summaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
diff options
context:
space:
mode:
-rw-r--r--.gitattributes3
-rw-r--r--20179-8.txt11988
-rw-r--r--20179-8.zipbin0 -> 199423 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h.zipbin0 -> 6651172 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/20179-h.htm14849
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p003.pngbin0 -> 252846 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p004.pngbin0 -> 60084 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p097.pngbin0 -> 51300 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p118.pngbin0 -> 103307 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p126.pngbin0 -> 37681 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p144.pngbin0 -> 90601 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p149.pngbin0 -> 75917 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p154.pngbin0 -> 71626 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p159.pngbin0 -> 74810 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p166.pngbin0 -> 78114 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p170.pngbin0 -> 64805 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p178.pngbin0 -> 68950 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p182.pngbin0 -> 69037 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p187.pngbin0 -> 71604 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p191.pngbin0 -> 79360 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p196.pngbin0 -> 70583 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p200.pngbin0 -> 73121 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p204.pngbin0 -> 91195 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p209.pngbin0 -> 80203 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p213.pngbin0 -> 68505 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p217.pngbin0 -> 66397 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p223.pngbin0 -> 75679 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p228.pngbin0 -> 63728 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p232.pngbin0 -> 64215 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p236.pngbin0 -> 66305 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p240.pngbin0 -> 18275 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p244.pngbin0 -> 88309 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p249.pngbin0 -> 73048 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p254.pngbin0 -> 59799 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p258.pngbin0 -> 74510 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p262.pngbin0 -> 65943 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p267.pngbin0 -> 73730 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p273.pngbin0 -> 71038 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p277.pngbin0 -> 74490 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p281.pngbin0 -> 70261 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p287.pngbin0 -> 57481 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p291.pngbin0 -> 74176 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p296.pngbin0 -> 54216 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p300.pngbin0 -> 55845 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p306.pngbin0 -> 64702 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p311.pngbin0 -> 73232 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p317.pngbin0 -> 67398 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p321.pngbin0 -> 96932 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p324.pngbin0 -> 67125 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p328.pngbin0 -> 55337 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p333.pngbin0 -> 69987 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p338.pngbin0 -> 65439 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p343.pngbin0 -> 60605 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p348.pngbin0 -> 76923 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p353.pngbin0 -> 74570 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p357.pngbin0 -> 83719 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p362.pngbin0 -> 73612 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p366.pngbin0 -> 80759 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p370.pngbin0 -> 67224 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p375.pngbin0 -> 73122 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p379.pngbin0 -> 60043 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p383.pngbin0 -> 65591 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p388.pngbin0 -> 74278 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p394.pngbin0 -> 58566 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p399.pngbin0 -> 67982 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p403.pngbin0 -> 66480 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p407.pngbin0 -> 77384 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p414.pngbin0 -> 78173 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p419.pngbin0 -> 57395 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/p424.pngbin0 -> 68423 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t003.pngbin0 -> 252846 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t004.pngbin0 -> 16268 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t097.pngbin0 -> 15051 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t118.pngbin0 -> 103307 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t126.pngbin0 -> 9782 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t144.pngbin0 -> 23477 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t149.pngbin0 -> 20080 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t154.pngbin0 -> 19669 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t159.pngbin0 -> 19267 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t166.pngbin0 -> 21023 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t170.pngbin0 -> 17886 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t178.pngbin0 -> 18116 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t182.pngbin0 -> 18665 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t187.pngbin0 -> 18638 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t191.pngbin0 -> 20486 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t196.pngbin0 -> 19233 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t200.pngbin0 -> 73121 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t204.pngbin0 -> 23415 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t209.pngbin0 -> 20807 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t213.pngbin0 -> 18220 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t217.pngbin0 -> 17570 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t223.pngbin0 -> 20201 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t228.pngbin0 -> 17015 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t232.pngbin0 -> 17794 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t236.pngbin0 -> 18258 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t240.pngbin0 -> 18275 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t244.pngbin0 -> 22617 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t249.pngbin0 -> 19934 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t254.pngbin0 -> 59799 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t258.pngbin0 -> 74510 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t262.pngbin0 -> 17601 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t267.pngbin0 -> 20014 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t273.pngbin0 -> 18761 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t277.pngbin0 -> 19425 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t281.pngbin0 -> 18414 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t287.pngbin0 -> 15547 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t291.pngbin0 -> 19173 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t296.pngbin0 -> 14165 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t300.pngbin0 -> 15455 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t306.pngbin0 -> 17006 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t311.pngbin0 -> 18734 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t317.pngbin0 -> 18411 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t321.pngbin0 -> 24135 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t324.pngbin0 -> 17991 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t328.pngbin0 -> 15250 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t333.pngbin0 -> 18900 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t338.pngbin0 -> 17164 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t343.pngbin0 -> 60605 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t348.pngbin0 -> 20064 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t353.pngbin0 -> 19376 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t357.pngbin0 -> 22067 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t362.pngbin0 -> 19878 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t366.pngbin0 -> 21323 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t370.pngbin0 -> 18150 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t375.pngbin0 -> 19347 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t379.pngbin0 -> 16097 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t383.pngbin0 -> 17406 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t388.pngbin0 -> 19470 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t394.pngbin0 -> 15930 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t399.pngbin0 -> 18032 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t403.pngbin0 -> 17706 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t407.pngbin0 -> 19984 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t414.pngbin0 -> 20628 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t419.pngbin0 -> 15658 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179-h/images/t424.pngbin0 -> 17932 bytes
-rw-r--r--20179.txt11988
-rw-r--r--20179.zipbin0 -> 199315 bytes
-rw-r--r--LICENSE.txt11
-rw-r--r--README.md2
139 files changed, 38841 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6833f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* text=auto
+*.txt text
+*.md text
diff --git a/20179-8.txt b/20179-8.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b6a75f5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-8.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11988 @@
+Project Gutenberg's The Ship of Fools, Volume 1, by Sebastian Brandt
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Ship of Fools, Volume 1
+
+Author: Sebastian Brandt
+
+Translator: Alexander Barclay
+
+Release Date: December 23, 2006 [EBook #20179]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SHIP OF FOOLS, VOLUME 1 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Frank van Drogen, Keith Edkins and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note: A few typographical errors in the 1874 introduction
+have been corrected: they are listed at the end of the text. In the spirit
+of that edition, the text of the Ship of Fools itself has been retained
+exactly as it stands, even to the punctuation.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE SHIP OF FOOLS
+
+TRANSLATED BY
+
+ALEXANDER BARCLAY
+
+[Illustration]
+
+VOLUME FIRST
+
+EDINBURGH: WILLIAM PATERSON
+
+LONDON: HENRY SOTHERAN & CO.
+
+MDCCCLXXIV.
+
+PREFATORY NOTE.
+
+It is necessary to explain that in the present edition of the Ship of
+Fools, with a view to both philological and bibliographical interests, the
+text, even to the punctuation, has been printed exactly as it stands in the
+earlier impression (Pynson's), the authenticity of which Barclay himself
+thus vouches for in a deprecatory apology at the end of his labours (II.
+330):--
+
+ "... some wordes be in my boke amys
+ For though that I my selfe dyd it correct
+ Yet with some fautis I knowe it is infect
+ Part by my owne ouersyght and neglygence
+ And part by the prynters nat perfyte in science
+
+ And other some escaped ar and past
+ For that the Prynters in theyr besynes
+ Do all theyr workes hedelynge, and in hast"
+
+Yet the differences of reading of the later edition (Cawood's), are
+surprisingly few and mostly unimportant, though great pains were evidently
+bestowed on the production of the book, all the misprints being carefully
+corrected, and the orthography duly adjusted to the fashion of the time.
+These differences have, in this edition, been placed in one alphabetical
+arrangement with the glossary, by which plan it is believed reference to
+them will be made more easy, and much repetition avoided.
+
+The woodcuts, no less valuable for their artistic merit than they are
+interesting as pictures of contemporary manners, have been facsimiled for
+the present edition from the _originals_ as they appear in the Basle
+edition of the Latin, "denuo seduloque reuisa," issued under Brandt's own
+superintendence in 1497. This work has been done by Mr J. T. Reid, to whom
+it is due to say that he has executed it with the most painstaking and
+scrupulous fidelity.
+
+The portrait of Brandt, which forms the frontispiece to this volume, is
+taken from Zarncke's edition of the Narrenschiff; that of Barclay
+presenting one of his books to his patron, prefixed to the Notice of his
+life, appears with a little more detail in the Mirror of Good Manners and
+the Pynson editions of the Sallust; it is, however, of no authority, being
+used for a similar purpose in various other publications.
+
+For the copy of the extremely rare original edition from which the text of
+the present has been printed, I am indebted to the private collection and
+the well known liberality of Mr David Laing of the Signet Library, to whom
+I beg here to return my best thanks, for this as well as many other
+valuable favours in connection with the present work.
+
+In prosecuting enquiries regarding the life of an author of whom so little
+is known as of Barclay, one must be indebted for aid, more or less, to the
+kindness of friends. In this way I have to acknowledge my obligations to Mr
+Æneas Mackay, Advocate, and Mr Ralph Thomas, ("Olphar Hamst"), for searches
+made in the British Museum and elsewhere.
+
+For collations of Barclay's Works, other than the Ship of Fools, all of
+which are of the utmost degree of rarity, and consequent inaccessibility, I
+am indebted to the kindness of Henry Huth, Esq., 30 Princes' Gate,
+Kensington; the Rev. W. D. Macray, of the Bodleian Library, Oxford; W. B.
+Rye, Esq., of the British Museum; Henry Bradshaw, Esq., of the University
+Library, Cambridge; and Professor Skeat, Cambridge.
+
+For my brief notice of Brandt and his Work, it is also proper to
+acknowledge my obligations to Zarncke's critical edition of the
+Narrenschiff (Leipzig, 1854) which is a perfect encyclopædia of everything
+Brandtian.
+
+T. H. JAMIESON.
+
+ ADVOCATES' LIBRARY,
+ EDINBURGH, _December_ 1873.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Volume I.
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+NOTICE OF BARCLAY AND HIS WRITINGS
+
+BARCLAY'S WILL
+
+NOTES
+
+BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CATALOGUE OF BARCLAY'S WORKS
+
+THE SHIP OF FOOLS
+
+ * * * * *
+
+Volume II.
+
+THE SHIP OF FOOLS (CONCLUDED)
+
+GLOSSARY
+
+CHAPTER I. OF THE ORIGINAL (GERMAN), AND OF THE LATIN, AND FRENCH VERSIONS
+OF THE SHIP OF FOOLS
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+If popularity be taken as the measure of success in literary effort,
+Sebastian Brandt's "Ship of Fools" must be considered one of the most
+successful books recorded in the whole history of literature. Published in
+edition after edition (the first dated 1494), at a time, but shortly after
+the invention of printing, when books were expensive, and their circulation
+limited; translated into the leading languages of Europe at a time when
+translations of new works were only the result of the most signal merits,
+its success was then quite unparalleled. It may be said, in modern phrase,
+to have been the rage of the reading world at the end of the fifteenth and
+throughout the sixteenth centuries. It was translated into Latin by one
+Professor (Locher, 1497), and imitated in the same language and under the
+same title, by another (Badius Ascensius, 1507); it appeared in Dutch and
+Low German, and was twice translated into English, and three times into
+French; imitations competed with the original in French and German, as well
+as Latin, and greatest and most unprecedented distinction of all, it was
+preached, but, we should opine, only certain parts of it, from the pulpit
+by the best preachers of the time as a new gospel. The Germans proudly
+award it the epithet, "epoch-making," and its long-continued popularity
+affords good, if not quite sufficient, ground for the extravagant eulogies
+they lavish upon it. Trithemius calls it "Divina Satira," and doubts
+whether anything could have been written more suited to the spirit of the
+age; Locher compares Brandt with Dante, and Hutten styles him the new
+law-giver of German poetry.
+
+A more recent and impartial critic (Müller, "Chips from a German Workshop,"
+Vol. III.), thus suggestively sets forth the varied grounds of Brandt's
+wonderful popularity:--"His satires, it is true, are not very powerful, nor
+pungent, nor original. But his style is free and easy. Brant is not a
+ponderous poet. He writes in short chapters, and mixes his fools in such a
+manner that we always meet with a variety of new faces. It is true that all
+this would hardly be sufficient to secure a decided success for a work like
+his at the present day. But then we must remember the time in which he
+wrote.... There was room at that time for a work like the 'Ship of Fools.'
+It was the first printed book that treated of contemporaneous events and
+living persons, instead of old German battles and French knights. People
+are always fond of reading the history of their own times. If the good
+qualities of their age are brought out, they think of themselves or their
+friends; if the dark features of their contemporaries are exhibited, they
+think of their neighbours and enemies. Now the 'Ship of Fools' is just such
+a satire which ordinary people would read, and read with pleasure. They
+might feel a slight twinge now and then, but they would put down the book
+at the end, and thank God that they were not like other men. There is a
+chapter on Misers--and who would not gladly give a penny to a beggar? There
+is a chapter on Gluttony--and who was ever more than a little exhilarated
+after dinner?
+
+There is a chapter on Church-goers--and who ever went to church for
+respectability's sake, or to show off a gaudy dress, or a fine dog, or a
+new hawk? There is a chapter on Dancing--and who ever danced except for the
+sake of exercise? There is a chapter on Adultery--and who ever did more
+than flirt with his neighbour's wife? We sometimes wish that Brant's satire
+had been a little more searching, and that, instead of his many allusions
+to classical fools (for his book is full of scholarship), he had given us a
+little more of the _chronique scandaleuse_ of his own time. But he was too
+good a man to do this, and his contemporaries were no doubt grateful to him
+for his forbearance."
+
+Brandt's satire is a satire for all time. Embodied in the language of the
+fifteenth century, coloured with the habits and fashions of the times,
+executed after the manner of working of the period, and motived by the
+eager questioning spirit and the discontent with "abusions" and "folyes"
+which resulted in the Reformation, this satire in its morals or lessons is
+almost as applicable to the year of grace 1873 as to the year of
+gracelessness 1497. It never can grow old; in the mirror in which the men
+of his time saw themselves reflected, the men of all times can recognise
+themselves; a crew of "able-bodied" is never wanting to man this old,
+weather-beaten, but ever seaworthy vessel. The thoughtful, penetrating,
+conscious spirit of the Basle professor passing by, for the most part,
+local, temporary or indifferent points, seized upon the never-dying follies
+of _human nature_ and impaled them on the printed page for the amusement,
+the edification, and the warning of contemporaries and posterity alike. No
+petty writer of laborious _vers de societe_ to raise a laugh for a week, a
+month, or a year, and to be buried in utter oblivion for ever after, was
+he, but a divine seer who saw the weakness and wickedness of the hearts of
+men, and warned them to amend their ways and flee from the wrath to come.
+Though but a retired student, and teacher of the canon law, a humble-minded
+man of letters, and a diffident imperial Counsellor, yet is he to be
+numbered among the greatest Evangelists and Reformers of mediæval Europe
+whose trumpet-toned tongue penetrated into regions where the names of
+Luther or Erasmus were but an empty sound, if even that. And yet, though
+helping much the cause of the Reformation by the freedom of his social and
+clerical criticism, by his unsparing exposure of every form of corruption
+and injustice, and, not least, by his use of the vernacular for political
+and religious purposes, he can scarcely be classed in the great army of the
+Protestant Reformers. He was a reformer from within, a biting, unsparing
+exposer of every priestly abuse, but a loyal son of the Church, who rebuked
+the faults of his brethren, but visited with the pains of Hell those of
+"fals herytikes," and wept over the "ruyne, inclynacion, and decay of the
+holy fayth Catholyke, and dymynucion of the Empyre."
+
+So while he was yet a reformer in the true sense of the word, he was too
+much of the scholar to be anything but a true conservative. To his
+scholarly habit of working, as well as to the manner of the time which
+hardly trusted in the value of its own ideas but loved to lean them upon
+classical authority, is no doubt owing the classical mould in which his
+satire is cast. The description of every folly is strengthened by notice of
+its classical or biblical prototypes, and in the margin of the Latin
+edition of Locher, Brandt himself supplied the citations of the books and
+passages which formed the basis of his text, which greatly added to the
+popularity of the work. Brandt, indeed, with the modesty of genius,
+professes that it is really no more than a collection and translation of
+quotations from biblical and classical authors, "Gesamlet durch Sebastianu
+Brant." But even admitting the work to be a Mosaic, to adopt the reply of
+its latest German editor to the assertion that it is but a compilation
+testifying to the most painstaking industry and the consumption of midnight
+oil, "even so one learns that a Mosaic is a work of art when executed with
+artistic skill." That he caused the classical and biblical passages
+flitting before his eyes to be cited in the margin proves chiefly only the
+excellence of his memory. They are also before our eyes and yet we are not
+always able to answer the question: where, _e.g._, does this occur? ...
+Where, _e.g._, occur the following appropriate words of Goethe: "Who can
+think anything foolish, who can think anything wise, that antiquity has not
+already thought of."
+
+Of the Greek authors, Plutarch only is used, and he evidently by means of a
+Latin translation. But from the Latin large draughts of inspiration are
+taken, direct from the fountainhead. Ovid, Juvenal, Persius, Catullus, and
+Seneca, are largely drawn from, while, strangely enough, Cicero, Boethius,
+and Virgil are quoted but seldom, the latter, indeed, only twice, though
+his commentators, especially Servetus, are frequently employed. The Bible,
+of course, is a never-failing source of illustration, and, as was to be
+expected, the Old Testament much more frequently than the New, most use
+being made of the Proverbs of Solomon, while Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus,
+and the Sapientia follow at no great distance.
+
+The quotations are made apparently direct from the Vulgate, in only a few
+cases there being a qualification of the idea by the interpretation of the
+Corpus Juris Canonici. But through this medium only, as was to be expected
+of the professor of canon law, is the light of the fathers of the Church
+allowed to shine upon us, and according to Zarncke (Introduction to his
+edition of the Narrenschiff, 1854), use of it has certainly been made far
+oftener than the commentary shows, the sources of information of which are
+of the most unsatisfactory character. On such solid and tried foundations
+did Brandt construct his great work, and the judgment of contemporaries and
+posterity alike has declared the superstructure to be worthy of its
+supports.
+
+The following admirable notice from Ersch and Grüber (Encyclopädie) sums up
+so skilfully the history, nature, and qualities of the book that we quote
+at length:--"The Ship of Fools was received with almost unexampled applause
+by high and low, learned and unlearned, in Germany, Switzerland, and
+France, and was made the common property of the greatest part of literary
+Europe, through Latin, French, English, and Dutch translations. For upwards
+of a century it was in Germany a _book of the people_ in the noblest and
+widest sense of the word, alike appreciated by an Erasmus and a Reuchlin,
+and by the mechanics of Strassburg, Basel, and Augsburg; and it was assumed
+to be so familiar to all classes, that even during Brandt's lifetime, the
+German preacher Gailer von Kaiserberg went so far as to deliver public
+lectures from the pulpit on his friend's poem as if it had been a
+scriptural text. As to the poetical and humorous character of Brandt's
+poem, its whole conception does not display any extraordinary power of
+imagination, nor does it present in its details any very striking sallies
+of wit and humour, even when compared with older German works of a similar
+kind, such as that of Renner. The fundamental idea of the poem consists in
+the shipping off of several shiploads of fools of all kinds for their
+native country, which, however, is visible at a distance only; and one
+would have expected the poet to have given poetical consistency to his work
+by fully carrying out this idea of a ship's crew, and sailing to the 'Land
+of Fools.' It is, however, at intervals only that Brandt reminds us of the
+allegory; the fools who are carefully divided into classes and introduced
+to us in succession, instead of being ridiculed or derided, are reproved in
+a liberal spirit, with noble earnestness, true moral feeling, and practical
+common sense. It was the straightforward, the bold and liberal spirit of
+the poet which so powerfully addressed his contemporaries from the Ship of
+the Fools; and to us it is valuable as a product of the piety and morality
+of the century which paved the way for the Reformation. Brandt's fools are
+represented as contemptible and loathsome rather than _foolish_, and what
+he calls follies might be more correctly described as sins and vices.
+
+"The 'Ship of Fools' is written in the dialect of Swabia, and consists of
+vigorous, resonant, and rhyming iambic quadrameters. It is divided into 113
+sections, each of which, with the exception of a short introduction and two
+concluding pieces, treats independently of a certain class of fools or
+vicious persons; and we are only occasionally reminded of the fundamental
+idea by an allusion to the ship. No folly of the century is left
+uncensured. The poet attacks with noble zeal the failings and extravagances
+of his age, and applies his lash unsparingly even to the dreaded Hydra of
+popery and monasticism, to combat which the Hercules of Wittenberg had not
+yet kindled his firebrands. But the poet's object was not merely to reprove
+and to animadvert; he instructs also, and shows the fools the way to the
+land of wisdom; and so far is he from assuming the arrogant air of the
+commonplace moralist, that he reckons himself among the number of fools.
+The style of the poem is lively, bold, and simple, and often remarkably
+terse, especially in his moral sayings, and renders it apparent that the
+author was a classical scholar, without however losing anything of his
+German character."
+
+Brandt's humour, which either his earnestness or his manner banished from
+the text, took refuge in the illustrations and there disported itself with
+a wild zest and vigour. Indeed to their popularity several critics have
+ascribed the success of the book, but for this there is no sufficient
+authority or probability. Clever as they are, it is more probable that they
+ran, in popularity, but an equal race with the text. The precise amount of
+Brandt's workmanship in them has not been ascertained, but it is agreed
+that "most of them, if not actually drawn, were at least suggested by him."
+Zarncke remarks regarding their artistic worth, "not all of the cuts are of
+equal value. One can easily distinguish five different workers, and more
+practised eyes would probably be able to increase the number. In some one
+can see how the outlines, heads, hands, and other principal parts are cut
+with the fine stroke of the master, and the details and shading left to the
+scholars. The woodcuts of the most superior master, which can be recognized
+at once, and are about a third of the whole, belong to the finest, if they
+are not, indeed, the finest, which were executed in the fifteenth century,
+a worthy school of Holbein. According to the opinion of Herr Rudolph
+Weigel, they might possibly be the work of Martin Schön of Colmar.... The
+composition in the better ones is genuinely Hogarth-like, and the longer
+one looks at these little pictures, the more is one astonished at the
+fulness of the humour, the fineness of the characterisation and the almost
+dramatic talent of the grouping." Green, in his recent work on emblems,
+characterizes them as marking an epoch in that kind of literature. And
+Dibdin, the Macaulay of bibliography, loses his head in admiration of the
+"entertaining volume," extolling the figures without stint for "merit in
+conception and execution," "bold and free pencilling," "spirit and point,"
+"delicacy, truth, and force," "spirit of drollery," &c., &c.; summarising
+thus, "few books are more pleasing to the eye, and more gratifying to the
+fancy than the early editions of the 'Stultifera Navis.' It presents a
+combination of entertainment to which the curious can never be
+indifferent."
+
+Whether it were the racy cleverness of the pictures or the unprecedented
+boldness of the text, the book stirred Europe of the fifteenth century in a
+way and with a rapidity it had never been stirred before. In the German
+actual acquaintance with it could then be but limited, though it ran
+through seventeen editions within a century; the Latin version brought it
+to the knowledge of the educated class throughout Europe; but, expressing,
+as it did mainly, the feelings of the common people, to have it in the
+learned language was not enough. Translations into various vernaculars were
+immediately called for, and the Latin edition having lightened the
+translator's labours, they were speedily supplied. England, however, was
+all but last in the field but when she did appear, it was in force, with a
+version in each hand, the one in prose and the other in verse.
+
+Fifteen years elapsed from the appearance of the first German edition,
+before the English metrical version "translated out of Laten, French, and
+Doche ... in the colege of Saynt Mary Otery, by me, Alexander Barclay," was
+issued from the press of Pynson in 1509. A translation, however, it is not.
+Properly speaking, it is an adaptation, an English ship, formed and
+fashioned after the Ship of Fools of the World. "But concernynge the
+translacion of this boke; I exhort ye reders to take no displesour for y^t,
+it is nat translated word by worde acordinge to ye verses of my actour. For
+I haue but only drawen into our moder tunge, in rude langage the sentences
+of the verses as nere as the parcyte of my wyt wyl suffer me, some tyme
+addynge, somtyme detractinge and takinge away suche thinges as semeth me
+necessary and superflue. Wherfore I desyre of you reders pardon of my
+presumptuous audacite, trustynge that ye shall holde me excused if ye
+consyder ye scarsnes of my wyt and my vnexpert youthe. I haue in many
+places ouerpassed dyuers poetical digressions and obscurenes of fables and
+haue concluded my worke in rude langage as shal apere in my translacion."
+
+"Wylling to redres the errours and vyces of this oure royalme of England
+... I haue taken upon me ... the translacion of this present boke ... onely
+for the holsome instruccion commodyte and doctryne of wysdome, and to
+clense the vanyte and madness of folysshe people of whom ouer great nombre
+is in the Royalme of Englonde."
+
+Actuated by these patriotic motives, Barclay has, while preserving all the
+valuable characteristics of his original, painted for posterity perhaps the
+most graphic and comprehensive picture now preserved of the folly,
+injustice, and iniquity which demoralized England, city and country alike,
+at the beginning of the sixteenth century, and rendered it ripe for any
+change political or religious.
+
+ "Knowledge of trouth, prudence, and iust symplicite
+ Hath vs clene left; For we set of them no store.
+ Our Fayth is defyled loue, goodnes, and Pyte:
+ Honest maners nowe ar reputed of: no more.
+ Lawyers ar lordes; but Justice is rent and tore.
+ Or closed lyke a Monster within dores thre.
+ For without mede: or money no man can hyr se.
+
+ Al is disordered: Vertue hath no rewarde.
+ Alas, compassion; and mercy bothe ar slayne.
+ Alas, the stony hartys of pepyl ar so harde
+ That nought can constrayne theyr folyes to refrayne."
+
+His ships are full laden but carry not all who should be on board.
+
+ "We are full lade and yet forsoth I thynke
+ A thousand are behynde, whom we may not receyue
+ For if we do, our nauy clene shall synke
+ He oft all lesys that coueytes all to haue
+ From London Rockes Almyghty God vs saue
+ For if we there anker, outher bote or barge
+ There be so many that they vs wyll ouercharge."
+
+The national tone and aim of the English "Ship" are maintained throughout
+with the greatest emphasis, exhibiting an independence of spirit which few
+ecclesiastics of the time would have dared to own. Barclay seems to have
+been first an Englishman, then an ecclesiastic. Everywhere throughout his
+great work the voice of the people is heard to rise and ring through the
+long exposure of abuse and injustice, and had the authorship been unknown
+it would most certainly have been ascribed to a Langlande of the period.
+Everywhere he takes what we would call the popular side, the side of the
+people as against those in office. Everywhere he stands up boldly in behalf
+of the oppressed, and spares not the oppressor, even if he be of his own
+class. He applies the cudgel as vigorously to the priest's pate as to the
+Lolardes back. But he disliked modern innovation as much as ancient abuse,
+in this also faithfully reflecting the mind of the people, and he is as
+emphatic in his censure of the one as in his condemnation of the other.
+
+Barclay's "Ship of Fools," however, is not only important as a picture of
+the English life and popular feeling of his time, it is, both in style and
+vocabulary, a most valuable and remarkable monument of the English
+language. Written midway between Chaucer and Spenser, it is infinitely more
+easy to read than either. Page after page, even in the antique spelling of
+Pynson's edition, may be read by the ordinary reader of to-day without
+reference to a dictionary, and when reference is required it will be found
+in nine cases out of ten that the archaism is Saxon, not Latin. This is all
+the more remarkable, that it occurs in the case of a priest translating
+mainly from the Latin and French, and can only be explained with reference
+to his standpoint as a social reformer of the broadest type, and to his
+evident intention that his book should be an appeal to all classes, but
+especially to the mass of the people, for amendment of their follies. In
+evidence of this it may be noticed that in the didactic passages, and
+especially in the L'envois, which are additions of his own, wherever, in
+fact, he appears in his own character of "preacher," his language is most
+simple, and his vocabulary of the most Saxon description.
+
+In his prologue "excusynge the rudenes of his translacion," he professes to
+have purposely used the most "comon speche":--
+
+ "My speche is rude my termes comon and rural
+ And I for rude peple moche more conuenient
+ Than for estates, lerned men, or eloquent."
+
+He afterwards humorously supplements this in "the prologe," by:--
+
+ "But if I halt in meter or erre in eloquence
+ Or be to large in langage I pray you blame not me
+ For my mater is so bad it wyll none other be."
+
+So much the better for all who are interested in studying the development
+of our language and literature. For thus we have a volume, confessedly
+written in the commonest language of the common people, from which the
+philologist may at once see the stage at which they had arrived in the
+development of a simple English speech, and how far, in this respect, the
+spoken language had advanced a-head of the written; and from which also he
+can judge to what extent the popularity of a book depends, when the
+language is in a state of transition, upon the unusual simplicity of its
+style both in structure and vocabulary, and how far it may, by reason of
+its popularity, be influential in modifying and improving the language in
+both these respects. In the long barren tract between Chaucer and Spenser,
+the Ship of Fools stands all but alone as a popular poem, and the
+continuance of this popularity for a century and more is no doubt to be
+attributed as much to the use of the language of the "coming time" as to
+the popularity of the subject.
+
+In more recent times however, Barclay has, probably in part, from
+accidental circumstances, come to be relegated to a position among the
+English classics, those authors whom every one speaks of but few read. That
+modern editions of at least his principal performance have not appeared,
+can only be accounted for by the great expense attendant upon the
+reproduction of so uniquely illustrated a work, an interesting proof of
+which, given in the evidence before the Select Committee of the House of
+Commons on the Copyright act in 1818, is worth quoting. Amongst new
+editions of standard but costly works, of which the tax then imposed by the
+act upon publishers of giving eleven copies of all their publications free
+to certain libraries prevented the publication, is mentioned, Barclay's
+"Ship of Fools;" regarding which Harding, the well known bookseller, is
+reported to have said, "We have declined republishing the 'Ship of Fools,'
+a folio volume of great rarity and high price. Our probable demand would
+not have been more than for a hundred copies, at the price of 12 guineas
+each. The delivery of eleven copies to the public libraries decided us
+against entering into the speculation."
+
+A wider and more eager interest is now being manifested in our early
+literature, and especially in our early popular poetry, to the satisfaction
+of which, it is believed, a new edition of this book will be regarded as a
+most valuable contribution. Indeed, as a graphic and comprehensive picture
+of the social condition of pre-Reformation England; as an important
+influence in the formation of our modern English tongue; and as a rich and
+unique exhibition of early art, to all of which subjects special attention
+is being at present directed, this mediæval picture-poem is of unrivalled
+interest.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+NOTICE
+
+OF THE
+
+_Life and Writings of Alexander Barclay_,
+
+THE TRANSLATOR OF BRANDT'S SHIP OF FOOLS.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+ALEXANDER BARCLAY.
+
+Whether this distinguished poet was an Englishman or a Scotchman has long
+been a _quæstio vexata_ affording the literary antiquary a suitable field
+for the display of his characteristic amenity. Bale, the oldest authority,
+simply says that some contend he was a Scot, others an Englishman, (Script.
+Illust. Majoris Britt. Catalogus, 1559). Pits (De Illust. Angliæ Script.,)
+asserts that though to some he appears to have been a Scot, he was really
+an Englishman, and probably a native of Devonshire, ("_nam_ ibi ad S.
+Mariam de Otery, Presbyter primum fuit"). Wood again, (Athen. Oxon.), by
+the reasoning which finds a likeness between Macedon and Monmouth, because
+there is a river in each, arrives at "Alexander de Barklay, seems to have
+been born at or near a town so called in Somersetshire;" upon which Ritson
+pertinently observes, "there is no such place in Somersetshire, the onely
+Berkeley known is in Gloucestershire." Warton, coming to the question
+double-shotted, observes that "he was most probably of Devonshire or
+Gloucestershire," in the one case following Pits, and in the other
+anticipating Ritson's observation.
+
+On the other hand Bale, in an earlier work than the _Catalogus_, the
+_Summarium Ill. Maj. Britt. Script._, published in 1548, during Barclay's
+life time, adorns him with the epithets "Scotus, rhetor ac poeta insignis."
+Dempster (Hist. ecclesiastica), styles him "Scotus, ut retulit ipse Joannes
+Pitsæus." Holinshed also styles him "Scot"! Sibbald gives him a place in
+his (MS.) Catalogues of Scottish poets, as does also Wodrow in his
+Catalogues of Scots writers. Mackenzie (Lives of the Scots writers) begins,
+"The Barklies, from whom this gentleman is descended, are of a very ancient
+standing in Scotland." Ritson (Bib. Poetica), after a caustic review of the
+controversy, observes "both his name of baptism and the orthography of his
+surname seem to prove that he was of Scottish extraction." Bliss (Additions
+to Wood) is of opinion that he "undoubtedly was not a native of England,"
+and Dr Irving (Hist. of Scot. Poetry) adheres to the opinion of Ritson.
+
+Such contention, whatever may be the weight of the evidence on either side,
+is at any rate a sufficient proof of the eminence of the individual who is
+the subject of it; to be his birthplace being considered an honour of so
+much value to the country able to prove its claim to the distinction as to
+occasion a literary warfare of several centuries' duration.
+
+We cannot profess to have brought such reinforcements to either side as to
+obtain for it a complete and decisive victory, but their number and
+character are such as will probably induce one of the combatants quietly to
+retire from the field. In the first place, a more explicit and
+unimpeachable piece of evidence than any contained in the authors mentioned
+above has been found, strangely enough, in a medical treatise, published
+about twenty years after Barclay's death, by a physician and botanist of
+great eminence in the middle of the sixteenth century, who was a native of
+the isle of Ely, at the Monastery of which Barclay was for some time a
+monk.
+
+It is entitled "A dialogue both pleasaunt and pietifull, wherein is a
+godlie regiment against the Fever Pestilence, with a consolation and
+comforte against death.--Newlie corrected by William Bullein, the author
+thereof.--Imprinted at London by Ihon Kingston. Julij, 1573." [8vo., B.L.,
+111 leaves.] "There was an earlier impression of this work in 1564, but the
+edition of 1573 was 'corrected by the author,' the last work on which he
+probably was engaged, as he died in 1576. It is of no value at this time of
+day as a medical treatise, though the author was very eminent; but we
+advert to it because Bullein, for the sake of variety and amusement,
+introduces notices of Chaucer, Gower, Lidgate, Skelton, and Barclay, which,
+coming from a man who was contemporary with two of them, may be accepted as
+generally accurate representations.... Alexander Barclay, Dr Bullein calls
+Bartlet, in the irregular spelling of those times; and, asserting that he
+was 'born beyond the cold river of Tweed,' we see no sufficient reason for
+disbelieving that he was a native of Scotland. Barclay, after writing his
+pastorals, &c., did not die until 1552, so that Bullein was his
+contemporary, and most likely knew him and the fact. He observes:--'Then
+Bartlet, with an hoopyng russet long coate, with a pretie hoode in his
+necke, and five knottes upon his girdle, after Francis tricks. He was borne
+beyonde the cold river of Twede. He lodged upon a swete bed of chamomill,
+under the sinamum tree; about hym many shepherdes and shepe, with
+pleasaunte pipes; greatly abhorring the life of Courtiers, Citizens,
+Usurers, and Banckruptes, &c., whose olde daies are miserable. And the
+estate of shepherdes and countrie people he accoumpted moste happie and
+sure." (Collier's "Bibliographical Account of Early English Literature,"
+Vol. 1., P. 97).
+
+"The certainty with which Bulleyn here speaks of Barclay, as born beyond
+the Tweed, is not a little strengthened by the accuracy with which even in
+allegory he delineates his peculiar characteristics. 'He lodged upon a bed
+of sweet camomile.' What figure could have been more descriptive of that
+agreeable bitterness, that pleasant irony, which distinguishes the author
+of the 'Ship of Fools?' 'About him many shepherds and sheep with pleasant
+pipes, greatly abhorring the life of courtiers.' What could have been a
+plainer paraphrase of the title of Barclay's 'Eclogues,' or 'Miseries of
+Courtiers and Courtes, and of all Princes in General.' As a minor feature,
+'the five knots upon his girdle after Francis's tricks' may also be
+noticed. Hitherto, the fact of Barclay having been a member of the
+Franciscan order has been always repeated as a matter of some doubt; 'he
+was a monk of the order of St Benedict, and afterwards, as some say, a
+Franciscan. Bulleyn knows, and mentions, with certainty, what others only
+speak of as the merest conjecture. In short, everything tends to shew a
+degree of familiar acquaintance with the man, his habits, and his
+productions, which entitles the testimony of Bulleyn to the highest
+credit.'" (Lives of the Scottish Poets, Vol. I., pt. ii., p. 77).
+
+But there are other proofs pointing as decidedly to the determination of
+this long-continued controversy in favour of Scotland, as the soil from
+which this vagrant child of the muses sprung. No evidence seems to have
+been hitherto sought from the most obvious source, his writings. The writer
+of the memoir in the Biographia Brittanica, (who certainly dealt a
+well-aimed, though by no means decisive, blow, in observing, "It is pretty
+extraordinary that Barclay himself, in his several addresses to his patrons
+should never take notice of his being a stranger, which would have made
+their kindness to him the more remarkable [it was very customary for the
+writers of that age to make mention in their works of the countries to
+which they belonged, especially if they wrote out of their own];[1] whereas
+the reader will quickly see, that in his address to the young gentlemen of
+England in the 'Mirror of Good Manners,' he treats them as his
+countrymen,") has remarked, "It seems a little strange that in those days a
+Scot should obtain so great reputation in England, especially if it be
+considered from whence our author's rose, viz., from his enriching and
+improving the English tongue. Had he written in Latin or on the sciences,
+the thing had been probable enough, but in the light in which it now
+stands, I think it very far from likely." From which it is evident that the
+biographer understood not the versatile nature of the Scot and his ability,
+especially when caught young, in "doing in Rome as the Romans do."
+Barclay's English education and foreign travel, together extending over the
+most impressionable years of his youth, could not have failed to rub off
+any obvious national peculiarities of speech acquired in early boyhood, had
+the difference between the English and Scottish speech then been wider than
+it was. But the language of Barbour and Chaucer was really one and the
+same. It will then not be wondered at that but few Scotch words are found
+in Barclay's writings. Still, these few are not without their importance in
+strengthening the argument as to nationality. The following from "The Ship
+of Fools," indicate at once the clime to which they are native, "gree,"
+"kest," "rawky," "ryue," "yate," "bokest," "bydeth," "thekt," and "or," in
+its peculiar Scottish use.[2] That any Englishman, especially a South or
+West of England Englishman, should use words such as those, particularly at
+a time of hostility and of little intercourse between the nations, will
+surely be admitted to be a far more unlikely thing than that a Scotchman
+born, though not bred, should become, after the effects of an English
+education and residence had efficiently done their work upon him, a great
+improver and enricher of the English tongue.
+
+But perhaps the strongest and most decisive argument of all in this
+much-vexed controversy is to be found in the panegyric of James the Fourth
+contained in the "Ship of Fools," an eulogy so highly pitched and
+extravagant that no Englishman of that time would ever have dreamed of it
+or dared to pen it. Nothing could well be more conclusive. Barclay precedes
+it by a long and high-flown tribute to Henry, but when he comes to "Jamys
+of Scotlonde," he, so to speak, out-Herods Herod. Ordinary verse suffices
+not for the greatness of his subject, which he must needs honour with an
+acrostic,--
+
+ "I n prudence pereles is this moste comely kynge
+ A nd as for his strength and magnanymyte
+ C oncernynge his noble dedes in euery thynge
+ O ne founde or grounde lyke to hym can not be
+ B y byrth borne to boldnes and audacyte
+ V nder the bolde planet of Mars the champyon
+ S urely to subdue his ennemyes echone."
+
+There, we are convinced, speaks not the prejudiced, Scot-hating English
+critic, but the heart beating true to its fatherland and loyal to its
+native Sovereign.
+
+That "he was born beyonde the cold river of Twede," about the year 1476, as
+shall be shown anon, is however all the length we can go. His training was
+without doubt mainly, if not entirely English. He must have crossed the
+border very early in life, probably for the purpose of pursuing his
+education at one of the Universities, or, even earlier than the period of
+his University career, with parents or guardians to reside in the
+neighbourhood of Croydon, to which he frequently refers. Croydon is
+mentioned in the following passages in Eclogue I.:
+
+ "While I in youth in Croidon towne did dwell."
+
+ "He hath no felowe betwene this and Croidon,
+ Save the proude plowman Gnatho of Chorlington."
+
+ "And as in Croidon I heard the Collier preache"
+
+ "Such maner riches the Collier tell thee can"
+
+ "As the riche Shepheard that woned in Mortlake."
+
+It seems to have become a second home to him, for there, we find, in 1552,
+he died and was buried.
+
+At which University he studied, whether Oxford or Cambridge, is also a
+matter of doubt and controversy. Wood claims him for Oxford and Oriel,
+apparently on no other ground than that he dedicates the "Ship of Fools" to
+Thomas Cornish, the Suffragan bishop of Tyne, in the Diocese of Bath and
+Wells, who was provost of Oriel College from 1493 to 1507. That the Bishop
+was the first to give him an appointment in the Church is certainly a
+circumstance of considerable weight in favour of the claim of Oxford to be
+his _alma mater_, and of Cornish to be his intellectual father; and if the
+appointment proceeded from the Provost's good opinion of the young
+Scotchman, then it says much for the ability and talents displayed by him
+during his College career. Oxford however appears to be nowhere mentioned
+in his various writings, while Cambridge is introduced thus in Eclogue
+I.:--
+
+ "And once in Cambridge I heard a scoller say."
+
+From which it seems equally, if not more, probable that he was a student at
+that university. "There is reason to believe that both the universities
+were frequented by Scotish students; many particular names are to be traced
+in their annals; nor is it altogether irrelevant to mention that Chaucer's
+young clerks of Cambridge who played such tricks to the miller of
+Trompington, are described as coming from the north, and as speaking the
+Scotish language:--
+
+ 'John highte that on, and Alein highte that other,
+ Of o toun were they born that highte Strother,
+ Fer in the North, I cannot tellen where.'
+
+"It may be considered as highly probable that Barclay completed his studies
+in one of those universities, and that the connections which he thus had an
+opportunity of forming, induced him to fix his residence in the South; and
+when we suppose him to have enjoyed the benefit of an English education it
+need not appear peculiarly 'strange, that in those days, a Scot should
+obtain so great reputation in England.'" (Irving, Hist. of Scot. Poetry).
+
+In the "Ship" there is a chapter "Of unprofytable Stody" in which he makes
+allusion to his student life in such a way as to imply that it had not been
+a model of regularity and propriety:
+
+ "The great foly, the pryde, and the enormyte
+ Of our studentis, and theyr obstynate errour
+ Causeth me to wryte two sentences or thre
+ More than I fynde wrytyn in myne actoure
+ The tyme hath ben whan I was conductoure
+ Of moche foly, whiche nowe my mynde doth greue
+ Wherfor of this shyp syns I am gouernoure
+ I dare be bolde myne owne vyce to repreue."
+
+If these lines are meant to be accepted literally, which such confessions
+seldom are, it may be that he was advised to put a year or two's foreign
+travel between his University career, and his entrance into the Church. At
+any rate, for whatever reason, on leaving the University, where, as is
+indicated by the title of "Syr" prefixed to his name in his translation of
+Sallust, he had obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts, he travelled
+abroad, whether at his own charges, or in the company of a son of one of
+his patrons is not recorded, principally in Germany, Italy, and France,
+where he applied himself, with an unusual assiduity and success, to the
+acquirement of the languages spoken in those countries and to the study of
+their best authors. In the chapter "Of unprofytable Stody," above
+mentioned, which contains proof how well he at least had profited by study,
+he cites certain continental seats of university learning at each of which,
+there is indeed no improbability in supposing he may have remained for some
+time, as was the custom in those days:
+
+ "One rennyth to Almayne another vnto France
+ To Parys, Padway, Lumbardy or Spayne
+ Another to Bonony, Rome, or Orleanse
+ To Cayne, to Tolows, Athenys, or Colayne."
+
+Another reference to his travels and mode of travelling is found in the
+Eclogues. Whether he made himself acquainted with the English towns he
+enumerates before or after his continental travels it is impossible to
+determine:
+
+ CORNIX.
+
+ "As if diuers wayes laye vnto Islington,
+ To Stow on the Wold, Quaueneth or Trompington,
+ To Douer, Durham, to Barwike or Exeter,
+ To Grantham, Totnes, Bristow or good Manchester,
+ To Roan, Paris, to Lions or Floraunce.
+
+ CORIDON.
+
+ (What ho man abide, what already in Fraunce,
+ Lo, a fayre iourney and shortly ended to,
+ With all these townes what thing haue we to do?
+
+ CORNIX.
+
+ By Gad man knowe thou that I haue had to do
+ In all these townes and yet in many mo,
+ To see the worlde in youth me thought was best,
+ And after in age to geue my selfe to rest.
+
+ CORIDON.
+
+ Thou might haue brought one and set by our village.
+
+ CORNIX.
+
+ What man I might not for lacke of cariage.
+ To cary mine owne selfe was all that euer I might,
+ And sometime for ease my sachell made I light."
+ ECLOGUE I.
+
+Returning to England, after some years of residence abroad, with his mind
+broadened and strengthened by foreign travel, and by the study of the best
+authors, modern as well as ancient, Barclay entered the church, the only
+career then open to a man of his training. With intellect, accomplishments,
+and energy possessed by few, his progress to distinction and power ought to
+have been easy and rapid, but it turned out quite otherwise. The road to
+eminence lay by the "backstairs," the atmosphere of which he could not
+endure. The ways of courtiers--falsehood, flattery, and fawning--he
+detested, and worse, he said so, wherefore his learning, wit and eloquence
+found but small reward. To his freedom of speech, his unsparing exposure
+and denunciation of corruption and vice in the Court and the Church, as
+well as among the people generally, must undoubtedly be attributed the
+failure to obtain that high promotion his talents deserved, and would
+otherwise have met with. The policy, not always a successful one in the
+end, of ignoring an inconvenient display of talent, appears to have been
+fully carried out in the instance of Barclay.
+
+His first preferment appears to have been in the shape of a chaplainship in
+the sanctuary for piety and learning founded at Saint Mary Otery in the
+County of Devon, by Grandison, Bishop of Exeter; and to have come from
+Thomas Cornish, Suffragan Bishop of Bath and Wells under the title of the
+Bishop of Tyne, "meorum primitias laborum qui in lucem eruperunt," to whom,
+doubtless out of gratitude for his first appointment, he dedicated "The
+Ship of Fools." Cornish, amongst the many other good things he enjoyed,
+held, according to Dugdale, from 1490 to 1511, the post of warden of the
+College of S. Mary Otery, where Barclay no doubt had formed that regard and
+respect for him which is so strongly expressed in the dedication.
+
+A very eulogistic notice of "My Mayster Kyrkham," in the chapter "Of the
+extorcion of Knyghtis," (Ship of Fools,) has misled biographers, who were
+ignorant of Cornish's connection with S. Mary Otery, to imagine that
+Barclay's use of "Capellanus humilimus" in his dedication was merely a
+polite expression, and that Kyrkham, of whom he styles himself, "His true
+seruytour his chaplayne and bedeman" was his actual ecclesiastical
+superior. The following is the whole passage:--
+
+ "Good offycers ar good and commendable
+ And manly knyghtes that lyue in rightwysenes
+ But they that do nat ar worthy of a bable
+ Syns by theyr pryde pore people they oppres
+ My mayster Kyrkhan for his perfyte mekenes
+ And supportacion of men in pouertye
+ Out of my shyp shall worthely be fre
+
+ I flater nat I am his true seruytour
+ His chaplayne and his bede man whyle my lyfe shall endure
+ Requyrynge God to exalt hym to honour
+ And of his Prynces fauour to be sure
+ For as I haue sayd I knowe no creature
+ More manly rightwyse wyse discrete and sad
+ But thoughe he be good, yet other ar als bad."
+
+That this Kyrkham was a knight and not an ecclesiastic is so plainly
+apparent as to need no argument. An investigation into Devonshire history
+affords the interesting information that among the ancient families of that
+county there was one of this name, of great antiquity and repute, now no
+longer existent, of which the most eminent member was a certain Sir John
+Kirkham, whose popularity is evinced by his having been twice created High
+Sheriff of the County, in the years 1507 and 1523. (Prince, Worthies of
+Devon; Izacke, Antiquities of Exeter.)
+
+That this was the Kirkham above alluded to, there can be no reasonable
+doubt, and in view of the expression "My mayster Kyrkham," it may be
+surmised that Barclay had the honour of being appointed by this worthy
+gentleman to the office of Sheriff's or private Chaplain or to some similar
+position of confidence, by which he gained the poet's respect and
+gratitude. The whole allusion, however, might, without straining be
+regarded as a merely complimentary one. The tone of the passage affords at
+any rate a very pleasing glimpse of the mutual regard entertained by the
+poet and his Devonshire neighbours.
+
+After the eulogy of Kyrkham ending with "Yet other ar als bad," the poet
+goes on immediately to give the picture of a character of the opposite
+description, making the only severe personal reference in his whole
+writings, for with all his unsparing exposure of wrong-doing, he carefully,
+wisely, honourably avoided personality. A certain Mansell of Otery is
+gibbeted as a terror to evil doers in a way which would form a sufficient
+ground for an action for libel in these degenerate days.--Ship, II. 82.
+
+ "Mansell of Otery for powlynge of the pore
+ Were nat his great wombe, here sholde haue an ore
+
+ But for his body is so great and corporate
+ And so many burdens his brode backe doth charge
+ If his great burthen cause hym to come to late
+ Yet shall the knaue be Captayne of a barge
+ Where as ar bawdes and so sayle out at large
+ About our shyp to spye about for prayes
+ For therupon hath he lyued all his dayes."
+
+It ought however to be mentioned that no such name as Mansell appears in
+the Devonshire histories, and it may therefore be fictitious.
+
+The ignorance and reckless living of the clergy, one of the chief objects
+of his animadversion, receive also local illustration:
+
+ "For if one can flater, and beare a Hauke on his fist,
+ He shalbe made parson of Honington or Clist."
+
+A good humoured reference to the Secondaries of the College is the only
+other streak of local colouring we have detected in the Ship, except the
+passage in praise of his friend and colleague Bishop, quoted at p. liii.
+
+ "Softe, fooles, softe, a little slacke your pace,
+ Till I haue space you to order by degree,
+ I haue eyght neyghbours, that first shall haue a place
+ Within this my ship, for they most worthy be,
+ They may their learning receyue costles and free,
+ Their walles abutting and ioyning to the scholes;
+ Nothing they can, yet nought will they learne nor see,
+ Therfore shall they guide this our ship of fooles."
+
+In the comfort, quiet, and seclusion of the pleasant Devonshire retreat,
+the "Ship" was translated in the year 1508, when he would be about
+thirty-two, "by Alexander Barclay Preste; and at that tyme chaplen in the
+sayde College," whence it may be inferred that he left Devon, either in
+that year or the year following, when the "Ship" was published, probably
+proceeding to London for the purpose of seeing it through the press.
+Whether he returned to Devonshire we do not know; probably not, for his
+patron and friend Cornish resigned the wardenship of St Mary Otery in 1511,
+and in two years after died, so that Barclay's ties and hopes in the West
+were at an end. At any rate we next hear of him in monastic orders, a monk
+of the order of S. Benedict, in the famous monastery of Ely, where, as is
+evident from internal proof, the Eclogues were written and where likewise,
+as appears from the title, was translated "The mirrour of good maners," at
+the desire of Syr Giles Alington, Knight.
+
+It is about this period of his life, probably the period of the full bloom
+of his popularity, that the quiet life of the poet and priest was
+interrupted by the recognition of his eminence in the highest quarters, and
+by a request for his aid in maintaining the honour of the country on an
+occasion to which the eyes of all Europe were then directed. In a letter of
+Sir Nicholas Vaux, busied with the preparations for the meeting of Henry
+VIII., and Francis I., called the Field of the Cloth of Gold, to Wolsey, of
+date 10th April 1520, he begs the cardinal to "send to them ... Maistre
+Barkleye, the Black Monke and Poete, to devise histoires and convenient
+raisons to florisshe the buildings and banquet house withal" (Rolls
+Calendars of Letters and Papers, Henry VIII., III. pt. 1.). No doubt it was
+also thought that this would be an excellent opportunity for the eulogist
+of the Defender of the Faith to again take up the lyre to sing the glories
+of his royal master, but no effort of his muse on the subject of this great
+chivalric pageant has descended to us if any were ever penned.
+
+Probably after this employment he did not return to Ely; with his position
+or surroundings there he does not seem to have been altogether satisfied
+("there many a thing is wrong," see p. lxix.); and afterwards, though in
+the matter of date we are somewhat puzzled by the allusion of Bulleyn, an
+Ely man, to his Franciscan habit, he assumed the habit of the Franciscans
+at Canterbury, ('Bale MS. Sloan, f. 68,') to which change we may owe, if it
+be really Barclay's, "The life of St Thomas of Canterbury."
+
+Autumn had now come to the poet, but fruit had failed him. The advance of
+age and his failure to obtain a suitable position in the Church began
+gradually to weigh upon his spirits. The bright hopes with which he had
+started in the flush of youth, the position he was to obtain, the influence
+he was to wield, and the work he was to do personally, and by his writings,
+in the field of moral and social reformation were all in sad contrast with
+the actualities around. He had never risen from the ranks, the army was in
+a state of disorganisation, almost of mutiny, and the enemy was more bold,
+unscrupulous, and numerous than ever. It is scarcely to be wondered at
+that, though not past fifty, he felt prematurely aged, that his youthful
+enthusiasm which had carried him on bravely in many an attempt to instruct
+and benefit his fellows at length forsook him and left him a prey to that
+weakness of body, and that hopelessness of spirit to which he so
+pathetically alludes in the Prologue to the Mirror of good Manners. All his
+best work, all the work which has survived to our day, was executed before
+this date. But the pen was too familiar to his hand to be allowed to drop.
+His biographers tell us "that when years came on he spent his time mostly
+in pious matters, and in reading and writing histories of the Saints." A
+goodly picture of a well-spent old age. The harness of youth he had no
+longer the spirit and strength to don, the garments of age he gathered
+resignedly and gracefully about him.
+
+On the violent dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, when their inmates,
+the good and bad, the men of wisdom and the "fools," were alike cast adrift
+upon a rock-bound and stormy coast, the value of the patronage which his
+literary and personal popularity had brought him, was put to the test, and
+in the end successfully, though after considerable, but perhaps not to be
+wondered at, delay. His great patrons, the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of
+Kent, Bishop Cornish, and probably also Sir Giles Alington, were all dead,
+and he had to rely on newer and necessarily weaker ties. But after waiting,
+till probably somewhat dispirited, fortune smiled at last. Two handsome
+livings were presented to him in the same year, both of which he apparently
+held at the same time, the vicarage of Much Badew in Essex, by the
+presentation of Mr John Pascal, to which he was instituted on February 7th,
+1546, holding it (according to the Lansdowne MS. (980 f. 101), in the
+British Museum) till his death; and the vicarage of S. Mathew at Wokey, in
+Somerset, on March 30th of the same year. Wood dignifies him with the
+degree of doctor of divinity at the time of his presentation to these
+preferments.
+
+That he seems to have accepted quietly the gradual progress of the reformed
+religion during the reign of Edward VI., has been a cause of wonder to
+some. It would certainly have been astonishing had one who was so unsparing
+in his exposure of the flagrant abuses of the Romish Church done otherwise.
+Though personally disinclined to radical changes his writings amply show
+his deep dissatisfaction with things as they were. This renders the more
+improbable the honours assigned him by Wadding (Scriptores Ordinis Minorum,
+1806, p. 5), who promotes him to be Suffragan Bishop of Bath and Wells, and
+Bale, who, in a slanderous anecdote, the locale of which is also Wells,
+speaks of him as a chaplain of Queen Mary's, though Mary did not ascend the
+throne till the year after his death. As these statements are nowhere
+confirmed, it is not improbable that their authors have fallen into error
+by confounding the poet Barclay, with a Gilbert Berkeley, who became Bishop
+of Bath and Wells in 1559. One more undoubted, but tardy, piece of
+preferment was awarded him which may be regarded as an honour of some
+significance. On the 30th April 1552, the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury,
+London, presented him to the Rectory of All Hallows, Lombard Street, but
+the well-deserved promotion came too late to be enjoyed. A few weeks after,
+and before the 10th June, at which date his will was proved, he died, as
+his biographers say, "at a very advanced age;" at the good old age of
+seventy-six, as shall be shown presently, at Croydon where he had passed
+his youth, and there in the Church he was buried. "June 10th 1552,
+Alexander Barkley sepult," (Extract from the Parish Register, in Lyson's
+Environs of London).
+
+A copy of his will, an extremely interesting and instructive document, has
+been obtained from Doctors' Commons, and will be found appended. It bears
+in all its details those traits of character which, from all that we
+otherwise know, we are led to associate with him. In it we see the earnest,
+conscientious minister whose first thought is of the poor, the loyal
+churchman liberal in his support of the house of God, the kind relative in
+his numerous and considerate bequests to his kith and kin, the amiable,
+much loved man in the gifts of remembrance to his many friends, and the
+pious Christian in his wishes for the prayers of his survivors "to
+Almightie God for remission of my synnes, and mercy upon my soule."
+
+Barclay's career and character, both as a churchman and a man of letters,
+deserve attention and respect from every student of our early history and
+literature. In the former capacity he showed himself diligent, honest, and
+anxious, at a time when these qualities seemed to have been so entirely
+lost to the church as to form only a subject for clerical ridicule. In the
+latter, the same qualities are also prominent, diligence, honesty, bold
+outspokenness, an ardent desire for the pure, the true, and the natural,
+and an undisguised enmity to everything false, self-seeking, and vile.
+Everything he did was done in a pure way, and to a worthy end.
+
+Bale stands alone in casting aspersions upon his moral character,
+asserting, as Ritson puts it, "in his bigoted and foul-mouthed way," that
+"he continued a hater of truth, and under the disguise of celibacy a filthy
+adulterer to the last;" and in his Declaration of Bonner's articles (1561,
+fol. 81), he condescends to an instance to the effect that "Doctoure
+Barkleye hadde greate harme ones of suche a visitacion, at Wellys, before
+he was Quene Maryes Chaplayne. For the woman whome he so religiouslye
+visited did light him of all that he had, sauinge his workinge tolas. For
+the whiche acte he had her in prison, and yet coulde nothing recouer
+againe." Whether this story be true of any one is perhaps doubtful, and, if
+true of a Barclay, we are convinced that he is not our author. It may have
+arisen as we have seen from a mistake as to identity. But apart from the
+question of identity, we have nothing in support of the slander but Bale's
+"foul-mouthed" assertion, while against it we have the whole tenor and aim
+of Barclay's published writings. Everywhere he inculcates the highest and
+purest morality, and where even for that purpose he might be led into
+descriptions of vice, his disgust carries him past what most others would
+have felt themselves justified in dealing with. For example, in the chapter
+of "Disgysyd folys" he expressly passes over as lightly as possible what
+might to others have proved a tempting subject:
+
+ "They disceyue myndes chaste and innocent
+ With dyuers wayes whiche I wyll nat expres
+ Lyst that whyle I labour this cursyd gyse to stynt
+ I myght to them mynyster example of lewdnes
+ And therfore in this part I shall say les
+ Than doth my actour."
+
+Elsewhere he declares:
+
+ "for my boke certaynly
+ I haue compyled: for vertue and goodnes
+ And to reuyle foule synne and vyciousnes"
+
+But citation is needless; there is not a page of his writings which will
+not supply similar evidence, and our great early moralist may, we think, be
+dismissed from Court without a stain on his character.
+
+Indeed to his high pitched morality, he doubtless owed in some degree the
+great and extended popularity of his poetical writings in former times and
+their neglect in later. Sermons and "good" books were not yet in the
+sixteenth century an extensive branch of literature, and "good" people
+could without remorse of conscience vary their limited theological reading
+by frowning over the improprieties and sins of their neighbours as depicted
+in the "Ship," and joining, with a serious headshaking heartiness, in the
+admonitions of the translator to amendment, or they might feel
+"strengthened" by a glance into the "Mirrour of good Maners," or edified by
+hearing of the "Miseryes of Courtiers and Courtes of all princes in
+generall," as told in the "Eclogues."
+
+Certain it is that these writings owed little of their acceptance to
+touches of humour or satire, to the gifts of a poetical imagination, or the
+grace of a polished diction. The indignation of the honest man and the
+earnestness of the moralist waited not for gifts and graces. Everything
+went down, hard, rough, even uncouth as it stood, of course gaining in
+truth and in graphic power what it wants in elegance. Still, with no
+refinement, polish or elaboration, there are many picturesque passages
+scattered throughout these works which no amount of polishing could have
+improved. How could a man in a rage be better touched off than thus ("Ship"
+I. 182, 15).
+
+ "This man malycious whiche troubled is with wrath
+ Nought els soundeth but the hoorse letter R."
+
+The passion of love is so graphically described that it is difficult to
+imagine our priestly moralist a total stranger to its power, (I. 81).
+
+ "For he that loueth is voyde of all reason
+ Wandrynge in the worlde without lawe or mesure
+ In thought and fere sore vexed eche season
+ And greuous dolours in loue he must endure
+ No creature hym selfe, may well assure
+ From loues soft dartis: I say none on the grounde
+ But mad and folysshe bydes he whiche hath the wounde
+
+ Aye rennynge as franatyke no reason in his mynde
+ He hath no constaunce nor ease within his herte
+ His iyen ar blynde, his wyll alwaye inclyned
+ To louys preceptes yet can nat he departe
+ The Net is stronge, the sole caught can nat starte
+ The darte is sharpe, who euer is in the chayne
+ Can nat his sorowe in vysage hyde nor fayne"
+
+For expressive, happy simile, the two following examples are capital:--
+
+ "Yet sometimes riches is geuen by some chance
+ To such as of good haue greatest aboundaunce.
+ Likewise as streames unto the sea do glide.
+ But on bare hills no water will abide.
+ . . . . . .
+ So smallest persons haue small rewarde alway
+ But men of worship set in authoritie
+ Must haue rewardes great after their degree."--ECLOGUE I.
+
+ "And so such thinges which princes to thee geue
+ To thee be as sure as water in a siue
+ . . . . . . .
+ So princes are wont with riches some to fede
+ As we do our swine when we of larde haue nede
+ We fede our hogges them after to deuour
+ When they be fatted by costes and labour."--ECLOGUE I.
+
+The everlasting conceit of musical humanity is very truthfully hit off.
+
+ "This is of singers the very propertie
+ Alway they coueyt desired for to be
+ And when their frendes would heare of their cunning
+ Then are they neuer disposed for to sing,
+ But if they begin desired of no man
+ Then shewe they all and more then they can
+ And neuer leaue they till men of them be wery,
+ So in their conceyt their cunning they set by."--ECLOGUE II.
+
+Pithy sayings are numerous. Comparing citizens with countrymen, the
+countryman says:--
+
+ "Fortune to them is like a mother dere
+ As a stepmother she doth to us appeare."
+
+Of money:
+
+ "Coyne more than cunning exalteth every man."
+
+Of clothing:
+
+ "It is not clothing can make a man be good
+ Better is in ragges pure liuing innocent
+ Than a soule defiled in sumptuous garment."
+
+It is as the graphic delineator of the life and condition of the country in
+his period that the chief interest of Barclay's writings, and especially of
+the "Ship of Fools," now lies. Nowhere so accessibly, so fully, and so
+truthfully will be found the state of Henry the Eighth's England set forth.
+Every line bears the character of truthfulness, written as it evidently is,
+in all the soberness of sadness, by one who had no occasion to exaggerate,
+whose only object and desire was, by massing together and describing
+faithfully the follies and abuses which were evident to all, to shame every
+class into some degree of moral reformation, and, in particular, to effect
+some amelioration of circumstances to the suffering poor.
+
+And a sad picture it is which we thus obtain of merrie England in the good
+old times of bluff King Hal, wanting altogether in the _couleur de rose_
+with which it is tinted by its latest historian Mr Froude, who is ably
+taken to task on this subject by a recent writer in the Westminster Review,
+whose conclusions, formed upon other evidence than Barclay's, express so
+fairly the impression left by a perusal of the "Ship of Fools," and the
+Eclogues, that we quote them here. "Mr Froude remarks: 'Looking therefore,
+at the state of England as a whole, I cannot doubt that under Henry the
+body of the people were prosperous, well-fed, loyal, and contented. In all
+points of material comfort, they were as well off as ever they had been
+before; better off than they have ever been in later times.' In this
+estimate we cannot agree. Rather we should say that during, and for long
+after, this reign, the people were in the most deplorable condition of
+poverty and misery of every kind. That they were ill-fed, that loyalty was
+at its lowest ebb, that discontent was rife throughout the land. 'In all
+points of material comfort,' we think they were worse off than they had
+ever been before, and infinitely worse off than they have ever been since
+the close of the sixteenth century,--a century in which the cup of
+England's woes was surely fuller than it has ever been since, or will, we
+trust, ever be again. It was the century in which this country and its
+people passed through a baptism of blood as well as 'a baptism of fire,'
+and out of which they came holier and better. The epitaph which should be
+inscribed over the century is contained in a sentence written by the famous
+Acham in 1547:--'Nam vita, quæ nunc vivitur a plurimis, non vita sed
+miseria est.'" So, Bradford (Sermon on Repentance, 1533) sums up
+contemporary opinion in a single weighty sentence: "All men may see if they
+will that the whoredom pride, unmercifulness, and tyranny of England far
+surpasses any age that ever was before." Every page of Barclay corroborates
+these accounts of tyranny, injustice, immorality, wretchedness, poverty,
+and general discontent.
+
+Not only in fact and feeling are Barclay's Ship of Fools and Eclogues
+thoroughly expressive of the unhappy, discontented, poverty-stricken,
+priest-ridden, and court-ridden condition and life, the bitter sorrows and
+the humble wishes of the people, their very texture, as Barclay himself
+tells us, consists of the commonest language of the day, and in it are
+interwoven many of the current popular proverbs and expressions. Almost all
+of these are still "household words" though few ever imagine the garb of
+their "daily wisdom" to be of such venerable antiquity. Every page of the
+"Eclogues" abounds with them; in the "Ship" they are less common, but still
+by no means infrequent. We have for instance:--
+
+ "Better is a frende in courte than a peny in purse"--(I. 70.)
+ "Whan the stede is stolyn to shyt the stable dore"--(I. 76.)
+ "It goeth through as water through a syue."--(I. 245.)
+ "And he that alway thretenyth for to fyght
+ Oft at the prose is skantly worth a hen
+ For greattest crakers ar nat ay boldest men."--(I. 198.)
+ "I fynde foure thynges whiche by no meanes can
+ Be kept close, in secrete, or longe in preuetee
+ The firste is the counsell of a wytles man
+ The seconde is a cyte whiche byldyd is a hye
+ Upon a montayne the thyrde we often se
+ That to hyde his dedes a louer hath no skyll
+ The fourth is strawe or fethers on a wyndy hyll."--(I. 199.)
+ "A crowe to pull."--(II. 8.)
+ "For it is a prouerbe, and an olde sayd sawe
+ That in euery place lyke to lyke wyll drawe."--(II. 35.)
+ "Better haue one birde sure within thy wall
+ Or fast in a cage than twenty score without"--(II. 74)
+ "Gapynge as it were dogges for a bone."--(II. 93.)
+ "Pryde sholde haue a fall."--(II. 161).
+ "For wyse men sayth ...
+ One myshap fortuneth neuer alone."
+ "Clawe where it itchyth."--(II. 256.) [The use of this, it occurs again in
+ the Eclogues, might be regarded by some of our Southern friends, as
+ itself a sufficient proof of the author's Northern origin.]
+
+The following are selected from the Eclogues as the most remarkable:
+
+ "Each man for himself, and the fende for us all."
+ "They robbe Saint Peter therwith to clothe Saint Powle."
+ "For might of water will not our leasure bide."
+ "Once out of sight and shortly out of minde."
+ "For children brent still after drede the fire."
+ "Together they cleave more fast than do burres."
+ "Tho' thy teeth water."
+ "I aske of the foxe no farther than the skin."
+ "To touche soft pitche and not his fingers file."
+ "From post unto piller tost shall thou be."
+ "Over head and eares."
+ "Go to the ant."
+ "A man may contende, God geueth victory."
+ "Of two evils chose the least."
+
+These are but the more striking specimens. An examination of the "Ship,"
+and especially of the "Eclogues," for the purpose of extracting their whole
+proverbial lore, would be well worth the while, if it be not the duty, of
+the next collector in this branch of popular literature. These writings
+introduce many of our common sayings for the first time to English
+literature, no writer prior to Barclay having thought it dignified or worth
+while to profit by the popular wisdom to any perceptible extent. The first
+collection of proverbs, Heywood's, did not appear until 1546, so that in
+Barclay we possess the earliest known English form of such proverbs as he
+introduces. It need scarcely be said that that form is, in the majority of
+instances, more full of meaning and point than its modern representatives.
+
+Barclay's adoption of the language of the people naturally elevated him in
+popular estimation to a position far above that of his contemporaries in
+the matter of style, so much so that he has been traditionally recorded as
+one of the greatest improvers of the language, that is, one of those who
+helped greatly to bring the written language to be more nearly in
+accordance with the spoken. Both a scholar and a man of the world, his
+phraseology bears token of the greater cultivation and wider knowledge he
+possessed over his contemporaries. He certainly aimed at clearness of
+expression, and simplicity of vocabulary, and in these respects was so far
+in advance of his time that his works can even now be read with ease,
+without the help of dictionary or glossary. In spite of his church training
+and his residence abroad, his works are surprisingly free from Latin or
+French forms of speech; on the contrary, they are, in the main,
+characterised by a strong Saxon directness of expression which must have
+tended greatly to the continuance of their popularity, and have exercised a
+strong and advantageous influence both in regulating the use of the common
+spoken language, and in leading the way which it was necessary for the
+literary language to follow. Philologists and dictionary makers appear,
+however, to have hitherto overlooked Barclay's works, doubtless owing to
+their rarity, but their intrinsic value as well as their position in
+relation to the history of the language demand specific recognition at
+their hands.
+
+Barclay evidently delighted in his pen. From the time of his return from
+the Continent, it was seldom out of his hand. Idleness was distasteful to
+him. He petitions his critics if they be "wyse men and cunnynge," that:--
+
+ "They shall my youth pardone, and vnchraftynes
+ Whiche onely translate, to eschewe ydelnes."
+
+Assuredly a much more laudable way of employing leisure then than now,
+unless the translator prudently stop short of print. The modesty and
+singleness of aim of the man are strikingly illustrated by his thus
+devoting his time and talents, not to original work as he was well able to
+have done had he been desirous only of glorifying his own name, but to the
+translation and adaptation or, better, "Englishing" of such foreign authors
+as he deemed would exercise a wholesome and profitable influence upon his
+countrymen. Such work, however, moulded in his skilful hands, became all
+but original, little being left of his author but the idea. Neither the
+Ship of Fools, nor the Eclogues retain perceptible traces of a foreign
+source, and were it not that they honestly bear their authorship on their
+fore-front, they might be regarded as thoroughly, even characteristically,
+English productions.
+
+The first known work from Barclay's pen[3] appeared from the press of De
+Worde, so early as 1506, probably immediately on his return from abroad,
+and was no doubt the fruit of continental leisure. It is a translation, in
+seven line stanzas, of the popular French poet Pierre Gringore's Le Chateau
+de labour (1499)--the most ancient work of Gringore with date, and perhaps
+his best--under the title of "The Castell of laboure wherein is richesse,
+vertu, and honour;" in which in a fanciful allegory of some length, a
+somewhat wearisome Lady Reason overcomes despair, poverty and other such
+evils attendant upon the fortunes of a poor man lately married, the moral
+being to show:--
+
+ "That idleness, mother of all adversity,
+ Her subjects bringeth to extreme poverty."
+
+The general appreciation of this first essay is evidenced by the issue of a
+second edition from the press of Pynson a few years after the appearance of
+the first.
+
+Encouraged by the favourable reception accorded to the first effort of his
+muse, Barclay, on his retirement to the ease and leisure of the College of
+St Mary Otery, set to work on the "Ship of Fools," acquaintance with which
+Europe-famous satire he must have made when abroad. This, his _magnum
+opus_, has been described at some length in the Introduction, but two
+interesting personal notices relative to the composition of the work may
+here be added. In the execution of the great task, he expresses himself,
+(II. 278), as under the greatest obligations to his colleague, friend, and
+literary adviser, Bishop:--
+
+ "Whiche was the first ouersear of this warke
+ And vnto his frende gaue his aduysement
+ It nat to suffer to slepe styll in the darke
+ But to be publysshyd abrode: and put to prent
+ To thy monycion my bysshop I assent
+ Besechynge god that I that day may se
+ That thy honour may prospere and augment
+ So that thy name and offyce may agre
+ . . . . . .
+ In this short balade I can nat comprehende
+ All my full purpose that I wolde to the wryte
+ But fayne I wolde that thou sholde sone assende
+ To heuenly worshyp and celestyall delyte
+ Than shoulde I after my pore wyt and respyt,
+ Display thy name, and great kyndnes to me
+ But at this tyme no farther I indyte
+ But pray that thy name and worshyp may agre."
+
+Pynson, in his capacity of judicious publisher, fearing lest the book
+should exceed suitable dimensions, also receives due notice at p. 108 of
+Vol. I., where he speaks of
+
+ "the charge Pynson hathe on me layde
+ With many folys our Nauy not to charge."
+
+The concluding stanza, or colophon, is also devoted to immortalising the
+great bibliopole in terms, it must be admitted, not dissimilar to those of
+a modern draper's poet laureate:--
+
+ Our Shyp here leuyth the sees brode
+ By helpe of God almyght and quyetly
+ At Anker we lye within the rode
+ But who that lysteth of them to bye
+ In Flete strete shall them fynde truly
+ At the George: in Richarde Pynsonnes place
+ Prynter vnto the Kynges noble grace.
+ Deo gratias.
+
+Contemporary allusions to the Ship of Fools there could not fail to be, but
+the only one we have met with occurs in Bulleyn's Dialogue quoted above, p.
+xxvii. It runs as follows:--_Uxor_.--What ship is that with so many owers,
+and straunge tacle; it is a greate vessell. _Ciuis_.--This is the ship of
+fooles, wherin saileth bothe spirituall and temporall, of euery callyng
+some: there are kynges, queenes, popes, archbishoppes, prelates, lordes,
+ladies, knightes, gentlemen, phisicions, lawiers, marchauntes,
+housbandemen, beggers, theeues, hores, knaues, &c. This ship wanteth a good
+pilot: the storme, the rocke, and the wrecke at hande, all will come to
+naught in this hulke for want of good gouernement.
+
+The Eclogues, as appears from their Prologue, had originally been the work
+of our author's youth, "the essays of a prentice in the art of poesie," but
+they were wisely laid past to be adorned by the wisdom of a wider
+experience, and were, strangely enough, lost for years until, at the age of
+thirty-eight, the author again lighted, unexpectedly, upon his lost
+treasures, and straightway finished them off for the public eye.
+
+The following autobiographical passage reminds one forcibly of Scott's
+throwing aside Waverley, stumbling across it after the lapse of years, and
+thereupon deciding at once to finish and publish it. After enumerating the
+most famous eclogue writers, he proceeds:--
+
+ "Nowe to my purpose, their workes worthy fame,
+ Did in my yonge age my heart greatly inflame,
+ Dull slouth eschewing my selfe to exercise,
+ In such small matters, or I durst enterprise,
+ To hyer matter, like as these children do,
+ Which first vse to creepe, and afterwarde to go.
+ . . . . . . . .
+ So where I in youth a certayne worke began,
+ And not concluded, as oft doth many a man:
+ Yet thought I after to make the same perfite,
+ But long I missed that which I first did write.
+ But here a wonder, I fortie yere saue twayne,
+ Proceeded in age, founde my first youth agayne.
+ To finde youth in age is a probleme diffuse,
+ But nowe heare the truth, and then no longer muse.
+ As I late turned olde bookes to and fro,
+ One litle treatise I founde among the mo
+ Because that in youth I did compile the same,
+ Egloges of youth I did call it by name.
+ And seing some men haue in the same delite,
+ At their great instance I made the same perfite,
+ Adding and bating where I perceyued neede,
+ All them desiring which shall this treatise rede,
+ Not to be grieued with any playne sentence,
+ Rudely conuayed for lacke of eloquence."
+
+The most important revelation in the whole of this interesting passage,
+that relating to the author's age, seems to have been studiously overlooked
+by all his biographers. If we can fix with probability the date at which
+these Eclogues were published, then this, one of the most regretted of the
+lacunæ in his biography, will be supplied. We shall feel henceforth
+treading on firmer ground in dealing with the scanty materials of his life.
+
+From the length and favour with which the praises of the Ely Cathedral and
+of Alcock its pious and munificent bishop, then but recently dead, are sung
+in these poems (see p. lxviii.), it is evident that the poet must have
+donned the black hood in the monastery of Ely for at least a few years.
+
+Warton fixes the date at 1514, because of the praises of the "noble Henry
+which now departed late," and the after panegyric of his successor Henry
+VIII. (Eclogue I.), whose virtues are also duly recorded in the Ship of
+Fools (I. 39 and II. 205-8), but not otherwise of course than in a
+complimentary manner. Our later lights make this picture of the noble pair
+appear both out of drawing and over-coloured:--
+
+ "Beside noble Henry which nowe departed late,
+ Spectacle of vertue to euery hye estate,
+ The patrone of peace and primate of prudence,
+ Which on Gods Church hath done so great expence.
+ Of all these princes the mercy and pitie,
+ The loue of concorde, iustice and equitie,
+ The purenes of life and giftes liberall,
+ Not lesse vertuous then the said princes all.
+ And Henry the eyght moste hye and triumphant,
+ No gifte of vertue nor manlines doth want,
+ Mine humble spech and language pastorall
+ If it were able should write his actes all:
+ But while I ought speake of courtly misery,
+ Him with all suche I except vtterly.
+ But what other princes commonly frequent,
+ As true as I can to shewe is mine intent,
+ But if I should say that all the misery,
+ Which I shall after rehearse and specify
+ Were in the court of our moste noble kinge,
+ I should fayle truth, and playnly make leasing."--ECLOGUE I.
+
+This eulogy of Henry plainly implies some short experience of his reign.
+But other allusions contribute more definitely to fix the precise date,
+such as the following historical passage, which evidently refers to the
+career of the notorious extortioners, Empson and Dudley, who were executed
+for conspiracy and treason in the first year of the new king's reign.
+
+ "Such as for honour unto the court resort,
+ Looke seldome times upon the lower sort;
+ To the hyer sort for moste part they intende,
+ For still their desire is hyer to ascende
+ And when none can make with them comparison,
+ Against their princes conspire they by treason,
+ Then when their purpose can nat come well to frame,
+ Agayne they descende and that with utter shame,
+ Coridon thou knowest right well what I meane,
+ We lately of this experience haue seene
+ When men would ascende to rowmes honorable
+ Euer is their minde and lust insaciable."
+
+The most definite proof of the date of publication, however, is found in
+the fourth Eclogue. It contains a long poem called The towre of vertue and
+honour, which is really a highly-wrought elegy on the premature and
+glorious death, not of "the Duke of Norfolk, Lord High admiral, and one of
+Barclay's patrons," as has been repeated parrot-like, from Warton
+downwards, but of his chivalrous son, Sir Edward Howard, Lord High Admiral
+for the short space of a few months, who perished in his gallant, if
+reckless, attack upon the French fleet in the harbour of Brest in the year
+1513. It is incomprehensible that the date of the publication of the
+Eclogues should be fixed at 1514, and this blunder still perpetuated. No
+Duke of Norfolk died between Barclay's boyhood and 1524, ten years after
+the agreed upon date of the Elegy; and the Duke (Thomas), who was Barclay's
+patron, never held the position of Lord High Admiral (though his son Lord
+Thomas, created Earl of Surrey in 1514, and who afterwards succeeded him,
+also succeeded his brother Sir Edward in the Admiralship), but worthily
+enjoyed the dignified offices of Lord High Steward, Lord Treasurer, and
+Earl Marshal, and died one of Henry's most respected and most popular
+Ministers, at his country seat, at a good old age, in the year above
+mentioned, 1524. The other allusions to contemporary events, and especially
+to the poet's age, preclude the idea of carrying forward the publication to
+the latter date, did the clearly defined points of the Elegy allow of it,
+as they do not.
+
+Minalcas, one of the interlocutors, thus introduces the subject:--
+
+ "But it is lamentable
+ To heare a Captayne so good and honorable,
+ _So soone_ withdrawen by deathes crueltie,
+ Before his vertue was at moste hye degree.
+ If death for a season had shewed him fauour,
+ To all his nation he should haue bene honour."
+
+"'The Towre of Vertue and Honor,' introduced as a song of one of the
+shepherds into these pastorals, exhibits no very masterly strokes of a
+sublime and inventive fancy. It has much of the trite imagery usually
+applied in the fabrication of these ideal edifices. It, however, shows our
+author in a new walk of poetry. This magnificent tower, or castle is built
+on inaccessible cliffs of flint: the walls are of gold, bright as the sun,
+and decorated with 'olde historyes and pictures manyfolde:' the turrets are
+beautifully shaped. Among its heroic inhabitants are Henry VIII., ['in his
+maiestie moste hye enhaunsed as ought a conquerour,' no doubt an allusion
+to the battle of the Spurs and his other exploits in France in 1513],
+Howard Duke of Norfolk, ['the floure of chiualry'], and the Earl of
+Shrewsbury, ['manfull and hardy, with other princes and men of dignitie'].
+Labour is the porter at the gate, and Virtue governs the house. Labour is
+thus pictured, with some degree of spirit:--
+
+ 'Fearefull is labour without fauour at all,
+ Dreadfull of visage, a monster intreatable,
+ Like Cerberus lying at gates infernall;
+ To some men his looke is halfe intollerable,
+ His shoulders large, for burthen strong and able,
+ His body bristled, his necke mightie and stiffe;
+ By sturdy senewes, his ioyntes stronge and stable,
+ Like marble stones his handes be as stiffe.
+
+ Here must man vanquishe the dragon of Cadmus,
+ Against the Chimer here stoutly must he fight,
+ Here must he vanquish the fearefull Pegasus,
+ For the golden flece here must he shewe his might:
+ If labour gaynsay, he can nothing be right,
+ This monster labour oft chaungeth his figure,
+ Sometime an oxe, a bore, or lion wight,
+ Playnely he seemeth, thus chaungeth his nature,
+
+ Like as Protheus ofte chaunged his stature.
+ . . . . . . .
+ Under his browes he dreadfully doth loure,
+ With glistering eyen, and side dependaunt beard,
+ For thirst and hunger alway his chere is soure.
+ His horned forehead doth make faynt heartes feard.
+
+ Alway he drinketh, and yet alway is drye,
+ The sweat distilling with droppes aboundaunt,'
+ . . . . . . .
+
+"The poet adds, 'that when the noble Howard had long boldly contended with
+this hideous monster, had broken the bars and doors of the castle, had
+bound the porter, and was now preparing to ascend the tower of Virtue and
+Honour, Fortune and Death appeared, and interrupted his progress.'"
+(Warton, Eng. Poetry, III.)
+
+The hero's descent and knightly qualities are duly set forth:--
+
+ "Though he were borne to glory and honour,
+ Of auncient stocke and noble progenie,
+ Yet thought his courage to be of more valour,
+ By his owne actes and noble chiualry.
+ Like as becommeth a knight to fortifye
+ His princes quarell with right and equitie,
+ So did this Hawarde with courage valiauntly,
+ Till death abated his bolde audacitie."
+
+The poet, gives "cursed fortune" a severe rating, and at such length that
+the old lady no doubt repented herself, for cutting off so promising a hero
+_at so early an age_:--
+
+ "Tell me, frayle fortune, why did thou breuiate
+ The liuing season of suche a captayne,
+ That when his actes ought to be laureate
+ Thy fauour turned him suffring to be slayne?"
+
+And then he addresses the Duke himself in a consolatory strain,
+endeavouring to reconcile him to the loss of so promising a son, by
+recalling to his memory those heroes of antiquity whose careers of glory
+were cut short by sudden and violent deaths:--
+
+ "But moste worthy duke hye and victorious,
+ Respire to comfort, see the vncertentie
+ Of other princes, whose fortune prosperous
+ Oftetime haue ended in hard aduersitie:
+ Read of Pompeius," [&c.]
+ . . . . . .
+ "This shall be, this is, and this hath euer bene,
+ That boldest heartes be nearest ieopardie,
+ To dye in battayle is honour as men wene
+ To suche as haue ioy in haunting chiualry.
+
+ "Suche famous ending the name doth magnifie,
+ Note worthy duke, no cause is to complayne,
+ His life not ended foule nor dishonestly,
+ In bed nor tauerne his lustes to maynteyne,
+ But like as besemed a noble captayne,
+ In sturdie harnes he died for the right,
+ From deathes daunger no man may flee certayne,
+ But suche death is metest vnto so noble a knight.
+
+ "But death it to call me thinke it vnright,
+ Sith his worthy name shall laste perpetuall," [&c.]
+
+This detail and these long quotations have been rendered necessary by the
+strange blunder which has been made and perpetuated as to the identity of
+the young hero whose death is so feelingly lamented in this elegy. With
+that now clearly ascertained, we can not only fix with confidence the date
+of the publication of the Eclogues, but by aid of the hint conveyed in the
+Prologue, quoted above (p. lv.), as to the author's age, "fortie saue
+twayne," decide, for the first time, the duration of his life, and the
+dates, approximately at least, of its incidents, and of the appearance of
+his undated works. Lord Edward Howard, perhaps the bravest and rashest of
+England's admirals, perished in a madly daring attack upon the harbour of
+Brest, on the 25th of April, 1514. As the eclogues could not therefore have
+been published prior to that date, so, bearing in mind the other allusions
+referred to above, they could scarcely have appeared later. Indeed, the
+loss which the elegy commemorates is spoken of as quite recent, while the
+elegy itself bears every appearance of having been introduced into the
+eclogue at the last moment. We feel quite satisfied therefore that Warton
+hit quite correctly upon the year 1514 as that in which these poems first
+saw the light, though the ground (the allusion to the Henries) upon which
+he went was insufficient, and his identification of the hero of the elegy
+contradicted his supposition. Had he been aware of the importance of fixing
+the date correctly, he would probably have taken more care than to fall
+into the blunder of confounding the father with the son, and adorning the
+former with the dearly earned laurels of the latter.
+
+It may be added that, fixing 1514 as the date at which Barclay had arrived
+at the age of 38, agrees perfectly with all else we know of his years, with
+the assumed date of his academical education, and of his travels abroad,
+with the suppositions formed as to his age from his various published works
+having dates attached to them, and finally, with the traditional "great
+age" at which he died, which would thus be six years beyond the allotted
+span.
+
+After the Ship of Fools the Eclogues rank second in importance in a
+consideration of Barclay's writings. Not only as the first of their kind in
+English, do they crown their author with the honour of introducing this
+kind of poetry to English literature, but they are in themselves most
+interesting and valuable as faithful and graphic pictures of the court,
+citizen, and country life of the period. Nowhere else in so accessible a
+form do there exist descriptions at once so full and so accurate of the
+whole condition of the people. Their daily life and habits, customs,
+manners, sports, and pastimes, are all placed on the canvas before us with
+a ready, vigorous, unflinching hand. Witness for instance the following
+sketch, which might be entitled, "Life, temp. 1514":--
+
+ "Some men deliteth beholding men to fight,
+ Or goodly knightes in pleasaunt apparayle,
+ Or sturdie souldiers in bright harnes and male.
+ . . . . . . . .
+ Some glad is to see these Ladies beauteous,
+ Goodly appoynted in clothing sumpteous:
+ A number of people appoynted in like wise:
+ In costly clothing after the newest gise,
+ Sportes, disgising, fayre coursers mount and praunce,
+ Or goodly ladies and knightes sing and daunce:
+ To see fayre houses and curious picture(s),
+ Or pleasaunt hanging, or sumpteous vesture
+ Of silke, of purpure, or golde moste orient,
+ And other clothing diuers and excellent:
+ Hye curious buildinges or palaces royall,
+ Or chapels, temples fayre and substanciall,
+ Images grauen or vaultes curious;
+ Gardeyns and medowes, or place delicious,
+ Forestes and parkes well furnished with dere,
+ Colde pleasaunt streames or welles fayre and clere,
+ Curious cundites or shadowie mountaynes,
+ Swete pleasaunt valleys, laundes or playnes
+ Houndes, and suche other thinges manyfolde
+ Some men take pleasour and solace to beholde."
+
+The following selections illustrative of the customs and manners of the
+times will serve as a sample of the overflowing cask from which they are
+taken. The condition of the country people is clearly enough indicated in a
+description of the village Sunday, the manner of its celebration being
+depicted in language calculated to make a modern sabbatarian's hair stand
+on end:--
+
+ "What man is faultlesse, remember the village,
+ Howe men vplondish on holy dayes rage.
+ Nought can them tame, they be a beastly sort,
+ In sweate and labour hauing most chiefe comfort,
+ On the holy day assoone as morne is past,
+ When all men resteth while all the day doth last,
+ They drinke, they banket, they reuell and they iest
+ They leape, they daunce, despising ease and rest.
+ If they once heare a bagpipe or a drone,
+ Anone to the elme or oke they be gone.
+ There vse they to daunce, to gambolde and to rage
+ Such is the custome and vse of the village.
+ When the ground resteth from rake, plough and wheles,
+ Then moste they it trouble with burthen of their heles:
+
+ FAUSTUS.
+
+ To Bacchus they banket, no feast is festiuall,
+ They chide and they chat, they vary and they brall,
+ They rayle and they route, they reuell and they crye,
+ Laughing and leaping, and making cuppes drye.
+ What, stint thou thy chat, these wordes I defye,
+ It is to a vilayne rebuke and vilany.
+ Such rurall solace so plainly for to blame,
+ Thy wordes sound to thy rebuke and shame."
+
+Football is described in a lively picture:--
+
+ "They get the bladder and blowe it great and thin,
+ With many beanes or peason put within,
+ It ratleth, soundeth, and shineth clere and fayre,
+ While it is throwen and caste vp in the ayre,
+ Eche one contendeth and hath a great delite,
+ With foote and with hande the bladder for to smite,
+ If it fall to grounde they lifte it vp agayne,
+ This wise to labour they count it for no payne,
+ Renning and leaping they driue away the colde,
+ The sturdie plowmen lustie, stronge and bolde,
+ Ouercommeth the winter with driuing the foote ball,
+ Forgetting labour and many a greuous fall."
+
+A shepherd, after mentioning his skill in shooting birds with a bow,
+says:--
+
+ "No shepheard throweth the axeltrie so farre."
+
+A gallant is thus described:--
+
+ "For women vse to loue them moste of all,
+ Which boldly bosteth, or that can sing and iet,
+ Which are well decked with large bushes set,
+ Which hath the mastery ofte time in tournament,
+ Or that can gambauld, or daunce feat and gent."
+
+The following sorts of wine are mentioned:--
+
+ "As Muscadell, Caprike, Romney, and Maluesy,
+ From Gene brought, from Grece or Hungary."
+
+As are the dainties of the table. A shepherd at court must not think to
+eat,
+
+ "Swanne, nor heron,
+ Curlewe, nor crane, but course beefe and mutton."
+
+Again:
+
+ "What fishe is of sauor swete and delicious,--
+ Rosted or sodden in swete hearbes or wine;
+ Or fried in oyle, most saporous and fine.--
+ The pasties of a hart.--
+ The crane, the fesant, the pecocke and curlewe,
+ The partriche, plouer, bittor, and heronsewe--
+ Seasoned so well in licour redolent,
+ That the hall is full of pleasaunt smell and sent."
+
+At a feast at court:--
+
+ "Slowe be the seruers in seruing in alway,
+ But swift be they after, taking thy meate away;
+ A speciall custome is vsed them among,
+ No good dish to suffer on borde to be longe:
+ If the dishe be pleasaunt, eyther fleshe or fishe,
+ Ten handes at once swarme in the dishe:
+ And if it be flesh ten kniues shalt thou see
+ Mangling the flesh, and in the platter flee:
+ To put there thy handes is perill without fayle,
+ Without a gauntlet or els a gloue of mayle."
+
+"The two last lines remind us of a saying of Quin, who declared it was not
+safe to sit down to a turtle-feast in one of the city-halls, without a
+basket-hilted knife and fork. Not that I suppose Quin borrowed his bon-mots
+from black letter books." (Warton.)
+
+The following lines point out some of the festive tales of our ancestors:--
+
+ "Yet would I gladly heare some mery fit
+ Of mayde Marion, or els of Robin hood;
+ Or Bentleyes ale which chafeth well the bloud,
+ Of perre of Norwich, or sauce of Wilberton,
+ Or buckishe Joly well-stuffed as a ton."
+
+He again mentions "Bentley's Ale" which "maketh me to winke;" and some of
+our ancient domestic pastimes and amusements are recorded:--
+
+ "Then is it pleasure the yonge maydens amonge
+ To watche by the fire the winters nightes long:
+ At their fonde tales to laugh, or when they brall
+ Great fire and candell spending for laboure small,
+ And in the ashes some playes for to marke,
+ To couer wardens [pears] for fault of other warke:
+ To toste white sheuers, and to make prophitroles;
+ And after talking oft time to fill the bowles."
+
+He mentions some musical instruments:
+
+ " . . . . Methinkes no mirth is scant,
+ Where no reioysing of minstrelcie doth want:
+ The bagpipe or fidle to vs is delectable."
+
+And the mercantile commodities of different countries and cities:--
+
+ "Englande hath cloth, Burdeus hath store of wine,
+ Cornewall hath tinne, and Lymster wools fine.
+ London hath scarlet, and Bristowe pleasaunt red,
+ Fen lands hath fishes, in other place is lead."
+
+Of songs at feasts:--
+
+ "When your fat dishes smoke hote vpon your table,
+ Then layde ye songes and balades magnifie,
+ If they be mery, or written craftely,
+ Ye clappe your handes and to the making harke,
+ And one say to other, lo here a proper warke."
+
+He says that minstrels and singers are highly favoured at court, especially
+those of the French gise. Also jugglers and pipers.
+
+The personal references throughout the Eclogues, in addition to those
+already mentioned, though not numerous, are of considerable interest. The
+learned Alcock, Bishop of Ely (1486-1500), and the munificent founder of
+Jesus College, Cambridge, stands deservedly high in the esteem of a poet
+and priest, so zealous of good works as Barclay. The poet's humour thus
+disguises him.--(Eclogue I., A iii., recto.):--
+
+ "Yes since his dayes a cocke was in the fen,
+ I knowe his voyce among a thousande men:
+ He taught, he preached, he mended euery wrong;
+ But, Coridon alas no good thing bideth long.
+ He all was a cocke, he wakened vs from slepe,
+ And while we slumbred, he did our foldes hepe.
+ No cur, no foxes, nor butchers dogges wood,
+ Coulde hurte our fouldes, his watching was so good.
+ The hungry wolues, which that time did abounde,
+ What time he crowed, abashed at the sounde.
+ This cocke was no more abashed of the foxe,
+ Than is a lion abashed of an oxe.
+ When he went, faded the floure of all the fen;
+ I boldly dare sweare this cocke neuer trode hen!
+ This was a father of thinges pastorall,
+ And that well sheweth his Church cathedrall,
+ There was I lately about the middest of May,
+ Coridon his Church is twenty sith more gay
+ Then all the Churches betwene the same and Kent,
+ There sawe I his tome and Chapell excellent.
+ I thought fiue houres but euen a little while,
+ Saint John the virgin me thought did on me smile,
+ Our parishe Church is but a dongeon,
+ To that gay Churche in comparison.
+ If the people were as pleasaunt as the place
+ Then were it paradice of pleasour and solace,
+ Then might I truely right well finde in my heart.
+ There still to abide and neuer to departe,
+ But since that this cocke by death hath left his song,
+ Trust me Coridon there many a thing is wrong,
+ When I sawe his figure lye in the Chapell-side,
+ Like death for weping I might no longer bide.
+ Lo all good thinges so sone away doth glide,
+ That no man liketh to long doth rest and abide.
+ When the good is gone (my mate this is the case)
+ Seldome the better reentreth in the place."
+
+The excellence of his subject carries the poet quite beyond himself in
+describing the general lamentation at the death of this worthy prelate;
+with an unusual power of imagination he thus pictures the sympathy of the
+towers, arches, vaults and images of Ely monastery:
+
+ "My harte sore mourneth when I must specify
+ Of the gentle cocke whiche sange so mirily,
+ He and his flocke wer like an union
+ Conioyned in one without discention,
+ All the fayre cockes which in his dayes crewe
+ When death him touched did his departing rewe.
+ The pretie palace by him made in the fen,
+ The maides, widowes, the wiues, and the men,
+ With deadly dolour were pearsed to the heart,
+ When death constrayned this shepheard to departe.
+ Corne, grasse, and fieldes, mourned for wo and payne,
+ For oft his prayer for them obtayned rayne.
+ The pleasaunt floures for wo faded eche one,
+ When they perceyued this shepheard dead and gone,
+ The okes, elmes, and euery sorte of dere
+ Shronke vnder shadowes, abating all their chere.
+ The mightie walles of Ely Monastery,
+ The stones, rockes, and towres semblably,
+ The marble pillers and images echeone,
+ Swet all for sorowe, when this good cocke was gone,
+ Though he of stature were humble, weake and leane,
+ His minde was hye, his liuing pure and cleane,
+ Where other feedeth by beastly appetite,
+ On heauenly foode was all his whole delite."
+
+Morton, Alcock's predecessor and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury
+(1486-1500), is also singled out for compliment, in which allusion is made
+to his troubles, his servants' faithfulness, and his restoration to favour
+under Richard III. and Henry VII. (Eclogue III.):--
+
+ "And shepheard Morton, when he durst not appeare,
+ Howe his olde seruauntes were carefull of his chere;
+ In payne and pleasour they kept fidelitie
+ Till grace agayne gaue him aucthoritie
+ Then his olde fauour did them agayne restore
+ To greater pleasour then they had payne before.
+ Though for a season this shepheard bode a blast,
+ The greatest winde yet slaketh at the last,
+ And at conclusion he and his flocke certayne
+ Eche true to other did quietly remayne."
+
+And again in Eclogue IV.:--
+
+ "Micene and Morton be dead and gone certayne."
+
+The "Dean of Powles" (Colet), with whom Barclay seems to have been
+personally acquainted, and to whom the reference alludes as to one still
+living (his death occurred in 1519), is celebrated as a preacher in the
+same Eclogue:--
+
+ "For this I learned of the Dean of Powles
+ I tell thee, Codrus this man hath won some soules."
+
+as is "the olde friar that wonned in Greenwich" in Eclogue V.
+
+The first three Eclogues are paraphrases or adaptations from the Miseriæ
+Curialium, the most popular of the works of one of the most successful
+literary adventurers of the middle ages, Æneas Sylvius (Pope Pius II., who
+died in 1464). It appears to have been written with the view of relieving
+his feelings of disappointment and disgust at his reception at the court of
+the Emperor, whither he had repaired, in the hope of political advancement.
+The tone and nature of the work may be gathered from this candid exposure
+of the adventurer's morale: "Many things there are which compel us to
+persevere, but nothing more powerfully than ambition which, rivalling
+charity, truly beareth all things however grievous, that it may attain to
+the honours of this world and the praise of men. If we were humble and
+laboured to gain our own souls rather than hunt after vain glory, few of
+us, indeed, would endure such annoyances." He details, with querulous
+humour, all the grievances of his position, from the ingratitude of the
+prince to the sordour of the table-cloths, and the hardness of the black
+bread. But hardest of all to bear is the contempt shown towards literature.
+"In the courts of princes literary knowledge is held a crime; and great is
+the grief of men of letters when they find themselves universally despised,
+and see the most important matters managed, not to say mismanaged, by
+blockheads, who cannot tell the number of their fingers and toes."
+
+Barclay's adaptation is so thoroughly Englished, and contains such large
+additions from the stores of his own bitter experience, as to make it even
+more truly his own than any other of his translations.
+
+The fourth and fifth eclogues are imitations,--though no notice that they
+are so is conveyed in the title, as in the case of the first three,--of the
+fifth and sixth of the popular eclogue writer of the time, Jo. Baptist
+Mantuan, which may have helped to give rise to the generally received
+statement noticed below, that all the eclogues are imitations of that
+author. The fourth is entitled "Codrus and Minalcas, treating of the
+behauour of Riche men agaynst Poetes," and it may be judged how far it is
+Barclay's from the fact that it numbers about twelve hundred lines,
+including the elegy of the Noble Howard, while the original, entitled, "De
+consuetudine Divitum erga Poetas," contains only about two hundred. The
+fifth is entitled "Amintas and Faustus, of the disputation of citizens and
+men of the countrey." It contains over a thousand lines, and the original,
+"De disceptatione rusticorum et civium," like the fifth, extends to little
+more than two hundred.
+
+In the Prologue before mentioned we are told (Cawood's edition):--
+
+ "That fiue Egloges this whole treatise doth holde
+ To imitation of other Poetes olde,"
+
+Which appears to be a correction of the printer's upon the original, as in
+Powell's edition:--
+
+ "That X. egloges this hole treatyse dothe holde."
+
+Whether other five were ever published there is no record to show; it
+appears, however, highly improbable, that, if they had, they could have
+been entirely lost,--especially considering the popularity and repeated
+issue of the first five,--during the few years that would have elapsed
+between their original publication and the appearance of Cawood's edition.
+Possibly the original reading may be a typographical blunder, for Cawood is
+extremely sparing of correction, and appears to have made none which he did
+not consider absolutely necessary. This is one of the literary puzzles
+which remain for bibliography to solve. (See below, p. lxxix.)
+
+The next of Barclay's works in point of date, and perhaps the only one
+actually entitled to the merit of originality, is his Introductory to write
+and pronounce French, compiled at the request of his great patron, Thomas
+Duke of Norfolk, and printed by Copland in 1521. It is thus alluded to in
+the first important authority on French grammar, "Lesclarissement de la
+langue Francoyse compose par maistre Jehan Palsgraue, Angloys, natyf de
+Londres," 1530: "The right vertuous and excellent prince Thomas, late Duke
+of Northfolke, hath commanded the studious clerke, Alexandre Barkelay, to
+embusy hymselfe about this exercyse." Further on he is not so complimentary
+as he remarks:--"Where as there is a boke, that goeth about in this realme,
+intitled The introductory to writte and pronounce frenche, compiled by
+Alexander Barcley, in which k is moche vsed, and many other thynges also by
+hym affirmed, contrary to my sayenges in this boke, and specially in my
+seconde, where I shall assaye to expresse the declinations and
+coniugatynges with the other congruites obserued in the frenche tonge, I
+suppose it sufficient to warne the lernar, that I haue red ouer that boke
+at length: and what myn opinion is therin, it shall well inough apere in my
+bokes selfe, though I make therof no ferther expresse mencion: saue that I
+haue sene an olde boke written in parchement, in maner in all thynkes like
+to his sayd Introductory: whiche, by coniecture, was not vnwritten this
+hundred yeres. I wot nat if he happened to fortune upon suche an other: for
+whan it was commaunded that the grammar maisters shulde teche the youth of
+Englande ioyntly latin with frenche, there were diuerse suche bokes
+diuysed: wherupon, as I suppose, began one great occasyon why we of England
+sounde the latyn tong so corruptly, whiche haue as good a tonge to sounde
+all maner speches parfitely as any other nacyon in Europa."--Book I. ch.
+xxxv. "According to this," Mr Ellis (Early English Pronunciation, 804)
+pertinently notes: "1º, there ought to be many old MS. treatises on French
+grammar; and 2º, the English pronunciation of Latin was moulded on the
+French."
+
+To Barclay, as nine years before Palsgrave, belongs at least the credit,
+hitherto generally unrecognised, of the first published attempt at a French
+grammar, by either Frenchman or foreigner.
+
+"The mirror of good manners, containing the four cardinal vertues,"
+appeared from the press of Pynson, without date, "which boke," says the
+typographer, "I haue prynted at the instance and request of the ryght noble
+Rychard Yerle of Kent." This earl of Kent died in 1523, and as Barclay
+speaks of himself in the preface as advanced in age, the date of
+publication may be assigned to close upon that year. It is a translation,
+in the ballad stanza, of the Latin elegiac poem of Dominicus Mancinus, _De
+quatuor virtutibus_, first published in 1516, and, as appears from the
+title, was executed while Barclay was a monk of Ely, at "the desire of the
+righte worshipfull Syr Giles Alington, Knight." From the address to his
+patron it would seem that the Knight had requested the poet to abridge or
+modernise Gower's Confessio amantis. For declining this task he pleads,
+that he is too old to undertake such a light subject, and also the sacred
+nature of his profession. He then intimates his choice of the present more
+grave and serious work instead--
+
+ Which a priest may write, not hurting his estate,
+ Nor of honest name obumbring at all his light.
+
+"But the poet," says Warton, "declined this undertaking as unsuitable to
+his age, infirmities, and profession, and chose rather to oblige his patron
+with a grave system of ethics. It is certain that he made a prudent choice.
+The performance shows how little qualified he was to correct Gower."
+Instead of a carping criticism like this, it would have been much more to
+the point to praise the modesty and sensibility of an author, who had the
+courage to decline a task unsuited to his tastes or powers.
+
+He professes little:--
+
+ This playne litle treatise in stile compendious,
+ Much briefly conteyneth four vertues cardinall,
+ In right pleasaunt processe, plaine and commodious,
+ With light foote of metre, and stile heroicall,
+ Rude people to infourme in language maternall,
+ To whose vnderstanding maydens of tender age,
+ And rude litle children shall finde easy passage.
+
+Two editions of the work are sufficient evidence that this humble and
+praiseworthy purpose was, in the eyes of his contemporaries, successfully
+carried out.
+
+The only remaining authentic production of Barclay which has come down to
+us, is a translation of the Jugurthine War of Sallust, undertaken at the
+request of, and dedicated to, his great patron, Thomas Duke of Norfolk, and
+printed also at Pynson's press without date. The Latin and English are
+printed side by side on the same page, the former being dedicated, with the
+date "Ex cellula Hatfelde[=n] regii (_i.e._, King's Hatfield,
+Hertfordshire) in Idus Novembris" to Vesey, the centenarian Bishop of
+Exeter, with this superscription:--"Reueredissimo in Christo patri ac dno:
+dno Joanni Veysy exonien episcopo Alexander Barclay presbyter debita cum
+obseruantia. S." The dedication begins, "Memini me superioribus annis cu
+adhuc sacelli regij presul esses: pastor vigilantissime: tuis suasionibus
+incitatu: vt Crispi Salustij hystoria--e romana lingua: in anglicam
+compendiose transferrem," &c. Vesey was probably one of Barclay's oldest
+west country friends; for he is recorded to have been connected with the
+diocese of Exeter from 1503 to 1551, in the various capacities of
+archdeacon, precentor, dean, and bishop successively. Conjecture has placed
+the date of this publication at 1511, but as Veysey did not succeed to the
+Bishopric of Exeter till August 1519, this is untenable. We cannot say more
+than that it must have been published between 1519 and 1524, the date of
+the Duke of Norfolk's death, probably in the former year, since, from its
+being dated from "Hatfield," the ancient palace of the bishops of Ely,
+(sold to the Crown in the 30th of Henry VIII.; Clutterbuck's Hertfordshire,
+II.) Barclay at the time of its completion was evidently still a monk of
+Ely.
+
+By his translation of Sallust (so popular an author at that period, that
+the learned virgin queen is reported to have amused her leisure with an
+English version), Barclay obtained the distinction of being the first to
+introduce that classic to English readers. His version bears the reputation
+of being executed not only with accuracy, but with considerable freedom and
+elegance, and its popularity was evinced by its appearance in three
+additions.
+
+Two other works of our author are spoken of as having been in print, but
+they have apparently passed entirely out of sight: "The figure of our holy
+mother Church, oppressed by the Frenche King," (Pynson, 4to), known only
+from Maunsell's Catalogue; and "The lyfe of the glorious martyr, saynt
+George translated (from Mantuan) by Alexander Barclay, while he was a monk
+of Ely, and dedicated to N. West, Bishop of Ely," (Pynson, 4to), (Herbert,
+Typ. Antiquities.) West was Bishop of Ely from 1515 to 1533, and
+consequently Barclay's superior during probably his whole stay there.
+Whether these two works were in verse or prose is unknown.
+
+There are two other books ascribed to Barclay, but nothing satisfactory can
+be stated regarding their parentage except that, considering their subject,
+and the press they issued from, it is not at all unlikely that they may
+have been the fruit of his prolific pen. The first is "The lyfe of the
+blessed martyr, Saynte Thomas," in prose, printed by Pynson, (Herbert, Typ.
+Ant. 292), regarding which Ant. Wood says, "I should feel little difficulty
+in ascribing this to Barclay." The other is the English translation of the
+Histoire merveilleuse du Grand Khan (in Latin, De Tartaris siue Liber
+historiarum partium Orientis) of the eastern soldier, and western monk,
+Haytho, prince of Georgia at the end of the 13th, and beginning of the 14th
+centuries. The History which gives an account of Genghis Khan, and his
+successors, with a short description of the different kingdoms of Asia, was
+very popular in the 15th and 16th centuries, as one of the earliest
+accounts of the East, and the conjecture of the Grenville Catalogue is not
+improbable, though there is no sufficient evidence, that Barclay was the
+author of the English version which appeared from the press of Pynson.
+
+Bale further enumerates in his list of Barclay's works "Contra Skeltonum,
+Lib. I.; Quinq: eglogas ex Mantuano, Lib. I; Vitam D. Catherinæ, Lib. I.,
+[Libros tres, Pits]; Vitam D. Margaritæ, Lib. I.; Vitam Etheldredæ, Lib.
+I.; Aliaq: plura fecit." Tanner adds: "Orationes varias, Lib. I.; De fide
+orthodoxa, Lib. I."
+
+Of these various fruits of Barclay's fertility and industry no fragment has
+survived to our day, nor has even any positive information regarding their
+nature been transmitted to us.
+
+The "Orationes varias," probably a collection of sermons with especial
+reference to the sins of the day would have been historically, if not
+otherwise, interesting, and their loss is matter for regret. On the other
+hand the want of the treatise, "De fide orthodoxa," is doubtless a relief
+to literature. There are too many of the kind already to encumber our
+shelves and our catalogues.
+
+The Lives of the Saints, the work, it is stated, of the author's old age,
+were, according to Tanner, and he is no doubt right, translations from the
+Latin. Barclay's reputation probably does not suffer from their loss.
+
+"Quinque eglogas ex Mantuano," though Bale mentions also "De miserijs
+aulicorum; Bucolicam Codri; Eglogam quartam," apparently the five, but
+really the first four of the eclogues known to us, are, I am strongly
+inclined to believe, nothing else than these same five eclogues, under, to
+use a bibliographical phrase, "a made up" title. That he mentions first,
+five from Mantuan, and afterwards adds "Bucolicam Codri" and "Eglogam
+quartam," as two distinct eclogues, apparently not from Mantuan, while both
+titles must refer to the same poem, an imitation of Mantuan's fifth
+eclogue, is proof enough that he was not speaking with the authority of
+personal knowledge of these works.
+
+Johannes Baptista Spagnuoli, commonly called from his native city, Mantuan,
+was the most popular and prolific eclogue writer of the fifteenth century,
+to which Barclay himself testifies:--
+
+ "As the moste famous Baptist Mantuan
+ The best of that sort since Poetes first began."
+
+Barclay's Eclogues being the first attempts of the kind in English, Bale's
+"Ex Mantuano," therefore probably means nothing more than "on the model of
+Mantuan;" otherwise, if it be assumed that five were the whole number that
+ever appeared, it could not apply to the first three, which are expressly
+stated in the title to be from Æneas Sylvius, while if ten be assumed, his
+statement would account for nine, the "quinque eglogas" being the five now
+wanting, but if so, then he has omitted to mention the most popular of all
+the eclogues, the fifth, and has failed to attribute to Mantuan two which
+are undoubtedly due to him.
+
+The loss of the "Contra Skeltonum," is a matter for regret. That there was
+no love lost between these two contemporaries and chief poets of their time
+is evident enough. Skelton's scathing sarcasm against the priesthood no
+doubt woke his brother satirist's ire, and the latter lets no opportunity
+slip of launching forth his contempt for the laureate of Oxford.
+
+The moralist in announcing the position he assumes in opposition to the
+writer of popular tales, takes care to have a fling at the author of "The
+boke of Phyllyp Sparowe":--
+
+ "I wryte no Ieste ne tale of Robyn Hode,
+ Nor sawe no sparcles, ne sede of vyciousnes;
+ Wyse men loue vertue, wylde people wantones,
+ It longeth nat to my scyence nor cunnynge,
+ For Phylyp the sparowe the (Dirige) to synge."
+
+A sneer to which Skelton most probably alludes when, enumerating his own
+productions in the Garlande of Laurell, he mentions,
+
+ "Of Phillip Sparow the lamentable fate,
+ The dolefull desteny, and the carefull chaunce,
+ Dyuysed by Skelton after the funerall rate;
+ Yet sum there be therewith that take greuaunce,
+ And grudge thereat with frownyng countenaunce;
+ But what of that? harde it is to please all men;
+ Who list amende it, let hym set to his penne."
+
+The following onslaught in Barclay's Fourth Eclogue, is evidently levelled
+at the abominable Skelton:
+
+ "Another thing yet is greatly more damnable:
+ Of rascolde poetes yet is a shamfull rable,
+ Which voyde of wisedome presumeth to indite,
+ Though they haue scantly the cunning of a snite;
+ And to what vices that princes moste intende,
+ Those dare these fooles solemnize and commende
+ Then is he decked as Poete laureate,
+ When stinking Thais made him her graduate;
+ When Muses rested, she did her season note,
+ And she with Bacchus her camous did promote.
+ Such rascolde drames, promoted by Thais,
+ Bacchus, Licoris, or yet by Testalis,
+ Or by suche other newe forged Muses nine,
+ Thinke in their mindes for to haue wit diuine;
+ They laude their verses, they boast, they vaunt and iet,
+ Though all their cunning be scantly worth a pet:
+ If they haue smelled the artes triuiall,
+ They count them Poetes hye and heroicall.
+ Such is their foly, so foolishly they dote,
+ Thinking that none can their playne errour note;
+ Yet be they foolishe, auoyde of honestie,
+ Nothing seasoned with spice of grauitie,
+ Auoyde of pleasure, auoyde of eloquence,
+ With many wordes, and fruitlesse of sentence;
+ Unapt to learne, disdayning to be taught,
+ Their priuate pleasure in snare hath them so caught;
+ And worst yet of all, they count them excellent,
+ Though they be fruitlesse, rashe and improuident.
+ To such ambages who doth their minde incline,
+ They count all other as priuate of doctrine,
+ And that the faultes which be in them alone,
+ And be common in other men eche one.
+ Thus bide good poetes oft time rebuke and blame,
+ Because of other which haue despised name.
+ And thus for the bad the good be cleane abject.
+ Their art and poeme counted of none effect,
+ Who wanteth reason good to discerne from ill
+ Doth worthy writers interprete at his will:
+ So both the laudes of good and not laudable
+ For lacke of knowledge become vituperable."
+
+It has not hitherto been pointed out that Skelton did not disdain to borrow
+a leaf from the enemy's book and try his hand at paraphrasing the Ship of
+Fools also. "The Boke of three fooles, M. Skelton, poete laureate, gaue to
+my lord Cardynall," is a paraphrase in prose, with introductory verses, of
+three chapters of Brandt, corresponding to Barclay's chapters headed, Of
+yonge folys that take olde wyme to theyr wyues nat for loue but for ryches
+(I. 247); Of enuyous folys (I. 252); Of bodely lust or corporall
+voluptuosyte (I. 239). Skelton's three fools, are, "The man that doth wed a
+wyfe for her goodes and her rychesse;" "Of Enuye, the seconde foole"; and,
+"Of the Voluptuousnes corporall, the third foole;" and his versions are
+dashed off with his usual racy vigour. He probably, however, did not think
+it worth while to compete with the established favourite. If he had we
+would certainly have got a very different book from Barclay's.
+
+Notwithstanding his popularity and industry, Barclay's name appears to be
+but seldom mentioned by contemporary or later authors. As early as 1521
+however, we find him placed in the most honourable company by Henry
+Bradshaw, "Lyfe of Saynt Werburghe," (1521, Pynson, 4to). But the
+compliment would probably lose half its sweetness from his being bracketed
+with the detested Skelton:--
+
+ To all auncient poetes, litell boke, submytte the,
+ Whilom flouryng in eloquence facundious,
+ And to all other whiche present nowe be;
+ Fyrst to maister Chaucer and Ludgate sentencious,
+ Also to preignaunt Barkley nowe beying religious,
+ To inuentiue Skelton and poet laureate;
+ Praye them all of pardon both erly and late.
+
+Bulleyn's repeated allusions to Barclay (see above, pp. xxvii., liv.),
+apart from the probability that, as contemporaries resident in the same
+provincial town, Ely, they were well acquainted with each other, leave
+little doubt that the two were personal friends. Bulleyn's figurative
+description of the poet, quoted at p. xxvii., is scarcely complete without
+the following verses, which are appended to it by way of summary of his
+teachings (similar verses are appended to the descriptions of Chaucer,
+Gower, &c.):--[Barclay appears] saying
+
+ "Who entreth the court in yong and teder age
+ Are lightly blinded with foly and outrage:
+ But suche as enter with witte and grauitie,
+ Bow not so sone to such enormitie,
+ But ere thei enter if thei haue lerned nought
+ Afterwardes Vertue the least of theyr thought."
+ _Dialogue against the Fever Pestilence._
+
+In another passage of the same Dialogue[4] the picture of the honourable
+and deserving but neglected churchman is touched with so much strength and
+feeling that, though no indication is given, one cannot but believe that
+the painter was drawing from the life, the life of his friend. The
+likeness, whether intentional or not, is a most faithful one: "The third
+[picture] is, one whiche sheweth the state of learned men, labouring long
+time in studie and diuine vertue, whiche are wrapped in pouertie, wantyng
+the golden rake or gapyng mouth. This man hath verie fewe to preferre hym
+to that promotion, he smiteth himselfe upo the breast, he wepeth and
+lamenteth, that vice should thus be exalted, ignoraunce rewarded with
+glorie, coueteous men spoilyng the Churche, by the names of patrones and
+geuers, whiche extorcioners and tellers, they care not to whom, so that it
+be raked with the golden racke. Wel, wel, God of his mercie, amed this
+euill market."
+
+In one of the many humorous sallies which lighten up this old-fashioned
+antidote to the pestilence, Barclay again appears, dressed in the
+metaphorical colour of the poet or minstrel--green, which has probably here
+a double significance, referring no doubt to his popularity as the English
+eclogue writer as well as to his fame as a poet and satirist. In
+introducing "Bartlet, grene breche" as the antithesis to "Boner wepyng,"
+allusion was also probably intended to the honourable position occupied by
+Barclay amongst the promoters of the Reformation, compared with the
+reapostacy, the career of brutal cruelty, and the deserved fate of the
+Jefferies of the Episcopal bench.
+
+Thus discourse _Civis et Uxor_.--
+
+"_Uxor._ What are all these two and two in a table. Oh it is trim. _Civis._
+These are old frendes, it is well handled and workemanly. Willyam Boswell
+in Pater noster rowe, painted them. Here is Christ, and Sathan, Sainct
+Peter, and Symon Magus, Paule, and Alexader the Coppersmith, Trace, and
+Becket, Martin Luther, and the Pope ... bishop Cramer, and bishop Gardiner.
+Boner wepyng, Bartlet, grene breche ... Salomon, and Will Sommer. The cocke
+and the lyon, the wolfe and the lambe." This passage also necessarily
+implies that Barclay's fame at that time was second to none in England.
+Alas! for fame:
+
+ "What is the end of fame? 'Tis but to fill
+ A certain portion of uncertain paper."
+
+In the seventeenth century Barclay still held a place in the first rank of
+satirists, if we accept the evidence of the learned Catholic poet of that
+time, Sir Aston Cokaine. He thus alludes to him in an address "To my
+learned friend, Mr Thomas Bancroft, upon his Book of Satires. By Sir Aston
+Cokayne."
+
+ "After a many works of divers kinds
+ Your muse to tread th' Aruncan path designs:
+ 'Tis hard to write but Satires in these days,
+ And yet to write good Satires merits praise:
+ . . . . . .
+ So old Petronius Arbiter appli'd
+ Corsives unto the age he did deride:
+ So Horace, Persius, Juvenal, (among
+ Those ancient Romans) scourg'd the impious throng;
+ So Ariosto (in these later times)
+ Reprov'd his Italy for many crimes;
+ So learned Barclay let his lashes fall
+ Heavy on some to bring a cure to all."
+
+In concluding this imperfect notice of one of the most remarkable of our
+early writers, we cannot but echo the regret expressed by one of his
+biographers, that "What ought most to be lamented is, that we are able to
+say so very little of one in his own time so famous, and whose works ought
+to have transmitted him to posterity with much greater honour."
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+THE WILL OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY.
+
+EXTRACTED FROM THE PRINCIPAL REGISTRY OF HER MAJESTY'S COURT OF PROBATE.
+
+_In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury._
+
+IN THE NAME OF GOD. AMEN.--The xxv^{th} day of July in the yere of our
+Lorde God a thousande fyve hundreth fyftie and one.... I ALEXANDER
+BARQUELEY Doctor of Divinitie Vicar of myche badowe in the countie of Essex
+do make dispose and declare this my pute testament conteyning my last Will
+in forme and order as hereafter followethe That ys to saye First I
+bequeathe my soule unto Almightie God my maker and Redemer and my bodye to
+be buried where it shall please God to dispose after de[=p]ting my soule
+from the bodye Also I bequeathe to the poore people of the said [=p]ish of
+Badowe fyftie shillings to be disposed where as yt shall appere to be most
+nede by the discrescon of myne Executours And also I bequeathe towardes the
+repacons of the same Churche vj^s viij^d Item I bequeathe to the poore
+people of the [=P]ish of Owkley in the Countie of Somersett fiftie
+shillings likewise to be distributed And towardes the repacons of the same
+Churche vj^s viij^d Item I bequeathe to Mr Horsey of Tawnton in the saide
+Countie of Somersett one fether bed and a bolster which I had of hym or els
+twentie shillings in redye money Item I bequeathe to Edword Capper
+otherwise called Edwarde Mathewe of Tawnton aforesaid xxxiij^s iiij^d of
+currant money of England Item I bequeathe to Johane Atkynson the daughter
+of Thomas Atkynson of London Scryvener one fetherbed wheruppon I use to lye
+having a newe tyke with the bolster blanketts and coverlett tester pillowe
+and two payer of my best shetes Item I bequeth to the same Johane Atkynson
+eight pounds current money of England to be receyved of the money due unto
+me by Cutbeard Crokk of Wynchester to be paide in two yeres (that is to
+saye foure poundes in the first yere and foure poundes in the secounde
+yere) Item I bequeathe to the saide Johane a flocke bed a quylte and all my
+pewter and brasse and other stuf of my kechen Item I give and bequeathe to
+Jeronymy Atkynson the daughter of the saide Thomas Atkynson vj^{li} xiij^s
+iiij^d currant money of England to be receyved of the said Cutbeard Crok in
+two yeres that is to saye every yere fyve markes Item I bequeathe to
+Tymothy and Elizabeth Atkynson the daughters of the said Thomas Atkynson to
+everye of theym five pounds currant money of England to be receyved of the
+said Cutbeard Croke so that the eldest of thes two daughters be paide the
+first two yeres and the other to be paide in other two yeres then next
+following Item The rest of the money whiche the saide Cutbeard Croke oweth
+to me amounting in the hole to the some of four score poundes I bequeathe
+to be devyded amonge poore and nedye [=p]sones after the discretion of myn
+Executours and manely to such as be bedred blynde lame ympotent wydowes and
+fatherless children.... Item I bequeathe to Syr John Gate Knight S^r Henry
+Gate Knight and to M^r Clerke to everye of theym fouer angell nobles to
+make every of theym a ringe of golde to be worne by theym in remembraunce
+of me Item I give and bequeathe to Hugh Rooke of London Scryvener to Henry
+bosoll of London Gold Smythe to Thomas Wytton of London Screvener and to
+the wief of Humfrey Stevens of London Goldsmythe to Humfrey Edwards Clerke
+to John Owhan of the [=P]ish of Badowe aforesaid to every of them one
+angell noble of gold or ells y^e valew therof in sylver Item I bequeathe to
+M^r Thomas Clerk of Owkey aforesaid to Thomas Edey Gentelman and to the
+said Thomas Atkynson to every of them foure angell nobles to make therof
+for every of them a ringe to were in remembraunce of oure olde
+acquayntaunce and famyliarytie Item my will is that my Executours shall
+distribute at the daye of my buriall among poore and nedy people sixe
+pounds fyftene shillings Item I bequeathe to Parnell Atkynson the wief of
+the said Thomas Atkynson my cosyn thirtenne pounds thirtene shillings and
+foure pence of currant money of England Item I bequeathe to John Watson of
+London Clotheworker three angell nobles to make a ring therof to be worne
+in remembraunce of oure olde famyliaritie Also I desire all suche as have
+or shall hereafter have eny benyfytt by thes my legacies and all other good
+chrestian people to praye to Almightie God for remission of my synnes and
+mercy upon my soule Item I bequeath to Johan Bowyer the syster of the said
+[=P]nell my cosen fourtie shillings Item I bequeathe to the said Thomas
+Atkynson Tenne pounds currant money of England whome with the said Thomas
+Eden I constitute the executours of this my last Will to whome I bequeathe
+the rest and residue of all my goodes chattells and debts to be distributed
+at their discrescion in works of mercy to poore people not peny mele but by
+larger por[=c]on after theyr discrecon namely to [=p]sons bedred maydens
+widowes and other ympotent [=p]sons Item I ordeyne and desire the said M^r
+Rochester to be the Overseer of this my last Will to be well and truely
+[=p]formed and fulfilled to whome for his labor and paynes I bequeathe fyve
+marks currant money of England In wytnes of whiche this my last Will I the
+said Alexander Barqueley hereunto have set my seale and subscribed the same
+with my owne hands the day and yere fyrst above written [p=] me. ALEXANDRU
+BARQUELEY.
+
+ PROBATUM fuit Test[=m] coram d[=n]o ca[=n]t Archie[=p]o apud London
+ decimo die mensis Junij Anno d[=n]o mille[=m]o quingentesimo
+ quinquagesimo secundo Juramento Thome Atkynson E[=x] in hmoi testamento
+ noiat Ac Approbatu et insumatu et comissa fuit admotraco om[=n] bonoru
+ &^c d[=c]i deft de bene et &^c ac de pleno Inv^{ro} &^c exhibend Ad
+ sancta dei Evangelia Jurat Re[=s]rvata [p=]tate Thome Eden alteri e[=x]
+ &^c cum venerit.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+NOTES.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+[1] BARCLAY'S NATIONALITY
+
+The objection raised to claiming Barclay as a Scotsman, founded on the
+ground that he nowhere mentions his nationality, though it was a common
+practice of authors in his time to do so, especially when they wrote out of
+their own country, appeared to me, though ingenious and pertinent, to be of
+so little real weight, as to be dismissed in a parenthesis. Its importance,
+however, may easily be overrated, and it may therefore be well to point out
+that, apart from the possibility that this omission on his part was the
+result of accident or indifference, there is also the probability that it
+was dictated by a wise discretion. To be a Scotsman was not in the days of
+Henry VIII., as it has been in later and more auspicious times, a passport
+to confidence and popularity, either at the court or among the people of
+England. Barclay's fate having led him, and probably his nearest relatives
+also, across that Border which no Scotsman ever recrosses, to live and
+labour among a people by no means friendly to his country, it would have
+been a folly which so sensible a man as he was not likely to commit to have
+displayed the red rag of his nationality before his easily excited
+neighbours, upon whose friendliness his comfort and success depended. The
+farther argument of the Biographia Brittannica, that "it is pretty
+extraordinary that Barclay himself, in his several addresses to his
+patrons, should never take notice of his being a stranger, which would have
+made their kindness to him the more remarkable," is sufficiently disposed
+of by the succeeding statement, that the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of
+Kent, Barclay's principal patrons, "are known to have been the fiercest
+enemies of the Scots." Surely a man who was English in everything but his
+birth could not be expected to openly blazon his Scottish nativity, without
+adequate occasion for so doing, in the very face of his country's chiefest
+enemies, who were at the same time his own best friends. His caution in
+this respect, indeed, may be regarded as an additional proof of his
+Scottish origin.
+
+[2] BARCLAY'S VOCABULARY
+
+Some of the words, stated in popular fashion to be Scotch--they are of
+course of Saxon origin--the usage of which by Barclay is adduced as an
+evidence of his nationality, are also to be found in Chaucer, but that does
+not invalidate the argument as stated. The employment of so many words of
+northern usage must form at least a strong corroborative argument in favour
+of northern origin.
+
+[3] THE CASTLE OF LABOUR
+
+It ought to be stated that the modesty of the young author prevented him
+from affixing his name to his first production, The Castle of Labour. Both
+editions are anonymous. Bale, Pits, Wood, &c., all include it in the list
+of his works without remark.
+
+[4] BULLEYN'S DIALOGUE
+
+A notice of the history of this once popular Dialogue, its ever recurring
+disappearance, and ever recurring "discovery" by some fortunate antiquary,
+would form an interesting chapter in a new "History of the transmission of
+ancient books to modern times." Its chances of preservation and record were
+unusually favourable. It must have been disseminated over the length and
+breadth of the land in its day, having run through four editions in little
+more than a dozen years. Maunsell's Catalogue (1595) records the edition of
+1578. Antony Wood (1721), and Bishop Tanner (1748) both duly give it a
+place in their notices of the productions of its author, without any
+special remark. But the Biographia Brittanica (1748) in a long article upon
+Bulleyn, in which his various works are noticed in great detail, introduces
+the Dialogue as "_this long neglected and unknown treatise_," and gives an
+elaborate account of it extending to about five columns of small print. The
+now famous passage, descriptive of the early poets, is quoted at length,
+and special notice of its bearing on Barclay's nationality taken, the
+writer (Oldys) announcing that the dispute must now be settled in favour of
+Scotland, "Seeing our author (Bulleyn), a contemporary who lived in, and
+long upon the borders of Scotland, says, as above, he was born in that
+kingdom: and as much indeed might have been in great measure gathered from
+an attentive perusal of this poet himself."
+
+The next biographer of Bulleyn, Aikin (Biog. Memoirs of Medicine, 1780),
+makes no discovery, but contents himself with giving a brief account of the
+Dialogue (in 1½ pages), in which the description of Chaucer, &c., is duly
+noticed. Three years later, in spite of this, and the appearance of a
+second edition of the Biographia Brittanica (1778), another really learned
+and able antiquary, Waldron, in his edition of Jonson's Sad Shepherd
+(1783), comes forth triumphantly announcing his discovery of the Dialogue
+as that of a hitherto totally unknown treasure; and in an appendix favours
+the curious with a series of extracts from it, extending to more than
+thirty pages, prefacing them thus: "Having, among the various Mysteries and
+Moralities, whether original impressions, reprinted, or described only by
+those writers who have given any account of these Embrios of the English
+Drama, _never met with or read of any other copy of the Dialogue, or
+Morality, by Bulleyn, than the one_, [which I have used], an account of and
+some extracts from it may not be unpleasing." The passage regarding the
+poets is of course given _ad longum_.
+
+The next notice of the Dialogue occurs in Herbert's Ames (1786), where two
+editions, 1564 and 1578, are entered. Dibdin (1819), in addition, notices
+the edition of 1573. In the biographical accounts of Bulleyn in
+Hutchinson's Biographia Medica (1799), Aikin's General Biog. Dict. (1801),
+and its successor, Chalmers's Biog. Dict. (1812), due mention is preserved
+of the Dialogue in enumerating the works of its author. Sir Walter Scott
+alludes to it in the Introduction to the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
+(1802) as a "mystery," but his only knowledge of it is evidently derived
+from Waldron. Chalmers's Life of Lindsay (Poetical Works, 1806) has also
+kept it prominently before a considerable class of inquirers, as he gives
+that part of the description of the poets relating to Lindsay a conspicuous
+place, with the following note: "Owing to the very obliging temper of Mr
+Waldron I have been permitted to see that _rare book_ of Dr Bulleyn, with
+the second edition of 1569, which is remarkably different from the first in
+1564." To this use of it by Chalmers we owe the references to it in Lord
+Lindsay's Lives of the Lindsays, i. 261 (1849), Seton's Scottish Heraldry,
+480 (1863), and Notes and Queries, 3rd s., iv. 164 (1863). It was also
+probably Chalmers that drew the attention of the writer of the Memoir of
+Barclay in the Lives of the Scottish Poets (1822), to the possibility of
+there being also in the Dialogue notice of that poet. At any rate, he
+quotes the description of the early poets, showing in his preliminary
+remarks considerable familiarity with Bulleyn's history, pointing out the
+probability of his having known Barclay at Ely, and arguing that whether or
+not, "from living in the same neighbourhood he had an opportunity of
+knowing better than any contemporary whose evidence on the subject is
+extant, to what country Barclay was, by all about him, reputed to belong."
+He precedes his quotations thus: "As the whole passage possesses
+considerable elegance, and has been so _universally overlooked_ by the
+critics, the transcription of it here will not probably be deemed out of
+place." No mention is made of the title of the book from which the
+"Allegorical Description of the Early English Poets" is taken; hence it is
+impossible to say whether the quoter made use of a copy of the Dialogue, or
+of Waldron's Notes. The spelling is modernised.
+
+In various well-known bibliographical publications the existence of this
+fugitive Dialogue is carefully registered, and its title, at least, made
+known to all inquirers,--in Watt's Bibliotheca Britt. (1824), in Lowndes'
+Bibliog. Manual (1834), and in Atkinson's Medical Bibliog. (1834); and by
+the published Catalogues of the British Museum (1813), the Douce Collection
+(1840), and the Bodleian Library (1843), it is made known that there are
+copies of it preserved in these great collections. In Warton's Hist. of
+Eng. Poetry (ed. 1840), it is also recorded by Park, in his notes to the
+chapter on Gower, in which he refers to Bulleyn's visionary description of
+that poet. Cooper's Athenæ Cantabrigienses, art. Bulleyn (1858), also
+carefully notes the Dialogue and its editions. And in 1865 Collier's
+well-known Bibliographical Account of Early English Literature again gives
+an account (two pages long) of the much neglected production, in which the
+passage relating to the poets is once more extracted in full, with the
+preliminary remarks as quoted at p. xxvii. _supra_, but without the usual
+announcement that the work has hitherto been unknown.
+
+But in 1873, by the very last man from whom we might have expected it (F.
+J. Furnivall, the Atlas on whose shoulders all our projects for the
+preservation of our early literature rest, in Notes and Queries, 4th s.,
+xii. 161), we are again introduced to this ever disappearing, ever
+reappearing Dialogue as a fresh find in early English literature: "Few
+things are pleasanter in reading old books than to come on a passage of
+praise of our old poets, showing that in Tudor days men cared for the
+'makers' of former days as we do still. To Mr David Laing's kindness I owe
+the introduction to the following quotation from a rare tract, where one
+wouldn't have expected to find such a passage," and then follows once more
+the whole passage so often quoted for the first time. Dr Rimbault, in an
+interesting note in a succeeding number of Notes and Queries (p. 234), is
+the first one acquainted with the Dialogue to state that "this amusing old
+work is perfectly well known, and has often been quoted from." So
+henceforth we may presume that this interesting and long-fertile field of
+discovery may be regarded as finally worked out.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+A
+
+BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CATALOGUE
+
+OF
+
+BARCLAY'S WORKS.
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ I. THE CASTELL OF LABOURE.
+ II. THE SHYP OF FOLYS.
+ III. THE EGLOGES.
+ IV. THE INTRODUCTORY.
+ V. THE MYRROUR OF GOOD MANERS.
+ VI. CRONYCLE COMPLYED BY SALUST.
+ VII. FIGURE OF OUR MOTHER HOLY CHURCH.
+ VIII. THE LYFE OF SAYNT GEORGE.
+ IX. THE LYFE OF SAYNTE THOMAS.
+ X. HAYTHON'S CRONYCLE.
+
+I. THE CASTELL OF LABOURE.--Wynkyn de Worde. 1506. Small Quarto. Black
+letter.
+
+ The title, "The castell of laboure," is within a scroll above a woodcut
+ of men over a tub: on the verso, a cut of a man sitting at a desk. At
+ sign. a ii. (recto) "Here begynneth the prologue of this present
+ treatyse." [The Brit. Mus. copy has this on the verso of the title
+ instead of the cut, a peculiarity which may entitle it to be called a
+ separate edition, though it appears to agree otherwise with the copy
+ described.] There are many curious woodcuts. Colophon on the reverse of
+ sign. i iii. (51^b): "Thus endeth the castell of labour, wherin is
+ rychesse, vertue, and honour. Enprynted at London in Fletestrete in the
+ sygne of the sonne. by Wynkyn de worde. Anno d[=n]i M.ccccc.vi." There
+ is no indication of authorship. Signatures: a b c d e f g h,
+ alternately 8s and 4s, i 4; 52 leaves, not numbered. The British Museum
+ and Cambridge University Library copies of this book have been
+ collated, but as the former ends with H 3 and the latter wants the last
+ leaf, that leaf must remain undescribed. Mr Bradshaw, however, says,
+ "it almost certainly contained a woodcut on the recto, and one of the
+ devices on the verso."
+
+ A copy of this very scarce book was sold among Mr. West's books in 1773
+ for £2.
+
+I.a. THE CASTELL OF LABOURE.--Pynson. No date. Small Quarto. Black letter.
+
+ The title, "Here begynneth the castell of laboure," is over a woodcut;
+ and on the reverse is a woodcut; both the same as those in the previous
+ edition. In the body of the work there are 30 woodcuts, which differ
+ from those of the first edition, one of these (at G 6) is a repetition
+ of that on the title page. Colophon: "Thus endeth the castell of labour
+ wherin is rychesse, vertue and honoure. Enprynted be me Richarde
+ Pynson." After the colophon comes another leaf (I 6), on the recto of
+ which is the printer's device, and on the verso a woodcut representing
+ a city on the banks of a river. Without indication of authorship.
+ Signatures: A, 8 leaves; B--I, in sixes.
+
+ "Neither Ames nor Herbert appear to have seen this rare volume; which
+ is probably a reprint of Wynkyn de Worde's impression of 1506."
+ (Dibdin's Typ. Antiq., II. 557.) There is a copy in the Library of H.
+ Huth, Esq.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+II. THE SHIP OF FOLYS OF THE WORLDE.--Pynson. 1509. Folio.
+
+ On the recto of the first leaf there is a large woodcut of Pynson's
+ arms, or device No. VII., similar to that which is on the reverse of
+ the last leaf of each of the volumes of his edition of Lord Berners'
+ translation of Froissart's Chronicles; on the back of the first leaf is
+ the translator's dedication to "Thomas Cornisshe, bishop of Tine, and
+ suffragan bishop of Bath;" on the next leaf begins "The regyster or
+ table of this present boke in Englyshe," (all as on pp. cxiii.--cxx.),
+ succeeded by a Latin table. Then on sign. a i. and fol. i. a large
+ woodcut, the same as is used for the title page of Cawood's edition
+ (and on p. 313, Vol. II.), with a Latin description in the margin.
+ Beneath is the title in Latin. On the back, "Alexander Barclay
+ excusynge the rudeness of his translacion," followed with "An
+ exhortacion of Alexander Barclay." Then on fol. ii., etc., follow in
+ Latin, "Epigramma," "Epistola" in prose, and various "Carmina." On the
+ back of fol. v. "The exhortacion of Brant to the fools" in Latin verse,
+ followed by Barclay's version with the heading "Barclay the Translatour
+ tho the Foles." On fol. iiii. the "Prologus Jacobi Locher ... incipit,"
+ followed by its translation into English. On fol. ix., etc.,
+ "Hecatastichon in proludium auctoris et Libelli Narragonici" and the
+ English translation, "Here begynneth the prologe." On xii. "The
+ Argument" in Latin and English, and then on xiii. commences the first
+ chapter, "De inutilibus libris," in Latin, and then in English, which
+ is the order throughout, with the cuts at the beginning of either the
+ one or other as the page suited. The book concludes with a ballad in
+ honour of the virgin Mary, consisting of twelve octave stanzas: at the
+ end of which is the colophon in a stanza of seven lines. On the verso
+ of the last leaf is the printer's device, No. v.
+
+ The Latin is uniformly printed in the Roman type, and the English in
+ the Gothic. Herbert supposes the diphthongs to be "the first perhaps
+ used in this kingdom."
+
+ The cuts are rude, coarse, English imitations of those in the original
+ editions. They are, including the preliminary one, 118 in number. The
+ cut illustrating the chapter, "Of them that correct other," etc., fol.
+ liii. has been exchanged with the cut of the succeeding chapter. The
+ cut illustrating "The unyuersall shyp and generall Barke," fol.
+ cclxii., is repeated at the succeeding chapter. The one illustrating
+ Barclay's new chapter "Of folys that ar ouer worldly" is an imitation
+ of the illustration of "De singularitate quorundam novorum fatuorum" in
+ the Latin edition of March 1497. The cut illustrating the ballad of the
+ Virgin appears in the original at the head of "Excusatio Jacobi Locher
+ Philomusi," and illustrates, according to the margin, "Derisio boni
+ operis."
+
+ The word "Folium" is on the left hand page, and the number, in Roman
+ capitals, on the right throughout the book; the last is cclxxiiii.
+ Including the dedication and table (4 folios) there are 283 folios. The
+ numbering is a model of irregularity: iiii. is repeated for vi., xx.
+ stands for xv., xviii. is repeated, xx. is wanting, xxii. is repeated,
+ xxiv. is wanting, xxx. is repeated, xxxvi. is wanting, xxxix. is
+ repeated in place of xliv., xlviii. is wanting, xlix. is repeated, lvii
+ is repeated after lxi., lviii follows twice, lix., lx., lxi. being
+ repeated in succession after lviii., lxvii., lxviii. are repeated after
+ lxviii., lxxxii. is wanting, lxxxiii. is repeated, lxxxii. stands for
+ lxxxvii., lxxxiii. succeeds for lxxxviiii, cclxv. succeeds for lxxxix.,
+ lxxxxii. is repeated for lxxxxvii., [in the Grenville copy this leaf is
+ correctly numbered], cxxxii is wanting, cxl. stands for cxxxviii.,
+ cxlxi. stands for cxlvi., clxxiv. is wanting, clxxxxxi. stands for
+ cci., ccxii. is repeated for ccxvii., ccxxxviii. is wanting, cclx.
+ stands for ccl., cclviii. is repeated for cclx.
+
+ The numeration by signatures is as follows: + iiij; a, 8; b--p, 6 s; q,
+ 7; r, s, t, v, x, y, z, &, 6 s; A--Y, 6 s.
+
+ The book is extremely rare. There is a fine copy in the Bodleian
+ Library among Selden's books, another in the British Museum, Grenville
+ Collection, and another in the Library of St. John's College, Oxford.
+
+ The following are the more notable prices: Farmer, 1798, £2. 4s.;
+ Sotheby's, 1821, £28; Dent, £30. 9s.; Bib. Anglo-Poetica, £105;
+ Perkins, 1873, £130.
+
+ The following amusing note on prices is taken from Renouard's
+ "Catalogue d'un Amateur." "Les premières éditions latines de ce
+ singulier livre, celles des traductions françoises, toutes également
+ remplies de figures en bois, ne déplaisent pas aux amateurs, mais
+ jamais ils ne les ont payées un haut prix. La traduction angloise faite
+ en 1509, sur le francois, et avec des figures en bois, plus mauvaises
+ encore que leurs modèles, se paye en Angleterre 25, 30 et mème 60
+ guinées; c'est là, si l'on veut, du zèle patriotique, de l'esprit
+ national."
+
+II.a. STULTIFERA NAUIS.... THE SHIP OF FOOLES..... With diuers other
+workes.... very profitable and fruitfull for all men.... Cawood. 1570.
+Folio.
+
+ A large cut of vessels filled with fools (the same as on p. 313, Vol.
+ II.) is inserted between the Latin and English titles. This edition
+ omits the ballad to the Virgin at the end. The English is in black
+ letter, and the Latin in Roman, in the same order as in the preceding
+ edition. On the recto of leaf 259: Thus endeth the Ship of Fooles,
+ translated ... by Alexander Barclay Priest, at that time Chaplen in the
+ Colledge of S. Mary Otery in the Countie of Deuon. Anno Domini 1508. On
+ the back "Excusatio Iacobi Locher Philomusi," in Sapphic verse. On the
+ next page five stanzas by Barclay "excusing the rudenes of his
+ Translation." Lastly, an Index in Latin, and then in English. Then,
+ follow the "diuers other workes," the Mirrour of good maners, and the
+ Egloges. Colophon: Imprinted at London in Paules Church-yarde by Iohn
+ Cawood Printer to the Queenes Maiestie. Cum Priuilegio ad imprimendum
+ solum.
+
+ The woodcuts, including the one on the title-page, number 117. They are
+ the same as those of Pynson's edition, but show occasional traces of
+ the blocks having been chipped in the course of their preservation in a
+ printer's office for 60 years or so. The borders only differ, being of
+ a uniform type, while those of the previous edition are woodcuts of
+ several patterns.
+
+ The numbering is a little irregular; the preliminary leaves (12) are
+ unnumbered. The folios are numbered in figures on the left hand page,
+ 'folio' being prefixed to the first six, 16 is repeated for 17, 13
+ stands for 31, [in one of the Adv. Lib. copies the latter irregularity
+ is found, though not the former; in the other, 17 and 31 are numbered
+ correctly], 96 is repeated for 99, 188 for 191, 100 for 200, and 205
+ for 201. The last number is 259, and there are three extra leaves, thus
+ making 274 for the Ship. The supplementary works are not numbered. The
+ signatures are as follows: _The Ship_, ¶ six leaves; ¶¶ six leaves; A
+ to U u, in sixes; X x, four leaves; _Mirrour of good manners_, A--G, in
+ sixes; _Egloges_, A to D, in sixes; in all 680 pp.
+
+ This book was licensed to Cawood in 1567-8, and is said to be the only
+ book he had license for. It is now very rare.
+
+ Prices: Digby, 1680, 4s. 4d. Bernard, 1698, 1s. 10d. Gulston, 1783, £1,
+ 16s. White Knights, £8, 12s. Roxburghe, £9, 19s. 6d. Fonthill, £13,
+ 13s. Bib. Anglo-Poet, £12, 12s. Heber, £8, 12s. Sotheby's, 1873, £48,
+ 10s.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ A complete bibliography of the various editions and versions of the
+ Ship of Fools will be found in Zarocke's edition of the original, or in
+ Graesse's Trésor de livres rares et précieux. A notice is subjoined of
+ the two editions of the English prose translation, and of the two other
+ publications bearing the title.
+
+ The abridged prose translation, by Henry Watson, from the French prose
+ version of Jehan Droyn, appeared from the press of De Worde in the same
+ year in which Barclay's fuller poetical version was issued. In both
+ text and illustrations it is a much inferior production to the latter.
+ As the existence of the first edition has been, and still is, denied,
+ it being frequently confounded with Barclay's book, we transcribe the
+ following description of the only known copy from Van Praet's
+ "Catalogue des livres imprimés sur vélin de la Bibliotheque du Roi."
+
+The Shyppe of Fooles, translated out of frenche, by Henry Watson. London,
+Wynkyn de Worde, 1509, petit in--4.
+
+ Edition en lettres de forme, sans chiffres ni réclames, avec
+ signatures, figures et initiales en bois; à longues lignes, au nombre
+ de 32 sur les pages entierès; cont. 169 f.; les 7 premiers renferment
+ 1. le titre suivant, gravé audessus d'une figure qui représente le
+ navire des fous:
+
+ ¶ The shyppe of fooles.
+
+ 2. Le prologue du traducteur; 3. la préface; 4. la table des chapitres.
+
+ Au recto du dernier f. est cette souscription:
+
+ ¶ Thus endeth the shyppe of fooles of this worde. Enprynted at London
+ in Flete strete by Wynk[=y] de worde prynter vnto the excellent
+ pryncesse Marguerete, Countesse of Rychemonde and Derbye, and grandame
+ vnto our moost naturall souereyne lorde kynge Henry [=y] viii. The yere
+ of our lorde. M.CCCCC. ix. ¶ The fyrste yere of the reygne of our
+ fouerayne lorde kynge Henry the viii. The. vi. daye of Julii. On
+ aperçoit au verso le monogramme et la marque de William Caxton, au bas
+ desquels on lit ces mots: Wynken de Worde."
+
+ This beautiful copy upon vellum is the only example of this edition
+ known.
+
+The grete Shyppe of Fooles of this worlde. W[=y]kyn de Worde. 1517. Quarto.
+
+ This is the second edition of Watson's translation. Colophon: "Thus
+ endeth the shyppe of fooles of this worlde. Jmprynted at Londod in
+ flete strete by W[=y]kyn de Worde. ye yere of our lorde M.CCCCC. &
+ xvii.
+
+ ¶ The nynthe yere of y^e reygne of our souerayne lorde kynge Henry y^e
+ VIII. The xx. daye of June." It contains G G 6, fours and eights
+ alternately (the signatures ending on G G iij.), besides 6 leaves, with
+ the prologue, prolude and table, before signature A.
+
+ Extremely rare. Roxburghe, £64.
+
+The Ship of Fools Fully Fraught and Richly Laden with Asses, Fools,
+Jack-daws, Ninnihammers, Coxcombs, Slenderwits, Shallowbrains, Paper-Skuls,
+Simpletons, Nickumpoops, Wiseakers, Dunces, and Blockheads, Declaring their
+several Natures, Manners and Constitutions; the occasion why this Ship was
+built, with the places of their intended Voyage, and a list of the Officers
+that bear Command therein.
+
+ If for this Voyage any have a mind,
+ They with Jack Adams may acceptance find,
+ Who will strain hard ere they shall stay behind.
+
+ Licensed, Roger L'Estrange.
+ [A large woodcut of the Ship.]
+
+London, Printed by J. W. for J. Clark, at the Bible and Harp in
+West-Smithfield. n. d. [Circa 1650.] 4to. 4 leaves.
+
+ "This book, or rather tract, has nothing in common with Barclay's Ship
+ of Fools, except the general idea. It is entirely in prose. My copy has
+ nothing to show to whom it formerly belonged."--(Letter of H. Huth,
+ Esq.) The last sentence was elicited by the inquiry whether Mr Huth's
+ copy were the one formerly belonging to Mr Heber.--See _Bibliotheca
+ Heberiana_, Part IV., No. 752.
+
+Stultifera Navis ... The modern Ship of fools. Lond. 1807, 80. Pp. xxiv.,
+295.
+
+ A wretched production in verse, in imitation of Barclay's Ship of
+ Fools, published anonymously by W. H. Ireland, the Shakesperian forger.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+III. THE EGLOGES OF ALEXADER BARCLAY, PREST.--The first three, without
+printer's name or device. No date. Quarto. Black letter.
+
+ "Here begynneth the Egloges of Alexader Barclay, prest, wherof the
+ fyrst thre conteyneth the myseryes of courters and courtes of all
+ prynces in generall, the matter wherof was translated into Englyshe by
+ the sayd Alexander in fourme of Dialogues, out of a boke named in latyn
+ Miserie Curialiu, compyled by Eneas Siluius, Poete and oratour, whiche
+ after was Pope of Rome, & named Pius." This title is over a cut of two
+ shepherds, Coridon and Cornix, the interlocutors in these three
+ eclogues. On the back is a cut of David and Bathsheba. At the end of
+ the third egloge: "Thus endyth the thyrde and last egloge of the mysery
+ of court and courters, composed by Alexander Barclay, preste, in his
+ youthe." A cut of the two shepherds and a courtier fills up the page.
+ Without date, printer's name, or device. Contains P 6, in fours, the
+ last leaf blank.
+
+III.a. THE FOURTHE EGLOGE OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY.--Pynson. No date. Quarto.
+Black letter.
+
+ It is entitled, "The Boke of Codrus and Mynaclus," over the cut of a
+ priest, with a shaven crown, writing at a plutus. It concludes with
+ "The discrypcion of the towre of Vertue & Honour, into whiche the noble
+ Hawarde contended to entre, by worthy acts of chiualry," related by
+ Menalcas, in stanzas of eight verses. At the end, "Thus endeth the
+ fourthe Eglogge of Alexandre Barcley, coteyning the maner of the riche
+ men anenst poets and other clerkes. Emprinted by Richarde Pynson priter
+ to the kynges noble grace." On the last leaf is his device, No. V.
+ Contains 22 leaves, with cuts.
+
+III.b. THE FYFTE EGLOGE OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY. --Wynkyn de Worde. No date.
+Quarto. Black letter.
+
+ "The fyfte Eglog of Alexandre Barclay of the Cytezen and vplondyshman."
+ This title is over a large woodcut of a priest, sitting in his study.
+ Beneath, "Here after foloweth the Prologe." On the verso of A ii. are
+ two cuts of two shepherds, whole lengths, with this head-title,
+ "Interlocutoures be Amyntas and Faustus." There are no other cuts.
+ Colophon: "Here endeth the v. Eglog of Alexandre Barclay of the Cytezyn
+ and vplondysshman. Imprynted at London in flete strete, at the sygne of
+ [the] Sonne, by Wynkyn de worde." Beneath, device No. v. Contains A 8,
+ B 4, C 6; 18 leaves. There is a copy in the British Museum.
+
+ With the first four Eclogues as above, Woodhouse, 1803, (Herbert's
+ copy), £25.; resold, Dent, 1827, £36.; resold, Heber, 1834, £24. 10s.
+ At Heber's sale this unique set, containing the only known copy of the
+ first edition of the first four Eclogues, was bought by Thorpe; further
+ I have not been able to trace it.
+
+III.c. THE EGLOGES.--John Herforde. No date. Quarto.
+
+ "Here begynneth the Egloges of Alex. Barclay, Priest, whereof the first
+ three conteineth the Miseries of Courters and Courtes." "Probably a
+ reprint of Pynson's impression," Dibdin. Contains only Eclogues I.-III.
+ Herbert conjectures the date to be 1548; Corser, 1546; Hazlitt, 1545.
+
+III.d. THE EGLOGES.--Humfrey Powell. No date. Quarto. Black letter.
+
+ "Here begynneth the Egloges of Alexander Barclay, priest, whereof the
+ first thre conteineth the miseries of courters and courtes, of all
+ Princes in general ... In the whiche the interloquutors be, Cornix, and
+ Coridon." Concludes: "Thus endeth the thyrde and last Eglogue of the
+ Misery of Courte and Courters, Composed by Alexander Barclay preest, in
+ his youth. Imprinted at London by Humfrey Powell." Contains only
+ Eclogues I.-III. Collation: Title, A 1; sig. A to P2, in fours; 58
+ leaves not numbered.
+
+ This is an edition of extreme rarity. It is very well printed, and the
+ title is surrounded with a woodcut border with ornamented pillars at
+ the sides. Herbert conjectures the date to be 1549, the Bib.
+ Anglo-Poetica, Lowndes, and Corser, 1548. There is a copy in the
+ Cambridge University Library, and another in the possession of David
+ Laing, Esq.
+
+ Prices: Inglis, £6. 2s. 6d.; Bright, 1845. £10. 10s.; Bib.
+ Anglo-Poetica, £15.
+
+III.e. CERTAYNE EGLOGES OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY PRIEST.--Cawood. 1570. Folio.
+Black letter.
+
+ Appended to Cawood's edition of the Ship of Fools. No title-page, cuts,
+ or pagination. The above heading on A i.
+
+ Colophon: Thus endeth the fifth and last Egloge of Alexander Barclay,
+ of the Citizen and the man of the countrey. Imprinted at London in
+ Paules Church-yarde by Iohn Cawood, Printer to the Queenes Maiestie.
+ Cum Priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.
+
+ Contains A--D, in sixes.
+
+III._f_. THE CYTEZEN AND UPLONDYSHMAN: an Eclogue [the fifth] by Alexander
+Barclay.
+
+ Printed from the original edition by Wynkyn de Worde. Edited, with an
+ Introductory Notice of Barclay and his other Eclogues, by F.W.
+ Fairholt, F.S.A. London; printed for the Percy Society [vol. XXII.],
+ 1847. 8vo. Pp. + 6, lxxiv., 47.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+IV. THE INTRODUCTORY TO WRITE AND TO PRONOUNCE FRENCHE. Coplande. 1521.
+Folio. Black letter.
+
+ 'Here begynneth the introductory to wryte, and to pronounce Frenche
+ compyled by Alexander Barcley compendiously at the commaudemet of the
+ ryght hye excellent and myghty prynce Thomas duke of Northfolke.' This
+ title is over a large woodcut of a lion rampant, supporting a shield,
+ containing a white lion in a border, (the same as that on the title of
+ the Sallust, VI.), then follows a French ballad of 16 lines in two
+ columns, the first headed, "R. Coplande to the whyte lyone, and the
+ second, "¶ Ballade." On the recto of the last leaf, 'Here foloweth the
+ maner of dauncynge of bace dauces after the vse of fraunce & other
+ places translated out of frenche in englysshe by Robert coplande.'
+ Col.: Jmprynted at London in the Fletestrete at the sygne of the rose
+ Garlande by Robert coplande, the yere of our lorde. M.CCCCC.xxi. y^e
+ xxii. day of Marche.' Neither folioed nor paged. Contains C 4, in
+ sixes, 16 leaves.
+
+ In the edition of Palsgrave (see above, p. lxxiii.), published among
+ the "Documents inédits sur l'histoire de France," the editor says of
+ this work of Barclay's: "Tous mes efforts pour découvrir un exemplaire
+ de ce curieux ouvrage ont été inutiles." There is a copy, probably
+ unique, in the Bodleian; it was formerly Herbert's, afterwards Douce's.
+
+ All the parts of this treatise relating to French pronunciation have
+ been carefully reprinted by Mr A. J. Ellis, in his treatise "On Early
+ English Pronunciation" (published by the Philological Society), Part
+ III., p. 804.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+V. THE MYRROUR OF GOOD MANERS.----Pynson. No date. Folio. Black letter.
+
+ 'Here begynneth a ryght frutefull treatyse, intituled the myrrour of
+ good maners, coteynyng the iiii. vertues, callyd cardynall, compyled in
+ latyn by Domynike Mancyn: And translate into englysshe: at the desyre
+ of syr Gyles Alyngton, knyght: by Alexander Bercley prest: and monke of
+ Ely. This title is over a cut, the same as at the head of Barclay's
+ preface to his translation of Sallust, a representation of the author
+ in a monkish habit on his knees, presenting a book to a nobleman. The
+ text begins on back of title. The original is printed in Roman letter
+ in the margins.----Colophon in a square woodcut border: Thus endeth the
+ ryght frutefull matter of the foure vertues cardynall: Jmprynted by
+ Rychard Pynson: prynter vnto the kynges noble grace: with his gracyous
+ pryuylege the whiche boke I haue prynted, at the instance & request, of
+ the ryght noble Rychard yerle of Kent. On the back, Pynson's device,
+ No. v. It has neither running titles, catch-words, nor the leaves
+ numbered. Signatures; A to G, in sixes, and H, in eights; 100 pp.
+
+ In the British Museum, Grenville collection, from Heber's collection.
+ "This edition differs materially from that used by Herbert, which has
+ led Dr Dibdin to the conclusion that there were two impressions." So
+ says a MS. note on the copy, (quoted in the Bib. Grenv.), but Dibdin
+ does not commit himself to the conclusion, his words being these: "This
+ description is given from a copy in the possession of Mr Heber; which,
+ from its varying with the account of Herbert, Mr H. supposes, with
+ justice, must be a different one from Herbert's." I have failed to
+ discover the difference.
+
+ Prices: Perry, £9.; Roxburghe (last leaf wanting), £10. 10s.;
+ Bibliotheca Anglo-Poetica, £12. 12s.; Sykes, £16. 16s.
+
+ To the above edition must belong the fragment entered in Bohn's Lowndes
+ under "Four," thus: "Four Vertues Cardinal. Lond. R. Pynson, n.d.
+ folio. Only a fragment of this Poem is known; it was printed at the
+ request of Rychard Erle of Kent."
+
+V._a._. THE MIRROUR OF GOOD MANERS.----Cawood. 1570. Folio. Black letter.
+
+ Appended to Cawood's edition of the Ship of Fools. No title page,
+ pagination, or cuts. The above heading on A 1. The Latin original
+ printed in Roman by the side of the English. Contains A-G, in sixes.
+
+ It may be useful to give here the bibliography of the other English
+ translations of Mancyn.
+
+Mancinus de quattuor Virtutibus. [The englysshe of Mancyne apon the foure
+cardynale vertues.] No place, printer's name, or date, but with the types
+of Wynkyn de Worde, circa 1518. 4to, a-d, in eights. Bodleian.
+
+ Following the title occurs: Petri Carmeliani exasticon in Dominici
+ Mancini de quattuor cardineis virtutibus libellum. The Latin portion is
+ in verse, printed in Roman letter, with marginal notes in black letter,
+ of a very small size, and the English in prose.
+
+ The English part, in black letter, is entitled: The englysshe of
+ Mancyne apon the foure cardynale vertues. n.p. or d. This portion has a
+ separate title and signatures; the title is on A 1. On sign. F ii.
+ occurs, "The correccion of the englysshe," and on the verso of the same
+ leaf is printed, "The correction of the texte." A, B, C, and D, 8
+ leaves each; E, 6 leaves; and F, 4 leaves; 42 leaves altogether. A copy
+ of this is in the British Museum. Only two perfect copies are known.
+
+A Plaine Path to Perfect Vertue: Deuised and found out by Mancinus, a
+Latine Poet, and translated into English by G. Turberuile, Gentleman.
+
+ Ardua ad virtutem via.
+
+ Imprinted at London in Knightrider-strete, by Henry Bynneman, for
+ Leonard Maylard. Anno. 1568. 8vo., 72 leaves. Black letter, in verse.
+ Dedicated "To the right Honorable and hys singular good Lady, Lady
+ Anne, Coutesse Warvvicke." There is also a metrical address to the
+ reader, and 8 4-line stanzas by James Sanford in praise of the
+ translator.
+
+ Freeling, 1836, No. 911, £7., bought for Mr Corser: now in the British
+ Museum. Supposed to be unique.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+VI. CRONYCLE compyled in Latyn, by the renowned Sallust.----Pynson. No
+date. Folio.
+
+ "Here begynneth the famous cronycle of the warre, which the romayns had
+ agaynst Jugurth, vsurper of the kyngdome of Numidy. which cronycle is
+ compyled in latyn by the renowmed romayne Salust. And translated into
+ englysshe by syr Alexander Barclay preest, at comaundement of the right
+ hye and mighty prince: Thomas duke of Northfolke." There are two
+ editions by Pynson of this book.
+
+ I. In this edition the lower half of the title page has a square
+ enclosed by double lines containing the Norfolk arms, a lion rampant,
+ holding a shield in his paws, on which is another lion, a cut which
+ also appears on the title of The Introductory. There is a full page cut
+ of the royal arms with portcullis, &c., on the back, followed by five
+ pages of Table. The preface to his patron, in English,----together with
+ a Latin dedication to Bishop Veysy, in parallel columns,----begins on
+ the verso of signature A iiii, under a cut of the author presenting his
+ book to him, the same as that which appears on the title of The myrrour
+ of good maners. [See the cut prefixed to the Notice of Barclay's life,
+ which is confined however to a reproduction of the two principal
+ figures only, two other figures, evidently of servants, and some
+ additional ornamentation of the room being omitted.] At the end of this
+ preface is another cut of the author, writing at a desk; also on the
+ back of the leaf is a cut of the disembarking of an army. There are no
+ other cuts, but the volume is adorned throughout with very fine woodcut
+ initials. Catchwords are given irregularly at the beginning, but
+ regularly towards the end, at the bottom of the left hand page only,
+ but the preface has them to every column. Colophon:----"Thus endeth the
+ famous cronycle of the war ... imprented at London by Rycharde Pynson
+ printer vnto the kynges noble grace: with priuylege vnto hym grauted by
+ our sayd souerayne lorde the kynge." On the back of the last leaf is
+ Pynson's device, No. v. The date is erroneously conjectured in Moss's
+ Classical Bib. to be 1511. It was probably 1519, certainly between 1519
+ and 1524. Contains 92 numbered leaves, and one leaf unnumbered, besides
+ eight leaves of preliminary matter: numbering quite regular:
+ signatures; a 8, A--O, 6 s, P, Q, 4 s. In the British Museum, Grenville
+ Collection, the Bodleian, and the Public Library at Cambridge.
+
+ Prices: Roxburghe, £23, 12s.; Sykes, £8, 12s.; Heber, £5, 15s. 6d.;
+ Sotheby's, 1857, £10.
+
+ II. In this edition, the title page is the same as in the other with
+ the exception of a semicolon for a full point after Numidy, the
+ succeeding which having an e added, and romayne being without the e,
+ but on the back instead of a cut of the royal arms The table commences;
+ the preface begins on the recto of sign. a 4, under the cut of the
+ author presenting his book to the Duke of Norfolk, and ends without the
+ leaf of woodcuts which is appended to the preface of the first edition.
+ Pynson's device at the end of the book is also wanting in this edition.
+ It contains only fol. lxxxvi., with six leaves of preliminary matter;
+ the pagination is a little irregular, xxi. and xxii. are wanting but
+ xxiii. is given three times, and lxxvii. is repeated for lxxviii.; the
+ British Museum copy is deficient in folios lxii. and lxv.: signatures;
+ a 6, A--N, 6 s, and O, P, 4 s. The initials are the same as those in
+ the first edition in the great majority of cases, but appear much more
+ worn. There are catch-words only at the end of every signature
+ throughout the book, except to the preface, which has them to every
+ column. In the British Museum, and the Public Library, Cambridge.
+
+ Both editions have the Latin in Roman letter in the margins, and
+ running-titles. Ames mentions an edition with cuts, which must be the
+ same as the first of these.
+
+VI._a._ CRONICLE OF WARRE. Compiled in Laten by Saluste. Corrected by
+Thomas Paynell. Waley, 1557. Quarto.
+
+ "Here begynneth the famous Cronicle of warre, whyche the Romaynes hadde
+ agaynst Jugurth vsurper of the kyngedome of Numidie: whiche Cronicle is
+ compiled in Laten by the renowmed Romayne Saluste: and translated into
+ englyshe by syr alexander Barklaye prieste. And nowe perused and
+ corrected by Thomas Paynell. Newely Jmprinted in the yere of oure Lorde
+ God M.D.L vij." On the verso of the title begins Paynell's
+ dedication--"To the ryghte honorable Lorde Antonye Vycounte Mountegue,
+ Knyghte of the ryghte honorable order of the garter, and one of the
+ Kynge and Queenes Magesties pryuie counsayle." "The prologue" begins on
+ a 1. Barclay's preface and dedication are omitted, as well as the Latin
+ of Sallust. Col.: "Thus endeth the famouse Cronicle of the warre ...
+ against Jugurth ... translated... by syr Alexander Barkeley, prieste,
+ at commaundemente of ... Thomas, duke of Northfolke, And imprinted at
+ London in Foster lane by Jhon Waley." Signatures; H h, 4 s, besides
+ title and dedication, two leaves: the pagination commences on a 4, at
+ "The fyrste chapter," the last folio being cxx.; xxi. is repeated for
+ xxii., xxiii. for xxiv., xix., stands for xxix., lvii. is repeated, and
+ lxxiv. is repeated for lxxv.
+
+ This edition forms the second part of a volume having the following
+ general title page: The Conspiracie of Catiline, written by Constancius
+ Felicius Durantinus, and translated bi Thomas Paynell: with the
+ historye of Jugurth, writen by the famous Romaine Salust, and
+ translated into Englyshe by Alexander Barcklaye.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+VII. ALEX. BARCLAY HIS FIGURE OF OUR MOTHER HOLY CHURCH OPPRESSED BY THE
+FRENCHE KING. Pynson. Quarto.
+
+ This is given by Herbert on the authority of Maunsell's Catalogue, p.
+ 7.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+VIII. THE LYFE OF THE GLORIOUS MARTYR SAYNT GEORGE. Translated by Alexander
+Barclay, while he was a monk of Ely, and dedicated to N. West, Bp. of Ely.
+Pinson [Circa 1530.] Quarto. [Herbert, 289].
+
+ * * * * *
+
+IX. THE LYFE OF SAYNTE THOMAS. Pynson. No date. Quarto. Black letter.
+
+ "¶ Here begynneth the lyfe of the blessed martyr saynte Thomas." This
+ title is the headline of this little treatise; at the beginning of
+ which is indented a small woodcut of a man in armour, striking at the
+ bishop, with his cross-bearer before him. It begins "The martir saynte
+ Thomas was son to Gylberde Bequet a burgeys of the Cite of London. And
+ was borne in y^e place, whereas now standeth the churche called saynte
+ Thomas of Akers." It concludes, "¶ Thus endeth the lyfe of the blessed
+ martyr saynt Thomas of Caunturbury. Jmprynted by me Rycharde Pynson,
+ prynter vnto the kynges noble grace." Contains eight leaves. There is a
+ copy in the British Museum. Assigned to Barclay on tne authority of
+ Wood.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+X. HAYTHON'S CRONYCLE. Pynson. No date. Folio. Black letter.
+
+ "Here begynneth a lytell Cronycle, translated & imprinted at the cost &
+ charge of Rycharde Pynson, by the comaundement of the ryght high and
+ mighty prince, Edwarde duke of Buckingham, yerle of Gloucestre,
+ Staffarde, and of Northamton," over a large woodcut. Colophon: "Here
+ endeth, [_&c_.] Imprinted by the sayd _Richarde Pynson_, printer unto
+ the Kinges noble grace." Date conjectured to be between 1520 and 1530.
+ Pynson's device, No. 5, at the end. Collation: A--E, and H, in sixes; F
+ and G, and I, in fours; forty-eight leaves.
+
+ On the verso of fol. 35, "Here endeth y^e boke of thistoris of thoriet
+ partes copyled by a relygious man frere Hayton frere of Premostre
+ order, sotyme lorde of court & cosyn german to the kyng of Armeny vpon
+ y^e passage of the holy lande. By the comaudement of y^e holy fader y^e
+ apostle of Rome Clemet the V. in y^e cite of Potiers which boke I
+ Nicholas Falcon, writ first in French ... I haue traslated it in Latyn
+ for our holy father y^e pope. In the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.VII.
+ in y^e moneth of August. Deo gras."
+
+ "The travels of Hayton into the Holy Land and Armenia, and his history
+ of Asia, is one of the most valuable of the early accounts of the east.
+ The present is the only translation into English, and from the
+ circumstances of its being printed by Pynson and having been (when in
+ Mr Heber's collection) bound with two other works (Mirrour of good
+ Maners and Sallust) both translated by Barclay, was probably also
+ translated by him. It is a book of extraordinaiy rarity, no perfect
+ copy that can be traced having previously occured for sale."
+ (Bibliotheca Grenvilliana, vol. I.)
+
+ Heber's copy (the one above mentioned), £40. 9s. 6d.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+THE SHIP OF FOOLS.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+_Venerandissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino: domino Thome Cornisshe
+Tenenensis pontifici ac diocesis Badonensis Suffraganio vigilantissimo, sue
+paternitatis Capellanus humilimus Alexander Barclay suiipsius
+recommendacionem cum omni summissione, et reuerentia._
+
+_Tametsi crebris negocijs: varioque impedimentorum genere fatigatus paulo
+diutiùs quàm volueram a studio reuulsus eram. Attamen obseruandissime
+presul: Stultiferam classem (vt sum tue paternati pollicitus) iam tandem
+absolui et impressam ad te destinaui. Neque tamen certum laborem pro
+incerto premio (humano. s.) meis impossuissem humeris: nisi Seruianum illud
+dictum (longe anteaqam inceperam) admonuisset. Satius esse non incipere
+quàm inceptum minus perfectum relinquere. Completo tamen opere: nec
+quemquam magis dignum quàm tua sit paternitas existimaui cui id dedicarem:
+tum quia saluberrima tua prudentia, morum grauitas, vite sanctitas
+doctrineque assiduitas: errantes fatuos mumdanis ab illecebris ad virtutis
+tramites: difficiles licet: possint reducere: tum vero: quia sacros ad
+ordines per te sublimatus et promotus, multisque aliis tuis beneficiis
+ditatus non potui tibi meum obsequium non coartare. Opus igitur tue
+paternitati dedicaui: meorum primicias laborum qui in lucem eruperunt Atque
+vt tua consuluerit paternatis: autoris carmina cum meis vulgaribus
+rithmicis vná alternatim coniunixi: et quantum a vero carminum sensu
+errauerim, tue autoritatis iudicium erit. Fateor equidem multo plura
+adiecisse quam ademisse: partim ad vicia que hac nostra in regione
+abundantius pullulant mordacius carpenda: partimque ob Rithmi
+difficultatem. Adieci etiam quasdam Biblie aliorumque autorum concordancias
+in margine notatas quo singula magis lectoribus illucescant: Simul ad
+inuidorum caninos latratus pacandos: et rabida ora obstruenda: qui vbi quid
+facinorum: quo ipsi scatent: reprehensum audierint. continuo patulo gutture
+liuida euomunt dicta, scripta dilacerant. digna scombris ac thus carmina
+recensent: sed hi si pergant maledicere: vt stultiuagi comites classem
+insiliant. At tu venerande Presul Discipuli tui exiguum munusculum: hilari
+fronte accipito, Classemque nostram (si quid vagum, si quid erronium: si
+quid denique superfluum emineat: optimam in partem interpretando: ab
+inuidorum faucibus: tue autoritatis clipeo tucaris. Vale. Ex Impressoria
+officina Richardi Pynson. iij. Idus Decembris._
+
+¶ THIS PRESENT BOKE NAMED THE SHYP OF FOLYS OF THE WORLDE WAS TRANSLATED IN
+THE COLLEGE OF SAYNT MARY OTERY IN THE COUNTE OF DEUONSHYRE: OUT OF LATEN,
+FRENCH, AND DOCHE INTO ENGLYSSHE TONGE BY ALEXANDER BARCLAY PRESTE: AND AT
+THAT TYME CHAPLEN IN THE SAYDE COLLEGE. TRANSLATED THE YERE OF OUR LORDE
+GOD. M.CCCCC.VIII. IMPRENTYD IN THE CYTE OF LONDON IN FLETESTRE AT THE
+SIGNE OF SAYNT GEORGE. BY RYCHARDE PYNSON TO HYS COSTE AND CHARGE: ENDED
+THE YERE OF OUR SAUIOUR. M. D. IX. THE. XIIII. DAY OF DECEMBER.
+
+TABULA.
+
+¶ THE REGYSTER OR TABLE OF THIS PRESENT BOKE IN ENGLYSSHE.
+
+[VOLUME I.]
+
+¶ Alexander Barclay excusynge the rudenes of his translacion, y^e first
+lefe Barclay y^e translatour to y^e folys.
+
+A prologe in prose shewynge to what intent this Boke was firste made, & who
+were the first Auctours of it.
+
+Another Prologe: in Balade concernyng the same.
+
+In what place this Boke was translate and to what purpose it was
+translatyd.
+
+¶ Here begynneth the Folys and firste of inprofytable bokys.
+
+¶ Of euyll Counsellours Juges & men of lawe.
+
+Of couetyse and prodigalyte.
+
+Of newe disgysynges in apparayle.
+
+¶ A lawde of the nobles and grauyte of Kynge Henry the eyght.
+
+Of olde Folys encresynge foly with age.
+
+Of negligent Fathers ayenst their Children.
+
+Of taleberers: & mouers of debate.
+
+Of nat folowers of good counsel.
+
+Of vngoodly maners, and dysordred.
+
+Of the hurtynge of frendshyp.
+
+Of dispysers of holy scripture.
+
+Of folys inprouydent.
+
+Of disordred & venerious loue.
+
+Of them that synne trustynge vpon the mercy of almyghty god.
+
+Of folys y^t begyn great byldynge without sufficient prouysion.
+
+Of glotons, and droncardes.
+
+Of ryches vnprofytable.
+
+Of folys that wyl serue two lordes both togyther.
+
+Of superflue speche.
+
+Of them that correct other, them self culpable in the same faut.
+
+Of folys that fynde others good, nat restorynge the same to the owner.
+
+¶ The sermon or doctryne of wysdom.
+
+Of Folys bostyng them in fortune.
+
+Of the superflue curyosyte of men.
+
+Of great borowers, & slacke payers.
+
+Of vnprofitable vowers & peticions.
+
+Of negligent stodyers.
+
+Of them that folvsshly speke ayenst the workes of god.
+
+Of lewde Juges of others dedes.
+
+Of pluralytees of benefyces.
+
+Of synners that prolonge from daye to day to amende theyr myslyuyng.
+
+Of men that ar Jelous.
+
+Of auoutry, and specially of suche as ar bawdes to theyr wyues.
+
+Of suche as nedys wyll contynue in theyr foly nat withstandynge holsom
+erudicion.
+
+An addicion of the secundaries of Otery saynt Mary, in Deuynshyre.
+
+Of wrathfull folys.
+
+Of the mutabylyte of fortune.
+
+Of seke men inobedient.
+
+Of to open councellers.
+
+Of folys that can nat be ware by y^e mysfortune nor take example of others
+damage.
+
+Of folys that force or care for the bacbytynge of lewde people.
+
+Of mockers and fals accusers.
+
+Of them that despyse euerlastynge blys for worldly thynges & transitory.
+
+Of talkers and makers of noyse in the Chirche of god.
+
+Of folys that put them self in wylful ieopardy and peryll.
+
+Of the way of felycyte, and godnes and the payne to come to synners.
+
+Of olde folys y^t gyue example of vyce to youth negligent & vnexpert.
+
+Of bodely lust or corporall voluptuosyte.
+
+Of folys that can nat kepe secrete theyr owne counsell.
+
+Of yonge folys that take olde wymen to theyr wyues nat for loue but for
+ryches.
+
+Of enuyous Folys.
+
+Of impacient folys disdaynynge to abyde and suffer correccion, for theyr
+profyte.
+
+Of folysshe Fesicians vsynge theyr practyke without speculacyon.
+
+Of the ende of worldly honour & power and of folys y^t trust in them.
+
+An addicion of Alexander barclay.
+
+Of predestinacyon.
+
+Of folys that aply other mennys besynes leuynge theyr owne vndone.
+
+Of the vyce of ingratytude or vnkyndnes and folys that vse it.
+
+Of Folys that stande to moche in theyr owne conceyte.
+
+Of folys that delyte them in daunsynge.
+
+Of nyght watchers.
+
+Of the vanyte of beggers.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Alexander Barclay excusynge the rudenes of his translacion.
+
+ Go Boke: abasshe the thy rudenes to present.
+ To men auaunced to worshyp, and honour.
+ By byrthe or fortune: or to men eloquent.
+ By thy submyssion excuse thy Translatour.
+ But whan I remember the comon behauour
+ Of men: I thynke thou ought to quake for fere
+ Of tunges enuyous whose venym may the dere
+
+ Tremble, fere, and quake, thou ought I say agayne.
+ For to the Redar thou shewest by euydence
+ Thy selfe of Rethoryke pryuate and barayne
+ In speche superflue: and fruteles of sentence.
+ Thou playnly blamest without al difference
+ Bothe hye and lowe sparinge eche mannes name.
+ Therfore no maruayle thoughe many do the blame.
+
+ But if thou fortune to lye before a State
+ As Kynge or Prince or Lordes great or smal.
+ Or doctour diuyne or other Graduate
+ Be this thy Excuse to content theyr mynde withal
+ My speche is rude my termes comon and rural
+ And I for rude peple moche more conuenient.
+ Than for Estates, lerned men, or eloquent.
+
+ But of this one poynt thou nedest not to fere
+ That any goode man: vertuous and Just.
+ Wyth his yl speche shal the hurt or dere.
+ But the defende. As I suppose and trust.
+ But suche Unthriftes as sue theyr carnal lust
+ Whome thou for vyce dost sharply rebuke and blame
+ Shal the dysprayse: emperisshinge thy name.
+
+An exhortacion of Alexander Barclay.
+
+ But ye that shal rede this boke: I you exhorte.
+ And you that ar herars therof also I pray
+ Where as ye knowe that ye be of this sorte:
+ Amende your lyfe and expelle that vyce away.
+ Slomber nat in syn. Amende you whyle ye may.
+ And yf ye so do and ensue Vertue and grace.
+ Wythin my Shyp ye get no rowme ne place.
+
+Barclay the translatour tho the Foles.
+
+ To Shyp galantes the se is at the ful.
+ The wynde vs calleth our sayles ar displayed.
+ Where may we best aryue? at Lyn or els at Hulle?
+ To vs may no hauen in Englonde be denayd.
+ Why tary we? the Ankers ar vp wayed.
+ If any corde or Cabyl vs hurt, let outher hynder.
+ Let slyp the ende, or els hewe it in sonder.
+
+ Retourne your syght beholde vnto the shore.
+ There is great nomber that fayne wold be aborde.
+ They get no rowme our Shyp can holde no more.
+ Haws in the Cocke gyue them none other worde.
+ God gyde vs from Rockes, quicsonde tempest and forde
+ If any man of warre, wether, or wynde apere.
+ My selfe shal trye the wynde and kepe the Stere.
+
+ But I pray you reders haue ye no dysdayne.
+ Thoughe Barclay haue presumed of audacite
+ This Shyp to rule as chefe mayster and Captayne.
+ Though some thynke them selfe moche worthyer than he.
+ It were great maruayle forsoth syth he hath be.
+ A scoler longe: and that in dyuers scoles
+ But he myght be Captayne of a Shyp of Foles
+
+ But if that any one be in suche maner case.
+ That he wyl chalange the maystershyp fro me
+ Yet in my Shyp can I nat want a place.
+ For in euery place my selfe I oft may se.
+ But this I leue besechynge eche degre:
+ To pardon my youthe and to bolde interprise.
+ For harde is it duely to speke of euery vyce.
+
+ For yf I had tunges an hundreth: and wyt to fele
+ Al thinges natural and supernaturall
+ A thousand mouthes: and voyce as harde as stele.
+ And sene all the seuen Sciences lyberal.
+ Yet cowde I neuer touche the vyces all.
+ And syn of the worlde: ne theyr braunches comprehende:
+ Nat thoughe I lyued vnto the worldes ende.
+
+ But if these vyces whiche mankynde doth incomber.
+ Were clene expellyd and vertue in theyr place.
+ I cowde nat haue gathered of fowles so great a nomber.
+ Whose foly from them out chaseth goddys grace.
+ But euery man that knowes hym in that case
+ To this rude Boke let hym gladly intende.
+ And lerne the way his lewdnes to amende.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+[The Prologe of James Locher.]
+
+After that I haue longe mused by my self of the sore confounded and
+vncertayne cours of mannys lyfe, and thinges therto belonginge: at the last
+I haue by my vigilant meditacion found and noted many degrees of errours:
+wherby mankynd wandreth from the way of trouth I haue also noted that many
+wyse men and wel lettred haue writen right fruteful doctrines: wherby they
+haue heled these dyseses and intollerable perturbacions of the mynde: and
+the goostly woundes therof, moche better than Esculapius which was fyrst
+Inuentour of Phesyke and amonge the Gentyles worshypped as a God. In the
+contrey of Grece were stodyes fyrst founded and ordeyned in the which began
+and sprange holsom medicyne which gaue vnto infect myndes frutful doctryne
+and norisshinge. Amonge whome Socrates that great begynner and honourer of
+wysdom began to dispute of ye maners of men. But for that he coude nat
+fynde certayne ende of goodnes and hyest felicite in naturall thinges: nor
+induce men to the same, he gaue the hye contemplacions of his mynde to
+moral vertues. And in so moche passed he al other in Philosophy moral that
+it was sayde that he called Philosophy down from the Imperial heuen. whan
+this Socrates perceyued the mindes of men to be prone, and extremely
+inclyned to viciousnes he had gret affeccion to subdue suche maners.
