ffor when þat he hath ianglid al and clappid —- 1923 eis.
  With his freend, tretyng of pees openly,
  He in a-wayt lith of hym couertly.
  The greatest {J “Joe mosté lak þat han þe lordés grete,
  Is of hem that hir soothés shuld hem telle ;
  Al in þe glosé folk labour and swete ;
  Thei stryuen iene best ry ngé* sha
  Of fals plesance, in þat hir hertés swelle
  If þat oon can bet than othér deceyue ;
  And swich deceyt, lordés blyndly receyue.
  ** The worldly riché men, han no knowleche
  What þat thei bene of hir condiciown ;
  Thei ben so blent with fauellés gay speche,
  Wich réportith to hem, þat hir renown
  Is euerywheré halwid in the toun,
  That in hem-self they demen gret vertu,
  Where as per is but smal or naght a gru
  §i “ ffor vnneth 4 good word men speke of hem:
  This falsé* tresown comon is and rif ;
  Hoceleve had Bet were it the ben‘ at ierusalem
  Soné, þan þou were in it defectif.
  Syn my lord þe prynce is, god help his lyf,
  To thé good lord, good seruant þou þe quyte
  To him, and trewe, and it shal the profyte.

• to eschewe R, eschew H.
  2 rynge R, ryng H.
  4 thou were R.
  HHoceleve’s Tribute of Honour to Chaucer.
  Beggar and Hoccleve.)
  {1 “Write him no thyng þat sowneth in-to vice;
  Kythé thi loue in matere of sadnesse ;
  looke if þou fyndé canst any tretice
  Groundid on his estatés holsumnesse ;
  Swych thing translate, and vnto his hynesse,
  As humblely as þat þou canst, present ;
  | “ With hert as tremblyng as þe leef of aspe,
  ffadir, syn ye me redé to do so,
  Of my symple conceyt wole I the claspe
  Vndo, and Jat it at his largé go.
  But weylaway! so is myn herté! wo,
  That þe honour of englyssh tonge is deed,
  Of which I wont was han consail and reed.
  “O, maister deere, and fadir reverent !
  Mi maister Chaucer,?
  Mirour of fructuous entendément,
  O, vniuersel fadir in science !
  Allas! þat þou thyn excellent prudence,
  In þi bed mortel mightist naght by-qwethe ;
  What eiled deth? allas! whi wolde he sle the?
  “O deth! þou didest naght harme singuleer,
  Tn slaghtere of him; but al þis land it smertith ;
  But nathélees, yit hast þou no power
  His namé sle; his hy vertu astertith
  Vnslayn fro þe, which ay vs lyfly hertyth,
  With bookés of his ornat éndytyng,
  That is to al þis land enlumynyng.
  1 hert R H.
  2 Chaucers R.
  Hoccleve's Incapacity.
  “ Hast þou nat eeke my maister Gower slayn,
  Whos vertu I am insufficient
  ffor to descreyue!? I wote wel in certayn,
  ffor to sleen al þis world þou haast yment? ;
  But syn our lorde Crist was obedient
  To þe, in feith I can no ferther seye ;
  His creaturés mosten þe obeye.
  LHoccleve and Beggar.)
  Tho Hoccleve {| ‘‘ ffadir, ye may lawhe at my lewdé? speche.
  If þat þow list; I am no thyng fourmeel* ;
  My yongé® konyng may no hyer reche,
  Mi wit is® also slipir as an eel ;
  But how I speke, algate I mené weel.”
  “Sone, þou seist wel Imnogh, as me seometh,’
  Non oothir feele I, so my cénceyt demeth.
  J “ Now, farwel, sone! go homé to þi mete,
  Tt is hy tyme ; and go wil I to myn;
  thelr meal, And what I haue y-seid þe, naght forgete ;
  And swych as þat I am, sone, I am thyn.
  Thow seest wel, age hath put me to declyne,
  And pouert hath me maad of good al bare ;
  41 I may naght but preyé® for þi welfare.”
  Hoccleve and Beggar.)
  “ What, fadir? wolden ye thus sodeynly
  Depart frome? Petir! crist, for-beede !
  Ye shal go dyné with me, trewély.”?
  “Sone, at a word, I moot go fro þe neede.”
  {1 “Nay, fadir, nay!” “ Yis, sone, as god me speede !”
  “Now, fadir, syn it may non othir tyde,
  Almyghty god yow saue, and he your gyde! 2002
  2 yment R, ment H.
  4 formett R.
  7 seemeth R,
  8 prey H, pray R.
  ® trewly H, truly R.

• ~The Proem of Hoccleve’s ‘Regement of Princes,
  Hoccleve and Beggar.)
  4 “ And grauté gracé me þat day to se,
  That I sumwhat may quyté your goodnesse.
  But, goodé?! fadir, whan and wher schul ye
  “Sone, in soothfastnesse,
  T euery day heere at þe Carmes messe,?
  It faileth naght o-boute þe hour of seuene.”’
  “ Wel, fadir, god bytake I yow, of heuene!” 2009
  Recordyng in my myndé þe lessoun
  That he me yaf, I hoom to meté wente ;
  And on þe morowe sette I me adoun,
  And þenne and ynke and parchemyn I hente,
  And to performe his wil and his entente
  I took corage, and whiles it was hoot,
  Vn-to my lord the princé thus I wroot?:—-
  [HOCCLEVE’S “ REGEMENT” FOR HENRY YV.
  WHEN PRINCE OF WALES.|
  (289,4 MS. Reg. 17, D vi, to st. 293.)
  yé and noblé princé excellent,
  My lord the prince, o my lord gracious,
  I, humble seruaunt and obedient
  Vnto your éstate hye & glorious,
• Of whiche I am ful tendir & full ielous,
  Me recomaunde yvnto your worthynesse,
  With hert entier, and spirite of mekenesse.
  1 goode R, good H.
  2 The house and church of the Carmelites, or White Friars,
  stood on the South side of Fleet Street, between the Temple
  and Salisbury Court.—T. Wright.
  Not far, therefore, from
  Hoccleve’s ‘‘ cote” in Chester’s Inn, Somerset House.
  3 The original leaf 37—a Picture and 5 stanzas—has been torn
  from the Harl. MS. by some
  are inserted here from MS. Reg. 17 D vi, leaf 40.
  4 This stanza is under an illumination of a little poet on his
  knees presenting his book bound in þink to a tall crownd
  ‘man standing, clad in a blue cloak, collard and lined with
  His under robe is colourd lake, with a black belt,
  The robe has a white-borderd pocket-slit
  near the top of the left thigh.
  The poet is in a dull brick red
  gown, borderd with yellow, and has lake hose, At foot is a coat
  cf arms hung on the ornament, a fret, or, on sable, quartering
  a lion rampant or, gules.
  The arms of ? Rich. Durrundill.
  Hoceleve compiles his ‘Regement’ from the ‘ Seer. Seer.

The Proem

(290)

Right humbly axyng of you [the] licence,
That with my þenne I may to you declare
meine (So as that kan my wittés innocence,)
Myne inward wille that thursteth the welefare
Of your persone; and ellés be I bare
Of blisse, whan þat the coldé stroke of deth
My lyfe hath quenched, & me byraft my breth.

(291)

Though that my livelode and possession)
Be skant, I riche am of beneuolence ;
To you therof kan I be no nygon):
Goode haue I none, by whiche your excellence
May pleséd be; &, for myne impotence
toppeth the way to do as I were holde,
I write as he þat your goode lyfé fayné wolde.

(292)

Aréstotle, most famous Philosofre,
His Epistles to Alisaundre sent,
Whos sentence is wel bette than! gold in cofre,
And more holsomer grounded to trewe entent :
For ait þat euer tho Epistles ment,
To setté was þis worthy Conquerour,
In reulé, how to stistene his honour.

(293)

The tendir loue, and the feruént chiertee
That this worthy clerk ay to this kyng bere,
Trustyng his welthé durable to be,
Vnto his hert[¢] stak and satte so nere,
That by writy¥ng his counsei#t yave he clere
Vuto his lord, to kepe hym fro myschaunce,
As witnesseth his booke of gouernaunce.
1 that R.
and Guido delle Colonne.
His Debt to Chaucer.

(294)

{] Of which, and [eek] of Gyles of regyment
Of princes, plotmel thynke I to translate.
And thogh that! senple be my sentément,
O worthi prince, I yow biseeche al-gate
Considerith, how endityng hath in hate
Mi dul conceyt, and nat accordé may
With my childhode; I am so childissh ay.

(295)

Also byseeche I that þe altitude
Of your estate—þogh þat þis pamfilet
Non ordre holdé, ne in him include—
Nat greuéd be, for I can do no bet.
Anothir day, whan wit & I be met,?
Which longe is to, and han vs freenly® kist,
Descouere I wole, that now is nat wist.

(296)

Nathéles, swich as is my smal konyng
Withal so treewe an* herte, I wole it oute,
As þo two dide, or euere Clere lyfynge ;
But tremblyng is my spirit out of doute,
That to performé þat I am a-boute ;
Allas ! þe stuf of sad intelligence
Me faillith, to speke in so hy presence.

(297)

Simple is my goost, and scars my letterure,°
Vnto your excellencé for to write
Myn inward loue, and yit in auenture
Wyle I me putté, thogh I can but lyte.
Mi deré maistir—god his soulé quyte !—
And fadir, Chaucer, fayn wolde han me taght ;
But I was dul, and lernéd lite® or naght.
2 hette..mette R.
1 that R, om. H.
5 scarce my lettrure R,
4 and H, an KR.
6 lerned right! R,
-Hoccleve praises Chaucer, and reproaches Death.

(298)

{7 Allas! my worthi maister honorable,
‘This landés verray tresor and richesse,
eee Deth, by thi deth, hath harme irreparable
Vnto vs doon ; hir vengeable duresse
Despoiléd hath þis land of þe swetnesse
Of rethorik ; for yn-to! Tullius
Was neuer man so lyk a-mongés vs.

(299)

{1 Also, who was hiér in philosophie
To Aristotle, in our tonge, but thow ?
the successor The steppés of virgile in poesie
Thow filwedist eeke, men wot wel y-now.
That combre-world, þat þe, my maistir, slow,
Wold I slayn were! deth was to hastyf
To renne on þe, and reué the thi lyf.

(300)

| Deth hath but smal consideracioun
Vnto þe vertuous, I haue espied,
No more, as shewith þe probacioun,
Than to a vicious maistir losel tried ;
A-mong an heep, euery man is motiag
With hire, as wel þe porre as is þe fohie®
lered? and lewde eeke standen al y-liche.

(301)

{1 She myghte han taried hir vengeance awhile,
Til that sum man had egal to the be.
May neuer man forth bryngé lyk to the,
And hir officé needés do mot she ;
God bad hir so, I truste as for thi3 beste ;
O maister, maister, god þi soule reste!
1 fro vs to R,
Hoccleve draws from ‘The Chesse moralized, by J. de’ Cessolis.
From MS, Reg. 17 D vi,
Now to my matere, as that I began :
There is a booke, Iacob de Cessoles,
Of þe ordre of Prechours, made, a worthy man,
That “the Chesse moralised” cleped is,
In which I purpose eke to laboure y-wis,
And here & there, as that my liteH witte
Afforthé may, I thynké translate it.

(303)

And al be it that in that placé square
Of the lystés, I mane þe eschekere,
A man may lerné to be wise & ware,
I, that haue auentured many a yere,
My witte there-in is but litiH the nere,
Save that somwhat I knowe a kyngés draught ;
Of other draughtés, lerned haue I naught.

(304)

And, for that among! the draughtés euerychone
That vnto þe chessé appertené may,
Is none so nedéfult vnto your pevsone
To knowe, as that of the cheerté verray
That I haue hade vnto your noblesse ay,
And shai, yf your plesaunce it be to here,
A kyngés draught, reporte I shalt now here.

(305)

J am sure that the bookés allé thre,
Redde hath & seen your Innat sapience ;
And, as I hope, her vertues folwen ye ;
But vnto you compile I this sentence,
That, at the goode luste of your excellence,
In short ye may behold and rede
That in hem thre is skatered ferre in brede.
1 The original leaf 39 of the Harl. MS. 4866 is out.
They are inserted here from MS. Reg.
taind lines 2108—2160.
17 D vi,
Hoceleve asks Prince Henry for favourable Hearing.

(306)

And Although it be no manér of nede
Yow to counseilé what to done or leve,
Yf þat you liste of stories to take hede,
Somwhat it may profité, by your leve:
At hardest, when! þat ye ben in Chambre at eve,
They ben goodé to drivé forth the nyght ;
They shu not harme, yf þey be herd a-right.

(307)

To your hyenessé, thynke it not to longe,
Though in that draught I somwhat wadé deepe ;
The thewés vertuous that to it longe
Wacchen my gost, & letten him to slepe.
Now God in vertu mayntene you and kepe!
And I beseché your magnificence,
Yeve vnto me benigné audience.

(308)

For though I to the steppes clergyaH
Of thisé clerkés thre [may] not atteyne,
Yit, for to putte in prees my cdnceyte smatt
Goode wille me arteth take on me the peyne ;
But soré in me quappeth euery veyne,
So dredefult am I of myne ignoraunce ;
The crosse of criste me spedé and auaunce!

(309)

ow, gracious prince, agayn that the corone
Honoure you shalt with roial dignitee,
Beseche I hym that sitte on hye in trone,
That, when þat chargé réceyued han ye,?
(leaf 38a] | Swych gouernancé men may feele and se
In yow, as may ben vn-to his plesance,
Profet to vs, and your good loos avance.
1 whan that R.

• This line ends the extract from MS. Reg. 17 D vi.
  the next line, Harl. 4366 begins again, and runs on to the end.
  The Regement of Princes.
  § 1. To Henry, Prince of Wales,
  ON THE DIGNITY OF A. KING.|

§ 1. The Dignity of a King

(310)

{ ffirst and foreward, the dignitee of kyng
Impressid be in the botme of your mynde,
Consideryng how chargeable a thyng
That ofice is; for so ye schul it fynde.
Vn-to good reulé ye yow knytte and bynde ;
Of goddés! wreché haue ay drede and awe ;
Do right to grete and smale, and keepé? lawe.

(311)

{ Onés per was a kyng
Whan his coroné was vn-to hym broght,
Or he it tok, in thoght he stood al sad,
And þus he seidé, after he had thoght :
“© þou corone, noble and faire y-wroght,
What man that þe receyueth or admittith,
More esé þan he weneth from hym flittith.

(312)

Who-so þe peril know, and charge and fere
That is in the, thogh þou at therthe® lay,
He woldé noght the vp areyse or rere,
But lat þe lyé stille, and go his way.
ffor sooth is þis, and hath & schal ben ay,
This worldés hook, enuye hath to his bayt,
And ay hath hye degree sore in a-wayt.”

(313)

q Now, noble princé, thogh I be nat wys,
Wel-willed am I, as I first yow tolde ;
In fe name of ihesu, wirke after þe auys
That I compyle oute of this auctours olde.
And if I nat the wey of reson holde,
ffolwe me nat; and if þat I do, thenne
Do as I schal reporté with my þenne.
y? overline, later H, kepe your R.
1 goddes R, god H.
3 thoght þou at hert H, though thou at the erthe R.
The Worth of keeping Faith with Folks,
ON A KINGS KEEPING HIS CORO-
NATION OATHS; AND ON TRUTH AND

(314)

J Tho othés that at your creaciown
Shul thurgh your tongé! passe, hem wel obserue ;
Lat no colduréd excusaciown
Yow maké fro hem slippe aside or swerue ;
Holde vp hir lyf,? lat hem nat in yow sterue;
It is nat knyghtly? from an oth to varie ;
A kyng of trouth, oweth bene exemplarie.

(315)

{1 Lo! thus this Aristotle in his book seith
To Alisandre, and to be war hym bit,
That he ne breke his bondés ne his feith,
ffor vn-to folke vntrewé longith it ;
He seith þat gracé nat in hym abit,
But wikked ende and cursid Auenture
Hym folowith, that forswere4 hym hath no cure.