+Wherfore in comon places of the Cyte of Athenes he instruct and infourmed
+the peple in such doctrynes as compasith the clere and immaculate welles of
+the moste excellent and souerayne gode. After the disces of Socrates
+succeded ye godly Plato whiche in moral Philosophy ouerpassed also a great
+part of his tyme And certaynly nat without a cause was he called godly. For
+by what stody myght be more holely or better socour mankynde than by suche
+doctrynes as he gaue. He wrote and ordeyned lawes moste egal and iust He
+edityed vnto the Grekes a comon welthe stable, quyet and commendable. And
+ordeyned the societe and company of them most iocund and amyable. He
+prepared a brydel to refrayne the lust and sensualyte of the body. And
+fynally he changed the yl ignorance feblenes and negligence of youth vnto
+dylygence, strength and vertue. In tyme also of these Phylosophers sprange
+the florisshynge age of Poetes: whiche amonge lettred men had nat smal
+rowme and place. And that for theyr eloquent Retoryke and also for theyr
+mery ficcions and inuencions. Of the whiche Poetes some wrote in moste
+ornate termes in ditees heroycal wherin the noble actes and lyues both of
+dyuyne and humayne creatures ar wont to be noted and writem. Some wrote of
+tylling of the grounde. Some of the Planetes, of the courses of ye sterres:
+and of the mouynge of the heuyn and fyrmament. Some of the Empyre and
+shameful subieccion of disordred loue. And many other of the myserable
+ruyne and fal of Kynges and princes for vice: as Tragedies. And some other
+wrote Comedyes with great libertye of speche: which Comedies we cal
+Interludes. Amonge whome Aristophanes Eupolis and Cratinus mooste laudable
+Poetes passed al other. For whan they sawe the youth of Athenes and of al
+the remanent of Grece inclyned to al ylles they toke occasion to note suche
+myslyuinge. And so in playne wordes they repreued without fauour the vyces
+of the sayd yl disposyd peple of what condicion or order they were: Of this
+auncient wrytinge of Comedyes our laten Poetes deuysed a maner of wrytinge
+nat inelegant. And fyrst Lucilius composed one Satyre in the whiche he
+wrote by name the vices of certayne princes and Citezyns of Rome And that
+with many bourdes so y^t with his mery speche myxt with rebukes he correct
+al them of the cyte that disordredly lyued. But this mery speche vsed he
+nat in his writing to the intent to excercyse wanton wordes or vnrefrayned
+lascyuyte, or to put his pleasour in suche dissolute langage: but to ye
+intent to quenche vyces and to prouoke the commons to wysdome and vertue,
+and to be asshamed of theyr foly and excessyfe lyuynge. of hym all the
+Latyn poetes haue takyn example, and begynnynge to wryte Satyrs whiche the
+grekes named Comedyes: As Fabius specifyeth in his X boke of institucions.
+After Lucilius succeded Horacius, moche more eloquent in wrytynge whiche in
+the same deseruyd great laude: Persius also left to vs onely one boke by
+the whiche he commyttyd his name and laude to perpetuall memory. The last
+and prynce of all was Juuenall whiche in his iocunde poemys comprehendyd al
+that was wryten most eloquent and pleasaunt of all the poetis of that sorte
+afore his tyme: O noble men, and diligent hertes and myndes, o laudable
+maners and tymes, these worthy men exyled ydelnes, wherby they haue
+obtayned nat small worshyp and great commodyte example and doctryne lefte
+to vs theyr posteryours why begyn we nat to vnderstonde and perceyue. Why
+worshyp nat the people of our tyme these poetis why do nat they reuerence
+to ye interpretours of them do they nat vnderstonde: that no poetes wryte,
+but outher theyr mynde is to do pleasure or els profyte to the reder, or
+ellys they togyther wyll doo bothe profyte and pleasoure why are they
+dyspysed of many rude carters of nowe a dayes which vnderstonde nat them,
+And for lacke of them haue nat latyn to vtter and expresse ye wyl of their
+mynde. Se whether poetes ar to be dispised. they laude vertue and hym that
+vseth it rebukyng vices with the vsers therof, They teche what is good and
+what is euyll: to what ende vyce, and what ende vertue bringeth vs, and do
+nat Poetis reuyle and sharply byte in their poemys all suche as ar vnmeke,
+Prowde, Couetous, Lecherous, Wanton, delycyous, Wrathfull glotons, wasters,
+Enuyours, Enchauntours, faythebrakers, rasshe, vnauysed, malapert, drunken,
+vntaught foles, and suche lyke. Shulde theyr writyng that suche thinges
+disprayse and reuyle be dyspised of many blynde Dotardes y^t nowe lyue
+whiche enuy that any man shulde haue or vnderstonde ye thyng whiche they
+knowe nat. The Poetes also wyth great lawdes commende and exalt the noble
+folowers of vertue ascribyng to euery man rewardes after his merytes. And
+shortly to say, the intencion of al Poetes hath euer ben to repreue vyce:
+and to commende vertue. But syns it is so that nowe in our dayes ar so many
+neglygent and folysshe peple that they ar almost innumerable whiche
+despisynge the loue of vertue: folowe the blyndenes and vanyte of this
+worlde: it was expedient that of newe some lettred man, wyse, and subtil of
+wyt shulde awake and touche ye open vices of foles that now lyue: and blame
+theyr abhomynable lyfe. This fourme and lybertye of writinge, and charge
+hathe taken vpon hym the Right excellent and worthy Mayster Sebastian Brant
+Doctour of both the Lawes and noble Oratour and Poete to the comon welthe
+of al people in playne and comon speche of Doche in the contrey of Almayne:
+to the ymytacion of Dant Florentyne: and Francis Petrarche Poetes heroycal
+which in their maternal langage haue composed maruelous Poemes and
+ficcions. But amonge diuers inuencions composed of the sayde Sebastian
+brant I haue noted one named ye Shyp of Foles moche expedient and necessary
+to the redar which the sayd Sebastian composed in doche langage. And after
+hym one called James Locher his Disciple translated the same into Laten to
+the vnderstondinge of al Christen nacions where Laten is spoken. Than
+another (whose name to me is vnknowen) translated the same into Frenche. I
+haue ouersene the fyrst Inuencion in Doche and after that the two
+translations in Laten and Frenche whiche in blaminge the disordred lyfe of
+men of our tyme agreeth in sentence: threfolde in langage wherfore wylling
+to redres the errours and vyces of this oure Royalme of Englonde: as the
+foresayde composer and translatours hath done in theyr Contrees I haue
+taken vpon me: howbeit vnworthy to drawe into our Englysshe tunge the sayd
+boke named ye shyp of folys as nere to ye sayd thre Langages as the parcyte
+of my wyt wyll suffer me. But ye reders gyue ye pardon vnto Alexander de
+Barklay If ignoraunce negligence or lacke of wyt cause hym to erre in this
+translacion his purpose and synguler desyre is to content youre myndes. And
+sothely he hathe taken vpon hym the translacion of this present Boke
+neyther for hope of rewarde nor lawde of man: but onely for the holsome
+instruccion commodyte and Doctryne of wysdome, and to clense the vanyte and
+madnes of folysshe people of whom ouer great nombre is in the Royalme of
+Englonde. Therfore let euery man beholde and ouerrede this boke: And than I
+doute nat but he shal se the errours of his lyfe of what condycyon that he
+be. in lyke wyse as he shal se in a Myrrour the fourme of his countenaunce
+and vysage: And if he amende suche fautes as he redeth here wherein he
+knoweth hymself gylty, and passe forth the resydue of his lyfe in the order
+of good maners than shall he haue the fruyte and auauntage wherto I haue
+translatyd this boke.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Here begynneth the prologe.
+
+ Amonge the people of euery regyon
+ And ouer the worlde, south north eest and west
+ Soundeth godly doctryne in plenty and foyson
+ Wherin the grounde of vertue and wysdome doth rest
+ Rede gode and bad, and kepe the to the best
+ Was neuer more plenty of holsome doctryne
+ Nor fewer people that doth therto enclyne
+
+ We haue the Bybyll whiche godly doth expresse
+ Of the olde testament the lawes mysticall
+ And also of the newe our erour to redresse
+ Of phylosophy and other artes liberall
+ With other bokes of vertues morall
+ But thoughe suche bokes vs godly wayes shewe
+ We all ar blynde no man wyll them ensue
+
+ Banysshed is doctryne, we wander in derknes
+ Throughe all the worlde: our selfe we wyll not knowe
+ Wysdome is exyled, alas blynde folysshenes
+ Mysgydeth the myndes of people hye and lowe
+ Grace is decayed, yll governaunce doth growe
+ Both prudent Pallas and Minerua are slayne
+ Or els to heuyn retourned are they agayne
+
+ Knowledge of trouth, Prudence, and iust Symplicite
+ Hath vs clene left: For we set of them no store.
+ Our Fayth is defyled loue, goodnes, and Pyte:
+ Honest maners nowe ar reputed of: no more.
+ Lawyers ar lordes: but Justice is rent and tore.
+ Or closed lyke a Monster within dores thre.
+ For without mede: or money no man can hyr se.
+
+ Al is disordred: Vertue hathe no rewarde.
+ Alas, Compassion: and Mercy bothe ar slayne.
+ Alas, the stony hartys of pepyl ar so harde
+ That nought can constrayne theyr folyes to refrayne
+ But styl they procede: and eche other meyntayne.
+ So wander these foles: incresinge without nomber.
+ That al the worlde they vtterly encomber.
+
+ Blasphemers of Chryst; Hostlers; and Tauerners:
+ Crakars and bosters with Courters auenterous,
+ Bawdes and Pollers with comon extorcioners
+ Ar taken nowe adayes in the worlde moste glorious.
+ But the gyftes of grace and al wayes gracious
+ We haue excluded. Thus lyue we carnally:
+ Utterly subdued to al lewdnes and Foly.
+
+ Thus is of Foles a sorte almost innumerable.
+ Defilynge the worlde with syn and Vylany.
+ Some thynkinge them self moche wyse and commendable
+ Thoughe al theyr dayes they lyue vnthryftely.
+ No goodnes they perceyue nor to no goode aplye.
+ But if he haue a great wombe, and his Cofers ful
+ Than is none holde wyser bytwene London and Hul.
+
+ But to assemble these Foles in one bonde.
+ And theyr demerites worthely to note.
+ Fayne shal I Shyppes of euery maner londe.
+ None shalbe left: Barke, Galay, Shyp, nor Bote.
+ One vessel can nat brynge them al aflote.
+ For yf al these Foles were brought into one Barge
+ The bote shulde synke so sore shulde be the charge.
+
+ The sayles ar hawsed, a pleasant cole dothe blowe.
+ The Foles assembleth as fast as they may dryue.
+ Some swymmeth after: other as thycke doth rowe
+ In theyr small botes, as Bees about a hyue
+ The nomber is great, and eche one doth stryue
+ For to be chefe as Purser and Capytayne
+ Quarter mayster, Lodesman or els Boteswayne.
+
+ They ron to our shyp, eche one doth greatly fere
+ Lyst his slacke paas, sholde cause hym byde behynde
+ The wynde ryseth, and is lyke the sayle to tere
+ Eche one enforseth the anker vp to wynde
+ The se swellyth by planettes well I fynde
+ These obscure clowdes threteneth vs tempest
+ All are nat in bed whiche shall haue yll rest
+
+ We are full lade and yet forsoth I thynke
+ A thousand are behynde, whom we may not receyue
+ For if we do, our nauy clene shall synke
+ He oft all lesys that coueytes all to haue
+ From London Rockes almyghty god vs saue
+ For if we there anker, outher bote or barge
+ There be so many that they vs wyll ouercharge
+
+ Ye London Galantes, arere, ye shall nat enter
+ We kepe the streme, and touche nat the shore
+ In Cyte nor in Court we dare nat well auenter
+ Lyst perchaunce we sholde displeasure haue therfore
+ But if ye wyll nedes some shall haue an ore
+ And all the remenaunt shall stande afar at large
+ And rede theyr fautes paynted aboute our barge.
+
+ Lyke as a myrrour doth represent agayne
+ The fourme and fygure of mannes countenaunce
+ So in our shyp shall he se wrytyn playne
+ The fourme and fygure of his mysgouernaunce
+ What man is fautles, but outher ignoraunce
+ Or els wylfulnes causeth hym offende:
+ Than let hym nat disdayne this shyp, tyll he amende.
+
+ And certaynly I thynke that no creature
+ Lyuynge in this lyfe mortall in transytory
+ Can hym self kepe and stedfastly endure
+ Without all spot, as worthy eternall glory
+ But if he call to his mynde and memory
+ Fully the dedys both of his youthe and age
+ He wyll graunt in this shyp to kepe some stage
+
+ But who so euer wyll knowlege his owne foly
+ And it repent, lyuynge after in sympylnesse
+ Shall haue no place nor rowme more in our nauy
+ But become felawe to pallas the goddesse
+ But he that fyxed is in suche a blyndnesse
+ That thoughe he be nought he thynketh al is well
+ Suche shall in this Barge bere a babyll and a bell
+
+ These with other lyke may eche man se and rede
+ Eche by themselfe in this small boke ouerall
+ The fautes shall he fynde if he take good hede
+ Of all estatis as degres temporall
+ With gyders of dignytees spirituall
+ Bothe pore and riche, Chorles and Cytezyns
+ For hast to lepe a borde many bruse theyr shynnys
+
+ Here is berdles youth, and here is crokyd age
+ Children with theyr faders that yll do them insygne
+ And doth nat intende theyr wantones to swage
+ Nouther by worde nor yet by discyplyne
+ Here be men of euery science and doctryne
+ Lerned and vnlerned man mayde chylde and wyfe
+ May here se and rede the lewdenes of theyr lyfe.
+
+ Here ar vyle wymen: whome loue Immoderate
+ And lust Venereall bryngeth to hurt and shame.
+ Here ar prodigal Galantes: wyth mouers of debate.
+ And thousandes mo: whome I nat wel dare name.
+ Here ar Bacbyters whiche goode lyuers dyffame.
+ Brakers of wedlocke, men proude: and couetous:
+ Pollers, and pykers with folke delicious.
+
+ It is but foly to rehers the names here
+ Of al suche Foles: as in one Shelde or targe.
+ Syns that theyr foly dystynctly shal apere
+ On euery lefe: in Pyctures fayre and large.
+ To Barclays stody: and Pynsones cost and charge
+ Wherfore ye redars pray that they both may be saued
+ Before God, syns they your folyes haue thus graued.
+
+ But to thentent that euery man may knowe
+ The cause of my wrytynge: certes I intende
+ To profyte and to please both hye and lowe
+ And blame theyr fautes wherby they may amende
+ But if that any his quarell wyll defende
+ Excusynge his fautes to my derysyon
+ Knowe he that noble poetes thus haue done.
+
+ Afore my dayes a thousande yere ago
+ Blamynge and reuylynge the inconuenyence
+ Of people, wyllynge them to withdrawe therfro
+ Them I ensue: nat lyke of intellygence
+ And though I am nat to them lyke in science
+ Yet this is my wyll mynde and intencion
+ To blame all vyce lykewyse as they haue done.
+
+ To tender youth my mynde is to auayle
+ That they eschewe may all lewdenes and offence
+ Whiche doth theyr myndes often sore assayle
+ Closynge the iyen of theyr intellygence
+ But if I halt in meter or erre in eloquence
+ Or be to large in langage I pray you blame nat me
+ For my mater is so bad it wyll none other be.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+[The Argument.]
+
+Here after foloweth the Boke named the Shyp of Foles of the world:
+translated out of Laten, French and Doche into Englysse in the Colege of
+saynt Mary Otery By me Alexander Barclay to the felicite and moste holsom
+instruccion of mankynde the whiche conteyneth al suche as wandre from the
+way of trouth and from the open Path of holsom vnderstondynge and wysdom:
+fallynge into dyuers blyndnesses of ye mynde, folysshe sensualytees, and
+vndlawful delectacions of the body. This present Boke myght haue ben callyd
+nat inconuenyently the Satyr (that is to say) the reprehencion of
+foulysshnes, but the neweltye of the name was more plesant vnto the fyrst
+actour to call it the Shyp of foles: For in lyke wyse as olde Poetes
+Satyriens in dyuers Poesyes conioyned repreued the synnes and ylnes of the
+peple at that tyme lyuynge: so and in lyke wyse this our Boke representeth
+vnto the iyen of the redars the states and condicions of men: so that euery
+man may behold within the same the cours of his lyfe and his mysgouerned
+maners, as he sholde beholde the shadowe of the fygure of his visage within
+a bright Myrrour. But concernynge the translacion of this Boke: I exhort ye
+reders to take no displesour for y^t it is nat translated word by worde
+acordinge to ye verses of my actour. For I haue but only drawen into our
+moder tunge, in rude langage the sentences of the verses as nere as the
+parcyte of my wyt wyl suffer me, some tyme addynge, somtyme detractinge and
+takinge away suche thinges a semeth me necessary and superflue. wherfore I
+desyre of you reders pardon of my presumptuous audacite trustynge that ye
+shall holde me excused if ye consyder ye scarsnes of my wyt and my vnexpert
+youthe. I haue in many places ouerpassed dyuers poetical digressions and
+obscurenes of Fables and haue concluded my worke in rude langage as shal
+apere in my translacion. But the speciyl cawse that mouethe me to this
+besynes is to auoyde the execrable inconuenyences of ydilnes whyche (as
+saint Bernard sayth) is moder of al vices: and to the vtter derision of
+obstynat men delitynge them in folyes and mysgouernance. But bycause the
+name of this boke semeth to the redar to procede of derysion: and by that
+mean that the substance therof shulde nat be profitable: I wyl aduertise
+you that this Boke is named the Shyp of foles of the worlde: For this
+worlde is nought els but a tempestous se in the whiche we dayly wander and
+are caste in dyuers tribulacions paynes and aduersitees: some by ignoraunce
+and some by wilfulnes: wherfore suche doers ar worthy to be called foles.
+syns they gyde them nat by reason as creatures resonable ought to do.
+Therfore the fyrst actoure willynge to deuyde suche foles from wysemen and
+gode lyuers: hathe ordeyned vpon the se of this worlde this present Shyp to
+contayne these folys of ye worlde, whiche ar in great nomber. So that who
+redeth it perfytely consyderynge his secrete dedys, he shall not lyghtly
+excuse hym selfe out of it, what so euer good name y^t he hath outwarde in
+the mouth of the comontye, And to the entent y^t this my laboure may be the
+more pleasaunt vnto lettred men, I haue adioyned vnto the same ye verses of
+my Actour with dyuerse concordaunces of the Bybyll to fortyfy my wrytynge
+by the same, and also to stop the enuyous mouthes (If any suche shal be) of
+them that by malyce shall barke ayenst this my besynes.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Here begynneth the foles and first inprofytable bokes.
+
+[Illustration: I am the firste fole of all the hole nauy
+To kepe the pompe, the helme and eke the sayle
+For this is my mynde, this one pleasoure haue I
+Of bokes to haue grete plenty and aparayle
+I take no wysdome by them: nor yet auayle
+Nor them preceyue nat: And then I them despyse
+Thus am I a foole and all that sewe that guyse]
+
+ That in this shyp the chefe place I gouerne
+ By this wyde see with folys wanderynge
+ The cause is playne, and easy to dyscerne
+ Styll am I besy bokes assemblynge
+ For to haue plenty it is a plesaunt thynge
+ In my conceyt and to haue them ay in honde
+ But what they mene do I nat vnderstonde
+
+ But yet I haue them in great reuerence
+ And honoure sauynge them from fylth and ordure
+ By often brusshynge, and moche dylygence
+ Full goodly bounde in pleasaunt couerture
+ Of domas, satyn, or els of veluet pure
+ I kepe them sure ferynge lyst they sholde be lost
+ For in them is the connynge wherin I me bost.
+
+ But if it fortune that any lernyd men
+ Within my house fall to disputacion
+ I drawe the curtyns to shewe my bokes then
+ That they of my cunnynge sholde make probacion
+ I kepe nat to fall in altercacion
+ And whyle they comon my bokes I turne and wynde
+ For all is in them, and no thynge in my mynde.
+
+ Tholomeus the riche causyd longe agone
+ Ouer all the worlde good bokes to be sought
+ Done was his commaundement anone
+ These bokes he had and in his stody brought
+ Whiche passyd all erthly treasoure as he thought
+ But neuertheles he dyd hym nat aply
+ Unto theyr doctryne, but lyued unhappely.
+
+ Lo in lyke wyse of bokys I haue store
+ But fewe I rede, and fewer understande
+ I folowe nat theyr doctryne nor theyr lore
+ It is ynoughe to bere a boke in hande
+ It were to moche to be it suche a bande
+ For to be bounde to loke within the boke
+ I am content on the fayre couerynge to loke
+
+ Why sholde I stody to hurt my wyt therby
+ Or trouble my mynde with stody excessyue
+ Sythe many ar whiche stody right besely
+ And yet therby shall they neuer thryue
+ The fruyt of wysdom can they nat contryue
+ And many to stody so moche are inclynde
+ That utterly they fall out of theyr mynde
+
+ Eche is nat lettred that nowe is made a lorde
+ Nor eche a clerke that hath a benefyce
+ They are nat all lawyers that plees doth recorde
+ All that are promotyd are nat fully wyse
+ On suche chaunce nowe fortune throwys hir dyce
+ That thoughe one knowe but the yresshe game
+ Yet wolde he haue a gentyllmannys name
+
+ So in lyke wyse I am in suche case
+ Thoughe I nought can I wolde be callyd wyse
+ Also I may set another in my place
+ Whiche may for me my bokes excercyse
+ Or else I shall ensue the comon gyse
+ And say concedo to euery argument
+ Lyst by moche speche my latyn sholde be spent
+
+ I am lyke other Clerkes whiche so frowardly them gyde.
+ That after they ar onys come vnto promocion
+ They gyue them to plesour theyr stody set asyde.
+ Theyr Auaryce couerynge with fayned deuocion.
+ Yet dayly they preche: and haue great derysyon
+ Against the rude Laymen: and al for Couetyse.
+ Though theyr owne Conscience be blynded w^t that vyce.
+
+ But if I durst trouth playnely vtter and expresse.
+ This is the special cause of this Inconuenyence.
+ That greatest foles, and fullest of lewdnes
+ Hauynge least wyt: and symplest Science
+ Ar fyrst promoted: and haue greatest reuerence
+ For if one can flater, and bere a hawke on his Fyst
+ He shalbe made Person of Honyngton or of Clyst.
+
+ But he that is in Stody ay ferme and diligent.
+ And without al fauour prechyth Chrystys lore
+ Of al the Comontye nowe adayes is sore shent.
+ And by Estates thretened to Pryson oft therfore.
+ Thus what auayle is it, to vs to Stody more:
+ To knowe outher scripture, trouth, wysedom, or vertue
+ Syns fewe, or none without fauour dare them shewe.
+
+ But O noble Doctours, that worthy ar of name:
+ Consyder our olde faders: note wel theyr diligence:
+ Ensue ye theyr steppes: obtayne ye such fame,
+ As they dyd lyuynge: and that by true Prudence.
+ Within theyr hartys they planted theyr scyence
+ And nat in plesaunt bokes. But nowe to fewe suche be.
+ Therefore in this Shyp let them come rowe with me.
+
+THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY TRANSLATOUR EXORTYNGE THE FOLES ACCLOYED
+WITH THIS VICE TO AMENDE THEYR FOLY.
+
+ Say worthy doctours and Clerkes curious:
+ What moueth you of Bokes to haue such nomber.
+ Syns dyuers doctrines throughe way contrarious.
+ Doth mannys mynde distract and sore encomber.
+ Alas blynde men awake, out of your slomber
+ And if ye wyl nedys your bokes multyplye
+ With diligence endeuer you some to occupye.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of euyl Counsellours, Juges and men of lawe.
+
+[Illustration: He that Office hath and hyghe autorite.
+To rule a Royalme: as Juge or Counsellour
+Which seynge Justice, playne ryght and equyte
+Them falsly blyndeth by fauour or rigour
+Condemnynge wretches gyltles. And to a Transgressour
+For mede shewinge fauour. Suche is as wyse a man
+As he that wolde seeth a quycke Sowe in a Pan.]
+
+ Right many labours nowe, with hyghe diligence
+ For to be Lawyers the Comons to counsayle.
+ Therby to be in honour had and in reuerence
+ But onely they labour for theyr pryuate auayle.
+ The purs of the Clyent shal fynde hym apparayle.
+ And yet knowes he neyther lawe good counsel nor Justice.
+ But speketh at auenture: as men throwe the dyce.
+
+ Suche in the Senate ar taken oft to counsayle
+ With Statis of this and many a other region.
+ Whiche of theyr maners vnstable ar and frayle
+ Nought of Lawe Ciuyl knowinge nor Canon.
+ But wander in derknes clerenes they haue none.
+ O noble Rome thou gat nat thy honours
+ Nor general Empyre by suche Counsellours.
+
+ Whan noble Rome all the worlde dyd gouerne
+ Theyr councellers were olde men iust and prudent
+ Whiche egally dyd euery thynge descerne
+ Wherby theyr Empyre became so excellent
+ But nowe a dayes he shall haue his intent
+ That hath most golde, and so it is befall
+ That aungels worke wonders in westmynster hall.
+
+ There cursyd coyne makyth the wronge seme right
+ The cause of hym that lyueth in pouertye
+ Hath no defence, tuycion, strength nor myght
+ Suche is the olde custome of this faculte
+ That colours oft cloke Justyce and equyte
+ None can the mater fele nor vnderstonde
+ Without the aungell be weyghty in his honde
+
+ Thus for the hunger of syluer and of golde
+ Justyce and right is in captyuyte
+ And as we se nat gyuen fre, but solde
+ Nouther to estates, nor sympell comonte
+ And though that many lawyers rightwysnes be
+ Yet many other dysdayne to se the ryght
+ And they ar suche as blynde Justycis syght
+
+ There is one and other alleged at the barre
+ And namely suche as chrafty were in glose
+ Upon the lawe: the clyentis stande afarre
+ Full lytell knowynge howe the mater goose
+ And many other the lawes clene transpose
+ Folowynge the example, of lawyers dede and gone
+ Tyll the pore Clyentis be etyn to the bone
+
+ It is not ynough to conforme thy mynde
+ Unto the others faynyd opynyon
+ Thou sholde say trouthe, so Justyce doth the bynde
+ And also lawe gyueth the commyssyon
+ To knowe hir, and kepe hir without transgressyon
+ Lyst they whome thou hast Juged wrongfully
+ Unto the hye Juge for vengeaunce on the crye.
+
+ Perchaunce thou thynkest that god taketh no hede
+ To mannes dedys, nor workes of offence
+ Yes certaynly he knowes thy thought and dede
+ No thynge is secrete, nor hyd from his presence
+ Wherefore if thou wylt gyde the by prudence
+ Or thou gyue Jugement of mater lesse or more
+ Take wyse mennys reade and good counsayle before
+
+ Loke in what Balance, what weyght and what mesure
+ Thou seruest other. for thou shalt serued be
+ With the same after this lyfe I the ensure.
+ If thou ryghtwysly Juge by lawe and equyte
+ Thou shalt haue presence of goddes hyghe maiestye
+ But if thou Juge amys: than shall Eacus
+ (As Poetis sayth) hell Juge thy rewarde discusse
+
+ God is aboue and regneth sempiternally.
+ Whiche shall vs deme at his last Jugement,
+ And gyue rewardes to echone egally
+ After suche fourme as he his lyfe hath spent
+ Than shall we them se whome we as violent
+ Traytours: haue put to wronge in worde or dede
+ And after our deserte euen suche shall be our mede
+
+ There shall be no Bayle nor treatynge of maynpryse
+ Ne worldly wysdome there shall no thynge preuayle
+ There shall be no delayes vntyll another Syse
+ But outher quyt, or to infernall Gayle.
+ Ill Juges so iuged, Lo here theyr trauayle
+ Worthely rewarded in wo withouten ende.
+ Than shall no grace be graunted ne space to amende.
+
+THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY THE TRANSLATOUR.
+
+ Therfore ye yonge Studentes of the Chauncery:
+ (I speke nat to the olde the Cure of them is past)
+ Remember that Justyce longe hath in bondage be
+ Reduce ye hir nowe vnto lybertye at the last.
+ Endeuer you hir bondes to louse or to brast
+ Hir raunsome is payde and more by a thousande pounde
+ And yet alas the lady Justyce lyeth bounde.
+
+ Thoughe your fore Faders haue take hir prysoner
+ And done hir in a Dongeon nat mete for hir degre
+ Lay to your handes and helpe hir from daungere
+ And hir restore vnto hir lybertye
+ That pore men and monyles may hir onys se
+ But certaynly I fere lyst she hath lost hir name
+ Or by longe prysonment shall after euer be lame.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of Auaryce or Couetyse and prodygalyte.
+
+[Illustration: Ye that ar gyuen ouer moche to Couetyse
+Come nere, a place is here for you to dwel
+Come nere ye wastfull people in lyke wyse
+Youre rowme shall be hye in the Topcastell
+Ye care for no shame, for heuen nor for hell
+Golde is your god, ryches gotten wrongfully
+Ye dame your soule, and yet lyue in penury.]
+
+ He that is besy euery day and houre
+ Without mesure, maner, or moderacion
+ To gather riches and great store of treasoure
+ Therof no ioy takinge, confort nor consolacion.
+ He is a Fole: and of blynde and mad opynyon
+ For that which he getteth and kepeth wrongfully
+ His heyre often wasteth moche more vnthryftely.
+
+ While he here lyueth in this lyfe caduke and mortal.
+ Ful sore he laboureth: and oft hungry gothe to bed
+ Sparinge from hymselfe: for hym that neuer shal
+ After do hym goode. thoughe he were harde bested.
+ Thus is this Couetous wretche so blyndly led
+ By the fende that here he lyueth wretchydly
+ And after his deth damned eternally.
+
+ There wandreth he in dolour and derknes
+ Amonge infernall flodes tedyous and horryble
+ Let se what auayleth than all his ryches
+ Ungracyously gotyne, his paynes ar terryble
+ Than wolde he amende but it is inpossyble
+ In hell is no order nor hope of remedy
+ But sorowe vpon sorowe, and that euerlastyngly.
+
+ Yet fynde I another vyce as bad as this
+ Whiche is the vyce of prodygalyte
+ He spendyth all in ryot and amys
+ Without all order, pursuynge pouertye
+ He lyketh nat to lyue styll in prosperite
+ But all and more he wastyth out at large
+ (Beware the ende) is the leste poynt of his charge.
+
+ But of the couetous somwhat to say agayne
+ Thou art a fole thy soule to sell for riches
+ Or put thy body to labour or to payne
+ Thy mynde to fere, thy herte to heuynesse
+ Thou fole thou fleest no maner cruelnesse
+ So thou may get money, to make thy heyr a knyght
+ Thou sleest thy soule where as thou saue it myght
+
+ Thou hast no rest thy mynde is euer in fere
+ Of mysauenture, nor neuer art content
+ Deth is forgoten, thou carest nat a here
+ To saue thy soule from infernall punysshement
+ If thou be dampned, than art thou at thy stent
+ By thy ryches which thou here hast left behynde
+ To thy executours, thou shalt small comforte fynde
+
+ Theyr custome is to holde fast that they haue
+ Thy pore soule shall be farthest fro theyr thought
+ If that thy carkes be brought onys in the graue
+ And that they haue thy bagges in handes cought
+ What say they, than (by god the man had nought)
+ Whyle he here lyuyd he was to lyberall
+ Thus dampned is thy soule, thy ryches cause of all
+
+ Who wyll denay but it is necesary
+ Of riches for to haue plenty and store
+ To this opynyon I wyll nat say contrary
+ So it be ordred after holy lore
+ Whyle thy selfe leuest departe some to the pore
+ With thy owne hande trust nat thy executours
+ Gyue for god, and god shall sende at all houres
+
+ Rede Tullius warkes the worthy Oratour.
+ And writen shalt thou fynde in right fruteful sentence
+ That neuer wyseman loued ouer great honour.
+ Nor to haue great riches put ouer great diligence
+ But onely theyr mynde was set on Sapience
+ And quyetly to lyue in Just symplycite.
+ For in greatest honour is greatest ieoperdye.
+
+ He that is symple, and on the grounde doth lye
+ And that can be content with ynoughe or suffisaunce
+ Is surer by moche than he that lyeth on hye.
+ Nowe vp nowe downe vnsure as a Balaunce.
+ But sothly he that set wyll his plesance
+ Onely on wysdom and styl therfore labour.
+ Shal haue more goode than all erthly tresour.
+
+ Wysdom techeth to eschewe al offence.
+ Gydynge mankynde the ryght way to vertue.
+ But of couetyse Comys all Inconuenyence.
+ It cawseth man of worde to be vntrue.
+ Forswerynge and falshode doth it also ensue.
+ Brybery and Extorcion, murder and myschefe.
+ Shame is his ende: his lyuyinge is reprefe.
+
+ By couetyse Crassus brought was to his ende.
+ By it the worthy Romayns lost theyr name.
+ Of this one yl a thousand ylles doth descende.
+ Besyde enuy, Pryde, wretchydnes and Shame.
+ Crates the Philosopher dyd Couetyse so blame:
+ That to haue his mynde vnto his stody fre.
+ He threwe his Tresour all hole into the see.
+
+ But shortly to conclude. Both bodely bondage.
+ And gostly also: procedeth of this couetyse.
+ The soule is damned the body hath damage
+ As hunger, thyrst, and colde with other preiudice.
+ Bereft of the ioyes of heuenly Paradyse.
+ For golde was theyr god and that is left behynde
+ Theyr bodyes beryed the soule clene out of mynde
+
+THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY TRANSLATOUR.
+
+ Therefore thou couetouse thou wretch I speke to the.
+ Amende thy selfe ryse out of this blyndenes.
+ Content the wyth ynoughe for thy degre.
+ Dam nat thy soule by gatheringe frayle riches
+ Remembre this is a Uale of wretchednes.
+ Thou shalt no rest nor dwellynge place here fynde.
+ Depart thou shalt and leue it al behynde.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of newe fassions and disgised Garmentes.
+
+[Illustration: Who that newe garmentes loues or deuyses.
+Or weryth by his symple wyt, and vanyte
+Gyuyth by his foly and vnthryfty gyses
+Moche yl example to yonge Comontye.
+Suche one is a Fole and skant shal euer thee
+And comonly it is sene that nowe a dayes
+One Fole gladly folowes anothers wayes.]
+
+ Drawe nere ye Courters and Galants disgised
+ Ye counterfayt Caytifs, that ar nat content
+ As god hath you made: his warke is despysed
+ Ye thynke you more crafty than God onipotent.
+ Unstable is your mynde: that shewes by your garment.
+ A fole is knowen by his toyes and his Cote.
+ But by theyr clothinge nowe may we many note.
+
+ Aparayle is apayred. Al sadness is decayde
+ The garmentes ar gone that longed to honestye.
+ And in newe sortes newe Foles ar arayede
+ Despisynge the costom of good antiquyte.
+ Mannys fourme is disfigured with euery degre
+ As Knyght Squyer yeman Jentilman and knaue,
+ For al in theyr goynge vngoodely them behaue
+
+ The tyme hath ben, nat longe before our dayes
+ Whan men with honest ray coude holde them self content.
+ Without these disgised: and counterfayted wayes.
+ Wherby theyr goodes ar wasted, loste, and spent.
+ Socrates with many mo in wysdom excellent.
+ Bycause they wolde nought change that cam of nature
+ Let growe theyre here without cuttinge or scissure.
+
+ At that tyme was it reputed to lawde and great honour.
+ To haue longe here: the Beerde downe to the brest
+ For so they vsed that were of moste valour.
+ Stryuynge together who myht be godlyest
+ Saddest, moste clenely, discretest, and moste honest.
+ But nowe adayes together we contende and stryue.
+ Who may be gayest: and newest wayes contryue.
+
+ Fewe kepeth mesure, but excesse and great outrage
+ In theyr aparayle. And so therin they procede
+ That theyr goode is spent: theyr Londe layde to morgage.
+ Or solde out right: of Thryft they take no hede.
+ Hauinge no Peny them to socour at theyr nede.
+ So whan theyr goode by suche wastefulnes is loste.
+ They sel agayne theyr Clothes for half that they coste.
+
+ A fox furred Jentelman: of the fyrst yere or hede.
+ If he be made a Bailyf a Clerke or a Constable.
+ And can kepe a Parke or Court and rede a Dede
+ Than is Ueluet to his state mete and agreable.
+ Howbeit he were more mete to here a Babyl.
+ For his Foles Hode his iyen so sore doth blynde
+ That Pryde expelleth his lynage from his mynde.
+
+ Yet fynde I another sort almoste as bad as thay.
+ As yonge Jentylmen descended of worthy Auncetry.
+ Whiche go ful wantonly in dissolute aray.
+ Counterfayt, disgised, and moche vnmanerly
+ Blasinge and garded: to lowe or else to hye.
+ And wyde without mesure: theyr stuffe to wast thus gothe
+ But other some they suffer to dye for lacke of clothe.
+
+ Some theyr neckes charged with colers, and chaynes
+ As golden withtthes: theyr fyngers ful of rynges:
+ Theyr neckes naked: almoste vnto the raynes
+ Theyr sleues blasinge lyke to a Cranys wynges
+ Thus by this deuysinge suche counterfayted thinges
+ They dysfourme that figure that god hymselfe hath made
+ On pryde and abusion thus ar theyr myndes layde.
+
+ Than the Courters careles that on theyr mayster wayte
+ Seinge hym his Uesture in suche fourme abuse
+ Assayeth suche Fassion for them to counterfayte.
+ And so to sue Pryde contynually they muse.
+ Than stele they; or Rubbe they. Forsoth they can nat chuse.
+ For without Londe or Labour harde is it to mentayne.
+ But to thynke on the Galows that is a careful payne.
+
+ But be it payne or nat: there many suche ende.
+ At Newgate theyr garmentis ar offred to be solde.
+ Theyr bodyes to the Jebet solemly ascende.
+ Wauynge with the wether whyle theyr necke wyl holde.
+ But if I shulde wryte al the ylles manyfolde.
+ That procedeth of this counterfayt abusion
+ And mysshapen Fassions: I neuer shulde haue done.
+
+ For both States, comons, man, woman, and chylde
+ Ar vtterly inclyed to this inconuenyence.
+ But namely therwith these Courters are defyled.
+ Bytwen mayster and man I fynde no dyfference.
+ Therfore ye Courters knowledge your offence.
+ Do nat your errour mentayne, support nor excuse.
+ For Fowles ye ar your Rayment thus to abuse.
+
+ To Shyp Galauntes come nere I say agayne.
+ Wyth your set Busshes Curlynge as men of Inde.
+ Ye counterfayted Courters come with your fleinge brayne
+ Expressed by these variable Garmentes that ye fynde.
+ To tempt chast Damsels and turne them to your mynde
+ Your breste ye discouer and necke. Thus your abusion
+ Is the Fendes bate. And your soules confusion.
+
+ Come nere disgysed foles: receyue your Foles Hode.
+ And ye that in sondry colours ar arayde.
+ Ye garded galantes wastinge thus your goode
+ Come nere with your Shertes brodered and displayed.
+ In fourme of Surplys. Forsoth it may be sayde.
+ That of your Sort right fewe shal thryue this yere.
+ Or that your faders werith suche Habyte in the Quere.
+
+ And ye Jentyl wymen whome this lewde vice doth blynde
+ Lased on the backe: your peakes set a loft.
+ Come to my Shyp. forget ye nat behynde.
+ Your Sadel on the tayle: yf ye lyst to sit soft.
+ Do on your Decke Slut: if ye purpos to come oft.
+ I mean your Copyntanke: And if it wyl do no goode.
+ To kepe you from the rayne. ye shall haue a foles hode.
+
+ By the ale stake knowe we the ale hous
+ And euery Jnne is knowen by the sygne
+ So a lewde woman and a lechcrous
+ Is knowen by hir clothes, be they cours or fyne
+ Folowynge newe fassyons, not graunted by doctryne
+ The bocher sheweth his flesshe it to sell
+ So doth these women dampnyng theyr soule to hell
+
+ What shall I more wryte of our enormyte
+ Both man and woman as I before haue sayde
+ Ar rayde and clothyd nat after theyr degre
+ As nat content with the shape that god hath made
+ The clenlynes of Clergye is nere also decayed.
+ Our olde apparale (alas) is nowe layde downe
+ And many prestes asshamed of theyr Crowne.
+
+ Unto laymen we vs refourme agayne
+ As of chryste our mayster in maner halfe asshamed
+ My hert doth wepe: my tunge doth sore complayne
+ Seing howe our State is worthy to be blamed.
+ But if all the Foly of our Hole Royalme were named
+ Of mys apparayle of Olde, young, lowe, and hye,
+ The tyme shulde fayle: and space to me denye.
+
+ Alas thus al states of Chrysten men declynes.
+ And of wymen also disfourmynge theyr fygure.
+ Wors than the Turkes, Jewes, or Sarazyns.
+ A Englonde Englonde amende or be thou sure
+ Thy noble name and fame can nat endure
+ Amende lyst god do greuously chastyce.
+ Bothe the begynners and folowes of this vyce.
+
+THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY YE TRANSLATOUR.
+
+ Reduce courters clerly vnto your rembrance
+ From whens this disgysyng was brought wherein ye go
+ As I remember it was brought out of France.
+ This is to your plesour. But payne ye had also.
+ As French Pockes hote ylles with other paynes mo.
+ Take ye in good worth the swetnes with the Sour.
+ For often plesour endeth with sorowe and dolour.
+
+ But ye proude Galaundes that thus yourselfe disgise
+ Be ye asshamed. beholde vnto your Prynce.
+ Consyder his sadnes: His honestye deuyse
+ His clothynge expresseth his inwarde prudence
+ Ye se no Example of suche Inconuenyence
+ In his hyghnes: but godly wyt and grauyte.
+ Ensue hym: and sorowe for your enormyte.
+
+ Away with this pryde, this statelynes let be
+ Rede of the Prophetis clothynge or vesture
+ And of Adam firste of your ancestrye
+ Of Johnn the Prophete, theyr clothynge was obscure
+ Uyle and homly, but nowe what creature
+ Wyll then eusue, sothly fewe by theyr wyll
+ Therfore suche folys my nauy shall fulfyll
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of old folys that is to say the longer they lyue the more they ar gyuen to
+foly.
+
+[Illustration: Howe beit I stoup, and fast declyne
+Dayly to my graue, and sepulture
+And though my lyfe fast do enclyne
+To pay the trybute of nature
+Yet styll remayne I and endure
+In my olde synnes, and them nat hate
+Nought yonge, wors olde, suche is my state.]
+
+ The madnes of my youthe rotyd in my age
+ And the blynde foly of my iniquite
+ Wyll me nat suffer to leue myne old vsage
+ Nor my fore lyuynge full of enormyte
+ Lame ar his lymmys, and also I can nat se
+ I am a childe and yet lyuyd haue I
+ An hundreth wynter, encresynge my foly.
+
+ But though I myght lerne my wyll is nat therto
+ But besy I am and fully set my thought
+ To gyue example to children to mysdo
+ By my lewde doctryne bryngynge them to nought
+ And whan they ar onys into my daunce brought
+ I teche them my foly wysdome set asyde
+ My selfe example, begynner, and theyr gyde.
+
+ My lewde lyfe, my foly and my selfwyllyd mynde
+ Whiche I haue styll kept hytherto in this lyfe
+ In my testament I leue wryten behynde
+ Bequethyng parte both to man childe and wyfe
+ I am the actour of myschefe and of stryfe
+ The foly of my youth and the inconuenyence
+ In age I practyse, techynge by experyence
+
+ I am a fole and glad am of that name
+ Desyrynge lawde for eche vngracious dede
+ And of my foly to spred abrode the same
+ To showe my vyce and synne, as voyde of drede
+ Of heuen or hell. therfore I take no hede
+ But as some stryue disputynge of theyr cunnynge
+ Right so do I in lewdnes and myslyuynge.
+
+ Somtyme I bost me of falshode and dysceyt
+ Somtyme of the sede that sawyn is by me
+ Of all myschefe, as murder flatery debate
+ Couetyse bacbytynge theft and lechery
+ My mynde is nat to mende my iniquyte
+ But rather I sorowe that my lyfe is wore
+ That I can nat do as I haue done before
+
+ But syns my lyfe so sodaynly dothe apeyre
+ That byde I can nat styll in this degre
+ I shall infourme and teche my sone and heyre
+ To folowe his fader, and lerne this way of me
+ The way is large, god wot glad shall he be
+ Lernynge my lore with affeccion and desyre
+ And folowe the steppys of his vnthryfty syre
+
+ I trust so crafty and wyse to make the lad
+ That me his father he shall pas and excell
+ O that my herte shall than be wonder glad
+ If I here of may knowe, se, or here tell
+ If he be false faynynge sotyll or cruell
+ And so styll endure I haue a speciall hope
+ To make hym scrybe to a Cardynall or Pope.
+
+ Or els if he can be a fals extorcyoner
+ Fasynge and bostynge to scratche and to kepe
+ He shall be made a comon costomer
+ As yche hope of Lyn Calays or of Depe
+ Than may he after to some great offyce crepe
+ So that if he can onys plede a case
+ He may be made Juge of the comon place.
+
+ Thus shall he lyue as I haue all his dayes
+ And in his age increas his folysshenes
+ His fader came to worshyp by suche ways
+ So shall the sone, if he hym selfe addres
+ To sue my steppes in falshode and lewdnes
+ And at leste if he can come to no degre
+ This shyp of folys shall he gouerne with me
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Awake age alas what thynkest thou be
+ Awake I say out of thy blynde derkenes
+ Remembrest thou nat that shortly thou shalt dye
+ Aryse from synne amende thy folysshenes
+ Though thy youth reted were in vyciousnes
+ Aryse in age is full tyme to leue it
+ Thy graue is open thy one fote in the pyt
+
+ Leue thy bostynge of that thou hast done amys
+ Bewayle thy synnes, sayeng with rufull mone
+ Delicta iuuentutis mee deus ne memineris
+ Amende the or thy youth be fully gone
+ That sore is harde to hele that bredes in the bone
+ He that is nought yonge, procedynge so in age
+ Shall skant euer his vyciousnes asswage
+
+ What thinge is more abhomynable in goddes syght.
+ Than vicious age: certaynly no thynge.
+ It is eke worldly shame, whan thy corage and mycht
+ Is nere dekayed, to kepe thy lewde lyuynge.
+ And by example of the, thy yonge children to brynge.
+ Into a vicious lyfe: and all goodnes to hate.
+ Alas age thus thou art the Fendes bate.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the erudicion of neglygent faders anenst theyr chyldren.
+
+[Illustration: That fole that suffreth his Chylde for to offende
+Wythout rebukynge, blame, and correccion.
+And hym nat exhorteth, hymselfe to amende.
+Of suche fawtes as by hym ar done.
+Shal it sore repent: god wote howe sone
+For oft the faders foly, fauour, and neglygence
+Causeth the Chylde for to fall to great offence]
+
+ A myserable Fole euermore shal he be.
+ A wretche vnauysed, and a Catyf blynde.
+ Whiche his chyldren fawtes forseth nat to see
+ Hauynge no care for to induce theyr mynde
+ To godly vertue: and vyce to leue behynde.
+ For whyle they ar yonge fereful and tender of age
+ Theyre vyce and foly is easy to asswage.
+
+ Two dyuers sortes of these foles may we fynde.
+ By whome theyr chyldren ar brought to confusion.
+ The one is neglygent. the other is starke blynde.
+ Nat wyllynge to beholde his childes yl condicion.
+ Whyle he is in youthe: But for a conclusion
+ He is a Fole that wyl nat se theyr vyce.
+ And he that seyth: and wyl it nat chastyce.
+
+ Alas thou art a cursed counselloure
+ To wanton youth that tender is of age
+ To let them wander without gouernoure
+ Or wyse mayster, in youthes furious rage
+ Get them a mayster theyr foly to asswage
+ For as a herdles flocke strayth in Jepardy
+ So children without gyde wandreth in foly.
+
+ To moche lyberty pleasoure and lycence
+ Gyuen vnto youth, whether it be or age
+ Right often causyth great inconuenyence
+ As ryot mysrule with other sore damage
+ Theyr londe and goodes solde or layde to gage
+ But thou folysshe father art redy to excuse
+ Thy yonge children of theyr synne and abuse
+
+ Thou sayst they ar ouer tender to eschewe
+ Theyr folysshe maners and they haue no skyll
+ To knowe the wayes of goodnes or vertue
+ Nor to discerne what is gode, what is yll
+ Thou blynde dodart these wordes holde thou styll
+ Theyr youth can nat excuse thy folysshenes
+ He that can yll as well myght lerne goodnes
+
+ A yonge hert is as apt to take wysdome
+ As is an olde, and if it rotyd be
+ It sawyth sede of holy lyfe to come
+ Also in children we often tymes se
+ Great aptness outwarde and syne of grauyte
+ But fyll an erthen pot first with yll lycoure
+ And euer after it shall smell somwhat soure
+
+ So youth brought vp in lewdnes and in sin
+ Shall skant it shrape so clene out of his mynde
+ But that styll after some spot wyll byde within
+ A lytell twygge plyant is by kynde
+ A bygger braunche is harde to bowe or wynde
+ But suffer the braunche to a byg tre to growe
+ And rather it shall brake than outher wynde or bowe
+
+ Correct thy childe whyle he is lyke a twygge
+ Soupyll and plyant, apt to correccion
+ It wyll be harde forsoth whan he is bygge
+ To brynge his stubron herte to subieccion
+ What hurtyth punysshement with moderacion
+ Unto yonge children, certaynely no thynge
+ It voydeth vyce, gettynge vertue and cunnynge
+
+ Say folysshe fader haddest thou leuer se
+ Thy sonnes necke vnwrested wyth a rope.
+ Than with a rod his skyn shulde brokyn be.
+ And oft thou trustest: and hast a stedfast hope
+ To se thy son promoted nere as hye as is the Pope
+ But yet perchaunce mourne thou shalt ful sore.
+ For his shameful ende: fortuned for lacke of lore.
+
+ Some folowe theyr chyldrens wyl and lewde plesour
+ So grauntinge them theyr mynde: that after it doth fal
+ To theyr great shame: they sorowe and dolour
+ As dyd to Priamus a Kynge Imperial
+ Whiche suffred his men: his son chefe of them al
+ By force from Grece to robbe the fayre Helayne.
+ Wherby both Fader and son were after slayne.
+
+ With noble Hector and many thousandes mo.
+ The Cyte of Troy vnto the ground clene brent.
+ I rede in the Cronycles of the Romayns also
+ Howe Tarquyne the proude had shame and punysshment
+ For rauysshynge chaste Lucres agaynst hyr assent.
+ Wherfore hyrselfe she slewe hyr seynge thus defiled.
+ For the which dede this Tarquyn was exiled,
+
+ From Rome: wandrynge in the Costes of Italy.
+ Dyd nat the traytour Catelyne also conspyre
+ And many mo sworne to his cruel tyranny
+ Agaynst the Romans to oppresse theyr Impyre,
+ But he and all his were murdred for theyr hyre,
+ And nat vnworthely. Beholde wherto they come
+ Which ar nat enfourmed in youth to ensue wysdom.
+
+ The son oft foloweth the faders behauour
+ And if the fader be discrete and vertuous.
+ The son shal suche wayes practyse both day and hour.
+ But if that the fader be lewde and vicious
+ By falshode lyuynge: and by wayes cautelous.
+ The son also the same wayes wyl ensue
+ And that moche rather than goodnes or vertue
+
+ Therfore it nedeth that better prouysion.
+ Were founde for youthe by sad and wyse counsayle
+ Far from theyr faders of this condicion.
+ And other lewde gydes which myght theyr myndes assayle
+ Greuously wyth syn. So were it theyr auayle
+ From theyr faders frawde and falshode to declyne
+ And them submyt to some lawdable mannys doctryne.
+
+ Peleus, somtyme a noble and worthy kynge
+ Subdued Achylles vnto the doctryne
+ Of phenix whiche was both worthy and cunnynge
+ Wherfore Achyllys right gladly dyd enclyne
+ With his hert and mynde vnto his disciplyne
+ Wherby his name so noble was at the last
+ That all Asy in worthynes he past
+
+ Ryght so Philippus a kynge worthy of name
+ Ouer all Grece made great iniquicion
+ To fynde one wyse, sad and laudable of fame
+ To Alexander his sonne for to gyue Instruccion
+ Founde was great Aristotyl at the conclusion
+ Disciple of Plato. whiche in euery Science.
+ Infourmed this chylde with parfyte diligence.
+
+ Whiche Alexander afterward had so great dignyte.
+ What by his strength, his cunnynge, and boldenes.
+ That he was lorde both of Londe and See.
+ And none durst rebel aganst his worthynes.
+ Lo here the lawde, the honour, and nobles.
+ Which dothe procede of vertue and doctryne
+ But few ar the faders that nowe hereto inclyne
+
+ Fewe ar that forceth nowe adayes to se
+ Theyr chyldren taught: or to do any cost
+ On som sad man, wyse, and of auctorite:
+ Al that is theron bestowed thynke they loste.
+ The folyssh Fader oft tymes maketh great boste.
+ That he his son to habundant riches shal auance
+ But no thynge he speketh of vertuous gouernance.
+
+ The feder made but smal shyft or prouysion.
+ To induce his Son by vertuous doctryne.
+ But whan he is dede and past: moche les shal the son
+ To stody of grace his mynde or hert inclyne.
+ But abuse his reason: and from al good declyne.
+ Alas folysshe faders gyue your aduertence
+ To Crates complaynt comprysed in this sentence.
+
+ If it were graunted to me to shewe my thought
+ Ye follysshe faders Caytifes I myght you cal
+ Whiche gather riches to brynge your chylde to nought.
+ Gyuynge him occasion forto be prodigal.
+ But goode nor cunnynge shewe ye hym none at all.
+ But whan ye drawe to age, ye than moste comonly.
+ Sorowe for your suffrance. But without remedy.
+
+ An olde sore to hele is oft halfe incurable
+ Ryght so ar these Chyldren roted in myschefe
+ Some after euer lyueth a lyfe abhomynable
+ To all theyr Kyn great sorowe and reprefe.
+ The one is a murderer the other a fereles thefe,
+ The one of god nor goode man hath no fors ne care.
+ Another so out wasteth that his frendes ar ful bare.
+
+ Some theyr londe and lyuelode in riot out wasteth,
+ At cardes, and, tenys, and other vnlawful gamys.
+ And some wyth the Dyce theyr thryft away casteth.
+ Some theyr soule damnes, and theyr body shames.
+ With flesshly lust: which many one dyffamys.
+ Spendynge the floures of youth moche vnthryftely.
+ On dyuers Braunches that longe to Lechery.
+
+ Another delyteth hymselfe in Glotony.
+ Etynge and drynkynge without maner, or mesure:
+ The more that some drynke: the more they wax drye.
+ He is moste Galant whyche lengest can endure.
+ Thus without mesure ouercharge they theyr nature.
+ So that theyr Soule is loste theyr body and goode is spent.
+ For lacke of doctryne, Norture and punysshment.
+
+ Se here playne prose, example and euydence
+ Howe youthe which is nat norysshed in doctryne.
+ In age is gyuen vnto al Inconuenyence.
+ But nought shall make youthe soner forto inclyne.
+ To noble maners: nor Godly dysciplyne:
+ Than shal the doctryne of a mayster wyse and sad:
+ For the rote of vertue and wysdome therby is had.
+
+ Without dout Noblenes is moche excellent
+ Whiche oft causeth youth to be had in great honour.
+ To haue the name, and lawde they ar content.
+ Thoughe it be nat gotten by theyr owne labour.
+ But what auayleth them this lewde obscure errour
+ Of suche hye byrthe them self to magnyfy.
+ Sythe they defyle it with vice and Uilany.
+
+ Why art thou proude thou foul of that nobles
+ Whyche is nat gotten by thyne owne vertue.
+ By thy goode maners, wyt nor worthynes:
+ But this forsothe oft tymes fynde I true
+ That of a goode beste, yl whelpes may weshewe.
+ In lyke wyse of a Moder that is bothe chast and goode.
+ Often is brought forth a ful vngracious Brode.
+
+ But though the childe be of lewde condicion
+ And of his nature frowarde and varyable
+ If the fader be slacke in the correccion
+ Of his childe, he onely is culpable
+ Whiche wyll nat teche hym maners commendable
+ Thus is the fader a fole for his suffraunce
+ And the sone also for his mysgouernaunce
+
+THE ENUOY.
+
+ Auoyd faders your fauour and suffraunce
+ Anenst your children in theyr faute and offence
+ Reduce ye clerely vnto your remembraunce
+ That many a thousande inconuenyence
+ Haue children done by theyr faders negligence
+ But to say trouth brefely in one clause
+ The fader's fauour onely is the cause
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of tale berers, fals reporters, and prometers of stryfes.
+
+[Illustration: Of folys yet fynde I another maner sorte
+Whiche ar cause of brawlynge stryfe and deuysion
+Suche ar dowble tongyd that lesyngys reporte
+Therby trustynge to come to great promosion
+But suche lewde caytyfes at the conclusion
+Bytwene two mylstons theyr legges puttes to grynde
+And for rewarde, theyr confusion shall they fynde.]
+
+ Some ar that thynke the pleasoure and ioy of theyr lyfe
+ To brynge men in brawlynge to discorde and debate
+ Enioynge to moue them to chydynge and to stryfe
+ And where loue before was to cause mortall hate
+ With the comonty, and many great estate
+ Suche is moche wors than outher murderer or thefe
+ For ofte of his talys procedeth grete myschefe
+
+ Within his mouth is venym Jeperdous and vyle
+ His tonge styll laboryth lesynges to contryue
+ His mynde styll museth of falshode and on gyle
+ Therwith to trobyll suche as gladly wolde nat stryue
+ Somtyme his wordes as dartis he doth dryue
+ Agaynst good men: for onely his delyte.
+ Is set to sclaunder to diffame and bacbyte.
+
+ And namely them that fautles ar and innocent.
+ Of conscience clene, and maners commendable
+ These dryuyls sclaunder, beynge full dilygent.
+ To deuyde, louers that ar moste agreable
+ His tonge Infect his mynde abhomynable
+ Infectyth loue and ouertourneth charyte
+ Of them that longe tyme haue lyuyd in amyte
+
+ But he that accused is thus without all faute
+ And so sclaundred of this caytyf vnthryfty
+ Knowyth nought of this ieoperdous assaute
+ For he nought dowteth that is no thynge fauty
+ Thus whyle he nought feryth comyth sodaynly
+ This venemous doloure distaynynge his gode name
+ And so gyltles put to rebuke, and to shame.
+
+ Thus if one serche and seke the worlde ouerall
+ Than a backbyter nought is more peryllous
+ His mynde myscheuous, his wordys ar mortall
+ His damnable byt is foule and venemous
+ A thousande lyes of gyles odyous
+ He castyth out where he wolde haue debate
+ Engendrynge murder whan he his tyme can wayt
+
+ Where as any frendes lyueth in accorde
+ Faythfull and true: this cowarde and caytyf
+ With his fals talys them bryngeth to dyscorde
+ And with his venym kepeth them in stryfe
+ But howe beit that he thus pas forth his lyfe
+ Sawynge his sede of debate and myschefe
+ His darte oft retourneth to his own reprefe
+
+ But nat withstandynge, suche boldely wyl excuse
+ His fals dyffamynge: as fautles and innocent.
+ If any hym for his dedes worthely accuse
+ He couereth his venym: as symple of intent.
+ Other ar whiche flater: and to euery thynge assent.
+ Before face folowynge the way of adulacion,
+ Whiche afterwarde sore hurteth by detraccion.
+
+ The worlde is nowe alle set on dyffamacion.
+ Suche ar moste cherisshed that best can forge a tale.
+ Whych shulde be moste had in abhomynacion.
+ And so they ar of wyse men without fayle.
+ But suche as ar voyde of wysdom and counsayle
+ Inclyneth theyr erys to sclander and detraccion,
+ Moche rather than they wolde to a noble sermon.
+
+ But euery Sclanderer, and begynner of stryfe.
+ Lousers of loue, and infecters of Charite.
+ Unworthy ar to lyue here at large in this lyfe.
+ But in derke Dongeon they worthy ar to be.
+ And there to remayne in pryson tyl they dye.
+ For with there yl tunges they labour to destroy
+ Concorde: whiche cause is of loue and of ioy.
+
+ An olde quean that hath ben nought al hyr dayes.
+ Whiche oft hath for money hyr body let to hyre
+ Thynketh that al other doth folowe hyr olde wayes.
+ So she and hyr boul felawes syttinge by the fyre.
+ The Boule about walkynge with theyr tunges they conspyre
+ Agaynst goode peple, to sclander them wyth shame.
+ Than shal the noughty doughter lerne of the bawdy dame.
+
+ By his warkes knowen is euery creature
+ For if one good, louynge, meke and charitable be.
+ He labours no debates amonge men to procure.
+ But coueyteth to norysshe true loue and charite.
+ Where as the other ful of falshode and iniquyte
+ Theyr synguler plesour put to ingender variaunce.
+ But oft theyr folysshe stody retournes to theyr myschaunce
+
+ Therfore ye bacbyters that folke thus dyffame
+ Leue of your lewdnes and note wel this sentence.
+ Which Cryist hymself sayd: to great rebuke and shame
+ Unto them that sclandreth a man of Innocence.
+ Wo be to them whych by malyuolence
+ Slandreth or dyffameth any creature.
+ But wel is hym that wyth pacience can indure.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of hym that wyll nat folowe nor ensue good counsell, and necessary.
+
+[Illustration: Of folys yet another sorte doth come
+Vnto our shyp rowynge with great trauayle
+Whiche nought perceyue of doctryne nor wysdome
+And yet dysdayne they to aske wyse counseyll
+Nor it to folowe for theyr owne auayle
+Let suche folys therat haue no dysdayne
+If they alone endure theyr losse and payne]
+
+ He is a fole that dothe coueyt and desyre
+ To haue the name of wysdome and prudence
+ And yet of one sought thorugh a cyte or a shyre
+ None coude be founde of lesse wysdome nor science
+ But whyle he thynketh hym full of sapience
+ Crafty and wyse, doutles he is more blynde
+ Than is that fole whiche is out of his mynde
+
+ But though he be wyse, and of myght meruaylous
+ Endued with retoryke and with eloquence
+ And of hym selfe both ware and cautelous
+ If he be tachyd with this inconuenyence
+ To dysdayne others counseyll and sentence
+ He is vnwyse, for oft a folys counsayle
+ Tourneth a wyse man to consort and auayle
+
+ But specially the read and auysement
+ Of wyse men, discrete, and full of grauyte
+ Helpeth thyne owne, be thou never so prudent
+ To thy purpose gyuynge strength and audacyte.
+ One man alone knowys nat all polycye
+ Thoughe thou haue wysdome cunnynge and scyence
+ Yet hath another moche more experience
+
+ Some cast out wordes in paynted eloquence
+ Thynkynge therby to be reputed wyse
+ Thoughe they haue neyther wysdome nor science
+ Suche maner folys them self do exercyse
+ A plughe and teame craftely to deuyse
+ To ere the path that folys erst hath made
+ The trouth vnder glose of suche is hyd and layde
+
+ For why, they trust alway to theyr owne mynde
+ And furour begon whether it be good or yll
+ As if any other, no wyser read coude fynde
+ Thus they ensue theyr pryuate folysshe wyll
+ Oft in suche maters wherin they haue no skyll
+ As did Pyrrus whiche began cruell Batayle
+ Agaynst Orestes refusynge wyse counsayle
+
+ But folowyd his owne rasshe mynde without auayle
+ As blynde and obstynat of his intencion
+ Wherfore he was disconfyted in Batayle
+ Hymselfe slayne, his men put to confusyon
+ If that the Troyans in theyr abusyon
+ With false Parys, had confourmed theyr intent
+ To Helenns counsayle Troy had nat ben brent.
+
+ For that Priamus his mynde wolde nat aply
+ To the counseyll of Cassandra Prophetes
+ The grekys distroyed a great parte of Asy
+ Hector also by his selfwyllydnes
+ Was slayne with Peyn for all his doughtynes
+ Of Achylles in open and playne Batayle
+ For nat folowynge of his faders counsayle
+
+ If Hector that day had byddyn within Troy
+ And vnto his fader bene obedient
+ Perchaunce he sholde haue lyuyd in welth and ioy
+ Longe tyme after and come to his intent
+ Whereas his body was with a spere through rent
+ Of the sayd Achyllys cruell and vnkynde
+ Alas for suynge his owne selfwyllyd mynde
+
+ I rede of Nero moche cursed and cruell
+ Whiche to wyse counsayle hymself wolde nat agre
+ But in all myschef all other dyd excell
+ Delytynge hym in synne and crueltye
+ But howe dyde he ende forsoth in myserye
+ And at the last as wery of his lyfe
+ Hymselfe he murdred with his owne hand and knyfe
+
+ The Bybyll wytnessyth howe the prophete Thoby
+ Gaue his dere sone in chefe commaundement
+ That if he wolde lyue sure without ieoperdy
+ He sholde sue the counsayle of men wyse and prudent
+ The story of Roboam is also euydent
+ Whiche for nat suynge of counseyll and wysdome
+ Lost his Empyre, his scepter and kyngdome
+
+ If that it were nat for cawse of breuyte
+ I coude shewe many of our predecessours
+ Whiche nat folowynge counceyll of men of grauyte
+ Soone haue decayed from theyr olde honours
+ I rede of Dukes, Kynges, and Emperours
+ Whiche dispysynge the counsayle of men of age
+ Haue after had great sorowe and damage.
+
+ For he suerly whiche is so obstynate
+ That onely he trusteth to his owne blyndnes
+ Thynkynge all wysdome within his dotynge pate
+ He often endyth in sorowe and dystres
+ Wherfore let suche theyr cours swyftly addres
+ To drawe our Plough, and depe to ere the ground
+ That by theyr laboure all folys may be founde.
+
+THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY THE TRANSLATOUR.
+
+ O man vnauysed, thy blyndnes set asyde
+ Knowledge thy owne foly thy statelynes expel
+ Let nat for thy eleuate mynde nor folysshe pryde,
+ To order thy dedes by goode and wyse counsel
+ Howbeit thou thynke thy reason doth excel
+ Al other mennys wyt. yet oft it doth befall.
+ Anothers is moche surer: and thyn the worst of all.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of disordred and vngoodly maners.
+
+[Illustration: Drawe nere ye folys of lewde condicion
+Of yll behauoure gest and countenaunce
+Your proude lokys, disdayne and derysyon
+Expresseth your inwarde folysshe ignoraunce
+Nowe wyll I touche your mad mysgoueraunce
+Whiche hast to foly, And folysshe company
+Treylynge your Baybll in sygne of your foly]
+
+ In this our tyme small is the company
+ That haue good maners worthy of reuerence
+ But many thousandes folowe vylany
+ Prone to all synne and inconuenyence
+ Stryuynge who sonest may come to all offence
+ Of lewde condicions and vnlefulnesse
+ Blyndnes of yll, and defylyd folysshenesse
+
+ All myserable men alas haue set theyr mynde
+ On lothsome maners clene destytute of grace
+ Theyr iyen dymmyd, theyr hertes are so blynde
+ That heuenly ioy none forceth to purchace
+ Both yonge and olde procedeth in one trace
+ With ryche and pore without all dyfference
+ As bonde men subdued to foly and offence
+
+ Some ar busshed theyr bonetes, set on syde.
+ Some waue theyr armys and hede to and fro
+ Some in no place can stedfastly abyde
+ More wylde and wanton than outher buk or do
+ Some ar so proude that on fote they can nat go
+ But get they must with countenaunce vnstable
+ Shewynge them folys, frayle and varyable
+
+ Some chyde that all men do them hate
+ Some gygyll and lawgh without grauyte
+ Some thynkes, hymselfe a gentylman or state
+ Though he a knaue caytyf and bonde churle be
+ These folys ar so blynde them self they can nat so
+ A yonge boy that is nat worth an onyon
+ With gentry or presthode is felowe and companyon.
+
+ Brybours and Baylyes that lyue upon towlynge
+ Are in the world moche set by nowe a dayes
+ Sergeauntis and Catchpollys that lyue upon powlynge
+ Courters and caytyfs begynners of frayes
+ Lyue styll encreasynge theyr vnhappy wayes
+ And a thousande mo of dyuers facultyes
+ Lyue auauntynge them of theyr enormytees.
+
+ Within the chirche and euery other place
+ These folys use theyr lewde condicions
+ Some starynge some cryeng some haue great solace
+ In rybawde wordes, some in deuysyons
+ Some them delyte in scornes and derysons
+ Some pryde ensueth and some glotony.
+ Without all norture gyuen to vylany
+
+ Theyr lyfe is folysshe lothsome and vnstable
+ Lyght brayned, theyr herte and mynde is inconstant
+ Theyr gate and loke proude and abhomynable
+ They haue nor order as folys ignorant
+ Chaungyng theyr myndes thryse in one instant
+ Alas this lewdnes and great enormyte
+ Wyll them nat suffer theyr wretchydnes to se
+
+ Thus ar these wretchyd caytyfes fully blynde
+ All men and wymen that good ar doth them hate
+ But he that with good maners endueth his mynde
+ Auoydeth this wrath hatered and debate
+ His dedes pleaseth both comonty and estate
+ And namely suche as ar good and laudable
+ Thynketh his dedes right and commendable
+
+ As wyse men sayth: both vertue and cunnynge
+ Honoure and worshyp grace and godlynes
+ Of worthy maners take theyr begynnynge
+ And fere also asswagyth wantones.
+ Subduynge the furour of youthes wylfulnes
+ But shamefastnes trouth constance and probyte
+ Both yonge and olde bryngeth to great dignyte.
+
+ These foresayde vertues with charite and peas.
+ Together assembled stedfast in mannys mynde.
+ Cawseth his honour and worthynes to encreas.
+ And his godly lyfe a godly ende shal fynde
+ But these lewde caytyfs which doth theyr myndes blynde
+ With corrupt maners lyuynge vnhappely.
+ In shame they lyue and wretchedly they dye.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of brekynge and hurtynge of amyte and frendshyp.
+
+[Illustration: He that iniustyce vseth and greuance
+Agaynst all reason lawe and equyte
+By vyolent force puttynge to vtteraunce
+A symple man full of humylyte
+Suche by his lewdnes and iniquyte.
+Makyth a graue wherin hym selfe shall lye.
+And lewdly he dyeth that lyueth crudlye.]
+
+ A Fole frowarde cruell and vntrewe
+ Is he whiche by his power wrongfully
+ His frendes and subiectes laboures to subdewe
+ Without all lawe, but clene by tyranny
+ Therfore thou Juge thy erys se thou aply
+ To right Justyce and set nat thyne intent
+ By wrath or malyce to be to vyolent.
+
+ It is nat lawfull to any excellent
+ Or myghty man, outher lawyer or estate
+ By cruelnes to oppresse an innocent
+ Ne by pryde and malyce Justyce to violate
+ The law transposynge after a frowarde rate
+ With proude wordes defendynge his offence
+ God wot oft suche haue symple conscience
+
+ O that he cursed is and reprouable
+ Whiche day and nyght stodyeth besely
+ To fynde some meanes false and detestable
+ To put his frende to losse or hurte therby
+ Our hertes ar fully set on vylany
+ There ar right fewe of hye or lowe degre
+ That luste to norysshe trewe loue and amyte
+
+ Alas exyled is godly charyte
+ Out of our Royalme we all ar so vnkynde
+ Our folys settyth gretter felycyte
+ On golde and goodes than on a faythfull frynde
+ Awake blynde folys and call vnto your mynde
+ That though honest ryches be moche commendable
+ Yet to a true frende it is nat comparable
+
+ Of all thynges loue is moste profytable
+ For the right order of lowe and amyte
+ Is of theyr maners to be agreable
+ And one of other haue mercy and pyte
+ Eche doynge for other after theyr degre
+ And without falshode this frendeshyp to mayntayne
+ And nat departe for pleasour nor for payne
+
+ But alas nowe all people haue dysdayne
+ On suche frendshyp for to set theyr delyte
+ Amyte we haue exyled out certayne
+ We lowe oppressyon to sclaunder and bacbyte
+ Extorcyon hath strength, pyte gone is quyte
+ Nowe in the worlde suche frendes ar there none
+ As were in Grece many yeres agone.
+
+ Who lyst thystory of Patroclus to rede
+ There shall he se playne wryten without fayle
+ Howe whan Achyllys gaue no force nor hede
+ Agaynst the Troyans to execute batayle
+ The sayd Patroclus dyd on the aparayle
+ Of Achylles, and went forth in his steade
+ Agaynst Hector: but lyghtly he was dede.
+
+ But than Achylles seynge this myschaunce.
+ Befallen his frende whiche was to hym so true.
+ He hym addressyd shortly to take vengeaunce.
+ And so in Batayle the noble Hector slewe
+ And his dede cors after his charot drewe.
+ Upon the grounde traylynge ruthfully behynde
+ Se howe he auengyd Patroclus his frende.
+
+ The hystory also of Orestes dothe expresse
+ Whiche whan agamenon his fader was slayne
+ By egystus whiche agaynst rightwysnes
+ The sayde Orestis moder dyd meyntayne
+ The childe was yonge wherfore it was but vayne
+ In youth to stryue, but whan he came to age
+ His naturall moder slewe he in a rage
+
+ And also Egystus whiche had his fader slayne
+ Thus toke he vengeaunce of both theyr cruelnes
+ But yet it grewe to his great care and payne
+ For sodaynly he fell in a madnesse
+ And euer thought that in his furiousnes
+ His moder hym sued flamynge full of fyre
+ And euer his deth was redy to conspyre
+
+ Orestes troubled with this fereful vysyon
+ As franatyke and mad wandred many a day
+ Ouer many a countrey londe and regyon
+ His frende Pylades folowynge hym alway
+ In payne nor wo he wolde hym nat denay
+ Tyll he restoryd agayne was to his mynde
+ Alas what frynde may we fynde nowe so kynde.
+
+ Of dymades what shall I lawde or wryte.
+ And Pythias his felawe amyable
+ Whiche in eche other suche loue had and delyte
+ That whan Denys a tyrant detestable
+ And of his men some to hym agreable
+ Wolde one of them haue mordred cruelly
+ Echone for other offred for to dye
+
+ Ualerius wrytyth a story longe and ample
+ Of Lelius and of worthy Cipio.
+ Whiche of trewe loue hath left vs great example
+ For they neuer left in doloure wele nor wo
+ I rede in thystory of Theseus also:
+ Howe he (as the Poetes fables doth tell)
+ Folowyd his felawe perothus in to hell.
+
+ And serchynge hym dyd wander and compas
+ Those lothsome flodys and wayes tenebrous
+ Ferynge no paynes of that dysordred place
+ Nor obscure mystes or ayres odyous
+ Tyll at the laste by his wayes cautelous
+ And Hercules valyaunt dedes of boldnesse
+ He gat Perothus out of that wretchydnesse.
+
+ Alas where ar suche frendes nowe a dayes
+ Suerly in the worlde none suche can be founde
+ All folowe theyr owne profyte and lewde wayes
+ None vnto other coueytys to be bounde
+ Brekers of frendshyp ynough ar on the grounde
+ Whiche set nought by frendshyp so they may haue good
+ All suche in my shyp shall haue a folys hode
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye cruell folys full of ingratitude.
+ Aryse be asshamyd of your iniquyte
+ Mollyfy your hertes vnkynde stuberne and rude
+ Graffynge in them true loue and amyte
+ Consyder this prouerbe of antyquyte
+ And your vnkyndnes weray ban and curse
+ For whether thou be of hy or lowe degre
+ Better is a frende in courte than a peny in purse
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of contempt, or dispisynge of holy scripture.
+
+[Illustration: He that gyueth his erys or credence
+To euery folys talys or talkynge
+Thynkynge more wysdome and fruytfull sentence
+In theyr vayne talys than is in the redynge
+Of bokes whiche shewe vs the way of godly lyuynge
+And soulys helth: forsoth suche one is blynde
+And in this shyp the anker shall vp wynde.]
+
+ Suche as dispyseth auncyent scripture
+ Whiche prouyd is of great auctoryte
+ And hath no pleasoure felycyte or cure
+ Of godly Prophetis whiche wrote of veryte
+ A fole he is for his moste felycyte
+ Is to byleue the tales of an olde wyfe
+ Rather than the doctryne of eternall lyfe
+
+ The holy Bybyll grounde of trouth and of lawe
+ Is nowe of many abiect and nought set by
+ Nor godly scripture is nat worth an hawe
+ But talys ar louyd grounde of rybawdry
+ And many blynddyd ar so with theyr foly
+ That no scripture thynke they so true nor gode
+ As is a folysshe yest of Robyn hode.
+
+ He that to scripture wyll not gyue credence
+ Wherin ar the armys of our tuycion
+ And of our fayth foundacion and defence
+ Suche one ensueth nat the condycion
+ Of man resonable, but by abusyon
+ Lyuyth as a best of conscyence cruell
+ As saue this worlde were neyther heuen nor hell.
+
+ He thynketh that there is no god aboue
+ Nor nobler place than is this wretchyd grounde
+ Nor goddes power suche neyther fere nor loue
+ With whom all grace and mercy doth abounde
+ Whiche whan hym lyst vs wretches may confounde
+ Alas what auayleth to gyue instruction
+ To suche lewde folys of this condycion.
+
+ It nought auayleth vnto them to complayne
+ Of theyr blyndnes, nor enfourme them with vertue
+ Theyr cursed lyfe wyll by no mean refrayne
+ Their viciousnes, nor their erroure eschewe
+ But rather stody theyr foly to renewe
+ Alas what profytis to suche to expresse.
+ The heuenly ioy, rewarde of holynesse.
+
+ Alas what auayleth to suche to declare
+ The paynes of hell, wo dissolate and derke
+ No wo nor care can cause suche to beware
+ From their lewde lyfe corrupt and synfull warke
+ What profyteth sermons of any noble clarke
+ Or godly lawes taught at any Scolys
+ For to reherse to these myscheuous folys.
+
+ What helpeth the Prophetis scripture or doctryne
+ Unto these folys obstynate and blynde
+ Their hertis ar harde, nat wyllynge to enclyne
+ To theyr preceptis nor rote them in theyr mynde
+ Nor them byleue as Cristen men vnkynde
+ For if that they consydred heuen or hell
+ They wolde nat be so cursed and cruell
+
+ And certaynly the trouth apereth playne
+ That these folys thynke in theyr intent
+ That within hell is neyther car nor payne
+ Hete nor colde, woo, nor other punysshement
+ Nor that for synners is ordeyned no turment
+ Thus these mad folys wandreth euery houre
+ Without amendement styll in theyr blynde erroure
+
+ Before thy fete thou mayst beholde and se
+ Of our holy fayth the bokys euydent
+ The olde lawes and newe layde ar before the
+ Expressynge christes tryumphe right excellent
+ But for all this set is nat thyne intent
+ Theyr holy doctryne to plant within thy brest
+ Wherof shold procede ioy and eternall rest
+
+ Trowest thou that thy selfe wyllyd ignoraunce
+ Of godly lawes and mystycall doctryne
+ May clense or excuse thy blynde mysgouernaunce
+ Or lewde erroure, whiche scorne hast to inclyne
+ To theyr preceptis: and from thy synne declyne
+ Nay nay thy cursed ignoraunce sothly shall
+ Drowne thy soule in the depe flodes infernall
+
+ Therfore let none his cursydnes defende
+ Nor holy doctryne, nor godly bokes dispyse
+ But rather stody his fawtes to amende
+ For god is aboue all our dedes to deuyse
+ Whiche shall rewarde them in a ferefull wyse
+ With mortall wo that euer shall endure
+ Whiche haue dyspysyd his doctryne and scripture
+
+BARCLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Out of your slomber folys I rede you ryse.
+ Scripture dyuyne, to folowe and inbrace
+ Be nat so bolde it to leue nor dispyse
+ But you enforce it to get and purchase
+ Remember mannys consort and solace.
+ Is holy closyd within the boke of lyfe
+ Who that it foloweth hath a speciall grace
+ But he that doth nat a wretche is and caytyfe
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folys without prouysyon.
+
+[Illustration: He is a fole forsoth and worse
+That to his saddyll wolde lepe on hye
+Before or he haue gyrt his horse
+For downe he comys with an euyll thee
+But as great a fole forsoth is he
+And to be lawghed to derysyon.
+That ought begynneth without prouysyon]
+
+ Of other folys yet is a moche nomber
+ Whom I wolde gladly brynge to intellygence
+ To auoyde their blyndnes which sore doth incomber
+ Theyr mynde and herte for lackynge of science
+ Suche ar vnware and gyuen to neglygence
+ Mad and mysmyndyd pryuate of wysdome
+ Makynge no prouysyon for the tyme to come.
+
+ If any mysfortune aduersyte or wo
+ As often hapnyth, to suche a fole doth fall
+ Than sayth he I thought it wolde nat haue be so
+ But than ouer late is it agayne to call
+ It is nat ynough thou fole to say I shall
+ For this one daye prouyde me by wysdome
+ A wyse man seyth peryll longe before it come
+
+ He is vnwyse and of prouysyon pore
+ That nought can se before he haue damage
+ Whan the stede is stolyn to shyt the stable dore
+ Comys small pleasoure profyte or vauntage
+ But he that can suche folysshenes asswage
+ Begynnynge by counsayll, and fore prouydence
+ Is sure to escape all inconuenyence
+
+ Whan Adam tastyd the appyll in Paradyse.
+ To hym prohybyte by dyuyne commaundement
+ If he had noted the ende of his interpryse
+ To Eue he wolde nat haue ben obedyent
+ Thus he endured right bytter punysshement
+ For his blynde erroure and improuydence
+ That all his lynage rue sore for his offence.
+
+ Hymselfe dryuyn out from Paradyce all bare
+ With Eue, into this vale of wretchydnes
+ To get theyr lyuynge with laboure payne and care
+ And also if Jonathas by errour and blyndnes
+ Had nat receyued the gyftis of falsnes
+ Unto hym gyuen of Tryphon by abusyon
+ He sholde haue escapyd great confusyon
+
+ If that he before had notyd craftely
+ His ennemyes gyftis of frawde full and of treason
+ He myght haue sauyd hymselfe from ieoperdy
+ And all his people by prouydence and reason
+ Where as he blynde was as at that season
+ And to a cyte broughte in by a trayne
+ Where he was murdred and all his people slayne
+
+ Julius Cesar the chefe of conquerours
+ Was euer warre and prudent of counsayle
+ But whan he had obteyned great honours
+ And drewe to rest as wery of Batayle
+ Than his vnwarnes causyd hym to wayle
+ For if he had red with good aduysement
+ The letter whiche to the counselhous was sent
+
+ He had nat gyuen his owne iugement
+ As he dyd by his foly and neglygence
+ For whiche he murdred was incontynent
+ Without respect had vnto his excellence
+ Alas se here what inconuenyence
+ Came to this Emperour hye and excellent
+ For nat beyng wyse dyscrete and prouydent
+
+ If Nichanor before had noted well
+ The ende of his dedes he had nat be slayne
+ By Judas and the children of Israell
+ His hande and tunge cut of to his great payne
+ And than his hede, as the bybyll sheweth playne
+ Thus may all knowe that wyll therto entende
+ Wherto they come that caryth nat the ende
+
+ But he that begynneth by counsayll and wysdome
+ Alway procedynge with good prouysyon
+ Notynge what is past and what is for to come
+ Suche folowys godly scripture and monycion
+ In happy wayes without transgressyon
+ Of goddes lawes, and his commaundement
+ And often tymes comys to his intent.
+
+ Thus it appereth playne and euydent
+ That wyse prouysyon, prose and good counsayle
+ Are moche laudable, and also excellent
+ And to mankynde great profyte and auayle.
+ Where as those folys haue often cause to wayle
+ For theyr mysfortune, in sorowe vexed sore
+ Whiche ought begyn nat prouydyd before
+
+THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY.
+
+ O man remember thou canste nat abyde
+ Styll in this lyfe therfore moste specially
+ For thy last ende thou oughtest to prouyde.
+ For that prouysion forsoth is most godly
+ And than next after thy mynde thou ought aply
+ To fle offence, and bewayle thyne olde synne
+ And in all workes and besynes worldly
+ What may be the ende marke well or thou begynne
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of disordred loue and veneryous.
+
+[Illustration: Here drawe we folys mad togyther bounde
+Whom Uenus caught hath in hyr net a snare
+Whose blynde hertes this forour doth confounde
+Theyr lyfe consumynge in sorowe shame and care
+Many one she blyndeth alas fewe can beware
+Of hyr dartes hedyd with shame and vylany
+But he that is wondyd can skant ynde remedy]
+
+ O cruel Uenus forsoth who doth insue
+ Thy flaterynge gylys and proude commaundement
+ And hastyth nat the dartis to eschewe
+ Of blynde Cupido but folowys his intent
+ Suche folys endure moche sorowe and turment
+ Wastynge theyr goodes dishonestynge their name
+ As past fere of god and sekynge after shame
+
+ Howe many yllys, what inconuenyence
+ Howe great vengeaunce, and howe bytter punysshement
+ Hath god oft takyn for this synne and offence
+ Howe many Cytees hye and excellent
+ Hath Uenus lost, destroyed, and alto brent
+ What lordes and howe many a great estate
+ Hath loue lost, murdred, or els brought in debate
+
+ The noble Troyans murdred ar and slayne
+ Theyr cyte brent, decayde is theyr kyngdome
+ Theyr kynge pryant by pyrrus dede and slayne
+ And all this by Parys vnhappy loue is come
+ Whiche voyde of grace and blynde without wysdome
+ To fyll his lust, from Grece rubbyd Helayne,
+ But this one pleasour was grounde of moche payne
+
+ Also Marcus a Prynce of the Romayns
+ Called Antonius by another name
+ After that he had ouercome the persyans
+ To Rome retournyd with tryumphe lawde and fame
+ And there (whiche after was to his great shame)
+ With cleopatra in loue was take so in blyndnes
+ That he promysyd to make hir empresse
+
+ So this blynde louer to fyll his interpryse
+ Caused his men two hondred shyppes ordayne
+ And toke the see wenynge in suche fourme and wyse
+ His lewde desyre: to perfourme and obteyne
+ But shortly after was he ouercome and slayne
+ Of Cesar: and whan he this purpose vnderstode
+ He bathed his Corse within his lemmans blode
+
+ For two serpentis that venemus were and fell
+ Were set to the brestis of fayre Cleopatray
+ So this cruell purpose had punysshement cruell
+ For theyr intendynge theyr countrey to betray
+ And worthy they were, what man can it denay
+ Thus it apereth playne by euydence
+ That of false loue cometh great inconuenyence
+
+ For he that loueth is voyde of all reason
+ Wandrynge in the worlde without lawe or mesure
+ In thought and fere sore vexed eche season
+ And greuous dolours in loue he must endure
+ No creature hym selfe may well assure
+ From loues soft dartis: I say none on the grounde
+ But mad and folysshe bydes he whiche hath the wounde
+
+ Aye rennynge as franatyke no reason in his mynde
+ He hath no constaunce nor ease within his herte
+ His iyen ar blynde, his wyll alwaye inclyned
+ To louys preceptes yet can nat he departe
+ The Net is stronge, the fole caught can nat starte
+ The darte is sharpe, who euer is in the chayne
+ Can nat his sorowe in vysage hyde nor fayne
+
+ Rede howe Phedra hir loue fixed so feruent
+ On ypolitus in prohybyte auowtry.
+ That whan he wolde nat vnto hir consent
+ To hir husbonde she accused hym falsly
+ As if he wolde hir tane by force to vylany
+ Ipolitus was murdred for this accusement
+ But Phedra for wo hanged hyrself incontynent
+
+ The lewde loue of Phasyphe abhomynable
+ As poetis sayth) brought hir to hir confusyon
+ Nero the cruell Tyrant detestable.
+ His naturall mother knewe by abusyon
+ Uenus and Cupido with their collusyon.
+ Enflamyd Messalina in suche wyse
+ That euery nyght hir selfe she wolde disgyse
+
+ And secretly go to the brothelhous
+ For to fulfyll hir hote concupyssence
+ What shall I wryte the dedes vicious
+ Of Julia or, hir cruell offence.
+ What shall I wryte the inconuenyence
+ Whiche came by Danythys cursed auowtry
+ Syth that the bybyll it shewyth openly
+
+ What shall I wryte the greuous forfayture
+ Of Sodom and Gomor syns the Bybyll doth tell
+ Of their synnes agaynst god and nature
+ For whiche they sanke alyue downe into hell.
+ Thus it aperith what punysshement cruell.
+ Our lorde hath taken both in the olde lawe and newe
+ For this synne: whiche sholde vs moue it to eschewe
+
+ALEXANDER BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye folys inflamyd with loue inordynate.
+ Note these examples, drawe from this vyce your mynde
+ Remember that there is none so great estate
+ But that false loue hym causeth to be blynde
+ Our folysshe wymen may nat be left behynde
+ For many of them so folowys in this way
+ That they sell theyr soules and bodyes to go gay
+
+ The graceles galantes, and the aprentyce pore
+ Though they nought haue, themselfe they set nought by
+ Without they be acquaynted with some hore
+ Of westmynster or some other place of rybawdry
+ Than fall they to murder theft and robery.
+ For were nat proude clothynge, and also flesshely lust
+ All the feters and gyues of Englonde shulde rust.
+
+ Therfore folys awake, and be no longer blynde
+ Consyder that shame, seknes, and pouertye
+ Of loue procedeth: and drawe from it your mynde
+ Suffre not your soules damned and lost to be
+ By vayne lust and carnall sensualyte
+ For thoughe the small pleasure do make the fayne
+ The ende oft is worldly wo and myserye
+ Or amonge the fendes eternall payne
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them y^t synne trustynge vpon the
+mercy of god.
+
+[Illustration: Who that styll synneth without contricion
+Trustynge goddes mercy and benygnyte
+Bycause he sparyth our transgressyon
+And he that thynketh iustice and equyte
+Is nat in god as well as is petye
+Suche is forsoth without discressyon
+Syns he thus synneth upon presumpcion]
+
+ The wynde is up our Nauy is aflote
+ A bande of Folys a borde is come yet more
+ Theyr cursed maners and mad I shall nowe note
+ Whose herte for synne is neyther contryte ne sore
+ Nat mornynge (as they ought to do) therfore
+ Without fere styll lyuynge in theyr vyciousnes
+ No thynge inclyned to godly holynes
+
+ They thynke no thynge on goddes rightwysnes
+ But grounde them all, on his mercy and pyte
+ For that he redyer is vnto forgeuenesse
+ Unto all people, than them punysshed to se
+ Trouth it is that the great enormyte
+ Of the worlde hathe nat aye worthy punysshement
+ Nor he nat damnyd that doth his synne repent
+
+ Put case he gyuyth nat aye lyke iugement
+ On mannys mysdede, nor yet mundayne offence
+ And though he be gode meke and pacyent
+ Nor shortly punyssheth our inconuenyence
+ Put case also he gyue nat aduertence
+ To all mundayne fawtes synne and fragylyte
+ Yet none sholde synne in hope of his mercy
+
+ But these folys assembled in a companye
+ Sayth eche to other that oft it is laufull
+ To perseuerant synners lyuynge in iniquyte
+ Yo trust in god syns he is mercyfull
+ What nedeth vs our wyttis for to dull
+ Labourynge our synne and foly to refrayne
+ Syns synne is a thynge naturall and humayne
+
+ Than sayth another forsoth thou sayst playne
+ And also our fore Faders and progenitours
+ Before our dayes offendyd haue certayne.
+ As well as we, in many blynde errours
+ But syns they haue escapyd all paynes and dolours
+ Of hell; and nowe in heuyn ar certayne
+ What nede haue we to fere infernall payne.
+
+ Than comys in an other with his dotysshe brayne
+ By god sayth he I knowe it without fable
+ That heuyn was made neyther for gose nor crane
+ Nor yet for other bestes vnresonable
+ Than of the Scripture doth he Chat and bable
+ Alleggynge our forefaders whiche haue mysdone
+ Saynge that no synne is newe in our season
+
+ A myserable men destytute of reason.
+ That thus on hope do synne vnhappely
+ Remember the synne of our forefaders done
+ Haue neuer ben left vnpunysshed fynally
+ And that somtyme, full sharpe and bytterly
+ For euer more all synne hath had a fall
+ With sorowe here, or els wo infernall
+
+ The synne of Sodom foule and nat natural
+ The Pryde of rome, whiche was so excellent
+ The offence of Dauyd Prophete and kynge royal
+ The furour of Pharao fyers and violent
+ Haue nat escaped the rightwyse punysshment
+ Of God aboue, the celestial and highe Justice
+ Which fyrst, or last punyssheth euery vyce.
+
+ Remember Richarde lately kynge of price
+ In Englonde raynynge vnrightwisely a whyle.
+ Howe he ambycion, and gyleful Couetyse
+ With innocent blode his handes dyd defyle
+ But howbeit that fortune on hym dyd smyle
+ Two yere or thre: yet god sende hym punysshment
+ By his true seruant the rede Rose redolent.
+
+ Therfore remember that god omnypotent
+ Oft suffreth synners in theyr iniquyte
+ Grauntynge them space and tyme of amendement
+ And nat to procede in their enormyte
+ But those synners that byde in one degre
+ And in this lyfe their synne wyll nat refrayne
+ God after punyssheth with infernall payne
+
+ As I haue sayde (therfore) I say agayne
+ Though god be of infynyte pety and mercy
+ His fauour and grace passynge all synne mundayne
+ Yet iustice is with hym eternally.
+ Wherfore I aduyse the to note intentifly
+ Though pyte wolde spare, iustyce wyll nat so
+ But the here rewarde, els with infernal we.
+
+ALEXANDER BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Syghe synners, syghe, for your mysgouernance.
+ Lament, mourne, and sorowe for your enormyte.
+ Away with these Clowdes of mysty ignorance
+ Syn nat in hope of goddys hyghe petye
+ And remember howe ye daily punysshed be
+ With dyuers dyseases both vncouthe and cruel
+ And all for your synne, but suche as escapeth fre
+ And styl lyue in syn, may fere the peynes of helle
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the folisshe begynnynge of great
+bildynges without sufficient prouision.
+
+[Illustration: Come nere folys and rede your ignorance
+And great losse procedynge of your owne foly
+Whiche without gode and discrete purueaunce
+Any great werke wyll bylde or edefye.
+All suche ar folys what man wyll it deny
+For he that wyll bylde before he count his cost
+Shall seldome well ende, so that is made is lost.]
+
+ Who euer begynneth any worke or dede
+ Of byldynge or of other thynge chargeable
+ And to his costes before taketh no hede
+ Nor tyme nat countyth to his worke agreable
+ Suche is a fole and well worthy a babyll
+ For he that is wyse wyll no thynge assay
+ Without he knowe howe he well ende it may.
+
+ The wyse man counteth his cost before alway
+ Or he begyn, and nought wyll take in honde
+ Wherto his myght or power myght denay
+ His costes confourmynge to the stynt of his londe
+ Where as the fole that nought doth vnderstonde
+ Begynneth a byldynge without aduysement
+ But or halfe be done his money clene is spent.
+
+ Many haue begon with purpose dilygent
+ To bylde great houses and pleasaunt mansyons
+ Them thynkynge to finysshe after theyr intent
+ But nede disceyuyd hath theyr opynyons
+ Their purpose nat worth a cowpyll of onyons
+ But whan they se that they it ende nat can
+ They curse the tyme that euer they it began
+
+ Of Nabugodosor that worthy man.
+ What shall I wryte or the story to the tell
+ Syth that the Bybyll to the expresse it can
+ In the fourth chapter of the prophete Danyell
+ Was he nat punysshed in paynes cruell
+ For his great pryde and his presumpcion
+ Whiche he toke it in the byldynge of Babylon
+
+ His golde and treasoure he spendyd hole theron
+ Enioynge hym in his Cyte excellent
+ Right so Nemroth by his inuencion
+ The towre of Babylon began for this intent
+ To saue hym, if the worlde agayne were drent
+ But the hye god consyderynge his blynde rage
+ His purpose let by confusyon of langage
+
+ His towre vnperfyte to his losse and domage
+ His people punysshed, hymselfe specyally
+ Thus it apereth what great disauauntage
+ On theyr hede falleth that byldeth in foly
+ Thus he is folysshe that wolde edefy
+ Any great worke without ryches in excesse
+ For great byldynges requyreth great rychesse
+
+ But many folys ar in suche a blyndnesse
+ That hereon nought they set their mynde ne thought
+ Wherfore to them oft commyth great distresse
+ And to great pouerty often ar they brought
+ Laughed to scorne, their purpose cometh to nought
+ And truely I fynde in bokes wryten playne
+ That our olde faders haue neuer set theyr brayne
+
+ On great byldynge, ne yet of them ben fayne:
+ It longeth to a lorde a Prynce or a Kynge
+ That lacke no treasoure theyr werkes to mayntayne
+ To set theyr myndes on excellent buyldynge
+ Therfore who so euer wyll meddle with this thynge
+ Or any other, before let hym be wyse
+ That his myght and ryches therto may suffyse.
+
+ Lyst all men do mocke and scorne his interpryse
+ For if he ought begyn without prouysyon
+ And haue nat wherby his byldynge may up ryse
+ All that is lost that is made and begon
+ And better it is sothly in myn intencion
+ Nought to begyn, and spare laboure and payne
+ Than to begyn and than, leue of agayne
+
+ Who euer he be that so doth certayne
+ He shall haue mockis mengled with his damage
+ Therfore let suche folys sharpe theyr brayne
+ And better intende to theyr owne auauntage
+ Consyderynge that processe of tyme and age
+ Theyr curyous byldynges shall at the lest confounde
+ And Roufe and wallys make egall with the grounde.
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye folys blyndyd with curyosyte
+ Whiche on great byldynge set so sore your mynde
+ Remember ye nat that doutles ye shall dye
+ And your gay byldynges and howses leue behynde
+ Thynke ye your conforte alway in them to fynde
+ Or whan ye dye, them hens with you to haue
+ Nay nay the laste hous gyuen to mankynde
+ Is the course grounde and walles of his graue.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of glotons and dronkardes.
+
+[Illustration: That gloton or dronkarde, vyle in goddes sight
+Shall hardly escape the weyght of pouertye.
+Whiche drynketh and deuoureth both day and nyght
+Therin onely settynge all his felycyte
+His lothsome lust and his bestyalyte
+Shall brynge vnto destruccion fynally
+His soule, his godes and his wretchyd body.]
+
+ Within our nauy he nedes shall haue a place.
+ Whiche without mesure on lothsome glotony
+ Setteth his pleasure and singuler solace
+ His stomacke ouerchargynge, vyle and vngodely
+ And to none other thynge his mynde doth he aply
+ Saue depest to drynke, suche force nat of theyr soules
+ But labore in rynsynge pecis cuppis and bowles
+
+ The madnes of dronkennes is so immoderate
+ That greuous sores it ingendreth and sykenes
+ It causeth often great foly and debate
+ With soden deth and carefull heuynes
+ In thynges no difference putteth dronkennes.
+ It febleth the ioyntis and the body within
+ Wastynge the brayne makynge the wyt full thyn
+
+ It engendreth in the hede infirmyte
+ Blyndynge the herte wyt and discression
+ The mynde it demynyssheth, coloure and beaute.
+ Causynge all myschef, shame and abusyon
+ It maketh men mad, and in conclusyon
+ Causeth them lyue without lawe or measure
+ Suynge after syn defylynge theyr nature
+
+ The people that are acloyed with this synne.
+ On no thynge els theyr myndes wyll aply:
+ Saue to the wyne and ale stakes to renne
+ And there as bestes to stryue and drynke auy
+ Than ar they outher gyuyn to rybawdry
+ Or els to brawle and fight at euery worde
+ Thus dronkennes is the chefe cause of discorde
+
+ But namely dronkennes and wretchyd glotony
+ By their excesse and superfluyte
+ Engendreth the rote of cursed Lechery
+ With murder, thefte and great enormyte
+ So bryngeth it many to great aduersyte
+ And with his furour the worlde so doth it blynde
+ That many it bryngeth to a shamfull ende
+
+ This vyce (alas) good maners doth confounde
+ And maketh man ouer besy of langage
+ And hym that in all ryches doth abounde
+ It ofte in pryson bryngeth and in bondage
+ It causeth man to his great sorowe and domage
+ Disclose his secrete and his preuey counsayle
+ Whiche causeth hym after sore to mourne and wayle
+
+ Nought is more lothsome, more vycyous nor vyle
+ Than he that is subdued to this vyce
+ His lyfe shortynge his body he doth defyle
+ Bereuynge his soule the ioy of Paradyse
+ Howe many Cytees and lordes of great pryce
+ Hath ben destroyed by dronken glotony
+ And by his felawe, false loue, or lechery.
+
+ The sone of Thomyr had nat ben ouercome
+ Nor slayne by Cyrus for all his worthynes.
+ If he hym selfe had gydyd by wysdome
+ And the vyce auoydyd of blynde dronkennes
+ The great Alexander taken with this madnes
+ With his swerde, whan he was dronken slewe
+ Suche of his frendes as were to hym most trewe
+
+ I rede also howe this conquerour myghty
+ Upon a season played at the Chesse
+ With one of his knyghtes which wan ynally
+ Of hym great golde treasoure and rychesse
+ And hym ouercame, but in a furyousnes
+ And lade with wyne, this conquerour vp brayde
+ And to his knyght in wrath these wordes sayde
+
+ I haue subdued by strength and by wysdome
+ All the hole worlde, whiche obeyeth to me
+ And howe hast thou alone me thus ouercome
+ And anone commaundyd his knyght hanged to be
+ Than sayde the knyght by right and equyte
+ I may apele. syns ye ar thus cruell
+ Quod Alexander to whome wylt thou apell
+
+ Knowest thou any that is gretter than I
+ Thou shalt be hanged thou spekest treason playne
+ The knyght sayd sauynge your honour certaynly
+ I am no traytoure, apele I woll certayne
+ From dronken Alexander tyll he be sober agayne
+ His lorde than herynge his desyre sounde to reason
+ Differryd the iustyce as for that tyme and season
+
+ And than after whan this furour was gone
+ His knyght he pardoned repentynge his blyndenes.
+ And well consydered that he shulde haue mysdone
+ If he to deth had hym done in that madnesse
+ Thus it apereth what great unhappynes
+ And blyndnes cometh to many a creature
+ By wyne or ale taken without measure.
+
+ Se here the inconuenyence manyfolde
+ Comynge of dronkennes as I wrytyn fynde.
+ Some ar so starynge mad that none can them holde
+ Rorynge and cryeng as men out of their mynde
+ Some fyghtynge some chydynge, some to other kynde
+ Nought lyuynge to them selfe: and some dotynge Johnn
+ Beynge dronke thynketh hym as wyse as Salomon
+
+ Some sowe dronke, swaloynge mete without mesure
+ Some mawdelayne dronke, mournynge lowdly and hye
+ Some beynge dronke no lenger can endure
+ Without they gyue them to bawdy rybawdry
+ Some swereth armys nayles herte and body.
+ Terynge our lord worse, than the Jowes hym arayed
+ Some nought can speke, but harkenyth what is sayd.
+
+ Some spende all that they haue and more at wast
+ With reuell and reuell dasshe fyll the cup Joohnn
+ Some their thryft lesyth with dyce at one cast
+ Some slepe as slogardes tyll their thryft be gone
+ Some shewe theyr owne counsell for kepe can they none
+ Some are Ape dronke full of lawghter and of toyes
+ Some mery dronke syngynge with wynches and boyes
+
+ Some spue, some stacker some vtterly ar lame
+ Lyeng on the grounde without power to ryse
+ Some bost them of bawdry ferynge of no shame
+ Some dumme, and some speketh. ix. wordes at thryse
+ Some charge theyr bely with wyne in suche wyse
+ That theyr legges skant can bere vp the body
+ Here is a sort to drowne a hole nauy.
+
+BARKLAYE TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Alas mad folys howe longe wyll ye procede
+ In this beestly lyuynge agayst humayne nature
+ Cease of your Foly: gyue aduertence and hede
+ That in eche thynge ought to be had measure
+ Wyne ne ale hurteth no maner creature
+ But sharpeth the wyt if it be take in kynde
+ But if it be nat, than I the ensure
+ It dulleth the brayne, blyndynge the wyt and mynde
+
+ Rede all bokes and thou shalt neuer fynde
+ That dronkennes and wysdome may togyther be
+ For where is dronkennes, there madnes is by kynde
+ Gydynge the hauer to all enormyte
+ And where as is madnes thou shalt neuer se
+ Reason ne wysdome take theyr abydynge
+ In one instant, wherfore lerne this of me
+ That dronkennes is mortell enmy to cunnynge.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of ryches vnprofytable.
+
+[Illustration: Yet fynde I folys of another sorte
+Whiche gather and kepe excessyfe ryches
+With it denyeng their neyghboures to conforte
+Whiche for nede lyueth in payne and wretchydnes
+Suche one by fortune may fall into distres
+And in lyke wyse after come to mysery
+And begge of other, whiche shall to hym deny.]
+
+ It is great foly, and a desyre in vayne
+ To loue and worshyp ryches to feruently
+ And so great laboure to take in care and payne
+ Fals treasoure to encrease and multyply
+ But yet no wonder is it sertaynly
+ Syth he that is ryche hath gretter reuerence
+ Than he that hath sadnes wysdom and scyence
+
+ The ryche mannes rewardes stande in best degre
+ But godly maners we haue set clene asyde
+ Fewe loueth vertue, but fewer pouertye.
+ Fals couetyse his braunches spreddeth wyde
+ Ouer all the worlde, that pety can nat byde
+ Among vs wretches banysshed is kyndnes
+ Thus lyeth the pore in wo and wretchydnes
+
+ Without conforte and without auctoryte
+ But he only is nowe reputed wyse
+ Whiche hath ryches in great store and plente.
+ Suche shall be made a sergeant or Justyce
+ And in the Court reputed of moste pryse
+ He shall be callyd to counseyll in the lawe
+ Though that his brayne be skarsly worth a strawe
+
+ He shall be Mayre baylyfe or constable
+ And he onely promotyd to honoure
+ His maners onely reputed ar laudable
+ His dedys praysyd as grettest of valoure
+ Men laboure and seke to fall in his fauoure
+ He shall haue loue, echone to hym shall sue
+ For his ryches, but nought for his vertue
+
+ Se what rewardes ar gyuen to ryches
+ Without regarde had to mannys condycyon
+ A strawe for cunnynge wysdome and holynes
+ Of ryches is the first and chefe questyon
+ What rentes what londes howe great possessyon
+ What stuffe of housholde what store of grotz and pens
+ And after his gode his wordes hath credence.
+
+ His wordes ar trouth men gyue to them credence
+ Thoughe they be falsly fayned and sotell
+ But to the pore none wyll gyue aduertence
+ Though that his wordes be true as the gospell
+ Ye let hym swere by heuyn and by hell
+ By god and his sayntes and all that god made
+ Yet nought they beleue that of hym is sayde
+
+ They say that the pore men doth god dispyse
+ Thouhe they nought swere but trouth and veryte
+ And that god punyssheth them in suche wyse
+ For so dispysynge of his hye maiestye
+ Kepynge them for their synnes in pouerte
+ And theyr ryche exaltyth by his power and grace
+ To suche ryches, worldly pleasour and solace
+
+ The ryche ar rewarded with gyftis of dyuerse sorte
+ With Capons and Conyes delycious of sent
+ But the pore caytyf abydeth without confort
+ Though he moste nede haue: none doth hym present
+ The fat pygge is baast, the lene cony is brent
+ He that nought hathe, shall so alway byde pore
+ But he that ouer moche hath, yet shall haue more
+
+ The wolfe etis the shepe, the great fysshe the small
+ The hare with the houndes vexed ar and frayde
+ He that hath halfe nedes wyll haue all
+ The ryche mannes pleasour can nat be denayde
+ Be the pore wroth, or be he well apayde
+ Fere causeth hym sende vnto the ryches hous
+ His mete from his owne mouth, if it be delycious
+
+ And yet is this ryche caytyf nat content
+ Though he haue all yet wolde he haue more.
+ And though this gode can neuer of hym be spent
+ With nought he departyth to hym that is pore
+ Though he with nede harde vexed were and sore.
+ O cursyd hunger o mad mynde and delyte.
+ To laboure for that whiche neuer shall do profyte
+
+ Say couetous caytyfe what doth it the auayle
+ For to haue all and yet, nat to be content
+ Thou takest nat this sore laboure and trauayle
+ To thy pleasoure but to thy great turment
+ But loke therof what foloweth consequent
+ Whan thou art dede and past this wretchyd lyfe
+ Thou leuyst behynde brawlynge debate and stryfe
+
+ To many one ryches is moche necessary
+ Whiche can it order right as it ought to be
+ But vnto other is it vtterly contrary
+ Whiche therwith disdayneth to socoure pouerte.
+ Nor them relefe in theyr aduersyte
+ Suche shall our lorde sore punysshe fynally
+ And his petycion rightwysly deny
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye great estatis and men of dignyte
+ To whome god in this lyfe hath sent ryches
+ Haue ye compassion, on paynfull pouertye
+ And them conforte in theyr carefull wretchydnes
+ God hym loueth and shall rewarde doutles
+ Whiche to the nedy for hym is charitable
+ With heuenly ioy, whiche treasour is endeles
+ So shall thy riches to the be profytable.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of hym that togyder wyll serue
+two maysters.
+
+[Illustration: A fole he is and voyde of reason
+Whiche with one hounde tendyth to take
+Two harys in one instant and season
+Rightso is he that wolde vndertake
+Hym to two lordes a seruaunt to make
+For whether, that he be lefe or lothe
+The one he shall displease, or els bothe.]
+
+ A fole also he is withouten doute
+ And in his porpose sothly blyndyd sore
+ Whiche doth entende labour or go aboute
+ To serue god, and also his wretchyd store
+ Of worldly ryches: for as I sayde before
+ He that togyder wyll two maysters serue
+ Shall one displease and nat his loue deserue
+
+ For he that with one hownde wol take also
+ Two harys togyther in one instant
+ For the moste parte doth the both two forgo
+ And if he one haue: harde it is and skant
+ And that blynde fole mad and ignorant
+ That draweth thre boltis atons in one bowe
+ At one marke shall shote to hye or to lowe
+
+ Or els to wyde, and shortly for to say
+ With one or none of them he strykis the marke:
+ And he that taketh vpon hym nyght or day
+ Laboures dyuers to chargeable of warke.
+ Or dyuerse offycis: suche wander in the darke
+ For it is harde to do well as he ought
+ To hym that on dyuerse thynges hath his thought
+
+ With great thoughtes he troubleth sore his brayne
+ His mynde vnstable, his wyt alway wandrynge:
+ Nowe here nowe there his body labours in payne
+ And in no place of stedfast abydynge.
+ Nowe workynge now musynge now renynge now rydynge
+ Now on see nowe on londe, than to se agayne
+ Somtyme to Fraunce, and nowe to Flaunders or Spayne
+
+ Thus is it paynfull and no thynge profytable
+ On many labours a man to set his mynde
+ For nouther his wyt nor body can be stable
+ Whiche wyll his body to dyuers chargis bynde
+ Whyle one goth forwarde the other bydes behynde
+ Therfore I the counseyll for thyne owne behoue
+ Let go this worlde and serue thy lorde aboue
+
+ He that his mynde settyth god truly to serue
+ And his sayntes: this worlde settynge at nought
+ Shall for rewarde euerlastynge ioy deserue
+ But in this worlde, he that settyth his thought
+ All men to please, and in fauour to be brought
+ Must lout and lurke, flater, lawde, and lye:
+ And cloke a knauys counseyll, though it fals be
+
+ If any do hym wronge or iniury
+ He must it suffer and pacyently endure
+ A dowble tunge with wordes lyke hony
+ And of his offycis if he wyll be sure
+ He must be sober and colde of his langage
+ More to a knaue, than to one of hye lynage
+
+ Oft must he stoupe his bonet in his honde
+ His maysters backe he must oft shrape and clawe
+ His breste anoyntynge, his mynde to vnderstonde
+ But be it gode or bad therafter must he drawe
+ Without he can Jest he is nat worth a strawe.
+ But in the meane tyme beware that he none checke
+ For than layth malyce a mylstone in his necke
+
+ He that in court wyll loue and fauour haue
+ A fole must hym fayne, if he were none afore
+ And be as felowe to euery boy and knaue
+ And to please his lorde he must styll laboure sore
+ His manyfolde charge maketh hym coueyt more
+ That he had leuer serue a man in myserye
+ Than serue his maker in tranquylyte
+
+ But yet whan he hath done his dylygence
+ His lorde to serue as I before haue sayde
+ For one small faute or neglygent offence
+ Suche a displeasoure agaynst hym may be layde
+ That out is he cast bare and vnpuruayde.
+ Whether he be gentyll, yeman grome or page
+ Thus worldly seruyce is no sure herytage
+
+ Wherfore I may proue by these examples playne
+ That it is better more godly and plesant
+ To leue this mondayne casualte and payne
+ And to thy maker one god to be seruaunt
+ Whiche whyle thou lyuest shall nat let the want
+ That thou desyrest iustly, for thy syruyce
+ And than after gyue the, the ioyes of Paradyse.
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Alas man aryse out of Idolatry.
+ Worshyp nat thy ryches nor thy vayne treasoure
+ Ne this wretchyd worlde full of mysery.
+ But lawde thy maker and thy sauyour
+ With fere, mekenes, fayth, glory, and honoure
+ Let thy treasoure onely in his seruyce be
+ And here be content with symple behauoure
+ Hauynge in this lorde trust and felycyte
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of to moche spekynge or bablynge.
+
+[Illustration: He that his tunge can temper and refrayne
+And asswage the foly of hasty langage
+Shall kepe his mynde from trowble, sadnes and payne
+And fynde therby great ease and auauntage
+Where as a hasty speker falleth in great domage
+Peryll and losse, in lyke wyse as the pye
+Betrays hir byrdes by hir chatrynge and crye.]
+
+ Ye blaberynge folys superflue of langage
+ Come to our shyp our ankers ar in wayde
+ By right and lawe ye may chalange a stage
+ To you of Barklay it shall nat be denayde
+ Howe be it the charge Pynson hathe on me layde
+ With many folys our Nauy not to charge.
+ Yet ye of dewty shall haue a sympyll barge
+
+ Of this sorte thousandes ar withouten fayle
+ That haue delyte in wordes voyde and vayne
+ On men nat fawty somtyme vsynge to rayle
+ On folysshe wordes settynge theyr herte and brayne
+ They often touche to theyr owne shame and payne
+ Suche thynges to whiche none wyll theyr mynde aply
+ (Saue suche folys) to theyr shame and enuy
+
+ Say besy fole art thou nat well worthy
+ To haue enuy, and that echone sholde the hate
+ Whan by thy wordes soundynge to great foly
+ Thou sore labrest to engender debate
+ Some renneth fast thynkynge to come to late
+ To gyue his counsell whan he seeth men in doute
+ And lyghtly his folysshe bolt shall be shot out
+
+ Is it nat better for one his tunge to kepe
+ Where as he myght (perchaunce) with honestee
+ Than wordes to speke whiche make hym after wepe
+ For great losse folowynge wo and aduersyte
+ A worde ones spokyn reuoked can nat be
+ Therfore thy fynger lay before thy lypes
+ For a wyse mannys tunge, without aduysement trypes
+
+ He that wyll answere of his owne folysshe brayne
+ Before that any requyreth his counsayle
+ Shewith hym selfe and his hasty foly playne
+ Wherby men knowe his wordes of none auayle
+ Some haue delyted in mad blaborynge and frayle
+ Whiche after haue suffred bytter punysshement
+ For their wordes, spoken without aduysement
+
+ Say what precedeth of this mad outrage
+ But great mysfortune, wo and vnhappynesse
+ But for all theyr chattynge and plenty of langage
+ Whan to the preste they come them to confesse
+ To shewe theyr lewde lyfe theyr synne and wretchydnes
+ Whan they sholde speke, and to this poynt ar come
+ Theyr tunges ar loste and there they syt as domme
+
+ Many haue ben whiche sholde haue be counted wyse
+ Sad and discrete, and right well sene in scyence
+ But all they haue defyled with this one vyse
+ Of moche spekynge: o cursyd synne and offence
+ Pyte it is that so great inconuenience
+ So great shame, contempt rebuke and vylany
+ Sholde by one small member came to the hole body
+
+ Let suche take example by the chatrynge pye.
+ Whiche doth hyr nest and byrdes also betraye
+ By hyr grete chatterynge, clamoure dyn and crye
+ Ryght so these folys theyr owne foly bewraye.
+ But touchynge wymen of them I wyll nought say
+ They can nat speke, but ar as coy and styll
+ As the horle wynde or clapper or a mylle
+
+ But that man or woman or any creature
+ That lytell speketh or els kepeth sylence
+ Ar euer of them selfe moste stedfast and sure
+ Without enuy, hatred or malyuolence.
+ Where as to suche comys moche inconuenyence
+ Sorowe vpon sorowe, malyce and dysdayne
+ Whiche wyll no tyme, his speche nor tunge refrayne
+
+ Fayre speche is pleasaunt if it be moderate
+ And spoken in season, conuenyente and dewe
+ To kepe scylence, to pore man or estate
+ Is a great grace, and synguler vertue
+ Langage is lawdable whan it is god and true
+ A wyse man or he speke wyll be wyse and ware
+ What (to whome) why (howe) whan and whare
+
+BARKLAYE TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye bablynge brybours, endeuer you to amende
+ Mytygat by mesure, your prowde hasty langage
+ Kepe well your tunges so, shall ye kepe your frende
+ For hasty speche ingendreth great damage
+ Whan a worde is nat sayd, the byrde is in the cage
+ Also the hous is surest whan the dorys be barryde
+ So whan thy worde is spokyn and out at large
+ Thou arte nat mayster, but he that hath it harde
+
+ If thou take hede and set therto thy brayne
+ In this world thou shalt fynde thynges thre
+ Whiche ones past, can nat be callyd agayne.
+ The firste is (tyme lost) by mannes symplycyte
+ The seconde (youth) reuoked can nat be
+ The thyrde (a worde spoken) it gooth out in the wynde
+ And yet is the fourth, that is (virginyte)
+ My forgetfull mynde, had lefte it nere behynde
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that correct other and yet them
+selfe do nought and synne worse than
+they whom they so correct.
+
+[Illustration: He lacketh reason and vnderstandynge to
+Whiche to a towne or Cyte knoweth the way
+And shewyth other howe they may thether go
+Hym selfe wandrynge aboute from day to day
+In myre and fen, though his iourney thether lay
+So he is mad whiche to other doth preche and tell
+The wave to heuyn, and hym selfe goth to hell.]
+
+ Nowe to our Nauy, a sorte maketh asaute
+ Of folys blynde, mad Jugys and Iniust
+ Whiche lyghtly noteth another mannes faute.
+ Chastynge that synne, whiche theyr owne mynde doth rust
+ By longe abydynge, and increas of carnall lust
+ They cloke their owne vyce synne and enormyte
+ Other blamynge and chastynge with moche cruelte
+
+ They mocke and mowe at anothers small offence
+ And redy ar a faute in them to fynde
+ But of theyr owne foly and inconuenyence
+ They se no thynge, for fully ar they blynde
+ Nat notynge the vyce rotyd in theyr owne mynde
+ Theyr greuous woundes and secrete malady
+ For theyr owne yll they seke no remedy
+
+ The hande whiche men vnto a Crosse do nayle
+ Shewyth the waye ofte to a man wandrynge
+ Whiche by the same his right way can nat fayle
+ But yet the hande is there styll abydynge
+ So do these folys lewde of theyr owne lyuynge
+ To other men shewe mean and way to wynne
+ Eternall ioy themselfe bydynge in synne
+
+ He sertaynly may well be callyd a sote
+ Moche vnauysed and his owne ennemy
+ Whiche in a nothers iye can spye a lytell mote
+ And in his owne can nat fele nor espye
+ A moche stycke, so is he certaynly.
+ Whiche noteth anothers small faute or offence
+ To his owne great synnes gyuynge none aduertence
+
+ Many them selfe fayne as chaste as was saynt Johnn
+ And many other fayne them meke and innocent
+ Some other as iust, and wyse as Salomon
+ As holy as Poule, as Job als pacyent
+ As sad as senecke, and as obedyent
+ As Abraham, and as martyn vertuous
+ But yet is theyr lyfe full lewde and vycious
+
+ Some lokyth with an aungels countenaunce
+ Wyse sad and sober lyke an heremyte
+ Thus hydynge theyr synne and theyr mysgouernaunce.
+ Under suche clokys lyke a fals ypocryte
+ Let suche folys rede what Cicero doth wryte
+ Whiche sayth that none sholde blame any creature
+ For his faut, without his owne lyuynge be sure
+
+ Without all spot of synne faut or offence
+ For in lyke fourme as a phesycyan.
+ By his practyse and cunnynge or scyence
+ The sekenes curyth of a nother man
+ But his owne yll nor dyseas he nat can
+ Relefe nor hele so doth he that doth blame
+ Anothers synne: he styll lyuynge in the same
+
+ Many ar whiche other can counseyll craftely
+ And shewe the peryll that may come by theyr synne
+ But them selfe they counseyll nat: ne remedy.
+ Nor take no waye whereby they heuyn may wynne
+ But lye in that vyce that they rotyd ar in
+ Leuynge the way that gydyth to ioy and rest
+ Their owne sensualyte ensuynge as a beest
+
+ Wherfore ye prestis that haue the charge and cure.
+ To teche and enfourme the rude comonte.
+ In goddys lawes groundyd in scripture
+ And blame all synnes sparynge no degre
+ Whyle ye rebuke thus theyr enormyte
+ Lyue so that none may cause haue you to blame
+ And if ye do nat: it is to your great shame
+
+ For without doute it is great vylany
+ A man to speke agaynst any offence
+ Wherin he well knowyth hym owne selfe gylty
+ Within his mynde and secrete conscience
+ Agaynst hymselfe suche one gyueth sentence
+ Howe god ryght iuge, by rightwyse iugement
+ Shulde hym rewarde with worthy punysshement
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye clerkes that on your shulders here the shelde
+ Unto you graunted by the vnyuersyte.
+ Howe dare ye auenture to fyght in cristes felde
+ Agaynst synne, without ye clere and gyltles be
+ Consyder the Cocke and in hym shall ye se:
+ A great example, for with his wynges thryse
+ He betyth hym selfe to wake his owne bodye
+ Before he crowe, to cause other wake or ryse.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of hym that fyndeth ought of another
+mannys it nat restorynge to the owner.
+
+[Illustration: He that ought fyndyth outher by day or nyght
+Usynge it as his owne, as thynge gottyn iustly
+And thynketh that he so may do by lawe and right
+Suche is disceyuyd, and thynketh wrongfully
+For why the deuyll our goostly ennemy
+Doth hym so counseyll and in his erys blowe
+Disceyuynge in his bondes, as he doth many mo]
+
+ The feruour of ryches and disordred loue
+ Whiche many haue, doth me bynde and constrayne.
+ Within my shyp them sharply to reproue
+ That pen nor hande, themselfe wyll not refrayne
+ Of couetyse nowe I wyll nat speke agayne
+ But of them that kepeth by force and by myght
+ That thynge wherto they haue nat come, by ryght
+
+ Some fyndeth treasours other mennys good
+ And in theyr owne vse suche good they occupy.
+ Whiche of theyr myndes ar so blynde and wode.
+ And so reted in theyr errour and foly
+ That oft they say (say) ye and dare byde by
+ That some saynt whome they worshypped haue
+ Haue sende, them the same theyr honestee to saue
+
+ They haue no force nor care, nor they none haue wyll
+ To whome the ryches so loste dyde apertayne
+ That fortune hath gyuen they holde fast and kepe styll
+ Neuer hauynge mynde it to restore agayne
+ Suche folys fere no thynge euerlastynge payne
+ Nor note nat, that without true restytucion
+ It small auayleth to haue made confessyon.
+
+ Here me fole with thy immoderate mynde
+ Here me and do thy herte therto aply
+ If thou by fortune any ryches fynde
+ Callynge it thyne: thou lyest therin falsly
+ If thou haue wyt thou canst nat well deny
+ But that gode nat gyuen, nor gottyn by laboure
+ Can nat be rightwyse: thus mende thy blynde erroure
+
+ If thou ought fynde that longeth nat to the
+ Than is it anothers, the case is clere and playne
+ Wherfor thou ought of lawe and of dewte
+ Unto the owner it soone to yelde agayne
+ But if he be dede, to whome it dyd attayne
+ Thou ought nat yet to kepe it nere the more.
+ But to his sectours or heyres it restore
+
+ Put case that they also be past and dede
+ Yet ought thou nat to keep it styll with the.
+ The lawe commaundyth, and also it is mede.
+ To gyue it to suche as haue necessyte.
+ With it releuynge theyr paynfull pouertee
+ And so shalt thou discharge thy conseyence.
+ Helpynge the pore, and auoyde great offence
+
+ But he that others godes tourneth to his owne vse
+ Spendynge and wastynge that thynge that neuer was his
+ Suche certaynly his reason doth abuse
+ And by this meane greuously doth amysse
+ Wherby he lesyth eternall ioy and blysse
+ His soule drownynge depe within hell flodes
+ For his myspendynge of other mennys goodes
+
+ But to be shorte, and brefe in my sentence
+ And sothe to saye playne as the mater is
+ Forsoth I se nat right great difference
+ Bytwene a thefe, and these folys couetys
+ Both wrongly kepeth that thynge that is nat his
+ Thynkynge that god doth nat therto aduerte
+ Whiche notyth thy dedys, thy mynde thought and herte
+
+ Wherfore if thou haue a rightwyse conscyence
+ Thou wylt nought kepe whiche longeth nat to the
+ The lawe so commaundeth in payne of great offence
+ For of gode that thou kepest agaynst equyte
+ Thou shalt make accompt after that thou shalt dye
+ To thy great payne in hell for euer more
+ If thou no restytucion make before.
+
+ Here myght I touche executours in this cryme.
+ Blamynge theyr dedys dysceyte and couetyse
+ If it were nat for wastynge of my tyme
+ For mende they wyll nat them in any wyse
+ Nor leue no poyntes of theyr disceytfull gyse
+ Let them take parte of that whiche I here note
+ And be partynge foles in this present bote.
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY THE TRANSLATOR TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye false executours whome all the worlde repreuys
+ And ye that fynde mennes goodes or treasoures
+ I call you as bad as robbers or theuys
+ For ye by your falshode and manyfolde errours
+ Kepe falsly that thynge whiche is none of yours
+ And wast here the goodes of hym that is past
+ The soule lyeth in payne, ye take your pleasours.
+ With his ryches, damnynge your owne soule at the last
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the sermon or erudicion of wysdome
+bothe to wyse men and folys.
+
+[Illustration: He that delyteth in godly sapience
+And it to obtayne puttyth his besynes
+Aboue all folys shall haue preemynence
+And in this worlde haue honour and rychesse
+Or a worthy crowne in heuyns blessydnesse
+Or els bothe welthe here, and after ioy and blysse
+Where as a fole of bothe the two shall mysse]
+
+ Wysdome with voyce replete with grauyte
+ Callyth to all people, and sayth o thou mankynde
+ Howe longe wylt thou lyue in this enormyte
+ Alas howe longe shalt thou thy wyt haue blynde
+ Here my preceptis and rote them in thy mynde
+ Nowe is full tyme and season to clere thy syght:
+ Harkyn to my wordes, grounde of goodnes and ryght
+
+ Lerne mortall men, stodyenge day and nyght
+ To knowe me wysdome, chefe rote of chastyte
+ My holy doctryne thy herte shall clere and lyght
+ My tunge shall shewe the ryght and equyte
+ Chase out thy foly, cause of aduersyte.
+ And seke me wysdome whiche shall endewe thy mynde
+ With helth and welth wherby thou lyfe shalt fynde
+
+ Aryse I say agayne to the mankynde
+ And seke me wysdome that am well of goodnes
+ Let nat this worlde thy conscyence farther blynde
+ Nor to synne subdue for loue of false rychesse
+ Blynde nat thy herte with mondayne wretchednes
+ I am worth golde and worth all good mundayne:
+ And to mankynde counselloure souerayne
+
+ No maner Jowell is to me lyke certayne
+ Ne so profytable to mortall creature
+ I passe all ryches and cause a man refrayne
+ His mynde from synne, and of his ende be sure
+ There is no treasoure nor precious stone so pure
+ Carbuncle Ruby ne adamond in londe nor see
+ Nor other lapydary comparable to me:
+
+ And shortly to speke wysdome is more laudable
+ Than all the worlde or other thynge mundayne
+ There is no treasoure: to wysdome comparable
+ But it alone is a vertue moste souerayne
+ Hauynge nought lyke in valoure nor worth certayne
+ No fole is so ryche, nor hye of dignyte
+ But that a wyse man pore is more worthy than he
+
+ Wysdome preserueth men in auctoryte
+ Prynces promotynge by counseyll prouydent
+ By it pore men somtyme, and of lowe degre
+ Hath had the hole worlde to them obedyent
+ It gydeth Cytees and countrees excellent
+ And gouerneth the counseyll of prynce lorde and kynge
+ Strengthynge the body the herte enlumynynge
+
+ It gydyth lordes and from bondage doth brynge
+ Them whome foly hath brought in to captyuyte
+ Hir gyftys to mankynde frely offrynge
+ Gydynge hir discyples from all aduersyte
+ Wysdome stondynge vpon a stage on hye
+ Cryeth to mankynde with lowde voyce in this wyse
+ I trouth exalte: and vycious men dispyse
+
+ Lerne of me wysdome cast out your couetyse
+ For by my myght craft and wyse prouysicion
+ Kynges vnto their dygnyte dothe ryse
+ Theyr septers gydynge by my monycion
+ I gaue them lawes to gyde eche regyon
+ In welthe defendynge and in prosperyte
+ Them and theyr royalmes whyle they gyde them by me
+
+ All maner nacyons that doth to me inclyne
+ I gyde and gouerne by lawe and equyte
+ In me is right, godly wyt and doctryne
+ What blynde foly, and howe great aduersyte
+ Do they auoyde that gyde them selfe by me
+ And he that me louyth with worshyp and honour
+ Shall knowe my loue my grace and my fauour
+
+ He that me folowyth shall auoyde all dolour
+ I shall hym folowe promotynge in suche case
+ That none shall be before hym in valour
+ I godly ryches in my power inbrace
+ Whiche man by me may esely purchase
+ And he that wyll his way by me addresse
+ I shall rewarde with heuenly ioy endles
+
+ The father of heuen of infynyte goodnesse.
+ Me comprehendyth within his deytee
+ Of hym my firste begynnynge is doutles.
+ And heuen and erth he create hath by me
+ And euery creature bothe on londe and se
+ The heuen imperyall all planetis and firmameut
+ God neuer thynge made without my true assent
+
+ Therfore mankynde set thy mynde and intent
+ To me wysdome to be subiect and seruaunt
+ To my preceptis be thou obedyent
+ And heuenly ioy thou shalt nat lacke nor want
+ For doutles they ar mad and ignoraunt
+ And folys blyndyd who so euer they be
+ That wyll nat gladly be seruauntes vnto me
+
+THE ENVOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Aryse folys of myndes darke and blynde.
+ Receyue the gyftes of godly sapyence
+ Here hir perceptis and plant them in your mynde
+ And rote out the gaffys of your olde offence.
+ Call to your myndes what inconuenyence
+ Howe sodayne fallys, what sorowe and turment
+ Hath come to many a myghty lorde and prynce
+ For nat folowynge of hir commaundement.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of bostynge or hauynge confydence
+in fortune.
+
+[Illustration: He is a fole whiche settyth confydence
+On frayle fortune vncertayne and mutable
+His mynde exaltynge in pryde and insolence
+Because that she somtyme is fauorable
+As if she wolde so be perdurable
+Suche folys oft whan they thynke them most sure
+All sodaynly great mysfortune endure]
+
+ Amonge our folys he ought to haue a place
+ And so he shall for it is resonable
+ Whiche thynketh hymselfe greatly in fortunes grace
+ Bostynge that she to hym is fauorable
+ As if hyr maner were nat to be mutable
+ In this vayne hope suche theyr lyfe doth lede
+ Tyll at the laste theyr hous borne oure theyr hede
+
+ He shakyth boost and oft doth hym auaunte
+ Of fortunes fauoure and his prosperyte
+ Whiche suffreth hym nought of his wyll to wante
+ So that he knoweth nought of aduersyte
+ Nor mysfortune nor what thynge is pouertee.
+ O lawles fole, o man blyndyd of mynde
+ Say what suretye in fortune canst thou fynde
+
+ To what ende or vnto what conclusyon
+ Shall fortune frayle vnrightwyse and vnsure
+ Lede the blynde fole by hyr abusyon.
+ Howe darest thou the in hir blyndnes assure.
+ Syns she vnstable is and can nat longe endure
+ Hir gyftis changith, she is blynde and sodayne
+ Thoughe she firste lawghe hir ende is vncertayne.
+
+ Thou shakest boste ofte of hir foly in vayne
+ For he is most happy whiche can auoyde hir snare
+ If she exalte some one vnto welth mundayne
+ She bryngeth another to payne sorowe and care
+ Whyle one is ladyd to the others backe is bare
+ Whyle she a begger maketh in good abounde
+ A lorde or state she throweth to the grounde
+
+ But nat withstandynge hir mutabylyte.
+ Thou bostest thy gode and to moche abundaunce
+ Thou bostest thy welth and thy prosperyte
+ Thy good auenturs, and plentyfull pleasaunce
+ Alas blynde fole amende thy ygnoraunce
+ And in thy welthe to this saynge intende
+ That fortune euer hath an incertayne ende
+
+ Fals fortune infect of countenaunce and of face
+ By hir iyen clowdy and varyable vysage
+ Hath many for a whyle taken to hir grace
+ Whiche after by hir whele vnstable and volage
+ Hath brought them to wo mysfortune and damage
+ She ruleth pore and riche without difference
+ Lewdnes exaltynge and damnynge innocence
+
+ Thus is that man voyde, of all intellygence
+ Whom fortune fedyth, with chaunche fortunable
+ If he therin haue ouer large confydence
+ And thynke that sure that euer is mutable
+ That fole is sonne, to the fende abhomynable
+ That foloweth ryches, and fortune that is blynde
+ His sauyour lefte, and clene out of mynde
+
+ Whan the foule fende, father of vnhappynes
+ Pore man purposyth by falshode to begyle
+ He sendeth hym welth worldly, and fals ryches
+ And causeth fortune, awhyle on hym to smyle
+ Whiche with hir blyndenes doth mankynde so defyle
+ That whyle they trust in hir fauour to sore.
+ They damme theyr soules in hell for euermore
+
+ By large examples thou eche day mayste se
+ The chaunge of fortune and the ende vncertayne
+ Wherfore to boste the of hyr commodyte
+ It is great foly and also thynge in vayne
+ From this lewdnes thy mynde therfore refrayne
+ And be content with fortune moderate
+ Nor boste the nat of thy welth or estate
+
+ This day thou art ryche and despysest the pore
+ Yet so may it fall, that for thy lewde lyuynge
+ To morowe thou beggest thy brede from dore to dore
+ Therfore remembre that blynde fortune wandrynge
+ Hath nat in hyr handes power, nor gydynge
+ The rewardes of welth, nor of felycyte
+ But god them gydeth by his great maieste
+
+ And all thynge chaungeth as is to hym plesaunt
+ His dedes to wysdome alwaye agreable
+ Wherfore blynde fole be nat so ignoraunt
+ To prayse fortune whiche is so varyable
+ And of rewardes vnsure and chaungeable
+ But thoughe she smyle trust nat to hir intent
+ For amonge swete herbes ofte lurkyth the serpent
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye folys that haue in fortune confydence:
+ And boste you of welth and of prosperyte
+ Leue of your foly, and note by euydence:
+ Hir cours vnsure: and hir mutabylyte
+ None in this lyfe can byde in one degre
+ But somtyme hye, than after pore and lowe.
+ Nowe nought set by, nowe in auctoryte
+ Nowe full nowe voyde as waters ebbe and flowe
+
+ I am remembred that I haue often sene
+ Great worldly ryches ende in pouertye
+ And many one that hath in fauour ben:
+ And hye promotyd in welth and dignyte.
+ Hath sodaynly fallyn into calamyte
+ Thus is it foly to trust in fortunes grace
+ For whyle the Se floweth and is at Burdews hye
+ It as fast ebbeth at some other place
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the ouer great and chargeable
+curyosyte of men.
+
+[Illustration: Unto mo folys here ordayne I a barge
+Whiche medlyth with euery mannys besynes
+And nat intendeth to their owne losse and charge
+Great payne and wo suche folys oft oppresse
+And let them lerne with pacyent mekenes
+To suffer sorowe for why they shall none lacke
+Syns they alone, the hole worlde take on theyr backe]
+
+ He that wyll coueyt to bere more than he may
+ And take on his sholders more than he can sustayne
+ Suche is a fole, his dedys wyll not deny
+ And with his owne wyll gooth to peryll and payne.
+ He is vnwyse whiche is ioyous and fayne
+ To offer his necke to bere that without fere
+ Whiche were ynoughe for dyuers men to bere
+
+ That man that taketh vpon his backe alone
+ The heuy weght of the large fyrmament
+ Or any burdeyne whiche maketh hym to grone
+ Whiche to sustayne his strength is ympotent
+ No meruayle is if he fall incontynent
+ And than whan he lowe on the grounde doth lye
+ He oft repentyth his purpose and foly
+
+ We haue in storyes many examples great
+ Shewynge the lewde ende of this curyosyte.
+ I rede of Alexander that dyd often sweate
+ In great peryls to augment his dignyte
+ He was nat content with europe and asye
+ Nor all the grounde under the fyrmament
+ At the last ende, cowde nat his mynde content
+
+ As if all the erth were nat suffycyent
+ For his small body by curyouse couetyse
+ But at the last he must holde hym content
+ With a small cheste, and graue nat of great pryce.
+ Thus deth vs shewyth what thynge sholde vs suffyce
+ And what is the ende of our curyosyte.
+ For dethe is lyke to hye and lowde degre
+
+ What shall a kynge at his last endynge haue
+ Of all his realme and infynyte treasoure
+ Saue onely his towmbe, and the grounde of his graue
+ But thoughe it be of great pryce and voloure
+ As is conuenyent to his hye honoure.
+ Yet lytell conforte to his soule shall it gyue
+ But cause of bostynge to them that after lyue
+
+ Thus whan man vnto his last ende is come
+ He nought with hym bereth of his dignytees
+ Wherfore cynicus a man of great wysdome
+ Lorde grettest of Grece in londes and Cytees
+ Hathe lefte great example vnto all degrees
+ For his great ryches his herte dyd neuer blynde
+ But worldly pompe set clene out of his mynde
+
+ He forced of no castels nor excellent byldynge
+ Dispysynge charges and besynes worldly
+ But gaue his mynde to vertue and cunnynge
+ And namely to the scyence of astronomy
+ Consyderynge that great rest of mynde and of body
+ With hym abydeth whiche with bolde herte is fayne
+ To folowe vertue, and leue charges mundayne
+
+ He that so doth no weght doth vndertake
+ Vpon his backe of so great a grauyte
+ That his small strength must it agayne forsake.
+ Where he that attempteth grettest thynges, and hye:
+ Great weyght of charges and moche dignite
+ Must lerne to suffer payne thought and vexacion
+ By his great charges of perturbacion.
+
+ What auayle is it the worlde to obtayne
+ In one mannys power, and all other to excell
+ To suffer trouble, and vayne charges sustayne
+ And at the last his pore soule gooth to hell
+ There toren and tourmented in paynes cruell
+ It were moche better to kepe a quyet mynde
+ And after our deth eternall rest to fynde
+
+ He that taketh thought for euery besynes:
+ And caryth for that whiche doth nat apertayne
+ Nor longe to his charge, he is full of blyndnes
+ And no houre shall rest, but styll in thought and payne
+ Care for thy owne charges, theron set thy brayne
+ For he a fole is that caryth or doth intende
+ For another mannys charge whiche he can nat amende
+
+ Therfore lyue in rest after thy degre.
+ Nor on suche thynges do nat thy mynde aply
+ Whiche ar no thynge apertaynynge vnto the
+ If thou so do thou shalt fynde rest therby
+ Auoyde thou the charge of worldly mysery
+ For godes take no thought great care ne trauayle.
+ Whiche after deth shall do the none auayle
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Fole clere thy iyen and of thy selfe beware
+ Care moste for thy owne besynes and charge
+ For other mennes take no great thought nor care
+ If thou thy conscience mayst therof discharge
+ A curyous man that of his tunge is large
+ Talkynge or carynge of other, his place is best
+ Hye in the fore top of our folysshe barge
+ For in that place is small quyet or rest
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that ar alway borowynge.
+
+[Illustration: A man that is besy both euyn and morowe
+With rauysshynge clawys and insaciable
+Of his frendes and neyghbours to begge and to borow
+To the deuourynge wolfe is most lyke or semblable
+Suche in our shyp shall nat want a babyll
+For he that styll borowes shall skant hym quyte or redde
+And as a wretche the asse shall hym ouer tredde]
+
+ That fole that hym selfe a dettour doth make
+ To dyuerse men, and is borowynge alway
+ Right ponderous charges on hym doth take
+ Borowynge of one another therwith to pay
+ Thoughe he be glad to haue longe terme and day
+ To hym assygned to make his payment
+ It nought auayleth, for soone the tyme is spent
+
+ But in the meane tyme deuourynge vsurye
+ Spoylyth makynge pore many a borewer
+ Where they two borewed they promys to pay thre
+ Their day of payment lenger to defarre.
+ Thus doth oft borowynge many thousandes marre
+ Yet some get malyce for that gode that they len
+ And where they lent twenty gladly taketh ten.
+
+ I wyll nat say but that it is mede certayne
+ To lene frely to one that is in nede
+ And wyll be glade it to content agayne.
+ But he that lenyth to haue rewarde or mede
+ Or more than he lent, may of hell payne haue drede
+ And he that so boroweth gayne can haue none
+ Therby in this lyfe, but hell whan he is gone
+
+ Therfore in this satyre suche wyll I repreue
+ And none that borowe nor lene on amyte
+ The vsurers: fals cristen men in theyr byleue
+ Folowe the waren way of theyr iniquyte
+ Prohybyte by lawe iustyce and equyte
+ Theyr vnclene hertes, and mynde, vnhappely
+ On lucre settynge, comynge by vsury
+
+ They hepe theyr synne in quantyte horryble
+ Labowrynge that lewde burthen gretter to make
+ And that sore weght tedyose and terryble
+ With a great rope vpon theyr shulders take
+ The weyght vp taken all theyr hole ioyntes quake
+ Thus these caytyfs with this rope and burthyn heuy
+ Them selfe hange damnynge theyr soule eternally
+
+ A wretchyd man, alas make clere thy reason
+ Remember thoughe god the suffer thus longe tyme
+ He graunteth that space to amende the in season.
+ And nat dayly to encreas thy synne and cryme
+ Somtyme he punyssheth with infernall abhyme
+ Shortly for synne, somtyme thoughe one mysdo
+ He suffreth longe: but yet truste nat therto
+
+ The longer vnpunysshed, the sorer is the payne
+ And if thou wylt nat gyue to me credence
+ Of sodome and Gomor the Bybyll sheweth playne
+ Howe God rightwysely ponysshed theyr offence
+ And also Solym, towne of great excellence
+ For vyciousnes god ponysshed bytterly
+ Whiche sholde vs cause for to lyue rightwysely.
+
+ The rightwyse god also dyd sore chastyce
+ Tthe Nilicolyans and them vtterly destroy
+ For theyr contynuynge in theyr syn and vyce
+ And theyr lynage longe kepte from welth and ioy
+ In great trouble whiche dyd theyr hertis noy:
+ Howe be it that they were good and innocent
+ For theyr fathers faute they suffred punysshement
+
+ But to our purpose to retourne agayne.
+ He that ought boroweth whiche he can nat pay
+ Of a wolfe rauysshynge foloweth the trayne
+ But though he all swolowe yet can he by no way
+ Deuoure the tyme nor the prefyxed day
+ Wherfore if he than disceyue his credytour
+ He oft hym chastyth with iustyce and rygour
+
+ Ryght in lyke wyse our lorde omnipotent
+ In this worlde to lyue grauntyth vs tyme and space
+ Nat styll to synne, but vnto this intent
+ To leue our vyce, and folowe the way of grace
+ But if we styll contynue in one case
+ And haue done no good to pay hym at our day
+ In hell pryson he iustly shall vs lay
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Thou fole mysmyndyd to large of sconscyence
+ To the I speke that art a lewde dettour
+ Borowe thou no thynge, noble grote ne pens.
+ More than thou mayst agayne pay thy credytour
+ Right so endeuer the to pay thy sauyour
+ His right and dewty, with a glad wyll and fayne
+ That is true seruyce, with glory and honour
+ Than shalt thou surely escape infernall payne.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of inprofytable and vayne prayers vowes
+and peticyons.
+
+[Illustration: That man whose herte vnhappy synne doth blynde
+And prayth gasynge into the fyrmament
+Or he that setteth nat his herte and mynde
+Upon his wordes, theyr sentence or intent
+And he that desyreth thynge nat conuenyent
+Suche folys shall nat theyr peticion obtayne
+For without the herte the tonge laboureth in vayne]
+
+ Here we repreue (reperue) ye and reuyle.
+ A sorte of folys lewde of condicions
+ Whose herte and tunge theyr soules doth defyle
+ By theyr blynde prayers and yll peticions
+ Suche folowe no techynge nor gode monysyons
+ For often many of them with tunge doth pray
+ Theyr mynde, abstract nat knowynge what they say
+
+ Man oft desyreth with great affeccion
+ That thynge of god, whiche thynge if god wolde graunt.
+ Sholde be at last vnto thyer destruccyon
+ Examples hereof thou canst nat lacke nor want
+ The great Medas somtyme kynge tryumphant.
+ Of Phrygye By his owne folysshe desyre
+ With paynfull hunger, his lyfe breth dyd expyre
+
+ This kynge Mydas of whom I haue you tolde
+ Of god desyred with prayer dylygent.
+ That all that he touchyd tourne myght vnto golde
+ His prayer was harde, he obteynyd his intent
+ But nat to his welth, but mortall punysshement
+ For whan he brede or drynke tast or touche sholde
+ Incontynent was it tourned in to golde
+
+ Thus was his prayer to his owne damage
+ For at the laste he dyed in wo and payne
+ For no golde coude his sore hunger asswage
+ Nor his desyre coude he nat call agayne.
+ Thus his peticion desyred was in vayne:
+ And where he wenyd great welth to get therby
+ He dyed in shame hunger and mysery.
+
+ Some dayly pray with marueylous besynes
+ Cryeng and syghynge to god omnypotent
+ For to haue plenty of welth ioy and ryches
+ And to be made ryche myghty and excellent.
+ O cursyd lyuers, o blynde men of intent
+ On suche desyres they set theyr mynde and thought
+ Whiche thousandes vnto shamefull ende hath brought
+
+ What profyted the myghty edefyces:
+ Of Lycynus, or lyuelode of excesse:
+ What profyteth the money gotten in vyces
+ Of riche Crassus, or cresus, great ryches
+ They all ar dede by theyr vnhappynes
+ And that lewdely, nat by deth naturall
+ Theyr blynde desyres chefe rote and cause of all
+
+ Another whiche is in youthes prosperyte
+ For strength and myght often to god doth pray
+ Some of theyr lyfe to haue prolyxyte
+ Desyreth god, and here to byde alway
+ In riches welth, ioy and solempne aray
+ But yet they in glotony take suche custome
+ That they slea them selfe longe or theyr day be come
+
+ Alas mad fole why prayest thou for age
+ Syns it so greuous is and ymportable
+ Unstable and full of dolour and damage
+ Odyous to youth and intollerable
+ Say folysshe man whiche art of mynde vnstable
+ Is it nat great foly to any creature
+ To pray for that thynge, whiche he can nat endure
+
+ Peleus, and Nestor and many other mo
+ As Itackes and laertes, sore haue complayned
+ For to longe age, euer full of payne and wo
+ Wherwith theyr bodyes sore haue ben constrayned
+ And with great sorowes and dyuers often payned:
+ And to conclude brefly in one sentence
+ Oft to age falleth moche inconuenyence
+
+ Yet ar mo folys whiche ought repreued be
+ And they ar suche whiche styll on god doth call
+ For great rowmes, offyces and great dignyte
+ No thynge intendynge to theyr greuous fall
+ For this is dayly sene, and euer shall
+ That he that coueytys hye to clym aloft
+ If he hap to fall, his fall can nat be soft
+
+ Some other pray for bewty and fayrnes
+ And that to a cursyd purpose and intent
+ Wherby they lese the heuenly blyssydnes:
+ Theyr soule subduynge to infernall turment
+ O ye mad folys of myndes ympotent
+ Pray your Pater noster with deuoute herte and mynde
+ For therin is all that is nedefull to mankynde
+
+ Our sauyour criste whyle he was on this grounde
+ Amonge vs synners in this vale of mysery
+ Taught his disciples this prayer whiche doth sounde
+ Nere to this sentence, nor greatly doth nat vary
+ (Our father wiche art in heuen) eternally
+ Thy name be halowyd (graunt that to thy kyngdome)
+ All we thy seruauntis worthely may come
+
+ In heuen and erth thy wyll be done alway
+ And of thy great grace and thy benygnyte
+ Our dayly brede graunt vnto vs this day
+ Forgyuynge our synnes and our iniquyte:
+ As we forgyue them that to vs detters be
+ And to auoyde temptacion thy grace vnto vs len
+ And vs delyuer from euery yll amen.
+
+ Whan thou hast clensyd thy mynde from syn before
+ And sayd this prayer to thy maker deuoutly
+ Thou nedyst nat of hym to desyre more
+ Yet mayst thou pray and desyre rightwysly
+ For helthe of soule within thy hole body
+ For stedfast fayth and yll name to eschewe.
+ And chastely to lyue (by his help) in vertue
+
+ Thus sholde thou pray thou wretche both day and nyght
+ With herte and mynde vnto thy creatoure:
+ And nought by foly to asshe agaynst right
+ To hurte or losse to thy frende or neyghboure
+ Nor to thy fo by yll wyll or rygoure
+ But if god to thy prayers alway sholde enclyne
+ Oft sholde come great sorowe to the and to all thyne
+
+ THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Man clere thy mynde or thou begyn to pray
+ Els though thy prayer be iust it is but vayne
+ And kepe togyther thy hurte and tonge alway
+ Or els doutles thou lesest all thy payne
+ From lewde peticions thy mynde thou ought refrayne
+ If thou desyre yll to thy fo by malyce
+ At thy peticion god shall haue dysdayne
+ For though thou be wrothe god is nat in lyke wyse
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of vnprofytable stody.
+
+[Illustration: He that vayne stody doth haunt or exercyse
+And lesyth his tyme, of fruyte voyde and barayne
+Resortynge to ryot whiche cunnynge doth dispyse
+And that of doctryne (in maner) hath disdayne
+Suche shall in age of his madnes complayne
+And seynge that he lesyth his tyme thus in foly
+Let hym come to our folysshe company.]
+
+ Nowe in this Nauy many them selfe present
+ Of this our roylame and from beyond the see
+ Whiche in theyr stody or lewde and neglygent
+ Lesynge theyr tyme at the vnyuersyte
+ Yet count they them selfe of great auctoryte
+ With theyr proude hodes on theyr neckes hangynge
+ They haue the lawde: but other haue the cunnynge
+
+ They thynke that they haue all scyence perfytely
+ Within theyr hertes bostynge them of the same
+ Though they therto theyr mynde dyd neuer aply
+ Without the thynge, they ioy them of the name
+ But suche mad folys to theyr great losse and shame
+ Whyle they sholde norysshe theyr myndes with science
+ They seke theyr pleasour, gyuen to neglygence
+
+ They wander in euery inconuenyence
+ From strete to strete, from tauerne to tauerne
+ But namely youth, foloweth all offence
+ No thynge intendynge the profyte to dyscerne
+ Nor fruyte of cunnynge wherby they myght gouerne
+ Them selfe by reason, but suche thynges they ensue
+ Wherby they neyther get good maners nor vertne
+
+ But he that intendeth to come to the science
+ And godly wysdome of our elders: certayne.
+ He must sore stody, for without dilygence
+ And besy laboure no man can it obtayne
+ None ought to cesse: though it firste be a payne.
+ In good perseueraunce getteth great ryches
+ Where no good cometh by sleuthfull ydelnes.
+
+ But moste I marueyll of other folys blynde
+ Whiche in dyuers scyencis ar fast laborynge
+ Both daye and nyght with all theyr herte and mynde
+ But of gramer knowe they lytyll or no thynge
+ Whiche is the grounde of all lyberall cunnynge
+ Yet many ar besy in Logyke and in lawe
+ Whan all theyr gramer is skarsly worth a strawe
+
+ If he haue onys red the olde dotrinall
+ With his diffuse and vnparfyte breuyte
+ He thynketh to haue sene the poyntis of grammer all.
+ And yet of one errour he maketh two or thre
+ Precyan or sulpice disdayneth he to se
+ Thus many whiche say that they theyr grammer can
+ Ar als great folys as whan they firste began
+
+ One with his speche rounde tournynge lyke a whyle
+ Of logyke the knottis doth lows and vndo
+ In hande with his sylogysimes, and yet doth he fele
+ No thynge what it menyth, nor what longeth therto
+ Nowe sortes currit: Nowe is in hande plato
+ Another comyth in with bocardo and pheryson
+ And out goeth agayne a fole in conclusyon
+
+ There is nought else but Est and non est
+ Blaberynge and chydynge, as it were beawlys wyse
+ They argue nought els but to proue man a beest
+ Homo est Asinus is cause of moche stryfe
+ Thus passe forth these folys the dayes of theyr lyfe
+ In two syllabis, not gyuynge aduertence
+ To other cunnynge doctryne, nor scyence.
+
+ I wyll nat say but that it is expedyent
+ The to knowe of Logyke the chrafte and connynge
+ For by argument it maketh euydent
+ Moche obscurenes, somtyme enlumynynge
+ The mynde: and sharpynge the wyt in many a thynge
+ But oft yet by it a thynge playne bryght and pure
+ Is made diffuse, vnknowen harde and obscure
+
+ It is ynoughe therof to knowe the grounde
+ And nat therin to wast all thy lyfe holly
+ Styll grutchynge lyke vnto the frogges sounde
+ Or lyke the chaterynge of the folysshe pye
+ If one afferme the other wyll deny
+ Sophestry nor Logyke with their art talcatyfe
+ Shewe nat the way vnto the boke of lyfe
+
+ With suche folyes tender youth is defylyd
+ And all theyr dayes on them they set delyte
+ But godly doctryne is from theyr myndes exylyd
+ Whiche sholde the body and soule also profyte
+ They take no layser, pleasur nor respyte
+ To other scyences, pleasaunt and profytable
+ But without ende in one thynge chat and bable
+
+ One rennyth to almayne another vnto fraunce
+ To parys padway Lumbardy or spayne
+ Another to Bonony, Rome or orleance
+ To cayne, to Tolows, Athenys or Colayne
+ And at the last retournyth home agayne
+ More ignorant, blynder and gretter folys
+ Than they were whan they firste went to the scolys
+
+ One bostynge the name of a lawer or deuyne
+ His proude hode hye vpon his stately necke:
+ Thus muste a gode clerke vnto a foule enclyne
+ Lowt with the body and with obedyence becke
+ And thoughe it tourne to theyr rebuke and checke
+ Yet nowe a dayes ouer many suche there be.
+ Whiche in stede of cunnynge vseth audacyte
+
+ The hode must answere for the follysshe student
+ Theyr tyme hath ben lost frutles and barayne.
+ Theyr frendes godes on suche folyes ar spent
+ To their damage thought hunger and payne:
+ Thus to conclude: me thynke it is but vayne
+ The frendes to labour the dayes of theyr lyue
+ To spare for suche scolers whiche shall neuer thryue
+
+ The great foly, the pryde, and the enormyte
+ Of our studentis, and theyr obstynate errour
+ Causeth me to wryte two sentences or thre
+ More than I fynde wrytyn in myne actoure
+ The tyme hath ben whan I was conductoure
+ Of moche foly, whiche nowe my mynde doth greue
+ Wherfor of this shyp syns I am gouernoure.
+ I dare be bolde myne owne vyce to repreue
+
+ Howe be it I knowe my wordes shall suche greue
+ As them selfe knoweth fawty and culpable
+ But if they be wroth: take they me by the sleue
+ For they shall bere the hode and I wyll the bable:
+ But firste ye studentis that ar of mynde vnstable
+ Ye wasters and getters by nyght in felde or towne
+ Within my Nauy wolde I set you to a cable
+ If I not fered lyst ye your selfe wolde drowne
+
+ Also I fere lyst my shyp sholde synke for syn
+ If that Cupido and Uenus seruytours
+ On the vnsure se my shyp entred within
+ Or all the folys promotyd to honours
+ I none receyue can of hye progenytours
+ My shyp is nat dressyd for them conuenyent
+ And to I fere lyst theyr cruell rygours:
+ Sholde rayse to my shyp some tempest or tourment
+
+THENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Fy studentis clens your myndes of this cryme
+ Gyue ones your hertis to parfyte dylygence
+ Howe longe in Idelnes, wyll ye lese your tyme
+ In pryde and ryot, with all other offence
+ Alas what profyte get ye by neglygence
+ But spende your goodes in all iniquyte
+ And where your frendes thynke, ye labour for scyence:
+ Ye lese your tyme bryngynge them to pouertee
+
+ Leue of suche stody as is vnprofytable
+ Without fruyte outher godly discyplyne
+ And gyue your myndes to scyences lawdable
+ Where ye may your herte set and inclyne:
+ To Arystotyls or Platoys doctryne
+ And nat alway on logyke or Sophestry
+ I wyll nat say but it is a thynge dyuyne
+ And moche worth to knowe Phylosophy
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that folysshly speke agaynst
+the workes of god.
+
+[Illustration: Here note we fowlys whiche can nat be content
+With goddes worke, and ordynaunce dyuyne
+Thynkynge theyr owne wyll moche more expedyent
+Nat wyllynge theyr myndes to his wyll to enclyne
+But suche folys often sholde come to ruyne
+And wo with sorowe and losse sholde they fynde
+If god sholde conforme his workes to theyr mynde]
+
+ He is a fole and laboreth in vayne:
+ Whiche with small brondes of fyre flamynge bryght
+ Entendyth with laboure besynes and payne
+ Of the shynynge sonne for to encrease the lyght
+ Suche one assayeth a thynge passynge his myght
+ And is a fole to set thought or delyte
+ To mende that thynge whiche god hath made perfyte
+
+ But yet is he a moche gretter fole truely
+ Whiche wyll correct that thynge whiche god hath done
+ And doth nat his herte his wyll and mynde aply
+ To goddes workes and deuyne prouysyon
+ Of all other maddest is his condycion
+ And more frantyfe forsoth I may hym call
+ Than they that ar vext with furyes infernall:
+
+ (Thou fole) the myght of god omnipotent
+ In vertue and wysdome so largely doth extende
+ His maiesty, and power is so excellent
+ His glorious godhede his workes doth defende
+ So that no mortall man can them amende
+ Wenest thou mad fole that thou amende cannest ought
+ That he hath done: whiche made all thynge of nought
+
+ He that hath made the heuen and firmament
+ The londe, the se, and euery other thynge
+ Is so discrete, so wyse, and prouydent
+ Before his presence parfytely seynge
+ All thynge to come that neuer hath had beynge
+ His workes and dedys ar so perfyte and ryght
+ That none can increas nor yet decreas his myght
+
+ He doth all thynge dispose moderate and dispence
+ Knowynge our mynde, and what is to vs most mete
+ All thynge is open and playne in his presence
+ Our inwarde thought must he nedes knowe and wete
+ And euery fortune is playne before his fete
+ He hath all thynge by lawe and order drest
+ And doth no thynge but it is for the best
+
+ Therfore whether he gyue thunder snowe or rayne
+ Wynde or wether, tempest or tourment
+ Frost lyghtnynge, fayre wether, outher storme sodayne
+ Mystes or clowdes, yet man sholde be content
+ And nat with worde nouther inwarde intent
+ Agaynst god grutche, but euery day and houre
+ Magnyfye the dedys of god his creatoure
+
+ It were moche better thou fole that thou were dome
+ Than to cast lewde wordes agaynst thy lorde in vayne
+ Thou fole he worketh no thynge but by wysedome
+ And yet art thou nat content but dost complayne
+ Thou sekest vengeaunce (for thy synne) and payne
+ In hell for euer, thynkynge thy selfe so wyse
+ To teche thy god, and his warke to dispyse
+
+ It is nat lawfull for any, hye nor lowe
+ To be so bolde so blynde or so cruell
+ Grutchynge wordes agaynst his god to throwe
+ Thughe to theyr plaseour a thynge nat fortune well
+ Take example by the children of Israell
+ Whiche oft for this synne suffred great payne and wo
+ Slayne and distroyed, so haue ben many mo
+
+ Many a lewde body without wysdome or rede
+ Grutche in theyr myndes, and openly do blame
+ Almyghy god, whan theyr children ar dede
+ Where rather they ought to enioye of the same
+ For it myght fortune that great rebuke and shame
+ Myght to theyr frendes haue come by theyr synne and cryme
+ Soone after: if they had nat dyed at that tyme
+
+ Wherfore this one clause is my conclusyon
+ That god our maker is wyse and prouydent
+ Blame nat his workes by thyne abusyon
+ For all that he doth is for the best intent
+ But if that god sholde alwaye assent
+ To our desyres and euer perfourme our wyll
+ Our owne requestis sholde tourne vs to great yll
+
+ALEXANDER BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ O ye mad myndes that no thynge vnderstonde
+ O man presumptuous and vnobedyent
+ Howe darest thou be so bolde to take on honde
+ To repreue the workes of god omnipotent
+ Wylt thou hym teche, as more wyse and prouydent
+ Than he is (whiche made all thynge of nought)
+ Leue of this thy foly, and holde thy selfe content
+ For thou art a fole to set theron thy thought
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that gyue jugement on other.
+
+[Illustration: Who that reputyth hym selfe iust and fawtles
+Of maners gode, and of lyuynge commendable.
+And iugeth other (parchaunce that ar gyltles)
+To be of a condicion reprouable
+Hymselfe nat notynge, thoughe that he were culpable
+He is a fole, and onys shall haue a fall
+Syns he wyll other iuge, hym selfe yet worst of all.]
+
+ Many fallyth in great peryll and damage
+ And greuous deth by the vyce of folysshnes
+ Perseuerantly bydynge in theyr outrage
+ Theyr soule infect with synne and viciousnes
+ And though that deth hym alway to them addres
+ Yet hope they in longe lyfe and prosperyte
+ And neuer asswageth theyr blynde iniquyte
+
+ The tyme passeth as water in a ryuere
+ No mortall man can it reuoke agayne
+ Dethe with his dartis vnwarely doth apere
+ It is the ende of euery man certayne
+ The last of all ferys and ende of worldly payne
+ But thoughe we knowe that we all must haue an ende
+ We slepe in synne disdaynynge vs to amende
+
+ Some thynke them gode, iust and excellent
+ Myghty stronge and worthy of preemynence:
+ Charitable, chast, constant and innocent
+ Nat doutynge deth nor other inconuenyence
+ But yet ar they wrappyd sore in synne and offence
+ And in a vayne hope, contynue in suche wyse
+ That all the worlde (saue them selfe) they dispyse
+
+ They take on them the workes of god omnipotent
+ To iuge the secrete of mannys mynde and thought
+ And where no sygne is sene playne and euydent
+ They iuge a man saynge, his lyfe is nought
+ And if deth one hath vnto his last ende brought
+ (As mad) they mende nat theyr mysgouernaunce
+ Nat thynkynge that they ensue must the same daunce
+
+ Suche folys fayne causes and often tymes say:
+ That he that is dede vsed ryot and moche foly
+ Whiche causyd hym to dye before his day
+ And that he was feble, or full of malancoly
+ Ouer sad, or prowde, disceytfull and pope holy
+ Uiciously lyuynge in couetyse and gyle
+ Wherfore god suffred hym lyue the shorter whyle
+
+ Lo these blynde folys saciat with vyce
+ Jugeth hym that perchaunce dyd nat amys
+ Whyle he here lyuyd, and is in paradyce
+ Rewardyd for his workes in endles ioy and blys
+ Where as this lewde Juger, here in this worlde is
+ Styll lyuynge in synne, suffrynge great payne and wo
+ And though he thynke hym gode shall neuer come therto
+
+ He that in synne here lyeth fettered fast
+ And iugeth the deth of his frende or neyboure
+ Whiche from this lyfe is departed and past.
+ Let hym beware, for onys come shall the houre
+ That he must fele dethis dolorouse rygoure.
+ And after that endure infernall punysshement
+ For iugynge and mysdemynge of people innocent
+
+ The terme and day, of deth is moche vnsure
+ The deth is sure, the houre is vncertayne
+ Deth is generall to euery creature
+ Theder we must all, be it pleasour or payne
+ Wherfore wysdome wyll that we shulde refrayne
+ From folysshe demynge and nons deth discus
+ After deth god wot howe it shall be with vs
+
+ Alas full often a iust man gode and true
+ Of mynde innocent sad sober and sympyll
+ Passynge his tyme in goodnes and vertue
+ Is of these folys thought and demyd for yll
+ And he that is nought, frowarde of dede and wyll
+ Of these folys blynde frantyke and wode.
+ Without all reason is iugyd to be goode
+
+ Wherfore I proue that a blynde fole thou art
+ To iuge or deme a mannys thought or intent
+ For onely god knoweth our mynde and hart
+ Wherto we gree and to what thynge we assent
+ But who that is rightwyse iust, and innocent
+ And louyth god with honour and with reuerence
+ Than, may he boldely iuge anothers offence
+
+ALEXANDER BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Amende you folys: do way these folysshe wayes
+ Take ye no charge: nat mete for your degre.
+ And note these wordes: whiche criste our sauyour sayes
+ Juge nat another, and thou shalt nat iugyd be
+ It longeth onely to the hye dyuynyte
+ To iuge our mynde: for he is true iustyce
+ All thynge discernynge by right and equyte
+ No man sholde deme, whyle hym selfe is in vyce
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of pluralitees that is to say of them whiche
+charge them selfe with many benefycis.
+
+[Illustration: That myller is a fole and here shall haue a barge
+And as a mad man shall fast therin be bounde
+Whiche his Asse wyll with so many sackes charge
+That the pore beste for payne fallys to the grounde
+Many in the chirche lyke hym may be founde.
+Whiche so many benefycis labour to procure
+That their small myght can nat the charge endure.]
+
+ Amonge our folys delytynge them in vyces
+ Is yet another sorte of the speritualte
+ Whiche them ouerchargeth with dyuers benefyces
+ And namely suche that lowest ar in degre
+ Of byrth and cunnynge, of this condycion be
+ Defylynge goddes rentis and the chirches goode
+ Them selfe ouer ladynge, as men frantyke and wode
+
+ The weght is so great they can it nat endure
+ Theyr myght is small, theyr cunnynge is moche lesse
+ Thus this great charge wherof they haue the cure
+ To infernall Fenn doth this pore Asse oppresse
+ And to an Asse moste lyke he is doutles
+ Whiche takynge on his backe sackes nyne or tenne.
+ Destroyeth hymselfe them leuynge in the fenne
+
+ But though one prebende were to hym suffycient
+ Or one benefyce his lyuynge myght suffyse
+ Yet this blynde fole is nat therwith content
+ But labowreth for mo, and alway doth deuyse
+ Fals meanes to come therto by couetyse
+ He gapeth with his wyde throte insaciable
+ And neuer can content his wyll abhomynable
+
+ So for the loue of the peny and ryches.
+ He taketh this charge to lyue in welth and eas.
+ Howe be it that sole that hath suche besynes
+ And dyueres charges fyndeth great disseas
+ Neyther shall he god, nor yet the worlde pleas
+ And shall with his burthyns his mynde so vex and comber
+ That halfe his cures, can he nat count nor nomber
+
+ These carefull caytyfs, that ar of this same sort
+ With cures ar ouerchargyd so that of theyr mynde.
+ Rest haue they none, solace, pleasour nor conforte
+ Howe be it they thynke therby great welth to fynde
+ They gape yet euer, theyr maners lyke the wynde
+ Theyr lyfe without all terme or sertaynte
+ If they haue two lyuynges, yet loke they to haue thre
+
+ The folys whose hertis vnto this vyce ar bounde
+ Upon theyr sholders bereth aboute a sacke.
+ Insaciable without botome, outher grounde:
+ They thynke them nat lade though all be on theyr backe.
+ The more that they haue (the more they thynke they lacke)
+ What deuyll can stop theyr throte so large and wyde
+ Yet many all waste aboute Ryot and pryde
+
+ But yet is this moche more abhomynable
+ That asses vntaught without wysdome or scyence
+ Haue theyr proude myndes moste vnsaciable
+ Nat commynge to worshyp by vertue nor prudence
+ Yet counte they them worthy of this excellence
+ Courters become prestis nought knowynge but the dyce
+ They preste not for god, but for a benefyce
+
+ The clerke of the kechyn is a prest become
+ In full trust to come to promosyon hye
+ No thynge by vertue cunnynge nor wysdome
+ But by couetyse, practyse and flatery
+ The Stepyll and the chirche by this meane stand awry
+ For some become rather prestis for couetyse.
+ Than for the loue of god or his seruyce.
+
+ Alas oft goddes goodes and cristis herytage
+ Of suche folys is wastyd and spent in vayne
+ In great folyes mundaynes and outrage
+ Where it decreed, and ordeyned is certayne.
+ That prestis sholde helpe pore people that lyue in payne
+ And with suche goodes kepe hospytalyte
+ Whiche pryde ryot and Uenus suffreth nat to be
+
+ Thus is the grettest parte of the spiritualte
+ Pore preste, persone, vicayr, relygyon and prelate
+ With couetyse acloyde outher prodigalyte
+ And folys promotyd causyth good clerkis haue hate
+ Say lordes and bysshops with other of estate
+ What mouyth you so gladly, suche to promote
+ Whiche haue no cunnynge their wyt skant worth a grote
+
+ Wyll ye alway the folysshe asse ouercharge
+ With suche burthyns wherwith it can nat fare
+ And suffer other to walke and ren at large
+ And where they best myght bere theyr backes ar left bare
+ And that is worst of all, suche folys can nat be ware
+ But whan they ar promotyd after theyr owne entent.
+ Yet theyr insaciable mynde can neuer be content.
+
+ Some make exchanges and permutacions
+ Some take to ferme, and some let out agayne
+ Other folys for hope make resignacions
+ And some for one god scosyth gladly twayne
+ Some lyueth longe in hunger and in payne
+ And in the somer day skarsly drynketh twyse
+ Sparynge monay therwith to by a benefyce
+
+ Some for no wages in court doth attende
+ With lorde or knyght, and all for this polecy
+ To get of his lorde a benefyce at the ende
+ And in the meane tyme ensueth rybawdry
+ And somtyme laboureth by chraft of symony.
+ He playeth a fals cast, nat cessynge to coniure
+ Tyll of some benefyce he at the last be sure
+
+ Than if this lorde haue in hym fauoure, he hath hope
+ To haue another benefyce of gretter dignyte
+ And so maketh a fals suggestyon to the pope
+ For a Tot quot outher els a pluralyte
+ Than shall he nat be pleased with .II. nouther thre
+ But dyuers wyll he haue ay choppynge and changynge
+ So oft a fole all and a gode clerke no thynge
+
+ These of nought force so that they may haue gayne
+ And golde ynough to spende on rybawdry and pryde
+ They haue the profyte, another hath the payne
+ The cure of the soulys of them is set asyde
+ And no meruayle, for howe sholde they abyde.
+ To teche their parysshynges vertue wysdome or grace
+ Syns no man can be atonys in euery place
+
+ Alas these folys our mayster criste betray
+ Of mannes soule wherof they haue the cure
+ And settynge in their stede syr Johnn of garnesey
+ They thynketh them selfe dischargyd quyte and sure
+ These folys note nat that euery creature.
+ Whiche here of soulys doth cure or charge take
+ At domys day a compt for them shall make
+
+ But if I sholde touche all the enormytees
+ The immoderat couetyse and desyre of dignyte
+ That nowe is vsed amonge all the degrees
+ Of benefycyd men ouer all the spiritualte
+ I fere displeasour, and also I often se
+ That trouth is blamed, and nat ay best to tell
+ But he that in this lyfe wyll alway besy be
+ To get dyuers prebendes shall haue the last in hell
+
+THENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ What meane ye gyders of Christis herytage
+ Shall ye neuer leue this your deuowrynge mynde
+ Shall ye no tyme your couytyse asswage
+ Whiche in goddes seruyce your hartis sore doth blynde
+ Let this fals traytour no place amonge you fynde
+ Graunt hym no rowne in churche nor in quere.
+ For this is sure ye shall all leue behynde
+ We haue no Cyte, nor place abydynge here
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that prolonge from day to day
+to amende themselfe.
+
+[Illustration: He that cras cras syngeth with the crowe
+Deferrynge the tyme of his amendement
+Amonge our folys, in this our shyp shall rowe
+For his presumpcion, dull mynde and blynde intent
+What knowe these folys whether god omnypotent
+Wyll graunt them to lyue vntyll another day.
+Wherfore we ought to mende vs whyle we may.]
+
+ If vnto any almyghty god doth sende
+ From heuen aboue by inspyracion dyuyne
+ Wyll and gode mynde his synnes to amende
+ And with his grace his thoughtes enlumyne
+ If that synner wyll nat therto enclyne
+ But doth dyffer and dryue frome day to day
+ A fole he is, no wyse man wyll denay
+
+ Yet many folowe this inconuenience
+ And knowynge theyr owne vyce, and lyfe full of ordure
+ The payne therof, and howe euery offence
+ And synne is punysshed of eche creature
+ Also they knowe that theyr deth is vnsure
+ And dye they must knowynge no houre nor space
+ Yet synne they styll, nat receyuynge this grace
+
+ They folowe the crowes cry to theyr great sorowe
+ Cras cras cras to morowe we shall amende
+ And if we mende nat than, than shall we the next morowe
+ Outher shortly after, we shall no more offende
+ Amende mad fole whan god this grace doth sende
+ He is vnwyse whiche trustes the crowes songe
+ And that affermyth that he shall lyue so longe
+
+ Syns deth (as I haue sayde) is so vnstable
+ Wherfore we ought alway vs to prouyde
+ And mende our lyfe and synne abhomynable
+ For though that thou be hole at the euyn tyde
+ Thou knowest nat sure that thou shall here abyde
+ Untyll the morne but if thou dye in that space
+ It shall be to late for the to cry cras cras
+
+ Syns it is in thy power that thou may
+ Amende thy selfe whan god inspyreth the
+ Why shalt thou tary vnto another day
+ The longer tary the lesse apt shalt thou be.
+ In olde sores is grettest ieopardye
+ Whan costome and vse is tourned to nature
+ It is right harde to leue: I the ensure
+
+ Therfore if that thou lewdly fall in syn
+ By thy frayle flesshe, and the fals fendes trayne
+ Take nat the vse, contynue nat therin
+ But by confessyon shortly ryse agayne
+ Synne alway thretenyth vnto the doer, payne
+ And grutche of conscience with moche thought and wo
+ Yet alwaye ar we redy and prone therto
+
+ Mannys lyfe on erth is euyn a chyualry
+ Agaynst our flesshe fyghtyng whiche often doth vs shame
+ Also the deuyll our goostly ennemy
+ On his parte labours to get vs in his frame
+ Thus oft we fall, and than our foly blame
+ Repentynge sore, and wyllynge to refrayne
+ But within an houre we fall therto agayne
+
+ Thus euer to vyce ar we redy and prone
+ The gyftis of grace we clene from vs exclude
+ We haue great cause sore to complayne and mone
+ We leue that thynge (our myndes ar so rude)
+ That myght vs gyde to helth and beatytude
+ Thus our owne foly, and our owne blynde madnes
+ Us often ledyth vnto great wretchydnes
+
+ And if it fortune, that at any tyme
+ Within our myndes we purpose stedfastly
+ For to confesse our synne, excesse, or cryme
+ Agayne our thought is changyd by and by
+ Away than ren we with the crowys crye
+ With one cras, to morowe, perauenture twayne
+ Without regarde had, vnto infernall payne
+
+ But in the meane space if that deth vntretable
+ Arrest the with his mace, fyers and cruell
+ And for thy synne and lyfe abhomynable
+ By iustyce damme thy soule for euer to hell
+ Than woldest thou gladly (If thou myght) do well
+ But there is no grace but doloure payne and sorowe
+ Than is to late to crye cras cras to morowe
+
+THE ENUOY OF THE ACTOUR.
+
+ Say what delyte, thou fole or what pleasoure
+ Takest thou in synne and voluptuosyte
+ It is small sothly, and passeth euery houre
+ Lyke to the water, and that in myserye
+ Therfore set nat in synne thy felycyte
+ This day begyn thy lewde lyfe to refuse
+ Perchaunce to morowe sholde be to late to the
+ So sholde cras the crwys songe the sore abuse
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of hym that is Jelous ouer his wyfe and
+watcheth hir wayes without cause, or
+euydent tokyn of hir myslyuynge.
+
+[Illustration: He that his wyfe wyll counterwayte and watche
+And feryth of hir lyuynge by his Jelowse intent
+Is as great fole, as is that wytles wratche
+That wolde kepe flees vnder the son feruent
+Or in the se cast water, thynkynge it to augment
+For thoughe he hir watche lockynge with lockys twayne
+But if she kepe hir selfe his kepynge is but vayne]
+
+ Orestes was neuer so blynde and mad as is he
+ Whiche for his wyfe taketh thought and charge
+ Watchynge hir wayes, thoughe that she gyltles be
+ This fole styll fereth, if she be out at large
+ Lyst that some other his harnes sholde ouercharge
+ But for all his fere and carefull Jelowsy
+ If she be nought there is no remedy.
+
+ Thou fole I proue, thy watchynge helpeth nought
+ Thy labour lost is, thou takest this care in vayne
+ In vayne thou takest this Jelowsy and thought
+ In vayne thou sleest thy selfe with care and payne
+ And of one doute thou fole thou makest twayne
+ And neuer shalt fynde eas nor mery lyuynge
+ (Whyle thou thus lyuest) but hatered and chydynge
+
+ For locke hir fast and all hir lokes marke.
+ Note all hir steppys, and twynklynge of hir iye.
+ Ordeyne thy watchers and dogges for to barke
+ Bar fast thy dores and yet it wyll nat be
+ Close hir in a Toure with wallys stronge and hye
+ But yet thou fole thou lesist thy trauayle
+ For without she wyll no man can kepe hir tayle
+
+ And yet more ouer breche hir with plate and mayle
+ And for all that if she be nought of kynde
+ She shall disceyue the (If she lyst) without fayle
+ But if that she be chast of dede and mynde
+ Hir selfe shall she kepe, though thou hir neuer bynde
+ Thus they that ar chast of nature, wyll byde so
+ And nought wyll be nought what so euer thou do
+
+ Thus is it foly and causeth great debate
+ Bytwene man and wyfe, whan he by Jelowsy.
+ His wyfe suspectyth, and doth watche or counterwayt
+ Or hir mysdemyth and kepyth in stratly.
+ Wherfore me thynke it is best remedy
+ For hym that gladly wolde escape the hode
+ Nat to be Jelous: but honest lyuynge and gode
+
+ The toure of bras that callyd was darayne.
+ Coude nat the damsell (by name Danes) defende
+ But that Jupiter fonde a cautell and trayne
+ In a golden shoure into hir to discende
+ And to be short, at conclusyon and ende
+ This mayde for all this Toure was there defylyd.
+ And by this lorde was she there brought with childe
+
+ By this example it apereth euydent
+ That it is foly a woman to kepe or close
+ For if she be of lewde mynde or intent
+ Outher preuy or apert there about she goys
+ Deuysynge wayes with hir good man to glose
+ But specially if that he hir suspect
+ With a hode shall he vnwars be ouerdect
+
+ But in the worlde right many other be
+ Whiche neuer folowe this fals and lothly way
+ We haue example of one Penolope
+ Whiche though that she alone was many a day
+ Hir husbonde gone, and she vexed alway.
+ By other louers: yet was she euer trewe
+ Unto hir olde: and neuer changyd for newe
+
+ I fynde that often this folysshe Jelowsy
+ Of men; causyth some women to mysdo
+ Where as (were nat theyr husbondes blynde foly)
+ The pore wymen knowe nat what longyd therto
+ Wherfore suche men ar folys and mad also
+ And with theyr hodes whiche they them selfe purchace
+ Within my shyp shall haue a rowme and place
+
+ For where as perchaunce theyr wyfes ar chaste and goode
+ By mannys vnkyndnes they chaunge and turne theyr herte
+ So that the wyfe must nedes gyue them a hode
+ But to be playne some wymen ar esy to conuert
+ For if one take them where they can nat start.
+ What for theyr husbondes folysshe Jelowsy
+ And theyr owne pleasour: they scars can ought deny
+
+THE ENUOY OF THE ACTOUR.
+
+ Therfore ye wymen lyue wysly and eschewe
+ These wanton wowers and suche wylde company
+ Get you gode name by sadnes and vertue
+ Haunt no olde quenys that nourysshe rybawdry
+ Than fere ye nat your husbondes Jelowsy
+ If ye be fawtles, chaste and innocent
+ But wanton wowers ar ful of flatery
+ Euer whan they labour for their intent.
+
+ Be meke, demure, bocsome, and obedyent,
+ Gyue none occasyon to men by your foly
+ If one ought asshe, deny it incontynent
+ And euer after auoyde his company
+ Beware of cornes, do nat your erys aply
+ To pleasaunt wordes nor letters eloquent
+ If that Helena had so done certaynly
+ She had nat ven rauysshed by handes violent
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of auoutry, and specially of them y^t ar
+bawdes to their wyues, knowynge and
+wyll nat knowe, but kepe counseyll, for
+couetyse, and gaynes or auauntage.
+
+[Illustration: A fole blynde, forsoth and wytles is that man
+Whiche thoughe his wyfe openly defylyd be
+Before his owne face, yet suche a chrafte he can
+To fayne hym a slepe, nat wyllynge it to se
+Or els he layeth his hande before his iye
+And thoughe he here and se howe the mater gose
+He snortynge slepyth, and wyll it nat disclose.]
+
+ O what disorder, what shame and what domage
+ Is nowe brought in, and right lykely to abyde
+ In the sacrament of holy mariage
+ The fere of payne and lawe is set a syde
+ Faythe is clene lost, and fewe them selfe do gyde
+ After theyr othe, but for lacke of punysshement.
+ They brake and despyse this dyuyne sacrament
+
+ Alas the lawe that Julius dyd ordeyne
+ Agaynst auoutry: is nowe a slepe or dede
+ None feryth iustyce punysshement nor payne
+ Both man and woman ar past all fere and drede
+ Theyr promes brekynge, without respect or hede
+ Had to theyr othe, by mariage solemnysed
+ The bed defylyd. the sacrament despysed
+
+ Many ar whiche thynke it is a thynge laudable
+ Anothers sponse to pullute and dyffame
+ And howe beit the synne is moche abhomynable
+ They fere nat god, nor dout nat worldly shame
+ But rather boldly they bost them of the same
+ They note no thynge the mortall punysshement
+ Taken on auoutrers in the olde testament
+
+ Yet is another thynge more lothsome and vyle
+ That many husbondes knowynge theyr wyues syn
+ Absent themselfe and stop theyr iyen the whyle
+ Kepynge the dore whyle the auoutrer is within
+ They forse no thynge so they may money wyn
+ Lyuynge as bawdes, and that to theyr owne wyues
+ O cursyd money, this madnes thou contryuys
+
+ O cursyd husbonde thou ought to be asshamyd
+ To set so great fors for syluer or for golde
+ That thou for them thy wyfe wyll se diffamyd
+ And helpe therto: ye: and the dede beholde
+ Blame it blynde dryuyll: by the lawe so thou sholde
+ And nat therat to gyggyll laghe and Jest
+ It is a lewde byrde that fyleth his owne nest
+
+ The Hystory of Atreus expressyth playne
+ Howe he (by his owne brother) for auoutry
+ Was dryuen from his royalme and his childre slayne
+ For his mysdede: without: let or remedy
+ These children thus bought theyr faders mad foly
+ What shall I wryte the wo and heuynes
+ Whiche Tarquyn had for rauysshynge lucres
+
+ I rede in the hystory of one Virginius
+ Whiche to thyntent this foule synne to eschewe
+ Whan his doughter was desyred by Clodius
+ And that by force; the fader his dowghter slewe
+ Bytwene the handes of Clodius vntrue
+ The fader answered (whan men his dede dyd blame)
+ Better is to dye chast: than longe to lyue in shame
+
+ But of auoutry somwhat more to speke
+ In it is yre Enuy and paynfull pouertye.
+ And also he or she that mariage doth breke
+ May fere of deth eternall whan they dye
+ And here without welth ioy and rest shall they be
+ And well ar they worthy (forsoth) of sore tourment
+ In hell: for brekynge this holy sacrament
+
+ But in the meane tyme here shalt thou haue discorde
+ And neuer prosper in vertue nor ryches
+ And lothsome be before the almyghty lorde
+ Thy dedes shall purchace mysfortune and distres
+ Thou lyue shalt in shame and dye in wretchydnes
+ And if thou procede therin and nat amende
+ Some great shame shalt thou haue before thyne ende.
+
+THE ENUOY OF THE ACTOUR.
+
+ O creatures vnkynde leue ye this outrage
+ Breke nat your othe whiche ye made solemly
+ Eche one to other for to lyue in mariage
+ Defyle ye it nat by synne and vylany
+ On both partis if ye lyue faythfully
+ After your promes: in loue, fayth and concorde
+ Than shall ye in erth encreas and multyply
+ And after haue syght of the almyghty lorde
+
+ Let all spousys in theyr myndes comprehende
+ The lawys and decrees of the olde testament
+ Howe they that in auoutry dyd offende
+ Were outher stonyd or els openly brent
+ Wherfore syns goddes son omnypotent.
+ Confermed hath the olde testament with the newe
+ Auoutrers nowe deserue that same punysshement
+ But well is to them, that stedfast ar and trewe
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of hym that nought can and nought wyll
+lerne, and seyth moche, lytell berynge
+away, I mene nat theuys.
+
+[Illustration: He is a fole, and so shall he dye and lyue
+That thynketh hym wyse, and yet can he no thynge
+And though he myght he wyll nat set nor gyue
+His mynde to good maners, vertue nor cunnynge.
+So is he a fole that doth to market brynge
+His Gese fast bounde, and game or sporte to se
+Lowsyth theyr fete, and suffreth them to fle]
+
+ Saynt George to borowe our Nauy is aflote
+ Forth shall we sayle, thoughe that it be a payne
+ And moche laboure to forge a pryuate bote
+ For euery faute: yet shall I nat refrayne
+ My hande nor penne: thoughe vnsure be my gayne
+ My laboure sure: my wyt and reason thynne
+ Than leue a thynge vnendyd better nat begynne
+
+ But in this place shall I a Shyp ordayne
+ For that fole: that heryth great doctryne
+ Wherby good maners and vertue aperyth playne
+ He seth all goodnes, stody, and disciplyne
+ And yet wyll nat his mynde therto enclyne
+ But though he knowe what thynge is godlyest
+ Ouer all the worlde, yet is he styll a beest.
+
+ Many of this sort wander and compase
+ All studies, the wonders of the worlde to se
+ With vnstabyll wynges fleynge from place to place
+ Some seyth lawe and some dyuynyte
+ But for all this byde they in one degre
+ And if they were Asses and folys blynde before
+ After all these syghtes yet ar they moche more
+
+ They se moche nought lernynge, and hauynge no delyte
+ In wysdome nor maners vertue nor goodnes
+ Theyr tyme is loste, without wysdome or profyte
+ Without grace, or other holynes
+ But whyle they labour thus with besynes
+ If they se ought newe, or any folysshe toy
+ That lyghtly they lerne, and set theron theyr ioy.
+
+ By this desyre folys may knowen be
+ For wytles men of fleynge mynde and brayne
+ Ar best pleasyd with thynges of neweltye
+ And them to haue, they spare no cost nor payne
+ To dyuers londes to ren but all in vayne
+ And so they labour alway from londe to londe
+ To se all wonders, but nought they vnderstonde
+
+ Some fle to se the wonders of englonde
+ Some to the court to se the maners there
+ Some to Wallys, Holonde, to Fraunce or Irlonde
+ To Lybye, afryke, and besyly enquere.
+ Of all marueyles, and skantly worth a here
+ Some vnto Fraunce and some to Flaunders ren
+ To so the wayes, and workes of cunnynge men
+
+ And to be shorte ouer all they range
+ Spendynge theyr goodes about vnthryftynes
+ In countrees knowen, vnknowen and strange
+ But whan theyr iourney they homwarde must addres
+ As folys vnware, and vagabundes thryftles
+ They haue nought lerned, kept, nor with them brought
+ Of maners, wysdome or other thynge that is ought
+
+ They that by the se sayle to londes strange
+ Oft chaunge the place and planete of the fyrmament
+ But theyr mynde nor maners they ne turne nor chaunge
+ And namely suche that ar lewde and neglygent
+ What euer they se styll one is theyr intent
+ Whan he departyd, If that he were a sote
+ Agayne anone he comyth in the same mynde and cote
+
+ Say mad folys blynde ouersene, and worthy scorne
+ Fayne wolde I knowe what necessyte ye haue
+ To go from the place where ye were bred and borne
+ Into another londe to lerne to play the knaue
+ Your mynde vnstable sheweth playne that ye raue
+ Laboure nat so sore, to lerne to be a fole
+ That cometh by it selfe without any other scole
+
+ He that is borne in walys or small brytayne
+ To lerne to pyke and stele nedys nat go to Rome.
+ What nede we sayle to Flaunders or Almayne
+ To lerne glotony, syns we may it lerne at home
+ Suche lewdnes soon may we lerne of our wombe
+ He that wyll lerne falshode gyle or sotelte
+ May lerne it here as well as beyonde the se.
+
+ To passe the se to lerne Uenus rybawdry
+ It is great foly, for thou mayst lerne thy fyll
+ In shoppis Innes and sellers, ye somtyme openly
+ At saynt Martyns Westmynster or at the tour hyll
+ So that I fere all London, in tyme it shall fyll
+ For it is there kept in lyght and in darke
+ That the pore Stuys decays for lacke of warke
+
+ But brefely to speke, and this to set a syde
+ He that on vyce, and synne wyll set his entent
+ May lerne it in Englonde, if he at home abyde
+ And that of all sortis: god sende amendement
+ But if thou alway wyll nede be dylygent
+ To labour in the worlde about from place to place
+ Do as dyd Plato, than shalt thou fynde great grace
+
+ This godly plato laboured with dilygence
+ To Egypt, and other londes sparynge for no payne
+ Where euer he came: augmentynge his scyence
+ And at the last retourned to Grece agayne
+ His countrey natyf: with laude and name souerayne
+ Thus he for all his wysdome laboured besyly
+ But that fowle that nought can nought settyth by
+
+ Wherfore that gose that styll about wyll wander
+ Moche seynge and herynge, and nought berynge away
+ Shall home come agayne as wyse as a gander
+ But more fole is he that may lerne euery day
+ Without cost or laboure out of his owne countrey
+ And whan the well of wysdome renneth by theyr dore
+ Yet looth they the water as if that it were soure
+
+ALEXANDER BARKLAY AD FATUOS VT DENT LOCUM OCTO SECUNDARIIS BEATE MARIE DE
+OTEREY QUI QUIDEM PRIMA HUIUS RATIS TRANSTRA MERENTUR.
+
+ Soft folys soft, a lytell slacke your pace
+ Tyll I haue space you to order by degre
+ I haue eyght neyghbours, that firste shall haue a place
+ Within this my shyp, for they most worthy be
+ They may theyr lernynge receyue costeles and fre.
+ Theyr wallys abuttynge and ioynynge to the scoles.
+ No thynge they can, yet nought wyll they lerne nor se
+ Therfore shall they gyde this one shyp of foles.
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY.
+
+ O vnauysyd, vnwyse and frowarde man
+ Great cause thou hast to morne sore and complayne
+ Whan no goodnes vertue nor wyt thou can
+ And yet to lerne thou hast scorne and dysdayne
+ Alas man mende, and spare no maner payne
+ To get wysdome, and it thou shalt nat want
+ Hym that nought wyll knowe, god wyll nat knowe certayne
+ Wo is hym that wylfully is ignorant.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of great wrathe, procedynge of small
+occasyon.
+
+[Illustration: Assys erys for our folys a lyuray is
+And he that wyll be wroth for a thynge of nought
+Of the same leuray is nat worthy to mys
+For who that by wrathe to suche a wyll is brought
+To sle his Asse for hir pas slowe and soft
+Shall after his fury, repent his mad foly
+For to a clere mynde, mad wrathe is ennemy]
+
+ Come nere, ye wrathfull men, take your rowme and place
+ Within our shyp, and to slake our hastynes
+ Mount on an Asse slowe of hir gate and pace
+ Syns troublous wrath, in you, styreth this madnes
+ Often lacke of myght asswagyth cruelnes
+ To a wylde cowe god doth short hornys sende
+ Wrath is great foly, where myght may nat extende
+
+ O man yll myndyd what helpeth the this yre
+ None the commendyth whiche doth thy maners marke
+ What doste thou: but the waste with thyne owne fyre
+ Narrynge with thyselfe lyke as a dogge doth barke
+ Without meke worde and pleasyd with no warke
+ Art thou: but thoughe all men be dylygent
+ Mad wrathe to please, yet who can it content
+
+ This man malycious whiche troubled is with wrath
+ Nought els soundeth but the hoorse letter R
+ Thoughe all be well, yet he none answere hath
+ Saue the dogges letter, glowmynge with nar nar
+ Suche labour nat this mad rancour to defar
+ Nor yet his malyce to mytygate or asswage
+ But ioyeth to be drede of men for this outrage
+
+ His mouth fomyth his throte out gorgyth fyre
+ His ferefull furoure is, his hole felycyte
+ By his great yre, doth he coueyte and desyre
+ Dowtyd to be: of the pore comontye
+ His owne madnes and cruell furyosyte
+ Wyll he nat knowe as he were nat culpable
+ Of this mad fury and vyce abhomynable
+
+ Hym selfe is blynde, but other well note his dede
+ He shall be poynted whether he go or ryde
+ Saynge one to other take gode regarde and hede
+ Of yonder furyous fole whome reason doth nat gyde
+ Beware his wayes fle hym on euery syde
+ Who that hym sueth both hurte and shame shall fynde
+ Thus other hym notyth but he hymself is blynde
+
+ So his Asse crys to hym ar inuysyble
+ He thynkyth to haue pacyence though that he haue none
+ And vnto hym it is thynge incredyble
+ That suche ar folys whose pacyence is gone
+ Thus coueytyth he to kepe his erys alone
+ And to wrathfull men he wyll no thynge obiect
+ For that hym selfe is with the same infect
+
+ But somwhat to touche the inconuenyences
+ Whiche by this wrath procedyth to mankynde
+ It is chefe grounde of many great offences
+ Destroynge reason blyndynge the wyt and mynde
+ By malyce man is to all yll inclynde
+ Both symple man, and lordes excellent
+ Do that by wrath oft whiche they after repent
+
+ Reuoke thy mynde, somwhat thy herte enclyne
+ Unto Archytas a man of hye wysdome
+ Borne the the ryche Cyte namyd Tarentyne
+ Rede howe that he his malyce dyd ouercome
+ For thoughe his seruaunt was fals to hym become
+ And he sore mouyd to auenge the same offence
+ Yet he refraynyd his wrathe by pacyence
+
+ So socrates so Senyk and Plato
+ Suffred great wronge great iniury and payne
+ And of your fayth sayntis right many mo
+ For christ our mayster dyd great turment sustayne
+ What wo or payne cowde saynt Laurance refrayne
+ From pacience wherfore it is great shame
+ For christen men if they do not the same
+
+ They suffred deth, ye, and yet were pacyent
+ And many haue prayed, for suche that haue them slayne
+ Where thou mad fole takest greuous punysshement
+ For small occasyon, ye come by chaunce sodayne
+ Fole thou art blynde, and mad to set thy brayne
+ All thynge to venge (by wrath) that doth mysfall
+ For he that part hath lost: by wrath oft lesyth all
+
+ And forsoth no meruayle, if suche wyse actours
+ Hath wrathes madnes, expelled and set asyde
+ For where that wrath doth rayne with his furours
+ There can no reason nor wysedome longe abyde
+ The wyt it wastyth: so is it a lewde gyde
+ Therfore let mesure, this malyce holde agayne
+ But pacyence is brydyll his madnes to refrayne
+
+ It longeth nat to any man of hye prudence
+ For to be wrothe, yrous, or gyuys to malancoly
+ No suche passyon nor inconuenyence
+ Can fall to man, ay stedfast wyse and holy
+ But folys ar moste troublyd with this foly
+ Where as a wyse man for any aduersyte
+ Lyueth in quyete mynde and tranquylyte
+
+ A man well manerd, sad sober and dyscrete
+ If he be ware, wyse, chrafty and prouydent
+ Beholdeth all thynge before his syght and fete.
+ Gydynge hym by mesure a vertue excellent
+ Where as a fole doth all without aduysement
+ And in euery thynge shewyth his folysshnes
+ Wroth at eche worde, as mayster of madnes
+
+ Wherfore ye folys se ye no lenger tary
+ But on the dull Asse hastely assende
+ That a slowe beest may hasty folys cary
+ For your mad wrath dowtyth no thynge the ende
+ Your madnes can nat your blynde mysdede defende
+ For who that one sleyth, angry and feruent
+ Ought to be hangyd whan he is pacyent
+
+THE ENUOY OF THE ACTOUR.
+
+ Blynde myndyd man whiche wylt all thynge ouercome
+ Reputynge thy selfe, moste souerayne and royall
+ If thou be wyse or partener of wysdome
+ Labour to ouercome thyne owne selfe firste of all
+ Thy wrath asswage thou in especyall
+ Let neyther malyce, nor yre with the abyde
+ Thou art a fole the chefe or lorde to call
+ Of other: whan thou can nat thy selfe well gyde.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the mutabylyte of fortune.
+
+[Illustration: That man whiche hopyth hye vp to ascende
+On fortunes whele, and come to state royall
+If the whele turne, may doute sore to descende
+If he be hye the sorer is his fall
+So he whiche trustyth nat therto at all
+Shall in moste eas and suerty hymselfe gyde
+For vnsure fortune can in no place abyde]
+
+ We dayly proue by example and euydence
+ That many be made folys mad and ignorant
+ By the brode worlde, puttynge trust and confydence
+ In fortunes whele vnsure and inconstant
+ Some assay the whele thynkynge it pleasant
+ But whyle they to clym vp haue pleasour and desyre
+ Theyr fete them faylyth so fall they in the myre
+
+ Promote a yeman, make hym a gentyl man
+ And make a Baylyf of a Butchers son
+ Make of a Squyer knyght, yet wyll they if they can
+ Coueyt in theyr myndes hyer promosyon
+ And many in the worlde haue this condicion
+ In hope of honour by treason to conspyre
+ But ofte they slyde, and so fall in the myre
+
+ Suche lokys so hye that they forget theyr fete
+ On fortunes whele whiche turneth as a ball
+ They seke degrees for theyr small myght vnmete
+ Theyr folysshe hertis and blynde se nat theyr fall
+ Some folys purpose to haue a rowme Royall
+ Or clym by fortunes whele to an empyre
+ The whele than turneth lyuynge them in the myre
+
+ O blynde man say what is thyne intent
+ To worldly honoures so greatly to entende
+ Or here to make the hye ryche and excellent
+ Syns that so shortly thy lyfe must haue an ende
+ None is so worthy, nor can so hye ascende
+ Nor nought is so sure if thou the trouth enquyre
+ But that it may doute to fall downe to the myre
+
+ There is no lorde Duke kynge nor other estate
+ But dye they must, and from this wolde go
+ All worldly thynges whiche god hath here create
+ Shall nat ay byde, but haue an ende also
+ What mortall man hath ben promotyd so:
+ In worldly welthe or vncertayne dignyte
+ That euer of lyfe had houre of certaynte
+
+ In stormy wyndes lowest trees ar most sure
+ And howsys surest whiche ar nat byldyd hye
+ Where as hye byldynges may no tempest endure
+ Without they be foundyd sure and stedfastly
+ So gretest men haue moste fere and ieopardy
+ Better is pouertye though it be harde to bere
+ Than is a hye degre in ieopardy and fere,
+
+ The hyllys ar hye, the valeys ar but lowe
+ In valeys is come the hyllys ar barayne
+ On hyest places most gras doth nat ay growe
+ A mery thynge is mesure and easy to sustayne
+ The hyest in great fere, the lowest lyue in payne
+ Yet better ly on grounde, hauynge no name at all
+ Than hye on a Clyf ferynge alway to fall
+
+ Thus as me thynke it is no thynge lawdable
+ On fortunes whele, for one to clym to hye
+ Syns the swyft cours therof is so vnstable
+ And all must we leue whan we depart and dye
+ Of our short lyfe haue we no certayntye
+ For lachesys (whan that thou hast lefte drede)
+ Of thy lyue dayes shall shortly breke the threde.
+
+ Atropos is egall to pore man and estate
+ Defar wyll nat deth by prayer ne request
+ No mortall man may his furour mytygate.
+ Nor of hym haue one day longer here to rest:
+ Content the with measure (therfore) for it is best
+ Coueyt nat to moche in honour to excell
+ It is a fowle fall to fall from erth to hell
+
+ Unstable fortune exalteth some a loft
+ To this intent, them to brynge to an yll ende
+ For who that hye clymmeth his fall can nat be soft
+ If that mysfortune constrayne hym to dyscende
+ Though Julius Cesar his lordshyp dyd extende
+ Ouer all the worlde: yet fortune at the last.
+ From lyfe and lordshyp hym wretchydly dyd cast
+
+ This hath ben sene, is sene, and euer shall
+ That most peryll is in hyest dignyte
+ Howe many estatis, howe many men Royall.
+ Hath fortune dryuyn downe into aduersyte
+ Rede dyuers cronycles, and thou shall playnly se
+ That many thousandes hath endyd in doloure
+ By theyr immoderate mynde to honoure
+
+ Ouer rede Bochas and than shalt thou se playne
+ The fall of prynces wryten ryght compendeously
+ There shalt thou se what punysshement and payne
+ Haue to them fallen, somtyme by theyr foly
+ And oft is moche preuy hatered and enuy
+ Had agaynst lordes of the rude comonte
+ Where euer they go: they lyue in ieopardye
+
+ Ay dowtynge deth by cursed gyle and treason
+ Eche thynge mysdemynge, ferynge to be opprest
+ By some mysfortune, with venym or with poyson.
+ Thus in great honour is neyther ioy nor rest
+ But thought and fere, ye whyle the lyfe doth lest
+ Thus who that procuryth great honour to attayne
+ Procuryth with all, enuy, peryll, fere and payne
+
+ A lorde or state whom many men doth drede
+ With loueles fere, and fayned countenaunce
+ Unto hym selfe ought wysely to take hede
+ And them to fere, if he wyll voyde myschaunce
+ For why a comonty is of suche ignoraunce
+ And so enuyous, that both erly and late
+ They muse to destroy hym whom, they fere and hate
+
+ A man promotyd vnto hye dygnyte
+ Shall haue loue shewyd hym by adulacion
+ But no true loue nouther faythfull amyte.
+ Good fame nor name, ne commendacion
+ Ye though he be worthy great exaltacion
+ Pytefull louynge and full of equyte
+ Yet harde is to please a folysshe comonte
+
+ Therfore me thynke of all thynge it is best
+ Man to be pleased and content with his degre
+ For why in mesure, is suerty eas and rest
+ And ay moste peryll in hyest dignyte
+ Fortune is full of changes and mutabylyte
+ Trust nat therto, therby comyth do gode
+ But nowe hye nowe lowe, vnstable as a flode
+
+ALEXANDER BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Labour nat man with to moche besy cure
+ To clymme to hye lyst thou by fortune fall
+ For certaynly, that man slepyth nat sure
+ That lyeth lows vpon a narowe wall
+ Better somtyme to serue, than for to gouerne all
+ For whan the Net is throwen into the se
+ The great fysshe ar taken and the pryncipall
+ Where as the small escapyth quyte and fre
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that be diseasyd and seke and
+ar impacient and inobedyent to the
+Phesycyan.
+
+[Illustration: If one be vexed with sore infirmyte
+Within his body felynge dyseas and payne
+And wyll nat gladly with perfyte mynde agre
+To a wyse Phesycian that wolde hym hele agayne
+He is a fole, and shall his foly sore complayne
+And if that he by his selfe wyll do sterue
+It is but well: syns he it doth deserue.]
+
+ He that is feble with sekenes outher wounde
+ Wherwith he feleth hym selfe so kept in payne
+ That dye he muste but if remedy be founde
+ He is a fole, if that he haue dysdayne
+ Of wyse Phesycyans: and medecines souerayne
+ And wyll nat sue theyr counsell and aduysement
+ Wherby he myght haue helth and short amendement
+
+ Thoughe the Phesycyan (of his lyfe) hym assure
+ So he be ruled, and vnto his mynde agre
+ The pacyent yet kepyth no dyete nor mesure
+ In mete nor drynke, and wyll nat gouerned be
+ But foloweth Ryot and all superfluyte
+ Receyuynge colde water in stede of ale or wyne
+ Agaynst read and counsell of crafty medycyne
+
+ What mete or drynke that is most contagious
+ And most infectyf to his sekenes or dyseas
+ And to hym forbyden, as moste contrarious
+ Unto his sekenes. That namely doth hym pleas
+ But that thynge that myght hym helpe and greatly eas
+ He hatyth moste, and wyll none receyue at all.
+ Tyll this small sore, at the last become mortall
+
+ Suche wyll no counsell ensue, nor mesure haue
+ Nor temper theym selfe in lesse nor yet in more.
+ Tyll theyr yll gouernaunce brynge them to theyr graue
+ Retournynge into grounde lyke as they were before
+ But who that soone wolde, be helyd of his sore
+ Whan it is newe ought to fynde remedy.
+ For in olde sorys is greatest ieopardy
+
+ A small sparcle often tyme doth augment
+ It selfe: and groweth to flames peryllous
+ Right so small wellys whiche semeth to be spent
+ With lytell sprynges and Ryuers, ofte so growys
+ Unto great waters, depe and ieopadous.
+ So a small sore augmentyth, styll preuely
+ By lytell and lytell for lacke of remedy
+
+ A small diseas whiche is ynoughe durable
+ At the begynnynge, for lacke of medycyne
+ At longe contynuaunce becomyth incurable
+ The paynfull pacyent bryngynge vnto ruyne
+ Wherfore who wyll to his owne helth enclyne
+ And soone be helyd of yll without all tary
+ To the Phesician ought nat to be contrary
+
+ Obstynat frowarde or inobedyent
+ Ought he nat be, but with a pacyent mynde
+ Shewe all his soris truly playne and euydent
+ To the Phesician if he wyll socour fynde.
+ And thoughe his saluys in paynes hym sore bynde.
+ Let nat for that, but after his wyll the gyde
+ Better a shorte payne, than that doth longe abyde
+
+ No sore can be releuyd without payne.
+ Forsake nat the short, the longe payne to eschewe
+ To the Phesycian we ought in worde be playne
+ And shewe hym our sore, whether it be olde or newe
+ For in thy wordes if that thou be nat trewe
+ Or kepe ought close, thou dysceyuest be thou sure
+ Thy selfe. and nat hym that of the hath the cure.
+
+ In lyke fourme who comyth vnto confessyon
+ There to declare howe he his lyfe hath spent
+ And shewyth nat his synne lyke wyse as he hath done
+ Hymself he disceyuyth, as blynde of his entent.
+ Thus many one endureth infernall tourment
+ With wo contynuall and payne for euermore
+ For kepynge secrete there, of his goostly sore.
+
+ Thus who that is payned in any malady
+ Bodely or gostly, ought nat to be callyd wyse
+ To the Phesycian without that he aply.
+ And his preceptis hant kepe and exercyse
+ But now olde wytches dare boldly interpryse
+ To intromyt to hele all infyrmyte
+ And many them byleue, whiche sothly is pyte
+
+ Suche wytches of theyr byleue abhomynable
+ On brest or hede of the paynfull pacyent
+ With theyr wytchecraftis shall compasse chat and bable
+ Assurynge hym of helth, and short amendement
+ Than he that is seke fyxith his intent
+ Upon hir errour: to haue helpe of his sore
+ But she hym leuyth wors than he was before
+
+ Poule the apostyll doth boldly say and preue
+ That they whiche to suche wytches wyll assent
+ Ar heretykes, Lolardes and false of theyr byleue
+ Brekynge goddes lawes and commaundement
+ And oft also by profe it apereth euydent
+ That suche as to wytches craftis wyll intende
+ By theyr fals Phesyke come soner to theyr ende
+
+ Theyr body dede, theyr soule in ieopardy
+ By mysbyleue for euer in paynes infernall.
+ Whiche ar rewarde for wretchyd synne and heresy
+ But if thou to thy mynde and reason call
+ And of this wrytynge perceyue the sence morall
+ Whan thou art fallen seke and in dedely syn
+ Seke helpe betyme, and byde nat longe therein
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Thou man or woman, that lyest seke in vyce
+ To goddes vycayrs confesse thy syn holly
+ So shalt thou from thy goostly yll aryse.
+ For thy soule fyndynge helpe and remedy
+ Without leasynge shewe hym thy synne playnly
+ Let nat for shame nor fall nat thereto agayne
+ Better shewe thy sore there to one secretely
+ Than after openly: and byde eternall payne
+
+ Ensewe the counsell of a wyse confessour
+ Take nat colde water in stede of vermayll wyne:
+ For moche swetnes, endure thou a lytell soure
+ Kepe well the dyet and threfolde medicyne
+ Ordayned for synne by spirituall doctryne
+ That is confessyon, the next contrycyon.
+ With satisfaccion these thre, with grace deuyne
+ Ar salues parfyte for all transgressyon
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of ouer open takynges of counsel.
+
+[Illustration: Who that to clerely layeth his net or snare
+Before the byrdes whome he by gyle wolde take
+Them playnly techyth of his gyle to be ware
+And is a fole whether he slepe or wake
+Right so is he (and doth a sauegarde make)
+For his foes them (techynge remedy to fynde)
+Whiche sheweth them by thretenynge the secret of his mynde]
+
+ Who that intendyth by chraft and polycy
+ To take many byrdes, outher small or great
+ And layeth before them to playne and openly
+ His lynes snarys, his lyme twyggis or his net
+ He shall no profyte gayne nor auauntage get
+ For if that he his engynes can nat hyde
+ The byrdes shall be ware, and lyghtly fle asyde
+
+ So he that wyll openly manace and threte
+ With worde and hande, as he wolde sle adowne ryght
+ Is oft scant abyll a symple hounde to bete.
+ For in his worde is all his force and myght
+ And he that alway thretenyth for to fyght.
+ Oft at the profe is skantly worth a hen
+ For greattest crakers ar nat ay boldest men
+
+ Who that agaynst his ennemy wolde fyght
+ And gyueth hym before wepyn and armour.
+ Agaynst hym selfe to encreas his foes myght
+ Suche one hath reason and wyt of smal valour.
+ Ryght so that sole is led in lyke errour
+ Which nought can do, of mater les or more
+ Without he crake and boste therof before.
+
+ And also suche bosters and crakers comonly
+ Whiche doth theyr mynde in hasty wordes declare
+ Of other men ar lytell or nought set by
+ And by theyr wordes, full often yll they fare
+ A man also may ryght easely be ware
+ Of folys whiche thus theyr counsell out expres
+ Whose thretenyngs to theyr foes is armour and harnes
+
+ But hym call I wyse and crafty of counsell
+ Whiche kepeth close the secretis of his mynde
+ And to no man wyll them disclose nor tell
+ To man nor woman, ennemy nor yet frynde
+ But do his purpose whan he best tyme can fynde
+ Without worde spekynge, and so may his intent
+ Best come to ende, his foo, beynge inprouydent
+
+ And specially no man ought to be large
+ Of wordes nor shewe his counsell openly
+ In thynges weyghty, of peryll and great charge
+ Consernynge a royallue, or helth of his body
+ For many ar falsly disceyued fynally
+ By lewde tale berers whiche seke the way to fynde
+ To knowe the preuy counsell of theyr lordes mynde
+
+ They fawne and flater to knowe his pryuetee
+ But they forsoth, that wolde knowe thynges newe
+ For the moste part of this condicion be
+ No thynge to kepe, but lyghtly it to shewe.
+ Thus may the saynge of Salomon be fonde true.
+ Whiche sayth that he is wyse, and lyueth happely
+ Whiche to hym selfe kepyth his counsell secretely
+
+ I fynde foure thynges whiche by meanes can
+ Be kept close, in secrete, one longe in preuetee
+ The firste is the counsell of a wytles man
+ The seconde a Cyte, whiche byldyd is a bye
+ Upon a mountayne, the thyrde we often se
+ That to hyde his dedes a louer hath no skyll
+ The fourth is strawe or fethers on a wyndy hyll
+
+ A pore mannys dedys may soone be kept close
+ His name is hyd, and right so is his dede.
+ A ryche mannys dede may no man hyde nor glose
+ It fleeth farthest, all men of it take hede
+ So that yll fame whome all men ought to drede
+ In fleynge about hir myght doth multyply
+ Augmentynge to his lynage shame and vylany
+
+ Therfore who that intendyth to be wyse
+ Ware and crafty, auoydynge all inconuenyence
+ To shewe his counsell ought nat to interpryse
+ But do his mynde, kepynge alway sylence
+ In seruauntis is small trust or confydence
+ He that is nowe thy frende may after be thy fo
+ Warne nat thy ennemy of that that thou wylt do
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ O ye that ar put to wronge and Iniury
+ If ye intende for to yelde the same agayne
+ It is great foly to warne your ennemye
+ Or hym to threten with bostynge wordes vayne.
+ For oft is sayde, and true it is certayne
+ That they that wyll lyue in quyetnes and rest
+ Must here and se and hasty wordes refrayne
+ All styll with fewe wordes do that they thynke best
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folys that can nat beware by the mysfortune
+and example of others damage.
+
+[Illustration: Here we expresse, the errour and blyndnes
+Of them that se others aduersyte
+Theyr wofull fall the ruyne and dystres.
+Yet sue they the same, and ware they wyll nat be
+Though they by example the payne of other se
+Yet leue they nat: thus may they clayme a place
+Within my Nauy, as folys voyde of grace]
+
+ We dayly se the mysfortune and damage
+ And often fallys, to pouerte and payne
+ Whiche folys suffer for theyr synne and outrage
+ Some drowned, some maymed, some other wyse slayne
+ Yet this example can nat cause vs refrayne
+ Our wretchyd lyfe, and seke for remedy
+ We marke no thynge anothers ieopardy.
+
+ We se the mockynge scorne and derysyon
+ That folys hath ofte tyme whan they offende
+ We se theyr losse, theyr shame and theyr confusion
+ Howe be it all this can cause vs to amende
+ We can no thynge and to nought we intende
+ So many folys I fynde that playne I thynke
+ Theyr weyghty charge shall cause my shyp to synke
+
+ Suche ar despysyd of men discrete and wyse
+ Ye and more ouer these folys ar so blynde
+ That echone of them the other doth despyse
+ With sharp rebukes, wordes lewde and vnkynde
+ Yet in theyr lyfe no difference may we fynde
+ And though they haue sene a thousande brough to shame
+ For one sore vyce: yet lyue they in the same
+
+ The example of other can nat theyr myndes moue
+ Theyr wyttis ar blynde theyr foly is the cause
+ Alas mad folys why do ye vyce thus loue
+ Rennynge ay to deth without all rest or pause
+ Alas, at the last retourne to christis lawes
+ Be ware, whan ye other se taken in the snare
+ Let anothers peryll cause you to be ware
+
+ Ye do nat so, alas it is great shame
+ Your synne hath quenchyd your grace and gostly lyght
+ One blynde man another doth chyde and blame
+ And yet both stomble, nat goynge euyn or right
+ A blynde man hym ledyth that also hath no syght
+ So both in the dyche fallyth in suche a wyse
+ That one can nat helpe, the other agayne to ryse
+
+ One crab blamys another for hir bacwarde pace
+ And yet the blamer sothly can none other do
+ But both two ar in theyr goynge in lyke case
+ The one goeth bocwarde, the other doth also
+ Many of these folys after that maner go
+ But who that of his moders doctryne hath disdayne:
+ Shall by his stepdame endure wo care and payne
+
+ And perchaunce after abyde the correccyon
+ Of the sayde stepdame, in place of punysshement.
+ For his synne, sufferynge hir vniust subieccien
+ And who that nat foloweth the commaundement
+ Of his fader beynge to hym obedyent
+ May fortune after in hunger thyrst ond colde
+ Obey that stranger, whom he nat gladly wolde
+
+ We fynde Hystories wryten longe and ample
+ In dyuers bokes of great auctoryte
+ The hole Bybyll sheweth to vs example
+ Howe they were punysshed that lyuyd in cruelte
+ I fynde also wryten in bokes of Poetrye
+ Howe that Pheton was brent with the lyghtnynge
+ For his presumpcion, agaynst a myghty kynge
+
+ We haue example also by Icarus
+ Whiche contrary vnto the commaundement
+ Of his crafty father named Dedalus
+ By fleynge to hye his wynges and fethers brent
+ And so descendyd and in the se was drent
+ Thus these two endynge by theyr lewdnes in care
+ By theyr example sholde cause vs to beware
+
+ We dayly se before our syght and our presence
+ What mysauenture to many one doth fall
+ And that worthely for theyr synne and offence
+ Yet ar we blynde, and ar nat ware at all
+ But in our synnes lyue vnto them egall
+ And where by synne we se one come to shame
+ We wyllyngly (alas) ensue the same
+
+ Therfore who sethe a mad fole come to wo
+ Or fall in peryll for lacke of a good gyde
+ By another way ought craftely to go
+ And (by anothers yll) for his helthe to prouyde
+ The fox was ware, and peryll set asyde
+ And wolde nat enter into the caue, for playne
+ Of bestis that entred sawe he none come agayne
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY
+
+ Lerne man, lerne of bestes to be ware
+ Of others peryll, by theyr enormyte
+ For if one byrde be onys tane in a snare
+ The other auoyde as fast as they may flee
+ A fysshe byrde or beste that hath in peryll be
+ Of net hoke or snare, if that they may escape.
+ Wyll after euer beware, but blynde man wyll nat se
+ His owne destruccion, but after it doth gape
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that forceth or careth for the
+bacbytynge of lewde people.
+
+[Illustration: Whether that a bell be hangyd or lye on grounde
+If vnto the same a clapper lacke or fayle
+The bell shall make but sympyll noyse or sounde
+Though thou in it do hange a Foxys tayle
+Right so backbyters that vse on men to rayle
+Can nat greatly hurt them that lyue rightwysly
+Wherfore it is foly theyr babblynge to set by.]
+
+ Who that within this worlde wolde rest and lyue
+ In eas of mynde, peas and tranquyllyte
+ Must nat his mynde set, nor his erys gyue
+ To the vayne talys, of the rude comonte
+ And though some people of suche condicion be
+ Oft to dyffame good people true and Just
+ Let them nought care, for byde it nede they must
+
+ Let no man care for the lewde hyssynges
+ And yll soundynges of this vnhappy rage
+ It is great foly to set by the lesynges
+ Of cursyde tunges syns none can them asswage
+ For who in this worlde wyll come to auautage
+ Hym selfe exaltynge to worshyp and honoure
+ Shall fynde the swetnes mengled with the sowre
+
+ And he that wyll of his dygnyte be sure
+ Or sympyll lyuynge what so euer it be
+ Right greuous chargis somtymes must endure
+ And with his iyen often beholde and se
+ Suche thynges wherwith his mynde can not agre
+ And he that wyll with the worlde haue to do
+ Must suffer suche trouble as belongeth therto
+
+ Yet some haue pytched theyr tentis stedfastly
+ Upon sure grounde, auoyde of all this payne
+ Despysynge the worldes wantonnes and foly
+ For in the same is nought sure nor certayne
+ Nought se we tranquyll in these wawes mundayne
+ We se no loue, lawe, fydelyte, nor trust
+ But nowe up hye, and nowe lowe in the dust
+
+ To auoyde the worlde with his foly and stryfe
+ Many hath left londes townes and ryches
+ And yll company lyuynge solytary lyfe
+ Alone in desert and in wyldernes
+ Ye and that: men of moste wyt and worthynes
+ Whiche by that meane dyd best of all eschewe
+ All worldly sclaunder and lyuyd in vertue
+
+ He that intendeth to lyue a rightwyse lyfe
+ And so procedeth in maners and good dede
+ Of worldly sclaunder, complaynt, hatered, and stryfe
+ And all yll wyll, he ought nat to take hede
+ For he that is iuste ought no thynge for to drede
+ A sclaundrynge tonge, ye, be it neuer so wode
+ For suche lewde tonges can none hurte that ar gode.
+
+ Lyue well and wysely, than let men chat theyr fyll
+ Wordes ar but wynde, and though it oft so fall
+ That of lewde wordes comyth great hurte and yll
+ Yet byde the ende, that onely prouyth all
+ If thou canst suffer truste well that thou shall
+ Ouercome thyne ennemyes better by pacience
+ Than by hye wordes rygour or vyolence
+
+ If poetis that somtyme vyce blamyd and discommendyd
+ And holy Prophetis whiche also dyd the same
+ To suche vayne and mortall wordes had intendyd
+ They sholde nat haue durst the peoples vyce to blame
+ So sholde they haue lost their honour and good name
+ Theyr fame and meryt, but nowe they haue nat so
+ But spred theyr fame, whiche neuer away shall go
+
+ Forsoth none lyueth within the worlde wyde
+ Suche meke so holy, so wyse or pacyent
+ Whiche can hym selfe at euery tyme so gyde
+ To please eche fole, for none can some content
+ Forsoth he myght be named excellent
+ Happy and blessyd and lyue in welth and eas
+ Whiche euery man cowde serue content and pleas
+
+ But suche is none, and he that wyll assay
+ For to content eche folysshe mannes mynde
+ Must brake his slepe and stody nyght and day
+ And yet alway some fole shall be behynde
+ Ye if one lyue well, yet wyll they somwhat fynde
+ Behynde his backe hym to sclaunder and diffame
+ For beggers and bawdes therin haue all theyr game
+
+ For whether thou dwell in Est west north or south
+ Of suche dryuels euer shalt thou fynde plente
+ One must haue moche mele, to stoppe eche mannys mouth
+ Sclander is the cunnynge of all the comonte
+ And in the same suche ay moste besy be
+ Whiche lyue them selfe in shame and vylany
+ Euen nowe they speke repentynge by and by
+
+ Thus all the cunnynge and stody dilygent.
+ Of people vnthryfty is alway to despyse
+ And diffame other whiche ar but innocent
+ Wherfore let suche as ar discrete and wyse
+ Nought set by them that lesyngys doth deuyse
+ Nor theyr vayne foly: for he that doth certayne
+ Is but, a fole. and euer shall lyue in payne.
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Trouble nat thy selfe (thou man) where is no nede
+ And arme thou thy selfe with goodly pacyence
+ Be sure it is great foly to take hede
+ Unto backbytynge syns that no resystence
+ May be founde to withstande his violence
+ And take thou this one thynge for thy comfort
+ That none wyse, or good, wyll commyt this offence
+ But all ar caytyffes, that ar of this lewde sort.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of mockers, and scorners, and
+false accusers.
+
+[Illustration: Yet ar mo Folys whiche mocke and scorneth fast
+Suche as them shewyth wysdome and doctryne
+And at theyr hedes (vngoodly) stonys cast
+In mynde disdaynynge to wysdome to enclyne
+But gladly they ensue the discyplyne
+Of folysshe mockers, let wyse men them eschewe
+For no correccion can brynge them to vertue]
+
+ O Hertles folys, haste here to our doctryne
+ Leue of the wayes of your enormyte
+ Enforce you to my preceptis to enclyne
+ For here shall I shewe you good and veryte
+ Enclyne, and ye fynde shall great prosperyte
+ Ensuynge the doctryne of our faders olde
+ And godly lawes in valour worth great golde
+
+ Who that wyll folowe the graces manyfolde
+ Whiche ar in vertue, shall fynde auauncement
+ Wherfore ye folys that in your syn ar bolde
+ Ensue ye wysedome and leue your lewde intent
+ Wysdome is the way of men most excellent
+ Therfore haue done, and shortly spede your pace
+ To quaynt your selfe and company with grace.
+
+ Lerne what is vertue, therin is great solace
+ Lerne what is trouth sadnes and prudence
+ Let grutche be gone, and grauyte purchace
+ Forsake your foly and inconuenyence
+ Cesse to be folys, and ay to sue offence
+ Folowe ye vertue, chefe rote of godlynes
+ For it and wysdome is grounde of clenlynes
+
+ Wysedome and vertue two thynges ar doutles
+ Whiche man endueth with honour specyall
+ But suche hertis as slepe in folysshnes
+ Knoweth no thynge, and wyll nought knowe at all
+ But in this lytell barge in pryncypall
+ All folysshe mockers I purpos to repreue
+ Clawe he his backe that felyth ytche or greue
+
+ Mockers and scorners that ar harde of byleue
+ With a rugh combe here wyll I clawe and grate
+ To proue if they wyll from theyr vyce remeue
+ And leue theyr foly whiche causeth great debate
+ Suche caytyfs spare neyther pore man nor estate
+ And where theyr selfe ar moste worthy of dyrysion
+ Other men to scorne is all theyr moste condicion
+
+ Yet ar mo folys of this abusion
+ Whiche of wyse men despyseth the doctryne
+ With mowes, mockes, scorne, and collusyon
+ Rewardynge rebukes, for theyr good disciplyne
+ Shewe to suche wysdome, yet shall they nat enclyne
+ Unto the same, but set no thynge therby
+ But mocke thy doctryne, styll or openly
+
+ So in the worlde it apereth comonly
+ That who that wyll a Fole rebuke or blame
+ A mocke or mowe shall he haue by and by
+ Thus in derysyon, haue folys theyr speciall game
+ Correct a wyse man, that wolde eschewe yll name
+ And fayne wolde lerne, and his lewde lyfe amende
+ And to thy wordes he gladly shall intende
+
+ If by mysfortune a rightwyse man offende
+ He gladly suffreth a iuste correccion
+ And hym that hym techyth taketh for his frende
+ Hym selfe puttynge mekely vnto subieccion
+ Folowynge his preceptis and good dyreccion
+ But if that one a Fole rebuke or blame
+ He shall his techer, hate, sclaunder, and dyffame
+
+ Howbeit his wordes, oft turne to his owne shame
+ And his owne dartis retourne to hym agayne
+ And so is he sore woundyd with the same
+ And in wo endyth, great mysery and payne
+ It also prouyd full often is certayne
+ That they that on mockes alway theyr myndes cast
+ Shall of all other be mocked at the last
+
+ He that goeth right, stedfast sure and fast
+ May hym well mocke that goth haltynge and lame
+ And he that is whyte may well his scornes cast
+ Agaynst a man of ynde, but no man ought to blame
+ Anothers vyce whyle he vsyth the same
+ But who that of synne is clene in dede and thought
+ May hym well scorne whose lyuynge is starke nought
+
+ The scornes of Naball full dere sholde haue ben bought
+ If Abigayll his wyfe discrete and sage
+ Had nat by kyndnes right crafty meanes sought
+ The wrath of Dauyd to temper and asswage
+ Hath nat two berys in theyr fury and rage
+ Two and fourty Children rent and torne
+ For they the Prophete Helyseus dyd scorne
+
+ So myght they curse the tyme that they were borne
+ For theyr mockynge of this Prophete dyuyne
+ So many other of this sorte often mowrne
+ For theyr lewde mockes, and fall in to ruyne
+ Thus is it foly for wyse men to enclyne
+ To this lewde flocke of Folys for se thou shall
+ Them moste scornynge that ar most bad of all
+
+THENUOY OF BARCLY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye mockynge Folys that in scorne set your ioy
+ Proudly dyspysynge goddes punycion
+ Take ye example by Cham the son of Noy
+ Whiche laughyd his Father vnto derysyon
+ Whiche hym, after, cursyd for his transgressyon
+ And made hym seruaunt to all his lyne and stocke
+ So shall ye Caytyfs at the conclusyon
+ Syns ye ar nought, and other scorne and mocke
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that dyspyse euerlastynge ioye,
+and settyth thynges transytory before
+thynges eternall and euerlastynge.
+
+[Illustration: He is a foule that weyeth in one balaunce
+The heuen and erth to knowe the heuyest
+And by his foly and cursed ignoraunce
+He thynketh that this wretchyd erth is best
+And thoughe that here be neyther ioy nor rest
+Yet had some leuer here styll to remayne
+Than to depart to heuen voyde of al payne]
+
+ My hande is wery: fayne wolde I rest a space
+ But folys comyth to my shyp so besely
+ That to haue rest: they wyll graunt me no grace
+ That nede I must theyr lewdnes notefy
+ But to recorde this folysshe company
+ They ar suche that this worlde so greatly loue
+ That they despyse the heuenly Royalme aboue
+
+ They often thynke in theyr mynde preuely
+ And by them selfe in this wyse oft they say
+ O glorious lorde raynynge eternally
+ Graunt me thy grace that I may lyue alway
+ To se of this worlde the extreme ende and day
+ This is my wyll and synguler askynge
+ As for thy royalme, forsoth I set no thynge
+
+ But yet this fole doth nat desyre this tyme
+ Of so longe lyfe, and yeres alway newe
+ To clens his mynde from all synfull cryme
+ Nor for the loue of goodnes or vertue
+ But rather that he his pleasour may ensue
+ And with his maters and felawes suche as he
+ To folowe ryot, delytys and enormyte.
+
+ To lyue in wantonnes and blyndnes lascyuyte
+ In pryde in Lechery andin couetyse
+ Suche sytteth theyr myndes and theyr felycyte
+ Not ferynge hell whiche is rewarde of vyce.
+ Those dredefull dennys, in a right ferefull wyse
+ With fyres flamynge, and manyfolde tourment
+ Can nat suche folys, theyr synnes cause to stent
+
+ O sleuthfull fole say why doste nat thou call
+ Unto thy mynde that this worldes wretchydnes
+ Is full of sorowe moche more bytter than gall
+ Uoyde of all ioy, all pleasour and swetnes
+ Why settest thou so moche by frayle delyciousnes
+ On vayne pleasours, whiche shall sothly decay
+ Lyke as the sone meltyth the snowe away
+
+ Man note my wordes and gyue to them credence
+ I say that pleasours and also ioyes mundayne
+ As it apereth playne by good euydence
+ Ar fylled with sorowe bytternes and payne
+ Without all rest quyete or certayne
+ And yet alas the worlde so doth men blynde
+ That it they loue and caste heuen out of mynde
+
+ Wherfore it hapneth full often as I fynde
+ That suche as foloweth shamefull wantonnes
+ Ungoodly luste, and statelynes of mynde
+ Shall ofte perceyue great shame and wretchydnes
+ And them most suffer, with great mundayne distres.
+ And better charges, and after must nede endure
+ Cruell deth whiche ende is of euery creature
+
+ The worlde shall passe: ye and all ioy mundayne
+ Without all doute at last shall haue an ende
+ And euery thynge outher fruytfull or barayne
+ Shall to the grounde outher firste or last discende
+ We se also that none can hym defende
+ From dethes dartis. and for conclusyon.
+ We dayly se many mennys confusyon.
+
+ We dayly se the fallys innumerable
+ And greuous deth aswell of youth as age
+ Thus is this wretchyd worlde moche vnstable
+ Wherfore me thynke it is a great outrage
+ To trust therto, or for an vnsure stage
+ Or hye place of welth or worldly honour
+ The presence to despyse of our sauyoure
+
+ But without doute the tyme shall come and houre
+ Whan all mankynde shall se hym euydent
+ Some to theyr ioy, some to wo and doloure
+ None shall eskhape that rightwyse iugement.
+ But eche be rewardyd as he his tyme hath spent
+ So they that vertuously haue lyuyd here
+ Despysynge this worlde shall gladly there apere
+
+ But they that here haue led theyr lyfe in vyce
+ For to depart ar wo in herte and mynde
+ And ferefull to byde that sentence of iustyce
+ Syns of theyr synne excuse they can none fynde
+ But to conclude forsoth that fole is blynde
+ That for worldly welth, from god wolde hym deuyde
+ And for vayne clay, the hye heuyn set a syde
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ O blynde man whiche hast thy moste felycyte
+ On worldly thinges, alas make clere thy mynde
+ What fyndest thou here, but great aduersyte
+ Wylt thou for it leue y^t heuenly ioy behynde
+ And where thou myght euerlastynge ryches fynde
+ Where as is helth, endles lyfe and all goodnes
+ Wylt thou forsake it for worldly wretchydnes
+
+ Wylt thou heuyn compare with his paynfull lyfe
+ There on to thynke thou art vnwyse certayne
+ There is concorde, here is no thynge but stryfe
+ There is all rest, and here is care and payne
+ There is true loue: here is scorne and disdayne
+ There is all goodnes, here all yll and offence
+ Nowe chuse the best: here is great difference
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that make noyses rehersynges of
+talys and do other thynges vnlaufull
+and dishonest in y^e chirche of god.
+
+[Illustration: A fole is he, and hath no mynde deuoute
+And gyueth occasyon to men on hym to rayle.
+Whiche goth in the chirche, his houndes hym aboute
+Some rennynge, some fast tyed to his tayle
+A hawke on his fyst suche one withouten fayle
+Better were to be thens, for by his dyn and cry
+He troublyth them that wolde pray deuoutly:]
+
+ Yet of mo folys fynde I a great nomber
+ Whiche thynke that it is no shame nor vylany
+ Within the chirche, the seruyce to encomber
+ With theyr lewde barkynge roundynge dyn and cry
+ And whyle good people ar praynge stedfastly
+ Theyr herte to good, with meke mynde and deuout
+ Suche folys them let, with theyr mad noyse and shout
+
+ And whyle the prestis also them exercyse.
+ In matyns masse sermon or prechynge dyuyne
+ Or other due thynges that longe to theyr seruyce.
+ Techynge the people to vertue to enclyne
+ Than these folys as it were rorynge swyne
+ With theyr gettynge and talys of vycyousnes
+ Trouble all suche seruyce, that is sayd, more and les
+
+ In to the churche than comys another sote
+ Without deuocyon gettynge vp and downe
+ Or to be sene, and to showe his gardyd cote
+ Another on his fyst a Sparhauke or fawcon
+ Or els a Cokow, and so wastynge his shone
+ Before the auters he to and fro doth wander
+ With euyn as great deuocyon as a gander
+
+ In comys another his houndes at his tayle
+ With lynes and leshes and other lyke baggage.
+ His dogges barkyth, so that withouten fayle
+ The hole churche is troubled by theyr outrage
+ So innocent youth lernyth the same of age
+ And theyr lewde sounde doth the churche fyll.
+ But in this noyse the good people kepe them styll.
+
+ One tyme the hawkys bellys Jenglyth hye
+ Another tyme they flutter with theyr wynges
+ And nowe the houndes barkynge strykes the skye
+ Nowe sounde theyr fete, and nowe the chaynes rynges
+ They clap with theyr handes, by suche maner thynges
+ They make of the churche, for theyr hawkes a mewe
+ And Canell to theyr dogges, whiche they shall after rewe
+
+ So with suche folys is neyther peas nor rest
+ Unto the holy churche they haue no reuerence
+ But wander about to see who get may best
+ In rybawde wordes pryde and insolence
+ As mad men they fere nat our sauyours presence
+ Hauynge no honour vnto that holy place
+ Wherin is gyuen to man euerlastynge grace
+
+ There ar handlyd pledynges and causes of the lawe
+ There ar made bargayns of dyuers maner thynges
+ Byenges and sellynges scant worth a hawe
+ And there ar for lucre contryued false lesynges
+ And whyle the prest his Masse or matyns synges
+ These folys whiche to the Churche do repayre
+ Ar chattynge and bablynge as it were in a fayre
+
+ Some gygyll and lawghe and some on maydens stare
+ And some on wyues with wanton countenaunce
+ As for the seruyce they haue small force or care
+ But full delyte them in theyr mysgouernaunce
+ Some with theyr slyppers to and fro doth prance
+ Clappynge with their helys in churche and in quere
+ So that good people can nat the seruyce here
+
+ What shall I wryte of maydens and of wyues
+ Of theyr roundynges and vngoodly comonynge
+ Howe one a sclaundre craftely contryues
+ And in the churche therof hath hyr talkynge
+ The other hath therto theyr erys lenynge
+ And than whan they all hath harde forth hir tale
+ With great deuocyon they get them to the ale.
+
+ Thus is the churche defylyd with vylany
+ And in stede of prayer and godly oryson
+ Ar vsyd shamefull bargayns and talys of rybawdry
+ Jettynges and mockynges and great derysyon
+ There fewe ar or none of perfyte deuocion
+ And whan our lorde is consecrate in fourme of brede
+ Therby walkes a knaue, his bonet on his hede
+
+ And whyle those wordes of consecracion
+ Ar sayde of the preste in goddes owne presence
+ Suche caytyfs kepe talys and communycacion
+ Fast by the auter, thynkynge it none offence
+ And where as the angels ar ther with reuerence
+ Laudynge and worshyppynge our holy sauyour
+ These vnkynde caytyfs wyll scantly hym honour
+
+ Alas wherto shall any man complayne
+ For this foly and accostomed furour
+ Syns none of them theyr fautes wyll refrayne
+ But ay procede in this theyr lewde errour
+ And nat withstandynge that Christ our sauyour
+ Hath left vs example, that none sholde mysdo
+ Within the chirche, yet inclyne we nat therto.
+
+ Jhonn the euangelyst doth openly expres.
+ Howe criste our sauyour dyd dryue out and expell
+ From the Temple, suche as vsed there falsnes
+ And all other that therin dyd bye and sell
+ Saynge as it after lyeth in the Gospell
+ Unto the Jues rebuke and great repreues
+ That of goddes house they made a den of theues.
+
+ Remember this man, for why thou dost the same
+ Defylynge goddes Chirche with synne and vanyte
+ Whiche sothly was ordeyned to halowe goddes name
+ And to lawde and worshyp the holy trynyte
+ With deuout harte, loue, and all benygnyte
+ And with all our myght our lorde to magnyfy
+ And than after all the heuenly company
+
+ For this cause hath god the holy chirche ordeyned
+ And nat for rybawde wordes and thynges vayne
+ But by vs chrysten men it is distayned.
+ Moche wors than euer, the Jewes dyd certayne
+ And if our lorde sholde nowe come downe agayne.
+ To dryue out of the churche suche as there do syn
+ Forsoth I thynke, right fewe sholde byde within
+
+THE ENUOY TO THE REDERS.
+
+ O man that bostest thy selfe in cristes name
+ Callynge the christen, se thou thy synne refuse
+ Remember well it is both synne and shame
+ The house of god, thus to defyle and abuse
+ But this one thynge causeth me oft to muse
+ That the false paynyms within theyr Temples be
+ To theyr ydols moche more deuout than we
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that wyllynge and knowyngly
+put them self in ieopardy and peryll.
+
+[Illustration: He is a fole that wyll purchace and desyre
+His owne deth or putteth hym selfe in ieopardy
+Lepynge in a well, or in a flamynge fyre
+And where he myght lyue so dyeth wyllyngly
+Suche suffer theyr destruccyon worthely
+And if that they be drowned outher brent
+It is to late them after to repent.]
+
+ I fynde mo folys yet. whome I shall note
+ Suche ar they whiche pray both day and nyght
+ To god and his sayntes cryeng with open throte
+ O glorious god helpe me by thy great myght
+ That I may clens my herte and clere my syght
+ Wherby all foly and synne may fro me fall
+ But yet this fole it leuyth nat at all
+
+ Suche folys oft pray for theyr amendement
+ Unto our lorde with syghynges sore and depe
+ But yet to synne contynually they assent
+ And after the same often complayne and wepe
+ Than say they playne that god hath had no kepe
+ Unto theyr prayer and taken of it no hede
+ But theyr owne foly is cause of theyr lewde dede
+
+ They se the peryll before theyr faces playne
+ That god hath ordeyned, for foly and for synne
+ They pray for helpe, and yet ar they full fayne
+ After the folys hode alway to ren
+ And besely laboure the same alone to wyn
+ So vnto god for helpe they cry and call
+ But they them selfe wyll helpe no thynge at all
+
+ Than thynke they theyr prayers to god nat acceptable
+ Bycause (anone) they haue nat all theyr wyll
+ And for that god is nat sone agreable
+ To here theyr cry and it graunt and fulfyll
+ These folys in theyr vyce contynue styll
+ And put theyr selfe in wylfull ieopardy
+ And where they myght they fynde no remedy
+
+ But these folys vnstabyll as the wynde
+ Prayeth vnto god and to his sayntis aboue
+ Nat knowynge what may content theyr folysshe mynde
+ Nor whether theyr askynge be for theyr behoue
+ But sothly this dare I both say and proue
+ And it auowe after my sympyll skyll
+ That neuer man shall syn without his wyll
+
+ If that one with his owne wyll doth fall
+ Into a well to assay the ieopardy
+ Whan he is there. if he lowde crye and call
+ Bothe on god and man for helpe and remedy
+ He sekyth that peryll, and dyeth worthely
+ So were it foly to gyue hym corde or trayne
+ Or other engyne to helpe hym vp agayne
+
+ Whan suche folys ar sure vpon the grounde
+ Without all daunger, peryll hurt or fere
+ They lepe in the wel and yet fere to be drowned
+ Empedocles though he right myghty were
+ With suche lyke foly hym selfe so sore dyd dere
+ That knowyngly and with his owne consent
+ Hymself he lost and by fyers fyre was brent
+
+ He lept hedelynge into the flamynge fyre
+ Of a brennynge hyll whiche callyd is Ethnay
+ To knowe the trouth, and nature to enquyre
+ Whether that same flame were very fyre or nay
+ So with his deth the trouth he dyd assay
+ But who that wolde hym drawen out of that hyll
+ Had ben a fole, syns it was his owne wyll
+
+ For why his mynde was blyndyd so certayne
+ That thoughe a man had hym delyuered than
+ The same peryll wolde he haue proued agayne
+ As mad as he forsoth is euery man
+ That is at eas, and hym nat so holde can
+ And also he that putteth hymselfe in drede
+ Or fere and peryll, where as he hath no nede
+
+ So he that prayeth to god that he may get
+ The blysse of heuen, and scape infernall payne
+ He is a fole his herte or mynde to set
+ On frayle ryches, welth and ioy mundayne
+ On stedfast fortune, on lucre or on gayne
+ For certaynly these thynges of worldly welth
+ Oft man deuydeth away from heuenly helth
+
+ Thus he that prayeth for welth or for ryches
+ Or in this worlde hym selfe to magnyfy
+ Prayeth for his hurt and cause of viciousnes
+ For worldly welth doth vyce oft multyply
+ So seke men theyr owne peryll wyllyngly
+ But who that prayeth, and can nat as he ought
+ He bloweth in the wynde, and shall nat haue his thought
+
+ And who that to honour couetyse to ascende
+ Or to lyue in damnable voluptuosyte
+ He seketh his peryll for if that he descende
+ From welth and worshyp to payne and pouerte
+ It is but worthy, and let hym pacyent be
+ It to endure with mynde demure and meke
+ He is worthy sorowe that wyll it alway seke
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye that fayne wolde escape all ieopardy
+ Auoyde suche thynges the whiche myght cause the same
+ To proue a peryll, is foly certaynly
+ Whether it be done in ernest or in game
+ They that so doth may theyr owne madnes blame
+ For he that is sure, and to a fray wyll ren
+ May fortune come home agayne, nosles or lame
+ And so were it better for to haue byd within
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the way of felycyte and godnes, and of
+the payne to come vnto synners.
+
+[Illustration: Many in this lyfe the cart of syn doth drawe
+By payne and labour, alway right dylygent
+Norysshynge theyr syn agaynst all right and lawe
+And alway lyuynge after one lyke assent
+But whan they ar dede than shall theyr punysshement
+In hell be dowblyd with cartis of whelys foure
+Where as they thought, deth shuld ende theyr laboure]
+
+ God suffreth nat eche vicious fole to knowe
+ The wonders that he made hath on this grounde
+ And dayly worketh. wherfore theyr syn doth growe
+ So that theyr foly them selfe doth confounde
+ And here theyr bodyes to great labours ar bounde
+ Sparynge no peryll for pleasour and for gayne
+ Than after deth haue they euerlastynge payne
+
+ So he that here lyueth in vyce and synne
+ Shall extreme dolour after deth endure
+ Than what auantage is it for man to wyne
+ All orthly tresour, and of hell payne be sure
+ But without dowt that wretchyd creature
+ Whiche goddes lawes wyll nat here holde and kepe
+ Shall after deth haue cause to wayle and wepe
+
+ And suche as here wyll nat knowe theyr sauyour
+ Obseruynge his preceptis and commaundement
+ Whiche god hathe ordeyned to saue vs from erroure
+ And vs commaundyd to kepe with clene intent
+ Ouer all the worlde. as rule moste excellent
+ To lyue godly. and who so euer he be
+ That foloweth in this worlde voluptuosyte
+
+ Or carnall lust ryot or other offence
+ Wastynge his tyme in syn and viciousnes
+ All suche in this worlde, by theyr blynde negligence
+ Drawe styll the cart of greuous besynes.
+ With payne and charge and, whan this wretchydnes
+ Is past and gone, yet after this they shall
+ In hell endure great tourmentis eternall
+
+ There shalt (thou fole) the charet drawe alway
+ With dowble paynes both tedyous and cruell
+ Wherfore thou fole retourne the I the pray.
+ Seke nat the way whiche ledeth vnto hell
+ With his foule dennes, more darke than tunge can tell
+ And thoughe the way be esy streyght and playne
+ The ende is nought, I aduyse the tourne agayne
+
+ The way to hell is greatly occupyed
+ The path is playne, and easy to ouergo
+ The dore ay open no entre is denyed
+ To suche as purpose in mynde to come therto
+ But at the ende therof is care and wo
+ With syghtis odyous and abhomynable
+ Yet in the way ar folkes innumerable
+
+ Thus is no meruayle though this way be playne
+ And greatly worne syns it is hantyd so
+ By dyuers folys whiche haste them to that payne.
+ By way contynuall therto: but none therfro
+ The dredefull dore to them that wyll in go
+ Both day and nyght is open, it doth forsake
+ No folys that wyll theyr iourney thyther take
+
+ But that way that to hye heuen doth lye
+ Is way of grace plesour, and all felycyte
+ In it suche walke as here lyue vertuously
+ And blessyd men, but nat suche as vyciouse be
+ Yet is it narowe, and full of difficulte
+ There is many a harde flynt brere and thorne
+ And no meruayle for it is nat greatly worne
+
+ For why lewde people, whiche is the gretest sort
+ Forsake this way for the payne and hardnes
+ But godly men therin haue chefe consort
+ With all that lyue by grace in ryghtwysnes
+ Suche well consyder that heuyns blessydnes
+ Can nat be gotten by pleasour rest nor eas
+ Wherfore this way can nat suche synners pleas
+
+ God so hath ordeyned that who wyll haue vertue
+ Must it obtayne with payne and dilygence
+ And great labour, whiche many nowe eschewe
+ Without it be to seke synne and offence
+ Fewe seke the way to christis hye presence
+ Therby it hapneth that many a thousande
+ Fast rennyth leftwarde, but fewe on the right hande
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Alas man remembre heuens blyssednes
+ And though the way be harde that lyeth therto
+ Forsoke it nat for all that great sharpnes
+ For at the ende is lyfe and rest also
+ Euerlastynge glory with other ioyes mo
+ But who that taketh the other way certayne
+ Shall fynde at the ende eternall payne and wo
+ Thoughe the way thether be easy streyght and playne
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the yll example of elders gyuyn vnto
+youth.
+
+[Illustration: If that the fader and mother before theyr son
+By anger or malyce brake, platter pot, or pan
+The son in hande shall take some cauderon
+And lerne to breke it if his small power can
+Thus oft tyme chyldren haue cause to curse or ban
+Theyr frendes for suche example of lewdnes
+For soner that they lerne than vertue or goodes]
+
+ Ye aged men rotyd in folysshnes
+ And folysshe parentis lewde of your langage
+ Vnto our shyp swyftly your selfe addres
+ Syns ye be worthy therin to haue a stage
+ Nowe cast I repreues agaynst your outrage
+ Whiche boldly bost you of your vnthryfty lyues
+ Before your maydes, your doughters and your wyues
+
+ Alas the folys of this mad company
+ By theyr example cause great inconuenyence
+ Before theyr children recountynge rybaudry
+ Of suche as they haue had experyence.
+ So gyue they to them example of offence
+ And in that synne wheron they bost and vant
+ They make them perfyte whiche erst were ignorant
+
+ Theyr wordes ar voyde of shame and honestye
+ Theyr lyfe is without mesure and reuerence
+ But yet they thynke that they moste worthy be
+ That moste can tell of this greuous offence
+ Thus all the youth that is in theyr presence
+ Or that doth here theyr vyce and rybawdry
+ Vnto the same with theyr full mynde aply
+
+ Thus theyr yonge children maners lernyth none
+ The wyfe hath occasyon to breke hir chastyte
+ So is the lyfe defyled of them echone
+ And to be playne, we often tymes se
+ That of what maners the folysshe husbondes be
+ Such ar theyr wyues, children and housholde
+ The yonge Cok lerneth to crowe hye of the olde
+
+ A folysshe Father, full hardly shall ensyne
+ His sone to good lyfe or to good gouernaunce
+ For if the father to foly doth enclyne
+ The sone wyll folowe his father in that daunce
+ And if the father vse hasarde or the chaunce
+ Or any prohybyt and vnlawfull game
+ Most comonly the sone wyll do the same
+
+ If that the husbonde be vycious of his lyfe
+ Wastfull or dronken, or vyle in his langage
+ His sonnes doughters, his seruauntes and his wyfe
+ Wyll lerne of hym to passe the same passage
+ And if the husbonde breke his maryage
+ If the wyfe knowe, in mynde she wyll be wroth
+ Without he haue a hode of the same cloth
+
+ An olde prouerbe hath longe agone be sayde
+ That oft the sone in maners lyke wyll be
+ Vnto the Father, and in lyke wyse the mayde
+ Or doughter, vnto the mother wyll agre
+ So if the elders vse enormyte
+ And before theyr children bost them of the same
+ The sone and doughter shall folowe syre and dame
+
+ The monkes thynke it lawfull for to play
+ Whan that the Abbot bryngeth them the dyce
+ Right so the Father, can nought or lytell say
+ Agaynst the sone, nor hym blame or chastyce
+ If he hym selfe be taken in that same vyce
+ Thus lyues the Father in synne withouten shame
+ And after his deth the sone shall do the same
+
+ O wretchyd maners o tyme full of furour
+ And full of foly without all hope to stent
+ Howe longe shall god our lorde and sauyour
+ This synne suffer without greuous punysshement
+ Alas it nowe apereth euydent
+ That the fathers foly synne and great outrage
+ Is left to the sonne as it were herytage
+
+ And no meruayle, for it hath neuer ben seen
+ That of a wolfe a shepe hath be forth brought
+ Or that a calfe or lambe gendred hath been
+ Of a fell tygre: right so if it were sought
+ Ouer all the worlde. a Father that is nought
+ Sholde scant be founde, whiche coude brynge vp his childe
+ With his synne in no maner poynt defylyd
+
+ The yonge crab bacwarde doth crepe or go
+ As doth the olde, none can hir cours redres
+ These yonge children for the moste part also
+ Foloweth theyr fathers synne and his lewdnes
+ But they that lyue in maners of mekenes
+ In honest lyfe, goodnes grace and chastyte
+ May brynge forth children of maners as they be
+
+ I rede howe the Phylosopher Diogenes
+ Sayde by a childe whiche dronken was with wyne
+ That his Father was in that case doutles
+ Whan he it gate, so his hye wyt dyuyne
+ Knewe that the childes maners dyd inclyne
+ Vnto his Fathers, and so was it founde trewe
+ By them whiche well that childes fader knewe
+
+ But though the Father and mother also be nought
+ Without dout this one thynge apereth playne
+ That the childe is suche as it is vp brought
+ And nat lyghtly chaungyd without great charge or payne
+ Therfore let euery man hym selfe refrayne
+ Within his hous from all thynge worthy blame
+ Than shall his children and seruautes do the same
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY.
+
+ Ye that haue children or other great housholde
+ Subdued to your seruyce, and your obedyence
+ Kepe vertuous lyfe, for that is worth great golde
+ And great example to youth to auoyde offence
+ But if ye boost you of synne and neglygence
+ In rybawde wordes, gyue credence to this clause
+ If the herers fall into incouenyence
+ Your lewde example is the chefe grounde and cause
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of bodely pleasour or corporall
+voluptuosyte
+
+[Illustration: Wanton wastfull and vayne voluptuosyte
+Oft blyndeth attysynge vnto inconuenyence
+Many that ar rude, for theyr symplycyte
+And them as shepe sleeth for all theyr innocence
+But other some it kepyth with myght and violence
+As bulles bounde sure to endure great care
+And other as byrdes it tangleth in hir snare]
+
+ Drawe nere ye folys to you I crye and call
+ Whiche ar of grace clene destytute and bare
+ Folowynge your lust and pleasour corporall
+ But for your soule ye take no thought ne care
+ To whome may I this shamefull lust compare
+ Saue to a harlat faynynge, fals and couetous.
+ Of whome comyth shame and bytes venemous
+
+ She syttyth in the strete as past both shame and fere
+ Hir brestes bare to tempt them that passe by
+ Hir face anoyntyd blasynge abrode hir here
+ Or els on hir folysshe front enlaced hye
+ Hir smocke to garnysshyd so hir dysceytfull iye
+ To shamfull lust a thousande doth attyce
+ Of youth whiche erst perchuance knewe nought of vyce
+
+ Hir chamber full of flatery and disceyte
+ Anone is opened the blynde fole entreth in
+ The hoke of deth is hyd vnder the bayte
+ Of folysshe lust pleasour and mortall syn
+ Hir soule she sellyth ryches therby to wyne
+ And what riches: a rewarde sothly full vyle
+ The soules damneth and bodyes doth defyle
+
+ The one departyth, another comys in agayne
+ Without all shame dare she them boldly pray
+ To hir fals pleasours, Thus by hir gyle and trayne
+ This folysshe youth to hir wyll nat denay
+ But vnto hir some lepe both nyght and day
+ Without mesure, rennynge to lese theyr lyfe
+ As ox or shepe vnto the bochers knyfe
+
+ The symple lambe his necke doth out extende
+ Vnto the Bocher his mortall ennemy
+ So doth these folys, sekynge a shamefull ende
+ And theyr owne deth, though they myght fynde remedy
+ O blynde fole I requyre the to aply
+ Vnto my wordes and thou shalt here and se.
+ Howe moche thou oughtest this folysshe lust to fle
+
+ The soule it damneth, and drowneth depe in hell
+ The wyt it wastyth, and confoundeth the mynde
+ It causeth man his londe and good to sell
+ And if that he none other mene can fynde
+ To rob and stele he oft tyme is inclyned
+ Besyde all these this fowle lust is so vyle
+ That with fowle sauour it shall thy body fele
+
+ Thoughe of lewde lust the ioy be short and small
+ And thoughe the pleasour therof be soon ouer past
+ The payne that foloweth it, is eternall
+ With wofull dolour menglyd, that euer shall last
+ Therfore leue of: do nat thy pleasour cast
+ On worldly welth, delyte ioy and pleasour
+ For soon they pas and chaunge at euery hour
+
+ Who that in this wretchyd worlde wyll auoyde
+ Of voluptuousnes the ioyes frayle and vayne
+ And suffre nat hym with them to be acloyde
+ Infect or drownyd, shall for the same certayne
+ Euerlastynge lyfe, and endles ioy obtayne
+ And for his hye tryumphe and dyuyne prudence
+ Haue the fruycyon of goddes hye presence
+
+ But who that wyll his carnall lust ensue
+ Shall here haue shame, and after payne cruell
+ I coude hereof dyuers examples shewe
+ But of right many this one I shall you tell
+ One Sardanapalus all other dyd excell.
+ In carnall lust and so his mynde dyd cast
+ On loue prohybyte, that grace was fro hym past
+
+ The loue of vertue was full out of his mynde
+ So he concludyd to sue dilyciousnes
+ Thynkynge after deth no welth nor ioy to fynde
+ For this is the sentence of the prynce of derknes
+ But good almyghty seynge his vycyousnes
+ His body and soule deuydyd soon in twayne
+ From worldly pleasour vnto infernall payne
+
+ By this hystory to vs it apereth playne
+ That from worldly pleasour and voluptuosyte
+ With all our myght we ought vs to refrayne
+ For thoughe the first of them delycious be
+ Theyr ende is poyson, and of sournes plente
+ Sue wyse men vertue, and set suche lust asyde
+ For they ar folys that in it lyue and byde
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Amende mad men your blynde mysgouernaunce
+ Subdue nat your necke to the captyuyte
+ Of flysshely lust and corporall pleasaunce
+ Nor to blynde Venus with hir lasciuyte
+ (If ye it note) ye dayly here and se
+ The mysfortune of them that it ensue
+ And certaynly no man can saued be
+ By carnall lust, but by godly vertue
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folys that can nat kepe secrete theyr
+owne counsell.
+
+[Illustration: Of other Foles a nomber yet I fynde
+Which by theyr bablynge wordes and langage
+Can nat kepe close the secrete of theyr mynde.
+But all theyr counsel out they shewe at large.
+So that oft therof procedeth great damage.
+As Murder, myschefe, hatered and debate.
+That after they repent. But than it is to late]
+
+ He is a naturall fole and vndiscrete
+ And to hym selfe ingendryth oft great stryfe
+ Whiche can nat hyde his counsell and secrete
+ But by his foly it sheweth to his wyfe
+ And all that he hath done in his hole lyfe
+ Or that to do here after he doth purpose
+ To euery man suche a fole wyll disclose
+
+ The noble Sampson moste excellent of myght
+ And strongest man that euer was get or borne
+ Were nat this foly: sholde nat haue lost his syght
+ Nor had his here, by gyle from his hede ofshorne
+ And of his ennemyes ben laughyd vnto scorne
+ And at the last with herte wrethfull and wo
+ His ennemyes murdred and hym selfe also
+
+ Where as he myght haue lyued in honour
+ If he had kept his secretes in his mynde
+ With his owne wyll he dyed in great dolour.
+ By the fals treason of his lemman vnkynde
+ We may in dyuers mo examples fynde
+ Howe many thousandes haue suffred paynes smart
+ And all for shewynge the secretes of theyr hart
+
+ Amphiaraus a Prynce moste excellent
+ Shortened the dayes of his pore doutfull lyfe
+ For shewynge the preuetees of his intent
+ By his owne foly to his disceytfull wyfe
+ And thoughe he longe escaped had the stryfe
+ And war of Thebes whiche he dyd longe defende
+ Yet at the leest his tunge was his owne ende
+
+ Thus olde storyes doth oft recorde and tell
+ By theyr examples whiche they vnto vs gyue
+ That wymen ar no kepars of councell
+ It goeth through them as water trough a syue
+ Wherfore let them that quyetly wolde lyue
+ No more of theyr counsell to any woman showe
+ Than that they wolde that euery man dyd knowe
+
+ Let euery man that is discrete and sage
+ Of suche folys with all wysdome be ware
+ Whiche shewe theyr counsell by theyr hasty langage.
+ To euery man without all thought and care
+ For they of wysdome and reason ar but bare
+ And who that his owne secrete wyll forth tell
+ Howe sholde he hyde another mannes counsell
+
+ Yet other be whiche by theyr flaterynge trayne
+ Labour to knowe euery mannys pryuete
+ And by and by to shewe it forth agayne
+ Of them be ware for they disceyfull be.
+ Some other bost them of theyr felycyte
+ Bablynge that they haue theyr wyll in euery thynge
+ As prosperous welth loue, ryches and cunnynge
+
+ And of great dedes done both on see and londe
+ Some by theyr falshode, some by strength and vertue
+ But if one laboured the trouth to vnderstonde
+ Suche folysshe wordes sholde all be founde vntrewe
+ Let neuer man to suche his counsell shewe
+ For of one worde these folys makyth twayne
+ Whiche tourneth many to losse rebuke and payne
+
+ Wherfore if thou wylt that thy pryuete
+ Be kept secrete and nat come out at large
+ Be nat so folysshe to showe it unto me
+ Or any other if it be thynge of charge
+ And if thou do thou shalt be in this barge
+ For howe wylt thou thynke that another man
+ Can kepe thy counsell syns thou thy selfe ne can
+
+ If the kynge Achab had nat vttred and tolde
+ Vnto his wyfe his wyll and mynde so playne
+ By hir fals treason, and dysceyt manyfolde
+ Vnrightwysly Nabot had nat ben slayne
+ But for the same, Achab suffred great payne
+ By deth in batayle, and for a punysshment
+ His wyfe with houndes was all to torne and rent
+
+ Thus it apereth that he is wyse and ware
+ Whiche can his counsell kepe within his hart
+ For by that mean may he escape great care
+ And suerly lyue without yll wyllys dart
+ The Prophete seynge what dyuers paynes smart
+ Comyth oft to them whiche doth theyr secret tell
+ Eche man exortyth to kepe close his counsell.
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Thou man that hast thy secret in thy brest
+ Holde it styll there suffer it nat out to go
+ Who that so doth, therby shall fynde great rest
+ Ne to thy frende shewe nat thy mynde also
+ For if that he after become thy fo
+ As often hapneth, than myght he the bewry
+ So sholde thy foly tourne vnto thy great wo
+ Howe be it suche thynges are prouyd comonly.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of yonge folys that take olde wymen to
+theyr wyues, for theyr ryches.
+
+[Illustration: Within our shyp that fole shall haue a hode
+Whiche an olde wyfe taketh in maryage
+Rather for hir ryches and hir worldly gode
+Than for pure loue, or hope to haue lynage
+But suche youth as mary them selfe with age
+The profyte and pleasour of wedlocke lese certayne
+And worthely lyue in brawlynge stryfe and payne.]
+
+ Under the Asse tayle thoughe it be no thynge pure
+ Yet many seke and grope for the vyle fatnes
+ Gatherynge togyther the fowle dunge and ordure
+ Suche ar they that for treasour and ryches
+ Whyle they ar yonge in theyr chefe lustynes
+ An agyd woman taketh to theyr wyfe
+ Lesynge theyr youth, and shortynge so theyr lyfe
+
+ They that so do hath neyther rest nor peas
+ But besy brawlynge and stryfe contynuall
+ They have no pleasour, but thought and great dyseas
+ Rebuke out braydynge, and strypes whan they fall
+ But theyr owne foly is grounde and cause of all
+ For they be maryd unto the vyle treasour
+ And precious bagges, but nat for godly pleasour
+
+ They haue no hope of children nor lynage
+ Loue is there none, and durynge theyr wretchyd lyfe
+ Is nat one day in suche mad maryage
+ Auoyde of brawlynge, of hatered and of stryfe
+ But that pore man that weddeth a ryche wyfe
+ Cast in his nose shall styll hir bagges fynde
+ For whose cause he made was made and blynde
+
+ They that ar weddyd nat for loue but rychesse
+ Of moryage despysynge the pleasour and profyte
+ Suche seldome sauour fortunes happynes
+ But oft mysfortune them greuously doth byte
+ Thus gone is theyr pleasour theyr ioy and delyte
+ And for vayne treasoure suche ar so glad and fayne
+ That for the same they them subdue to payne
+
+ They wyllyngly to payne them selfe subdue
+ The whiche ar weddyd for wretchyd couetyse
+ They take no hede to maners and vertue
+ To honeste nor wysdome but lyue ay in malyce
+ For if a woman be fowle and full of vice
+ And lewde of maners, nought both to man and lad
+ Yet good shall hir mary be she neuer so bad
+
+ If that a man of hye or lowe degre
+ Wolde spouse his doughter vnto a strange man
+ He nought inquyreth of his honestye
+ Of his behauour, nor if he norture can
+ But if he be ryche in londes and good: than
+ He shall be prayed his doughter for to haue
+ Thoughe be but a bonde man or a knaue
+
+ The firste enquyrynge and speciall questyon
+ Is of the money, that thynge namely they moue
+ And last of all aske they the condicion
+ So whan they mete they neuer haue perfyte loue
+ Wherfore it were better to suche for theyr behoue
+ To byde alone in deserte and wyldernes
+ Than in wedloke in payne for frayle ryches
+
+ Forsoth it is an vnmete maryage
+ And disagreynge and moche agaynst the lawe
+ Bytwene fresshe youth, and lame vnlusty age
+ The loue bytwene them is scantly worth a strawe
+ So doth the one styll on the other gnawe
+ And oft the man in mynde doth sore complayne.
+ His sede to sowe vpon a grounde barayne
+
+ Than muste he haue another prymme or twayne
+ With them to slake his wanton yonge cowrage
+ But in that space must he endure great payne
+ With hir that he hath tane in maryage
+ Hir bablynge tunge whiche no man can asswage
+ With wrathfull wordes shall sle hym at the laste
+ His other prymes his good shall spende and waste
+
+ Thus who that selleth his youthes lustynes
+ For frayle ryches and this mundayne vanyte
+ He byeth stryfe, gyle and falshode endlesse
+ Suche force nat for fayth true loue nor honestye
+ And thoughe that he discende of hye degre
+ For hope of money he shall an olde fole wed
+ By whose foly he to euery yll is led.
+
+ And so these folys subdue them to bondage
+ And worthely endure suche payne and punysshement
+ They hope therby to come to auantage
+ But that they lese and lyue in sore tourment
+ They wast theyr good, and so whan that is spent
+ And nought remayneth theyr bodyes to relefe
+ Theyr disputacion is nought but hore and thefe
+
+ But if I sholde wryte all the vnhappynes
+ The wrath discorde and the great deuysyon
+ Wherin they lyue, that mary for ryches
+ And nat for loue. I neuer sholde haue done
+ Wherfore this say I for a conclusyon
+ That he shall neuer thryue ne come to his behoue
+ That weddyth a wyfe for gode and nat for loue
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY.
+
+ Alas man myndles what is thyne intent
+ To wed for ryches, that weddynge I defy
+ Maryage was ordeyned by god omnypotent
+ In goddes lawes the worlde to multyply
+ Wherfore that man that wyll therto aply
+ And wolde haue the profyte of faythfull maryage
+ This worldly ryches ought no thynge to set by
+ But wed for loue and hope to haue lynage
+
+ Remember ryches is no thynge comparable
+ To mekenes vertue and discrete gouernaunce
+ And other maners whiche ar more commendable
+ Than worldly treasour or suche vnsure substaunce
+ Wherfore consyder and call to thy remembraunce
+ That better is to haue some woman pore and bare
+ And lyue in eas: Than one with habundaunce
+ Of great ryches: and euer to lyue in care
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of enuyous Folys.
+
+[Illustration: Yet ar mo folys whiche greatly them delyte
+In others losse, and that by fals enuy
+Wherby they suche vnrightwysly bacbyte
+The dartis of suche ouer all the wordly flye
+And euer in fleynge theyr fethers multyply
+No state in erth therfro can kepe hym sure
+His sede encreasyth as it wolde euer endure]
+
+ Wastynge enuy oft styreth to malyce
+ Folys nat a fewe whiche ar therto enclynyd
+ Pryckynge theyr frowarde hertes vnto vyce
+ Of others damage reioysynge in theyr mynde
+ Enuyes darte doth his begynnynge fynde
+ In wrathfull hertes, it wastyth his owne nest
+ Nat suffrynge other to lyue in eas and rest
+
+ If one haue plenty of treasour and ryches
+ Or by his merytis obteyne great dignyte
+ These folys enuyous that of the same haue les
+ Enuy by malyce, the others hye degre
+ And if another of honour haue plente
+ They it enuy and wysshe that they myght sterue
+ Howe be it suche folys can nat the same deserue
+
+ These folys desyre agaynst both lawe and right
+ Anoters good if they may get the same
+ If they may nat by flaterynge nor by myght
+ Than by fals malyce they hym enuy and blame
+ Outher if one by his vertue hath good name
+ By fals enuy these foles hym reproue
+ Their wrath them blyndeth so that they none can loue
+
+ The wounde of this malycious, fals enuy
+ So dedely is, and of so great cruelte
+ That it is incurable and voyde of remedy
+ A man enuyous hath suche a properte
+ That if he purpose of one vengyd to be
+ Or do some mysche, whiche he reputyth best
+ Tyll it be done, he neuer hath eas nor rest
+
+ No slepe, no rest nor pleasour can they fynde
+ To them so swete, pleasaunt and delectable
+ That may expell this malyce from theyr mynde
+ So is enuy a vyce abhomynable
+ And vnto helth so frowarde and damnable
+ That if it onys be rotyd in a man
+ It maketh hym lene. his colour pale and wan.
+
+ Enuy is pale of loke and countenaunce
+ His body lene of colour pale and blewe
+ His loke frowarde, his face without pleasaunce
+ Pyllynge lyke scalys, his wordes ay vntrue
+ His iyen sparklynge with fyre ay fresshe and newe
+ It neuer lokyth on man with iyen full
+ But euer his herte by furious wrath is dull
+
+ Thou mayst example fynde of this enuy
+ By Joseph whome his bretherne dyd neuer beholde
+ With louynge loke, but sharpe and cruelly
+ So that they hym haue murdred gladly wolde
+ I myght recount examples manyfolde
+ Howe many by enuy lost hath theyr degre
+ But that I leue bycause of breuyte
+
+ Enuyous folys ar stuffed with yll wyll
+ In them no myrth nor solace can be founde
+ They neuer laughe but if it be for yll
+ As for gode lost or whan some shyp is drounde
+ Or whan some hous is brent vnto the grounde
+ But whyle these folys on other byte and gnawe
+ Theyr enuy wastyth theyr owne herte and theyr mawe
+
+ The mount of Ethnay though it brent euer styll
+ Yet (saue itselfe) it brenneth none other thynge
+ So these enuyous Folys by theyr yll wyll
+ Wast theyr owne herte, thoughe they be ay musynge
+ Another man to shame and losse or hurt to brynge
+ Upon them sellfe Thus tournyth this yll agayne
+ To theyr destruccion both shame great losse and payne
+
+ This fals enuy by his malycious yre
+ Doth often, bretherne so cursedly inflame
+ That by the same the one of them conspyre
+ Agaynst the other without all fere and shame
+ As Romulus and Remus excellent of fame
+ Whiche byldyd Rome, but after: enuy so grewe
+ Bytwene them that the one the other slewe
+
+ What shall I wryte of Cayme and of Abell
+ Howe Cayme for murder suffred great payne and wo
+ Atreus story and Theseus cruell.
+ Ar vnto vs example hereof also
+ Ethyocles with his brother: and many mo
+ Lyke as the storyes declareth openly
+ The one the other murdred by enuy
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Wherfore let hym that is discrete and wyse
+ This wrathfull vyce exyle out of his mynde
+ And yll on none by malyce to surmyse
+ Let charyte in perfyte loue the bynde
+ Sue hir preceptis than shalt thou consort fynde
+ Loue in this lyfe, and ioy whan thou art past
+ Where as enuy thy conscyence shall blynde
+ And both they blode and body mar and wast
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of impacient Folys that wyll nat abyde
+correccion.
+
+[Illustration: Unto our Folys shyp let hym come hastely
+Whiche in his Bagpype hath more game and sport
+Than in a Harpe or Lute more swete of melody
+I fynde vnnumerable Folys of this sort
+Whiche in theyr Bable haue all they hole confort
+For it is oft sayd of men both yonge and olde
+A fole wyll nat gyue his Babyll for any golde]
+
+ The grettest synners that man may se or fynde
+ In myserable Folys theyr foly to expres
+ Is whan they wyll by no mean gyue theyr mynde
+ To frendly wordes, to grace or to goodnes
+ Suche folys so set theyr mynde on frowardnes
+ That though one gyue them counsell sad and wyse
+ They it disdayne and vtterly despyse
+
+ But he that is discrete sad and prudent
+ Aplyeth his mynde right gladly to doctryne
+ He hereth wyse men, his wysdome to augment
+ He them doth folowe and to theyr wordes enclyne
+ But that fole whiche ay goeth to ruyne.
+ And mortall myschefe had leuer be dede or slayne
+ Than byde correccyon or for his profyte payne
+
+ Suche haue suche pleasour in theyr mad folysshe pype
+ That they dispyse all other melody.
+ They leuer wolde dye folys than: byde a strype
+ For theyr correccyon and specyall remedy
+ And without dout none other Armony
+ To suche folys is halfe so delectable
+ As is their folysshe bagpype and theyr babyll
+
+ These frantyke folys wyll byde no punysshement
+ Nor smale correccion, for theyr synne and offence
+ No frendly warnynge can chaunge theyr yll intent
+ For to abyde it, they haue no pacyence.
+ They here no wysdome but fle from hir presence
+ And so it hapnyth that in the worlde be
+ Mo folys than men of wyt and grauyte
+
+ O mortall fole remember well what thou art
+ Thou art a man of erth made and of clay
+ Thy dayes ar short and nede thou must depart
+ Out of this lyfe, that canst thou nat denay
+ Yet hast thou reason and wyt wherby thou may
+ Thy selfe here gyde by wysdome ferme and stable
+ Wherby thou passest all bestis vnreasonable
+
+ Thou art made lorde of euery creature
+ All thynge erthly vnto thyne obedyence
+ God hath the creat vnto his owne fygure
+ Lo is nat here a great preemynence
+ God hath also gyuyn vnto the intellygence
+ And reason and wyt all foly to refuse.
+ Than art thou a fole that reason to abuse
+
+ He that is fre outher in subieccion.
+ If by his foly he fall into offence
+ And than submyt hym vnto correccyon.
+ All men shall laude his great obedyence
+ But if that one by pryde and insolence
+ Supporte his faute and so bere out his vyce
+ The hell tourmentis hym after shall chastyce
+
+ Correccyon shall the vnto wysdome brynge
+ Whiche is more precious than all erthly ryches
+ Than londes rentis or any other thynge
+ Why dost thou bost the of byrth or noblenes
+ Of ryches, strength beauty or fayrnes
+ These often ar cause of inconuenyence.
+ Where as all good comyth by wysdome and prudence
+
+ A wyse man onely as we often fynde
+ Is to be named moste ryche and of most myght
+ Here thou his wordes and plant them in thy mynde
+ And folowe the same for they ar sure and right.
+ Better is to endure, thoughe it be nat lyght
+ To suffer a wyse man the sharply to repreue
+ Than a flaterynge fole to clawe the by the sleue
+
+ Thoughe sharpe correccyon at the first the greue
+ Thou shalt the ende therof fynde profytable
+ It oft apereth, therfore I it byleue
+ That man also forsoth is fortunable
+ Whiche here in fere lyueth sure and stable
+ And in this lyfe is clene of his intent
+ Ferynge the sharpe payne of hellys punysshement
+
+ He may hym selfe right happy call also
+ Whiche is correct in his first tender age
+ And so lernyth in goodes law to go
+ And in his yocke, whiche doth all yll asswage
+ But these folys bydynge in theyr outrage
+ Whiche of correccyon in this lyfe hath dysdayne
+ May fere to be correct in hell with endles payne
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye obstynate folys that often fall in vyce
+ Howe longe shall ye kepe this frowarde ignoraunce
+ Submyt your myndes, and so from synne aryse
+ Let mekenes slake your mad mysgouernaunce
+ Remember that worldly payne it greuaunce
+ To be compared to hell whiche hath no pere
+ There is styll payne, this is a short penaunce
+ Wherfore correct thy selfe whyle thou art here.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folysshe Fesycyans and vnlerned that
+onely folowe paractyke knowynge nought
+of the speculacyon of theyr faculte.
+
+[Illustration: Who that assayeth the craft of medycyne
+Agaynst the seke and paynfull pacyent
+And hath no insyght cunnynge nor doctryne
+To gyue the seke, helth and amendement
+Suche is a fole, and of a mad intent
+To take on hym by Phesyke any cure
+Nat knowynge of man, nor herbe the right nature]
+
+ Yet be mo folys vpon the grounde and londe
+ Whiche in our Shyp may clayme a rowme and place
+ Suche be Phesycians that no thynge vnderstonde
+ Wandrynge about in euery towne and place
+ Uysytynge the seke whiche lyue in heuy case
+ But nought they relefe of those paynes harde
+ But gape alway after some great rewarde
+
+ Suche that haue practyse and nought of speculatyfe
+ Whan they go vysyte some paynfull pacyent
+ Whan they hym note sure to forgo his lyfe
+ Without all hope of any amendement
+ Yet say they other than is in theyr intent
+ That his diseas is no thynge incurable
+ So that the pacyent to hym be agreable
+
+ Sayth the Phesycyan whan he hath his rewarde
+ Abyde a whyle tyll I my bokes ouer se
+ Wherby I may relyue thy paynes harde
+ Than from the pacyent homewarde departyth he
+ To se his bokes but if the pacyent dye
+ In that meane space the medycyne is to late
+ So may he lay it to his owne folysshe pate
+
+ The speculacion sholde he before haue sene
+ For that in Phesyke is chefe and pryncypall,
+ Yet many ar that vse the craft I wene
+ Whiche of the cunnynge knowe lytell or nought at all
+ A herbe or wede that groweth vpon a wall
+ Beryth in it these folys medycyne.
+ None other bokes haue they nor doctryne
+
+ Nor none they rede to haue the true scyence
+ Or perfyte knowlege and grounde of medycyne
+ They rede no volumes of the experyence
+ Of Podalirius nor Mesues doctryne
+ Suche folys disdayne theyr myndes to enclyne
+ Unto the doctryne of bokes of Auycen
+ Of ypocras and parfyte galyen
+
+ But all the substance of theyr blynde faculte
+ They take in bokes that speke of herbes only
+ Without respect had to theyr properte
+ Or operacion so often they them aply
+ To fals doctrynes, but first and specyally
+ These olde wyues therwith wyll haue to do
+ Thoughe they nought knowe that doth belonge therto
+
+ They dare be bolde to take on them the cure
+ Of them diseasyd howe be it that they nat can
+ Suche thynge descerne as longyth to nature
+ What is for woman good, and what for man
+ So oft they ende moche wors than they began
+ That the pore pacyent is so brought to his graue
+ Yet dyuers suters suche folysshe wytches haue
+
+ Suche wytches boldly dare afferme and say
+ That with one herbe they hele can euery sore
+ Under euery syne plenete, houre and day
+ Yet besyde this they boldly dare say more
+ That it that helyth a man aged and hore
+ Shall helpe also a woman or a childe
+ Thus many thousandes oft ar by them begyled
+
+ They say also in this our charge or cure
+ What nedes it note the synes or fyrmament
+ The cause of thynges, or the strength of nature
+ Whether that the seke be stronge or impotent
+ They gyue one medesyn to euery pacyent
+ And if it fortune it be to colde or warme
+ The faythles wytche in hande goth with hir scharme
+
+ Say folysshe Surgyan by what experyence
+ Or whose Doctryne discyplyne or lore
+ Takest thou on the, nought knowynge of scyence
+ With one Salue or plaster, to heale euery sore
+ Yet so thou thynkest, I the compare therfore
+ Unto a lawyer that of his craft nought can
+ And yet presumeth to counsell euery man
+
+ A lawer and a Phesician ar both lyke
+ Of theyr condicion and both insue one trayne
+ The one begylyth the pacyent and seke
+ Takynge his god for to encreas his payne
+ The other labours and cauteles oft doth fayne
+ To clawe the coyne by craft from his clyent
+ Castynge hym of whan all his good is spent
+
+ Thus thryues the lawer by anothers good
+ Iniustly gotten, disceyuynge his clyent
+ Also some other ar callyd Phesicians good
+ Whiche vtterly disceyue the pacyent
+ If he haue money than hath he his intent
+ And if the seke haue store ynough to pay
+ Than shall the cure be dryuen from day to day
+
+ So if the lawer may any auauntage wyn
+ He shall the cause from terme to terme defarre
+ The playntyf for a player is holde in.
+ With the defendaunt kepynge open warre
+ So laweyers and Phesicians thousandes do marre
+ And whan they no more can of theyr suers haue
+ The playntyf beggyth, the seke is borne to graue
+
+ But of these lawyers bycause I spoke before
+ Of folysshe Phesicians here onely I intende.
+ Somwhat to say: And of lawers no more
+ On you Phesicians shall I conclude and ende
+ I say no man may hym so well defende
+ That he for murder may auoyde punysshement
+ Yet may Phesicians, sleynge the pacient
+
+ Thus thou that of Phesycian hast the name
+ If thou nought knowe of perfyte medycyne
+ It is forsoth to thy rebuke and shame
+ To boste the scyence: nat hauynge the doctryne
+ Therfore I counsell that thou thy mynde inclyne
+ To haue the cunnynge, els certaynly thou shall
+ Haue thy blynde craft and lyue a fole with all.
+
+THE ENUOY OF THE TRASLATOUR.
+
+ Thou blynde Phesician that of thy craft nought can
+ Leue of thy lewdnes and bolde audacyte
+ To take on the: the cure of chylde or man
+ For by thy foly the wors myght they be
+ And ye that suerly perceyue your faculte
+ Be true therin, and auaryce from you cast
+ Shame is to brynge a man to pouertye
+ And than in paynes to leue hym at the last
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the ende of worldly honour and power
+and of Folys that trust therein.
+
+[Illustration: On erth was neuer degre so excellent
+Nor man so myghty: in ryches nor scyence
+But at the ende all hath ben gone and spent
+Agaynst the same no man can make defence
+Deth all thynge drawyth, ferefull is his presence,
+It is last ende of euery thynge mundayne
+Thus mannys fortune of cours is vncertayne]
+
+ O creatures of myndes mad and blynde
+ I wonder of your hertis proude and eleuate
+ Whiche on vayne power set so sore your mynde
+ And trust so moche to your vnsure estate
+ As of your lyfe were neyther yere nor date
+ To worldly worshyp ye stedfastly intende
+ As if your lyfe sholde neuer more come to ende
+
+ Alway ye labour to come to dignyte
+ And oft by falshode your power to augment
+ Alas fewe ar content with theyr degre
+ But by extorcion spoyle the pore innocent
+ On worldly treasour so set is theyr intent
+ And styll to honour as besely to ascende
+ As if theyr lyfe sholde neuer more come to ende
+
+ Take thou example by Julius cesar
+ That of the worlde durynge a whyle was sure
+ And many kynges subduyd by myght of warre
+ And of the Empyre had lordshyp charge cure
+ But this his myght great space dyd nat endure
+ And whyle he trustyd yet hyer to ascende
+ By cruell deth he soon came to his ende
+
+ Right in lyke wyse the myghty Darius
+ Was kynge of Persy a realme moche excellent
+ Yet was his mynde so greatly couetus
+ That with the same helde he hym nat content
+ But warred on other Royalmes adiacent
+ So whan his myght coude nat therto extende
+ His owne Royalme he loste and so came to his ende
+
+ And also Xerxes in ryches abundant
+ Was longe in peas and great tranquyllyte
+ And in his Royalme was hye and tryumphant
+ As longe as he was content with his degre
+ Than had he pleasour and great felycyte.
+ To assay by warre his kyngdome to amende
+ But all he lost and so came to his ende
+
+ Whyle Nabugodonosor kynge of Babylone
+ In vnsure fortune set to great confydence
+ Commaundynge honour vnto hym to be done
+ As vnto god: with all humble reuerence,
+ God by his power and hye magnyfycence
+ Made hym a beste, for that he dyd offende
+ And so in proces of tyme came to his ende
+
+ Alexander the great and myghty conquerour
+ To whome all the worlde scantly myght suffyse
+ Of Grece was the origynall lorde and Emperour
+ And all the worlde subdued as I surmyse
+ Yet hath he done as is the comon gyse
+ Left all behynde, for nought coude hym defende
+ But as a symple man at the last came to his ende
+
+ The myghty Cresus with his kyngdomes and store
+ Of golde and ryches hym selfe coude nat content
+ But whyle he trustyd and laboured for more
+ Fortune hym fayled: So lost he his intent.
+ What shall I wryte of Cyrus excellent
+ Drynkynge his blode by deth whiche fortune sende
+ To here of states the comon deth and ende
+
+ All kyngdomes dekay and all estate mundayne
+ Example of Rome Cartago and Mycene
+ Of Solyme Tyre grace and Troy moste souerayne
+ None of these places ar nowe as they haue ben
+ Nor none other ouer the worlde as I wene
+ Thus shortly to speke and all to comprehende
+ All worldly thynges at last shall haue an ende.
+
+THE ENOUY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ O man that hast thy trust and confydence
+ Fyxed on these frayle fantasyes mundayne
+ Remember at the ende there is no difference
+ Bytwene that man that lyued hath in payne
+ And hym that hath in welth and ioy souerayne
+ They both must dye their payne is of one sort
+ Both ryche and pore, no man can deth refrayne
+ For dethes dart expellyth all confort
+
+ Say where is Adam the fyrst progenytour
+ Of all mankynde is he nat dede and gone
+ And where is Abell of innocence the flour
+ With adamys other sonnes euerychone
+ A: dredfull deth of them hath left nat one
+ Where is Mathusalem, and Tuball that was playne
+ The first that played on Harpe or on Orgone
+ _Ilz sont tous mortz ce monde est choce vayne_
+
+ Where is iust Noy and his ofsprynge become
+ Where is Abraham and all his progeny
+ As Isaac and Jacob, no strength nor wysdome
+ Coude them ensure to lyue contynually
+ Where is kynge Dauyd whome god dyd magnyfy
+ And Salomon his son of wysdome souerayne
+ Where ar his sonnes of wysdome and beauty
+ _Ilz sont toutz mortz ce monde est choce vayne._
+
+ Where ar the prynces and kynges of Babylon
+ And also of Jude and kynges of Israell
+ Where is the myghty and valiant Sampson
+ He had no place in this lyfe ay to dwell
+ Where ar the Prynces myghty and cruell
+ That rayned before Christ delyuered vs from payne
+ And from the Dongeons of darke and ferefull hell
+ _Ilz sont toutz mortz ce monde est choce vayne._
+
+ Of worldly worsyp no man can hym assure
+ In this our age whiche is the last of all
+ No creature can here alway endure
+ Yonge nor olde, pore man nor kynge royall
+ Unstable fortune tourneth as doth a ball
+ And they that ones pas can nat retourne agayne
+ Wherfore I boldly dare speke in generall
+ We all shall dye: _ce monde est choce vayne_.
+
+ Ryches nor wysdome can none therfro defende
+ Ne in his strength no man can hym assure
+ Say where is Tully is he nat come to ende
+ Seneke the sage with Cato and Arture
+ The hye Arystotyll of godly wyt and pure
+ The glorious Godfray, and myghty Charlemayne
+ Thoughe of theyr lyfe they thought that they were sure
+ Yet ar they all dede: _ce monde est choce vayne_.
+
+ Where ar the Phylosophers and Poetis lawreat
+ The great Grammaryens and pleasant oratours.
+ Ar they nat dede after the same fourme and rate
+ As ar all these other myghty conquerours
+ Where ar theyr Royalmes theyr ryches and treasours
+ Left to theyr heyres: and they be gone certayne
+ And here haue left theyr riches and honours
+ So haue they proued that this worlde is but vayne.
+
+ So I conclude bycause of breuyte
+ That if one sought the worlde large and wyde
+ Therin sholde be founde no maner of dere
+ That can alway in one case suerly byde
+ Strength, honour, riches cunnynge and beautye
+ All these decay, dayly: thoughe we complayne
+ _Omnia fert etas_, both helth and iolyte
+ We all shall dye: _ce monde est choce vayne_.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of predestynacion.
+
+[Illustration: That man that lokyth for to haue a rewarde
+Whiche he hath nat deseruyd to obtayne
+And lenyth his body vpon a rede forwarde
+Whiche for waykenes may hym nat well sustayne
+Forsoth this fole may longe so loke in vayne
+And on the Crauys he styll shall bacwarde ryde
+Cryenge with the doue, whose flyght shall hym ay gyde]
+
+ It is vnlawfull, man to be dilygent
+ Or serchynge goddes workes to set his thought
+ Howe he hath made the heuen and fyrmament
+ The erth the see and euery thynge of nought
+ Yet of some Folys the cause hereof is sought,
+ Whiche labour also with curyosyte
+ To knowe the begynnynge of his dyuynyte
+
+ These folys forgettynge their owne fragilyte
+ Wolde loke to knowe the ende of euery thynge
+ Boldly disputynge in goddys pryuete
+ And what rewarde is ordeynyd for men lyuynge
+ Of many folys this is the moste musynge
+ Whiche labour dayly with besy cure and payne.
+ To knowe what god doth discerne and or ordayne
+
+ Therfore in this part I shall dispyse and blame
+ Unchrafty folys whiche scantly haue ouer sene
+ Ought of scripture, if they knowe the bokes name
+ Or els a whyle hath at the Scoles bene
+ Than bende they the browys and stedfastly they wene
+ In theyr conceyt that they ar passynge wyse
+ For all scripture newe commentis to deuyse
+
+ They frowardly the sentence do transpose
+ And that whiche is wryten, both playne and holely
+ By theyr corruptynge and vnlawfull glose
+ Oft tyme they brynge to damnable heresy
+ Falsly expoundynge after theyr fantasy
+ They labour to transpose and turne the right sence
+ Thoughe the wordes stryue and make great resystence
+
+ Here what these folys with theyr audacyte
+ Dare besely say by theyr fals errour blynde
+ Presumynge on goddes secrete and pryuete
+ Here what lewde wordes they cast out in the wynde
+ They say what man can chaunge or turne his mynde
+ To lyue after any other fourme and rate
+ But lyke as he is therto predestynate
+
+ They say: if god that rayneth ouerall
+ Hath any ordeyned that in this worlde is
+ To come to the place and rowme celestyall
+ For to be partyner of euerlastynge blys
+ Ordeyned for suche as here doth nat amys
+ No man can chaunge, not other thynge mundayne
+ That thynge whiche god by his myght doth ordayne
+
+ But if that god prefyxed hath before
+ Any creature vnto infernall payne
+ In derknes to be damnyd for euer more
+ No erthly thynge may that sentence call agayne
+ Nor hym delyuer: o fole thou mayst complayne
+ For this thy foly and also it repent
+ Thynkest thou nat god alway omnypotent
+
+ Is god nat rightwyse and grounde of all iustyce
+ Rewardynge man after his gouernaunce
+ He that hath here nat lyen in synne and vyce
+ Hauynge in goddys seruyce his pleasaunce
+ Shall of his lorde be had in remembraunce
+ And of rewarde worthely be sure
+ Where it is worthy that synners payne endure
+
+ Trust well who seruyth his maker stedfastly
+ With pure herte kepynge sure his commaundement
+ And lawes shall be rewardyd fynally
+ With heuenly ioy and scape all punysshement
+ Therfore thou fole leue of this lewde intent
+ Lyue vertuously and trust in goddes grace
+ Than yll desteny in the shall haue no place
+
+ Vnto great ioy god hath vs all create
+ And to vs all ordeyned his kyngdome
+ And none hath vnto Hell predestynate
+ But often whan we folowe nat wysdome
+ By ouer owne foly we fall, and so become
+ Vnto our maker vnkind: and hym deny
+ Whiche them rewardyth that here lyue vertuously
+
+ Therfore thou Fole desyst thy wordes vayne
+ And let thy tunge no more suche wordes say
+ For god hath vs made all of one stuf certayne
+ As one potter makyth of one clay
+ Vessels dyuers, but whan he must them lay
+ Vpon the kyll with fyre them there to dry
+ They come nat all to good, moste comonly
+
+ Doth this erthyn pot his maker dispyse
+ Whether it be made of fassyon good or yll
+ Saynge why dost thou make me in this wyse
+ Wherfore mad man I reade the to be styll
+ Blame nat thy maker, for thy vnhappy wyll
+ For god hath neuer man nor childe create
+ But all he hath to heuen predestynate
+
+ And whyle we lyue here on this wretchyd grounde
+ We haue our reason and wyttes vs to gyde
+ With our fre wyll and if no faute be founde
+ In our demenour, in heuen we shall abyde
+ But if we goddes lawes set asyde
+ Howe may we hope of hym rewarde to wyn
+ So our owne foly is moste cause of our syn.
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARCLAY.
+
+ O creature vnkynde vnto thy creatour
+ What carest thou to knowe or to inuestygate
+ The pryuetye, of god, leue this thy errour
+ To thynke the by hym to be predestynate
+ To endles wo and from his blysse pryuate
+ For syns thou hast thy reason and frewyll
+ Gyuyn the by god, thou art in suche estate
+ To take the eleccion outher of good or yll
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folys that forget them selfe and do
+another mannys besynes leuynge theyr
+owne vndone.
+
+[Illustration: Who that wyll suffer his owne hous to bren
+Tyll nought of it saue the bare wallys stonde
+And with his water hastely doth ren
+To quenche the fyre of anothers hous or londe
+He is a fole and haue shall in his hande
+A folysshe Pype or horne therwith to blowe
+For other folys that in my Shyp wyll rowe.]
+
+ Within my Shyp of rowme he shall be sure
+ Whiche for anothers auantage and profyte
+ Takyth great thought and doth moche payne endure
+ Vnto his owne charge takynge no respyte
+ But settyth it asyde and hath all his delyte
+ With all his stody hym to enforce and dres:
+ To care for euery mannys besynes.
+
+ Suche hertles folys to them self neglygent
+ In theyr owne charge slepe contynually
+ But with open iyen they ar full dylygent
+ The worke of other with all theyr myght to aply
+ And for others profyte prouyde they besely.
+ But whyle these Folys ar glad to take in hande
+ Anothers charge, theyr owne styll let they stande
+
+ Wherfore I am so bolde within my boke
+ Somwhat to touch these folys mad vsage
+ That if it fortune them on the same to loke
+ They may therby perceyue in theyr corage
+ That labour they ought for their owne auauntage
+ Most specyally. for that is the degre
+ And the true order of perfyte charite
+
+ For perfyte loue and also charite
+ Begynneth with hym selfe for to be charitable
+ And than to other after his degre
+ Thy owne auauntage is ay moost profytable
+ The great Phylosophers of maners ferme and stable
+ And also of wysdome godly and dyuyne
+ Hath left to vs suche techynge and doctryne
+
+ We haue by Therence the same commaundement
+ The same is wryten also as I fynde
+ In the holy lawe of the olde testament
+ And therfore he that oft wyll set his mynde
+ For others maters with care his thought to blynde
+ Let hym first se vnto his owne profyte
+ Lyst some mysfortune hym after sharply byte
+
+ Let hym turne his labour to his owne auauntage
+ And than do for other where as he seeth moste nede
+ For who that playeth for mony outher gage
+ And on his felawes cast takyth onely hede
+ And nat to his owne, suche one shall seldom spede
+ And is a Fole. So is he that doth ren
+ To quenche another hous, suffrynge his owne to bren
+
+ Suche one of his owne damage hath no fere
+ And worthy is his losse and hurte to byde
+ So is he that wyll anothers burthen bere
+ Or takyth anothers charge at any tyde
+ Despysynge his owne werke and settynge it asyde
+ If suche haue losse and after it forthynke
+ No man shall moche force whether he flete or synke
+
+ He is well worthy to haue a folys pype
+ That goth vnbyddyn to rype anothers corne
+ And suffreth his owne to stande though it be rype.
+ And generally all Folys ar worthy scorne
+ Of what maner byrth so euer they be borne
+ If they them self put, to losse or damage
+ Therby to do some other auauntage
+
+ Say curyous Fole: say what pleasour thou hast
+ In others maters thy self to intermyt
+ Or theyr great charges thus in thy mynde to cast
+ Thy selfe to socour set thou thy mynde and wyt
+ Let others maters therfore in quyete syt
+ On thy owne profyte of all firste set thy mynde
+ And than (if thou mayst) do somwhat for thy frende
+
+ For vtterly that man is moche vnwyse
+ That thus takyth thought for anothers charge
+ And doth his owne by neglygence despyse
+ For suche Folys I forgyd haue this barge
+ But of the same suche men I clene discharge
+ That first of his pryuate profyte can take hede
+ And than helpe a frende and felowe at a nede
+
+THENUOY OF BARKLAY.
+
+ Ye that take charge, thought and besy cure
+ For others mysfortune, losse or aduersyte
+ First of your self I aduyse you to be sure
+ For this is the order of parfyte charyte
+ Eche to hym selfe moste louynge ay to be
+ And next to his frende, but who that doth dispyse.
+ His owne besynes whiche is in ieopardye
+ Seynge to anothers forsoth he is vnwyse
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the vyce of vnkyndnes.
+
+[Illustration: That Fole can neyther gode nor honeste
+Whiche whan one doth to hym a frendly dede
+It gladly takyth, thoughe it be two or thre
+Lokynge for kyndnes, yet takyth he no hede
+To shewe the same agayne in tyme of nede
+Let suche Folys be no thing wroth therfore
+Thoughe in this Shyp I set them to an ore.]
+
+ He is a Fole that crauynge is alway
+ Takynge the seruyce and rewardes of his frende
+ And nat remembryth the same agayne to pay
+ But as a churle it castyth out of his mynde
+ For who that wolde haue one to hym be kynde
+ And lyberall, he ought the same to be
+ For kyndnes meyntayneth bothe loue and charyte
+
+ He that wyll charge another with cures harde
+ And great labours greuous to sustayne
+ Ought for his labour hym worthely rewarde
+ That the rewarde may be confort to his payne
+ It is disworshyp and also shame certayne
+ To take the labour of any ryche or pore
+ And nat iustly hym to content therfore
+
+ Wherfore the workman ought also to intende
+ Vnto his labour to saue his honestye
+ And workemanly to brynge it the ende
+ If he therby wolde well rewardyd be
+ And if the owner therof beholde and se.
+ His worke so done, he is a chorle vnkynde
+ If he do nat content the workmannys mynde.
+
+ He that wolde gladly that men sholde hym commende
+ Must fully purpose and fyx within his mynde
+ Lyberall to be and nat euer to intende
+ To false Auaryce, whiche many one doth blynde
+ And if he purpose hye honours for to fynde
+ Or hym auaunce to any great degre
+ He must haue mekenes and lyberalyte
+
+ He must of maners also be commendable
+ And of his speche als pleasaunt as he can
+ For an olde prouerbe true and verytable
+ Sayth that good lyfe and maners makyth man
+ But euery lawe doth dam and also ban
+ The churlysshe vyce and lewde of vnkyndnes
+ Whiche dryeth vp the well of bounte and goodnes
+
+ For vnkynde folys if one labour dylygent
+ And so brynge theyr worke vnto good conclusyon
+ They fynde yet fautis and so ar nat content
+ Withdrawynge the rewarde by theyr collusyon
+ Wherfore let suche thynke it no abusyon
+ Nor haue disdayne ne yet in mynde complayne
+ If the pore laborer gyue vp his worke agayne
+
+ These frowarde Folys, doth wronge and iniury
+ To suche as to them do profyte and honour
+ For kyndnes, they render shame and vylany
+ Rebukes sclander extorcion and rygour
+ But whyle they hope to come to great valoure
+ And by such rygour to honours to aryse
+ Theyr hope vanyssheth as doth the snowe or yce
+
+ Wherfore who that puttyth one to besynes
+ To charge or labour of body or of mynde
+ Ought hym rewarde agayne for his kyndnes
+ If he do nat forsoth he is unkynde
+ But specyally as I oft wryten fynde
+ It is a thynge whiche doth for vengeaunce cry
+ A pore laborer to put to Iniury
+
+ What man can wryte the inconuenyence
+ Whiche groweth of this lewde and cursyd vyce
+ Vnkyndnes causeth great myschefe and offence
+ And is repugnynge to reason and iustyce
+ Wherfore let suche that wyll be namyd wyse
+ Leue it: and folowe lyberalyte
+ Whiche is noryssher of loue and amyte
+
+ In dyuers bokes examples we may fynde
+ Howe many Cytees hygh and excellent
+ Agaynst all lawe and reason were vnkynde
+ To suche as dyd theyr dignyte augment
+ O vnkynde rome thou was of this intent
+ Whiche hast Camyllus exyled in great payne
+ Thoughe he euer laboured thy honour to mentayne
+
+ O cruell Athenes by thy ingratytude
+ Hast thou nat banysshyd Solon also fro the
+ Though he enfourmyd hath thy maners rude
+ And gyuyn the lawes of right and equyte
+ For his great meryte, loue and benygnyte
+ Thou hast hym gyuen exyle and paynes harde
+ His labour was nat worthy that rewarde
+
+ Thou vnkynde Sparta: of thy audacyte
+ What shall I wryte or thy lewde vnkyndnes
+ Hast thou nat banysshed by thy cruelte
+ Thy kynge Lycurgus, bycause he dyd redres
+ Thy wanton errours by lawe and rightwysnes
+ And Scipio whiche his country dyd defende
+ Fonde it to hym, vnkynde at the last ende
+
+ A thousande mo whome I can nat expresse
+ To suche as haue for them abyde great payne
+ Haue done displeasour, and shewed vnkyndnes
+ And them disceyued by some cautele or trayne
+ Yet none of them great goodnes cowde obtayne
+ By theyr vnkyndnes for who that so doth cast
+ Vnkyndly shall be seruyd at the last.
+
+THENUOY OF BARKLAY.
+
+ O fals vnkyndnes out on the I cry
+ From all goodnes dost thou nat man withdrawe
+ Byndynge his herte to gyle and vylany
+ Agaynst nature, agaynst both right and lawe
+ Thou makest man his maker nat to knawe
+ Therfore thou man expell out from thy mynde
+ This vyce, for we fynde in an olde sayde sawe
+ Wo is hym that to his maker is vnkynde.
+
+ Remember man the great preemynence
+ Gyuen unto the by good omnypotent
+ Bytwene the and Angels is lytell difference
+ And all thynge erthly to the obedyent
+ Fysshe byrde and beste vnder the fyrmament
+ Say what excuse mayst thou nowe lay or fynde
+ Syns thou art made by god so excellent
+ But that thou oughtest agayne to hym be kynde.
+
+ God hath the made vnto his owne lykenes
+ No erthly creature vnto the comparable
+ Thy iyen vpwarde to consyder his hyghnes
+ Where other creatures that ar vnresonable
+ Goeth on all foure and ar nat other able.
+ Theyr loke alway vnto the grounde inclynyd
+ Therfore thou ought in vertue to be stable
+ And to thy maker neuer to be vnkynde
+
+ Whan man offendyd by disobedyence
+ Subduynge hym self to labour care and payne
+ And lost the consort of goodes hye presence
+ Hath nat christ Jhesu redemyd hym agayne
+ Besyde all this thou hast no thynge certayne
+ In erth but by hym. wherfore I call the blynde
+ And of thy maners vncurtayse and vylayne
+ If to thy sauyour thou be nat true and kynde
+
+ Thoughe god hath made the (man) thus excellent
+ To lyue (if thou lyst) in ioy eternally
+ A lytell thynge shall hym agayne content
+ He nought requyreth but thy herte onely
+ And that thou defy thy gostly ennemy
+ And in goddes seruyce thy herte and body bynde.
+ Than shall he rewarde the in heuen right gloriously
+ So mayst thou be callyd vnto thy maker kynde
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folys that stande so well in their owne
+conceyt that they thinke none so wyse,
+stronge, fayre, nor eloquent, as they
+ar themself.
+
+[Illustration: We haue ouercome the malyce and enuy
+Of suche as agaynst our Nauy did conspyre
+Wherfore I shall my folys call quyckly
+That they my Shyp may aparayle and atyre
+Drawe nere ye Folys whiche syttynge by the fyre
+Loke ay in a glasse to se your countenaunce
+And in your owne dedis haue all your hole pleasaunce]
+
+ Vnto my shyp I call hym to be Coke
+ The mete to dresse to other Folys echone
+ Whiche in his myrrour doth alway gase and loke
+ Whan he may get hym vnto a place alone
+ And though of colour and beaute he haue none
+ Yet thynketh he hym self fayre and right plesant
+ And wyse: thoughe that he be mad and ignorant
+
+ In his owne dedys is onely his delyte
+ In his owne conceyte thynkynge hymself right wyse
+ And fayre, thoughe he be yelowe as kyte
+ Is of hir fete: yet doth he styll deuyse
+ His vayne myrrour: that onely is his gyse
+ And thoughe he beholde hym self of lothly shape
+ He wyll it nat byleue, but in his glasse doth gape.
+
+ Though for his foly all men myght hym repreue
+ And that he se it before hym openly
+ Within his glasse: he wyll it nat byleue
+ But strongly it defende and eke deny
+ He seyth nat his erys longe and hye
+ Whiche stande vpon his folysshe hode behynde
+ His lewde conceyt thus makyth hym starke blynde
+
+ Whan people comon of men of hye prudence
+ Or of hye beauty, and strength if men doth tell
+ If one suche fole were there in the presence
+ He swere durst boldly and that on the gospell
+ That he onely all other dyd excell
+ And that to gyue councell good and profytable
+ Were none in the worldly vnto hym comparable
+
+ These folys bost them selfe of theyr wysdome
+ And thynke them selfe to haue preemynence
+ Aboue all other that ar in christendome.
+ In gyftis of grace as beautye and scyence
+ Of strength, gode maners, vertue, and eloquence
+ But thoughe they stande in theyr owne conceytis
+ Nought is saue foly within theyr folysshe patis
+
+ And thoughe theyr face and vysage stande awry
+ And all to reuylde, theyr mouth standynge asyde
+ Within theyr myrrour the same can they nat spye
+ But in theyr foly contynually abyde
+ And whether that they ar styll outher go or ryde
+ Labour or be ydyll, they gase styll in theyr glasse
+ Yet wyll they nat byleue to haue erys lyke an Asse.
+
+ Oft whan these folys lye in theyr bed vpright
+ With tawny loke or els theyr botyll nose
+ They haue theyr myrrour alway in theyr syght
+ The vayne glasse (of theyr beautye) to apose
+ And whan suche a fole into the kechyn gose
+ To stere the pot, there whether he syt or stande
+ The glasse alway is in the other hande
+
+ Whan he a whyle his glas hath loken than
+ If one examynyd hym of his beautye
+ He boldly durst swere both by god and man
+ That nought were in hym whiche myght repreuyd be
+ But all goodnes, fayre shape, and loke of grauyte
+ And that his gere gayly vpon his backe doth syt
+ He hardly is wyse: if he had any wyt.
+
+ I wryten fynde that great inconuenyence
+ As losse, contempt and occasyon of pryde
+ Hath fallyn vnto many by this lewde complacence
+ Whiche haue nat knowen the way themself to gyde
+ The emperour Otho had ay borne by his syde
+ In warre and peas (a glasse) for his pleasaunce
+ To se his colour therin; and countenaunce
+
+ And to the entent to make his colour gay
+ With Assys mylke he noyntyd oft his skyn
+ And shauyd his berde onys euery day
+ But for that he offendyd god herein
+ After was he sharply punysshyd for this syn
+ And put vnto extreme rebuke and shame
+ To gyue other example to auoyde the same
+
+ It is forsoth a maner femynyne
+ And nat for man to be so elegant
+ To suche toyes wanton wymen may inclyne
+ A yonge mayde may at her forhede haue pendant
+ The vayne myrrour to se hir shape pleasant
+ Man sholde nought set by to norysshe his beautye
+ But onely manhode strength and audacyte
+
+ The wanton mayde may for hir self ordayne
+ Hir call hir coyfe, and suche conceytis newe
+ As broches fyletes and oyntmentis souerayne
+ And clothynge of dyuers colour and of hewe
+ But nowe yonge men the same fourme do ensue
+ And to content theyr mad and folysshe mynde
+ To wymen they compare themselfe agaynst kynde
+
+ Disorder rayneth as I before haue sayde
+ The yonge men takyth womans countenaunce
+ And hir aparayll, and wymen ar arayde
+ As men: agaynst all lawe and ordynaunce
+ Thus man and woman ensue mysgouernaunce
+ In theyr behauour is small dyuersyte
+ Theyr owne conceyt causeth great enormyte
+
+ The poet Ouyde shewyth in a fable
+ Howe that one callyd Pygmalyon by name
+ A fygure made vnto hymselfe semblable
+ Whiche he in marbyll right craftely dyd frame
+ And in so moche he worshypped the same
+ Tyll at the last his mynde was past and gone
+ And he transformed so was in to that stone
+
+ And if the Poetis fables be all sure
+ As by theyr subtyle wordes oft we here
+ The childe Narcissus was chaungyd of fygure
+ Whyle he behelde into the water clere
+ For whyle his shadowe vnto hym dyd apere
+ Vpon the same so sore he set his mynde
+ That he transformyd was to another kynde.
+
+ But to retorne agayne to our purpose
+ And of this sort of Folys to conclude
+ If god sholde them to other shape transpose
+ That thynke them fayre though they be foule and rude
+ Into foule fassyon he many sholde include
+ For whyle Folys theyr owne beauty magnyfy
+ So growyth the nomber and so they multyply
+
+THENUOY OF BARKLAY THE TRANSLATOUR.
+
+ Blynde man inclere thy wylfull ignoraunce
+ Stande nat so great in thy owne conceyte
+ Ne in thy lewde fassyon set nat thy pleasaunce
+ Whether thou be pore or man of great estate
+ Another man moche more shall in the wayte
+ Of gode and yll than thou thy self canst do
+ Therfore be nat cause to thy self of disceyte
+ If one the teche: aply thy mynde therto
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of lepynges and dauncis and Folys that pas
+ theyr tyme in suche vanyte.
+
+[Illustration: That fole that settyth his felycyte
+In wanton daunces and lepes immoderate
+Hath in my Shyp a rowme for his degre
+Bysyde the stere for troublynge of his pate
+He god dyspleasyth, whiche doth suche foly hate
+Suche lese theyr tyme in vayne and oft therin
+Ar many hurtis: and cause of dedely syn.]
+
+ Those folys a place may chalenge in my shyp
+ Whiche voyde of wysdome as men out of theyr mynde
+ Them selfe delyte to daunce to lepe and skyp
+ In compase rennynge lyke to the worlde wyde
+ In vnkynde labour, suche folys pleasour fynde
+ Rennynge about in this theyr furyous vyce
+ Lyke as it were in Bacchus sacryfyce
+
+ Or as the Druydans rennyth in vayne about
+ In theyr mad festes vpon the hylle of yde
+ Makynge theyr sacrafyce with furour noyse and shout
+ Whan theyr madnes settyth theyr wyt asyde
+ Or whan the prestis of mars all nyght abyde
+ Within theyr temple by vse abhomynable
+ To theyr ydollys doynge theyr seruyce detestable
+
+ Lyke as these paynyms hath to theyr ydols done
+ Theyr sacryfyce wandrynge in theyr madnes
+ Theyr bodyes weryenge, in vayne wastynge their shone
+ So do these fowlys them selfe to daunsynge dres
+ Sekynge occason of great vnhappynes
+ They take suche labour without all hope of gayne
+ Without rewarde sure, of werynes and payne
+
+ Say Folys that vse this fury and outrage
+ What causyth you to haue delyte therin
+ For your great labour say what is your wage
+ Forsoth ye can therby no profyte wyn
+ But seke occasyon (as I haue sayde) of syn
+ And for thy werynge thy fete thus in the dust
+ Thou gettest no gayne but cause of carnall lust
+
+ But whan I consyder of this folysshe game
+ The firste begynnynge and cause orygynall
+ I say the cause therof is worthy blame
+ For whan the deuyll to disceyue man mortall
+ And do contempt to the hye god eternall
+ Vpon a stage had set a Calfe of golde.
+ That euery man the same myght clere beholde
+
+ So than the Fende grounde of mysgouernaunce
+ Causyd the people this fygure to honour
+ As for theyr god and before the same to daunce.
+ Whan they were dronkon, thus fell they in errour
+ Of Idolatry, and forgate theyr creatour.
+ Before this ydoll daunsynge both wyfe and man
+ Dispysynge god: Thus daunsynge fyrst began
+
+ Suche blynde folyes and inconuenyence
+ Engendryth great hurte and incommodyte
+ And sawyth sede wherof groweth great offence
+ The grounde of vyce and of all enormyte
+ In it is pryde, fowle lust and lecherye
+ And whyle lewde lepys ar vysd in the daunce
+ Oft frowarde bargayns ar made by countenaunce
+
+ What els is daunsynge but euen a nurcery
+ Or els a bayte to purchase and meyntayne
+ In yonge hertis the vyle synne of rybawdry
+ Them fe*trynge therin, as in a dedely chayne
+ And to say trouth in wordes clere and playne
+ Venereous people haue all theyr hole pleasaunce
+ Theyr vyce to norysshe by this vnthryfty daunce
+
+ And wanton people disposyd vnto syn
+ To satysfye theyr mad concupyscence
+ With hasty cours vnto this daunsynge ryn
+ To seke occasyon of vyle synne and offence
+ And to expresse my mynde in short sentence
+ This vyciouse game oft tymes doth attyse
+ By his lewde synes, chast hartis vnto vyce
+
+ Than it in erth no game is more damnable
+ It semyth no peas, but Batayle openly
+ They that it vse of myndes seme vnstable
+ As mad folke rennynge with clamour showt and cry
+ What place is voyde of this furyous foly
+ None: so that I dout within a whyle
+ These folys the holy churche shall defyle
+
+ Of people what sort or order may we fynde
+ Ryche or pore hye or lowe of name
+ But by theyr folysshnes, and wanton mynde
+ Of eche sort some ar gyuen vnto the same
+ The prestis and clerkes to daunce haue no shame
+ The frere or monke in his frocke and cowle
+ Must daunce in his dortor lepynge to play the fole
+
+ To it comys children, maydes and wyues.
+ And flaterynge yonge men to se to haue theyr pray
+ The hande in hande great falshode oft contryues
+ The olde quean also this madnes wyll assay
+ And the olde dotarde thoughe he skantly may
+ For age and lamenes stere outher fote or hande
+ Yet playeth he the fole with other in the bande
+
+ Than lepe they about as folke past theyr mynde
+ With madnes amasyd rennynge in compace
+ He moste is commendyd that can moste lewdnes fynde
+ Or can most quyckly ren about the place
+ There ar all maners vsyd that lacke grace
+ Mouynge theyr bodyes in synes full of shame
+ Whiche doth theyr hertes to synne right sore inflame
+
+ So oft this vyce doth many one abuse
+ That whan they ar departyd from the daunce
+ On lust and synne contynually they muse
+ Hauynge therin theyr wyll and theyr pleasaunce
+ Than fall they oft to great mysgouernaunce
+ As folys gyuyn to worke vnprofytable
+ So in my shyp they well deserue a babyll.
+
+THENUOY OF BARKLAY
+
+ Do way your daunces ye people moche vnwyse
+ Desyst your folysshe pleasour of trauayle
+ It is me thynke an vnwyse vse and gyse
+ To take suche labour and payne without auayle
+ And who that suspectyth his mayde or wyues tayle
+ Let hym nat suffer them in the daunce to be
+ For in that game thoughe sys or synke them fayle
+ The dyse oft renneth vpon the chaunce of thre
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of nyght watchers and beters of the stretes
+playnge by nyght on instrumentes and
+vsynge lyke Folyes whan tyme is to
+rest.
+
+[Illustration: He is a Fole that wandreth by nyght
+In felde or towne, in company or alone
+Playnge at his lemmans dore withouten lyght
+Tyll all his body be colde as lede or stone
+These folys knockynge tyll the nyght be gone
+At that season thoughe that they fele no colde
+Shall it repent and fele whan they be olde.]
+
+ Nowe wolde I of my boke haue made an ende
+ And with my shyp drawen to some hauen or porte
+ Stryken my sayle, and all my folys sende
+ Vnto the londe, a whyle them selfe to sporte
+ But this my purpose is lettyd by a sorte
+ Of frantyke folys, wandrynge about by nyght
+ For often all yll doers hatyth the day lyght
+
+ Whyle (man) beste and euery lyuely creature
+ Refresshe theyr myndes and bodyes with rest
+ And slepe: without the whiche none can endure
+ And whyle all byrdes drawe them to theyr nest
+ These dronken bandes of Folys than doth Jest
+ About the stretis, with rumour noyse and cry
+ Syngynge theyr folysshe songes of rybawdry
+
+ The furyes ferefull spronge of the flodes of hell
+ Vexith these vagabundes in theyr myndes so
+ That by no mean can they abyde ne dwell
+ Within theyr howsys, but out they nede must go
+ More wyldly wandrynge than outher bucke or doo
+ Some with theyr harpis another with his lute
+ Another with his bagpype or a folysshe flute
+
+ Than mesure they theyr songes of melody
+ Before the dores of theyr lemman dere
+ Yowlynge with theyr folysshe songe and cry
+ So that theyr lemman may theyr great foly here
+ And tyll the yordan make them stande arere
+ Cast on theyr hede, or tyll the stonys fle
+ They nat depart, but couet there styll to be
+
+ But yet more ouer these Folys ar so vnwyse
+ That in colde wynter they vse the same madnes
+ Whan all the howsys ar lade with snowe and yse
+ O mad men amasyd vnstabyll and wytles
+ What pleasour take ye in this your folysshenes
+ What ioy haue ye to wander thus by nyght
+ Saue that yll doers alway hate the lyght
+
+ But folysshe youth doth nat alone this vse
+ Come of lowe byrth and sympyll of degre
+ But also statis them selfe therein abuse
+ With some yonge folys of the spiritualte
+ The folysshe pype without all grauyte
+ Doth eche degre call to this frantyke game
+ The darkenes of nyght expellyth fere of shame
+
+ One barkyth another bletyth lyke a shepe
+ Some rore, some countre, some theyr balades fayne
+ Another from syngynge gyueth hym to wepe
+ Whan his souerayne lady hath of hym dysdayne
+ Or shyttyth hym out, and to be short and playne
+ Who that of this sort best can play the knaue
+ Lokyth of the other the maystery to haue
+
+ The folysshe husbonde oft of this sort is one
+ With wanton youth wandrynge by nyght also
+ Leuynge his wyfe at home in bed alone
+ And gyueth hyr occasyon often to mysdo
+ So that whyle he after the owle doth go
+ Fedynge the Couko, his wyfe hir tyme doth watche
+ Receyuynge another whose egges she doth hatche.
+
+ Therfore ye folys that knowe you of this sort
+ To gyue occasyon of synne vnto your wyues
+ And all other: I you pray and exort
+ Of this your foly to amende your lyues
+ For longe nyght watches seldome tymes thryues
+ But if it be in labour: good to wyn
+ Therfore kepe your dorys: els abyde within
+
+ Thoughe I have touchyd of this enormyte
+ In englysshe tunge: yet is it nat so vsed
+ In this Royalme as it is beyonde the se
+ Yet moche we vse whiche ought to be refusyd
+ Of great nyght watchynge we may nat be excusyd
+ But our watchynge is in drunken glotony
+ More than in syngynge or other meledy
+
+ Whan it is nyght and eche shulde drawe to rest
+ Many of our folys great payne and watchynge take
+ To proue maystryes and se who may drynke best
+ Outher at the Tauerne of wyne, or the ale stake
+ Other all nyght watchyth for theyr lemmans sake
+ Standynge in corners lyke as it were a spye
+ Whether that the weder be, hote, colde, wete, or dry
+
+ Some other Folys range about by nyght
+ Prowdely Jettynge as men myndeles or wode
+ To seke occasyon with pacyent men to fyght
+ Delytynge them in shedynge mennys blode
+ Outher els in spoylynge of other mennys gode
+ Let these folys with suche lyke and semblable
+ Drawe to this barge, here shall they here a bable
+
+THENUOY OF BARCLAY.
+
+ Ye folys that put your bodyes vnto payne
+ By nyghtly watchynge, voyde of auauntage
+ Leue of your foly or els ye shall complayne
+ And mourne it sore if ye lyue vnto age
+ For though ye thynke that this your blynde outrage
+ Is vnto you no hurte nor preiudyce
+ It doth your body and goodes great dammage
+ And great cause both to you and yours of vyce.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folysshe beggers and of theyr vanytees.
+
+[Illustration: Syns I haue taken the charge one me
+Mo botis and Barges for Folys to aparayle
+And so agayne of newe to take the se
+I feryd lyst company shulde me fayle
+Within my folysshe shyppis to trauayle
+But nowe doth beggers them selfe to me present
+For fewe of them I fynde of good intent]
+
+ A great company of folys may we fynde
+ Amonge beggers, whiche haue theyr hole delyte
+ In theyr lewde craft: wherfore I set my mynde
+ In this Barge theyr maners, brefely for to write
+ For thoughe that nede them greuously do byte.
+ Yet is theyr mynde for all theyr pouerte
+ To kepe with them of children great plente
+
+ And though that they myght otherwyse well lyue
+ And get theyr lyuynge by labour and besynes
+ Yet fully they theyr myndes set and gyue
+ To lede this lyfe alway in wretchydnes
+ The clerke, frere, or monke, whiche hath store of ryches
+ For all his lyfe. if he it gyde wysely.
+ Wyll yet the beggers offyce occupy
+
+ Suche oft complayne the charge of pouerte
+ In garmentis goynge raggyd and to rent
+ But yet haue they of ryches great plente
+ Whiche in gode vse can neuer of them be spent
+ Almys is ordeyned by god omnypotent
+ And holy churche: for to be gyuyn in dede
+ Vnto good vse, and suche as haue moste nede
+
+ Almes is ordeyned by god our creatour
+ For men that lyue in nede and wretchydnes
+ Therwith their paynfull lyues to socour
+ And nat for ryche that lyues in viciousnes
+ But yet suche caytyfs boldly in dare pres
+ For their lewde lyfe without all maner drede
+ This almes takynge from them that haue most nede
+
+ The abbot, the Pryour, and also theyr couent
+ Ar so blyndyd with vnhappy couetyse
+ That with theyr owne can they nat be content
+ But to haue more, they alway mean deuyse
+ Ye: in so moche that some haue founde a gyse
+ To fayne theyr bretherne tan in captyuyte
+ That they may begge so by auctoryte
+
+ They fayne myracles where none were euer done
+ And all for lucre: some other range about
+ To gather and begge with some fayned pardon
+ And at the alehows at nyght all drynkyth out
+ So ren these beggers in company rowt
+ By stretis tauernes townes and vyllagys
+ No place can well be fre of theyr outragys
+
+ Some begge for byldynges, some for relyques newe
+ Of holy sayntis of countreys farre and strange
+ And with theyr wordes faynyd and vntrewe
+ For cause of Lucre, about they ren and range
+ But in a sympyll vyllage, ferme or grange
+ Where as these beggers moste sympyll men may fynde
+ With theyr fals bonys as relykes they them blynde
+
+ Other beynge stronge and full of lustynes
+ And yonge ynoughe to labour for theyr fode
+ Gyuyth theyr bodyes fully to slewthfulnes
+ The beggers craft thynkynge to them moost good
+ Some ray theyr legges and armys ouer with blood
+ With leuys and plasters though they be hole and sounde
+ Some halt as crypyls, theyr legge falsely vp bounde
+
+ Some other beggers falsly for the nonys
+ Disfygure theyr children god wot vnhappely
+ Manglynge theyr facys, and brekynge theyr bonys
+ To stere the people to pety that passe by
+ There stande they beggynge with tedyous shout and cry
+ There owne bodyes tournynge to a strange fassion
+ To moue suche as passe to pyte and compassyon
+
+ Suche yonge laddys as lusty ar of age
+ Myghty and stronge, and wymen in lyke wyse
+ Wanton and yonge and lusty of cowrage
+ Gyueth them selfe vtterly to this gyse
+ The cause is that they labour do despyse
+ For theyr mynde is in ydylnes to be styll
+ Or els in vyce to wander at theyr wyll
+
+ They paciently theyr prouertye abyde
+ Nat for deuocion of herte or of mynde
+ But to the intent that at euery tyde
+ Other mennys godes sholde them fede and fynde.
+ But if they a whyle haue ron in the wynde
+ And in theyr hande the staf some hete hath caught
+ They neuer after shall leue the beggers craft
+
+ Amonge these beggers also is comonly
+ Braulynge debate hatered and chydynge
+ Great othes, mockes falshode and enuy
+ And one with other euer more fyghtynge
+ As for theyr dronkennes and vnsure abydynge
+ Theyr rebaudry both in dede and communycacion
+ These ar chefe poyntis of theyr occupation
+
+ If the begger haue his staf and his hode
+ One bagge behynde and another before
+ Than thynkes he hym in the myddes of his goode
+ Thoughe that his clothes be raggyd and to tore
+ His body nere bare he hath no thought therfore
+ And if some man cloth them well to day
+ To morowe it shall agayne be solde away
+
+ And if these caytyfes fortune to begge or cry
+ For mete or money, on woman or on man
+ If one to them that, that they aske deny
+ And so depart: anone these beggers than
+ Whan he is gone, doth wary curse and ban
+ And if another gyue them ought of pyte
+ At the next alestake dronken shall it be
+
+ But if that I sholde gather in my barge
+ All folysshe beggers, and labour or intende
+ To note all theyr vyces, to sore sholde be the charge
+ And as I suppose I neuer sholde make an ende.
+ Wherfore I counsell them shortly to amende
+ Or els theyr lewdnes, synne, and enormyte
+ Shall cause men withdrawe theyr almes of charyte
+
+THENUOY OF BARCLAY THE TRANSLATOUR.
+
+ O people vnthrifty gyuen to ydlenes
+ Spendynge your youth this wyse in vanyte
+ What ioy haue ye to lyue in wretchydnes
+ Where ye myght come to better rowme and degre
+ By worke, and labour: and so auaunsyd be
+ Yet begge ye styll hauynge your ioy therin
+ Amende your foly, and lerne ye this of me
+ That goddes good sholde nat be spent in syn
+
+Corrections made to printed original.
+
+"He shalbe made parson of Honington or Clist." - 'mde' in original.
+
+"a mistake as to identity" - 'indentity' in original.
+
+"the executours of this my last Will" - 'th executours' in original.
+
+"written [p=] me" - 'written[p=]nce' in original.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Ship of Fools, Volume 1, by Sebastian Brandt
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SHIP OF FOOLS, VOLUME 1 ***
+
+***** This file should be named 20179-8.txt or 20179-8.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+ http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/1/7/20179/
+
+Produced by Frank van Drogen, Keith Edkins and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
+paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+ the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+ you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is
+ owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+ has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+ Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments
+ must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+ prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+ returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+ sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+ address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+ the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+ you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+ does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+ License. You must require such a user to return or
+ destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+ and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+ Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+ money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+ electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+ of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+ distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+ Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+ Chief Executive and Director
+ gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+ http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/20179-8.zip b/20179-8.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd5e631
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-8.zip
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h.zip b/20179-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..850948e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h.zip
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/20179-h.htm b/20179-h/20179-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a0f8f92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/20179-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,14849 @@
+<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd">
+<html>
+ <head>
+ <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" >
+ <title>
+ The Ship of Fools, by Sebastian Brandt
+ </title>
+
+ <style type="text/css">
+
+<!--
+ p { margin-top: .75em;
+ margin-bottom: .75em;
+ }
+ H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 {
+ text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
+ }
+ hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;}
+ hr.full {width: 100%;}
+ hr.short {text-align: center; width: 20%;}
+ hr.tb {text-align: left; border-top: 1px dotted #000; color: #fff; background-color: #fff; width: 40%;}
+ body { margin-left: 10%;
+ margin-right: 10%;
+ text-align: justify;
+ }
+
+ table.allbnomar { border : thin solid black; border-collapse: collapse; }
+ table.allb { border : thin solid black; border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4em }
+ table.allbctr { border : thin solid black; border-collapse: collapse;
+ margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; }
+ table.nob { margin-left: 4em }
+ table.nobctr { margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; }
+
+ table.math { margin-left:10%;vertical-align: middle; text-align:center; }
+ table.math0 { vertical-align: middle; text-align:center; }
+ table.math15 { margin-left:15%;vertical-align: middle; text-align:center; }
+ table.maths { font-size:smaller; vertical-align: middle; text-align:center; }
+
+ td.allb { border : thin solid black; padding-left: 0.5em; padding-right: 0.5em; }
+ td.spac { padding-left: 1em; padding-right: 1em; }
+ td.nspac { padding-left: 0em; padding-right: 0em; }
+ td.vertb { border-left : thin solid black; border-right : thin solid black; padding-left: 0.5em; padding-right: 0.5em; }
+ td.vertbotb { border-left : thin solid black; border-right : thin solid black; border-bottom : thin solid black; padding-left: 0.5em; padding-right: 0.5em; }
+ td.verttopb { border-left : thin solid black; border-right : thin solid black; border-top : thin solid black; padding-left: 0.5em; padding-right: 0.5em; }
+ .single p {margin: 0;}
+
+ .contents
+ {margin-left:30%; margin-right:10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;}
+ .contents .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;}
+ .contents p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+
+ .poem
+ {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;}
+ .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;}
+ .poem p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+ p.hg3 {margin-left: -0.3em;}
+ p.hg1 {margin-left: -0.1em;}
+ p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;}
+ p.i4 {margin-left: 2em;}
+ p.i6 {margin-left: 3em;}
+ p.i8 {margin-left: 4em;}
+ p.z8 {margin-left: 4em; font-style: italic;}
+ p.i10 {margin-left: 5em;}
+ p.z10 {margin-left: 5em; font-style: italic;}
+ p.i12 {margin-left: 6em;}
+ p.i16 {margin-left: 8em;}
+ p.i20 {margin-left: 10em;}
+ p.i30 {margin-left: 15em;}
+ p.i40 {margin-left: 20em;}
+
+ a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none}
+ a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none}
+ a:hover {color:red}
+ link {color:blue; text-decoration:none}
+
+ .noflo
+ {margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;}
+ .noflo .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;}
+ .noflo p {margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+ .noflo p.i2 {margin-left: 1em;}
+ .noflo p.i16 {margin-left: 8em;}
+
+ .author {text-align: right; margin-top: -1em; margin-right: 5%; }
+ .center {text-align: center; }
+ .cenhead {text-align: center; margin-top: 1em;}
+ .right {text-align: right; }
+ .t {vertical-align: top; }
+ .tr {vertical-align: top;}
+ .tc {vertical-align: top;}
+ .tr p {text-align: right;}
+ .tc p {text-align: center;}
+ .m {vertical-align: middle; }
+ .mr {vertical-align: middle;}
+ .mc {vertical-align: middle;}
+ .mr p {text-align: right;}
+ .mc p {text-align: center;}
+ .b {vertical-align: bottom; }
+ .vol {/*font-weight: bold;*/ font-size: small;}
+ .grk {font-style: normal;
+ font-family:"Palatino Linotype","New Athena Unicode",Gentium,"Lucida Grande", Galilee, "Arial Unicode MS", sans-serif;}
+
+ sup {font-style: normal; font-size: small;}
+ pre {font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; margin-left: 1em; }
+ .sc {font-variant: small-caps; }
+ .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 60%;} /* poetry number */
+ blockquote {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; }
+ blockquote.b1 {font-size: small; }
+ span.pagenum {position: absolute; left: 1%; right: 91%; font-size: 8pt; font-style: normal;}
+ .sidenote {width: 20%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 1em;
+ font-size: smaller; float: right; clear: right; font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;}
+ .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em;
+ } /* footnote - removed font-size: small; */
+ span.correction {border-bottom: thin dotted red;}
+ span.special {text-decoration: none;}
+ span.intlim {font-size:small; position:relative; top:-2ex; left:-0.4em;}
+ span.lower {position:relative; top:0.5ex;}
+ span.over {text-decoration: overline;}
+ span.under {text-decoration: underline;}
+ span.pbar {position:relative; top:0.7ex; left:0.4em;}
+ .nobo {border: thin;}
+ .red {color: red;}
+ .figure, .figcenter, .figright, .figleft
+ {padding: 1em; margin: 0; text-align: center; font-size: 0.8em;}
+ .figure img, .figcenter img, .figright img, .figleft img
+ {border: none;}
+ .figure p, .figcenter p, .figright p, .figleft p
+ {margin: 0; text-indent: 1em;}
+ .figure p.in, .figcenter p.in, .figright p.in, .figleft p.in
+ {margin: 0; text-indent: 8em;}
+ .figcenter p.poem
+ {margin-left: 1em; text-align: left; text-indent: 0;}
+ .figcenter {margin: auto;}
+ .figright {float: right;}
+ .figleft {float: left;}
+ img.middle { border: none; vertical-align: middle }
+
+ // -->
+ </style>
+ </head>
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+Project Gutenberg's The Ship of Fools, Volume 1, by Sebastian Brandt
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Ship of Fools, Volume 1
+
+Author: Sebastian Brandt
+
+Translator: Alexander Barclay
+
+Release Date: December 23, 2006 [EBook #20179]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SHIP OF FOOLS, VOLUME 1 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Frank van Drogen, Keith Edkins and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<table border="0" cellpadding="10" style="background-color: #ccccff;">
+<tr>
+<td style="width:25%; vertical-align:top">
+Transcriber's note:
+</td>
+<td>
+A few typographical errors in the 1874 introduction have been corrected. They
+appear in the text <span class="correction" title="explanation will pop up">like this</span>, and the
+explanation will appear when the mouse pointer is moved over the marked
+passage. In the spirit of the 1874 edition, the text of the Ship of Fools itself
+has been retained exactly as it stands, even to the punctuation.
+</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p003.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t003.png"
+ alt="Portrait of Sebastian Brandt." /></a>
+ </div>
+<h1>THE SHIP OF FOOLS</h1>
+
+<p class="cenhead">TRANSLATED BY</p>
+
+<h2>ALEXANDER BARCLAY</h2>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:50%;">
+ <a href="images/p004.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t004.png"
+ alt="The ship of fools." /></a>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead">VOLUME FIRST</p>
+
+<h2>EDINBURGH: WILLIAM PATERSON</h2>
+
+<h3>LONDON: HENRY SOTHERAN &amp; CO.</h3>
+
+<p class="cenhead">MDCCCLXXIV.</p>
+
+<h3>PREFATORY NOTE.</h3>
+
+ <p>It is necessary to explain that in the present edition of the Ship of
+ Fools, with a view to both philological and bibliographical interests,
+ the text, even to the punctuation, has been printed exactly as it stands
+ in the earlier impression (Pynson's), the authenticity of which Barclay
+ himself thus vouches for in a deprecatory apology at the end of his
+ labours (II. 330):&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"... some wordes be in my boke amys</p>
+ <p>For though that I my selfe dyd it correct</p>
+ <p>Yet with some fautis I knowe it is infect</p>
+ <p>Part by my owne ouersyght and neglygence</p>
+ <p>And part by the prynters nat perfyte in science</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And other some escaped ar and past</p>
+ <p>For that the Prynters in theyr besynes</p>
+ <p>Do all theyr workes hedelynge, and in hast"</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Yet the differences of reading of the later edition (Cawood's), are
+ surprisingly few and mostly unimportant, though great pains were
+ evidently bestowed on the production of the book, all the misprints being
+ carefully corrected, and the orthography duly adjusted to the fashion of
+ the time. These differences have, in this edition, been placed in one
+ alphabetical arrangement with the glossary, by which plan it is believed
+ reference to them will be made more easy, and much repetition
+ avoided.</p>
+
+ <p>The woodcuts, no less valuable for their artistic merit than they are
+ interesting as pictures of contemporary manners, have been facsimiled for
+ the present edition from the <i>originals</i> as they appear in the Basle
+ edition of the Latin, "denuo seduloque reuisa," issued under Brandt's own
+ superintendence in 1497. This work has been done by Mr J. T. Reid, to
+ whom it is due to say that he has executed it with the most painstaking
+ and scrupulous fidelity.</p>
+
+ <p>The portrait of Brandt, which forms the frontispiece to this volume,
+ is taken from Zarncke's edition of the Narrenschiff; that of Barclay
+ presenting one of his books to his patron, prefixed to the Notice of his
+ life, appears with a little more detail in the Mirror of Good Manners and
+ the Pynson editions of the Sallust; it is, however, of no authority,
+ being used for a similar purpose in various other publications.</p>
+
+ <p>For the copy of the extremely rare original edition from which the
+ text of the present has been printed, I am indebted to the private
+ collection and the well known liberality of Mr David Laing of the Signet
+ Library, to whom I beg here to return my best thanks, for this as well as
+ many other valuable favours in connection with the present work.</p>
+
+ <p>In prosecuting enquiries regarding the life of an author of whom so
+ little is known as of Barclay, one must be indebted for aid, more or
+ less, to the kindness of friends. In this way I have to acknowledge my
+ obligations to Mr Æneas Mackay, Advocate, and Mr Ralph Thomas, ("Olphar
+ Hamst"), for searches made in the British Museum and elsewhere.</p>
+
+ <p>For collations of Barclay's Works, other than the Ship of Fools, all
+ of which are of the utmost degree of rarity, and consequent
+ inaccessibility, I am indebted to the kindness of Henry Huth, Esq., 30
+ Princes' Gate, Kensington; the Rev. W. D. Macray, of the Bodleian
+ Library, Oxford; W. B. Rye, Esq., of the British Museum; Henry Bradshaw,
+ Esq., of the University Library, Cambridge; and Professor Skeat,
+ Cambridge.</p>
+
+ <p>For my brief notice of Brandt and his Work, it is also proper to
+ acknowledge my obligations to Zarncke's critical edition of the
+ Narrenschiff (Leipzig, 1854) which is a perfect encyclopædia of
+ everything Brandtian.</p>
+
+ <p class="author">T. H. JAMIESON.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i4"><span class="sc">Advocates' Library</span>,</p>
+ <p><span class="sc">Edinburgh</span>, <i>December</i> 1873.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+<h3>Volume I.</h3>
+
+<h3><span class="sc"><a href="#conta">Introduction</a></span></h3>
+
+<h3><span class="sc"><a href="#contb">Notice of Barclay and his Writings</a></span></h3>
+
+<h3><span class="sc"><a href="#contc">Barclay's Will</a></span></h3>
+
+<h3><span class="sc"><a href="#contd">Notes</a></span></h3>
+
+<h3><span class="sc"><a href="#conte">Bibliographical Catalogue of Barclay's Works</a></span></h3>
+
+<h3><span class="sc"><a href="#contf">The Ship of Fools</a></span></h3>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<h3>Volume II.</h3>
+
+<h3><span class="sc">The Ship of Fools (concluded)</span></h3>
+
+<h3><span class="sc">Glossary</span></h3>
+
+<h3><span class="sc">Chapter I. of the Original (German), and of the Latin, and French Versions of the Ship of Fools</span></h3>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="conta"></a></p>
+
+<h3>INTRODUCTION.</h3>
+
+ <p>If popularity be taken as the measure of success in literary effort,
+ Sebastian Brandt's "Ship of Fools" must be considered one of the most
+ successful books recorded in the whole history of literature. Published
+ in edition after edition (the first dated 1494), at a time, but shortly
+ after the invention of printing, when books were expensive, and their
+ circulation limited; translated into the leading languages of Europe at a
+ time when translations of new works were only the result of the most
+ signal merits, its success was then quite unparalleled. It may be said,
+ in modern phrase, to have been the rage of the reading world at the end
+ of the fifteenth and throughout the sixteenth centuries. It was
+ translated into Latin by one Professor (Locher, 1497), and imitated in
+ the same language and under the same title, by another (Badius Ascensius,
+ 1507); it appeared in Dutch and Low German, and was twice translated into
+ English, and three times into French; imitations competed with the
+ original in French and German, as well as Latin, and greatest and most
+ unprecedented distinction of all, it was preached, but, we should opine,
+ only certain parts of it, from the pulpit by the best preachers of the
+ time as a new gospel. The Germans proudly award it the epithet,
+ "epoch-making," and its long-continued popularity affords good, if not
+ quite sufficient, ground for the extravagant eulogies they lavish upon
+ it. Trithemius calls it "Divina Satira," and doubts whether anything
+ could have been written more suited to the spirit of the age; Locher
+ compares Brandt with Dante, and Hutten styles him the new law-giver of
+ German poetry.</p>
+
+ <p>A more recent and impartial critic (Müller, "Chips from a German
+ Workshop," Vol. III.), thus suggestively sets forth the varied grounds of
+ Brandt's wonderful popularity:&mdash;"His satires, it is true, are not
+ very powerful, nor pungent, nor original. But his style is free and easy.
+ Brant is not a ponderous poet. He writes in short chapters, and mixes his
+ fools in such a manner that we always meet with a variety of new faces.
+ It is true that all this would hardly be sufficient to secure a decided
+ success for a work like his at the present day. But then we must remember
+ the time in which he wrote.... There was room at that time for a work
+ like the 'Ship of Fools.' It was the first printed book that treated of
+ contemporaneous events and living persons, instead of old German battles
+ and French knights. People are always fond of reading the history of
+ their own times. If the good qualities of their age are brought out, they
+ think of themselves or their friends; if the dark features of their
+ contemporaries are exhibited, they think of their neighbours and enemies.
+ Now the 'Ship of Fools' is just such a satire which ordinary people would
+ read, and read with pleasure. They might feel a slight twinge now and
+ then, but they would put down the book at the end, and thank God that
+ they were not like other men. There is a chapter on Misers&mdash;and who
+ would not gladly give a penny to a beggar? There is a chapter on
+ Gluttony&mdash;and who was ever more than a little exhilarated after
+ dinner?</p>
+
+ <p>There is a chapter on Church-goers&mdash;and who ever went to church
+ for respectability's sake, or to show off a gaudy dress, or a fine dog,
+ or a new hawk? There is a chapter on Dancing&mdash;and who ever danced
+ except for the sake of exercise? There is a chapter on Adultery&mdash;and
+ who ever did more than flirt with his neighbour's wife? We sometimes wish
+ that Brant's satire had been a little more searching, and that, instead
+ of his many allusions to classical fools (for his book is full of
+ scholarship), he had given us a little more of the <i>chronique
+ scandaleuse</i> of his own time. But he was too good a man to do this,
+ and his contemporaries were no doubt grateful to him for his
+ forbearance."</p>
+
+ <p>Brandt's satire is a satire for all time. Embodied in the language of
+ the fifteenth century, coloured with the habits and fashions of the
+ times, executed after the manner of working of the period, and motived by
+ the eager questioning spirit and the discontent with "abusions" and
+ "folyes" which resulted in the Reformation, this satire in its morals or
+ lessons is almost as applicable to the year of grace 1873 as to the year
+ of gracelessness 1497. It never can grow old; in the mirror in which the
+ men of his time saw themselves reflected, the men of all times can
+ recognise themselves; a crew of "able-bodied" is never wanting to man
+ this old, weather-beaten, but ever seaworthy vessel. The thoughtful,
+ penetrating, conscious spirit of the Basle professor passing by, for the
+ most part, local, temporary or indifferent points, seized upon the
+ never-dying follies of <i>human nature</i> and impaled them on the
+ printed page for the amusement, the edification, and the warning of
+ contemporaries and posterity alike. No petty writer of laborious <i>vers
+ de societe</i> to raise a laugh for a week, a month, or a year, and to be
+ buried in utter oblivion for ever after, was he, but a divine seer who
+ saw the weakness and wickedness of the hearts of men, and warned them to
+ amend their ways and flee from the wrath to come. Though but a retired
+ student, and teacher of the canon law, a humble-minded man of letters,
+ and a diffident imperial Counsellor, yet is he to be numbered among the
+ greatest Evangelists and Reformers of mediæval Europe whose trumpet-toned
+ tongue penetrated into regions where the names of Luther or Erasmus were
+ but an empty sound, if even that. And yet, though helping much the cause
+ of the Reformation by the freedom of his social and clerical criticism,
+ by his unsparing exposure of every form of corruption and injustice, and,
+ not least, by his use of the vernacular for political and religious
+ purposes, he can scarcely be classed in the great army of the Protestant
+ Reformers. He was a reformer from within, a biting, unsparing exposer of
+ every priestly abuse, but a loyal son of the Church, who rebuked the
+ faults of his brethren, but visited with the pains of Hell those of "fals
+ herytikes," and wept over the "ruyne, inclynacion, and decay of the holy
+ fayth Catholyke, and dymynucion of the Empyre."</p>
+
+ <p>So while he was yet a reformer in the true sense of the word, he was
+ too much of the scholar to be anything but a true conservative. To his
+ scholarly habit of working, as well as to the manner of the time which
+ hardly trusted in the value of its own ideas but loved to lean them upon
+ classical authority, is no doubt owing the classical mould in which his
+ satire is cast. The description of every folly is strengthened by notice
+ of its classical or biblical prototypes, and in the margin of the Latin
+ edition of Locher, Brandt himself supplied the citations of the books and
+ passages which formed the basis of his text, which greatly added to the
+ popularity of the work. Brandt, indeed, with the modesty of genius,
+ professes that it is really no more than a collection and translation of
+ quotations from biblical and classical authors, "Gesamlet durch
+ Sebastian<span class="over">u</span> Brant." But even admitting the work
+ to be a Mosaic, to adopt the reply of its latest German editor to the
+ assertion that it is but a compilation testifying to the most painstaking
+ industry and the consumption of midnight oil, "even so one learns that a
+ Mosaic is a work of art when executed with artistic skill." That he
+ caused the classical and biblical passages flitting before his eyes to be
+ cited in the margin proves chiefly only the excellence of his memory.
+ They are also before our eyes and yet we are not always able to answer
+ the question: where, <i>e.g.</i>, does this occur? ... Where,
+ <i>e.g.</i>, occur the following appropriate words of Goethe: "Who can
+ think anything foolish, who can think anything wise, that antiquity has
+ not already thought of."</p>
+
+ <p>Of the Greek authors, Plutarch only is used, and he evidently by means
+ of a Latin translation. But from the Latin large draughts of inspiration
+ are taken, direct from the fountainhead. Ovid, Juvenal, Persius,
+ Catullus, and Seneca, are largely drawn from, while, strangely enough,
+ Cicero, Boethius, and Virgil are quoted but seldom, the latter, indeed,
+ only twice, though his commentators, especially Servetus, are frequently
+ employed. The Bible, of course, is a never-failing source of
+ illustration, and, as was to be expected, the Old Testament much more
+ frequently than the New, most use being made of the Proverbs of Solomon,
+ while Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus, and the Sapientia follow at no great
+ distance.</p>
+
+ <p>The quotations are made apparently direct from the Vulgate, in only a
+ few cases there being a qualification of the idea by the interpretation
+ of the Corpus Juris Canonici. But through this medium only, as was to be
+ expected of the professor of canon law, is the light of the fathers of
+ the Church allowed to shine upon us, and according to Zarncke
+ (Introduction to his edition of the Narrenschiff, 1854), use of it has
+ certainly been made far oftener than the commentary shows, the sources of
+ information of which are of the most unsatisfactory character. On such
+ solid and tried foundations did Brandt construct his great work, and the
+ judgment of contemporaries and posterity alike has declared the
+ superstructure to be worthy of its supports.</p>
+
+ <p>The following admirable notice from Ersch and Grüber (Encyclopädie)
+ sums up so skilfully the history, nature, and qualities of the book that
+ we quote at length:&mdash;"The Ship of Fools was received with almost
+ unexampled applause by high and low, learned and unlearned, in Germany,
+ Switzerland, and France, and was made the common property of the greatest
+ part of literary Europe, through Latin, French, English, and Dutch
+ translations. For upwards of a century it was in Germany a <i>book of the
+ people</i> in the noblest and widest sense of the word, alike appreciated
+ by an Erasmus and a Reuchlin, and by the mechanics of Strassburg, Basel,
+ and Augsburg; and it was assumed to be so familiar to all classes, that
+ even during Brandt's lifetime, the German preacher Gailer von Kaiserberg
+ went so far as to deliver public lectures from the pulpit on his friend's
+ poem as if it had been a scriptural text. As to the poetical and humorous
+ character of Brandt's poem, its whole conception does not display any
+ extraordinary power of imagination, nor does it present in its details
+ any very striking sallies of wit and humour, even when compared with
+ older German works of a similar kind, such as that of Renner. The
+ fundamental idea of the poem consists in the shipping off of several
+ shiploads of fools of all kinds for their native country, which, however,
+ is visible at a distance only; and one would have expected the poet to
+ have given poetical consistency to his work by fully carrying out this
+ idea of a ship's crew, and sailing to the 'Land of Fools.' It is,
+ however, at intervals only that Brandt reminds us of the allegory; the
+ fools who are carefully divided into classes and introduced to us in
+ succession, instead of being ridiculed or derided, are reproved in a
+ liberal spirit, with noble earnestness, true moral feeling, and practical
+ common sense. It was the straightforward, the bold and liberal spirit of
+ the poet which so powerfully addressed his contemporaries from the Ship
+ of the Fools; and to us it is valuable as a product of the piety and
+ morality of the century which paved the way for the Reformation. Brandt's
+ fools are represented as contemptible and loathsome rather than
+ <i>foolish</i>, and what he calls follies might be more correctly
+ described as sins and vices.</p>
+
+ <p>"The 'Ship of Fools' is written in the dialect of Swabia, and consists
+ of vigorous, resonant, and rhyming iambic quadrameters. It is divided
+ into 113 sections, each of which, with the exception of a short
+ introduction and two concluding pieces, treats independently of a certain
+ class of fools or vicious persons; and we are only occasionally reminded
+ of the fundamental idea by an allusion to the ship. No folly of the
+ century is left uncensured. The poet attacks with noble zeal the failings
+ and extravagances of his age, and applies his lash unsparingly even to
+ the dreaded Hydra of popery and monasticism, to combat which the Hercules
+ of Wittenberg had not yet kindled his firebrands. But the poet's object
+ was not merely to reprove and to animadvert; he instructs also, and shows
+ the fools the way to the land of wisdom; and so far is he from assuming
+ the arrogant air of the commonplace moralist, that he reckons himself
+ among the number of fools. The style of the poem is lively, bold, and
+ simple, and often remarkably terse, especially in his moral sayings, and
+ renders it apparent that the author was a classical scholar, without
+ however losing anything of his German character."</p>
+
+ <p>Brandt's humour, which either his earnestness or his manner banished
+ from the text, took refuge in the illustrations and there disported
+ itself with a wild zest and vigour. Indeed to their popularity several
+ critics have ascribed the success of the book, but for this there is no
+ sufficient authority or probability. Clever as they are, it is more
+ probable that they ran, in popularity, but an equal race with the text.
+ The precise amount of Brandt's workmanship in them has not been
+ ascertained, but it is agreed that "most of them, if not actually drawn,
+ were at least suggested by him." Zarncke remarks regarding their artistic
+ worth, "not all of the cuts are of equal value. One can easily
+ distinguish five different workers, and more practised eyes would
+ probably be able to increase the number. In some one can see how the
+ outlines, heads, hands, and other principal parts are cut with the fine
+ stroke of the master, and the details and shading left to the scholars.
+ The woodcuts of the most superior master, which can be recognized at
+ once, and are about a third of the whole, belong to the finest, if they
+ are not, indeed, the finest, which were executed in the fifteenth
+ century, a worthy school of Holbein. According to the opinion of Herr
+ Rudolph Weigel, they might possibly be the work of Martin Schön of
+ Colmar.... The composition in the better ones is genuinely Hogarth-like,
+ and the longer one looks at these little pictures, the more is one
+ astonished at the fulness of the humour, the fineness of the
+ characterisation and the almost dramatic talent of the grouping." Green,
+ in his recent work on emblems, characterizes them as marking an epoch in
+ that kind of literature. And Dibdin, the Macaulay of bibliography, loses
+ his head in admiration of the "entertaining volume," extolling the
+ figures without stint for "merit in conception and execution," "bold and
+ free pencilling," "spirit and point," "delicacy, truth, and force,"
+ "spirit of drollery," &amp;c., &amp;c.; summarising thus, "few books are
+ more pleasing to the eye, and more gratifying to the fancy than the early
+ editions of the 'Stultifera Navis.' It presents a combination of
+ entertainment to which the curious can never be indifferent."</p>
+
+ <p>Whether it were the racy cleverness of the pictures or the
+ unprecedented boldness of the text, the book stirred Europe of the
+ fifteenth century in a way and with a rapidity it had never been stirred
+ before. In the German actual acquaintance with it could then be but
+ limited, though it ran through seventeen editions within a century; the
+ Latin version brought it to the knowledge of the educated class
+ throughout Europe; but, expressing, as it did mainly, the feelings of the
+ common people, to have it in the learned language was not enough.
+ Translations into various vernaculars were immediately called for, and
+ the Latin edition having lightened the translator's labours, they were
+ speedily supplied. England, however, was all but last in the field but
+ when she did appear, it was in force, with a version in each hand, the
+ one in prose and the other in verse.</p>
+
+ <p>Fifteen years elapsed from the appearance of the first German edition,
+ before the English metrical version "translated out of Laten, French, and
+ Doche ... in the colege of Saynt Mary Otery, by me, Alexander Barclay,"
+ was issued from the press of Pynson in 1509. A translation, however, it
+ is not. Properly speaking, it is an adaptation, an English ship, formed
+ and fashioned after the Ship of Fools of the World. "But concernynge the
+ translacion of this boke; I exhort ye reders to take no displesour for
+ y<sup>t</sup>, it is nat translated word by worde acordinge to ye verses
+ of my actour. For I haue but only drawen into our moder tunge, in rude
+ langage the sentences of the verses as nere as the parcyte of my wyt wyl
+ suffer me, some tyme addynge, somtyme detractinge and takinge away suche
+ thinges as semeth me necessary and superflue. Wherfore I desyre of you
+ reders pardon of my presumptuous audacite, trustynge that ye shall holde
+ me excused if ye consyder ye scarsnes of my wyt and my vnexpert youthe. I
+ haue in many places ouerpassed dyuers poetical digressions and obscurenes
+ of fables and haue concluded my worke in rude langage as shal apere in my
+ translacion."</p>
+
+ <p>"Wylling to redres the errours and vyces of this oure royalme of
+ England ... I haue taken upon me ... the translacion of this present boke
+ ... onely for the holsome instruccion commodyte and doctryne of wysdome,
+ and to clense the vanyte and madness of folysshe people of whom ouer
+ great nombre is in the Royalme of Englonde."</p>
+
+ <p>Actuated by these patriotic motives, Barclay has, while preserving all
+ the valuable characteristics of his original, painted for posterity
+ perhaps the most graphic and comprehensive picture now preserved of the
+ folly, injustice, and iniquity which demoralized England, city and
+ country alike, at the beginning of the sixteenth century, and rendered it
+ ripe for any change political or religious.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Knowledge of trouth, prudence, and iust symplicite</p>
+ <p>Hath vs clene left; For we set of them no store.</p>
+ <p>Our Fayth is defyled loue, goodnes, and Pyte:</p>
+ <p>Honest maners nowe ar reputed of: no more.</p>
+ <p>Lawyers ar lordes; but Justice is rent and tore.</p>
+ <p>Or closed lyke a Monster within dores thre.</p>
+ <p>For without mede: or money no man can hyr se.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Al is disordered: Vertue hath no rewarde.</p>
+ <p>Alas, compassion; and mercy bothe ar slayne.</p>
+ <p>Alas, the stony hartys of pepyl ar so harde</p>
+ <p>That nought can constrayne theyr folyes to refrayne."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>His ships are full laden but carry not all who should be on board.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"We are full lade and yet forsoth I thynke</p>
+ <p>A thousand are behynde, whom we may not receyue</p>
+ <p>For if we do, our nauy clene shall synke</p>
+ <p>He oft all lesys that coueytes all to haue</p>
+ <p>From London Rockes Almyghty God vs saue</p>
+ <p>For if we there anker, outher bote or barge</p>
+ <p>There be so many that they vs wyll ouercharge."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The national tone and aim of the English "Ship" are maintained
+ throughout with the greatest emphasis, exhibiting an independence of
+ spirit which few ecclesiastics of the time would have dared to own.
+ Barclay seems to have been first an Englishman, then an ecclesiastic.
+ Everywhere throughout his great work the voice of the people is heard to
+ rise and ring through the long exposure of abuse and injustice, and had
+ the authorship been unknown it would most certainly have been ascribed to
+ a Langlande of the period. Everywhere he takes what we would call the
+ popular side, the side of the people as against those in office.
+ Everywhere he stands up boldly in behalf of the oppressed, and spares not
+ the oppressor, even if he be of his own class. He applies the cudgel as
+ vigorously to the priest's pate as to the Lolardes back. But he disliked
+ modern innovation as much as ancient abuse, in this also faithfully
+ reflecting the mind of the people, and he is as emphatic in his censure
+ of the one as in his condemnation of the other.</p>
+
+ <p>Barclay's "Ship of Fools," however, is not only important as a picture
+ of the English life and popular feeling of his time, it is, both in style
+ and vocabulary, a most valuable and remarkable monument of the English
+ language. Written midway between Chaucer and Spenser, it is infinitely
+ more easy to read than either. Page after page, even in the antique
+ spelling of Pynson's edition, may be read by the ordinary reader of
+ to-day without reference to a dictionary, and when reference is required
+ it will be found in nine cases out of ten that the archaism is Saxon, not
+ Latin. This is all the more remarkable, that it occurs in the case of a
+ priest translating mainly from the Latin and French, and can only be
+ explained with reference to his standpoint as a social reformer of the
+ broadest type, and to his evident intention that his book should be an
+ appeal to all classes, but especially to the mass of the people, for
+ amendment of their follies. In evidence of this it may be noticed that in
+ the didactic passages, and especially in the L'envois, which are
+ additions of his own, wherever, in fact, he appears in his own character
+ of "preacher," his language is most simple, and his vocabulary of the
+ most Saxon description.</p>
+
+ <p>In his prologue "excusynge the rudenes of his translacion," he
+ professes to have purposely used the most "comon speche":&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"My speche is rude my termes comon and rural</p>
+ <p>And I for rude peple moche more conuenient</p>
+ <p>Than for estates, lerned men, or eloquent."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>He afterwards humorously supplements this in "the prologe,"
+ by:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"But if I halt in meter or erre in eloquence</p>
+ <p>Or be to large in langage I pray you blame not me</p>
+ <p>For my mater is so bad it wyll none other be."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>So much the better for all who are interested in studying the
+ development of our language and literature. For thus we have a volume,
+ confessedly written in the commonest language of the common people, from
+ which the philologist may at once see the stage at which they had arrived
+ in the development of a simple English speech, and how far, in this
+ respect, the spoken language had advanced a-head of the written; and from
+ which also he can judge to what extent the popularity of a book depends,
+ when the language is in a state of transition, upon the unusual
+ simplicity of its style both in structure and vocabulary, and how far it
+ may, by reason of its popularity, be influential in modifying and
+ improving the language in both these respects. In the long barren tract
+ between Chaucer and Spenser, the Ship of Fools stands all but alone as a
+ popular poem, and the continuance of this popularity for a century and
+ more is no doubt to be attributed as much to the use of the language of
+ the "coming time" as to the popularity of the subject.</p>
+
+ <p>In more recent times however, Barclay has, probably in part, from
+ accidental circumstances, come to be relegated to a position among the
+ English classics, those authors whom every one speaks of but few read.
+ That modern editions of at least his principal performance have not
+ appeared, can only be accounted for by the great expense attendant upon
+ the reproduction of so uniquely illustrated a work, an interesting proof
+ of which, given in the evidence before the Select Committee of the House
+ of Commons on the Copyright act in 1818, is worth quoting. Amongst new
+ editions of standard but costly works, of which the tax then imposed by
+ the act upon publishers of giving eleven copies of all their publications
+ free to certain libraries prevented the publication, is mentioned,
+ Barclay's "Ship of Fools;" regarding which Harding, the well known
+ bookseller, is reported to have said, "We have declined republishing the
+ 'Ship of Fools,' a folio volume of great rarity and high price. Our
+ probable demand would not have been more than for a hundred copies, at
+ the price of 12 guineas each. The delivery of eleven copies to the public
+ libraries decided us against entering into the speculation."</p>
+
+ <p>A wider and more eager interest is now being manifested in our early
+ literature, and especially in our early popular poetry, to the
+ satisfaction of which, it is believed, a new edition of this book will be
+ regarded as a most valuable contribution. Indeed, as a graphic and
+ comprehensive picture of the social condition of pre-Reformation England;
+ as an important influence in the formation of our modern English tongue;
+ and as a rich and unique exhibition of early art, to all of which
+ subjects special attention is being at present directed, this mediæval
+ picture-poem is of unrivalled interest.</p>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+<h3>NOTICE</h3>
+
+<p class="cenhead">OF THE</p>
+
+<h2><i>Life and Writings of Alexander Barclay</i>,</h2>
+
+<h3><span class="sc">the translator of brandt's ship of fools.</span></h3>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="contb"></a></p>
+
+<h3>ALEXANDER BARCLAY.</h3>
+
+ <p>Whether this distinguished poet was an Englishman or a Scotchman has
+ long been a <i>quæstio vexata</i> affording the literary antiquary a
+ suitable field for the display of his characteristic amenity. Bale, the
+ oldest authority, simply says that some contend he was a Scot, others an
+ Englishman, (Script. Illust. Majoris Britt. Catalogus, 1559). Pits (De
+ Illust. Angliæ Script.,) asserts that though to some he appears to have
+ been a Scot, he was really an Englishman, and probably a native of
+ Devonshire, ("<i>nam</i> ibi ad S. Mariam de Otery, Presbyter primum
+ fuit"). Wood again, (Athen. Oxon.), by the reasoning which finds a
+ likeness between Macedon and Monmouth, because there is a river in each,
+ arrives at "Alexander de Barklay, seems to have been born at or near a
+ town so called in Somersetshire;" upon which Ritson pertinently observes,
+ "there is no such place in Somersetshire, the onely Berkeley known is in
+ Gloucestershire." Warton, coming to the question double-shotted, observes
+ that "he was most probably of Devonshire or Gloucestershire," in the one
+ case following Pits, and in the other anticipating Ritson's
+ observation.</p>
+
+ <p>On the other hand Bale, in an earlier work than the <i>Catalogus</i>,
+ the <i>Summarium Ill. Maj. Britt. Script.</i>, published in 1548, during
+ Barclay's life time, adorns him with the epithets "Scotus, rhetor ac
+ poeta insignis." Dempster (Hist. ecclesiastica), styles him "Scotus, ut
+ retulit ipse Joannes Pitsæus." Holinshed also styles him "Scot"! Sibbald
+ gives him a place in his (MS.) Catalogues of Scottish poets, as does also
+ Wodrow in his Catalogues of Scots writers. Mackenzie (Lives of the Scots
+ writers) begins, "The Barklies, from whom this gentleman is descended,
+ are of a very ancient standing in Scotland." Ritson (Bib. Poetica), after
+ a caustic review of the controversy, observes "both his name of baptism
+ and the orthography of his surname seem to prove that he was of Scottish
+ extraction." Bliss (Additions to Wood) is of opinion that he "undoubtedly
+ was not a native of England," and Dr Irving (Hist. of Scot. Poetry)
+ adheres to the opinion of Ritson.</p>
+
+ <p>Such contention, whatever may be the weight of the evidence on either
+ side, is at any rate a sufficient proof of the eminence of the individual
+ who is the subject of it; to be his birthplace being considered an honour
+ of so much value to the country able to prove its claim to the
+ distinction as to occasion a literary warfare of several centuries'
+ duration.</p>
+
+ <p>We cannot profess to have brought such reinforcements to either side
+ as to obtain for it a complete and decisive victory, but their number and
+ character are such as will probably induce one of the combatants quietly
+ to retire from the field. In the first place, a more explicit and
+ unimpeachable piece of evidence than any contained in the authors
+ mentioned above has been found, strangely enough, in a medical treatise,
+ published about twenty years after Barclay's death, by a physician and
+ botanist of great eminence in the middle of the sixteenth century, who
+ was a native of the isle of Ely, at the Monastery of which Barclay was
+ for some time a monk.</p>
+
+ <p>It is entitled "A dialogue both pleasaunt and pietifull, wherein is a
+ godlie regiment against the Fever Pestilence, with a consolation and
+ comforte against death.&mdash;Newlie corrected by William Bullein, the
+ author thereof.&mdash;Imprinted at London by Ihon Kingston. Julij, 1573."
+ [8vo., B.L., 111 leaves.] "There was an earlier impression of this work
+ in 1564, but the edition of 1573 was 'corrected by the author,' the last
+ work on which he probably was engaged, as he died in 1576. It is of no
+ value at this time of day as a medical treatise, though the author was
+ very eminent; but we advert to it because Bullein, for the sake of
+ variety and amusement, introduces notices of Chaucer, Gower, Lidgate,
+ Skelton, and Barclay, which, coming from a man who was contemporary with
+ two of them, may be accepted as generally accurate representations....
+ Alexander Barclay, Dr Bullein calls Bartlet, in the irregular spelling of
+ those times; and, asserting that he was 'born beyond the cold river of
+ Tweed,' we see no sufficient reason for disbelieving that he was a native
+ of Scotland. Barclay, after writing his pastorals, &amp;c., did not die
+ until 1552, so that Bullein was his contemporary, and most likely knew
+ him and the fact. He observes:&mdash;'Then Bartlet, with an hoopyng
+ russet long coate, with a pretie hoode in his necke, and five knottes
+ upon his girdle, after Francis tricks. He was borne beyonde the cold
+ river of Twede. He lodged upon a swete bed of chamomill, under the
+ sinamum tree; about hym many shepherdes and shepe, with pleasaunte pipes;
+ greatly abhorring the life of Courtiers, Citizens, Usurers, and
+ Banckruptes, &amp;c., whose olde daies are miserable. And the estate of
+ shepherdes and countrie people he accoumpted moste happie and sure."
+ (Collier's "Bibliographical Account of Early English Literature," Vol.
+ 1., P. 97).</p>
+
+ <p>"The certainty with which Bulleyn here speaks of Barclay, as born
+ beyond the Tweed, is not a little strengthened by the accuracy with which
+ even in allegory he delineates his peculiar characteristics. 'He lodged
+ upon a bed of sweet camomile.' What figure could have been more
+ descriptive of that agreeable bitterness, that pleasant irony, which
+ distinguishes the author of the 'Ship of Fools?' 'About him many
+ shepherds and sheep with pleasant pipes, greatly abhorring the life of
+ courtiers.' What could have been a plainer paraphrase of the title of
+ Barclay's 'Eclogues,' or 'Miseries of Courtiers and Courtes, and of all
+ Princes in General.' As a minor feature, 'the five knots upon his girdle
+ after Francis's tricks' may also be noticed. Hitherto, the fact of
+ Barclay having been a member of the Franciscan order has been always
+ repeated as a matter of some doubt; 'he was a monk of the order of St
+ Benedict, and afterwards, as some say, a Franciscan. Bulleyn knows, and
+ mentions, with certainty, what others only speak of as the merest
+ conjecture. In short, everything tends to shew a degree of familiar
+ acquaintance with the man, his habits, and his productions, which
+ entitles the testimony of Bulleyn to the highest credit.'" (Lives of the
+ Scottish Poets, Vol. I., pt. ii., p. 77).</p>
+
+ <p>But there are other proofs pointing as decidedly to the determination
+ of this long-continued controversy in favour of Scotland, as the soil
+ from which this vagrant child of the muses sprung. No evidence seems to
+ have been hitherto sought from the most obvious source, his writings. The
+ writer of the memoir in the Biographia Brittanica, (who certainly dealt a
+ well-aimed, though by no means decisive, blow, in observing, "It is
+ pretty extraordinary that Barclay himself, in his several addresses to
+ his patrons should never take notice of his being a stranger, which would
+ have made their kindness to him the more remarkable [it was very
+ customary for the writers of that age to make mention in their works of
+ the countries to which they belonged, especially if they wrote out of
+ their own];<a name="Ft_1" href="#FtN_1"><sup>[1]</sup></a> whereas the
+ reader will quickly see, that in his address to the young gentlemen of
+ England in the 'Mirror of Good Manners,' he treats them as his
+ countrymen,") has remarked, "It seems a little strange that in those days
+ a Scot should obtain so great reputation in England, especially if it be
+ considered from whence our author's rose, viz., from his enriching and
+ improving the English tongue. Had he written in Latin or on the sciences,
+ the thing had been probable enough, but in the light in which it now
+ stands, I think it very far from likely." From which it is evident that
+ the biographer understood not the versatile nature of the Scot and his
+ ability, especially when caught young, in "doing in Rome as the Romans
+ do." Barclay's English education and foreign travel, together extending
+ over the most impressionable years of his youth, could not have failed to
+ rub off any obvious national peculiarities of speech acquired in early
+ boyhood, had the difference between the English and Scottish speech then
+ been wider than it was. But the language of Barbour and Chaucer was
+ really one and the same. It will then not be wondered at that but few
+ Scotch words are found in Barclay's writings. Still, these few are not
+ without their importance in strengthening the argument as to nationality.