(316)

{1 By® feith, is maad the congregaciown
Of peple, and of cites enhabitynge ;
By feith, han kyngés dominaciown ;
ffeith causith eek of men þe comunynee ;
Castelx, by feith, dreden non assailynge,
By feith, þe Citees standen vnwerréyed,
And kyngés of hir sogetȝ ben obeyed.

(317)

{1 Who leeseth feith, gretter thyng may non leese, 2213
Or a man speke, or bynde hym by his sel,
And hath his ful libérte, and may cheese
What he do schal, hym oghte auyse hym wel
[leaf 392)
Or he promette ; and® heeté naght a deel
By word ne bond, but if he wole it laste i
ffor who so dooth, schal smerten at þe laste.
? Shuly .. tong H, Shatt.

• knygly H, knyghtly R.
  § 2. Faith must be kept by Kings and Lords.

§ 2. His Coronation Oaths to be Kept

(318)

“1 Litel encheson hap he for to speke,
To whos wordés is! ȝeuen no credence :
Perillous is,2 a man his feith to breke.
ffeith, by necessite ne indigence
Naght artid is: disceyt,? & apparence
Of trouthe outward, and inward fikilnesse,
Bulteth* out schame, and causeþ gret smartnesse.

(319)

{1 What was þe cause of þe destrucciown
Of þe peple of Scites & of Arabiee,
But for hir kyngés, in decepciown
Of men and Citees nyh to hir contre,
' Hir othis vseden, by sotilte
Brekyngé bondés þat stablisshed were
Mankynde to profité, and not to dere?

(320)

q And for þat synné, goddés riztwisnesse,
That punnysshith falshood and trecherie,
Nat myghte hem suffre endure in þat woodnesse ;
_ But þey destroyed were, it is no lye.
’ Vntrouthe, allas! þe ordre of chyualrie
Dampneth it; thogh þat þe persone it vse,
Knyghthode itself mot algate it refuse.

(321)

{ To god truste I, no lord in al þis lond
Is gilty of þat inconuenience ;
ffy ! what? a lord breke his byheste or bond?
_ Nay, god forbedé þat that® pestilence
In a lord dwelle, or holdé residence ;
ffor if þat he that wicked geste recette,
By suche a lorde wole honowr no thing sette. 2247
3 disceyue H, disceyte R.
1 is R, om. H.
4 Bulteth kh.
REGEMENT,
§ 2. The fine Example of Regulus’s good Faith.
@ Whan Marcus Regulus was, as I rede,
Venqwisshéd in a bataile of þe see
By hem of Cartage, hoom wiþ hem þey lede
This prisoner ; and aftir, sent was he
By hem to Romé, his owné contre,
Sworn to retourné to Cartage ageyn,
As tullius And eek seint Austyn seyn.

(323)

{ The causé whi þey hym to Romé sente,
Was for to do to Romayns hir message,
He was to try Wityng of hem, if þat þey wolde* Assente,
That, syn? ther weré Romayns in cartage
In prisoun, and Romayns hadde eek in cage
Cartagiens, suffre hem at largé goo,
And þe Romayns go schulden? [fre] also.

(324)

{] Whan Marcus doon hadde as þat he was bode,
The senat axid hym what was his reed ;
And he answerde, and seidé* þus for gode :-—
“« Al þis, rede I, lat slepen,®? & ben deed ;
It may by no way sinke in-to myn heed,
That to vs Romayns were it couenable,
Swiche an eschaungé; but® vnprofitable.

(325)

| “ We Romayns þat þey han in prison loke,
Ben but ȝonge froth, vnlernéd in batayle,
or very old; And othir feble folk with age I-broke,
Of whiche I am on; we may nat availe ;
[leaf 40 a]
Of vs no losse is; but with-outen faile,
Zoure prisoners’ ben myghty men and wyse,
BOCES.
And folk in armés preenéd at deuyse.”
1 wolde R, worde H.

• shulde R, schuld H.
  4 seid H, seide k.
  5 is but R.
  7 prisoners R, prioners H,
  § 2. The Praise of Regulus.

(326)

{i His freendés wolde han holde hym stillé there, 2276
But thei nat myghte; he wolde alwey retourne ;
To breke his oth, his goost was ay in fere ;
He poghte noghé in his! contre soiourne.
Do qwat hem list, whether ¢hei glade or mourne,
Vnite his foos as bliué he hym dressith,
And knewe wel to be deed, the book witnéssith.

(327)

“] He held? it bette his oth for to obserue,
And dye in honur, as þat a knyght oghte,3
Than by peritrie his lif for to preserue ;
Of suche ynknyghtly trikkés he nat roghte.%
I trowé now-a-dayés, thogh men soghite,*
His heir ful hard were in þis land to fynde ;
Men list net so ferforth to trouthe hem bynde. _ him,

(328)

{] ȝit nat only to preyse is this Marcus
ffor trouthé, but eek, as it semeth me,
His renoun oghté doubled ben, as þus—
Where as theschangé myghte han maad hyn fre,
Qwit of his foos* prisown, gretter cheerte
He hadde of the profet vniuersel
Than of hym self: his deeth it preued wel.

(329)

4 Amongés allé> þingés in a knyght,
Trouthe is a þing that he ne lakké may,
If his honur schal bere his heed vp right.
Valerie tellith how, wiþ greet array,
Kyng Alisandre and his oost, on a day,
Meeued of ire and maléncolye,
Vn-to a citee dressid hym in hye,
1 his R, one. H.
4 fees (altered to foos) of R.
3 sholde.
5 alle R, al H.
-§ 2. Alexander kept lis Word at Lampsacus.

(330)

Lampsacus. | Whiché þat clept and called was Lapsat,
Purpésynge! bete it to þe erthe adoun ;
And or þat this kyng fully cam ther-at,
Ther was a Philosophere in þe toun,—
A: man of excellent discreciown,
That to this kyng somtyme had maister be,—
fful sore abasshed of him & his meyne.

(331)

came to pray {] Out of þe toun he spedde hym on his weie,
As hastely as þat he coude or myghte,
Toward þe kyng, of grace hym for to preie ;
And as swithe as þe kyng hadde of hym sighte,
He knewe him and his menynge; and on highte”
He seide him þus: “‘ by þe goddés I swere,
‘Al þi labour schal nat be worth a pere ;

(332)

At þi prayeré do wole I no þing.”
This Philosophre of his ooth took good hede,
the Master And seide, ‘fo worthy conquerow and kyng,
Than prey I þe, vnto the toun þe spede,
And it destroyé bothe in lengthe & brede ;
Haue on it no pitee, but al down caste ;
This pray I þe, þat may® be done as faste.”

(333)

{] And whan þe kyng his prayere vnderstood,
Al his angir and his irrous? talent
Refreyned he; he woldé for no good
On þe toun vengé him, as he had ment ;
[leaf 41a]
He rathir chees be disobedient
To his vengeable wil, and his oth kepe,
Than be forsworn of þat he swoor so depe.

• Harl. MS. “zighte,” hight R.
  3 þat it R.
  _ § 2. St. Chrysostom on Swearing.

(334)

Or a kyng swere, it is ful necessarie
He may his oth in no wise contrarie,
If he of sham or repreef be agast.
A kyng owéth of word be stidéfast ;
No thing byheté, but he it perfourme,
If he wole hym vuto his state conforme,

(335)

1 A greet clerk, whiche clept is Crisostomus,

• Where he of the? matir of sweryng tretith,
  Thyse arn the wordés that he writ to vs :—
  þe custume of othés nat letith
  In sweryng ofté, what he seith forgetith ;
  Vsage of othes, of periurie is cause.”
  And more he seith eke in þe samé clause.
  | He seith, “ periurie engendrid is of othis ; 4
  for right as he þat custumably
  Clappith and ianglith, and to stint loth is,
  Moot othir whilé speke vnsittyngly,
  Right so, vsage of swering, enemy
  To trouthe is, and makith men hem forswere ;”
  fful necessarie is, othis to for-bere.

(337)

See ee {| Swering hap thisé* thre condiciowns
~—-ffolwynge, as trouthé, doom, and rightwisnesse.
Beit axiþ trouthe, and no decepciowns,
But swere in his ententé sothfastnesse.
Loom moot discreetly, left® al hastynesse,
Swere, and nat needles; and iustice also,
‘Leeffuly swere, and iustly euermo.
3 othis R, this H.
2 the, om, H R.
1 hem H, hym R.
§ 2, Kings should keep their Covenants and pay Loans,

(338)

Kings should { Quintilian seith, þat vn-to hygh degre,
Vusittynge is to swere In any wise,
But it be causid of necessite ;
ffor, as he seiþ, and othir clerkis wise,
A kyng or princes word oghté suffise
Wel moré than, oghte a marchantes oth,
And to go ther ageyn be moré loth.

(339)

And syn a princes oth, or his promesse,
Whan þei nat holden ben, him dishonure,!
Pa ond His lettre and seel, whiche more open witnesse
Beren than þei, good is take hede and cure?
That þei be kept ; writingé wil endure ;
What a man is, it prest is for to preue ;
Outhir, honure it shal him, or repreue.

(340)

Now if it happe, as it hap happed ofte,
A kyng in nedé borwe of his marchantis,
Greet wisdom were it treté faire & softe,
And holde hem truély her couenantis ;
ffor trust it wel, whan hir couénant is
Nat to hem kept, as þat hir bonde requerith,
The kyng hap schame, and eke it hem mys-cherith.

(341)

Loth wolde hem ben eft-sonés for to lene ;
He þat is brent, men seyn, dredith þe fire.
Be his day kept, he rekkeþ nat a bene,
But elles, siker, ‘‘don is in þe myre.” 2
[leaf 42a]
Wiþ-outen dowte, a Marchantés desir
Is with good herte his kyng honour and plese,
And, to his myght, refresche & doon him ese.
? An instance of Hoccleve’s false ryme of -owre -wre.
p. 21 above, and ‘Minor Poems,’ I, p. xxxix.

• Cp. ‘Chaucer’ and ‘Towneley Plays,’ &c.
  § 2. Kings and Lords should not. break their Promises, . 87

(342)

In hem is fe substaunce of euery lone:
What folk cheuyce, as mochil as doon they?
Excellent Prince, I demé your persone,
To hem and to al othir, in good fay,
Wole holdé þat ye heeten hem alway,
And so to do, god, þe auctour of trouthe,
Yow graunte! and elles certes were it routhe.

(343)

If þat a pooré man breke his byheste,
Or do ageyn his oth, or seel, or lettre,
Men hente him by þe heed, and him arreeste,
And to prisén he gooth; he gette no bettre,
Til his mainpernour his arrest vnfettre ;
And yit he moot þe cours of lawe abyde,
Or his mainpernour mot deffende his syde.

(344)

Among the pooré peple thus it goth,
Thei, for vntrouthe, han smert & open schame ;
And if a lorde his bond breke, or his oth,
ffor sope it is a foul spot in his name ;
Thogh men dare not opynly him diffame,
Thei þinke, al be it þat þei no thing spcke ;
In swiché lordés is vntrouthe I-reke.

(345)

{ And syn a kyng, by wey of his office,
To god I-likned is, as in manere,
And god is trouthe itself, þan may the vice
Of vntrouthé, naght in a kyng appeere,
Tf his officé schal to god referre.
A besy tongé bringeth in swiche wit,
He þat by word naght gilteþ, is per'it.
§ 2. The Duty of not Talking too much or too Jreely.

(346)

q A! lord, what it is fair and honurable,
A kyng from mochil speché him refreyne ;
It sitte him ben of wordes mesurable,
ffor mochil clap wole his estate desteyne.
If he his tongé with mesurés reyne
Gouerné, than his honur it conse7ueth ;
And by þe reuers, diéth? it and sterueth,

(347)

] Bet is, þe peples erés thriste and yerne
Hir kyng or princes wordés for to here,
Than þat his tongé goo so faste & yerne
That mennés erés dul of his mateere ;
ffor dullynge hem, dulleþ þe herte in fere
Of hem þat yeuen to him audience ;
In mochil speché wantiþ not offence.

(348)

{] Who so þat hatiþ mochil clap or speche,
(wenchiþ malice ; and he þat his? mouth kepiþ,
preserves his [eepith his soule, as þat þe bookés teeche.
Vnbridlid wordés ofté man by-weepiþ ;
Prudencé wakiþ whan þe tongé sleepiþ,
And slepith ofté whan þe tongé wakiþ ;
Moderat speche engendrith reste, and makith.

(349)

Wild animals 4] Allé? naturés of bestés and briddes
And of serpentés ben ymakid‘ tame,
but not man's But tonge of man, as it wel knowe & kid is,
Nat may be tamed ; 0, fy! man, for schame!
Silence of tunge is wardein of good fame ;
And after repreef fissheth, clappeth, fouleth ;
The tunge of man, aH the body defouleti.
1 deyeth R, dith H.

• his R, þis H, with ‘his’ in corrector’s hand in margin.
  3 Alle R, Al H.
  4 ymaked R, makid H.
  ° Leaf 45 is out of the Harl. MS. 4866.
  They are supplied here from MS. Reg. 17 D, vi,
  leaf 47 back, leaf 48.
  $$ 2,3. The Poor State of Chivalry.

(350)

And that [þat] oute of tunge of kyng procedeth,
The peple specially beren awey.
Wherfore, vnto a kyng þe more it nedeth
Avise hym what he speké shalt alwey,
In mochelt speché som behesté! may
Lightly asterté, that may not be holde ;
And than [þe] trouthé begynneth to colde.

(351)

O worthy princé, this, loo, meveth me
Of trouthé for to touché thus sadly,
For that I woldé that the hye degree
Of Chiualrié vniuersally
Bare vp his hede, & benté? not awry ;
Of his honour, vntrouthe a knyght vnlaceth,
And his renoun ait vttirly defaceth.
And failyng it, the chief flour of his stile
Fadeth & falleth, & begynneth dye.’
Honoure appropred is to chiualry[e].
But now passe ouer; touche I wole a while
Of rightwisnesse, which that out of this ile
Purpdéseth fully for to fare & wende,
So is our reule vnthrifty & vnthende.

(353)

eint Ancelme seith, Iustice is liberte
Of will, yeuyng vnto eucry wight
That longeth to his propre dignite ;
To god, obedience, as it is right ;
Vnto his better, honour & reuerence ;
The grete eke to the smale, lore & science.
3 MS. to dye.
2 MS, bent.
1 MS, behest.
Our Duties to one another.

§ 3. On Justice

(354)

(4s, Rep. To thyne egaH, concorde ; vnto thy foo,
Suffrauncé ; & to thy self, holynesse ;
To the nedy, greved with wrecched wo,
Mercy in dede, & rewé his distresse
After thy power, & releve in heuynesse ;
And rewe vpon) hym, yf that thy myght faile,
For þat wilt shatt py dedé countervayle.

(355)

70 follow
Who-so it be that [usticé verray
Desireth folowe, first mote he god drede,
And loue as hertly! as he kan & may.
It not suffiseth to do no noyous dede,
But who annoyé hym wold it forbede ;
For none anoyé is no righwisnesse,
But it is abstinence of wickkednesse.

(356)

We owe each Of counceit & of helpe we be dettoures?
Eche to other, by right of bretherhede ;
For whan a man y-falle in-to errour is,
His brother ought hym counceille & rede
To correcte & amende his wikked dede ;
And yf he be vexed with maladie,
Mynystre hym helpe, his greef to remedie.

(357)

Gea, set 34] Euery man owiþ studien* and muse
To teche his brothir what þing is to do,
And what be-houély is® to refuse ;
That þat is good, prouokyng him þerto ;
And þus he mote conseille his brothir, lo!
“ Do þat right is, and good, to goddés pay,
In word nat only, but in werk al-way.”
1 MS. also hertily.
2 MS. doctoures.
’ Harleian MS. 4866 begins again.
5 byhoyeth for.
The Nature of Justice.
Kings bound to maintain tt.

(358)

Lawéful iustice is, as in manere,
4 Egidius in
Al vertu; and who wole han þis iustice,
The lawe of crist, to kepé mot he leere.
Now if þat lawé forbeede euery vice,
And cémande al good þing, and it cherice,
ffulfillé lawé, is! vertu perfyt,
And in-iustice is of al vertu qwyt.

(359)

Iustice is of the kynde and the nature
Of god; and he hap made it, and ordeyned
On remés and on euery créature,
By iustice, is schedyng of blood refreyned,
And gilt punysched, whan it is compleyned.
Tusticé déffendeth possessions,
And peple kepeþ from oppressions.?

(360)

q A kyng is made to kepen and maynteene
lustice, for she makith obdisant
The mysdoers þat proudé ben & keene ;
And hem þat ben in vertu habundant
Cherisith ; a kyng is, by couenant
Of ooth maad in his coronaciown,
Boundé? to iustices sauuaciown.

(361)

G And a kyng, in fulfillinge of þat, is
To god lik, whiche is verray rightwisnesse ;
And men of yndé seyn and holden þis—
‘A kyngés iustice is a greet richesse
Vnto his peple, as plentee or largesse
Of erthly good, and bettre þan reyn
ffallynge at eue from heuen,’ þei seyn.
2 oppressions R, appressions H,
3 And bounden R,
§ 3. The Duty of Ministers and Kings to Poor Folk.

(362)

Kings are oft { fful often sithé! it is wist and seen,
‘That for þe wrong and þe vnryghtwisnesse
Of kyngés mynistres, þat kyngés bene
Holden gilty, where-as in soothfastnesse
Thei knowen no þing of þe wikkednesse ;
Vniust mynistres ofte hir kyng accusen,
And thei þat iust ben, of wrong hem excusen.

(363)

If þe ministres do naght but iustice
0 poor’ peple, in contre as þei 0,
8 In-
Thogh þe kyng be vniust, yit is his vice
Hid to þe peple; thei wene eueremo
The kyng be iust, for his men gye hem so.
But ministres to seelde hem wel gouerne ;

(364)

A kyng, me thinkeþ, for þe seuerte
loos, oy houeþ it enquere
think of him. Of hem þat han his éstate in cheerte,
What famé þat his poore peple him bere ;
He of iustice is bounden hem to were
And to diffende ; and if þat þei be greued,
By him thei mot be holpen and releued.

(3865)

Excusé schal hym naght his ignorance ;
He mot enquere of wrong, and it redresse ;
andredress it. ffor þat he peple hap in gouernance,
He clept is kyng: if his men peple oppresse,
Witynge hym, and noght rekke of the duresse, 2553
He may, be ryght, be clept no gouernour,
But of his peple a wilful déstroyour, —
1 sothe R.
§ 3. Praise of Hdward LIL,
Theodorus crucified.

(366)

1 O worthi king! benyngne Edward fe laste !
Thow haddist ofte in herte a drede impressid,
Whiche þat þyn humble goost ful sore a-gaste ;
And to know if þou cursed were or blessid,
A-mong þe peple ofte hastow þe dressed
In-to contre, in symple array allone,
To heré what men seide of þi persone.2

(367)

{] Al-thogh a kyng haue habundance of myght
In his land, at his lust knytte & vnknytte,
Good is þat he his power vse ariȝt,
That fro the wey of iustice he ne flitte,
Leste oure lord god hym from his gracé schitte,
Of whom al rightwis power is deryued ;
ffor if he doo, of blisse he schal be pryued.?

(368)

I fynde how þat Theodorus sireene,?
ffor þat he to þe kyng of Lysémak
Tolde his defautés, þe kyng leet for teene
Crucifie him; and as he heng & stak
Vppon þe croys, þus to þe kyng he spak :
“ This peyne, or othir like þe-to, moot falle
Vppon þi falsé cownsaillourés* alle.

(369)

q “ Nought rekke I thogh I rote an hy or lowe,°
As he þat of þe deth hath no gastnesse ;
J dye an innocent, y do the knowe ;
I dyé to defendé rightwisnesse.
Thy flatereres, en-haznced in richesse,
Dreden to. suffre for rizt suche a peyne,
But I thereby nat setté resshés tweyne.”
1 See, among others,
‘‘A Tale of King Edward and the
Shepherd,” in Hartshorne’s Metrical Tales (from T. Wright).
2 pryved R, preyued H.
3 Surcene R. (See Smith’s Dict. Greek and Roman Biography.
5 lowe R, lawe H.
4 Counsaillours, H, counceilours Rh.
§ 3. The noble Example of Camillus.

(370)

Ther was a duke Romayn, clept Camilus,
Leyde onés seegé vn to a citee,
ffalisk! naméd, as seiþ valerius,
Of whiche the men of moost auctorite,
And grettest of power and of degre,
To a Maister in þe citee dwellinge,
Bytook hir children, by wey of lernynge.

(371)

the Master of {1 What doth me this maister, but on a day
Somme of tho children out of þe touné? ledde,
fo The most expert in science, and þe way
Streight to þe Romayn tentés he hym spedde ;
And þe duke þus cownsailled he, and redde:
“ Haueth this children in possessiown,
And kepith hem in holde and in prisowun;

(372)

4 “ The fadres of hem han in gouernaunce
ffalisk! þe citee, at hir owné list ;
In hy and low, aftir hir ordenance
Ts al þing doon: Whan it is to hem? wist,
That ȝe hir children han vndir youwr fist,
Ye schul wel seen, hir children lyf to saue,
Hem and þe citee schul ye wynne & haue.”

(373)

{1 The duke answerde anon to þis traytour :
But Camillus‘ Thogh þou be fals vn-to þyn owné toun,
And rekkest nat of shame or déshonour,
But per cas for to gete of me guerdown
Desirest ffaliskés* déstrucciown,
Nat were it knyghtly, me to pé consente,
That taken hast so traytourous entente.
1 Falex R.
2 towne R, toun H.
4 Falexes R.
(§ 3) to take Advantage of a false Boy-Master’s

(374)

‘I “ We Romayns kepen riȝtés of bataile
As trewély as þo rightés of pees ;
Our custume is, no children to assayle ;
Thogh we þe toun hadde wonné, doutélees
Ther schulde no childe amongés al! þe prees
ffor vs han greued be; we armés bere
A-geyn the arméd men, hem for to dere,

(375)

“ And naght a-geyn children vndéfensable.
In þat in þe is, þi myght hastow do,
Thorgh wicked tresown, false and déceyuable,
Thi citee to destroyen and for-doo ;
But I, Romayn, agree me nat þerto ;
By vertu of armés wole I it wynne,
ffor al þe myght of men þat ben pevinne.”

(376)

The duke comaundeth,? schortly for to seyn,
His handés hym be-hindé to be bounde,
And bad þe children lede hym hoom a-geyn
To hir fadres ; whiche, whan þat þey han founde
So greet iusticé in þis duke habounde,
The senat clept, and þis vnto hem tolde ;
The hertés gan to change, of yonge & olde ;

(377)

q All þey seiden, of hyé® gentillesse,
Groundid vppon iustice, did he þis,
And also of a chiualrous prowesse ;
Thei seiden, ‘it to vs most sitting is
Oure 3atés opne, & offre vs to ben his ;
Is non so good, as lat vs mollifie
Our hertés stouté+ to his genterie,
1 amonge att R, among as H.
2 comaunded R.
3 hye R, hy H.
4 stout H, and stonde kh.
§38. Henry I, Duke of Lancaster, K. Porus and the false Doctor.

(378)

“ And of his pees, requiren hym & preye.”
They diden so; but what was foluynge,
Nouȝt haue I red, wher-fore I can nat sele ;
But þis Iust duke, as by my stipposynge,
Was to hem swiche, in wil & in workynge,
That? he hem quitté so as myȝte hem queme :
What schulde I elles of suche a lordé? deme ?

(379)

Of Lancastre good duke henri also,?
Whos Iustice is writén and auctorised,
Whi schulde I nat þe rekene a-mongés þo
That in hir tyme han Lustice excercised ?
ȝit þat vertu only nat hap suffised
To þe, but al þat longith to knyȝthode
Was inned in þyn excellent manhode.

(380)

I rede also how þat—hangynge a strif
Betwixt kyng Porrus and a lord clept ffabrice—
The leche of pys kyng, a curséd caitif
Inuolued and y-wrappéd* in þe vice
Of couetisé, schoop hym for to trice
His owné lord þe kyng, & hym to kille,
If þat. it haddé ben fabricés wille.

(381)

This leche vn-to fabrices house by nyght,
[leaf 46 a]
As priuely as þat he coudé, went,
And vnto him ensuryd & be-hyght,
If him list to þe dedé [then] consent, —
He was so glad to plese him & content,5—
His lorde þe kyng with venym wolde he fede,
So þat ther-purgh he steruen shuldé nede.
1 That R, What H.
2 lorde R, lord H.

• Henry, the first of the Plantagenet dukes of Lancas
  father-in-law of John of Gaunt, one of the greatest men of the
  reign of Edward I1I.—T. Wright.
• ywrapped R, wrapped H,
  ® content R, concent H.
  § 3. A false Judge flayd in Persia.

(382)

§] This lorde, with þat, bad men his handés teye,! 2668 Porus has the
And lede vnto þe kyng þis traytrous? wight,
And al þis treson vnto him be-wreye.
Whan þis was done, þe Kyng seyde anone rigfit,
“Se here a trowth and manhode of a knyght!
Men may the sonne as lightly his curse® reue,
As þis fabrices make his trowthé# leue.”

(383)

{] In Perse onés® per was, by Ingément
A man to depé® dampnyd in wrong wyse,
ffor wrath and hate, & þe" irous talent
þat to þis iké’ man bare the Lustice ;
And whan þe knoulech of þis false iowyse®
Was comyn vnto þe kyngés audience,
þis dome he ȝafe as blyue, and þis sentence :

(384)

He bad men fla!° hym quyk out of his skynne,
And per-with keuyr þe iudicial see,
And made his soné to be set per-inne,
That iuge aftir his fadir sholdé be,
To þis ende and entenciown, þat he
Shuldé"™! be ware how!” he his domés ȝafe,
And lene alwey to right-wysenessé staffe.!

(385)

Naght ought a iugé, for hatrede™ or loue
Othir wey demé pen trouth?!> requirith,
But, at þe reuerence of god aboue,
Right ay fauour, whan þat it apperith.
Dede of iustice a!® conciéncé clerith,
Chasyng a-way thoughtés on wrong I-groundid ;
Who iuggith wrongfully, is feendly woundid.
1 teye R, cey H.
2 lede .
. this traiterous R, led.
3 cours R.

• trouthe R, trouth H.
  6 dethe R, dep H.
  7 and R.
  8 ilke R, ilk H.
  10 flee R.
  M1 Shulde R, shuld H.
  12 how R, whow H.
  occurs also in the (? Midland)
  quaint ‘‘Jacob’s Well,” Fons Jacobi, Salisbury Cathedral MS.
  103, which explains Prof. Skeat’s name.
  (The MS. is now at press for the E. HE. T.
  13 ȝaf rightwisnesses staf R.
  4 hate H R.
  15 than trouthe R.
  16 ay R.
  REGEMENT.
  § 3. Judgment showld not be sold, or be vindictive.

(386)

_ {| What Iuge in dome eke ȝeuyth? iust sentence,
A-wayting vp-on a golden dragee,?
To god he doth displesaunce & offence ;
ffor þe iusticé wich of duetee*
He shuldé‘ do, cursidly sellith he,
ffor loue of mede him prouokiþ þer-to,
And riz3twysnessé no þing so to do.

(387)

To swich a tugé withdrawé þe hope
OE money, and he fro iusticé flyttyp ;
Wher he supposith mony [for] to grope,
lust iugément he in his hert admittith ;
But who so þat his hand fro ȝiftys shittith,—
As vnto vs wyttenessith ysaye,—
He shal in heuen dwelle, & sitten hye.

(388)

]/ Cristen men, ȝelde oughten iust iugément
ffrely, for vnleful is it to selle ;
Thogh it be leful and conuenient,
A wyse man for rewarde his reed to telle.
A iuges purs, with goldé noght shulde swelle ;
If one iustice he shape his dome to bilde,
His iugémentés he 3iftlés must ȝilde.

(389)

leat 47a] ] And he þat doth of iusticé rigoure,
Let hym be ware he haué no delyte
pun- In [þe] punysshyng of þe dffendoure,
at hap I-do þe trespase, or the wyte ;
Ner him reioyse of his anoyance plyte,®
Ne þe maner excede in swiché® case,
Or quantite of þe gilt, or þe trespace.
1 yeveth R, ȝeuyt H.
2 drageee R.
4 shulde R, shuld H.
° Never ... noiaunce lite R.
§ 3. A Roman Consul, whose Sun was an Adulterer.

(390)

{i Even as a soule is bodies lyflynesse,
4 Psidiusin
And when þat it! is twynéd from a wight
et See The hert is dede, so farith right-wisenesse ;
ffor whan a reme is reulid by hir myght,
Jen may the peple be ful gladde & lyght,
je londe may bathen in prosperite ;
And lost is al, if þat absent be she.

(391)

{Nota bene! {] Ther was a lawe I-made vppon a tyme
At romé, by the consoulés assent,
Jat who so weré gilty of þe cryme
Of aduoutrié, and were þer-in hent.
His eyen bothé shulden? out be brent.
Now fel it so, a man þat soné was
To a conseil, was take in þis trespas.

(392)

And whan þat þe myshappe of þis persone
Was to þe peple knowén of þe toune,
Thei loueden his fadir so, echon,
And had him in so chere? affeccioun,
þei seyden þat non execucioun*
Shuld on þis soné for this dedé falle,
And þe consulés so þei preyden alle.

(393)

To® which þe fadir gan rephé þo,
And þus allegéd he for him, & seyde® :-—
“ Considereth, sires, I am oon of þo
þat to þis lawe consentid and obeide ;
And shulde I now þe samé breke,” he seyde,
“‘ ffor fauour of myself or any of myne?
Nay, sirrés, to þat may I not enclyne.
3 prete R.
1 it, om. H.
2 bothe shuld R, both shuld H.
4 execucioun R, excusaciown H.
8 seyde R, leyde H.
§ 83,4. The Consul loses one Hye, his Son the other.

(394)

J “ Maffeith!! þat weré wrong and villonye !
þe lawe shal forthé, thogh it fille on me.”
þe peple gan to rumble, & clappe & crye,
And the consulés preyed of þe Citee
The reuers ; and® thus ouercome was he ;
So at the last he sye non othir wey,
But in party he must hir lust obeye.

(395)

Now,” quod he, “‘sithen* it may be no bet,
Sum what to yow, me conformé wol I,
So þat þe lawé shal al noght be let,
Thogh þat it myght obseruéd be fully :
Thus wol I, and none othir truély®:
Oon of myne eyen wol I now for-go ;
Mi sone anopir; it shal be rizt so.

(396)

{1 “We two wol haué but o mannés sight.”
Thus was done®; but naght al at the plesawnce
Of þe peple ; but þei none othir myght.
Now if to-morowe fil per swich a chaunce,
Shulde*? men fyndé so iust gouernaunce ?
Nay, nay! þis londe is al to scarce & lyte,
To fynde oon þat so iustly wolde hym quyte. 2772
ON OBSERVING OF THE LA WS. |

(397)

1 Prince excellent, haué your lawés chere ;
Obserue hem, and offende hem by no wey!
Bi oth to kepe it, bounde is þe powere
Of kyng; and by it is kyngés nobley
Sustenéd ; lawe is bothé’ lokke and key
Of suérté ; whil law is kept in londe,
A prince in his estate may sikir stonde.
1 Parde R.
2 forthe R, forth H.
7 Shulde R, Shul H.
8 bothe R, both H.
§ 4. There's little Law in England.

§ 4. On Observing the Laws

(398)

{] And doutélesse, if þat fordone be? lawe,
A princes power may goo pley him þenne ;
ffor þei þat nought ne haue, with knyfe I-drawe,
Wol on hem þat of good be myghty, renne,
And hurt hem, and hir houses fire & brenne,
And robbe and slee, and do al swich folye,
Whan per no lawe is, hem to iustifie.