+ The following from "The Ship of Fools," indicate at once the clime to
+ which they are native, "gree," "kest," "rawky," "ryue," "yate," "bokest,"
+ "bydeth," "thekt," and "or," in its peculiar Scottish use.<a name="Ft_2"
+ href="#FtN_2"><sup>[2]</sup></a> That any Englishman, especially a South
+ or West of England Englishman, should use words such as those,
+ particularly at a time of hostility and of little intercourse between the
+ nations, will surely be admitted to be a far more unlikely thing than
+ that a Scotchman born, though not bred, should become, after the effects
+ of an English education and residence had efficiently done their work
+ upon him, a great improver and enricher of the English tongue.</p>
+
+ <p>But perhaps the strongest and most decisive argument of all in this
+ much-vexed controversy is to be found in the panegyric of James the
+ Fourth contained in the "Ship of Fools," an eulogy so highly pitched and
+ extravagant that no Englishman of that time would ever have dreamed of it
+ or dared to pen it. Nothing could well be more conclusive. Barclay
+ precedes it by a long and high-flown tribute to Henry, but when he comes
+ to "Jamys of Scotlonde," he, so to speak, out-Herods Herod. Ordinary
+ verse suffices not for the greatness of his subject, which he must needs
+ honour with an acrostic,&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"&nbsp;I n prudence pereles is this moste comely kynge</p>
+ <p>A nd as for his strength and magnanymyte</p>
+ <p>C oncernynge his noble dedes in euery thynge</p>
+ <p>O ne founde or grounde lyke to hym can not be</p>
+ <p>B y byrth borne to boldnes and audacyte</p>
+ <p>V nder the bolde planet of Mars the champyon</p>
+ <p>S urely to subdue his ennemyes echone."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>There, we are convinced, speaks not the prejudiced, Scot-hating
+ English critic, but the heart beating true to its fatherland and loyal to
+ its native Sovereign.</p>
+
+ <p>That "he was born beyonde the cold river of Twede," about the year
+ 1476, as shall be shown anon, is however all the length we can go. His
+ training was without doubt mainly, if not entirely English. He must have
+ crossed the border very early in life, probably for the purpose of
+ pursuing his education at one of the Universities, or, even earlier than
+ the period of his University career, with parents or guardians to reside
+ in the neighbourhood of Croydon, to which he frequently refers. Croydon
+ is mentioned in the following passages in Eclogue I.:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"While I in youth in Croidon towne did dwell."</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"He hath no felowe betwene this and Croidon,</p>
+ <p>Save the proude plowman Gnatho of Chorlington."</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"And as in Croidon I heard the Collier preache"</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Such maner riches the Collier tell thee can"</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"As the riche Shepheard that woned in Mortlake."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>It seems to have become a second home to him, for there, we find, in
+ 1552, he died and was buried.</p>
+
+ <p>At which University he studied, whether Oxford or Cambridge, is also a
+ matter of doubt and controversy. Wood claims him for Oxford and Oriel,
+ apparently on no other ground than that he dedicates the "Ship of Fools"
+ to Thomas Cornish, the Suffragan bishop of Tyne, in the Diocese of Bath
+ and Wells, who was provost of Oriel College from 1493 to 1507. That the
+ Bishop was the first to give him an appointment in the Church is
+ certainly a circumstance of considerable weight in favour of the claim of
+ Oxford to be his <i>alma mater</i>, and of Cornish to be his intellectual
+ father; and if the appointment proceeded from the Provost's good opinion
+ of the young Scotchman, then it says much for the ability and talents
+ displayed by him during his College career. Oxford however appears to be
+ nowhere mentioned in his various writings, while Cambridge is introduced
+ thus in Eclogue I.:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"And once in Cambridge I heard a scoller say."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>From which it seems equally, if not more, probable that he was a
+ student at that university. "There is reason to believe that both the
+ universities were frequented by Scotish students; many particular names
+ are to be traced in their annals; nor is it altogether irrelevant to
+ mention that Chaucer's young clerks of Cambridge who played such tricks
+ to the miller of Trompington, are described as coming from the north, and
+ as speaking the Scotish language:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg1">'John highte that on, and Alein highte that other,</p>
+ <p>Of o toun were they born that highte Strother,</p>
+ <p>Fer in the North, I cannot tellen where.'</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>"It may be considered as highly probable that Barclay completed his
+ studies in one of those universities, and that the connections which he
+ thus had an opportunity of forming, induced him to fix his residence in
+ the South; and when we suppose him to have enjoyed the benefit of an
+ English education it need not appear peculiarly 'strange, that in those
+ days, a Scot should obtain so great reputation in England.'" (Irving,
+ Hist. of Scot. Poetry).</p>
+
+ <p>In the "Ship" there is a chapter "Of unprofytable Stody" in which he
+ makes allusion to his student life in such a way as to imply that it had
+ not been a model of regularity and propriety:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"The great foly, the pryde, and the enormyte</p>
+ <p>Of our studentis, and theyr obstynate errour</p>
+ <p>Causeth me to wryte two sentences or thre</p>
+ <p>More than I fynde wrytyn in myne actoure</p>
+ <p>The tyme hath ben whan I was conductoure</p>
+ <p>Of moche foly, whiche nowe my mynde doth greue</p>
+ <p>Wherfor of this shyp syns I am gouernoure</p>
+ <p>I dare be bolde myne owne vyce to repreue."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>If these lines are meant to be accepted literally, which such
+ confessions seldom are, it may be that he was advised to put a year or
+ two's foreign travel between his University career, and his entrance into
+ the Church. At any rate, for whatever reason, on leaving the University,
+ where, as is indicated by the title of "Syr" prefixed to his name in his
+ translation of Sallust, he had obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts,
+ he travelled abroad, whether at his own charges, or in the company of a
+ son of one of his patrons is not recorded, principally in Germany, Italy,
+ and France, where he applied himself, with an unusual assiduity and
+ success, to the acquirement of the languages spoken in those countries
+ and to the study of their best authors. In the chapter "Of unprofytable
+ Stody," above mentioned, which contains proof how well he at least had
+ profited by study, he cites certain continental seats of university
+ learning at each of which, there is indeed no improbability in supposing
+ he may have remained for some time, as was the custom in those days:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"One rennyth to Almayne another vnto France</p>
+ <p>To Parys, Padway, Lumbardy or Spayne</p>
+ <p>Another to Bonony, Rome, or Orleanse</p>
+ <p>To Cayne, to Tolows, Athenys, or Colayne."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Another reference to his travels and mode of travelling is found in
+ the Eclogues. Whether he made himself acquainted with the English towns
+ he enumerates before or after his continental travels it is impossible to
+ determine:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i16">CORNIX.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"As if diuers wayes laye vnto Islington,</p>
+ <p>To Stow on the Wold, Quaueneth or Trompington,</p>
+ <p>To Douer, Durham, to Barwike or Exeter,</p>
+ <p>To Grantham, Totnes, Bristow or good Manchester,</p>
+ <p>To Roan, Paris, to Lions or Floraunce.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i16">CORIDON.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>(What ho man abide, what already in Fraunce,</p>
+ <p>Lo, a fayre iourney and shortly ended to,</p>
+ <p>With all these townes what thing haue we to do?</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i16">CORNIX.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>By Gad man knowe thou that I haue had to do</p>
+ <p>In all these townes and yet in many mo,</p>
+ <p>To see the worlde in youth me thought was best,</p>
+ <p>And after in age to geue my selfe to rest.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i16">CORIDON.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thou might haue brought one and set by our village.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i16">CORNIX.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What man I might not for lacke of cariage.</p>
+ <p>To cary mine owne selfe was all that euer I might,</p>
+ <p>And sometime for ease my sachell made I light."</p>
+ <p class="i30">ECLOGUE I.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Returning to England, after some years of residence abroad, with his
+ mind broadened and strengthened by foreign travel, and by the study of
+ the best authors, modern as well as ancient, Barclay entered the church,
+ the only career then open to a man of his training. With intellect,
+ accomplishments, and energy possessed by few, his progress to distinction
+ and power ought to have been easy and rapid, but it turned out quite
+ otherwise. The road to eminence lay by the "backstairs," the atmosphere
+ of which he could not endure. The ways of courtiers&mdash;falsehood,
+ flattery, and fawning&mdash;he detested, and worse, he said so, wherefore
+ his learning, wit and eloquence found but small reward. To his freedom of
+ speech, his unsparing exposure and denunciation of corruption and vice in
+ the Court and the Church, as well as among the people generally, must
+ undoubtedly be attributed the failure to obtain that high promotion his
+ talents deserved, and would otherwise have met with. The policy, not
+ always a successful one in the end, of ignoring an inconvenient display
+ of talent, appears to have been fully carried out in the instance of
+ Barclay.</p>
+
+ <p>His first preferment appears to have been in the shape of a
+ chaplainship in the sanctuary for piety and learning founded at Saint
+ Mary Otery in the County of Devon, by Grandison, Bishop of Exeter; and to
+ have come from Thomas Cornish, Suffragan Bishop of Bath and Wells under
+ the title of the Bishop of Tyne, "meorum primitias laborum qui in lucem
+ eruperunt," to whom, doubtless out of gratitude for his first
+ appointment, he dedicated "The Ship of Fools." Cornish, amongst the many
+ other good things he enjoyed, held, according to Dugdale, from 1490 to
+ 1511, the post of warden of the College of S. Mary Otery, where Barclay
+ no doubt had formed that regard and respect for him which is so strongly
+ expressed in the dedication.</p>
+
+ <p>A very eulogistic notice of "My Mayster Kyrkham," in the chapter "Of
+ the extorcion of Knyghtis," (Ship of Fools,) has misled biographers, who
+ were ignorant of Cornish's connection with S. Mary Otery, to imagine that
+ Barclay's use of "Capellanus humilimus" in his dedication was merely a
+ polite expression, and that Kyrkham, of whom he styles himself, "His true
+ seruytour his chaplayne and bedeman" was his actual ecclesiastical
+ superior. The following is the whole passage:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Good offycers ar good and commendable</p>
+ <p>And manly knyghtes that lyue in rightwysenes</p>
+ <p>But they that do nat ar worthy of a bable</p>
+ <p>Syns by theyr pryde pore people they oppres</p>
+ <p>My mayster Kyrkhan for his perfyte mekenes</p>
+ <p>And supportacion of men in pouertye</p>
+ <p>Out of my shyp shall worthely be fre</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I flater nat I am his true seruytour</p>
+ <p>His chaplayne and his bede man whyle my lyfe shall endure</p>
+ <p>Requyrynge God to exalt hym to honour</p>
+ <p>And of his Prynces fauour to be sure</p>
+ <p>For as I haue sayd I knowe no creature</p>
+ <p>More manly rightwyse wyse discrete and sad</p>
+ <p>But thoughe he be good, yet other ar als bad."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>That this Kyrkham was a knight and not an ecclesiastic is so plainly
+ apparent as to need no argument. An investigation into Devonshire history
+ affords the interesting information that among the ancient families of
+ that county there was one of this name, of great antiquity and repute,
+ now no longer existent, of which the most eminent member was a certain
+ Sir John Kirkham, whose popularity is evinced by his having been twice
+ created High Sheriff of the County, in the years 1507 and 1523. (Prince,
+ Worthies of Devon; Izacke, Antiquities of Exeter.)</p>
+
+ <p>That this was the Kirkham above alluded to, there can be no reasonable
+ doubt, and in view of the expression "My mayster Kyrkham," it may be
+ surmised that Barclay had the honour of being appointed by this worthy
+ gentleman to the office of Sheriff's or private Chaplain or to some
+ similar position of confidence, by which he gained the poet's respect and
+ gratitude. The whole allusion, however, might, without straining be
+ regarded as a merely complimentary one. The tone of the passage affords
+ at any rate a very pleasing glimpse of the mutual regard entertained by
+ the poet and his Devonshire neighbours.</p>
+
+ <p>After the eulogy of Kyrkham ending with "Yet other ar als bad," the
+ poet goes on immediately to give the picture of a character of the
+ opposite description, making the only severe personal reference in his
+ whole writings, for with all his unsparing exposure of wrong-doing, he
+ carefully, wisely, honourably avoided personality. A certain Mansell of
+ Otery is gibbeted as a terror to evil doers in a way which would form a
+ sufficient ground for an action for libel in these degenerate
+ days.&mdash;Ship, II. 82.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Mansell of Otery for powlynge of the pore</p>
+ <p>Were nat his great wombe, here sholde haue an ore</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But for his body is so great and corporate</p>
+ <p>And so many burdens his brode backe doth charge</p>
+ <p>If his great burthen cause hym to come to late</p>
+ <p>Yet shall the knaue be Captayne of a barge</p>
+ <p>Where as ar bawdes and so sayle out at large</p>
+ <p>About our shyp to spye about for prayes</p>
+ <p>For therupon hath he lyued all his dayes."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>It ought however to be mentioned that no such name as Mansell appears
+ in the Devonshire histories, and it may therefore be fictitious.</p>
+
+ <p>The ignorance and reckless living of the clergy, one of the chief
+ objects of his animadversion, receive also local illustration:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"For if one can flater, and beare a Hauke on his fist,</p>
+ <p>He shalbe <span class="correction" title="'mde' in original">made</span> parson of Honington or Clist."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>A good humoured reference to the Secondaries of the College is the
+ only other streak of local colouring we have detected in the Ship, except
+ the passage in praise of his friend and colleague Bishop, quoted at p.
+ liii.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Softe, fooles, softe, a little slacke your pace,</p>
+ <p>Till I haue space you to order by degree,</p>
+ <p>I haue eyght neyghbours, that first shall haue a place</p>
+ <p>Within this my ship, for they most worthy be,</p>
+ <p>They may their learning receyue costles and free,</p>
+ <p>Their walles abutting and ioyning to the scholes;</p>
+ <p>Nothing they can, yet nought will they learne nor see,</p>
+ <p>Therfore shall they guide this our ship of fooles."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>In the comfort, quiet, and seclusion of the pleasant Devonshire
+ retreat, the "Ship" was translated in the year 1508, when he would be
+ about thirty-two, "by Alexander Barclay Preste; and at that tyme chaplen
+ in the sayde College," whence it may be inferred that he left Devon,
+ either in that year or the year following, when the "Ship" was published,
+ probably proceeding to London for the purpose of seeing it through the
+ press. Whether he returned to Devonshire we do not know; probably not,
+ for his patron and friend Cornish resigned the wardenship of St Mary
+ Otery in 1511, and in two years after died, so that Barclay's ties and
+ hopes in the West were at an end. At any rate we next hear of him in
+ monastic orders, a monk of the order of S. Benedict, in the famous
+ monastery of Ely, where, as is evident from internal proof, the Eclogues
+ were written and where likewise, as appears from the title, was
+ translated "The mirrour of good maners," at the desire of Syr Giles
+ Alington, Knight.</p>
+
+ <p>It is about this period of his life, probably the period of the full
+ bloom of his popularity, that the quiet life of the poet and priest was
+ interrupted by the recognition of his eminence in the highest quarters,
+ and by a request for his aid in maintaining the honour of the country on
+ an occasion to which the eyes of all Europe were then directed. In a
+ letter of Sir Nicholas Vaux, busied with the preparations for the meeting
+ of Henry VIII., and Francis I., called the Field of the Cloth of Gold, to
+ Wolsey, of date 10th April 1520, he begs the cardinal to "send to them
+ ... Maistre Barkleye, the Black Monke and Poete, to devise histoires and
+ convenient raisons to florisshe the buildings and banquet house withal"
+ (Rolls Calendars of Letters and Papers, Henry VIII., <span
+ class="sc">iii.</span> pt. 1.). No doubt it was also thought that this
+ would be an excellent opportunity for the eulogist of the Defender of the
+ Faith to again take up the lyre to sing the glories of his royal master,
+ but no effort of his muse on the subject of this great chivalric pageant
+ has descended to us if any were ever penned.</p>
+
+ <p>Probably after this employment he did not return to Ely; with his
+ position or surroundings there he does not seem to have been altogether
+ satisfied ("there many a thing is wrong," see p. lxix.); and afterwards,
+ though in the matter of date we are somewhat puzzled by the allusion of
+ Bulleyn, an Ely man, to his Franciscan habit, he assumed the habit of the
+ Franciscans at Canterbury, ('Bale MS. Sloan, f. 68,') to which change we
+ may owe, if it be really Barclay's, "The life of St Thomas of
+ Canterbury."</p>
+
+ <p>Autumn had now come to the poet, but fruit had failed him. The advance
+ of age and his failure to obtain a suitable position in the Church began
+ gradually to weigh upon his spirits. The bright hopes with which he had
+ started in the flush of youth, the position he was to obtain, the
+ influence he was to wield, and the work he was to do personally, and by
+ his writings, in the field of moral and social reformation were all in
+ sad contrast with the actualities around. He had never risen from the
+ ranks, the army was in a state of disorganisation, almost of mutiny, and
+ the enemy was more bold, unscrupulous, and numerous than ever. It is
+ scarcely to be wondered at that, though not past fifty, he felt
+ prematurely aged, that his youthful enthusiasm which had carried him on
+ bravely in many an attempt to instruct and benefit his fellows at length
+ forsook him and left him a prey to that weakness of body, and that
+ hopelessness of spirit to which he so pathetically alludes in the
+ Prologue to the Mirror of good Manners. All his best work, all the work
+ which has survived to our day, was executed before this date. But the pen
+ was too familiar to his hand to be allowed to drop. His biographers tell
+ us "that when years came on he spent his time mostly in pious matters,
+ and in reading and writing histories of the Saints." A goodly picture of
+ a well-spent old age. The harness of youth he had no longer the spirit
+ and strength to don, the garments of age he gathered resignedly and
+ gracefully about him.</p>
+
+ <p>On the violent dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, when their
+ inmates, the good and bad, the men of wisdom and the "fools," were alike
+ cast adrift upon a rock-bound and stormy coast, the value of the
+ patronage which his literary and personal popularity had brought him, was
+ put to the test, and in the end successfully, though after considerable,
+ but perhaps not to be wondered at, delay. His great patrons, the Duke of
+ Norfolk, the Earl of Kent, Bishop Cornish, and probably also Sir Giles
+ Alington, were all dead, and he had to rely on newer and necessarily
+ weaker ties. But after waiting, till probably somewhat dispirited,
+ fortune smiled at last. Two handsome livings were presented to him in the
+ same year, both of which he apparently held at the same time, the
+ vicarage of Much Badew in Essex, by the presentation of Mr John Pascal,
+ to which he was instituted on February 7th, 1546, holding it (according
+ to the Lansdowne MS. (980 f. 101), in the British Museum) till his death;
+ and the vicarage of S. Mathew at Wokey, in Somerset, on March 30th of the
+ same year. Wood dignifies him with the degree of doctor of divinity at
+ the time of his presentation to these preferments.</p>
+
+ <p>That he seems to have accepted quietly the gradual progress of the
+ reformed religion during the reign of Edward VI., has been a cause of
+ wonder to some. It would certainly have been astonishing had one who was
+ so unsparing in his exposure of the flagrant abuses of the Romish Church
+ done otherwise. Though personally disinclined to radical changes his
+ writings amply show his deep dissatisfaction with things as they were.
+ This renders the more improbable the honours assigned him by Wadding
+ (Scriptores Ordinis Minorum, 1806, p. 5), who promotes him to be
+ Suffragan Bishop of Bath and Wells, and Bale, who, in a slanderous
+ anecdote, the locale of which is also Wells, speaks of him as a chaplain
+ of Queen Mary's, though Mary did not ascend the throne till the year
+ after his death. As these statements are nowhere confirmed, it is not
+ improbable that their authors have fallen into error by confounding the
+ poet Barclay, with a Gilbert Berkeley, who became Bishop of Bath and
+ Wells in 1559. One more undoubted, but tardy, piece of preferment was
+ awarded him which may be regarded as an honour of some significance. On
+ the 30th April 1552, the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, London,
+ presented him to the Rectory of All Hallows, Lombard Street, but the
+ well-deserved promotion came too late to be enjoyed. A few weeks after,
+ and before the 10th June, at which date his will was proved, he died, as
+ his biographers say, "at a very advanced age;" at the good old age of
+ seventy-six, as shall be shown presently, at Croydon where he had passed
+ his youth, and there in the Church he was buried. "June 10th 1552,
+ Alexander Barkley sepult," (Extract from the Parish Register, in Lyson's
+ Environs of London).</p>
+
+ <p>A copy of his will, an extremely interesting and instructive document,
+ has been obtained from Doctors' Commons, and will be found appended. It
+ bears in all its details those traits of character which, from all that
+ we otherwise know, we are led to associate with him. In it we see the
+ earnest, conscientious minister whose first thought is of the poor, the
+ loyal churchman liberal in his support of the house of God, the kind
+ relative in his numerous and considerate bequests to his kith and kin,
+ the amiable, much loved man in the gifts of remembrance to his many
+ friends, and the pious Christian in his wishes for the prayers of his
+ survivors "to Almightie God for remission of my synnes, and mercy upon my
+ soule."</p>
+
+ <p>Barclay's career and character, both as a churchman and a man of
+ letters, deserve attention and respect from every student of our early
+ history and literature. In the former capacity he showed himself
+ diligent, honest, and anxious, at a time when these qualities seemed to
+ have been so entirely lost to the church as to form only a subject for
+ clerical ridicule. In the latter, the same qualities are also prominent,
+ diligence, honesty, bold outspokenness, an ardent desire for the pure,
+ the true, and the natural, and an undisguised enmity to everything false,
+ self-seeking, and vile. Everything he did was done in a pure way, and to
+ a worthy end.</p>
+
+ <p>Bale stands alone in casting aspersions upon his moral character,
+ asserting, as Ritson puts it, "in his bigoted and foul-mouthed way," that
+ "he continued a hater of truth, and under the disguise of celibacy a
+ filthy adulterer to the last;" and in his Declaration of Bonner's
+ articles (1561, fol. 81), he condescends to an instance to the effect
+ that "Doctoure Barkleye hadde greate harme ones of suche a visitacion, at
+ Wellys, before he was Quene Maryes Chaplayne. For the woman whome he so
+ religiouslye visited did light him of all that he had, sauinge his
+ workinge tolas. For the whiche acte he had her in prison, and yet coulde
+ nothing recouer againe." Whether this story be true of any one is perhaps
+ doubtful, and, if true of a Barclay, we are convinced that he is not our
+ author. It may have arisen as we have seen from a mistake as to <span
+ class="correction" title="'indentity' in original">identity.</span> But
+ apart from the question of identity, we have nothing in support of the
+ slander but Bale's "foul-mouthed" assertion, while against it we have the
+ whole tenor and aim of Barclay's published writings. Everywhere he
+ inculcates the highest and purest morality, and where even for that
+ purpose he might be led into descriptions of vice, his disgust carries
+ him past what most others would have felt themselves justified in dealing
+ with. For example, in the chapter of "Disgysyd folys" he expressly passes
+ over as lightly as possible what might to others have proved a tempting
+ subject:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"They disceyue myndes chaste and innocent</p>
+ <p>With dyuers wayes whiche I wyll nat expres</p>
+ <p>Lyst that whyle I labour this cursyd gyse to stynt</p>
+ <p>I myght to them mynyster example of lewdnes</p>
+ <p>And therfore in this part I shall say les</p>
+ <p>Than doth my actour."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Elsewhere he declares:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i16">"for my boke certaynly</p>
+ <p>I haue compyled: for vertue and goodnes</p>
+ <p>And to reuyle foule synne and vyciousnes"</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>But citation is needless; there is not a page of his writings which
+ will not supply similar evidence, and our great early moralist may, we
+ think, be dismissed from Court without a stain on his character.</p>
+
+ <p>Indeed to his high pitched morality, he doubtless owed in some degree
+ the great and extended popularity of his poetical writings in former
+ times and their neglect in later. Sermons and "good" books were not yet
+ in the sixteenth century an extensive branch of literature, and "good"
+ people could without remorse of conscience vary their limited theological
+ reading by frowning over the improprieties and sins of their neighbours
+ as depicted in the "Ship," and joining, with a serious headshaking
+ heartiness, in the admonitions of the translator to amendment, or they
+ might feel "strengthened" by a glance into the "Mirrour of good Maners,"
+ or edified by hearing of the "Miseryes of Courtiers and Courtes of all
+ princes in generall," as told in the "Eclogues."</p>
+
+ <p>Certain it is that these writings owed little of their acceptance to
+ touches of humour or satire, to the gifts of a poetical imagination, or
+ the grace of a polished diction. The indignation of the honest man and
+ the earnestness of the moralist waited not for gifts and graces.
+ Everything went down, hard, rough, even uncouth as it stood, of course
+ gaining in truth and in graphic power what it wants in elegance. Still,
+ with no refinement, polish or elaboration, there are many picturesque
+ passages scattered throughout these works which no amount of polishing
+ could have improved. How could a man in a rage be better touched off than
+ thus ("Ship" I. 182, 15).</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"This man malycious whiche troubled is with wrath</p>
+ <p>Nought els soundeth but the hoorse letter R."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The passion of love is so graphically described that it is difficult
+ to imagine our priestly moralist a total stranger to its power, (I.
+ 81).</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"For he that loueth is voyde of all reason</p>
+ <p>Wandrynge in the worlde without lawe or mesure</p>
+ <p>In thought and fere sore vexed eche season</p>
+ <p>And greuous dolours in loue he must endure</p>
+ <p>No creature hym selfe, may well assure</p>
+ <p>From loues soft dartis: I say none on the grounde</p>
+ <p>But mad and folysshe bydes he whiche hath the wounde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Aye rennynge as franatyke no reason in his mynde</p>
+ <p>He hath no constaunce nor ease within his herte</p>
+ <p>His iyen ar blynde, his wyll alwaye inclyned</p>
+ <p>To louys preceptes yet can nat he departe</p>
+ <p>The Net is stronge, the sole caught can nat starte</p>
+ <p>The darte is sharpe, who euer is in the chayne</p>
+ <p>Can nat his sorowe in vysage hyde nor fayne"</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>For expressive, happy simile, the two following examples are
+ capital:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Yet sometimes riches is geuen by some chance</p>
+ <p>To such as of good haue greatest aboundaunce.</p>
+ <p>Likewise as streames unto the sea do glide.</p>
+ <p>But on bare hills no water will abide.</p>
+ <p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ·</p>
+ <p>So smallest persons haue small rewarde alway</p>
+ <p>But men of worship set in authoritie</p>
+ <p>Must haue rewardes great after their degree."&mdash;<span class="sc">Eclogue</span> I.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"And so such thinges which princes to thee geue</p>
+ <p>To thee be as sure as water in a siue</p>
+ <p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ·</p>
+ <p>So princes are wont with riches some to fede</p>
+ <p>As we do our swine when we of larde haue nede</p>
+ <p>We fede our hogges them after to deuour</p>
+ <p>When they be fatted by costes and labour."&mdash;<span class="sc">Eclogue</span> I.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The everlasting conceit of musical humanity is very truthfully hit
+ off.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"This is of singers the very propertie</p>
+ <p>Alway they coueyt desired for to be</p>
+ <p>And when their frendes would heare of their cunning</p>
+ <p>Then are they neuer disposed for to sing,</p>
+ <p>But if they begin desired of no man</p>
+ <p>Then shewe they all and more then they can</p>
+ <p>And neuer leaue they till men of them be wery,</p>
+ <p>So in their conceyt their cunning they set by."&mdash;<span class="sc">Eclogue II.</span></p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Pithy sayings are numerous. Comparing citizens with countrymen, the
+ countryman says:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Fortune to them is like a mother dere</p>
+ <p>As a stepmother she doth to us appeare."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Of money:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Coyne more than cunning exalteth every man."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Of clothing:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"It is not clothing can make a man be good</p>
+ <p>Better is in ragges pure liuing innocent</p>
+ <p>Than a soule defiled in sumptuous garment."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>It is as the graphic delineator of the life and condition of the
+ country in his period that the chief interest of Barclay's writings, and
+ especially of the "Ship of Fools," now lies. Nowhere so accessibly, so
+ fully, and so truthfully will be found the state of Henry the Eighth's
+ England set forth. Every line bears the character of truthfulness,
+ written as it evidently is, in all the soberness of sadness, by one who
+ had no occasion to exaggerate, whose only object and desire was, by
+ massing together and describing faithfully the follies and abuses which
+ were evident to all, to shame every class into some degree of moral
+ reformation, and, in particular, to effect some amelioration of
+ circumstances to the suffering poor.</p>
+
+ <p>And a sad picture it is which we thus obtain of merrie England in the
+ good old times of bluff King Hal, wanting altogether in the <i>couleur de
+ rose</i> with which it is tinted by its latest historian Mr Froude, who
+ is ably taken to task on this subject by a recent writer in the
+ Westminster Review, whose conclusions, formed upon other evidence than
+ Barclay's, express so fairly the impression left by a perusal of the
+ "Ship of Fools," and the Eclogues, that we quote them here. "Mr Froude
+ remarks: 'Looking therefore, at the state of England as a whole, I cannot
+ doubt that under Henry the body of the people were prosperous, well-fed,
+ loyal, and contented. In all points of material comfort, they were as
+ well off as ever they had been before; better off than they have ever
+ been in later times.' In this estimate we cannot agree. Rather we should
+ say that during, and for long after, this reign, the people were in the
+ most deplorable condition of poverty and misery of every kind. That they
+ were ill-fed, that loyalty was at its lowest ebb, that discontent was
+ rife throughout the land. 'In all points of material comfort,' we think
+ they were worse off than they had ever been before, and infinitely worse
+ off than they have ever been since the close of the sixteenth
+ century,&mdash;a century in which the cup of England's woes was surely
+ fuller than it has ever been since, or will, we trust, ever be again. It
+ was the century in which this country and its people passed through a
+ baptism of blood as well as 'a baptism of fire,' and out of which they
+ came holier and better. The epitaph which should be inscribed over the
+ century is contained in a sentence written by the famous Acham in
+ 1547:&mdash;'Nam vita, quæ nunc vivitur a plurimis, non vita sed miseria
+ est.'" So, Bradford (Sermon on Repentance, 1533) sums up contemporary
+ opinion in a single weighty sentence: "All men may see if they will that
+ the whoredom pride, unmercifulness, and tyranny of England far surpasses
+ any age that ever was before." Every page of Barclay corroborates these
+ accounts of tyranny, injustice, immorality, wretchedness, poverty, and
+ general discontent.</p>
+
+ <p>Not only in fact and feeling are Barclay's Ship of Fools and Eclogues
+ thoroughly expressive of the unhappy, discontented, poverty-stricken,
+ priest-ridden, and court-ridden condition and life, the bitter sorrows
+ and the humble wishes of the people, their very texture, as Barclay
+ himself tells us, consists of the commonest language of the day, and in
+ it are interwoven many of the current popular proverbs and expressions.
+ Almost all of these are still "household words" though few ever imagine
+ the garb of their "daily wisdom" to be of such venerable antiquity. Every
+ page of the "Eclogues" abounds with them; in the "Ship" they are less
+ common, but still by no means infrequent. We have for
+ instance:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Better is a frende in courte than a peny in purse"&mdash;(I. 70.)</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"Whan the stede is stolyn to shyt the stable dore"&mdash;(I. 76.)</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"It goeth through as water through a syue."&mdash;(I. 245.)</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"And he that alway thretenyth for to fyght</p>
+ <p>Oft at the prose is skantly worth a hen</p>
+ <p>For greattest crakers ar nat ay boldest men."&mdash;(I. 198.)</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"I fynde foure thynges whiche by no meanes can</p>
+ <p>Be kept close, in secrete, or longe in preuetee</p>
+ <p>The firste is the counsell of a wytles man</p>
+ <p>The seconde is a cyte whiche byldyd is a hye</p>
+ <p>Upon a montayne the thyrde we often se</p>
+ <p>That to hyde his dedes a louer hath no skyll</p>
+ <p>The fourth is strawe or fethers on a wyndy hyll."&mdash;(I. 199.)</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"A crowe to pull."&mdash;(II. 8.)</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"For it is a prouerbe, and an olde sayd sawe</p>
+ <p>That in euery place lyke to lyke wyll drawe."&mdash;(II. 35.)</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"Better haue one birde sure within thy wall</p>
+ <p>Or fast in a cage than twenty score without"&mdash;(II. 74)</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"Gapynge as it were dogges for a bone."&mdash;(II. 93.)</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"Pryde sholde haue a fall."&mdash;(II. 161).</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"For wyse men sayth ...</p>
+ <p>One myshap fortuneth neuer alone."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"Clawe where it itchyth."&mdash;(II. 256.) [The use of this, it occurs again in the Eclogues, might be regarded by some of our Southern friends, as itself a sufficient proof of the author's Northern origin.]</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The following are selected from the Eclogues as the most
+ remarkable:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Each man for himself, and the fende for us all."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"They robbe Saint Peter therwith to clothe Saint Powle."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"For might of water will not our leasure bide."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"Once out of sight and shortly out of minde."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"For children brent still after drede the fire."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"Together they cleave more fast than do burres."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"Tho' thy teeth water."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"I aske of the foxe no farther than the skin."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"To touche soft pitche and not his fingers file."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"From post unto piller tost shall thou be."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"Over head and eares."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"Go to the ant."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"A man may contende, God geueth victory."</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"Of two evils chose the least."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>These are but the more striking specimens. An examination of the
+ "Ship," and especially of the "Eclogues," for the purpose of extracting
+ their whole proverbial lore, would be well worth the while, if it be not
+ the duty, of the next collector in this branch of popular literature.
+ These writings introduce many of our common sayings for the first time to
+ English literature, no writer prior to Barclay having thought it
+ dignified or worth while to profit by the popular wisdom to any
+ perceptible extent. The first collection of proverbs, Heywood's, did not
+ appear until 1546, so that in Barclay we possess the earliest known
+ English form of such proverbs as he introduces. It need scarcely be said
+ that that form is, in the majority of instances, more full of meaning and
+ point than its modern representatives.</p>
+
+ <p>Barclay's adoption of the language of the people naturally elevated
+ him in popular estimation to a position far above that of his
+ contemporaries in the matter of style, so much so that he has been
+ traditionally recorded as one of the greatest improvers of the language,
+ that is, one of those who helped greatly to bring the written language to
+ be more nearly in accordance with the spoken. Both a scholar and a man of
+ the world, his phraseology bears token of the greater cultivation and
+ wider knowledge he possessed over his contemporaries. He certainly aimed
+ at clearness of expression, and simplicity of vocabulary, and in these
+ respects was so far in advance of his time that his works can even now be
+ read with ease, without the help of dictionary or glossary. In spite of
+ his church training and his residence abroad, his works are surprisingly
+ free from Latin or French forms of speech; on the contrary, they are, in
+ the main, characterised by a strong Saxon directness of expression which
+ must have tended greatly to the continuance of their popularity, and have
+ exercised a strong and advantageous influence both in regulating the use
+ of the common spoken language, and in leading the way which it was
+ necessary for the literary language to follow. Philologists and
+ dictionary makers appear, however, to have hitherto overlooked Barclay's
+ works, doubtless owing to their rarity, but their intrinsic value as well
+ as their position in relation to the history of the language demand
+ specific recognition at their hands.</p>
+
+ <p>Barclay evidently delighted in his pen. From the time of his return
+ from the Continent, it was seldom out of his hand. Idleness was
+ distasteful to him. He petitions his critics if they be "wyse men and
+ cunnynge," that:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"They shall my youth pardone, and vnchraftynes</p>
+ <p>Whiche onely translate, to eschewe ydelnes."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Assuredly a much more laudable way of employing leisure then than now,
+ unless the translator prudently stop short of print. The modesty and
+ singleness of aim of the man are strikingly illustrated by his thus
+ devoting his time and talents, not to original work as he was well able
+ to have done had he been desirous only of glorifying his own name, but to
+ the translation and adaptation or, better, "Englishing" of such foreign
+ authors as he deemed would exercise a wholesome and profitable influence
+ upon his countrymen. Such work, however, moulded in his skilful hands,
+ became all but original, little being left of his author but the idea.
+ Neither the Ship of Fools, nor the Eclogues retain perceptible traces of
+ a foreign source, and were it not that they honestly bear their
+ authorship on their fore-front, they might be regarded as thoroughly,
+ even characteristically, English productions.</p>
+
+ <p>The first known work from Barclay's pen<a name="Ft_3"
+ href="#FtN_3"><sup>[3]</sup></a> appeared from the press of De Worde, so
+ early as 1506, probably immediately on his return from abroad, and was no
+ doubt the fruit of continental leisure. It is a translation, in seven
+ line stanzas, of the popular French poet Pierre Gringore's Le Chateau de
+ labour (1499)&mdash;the most ancient work of Gringore with date, and
+ perhaps his best&mdash;under the title of "The Castell of laboure wherein
+ is richesse, vertu, and honour;" in which in a fanciful allegory of some
+ length, a somewhat wearisome Lady Reason overcomes despair, poverty and
+ other such evils attendant upon the fortunes of a poor man lately
+ married, the moral being to show:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"That idleness, mother of all adversity,</p>
+ <p>Her subjects bringeth to extreme poverty."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The general appreciation of this first essay is evidenced by the issue
+ of a second edition from the press of Pynson a few years after the
+ appearance of the first.</p>
+
+ <p>Encouraged by the favourable reception accorded to the first effort of
+ his muse, Barclay, on his retirement to the ease and leisure of the
+ College of St Mary Otery, set to work on the "Ship of Fools,"
+ acquaintance with which Europe-famous satire he must have made when
+ abroad. This, his <i>magnum opus</i>, has been described at some length
+ in the Introduction, but two interesting personal notices relative to the
+ composition of the work may here be added. In the execution of the great
+ task, he expresses himself, (II. 278), as under the greatest obligations
+ to his colleague, friend, and literary adviser, Bishop:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Whiche was the first ouersear of this warke</p>
+ <p>And vnto his frende gaue his aduysement</p>
+ <p>It nat to suffer to slepe styll in the darke</p>
+ <p>But to be publysshyd abrode: and put to prent</p>
+ <p>To thy monycion my bysshop I assent</p>
+ <p>Besechynge god that I that day may se</p>
+ <p>That thy honour may prospere and augment</p>
+ <p>So that thy name and offyce may agre</p>
+ <p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ·</p>
+ <p>In this short balade I can nat comprehende</p>
+ <p>All my full purpose that I wolde to the wryte</p>
+ <p>But fayne I wolde that thou sholde sone assende</p>
+ <p>To heuenly worshyp and celestyall delyte</p>
+ <p>Than shoulde I after my pore wyt and respyt,</p>
+ <p>Display thy name, and great kyndnes to me</p>
+ <p>But at this tyme no farther I indyte</p>
+ <p>But pray that thy name and worshyp may agre."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Pynson, in his capacity of judicious publisher, fearing lest the book
+ should exceed suitable dimensions, also receives due notice at p. 108 of
+ Vol. I., where he speaks of</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i8">"the charge Pynson hathe on me layde</p>
+ <p>With many folys our Nauy not to charge."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The concluding stanza, or colophon, is also devoted to immortalising
+ the great bibliopole in terms, it must be admitted, not dissimilar to
+ those of a modern draper's poet laureate:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Our Shyp here leuyth the sees brode</p>
+ <p>By helpe of God almyght and quyetly</p>
+ <p>At Anker we lye within the rode</p>
+ <p>But who that lysteth of them to bye</p>
+ <p>In Flete strete shall them fynde truly</p>
+ <p>At the George: in Richarde Pynsonnes place</p>
+ <p>Prynter vnto the Kynges noble grace.</p>
+ <p class="i20">Deo gratias.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Contemporary allusions to the Ship of Fools there could not fail to
+ be, but the only one we have met with occurs in Bulleyn's Dialogue quoted
+ above, p. xxvii. It runs as follows:&mdash;<i>Uxor</i>.&mdash;What ship
+ is that with so many owers, and straunge tacle; it is a greate vessell.
+ <i>Ciuis</i>.&mdash;This is the ship of fooles, wherin saileth bothe
+ spirituall and temporall, of euery callyng some: there are kynges,
+ queenes, popes, archbishoppes, prelates, lordes, ladies, knightes,
+ gentlemen, phisicions, lawiers, marchauntes, housbandemen, beggers,
+ theeues, hores, knaues, &amp;c. This ship wanteth a good pilot: the
+ storme, the rocke, and the wrecke at hande, all will come to naught in
+ this hulke for want of good gouernement.</p>
+
+ <p>The Eclogues, as appears from their Prologue, had originally been the
+ work of our author's youth, "the essays of a prentice in the art of
+ poesie," but they were wisely laid past to be adorned by the wisdom of a
+ wider experience, and were, strangely enough, lost for years until, at
+ the age of thirty-eight, the author again lighted, unexpectedly, upon his
+ lost treasures, and straightway finished them off for the public eye.</p>
+
+ <p>The following autobiographical passage reminds one forcibly of Scott's
+ throwing aside Waverley, stumbling across it after the lapse of years,
+ and thereupon deciding at once to finish and publish it. After
+ enumerating the most famous eclogue writers, he proceeds:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Nowe to my purpose, their workes worthy fame,</p>
+ <p>Did in my yonge age my heart greatly inflame,</p>
+ <p>Dull slouth eschewing my selfe to exercise,</p>
+ <p>In such small matters, or I durst enterprise,</p>
+ <p>To hyer matter, like as these children do,</p>
+ <p>Which first vse to creepe, and afterwarde to go.</p>
+ <p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ·</p>
+ <p>So where I in youth a certayne worke began,</p>
+ <p>And not concluded, as oft doth many a man:</p>
+ <p>Yet thought I after to make the same perfite,</p>
+ <p>But long I missed that which I first did write.</p>
+ <p>But here a wonder, I fortie yere saue twayne,</p>
+ <p>Proceeded in age, founde my first youth agayne.</p>
+ <p>To finde youth in age is a probleme diffuse,</p>
+ <p>But nowe heare the truth, and then no longer muse.</p>
+ <p>As I late turned olde bookes to and fro,</p>
+ <p>One litle treatise I founde among the mo</p>
+ <p>Because that in youth I did compile the same,</p>
+ <p>Egloges of youth I did call it by name.</p>
+ <p>And seing some men haue in the same delite,</p>
+ <p>At their great instance I made the same perfite,</p>
+ <p>Adding and bating where I perceyued neede,</p>
+ <p>All them desiring which shall this treatise rede,</p>
+ <p>Not to be grieued with any playne sentence,</p>
+ <p>Rudely conuayed for lacke of eloquence."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The most important revelation in the whole of this interesting
+ passage, that relating to the author's age, seems to have been studiously
+ overlooked by all his biographers. If we can fix with probability the
+ date at which these Eclogues were published, then this, one of the most
+ regretted of the lacunæ in his biography, will be supplied. We shall feel
+ henceforth treading on firmer ground in dealing with the scanty materials
+ of his life.</p>
+
+ <p>From the length and favour with which the praises of the Ely Cathedral
+ and of Alcock its pious and munificent bishop, then but recently dead,
+ are sung in these poems (see p. lxviii.), it is evident that the poet
+ must have donned the black hood in the monastery of Ely for at least a
+ few years.</p>
+
+ <p>Warton fixes the date at 1514, because of the praises of the "noble
+ Henry which now departed late," and the after panegyric of his successor
+ Henry VIII. (Eclogue I.), whose virtues are also duly recorded in the
+ Ship of Fools (I. 39 and II. 205-8), but not otherwise of course than in
+ a complimentary manner. Our later lights make this picture of the noble
+ pair appear both out of drawing and over-coloured:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Beside noble Henry which nowe departed late,</p>
+ <p>Spectacle of vertue to euery hye estate,</p>
+ <p>The patrone of peace and primate of prudence,</p>
+ <p>Which on Gods Church hath done so great expence.</p>
+ <p>Of all these princes the mercy and pitie,</p>
+ <p>The loue of concorde, iustice and equitie,</p>
+ <p>The purenes of life and giftes liberall,</p>
+ <p>Not lesse vertuous then the said princes all.</p>
+ <p>And Henry the eyght moste hye and triumphant,</p>
+ <p>No gifte of vertue nor manlines doth want,</p>
+ <p>Mine humble spech and language pastorall</p>
+ <p>If it were able should write his actes all:</p>
+ <p>But while I ought speake of courtly misery,</p>
+ <p>Him with all suche I except vtterly.</p>
+ <p>But what other princes commonly frequent,</p>
+ <p>As true as I can to shewe is mine intent,</p>
+ <p>But if I should say that all the misery,</p>
+ <p>Which I shall after rehearse and specify</p>
+ <p>Were in the court of our moste noble kinge,</p>
+ <p>I should fayle truth, and playnly make leasing."&mdash;<span class="sc">Eclogue</span> I.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>This eulogy of Henry plainly implies some short experience of his
+ reign. But other allusions contribute more definitely to fix the precise
+ date, such as the following historical passage, which evidently refers to
+ the career of the notorious extortioners, Empson and Dudley, who were
+ executed for conspiracy and treason in the first year of the new king's
+ reign.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Such as for honour unto the court resort,</p>
+ <p>Looke seldome times upon the lower sort;</p>
+ <p>To the hyer sort for moste part they intende,</p>
+ <p>For still their desire is hyer to ascende</p>
+ <p>And when none can make with them comparison,</p>
+ <p>Against their princes conspire they by treason,</p>
+ <p>Then when their purpose can nat come well to frame,</p>
+ <p>Agayne they descende and that with utter shame,</p>
+ <p>Coridon thou knowest right well what I meane,</p>
+ <p>We lately of this experience haue seene</p>
+ <p>When men would ascende to rowmes honorable</p>
+ <p>Euer is their minde and lust insaciable."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The most definite proof of the date of publication, however, is found
+ in the fourth Eclogue. It contains a long poem called The towre of vertue
+ and honour, which is really a highly-wrought elegy on the premature and
+ glorious death, not of "the Duke of Norfolk, Lord High admiral, and one
+ of Barclay's patrons," as has been repeated parrot-like, from Warton
+ downwards, but of his chivalrous son, Sir Edward Howard, Lord High
+ Admiral for the short space of a few months, who perished in his gallant,
+ if reckless, attack upon the French fleet in the harbour of Brest in the
+ year 1513. It is incomprehensible that the date of the publication of the
+ Eclogues should be fixed at 1514, and this blunder still perpetuated. No
+ Duke of Norfolk died between Barclay's boyhood and 1524, ten years after
+ the agreed upon date of the Elegy; and the Duke (Thomas), who was
+ Barclay's patron, never held the position of Lord High Admiral (though
+ his son Lord Thomas, created Earl of Surrey in 1514, and who afterwards
+ succeeded him, also succeeded his brother Sir Edward in the Admiralship),
+ but worthily enjoyed the dignified offices of Lord High Steward, Lord
+ Treasurer, and Earl Marshal, and died one of Henry's most respected and
+ most popular Ministers, at his country seat, at a good old age, in the
+ year above mentioned, 1524. The other allusions to contemporary events,
+ and especially to the poet's age, preclude the idea of carrying forward
+ the publication to the latter date, did the clearly defined points of the
+ Elegy allow of it, as they do not.</p>
+
+ <p>Minalcas, one of the interlocutors, thus introduces the
+ subject:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i20">"But it is lamentable</p>
+ <p>To heare a Captayne so good and honorable,</p>
+ <p><i>So soone</i> withdrawen by deathes crueltie,</p>
+ <p>Before his vertue was at moste hye degree.</p>
+ <p>If death for a season had shewed him fauour,</p>
+ <p>To all his nation he should haue bene honour."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>"'The Towre of Vertue and Honor,' introduced as a song of one of the
+ shepherds into these pastorals, exhibits no very masterly strokes of a
+ sublime and inventive fancy. It has much of the trite imagery usually
+ applied in the fabrication of these ideal edifices. It, however, shows
+ our author in a new walk of poetry. This magnificent tower, or castle is
+ built on inaccessible cliffs of flint: the walls are of gold, bright as
+ the sun, and decorated with 'olde historyes and pictures manyfolde:' the
+ turrets are beautifully shaped. Among its heroic inhabitants are Henry
+ VIII., ['in his maiestie moste hye enhaunsed as ought a conquerour,' no
+ doubt an allusion to the battle of the Spurs and his other exploits in
+ France in 1513], Howard Duke of Norfolk, ['the floure of chiualry'], and
+ the Earl of Shrewsbury, ['manfull and hardy, with other princes and men
+ of dignitie']. Labour is the porter at the gate, and Virtue governs the
+ house. Labour is thus pictured, with some degree of spirit:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i2">'Fearefull is labour without fauour at all,</p>
+ <p class="i2">Dreadfull of visage, a monster intreatable,</p>
+ <p>Like Cerberus lying at gates infernall;</p>
+ <p class="i2">To some men his looke is halfe intollerable,</p>
+ <p>His shoulders large, for burthen strong and able,</p>
+ <p class="i2">His body bristled, his necke mightie and stiffe;</p>
+ <p>By sturdy senewes, his ioyntes stronge and stable,</p>
+ <p class="i2">Like marble stones his handes be as stiffe.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Here must man vanquishe the dragon of Cadmus,</p>
+ <p class="i2">Against the Chimer here stoutly must he fight,</p>
+ <p>Here must he vanquish the fearefull Pegasus,</p>
+ <p class="i2">For the golden flece here must he shewe his might:</p>
+ <p>If labour gaynsay, he can nothing be right,</p>
+ <p class="i2">This monster labour oft chaungeth his figure,</p>
+ <p>Sometime an oxe, a bore, or lion wight,</p>
+ <p class="i2">Playnely he seemeth, thus chaungeth his nature,</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i2">Like as Protheus ofte chaunged his stature.</p>
+ <p class="i2">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ·</p>
+ <p>Under his browes he dreadfully doth loure,</p>
+ <p class="i2">With glistering eyen, and side dependaunt beard,</p>
+ <p>For thirst and hunger alway his chere is soure.</p>
+ <p class="i2">His horned forehead doth make faynt heartes feard.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alway he drinketh, and yet alway is drye,</p>
+ <p class="i2">The sweat distilling with droppes aboundaunt,'</p>
+ <p class="i2">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ·</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>"The poet adds, 'that when the noble Howard had long boldly contended
+ with this hideous monster, had broken the bars and doors of the castle,
+ had bound the porter, and was now preparing to ascend the tower of Virtue
+ and Honour, Fortune and Death appeared, and interrupted his progress.'"
+ (Warton, Eng. Poetry, III.)</p>
+
+ <p>The hero's descent and knightly qualities are duly set
+ forth:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Though he were borne to glory and honour,</p>
+ <p>Of auncient stocke and noble progenie,</p>
+ <p>Yet thought his courage to be of more valour,</p>
+ <p>By his owne actes and noble chiualry.</p>
+ <p>Like as becommeth a knight to fortifye</p>
+ <p>His princes quarell with right and equitie,</p>
+ <p>So did this Hawarde with courage valiauntly,</p>
+ <p>Till death abated his bolde audacitie."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The poet, gives "cursed fortune" a severe rating, and at such length
+ that the old lady no doubt repented herself, for cutting off so promising
+ a hero <i>at so early an age</i>:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Tell me, frayle fortune, why did thou breuiate</p>
+ <p>The liuing season of suche a captayne,</p>
+ <p>That when his actes ought to be laureate</p>
+ <p>Thy fauour turned him suffring to be slayne?"</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>And then he addresses the Duke himself in a consolatory strain,
+ endeavouring to reconcile him to the loss of so promising a son, by
+ recalling to his memory those heroes of antiquity whose careers of glory
+ were cut short by sudden and violent deaths:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"But moste worthy duke hye and victorious,</p>
+ <p>Respire to comfort, see the vncertentie</p>
+ <p>Of other princes, whose fortune prosperous</p>
+ <p>Oftetime haue ended in hard aduersitie:</p>
+ <p>Read of Pompeius," [&amp;c.]</p>
+ <p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ·</p>
+ <p class="hg3">"This shall be, this is, and this hath euer bene,</p>
+ <p>That boldest heartes be nearest ieopardie,</p>
+ <p>To dye in battayle is honour as men wene</p>
+ <p>To suche as haue ioy in haunting chiualry.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Suche famous ending the name doth magnifie,</p>
+ <p>Note worthy duke, no cause is to complayne,</p>
+ <p>His life not ended foule nor dishonestly,</p>
+ <p>In bed nor tauerne his lustes to maynteyne,</p>
+ <p>But like as besemed a noble captayne,</p>
+ <p>In sturdie harnes he died for the right,</p>
+ <p>From deathes daunger no man may flee certayne,</p>
+ <p>But suche death is metest vnto so noble a knight.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"But death it to call me thinke it vnright,</p>
+ <p>Sith his worthy name shall laste perpetuall," [&amp;c.]</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>This detail and these long quotations have been rendered necessary by
+ the strange blunder which has been made and perpetuated as to the
+ identity of the young hero whose death is so feelingly lamented in this
+ elegy. With that now clearly ascertained, we can not only fix with
+ confidence the date of the publication of the Eclogues, but by aid of the
+ hint conveyed in the Prologue, quoted above (p. lv.), as to the author's
+ age, "fortie saue twayne," decide, for the first time, the duration of
+ his life, and the dates, approximately at least, of its incidents, and of
+ the appearance of his undated works. Lord Edward Howard, perhaps the
+ bravest and rashest of England's admirals, perished in a madly daring
+ attack upon the harbour of Brest, on the 25th of April, 1514. As the
+ eclogues could not therefore have been published prior to that date, so,
+ bearing in mind the other allusions referred to above, they could
+ scarcely have appeared later. Indeed, the loss which the elegy
+ commemorates is spoken of as quite recent, while the elegy itself bears
+ every appearance of having been introduced into the eclogue at the last
+ moment. We feel quite satisfied therefore that Warton hit quite correctly
+ upon the year 1514 as that in which these poems first saw the light,
+ though the ground (the allusion to the Henries) upon which he went was
+ insufficient, and his identification of the hero of the elegy
+ contradicted his supposition. Had he been aware of the importance of
+ fixing the date correctly, he would probably have taken more care than to
+ fall into the blunder of confounding the father with the son, and
+ adorning the former with the dearly earned laurels of the latter.</p>
+
+ <p>It may be added that, fixing 1514 as the date at which Barclay had
+ arrived at the age of 38, agrees perfectly with all else we know of his
+ years, with the assumed date of his academical education, and of his
+ travels abroad, with the suppositions formed as to his age from his
+ various published works having dates attached to them, and finally, with
+ the traditional "great age" at which he died, which would thus be six
+ years beyond the allotted span.</p>
+
+ <p>After the Ship of Fools the Eclogues rank second in importance in a
+ consideration of Barclay's writings. Not only as the first of their kind
+ in English, do they crown their author with the honour of introducing
+ this kind of poetry to English literature, but they are in themselves
+ most interesting and valuable as faithful and graphic pictures of the
+ court, citizen, and country life of the period. Nowhere else in so
+ accessible a form do there exist descriptions at once so full and so
+ accurate of the whole condition of the people. Their daily life and
+ habits, customs, manners, sports, and pastimes, are all placed on the
+ canvas before us with a ready, vigorous, unflinching hand. Witness for
+ instance the following sketch, which might be entitled, "Life, temp.
+ 1514":&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Some men deliteth beholding men to fight,</p>
+ <p>Or goodly knightes in pleasaunt apparayle,</p>
+ <p>Or sturdie souldiers in bright harnes and male.</p>
+ <p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ·</p>
+ <p>Some glad is to see these Ladies beauteous,</p>
+ <p>Goodly appoynted in clothing sumpteous:</p>
+ <p>A number of people appoynted in like wise:</p>
+ <p>In costly clothing after the newest gise,</p>
+ <p>Sportes, disgising, fayre coursers mount and praunce,</p>
+ <p>Or goodly ladies and knightes sing and daunce:</p>
+ <p>To see fayre houses and curious picture(s),</p>
+ <p>Or pleasaunt hanging, or sumpteous vesture</p>
+ <p>Of silke, of purpure, or golde moste orient,</p>
+ <p>And other clothing diuers and excellent:</p>
+ <p>Hye curious buildinges or palaces royall,</p>
+ <p>Or chapels, temples fayre and substanciall,</p>
+ <p>Images grauen or vaultes curious;</p>
+ <p>Gardeyns and medowes, or place delicious,</p>
+ <p>Forestes and parkes well furnished with dere,</p>
+ <p>Colde pleasaunt streames or welles fayre and clere,</p>
+ <p>Curious cundites or shadowie mountaynes,</p>
+ <p>Swete pleasaunt valleys, laundes or playnes</p>
+ <p>Houndes, and suche other thinges manyfolde</p>
+ <p>Some men take pleasour and solace to beholde."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The following selections illustrative of the customs and manners of
+ the times will serve as a sample of the overflowing cask from which they
+ are taken. The condition of the country people is clearly enough
+ indicated in a description of the village Sunday, the manner of its
+ celebration being depicted in language calculated to make a modern
+ sabbatarian's hair stand on end:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"What man is faultlesse, remember the village,</p>
+ <p>Howe men vplondish on holy dayes rage.</p>
+ <p>Nought can them tame, they be a beastly sort,</p>
+ <p>In sweate and labour hauing most chiefe comfort,</p>
+ <p>On the holy day assoone as morne is past,</p>
+ <p>When all men resteth while all the day doth last,</p>
+ <p>They drinke, they banket, they reuell and they iest</p>
+ <p>They leape, they daunce, despising ease and rest.</p>
+ <p>If they once heare a bagpipe or a drone,</p>
+ <p>Anone to the elme or oke they be gone.</p>
+ <p>There vse they to daunce, to gambolde and to rage</p>
+ <p>Such is the custome and vse of the village.</p>
+ <p>When the ground resteth from rake, plough and wheles,</p>
+ <p>Then moste they it trouble with burthen of their heles:</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i16"><span class="sc">Faustus</span>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>To Bacchus they banket, no feast is festiuall,</p>
+ <p>They chide and they chat, they vary and they brall,</p>
+ <p>They rayle and they route, they reuell and they crye,</p>
+ <p>Laughing and leaping, and making cuppes drye.</p>
+ <p>What, stint thou thy chat, these wordes I defye,</p>
+ <p>It is to a vilayne rebuke and vilany.</p>
+ <p>Such rurall solace so plainly for to blame,</p>
+ <p>Thy wordes sound to thy rebuke and shame."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Football is described in a lively picture:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"They get the bladder and blowe it great and thin,</p>
+ <p>With many beanes or peason put within,</p>
+ <p>It ratleth, soundeth, and shineth clere and fayre,</p>
+ <p>While it is throwen and caste vp in the ayre,</p>
+ <p>Eche one contendeth and hath a great delite,</p>
+ <p>With foote and with hande the bladder for to smite,</p>
+ <p>If it fall to grounde they lifte it vp agayne,</p>
+ <p>This wise to labour they count it for no payne,</p>
+ <p>Renning and leaping they driue away the colde,</p>
+ <p>The sturdie plowmen lustie, stronge and bolde,</p>
+ <p>Ouercommeth the winter with driuing the foote ball,</p>
+ <p>Forgetting labour and many a greuous fall."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>A shepherd, after mentioning his skill in shooting birds with a bow,
+ says:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"No shepheard throweth the axeltrie so farre."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>A gallant is thus described:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"For women vse to loue them moste of all,</p>
+ <p>Which boldly bosteth, or that can sing and iet,</p>
+ <p>Which are well decked with large bushes set,</p>
+ <p>Which hath the mastery ofte time in tournament,</p>
+ <p>Or that can gambauld, or daunce feat and gent."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The following sorts of wine are mentioned:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"As Muscadell, Caprike, Romney, and Maluesy,</p>
+ <p>From Gene brought, from Grece or Hungary."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>As are the dainties of the table. A shepherd at court must not think
+ to eat,</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i12">"Swanne, nor heron,</p>
+ <p>Curlewe, nor crane, but course beefe and mutton."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Again:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"What fishe is of sauor swete and delicious,&mdash;</p>
+ <p>Rosted or sodden in swete hearbes or wine;</p>
+ <p>Or fried in oyle, most saporous and fine.&mdash;</p>
+ <p class="i16">The pasties of a hart.&mdash;</p>
+ <p>The crane, the fesant, the pecocke and curlewe,</p>
+ <p>The partriche, plouer, bittor, and heronsewe&mdash;</p>
+ <p>Seasoned so well in licour redolent,</p>
+ <p>That the hall is full of pleasaunt smell and sent."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>At a feast at court:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Slowe be the seruers in seruing in alway,</p>
+ <p>But swift be they after, taking thy meate away;</p>
+ <p>A speciall custome is vsed them among,</p>
+ <p>No good dish to suffer on borde to be longe:</p>
+ <p>If the dishe be pleasaunt, eyther fleshe or fishe,</p>
+ <p>Ten handes at once swarme in the dishe:</p>
+ <p>And if it be flesh ten kniues shalt thou see</p>
+ <p>Mangling the flesh, and in the platter flee:</p>
+ <p>To put there thy handes is perill without fayle,</p>
+ <p>Without a gauntlet or els a gloue of mayle."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>"The two last lines remind us of a saying of Quin, who declared it was
+ not safe to sit down to a turtle-feast in one of the city-halls, without
+ a basket-hilted knife and fork. Not that I suppose Quin borrowed his
+ bon-mots from black letter books." (Warton.)</p>
+
+ <p>The following lines point out some of the festive tales of our
+ ancestors:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Yet would I gladly heare some mery fit</p>
+ <p>Of mayde Marion, or els of Robin hood;</p>
+ <p>Or Bentleyes ale which chafeth well the bloud,</p>
+ <p>Of perre of Norwich, or sauce of Wilberton,</p>
+ <p>Or buckishe Joly well-stuffed as a ton."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>He again mentions "Bentley's Ale" which "maketh me to winke;" and some
+ of our ancient domestic pastimes and amusements are recorded:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Then is it pleasure the yonge maydens amonge</p>
+ <p>To watche by the fire the winters nightes long:</p>
+ <p>At their fonde tales to laugh, or when they brall</p>
+ <p>Great fire and candell spending for laboure small,</p>
+ <p>And in the ashes some playes for to marke,</p>
+ <p>To couer wardens [pears] for fault of other warke:</p>
+ <p>To toste white sheuers, and to make prophitroles;</p>
+ <p>And after talking oft time to fill the bowles."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>He mentions some musical instruments:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">" &nbsp; . &nbsp; . &nbsp; . &nbsp; . &nbsp; Methinkes no mirth is scant,</p>
+ <p>Where no reioysing of minstrelcie doth want:</p>
+ <p>The bagpipe or fidle to vs is delectable."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>And the mercantile commodities of different countries and
+ cities:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Englande hath cloth, Burdeus hath store of wine,</p>
+ <p>Cornewall hath tinne, and Lymster wools fine.</p>
+ <p>London hath scarlet, and Bristowe pleasaunt red,</p>
+ <p>Fen lands hath fishes, in other place is lead."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Of songs at feasts:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"When your fat dishes smoke hote vpon your table,</p>
+ <p>Then layde ye songes and balades magnifie,</p>
+ <p>If they be mery, or written craftely,</p>
+ <p>Ye clappe your handes and to the making harke,</p>
+ <p>And one say to other, lo here a proper warke."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>He says that minstrels and singers are highly favoured at court,
+ especially those of the French gise. Also jugglers and pipers.</p>
+
+ <p>The personal references throughout the Eclogues, in addition to those
+ already mentioned, though not numerous, are of considerable interest. The
+ learned Alcock, Bishop of Ely (1486-1500), and the munificent founder of
+ Jesus College, Cambridge, stands deservedly high in the esteem of a poet
+ and priest, so zealous of good works as Barclay. The poet's humour thus
+ disguises him.&mdash;(Eclogue I., A iii., recto.):&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Yes since his dayes a cocke was in the fen,</p>
+ <p>I knowe his voyce among a thousande men:</p>
+ <p>He taught, he preached, he mended euery wrong;</p>
+ <p>But, Coridon alas no good thing bideth long.</p>
+ <p>He all was a cocke, he wakened vs from slepe,</p>
+ <p>And while we slumbred, he did our foldes hepe.</p>
+ <p>No cur, no foxes, nor butchers dogges wood,</p>
+ <p>Coulde hurte our fouldes, his watching was so good.</p>
+ <p>The hungry wolues, which that time did abounde,</p>
+ <p>What time he crowed, abashed at the sounde.</p>
+ <p>This cocke was no more abashed of the foxe,</p>
+ <p>Than is a lion abashed of an oxe.</p>
+ <p>When he went, faded the floure of all the fen;</p>
+ <p>I boldly dare sweare this cocke neuer trode hen!</p>
+ <p>This was a father of thinges pastorall,</p>
+ <p>And that well sheweth his Church cathedrall,</p>
+ <p>There was I lately about the middest of May,</p>
+ <p>Coridon his Church is twenty sith more gay</p>
+ <p>Then all the Churches betwene the same and Kent,</p>
+ <p>There sawe I his tome and Chapell excellent.</p>
+ <p>I thought fiue houres but euen a little while,</p>
+ <p>Saint John the virgin me thought did on me smile,</p>
+ <p>Our parishe Church is but a dongeon,</p>
+ <p>To that gay Churche in comparison.</p>
+ <p>If the people were as pleasaunt as the place</p>
+ <p>Then were it paradice of pleasour and solace,</p>
+ <p>Then might I truely right well finde in my heart.</p>
+ <p>There still to abide and neuer to departe,</p>
+ <p>But since that this cocke by death hath left his song,</p>
+ <p>Trust me Coridon there many a thing is wrong,</p>
+ <p>When I sawe his figure lye in the Chapell-side,</p>
+ <p>Like death for weping I might no longer bide.</p>
+ <p>Lo all good thinges so sone away doth glide,</p>
+ <p>That no man liketh to long doth rest and abide.</p>
+ <p>When the good is gone (my mate this is the case)</p>
+ <p>Seldome the better reentreth in the place."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The excellence of his subject carries the poet quite beyond himself in
+ describing the general lamentation at the death of this worthy prelate;
+ with an unusual power of imagination he thus pictures the sympathy of the
+ towers, arches, vaults and images of Ely monastery:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"My harte sore mourneth when I must specify</p>
+ <p>Of the gentle cocke whiche sange so mirily,</p>
+ <p>He and his flocke wer like an union</p>
+ <p>Conioyned in one without discention,</p>
+ <p>All the fayre cockes which in his dayes crewe</p>
+ <p>When death him touched did his departing rewe.</p>
+ <p>The pretie palace by him made in the fen,</p>
+ <p>The maides, widowes, the wiues, and the men,</p>
+ <p>With deadly dolour were pearsed to the heart,</p>
+ <p>When death constrayned this shepheard to departe.</p>
+ <p>Corne, grasse, and fieldes, mourned for wo and payne,</p>
+ <p>For oft his prayer for them obtayned rayne.</p>
+ <p>The pleasaunt floures for wo faded eche one,</p>
+ <p>When they perceyued this shepheard dead and gone,</p>
+ <p>The okes, elmes, and euery sorte of dere</p>
+ <p>Shronke vnder shadowes, abating all their chere.</p>
+ <p>The mightie walles of Ely Monastery,</p>
+ <p>The stones, rockes, and towres semblably,</p>
+ <p>The marble pillers and images echeone,</p>
+ <p>Swet all for sorowe, when this good cocke was gone,</p>
+ <p>Though he of stature were humble, weake and leane,</p>
+ <p>His minde was hye, his liuing pure and cleane,</p>
+ <p>Where other feedeth by beastly appetite,</p>
+ <p>On heauenly foode was all his whole delite."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Morton, Alcock's predecessor and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury
+ (1486-1500), is also singled out for compliment, in which allusion is
+ made to his troubles, his servants' faithfulness, and his restoration to
+ favour under Richard III. and Henry VII. (Eclogue III.):&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"And shepheard Morton, when he durst not appeare,</p>
+ <p>Howe his olde seruauntes were carefull of his chere;</p>
+ <p>In payne and pleasour they kept fidelitie</p>
+ <p>Till grace agayne gaue him aucthoritie</p>
+ <p>Then his olde fauour did them agayne restore</p>
+ <p>To greater pleasour then they had payne before.</p>
+ <p>Though for a season this shepheard bode a blast,</p>
+ <p>The greatest winde yet slaketh at the last,</p>
+ <p>And at conclusion he and his flocke certayne</p>
+ <p>Eche true to other did quietly remayne."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>And again in Eclogue IV.:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Micene and Morton be dead and gone certayne."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The "Dean of Powles" (Colet), with whom Barclay seems to have been
+ personally acquainted, and to whom the reference alludes as to one still
+ living (his death occurred in 1519), is celebrated as a preacher in the
+ same Eclogue:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"For this I learned of the Dean of Powles</p>
+ <p>I tell thee, Codrus this man hath won some soules."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>as is "the olde friar that wonned in Greenwich" in Eclogue V.</p>
+
+ <p>The first three Eclogues are paraphrases or adaptations from the
+ Miseriæ Curialium, the most popular of the works of one of the most
+ successful literary adventurers of the middle ages, Æneas Sylvius (Pope
+ Pius II., who died in 1464). It appears to have been written with the
+ view of relieving his feelings of disappointment and disgust at his
+ reception at the court of the Emperor, whither he had repaired, in the
+ hope of political advancement. The tone and nature of the work may be
+ gathered from this candid exposure of the adventurer's morale: "Many
+ things there are which compel us to persevere, but nothing more
+ powerfully than ambition which, rivalling charity, truly beareth all
+ things however grievous, that it may attain to the honours of this world
+ and the praise of men. If we were humble and laboured to gain our own
+ souls rather than hunt after vain glory, few of us, indeed, would endure
+ such annoyances." He details, with querulous humour, all the grievances
+ of his position, from the ingratitude of the prince to the sordour of the
+ table-cloths, and the hardness of the black bread. But hardest of all to
+ bear is the contempt shown towards literature. "In the courts of princes
+ literary knowledge is held a crime; and great is the grief of men of
+ letters when they find themselves universally despised, and see the most
+ important matters managed, not to say mismanaged, by blockheads, who
+ cannot tell the number of their fingers and toes."</p>
+
+ <p>Barclay's adaptation is so thoroughly Englished, and contains such
+ large additions from the stores of his own bitter experience, as to make
+ it even more truly his own than any other of his translations.</p>
+
+ <p>The fourth and fifth eclogues are imitations,&mdash;though no notice
+ that they are so is conveyed in the title, as in the case of the first
+ three,&mdash;of the fifth and sixth of the popular eclogue writer of the
+ time, Jo. Baptist Mantuan, which may have helped to give rise to the
+ generally received statement noticed below, that all the eclogues are
+ imitations of that author. The fourth is entitled "Codrus and Minalcas,
+ treating of the behauour of Riche men agaynst Poetes," and it may be
+ judged how far it is Barclay's from the fact that it numbers about twelve
+ hundred lines, including the elegy of the Noble Howard, while the
+ original, entitled, "De consuetudine Divitum erga Poetas," contains only
+ about two hundred. The fifth is entitled "Amintas and Faustus, of the
+ disputation of citizens and men of the countrey." It contains over a
+ thousand lines, and the original, "De disceptatione rusticorum et
+ civium," like the fifth, extends to little more than two hundred.</p>
+
+ <p>In the Prologue before mentioned we are told (Cawood's
+ edition):&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"That fiue Egloges this whole treatise doth holde</p>
+ <p>To imitation of other Poetes olde,"</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Which appears to be a correction of the printer's upon the original,
+ as in Powell's edition:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"That X. egloges this hole treatyse dothe holde."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Whether other five were ever published there is no record to show; it
+ appears, however, highly improbable, that, if they had, they could have
+ been entirely lost,&mdash;especially considering the popularity and
+ repeated issue of the first five,&mdash;during the few years that would
+ have elapsed between their original publication and the appearance of
+ Cawood's edition. Possibly the original reading may be a typographical
+ blunder, for Cawood is extremely sparing of correction, and appears to
+ have made none which he did not consider absolutely necessary. This is
+ one of the literary puzzles which remain for bibliography to solve. (See
+ below, p. lxxix.)</p>
+
+ <p>The next of Barclay's works in point of date, and perhaps the only one
+ actually entitled to the merit of originality, is his Introductory to
+ write and pronounce French, compiled at the request of his great patron,
+ Thomas Duke of Norfolk, and printed by Copland in 1521. It is thus
+ alluded to in the first important authority on French grammar,
+ "Lesclarissement de la langue Francoyse compose par maistre Jehan
+ Palsgraue, Angloys, natyf de Londres," 1530: "The right vertuous and
+ excellent prince Thomas, late Duke of Northfolke, hath commanded the
+ studious clerke, Alexandre Barkelay, to embusy hymselfe about this
+ exercyse." Further on he is not so complimentary as he
+ remarks:&mdash;"Where as there is a boke, that goeth about in this
+ realme, intitled The introductory to writte and pronounce frenche,
+ compiled by Alexander Barcley, in which k is moche vsed, and many other
+ thynges also by hym affirmed, contrary to my sayenges in this boke, and
+ specially in my seconde, where I shall assaye to expresse the
+ declinations and coniugatynges with the other congruites obserued in the
+ frenche tonge, I suppose it sufficient to warne the lernar, that I haue
+ red ouer that boke at length: and what myn opinion is therin, it shall
+ well inough apere in my bokes selfe, though I make therof no ferther
+ expresse mencion: saue that I haue sene an olde boke written in
+ parchement, in maner in all thynkes like to his sayd Introductory:
+ whiche, by coniecture, was not vnwritten this hundred yeres. I wot nat if
+ he happened to fortune upon suche an other: for whan it was commaunded
+ that the grammar maisters shulde teche the youth of Englande ioyntly
+ latin with frenche, there were diuerse suche bokes diuysed: wherupon, as
+ I suppose, began one great occasyon why we of England sounde the latyn
+ tong so corruptly, whiche haue as good a tonge to sounde all maner
+ speches parfitely as any other nacyon in Europa."&mdash;Book I. ch. xxxv.
+ "According to this," Mr Ellis (Early English Pronunciation, 804)
+ pertinently notes: "1º, there ought to be many old MS. treatises on
+ French grammar; and 2º, the English pronunciation of Latin was moulded on
+ the French."</p>
+
+ <p>To Barclay, as nine years before Palsgrave, belongs at least the
+ credit, hitherto generally unrecognised, of the first published attempt
+ at a French grammar, by either Frenchman or foreigner.</p>
+
+ <p>"The mirror of good manners, containing the four cardinal vertues,"
+ appeared from the press of Pynson, without date, "which boke," says the
+ typographer, "I haue prynted at the instance and request of the ryght
+ noble Rychard Yerle of Kent." This earl of Kent died in 1523, and as
+ Barclay speaks of himself in the preface as advanced in age, the date of
+ publication may be assigned to close upon that year. It is a translation,
+ in the ballad stanza, of the Latin elegiac poem of Dominicus Mancinus,
+ <i>De quatuor virtutibus</i>, first published in 1516, and, as appears
+ from the title, was executed while Barclay was a monk of Ely, at "the
+ desire of the righte worshipfull Syr Giles Alington, Knight." From the
+ address to his patron it would seem that the Knight had requested the
+ poet to abridge or modernise Gower's Confessio amantis. For declining
+ this task he pleads, that he is too old to undertake such a light
+ subject, and also the sacred nature of his profession. He then intimates
+ his choice of the present more grave and serious work instead&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Which a priest may write, not hurting his estate,</p>
+ <p>Nor of honest name obumbring at all his light.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>"But the poet," says Warton, "declined this undertaking as unsuitable
+ to his age, infirmities, and profession, and chose rather to oblige his
+ patron with a grave system of ethics. It is certain that he made a
+ prudent choice. The performance shows how little qualified he was to
+ correct Gower." Instead of a carping criticism like this, it would have
+ been much more to the point to praise the modesty and sensibility of an
+ author, who had the courage to decline a task unsuited to his tastes or
+ powers.</p>
+
+ <p>He professes little:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>This playne litle treatise in stile compendious,</p>
+ <p>Much briefly conteyneth four vertues cardinall,</p>
+ <p>In right pleasaunt processe, plaine and commodious,</p>
+ <p>With light foote of metre, and stile heroicall,</p>
+ <p>Rude people to infourme in language maternall,</p>
+ <p>To whose vnderstanding maydens of tender age,</p>
+ <p>And rude litle children shall finde easy passage.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Two editions of the work are sufficient evidence that this humble and
+ praiseworthy purpose was, in the eyes of his contemporaries, successfully
+ carried out.</p>
+
+ <p>The only remaining authentic production of Barclay which has come down
+ to us, is a translation of the Jugurthine War of Sallust, undertaken at
+ the request of, and dedicated to, his great patron, Thomas Duke of
+ Norfolk, and printed also at Pynson's press without date. The Latin and
+ English are printed side by side on the same page, the former being
+ dedicated, with the date "Ex cellula Hatfelde<span class="over">n</span>
+ regii (<i>i.e.</i>, King's Hatfield, Hertfordshire) in Idus Novembris" to
+ Vesey, the centenarian Bishop of Exeter, with this
+ superscription:&mdash;"Reuer<span class="over">e</span>dissimo in Christo
+ patri ac dn<span class="over">o</span>: dn<span class="over">o</span>
+ Joanni Veysy exoni<span class="over">e</span>n episcopo Alexander Barclay
+ presbyter debita cum obseruantia. S." The dedication begins, "Memini me
+ superioribus annis c<span class="over">u</span> adhuc sacelli regij
+ presul esses: pastor vigilantissime: tuis suasionibus incitat<span
+ class="over">u</span>: vt Crispi Salustij hystori<span
+ class="over">a</span>&mdash;e romana lingua: in anglicam compendiose
+ transferrem," &amp;c. Vesey was probably one of Barclay's oldest west
+ country friends; for he is recorded to have been connected with the
+ diocese of Exeter from 1503 to 1551, in the various capacities of
+ archdeacon, precentor, dean, and bishop successively. Conjecture has
+ placed the date of this publication at 1511, but as Veysey did not
+ succeed to the Bishopric of Exeter till August 1519, this is untenable.
+ We cannot say more than that it must have been published between 1519 and
+ 1524, the date of the Duke of Norfolk's death, probably in the former
+ year, since, from its being dated from "Hatfield," the ancient palace of
+ the bishops of Ely, (sold to the Crown in the 30th of Henry VIII.;
+ Clutterbuck's Hertfordshire, II.) Barclay at the time of its completion
+ was evidently still a monk of Ely.</p>
+
+ <p>By his translation of Sallust (so popular an author at that period,
+ that the learned virgin queen is reported to have amused her leisure with
+ an English version), Barclay obtained the distinction of being the first
+ to introduce that classic to English readers. His version bears the
+ reputation of being executed not only with accuracy, but with
+ considerable freedom and elegance, and its popularity was evinced by its
+ appearance in three additions.</p>
+
+ <p>Two other works of our author are spoken of as having been in print,
+ but they have apparently passed entirely out of sight: "The figure of our
+ holy mother Church, oppressed by the Frenche King," (Pynson, 4to), known
+ only from Maunsell's Catalogue; and "The lyfe of the glorious martyr,
+ saynt George translated (from Mantuan) by Alexander Barclay, while he was
+ a monk of Ely, and dedicated to N. West, Bishop of Ely," (Pynson, 4to),
+ (Herbert, Typ. Antiquities.) West was Bishop of Ely from 1515 to 1533,
+ and consequently Barclay's superior during probably his whole stay there.
+ Whether these two works were in verse or prose is unknown.</p>
+
+ <p>There are two other books ascribed to Barclay, but nothing
+ satisfactory can be stated regarding their parentage except that,
+ considering their subject, and the press they issued from, it is not at
+ all unlikely that they may have been the fruit of his prolific pen. The
+ first is "The lyfe of the blessed martyr, Saynte Thomas," in prose,
+ printed by Pynson, (Herbert, Typ. Ant. 292), regarding which Ant. Wood
+ says, "I should feel little difficulty in ascribing this to Barclay." The
+ other is the English translation of the Histoire merveilleuse du Grand
+ Khan (in Latin, De Tartaris siue Liber historiarum partium Orientis) of
+ the eastern soldier, and western monk, Haytho, prince of Georgia at the
+ end of the 13th, and beginning of the 14th centuries. The History which
+ gives an account of Genghis Khan, and his successors, with a short
+ description of the different kingdoms of Asia, was very popular in the
+ 15th and 16th centuries, as one of the earliest accounts of the East, and
+ the conjecture of the Grenville Catalogue is not improbable, though there
+ is no sufficient evidence, that Barclay was the author of the English
+ version which appeared from the press of Pynson.</p>
+
+ <p>Bale further enumerates in his list of Barclay's works "Contra
+ Skeltonum, Lib. I.; Quinq: eglogas ex Mantuano, Lib. I; Vitam D.
+ Catherinæ, Lib. I., [Libros tres, Pits]; Vitam D. Margaritæ, Lib. I.;
+ Vitam Etheldredæ, Lib. I.; Aliaq: plura fecit." Tanner adds: "Orationes
+ varias, Lib. I.; De fide orthodoxa, Lib. I."</p>
+
+ <p>Of these various fruits of Barclay's fertility and industry no
+ fragment has survived to our day, nor has even any positive information
+ regarding their nature been transmitted to us.</p>
+
+ <p>The "Orationes varias," probably a collection of sermons with especial
+ reference to the sins of the day would have been historically, if not
+ otherwise, interesting, and their loss is matter for regret. On the other
+ hand the want of the treatise, "De fide orthodoxa," is doubtless a relief
+ to literature. There are too many of the kind already to encumber our
+ shelves and our catalogues.</p>
+
+ <p>The Lives of the Saints, the work, it is stated, of the author's old
+ age, were, according to Tanner, and he is no doubt right, translations
+ from the Latin. Barclay's reputation probably does not suffer from their
+ loss.</p>
+
+ <p>"Quinque eglogas ex Mantuano," though Bale mentions also "De miserijs
+ aulicorum; Bucolicam Codri; Eglogam quartam," apparently the five, but
+ really the first four of the eclogues known to us, are, I am strongly
+ inclined to believe, nothing else than these same five eclogues, under,
+ to use a bibliographical phrase, "a made up" title. That he mentions
+ first, five from Mantuan, and afterwards adds "Bucolicam Codri" and
+ "Eglogam quartam," as two distinct eclogues, apparently not from Mantuan,
+ while both titles must refer to the same poem, an imitation of Mantuan's
+ fifth eclogue, is proof enough that he was not speaking with the
+ authority of personal knowledge of these works.</p>
+
+ <p>Johannes Baptista Spagnuoli, commonly called from his native city,
+ Mantuan, was the most popular and prolific eclogue writer of the
+ fifteenth century, to which Barclay himself testifies:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"As the moste famous Baptist Mantuan</p>
+ <p>The best of that sort since Poetes first began."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Barclay's Eclogues being the first attempts of the kind in English,
+ Bale's "Ex Mantuano," therefore probably means nothing more than "on the
+ model of Mantuan;" otherwise, if it be assumed that five were the whole
+ number that ever appeared, it could not apply to the first three, which
+ are expressly stated in the title to be from Æneas Sylvius, while if ten
+ be assumed, his statement would account for nine, the "quinque eglogas"
+ being the five now wanting, but if so, then he has omitted to mention the
+ most popular of all the eclogues, the fifth, and has failed to attribute
+ to Mantuan two which are undoubtedly due to him.</p>
+
+ <p>The loss of the "Contra Skeltonum," is a matter for regret. That there
+ was no love lost between these two contemporaries and chief poets of
+ their time is evident enough. Skelton's scathing sarcasm against the
+ priesthood no doubt woke his brother satirist's ire, and the latter lets
+ no opportunity slip of launching forth his contempt for the laureate of
+ Oxford.</p>
+
+ <p>The moralist in announcing the position he assumes in opposition to
+ the writer of popular tales, takes care to have a fling at the author of
+ "The boke of Phyllyp Sparowe":&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"I wryte no Ieste ne tale of Robyn Hode,</p>
+ <p>Nor sawe no sparcles, ne sede of vyciousnes;</p>
+ <p>Wyse men loue vertue, wylde people wantones,</p>
+ <p>It longeth nat to my scyence nor cunnynge,</p>
+ <p>For Phylyp the sparowe the (Dirige) to synge."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>A sneer to which Skelton most probably alludes when, enumerating his
+ own productions in the Garlande of Laurell, he mentions,</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Of Phillip Sparow the lamentable fate,</p>
+ <p>The dolefull desteny, and the carefull chaunce,</p>
+ <p>Dyuysed by Skelton after the funerall rate;</p>
+ <p>Yet sum there be therewith that take greuaunce,</p>
+ <p>And grudge thereat with frownyng countenaunce;</p>
+ <p>But what of that? harde it is to please all men;</p>
+ <p>Who list amende it, let hym set to his penne."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>The following onslaught in Barclay's Fourth Eclogue, is evidently
+ levelled at the abominable Skelton:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Another thing yet is greatly more damnable:</p>
+ <p>Of rascolde poetes yet is a shamfull rable,</p>
+ <p>Which voyde of wisedome presumeth to indite,</p>
+ <p>Though they haue scantly the cunning of a snite;</p>
+ <p>And to what vices that princes moste intende,</p>
+ <p>Those dare these fooles solemnize and commende</p>
+ <p>Then is he decked as Poete laureate,</p>
+ <p>When stinking Thais made him her graduate;</p>
+ <p>When Muses rested, she did her season note,</p>
+ <p>And she with Bacchus her camous did promote.</p>
+ <p>Such rascolde drames, promoted by Thais,</p>
+ <p>Bacchus, Licoris, or yet by Testalis,</p>
+ <p>Or by suche other newe forged Muses nine,</p>
+ <p>Thinke in their mindes for to haue wit diuine;</p>
+ <p>They laude their verses, they boast, they vaunt and iet,</p>
+ <p>Though all their cunning be scantly worth a pet:</p>
+ <p>If they haue smelled the artes triuiall,</p>
+ <p>They count them Poetes hye and heroicall.</p>
+ <p>Such is their foly, so foolishly they dote,</p>
+ <p>Thinking that none can their playne errour note;</p>
+ <p>Yet be they foolishe, auoyde of honestie,</p>
+ <p>Nothing seasoned with spice of grauitie,</p>
+ <p>Auoyde of pleasure, auoyde of eloquence,</p>
+ <p>With many wordes, and fruitlesse of sentence;</p>
+ <p>Unapt to learne, disdayning to be taught,</p>
+ <p>Their priuate pleasure in snare hath them so caught;</p>
+ <p>And worst yet of all, they count them excellent,</p>
+ <p>Though they be fruitlesse, rashe and improuident.</p>
+ <p>To such ambages who doth their minde incline,</p>
+ <p>They count all other as priuate of doctrine,</p>
+ <p>And that the faultes which be in them alone,</p>
+ <p>And be common in other men eche one.</p>
+ <p>Thus bide good poetes oft time rebuke and blame,</p>
+ <p>Because of other which haue despised name.</p>
+ <p>And thus for the bad the good be cleane abject.</p>
+ <p>Their art and poeme counted of none effect,</p>
+ <p>Who wanteth reason good to discerne from ill</p>
+ <p>Doth worthy writers interprete at his will:</p>
+ <p>So both the laudes of good and not laudable</p>
+ <p>For lacke of knowledge become vituperable."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>It has not hitherto been pointed out that Skelton did not disdain to
+ borrow a leaf from the enemy's book and try his hand at paraphrasing the
+ Ship of Fools also. "The Boke of three fooles, M. Skelton, poete
+ laureate, gaue to my lord Cardynall," is a paraphrase in prose, with
+ introductory verses, of three chapters of Brandt, corresponding to
+ Barclay's chapters headed, Of yonge folys that take olde wym<span
+ class="over">e</span> to theyr wyues nat for loue but for ryches (I.
+ 247); Of enuyous folys (I. 252); Of bodely lust or corporall voluptuosyte
+ (I. 239). Skelton's three fools, are, "The man that doth wed a wyfe for
+ her goodes and her rychesse;" "Of Enuye, the seconde foole"; and, "Of the
+ Voluptuousnes corporall, the third foole;" and his versions are dashed
+ off with his usual racy vigour. He probably, however, did not think it
+ worth while to compete with the established favourite. If he had we would
+ certainly have got a very different book from Barclay's.</p>
+
+ <p>Notwithstanding his popularity and industry, Barclay's name appears to
+ be but seldom mentioned by contemporary or later authors. As early as
+ 1521 however, we find him placed in the most honourable company by Henry
+ Bradshaw, "Lyfe of Saynt Werburghe," (1521, Pynson, 4to). But the
+ compliment would probably lose half its sweetness from his being
+ bracketed with the detested Skelton:&mdash;</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>To all auncient poetes, litell boke, submytte the,</p>
+ <p>Whilom flouryng in eloquence facundious,</p>
+ <p>And to all other whiche present nowe be;</p>
+ <p>Fyrst to maister Chaucer and Ludgate sentencious,</p>
+ <p>Also to preignaunt Barkley nowe beying religious,</p>
+ <p>To inuentiue Skelton and poet laureate;</p>
+ <p>Praye them all of pardon both erly and late.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>Bulleyn's repeated allusions to Barclay (see above, pp. xxvii., liv.),
+ apart from the probability that, as contemporaries resident in the same
+ provincial town, Ely, they were well acquainted with each other, leave
+ little doubt that the two were personal friends. Bulleyn's figurative
+ description of the poet, quoted at p. xxvii., is scarcely complete
+ without the following verses, which are appended to it by way of summary
+ of his teachings (similar verses are appended to the descriptions of
+ Chaucer, Gower, &amp;c.):&mdash;[Barclay appears] saying</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"Who entreth the court in yong and t<span class="over">e</span>der age</p>
+ <p>Are lightly blinded with foly and outrage:</p>
+ <p>But suche as enter with witte and grauitie,</p>
+ <p>Bow not so sone to such enormitie,</p>
+ <p>But ere thei enter if thei haue lerned nought</p>
+ <p>Afterwardes Vertue the least of theyr thought."</p>
+ <p class="i20"><i>Dialogue against the Fever Pestilence.</i></p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>In another passage of the same Dialogue<a name="Ft_4"
+ href="#FtN_4"><sup>[4]</sup></a> the picture of the honourable and
+ deserving but neglected churchman is touched with so much strength and
+ feeling that, though no indication is given, one cannot but believe that
+ the painter was drawing from the life, the life of his friend. The
+ likeness, whether intentional or not, is a most faithful one: "The third
+ [picture] is, one whiche sheweth the state of learned men, labouring long
+ time in studie and diuine vertue, whiche are wrapped in pouertie, wantyng
+ the golden rake or gapyng mouth. This man hath verie fewe to preferre hym
+ to that promotion, he smiteth himselfe up<span class="over">o</span> the
+ breast, he wepeth and lamenteth, that vice should thus be exalted,
+ ignoraunce rewarded with glorie, coueteous men spoilyng the Churche, by
+ the names of patrones and geuers, whiche extorcioners and tellers, they
+ care not to whom, so that it be raked with the golden racke. Wel, wel,
+ God of his mercie, am<span class="over">e</span>d this euill market."</p>
+
+ <p>In one of the many humorous sallies which lighten up this
+ old-fashioned antidote to the pestilence, Barclay again appears, dressed
+ in the metaphorical colour of the poet or minstrel&mdash;green, which has
+ probably here a double significance, referring no doubt to his popularity
+ as the English eclogue writer as well as to his fame as a poet and
+ satirist. In introducing "Bartlet, grene breche" as the antithesis to
+ "Boner wepyng," allusion was also probably intended to the honourable
+ position occupied by Barclay amongst the promoters of the Reformation,
+ compared with the reapostacy, the career of brutal cruelty, and the
+ deserved fate of the Jefferies of the Episcopal bench.</p>
+
+ <p>Thus discourse <i>Civis et Uxor</i>.&mdash;</p>
+
+ <p>"<i>Uxor.</i> What are all these two and two in a table. Oh it is
+ trim. <i>Civis.</i> These are old frendes, it is well handled and
+ workemanly. Willyam Boswell in Pater noster rowe, painted them. Here is
+ Christ, and Sathan, Sainct Peter, and Symon Magus, Paule, and Alex<span
+ class="over">a</span>der the Coppersmith, Trace, and Becket, Martin
+ Luther, and the Pope ... bishop Cr<span class="over">a</span>mer, and
+ bishop Gardiner. Boner wepyng, Bartlet, grene breche ... Salomon, and
+ Will Sommer. The cocke and the lyon, the wolfe and the lambe." This
+ passage also necessarily implies that Barclay's fame at that time was
+ second to none in England. Alas! for fame:</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"What is the end of fame? 'Tis but to fill</p>
+ <p>A certain portion of uncertain paper."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>In the seventeenth century Barclay still held a place in the first
+ rank of satirists, if we accept the evidence of the learned Catholic poet
+ of that time, Sir Aston Cokaine. He thus alludes to him in an address "To
+ my learned friend, Mr Thomas Bancroft, upon his Book of Satires. By Sir
+ Aston Cokayne."</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="hg3">"After a many works of divers kinds</p>
+ <p>Your muse to tread th' Aruncan path designs:</p>
+ <p class="hg1">'Tis hard to write but Satires in these days,</p>
+ <p>And yet to write good Satires merits praise:</p>
+ <p>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; · &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; ·</p>
+ <p>So old Petronius Arbiter appli'd</p>
+ <p>Corsives unto the age he did deride:</p>
+ <p>So Horace, Persius, Juvenal, (among</p>
+ <p>Those ancient Romans) scourg'd the impious throng;</p>
+ <p>So Ariosto (in these later times)</p>
+ <p>Reprov'd his Italy for many crimes;</p>
+ <p>So learned Barclay let his lashes fall</p>
+ <p>Heavy on some to bring a cure to all."</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>In concluding this imperfect notice of one of the most remarkable of
+ our early writers, we cannot but echo the regret expressed by one of his
+ biographers, that "What ought most to be lamented is, that we are able to
+ say so very little of one in his own time so famous, and whose works
+ ought to have transmitted him to posterity with much greater honour."</p>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="contc"></a></p>
+
+<h3>THE WILL OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY.</h3>
+
+<p class="cenhead">EXTRACTED FROM THE PRINCIPAL REGISTRY OF HER
+MAJESTY'S COURT OF PROBATE.</p>
+
+<h3><i>In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury.</i></h3>
+
+ <p><span class="sc">In the Name of God. Amen.</span>&mdash;The
+ xxv<sup>th</sup> day of July in the yere of our Lorde God a thousande
+ fyve hundreth fyftie and one.... I <span class="sc">Alexander
+ Barqueley</span> Doctor of Divinitie Vicar of myche badowe in the countie
+ of Essex do make dispose and declare this my p<span
+ class="over">u</span>te testament conteyning my last Will in forme and
+ order as hereafter followethe That ys to saye First I bequeathe my soule
+ unto Almightie God my maker and Redemer and my bodye to be buried where
+ it shall please God to dispose after de<span class="over">p</span>ting my
+ soule from the bodye Also I bequeathe to the poore people of the said
+ <span class="over">p</span>ish of Badowe fyftie shillings to be disposed
+ where as yt shall appere to be most nede by the discrescon of myne
+ Executours And also I bequeathe towardes the rep<span
+ class="over">a</span>cons of the same Churche vj<sup>s</sup>
+ viij<sup>d</sup> Item I bequeathe to the poore people of the <span
+ class="over">P</span>ish of Owkley in the Countie of Somersett fiftie
+ shillings likewise to be distributed And towardes the rep<span
+ class="over">a</span>cons of the same Churche vj<sup>s</sup>
+ viij<sup>d</sup> Item I bequeathe to Mr Horsey of Tawnton in the saide
+ Countie of Somersett one fether bed and a bolster which I had of hym or
+ els twentie shillings in redye money Item I bequeathe to Edword Capper
+ otherwise called Edwarde Mathewe of Tawnton aforesaid xxxiij<sup>s</sup>
+ iiij<sup>d</sup> of currant money of England Item I bequeathe to Johane
+ Atkynson the daughter of Thomas Atkynson of London Scryvener one
+ fetherbed wheruppon I use to lye having a newe tyke with the bolster
+ blanketts and coverlett tester pillowe and two payer of my best shetes
+ Item I bequeth to the same Johane Atkynson eight pounds current money of
+ England to be receyved of the money due unto me by Cutbeard Crokk of
+ Wynchester to be paide in two yeres (that is to saye foure poundes in the
+ first yere and foure poundes in the secounde yere) Item I bequeathe to
+ the saide Johane a flocke bed a quylte and all my pewter and brasse and
+ other stuf of my kechen Item I give and bequeathe to Jeronymy Atkynson
+ the daughter of the saide Thomas Atkynson vj<sup>li</sup>
+ xiij<sup>s</sup> iiij<sup>d</sup> currant money of England to be receyved
+ of the said Cutbeard Crok in two yeres that is to saye every yere fyve
+ markes Item I bequeathe to Tymothy and Elizabeth Atkynson the daughters
+ of the said Thomas Atkynson to everye of theym five pounds currant money
+ of England to be receyved of the said Cutbeard Croke so that the eldest
+ of thes two daughters be paide the first two yeres and the other to be
+ paide in other two yeres then next following Item The rest of the money
+ whiche the saide Cutbeard Croke oweth to me amounting in the hole to the
+ some of four score poundes I bequeathe to be devyded amonge poore and
+ nedye <span class="over">p</span>sones after the discretion of myn
+ Executours and manely to such as be bedred blynde lame ympotent wydowes
+ and fatherless children.... Item I bequeathe to Syr John Gate Knight
+ S<sup>r</sup> Henry Gate Knight and to M<sup>r</sup> Clerke to everye of
+ theym fouer angell nobles to make every of theym a ringe of golde to be
+ worne by theym in remembraunce of me Item I give and bequeathe to Hugh
+ Rooke of London Scryvener to Henry bosoll of London Gold Smythe to Thomas
+ Wytton of London Screvener and to the wief of Humfrey Stevens of London
+ Goldsmythe to Humfrey Edwards Clerke to John Owhan of the <span
+ class="over">P</span>ish of Badowe aforesaid to every of them one angell
+ noble of gold or ells y<sup>e</sup> valew therof in sylver Item I
+ bequeathe to M<sup>r</sup> Thomas Clerk of Owkey aforesaid to Thomas Edey
+ Gentelman and to the said Thomas Atkynson to every of them foure angell
+ nobles to make therof for every of them a ringe to were in remembraunce
+ of oure olde acquayntaunce and famyliarytie Item my will is that my
+ Executours shall distribute at the daye of my buriall among poore and
+ nedy people sixe pounds fyftene shillings Item I bequeathe to Parnell
+ Atkynson the wief of the said Thomas Atkynson my cosyn thirtenne pounds
+ thirtene shillings and foure pence of currant money of England Item I
+ bequeathe to John Watson of London Clotheworker three angell nobles to
+ make a ring therof to be worne in remembraunce of oure olde famyliaritie
+ Also I desire all suche as have or shall hereafter have eny benyfytt by
+ thes my legacies and all other good chrestian people to praye to
+ Almightie God for remission of my synnes and mercy upon my soule Item I
+ bequeath to Johan Bowyer the syster of the said <span
+ class="over">P</span>nell my cosen fourtie shillings Item I bequeathe to
+ the said Thomas Atkynson Tenne pounds currant money of England whome with
+ the said Thomas Eden I constitute <span class="correction" title="'th' in original"
+ >the</span> executours of this my last Will to whome I bequeathe the rest
+ and residue of all my goodes chattells and debts to be distributed at
+ their discrescion in works of mercy to poore people not peny mele but by
+ larger por<span class="over">c</span>on after theyr discrecon namely to
+ <span class="over">p</span>sons bedred maydens widowes and other ympotent
+ <span class="over">p</span>sons Item I ordeyne and desire the said
+ M<sup>r</sup> Rochester to be the Overseer of this my last Will to be
+ well and truely <span class="over">p</span>formed and fulfilled to whome
+ for his labor and paynes I bequeathe fyve marks currant money of England
+ In wytnes of whiche this my last Will I the said Alexander Barqueley
+ hereunto have set my seale and subscribed the same with my owne hands the
+ day and yere fyrst above written <span class="pbar">&ndash;</span>p <span
+ class="correction" title="'nce' in original">me</span>. <span
+ class="sc">Alexandru Barqueley</span>.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p><span class="sc">Probatum</span> fuit Test<span class="over">m</span>
+ coram d<span class="over">n</span>o ca<span class="over">n</span>t
+ Archie<span class="over">p</span>o apud London decimo die mensis Junij
+ Anno d<span class="over">n</span>o mille<span class="over">m</span>o
+ quingentesimo quinquagesimo secundo Juramento Thom<span
+ class="over">e</span> Atkynson E<span class="over">x</span> in hm<span
+ class="over">o</span>i testamento no<span class="over">i</span>at Ac
+ Approbat<span class="over">u</span> et insumat<span class="over">u</span>
+ et comissa fuit adm<span class="over">o</span>traco om<span
+ class="over">n</span> bonor<span class="over">u</span> &amp;<sup>c</sup>
+ d<span class="over">c</span>i deft de bene et &amp;<sup>c</sup> ac de
+ pleno Inv<sup>ro</sup> &amp;<sup>c</sup> exhibend Ad sancta dei Evangelia
+ Jurat Re<span class="over">s</span>rvata <span
+ class="pbar">&ndash;</span>ptate Thome Eden alteri e<span
+ class="over">x</span> &amp;<sup>c</sup> cum venerit.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p><a name="contd"></a></p>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+<h3>NOTES.</h3>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<div class="note">
+ <p><a name="FtN_1" href="#Ft_1">[1]</a> <span class="sc">Barclay's
+ Nationality</span></p>
+
+ <p>The objection raised to claiming Barclay as a Scotsman, founded on the
+ ground that he nowhere mentions his nationality, though it was a common
+ practice of authors in his time to do so, especially when they wrote out
+ of their own country, appeared to me, though ingenious and pertinent, to
+ be of so little real weight, as to be dismissed in a parenthesis. Its
+ importance, however, may easily be overrated, and it may therefore be
+ well to point out that, apart from the possibility that this omission on
+ his part was the result of accident or indifference, there is also the
+ probability that it was dictated by a wise discretion. To be a Scotsman
+ was not in the days of Henry VIII., as it has been in later and more
+ auspicious times, a passport to confidence and popularity, either at the
+ court or among the people of England. Barclay's fate having led him, and
+ probably his nearest relatives also, across that Border which no Scotsman
+ ever recrosses, to live and labour among a people by no means friendly to
+ his country, it would have been a folly which so sensible a man as he was
+ not likely to commit to have displayed the red rag of his nationality
+ before his easily excited neighbours, upon whose friendliness his comfort
+ and success depended. The farther argument of the Biographia Brittannica,
+ that "it is pretty extraordinary that Barclay himself, in his several
+ addresses to his patrons, should never take notice of his being a
+ stranger, which would have made their kindness to him the more
+ remarkable," is sufficiently disposed of by the succeeding statement,
+ that the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of Kent, Barclay's principal
+ patrons, "are known to have been the fiercest enemies of the Scots."
+ Surely a man who was English in everything but his birth could not be
+ expected to openly blazon his Scottish nativity, without adequate
+ occasion for so doing, in the very face of his country's chiefest
+ enemies, who were at the same time his own best friends. His caution in
+ this respect, indeed, may be regarded as an additional proof of his
+ Scottish origin.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="FtN_2" href="#Ft_2">[2]</a> <span class="sc">Barclay's
+ Vocabulary</span></p>
+
+ <p>Some of the words, stated in popular fashion to be Scotch&mdash;they
+ are of course of Saxon origin&mdash;the usage of which by Barclay is
+ adduced as an evidence of his nationality, are also to be found in
+ Chaucer, but that does not invalidate the argument as stated. The
+ employment of so many words of northern usage must form at least a strong
+ corroborative argument in favour of northern origin.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="FtN_3" href="#Ft_3">[3]</a> <span class="sc">The Castle of
+ Labour</span></p>
+
+ <p>It ought to be stated that the modesty of the young author prevented
+ him from affixing his name to his first production, The Castle of Labour.
+ Both editions are anonymous. Bale, Pits, Wood, &amp;c., all include it in
+ the list of his works without remark.</p>
+
+ <p><a name="FtN_4" href="#Ft_4">[4]</a> <span class="sc">Bulleyn's
+ Dialogue</span></p>
+
+ <p>A notice of the history of this once popular Dialogue, its ever
+ recurring disappearance, and ever recurring "discovery" by some fortunate
+ antiquary, would form an interesting chapter in a new "History of the
+ transmission of ancient books to modern times." Its chances of
+ preservation and record were unusually favourable. It must have been
+ disseminated over the length and breadth of the land in its day, having
+ run through four editions in little more than a dozen years. Maunsell's
+ Catalogue (1595) records the edition of 1578. Antony Wood (1721), and
+ Bishop Tanner (1748) both duly give it a place in their notices of the
+ productions of its author, without any special remark. But the Biographia
+ Brittanica (1748) in a long article upon Bulleyn, in which his various
+ works are noticed in great detail, introduces the Dialogue as "<i>this
+ long neglected and unknown treatise</i>," and gives an elaborate account
+ of it extending to about five columns of small print. The now famous
+ passage, descriptive of the early poets, is quoted at length, and special
+ notice of its bearing on Barclay's nationality taken, the writer (Oldys)
+ announcing that the dispute must now be settled in favour of Scotland,
+ "Seeing our author (Bulleyn), a contemporary who lived in, and long upon
+ the borders of Scotland, says, as above, he was born in that kingdom: and
+ as much indeed might have been in great measure gathered from an
+ attentive perusal of this poet himself."</p>
+
+ <p>The next biographer of Bulleyn, Aikin (Biog. Memoirs of Medicine,
+ 1780), makes no discovery, but contents himself with giving a brief
+ account of the Dialogue (in 1½ pages), in which the description of
+ Chaucer, &amp;c., is duly noticed. Three years later, in spite of this,
+ and the appearance of a second edition of the Biographia Brittanica
+ (1778), another really learned and able antiquary, Waldron, in his
+ edition of Jonson's Sad Shepherd (1783), comes forth triumphantly
+ announcing his discovery of the Dialogue as that of a hitherto totally
+ unknown treasure; and in an appendix favours the curious with a series of
+ extracts from it, extending to more than thirty pages, prefacing them
+ thus: "Having, among the various Mysteries and Moralities, whether
+ original impressions, reprinted, or described only by those writers who
+ have given any account of these Embrios of the English Drama, <i>never
+ met with or read of any other copy of the Dialogue, or Morality, by
+ Bulleyn, than the one</i>, [which I have used], an account of and some
+ extracts from it may not be unpleasing." The passage regarding the poets
+ is of course given <i>ad longum</i>.</p>
+
+ <p>The next notice of the Dialogue occurs in Herbert's Ames (1786), where
+ two editions, 1564 and 1578, are entered. Dibdin (1819), in addition,
+ notices the edition of 1573. In the biographical accounts of Bulleyn in
+ Hutchinson's Biographia Medica (1799), Aikin's General Biog. Dict.
+ (1801), and its successor, Chalmers's Biog. Dict. (1812), due mention is
+ preserved of the Dialogue in enumerating the works of its author. Sir
+ Walter Scott alludes to it in the Introduction to the Minstrelsy of the
+ Scottish Border (1802) as a "mystery," but his only knowledge of it is
+ evidently derived from Waldron. Chalmers's Life of Lindsay (Poetical
+ Works, 1806) has also kept it prominently before a considerable class of
+ inquirers, as he gives that part of the description of the poets relating
+ to Lindsay a conspicuous place, with the following note: "Owing to the
+ very obliging temper of Mr Waldron I have been permitted to see that
+ <i>rare book</i> of Dr Bulleyn, with the second edition of 1569, which is
+ remarkably different from the first in 1564." To this use of it by
+ Chalmers we owe the references to it in Lord Lindsay's Lives of the
+ Lindsays, i. 261 (1849), Seton's Scottish Heraldry, 480 (1863), and Notes
+ and Queries, 3rd s., iv. 164 (1863). It was also probably Chalmers that
+ drew the attention of the writer of the Memoir of Barclay in the Lives of
+ the Scottish Poets (1822), to the possibility of there being also in the
+ Dialogue notice of that poet. At any rate, he quotes the description of
+ the early poets, showing in his preliminary remarks considerable
+ familiarity with Bulleyn's history, pointing out the probability of his
+ having known Barclay at Ely, and arguing that whether or not, "from
+ living in the same neighbourhood he had an opportunity of knowing better
+ than any contemporary whose evidence on the subject is extant, to what
+ country Barclay was, by all about him, reputed to belong." He precedes
+ his quotations thus: "As the whole passage possesses considerable
+ elegance, and has been so <i>universally overlooked</i> by the critics,
+ the transcription of it here will not probably be deemed out of place."
+ No mention is made of the title of the book from which the "Allegorical
+ Description of the Early English Poets" is taken; hence it is impossible
+ to say whether the quoter made use of a copy of the Dialogue, or of
+ Waldron's Notes. The spelling is modernised.</p>
+
+ <p>In various well-known bibliographical publications the existence of
+ this fugitive Dialogue is carefully registered, and its title, at least,
+ made known to all inquirers,&mdash;in Watt's Bibliotheca Britt. (1824),
+ in Lowndes' Bibliog. Manual (1834), and in Atkinson's Medical Bibliog.
+ (1834); and by the published Catalogues of the British Museum (1813), the
+ Douce Collection (1840), and the Bodleian Library (1843), it is made
+ known that there are copies of it preserved in these great collections.
+ In Warton's Hist. of Eng. Poetry (ed. 1840), it is also recorded by Park,
+ in his notes to the chapter on Gower, in which he refers to Bulleyn's
+ visionary description of that poet. Cooper's Athenæ Cantabrigienses, art.
+ Bulleyn (1858), also carefully notes the Dialogue and its editions. And
+ in 1865 Collier's well-known Bibliographical Account of Early English
+ Literature again gives an account (two pages long) of the much neglected
+ production, in which the passage relating to the poets is once more
+ extracted in full, with the preliminary remarks as quoted at p. xxvii.
+ <i>supra</i>, but without the usual announcement that the work has
+ hitherto been unknown.</p>
+
+ <p>But in 1873, by the very last man from whom we might have expected it
+ (F. J. Furnivall, the Atlas on whose shoulders all our projects for the
+ preservation of our early literature rest, in Notes and Queries, 4th s.,
+ xii. 161), we are again introduced to this ever disappearing, ever
+ reappearing Dialogue as a fresh find in early English literature: "Few
+ things are pleasanter in reading old books than to come on a passage of
+ praise of our old poets, showing that in Tudor days men cared for the
+ 'makers' of former days as we do still. To Mr David Laing's kindness I
+ owe the introduction to the following quotation from a rare tract, where
+ one wouldn't have expected to find such a passage," and then follows once
+ more the whole passage so often quoted for the first time. Dr Rimbault,
+ in an interesting note in a succeeding number of Notes and Queries (p.
+ 234), is the first one acquainted with the Dialogue to state that "this
+ amusing old work is perfectly well known, and has often been quoted
+ from." So henceforth we may presume that this interesting and
+ long-fertile field of discovery may be regarded as finally worked
+ out.</p>
+
+</div>
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p097.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t097.png"
+ alt="Barclay presents a book to his patron." /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="conte"></a></p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">A</p>
+
+<h3>BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CATALOGUE</h3>
+
+<p class="cenhead">OF</p>
+
+<h3>BARCLAY'S WORKS.</h3>
+
+<h3>CONTENTS.</h3>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p><a href="#contei">I. <span class="sc">The Castell of Laboure</span>.</a></p>
+ <p><a href="#conteii">II. <span class="sc">The Shyp of Folys</span>.</a></p>
+ <p><a href="#conteiii">III. <span class="sc">The Egloges</span>.</a></p>
+ <p><a href="#conteiv">IV. <span class="sc">The Introductory</span>.</a></p>
+ <p><a href="#contev">V. <span class="sc">The Myrrour of Good Maners</span>.</a></p>
+ <p><a href="#contevi">VI. <span class="sc">Cronycle complyed by Salust</span>.</a></p>
+ <p><a href="#contevii">VII. <span class="sc">Figure of our Mother Holy Church</span>.</a></p>
+ <p><a href="#conteviii">VIII. <span class="sc">The Lyfe of Saynt George</span>.</a></p>
+ <p><a href="#conteix">IX. <span class="sc">The Lyfe of Saynte Thomas</span>.</a></p>
+ <p><a href="#contex">X. <span class="sc">Haython's Cronycle</span>.</a></p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><a name="contei"></a></p>
+
+ <p>I. <span class="sc">The Castell of Laboure</span>.&mdash;Wynkyn de
+ Worde. 1506. Small Quarto. Black letter.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>The title, "The castell of laboure," is within a scroll above a
+ woodcut of men over a tub: on the verso, a cut of a man sitting at a
+ desk. At sign. a ii. (recto) "Here begynneth the prologue of this present
+ treatyse." [The Brit. Mus. copy has this on the verso of the title
+ instead of the cut, a peculiarity which may entitle it to be called a
+ separate edition, though it appears to agree otherwise with the copy
+ described.] There are many curious woodcuts. Colophon on the reverse of
+ sign. i iii. (51<sup>b</sup>): "Thus endeth the castell of labour, wherin
+ is rychesse, vertue, and honour. Enprynted at London in Fletestrete in
+ the sygne of the sonne. by Wynkyn de worde. Anno d<span
+ class="over">n</span>i M.ccccc.vi." There is no indication of authorship.
+ Signatures: a b c d e f g h, alternately 8s and 4s, i 4; 52 leaves, not
+ numbered. The British Museum and Cambridge University Library copies of
+ this book have been collated, but as the former ends with H 3 and the
+ latter wants the last leaf, that leaf must remain undescribed. Mr
+ Bradshaw, however, says, "it almost certainly contained a woodcut on the
+ recto, and one of the devices on the verso."</p>
+
+ <p>A copy of this very scarce book was sold among Mr. West's books in
+ 1773 for £2.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>I.<i>a</i>. <span class="sc">The Castell of
+ Laboure</span>.&mdash;Pynson. No date. Small Quarto. Black letter.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>The title, "Here begynneth the castell of laboure," is over a woodcut;
+ and on the reverse is a woodcut; both the same as those in the previous
+ edition. In the body of the work there are 30 woodcuts, which differ from
+ those of the first edition, one of these (at G 6) is a repetition of that
+ on the title page. Colophon: "Thus endeth the castell of labour wherin is
+ rychesse, vertue and honoure. Enprynted be me Richarde Pynson." After the
+ colophon comes another leaf (I 6), on the recto of which is the printer's
+ device, and on the verso a woodcut representing a city on the banks of a
+ river. Without indication of authorship. Signatures: A, 8 leaves;
+ B&mdash;I, in sixes.</p>
+
+ <p>"Neither Ames nor Herbert appear to have seen this rare volume; which
+ is probably a reprint of Wynkyn de Worde's impression of 1506." (Dibdin's
+ Typ. Antiq., II. 557.) There is a copy in the Library of H. Huth,
+ Esq.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p><a name="conteii"></a></p>
+
+ <p>II. <span class="sc">The Ship of Folys of the
+ Worlde</span>.&mdash;Pynson. 1509. Folio.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>On the recto of the first leaf there is a large woodcut of Pynson's
+ arms, or device No. VII., similar to that which is on the reverse of the
+ last leaf of each of the volumes of his edition of Lord Berners'
+ translation of Froissart's Chronicles; on the back of the first leaf is
+ the translator's dedication to "Thomas Cornisshe, bishop of Tine, and
+ suffragan bishop of Bath;" on the next leaf begins "The regyster or table
+ of this present boke in Englyshe," (all as on pp. cxiii.&mdash;cxx.),
+ succeeded by a Latin table. Then on sign. a i. and fol. i. a large
+ woodcut, the same as is used for the title page of Cawood's edition (and
+ on p. 313, Vol. II.), with a Latin description in the margin. Beneath is
+ the title in Latin. On the back, "Alexander Barclay excusynge the
+ rudeness of his translacion," followed with "An exhortacion of Alexander
+ Barclay." Then on fol. ii., etc., follow in Latin, "Epigramma,"
+ "Epistola" in prose, and various "Carmina." On the back of fol. v. "The
+ exhortacion of Brant to the fools" in Latin verse, followed by Barclay's
+ version with the heading "Barclay the Translatour tho the Foles." On fol.
+ iiii. the "Prologus Jacobi Locher ... incipit," followed by its
+ translation into English. On fol. ix., etc., "Hecatastichon in proludium
+ auctoris et Libelli Narragonici" and the English translation, "Here
+ begynneth the prologe." On xii. "The Argument" in Latin and English, and
+ then on xiii. commences the first chapter, "De inutilibus libris," in
+ Latin, and then in English, which is the order throughout, with the cuts
+ at the beginning of either the one or other as the page suited. The book
+ concludes with a ballad in honour of the virgin Mary, consisting of
+ twelve octave stanzas: at the end of which is the colophon in a stanza of
+ seven lines. On the verso of the last leaf is the printer's device, No.
+ v.</p>
+
+ <p>The Latin is uniformly printed in the Roman type, and the English in
+ the Gothic. Herbert supposes the diphthongs to be "the first perhaps used
+ in this kingdom."</p>
+
+ <p>The cuts are rude, coarse, English imitations of those in the original
+ editions. They are, including the preliminary one, 118 in number. The cut
+ illustrating the chapter, "Of them that correct other," etc., fol. liii.
+ has been exchanged with the cut of the succeeding chapter. The cut
+ illustrating "The unyuersall shyp and generall Barke," fol. cclxii., is
+ repeated at the succeeding chapter. The one illustrating Barclay's new
+ chapter "Of folys that ar ouer worldly" is an imitation of the
+ illustration of "De singularitate quorundam novorum fatuorum" in the
+ Latin edition of March 1497. The cut illustrating the ballad of the
+ Virgin appears in the original at the head of "Excusatio Jacobi Locher
+ Philomusi," and illustrates, according to the margin, "Derisio boni
+ operis."</p>
+
+ <p>The word "Folium" is on the left hand page, and the number, in Roman
+ capitals, on the right throughout the book; the last is cclxxiiii.
+ Including the dedication and table (4 folios) there are 283 folios. The
+ numbering is a model of irregularity: iiii. is repeated for vi., xx.
+ stands for xv., xviii. is repeated, xx. is wanting, xxii. is repeated,
+ xxiv. is wanting, xxx. is repeated, xxxvi. is wanting, xxxix. is repeated
+ in place of xliv., xlviii. is wanting, xlix. is repeated, lvii is
+ repeated after lxi., lviii follows twice, lix., lx., lxi. being repeated
+ in succession after lviii., lxvii., lxviii. are repeated after lxviii.,
+ lxxxii. is wanting, lxxxiii. is repeated, lxxxii. stands for lxxxvii.,
+ lxxxiii. succeeds for lxxxviiii, cclxv. succeeds for lxxxix., lxxxxii. is
+ repeated for lxxxxvii., [in the Grenville copy this leaf is correctly
+ numbered], cxxxii is wanting, cxl. stands for cxxxviii., cxlxi. stands
+ for cxlvi., clxxiv. is wanting, clxxxxxi. stands for cci., ccxii. is
+ repeated for ccxvii., ccxxxviii. is wanting, cclx. stands for ccl.,
+ cclviii. is repeated for cclx.</p>
+
+ <p>The numeration by signatures is as follows: + iiij; a, 8; b&mdash;p, 6
+ s; q, 7; r, s, t, v, x, y, z, &amp;, 6 s; A&mdash;Y, 6 s.</p>
+
+ <p>The book is extremely rare. There is a fine copy in the Bodleian
+ Library among Selden's books, another in the British Museum, Grenville
+ Collection, and another in the Library of St. John's College, Oxford.</p>
+
+ <p>The following are the more notable prices: Farmer, 1798, £2. 4s.;
+ Sotheby's, 1821, £28; Dent, £30. 9s.; Bib. Anglo-Poetica, £105; Perkins,
+ 1873, £130.</p>
+
+ <p>The following amusing note on prices is taken from Renouard's
+ "Catalogue d'un Amateur." "Les premières éditions latines de ce singulier
+ livre, celles des traductions françoises, toutes également remplies de
+ figures en bois, ne déplaisent pas aux amateurs, mais jamais ils ne les
+ ont payées un haut prix. La traduction angloise faite en 1509, sur le
+ francois, et avec des figures en bois, plus mauvaises encore que leurs
+ modèles, se paye en Angleterre 25, 30 et mème 60 guinées; c'est là, si
+ l'on veut, du zèle patriotique, de l'esprit national."</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>II.<i>a</i>. <span class="sc">Stultifera Nauis</span>.... <span
+ class="sc">The Ship of Fooles</span>..... With diuers other workes....
+ very profitable and fruitfull for all men.... Cawood. 1570. Folio.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>A large cut of vessels filled with fools (the same as on p. 313, Vol.
+ II.) is inserted between the Latin and English titles. This edition omits
+ the ballad to the Virgin at the end. The English is in black letter, and
+ the Latin in Roman, in the same order as in the preceding edition. On the
+ recto of leaf 259: Thus endeth the Ship of Fooles, translated ... by
+ Alexander Barclay Priest, at that time Chaplen in the Colledge of S. Mary
+ Otery in the Countie of Deuon. Anno Domini 1508. On the back "Excusatio
+ Iacobi Locher Philomusi," in Sapphic verse. On the next page five stanzas
+ by Barclay "excusing the rudenes of his Translation." Lastly, an Index in
+ Latin, and then in English. Then, follow the "diuers other workes," the
+ Mirrour of good maners, and the Egloges. Colophon: Imprinted at London in
+ Paules Church-yarde by Iohn Cawood Printer to the Queenes Maiestie. Cum
+ Priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.</p>
+
+ <p>The woodcuts, including the one on the title-page, number 117. They
+ are the same as those of Pynson's edition, but show occasional traces of
+ the blocks having been chipped in the course of their preservation in a
+ printer's office for 60 years or so. The borders only differ, being of a
+ uniform type, while those of the previous edition are woodcuts of several
+ patterns.</p>
+
+ <p>The numbering is a little irregular; the preliminary leaves (12) are
+ unnumbered. The folios are numbered in figures on the left hand page,
+ 'folio' being prefixed to the first six, 16 is repeated for 17, 13 stands
+ for 31, [in one of the Adv. Lib. copies the latter irregularity is found,
+ though not the former; in the other, 17 and 31 are numbered correctly],
+ 96 is repeated for 99, 188 for 191, 100 for 200, and 205 for 201. The
+ last number is 259, and there are three extra leaves, thus making 274 for
+ the Ship. The supplementary works are not numbered. The signatures are as
+ follows: <i>The Ship</i>, ¶ six leaves; ¶¶ six leaves; A to U u, in
+ sixes; X x, four leaves; <i>Mirrour of good manners</i>, A&mdash;G, in
+ sixes; <i>Egloges</i>, A to D, in sixes; in all 680 pp.</p>
+
+ <p>This book was licensed to Cawood in 1567-8, and is said to be the only
+ book he had license for. It is now very rare.</p>
+
+ <p>Prices: Digby, 1680, 4s. 4d. Bernard, 1698, 1s. 10d. Gulston, 1783,
+ £1, 16s. White Knights, £8, 12s. Roxburghe, £9, 19s. 6d. Fonthill, £13,
+ 13s. Bib. Anglo-Poet, £12, 12s. Heber, £8, 12s. Sotheby's, 1873, £48,
+ 10s.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>A complete bibliography of the various editions and versions of the
+ Ship of Fools will be found in Zarocke's edition of the original, or in
+ Graesse's Trésor de livres rares et précieux. A notice is subjoined of
+ the two editions of the English prose translation, and of the two other
+ publications bearing the title.</p>
+
+ <p>The abridged prose translation, by Henry Watson, from the French prose
+ version of Jehan Droyn, appeared from the press of De Worde in the same
+ year in which Barclay's fuller poetical version was issued. In both text
+ and illustrations it is a much inferior production to the latter. As the
+ existence of the first edition has been, and still is, denied, it being
+ frequently confounded with Barclay's book, we transcribe the following
+ description of the only known copy from Van Praet's "Catalogue des livres
+ imprimés sur vélin de la Bibliotheque du Roi."</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>The Shyppe of Fooles, translated out of frenche, by Henry Watson.
+ London, Wynkyn de Worde, 1509, petit in&mdash;4.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>Edition en lettres de forme, sans chiffres ni réclames, avec
+ signatures, figures et initiales en bois; à longues lignes, au nombre de
+ 32 sur les pages entierès; cont. 169 f.; les 7 premiers renferment 1. le
+ titre suivant, gravé audessus d'une figure qui représente le navire des
+ fous:</p>
+
+<p class="cenhead">¶ The shyppe of fooles.</p>
+
+ <p>2. Le prologue du traducteur; 3. la préface; 4. la table des
+ chapitres.</p>
+
+ <p>Au recto du dernier f. est cette souscription:</p>
+
+ <p>¶ Thus endeth the shyppe of fooles of this worde. Enprynted at London
+ in Flete strete by Wynk<span class="over">y</span> de worde prynter vnto
+ the excellent pryncesse Marguerete, Countesse of Rychemonde and Derbye,
+ and grandame vnto our moost naturall souereyne lorde kynge Henry <span
+ class="over">y</span> viii. The yere of our lorde. <span
+ class="sc">m.ccccc.</span> ix. ¶ The fyrste yere of the reygne of our
+ fouerayne lorde kynge Henry the viii. The. vi. daye of Julii. On aperçoit
+ au verso le monogramme et la marque de William Caxton, au bas desquels on
+ lit ces mots: Wynken de Worde."</p>
+
+ <p>This beautiful copy upon vellum is the only example of this edition
+ known.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>The grete Shyppe of Fooles of this worlde. W<span
+ class="over">y</span>kyn de Worde. 1517. Quarto.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>This is the second edition of Watson's translation. Colophon: "Thus
+ endeth the shyppe of fooles of this worlde. Jmprynted at Londod in flete
+ strete by W<span class="over">y</span>kyn de Worde. ye yere of our lorde
+ <span class="sc">m.ccccc.</span> &amp; xvii.</p>
+
+ <p>¶ The nynthe yere of y<sup>e</sup> reygne of our souerayne lorde kynge
+ Henry y<sup>e</sup> VIII. The xx. daye of June." It contains G G 6, fours
+ and eights alternately (the signatures ending on G G iij.), besides 6
+ leaves, with the prologue, prolude and table, before signature A.</p>
+
+ <p>Extremely rare. Roxburghe, £64.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>The Ship of Fools Fully Fraught and Richly Laden with Asses, Fools,
+ Jack-daws, Ninnihammers, Coxcombs, Slenderwits, Shallowbrains,
+ Paper-Skuls, Simpletons, Nickumpoops, Wiseakers, Dunces, and Blockheads,
+ Declaring their several Natures, Manners and Constitutions; the occasion
+ why this Ship was built, with the places of their intended Voyage, and a
+ list of the Officers that bear Command therein.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If for this Voyage any have a mind,</p>
+ <p>They with Jack Adams may acceptance find,</p>
+ <p>Who will strain hard ere they shall stay behind.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p class="i4">Licensed, Roger L'Estrange.</p>
+ <p class="i4">[A large woodcut of the Ship.]</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p>London, Printed by J. W. for J. Clark, at the Bible and Harp in
+ West-Smithfield. n. d. [Circa 1650.] 4to. 4 leaves.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>"This book, or rather tract, has nothing in common with Barclay's Ship
+ of Fools, except the general idea. It is entirely in prose. My copy has
+ nothing to show to whom it formerly belonged."&mdash;(Letter of H. Huth,
+ Esq.) The last sentence was elicited by the inquiry whether Mr Huth's
+ copy were the one formerly belonging to Mr Heber.&mdash;See
+ <i>Bibliotheca Heberiana</i>, Part IV., No. 752.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>Stultifera Navis ... The modern Ship of fools. Lond. 1807, 80. Pp.
+ xxiv., 295.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>A wretched production in verse, in imitation of Barclay's Ship of
+ Fools, published anonymously by W. H. Ireland, the Shakesperian
+ forger.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p><a name="conteiii"></a></p>
+
+ <p>III. <span class="sc">The Egloges of Alex<span
+ class="over">a</span>der Barclay, Prest</span>.&mdash;The first three,
+ without printer's name or device. No date. Quarto. Black letter.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>"Here begynneth the Egloges of Alex<span class="over">a</span>der
+ Barclay, prest, wherof the fyrst thre conteyneth the myseryes of courters
+ and courtes of all prynces in generall, the matter wherof was translated
+ into Englyshe by the sayd Alexander in fourme of Dialogues, out of a boke
+ named in latyn Miserie Curiali<span class="over">u</span>, compyled by
+ Eneas Siluius, Poete and oratour, whiche after was Pope of Rome, &amp;
+ named Pius." This title is over a cut of two shepherds, Coridon and
+ Cornix, the interlocutors in these three eclogues. On the back is a cut
+ of David and Bathsheba. At the end of the third egloge: "Thus endyth the
+ thyrde and last egloge of the mysery of court and courters, composed by
+ Alexander Barclay, preste, in his youthe." A cut of the two shepherds and
+ a courtier fills up the page. Without date, printer's name, or device.
+ Contains P 6, in fours, the last leaf blank.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>III.<i>a</i>. <span class="sc">The Fourthe Egloge of Alexander
+ Barclay</span>.&mdash;Pynson. No date. Quarto. Black letter.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>It is entitled, "The Boke of Codrus and Mynaclus," over the cut of a
+ priest, with a shaven crown, writing at a plutus. It concludes with "The
+ discrypcion of the towre of Vertue &amp; Honour, into whiche the noble
+ Hawarde contended to entre, by worthy acts of chiualry," related by
+ Menalcas, in stanzas of eight verses. At the end, "Thus endeth the
+ fourthe Eglogge of Alexandre Barcley, c<span class="over">o</span>teyning
+ the maner of the riche men anenst poets and other clerkes. Emprinted by
+ Richarde Pynson pr<span class="over">i</span>ter to the kynges noble
+ grace." On the last leaf is his device, No. V. Contains 22 leaves, with
+ cuts.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>III.<i>b</i>. <span class="sc">The Fyfte Egloge of Alexander
+ Barclay</span>. &mdash;Wynkyn de Worde. No date. Quarto. Black
+ letter.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>"The fyfte Eglog of Alexandre Barclay of the Cytezen and
+ vplondyshman." This title is over a large woodcut of a priest, sitting in
+ his study. Beneath, "Here after foloweth the Prologe." On the verso of A
+ ii. are two cuts of two shepherds, whole lengths, with this head-title,
+ "Interlocutoures be Amyntas and Faustus." There are no other cuts.
+ Colophon: "Here endeth the v. Eglog of Alexandre Barclay of the Cytezyn
+ and vplondysshman. Imprynted at London in flete strete, at the sygne of
+ [the] Sonne, by Wynkyn de worde." Beneath, device No. v. Contains A 8, B
+ 4, C 6; 18 leaves. There is a copy in the British Museum.</p>
+
+ <p>With the first four Eclogues as above, Woodhouse, 1803, (Herbert's
+ copy), £25.; resold, Dent, 1827, £36.; resold, Heber, 1834, £24. 10s. At
+ Heber's sale this unique set, containing the only known copy of the first
+ edition of the first four Eclogues, was bought by Thorpe; further I have
+ not been able to trace it.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>III.<i>c</i>. <span class="sc">The Egloges</span>.&mdash;John
+ Herforde. No date. Quarto.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>"Here begynneth the Egloges of Alex. Barclay, Priest, whereof the
+ first three conteineth the Miseries of Courters and Courtes." "Probably a
+ reprint of Pynson's impression," Dibdin. Contains only Eclogues I.-III.
+ Herbert conjectures the date to be 1548; Corser, 1546; Hazlitt, 1545.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>III.<i>d</i>. <span class="sc">The Egloges</span>.&mdash;Humfrey
+ Powell. No date. Quarto. Black letter.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>"Here begynneth the Egloges of Alexander Barclay, priest, whereof the
+ first thre conteineth the miseries of courters and courtes, of all
+ Princes in general ... In the whiche the interloquutors be, Cornix, and
+ Coridon." Concludes: "Thus endeth the thyrde and last Eglogue of the
+ Misery of Courte and Courters, Composed by Alexander Barclay preest, in
+ his youth. Imprinted at London by Humfrey Powell." Contains only Eclogues
+ I.-III. Collation: Title, A 1; sig. A to P2, in fours; 58 leaves not
+ numbered.</p>
+
+ <p>This is an edition of extreme rarity. It is very well printed, and the
+ title is surrounded with a woodcut border with ornamented pillars at the
+ sides. Herbert conjectures the date to be 1549, the Bib. Anglo-Poetica,
+ Lowndes, and Corser, 1548. There is a copy in the Cambridge University
+ Library, and another in the possession of David Laing, Esq.</p>
+
+ <p>Prices: Inglis, £6. 2s. 6d.; Bright, 1845. £10. 10s.; Bib.
+ Anglo-Poetica, £15.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>III.<i>e</i>. <span class="sc">Certayne Egloges of Alexander Barclay
+ Priest</span>.&mdash;Cawood. 1570. Folio. Black letter.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>Appended to Cawood's edition of the Ship of Fools. No title-page,
+ cuts, or pagination. The above heading on A i.</p>
+
+ <p>Colophon: Thus endeth the fifth and last Egloge of Alexander Barclay,
+ of the Citizen and the man of the countrey. Imprinted at London in Paules
+ Church-yarde by Iohn Cawood, Printer to the Queenes Maiestie. Cum
+ Priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.</p>
+
+ <p>Contains A&mdash;D, in sixes.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>III.<i>f</i>. <span class="sc">The Cytezen and Uplondyshman</span>: an
+ Eclogue [the fifth] by Alexander Barclay.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>Printed from the original edition by Wynkyn de Worde. Edited, with an
+ Introductory Notice of Barclay and his other Eclogues, by F.W. Fairholt,
+ F.S.A. London; printed for the Percy Society [vol. XXII.], 1847. 8vo. Pp.
+ + 6, lxxiv., 47.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p><a name="conteiv"></a></p>
+
+ <p>IV. <span class="sc">The Introductory To Write and To Pronounce
+ Frenche</span>. Coplande. 1521. Folio. Black letter.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>'Here begynneth the introductory to wryte, and to pronounce Frenche
+ compyled by Alexander Barcley compendiously at the comma<span
+ class="over">u</span>dem<span class="over">e</span>t of the ryght hye
+ excellent and myghty prynce Thomas duke of Northfolke.' This title is
+ over a large woodcut of a lion rampant, supporting a shield, containing a
+ white lion in a border, (the same as that on the title of the Sallust,
+ VI.), then follows a French ballad of 16 lines in two columns, the first
+ headed, "R. Coplande to the whyte lyone, and the second, "¶ Ballade." On
+ the recto of the last leaf, 'Here foloweth the maner of dauncynge of bace
+ da<span class="over">u</span>ces after the vse of fraunce &amp; other
+ places translated out of frenche in englysshe by Robert coplande.' Col.:
+ Jmprynted at London in the Fletestrete at the sygne of the rose Garlande
+ by Robert coplande, the yere of our lorde. <span
+ class="sc">m.ccccc</span>.xxi. y<sup>e</sup> xxii. day of Marche.'
+ Neither folioed nor paged. Contains C 4, in sixes, 16 leaves.</p>
+
+ <p>In the edition of Palsgrave (see above, p. lxxiii.), published among
+ the "Documents inédits sur l'histoire de France," the editor says of this
+ work of Barclay's: "Tous mes efforts pour découvrir un exemplaire de ce
+ curieux ouvrage ont été inutiles." There is a copy, probably unique, in
+ the Bodleian; it was formerly Herbert's, afterwards Douce's.</p>
+
+ <p>All the parts of this treatise relating to French pronunciation have
+ been carefully reprinted by Mr A. J. Ellis, in his treatise "On Early
+ English Pronunciation" (published by the Philological Society), Part
+ III., p. 804.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p><a name="contev"></a></p>
+
+ <p>V. <span class="sc">The Myrrour Of Good
+ Maners.</span>&mdash;&mdash;Pynson. No date. Folio. Black letter.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>'Here begynneth a ryght frutefull treatyse, intituled the myrrour of
+ good maners, c<span class="over">o</span>teynyng the iiii. vertues,
+ callyd cardynall, compyled in latyn by Domynike Mancyn: And translate
+ into englysshe: at the desyre of syr Gyles Alyngton, knyght: by Alexander
+ Bercley prest: and monke of Ely. This title is over a cut, the same as at
+ the head of Barclay's preface to his translation of Sallust, a
+ representation of the author in a monkish habit on his knees, presenting
+ a book to a nobleman. The text begins on back of title. The original is
+ printed in Roman letter in the margins.&mdash;&mdash;Colophon in a square
+ woodcut border: Thus endeth the ryght frutefull matter of the foure
+ vertues cardynall: Jmprynted by Rychard Pynson: prynter vnto the kynges
+ noble grace: with his gracyous pryuylege the whiche boke I haue prynted,
+ at the instance &amp; request, of the ryght noble Rychard yerle of Kent.
+ On the back, Pynson's device, No. v. It has neither running titles,
+ catch-words, nor the leaves numbered. Signatures; A to G, in sixes, and
+ H, in eights; 100 pp.</p>
+
+ <p>In the British Museum, Grenville collection, from Heber's collection.
+ "This edition differs materially from that used by Herbert, which has led
+ Dr Dibdin to the conclusion that there were two impressions." So says a
+ MS. note on the copy, (quoted in the Bib. Grenv.), but Dibdin does not
+ commit himself to the conclusion, his words being these: "This
+ description is given from a copy in the possession of Mr Heber; which,
+ from its varying with the account of Herbert, Mr H. supposes, with
+ justice, must be a different one from Herbert's." I have failed to
+ discover the difference.</p>
+
+ <p>Prices: Perry, £9.; Roxburghe (last leaf wanting), £10. 10s.;
+ Bibliotheca Anglo-Poetica, £12. 12s.; Sykes, £16. 16s.</p>
+
+ <p>To the above edition must belong the fragment entered in Bohn's
+ Lowndes under "Four," thus: "Four Vertues Cardinal. Lond. R. Pynson, n.d.
+ folio. Only a fragment of this Poem is known; it was printed at the
+ request of Rychard Erle of Kent."</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>V.<i>a.</i>. <span class="sc">The Mirrour of Good
+ Maners.</span>&mdash;&mdash;Cawood. 1570. Folio. Black letter.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>Appended to Cawood's edition of the Ship of Fools. No title page,
+ pagination, or cuts. The above heading on A 1. The Latin original printed
+ in Roman by the side of the English. Contains A-G, in sixes.</p>
+
+ <p>It may be useful to give here the bibliography of the other English
+ translations of Mancyn.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>Mancinus de quattuor Virtutibus. [The englysshe of Mancyne apon the
+ foure cardynale vertues.] No place, printer's name, or date, but with the
+ types of Wynkyn de Worde, circa 1518. 4to, a-d, in eights. Bodleian.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>Following the title occurs: Petri Carmeliani exasticon in Dominici
+ Mancini de quattuor cardineis virtutibus libellum. The Latin portion is
+ in verse, printed in Roman letter, with marginal notes in black letter,
+ of a very small size, and the English in prose.</p>
+
+ <p>The English part, in black letter, is entitled: The englysshe of
+ Mancyne apon the foure cardynale vertues. n.p. or d. This portion has a
+ separate title and signatures; the title is on A 1. On sign. F ii.
+ occurs, "The correccion of the englysshe," and on the verso of the same
+ leaf is printed, "The correction of the texte." A, B, C, and D, 8 leaves
+ each; E, 6 leaves; and F, 4 leaves; 42 leaves altogether. A copy of this
+ is in the British Museum. Only two perfect copies are known.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>A Plaine Path to Perfect Vertue: Deuised and found out by Mancinus, a
+ Latine Poet, and translated into English by G. Turberuile, Gentleman.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+<p class="cenhead">Ardua ad virtutem via.</p>
+
+ <p>Imprinted at London in Knightrider-strete, by Henry Bynneman, for
+ Leonard Maylard. Anno. 1568. 8vo., 72 leaves. Black letter, in verse.
+ Dedicated "To the right Honorable and hys singular good Lady, Lady Anne,
+ Co<span class="over">u</span>tesse Warvvicke." There is also a metrical
+ address to the reader, and 8 4-line stanzas by James Sanford in praise of
+ the translator.</p>
+
+ <p>Freeling, 1836, No. 911, £7., bought for Mr Corser: now in the British
+ Museum. Supposed to be unique.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p><a name="contevi"></a></p>
+
+ <p>VI. <span class="sc">Cronycle</span> compyled in Latyn, by the
+ renowned Sallust.&mdash;&mdash;Pynson. No date. Folio.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>"Here begynneth the famous cronycle of the warre, which the romayns
+ had agaynst Jugurth, vsurper of the kyngdome of Numidy. which cronycle is
+ compyled in latyn by the renowmed romayne Salust. And translated into
+ englysshe by syr Alexander Barclay preest, at c<span
+ class="over">o</span>maundement of the right hye and mighty prince:
+ Thomas duke of Northfolke." There are two editions by Pynson of this
+ book.</p>
+
+ <p>I. In this edition the lower half of the title page has a square
+ enclosed by double lines containing the Norfolk arms, a lion rampant,
+ holding a shield in his paws, on which is another lion, a cut which also
+ appears on the title of The Introductory. There is a full page cut of the
+ royal arms with portcullis, &amp;c., on the back, followed by five pages
+ of Table. The preface to his patron, in English,&mdash;&mdash;together
+ with a Latin dedication to Bishop Veysy, in parallel
+ columns,&mdash;&mdash;begins on the verso of signature <span
+ class="sc">a</span> iiii, under a cut of the author presenting his book
+ to him, the same as that which appears on the title of The myrrour of
+ good maners. [See the cut prefixed to the Notice of Barclay's life, which
+ is confined however to a reproduction of the two principal figures only,
+ two other figures, evidently of servants, and some additional
+ ornamentation of the room being omitted.] At the end of this preface is
+ another cut of the author, writing at a desk; also on the back of the
+ leaf is a cut of the disembarking of an army. There are no other cuts,
+ but the volume is adorned throughout with very fine woodcut initials.
+ Catchwords are given irregularly at the beginning, but regularly towards
+ the end, at the bottom of the left hand page only, but the preface has
+ them to every column. Colophon:&mdash;&mdash;"Thus endeth the famous
+ cronycle of the war ... imprented at London by Rycharde Pynson printer
+ vnto the kynges noble grace: with priuylege vnto hym gra<span
+ class="over">u</span>ted by our sayd souerayne lorde the kynge." On the
+ back of the last leaf is Pynson's device, No. v. The date is erroneously
+ conjectured in Moss's Classical Bib. to be 1511. It was probably 1519,
+ certainly between 1519 and 1524. Contains 92 numbered leaves, and one
+ leaf unnumbered, besides eight leaves of preliminary matter: numbering
+ quite regular: signatures; a 8, A&mdash;O, 6 s, P, Q, 4 s. In the British
+ Museum, Grenville Collection, the Bodleian, and the Public Library at
+ Cambridge.</p>
+
+ <p>Prices: Roxburghe, £23, 12s.; Sykes, £8, 12s.; Heber, £5, 15s. 6d.;
+ Sotheby's, 1857, £10.</p>
+
+ <p>II. In this edition, the title page is the same as in the other with
+ the exception of a semicolon for a full point after Numidy, the
+ succeeding which having an e added, and romayne being without the e, but
+ on the back instead of a cut of the royal arms The table commences; the
+ preface begins on the recto of sign. a 4, under the cut of the author
+ presenting his book to the Duke of Norfolk, and ends without the leaf of
+ woodcuts which is appended to the preface of the first edition. Pynson's
+ device at the end of the book is also wanting in this edition. It
+ contains only fol. lxxxvi., with six leaves of preliminary matter; the
+ pagination is a little irregular, xxi. and xxii. are wanting but xxiii.
+ is given three times, and lxxvii. is repeated for lxxviii.; the British
+ Museum copy is deficient in folios lxii. and lxv.: signatures; a 6,
+ A&mdash;N, 6 s, and O, P, 4 s. The initials are the same as those in the
+ first edition in the great majority of cases, but appear much more worn.
+ There are catch-words only at the end of every signature throughout the
+ book, except to the preface, which has them to every column. In the
+ British Museum, and the Public Library, Cambridge.</p>
+
+ <p>Both editions have the Latin in Roman letter in the margins, and
+ running-titles. Ames mentions an edition with cuts, which must be the
+ same as the first of these.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p>VI.<i>a.</i> <span class="sc">Cronicle of Warre</span>. Compiled in
+ Laten by Saluste. Corrected by Thomas Paynell. Waley, 1557. Quarto.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>"Here begynneth the famous Cronicle of warre, whyche the Romaynes
+ hadde agaynst Jugurth vsurper of the kyngedome of Numidie: whiche
+ Cronicle is compiled in Laten by the renowmed Romayne Saluste: and
+ translated into englyshe by syr alexander Barklaye prieste. And nowe
+ perused and corrected by Thomas Paynell. Newely Jmprinted in the yere of
+ oure Lorde God M.D.L vij." On the verso of the title begins Paynell's
+ dedication&mdash;"To the ryghte honorable Lorde Antonye Vycounte
+ Mountegue, Knyghte of the ryghte honorable order of the garter, and one
+ of the Kynge and Queenes Magesties pryuie counsayle." "The prologue"
+ begins on a 1. Barclay's preface and dedication are omitted, as well as
+ the Latin of Sallust. Col.: "Thus endeth the famouse Cronicle of the
+ warre ... against Jugurth ... translated... by syr Alexander Barkeley,
+ prieste, at commaundemente of ... Thomas, duke of Northfolke, And
+ imprinted at London in Foster lane by Jhon Waley." Signatures; H h, 4 s,
+ besides title and dedication, two leaves: the pagination commences on a
+ 4, at "The fyrste chapter," the last folio being cxx.; xxi. is repeated
+ for xxii., xxiii. for xxiv., xix., stands for xxix., lvii. is repeated,
+ and lxxiv. is repeated for lxxv.</p>
+
+ <p>This edition forms the second part of a volume having the following
+ general title page: The Conspiracie of Catiline, written by Constancius
+ Felicius Durantinus, and translated bi Thomas Paynell: with the historye
+ of Jugurth, writen by the famous Romaine Salust, and translated into
+ Englyshe by Alexander Barcklaye.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p><a name="contevii"></a></p>
+
+ <p>VII. <span class="sc">Alex. Barclay his figure of our Mother holy
+ church oppressed by the Frenche King</span>. Pynson. Quarto.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>This is given by Herbert on the authority of Maunsell's Catalogue, p.
+ 7.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p><a name="conteviii"></a></p>
+
+ <p>VIII. <span class="sc">The lyfe of the glorious Martyr saynt
+ George</span>. Translated by Alexander Barclay, while he was a monk of
+ Ely, and dedicated to N. West, Bp. of Ely. Pinson [Circa 1530.] Quarto.
+ [Herbert, 289].</p>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p><a name="conteix"></a></p>
+
+ <p>IX. <span class="sc">The lyfe of saynte Thomas</span>. Pynson. No
+ date. Quarto. Black letter.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>"¶ Here begynneth the lyfe of the blessed martyr saynte Thomas." This
+ title is the headline of this little treatise; at the beginning of which
+ is indented a small woodcut of a man in armour, striking at the bishop,
+ with his cross-bearer before him. It begins "The martir saynte Thomas was
+ son to Gylberde Bequet a burgeys of the Cite of London. And was borne in
+ y<sup>e</sup> place, whereas now standeth the churche called saynte
+ Thomas of Akers." It concludes, "¶ Thus endeth the lyfe of the blessed
+ martyr saynt Thomas of Caunturbury. Jmprynted by me Rycharde Pynson,
+ prynter vnto the kynges noble grace." Contains eight leaves. There is a
+ copy in the British Museum. Assigned to Barclay on tne authority of
+ Wood.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="short" >
+
+ <p><a name="contex"></a></p>
+
+ <p>X. <span class="sc">Haython's Cronycle</span>. Pynson. No date. Folio.
+ Black letter.</p>
+
+<blockquote class="b1">
+
+ <p>"Here begynneth a lytell Cronycle, translated &amp; imprinted at the
+ cost &amp; charge of Rycharde Pynson, by the c<span
+ class="over">o</span>maundement of the ryght high and mighty prince,
+ Edwarde duke of Buckingham, yerle of Gloucestre, Staffarde, and of
+ Northamton," over a large woodcut. Colophon: "Here endeth,
+ [<i>&amp;c</i>.] Imprinted by the sayd <i>Richarde Pynson</i>, printer
+ unto the Kinges noble grace." Date conjectured to be between 1520 and
+ 1530. Pynson's device, No. 5, at the end. Collation: A&mdash;E, and H, in
+ sixes; F and G, and I, in fours; forty-eight leaves.</p>
+
+ <p>On the verso of fol. 35, "Here endeth y<sup>e</sup> boke of thistoris
+ of thori<span class="over">e</span>t partes copyled by a relygious man
+ frere Hayton frere of Prem<span class="over">o</span>stre order, s<span
+ class="over">o</span>tyme lorde of court &amp; cosyn german to the kyng
+ of Armeny vpon y<sup>e</sup> passage of the holy lande. By the c<span
+ class="over">o</span>ma<span class="over">u</span>dement of y<sup>e</sup>
+ holy fader y<sup>e</sup> apostle of Rome Clem<span class="over">e</span>t
+ the V. in y<sup>e</sup> cite of Potiers which boke I Nicholas Falcon,
+ writ first in French ... I haue tr<span class="over">a</span>slated it in
+ Latyn for our holy father y<sup>e</sup> pope. In the yere of our lorde
+ god <span class="sc">m.ccc.vii.</span> in y<sup>e</sup> moneth of August.
+ Deo gr<span class="over">a</span>s."</p>
+
+ <p>"The travels of Hayton into the Holy Land and Armenia, and his history
+ of Asia, is one of the most valuable of the early accounts of the east.
+ The present is the only translation into English, and from the
+ circumstances of its being printed by Pynson and having been (when in Mr
+ Heber's collection) bound with two other works (Mirrour of good Maners
+ and Sallust) both translated by Barclay, was probably also translated by
+ him. It is a book of extraordinaiy rarity, no perfect copy that can be
+ traced having previously occured for sale." (Bibliotheca Grenvilliana,
+ vol. I.)</p>
+
+ <p>Heber's copy (the one above mentioned), £40. 9s. 6d.</p>
+
+</blockquote>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="contf"></a></p>
+
+<h3>THE SHIP OF FOOLS.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p118.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t118.png"
+ alt="Coat of Arms of the printer, Richard Pynson." /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p><i>Venerandissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino: domino Thome Cornisshe
+ Tenenensis pontifici ac diocesis Badonensis Suffraganio vigilantissimo,
+ sue paternitatis Capellanus humilimus Alexander Barclay suiipsius
+ recommendacionem cum omni summissione, et reuerentia.</i></p>
+
+ <p><i>Tametsi crebris negocijs: varioque impedimentorum genere fatigatus
+ paulo diutiùs quàm volueram a studio reuulsus eram. Attamen
+ obseruandissime presul: Stultiferam classem (vt sum tue paternati
+ pollicitus) iam tandem absolui et impressam ad te destinaui. Neque tamen
+ certum laborem pro incerto premio (humano. s.) meis impossuissem humeris:
+ nisi Seruianum illud dictum (longe anteaqam inceperam) admonuisset.
+ Satius esse non incipere quàm inceptum minus perfectum relinquere.
+ Completo tamen opere: nec quemquam magis dignum quàm tua sit paternitas
+ existimaui cui id dedicarem: tum quia saluberrima tua prudentia, morum
+ grauitas, vite sanctitas doctrineque assiduitas: errantes fatuos mumdanis
+ ab illecebris ad virtutis tramites: difficiles licet: possint reducere:
+ tum vero: quia sacros ad ordines per te sublimatus et promotus, multisque
+ aliis tuis beneficiis ditatus non potui tibi meum obsequium non coartare.
+ Opus igitur tue paternitati dedicaui: meorum primicias laborum qui in
+ lucem eruperunt Atque vt tua consuluerit paternatis: autoris carmina cum
+ meis vulgaribus rithmicis vná alternatim coniunixi: et quantum a vero
+ carminum sensu errauerim, tue autoritatis iudicium erit. Fateor equidem
+ multo plura adiecisse quam ademisse: partim ad vicia que hac nostra in
+ regione abundantius pullulant mordacius carpenda: partimque ob Rithmi
+ difficultatem. Adieci etiam quasdam Biblie aliorumque autorum
+ concordancias in margine notatas quo singula magis lectoribus
+ illucescant: Simul ad inuidorum caninos latratus pacandos: et rabida ora
+ obstruenda: qui vbi quid facinorum: quo ipsi scatent: reprehensum
+ audierint. continuo patulo gutture liuida euomunt dicta, scripta
+ dilacerant. digna scombris ac thus carmina recensent: sed hi si pergant
+ maledicere: vt stultiuagi comites classem insiliant. At tu venerande
+ Presul Discipuli tui exiguum munusculum: hilari fronte accipito,
+ Classemque nostram (si quid vagum, si quid erronium: si quid denique
+ superfluum emineat: optimam in partem interpretando: ab inuidorum
+ faucibus: tue autoritatis clipeo tucaris. Vale. Ex Impressoria officina
+ Richardi Pynson. iij. Idus Decembris.</i></p>
+
+ <p><b>¶ This present Boke named the Shyp of folys of the worlde was
+ translated in the College of saynt mary Otery in the counte of
+ Deuonshyre: out of Laten, French, and Doche into Englysshe tonge by
+ Alexander Barclay Preste: and at that tyme Chaplen in the sayde College.
+ translated the yere of our Lorde god. M.ccccc.viii. Imprentyd in the Cyte
+ of London in Fletestre at the signe of Saynt George. By Rycharde Pynson
+ to hys Coste and charge: Ended the yere of our Sauiour. M. d. ix. The.
+ xiiii. day of December.</b></p>
+
+<h3>TABULA.</h3>
+
+<p class="cenhead">¶ THE REGYSTER OR TABLE OF THIS PRESENT BOKE IN
+ENGLYSSHE.</p>
+
+<h3>[VOLUME I.]</h3>
+
+ <p>¶ <a href="#p003">Alexander Barclay excusynge the rudenes of his
+ translacion, y<sup>e</sup> first lefe Barclay y<sup>e</sup> translatour
+ to y<sup>e</sup> folys.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p005">A prologe in prose shewynge to what intent this Boke
+ was firste made, &amp; who were the first Auctours of it.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p011">Another Prologe: in Balade concernyng the
+ same.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p017">In what place this Boke was translate and to what
+ purpose it was translatyd.</a></p>
+
+ <p>¶ <a href="#p019">Here begynneth the Folys and firste of inprofytable
+ bokys.</a></p>
+
+ <p>¶ <a href="#p024">Of euyll Counsellours Juges &amp; men of
+ lawe.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p029">Of couetyse and prodigalyte.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p034">Of newe disgysynges in apparayle.</a></p>
+
+ <p>¶ <a href="#p039">A lawde of the nobles and grauyte of Kynge Henry the
+ eyght.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p041">Of olde Folys encresynge foly with age.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p045">Of negligent Fathers ayenst their Children.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p053">Of taleberers: &amp; mouers of debate.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p057">Of nat folowers of good counsel.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p062">Of vngoodly maners, and dysordred.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p066">Of the hurtynge of frendshyp.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p071">Of dispysers of holy scripture.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p075">Of folys inprouydent.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p079">Of disordred &amp; venerious loue.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p084">Of them that synne trustynge vpon the mercy of
+ almyghty god.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p088">Of folys y<sup>t</sup> begyn great byldynge without
+ sufficient prouysion.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p092">Of glotons, and droncardes.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p098">Of ryches vnprofytable.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p103">Of folys that wyl serue two lordes both
+ togyther.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p107">Of superflue speche.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p111">Of them that correct other, them self culpable in the
+ same faut.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p115">Of folys that fynde others good, nat restorynge the
+ same to the owner.</a></p>
+
+ <p>¶ <a href="#p119">The sermon or doctryne of wysdom.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p124">Of Folys bostyng them in fortune.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p129">Of the superflue curyosyte of men.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p133">Of great borowers, &amp; slacke payers.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p137">Of vnprofitable vowers &amp; peticions.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p142">Of negligent stodyers.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p148">Of them that folvsshly speke ayenst the workes of
+ god.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p152">Of lewde Juges of others dedes.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p156">Of pluralytees of benefyces.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p162">Of synners that prolonge from daye to day to amende
+ theyr myslyuyng.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p166">Of men that ar Jelous.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p171">Of auoutry, and specially of suche as ar bawdes to
+ theyr wyues.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p175">Of suche as nedys wyll contynue in theyr foly nat
+ withstandynge holsom erudicion.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p179">An addicion of the secundaries of Otery saynt Mary, in
+ Deuynshyre.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p181">Of wrathfull folys.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p186">Of the mutabylyte of fortune.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p192">Of seke men inobedient.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p197">Of to open councellers.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p201">Of folys that can nat be ware by y<sup>e</sup>
+ mysfortune nor take example of others damage.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p205">Of folys that force or care for the bacbytynge of
+ lewde people.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p210">Of mockers and fals accusers.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p215">Of them that despyse euerlastynge blys for worldly
+ thynges &amp; transitory.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p220">Of talkers and makers of noyse in the Chirche of
+ god.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p225">Of folys that put them self in wylful ieopardy and
+ peryll.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p230">Of the way of felycyte, and godnes and the payne to
+ come to synners.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p234">Of olde folys y<sup>t</sup> gyue example of vyce to
+ youth negligent &amp; vnexpert.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p239">Of bodely lust or corporall voluptuosyte.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p244">Of folys that can nat kepe secrete theyr owne
+ counsell.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p247">Of yonge folys that take olde wymen to theyr wyues nat
+ for loue but for ryches.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p252">Of enuyous Folys.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p256">Of impacient folys disdaynynge to abyde and suffer
+ correccion, for theyr profyte.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p260">Of folysshe Fesicians vsynge theyr practyke without
+ speculacyon.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p265">Of the ende of worldly honour &amp; power and of folys
+ y<sup>t</sup> trust in them.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p268">An addicion of Alexander barclay.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p271">Of predestinacyon.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p276">Of folys that aply other mennys besynes leuynge theyr
+ owne vndone.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p280">Of the vyce of ingratytude or vnkyndnes and folys that
+ vse it.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p286">Of Folys that stande to moche in theyr owne
+ conceyte.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p291">Of folys that delyte them in daunsynge.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p296">Of nyght watchers.</a></p>
+
+ <p><a href="#p301">Of the vanyte of beggers.</a></p>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:50%;">
+ <a href="images/p126.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t126.png"
+ alt="The ship of fools." /></a>
+ </div>
+ <p><a name="p003"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Alexander Barclay excusynge the rudenes
+of his translacion.</h3>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Go Boke: abasshe the thy rudenes to present.</p>
+ <p>To men auaunced to worshyp, and honour.</p>
+ <p>By byrthe or fortune: or to men eloquent.</p>
+ <p>By thy submyssion excuse thy Translatour.</p>
+ <p>But whan I remember the comon behauour</p>
+ <p>Of men: I thynke thou ought to quake for fere</p>
+ <p>Of tunges enuyous whose venym may the dere</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Tremble, fere, and quake, thou ought I say agayne.</p>
+ <p>For to the Redar thou shewest by euydence</p>
+ <p>Thy selfe of Rethoryke pryuate and barayne</p>
+ <p>In speche superflue: and fruteles of sentence.</p>
+ <p>Thou playnly blamest without al difference</p>
+ <p>Bothe hye and lowe sparinge eche mannes name.</p>
+ <p>Therfore no maruayle thoughe many do the blame.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But if thou fortune to lye before a State</p>
+ <p>As Kynge or Prince or Lordes great or smal.</p>
+ <p>Or doctour diuyne or other Graduate</p>
+ <p>Be this thy Excuse to content theyr mynde withal</p>
+ <p>My speche is rude my termes comon and rural</p>
+ <p>And I for rude peple moche more conuenient.</p>
+ <p>Than for Estates, lerned men, or eloquent.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But of this one poynt thou nedest not to fere</p>
+ <p>That any goode man: vertuous and Just.</p>
+ <p>Wyth his yl speche shal the hurt or dere.</p>
+ <p>But the defende. As I suppose and trust.</p>
+ <p>But suche Unthriftes as sue theyr carnal lust</p>
+ <p>Whome thou for vyce dost sharply rebuke and blame</p>
+ <p>Shal the dysprayse: emperisshinge thy name.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<h3>An exhortacion of Alexander Barclay.</h3>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But ye that shal rede this boke: I you exhorte.</p>
+ <p>And you that ar herars therof also I pray</p>
+ <p>Where as ye knowe that ye be of this sorte:</p>
+ <p>Amende your lyfe and expelle that vyce away.</p>
+ <p>Slomber nat in syn. Amende you whyle ye may.</p>
+ <p>And yf ye so do and ensue Vertue and grace.</p>
+ <p>Wythin my Shyp ye get no rowme ne place.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<h3>Barclay the translatour tho the Foles.</h3>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>To Shyp galantes the se is at the ful.</p>
+ <p>The wynde vs calleth our sayles ar displayed.</p>
+ <p>Where may we best aryue? at Lyn or els at Hulle?</p>
+ <p>To vs may no hauen in Englonde be denayd.</p>
+ <p>Why tary we? the Ankers ar vp wayed.</p>
+ <p>If any corde or Cabyl vs hurt, let outher hynder.</p>
+ <p>Let slyp the ende, or els hewe it in sonder.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Retourne your syght beholde vnto the shore.</p>
+ <p>There is great nomber that fayne wold be aborde.</p>
+ <p>They get no rowme our Shyp can holde no more.</p>
+ <p>Haws in the Cocke gyue them none other worde.</p>
+ <p>God gyde vs from Rockes, quicsonde tempest and forde</p>
+ <p>If any man of warre, wether, or wynde apere.</p>
+ <p>My selfe shal trye the wynde and kepe the Stere.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But I pray you reders haue ye no dysdayne.</p>
+ <p>Thoughe Barclay haue presumed of audacite</p>
+ <p>This Shyp to rule as chefe mayster and Captayne.</p>
+ <p>Though some thynke them selfe moche worthyer than he.</p>
+ <p>It were great maruayle forsoth syth he hath be.</p>
+ <p>A scoler longe: and that in dyuers scoles</p>
+ <p>But he myght be Captayne of a Shyp of Foles</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But if that any one be in suche maner case.</p>
+ <p>That he wyl chalange the maystershyp fro me</p>
+ <p>Yet in my Shyp can I nat want a place.</p>
+ <p>For in euery place my selfe I oft may se.</p>
+ <p>But this I leue besechynge eche degre:</p>
+ <p>To pardon my youthe and to bolde interprise.</p>
+ <p>For harde is it duely to speke of euery vyce.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For yf I had tunges an hundreth: and wyt to fele</p>
+ <p>Al thinges natural and supernaturall</p>
+ <p>A thousand mouthes: and voyce as harde as stele.</p>
+ <p>And sene all the seuen Sciences lyberal.</p>
+ <p>Yet cowde I neuer touche the vyces all.</p>
+ <p>And syn of the worlde: ne theyr braunches comprehende:</p>
+ <p>Nat thoughe I lyued vnto the worldes ende.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But if these vyces whiche mankynde doth incomber.</p>
+ <p>Were clene expellyd and vertue in theyr place.</p>
+ <p>I cowde nat haue gathered of fowles so great a nomber.</p>
+ <p>Whose foly from them out chaseth goddys grace.</p>
+ <p>But euery man that knowes hym in that case</p>
+ <p>To this rude Boke let hym gladly intende.</p>
+ <p>And lerne the way his lewdnes to amende.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p005"></a></p>
+
+<h3>[The Prologe of James Locher.]</h3>
+
+ <p>After that I haue longe mused by my self of the sore confounded and
+ vncertayne cours of mannys lyfe, and thinges therto belonginge: at the
+ last I haue by my vigilant meditacion found and noted many degrees of
+ errours: wherby mankynd wandreth from the way of trouth I haue also noted
+ that many wyse men and wel lettred haue writen right fruteful doctrines:
+ wherby they haue heled these dyseses and intollerable perturbacions of
+ the mynde: and the goostly woundes therof, moche better than Esculapius
+ which was fyrst Inuentour of Phesyke and amonge the Gentyles worshypped
+ as a God. In the contrey of Grece were stodyes fyrst founded and ordeyned
+ in the which began and sprange holsom medicyne which gaue vnto infect
+ myndes frutful doctryne and norisshinge. Amonge whome Socrates that great
+ begynner and honourer of wysdom began to dispute of ye maners of men. But
+ for that he coude nat fynde certayne ende of goodnes and hyest felicite
+ in naturall thinges: nor induce men to the same, he gaue the hye
+ contemplacions of his mynde to moral vertues. And in so moche passed he
+ al other in Philosophy moral that it was sayde that he called Philosophy
+ down from the Imperial heuen. whan this Socrates perceyued the mindes of
+ men to be prone, and extremely inclyned to viciousnes he had gret
+ affeccion to subdue suche maners. Wherfore in comon places of the Cyte of
+ Athenes he instruct and infourmed the peple in such doctrynes as
+ compasith the clere and immaculate welles of the moste excellent and
+ souerayne gode. After the disces of Socrates succeded ye godly Plato
+ whiche in moral Philosophy ouerpassed also a great part of his tyme And
+ certaynly nat without a cause was he called godly. For by what stody
+ myght be more holely or better socour mankynde than by suche doctrynes as
+ he gaue. He wrote and ordeyned lawes moste egal and iust He edityed vnto
+ the Grekes a comon welthe stable, quyet and commendable. And ordeyned the
+ societe and company of them most iocund and amyable. He prepared a brydel
+ to refrayne the lust and sensualyte of the body. And fynally he changed
+ the yl ignorance feblenes and negligence of youth vnto dylygence,
+ strength and vertue. In tyme also of these Phylosophers sprange the
+ florisshynge age of Poetes: whiche amonge lettred men had nat smal rowme
+ and place. And that for theyr eloquent Retoryke and also for theyr mery
+ ficcions and inuencions. Of the whiche Poetes some wrote in moste ornate
+ termes in ditees heroycal wherin the noble actes and lyues both of dyuyne
+ and humayne creatures ar wont to be noted and writem. Some wrote of
+ tylling of the grounde. Some of the Planetes, of the courses of ye
+ sterres: and of the mouynge of the heuyn and fyrmament. Some of the
+ Empyre and shameful subieccion of disordred loue. And many other of the
+ myserable ruyne and fal of Kynges and princes for vice: as Tragedies. And
+ some other wrote Comedyes with great libertye of speche: which Comedies
+ we cal Interludes. Amonge whome Aristophanes Eupolis and Cratinus mooste
+ laudable Poetes passed al other. For whan they sawe the youth of Athenes
+ and of al the remanent of Grece inclyned to al ylles they toke occasion
+ to note suche myslyuinge. And so in playne wordes they repreued without
+ fauour the vyces of the sayd yl disposyd peple of what condicion or order
+ they were: Of this auncient wrytinge of Comedyes our laten Poetes deuysed
+ a maner of wrytinge nat inelegant. And fyrst Lucilius composed one Satyre
+ in the whiche he wrote by name the vices of certayne princes and Citezyns
+ of Rome And that with many bourdes so y<sup>t</sup> with his mery speche
+ myxt with rebukes he correct al them of the cyte that disordredly lyued.
+ But this mery speche vsed he nat in his writing to the intent to
+ excercyse wanton wordes or vnrefrayned lascyuyte, or to put his pleasour
+ in suche dissolute langage: but to ye intent to quenche vyces and to
+ prouoke the commons to wysdome and vertue, and to be asshamed of theyr
+ foly and excessyfe lyuynge. of hym all the Latyn poetes haue takyn
+ example, and begynnynge to wryte Satyrs whiche the grekes named Comedyes:
+ As Fabius specifyeth in his X boke of institucions. After Lucilius
+ succeded Horacius, moche more eloquent in wrytynge whiche in the same
+ deseruyd great laude: Persius also left to vs onely one boke by the
+ whiche he commyttyd his name and laude to perpetuall memory. The last and
+ prynce of all was Juuenall whiche in his iocunde poemys comprehendyd al
+ that was wryten most eloquent and pleasaunt of all the poetis of that
+ sorte afore his tyme: O noble men, and diligent hertes and myndes, o
+ laudable maners and tymes, these worthy men exyled ydelnes, wherby they
+ haue obtayned nat small worshyp and great commodyte example and doctryne
+ lefte to vs theyr posteryours why begyn we nat to vnderstonde and
+ perceyue. Why worshyp nat the people of our tyme these poetis why do nat
+ they reuerence to ye interpretours of them do they nat vnderstonde: that
+ no poetes wryte, but outher theyr mynde is to do pleasure or els profyte
+ to the reder, or ellys they togyther wyll doo bothe profyte and pleasoure
+ why are they dyspysed of many rude carters of nowe a dayes which
+ vnderstonde nat them, And for lacke of them haue nat latyn to vtter and
+ expresse ye wyl of their mynde. Se whether poetes ar to be dispised. they
+ laude vertue and hym that vseth it rebukyng vices with the vsers therof,
+ They teche what is good and what is euyll: to what ende vyce, and what
+ ende vertue bringeth vs, and do nat Poetis reuyle and sharply byte in
+ their poemys all suche as ar vnmeke, Prowde, Couetous, Lecherous, Wanton,
+ delycyous, Wrathfull glotons, wasters, Enuyours, Enchauntours,
+ faythebrakers, rasshe, vnauysed, malapert, drunken, vntaught foles, and
+ suche lyke. Shulde theyr writyng that suche thinges disprayse and reuyle
+ be dyspised of many blynde Dotardes y<sup>t</sup> nowe lyue whiche enuy
+ that any man shulde haue or vnderstonde ye thyng whiche they knowe nat.
+ The Poetes also wyth great lawdes commende and exalt the noble folowers
+ of vertue ascribyng to euery man rewardes after his merytes. And shortly
+ to say, the intencion of al Poetes hath euer ben to repreue vyce: and to
+ commende vertue. But syns it is so that nowe in our dayes ar so many
+ neglygent and folysshe peple that they ar almost innumerable whiche
+ despisynge the loue of vertue: folowe the blyndenes and vanyte of this
+ worlde: it was expedient that of newe some lettred man, wyse, and subtil
+ of wyt shulde awake and touche ye open vices of foles that now lyue: and
+ blame theyr abhomynable lyfe. This fourme and lybertye of writinge, and
+ charge hathe taken vpon hym the Right excellent and worthy Mayster
+ Sebastian Brant Doctour of both the Lawes and noble Oratour and Poete to
+ the comon welthe of al people in playne and comon speche of Doche in the
+ contrey of Almayne: to the ymytacion of Dant Florentyne: and Francis
+ Petrarche Poetes heroycal which in their maternal langage haue composed
+ maruelous Poemes and ficcions. But amonge diuers inuencions composed of
+ the sayde Sebastian brant I haue noted one named ye Shyp of Foles moche
+ expedient and necessary to the redar which the sayd Sebastian composed in
+ doche langage. And after hym one called James Locher his Disciple
+ translated the same into Laten to the vnderstondinge of al Christen
+ nacions where Laten is spoken. Than another (whose name to me is
+ vnknowen) translated the same into Frenche. I haue ouersene the fyrst
+ Inuencion in Doche and after that the two translations in Laten and
+ Frenche whiche in blaminge the disordred lyfe of men of our tyme agreeth
+ in sentence: threfolde in langage wherfore wylling to redres the errours
+ and vyces of this oure Royalme of Englonde: as the foresayde composer and
+ translatours hath done in theyr Contrees I haue taken vpon me: howbeit
+ vnworthy to drawe into our Englysshe tunge the sayd boke named ye shyp of
+ folys as nere to ye sayd thre Langages as the parcyte of my wyt wyll
+ suffer me. But ye reders gyue ye pardon vnto Alexander de Barklay If
+ ignoraunce negligence or lacke of wyt cause hym to erre in this
+ translacion his purpose and synguler desyre is to content youre myndes.
+ And sothely he hathe taken vpon hym the translacion of this present Boke
+ neyther for hope of rewarde nor lawde of man: but onely for the holsome
+ instruccion commodyte and Doctryne of wysdome, and to clense the vanyte
+ and madnes of folysshe people of whom ouer great nombre is in the Royalme
+ of Englonde. Therfore let euery man beholde and ouerrede this boke: And
+ than I doute nat but he shal se the errours of his lyfe of what condycyon
+ that he be. in lyke wyse as he shal se in a Myrrour the fourme of his
+ countenaunce and vysage: And if he amende suche fautes as he redeth here
+ wherein he knoweth hymself gylty, and passe forth the resydue of his lyfe
+ in the order of good maners than shall he haue the fruyte and auauntage
+ wherto I haue translatyd this boke.</p>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p011"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Here begynneth the prologe.</h3>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Amonge the people of euery regyon</p>
+ <p>And ouer the worlde, south north eest and west</p>
+ <p>Soundeth godly doctryne in plenty and foyson</p>
+ <p>Wherin the grounde of vertue and wysdome doth rest</p>
+ <p>Rede gode and bad, and kepe the to the best</p>
+ <p>Was neuer more plenty of holsome doctryne</p>
+ <p>Nor fewer people that doth therto enclyne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>We haue the Bybyll whiche godly doth expresse</p>
+ <p>Of the olde testament the lawes mysticall</p>
+ <p>And also of the newe our erour to redresse</p>
+ <p>Of phylosophy and other artes liberall</p>
+ <p>With other bokes of vertues morall</p>
+ <p>But thoughe suche bokes vs godly wayes shewe</p>
+ <p>We all ar blynde no man wyll them ensue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Banysshed is doctryne, we wander in derknes</p>
+ <p>Throughe all the worlde: our selfe we wyll not knowe</p>
+ <p>Wysdome is exyled, alas blynde folysshenes</p>
+ <p>Mysgydeth the myndes of people hye and lowe</p>
+ <p>Grace is decayed, yll governaunce doth growe</p>
+ <p>Both prudent Pallas and Minerua are slayne</p>
+ <p>Or els to heuyn retourned are they agayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Knowledge of trouth, Prudence, and iust Symplicite</p>
+ <p>Hath vs clene left: For we set of them no store.</p>
+ <p>Our Fayth is defyled loue, goodnes, and Pyte:</p>
+ <p>Honest maners nowe ar reputed of: no more.</p>
+ <p>Lawyers ar lordes: but Justice is rent and tore.</p>
+ <p>Or closed lyke a Monster within dores thre.</p>
+ <p>For without mede: or money no man can hyr se.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Al is disordred: Vertue hathe no rewarde.</p>
+ <p>Alas, Compassion: and Mercy bothe ar slayne.</p>
+ <p>Alas, the stony hartys of pepyl ar so harde</p>
+ <p>That nought can constrayne theyr folyes to refrayne</p>
+ <p>But styl they procede: and eche other meyntayne.</p>
+ <p>So wander these foles: incresinge without nomber.</p>
+ <p>That al the worlde they vtterly encomber.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Blasphemers of Chryst; Hostlers; and Tauerners:</p>
+ <p>Crakars and bosters with Courters auenterous,</p>
+ <p>Bawdes and Pollers with comon extorcioners</p>
+ <p>Ar taken nowe adayes in the worlde moste glorious.</p>
+ <p>But the gyftes of grace and al wayes gracious</p>
+ <p>We haue excluded. Thus lyue we carnally:</p>
+ <p>Utterly subdued to al lewdnes and Foly.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus is of Foles a sorte almost innumerable.</p>
+ <p>Defilynge the worlde with syn and Vylany.</p>
+ <p>Some thynkinge them self moche wyse and commendable</p>
+ <p>Thoughe al theyr dayes they lyue vnthryftely.</p>
+ <p>No goodnes they perceyue nor to no goode aplye.</p>
+ <p>But if he haue a great wombe, and his Cofers ful</p>
+ <p>Than is none holde wyser bytwene London and Hul.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But to assemble these Foles in one bonde.</p>
+ <p>And theyr demerites worthely to note.</p>
+ <p>Fayne shal I Shyppes of euery maner londe.</p>
+ <p>None shalbe left: Barke, Galay, Shyp, nor Bote.</p>
+ <p>One vessel can nat brynge them al aflote.</p>
+ <p>For yf al these Foles were brought into one Barge</p>
+ <p>The bote shulde synke so sore shulde be the charge.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The sayles ar hawsed, a pleasant cole dothe blowe.</p>
+ <p>The Foles assembleth as fast as they may dryue.</p>
+ <p>Some swymmeth after: other as thycke doth rowe</p>
+ <p>In theyr small botes, as Bees about a hyue</p>
+ <p>The nomber is great, and eche one doth stryue</p>
+ <p>For to be chefe as Purser and Capytayne</p>
+ <p>Quarter mayster, Lodesman or els Boteswayne.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They ron to our shyp, eche one doth greatly fere</p>
+ <p>Lyst his slacke paas, sholde cause hym byde behynde</p>
+ <p>The wynde ryseth, and is lyke the sayle to tere</p>
+ <p>Eche one enforseth the anker vp to wynde</p>
+ <p>The se swellyth by planettes well I fynde</p>
+ <p>These obscure clowdes threteneth vs tempest</p>
+ <p>All are nat in bed whiche shall haue yll rest</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>We are full lade and yet forsoth I thynke</p>
+ <p>A thousand are behynde, whom we may not receyue</p>
+ <p>For if we do, our nauy clene shall synke</p>
+ <p>He oft all lesys that coueytes all to haue</p>
+ <p>From London Rockes almyghty god vs saue</p>
+ <p>For if we there anker, outher bote or barge</p>
+ <p>There be so many that they vs wyll ouercharge</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye London Galantes, arere, ye shall nat enter</p>
+ <p>We kepe the streme, and touche nat the shore</p>
+ <p>In Cyte nor in Court we dare nat well auenter</p>
+ <p>Lyst perchaunce we sholde displeasure haue therfore</p>
+ <p>But if ye wyll nedes some shall haue an ore</p>
+ <p>And all the remenaunt shall stande afar at large</p>
+ <p>And rede theyr fautes paynted aboute our barge.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Lyke as a myrrour doth represent agayne</p>
+ <p>The fourme and fygure of mannes countenaunce</p>
+ <p>So in our shyp shall he se wrytyn playne</p>
+ <p>The fourme and fygure of his mysgouernaunce</p>
+ <p>What man is fautles, but outher ignoraunce</p>
+ <p>Or els wylfulnes causeth hym offende:</p>
+ <p>Than let hym nat disdayne this shyp, tyll he amende.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And certaynly I thynke that no creature</p>
+ <p>Lyuynge in this lyfe mortall in transytory</p>
+ <p>Can hym self kepe and stedfastly endure</p>
+ <p>Without all spot, as worthy eternall glory</p>
+ <p>But if he call to his mynde and memory</p>
+ <p>Fully the dedys both of his youthe and age</p>
+ <p>He wyll graunt in this shyp to kepe some stage</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But who so euer wyll knowlege his owne foly</p>
+ <p>And it repent, lyuynge after in sympylnesse</p>
+ <p>Shall haue no place nor rowme more in our nauy</p>
+ <p>But become felawe to pallas the goddesse</p>
+ <p>But he that fyxed is in suche a blyndnesse</p>
+ <p>That thoughe he be nought he thynketh al is well</p>
+ <p>Suche shall in this Barge bere a babyll and a bell</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>These with other lyke may eche man se and rede</p>
+ <p>Eche by themselfe in this small boke ouerall</p>
+ <p>The fautes shall he fynde if he take good hede</p>
+ <p>Of all estatis as degres temporall</p>
+ <p>With gyders of dignytees spirituall</p>
+ <p>Bothe pore and riche, Chorles and Cytezyns</p>
+ <p>For hast to lepe a borde many bruse theyr shynnys</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Here is berdles youth, and here is crokyd age</p>
+ <p>Children with theyr faders that yll do them insygne</p>
+ <p>And doth nat intende theyr wantones to swage</p>
+ <p>Nouther by worde nor yet by discyplyne</p>
+ <p>Here be men of euery science and doctryne</p>
+ <p>Lerned and vnlerned man mayde chylde and wyfe</p>
+ <p>May here se and rede the lewdenes of theyr lyfe.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Here ar vyle wymen: whome loue Immoderate</p>
+ <p>And lust Venereall bryngeth to hurt and shame.</p>
+ <p>Here ar prodigal Galantes: wyth mouers of debate.</p>
+ <p>And thousandes mo: whome I nat wel dare name.</p>
+ <p>Here ar Bacbyters whiche goode lyuers dyffame.</p>
+ <p>Brakers of wedlocke, men proude: and couetous:</p>
+ <p>Pollers, and pykers with folke delicious.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It is but foly to rehers the names here</p>
+ <p>Of al suche Foles: as in one Shelde or targe.</p>
+ <p>Syns that theyr foly dystynctly shal apere</p>
+ <p>On euery lefe: in Pyctures fayre and large.</p>
+ <p>To Barclays stody: and Pynsones cost and charge</p>
+ <p>Wherfore ye redars pray that they both may be saued</p>
+ <p>Before God, syns they your folyes haue thus graued.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But to thentent that euery man may knowe</p>
+ <p>The cause of my wrytynge: certes I intende</p>
+ <p>To profyte and to please both hye and lowe</p>
+ <p>And blame theyr fautes wherby they may amende</p>
+ <p>But if that any his quarell wyll defende</p>
+ <p>Excusynge his fautes to my derysyon</p>
+ <p>Knowe he that noble poetes thus haue done.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Afore my dayes a thousande yere ago</p>
+ <p>Blamynge and reuylynge the inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Of people, wyllynge them to withdrawe therfro</p>
+ <p>Them I ensue: nat lyke of intellygence</p>
+ <p>And though I am nat to them lyke in science</p>
+ <p>Yet this is my wyll mynde and intencion</p>
+ <p>To blame all vyce lykewyse as they haue done.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>To tender youth my mynde is to auayle</p>
+ <p>That they eschewe may all lewdenes and offence</p>
+ <p>Whiche doth theyr myndes often sore assayle</p>
+ <p>Closynge the iyen of theyr intellygence</p>
+ <p>But if I halt in meter or erre in eloquence</p>
+ <p>Or be to large in langage I pray you blame nat me</p>
+ <p>For my mater is so bad it wyll none other be.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p017"></a></p>
+
+<h3>[The Argument.]</h3>
+
+ <p>Here after foloweth the Boke named the Shyp of Foles of the world:
+ translated out of Laten, French and Doche into Englysse in the Colege of
+ saynt Mary Otery By me Alexander Barclay to the felicite and moste holsom
+ instruccion of mankynde the whiche conteyneth al suche as wandre from the
+ way of trouth and from the open Path of holsom vnderstondynge and wysdom:
+ fallynge into dyuers blyndnesses of ye mynde, folysshe sensualytees, and
+ vndlawful delectacions of the body. This present Boke myght haue ben
+ callyd nat inconuenyently the Satyr (that is to say) the reprehencion of
+ foulysshnes, but the neweltye of the name was more plesant vnto the fyrst
+ actour to call it the Shyp of foles: For in lyke wyse as olde Poetes
+ Satyriens in dyuers Poesyes conioyned repreued the synnes and ylnes of
+ the peple at that tyme lyuynge: so and in lyke wyse this our Boke
+ representeth vnto the iyen of the redars the states and condicions of
+ men: so that euery man may behold within the same the cours of his lyfe
+ and his mysgouerned maners, as he sholde beholde the shadowe of the
+ fygure of his visage within a bright Myrrour. But concernynge the
+ translacion of this Boke: I exhort ye reders to take no displesour for
+ y<sup>t</sup> it is nat translated word by worde acordinge to ye verses
+ of my actour. For I haue but only drawen into our moder tunge, in rude
+ langage the sentences of the verses as nere as the parcyte of my wyt wyl
+ suffer me, some tyme addynge, somtyme detractinge and takinge away suche
+ thinges a semeth me necessary and superflue. wherfore I desyre of you
+ reders pardon of my presumptuous audacite trustynge that ye shall holde
+ me excused if ye consyder ye scarsnes of my wyt and my vnexpert youthe. I
+ haue in many places ouerpassed dyuers poetical digressions and obscurenes
+ of Fables and haue concluded my worke in rude langage as shal apere in my
+ translacion. But the speciyl cawse that mouethe me to this besynes is to
+ auoyde the execrable inconuenyences of ydilnes whyche (as saint Bernard
+ sayth) is moder of al vices: and to the vtter derision of obstynat men
+ delitynge them in folyes and mysgouernance. But bycause the name of this
+ boke semeth to the redar to procede of derysion: and by that mean that
+ the substance therof shulde nat be profitable: I wyl aduertise you that
+ this Boke is named the Shyp of foles of the worlde: For this worlde is
+ nought els but a tempestous se in the whiche we dayly wander and are
+ caste in dyuers tribulacions paynes and aduersitees: some by ignoraunce
+ and some by wilfulnes: wherfore suche doers ar worthy to be called foles.
+ syns they gyde them nat by reason as creatures resonable ought to do.