(399)

Now in gode feith, I pray god it amende,
Lawe is nye fleméd out of þis cuntre,
ffor fewé be þat dreden it offende.
Correcciown and al is long on the:
Whi soffrest þou so many an Assemble
Of arméd folk? wel ny in euery shire,
Partye is made to venge her cruel ire ;

(400)

Thei, wzth her hande wrong, to hem done redresse ; and take the
Hem deyneth naght an acciown attame
At comwn lawé: swich vnbuxumnesse
Suffréd, vs maké wol of seuerte lame.
Who-so may þis correct, is worthi blame
þat he ne doth naght.
alasse! þis suffraunce
Wol vs destroyé by continuance.

(401)

Is ther no lawé þis to remedie 4
I can no moré; but, and this forth growe,
This londe shal it repent and sore abye ;
And al such mayntenance, as men wel knowe,
Sustenéd is naght by pevsonés lowe,”
But Cobbes? greté þis ryot sustene ;
Correct it, gode is, whil þat it is grene.
1 be R, by H.
2 lowe R, lawe H.
"wattes,’ 1, 2816, p. 102.
3 cobbes R, great men, lords.
§ 4. The Rich defy the Law; the Poor are snubd by wt.

(402)

J ffor, and it horé, þis lande is but lost ;
ae þat our heede is, sore it shal repent ;
And this tamend, axith no gretter cost
But to do lawe in no vengeable entent,
Seye I; but for þe better, hem take and hent,
And punysshe hem by lawful riȝtwysenesse,
And sutfre naght ich othir þus to oppresse.

(403)

Smal tendirnesse is had now of our lawes ;
for if so be þat oon of þe grete wattes
A dede do, which þat a-geyn þe lawe is,
No thyng at al he punysshid for þat is ;
Rit as lop-webbys, flyés smale & gnattes!
Taken, and suffre greté flyés go,
ffor al þis worlde, lawe is now rewlyd so.

(404)

The riche and myghty man, thogh he trespace, 2822
No man seith onés þat blak is his eye ;
But to þe pore, is denyed al grace ;
He snybbyd is, and put to tormentrie ;
He naght a-stirté? may, he shal a-bye ;
He caught is in the webbe, & may naght twynne ;
Mochil gode reule is sowe, & spryngith thynne.

(405)

{7 Of þis groweth strifé, bataille, and discorde,
And by þe greté, þoér folk ben greuyd ;
by the Hich- ffor he þat noble is of blode, and a lorde?
In stile, and nacht hath, sterid is, and meved
Vnto rapyné ; þis is often preuyd ;
Norysshith wrong, and castith rizt a-bak.

• R has in margin, in another hand: ‘Unde Solon, unus de
  Lex est aranie tela, quia si incideret quid
  debile, retinetur ; grave autem pertransit, tela cissa .*.”
• asterte R, astirt H.
  § 4. God ts pleasd with Law-abiding Kings. The Emperor's Tomb. 1038

(406)

{1 When a kyng dcop his peyne and diligence,
His reme by lawé and reson to gye,
He stondith mort in beneualence
Of god, and more his werk shal fructifie,
And shal haue gretter mede, it is no lye,
Than þei þat swich a cure haue none on honde ;
Thus fynde I wretyn, as I vndirstonde.

(407)

‘I Who-so þat in hye dignite is sette,
And may do greuous wrong & cruelte,
If he for-bere hem, to commend is bette,
And gretter shal his mede and meryte be,
pen þei þat naght may kithe iniquite,
Ne naght may done; for were sum man! of myght,
Often wolde he do, grét harme and vnryght. 2849

(408)

Hye dignite, the philosofre writeþ,
Preueth a man, what he is in his dede.
When þat a prince in vertu him delitith,
pen is his peple warisshéd of drede ;
Then may thei sey and syng alowde, & grede,
“‘ Honour, long lyfe, ioie, and cristés blyssyng,
Mot haue oure sustenour, our prince & kyng!”

(409)

Whan þat an Emperour in dayés olde
Corownéd was, aftir as blyue anone,

• Makers of tounbés cum vnto him sholde,
  1 lemosinani
  And ask him ‘of what metal or what stone
  His toumbe shulde ben’; & forth þei gone,
  With swich deuyse as þe lorde list deuyse,
  And yp þei make it in her besté? wyse.
  1 for if sum man were H, for yf sum man were H.
  2 best H R.
  § 4. May Prince Henry rule well and get his People’s Love!

(410)

This was done, for to bring vnto! memérie
That he was naght but a man coruptible,
And þat þis worldis ioye is transitorie,
And þe trust on it slippir and fallible ;
And þis considered, ought him be peynyble
His remé wel for to gouerne and gye ;
ffor who so lyueþ wel, wel shal he dye.

(411)

Like a bridel is depés rémembraunce,
þat mannés herté? réstreyneth fro vice.
þat kyng þat knyghtly® is of gouernaunce,
þat is to seyn,® dop iustly his office,
Of loue and pes and rest he* is noryce ;
And whan þat he is out of þis worlde went,
Thus seyn® men þat goon by his monument :

(412)

‘In heuen mote þis kyngés soulé rest !
þis is a worthy kyng, gret was þe pees
Jat men had in his tyme, he was þe best
That myght be; he kept his peple harmles ;
In7 his comyng, glad was al þe pres,
And sory weren of his départyng.”
O, graciouse princé, swich be your wirkyng!

(413)

peat a) {| Thus, my gode lorde, wynneth your peples voice ;
ffor peples vois is goddes voys, men seyne.
The People’s And he þat for vs starf vpon þe croyse
Shal white’ it yow, I doute it noght certeyne ;
Your labour shal naght ydel be, ne veyne ;
“No goode dede vnrewardid is, or quytte ;
Ne euyl vnpunysshid,” seith holy writte.
1 Thus was it done to bryng in R.
3 knyghtly R, knyght H.
4 he, om. H R.
7 “Tn”
iz the first measure or foot.
8 quyte R.
® Radds: ‘‘nec malum impunitum.
§ 4. Prince Henry is to let the Church elect its Bishops,

(414)

In your prosperite and in your welthe,
Remembreth euer a-monge, þat ye shul dye,
And wot naght whan ; it comeþ in a stelthe ;
Haue often him! by-fore your myndes ye ;
ffor whan no herté? hydé may ne wrye
His secre® thoughtés, god al wot & weyeth ;
Hym, loue & drede; and his lawés obeyeth.

(415)

§] Now sen a kyng is to his lawés swore,
And lawé biddeth free eleciown
In chirches passe ; my godé lorde, per-fore,
Let no fauour ne none affecciown
So meeuve your wysé circumspecciown,
To lette hem‘ of hir laweful liberte ;
Lat hem reioyse hir propre duéte.

(416)

The chapitre of a chirché Cathedral,
When þei haue chosen hir heed & pastour,
Which as hem thenkeþ sufficiant at al,
Hem for to rewle, and ben hir gouernoure,
Writeþ vnto þe pope in hir fauour,
Bisekyng humble[l]y® his fadir-hede
It to conferme ; and þat is a iust dede.

(417)

And if the lawé suffre yow to write
ffor any man apart, herkenth now me ;
Let vertu penné þerto yow excite ;
Lokith þat þe man haue abilite,
þat shal resseyué þat hy® dignite,
þat is to seyn, he be clene of lyuyng,
Discrete, iust, and of stiffisant konnyng.
1 him R, om. H.
2 hert. HR:
2 secrete R.
4 hem R, hym H.
5 humbly R.
6 by H, hye R.
§ 4. Kings to leave Bishops Elections free. Evils of Flattery.

(418)

J If þe pope to þat estate prouyde
AL persone, at your prayer and instaunce,
Your sonde he takeþ to þe better syde ;
He holdeth þe persone of sufficiaunce
To haué swich a cure in gouernaunce,
ffor so wittenessith! þe suggestiown
þat to hym made is for prouisivzn.?

(419)

{1 To kynges letters, yeven is credence ;
Beth ware how þat ye wryte in swich matere,
Lest þat ye hurt and mayné concience.
for if þat execute be your prayere,
þe persone vnworthy, ye shul ful dere
Rewe it; no smal charche? is the soulés cure
Of al a diocise, I yow ensure.

(420)

{] Of swich writyng be of right suiffrable,
And þe man able, swich charge to resseyue,
ffor whom ye writte, þat is comméndable ;
And ellés wol* it your soule deseyve.
Help him þat able is®; and tunhable® weyue;
Weyué fauel w7th his polysshid speche ;
And help him þat wel doth, and wel can teche.

(421)

{1 But certes, fauel hath caght so sad foote
In lordés courtés,? he may naght pens slyde;
Who com or go, algate abyde he moote i
His craft is to susteyne ay
5 syde,
And fro vertu his lordé to devide F
And, for soth® sawés ben to lordés lothe,
Noght wol he soth seyn, he hath made his oth.
1 witnesseth R.
4 elles wole R, els wol H.
5 abl’ is,
® tunhable H, unable R.
The ¢ of ‘th’ unable” after d, is
7 courtes R, court H,
§ 4. How a Knight said that Apollo made his strict Laws.

(422)

Let fauel passé; foule mot he falle!
fforth in iusticé wol I now procede :
Be tees per was a knyght, I not what men hym! calle,
A juste man and a trewe in al his dede,
Which on a tyme, as þought him it was nede,
þe froward peple by sharp lawés bynde ;
lawés ful iust he made, and in streyte® kynde,

(423)

And when þei weren byfore hem I-radde,*
þei® made hem wondir wroth, & seyden al
þei weren not so nycé ne so madde*
To hem assent, for ought that® may befalle’ ;
They wolden nat hem to þo lawés thralle,’
And wold han artyd þis knyght hem repele,
Makyng ageyn him an® haynous querele.

(424)

When he se þis, he blyué to hem seyde:
“T9 mad hem naght, it was god appollo ;
And on my bak,” quod he, “ þe charge he leyde
To kepe hem; sirés, what sey ye here-to?
As he me chargid hath, riȝt so I do.”
And ynto þat, answerd anone þe prees,
«We wol hem naght admitten doutéles.”

(425)

q “ Wel,” quod? he, “ þenne is gode, or ye hem breke,
That vnto god apollo I me dresse,
To trete of þis matere, and with him speke,—
With-owtyn him I may it naght redresse,—
Biseche him wol I,!! of his gentilnesse,
Repele hem,!® sen þat þei to streyté be,
And do my deuer riȝt wel, ȝe shul see.
? steyte R, sharp H.
4 hem radde... madde R, him I-rad.
6 that R, om. H.
5 þe H, They R.
8 an R, and H.
7 befalle.
10 koth R (as usual).
91 R, He H.
2 hem R, him H.
§ 4,5. How the Knight made his Folk keep his Laws.

§ 5. On Pity

(426)

{J ‘ But or I go, ye shul vnto me swere
þe lawés kepé til I agayn+ come,
And Breke hem naght;” to which þei gan answere,
“‘ȝee, ȝee, man, ȝee! we graunt it al and summe.”
þei made her oth, and he his wey hath nomme.? 2980
He nought to Apollo, but to grecé went,
And per abode tyl þat þe dep him hent.

(427)

And whan his lasté daye*® gan to appere,
He bad men prowe his body in þe see,
Lest vpon þe londe made were his bere,
it couldn't be ~~ ye peple myghten vu-to hir Citee
His bonés cary, and at hir largé be
Quyte of hir oth, as to hir iugément ;
Thus he deuysid in his testament.

(428)

{] Syn I spoke haue of iustice, as ye knowe,
Wnto pite—which mot ben had al-gatis,
And namély in princes ought it growe—
Wol I me dressé: she opneþ the 3ates
Of helth to him þat in sekenesse estate is ;
Sche esith many a wyght þat is distressid,
at neve hir helpé* shulde be sore oppressid. 2996

(429)

[leaf 52 a]
itee, naght ellés is, to vndirstonde,®
But good wille inward of debdnair hert,
all who need. A nd outhewarde? spech, and werk of man, to fonde
To help him þat men sen in meschif smert.
Men selde* him seen in-to wykkyd dep stert,
1 ageyn) R, gayn H.
® that his last day R, his last daye H.
4 nere hir helpe R, neuer hir help H.
° R. has in margin: ‘‘Scriptum est, Pietas est ex benigne
mentis dulcedine grata omnibus auxiliatrix.”
® This page has an illuminated initial letter, which extends
from the top to the bottom, and a heading
7 outward R.
5 selde R, selden H.
§ 5. The crafty Workman's deadly Brazen Bull.
þat pitous is; but þei han cruel dep
Often whos cruelte cruelly sleth.!

(430)

Refert Ho- Whilom per was a tyraunt dispitouse,
þat so delited him in cruelte,
lis puniebatur at of no þing was he so désirous.
Now shope it so, a man þat to pyte
ffo was, and frende vnto iniquite,
A sotel werkeman in craft of metal,
Wrought in þis wyse as I yow tellé? shal.

(431)

His lorde þe king he þoughté? plese and glade,*
And craftély he made a bol? of bras,
And in þe syde of it he slily made
A litel wyket, þat ordeynéd was
To réceyue hem þat stode in depés case,
Vndir þe which men shulden sharpe fire make,
Tho folk to depé® for to brenne & bake.

(432)

And ȝit more-ouer, þe kyng for to meve
The lesse vnto pitee, it made was so
By sotil art’ þe dampnéd folk to greve
þat whan to crye, hem cémpellyd® hir woo,
Hir woys was lyke a bolés euer-mo,
And nothyng lyke a maznys voise in sown,
As þe serzpturé maketh menciown.

(433)

{] But our lord god, of pite þe auctour,
Displesid with þis cruel ordinaunce,
Swich rewarde shape vnto this? losengeour,
þat it abatid al his countenaunce ;
And for to preue his fendely pwrueaunce,
How sharp it was, & coudé folk distreyne,
The first he was þat entryd in þat peyne.
1 sleth R, fleth H.
2 telle R, tel H.
3 þought H, thought to R.
4 R, has in margin:
“‘ Nota, de crudel, itate cujusdam artificis
subtilis, et qualiter per artem suam propriam puniebatur ; et hoe
5 eraftely
. bole R (bull), craftly ..
8 compelled hem R.
6 dethe R, dep H.
7 craft R.
9 this R, his H.
§ 5. The Workman is burnt in his Bull.

(434)

ffor whan þe kyng, his cruel werk had seyne,
þe craft of it commendith he ful wele ;
But þe entent he fully helde a-gayne,
And seydé, “ þou þat art moré cruel
‘Than I, þe maydenhede of this Iuel
Shalt preue anone; þis is my Iugément.”
And so as blyue he was þer-in I-brent.

(435)

Men may sen here, how fauel hym enclyneth
Ay to his lordys lust, what so it be ;
Vnto þat ende he bysieth hym and clynyth,}
And no consideraciown hath he,
Thogh it be harmé to his lordys degre,
Or a-geyn feith, honour, or concience ;
In fals plesaunce is al his diligence.

(436)

To what þing it be, if it his lorde lyke,
He him conformyth ; he neuer denyeth
His lordés resouns, but a pank to pike,
His lordys wil and witte he iustifieth ;
Whil fauel liueþ, no fals conseil dieth ;
ffauel is wedded to plesaunt deseyt,
And in þat wedlok trewe is his conceite.

(437)

Heat 58.2] 1 Grounde of treson, o þou cursyd? fauel !
How longé? shalt þou be a potestate ?
In lordés courtes þou pleyest* þi parcel,
So þat it strecchith to þi lordys mate ;
ffor pu hast neuer þi lordys estate
To herté® chere, but al þi bysynesse
Is for þi lucre, and þi cofres warmnesse.
1 pyneth R.
3 longe R, long H.
courtes... curt... pleyest R, pleyst H.
§ 5. Flatterers leave a Man when his Money goes,

(438)

Dicit Sene- {] ffauel was neuer frendly, maz vnto ;
lordés, beth ware! it nedith trewélye.!
sequebantur. Senek, by hem þat folweden Nero,
Seith þus, ‘‘a ffyé folweþ the honye ;
þe wolf, careyn,” he seith ; so, wel wot I
þat companyé folweden her pray,

(439)

Whil þat þe swetnesse of riches endurith,
Vnto þe riche is manny man plesaunt ;
Only þe richessé þer-to hem lurith ;
What he comaundiþ, þei ben obysaunt?
To do, whil þat he of goode is habundaunt ;
But whan fe pray, þe ricchesse, is a-goo,
The man forsaken þei for euermo.

(440)

{ Ieronimus. {] O ffauel! a blynde marchant art þou oone,
That, for wordly goode, & grace and fauoure,—
Which faylé shal & passe, and oue7 goone,+—
Swich diligencé dost, and swich laboure,
þat þou þi soulé fro our saueoure
Twynnest, and slest þi lordis soule also,
And causyst hem to peyne eternal go.

(441)

per is a long and a large difference
Twix vertuous plesaunce and flaterie :
Good plesaunce is of swich beneuolence,
þat what gode dede he may in man espie,
He preysith it, and rébukith folye ;
But fauel takeþ al on othir parte ;
In wrong preysyng is al his craft and arte.
1 trewlye H, truly R.
? sequuntur R, sequiter H.
3 obedient R.
4 passe in oucr goone H, faile and ouercome I.
Kings should be pitiful.
The Harm of Flatterers.

(442)

| A gloser also kepith his silence
Often, where he his lord seeth! him mystake.
Lest þat his answere myghté? done offence
Vn-to his lorde, and him displesyd make,
He holt his pees; nat a worde dare he crake ;
And for he naght ne seith, he his* assent
Zeueþ® þerto, by mannés Iugément.

(443)

Who-so þat wot þe purpose of a wyght,
Bvt when he þat is agroundid vppon wykydnesse,
And noght ne lettith it, vnto his myglit,
ffauorith it, as þe boke can expresse ;
Who-so it® lokith, fynde it shal no lesse.
But of al þis now make I here an ende,
And to my tale of pite wol I wende.

(444)

A Princé mot be of condiciown
Pitouse, and his angir refreyne, & ire,
Lest þat’? vnavisid commocioun
Hym chaufé so, & sette his hert on fire,
That hym to wenge® as blyué he desire,
And fulfille it in dede: hym owyp knowe.
[leaf 54 a]
His errour, and® qwenche þat firy lowe.

(445)

Aristotle told 4] Aristotle amonestith wonder faste,
In his book whiche to Alisaundre he wroot,
Jf he wolde haue his regne endure and laste,
That for non ire he neuere be soo hoot,
Blood of man" schede ; and god seith, wel I woot,
That vnto hym reseruéd is vengeaunce ;
Who-so þat sleþ, schal haue þe samé chaunce.
2 myght H R.
3 optat R, ortat H.
7 þat, om. H R.
8 venge R.
10 of man to R, of a man H.
§ 5. Of the King who pardond a Murderer.

(446)

{] But this noght ment is by þe cours of lawe,
That put a man to deth for cryme horrible.
Whan he a man y-murdred hap and slawe,
A man to sle by lawe, it is lisible ;
That slaughtre beforn god is admittible,
And if a kyng do swiché murdrers grace
Of lyf, he boldeþ hem eft to trespace.}

(447)

kyng of þis lond whilom, herde I seyn,
ffor mannés deth a pardown hadde e-graunted?
macionum de “Vnto a man, whiche afterward ageyn
The samé gilt hadde in an othir haunted ;
Aftir whos deth, he homly hap avaunted
He nas naght so frendlés, he woldé do
Wel y-now thogh he hadde slayn othir two.

(448)

“Of frendes,” quod he, ‘‘ haue I largé wone,
That, for þat they haue had, and schul, of myne,
Byforne þe kyng for me schal knele echone ;
They at þe fullé kunne his herté myne ;
Thidir wil I goo, streght as any lyne,
And þey þat now annoyen me or greue,
I schal hem qwite here-aftir, as I leue.”

(449)

He cam vnto þe kyng, and axid grace
Of þat he wroghté hadde® so synfully.
The kyng auyséd hym wel on his face,
And seydé, “ frend, me pynketh how þat I
Haue vnto þe doon grace or þis, soothly ;
I graunted onés a chartre to þe
Of mannés deth, as it remembreth me.
2 be graunted R.
1 trespace R, strepace H.
3 wrought hade R.
REGEMENT.
§ 5. A wise Fool stops the Murderer’s second Pardon.

(450)

| “Hast þou now slayn an othir man also?”
Now stood a foolé! sage þe kyng byside ;
he himself ~ And or þe kyng spak any wordés moo,
He to hym seidé, “[Now,] for god þat dyde,
Whi demen ye þis man an homicide ?
He slow hym naght, for ye your self? hym slow,
And, by your leuen,? I schal tellen how :

(451)

“If bat þe lawé myghte his cours han had,
This man here hadde ben, for þe firste man, deed ;
fforyeue hym now ; and yif þat* he be drad
To slee þe thriddé, þan girde of myn heed.
Now be aviséd wel; it is my reed,
How ye your pardown graunté, leste errour
Of nycé pitee be your accusour.”

(452)

{1 This kyng wel þoughté þat he seide hym trouthe,
And chartirles goop þis man ful of drede ;
And aftirward, of whos dissert was routhe,
The lawe hym yaf þat longéd to his mede.
My tale is doon ; now sooply it is nede
To grauntés to wipstondé, þat procure
[leaf 55 @]
Meschévous deth to many a créature.

(453)

§] Pitee auailith mochil, but naght pere ;
ffor bet it is to sle þe mordreman,
Than suffre hym regné, for he hap no fere
His hand to vsé forth as he by-gan ;
And in my cénceit, feelé wel I can,
That of suche pitee, is þe abstinence
Of gretter pite, for þe consequence.
1 foole R, fool H.

• self R, om. H (with a later ‘selfe’ overline).
  4 þat, om. H R.
  § 5. Pardons for Murder should never be granted.

(454)

{] If right-ful deth of oo man, kepe and saue
Two innocentés lyués, þinkeþ me
By resown moré merit oghte hym haue
That cémandith his! gylty man deed be,
Than he þat lif hym graunteþ: why lat se,
The gylty man is no wrong doon vnto,
But wrong is doon vnto? thise othir two.

(455)

Euery man woot wel, for to saue tweyne
Is gretter gracé þan to? saue but on.
Of murdre, is cause gret for tot compleyne ;
Tho pardons alle to lyghtly passe and goon ;
Auyse hem þat fauoure hem, by seynt John ;
Who so it be that þerto þe kyng meeveth,
Wel moré þan he woot, his soulé greeveth.

(456)

{] Avise a kyng eek, for any requeste
Vunto hym maad, by greet estat or mene,
That he fauotre it noght ; it is þe beste
Tho réquestés to werne and voydé clene,
Of swiche in sothe as murdrers ben, I mene ;
But and® on be by malice of his foos
Endited, pardown be to hym noght cloos.

(457)

If þat be sooth, lat pitee walk at large,
ffor sche and mercy þerto wil assente ;
It is a parcel of hir either charge ;
Routhé were it þe giltéles turmente ;
Pitee schal soul of man to god presente,
And god, þat yaf vs ensample of pitee,
To pitous folk sauaciown schal be.
3 to R, om. H.
1 this R.
2 vnto R, to H.
4 crete to R.
5 and, an, if.
§ 5. The Pity of Marcus Marcellus over Syracuse.

(458)

The pitous herte of Marcus Marcellus
Wele worthy is, be drawen in memdrie ;
He may ensample and mirrowr be to vs ;
ffor, as Valerie writith in a storie,
Whan þis Mare obtened hadde! fe victorie
By segé leyde to men of siracuse,
As I schal seyn, he heuyly gan? muse.

(459)

He wente hym vp on hy vppon a toure,®
Where he byholdé myghte al fe citee,
And how fortune hadde schape hym þat honoure.*
With herté tendre than considered he,
And hadde of folkés dethés suche pitee,
That from wepynge he myghte hym not restreyne ;
Al his tryumphé was to hym but peyne.

(460)

§| Who-so hadde stonden by hym in þat tyde,
And hym aviséd on his contenawnce,
Wolde han supposéd that þat othir side
Rathir hadde I-putte hym to þe outraance,
Than he hadde had of hem so fair a chawnce:
O worthy knyght! who schal þi steppés sue?
[leaf 56 @]
Thi suiccessour halt hym to longe in mue.

(461)

Syracusehad {] O citee! syn fortune was contrarie
To the in o part, yit hir gentilnesse
akindly foe. Purveyéd þe a bénigne aduersarie.
Thanke hir of þat, for thy disese is lesse,
ffalle in þe daunger of lambés humblesse,
Than he with cruel wolués al to-frete ;
A lamb is naght so gredy on hir mete.

• opteynede R (? hadde obtened).
  4 that he did see R.
  3 tree R,
  § 5. The Pity of Pompey, Julius Cusar, and Aleaander.

(462)

Ther nys no þing, as witnessith a! storie,
Makyth a knyght so schynynge in renown,
Whan þat he of his foos hath þe victdrie,
As rew on hym þat throwen is a-douwn,
And of his blode eschue effusiown.
A bestes kynde is, þat is wilde and wood,
Victdrie naght desire, but þe blood.?

(463)

4 De pietates | Also, whan þat þe kyng of hermenye
Venquysshet was in batayle by pompeye,
This kyng fel doun vnto his foot in hye,
And from hym caste his dyademe aweye ;
But pompeyus, as blyue, of his nobleye
Stirte vnto hym, and vp hym hfte & hente,
And many a word benigne on hym dispente, 3241

(464)

{ He dide his myght hym to conforte and qweeme ;
And right anon, with-oute any delay,
Vpon his heed bad sette his dyademe
Ageyn ; and so* was doon, it is no nay.
Whan Cesar, emperour, eek on a day
Pompeyé saw biforn hym lad & bounde,
Cesar in terés salté gan habounde.®

(465)

© De pietate {| Whan Alisaundre eek, as Vallerie hap told,
Was, in a tyme, in þe feld wiþ his host,
An agéd knyght of his, for verray cold,
His lyfly myght he loren hadde al-moost,
So greuous tempest tho fil in þat coost ;
And whan þis worpy kyng þis hadde aspied,
Out of his see he roos, and to hym hied,
1 the R.
2 R, has in margin: Seriptum est, Ferarum genus est non
3 benignitate & pietate R.
victoriam sed sanguinem sitire.
5 abounde R, hobunde H.
4 so R, om. H.
§ 5. May Prince Henry follow Alexander’s Example!

(466)

q And by the hand þis oldé knyght he took,
Confortynge hym [right] in his tbeste manere,
Bp His OF And ledde hym to his! tente, as seith þe book,
And in? his real seege and his chaiere
As blyue hym setté: þus may kyngés leere,
Distresséd knyghtes to helpé and releeue :
To take ensample of þis, it schal noght greue.

(467)

J What wonder was it, thogh þat knyghtés tho
T)esiréden so noble princé serue,
Syn þat hym leuer was for to for-go
His dignite, and hir helpé? conserue,
Than his estat keepe, and hym suffre sterue?
Yit hoope I seen his heir in þis prouince ;
And þat schal ye be, my good lord fe prince. 3269

(468)

{1 Before a iuge, eek in poynt to be deed,
Of Julius Cesar per was a knyght,
Whiche, wiþ an hye voys, for to saue his heed,
To his lord Cesar eryde a-lowdé ryght,
By-sechynge hym þat, of his gracious myght,
He wolde hym helpe and rew* on his estat ;
And Cesar sente hym a good aduocat.

(469)

{1 And vnto þat, þis knyght as blyué þus
On heighté wel, þat al þe peple it herde,
With manly cheeré spak to Iulius,
His lorde, and in þis wisé hym answerde :—
“Han ye for-gote how scharp it wiþ yow ferde, 3281
Whan ye were in þe werrés of asie?
Maffeith ! your lif stood pere in iupartie;
—! best manere And ledde hym vnto his R, om. H.
2 in R, om. H.
3 helthe to R.
§ 5. How Ceasar saved one of his Knights from Death.

(470)

“ And aduocat ne sente I non to yow,
But my-self put in prees, & for yow faght ;
My woundés beren good witnesse y-now
That I sooth seye ; and, lest ye leeue it naght,
I schal yow schewe what harmé haue I! caght, 3288
The doute out of youre herté for to dryue.”
He nakid hym, and schewéd hym as blyue.

(471)

{] Of whiche, Cesar ful soré was aschamed,
And in his herté sorwe made, and moone ;
He heeld hym selfen worthy to be blamed.
** My freend,” ? he seidé, ‘‘ let me now allone ;
Adudcat wole I be in my persone
ffor þe; I am wel holden to do soo.”
And þus, þis knyght, his deth he saued fro. 3297

(472)

He dredde hym, if he naddé þus y-wroght
The peple hym wolde han® for a proude man deemed, ungentle, if
And vngentil, and þat he cowdé noght,
As that it scholde eeke haue vnto hym seemed,
Thanke hem þat worpy* weré to be qwemed;
“What princé,” quoth he, ‘ peyneth hym naght
His knyghtés® loue, his loue is to hem pynne.”

(473)

{ Out of pitee, growith mercy and springiþ,
ffor piteelés man can do no mercy ;
What prince hem lakkith, naght aright he kyngeth ;
And, for þat þei ben neghéboures so nygh,
To pitee, mercy ioyné now wole LI.
Excellent prince haue in hem good sauour,
And ellés al in waast® is your labour.
3 wolde hym haue R.
2 frend R, feend H.
1 J haue R.
4 worthy R, worp H.
® knyghtes R, knyghes H.
6 att in veyne R, in waast H,
Christ embodied it, for our sake.
[$ 6.] @ De Misericordia.

(474)

yercy, aftir þe worde of seynt Austyn,!
Of herte is a verray compassiown
Of othir menys harm, and þat comth yn
By gyfte of god, and by remissiown ;
As, if? iniurie or oppressiown
Be doon to vs, þat gilt for-yeue vs oghte,
ffor loue of crist, þat, by deth, our lif boghte. 3318

(475)

Bee Who-so, wronge to hym dodn, wole for-yeue,
His synné schal to hym for-yeuen be ;
Thogh þat he no þing , is ee : é
The better part oe of mercy ha t he ;
Thus fynde I writen of auctorite :
but fully may pere no man do mercy,
But if þat he releué þe nedy.
Thogh þat a man be sobre, chaast, & trewe,
And be wiþ many an hy vertu endowéd,
And yeue, and naght for-yeue, it schal hym rewe :
[leaf 58 a)
Where as oure werkes mosté ben avowéd,
The vnmerciable schal be disallowéd :
Who naght forȝeueth, mercy dooth he non ;
And mercyles man, mercy schal for-gon.
Chis ear §] Mercy, crist causéd to ben incarnate,
and sufferd = And humbled hym to take oure breperhede.
God in-mortel, rewynge oure seek estate,
Mortel be-cam, to purge oure synful dede ;
Hym lothid naght his precious body sprede
Vpon þe croys, this lord benyngne and good ;
He wroot oure chartre of mercy with his blood.

• This page has an illuminated border and initial.
• R. has the lines of this stanza wrong: 3319, 3324-5, 3320-1.
  § 6. The Mercy of the Duke of Lancaster and K. Henry IV,

§ 6. On Mercy

(478)

Of hym, his handwerk and his créature,
ffor to be merciable, aright may lerne ;
This lyf present schul but a whilé dure,
And lastynge it, your mercy naght ne werne,
O worthy princé, for to god eterne
Tt ful plesant is; dooth your mercy here ;
ffor to late is, aftir ye goo to beere.

(479)

4 De mizeri- { Take hede, excéllent prince, of your graunt-syre,
How in his werkés he was merciable ;
(euins anime He þat for mercy dydé, qwyte his hire!
He neuere was, in al his lyf, vengedble
But ay for-yaf the gylty and coupable.
Our ligé lord your fadir, dith? þe same ;
Now folwe hem two, my lord, in goddis name!

(480)

They often haddé gret cause hem to venge,
But hir spiritis bénigne and pesible
Thoghten þat craft vnlusty and alenge,
And férbaar it; þei knewe it vnlisible.
To mercy were hir hertés ay flexible ;
ffor-why with merey god schal qwyte hem wel,
Aftir þe wordés write in fe gospel.