+ Therfore the fyrst actoure willynge to deuyde suche foles from wysemen
+ and gode lyuers: hathe ordeyned vpon the se of this worlde this present
+ Shyp to contayne these folys of ye worlde, whiche ar in great nomber. So
+ that who redeth it perfytely consyderynge his secrete dedys, he shall not
+ lyghtly excuse hym selfe out of it, what so euer good name y<sup>t</sup>
+ he hath outwarde in the mouth of the comontye, And to the entent
+ y<sup>t</sup> this my laboure may be the more pleasaunt vnto lettred men,
+ I haue adioyned vnto the same ye verses of my Actour with dyuerse
+ concordaunces of the Bybyll to fortyfy my wrytynge by the same, and also
+ to stop the enuyous mouthes (If any suche shal be) of them that by malyce
+ shall barke ayenst this my besynes.</p>
+
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p019"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Here begynneth the foles and first
+inprofytable bokes.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p144.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t144.png"
+ alt="The first fool and his books." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">I am the firste fole of all the hole nauy<br /> To kepe
+ the pompe, the helme and eke the sayle<br /> For this is my mynde, this
+ one pleasoure haue I<br /> Of bokes to haue grete plenty and
+ aparayle<br /> I take no wysdome by them: nor yet auayle<br /> Nor them
+ preceyue nat: And then I them despyse<br /> Thus am I a foole and all
+ that sewe that guyse</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>That in this shyp the chefe place I gouerne</p>
+ <p>By this wyde see with folys wanderynge</p>
+ <p>The cause is playne, and easy to dyscerne</p>
+ <p>Styll am I besy bokes assemblynge</p>
+ <p>For to haue plenty it is a plesaunt thynge</p>
+ <p>In my conceyt and to haue them ay in honde</p>
+ <p>But what they mene do I nat vnderstonde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But yet I haue them in great reuerence</p>
+ <p>And honoure sauynge them from fylth and ordure</p>
+ <p>By often brusshynge, and moche dylygence</p>
+ <p>Full goodly bounde in pleasaunt couerture</p>
+ <p>Of domas, satyn, or els of veluet pure</p>
+ <p>I kepe them sure ferynge lyst they sholde be lost</p>
+ <p>For in them is the connynge wherin I me bost.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But if it fortune that any lernyd men</p>
+ <p>Within my house fall to disputacion</p>
+ <p>I drawe the curtyns to shewe my bokes then</p>
+ <p>That they of my cunnynge sholde make probacion</p>
+ <p>I kepe nat to fall in altercacion</p>
+ <p>And whyle they comon my bokes I turne and wynde</p>
+ <p>For all is in them, and no thynge in my mynde.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Tholomeus the riche causyd longe agone</p>
+ <p>Ouer all the worlde good bokes to be sought</p>
+ <p>Done was his commaundement anone</p>
+ <p>These bokes he had and in his stody brought</p>
+ <p>Whiche passyd all erthly treasoure as he thought</p>
+ <p>But neuertheles he dyd hym nat aply</p>
+ <p>Unto theyr doctryne, but lyued unhappely.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Lo in lyke wyse of bokys I haue store</p>
+ <p>But fewe I rede, and fewer understande</p>
+ <p>I folowe nat theyr doctryne nor theyr lore</p>
+ <p>It is ynoughe to bere a boke in hande</p>
+ <p>It were to moche to be it suche a bande</p>
+ <p>For to be bounde to loke within the boke</p>
+ <p>I am content on the fayre couerynge to loke</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Why sholde I stody to hurt my wyt therby</p>
+ <p>Or trouble my mynde with stody excessyue</p>
+ <p>Sythe many ar whiche stody right besely</p>
+ <p>And yet therby shall they neuer thryue</p>
+ <p>The fruyt of wysdom can they nat contryue</p>
+ <p>And many to stody so moche are inclynde</p>
+ <p>That utterly they fall out of theyr mynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Eche is nat lettred that nowe is made a lorde</p>
+ <p>Nor eche a clerke that hath a benefyce</p>
+ <p>They are nat all lawyers that plees doth recorde</p>
+ <p>All that are promotyd are nat fully wyse</p>
+ <p>On suche chaunce nowe fortune throwys hir dyce</p>
+ <p>That thoughe one knowe but the yresshe game</p>
+ <p>Yet wolde he haue a gentyllmannys name</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So in lyke wyse I am in suche case</p>
+ <p>Thoughe I nought can I wolde be callyd wyse</p>
+ <p>Also I may set another in my place</p>
+ <p>Whiche may for me my bokes excercyse</p>
+ <p>Or else I shall ensue the comon gyse</p>
+ <p>And say concedo to euery argument</p>
+ <p>Lyst by moche speche my latyn sholde be spent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I am lyke other Clerkes whiche so frowardly them gyde.</p>
+ <p>That after they ar onys come vnto promocion</p>
+ <p>They gyue them to plesour theyr stody set asyde.</p>
+ <p>Theyr Auaryce couerynge with fayned deuocion.</p>
+ <p>Yet dayly they preche: and haue great derysyon</p>
+ <p>Against the rude Laymen: and al for Couetyse.</p>
+ <p>Though theyr owne Conscience be blynded w<sup>t</sup> that vyce.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But if I durst trouth playnely vtter and expresse.</p>
+ <p>This is the special cause of this Inconuenyence.</p>
+ <p>That greatest foles, and fullest of lewdnes</p>
+ <p>Hauynge least wyt: and symplest Science</p>
+ <p>Ar fyrst promoted: and haue greatest reuerence</p>
+ <p>For if one can flater, and bere a hawke on his Fyst</p>
+ <p>He shalbe made Person of Honyngton or of Clyst.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But he that is in Stody ay ferme and diligent.</p>
+ <p>And without al fauour prechyth Chrystys lore</p>
+ <p>Of al the Comontye nowe adayes is sore shent.</p>
+ <p>And by Estates thretened to Pryson oft therfore.</p>
+ <p>Thus what auayle is it, to vs to Stody more:</p>
+ <p>To knowe outher scripture, trouth, wysedom, or vertue</p>
+ <p>Syns fewe, or none without fauour dare them shewe.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But O noble Doctours, that worthy ar of name:</p>
+ <p>Consyder our olde faders: note wel theyr diligence:</p>
+ <p>Ensue ye theyr steppes: obtayne ye such fame,</p>
+ <p>As they dyd lyuynge: and that by true Prudence.</p>
+ <p>Within theyr hartys they planted theyr scyence</p>
+ <p>And nat in plesaunt bokes. But nowe to fewe suche be.</p>
+ <p>Therefore in this Shyp let them come rowe with me.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The Enuoy of Alexander Barclay Translatour exortynge the foles accloyed with this vice to amende theyr foly</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Say worthy doctours and Clerkes curious:</p>
+ <p>What moueth you of Bokes to haue such nomber.</p>
+ <p>Syns dyuers doctrines throughe way contrarious.</p>
+ <p>Doth mannys mynde distract and sore encomber.</p>
+ <p>Alas blynde men awake, out of your slomber</p>
+ <p>And if ye wyl nedys your bokes multyplye</p>
+ <p>With diligence endeuer you some to occupye.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p024"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of euyl Counsellours, Juges and
+men of lawe.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p149.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t149.png"
+ alt="The fools that would seeth a quick sow in a pan." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He that Office hath and hyghe autorite.<br /> To rule a
+ Royalme: as Juge or Counsellour<br /> Which seynge Justice, playne
+ ryght and equyte<br /> Them falsly blyndeth by fauour or rigour<br />
+ Condemnynge wretches gyltles. And to a Transgressour<br /> For mede
+ shewinge fauour. Suche is as wyse a man<br /> As he that wolde seeth a
+ quycke Sowe in a Pan.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Right many labours nowe, with hyghe diligence</p>
+ <p>For to be Lawyers the Comons to counsayle.</p>
+ <p>Therby to be in honour had and in reuerence</p>
+ <p>But onely they labour for theyr pryuate auayle.</p>
+ <p>The purs of the Clyent shal fynde hym apparayle.</p>
+ <p>And yet knowes he neyther lawe good counsel nor Justice.</p>
+ <p>But speketh at auenture: as men throwe the dyce.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche in the Senate ar taken oft to counsayle</p>
+ <p>With Statis of this and many a other region.</p>
+ <p>Whiche of theyr maners vnstable ar and frayle</p>
+ <p>Nought of Lawe Ciuyl knowinge nor Canon.</p>
+ <p>But wander in derknes clerenes they haue none.</p>
+ <p>O noble Rome thou gat nat thy honours</p>
+ <p>Nor general Empyre by suche Counsellours.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Whan noble Rome all the worlde dyd gouerne</p>
+ <p>Theyr councellers were olde men iust and prudent</p>
+ <p>Whiche egally dyd euery thynge descerne</p>
+ <p>Wherby theyr Empyre became so excellent</p>
+ <p>But nowe a dayes he shall haue his intent</p>
+ <p>That hath most golde, and so it is befall</p>
+ <p>That aungels worke wonders in westmynster hall.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>There cursyd coyne makyth the wronge seme right</p>
+ <p>The cause of hym that lyueth in pouertye</p>
+ <p>Hath no defence, tuycion, strength nor myght</p>
+ <p>Suche is the olde custome of this faculte</p>
+ <p>That colours oft cloke Justyce and equyte</p>
+ <p>None can the mater fele nor vnderstonde</p>
+ <p>Without the aungell be weyghty in his honde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus for the hunger of syluer and of golde</p>
+ <p>Justyce and right is in captyuyte</p>
+ <p>And as we se nat gyuen fre, but solde</p>
+ <p>Nouther to estates, nor sympell comonte</p>
+ <p>And though that many lawyers rightwysnes be</p>
+ <p>Yet many other dysdayne to se the ryght</p>
+ <p>And they ar suche as blynde Justycis syght</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>There is one and other alleged at the barre</p>
+ <p>And namely suche as chrafty were in glose</p>
+ <p>Upon the lawe: the clyentis stande afarre</p>
+ <p>Full lytell knowynge howe the mater goose</p>
+ <p>And many other the lawes clene transpose</p>
+ <p>Folowynge the example, of lawyers dede and gone</p>
+ <p>Tyll the pore Clyentis be etyn to the bone</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It is not ynough to conforme thy mynde</p>
+ <p>Unto the others faynyd opynyon</p>
+ <p>Thou sholde say trouthe, so Justyce doth the bynde</p>
+ <p>And also lawe gyueth the commyssyon</p>
+ <p>To knowe hir, and kepe hir without transgressyon</p>
+ <p>Lyst they whome thou hast Juged wrongfully</p>
+ <p>Unto the hye Juge for vengeaunce on the crye.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Perchaunce thou thynkest that god taketh no hede</p>
+ <p>To mannes dedys, nor workes of offence</p>
+ <p>Yes certaynly he knowes thy thought and dede</p>
+ <p>No thynge is secrete, nor hyd from his presence</p>
+ <p>Wherefore if thou wylt gyde the by prudence</p>
+ <p>Or thou gyue Jugement of mater lesse or more</p>
+ <p>Take wyse mennys reade and good counsayle before</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Loke in what Balance, what weyght and what mesure</p>
+ <p>Thou seruest other. for thou shalt serued be</p>
+ <p>With the same after this lyfe I the ensure.</p>
+ <p>If thou ryghtwysly Juge by lawe and equyte</p>
+ <p>Thou shalt haue presence of goddes hyghe maiestye</p>
+ <p>But if thou Juge amys: than shall Eacus</p>
+ <p>(As Poetis sayth) hell Juge thy rewarde discusse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>God is aboue and regneth sempiternally.</p>
+ <p>Whiche shall vs deme at his last Jugement,</p>
+ <p>And gyue rewardes to echone egally</p>
+ <p>After suche fourme as he his lyfe hath spent</p>
+ <p>Than shall we them se whome we as violent</p>
+ <p>Traytours: haue put to wronge in worde or dede</p>
+ <p>And after our deserte euen suche shall be our mede</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>There shall be no Bayle nor treatynge of maynpryse</p>
+ <p>Ne worldly wysdome there shall no thynge preuayle</p>
+ <p>There shall be no delayes vntyll another Syse</p>
+ <p>But outher quyt, or to infernall Gayle.</p>
+ <p>Ill Juges so iuged, Lo here theyr trauayle</p>
+ <p>Worthely rewarded in wo withouten ende.</p>
+ <p>Than shall no grace be graunted ne space to amende.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The Enuoy of Alexander Barclay the translatour.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore ye yonge Studentes of the Chauncery:</p>
+ <p>(I speke nat to the olde the Cure of them is past)</p>
+ <p>Remember that Justyce longe hath in bondage be</p>
+ <p>Reduce ye hir nowe vnto lybertye at the last.</p>
+ <p>Endeuer you hir bondes to louse or to brast</p>
+ <p>Hir raunsome is payde and more by a thousande pounde</p>
+ <p>And yet alas the lady Justyce lyeth bounde.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thoughe your fore Faders haue take hir prysoner</p>
+ <p>And done hir in a Dongeon nat mete for hir degre</p>
+ <p>Lay to your handes and helpe hir from daungere</p>
+ <p>And hir restore vnto hir lybertye</p>
+ <p>That pore men and monyles may hir onys se</p>
+ <p>But certaynly I fere lyst she hath lost hir name</p>
+ <p>Or by longe prysonment shall after euer be lame.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p029"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of Auaryce or Couetyse and prodygalyte.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p154.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t154.png"
+ alt="Gathering riches." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Ye that ar gyuen ouer moche to Couetyse<br /> Come
+ nere, a place is here for you to dwel<br /> Come nere ye wastfull
+ people in lyke wyse<br /> Youre rowme shall be hye in the Topcastell<br
+ /> Ye care for no shame, for heuen nor for hell<br /> Golde is your
+ god, ryches gotten wrongfully<br /> Ye dame your soule, and yet lyue in
+ penury.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that is besy euery day and houre</p>
+ <p>Without mesure, maner, or moderacion</p>
+ <p>To gather riches and great store of treasoure</p>
+ <p>Therof no ioy takinge, confort nor consolacion.</p>
+ <p>He is a Fole: and of blynde and mad opynyon</p>
+ <p>For that which he getteth and kepeth wrongfully</p>
+ <p>His heyre often wasteth moche more vnthryftely.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>While he here lyueth in this lyfe caduke and mortal.</p>
+ <p>Ful sore he laboureth: and oft hungry gothe to bed</p>
+ <p>Sparinge from hymselfe: for hym that neuer shal</p>
+ <p>After do hym goode. thoughe he were harde bested.</p>
+ <p>Thus is this Couetous wretche so blyndly led</p>
+ <p>By the fende that here he lyueth wretchydly</p>
+ <p>And after his deth damned eternally.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>There wandreth he in dolour and derknes</p>
+ <p>Amonge infernall flodes tedyous and horryble</p>
+ <p>Let se what auayleth than all his ryches</p>
+ <p>Ungracyously gotyne, his paynes ar terryble</p>
+ <p>Than wolde he amende but it is inpossyble</p>
+ <p>In hell is no order nor hope of remedy</p>
+ <p>But sorowe vpon sorowe, and that euerlastyngly.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Yet fynde I another vyce as bad as this</p>
+ <p>Whiche is the vyce of prodygalyte</p>
+ <p>He spendyth all in ryot and amys</p>
+ <p>Without all order, pursuynge pouertye</p>
+ <p>He lyketh nat to lyue styll in prosperite</p>
+ <p>But all and more he wastyth out at large</p>
+ <p>(Beware the ende) is the leste poynt of his charge.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But of the couetous somwhat to say agayne</p>
+ <p>Thou art a fole thy soule to sell for riches</p>
+ <p>Or put thy body to labour or to payne</p>
+ <p>Thy mynde to fere, thy herte to heuynesse</p>
+ <p>Thou fole thou fleest no maner cruelnesse</p>
+ <p>So thou may get money, to make thy heyr a knyght</p>
+ <p>Thou sleest thy soule where as thou saue it myght</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thou hast no rest thy mynde is euer in fere</p>
+ <p>Of mysauenture, nor neuer art content</p>
+ <p>Deth is forgoten, thou carest nat a here</p>
+ <p>To saue thy soule from infernall punysshement</p>
+ <p>If thou be dampned, than art thou at thy stent</p>
+ <p>By thy ryches which thou here hast left behynde</p>
+ <p>To thy executours, thou shalt small comforte fynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Theyr custome is to holde fast that they haue</p>
+ <p>Thy pore soule shall be farthest fro theyr thought</p>
+ <p>If that thy carkes be brought onys in the graue</p>
+ <p>And that they haue thy bagges in handes cought</p>
+ <p>What say they, than (by god the man had nought)</p>
+ <p>Whyle he here lyuyd he was to lyberall</p>
+ <p>Thus dampned is thy soule, thy ryches cause of all</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Who wyll denay but it is necesary</p>
+ <p>Of riches for to haue plenty and store</p>
+ <p>To this opynyon I wyll nat say contrary</p>
+ <p>So it be ordred after holy lore</p>
+ <p>Whyle thy selfe leuest departe some to the pore</p>
+ <p>With thy owne hande trust nat thy executours</p>
+ <p>Gyue for god, and god shall sende at all houres</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Rede Tullius warkes the worthy Oratour.</p>
+ <p>And writen shalt thou fynde in right fruteful sentence</p>
+ <p>That neuer wyseman loued ouer great honour.</p>
+ <p>Nor to haue great riches put ouer great diligence</p>
+ <p>But onely theyr mynde was set on Sapience</p>
+ <p>And quyetly to lyue in Just symplycite.</p>
+ <p>For in greatest honour is greatest ieoperdye.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that is symple, and on the grounde doth lye</p>
+ <p>And that can be content with ynoughe or suffisaunce</p>
+ <p>Is surer by moche than he that lyeth on hye.</p>
+ <p>Nowe vp nowe downe vnsure as a Balaunce.</p>
+ <p>But sothly he that set wyll his plesance</p>
+ <p>Onely on wysdom and styl therfore labour.</p>
+ <p>Shal haue more goode than all erthly tresour.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wysdom techeth to eschewe al offence.</p>
+ <p>Gydynge mankynde the ryght way to vertue.</p>
+ <p>But of couetyse Comys all Inconuenyence.</p>
+ <p>It cawseth man of worde to be vntrue.</p>
+ <p>Forswerynge and falshode doth it also ensue.</p>
+ <p>Brybery and Extorcion, murder and myschefe.</p>
+ <p>Shame is his ende: his lyuyinge is reprefe.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>By couetyse Crassus brought was to his ende.</p>
+ <p>By it the worthy Romayns lost theyr name.</p>
+ <p>Of this one yl a thousand ylles doth descende.</p>
+ <p>Besyde enuy, Pryde, wretchydnes and Shame.</p>
+ <p>Crates the Philosopher dyd Couetyse so blame:</p>
+ <p>That to haue his mynde vnto his stody fre.</p>
+ <p>He threwe his Tresour all hole into the see.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But shortly to conclude. Both bodely bondage.</p>
+ <p>And gostly also: procedeth of this couetyse.</p>
+ <p>The soule is damned the body hath damage</p>
+ <p>As hunger, thyrst, and colde with other preiudice.</p>
+ <p>Bereft of the ioyes of heuenly Paradyse.</p>
+ <p>For golde was theyr god and that is left behynde</p>
+ <p>Theyr bodyes beryed the soule clene out of mynde</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The Enuoy of Alexander Barclay translatour.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therefore thou couetouse thou wretch I speke to the.</p>
+ <p>Amende thy selfe ryse out of this blyndenes.</p>
+ <p>Content the wyth ynoughe for thy degre.</p>
+ <p>Dam nat thy soule by gatheringe frayle riches</p>
+ <p>Remembre this is a Uale of wretchednes.</p>
+ <p>Thou shalt no rest nor dwellynge place here fynde.</p>
+ <p>Depart thou shalt and leue it al behynde.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p034"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of newe fassions and disgised Garmentes.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p159.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t159.png"
+ alt="Their goods are wasted, lost, and spent." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Who that newe garmentes loues or deuyses.<br /> Or
+ weryth by his symple wyt, and vanyte<br /> Gyuyth by his foly and
+ vnthryfty gyses<br /> Moche yl example to yonge Comontye.<br /> Suche
+ one is a Fole and skant shal euer thee<br /> And comonly it is sene
+ that nowe a dayes<br /> One Fole gladly folowes anothers
+ wayes.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Drawe nere ye Courters and Galants disgised</p>
+ <p>Ye counterfayt Caytifs, that ar nat content</p>
+ <p>As god hath you made: his warke is despysed</p>
+ <p>Ye thynke you more crafty than God onipotent.</p>
+ <p>Unstable is your mynde: that shewes by your garment.</p>
+ <p>A fole is knowen by his toyes and his Cote.</p>
+ <p>But by theyr clothinge nowe may we many note.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Aparayle is apayred. Al sadness is decayde</p>
+ <p>The garmentes ar gone that longed to honestye.</p>
+ <p>And in newe sortes newe Foles ar arayede</p>
+ <p>Despisynge the costom of good antiquyte.</p>
+ <p>Mannys fourme is disfigured with euery degre</p>
+ <p>As Knyght Squyer yeman Jentilman and knaue,</p>
+ <p>For al in theyr goynge vngoodely them behaue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The tyme hath ben, nat longe before our dayes</p>
+ <p>Whan men with honest ray coude holde them self content.</p>
+ <p>Without these disgised: and counterfayted wayes.</p>
+ <p>Wherby theyr goodes ar wasted, loste, and spent.</p>
+ <p>Socrates with many mo in wysdom excellent.</p>
+ <p>Bycause they wolde nought change that cam of nature</p>
+ <p>Let growe theyre here without cuttinge or scissure.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>At that tyme was it reputed to lawde and great honour.</p>
+ <p>To haue longe here: the Beerde downe to the brest</p>
+ <p>For so they vsed that were of moste valour.</p>
+ <p>Stryuynge together who myht be godlyest</p>
+ <p>Saddest, moste clenely, discretest, and moste honest.</p>
+ <p>But nowe adayes together we contende and stryue.</p>
+ <p>Who may be gayest: and newest wayes contryue.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Fewe kepeth mesure, but excesse and great outrage</p>
+ <p>In theyr aparayle. And so therin they procede</p>
+ <p>That theyr goode is spent: theyr Londe layde to morgage.</p>
+ <p>Or solde out right: of Thryft they take no hede.</p>
+ <p>Hauinge no Peny them to socour at theyr nede.</p>
+ <p>So whan theyr goode by suche wastefulnes is loste.</p>
+ <p>They sel agayne theyr Clothes for half that they coste.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A fox furred Jentelman: of the fyrst yere or hede.</p>
+ <p>If he be made a Bailyf a Clerke or a Constable.</p>
+ <p>And can kepe a Parke or Court and rede a Dede</p>
+ <p>Than is Ueluet to his state mete and agreable.</p>
+ <p>Howbeit he were more mete to here a Babyl.</p>
+ <p>For his Foles Hode his iyen so sore doth blynde</p>
+ <p>That Pryde expelleth his lynage from his mynde.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Yet fynde I another sort almoste as bad as thay.</p>
+ <p>As yonge Jentylmen descended of worthy Auncetry.</p>
+ <p>Whiche go ful wantonly in dissolute aray.</p>
+ <p>Counterfayt, disgised, and moche vnmanerly</p>
+ <p>Blasinge and garded: to lowe or else to hye.</p>
+ <p>And wyde without mesure: theyr stuffe to wast thus gothe</p>
+ <p>But other some they suffer to dye for lacke of clothe.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some theyr neckes charged with colers, and chaynes</p>
+ <p>As golden withtthes: theyr fyngers ful of rynges:</p>
+ <p>Theyr neckes naked: almoste vnto the raynes</p>
+ <p>Theyr sleues blasinge lyke to a Cranys wynges</p>
+ <p>Thus by this deuysinge suche counterfayted thinges</p>
+ <p>They dysfourme that figure that god hymselfe hath made</p>
+ <p>On pryde and abusion thus ar theyr myndes layde.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Than the Courters careles that on theyr mayster wayte</p>
+ <p>Seinge hym his Uesture in suche fourme abuse</p>
+ <p>Assayeth suche Fassion for them to counterfayte.</p>
+ <p>And so to sue Pryde contynually they muse.</p>
+ <p>Than stele they; or Rubbe they. Forsoth they can nat chuse.</p>
+ <p>For without Londe or Labour harde is it to mentayne.</p>
+ <p>But to thynke on the Galows that is a careful payne.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But be it payne or nat: there many suche ende.</p>
+ <p>At Newgate theyr garmentis ar offred to be solde.</p>
+ <p>Theyr bodyes to the Jebet solemly ascende.</p>
+ <p>Wauynge with the wether whyle theyr necke wyl holde.</p>
+ <p>But if I shulde wryte al the ylles manyfolde.</p>
+ <p>That procedeth of this counterfayt abusion</p>
+ <p>And mysshapen Fassions: I neuer shulde haue done.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For both States, comons, man, woman, and chylde</p>
+ <p>Ar vtterly inclyed to this inconuenyence.</p>
+ <p>But namely therwith these Courters are defyled.</p>
+ <p>Bytwen mayster and man I fynde no dyfference.</p>
+ <p>Therfore ye Courters knowledge your offence.</p>
+ <p>Do nat your errour mentayne, support nor excuse.</p>
+ <p>For Fowles ye ar your Rayment thus to abuse.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>To Shyp Galauntes come nere I say agayne.</p>
+ <p>Wyth your set Busshes Curlynge as men of Inde.</p>
+ <p>Ye counterfayted Courters come with your fleinge brayne</p>
+ <p>Expressed by these variable Garmentes that ye fynde.</p>
+ <p>To tempt chast Damsels and turne them to your mynde</p>
+ <p>Your breste ye discouer and necke. Thus your abusion</p>
+ <p>Is the Fendes bate. And your soules confusion.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Come nere disgysed foles: receyue your Foles Hode.</p>
+ <p>And ye that in sondry colours ar arayde.</p>
+ <p>Ye garded galantes wastinge thus your goode</p>
+ <p>Come nere with your Shertes brodered and displayed.</p>
+ <p>In fourme of Surplys. Forsoth it may be sayde.</p>
+ <p>That of your Sort right fewe shal thryue this yere.</p>
+ <p>Or that your faders werith suche Habyte in the Quere.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And ye Jentyl wymen whome this lewde vice doth blynde</p>
+ <p>Lased on the backe: your peakes set a loft.</p>
+ <p>Come to my Shyp. forget ye nat behynde.</p>
+ <p>Your Sadel on the tayle: yf ye lyst to sit soft.</p>
+ <p>Do on your Decke Slut: if ye purpos to come oft.</p>
+ <p>I mean your Copyntanke: And if it wyl do no goode.</p>
+ <p>To kepe you from the rayne. ye shall haue a foles hode.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>By the ale stake knowe we the ale hous</p>
+ <p>And euery Jnne is knowen by the sygne</p>
+ <p>So a lewde woman and a lechcrous</p>
+ <p>Is knowen by hir clothes, be they cours or fyne</p>
+ <p>Folowynge newe fassyons, not graunted by doctryne</p>
+ <p>The bocher sheweth his flesshe it to sell</p>
+ <p>So doth these women dampnyng theyr soule to hell</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What shall I more wryte of our enormyte</p>
+ <p>Both man and woman as I before haue sayde</p>
+ <p>Ar rayde and clothyd nat after theyr degre</p>
+ <p>As nat content with the shape that god hath made</p>
+ <p>The clenlynes of Clergye is nere also decayed.</p>
+ <p>Our olde apparale (alas) is nowe layde downe</p>
+ <p>And many prestes asshamed of theyr Crowne.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Unto laymen we vs refourme agayne</p>
+ <p>As of chryste our mayster in maner halfe asshamed</p>
+ <p>My hert doth wepe: my tunge doth sore complayne</p>
+ <p>Seing howe our State is worthy to be blamed.</p>
+ <p>But if all the Foly of our Hole Royalme were named</p>
+ <p>Of mys apparayle of Olde, young, lowe, and hye,</p>
+ <p>The tyme shulde fayle: and space to me denye.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas thus al states of Chrysten men declynes.</p>
+ <p>And of wymen also disfourmynge theyr fygure.</p>
+ <p>Wors than the Turkes, Jewes, or Sarazyns.</p>
+ <p>A Englonde Englonde amende or be thou sure</p>
+ <p>Thy noble name and fame can nat endure</p>
+ <p>Amende lyst god do greuously chastyce.</p>
+ <p>Bothe the begynners and folowes of this vyce.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The Enuoy of Alexander Barclay ye translatour.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Reduce courters clerly vnto your rembrance</p>
+ <p>From whens this disgysyng was brought wherein ye go</p>
+ <p>As I remember it was brought out of France.</p>
+ <p>This is to your plesour. But payne ye had also.</p>
+ <p>As French Pockes hote ylles with other paynes mo.</p>
+ <p>Take ye in good worth the swetnes with the Sour.</p>
+ <p>For often plesour endeth with sorowe and dolour.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p><a name="p039"></a></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But ye proude Galaundes that thus yourselfe disgise</p>
+ <p>Be ye asshamed. beholde vnto your Prynce.</p>
+ <p>Consyder his sadnes: His honestye deuyse</p>
+ <p>His clothynge expresseth his inwarde prudence</p>
+ <p>Ye se no Example of suche Inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>In his hyghnes: but godly wyt and grauyte.</p>
+ <p>Ensue hym: and sorowe for your enormyte.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Away with this pryde, this statelynes let be</p>
+ <p>Rede of the Prophetis clothynge or vesture</p>
+ <p>And of Adam firste of your ancestrye</p>
+ <p>Of Johnn the Prophete, theyr clothynge was obscure</p>
+ <p>Uyle and homly, but nowe what creature</p>
+ <p>Wyll then eusue, sothly fewe by theyr wyll</p>
+ <p>Therfore suche folys my nauy shall fulfyll</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p041"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of old folys that is to say the longer they
+lyue the more they ar gyuen to foly.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p166.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t166.png"
+ alt="The old fool." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Howe beit I stoup, and fast declyne<br /> Dayly to my
+ graue, and sepulture<br /> And though my lyfe fast do enclyne<br /> To
+ pay the trybute of nature<br /> Yet styll remayne I and endure<br /> In
+ my olde synnes, and them nat hate<br /> Nought yonge, wors olde, suche
+ is my state.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The madnes of my youthe rotyd in my age</p>
+ <p>And the blynde foly of my iniquite</p>
+ <p>Wyll me nat suffer to leue myne old vsage</p>
+ <p>Nor my fore lyuynge full of enormyte</p>
+ <p>Lame ar his lymmys, and also I can nat se</p>
+ <p>I am a childe and yet lyuyd haue I</p>
+ <p>An hundreth wynter, encresynge my foly.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But though I myght lerne my wyll is nat therto</p>
+ <p>But besy I am and fully set my thought</p>
+ <p>To gyue example to children to mysdo</p>
+ <p>By my lewde doctryne bryngynge them to nought</p>
+ <p>And whan they ar onys into my daunce brought</p>
+ <p>I teche them my foly wysdome set asyde</p>
+ <p>My selfe example, begynner, and theyr gyde.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>My lewde lyfe, my foly and my selfwyllyd mynde</p>
+ <p>Whiche I haue styll kept hytherto in this lyfe</p>
+ <p>In my testament I leue wryten behynde</p>
+ <p>Bequethyng parte both to man childe and wyfe</p>
+ <p>I am the actour of myschefe and of stryfe</p>
+ <p>The foly of my youth and the inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>In age I practyse, techynge by experyence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I am a fole and glad am of that name</p>
+ <p>Desyrynge lawde for eche vngracious dede</p>
+ <p>And of my foly to spred abrode the same</p>
+ <p>To showe my vyce and synne, as voyde of drede</p>
+ <p>Of heuen or hell. therfore I take no hede</p>
+ <p>But as some stryue disputynge of theyr cunnynge</p>
+ <p>Right so do I in lewdnes and myslyuynge.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Somtyme I bost me of falshode and dysceyt</p>
+ <p>Somtyme of the sede that sawyn is by me</p>
+ <p>Of all myschefe, as murder flatery debate</p>
+ <p>Couetyse bacbytynge theft and lechery</p>
+ <p>My mynde is nat to mende my iniquyte</p>
+ <p>But rather I sorowe that my lyfe is wore</p>
+ <p>That I can nat do as I haue done before</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But syns my lyfe so sodaynly dothe apeyre</p>
+ <p>That byde I can nat styll in this degre</p>
+ <p>I shall infourme and teche my sone and heyre</p>
+ <p>To folowe his fader, and lerne this way of me</p>
+ <p>The way is large, god wot glad shall he be</p>
+ <p>Lernynge my lore with affeccion and desyre</p>
+ <p>And folowe the steppys of his vnthryfty syre</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I trust so crafty and wyse to make the lad</p>
+ <p>That me his father he shall pas and excell</p>
+ <p>O that my herte shall than be wonder glad</p>
+ <p>If I here of may knowe, se, or here tell</p>
+ <p>If he be false faynynge sotyll or cruell</p>
+ <p>And so styll endure I haue a speciall hope</p>
+ <p>To make hym scrybe to a Cardynall or Pope.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Or els if he can be a fals extorcyoner</p>
+ <p>Fasynge and bostynge to scratche and to kepe</p>
+ <p>He shall be made a comon costomer</p>
+ <p>As yche hope of Lyn Calays or of Depe</p>
+ <p>Than may he after to some great offyce crepe</p>
+ <p>So that if he can onys plede a case</p>
+ <p>He may be made Juge of the comon place.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus shall he lyue as I haue all his dayes</p>
+ <p>And in his age increas his folysshenes</p>
+ <p>His fader came to worshyp by suche ways</p>
+ <p>So shall the sone, if he hym selfe addres</p>
+ <p>To sue my steppes in falshode and lewdnes</p>
+ <p>And at leste if he can come to no degre</p>
+ <p>This shyp of folys shall he gouerne with me</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Barklay To the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Awake age alas what thynkest thou be</p>
+ <p>Awake I say out of thy blynde derkenes</p>
+ <p>Remembrest thou nat that shortly thou shalt dye</p>
+ <p>Aryse from synne amende thy folysshenes</p>
+ <p>Though thy youth reted were in vyciousnes</p>
+ <p>Aryse in age is full tyme to leue it</p>
+ <p>Thy graue is open thy one fote in the pyt</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Leue thy bostynge of that thou hast done amys</p>
+ <p>Bewayle thy synnes, sayeng with rufull mone</p>
+ <p>Delicta iuuentutis mee deus ne memineris</p>
+ <p>Amende the or thy youth be fully gone</p>
+ <p>That sore is harde to hele that bredes in the bone</p>
+ <p>He that is nought yonge, procedynge so in age</p>
+ <p>Shall skant euer his vyciousnes asswage</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What thinge is more abhomynable in goddes syght.</p>
+ <p>Than vicious age: certaynly no thynge.</p>
+ <p>It is eke worldly shame, whan thy corage and mycht</p>
+ <p>Is nere dekayed, to kepe thy lewde lyuynge.</p>
+ <p>And by example of the, thy yonge children to brynge.</p>
+ <p>Into a vicious lyfe: and all goodnes to hate.</p>
+ <p>Alas age thus thou art the Fendes bate.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p045"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of the erudicion of neglygent faders
+anenst theyr chyldren.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p170.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t170.png"
+ alt="The fool that suffers his children to offend." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">That fole that suffreth his Chylde for to offende<br />
+ Wythout rebukynge, blame, and correccion.<br /> And hym nat exhorteth,
+ hymselfe to amende.<br /> Of suche fawtes as by hym ar done.<br /> Shal
+ it sore repent: god wote howe sone<br /> For oft the faders foly,
+ fauour, and neglygence<br /> Causeth the Chylde for to fall to great
+ offence</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A myserable Fole euermore shal he be.</p>
+ <p>A wretche vnauysed, and a Catyf blynde.</p>
+ <p>Whiche his chyldren fawtes forseth nat to see</p>
+ <p>Hauynge no care for to induce theyr mynde</p>
+ <p>To godly vertue: and vyce to leue behynde.</p>
+ <p>For whyle they ar yonge fereful and tender of age</p>
+ <p>Theyre vyce and foly is easy to asswage.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Two dyuers sortes of these foles may we fynde.</p>
+ <p>By whome theyr chyldren ar brought to confusion.</p>
+ <p>The one is neglygent. the other is starke blynde.</p>
+ <p>Nat wyllynge to beholde his childes yl condicion.</p>
+ <p>Whyle he is in youthe: But for a conclusion</p>
+ <p>He is a Fole that wyl nat se theyr vyce.</p>
+ <p>And he that seyth: and wyl it nat chastyce.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas thou art a cursed counselloure</p>
+ <p>To wanton youth that tender is of age</p>
+ <p>To let them wander without gouernoure</p>
+ <p>Or wyse mayster, in youthes furious rage</p>
+ <p>Get them a mayster theyr foly to asswage</p>
+ <p>For as a herdles flocke strayth in Jepardy</p>
+ <p>So children without gyde wandreth in foly.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>To moche lyberty pleasoure and lycence</p>
+ <p>Gyuen vnto youth, whether it be or age</p>
+ <p>Right often causyth great inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>As ryot mysrule with other sore damage</p>
+ <p>Theyr londe and goodes solde or layde to gage</p>
+ <p>But thou folysshe father art redy to excuse</p>
+ <p>Thy yonge children of theyr synne and abuse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thou sayst they ar ouer tender to eschewe</p>
+ <p>Theyr folysshe maners and they haue no skyll</p>
+ <p>To knowe the wayes of goodnes or vertue</p>
+ <p>Nor to discerne what is gode, what is yll</p>
+ <p>Thou blynde dodart these wordes holde thou styll</p>
+ <p>Theyr youth can nat excuse thy folysshenes</p>
+ <p>He that can yll as well myght lerne goodnes</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A yonge hert is as apt to take wysdome</p>
+ <p>As is an olde, and if it rotyd be</p>
+ <p>It sawyth sede of holy lyfe to come</p>
+ <p>Also in children we often tymes se</p>
+ <p>Great aptness outwarde and syne of grauyte</p>
+ <p>But fyll an erthen pot first with yll lycoure</p>
+ <p>And euer after it shall smell somwhat soure</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So youth brought vp in lewdnes and in sin</p>
+ <p>Shall skant it shrape so clene out of his mynde</p>
+ <p>But that styll after some spot wyll byde within</p>
+ <p>A lytell twygge plyant is by kynde</p>
+ <p>A bygger braunche is harde to bowe or wynde</p>
+ <p>But suffer the braunche to a byg tre to growe</p>
+ <p>And rather it shall brake than outher wynde or bowe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Correct thy childe whyle he is lyke a twygge</p>
+ <p>Soupyll and plyant, apt to correccion</p>
+ <p>It wyll be harde forsoth whan he is bygge</p>
+ <p>To brynge his stubron herte to subieccion</p>
+ <p>What hurtyth punysshement with moderacion</p>
+ <p>Unto yonge children, certaynely no thynge</p>
+ <p>It voydeth vyce, gettynge vertue and cunnynge</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Say folysshe fader haddest thou leuer se</p>
+ <p>Thy sonnes necke vnwrested wyth a rope.</p>
+ <p>Than with a rod his skyn shulde brokyn be.</p>
+ <p>And oft thou trustest: and hast a stedfast hope</p>
+ <p>To se thy son promoted nere as hye as is the Pope</p>
+ <p>But yet perchaunce mourne thou shalt ful sore.</p>
+ <p>For his shameful ende: fortuned for lacke of lore.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some folowe theyr chyldrens wyl and lewde plesour</p>
+ <p>So grauntinge them theyr mynde: that after it doth fal</p>
+ <p>To theyr great shame: they sorowe and dolour</p>
+ <p>As dyd to Priamus a Kynge Imperial</p>
+ <p>Whiche suffred his men: his son chefe of them al</p>
+ <p>By force from Grece to robbe the fayre Helayne.</p>
+ <p>Wherby both Fader and son were after slayne.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>With noble Hector and many thousandes mo.</p>
+ <p>The Cyte of Troy vnto the ground clene brent.</p>
+ <p>I rede in the Cronycles of the Romayns also</p>
+ <p>Howe Tarquyne the proude had shame and punysshment</p>
+ <p>For rauysshynge chaste Lucres agaynst hyr assent.</p>
+ <p>Wherfore hyrselfe she slewe hyr seynge thus defiled.</p>
+ <p>For the which dede this Tarquyn was exiled,</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>From Rome: wandrynge in the Costes of Italy.</p>
+ <p>Dyd nat the traytour Catelyne also conspyre</p>
+ <p>And many mo sworne to his cruel tyranny</p>
+ <p>Agaynst the Romans to oppresse theyr Impyre,</p>
+ <p>But he and all his were murdred for theyr hyre,</p>
+ <p>And nat vnworthely. Beholde wherto they come</p>
+ <p>Which ar nat enfourmed in youth to ensue wysdom.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The son oft foloweth the faders behauour</p>
+ <p>And if the fader be discrete and vertuous.</p>
+ <p>The son shal suche wayes practyse both day and hour.</p>
+ <p>But if that the fader be lewde and vicious</p>
+ <p>By falshode lyuynge: and by wayes cautelous.</p>
+ <p>The son also the same wayes wyl ensue</p>
+ <p>And that moche rather than goodnes or vertue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore it nedeth that better prouysion.</p>
+ <p>Were founde for youthe by sad and wyse counsayle</p>
+ <p>Far from theyr faders of this condicion.</p>
+ <p>And other lewde gydes which myght theyr myndes assayle</p>
+ <p>Greuously wyth syn. So were it theyr auayle</p>
+ <p>From theyr faders frawde and falshode to declyne</p>
+ <p>And them submyt to some lawdable mannys doctryne.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Peleus, somtyme a noble and worthy kynge</p>
+ <p>Subdued Achylles vnto the doctryne</p>
+ <p>Of phenix whiche was both worthy and cunnynge</p>
+ <p>Wherfore Achyllys right gladly dyd enclyne</p>
+ <p>With his hert and mynde vnto his disciplyne</p>
+ <p>Wherby his name so noble was at the last</p>
+ <p>That all Asy in worthynes he past</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ryght so Philippus a kynge worthy of name</p>
+ <p>Ouer all Grece made great iniquicion</p>
+ <p>To fynde one wyse, sad and laudable of fame</p>
+ <p>To Alexander his sonne for to gyue Instruccion</p>
+ <p>Founde was great Aristotyl at the conclusion</p>
+ <p>Disciple of Plato. whiche in euery Science.</p>
+ <p>Infourmed this chylde with parfyte diligence.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Whiche Alexander afterward had so great dignyte.</p>
+ <p>What by his strength, his cunnynge, and boldenes.</p>
+ <p>That he was lorde both of Londe and See.</p>
+ <p>And none durst rebel aganst his worthynes.</p>
+ <p>Lo here the lawde, the honour, and nobles.</p>
+ <p>Which dothe procede of vertue and doctryne</p>
+ <p>But few ar the faders that nowe hereto inclyne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Fewe ar that forceth nowe adayes to se</p>
+ <p>Theyr chyldren taught: or to do any cost</p>
+ <p>On som sad man, wyse, and of auctorite:</p>
+ <p>Al that is theron bestowed thynke they loste.</p>
+ <p>The folyssh Fader oft tymes maketh great boste.</p>
+ <p>That he his son to habundant riches shal auance</p>
+ <p>But no thynge he speketh of vertuous gouernance.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The feder made but smal shyft or prouysion.</p>
+ <p>To induce his Son by vertuous doctryne.</p>
+ <p>But whan he is dede and past: moche les shal the son</p>
+ <p>To stody of grace his mynde or hert inclyne.</p>
+ <p>But abuse his reason: and from al good declyne.</p>
+ <p>Alas folysshe faders gyue your aduertence</p>
+ <p>To Crates complaynt comprysed in this sentence.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If it were graunted to me to shewe my thought</p>
+ <p>Ye follysshe faders Caytifes I myght you cal</p>
+ <p>Whiche gather riches to brynge your chylde to nought.</p>
+ <p>Gyuynge him occasion forto be prodigal.</p>
+ <p>But goode nor cunnynge shewe ye hym none at all.</p>
+ <p>But whan ye drawe to age, ye than moste comonly.</p>
+ <p>Sorowe for your suffrance. But without remedy.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>An olde sore to hele is oft halfe incurable</p>
+ <p>Ryght so ar these Chyldren roted in myschefe</p>
+ <p>Some after euer lyueth a lyfe abhomynable</p>
+ <p>To all theyr Kyn great sorowe and reprefe.</p>
+ <p>The one is a murderer the other a fereles thefe,</p>
+ <p>The one of god nor goode man hath no fors ne care.</p>
+ <p>Another so out wasteth that his frendes ar ful bare.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some theyr londe and lyuelode in riot out wasteth,</p>
+ <p>At cardes, and, tenys, and other vnlawful gamys.</p>
+ <p>And some wyth the Dyce theyr thryft away casteth.</p>
+ <p>Some theyr soule damnes, and theyr body shames.</p>
+ <p>With flesshly lust: which many one dyffamys.</p>
+ <p>Spendynge the floures of youth moche vnthryftely.</p>
+ <p>On dyuers Braunches that longe to Lechery.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Another delyteth hymselfe in Glotony.</p>
+ <p>Etynge and drynkynge without maner, or mesure:</p>
+ <p>The more that some drynke: the more they wax drye.</p>
+ <p>He is moste Galant whyche lengest can endure.</p>
+ <p>Thus without mesure ouercharge they theyr nature.</p>
+ <p>So that theyr Soule is loste theyr body and goode is spent.</p>
+ <p>For lacke of doctryne, Norture and punysshment.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Se here playne prose, example and euydence</p>
+ <p>Howe youthe which is nat norysshed in doctryne.</p>
+ <p>In age is gyuen vnto al Inconuenyence.</p>
+ <p>But nought shall make youthe soner forto inclyne.</p>
+ <p>To noble maners: nor Godly dysciplyne:</p>
+ <p>Than shal the doctryne of a mayster wyse and sad:</p>
+ <p>For the rote of vertue and wysdome therby is had.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Without dout Noblenes is moche excellent</p>
+ <p>Whiche oft causeth youth to be had in great honour.</p>
+ <p>To haue the name, and lawde they ar content.</p>
+ <p>Thoughe it be nat gotten by theyr owne labour.</p>
+ <p>But what auayleth them this lewde obscure errour</p>
+ <p>Of suche hye byrthe them self to magnyfy.</p>
+ <p>Sythe they defyle it with vice and Uilany.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Why art thou proude thou foul of that nobles</p>
+ <p>Whyche is nat gotten by thyne owne vertue.</p>
+ <p>By thy goode maners, wyt nor worthynes:</p>
+ <p>But this forsothe oft tymes fynde I true</p>
+ <p>That of a goode beste, yl whelpes may weshewe.</p>
+ <p>In lyke wyse of a Moder that is bothe chast and goode.</p>
+ <p>Often is brought forth a ful vngracious Brode.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But though the childe be of lewde condicion</p>
+ <p>And of his nature frowarde and varyable</p>
+ <p>If the fader be slacke in the correccion</p>
+ <p>Of his childe, he onely is culpable</p>
+ <p>Whiche wyll nat teche hym maners commendable</p>
+ <p>Thus is the fader a fole for his suffraunce</p>
+ <p>And the sone also for his mysgouernaunce</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The Enuoy.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Auoyd faders your fauour and suffraunce</p>
+ <p>Anenst your children in theyr faute and offence</p>
+ <p>Reduce ye clerely vnto your remembraunce</p>
+ <p>That many a thousande inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Haue children done by theyr faders negligence</p>
+ <p>But to say trouth brefely in one clause</p>
+ <p>The fader's fauour onely is the cause</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p053"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of tale berers, fals reporters, and
+prometers of stryfes.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p178.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t178.png"
+ alt="The reward of the talebearers." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Of folys yet fynde I another maner sorte<br /> Whiche
+ ar cause of brawlynge stryfe and deuysion<br /> Suche ar dowble tongyd
+ that lesyngys reporte<br /> Therby trustynge to come to great
+ promosion<br /> But suche lewde caytyfes at the conclusion<br />
+ Bytwene two mylstons theyr legges puttes to grynde<br /> And for
+ rewarde, theyr confusion shall they fynde.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some ar that thynke the pleasoure and ioy of theyr lyfe</p>
+ <p>To brynge men in brawlynge to discorde and debate</p>
+ <p>Enioynge to moue them to chydynge and to stryfe</p>
+ <p>And where loue before was to cause mortall hate</p>
+ <p>With the comonty, and many great estate</p>
+ <p>Suche is moche wors than outher murderer or thefe</p>
+ <p>For ofte of his talys procedeth grete myschefe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Within his mouth is venym Jeperdous and vyle</p>
+ <p>His tonge styll laboryth lesynges to contryue</p>
+ <p>His mynde styll museth of falshode and on gyle</p>
+ <p>Therwith to trobyll suche as gladly wolde nat stryue</p>
+ <p>Somtyme his wordes as dartis he doth dryue</p>
+ <p>Agaynst good men: for onely his delyte.</p>
+ <p>Is set to sclaunder to diffame and bacbyte.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And namely them that fautles ar and innocent.</p>
+ <p>Of conscience clene, and maners commendable</p>
+ <p>These dryuyls sclaunder, beynge full dilygent.</p>
+ <p>To deuyde, louers that ar moste agreable</p>
+ <p>His tonge Infect his mynde abhomynable</p>
+ <p>Infectyth loue and ouertourneth charyte</p>
+ <p>Of them that longe tyme haue lyuyd in amyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But he that accused is thus without all faute</p>
+ <p>And so sclaundred of this caytyf vnthryfty</p>
+ <p>Knowyth nought of this ieoperdous assaute</p>
+ <p>For he nought dowteth that is no thynge fauty</p>
+ <p>Thus whyle he nought feryth comyth sodaynly</p>
+ <p>This venemous doloure distaynynge his gode name</p>
+ <p>And so gyltles put to rebuke, and to shame.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus if one serche and seke the worlde ouerall</p>
+ <p>Than a backbyter nought is more peryllous</p>
+ <p>His mynde myscheuous, his wordys ar mortall</p>
+ <p>His damnable byt is foule and venemous</p>
+ <p>A thousande lyes of gyles odyous</p>
+ <p>He castyth out where he wolde haue debate</p>
+ <p>Engendrynge murder whan he his tyme can wayt</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Where as any frendes lyueth in accorde</p>
+ <p>Faythfull and true: this cowarde and caytyf</p>
+ <p>With his fals talys them bryngeth to dyscorde</p>
+ <p>And with his venym kepeth them in stryfe</p>
+ <p>But howe beit that he thus pas forth his lyfe</p>
+ <p>Sawynge his sede of debate and myschefe</p>
+ <p>His darte oft retourneth to his own reprefe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But nat withstandynge, suche boldely wyl excuse</p>
+ <p>His fals dyffamynge: as fautles and innocent.</p>
+ <p>If any hym for his dedes worthely accuse</p>
+ <p>He couereth his venym: as symple of intent.</p>
+ <p>Other ar whiche flater: and to euery thynge assent.</p>
+ <p>Before face folowynge the way of adulacion,</p>
+ <p>Whiche afterwarde sore hurteth by detraccion.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The worlde is nowe alle set on dyffamacion.</p>
+ <p>Suche ar moste cherisshed that best can forge a tale.</p>
+ <p>Whych shulde be moste had in abhomynacion.</p>
+ <p>And so they ar of wyse men without fayle.</p>
+ <p>But suche as ar voyde of wysdom and counsayle</p>
+ <p>Inclyneth theyr erys to sclander and detraccion,</p>
+ <p>Moche rather than they wolde to a noble sermon.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But euery Sclanderer, and begynner of stryfe.</p>
+ <p>Lousers of loue, and infecters of Charite.</p>
+ <p>Unworthy ar to lyue here at large in this lyfe.</p>
+ <p>But in derke Dongeon they worthy ar to be.</p>
+ <p>And there to remayne in pryson tyl they dye.</p>
+ <p>For with there yl tunges they labour to destroy</p>
+ <p>Concorde: whiche cause is of loue and of ioy.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>An olde quean that hath ben nought al hyr dayes.</p>
+ <p>Whiche oft hath for money hyr body let to hyre</p>
+ <p>Thynketh that al other doth folowe hyr olde wayes.</p>
+ <p>So she and hyr boul felawes syttinge by the fyre.</p>
+ <p>The Boule about walkynge with theyr tunges they conspyre</p>
+ <p>Agaynst goode peple, to sclander them wyth shame.</p>
+ <p>Than shal the noughty doughter lerne of the bawdy dame.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>By his warkes knowen is euery creature</p>
+ <p>For if one good, louynge, meke and charitable be.</p>
+ <p>He labours no debates amonge men to procure.</p>
+ <p>But coueyteth to norysshe true loue and charite.</p>
+ <p>Where as the other ful of falshode and iniquyte</p>
+ <p>Theyr synguler plesour put to ingender variaunce.</p>
+ <p>But oft theyr folysshe stody retournes to theyr myschaunce</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore ye bacbyters that folke thus dyffame</p>
+ <p>Leue of your lewdnes and note wel this sentence.</p>
+ <p>Which Cryist hymself sayd: to great rebuke and shame</p>
+ <p>Unto them that sclandreth a man of Innocence.</p>
+ <p>Wo be to them whych by malyuolence</p>
+ <p>Slandreth or dyffameth any creature.</p>
+ <p>But wel is hym that wyth pacience can indure.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p057"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of hym that wyll nat folowe nor ensue
+good counsell, and necessary.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p182.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t182.png"
+ alt="Furrow begun whether it be good or ill." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Of folys yet another sorte doth come<br /> Vnto our
+ shyp rowynge with great trauayle<br /> Whiche nought perceyue of
+ doctryne nor wysdome<br /> And yet dysdayne they to aske wyse
+ counseyll<br /> Nor it to folowe for theyr owne auayle<br /> Let suche
+ folys therat haue no dysdayne<br /> If they alone endure theyr losse
+ and payne</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He is a fole that dothe coueyt and desyre</p>
+ <p>To haue the name of wysdome and prudence</p>
+ <p>And yet of one sought thorugh a cyte or a shyre</p>
+ <p>None coude be founde of lesse wysdome nor science</p>
+ <p>But whyle he thynketh hym full of sapience</p>
+ <p>Crafty and wyse, doutles he is more blynde</p>
+ <p>Than is that fole whiche is out of his mynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But though he be wyse, and of myght meruaylous</p>
+ <p>Endued with retoryke and with eloquence</p>
+ <p>And of hym selfe both ware and cautelous</p>
+ <p>If he be tachyd with this inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>To dysdayne others counseyll and sentence</p>
+ <p>He is vnwyse, for oft a folys counsayle</p>
+ <p>Tourneth a wyse man to consort and auayle</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But specially the read and auysement</p>
+ <p>Of wyse men, discrete, and full of grauyte</p>
+ <p>Helpeth thyne owne, be thou never so prudent</p>
+ <p>To thy purpose gyuynge strength and audacyte.</p>
+ <p>One man alone knowys nat all polycye</p>
+ <p>Thoughe thou haue wysdome cunnynge and scyence</p>
+ <p>Yet hath another moche more experience</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some cast out wordes in paynted eloquence</p>
+ <p>Thynkynge therby to be reputed wyse</p>
+ <p>Thoughe they haue neyther wysdome nor science</p>
+ <p>Suche maner folys them self do exercyse</p>
+ <p>A plughe and teame craftely to deuyse</p>
+ <p>To ere the path that folys erst hath made</p>
+ <p>The trouth vnder glose of suche is hyd and layde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For why, they trust alway to theyr owne mynde</p>
+ <p>And furour begon whether it be good or yll</p>
+ <p>As if any other, no wyser read coude fynde</p>
+ <p>Thus they ensue theyr pryuate folysshe wyll</p>
+ <p>Oft in suche maters wherin they haue no skyll</p>
+ <p>As did Pyrrus whiche began cruell Batayle</p>
+ <p>Agaynst Orestes refusynge wyse counsayle</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But folowyd his owne rasshe mynde without auayle</p>
+ <p>As blynde and obstynat of his intencion</p>
+ <p>Wherfore he was disconfyted in Batayle</p>
+ <p>Hymselfe slayne, his men put to confusyon</p>
+ <p>If that the Troyans in theyr abusyon</p>
+ <p>With false Parys, had confourmed theyr intent</p>
+ <p>To Helenns counsayle Troy had nat ben brent.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For that Priamus his mynde wolde nat aply</p>
+ <p>To the counseyll of Cassandra Prophetes</p>
+ <p>The grekys distroyed a great parte of Asy</p>
+ <p>Hector also by his selfwyllydnes</p>
+ <p>Was slayne with Peyn for all his doughtynes</p>
+ <p>Of Achylles in open and playne Batayle</p>
+ <p>For nat folowynge of his faders counsayle</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If Hector that day had byddyn within Troy</p>
+ <p>And vnto his fader bene obedient</p>
+ <p>Perchaunce he sholde haue lyuyd in welth and ioy</p>
+ <p>Longe tyme after and come to his intent</p>
+ <p>Whereas his body was with a spere through rent</p>
+ <p>Of the sayd Achyllys cruell and vnkynde</p>
+ <p>Alas for suynge his owne selfwyllyd mynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I rede of Nero moche cursed and cruell</p>
+ <p>Whiche to wyse counsayle hymself wolde nat agre</p>
+ <p>But in all myschef all other dyd excell</p>
+ <p>Delytynge hym in synne and crueltye</p>
+ <p>But howe dyde he ende forsoth in myserye</p>
+ <p>And at the last as wery of his lyfe</p>
+ <p>Hymselfe he murdred with his owne hand and knyfe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The Bybyll wytnessyth howe the prophete Thoby</p>
+ <p>Gaue his dere sone in chefe commaundement</p>
+ <p>That if he wolde lyue sure without ieoperdy</p>
+ <p>He sholde sue the counsayle of men wyse and prudent</p>
+ <p>The story of Roboam is also euydent</p>
+ <p>Whiche for nat suynge of counseyll and wysdome</p>
+ <p>Lost his Empyre, his scepter and kyngdome</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If that it were nat for cawse of breuyte</p>
+ <p>I coude shewe many of our predecessours</p>
+ <p>Whiche nat folowynge counceyll of men of grauyte</p>
+ <p>Soone haue decayed from theyr olde honours</p>
+ <p>I rede of Dukes, Kynges, and Emperours</p>
+ <p>Whiche dispysynge the counsayle of men of age</p>
+ <p>Haue after had great sorowe and damage.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For he suerly whiche is so obstynate</p>
+ <p>That onely he trusteth to his owne blyndnes</p>
+ <p>Thynkynge all wysdome within his dotynge pate</p>
+ <p>He often endyth in sorowe and dystres</p>
+ <p>Wherfore let suche theyr cours swyftly addres</p>
+ <p>To drawe our Plough, and depe to ere the ground</p>
+ <p>That by theyr laboure all folys may be founde.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The Enuoy of Alexander Barclay the Translatour</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O man vnauysed, thy blyndnes set asyde</p>
+ <p>Knowledge thy owne foly thy statelynes expel</p>
+ <p>Let nat for thy eleuate mynde nor folysshe pryde,</p>
+ <p>To order thy dedes by goode and wyse counsel</p>
+ <p>Howbeit thou thynke thy reason doth excel</p>
+ <p>Al other mennys wyt. yet oft it doth befall.</p>
+ <p>Anothers is moche surer: and thyn the worst of all.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p062"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of disordred and vngoodly maners.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p187.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t187.png"
+ alt="Trailing your bauble in sign of your folly." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Drawe nere ye folys of lewde condicion<br /> Of yll
+ behauoure gest and countenaunce<br /> Your proude lokys, disdayne and
+ derysyon<br /> Expresseth your inwarde folysshe ignoraunce<br /> Nowe
+ wyll I touche your mad mysgoueraunce<br /> Whiche hast to foly, And
+ folysshe company<br /> Treylynge your Baybll in sygne of your
+ foly</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>In this our tyme small is the company</p>
+ <p>That haue good maners worthy of reuerence</p>
+ <p>But many thousandes folowe vylany</p>
+ <p>Prone to all synne and inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Stryuynge who sonest may come to all offence</p>
+ <p>Of lewde condicions and vnlefulnesse</p>
+ <p>Blyndnes of yll, and defylyd folysshenesse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>All myserable men alas haue set theyr mynde</p>
+ <p>On lothsome maners clene destytute of grace</p>
+ <p>Theyr iyen dymmyd, theyr hertes are so blynde</p>
+ <p>That heuenly ioy none forceth to purchace</p>
+ <p>Both yonge and olde procedeth in one trace</p>
+ <p>With ryche and pore without all dyfference</p>
+ <p>As bonde men subdued to foly and offence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some ar busshed theyr bonetes, set on syde.</p>
+ <p>Some waue theyr armys and hede to and fro</p>
+ <p>Some in no place can stedfastly abyde</p>
+ <p>More wylde and wanton than outher buk or do</p>
+ <p>Some ar so proude that on fote they can nat go</p>
+ <p>But get they must with countenaunce vnstable</p>
+ <p>Shewynge them folys, frayle and varyable</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some chyde that all men do them hate</p>
+ <p>Some gygyll and lawgh without grauyte</p>
+ <p>Some thynkes, hymselfe a gentylman or state</p>
+ <p>Though he a knaue caytyf and bonde churle be</p>
+ <p>These folys ar so blynde them self they can nat so</p>
+ <p>A yonge boy that is nat worth an onyon</p>
+ <p>With gentry or presthode is felowe and companyon.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Brybours and Baylyes that lyue upon towlynge</p>
+ <p>Are in the world moche set by nowe a dayes</p>
+ <p>Sergeauntis and Catchpollys that lyue upon powlynge</p>
+ <p>Courters and caytyfs begynners of frayes</p>
+ <p>Lyue styll encreasynge theyr vnhappy wayes</p>
+ <p>And a thousande mo of dyuers facultyes</p>
+ <p>Lyue auauntynge them of theyr enormytees.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Within the chirche and euery other place</p>
+ <p>These folys use theyr lewde condicions</p>
+ <p>Some starynge some cryeng some haue great solace</p>
+ <p>In rybawde wordes, some in deuysyons</p>
+ <p>Some them delyte in scornes and derysons</p>
+ <p>Some pryde ensueth and some glotony.</p>
+ <p>Without all norture gyuen to vylany</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Theyr lyfe is folysshe lothsome and vnstable</p>
+ <p>Lyght brayned, theyr herte and mynde is inconstant</p>
+ <p>Theyr gate and loke proude and abhomynable</p>
+ <p>They haue nor order as folys ignorant</p>
+ <p>Chaungyng theyr myndes thryse in one instant</p>
+ <p>Alas this lewdnes and great enormyte</p>
+ <p>Wyll them nat suffer theyr wretchydnes to se</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus ar these wretchyd caytyfes fully blynde</p>
+ <p>All men and wymen that good ar doth them hate</p>
+ <p>But he that with good maners endueth his mynde</p>
+ <p>Auoydeth this wrath hatered and debate</p>
+ <p>His dedes pleaseth both comonty and estate</p>
+ <p>And namely suche as ar good and laudable</p>
+ <p>Thynketh his dedes right and commendable</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>As wyse men sayth: both vertue and cunnynge</p>
+ <p>Honoure and worshyp grace and godlynes</p>
+ <p>Of worthy maners take theyr begynnynge</p>
+ <p>And fere also asswagyth wantones.</p>
+ <p>Subduynge the furour of youthes wylfulnes</p>
+ <p>But shamefastnes trouth constance and probyte</p>
+ <p>Both yonge and olde bryngeth to great dignyte.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>These foresayde vertues with charite and peas.</p>
+ <p>Together assembled stedfast in mannys mynde.</p>
+ <p>Cawseth his honour and worthynes to encreas.</p>
+ <p>And his godly lyfe a godly ende shal fynde</p>
+ <p>But these lewde caytyfs which doth theyr myndes blynde</p>
+ <p>With corrupt maners lyuynge vnhappely.</p>
+ <p>In shame they lyue and wretchedly they dye.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p066"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of brekynge and hurtynge of amyte and frendshyp.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p191.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t191.png"
+ alt="The breakers of friendship." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He that iniustyce vseth and greuance<br /> Agaynst all
+ reason lawe and equyte<br /> By vyolent force puttynge to vtteraunce<br
+ /> A symple man full of humylyte<br /> Suche by his lewdnes and
+ iniquyte.<br /> Makyth a graue wherin hym selfe shall lye.<br /> And
+ lewdly he dyeth that lyueth crudlye.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A Fole frowarde cruell and vntrewe</p>
+ <p>Is he whiche by his power wrongfully</p>
+ <p>His frendes and subiectes laboures to subdewe</p>
+ <p>Without all lawe, but clene by tyranny</p>
+ <p>Therfore thou Juge thy erys se thou aply</p>
+ <p>To right Justyce and set nat thyne intent</p>
+ <p>By wrath or malyce to be to vyolent.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It is nat lawfull to any excellent</p>
+ <p>Or myghty man, outher lawyer or estate</p>
+ <p>By cruelnes to oppresse an innocent</p>
+ <p>Ne by pryde and malyce Justyce to violate</p>
+ <p>The law transposynge after a frowarde rate</p>
+ <p>With proude wordes defendynge his offence</p>
+ <p>God wot oft suche haue symple conscience</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O that he cursed is and reprouable</p>
+ <p>Whiche day and nyght stodyeth besely</p>
+ <p>To fynde some meanes false and detestable</p>
+ <p>To put his frende to losse or hurte therby</p>
+ <p>Our hertes ar fully set on vylany</p>
+ <p>There ar right fewe of hye or lowe degre</p>
+ <p>That luste to norysshe trewe loue and amyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas exyled is godly charyte</p>
+ <p>Out of our Royalme we all ar so vnkynde</p>
+ <p>Our folys settyth gretter felycyte</p>
+ <p>On golde and goodes than on a faythfull frynde</p>
+ <p>Awake blynde folys and call vnto your mynde</p>
+ <p>That though honest ryches be moche commendable</p>
+ <p>Yet to a true frende it is nat comparable</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Of all thynges loue is moste profytable</p>
+ <p>For the right order of lowe and amyte</p>
+ <p>Is of theyr maners to be agreable</p>
+ <p>And one of other haue mercy and pyte</p>
+ <p>Eche doynge for other after theyr degre</p>
+ <p>And without falshode this frendeshyp to mayntayne</p>
+ <p>And nat departe for pleasour nor for payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But alas nowe all people haue dysdayne</p>
+ <p>On suche frendshyp for to set theyr delyte</p>
+ <p>Amyte we haue exyled out certayne</p>
+ <p>We lowe oppressyon to sclaunder and bacbyte</p>
+ <p>Extorcyon hath strength, pyte gone is quyte</p>
+ <p>Nowe in the worlde suche frendes ar there none</p>
+ <p>As were in Grece many yeres agone.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Who lyst thystory of Patroclus to rede</p>
+ <p>There shall he se playne wryten without fayle</p>
+ <p>Howe whan Achyllys gaue no force nor hede</p>
+ <p>Agaynst the Troyans to execute batayle</p>
+ <p>The sayd Patroclus dyd on the aparayle</p>
+ <p>Of Achylles, and went forth in his steade</p>
+ <p>Agaynst Hector: but lyghtly he was dede.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But than Achylles seynge this myschaunce.</p>
+ <p>Befallen his frende whiche was to hym so true.</p>
+ <p>He hym addressyd shortly to take vengeaunce.</p>
+ <p>And so in Batayle the noble Hector slewe</p>
+ <p>And his dede cors after his charot drewe.</p>
+ <p>Upon the grounde traylynge ruthfully behynde</p>
+ <p>Se howe he auengyd Patroclus his frende.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The hystory also of Orestes dothe expresse</p>
+ <p>Whiche whan agamenon his fader was slayne</p>
+ <p>By egystus whiche agaynst rightwysnes</p>
+ <p>The sayde Orestis moder dyd meyntayne</p>
+ <p>The childe was yonge wherfore it was but vayne</p>
+ <p>In youth to stryue, but whan he came to age</p>
+ <p>His naturall moder slewe he in a rage</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And also Egystus whiche had his fader slayne</p>
+ <p>Thus toke he vengeaunce of both theyr cruelnes</p>
+ <p>But yet it grewe to his great care and payne</p>
+ <p>For sodaynly he fell in a madnesse</p>
+ <p>And euer thought that in his furiousnes</p>
+ <p>His moder hym sued flamynge full of fyre</p>
+ <p>And euer his deth was redy to conspyre</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Orestes troubled with this fereful vysyon</p>
+ <p>As franatyke and mad wandred many a day</p>
+ <p>Ouer many a countrey londe and regyon</p>
+ <p>His frende Pylades folowynge hym alway</p>
+ <p>In payne nor wo he wolde hym nat denay</p>
+ <p>Tyll he restoryd agayne was to his mynde</p>
+ <p>Alas what frynde may we fynde nowe so kynde.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Of dymades what shall I lawde or wryte.</p>
+ <p>And Pythias his felawe amyable</p>
+ <p>Whiche in eche other suche loue had and delyte</p>
+ <p>That whan Denys a tyrant detestable</p>
+ <p>And of his men some to hym agreable</p>
+ <p>Wolde one of them haue mordred cruelly</p>
+ <p>Echone for other offred for to dye</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ualerius wrytyth a story longe and ample</p>
+ <p>Of Lelius and of worthy Cipio.</p>
+ <p>Whiche of trewe loue hath left vs great example</p>
+ <p>For they neuer left in doloure wele nor wo</p>
+ <p>I rede in thystory of Theseus also:</p>
+ <p>Howe he (as the Poetes fables doth tell)</p>
+ <p>Folowyd his felawe perothus in to hell.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And serchynge hym dyd wander and compas</p>
+ <p>Those lothsome flodys and wayes tenebrous</p>
+ <p>Ferynge no paynes of that dysordred place</p>
+ <p>Nor obscure mystes or ayres odyous</p>
+ <p>Tyll at the laste by his wayes cautelous</p>
+ <p>And Hercules valyaunt dedes of boldnesse</p>
+ <p>He gat Perothus out of that wretchydnesse.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas where ar suche frendes nowe a dayes</p>
+ <p>Suerly in the worlde none suche can be founde</p>
+ <p>All folowe theyr owne profyte and lewde wayes</p>
+ <p>None vnto other coueytys to be bounde</p>
+ <p>Brekers of frendshyp ynough ar on the grounde</p>
+ <p>Whiche set nought by frendshyp so they may haue good</p>
+ <p>All suche in my shyp shall haue a folys hode</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The Enuoy of Barklay To the Folys.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye cruell folys full of ingratitude.</p>
+ <p>Aryse be asshamyd of your iniquyte</p>
+ <p>Mollyfy your hertes vnkynde stuberne and rude</p>
+ <p>Graffynge in them true loue and amyte</p>
+ <p>Consyder this prouerbe of antyquyte</p>
+ <p>And your vnkyndnes weray ban and curse</p>
+ <p>For whether thou be of hy or lowe degre</p>
+ <p>Better is a frende in courte than a peny in purse</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p071"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of contempt, or dispisynge of holy scripture.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p196.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t196.png"
+ alt="The fool who despises holy scripture." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He that gyueth his erys or credence<br /> To euery
+ folys talys or talkynge<br /> Thynkynge more wysdome and fruytfull
+ sentence<br /> In theyr vayne talys than is in the redynge<br /> Of
+ bokes whiche shewe vs the way of godly lyuynge<br /> And soulys helth:
+ forsoth suche one is blynde<br /> And in this shyp the anker shall vp
+ wynde.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche as dispyseth auncyent scripture</p>
+ <p>Whiche prouyd is of great auctoryte</p>
+ <p>And hath no pleasoure felycyte or cure</p>
+ <p>Of godly Prophetis whiche wrote of veryte</p>
+ <p>A fole he is for his moste felycyte</p>
+ <p>Is to byleue the tales of an olde wyfe</p>
+ <p>Rather than the doctryne of eternall lyfe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The holy Bybyll grounde of trouth and of lawe</p>
+ <p>Is nowe of many abiect and nought set by</p>
+ <p>Nor godly scripture is nat worth an hawe</p>
+ <p>But talys ar louyd grounde of rybawdry</p>
+ <p>And many blynddyd ar so with theyr foly</p>
+ <p>That no scripture thynke they so true nor gode</p>
+ <p>As is a folysshe yest of Robyn hode.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that to scripture wyll not gyue credence</p>
+ <p>Wherin ar the armys of our tuycion</p>
+ <p>And of our fayth foundacion and defence</p>
+ <p>Suche one ensueth nat the condycion</p>
+ <p>Of man resonable, but by abusyon</p>
+ <p>Lyuyth as a best of conscyence cruell</p>
+ <p>As saue this worlde were neyther heuen nor hell.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He thynketh that there is no god aboue</p>
+ <p>Nor nobler place than is this wretchyd grounde</p>
+ <p>Nor goddes power suche neyther fere nor loue</p>
+ <p>With whom all grace and mercy doth abounde</p>
+ <p>Whiche whan hym lyst vs wretches may confounde</p>
+ <p>Alas what auayleth to gyue instruction</p>
+ <p>To suche lewde folys of this condycion.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It nought auayleth vnto them to complayne</p>
+ <p>Of theyr blyndnes, nor enfourme them with vertue</p>
+ <p>Theyr cursed lyfe wyll by no mean refrayne</p>
+ <p>Their viciousnes, nor their erroure eschewe</p>
+ <p>But rather stody theyr foly to renewe</p>
+ <p>Alas what profytis to suche to expresse.</p>
+ <p>The heuenly ioy, rewarde of holynesse.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas what auayleth to suche to declare</p>
+ <p>The paynes of hell, wo dissolate and derke</p>
+ <p>No wo nor care can cause suche to beware</p>
+ <p>From their lewde lyfe corrupt and synfull warke</p>
+ <p>What profyteth sermons of any noble clarke</p>
+ <p>Or godly lawes taught at any Scolys</p>
+ <p>For to reherse to these myscheuous folys.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What helpeth the Prophetis scripture or doctryne</p>
+ <p>Unto these folys obstynate and blynde</p>
+ <p>Their hertis ar harde, nat wyllynge to enclyne</p>
+ <p>To theyr preceptis nor rote them in theyr mynde</p>
+ <p>Nor them byleue as Cristen men vnkynde</p>
+ <p>For if that they consydred heuen or hell</p>
+ <p>They wolde nat be so cursed and cruell</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And certaynly the trouth apereth playne</p>
+ <p>That these folys thynke in theyr intent</p>
+ <p>That within hell is neyther car nor payne</p>
+ <p>Hete nor colde, woo, nor other punysshement</p>
+ <p>Nor that for synners is ordeyned no turment</p>
+ <p>Thus these mad folys wandreth euery houre</p>
+ <p>Without amendement styll in theyr blynde erroure</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Before thy fete thou mayst beholde and se</p>
+ <p>Of our holy fayth the bokys euydent</p>
+ <p>The olde lawes and newe layde ar before the</p>
+ <p>Expressynge christes tryumphe right excellent</p>
+ <p>But for all this set is nat thyne intent</p>
+ <p>Theyr holy doctryne to plant within thy brest</p>
+ <p>Wherof shold procede ioy and eternall rest</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Trowest thou that thy selfe wyllyd ignoraunce</p>
+ <p>Of godly lawes and mystycall doctryne</p>
+ <p>May clense or excuse thy blynde mysgouernaunce</p>
+ <p>Or lewde erroure, whiche scorne hast to inclyne</p>
+ <p>To theyr preceptis: and from thy synne declyne</p>
+ <p>Nay nay thy cursed ignoraunce sothly shall</p>
+ <p>Drowne thy soule in the depe flodes infernall</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore let none his cursydnes defende</p>
+ <p>Nor holy doctryne, nor godly bokes dispyse</p>
+ <p>But rather stody his fawtes to amende</p>
+ <p>For god is aboue all our dedes to deuyse</p>
+ <p>Whiche shall rewarde them in a ferefull wyse</p>
+ <p>With mortall wo that euer shall endure</p>
+ <p>Whiche haue dyspysyd his doctryne and scripture</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Barclay To the Folys.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Out of your slomber folys I rede you ryse.</p>
+ <p>Scripture dyuyne, to folowe and inbrace</p>
+ <p>Be nat so bolde it to leue nor dispyse</p>
+ <p>But you enforce it to get and purchase</p>
+ <p>Remember mannys consort and solace.</p>
+ <p>Is holy closyd within the boke of lyfe</p>
+ <p>Who that it foloweth hath a speciall grace</p>
+ <p>But he that doth nat a wretche is and caytyfe</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p075"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of folys without prouysyon.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p200.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t200.png"
+ alt="The fool who does not gird his horse." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He is a fole forsoth and worse<br /> That to his
+ saddyll wolde lepe on hye<br /> Before or he haue gyrt his horse<br />
+ For downe he comys with an euyll thee<br /> But as great a fole forsoth
+ is he<br /> And to be lawghed to derysyon.<br /> That ought begynneth
+ without prouysyon</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Of other folys yet is a moche nomber</p>
+ <p>Whom I wolde gladly brynge to intellygence</p>
+ <p>To auoyde their blyndnes which sore doth incomber</p>
+ <p>Theyr mynde and herte for lackynge of science</p>
+ <p>Suche ar vnware and gyuen to neglygence</p>
+ <p>Mad and mysmyndyd pryuate of wysdome</p>
+ <p>Makynge no prouysyon for the tyme to come.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If any mysfortune aduersyte or wo</p>
+ <p>As often hapnyth, to suche a fole doth fall</p>
+ <p>Than sayth he I thought it wolde nat haue be so</p>
+ <p>But than ouer late is it agayne to call</p>
+ <p>It is nat ynough thou fole to say I shall</p>
+ <p>For this one daye prouyde me by wysdome</p>
+ <p>A wyse man seyth peryll longe before it come</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He is vnwyse and of prouysyon pore</p>
+ <p>That nought can se before he haue damage</p>
+ <p>Whan the stede is stolyn to shyt the stable dore</p>
+ <p>Comys small pleasoure profyte or vauntage</p>
+ <p>But he that can suche folysshenes asswage</p>
+ <p>Begynnynge by counsayll, and fore prouydence</p>
+ <p>Is sure to escape all inconuenyence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Whan Adam tastyd the appyll in Paradyse.</p>
+ <p>To hym prohybyte by dyuyne commaundement</p>
+ <p>If he had noted the ende of his interpryse</p>
+ <p>To Eue he wolde nat haue ben obedyent</p>
+ <p>Thus he endured right bytter punysshement</p>
+ <p>For his blynde erroure and improuydence</p>
+ <p>That all his lynage rue sore for his offence.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Hymselfe dryuyn out from Paradyce all bare</p>
+ <p>With Eue, into this vale of wretchydnes</p>
+ <p>To get theyr lyuynge with laboure payne and care</p>
+ <p>And also if Jonathas by errour and blyndnes</p>
+ <p>Had nat receyued the gyftis of falsnes</p>
+ <p>Unto hym gyuen of Tryphon by abusyon</p>
+ <p>He sholde haue escapyd great confusyon</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If that he before had notyd craftely</p>
+ <p>His ennemyes gyftis of frawde full and of treason</p>
+ <p>He myght haue sauyd hymselfe from ieoperdy</p>
+ <p>And all his people by prouydence and reason</p>
+ <p>Where as he blynde was as at that season</p>
+ <p>And to a cyte broughte in by a trayne</p>
+ <p>Where he was murdred and all his people slayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Julius Cesar the chefe of conquerours</p>
+ <p>Was euer warre and prudent of counsayle</p>
+ <p>But whan he had obteyned great honours</p>
+ <p>And drewe to rest as wery of Batayle</p>
+ <p>Than his vnwarnes causyd hym to wayle</p>
+ <p>For if he had red with good aduysement</p>
+ <p>The letter whiche to the counselhous was sent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He had nat gyuen his owne iugement</p>
+ <p>As he dyd by his foly and neglygence</p>
+ <p>For whiche he murdred was incontynent</p>
+ <p>Without respect had vnto his excellence</p>
+ <p>Alas se here what inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Came to this Emperour hye and excellent</p>
+ <p>For nat beyng wyse dyscrete and prouydent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If Nichanor before had noted well</p>
+ <p>The ende of his dedes he had nat be slayne</p>
+ <p>By Judas and the children of Israell</p>
+ <p>His hande and tunge cut of to his great payne</p>
+ <p>And than his hede, as the bybyll sheweth playne</p>
+ <p>Thus may all knowe that wyll therto entende</p>
+ <p>Wherto they come that caryth nat the ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But he that begynneth by counsayll and wysdome</p>
+ <p>Alway procedynge with good prouysyon</p>
+ <p>Notynge what is past and what is for to come</p>
+ <p>Suche folowys godly scripture and monycion</p>
+ <p>In happy wayes without transgressyon</p>
+ <p>Of goddes lawes, and his commaundement</p>
+ <p>And often tymes comys to his intent.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus it appereth playne and euydent</p>
+ <p>That wyse prouysyon, prose and good counsayle</p>
+ <p>Are moche laudable, and also excellent</p>
+ <p>And to mankynde great profyte and auayle.</p>
+ <p>Where as those folys haue often cause to wayle</p>
+ <p>For theyr mysfortune, in sorowe vexed sore</p>
+ <p>Whiche ought begyn nat prouydyd before</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The Enuoy of Alexander Barclay</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O man remember thou canste nat abyde</p>
+ <p>Styll in this lyfe therfore moste specially</p>
+ <p>For thy last ende thou oughtest to prouyde.</p>
+ <p>For that prouysion forsoth is most godly</p>
+ <p>And than next after thy mynde thou ought aply</p>
+ <p>To fle offence, and bewayle thyne olde synne</p>
+ <p>And in all workes and besynes worldly</p>
+ <p>What may be the ende marke well or thou begynne</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p079"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of disordred loue and veneryous.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p204.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t204.png"
+ alt="Fools in the snares of Venus." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Here drawe we folys mad togyther bounde<br /> Whom
+ Uenus caught hath in hyr net a snare<br /> Whose blynde hertes this
+ forour doth confounde<br /> Theyr lyfe consumynge in sorowe shame and
+ care<br /> Many one she blyndeth alas fewe can beware<br /> Of hyr
+ dartes hedyd with shame and vylany<br /> But he that is wondyd can
+ skant ynde remedy</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O cruel Uenus forsoth who doth insue</p>
+ <p>Thy flaterynge gylys and proude commaundement</p>
+ <p>And hastyth nat the dartis to eschewe</p>
+ <p>Of blynde Cupido but folowys his intent</p>
+ <p>Suche folys endure moche sorowe and turment</p>
+ <p>Wastynge theyr goodes dishonestynge their name</p>
+ <p>As past fere of god and sekynge after shame</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Howe many yllys, what inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Howe great vengeaunce, and howe bytter punysshement</p>
+ <p>Hath god oft takyn for this synne and offence</p>
+ <p>Howe many Cytees hye and excellent</p>
+ <p>Hath Uenus lost, destroyed, and alto brent</p>
+ <p>What lordes and howe many a great estate</p>
+ <p>Hath loue lost, murdred, or els brought in debate</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The noble Troyans murdred ar and slayne</p>
+ <p>Theyr cyte brent, decayde is theyr kyngdome</p>
+ <p>Theyr kynge pryant by pyrrus dede and slayne</p>
+ <p>And all this by Parys vnhappy loue is come</p>
+ <p>Whiche voyde of grace and blynde without wysdome</p>
+ <p>To fyll his lust, from Grece rubbyd Helayne,</p>
+ <p>But this one pleasour was grounde of moche payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Also Marcus a Prynce of the Romayns</p>
+ <p>Called Antonius by another name</p>
+ <p>After that he had ouercome the persyans</p>
+ <p>To Rome retournyd with tryumphe lawde and fame</p>
+ <p>And there (whiche after was to his great shame)</p>
+ <p>With cleopatra in loue was take so in blyndnes</p>
+ <p>That he promysyd to make hir empresse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So this blynde louer to fyll his interpryse</p>
+ <p>Caused his men two hondred shyppes ordayne</p>
+ <p>And toke the see wenynge in suche fourme and wyse</p>
+ <p>His lewde desyre: to perfourme and obteyne</p>
+ <p>But shortly after was he ouercome and slayne</p>
+ <p>Of Cesar: and whan he this purpose vnderstode</p>
+ <p>He bathed his Corse within his lemmans blode</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For two serpentis that venemus were and fell</p>
+ <p>Were set to the brestis of fayre Cleopatray</p>
+ <p>So this cruell purpose had punysshement cruell</p>
+ <p>For theyr intendynge theyr countrey to betray</p>
+ <p>And worthy they were, what man can it denay</p>
+ <p>Thus it apereth playne by euydence</p>
+ <p>That of false loue cometh great inconuenyence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For he that loueth is voyde of all reason</p>
+ <p>Wandrynge in the worlde without lawe or mesure</p>
+ <p>In thought and fere sore vexed eche season</p>
+ <p>And greuous dolours in loue he must endure</p>
+ <p>No creature hym selfe may well assure</p>
+ <p>From loues soft dartis: I say none on the grounde</p>
+ <p>But mad and folysshe bydes he whiche hath the wounde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Aye rennynge as franatyke no reason in his mynde</p>
+ <p>He hath no constaunce nor ease within his herte</p>
+ <p>His iyen ar blynde, his wyll alwaye inclyned</p>
+ <p>To louys preceptes yet can nat he departe</p>
+ <p>The Net is stronge, the fole caught can nat starte</p>
+ <p>The darte is sharpe, who euer is in the chayne</p>
+ <p>Can nat his sorowe in vysage hyde nor fayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Rede howe Phedra hir loue fixed so feruent</p>
+ <p>On ypolitus in prohybyte auowtry.</p>
+ <p>That whan he wolde nat vnto hir consent</p>
+ <p>To hir husbonde she accused hym falsly</p>
+ <p>As if he wolde hir tane by force to vylany</p>
+ <p>Ipolitus was murdred for this accusement</p>
+ <p>But Phedra for wo hanged hyrself incontynent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The lewde loue of Phasyphe abhomynable</p>
+ <p>As poetis sayth) brought hir to hir confusyon</p>
+ <p>Nero the cruell Tyrant detestable.</p>
+ <p>His naturall mother knewe by abusyon</p>
+ <p>Uenus and Cupido with their collusyon.</p>
+ <p>Enflamyd Messalina in suche wyse</p>
+ <p>That euery nyght hir selfe she wolde disgyse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And secretly go to the brothelhous</p>
+ <p>For to fulfyll hir hote concupyssence</p>
+ <p>What shall I wryte the dedes vicious</p>
+ <p>Of Julia or, hir cruell offence.</p>
+ <p>What shall I wryte the inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Whiche came by Danythys cursed auowtry</p>
+ <p>Syth that the bybyll it shewyth openly</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What shall I wryte the greuous forfayture</p>
+ <p>Of Sodom and Gomor syns the Bybyll doth tell</p>
+ <p>Of their synnes agaynst god and nature</p>
+ <p>For whiche they sanke alyue downe into hell.</p>
+ <p>Thus it aperith what punysshement cruell.</p>
+ <p>Our lorde hath taken both in the olde lawe and newe</p>
+ <p>For this synne: whiche sholde vs moue it to eschewe</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Alexander Barklay To the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye folys inflamyd with loue inordynate.</p>
+ <p>Note these examples, drawe from this vyce your mynde</p>
+ <p>Remember that there is none so great estate</p>
+ <p>But that false loue hym causeth to be blynde</p>
+ <p>Our folysshe wymen may nat be left behynde</p>
+ <p>For many of them so folowys in this way</p>
+ <p>That they sell theyr soules and bodyes to go gay</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The graceles galantes, and the aprentyce pore</p>
+ <p>Though they nought haue, themselfe they set nought by</p>
+ <p>Without they be acquaynted with some hore</p>
+ <p>Of westmynster or some other place of rybawdry</p>
+ <p>Than fall they to murder theft and robery.</p>
+ <p>For were nat proude clothynge, and also flesshely lust</p>
+ <p>All the feters and gyues of Englonde shulde rust.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore folys awake, and be no longer blynde</p>
+ <p>Consyder that shame, seknes, and pouertye</p>
+ <p>Of loue procedeth: and drawe from it your mynde</p>
+ <p>Suffre not your soules damned and lost to be</p>
+ <p>By vayne lust and carnall sensualyte</p>
+ <p>For thoughe the small pleasure do make the fayne</p>
+ <p>The ende oft is worldly wo and myserye</p>
+ <p>Or amonge the fendes eternall payne</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p084"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of them y<sup>t</sup> synne trustynge vpon the
+mercy of god.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p209.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t209.png"
+ alt="Neither for goose nor crane, nor yet for other beasts unresonable." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Who that styll synneth without contricion<br />
+ Trustynge goddes mercy and benygnyte<br /> Bycause he sparyth our
+ transgressyon<br /> And he that thynketh iustice and equyte<br /> Is
+ nat in god as well as is petye<br /> Suche is forsoth without
+ discressyon<br /> Syns he thus synneth upon
+ presumpcion</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The wynde is up our Nauy is aflote</p>
+ <p>A bande of Folys a borde is come yet more</p>
+ <p>Theyr cursed maners and mad I shall nowe note</p>
+ <p>Whose herte for synne is neyther contryte ne sore</p>
+ <p>Nat mornynge (as they ought to do) therfore</p>
+ <p>Without fere styll lyuynge in theyr vyciousnes</p>
+ <p>No thynge inclyned to godly holynes</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They thynke no thynge on goddes rightwysnes</p>
+ <p>But grounde them all, on his mercy and pyte</p>
+ <p>For that he redyer is vnto forgeuenesse</p>
+ <p>Unto all people, than them punysshed to se</p>
+ <p>Trouth it is that the great enormyte</p>
+ <p>Of the worlde hathe nat aye worthy punysshement</p>
+ <p>Nor he nat damnyd that doth his synne repent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Put case he gyuyth nat aye lyke iugement</p>
+ <p>On mannys mysdede, nor yet mundayne offence</p>
+ <p>And though he be gode meke and pacyent</p>
+ <p>Nor shortly punyssheth our inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Put case also he gyue nat aduertence</p>
+ <p>To all mundayne fawtes synne and fragylyte</p>
+ <p>Yet none sholde synne in hope of his mercy</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But these folys assembled in a companye</p>
+ <p>Sayth eche to other that oft it is laufull</p>
+ <p>To perseuerant synners lyuynge in iniquyte</p>
+ <p>Yo trust in god syns he is mercyfull</p>
+ <p>What nedeth vs our wyttis for to dull</p>
+ <p>Labourynge our synne and foly to refrayne</p>
+ <p>Syns synne is a thynge naturall and humayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Than sayth another forsoth thou sayst playne</p>
+ <p>And also our fore Faders and progenitours</p>
+ <p>Before our dayes offendyd haue certayne.</p>
+ <p>As well as we, in many blynde errours</p>
+ <p>But syns they haue escapyd all paynes and dolours</p>
+ <p>Of hell; and nowe in heuyn ar certayne</p>
+ <p>What nede haue we to fere infernall payne.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Than comys in an other with his dotysshe brayne</p>
+ <p>By god sayth he I knowe it without fable</p>
+ <p>That heuyn was made neyther for gose nor crane</p>
+ <p>Nor yet for other bestes vnresonable</p>
+ <p>Than of the Scripture doth he Chat and bable</p>
+ <p>Alleggynge our forefaders whiche haue mysdone</p>
+ <p>Saynge that no synne is newe in our season</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A myserable men destytute of reason.</p>
+ <p>That thus on hope do synne vnhappely</p>
+ <p>Remember the synne of our forefaders done</p>
+ <p>Haue neuer ben left vnpunysshed fynally</p>
+ <p>And that somtyme, full sharpe and bytterly</p>
+ <p>For euer more all synne hath had a fall</p>
+ <p>With sorowe here, or els wo infernall</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The synne of Sodom foule and nat natural</p>
+ <p>The Pryde of rome, whiche was so excellent</p>
+ <p>The offence of Dauyd Prophete and kynge royal</p>
+ <p>The furour of Pharao fyers and violent</p>
+ <p>Haue nat escaped the rightwyse punysshment</p>
+ <p>Of God aboue, the celestial and highe Justice</p>
+ <p>Which fyrst, or last punyssheth euery vyce.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Remember Richarde lately kynge of price</p>
+ <p>In Englonde raynynge vnrightwisely a whyle.</p>
+ <p>Howe he ambycion, and gyleful Couetyse</p>
+ <p>With innocent blode his handes dyd defyle</p>
+ <p>But howbeit that fortune on hym dyd smyle</p>
+ <p>Two yere or thre: yet god sende hym punysshment</p>
+ <p>By his true seruant the rede Rose redolent.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore remember that god omnypotent</p>
+ <p>Oft suffreth synners in theyr iniquyte</p>
+ <p>Grauntynge them space and tyme of amendement</p>
+ <p>And nat to procede in their enormyte</p>
+ <p>But those synners that byde in one degre</p>
+ <p>And in this lyfe their synne wyll nat refrayne</p>
+ <p>God after punyssheth with infernall payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>As I haue sayde (therfore) I say agayne</p>
+ <p>Though god be of infynyte pety and mercy</p>
+ <p>His fauour and grace passynge all synne mundayne</p>
+ <p>Yet iustice is with hym eternally.</p>
+ <p>Wherfore I aduyse the to note intentifly</p>
+ <p>Though pyte wolde spare, iustyce wyll nat so</p>
+ <p>But the here rewarde, els with infernal we.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Alexander Barklay to the Folys.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Syghe synners, syghe, for your mysgouernance.</p>
+ <p>Lament, mourne, and sorowe for your enormyte.</p>
+ <p>Away with these Clowdes of mysty ignorance</p>
+ <p>Syn nat in hope of goddys hyghe petye</p>
+ <p>And remember howe ye daily punysshed be</p>
+ <p>With dyuers dyseases both vncouthe and cruel</p>
+ <p>And all for your synne, but suche as escapeth fre</p>
+ <p>And styl lyue in syn, may fere the peynes of helle</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p088"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of the folisshe begynnynge of great
+bildynges without sufficient prouision.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p213.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t213.png"
+ alt="The fool who builds without counting the cost." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Come nere folys and rede your ignorance<br /> And great
+ losse procedynge of your owne foly<br /> Whiche without gode and
+ discrete purueaunce<br /> Any great werke wyll bylde or edefye.<br />
+ All suche ar folys what man wyll it deny<br /> For he that wyll bylde
+ before he count his cost<br /> Shall seldome well ende, so that is made
+ is lost.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Who euer begynneth any worke or dede</p>
+ <p>Of byldynge or of other thynge chargeable</p>
+ <p>And to his costes before taketh no hede</p>
+ <p>Nor tyme nat countyth to his worke agreable</p>
+ <p>Suche is a fole and well worthy a babyll</p>
+ <p>For he that is wyse wyll no thynge assay</p>
+ <p>Without he knowe howe he well ende it may.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The wyse man counteth his cost before alway</p>
+ <p>Or he begyn, and nought wyll take in honde</p>
+ <p>Wherto his myght or power myght denay</p>
+ <p>His costes confourmynge to the stynt of his londe</p>
+ <p>Where as the fole that nought doth vnderstonde</p>
+ <p>Begynneth a byldynge without aduysement</p>
+ <p>But or halfe be done his money clene is spent.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Many haue begon with purpose dilygent</p>
+ <p>To bylde great houses and pleasaunt mansyons</p>
+ <p>Them thynkynge to finysshe after theyr intent</p>
+ <p>But nede disceyuyd hath theyr opynyons</p>
+ <p>Their purpose nat worth a cowpyll of onyons</p>
+ <p>But whan they se that they it ende nat can</p>
+ <p>They curse the tyme that euer they it began</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Of Nabugodosor that worthy man.</p>
+ <p>What shall I wryte or the story to the tell</p>
+ <p>Syth that the Bybyll to the expresse it can</p>
+ <p>In the fourth chapter of the prophete Danyell</p>
+ <p>Was he nat punysshed in paynes cruell</p>
+ <p>For his great pryde and his presumpcion</p>
+ <p>Whiche he toke it in the byldynge of Babylon</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>His golde and treasoure he spendyd hole theron</p>
+ <p>Enioynge hym in his Cyte excellent</p>
+ <p>Right so Nemroth by his inuencion</p>
+ <p>The towre of Babylon began for this intent</p>
+ <p>To saue hym, if the worlde agayne were drent</p>
+ <p>But the hye god consyderynge his blynde rage</p>
+ <p>His purpose let by confusyon of langage</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>His towre vnperfyte to his losse and domage</p>
+ <p>His people punysshed, hymselfe specyally</p>
+ <p>Thus it apereth what great disauauntage</p>
+ <p>On theyr hede falleth that byldeth in foly</p>
+ <p>Thus he is folysshe that wolde edefy</p>
+ <p>Any great worke without ryches in excesse</p>
+ <p>For great byldynges requyreth great rychesse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But many folys ar in suche a blyndnesse</p>
+ <p>That hereon nought they set their mynde ne thought</p>
+ <p>Wherfore to them oft commyth great distresse</p>
+ <p>And to great pouerty often ar they brought</p>
+ <p>Laughed to scorne, their purpose cometh to nought</p>
+ <p>And truely I fynde in bokes wryten playne</p>
+ <p>That our olde faders haue neuer set theyr brayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>On great byldynge, ne yet of them ben fayne:</p>
+ <p>It longeth to a lorde a Prynce or a Kynge</p>
+ <p>That lacke no treasoure theyr werkes to mayntayne</p>
+ <p>To set theyr myndes on excellent buyldynge</p>
+ <p>Therfore who so euer wyll meddle with this thynge</p>
+ <p>Or any other, before let hym be wyse</p>
+ <p>That his myght and ryches therto may suffyse.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Lyst all men do mocke and scorne his interpryse</p>
+ <p>For if he ought begyn without prouysyon</p>
+ <p>And haue nat wherby his byldynge may up ryse</p>
+ <p>All that is lost that is made and begon</p>
+ <p>And better it is sothly in myn intencion</p>
+ <p>Nought to begyn, and spare laboure and payne</p>
+ <p>Than to begyn and than, leue of agayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Who euer he be that so doth certayne</p>
+ <p>He shall haue mockis mengled with his damage</p>
+ <p>Therfore let suche folys sharpe theyr brayne</p>
+ <p>And better intende to theyr owne auauntage</p>
+ <p>Consyderynge that processe of tyme and age</p>
+ <p>Theyr curyous byldynges shall at the lest confounde</p>
+ <p>And Roufe and wallys make egall with the grounde.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye folys blyndyd with curyosyte</p>
+ <p>Whiche on great byldynge set so sore your mynde</p>
+ <p>Remember ye nat that doutles ye shall dye</p>
+ <p>And your gay byldynges and howses leue behynde</p>
+ <p>Thynke ye your conforte alway in them to fynde</p>
+ <p>Or whan ye dye, them hens with you to haue</p>
+ <p>Nay nay the laste hous gyuen to mankynde</p>
+ <p>Is the course grounde and walles of his graue.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p092"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of glotons and dronkardes.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p217.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t217.png"
+ alt="Gluttons and drunkards." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">That gloton or dronkarde, vyle in goddes sight<br />
+ Shall hardly escape the weyght of pouertye.<br /> Whiche drynketh and
+ deuoureth both day and nyght<br /> Therin onely settynge all his
+ felycyte<br /> His lothsome lust and his bestyalyte<br /> Shall brynge
+ vnto destruccion fynally<br /> His soule, his godes and his wretchyd
+ body.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Within our nauy he nedes shall haue a place.</p>
+ <p>Whiche without mesure on lothsome glotony</p>
+ <p>Setteth his pleasure and singuler solace</p>
+ <p>His stomacke ouerchargynge, vyle and vngodely</p>
+ <p>And to none other thynge his mynde doth he aply</p>
+ <p>Saue depest to drynke, suche force nat of theyr soules</p>
+ <p>But labore in rynsynge pecis cuppis and bowles</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The madnes of dronkennes is so immoderate</p>
+ <p>That greuous sores it ingendreth and sykenes</p>
+ <p>It causeth often great foly and debate</p>
+ <p>With soden deth and carefull heuynes</p>
+ <p>In thynges no difference putteth dronkennes.</p>
+ <p>It febleth the ioyntis and the body within</p>
+ <p>Wastynge the brayne makynge the wyt full thyn</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It engendreth in the hede infirmyte</p>
+ <p>Blyndynge the herte wyt and discression</p>
+ <p>The mynde it demynyssheth, coloure and beaute.</p>
+ <p>Causynge all myschef, shame and abusyon</p>
+ <p>It maketh men mad, and in conclusyon</p>
+ <p>Causeth them lyue without lawe or measure</p>
+ <p>Suynge after syn defylynge theyr nature</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The people that are acloyed with this synne.</p>
+ <p>On no thynge els theyr myndes wyll aply:</p>
+ <p>Saue to the wyne and ale stakes to renne</p>
+ <p>And there as bestes to stryue and drynke auy</p>
+ <p>Than ar they outher gyuyn to rybawdry</p>
+ <p>Or els to brawle and fight at euery worde</p>
+ <p>Thus dronkennes is the chefe cause of discorde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But namely dronkennes and wretchyd glotony</p>
+ <p>By their excesse and superfluyte</p>
+ <p>Engendreth the rote of cursed Lechery</p>
+ <p>With murder, thefte and great enormyte</p>
+ <p>So bryngeth it many to great aduersyte</p>
+ <p>And with his furour the worlde so doth it blynde</p>
+ <p>That many it bryngeth to a shamfull ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>This vyce (alas) good maners doth confounde</p>
+ <p>And maketh man ouer besy of langage</p>
+ <p>And hym that in all ryches doth abounde</p>
+ <p>It ofte in pryson bryngeth and in bondage</p>
+ <p>It causeth man to his great sorowe and domage</p>
+ <p>Disclose his secrete and his preuey counsayle</p>
+ <p>Whiche causeth hym after sore to mourne and wayle</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Nought is more lothsome, more vycyous nor vyle</p>
+ <p>Than he that is subdued to this vyce</p>
+ <p>His lyfe shortynge his body he doth defyle</p>
+ <p>Bereuynge his soule the ioy of Paradyse</p>
+ <p>Howe many Cytees and lordes of great pryce</p>
+ <p>Hath ben destroyed by dronken glotony</p>
+ <p>And by his felawe, false loue, or lechery.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The sone of Thomyr had nat ben ouercome</p>
+ <p>Nor slayne by Cyrus for all his worthynes.</p>
+ <p>If he hym selfe had gydyd by wysdome</p>
+ <p>And the vyce auoydyd of blynde dronkennes</p>
+ <p>The great Alexander taken with this madnes</p>
+ <p>With his swerde, whan he was dronken slewe</p>
+ <p>Suche of his frendes as were to hym most trewe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I rede also howe this conquerour myghty</p>
+ <p>Upon a season played at the Chesse</p>
+ <p>With one of his knyghtes which wan ynally</p>
+ <p>Of hym great golde treasoure and rychesse</p>
+ <p>And hym ouercame, but in a furyousnes</p>
+ <p>And lade with wyne, this conquerour vp brayde</p>
+ <p>And to his knyght in wrath these wordes sayde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I haue subdued by strength and by wysdome</p>
+ <p>All the hole worlde, whiche obeyeth to me</p>
+ <p>And howe hast thou alone me thus ouercome</p>
+ <p>And anone commaundyd his knyght hanged to be</p>
+ <p>Than sayde the knyght by right and equyte</p>
+ <p>I may apele. syns ye ar thus cruell</p>
+ <p>Quod Alexander to whome wylt thou apell</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Knowest thou any that is gretter than I</p>
+ <p>Thou shalt be hanged thou spekest treason playne</p>
+ <p>The knyght sayd sauynge your honour certaynly</p>
+ <p>I am no traytoure, apele I woll certayne</p>
+ <p>From dronken Alexander tyll he be sober agayne</p>
+ <p>His lorde than herynge his desyre sounde to reason</p>
+ <p>Differryd the iustyce as for that tyme and season</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And than after whan this furour was gone</p>
+ <p>His knyght he pardoned repentynge his blyndenes.</p>
+ <p>And well consydered that he shulde haue mysdone</p>
+ <p>If he to deth had hym done in that madnesse</p>
+ <p>Thus it apereth what great unhappynes</p>
+ <p>And blyndnes cometh to many a creature</p>
+ <p>By wyne or ale taken without measure.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Se here the inconuenyence manyfolde</p>
+ <p>Comynge of dronkennes as I wrytyn fynde.</p>
+ <p>Some ar so starynge mad that none can them holde</p>
+ <p>Rorynge and cryeng as men out of their mynde</p>
+ <p>Some fyghtynge some chydynge, some to other kynde</p>
+ <p>Nought lyuynge to them selfe: and some dotynge Johnn</p>
+ <p>Beynge dronke thynketh hym as wyse as Salomon</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some sowe dronke, swaloynge mete without mesure</p>
+ <p>Some mawdelayne dronke, mournynge lowdly and hye</p>
+ <p>Some beynge dronke no lenger can endure</p>
+ <p>Without they gyue them to bawdy rybawdry</p>
+ <p>Some swereth armys nayles herte and body.</p>
+ <p>Terynge our lord worse, than the Jowes hym arayed</p>
+ <p>Some nought can speke, but harkenyth what is sayd.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some spende all that they haue and more at wast</p>
+ <p>With reuell and reuell dasshe fyll the cup Joohnn</p>
+ <p>Some their thryft lesyth with dyce at one cast</p>
+ <p>Some slepe as slogardes tyll their thryft be gone</p>
+ <p>Some shewe theyr owne counsell for kepe can they none</p>
+ <p>Some are Ape dronke full of lawghter and of toyes</p>
+ <p>Some mery dronke syngynge with wynches and boyes</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some spue, some stacker some vtterly ar lame</p>
+ <p>Lyeng on the grounde without power to ryse</p>
+ <p>Some bost them of bawdry ferynge of no shame</p>
+ <p>Some dumme, and some speketh. ix. wordes at thryse</p>
+ <p>Some charge theyr bely with wyne in suche wyse</p>
+ <p>That theyr legges skant can bere vp the body</p>
+ <p>Here is a sort to drowne a hole nauy.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Barklaye to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas mad folys howe longe wyll ye procede</p>
+ <p>In this beestly lyuynge agayst humayne nature</p>
+ <p>Cease of your Foly: gyue aduertence and hede</p>
+ <p>That in eche thynge ought to be had measure</p>
+ <p>Wyne ne ale hurteth no maner creature</p>
+ <p>But sharpeth the wyt if it be take in kynde</p>
+ <p>But if it be nat, than I the ensure</p>
+ <p>It dulleth the brayne, blyndynge the wyt and mynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Rede all bokes and thou shalt neuer fynde</p>
+ <p>That dronkennes and wysdome may togyther be</p>
+ <p>For where is dronkennes, there madnes is by kynde</p>
+ <p>Gydynge the hauer to all enormyte</p>
+ <p>And where as is madnes thou shalt neuer se</p>
+ <p>Reason ne wysdome take theyr abydynge</p>
+ <p>In one instant, wherfore lerne this of me</p>
+ <p>That dronkennes is mortell enmy to cunnynge.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p098"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of ryches vnprofytable.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p223.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t223.png"
+ alt="The rich fool and the poor man." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Yet fynde I folys of another sorte<br /> Whiche gather
+ and kepe excessyfe ryches<br /> With it denyeng their neyghboures to
+ conforte<br /> Whiche for nede lyueth in payne and wretchydnes<br />
+ Suche one by fortune may fall into distres<br /> And in lyke wyse after
+ come to mysery<br /> And begge of other, whiche shall to hym
+ deny.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It is great foly, and a desyre in vayne</p>
+ <p>To loue and worshyp ryches to feruently</p>
+ <p>And so great laboure to take in care and payne</p>
+ <p>Fals treasoure to encrease and multyply</p>
+ <p>But yet no wonder is it sertaynly</p>
+ <p>Syth he that is ryche hath gretter reuerence</p>
+ <p>Than he that hath sadnes wysdom and scyence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The ryche mannes rewardes stande in best degre</p>
+ <p>But godly maners we haue set clene asyde</p>
+ <p>Fewe loueth vertue, but fewer pouertye.</p>
+ <p>Fals couetyse his braunches spreddeth wyde</p>
+ <p>Ouer all the worlde, that pety can nat byde</p>
+ <p>Among vs wretches banysshed is kyndnes</p>
+ <p>Thus lyeth the pore in wo and wretchydnes</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Without conforte and without auctoryte</p>
+ <p>But he only is nowe reputed wyse</p>
+ <p>Whiche hath ryches in great store and plente.</p>
+ <p>Suche shall be made a sergeant or Justyce</p>
+ <p>And in the Court reputed of moste pryse</p>
+ <p>He shall be callyd to counseyll in the lawe</p>
+ <p>Though that his brayne be skarsly worth a strawe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He shall be Mayre baylyfe or constable</p>
+ <p>And he onely promotyd to honoure</p>
+ <p>His maners onely reputed ar laudable</p>
+ <p>His dedys praysyd as grettest of valoure</p>
+ <p>Men laboure and seke to fall in his fauoure</p>
+ <p>He shall haue loue, echone to hym shall sue</p>
+ <p>For his ryches, but nought for his vertue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Se what rewardes ar gyuen to ryches</p>
+ <p>Without regarde had to mannys condycyon</p>
+ <p>A strawe for cunnynge wysdome and holynes</p>
+ <p>Of ryches is the first and chefe questyon</p>
+ <p>What rentes what londes howe great possessyon</p>
+ <p>What stuffe of housholde what store of grotz and pens</p>
+ <p>And after his gode his wordes hath credence.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>His wordes ar trouth men gyue to them credence</p>
+ <p>Thoughe they be falsly fayned and sotell</p>
+ <p>But to the pore none wyll gyue aduertence</p>
+ <p>Though that his wordes be true as the gospell</p>
+ <p>Ye let hym swere by heuyn and by hell</p>
+ <p>By god and his sayntes and all that god made</p>
+ <p>Yet nought they beleue that of hym is sayde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They say that the pore men doth god dispyse</p>
+ <p>Thouhe they nought swere but trouth and veryte</p>
+ <p>And that god punyssheth them in suche wyse</p>
+ <p>For so dispysynge of his hye maiestye</p>
+ <p>Kepynge them for their synnes in pouerte</p>
+ <p>And theyr ryche exaltyth by his power and grace</p>
+ <p>To suche ryches, worldly pleasour and solace</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The ryche ar rewarded with gyftis of dyuerse sorte</p>
+ <p>With Capons and Conyes delycious of sent</p>
+ <p>But the pore caytyf abydeth without confort</p>
+ <p>Though he moste nede haue: none doth hym present</p>
+ <p>The fat pygge is baast, the lene cony is brent</p>
+ <p>He that nought hathe, shall so alway byde pore</p>
+ <p>But he that ouer moche hath, yet shall haue more</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The wolfe etis the shepe, the great fysshe the small</p>
+ <p>The hare with the houndes vexed ar and frayde</p>
+ <p>He that hath halfe nedes wyll haue all</p>
+ <p>The ryche mannes pleasour can nat be denayde</p>
+ <p>Be the pore wroth, or be he well apayde</p>
+ <p>Fere causeth hym sende vnto the ryches hous</p>
+ <p>His mete from his owne mouth, if it be delycious</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And yet is this ryche caytyf nat content</p>
+ <p>Though he haue all yet wolde he haue more.</p>
+ <p>And though this gode can neuer of hym be spent</p>
+ <p>With nought he departyth to hym that is pore</p>
+ <p>Though he with nede harde vexed were and sore.</p>
+ <p>O cursyd hunger o mad mynde and delyte.</p>
+ <p>To laboure for that whiche neuer shall do profyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Say couetous caytyfe what doth it the auayle</p>
+ <p>For to haue all and yet, nat to be content</p>
+ <p>Thou takest nat this sore laboure and trauayle</p>
+ <p>To thy pleasoure but to thy great turment</p>
+ <p>But loke therof what foloweth consequent</p>
+ <p>Whan thou art dede and past this wretchyd lyfe</p>
+ <p>Thou leuyst behynde brawlynge debate and stryfe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>To many one ryches is moche necessary</p>
+ <p>Whiche can it order right as it ought to be</p>
+ <p>But vnto other is it vtterly contrary</p>
+ <p>Whiche therwith disdayneth to socoure pouerte.</p>
+ <p>Nor them relefe in theyr aduersyte</p>
+ <p>Suche shall our lorde sore punysshe fynally</p>
+ <p>And his petycion rightwysly deny</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye great estatis and men of dignyte</p>
+ <p>To whome god in this lyfe hath sent ryches</p>
+ <p>Haue ye compassion, on paynfull pouertye</p>
+ <p>And them conforte in theyr carefull wretchydnes</p>
+ <p>God hym loueth and shall rewarde doutles</p>
+ <p>Whiche to the nedy for hym is charitable</p>
+ <p>With heuenly ioy, whiche treasour is endeles</p>
+ <p>So shall thy riches to the be profytable.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p103"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of hym that togyder wyll serue
+two maysters.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p228.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t228.png"
+ alt="One hound to take two hares." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">A fole he is and voyde of reason<br /> Whiche with one
+ hounde tendyth to take<br /> Two harys in one instant and season<br />
+ Rightso is he that wolde vndertake<br /> Hym to two lordes a seruaunt
+ to make<br /> For whether, that he be lefe or lothe<br /> The one he
+ shall displease, or els bothe.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A fole also he is withouten doute</p>
+ <p>And in his porpose sothly blyndyd sore</p>
+ <p>Whiche doth entende labour or go aboute</p>
+ <p>To serue god, and also his wretchyd store</p>
+ <p>Of worldly ryches: for as I sayde before</p>
+ <p>He that togyder wyll two maysters serue</p>
+ <p>Shall one displease and nat his loue deserue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For he that with one hownde wol take also</p>
+ <p>Two harys togyther in one instant</p>
+ <p>For the moste parte doth the both two forgo</p>
+ <p>And if he one haue: harde it is and skant</p>
+ <p>And that blynde fole mad and ignorant</p>
+ <p>That draweth thre boltis atons in one bowe</p>
+ <p>At one marke shall shote to hye or to lowe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Or els to wyde, and shortly for to say</p>
+ <p>With one or none of them he strykis the marke:</p>
+ <p>And he that taketh vpon hym nyght or day</p>
+ <p>Laboures dyuers to chargeable of warke.</p>
+ <p>Or dyuerse offycis: suche wander in the darke</p>
+ <p>For it is harde to do well as he ought</p>
+ <p>To hym that on dyuerse thynges hath his thought</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>With great thoughtes he troubleth sore his brayne</p>
+ <p>His mynde vnstable, his wyt alway wandrynge:</p>
+ <p>Nowe here nowe there his body labours in payne</p>
+ <p>And in no place of stedfast abydynge.</p>
+ <p>Nowe workynge now musynge now renynge now rydynge</p>
+ <p>Now on see nowe on londe, than to se agayne</p>
+ <p>Somtyme to Fraunce, and nowe to Flaunders or Spayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus is it paynfull and no thynge profytable</p>
+ <p>On many labours a man to set his mynde</p>
+ <p>For nouther his wyt nor body can be stable</p>
+ <p>Whiche wyll his body to dyuers chargis bynde</p>
+ <p>Whyle one goth forwarde the other bydes behynde</p>
+ <p>Therfore I the counseyll for thyne owne behoue</p>
+ <p>Let go this worlde and serue thy lorde aboue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that his mynde settyth god truly to serue</p>
+ <p>And his sayntes: this worlde settynge at nought</p>
+ <p>Shall for rewarde euerlastynge ioy deserue</p>
+ <p>But in this worlde, he that settyth his thought</p>
+ <p>All men to please, and in fauour to be brought</p>
+ <p>Must lout and lurke, flater, lawde, and lye:</p>
+ <p>And cloke a knauys counseyll, though it fals be</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If any do hym wronge or iniury</p>
+ <p>He must it suffer and pacyently endure</p>
+ <p>A dowble tunge with wordes lyke hony</p>
+ <p>And of his offycis if he wyll be sure</p>
+ <p>He must be sober and colde of his langage</p>
+ <p>More to a knaue, than to one of hye lynage</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Oft must he stoupe his bonet in his honde</p>
+ <p>His maysters backe he must oft shrape and clawe</p>
+ <p>His breste anoyntynge, his mynde to vnderstonde</p>
+ <p>But be it gode or bad therafter must he drawe</p>
+ <p>Without he can Jest he is nat worth a strawe.</p>
+ <p>But in the meane tyme beware that he none checke</p>
+ <p>For than layth malyce a mylstone in his necke</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that in court wyll loue and fauour haue</p>
+ <p>A fole must hym fayne, if he were none afore</p>
+ <p>And be as felowe to euery boy and knaue</p>
+ <p>And to please his lorde he must styll laboure sore</p>
+ <p>His manyfolde charge maketh hym coueyt more</p>
+ <p>That he had leuer serue a man in myserye</p>
+ <p>Than serue his maker in tranquylyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But yet whan he hath done his dylygence</p>
+ <p>His lorde to serue as I before haue sayde</p>
+ <p>For one small faute or neglygent offence</p>
+ <p>Suche a displeasoure agaynst hym may be layde</p>
+ <p>That out is he cast bare and vnpuruayde.</p>
+ <p>Whether he be gentyll, yeman grome or page</p>
+ <p>Thus worldly seruyce is no sure herytage</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore I may proue by these examples playne</p>
+ <p>That it is better more godly and plesant</p>
+ <p>To leue this mondayne casualte and payne</p>
+ <p>And to thy maker one god to be seruaunt</p>
+ <p>Whiche whyle thou lyuest shall nat let the want</p>
+ <p>That thou desyrest iustly, for thy syruyce</p>
+ <p>And than after gyue the, the ioyes of Paradyse.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas man aryse out of Idolatry.</p>
+ <p>Worshyp nat thy ryches nor thy vayne treasoure</p>
+ <p>Ne this wretchyd worlde full of mysery.</p>
+ <p>But lawde thy maker and thy sauyour</p>
+ <p>With fere, mekenes, fayth, glory, and honoure</p>
+ <p>Let thy treasoure onely in his seruyce be</p>
+ <p>And here be content with symple behauoure</p>
+ <p>Hauynge in this lorde trust and felycyte</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p107"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of to moche spekynge or bablynge.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p232.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t232.png"
+ alt="The blabbering fool and the magpie." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He that his tunge can temper and refrayne<br /> And
+ asswage the foly of hasty langage<br /> Shall kepe his mynde from
+ trowble, sadnes and payne<br /> And fynde therby great ease and
+ auauntage<br /> Where as a hasty speker falleth in great domage<br />
+ Peryll and losse, in lyke wyse as the pye<br /> Betrays hir byrdes by
+ hir chatrynge and crye.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye blaberynge folys superflue of langage</p>
+ <p>Come to our shyp our ankers ar in wayde</p>
+ <p>By right and lawe ye may chalange a stage</p>
+ <p>To you of Barklay it shall nat be denayde</p>
+ <p>Howe be it the charge Pynson hathe on me layde</p>
+ <p>With many folys our Nauy not to charge.</p>
+ <p>Yet ye of dewty shall haue a sympyll barge</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Of this sorte thousandes ar withouten fayle</p>
+ <p>That haue delyte in wordes voyde and vayne</p>
+ <p>On men nat fawty somtyme vsynge to rayle</p>
+ <p>On folysshe wordes settynge theyr herte and brayne</p>
+ <p>They often touche to theyr owne shame and payne</p>
+ <p>Suche thynges to whiche none wyll theyr mynde aply</p>
+ <p>(Saue suche folys) to theyr shame and enuy</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Say besy fole art thou nat well worthy</p>
+ <p>To haue enuy, and that echone sholde the hate</p>
+ <p>Whan by thy wordes soundynge to great foly</p>
+ <p>Thou sore labrest to engender debate</p>
+ <p>Some renneth fast thynkynge to come to late</p>
+ <p>To gyue his counsell whan he seeth men in doute</p>
+ <p>And lyghtly his folysshe bolt shall be shot out</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Is it nat better for one his tunge to kepe</p>
+ <p>Where as he myght (perchaunce) with honestee</p>
+ <p>Than wordes to speke whiche make hym after wepe</p>
+ <p>For great losse folowynge wo and aduersyte</p>
+ <p>A worde ones spokyn reuoked can nat be</p>
+ <p>Therfore thy fynger lay before thy lypes</p>
+ <p>For a wyse mannys tunge, without aduysement trypes</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that wyll answere of his owne folysshe brayne</p>
+ <p>Before that any requyreth his counsayle</p>
+ <p>Shewith hym selfe and his hasty foly playne</p>
+ <p>Wherby men knowe his wordes of none auayle</p>
+ <p>Some haue delyted in mad blaborynge and frayle</p>
+ <p>Whiche after haue suffred bytter punysshement</p>
+ <p>For their wordes, spoken without aduysement</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Say what precedeth of this mad outrage</p>
+ <p>But great mysfortune, wo and vnhappynesse</p>
+ <p>But for all theyr chattynge and plenty of langage</p>
+ <p>Whan to the preste they come them to confesse</p>
+ <p>To shewe theyr lewde lyfe theyr synne and wretchydnes</p>
+ <p>Whan they sholde speke, and to this poynt ar come</p>
+ <p>Theyr tunges ar loste and there they syt as domme</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Many haue ben whiche sholde haue be counted wyse</p>
+ <p>Sad and discrete, and right well sene in scyence</p>
+ <p>But all they haue defyled with this one vyse</p>
+ <p>Of moche spekynge: o cursyd synne and offence</p>
+ <p>Pyte it is that so great inconuenience</p>
+ <p>So great shame, contempt rebuke and vylany</p>
+ <p>Sholde by one small member came to the hole body</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Let suche take example by the chatrynge pye.</p>
+ <p>Whiche doth hyr nest and byrdes also betraye</p>
+ <p>By hyr grete chatterynge, clamoure dyn and crye</p>
+ <p>Ryght so these folys theyr owne foly bewraye.</p>
+ <p>But touchynge wymen of them I wyll nought say</p>
+ <p>They can nat speke, but ar as coy and styll</p>
+ <p>As the horle wynde or clapper or a mylle</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But that man or woman or any creature</p>
+ <p>That lytell speketh or els kepeth sylence</p>
+ <p>Ar euer of them selfe moste stedfast and sure</p>
+ <p>Without enuy, hatred or malyuolence.</p>
+ <p>Where as to suche comys moche inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Sorowe vpon sorowe, malyce and dysdayne</p>
+ <p>Whiche wyll no tyme, his speche nor tunge refrayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Fayre speche is pleasaunt if it be moderate</p>
+ <p>And spoken in season, conuenyente and dewe</p>
+ <p>To kepe scylence, to pore man or estate</p>
+ <p>Is a great grace, and synguler vertue</p>
+ <p>Langage is lawdable whan it is god and true</p>
+ <p>A wyse man or he speke wyll be wyse and ware</p>
+ <p>What (to whome) why (howe) whan and whare</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Barklaye to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye bablynge brybours, endeuer you to amende</p>
+ <p>Mytygat by mesure, your prowde hasty langage</p>
+ <p>Kepe well your tunges so, shall ye kepe your frende</p>
+ <p>For hasty speche ingendreth great damage</p>
+ <p>Whan a worde is nat sayd, the byrde is in the cage</p>
+ <p>Also the hous is surest whan the dorys be barryde</p>
+ <p>So whan thy worde is spokyn and out at large</p>
+ <p>Thou arte nat mayster, but he that hath it harde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If thou take hede and set therto thy brayne</p>
+ <p>In this world thou shalt fynde thynges thre</p>
+ <p>Whiche ones past, can nat be callyd agayne.</p>
+ <p>The firste is (tyme lost) by mannes symplycyte</p>
+ <p>The seconde (youth) reuoked can nat be</p>
+ <p>The thyrde (a worde spoken) it gooth out in the wynde</p>
+ <p>And yet is the fourth, that is (virginyte)</p>
+ <p>My forgetfull mynde, had lefte it nere behynde</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p111"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of them that correct other and yet them
+selfe do nought and synne worse than
+they whom they so correct.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p236.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t236.png"
+ alt="The hand which men unto a cross do nail, sheweth the way." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He lacketh reason and vnderstandynge to<br /> Whiche to
+ a towne or Cyte knoweth the way<br /> And shewyth other howe they may
+ thether go<br /> Hym selfe wandrynge aboute from day to day<br /> In
+ myre and fen, though his iourney thether lay<br /> So he is mad whiche
+ to other doth preche and tell<br /> The wave to heuyn, and hym selfe
+ goth to hell.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Nowe to our Nauy, a sorte maketh asaute</p>
+ <p>Of folys blynde, mad Jugys and Iniust</p>
+ <p>Whiche lyghtly noteth another mannes faute.</p>
+ <p>Chastynge that synne, whiche theyr owne mynde doth rust</p>
+ <p>By longe abydynge, and increas of carnall lust</p>
+ <p>They cloke their owne vyce synne and enormyte</p>
+ <p>Other blamynge and chastynge with moche cruelte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They mocke and mowe at anothers small offence</p>
+ <p>And redy ar a faute in them to fynde</p>
+ <p>But of theyr owne foly and inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>They se no thynge, for fully ar they blynde</p>
+ <p>Nat notynge the vyce rotyd in theyr owne mynde</p>
+ <p>Theyr greuous woundes and secrete malady</p>
+ <p>For theyr owne yll they seke no remedy</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The hande whiche men vnto a Crosse do nayle</p>
+ <p>Shewyth the waye ofte to a man wandrynge</p>
+ <p>Whiche by the same his right way can nat fayle</p>
+ <p>But yet the hande is there styll abydynge</p>
+ <p>So do these folys lewde of theyr owne lyuynge</p>
+ <p>To other men shewe mean and way to wynne</p>
+ <p>Eternall ioy themselfe bydynge in synne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He sertaynly may well be callyd a sote</p>
+ <p>Moche vnauysed and his owne ennemy</p>
+ <p>Whiche in a nothers iye can spye a lytell mote</p>
+ <p>And in his owne can nat fele nor espye</p>
+ <p>A moche stycke, so is he certaynly.</p>
+ <p>Whiche noteth anothers small faute or offence</p>
+ <p>To his owne great synnes gyuynge none aduertence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Many them selfe fayne as chaste as was saynt Johnn</p>
+ <p>And many other fayne them meke and innocent</p>
+ <p>Some other as iust, and wyse as Salomon</p>
+ <p>As holy as Poule, as Job als pacyent</p>
+ <p>As sad as senecke, and as obedyent</p>
+ <p>As Abraham, and as martyn vertuous</p>
+ <p>But yet is theyr lyfe full lewde and vycious</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some lokyth with an aungels countenaunce</p>
+ <p>Wyse sad and sober lyke an heremyte</p>
+ <p>Thus hydynge theyr synne and theyr mysgouernaunce.</p>
+ <p>Under suche clokys lyke a fals ypocryte</p>
+ <p>Let suche folys rede what Cicero doth wryte</p>
+ <p>Whiche sayth that none sholde blame any creature</p>
+ <p>For his faut, without his owne lyuynge be sure</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Without all spot of synne faut or offence</p>
+ <p>For in lyke fourme as a phesycyan.</p>
+ <p>By his practyse and cunnynge or scyence</p>
+ <p>The sekenes curyth of a nother man</p>
+ <p>But his owne yll nor dyseas he nat can</p>
+ <p>Relefe nor hele so doth he that doth blame</p>
+ <p>Anothers synne: he styll lyuynge in the same</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Many ar whiche other can counseyll craftely</p>
+ <p>And shewe the peryll that may come by theyr synne</p>
+ <p>But them selfe they counseyll nat: ne remedy.</p>
+ <p>Nor take no waye whereby they heuyn may wynne</p>
+ <p>But lye in that vyce that they rotyd ar in</p>
+ <p>Leuynge the way that gydyth to ioy and rest</p>
+ <p>Their owne sensualyte ensuynge as a beest</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore ye prestis that haue the charge and cure.</p>
+ <p>To teche and enfourme the rude comonte.</p>
+ <p>In goddys lawes groundyd in scripture</p>
+ <p>And blame all synnes sparynge no degre</p>
+ <p>Whyle ye rebuke thus theyr enormyte</p>
+ <p>Lyue so that none may cause haue you to blame</p>
+ <p>And if ye do nat: it is to your great shame</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For without doute it is great vylany</p>
+ <p>A man to speke agaynst any offence</p>
+ <p>Wherin he well knowyth hym owne selfe gylty</p>
+ <p>Within his mynde and secrete conscience</p>
+ <p>Agaynst hymselfe suche one gyueth sentence</p>
+ <p>Howe god ryght iuge, by rightwyse iugement</p>
+ <p>Shulde hym rewarde with worthy punysshement</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye clerkes that on your shulders here the shelde</p>
+ <p>Unto you graunted by the vnyuersyte.</p>
+ <p>Howe dare ye auenture to fyght in cristes felde</p>
+ <p>Agaynst synne, without ye clere and gyltles be</p>
+ <p>Consyder the Cocke and in hym shall ye se:</p>
+ <p>A great example, for with his wynges thryse</p>
+ <p>He betyth hym selfe to wake his owne bodye</p>
+ <p>Before he crowe, to cause other wake or ryse.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p115"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of hym that fyndeth ought of another
+mannys it nat restorynge to the owner.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p240.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t240.png"
+ alt="The devil and the finder." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He that ought fyndyth outher by day or nyght<br />
+ Usynge it as his owne, as thynge gottyn iustly<br /> And thynketh that
+ he so may do by lawe and right<br /> Suche is disceyuyd, and thynketh
+ wrongfully<br /> For why the deuyll our goostly ennemy<br /> Doth hym
+ so counseyll and in his erys blowe<br /> Disceyuynge in his bondes, as
+ he doth many mo</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The feruour of ryches and disordred loue</p>
+ <p>Whiche many haue, doth me bynde and constrayne.</p>
+ <p>Within my shyp them sharply to reproue</p>
+ <p>That pen nor hande, themselfe wyll not refrayne</p>
+ <p>Of couetyse nowe I wyll nat speke agayne</p>
+ <p>But of them that kepeth by force and by myght</p>
+ <p>That thynge wherto they haue nat come, by ryght</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some fyndeth treasours other mennys good</p>
+ <p>And in theyr owne vse suche good they occupy.</p>
+ <p>Whiche of theyr myndes ar so blynde and wode.</p>
+ <p>And so reted in theyr errour and foly</p>
+ <p>That oft they say (say) ye and dare byde by</p>
+ <p>That some saynt whome they worshypped haue</p>
+ <p>Haue sende, them the same theyr honestee to saue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They haue no force nor care, nor they none haue wyll</p>
+ <p>To whome the ryches so loste dyde apertayne</p>
+ <p>That fortune hath gyuen they holde fast and kepe styll</p>
+ <p>Neuer hauynge mynde it to restore agayne</p>
+ <p>Suche folys fere no thynge euerlastynge payne</p>
+ <p>Nor note nat, that without true restytucion</p>
+ <p>It small auayleth to haue made confessyon.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Here me fole with thy immoderate mynde</p>
+ <p>Here me and do thy herte therto aply</p>
+ <p>If thou by fortune any ryches fynde</p>
+ <p>Callynge it thyne: thou lyest therin falsly</p>
+ <p>If thou haue wyt thou canst nat well deny</p>
+ <p>But that gode nat gyuen, nor gottyn by laboure</p>
+ <p>Can nat be rightwyse: thus mende thy blynde erroure</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If thou ought fynde that longeth nat to the</p>
+ <p>Than is it anothers, the case is clere and playne</p>
+ <p>Wherfor thou ought of lawe and of dewte</p>
+ <p>Unto the owner it soone to yelde agayne</p>
+ <p>But if he be dede, to whome it dyd attayne</p>
+ <p>Thou ought nat yet to kepe it nere the more.</p>
+ <p>But to his sectours or heyres it restore</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Put case that they also be past and dede</p>
+ <p>Yet ought thou nat to keep it styll with the.</p>
+ <p>The lawe commaundyth, and also it is mede.</p>
+ <p>To gyue it to suche as haue necessyte.</p>
+ <p>With it releuynge theyr paynfull pouertee</p>
+ <p>And so shalt thou discharge thy conseyence.</p>
+ <p>Helpynge the pore, and auoyde great offence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But he that others godes tourneth to his owne vse</p>
+ <p>Spendynge and wastynge that thynge that neuer was his</p>
+ <p>Suche certaynly his reason doth abuse</p>
+ <p>And by this meane greuously doth amysse</p>
+ <p>Wherby he lesyth eternall ioy and blysse</p>
+ <p>His soule drownynge depe within hell flodes</p>
+ <p>For his myspendynge of other mennys goodes</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But to be shorte, and brefe in my sentence</p>
+ <p>And sothe to saye playne as the mater is</p>
+ <p>Forsoth I se nat right great difference</p>
+ <p>Bytwene a thefe, and these folys couetys</p>
+ <p>Both wrongly kepeth that thynge that is nat his</p>
+ <p>Thynkynge that god doth nat therto aduerte</p>
+ <p>Whiche notyth thy dedys, thy mynde thought and herte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore if thou haue a rightwyse conscyence</p>
+ <p>Thou wylt nought kepe whiche longeth nat to the</p>
+ <p>The lawe so commaundeth in payne of great offence</p>
+ <p>For of gode that thou kepest agaynst equyte</p>
+ <p>Thou shalt make accompt after that thou shalt dye</p>
+ <p>To thy great payne in hell for euer more</p>
+ <p>If thou no restytucion make before.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Here myght I touche executours in this cryme.</p>
+ <p>Blamynge theyr dedys dysceyte and couetyse</p>
+ <p>If it were nat for wastynge of my tyme</p>
+ <p>For mende they wyll nat them in any wyse</p>
+ <p>Nor leue no poyntes of theyr disceytfull gyse</p>
+ <p>Let them take parte of that whiche I here note</p>
+ <p>And be partynge foles in this present bote.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The Enuoy of Barklay the translator to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye false executours whome all the worlde repreuys</p>
+ <p>And ye that fynde mennes goodes or treasoures</p>
+ <p>I call you as bad as robbers or theuys</p>
+ <p>For ye by your falshode and manyfolde errours</p>
+ <p>Kepe falsly that thynge whiche is none of yours</p>
+ <p>And wast here the goodes of hym that is past</p>
+ <p>The soule lyeth in payne, ye take your pleasours.</p>
+ <p>With his ryches, damnynge your owne soule at the last</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p119"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of the sermon or erudicion of wysdome
+bothe to wyse men and folys.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p244.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t244.png"
+ alt="Wisdom calling to the people." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He that delyteth in godly sapience<br /> And it to
+ obtayne puttyth his besynes<br /> Aboue all folys shall haue
+ preemynence<br /> And in this worlde haue honour and rychesse<br /> Or
+ a worthy crowne in heuyns blessydnesse<br /> Or els bothe welthe here,
+ and after ioy and blysse<br /> Where as a fole of bothe the two shall
+ mysse</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wysdome with voyce replete with grauyte</p>
+ <p>Callyth to all people, and sayth o thou mankynde</p>
+ <p>Howe longe wylt thou lyue in this enormyte</p>
+ <p>Alas howe longe shalt thou thy wyt haue blynde</p>
+ <p>Here my preceptis and rote them in thy mynde</p>
+ <p>Nowe is full tyme and season to clere thy syght:</p>
+ <p>Harkyn to my wordes, grounde of goodnes and ryght</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Lerne mortall men, stodyenge day and nyght</p>
+ <p>To knowe me wysdome, chefe rote of chastyte</p>
+ <p>My holy doctryne thy herte shall clere and lyght</p>
+ <p>My tunge shall shewe the ryght and equyte</p>
+ <p>Chase out thy foly, cause of aduersyte.</p>
+ <p>And seke me wysdome whiche shall endewe thy mynde</p>
+ <p>With helth and welth wherby thou lyfe shalt fynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Aryse I say agayne to the mankynde</p>
+ <p>And seke me wysdome that am well of goodnes</p>
+ <p>Let nat this worlde thy conscyence farther blynde</p>
+ <p>Nor to synne subdue for loue of false rychesse</p>
+ <p>Blynde nat thy herte with mondayne wretchednes</p>
+ <p>I am worth golde and worth all good mundayne:</p>
+ <p>And to mankynde counselloure souerayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>No maner Jowell is to me lyke certayne</p>
+ <p>Ne so profytable to mortall creature</p>
+ <p>I passe all ryches and cause a man refrayne</p>
+ <p>His mynde from synne, and of his ende be sure</p>
+ <p>There is no treasoure nor precious stone so pure</p>
+ <p>Carbuncle Ruby ne adamond in londe nor see</p>
+ <p>Nor other lapydary comparable to me:</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And shortly to speke wysdome is more laudable</p>
+ <p>Than all the worlde or other thynge mundayne</p>
+ <p>There is no treasoure: to wysdome comparable</p>
+ <p>But it alone is a vertue moste souerayne</p>
+ <p>Hauynge nought lyke in valoure nor worth certayne</p>
+ <p>No fole is so ryche, nor hye of dignyte</p>
+ <p>But that a wyse man pore is more worthy than he</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wysdome preserueth men in auctoryte</p>
+ <p>Prynces promotynge by counseyll prouydent</p>
+ <p>By it pore men somtyme, and of lowe degre</p>
+ <p>Hath had the hole worlde to them obedyent</p>
+ <p>It gydeth Cytees and countrees excellent</p>
+ <p>And gouerneth the counseyll of prynce lorde and kynge</p>
+ <p>Strengthynge the body the herte enlumynynge</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It gydyth lordes and from bondage doth brynge</p>
+ <p>Them whome foly hath brought in to captyuyte</p>
+ <p>Hir gyftys to mankynde frely offrynge</p>
+ <p>Gydynge hir discyples from all aduersyte</p>
+ <p>Wysdome stondynge vpon a stage on hye</p>
+ <p>Cryeth to mankynde with lowde voyce in this wyse</p>
+ <p>I trouth exalte: and vycious men dispyse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Lerne of me wysdome cast out your couetyse</p>
+ <p>For by my myght craft and wyse prouysicion</p>
+ <p>Kynges vnto their dygnyte dothe ryse</p>
+ <p>Theyr septers gydynge by my monycion</p>
+ <p>I gaue them lawes to gyde eche regyon</p>
+ <p>In welthe defendynge and in prosperyte</p>
+ <p>Them and theyr royalmes whyle they gyde them by me</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>All maner nacyons that doth to me inclyne</p>
+ <p>I gyde and gouerne by lawe and equyte</p>
+ <p>In me is right, godly wyt and doctryne</p>
+ <p>What blynde foly, and howe great aduersyte</p>
+ <p>Do they auoyde that gyde them selfe by me</p>
+ <p>And he that me louyth with worshyp and honour</p>
+ <p>Shall knowe my loue my grace and my fauour</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that me folowyth shall auoyde all dolour</p>
+ <p>I shall hym folowe promotynge in suche case</p>
+ <p>That none shall be before hym in valour</p>
+ <p>I godly ryches in my power inbrace</p>
+ <p>Whiche man by me may esely purchase</p>
+ <p>And he that wyll his way by me addresse</p>
+ <p>I shall rewarde with heuenly ioy endles</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The father of heuen of infynyte goodnesse.</p>
+ <p>Me comprehendyth within his deytee</p>
+ <p>Of hym my firste begynnynge is doutles.</p>
+ <p>And heuen and erth he create hath by me</p>
+ <p>And euery creature bothe on londe and se</p>
+ <p>The heuen imperyall all planetis and firmameut</p>
+ <p>God neuer thynge made without my true assent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore mankynde set thy mynde and intent</p>
+ <p>To me wysdome to be subiect and seruaunt</p>
+ <p>To my preceptis be thou obedyent</p>
+ <p>And heuenly ioy thou shalt nat lacke nor want</p>
+ <p>For doutles they ar mad and ignoraunt</p>
+ <p>And folys blyndyd who so euer they be</p>
+ <p>That wyll nat gladly be seruauntes vnto me</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The envoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Aryse folys of myndes darke and blynde.</p>
+ <p>Receyue the gyftes of godly sapyence</p>
+ <p>Here hir perceptis and plant them in your mynde</p>
+ <p>And rote out the gaffys of your olde offence.</p>
+ <p>Call to your myndes what inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Howe sodayne fallys, what sorowe and turment</p>
+ <p>Hath come to many a myghty lorde and prynce</p>
+ <p>For nat folowynge of hir commaundement.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p124"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of bostynge or hauynge confydence
+in fortune.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p249.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t249.png"
+ alt="Sudden great misfortune." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He is a fole whiche settyth confydence<br /> On frayle
+ fortune vncertayne and mutable<br /> His mynde exaltynge in pryde and
+ insolence<br /> Because that she somtyme is fauorable<br /> As if she
+ wolde so be perdurable<br /> Suche folys oft whan they thynke them most
+ sure<br /> All sodaynly great mysfortune
+ endure</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Amonge our folys he ought to haue a place</p>
+ <p>And so he shall for it is resonable</p>
+ <p>Whiche thynketh hymselfe greatly in fortunes grace</p>
+ <p>Bostynge that she to hym is fauorable</p>
+ <p>As if hyr maner were nat to be mutable</p>
+ <p>In this vayne hope suche theyr lyfe doth lede</p>
+ <p>Tyll at the laste theyr hous borne oure theyr hede</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He shakyth boost and oft doth hym auaunte</p>
+ <p>Of fortunes fauoure and his prosperyte</p>
+ <p>Whiche suffreth hym nought of his wyll to wante</p>
+ <p>So that he knoweth nought of aduersyte</p>
+ <p>Nor mysfortune nor what thynge is pouertee.</p>
+ <p>O lawles fole, o man blyndyd of mynde</p>
+ <p>Say what suretye in fortune canst thou fynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>To what ende or vnto what conclusyon</p>
+ <p>Shall fortune frayle vnrightwyse and vnsure</p>
+ <p>Lede the blynde fole by hyr abusyon.</p>
+ <p>Howe darest thou the in hir blyndnes assure.</p>
+ <p>Syns she vnstable is and can nat longe endure</p>
+ <p>Hir gyftis changith, she is blynde and sodayne</p>
+ <p>Thoughe she firste lawghe hir ende is vncertayne.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thou shakest boste ofte of hir foly in vayne</p>
+ <p>For he is most happy whiche can auoyde hir snare</p>
+ <p>If she exalte some one vnto welth mundayne</p>
+ <p>She bryngeth another to payne sorowe and care</p>
+ <p>Whyle one is ladyd to the others backe is bare</p>
+ <p>Whyle she a begger maketh in good abounde</p>
+ <p>A lorde or state she throweth to the grounde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But nat withstandynge hir mutabylyte.</p>
+ <p>Thou bostest thy gode and to moche abundaunce</p>
+ <p>Thou bostest thy welth and thy prosperyte</p>
+ <p>Thy good auenturs, and plentyfull pleasaunce</p>
+ <p>Alas blynde fole amende thy ygnoraunce</p>
+ <p>And in thy welthe to this saynge intende</p>
+ <p>That fortune euer hath an incertayne ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Fals fortune infect of countenaunce and of face</p>
+ <p>By hir iyen clowdy and varyable vysage</p>
+ <p>Hath many for a whyle taken to hir grace</p>
+ <p>Whiche after by hir whele vnstable and volage</p>
+ <p>Hath brought them to wo mysfortune and damage</p>
+ <p>She ruleth pore and riche without difference</p>
+ <p>Lewdnes exaltynge and damnynge innocence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus is that man voyde, of all intellygence</p>
+ <p>Whom fortune fedyth, with chaunche fortunable</p>
+ <p>If he therin haue ouer large confydence</p>
+ <p>And thynke that sure that euer is mutable</p>
+ <p>That fole is sonne, to the fende abhomynable</p>
+ <p>That foloweth ryches, and fortune that is blynde</p>
+ <p>His sauyour lefte, and clene out of mynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Whan the foule fende, father of vnhappynes</p>
+ <p>Pore man purposyth by falshode to begyle</p>
+ <p>He sendeth hym welth worldly, and fals ryches</p>
+ <p>And causeth fortune, awhyle on hym to smyle</p>
+ <p>Whiche with hir blyndenes doth mankynde so defyle</p>
+ <p>That whyle they trust in hir fauour to sore.</p>
+ <p>They damme theyr soules in hell for euermore</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>By large examples thou eche day mayste se</p>
+ <p>The chaunge of fortune and the ende vncertayne</p>
+ <p>Wherfore to boste the of hyr commodyte</p>
+ <p>It is great foly and also thynge in vayne</p>
+ <p>From this lewdnes thy mynde therfore refrayne</p>
+ <p>And be content with fortune moderate</p>
+ <p>Nor boste the nat of thy welth or estate</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>This day thou art ryche and despysest the pore</p>
+ <p>Yet so may it fall, that for thy lewde lyuynge</p>
+ <p>To morowe thou beggest thy brede from dore to dore</p>
+ <p>Therfore remembre that blynde fortune wandrynge</p>
+ <p>Hath nat in hyr handes power, nor gydynge</p>
+ <p>The rewardes of welth, nor of felycyte</p>
+ <p>But god them gydeth by his great maieste</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And all thynge chaungeth as is to hym plesaunt</p>
+ <p>His dedes to wysdome alwaye agreable</p>
+ <p>Wherfore blynde fole be nat so ignoraunt</p>
+ <p>To prayse fortune whiche is so varyable</p>
+ <p>And of rewardes vnsure and chaungeable</p>
+ <p>But thoughe she smyle trust nat to hir intent</p>
+ <p>For amonge swete herbes ofte lurkyth the serpent</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye folys that haue in fortune confydence:</p>
+ <p>And boste you of welth and of prosperyte</p>
+ <p>Leue of your foly, and note by euydence:</p>
+ <p>Hir cours vnsure: and hir mutabylyte</p>
+ <p>None in this lyfe can byde in one degre</p>
+ <p>But somtyme hye, than after pore and lowe.</p>
+ <p>Nowe nought set by, nowe in auctoryte</p>
+ <p>Nowe full nowe voyde as waters ebbe and flowe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I am remembred that I haue often sene</p>
+ <p>Great worldly ryches ende in pouertye</p>
+ <p>And many one that hath in fauour ben:</p>
+ <p>And hye promotyd in welth and dignyte.</p>
+ <p>Hath sodaynly fallyn into calamyte</p>
+ <p>Thus is it foly to trust in fortunes grace</p>
+ <p>For whyle the Se floweth and is at Burdews hye</p>
+ <p>It as fast ebbeth at some other place</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p129"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of the ouer great and chargeable
+curyosyte of men.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p254.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t254.png"
+ alt="The fool with the world on his back." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Unto mo folys here ordayne I a barge<br /> Whiche
+ medlyth with euery mannys besynes<br /> And nat intendeth to their owne
+ losse and charge<br /> Great payne and wo suche folys oft oppresse<br
+ /> And let them lerne with pacyent mekenes<br /> To suffer sorowe for
+ why they shall none lacke<br /> Syns they alone, the hole worlde take
+ on theyr backe</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that wyll coueyt to bere more than he may</p>
+ <p>And take on his sholders more than he can sustayne</p>
+ <p>Suche is a fole, his dedys wyll not deny</p>
+ <p>And with his owne wyll gooth to peryll and payne.</p>
+ <p>He is vnwyse whiche is ioyous and fayne</p>
+ <p>To offer his necke to bere that without fere</p>
+ <p>Whiche were ynoughe for dyuers men to bere</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>That man that taketh vpon his backe alone</p>
+ <p>The heuy weght of the large fyrmament</p>
+ <p>Or any burdeyne whiche maketh hym to grone</p>
+ <p>Whiche to sustayne his strength is ympotent</p>
+ <p>No meruayle is if he fall incontynent</p>
+ <p>And than whan he lowe on the grounde doth lye</p>
+ <p>He oft repentyth his purpose and foly</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>We haue in storyes many examples great</p>
+ <p>Shewynge the lewde ende of this curyosyte.</p>
+ <p>I rede of Alexander that dyd often sweate</p>
+ <p>In great peryls to augment his dignyte</p>
+ <p>He was nat content with europe and asye</p>
+ <p>Nor all the grounde under the fyrmament</p>
+ <p>At the last ende, cowde nat his mynde content</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>As if all the erth were nat suffycyent</p>
+ <p>For his small body by curyouse couetyse</p>
+ <p>But at the last he must holde hym content</p>
+ <p>With a small cheste, and graue nat of great pryce.</p>
+ <p>Thus deth vs shewyth what thynge sholde vs suffyce</p>
+ <p>And what is the ende of our curyosyte.</p>
+ <p>For dethe is lyke to hye and lowde degre</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What shall a kynge at his last endynge haue</p>
+ <p>Of all his realme and infynyte treasoure</p>
+ <p>Saue onely his towmbe, and the grounde of his graue</p>
+ <p>But thoughe it be of great pryce and voloure</p>
+ <p>As is conuenyent to his hye honoure.</p>
+ <p>Yet lytell conforte to his soule shall it gyue</p>
+ <p>But cause of bostynge to them that after lyue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus whan man vnto his last ende is come</p>
+ <p>He nought with hym bereth of his dignytees</p>
+ <p>Wherfore cynicus a man of great wysdome</p>
+ <p>Lorde grettest of Grece in londes and Cytees</p>
+ <p>Hathe lefte great example vnto all degrees</p>
+ <p>For his great ryches his herte dyd neuer blynde</p>
+ <p>But worldly pompe set clene out of his mynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He forced of no castels nor excellent byldynge</p>
+ <p>Dispysynge charges and besynes worldly</p>
+ <p>But gaue his mynde to vertue and cunnynge</p>
+ <p>And namely to the scyence of astronomy</p>
+ <p>Consyderynge that great rest of mynde and of body</p>
+ <p>With hym abydeth whiche with bolde herte is fayne</p>
+ <p>To folowe vertue, and leue charges mundayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that so doth no weght doth vndertake</p>
+ <p>Vpon his backe of so great a grauyte</p>
+ <p>That his small strength must it agayne forsake.</p>
+ <p>Where he that attempteth grettest thynges, and hye:</p>
+ <p>Great weyght of charges and moche dignite</p>
+ <p>Must lerne to suffer payne thought and vexacion</p>
+ <p>By his great charges of perturbacion.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What auayle is it the worlde to obtayne</p>
+ <p>In one mannys power, and all other to excell</p>
+ <p>To suffer trouble, and vayne charges sustayne</p>
+ <p>And at the last his pore soule gooth to hell</p>
+ <p>There toren and tourmented in paynes cruell</p>
+ <p>It were moche better to kepe a quyet mynde</p>
+ <p>And after our deth eternall rest to fynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that taketh thought for euery besynes:</p>
+ <p>And caryth for that whiche doth nat apertayne</p>
+ <p>Nor longe to his charge, he is full of blyndnes</p>
+ <p>And no houre shall rest, but styll in thought and payne</p>
+ <p>Care for thy owne charges, theron set thy brayne</p>
+ <p>For he a fole is that caryth or doth intende</p>
+ <p>For another mannys charge whiche he can nat amende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore lyue in rest after thy degre.</p>
+ <p>Nor on suche thynges do nat thy mynde aply</p>
+ <p>Whiche ar no thynge apertaynynge vnto the</p>
+ <p>If thou so do thou shalt fynde rest therby</p>
+ <p>Auoyde thou the charge of worldly mysery</p>
+ <p>For godes take no thought great care ne trauayle.</p>
+ <p>Whiche after deth shall do the none auayle</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Fole clere thy iyen and of thy selfe beware</p>
+ <p>Care moste for thy owne besynes and charge</p>
+ <p>For other mennes take no great thought nor care</p>
+ <p>If thou thy conscience mayst therof discharge</p>
+ <p>A curyous man that of his tunge is large</p>
+ <p>Talkynge or carynge of other, his place is best</p>
+ <p>Hye in the fore top of our folysshe barge</p>
+ <p>For in that place is small quyet or rest</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p133"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of them that ar alway borowynge.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p258.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t258.png"
+ alt="To the devouring wolf most like and semblable." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">A man that is besy both euyn and morowe<br /> With
+ rauysshynge clawys and insaciable<br /> Of his frendes and neyghbours
+ to begge and to borow<br /> To the deuourynge wolfe is most lyke or
+ semblable<br /> Suche in our shyp shall nat want a babyll<br /> For he
+ that styll borowes shall skant hym quyte or redde<br /> And as a
+ wretche the asse shall hym ouer tredde</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>That fole that hym selfe a dettour doth make</p>
+ <p>To dyuerse men, and is borowynge alway</p>
+ <p>Right ponderous charges on hym doth take</p>
+ <p>Borowynge of one another therwith to pay</p>
+ <p>Thoughe he be glad to haue longe terme and day</p>
+ <p>To hym assygned to make his payment</p>
+ <p>It nought auayleth, for soone the tyme is spent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But in the meane tyme deuourynge vsurye</p>
+ <p>Spoylyth makynge pore many a borewer</p>
+ <p>Where they two borewed they promys to pay thre</p>
+ <p>Their day of payment lenger to defarre.</p>
+ <p>Thus doth oft borowynge many thousandes marre</p>
+ <p>Yet some get malyce for that gode that they len</p>
+ <p>And where they lent twenty gladly taketh ten.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I wyll nat say but that it is mede certayne</p>
+ <p>To lene frely to one that is in nede</p>
+ <p>And wyll be glade it to content agayne.</p>
+ <p>But he that lenyth to haue rewarde or mede</p>
+ <p>Or more than he lent, may of hell payne haue drede</p>
+ <p>And he that so boroweth gayne can haue none</p>
+ <p>Therby in this lyfe, but hell whan he is gone</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore in this satyre suche wyll I repreue</p>
+ <p>And none that borowe nor lene on amyte</p>
+ <p>The vsurers: fals cristen men in theyr byleue</p>
+ <p>Folowe the waren way of theyr iniquyte</p>
+ <p>Prohybyte by lawe iustyce and equyte</p>
+ <p>Theyr vnclene hertes, and mynde, vnhappely</p>
+ <p>On lucre settynge, comynge by vsury</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They hepe theyr synne in quantyte horryble</p>
+ <p>Labowrynge that lewde burthen gretter to make</p>
+ <p>And that sore weght tedyose and terryble</p>
+ <p>With a great rope vpon theyr shulders take</p>
+ <p>The weyght vp taken all theyr hole ioyntes quake</p>
+ <p>Thus these caytyfs with this rope and burthyn heuy</p>
+ <p>Them selfe hange damnynge theyr soule eternally</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A wretchyd man, alas make clere thy reason</p>
+ <p>Remember thoughe god the suffer thus longe tyme</p>
+ <p>He graunteth that space to amende the in season.</p>
+ <p>And nat dayly to encreas thy synne and cryme</p>
+ <p>Somtyme he punyssheth with infernall abhyme</p>
+ <p>Shortly for synne, somtyme thoughe one mysdo</p>
+ <p>He suffreth longe: but yet truste nat therto</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The longer vnpunysshed, the sorer is the payne</p>
+ <p>And if thou wylt nat gyue to me credence</p>
+ <p>Of sodome and Gomor the Bybyll sheweth playne</p>
+ <p>Howe God rightwysely ponysshed theyr offence</p>
+ <p>And also Solym, towne of great excellence</p>
+ <p>For vyciousnes god ponysshed bytterly</p>
+ <p>Whiche sholde vs cause for to lyue rightwysely.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The rightwyse god also dyd sore chastyce</p>
+ <p>Tthe Nilicolyans and them vtterly destroy</p>
+ <p>For theyr contynuynge in theyr syn and vyce</p>
+ <p>And theyr lynage longe kepte from welth and ioy</p>
+ <p>In great trouble whiche dyd theyr hertis noy:</p>
+ <p>Howe be it that they were good and innocent</p>
+ <p>For theyr fathers faute they suffred punysshement</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But to our purpose to retourne agayne.</p>
+ <p>He that ought boroweth whiche he can nat pay</p>
+ <p>Of a wolfe rauysshynge foloweth the trayne</p>
+ <p>But though he all swolowe yet can he by no way</p>
+ <p>Deuoure the tyme nor the prefyxed day</p>
+ <p>Wherfore if he than disceyue his credytour</p>
+ <p>He oft hym chastyth with iustyce and rygour</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ryght in lyke wyse our lorde omnipotent</p>
+ <p>In this worlde to lyue grauntyth vs tyme and space</p>
+ <p>Nat styll to synne, but vnto this intent</p>
+ <p>To leue our vyce, and folowe the way of grace</p>
+ <p>But if we styll contynue in one case</p>
+ <p>And haue done no good to pay hym at our day</p>
+ <p>In hell pryson he iustly shall vs lay</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thou fole mysmyndyd to large of sconscyence</p>
+ <p>To the I speke that art a lewde dettour</p>
+ <p>Borowe thou no thynge, noble grote ne pens.</p>
+ <p>More than thou mayst agayne pay thy credytour</p>
+ <p>Right so endeuer the to pay thy sauyour</p>
+ <p>His right and dewty, with a glad wyll and fayne</p>
+ <p>That is true seruyce, with glory and honour</p>
+ <p>Than shalt thou surely escape infernall payne.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p137"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of inprofytable and vayne prayers vowes
+and peticyons.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p262.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t262.png"
+ alt="Vain prayers." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">That man whose herte vnhappy synne doth blynde<br />
+ And prayth gasynge into the fyrmament<br /> Or he that setteth nat his
+ herte and mynde<br /> Upon his wordes, theyr sentence or intent<br />
+ And he that desyreth thynge nat conuenyent<br /> Suche folys shall nat
+ theyr peticion obtayne<br /> For without the herte the tonge laboureth
+ in vayne</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Here we repreue (reperue) ye and reuyle.</p>
+ <p>A sorte of folys lewde of condicions</p>
+ <p>Whose herte and tunge theyr soules doth defyle</p>
+ <p>By theyr blynde prayers and yll peticions</p>
+ <p>Suche folowe no techynge nor gode monysyons</p>
+ <p>For often many of them with tunge doth pray</p>
+ <p>Theyr mynde, abstract nat knowynge what they say</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Man oft desyreth with great affeccion</p>
+ <p>That thynge of god, whiche thynge if god wolde graunt.</p>
+ <p>Sholde be at last vnto thyer destruccyon</p>
+ <p>Examples hereof thou canst nat lacke nor want</p>
+ <p>The great Medas somtyme kynge tryumphant.</p>
+ <p>Of Phrygye By his owne folysshe desyre</p>
+ <p>With paynfull hunger, his lyfe breth dyd expyre</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>This kynge Mydas of whom I haue you tolde</p>
+ <p>Of god desyred with prayer dylygent.</p>
+ <p>That all that he touchyd tourne myght vnto golde</p>
+ <p>His prayer was harde, he obteynyd his intent</p>
+ <p>But nat to his welth, but mortall punysshement</p>
+ <p>For whan he brede or drynke tast or touche sholde</p>
+ <p>Incontynent was it tourned in to golde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus was his prayer to his owne damage</p>
+ <p>For at the laste he dyed in wo and payne</p>
+ <p>For no golde coude his sore hunger asswage</p>
+ <p>Nor his desyre coude he nat call agayne.</p>
+ <p>Thus his peticion desyred was in vayne:</p>
+ <p>And where he wenyd great welth to get therby</p>
+ <p>He dyed in shame hunger and mysery.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some dayly pray with marueylous besynes</p>
+ <p>Cryeng and syghynge to god omnypotent</p>
+ <p>For to haue plenty of welth ioy and ryches</p>
+ <p>And to be made ryche myghty and excellent.</p>
+ <p>O cursyd lyuers, o blynde men of intent</p>
+ <p>On suche desyres they set theyr mynde and thought</p>
+ <p>Whiche thousandes vnto shamefull ende hath brought</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What profyted the myghty edefyces:</p>
+ <p>Of Lycynus, or lyuelode of excesse:</p>
+ <p>What profyteth the money gotten in vyces</p>
+ <p>Of riche Crassus, or cresus, great ryches</p>
+ <p>They all ar dede by theyr vnhappynes</p>
+ <p>And that lewdely, nat by deth naturall</p>
+ <p>Theyr blynde desyres chefe rote and cause of all</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Another whiche is in youthes prosperyte</p>
+ <p>For strength and myght often to god doth pray</p>
+ <p>Some of theyr lyfe to haue prolyxyte</p>
+ <p>Desyreth god, and here to byde alway</p>
+ <p>In riches welth, ioy and solempne aray</p>
+ <p>But yet they in glotony take suche custome</p>
+ <p>That they slea them selfe longe or theyr day be come</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas mad fole why prayest thou for age</p>
+ <p>Syns it so greuous is and ymportable</p>
+ <p>Unstable and full of dolour and damage</p>
+ <p>Odyous to youth and intollerable</p>
+ <p>Say folysshe man whiche art of mynde vnstable</p>
+ <p>Is it nat great foly to any creature</p>
+ <p>To pray for that thynge, whiche he can nat endure</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Peleus, and Nestor and many other mo</p>
+ <p>As Itackes and laertes, sore haue complayned</p>
+ <p>For to longe age, euer full of payne and wo</p>
+ <p>Wherwith theyr bodyes sore haue ben constrayned</p>
+ <p>And with great sorowes and dyuers often payned:</p>
+ <p>And to conclude brefly in one sentence</p>
+ <p>Oft to age falleth moche inconuenyence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Yet ar mo folys whiche ought repreued be</p>
+ <p>And they ar suche whiche styll on god doth call</p>
+ <p>For great rowmes, offyces and great dignyte</p>
+ <p>No thynge intendynge to theyr greuous fall</p>
+ <p>For this is dayly sene, and euer shall</p>
+ <p>That he that coueytys hye to clym aloft</p>
+ <p>If he hap to fall, his fall can nat be soft</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some other pray for bewty and fayrnes</p>
+ <p>And that to a cursyd purpose and intent</p>
+ <p>Wherby they lese the heuenly blyssydnes:</p>
+ <p>Theyr soule subduynge to infernall turment</p>
+ <p>O ye mad folys of myndes ympotent</p>
+ <p>Pray your Pater noster with deuoute herte and mynde</p>
+ <p>For therin is all that is nedefull to mankynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Our sauyour criste whyle he was on this grounde</p>
+ <p>Amonge vs synners in this vale of mysery</p>
+ <p>Taught his disciples this prayer whiche doth sounde</p>
+ <p>Nere to this sentence, nor greatly doth nat vary</p>
+ <p>(Our father wiche art in heuen) eternally</p>
+ <p>Thy name be halowyd (graunt that to thy kyngdome)</p>
+ <p>All we thy seruauntis worthely may come</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>In heuen and erth thy wyll be done alway</p>
+ <p>And of thy great grace and thy benygnyte</p>
+ <p>Our dayly brede graunt vnto vs this day</p>
+ <p>Forgyuynge our synnes and our iniquyte:</p>
+ <p>As we forgyue them that to vs detters be</p>
+ <p>And to auoyde temptacion thy grace vnto vs len</p>
+ <p>And vs delyuer from euery yll amen.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Whan thou hast clensyd thy mynde from syn before</p>
+ <p>And sayd this prayer to thy maker deuoutly</p>
+ <p>Thou nedyst nat of hym to desyre more</p>
+ <p>Yet mayst thou pray and desyre rightwysly</p>
+ <p>For helthe of soule within thy hole body</p>
+ <p>For stedfast fayth and yll name to eschewe.</p>
+ <p>And chastely to lyue (by his help) in vertue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus sholde thou pray thou wretche both day and nyght</p>
+ <p>With herte and mynde vnto thy creatoure:</p>
+ <p>And nought by foly to asshe agaynst right</p>
+ <p>To hurte or losse to thy frende or neyghboure</p>
+ <p>Nor to thy fo by yll wyll or rygoure</p>
+ <p>But if god to thy prayers alway sholde enclyne</p>
+ <p>Oft sholde come great sorowe to the and to all thyne</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc"> The enuoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Man clere thy mynde or thou begyn to pray</p>
+ <p>Els though thy prayer be iust it is but vayne</p>
+ <p>And kepe togyther thy hurte and tonge alway</p>
+ <p>Or els doutles thou lesest all thy payne</p>
+ <p>From lewde peticions thy mynde thou ought refrayne</p>
+ <p>If thou desyre yll to thy fo by malyce</p>
+ <p>At thy peticion god shall haue dysdayne</p>
+ <p>For though thou be wrothe god is nat in lyke wyse</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p142"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of vnprofytable stody.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p267.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t267.png"
+ alt="Vain study." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He that vayne stody doth haunt or exercyse<br /> And
+ lesyth his tyme, of fruyte voyde and barayne<br /> Resortynge to ryot
+ whiche cunnynge doth dispyse<br /> And that of doctryne (in maner) hath
+ disdayne<br /> Suche shall in age of his madnes complayne<br /> And
+ seynge that he lesyth his tyme thus in foly<br /> Let hym come to our
+ folysshe company.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Nowe in this Nauy many them selfe present</p>
+ <p>Of this our roylame and from beyond the see</p>
+ <p>Whiche in theyr stody or lewde and neglygent</p>
+ <p>Lesynge theyr tyme at the vnyuersyte</p>
+ <p>Yet count they them selfe of great auctoryte</p>
+ <p>With theyr proude hodes on theyr neckes hangynge</p>
+ <p>They haue the lawde: but other haue the cunnynge</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They thynke that they haue all scyence perfytely</p>
+ <p>Within theyr hertes bostynge them of the same</p>
+ <p>Though they therto theyr mynde dyd neuer aply</p>
+ <p>Without the thynge, they ioy them of the name</p>
+ <p>But suche mad folys to theyr great losse and shame</p>
+ <p>Whyle they sholde norysshe theyr myndes with science</p>
+ <p>They seke theyr pleasour, gyuen to neglygence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They wander in euery inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>From strete to strete, from tauerne to tauerne</p>
+ <p>But namely youth, foloweth all offence</p>
+ <p>No thynge intendynge the profyte to dyscerne</p>
+ <p>Nor fruyte of cunnynge wherby they myght gouerne</p>
+ <p>Them selfe by reason, but suche thynges they ensue</p>
+ <p>Wherby they neyther get good maners nor vertne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But he that intendeth to come to the science</p>
+ <p>And godly wysdome of our elders: certayne.</p>
+ <p>He must sore stody, for without dilygence</p>
+ <p>And besy laboure no man can it obtayne</p>
+ <p>None ought to cesse: though it firste be a payne.</p>
+ <p>In good perseueraunce getteth great ryches</p>
+ <p>Where no good cometh by sleuthfull ydelnes.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But moste I marueyll of other folys blynde</p>
+ <p>Whiche in dyuers scyencis ar fast laborynge</p>
+ <p>Both daye and nyght with all theyr herte and mynde</p>
+ <p>But of gramer knowe they lytyll or no thynge</p>
+ <p>Whiche is the grounde of all lyberall cunnynge</p>
+ <p>Yet many ar besy in Logyke and in lawe</p>
+ <p>Whan all theyr gramer is skarsly worth a strawe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If he haue onys red the olde dotrinall</p>
+ <p>With his diffuse and vnparfyte breuyte</p>
+ <p>He thynketh to haue sene the poyntis of grammer all.</p>
+ <p>And yet of one errour he maketh two or thre</p>
+ <p>Precyan or sulpice disdayneth he to se</p>
+ <p>Thus many whiche say that they theyr grammer can</p>
+ <p>Ar als great folys as whan they firste began</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>One with his speche rounde tournynge lyke a whyle</p>
+ <p>Of logyke the knottis doth lows and vndo</p>
+ <p>In hande with his sylogysimes, and yet doth he fele</p>
+ <p>No thynge what it menyth, nor what longeth therto</p>
+ <p>Nowe sortes currit: Nowe is in hande plato</p>
+ <p>Another comyth in with bocardo and pheryson</p>
+ <p>And out goeth agayne a fole in conclusyon</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>There is nought else but Est and non est</p>
+ <p>Blaberynge and chydynge, as it were beawlys wyse</p>
+ <p>They argue nought els but to proue man a beest</p>
+ <p>Homo est Asinus is cause of moche stryfe</p>
+ <p>Thus passe forth these folys the dayes of theyr lyfe</p>
+ <p>In two syllabis, not gyuynge aduertence</p>
+ <p>To other cunnynge doctryne, nor scyence.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I wyll nat say but that it is expedyent</p>
+ <p>The to knowe of Logyke the chrafte and connynge</p>
+ <p>For by argument it maketh euydent</p>
+ <p>Moche obscurenes, somtyme enlumynynge</p>
+ <p>The mynde: and sharpynge the wyt in many a thynge</p>
+ <p>But oft yet by it a thynge playne bryght and pure</p>
+ <p>Is made diffuse, vnknowen harde and obscure</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It is ynoughe therof to knowe the grounde</p>
+ <p>And nat therin to wast all thy lyfe holly</p>
+ <p>Styll grutchynge lyke vnto the frogges sounde</p>
+ <p>Or lyke the chaterynge of the folysshe pye</p>
+ <p>If one afferme the other wyll deny</p>
+ <p>Sophestry nor Logyke with their art talcatyfe</p>
+ <p>Shewe nat the way vnto the boke of lyfe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>With suche folyes tender youth is defylyd</p>
+ <p>And all theyr dayes on them they set delyte</p>
+ <p>But godly doctryne is from theyr myndes exylyd</p>
+ <p>Whiche sholde the body and soule also profyte</p>
+ <p>They take no layser, pleasur nor respyte</p>
+ <p>To other scyences, pleasaunt and profytable</p>
+ <p>But without ende in one thynge chat and bable</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>One rennyth to almayne another vnto fraunce</p>
+ <p>To parys padway Lumbardy or spayne</p>
+ <p>Another to Bonony, Rome or orleance</p>
+ <p>To cayne, to Tolows, Athenys or Colayne</p>
+ <p>And at the last retournyth home agayne</p>
+ <p>More ignorant, blynder and gretter folys</p>
+ <p>Than they were whan they firste went to the scolys</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>One bostynge the name of a lawer or deuyne</p>
+ <p>His proude hode hye vpon his stately necke:</p>
+ <p>Thus muste a gode clerke vnto a foule enclyne</p>
+ <p>Lowt with the body and with obedyence becke</p>
+ <p>And thoughe it tourne to theyr rebuke and checke</p>
+ <p>Yet nowe a dayes ouer many suche there be.</p>
+ <p>Whiche in stede of cunnynge vseth audacyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The hode must answere for the follysshe student</p>
+ <p>Theyr tyme hath ben lost frutles and barayne.</p>
+ <p>Theyr frendes godes on suche folyes ar spent</p>
+ <p>To their damage thought hunger and payne:</p>
+ <p>Thus to conclude: me thynke it is but vayne</p>
+ <p>The frendes to labour the dayes of theyr lyue</p>
+ <p>To spare for suche scolers whiche shall neuer thryue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The great foly, the pryde, and the enormyte</p>
+ <p>Of our studentis, and theyr obstynate errour</p>
+ <p>Causeth me to wryte two sentences or thre</p>
+ <p>More than I fynde wrytyn in myne actoure</p>
+ <p>The tyme hath ben whan I was conductoure</p>
+ <p>Of moche foly, whiche nowe my mynde doth greue</p>
+ <p>Wherfor of this shyp syns I am gouernoure.</p>
+ <p>I dare be bolde myne owne vyce to repreue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Howe be it I knowe my wordes shall suche greue</p>
+ <p>As them selfe knoweth fawty and culpable</p>
+ <p>But if they be wroth: take they me by the sleue</p>
+ <p>For they shall bere the hode and I wyll the bable:</p>
+ <p>But firste ye studentis that ar of mynde vnstable</p>
+ <p>Ye wasters and getters by nyght in felde or towne</p>
+ <p>Within my Nauy wolde I set you to a cable</p>
+ <p>If I not fered lyst ye your selfe wolde drowne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Also I fere lyst my shyp sholde synke for syn</p>
+ <p>If that Cupido and Uenus seruytours</p>
+ <p>On the vnsure se my shyp entred within</p>
+ <p>Or all the folys promotyd to honours</p>
+ <p>I none receyue can of hye progenytours</p>
+ <p>My shyp is nat dressyd for them conuenyent</p>
+ <p>And to I fere lyst theyr cruell rygours:</p>
+ <p>Sholde rayse to my shyp some tempest or tourment</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Thenuoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Fy studentis clens your myndes of this cryme</p>
+ <p>Gyue ones your hertis to parfyte dylygence</p>
+ <p>Howe longe in Idelnes, wyll ye lese your tyme</p>
+ <p>In pryde and ryot, with all other offence</p>
+ <p>Alas what profyte get ye by neglygence</p>
+ <p>But spende your goodes in all iniquyte</p>
+ <p>And where your frendes thynke, ye labour for scyence:</p>
+ <p>Ye lese your tyme bryngynge them to pouertee</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Leue of suche stody as is vnprofytable</p>
+ <p>Without fruyte outher godly discyplyne</p>
+ <p>And gyue your myndes to scyences lawdable</p>
+ <p>Where ye may your herte set and inclyne:</p>
+ <p>To Arystotyls or Platoys doctryne</p>
+ <p>And nat alway on logyke or Sophestry</p>
+ <p>I wyll nat say but it is a thynge dyuyne</p>
+ <p>And moche worth to knowe Phylosophy</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p148"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of them that folysshly speke agaynst
+the workes of god.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p273.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t273.png"
+ alt="A fire to increase the light of the sun." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Here note we fowlys whiche can nat be content<br />
+ With goddes worke, and ordynaunce dyuyne<br /> Thynkynge theyr owne
+ wyll moche more expedyent<br /> Nat wyllynge theyr myndes to his wyll
+ to enclyne<br /> But suche folys often sholde come to ruyne<br /> And
+ wo with sorowe and losse sholde they fynde<br /> If god sholde conforme
+ his workes to theyr mynde</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He is a fole and laboreth in vayne:</p>
+ <p>Whiche with small brondes of fyre flamynge bryght</p>
+ <p>Entendyth with laboure besynes and payne</p>
+ <p>Of the shynynge sonne for to encrease the lyght</p>
+ <p>Suche one assayeth a thynge passynge his myght</p>
+ <p>And is a fole to set thought or delyte</p>
+ <p>To mende that thynge whiche god hath made perfyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But yet is he a moche gretter fole truely</p>
+ <p>Whiche wyll correct that thynge whiche god hath done</p>
+ <p>And doth nat his herte his wyll and mynde aply</p>
+ <p>To goddes workes and deuyne prouysyon</p>
+ <p>Of all other maddest is his condycion</p>
+ <p>And more frantyfe forsoth I may hym call</p>
+ <p>Than they that ar vext with furyes infernall:</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>(Thou fole) the myght of god omnipotent</p>
+ <p>In vertue and wysdome so largely doth extende</p>
+ <p>His maiesty, and power is so excellent</p>
+ <p>His glorious godhede his workes doth defende</p>
+ <p>So that no mortall man can them amende</p>
+ <p>Wenest thou mad fole that thou amende cannest ought</p>
+ <p>That he hath done: whiche made all thynge of nought</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that hath made the heuen and firmament</p>
+ <p>The londe, the se, and euery other thynge</p>
+ <p>Is so discrete, so wyse, and prouydent</p>
+ <p>Before his presence parfytely seynge</p>
+ <p>All thynge to come that neuer hath had beynge</p>
+ <p>His workes and dedys ar so perfyte and ryght</p>
+ <p>That none can increas nor yet decreas his myght</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He doth all thynge dispose moderate and dispence</p>
+ <p>Knowynge our mynde, and what is to vs most mete</p>
+ <p>All thynge is open and playne in his presence</p>
+ <p>Our inwarde thought must he nedes knowe and wete</p>
+ <p>And euery fortune is playne before his fete</p>
+ <p>He hath all thynge by lawe and order drest</p>
+ <p>And doth no thynge but it is for the best</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore whether he gyue thunder snowe or rayne</p>
+ <p>Wynde or wether, tempest or tourment</p>
+ <p>Frost lyghtnynge, fayre wether, outher storme sodayne</p>
+ <p>Mystes or clowdes, yet man sholde be content</p>
+ <p>And nat with worde nouther inwarde intent</p>
+ <p>Agaynst god grutche, but euery day and houre</p>
+ <p>Magnyfye the dedys of god his creatoure</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It were moche better thou fole that thou were dome</p>
+ <p>Than to cast lewde wordes agaynst thy lorde in vayne</p>
+ <p>Thou fole he worketh no thynge but by wysedome</p>
+ <p>And yet art thou nat content but dost complayne</p>
+ <p>Thou sekest vengeaunce (for thy synne) and payne</p>
+ <p>In hell for euer, thynkynge thy selfe so wyse</p>
+ <p>To teche thy god, and his warke to dispyse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It is nat lawfull for any, hye nor lowe</p>
+ <p>To be so bolde so blynde or so cruell</p>
+ <p>Grutchynge wordes agaynst his god to throwe</p>
+ <p>Thughe to theyr plaseour a thynge nat fortune well</p>
+ <p>Take example by the children of Israell</p>
+ <p>Whiche oft for this synne suffred great payne and wo</p>
+ <p>Slayne and distroyed, so haue ben many mo</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Many a lewde body without wysdome or rede</p>
+ <p>Grutche in theyr myndes, and openly do blame</p>
+ <p>Almyghy god, whan theyr children ar dede</p>
+ <p>Where rather they ought to enioye of the same</p>
+ <p>For it myght fortune that great rebuke and shame</p>
+ <p>Myght to theyr frendes haue come by theyr synne and cryme</p>
+ <p>Soone after: if they had nat dyed at that tyme</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore this one clause is my conclusyon</p>
+ <p>That god our maker is wyse and prouydent</p>
+ <p>Blame nat his workes by thyne abusyon</p>
+ <p>For all that he doth is for the best intent</p>
+ <p>But if that god sholde alwaye assent</p>
+ <p>To our desyres and euer perfourme our wyll</p>
+ <p>Our owne requestis sholde tourne vs to great yll</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Alexander barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O ye mad myndes that no thynge vnderstonde</p>
+ <p>O man presumptuous and vnobedyent</p>
+ <p>Howe darest thou be so bolde to take on honde</p>
+ <p>To repreue the workes of god omnipotent</p>
+ <p>Wylt thou hym teche, as more wyse and prouydent</p>
+ <p>Than he is (whiche made all thynge of nought)</p>
+ <p>Leue of this thy foly, and holde thy selfe content</p>
+ <p>For thou art a fole to set theron thy thought</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p152"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of them that gyue jugement on other.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p277.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t277.png"
+ alt="The fool who judges others." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Who that reputyth hym selfe iust and fawtles<br /> Of
+ maners gode, and of lyuynge commendable.<br /> And iugeth other
+ (parchaunce that ar gyltles)<br /> To be of a condicion reprouable<br
+ /> Hymselfe nat notynge, thoughe that he were culpable<br /> He is a
+ fole, and onys shall haue a fall<br /> Syns he wyll other iuge, hym
+ selfe yet worst of all.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Many fallyth in great peryll and damage</p>
+ <p>And greuous deth by the vyce of folysshnes</p>
+ <p>Perseuerantly bydynge in theyr outrage</p>
+ <p>Theyr soule infect with synne and viciousnes</p>
+ <p>And though that deth hym alway to them addres</p>
+ <p>Yet hope they in longe lyfe and prosperyte</p>
+ <p>And neuer asswageth theyr blynde iniquyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The tyme passeth as water in a ryuere</p>
+ <p>No mortall man can it reuoke agayne</p>
+ <p>Dethe with his dartis vnwarely doth apere</p>
+ <p>It is the ende of euery man certayne</p>
+ <p>The last of all ferys and ende of worldly payne</p>
+ <p>But thoughe we knowe that we all must haue an ende</p>
+ <p>We slepe in synne disdaynynge vs to amende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some thynke them gode, iust and excellent</p>
+ <p>Myghty stronge and worthy of preemynence:</p>
+ <p>Charitable, chast, constant and innocent</p>
+ <p>Nat doutynge deth nor other inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>But yet ar they wrappyd sore in synne and offence</p>
+ <p>And in a vayne hope, contynue in suche wyse</p>
+ <p>That all the worlde (saue them selfe) they dispyse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They take on them the workes of god omnipotent</p>
+ <p>To iuge the secrete of mannys mynde and thought</p>
+ <p>And where no sygne is sene playne and euydent</p>
+ <p>They iuge a man saynge, his lyfe is nought</p>
+ <p>And if deth one hath vnto his last ende brought</p>
+ <p>(As mad) they mende nat theyr mysgouernaunce</p>
+ <p>Nat thynkynge that they ensue must the same daunce</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche folys fayne causes and often tymes say:</p>
+ <p>That he that is dede vsed ryot and moche foly</p>
+ <p>Whiche causyd hym to dye before his day</p>
+ <p>And that he was feble, or full of malancoly</p>
+ <p>Ouer sad, or prowde, disceytfull and pope holy</p>
+ <p>Uiciously lyuynge in couetyse and gyle</p>
+ <p>Wherfore god suffred hym lyue the shorter whyle</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Lo these blynde folys saciat with vyce</p>
+ <p>Jugeth hym that perchaunce dyd nat amys</p>
+ <p>Whyle he here lyuyd, and is in paradyce</p>
+ <p>Rewardyd for his workes in endles ioy and blys</p>
+ <p>Where as this lewde Juger, here in this worlde is</p>
+ <p>Styll lyuynge in synne, suffrynge great payne and wo</p>
+ <p>And though he thynke hym gode shall neuer come therto</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that in synne here lyeth fettered fast</p>
+ <p>And iugeth the deth of his frende or neyboure</p>
+ <p>Whiche from this lyfe is departed and past.</p>
+ <p>Let hym beware, for onys come shall the houre</p>
+ <p>That he must fele dethis dolorouse rygoure.</p>
+ <p>And after that endure infernall punysshement</p>
+ <p>For iugynge and mysdemynge of people innocent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The terme and day, of deth is moche vnsure</p>
+ <p>The deth is sure, the houre is vncertayne</p>
+ <p>Deth is generall to euery creature</p>
+ <p>Theder we must all, be it pleasour or payne</p>
+ <p>Wherfore wysdome wyll that we shulde refrayne</p>
+ <p>From folysshe demynge and nons deth discus</p>
+ <p>After deth god wot howe it shall be with vs</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas full often a iust man gode and true</p>
+ <p>Of mynde innocent sad sober and sympyll</p>
+ <p>Passynge his tyme in goodnes and vertue</p>
+ <p>Is of these folys thought and demyd for yll</p>
+ <p>And he that is nought, frowarde of dede and wyll</p>
+ <p>Of these folys blynde frantyke and wode.</p>
+ <p>Without all reason is iugyd to be goode</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore I proue that a blynde fole thou art</p>
+ <p>To iuge or deme a mannys thought or intent</p>
+ <p>For onely god knoweth our mynde and hart</p>
+ <p>Wherto we gree and to what thynge we assent</p>
+ <p>But who that is rightwyse iust, and innocent</p>
+ <p>And louyth god with honour and with reuerence</p>
+ <p>Than, may he boldely iuge anothers offence</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Alexander barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Amende you folys: do way these folysshe wayes</p>
+ <p>Take ye no charge: nat mete for your degre.</p>
+ <p>And note these wordes: whiche criste our sauyour sayes</p>
+ <p>Juge nat another, and thou shalt nat iugyd be</p>
+ <p>It longeth onely to the hye dyuynyte</p>
+ <p>To iuge our mynde: for he is true iustyce</p>
+ <p>All thynge discernynge by right and equyte</p>
+ <p>No man sholde deme, whyle hym selfe is in vyce</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p156"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of pluralitees that is to say of them whiche
+charge them selfe with many benefycis.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p281.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t281.png"
+ alt="The ass charged with many sacks." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">That myller is a fole and here shall haue a barge<br />
+ And as a mad man shall fast therin be bounde<br /> Whiche his Asse wyll
+ with so many sackes charge<br /> That the pore beste for payne fallys
+ to the grounde<br /> Many in the chirche lyke hym may be founde.<br />
+ Whiche so many benefycis labour to procure<br /> That their small myght
+ can nat the charge endure.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Amonge our folys delytynge them in vyces</p>
+ <p>Is yet another sorte of the speritualte</p>
+ <p>Whiche them ouerchargeth with dyuers benefyces</p>
+ <p>And namely suche that lowest ar in degre</p>
+ <p>Of byrth and cunnynge, of this condycion be</p>
+ <p>Defylynge goddes rentis and the chirches goode</p>
+ <p>Them selfe ouer ladynge, as men frantyke and wode</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The weght is so great they can it nat endure</p>
+ <p>Theyr myght is small, theyr cunnynge is moche lesse</p>
+ <p>Thus this great charge wherof they haue the cure</p>
+ <p>To infernall Fenn doth this pore Asse oppresse</p>
+ <p>And to an Asse moste lyke he is doutles</p>
+ <p>Whiche takynge on his backe sackes nyne or tenne.</p>
+ <p>Destroyeth hymselfe them leuynge in the fenne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But though one prebende were to hym suffycient</p>
+ <p>Or one benefyce his lyuynge myght suffyse</p>
+ <p>Yet this blynde fole is nat therwith content</p>
+ <p>But labowreth for mo, and alway doth deuyse</p>
+ <p>Fals meanes to come therto by couetyse</p>
+ <p>He gapeth with his wyde throte insaciable</p>
+ <p>And neuer can content his wyll abhomynable</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So for the loue of the peny and ryches.</p>
+ <p>He taketh this charge to lyue in welth and eas.</p>
+ <p>Howe be it that sole that hath suche besynes</p>
+ <p>And dyueres charges fyndeth great disseas</p>
+ <p>Neyther shall he god, nor yet the worlde pleas</p>
+ <p>And shall with his burthyns his mynde so vex and comber</p>
+ <p>That halfe his cures, can he nat count nor nomber</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>These carefull caytyfs, that ar of this same sort</p>
+ <p>With cures ar ouerchargyd so that of theyr mynde.</p>
+ <p>Rest haue they none, solace, pleasour nor conforte</p>
+ <p>Howe be it they thynke therby great welth to fynde</p>
+ <p>They gape yet euer, theyr maners lyke the wynde</p>
+ <p>Theyr lyfe without all terme or sertaynte</p>
+ <p>If they haue two lyuynges, yet loke they to haue thre</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The folys whose hertis vnto this vyce ar bounde</p>
+ <p>Upon theyr sholders bereth aboute a sacke.</p>
+ <p>Insaciable without botome, outher grounde:</p>
+ <p>They thynke them nat lade though all be on theyr backe.</p>
+ <p>The more that they haue (the more they thynke they lacke)</p>
+ <p>What deuyll can stop theyr throte so large and wyde</p>
+ <p>Yet many all waste aboute Ryot and pryde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But yet is this moche more abhomynable</p>
+ <p>That asses vntaught without wysdome or scyence</p>
+ <p>Haue theyr proude myndes moste vnsaciable</p>
+ <p>Nat commynge to worshyp by vertue nor prudence</p>
+ <p>Yet counte they them worthy of this excellence</p>
+ <p>Courters become prestis nought knowynge but the dyce</p>
+ <p>They preste not for god, but for a benefyce</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The clerke of the kechyn is a prest become</p>
+ <p>In full trust to come to promosyon hye</p>
+ <p>No thynge by vertue cunnynge nor wysdome</p>
+ <p>But by couetyse, practyse and flatery</p>
+ <p>The Stepyll and the chirche by this meane stand awry</p>
+ <p>For some become rather prestis for couetyse.</p>
+ <p>Than for the loue of god or his seruyce.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas oft goddes goodes and cristis herytage</p>
+ <p>Of suche folys is wastyd and spent in vayne</p>
+ <p>In great folyes mundaynes and outrage</p>
+ <p>Where it decreed, and ordeyned is certayne.</p>
+ <p>That prestis sholde helpe pore people that lyue in payne</p>
+ <p>And with suche goodes kepe hospytalyte</p>
+ <p>Whiche pryde ryot and Uenus suffreth nat to be</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus is the grettest parte of the spiritualte</p>
+ <p>Pore preste, persone, vicayr, relygyon and prelate</p>
+ <p>With couetyse acloyde outher prodigalyte</p>
+ <p>And folys promotyd causyth good clerkis haue hate</p>
+ <p>Say lordes and bysshops with other of estate</p>
+ <p>What mouyth you so gladly, suche to promote</p>
+ <p>Whiche haue no cunnynge their wyt skant worth a grote</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wyll ye alway the folysshe asse ouercharge</p>
+ <p>With suche burthyns wherwith it can nat fare</p>
+ <p>And suffer other to walke and ren at large</p>
+ <p>And where they best myght bere theyr backes ar left bare</p>
+ <p>And that is worst of all, suche folys can nat be ware</p>
+ <p>But whan they ar promotyd after theyr owne entent.</p>
+ <p>Yet theyr insaciable mynde can neuer be content.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some make exchanges and permutacions</p>
+ <p>Some take to ferme, and some let out agayne</p>
+ <p>Other folys for hope make resignacions</p>
+ <p>And some for one god scosyth gladly twayne</p>
+ <p>Some lyueth longe in hunger and in payne</p>
+ <p>And in the somer day skarsly drynketh twyse</p>
+ <p>Sparynge monay therwith to by a benefyce</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some for no wages in court doth attende</p>
+ <p>With lorde or knyght, and all for this polecy</p>
+ <p>To get of his lorde a benefyce at the ende</p>
+ <p>And in the meane tyme ensueth rybawdry</p>
+ <p>And somtyme laboureth by chraft of symony.</p>
+ <p>He playeth a fals cast, nat cessynge to coniure</p>
+ <p>Tyll of some benefyce he at the last be sure</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Than if this lorde haue in hym fauoure, he hath hope</p>
+ <p>To haue another benefyce of gretter dignyte</p>
+ <p>And so maketh a fals suggestyon to the pope</p>
+ <p>For a Tot quot outher els a pluralyte</p>
+ <p>Than shall he nat be pleased with .<span class="sc">ii</span>. nouther thre</p>
+ <p>But dyuers wyll he haue ay choppynge and changynge</p>
+ <p>So oft a fole all and a gode clerke no thynge</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>These of nought force so that they may haue gayne</p>
+ <p>And golde ynough to spende on rybawdry and pryde</p>
+ <p>They haue the profyte, another hath the payne</p>
+ <p>The cure of the soulys of them is set asyde</p>
+ <p>And no meruayle, for howe sholde they abyde.</p>
+ <p>To teche their parysshynges vertue wysdome or grace</p>
+ <p>Syns no man can be atonys in euery place</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas these folys our mayster criste betray</p>
+ <p>Of mannes soule wherof they haue the cure</p>
+ <p>And settynge in their stede syr Johnn of garnesey</p>
+ <p>They thynketh them selfe dischargyd quyte and sure</p>
+ <p>These folys note nat that euery creature.</p>
+ <p>Whiche here of soulys doth cure or charge take</p>
+ <p>At domys day a compt for them shall make</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But if I sholde touche all the enormytees</p>
+ <p>The immoderat couetyse and desyre of dignyte</p>
+ <p>That nowe is vsed amonge all the degrees</p>
+ <p>Of benefycyd men ouer all the spiritualte</p>
+ <p>I fere displeasour, and also I often se</p>
+ <p>That trouth is blamed, and nat ay best to tell</p>
+ <p>But he that in this lyfe wyll alway besy be</p>
+ <p>To get dyuers prebendes shall haue the last in hell</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Thenuoy of Barklay to the Folys.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What meane ye gyders of Christis herytage</p>
+ <p>Shall ye neuer leue this your deuowrynge mynde</p>
+ <p>Shall ye no tyme your couytyse asswage</p>
+ <p>Whiche in goddes seruyce your hartis sore doth blynde</p>
+ <p>Let this fals traytour no place amonge you fynde</p>
+ <p>Graunt hym no rowne in churche nor in quere.</p>
+ <p>For this is sure ye shall all leue behynde</p>
+ <p>We haue no Cyte, nor place abydynge here</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p162"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of them that prolonge from day to day
+to amende themselfe.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p287.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t287.png"
+ alt="The fool who cries cras with the crow." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He that cras cras syngeth with the crowe<br />
+ Deferrynge the tyme of his amendement<br /> Amonge our folys, in this
+ our shyp shall rowe<br /> For his presumpcion, dull mynde and blynde
+ intent<br /> What knowe these folys whether god omnypotent<br /> Wyll
+ graunt them to lyue vntyll another day.<br /> Wherfore we ought to
+ mende vs whyle we may.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If vnto any almyghty god doth sende</p>
+ <p>From heuen aboue by inspyracion dyuyne</p>
+ <p>Wyll and gode mynde his synnes to amende</p>
+ <p>And with his grace his thoughtes enlumyne</p>
+ <p>If that synner wyll nat therto enclyne</p>
+ <p>But doth dyffer and dryue frome day to day</p>
+ <p>A fole he is, no wyse man wyll denay</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Yet many folowe this inconuenience</p>
+ <p>And knowynge theyr owne vyce, and lyfe full of ordure</p>
+ <p>The payne therof, and howe euery offence</p>
+ <p>And synne is punysshed of eche creature</p>
+ <p>Also they knowe that theyr deth is vnsure</p>
+ <p>And dye they must knowynge no houre nor space</p>
+ <p>Yet synne they styll, nat receyuynge this grace</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They folowe the crowes cry to theyr great sorowe</p>
+ <p>Cras cras cras to morowe we shall amende</p>
+ <p>And if we mende nat than, than shall we the next morowe</p>
+ <p>Outher shortly after, we shall no more offende</p>
+ <p>Amende mad fole whan god this grace doth sende</p>
+ <p>He is vnwyse whiche trustes the crowes songe</p>
+ <p>And that affermyth that he shall lyue so longe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Syns deth (as I haue sayde) is so vnstable</p>
+ <p>Wherfore we ought alway vs to prouyde</p>
+ <p>And mende our lyfe and synne abhomynable</p>
+ <p>For though that thou be hole at the euyn tyde</p>
+ <p>Thou knowest nat sure that thou shall here abyde</p>
+ <p>Untyll the morne but if thou dye in that space</p>
+ <p>It shall be to late for the to cry cras cras</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Syns it is in thy power that thou may</p>
+ <p>Amende thy selfe whan god inspyreth the</p>
+ <p>Why shalt thou tary vnto another day</p>
+ <p>The longer tary the lesse apt shalt thou be.</p>
+ <p>In olde sores is grettest ieopardye</p>
+ <p>Whan costome and vse is tourned to nature</p>
+ <p>It is right harde to leue: I the ensure</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore if that thou lewdly fall in syn</p>
+ <p>By thy frayle flesshe, and the fals fendes trayne</p>
+ <p>Take nat the vse, contynue nat therin</p>
+ <p>But by confessyon shortly ryse agayne</p>
+ <p>Synne alway thretenyth vnto the doer, payne</p>
+ <p>And grutche of conscience with moche thought and wo</p>
+ <p>Yet alwaye ar we redy and prone therto</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Mannys lyfe on erth is euyn a chyualry</p>
+ <p>Agaynst our flesshe fyghtyng whiche often doth vs shame</p>
+ <p>Also the deuyll our goostly ennemy</p>
+ <p>On his parte labours to get vs in his frame</p>
+ <p>Thus oft we fall, and than our foly blame</p>
+ <p>Repentynge sore, and wyllynge to refrayne</p>
+ <p>But within an houre we fall therto agayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus euer to vyce ar we redy and prone</p>
+ <p>The gyftis of grace we clene from vs exclude</p>
+ <p>We haue great cause sore to complayne and mone</p>
+ <p>We leue that thynge (our myndes ar so rude)</p>
+ <p>That myght vs gyde to helth and beatytude</p>
+ <p>Thus our owne foly, and our owne blynde madnes</p>
+ <p>Us often ledyth vnto great wretchydnes</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And if it fortune, that at any tyme</p>
+ <p>Within our myndes we purpose stedfastly</p>
+ <p>For to confesse our synne, excesse, or cryme</p>
+ <p>Agayne our thought is changyd by and by</p>
+ <p>Away than ren we with the crowys crye</p>
+ <p>With one cras, to morowe, perauenture twayne</p>
+ <p>Without regarde had, vnto infernall payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But in the meane space if that deth vntretable</p>
+ <p>Arrest the with his mace, fyers and cruell</p>
+ <p>And for thy synne and lyfe abhomynable</p>
+ <p>By iustyce damme thy soule for euer to hell</p>
+ <p>Than woldest thou gladly (If thou myght) do well</p>
+ <p>But there is no grace but doloure payne and sorowe</p>
+ <p>Than is to late to crye cras cras to morowe</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The Enuoy of the Actour</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Say what delyte, thou fole or what pleasoure</p>
+ <p>Takest thou in synne and voluptuosyte</p>
+ <p>It is small sothly, and passeth euery houre</p>
+ <p>Lyke to the water, and that in myserye</p>
+ <p>Therfore set nat in synne thy felycyte</p>
+ <p>This day begyn thy lewde lyfe to refuse</p>
+ <p>Perchaunce to morowe sholde be to late to the</p>
+ <p>So sholde cras the crwys songe the sore abuse</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p166"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of hym that is Jelous ouer his wyfe and
+watcheth hir wayes without cause, or
+euydent tokyn of hir myslyuynge.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p291.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t291.png"
+ alt="Folly a woman to keep or close." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He that his wyfe wyll counterwayte and watche<br /> And
+ feryth of hir lyuynge by his Jelowse intent<br /> Is as great fole, as
+ is that wytles wratche<br /> That wolde kepe flees vnder the son
+ feruent<br /> Or in the se cast water, thynkynge it to augment<br />
+ For thoughe he hir watche lockynge with lockys twayne<br /> But if she
+ kepe hir selfe his kepynge is but vayne</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Orestes was neuer so blynde and mad as is he</p>
+ <p>Whiche for his wyfe taketh thought and charge</p>
+ <p>Watchynge hir wayes, thoughe that she gyltles be</p>
+ <p>This fole styll fereth, if she be out at large</p>
+ <p>Lyst that some other his harnes sholde ouercharge</p>
+ <p>But for all his fere and carefull Jelowsy</p>
+ <p>If she be nought there is no remedy.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thou fole I proue, thy watchynge helpeth nought</p>
+ <p>Thy labour lost is, thou takest this care in vayne</p>
+ <p>In vayne thou takest this Jelowsy and thought</p>
+ <p>In vayne thou sleest thy selfe with care and payne</p>
+ <p>And of one doute thou fole thou makest twayne</p>
+ <p>And neuer shalt fynde eas nor mery lyuynge</p>
+ <p>(Whyle thou thus lyuest) but hatered and chydynge</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For locke hir fast and all hir lokes marke.</p>
+ <p>Note all hir steppys, and twynklynge of hir iye.</p>
+ <p>Ordeyne thy watchers and dogges for to barke</p>
+ <p>Bar fast thy dores and yet it wyll nat be</p>
+ <p>Close hir in a Toure with wallys stronge and hye</p>
+ <p>But yet thou fole thou lesist thy trauayle</p>
+ <p>For without she wyll no man can kepe hir tayle</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And yet more ouer breche hir with plate and mayle</p>
+ <p>And for all that if she be nought of kynde</p>
+ <p>She shall disceyue the (If she lyst) without fayle</p>
+ <p>But if that she be chast of dede and mynde</p>
+ <p>Hir selfe shall she kepe, though thou hir neuer bynde</p>
+ <p>Thus they that ar chast of nature, wyll byde so</p>
+ <p>And nought wyll be nought what so euer thou do</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus is it foly and causeth great debate</p>
+ <p>Bytwene man and wyfe, whan he by Jelowsy.</p>
+ <p>His wyfe suspectyth, and doth watche or counterwayt</p>
+ <p>Or hir mysdemyth and kepyth in stratly.</p>
+ <p>Wherfore me thynke it is best remedy</p>
+ <p>For hym that gladly wolde escape the hode</p>
+ <p>Nat to be Jelous: but honest lyuynge and gode</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The toure of bras that callyd was darayne.</p>
+ <p>Coude nat the damsell (by name Danes) defende</p>
+ <p>But that Jupiter fonde a cautell and trayne</p>
+ <p>In a golden shoure into hir to discende</p>
+ <p>And to be short, at conclusyon and ende</p>
+ <p>This mayde for all this Toure was there defylyd.</p>
+ <p>And by this lorde was she there brought with childe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>By this example it apereth euydent</p>
+ <p>That it is foly a woman to kepe or close</p>
+ <p>For if she be of lewde mynde or intent</p>
+ <p>Outher preuy or apert there about she goys</p>
+ <p>Deuysynge wayes with hir good man to glose</p>
+ <p>But specially if that he hir suspect</p>
+ <p>With a hode shall he vnwars be ouerdect</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But in the worlde right many other be</p>
+ <p>Whiche neuer folowe this fals and lothly way</p>
+ <p>We haue example of one Penolope</p>
+ <p>Whiche though that she alone was many a day</p>
+ <p>Hir husbonde gone, and she vexed alway.</p>
+ <p>By other louers: yet was she euer trewe</p>
+ <p>Unto hir olde: and neuer changyd for newe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I fynde that often this folysshe Jelowsy</p>
+ <p>Of men; causyth some women to mysdo</p>
+ <p>Where as (were nat theyr husbondes blynde foly)</p>
+ <p>The pore wymen knowe nat what longyd therto</p>
+ <p>Wherfore suche men ar folys and mad also</p>
+ <p>And with theyr hodes whiche they them selfe purchace</p>
+ <p>Within my shyp shall haue a rowme and place</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For where as perchaunce theyr wyfes ar chaste and goode</p>
+ <p>By mannys vnkyndnes they chaunge and turne theyr herte</p>
+ <p>So that the wyfe must nedes gyue them a hode</p>
+ <p>But to be playne some wymen ar esy to conuert</p>
+ <p>For if one take them where they can nat start.</p>
+ <p>What for theyr husbondes folysshe Jelowsy</p>
+ <p>And theyr owne pleasour: they scars can ought deny</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of the Actour</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore ye wymen lyue wysly and eschewe</p>
+ <p>These wanton wowers and suche wylde company</p>
+ <p>Get you gode name by sadnes and vertue</p>
+ <p>Haunt no olde quenys that nourysshe rybawdry</p>
+ <p>Than fere ye nat your husbondes Jelowsy</p>
+ <p>If ye be fawtles, chaste and innocent</p>
+ <p>But wanton wowers ar ful of flatery</p>
+ <p>Euer whan they labour for their intent.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Be meke, demure, bocsome, and obedyent,</p>
+ <p>Gyue none occasyon to men by your foly</p>
+ <p>If one ought asshe, deny it incontynent</p>
+ <p>And euer after auoyde his company</p>
+ <p>Beware of cornes, do nat your erys aply</p>
+ <p>To pleasaunt wordes nor letters eloquent</p>
+ <p>If that Helena had so done certaynly</p>
+ <p>She had nat ven rauysshed by handes violent</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p171"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of auoutry, and specially of them y<sup>t</sup> ar
+bawdes to their wyues, knowynge and
+wyll nat knowe, but kepe counseyll, for
+couetyse, and gaynes or auauntage.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p296.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t296.png"
+ alt="He layeth his hand before his eye." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">A fole blynde, forsoth and wytles is that man<br />
+ Whiche thoughe his wyfe openly defylyd be<br /> Before his owne face,
+ yet suche a chrafte he can<br /> To fayne hym a slepe, nat wyllynge it
+ to se<br /> Or els he layeth his hande before his iye<br /> And thoughe
+ he here and se howe the mater gose<br /> He snortynge slepyth, and wyll
+ it nat disclose.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O what disorder, what shame and what domage</p>
+ <p>Is nowe brought in, and right lykely to abyde</p>
+ <p>In the sacrament of holy mariage</p>
+ <p>The fere of payne and lawe is set a syde</p>
+ <p>Faythe is clene lost, and fewe them selfe do gyde</p>
+ <p>After theyr othe, but for lacke of punysshement.</p>
+ <p>They brake and despyse this dyuyne sacrament</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas the lawe that Julius dyd ordeyne</p>
+ <p>Agaynst auoutry: is nowe a slepe or dede</p>
+ <p>None feryth iustyce punysshement nor payne</p>
+ <p>Both man and woman ar past all fere and drede</p>
+ <p>Theyr promes brekynge, without respect or hede</p>
+ <p>Had to theyr othe, by mariage solemnysed</p>
+ <p>The bed defylyd. the sacrament despysed</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Many ar whiche thynke it is a thynge laudable</p>
+ <p>Anothers sponse to pullute and dyffame</p>
+ <p>And howe beit the synne is moche abhomynable</p>
+ <p>They fere nat god, nor dout nat worldly shame</p>
+ <p>But rather boldly they bost them of the same</p>
+ <p>They note no thynge the mortall punysshement</p>
+ <p>Taken on auoutrers in the olde testament</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Yet is another thynge more lothsome and vyle</p>
+ <p>That many husbondes knowynge theyr wyues syn</p>
+ <p>Absent themselfe and stop theyr iyen the whyle</p>
+ <p>Kepynge the dore whyle the auoutrer is within</p>
+ <p>They forse no thynge so they may money wyn</p>
+ <p>Lyuynge as bawdes, and that to theyr owne wyues</p>
+ <p>O cursyd money, this madnes thou contryuys</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O cursyd husbonde thou ought to be asshamyd</p>
+ <p>To set so great fors for syluer or for golde</p>
+ <p>That thou for them thy wyfe wyll se diffamyd</p>
+ <p>And helpe therto: ye: and the dede beholde</p>
+ <p>Blame it blynde dryuyll: by the lawe so thou sholde</p>