(481)

It is to leue and deme, if a kyng schyne
In vertu, þat his soné schuldé sue,
And to his fadris manerés enclyne,
And wykked teichés and vices eschue :
Thus oghte it be, this to nattire is due.
He mot considre of whom he took hys kynde,
And folwe his vertu, as men writen fynde.
1 doth R.
§ 6. How the stingless King-Bee is a Model to Princes,

(482)

1 He moost is like to god, as seith Bernard,
þat holdeth no þing moré precious
Than to be merciful; it is ful hard
To lakké mercy and ben vnpitous.
“ Mercy wole I,” seith oure lord glorious ;
He þat denyeth god, þat he wolde haue,
God nayte! hym schal, þat he wil axe or craue.

(483)

Senek seith how þe kyng and þe ledere
Of bees is prikkéles ; he hap right non
Wherwith to styngen, or annoye, or dere ;
But othir bees, prikkés? han euerichon ;
Naturé woldé sche schulde it? for-goon,
And do no cruelte vnto þe swarm,
But mekely hem gouerne, & do non harm.

(484)

Of þis, ensample schuldé kyngés take,
And princes, þat han peple for to gye ;
take to Pity. ffor to hem longith it, for goddés sake,
[leaf 59 a]
To wayué cruelte and tyrannye,
And to pitee, hir hertés bowe & wrye,
And reule hir peple esily and faire :
It is kyngly, be meeke and debonaire.

(485)

‘| I rede of 4 kyng, þat Pirus was named,
Whan hym was tolde, how þat men of Tarente
Hadde, at a festé, his estat diffamed,
He for þe samé folkés blyué sente ;
And whan þey cam, axid to what entente
They of hym spak so, and so foulé ferde =
And oon of hem, as ye schulle here, answerde : 5
8 wae IR,
2 prikles R.
4 De misericordia R.
answerde R, answere H.
The merciful King Pirus.

(486)

“My lord, if þat þe wyne noght failléd hadde,
Al þat we spak, neré but game and play,
Hauynge rewardé! to þe wordés badde
That we thoghte haue I-spoken in good fay.”
The kyng took a laghtre, and wente his way,
And of al þat, he heeld hem? ful excused :
He seide it was wyne, þat so hem accused.

(487)

Wengeance, in þis good lord, haddé no stide ;
Mercy and humble disposiciown
Dispensid? with tho men, and grace hem dide,
And thriste vndir foote cruelte adown.
O myghty princé! this condicioun
To your highnessé is ful acordant,
And vnto god al-myghty ryght plesant.

(488)

{ Power withouten mercy, a kyng tourneth
Into a tyraunt, war þat feendly spek !
ffor in what man þat cruelte soiourneth,
Vuto his soule it is an odious spek.
Tho men of god han nouthir look ne bek,
But if þat it be bekkés of manace,
Where as hist mercy folweþ moché grace.

(489)

| Salomon in his prouerbis expressith,
‘Mercy and trouthé,> wardeynes ben of kyngés ;
And with iustice also,’ as he witnéssith,
‘His trone is strengped :’ what man þat a kyng is,
But if þat he, amongis opir thyngés,
Endowéd he wiþ allé þisé thre,
Men seyn he halteth in his hyge® degre.
2 hem R, hym H.
1 yewarde R, reward H.
4 his R, is H.
3 Dispendede he R.
6 hye R.
5 trouthe R, trouche H.
Pisistaris forgives the Man who kist his Daughter.

(490)

{ A noble and glorious kynde of vengeance? is,
A knyght to spare, whan þat he sleé may.
Ther was a duc callid pisistaris,
þat a yong doghtir haddé, a fair? may,
Whiche with hir modir walkid on a day—
Naght seith the book whider, ne what to done,
But. þus it schoop, as I schal tellé sone.

(491)

Aa yong, fresche, lusty, wel by-seyén man
So brente in loue, he wenté for to dye,
Rauyssht of þe beauté of þis womman,
This tendir? yong morsel, þis doghter, I seye.
And as þis yong man mette hir in þe weye,
He at a leeþ was at hir, and hir kyste :
The modir, angry wood, whan sche it wiste, 3437

(492)

Her mother {1 Sche right* anon hir lord, þe duc, be-soghte®
To putte hym to þe deth for his trespas.
He seydé nay ; to do þat neuere he poghte :
““Schulle® we sleen hem þat louen vs? allas!
What schuld we þanne in the contrarie cas,
That is to seyn, do’ to our enemys ?”
Thus seide þis duc, merciable and wys.

(493)

The Mother Allas! whi was þis womman so vengedble 2
Certes, in þat sche lakked wommanhede.
This louer hadde ben deede, it is no fable,
If þis duc hadde ben like® to hir in dede ;
But mercy hym for-bad, any blood schede ;
Sche and pitee weren of oon accord,
And senten pacience vnto þis lord.
1 signe of mercy R.
2 faire R.
3 tendre R, tedir H.

besought R, be-soghe H.
6 Shulde R, Schullen H.
7 done to R, to do H.
8 like R, om. H.
King David and Cursing Shimei.

(494)

And for as mochil as þat pacience
To mercy as in lyne of blood atteyneth,
Now wole I do my payne and diligence,
To telle how hir benignyte restreyneth
The feruent heté þat þe herté pyneth
Wreché cruel to take, and scharp vengeaunce,
Of þat þe herte of man felith greuawnce.

(495)

regdrie seith, paciencé verray!
Is, of harm doon to man, softé souffrawnce
equanimiter And naght be wrooth, by no manere of way
With hym þat hath y-doon a man nusance.
Socrates seith, no mannés gouernance
Is wys, but it be by suffrancé preeued ;
A good man souffrith wrong, and is not greued.
49 6)
The kynde of pacience is to sustene
Myghtily wrongés, and hem neueve wreke,
But hem for-yeue, and wratthe & irous tene
Out of þe herté for to spere and steke.
Hir kynde is noght to lete a word out breke,
That harmful is ; for herté voyde of ire
Hath naght wherwith to sette a tonge afire.

(497)

o humble kyng benyngne !
þi pacient meeknesse
Naght meeued was ageyn Semey maligne,
Whos hy malice and crabbid wikkidnesse
Yaf greet enchesown to thy worthynesse
To vengé the; but þi benyngnite
ffor-bad þyn hand to kythé cruelte.
1 This page is illuminated with an initial G, and a scroll work
2 scire R, fore H.
border on three sides. —G. England.
The Patience of David, Job, and Alexander.

(498)

Shimeicurst {7 As this kyng onés cam to bahurim,
Out cam þis man, malicious Semey,
Sone of Gera, and swiche despite dide hym
And to his men, as by hym wenten they,
Castyngé stonés vnto hym alwey,
That wondir was; for which, on Abusay
Wolde haue hym slayn ; but þe kyng seidé, ‘‘nay ! Qacte meal :

(499)

i “ Lat hym curse, aftir þe comawndément
Of god; whan he seeth myn affliccioun,
see þe And my disese, and my grevous turment,
He wole, for þis dayés malicioun,
Par aventuré, do me som guerdown.”
Thus vndirstonde I, write is in þe bible,
Whiche is a book autentik and credible.

(500)

[leaf 61a]
The paciénce of Tob, men may nat hyde,
The comow voys wole algate it by-wreye ;
And Alisaundre, whos fame is sprad ful wyde,
fful pacient was, as þe bookés seye.
A sad wys knyght of his with lokkés greye,
Grucchynge ageyn his fleschely lustés, seide
Vuto his lord, and þus he hym vp breyde:

(501)

{1 “O Alisaundre! it is vncouenable,
Syn þi lust, bestial and miserable,
Hath qweynt thy resown and entendément
So ferforth, þat the heté violent
Of leccherye is in þe, lord and sire ;
Repreef, I dredé, qwyté schal þin hire.
1 yeddet R, reddit H,
§ 7. The Patience of Alewander, Cwsar, and Scipio Africanus,

§ 7. On Patience

(502)

“fly! schaméles ynworthy gouernour !”
And whan þe knyghtés talé was al endid,
The kyng answerde, “ I knowé myn errour ;”
And paciently seide, “I haue offendid ;
I woot it wel; and it schal be amendid.”
A man also to Julius Cesar onés
Crabbidly seid, and schrewdly! for þe nonés, 3514

(503)

And among othir wordés þat he speek,
“Tulius,” quod he, “ make it noght so tow,?
ffor of thy birthe art þou noght wort a leek:
Whens þat þou cam, men knowen wel I-now :
Wenest þou naght þat® I can tellen how
Thy fadir was a bakere? 0, lat be!
Ne make it nat so qweynté, I pray the !”

(504)

{] Smylynge, vnto hym spak þis Emperour :
“ Whethir supposist þou bet, þat noblesse
Begynne in me, or noblesse and honour
Deffaile in þe?” this questiown, I gesse,
Was, in swiche cas, but answer of softnesse ;
ffor þat was seide in repreef of his name,
His pacience, as who seith, took® in game.

(505)

4 De Pacien- {| To þe chiualrous worpy® Scipio
Of Aufrik, also speck onés a wight,
And seide, “in armés durste he but smal do ;
He faght but smal whan he cam to þe fight.”
And paciently answerde he anon right,
“My modir me bare, a childe feeble and smal,
And forth me broghte, and no fightere at al.’? 3535 born, he
2 tough R (rymes : ynough, hough)
1 sharply R.
5 took it lt.
3 that R, þan H.
4 who R, swo H.
6 Chyualerous worthy R, chiualours worp H.
§ 7. Of the Patience of King Antigone and Duke Pisistariss

(506)

{1 Senek seith, how þe kyng Antigone
Herde onés folk speke of hym wikkedly,
ffor ther nas! but a curtyn, as seith he,
Twixt hym and hem; and whan hys tyme he sy,
Aside he drow the curtyn sodenly,
And seidé, ‘‘ gooth hens, lest þe kyng yow here,
ffor þe curtyn hap herde al your matere.”

(507)

Of duc Pisistaris eek wil I telle:
| He hadde a freend, arispus was his name,
Whiche onés hastily, with wordés felle
Rebukid so þis duc, þat it was schame
To heren it; and yit, with sorwe and grame,
He in despyt spette in þis dukés face ;
And he þerto no word spak in þat place.

(508)

{] He had him so in port & word and chere,
Ryght as hym hadde be do no vilenye,
But luked forth in a freendely manere.
Now ther were in this dukés companye
His sonés two, that busked hem in hye
To this Arispus, and wolden ful? fayn,
Nad hir fadir hem let, haue hym Islayn.

(509)

Next day | §] The nexté day after, this Arispus
To také gan consideraciown
How that he to þe duke mys-bare hym thus,
And madé moré waymentacioun
Than I can make of nominacioun ;
He wolde han slayn himselfe, it is no lese,
But that this duke broughte al to rest & pees.
1 nas R, nat H.
The Gain of Humility shown by Solomon and Christ.

(510)

Whan he knew how it with Arispus stood,
He dressid him to him, and þat as swithé,
And bad him to be glad of cheere and mood ;
He seide, and swooré! to him ofté sithé,
“* As freendly wole I be, and stande as ny the
As I dide eueve ;” and thus his paciencie
And meknesse hath qwenchid al? þis offence. 3570

(511)

{1 Salomon seith, in him is sapience
That is indewed with benyngne humblesse.
Grace of þe holy goost, no residence
Holdith in þat man þat lakkéth meeknesse.
God took vppon him humble buxumnesse
Whan he him wrappid in our morteH rynde :
That oughte a myrour be to al man-kynde.®

(512)

q Bernardus {| Plesant to god was þe virginite
Of his modir; but verray god & man
placuit deo, Conseyued was thoruȝ þe humilite
Whiche he be-heeld in þat blyssed woman.
O humble maidé! who is it þat can
The debonaire humblessé tellen al,
Restynge in py clennessé virginal ?

(513)

Thogh þat þe humble were a foul habyt,
Zit in vertués glorious is he ;
But þe proud man stant in anoper plyt;
Thogh his array be fair & fresche to se,
His dedés and his werkés foulé* be.
What hyȝe estate þat a man represente,
Humble to be, let hym sette his entente !
4 Isodorus.
1 swore R, swoor H.
3 At the bottom of this page is the figure of a man in a þink
to maior, &. jacket, lying on his back upon a patch of grass, and holding in
his hands the end of a rope noose, with which he is pulling into
its place stanza 512, left out at first, and then written in the
4 foule R, foul H.
margin opposite st. 511,.—G, E.
REGEMEN’.
Humility and its Ally, Charity, lead Folk to God.

(514)

1 Humylite verray, as seith Cesarie,
May neuere be with-outen charite ;
And sche is a vertu most necessarie :
Amongés allé vertués þat be,
Sche on hem alle opteeneth dignite.
They fro þe regne of god hem-self dyuyde,
That charite wayven and caste a-syde.

(515)

{ Right as a man ne may nat thider goo
Where he purposeth hym, but if a way
ee Be thiderward, seint Amselm seiþ, right so,
With-outen charite, men goo ne may
Aryght vnto godward: men mowen ay
Doon as him list, if þei ben charitable ;
But lakkynge it, is no þing profitable.

(516)

§]| Only keepyng of charitee vs preeveth,
Lhat we disciples ben of god almyghty.
What þing it be þat harmeth man or greueth,
By goodnesse ouercome it paciently ;
No seint to heuene comyth, as rede I,
But by kepynge of pacience, and how
Men may it leré, wole I schewé yow.

(517)

‘Take heede how, whan þat crist oure sauéour
Was bobbid, and his visage al be-spet,
And gret despit doon him, and déshonour,
Bounden and scourgéd & greuously bett,
Crownéd with thorne, nayléd to þe gybett,
Zit, for al this tormént, no word he specke,
So was he pacient, benigne, and meke.
§ 8. Of Chastity. A King should have it more than other Men.

§ 8. On Chastity

(518)

And syn our lord god was of swiche suffrance,
Thanne is it to his créaturé schame,
On greef to hym doon, take any vengeance.
Man oghté rathir sorowe for the blame
That god schal konne him þat hath done þe grame,
Than for be harme þat þe greuéd hap hent:
So doth þe charitable and pacient.

(519)

o chastite purpdse I now to haste,!
Whiche couenable is, and conuenient,
Vn-to a kyng for to sauoure and taaste.
What princé þat with vnclennesse is brent,
And ther-in settith his luste and talent,
No perfyt dede or werk him folwe may :
Mochil, is herté chaast, to goddys pay.

(520)

Right as þe persone of a prince outward
Hontired is wiþ clothés precious,
So aughte his herté clopid ben inward
With vertu, and hym kythé vertuous.
ffresche apparaile and herté leccherous
Unsittynly ben in a Princé ioynt,
Namély in a cristen kyng enoynt.

(521)

In as mochel as dignite of a kyng
Excedith othir folk in reuerence,
The more hym oghté peyne hym, lest al þing
Othir folk passe in vertuous excellence.
Honour noȝt ellés is in éxistence
Than reuerencé ȝeuen in witnesse
Of? vertu, as þe serzpturés® expresse.
1 This page, 63a, has an illuminated initial T, and scroll
bordering on three sides.—G. E,
2 (Obey, Obe Tale
3 scripture doth R.
The Evils of Lechery:

(522)

] Honur, whiche was goten vertuously,
_Ne was naght first by dignite pwrchaced,
As þat Boecé telleþ éxpresly,
But dignitees honour was émbraced
With vertu; dignite had ben vnlaced
And yngirt of honour, nad vertu be ;
ffor vertu hath hir propre dignite.
q Aristotle counseilled Alisaundre,
To leccherye he noght enclyné scholde,
rpaen ie ffor it [is] hoggés lif, whiche were esclaundre!
To him, if he tho weiés také wolde
That beestés resonles vsen and holde ;
ffor of body it is destrucciown,
And eek of al vertu corrupciown.

(524)

As Heathens {| Syn thei, þat naght were? of cristen bapteme,
Cownseilléd men eschué leccherie,
Than oghte vs cristen men þat vicé fleeme,
And swiché lustés in vs mortifie.
[leaf 64a]’
| Who so entendeth in-to blisse stye,
That firy sparkle algate he moste qwenche,
And lustés leue, of lady and of wenche.

(525)

§] The scripture seiþ, no fornicatour,
The regne of crist and god shal énherite ;
It seith eek, that him and þe aduoutour
God demé shal; he can hir labour qwyte
fful scharply, that in tho tweyné delite,
And so he wolé, but? correcciown
Be mannés scheeld, & his proteccioun.
1 disclaundre R.
2 were R, neuer H.
Zhe honourable Chastity of Scipio Africanus,

(526)

§] Affrican Scipio, þat noble knyght,
Whan he was xx" and iiij of age,
And by prowesse, and by manhode & myght
Cartagiens putte hadde into serudge,
Ther was a mayde sent him into hostage,
Of yeerés ripe now, and of beaute
Most excellent that men myghte owher se.

(527)

§] And whan þis worthi ȝong prince honurable,
This woman sigh, of hir he took good 3eme,
Thynkynge þat she was of beaute able,
The worthieste on lyué for to queeme ;
And in him multiplied thoughtés breeme ;
But nathéles, for al þis besy þought,+
Enquere he gan, if she wyf were, or nouȝt.

(528)

Sche trouthéd was to Iudibal, men seide,
A lord of þat Citee ; and Scipio,
On a mynystre of his þe chargé leide,
ffor hir fadir and modir blyué goo.
Thei at his? hesté cam vnto him tho ;
And in hir clené virginal estat,
Restoréd he þis mayde inuiolat.

(529)

The gold eek þat for hir redempciown
Purveyéd was, for-ȝaf he vtterly,
In help and increes and promocioun
And knewe how scipio thus nobllel]y
Demenéd him, he was ful wel apayed
Of þat he grucchid first, and was affrayed.
1 thought R, pough H.
2 his R, om. H.
134 § 8. The young Man who mard his Face to keep Women Strom him.

(530)

{1 He went vnto testatés! of þe toun,
And tolde hem al þe cas, as it befil ;
And thei þis lord yaf loude? and hy renown
ffor þat; and allé,? wzth oon hert and wil,
Submitted hem to þis princé* gentil ;
Thus herté® chaast and tendre gentillesse
Conquéreth hertés, rather þan duresse.

(531)

M. Marcellus {] Or marcus marcellus had þe citee
ravishing of _ Of Ciracusé taken or y-nome,
He leet do crye amongés his meyne,
That whan þe citee he had ouercome,
And his folk ther-in entred® were & come,
Noon be so hardy, þe wommen oppresse,*
Ne touche hem by no wey of vnelennesse.

(532)

{] Ther was also a seemly fresshe yong man,
To whom naturé swiche fauour had lent
Of schap and beaute, þat per nas womman
That onés had a look on hym dispent,
But þat hir herté® yaf flesshely consent ;
And nathéles eschuéd he þe taast
Of vnelennesse, and kepte his body chaast.

(533)

By toknés knew he hire vnclene entente,
And with his naylés cracched he his face,
to keep them And scocched it with knyués, and to-rente,
And it so wonderly þus® gan difface,
That his beaute refuséd hadde hir place :
Al þis dide he, hir hertés® to remewe
ffrom him, and make hem vnclennésse eschue.
1 thestates R.
2 laude R.
3 alle R, al H.

• (t vnto þis prince) to this prynces wille R.
  8 entred R, entreted H.
  8 þus, om.
  9% hertes R, hert H.
  The chaste young Wife of an old palsied Raman.

(534)

{] Ierom tellith, agayn Iouinian,
A faire womman, a maidé clept Vlie,
Y-wedded was vnto an agéd man,
A Romayn, smyten with þe pallésie ;
But sche in chastite was sette so hye,
That an ensaumple verrayliche was sche
To allé tho þat louéd chastitee.

(535)

Hire housbonde herde onés! an enemy,
Whiche þat he haddé, spoke? in his repreef,
That.his breth stank, as þat he stode him by ;
Wher-of he toke gret heuynesse and greef ;
He goth hoom to his wyf, and þis mescheef
fful heuely to hire he gan compleyne,
And þus of hire he gan to aske and freyne:

(536)

q “Whi, wyf,” quod he, “han ye noght or this tyme
I-warnéd me how þat it wiþ me stood?”
‘Sire, it was nought,” quod sche, “aspied by me ;
I held your breth ay also suete and good
As other mennés ben; I vnderstood
Non othir, ne yit do in sothfastnesse.”
fful fewé men had sche kist, as I gesse.

(537)

She hily was to preyse and to commende,
That naght ne knewe by othir mennes mouthes
Hir makis vice: it? was al wel, sche wende.
To fyndé many swiche ful vnkouthe is ;
Lat vs awayte wel whan þe wynd south is
And north at onés blowynge on þe sky,
And fyndé swiche an hepe þan hardily.
1 ones hade R, herde oned H.
2 that said and spake R, þat he hadd spoke H.
2 it R, at H.
The Sacrifices for Chastity, of Plato, of Women, ce.

(538)

Platolivdin @ Plato, his patrimoygne and his contree
Lefte and for-sook, and dwelte in wildernesse,
ffor to restreyné fleschely nycete ;
And his disciples louéd so clennesse,
And for to fallen hadden swiche gastnesse,
Hir eyén they out of hir heedés brente,
Lest sighte of hem, spotté myght! her entente.

(539)

Demosthenes {| Demostenes his handés onés putte
In a wommannés bosom lapyngly,
Of facé faire, but of hir body a slutte:
** With yow to delé,” seide he, “ what schal I
Yow yeué?” “xl pens,” quod sche, soothly.
He seydé nay, so dere he byé nolde
A thyng for whiche þat him repenté3 schulde.

(540)

T fynde, how two doughtres of a duchesse,
The fleschely touches of men for to fle,
es When men of Hongary hem wolde oppresse,
In cénseruynge of hir virginite,
‘Thei hem purveyded a good sotilte :
Thei chiknés flesche putte vndirnepe hir pappes,
Hem to defendé from vnelenly happes.

(541)

{] Be-holde, of wommen here a noble wyle!
In schort avisément, who can do bet?
Bi that þis flesche þus hadde leyen a while,
And þat it was y-chauféd wel and hete,
It stank so foulé, þat it hap Lette
Tho men, þat wery þei were of hir pray,
And forsook þe wommen, and went hir way. 3787
1 myght spotte R.
2 Demostenis R.
§ 8. Zhe Need of Abstinence.
Gluttony the. Way to. Lechery.

(542)

{1 O wommanhode! in þe regneþ vertu
So excellent, þat to! feble is my witt
To éxpresse it ; wherefor I am eschu
To melde? or make a long sermown of it.
Som mannés mouth yit wolde I were I-schet,
That vice of wommen spareþ nought® bywreye,
ffor allé* soothés ben nought for to seie.

(543)

{] But for to talké forth of contynence
Or chastite,—who-so chaast lyué schal,
Moot scourge his fleschely lust wth abstinence,
Thristé him dowyn, yeue him no place at al:
Metés & drynkés make a soulé thral,
If þe body be reuléd by excesse ;
ffor-thi it nedeth take of hem þe lesse.

(544)

Excesse of mete and drynke is wombés frende, 3802
And wombe is next to oure membres priue ;
Glotonye is ful plesant to þe fende,
To leccherié redy path is sche.
The fend lyth in a-wayte of oure freelte,
And stireth a man to drinkés delicat,
To make agaynés chastite debat.

(545)

q| A man schulde ete and drynke in swiche a wise 3809 Eat and
As may be to his helthés sustenynge,
Aftir þe doctrine of Senek þe wise.
Sum man drynketh the wyn þat is wenynge ;
Than® he drynkeþ his witt: more is preysinge 3813
And honurable, a man compleyne of ® thrist,
Than dronken be, whan he þe cuppe hap kist.
1 to R, so H.
2 medle R.
3 not R, nough H.
4 alle R, al H.
5 When R.
The Evils of Luxuriqus Living, Wine, ke.

(546)

{ Thus seidé Ierom vn-to a virgyne :
“QO doghter, syn thapostle soré dredde
cut” Lust of his flesche, and dide his body peyne,
And heeld it lowe, and symplély it fedde,
Wherthoruȝ þe vice of vnclennesse he fledde,
Of continence how maist þou siker be,
Of foodé delicat þat hast plente,

(547)

andisyoung? 4] And specialy now in þi youthés hete!?”
ffor who so wilneth to be contynent,
Many a lust superflu mot he lete,
And lykerous ; by mesure, his talent
Mestre he moot; whan resown is regent
Of man, þan regneþ no delicacie ;
Resown, a man defendeth fro folye.

(548)

Reina {| The wynés delicat, and swete and strong,
Causen ful many an inconuenience ;
If þat a man outrageously hem fonge,
Thei birien? wit, and férbeden scilence
Of conseil; thei outraien pacience,
Thei kyndlen ire, and firen liccherie,
And causen both body and soulé dye.

(549)

And trewély® it is ful perilous
Vato a princé, whiche þat hath a land
In gouernance, in þat be vicious ;
It nedeth him take heede vnto his hand,
þat that vicé him combre not; for and
It do, he schal noght regné but a throwe:
fful many a man hap éxcesse ouerthrowe.
1 hete R, hede H.
2 birien R, biren H.
° trewly H, truly R.
The Evils of Drunkenness,
Belshazzar, Lot, &c.

(550)

{1 Of babiloyné, þe kyng Baltasar,
Nat haddé ben I-pryuéd of his lyf,
itasar, Rex If he of dronkenessé! hadde be war ;
But for þat he þerin was défectyf,
It of his deth was verray causatyf ;
By nyghtertale he was slayn by kyng darie ;
Thus payeth glotown éxcesse hir salarie.

(551)

ee {] Thorugh drunkenesse, how took his deth Nabal ?
pasha ‘And how slow Tholome also Symoun?
Allas! þat drynké so man serué schal!
How leidé Lothés doghtres hem a-down
By hir fadir? whan his discreciown
Was dreynt with wyn, he with hem fleschely delte,
And þerof no thing ne wisté nor? feelte.

(552)

. {1 How was eek Oloferné, by Iudith
The womman slayn, but porugh his drunkenesse? _ fernes.
miamas- What prince it be, þat spotted is perwith,
geeusre 6 His welthe hap but a brotil stablenesse :
OF swiché stories mo wolde I expresse,
But for I noght ne can, I lete hem passe ;
I am as lewed and dulle as is an asse,

(553)

With litel foodé,? edntent is nature ;
And bet þe body farith wiþ a lite,
Than whan it charged is out of mestire.
Looké what þing may þe body profite,
And þe soule in þe samé schal delite ;
What þing þat it distempereth & dissesith,
The soule it hurteth, for it god displesith,
2 nor R, or H.
1 drunkenesse R, dronkenes I,
3 foode R, food H.
§ 8. Excess robs a Man of his Senses. Man a reasonable Bee

(554)

| Wratthé, þe body of man inward fretith,
And god þer-wiþ displesid is ful sore ;
Envie also of god and man hir getith
Lik thank and ese, and schal do euermore ;
And leccherie, as techiþ smertés lore,
The body wastith, and þe soulé grevith,
And foodé delicat þerto man meevith.

(555)

| {1 Be-holde also, whan þat þe paunche is ful,
A fumé clymbith vp in-to þe heed,
And makiþ a man al lustles and al! dul;
He vexith? heuy as a peece of leed.
Whao-so þat þan woldé yeue him reed
To looke in a book of deuociown,
I trowe in ydel were his mociouwn.

(556)

Yet, ask him 41 But conseil him to trotte vnto þe wyn,
And, for al his excesse and his outrage,
He þerto wole assenté wel and fyn,
And peré wole he outen? his langdge,
[leaf 68 a]
And do to Bachus and Venus homage ;
ffor non of hem two can be wel from othir,
Thei loue as vel* as doth sustir & brothir.

(557)

And aftir moot he rowné with a pilwe,
His lyfles resouns peré to despende.
Why willwe We beestés resonable, allas! whi wil we
Ageyn resown werrye, and hir offende 2
ae goodé® god! thy gracé to vs sende,
That we may fle suche superfluite,
And al þing that is foo to chastite !
1 att R, om. H.
2 wexeth R.
4 wele R.
~§ 9. A King should be Great-hearted, ready to Fight.
[$ 9.] De Regis Magnanimitate.

§ 9. On Magnanimity

(558)

ff magnanimite now wole I trete,!
þat is to seyn, strong herte or grete corage,
Whiche in knyghthode hap stablisshed hir sete.?
Ye, gracious Prince, of blode and of lynage
Descendid ben, to haue it in vsage ;
Mars hap euer ben frend to 30ur worpi lyne ;
Ye moot of kyndé to manhode enclyne.

(559)

He þat is strong of corage and of herte,—
Yf he lordschiþés haue, or grete richesse,
Or þat fortunés stynge hym ouerthwerte,2—
Is alwey on‘ in welthe and in distresse ;
He, lucre and los, weyeth in euenesse ;
He settiþ litel by good temperel ;
How þe worlde schape, he takiþ it ay wel.

(560)

But for to speke of corage of a kyng,
he of his peple oweþ be so cheer,
That hir profet he moot for any þing
Promoté wit his myght and his power.
§] And for his reme and him take him so neer,
That vnto þe perilés of bataille
He moot him putté, and in hem trauaylle,

(561)

| And in diffense of holy chirche also,
And for oure feith putte him in iupartye ®;
Othir causes ben ther but fewé mo,
Whi a kyng aughte to bataylé hym hye,
And in tho causes drede him not to dye,
But kythe hym a good knyght a-mong his foos :
Thus wonne is magnanymyteés loos.
2 sete R, fete H.
1 This page is illuminated.—G. E.
. ouerthwert R, fortunes
3 fortune
4 one R.
5 juperdie R, partye H.
142 § 9. A King must face Death for his Land. The Athenian Codre

(562)

AsoneLimb §| Right as we seen by reson and nature,
Part of mannys body diffendeth al ;
As an arme putteþ him in auenture
ffor þe body, þat nat perische it schal,
Right so a kyngés cherté special,
If he god loue, and his peple, & his land,
Whan nede is, mot diffende hem wiþ his hande,

(568)

Thoruȝ grete? emprises wonne is hy renown;
Renoun is calléd glorie & honour ;
greens Magnanimzte hap þis condiciown,
That in bataile, how scharp þat be þe stour,
Hym leuere is to suffre dethés schour,
Than cowardly and schaméfully flee,
So manly of curage and herte is he.

(564)

He medleth neuere but of þingés grete,
And hye, and vertuous ; he neuere is meeved
things. With smalé thingés, as the bookés trete ;
And swiche a drede hap for to be repreued,
That vnto þing þat may be knowe or preued
ffor vilonous, or foul, or répreeudble,
He neuere obeieþ, þis knyȝt honurdble.

(565)

The Athenian {] Thane I rede of oon clepetȝ Coadrus,
That was prince of þe oost of Athinyens,
How in þe feeld a lawé made was þus
Twixt his host and hem of Polipolens—
With triumphé schuldé* þat part go pens,
Whos due or Princé were vnarméd slawe
In habit straungé ; lo! swiche was þe lawe.
1 his, om. R.
2 grete R, om. H.

• Thaue yredde of one clept R.
  4 shulde R, schuld H.

9. May Prince Henry humble his Foes!

(566)

Him leuer was him selfen for to dye,
And his men liué, þan se hem be-stad
So streité, þat by violent maistrie
His foos hadde hem venqwissht or ouer-lad.
A-dayés now is non swiche chierte had ;
Algatés I ne can nat seen it vsid,
Knyghtés ben loth pevof to ben accused.

(567)

{1 O worthi Prince! I truste in 30ur manhode,
Medlid wiþ prudence and discreciown,
That ȝe schulle maké many a knyȝtly rode,
And þe pride of oure foos thristen adown.!
Manhode and witt conquéren hy renown ;
And qwo-so? lakkiþ outhir of þe tweyne,
Of armés wantiþ þe bridél and reyne.

(568)

Yf£% þe ordre of knyghthode be resceyuéd,
fful nedeful is a man to be prudent,
Ellés þat host may lightly be disceyuéd
That is vnto his gouernance I-bent ;
Presumpcion? is disobedient
Al day, and by wisdom not will him gie,
AH iustifieth his obstynacie.