+ <p>And nat therat to gyggyll laghe and Jest</p>
+ <p>It is a lewde byrde that fyleth his owne nest</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The Hystory of Atreus expressyth playne</p>
+ <p>Howe he (by his owne brother) for auoutry</p>
+ <p>Was dryuen from his royalme and his childre slayne</p>
+ <p>For his mysdede: without: let or remedy</p>
+ <p>These children thus bought theyr faders mad foly</p>
+ <p>What shall I wryte the wo and heuynes</p>
+ <p>Whiche Tarquyn had for rauysshynge lucres</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I rede in the hystory of one Virginius</p>
+ <p>Whiche to thyntent this foule synne to eschewe</p>
+ <p>Whan his doughter was desyred by Clodius</p>
+ <p>And that by force; the fader his dowghter slewe</p>
+ <p>Bytwene the handes of Clodius vntrue</p>
+ <p>The fader answered (whan men his dede dyd blame)</p>
+ <p>Better is to dye chast: than longe to lyue in shame</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But of auoutry somwhat more to speke</p>
+ <p>In it is yre Enuy and paynfull pouertye.</p>
+ <p>And also he or she that mariage doth breke</p>
+ <p>May fere of deth eternall whan they dye</p>
+ <p>And here without welth ioy and rest shall they be</p>
+ <p>And well ar they worthy (forsoth) of sore tourment</p>
+ <p>In hell: for brekynge this holy sacrament</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But in the meane tyme here shalt thou haue discorde</p>
+ <p>And neuer prosper in vertue nor ryches</p>
+ <p>And lothsome be before the almyghty lorde</p>
+ <p>Thy dedes shall purchace mysfortune and distres</p>
+ <p>Thou lyue shalt in shame and dye in wretchydnes</p>
+ <p>And if thou procede therin and nat amende</p>
+ <p>Some great shame shalt thou haue before thyne ende.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of the Actour</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O creatures vnkynde leue ye this outrage</p>
+ <p>Breke nat your othe whiche ye made solemly</p>
+ <p>Eche one to other for to lyue in mariage</p>
+ <p>Defyle ye it nat by synne and vylany</p>
+ <p>On both partis if ye lyue faythfully</p>
+ <p>After your promes: in loue, fayth and concorde</p>
+ <p>Than shall ye in erth encreas and multyply</p>
+ <p>And after haue syght of the almyghty lorde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Let all spousys in theyr myndes comprehende</p>
+ <p>The lawys and decrees of the olde testament</p>
+ <p>Howe they that in auoutry dyd offende</p>
+ <p>Were outher stonyd or els openly brent</p>
+ <p>Wherfore syns goddes son omnypotent.</p>
+ <p>Confermed hath the olde testament with the newe</p>
+ <p>Auoutrers nowe deserue that same punysshement</p>
+ <p>But well is to them, that stedfast ar and trewe</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p175"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of hym that nought can and nought wyll
+lerne, and seyth moche, lytell berynge
+away, I mene nat theuys.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p300.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t300.png"
+ alt="Looseth their feet, and suffreth them to flee." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He is a fole, and so shall he dye and lyue<br /> That
+ thynketh hym wyse, and yet can he no thynge<br /> And though he myght
+ he wyll nat set nor gyue<br /> His mynde to good maners, vertue nor
+ cunnynge.<br /> So is he a fole that doth to market brynge<br /> His
+ Gese fast bounde, and game or sporte to se<br /> Lowsyth theyr fete,
+ and suffreth them to fle</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Saynt George to borowe our Nauy is aflote</p>
+ <p>Forth shall we sayle, thoughe that it be a payne</p>
+ <p>And moche laboure to forge a pryuate bote</p>
+ <p>For euery faute: yet shall I nat refrayne</p>
+ <p>My hande nor penne: thoughe vnsure be my gayne</p>
+ <p>My laboure sure: my wyt and reason thynne</p>
+ <p>Than leue a thynge vnendyd better nat begynne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But in this place shall I a Shyp ordayne</p>
+ <p>For that fole: that heryth great doctryne</p>
+ <p>Wherby good maners and vertue aperyth playne</p>
+ <p>He seth all goodnes, stody, and disciplyne</p>
+ <p>And yet wyll nat his mynde therto enclyne</p>
+ <p>But though he knowe what thynge is godlyest</p>
+ <p>Ouer all the worlde, yet is he styll a beest.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Many of this sort wander and compase</p>
+ <p>All studies, the wonders of the worlde to se</p>
+ <p>With vnstabyll wynges fleynge from place to place</p>
+ <p>Some seyth lawe and some dyuynyte</p>
+ <p>But for all this byde they in one degre</p>
+ <p>And if they were Asses and folys blynde before</p>
+ <p>After all these syghtes yet ar they moche more</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They se moche nought lernynge, and hauynge no delyte</p>
+ <p>In wysdome nor maners vertue nor goodnes</p>
+ <p>Theyr tyme is loste, without wysdome or profyte</p>
+ <p>Without grace, or other holynes</p>
+ <p>But whyle they labour thus with besynes</p>
+ <p>If they se ought newe, or any folysshe toy</p>
+ <p>That lyghtly they lerne, and set theron theyr ioy.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>By this desyre folys may knowen be</p>
+ <p>For wytles men of fleynge mynde and brayne</p>
+ <p>Ar best pleasyd with thynges of neweltye</p>
+ <p>And them to haue, they spare no cost nor payne</p>
+ <p>To dyuers londes to ren but all in vayne</p>
+ <p>And so they labour alway from londe to londe</p>
+ <p>To se all wonders, but nought they vnderstonde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some fle to se the wonders of englonde</p>
+ <p>Some to the court to se the maners there</p>
+ <p>Some to Wallys, Holonde, to Fraunce or Irlonde</p>
+ <p>To Lybye, afryke, and besyly enquere.</p>
+ <p>Of all marueyles, and skantly worth a here</p>
+ <p>Some vnto Fraunce and some to Flaunders ren</p>
+ <p>To so the wayes, and workes of cunnynge men</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And to be shorte ouer all they range</p>
+ <p>Spendynge theyr goodes about vnthryftynes</p>
+ <p>In countrees knowen, vnknowen and strange</p>
+ <p>But whan theyr iourney they homwarde must addres</p>
+ <p>As folys vnware, and vagabundes thryftles</p>
+ <p>They haue nought lerned, kept, nor with them brought</p>
+ <p>Of maners, wysdome or other thynge that is ought</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They that by the se sayle to londes strange</p>
+ <p>Oft chaunge the place and planete of the fyrmament</p>
+ <p>But theyr mynde nor maners they ne turne nor chaunge</p>
+ <p>And namely suche that ar lewde and neglygent</p>
+ <p>What euer they se styll one is theyr intent</p>
+ <p>Whan he departyd, If that he were a sote</p>
+ <p>Agayne anone he comyth in the same mynde and cote</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Say mad folys blynde ouersene, and worthy scorne</p>
+ <p>Fayne wolde I knowe what necessyte ye haue</p>
+ <p>To go from the place where ye were bred and borne</p>
+ <p>Into another londe to lerne to play the knaue</p>
+ <p>Your mynde vnstable sheweth playne that ye raue</p>
+ <p>Laboure nat so sore, to lerne to be a fole</p>
+ <p>That cometh by it selfe without any other scole</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that is borne in walys or small brytayne</p>
+ <p>To lerne to pyke and stele nedys nat go to Rome.</p>
+ <p>What nede we sayle to Flaunders or Almayne</p>
+ <p>To lerne glotony, syns we may it lerne at home</p>
+ <p>Suche lewdnes soon may we lerne of our wombe</p>
+ <p>He that wyll lerne falshode gyle or sotelte</p>
+ <p>May lerne it here as well as beyonde the se.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>To passe the se to lerne Uenus rybawdry</p>
+ <p>It is great foly, for thou mayst lerne thy fyll</p>
+ <p>In shoppis Innes and sellers, ye somtyme openly</p>
+ <p>At saynt Martyns Westmynster or at the tour hyll</p>
+ <p>So that I fere all London, in tyme it shall fyll</p>
+ <p>For it is there kept in lyght and in darke</p>
+ <p>That the pore Stuys decays for lacke of warke</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But brefely to speke, and this to set a syde</p>
+ <p>He that on vyce, and synne wyll set his entent</p>
+ <p>May lerne it in Englonde, if he at home abyde</p>
+ <p>And that of all sortis: god sende amendement</p>
+ <p>But if thou alway wyll nede be dylygent</p>
+ <p>To labour in the worlde about from place to place</p>
+ <p>Do as dyd Plato, than shalt thou fynde great grace</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>This godly plato laboured with dilygence</p>
+ <p>To Egypt, and other londes sparynge for no payne</p>
+ <p>Where euer he came: augmentynge his scyence</p>
+ <p>And at the last retourned to Grece agayne</p>
+ <p>His countrey natyf: with laude and name souerayne</p>
+ <p>Thus he for all his wysdome laboured besyly</p>
+ <p>But that fowle that nought can nought settyth by</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore that gose that styll about wyll wander</p>
+ <p>Moche seynge and herynge, and nought berynge away</p>
+ <p>Shall home come agayne as wyse as a gander</p>
+ <p>But more fole is he that may lerne euery day</p>
+ <p>Without cost or laboure out of his owne countrey</p>
+ <p>And whan the well of wysdome renneth by theyr dore</p>
+ <p>Yet looth they the water as if that it were soure</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><a name="p179"></a></p>
+
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Alexander Barklay ad fatuos vt dent locum octo secundariis beate marie de Oterey qui quidem prima huius ratis transtra merentur</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Soft folys soft, a lytell slacke your pace</p>
+ <p>Tyll I haue space you to order by degre</p>
+ <p>I haue eyght neyghbours, that firste shall haue a place</p>
+ <p>Within this my shyp, for they most worthy be</p>
+ <p>They may theyr lernynge receyue costeles and fre.</p>
+ <p>Theyr wallys abuttynge and ioynynge to the scoles.</p>
+ <p>No thynge they can, yet nought wyll they lerne nor se</p>
+ <p>Therfore shall they gyde this one shyp of foles.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O vnauysyd, vnwyse and frowarde man</p>
+ <p>Great cause thou hast to morne sore and complayne</p>
+ <p>Whan no goodnes vertue nor wyt thou can</p>
+ <p>And yet to lerne thou hast scorne and dysdayne</p>
+ <p>Alas man mende, and spare no maner payne</p>
+ <p>To get wysdome, and it thou shalt nat want</p>
+ <p>Hym that nought wyll knowe, god wyll nat knowe certayne</p>
+ <p>Wo is hym that wylfully is ignorant.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p181"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of great wrathe, procedynge of small
+occasyon.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p306.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t306.png"
+ alt="Mount on an ass, slow of gait and pace." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Assys erys for our folys a lyuray is<br /> And he that
+ wyll be wroth for a thynge of nought<br /> Of the same leuray is nat
+ worthy to mys<br /> For who that by wrathe to suche a wyll is
+ brought<br /> To sle his Asse for hir pas slowe and soft<br /> Shall
+ after his fury, repent his mad foly<br /> For to a clere mynde, mad
+ wrathe is ennemy</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Come nere, ye wrathfull men, take your rowme and place</p>
+ <p>Within our shyp, and to slake our hastynes</p>
+ <p>Mount on an Asse slowe of hir gate and pace</p>
+ <p>Syns troublous wrath, in you, styreth this madnes</p>
+ <p>Often lacke of myght asswagyth cruelnes</p>
+ <p>To a wylde cowe god doth short hornys sende</p>
+ <p>Wrath is great foly, where myght may nat extende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O man yll myndyd what helpeth the this yre</p>
+ <p>None the commendyth whiche doth thy maners marke</p>
+ <p>What doste thou: but the waste with thyne owne fyre</p>
+ <p>Narrynge with thyselfe lyke as a dogge doth barke</p>
+ <p>Without meke worde and pleasyd with no warke</p>
+ <p>Art thou: but thoughe all men be dylygent</p>
+ <p>Mad wrathe to please, yet who can it content</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>This man malycious whiche troubled is with wrath</p>
+ <p>Nought els soundeth but the hoorse letter R</p>
+ <p>Thoughe all be well, yet he none answere hath</p>
+ <p>Saue the dogges letter, glowmynge with nar nar</p>
+ <p>Suche labour nat this mad rancour to defar</p>
+ <p>Nor yet his malyce to mytygate or asswage</p>
+ <p>But ioyeth to be drede of men for this outrage</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>His mouth fomyth his throte out gorgyth fyre</p>
+ <p>His ferefull furoure is, his hole felycyte</p>
+ <p>By his great yre, doth he coueyte and desyre</p>
+ <p>Dowtyd to be: of the pore comontye</p>
+ <p>His owne madnes and cruell furyosyte</p>
+ <p>Wyll he nat knowe as he were nat culpable</p>
+ <p>Of this mad fury and vyce abhomynable</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Hym selfe is blynde, but other well note his dede</p>
+ <p>He shall be poynted whether he go or ryde</p>
+ <p>Saynge one to other take gode regarde and hede</p>
+ <p>Of yonder furyous fole whome reason doth nat gyde</p>
+ <p>Beware his wayes fle hym on euery syde</p>
+ <p>Who that hym sueth both hurte and shame shall fynde</p>
+ <p>Thus other hym notyth but he hymself is blynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So his Asse crys to hym ar inuysyble</p>
+ <p>He thynkyth to haue pacyence though that he haue none</p>
+ <p>And vnto hym it is thynge incredyble</p>
+ <p>That suche ar folys whose pacyence is gone</p>
+ <p>Thus coueytyth he to kepe his erys alone</p>
+ <p>And to wrathfull men he wyll no thynge obiect</p>
+ <p>For that hym selfe is with the same infect</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But somwhat to touche the inconuenyences</p>
+ <p>Whiche by this wrath procedyth to mankynde</p>
+ <p>It is chefe grounde of many great offences</p>
+ <p>Destroynge reason blyndynge the wyt and mynde</p>
+ <p>By malyce man is to all yll inclynde</p>
+ <p>Both symple man, and lordes excellent</p>
+ <p>Do that by wrath oft whiche they after repent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Reuoke thy mynde, somwhat thy herte enclyne</p>
+ <p>Unto Archytas a man of hye wysdome</p>
+ <p>Borne the the ryche Cyte namyd Tarentyne</p>
+ <p>Rede howe that he his malyce dyd ouercome</p>
+ <p>For thoughe his seruaunt was fals to hym become</p>
+ <p>And he sore mouyd to auenge the same offence</p>
+ <p>Yet he refraynyd his wrathe by pacyence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So socrates so Senyk and Plato</p>
+ <p>Suffred great wronge great iniury and payne</p>
+ <p>And of your fayth sayntis right many mo</p>
+ <p>For christ our mayster dyd great turment sustayne</p>
+ <p>What wo or payne cowde saynt Laurance refrayne</p>
+ <p>From pacience wherfore it is great shame</p>
+ <p>For christen men if they do not the same</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They suffred deth, ye, and yet were pacyent</p>
+ <p>And many haue prayed, for suche that haue them slayne</p>
+ <p>Where thou mad fole takest greuous punysshement</p>
+ <p>For small occasyon, ye come by chaunce sodayne</p>
+ <p>Fole thou art blynde, and mad to set thy brayne</p>
+ <p>All thynge to venge (by wrath) that doth mysfall</p>
+ <p>For he that part hath lost: by wrath oft lesyth all</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And forsoth no meruayle, if suche wyse actours</p>
+ <p>Hath wrathes madnes, expelled and set asyde</p>
+ <p>For where that wrath doth rayne with his furours</p>
+ <p>There can no reason nor wysedome longe abyde</p>
+ <p>The wyt it wastyth: so is it a lewde gyde</p>
+ <p>Therfore let mesure, this malyce holde agayne</p>
+ <p>But pacyence is brydyll his madnes to refrayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It longeth nat to any man of hye prudence</p>
+ <p>For to be wrothe, yrous, or gyuys to malancoly</p>
+ <p>No suche passyon nor inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Can fall to man, ay stedfast wyse and holy</p>
+ <p>But folys ar moste troublyd with this foly</p>
+ <p>Where as a wyse man for any aduersyte</p>
+ <p>Lyueth in quyete mynde and tranquylyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A man well manerd, sad sober and dyscrete</p>
+ <p>If he be ware, wyse, chrafty and prouydent</p>
+ <p>Beholdeth all thynge before his syght and fete.</p>
+ <p>Gydynge hym by mesure a vertue excellent</p>
+ <p>Where as a fole doth all without aduysement</p>
+ <p>And in euery thynge shewyth his folysshnes</p>
+ <p>Wroth at eche worde, as mayster of madnes</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore ye folys se ye no lenger tary</p>
+ <p>But on the dull Asse hastely assende</p>
+ <p>That a slowe beest may hasty folys cary</p>
+ <p>For your mad wrath dowtyth no thynge the ende</p>
+ <p>Your madnes can nat your blynde mysdede defende</p>
+ <p>For who that one sleyth, angry and feruent</p>
+ <p>Ought to be hangyd whan he is pacyent</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of the Actour</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Blynde myndyd man whiche wylt all thynge ouercome</p>
+ <p>Reputynge thy selfe, moste souerayne and royall</p>
+ <p>If thou be wyse or partener of wysdome</p>
+ <p>Labour to ouercome thyne owne selfe firste of all</p>
+ <p>Thy wrath asswage thou in especyall</p>
+ <p>Let neyther malyce, nor yre with the abyde</p>
+ <p>Thou art a fole the chefe or lorde to call</p>
+ <p>Of other: whan thou can nat thy selfe well gyde.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p186"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of the mutabylyte of fortune.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p311.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t311.png"
+ alt="The wheel of fortune." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">That man whiche hopyth hye vp to ascende<br /> On
+ fortunes whele, and come to state royall<br /> If the whele turne, may
+ doute sore to descende<br /> If he be hye the sorer is his fall<br />
+ So he whiche trustyth nat therto at all<br /> Shall in moste eas and
+ suerty hymselfe gyde<br /> For vnsure fortune can in no place
+ abyde</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>We dayly proue by example and euydence</p>
+ <p>That many be made folys mad and ignorant</p>
+ <p>By the brode worlde, puttynge trust and confydence</p>
+ <p>In fortunes whele vnsure and inconstant</p>
+ <p>Some assay the whele thynkynge it pleasant</p>
+ <p>But whyle they to clym vp haue pleasour and desyre</p>
+ <p>Theyr fete them faylyth so fall they in the myre</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Promote a yeman, make hym a gentyl man</p>
+ <p>And make a Baylyf of a Butchers son</p>
+ <p>Make of a Squyer knyght, yet wyll they if they can</p>
+ <p>Coueyt in theyr myndes hyer promosyon</p>
+ <p>And many in the worlde haue this condicion</p>
+ <p>In hope of honour by treason to conspyre</p>
+ <p>But ofte they slyde, and so fall in the myre</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche lokys so hye that they forget theyr fete</p>
+ <p>On fortunes whele whiche turneth as a ball</p>
+ <p>They seke degrees for theyr small myght vnmete</p>
+ <p>Theyr folysshe hertis and blynde se nat theyr fall</p>
+ <p>Some folys purpose to haue a rowme Royall</p>
+ <p>Or clym by fortunes whele to an empyre</p>
+ <p>The whele than turneth lyuynge them in the myre</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O blynde man say what is thyne intent</p>
+ <p>To worldly honoures so greatly to entende</p>
+ <p>Or here to make the hye ryche and excellent</p>
+ <p>Syns that so shortly thy lyfe must haue an ende</p>
+ <p>None is so worthy, nor can so hye ascende</p>
+ <p>Nor nought is so sure if thou the trouth enquyre</p>
+ <p>But that it may doute to fall downe to the myre</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>There is no lorde Duke kynge nor other estate</p>
+ <p>But dye they must, and from this wolde go</p>
+ <p>All worldly thynges whiche god hath here create</p>
+ <p>Shall nat ay byde, but haue an ende also</p>
+ <p>What mortall man hath ben promotyd so:</p>
+ <p>In worldly welthe or vncertayne dignyte</p>
+ <p>That euer of lyfe had houre of certaynte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>In stormy wyndes lowest trees ar most sure</p>
+ <p>And howsys surest whiche ar nat byldyd hye</p>
+ <p>Where as hye byldynges may no tempest endure</p>
+ <p>Without they be foundyd sure and stedfastly</p>
+ <p>So gretest men haue moste fere and ieopardy</p>
+ <p>Better is pouertye though it be harde to bere</p>
+ <p>Than is a hye degre in ieopardy and fere,</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The hyllys ar hye, the valeys ar but lowe</p>
+ <p>In valeys is come the hyllys ar barayne</p>
+ <p>On hyest places most gras doth nat ay growe</p>
+ <p>A mery thynge is mesure and easy to sustayne</p>
+ <p>The hyest in great fere, the lowest lyue in payne</p>
+ <p>Yet better ly on grounde, hauynge no name at all</p>
+ <p>Than hye on a Clyf ferynge alway to fall</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus as me thynke it is no thynge lawdable</p>
+ <p>On fortunes whele, for one to clym to hye</p>
+ <p>Syns the swyft cours therof is so vnstable</p>
+ <p>And all must we leue whan we depart and dye</p>
+ <p>Of our short lyfe haue we no certayntye</p>
+ <p>For lachesys (whan that thou hast lefte drede)</p>
+ <p>Of thy lyue dayes shall shortly breke the threde.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Atropos is egall to pore man and estate</p>
+ <p>Defar wyll nat deth by prayer ne request</p>
+ <p>No mortall man may his furour mytygate.</p>
+ <p>Nor of hym haue one day longer here to rest:</p>
+ <p>Content the with measure (therfore) for it is best</p>
+ <p>Coueyt nat to moche in honour to excell</p>
+ <p>It is a fowle fall to fall from erth to hell</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Unstable fortune exalteth some a loft</p>
+ <p>To this intent, them to brynge to an yll ende</p>
+ <p>For who that hye clymmeth his fall can nat be soft</p>
+ <p>If that mysfortune constrayne hym to dyscende</p>
+ <p>Though Julius Cesar his lordshyp dyd extende</p>
+ <p>Ouer all the worlde: yet fortune at the last.</p>
+ <p>From lyfe and lordshyp hym wretchydly dyd cast</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>This hath ben sene, is sene, and euer shall</p>
+ <p>That most peryll is in hyest dignyte</p>
+ <p>Howe many estatis, howe many men Royall.</p>
+ <p>Hath fortune dryuyn downe into aduersyte</p>
+ <p>Rede dyuers cronycles, and thou shall playnly se</p>
+ <p>That many thousandes hath endyd in doloure</p>
+ <p>By theyr immoderate mynde to honoure</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ouer rede Bochas and than shalt thou se playne</p>
+ <p>The fall of prynces wryten ryght compendeously</p>
+ <p>There shalt thou se what punysshement and payne</p>
+ <p>Haue to them fallen, somtyme by theyr foly</p>
+ <p>And oft is moche preuy hatered and enuy</p>
+ <p>Had agaynst lordes of the rude comonte</p>
+ <p>Where euer they go: they lyue in ieopardye</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ay dowtynge deth by cursed gyle and treason</p>
+ <p>Eche thynge mysdemynge, ferynge to be opprest</p>
+ <p>By some mysfortune, with venym or with poyson.</p>
+ <p>Thus in great honour is neyther ioy nor rest</p>
+ <p>But thought and fere, ye whyle the lyfe doth lest</p>
+ <p>Thus who that procuryth great honour to attayne</p>
+ <p>Procuryth with all, enuy, peryll, fere and payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A lorde or state whom many men doth drede</p>
+ <p>With loueles fere, and fayned countenaunce</p>
+ <p>Unto hym selfe ought wysely to take hede</p>
+ <p>And them to fere, if he wyll voyde myschaunce</p>
+ <p>For why a comonty is of suche ignoraunce</p>
+ <p>And so enuyous, that both erly and late</p>
+ <p>They muse to destroy hym whom, they fere and hate</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A man promotyd vnto hye dygnyte</p>
+ <p>Shall haue loue shewyd hym by adulacion</p>
+ <p>But no true loue nouther faythfull amyte.</p>
+ <p>Good fame nor name, ne commendacion</p>
+ <p>Ye though he be worthy great exaltacion</p>
+ <p>Pytefull louynge and full of equyte</p>
+ <p>Yet harde is to please a folysshe comonte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore me thynke of all thynge it is best</p>
+ <p>Man to be pleased and content with his degre</p>
+ <p>For why in mesure, is suerty eas and rest</p>
+ <p>And ay moste peryll in hyest dignyte</p>
+ <p>Fortune is full of changes and mutabylyte</p>
+ <p>Trust nat therto, therby comyth do gode</p>
+ <p>But nowe hye nowe lowe, vnstable as a flode</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Alexander barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Labour nat man with to moche besy cure</p>
+ <p>To clymme to hye lyst thou by fortune fall</p>
+ <p>For certaynly, that man slepyth nat sure</p>
+ <p>That lyeth lows vpon a narowe wall</p>
+ <p>Better somtyme to serue, than for to gouerne all</p>
+ <p>For whan the Net is throwen into the se</p>
+ <p>The great fysshe ar taken and the pryncipall</p>
+ <p>Where as the small escapyth quyte and fre</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p192"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of them that be diseasyd and seke and
+ar impacient and inobedyent to the
+Phesycyan.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p317.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t317.png"
+ alt="He that is feeble with sickness." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">If one be vexed with sore infirmyte<br /> Within his
+ body felynge dyseas and payne<br /> And wyll nat gladly with perfyte
+ mynde agre<br /> To a wyse Phesycian that wolde hym hele agayne<br />
+ He is a fole, and shall his foly sore complayne<br /> And if that he by
+ his selfe wyll do sterue<br /> It is but well: syns he it doth
+ deserue.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that is feble with sekenes outher wounde</p>
+ <p>Wherwith he feleth hym selfe so kept in payne</p>
+ <p>That dye he muste but if remedy be founde</p>
+ <p>He is a fole, if that he haue dysdayne</p>
+ <p>Of wyse Phesycyans: and medecines souerayne</p>
+ <p>And wyll nat sue theyr counsell and aduysement</p>
+ <p>Wherby he myght haue helth and short amendement</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thoughe the Phesycyan (of his lyfe) hym assure</p>
+ <p>So he be ruled, and vnto his mynde agre</p>
+ <p>The pacyent yet kepyth no dyete nor mesure</p>
+ <p>In mete nor drynke, and wyll nat gouerned be</p>
+ <p>But foloweth Ryot and all superfluyte</p>
+ <p>Receyuynge colde water in stede of ale or wyne</p>
+ <p>Agaynst read and counsell of crafty medycyne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What mete or drynke that is most contagious</p>
+ <p>And most infectyf to his sekenes or dyseas</p>
+ <p>And to hym forbyden, as moste contrarious</p>
+ <p>Unto his sekenes. That namely doth hym pleas</p>
+ <p>But that thynge that myght hym helpe and greatly eas</p>
+ <p>He hatyth moste, and wyll none receyue at all.</p>
+ <p>Tyll this small sore, at the last become mortall</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche wyll no counsell ensue, nor mesure haue</p>
+ <p>Nor temper theym selfe in lesse nor yet in more.</p>
+ <p>Tyll theyr yll gouernaunce brynge them to theyr graue</p>
+ <p>Retournynge into grounde lyke as they were before</p>
+ <p>But who that soone wolde, be helyd of his sore</p>
+ <p>Whan it is newe ought to fynde remedy.</p>
+ <p>For in olde sorys is greatest ieopardy</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A small sparcle often tyme doth augment</p>
+ <p>It selfe: and groweth to flames peryllous</p>
+ <p>Right so small wellys whiche semeth to be spent</p>
+ <p>With lytell sprynges and Ryuers, ofte so growys</p>
+ <p>Unto great waters, depe and ieopadous.</p>
+ <p>So a small sore augmentyth, styll preuely</p>
+ <p>By lytell and lytell for lacke of remedy</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A small diseas whiche is ynoughe durable</p>
+ <p>At the begynnynge, for lacke of medycyne</p>
+ <p>At longe contynuaunce becomyth incurable</p>
+ <p>The paynfull pacyent bryngynge vnto ruyne</p>
+ <p>Wherfore who wyll to his owne helth enclyne</p>
+ <p>And soone be helyd of yll without all tary</p>
+ <p>To the Phesician ought nat to be contrary</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Obstynat frowarde or inobedyent</p>
+ <p>Ought he nat be, but with a pacyent mynde</p>
+ <p>Shewe all his soris truly playne and euydent</p>
+ <p>To the Phesician if he wyll socour fynde.</p>
+ <p>And thoughe his saluys in paynes hym sore bynde.</p>
+ <p>Let nat for that, but after his wyll the gyde</p>
+ <p>Better a shorte payne, than that doth longe abyde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>No sore can be releuyd without payne.</p>
+ <p>Forsake nat the short, the longe payne to eschewe</p>
+ <p>To the Phesycian we ought in worde be playne</p>
+ <p>And shewe hym our sore, whether it be olde or newe</p>
+ <p>For in thy wordes if that thou be nat trewe</p>
+ <p>Or kepe ought close, thou dysceyuest be thou sure</p>
+ <p>Thy selfe. and nat hym that of the hath the cure.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>In lyke fourme who comyth vnto confessyon</p>
+ <p>There to declare howe he his lyfe hath spent</p>
+ <p>And shewyth nat his synne lyke wyse as he hath done</p>
+ <p>Hymself he disceyuyth, as blynde of his entent.</p>
+ <p>Thus many one endureth infernall tourment</p>
+ <p>With wo contynuall and payne for euermore</p>
+ <p>For kepynge secrete there, of his goostly sore.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus who that is payned in any malady</p>
+ <p>Bodely or gostly, ought nat to be callyd wyse</p>
+ <p>To the Phesycian without that he aply.</p>
+ <p>And his preceptis hant kepe and exercyse</p>
+ <p>But now olde wytches dare boldly interpryse</p>
+ <p>To intromyt to hele all infyrmyte</p>
+ <p>And many them byleue, whiche sothly is pyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche wytches of theyr byleue abhomynable</p>
+ <p>On brest or hede of the paynfull pacyent</p>
+ <p>With theyr wytchecraftis shall compasse chat and bable</p>
+ <p>Assurynge hym of helth, and short amendement</p>
+ <p>Than he that is seke fyxith his intent</p>
+ <p>Upon hir errour: to haue helpe of his sore</p>
+ <p>But she hym leuyth wors than he was before</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Poule the apostyll doth boldly say and preue</p>
+ <p>That they whiche to suche wytches wyll assent</p>
+ <p>Ar heretykes, Lolardes and false of theyr byleue</p>
+ <p>Brekynge goddes lawes and commaundement</p>
+ <p>And oft also by profe it apereth euydent</p>
+ <p>That suche as to wytches craftis wyll intende</p>
+ <p>By theyr fals Phesyke come soner to theyr ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Theyr body dede, theyr soule in ieopardy</p>
+ <p>By mysbyleue for euer in paynes infernall.</p>
+ <p>Whiche ar rewarde for wretchyd synne and heresy</p>
+ <p>But if thou to thy mynde and reason call</p>
+ <p>And of this wrytynge perceyue the sence morall</p>
+ <p>Whan thou art fallen seke and in dedely syn</p>
+ <p>Seke helpe betyme, and byde nat longe therein</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay to the folys.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thou man or woman, that lyest seke in vyce</p>
+ <p>To goddes vycayrs confesse thy syn holly</p>
+ <p>So shalt thou from thy goostly yll aryse.</p>
+ <p>For thy soule fyndynge helpe and remedy</p>
+ <p>Without leasynge shewe hym thy synne playnly</p>
+ <p>Let nat for shame nor fall nat thereto agayne</p>
+ <p>Better shewe thy sore there to one secretely</p>
+ <p>Than after openly: and byde eternall payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ensewe the counsell of a wyse confessour</p>
+ <p>Take nat colde water in stede of vermayll wyne:</p>
+ <p>For moche swetnes, endure thou a lytell soure</p>
+ <p>Kepe well the dyet and threfolde medicyne</p>
+ <p>Ordayned for synne by spirituall doctryne</p>
+ <p>That is confessyon, the next contrycyon.</p>
+ <p>With satisfaccion these thre, with grace deuyne</p>
+ <p>Ar salues parfyte for all transgressyon</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p197"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of ouer open takynges of counsel.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p321.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t321.png"
+ alt="Layeth before them plain and openly his net." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Who that to clerely layeth his net or snare<br />
+ Before the byrdes whome he by gyle wolde take<br /> Them playnly
+ techyth of his gyle to be ware<br /> And is a fole whether he slepe or
+ wake<br /> Right so is he (and doth a sauegarde make)<br /> For his
+ foes them (techynge remedy to fynde)<br /> Whiche sheweth them by
+ thretenynge the secret of his mynde</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Who that intendyth by chraft and polycy</p>
+ <p>To take many byrdes, outher small or great</p>
+ <p>And layeth before them to playne and openly</p>
+ <p>His lynes snarys, his lyme twyggis or his net</p>
+ <p>He shall no profyte gayne nor auauntage get</p>
+ <p>For if that he his engynes can nat hyde</p>
+ <p>The byrdes shall be ware, and lyghtly fle asyde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So he that wyll openly manace and threte</p>
+ <p>With worde and hande, as he wolde sle adowne ryght</p>
+ <p>Is oft scant abyll a symple hounde to bete.</p>
+ <p>For in his worde is all his force and myght</p>
+ <p>And he that alway thretenyth for to fyght.</p>
+ <p>Oft at the profe is skantly worth a hen</p>
+ <p>For greattest crakers ar nat ay boldest men</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Who that agaynst his ennemy wolde fyght</p>
+ <p>And gyueth hym before wepyn and armour.</p>
+ <p>Agaynst hym selfe to encreas his foes myght</p>
+ <p>Suche one hath reason and wyt of smal valour.</p>
+ <p>Ryght so that sole is led in lyke errour</p>
+ <p>Which nought can do, of mater les or more</p>
+ <p>Without he crake and boste therof before.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And also suche bosters and crakers comonly</p>
+ <p>Whiche doth theyr mynde in hasty wordes declare</p>
+ <p>Of other men ar lytell or nought set by</p>
+ <p>And by theyr wordes, full often yll they fare</p>
+ <p>A man also may ryght easely be ware</p>
+ <p>Of folys whiche thus theyr counsell out expres</p>
+ <p>Whose thretenyngs to theyr foes is armour and harnes</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But hym call I wyse and crafty of counsell</p>
+ <p>Whiche kepeth close the secretis of his mynde</p>
+ <p>And to no man wyll them disclose nor tell</p>
+ <p>To man nor woman, ennemy nor yet frynde</p>
+ <p>But do his purpose whan he best tyme can fynde</p>
+ <p>Without worde spekynge, and so may his intent</p>
+ <p>Best come to ende, his foo, beynge inprouydent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And specially no man ought to be large</p>
+ <p>Of wordes nor shewe his counsell openly</p>
+ <p>In thynges weyghty, of peryll and great charge</p>
+ <p>Consernynge a royallue, or helth of his body</p>
+ <p>For many ar falsly disceyued fynally</p>
+ <p>By lewde tale berers whiche seke the way to fynde</p>
+ <p>To knowe the preuy counsell of theyr lordes mynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They fawne and flater to knowe his pryuetee</p>
+ <p>But they forsoth, that wolde knowe thynges newe</p>
+ <p>For the moste part of this condicion be</p>
+ <p>No thynge to kepe, but lyghtly it to shewe.</p>
+ <p>Thus may the saynge of Salomon be fonde true.</p>
+ <p>Whiche sayth that he is wyse, and lyueth happely</p>
+ <p>Whiche to hym selfe kepyth his counsell secretely</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I fynde foure thynges whiche by meanes can</p>
+ <p>Be kept close, in secrete, one longe in preuetee</p>
+ <p>The firste is the counsell of a wytles man</p>
+ <p>The seconde a Cyte, whiche byldyd is a bye</p>
+ <p>Upon a mountayne, the thyrde we often se</p>
+ <p>That to hyde his dedes a louer hath no skyll</p>
+ <p>The fourth is strawe or fethers on a wyndy hyll</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A pore mannys dedys may soone be kept close</p>
+ <p>His name is hyd, and right so is his dede.</p>
+ <p>A ryche mannys dede may no man hyde nor glose</p>
+ <p>It fleeth farthest, all men of it take hede</p>
+ <p>So that yll fame whome all men ought to drede</p>
+ <p>In fleynge about hir myght doth multyply</p>
+ <p>Augmentynge to his lynage shame and vylany</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore who that intendyth to be wyse</p>
+ <p>Ware and crafty, auoydynge all inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>To shewe his counsell ought nat to interpryse</p>
+ <p>But do his mynde, kepynge alway sylence</p>
+ <p>In seruauntis is small trust or confydence</p>
+ <p>He that is nowe thy frende may after be thy fo</p>
+ <p>Warne nat thy ennemy of that that thou wylt do</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O ye that ar put to wronge and Iniury</p>
+ <p>If ye intende for to yelde the same agayne</p>
+ <p>It is great foly to warne your ennemye</p>
+ <p>Or hym to threten with bostynge wordes vayne.</p>
+ <p>For oft is sayde, and true it is certayne</p>
+ <p>That they that wyll lyue in quyetnes and rest</p>
+ <p>Must here and se and hasty wordes refrayne</p>
+ <p>All styll with fewe wordes do that they thynke best</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p201"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of folys that can nat beware by the mysfortune
+and example of others damage.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p324.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t324.png"
+ alt="Both stumble, not going even or right." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Here we expresse, the errour and blyndnes<br /> Of them
+ that se others aduersyte<br /> Theyr wofull fall the ruyne and
+ dystres.<br /> Yet sue they the same, and ware they wyll nat be<br />
+ Though they by example the payne of other se<br /> Yet leue they nat:
+ thus may they clayme a place<br /> Within my Nauy, as folys voyde of
+ grace</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>We dayly se the mysfortune and damage</p>
+ <p>And often fallys, to pouerte and payne</p>
+ <p>Whiche folys suffer for theyr synne and outrage</p>
+ <p>Some drowned, some maymed, some other wyse slayne</p>
+ <p>Yet this example can nat cause vs refrayne</p>
+ <p>Our wretchyd lyfe, and seke for remedy</p>
+ <p>We marke no thynge anothers ieopardy.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>We se the mockynge scorne and derysyon</p>
+ <p>That folys hath ofte tyme whan they offende</p>
+ <p>We se theyr losse, theyr shame and theyr confusion</p>
+ <p>Howe be it all this can cause vs to amende</p>
+ <p>We can no thynge and to nought we intende</p>
+ <p>So many folys I fynde that playne I thynke</p>
+ <p>Theyr weyghty charge shall cause my shyp to synke</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche ar despysyd of men discrete and wyse</p>
+ <p>Ye and more ouer these folys ar so blynde</p>
+ <p>That echone of them the other doth despyse</p>
+ <p>With sharp rebukes, wordes lewde and vnkynde</p>
+ <p>Yet in theyr lyfe no difference may we fynde</p>
+ <p>And though they haue sene a thousande brough to shame</p>
+ <p>For one sore vyce: yet lyue they in the same</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The example of other can nat theyr myndes moue</p>
+ <p>Theyr wyttis ar blynde theyr foly is the cause</p>
+ <p>Alas mad folys why do ye vyce thus loue</p>
+ <p>Rennynge ay to deth without all rest or pause</p>
+ <p>Alas, at the last retourne to christis lawes</p>
+ <p>Be ware, whan ye other se taken in the snare</p>
+ <p>Let anothers peryll cause you to be ware</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye do nat so, alas it is great shame</p>
+ <p>Your synne hath quenchyd your grace and gostly lyght</p>
+ <p>One blynde man another doth chyde and blame</p>
+ <p>And yet both stomble, nat goynge euyn or right</p>
+ <p>A blynde man hym ledyth that also hath no syght</p>
+ <p>So both in the dyche fallyth in suche a wyse</p>
+ <p>That one can nat helpe, the other agayne to ryse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>One crab blamys another for hir bacwarde pace</p>
+ <p>And yet the blamer sothly can none other do</p>
+ <p>But both two ar in theyr goynge in lyke case</p>
+ <p>The one goeth bocwarde, the other doth also</p>
+ <p>Many of these folys after that maner go</p>
+ <p>But who that of his moders doctryne hath disdayne:</p>
+ <p>Shall by his stepdame endure wo care and payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And perchaunce after abyde the correccyon</p>
+ <p>Of the sayde stepdame, in place of punysshement.</p>
+ <p>For his synne, sufferynge hir vniust subieccien</p>
+ <p>And who that nat foloweth the commaundement</p>
+ <p>Of his fader beynge to hym obedyent</p>
+ <p>May fortune after in hunger thyrst ond colde</p>
+ <p>Obey that stranger, whom he nat gladly wolde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>We fynde Hystories wryten longe and ample</p>
+ <p>In dyuers bokes of great auctoryte</p>
+ <p>The hole Bybyll sheweth to vs example</p>
+ <p>Howe they were punysshed that lyuyd in cruelte</p>
+ <p>I fynde also wryten in bokes of Poetrye</p>
+ <p>Howe that Pheton was brent with the lyghtnynge</p>
+ <p>For his presumpcion, agaynst a myghty kynge</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>We haue example also by Icarus</p>
+ <p>Whiche contrary vnto the commaundement</p>
+ <p>Of his crafty father named Dedalus</p>
+ <p>By fleynge to hye his wynges and fethers brent</p>
+ <p>And so descendyd and in the se was drent</p>
+ <p>Thus these two endynge by theyr lewdnes in care</p>
+ <p>By theyr example sholde cause vs to beware</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>We dayly se before our syght and our presence</p>
+ <p>What mysauenture to many one doth fall</p>
+ <p>And that worthely for theyr synne and offence</p>
+ <p>Yet ar we blynde, and ar nat ware at all</p>
+ <p>But in our synnes lyue vnto them egall</p>
+ <p>And where by synne we se one come to shame</p>
+ <p>We wyllyngly (alas) ensue the same</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore who sethe a mad fole come to wo</p>
+ <p>Or fall in peryll for lacke of a good gyde</p>
+ <p>By another way ought craftely to go</p>
+ <p>And (by anothers yll) for his helthe to prouyde</p>
+ <p>The fox was ware, and peryll set asyde</p>
+ <p>And wolde nat enter into the caue, for playne</p>
+ <p>Of bestis that entred sawe he none come agayne</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Lerne man, lerne of bestes to be ware</p>
+ <p>Of others peryll, by theyr enormyte</p>
+ <p>For if one byrde be onys tane in a snare</p>
+ <p>The other auoyde as fast as they may flee</p>
+ <p>A fysshe byrde or beste that hath in peryll be</p>
+ <p>Of net hoke or snare, if that they may escape.</p>
+ <p>Wyll after euer beware, but blynde man wyll nat se</p>
+ <p>His owne destruccion, but after it doth gape</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p205"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of them that forceth or careth for the
+bacbytynge of lewde people.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p328.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t328.png"
+ alt="In it do hang a fox's tail." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Whether that a bell be hangyd or lye on grounde<br />
+ If vnto the same a clapper lacke or fayle<br /> The bell shall make but
+ sympyll noyse or sounde<br /> Though thou in it do hange a Foxys
+ tayle<br /> Right so backbyters that vse on men to rayle<br /> Can nat
+ greatly hurt them that lyue rightwysly<br /> Wherfore it is foly theyr
+ babblynge to set by.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Who that within this worlde wolde rest and lyue</p>
+ <p>In eas of mynde, peas and tranquyllyte</p>
+ <p>Must nat his mynde set, nor his erys gyue</p>
+ <p>To the vayne talys, of the rude comonte</p>
+ <p>And though some people of suche condicion be</p>
+ <p>Oft to dyffame good people true and Just</p>
+ <p>Let them nought care, for byde it nede they must</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Let no man care for the lewde hyssynges</p>
+ <p>And yll soundynges of this vnhappy rage</p>
+ <p>It is great foly to set by the lesynges</p>
+ <p>Of cursyde tunges syns none can them asswage</p>
+ <p>For who in this worlde wyll come to auautage</p>
+ <p>Hym selfe exaltynge to worshyp and honoure</p>
+ <p>Shall fynde the swetnes mengled with the sowre</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And he that wyll of his dygnyte be sure</p>
+ <p>Or sympyll lyuynge what so euer it be</p>
+ <p>Right greuous chargis somtymes must endure</p>
+ <p>And with his iyen often beholde and se</p>
+ <p>Suche thynges wherwith his mynde can not agre</p>
+ <p>And he that wyll with the worlde haue to do</p>
+ <p>Must suffer suche trouble as belongeth therto</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Yet some haue pytched theyr tentis stedfastly</p>
+ <p>Upon sure grounde, auoyde of all this payne</p>
+ <p>Despysynge the worldes wantonnes and foly</p>
+ <p>For in the same is nought sure nor certayne</p>
+ <p>Nought se we tranquyll in these wawes mundayne</p>
+ <p>We se no loue, lawe, fydelyte, nor trust</p>
+ <p>But nowe up hye, and nowe lowe in the dust</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>To auoyde the worlde with his foly and stryfe</p>
+ <p>Many hath left londes townes and ryches</p>
+ <p>And yll company lyuynge solytary lyfe</p>
+ <p>Alone in desert and in wyldernes</p>
+ <p>Ye and that: men of moste wyt and worthynes</p>
+ <p>Whiche by that meane dyd best of all eschewe</p>
+ <p>All worldly sclaunder and lyuyd in vertue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that intendeth to lyue a rightwyse lyfe</p>
+ <p>And so procedeth in maners and good dede</p>
+ <p>Of worldly sclaunder, complaynt, hatered, and stryfe</p>
+ <p>And all yll wyll, he ought nat to take hede</p>
+ <p>For he that is iuste ought no thynge for to drede</p>
+ <p>A sclaundrynge tonge, ye, be it neuer so wode</p>
+ <p>For suche lewde tonges can none hurte that ar gode.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Lyue well and wysely, than let men chat theyr fyll</p>
+ <p>Wordes ar but wynde, and though it oft so fall</p>
+ <p>That of lewde wordes comyth great hurte and yll</p>
+ <p>Yet byde the ende, that onely prouyth all</p>
+ <p>If thou canst suffer truste well that thou shall</p>
+ <p>Ouercome thyne ennemyes better by pacience</p>
+ <p>Than by hye wordes rygour or vyolence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If poetis that somtyme vyce blamyd and discommendyd</p>
+ <p>And holy Prophetis whiche also dyd the same</p>
+ <p>To suche vayne and mortall wordes had intendyd</p>
+ <p>They sholde nat haue durst the peoples vyce to blame</p>
+ <p>So sholde they haue lost their honour and good name</p>
+ <p>Theyr fame and meryt, but nowe they haue nat so</p>
+ <p>But spred theyr fame, whiche neuer away shall go</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Forsoth none lyueth within the worlde wyde</p>
+ <p>Suche meke so holy, so wyse or pacyent</p>
+ <p>Whiche can hym selfe at euery tyme so gyde</p>
+ <p>To please eche fole, for none can some content</p>
+ <p>Forsoth he myght be named excellent</p>
+ <p>Happy and blessyd and lyue in welth and eas</p>
+ <p>Whiche euery man cowde serue content and pleas</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But suche is none, and he that wyll assay</p>
+ <p>For to content eche folysshe mannes mynde</p>
+ <p>Must brake his slepe and stody nyght and day</p>
+ <p>And yet alway some fole shall be behynde</p>
+ <p>Ye if one lyue well, yet wyll they somwhat fynde</p>
+ <p>Behynde his backe hym to sclaunder and diffame</p>
+ <p>For beggers and bawdes therin haue all theyr game</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For whether thou dwell in Est west north or south</p>
+ <p>Of suche dryuels euer shalt thou fynde plente</p>
+ <p>One must haue moche mele, to stoppe eche mannys mouth</p>
+ <p>Sclander is the cunnynge of all the comonte</p>
+ <p>And in the same suche ay moste besy be</p>
+ <p>Whiche lyue them selfe in shame and vylany</p>
+ <p>Euen nowe they speke repentynge by and by</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus all the cunnynge and stody dilygent.</p>
+ <p>Of people vnthryfty is alway to despyse</p>
+ <p>And diffame other whiche ar but innocent</p>
+ <p>Wherfore let suche as ar discrete and wyse</p>
+ <p>Nought set by them that lesyngys doth deuyse</p>
+ <p>Nor theyr vayne foly: for he that doth certayne</p>
+ <p>Is but, a fole. and euer shall lyue in payne.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Trouble nat thy selfe (thou man) where is no nede</p>
+ <p>And arme thou thy selfe with goodly pacyence</p>
+ <p>Be sure it is great foly to take hede</p>
+ <p>Unto backbytynge syns that no resystence</p>
+ <p>May be founde to withstande his violence</p>
+ <p>And take thou this one thynge for thy comfort</p>
+ <p>That none wyse, or good, wyll commyt this offence</p>
+ <p>But all ar caytyffes, that ar of this lewde sort.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p210"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of mockers, and scorners, and
+false accusers.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p333.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t333.png"
+ alt="At their heads ungoodly stones cast." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Yet ar mo Folys whiche mocke and scorneth fast<br />
+ Suche as them shewyth wysdome and doctryne<br /> And at theyr hedes
+ (vngoodly) stonys cast<br /> In mynde disdaynynge to wysdome to
+ enclyne<br /> But gladly they ensue the discyplyne<br /> Of folysshe
+ mockers, let wyse men them eschewe<br /> For no correccion can brynge
+ them to vertue</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O Hertles folys, haste here to our doctryne</p>
+ <p>Leue of the wayes of your enormyte</p>
+ <p>Enforce you to my preceptis to enclyne</p>
+ <p>For here shall I shewe you good and veryte</p>
+ <p>Enclyne, and ye fynde shall great prosperyte</p>
+ <p>Ensuynge the doctryne of our faders olde</p>
+ <p>And godly lawes in valour worth great golde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Who that wyll folowe the graces manyfolde</p>
+ <p>Whiche ar in vertue, shall fynde auauncement</p>
+ <p>Wherfore ye folys that in your syn ar bolde</p>
+ <p>Ensue ye wysedome and leue your lewde intent</p>
+ <p>Wysdome is the way of men most excellent</p>
+ <p>Therfore haue done, and shortly spede your pace</p>
+ <p>To quaynt your selfe and company with grace.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Lerne what is vertue, therin is great solace</p>
+ <p>Lerne what is trouth sadnes and prudence</p>
+ <p>Let grutche be gone, and grauyte purchace</p>
+ <p>Forsake your foly and inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Cesse to be folys, and ay to sue offence</p>
+ <p>Folowe ye vertue, chefe rote of godlynes</p>
+ <p>For it and wysdome is grounde of clenlynes</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wysedome and vertue two thynges ar doutles</p>
+ <p>Whiche man endueth with honour specyall</p>
+ <p>But suche hertis as slepe in folysshnes</p>
+ <p>Knoweth no thynge, and wyll nought knowe at all</p>
+ <p>But in this lytell barge in pryncypall</p>
+ <p>All folysshe mockers I purpos to repreue</p>
+ <p>Clawe he his backe that felyth ytche or greue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Mockers and scorners that ar harde of byleue</p>
+ <p>With a rugh combe here wyll I clawe and grate</p>
+ <p>To proue if they wyll from theyr vyce remeue</p>
+ <p>And leue theyr foly whiche causeth great debate</p>
+ <p>Suche caytyfs spare neyther pore man nor estate</p>
+ <p>And where theyr selfe ar moste worthy of dyrysion</p>
+ <p>Other men to scorne is all theyr moste condicion</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Yet ar mo folys of this abusion</p>
+ <p>Whiche of wyse men despyseth the doctryne</p>
+ <p>With mowes, mockes, scorne, and collusyon</p>
+ <p>Rewardynge rebukes, for theyr good disciplyne</p>
+ <p>Shewe to suche wysdome, yet shall they nat enclyne</p>
+ <p>Unto the same, but set no thynge therby</p>
+ <p>But mocke thy doctryne, styll or openly</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So in the worlde it apereth comonly</p>
+ <p>That who that wyll a Fole rebuke or blame</p>
+ <p>A mocke or mowe shall he haue by and by</p>
+ <p>Thus in derysyon, haue folys theyr speciall game</p>
+ <p>Correct a wyse man, that wolde eschewe yll name</p>
+ <p>And fayne wolde lerne, and his lewde lyfe amende</p>
+ <p>And to thy wordes he gladly shall intende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If by mysfortune a rightwyse man offende</p>
+ <p>He gladly suffreth a iuste correccion</p>
+ <p>And hym that hym techyth taketh for his frende</p>
+ <p>Hym selfe puttynge mekely vnto subieccion</p>
+ <p>Folowynge his preceptis and good dyreccion</p>
+ <p>But if that one a Fole rebuke or blame</p>
+ <p>He shall his techer, hate, sclaunder, and dyffame</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Howbeit his wordes, oft turne to his owne shame</p>
+ <p>And his owne dartis retourne to hym agayne</p>
+ <p>And so is he sore woundyd with the same</p>
+ <p>And in wo endyth, great mysery and payne</p>
+ <p>It also prouyd full often is certayne</p>
+ <p>That they that on mockes alway theyr myndes cast</p>
+ <p>Shall of all other be mocked at the last</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that goeth right, stedfast sure and fast</p>
+ <p>May hym well mocke that goth haltynge and lame</p>
+ <p>And he that is whyte may well his scornes cast</p>
+ <p>Agaynst a man of ynde, but no man ought to blame</p>
+ <p>Anothers vyce whyle he vsyth the same</p>
+ <p>But who that of synne is clene in dede and thought</p>
+ <p>May hym well scorne whose lyuynge is starke nought</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The scornes of Naball full dere sholde haue ben bought</p>
+ <p>If Abigayll his wyfe discrete and sage</p>
+ <p>Had nat by kyndnes right crafty meanes sought</p>
+ <p>The wrath of Dauyd to temper and asswage</p>
+ <p>Hath nat two berys in theyr fury and rage</p>
+ <p>Two and fourty Children rent and torne</p>
+ <p>For they the Prophete Helyseus dyd scorne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So myght they curse the tyme that they were borne</p>
+ <p>For theyr mockynge of this Prophete dyuyne</p>
+ <p>So many other of this sorte often mowrne</p>
+ <p>For theyr lewde mockes, and fall in to ruyne</p>
+ <p>Thus is it foly for wyse men to enclyne</p>
+ <p>To this lewde flocke of Folys for se thou shall</p>
+ <p>Them moste scornynge that ar most bad of all</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Thenuoy of Barcly to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye mockynge Folys that in scorne set your ioy</p>
+ <p>Proudly dyspysynge goddes punycion</p>
+ <p>Take ye example by Cham the son of Noy</p>
+ <p>Whiche laughyd his Father vnto derysyon</p>
+ <p>Whiche hym, after, cursyd for his transgressyon</p>
+ <p>And made hym seruaunt to all his lyne and stocke</p>
+ <p>So shall ye Caytyfs at the conclusyon</p>
+ <p>Syns ye ar nought, and other scorne and mocke</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p215"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of them that dyspyse euerlastynge ioye,
+and settyth thynges transytory before
+thynges eternall and euerlastynge.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p338.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t338.png"
+ alt="Weigheth the heaven and earth to know the heaviest." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He is a foule that weyeth in one balaunce<br /> The
+ heuen and erth to knowe the heuyest<br /> And by his foly and cursed
+ ignoraunce<br /> He thynketh that this wretchyd erth is best<br /> And
+ thoughe that here be neyther ioy nor rest<br /> Yet had some leuer here
+ styll to remayne<br /> Than to depart to heuen voyde of al
+ payne</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>My hande is wery: fayne wolde I rest a space</p>
+ <p>But folys comyth to my shyp so besely</p>
+ <p>That to haue rest: they wyll graunt me no grace</p>
+ <p>That nede I must theyr lewdnes notefy</p>
+ <p>But to recorde this folysshe company</p>
+ <p>They ar suche that this worlde so greatly loue</p>
+ <p>That they despyse the heuenly Royalme aboue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They often thynke in theyr mynde preuely</p>
+ <p>And by them selfe in this wyse oft they say</p>
+ <p>O glorious lorde raynynge eternally</p>
+ <p>Graunt me thy grace that I may lyue alway</p>
+ <p>To se of this worlde the extreme ende and day</p>
+ <p>This is my wyll and synguler askynge</p>
+ <p>As for thy royalme, forsoth I set no thynge</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But yet this fole doth nat desyre this tyme</p>
+ <p>Of so longe lyfe, and yeres alway newe</p>
+ <p>To clens his mynde from all synfull cryme</p>
+ <p>Nor for the loue of goodnes or vertue</p>
+ <p>But rather that he his pleasour may ensue</p>
+ <p>And with his maters and felawes suche as he</p>
+ <p>To folowe ryot, delytys and enormyte.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>To lyue in wantonnes and blyndnes lascyuyte</p>
+ <p>In pryde in Lechery andin couetyse</p>
+ <p>Suche sytteth theyr myndes and theyr felycyte</p>
+ <p>Not ferynge hell whiche is rewarde of vyce.</p>
+ <p>Those dredefull dennys, in a right ferefull wyse</p>
+ <p>With fyres flamynge, and manyfolde tourment</p>
+ <p>Can nat suche folys, theyr synnes cause to stent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O sleuthfull fole say why doste nat thou call</p>
+ <p>Unto thy mynde that this worldes wretchydnes</p>
+ <p>Is full of sorowe moche more bytter than gall</p>
+ <p>Uoyde of all ioy, all pleasour and swetnes</p>
+ <p>Why settest thou so moche by frayle delyciousnes</p>
+ <p>On vayne pleasours, whiche shall sothly decay</p>
+ <p>Lyke as the sone meltyth the snowe away</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Man note my wordes and gyue to them credence</p>
+ <p>I say that pleasours and also ioyes mundayne</p>
+ <p>As it apereth playne by good euydence</p>
+ <p>Ar fylled with sorowe bytternes and payne</p>
+ <p>Without all rest quyete or certayne</p>
+ <p>And yet alas the worlde so doth men blynde</p>
+ <p>That it they loue and caste heuen out of mynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore it hapneth full often as I fynde</p>
+ <p>That suche as foloweth shamefull wantonnes</p>
+ <p>Ungoodly luste, and statelynes of mynde</p>
+ <p>Shall ofte perceyue great shame and wretchydnes</p>
+ <p>And them most suffer, with great mundayne distres.</p>
+ <p>And better charges, and after must nede endure</p>
+ <p>Cruell deth whiche ende is of euery creature</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The worlde shall passe: ye and all ioy mundayne</p>
+ <p>Without all doute at last shall haue an ende</p>
+ <p>And euery thynge outher fruytfull or barayne</p>
+ <p>Shall to the grounde outher firste or last discende</p>
+ <p>We se also that none can hym defende</p>
+ <p>From dethes dartis. and for conclusyon.</p>
+ <p>We dayly se many mennys confusyon.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>We dayly se the fallys innumerable</p>
+ <p>And greuous deth aswell of youth as age</p>
+ <p>Thus is this wretchyd worlde moche vnstable</p>
+ <p>Wherfore me thynke it is a great outrage</p>
+ <p>To trust therto, or for an vnsure stage</p>
+ <p>Or hye place of welth or worldly honour</p>
+ <p>The presence to despyse of our sauyoure</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But without doute the tyme shall come and houre</p>
+ <p>Whan all mankynde shall se hym euydent</p>
+ <p>Some to theyr ioy, some to wo and doloure</p>
+ <p>None shall eskhape that rightwyse iugement.</p>
+ <p>But eche be rewardyd as he his tyme hath spent</p>
+ <p>So they that vertuously haue lyuyd here</p>
+ <p>Despysynge this worlde shall gladly there apere</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But they that here haue led theyr lyfe in vyce</p>
+ <p>For to depart ar wo in herte and mynde</p>
+ <p>And ferefull to byde that sentence of iustyce</p>
+ <p>Syns of theyr synne excuse they can none fynde</p>
+ <p>But to conclude forsoth that fole is blynde</p>
+ <p>That for worldly welth, from god wolde hym deuyde</p>
+ <p>And for vayne clay, the hye heuyn set a syde</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O blynde man whiche hast thy moste felycyte</p>
+ <p>On worldly thinges, alas make clere thy mynde</p>
+ <p>What fyndest thou here, but great aduersyte</p>
+ <p>Wylt thou for it leue y<sup>t</sup> heuenly ioy behynde</p>
+ <p>And where thou myght euerlastynge ryches fynde</p>
+ <p>Where as is helth, endles lyfe and all goodnes</p>
+ <p>Wylt thou forsake it for worldly wretchydnes</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wylt thou heuyn compare with his paynfull lyfe</p>
+ <p>There on to thynke thou art vnwyse certayne</p>
+ <p>There is concorde, here is no thynge but stryfe</p>
+ <p>There is all rest, and here is care and payne</p>
+ <p>There is true loue: here is scorne and disdayne</p>
+ <p>There is all goodnes, here all yll and offence</p>
+ <p>Nowe chuse the best: here is great difference</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p220"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of them that make noyses rehersynges of
+talys and do other thynges vnlaufull
+and dishonest in y<sup>e</sup> chirche of god.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p343.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t343.png"
+ alt="His hounds him about, a hawk on his fist." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">A fole is he, and hath no mynde deuoute<br /> And
+ gyueth occasyon to men on hym to rayle.<br /> Whiche goth in the
+ chirche, his houndes hym aboute<br /> Some rennynge, some fast tyed to
+ his tayle<br /> A hawke on his fyst suche one withouten fayle<br />
+ Better were to be thens, for by his dyn and cry<br /> He troublyth them
+ that wolde pray deuoutly:</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Yet of mo folys fynde I a great nomber</p>
+ <p>Whiche thynke that it is no shame nor vylany</p>
+ <p>Within the chirche, the seruyce to encomber</p>
+ <p>With theyr lewde barkynge roundynge dyn and cry</p>
+ <p>And whyle good people ar praynge stedfastly</p>
+ <p>Theyr herte to good, with meke mynde and deuout</p>
+ <p>Suche folys them let, with theyr mad noyse and shout</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And whyle the prestis also them exercyse.</p>
+ <p>In matyns masse sermon or prechynge dyuyne</p>
+ <p>Or other due thynges that longe to theyr seruyce.</p>
+ <p>Techynge the people to vertue to enclyne</p>
+ <p>Than these folys as it were rorynge swyne</p>
+ <p>With theyr gettynge and talys of vycyousnes</p>
+ <p>Trouble all suche seruyce, that is sayd, more and les</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>In to the churche than comys another sote</p>
+ <p>Without deuocyon gettynge vp and downe</p>
+ <p>Or to be sene, and to showe his gardyd cote</p>
+ <p>Another on his fyst a Sparhauke or fawcon</p>
+ <p>Or els a Cokow, and so wastynge his shone</p>
+ <p>Before the auters he to and fro doth wander</p>
+ <p>With euyn as great deuocyon as a gander</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>In comys another his houndes at his tayle</p>
+ <p>With lynes and leshes and other lyke baggage.</p>
+ <p>His dogges barkyth, so that withouten fayle</p>
+ <p>The hole churche is troubled by theyr outrage</p>
+ <p>So innocent youth lernyth the same of age</p>
+ <p>And theyr lewde sounde doth the churche fyll.</p>
+ <p>But in this noyse the good people kepe them styll.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>One tyme the hawkys bellys Jenglyth hye</p>
+ <p>Another tyme they flutter with theyr wynges</p>
+ <p>And nowe the houndes barkynge strykes the skye</p>
+ <p>Nowe sounde theyr fete, and nowe the chaynes rynges</p>
+ <p>They clap with theyr handes, by suche maner thynges</p>
+ <p>They make of the churche, for theyr hawkes a mewe</p>
+ <p>And Canell to theyr dogges, whiche they shall after rewe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So with suche folys is neyther peas nor rest</p>
+ <p>Unto the holy churche they haue no reuerence</p>
+ <p>But wander about to see who get may best</p>
+ <p>In rybawde wordes pryde and insolence</p>
+ <p>As mad men they fere nat our sauyours presence</p>
+ <p>Hauynge no honour vnto that holy place</p>
+ <p>Wherin is gyuen to man euerlastynge grace</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>There ar handlyd pledynges and causes of the lawe</p>
+ <p>There ar made bargayns of dyuers maner thynges</p>
+ <p>Byenges and sellynges scant worth a hawe</p>
+ <p>And there ar for lucre contryued false lesynges</p>
+ <p>And whyle the prest his Masse or matyns synges</p>
+ <p>These folys whiche to the Churche do repayre</p>
+ <p>Ar chattynge and bablynge as it were in a fayre</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some gygyll and lawghe and some on maydens stare</p>
+ <p>And some on wyues with wanton countenaunce</p>
+ <p>As for the seruyce they haue small force or care</p>
+ <p>But full delyte them in theyr mysgouernaunce</p>
+ <p>Some with theyr slyppers to and fro doth prance</p>
+ <p>Clappynge with their helys in churche and in quere</p>
+ <p>So that good people can nat the seruyce here</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What shall I wryte of maydens and of wyues</p>
+ <p>Of theyr roundynges and vngoodly comonynge</p>
+ <p>Howe one a sclaundre craftely contryues</p>
+ <p>And in the churche therof hath hyr talkynge</p>
+ <p>The other hath therto theyr erys lenynge</p>
+ <p>And than whan they all hath harde forth hir tale</p>
+ <p>With great deuocyon they get them to the ale.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus is the churche defylyd with vylany</p>
+ <p>And in stede of prayer and godly oryson</p>
+ <p>Ar vsyd shamefull bargayns and talys of rybawdry</p>
+ <p>Jettynges and mockynges and great derysyon</p>
+ <p>There fewe ar or none of perfyte deuocion</p>
+ <p>And whan our lorde is consecrate in fourme of brede</p>
+ <p>Therby walkes a knaue, his bonet on his hede</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And whyle those wordes of consecracion</p>
+ <p>Ar sayde of the preste in goddes owne presence</p>
+ <p>Suche caytyfs kepe talys and communycacion</p>
+ <p>Fast by the auter, thynkynge it none offence</p>
+ <p>And where as the angels ar ther with reuerence</p>
+ <p>Laudynge and worshyppynge our holy sauyour</p>
+ <p>These vnkynde caytyfs wyll scantly hym honour</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas wherto shall any man complayne</p>
+ <p>For this foly and accostomed furour</p>
+ <p>Syns none of them theyr fautes wyll refrayne</p>
+ <p>But ay procede in this theyr lewde errour</p>
+ <p>And nat withstandynge that Christ our sauyour</p>
+ <p>Hath left vs example, that none sholde mysdo</p>
+ <p>Within the chirche, yet inclyne we nat therto.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Jhonn the euangelyst doth openly expres.</p>
+ <p>Howe criste our sauyour dyd dryue out and expell</p>
+ <p>From the Temple, suche as vsed there falsnes</p>
+ <p>And all other that therin dyd bye and sell</p>
+ <p>Saynge as it after lyeth in the Gospell</p>
+ <p>Unto the Jues rebuke and great repreues</p>
+ <p>That of goddes house they made a den of theues.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Remember this man, for why thou dost the same</p>
+ <p>Defylynge goddes Chirche with synne and vanyte</p>
+ <p>Whiche sothly was ordeyned to halowe goddes name</p>
+ <p>And to lawde and worshyp the holy trynyte</p>
+ <p>With deuout harte, loue, and all benygnyte</p>
+ <p>And with all our myght our lorde to magnyfy</p>
+ <p>And than after all the heuenly company</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For this cause hath god the holy chirche ordeyned</p>
+ <p>And nat for rybawde wordes and thynges vayne</p>
+ <p>But by vs chrysten men it is distayned.</p>
+ <p>Moche wors than euer, the Jewes dyd certayne</p>
+ <p>And if our lorde sholde nowe come downe agayne.</p>
+ <p>To dryue out of the churche suche as there do syn</p>
+ <p>Forsoth I thynke, right fewe sholde byde within</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The Enuoy To the Reders.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O man that bostest thy selfe in cristes name</p>
+ <p>Callynge the christen, se thou thy synne refuse</p>
+ <p>Remember well it is both synne and shame</p>
+ <p>The house of god, thus to defyle and abuse</p>
+ <p>But this one thynge causeth me oft to muse</p>
+ <p>That the false paynyms within theyr Temples be</p>
+ <p>To theyr ydols moche more deuout than we</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p225"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of them that wyllynge and knowyngly
+put them self in ieopardy and peryll.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p348.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t348.png"
+ alt="Leaping in a well, or in a flaming fire." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He is a fole that wyll purchace and desyre<br /> His
+ owne deth or putteth hym selfe in ieopardy<br /> Lepynge in a well, or
+ in a flamynge fyre<br /> And where he myght lyue so dyeth wyllyngly<br
+ /> Suche suffer theyr destruccyon worthely<br /> And if that they be
+ drowned outher brent<br /> It is to late them after to
+ repent.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I fynde mo folys yet. whome I shall note</p>
+ <p>Suche ar they whiche pray both day and nyght</p>
+ <p>To god and his sayntes cryeng with open throte</p>
+ <p>O glorious god helpe me by thy great myght</p>
+ <p>That I may clens my herte and clere my syght</p>
+ <p>Wherby all foly and synne may fro me fall</p>
+ <p>But yet this fole it leuyth nat at all</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche folys oft pray for theyr amendement</p>
+ <p>Unto our lorde with syghynges sore and depe</p>
+ <p>But yet to synne contynually they assent</p>
+ <p>And after the same often complayne and wepe</p>
+ <p>Than say they playne that god hath had no kepe</p>
+ <p>Unto theyr prayer and taken of it no hede</p>
+ <p>But theyr owne foly is cause of theyr lewde dede</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They se the peryll before theyr faces playne</p>
+ <p>That god hath ordeyned, for foly and for synne</p>
+ <p>They pray for helpe, and yet ar they full fayne</p>
+ <p>After the folys hode alway to ren</p>
+ <p>And besely laboure the same alone to wyn</p>
+ <p>So vnto god for helpe they cry and call</p>
+ <p>But they them selfe wyll helpe no thynge at all</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Than thynke they theyr prayers to god nat acceptable</p>
+ <p>Bycause (anone) they haue nat all theyr wyll</p>
+ <p>And for that god is nat sone agreable</p>
+ <p>To here theyr cry and it graunt and fulfyll</p>
+ <p>These folys in theyr vyce contynue styll</p>
+ <p>And put theyr selfe in wylfull ieopardy</p>
+ <p>And where they myght they fynde no remedy</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But these folys vnstabyll as the wynde</p>
+ <p>Prayeth vnto god and to his sayntis aboue</p>
+ <p>Nat knowynge what may content theyr folysshe mynde</p>
+ <p>Nor whether theyr askynge be for theyr behoue</p>
+ <p>But sothly this dare I both say and proue</p>
+ <p>And it auowe after my sympyll skyll</p>
+ <p>That neuer man shall syn without his wyll</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If that one with his owne wyll doth fall</p>
+ <p>Into a well to assay the ieopardy</p>
+ <p>Whan he is there. if he lowde crye and call</p>
+ <p>Bothe on god and man for helpe and remedy</p>
+ <p>He sekyth that peryll, and dyeth worthely</p>
+ <p>So were it foly to gyue hym corde or trayne</p>
+ <p>Or other engyne to helpe hym vp agayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Whan suche folys ar sure vpon the grounde</p>
+ <p>Without all daunger, peryll hurt or fere</p>
+ <p>They lepe in the wel and yet fere to be drowned</p>
+ <p>Empedocles though he right myghty were</p>
+ <p>With suche lyke foly hym selfe so sore dyd dere</p>
+ <p>That knowyngly and with his owne consent</p>
+ <p>Hymself he lost and by fyers fyre was brent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He lept hedelynge into the flamynge fyre</p>
+ <p>Of a brennynge hyll whiche callyd is Ethnay</p>
+ <p>To knowe the trouth, and nature to enquyre</p>
+ <p>Whether that same flame were very fyre or nay</p>
+ <p>So with his deth the trouth he dyd assay</p>
+ <p>But who that wolde hym drawen out of that hyll</p>
+ <p>Had ben a fole, syns it was his owne wyll</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For why his mynde was blyndyd so certayne</p>
+ <p>That thoughe a man had hym delyuered than</p>
+ <p>The same peryll wolde he haue proued agayne</p>
+ <p>As mad as he forsoth is euery man</p>
+ <p>That is at eas, and hym nat so holde can</p>
+ <p>And also he that putteth hymselfe in drede</p>
+ <p>Or fere and peryll, where as he hath no nede</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So he that prayeth to god that he may get</p>
+ <p>The blysse of heuen, and scape infernall payne</p>
+ <p>He is a fole his herte or mynde to set</p>
+ <p>On frayle ryches, welth and ioy mundayne</p>
+ <p>On stedfast fortune, on lucre or on gayne</p>
+ <p>For certaynly these thynges of worldly welth</p>
+ <p>Oft man deuydeth away from heuenly helth</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus he that prayeth for welth or for ryches</p>
+ <p>Or in this worlde hym selfe to magnyfy</p>
+ <p>Prayeth for his hurt and cause of viciousnes</p>
+ <p>For worldly welth doth vyce oft multyply</p>
+ <p>So seke men theyr owne peryll wyllyngly</p>
+ <p>But who that prayeth, and can nat as he ought</p>
+ <p>He bloweth in the wynde, and shall nat haue his thought</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And who that to honour couetyse to ascende</p>
+ <p>Or to lyue in damnable voluptuosyte</p>
+ <p>He seketh his peryll for if that he descende</p>
+ <p>From welth and worshyp to payne and pouerte</p>
+ <p>It is but worthy, and let hym pacyent be</p>
+ <p>It to endure with mynde demure and meke</p>
+ <p>He is worthy sorowe that wyll it alway seke</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye that fayne wolde escape all ieopardy</p>
+ <p>Auoyde suche thynges the whiche myght cause the same</p>
+ <p>To proue a peryll, is foly certaynly</p>
+ <p>Whether it be done in ernest or in game</p>
+ <p>They that so doth may theyr owne madnes blame</p>
+ <p>For he that is sure, and to a fray wyll ren</p>
+ <p>May fortune come home agayne, nosles or lame</p>
+ <p>And so were it better for to haue byd within</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p230"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of the way of felycyte and godnes, and of
+the payne to come vnto synners.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p353.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t353.png"
+ alt="Punishment doubled with carts of wheels four." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Many in this lyfe the cart of syn doth drawe<br /> By
+ payne and labour, alway right dylygent<br /> Norysshynge theyr syn
+ agaynst all right and lawe<br /> And alway lyuynge after one lyke
+ assent<br /> But whan they ar dede than shall theyr punysshement<br />
+ In hell be dowblyd with cartis of whelys foure<br /> Where as they
+ thought, deth shuld ende theyr laboure</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>God suffreth nat eche vicious fole to knowe</p>
+ <p>The wonders that he made hath on this grounde</p>
+ <p>And dayly worketh. wherfore theyr syn doth growe</p>
+ <p>So that theyr foly them selfe doth confounde</p>
+ <p>And here theyr bodyes to great labours ar bounde</p>
+ <p>Sparynge no peryll for pleasour and for gayne</p>
+ <p>Than after deth haue they euerlastynge payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So he that here lyueth in vyce and synne</p>
+ <p>Shall extreme dolour after deth endure</p>
+ <p>Than what auantage is it for man to wyne</p>
+ <p>All orthly tresour, and of hell payne be sure</p>
+ <p>But without dowt that wretchyd creature</p>
+ <p>Whiche goddes lawes wyll nat here holde and kepe</p>
+ <p>Shall after deth haue cause to wayle and wepe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And suche as here wyll nat knowe theyr sauyour</p>
+ <p>Obseruynge his preceptis and commaundement</p>
+ <p>Whiche god hathe ordeyned to saue vs from erroure</p>
+ <p>And vs commaundyd to kepe with clene intent</p>
+ <p>Ouer all the worlde. as rule moste excellent</p>
+ <p>To lyue godly. and who so euer he be</p>
+ <p>That foloweth in this worlde voluptuosyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Or carnall lust ryot or other offence</p>
+ <p>Wastynge his tyme in syn and viciousnes</p>
+ <p>All suche in this worlde, by theyr blynde negligence</p>
+ <p>Drawe styll the cart of greuous besynes.</p>
+ <p>With payne and charge and, whan this wretchydnes</p>
+ <p>Is past and gone, yet after this they shall</p>
+ <p>In hell endure great tourmentis eternall</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>There shalt (thou fole) the charet drawe alway</p>
+ <p>With dowble paynes both tedyous and cruell</p>
+ <p>Wherfore thou fole retourne the I the pray.</p>
+ <p>Seke nat the way whiche ledeth vnto hell</p>
+ <p>With his foule dennes, more darke than tunge can tell</p>
+ <p>And thoughe the way be esy streyght and playne</p>
+ <p>The ende is nought, I aduyse the tourne agayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The way to hell is greatly occupyed</p>
+ <p>The path is playne, and easy to ouergo</p>
+ <p>The dore ay open no entre is denyed</p>
+ <p>To suche as purpose in mynde to come therto</p>
+ <p>But at the ende therof is care and wo</p>
+ <p>With syghtis odyous and abhomynable</p>
+ <p>Yet in the way ar folkes innumerable</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus is no meruayle though this way be playne</p>
+ <p>And greatly worne syns it is hantyd so</p>
+ <p>By dyuers folys whiche haste them to that payne.</p>
+ <p>By way contynuall therto: but none therfro</p>
+ <p>The dredefull dore to them that wyll in go</p>
+ <p>Both day and nyght is open, it doth forsake</p>
+ <p>No folys that wyll theyr iourney thyther take</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But that way that to hye heuen doth lye</p>
+ <p>Is way of grace plesour, and all felycyte</p>
+ <p>In it suche walke as here lyue vertuously</p>
+ <p>And blessyd men, but nat suche as vyciouse be</p>
+ <p>Yet is it narowe, and full of difficulte</p>
+ <p>There is many a harde flynt brere and thorne</p>
+ <p>And no meruayle for it is nat greatly worne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For why lewde people, whiche is the gretest sort</p>
+ <p>Forsake this way for the payne and hardnes</p>
+ <p>But godly men therin haue chefe consort</p>
+ <p>With all that lyue by grace in ryghtwysnes</p>
+ <p>Suche well consyder that heuyns blessydnes</p>
+ <p>Can nat be gotten by pleasour rest nor eas</p>
+ <p>Wherfore this way can nat suche synners pleas</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>God so hath ordeyned that who wyll haue vertue</p>
+ <p>Must it obtayne with payne and dilygence</p>
+ <p>And great labour, whiche many nowe eschewe</p>
+ <p>Without it be to seke synne and offence</p>
+ <p>Fewe seke the way to christis hye presence</p>
+ <p>Therby it hapneth that many a thousande</p>
+ <p>Fast rennyth leftwarde, but fewe on the right hande</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas man remembre heuens blyssednes</p>
+ <p>And though the way be harde that lyeth therto</p>
+ <p>Forsoke it nat for all that great sharpnes</p>
+ <p>For at the ende is lyfe and rest also</p>
+ <p>Euerlastynge glory with other ioyes mo</p>
+ <p>But who that taketh the other way certayne</p>
+ <p>Shall fynde at the ende eternall payne and wo</p>
+ <p>Thoughe the way thether be easy streyght and playne</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p234"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of the yll example of elders gyuyn vnto
+youth.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p357.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t357.png"
+ alt="By anger or malice break pot." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">If that the fader and mother before theyr son<br /> By
+ anger or malyce brake, platter pot, or pan<br /> The son in hande shall
+ take some cauderon<br /> And lerne to breke it if his small power
+ can<br /> Thus oft tyme chyldren haue cause to curse or ban<br /> Theyr
+ frendes for suche example of lewdnes<br /> For soner that they lerne
+ than vertue or goodes</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye aged men rotyd in folysshnes</p>
+ <p>And folysshe parentis lewde of your langage</p>
+ <p>Vnto our shyp swyftly your selfe addres</p>
+ <p>Syns ye be worthy therin to haue a stage</p>
+ <p>Nowe cast I repreues agaynst your outrage</p>
+ <p>Whiche boldly bost you of your vnthryfty lyues</p>
+ <p>Before your maydes, your doughters and your wyues</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas the folys of this mad company</p>
+ <p>By theyr example cause great inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Before theyr children recountynge rybaudry</p>
+ <p>Of suche as they haue had experyence.</p>
+ <p>So gyue they to them example of offence</p>
+ <p>And in that synne wheron they bost and vant</p>
+ <p>They make them perfyte whiche erst were ignorant</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Theyr wordes ar voyde of shame and honestye</p>
+ <p>Theyr lyfe is without mesure and reuerence</p>
+ <p>But yet they thynke that they moste worthy be</p>
+ <p>That moste can tell of this greuous offence</p>
+ <p>Thus all the youth that is in theyr presence</p>
+ <p>Or that doth here theyr vyce and rybawdry</p>
+ <p>Vnto the same with theyr full mynde aply</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus theyr yonge children maners lernyth none</p>
+ <p>The wyfe hath occasyon to breke hir chastyte</p>
+ <p>So is the lyfe defyled of them echone</p>
+ <p>And to be playne, we often tymes se</p>
+ <p>That of what maners the folysshe husbondes be</p>
+ <p>Such ar theyr wyues, children and housholde</p>
+ <p>The yonge Cok lerneth to crowe hye of the olde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A folysshe Father, full hardly shall ensyne</p>
+ <p>His sone to good lyfe or to good gouernaunce</p>
+ <p>For if the father to foly doth enclyne</p>
+ <p>The sone wyll folowe his father in that daunce</p>
+ <p>And if the father vse hasarde or the chaunce</p>
+ <p>Or any prohybyt and vnlawfull game</p>
+ <p>Most comonly the sone wyll do the same</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If that the husbonde be vycious of his lyfe</p>
+ <p>Wastfull or dronken, or vyle in his langage</p>
+ <p>His sonnes doughters, his seruauntes and his wyfe</p>
+ <p>Wyll lerne of hym to passe the same passage</p>
+ <p>And if the husbonde breke his maryage</p>
+ <p>If the wyfe knowe, in mynde she wyll be wroth</p>
+ <p>Without he haue a hode of the same cloth</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>An olde prouerbe hath longe agone be sayde</p>
+ <p>That oft the sone in maners lyke wyll be</p>
+ <p>Vnto the Father, and in lyke wyse the mayde</p>
+ <p>Or doughter, vnto the mother wyll agre</p>
+ <p>So if the elders vse enormyte</p>
+ <p>And before theyr children bost them of the same</p>
+ <p>The sone and doughter shall folowe syre and dame</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The monkes thynke it lawfull for to play</p>
+ <p>Whan that the Abbot bryngeth them the dyce</p>
+ <p>Right so the Father, can nought or lytell say</p>
+ <p>Agaynst the sone, nor hym blame or chastyce</p>
+ <p>If he hym selfe be taken in that same vyce</p>
+ <p>Thus lyues the Father in synne withouten shame</p>
+ <p>And after his deth the sone shall do the same</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O wretchyd maners o tyme full of furour</p>
+ <p>And full of foly without all hope to stent</p>
+ <p>Howe longe shall god our lorde and sauyour</p>
+ <p>This synne suffer without greuous punysshement</p>
+ <p>Alas it nowe apereth euydent</p>
+ <p>That the fathers foly synne and great outrage</p>
+ <p>Is left to the sonne as it were herytage</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And no meruayle, for it hath neuer ben seen</p>
+ <p>That of a wolfe a shepe hath be forth brought</p>
+ <p>Or that a calfe or lambe gendred hath been</p>
+ <p>Of a fell tygre: right so if it were sought</p>
+ <p>Ouer all the worlde. a Father that is nought</p>
+ <p>Sholde scant be founde, whiche coude brynge vp his childe</p>
+ <p>With his synne in no maner poynt defylyd</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The yonge crab bacwarde doth crepe or go</p>
+ <p>As doth the olde, none can hir cours redres</p>
+ <p>These yonge children for the moste part also</p>
+ <p>Foloweth theyr fathers synne and his lewdnes</p>
+ <p>But they that lyue in maners of mekenes</p>
+ <p>In honest lyfe, goodnes grace and chastyte</p>
+ <p>May brynge forth children of maners as they be</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I rede howe the Phylosopher Diogenes</p>
+ <p>Sayde by a childe whiche dronken was with wyne</p>
+ <p>That his Father was in that case doutles</p>
+ <p>Whan he it gate, so his hye wyt dyuyne</p>
+ <p>Knewe that the childes maners dyd inclyne</p>
+ <p>Vnto his Fathers, and so was it founde trewe</p>
+ <p>By them whiche well that childes fader knewe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But though the Father and mother also be nought</p>
+ <p>Without dout this one thynge apereth playne</p>
+ <p>That the childe is suche as it is vp brought</p>
+ <p>And nat lyghtly chaungyd without great charge or payne</p>
+ <p>Therfore let euery man hym selfe refrayne</p>
+ <p>Within his hous from all thynge worthy blame</p>
+ <p>Than shall his children and seruautes do the same</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye that haue children or other great housholde</p>
+ <p>Subdued to your seruyce, and your obedyence</p>
+ <p>Kepe vertuous lyfe, for that is worth great golde</p>
+ <p>And great example to youth to auoyde offence</p>
+ <p>But if ye boost you of synne and neglygence</p>
+ <p>In rybawde wordes, gyue credence to this clause</p>
+ <p>If the herers fall into incouenyence</p>
+ <p>Your lewde example is the chefe grounde and cause</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p239"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of bodely pleasour or corporall
+voluptuosyte</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p362.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t362.png"
+ alt="As sheep, as bulls, as birds it tangleth in its snare." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Wanton wastfull and vayne voluptuosyte<br /> Oft
+ blyndeth attysynge vnto inconuenyence<br /> Many that ar rude, for
+ theyr symplycyte<br /> And them as shepe sleeth for all theyr
+ innocence<br /> But other some it kepyth with myght and violence<br />
+ As bulles bounde sure to endure great care<br /> And other as byrdes it
+ tangleth in hir snare</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Drawe nere ye folys to you I crye and call</p>
+ <p>Whiche ar of grace clene destytute and bare</p>
+ <p>Folowynge your lust and pleasour corporall</p>
+ <p>But for your soule ye take no thought ne care</p>
+ <p>To whome may I this shamefull lust compare</p>
+ <p>Saue to a harlat faynynge, fals and couetous.</p>
+ <p>Of whome comyth shame and bytes venemous</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>She syttyth in the strete as past both shame and fere</p>
+ <p>Hir brestes bare to tempt them that passe by</p>
+ <p>Hir face anoyntyd blasynge abrode hir here</p>
+ <p>Or els on hir folysshe front enlaced hye</p>
+ <p>Hir smocke to garnysshyd so hir dysceytfull iye</p>
+ <p>To shamfull lust a thousande doth attyce</p>
+ <p>Of youth whiche erst perchuance knewe nought of vyce</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Hir chamber full of flatery and disceyte</p>
+ <p>Anone is opened the blynde fole entreth in</p>
+ <p>The hoke of deth is hyd vnder the bayte</p>
+ <p>Of folysshe lust pleasour and mortall syn</p>
+ <p>Hir soule she sellyth ryches therby to wyne</p>
+ <p>And what riches: a rewarde sothly full vyle</p>
+ <p>The soules damneth and bodyes doth defyle</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The one departyth, another comys in agayne</p>
+ <p>Without all shame dare she them boldly pray</p>
+ <p>To hir fals pleasours, Thus by hir gyle and trayne</p>
+ <p>This folysshe youth to hir wyll nat denay</p>
+ <p>But vnto hir some lepe both nyght and day</p>
+ <p>Without mesure, rennynge to lese theyr lyfe</p>
+ <p>As ox or shepe vnto the bochers knyfe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The symple lambe his necke doth out extende</p>
+ <p>Vnto the Bocher his mortall ennemy</p>
+ <p>So doth these folys, sekynge a shamefull ende</p>
+ <p>And theyr owne deth, though they myght fynde remedy</p>
+ <p>O blynde fole I requyre the to aply</p>
+ <p>Vnto my wordes and thou shalt here and se.</p>
+ <p>Howe moche thou oughtest this folysshe lust to fle</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The soule it damneth, and drowneth depe in hell</p>
+ <p>The wyt it wastyth, and confoundeth the mynde</p>
+ <p>It causeth man his londe and good to sell</p>
+ <p>And if that he none other mene can fynde</p>
+ <p>To rob and stele he oft tyme is inclyned</p>
+ <p>Besyde all these this fowle lust is so vyle</p>
+ <p>That with fowle sauour it shall thy body fele</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thoughe of lewde lust the ioy be short and small</p>
+ <p>And thoughe the pleasour therof be soon ouer past</p>
+ <p>The payne that foloweth it, is eternall</p>
+ <p>With wofull dolour menglyd, that euer shall last</p>
+ <p>Therfore leue of: do nat thy pleasour cast</p>
+ <p>On worldly welth, delyte ioy and pleasour</p>
+ <p>For soon they pas and chaunge at euery hour</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Who that in this wretchyd worlde wyll auoyde</p>
+ <p>Of voluptuousnes the ioyes frayle and vayne</p>
+ <p>And suffre nat hym with them to be acloyde</p>
+ <p>Infect or drownyd, shall for the same certayne</p>
+ <p>Euerlastynge lyfe, and endles ioy obtayne</p>
+ <p>And for his hye tryumphe and dyuyne prudence</p>
+ <p>Haue the fruycyon of goddes hye presence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But who that wyll his carnall lust ensue</p>
+ <p>Shall here haue shame, and after payne cruell</p>
+ <p>I coude hereof dyuers examples shewe</p>
+ <p>But of right many this one I shall you tell</p>
+ <p>One Sardanapalus all other dyd excell.</p>
+ <p>In carnall lust and so his mynde dyd cast</p>
+ <p>On loue prohybyte, that grace was fro hym past</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The loue of vertue was full out of his mynde</p>
+ <p>So he concludyd to sue dilyciousnes</p>
+ <p>Thynkynge after deth no welth nor ioy to fynde</p>
+ <p>For this is the sentence of the prynce of derknes</p>
+ <p>But good almyghty seynge his vycyousnes</p>
+ <p>His body and soule deuydyd soon in twayne</p>
+ <p>From worldly pleasour vnto infernall payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>By this hystory to vs it apereth playne</p>
+ <p>That from worldly pleasour and voluptuosyte</p>
+ <p>With all our myght we ought vs to refrayne</p>
+ <p>For thoughe the first of them delycious be</p>
+ <p>Theyr ende is poyson, and of sournes plente</p>
+ <p>Sue wyse men vertue, and set suche lust asyde</p>
+ <p>For they ar folys that in it lyue and byde</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Amende mad men your blynde mysgouernaunce</p>
+ <p>Subdue nat your necke to the captyuyte</p>
+ <p>Of flysshely lust and corporall pleasaunce</p>
+ <p>Nor to blynde Venus with hir lasciuyte</p>
+ <p>(If ye it note) ye dayly here and se</p>
+ <p>The mysfortune of them that it ensue</p>
+ <p>And certaynly no man can saued be</p>
+ <p>By carnall lust, but by godly vertue</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p244"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of folys that can nat kepe secrete theyr
+owne counsell.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p366.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t366.png"
+ alt="His hair by guile from his head off-shorn." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Of other Foles a nomber yet I fynde<br /> Which by
+ theyr bablynge wordes and langage<br /> Can nat kepe close the secrete
+ of theyr mynde.<br /> But all theyr counsel out they shewe at large.<br
+ /> So that oft therof procedeth great damage.<br /> As Murder,
+ myschefe, hatered and debate.<br /> That after they repent. But than it
+ is to late</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He is a naturall fole and vndiscrete</p>
+ <p>And to hym selfe ingendryth oft great stryfe</p>
+ <p>Whiche can nat hyde his counsell and secrete</p>
+ <p>But by his foly it sheweth to his wyfe</p>
+ <p>And all that he hath done in his hole lyfe</p>
+ <p>Or that to do here after he doth purpose</p>
+ <p>To euery man suche a fole wyll disclose</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The noble Sampson moste excellent of myght</p>
+ <p>And strongest man that euer was get or borne</p>
+ <p>Were nat this foly: sholde nat haue lost his syght</p>
+ <p>Nor had his here, by gyle from his hede ofshorne</p>
+ <p>And of his ennemyes ben laughyd vnto scorne</p>
+ <p>And at the last with herte wrethfull and wo</p>
+ <p>His ennemyes murdred and hym selfe also</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Where as he myght haue lyued in honour</p>
+ <p>If he had kept his secretes in his mynde</p>
+ <p>With his owne wyll he dyed in great dolour.</p>
+ <p>By the fals treason of his lemman vnkynde</p>
+ <p>We may in dyuers mo examples fynde</p>
+ <p>Howe many thousandes haue suffred paynes smart</p>
+ <p>And all for shewynge the secretes of theyr hart</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Amphiaraus a Prynce moste excellent</p>
+ <p>Shortened the dayes of his pore doutfull lyfe</p>
+ <p>For shewynge the preuetees of his intent</p>
+ <p>By his owne foly to his disceytfull wyfe</p>
+ <p>And thoughe he longe escaped had the stryfe</p>
+ <p>And war of Thebes whiche he dyd longe defende</p>
+ <p>Yet at the leest his tunge was his owne ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus olde storyes doth oft recorde and tell</p>
+ <p>By theyr examples whiche they vnto vs gyue</p>
+ <p>That wymen ar no kepars of councell</p>
+ <p>It goeth through them as water trough a syue</p>
+ <p>Wherfore let them that quyetly wolde lyue</p>
+ <p>No more of theyr counsell to any woman showe</p>
+ <p>Than that they wolde that euery man dyd knowe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Let euery man that is discrete and sage</p>
+ <p>Of suche folys with all wysdome be ware</p>
+ <p>Whiche shewe theyr counsell by theyr hasty langage.</p>
+ <p>To euery man without all thought and care</p>
+ <p>For they of wysdome and reason ar but bare</p>
+ <p>And who that his owne secrete wyll forth tell</p>
+ <p>Howe sholde he hyde another mannes counsell</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Yet other be whiche by theyr flaterynge trayne</p>
+ <p>Labour to knowe euery mannys pryuete</p>
+ <p>And by and by to shewe it forth agayne</p>
+ <p>Of them be ware for they disceyfull be.</p>
+ <p>Some other bost them of theyr felycyte</p>
+ <p>Bablynge that they haue theyr wyll in euery thynge</p>
+ <p>As prosperous welth loue, ryches and cunnynge</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And of great dedes done both on see and londe</p>
+ <p>Some by theyr falshode, some by strength and vertue</p>
+ <p>But if one laboured the trouth to vnderstonde</p>
+ <p>Suche folysshe wordes sholde all be founde vntrewe</p>
+ <p>Let neuer man to suche his counsell shewe</p>
+ <p>For of one worde these folys makyth twayne</p>
+ <p>Whiche tourneth many to losse rebuke and payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore if thou wylt that thy pryuete</p>
+ <p>Be kept secrete and nat come out at large</p>
+ <p>Be nat so folysshe to showe it unto me</p>
+ <p>Or any other if it be thynge of charge</p>
+ <p>And if thou do thou shalt be in this barge</p>
+ <p>For howe wylt thou thynke that another man</p>
+ <p>Can kepe thy counsell syns thou thy selfe ne can</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If the kynge Achab had nat vttred and tolde</p>
+ <p>Vnto his wyfe his wyll and mynde so playne</p>
+ <p>By hir fals treason, and dysceyt manyfolde</p>
+ <p>Vnrightwysly Nabot had nat ben slayne</p>
+ <p>But for the same, Achab suffred great payne</p>
+ <p>By deth in batayle, and for a punysshment</p>
+ <p>His wyfe with houndes was all to torne and rent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus it apereth that he is wyse and ware</p>
+ <p>Whiche can his counsell kepe within his hart</p>
+ <p>For by that mean may he escape great care</p>
+ <p>And suerly lyue without yll wyllys dart</p>
+ <p>The Prophete seynge what dyuers paynes smart</p>
+ <p>Comyth oft to them whiche doth theyr secret tell</p>
+ <p>Eche man exortyth to kepe close his counsell.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thou man that hast thy secret in thy brest</p>
+ <p>Holde it styll there suffer it nat out to go</p>
+ <p>Who that so doth, therby shall fynde great rest</p>
+ <p>Ne to thy frende shewe nat thy mynde also</p>
+ <p>For if that he after become thy fo</p>
+ <p>As often hapneth, than myght he the bewry</p>
+ <p>So sholde thy foly tourne vnto thy great wo</p>
+ <p>Howe be it suche thynges are prouyd comonly.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p247"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of yonge folys that take olde wymen to
+theyr wyues, for theyr ryches.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p370.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t370.png"
+ alt="A old wife taken in marriage for her riches." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Within our shyp that fole shall haue a hode<br />
+ Whiche an olde wyfe taketh in maryage<br /> Rather for hir ryches and
+ hir worldly gode<br /> Than for pure loue, or hope to haue lynage<br />
+ But suche youth as mary them selfe with age<br /> The profyte and
+ pleasour of wedlocke lese certayne<br /> And worthely lyue in brawlynge
+ stryfe and payne.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Under the Asse tayle thoughe it be no thynge pure</p>
+ <p>Yet many seke and grope for the vyle fatnes</p>
+ <p>Gatherynge togyther the fowle dunge and ordure</p>
+ <p>Suche ar they that for treasour and ryches</p>
+ <p>Whyle they ar yonge in theyr chefe lustynes</p>
+ <p>An agyd woman taketh to theyr wyfe</p>
+ <p>Lesynge theyr youth, and shortynge so theyr lyfe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They that so do hath neyther rest nor peas</p>
+ <p>But besy brawlynge and stryfe contynuall</p>
+ <p>They have no pleasour, but thought and great dyseas</p>
+ <p>Rebuke out braydynge, and strypes whan they fall</p>
+ <p>But theyr owne foly is grounde and cause of all</p>
+ <p>For they be maryd unto the vyle treasour</p>
+ <p>And precious bagges, but nat for godly pleasour</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They haue no hope of children nor lynage</p>
+ <p>Loue is there none, and durynge theyr wretchyd lyfe</p>
+ <p>Is nat one day in suche mad maryage</p>
+ <p>Auoyde of brawlynge, of hatered and of stryfe</p>
+ <p>But that pore man that weddeth a ryche wyfe</p>
+ <p>Cast in his nose shall styll hir bagges fynde</p>
+ <p>For whose cause he made was made and blynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They that ar weddyd nat for loue but rychesse</p>
+ <p>Of moryage despysynge the pleasour and profyte</p>
+ <p>Suche seldome sauour fortunes happynes</p>
+ <p>But oft mysfortune them greuously doth byte</p>
+ <p>Thus gone is theyr pleasour theyr ioy and delyte</p>
+ <p>And for vayne treasoure suche ar so glad and fayne</p>
+ <p>That for the same they them subdue to payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They wyllyngly to payne them selfe subdue</p>
+ <p>The whiche ar weddyd for wretchyd couetyse</p>
+ <p>They take no hede to maners and vertue</p>
+ <p>To honeste nor wysdome but lyue ay in malyce</p>
+ <p>For if a woman be fowle and full of vice</p>
+ <p>And lewde of maners, nought both to man and lad</p>
+ <p>Yet good shall hir mary be she neuer so bad</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If that a man of hye or lowe degre</p>
+ <p>Wolde spouse his doughter vnto a strange man</p>
+ <p>He nought inquyreth of his honestye</p>
+ <p>Of his behauour, nor if he norture can</p>
+ <p>But if he be ryche in londes and good: than</p>
+ <p>He shall be prayed his doughter for to haue</p>
+ <p>Thoughe be but a bonde man or a knaue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The firste enquyrynge and speciall questyon</p>
+ <p>Is of the money, that thynge namely they moue</p>
+ <p>And last of all aske they the condicion</p>
+ <p>So whan they mete they neuer haue perfyte loue</p>
+ <p>Wherfore it were better to suche for theyr behoue</p>
+ <p>To byde alone in deserte and wyldernes</p>
+ <p>Than in wedloke in payne for frayle ryches</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Forsoth it is an vnmete maryage</p>
+ <p>And disagreynge and moche agaynst the lawe</p>
+ <p>Bytwene fresshe youth, and lame vnlusty age</p>
+ <p>The loue bytwene them is scantly worth a strawe</p>
+ <p>So doth the one styll on the other gnawe</p>
+ <p>And oft the man in mynde doth sore complayne.</p>
+ <p>His sede to sowe vpon a grounde barayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Than muste he haue another prymme or twayne</p>
+ <p>With them to slake his wanton yonge cowrage</p>
+ <p>But in that space must he endure great payne</p>
+ <p>With hir that he hath tane in maryage</p>
+ <p>Hir bablynge tunge whiche no man can asswage</p>
+ <p>With wrathfull wordes shall sle hym at the laste</p>
+ <p>His other prymes his good shall spende and waste</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus who that selleth his youthes lustynes</p>
+ <p>For frayle ryches and this mundayne vanyte</p>
+ <p>He byeth stryfe, gyle and falshode endlesse</p>
+ <p>Suche force nat for fayth true loue nor honestye</p>
+ <p>And thoughe that he discende of hye degre</p>
+ <p>For hope of money he shall an olde fole wed</p>
+ <p>By whose foly he to euery yll is led.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And so these folys subdue them to bondage</p>
+ <p>And worthely endure suche payne and punysshement</p>
+ <p>They hope therby to come to auantage</p>
+ <p>But that they lese and lyue in sore tourment</p>
+ <p>They wast theyr good, and so whan that is spent</p>
+ <p>And nought remayneth theyr bodyes to relefe</p>
+ <p>Theyr disputacion is nought but hore and thefe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But if I sholde wryte all the vnhappynes</p>
+ <p>The wrath discorde and the great deuysyon</p>
+ <p>Wherin they lyue, that mary for ryches</p>
+ <p>And nat for loue. I neuer sholde haue done</p>
+ <p>Wherfore this say I for a conclusyon</p>
+ <p>That he shall neuer thryue ne come to his behoue</p>
+ <p>That weddyth a wyfe for gode and nat for loue</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alas man myndles what is thyne intent</p>
+ <p>To wed for ryches, that weddynge I defy</p>
+ <p>Maryage was ordeyned by god omnypotent</p>
+ <p>In goddes lawes the worlde to multyply</p>
+ <p>Wherfore that man that wyll therto aply</p>
+ <p>And wolde haue the profyte of faythfull maryage</p>
+ <p>This worldly ryches ought no thynge to set by</p>
+ <p>But wed for loue and hope to haue lynage</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Remember ryches is no thynge comparable</p>
+ <p>To mekenes vertue and discrete gouernaunce</p>
+ <p>And other maners whiche ar more commendable</p>
+ <p>Than worldly treasour or suche vnsure substaunce</p>
+ <p>Wherfore consyder and call to thy remembraunce</p>
+ <p>That better is to haue some woman pore and bare</p>
+ <p>And lyue in eas: Than one with habundaunce</p>
+ <p>Of great ryches: and euer to lyue in care</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p252"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of enuyous Folys.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p375.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t375.png"
+ alt="Of others damage rejoicing in their mind." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Yet ar mo folys whiche greatly them delyte<br /> In
+ others losse, and that by fals enuy<br /> Wherby they suche
+ vnrightwysly bacbyte<br /> The dartis of suche ouer all the wordly
+ flye<br /> And euer in fleynge theyr fethers multyply<br /> No state in
+ erth therfro can kepe hym sure<br /> His sede encreasyth as it wolde
+ euer endure</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wastynge enuy oft styreth to malyce</p>
+ <p>Folys nat a fewe whiche ar therto enclynyd</p>
+ <p>Pryckynge theyr frowarde hertes vnto vyce</p>
+ <p>Of others damage reioysynge in theyr mynde</p>
+ <p>Enuyes darte doth his begynnynge fynde</p>
+ <p>In wrathfull hertes, it wastyth his owne nest</p>
+ <p>Nat suffrynge other to lyue in eas and rest</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If one haue plenty of treasour and ryches</p>
+ <p>Or by his merytis obteyne great dignyte</p>
+ <p>These folys enuyous that of the same haue les</p>
+ <p>Enuy by malyce, the others hye degre</p>
+ <p>And if another of honour haue plente</p>
+ <p>They it enuy and wysshe that they myght sterue</p>
+ <p>Howe be it suche folys can nat the same deserue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>These folys desyre agaynst both lawe and right</p>
+ <p>Anoters good if they may get the same</p>
+ <p>If they may nat by flaterynge nor by myght</p>
+ <p>Than by fals malyce they hym enuy and blame</p>
+ <p>Outher if one by his vertue hath good name</p>
+ <p>By fals enuy these foles hym reproue</p>
+ <p>Their wrath them blyndeth so that they none can loue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The wounde of this malycious, fals enuy</p>
+ <p>So dedely is, and of so great cruelte</p>
+ <p>That it is incurable and voyde of remedy</p>
+ <p>A man enuyous hath suche a properte</p>
+ <p>That if he purpose of one vengyd to be</p>
+ <p>Or do some mysche, whiche he reputyth best</p>
+ <p>Tyll it be done, he neuer hath eas nor rest</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>No slepe, no rest nor pleasour can they fynde</p>
+ <p>To them so swete, pleasaunt and delectable</p>
+ <p>That may expell this malyce from theyr mynde</p>
+ <p>So is enuy a vyce abhomynable</p>
+ <p>And vnto helth so frowarde and damnable</p>
+ <p>That if it onys be rotyd in a man</p>
+ <p>It maketh hym lene. his colour pale and wan.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Enuy is pale of loke and countenaunce</p>
+ <p>His body lene of colour pale and blewe</p>
+ <p>His loke frowarde, his face without pleasaunce</p>
+ <p>Pyllynge lyke scalys, his wordes ay vntrue</p>
+ <p>His iyen sparklynge with fyre ay fresshe and newe</p>
+ <p>It neuer lokyth on man with iyen full</p>
+ <p>But euer his herte by furious wrath is dull</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thou mayst example fynde of this enuy</p>
+ <p>By Joseph whome his bretherne dyd neuer beholde</p>
+ <p>With louynge loke, but sharpe and cruelly</p>
+ <p>So that they hym haue murdred gladly wolde</p>
+ <p>I myght recount examples manyfolde</p>
+ <p>Howe many by enuy lost hath theyr degre</p>
+ <p>But that I leue bycause of breuyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Enuyous folys ar stuffed with yll wyll</p>
+ <p>In them no myrth nor solace can be founde</p>
+ <p>They neuer laughe but if it be for yll</p>
+ <p>As for gode lost or whan some shyp is drounde</p>
+ <p>Or whan some hous is brent vnto the grounde</p>
+ <p>But whyle these folys on other byte and gnawe</p>
+ <p>Theyr enuy wastyth theyr owne herte and theyr mawe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The mount of Ethnay though it brent euer styll</p>
+ <p>Yet (saue itselfe) it brenneth none other thynge</p>
+ <p>So these enuyous Folys by theyr yll wyll</p>
+ <p>Wast theyr owne herte, thoughe they be ay musynge</p>
+ <p>Another man to shame and losse or hurt to brynge</p>
+ <p>Upon them sellfe Thus tournyth this yll agayne</p>
+ <p>To theyr destruccion both shame great losse and payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>This fals enuy by his malycious yre</p>
+ <p>Doth often, bretherne so cursedly inflame</p>
+ <p>That by the same the one of them conspyre</p>
+ <p>Agaynst the other without all fere and shame</p>
+ <p>As Romulus and Remus excellent of fame</p>
+ <p>Whiche byldyd Rome, but after: enuy so grewe</p>
+ <p>Bytwene them that the one the other slewe</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What shall I wryte of Cayme and of Abell</p>
+ <p>Howe Cayme for murder suffred great payne and wo</p>
+ <p>Atreus story and Theseus cruell.</p>
+ <p>Ar vnto vs example hereof also</p>
+ <p>Ethyocles with his brother: and many mo</p>
+ <p>Lyke as the storyes declareth openly</p>
+ <p>The one the other murdred by enuy</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore let hym that is discrete and wyse</p>
+ <p>This wrathfull vyce exyle out of his mynde</p>
+ <p>And yll on none by malyce to surmyse</p>
+ <p>Let charyte in perfyte loue the bynde</p>
+ <p>Sue hir preceptis than shalt thou consort fynde</p>
+ <p>Loue in this lyfe, and ioy whan thou art past</p>
+ <p>Where as enuy thy conscyence shall blynde</p>
+ <p>And both they blode and body mar and wast</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p256"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of impacient Folys that wyll nat abyde
+correccion.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p379.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t379.png"
+ alt="In his bagpipe hath more game and sport." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Unto our Folys shyp let hym come hastely<br /> Whiche
+ in his Bagpype hath more game and sport<br /> Than in a Harpe or Lute
+ more swete of melody<br /> I fynde vnnumerable Folys of this sort<br />
+ Whiche in theyr Bable haue all they hole confort<br /> For it is oft
+ sayd of men both yonge and olde<br /> A fole wyll nat gyue his Babyll
+ for any golde</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The grettest synners that man may se or fynde</p>
+ <p>In myserable Folys theyr foly to expres</p>
+ <p>Is whan they wyll by no mean gyue theyr mynde</p>
+ <p>To frendly wordes, to grace or to goodnes</p>
+ <p>Suche folys so set theyr mynde on frowardnes</p>
+ <p>That though one gyue them counsell sad and wyse</p>
+ <p>They it disdayne and vtterly despyse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But he that is discrete sad and prudent</p>
+ <p>Aplyeth his mynde right gladly to doctryne</p>
+ <p>He hereth wyse men, his wysdome to augment</p>
+ <p>He them doth folowe and to theyr wordes enclyne</p>
+ <p>But that fole whiche ay goeth to ruyne.</p>
+ <p>And mortall myschefe had leuer be dede or slayne</p>
+ <p>Than byde correccyon or for his profyte payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche haue suche pleasour in theyr mad folysshe pype</p>
+ <p>That they dispyse all other melody.</p>
+ <p>They leuer wolde dye folys than: byde a strype</p>
+ <p>For theyr correccyon and specyall remedy</p>
+ <p>And without dout none other Armony</p>
+ <p>To suche folys is halfe so delectable</p>
+ <p>As is their folysshe bagpype and theyr babyll</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>These frantyke folys wyll byde no punysshement</p>
+ <p>Nor smale correccion, for theyr synne and offence</p>
+ <p>No frendly warnynge can chaunge theyr yll intent</p>
+ <p>For to abyde it, they haue no pacyence.</p>
+ <p>They here no wysdome but fle from hir presence</p>
+ <p>And so it hapnyth that in the worlde be</p>
+ <p>Mo folys than men of wyt and grauyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O mortall fole remember well what thou art</p>
+ <p>Thou art a man of erth made and of clay</p>
+ <p>Thy dayes ar short and nede thou must depart</p>
+ <p>Out of this lyfe, that canst thou nat denay</p>
+ <p>Yet hast thou reason and wyt wherby thou may</p>
+ <p>Thy selfe here gyde by wysdome ferme and stable</p>
+ <p>Wherby thou passest all bestis vnreasonable</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thou art made lorde of euery creature</p>
+ <p>All thynge erthly vnto thyne obedyence</p>
+ <p>God hath the creat vnto his owne fygure</p>
+ <p>Lo is nat here a great preemynence</p>
+ <p>God hath also gyuyn vnto the intellygence</p>
+ <p>And reason and wyt all foly to refuse.</p>
+ <p>Than art thou a fole that reason to abuse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that is fre outher in subieccion.</p>
+ <p>If by his foly he fall into offence</p>
+ <p>And than submyt hym vnto correccyon.</p>
+ <p>All men shall laude his great obedyence</p>
+ <p>But if that one by pryde and insolence</p>
+ <p>Supporte his faute and so bere out his vyce</p>
+ <p>The hell tourmentis hym after shall chastyce</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Correccyon shall the vnto wysdome brynge</p>
+ <p>Whiche is more precious than all erthly ryches</p>
+ <p>Than londes rentis or any other thynge</p>
+ <p>Why dost thou bost the of byrth or noblenes</p>
+ <p>Of ryches, strength beauty or fayrnes</p>
+ <p>These often ar cause of inconuenyence.</p>
+ <p>Where as all good comyth by wysdome and prudence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A wyse man onely as we often fynde</p>
+ <p>Is to be named moste ryche and of most myght</p>
+ <p>Here thou his wordes and plant them in thy mynde</p>
+ <p>And folowe the same for they ar sure and right.</p>
+ <p>Better is to endure, thoughe it be nat lyght</p>
+ <p>To suffer a wyse man the sharply to repreue</p>
+ <p>Than a flaterynge fole to clawe the by the sleue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thoughe sharpe correccyon at the first the greue</p>
+ <p>Thou shalt the ende therof fynde profytable</p>
+ <p>It oft apereth, therfore I it byleue</p>
+ <p>That man also forsoth is fortunable</p>
+ <p>Whiche here in fere lyueth sure and stable</p>
+ <p>And in this lyfe is clene of his intent</p>
+ <p>Ferynge the sharpe payne of hellys punysshement</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He may hym selfe right happy call also</p>
+ <p>Whiche is correct in his first tender age</p>
+ <p>And so lernyth in goodes law to go</p>
+ <p>And in his yocke, whiche doth all yll asswage</p>
+ <p>But these folys bydynge in theyr outrage</p>
+ <p>Whiche of correccyon in this lyfe hath dysdayne</p>
+ <p>May fere to be correct in hell with endles payne</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye obstynate folys that often fall in vyce</p>
+ <p>Howe longe shall ye kepe this frowarde ignoraunce</p>
+ <p>Submyt your myndes, and so from synne aryse</p>
+ <p>Let mekenes slake your mad mysgouernaunce</p>
+ <p>Remember that worldly payne it greuaunce</p>
+ <p>To be compared to hell whiche hath no pere</p>
+ <p>There is styll payne, this is a short penaunce</p>
+ <p>Wherfore correct thy selfe whyle thou art here.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p260"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of folysshe Fesycyans and vnlerned that
+onely folowe paractyke knowynge nought
+of the speculacyon of theyr faculte.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p383.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t383.png"
+ alt="He hath no insight, cunning or doctrine." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Who that assayeth the craft of medycyne<br /> Agaynst
+ the seke and paynfull pacyent<br /> And hath no insyght cunnynge nor
+ doctryne<br /> To gyue the seke, helth and amendement<br /> Suche is a
+ fole, and of a mad intent<br /> To take on hym by Phesyke any cure<br
+ /> Nat knowynge of man, nor herbe the right nature</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Yet be mo folys vpon the grounde and londe</p>
+ <p>Whiche in our Shyp may clayme a rowme and place</p>
+ <p>Suche be Phesycians that no thynge vnderstonde</p>
+ <p>Wandrynge about in euery towne and place</p>
+ <p>Uysytynge the seke whiche lyue in heuy case</p>
+ <p>But nought they relefe of those paynes harde</p>
+ <p>But gape alway after some great rewarde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche that haue practyse and nought of speculatyfe</p>
+ <p>Whan they go vysyte some paynfull pacyent</p>
+ <p>Whan they hym note sure to forgo his lyfe</p>
+ <p>Without all hope of any amendement</p>
+ <p>Yet say they other than is in theyr intent</p>
+ <p>That his diseas is no thynge incurable</p>
+ <p>So that the pacyent to hym be agreable</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Sayth the Phesycyan whan he hath his rewarde</p>
+ <p>Abyde a whyle tyll I my bokes ouer se</p>
+ <p>Wherby I may relyue thy paynes harde</p>
+ <p>Than from the pacyent homewarde departyth he</p>
+ <p>To se his bokes but if the pacyent dye</p>
+ <p>In that meane space the medycyne is to late</p>
+ <p>So may he lay it to his owne folysshe pate</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The speculacion sholde he before haue sene</p>
+ <p>For that in Phesyke is chefe and pryncypall,</p>
+ <p>Yet many ar that vse the craft I wene</p>
+ <p>Whiche of the cunnynge knowe lytell or nought at all</p>
+ <p>A herbe or wede that groweth vpon a wall</p>
+ <p>Beryth in it these folys medycyne.</p>
+ <p>None other bokes haue they nor doctryne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Nor none they rede to haue the true scyence</p>
+ <p>Or perfyte knowlege and grounde of medycyne</p>
+ <p>They rede no volumes of the experyence</p>
+ <p>Of Podalirius nor Mesues doctryne</p>
+ <p>Suche folys disdayne theyr myndes to enclyne</p>
+ <p>Unto the doctryne of bokes of Auycen</p>
+ <p>Of ypocras and parfyte galyen</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But all the substance of theyr blynde faculte</p>
+ <p>They take in bokes that speke of herbes only</p>
+ <p>Without respect had to theyr properte</p>
+ <p>Or operacion so often they them aply</p>
+ <p>To fals doctrynes, but first and specyally</p>
+ <p>These olde wyues therwith wyll haue to do</p>
+ <p>Thoughe they nought knowe that doth belonge therto</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They dare be bolde to take on them the cure</p>
+ <p>Of them diseasyd howe be it that they nat can</p>
+ <p>Suche thynge descerne as longyth to nature</p>
+ <p>What is for woman good, and what for man</p>
+ <p>So oft they ende moche wors than they began</p>
+ <p>That the pore pacyent is so brought to his graue</p>
+ <p>Yet dyuers suters suche folysshe wytches haue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche wytches boldly dare afferme and say</p>
+ <p>That with one herbe they hele can euery sore</p>
+ <p>Under euery syne plenete, houre and day</p>
+ <p>Yet besyde this they boldly dare say more</p>
+ <p>That it that helyth a man aged and hore</p>
+ <p>Shall helpe also a woman or a childe</p>
+ <p>Thus many thousandes oft ar by them begyled</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They say also in this our charge or cure</p>
+ <p>What nedes it note the synes or fyrmament</p>
+ <p>The cause of thynges, or the strength of nature</p>
+ <p>Whether that the seke be stronge or impotent</p>
+ <p>They gyue one medesyn to euery pacyent</p>
+ <p>And if it fortune it be to colde or warme</p>
+ <p>The faythles wytche in hande goth with hir scharme</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Say folysshe Surgyan by what experyence</p>
+ <p>Or whose Doctryne discyplyne or lore</p>
+ <p>Takest thou on the, nought knowynge of scyence</p>
+ <p>With one Salue or plaster, to heale euery sore</p>
+ <p>Yet so thou thynkest, I the compare therfore</p>
+ <p>Unto a lawyer that of his craft nought can</p>
+ <p>And yet presumeth to counsell euery man</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A lawer and a Phesician ar both lyke</p>
+ <p>Of theyr condicion and both insue one trayne</p>
+ <p>The one begylyth the pacyent and seke</p>
+ <p>Takynge his god for to encreas his payne</p>
+ <p>The other labours and cauteles oft doth fayne</p>
+ <p>To clawe the coyne by craft from his clyent</p>
+ <p>Castynge hym of whan all his good is spent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus thryues the lawer by anothers good</p>
+ <p>Iniustly gotten, disceyuynge his clyent</p>
+ <p>Also some other ar callyd Phesicians good</p>
+ <p>Whiche vtterly disceyue the pacyent</p>
+ <p>If he haue money than hath he his intent</p>
+ <p>And if the seke haue store ynough to pay</p>
+ <p>Than shall the cure be dryuen from day to day</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So if the lawer may any auauntage wyn</p>
+ <p>He shall the cause from terme to terme defarre</p>
+ <p>The playntyf for a player is holde in.</p>
+ <p>With the defendaunt kepynge open warre</p>
+ <p>So laweyers and Phesicians thousandes do marre</p>
+ <p>And whan they no more can of theyr suers haue</p>
+ <p>The playntyf beggyth, the seke is borne to graue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But of these lawyers bycause I spoke before</p>
+ <p>Of folysshe Phesicians here onely I intende.</p>
+ <p>Somwhat to say: And of lawers no more</p>
+ <p>On you Phesicians shall I conclude and ende</p>
+ <p>I say no man may hym so well defende</p>
+ <p>That he for murder may auoyde punysshement</p>
+ <p>Yet may Phesicians, sleynge the pacient</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thus thou that of Phesycian hast the name</p>
+ <p>If thou nought knowe of perfyte medycyne</p>
+ <p>It is forsoth to thy rebuke and shame</p>
+ <p>To boste the scyence: nat hauynge the doctryne</p>
+ <p>Therfore I counsell that thou thy mynde inclyne</p>
+ <p>To haue the cunnynge, els certaynly thou shall</p>
+ <p>Haue thy blynde craft and lyue a fole with all.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of the traslatour</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thou blynde Phesician that of thy craft nought can</p>
+ <p>Leue of thy lewdnes and bolde audacyte</p>
+ <p>To take on the: the cure of chylde or man</p>
+ <p>For by thy foly the wors myght they be</p>
+ <p>And ye that suerly perceyue your faculte</p>
+ <p>Be true therin, and auaryce from you cast</p>
+ <p>Shame is to brynge a man to pouertye</p>
+ <p>And than in paynes to leue hym at the last</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p265"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of the ende of worldly honour and power
+and of Folys that trust therein.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p388.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t388.png"
+ alt="The wheel of fortune." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">On erth was neuer degre so excellent<br /> Nor man so
+ myghty: in ryches nor scyence<br /> But at the ende all hath ben gone
+ and spent<br /> Agaynst the same no man can make defence<br /> Deth all
+ thynge drawyth, ferefull is his presence,<br /> It is last ende of
+ euery thynge mundayne<br /> Thus mannys fortune of cours is
+ vncertayne</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O creatures of myndes mad and blynde</p>
+ <p>I wonder of your hertis proude and eleuate</p>
+ <p>Whiche on vayne power set so sore your mynde</p>
+ <p>And trust so moche to your vnsure estate</p>
+ <p>As of your lyfe were neyther yere nor date</p>
+ <p>To worldly worshyp ye stedfastly intende</p>
+ <p>As if your lyfe sholde neuer more come to ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alway ye labour to come to dignyte</p>
+ <p>And oft by falshode your power to augment</p>
+ <p>Alas fewe ar content with theyr degre</p>
+ <p>But by extorcion spoyle the pore innocent</p>
+ <p>On worldly treasour so set is theyr intent</p>
+ <p>And styll to honour as besely to ascende</p>
+ <p>As if theyr lyfe sholde neuer more come to ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Take thou example by Julius cesar</p>
+ <p>That of the worlde durynge a whyle was sure</p>
+ <p>And many kynges subduyd by myght of warre</p>
+ <p>And of the Empyre had lordshyp charge cure</p>
+ <p>But this his myght great space dyd nat endure</p>
+ <p>And whyle he trustyd yet hyer to ascende</p>
+ <p>By cruell deth he soon came to his ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Right in lyke wyse the myghty Darius</p>
+ <p>Was kynge of Persy a realme moche excellent</p>
+ <p>Yet was his mynde so greatly couetus</p>
+ <p>That with the same helde he hym nat content</p>
+ <p>But warred on other Royalmes adiacent</p>
+ <p>So whan his myght coude nat therto extende</p>
+ <p>His owne Royalme he loste and so came to his ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And also Xerxes in ryches abundant</p>
+ <p>Was longe in peas and great tranquyllyte</p>
+ <p>And in his Royalme was hye and tryumphant</p>
+ <p>As longe as he was content with his degre</p>
+ <p>Than had he pleasour and great felycyte.</p>
+ <p>To assay by warre his kyngdome to amende</p>
+ <p>But all he lost and so came to his ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Whyle Nabugodonosor kynge of Babylone</p>
+ <p>In vnsure fortune set to great confydence</p>
+ <p>Commaundynge honour vnto hym to be done</p>
+ <p>As vnto god: with all humble reuerence,</p>
+ <p>God by his power and hye magnyfycence</p>
+ <p>Made hym a beste, for that he dyd offende</p>
+ <p>And so in proces of tyme came to his ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Alexander the great and myghty conquerour</p>
+ <p>To whome all the worlde scantly myght suffyse</p>
+ <p>Of Grece was the origynall lorde and Emperour</p>
+ <p>And all the worlde subdued as I surmyse</p>
+ <p>Yet hath he done as is the comon gyse</p>
+ <p>Left all behynde, for nought coude hym defende</p>
+ <p>But as a symple man at the last came to his ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The myghty Cresus with his kyngdomes and store</p>
+ <p>Of golde and ryches hym selfe coude nat content</p>
+ <p>But whyle he trustyd and laboured for more</p>
+ <p>Fortune hym fayled: So lost he his intent.</p>
+ <p>What shall I wryte of Cyrus excellent</p>
+ <p>Drynkynge his blode by deth whiche fortune sende</p>
+ <p>To here of states the comon deth and ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>All kyngdomes dekay and all estate mundayne</p>
+ <p>Example of Rome Cartago and Mycene</p>
+ <p>Of Solyme Tyre grace and Troy moste souerayne</p>
+ <p>None of these places ar nowe as they haue ben</p>
+ <p>Nor none other ouer the worlde as I wene</p>
+ <p>Thus shortly to speke and all to comprehende</p>
+ <p>All worldly thynges at last shall haue an ende.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><a name="p268"></a></p>
+
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enouy of Barklay to the Folys</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O man that hast thy trust and confydence</p>
+ <p>Fyxed on these frayle fantasyes mundayne</p>
+ <p>Remember at the ende there is no difference</p>
+ <p>Bytwene that man that lyued hath in payne</p>
+ <p>And hym that hath in welth and ioy souerayne</p>
+ <p>They both must dye their payne is of one sort</p>
+ <p>Both ryche and pore, no man can deth refrayne</p>
+ <p>For dethes dart expellyth all confort</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Say where is Adam the fyrst progenytour</p>
+ <p>Of all mankynde is he nat dede and gone</p>
+ <p>And where is Abell of innocence the flour</p>
+ <p>With adamys other sonnes euerychone</p>
+ <p>A: dredfull deth of them hath left nat one</p>
+ <p>Where is Mathusalem, and Tuball that was playne</p>
+ <p>The first that played on Harpe or on Orgone</p>
+ <p><i>Ilz sont tous mortz ce monde est choce vayne</i></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Where is iust Noy and his ofsprynge become</p>
+ <p>Where is Abraham and all his progeny</p>
+ <p>As Isaac and Jacob, no strength nor wysdome</p>
+ <p>Coude them ensure to lyue contynually</p>
+ <p>Where is kynge Dauyd whome god dyd magnyfy</p>
+ <p>And Salomon his son of wysdome souerayne</p>
+ <p>Where ar his sonnes of wysdome and beauty</p>
+ <p><i>Ilz sont toutz mortz ce monde est choce vayne.</i></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Where ar the prynces and kynges of Babylon</p>
+ <p>And also of Jude and kynges of Israell</p>
+ <p>Where is the myghty and valiant Sampson</p>
+ <p>He had no place in this lyfe ay to dwell</p>
+ <p>Where ar the Prynces myghty and cruell</p>
+ <p>That rayned before Christ delyuered vs from payne</p>
+ <p>And from the Dongeons of darke and ferefull hell</p>
+ <p><i>Ilz sont toutz mortz ce monde est choce vayne.</i></p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Of worldly worsyp no man can hym assure</p>
+ <p>In this our age whiche is the last of all</p>
+ <p>No creature can here alway endure</p>
+ <p>Yonge nor olde, pore man nor kynge royall</p>
+ <p>Unstable fortune tourneth as doth a ball</p>
+ <p>And they that ones pas can nat retourne agayne</p>
+ <p>Wherfore I boldly dare speke in generall</p>
+ <p>We all shall dye: <i>ce monde est choce vayne</i>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ryches nor wysdome can none therfro defende</p>
+ <p>Ne in his strength no man can hym assure</p>
+ <p>Say where is Tully is he nat come to ende</p>
+ <p>Seneke the sage with Cato and Arture</p>
+ <p>The hye Arystotyll of godly wyt and pure</p>
+ <p>The glorious Godfray, and myghty Charlemayne</p>
+ <p>Thoughe of theyr lyfe they thought that they were sure</p>
+ <p>Yet ar they all dede: <i>ce monde est choce vayne</i>.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Where ar the Phylosophers and Poetis lawreat</p>
+ <p>The great Grammaryens and pleasant oratours.</p>
+ <p>Ar they nat dede after the same fourme and rate</p>
+ <p>As ar all these other myghty conquerours</p>
+ <p>Where ar theyr Royalmes theyr ryches and treasours</p>
+ <p>Left to theyr heyres: and they be gone certayne</p>
+ <p>And here haue left theyr riches and honours</p>
+ <p>So haue they proued that this worlde is but vayne.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So I conclude bycause of breuyte</p>
+ <p>That if one sought the worlde large and wyde</p>
+ <p>Therin sholde be founde no maner of dere</p>
+ <p>That can alway in one case suerly byde</p>
+ <p>Strength, honour, riches cunnynge and beautye</p>
+ <p>All these decay, dayly: thoughe we complayne</p>
+ <p><i>Omnia fert etas</i>, both helth and iolyte</p>
+ <p>We all shall dye: <i>ce monde est choce vayne</i>.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p271"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of predestynacion.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p394.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t394.png"
+ alt="Of the crayfish he still shall backward ride." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">That man that lokyth for to haue a rewarde<br /> Whiche
+ he hath nat deseruyd to obtayne<br /> And lenyth his body vpon a rede
+ forwarde<br /> Whiche for waykenes may hym nat well sustayne<br />
+ Forsoth this fole may longe so loke in vayne<br /> And on the Crauys he
+ styll shall bacwarde ryde<br /> Cryenge with the doue, whose flyght
+ shall hym ay gyde</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It is vnlawfull, man to be dilygent</p>
+ <p>Or serchynge goddes workes to set his thought</p>
+ <p>Howe he hath made the heuen and fyrmament</p>
+ <p>The erth the see and euery thynge of nought</p>
+ <p>Yet of some Folys the cause hereof is sought,</p>
+ <p>Whiche labour also with curyosyte</p>
+ <p>To knowe the begynnynge of his dyuynyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>These folys forgettynge their owne fragilyte</p>
+ <p>Wolde loke to knowe the ende of euery thynge</p>
+ <p>Boldly disputynge in goddys pryuete</p>
+ <p>And what rewarde is ordeynyd for men lyuynge</p>
+ <p>Of many folys this is the moste musynge</p>
+ <p>Whiche labour dayly with besy cure and payne.</p>
+ <p>To knowe what god doth discerne and or ordayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore in this part I shall dispyse and blame</p>
+ <p>Unchrafty folys whiche scantly haue ouer sene</p>
+ <p>Ought of scripture, if they knowe the bokes name</p>
+ <p>Or els a whyle hath at the Scoles bene</p>
+ <p>Than bende they the browys and stedfastly they wene</p>
+ <p>In theyr conceyt that they ar passynge wyse</p>
+ <p>For all scripture newe commentis to deuyse</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They frowardly the sentence do transpose</p>
+ <p>And that whiche is wryten, both playne and holely</p>
+ <p>By theyr corruptynge and vnlawfull glose</p>
+ <p>Oft tyme they brynge to damnable heresy</p>
+ <p>Falsly expoundynge after theyr fantasy</p>
+ <p>They labour to transpose and turne the right sence</p>
+ <p>Thoughe the wordes stryue and make great resystence</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Here what these folys with theyr audacyte</p>
+ <p>Dare besely say by theyr fals errour blynde</p>
+ <p>Presumynge on goddes secrete and pryuete</p>
+ <p>Here what lewde wordes they cast out in the wynde</p>
+ <p>They say what man can chaunge or turne his mynde</p>
+ <p>To lyue after any other fourme and rate</p>
+ <p>But lyke as he is therto predestynate</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They say: if god that rayneth ouerall</p>
+ <p>Hath any ordeyned that in this worlde is</p>
+ <p>To come to the place and rowme celestyall</p>
+ <p>For to be partyner of euerlastynge blys</p>
+ <p>Ordeyned for suche as here doth nat amys</p>
+ <p>No man can chaunge, not other thynge mundayne</p>
+ <p>That thynge whiche god by his myght doth ordayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But if that god prefyxed hath before</p>
+ <p>Any creature vnto infernall payne</p>
+ <p>In derknes to be damnyd for euer more</p>
+ <p>No erthly thynge may that sentence call agayne</p>
+ <p>Nor hym delyuer: o fole thou mayst complayne</p>
+ <p>For this thy foly and also it repent</p>
+ <p>Thynkest thou nat god alway omnypotent</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Is god nat rightwyse and grounde of all iustyce</p>
+ <p>Rewardynge man after his gouernaunce</p>
+ <p>He that hath here nat lyen in synne and vyce</p>
+ <p>Hauynge in goddys seruyce his pleasaunce</p>
+ <p>Shall of his lorde be had in remembraunce</p>
+ <p>And of rewarde worthely be sure</p>
+ <p>Where it is worthy that synners payne endure</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Trust well who seruyth his maker stedfastly</p>
+ <p>With pure herte kepynge sure his commaundement</p>
+ <p>And lawes shall be rewardyd fynally</p>
+ <p>With heuenly ioy and scape all punysshement</p>
+ <p>Therfore thou fole leue of this lewde intent</p>
+ <p>Lyue vertuously and trust in goddes grace</p>
+ <p>Than yll desteny in the shall haue no place</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Vnto great ioy god hath vs all create</p>
+ <p>And to vs all ordeyned his kyngdome</p>
+ <p>And none hath vnto Hell predestynate</p>
+ <p>But often whan we folowe nat wysdome</p>
+ <p>By ouer owne foly we fall, and so become</p>
+ <p>Vnto our maker vnkind: and hym deny</p>
+ <p>Whiche them rewardyth that here lyue vertuously</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore thou Fole desyst thy wordes vayne</p>
+ <p>And let thy tunge no more suche wordes say</p>
+ <p>For god hath vs made all of one stuf certayne</p>
+ <p>As one potter makyth of one clay</p>
+ <p>Vessels dyuers, but whan he must them lay</p>
+ <p>Vpon the kyll with fyre them there to dry</p>
+ <p>They come nat all to good, moste comonly</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Doth this erthyn pot his maker dispyse</p>
+ <p>Whether it be made of fassyon good or yll</p>
+ <p>Saynge why dost thou make me in this wyse</p>
+ <p>Wherfore mad man I reade the to be styll</p>
+ <p>Blame nat thy maker, for thy vnhappy wyll</p>
+ <p>For god hath neuer man nor childe create</p>
+ <p>But all he hath to heuen predestynate</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And whyle we lyue here on this wretchyd grounde</p>
+ <p>We haue our reason and wyttes vs to gyde</p>
+ <p>With our fre wyll and if no faute be founde</p>
+ <p>In our demenour, in heuen we shall abyde</p>
+ <p>But if we goddes lawes set asyde</p>
+ <p>Howe may we hope of hym rewarde to wyn</p>
+ <p>So our owne foly is moste cause of our syn.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">The enuoy of Barclay</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O creature vnkynde vnto thy creatour</p>
+ <p>What carest thou to knowe or to inuestygate</p>
+ <p>The pryuetye, of god, leue this thy errour</p>
+ <p>To thynke the by hym to be predestynate</p>
+ <p>To endles wo and from his blysse pryuate</p>
+ <p>For syns thou hast thy reason and frewyll</p>
+ <p>Gyuyn the by god, thou art in suche estate</p>
+ <p>To take the eleccion outher of good or yll</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p276"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of folys that forget them selfe and do
+another mannys besynes leuynge theyr
+owne vndone.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p399.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t399.png"
+ alt="He that will suffer his own house to burn." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Who that wyll suffer his owne hous to bren<br /> Tyll
+ nought of it saue the bare wallys stonde<br /> And with his water
+ hastely doth ren<br /> To quenche the fyre of anothers hous or londe<br
+ /> He is a fole and haue shall in his hande<br /> A folysshe Pype or
+ horne therwith to blowe<br /> For other folys that in my Shyp wyll
+ rowe.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Within my Shyp of rowme he shall be sure</p>
+ <p>Whiche for anothers auantage and profyte</p>
+ <p>Takyth great thought and doth moche payne endure</p>
+ <p>Vnto his owne charge takynge no respyte</p>
+ <p>But settyth it asyde and hath all his delyte</p>
+ <p>With all his stody hym to enforce and dres:</p>
+ <p>To care for euery mannys besynes.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche hertles folys to them self neglygent</p>
+ <p>In theyr owne charge slepe contynually</p>
+ <p>But with open iyen they ar full dylygent</p>
+ <p>The worke of other with all theyr myght to aply</p>
+ <p>And for others profyte prouyde they besely.</p>
+ <p>But whyle these Folys ar glad to take in hande</p>
+ <p>Anothers charge, theyr owne styll let they stande</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore I am so bolde within my boke</p>
+ <p>Somwhat to touch these folys mad vsage</p>
+ <p>That if it fortune them on the same to loke</p>
+ <p>They may therby perceyue in theyr corage</p>
+ <p>That labour they ought for their owne auauntage</p>
+ <p>Most specyally. for that is the degre</p>
+ <p>And the true order of perfyte charite</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For perfyte loue and also charite</p>
+ <p>Begynneth with hym selfe for to be charitable</p>
+ <p>And than to other after his degre</p>
+ <p>Thy owne auauntage is ay moost profytable</p>
+ <p>The great Phylosophers of maners ferme and stable</p>
+ <p>And also of wysdome godly and dyuyne</p>
+ <p>Hath left to vs suche techynge and doctryne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>We haue by Therence the same commaundement</p>
+ <p>The same is wryten also as I fynde</p>
+ <p>In the holy lawe of the olde testament</p>
+ <p>And therfore he that oft wyll set his mynde</p>
+ <p>For others maters with care his thought to blynde</p>
+ <p>Let hym first se vnto his owne profyte</p>
+ <p>Lyst some mysfortune hym after sharply byte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Let hym turne his labour to his owne auauntage</p>
+ <p>And than do for other where as he seeth moste nede</p>
+ <p>For who that playeth for mony outher gage</p>
+ <p>And on his felawes cast takyth onely hede</p>
+ <p>And nat to his owne, suche one shall seldom spede</p>
+ <p>And is a Fole. So is he that doth ren</p>
+ <p>To quenche another hous, suffrynge his owne to bren</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche one of his owne damage hath no fere</p>
+ <p>And worthy is his losse and hurte to byde</p>
+ <p>So is he that wyll anothers burthen bere</p>
+ <p>Or takyth anothers charge at any tyde</p>
+ <p>Despysynge his owne werke and settynge it asyde</p>
+ <p>If suche haue losse and after it forthynke</p>
+ <p>No man shall moche force whether he flete or synke</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He is well worthy to haue a folys pype</p>
+ <p>That goth vnbyddyn to rype anothers corne</p>
+ <p>And suffreth his owne to stande though it be rype.</p>
+ <p>And generally all Folys ar worthy scorne</p>
+ <p>Of what maner byrth so euer they be borne</p>
+ <p>If they them self put, to losse or damage</p>
+ <p>Therby to do some other auauntage</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Say curyous Fole: say what pleasour thou hast</p>
+ <p>In others maters thy self to intermyt</p>
+ <p>Or theyr great charges thus in thy mynde to cast</p>
+ <p>Thy selfe to socour set thou thy mynde and wyt</p>
+ <p>Let others maters therfore in quyete syt</p>
+ <p>On thy owne profyte of all firste set thy mynde</p>
+ <p>And than (if thou mayst) do somwhat for thy frende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For vtterly that man is moche vnwyse</p>
+ <p>That thus takyth thought for anothers charge</p>
+ <p>And doth his owne by neglygence despyse</p>
+ <p>For suche Folys I forgyd haue this barge</p>
+ <p>But of the same suche men I clene discharge</p>
+ <p>That first of his pryuate profyte can take hede</p>
+ <p>And than helpe a frende and felowe at a nede</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Thenuoy of Barklay</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye that take charge, thought and besy cure</p>
+ <p>For others mysfortune, losse or aduersyte</p>
+ <p>First of your self I aduyse you to be sure</p>
+ <p>For this is the order of parfyte charyte</p>
+ <p>Eche to hym selfe moste louynge ay to be</p>
+ <p>And next to his frende, but who that doth dispyse.</p>
+ <p>His owne besynes whiche is in ieopardye</p>
+ <p>Seynge to anothers forsoth he is vnwyse</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p280"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of the vyce of vnkyndnes.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p403.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t403.png"
+ alt="Always taking the service and rewards of his friend." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">That Fole can neyther gode nor honeste<br /> Whiche
+ whan one doth to hym a frendly dede<br /> It gladly takyth, thoughe it
+ be two or thre<br /> Lokynge for kyndnes, yet takyth he no hede<br />
+ To shewe the same agayne in tyme of nede<br /> Let suche Folys be no
+ thing wroth therfore<br /> Thoughe in this Shyp I set them to an
+ ore.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He is a Fole that crauynge is alway</p>
+ <p>Takynge the seruyce and rewardes of his frende</p>
+ <p>And nat remembryth the same agayne to pay</p>
+ <p>But as a churle it castyth out of his mynde</p>
+ <p>For who that wolde haue one to hym be kynde</p>
+ <p>And lyberall, he ought the same to be</p>
+ <p>For kyndnes meyntayneth bothe loue and charyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that wyll charge another with cures harde</p>
+ <p>And great labours greuous to sustayne</p>
+ <p>Ought for his labour hym worthely rewarde</p>
+ <p>That the rewarde may be confort to his payne</p>
+ <p>It is disworshyp and also shame certayne</p>
+ <p>To take the labour of any ryche or pore</p>
+ <p>And nat iustly hym to content therfore</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore the workman ought also to intende</p>
+ <p>Vnto his labour to saue his honestye</p>
+ <p>And workemanly to brynge it the ende</p>
+ <p>If he therby wolde well rewardyd be</p>
+ <p>And if the owner therof beholde and se.</p>
+ <p>His worke so done, he is a chorle vnkynde</p>
+ <p>If he do nat content the workmannys mynde.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He that wolde gladly that men sholde hym commende</p>
+ <p>Must fully purpose and fyx within his mynde</p>
+ <p>Lyberall to be and nat euer to intende</p>
+ <p>To false Auaryce, whiche many one doth blynde</p>
+ <p>And if he purpose hye honours for to fynde</p>
+ <p>Or hym auaunce to any great degre</p>
+ <p>He must haue mekenes and lyberalyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>He must of maners also be commendable</p>
+ <p>And of his speche als pleasaunt as he can</p>
+ <p>For an olde prouerbe true and verytable</p>
+ <p>Sayth that good lyfe and maners makyth man</p>
+ <p>But euery lawe doth dam and also ban</p>
+ <p>The churlysshe vyce and lewde of vnkyndnes</p>
+ <p>Whiche dryeth vp the well of bounte and goodnes</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>For vnkynde folys if one labour dylygent</p>
+ <p>And so brynge theyr worke vnto good conclusyon</p>
+ <p>They fynde yet fautis and so ar nat content</p>
+ <p>Withdrawynge the rewarde by theyr collusyon</p>
+ <p>Wherfore let suche thynke it no abusyon</p>
+ <p>Nor haue disdayne ne yet in mynde complayne</p>
+ <p>If the pore laborer gyue vp his worke agayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>These frowarde Folys, doth wronge and iniury</p>
+ <p>To suche as to them do profyte and honour</p>
+ <p>For kyndnes, they render shame and vylany</p>
+ <p>Rebukes sclander extorcion and rygour</p>
+ <p>But whyle they hope to come to great valoure</p>
+ <p>And by such rygour to honours to aryse</p>
+ <p>Theyr hope vanyssheth as doth the snowe or yce</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Wherfore who that puttyth one to besynes</p>
+ <p>To charge or labour of body or of mynde</p>
+ <p>Ought hym rewarde agayne for his kyndnes</p>
+ <p>If he do nat forsoth he is unkynde</p>
+ <p>But specyally as I oft wryten fynde</p>
+ <p>It is a thynge whiche doth for vengeaunce cry</p>
+ <p>A pore laborer to put to Iniury</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What man can wryte the inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Whiche groweth of this lewde and cursyd vyce</p>
+ <p>Vnkyndnes causeth great myschefe and offence</p>
+ <p>And is repugnynge to reason and iustyce</p>
+ <p>Wherfore let suche that wyll be namyd wyse</p>
+ <p>Leue it: and folowe lyberalyte</p>
+ <p>Whiche is noryssher of loue and amyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>In dyuers bokes examples we may fynde</p>
+ <p>Howe many Cytees hygh and excellent</p>
+ <p>Agaynst all lawe and reason were vnkynde</p>
+ <p>To suche as dyd theyr dignyte augment</p>
+ <p>O vnkynde rome thou was of this intent</p>
+ <p>Whiche hast Camyllus exyled in great payne</p>
+ <p>Thoughe he euer laboured thy honour to mentayne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O cruell Athenes by thy ingratytude</p>
+ <p>Hast thou nat banysshyd Solon also fro the</p>
+ <p>Though he enfourmyd hath thy maners rude</p>
+ <p>And gyuyn the lawes of right and equyte</p>
+ <p>For his great meryte, loue and benygnyte</p>
+ <p>Thou hast hym gyuen exyle and paynes harde</p>
+ <p>His labour was nat worthy that rewarde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thou vnkynde Sparta: of thy audacyte</p>
+ <p>What shall I wryte or thy lewde vnkyndnes</p>
+ <p>Hast thou nat banysshed by thy cruelte</p>
+ <p>Thy kynge Lycurgus, bycause he dyd redres</p>
+ <p>Thy wanton errours by lawe and rightwysnes</p>
+ <p>And Scipio whiche his country dyd defende</p>
+ <p>Fonde it to hym, vnkynde at the last ende</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A thousande mo whome I can nat expresse</p>
+ <p>To suche as haue for them abyde great payne</p>
+ <p>Haue done displeasour, and shewed vnkyndnes</p>
+ <p>And them disceyued by some cautele or trayne</p>
+ <p>Yet none of them great goodnes cowde obtayne</p>
+ <p>By theyr vnkyndnes for who that so doth cast</p>
+ <p>Vnkyndly shall be seruyd at the last.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Thenuoy of Barklay</span>.</p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O fals vnkyndnes out on the I cry</p>
+ <p>From all goodnes dost thou nat man withdrawe</p>
+ <p>Byndynge his herte to gyle and vylany</p>
+ <p>Agaynst nature, agaynst both right and lawe</p>
+ <p>Thou makest man his maker nat to knawe</p>
+ <p>Therfore thou man expell out from thy mynde</p>
+ <p>This vyce, for we fynde in an olde sayde sawe</p>
+ <p>Wo is hym that to his maker is vnkynde.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Remember man the great preemynence</p>
+ <p>Gyuen unto the by good omnypotent</p>
+ <p>Bytwene the and Angels is lytell difference</p>
+ <p>And all thynge erthly to the obedyent</p>
+ <p>Fysshe byrde and beste vnder the fyrmament</p>
+ <p>Say what excuse mayst thou nowe lay or fynde</p>
+ <p>Syns thou art made by god so excellent</p>
+ <p>But that thou oughtest agayne to hym be kynde.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>God hath the made vnto his owne lykenes</p>
+ <p>No erthly creature vnto the comparable</p>
+ <p>Thy iyen vpwarde to consyder his hyghnes</p>
+ <p>Where other creatures that ar vnresonable</p>
+ <p>Goeth on all foure and ar nat other able.</p>
+ <p>Theyr loke alway vnto the grounde inclynyd</p>
+ <p>Therfore thou ought in vertue to be stable</p>
+ <p>And to thy maker neuer to be vnkynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Whan man offendyd by disobedyence</p>
+ <p>Subduynge hym self to labour care and payne</p>
+ <p>And lost the consort of goodes hye presence</p>
+ <p>Hath nat christ Jhesu redemyd hym agayne</p>
+ <p>Besyde all this thou hast no thynge certayne</p>
+ <p>In erth but by hym. wherfore I call the blynde</p>
+ <p>And of thy maners vncurtayse and vylayne</p>
+ <p>If to thy sauyour thou be nat true and kynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thoughe god hath made the (man) thus excellent</p>
+ <p>To lyue (if thou lyst) in ioy eternally</p>
+ <p>A lytell thynge shall hym agayne content</p>
+ <p>He nought requyreth but thy herte onely</p>
+ <p>And that thou defy thy gostly ennemy</p>
+ <p>And in goddes seruyce thy herte and body bynde.</p>
+ <p>Than shall he rewarde the in heuen right gloriously</p>
+ <p>So mayst thou be callyd vnto thy maker kynde</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p286"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of folys that stande so well in their owne
+conceyt that they thinke none so wyse,
+stronge, fayre, nor eloquent, as they
+ar themself.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p407.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t407.png"
+ alt="Look aye in a glass to see your countenance." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">We haue ouercome the malyce and enuy<br /> Of suche as
+ agaynst our Nauy did conspyre<br /> Wherfore I shall my folys call
+ quyckly<br /> That they my Shyp may aparayle and atyre<br /> Drawe nere
+ ye Folys whiche syttynge by the fyre<br /> Loke ay in a glasse to se
+ your countenaunce<br /> And in your owne dedis haue all your hole
+ pleasaunce</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Vnto my shyp I call hym to be Coke</p>
+ <p>The mete to dresse to other Folys echone</p>
+ <p>Whiche in his myrrour doth alway gase and loke</p>
+ <p>Whan he may get hym vnto a place alone</p>
+ <p>And though of colour and beaute he haue none</p>
+ <p>Yet thynketh he hym self fayre and right plesant</p>
+ <p>And wyse: thoughe that he be mad and ignorant</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>In his owne dedys is onely his delyte</p>
+ <p>In his owne conceyte thynkynge hymself right wyse</p>
+ <p>And fayre, thoughe he be yelowe as kyte</p>
+ <p>Is of hir fete: yet doth he styll deuyse</p>
+ <p>His vayne myrrour: that onely is his gyse</p>
+ <p>And thoughe he beholde hym self of lothly shape</p>
+ <p>He wyll it nat byleue, but in his glasse doth gape.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Though for his foly all men myght hym repreue</p>
+ <p>And that he se it before hym openly</p>
+ <p>Within his glasse: he wyll it nat byleue</p>
+ <p>But strongly it defende and eke deny</p>
+ <p>He seyth nat his erys longe and hye</p>
+ <p>Whiche stande vpon his folysshe hode behynde</p>
+ <p>His lewde conceyt thus makyth hym starke blynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Whan people comon of men of hye prudence</p>
+ <p>Or of hye beauty, and strength if men doth tell</p>
+ <p>If one suche fole were there in the presence</p>
+ <p>He swere durst boldly and that on the gospell</p>
+ <p>That he onely all other dyd excell</p>
+ <p>And that to gyue councell good and profytable</p>
+ <p>Were none in the worldly vnto hym comparable</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>These folys bost them selfe of theyr wysdome</p>
+ <p>And thynke them selfe to haue preemynence</p>
+ <p>Aboue all other that ar in christendome.</p>
+ <p>In gyftis of grace as beautye and scyence</p>
+ <p>Of strength, gode maners, vertue, and eloquence</p>
+ <p>But thoughe they stande in theyr owne conceytis</p>
+ <p>Nought is saue foly within theyr folysshe patis</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And thoughe theyr face and vysage stande awry</p>
+ <p>And all to reuylde, theyr mouth standynge asyde</p>
+ <p>Within theyr myrrour the same can they nat spye</p>
+ <p>But in theyr foly contynually abyde</p>
+ <p>And whether that they ar styll outher go or ryde</p>
+ <p>Labour or be ydyll, they gase styll in theyr glasse</p>
+ <p>Yet wyll they nat byleue to haue erys lyke an Asse.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Oft whan these folys lye in theyr bed vpright</p>
+ <p>With tawny loke or els theyr botyll nose</p>
+ <p>They haue theyr myrrour alway in theyr syght</p>
+ <p>The vayne glasse (of theyr beautye) to apose</p>
+ <p>And whan suche a fole into the kechyn gose</p>
+ <p>To stere the pot, there whether he syt or stande</p>
+ <p>The glasse alway is in the other hande</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Whan he a whyle his glas hath loken than</p>
+ <p>If one examynyd hym of his beautye</p>
+ <p>He boldly durst swere both by god and man</p>
+ <p>That nought were in hym whiche myght repreuyd be</p>
+ <p>But all goodnes, fayre shape, and loke of grauyte</p>
+ <p>And that his gere gayly vpon his backe doth syt</p>
+ <p>He hardly is wyse: if he had any wyt.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>I wryten fynde that great inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>As losse, contempt and occasyon of pryde</p>
+ <p>Hath fallyn vnto many by this lewde complacence</p>
+ <p>Whiche haue nat knowen the way themself to gyde</p>
+ <p>The emperour Otho had ay borne by his syde</p>
+ <p>In warre and peas (a glasse) for his pleasaunce</p>
+ <p>To se his colour therin; and countenaunce</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And to the entent to make his colour gay</p>
+ <p>With Assys mylke he noyntyd oft his skyn</p>
+ <p>And shauyd his berde onys euery day</p>
+ <p>But for that he offendyd god herein</p>
+ <p>After was he sharply punysshyd for this syn</p>
+ <p>And put vnto extreme rebuke and shame</p>
+ <p>To gyue other example to auoyde the same</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>It is forsoth a maner femynyne</p>
+ <p>And nat for man to be so elegant</p>
+ <p>To suche toyes wanton wymen may inclyne</p>
+ <p>A yonge mayde may at her forhede haue pendant</p>
+ <p>The vayne myrrour to se hir shape pleasant</p>
+ <p>Man sholde nought set by to norysshe his beautye</p>
+ <p>But onely manhode strength and audacyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The wanton mayde may for hir self ordayne</p>
+ <p>Hir call hir coyfe, and suche conceytis newe</p>
+ <p>As broches fyletes and oyntmentis souerayne</p>
+ <p>And clothynge of dyuers colour and of hewe</p>
+ <p>But nowe yonge men the same fourme do ensue</p>
+ <p>And to content theyr mad and folysshe mynde</p>
+ <p>To wymen they compare themselfe agaynst kynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Disorder rayneth as I before haue sayde</p>
+ <p>The yonge men takyth womans countenaunce</p>
+ <p>And hir aparayll, and wymen ar arayde</p>
+ <p>As men: agaynst all lawe and ordynaunce</p>
+ <p>Thus man and woman ensue mysgouernaunce</p>
+ <p>In theyr behauour is small dyuersyte</p>
+ <p>Theyr owne conceyt causeth great enormyte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The poet Ouyde shewyth in a fable</p>
+ <p>Howe that one callyd Pygmalyon by name</p>
+ <p>A fygure made vnto hymselfe semblable</p>
+ <p>Whiche he in marbyll right craftely dyd frame</p>
+ <p>And in so moche he worshypped the same</p>
+ <p>Tyll at the last his mynde was past and gone</p>
+ <p>And he transformed so was in to that stone</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And if the Poetis fables be all sure</p>
+ <p>As by theyr subtyle wordes oft we here</p>
+ <p>The childe Narcissus was chaungyd of fygure</p>
+ <p>Whyle he behelde into the water clere</p>
+ <p>For whyle his shadowe vnto hym dyd apere</p>
+ <p>Vpon the same so sore he set his mynde</p>
+ <p>That he transformyd was to another kynde.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But to retorne agayne to our purpose</p>
+ <p>And of this sort of Folys to conclude</p>
+ <p>If god sholde them to other shape transpose</p>
+ <p>That thynke them fayre though they be foule and rude</p>
+ <p>Into foule fassyon he many sholde include</p>
+ <p>For whyle Folys theyr owne beauty magnyfy</p>
+ <p>So growyth the nomber and so they multyply</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Thenuoy of Barklay the translatour.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Blynde man inclere thy wylfull ignoraunce</p>
+ <p>Stande nat so great in thy owne conceyte</p>
+ <p>Ne in thy lewde fassyon set nat thy pleasaunce</p>
+ <p>Whether thou be pore or man of great estate</p>
+ <p>Another man moche more shall in the wayte</p>
+ <p>Of gode and yll than thou thy self canst do</p>
+ <p>Therfore be nat cause to thy self of disceyte</p>
+ <p>If one the teche: aply thy mynde therto</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p291"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of lepynges and dauncis and Folys that pas
+ theyr tyme in suche vanyte.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p414.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t414.png"
+ alt="To their idols doing their service detestable." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">That fole that settyth his felycyte<br /> In wanton
+ daunces and lepes immoderate<br /> Hath in my Shyp a rowme for his
+ degre<br /> Bysyde the stere for troublynge of his pate<br /> He god
+ dyspleasyth, whiche doth suche foly hate<br /> Suche lese theyr tyme in
+ vayne and oft therin<br /> Ar many hurtis: and cause of dedely
+ syn.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Those folys a place may chalenge in my shyp</p>
+ <p>Whiche voyde of wysdome as men out of theyr mynde</p>
+ <p>Them selfe delyte to daunce to lepe and skyp</p>
+ <p>In compase rennynge lyke to the worlde wyde</p>
+ <p>In vnkynde labour, suche folys pleasour fynde</p>
+ <p>Rennynge about in this theyr furyous vyce</p>
+ <p>Lyke as it were in Bacchus sacryfyce</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Or as the Druydans rennyth in vayne about</p>
+ <p>In theyr mad festes vpon the hylle of yde</p>
+ <p>Makynge theyr sacrafyce with furour noyse and shout</p>
+ <p>Whan theyr madnes settyth theyr wyt asyde</p>
+ <p>Or whan the prestis of mars all nyght abyde</p>
+ <p>Within theyr temple by vse abhomynable</p>
+ <p>To theyr ydollys doynge theyr seruyce detestable</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Lyke as these paynyms hath to theyr ydols done</p>
+ <p>Theyr sacryfyce wandrynge in theyr madnes</p>
+ <p>Theyr bodyes weryenge, in vayne wastynge their shone</p>
+ <p>So do these fowlys them selfe to daunsynge dres</p>
+ <p>Sekynge occason of great vnhappynes</p>
+ <p>They take suche labour without all hope of gayne</p>
+ <p>Without rewarde sure, of werynes and payne</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Say Folys that vse this fury and outrage</p>
+ <p>What causyth you to haue delyte therin</p>
+ <p>For your great labour say what is your wage</p>
+ <p>Forsoth ye can therby no profyte wyn</p>
+ <p>But seke occasyon (as I haue sayde) of syn</p>
+ <p>And for thy werynge thy fete thus in the dust</p>
+ <p>Thou gettest no gayne but cause of carnall lust</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But whan I consyder of this folysshe game</p>
+ <p>The firste begynnynge and cause orygynall</p>
+ <p>I say the cause therof is worthy blame</p>
+ <p>For whan the deuyll to disceyue man mortall</p>
+ <p>And do contempt to the hye god eternall</p>
+ <p>Vpon a stage had set a Calfe of golde.</p>
+ <p>That euery man the same myght clere beholde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So than the Fende grounde of mysgouernaunce</p>
+ <p>Causyd the people this fygure to honour</p>
+ <p>As for theyr god and before the same to daunce.</p>
+ <p>Whan they were dronkon, thus fell they in errour</p>
+ <p>Of Idolatry, and forgate theyr creatour.</p>
+ <p>Before this ydoll daunsynge both wyfe and man</p>
+ <p>Dispysynge god: Thus daunsynge fyrst began</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche blynde folyes and inconuenyence</p>
+ <p>Engendryth great hurte and incommodyte</p>
+ <p>And sawyth sede wherof groweth great offence</p>
+ <p>The grounde of vyce and of all enormyte</p>
+ <p>In it is pryde, fowle lust and lecherye</p>
+ <p>And whyle lewde lepys ar vysd in the daunce</p>
+ <p>Oft frowarde bargayns ar made by countenaunce</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>What els is daunsynge but euen a nurcery</p>
+ <p>Or els a bayte to purchase and meyntayne</p>
+ <p>In yonge hertis the vyle synne of rybawdry</p>
+ <p>Them fe*trynge therin, as in a dedely chayne</p>
+ <p>And to say trouth in wordes clere and playne</p>
+ <p>Venereous people haue all theyr hole pleasaunce</p>
+ <p>Theyr vyce to norysshe by this vnthryfty daunce</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And wanton people disposyd vnto syn</p>
+ <p>To satysfye theyr mad concupyscence</p>
+ <p>With hasty cours vnto this daunsynge ryn</p>
+ <p>To seke occasyon of vyle synne and offence</p>
+ <p>And to expresse my mynde in short sentence</p>
+ <p>This vyciouse game oft tymes doth attyse</p>
+ <p>By his lewde synes, chast hartis vnto vyce</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Than it in erth no game is more damnable</p>
+ <p>It semyth no peas, but Batayle openly</p>
+ <p>They that it vse of myndes seme vnstable</p>
+ <p>As mad folke rennynge with clamour showt and cry</p>
+ <p>What place is voyde of this furyous foly</p>
+ <p>None: so that I dout within a whyle</p>
+ <p>These folys the holy churche shall defyle</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Of people what sort or order may we fynde</p>
+ <p>Ryche or pore hye or lowe of name</p>
+ <p>But by theyr folysshnes, and wanton mynde</p>
+ <p>Of eche sort some ar gyuen vnto the same</p>
+ <p>The prestis and clerkes to daunce haue no shame</p>
+ <p>The frere or monke in his frocke and cowle</p>
+ <p>Must daunce in his dortor lepynge to play the fole</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>To it comys children, maydes and wyues.</p>
+ <p>And flaterynge yonge men to se to haue theyr pray</p>
+ <p>The hande in hande great falshode oft contryues</p>
+ <p>The olde quean also this madnes wyll assay</p>
+ <p>And the olde dotarde thoughe he skantly may</p>
+ <p>For age and lamenes stere outher fote or hande</p>
+ <p>Yet playeth he the fole with other in the bande</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Than lepe they about as folke past theyr mynde</p>
+ <p>With madnes amasyd rennynge in compace</p>
+ <p>He moste is commendyd that can moste lewdnes fynde</p>
+ <p>Or can most quyckly ren about the place</p>
+ <p>There ar all maners vsyd that lacke grace</p>
+ <p>Mouynge theyr bodyes in synes full of shame</p>
+ <p>Whiche doth theyr hertes to synne right sore inflame</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>So oft this vyce doth many one abuse</p>
+ <p>That whan they ar departyd from the daunce</p>
+ <p>On lust and synne contynually they muse</p>
+ <p>Hauynge therin theyr wyll and theyr pleasaunce</p>
+ <p>Than fall they oft to great mysgouernaunce</p>
+ <p>As folys gyuyn to worke vnprofytable</p>
+ <p>So in my shyp they well deserue a babyll.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Thenuoy of Barklay</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Do way your daunces ye people moche vnwyse</p>
+ <p>Desyst your folysshe pleasour of trauayle</p>
+ <p>It is me thynke an vnwyse vse and gyse</p>
+ <p>To take suche labour and payne without auayle</p>
+ <p>And who that suspectyth his mayde or wyues tayle</p>
+ <p>Let hym nat suffer them in the daunce to be</p>
+ <p>For in that game thoughe sys or synke them fayle</p>
+ <p>The dyse oft renneth vpon the chaunce of thre</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p296"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of nyght watchers and beters of the stretes
+playnge by nyght on instrumentes and
+vsynge lyke Folyes whan tyme is to
+rest.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p419.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t419.png"
+ alt="Playing at his leman's door." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">He is a Fole that wandreth by nyght<br /> In felde or
+ towne, in company or alone<br /> Playnge at his lemmans dore withouten
+ lyght<br /> Tyll all his body be colde as lede or stone<br /> These
+ folys knockynge tyll the nyght be gone<br /> At that season thoughe
+ that they fele no colde<br /> Shall it repent and fele whan they be
+ olde.</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Nowe wolde I of my boke haue made an ende</p>
+ <p>And with my shyp drawen to some hauen or porte</p>
+ <p>Stryken my sayle, and all my folys sende</p>
+ <p>Vnto the londe, a whyle them selfe to sporte</p>
+ <p>But this my purpose is lettyd by a sorte</p>
+ <p>Of frantyke folys, wandrynge about by nyght</p>
+ <p>For often all yll doers hatyth the day lyght</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Whyle (man) beste and euery lyuely creature</p>
+ <p>Refresshe theyr myndes and bodyes with rest</p>
+ <p>And slepe: without the whiche none can endure</p>
+ <p>And whyle all byrdes drawe them to theyr nest</p>
+ <p>These dronken bandes of Folys than doth Jest</p>
+ <p>About the stretis, with rumour noyse and cry</p>
+ <p>Syngynge theyr folysshe songes of rybawdry</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The furyes ferefull spronge of the flodes of hell</p>
+ <p>Vexith these vagabundes in theyr myndes so</p>
+ <p>That by no mean can they abyde ne dwell</p>
+ <p>Within theyr howsys, but out they nede must go</p>
+ <p>More wyldly wandrynge than outher bucke or doo</p>
+ <p>Some with theyr harpis another with his lute</p>
+ <p>Another with his bagpype or a folysshe flute</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Than mesure they theyr songes of melody</p>
+ <p>Before the dores of theyr lemman dere</p>
+ <p>Yowlynge with theyr folysshe songe and cry</p>
+ <p>So that theyr lemman may theyr great foly here</p>
+ <p>And tyll the yordan make them stande arere</p>
+ <p>Cast on theyr hede, or tyll the stonys fle</p>
+ <p>They nat depart, but couet there styll to be</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But yet more ouer these Folys ar so vnwyse</p>
+ <p>That in colde wynter they vse the same madnes</p>
+ <p>Whan all the howsys ar lade with snowe and yse</p>
+ <p>O mad men amasyd vnstabyll and wytles</p>
+ <p>What pleasour take ye in this your folysshenes</p>
+ <p>What ioy haue ye to wander thus by nyght</p>
+ <p>Saue that yll doers alway hate the lyght</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But folysshe youth doth nat alone this vse</p>
+ <p>Come of lowe byrth and sympyll of degre</p>
+ <p>But also statis them selfe therein abuse</p>
+ <p>With some yonge folys of the spiritualte</p>
+ <p>The folysshe pype without all grauyte</p>
+ <p>Doth eche degre call to this frantyke game</p>
+ <p>The darkenes of nyght expellyth fere of shame</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>One barkyth another bletyth lyke a shepe</p>
+ <p>Some rore, some countre, some theyr balades fayne</p>
+ <p>Another from syngynge gyueth hym to wepe</p>
+ <p>Whan his souerayne lady hath of hym dysdayne</p>
+ <p>Or shyttyth hym out, and to be short and playne</p>
+ <p>Who that of this sort best can play the knaue</p>
+ <p>Lokyth of the other the maystery to haue</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The folysshe husbonde oft of this sort is one</p>
+ <p>With wanton youth wandrynge by nyght also</p>
+ <p>Leuynge his wyfe at home in bed alone</p>
+ <p>And gyueth hyr occasyon often to mysdo</p>
+ <p>So that whyle he after the owle doth go</p>
+ <p>Fedynge the Couko, his wyfe hir tyme doth watche</p>
+ <p>Receyuynge another whose egges she doth hatche.</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Therfore ye folys that knowe you of this sort</p>
+ <p>To gyue occasyon of synne vnto your wyues</p>
+ <p>And all other: I you pray and exort</p>
+ <p>Of this your foly to amende your lyues</p>
+ <p>For longe nyght watches seldome tymes thryues</p>
+ <p>But if it be in labour: good to wyn</p>
+ <p>Therfore kepe your dorys: els abyde within</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Thoughe I have touchyd of this enormyte</p>
+ <p>In englysshe tunge: yet is it nat so vsed</p>
+ <p>In this Royalme as it is beyonde the se</p>
+ <p>Yet moche we vse whiche ought to be refusyd</p>
+ <p>Of great nyght watchynge we may nat be excusyd</p>
+ <p>But our watchynge is in drunken glotony</p>
+ <p>More than in syngynge or other meledy</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Whan it is nyght and eche shulde drawe to rest</p>
+ <p>Many of our folys great payne and watchynge take</p>
+ <p>To proue maystryes and se who may drynke best</p>
+ <p>Outher at the Tauerne of wyne, or the ale stake</p>
+ <p>Other all nyght watchyth for theyr lemmans sake</p>
+ <p>Standynge in corners lyke as it were a spye</p>
+ <p>Whether that the weder be, hote, colde, wete, or dry</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some other Folys range about by nyght</p>
+ <p>Prowdely Jettynge as men myndeles or wode</p>
+ <p>To seke occasyon with pacyent men to fyght</p>
+ <p>Delytynge them in shedynge mennys blode</p>
+ <p>Outher els in spoylynge of other mennys gode</p>
+ <p>Let these folys with suche lyke and semblable</p>
+ <p>Drawe to this barge, here shall they here a bable</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Thenuoy of Barclay.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Ye folys that put your bodyes vnto payne</p>
+ <p>By nyghtly watchynge, voyde of auauntage</p>
+ <p>Leue of your foly or els ye shall complayne</p>
+ <p>And mourne it sore if ye lyue vnto age</p>
+ <p>For though ye thynke that this your blynde outrage</p>
+ <p>Is vnto you no hurte nor preiudyce</p>
+ <p>It doth your body and goodes great dammage</p>
+ <p>And great cause both to you and yours of vyce.</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+ <p><br style="clear:both" /></p>
+<hr class="full" >
+
+ <p><a name="p301"></a></p>
+
+<h3>Of folysshe beggers and of theyr vanytees.</h3>
+
+ <div class="figcenter" style="width:40%;">
+ <a href="images/p424.png"><img style="width:100%" src="images/t424.png"
+ alt="The beggar and his children." /></a>
+ <p class="poem">Syns I haue taken the charge one me<br /> Mo botis and
+ Barges for Folys to aparayle<br /> And so agayne of newe to take the
+ se<br /> I feryd lyst company shulde me fayle<br /> Within my folysshe
+ shyppis to trauayle<br /> But nowe doth beggers them selfe to me
+ present<br /> For fewe of them I fynde of good
+ intent</p>
+ </div>
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>A great company of folys may we fynde</p>
+ <p>Amonge beggers, whiche haue theyr hole delyte</p>
+ <p>In theyr lewde craft: wherfore I set my mynde</p>
+ <p>In this Barge theyr maners, brefely for to write</p>
+ <p>For thoughe that nede them greuously do byte.</p>
+ <p>Yet is theyr mynde for all theyr pouerte</p>
+ <p>To kepe with them of children great plente</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And though that they myght otherwyse well lyue</p>
+ <p>And get theyr lyuynge by labour and besynes</p>
+ <p>Yet fully they theyr myndes set and gyue</p>
+ <p>To lede this lyfe alway in wretchydnes</p>
+ <p>The clerke, frere, or monke, whiche hath store of ryches</p>
+ <p>For all his lyfe. if he it gyde wysely.</p>
+ <p>Wyll yet the beggers offyce occupy</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche oft complayne the charge of pouerte</p>
+ <p>In garmentis goynge raggyd and to rent</p>
+ <p>But yet haue they of ryches great plente</p>
+ <p>Whiche in gode vse can neuer of them be spent</p>
+ <p>Almys is ordeyned by god omnypotent</p>
+ <p>And holy churche: for to be gyuyn in dede</p>
+ <p>Vnto good vse, and suche as haue moste nede</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Almes is ordeyned by god our creatour</p>
+ <p>For men that lyue in nede and wretchydnes</p>
+ <p>Therwith their paynfull lyues to socour</p>
+ <p>And nat for ryche that lyues in viciousnes</p>
+ <p>But yet suche caytyfs boldly in dare pres</p>
+ <p>For their lewde lyfe without all maner drede</p>
+ <p>This almes takynge from them that haue most nede</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>The abbot, the Pryour, and also theyr couent</p>
+ <p>Ar so blyndyd with vnhappy couetyse</p>
+ <p>That with theyr owne can they nat be content</p>
+ <p>But to haue more, they alway mean deuyse</p>
+ <p>Ye: in so moche that some haue founde a gyse</p>
+ <p>To fayne theyr bretherne tan in captyuyte</p>
+ <p>That they may begge so by auctoryte</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They fayne myracles where none were euer done</p>
+ <p>And all for lucre: some other range about</p>
+ <p>To gather and begge with some fayned pardon</p>
+ <p>And at the alehows at nyght all drynkyth out</p>
+ <p>So ren these beggers in company rowt</p>
+ <p>By stretis tauernes townes and vyllagys</p>
+ <p>No place can well be fre of theyr outragys</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some begge for byldynges, some for relyques newe</p>
+ <p>Of holy sayntis of countreys farre and strange</p>
+ <p>And with theyr wordes faynyd and vntrewe</p>
+ <p>For cause of Lucre, about they ren and range</p>
+ <p>But in a sympyll vyllage, ferme or grange</p>
+ <p>Where as these beggers moste sympyll men may fynde</p>
+ <p>With theyr fals bonys as relykes they them blynde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Other beynge stronge and full of lustynes</p>
+ <p>And yonge ynoughe to labour for theyr fode</p>
+ <p>Gyuyth theyr bodyes fully to slewthfulnes</p>
+ <p>The beggers craft thynkynge to them moost good</p>
+ <p>Some ray theyr legges and armys ouer with blood</p>
+ <p>With leuys and plasters though they be hole and sounde</p>
+ <p>Some halt as crypyls, theyr legge falsely vp bounde</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Some other beggers falsly for the nonys</p>
+ <p>Disfygure theyr children god wot vnhappely</p>
+ <p>Manglynge theyr facys, and brekynge theyr bonys</p>
+ <p>To stere the people to pety that passe by</p>
+ <p>There stande they beggynge with tedyous shout and cry</p>
+ <p>There owne bodyes tournynge to a strange fassion</p>
+ <p>To moue suche as passe to pyte and compassyon</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Suche yonge laddys as lusty ar of age</p>
+ <p>Myghty and stronge, and wymen in lyke wyse</p>
+ <p>Wanton and yonge and lusty of cowrage</p>
+ <p>Gyueth them selfe vtterly to this gyse</p>
+ <p>The cause is that they labour do despyse</p>
+ <p>For theyr mynde is in ydylnes to be styll</p>
+ <p>Or els in vyce to wander at theyr wyll</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>They paciently theyr prouertye abyde</p>
+ <p>Nat for deuocion of herte or of mynde</p>
+ <p>But to the intent that at euery tyde</p>
+ <p>Other mennys godes sholde them fede and fynde.</p>
+ <p>But if they a whyle haue ron in the wynde</p>
+ <p>And in theyr hande the staf some hete hath caught</p>
+ <p>They neuer after shall leue the beggers craft</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>Amonge these beggers also is comonly</p>
+ <p>Braulynge debate hatered and chydynge</p>
+ <p>Great othes, mockes falshode and enuy</p>
+ <p>And one with other euer more fyghtynge</p>
+ <p>As for theyr dronkennes and vnsure abydynge</p>
+ <p>Theyr rebaudry both in dede and communycacion</p>
+ <p>These ar chefe poyntis of theyr occupation</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>If the begger haue his staf and his hode</p>
+ <p>One bagge behynde and another before</p>
+ <p>Than thynkes he hym in the myddes of his goode</p>
+ <p>Thoughe that his clothes be raggyd and to tore</p>
+ <p>His body nere bare he hath no thought therfore</p>
+ <p>And if some man cloth them well to day</p>
+ <p>To morowe it shall agayne be solde away</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>And if these caytyfes fortune to begge or cry</p>
+ <p>For mete or money, on woman or on man</p>
+ <p>If one to them that, that they aske deny</p>
+ <p>And so depart: anone these beggers than</p>
+ <p>Whan he is gone, doth wary curse and ban</p>
+ <p>And if another gyue them ought of pyte</p>
+ <p>At the next alestake dronken shall it be</p>
+ </div>
+
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>But if that I sholde gather in my barge</p>
+ <p>All folysshe beggers, and labour or intende</p>
+ <p>To note all theyr vyces, to sore sholde be the charge</p>
+ <p>And as I suppose I neuer sholde make an ende.</p>
+ <p>Wherfore I counsell them shortly to amende</p>
+ <p>Or els theyr lewdnes, synne, and enormyte</p>
+ <p>Shall cause men withdrawe theyr almes of charyte</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+<p class="cenhead"><span class="sc">Thenuoy of Barclay the translatour.</span></p>
+
+ <div class="poem">
+ <div class="stanza">
+ <p>O people vnthrifty gyuen to ydlenes</p>
+ <p>Spendynge your youth this wyse in vanyte</p>
+ <p>What ioy haue ye to lyue in wretchydnes</p>
+ <p>Where ye myght come to better rowme and degre</p>
+ <p>By worke, and labour: and so auaunsyd be</p>
+ <p>Yet begge ye styll hauynge your ioy therin</p>
+ <p>Amende your foly, and lerne ye this of me</p>
+ <p>That goddes good sholde nat be spent in syn</p>
+ </div>
+ </div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Ship of Fools, Volume 1, by Sebastian Brandt
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SHIP OF FOOLS, VOLUME 1 ***
+
+***** This file should be named 20179-h.htm or 20179-h.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+ http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/1/7/20179/
+
+Produced by Frank van Drogen, Keith Edkins and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
+paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+ the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+ you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is
+ owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+ has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+ Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments
+ must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+ prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+ returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+ sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+ address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+ the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+ you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+ does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+ License. You must require such a user to return or
+ destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+ and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+ Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+ money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+ electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+ of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+ distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+ Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+ Chief Executive and Director
+ gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+ http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+
+</pre>
+
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p003.png b/20179-h/images/p003.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29263b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p003.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p004.png b/20179-h/images/p004.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..833972e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p004.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p097.png b/20179-h/images/p097.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f1f2feb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p097.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p118.png b/20179-h/images/p118.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0e8f84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p118.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p126.png b/20179-h/images/p126.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..50c817f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p126.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p144.png b/20179-h/images/p144.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f94aa8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p144.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p149.png b/20179-h/images/p149.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0b559ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p149.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p154.png b/20179-h/images/p154.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b9d4849
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p154.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p159.png b/20179-h/images/p159.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e69707
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p159.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p166.png b/20179-h/images/p166.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d738d9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p166.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p170.png b/20179-h/images/p170.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85fed5e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p170.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p178.png b/20179-h/images/p178.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..65e38c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p178.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p182.png b/20179-h/images/p182.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..56fd4ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p182.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p187.png b/20179-h/images/p187.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..49682af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p187.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p191.png b/20179-h/images/p191.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3bf8fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p191.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p196.png b/20179-h/images/p196.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..486e5eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p196.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p200.png b/20179-h/images/p200.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..804a999
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p200.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p204.png b/20179-h/images/p204.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a06cc9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p204.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p209.png b/20179-h/images/p209.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..197b29d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p209.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p213.png b/20179-h/images/p213.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb2397f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p213.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p217.png b/20179-h/images/p217.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7144e3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p217.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p223.png b/20179-h/images/p223.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..38c4ea9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p223.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p228.png b/20179-h/images/p228.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..12ff014
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p228.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p232.png b/20179-h/images/p232.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..75bba06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p232.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p236.png b/20179-h/images/p236.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d057f93
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p236.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p240.png b/20179-h/images/p240.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d81a84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p240.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p244.png b/20179-h/images/p244.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe8b08e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p244.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p249.png b/20179-h/images/p249.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31d36f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p249.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p254.png b/20179-h/images/p254.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db2c4f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p254.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p258.png b/20179-h/images/p258.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d61db21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p258.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p262.png b/20179-h/images/p262.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e68e9e3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p262.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p267.png b/20179-h/images/p267.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..85e2f5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p267.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p273.png b/20179-h/images/p273.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e333d7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p273.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p277.png b/20179-h/images/p277.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b357ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p277.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p281.png b/20179-h/images/p281.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..53956a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p281.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p287.png b/20179-h/images/p287.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e6ade2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p287.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p291.png b/20179-h/images/p291.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e128bf5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p291.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p296.png b/20179-h/images/p296.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f01dea9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p296.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p300.png b/20179-h/images/p300.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..985c2c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p300.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p306.png b/20179-h/images/p306.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7eb6d84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p306.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p311.png b/20179-h/images/p311.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..07a3931
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p311.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p317.png b/20179-h/images/p317.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1d55e2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p317.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p321.png b/20179-h/images/p321.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8e4cb2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p321.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p324.png b/20179-h/images/p324.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba3d2f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p324.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p328.png b/20179-h/images/p328.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8d03389
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p328.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p333.png b/20179-h/images/p333.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c31e49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p333.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p338.png b/20179-h/images/p338.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..863ca22
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p338.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p343.png b/20179-h/images/p343.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22b8541
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p343.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p348.png b/20179-h/images/p348.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fc920b7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p348.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p353.png b/20179-h/images/p353.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..815e328
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p353.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p357.png b/20179-h/images/p357.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40d3c01
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p357.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p362.png b/20179-h/images/p362.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1c3190
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p362.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p366.png b/20179-h/images/p366.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..05b4e80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p366.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p370.png b/20179-h/images/p370.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..507a1ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p370.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p375.png b/20179-h/images/p375.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44dde37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p375.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p379.png b/20179-h/images/p379.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c7db858
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p379.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p383.png b/20179-h/images/p383.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..759c1d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p383.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p388.png b/20179-h/images/p388.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d8d356
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p388.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p394.png b/20179-h/images/p394.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c9fd7e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p394.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p399.png b/20179-h/images/p399.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f0839d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p399.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p403.png b/20179-h/images/p403.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d6c9b46
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p403.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p407.png b/20179-h/images/p407.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba3593d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p407.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p414.png b/20179-h/images/p414.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f7a7dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p414.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p419.png b/20179-h/images/p419.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9890b6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p419.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/p424.png b/20179-h/images/p424.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd58bcb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/p424.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t003.png b/20179-h/images/t003.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29263b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t003.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t004.png b/20179-h/images/t004.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a7bb3d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t004.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t097.png b/20179-h/images/t097.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..56bef31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t097.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t118.png b/20179-h/images/t118.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0e8f84
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t118.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t126.png b/20179-h/images/t126.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9dce7a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t126.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t144.png b/20179-h/images/t144.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd12de8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t144.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t149.png b/20179-h/images/t149.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..65db2c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t149.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t154.png b/20179-h/images/t154.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4ab907
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t154.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t159.png b/20179-h/images/t159.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59024ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t159.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t166.png b/20179-h/images/t166.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f9a2ffb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t166.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t170.png b/20179-h/images/t170.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c3f92e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t170.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t178.png b/20179-h/images/t178.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..962b133
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t178.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t182.png b/20179-h/images/t182.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..413278a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t182.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t187.png b/20179-h/images/t187.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9d9510f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t187.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t191.png b/20179-h/images/t191.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14094f3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t191.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t196.png b/20179-h/images/t196.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2909ee4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t196.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t200.png b/20179-h/images/t200.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..804a999
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t200.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t204.png b/20179-h/images/t204.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..698507e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t204.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t209.png b/20179-h/images/t209.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eea5463
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t209.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t213.png b/20179-h/images/t213.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4d3830f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t213.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t217.png b/20179-h/images/t217.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8eeca61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t217.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t223.png b/20179-h/images/t223.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..47bd8db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t223.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t228.png b/20179-h/images/t228.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..61850a4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t228.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t232.png b/20179-h/images/t232.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..57eeb2d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t232.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t236.png b/20179-h/images/t236.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5b20ec1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t236.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t240.png b/20179-h/images/t240.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44a5f3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t240.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t244.png b/20179-h/images/t244.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..00eb20e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t244.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t249.png b/20179-h/images/t249.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5f6def9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t249.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t254.png b/20179-h/images/t254.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..db2c4f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t254.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t258.png b/20179-h/images/t258.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d61db21
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t258.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t262.png b/20179-h/images/t262.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..580eea6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t262.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t267.png b/20179-h/images/t267.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1e6127a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t267.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t273.png b/20179-h/images/t273.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfceb11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t273.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t277.png b/20179-h/images/t277.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a92aa94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t277.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t281.png b/20179-h/images/t281.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..096af20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t281.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t287.png b/20179-h/images/t287.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16af0ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t287.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t291.png b/20179-h/images/t291.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..46da7ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t291.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t296.png b/20179-h/images/t296.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e800cb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t296.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t300.png b/20179-h/images/t300.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2eb3d92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t300.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t306.png b/20179-h/images/t306.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d92261c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t306.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t311.png b/20179-h/images/t311.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8506007
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t311.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t317.png b/20179-h/images/t317.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7f29dd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t317.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t321.png b/20179-h/images/t321.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c939b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t321.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t324.png b/20179-h/images/t324.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a086ea5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t324.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t328.png b/20179-h/images/t328.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6a6fed8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t328.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t333.png b/20179-h/images/t333.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bc0ac03
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t333.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t338.png b/20179-h/images/t338.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..abaea54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t338.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t343.png b/20179-h/images/t343.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..22b8541
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t343.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t348.png b/20179-h/images/t348.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d43c5f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t348.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t353.png b/20179-h/images/t353.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16d4ac1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t353.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t357.png b/20179-h/images/t357.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4b16f9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t357.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t362.png b/20179-h/images/t362.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..26b4dd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t362.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t366.png b/20179-h/images/t366.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..300d810
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t366.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t370.png b/20179-h/images/t370.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c2af7e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t370.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t375.png b/20179-h/images/t375.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1fb1f2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t375.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t379.png b/20179-h/images/t379.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29fc392
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t379.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t383.png b/20179-h/images/t383.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de5de89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t383.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t388.png b/20179-h/images/t388.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..acda4f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t388.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t394.png b/20179-h/images/t394.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0963edc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t394.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t399.png b/20179-h/images/t399.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c15698
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t399.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t403.png b/20179-h/images/t403.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ccbb11
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t403.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t407.png b/20179-h/images/t407.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..52d4b20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t407.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t414.png b/20179-h/images/t414.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bb5ed1b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t414.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t419.png b/20179-h/images/t419.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a38ba1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t419.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179-h/images/t424.png b/20179-h/images/t424.png
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..60d1036
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179-h/images/t424.png
Binary files differ
diff --git a/20179.txt b/20179.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1a466ff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11988 @@
+Project Gutenberg's The Ship of Fools, Volume 1, by Sebastian Brandt
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: The Ship of Fools, Volume 1
+
+Author: Sebastian Brandt
+
+Translator: Alexander Barclay
+
+Release Date: December 23, 2006 [EBook #20179]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SHIP OF FOOLS, VOLUME 1 ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Frank van Drogen, Keith Edkins and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's note: A few typographical errors in the 1874 introduction
+have been corrected: they are listed at the end of the text. In the spirit
+of that edition, the text of the Ship of Fools itself has been retained
+exactly as it stands, even to the punctuation.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+THE SHIP OF FOOLS
+
+TRANSLATED BY
+
+ALEXANDER BARCLAY
+
+[Illustration]
+
+VOLUME FIRST
+
+EDINBURGH: WILLIAM PATERSON
+
+LONDON: HENRY SOTHERAN & CO.
+
+MDCCCLXXIV.
+
+PREFATORY NOTE.
+
+It is necessary to explain that in the present edition of the Ship of
+Fools, with a view to both philological and bibliographical interests, the
+text, even to the punctuation, has been printed exactly as it stands in the
+earlier impression (Pynson's), the authenticity of which Barclay himself
+thus vouches for in a deprecatory apology at the end of his labours (II.
+330):--
+
+ "... some wordes be in my boke amys
+ For though that I my selfe dyd it correct
+ Yet with some fautis I knowe it is infect
+ Part by my owne ouersyght and neglygence
+ And part by the prynters nat perfyte in science
+
+ And other some escaped ar and past
+ For that the Prynters in theyr besynes
+ Do all theyr workes hedelynge, and in hast"
+
+Yet the differences of reading of the later edition (Cawood's), are
+surprisingly few and mostly unimportant, though great pains were evidently
+bestowed on the production of the book, all the misprints being carefully
+corrected, and the orthography duly adjusted to the fashion of the time.
+These differences have, in this edition, been placed in one alphabetical
+arrangement with the glossary, by which plan it is believed reference to
+them will be made more easy, and much repetition avoided.
+
+The woodcuts, no less valuable for their artistic merit than they are
+interesting as pictures of contemporary manners, have been facsimiled for
+the present edition from the _originals_ as they appear in the Basle
+edition of the Latin, "denuo seduloque reuisa," issued under Brandt's own
+superintendence in 1497. This work has been done by Mr J. T. Reid, to whom
+it is due to say that he has executed it with the most painstaking and
+scrupulous fidelity.
+
+The portrait of Brandt, which forms the frontispiece to this volume, is
+taken from Zarncke's edition of the Narrenschiff; that of Barclay
+presenting one of his books to his patron, prefixed to the Notice of his
+life, appears with a little more detail in the Mirror of Good Manners and
+the Pynson editions of the Sallust; it is, however, of no authority, being
+used for a similar purpose in various other publications.
+
+For the copy of the extremely rare original edition from which the text of
+the present has been printed, I am indebted to the private collection and
+the well known liberality of Mr David Laing of the Signet Library, to whom
+I beg here to return my best thanks, for this as well as many other
+valuable favours in connection with the present work.
+
+In prosecuting enquiries regarding the life of an author of whom so little
+is known as of Barclay, one must be indebted for aid, more or less, to the
+kindness of friends. In this way I have to acknowledge my obligations to Mr
+AEneas Mackay, Advocate, and Mr Ralph Thomas, ("Olphar Hamst"), for searches
+made in the British Museum and elsewhere.
+
+For collations of Barclay's Works, other than the Ship of Fools, all of
+which are of the utmost degree of rarity, and consequent inaccessibility, I
+am indebted to the kindness of Henry Huth, Esq., 30 Princes' Gate,
+Kensington; the Rev. W. D. Macray, of the Bodleian Library, Oxford; W. B.
+Rye, Esq., of the British Museum; Henry Bradshaw, Esq., of the University
+Library, Cambridge; and Professor Skeat, Cambridge.
+
+For my brief notice of Brandt and his Work, it is also proper to
+acknowledge my obligations to Zarncke's critical edition of the
+Narrenschiff (Leipzig, 1854) which is a perfect encyclopaedia of everything
+Brandtian.
+
+T. H. JAMIESON.
+
+ ADVOCATES' LIBRARY,
+ EDINBURGH, _December_ 1873.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Volume I.
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+NOTICE OF BARCLAY AND HIS WRITINGS
+
+BARCLAY'S WILL
+
+NOTES
+
+BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CATALOGUE OF BARCLAY'S WORKS
+
+THE SHIP OF FOOLS
+
+ * * * * *
+
+Volume II.
+
+THE SHIP OF FOOLS (CONCLUDED)
+
+GLOSSARY
+
+CHAPTER I. OF THE ORIGINAL (GERMAN), AND OF THE LATIN, AND FRENCH VERSIONS
+OF THE SHIP OF FOOLS
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+INTRODUCTION.
+
+If popularity be taken as the measure of success in literary effort,
+Sebastian Brandt's "Ship of Fools" must be considered one of the most
+successful books recorded in the whole history of literature. Published in
+edition after edition (the first dated 1494), at a time, but shortly after
+the invention of printing, when books were expensive, and their circulation
+limited; translated into the leading languages of Europe at a time when
+translations of new works were only the result of the most signal merits,
+its success was then quite unparalleled. It may be said, in modern phrase,
+to have been the rage of the reading world at the end of the fifteenth and
+throughout the sixteenth centuries. It was translated into Latin by one
+Professor (Locher, 1497), and imitated in the same language and under the
+same title, by another (Badius Ascensius, 1507); it appeared in Dutch and
+Low German, and was twice translated into English, and three times into
+French; imitations competed with the original in French and German, as well
+as Latin, and greatest and most unprecedented distinction of all, it was
+preached, but, we should opine, only certain parts of it, from the pulpit
+by the best preachers of the time as a new gospel. The Germans proudly
+award it the epithet, "epoch-making," and its long-continued popularity
+affords good, if not quite sufficient, ground for the extravagant eulogies
+they lavish upon it. Trithemius calls it "Divina Satira," and doubts
+whether anything could have been written more suited to the spirit of the
+age; Locher compares Brandt with Dante, and Hutten styles him the new
+law-giver of German poetry.
+
+A more recent and impartial critic (Mueller, "Chips from a German Workshop,"
+Vol. III.), thus suggestively sets forth the varied grounds of Brandt's
+wonderful popularity:--"His satires, it is true, are not very powerful, nor
+pungent, nor original. But his style is free and easy. Brant is not a
+ponderous poet. He writes in short chapters, and mixes his fools in such a
+manner that we always meet with a variety of new faces. It is true that all
+this would hardly be sufficient to secure a decided success for a work like
+his at the present day. But then we must remember the time in which he
+wrote.... There was room at that time for a work like the 'Ship of Fools.'
+It was the first printed book that treated of contemporaneous events and
+living persons, instead of old German battles and French knights. People
+are always fond of reading the history of their own times. If the good
+qualities of their age are brought out, they think of themselves or their
+friends; if the dark features of their contemporaries are exhibited, they
+think of their neighbours and enemies. Now the 'Ship of Fools' is just such
+a satire which ordinary people would read, and read with pleasure. They
+might feel a slight twinge now and then, but they would put down the book
+at the end, and thank God that they were not like other men. There is a
+chapter on Misers--and who would not gladly give a penny to a beggar? There
+is a chapter on Gluttony--and who was ever more than a little exhilarated
+after dinner?
+
+There is a chapter on Church-goers--and who ever went to church for
+respectability's sake, or to show off a gaudy dress, or a fine dog, or a
+new hawk? There is a chapter on Dancing--and who ever danced except for the
+sake of exercise? There is a chapter on Adultery--and who ever did more
+than flirt with his neighbour's wife? We sometimes wish that Brant's satire
+had been a little more searching, and that, instead of his many allusions
+to classical fools (for his book is full of scholarship), he had given us a
+little more of the _chronique scandaleuse_ of his own time. But he was too
+good a man to do this, and his contemporaries were no doubt grateful to him
+for his forbearance."
+
+Brandt's satire is a satire for all time. Embodied in the language of the
+fifteenth century, coloured with the habits and fashions of the times,
+executed after the manner of working of the period, and motived by the
+eager questioning spirit and the discontent with "abusions" and "folyes"
+which resulted in the Reformation, this satire in its morals or lessons is
+almost as applicable to the year of grace 1873 as to the year of
+gracelessness 1497. It never can grow old; in the mirror in which the men
+of his time saw themselves reflected, the men of all times can recognise
+themselves; a crew of "able-bodied" is never wanting to man this old,
+weather-beaten, but ever seaworthy vessel. The thoughtful, penetrating,
+conscious spirit of the Basle professor passing by, for the most part,
+local, temporary or indifferent points, seized upon the never-dying follies
+of _human nature_ and impaled them on the printed page for the amusement,
+the edification, and the warning of contemporaries and posterity alike. No
+petty writer of laborious _vers de societe_ to raise a laugh for a week, a
+month, or a year, and to be buried in utter oblivion for ever after, was
+he, but a divine seer who saw the weakness and wickedness of the hearts of
+men, and warned them to amend their ways and flee from the wrath to come.
+Though but a retired student, and teacher of the canon law, a humble-minded
+man of letters, and a diffident imperial Counsellor, yet is he to be
+numbered among the greatest Evangelists and Reformers of mediaeval Europe
+whose trumpet-toned tongue penetrated into regions where the names of
+Luther or Erasmus were but an empty sound, if even that. And yet, though
+helping much the cause of the Reformation by the freedom of his social and
+clerical criticism, by his unsparing exposure of every form of corruption
+and injustice, and, not least, by his use of the vernacular for political
+and religious purposes, he can scarcely be classed in the great army of the
+Protestant Reformers. He was a reformer from within, a biting, unsparing
+exposer of every priestly abuse, but a loyal son of the Church, who rebuked
+the faults of his brethren, but visited with the pains of Hell those of
+"fals herytikes," and wept over the "ruyne, inclynacion, and decay of the
+holy fayth Catholyke, and dymynucion of the Empyre."
+
+So while he was yet a reformer in the true sense of the word, he was too
+much of the scholar to be anything but a true conservative. To his
+scholarly habit of working, as well as to the manner of the time which
+hardly trusted in the value of its own ideas but loved to lean them upon
+classical authority, is no doubt owing the classical mould in which his
+satire is cast. The description of every folly is strengthened by notice of
+its classical or biblical prototypes, and in the margin of the Latin
+edition of Locher, Brandt himself supplied the citations of the books and
+passages which formed the basis of his text, which greatly added to the
+popularity of the work. Brandt, indeed, with the modesty of genius,
+professes that it is really no more than a collection and translation of
+quotations from biblical and classical authors, "Gesamlet durch Sebastianu
+Brant." But even admitting the work to be a Mosaic, to adopt the reply of
+its latest German editor to the assertion that it is but a compilation
+testifying to the most painstaking industry and the consumption of midnight
+oil, "even so one learns that a Mosaic is a work of art when executed with
+artistic skill." That he caused the classical and biblical passages
+flitting before his eyes to be cited in the margin proves chiefly only the
+excellence of his memory. They are also before our eyes and yet we are not
+always able to answer the question: where, _e.g._, does this occur? ...
+Where, _e.g._, occur the following appropriate words of Goethe: "Who can
+think anything foolish, who can think anything wise, that antiquity has not
+already thought of."
+
+Of the Greek authors, Plutarch only is used, and he evidently by means of a
+Latin translation. But from the Latin large draughts of inspiration are
+taken, direct from the fountainhead. Ovid, Juvenal, Persius, Catullus, and
+Seneca, are largely drawn from, while, strangely enough, Cicero, Boethius,
+and Virgil are quoted but seldom, the latter, indeed, only twice, though
+his commentators, especially Servetus, are frequently employed. The Bible,
+of course, is a never-failing source of illustration, and, as was to be
+expected, the Old Testament much more frequently than the New, most use
+being made of the Proverbs of Solomon, while Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus,
+and the Sapientia follow at no great distance.
+
+The quotations are made apparently direct from the Vulgate, in only a few
+cases there being a qualification of the idea by the interpretation of the
+Corpus Juris Canonici. But through this medium only, as was to be expected
+of the professor of canon law, is the light of the fathers of the Church
+allowed to shine upon us, and according to Zarncke (Introduction to his
+edition of the Narrenschiff, 1854), use of it has certainly been made far
+oftener than the commentary shows, the sources of information of which are
+of the most unsatisfactory character. On such solid and tried foundations
+did Brandt construct his great work, and the judgment of contemporaries and
+posterity alike has declared the superstructure to be worthy of its
+supports.
+
+The following admirable notice from Ersch and Grueber (Encyclopaedie) sums up
+so skilfully the history, nature, and qualities of the book that we quote
+at length:--"The Ship of Fools was received with almost unexampled applause
+by high and low, learned and unlearned, in Germany, Switzerland, and
+France, and was made the common property of the greatest part of literary
+Europe, through Latin, French, English, and Dutch translations. For upwards
+of a century it was in Germany a _book of the people_ in the noblest and
+widest sense of the word, alike appreciated by an Erasmus and a Reuchlin,
+and by the mechanics of Strassburg, Basel, and Augsburg; and it was assumed
+to be so familiar to all classes, that even during Brandt's lifetime, the
+German preacher Gailer von Kaiserberg went so far as to deliver public
+lectures from the pulpit on his friend's poem as if it had been a
+scriptural text. As to the poetical and humorous character of Brandt's
+poem, its whole conception does not display any extraordinary power of
+imagination, nor does it present in its details any very striking sallies
+of wit and humour, even when compared with older German works of a similar
+kind, such as that of Renner. The fundamental idea of the poem consists in
+the shipping off of several shiploads of fools of all kinds for their
+native country, which, however, is visible at a distance only; and one
+would have expected the poet to have given poetical consistency to his work
+by fully carrying out this idea of a ship's crew, and sailing to the 'Land
+of Fools.' It is, however, at intervals only that Brandt reminds us of the
+allegory; the fools who are carefully divided into classes and introduced
+to us in succession, instead of being ridiculed or derided, are reproved in
+a liberal spirit, with noble earnestness, true moral feeling, and practical
+common sense. It was the straightforward, the bold and liberal spirit of
+the poet which so powerfully addressed his contemporaries from the Ship of
+the Fools; and to us it is valuable as a product of the piety and morality
+of the century which paved the way for the Reformation. Brandt's fools are
+represented as contemptible and loathsome rather than _foolish_, and what
+he calls follies might be more correctly described as sins and vices.
+
+"The 'Ship of Fools' is written in the dialect of Swabia, and consists of
+vigorous, resonant, and rhyming iambic quadrameters. It is divided into 113
+sections, each of which, with the exception of a short introduction and two
+concluding pieces, treats independently of a certain class of fools or
+vicious persons; and we are only occasionally reminded of the fundamental
+idea by an allusion to the ship. No folly of the century is left
+uncensured. The poet attacks with noble zeal the failings and extravagances
+of his age, and applies his lash unsparingly even to the dreaded Hydra of
+popery and monasticism, to combat which the Hercules of Wittenberg had not
+yet kindled his firebrands. But the poet's object was not merely to reprove
+and to animadvert; he instructs also, and shows the fools the way to the
+land of wisdom; and so far is he from assuming the arrogant air of the
+commonplace moralist, that he reckons himself among the number of fools.
+The style of the poem is lively, bold, and simple, and often remarkably
+terse, especially in his moral sayings, and renders it apparent that the
+author was a classical scholar, without however losing anything of his
+German character."
+
+Brandt's humour, which either his earnestness or his manner banished from
+the text, took refuge in the illustrations and there disported itself with
+a wild zest and vigour. Indeed to their popularity several critics have
+ascribed the success of the book, but for this there is no sufficient
+authority or probability. Clever as they are, it is more probable that they
+ran, in popularity, but an equal race with the text. The precise amount of
+Brandt's workmanship in them has not been ascertained, but it is agreed
+that "most of them, if not actually drawn, were at least suggested by him."
+Zarncke remarks regarding their artistic worth, "not all of the cuts are of
+equal value. One can easily distinguish five different workers, and more
+practised eyes would probably be able to increase the number. In some one
+can see how the outlines, heads, hands, and other principal parts are cut
+with the fine stroke of the master, and the details and shading left to the
+scholars. The woodcuts of the most superior master, which can be recognized
+at once, and are about a third of the whole, belong to the finest, if they
+are not, indeed, the finest, which were executed in the fifteenth century,
+a worthy school of Holbein. According to the opinion of Herr Rudolph
+Weigel, they might possibly be the work of Martin Schoen of Colmar.... The
+composition in the better ones is genuinely Hogarth-like, and the longer
+one looks at these little pictures, the more is one astonished at the
+fulness of the humour, the fineness of the characterisation and the almost
+dramatic talent of the grouping." Green, in his recent work on emblems,
+characterizes them as marking an epoch in that kind of literature. And
+Dibdin, the Macaulay of bibliography, loses his head in admiration of the
+"entertaining volume," extolling the figures without stint for "merit in
+conception and execution," "bold and free pencilling," "spirit and point,"
+"delicacy, truth, and force," "spirit of drollery," &c., &c.; summarising
+thus, "few books are more pleasing to the eye, and more gratifying to the
+fancy than the early editions of the 'Stultifera Navis.' It presents a
+combination of entertainment to which the curious can never be
+indifferent."
+
+Whether it were the racy cleverness of the pictures or the unprecedented
+boldness of the text, the book stirred Europe of the fifteenth century in a
+way and with a rapidity it had never been stirred before. In the German
+actual acquaintance with it could then be but limited, though it ran
+through seventeen editions within a century; the Latin version brought it
+to the knowledge of the educated class throughout Europe; but, expressing,
+as it did mainly, the feelings of the common people, to have it in the
+learned language was not enough. Translations into various vernaculars were
+immediately called for, and the Latin edition having lightened the
+translator's labours, they were speedily supplied. England, however, was
+all but last in the field but when she did appear, it was in force, with a
+version in each hand, the one in prose and the other in verse.
+
+Fifteen years elapsed from the appearance of the first German edition,
+before the English metrical version "translated out of Laten, French, and
+Doche ... in the colege of Saynt Mary Otery, by me, Alexander Barclay," was
+issued from the press of Pynson in 1509. A translation, however, it is not.
+Properly speaking, it is an adaptation, an English ship, formed and
+fashioned after the Ship of Fools of the World. "But concernynge the
+translacion of this boke; I exhort ye reders to take no displesour for y^t,
+it is nat translated word by worde acordinge to ye verses of my actour. For
+I haue but only drawen into our moder tunge, in rude langage the sentences
+of the verses as nere as the parcyte of my wyt wyl suffer me, some tyme
+addynge, somtyme detractinge and takinge away suche thinges as semeth me
+necessary and superflue. Wherfore I desyre of you reders pardon of my
+presumptuous audacite, trustynge that ye shall holde me excused if ye
+consyder ye scarsnes of my wyt and my vnexpert youthe. I haue in many
+places ouerpassed dyuers poetical digressions and obscurenes of fables and
+haue concluded my worke in rude langage as shal apere in my translacion."
+
+"Wylling to redres the errours and vyces of this oure royalme of England
+... I haue taken upon me ... the translacion of this present boke ... onely
+for the holsome instruccion commodyte and doctryne of wysdome, and to
+clense the vanyte and madness of folysshe people of whom ouer great nombre
+is in the Royalme of Englonde."
+
+Actuated by these patriotic motives, Barclay has, while preserving all the
+valuable characteristics of his original, painted for posterity perhaps the
+most graphic and comprehensive picture now preserved of the folly,
+injustice, and iniquity which demoralized England, city and country alike,
+at the beginning of the sixteenth century, and rendered it ripe for any
+change political or religious.
+
+ "Knowledge of trouth, prudence, and iust symplicite
+ Hath vs clene left; For we set of them no store.
+ Our Fayth is defyled loue, goodnes, and Pyte:
+ Honest maners nowe ar reputed of: no more.
+ Lawyers ar lordes; but Justice is rent and tore.
+ Or closed lyke a Monster within dores thre.
+ For without mede: or money no man can hyr se.
+
+ Al is disordered: Vertue hath no rewarde.
+ Alas, compassion; and mercy bothe ar slayne.
+ Alas, the stony hartys of pepyl ar so harde
+ That nought can constrayne theyr folyes to refrayne."
+
+His ships are full laden but carry not all who should be on board.
+
+ "We are full lade and yet forsoth I thynke
+ A thousand are behynde, whom we may not receyue
+ For if we do, our nauy clene shall synke
+ He oft all lesys that coueytes all to haue
+ From London Rockes Almyghty God vs saue
+ For if we there anker, outher bote or barge
+ There be so many that they vs wyll ouercharge."
+
+The national tone and aim of the English "Ship" are maintained throughout
+with the greatest emphasis, exhibiting an independence of spirit which few
+ecclesiastics of the time would have dared to own. Barclay seems to have
+been first an Englishman, then an ecclesiastic. Everywhere throughout his
+great work the voice of the people is heard to rise and ring through the
+long exposure of abuse and injustice, and had the authorship been unknown
+it would most certainly have been ascribed to a Langlande of the period.
+Everywhere he takes what we would call the popular side, the side of the
+people as against those in office. Everywhere he stands up boldly in behalf
+of the oppressed, and spares not the oppressor, even if he be of his own
+class. He applies the cudgel as vigorously to the priest's pate as to the
+Lolardes back. But he disliked modern innovation as much as ancient abuse,
+in this also faithfully reflecting the mind of the people, and he is as
+emphatic in his censure of the one as in his condemnation of the other.
+
+Barclay's "Ship of Fools," however, is not only important as a picture of
+the English life and popular feeling of his time, it is, both in style and
+vocabulary, a most valuable and remarkable monument of the English
+language. Written midway between Chaucer and Spenser, it is infinitely more
+easy to read than either. Page after page, even in the antique spelling of
+Pynson's edition, may be read by the ordinary reader of to-day without
+reference to a dictionary, and when reference is required it will be found
+in nine cases out of ten that the archaism is Saxon, not Latin. This is all
+the more remarkable, that it occurs in the case of a priest translating
+mainly from the Latin and French, and can only be explained with reference
+to his standpoint as a social reformer of the broadest type, and to his
+evident intention that his book should be an appeal to all classes, but
+especially to the mass of the people, for amendment of their follies. In
+evidence of this it may be noticed that in the didactic passages, and
+especially in the L'envois, which are additions of his own, wherever, in
+fact, he appears in his own character of "preacher," his language is most
+simple, and his vocabulary of the most Saxon description.
+
+In his prologue "excusynge the rudenes of his translacion," he professes to
+have purposely used the most "comon speche":--
+
+ "My speche is rude my termes comon and rural
+ And I for rude peple moche more conuenient
+ Than for estates, lerned men, or eloquent."
+
+He afterwards humorously supplements this in "the prologe," by:--
+
+ "But if I halt in meter or erre in eloquence
+ Or be to large in langage I pray you blame not me
+ For my mater is so bad it wyll none other be."
+
+So much the better for all who are interested in studying the development
+of our language and literature. For thus we have a volume, confessedly
+written in the commonest language of the common people, from which the
+philologist may at once see the stage at which they had arrived in the
+development of a simple English speech, and how far, in this respect, the
+spoken language had advanced a-head of the written; and from which also he
+can judge to what extent the popularity of a book depends, when the
+language is in a state of transition, upon the unusual simplicity of its
+style both in structure and vocabulary, and how far it may, by reason of
+its popularity, be influential in modifying and improving the language in
+both these respects. In the long barren tract between Chaucer and Spenser,
+the Ship of Fools stands all but alone as a popular poem, and the
+continuance of this popularity for a century and more is no doubt to be
+attributed as much to the use of the language of the "coming time" as to
+the popularity of the subject.
+
+In more recent times however, Barclay has, probably in part, from
+accidental circumstances, come to be relegated to a position among the
+English classics, those authors whom every one speaks of but few read. That
+modern editions of at least his principal performance have not appeared,
+can only be accounted for by the great expense attendant upon the
+reproduction of so uniquely illustrated a work, an interesting proof of
+which, given in the evidence before the Select Committee of the House of
+Commons on the Copyright act in 1818, is worth quoting. Amongst new
+editions of standard but costly works, of which the tax then imposed by the
+act upon publishers of giving eleven copies of all their publications free
+to certain libraries prevented the publication, is mentioned, Barclay's
+"Ship of Fools;" regarding which Harding, the well known bookseller, is
+reported to have said, "We have declined republishing the 'Ship of Fools,'
+a folio volume of great rarity and high price. Our probable demand would
+not have been more than for a hundred copies, at the price of 12 guineas
+each. The delivery of eleven copies to the public libraries decided us
+against entering into the speculation."
+
+A wider and more eager interest is now being manifested in our early
+literature, and especially in our early popular poetry, to the satisfaction
+of which, it is believed, a new edition of this book will be regarded as a
+most valuable contribution. Indeed, as a graphic and comprehensive picture
+of the social condition of pre-Reformation England; as an important
+influence in the formation of our modern English tongue; and as a rich and
+unique exhibition of early art, to all of which subjects special attention
+is being at present directed, this mediaeval picture-poem is of unrivalled
+interest.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+NOTICE
+
+OF THE
+
+_Life and Writings of Alexander Barclay_,
+
+THE TRANSLATOR OF BRANDT'S SHIP OF FOOLS.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+ALEXANDER BARCLAY.
+
+Whether this distinguished poet was an Englishman or a Scotchman has long
+been a _quaestio vexata_ affording the literary antiquary a suitable field
+for the display of his characteristic amenity. Bale, the oldest authority,
+simply says that some contend he was a Scot, others an Englishman, (Script.
+Illust. Majoris Britt. Catalogus, 1559). Pits (De Illust. Angliae Script.,)
+asserts that though to some he appears to have been a Scot, he was really
+an Englishman, and probably a native of Devonshire, ("_nam_ ibi ad S.
+Mariam de Otery, Presbyter primum fuit"). Wood again, (Athen. Oxon.), by
+the reasoning which finds a likeness between Macedon and Monmouth, because
+there is a river in each, arrives at "Alexander de Barklay, seems to have
+been born at or near a town so called in Somersetshire;" upon which Ritson
+pertinently observes, "there is no such place in Somersetshire, the onely
+Berkeley known is in Gloucestershire." Warton, coming to the question
+double-shotted, observes that "he was most probably of Devonshire or
+Gloucestershire," in the one case following Pits, and in the other
+anticipating Ritson's observation.
+
+On the other hand Bale, in an earlier work than the _Catalogus_, the
+_Summarium Ill. Maj. Britt. Script._, published in 1548, during Barclay's
+life time, adorns him with the epithets "Scotus, rhetor ac poeta insignis."
+Dempster (Hist. ecclesiastica), styles him "Scotus, ut retulit ipse Joannes
+Pitsaeus." Holinshed also styles him "Scot"! Sibbald gives him a place in
+his (MS.) Catalogues of Scottish poets, as does also Wodrow in his
+Catalogues of Scots writers. Mackenzie (Lives of the Scots writers) begins,
+"The Barklies, from whom this gentleman is descended, are of a very ancient
+standing in Scotland." Ritson (Bib. Poetica), after a caustic review of the
+controversy, observes "both his name of baptism and the orthography of his
+surname seem to prove that he was of Scottish extraction." Bliss (Additions
+to Wood) is of opinion that he "undoubtedly was not a native of England,"
+and Dr Irving (Hist. of Scot. Poetry) adheres to the opinion of Ritson.
+
+Such contention, whatever may be the weight of the evidence on either side,
+is at any rate a sufficient proof of the eminence of the individual who is
+the subject of it; to be his birthplace being considered an honour of so
+much value to the country able to prove its claim to the distinction as to
+occasion a literary warfare of several centuries' duration.
+
+We cannot profess to have brought such reinforcements to either side as to
+obtain for it a complete and decisive victory, but their number and
+character are such as will probably induce one of the combatants quietly to
+retire from the field. In the first place, a more explicit and
+unimpeachable piece of evidence than any contained in the authors mentioned
+above has been found, strangely enough, in a medical treatise, published
+about twenty years after Barclay's death, by a physician and botanist of
+great eminence in the middle of the sixteenth century, who was a native of
+the isle of Ely, at the Monastery of which Barclay was for some time a
+monk.
+
+It is entitled "A dialogue both pleasaunt and pietifull, wherein is a
+godlie regiment against the Fever Pestilence, with a consolation and
+comforte against death.--Newlie corrected by William Bullein, the author
+thereof.--Imprinted at London by Ihon Kingston. Julij, 1573." [8vo., B.L.,
+111 leaves.] "There was an earlier impression of this work in 1564, but the
+edition of 1573 was 'corrected by the author,' the last work on which he
+probably was engaged, as he died in 1576. It is of no value at this time of
+day as a medical treatise, though the author was very eminent; but we
+advert to it because Bullein, for the sake of variety and amusement,
+introduces notices of Chaucer, Gower, Lidgate, Skelton, and Barclay, which,
+coming from a man who was contemporary with two of them, may be accepted as
+generally accurate representations.... Alexander Barclay, Dr Bullein calls
+Bartlet, in the irregular spelling of those times; and, asserting that he
+was 'born beyond the cold river of Tweed,' we see no sufficient reason for
+disbelieving that he was a native of Scotland. Barclay, after writing his
+pastorals, &c., did not die until 1552, so that Bullein was his
+contemporary, and most likely knew him and the fact. He observes:--'Then
+Bartlet, with an hoopyng russet long coate, with a pretie hoode in his
+necke, and five knottes upon his girdle, after Francis tricks. He was borne
+beyonde the cold river of Twede. He lodged upon a swete bed of chamomill,
+under the sinamum tree; about hym many shepherdes and shepe, with
+pleasaunte pipes; greatly abhorring the life of Courtiers, Citizens,
+Usurers, and Banckruptes, &c., whose olde daies are miserable. And the
+estate of shepherdes and countrie people he accoumpted moste happie and
+sure." (Collier's "Bibliographical Account of Early English Literature,"
+Vol. 1., P. 97).
+
+"The certainty with which Bulleyn here speaks of Barclay, as born beyond
+the Tweed, is not a little strengthened by the accuracy with which even in
+allegory he delineates his peculiar characteristics. 'He lodged upon a bed
+of sweet camomile.' What figure could have been more descriptive of that
+agreeable bitterness, that pleasant irony, which distinguishes the author
+of the 'Ship of Fools?' 'About him many shepherds and sheep with pleasant
+pipes, greatly abhorring the life of courtiers.' What could have been a
+plainer paraphrase of the title of Barclay's 'Eclogues,' or 'Miseries of
+Courtiers and Courtes, and of all Princes in General.' As a minor feature,
+'the five knots upon his girdle after Francis's tricks' may also be
+noticed. Hitherto, the fact of Barclay having been a member of the
+Franciscan order has been always repeated as a matter of some doubt; 'he
+was a monk of the order of St Benedict, and afterwards, as some say, a
+Franciscan. Bulleyn knows, and mentions, with certainty, what others only
+speak of as the merest conjecture. In short, everything tends to shew a
+degree of familiar acquaintance with the man, his habits, and his
+productions, which entitles the testimony of Bulleyn to the highest
+credit.'" (Lives of the Scottish Poets, Vol. I., pt. ii., p. 77).
+
+But there are other proofs pointing as decidedly to the determination of
+this long-continued controversy in favour of Scotland, as the soil from
+which this vagrant child of the muses sprung. No evidence seems to have
+been hitherto sought from the most obvious source, his writings. The writer
+of the memoir in the Biographia Brittanica, (who certainly dealt a
+well-aimed, though by no means decisive, blow, in observing, "It is pretty
+extraordinary that Barclay himself, in his several addresses to his patrons
+should never take notice of his being a stranger, which would have made
+their kindness to him the more remarkable [it was very customary for the
+writers of that age to make mention in their works of the countries to
+which they belonged, especially if they wrote out of their own];[1] whereas
+the reader will quickly see, that in his address to the young gentlemen of
+England in the 'Mirror of Good Manners,' he treats them as his
+countrymen,") has remarked, "It seems a little strange that in those days a
+Scot should obtain so great reputation in England, especially if it be
+considered from whence our author's rose, viz., from his enriching and
+improving the English tongue. Had he written in Latin or on the sciences,
+the thing had been probable enough, but in the light in which it now
+stands, I think it very far from likely." From which it is evident that the
+biographer understood not the versatile nature of the Scot and his ability,
+especially when caught young, in "doing in Rome as the Romans do."
+Barclay's English education and foreign travel, together extending over the
+most impressionable years of his youth, could not have failed to rub off
+any obvious national peculiarities of speech acquired in early boyhood, had
+the difference between the English and Scottish speech then been wider than
+it was. But the language of Barbour and Chaucer was really one and the
+same. It will then not be wondered at that but few Scotch words are found
+in Barclay's writings. Still, these few are not without their importance in
+strengthening the argument as to nationality. The following from "The Ship
+of Fools," indicate at once the clime to which they are native, "gree,"
+"kest," "rawky," "ryue," "yate," "bokest," "bydeth," "thekt," and "or," in
+its peculiar Scottish use.[2] That any Englishman, especially a South or
+West of England Englishman, should use words such as those, particularly at
+a time of hostility and of little intercourse between the nations, will
+surely be admitted to be a far more unlikely thing than that a Scotchman
+born, though not bred, should become, after the effects of an English
+education and residence had efficiently done their work upon him, a great
+improver and enricher of the English tongue.
+
+But perhaps the strongest and most decisive argument of all in this
+much-vexed controversy is to be found in the panegyric of James the Fourth
+contained in the "Ship of Fools," an eulogy so highly pitched and
+extravagant that no Englishman of that time would ever have dreamed of it
+or dared to pen it. Nothing could well be more conclusive. Barclay precedes
+it by a long and high-flown tribute to Henry, but when he comes to "Jamys
+of Scotlonde," he, so to speak, out-Herods Herod. Ordinary verse suffices
+not for the greatness of his subject, which he must needs honour with an
+acrostic,--
+
+ "I n prudence pereles is this moste comely kynge
+ A nd as for his strength and magnanymyte
+ C oncernynge his noble dedes in euery thynge
+ O ne founde or grounde lyke to hym can not be
+ B y byrth borne to boldnes and audacyte
+ V nder the bolde planet of Mars the champyon
+ S urely to subdue his ennemyes echone."
+
+There, we are convinced, speaks not the prejudiced, Scot-hating English
+critic, but the heart beating true to its fatherland and loyal to its
+native Sovereign.
+
+That "he was born beyonde the cold river of Twede," about the year 1476, as
+shall be shown anon, is however all the length we can go. His training was
+without doubt mainly, if not entirely English. He must have crossed the
+border very early in life, probably for the purpose of pursuing his
+education at one of the Universities, or, even earlier than the period of
+his University career, with parents or guardians to reside in the
+neighbourhood of Croydon, to which he frequently refers. Croydon is
+mentioned in the following passages in Eclogue I.:
+
+ "While I in youth in Croidon towne did dwell."
+
+ "He hath no felowe betwene this and Croidon,
+ Save the proude plowman Gnatho of Chorlington."
+
+ "And as in Croidon I heard the Collier preache"
+
+ "Such maner riches the Collier tell thee can"
+
+ "As the riche Shepheard that woned in Mortlake."
+
+It seems to have become a second home to him, for there, we find, in 1552,
+he died and was buried.
+
+At which University he studied, whether Oxford or Cambridge, is also a
+matter of doubt and controversy. Wood claims him for Oxford and Oriel,
+apparently on no other ground than that he dedicates the "Ship of Fools" to
+Thomas Cornish, the Suffragan bishop of Tyne, in the Diocese of Bath and
+Wells, who was provost of Oriel College from 1493 to 1507. That the Bishop
+was the first to give him an appointment in the Church is certainly a
+circumstance of considerable weight in favour of the claim of Oxford to be
+his _alma mater_, and of Cornish to be his intellectual father; and if the
+appointment proceeded from the Provost's good opinion of the young
+Scotchman, then it says much for the ability and talents displayed by him
+during his College career. Oxford however appears to be nowhere mentioned
+in his various writings, while Cambridge is introduced thus in Eclogue
+I.:--
+
+ "And once in Cambridge I heard a scoller say."
+
+From which it seems equally, if not more, probable that he was a student at
+that university. "There is reason to believe that both the universities
+were frequented by Scotish students; many particular names are to be traced
+in their annals; nor is it altogether irrelevant to mention that Chaucer's
+young clerks of Cambridge who played such tricks to the miller of
+Trompington, are described as coming from the north, and as speaking the
+Scotish language:--
+
+ 'John highte that on, and Alein highte that other,
+ Of o toun were they born that highte Strother,
+ Fer in the North, I cannot tellen where.'
+
+"It may be considered as highly probable that Barclay completed his studies
+in one of those universities, and that the connections which he thus had an
+opportunity of forming, induced him to fix his residence in the South; and
+when we suppose him to have enjoyed the benefit of an English education it
+need not appear peculiarly 'strange, that in those days, a Scot should
+obtain so great reputation in England.'" (Irving, Hist. of Scot. Poetry).
+
+In the "Ship" there is a chapter "Of unprofytable Stody" in which he makes
+allusion to his student life in such a way as to imply that it had not been
+a model of regularity and propriety:
+
+ "The great foly, the pryde, and the enormyte
+ Of our studentis, and theyr obstynate errour
+ Causeth me to wryte two sentences or thre
+ More than I fynde wrytyn in myne actoure
+ The tyme hath ben whan I was conductoure
+ Of moche foly, whiche nowe my mynde doth greue
+ Wherfor of this shyp syns I am gouernoure
+ I dare be bolde myne owne vyce to repreue."
+
+If these lines are meant to be accepted literally, which such confessions
+seldom are, it may be that he was advised to put a year or two's foreign
+travel between his University career, and his entrance into the Church. At
+any rate, for whatever reason, on leaving the University, where, as is
+indicated by the title of "Syr" prefixed to his name in his translation of
+Sallust, he had obtained the degree of Bachelor of Arts, he travelled
+abroad, whether at his own charges, or in the company of a son of one of
+his patrons is not recorded, principally in Germany, Italy, and France,
+where he applied himself, with an unusual assiduity and success, to the
+acquirement of the languages spoken in those countries and to the study of
+their best authors. In the chapter "Of unprofytable Stody," above
+mentioned, which contains proof how well he at least had profited by study,
+he cites certain continental seats of university learning at each of which,
+there is indeed no improbability in supposing he may have remained for some
+time, as was the custom in those days:
+
+ "One rennyth to Almayne another vnto France
+ To Parys, Padway, Lumbardy or Spayne
+ Another to Bonony, Rome, or Orleanse
+ To Cayne, to Tolows, Athenys, or Colayne."
+
+Another reference to his travels and mode of travelling is found in the
+Eclogues. Whether he made himself acquainted with the English towns he
+enumerates before or after his continental travels it is impossible to
+determine:
+
+ CORNIX.
+
+ "As if diuers wayes laye vnto Islington,
+ To Stow on the Wold, Quaueneth or Trompington,
+ To Douer, Durham, to Barwike or Exeter,
+ To Grantham, Totnes, Bristow or good Manchester,
+ To Roan, Paris, to Lions or Floraunce.
+
+ CORIDON.
+
+ (What ho man abide, what already in Fraunce,
+ Lo, a fayre iourney and shortly ended to,
+ With all these townes what thing haue we to do?
+
+ CORNIX.
+
+ By Gad man knowe thou that I haue had to do
+ In all these townes and yet in many mo,
+ To see the worlde in youth me thought was best,
+ And after in age to geue my selfe to rest.
+
+ CORIDON.
+
+ Thou might haue brought one and set by our village.
+
+ CORNIX.
+
+ What man I might not for lacke of cariage.
+ To cary mine owne selfe was all that euer I might,
+ And sometime for ease my sachell made I light."
+ ECLOGUE I.
+
+Returning to England, after some years of residence abroad, with his mind
+broadened and strengthened by foreign travel, and by the study of the best
+authors, modern as well as ancient, Barclay entered the church, the only
+career then open to a man of his training. With intellect, accomplishments,
+and energy possessed by few, his progress to distinction and power ought to
+have been easy and rapid, but it turned out quite otherwise. The road to
+eminence lay by the "backstairs," the atmosphere of which he could not
+endure. The ways of courtiers--falsehood, flattery, and fawning--he
+detested, and worse, he said so, wherefore his learning, wit and eloquence
+found but small reward. To his freedom of speech, his unsparing exposure
+and denunciation of corruption and vice in the Court and the Church, as
+well as among the people generally, must undoubtedly be attributed the
+failure to obtain that high promotion his talents deserved, and would
+otherwise have met with. The policy, not always a successful one in the
+end, of ignoring an inconvenient display of talent, appears to have been
+fully carried out in the instance of Barclay.
+
+His first preferment appears to have been in the shape of a chaplainship in
+the sanctuary for piety and learning founded at Saint Mary Otery in the
+County of Devon, by Grandison, Bishop of Exeter; and to have come from
+Thomas Cornish, Suffragan Bishop of Bath and Wells under the title of the
+Bishop of Tyne, "meorum primitias laborum qui in lucem eruperunt," to whom,
+doubtless out of gratitude for his first appointment, he dedicated "The
+Ship of Fools." Cornish, amongst the many other good things he enjoyed,
+held, according to Dugdale, from 1490 to 1511, the post of warden of the
+College of S. Mary Otery, where Barclay no doubt had formed that regard and
+respect for him which is so strongly expressed in the dedication.
+
+A very eulogistic notice of "My Mayster Kyrkham," in the chapter "Of the
+extorcion of Knyghtis," (Ship of Fools,) has misled biographers, who were
+ignorant of Cornish's connection with S. Mary Otery, to imagine that
+Barclay's use of "Capellanus humilimus" in his dedication was merely a
+polite expression, and that Kyrkham, of whom he styles himself, "His true
+seruytour his chaplayne and bedeman" was his actual ecclesiastical
+superior. The following is the whole passage:--
+
+ "Good offycers ar good and commendable
+ And manly knyghtes that lyue in rightwysenes
+ But they that do nat ar worthy of a bable
+ Syns by theyr pryde pore people they oppres
+ My mayster Kyrkhan for his perfyte mekenes
+ And supportacion of men in pouertye
+ Out of my shyp shall worthely be fre
+
+ I flater nat I am his true seruytour
+ His chaplayne and his bede man whyle my lyfe shall endure
+ Requyrynge God to exalt hym to honour
+ And of his Prynces fauour to be sure
+ For as I haue sayd I knowe no creature
+ More manly rightwyse wyse discrete and sad
+ But thoughe he be good, yet other ar als bad."
+
+That this Kyrkham was a knight and not an ecclesiastic is so plainly
+apparent as to need no argument. An investigation into Devonshire history
+affords the interesting information that among the ancient families of that
+county there was one of this name, of great antiquity and repute, now no
+longer existent, of which the most eminent member was a certain Sir John
+Kirkham, whose popularity is evinced by his having been twice created High
+Sheriff of the County, in the years 1507 and 1523. (Prince, Worthies of
+Devon; Izacke, Antiquities of Exeter.)
+
+That this was the Kirkham above alluded to, there can be no reasonable
+doubt, and in view of the expression "My mayster Kyrkham," it may be
+surmised that Barclay had the honour of being appointed by this worthy
+gentleman to the office of Sheriff's or private Chaplain or to some similar
+position of confidence, by which he gained the poet's respect and
+gratitude. The whole allusion, however, might, without straining be
+regarded as a merely complimentary one. The tone of the passage affords at
+any rate a very pleasing glimpse of the mutual regard entertained by the
+poet and his Devonshire neighbours.
+
+After the eulogy of Kyrkham ending with "Yet other ar als bad," the poet
+goes on immediately to give the picture of a character of the opposite
+description, making the only severe personal reference in his whole
+writings, for with all his unsparing exposure of wrong-doing, he carefully,
+wisely, honourably avoided personality. A certain Mansell of Otery is
+gibbeted as a terror to evil doers in a way which would form a sufficient
+ground for an action for libel in these degenerate days.--Ship, II. 82.
+
+ "Mansell of Otery for powlynge of the pore
+ Were nat his great wombe, here sholde haue an ore
+
+ But for his body is so great and corporate
+ And so many burdens his brode backe doth charge
+ If his great burthen cause hym to come to late
+ Yet shall the knaue be Captayne of a barge
+ Where as ar bawdes and so sayle out at large
+ About our shyp to spye about for prayes
+ For therupon hath he lyued all his dayes."
+
+It ought however to be mentioned that no such name as Mansell appears in
+the Devonshire histories, and it may therefore be fictitious.
+
+The ignorance and reckless living of the clergy, one of the chief objects
+of his animadversion, receive also local illustration:
+
+ "For if one can flater, and beare a Hauke on his fist,
+ He shalbe made parson of Honington or Clist."
+
+A good humoured reference to the Secondaries of the College is the only
+other streak of local colouring we have detected in the Ship, except the
+passage in praise of his friend and colleague Bishop, quoted at p. liii.
+
+ "Softe, fooles, softe, a little slacke your pace,
+ Till I haue space you to order by degree,
+ I haue eyght neyghbours, that first shall haue a place
+ Within this my ship, for they most worthy be,
+ They may their learning receyue costles and free,
+ Their walles abutting and ioyning to the scholes;
+ Nothing they can, yet nought will they learne nor see,
+ Therfore shall they guide this our ship of fooles."
+
+In the comfort, quiet, and seclusion of the pleasant Devonshire retreat,
+the "Ship" was translated in the year 1508, when he would be about
+thirty-two, "by Alexander Barclay Preste; and at that tyme chaplen in the
+sayde College," whence it may be inferred that he left Devon, either in
+that year or the year following, when the "Ship" was published, probably
+proceeding to London for the purpose of seeing it through the press.
+Whether he returned to Devonshire we do not know; probably not, for his
+patron and friend Cornish resigned the wardenship of St Mary Otery in 1511,
+and in two years after died, so that Barclay's ties and hopes in the West
+were at an end. At any rate we next hear of him in monastic orders, a monk
+of the order of S. Benedict, in the famous monastery of Ely, where, as is
+evident from internal proof, the Eclogues were written and where likewise,
+as appears from the title, was translated "The mirrour of good maners," at
+the desire of Syr Giles Alington, Knight.
+
+It is about this period of his life, probably the period of the full bloom
+of his popularity, that the quiet life of the poet and priest was
+interrupted by the recognition of his eminence in the highest quarters, and
+by a request for his aid in maintaining the honour of the country on an
+occasion to which the eyes of all Europe were then directed. In a letter of
+Sir Nicholas Vaux, busied with the preparations for the meeting of Henry
+VIII., and Francis I., called the Field of the Cloth of Gold, to Wolsey, of
+date 10th April 1520, he begs the cardinal to "send to them ... Maistre
+Barkleye, the Black Monke and Poete, to devise histoires and convenient
+raisons to florisshe the buildings and banquet house withal" (Rolls
+Calendars of Letters and Papers, Henry VIII., III. pt. 1.). No doubt it was
+also thought that this would be an excellent opportunity for the eulogist
+of the Defender of the Faith to again take up the lyre to sing the glories
+of his royal master, but no effort of his muse on the subject of this great
+chivalric pageant has descended to us if any were ever penned.
+
+Probably after this employment he did not return to Ely; with his position
+or surroundings there he does not seem to have been altogether satisfied
+("there many a thing is wrong," see p. lxix.); and afterwards, though in
+the matter of date we are somewhat puzzled by the allusion of Bulleyn, an
+Ely man, to his Franciscan habit, he assumed the habit of the Franciscans
+at Canterbury, ('Bale MS. Sloan, f. 68,') to which change we may owe, if it
+be really Barclay's, "The life of St Thomas of Canterbury."
+
+Autumn had now come to the poet, but fruit had failed him. The advance of
+age and his failure to obtain a suitable position in the Church began
+gradually to weigh upon his spirits. The bright hopes with which he had
+started in the flush of youth, the position he was to obtain, the influence
+he was to wield, and the work he was to do personally, and by his writings,
+in the field of moral and social reformation were all in sad contrast with
+the actualities around. He had never risen from the ranks, the army was in
+a state of disorganisation, almost of mutiny, and the enemy was more bold,
+unscrupulous, and numerous than ever. It is scarcely to be wondered at
+that, though not past fifty, he felt prematurely aged, that his youthful
+enthusiasm which had carried him on bravely in many an attempt to instruct
+and benefit his fellows at length forsook him and left him a prey to that
+weakness of body, and that hopelessness of spirit to which he so
+pathetically alludes in the Prologue to the Mirror of good Manners. All his
+best work, all the work which has survived to our day, was executed before
+this date. But the pen was too familiar to his hand to be allowed to drop.
+His biographers tell us "that when years came on he spent his time mostly
+in pious matters, and in reading and writing histories of the Saints." A
+goodly picture of a well-spent old age. The harness of youth he had no
+longer the spirit and strength to don, the garments of age he gathered
+resignedly and gracefully about him.
+
+On the violent dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539, when their inmates,
+the good and bad, the men of wisdom and the "fools," were alike cast adrift
+upon a rock-bound and stormy coast, the value of the patronage which his
+literary and personal popularity had brought him, was put to the test, and
+in the end successfully, though after considerable, but perhaps not to be
+wondered at, delay. His great patrons, the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of
+Kent, Bishop Cornish, and probably also Sir Giles Alington, were all dead,
+and he had to rely on newer and necessarily weaker ties. But after waiting,
+till probably somewhat dispirited, fortune smiled at last. Two handsome
+livings were presented to him in the same year, both of which he apparently
+held at the same time, the vicarage of Much Badew in Essex, by the
+presentation of Mr John Pascal, to which he was instituted on February 7th,
+1546, holding it (according to the Lansdowne MS. (980 f. 101), in the
+British Museum) till his death; and the vicarage of S. Mathew at Wokey, in
+Somerset, on March 30th of the same year. Wood dignifies him with the
+degree of doctor of divinity at the time of his presentation to these
+preferments.
+
+That he seems to have accepted quietly the gradual progress of the reformed
+religion during the reign of Edward VI., has been a cause of wonder to
+some. It would certainly have been astonishing had one who was so unsparing
+in his exposure of the flagrant abuses of the Romish Church done otherwise.
+Though personally disinclined to radical changes his writings amply show
+his deep dissatisfaction with things as they were. This renders the more
+improbable the honours assigned him by Wadding (Scriptores Ordinis Minorum,
+1806, p. 5), who promotes him to be Suffragan Bishop of Bath and Wells, and
+Bale, who, in a slanderous anecdote, the locale of which is also Wells,
+speaks of him as a chaplain of Queen Mary's, though Mary did not ascend the
+throne till the year after his death. As these statements are nowhere
+confirmed, it is not improbable that their authors have fallen into error
+by confounding the poet Barclay, with a Gilbert Berkeley, who became Bishop
+of Bath and Wells in 1559. One more undoubted, but tardy, piece of
+preferment was awarded him which may be regarded as an honour of some
+significance. On the 30th April 1552, the Dean and Chapter of Canterbury,
+London, presented him to the Rectory of All Hallows, Lombard Street, but
+the well-deserved promotion came too late to be enjoyed. A few weeks after,
+and before the 10th June, at which date his will was proved, he died, as
+his biographers say, "at a very advanced age;" at the good old age of
+seventy-six, as shall be shown presently, at Croydon where he had passed
+his youth, and there in the Church he was buried. "June 10th 1552,
+Alexander Barkley sepult," (Extract from the Parish Register, in Lyson's
+Environs of London).
+
+A copy of his will, an extremely interesting and instructive document, has
+been obtained from Doctors' Commons, and will be found appended. It bears
+in all its details those traits of character which, from all that we
+otherwise know, we are led to associate with him. In it we see the earnest,
+conscientious minister whose first thought is of the poor, the loyal
+churchman liberal in his support of the house of God, the kind relative in
+his numerous and considerate bequests to his kith and kin, the amiable,
+much loved man in the gifts of remembrance to his many friends, and the
+pious Christian in his wishes for the prayers of his survivors "to
+Almightie God for remission of my synnes, and mercy upon my soule."
+
+Barclay's career and character, both as a churchman and a man of letters,
+deserve attention and respect from every student of our early history and
+literature. In the former capacity he showed himself diligent, honest, and
+anxious, at a time when these qualities seemed to have been so entirely
+lost to the church as to form only a subject for clerical ridicule. In the
+latter, the same qualities are also prominent, diligence, honesty, bold
+outspokenness, an ardent desire for the pure, the true, and the natural,
+and an undisguised enmity to everything false, self-seeking, and vile.
+Everything he did was done in a pure way, and to a worthy end.
+
+Bale stands alone in casting aspersions upon his moral character,
+asserting, as Ritson puts it, "in his bigoted and foul-mouthed way," that
+"he continued a hater of truth, and under the disguise of celibacy a filthy
+adulterer to the last;" and in his Declaration of Bonner's articles (1561,
+fol. 81), he condescends to an instance to the effect that "Doctoure
+Barkleye hadde greate harme ones of suche a visitacion, at Wellys, before
+he was Quene Maryes Chaplayne. For the woman whome he so religiouslye
+visited did light him of all that he had, sauinge his workinge tolas. For
+the whiche acte he had her in prison, and yet coulde nothing recouer
+againe." Whether this story be true of any one is perhaps doubtful, and, if
+true of a Barclay, we are convinced that he is not our author. It may have
+arisen as we have seen from a mistake as to identity. But apart from the
+question of identity, we have nothing in support of the slander but Bale's
+"foul-mouthed" assertion, while against it we have the whole tenor and aim
+of Barclay's published writings. Everywhere he inculcates the highest and
+purest morality, and where even for that purpose he might be led into
+descriptions of vice, his disgust carries him past what most others would
+have felt themselves justified in dealing with. For example, in the chapter
+of "Disgysyd folys" he expressly passes over as lightly as possible what
+might to others have proved a tempting subject:
+
+ "They disceyue myndes chaste and innocent
+ With dyuers wayes whiche I wyll nat expres
+ Lyst that whyle I labour this cursyd gyse to stynt
+ I myght to them mynyster example of lewdnes
+ And therfore in this part I shall say les
+ Than doth my actour."
+
+Elsewhere he declares:
+
+ "for my boke certaynly
+ I haue compyled: for vertue and goodnes
+ And to reuyle foule synne and vyciousnes"
+
+But citation is needless; there is not a page of his writings which will
+not supply similar evidence, and our great early moralist may, we think, be
+dismissed from Court without a stain on his character.
+
+Indeed to his high pitched morality, he doubtless owed in some degree the
+great and extended popularity of his poetical writings in former times and
+their neglect in later. Sermons and "good" books were not yet in the
+sixteenth century an extensive branch of literature, and "good" people
+could without remorse of conscience vary their limited theological reading
+by frowning over the improprieties and sins of their neighbours as depicted
+in the "Ship," and joining, with a serious headshaking heartiness, in the
+admonitions of the translator to amendment, or they might feel
+"strengthened" by a glance into the "Mirrour of good Maners," or edified by
+hearing of the "Miseryes of Courtiers and Courtes of all princes in
+generall," as told in the "Eclogues."
+
+Certain it is that these writings owed little of their acceptance to
+touches of humour or satire, to the gifts of a poetical imagination, or the
+grace of a polished diction. The indignation of the honest man and the
+earnestness of the moralist waited not for gifts and graces. Everything
+went down, hard, rough, even uncouth as it stood, of course gaining in
+truth and in graphic power what it wants in elegance. Still, with no
+refinement, polish or elaboration, there are many picturesque passages
+scattered throughout these works which no amount of polishing could have
+improved. How could a man in a rage be better touched off than thus ("Ship"
+I. 182, 15).
+
+ "This man malycious whiche troubled is with wrath
+ Nought els soundeth but the hoorse letter R."
+
+The passion of love is so graphically described that it is difficult to
+imagine our priestly moralist a total stranger to its power, (I. 81).
+
+ "For he that loueth is voyde of all reason
+ Wandrynge in the worlde without lawe or mesure
+ In thought and fere sore vexed eche season
+ And greuous dolours in loue he must endure
+ No creature hym selfe, may well assure
+ From loues soft dartis: I say none on the grounde
+ But mad and folysshe bydes he whiche hath the wounde
+
+ Aye rennynge as franatyke no reason in his mynde
+ He hath no constaunce nor ease within his herte
+ His iyen ar blynde, his wyll alwaye inclyned
+ To louys preceptes yet can nat he departe
+ The Net is stronge, the sole caught can nat starte
+ The darte is sharpe, who euer is in the chayne
+ Can nat his sorowe in vysage hyde nor fayne"
+
+For expressive, happy simile, the two following examples are capital:--
+
+ "Yet sometimes riches is geuen by some chance
+ To such as of good haue greatest aboundaunce.
+ Likewise as streames unto the sea do glide.
+ But on bare hills no water will abide.
+ . . . . . .
+ So smallest persons haue small rewarde alway
+ But men of worship set in authoritie
+ Must haue rewardes great after their degree."--ECLOGUE I.
+
+ "And so such thinges which princes to thee geue
+ To thee be as sure as water in a siue
+ . . . . . . .
+ So princes are wont with riches some to fede
+ As we do our swine when we of larde haue nede
+ We fede our hogges them after to deuour
+ When they be fatted by costes and labour."--ECLOGUE I.
+
+The everlasting conceit of musical humanity is very truthfully hit off.
+
+ "This is of singers the very propertie
+ Alway they coueyt desired for to be
+ And when their frendes would heare of their cunning
+ Then are they neuer disposed for to sing,
+ But if they begin desired of no man
+ Then shewe they all and more then they can
+ And neuer leaue they till men of them be wery,
+ So in their conceyt their cunning they set by."--ECLOGUE II.
+
+Pithy sayings are numerous. Comparing citizens with countrymen, the
+countryman says:--
+
+ "Fortune to them is like a mother dere
+ As a stepmother she doth to us appeare."
+
+Of money:
+
+ "Coyne more than cunning exalteth every man."
+
+Of clothing:
+
+ "It is not clothing can make a man be good
+ Better is in ragges pure liuing innocent
+ Than a soule defiled in sumptuous garment."
+
+It is as the graphic delineator of the life and condition of the country in
+his period that the chief interest of Barclay's writings, and especially of
+the "Ship of Fools," now lies. Nowhere so accessibly, so fully, and so
+truthfully will be found the state of Henry the Eighth's England set forth.
+Every line bears the character of truthfulness, written as it evidently is,
+in all the soberness of sadness, by one who had no occasion to exaggerate,
+whose only object and desire was, by massing together and describing
+faithfully the follies and abuses which were evident to all, to shame every
+class into some degree of moral reformation, and, in particular, to effect
+some amelioration of circumstances to the suffering poor.
+
+And a sad picture it is which we thus obtain of merrie England in the good
+old times of bluff King Hal, wanting altogether in the _couleur de rose_
+with which it is tinted by its latest historian Mr Froude, who is ably
+taken to task on this subject by a recent writer in the Westminster Review,
+whose conclusions, formed upon other evidence than Barclay's, express so
+fairly the impression left by a perusal of the "Ship of Fools," and the
+Eclogues, that we quote them here. "Mr Froude remarks: 'Looking therefore,
+at the state of England as a whole, I cannot doubt that under Henry the
+body of the people were prosperous, well-fed, loyal, and contented. In all
+points of material comfort, they were as well off as ever they had been
+before; better off than they have ever been in later times.' In this
+estimate we cannot agree. Rather we should say that during, and for long
+after, this reign, the people were in the most deplorable condition of
+poverty and misery of every kind. That they were ill-fed, that loyalty was
+at its lowest ebb, that discontent was rife throughout the land. 'In all
+points of material comfort,' we think they were worse off than they had
+ever been before, and infinitely worse off than they have ever been since
+the close of the sixteenth century,--a century in which the cup of
+England's woes was surely fuller than it has ever been since, or will, we
+trust, ever be again. It was the century in which this country and its
+people passed through a baptism of blood as well as 'a baptism of fire,'
+and out of which they came holier and better. The epitaph which should be
+inscribed over the century is contained in a sentence written by the famous
+Acham in 1547:--'Nam vita, quae nunc vivitur a plurimis, non vita sed
+miseria est.'" So, Bradford (Sermon on Repentance, 1533) sums up
+contemporary opinion in a single weighty sentence: "All men may see if they
+will that the whoredom pride, unmercifulness, and tyranny of England far
+surpasses any age that ever was before." Every page of Barclay corroborates
+these accounts of tyranny, injustice, immorality, wretchedness, poverty,
+and general discontent.
+
+Not only in fact and feeling are Barclay's Ship of Fools and Eclogues
+thoroughly expressive of the unhappy, discontented, poverty-stricken,
+priest-ridden, and court-ridden condition and life, the bitter sorrows and
+the humble wishes of the people, their very texture, as Barclay himself
+tells us, consists of the commonest language of the day, and in it are
+interwoven many of the current popular proverbs and expressions. Almost all
+of these are still "household words" though few ever imagine the garb of
+their "daily wisdom" to be of such venerable antiquity. Every page of the
+"Eclogues" abounds with them; in the "Ship" they are less common, but still
+by no means infrequent. We have for instance:--
+
+ "Better is a frende in courte than a peny in purse"--(I. 70.)
+ "Whan the stede is stolyn to shyt the stable dore"--(I. 76.)
+ "It goeth through as water through a syue."--(I. 245.)
+ "And he that alway thretenyth for to fyght
+ Oft at the prose is skantly worth a hen
+ For greattest crakers ar nat ay boldest men."--(I. 198.)
+ "I fynde foure thynges whiche by no meanes can
+ Be kept close, in secrete, or longe in preuetee
+ The firste is the counsell of a wytles man
+ The seconde is a cyte whiche byldyd is a hye
+ Upon a montayne the thyrde we often se
+ That to hyde his dedes a louer hath no skyll
+ The fourth is strawe or fethers on a wyndy hyll."--(I. 199.)
+ "A crowe to pull."--(II. 8.)
+ "For it is a prouerbe, and an olde sayd sawe
+ That in euery place lyke to lyke wyll drawe."--(II. 35.)
+ "Better haue one birde sure within thy wall
+ Or fast in a cage than twenty score without"--(II. 74)
+ "Gapynge as it were dogges for a bone."--(II. 93.)
+ "Pryde sholde haue a fall."--(II. 161).
+ "For wyse men sayth ...
+ One myshap fortuneth neuer alone."
+ "Clawe where it itchyth."--(II. 256.) [The use of this, it occurs again in
+ the Eclogues, might be regarded by some of our Southern friends, as
+ itself a sufficient proof of the author's Northern origin.]
+
+The following are selected from the Eclogues as the most remarkable:
+
+ "Each man for himself, and the fende for us all."
+ "They robbe Saint Peter therwith to clothe Saint Powle."
+ "For might of water will not our leasure bide."
+ "Once out of sight and shortly out of minde."
+ "For children brent still after drede the fire."
+ "Together they cleave more fast than do burres."
+ "Tho' thy teeth water."
+ "I aske of the foxe no farther than the skin."
+ "To touche soft pitche and not his fingers file."
+ "From post unto piller tost shall thou be."
+ "Over head and eares."
+ "Go to the ant."
+ "A man may contende, God geueth victory."
+ "Of two evils chose the least."
+
+These are but the more striking specimens. An examination of the "Ship,"
+and especially of the "Eclogues," for the purpose of extracting their whole
+proverbial lore, would be well worth the while, if it be not the duty, of
+the next collector in this branch of popular literature. These writings
+introduce many of our common sayings for the first time to English
+literature, no writer prior to Barclay having thought it dignified or worth
+while to profit by the popular wisdom to any perceptible extent. The first
+collection of proverbs, Heywood's, did not appear until 1546, so that in
+Barclay we possess the earliest known English form of such proverbs as he
+introduces. It need scarcely be said that that form is, in the majority of
+instances, more full of meaning and point than its modern representatives.
+
+Barclay's adoption of the language of the people naturally elevated him in
+popular estimation to a position far above that of his contemporaries in
+the matter of style, so much so that he has been traditionally recorded as
+one of the greatest improvers of the language, that is, one of those who
+helped greatly to bring the written language to be more nearly in
+accordance with the spoken. Both a scholar and a man of the world, his
+phraseology bears token of the greater cultivation and wider knowledge he
+possessed over his contemporaries. He certainly aimed at clearness of
+expression, and simplicity of vocabulary, and in these respects was so far
+in advance of his time that his works can even now be read with ease,
+without the help of dictionary or glossary. In spite of his church training
+and his residence abroad, his works are surprisingly free from Latin or
+French forms of speech; on the contrary, they are, in the main,
+characterised by a strong Saxon directness of expression which must have
+tended greatly to the continuance of their popularity, and have exercised a
+strong and advantageous influence both in regulating the use of the common
+spoken language, and in leading the way which it was necessary for the
+literary language to follow. Philologists and dictionary makers appear,
+however, to have hitherto overlooked Barclay's works, doubtless owing to
+their rarity, but their intrinsic value as well as their position in
+relation to the history of the language demand specific recognition at
+their hands.
+
+Barclay evidently delighted in his pen. From the time of his return from
+the Continent, it was seldom out of his hand. Idleness was distasteful to
+him. He petitions his critics if they be "wyse men and cunnynge," that:--
+
+ "They shall my youth pardone, and vnchraftynes
+ Whiche onely translate, to eschewe ydelnes."
+
+Assuredly a much more laudable way of employing leisure then than now,
+unless the translator prudently stop short of print. The modesty and
+singleness of aim of the man are strikingly illustrated by his thus
+devoting his time and talents, not to original work as he was well able to
+have done had he been desirous only of glorifying his own name, but to the
+translation and adaptation or, better, "Englishing" of such foreign authors
+as he deemed would exercise a wholesome and profitable influence upon his
+countrymen. Such work, however, moulded in his skilful hands, became all
+but original, little being left of his author but the idea. Neither the
+Ship of Fools, nor the Eclogues retain perceptible traces of a foreign
+source, and were it not that they honestly bear their authorship on their
+fore-front, they might be regarded as thoroughly, even characteristically,
+English productions.
+
+The first known work from Barclay's pen[3] appeared from the press of De
+Worde, so early as 1506, probably immediately on his return from abroad,
+and was no doubt the fruit of continental leisure. It is a translation, in
+seven line stanzas, of the popular French poet Pierre Gringore's Le Chateau
+de labour (1499)--the most ancient work of Gringore with date, and perhaps
+his best--under the title of "The Castell of laboure wherein is richesse,
+vertu, and honour;" in which in a fanciful allegory of some length, a
+somewhat wearisome Lady Reason overcomes despair, poverty and other such
+evils attendant upon the fortunes of a poor man lately married, the moral
+being to show:--
+
+ "That idleness, mother of all adversity,
+ Her subjects bringeth to extreme poverty."
+
+The general appreciation of this first essay is evidenced by the issue of a
+second edition from the press of Pynson a few years after the appearance of
+the first.
+
+Encouraged by the favourable reception accorded to the first effort of his
+muse, Barclay, on his retirement to the ease and leisure of the College of
+St Mary Otery, set to work on the "Ship of Fools," acquaintance with which
+Europe-famous satire he must have made when abroad. This, his _magnum
+opus_, has been described at some length in the Introduction, but two
+interesting personal notices relative to the composition of the work may
+here be added. In the execution of the great task, he expresses himself,
+(II. 278), as under the greatest obligations to his colleague, friend, and
+literary adviser, Bishop:--
+
+ "Whiche was the first ouersear of this warke
+ And vnto his frende gaue his aduysement
+ It nat to suffer to slepe styll in the darke
+ But to be publysshyd abrode: and put to prent
+ To thy monycion my bysshop I assent
+ Besechynge god that I that day may se
+ That thy honour may prospere and augment
+ So that thy name and offyce may agre
+ . . . . . .
+ In this short balade I can nat comprehende
+ All my full purpose that I wolde to the wryte
+ But fayne I wolde that thou sholde sone assende
+ To heuenly worshyp and celestyall delyte
+ Than shoulde I after my pore wyt and respyt,
+ Display thy name, and great kyndnes to me
+ But at this tyme no farther I indyte
+ But pray that thy name and worshyp may agre."
+
+Pynson, in his capacity of judicious publisher, fearing lest the book
+should exceed suitable dimensions, also receives due notice at p. 108 of
+Vol. I., where he speaks of
+
+ "the charge Pynson hathe on me layde
+ With many folys our Nauy not to charge."
+
+The concluding stanza, or colophon, is also devoted to immortalising the
+great bibliopole in terms, it must be admitted, not dissimilar to those of
+a modern draper's poet laureate:--
+
+ Our Shyp here leuyth the sees brode
+ By helpe of God almyght and quyetly
+ At Anker we lye within the rode
+ But who that lysteth of them to bye
+ In Flete strete shall them fynde truly
+ At the George: in Richarde Pynsonnes place
+ Prynter vnto the Kynges noble grace.
+ Deo gratias.
+
+Contemporary allusions to the Ship of Fools there could not fail to be, but
+the only one we have met with occurs in Bulleyn's Dialogue quoted above, p.
+xxvii. It runs as follows:--_Uxor_.--What ship is that with so many owers,
+and straunge tacle; it is a greate vessell. _Ciuis_.--This is the ship of
+fooles, wherin saileth bothe spirituall and temporall, of euery callyng
+some: there are kynges, queenes, popes, archbishoppes, prelates, lordes,
+ladies, knightes, gentlemen, phisicions, lawiers, marchauntes,
+housbandemen, beggers, theeues, hores, knaues, &c. This ship wanteth a good
+pilot: the storme, the rocke, and the wrecke at hande, all will come to
+naught in this hulke for want of good gouernement.
+
+The Eclogues, as appears from their Prologue, had originally been the work
+of our author's youth, "the essays of a prentice in the art of poesie," but
+they were wisely laid past to be adorned by the wisdom of a wider
+experience, and were, strangely enough, lost for years until, at the age of
+thirty-eight, the author again lighted, unexpectedly, upon his lost
+treasures, and straightway finished them off for the public eye.
+
+The following autobiographical passage reminds one forcibly of Scott's
+throwing aside Waverley, stumbling across it after the lapse of years, and
+thereupon deciding at once to finish and publish it. After enumerating the
+most famous eclogue writers, he proceeds:--
+
+ "Nowe to my purpose, their workes worthy fame,
+ Did in my yonge age my heart greatly inflame,
+ Dull slouth eschewing my selfe to exercise,
+ In such small matters, or I durst enterprise,
+ To hyer matter, like as these children do,
+ Which first vse to creepe, and afterwarde to go.
+ . . . . . . . .
+ So where I in youth a certayne worke began,
+ And not concluded, as oft doth many a man:
+ Yet thought I after to make the same perfite,
+ But long I missed that which I first did write.
+ But here a wonder, I fortie yere saue twayne,
+ Proceeded in age, founde my first youth agayne.
+ To finde youth in age is a probleme diffuse,
+ But nowe heare the truth, and then no longer muse.
+ As I late turned olde bookes to and fro,
+ One litle treatise I founde among the mo
+ Because that in youth I did compile the same,
+ Egloges of youth I did call it by name.
+ And seing some men haue in the same delite,
+ At their great instance I made the same perfite,
+ Adding and bating where I perceyued neede,
+ All them desiring which shall this treatise rede,
+ Not to be grieued with any playne sentence,
+ Rudely conuayed for lacke of eloquence."
+
+The most important revelation in the whole of this interesting passage,
+that relating to the author's age, seems to have been studiously overlooked
+by all his biographers. If we can fix with probability the date at which
+these Eclogues were published, then this, one of the most regretted of the
+lacunae in his biography, will be supplied. We shall feel henceforth
+treading on firmer ground in dealing with the scanty materials of his life.
+
+From the length and favour with which the praises of the Ely Cathedral and
+of Alcock its pious and munificent bishop, then but recently dead, are sung
+in these poems (see p. lxviii.), it is evident that the poet must have
+donned the black hood in the monastery of Ely for at least a few years.
+
+Warton fixes the date at 1514, because of the praises of the "noble Henry
+which now departed late," and the after panegyric of his successor Henry
+VIII. (Eclogue I.), whose virtues are also duly recorded in the Ship of
+Fools (I. 39 and II. 205-8), but not otherwise of course than in a
+complimentary manner. Our later lights make this picture of the noble pair
+appear both out of drawing and over-coloured:--
+
+ "Beside noble Henry which nowe departed late,
+ Spectacle of vertue to euery hye estate,
+ The patrone of peace and primate of prudence,
+ Which on Gods Church hath done so great expence.
+ Of all these princes the mercy and pitie,
+ The loue of concorde, iustice and equitie,
+ The purenes of life and giftes liberall,
+ Not lesse vertuous then the said princes all.
+ And Henry the eyght moste hye and triumphant,
+ No gifte of vertue nor manlines doth want,
+ Mine humble spech and language pastorall
+ If it were able should write his actes all:
+ But while I ought speake of courtly misery,
+ Him with all suche I except vtterly.
+ But what other princes commonly frequent,
+ As true as I can to shewe is mine intent,
+ But if I should say that all the misery,
+ Which I shall after rehearse and specify
+ Were in the court of our moste noble kinge,
+ I should fayle truth, and playnly make leasing."--ECLOGUE I.
+
+This eulogy of Henry plainly implies some short experience of his reign.
+But other allusions contribute more definitely to fix the precise date,
+such as the following historical passage, which evidently refers to the
+career of the notorious extortioners, Empson and Dudley, who were executed
+for conspiracy and treason in the first year of the new king's reign.
+
+ "Such as for honour unto the court resort,
+ Looke seldome times upon the lower sort;
+ To the hyer sort for moste part they intende,
+ For still their desire is hyer to ascende
+ And when none can make with them comparison,
+ Against their princes conspire they by treason,
+ Then when their purpose can nat come well to frame,
+ Agayne they descende and that with utter shame,
+ Coridon thou knowest right well what I meane,
+ We lately of this experience haue seene
+ When men would ascende to rowmes honorable
+ Euer is their minde and lust insaciable."
+
+The most definite proof of the date of publication, however, is found in
+the fourth Eclogue. It contains a long poem called The towre of vertue and
+honour, which is really a highly-wrought elegy on the premature and
+glorious death, not of "the Duke of Norfolk, Lord High admiral, and one of
+Barclay's patrons," as has been repeated parrot-like, from Warton
+downwards, but of his chivalrous son, Sir Edward Howard, Lord High Admiral
+for the short space of a few months, who perished in his gallant, if
+reckless, attack upon the French fleet in the harbour of Brest in the year
+1513. It is incomprehensible that the date of the publication of the
+Eclogues should be fixed at 1514, and this blunder still perpetuated. No
+Duke of Norfolk died between Barclay's boyhood and 1524, ten years after
+the agreed upon date of the Elegy; and the Duke (Thomas), who was Barclay's
+patron, never held the position of Lord High Admiral (though his son Lord
+Thomas, created Earl of Surrey in 1514, and who afterwards succeeded him,
+also succeeded his brother Sir Edward in the Admiralship), but worthily
+enjoyed the dignified offices of Lord High Steward, Lord Treasurer, and
+Earl Marshal, and died one of Henry's most respected and most popular
+Ministers, at his country seat, at a good old age, in the year above
+mentioned, 1524. The other allusions to contemporary events, and especially
+to the poet's age, preclude the idea of carrying forward the publication to
+the latter date, did the clearly defined points of the Elegy allow of it,
+as they do not.
+
+Minalcas, one of the interlocutors, thus introduces the subject:--
+
+ "But it is lamentable
+ To heare a Captayne so good and honorable,
+ _So soone_ withdrawen by deathes crueltie,
+ Before his vertue was at moste hye degree.
+ If death for a season had shewed him fauour,
+ To all his nation he should haue bene honour."
+
+"'The Towre of Vertue and Honor,' introduced as a song of one of the
+shepherds into these pastorals, exhibits no very masterly strokes of a
+sublime and inventive fancy. It has much of the trite imagery usually
+applied in the fabrication of these ideal edifices. It, however, shows our
+author in a new walk of poetry. This magnificent tower, or castle is built
+on inaccessible cliffs of flint: the walls are of gold, bright as the sun,
+and decorated with 'olde historyes and pictures manyfolde:' the turrets are
+beautifully shaped. Among its heroic inhabitants are Henry VIII., ['in his
+maiestie moste hye enhaunsed as ought a conquerour,' no doubt an allusion
+to the battle of the Spurs and his other exploits in France in 1513],
+Howard Duke of Norfolk, ['the floure of chiualry'], and the Earl of
+Shrewsbury, ['manfull and hardy, with other princes and men of dignitie'].
+Labour is the porter at the gate, and Virtue governs the house. Labour is
+thus pictured, with some degree of spirit:--
+
+ 'Fearefull is labour without fauour at all,
+ Dreadfull of visage, a monster intreatable,
+ Like Cerberus lying at gates infernall;
+ To some men his looke is halfe intollerable,
+ His shoulders large, for burthen strong and able,
+ His body bristled, his necke mightie and stiffe;
+ By sturdy senewes, his ioyntes stronge and stable,
+ Like marble stones his handes be as stiffe.
+
+ Here must man vanquishe the dragon of Cadmus,
+ Against the Chimer here stoutly must he fight,
+ Here must he vanquish the fearefull Pegasus,
+ For the golden flece here must he shewe his might:
+ If labour gaynsay, he can nothing be right,
+ This monster labour oft chaungeth his figure,
+ Sometime an oxe, a bore, or lion wight,
+ Playnely he seemeth, thus chaungeth his nature,
+
+ Like as Protheus ofte chaunged his stature.
+ . . . . . . .
+ Under his browes he dreadfully doth loure,
+ With glistering eyen, and side dependaunt beard,
+ For thirst and hunger alway his chere is soure.
+ His horned forehead doth make faynt heartes feard.
+
+ Alway he drinketh, and yet alway is drye,
+ The sweat distilling with droppes aboundaunt,'
+ . . . . . . .
+
+"The poet adds, 'that when the noble Howard had long boldly contended with
+this hideous monster, had broken the bars and doors of the castle, had
+bound the porter, and was now preparing to ascend the tower of Virtue and
+Honour, Fortune and Death appeared, and interrupted his progress.'"
+(Warton, Eng. Poetry, III.)
+
+The hero's descent and knightly qualities are duly set forth:--
+
+ "Though he were borne to glory and honour,
+ Of auncient stocke and noble progenie,
+ Yet thought his courage to be of more valour,
+ By his owne actes and noble chiualry.
+ Like as becommeth a knight to fortifye
+ His princes quarell with right and equitie,
+ So did this Hawarde with courage valiauntly,
+ Till death abated his bolde audacitie."
+
+The poet, gives "cursed fortune" a severe rating, and at such length that
+the old lady no doubt repented herself, for cutting off so promising a hero
+_at so early an age_:--
+
+ "Tell me, frayle fortune, why did thou breuiate
+ The liuing season of suche a captayne,
+ That when his actes ought to be laureate
+ Thy fauour turned him suffring to be slayne?"
+
+And then he addresses the Duke himself in a consolatory strain,
+endeavouring to reconcile him to the loss of so promising a son, by
+recalling to his memory those heroes of antiquity whose careers of glory
+were cut short by sudden and violent deaths:--
+
+ "But moste worthy duke hye and victorious,
+ Respire to comfort, see the vncertentie
+ Of other princes, whose fortune prosperous
+ Oftetime haue ended in hard aduersitie:
+ Read of Pompeius," [&c.]
+ . . . . . .
+ "This shall be, this is, and this hath euer bene,
+ That boldest heartes be nearest ieopardie,
+ To dye in battayle is honour as men wene
+ To suche as haue ioy in haunting chiualry.
+
+ "Suche famous ending the name doth magnifie,
+ Note worthy duke, no cause is to complayne,
+ His life not ended foule nor dishonestly,
+ In bed nor tauerne his lustes to maynteyne,
+ But like as besemed a noble captayne,
+ In sturdie harnes he died for the right,
+ From deathes daunger no man may flee certayne,
+ But suche death is metest vnto so noble a knight.
+
+ "But death it to call me thinke it vnright,
+ Sith his worthy name shall laste perpetuall," [&c.]
+
+This detail and these long quotations have been rendered necessary by the
+strange blunder which has been made and perpetuated as to the identity of
+the young hero whose death is so feelingly lamented in this elegy. With
+that now clearly ascertained, we can not only fix with confidence the date
+of the publication of the Eclogues, but by aid of the hint conveyed in the
+Prologue, quoted above (p. lv.), as to the author's age, "fortie saue
+twayne," decide, for the first time, the duration of his life, and the
+dates, approximately at least, of its incidents, and of the appearance of
+his undated works. Lord Edward Howard, perhaps the bravest and rashest of
+England's admirals, perished in a madly daring attack upon the harbour of
+Brest, on the 25th of April, 1514. As the eclogues could not therefore have
+been published prior to that date, so, bearing in mind the other allusions
+referred to above, they could scarcely have appeared later. Indeed, the
+loss which the elegy commemorates is spoken of as quite recent, while the
+elegy itself bears every appearance of having been introduced into the
+eclogue at the last moment. We feel quite satisfied therefore that Warton
+hit quite correctly upon the year 1514 as that in which these poems first
+saw the light, though the ground (the allusion to the Henries) upon which
+he went was insufficient, and his identification of the hero of the elegy
+contradicted his supposition. Had he been aware of the importance of fixing
+the date correctly, he would probably have taken more care than to fall
+into the blunder of confounding the father with the son, and adorning the
+former with the dearly earned laurels of the latter.
+
+It may be added that, fixing 1514 as the date at which Barclay had arrived
+at the age of 38, agrees perfectly with all else we know of his years, with
+the assumed date of his academical education, and of his travels abroad,
+with the suppositions formed as to his age from his various published works
+having dates attached to them, and finally, with the traditional "great
+age" at which he died, which would thus be six years beyond the allotted
+span.
+
+After the Ship of Fools the Eclogues rank second in importance in a
+consideration of Barclay's writings. Not only as the first of their kind in
+English, do they crown their author with the honour of introducing this
+kind of poetry to English literature, but they are in themselves most
+interesting and valuable as faithful and graphic pictures of the court,
+citizen, and country life of the period. Nowhere else in so accessible a
+form do there exist descriptions at once so full and so accurate of the
+whole condition of the people. Their daily life and habits, customs,
+manners, sports, and pastimes, are all placed on the canvas before us with
+a ready, vigorous, unflinching hand. Witness for instance the following
+sketch, which might be entitled, "Life, temp. 1514":--
+
+ "Some men deliteth beholding men to fight,
+ Or goodly knightes in pleasaunt apparayle,
+ Or sturdie souldiers in bright harnes and male.
+ . . . . . . . .
+ Some glad is to see these Ladies beauteous,
+ Goodly appoynted in clothing sumpteous:
+ A number of people appoynted in like wise:
+ In costly clothing after the newest gise,
+ Sportes, disgising, fayre coursers mount and praunce,
+ Or goodly ladies and knightes sing and daunce:
+ To see fayre houses and curious picture(s),
+ Or pleasaunt hanging, or sumpteous vesture
+ Of silke, of purpure, or golde moste orient,
+ And other clothing diuers and excellent:
+ Hye curious buildinges or palaces royall,
+ Or chapels, temples fayre and substanciall,
+ Images grauen or vaultes curious;
+ Gardeyns and medowes, or place delicious,
+ Forestes and parkes well furnished with dere,
+ Colde pleasaunt streames or welles fayre and clere,
+ Curious cundites or shadowie mountaynes,
+ Swete pleasaunt valleys, laundes or playnes
+ Houndes, and suche other thinges manyfolde
+ Some men take pleasour and solace to beholde."
+
+The following selections illustrative of the customs and manners of the
+times will serve as a sample of the overflowing cask from which they are
+taken. The condition of the country people is clearly enough indicated in a
+description of the village Sunday, the manner of its celebration being
+depicted in language calculated to make a modern sabbatarian's hair stand
+on end:--
+
+ "What man is faultlesse, remember the village,
+ Howe men vplondish on holy dayes rage.
+ Nought can them tame, they be a beastly sort,
+ In sweate and labour hauing most chiefe comfort,
+ On the holy day assoone as morne is past,
+ When all men resteth while all the day doth last,
+ They drinke, they banket, they reuell and they iest
+ They leape, they daunce, despising ease and rest.
+ If they once heare a bagpipe or a drone,
+ Anone to the elme or oke they be gone.
+ There vse they to daunce, to gambolde and to rage
+ Such is the custome and vse of the village.
+ When the ground resteth from rake, plough and wheles,
+ Then moste they it trouble with burthen of their heles:
+
+ FAUSTUS.
+
+ To Bacchus they banket, no feast is festiuall,
+ They chide and they chat, they vary and they brall,
+ They rayle and they route, they reuell and they crye,
+ Laughing and leaping, and making cuppes drye.
+ What, stint thou thy chat, these wordes I defye,
+ It is to a vilayne rebuke and vilany.
+ Such rurall solace so plainly for to blame,
+ Thy wordes sound to thy rebuke and shame."
+
+Football is described in a lively picture:--
+
+ "They get the bladder and blowe it great and thin,
+ With many beanes or peason put within,
+ It ratleth, soundeth, and shineth clere and fayre,
+ While it is throwen and caste vp in the ayre,
+ Eche one contendeth and hath a great delite,
+ With foote and with hande the bladder for to smite,
+ If it fall to grounde they lifte it vp agayne,
+ This wise to labour they count it for no payne,
+ Renning and leaping they driue away the colde,
+ The sturdie plowmen lustie, stronge and bolde,
+ Ouercommeth the winter with driuing the foote ball,
+ Forgetting labour and many a greuous fall."
+
+A shepherd, after mentioning his skill in shooting birds with a bow,
+says:--
+
+ "No shepheard throweth the axeltrie so farre."
+
+A gallant is thus described:--
+
+ "For women vse to loue them moste of all,
+ Which boldly bosteth, or that can sing and iet,
+ Which are well decked with large bushes set,
+ Which hath the mastery ofte time in tournament,
+ Or that can gambauld, or daunce feat and gent."
+
+The following sorts of wine are mentioned:--
+
+ "As Muscadell, Caprike, Romney, and Maluesy,
+ From Gene brought, from Grece or Hungary."
+
+As are the dainties of the table. A shepherd at court must not think to
+eat,
+
+ "Swanne, nor heron,
+ Curlewe, nor crane, but course beefe and mutton."
+
+Again:
+
+ "What fishe is of sauor swete and delicious,--
+ Rosted or sodden in swete hearbes or wine;
+ Or fried in oyle, most saporous and fine.--
+ The pasties of a hart.--
+ The crane, the fesant, the pecocke and curlewe,
+ The partriche, plouer, bittor, and heronsewe--
+ Seasoned so well in licour redolent,
+ That the hall is full of pleasaunt smell and sent."
+
+At a feast at court:--
+
+ "Slowe be the seruers in seruing in alway,
+ But swift be they after, taking thy meate away;
+ A speciall custome is vsed them among,
+ No good dish to suffer on borde to be longe:
+ If the dishe be pleasaunt, eyther fleshe or fishe,
+ Ten handes at once swarme in the dishe:
+ And if it be flesh ten kniues shalt thou see
+ Mangling the flesh, and in the platter flee:
+ To put there thy handes is perill without fayle,
+ Without a gauntlet or els a gloue of mayle."
+
+"The two last lines remind us of a saying of Quin, who declared it was not
+safe to sit down to a turtle-feast in one of the city-halls, without a
+basket-hilted knife and fork. Not that I suppose Quin borrowed his bon-mots
+from black letter books." (Warton.)
+
+The following lines point out some of the festive tales of our ancestors:--
+
+ "Yet would I gladly heare some mery fit
+ Of mayde Marion, or els of Robin hood;
+ Or Bentleyes ale which chafeth well the bloud,
+ Of perre of Norwich, or sauce of Wilberton,
+ Or buckishe Joly well-stuffed as a ton."
+
+He again mentions "Bentley's Ale" which "maketh me to winke;" and some of
+our ancient domestic pastimes and amusements are recorded:--
+
+ "Then is it pleasure the yonge maydens amonge
+ To watche by the fire the winters nightes long:
+ At their fonde tales to laugh, or when they brall
+ Great fire and candell spending for laboure small,
+ And in the ashes some playes for to marke,
+ To couer wardens [pears] for fault of other warke:
+ To toste white sheuers, and to make prophitroles;
+ And after talking oft time to fill the bowles."
+
+He mentions some musical instruments:
+
+ " . . . . Methinkes no mirth is scant,
+ Where no reioysing of minstrelcie doth want:
+ The bagpipe or fidle to vs is delectable."
+
+And the mercantile commodities of different countries and cities:--
+
+ "Englande hath cloth, Burdeus hath store of wine,
+ Cornewall hath tinne, and Lymster wools fine.
+ London hath scarlet, and Bristowe pleasaunt red,
+ Fen lands hath fishes, in other place is lead."
+
+Of songs at feasts:--
+
+ "When your fat dishes smoke hote vpon your table,
+ Then layde ye songes and balades magnifie,
+ If they be mery, or written craftely,
+ Ye clappe your handes and to the making harke,
+ And one say to other, lo here a proper warke."
+
+He says that minstrels and singers are highly favoured at court, especially
+those of the French gise. Also jugglers and pipers.
+
+The personal references throughout the Eclogues, in addition to those
+already mentioned, though not numerous, are of considerable interest. The
+learned Alcock, Bishop of Ely (1486-1500), and the munificent founder of
+Jesus College, Cambridge, stands deservedly high in the esteem of a poet
+and priest, so zealous of good works as Barclay. The poet's humour thus
+disguises him.--(Eclogue I., A iii., recto.):--
+
+ "Yes since his dayes a cocke was in the fen,
+ I knowe his voyce among a thousande men:
+ He taught, he preached, he mended euery wrong;
+ But, Coridon alas no good thing bideth long.
+ He all was a cocke, he wakened vs from slepe,
+ And while we slumbred, he did our foldes hepe.
+ No cur, no foxes, nor butchers dogges wood,
+ Coulde hurte our fouldes, his watching was so good.
+ The hungry wolues, which that time did abounde,
+ What time he crowed, abashed at the sounde.
+ This cocke was no more abashed of the foxe,
+ Than is a lion abashed of an oxe.
+ When he went, faded the floure of all the fen;
+ I boldly dare sweare this cocke neuer trode hen!
+ This was a father of thinges pastorall,
+ And that well sheweth his Church cathedrall,
+ There was I lately about the middest of May,
+ Coridon his Church is twenty sith more gay
+ Then all the Churches betwene the same and Kent,
+ There sawe I his tome and Chapell excellent.
+ I thought fiue houres but euen a little while,
+ Saint John the virgin me thought did on me smile,
+ Our parishe Church is but a dongeon,
+ To that gay Churche in comparison.
+ If the people were as pleasaunt as the place
+ Then were it paradice of pleasour and solace,
+ Then might I truely right well finde in my heart.
+ There still to abide and neuer to departe,
+ But since that this cocke by death hath left his song,
+ Trust me Coridon there many a thing is wrong,
+ When I sawe his figure lye in the Chapell-side,
+ Like death for weping I might no longer bide.
+ Lo all good thinges so sone away doth glide,
+ That no man liketh to long doth rest and abide.
+ When the good is gone (my mate this is the case)
+ Seldome the better reentreth in the place."
+
+The excellence of his subject carries the poet quite beyond himself in
+describing the general lamentation at the death of this worthy prelate;
+with an unusual power of imagination he thus pictures the sympathy of the
+towers, arches, vaults and images of Ely monastery:
+
+ "My harte sore mourneth when I must specify
+ Of the gentle cocke whiche sange so mirily,
+ He and his flocke wer like an union
+ Conioyned in one without discention,
+ All the fayre cockes which in his dayes crewe
+ When death him touched did his departing rewe.
+ The pretie palace by him made in the fen,
+ The maides, widowes, the wiues, and the men,
+ With deadly dolour were pearsed to the heart,
+ When death constrayned this shepheard to departe.
+ Corne, grasse, and fieldes, mourned for wo and payne,
+ For oft his prayer for them obtayned rayne.
+ The pleasaunt floures for wo faded eche one,
+ When they perceyued this shepheard dead and gone,
+ The okes, elmes, and euery sorte of dere
+ Shronke vnder shadowes, abating all their chere.
+ The mightie walles of Ely Monastery,
+ The stones, rockes, and towres semblably,
+ The marble pillers and images echeone,
+ Swet all for sorowe, when this good cocke was gone,
+ Though he of stature were humble, weake and leane,
+ His minde was hye, his liuing pure and cleane,
+ Where other feedeth by beastly appetite,
+ On heauenly foode was all his whole delite."
+
+Morton, Alcock's predecessor and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury
+(1486-1500), is also singled out for compliment, in which allusion is made
+to his troubles, his servants' faithfulness, and his restoration to favour
+under Richard III. and Henry VII. (Eclogue III.):--
+
+ "And shepheard Morton, when he durst not appeare,
+ Howe his olde seruauntes were carefull of his chere;
+ In payne and pleasour they kept fidelitie
+ Till grace agayne gaue him aucthoritie
+ Then his olde fauour did them agayne restore
+ To greater pleasour then they had payne before.
+ Though for a season this shepheard bode a blast,
+ The greatest winde yet slaketh at the last,
+ And at conclusion he and his flocke certayne
+ Eche true to other did quietly remayne."
+
+And again in Eclogue IV.:--
+
+ "Micene and Morton be dead and gone certayne."
+
+The "Dean of Powles" (Colet), with whom Barclay seems to have been
+personally acquainted, and to whom the reference alludes as to one still
+living (his death occurred in 1519), is celebrated as a preacher in the
+same Eclogue:--
+
+ "For this I learned of the Dean of Powles
+ I tell thee, Codrus this man hath won some soules."
+
+as is "the olde friar that wonned in Greenwich" in Eclogue V.
+
+The first three Eclogues are paraphrases or adaptations from the Miseriae
+Curialium, the most popular of the works of one of the most successful
+literary adventurers of the middle ages, AEneas Sylvius (Pope Pius II., who
+died in 1464). It appears to have been written with the view of relieving
+his feelings of disappointment and disgust at his reception at the court of
+the Emperor, whither he had repaired, in the hope of political advancement.
+The tone and nature of the work may be gathered from this candid exposure
+of the adventurer's morale: "Many things there are which compel us to
+persevere, but nothing more powerfully than ambition which, rivalling
+charity, truly beareth all things however grievous, that it may attain to
+the honours of this world and the praise of men. If we were humble and
+laboured to gain our own souls rather than hunt after vain glory, few of
+us, indeed, would endure such annoyances." He details, with querulous
+humour, all the grievances of his position, from the ingratitude of the
+prince to the sordour of the table-cloths, and the hardness of the black
+bread. But hardest of all to bear is the contempt shown towards literature.
+"In the courts of princes literary knowledge is held a crime; and great is
+the grief of men of letters when they find themselves universally despised,
+and see the most important matters managed, not to say mismanaged, by
+blockheads, who cannot tell the number of their fingers and toes."
+
+Barclay's adaptation is so thoroughly Englished, and contains such large
+additions from the stores of his own bitter experience, as to make it even
+more truly his own than any other of his translations.
+
+The fourth and fifth eclogues are imitations,--though no notice that they
+are so is conveyed in the title, as in the case of the first three,--of the
+fifth and sixth of the popular eclogue writer of the time, Jo. Baptist
+Mantuan, which may have helped to give rise to the generally received
+statement noticed below, that all the eclogues are imitations of that
+author. The fourth is entitled "Codrus and Minalcas, treating of the
+behauour of Riche men agaynst Poetes," and it may be judged how far it is
+Barclay's from the fact that it numbers about twelve hundred lines,
+including the elegy of the Noble Howard, while the original, entitled, "De
+consuetudine Divitum erga Poetas," contains only about two hundred. The
+fifth is entitled "Amintas and Faustus, of the disputation of citizens and
+men of the countrey." It contains over a thousand lines, and the original,
+"De disceptatione rusticorum et civium," like the fifth, extends to little
+more than two hundred.
+
+In the Prologue before mentioned we are told (Cawood's edition):--
+
+ "That fiue Egloges this whole treatise doth holde
+ To imitation of other Poetes olde,"
+
+Which appears to be a correction of the printer's upon the original, as in
+Powell's edition:--
+
+ "That X. egloges this hole treatyse dothe holde."
+
+Whether other five were ever published there is no record to show; it
+appears, however, highly improbable, that, if they had, they could have
+been entirely lost,--especially considering the popularity and repeated
+issue of the first five,--during the few years that would have elapsed
+between their original publication and the appearance of Cawood's edition.
+Possibly the original reading may be a typographical blunder, for Cawood is
+extremely sparing of correction, and appears to have made none which he did
+not consider absolutely necessary. This is one of the literary puzzles
+which remain for bibliography to solve. (See below, p. lxxix.)
+
+The next of Barclay's works in point of date, and perhaps the only one
+actually entitled to the merit of originality, is his Introductory to write
+and pronounce French, compiled at the request of his great patron, Thomas
+Duke of Norfolk, and printed by Copland in 1521. It is thus alluded to in
+the first important authority on French grammar, "Lesclarissement de la
+langue Francoyse compose par maistre Jehan Palsgraue, Angloys, natyf de
+Londres," 1530: "The right vertuous and excellent prince Thomas, late Duke
+of Northfolke, hath commanded the studious clerke, Alexandre Barkelay, to
+embusy hymselfe about this exercyse." Further on he is not so complimentary
+as he remarks:--"Where as there is a boke, that goeth about in this realme,
+intitled The introductory to writte and pronounce frenche, compiled by
+Alexander Barcley, in which k is moche vsed, and many other thynges also by
+hym affirmed, contrary to my sayenges in this boke, and specially in my
+seconde, where I shall assaye to expresse the declinations and
+coniugatynges with the other congruites obserued in the frenche tonge, I
+suppose it sufficient to warne the lernar, that I haue red ouer that boke
+at length: and what myn opinion is therin, it shall well inough apere in my
+bokes selfe, though I make therof no ferther expresse mencion: saue that I
+haue sene an olde boke written in parchement, in maner in all thynkes like
+to his sayd Introductory: whiche, by coniecture, was not vnwritten this
+hundred yeres. I wot nat if he happened to fortune upon suche an other: for
+whan it was commaunded that the grammar maisters shulde teche the youth of
+Englande ioyntly latin with frenche, there were diuerse suche bokes
+diuysed: wherupon, as I suppose, began one great occasyon why we of England
+sounde the latyn tong so corruptly, whiche haue as good a tonge to sounde
+all maner speches parfitely as any other nacyon in Europa."--Book I. ch.
+xxxv. "According to this," Mr Ellis (Early English Pronunciation, 804)
+pertinently notes: "1º, there ought to be many old MS. treatises on French
+grammar; and 2º, the English pronunciation of Latin was moulded on the
+French."
+
+To Barclay, as nine years before Palsgrave, belongs at least the credit,
+hitherto generally unrecognised, of the first published attempt at a French
+grammar, by either Frenchman or foreigner.
+
+"The mirror of good manners, containing the four cardinal vertues,"
+appeared from the press of Pynson, without date, "which boke," says the
+typographer, "I haue prynted at the instance and request of the ryght noble
+Rychard Yerle of Kent." This earl of Kent died in 1523, and as Barclay
+speaks of himself in the preface as advanced in age, the date of
+publication may be assigned to close upon that year. It is a translation,
+in the ballad stanza, of the Latin elegiac poem of Dominicus Mancinus, _De
+quatuor virtutibus_, first published in 1516, and, as appears from the
+title, was executed while Barclay was a monk of Ely, at "the desire of the
+righte worshipfull Syr Giles Alington, Knight." From the address to his
+patron it would seem that the Knight had requested the poet to abridge or
+modernise Gower's Confessio amantis. For declining this task he pleads,
+that he is too old to undertake such a light subject, and also the sacred
+nature of his profession. He then intimates his choice of the present more
+grave and serious work instead--
+
+ Which a priest may write, not hurting his estate,
+ Nor of honest name obumbring at all his light.
+
+"But the poet," says Warton, "declined this undertaking as unsuitable to
+his age, infirmities, and profession, and chose rather to oblige his patron
+with a grave system of ethics. It is certain that he made a prudent choice.
+The performance shows how little qualified he was to correct Gower."
+Instead of a carping criticism like this, it would have been much more to
+the point to praise the modesty and sensibility of an author, who had the
+courage to decline a task unsuited to his tastes or powers.
+
+He professes little:--
+
+ This playne litle treatise in stile compendious,
+ Much briefly conteyneth four vertues cardinall,
+ In right pleasaunt processe, plaine and commodious,
+ With light foote of metre, and stile heroicall,
+ Rude people to infourme in language maternall,
+ To whose vnderstanding maydens of tender age,
+ And rude litle children shall finde easy passage.
+
+Two editions of the work are sufficient evidence that this humble and
+praiseworthy purpose was, in the eyes of his contemporaries, successfully
+carried out.
+
+The only remaining authentic production of Barclay which has come down to
+us, is a translation of the Jugurthine War of Sallust, undertaken at the
+request of, and dedicated to, his great patron, Thomas Duke of Norfolk, and
+printed also at Pynson's press without date. The Latin and English are
+printed side by side on the same page, the former being dedicated, with the
+date "Ex cellula Hatfelde[=n] regii (_i.e._, King's Hatfield,
+Hertfordshire) in Idus Novembris" to Vesey, the centenarian Bishop of
+Exeter, with this superscription:--"Reueredissimo in Christo patri ac dno:
+dno Joanni Veysy exonien episcopo Alexander Barclay presbyter debita cum
+obseruantia. S." The dedication begins, "Memini me superioribus annis cu
+adhuc sacelli regij presul esses: pastor vigilantissime: tuis suasionibus
+incitatu: vt Crispi Salustij hystoria--e romana lingua: in anglicam
+compendiose transferrem," &c. Vesey was probably one of Barclay's oldest
+west country friends; for he is recorded to have been connected with the
+diocese of Exeter from 1503 to 1551, in the various capacities of
+archdeacon, precentor, dean, and bishop successively. Conjecture has placed
+the date of this publication at 1511, but as Veysey did not succeed to the
+Bishopric of Exeter till August 1519, this is untenable. We cannot say more
+than that it must have been published between 1519 and 1524, the date of
+the Duke of Norfolk's death, probably in the former year, since, from its
+being dated from "Hatfield," the ancient palace of the bishops of Ely,
+(sold to the Crown in the 30th of Henry VIII.; Clutterbuck's Hertfordshire,
+II.) Barclay at the time of its completion was evidently still a monk of
+Ely.
+
+By his translation of Sallust (so popular an author at that period, that
+the learned virgin queen is reported to have amused her leisure with an
+English version), Barclay obtained the distinction of being the first to
+introduce that classic to English readers. His version bears the reputation
+of being executed not only with accuracy, but with considerable freedom and
+elegance, and its popularity was evinced by its appearance in three
+additions.
+
+Two other works of our author are spoken of as having been in print, but
+they have apparently passed entirely out of sight: "The figure of our holy
+mother Church, oppressed by the Frenche King," (Pynson, 4to), known only
+from Maunsell's Catalogue; and "The lyfe of the glorious martyr, saynt
+George translated (from Mantuan) by Alexander Barclay, while he was a monk
+of Ely, and dedicated to N. West, Bishop of Ely," (Pynson, 4to), (Herbert,
+Typ. Antiquities.) West was Bishop of Ely from 1515 to 1533, and
+consequently Barclay's superior during probably his whole stay there.
+Whether these two works were in verse or prose is unknown.
+
+There are two other books ascribed to Barclay, but nothing satisfactory can
+be stated regarding their parentage except that, considering their subject,
+and the press they issued from, it is not at all unlikely that they may
+have been the fruit of his prolific pen. The first is "The lyfe of the
+blessed martyr, Saynte Thomas," in prose, printed by Pynson, (Herbert, Typ.
+Ant. 292), regarding which Ant. Wood says, "I should feel little difficulty
+in ascribing this to Barclay." The other is the English translation of the
+Histoire merveilleuse du Grand Khan (in Latin, De Tartaris siue Liber
+historiarum partium Orientis) of the eastern soldier, and western monk,
+Haytho, prince of Georgia at the end of the 13th, and beginning of the 14th
+centuries. The History which gives an account of Genghis Khan, and his
+successors, with a short description of the different kingdoms of Asia, was
+very popular in the 15th and 16th centuries, as one of the earliest
+accounts of the East, and the conjecture of the Grenville Catalogue is not
+improbable, though there is no sufficient evidence, that Barclay was the
+author of the English version which appeared from the press of Pynson.
+
+Bale further enumerates in his list of Barclay's works "Contra Skeltonum,
+Lib. I.; Quinq: eglogas ex Mantuano, Lib. I; Vitam D. Catherinae, Lib. I.,
+[Libros tres, Pits]; Vitam D. Margaritae, Lib. I.; Vitam Etheldredae, Lib.
+I.; Aliaq: plura fecit." Tanner adds: "Orationes varias, Lib. I.; De fide
+orthodoxa, Lib. I."
+
+Of these various fruits of Barclay's fertility and industry no fragment has
+survived to our day, nor has even any positive information regarding their
+nature been transmitted to us.
+
+The "Orationes varias," probably a collection of sermons with especial
+reference to the sins of the day would have been historically, if not
+otherwise, interesting, and their loss is matter for regret. On the other
+hand the want of the treatise, "De fide orthodoxa," is doubtless a relief
+to literature. There are too many of the kind already to encumber our
+shelves and our catalogues.
+
+The Lives of the Saints, the work, it is stated, of the author's old age,
+were, according to Tanner, and he is no doubt right, translations from the
+Latin. Barclay's reputation probably does not suffer from their loss.
+
+"Quinque eglogas ex Mantuano," though Bale mentions also "De miserijs
+aulicorum; Bucolicam Codri; Eglogam quartam," apparently the five, but
+really the first four of the eclogues known to us, are, I am strongly
+inclined to believe, nothing else than these same five eclogues, under, to
+use a bibliographical phrase, "a made up" title. That he mentions first,
+five from Mantuan, and afterwards adds "Bucolicam Codri" and "Eglogam
+quartam," as two distinct eclogues, apparently not from Mantuan, while both
+titles must refer to the same poem, an imitation of Mantuan's fifth
+eclogue, is proof enough that he was not speaking with the authority of
+personal knowledge of these works.
+
+Johannes Baptista Spagnuoli, commonly called from his native city, Mantuan,
+was the most popular and prolific eclogue writer of the fifteenth century,
+to which Barclay himself testifies:--
+
+ "As the moste famous Baptist Mantuan
+ The best of that sort since Poetes first began."
+
+Barclay's Eclogues being the first attempts of the kind in English, Bale's
+"Ex Mantuano," therefore probably means nothing more than "on the model of
+Mantuan;" otherwise, if it be assumed that five were the whole number that
+ever appeared, it could not apply to the first three, which are expressly
+stated in the title to be from AEneas Sylvius, while if ten be assumed, his
+statement would account for nine, the "quinque eglogas" being the five now
+wanting, but if so, then he has omitted to mention the most popular of all
+the eclogues, the fifth, and has failed to attribute to Mantuan two which
+are undoubtedly due to him.
+
+The loss of the "Contra Skeltonum," is a matter for regret. That there was
+no love lost between these two contemporaries and chief poets of their time
+is evident enough. Skelton's scathing sarcasm against the priesthood no
+doubt woke his brother satirist's ire, and the latter lets no opportunity
+slip of launching forth his contempt for the laureate of Oxford.
+
+The moralist in announcing the position he assumes in opposition to the
+writer of popular tales, takes care to have a fling at the author of "The
+boke of Phyllyp Sparowe":--
+
+ "I wryte no Ieste ne tale of Robyn Hode,
+ Nor sawe no sparcles, ne sede of vyciousnes;
+ Wyse men loue vertue, wylde people wantones,
+ It longeth nat to my scyence nor cunnynge,
+ For Phylyp the sparowe the (Dirige) to synge."
+
+A sneer to which Skelton most probably alludes when, enumerating his own
+productions in the Garlande of Laurell, he mentions,
+
+ "Of Phillip Sparow the lamentable fate,
+ The dolefull desteny, and the carefull chaunce,
+ Dyuysed by Skelton after the funerall rate;
+ Yet sum there be therewith that take greuaunce,
+ And grudge thereat with frownyng countenaunce;
+ But what of that? harde it is to please all men;
+ Who list amende it, let hym set to his penne."
+
+The following onslaught in Barclay's Fourth Eclogue, is evidently levelled
+at the abominable Skelton:
+
+ "Another thing yet is greatly more damnable:
+ Of rascolde poetes yet is a shamfull rable,
+ Which voyde of wisedome presumeth to indite,
+ Though they haue scantly the cunning of a snite;
+ And to what vices that princes moste intende,
+ Those dare these fooles solemnize and commende
+ Then is he decked as Poete laureate,
+ When stinking Thais made him her graduate;
+ When Muses rested, she did her season note,
+ And she with Bacchus her camous did promote.
+ Such rascolde drames, promoted by Thais,
+ Bacchus, Licoris, or yet by Testalis,
+ Or by suche other newe forged Muses nine,
+ Thinke in their mindes for to haue wit diuine;
+ They laude their verses, they boast, they vaunt and iet,
+ Though all their cunning be scantly worth a pet:
+ If they haue smelled the artes triuiall,
+ They count them Poetes hye and heroicall.
+ Such is their foly, so foolishly they dote,
+ Thinking that none can their playne errour note;
+ Yet be they foolishe, auoyde of honestie,
+ Nothing seasoned with spice of grauitie,
+ Auoyde of pleasure, auoyde of eloquence,
+ With many wordes, and fruitlesse of sentence;
+ Unapt to learne, disdayning to be taught,
+ Their priuate pleasure in snare hath them so caught;
+ And worst yet of all, they count them excellent,
+ Though they be fruitlesse, rashe and improuident.
+ To such ambages who doth their minde incline,
+ They count all other as priuate of doctrine,
+ And that the faultes which be in them alone,
+ And be common in other men eche one.
+ Thus bide good poetes oft time rebuke and blame,
+ Because of other which haue despised name.
+ And thus for the bad the good be cleane abject.
+ Their art and poeme counted of none effect,
+ Who wanteth reason good to discerne from ill
+ Doth worthy writers interprete at his will:
+ So both the laudes of good and not laudable
+ For lacke of knowledge become vituperable."
+
+It has not hitherto been pointed out that Skelton did not disdain to borrow
+a leaf from the enemy's book and try his hand at paraphrasing the Ship of
+Fools also. "The Boke of three fooles, M. Skelton, poete laureate, gaue to
+my lord Cardynall," is a paraphrase in prose, with introductory verses, of
+three chapters of Brandt, corresponding to Barclay's chapters headed, Of
+yonge folys that take olde wyme to theyr wyues nat for loue but for ryches
+(I. 247); Of enuyous folys (I. 252); Of bodely lust or corporall
+voluptuosyte (I. 239). Skelton's three fools, are, "The man that doth wed a
+wyfe for her goodes and her rychesse;" "Of Enuye, the seconde foole"; and,
+"Of the Voluptuousnes corporall, the third foole;" and his versions are
+dashed off with his usual racy vigour. He probably, however, did not think
+it worth while to compete with the established favourite. If he had we
+would certainly have got a very different book from Barclay's.
+
+Notwithstanding his popularity and industry, Barclay's name appears to be
+but seldom mentioned by contemporary or later authors. As early as 1521
+however, we find him placed in the most honourable company by Henry
+Bradshaw, "Lyfe of Saynt Werburghe," (1521, Pynson, 4to). But the
+compliment would probably lose half its sweetness from his being bracketed
+with the detested Skelton:--
+
+ To all auncient poetes, litell boke, submytte the,
+ Whilom flouryng in eloquence facundious,
+ And to all other whiche present nowe be;
+ Fyrst to maister Chaucer and Ludgate sentencious,
+ Also to preignaunt Barkley nowe beying religious,
+ To inuentiue Skelton and poet laureate;
+ Praye them all of pardon both erly and late.
+
+Bulleyn's repeated allusions to Barclay (see above, pp. xxvii., liv.),
+apart from the probability that, as contemporaries resident in the same
+provincial town, Ely, they were well acquainted with each other, leave
+little doubt that the two were personal friends. Bulleyn's figurative
+description of the poet, quoted at p. xxvii., is scarcely complete without
+the following verses, which are appended to it by way of summary of his
+teachings (similar verses are appended to the descriptions of Chaucer,
+Gower, &c.):--[Barclay appears] saying
+
+ "Who entreth the court in yong and teder age
+ Are lightly blinded with foly and outrage:
+ But suche as enter with witte and grauitie,
+ Bow not so sone to such enormitie,
+ But ere thei enter if thei haue lerned nought
+ Afterwardes Vertue the least of theyr thought."
+ _Dialogue against the Fever Pestilence._
+
+In another passage of the same Dialogue[4] the picture of the honourable
+and deserving but neglected churchman is touched with so much strength and
+feeling that, though no indication is given, one cannot but believe that
+the painter was drawing from the life, the life of his friend. The
+likeness, whether intentional or not, is a most faithful one: "The third
+[picture] is, one whiche sheweth the state of learned men, labouring long
+time in studie and diuine vertue, whiche are wrapped in pouertie, wantyng
+the golden rake or gapyng mouth. This man hath verie fewe to preferre hym
+to that promotion, he smiteth himselfe upo the breast, he wepeth and
+lamenteth, that vice should thus be exalted, ignoraunce rewarded with
+glorie, coueteous men spoilyng the Churche, by the names of patrones and
+geuers, whiche extorcioners and tellers, they care not to whom, so that it
+be raked with the golden racke. Wel, wel, God of his mercie, amed this
+euill market."
+
+In one of the many humorous sallies which lighten up this old-fashioned
+antidote to the pestilence, Barclay again appears, dressed in the
+metaphorical colour of the poet or minstrel--green, which has probably here
+a double significance, referring no doubt to his popularity as the English
+eclogue writer as well as to his fame as a poet and satirist. In
+introducing "Bartlet, grene breche" as the antithesis to "Boner wepyng,"
+allusion was also probably intended to the honourable position occupied by
+Barclay amongst the promoters of the Reformation, compared with the
+reapostacy, the career of brutal cruelty, and the deserved fate of the
+Jefferies of the Episcopal bench.
+
+Thus discourse _Civis et Uxor_.--
+
+"_Uxor._ What are all these two and two in a table. Oh it is trim. _Civis._
+These are old frendes, it is well handled and workemanly. Willyam Boswell
+in Pater noster rowe, painted them. Here is Christ, and Sathan, Sainct
+Peter, and Symon Magus, Paule, and Alexader the Coppersmith, Trace, and
+Becket, Martin Luther, and the Pope ... bishop Cramer, and bishop Gardiner.
+Boner wepyng, Bartlet, grene breche ... Salomon, and Will Sommer. The cocke
+and the lyon, the wolfe and the lambe." This passage also necessarily
+implies that Barclay's fame at that time was second to none in England.
+Alas! for fame:
+
+ "What is the end of fame? 'Tis but to fill
+ A certain portion of uncertain paper."
+
+In the seventeenth century Barclay still held a place in the first rank of
+satirists, if we accept the evidence of the learned Catholic poet of that
+time, Sir Aston Cokaine. He thus alludes to him in an address "To my
+learned friend, Mr Thomas Bancroft, upon his Book of Satires. By Sir Aston
+Cokayne."
+
+ "After a many works of divers kinds
+ Your muse to tread th' Aruncan path designs:
+ 'Tis hard to write but Satires in these days,
+ And yet to write good Satires merits praise:
+ . . . . . .
+ So old Petronius Arbiter appli'd
+ Corsives unto the age he did deride:
+ So Horace, Persius, Juvenal, (among
+ Those ancient Romans) scourg'd the impious throng;
+ So Ariosto (in these later times)
+ Reprov'd his Italy for many crimes;
+ So learned Barclay let his lashes fall
+ Heavy on some to bring a cure to all."
+
+In concluding this imperfect notice of one of the most remarkable of our
+early writers, we cannot but echo the regret expressed by one of his
+biographers, that "What ought most to be lamented is, that we are able to
+say so very little of one in his own time so famous, and whose works ought
+to have transmitted him to posterity with much greater honour."
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+THE WILL OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY.
+
+EXTRACTED FROM THE PRINCIPAL REGISTRY OF HER MAJESTY'S COURT OF PROBATE.
+
+_In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury._
+
+IN THE NAME OF GOD. AMEN.--The xxv^{th} day of July in the yere of our
+Lorde God a thousande fyve hundreth fyftie and one.... I ALEXANDER
+BARQUELEY Doctor of Divinitie Vicar of myche badowe in the countie of Essex
+do make dispose and declare this my pute testament conteyning my last Will
+in forme and order as hereafter followethe That ys to saye First I
+bequeathe my soule unto Almightie God my maker and Redemer and my bodye to
+be buried where it shall please God to dispose after de[=p]ting my soule
+from the bodye Also I bequeathe to the poore people of the said [=p]ish of
+Badowe fyftie shillings to be disposed where as yt shall appere to be most
+nede by the discrescon of myne Executours And also I bequeathe towardes the
+repacons of the same Churche vj^s viij^d Item I bequeathe to the poore
+people of the [=P]ish of Owkley in the Countie of Somersett fiftie
+shillings likewise to be distributed And towardes the repacons of the same
+Churche vj^s viij^d Item I bequeathe to Mr Horsey of Tawnton in the saide
+Countie of Somersett one fether bed and a bolster which I had of hym or els
+twentie shillings in redye money Item I bequeathe to Edword Capper
+otherwise called Edwarde Mathewe of Tawnton aforesaid xxxiij^s iiij^d of
+currant money of England Item I bequeathe to Johane Atkynson the daughter
+of Thomas Atkynson of London Scryvener one fetherbed wheruppon I use to lye
+having a newe tyke with the bolster blanketts and coverlett tester pillowe
+and two payer of my best shetes Item I bequeth to the same Johane Atkynson
+eight pounds current money of England to be receyved of the money due unto
+me by Cutbeard Crokk of Wynchester to be paide in two yeres (that is to
+saye foure poundes in the first yere and foure poundes in the secounde
+yere) Item I bequeathe to the saide Johane a flocke bed a quylte and all my
+pewter and brasse and other stuf of my kechen Item I give and bequeathe to
+Jeronymy Atkynson the daughter of the saide Thomas Atkynson vj^{li} xiij^s
+iiij^d currant money of England to be receyved of the said Cutbeard Crok in
+two yeres that is to saye every yere fyve markes Item I bequeathe to
+Tymothy and Elizabeth Atkynson the daughters of the said Thomas Atkynson to
+everye of theym five pounds currant money of England to be receyved of the
+said Cutbeard Croke so that the eldest of thes two daughters be paide the
+first two yeres and the other to be paide in other two yeres then next
+following Item The rest of the money whiche the saide Cutbeard Croke oweth
+to me amounting in the hole to the some of four score poundes I bequeathe
+to be devyded amonge poore and nedye [=p]sones after the discretion of myn
+Executours and manely to such as be bedred blynde lame ympotent wydowes and
+fatherless children.... Item I bequeathe to Syr John Gate Knight S^r Henry
+Gate Knight and to M^r Clerke to everye of theym fouer angell nobles to
+make every of theym a ringe of golde to be worne by theym in remembraunce
+of me Item I give and bequeathe to Hugh Rooke of London Scryvener to Henry
+bosoll of London Gold Smythe to Thomas Wytton of London Screvener and to
+the wief of Humfrey Stevens of London Goldsmythe to Humfrey Edwards Clerke
+to John Owhan of the [=P]ish of Badowe aforesaid to every of them one
+angell noble of gold or ells y^e valew therof in sylver Item I bequeathe to
+M^r Thomas Clerk of Owkey aforesaid to Thomas Edey Gentelman and to the
+said Thomas Atkynson to every of them foure angell nobles to make therof
+for every of them a ringe to were in remembraunce of oure olde
+acquayntaunce and famyliarytie Item my will is that my Executours shall
+distribute at the daye of my buriall among poore and nedy people sixe
+pounds fyftene shillings Item I bequeathe to Parnell Atkynson the wief of
+the said Thomas Atkynson my cosyn thirtenne pounds thirtene shillings and
+foure pence of currant money of England Item I bequeathe to John Watson of
+London Clotheworker three angell nobles to make a ring therof to be worne
+in remembraunce of oure olde famyliaritie Also I desire all suche as have
+or shall hereafter have eny benyfytt by thes my legacies and all other good
+chrestian people to praye to Almightie God for remission of my synnes and
+mercy upon my soule Item I bequeath to Johan Bowyer the syster of the said
+[=P]nell my cosen fourtie shillings Item I bequeathe to the said Thomas
+Atkynson Tenne pounds currant money of England whome with the said Thomas
+Eden I constitute the executours of this my last Will to whome I bequeathe
+the rest and residue of all my goodes chattells and debts to be distributed
+at their discrescion in works of mercy to poore people not peny mele but by
+larger por[=c]on after theyr discrecon namely to [=p]sons bedred maydens
+widowes and other ympotent [=p]sons Item I ordeyne and desire the said M^r
+Rochester to be the Overseer of this my last Will to be well and truely
+[=p]formed and fulfilled to whome for his labor and paynes I bequeathe fyve
+marks currant money of England In wytnes of whiche this my last Will I the
+said Alexander Barqueley hereunto have set my seale and subscribed the same
+with my owne hands the day and yere fyrst above written [p=] me. ALEXANDRU
+BARQUELEY.
+
+ PROBATUM fuit Test[=m] coram d[=n]o ca[=n]t Archie[=p]o apud London
+ decimo die mensis Junij Anno d[=n]o mille[=m]o quingentesimo
+ quinquagesimo secundo Juramento Thome Atkynson E[=x] in hmoi testamento
+ noiat Ac Approbatu et insumatu et comissa fuit admotraco om[=n] bonoru
+ &^c d[=c]i deft de bene et &^c ac de pleno Inv^{ro} &^c exhibend Ad
+ sancta dei Evangelia Jurat Re[=s]rvata [p=]tate Thome Eden alteri e[=x]
+ &^c cum venerit.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+NOTES.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+[1] BARCLAY'S NATIONALITY
+
+The objection raised to claiming Barclay as a Scotsman, founded on the
+ground that he nowhere mentions his nationality, though it was a common
+practice of authors in his time to do so, especially when they wrote out of
+their own country, appeared to me, though ingenious and pertinent, to be of
+so little real weight, as to be dismissed in a parenthesis. Its importance,
+however, may easily be overrated, and it may therefore be well to point out
+that, apart from the possibility that this omission on his part was the
+result of accident or indifference, there is also the probability that it
+was dictated by a wise discretion. To be a Scotsman was not in the days of
+Henry VIII., as it has been in later and more auspicious times, a passport
+to confidence and popularity, either at the court or among the people of
+England. Barclay's fate having led him, and probably his nearest relatives
+also, across that Border which no Scotsman ever recrosses, to live and
+labour among a people by no means friendly to his country, it would have
+been a folly which so sensible a man as he was not likely to commit to have
+displayed the red rag of his nationality before his easily excited
+neighbours, upon whose friendliness his comfort and success depended. The
+farther argument of the Biographia Brittannica, that "it is pretty
+extraordinary that Barclay himself, in his several addresses to his
+patrons, should never take notice of his being a stranger, which would have
+made their kindness to him the more remarkable," is sufficiently disposed
+of by the succeeding statement, that the Duke of Norfolk and the Earl of
+Kent, Barclay's principal patrons, "are known to have been the fiercest
+enemies of the Scots." Surely a man who was English in everything but his
+birth could not be expected to openly blazon his Scottish nativity, without
+adequate occasion for so doing, in the very face of his country's chiefest
+enemies, who were at the same time his own best friends. His caution in
+this respect, indeed, may be regarded as an additional proof of his
+Scottish origin.
+
+[2] BARCLAY'S VOCABULARY
+
+Some of the words, stated in popular fashion to be Scotch--they are of
+course of Saxon origin--the usage of which by Barclay is adduced as an
+evidence of his nationality, are also to be found in Chaucer, but that does
+not invalidate the argument as stated. The employment of so many words of
+northern usage must form at least a strong corroborative argument in favour
+of northern origin.
+
+[3] THE CASTLE OF LABOUR
+
+It ought to be stated that the modesty of the young author prevented him
+from affixing his name to his first production, The Castle of Labour. Both
+editions are anonymous. Bale, Pits, Wood, &c., all include it in the list
+of his works without remark.
+
+[4] BULLEYN'S DIALOGUE
+
+A notice of the history of this once popular Dialogue, its ever recurring
+disappearance, and ever recurring "discovery" by some fortunate antiquary,
+would form an interesting chapter in a new "History of the transmission of
+ancient books to modern times." Its chances of preservation and record were
+unusually favourable. It must have been disseminated over the length and
+breadth of the land in its day, having run through four editions in little
+more than a dozen years. Maunsell's Catalogue (1595) records the edition of
+1578. Antony Wood (1721), and Bishop Tanner (1748) both duly give it a
+place in their notices of the productions of its author, without any
+special remark. But the Biographia Brittanica (1748) in a long article upon
+Bulleyn, in which his various works are noticed in great detail, introduces
+the Dialogue as "_this long neglected and unknown treatise_," and gives an
+elaborate account of it extending to about five columns of small print. The
+now famous passage, descriptive of the early poets, is quoted at length,
+and special notice of its bearing on Barclay's nationality taken, the
+writer (Oldys) announcing that the dispute must now be settled in favour of
+Scotland, "Seeing our author (Bulleyn), a contemporary who lived in, and
+long upon the borders of Scotland, says, as above, he was born in that
+kingdom: and as much indeed might have been in great measure gathered from
+an attentive perusal of this poet himself."
+
+The next biographer of Bulleyn, Aikin (Biog. Memoirs of Medicine, 1780),
+makes no discovery, but contents himself with giving a brief account of the
+Dialogue (in 11/2 pages), in which the description of Chaucer, &c., is duly
+noticed. Three years later, in spite of this, and the appearance of a
+second edition of the Biographia Brittanica (1778), another really learned
+and able antiquary, Waldron, in his edition of Jonson's Sad Shepherd
+(1783), comes forth triumphantly announcing his discovery of the Dialogue
+as that of a hitherto totally unknown treasure; and in an appendix favours
+the curious with a series of extracts from it, extending to more than
+thirty pages, prefacing them thus: "Having, among the various Mysteries and
+Moralities, whether original impressions, reprinted, or described only by
+those writers who have given any account of these Embrios of the English
+Drama, _never met with or read of any other copy of the Dialogue, or
+Morality, by Bulleyn, than the one_, [which I have used], an account of and
+some extracts from it may not be unpleasing." The passage regarding the
+poets is of course given _ad longum_.
+
+The next notice of the Dialogue occurs in Herbert's Ames (1786), where two
+editions, 1564 and 1578, are entered. Dibdin (1819), in addition, notices
+the edition of 1573. In the biographical accounts of Bulleyn in
+Hutchinson's Biographia Medica (1799), Aikin's General Biog. Dict. (1801),
+and its successor, Chalmers's Biog. Dict. (1812), due mention is preserved
+of the Dialogue in enumerating the works of its author. Sir Walter Scott
+alludes to it in the Introduction to the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border
+(1802) as a "mystery," but his only knowledge of it is evidently derived
+from Waldron. Chalmers's Life of Lindsay (Poetical Works, 1806) has also
+kept it prominently before a considerable class of inquirers, as he gives
+that part of the description of the poets relating to Lindsay a conspicuous
+place, with the following note: "Owing to the very obliging temper of Mr
+Waldron I have been permitted to see that _rare book_ of Dr Bulleyn, with
+the second edition of 1569, which is remarkably different from the first in
+1564." To this use of it by Chalmers we owe the references to it in Lord
+Lindsay's Lives of the Lindsays, i. 261 (1849), Seton's Scottish Heraldry,
+480 (1863), and Notes and Queries, 3rd s., iv. 164 (1863). It was also
+probably Chalmers that drew the attention of the writer of the Memoir of
+Barclay in the Lives of the Scottish Poets (1822), to the possibility of
+there being also in the Dialogue notice of that poet. At any rate, he
+quotes the description of the early poets, showing in his preliminary
+remarks considerable familiarity with Bulleyn's history, pointing out the
+probability of his having known Barclay at Ely, and arguing that whether or
+not, "from living in the same neighbourhood he had an opportunity of
+knowing better than any contemporary whose evidence on the subject is
+extant, to what country Barclay was, by all about him, reputed to belong."
+He precedes his quotations thus: "As the whole passage possesses
+considerable elegance, and has been so _universally overlooked_ by the
+critics, the transcription of it here will not probably be deemed out of
+place." No mention is made of the title of the book from which the
+"Allegorical Description of the Early English Poets" is taken; hence it is
+impossible to say whether the quoter made use of a copy of the Dialogue, or
+of Waldron's Notes. The spelling is modernised.
+
+In various well-known bibliographical publications the existence of this
+fugitive Dialogue is carefully registered, and its title, at least, made
+known to all inquirers,--in Watt's Bibliotheca Britt. (1824), in Lowndes'
+Bibliog. Manual (1834), and in Atkinson's Medical Bibliog. (1834); and by
+the published Catalogues of the British Museum (1813), the Douce Collection
+(1840), and the Bodleian Library (1843), it is made known that there are
+copies of it preserved in these great collections. In Warton's Hist. of
+Eng. Poetry (ed. 1840), it is also recorded by Park, in his notes to the
+chapter on Gower, in which he refers to Bulleyn's visionary description of
+that poet. Cooper's Athenae Cantabrigienses, art. Bulleyn (1858), also
+carefully notes the Dialogue and its editions. And in 1865 Collier's
+well-known Bibliographical Account of Early English Literature again gives
+an account (two pages long) of the much neglected production, in which the
+passage relating to the poets is once more extracted in full, with the
+preliminary remarks as quoted at p. xxvii. _supra_, but without the usual
+announcement that the work has hitherto been unknown.
+
+But in 1873, by the very last man from whom we might have expected it (F.
+J. Furnivall, the Atlas on whose shoulders all our projects for the
+preservation of our early literature rest, in Notes and Queries, 4th s.,
+xii. 161), we are again introduced to this ever disappearing, ever
+reappearing Dialogue as a fresh find in early English literature: "Few
+things are pleasanter in reading old books than to come on a passage of
+praise of our old poets, showing that in Tudor days men cared for the
+'makers' of former days as we do still. To Mr David Laing's kindness I owe
+the introduction to the following quotation from a rare tract, where one
+wouldn't have expected to find such a passage," and then follows once more
+the whole passage so often quoted for the first time. Dr Rimbault, in an
+interesting note in a succeeding number of Notes and Queries (p. 234), is
+the first one acquainted with the Dialogue to state that "this amusing old
+work is perfectly well known, and has often been quoted from." So
+henceforth we may presume that this interesting and long-fertile field of
+discovery may be regarded as finally worked out.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+A
+
+BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CATALOGUE
+
+OF
+
+BARCLAY'S WORKS.
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ I. THE CASTELL OF LABOURE.
+ II. THE SHYP OF FOLYS.
+ III. THE EGLOGES.
+ IV. THE INTRODUCTORY.
+ V. THE MYRROUR OF GOOD MANERS.
+ VI. CRONYCLE COMPLYED BY SALUST.
+ VII. FIGURE OF OUR MOTHER HOLY CHURCH.
+ VIII. THE LYFE OF SAYNT GEORGE.
+ IX. THE LYFE OF SAYNTE THOMAS.
+ X. HAYTHON'S CRONYCLE.
+
+I. THE CASTELL OF LABOURE.--Wynkyn de Worde. 1506. Small Quarto. Black
+letter.
+
+ The title, "The castell of laboure," is within a scroll above a woodcut
+ of men over a tub: on the verso, a cut of a man sitting at a desk. At
+ sign. a ii. (recto) "Here begynneth the prologue of this present
+ treatyse." [The Brit. Mus. copy has this on the verso of the title
+ instead of the cut, a peculiarity which may entitle it to be called a
+ separate edition, though it appears to agree otherwise with the copy
+ described.] There are many curious woodcuts. Colophon on the reverse of
+ sign. i iii. (51^b): "Thus endeth the castell of labour, wherin is
+ rychesse, vertue, and honour. Enprynted at London in Fletestrete in the
+ sygne of the sonne. by Wynkyn de worde. Anno d[=n]i M.ccccc.vi." There
+ is no indication of authorship. Signatures: a b c d e f g h,
+ alternately 8s and 4s, i 4; 52 leaves, not numbered. The British Museum
+ and Cambridge University Library copies of this book have been
+ collated, but as the former ends with H 3 and the latter wants the last
+ leaf, that leaf must remain undescribed. Mr Bradshaw, however, says,
+ "it almost certainly contained a woodcut on the recto, and one of the
+ devices on the verso."
+
+ A copy of this very scarce book was sold among Mr. West's books in 1773
+ for L2.
+
+I.a. THE CASTELL OF LABOURE.--Pynson. No date. Small Quarto. Black letter.
+
+ The title, "Here begynneth the castell of laboure," is over a woodcut;
+ and on the reverse is a woodcut; both the same as those in the previous
+ edition. In the body of the work there are 30 woodcuts, which differ
+ from those of the first edition, one of these (at G 6) is a repetition
+ of that on the title page. Colophon: "Thus endeth the castell of labour
+ wherin is rychesse, vertue and honoure. Enprynted be me Richarde
+ Pynson." After the colophon comes another leaf (I 6), on the recto of
+ which is the printer's device, and on the verso a woodcut representing
+ a city on the banks of a river. Without indication of authorship.
+ Signatures: A, 8 leaves; B--I, in sixes.
+
+ "Neither Ames nor Herbert appear to have seen this rare volume; which
+ is probably a reprint of Wynkyn de Worde's impression of 1506."
+ (Dibdin's Typ. Antiq., II. 557.) There is a copy in the Library of H.
+ Huth, Esq.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+II. THE SHIP OF FOLYS OF THE WORLDE.--Pynson. 1509. Folio.
+
+ On the recto of the first leaf there is a large woodcut of Pynson's
+ arms, or device No. VII., similar to that which is on the reverse of
+ the last leaf of each of the volumes of his edition of Lord Berners'
+ translation of Froissart's Chronicles; on the back of the first leaf is
+ the translator's dedication to "Thomas Cornisshe, bishop of Tine, and
+ suffragan bishop of Bath;" on the next leaf begins "The regyster or
+ table of this present boke in Englyshe," (all as on pp. cxiii.--cxx.),
+ succeeded by a Latin table. Then on sign. a i. and fol. i. a large
+ woodcut, the same as is used for the title page of Cawood's edition
+ (and on p. 313, Vol. II.), with a Latin description in the margin.
+ Beneath is the title in Latin. On the back, "Alexander Barclay
+ excusynge the rudeness of his translacion," followed with "An
+ exhortacion of Alexander Barclay." Then on fol. ii., etc., follow in
+ Latin, "Epigramma," "Epistola" in prose, and various "Carmina." On the
+ back of fol. v. "The exhortacion of Brant to the fools" in Latin verse,
+ followed by Barclay's version with the heading "Barclay the Translatour
+ tho the Foles." On fol. iiii. the "Prologus Jacobi Locher ... incipit,"
+ followed by its translation into English. On fol. ix., etc.,
+ "Hecatastichon in proludium auctoris et Libelli Narragonici" and the
+ English translation, "Here begynneth the prologe." On xii. "The
+ Argument" in Latin and English, and then on xiii. commences the first
+ chapter, "De inutilibus libris," in Latin, and then in English, which
+ is the order throughout, with the cuts at the beginning of either the
+ one or other as the page suited. The book concludes with a ballad in
+ honour of the virgin Mary, consisting of twelve octave stanzas: at the
+ end of which is the colophon in a stanza of seven lines. On the verso
+ of the last leaf is the printer's device, No. v.
+
+ The Latin is uniformly printed in the Roman type, and the English in
+ the Gothic. Herbert supposes the diphthongs to be "the first perhaps
+ used in this kingdom."
+
+ The cuts are rude, coarse, English imitations of those in the original
+ editions. They are, including the preliminary one, 118 in number. The
+ cut illustrating the chapter, "Of them that correct other," etc., fol.
+ liii. has been exchanged with the cut of the succeeding chapter. The
+ cut illustrating "The unyuersall shyp and generall Barke," fol.
+ cclxii., is repeated at the succeeding chapter. The one illustrating
+ Barclay's new chapter "Of folys that ar ouer worldly" is an imitation
+ of the illustration of "De singularitate quorundam novorum fatuorum" in
+ the Latin edition of March 1497. The cut illustrating the ballad of the
+ Virgin appears in the original at the head of "Excusatio Jacobi Locher
+ Philomusi," and illustrates, according to the margin, "Derisio boni
+ operis."
+
+ The word "Folium" is on the left hand page, and the number, in Roman
+ capitals, on the right throughout the book; the last is cclxxiiii.
+ Including the dedication and table (4 folios) there are 283 folios. The
+ numbering is a model of irregularity: iiii. is repeated for vi., xx.
+ stands for xv., xviii. is repeated, xx. is wanting, xxii. is repeated,
+ xxiv. is wanting, xxx. is repeated, xxxvi. is wanting, xxxix. is
+ repeated in place of xliv., xlviii. is wanting, xlix. is repeated, lvii
+ is repeated after lxi., lviii follows twice, lix., lx., lxi. being
+ repeated in succession after lviii., lxvii., lxviii. are repeated after
+ lxviii., lxxxii. is wanting, lxxxiii. is repeated, lxxxii. stands for
+ lxxxvii., lxxxiii. succeeds for lxxxviiii, cclxv. succeeds for lxxxix.,
+ lxxxxii. is repeated for lxxxxvii., [in the Grenville copy this leaf is
+ correctly numbered], cxxxii is wanting, cxl. stands for cxxxviii.,
+ cxlxi. stands for cxlvi., clxxiv. is wanting, clxxxxxi. stands for
+ cci., ccxii. is repeated for ccxvii., ccxxxviii. is wanting, cclx.
+ stands for ccl., cclviii. is repeated for cclx.
+
+ The numeration by signatures is as follows: + iiij; a, 8; b--p, 6 s; q,
+ 7; r, s, t, v, x, y, z, &, 6 s; A--Y, 6 s.
+
+ The book is extremely rare. There is a fine copy in the Bodleian
+ Library among Selden's books, another in the British Museum, Grenville
+ Collection, and another in the Library of St. John's College, Oxford.
+
+ The following are the more notable prices: Farmer, 1798, L2. 4s.;
+ Sotheby's, 1821, L28; Dent, L30. 9s.; Bib. Anglo-Poetica, L105;
+ Perkins, 1873, L130.
+
+ The following amusing note on prices is taken from Renouard's
+ "Catalogue d'un Amateur." "Les premieres editions latines de ce
+ singulier livre, celles des traductions francoises, toutes egalement
+ remplies de figures en bois, ne deplaisent pas aux amateurs, mais
+ jamais ils ne les ont payees un haut prix. La traduction angloise faite
+ en 1509, sur le francois, et avec des figures en bois, plus mauvaises
+ encore que leurs modeles, se paye en Angleterre 25, 30 et meme 60
+ guinees; c'est la, si l'on veut, du zele patriotique, de l'esprit
+ national."
+
+II.a. STULTIFERA NAUIS.... THE SHIP OF FOOLES..... With diuers other
+workes.... very profitable and fruitfull for all men.... Cawood. 1570.
+Folio.
+
+ A large cut of vessels filled with fools (the same as on p. 313, Vol.
+ II.) is inserted between the Latin and English titles. This edition
+ omits the ballad to the Virgin at the end. The English is in black
+ letter, and the Latin in Roman, in the same order as in the preceding
+ edition. On the recto of leaf 259: Thus endeth the Ship of Fooles,
+ translated ... by Alexander Barclay Priest, at that time Chaplen in the
+ Colledge of S. Mary Otery in the Countie of Deuon. Anno Domini 1508. On
+ the back "Excusatio Iacobi Locher Philomusi," in Sapphic verse. On the
+ next page five stanzas by Barclay "excusing the rudenes of his
+ Translation." Lastly, an Index in Latin, and then in English. Then,
+ follow the "diuers other workes," the Mirrour of good maners, and the
+ Egloges. Colophon: Imprinted at London in Paules Church-yarde by Iohn
+ Cawood Printer to the Queenes Maiestie. Cum Priuilegio ad imprimendum
+ solum.
+
+ The woodcuts, including the one on the title-page, number 117. They are
+ the same as those of Pynson's edition, but show occasional traces of
+ the blocks having been chipped in the course of their preservation in a
+ printer's office for 60 years or so. The borders only differ, being of
+ a uniform type, while those of the previous edition are woodcuts of
+ several patterns.
+
+ The numbering is a little irregular; the preliminary leaves (12) are
+ unnumbered. The folios are numbered in figures on the left hand page,
+ 'folio' being prefixed to the first six, 16 is repeated for 17, 13
+ stands for 31, [in one of the Adv. Lib. copies the latter irregularity
+ is found, though not the former; in the other, 17 and 31 are numbered
+ correctly], 96 is repeated for 99, 188 for 191, 100 for 200, and 205
+ for 201. The last number is 259, and there are three extra leaves, thus
+ making 274 for the Ship. The supplementary works are not numbered. The
+ signatures are as follows: _The Ship_, ¶ six leaves; ¶¶ six leaves; A
+ to U u, in sixes; X x, four leaves; _Mirrour of good manners_, A--G, in
+ sixes; _Egloges_, A to D, in sixes; in all 680 pp.
+
+ This book was licensed to Cawood in 1567-8, and is said to be the only
+ book he had license for. It is now very rare.
+
+ Prices: Digby, 1680, 4s. 4d. Bernard, 1698, 1s. 10d. Gulston, 1783, L1,
+ 16s. White Knights, L8, 12s. Roxburghe, L9, 19s. 6d. Fonthill, L13,
+ 13s. Bib. Anglo-Poet, L12, 12s. Heber, L8, 12s. Sotheby's, 1873, L48,
+ 10s.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+ A complete bibliography of the various editions and versions of the
+ Ship of Fools will be found in Zarocke's edition of the original, or in
+ Graesse's Tresor de livres rares et precieux. A notice is subjoined of
+ the two editions of the English prose translation, and of the two other
+ publications bearing the title.
+
+ The abridged prose translation, by Henry Watson, from the French prose
+ version of Jehan Droyn, appeared from the press of De Worde in the same
+ year in which Barclay's fuller poetical version was issued. In both
+ text and illustrations it is a much inferior production to the latter.
+ As the existence of the first edition has been, and still is, denied,
+ it being frequently confounded with Barclay's book, we transcribe the
+ following description of the only known copy from Van Praet's
+ "Catalogue des livres imprimes sur velin de la Bibliotheque du Roi."
+
+The Shyppe of Fooles, translated out of frenche, by Henry Watson. London,
+Wynkyn de Worde, 1509, petit in--4.
+
+ Edition en lettres de forme, sans chiffres ni reclames, avec
+ signatures, figures et initiales en bois; a longues lignes, au nombre
+ de 32 sur les pages entieres; cont. 169 f.; les 7 premiers renferment
+ 1. le titre suivant, grave audessus d'une figure qui represente le
+ navire des fous:
+
+ ¶ The shyppe of fooles.
+
+ 2. Le prologue du traducteur; 3. la preface; 4. la table des chapitres.
+
+ Au recto du dernier f. est cette souscription:
+
+ ¶ Thus endeth the shyppe of fooles of this worde. Enprynted at London
+ in Flete strete by Wynk[=y] de worde prynter vnto the excellent
+ pryncesse Marguerete, Countesse of Rychemonde and Derbye, and grandame
+ vnto our moost naturall souereyne lorde kynge Henry [=y] viii. The yere
+ of our lorde. M.CCCCC. ix. ¶ The fyrste yere of the reygne of our
+ fouerayne lorde kynge Henry the viii. The. vi. daye of Julii. On
+ apercoit au verso le monogramme et la marque de William Caxton, au bas
+ desquels on lit ces mots: Wynken de Worde."
+
+ This beautiful copy upon vellum is the only example of this edition
+ known.
+
+The grete Shyppe of Fooles of this worlde. W[=y]kyn de Worde. 1517. Quarto.
+
+ This is the second edition of Watson's translation. Colophon: "Thus
+ endeth the shyppe of fooles of this worlde. Jmprynted at Londod in
+ flete strete by W[=y]kyn de Worde. ye yere of our lorde M.CCCCC. &
+ xvii.
+
+ ¶ The nynthe yere of y^e reygne of our souerayne lorde kynge Henry y^e
+ VIII. The xx. daye of June." It contains G G 6, fours and eights
+ alternately (the signatures ending on G G iij.), besides 6 leaves, with
+ the prologue, prolude and table, before signature A.
+
+ Extremely rare. Roxburghe, L64.
+
+The Ship of Fools Fully Fraught and Richly Laden with Asses, Fools,
+Jack-daws, Ninnihammers, Coxcombs, Slenderwits, Shallowbrains, Paper-Skuls,
+Simpletons, Nickumpoops, Wiseakers, Dunces, and Blockheads, Declaring their
+several Natures, Manners and Constitutions; the occasion why this Ship was
+built, with the places of their intended Voyage, and a list of the Officers
+that bear Command therein.
+
+ If for this Voyage any have a mind,
+ They with Jack Adams may acceptance find,
+ Who will strain hard ere they shall stay behind.
+
+ Licensed, Roger L'Estrange.
+ [A large woodcut of the Ship.]
+
+London, Printed by J. W. for J. Clark, at the Bible and Harp in
+West-Smithfield. n. d. [Circa 1650.] 4to. 4 leaves.
+
+ "This book, or rather tract, has nothing in common with Barclay's Ship
+ of Fools, except the general idea. It is entirely in prose. My copy has
+ nothing to show to whom it formerly belonged."--(Letter of H. Huth,
+ Esq.) The last sentence was elicited by the inquiry whether Mr Huth's
+ copy were the one formerly belonging to Mr Heber.--See _Bibliotheca
+ Heberiana_, Part IV., No. 752.
+
+Stultifera Navis ... The modern Ship of fools. Lond. 1807, 80. Pp. xxiv.,
+295.
+
+ A wretched production in verse, in imitation of Barclay's Ship of
+ Fools, published anonymously by W. H. Ireland, the Shakesperian forger.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+III. THE EGLOGES OF ALEXADER BARCLAY, PREST.--The first three, without
+printer's name or device. No date. Quarto. Black letter.
+
+ "Here begynneth the Egloges of Alexader Barclay, prest, wherof the
+ fyrst thre conteyneth the myseryes of courters and courtes of all
+ prynces in generall, the matter wherof was translated into Englyshe by
+ the sayd Alexander in fourme of Dialogues, out of a boke named in latyn
+ Miserie Curialiu, compyled by Eneas Siluius, Poete and oratour, whiche
+ after was Pope of Rome, & named Pius." This title is over a cut of two
+ shepherds, Coridon and Cornix, the interlocutors in these three
+ eclogues. On the back is a cut of David and Bathsheba. At the end of
+ the third egloge: "Thus endyth the thyrde and last egloge of the mysery
+ of court and courters, composed by Alexander Barclay, preste, in his
+ youthe." A cut of the two shepherds and a courtier fills up the page.
+ Without date, printer's name, or device. Contains P 6, in fours, the
+ last leaf blank.
+
+III.a. THE FOURTHE EGLOGE OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY.--Pynson. No date. Quarto.
+Black letter.
+
+ It is entitled, "The Boke of Codrus and Mynaclus," over the cut of a
+ priest, with a shaven crown, writing at a plutus. It concludes with
+ "The discrypcion of the towre of Vertue & Honour, into whiche the noble
+ Hawarde contended to entre, by worthy acts of chiualry," related by
+ Menalcas, in stanzas of eight verses. At the end, "Thus endeth the
+ fourthe Eglogge of Alexandre Barcley, coteyning the maner of the riche
+ men anenst poets and other clerkes. Emprinted by Richarde Pynson priter
+ to the kynges noble grace." On the last leaf is his device, No. V.
+ Contains 22 leaves, with cuts.
+
+III.b. THE FYFTE EGLOGE OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY. --Wynkyn de Worde. No date.
+Quarto. Black letter.
+
+ "The fyfte Eglog of Alexandre Barclay of the Cytezen and vplondyshman."
+ This title is over a large woodcut of a priest, sitting in his study.
+ Beneath, "Here after foloweth the Prologe." On the verso of A ii. are
+ two cuts of two shepherds, whole lengths, with this head-title,
+ "Interlocutoures be Amyntas and Faustus." There are no other cuts.
+ Colophon: "Here endeth the v. Eglog of Alexandre Barclay of the Cytezyn
+ and vplondysshman. Imprynted at London in flete strete, at the sygne of
+ [the] Sonne, by Wynkyn de worde." Beneath, device No. v. Contains A 8,
+ B 4, C 6; 18 leaves. There is a copy in the British Museum.
+
+ With the first four Eclogues as above, Woodhouse, 1803, (Herbert's
+ copy), L25.; resold, Dent, 1827, L36.; resold, Heber, 1834, L24. 10s.
+ At Heber's sale this unique set, containing the only known copy of the
+ first edition of the first four Eclogues, was bought by Thorpe; further
+ I have not been able to trace it.
+
+III.c. THE EGLOGES.--John Herforde. No date. Quarto.
+
+ "Here begynneth the Egloges of Alex. Barclay, Priest, whereof the first
+ three conteineth the Miseries of Courters and Courtes." "Probably a
+ reprint of Pynson's impression," Dibdin. Contains only Eclogues I.-III.
+ Herbert conjectures the date to be 1548; Corser, 1546; Hazlitt, 1545.
+
+III.d. THE EGLOGES.--Humfrey Powell. No date. Quarto. Black letter.
+
+ "Here begynneth the Egloges of Alexander Barclay, priest, whereof the
+ first thre conteineth the miseries of courters and courtes, of all
+ Princes in general ... In the whiche the interloquutors be, Cornix, and
+ Coridon." Concludes: "Thus endeth the thyrde and last Eglogue of the
+ Misery of Courte and Courters, Composed by Alexander Barclay preest, in
+ his youth. Imprinted at London by Humfrey Powell." Contains only
+ Eclogues I.-III. Collation: Title, A 1; sig. A to P2, in fours; 58
+ leaves not numbered.
+
+ This is an edition of extreme rarity. It is very well printed, and the
+ title is surrounded with a woodcut border with ornamented pillars at
+ the sides. Herbert conjectures the date to be 1549, the Bib.
+ Anglo-Poetica, Lowndes, and Corser, 1548. There is a copy in the
+ Cambridge University Library, and another in the possession of David
+ Laing, Esq.
+
+ Prices: Inglis, L6. 2s. 6d.; Bright, 1845. L10. 10s.; Bib.
+ Anglo-Poetica, L15.
+
+III.e. CERTAYNE EGLOGES OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY PRIEST.--Cawood. 1570. Folio.
+Black letter.
+
+ Appended to Cawood's edition of the Ship of Fools. No title-page, cuts,
+ or pagination. The above heading on A i.
+
+ Colophon: Thus endeth the fifth and last Egloge of Alexander Barclay,
+ of the Citizen and the man of the countrey. Imprinted at London in
+ Paules Church-yarde by Iohn Cawood, Printer to the Queenes Maiestie.
+ Cum Priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.
+
+ Contains A--D, in sixes.
+
+III._f_. THE CYTEZEN AND UPLONDYSHMAN: an Eclogue [the fifth] by Alexander
+Barclay.
+
+ Printed from the original edition by Wynkyn de Worde. Edited, with an
+ Introductory Notice of Barclay and his other Eclogues, by F.W.
+ Fairholt, F.S.A. London; printed for the Percy Society [vol. XXII.],
+ 1847. 8vo. Pp. + 6, lxxiv., 47.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+IV. THE INTRODUCTORY TO WRITE AND TO PRONOUNCE FRENCHE. Coplande. 1521.
+Folio. Black letter.
+
+ 'Here begynneth the introductory to wryte, and to pronounce Frenche
+ compyled by Alexander Barcley compendiously at the commaudemet of the
+ ryght hye excellent and myghty prynce Thomas duke of Northfolke.' This
+ title is over a large woodcut of a lion rampant, supporting a shield,
+ containing a white lion in a border, (the same as that on the title of
+ the Sallust, VI.), then follows a French ballad of 16 lines in two
+ columns, the first headed, "R. Coplande to the whyte lyone, and the
+ second, "¶ Ballade." On the recto of the last leaf, 'Here foloweth the
+ maner of dauncynge of bace dauces after the vse of fraunce & other
+ places translated out of frenche in englysshe by Robert coplande.'
+ Col.: Jmprynted at London in the Fletestrete at the sygne of the rose
+ Garlande by Robert coplande, the yere of our lorde. M.CCCCC.xxi. y^e
+ xxii. day of Marche.' Neither folioed nor paged. Contains C 4, in
+ sixes, 16 leaves.
+
+ In the edition of Palsgrave (see above, p. lxxiii.), published among
+ the "Documents inedits sur l'histoire de France," the editor says of
+ this work of Barclay's: "Tous mes efforts pour decouvrir un exemplaire
+ de ce curieux ouvrage ont ete inutiles." There is a copy, probably
+ unique, in the Bodleian; it was formerly Herbert's, afterwards Douce's.
+
+ All the parts of this treatise relating to French pronunciation have
+ been carefully reprinted by Mr A. J. Ellis, in his treatise "On Early
+ English Pronunciation" (published by the Philological Society), Part
+ III., p. 804.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+V. THE MYRROUR OF GOOD MANERS.----Pynson. No date. Folio. Black letter.
+
+ 'Here begynneth a ryght frutefull treatyse, intituled the myrrour of
+ good maners, coteynyng the iiii. vertues, callyd cardynall, compyled in
+ latyn by Domynike Mancyn: And translate into englysshe: at the desyre
+ of syr Gyles Alyngton, knyght: by Alexander Bercley prest: and monke of
+ Ely. This title is over a cut, the same as at the head of Barclay's
+ preface to his translation of Sallust, a representation of the author
+ in a monkish habit on his knees, presenting a book to a nobleman. The
+ text begins on back of title. The original is printed in Roman letter
+ in the margins.----Colophon in a square woodcut border: Thus endeth the
+ ryght frutefull matter of the foure vertues cardynall: Jmprynted by
+ Rychard Pynson: prynter vnto the kynges noble grace: with his gracyous
+ pryuylege the whiche boke I haue prynted, at the instance & request, of
+ the ryght noble Rychard yerle of Kent. On the back, Pynson's device,
+ No. v. It has neither running titles, catch-words, nor the leaves
+ numbered. Signatures; A to G, in sixes, and H, in eights; 100 pp.
+
+ In the British Museum, Grenville collection, from Heber's collection.
+ "This edition differs materially from that used by Herbert, which has
+ led Dr Dibdin to the conclusion that there were two impressions." So
+ says a MS. note on the copy, (quoted in the Bib. Grenv.), but Dibdin
+ does not commit himself to the conclusion, his words being these: "This
+ description is given from a copy in the possession of Mr Heber; which,
+ from its varying with the account of Herbert, Mr H. supposes, with
+ justice, must be a different one from Herbert's." I have failed to
+ discover the difference.
+
+ Prices: Perry, L9.; Roxburghe (last leaf wanting), L10. 10s.;
+ Bibliotheca Anglo-Poetica, L12. 12s.; Sykes, L16. 16s.
+
+ To the above edition must belong the fragment entered in Bohn's Lowndes
+ under "Four," thus: "Four Vertues Cardinal. Lond. R. Pynson, n.d.
+ folio. Only a fragment of this Poem is known; it was printed at the
+ request of Rychard Erle of Kent."
+
+V._a._. THE MIRROUR OF GOOD MANERS.----Cawood. 1570. Folio. Black letter.
+
+ Appended to Cawood's edition of the Ship of Fools. No title page,
+ pagination, or cuts. The above heading on A 1. The Latin original
+ printed in Roman by the side of the English. Contains A-G, in sixes.
+
+ It may be useful to give here the bibliography of the other English
+ translations of Mancyn.
+
+Mancinus de quattuor Virtutibus. [The englysshe of Mancyne apon the foure
+cardynale vertues.] No place, printer's name, or date, but with the types
+of Wynkyn de Worde, circa 1518. 4to, a-d, in eights. Bodleian.
+
+ Following the title occurs: Petri Carmeliani exasticon in Dominici
+ Mancini de quattuor cardineis virtutibus libellum. The Latin portion is
+ in verse, printed in Roman letter, with marginal notes in black letter,
+ of a very small size, and the English in prose.
+
+ The English part, in black letter, is entitled: The englysshe of
+ Mancyne apon the foure cardynale vertues. n.p. or d. This portion has a
+ separate title and signatures; the title is on A 1. On sign. F ii.
+ occurs, "The correccion of the englysshe," and on the verso of the same
+ leaf is printed, "The correction of the texte." A, B, C, and D, 8
+ leaves each; E, 6 leaves; and F, 4 leaves; 42 leaves altogether. A copy
+ of this is in the British Museum. Only two perfect copies are known.
+
+A Plaine Path to Perfect Vertue: Deuised and found out by Mancinus, a
+Latine Poet, and translated into English by G. Turberuile, Gentleman.
+
+ Ardua ad virtutem via.
+
+ Imprinted at London in Knightrider-strete, by Henry Bynneman, for
+ Leonard Maylard. Anno. 1568. 8vo., 72 leaves. Black letter, in verse.
+ Dedicated "To the right Honorable and hys singular good Lady, Lady
+ Anne, Coutesse Warvvicke." There is also a metrical address to the
+ reader, and 8 4-line stanzas by James Sanford in praise of the
+ translator.
+
+ Freeling, 1836, No. 911, L7., bought for Mr Corser: now in the British
+ Museum. Supposed to be unique.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+VI. CRONYCLE compyled in Latyn, by the renowned Sallust.----Pynson. No
+date. Folio.
+
+ "Here begynneth the famous cronycle of the warre, which the romayns had
+ agaynst Jugurth, vsurper of the kyngdome of Numidy. which cronycle is
+ compyled in latyn by the renowmed romayne Salust. And translated into
+ englysshe by syr Alexander Barclay preest, at comaundement of the right
+ hye and mighty prince: Thomas duke of Northfolke." There are two
+ editions by Pynson of this book.
+
+ I. In this edition the lower half of the title page has a square
+ enclosed by double lines containing the Norfolk arms, a lion rampant,
+ holding a shield in his paws, on which is another lion, a cut which
+ also appears on the title of The Introductory. There is a full page cut
+ of the royal arms with portcullis, &c., on the back, followed by five
+ pages of Table. The preface to his patron, in English,----together with
+ a Latin dedication to Bishop Veysy, in parallel columns,----begins on
+ the verso of signature A iiii, under a cut of the author presenting his
+ book to him, the same as that which appears on the title of The myrrour
+ of good maners. [See the cut prefixed to the Notice of Barclay's life,
+ which is confined however to a reproduction of the two principal
+ figures only, two other figures, evidently of servants, and some
+ additional ornamentation of the room being omitted.] At the end of this
+ preface is another cut of the author, writing at a desk; also on the
+ back of the leaf is a cut of the disembarking of an army. There are no
+ other cuts, but the volume is adorned throughout with very fine woodcut
+ initials. Catchwords are given irregularly at the beginning, but
+ regularly towards the end, at the bottom of the left hand page only,
+ but the preface has them to every column. Colophon:----"Thus endeth the
+ famous cronycle of the war ... imprented at London by Rycharde Pynson
+ printer vnto the kynges noble grace: with priuylege vnto hym grauted by
+ our sayd souerayne lorde the kynge." On the back of the last leaf is
+ Pynson's device, No. v. The date is erroneously conjectured in Moss's
+ Classical Bib. to be 1511. It was probably 1519, certainly between 1519
+ and 1524. Contains 92 numbered leaves, and one leaf unnumbered, besides
+ eight leaves of preliminary matter: numbering quite regular:
+ signatures; a 8, A--O, 6 s, P, Q, 4 s. In the British Museum, Grenville
+ Collection, the Bodleian, and the Public Library at Cambridge.
+
+ Prices: Roxburghe, L23, 12s.; Sykes, L8, 12s.; Heber, L5, 15s. 6d.;
+ Sotheby's, 1857, L10.
+
+ II. In this edition, the title page is the same as in the other with
+ the exception of a semicolon for a full point after Numidy, the
+ succeeding which having an e added, and romayne being without the e,
+ but on the back instead of a cut of the royal arms The table commences;
+ the preface begins on the recto of sign. a 4, under the cut of the
+ author presenting his book to the Duke of Norfolk, and ends without the
+ leaf of woodcuts which is appended to the preface of the first edition.
+ Pynson's device at the end of the book is also wanting in this edition.
+ It contains only fol. lxxxvi., with six leaves of preliminary matter;
+ the pagination is a little irregular, xxi. and xxii. are wanting but
+ xxiii. is given three times, and lxxvii. is repeated for lxxviii.; the
+ British Museum copy is deficient in folios lxii. and lxv.: signatures;
+ a 6, A--N, 6 s, and O, P, 4 s. The initials are the same as those in
+ the first edition in the great majority of cases, but appear much more
+ worn. There are catch-words only at the end of every signature
+ throughout the book, except to the preface, which has them to every
+ column. In the British Museum, and the Public Library, Cambridge.
+
+ Both editions have the Latin in Roman letter in the margins, and
+ running-titles. Ames mentions an edition with cuts, which must be the
+ same as the first of these.
+
+VI._a._ CRONICLE OF WARRE. Compiled in Laten by Saluste. Corrected by
+Thomas Paynell. Waley, 1557. Quarto.
+
+ "Here begynneth the famous Cronicle of warre, whyche the Romaynes hadde
+ agaynst Jugurth vsurper of the kyngedome of Numidie: whiche Cronicle is
+ compiled in Laten by the renowmed Romayne Saluste: and translated into
+ englyshe by syr alexander Barklaye prieste. And nowe perused and
+ corrected by Thomas Paynell. Newely Jmprinted in the yere of oure Lorde
+ God M.D.L vij." On the verso of the title begins Paynell's
+ dedication--"To the ryghte honorable Lorde Antonye Vycounte Mountegue,
+ Knyghte of the ryghte honorable order of the garter, and one of the
+ Kynge and Queenes Magesties pryuie counsayle." "The prologue" begins on
+ a 1. Barclay's preface and dedication are omitted, as well as the Latin
+ of Sallust. Col.: "Thus endeth the famouse Cronicle of the warre ...
+ against Jugurth ... translated... by syr Alexander Barkeley, prieste,
+ at commaundemente of ... Thomas, duke of Northfolke, And imprinted at
+ London in Foster lane by Jhon Waley." Signatures; H h, 4 s, besides
+ title and dedication, two leaves: the pagination commences on a 4, at
+ "The fyrste chapter," the last folio being cxx.; xxi. is repeated for
+ xxii., xxiii. for xxiv., xix., stands for xxix., lvii. is repeated, and
+ lxxiv. is repeated for lxxv.
+
+ This edition forms the second part of a volume having the following
+ general title page: The Conspiracie of Catiline, written by Constancius
+ Felicius Durantinus, and translated bi Thomas Paynell: with the
+ historye of Jugurth, writen by the famous Romaine Salust, and
+ translated into Englyshe by Alexander Barcklaye.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+VII. ALEX. BARCLAY HIS FIGURE OF OUR MOTHER HOLY CHURCH OPPRESSED BY THE
+FRENCHE KING. Pynson. Quarto.
+
+ This is given by Herbert on the authority of Maunsell's Catalogue, p.
+ 7.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+VIII. THE LYFE OF THE GLORIOUS MARTYR SAYNT GEORGE. Translated by Alexander
+Barclay, while he was a monk of Ely, and dedicated to N. West, Bp. of Ely.
+Pinson [Circa 1530.] Quarto. [Herbert, 289].
+
+ * * * * *
+
+IX. THE LYFE OF SAYNTE THOMAS. Pynson. No date. Quarto. Black letter.
+
+ "¶ Here begynneth the lyfe of the blessed martyr saynte Thomas." This
+ title is the headline of this little treatise; at the beginning of
+ which is indented a small woodcut of a man in armour, striking at the
+ bishop, with his cross-bearer before him. It begins "The martir saynte
+ Thomas was son to Gylberde Bequet a burgeys of the Cite of London. And
+ was borne in y^e place, whereas now standeth the churche called saynte
+ Thomas of Akers." It concludes, "¶ Thus endeth the lyfe of the blessed
+ martyr saynt Thomas of Caunturbury. Jmprynted by me Rycharde Pynson,
+ prynter vnto the kynges noble grace." Contains eight leaves. There is a
+ copy in the British Museum. Assigned to Barclay on tne authority of
+ Wood.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+X. HAYTHON'S CRONYCLE. Pynson. No date. Folio. Black letter.
+
+ "Here begynneth a lytell Cronycle, translated & imprinted at the cost &
+ charge of Rycharde Pynson, by the comaundement of the ryght high and
+ mighty prince, Edwarde duke of Buckingham, yerle of Gloucestre,
+ Staffarde, and of Northamton," over a large woodcut. Colophon: "Here
+ endeth, [_&c_.] Imprinted by the sayd _Richarde Pynson_, printer unto
+ the Kinges noble grace." Date conjectured to be between 1520 and 1530.
+ Pynson's device, No. 5, at the end. Collation: A--E, and H, in sixes; F
+ and G, and I, in fours; forty-eight leaves.
+
+ On the verso of fol. 35, "Here endeth y^e boke of thistoris of thoriet
+ partes copyled by a relygious man frere Hayton frere of Premostre
+ order, sotyme lorde of court & cosyn german to the kyng of Armeny vpon
+ y^e passage of the holy lande. By the comaudement of y^e holy fader y^e
+ apostle of Rome Clemet the V. in y^e cite of Potiers which boke I
+ Nicholas Falcon, writ first in French ... I haue traslated it in Latyn
+ for our holy father y^e pope. In the yere of our lorde god M.CCC.VII.
+ in y^e moneth of August. Deo gras."
+
+ "The travels of Hayton into the Holy Land and Armenia, and his history
+ of Asia, is one of the most valuable of the early accounts of the east.
+ The present is the only translation into English, and from the
+ circumstances of its being printed by Pynson and having been (when in
+ Mr Heber's collection) bound with two other works (Mirrour of good
+ Maners and Sallust) both translated by Barclay, was probably also
+ translated by him. It is a book of extraordinaiy rarity, no perfect
+ copy that can be traced having previously occured for sale."
+ (Bibliotheca Grenvilliana, vol. I.)
+
+ Heber's copy (the one above mentioned), L40. 9s. 6d.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+THE SHIP OF FOOLS.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+_Venerandissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino: domino Thome Cornisshe
+Tenenensis pontifici ac diocesis Badonensis Suffraganio vigilantissimo, sue
+paternitatis Capellanus humilimus Alexander Barclay suiipsius
+recommendacionem cum omni summissione, et reuerentia._
+
+_Tametsi crebris negocijs: varioque impedimentorum genere fatigatus paulo
+diutius quam volueram a studio reuulsus eram. Attamen obseruandissime
+presul: Stultiferam classem (vt sum tue paternati pollicitus) iam tandem
+absolui et impressam ad te destinaui. Neque tamen certum laborem pro
+incerto premio (humano. s.) meis impossuissem humeris: nisi Seruianum illud
+dictum (longe anteaqam inceperam) admonuisset. Satius esse non incipere
+quam inceptum minus perfectum relinquere. Completo tamen opere: nec
+quemquam magis dignum quam tua sit paternitas existimaui cui id dedicarem:
+tum quia saluberrima tua prudentia, morum grauitas, vite sanctitas
+doctrineque assiduitas: errantes fatuos mumdanis ab illecebris ad virtutis
+tramites: difficiles licet: possint reducere: tum vero: quia sacros ad
+ordines per te sublimatus et promotus, multisque aliis tuis beneficiis
+ditatus non potui tibi meum obsequium non coartare. Opus igitur tue
+paternitati dedicaui: meorum primicias laborum qui in lucem eruperunt Atque
+vt tua consuluerit paternatis: autoris carmina cum meis vulgaribus
+rithmicis vna alternatim coniunixi: et quantum a vero carminum sensu
+errauerim, tue autoritatis iudicium erit. Fateor equidem multo plura
+adiecisse quam ademisse: partim ad vicia que hac nostra in regione
+abundantius pullulant mordacius carpenda: partimque ob Rithmi
+difficultatem. Adieci etiam quasdam Biblie aliorumque autorum concordancias
+in margine notatas quo singula magis lectoribus illucescant: Simul ad
+inuidorum caninos latratus pacandos: et rabida ora obstruenda: qui vbi quid
+facinorum: quo ipsi scatent: reprehensum audierint. continuo patulo gutture
+liuida euomunt dicta, scripta dilacerant. digna scombris ac thus carmina
+recensent: sed hi si pergant maledicere: vt stultiuagi comites classem
+insiliant. At tu venerande Presul Discipuli tui exiguum munusculum: hilari
+fronte accipito, Classemque nostram (si quid vagum, si quid erronium: si
+quid denique superfluum emineat: optimam in partem interpretando: ab
+inuidorum faucibus: tue autoritatis clipeo tucaris. Vale. Ex Impressoria
+officina Richardi Pynson. iij. Idus Decembris._
+
+¶ THIS PRESENT BOKE NAMED THE SHYP OF FOLYS OF THE WORLDE WAS TRANSLATED IN
+THE COLLEGE OF SAYNT MARY OTERY IN THE COUNTE OF DEUONSHYRE: OUT OF LATEN,
+FRENCH, AND DOCHE INTO ENGLYSSHE TONGE BY ALEXANDER BARCLAY PRESTE: AND AT
+THAT TYME CHAPLEN IN THE SAYDE COLLEGE. TRANSLATED THE YERE OF OUR LORDE
+GOD. M.CCCCC.VIII. IMPRENTYD IN THE CYTE OF LONDON IN FLETESTRE AT THE
+SIGNE OF SAYNT GEORGE. BY RYCHARDE PYNSON TO HYS COSTE AND CHARGE: ENDED
+THE YERE OF OUR SAUIOUR. M. D. IX. THE. XIIII. DAY OF DECEMBER.