(569)

Ofte in batailés hath be seen or this,
A svdé suffred hath discomfiture,
Whiche an vnwys heed giéd hath amys.
What knyght on hym takith þat charge or cure,
If he in knyghtly honur schal endure,
Him oghte endowéd ben of sapience,
And haue in armés greet experience.
1 Hoccleve’s trust was fulfild at Agincourt, &c.
4 Presumptuous R.
§ 9. Knowledge needed in Battle.

§ 10. On Taking No Delight in Riches

(570)

SkillinBattle ] Experience and art in a? bataille,
Of þe prudent knyght moré may profite,
Than hardinesse or forcé may auaille
Of him þat þerof knoweþ noght or lite.
Hardinesse, in effecte, nat worth a myte
Is to victorious conclusiown,
ȝut wiþ hym medle art, wit, and resown.

(571)

Whan reveled wit and manly? hardynesse
Ben knytte to-gidre, as 30k of mariage,
Ther foloweþ of victdrie þe swetnesse ;
ffor to sette on hym whettith his corage,
And wit restreyne his wil can & aswage
In tymé dué, and in® couenable ;
And thus tho two ioynt ben ful profitable.

(572)

feat70a*] But be a knyght wys or coragéous,
Or haue hem bothe at onés at his lust,
But Love of If þat his herte of good be désirous,
On his manhode is ther but litel trust.
God graunté knyghtes rubbe away the rust
Of couetise, if it hir hertés cancre,
And graunte hem picche in souffisance hir ancre.
[$ 10.] Quod rex non debet felicitatem suam ponere

(573)

ow, for as moche as magnanymyte
May no foot holde, if þat þe herte of man
Gretly vnto richesse enclynéd be,
‘Than is þe besté reed þat I see can,
A kyng þer-in delyte hym naght; for whan
His herte is in þat vicé ficched hye,
Smal prowesse in hym wole it signifie.
7 aR, om. H.
. manly R, reueled .
4 This page is illuminated.
§ 10. A covetous King is evil.
Example of Marcus Curtius,

(574)

And if a kyngés honour schal be queynt'
With a foul and a! wrecched couetise,
His peples trust in hym schal be ful feynt';
A kyng may naght gouérne hym in þat wise ;
The coueitous may do no gret emprise ;
ffor whan his herté lurketh in his cofre,
His body to batayle he dar not profre.

(575)

If þat a kyng! sette his felicite
Principally on rychesse & moneye,
His peple it torneþ to aduersite,
ffor he ne rekkeþ in what wise or weye
allas! þat kyngés nobleye
Turné schulde into style of tirannye !
Allas! the peril, harme, and vilenye!

(576)

God I byseeche, your hert to? enlumyne,
Gracious princé, þat þe feend our foo
No power haué so your herté myne,
But of his gracé kepé yow ther-fro,
And granté yow to gouerné yow so
As most holsom is for body and soule ;
That desire I, by God and by seynt Poule.

(577)

q Whan that Marcus Curcius, a Romeyn,
Vnto þe Beneventans seegé leide,
ffoy he was poore, as þat þey herdé seyn,
They a grete somme of gold hym sente, & preyde
-Withdrawe his seege ; and he answerde and seide,
“To hem retourneth / þat yow hider sente,
And thus to hem declareth myn entente :
1 aR, om. H.
2 hert to R, herte H,
REGEMENT.
Aleaander reproved for his Covetousness.

(578)

“‘ Seye hem, Marcus Curcius leuer is
Riché men haue at his commandément,
Than to be riche hym-self; tellé hem this:
He may with gold not be corrupt, ne blent ;
Of force of men eek, þey ben impotent
To venqwisshe hym ; for pere hir art schal faile,
Hir blyndé prefers schal hem noght auaile.” 4046

(579)

{]/ To Alisaundre, as I schal tellen here,
A knyght, whiche was vnto hym special,
Thus spake, and blamed hym in þis manere :
He seide, “if oure goddés! thy body smal,
——-‘['o thi gredy desire had maad egal,
Al þe world haddé nouȝt be stiffisant
To han receyuéd so large a Geaunt.

(580)

“ffor with þi riȝt honde, thow þe orient
Shuldest han touchid, I am sure of þat ;
And with þi lift honde, eke þe occident ;
Now, syn þat py? body answérith nat
Vnto þi willé, what may? I sey, what?
Ethir þou art a man, or god, or nouȝt ;
Mechil of þe, merueyle I in my þought.

(581)

the were a 4] “If þou be god, thow folow most his trace,
And nouȝt men of her gode robbe or be-reue,*
But hem releue, & do hem ese and grace.
Tf þou be man, considere eke, by thy leue,
jou art mortél, þou mayst he dede or eue.
I ie be no þing, be putte out of mynde,
Os° he þat is of no nature or kynde,
1 godees R, gooddes H.
4 nor reue R.
FINS AN
A King must strive for a good Name, not Money.

(582)

“ Ther is no hye estate so sadde and stable,
Remembre wele,? lat it nat be for-ȝete,
But he to falle in perile is ful able.
By deeth, a leon maad is briddés mete,
And bestés also his flessh gnawe & frete.”
joe answere of þe kyng, naught haue I herde ;
My booke not telleth how he was answerde.

(583)

Senek seith, the þoér? Diogenes,
Kyng Alisandre in richessé past,
ffor he ne myȝt, as he seith doutéles,
Zeue hym so mochil golde, ne on hym cast,
{i As he refusé wolde: O!
Men þinke shullen þei to mochil® haue had,
And of þis worldys muk be ful vnglad.

(584)

Desire of good, a king mot leye apart,
And peyne him to purchase him a good fame ;
Ther-in lat him Jaboure, and doon his art ;#
Ther nys no þing vnto® a worthi name ;
And if a kyng it lakke, it were his shame,
And shame is contrarie vnto worthynesse ;
Gode lose desserued,® is grettest richesse.

(585)

{ And for largessé? wynneþ gode renown,
Ther-of® þink I now, to trete a litil stounde ;
A prince & kyng of al a regiown
Mot avaricé thrist a-doune to grounde ;
To hym þat lith in hellé depe I-bounde,
The,® auarice, by-také I to kepe ;
Thow þynépeny,!® ther ay mot þou slepe!
3 moche R.
2 poore R.
1 wele R, wile H.
6 Joos decerued R.
5 yuto = comparable to.
8 Therof, pron. throf.
7 Javgesse R, larges H.
2 Or is ‘the’ an article ?
Gold rules Liberality, and keeps her wnder.

§ 11. On Generosity

(586)

| Golde wolde, for! false enprisonyng,? a writ
Sue agayn þe, if he at largé were ;
But he so fast is in þi cofre shit,
Largessé woldé be w7th shelde & spere
Euen in þi berde, if he brake out to-morwe,
And for his saké do thé care and sorwe.

(587)

penises { jou to largessé dost ful muchil wronge,
Jat hap? hir seruant vndir þi sevuage ;
On the, and noght on hir, is it a-longe
þat golde is lette to goon on hir message.
She hap hym sent in many a viage
Or this, & that was the comown profyte,
The whiche to lette, is euere þi delyte,

(588)

Largesse only noght list golde seruant be
Vnto hir self; but the peple, she wolde
Haid as gode part of hir seruyce as she ;
To hir is al the comown peple I-holde,
But þou makest þe peplés* hertés colde ;
jou slest an hepé which þat she wolde saue ;
þou no wyte helpest, ®þow he þi help® craue. 4116

(589)

Puanng Me list no moré speke of þe this tyme,
But of myne helply lady souereyne
Largessé, my lady, now wil I ryme,
And aftirward of þi curséd careyne
I speké shal; nought o worde wol I feyne,
But as seripturés treten of the, wrecche,
I touché shal; þe feende® the hennés fecche! 4193

• peples R, peple H.
  ~* though he pyne help R, þow he þi peple H.
  Liberality should be discreet, and done willingly.
  [$ 11.] De Virtute Largitatis, & De Vicio

(590)

ristotil, of largesse, telleth this :
Who vertuously largé list to be,
purgitate. | Concider first of what power he is,
And eke the tymés of necessite ;
And as þe men disseruen, so be fre ;
Yif in mesure vn-to þe indigent
And the worthi, and þat is wel dispent.

(591)

And who doth othir wyse in his ȝeuyng,
Largesses rulé passith and excedith ;
is wa tar He nouther worthi is pank ne preysyng,
That to hym þat no nede hath, ȝiftés bedith.
Of verray folye also it procedith
To 3eué the onworthi; for þat? cost
AH mysse dispendid is, for it is lost.

(592)

tiqui vite. “1 And he þat dispendith out of mestire
Shal tast a-none þouértes bitternesse ;
ffoole largesse is ther-to a verray lure.
Of hem also he berith the lyknesse,
That on him self, as þe booke berith witnesse,
Victdrie ȝeueth to his enemys 5
And he þat so dispendith, is not wyse.

(593)

q Largessé stant noght in mochil ȝeuynge,
But it is aftir þe wille & þe myght
Of hym þat ȝeueth aftir his hauynge ;
ffor it may som tyme happé þat a wight,
Which of richessé berith nat but light,
Zeueth but smal; & ȝit larger is he
Than he þat ȝeueth gretter quantite.
1 This page is illuminated, like the other section-head ones
Liberality is to be moderate and sensible.

(594)

Aftir his goode, man may ȝeue & dispende
Wher as nede is; but he þat al! dispendith,
And wastith al, shal him-selue first offende.
ffoolé largesse al day wrycchédly endith? ;
Many a man hir foule outragé shendith ;
But of largesse is goode þe? gouernaunce ;
Bothé to god and man? it is plesaunce.

(595)

Evene as a mannés blood is norisshyng
To his body, if it corrupt naght be,
So ben richesses to soulés feedynge
Folsom, if þei, were-as necessite
Axith, despent ben, and also if he
Whiche þat hem wan, gat hem with riȝtwisnesse ;
ffor heuene and helle is goté® by richesse.

(596)

A crookid hors neuere is the bet® entecched,
Al-þogh his bridel glistre of gold, and schyne ;
Right so a man þat vicious is, & wrecched,
And his richésses gote hap of rapyne,
And also euele as man can Ymagyne,
Despendith hem / naght for hem þe bet is,
But mochil wers ; good is’ take hede of þis. 4172

(597)

Prince! give 4] He þat his flesche dispendith, and his blood,
Mi lorde, in 30ur seruice, him ȝiftés bede ;
There is largessé mesurable good ;
A kyng so bounde is, he moot! doo so nede ;
Seruice vnquyt and murdre, it is no drede,
As clerkes writen, and desheritaunce,
Bifore almighty god auxen$ vengeaunce.
1 att R, hath al H.
2 Foole large
. wrecchedly endith R, Fool largesse ae
3 of largesses goode R.
to man R, Both... man H.
7 gode is to R.
John of Canace wasted his all on his Daughters.

(598)

Of fool largessé wole I talke a space ;
How it befil, I not in what contree,
But pere was oon named John of Canace,!
A riché man, & two douȝtres had he,
That to two worthy men of a Citee
He wedded? leet ; and peré was gladnesse
And reuel, moré than I can expresse.

(599)

“| The fadir, his doughtres and hir husbondes
Loued ful wele, and had hem leef & dere ;
Tyme to tyme he ȝaf hem with his hondes
Of his goode passyngly ; & þei swich chere
Him made, & were of so plesant manere
þat he ne wist how be bettre at ese,
þei couden hym so wele cheryssh & please.

(600)

4 ffor he as mochil hauntid in partie
Hir house, as þat he did his owné house ;
þei held hym vp so with her flaterye,
That of dispens he was outragéous,
And of goodé þei were ay desirous ;
Al þat þei axed, haden þei redy ;
þei? euex weren on hym right* gredy.

(601)

7 þis sely man contynued his outrage,
Tyl al his goodé was disshid® & goone ;
And when þei felt his dispenses a-swage,
Thei wax to him vnkyndé right® anone ;
ffor after haddé’ he cherishing none,
Thei wery weren of his companye :
And he’ was wyse, and shope
1 This story, under different forms, was a very common one
One version will be found in my Latin
. the story of King Lear and his daughters is
2 wedden R.
another version. —I. Wright, De Leg., p. 199.
5 wasted R.
4 right, om. RH.
3 And they R.
7 hade R, had H.
6 yight R, om. H.
John of Canace’s Plan to trick hs Daughters.

(602)

§ He to a marchaunt goose, of his notise,
Wich þat his trusty frende had be ful 3ore,
Besechyng hym, þat he wold hym cheuyse
Of ten thousand' pounde, ne lenger ne more
Than dayés thre, and he wolde it restore
At his day; þis was done; þe summe he hent,
And to his owné house per-w7th he went.

(603)

And on the morné, prayde he to soupere
[leaf 74 a]
His sonnés both & his doughtres also.
þei to him cam, wth-owten any daungere :
How þat þei ferden, lat I passe and goo ;
Thei ferden wel, wzth-outen wordés moo ;
To his konyng, he grete disport hem made,
He did his myght to chere hem, & to glade. 422]

(604)

Aftir souper, whan þei hir tymé sye,
þei toke her leue, & home þei wolde al-gate ;
And he answerd, and seyde hem sekirly,
“This nyȝt ye shul nat passe out of the gate ;
Your house is fer, and it is dyrke and late;
Neuen it nat, for it shal nat be-tyde ;”’
And so al nyȝt he made hem to abyde.

(605)

He puts them {] The fadir logéd hem, of sly purpdse,
In a chambre next to his ioynyng ;?
ffor by-twix hem nas per but a parclose
Of bordé, nauzt but of homly? makyng ;
burgh out þe which, at many a chynnyng,
In eché chambre þei myghten# beholde,
And see what othir dyden, if þat þei wolde.

• *x, Mi.’ H, ten thousand R.
• jioynyng R, ionyng H.
  ® bord ... homely R.
  4 myghten R, myght H.
  4 § 11.
  John of Canace’s Daughters sce his (borrowd) Gold.

(606)

{1 I kan nat sey how þei slepten þat nyȝt ;
Also it longith! nat to my matere ;
But on þe morwé, at brodé day liȝt
The fadir roose ; and for þei shulden here
What þat he dyd, in a boystous manere
Vnto his chist, which þat? three lokkys hadde,
He went, and per-at wrested he ful sadde.

(607)

And when it was I-opned & vnshytte,
þe bagged gold by þe marchaunt hym lent
He hath vncofred, and streyte forp with it
Vnto his beddis feete gone is & went.
What doth þan þis fel? man & right* prudent, 4247
But out þis golde on a tippet hath shotte,
That in þe baggés lefté® pere no grotte.

(608)

{ And al þis did he noght but for a wyle,
As þat ye shul wel knowen aftirwarde ;
He shope his sonnés & doughtres begile.®
His noysé made hem dressen hem vpwarde ;
þei cast her erés to his chambre-warde,
And herd of golde þe russhyng and the sown,
As that he rudély threwe hem adown.

(609)

And to þe parclos þei hem hast and hye,
To wyte and knowé what her fadir wrought.
In at þe chynnés of þe borde þei prye,
And sigh how he amonge þe nobles sought
If défectif were any, as hem þought ;
And on his nayl he threwe hem oft & cast,
And baggéd hem and cofred at the last ;
2 þat, om. H R.
1 longeth R, logith H.
6 to begile KR.
5 left H R.
4 vight, om. H R.
$11. John of Canace’s Sons-in-Law will give him all he wants,

(610)

4 And opned his dore, & douné goth his wey.
And aftir blyue, out of hir bedde þei rise,
down, =~ And cam doune eke: hir fadir panken þey
Of his gode cheré, in hir besté! wyse,—
And al was for þe goldés couetyse,—
And to gon hoom, þei axid of hym leue ;
Thei ben departyd, and þei pere hym leue.

(611)

{1 Walkyng homward, þei iangeld fast, & speeke
Of þe golde which þei sey hir fadir haue.
Oon seyd, “I wondre ther-on;” “and I eke,”
Quod a-nothir, “ for, also god me saue,
zistir-day, thogh I shuld in-to my graue
Haue crept, I durst on it haue leyde my lyfe,
That golde with hym nought haddé? ben so ryfe.”