+
+TABULA.
+
+¶ THE REGYSTER OR TABLE OF THIS PRESENT BOKE IN ENGLYSSHE.
+
+[VOLUME I.]
+
+¶ Alexander Barclay excusynge the rudenes of his translacion, y^e first
+lefe Barclay y^e translatour to y^e folys.
+
+A prologe in prose shewynge to what intent this Boke was firste made, & who
+were the first Auctours of it.
+
+Another Prologe: in Balade concernyng the same.
+
+In what place this Boke was translate and to what purpose it was
+translatyd.
+
+¶ Here begynneth the Folys and firste of inprofytable bokys.
+
+¶ Of euyll Counsellours Juges & men of lawe.
+
+Of couetyse and prodigalyte.
+
+Of newe disgysynges in apparayle.
+
+¶ A lawde of the nobles and grauyte of Kynge Henry the eyght.
+
+Of olde Folys encresynge foly with age.
+
+Of negligent Fathers ayenst their Children.
+
+Of taleberers: & mouers of debate.
+
+Of nat folowers of good counsel.
+
+Of vngoodly maners, and dysordred.
+
+Of the hurtynge of frendshyp.
+
+Of dispysers of holy scripture.
+
+Of folys inprouydent.
+
+Of disordred & venerious loue.
+
+Of them that synne trustynge vpon the mercy of almyghty god.
+
+Of folys y^t begyn great byldynge without sufficient prouysion.
+
+Of glotons, and droncardes.
+
+Of ryches vnprofytable.
+
+Of folys that wyl serue two lordes both togyther.
+
+Of superflue speche.
+
+Of them that correct other, them self culpable in the same faut.
+
+Of folys that fynde others good, nat restorynge the same to the owner.
+
+¶ The sermon or doctryne of wysdom.
+
+Of Folys bostyng them in fortune.
+
+Of the superflue curyosyte of men.
+
+Of great borowers, & slacke payers.
+
+Of vnprofitable vowers & peticions.
+
+Of negligent stodyers.
+
+Of them that folvsshly speke ayenst the workes of god.
+
+Of lewde Juges of others dedes.
+
+Of pluralytees of benefyces.
+
+Of synners that prolonge from daye to day to amende theyr myslyuyng.
+
+Of men that ar Jelous.
+
+Of auoutry, and specially of suche as ar bawdes to theyr wyues.
+
+Of suche as nedys wyll contynue in theyr foly nat withstandynge holsom
+erudicion.
+
+An addicion of the secundaries of Otery saynt Mary, in Deuynshyre.
+
+Of wrathfull folys.
+
+Of the mutabylyte of fortune.
+
+Of seke men inobedient.
+
+Of to open councellers.
+
+Of folys that can nat be ware by y^e mysfortune nor take example of others
+damage.
+
+Of folys that force or care for the bacbytynge of lewde people.
+
+Of mockers and fals accusers.
+
+Of them that despyse euerlastynge blys for worldly thynges & transitory.
+
+Of talkers and makers of noyse in the Chirche of god.
+
+Of folys that put them self in wylful ieopardy and peryll.
+
+Of the way of felycyte, and godnes and the payne to come to synners.
+
+Of olde folys y^t gyue example of vyce to youth negligent & vnexpert.
+
+Of bodely lust or corporall voluptuosyte.
+
+Of folys that can nat kepe secrete theyr owne counsell.
+
+Of yonge folys that take olde wymen to theyr wyues nat for loue but for
+ryches.
+
+Of enuyous Folys.
+
+Of impacient folys disdaynynge to abyde and suffer correccion, for theyr
+profyte.
+
+Of folysshe Fesicians vsynge theyr practyke without speculacyon.
+
+Of the ende of worldly honour & power and of folys y^t trust in them.
+
+An addicion of Alexander barclay.
+
+Of predestinacyon.
+
+Of folys that aply other mennys besynes leuynge theyr owne vndone.
+
+Of the vyce of ingratytude or vnkyndnes and folys that vse it.
+
+Of Folys that stande to moche in theyr owne conceyte.
+
+Of folys that delyte them in daunsynge.
+
+Of nyght watchers.
+
+Of the vanyte of beggers.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Alexander Barclay excusynge the rudenes of his translacion.
+
+ Go Boke: abasshe the thy rudenes to present.
+ To men auaunced to worshyp, and honour.
+ By byrthe or fortune: or to men eloquent.
+ By thy submyssion excuse thy Translatour.
+ But whan I remember the comon behauour
+ Of men: I thynke thou ought to quake for fere
+ Of tunges enuyous whose venym may the dere
+
+ Tremble, fere, and quake, thou ought I say agayne.
+ For to the Redar thou shewest by euydence
+ Thy selfe of Rethoryke pryuate and barayne
+ In speche superflue: and fruteles of sentence.
+ Thou playnly blamest without al difference
+ Bothe hye and lowe sparinge eche mannes name.
+ Therfore no maruayle thoughe many do the blame.
+
+ But if thou fortune to lye before a State
+ As Kynge or Prince or Lordes great or smal.
+ Or doctour diuyne or other Graduate
+ Be this thy Excuse to content theyr mynde withal
+ My speche is rude my termes comon and rural
+ And I for rude peple moche more conuenient.
+ Than for Estates, lerned men, or eloquent.
+
+ But of this one poynt thou nedest not to fere
+ That any goode man: vertuous and Just.
+ Wyth his yl speche shal the hurt or dere.
+ But the defende. As I suppose and trust.
+ But suche Unthriftes as sue theyr carnal lust
+ Whome thou for vyce dost sharply rebuke and blame
+ Shal the dysprayse: emperisshinge thy name.
+
+An exhortacion of Alexander Barclay.
+
+ But ye that shal rede this boke: I you exhorte.
+ And you that ar herars therof also I pray
+ Where as ye knowe that ye be of this sorte:
+ Amende your lyfe and expelle that vyce away.
+ Slomber nat in syn. Amende you whyle ye may.
+ And yf ye so do and ensue Vertue and grace.
+ Wythin my Shyp ye get no rowme ne place.
+
+Barclay the translatour tho the Foles.
+
+ To Shyp galantes the se is at the ful.
+ The wynde vs calleth our sayles ar displayed.
+ Where may we best aryue? at Lyn or els at Hulle?
+ To vs may no hauen in Englonde be denayd.
+ Why tary we? the Ankers ar vp wayed.
+ If any corde or Cabyl vs hurt, let outher hynder.
+ Let slyp the ende, or els hewe it in sonder.
+
+ Retourne your syght beholde vnto the shore.
+ There is great nomber that fayne wold be aborde.
+ They get no rowme our Shyp can holde no more.
+ Haws in the Cocke gyue them none other worde.
+ God gyde vs from Rockes, quicsonde tempest and forde
+ If any man of warre, wether, or wynde apere.
+ My selfe shal trye the wynde and kepe the Stere.
+
+ But I pray you reders haue ye no dysdayne.
+ Thoughe Barclay haue presumed of audacite
+ This Shyp to rule as chefe mayster and Captayne.
+ Though some thynke them selfe moche worthyer than he.
+ It were great maruayle forsoth syth he hath be.
+ A scoler longe: and that in dyuers scoles
+ But he myght be Captayne of a Shyp of Foles
+
+ But if that any one be in suche maner case.
+ That he wyl chalange the maystershyp fro me
+ Yet in my Shyp can I nat want a place.
+ For in euery place my selfe I oft may se.
+ But this I leue besechynge eche degre:
+ To pardon my youthe and to bolde interprise.
+ For harde is it duely to speke of euery vyce.
+
+ For yf I had tunges an hundreth: and wyt to fele
+ Al thinges natural and supernaturall
+ A thousand mouthes: and voyce as harde as stele.
+ And sene all the seuen Sciences lyberal.
+ Yet cowde I neuer touche the vyces all.
+ And syn of the worlde: ne theyr braunches comprehende:
+ Nat thoughe I lyued vnto the worldes ende.
+
+ But if these vyces whiche mankynde doth incomber.
+ Were clene expellyd and vertue in theyr place.
+ I cowde nat haue gathered of fowles so great a nomber.
+ Whose foly from them out chaseth goddys grace.
+ But euery man that knowes hym in that case
+ To this rude Boke let hym gladly intende.
+ And lerne the way his lewdnes to amende.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+[The Prologe of James Locher.]
+
+After that I haue longe mused by my self of the sore confounded and
+vncertayne cours of mannys lyfe, and thinges therto belonginge: at the last
+I haue by my vigilant meditacion found and noted many degrees of errours:
+wherby mankynd wandreth from the way of trouth I haue also noted that many
+wyse men and wel lettred haue writen right fruteful doctrines: wherby they
+haue heled these dyseses and intollerable perturbacions of the mynde: and
+the goostly woundes therof, moche better than Esculapius which was fyrst
+Inuentour of Phesyke and amonge the Gentyles worshypped as a God. In the
+contrey of Grece were stodyes fyrst founded and ordeyned in the which began
+and sprange holsom medicyne which gaue vnto infect myndes frutful doctryne
+and norisshinge. Amonge whome Socrates that great begynner and honourer of
+wysdom began to dispute of ye maners of men. But for that he coude nat
+fynde certayne ende of goodnes and hyest felicite in naturall thinges: nor
+induce men to the same, he gaue the hye contemplacions of his mynde to
+moral vertues. And in so moche passed he al other in Philosophy moral that
+it was sayde that he called Philosophy down from the Imperial heuen. whan
+this Socrates perceyued the mindes of men to be prone, and extremely
+inclyned to viciousnes he had gret affeccion to subdue suche maners.
+Wherfore in comon places of the Cyte of Athenes he instruct and infourmed
+the peple in such doctrynes as compasith the clere and immaculate welles of
+the moste excellent and souerayne gode. After the disces of Socrates
+succeded ye godly Plato whiche in moral Philosophy ouerpassed also a great
+part of his tyme And certaynly nat without a cause was he called godly. For
+by what stody myght be more holely or better socour mankynde than by suche
+doctrynes as he gaue. He wrote and ordeyned lawes moste egal and iust He
+edityed vnto the Grekes a comon welthe stable, quyet and commendable. And
+ordeyned the societe and company of them most iocund and amyable. He
+prepared a brydel to refrayne the lust and sensualyte of the body. And
+fynally he changed the yl ignorance feblenes and negligence of youth vnto
+dylygence, strength and vertue. In tyme also of these Phylosophers sprange
+the florisshynge age of Poetes: whiche amonge lettred men had nat smal
+rowme and place. And that for theyr eloquent Retoryke and also for theyr
+mery ficcions and inuencions. Of the whiche Poetes some wrote in moste
+ornate termes in ditees heroycal wherin the noble actes and lyues both of
+dyuyne and humayne creatures ar wont to be noted and writem. Some wrote of
+tylling of the grounde. Some of the Planetes, of the courses of ye sterres:
+and of the mouynge of the heuyn and fyrmament. Some of the Empyre and
+shameful subieccion of disordred loue. And many other of the myserable
+ruyne and fal of Kynges and princes for vice: as Tragedies. And some other
+wrote Comedyes with great libertye of speche: which Comedies we cal
+Interludes. Amonge whome Aristophanes Eupolis and Cratinus mooste laudable
+Poetes passed al other. For whan they sawe the youth of Athenes and of al
+the remanent of Grece inclyned to al ylles they toke occasion to note suche
+myslyuinge. And so in playne wordes they repreued without fauour the vyces
+of the sayd yl disposyd peple of what condicion or order they were: Of this
+auncient wrytinge of Comedyes our laten Poetes deuysed a maner of wrytinge
+nat inelegant. And fyrst Lucilius composed one Satyre in the whiche he
+wrote by name the vices of certayne princes and Citezyns of Rome And that
+with many bourdes so y^t with his mery speche myxt with rebukes he correct
+al them of the cyte that disordredly lyued. But this mery speche vsed he
+nat in his writing to the intent to excercyse wanton wordes or vnrefrayned
+lascyuyte, or to put his pleasour in suche dissolute langage: but to ye
+intent to quenche vyces and to prouoke the commons to wysdome and vertue,
+and to be asshamed of theyr foly and excessyfe lyuynge. of hym all the
+Latyn poetes haue takyn example, and begynnynge to wryte Satyrs whiche the
+grekes named Comedyes: As Fabius specifyeth in his X boke of institucions.
+After Lucilius succeded Horacius, moche more eloquent in wrytynge whiche in
+the same deseruyd great laude: Persius also left to vs onely one boke by
+the whiche he commyttyd his name and laude to perpetuall memory. The last
+and prynce of all was Juuenall whiche in his iocunde poemys comprehendyd al
+that was wryten most eloquent and pleasaunt of all the poetis of that sorte
+afore his tyme: O noble men, and diligent hertes and myndes, o laudable
+maners and tymes, these worthy men exyled ydelnes, wherby they haue
+obtayned nat small worshyp and great commodyte example and doctryne lefte
+to vs theyr posteryours why begyn we nat to vnderstonde and perceyue. Why
+worshyp nat the people of our tyme these poetis why do nat they reuerence
+to ye interpretours of them do they nat vnderstonde: that no poetes wryte,
+but outher theyr mynde is to do pleasure or els profyte to the reder, or
+ellys they togyther wyll doo bothe profyte and pleasoure why are they
+dyspysed of many rude carters of nowe a dayes which vnderstonde nat them,
+And for lacke of them haue nat latyn to vtter and expresse ye wyl of their
+mynde. Se whether poetes ar to be dispised. they laude vertue and hym that
+vseth it rebukyng vices with the vsers therof, They teche what is good and
+what is euyll: to what ende vyce, and what ende vertue bringeth vs, and do
+nat Poetis reuyle and sharply byte in their poemys all suche as ar vnmeke,
+Prowde, Couetous, Lecherous, Wanton, delycyous, Wrathfull glotons, wasters,
+Enuyours, Enchauntours, faythebrakers, rasshe, vnauysed, malapert, drunken,
+vntaught foles, and suche lyke. Shulde theyr writyng that suche thinges
+disprayse and reuyle be dyspised of many blynde Dotardes y^t nowe lyue
+whiche enuy that any man shulde haue or vnderstonde ye thyng whiche they
+knowe nat. The Poetes also wyth great lawdes commende and exalt the noble
+folowers of vertue ascribyng to euery man rewardes after his merytes. And
+shortly to say, the intencion of al Poetes hath euer ben to repreue vyce:
+and to commende vertue. But syns it is so that nowe in our dayes ar so many
+neglygent and folysshe peple that they ar almost innumerable whiche
+despisynge the loue of vertue: folowe the blyndenes and vanyte of this
+worlde: it was expedient that of newe some lettred man, wyse, and subtil of
+wyt shulde awake and touche ye open vices of foles that now lyue: and blame
+theyr abhomynable lyfe. This fourme and lybertye of writinge, and charge
+hathe taken vpon hym the Right excellent and worthy Mayster Sebastian Brant
+Doctour of both the Lawes and noble Oratour and Poete to the comon welthe
+of al people in playne and comon speche of Doche in the contrey of Almayne:
+to the ymytacion of Dant Florentyne: and Francis Petrarche Poetes heroycal
+which in their maternal langage haue composed maruelous Poemes and
+ficcions. But amonge diuers inuencions composed of the sayde Sebastian
+brant I haue noted one named ye Shyp of Foles moche expedient and necessary
+to the redar which the sayd Sebastian composed in doche langage. And after
+hym one called James Locher his Disciple translated the same into Laten to
+the vnderstondinge of al Christen nacions where Laten is spoken. Than
+another (whose name to me is vnknowen) translated the same into Frenche. I
+haue ouersene the fyrst Inuencion in Doche and after that the two
+translations in Laten and Frenche whiche in blaminge the disordred lyfe of
+men of our tyme agreeth in sentence: threfolde in langage wherfore wylling
+to redres the errours and vyces of this oure Royalme of Englonde: as the
+foresayde composer and translatours hath done in theyr Contrees I haue
+taken vpon me: howbeit vnworthy to drawe into our Englysshe tunge the sayd
+boke named ye shyp of folys as nere to ye sayd thre Langages as the parcyte
+of my wyt wyll suffer me. But ye reders gyue ye pardon vnto Alexander de
+Barklay If ignoraunce negligence or lacke of wyt cause hym to erre in this
+translacion his purpose and synguler desyre is to content youre myndes. And
+sothely he hathe taken vpon hym the translacion of this present Boke
+neyther for hope of rewarde nor lawde of man: but onely for the holsome
+instruccion commodyte and Doctryne of wysdome, and to clense the vanyte and
+madnes of folysshe people of whom ouer great nombre is in the Royalme of
+Englonde. Therfore let euery man beholde and ouerrede this boke: And than I
+doute nat but he shal se the errours of his lyfe of what condycyon that he
+be. in lyke wyse as he shal se in a Myrrour the fourme of his countenaunce
+and vysage: And if he amende suche fautes as he redeth here wherein he
+knoweth hymself gylty, and passe forth the resydue of his lyfe in the order
+of good maners than shall he haue the fruyte and auauntage wherto I haue
+translatyd this boke.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Here begynneth the prologe.
+
+ Amonge the people of euery regyon
+ And ouer the worlde, south north eest and west
+ Soundeth godly doctryne in plenty and foyson
+ Wherin the grounde of vertue and wysdome doth rest
+ Rede gode and bad, and kepe the to the best
+ Was neuer more plenty of holsome doctryne
+ Nor fewer people that doth therto enclyne
+
+ We haue the Bybyll whiche godly doth expresse
+ Of the olde testament the lawes mysticall
+ And also of the newe our erour to redresse
+ Of phylosophy and other artes liberall
+ With other bokes of vertues morall
+ But thoughe suche bokes vs godly wayes shewe
+ We all ar blynde no man wyll them ensue
+
+ Banysshed is doctryne, we wander in derknes
+ Throughe all the worlde: our selfe we wyll not knowe
+ Wysdome is exyled, alas blynde folysshenes
+ Mysgydeth the myndes of people hye and lowe
+ Grace is decayed, yll governaunce doth growe
+ Both prudent Pallas and Minerua are slayne
+ Or els to heuyn retourned are they agayne
+
+ Knowledge of trouth, Prudence, and iust Symplicite
+ Hath vs clene left: For we set of them no store.
+ Our Fayth is defyled loue, goodnes, and Pyte:
+ Honest maners nowe ar reputed of: no more.
+ Lawyers ar lordes: but Justice is rent and tore.
+ Or closed lyke a Monster within dores thre.
+ For without mede: or money no man can hyr se.
+
+ Al is disordred: Vertue hathe no rewarde.
+ Alas, Compassion: and Mercy bothe ar slayne.
+ Alas, the stony hartys of pepyl ar so harde
+ That nought can constrayne theyr folyes to refrayne
+ But styl they procede: and eche other meyntayne.
+ So wander these foles: incresinge without nomber.
+ That al the worlde they vtterly encomber.
+
+ Blasphemers of Chryst; Hostlers; and Tauerners:
+ Crakars and bosters with Courters auenterous,
+ Bawdes and Pollers with comon extorcioners
+ Ar taken nowe adayes in the worlde moste glorious.
+ But the gyftes of grace and al wayes gracious
+ We haue excluded. Thus lyue we carnally:
+ Utterly subdued to al lewdnes and Foly.
+
+ Thus is of Foles a sorte almost innumerable.
+ Defilynge the worlde with syn and Vylany.
+ Some thynkinge them self moche wyse and commendable
+ Thoughe al theyr dayes they lyue vnthryftely.
+ No goodnes they perceyue nor to no goode aplye.
+ But if he haue a great wombe, and his Cofers ful
+ Than is none holde wyser bytwene London and Hul.
+
+ But to assemble these Foles in one bonde.
+ And theyr demerites worthely to note.
+ Fayne shal I Shyppes of euery maner londe.
+ None shalbe left: Barke, Galay, Shyp, nor Bote.
+ One vessel can nat brynge them al aflote.
+ For yf al these Foles were brought into one Barge
+ The bote shulde synke so sore shulde be the charge.
+
+ The sayles ar hawsed, a pleasant cole dothe blowe.
+ The Foles assembleth as fast as they may dryue.
+ Some swymmeth after: other as thycke doth rowe
+ In theyr small botes, as Bees about a hyue
+ The nomber is great, and eche one doth stryue
+ For to be chefe as Purser and Capytayne
+ Quarter mayster, Lodesman or els Boteswayne.
+
+ They ron to our shyp, eche one doth greatly fere
+ Lyst his slacke paas, sholde cause hym byde behynde
+ The wynde ryseth, and is lyke the sayle to tere
+ Eche one enforseth the anker vp to wynde
+ The se swellyth by planettes well I fynde
+ These obscure clowdes threteneth vs tempest
+ All are nat in bed whiche shall haue yll rest
+
+ We are full lade and yet forsoth I thynke
+ A thousand are behynde, whom we may not receyue
+ For if we do, our nauy clene shall synke
+ He oft all lesys that coueytes all to haue
+ From London Rockes almyghty god vs saue
+ For if we there anker, outher bote or barge
+ There be so many that they vs wyll ouercharge
+
+ Ye London Galantes, arere, ye shall nat enter
+ We kepe the streme, and touche nat the shore
+ In Cyte nor in Court we dare nat well auenter
+ Lyst perchaunce we sholde displeasure haue therfore
+ But if ye wyll nedes some shall haue an ore
+ And all the remenaunt shall stande afar at large
+ And rede theyr fautes paynted aboute our barge.
+
+ Lyke as a myrrour doth represent agayne
+ The fourme and fygure of mannes countenaunce
+ So in our shyp shall he se wrytyn playne
+ The fourme and fygure of his mysgouernaunce
+ What man is fautles, but outher ignoraunce
+ Or els wylfulnes causeth hym offende:
+ Than let hym nat disdayne this shyp, tyll he amende.
+
+ And certaynly I thynke that no creature
+ Lyuynge in this lyfe mortall in transytory
+ Can hym self kepe and stedfastly endure
+ Without all spot, as worthy eternall glory
+ But if he call to his mynde and memory
+ Fully the dedys both of his youthe and age
+ He wyll graunt in this shyp to kepe some stage
+
+ But who so euer wyll knowlege his owne foly
+ And it repent, lyuynge after in sympylnesse
+ Shall haue no place nor rowme more in our nauy
+ But become felawe to pallas the goddesse
+ But he that fyxed is in suche a blyndnesse
+ That thoughe he be nought he thynketh al is well
+ Suche shall in this Barge bere a babyll and a bell
+
+ These with other lyke may eche man se and rede
+ Eche by themselfe in this small boke ouerall
+ The fautes shall he fynde if he take good hede
+ Of all estatis as degres temporall
+ With gyders of dignytees spirituall
+ Bothe pore and riche, Chorles and Cytezyns
+ For hast to lepe a borde many bruse theyr shynnys
+
+ Here is berdles youth, and here is crokyd age
+ Children with theyr faders that yll do them insygne
+ And doth nat intende theyr wantones to swage
+ Nouther by worde nor yet by discyplyne
+ Here be men of euery science and doctryne
+ Lerned and vnlerned man mayde chylde and wyfe
+ May here se and rede the lewdenes of theyr lyfe.
+
+ Here ar vyle wymen: whome loue Immoderate
+ And lust Venereall bryngeth to hurt and shame.
+ Here ar prodigal Galantes: wyth mouers of debate.
+ And thousandes mo: whome I nat wel dare name.
+ Here ar Bacbyters whiche goode lyuers dyffame.
+ Brakers of wedlocke, men proude: and couetous:
+ Pollers, and pykers with folke delicious.
+
+ It is but foly to rehers the names here
+ Of al suche Foles: as in one Shelde or targe.
+ Syns that theyr foly dystynctly shal apere
+ On euery lefe: in Pyctures fayre and large.
+ To Barclays stody: and Pynsones cost and charge
+ Wherfore ye redars pray that they both may be saued
+ Before God, syns they your folyes haue thus graued.
+
+ But to thentent that euery man may knowe
+ The cause of my wrytynge: certes I intende
+ To profyte and to please both hye and lowe
+ And blame theyr fautes wherby they may amende
+ But if that any his quarell wyll defende
+ Excusynge his fautes to my derysyon
+ Knowe he that noble poetes thus haue done.
+
+ Afore my dayes a thousande yere ago
+ Blamynge and reuylynge the inconuenyence
+ Of people, wyllynge them to withdrawe therfro
+ Them I ensue: nat lyke of intellygence
+ And though I am nat to them lyke in science
+ Yet this is my wyll mynde and intencion
+ To blame all vyce lykewyse as they haue done.
+
+ To tender youth my mynde is to auayle
+ That they eschewe may all lewdenes and offence
+ Whiche doth theyr myndes often sore assayle
+ Closynge the iyen of theyr intellygence
+ But if I halt in meter or erre in eloquence
+ Or be to large in langage I pray you blame nat me
+ For my mater is so bad it wyll none other be.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+[The Argument.]
+
+Here after foloweth the Boke named the Shyp of Foles of the world:
+translated out of Laten, French and Doche into Englysse in the Colege of
+saynt Mary Otery By me Alexander Barclay to the felicite and moste holsom
+instruccion of mankynde the whiche conteyneth al suche as wandre from the
+way of trouth and from the open Path of holsom vnderstondynge and wysdom:
+fallynge into dyuers blyndnesses of ye mynde, folysshe sensualytees, and
+vndlawful delectacions of the body. This present Boke myght haue ben callyd
+nat inconuenyently the Satyr (that is to say) the reprehencion of
+foulysshnes, but the neweltye of the name was more plesant vnto the fyrst
+actour to call it the Shyp of foles: For in lyke wyse as olde Poetes
+Satyriens in dyuers Poesyes conioyned repreued the synnes and ylnes of the
+peple at that tyme lyuynge: so and in lyke wyse this our Boke representeth
+vnto the iyen of the redars the states and condicions of men: so that euery
+man may behold within the same the cours of his lyfe and his mysgouerned
+maners, as he sholde beholde the shadowe of the fygure of his visage within
+a bright Myrrour. But concernynge the translacion of this Boke: I exhort ye
+reders to take no displesour for y^t it is nat translated word by worde
+acordinge to ye verses of my actour. For I haue but only drawen into our
+moder tunge, in rude langage the sentences of the verses as nere as the
+parcyte of my wyt wyl suffer me, some tyme addynge, somtyme detractinge and
+takinge away suche thinges a semeth me necessary and superflue. wherfore I
+desyre of you reders pardon of my presumptuous audacite trustynge that ye
+shall holde me excused if ye consyder ye scarsnes of my wyt and my vnexpert
+youthe. I haue in many places ouerpassed dyuers poetical digressions and
+obscurenes of Fables and haue concluded my worke in rude langage as shal
+apere in my translacion. But the speciyl cawse that mouethe me to this
+besynes is to auoyde the execrable inconuenyences of ydilnes whyche (as
+saint Bernard sayth) is moder of al vices: and to the vtter derision of
+obstynat men delitynge them in folyes and mysgouernance. But bycause the
+name of this boke semeth to the redar to procede of derysion: and by that
+mean that the substance therof shulde nat be profitable: I wyl aduertise
+you that this Boke is named the Shyp of foles of the worlde: For this
+worlde is nought els but a tempestous se in the whiche we dayly wander and
+are caste in dyuers tribulacions paynes and aduersitees: some by ignoraunce
+and some by wilfulnes: wherfore suche doers ar worthy to be called foles.
+syns they gyde them nat by reason as creatures resonable ought to do.
+Therfore the fyrst actoure willynge to deuyde suche foles from wysemen and
+gode lyuers: hathe ordeyned vpon the se of this worlde this present Shyp to
+contayne these folys of ye worlde, whiche ar in great nomber. So that who
+redeth it perfytely consyderynge his secrete dedys, he shall not lyghtly
+excuse hym selfe out of it, what so euer good name y^t he hath outwarde in
+the mouth of the comontye, And to the entent y^t this my laboure may be the
+more pleasaunt vnto lettred men, I haue adioyned vnto the same ye verses of
+my Actour with dyuerse concordaunces of the Bybyll to fortyfy my wrytynge
+by the same, and also to stop the enuyous mouthes (If any suche shal be) of
+them that by malyce shall barke ayenst this my besynes.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Here begynneth the foles and first inprofytable bokes.
+
+[Illustration: I am the firste fole of all the hole nauy
+To kepe the pompe, the helme and eke the sayle
+For this is my mynde, this one pleasoure haue I
+Of bokes to haue grete plenty and aparayle
+I take no wysdome by them: nor yet auayle
+Nor them preceyue nat: And then I them despyse
+Thus am I a foole and all that sewe that guyse]
+
+ That in this shyp the chefe place I gouerne
+ By this wyde see with folys wanderynge
+ The cause is playne, and easy to dyscerne
+ Styll am I besy bokes assemblynge
+ For to haue plenty it is a plesaunt thynge
+ In my conceyt and to haue them ay in honde
+ But what they mene do I nat vnderstonde
+
+ But yet I haue them in great reuerence
+ And honoure sauynge them from fylth and ordure
+ By often brusshynge, and moche dylygence
+ Full goodly bounde in pleasaunt couerture
+ Of domas, satyn, or els of veluet pure
+ I kepe them sure ferynge lyst they sholde be lost
+ For in them is the connynge wherin I me bost.
+
+ But if it fortune that any lernyd men
+ Within my house fall to disputacion
+ I drawe the curtyns to shewe my bokes then
+ That they of my cunnynge sholde make probacion
+ I kepe nat to fall in altercacion
+ And whyle they comon my bokes I turne and wynde
+ For all is in them, and no thynge in my mynde.
+
+ Tholomeus the riche causyd longe agone
+ Ouer all the worlde good bokes to be sought
+ Done was his commaundement anone
+ These bokes he had and in his stody brought
+ Whiche passyd all erthly treasoure as he thought
+ But neuertheles he dyd hym nat aply
+ Unto theyr doctryne, but lyued unhappely.
+
+ Lo in lyke wyse of bokys I haue store
+ But fewe I rede, and fewer understande
+ I folowe nat theyr doctryne nor theyr lore
+ It is ynoughe to bere a boke in hande
+ It were to moche to be it suche a bande
+ For to be bounde to loke within the boke
+ I am content on the fayre couerynge to loke
+
+ Why sholde I stody to hurt my wyt therby
+ Or trouble my mynde with stody excessyue
+ Sythe many ar whiche stody right besely
+ And yet therby shall they neuer thryue
+ The fruyt of wysdom can they nat contryue
+ And many to stody so moche are inclynde
+ That utterly they fall out of theyr mynde
+
+ Eche is nat lettred that nowe is made a lorde
+ Nor eche a clerke that hath a benefyce
+ They are nat all lawyers that plees doth recorde
+ All that are promotyd are nat fully wyse
+ On suche chaunce nowe fortune throwys hir dyce
+ That thoughe one knowe but the yresshe game
+ Yet wolde he haue a gentyllmannys name
+
+ So in lyke wyse I am in suche case
+ Thoughe I nought can I wolde be callyd wyse
+ Also I may set another in my place
+ Whiche may for me my bokes excercyse
+ Or else I shall ensue the comon gyse
+ And say concedo to euery argument
+ Lyst by moche speche my latyn sholde be spent
+
+ I am lyke other Clerkes whiche so frowardly them gyde.
+ That after they ar onys come vnto promocion
+ They gyue them to plesour theyr stody set asyde.
+ Theyr Auaryce couerynge with fayned deuocion.
+ Yet dayly they preche: and haue great derysyon
+ Against the rude Laymen: and al for Couetyse.
+ Though theyr owne Conscience be blynded w^t that vyce.
+
+ But if I durst trouth playnely vtter and expresse.
+ This is the special cause of this Inconuenyence.
+ That greatest foles, and fullest of lewdnes
+ Hauynge least wyt: and symplest Science
+ Ar fyrst promoted: and haue greatest reuerence
+ For if one can flater, and bere a hawke on his Fyst
+ He shalbe made Person of Honyngton or of Clyst.
+
+ But he that is in Stody ay ferme and diligent.
+ And without al fauour prechyth Chrystys lore
+ Of al the Comontye nowe adayes is sore shent.
+ And by Estates thretened to Pryson oft therfore.
+ Thus what auayle is it, to vs to Stody more:
+ To knowe outher scripture, trouth, wysedom, or vertue
+ Syns fewe, or none without fauour dare them shewe.
+
+ But O noble Doctours, that worthy ar of name:
+ Consyder our olde faders: note wel theyr diligence:
+ Ensue ye theyr steppes: obtayne ye such fame,
+ As they dyd lyuynge: and that by true Prudence.
+ Within theyr hartys they planted theyr scyence
+ And nat in plesaunt bokes. But nowe to fewe suche be.
+ Therefore in this Shyp let them come rowe with me.
+
+THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY TRANSLATOUR EXORTYNGE THE FOLES ACCLOYED
+WITH THIS VICE TO AMENDE THEYR FOLY.
+
+ Say worthy doctours and Clerkes curious:
+ What moueth you of Bokes to haue such nomber.
+ Syns dyuers doctrines throughe way contrarious.
+ Doth mannys mynde distract and sore encomber.
+ Alas blynde men awake, out of your slomber
+ And if ye wyl nedys your bokes multyplye
+ With diligence endeuer you some to occupye.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of euyl Counsellours, Juges and men of lawe.
+
+[Illustration: He that Office hath and hyghe autorite.
+To rule a Royalme: as Juge or Counsellour
+Which seynge Justice, playne ryght and equyte
+Them falsly blyndeth by fauour or rigour
+Condemnynge wretches gyltles. And to a Transgressour
+For mede shewinge fauour. Suche is as wyse a man
+As he that wolde seeth a quycke Sowe in a Pan.]
+
+ Right many labours nowe, with hyghe diligence
+ For to be Lawyers the Comons to counsayle.
+ Therby to be in honour had and in reuerence
+ But onely they labour for theyr pryuate auayle.
+ The purs of the Clyent shal fynde hym apparayle.
+ And yet knowes he neyther lawe good counsel nor Justice.
+ But speketh at auenture: as men throwe the dyce.
+
+ Suche in the Senate ar taken oft to counsayle
+ With Statis of this and many a other region.
+ Whiche of theyr maners vnstable ar and frayle
+ Nought of Lawe Ciuyl knowinge nor Canon.
+ But wander in derknes clerenes they haue none.
+ O noble Rome thou gat nat thy honours
+ Nor general Empyre by suche Counsellours.
+
+ Whan noble Rome all the worlde dyd gouerne
+ Theyr councellers were olde men iust and prudent
+ Whiche egally dyd euery thynge descerne
+ Wherby theyr Empyre became so excellent
+ But nowe a dayes he shall haue his intent
+ That hath most golde, and so it is befall
+ That aungels worke wonders in westmynster hall.
+
+ There cursyd coyne makyth the wronge seme right
+ The cause of hym that lyueth in pouertye
+ Hath no defence, tuycion, strength nor myght
+ Suche is the olde custome of this faculte
+ That colours oft cloke Justyce and equyte
+ None can the mater fele nor vnderstonde
+ Without the aungell be weyghty in his honde
+
+ Thus for the hunger of syluer and of golde
+ Justyce and right is in captyuyte
+ And as we se nat gyuen fre, but solde
+ Nouther to estates, nor sympell comonte
+ And though that many lawyers rightwysnes be
+ Yet many other dysdayne to se the ryght
+ And they ar suche as blynde Justycis syght
+
+ There is one and other alleged at the barre
+ And namely suche as chrafty were in glose
+ Upon the lawe: the clyentis stande afarre
+ Full lytell knowynge howe the mater goose
+ And many other the lawes clene transpose
+ Folowynge the example, of lawyers dede and gone
+ Tyll the pore Clyentis be etyn to the bone
+
+ It is not ynough to conforme thy mynde
+ Unto the others faynyd opynyon
+ Thou sholde say trouthe, so Justyce doth the bynde
+ And also lawe gyueth the commyssyon
+ To knowe hir, and kepe hir without transgressyon
+ Lyst they whome thou hast Juged wrongfully
+ Unto the hye Juge for vengeaunce on the crye.
+
+ Perchaunce thou thynkest that god taketh no hede
+ To mannes dedys, nor workes of offence
+ Yes certaynly he knowes thy thought and dede
+ No thynge is secrete, nor hyd from his presence
+ Wherefore if thou wylt gyde the by prudence
+ Or thou gyue Jugement of mater lesse or more
+ Take wyse mennys reade and good counsayle before
+
+ Loke in what Balance, what weyght and what mesure
+ Thou seruest other. for thou shalt serued be
+ With the same after this lyfe I the ensure.
+ If thou ryghtwysly Juge by lawe and equyte
+ Thou shalt haue presence of goddes hyghe maiestye
+ But if thou Juge amys: than shall Eacus
+ (As Poetis sayth) hell Juge thy rewarde discusse
+
+ God is aboue and regneth sempiternally.
+ Whiche shall vs deme at his last Jugement,
+ And gyue rewardes to echone egally
+ After suche fourme as he his lyfe hath spent
+ Than shall we them se whome we as violent
+ Traytours: haue put to wronge in worde or dede
+ And after our deserte euen suche shall be our mede
+
+ There shall be no Bayle nor treatynge of maynpryse
+ Ne worldly wysdome there shall no thynge preuayle
+ There shall be no delayes vntyll another Syse
+ But outher quyt, or to infernall Gayle.
+ Ill Juges so iuged, Lo here theyr trauayle
+ Worthely rewarded in wo withouten ende.
+ Than shall no grace be graunted ne space to amende.
+
+THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY THE TRANSLATOUR.
+
+ Therfore ye yonge Studentes of the Chauncery:
+ (I speke nat to the olde the Cure of them is past)
+ Remember that Justyce longe hath in bondage be
+ Reduce ye hir nowe vnto lybertye at the last.
+ Endeuer you hir bondes to louse or to brast
+ Hir raunsome is payde and more by a thousande pounde
+ And yet alas the lady Justyce lyeth bounde.
+
+ Thoughe your fore Faders haue take hir prysoner
+ And done hir in a Dongeon nat mete for hir degre
+ Lay to your handes and helpe hir from daungere
+ And hir restore vnto hir lybertye
+ That pore men and monyles may hir onys se
+ But certaynly I fere lyst she hath lost hir name
+ Or by longe prysonment shall after euer be lame.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of Auaryce or Couetyse and prodygalyte.
+
+[Illustration: Ye that ar gyuen ouer moche to Couetyse
+Come nere, a place is here for you to dwel
+Come nere ye wastfull people in lyke wyse
+Youre rowme shall be hye in the Topcastell
+Ye care for no shame, for heuen nor for hell
+Golde is your god, ryches gotten wrongfully
+Ye dame your soule, and yet lyue in penury.]
+
+ He that is besy euery day and houre
+ Without mesure, maner, or moderacion
+ To gather riches and great store of treasoure
+ Therof no ioy takinge, confort nor consolacion.
+ He is a Fole: and of blynde and mad opynyon
+ For that which he getteth and kepeth wrongfully
+ His heyre often wasteth moche more vnthryftely.
+
+ While he here lyueth in this lyfe caduke and mortal.
+ Ful sore he laboureth: and oft hungry gothe to bed
+ Sparinge from hymselfe: for hym that neuer shal
+ After do hym goode. thoughe he were harde bested.
+ Thus is this Couetous wretche so blyndly led
+ By the fende that here he lyueth wretchydly
+ And after his deth damned eternally.
+
+ There wandreth he in dolour and derknes
+ Amonge infernall flodes tedyous and horryble
+ Let se what auayleth than all his ryches
+ Ungracyously gotyne, his paynes ar terryble
+ Than wolde he amende but it is inpossyble
+ In hell is no order nor hope of remedy
+ But sorowe vpon sorowe, and that euerlastyngly.
+
+ Yet fynde I another vyce as bad as this
+ Whiche is the vyce of prodygalyte
+ He spendyth all in ryot and amys
+ Without all order, pursuynge pouertye
+ He lyketh nat to lyue styll in prosperite
+ But all and more he wastyth out at large
+ (Beware the ende) is the leste poynt of his charge.
+
+ But of the couetous somwhat to say agayne
+ Thou art a fole thy soule to sell for riches
+ Or put thy body to labour or to payne
+ Thy mynde to fere, thy herte to heuynesse
+ Thou fole thou fleest no maner cruelnesse
+ So thou may get money, to make thy heyr a knyght
+ Thou sleest thy soule where as thou saue it myght
+
+ Thou hast no rest thy mynde is euer in fere
+ Of mysauenture, nor neuer art content
+ Deth is forgoten, thou carest nat a here
+ To saue thy soule from infernall punysshement
+ If thou be dampned, than art thou at thy stent
+ By thy ryches which thou here hast left behynde
+ To thy executours, thou shalt small comforte fynde
+
+ Theyr custome is to holde fast that they haue
+ Thy pore soule shall be farthest fro theyr thought
+ If that thy carkes be brought onys in the graue
+ And that they haue thy bagges in handes cought
+ What say they, than (by god the man had nought)
+ Whyle he here lyuyd he was to lyberall
+ Thus dampned is thy soule, thy ryches cause of all
+
+ Who wyll denay but it is necesary
+ Of riches for to haue plenty and store
+ To this opynyon I wyll nat say contrary
+ So it be ordred after holy lore
+ Whyle thy selfe leuest departe some to the pore
+ With thy owne hande trust nat thy executours
+ Gyue for god, and god shall sende at all houres
+
+ Rede Tullius warkes the worthy Oratour.
+ And writen shalt thou fynde in right fruteful sentence
+ That neuer wyseman loued ouer great honour.
+ Nor to haue great riches put ouer great diligence
+ But onely theyr mynde was set on Sapience
+ And quyetly to lyue in Just symplycite.
+ For in greatest honour is greatest ieoperdye.
+
+ He that is symple, and on the grounde doth lye
+ And that can be content with ynoughe or suffisaunce
+ Is surer by moche than he that lyeth on hye.
+ Nowe vp nowe downe vnsure as a Balaunce.
+ But sothly he that set wyll his plesance
+ Onely on wysdom and styl therfore labour.
+ Shal haue more goode than all erthly tresour.
+
+ Wysdom techeth to eschewe al offence.
+ Gydynge mankynde the ryght way to vertue.
+ But of couetyse Comys all Inconuenyence.
+ It cawseth man of worde to be vntrue.
+ Forswerynge and falshode doth it also ensue.
+ Brybery and Extorcion, murder and myschefe.
+ Shame is his ende: his lyuyinge is reprefe.
+
+ By couetyse Crassus brought was to his ende.
+ By it the worthy Romayns lost theyr name.
+ Of this one yl a thousand ylles doth descende.
+ Besyde enuy, Pryde, wretchydnes and Shame.
+ Crates the Philosopher dyd Couetyse so blame:
+ That to haue his mynde vnto his stody fre.
+ He threwe his Tresour all hole into the see.
+
+ But shortly to conclude. Both bodely bondage.
+ And gostly also: procedeth of this couetyse.
+ The soule is damned the body hath damage
+ As hunger, thyrst, and colde with other preiudice.
+ Bereft of the ioyes of heuenly Paradyse.
+ For golde was theyr god and that is left behynde
+ Theyr bodyes beryed the soule clene out of mynde
+
+THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY TRANSLATOUR.
+
+ Therefore thou couetouse thou wretch I speke to the.
+ Amende thy selfe ryse out of this blyndenes.
+ Content the wyth ynoughe for thy degre.
+ Dam nat thy soule by gatheringe frayle riches
+ Remembre this is a Uale of wretchednes.
+ Thou shalt no rest nor dwellynge place here fynde.
+ Depart thou shalt and leue it al behynde.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of newe fassions and disgised Garmentes.
+
+[Illustration: Who that newe garmentes loues or deuyses.
+Or weryth by his symple wyt, and vanyte
+Gyuyth by his foly and vnthryfty gyses
+Moche yl example to yonge Comontye.
+Suche one is a Fole and skant shal euer thee
+And comonly it is sene that nowe a dayes
+One Fole gladly folowes anothers wayes.]
+
+ Drawe nere ye Courters and Galants disgised
+ Ye counterfayt Caytifs, that ar nat content
+ As god hath you made: his warke is despysed
+ Ye thynke you more crafty than God onipotent.
+ Unstable is your mynde: that shewes by your garment.
+ A fole is knowen by his toyes and his Cote.
+ But by theyr clothinge nowe may we many note.
+
+ Aparayle is apayred. Al sadness is decayde
+ The garmentes ar gone that longed to honestye.
+ And in newe sortes newe Foles ar arayede
+ Despisynge the costom of good antiquyte.
+ Mannys fourme is disfigured with euery degre
+ As Knyght Squyer yeman Jentilman and knaue,
+ For al in theyr goynge vngoodely them behaue
+
+ The tyme hath ben, nat longe before our dayes
+ Whan men with honest ray coude holde them self content.
+ Without these disgised: and counterfayted wayes.
+ Wherby theyr goodes ar wasted, loste, and spent.
+ Socrates with many mo in wysdom excellent.
+ Bycause they wolde nought change that cam of nature
+ Let growe theyre here without cuttinge or scissure.
+
+ At that tyme was it reputed to lawde and great honour.
+ To haue longe here: the Beerde downe to the brest
+ For so they vsed that were of moste valour.
+ Stryuynge together who myht be godlyest
+ Saddest, moste clenely, discretest, and moste honest.
+ But nowe adayes together we contende and stryue.
+ Who may be gayest: and newest wayes contryue.
+
+ Fewe kepeth mesure, but excesse and great outrage
+ In theyr aparayle. And so therin they procede
+ That theyr goode is spent: theyr Londe layde to morgage.
+ Or solde out right: of Thryft they take no hede.
+ Hauinge no Peny them to socour at theyr nede.
+ So whan theyr goode by suche wastefulnes is loste.
+ They sel agayne theyr Clothes for half that they coste.
+
+ A fox furred Jentelman: of the fyrst yere or hede.
+ If he be made a Bailyf a Clerke or a Constable.
+ And can kepe a Parke or Court and rede a Dede
+ Than is Ueluet to his state mete and agreable.
+ Howbeit he were more mete to here a Babyl.
+ For his Foles Hode his iyen so sore doth blynde
+ That Pryde expelleth his lynage from his mynde.
+
+ Yet fynde I another sort almoste as bad as thay.
+ As yonge Jentylmen descended of worthy Auncetry.
+ Whiche go ful wantonly in dissolute aray.
+ Counterfayt, disgised, and moche vnmanerly
+ Blasinge and garded: to lowe or else to hye.
+ And wyde without mesure: theyr stuffe to wast thus gothe
+ But other some they suffer to dye for lacke of clothe.
+
+ Some theyr neckes charged with colers, and chaynes
+ As golden withtthes: theyr fyngers ful of rynges:
+ Theyr neckes naked: almoste vnto the raynes
+ Theyr sleues blasinge lyke to a Cranys wynges
+ Thus by this deuysinge suche counterfayted thinges
+ They dysfourme that figure that god hymselfe hath made
+ On pryde and abusion thus ar theyr myndes layde.
+
+ Than the Courters careles that on theyr mayster wayte
+ Seinge hym his Uesture in suche fourme abuse
+ Assayeth suche Fassion for them to counterfayte.
+ And so to sue Pryde contynually they muse.
+ Than stele they; or Rubbe they. Forsoth they can nat chuse.
+ For without Londe or Labour harde is it to mentayne.
+ But to thynke on the Galows that is a careful payne.
+
+ But be it payne or nat: there many suche ende.
+ At Newgate theyr garmentis ar offred to be solde.
+ Theyr bodyes to the Jebet solemly ascende.
+ Wauynge with the wether whyle theyr necke wyl holde.
+ But if I shulde wryte al the ylles manyfolde.
+ That procedeth of this counterfayt abusion
+ And mysshapen Fassions: I neuer shulde haue done.
+
+ For both States, comons, man, woman, and chylde
+ Ar vtterly inclyed to this inconuenyence.
+ But namely therwith these Courters are defyled.
+ Bytwen mayster and man I fynde no dyfference.
+ Therfore ye Courters knowledge your offence.
+ Do nat your errour mentayne, support nor excuse.
+ For Fowles ye ar your Rayment thus to abuse.
+
+ To Shyp Galauntes come nere I say agayne.
+ Wyth your set Busshes Curlynge as men of Inde.
+ Ye counterfayted Courters come with your fleinge brayne
+ Expressed by these variable Garmentes that ye fynde.
+ To tempt chast Damsels and turne them to your mynde
+ Your breste ye discouer and necke. Thus your abusion
+ Is the Fendes bate. And your soules confusion.
+
+ Come nere disgysed foles: receyue your Foles Hode.
+ And ye that in sondry colours ar arayde.
+ Ye garded galantes wastinge thus your goode
+ Come nere with your Shertes brodered and displayed.
+ In fourme of Surplys. Forsoth it may be sayde.
+ That of your Sort right fewe shal thryue this yere.
+ Or that your faders werith suche Habyte in the Quere.
+
+ And ye Jentyl wymen whome this lewde vice doth blynde
+ Lased on the backe: your peakes set a loft.
+ Come to my Shyp. forget ye nat behynde.
+ Your Sadel on the tayle: yf ye lyst to sit soft.
+ Do on your Decke Slut: if ye purpos to come oft.
+ I mean your Copyntanke: And if it wyl do no goode.
+ To kepe you from the rayne. ye shall haue a foles hode.
+
+ By the ale stake knowe we the ale hous
+ And euery Jnne is knowen by the sygne
+ So a lewde woman and a lechcrous
+ Is knowen by hir clothes, be they cours or fyne
+ Folowynge newe fassyons, not graunted by doctryne
+ The bocher sheweth his flesshe it to sell
+ So doth these women dampnyng theyr soule to hell
+
+ What shall I more wryte of our enormyte
+ Both man and woman as I before haue sayde
+ Ar rayde and clothyd nat after theyr degre
+ As nat content with the shape that god hath made
+ The clenlynes of Clergye is nere also decayed.
+ Our olde apparale (alas) is nowe layde downe
+ And many prestes asshamed of theyr Crowne.
+
+ Unto laymen we vs refourme agayne
+ As of chryste our mayster in maner halfe asshamed
+ My hert doth wepe: my tunge doth sore complayne
+ Seing howe our State is worthy to be blamed.
+ But if all the Foly of our Hole Royalme were named
+ Of mys apparayle of Olde, young, lowe, and hye,
+ The tyme shulde fayle: and space to me denye.
+
+ Alas thus al states of Chrysten men declynes.
+ And of wymen also disfourmynge theyr fygure.
+ Wors than the Turkes, Jewes, or Sarazyns.
+ A Englonde Englonde amende or be thou sure
+ Thy noble name and fame can nat endure
+ Amende lyst god do greuously chastyce.
+ Bothe the begynners and folowes of this vyce.
+
+THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY YE TRANSLATOUR.
+
+ Reduce courters clerly vnto your rembrance
+ From whens this disgysyng was brought wherein ye go
+ As I remember it was brought out of France.
+ This is to your plesour. But payne ye had also.
+ As French Pockes hote ylles with other paynes mo.
+ Take ye in good worth the swetnes with the Sour.
+ For often plesour endeth with sorowe and dolour.
+
+ But ye proude Galaundes that thus yourselfe disgise
+ Be ye asshamed. beholde vnto your Prynce.
+ Consyder his sadnes: His honestye deuyse
+ His clothynge expresseth his inwarde prudence
+ Ye se no Example of suche Inconuenyence
+ In his hyghnes: but godly wyt and grauyte.
+ Ensue hym: and sorowe for your enormyte.
+
+ Away with this pryde, this statelynes let be
+ Rede of the Prophetis clothynge or vesture
+ And of Adam firste of your ancestrye
+ Of Johnn the Prophete, theyr clothynge was obscure
+ Uyle and homly, but nowe what creature
+ Wyll then eusue, sothly fewe by theyr wyll
+ Therfore suche folys my nauy shall fulfyll
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of old folys that is to say the longer they lyue the more they ar gyuen to
+foly.
+
+[Illustration: Howe beit I stoup, and fast declyne
+Dayly to my graue, and sepulture
+And though my lyfe fast do enclyne
+To pay the trybute of nature
+Yet styll remayne I and endure
+In my olde synnes, and them nat hate
+Nought yonge, wors olde, suche is my state.]
+
+ The madnes of my youthe rotyd in my age
+ And the blynde foly of my iniquite
+ Wyll me nat suffer to leue myne old vsage
+ Nor my fore lyuynge full of enormyte
+ Lame ar his lymmys, and also I can nat se
+ I am a childe and yet lyuyd haue I
+ An hundreth wynter, encresynge my foly.
+
+ But though I myght lerne my wyll is nat therto
+ But besy I am and fully set my thought
+ To gyue example to children to mysdo
+ By my lewde doctryne bryngynge them to nought
+ And whan they ar onys into my daunce brought
+ I teche them my foly wysdome set asyde
+ My selfe example, begynner, and theyr gyde.
+
+ My lewde lyfe, my foly and my selfwyllyd mynde
+ Whiche I haue styll kept hytherto in this lyfe
+ In my testament I leue wryten behynde
+ Bequethyng parte both to man childe and wyfe
+ I am the actour of myschefe and of stryfe
+ The foly of my youth and the inconuenyence
+ In age I practyse, techynge by experyence
+
+ I am a fole and glad am of that name
+ Desyrynge lawde for eche vngracious dede
+ And of my foly to spred abrode the same
+ To showe my vyce and synne, as voyde of drede
+ Of heuen or hell. therfore I take no hede
+ But as some stryue disputynge of theyr cunnynge
+ Right so do I in lewdnes and myslyuynge.
+
+ Somtyme I bost me of falshode and dysceyt
+ Somtyme of the sede that sawyn is by me
+ Of all myschefe, as murder flatery debate
+ Couetyse bacbytynge theft and lechery
+ My mynde is nat to mende my iniquyte
+ But rather I sorowe that my lyfe is wore
+ That I can nat do as I haue done before
+
+ But syns my lyfe so sodaynly dothe apeyre
+ That byde I can nat styll in this degre
+ I shall infourme and teche my sone and heyre
+ To folowe his fader, and lerne this way of me
+ The way is large, god wot glad shall he be
+ Lernynge my lore with affeccion and desyre
+ And folowe the steppys of his vnthryfty syre
+
+ I trust so crafty and wyse to make the lad
+ That me his father he shall pas and excell
+ O that my herte shall than be wonder glad
+ If I here of may knowe, se, or here tell
+ If he be false faynynge sotyll or cruell
+ And so styll endure I haue a speciall hope
+ To make hym scrybe to a Cardynall or Pope.
+
+ Or els if he can be a fals extorcyoner
+ Fasynge and bostynge to scratche and to kepe
+ He shall be made a comon costomer
+ As yche hope of Lyn Calays or of Depe
+ Than may he after to some great offyce crepe
+ So that if he can onys plede a case
+ He may be made Juge of the comon place.
+
+ Thus shall he lyue as I haue all his dayes
+ And in his age increas his folysshenes
+ His fader came to worshyp by suche ways
+ So shall the sone, if he hym selfe addres
+ To sue my steppes in falshode and lewdnes
+ And at leste if he can come to no degre
+ This shyp of folys shall he gouerne with me
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Awake age alas what thynkest thou be
+ Awake I say out of thy blynde derkenes
+ Remembrest thou nat that shortly thou shalt dye
+ Aryse from synne amende thy folysshenes
+ Though thy youth reted were in vyciousnes
+ Aryse in age is full tyme to leue it
+ Thy graue is open thy one fote in the pyt
+
+ Leue thy bostynge of that thou hast done amys
+ Bewayle thy synnes, sayeng with rufull mone
+ Delicta iuuentutis mee deus ne memineris
+ Amende the or thy youth be fully gone
+ That sore is harde to hele that bredes in the bone
+ He that is nought yonge, procedynge so in age
+ Shall skant euer his vyciousnes asswage
+
+ What thinge is more abhomynable in goddes syght.
+ Than vicious age: certaynly no thynge.
+ It is eke worldly shame, whan thy corage and mycht
+ Is nere dekayed, to kepe thy lewde lyuynge.
+ And by example of the, thy yonge children to brynge.
+ Into a vicious lyfe: and all goodnes to hate.
+ Alas age thus thou art the Fendes bate.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the erudicion of neglygent faders anenst theyr chyldren.
+
+[Illustration: That fole that suffreth his Chylde for to offende
+Wythout rebukynge, blame, and correccion.
+And hym nat exhorteth, hymselfe to amende.
+Of suche fawtes as by hym ar done.
+Shal it sore repent: god wote howe sone
+For oft the faders foly, fauour, and neglygence
+Causeth the Chylde for to fall to great offence]
+
+ A myserable Fole euermore shal he be.
+ A wretche vnauysed, and a Catyf blynde.
+ Whiche his chyldren fawtes forseth nat to see
+ Hauynge no care for to induce theyr mynde
+ To godly vertue: and vyce to leue behynde.
+ For whyle they ar yonge fereful and tender of age
+ Theyre vyce and foly is easy to asswage.
+
+ Two dyuers sortes of these foles may we fynde.
+ By whome theyr chyldren ar brought to confusion.
+ The one is neglygent. the other is starke blynde.
+ Nat wyllynge to beholde his childes yl condicion.
+ Whyle he is in youthe: But for a conclusion
+ He is a Fole that wyl nat se theyr vyce.
+ And he that seyth: and wyl it nat chastyce.
+
+ Alas thou art a cursed counselloure
+ To wanton youth that tender is of age
+ To let them wander without gouernoure
+ Or wyse mayster, in youthes furious rage
+ Get them a mayster theyr foly to asswage
+ For as a herdles flocke strayth in Jepardy
+ So children without gyde wandreth in foly.
+
+ To moche lyberty pleasoure and lycence
+ Gyuen vnto youth, whether it be or age
+ Right often causyth great inconuenyence
+ As ryot mysrule with other sore damage
+ Theyr londe and goodes solde or layde to gage
+ But thou folysshe father art redy to excuse
+ Thy yonge children of theyr synne and abuse
+
+ Thou sayst they ar ouer tender to eschewe
+ Theyr folysshe maners and they haue no skyll
+ To knowe the wayes of goodnes or vertue
+ Nor to discerne what is gode, what is yll
+ Thou blynde dodart these wordes holde thou styll
+ Theyr youth can nat excuse thy folysshenes
+ He that can yll as well myght lerne goodnes
+
+ A yonge hert is as apt to take wysdome
+ As is an olde, and if it rotyd be
+ It sawyth sede of holy lyfe to come
+ Also in children we often tymes se
+ Great aptness outwarde and syne of grauyte
+ But fyll an erthen pot first with yll lycoure
+ And euer after it shall smell somwhat soure
+
+ So youth brought vp in lewdnes and in sin
+ Shall skant it shrape so clene out of his mynde
+ But that styll after some spot wyll byde within
+ A lytell twygge plyant is by kynde
+ A bygger braunche is harde to bowe or wynde
+ But suffer the braunche to a byg tre to growe
+ And rather it shall brake than outher wynde or bowe
+
+ Correct thy childe whyle he is lyke a twygge
+ Soupyll and plyant, apt to correccion
+ It wyll be harde forsoth whan he is bygge
+ To brynge his stubron herte to subieccion
+ What hurtyth punysshement with moderacion
+ Unto yonge children, certaynely no thynge
+ It voydeth vyce, gettynge vertue and cunnynge
+
+ Say folysshe fader haddest thou leuer se
+ Thy sonnes necke vnwrested wyth a rope.
+ Than with a rod his skyn shulde brokyn be.
+ And oft thou trustest: and hast a stedfast hope
+ To se thy son promoted nere as hye as is the Pope
+ But yet perchaunce mourne thou shalt ful sore.
+ For his shameful ende: fortuned for lacke of lore.
+
+ Some folowe theyr chyldrens wyl and lewde plesour
+ So grauntinge them theyr mynde: that after it doth fal
+ To theyr great shame: they sorowe and dolour
+ As dyd to Priamus a Kynge Imperial
+ Whiche suffred his men: his son chefe of them al
+ By force from Grece to robbe the fayre Helayne.
+ Wherby both Fader and son were after slayne.
+
+ With noble Hector and many thousandes mo.
+ The Cyte of Troy vnto the ground clene brent.
+ I rede in the Cronycles of the Romayns also
+ Howe Tarquyne the proude had shame and punysshment
+ For rauysshynge chaste Lucres agaynst hyr assent.
+ Wherfore hyrselfe she slewe hyr seynge thus defiled.
+ For the which dede this Tarquyn was exiled,
+
+ From Rome: wandrynge in the Costes of Italy.
+ Dyd nat the traytour Catelyne also conspyre
+ And many mo sworne to his cruel tyranny
+ Agaynst the Romans to oppresse theyr Impyre,
+ But he and all his were murdred for theyr hyre,
+ And nat vnworthely. Beholde wherto they come
+ Which ar nat enfourmed in youth to ensue wysdom.
+
+ The son oft foloweth the faders behauour
+ And if the fader be discrete and vertuous.
+ The son shal suche wayes practyse both day and hour.
+ But if that the fader be lewde and vicious
+ By falshode lyuynge: and by wayes cautelous.
+ The son also the same wayes wyl ensue
+ And that moche rather than goodnes or vertue
+
+ Therfore it nedeth that better prouysion.
+ Were founde for youthe by sad and wyse counsayle
+ Far from theyr faders of this condicion.
+ And other lewde gydes which myght theyr myndes assayle
+ Greuously wyth syn. So were it theyr auayle
+ From theyr faders frawde and falshode to declyne
+ And them submyt to some lawdable mannys doctryne.
+
+ Peleus, somtyme a noble and worthy kynge
+ Subdued Achylles vnto the doctryne
+ Of phenix whiche was both worthy and cunnynge
+ Wherfore Achyllys right gladly dyd enclyne
+ With his hert and mynde vnto his disciplyne
+ Wherby his name so noble was at the last
+ That all Asy in worthynes he past
+
+ Ryght so Philippus a kynge worthy of name
+ Ouer all Grece made great iniquicion
+ To fynde one wyse, sad and laudable of fame
+ To Alexander his sonne for to gyue Instruccion
+ Founde was great Aristotyl at the conclusion
+ Disciple of Plato. whiche in euery Science.
+ Infourmed this chylde with parfyte diligence.
+
+ Whiche Alexander afterward had so great dignyte.
+ What by his strength, his cunnynge, and boldenes.
+ That he was lorde both of Londe and See.
+ And none durst rebel aganst his worthynes.
+ Lo here the lawde, the honour, and nobles.
+ Which dothe procede of vertue and doctryne
+ But few ar the faders that nowe hereto inclyne
+
+ Fewe ar that forceth nowe adayes to se
+ Theyr chyldren taught: or to do any cost
+ On som sad man, wyse, and of auctorite:
+ Al that is theron bestowed thynke they loste.
+ The folyssh Fader oft tymes maketh great boste.
+ That he his son to habundant riches shal auance
+ But no thynge he speketh of vertuous gouernance.
+
+ The feder made but smal shyft or prouysion.
+ To induce his Son by vertuous doctryne.
+ But whan he is dede and past: moche les shal the son
+ To stody of grace his mynde or hert inclyne.
+ But abuse his reason: and from al good declyne.
+ Alas folysshe faders gyue your aduertence
+ To Crates complaynt comprysed in this sentence.
+
+ If it were graunted to me to shewe my thought
+ Ye follysshe faders Caytifes I myght you cal
+ Whiche gather riches to brynge your chylde to nought.
+ Gyuynge him occasion forto be prodigal.
+ But goode nor cunnynge shewe ye hym none at all.
+ But whan ye drawe to age, ye than moste comonly.
+ Sorowe for your suffrance. But without remedy.
+
+ An olde sore to hele is oft halfe incurable
+ Ryght so ar these Chyldren roted in myschefe
+ Some after euer lyueth a lyfe abhomynable
+ To all theyr Kyn great sorowe and reprefe.
+ The one is a murderer the other a fereles thefe,
+ The one of god nor goode man hath no fors ne care.
+ Another so out wasteth that his frendes ar ful bare.
+
+ Some theyr londe and lyuelode in riot out wasteth,
+ At cardes, and, tenys, and other vnlawful gamys.
+ And some wyth the Dyce theyr thryft away casteth.
+ Some theyr soule damnes, and theyr body shames.
+ With flesshly lust: which many one dyffamys.
+ Spendynge the floures of youth moche vnthryftely.
+ On dyuers Braunches that longe to Lechery.
+
+ Another delyteth hymselfe in Glotony.
+ Etynge and drynkynge without maner, or mesure:
+ The more that some drynke: the more they wax drye.
+ He is moste Galant whyche lengest can endure.
+ Thus without mesure ouercharge they theyr nature.
+ So that theyr Soule is loste theyr body and goode is spent.
+ For lacke of doctryne, Norture and punysshment.
+
+ Se here playne prose, example and euydence
+ Howe youthe which is nat norysshed in doctryne.
+ In age is gyuen vnto al Inconuenyence.
+ But nought shall make youthe soner forto inclyne.
+ To noble maners: nor Godly dysciplyne:
+ Than shal the doctryne of a mayster wyse and sad:
+ For the rote of vertue and wysdome therby is had.
+
+ Without dout Noblenes is moche excellent
+ Whiche oft causeth youth to be had in great honour.
+ To haue the name, and lawde they ar content.
+ Thoughe it be nat gotten by theyr owne labour.
+ But what auayleth them this lewde obscure errour
+ Of suche hye byrthe them self to magnyfy.
+ Sythe they defyle it with vice and Uilany.
+
+ Why art thou proude thou foul of that nobles
+ Whyche is nat gotten by thyne owne vertue.
+ By thy goode maners, wyt nor worthynes:
+ But this forsothe oft tymes fynde I true
+ That of a goode beste, yl whelpes may weshewe.
+ In lyke wyse of a Moder that is bothe chast and goode.
+ Often is brought forth a ful vngracious Brode.
+
+ But though the childe be of lewde condicion
+ And of his nature frowarde and varyable
+ If the fader be slacke in the correccion
+ Of his childe, he onely is culpable
+ Whiche wyll nat teche hym maners commendable
+ Thus is the fader a fole for his suffraunce
+ And the sone also for his mysgouernaunce
+
+THE ENUOY.
+
+ Auoyd faders your fauour and suffraunce
+ Anenst your children in theyr faute and offence
+ Reduce ye clerely vnto your remembraunce
+ That many a thousande inconuenyence
+ Haue children done by theyr faders negligence
+ But to say trouth brefely in one clause
+ The fader's fauour onely is the cause
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of tale berers, fals reporters, and prometers of stryfes.
+
+[Illustration: Of folys yet fynde I another maner sorte
+Whiche ar cause of brawlynge stryfe and deuysion
+Suche ar dowble tongyd that lesyngys reporte
+Therby trustynge to come to great promosion
+But suche lewde caytyfes at the conclusion
+Bytwene two mylstons theyr legges puttes to grynde
+And for rewarde, theyr confusion shall they fynde.]
+
+ Some ar that thynke the pleasoure and ioy of theyr lyfe
+ To brynge men in brawlynge to discorde and debate
+ Enioynge to moue them to chydynge and to stryfe
+ And where loue before was to cause mortall hate
+ With the comonty, and many great estate
+ Suche is moche wors than outher murderer or thefe
+ For ofte of his talys procedeth grete myschefe
+
+ Within his mouth is venym Jeperdous and vyle
+ His tonge styll laboryth lesynges to contryue
+ His mynde styll museth of falshode and on gyle
+ Therwith to trobyll suche as gladly wolde nat stryue
+ Somtyme his wordes as dartis he doth dryue
+ Agaynst good men: for onely his delyte.
+ Is set to sclaunder to diffame and bacbyte.
+
+ And namely them that fautles ar and innocent.
+ Of conscience clene, and maners commendable
+ These dryuyls sclaunder, beynge full dilygent.
+ To deuyde, louers that ar moste agreable
+ His tonge Infect his mynde abhomynable
+ Infectyth loue and ouertourneth charyte
+ Of them that longe tyme haue lyuyd in amyte
+
+ But he that accused is thus without all faute
+ And so sclaundred of this caytyf vnthryfty
+ Knowyth nought of this ieoperdous assaute
+ For he nought dowteth that is no thynge fauty
+ Thus whyle he nought feryth comyth sodaynly
+ This venemous doloure distaynynge his gode name
+ And so gyltles put to rebuke, and to shame.
+
+ Thus if one serche and seke the worlde ouerall
+ Than a backbyter nought is more peryllous
+ His mynde myscheuous, his wordys ar mortall
+ His damnable byt is foule and venemous
+ A thousande lyes of gyles odyous
+ He castyth out where he wolde haue debate
+ Engendrynge murder whan he his tyme can wayt
+
+ Where as any frendes lyueth in accorde
+ Faythfull and true: this cowarde and caytyf
+ With his fals talys them bryngeth to dyscorde
+ And with his venym kepeth them in stryfe
+ But howe beit that he thus pas forth his lyfe
+ Sawynge his sede of debate and myschefe
+ His darte oft retourneth to his own reprefe
+
+ But nat withstandynge, suche boldely wyl excuse
+ His fals dyffamynge: as fautles and innocent.
+ If any hym for his dedes worthely accuse
+ He couereth his venym: as symple of intent.
+ Other ar whiche flater: and to euery thynge assent.
+ Before face folowynge the way of adulacion,
+ Whiche afterwarde sore hurteth by detraccion.
+
+ The worlde is nowe alle set on dyffamacion.
+ Suche ar moste cherisshed that best can forge a tale.
+ Whych shulde be moste had in abhomynacion.
+ And so they ar of wyse men without fayle.
+ But suche as ar voyde of wysdom and counsayle
+ Inclyneth theyr erys to sclander and detraccion,
+ Moche rather than they wolde to a noble sermon.
+
+ But euery Sclanderer, and begynner of stryfe.
+ Lousers of loue, and infecters of Charite.
+ Unworthy ar to lyue here at large in this lyfe.
+ But in derke Dongeon they worthy ar to be.
+ And there to remayne in pryson tyl they dye.
+ For with there yl tunges they labour to destroy
+ Concorde: whiche cause is of loue and of ioy.
+
+ An olde quean that hath ben nought al hyr dayes.
+ Whiche oft hath for money hyr body let to hyre
+ Thynketh that al other doth folowe hyr olde wayes.
+ So she and hyr boul felawes syttinge by the fyre.
+ The Boule about walkynge with theyr tunges they conspyre
+ Agaynst goode peple, to sclander them wyth shame.
+ Than shal the noughty doughter lerne of the bawdy dame.
+
+ By his warkes knowen is euery creature
+ For if one good, louynge, meke and charitable be.
+ He labours no debates amonge men to procure.
+ But coueyteth to norysshe true loue and charite.
+ Where as the other ful of falshode and iniquyte
+ Theyr synguler plesour put to ingender variaunce.
+ But oft theyr folysshe stody retournes to theyr myschaunce
+
+ Therfore ye bacbyters that folke thus dyffame
+ Leue of your lewdnes and note wel this sentence.
+ Which Cryist hymself sayd: to great rebuke and shame
+ Unto them that sclandreth a man of Innocence.
+ Wo be to them whych by malyuolence
+ Slandreth or dyffameth any creature.
+ But wel is hym that wyth pacience can indure.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of hym that wyll nat folowe nor ensue good counsell, and necessary.
+
+[Illustration: Of folys yet another sorte doth come
+Vnto our shyp rowynge with great trauayle
+Whiche nought perceyue of doctryne nor wysdome
+And yet dysdayne they to aske wyse counseyll
+Nor it to folowe for theyr owne auayle
+Let suche folys therat haue no dysdayne
+If they alone endure theyr losse and payne]
+
+ He is a fole that dothe coueyt and desyre
+ To haue the name of wysdome and prudence
+ And yet of one sought thorugh a cyte or a shyre
+ None coude be founde of lesse wysdome nor science
+ But whyle he thynketh hym full of sapience
+ Crafty and wyse, doutles he is more blynde
+ Than is that fole whiche is out of his mynde
+
+ But though he be wyse, and of myght meruaylous
+ Endued with retoryke and with eloquence
+ And of hym selfe both ware and cautelous
+ If he be tachyd with this inconuenyence
+ To dysdayne others counseyll and sentence
+ He is vnwyse, for oft a folys counsayle
+ Tourneth a wyse man to consort and auayle
+
+ But specially the read and auysement
+ Of wyse men, discrete, and full of grauyte
+ Helpeth thyne owne, be thou never so prudent
+ To thy purpose gyuynge strength and audacyte.
+ One man alone knowys nat all polycye
+ Thoughe thou haue wysdome cunnynge and scyence
+ Yet hath another moche more experience
+
+ Some cast out wordes in paynted eloquence
+ Thynkynge therby to be reputed wyse
+ Thoughe they haue neyther wysdome nor science
+ Suche maner folys them self do exercyse
+ A plughe and teame craftely to deuyse
+ To ere the path that folys erst hath made
+ The trouth vnder glose of suche is hyd and layde
+
+ For why, they trust alway to theyr owne mynde
+ And furour begon whether it be good or yll
+ As if any other, no wyser read coude fynde
+ Thus they ensue theyr pryuate folysshe wyll
+ Oft in suche maters wherin they haue no skyll
+ As did Pyrrus whiche began cruell Batayle
+ Agaynst Orestes refusynge wyse counsayle
+
+ But folowyd his owne rasshe mynde without auayle
+ As blynde and obstynat of his intencion
+ Wherfore he was disconfyted in Batayle
+ Hymselfe slayne, his men put to confusyon
+ If that the Troyans in theyr abusyon
+ With false Parys, had confourmed theyr intent
+ To Helenns counsayle Troy had nat ben brent.
+
+ For that Priamus his mynde wolde nat aply
+ To the counseyll of Cassandra Prophetes
+ The grekys distroyed a great parte of Asy
+ Hector also by his selfwyllydnes
+ Was slayne with Peyn for all his doughtynes
+ Of Achylles in open and playne Batayle
+ For nat folowynge of his faders counsayle
+
+ If Hector that day had byddyn within Troy
+ And vnto his fader bene obedient
+ Perchaunce he sholde haue lyuyd in welth and ioy
+ Longe tyme after and come to his intent
+ Whereas his body was with a spere through rent
+ Of the sayd Achyllys cruell and vnkynde
+ Alas for suynge his owne selfwyllyd mynde
+
+ I rede of Nero moche cursed and cruell
+ Whiche to wyse counsayle hymself wolde nat agre
+ But in all myschef all other dyd excell
+ Delytynge hym in synne and crueltye
+ But howe dyde he ende forsoth in myserye
+ And at the last as wery of his lyfe
+ Hymselfe he murdred with his owne hand and knyfe
+
+ The Bybyll wytnessyth howe the prophete Thoby
+ Gaue his dere sone in chefe commaundement
+ That if he wolde lyue sure without ieoperdy
+ He sholde sue the counsayle of men wyse and prudent
+ The story of Roboam is also euydent
+ Whiche for nat suynge of counseyll and wysdome
+ Lost his Empyre, his scepter and kyngdome
+
+ If that it were nat for cawse of breuyte
+ I coude shewe many of our predecessours
+ Whiche nat folowynge counceyll of men of grauyte
+ Soone haue decayed from theyr olde honours
+ I rede of Dukes, Kynges, and Emperours
+ Whiche dispysynge the counsayle of men of age
+ Haue after had great sorowe and damage.
+
+ For he suerly whiche is so obstynate
+ That onely he trusteth to his owne blyndnes
+ Thynkynge all wysdome within his dotynge pate
+ He often endyth in sorowe and dystres
+ Wherfore let suche theyr cours swyftly addres
+ To drawe our Plough, and depe to ere the ground
+ That by theyr laboure all folys may be founde.
+
+THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY THE TRANSLATOUR.
+
+ O man vnauysed, thy blyndnes set asyde
+ Knowledge thy owne foly thy statelynes expel
+ Let nat for thy eleuate mynde nor folysshe pryde,
+ To order thy dedes by goode and wyse counsel
+ Howbeit thou thynke thy reason doth excel
+ Al other mennys wyt. yet oft it doth befall.
+ Anothers is moche surer: and thyn the worst of all.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of disordred and vngoodly maners.
+
+[Illustration: Drawe nere ye folys of lewde condicion
+Of yll behauoure gest and countenaunce
+Your proude lokys, disdayne and derysyon
+Expresseth your inwarde folysshe ignoraunce
+Nowe wyll I touche your mad mysgoueraunce
+Whiche hast to foly, And folysshe company
+Treylynge your Baybll in sygne of your foly]
+
+ In this our tyme small is the company
+ That haue good maners worthy of reuerence
+ But many thousandes folowe vylany
+ Prone to all synne and inconuenyence
+ Stryuynge who sonest may come to all offence
+ Of lewde condicions and vnlefulnesse
+ Blyndnes of yll, and defylyd folysshenesse
+
+ All myserable men alas haue set theyr mynde
+ On lothsome maners clene destytute of grace
+ Theyr iyen dymmyd, theyr hertes are so blynde
+ That heuenly ioy none forceth to purchace
+ Both yonge and olde procedeth in one trace
+ With ryche and pore without all dyfference
+ As bonde men subdued to foly and offence
+
+ Some ar busshed theyr bonetes, set on syde.
+ Some waue theyr armys and hede to and fro
+ Some in no place can stedfastly abyde
+ More wylde and wanton than outher buk or do
+ Some ar so proude that on fote they can nat go
+ But get they must with countenaunce vnstable
+ Shewynge them folys, frayle and varyable
+
+ Some chyde that all men do them hate
+ Some gygyll and lawgh without grauyte
+ Some thynkes, hymselfe a gentylman or state
+ Though he a knaue caytyf and bonde churle be
+ These folys ar so blynde them self they can nat so
+ A yonge boy that is nat worth an onyon
+ With gentry or presthode is felowe and companyon.
+
+ Brybours and Baylyes that lyue upon towlynge
+ Are in the world moche set by nowe a dayes
+ Sergeauntis and Catchpollys that lyue upon powlynge
+ Courters and caytyfs begynners of frayes
+ Lyue styll encreasynge theyr vnhappy wayes
+ And a thousande mo of dyuers facultyes
+ Lyue auauntynge them of theyr enormytees.
+
+ Within the chirche and euery other place
+ These folys use theyr lewde condicions
+ Some starynge some cryeng some haue great solace
+ In rybawde wordes, some in deuysyons
+ Some them delyte in scornes and derysons
+ Some pryde ensueth and some glotony.
+ Without all norture gyuen to vylany
+
+ Theyr lyfe is folysshe lothsome and vnstable
+ Lyght brayned, theyr herte and mynde is inconstant
+ Theyr gate and loke proude and abhomynable
+ They haue nor order as folys ignorant
+ Chaungyng theyr myndes thryse in one instant
+ Alas this lewdnes and great enormyte
+ Wyll them nat suffer theyr wretchydnes to se
+
+ Thus ar these wretchyd caytyfes fully blynde
+ All men and wymen that good ar doth them hate
+ But he that with good maners endueth his mynde
+ Auoydeth this wrath hatered and debate
+ His dedes pleaseth both comonty and estate
+ And namely suche as ar good and laudable
+ Thynketh his dedes right and commendable
+
+ As wyse men sayth: both vertue and cunnynge
+ Honoure and worshyp grace and godlynes
+ Of worthy maners take theyr begynnynge
+ And fere also asswagyth wantones.
+ Subduynge the furour of youthes wylfulnes
+ But shamefastnes trouth constance and probyte
+ Both yonge and olde bryngeth to great dignyte.
+
+ These foresayde vertues with charite and peas.
+ Together assembled stedfast in mannys mynde.
+ Cawseth his honour and worthynes to encreas.
+ And his godly lyfe a godly ende shal fynde
+ But these lewde caytyfs which doth theyr myndes blynde
+ With corrupt maners lyuynge vnhappely.
+ In shame they lyue and wretchedly they dye.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of brekynge and hurtynge of amyte and frendshyp.
+
+[Illustration: He that iniustyce vseth and greuance
+Agaynst all reason lawe and equyte
+By vyolent force puttynge to vtteraunce
+A symple man full of humylyte
+Suche by his lewdnes and iniquyte.
+Makyth a graue wherin hym selfe shall lye.
+And lewdly he dyeth that lyueth crudlye.]
+
+ A Fole frowarde cruell and vntrewe
+ Is he whiche by his power wrongfully
+ His frendes and subiectes laboures to subdewe
+ Without all lawe, but clene by tyranny
+ Therfore thou Juge thy erys se thou aply
+ To right Justyce and set nat thyne intent
+ By wrath or malyce to be to vyolent.
+
+ It is nat lawfull to any excellent
+ Or myghty man, outher lawyer or estate
+ By cruelnes to oppresse an innocent
+ Ne by pryde and malyce Justyce to violate
+ The law transposynge after a frowarde rate
+ With proude wordes defendynge his offence
+ God wot oft suche haue symple conscience
+
+ O that he cursed is and reprouable
+ Whiche day and nyght stodyeth besely
+ To fynde some meanes false and detestable
+ To put his frende to losse or hurte therby
+ Our hertes ar fully set on vylany
+ There ar right fewe of hye or lowe degre
+ That luste to norysshe trewe loue and amyte
+
+ Alas exyled is godly charyte
+ Out of our Royalme we all ar so vnkynde
+ Our folys settyth gretter felycyte
+ On golde and goodes than on a faythfull frynde
+ Awake blynde folys and call vnto your mynde
+ That though honest ryches be moche commendable
+ Yet to a true frende it is nat comparable
+
+ Of all thynges loue is moste profytable
+ For the right order of lowe and amyte
+ Is of theyr maners to be agreable
+ And one of other haue mercy and pyte
+ Eche doynge for other after theyr degre
+ And without falshode this frendeshyp to mayntayne
+ And nat departe for pleasour nor for payne
+
+ But alas nowe all people haue dysdayne
+ On suche frendshyp for to set theyr delyte
+ Amyte we haue exyled out certayne
+ We lowe oppressyon to sclaunder and bacbyte
+ Extorcyon hath strength, pyte gone is quyte
+ Nowe in the worlde suche frendes ar there none
+ As were in Grece many yeres agone.
+
+ Who lyst thystory of Patroclus to rede
+ There shall he se playne wryten without fayle
+ Howe whan Achyllys gaue no force nor hede
+ Agaynst the Troyans to execute batayle
+ The sayd Patroclus dyd on the aparayle
+ Of Achylles, and went forth in his steade
+ Agaynst Hector: but lyghtly he was dede.
+
+ But than Achylles seynge this myschaunce.
+ Befallen his frende whiche was to hym so true.
+ He hym addressyd shortly to take vengeaunce.
+ And so in Batayle the noble Hector slewe
+ And his dede cors after his charot drewe.
+ Upon the grounde traylynge ruthfully behynde
+ Se howe he auengyd Patroclus his frende.
+
+ The hystory also of Orestes dothe expresse
+ Whiche whan agamenon his fader was slayne
+ By egystus whiche agaynst rightwysnes
+ The sayde Orestis moder dyd meyntayne
+ The childe was yonge wherfore it was but vayne
+ In youth to stryue, but whan he came to age
+ His naturall moder slewe he in a rage
+
+ And also Egystus whiche had his fader slayne
+ Thus toke he vengeaunce of both theyr cruelnes
+ But yet it grewe to his great care and payne
+ For sodaynly he fell in a madnesse
+ And euer thought that in his furiousnes
+ His moder hym sued flamynge full of fyre
+ And euer his deth was redy to conspyre
+
+ Orestes troubled with this fereful vysyon
+ As franatyke and mad wandred many a day
+ Ouer many a countrey londe and regyon
+ His frende Pylades folowynge hym alway
+ In payne nor wo he wolde hym nat denay
+ Tyll he restoryd agayne was to his mynde
+ Alas what frynde may we fynde nowe so kynde.
+
+ Of dymades what shall I lawde or wryte.
+ And Pythias his felawe amyable
+ Whiche in eche other suche loue had and delyte
+ That whan Denys a tyrant detestable
+ And of his men some to hym agreable
+ Wolde one of them haue mordred cruelly
+ Echone for other offred for to dye
+
+ Ualerius wrytyth a story longe and ample
+ Of Lelius and of worthy Cipio.
+ Whiche of trewe loue hath left vs great example
+ For they neuer left in doloure wele nor wo
+ I rede in thystory of Theseus also:
+ Howe he (as the Poetes fables doth tell)
+ Folowyd his felawe perothus in to hell.
+
+ And serchynge hym dyd wander and compas
+ Those lothsome flodys and wayes tenebrous
+ Ferynge no paynes of that dysordred place
+ Nor obscure mystes or ayres odyous
+ Tyll at the laste by his wayes cautelous
+ And Hercules valyaunt dedes of boldnesse
+ He gat Perothus out of that wretchydnesse.
+
+ Alas where ar suche frendes nowe a dayes
+ Suerly in the worlde none suche can be founde
+ All folowe theyr owne profyte and lewde wayes
+ None vnto other coueytys to be bounde
+ Brekers of frendshyp ynough ar on the grounde
+ Whiche set nought by frendshyp so they may haue good
+ All suche in my shyp shall haue a folys hode
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye cruell folys full of ingratitude.
+ Aryse be asshamyd of your iniquyte
+ Mollyfy your hertes vnkynde stuberne and rude
+ Graffynge in them true loue and amyte
+ Consyder this prouerbe of antyquyte
+ And your vnkyndnes weray ban and curse
+ For whether thou be of hy or lowe degre
+ Better is a frende in courte than a peny in purse
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of contempt, or dispisynge of holy scripture.
+
+[Illustration: He that gyueth his erys or credence
+To euery folys talys or talkynge
+Thynkynge more wysdome and fruytfull sentence
+In theyr vayne talys than is in the redynge
+Of bokes whiche shewe vs the way of godly lyuynge
+And soulys helth: forsoth suche one is blynde
+And in this shyp the anker shall vp wynde.]
+
+ Suche as dispyseth auncyent scripture
+ Whiche prouyd is of great auctoryte
+ And hath no pleasoure felycyte or cure
+ Of godly Prophetis whiche wrote of veryte
+ A fole he is for his moste felycyte
+ Is to byleue the tales of an olde wyfe
+ Rather than the doctryne of eternall lyfe
+
+ The holy Bybyll grounde of trouth and of lawe
+ Is nowe of many abiect and nought set by
+ Nor godly scripture is nat worth an hawe
+ But talys ar louyd grounde of rybawdry
+ And many blynddyd ar so with theyr foly
+ That no scripture thynke they so true nor gode
+ As is a folysshe yest of Robyn hode.
+
+ He that to scripture wyll not gyue credence
+ Wherin ar the armys of our tuycion
+ And of our fayth foundacion and defence
+ Suche one ensueth nat the condycion
+ Of man resonable, but by abusyon
+ Lyuyth as a best of conscyence cruell
+ As saue this worlde were neyther heuen nor hell.
+
+ He thynketh that there is no god aboue
+ Nor nobler place than is this wretchyd grounde
+ Nor goddes power suche neyther fere nor loue
+ With whom all grace and mercy doth abounde
+ Whiche whan hym lyst vs wretches may confounde
+ Alas what auayleth to gyue instruction
+ To suche lewde folys of this condycion.
+
+ It nought auayleth vnto them to complayne
+ Of theyr blyndnes, nor enfourme them with vertue
+ Theyr cursed lyfe wyll by no mean refrayne
+ Their viciousnes, nor their erroure eschewe
+ But rather stody theyr foly to renewe
+ Alas what profytis to suche to expresse.
+ The heuenly ioy, rewarde of holynesse.
+
+ Alas what auayleth to suche to declare
+ The paynes of hell, wo dissolate and derke
+ No wo nor care can cause suche to beware
+ From their lewde lyfe corrupt and synfull warke
+ What profyteth sermons of any noble clarke
+ Or godly lawes taught at any Scolys
+ For to reherse to these myscheuous folys.
+
+ What helpeth the Prophetis scripture or doctryne
+ Unto these folys obstynate and blynde
+ Their hertis ar harde, nat wyllynge to enclyne
+ To theyr preceptis nor rote them in theyr mynde
+ Nor them byleue as Cristen men vnkynde
+ For if that they consydred heuen or hell
+ They wolde nat be so cursed and cruell
+
+ And certaynly the trouth apereth playne
+ That these folys thynke in theyr intent
+ That within hell is neyther car nor payne
+ Hete nor colde, woo, nor other punysshement
+ Nor that for synners is ordeyned no turment
+ Thus these mad folys wandreth euery houre
+ Without amendement styll in theyr blynde erroure
+
+ Before thy fete thou mayst beholde and se
+ Of our holy fayth the bokys euydent
+ The olde lawes and newe layde ar before the
+ Expressynge christes tryumphe right excellent
+ But for all this set is nat thyne intent
+ Theyr holy doctryne to plant within thy brest
+ Wherof shold procede ioy and eternall rest
+
+ Trowest thou that thy selfe wyllyd ignoraunce
+ Of godly lawes and mystycall doctryne
+ May clense or excuse thy blynde mysgouernaunce
+ Or lewde erroure, whiche scorne hast to inclyne
+ To theyr preceptis: and from thy synne declyne
+ Nay nay thy cursed ignoraunce sothly shall
+ Drowne thy soule in the depe flodes infernall
+
+ Therfore let none his cursydnes defende
+ Nor holy doctryne, nor godly bokes dispyse
+ But rather stody his fawtes to amende
+ For god is aboue all our dedes to deuyse
+ Whiche shall rewarde them in a ferefull wyse
+ With mortall wo that euer shall endure
+ Whiche haue dyspysyd his doctryne and scripture
+
+BARCLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Out of your slomber folys I rede you ryse.
+ Scripture dyuyne, to folowe and inbrace
+ Be nat so bolde it to leue nor dispyse
+ But you enforce it to get and purchase
+ Remember mannys consort and solace.
+ Is holy closyd within the boke of lyfe
+ Who that it foloweth hath a speciall grace
+ But he that doth nat a wretche is and caytyfe
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folys without prouysyon.
+
+[Illustration: He is a fole forsoth and worse
+That to his saddyll wolde lepe on hye
+Before or he haue gyrt his horse
+For downe he comys with an euyll thee
+But as great a fole forsoth is he
+And to be lawghed to derysyon.
+That ought begynneth without prouysyon]
+
+ Of other folys yet is a moche nomber
+ Whom I wolde gladly brynge to intellygence
+ To auoyde their blyndnes which sore doth incomber
+ Theyr mynde and herte for lackynge of science
+ Suche ar vnware and gyuen to neglygence
+ Mad and mysmyndyd pryuate of wysdome
+ Makynge no prouysyon for the tyme to come.
+
+ If any mysfortune aduersyte or wo
+ As often hapnyth, to suche a fole doth fall
+ Than sayth he I thought it wolde nat haue be so
+ But than ouer late is it agayne to call
+ It is nat ynough thou fole to say I shall
+ For this one daye prouyde me by wysdome
+ A wyse man seyth peryll longe before it come
+
+ He is vnwyse and of prouysyon pore
+ That nought can se before he haue damage
+ Whan the stede is stolyn to shyt the stable dore
+ Comys small pleasoure profyte or vauntage
+ But he that can suche folysshenes asswage
+ Begynnynge by counsayll, and fore prouydence
+ Is sure to escape all inconuenyence
+
+ Whan Adam tastyd the appyll in Paradyse.
+ To hym prohybyte by dyuyne commaundement
+ If he had noted the ende of his interpryse
+ To Eue he wolde nat haue ben obedyent
+ Thus he endured right bytter punysshement
+ For his blynde erroure and improuydence
+ That all his lynage rue sore for his offence.
+
+ Hymselfe dryuyn out from Paradyce all bare
+ With Eue, into this vale of wretchydnes
+ To get theyr lyuynge with laboure payne and care
+ And also if Jonathas by errour and blyndnes
+ Had nat receyued the gyftis of falsnes
+ Unto hym gyuen of Tryphon by abusyon
+ He sholde haue escapyd great confusyon
+
+ If that he before had notyd craftely
+ His ennemyes gyftis of frawde full and of treason
+ He myght haue sauyd hymselfe from ieoperdy
+ And all his people by prouydence and reason
+ Where as he blynde was as at that season
+ And to a cyte broughte in by a trayne
+ Where he was murdred and all his people slayne
+
+ Julius Cesar the chefe of conquerours
+ Was euer warre and prudent of counsayle
+ But whan he had obteyned great honours
+ And drewe to rest as wery of Batayle
+ Than his vnwarnes causyd hym to wayle
+ For if he had red with good aduysement
+ The letter whiche to the counselhous was sent
+
+ He had nat gyuen his owne iugement
+ As he dyd by his foly and neglygence
+ For whiche he murdred was incontynent
+ Without respect had vnto his excellence
+ Alas se here what inconuenyence
+ Came to this Emperour hye and excellent
+ For nat beyng wyse dyscrete and prouydent
+
+ If Nichanor before had noted well
+ The ende of his dedes he had nat be slayne
+ By Judas and the children of Israell
+ His hande and tunge cut of to his great payne
+ And than his hede, as the bybyll sheweth playne
+ Thus may all knowe that wyll therto entende
+ Wherto they come that caryth nat the ende
+
+ But he that begynneth by counsayll and wysdome
+ Alway procedynge with good prouysyon
+ Notynge what is past and what is for to come
+ Suche folowys godly scripture and monycion
+ In happy wayes without transgressyon
+ Of goddes lawes, and his commaundement
+ And often tymes comys to his intent.
+
+ Thus it appereth playne and euydent
+ That wyse prouysyon, prose and good counsayle
+ Are moche laudable, and also excellent
+ And to mankynde great profyte and auayle.
+ Where as those folys haue often cause to wayle
+ For theyr mysfortune, in sorowe vexed sore
+ Whiche ought begyn nat prouydyd before
+
+THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY.
+
+ O man remember thou canste nat abyde
+ Styll in this lyfe therfore moste specially
+ For thy last ende thou oughtest to prouyde.
+ For that prouysion forsoth is most godly
+ And than next after thy mynde thou ought aply
+ To fle offence, and bewayle thyne olde synne
+ And in all workes and besynes worldly
+ What may be the ende marke well or thou begynne
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of disordred loue and veneryous.
+
+[Illustration: Here drawe we folys mad togyther bounde
+Whom Uenus caught hath in hyr net a snare
+Whose blynde hertes this forour doth confounde
+Theyr lyfe consumynge in sorowe shame and care
+Many one she blyndeth alas fewe can beware
+Of hyr dartes hedyd with shame and vylany
+But he that is wondyd can skant ynde remedy]
+
+ O cruel Uenus forsoth who doth insue
+ Thy flaterynge gylys and proude commaundement
+ And hastyth nat the dartis to eschewe
+ Of blynde Cupido but folowys his intent
+ Suche folys endure moche sorowe and turment
+ Wastynge theyr goodes dishonestynge their name
+ As past fere of god and sekynge after shame
+
+ Howe many yllys, what inconuenyence
+ Howe great vengeaunce, and howe bytter punysshement
+ Hath god oft takyn for this synne and offence
+ Howe many Cytees hye and excellent
+ Hath Uenus lost, destroyed, and alto brent
+ What lordes and howe many a great estate
+ Hath loue lost, murdred, or els brought in debate
+
+ The noble Troyans murdred ar and slayne
+ Theyr cyte brent, decayde is theyr kyngdome
+ Theyr kynge pryant by pyrrus dede and slayne
+ And all this by Parys vnhappy loue is come
+ Whiche voyde of grace and blynde without wysdome
+ To fyll his lust, from Grece rubbyd Helayne,
+ But this one pleasour was grounde of moche payne
+
+ Also Marcus a Prynce of the Romayns
+ Called Antonius by another name
+ After that he had ouercome the persyans
+ To Rome retournyd with tryumphe lawde and fame
+ And there (whiche after was to his great shame)
+ With cleopatra in loue was take so in blyndnes
+ That he promysyd to make hir empresse
+
+ So this blynde louer to fyll his interpryse
+ Caused his men two hondred shyppes ordayne
+ And toke the see wenynge in suche fourme and wyse
+ His lewde desyre: to perfourme and obteyne
+ But shortly after was he ouercome and slayne
+ Of Cesar: and whan he this purpose vnderstode
+ He bathed his Corse within his lemmans blode
+
+ For two serpentis that venemus were and fell
+ Were set to the brestis of fayre Cleopatray
+ So this cruell purpose had punysshement cruell
+ For theyr intendynge theyr countrey to betray
+ And worthy they were, what man can it denay
+ Thus it apereth playne by euydence
+ That of false loue cometh great inconuenyence
+
+ For he that loueth is voyde of all reason
+ Wandrynge in the worlde without lawe or mesure
+ In thought and fere sore vexed eche season
+ And greuous dolours in loue he must endure
+ No creature hym selfe may well assure
+ From loues soft dartis: I say none on the grounde
+ But mad and folysshe bydes he whiche hath the wounde
+
+ Aye rennynge as franatyke no reason in his mynde
+ He hath no constaunce nor ease within his herte
+ His iyen ar blynde, his wyll alwaye inclyned
+ To louys preceptes yet can nat he departe
+ The Net is stronge, the fole caught can nat starte
+ The darte is sharpe, who euer is in the chayne
+ Can nat his sorowe in vysage hyde nor fayne
+
+ Rede howe Phedra hir loue fixed so feruent
+ On ypolitus in prohybyte auowtry.
+ That whan he wolde nat vnto hir consent
+ To hir husbonde she accused hym falsly
+ As if he wolde hir tane by force to vylany
+ Ipolitus was murdred for this accusement
+ But Phedra for wo hanged hyrself incontynent
+
+ The lewde loue of Phasyphe abhomynable
+ As poetis sayth) brought hir to hir confusyon
+ Nero the cruell Tyrant detestable.
+ His naturall mother knewe by abusyon
+ Uenus and Cupido with their collusyon.
+ Enflamyd Messalina in suche wyse
+ That euery nyght hir selfe she wolde disgyse
+
+ And secretly go to the brothelhous
+ For to fulfyll hir hote concupyssence
+ What shall I wryte the dedes vicious
+ Of Julia or, hir cruell offence.
+ What shall I wryte the inconuenyence
+ Whiche came by Danythys cursed auowtry
+ Syth that the bybyll it shewyth openly
+
+ What shall I wryte the greuous forfayture
+ Of Sodom and Gomor syns the Bybyll doth tell
+ Of their synnes agaynst god and nature
+ For whiche they sanke alyue downe into hell.
+ Thus it aperith what punysshement cruell.
+ Our lorde hath taken both in the olde lawe and newe
+ For this synne: whiche sholde vs moue it to eschewe
+
+ALEXANDER BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye folys inflamyd with loue inordynate.
+ Note these examples, drawe from this vyce your mynde
+ Remember that there is none so great estate
+ But that false loue hym causeth to be blynde
+ Our folysshe wymen may nat be left behynde
+ For many of them so folowys in this way
+ That they sell theyr soules and bodyes to go gay
+
+ The graceles galantes, and the aprentyce pore
+ Though they nought haue, themselfe they set nought by
+ Without they be acquaynted with some hore
+ Of westmynster or some other place of rybawdry
+ Than fall they to murder theft and robery.
+ For were nat proude clothynge, and also flesshely lust
+ All the feters and gyues of Englonde shulde rust.
+
+ Therfore folys awake, and be no longer blynde
+ Consyder that shame, seknes, and pouertye
+ Of loue procedeth: and drawe from it your mynde
+ Suffre not your soules damned and lost to be
+ By vayne lust and carnall sensualyte
+ For thoughe the small pleasure do make the fayne
+ The ende oft is worldly wo and myserye
+ Or amonge the fendes eternall payne
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them y^t synne trustynge vpon the
+mercy of god.
+
+[Illustration: Who that styll synneth without contricion
+Trustynge goddes mercy and benygnyte
+Bycause he sparyth our transgressyon
+And he that thynketh iustice and equyte
+Is nat in god as well as is petye
+Suche is forsoth without discressyon
+Syns he thus synneth upon presumpcion]
+
+ The wynde is up our Nauy is aflote
+ A bande of Folys a borde is come yet more
+ Theyr cursed maners and mad I shall nowe note
+ Whose herte for synne is neyther contryte ne sore
+ Nat mornynge (as they ought to do) therfore
+ Without fere styll lyuynge in theyr vyciousnes
+ No thynge inclyned to godly holynes
+
+ They thynke no thynge on goddes rightwysnes
+ But grounde them all, on his mercy and pyte
+ For that he redyer is vnto forgeuenesse
+ Unto all people, than them punysshed to se
+ Trouth it is that the great enormyte
+ Of the worlde hathe nat aye worthy punysshement
+ Nor he nat damnyd that doth his synne repent
+
+ Put case he gyuyth nat aye lyke iugement
+ On mannys mysdede, nor yet mundayne offence
+ And though he be gode meke and pacyent
+ Nor shortly punyssheth our inconuenyence
+ Put case also he gyue nat aduertence
+ To all mundayne fawtes synne and fragylyte
+ Yet none sholde synne in hope of his mercy
+
+ But these folys assembled in a companye
+ Sayth eche to other that oft it is laufull
+ To perseuerant synners lyuynge in iniquyte
+ Yo trust in god syns he is mercyfull
+ What nedeth vs our wyttis for to dull
+ Labourynge our synne and foly to refrayne
+ Syns synne is a thynge naturall and humayne
+
+ Than sayth another forsoth thou sayst playne
+ And also our fore Faders and progenitours
+ Before our dayes offendyd haue certayne.
+ As well as we, in many blynde errours
+ But syns they haue escapyd all paynes and dolours
+ Of hell; and nowe in heuyn ar certayne
+ What nede haue we to fere infernall payne.
+
+ Than comys in an other with his dotysshe brayne
+ By god sayth he I knowe it without fable
+ That heuyn was made neyther for gose nor crane
+ Nor yet for other bestes vnresonable
+ Than of the Scripture doth he Chat and bable
+ Alleggynge our forefaders whiche haue mysdone
+ Saynge that no synne is newe in our season
+
+ A myserable men destytute of reason.
+ That thus on hope do synne vnhappely
+ Remember the synne of our forefaders done
+ Haue neuer ben left vnpunysshed fynally
+ And that somtyme, full sharpe and bytterly
+ For euer more all synne hath had a fall
+ With sorowe here, or els wo infernall
+
+ The synne of Sodom foule and nat natural
+ The Pryde of rome, whiche was so excellent
+ The offence of Dauyd Prophete and kynge royal
+ The furour of Pharao fyers and violent
+ Haue nat escaped the rightwyse punysshment
+ Of God aboue, the celestial and highe Justice
+ Which fyrst, or last punyssheth euery vyce.
+
+ Remember Richarde lately kynge of price
+ In Englonde raynynge vnrightwisely a whyle.
+ Howe he ambycion, and gyleful Couetyse
+ With innocent blode his handes dyd defyle
+ But howbeit that fortune on hym dyd smyle
+ Two yere or thre: yet god sende hym punysshment
+ By his true seruant the rede Rose redolent.
+
+ Therfore remember that god omnypotent
+ Oft suffreth synners in theyr iniquyte
+ Grauntynge them space and tyme of amendement
+ And nat to procede in their enormyte
+ But those synners that byde in one degre
+ And in this lyfe their synne wyll nat refrayne
+ God after punyssheth with infernall payne
+
+ As I haue sayde (therfore) I say agayne
+ Though god be of infynyte pety and mercy
+ His fauour and grace passynge all synne mundayne
+ Yet iustice is with hym eternally.
+ Wherfore I aduyse the to note intentifly
+ Though pyte wolde spare, iustyce wyll nat so
+ But the here rewarde, els with infernal we.
+
+ALEXANDER BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Syghe synners, syghe, for your mysgouernance.
+ Lament, mourne, and sorowe for your enormyte.
+ Away with these Clowdes of mysty ignorance
+ Syn nat in hope of goddys hyghe petye
+ And remember howe ye daily punysshed be
+ With dyuers dyseases both vncouthe and cruel
+ And all for your synne, but suche as escapeth fre
+ And styl lyue in syn, may fere the peynes of helle
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the folisshe begynnynge of great
+bildynges without sufficient prouision.
+
+[Illustration: Come nere folys and rede your ignorance
+And great losse procedynge of your owne foly
+Whiche without gode and discrete purueaunce
+Any great werke wyll bylde or edefye.
+All suche ar folys what man wyll it deny
+For he that wyll bylde before he count his cost
+Shall seldome well ende, so that is made is lost.]
+
+ Who euer begynneth any worke or dede
+ Of byldynge or of other thynge chargeable
+ And to his costes before taketh no hede
+ Nor tyme nat countyth to his worke agreable
+ Suche is a fole and well worthy a babyll
+ For he that is wyse wyll no thynge assay
+ Without he knowe howe he well ende it may.
+
+ The wyse man counteth his cost before alway
+ Or he begyn, and nought wyll take in honde
+ Wherto his myght or power myght denay
+ His costes confourmynge to the stynt of his londe
+ Where as the fole that nought doth vnderstonde
+ Begynneth a byldynge without aduysement
+ But or halfe be done his money clene is spent.
+
+ Many haue begon with purpose dilygent
+ To bylde great houses and pleasaunt mansyons
+ Them thynkynge to finysshe after theyr intent
+ But nede disceyuyd hath theyr opynyons
+ Their purpose nat worth a cowpyll of onyons
+ But whan they se that they it ende nat can
+ They curse the tyme that euer they it began
+
+ Of Nabugodosor that worthy man.
+ What shall I wryte or the story to the tell
+ Syth that the Bybyll to the expresse it can
+ In the fourth chapter of the prophete Danyell
+ Was he nat punysshed in paynes cruell
+ For his great pryde and his presumpcion
+ Whiche he toke it in the byldynge of Babylon
+
+ His golde and treasoure he spendyd hole theron
+ Enioynge hym in his Cyte excellent
+ Right so Nemroth by his inuencion
+ The towre of Babylon began for this intent
+ To saue hym, if the worlde agayne were drent
+ But the hye god consyderynge his blynde rage
+ His purpose let by confusyon of langage
+
+ His towre vnperfyte to his losse and domage
+ His people punysshed, hymselfe specyally
+ Thus it apereth what great disauauntage
+ On theyr hede falleth that byldeth in foly
+ Thus he is folysshe that wolde edefy
+ Any great worke without ryches in excesse
+ For great byldynges requyreth great rychesse
+
+ But many folys ar in suche a blyndnesse
+ That hereon nought they set their mynde ne thought
+ Wherfore to them oft commyth great distresse
+ And to great pouerty often ar they brought
+ Laughed to scorne, their purpose cometh to nought
+ And truely I fynde in bokes wryten playne
+ That our olde faders haue neuer set theyr brayne
+
+ On great byldynge, ne yet of them ben fayne:
+ It longeth to a lorde a Prynce or a Kynge
+ That lacke no treasoure theyr werkes to mayntayne
+ To set theyr myndes on excellent buyldynge
+ Therfore who so euer wyll meddle with this thynge
+ Or any other, before let hym be wyse
+ That his myght and ryches therto may suffyse.
+
+ Lyst all men do mocke and scorne his interpryse
+ For if he ought begyn without prouysyon
+ And haue nat wherby his byldynge may up ryse
+ All that is lost that is made and begon
+ And better it is sothly in myn intencion
+ Nought to begyn, and spare laboure and payne
+ Than to begyn and than, leue of agayne
+
+ Who euer he be that so doth certayne
+ He shall haue mockis mengled with his damage
+ Therfore let suche folys sharpe theyr brayne
+ And better intende to theyr owne auauntage
+ Consyderynge that processe of tyme and age
+ Theyr curyous byldynges shall at the lest confounde
+ And Roufe and wallys make egall with the grounde.
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye folys blyndyd with curyosyte
+ Whiche on great byldynge set so sore your mynde
+ Remember ye nat that doutles ye shall dye
+ And your gay byldynges and howses leue behynde
+ Thynke ye your conforte alway in them to fynde
+ Or whan ye dye, them hens with you to haue
+ Nay nay the laste hous gyuen to mankynde
+ Is the course grounde and walles of his graue.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of glotons and dronkardes.
+
+[Illustration: That gloton or dronkarde, vyle in goddes sight
+Shall hardly escape the weyght of pouertye.
+Whiche drynketh and deuoureth both day and nyght
+Therin onely settynge all his felycyte
+His lothsome lust and his bestyalyte
+Shall brynge vnto destruccion fynally
+His soule, his godes and his wretchyd body.]
+
+ Within our nauy he nedes shall haue a place.
+ Whiche without mesure on lothsome glotony
+ Setteth his pleasure and singuler solace
+ His stomacke ouerchargynge, vyle and vngodely
+ And to none other thynge his mynde doth he aply
+ Saue depest to drynke, suche force nat of theyr soules
+ But labore in rynsynge pecis cuppis and bowles
+
+ The madnes of dronkennes is so immoderate
+ That greuous sores it ingendreth and sykenes
+ It causeth often great foly and debate
+ With soden deth and carefull heuynes
+ In thynges no difference putteth dronkennes.
+ It febleth the ioyntis and the body within
+ Wastynge the brayne makynge the wyt full thyn
+
+ It engendreth in the hede infirmyte
+ Blyndynge the herte wyt and discression
+ The mynde it demynyssheth, coloure and beaute.
+ Causynge all myschef, shame and abusyon
+ It maketh men mad, and in conclusyon
+ Causeth them lyue without lawe or measure
+ Suynge after syn defylynge theyr nature
+
+ The people that are acloyed with this synne.
+ On no thynge els theyr myndes wyll aply:
+ Saue to the wyne and ale stakes to renne
+ And there as bestes to stryue and drynke auy
+ Than ar they outher gyuyn to rybawdry
+ Or els to brawle and fight at euery worde
+ Thus dronkennes is the chefe cause of discorde
+
+ But namely dronkennes and wretchyd glotony
+ By their excesse and superfluyte
+ Engendreth the rote of cursed Lechery
+ With murder, thefte and great enormyte
+ So bryngeth it many to great aduersyte
+ And with his furour the worlde so doth it blynde
+ That many it bryngeth to a shamfull ende
+
+ This vyce (alas) good maners doth confounde
+ And maketh man ouer besy of langage
+ And hym that in all ryches doth abounde
+ It ofte in pryson bryngeth and in bondage
+ It causeth man to his great sorowe and domage
+ Disclose his secrete and his preuey counsayle
+ Whiche causeth hym after sore to mourne and wayle
+
+ Nought is more lothsome, more vycyous nor vyle
+ Than he that is subdued to this vyce
+ His lyfe shortynge his body he doth defyle
+ Bereuynge his soule the ioy of Paradyse
+ Howe many Cytees and lordes of great pryce
+ Hath ben destroyed by dronken glotony
+ And by his felawe, false loue, or lechery.
+
+ The sone of Thomyr had nat ben ouercome
+ Nor slayne by Cyrus for all his worthynes.
+ If he hym selfe had gydyd by wysdome
+ And the vyce auoydyd of blynde dronkennes
+ The great Alexander taken with this madnes
+ With his swerde, whan he was dronken slewe
+ Suche of his frendes as were to hym most trewe
+
+ I rede also howe this conquerour myghty
+ Upon a season played at the Chesse
+ With one of his knyghtes which wan ynally
+ Of hym great golde treasoure and rychesse
+ And hym ouercame, but in a furyousnes
+ And lade with wyne, this conquerour vp brayde
+ And to his knyght in wrath these wordes sayde
+
+ I haue subdued by strength and by wysdome
+ All the hole worlde, whiche obeyeth to me
+ And howe hast thou alone me thus ouercome
+ And anone commaundyd his knyght hanged to be
+ Than sayde the knyght by right and equyte
+ I may apele. syns ye ar thus cruell
+ Quod Alexander to whome wylt thou apell
+
+ Knowest thou any that is gretter than I
+ Thou shalt be hanged thou spekest treason playne
+ The knyght sayd sauynge your honour certaynly
+ I am no traytoure, apele I woll certayne
+ From dronken Alexander tyll he be sober agayne
+ His lorde than herynge his desyre sounde to reason
+ Differryd the iustyce as for that tyme and season
+
+ And than after whan this furour was gone
+ His knyght he pardoned repentynge his blyndenes.
+ And well consydered that he shulde haue mysdone
+ If he to deth had hym done in that madnesse
+ Thus it apereth what great unhappynes
+ And blyndnes cometh to many a creature
+ By wyne or ale taken without measure.
+
+ Se here the inconuenyence manyfolde
+ Comynge of dronkennes as I wrytyn fynde.
+ Some ar so starynge mad that none can them holde
+ Rorynge and cryeng as men out of their mynde
+ Some fyghtynge some chydynge, some to other kynde
+ Nought lyuynge to them selfe: and some dotynge Johnn
+ Beynge dronke thynketh hym as wyse as Salomon
+
+ Some sowe dronke, swaloynge mete without mesure
+ Some mawdelayne dronke, mournynge lowdly and hye
+ Some beynge dronke no lenger can endure
+ Without they gyue them to bawdy rybawdry
+ Some swereth armys nayles herte and body.
+ Terynge our lord worse, than the Jowes hym arayed
+ Some nought can speke, but harkenyth what is sayd.
+
+ Some spende all that they haue and more at wast
+ With reuell and reuell dasshe fyll the cup Joohnn
+ Some their thryft lesyth with dyce at one cast
+ Some slepe as slogardes tyll their thryft be gone
+ Some shewe theyr owne counsell for kepe can they none
+ Some are Ape dronke full of lawghter and of toyes
+ Some mery dronke syngynge with wynches and boyes
+
+ Some spue, some stacker some vtterly ar lame
+ Lyeng on the grounde without power to ryse
+ Some bost them of bawdry ferynge of no shame
+ Some dumme, and some speketh. ix. wordes at thryse
+ Some charge theyr bely with wyne in suche wyse
+ That theyr legges skant can bere vp the body
+ Here is a sort to drowne a hole nauy.
+
+BARKLAYE TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Alas mad folys howe longe wyll ye procede
+ In this beestly lyuynge agayst humayne nature
+ Cease of your Foly: gyue aduertence and hede
+ That in eche thynge ought to be had measure
+ Wyne ne ale hurteth no maner creature
+ But sharpeth the wyt if it be take in kynde
+ But if it be nat, than I the ensure
+ It dulleth the brayne, blyndynge the wyt and mynde
+
+ Rede all bokes and thou shalt neuer fynde
+ That dronkennes and wysdome may togyther be
+ For where is dronkennes, there madnes is by kynde
+ Gydynge the hauer to all enormyte
+ And where as is madnes thou shalt neuer se
+ Reason ne wysdome take theyr abydynge
+ In one instant, wherfore lerne this of me
+ That dronkennes is mortell enmy to cunnynge.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of ryches vnprofytable.
+
+[Illustration: Yet fynde I folys of another sorte
+Whiche gather and kepe excessyfe ryches
+With it denyeng their neyghboures to conforte
+Whiche for nede lyueth in payne and wretchydnes
+Suche one by fortune may fall into distres
+And in lyke wyse after come to mysery
+And begge of other, whiche shall to hym deny.]
+
+ It is great foly, and a desyre in vayne
+ To loue and worshyp ryches to feruently
+ And so great laboure to take in care and payne
+ Fals treasoure to encrease and multyply
+ But yet no wonder is it sertaynly
+ Syth he that is ryche hath gretter reuerence
+ Than he that hath sadnes wysdom and scyence
+
+ The ryche mannes rewardes stande in best degre
+ But godly maners we haue set clene asyde
+ Fewe loueth vertue, but fewer pouertye.
+ Fals couetyse his braunches spreddeth wyde
+ Ouer all the worlde, that pety can nat byde
+ Among vs wretches banysshed is kyndnes
+ Thus lyeth the pore in wo and wretchydnes
+
+ Without conforte and without auctoryte
+ But he only is nowe reputed wyse
+ Whiche hath ryches in great store and plente.
+ Suche shall be made a sergeant or Justyce
+ And in the Court reputed of moste pryse
+ He shall be callyd to counseyll in the lawe
+ Though that his brayne be skarsly worth a strawe
+
+ He shall be Mayre baylyfe or constable
+ And he onely promotyd to honoure
+ His maners onely reputed ar laudable
+ His dedys praysyd as grettest of valoure
+ Men laboure and seke to fall in his fauoure
+ He shall haue loue, echone to hym shall sue
+ For his ryches, but nought for his vertue
+
+ Se what rewardes ar gyuen to ryches
+ Without regarde had to mannys condycyon
+ A strawe for cunnynge wysdome and holynes
+ Of ryches is the first and chefe questyon
+ What rentes what londes howe great possessyon
+ What stuffe of housholde what store of grotz and pens
+ And after his gode his wordes hath credence.
+
+ His wordes ar trouth men gyue to them credence
+ Thoughe they be falsly fayned and sotell
+ But to the pore none wyll gyue aduertence
+ Though that his wordes be true as the gospell
+ Ye let hym swere by heuyn and by hell
+ By god and his sayntes and all that god made
+ Yet nought they beleue that of hym is sayde
+
+ They say that the pore men doth god dispyse
+ Thouhe they nought swere but trouth and veryte
+ And that god punyssheth them in suche wyse
+ For so dispysynge of his hye maiestye
+ Kepynge them for their synnes in pouerte
+ And theyr ryche exaltyth by his power and grace
+ To suche ryches, worldly pleasour and solace
+
+ The ryche ar rewarded with gyftis of dyuerse sorte
+ With Capons and Conyes delycious of sent
+ But the pore caytyf abydeth without confort
+ Though he moste nede haue: none doth hym present
+ The fat pygge is baast, the lene cony is brent
+ He that nought hathe, shall so alway byde pore
+ But he that ouer moche hath, yet shall haue more
+
+ The wolfe etis the shepe, the great fysshe the small
+ The hare with the houndes vexed ar and frayde
+ He that hath halfe nedes wyll haue all
+ The ryche mannes pleasour can nat be denayde
+ Be the pore wroth, or be he well apayde
+ Fere causeth hym sende vnto the ryches hous
+ His mete from his owne mouth, if it be delycious
+
+ And yet is this ryche caytyf nat content
+ Though he haue all yet wolde he haue more.
+ And though this gode can neuer of hym be spent
+ With nought he departyth to hym that is pore
+ Though he with nede harde vexed were and sore.
+ O cursyd hunger o mad mynde and delyte.
+ To laboure for that whiche neuer shall do profyte
+
+ Say couetous caytyfe what doth it the auayle
+ For to haue all and yet, nat to be content
+ Thou takest nat this sore laboure and trauayle
+ To thy pleasoure but to thy great turment
+ But loke therof what foloweth consequent
+ Whan thou art dede and past this wretchyd lyfe
+ Thou leuyst behynde brawlynge debate and stryfe
+
+ To many one ryches is moche necessary
+ Whiche can it order right as it ought to be
+ But vnto other is it vtterly contrary
+ Whiche therwith disdayneth to socoure pouerte.
+ Nor them relefe in theyr aduersyte
+ Suche shall our lorde sore punysshe fynally
+ And his petycion rightwysly deny
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye great estatis and men of dignyte
+ To whome god in this lyfe hath sent ryches
+ Haue ye compassion, on paynfull pouertye
+ And them conforte in theyr carefull wretchydnes
+ God hym loueth and shall rewarde doutles
+ Whiche to the nedy for hym is charitable
+ With heuenly ioy, whiche treasour is endeles
+ So shall thy riches to the be profytable.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of hym that togyder wyll serue
+two maysters.
+
+[Illustration: A fole he is and voyde of reason
+Whiche with one hounde tendyth to take
+Two harys in one instant and season
+Rightso is he that wolde vndertake
+Hym to two lordes a seruaunt to make
+For whether, that he be lefe or lothe
+The one he shall displease, or els bothe.]
+
+ A fole also he is withouten doute
+ And in his porpose sothly blyndyd sore
+ Whiche doth entende labour or go aboute
+ To serue god, and also his wretchyd store
+ Of worldly ryches: for as I sayde before
+ He that togyder wyll two maysters serue
+ Shall one displease and nat his loue deserue
+
+ For he that with one hownde wol take also
+ Two harys togyther in one instant
+ For the moste parte doth the both two forgo
+ And if he one haue: harde it is and skant
+ And that blynde fole mad and ignorant
+ That draweth thre boltis atons in one bowe
+ At one marke shall shote to hye or to lowe
+
+ Or els to wyde, and shortly for to say
+ With one or none of them he strykis the marke:
+ And he that taketh vpon hym nyght or day
+ Laboures dyuers to chargeable of warke.
+ Or dyuerse offycis: suche wander in the darke
+ For it is harde to do well as he ought
+ To hym that on dyuerse thynges hath his thought
+
+ With great thoughtes he troubleth sore his brayne
+ His mynde vnstable, his wyt alway wandrynge:
+ Nowe here nowe there his body labours in payne
+ And in no place of stedfast abydynge.
+ Nowe workynge now musynge now renynge now rydynge
+ Now on see nowe on londe, than to se agayne
+ Somtyme to Fraunce, and nowe to Flaunders or Spayne
+
+ Thus is it paynfull and no thynge profytable
+ On many labours a man to set his mynde
+ For nouther his wyt nor body can be stable
+ Whiche wyll his body to dyuers chargis bynde
+ Whyle one goth forwarde the other bydes behynde
+ Therfore I the counseyll for thyne owne behoue
+ Let go this worlde and serue thy lorde aboue
+
+ He that his mynde settyth god truly to serue
+ And his sayntes: this worlde settynge at nought
+ Shall for rewarde euerlastynge ioy deserue
+ But in this worlde, he that settyth his thought
+ All men to please, and in fauour to be brought
+ Must lout and lurke, flater, lawde, and lye:
+ And cloke a knauys counseyll, though it fals be
+
+ If any do hym wronge or iniury
+ He must it suffer and pacyently endure
+ A dowble tunge with wordes lyke hony
+ And of his offycis if he wyll be sure
+ He must be sober and colde of his langage
+ More to a knaue, than to one of hye lynage
+
+ Oft must he stoupe his bonet in his honde
+ His maysters backe he must oft shrape and clawe
+ His breste anoyntynge, his mynde to vnderstonde
+ But be it gode or bad therafter must he drawe
+ Without he can Jest he is nat worth a strawe.
+ But in the meane tyme beware that he none checke
+ For than layth malyce a mylstone in his necke
+
+ He that in court wyll loue and fauour haue
+ A fole must hym fayne, if he were none afore
+ And be as felowe to euery boy and knaue
+ And to please his lorde he must styll laboure sore
+ His manyfolde charge maketh hym coueyt more
+ That he had leuer serue a man in myserye
+ Than serue his maker in tranquylyte
+
+ But yet whan he hath done his dylygence
+ His lorde to serue as I before haue sayde
+ For one small faute or neglygent offence
+ Suche a displeasoure agaynst hym may be layde
+ That out is he cast bare and vnpuruayde.
+ Whether he be gentyll, yeman grome or page
+ Thus worldly seruyce is no sure herytage
+
+ Wherfore I may proue by these examples playne
+ That it is better more godly and plesant
+ To leue this mondayne casualte and payne
+ And to thy maker one god to be seruaunt
+ Whiche whyle thou lyuest shall nat let the want
+ That thou desyrest iustly, for thy syruyce
+ And than after gyue the, the ioyes of Paradyse.
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Alas man aryse out of Idolatry.
+ Worshyp nat thy ryches nor thy vayne treasoure
+ Ne this wretchyd worlde full of mysery.
+ But lawde thy maker and thy sauyour
+ With fere, mekenes, fayth, glory, and honoure
+ Let thy treasoure onely in his seruyce be
+ And here be content with symple behauoure
+ Hauynge in this lorde trust and felycyte
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of to moche spekynge or bablynge.
+
+[Illustration: He that his tunge can temper and refrayne
+And asswage the foly of hasty langage
+Shall kepe his mynde from trowble, sadnes and payne
+And fynde therby great ease and auauntage
+Where as a hasty speker falleth in great domage
+Peryll and losse, in lyke wyse as the pye
+Betrays hir byrdes by hir chatrynge and crye.]
+
+ Ye blaberynge folys superflue of langage
+ Come to our shyp our ankers ar in wayde
+ By right and lawe ye may chalange a stage
+ To you of Barklay it shall nat be denayde
+ Howe be it the charge Pynson hathe on me layde
+ With many folys our Nauy not to charge.
+ Yet ye of dewty shall haue a sympyll barge
+
+ Of this sorte thousandes ar withouten fayle
+ That haue delyte in wordes voyde and vayne
+ On men nat fawty somtyme vsynge to rayle
+ On folysshe wordes settynge theyr herte and brayne
+ They often touche to theyr owne shame and payne
+ Suche thynges to whiche none wyll theyr mynde aply
+ (Saue suche folys) to theyr shame and enuy
+
+ Say besy fole art thou nat well worthy
+ To haue enuy, and that echone sholde the hate
+ Whan by thy wordes soundynge to great foly
+ Thou sore labrest to engender debate
+ Some renneth fast thynkynge to come to late
+ To gyue his counsell whan he seeth men in doute
+ And lyghtly his folysshe bolt shall be shot out
+
+ Is it nat better for one his tunge to kepe
+ Where as he myght (perchaunce) with honestee
+ Than wordes to speke whiche make hym after wepe
+ For great losse folowynge wo and aduersyte
+ A worde ones spokyn reuoked can nat be
+ Therfore thy fynger lay before thy lypes
+ For a wyse mannys tunge, without aduysement trypes
+
+ He that wyll answere of his owne folysshe brayne
+ Before that any requyreth his counsayle
+ Shewith hym selfe and his hasty foly playne
+ Wherby men knowe his wordes of none auayle
+ Some haue delyted in mad blaborynge and frayle
+ Whiche after haue suffred bytter punysshement
+ For their wordes, spoken without aduysement
+
+ Say what precedeth of this mad outrage
+ But great mysfortune, wo and vnhappynesse
+ But for all theyr chattynge and plenty of langage
+ Whan to the preste they come them to confesse
+ To shewe theyr lewde lyfe theyr synne and wretchydnes
+ Whan they sholde speke, and to this poynt ar come
+ Theyr tunges ar loste and there they syt as domme
+
+ Many haue ben whiche sholde haue be counted wyse
+ Sad and discrete, and right well sene in scyence
+ But all they haue defyled with this one vyse
+ Of moche spekynge: o cursyd synne and offence
+ Pyte it is that so great inconuenience
+ So great shame, contempt rebuke and vylany
+ Sholde by one small member came to the hole body
+
+ Let suche take example by the chatrynge pye.
+ Whiche doth hyr nest and byrdes also betraye
+ By hyr grete chatterynge, clamoure dyn and crye
+ Ryght so these folys theyr owne foly bewraye.
+ But touchynge wymen of them I wyll nought say
+ They can nat speke, but ar as coy and styll
+ As the horle wynde or clapper or a mylle
+
+ But that man or woman or any creature
+ That lytell speketh or els kepeth sylence
+ Ar euer of them selfe moste stedfast and sure
+ Without enuy, hatred or malyuolence.
+ Where as to suche comys moche inconuenyence
+ Sorowe vpon sorowe, malyce and dysdayne
+ Whiche wyll no tyme, his speche nor tunge refrayne
+
+ Fayre speche is pleasaunt if it be moderate
+ And spoken in season, conuenyente and dewe
+ To kepe scylence, to pore man or estate
+ Is a great grace, and synguler vertue
+ Langage is lawdable whan it is god and true
+ A wyse man or he speke wyll be wyse and ware
+ What (to whome) why (howe) whan and whare
+
+BARKLAYE TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye bablynge brybours, endeuer you to amende
+ Mytygat by mesure, your prowde hasty langage
+ Kepe well your tunges so, shall ye kepe your frende
+ For hasty speche ingendreth great damage
+ Whan a worde is nat sayd, the byrde is in the cage
+ Also the hous is surest whan the dorys be barryde
+ So whan thy worde is spokyn and out at large
+ Thou arte nat mayster, but he that hath it harde
+
+ If thou take hede and set therto thy brayne
+ In this world thou shalt fynde thynges thre
+ Whiche ones past, can nat be callyd agayne.
+ The firste is (tyme lost) by mannes symplycyte
+ The seconde (youth) reuoked can nat be
+ The thyrde (a worde spoken) it gooth out in the wynde
+ And yet is the fourth, that is (virginyte)
+ My forgetfull mynde, had lefte it nere behynde
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that correct other and yet them
+selfe do nought and synne worse than
+they whom they so correct.
+
+[Illustration: He lacketh reason and vnderstandynge to
+Whiche to a towne or Cyte knoweth the way
+And shewyth other howe they may thether go
+Hym selfe wandrynge aboute from day to day
+In myre and fen, though his iourney thether lay
+So he is mad whiche to other doth preche and tell
+The wave to heuyn, and hym selfe goth to hell.]
+
+ Nowe to our Nauy, a sorte maketh asaute
+ Of folys blynde, mad Jugys and Iniust
+ Whiche lyghtly noteth another mannes faute.
+ Chastynge that synne, whiche theyr owne mynde doth rust
+ By longe abydynge, and increas of carnall lust
+ They cloke their owne vyce synne and enormyte
+ Other blamynge and chastynge with moche cruelte
+
+ They mocke and mowe at anothers small offence
+ And redy ar a faute in them to fynde
+ But of theyr owne foly and inconuenyence
+ They se no thynge, for fully ar they blynde
+ Nat notynge the vyce rotyd in theyr owne mynde
+ Theyr greuous woundes and secrete malady
+ For theyr owne yll they seke no remedy
+
+ The hande whiche men vnto a Crosse do nayle
+ Shewyth the waye ofte to a man wandrynge
+ Whiche by the same his right way can nat fayle
+ But yet the hande is there styll abydynge
+ So do these folys lewde of theyr owne lyuynge
+ To other men shewe mean and way to wynne
+ Eternall ioy themselfe bydynge in synne
+
+ He sertaynly may well be callyd a sote
+ Moche vnauysed and his owne ennemy
+ Whiche in a nothers iye can spye a lytell mote
+ And in his owne can nat fele nor espye
+ A moche stycke, so is he certaynly.
+ Whiche noteth anothers small faute or offence
+ To his owne great synnes gyuynge none aduertence
+
+ Many them selfe fayne as chaste as was saynt Johnn
+ And many other fayne them meke and innocent
+ Some other as iust, and wyse as Salomon
+ As holy as Poule, as Job als pacyent
+ As sad as senecke, and as obedyent
+ As Abraham, and as martyn vertuous
+ But yet is theyr lyfe full lewde and vycious
+
+ Some lokyth with an aungels countenaunce
+ Wyse sad and sober lyke an heremyte
+ Thus hydynge theyr synne and theyr mysgouernaunce.
+ Under suche clokys lyke a fals ypocryte
+ Let suche folys rede what Cicero doth wryte
+ Whiche sayth that none sholde blame any creature
+ For his faut, without his owne lyuynge be sure
+
+ Without all spot of synne faut or offence
+ For in lyke fourme as a phesycyan.
+ By his practyse and cunnynge or scyence
+ The sekenes curyth of a nother man
+ But his owne yll nor dyseas he nat can
+ Relefe nor hele so doth he that doth blame
+ Anothers synne: he styll lyuynge in the same
+
+ Many ar whiche other can counseyll craftely
+ And shewe the peryll that may come by theyr synne
+ But them selfe they counseyll nat: ne remedy.
+ Nor take no waye whereby they heuyn may wynne
+ But lye in that vyce that they rotyd ar in
+ Leuynge the way that gydyth to ioy and rest
+ Their owne sensualyte ensuynge as a beest
+
+ Wherfore ye prestis that haue the charge and cure.
+ To teche and enfourme the rude comonte.
+ In goddys lawes groundyd in scripture
+ And blame all synnes sparynge no degre
+ Whyle ye rebuke thus theyr enormyte
+ Lyue so that none may cause haue you to blame
+ And if ye do nat: it is to your great shame
+
+ For without doute it is great vylany
+ A man to speke agaynst any offence
+ Wherin he well knowyth hym owne selfe gylty
+ Within his mynde and secrete conscience
+ Agaynst hymselfe suche one gyueth sentence
+ Howe god ryght iuge, by rightwyse iugement
+ Shulde hym rewarde with worthy punysshement
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye clerkes that on your shulders here the shelde
+ Unto you graunted by the vnyuersyte.
+ Howe dare ye auenture to fyght in cristes felde
+ Agaynst synne, without ye clere and gyltles be
+ Consyder the Cocke and in hym shall ye se:
+ A great example, for with his wynges thryse
+ He betyth hym selfe to wake his owne bodye
+ Before he crowe, to cause other wake or ryse.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of hym that fyndeth ought of another
+mannys it nat restorynge to the owner.
+
+[Illustration: He that ought fyndyth outher by day or nyght
+Usynge it as his owne, as thynge gottyn iustly
+And thynketh that he so may do by lawe and right
+Suche is disceyuyd, and thynketh wrongfully
+For why the deuyll our goostly ennemy
+Doth hym so counseyll and in his erys blowe
+Disceyuynge in his bondes, as he doth many mo]
+
+ The feruour of ryches and disordred loue
+ Whiche many haue, doth me bynde and constrayne.
+ Within my shyp them sharply to reproue
+ That pen nor hande, themselfe wyll not refrayne
+ Of couetyse nowe I wyll nat speke agayne
+ But of them that kepeth by force and by myght
+ That thynge wherto they haue nat come, by ryght
+
+ Some fyndeth treasours other mennys good
+ And in theyr owne vse suche good they occupy.
+ Whiche of theyr myndes ar so blynde and wode.
+ And so reted in theyr errour and foly
+ That oft they say (say) ye and dare byde by
+ That some saynt whome they worshypped haue
+ Haue sende, them the same theyr honestee to saue
+
+ They haue no force nor care, nor they none haue wyll
+ To whome the ryches so loste dyde apertayne
+ That fortune hath gyuen they holde fast and kepe styll
+ Neuer hauynge mynde it to restore agayne
+ Suche folys fere no thynge euerlastynge payne
+ Nor note nat, that without true restytucion
+ It small auayleth to haue made confessyon.
+
+ Here me fole with thy immoderate mynde
+ Here me and do thy herte therto aply
+ If thou by fortune any ryches fynde
+ Callynge it thyne: thou lyest therin falsly
+ If thou haue wyt thou canst nat well deny
+ But that gode nat gyuen, nor gottyn by laboure
+ Can nat be rightwyse: thus mende thy blynde erroure
+
+ If thou ought fynde that longeth nat to the
+ Than is it anothers, the case is clere and playne
+ Wherfor thou ought of lawe and of dewte
+ Unto the owner it soone to yelde agayne
+ But if he be dede, to whome it dyd attayne
+ Thou ought nat yet to kepe it nere the more.
+ But to his sectours or heyres it restore
+
+ Put case that they also be past and dede
+ Yet ought thou nat to keep it styll with the.
+ The lawe commaundyth, and also it is mede.
+ To gyue it to suche as haue necessyte.
+ With it releuynge theyr paynfull pouertee
+ And so shalt thou discharge thy conseyence.
+ Helpynge the pore, and auoyde great offence
+
+ But he that others godes tourneth to his owne vse
+ Spendynge and wastynge that thynge that neuer was his
+ Suche certaynly his reason doth abuse
+ And by this meane greuously doth amysse
+ Wherby he lesyth eternall ioy and blysse
+ His soule drownynge depe within hell flodes
+ For his myspendynge of other mennys goodes
+
+ But to be shorte, and brefe in my sentence
+ And sothe to saye playne as the mater is
+ Forsoth I se nat right great difference
+ Bytwene a thefe, and these folys couetys
+ Both wrongly kepeth that thynge that is nat his
+ Thynkynge that god doth nat therto aduerte
+ Whiche notyth thy dedys, thy mynde thought and herte
+
+ Wherfore if thou haue a rightwyse conscyence
+ Thou wylt nought kepe whiche longeth nat to the
+ The lawe so commaundeth in payne of great offence
+ For of gode that thou kepest agaynst equyte
+ Thou shalt make accompt after that thou shalt dye
+ To thy great payne in hell for euer more
+ If thou no restytucion make before.
+
+ Here myght I touche executours in this cryme.
+ Blamynge theyr dedys dysceyte and couetyse
+ If it were nat for wastynge of my tyme
+ For mende they wyll nat them in any wyse
+ Nor leue no poyntes of theyr disceytfull gyse
+ Let them take parte of that whiche I here note
+ And be partynge foles in this present bote.
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY THE TRANSLATOR TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye false executours whome all the worlde repreuys
+ And ye that fynde mennes goodes or treasoures
+ I call you as bad as robbers or theuys
+ For ye by your falshode and manyfolde errours
+ Kepe falsly that thynge whiche is none of yours
+ And wast here the goodes of hym that is past
+ The soule lyeth in payne, ye take your pleasours.
+ With his ryches, damnynge your owne soule at the last
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the sermon or erudicion of wysdome
+bothe to wyse men and folys.
+
+[Illustration: He that delyteth in godly sapience
+And it to obtayne puttyth his besynes
+Aboue all folys shall haue preemynence
+And in this worlde haue honour and rychesse
+Or a worthy crowne in heuyns blessydnesse
+Or els bothe welthe here, and after ioy and blysse
+Where as a fole of bothe the two shall mysse]
+
+ Wysdome with voyce replete with grauyte
+ Callyth to all people, and sayth o thou mankynde
+ Howe longe wylt thou lyue in this enormyte
+ Alas howe longe shalt thou thy wyt haue blynde
+ Here my preceptis and rote them in thy mynde
+ Nowe is full tyme and season to clere thy syght:
+ Harkyn to my wordes, grounde of goodnes and ryght
+
+ Lerne mortall men, stodyenge day and nyght
+ To knowe me wysdome, chefe rote of chastyte
+ My holy doctryne thy herte shall clere and lyght
+ My tunge shall shewe the ryght and equyte
+ Chase out thy foly, cause of aduersyte.
+ And seke me wysdome whiche shall endewe thy mynde
+ With helth and welth wherby thou lyfe shalt fynde
+
+ Aryse I say agayne to the mankynde
+ And seke me wysdome that am well of goodnes
+ Let nat this worlde thy conscyence farther blynde
+ Nor to synne subdue for loue of false rychesse
+ Blynde nat thy herte with mondayne wretchednes
+ I am worth golde and worth all good mundayne:
+ And to mankynde counselloure souerayne
+
+ No maner Jowell is to me lyke certayne
+ Ne so profytable to mortall creature
+ I passe all ryches and cause a man refrayne
+ His mynde from synne, and of his ende be sure
+ There is no treasoure nor precious stone so pure
+ Carbuncle Ruby ne adamond in londe nor see
+ Nor other lapydary comparable to me:
+
+ And shortly to speke wysdome is more laudable
+ Than all the worlde or other thynge mundayne
+ There is no treasoure: to wysdome comparable
+ But it alone is a vertue moste souerayne
+ Hauynge nought lyke in valoure nor worth certayne
+ No fole is so ryche, nor hye of dignyte
+ But that a wyse man pore is more worthy than he
+
+ Wysdome preserueth men in auctoryte
+ Prynces promotynge by counseyll prouydent
+ By it pore men somtyme, and of lowe degre
+ Hath had the hole worlde to them obedyent
+ It gydeth Cytees and countrees excellent
+ And gouerneth the counseyll of prynce lorde and kynge
+ Strengthynge the body the herte enlumynynge
+
+ It gydyth lordes and from bondage doth brynge
+ Them whome foly hath brought in to captyuyte
+ Hir gyftys to mankynde frely offrynge
+ Gydynge hir discyples from all aduersyte
+ Wysdome stondynge vpon a stage on hye
+ Cryeth to mankynde with lowde voyce in this wyse
+ I trouth exalte: and vycious men dispyse
+
+ Lerne of me wysdome cast out your couetyse
+ For by my myght craft and wyse prouysicion
+ Kynges vnto their dygnyte dothe ryse
+ Theyr septers gydynge by my monycion
+ I gaue them lawes to gyde eche regyon
+ In welthe defendynge and in prosperyte
+ Them and theyr royalmes whyle they gyde them by me
+
+ All maner nacyons that doth to me inclyne
+ I gyde and gouerne by lawe and equyte
+ In me is right, godly wyt and doctryne
+ What blynde foly, and howe great aduersyte
+ Do they auoyde that gyde them selfe by me
+ And he that me louyth with worshyp and honour
+ Shall knowe my loue my grace and my fauour
+
+ He that me folowyth shall auoyde all dolour
+ I shall hym folowe promotynge in suche case
+ That none shall be before hym in valour
+ I godly ryches in my power inbrace
+ Whiche man by me may esely purchase
+ And he that wyll his way by me addresse
+ I shall rewarde with heuenly ioy endles
+
+ The father of heuen of infynyte goodnesse.
+ Me comprehendyth within his deytee
+ Of hym my firste begynnynge is doutles.
+ And heuen and erth he create hath by me
+ And euery creature bothe on londe and se
+ The heuen imperyall all planetis and firmameut
+ God neuer thynge made without my true assent
+
+ Therfore mankynde set thy mynde and intent
+ To me wysdome to be subiect and seruaunt
+ To my preceptis be thou obedyent
+ And heuenly ioy thou shalt nat lacke nor want
+ For doutles they ar mad and ignoraunt
+ And folys blyndyd who so euer they be
+ That wyll nat gladly be seruauntes vnto me
+
+THE ENVOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Aryse folys of myndes darke and blynde.
+ Receyue the gyftes of godly sapyence
+ Here hir perceptis and plant them in your mynde
+ And rote out the gaffys of your olde offence.
+ Call to your myndes what inconuenyence
+ Howe sodayne fallys, what sorowe and turment
+ Hath come to many a myghty lorde and prynce
+ For nat folowynge of hir commaundement.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of bostynge or hauynge confydence
+in fortune.
+
+[Illustration: He is a fole whiche settyth confydence
+On frayle fortune vncertayne and mutable
+His mynde exaltynge in pryde and insolence
+Because that she somtyme is fauorable
+As if she wolde so be perdurable
+Suche folys oft whan they thynke them most sure
+All sodaynly great mysfortune endure]
+
+ Amonge our folys he ought to haue a place
+ And so he shall for it is resonable
+ Whiche thynketh hymselfe greatly in fortunes grace
+ Bostynge that she to hym is fauorable
+ As if hyr maner were nat to be mutable
+ In this vayne hope suche theyr lyfe doth lede
+ Tyll at the laste theyr hous borne oure theyr hede
+
+ He shakyth boost and oft doth hym auaunte
+ Of fortunes fauoure and his prosperyte
+ Whiche suffreth hym nought of his wyll to wante
+ So that he knoweth nought of aduersyte
+ Nor mysfortune nor what thynge is pouertee.
+ O lawles fole, o man blyndyd of mynde
+ Say what suretye in fortune canst thou fynde
+
+ To what ende or vnto what conclusyon
+ Shall fortune frayle vnrightwyse and vnsure
+ Lede the blynde fole by hyr abusyon.
+ Howe darest thou the in hir blyndnes assure.
+ Syns she vnstable is and can nat longe endure
+ Hir gyftis changith, she is blynde and sodayne
+ Thoughe she firste lawghe hir ende is vncertayne.
+
+ Thou shakest boste ofte of hir foly in vayne
+ For he is most happy whiche can auoyde hir snare
+ If she exalte some one vnto welth mundayne
+ She bryngeth another to payne sorowe and care
+ Whyle one is ladyd to the others backe is bare
+ Whyle she a begger maketh in good abounde
+ A lorde or state she throweth to the grounde
+
+ But nat withstandynge hir mutabylyte.
+ Thou bostest thy gode and to moche abundaunce
+ Thou bostest thy welth and thy prosperyte
+ Thy good auenturs, and plentyfull pleasaunce
+ Alas blynde fole amende thy ygnoraunce
+ And in thy welthe to this saynge intende
+ That fortune euer hath an incertayne ende
+
+ Fals fortune infect of countenaunce and of face
+ By hir iyen clowdy and varyable vysage
+ Hath many for a whyle taken to hir grace
+ Whiche after by hir whele vnstable and volage
+ Hath brought them to wo mysfortune and damage
+ She ruleth pore and riche without difference
+ Lewdnes exaltynge and damnynge innocence
+
+ Thus is that man voyde, of all intellygence
+ Whom fortune fedyth, with chaunche fortunable
+ If he therin haue ouer large confydence
+ And thynke that sure that euer is mutable
+ That fole is sonne, to the fende abhomynable
+ That foloweth ryches, and fortune that is blynde
+ His sauyour lefte, and clene out of mynde
+
+ Whan the foule fende, father of vnhappynes
+ Pore man purposyth by falshode to begyle
+ He sendeth hym welth worldly, and fals ryches
+ And causeth fortune, awhyle on hym to smyle
+ Whiche with hir blyndenes doth mankynde so defyle
+ That whyle they trust in hir fauour to sore.
+ They damme theyr soules in hell for euermore
+
+ By large examples thou eche day mayste se
+ The chaunge of fortune and the ende vncertayne
+ Wherfore to boste the of hyr commodyte
+ It is great foly and also thynge in vayne
+ From this lewdnes thy mynde therfore refrayne
+ And be content with fortune moderate
+ Nor boste the nat of thy welth or estate
+
+ This day thou art ryche and despysest the pore
+ Yet so may it fall, that for thy lewde lyuynge
+ To morowe thou beggest thy brede from dore to dore
+ Therfore remembre that blynde fortune wandrynge
+ Hath nat in hyr handes power, nor gydynge
+ The rewardes of welth, nor of felycyte
+ But god them gydeth by his great maieste
+
+ And all thynge chaungeth as is to hym plesaunt
+ His dedes to wysdome alwaye agreable
+ Wherfore blynde fole be nat so ignoraunt
+ To prayse fortune whiche is so varyable
+ And of rewardes vnsure and chaungeable
+ But thoughe she smyle trust nat to hir intent
+ For amonge swete herbes ofte lurkyth the serpent
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye folys that haue in fortune confydence:
+ And boste you of welth and of prosperyte
+ Leue of your foly, and note by euydence:
+ Hir cours vnsure: and hir mutabylyte
+ None in this lyfe can byde in one degre
+ But somtyme hye, than after pore and lowe.
+ Nowe nought set by, nowe in auctoryte
+ Nowe full nowe voyde as waters ebbe and flowe
+
+ I am remembred that I haue often sene
+ Great worldly ryches ende in pouertye
+ And many one that hath in fauour ben:
+ And hye promotyd in welth and dignyte.
+ Hath sodaynly fallyn into calamyte
+ Thus is it foly to trust in fortunes grace
+ For whyle the Se floweth and is at Burdews hye
+ It as fast ebbeth at some other place
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the ouer great and chargeable
+curyosyte of men.
+
+[Illustration: Unto mo folys here ordayne I a barge
+Whiche medlyth with euery mannys besynes
+And nat intendeth to their owne losse and charge
+Great payne and wo suche folys oft oppresse
+And let them lerne with pacyent mekenes
+To suffer sorowe for why they shall none lacke
+Syns they alone, the hole worlde take on theyr backe]
+
+ He that wyll coueyt to bere more than he may
+ And take on his sholders more than he can sustayne
+ Suche is a fole, his dedys wyll not deny
+ And with his owne wyll gooth to peryll and payne.
+ He is vnwyse whiche is ioyous and fayne
+ To offer his necke to bere that without fere
+ Whiche were ynoughe for dyuers men to bere
+
+ That man that taketh vpon his backe alone
+ The heuy weght of the large fyrmament
+ Or any burdeyne whiche maketh hym to grone
+ Whiche to sustayne his strength is ympotent
+ No meruayle is if he fall incontynent
+ And than whan he lowe on the grounde doth lye
+ He oft repentyth his purpose and foly
+
+ We haue in storyes many examples great
+ Shewynge the lewde ende of this curyosyte.
+ I rede of Alexander that dyd often sweate
+ In great peryls to augment his dignyte
+ He was nat content with europe and asye
+ Nor all the grounde under the fyrmament
+ At the last ende, cowde nat his mynde content
+
+ As if all the erth were nat suffycyent
+ For his small body by curyouse couetyse
+ But at the last he must holde hym content
+ With a small cheste, and graue nat of great pryce.
+ Thus deth vs shewyth what thynge sholde vs suffyce
+ And what is the ende of our curyosyte.
+ For dethe is lyke to hye and lowde degre
+
+ What shall a kynge at his last endynge haue
+ Of all his realme and infynyte treasoure
+ Saue onely his towmbe, and the grounde of his graue
+ But thoughe it be of great pryce and voloure
+ As is conuenyent to his hye honoure.
+ Yet lytell conforte to his soule shall it gyue
+ But cause of bostynge to them that after lyue
+
+ Thus whan man vnto his last ende is come
+ He nought with hym bereth of his dignytees
+ Wherfore cynicus a man of great wysdome
+ Lorde grettest of Grece in londes and Cytees
+ Hathe lefte great example vnto all degrees
+ For his great ryches his herte dyd neuer blynde
+ But worldly pompe set clene out of his mynde
+
+ He forced of no castels nor excellent byldynge
+ Dispysynge charges and besynes worldly
+ But gaue his mynde to vertue and cunnynge
+ And namely to the scyence of astronomy
+ Consyderynge that great rest of mynde and of body
+ With hym abydeth whiche with bolde herte is fayne
+ To folowe vertue, and leue charges mundayne
+
+ He that so doth no weght doth vndertake
+ Vpon his backe of so great a grauyte
+ That his small strength must it agayne forsake.
+ Where he that attempteth grettest thynges, and hye:
+ Great weyght of charges and moche dignite
+ Must lerne to suffer payne thought and vexacion
+ By his great charges of perturbacion.
+
+ What auayle is it the worlde to obtayne
+ In one mannys power, and all other to excell
+ To suffer trouble, and vayne charges sustayne
+ And at the last his pore soule gooth to hell
+ There toren and tourmented in paynes cruell
+ It were moche better to kepe a quyet mynde
+ And after our deth eternall rest to fynde
+
+ He that taketh thought for euery besynes:
+ And caryth for that whiche doth nat apertayne
+ Nor longe to his charge, he is full of blyndnes
+ And no houre shall rest, but styll in thought and payne
+ Care for thy owne charges, theron set thy brayne
+ For he a fole is that caryth or doth intende
+ For another mannys charge whiche he can nat amende
+
+ Therfore lyue in rest after thy degre.
+ Nor on suche thynges do nat thy mynde aply
+ Whiche ar no thynge apertaynynge vnto the
+ If thou so do thou shalt fynde rest therby
+ Auoyde thou the charge of worldly mysery
+ For godes take no thought great care ne trauayle.
+ Whiche after deth shall do the none auayle
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Fole clere thy iyen and of thy selfe beware
+ Care moste for thy owne besynes and charge
+ For other mennes take no great thought nor care
+ If thou thy conscience mayst therof discharge
+ A curyous man that of his tunge is large
+ Talkynge or carynge of other, his place is best
+ Hye in the fore top of our folysshe barge
+ For in that place is small quyet or rest
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that ar alway borowynge.
+
+[Illustration: A man that is besy both euyn and morowe
+With rauysshynge clawys and insaciable
+Of his frendes and neyghbours to begge and to borow
+To the deuourynge wolfe is most lyke or semblable
+Suche in our shyp shall nat want a babyll
+For he that styll borowes shall skant hym quyte or redde
+And as a wretche the asse shall hym ouer tredde]
+
+ That fole that hym selfe a dettour doth make
+ To dyuerse men, and is borowynge alway
+ Right ponderous charges on hym doth take
+ Borowynge of one another therwith to pay
+ Thoughe he be glad to haue longe terme and day
+ To hym assygned to make his payment
+ It nought auayleth, for soone the tyme is spent
+
+ But in the meane tyme deuourynge vsurye
+ Spoylyth makynge pore many a borewer
+ Where they two borewed they promys to pay thre
+ Their day of payment lenger to defarre.
+ Thus doth oft borowynge many thousandes marre
+ Yet some get malyce for that gode that they len
+ And where they lent twenty gladly taketh ten.
+
+ I wyll nat say but that it is mede certayne
+ To lene frely to one that is in nede
+ And wyll be glade it to content agayne.
+ But he that lenyth to haue rewarde or mede
+ Or more than he lent, may of hell payne haue drede
+ And he that so boroweth gayne can haue none
+ Therby in this lyfe, but hell whan he is gone
+
+ Therfore in this satyre suche wyll I repreue
+ And none that borowe nor lene on amyte
+ The vsurers: fals cristen men in theyr byleue
+ Folowe the waren way of theyr iniquyte
+ Prohybyte by lawe iustyce and equyte
+ Theyr vnclene hertes, and mynde, vnhappely
+ On lucre settynge, comynge by vsury
+
+ They hepe theyr synne in quantyte horryble
+ Labowrynge that lewde burthen gretter to make
+ And that sore weght tedyose and terryble
+ With a great rope vpon theyr shulders take
+ The weyght vp taken all theyr hole ioyntes quake
+ Thus these caytyfs with this rope and burthyn heuy
+ Them selfe hange damnynge theyr soule eternally
+
+ A wretchyd man, alas make clere thy reason
+ Remember thoughe god the suffer thus longe tyme
+ He graunteth that space to amende the in season.
+ And nat dayly to encreas thy synne and cryme
+ Somtyme he punyssheth with infernall abhyme
+ Shortly for synne, somtyme thoughe one mysdo
+ He suffreth longe: but yet truste nat therto
+
+ The longer vnpunysshed, the sorer is the payne
+ And if thou wylt nat gyue to me credence
+ Of sodome and Gomor the Bybyll sheweth playne
+ Howe God rightwysely ponysshed theyr offence
+ And also Solym, towne of great excellence
+ For vyciousnes god ponysshed bytterly
+ Whiche sholde vs cause for to lyue rightwysely.
+
+ The rightwyse god also dyd sore chastyce
+ Tthe Nilicolyans and them vtterly destroy
+ For theyr contynuynge in theyr syn and vyce
+ And theyr lynage longe kepte from welth and ioy
+ In great trouble whiche dyd theyr hertis noy:
+ Howe be it that they were good and innocent
+ For theyr fathers faute they suffred punysshement
+
+ But to our purpose to retourne agayne.
+ He that ought boroweth whiche he can nat pay
+ Of a wolfe rauysshynge foloweth the trayne
+ But though he all swolowe yet can he by no way
+ Deuoure the tyme nor the prefyxed day
+ Wherfore if he than disceyue his credytour
+ He oft hym chastyth with iustyce and rygour
+
+ Ryght in lyke wyse our lorde omnipotent
+ In this worlde to lyue grauntyth vs tyme and space
+ Nat styll to synne, but vnto this intent
+ To leue our vyce, and folowe the way of grace
+ But if we styll contynue in one case
+ And haue done no good to pay hym at our day
+ In hell pryson he iustly shall vs lay
+
+BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Thou fole mysmyndyd to large of sconscyence
+ To the I speke that art a lewde dettour
+ Borowe thou no thynge, noble grote ne pens.
+ More than thou mayst agayne pay thy credytour
+ Right so endeuer the to pay thy sauyour
+ His right and dewty, with a glad wyll and fayne
+ That is true seruyce, with glory and honour
+ Than shalt thou surely escape infernall payne.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of inprofytable and vayne prayers vowes
+and peticyons.
+
+[Illustration: That man whose herte vnhappy synne doth blynde
+And prayth gasynge into the fyrmament
+Or he that setteth nat his herte and mynde
+Upon his wordes, theyr sentence or intent
+And he that desyreth thynge nat conuenyent
+Suche folys shall nat theyr peticion obtayne
+For without the herte the tonge laboureth in vayne]
+
+ Here we repreue (reperue) ye and reuyle.
+ A sorte of folys lewde of condicions
+ Whose herte and tunge theyr soules doth defyle
+ By theyr blynde prayers and yll peticions
+ Suche folowe no techynge nor gode monysyons
+ For often many of them with tunge doth pray
+ Theyr mynde, abstract nat knowynge what they say
+
+ Man oft desyreth with great affeccion
+ That thynge of god, whiche thynge if god wolde graunt.
+ Sholde be at last vnto thyer destruccyon
+ Examples hereof thou canst nat lacke nor want
+ The great Medas somtyme kynge tryumphant.
+ Of Phrygye By his owne folysshe desyre
+ With paynfull hunger, his lyfe breth dyd expyre
+
+ This kynge Mydas of whom I haue you tolde
+ Of god desyred with prayer dylygent.
+ That all that he touchyd tourne myght vnto golde
+ His prayer was harde, he obteynyd his intent
+ But nat to his welth, but mortall punysshement
+ For whan he brede or drynke tast or touche sholde
+ Incontynent was it tourned in to golde
+
+ Thus was his prayer to his owne damage
+ For at the laste he dyed in wo and payne
+ For no golde coude his sore hunger asswage
+ Nor his desyre coude he nat call agayne.
+ Thus his peticion desyred was in vayne:
+ And where he wenyd great welth to get therby
+ He dyed in shame hunger and mysery.
+
+ Some dayly pray with marueylous besynes
+ Cryeng and syghynge to god omnypotent
+ For to haue plenty of welth ioy and ryches
+ And to be made ryche myghty and excellent.
+ O cursyd lyuers, o blynde men of intent
+ On suche desyres they set theyr mynde and thought
+ Whiche thousandes vnto shamefull ende hath brought
+
+ What profyted the myghty edefyces:
+ Of Lycynus, or lyuelode of excesse:
+ What profyteth the money gotten in vyces
+ Of riche Crassus, or cresus, great ryches
+ They all ar dede by theyr vnhappynes
+ And that lewdely, nat by deth naturall
+ Theyr blynde desyres chefe rote and cause of all
+
+ Another whiche is in youthes prosperyte
+ For strength and myght often to god doth pray
+ Some of theyr lyfe to haue prolyxyte
+ Desyreth god, and here to byde alway
+ In riches welth, ioy and solempne aray
+ But yet they in glotony take suche custome
+ That they slea them selfe longe or theyr day be come
+
+ Alas mad fole why prayest thou for age
+ Syns it so greuous is and ymportable
+ Unstable and full of dolour and damage
+ Odyous to youth and intollerable
+ Say folysshe man whiche art of mynde vnstable
+ Is it nat great foly to any creature
+ To pray for that thynge, whiche he can nat endure
+
+ Peleus, and Nestor and many other mo
+ As Itackes and laertes, sore haue complayned
+ For to longe age, euer full of payne and wo
+ Wherwith theyr bodyes sore haue ben constrayned
+ And with great sorowes and dyuers often payned:
+ And to conclude brefly in one sentence
+ Oft to age falleth moche inconuenyence
+
+ Yet ar mo folys whiche ought repreued be
+ And they ar suche whiche styll on god doth call
+ For great rowmes, offyces and great dignyte
+ No thynge intendynge to theyr greuous fall
+ For this is dayly sene, and euer shall
+ That he that coueytys hye to clym aloft
+ If he hap to fall, his fall can nat be soft
+
+ Some other pray for bewty and fayrnes
+ And that to a cursyd purpose and intent
+ Wherby they lese the heuenly blyssydnes:
+ Theyr soule subduynge to infernall turment
+ O ye mad folys of myndes ympotent
+ Pray your Pater noster with deuoute herte and mynde
+ For therin is all that is nedefull to mankynde
+
+ Our sauyour criste whyle he was on this grounde
+ Amonge vs synners in this vale of mysery
+ Taught his disciples this prayer whiche doth sounde
+ Nere to this sentence, nor greatly doth nat vary
+ (Our father wiche art in heuen) eternally
+ Thy name be halowyd (graunt that to thy kyngdome)
+ All we thy seruauntis worthely may come
+
+ In heuen and erth thy wyll be done alway
+ And of thy great grace and thy benygnyte
+ Our dayly brede graunt vnto vs this day
+ Forgyuynge our synnes and our iniquyte:
+ As we forgyue them that to vs detters be
+ And to auoyde temptacion thy grace vnto vs len
+ And vs delyuer from euery yll amen.
+
+ Whan thou hast clensyd thy mynde from syn before
+ And sayd this prayer to thy maker deuoutly
+ Thou nedyst nat of hym to desyre more
+ Yet mayst thou pray and desyre rightwysly
+ For helthe of soule within thy hole body
+ For stedfast fayth and yll name to eschewe.
+ And chastely to lyue (by his help) in vertue
+
+ Thus sholde thou pray thou wretche both day and nyght
+ With herte and mynde vnto thy creatoure:
+ And nought by foly to asshe agaynst right
+ To hurte or losse to thy frende or neyghboure
+ Nor to thy fo by yll wyll or rygoure
+ But if god to thy prayers alway sholde enclyne
+ Oft sholde come great sorowe to the and to all thyne
+
+ THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Man clere thy mynde or thou begyn to pray
+ Els though thy prayer be iust it is but vayne
+ And kepe togyther thy hurte and tonge alway
+ Or els doutles thou lesest all thy payne
+ From lewde peticions thy mynde thou ought refrayne
+ If thou desyre yll to thy fo by malyce
+ At thy peticion god shall haue dysdayne
+ For though thou be wrothe god is nat in lyke wyse
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of vnprofytable stody.
+
+[Illustration: He that vayne stody doth haunt or exercyse
+And lesyth his tyme, of fruyte voyde and barayne
+Resortynge to ryot whiche cunnynge doth dispyse
+And that of doctryne (in maner) hath disdayne
+Suche shall in age of his madnes complayne
+And seynge that he lesyth his tyme thus in foly
+Let hym come to our folysshe company.]
+
+ Nowe in this Nauy many them selfe present
+ Of this our roylame and from beyond the see
+ Whiche in theyr stody or lewde and neglygent
+ Lesynge theyr tyme at the vnyuersyte
+ Yet count they them selfe of great auctoryte
+ With theyr proude hodes on theyr neckes hangynge
+ They haue the lawde: but other haue the cunnynge
+
+ They thynke that they haue all scyence perfytely
+ Within theyr hertes bostynge them of the same
+ Though they therto theyr mynde dyd neuer aply
+ Without the thynge, they ioy them of the name
+ But suche mad folys to theyr great losse and shame
+ Whyle they sholde norysshe theyr myndes with science
+ They seke theyr pleasour, gyuen to neglygence
+
+ They wander in euery inconuenyence
+ From strete to strete, from tauerne to tauerne
+ But namely youth, foloweth all offence
+ No thynge intendynge the profyte to dyscerne
+ Nor fruyte of cunnynge wherby they myght gouerne
+ Them selfe by reason, but suche thynges they ensue
+ Wherby they neyther get good maners nor vertne
+
+ But he that intendeth to come to the science
+ And godly wysdome of our elders: certayne.
+ He must sore stody, for without dilygence
+ And besy laboure no man can it obtayne
+ None ought to cesse: though it firste be a payne.
+ In good perseueraunce getteth great ryches
+ Where no good cometh by sleuthfull ydelnes.
+
+ But moste I marueyll of other folys blynde
+ Whiche in dyuers scyencis ar fast laborynge
+ Both daye and nyght with all theyr herte and mynde
+ But of gramer knowe they lytyll or no thynge
+ Whiche is the grounde of all lyberall cunnynge
+ Yet many ar besy in Logyke and in lawe
+ Whan all theyr gramer is skarsly worth a strawe
+
+ If he haue onys red the olde dotrinall
+ With his diffuse and vnparfyte breuyte
+ He thynketh to haue sene the poyntis of grammer all.
+ And yet of one errour he maketh two or thre
+ Precyan or sulpice disdayneth he to se
+ Thus many whiche say that they theyr grammer can
+ Ar als great folys as whan they firste began
+
+ One with his speche rounde tournynge lyke a whyle
+ Of logyke the knottis doth lows and vndo
+ In hande with his sylogysimes, and yet doth he fele
+ No thynge what it menyth, nor what longeth therto
+ Nowe sortes currit: Nowe is in hande plato
+ Another comyth in with bocardo and pheryson
+ And out goeth agayne a fole in conclusyon
+
+ There is nought else but Est and non est
+ Blaberynge and chydynge, as it were beawlys wyse
+ They argue nought els but to proue man a beest
+ Homo est Asinus is cause of moche stryfe
+ Thus passe forth these folys the dayes of theyr lyfe
+ In two syllabis, not gyuynge aduertence
+ To other cunnynge doctryne, nor scyence.
+
+ I wyll nat say but that it is expedyent
+ The to knowe of Logyke the chrafte and connynge
+ For by argument it maketh euydent
+ Moche obscurenes, somtyme enlumynynge
+ The mynde: and sharpynge the wyt in many a thynge
+ But oft yet by it a thynge playne bryght and pure
+ Is made diffuse, vnknowen harde and obscure
+
+ It is ynoughe therof to knowe the grounde
+ And nat therin to wast all thy lyfe holly
+ Styll grutchynge lyke vnto the frogges sounde
+ Or lyke the chaterynge of the folysshe pye
+ If one afferme the other wyll deny
+ Sophestry nor Logyke with their art talcatyfe
+ Shewe nat the way vnto the boke of lyfe
+
+ With suche folyes tender youth is defylyd
+ And all theyr dayes on them they set delyte
+ But godly doctryne is from theyr myndes exylyd
+ Whiche sholde the body and soule also profyte
+ They take no layser, pleasur nor respyte
+ To other scyences, pleasaunt and profytable
+ But without ende in one thynge chat and bable
+
+ One rennyth to almayne another vnto fraunce
+ To parys padway Lumbardy or spayne
+ Another to Bonony, Rome or orleance
+ To cayne, to Tolows, Athenys or Colayne
+ And at the last retournyth home agayne
+ More ignorant, blynder and gretter folys
+ Than they were whan they firste went to the scolys
+
+ One bostynge the name of a lawer or deuyne
+ His proude hode hye vpon his stately necke:
+ Thus muste a gode clerke vnto a foule enclyne
+ Lowt with the body and with obedyence becke
+ And thoughe it tourne to theyr rebuke and checke
+ Yet nowe a dayes ouer many suche there be.
+ Whiche in stede of cunnynge vseth audacyte
+
+ The hode must answere for the follysshe student
+ Theyr tyme hath ben lost frutles and barayne.
+ Theyr frendes godes on suche folyes ar spent
+ To their damage thought hunger and payne:
+ Thus to conclude: me thynke it is but vayne
+ The frendes to labour the dayes of theyr lyue
+ To spare for suche scolers whiche shall neuer thryue
+
+ The great foly, the pryde, and the enormyte
+ Of our studentis, and theyr obstynate errour
+ Causeth me to wryte two sentences or thre
+ More than I fynde wrytyn in myne actoure
+ The tyme hath ben whan I was conductoure
+ Of moche foly, whiche nowe my mynde doth greue
+ Wherfor of this shyp syns I am gouernoure.
+ I dare be bolde myne owne vyce to repreue
+
+ Howe be it I knowe my wordes shall suche greue
+ As them selfe knoweth fawty and culpable
+ But if they be wroth: take they me by the sleue
+ For they shall bere the hode and I wyll the bable:
+ But firste ye studentis that ar of mynde vnstable
+ Ye wasters and getters by nyght in felde or towne
+ Within my Nauy wolde I set you to a cable
+ If I not fered lyst ye your selfe wolde drowne
+
+ Also I fere lyst my shyp sholde synke for syn
+ If that Cupido and Uenus seruytours
+ On the vnsure se my shyp entred within
+ Or all the folys promotyd to honours
+ I none receyue can of hye progenytours
+ My shyp is nat dressyd for them conuenyent
+ And to I fere lyst theyr cruell rygours:
+ Sholde rayse to my shyp some tempest or tourment
+
+THENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Fy studentis clens your myndes of this cryme
+ Gyue ones your hertis to parfyte dylygence
+ Howe longe in Idelnes, wyll ye lese your tyme
+ In pryde and ryot, with all other offence
+ Alas what profyte get ye by neglygence
+ But spende your goodes in all iniquyte
+ And where your frendes thynke, ye labour for scyence:
+ Ye lese your tyme bryngynge them to pouertee
+
+ Leue of suche stody as is vnprofytable
+ Without fruyte outher godly discyplyne
+ And gyue your myndes to scyences lawdable
+ Where ye may your herte set and inclyne:
+ To Arystotyls or Platoys doctryne
+ And nat alway on logyke or Sophestry
+ I wyll nat say but it is a thynge dyuyne
+ And moche worth to knowe Phylosophy
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that folysshly speke agaynst
+the workes of god.
+
+[Illustration: Here note we fowlys whiche can nat be content
+With goddes worke, and ordynaunce dyuyne
+Thynkynge theyr owne wyll moche more expedyent
+Nat wyllynge theyr myndes to his wyll to enclyne
+But suche folys often sholde come to ruyne
+And wo with sorowe and losse sholde they fynde
+If god sholde conforme his workes to theyr mynde]
+
+ He is a fole and laboreth in vayne:
+ Whiche with small brondes of fyre flamynge bryght
+ Entendyth with laboure besynes and payne
+ Of the shynynge sonne for to encrease the lyght
+ Suche one assayeth a thynge passynge his myght
+ And is a fole to set thought or delyte
+ To mende that thynge whiche god hath made perfyte
+
+ But yet is he a moche gretter fole truely
+ Whiche wyll correct that thynge whiche god hath done
+ And doth nat his herte his wyll and mynde aply
+ To goddes workes and deuyne prouysyon
+ Of all other maddest is his condycion
+ And more frantyfe forsoth I may hym call
+ Than they that ar vext with furyes infernall:
+
+ (Thou fole) the myght of god omnipotent
+ In vertue and wysdome so largely doth extende
+ His maiesty, and power is so excellent
+ His glorious godhede his workes doth defende
+ So that no mortall man can them amende
+ Wenest thou mad fole that thou amende cannest ought
+ That he hath done: whiche made all thynge of nought
+
+ He that hath made the heuen and firmament
+ The londe, the se, and euery other thynge
+ Is so discrete, so wyse, and prouydent
+ Before his presence parfytely seynge
+ All thynge to come that neuer hath had beynge
+ His workes and dedys ar so perfyte and ryght
+ That none can increas nor yet decreas his myght
+
+ He doth all thynge dispose moderate and dispence
+ Knowynge our mynde, and what is to vs most mete
+ All thynge is open and playne in his presence
+ Our inwarde thought must he nedes knowe and wete
+ And euery fortune is playne before his fete
+ He hath all thynge by lawe and order drest
+ And doth no thynge but it is for the best
+
+ Therfore whether he gyue thunder snowe or rayne
+ Wynde or wether, tempest or tourment
+ Frost lyghtnynge, fayre wether, outher storme sodayne
+ Mystes or clowdes, yet man sholde be content
+ And nat with worde nouther inwarde intent
+ Agaynst god grutche, but euery day and houre
+ Magnyfye the dedys of god his creatoure
+
+ It were moche better thou fole that thou were dome
+ Than to cast lewde wordes agaynst thy lorde in vayne
+ Thou fole he worketh no thynge but by wysedome
+ And yet art thou nat content but dost complayne
+ Thou sekest vengeaunce (for thy synne) and payne
+ In hell for euer, thynkynge thy selfe so wyse
+ To teche thy god, and his warke to dispyse
+
+ It is nat lawfull for any, hye nor lowe
+ To be so bolde so blynde or so cruell
+ Grutchynge wordes agaynst his god to throwe
+ Thughe to theyr plaseour a thynge nat fortune well
+ Take example by the children of Israell
+ Whiche oft for this synne suffred great payne and wo
+ Slayne and distroyed, so haue ben many mo
+
+ Many a lewde body without wysdome or rede
+ Grutche in theyr myndes, and openly do blame
+ Almyghy god, whan theyr children ar dede
+ Where rather they ought to enioye of the same
+ For it myght fortune that great rebuke and shame
+ Myght to theyr frendes haue come by theyr synne and cryme
+ Soone after: if they had nat dyed at that tyme
+
+ Wherfore this one clause is my conclusyon
+ That god our maker is wyse and prouydent
+ Blame nat his workes by thyne abusyon
+ For all that he doth is for the best intent
+ But if that god sholde alwaye assent
+ To our desyres and euer perfourme our wyll
+ Our owne requestis sholde tourne vs to great yll
+
+ALEXANDER BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ O ye mad myndes that no thynge vnderstonde
+ O man presumptuous and vnobedyent
+ Howe darest thou be so bolde to take on honde
+ To repreue the workes of god omnipotent
+ Wylt thou hym teche, as more wyse and prouydent
+ Than he is (whiche made all thynge of nought)
+ Leue of this thy foly, and holde thy selfe content
+ For thou art a fole to set theron thy thought
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that gyue jugement on other.
+
+[Illustration: Who that reputyth hym selfe iust and fawtles
+Of maners gode, and of lyuynge commendable.
+And iugeth other (parchaunce that ar gyltles)
+To be of a condicion reprouable
+Hymselfe nat notynge, thoughe that he were culpable
+He is a fole, and onys shall haue a fall
+Syns he wyll other iuge, hym selfe yet worst of all.]
+
+ Many fallyth in great peryll and damage
+ And greuous deth by the vyce of folysshnes
+ Perseuerantly bydynge in theyr outrage
+ Theyr soule infect with synne and viciousnes
+ And though that deth hym alway to them addres
+ Yet hope they in longe lyfe and prosperyte
+ And neuer asswageth theyr blynde iniquyte
+
+ The tyme passeth as water in a ryuere
+ No mortall man can it reuoke agayne
+ Dethe with his dartis vnwarely doth apere
+ It is the ende of euery man certayne
+ The last of all ferys and ende of worldly payne
+ But thoughe we knowe that we all must haue an ende
+ We slepe in synne disdaynynge vs to amende
+
+ Some thynke them gode, iust and excellent
+ Myghty stronge and worthy of preemynence:
+ Charitable, chast, constant and innocent
+ Nat doutynge deth nor other inconuenyence
+ But yet ar they wrappyd sore in synne and offence
+ And in a vayne hope, contynue in suche wyse
+ That all the worlde (saue them selfe) they dispyse
+
+ They take on them the workes of god omnipotent
+ To iuge the secrete of mannys mynde and thought
+ And where no sygne is sene playne and euydent
+ They iuge a man saynge, his lyfe is nought
+ And if deth one hath vnto his last ende brought
+ (As mad) they mende nat theyr mysgouernaunce
+ Nat thynkynge that they ensue must the same daunce
+
+ Suche folys fayne causes and often tymes say:
+ That he that is dede vsed ryot and moche foly
+ Whiche causyd hym to dye before his day
+ And that he was feble, or full of malancoly
+ Ouer sad, or prowde, disceytfull and pope holy
+ Uiciously lyuynge in couetyse and gyle
+ Wherfore god suffred hym lyue the shorter whyle
+
+ Lo these blynde folys saciat with vyce
+ Jugeth hym that perchaunce dyd nat amys
+ Whyle he here lyuyd, and is in paradyce
+ Rewardyd for his workes in endles ioy and blys
+ Where as this lewde Juger, here in this worlde is
+ Styll lyuynge in synne, suffrynge great payne and wo
+ And though he thynke hym gode shall neuer come therto
+
+ He that in synne here lyeth fettered fast
+ And iugeth the deth of his frende or neyboure
+ Whiche from this lyfe is departed and past.
+ Let hym beware, for onys come shall the houre
+ That he must fele dethis dolorouse rygoure.
+ And after that endure infernall punysshement
+ For iugynge and mysdemynge of people innocent
+
+ The terme and day, of deth is moche vnsure
+ The deth is sure, the houre is vncertayne
+ Deth is generall to euery creature
+ Theder we must all, be it pleasour or payne
+ Wherfore wysdome wyll that we shulde refrayne
+ From folysshe demynge and nons deth discus
+ After deth god wot howe it shall be with vs
+
+ Alas full often a iust man gode and true
+ Of mynde innocent sad sober and sympyll
+ Passynge his tyme in goodnes and vertue
+ Is of these folys thought and demyd for yll
+ And he that is nought, frowarde of dede and wyll
+ Of these folys blynde frantyke and wode.
+ Without all reason is iugyd to be goode
+
+ Wherfore I proue that a blynde fole thou art
+ To iuge or deme a mannys thought or intent
+ For onely god knoweth our mynde and hart
+ Wherto we gree and to what thynge we assent
+ But who that is rightwyse iust, and innocent
+ And louyth god with honour and with reuerence
+ Than, may he boldely iuge anothers offence
+
+ALEXANDER BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Amende you folys: do way these folysshe wayes
+ Take ye no charge: nat mete for your degre.
+ And note these wordes: whiche criste our sauyour sayes
+ Juge nat another, and thou shalt nat iugyd be
+ It longeth onely to the hye dyuynyte
+ To iuge our mynde: for he is true iustyce
+ All thynge discernynge by right and equyte
+ No man sholde deme, whyle hym selfe is in vyce
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of pluralitees that is to say of them whiche
+charge them selfe with many benefycis.
+
+[Illustration: That myller is a fole and here shall haue a barge
+And as a mad man shall fast therin be bounde
+Whiche his Asse wyll with so many sackes charge
+That the pore beste for payne fallys to the grounde
+Many in the chirche lyke hym may be founde.
+Whiche so many benefycis labour to procure
+That their small myght can nat the charge endure.]
+
+ Amonge our folys delytynge them in vyces
+ Is yet another sorte of the speritualte
+ Whiche them ouerchargeth with dyuers benefyces
+ And namely suche that lowest ar in degre
+ Of byrth and cunnynge, of this condycion be
+ Defylynge goddes rentis and the chirches goode
+ Them selfe ouer ladynge, as men frantyke and wode
+
+ The weght is so great they can it nat endure
+ Theyr myght is small, theyr cunnynge is moche lesse
+ Thus this great charge wherof they haue the cure
+ To infernall Fenn doth this pore Asse oppresse
+ And to an Asse moste lyke he is doutles
+ Whiche takynge on his backe sackes nyne or tenne.
+ Destroyeth hymselfe them leuynge in the fenne
+
+ But though one prebende were to hym suffycient
+ Or one benefyce his lyuynge myght suffyse
+ Yet this blynde fole is nat therwith content
+ But labowreth for mo, and alway doth deuyse
+ Fals meanes to come therto by couetyse
+ He gapeth with his wyde throte insaciable
+ And neuer can content his wyll abhomynable
+
+ So for the loue of the peny and ryches.
+ He taketh this charge to lyue in welth and eas.
+ Howe be it that sole that hath suche besynes
+ And dyueres charges fyndeth great disseas
+ Neyther shall he god, nor yet the worlde pleas
+ And shall with his burthyns his mynde so vex and comber
+ That halfe his cures, can he nat count nor nomber
+
+ These carefull caytyfs, that ar of this same sort
+ With cures ar ouerchargyd so that of theyr mynde.
+ Rest haue they none, solace, pleasour nor conforte
+ Howe be it they thynke therby great welth to fynde
+ They gape yet euer, theyr maners lyke the wynde
+ Theyr lyfe without all terme or sertaynte
+ If they haue two lyuynges, yet loke they to haue thre
+
+ The folys whose hertis vnto this vyce ar bounde
+ Upon theyr sholders bereth aboute a sacke.
+ Insaciable without botome, outher grounde:
+ They thynke them nat lade though all be on theyr backe.
+ The more that they haue (the more they thynke they lacke)
+ What deuyll can stop theyr throte so large and wyde
+ Yet many all waste aboute Ryot and pryde
+
+ But yet is this moche more abhomynable
+ That asses vntaught without wysdome or scyence
+ Haue theyr proude myndes moste vnsaciable
+ Nat commynge to worshyp by vertue nor prudence
+ Yet counte they them worthy of this excellence
+ Courters become prestis nought knowynge but the dyce
+ They preste not for god, but for a benefyce
+
+ The clerke of the kechyn is a prest become
+ In full trust to come to promosyon hye
+ No thynge by vertue cunnynge nor wysdome
+ But by couetyse, practyse and flatery
+ The Stepyll and the chirche by this meane stand awry
+ For some become rather prestis for couetyse.
+ Than for the loue of god or his seruyce.
+
+ Alas oft goddes goodes and cristis herytage
+ Of suche folys is wastyd and spent in vayne
+ In great folyes mundaynes and outrage
+ Where it decreed, and ordeyned is certayne.
+ That prestis sholde helpe pore people that lyue in payne
+ And with suche goodes kepe hospytalyte
+ Whiche pryde ryot and Uenus suffreth nat to be
+
+ Thus is the grettest parte of the spiritualte
+ Pore preste, persone, vicayr, relygyon and prelate
+ With couetyse acloyde outher prodigalyte
+ And folys promotyd causyth good clerkis haue hate
+ Say lordes and bysshops with other of estate
+ What mouyth you so gladly, suche to promote
+ Whiche haue no cunnynge their wyt skant worth a grote
+
+ Wyll ye alway the folysshe asse ouercharge
+ With suche burthyns wherwith it can nat fare
+ And suffer other to walke and ren at large
+ And where they best myght bere theyr backes ar left bare
+ And that is worst of all, suche folys can nat be ware
+ But whan they ar promotyd after theyr owne entent.
+ Yet theyr insaciable mynde can neuer be content.
+
+ Some make exchanges and permutacions
+ Some take to ferme, and some let out agayne
+ Other folys for hope make resignacions
+ And some for one god scosyth gladly twayne
+ Some lyueth longe in hunger and in payne
+ And in the somer day skarsly drynketh twyse
+ Sparynge monay therwith to by a benefyce
+
+ Some for no wages in court doth attende
+ With lorde or knyght, and all for this polecy
+ To get of his lorde a benefyce at the ende
+ And in the meane tyme ensueth rybawdry
+ And somtyme laboureth by chraft of symony.
+ He playeth a fals cast, nat cessynge to coniure
+ Tyll of some benefyce he at the last be sure
+
+ Than if this lorde haue in hym fauoure, he hath hope
+ To haue another benefyce of gretter dignyte
+ And so maketh a fals suggestyon to the pope
+ For a Tot quot outher els a pluralyte
+ Than shall he nat be pleased with .II. nouther thre
+ But dyuers wyll he haue ay choppynge and changynge
+ So oft a fole all and a gode clerke no thynge
+
+ These of nought force so that they may haue gayne
+ And golde ynough to spende on rybawdry and pryde
+ They haue the profyte, another hath the payne
+ The cure of the soulys of them is set asyde
+ And no meruayle, for howe sholde they abyde.
+ To teche their parysshynges vertue wysdome or grace
+ Syns no man can be atonys in euery place
+
+ Alas these folys our mayster criste betray
+ Of mannes soule wherof they haue the cure
+ And settynge in their stede syr Johnn of garnesey
+ They thynketh them selfe dischargyd quyte and sure
+ These folys note nat that euery creature.
+ Whiche here of soulys doth cure or charge take
+ At domys day a compt for them shall make
+
+ But if I sholde touche all the enormytees
+ The immoderat couetyse and desyre of dignyte
+ That nowe is vsed amonge all the degrees
+ Of benefycyd men ouer all the spiritualte
+ I fere displeasour, and also I often se
+ That trouth is blamed, and nat ay best to tell
+ But he that in this lyfe wyll alway besy be
+ To get dyuers prebendes shall haue the last in hell
+
+THENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ What meane ye gyders of Christis herytage
+ Shall ye neuer leue this your deuowrynge mynde
+ Shall ye no tyme your couytyse asswage
+ Whiche in goddes seruyce your hartis sore doth blynde
+ Let this fals traytour no place amonge you fynde
+ Graunt hym no rowne in churche nor in quere.
+ For this is sure ye shall all leue behynde
+ We haue no Cyte, nor place abydynge here
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that prolonge from day to day
+to amende themselfe.
+
+[Illustration: He that cras cras syngeth with the crowe
+Deferrynge the tyme of his amendement
+Amonge our folys, in this our shyp shall rowe
+For his presumpcion, dull mynde and blynde intent
+What knowe these folys whether god omnypotent
+Wyll graunt them to lyue vntyll another day.
+Wherfore we ought to mende vs whyle we may.]
+
+ If vnto any almyghty god doth sende
+ From heuen aboue by inspyracion dyuyne
+ Wyll and gode mynde his synnes to amende
+ And with his grace his thoughtes enlumyne
+ If that synner wyll nat therto enclyne
+ But doth dyffer and dryue frome day to day
+ A fole he is, no wyse man wyll denay
+
+ Yet many folowe this inconuenience
+ And knowynge theyr owne vyce, and lyfe full of ordure
+ The payne therof, and howe euery offence
+ And synne is punysshed of eche creature
+ Also they knowe that theyr deth is vnsure
+ And dye they must knowynge no houre nor space
+ Yet synne they styll, nat receyuynge this grace
+
+ They folowe the crowes cry to theyr great sorowe
+ Cras cras cras to morowe we shall amende
+ And if we mende nat than, than shall we the next morowe
+ Outher shortly after, we shall no more offende
+ Amende mad fole whan god this grace doth sende
+ He is vnwyse whiche trustes the crowes songe
+ And that affermyth that he shall lyue so longe
+
+ Syns deth (as I haue sayde) is so vnstable
+ Wherfore we ought alway vs to prouyde
+ And mende our lyfe and synne abhomynable
+ For though that thou be hole at the euyn tyde
+ Thou knowest nat sure that thou shall here abyde
+ Untyll the morne but if thou dye in that space
+ It shall be to late for the to cry cras cras
+
+ Syns it is in thy power that thou may
+ Amende thy selfe whan god inspyreth the
+ Why shalt thou tary vnto another day
+ The longer tary the lesse apt shalt thou be.
+ In olde sores is grettest ieopardye
+ Whan costome and vse is tourned to nature
+ It is right harde to leue: I the ensure
+
+ Therfore if that thou lewdly fall in syn
+ By thy frayle flesshe, and the fals fendes trayne
+ Take nat the vse, contynue nat therin
+ But by confessyon shortly ryse agayne
+ Synne alway thretenyth vnto the doer, payne
+ And grutche of conscience with moche thought and wo
+ Yet alwaye ar we redy and prone therto
+
+ Mannys lyfe on erth is euyn a chyualry
+ Agaynst our flesshe fyghtyng whiche often doth vs shame
+ Also the deuyll our goostly ennemy
+ On his parte labours to get vs in his frame
+ Thus oft we fall, and than our foly blame
+ Repentynge sore, and wyllynge to refrayne
+ But within an houre we fall therto agayne
+
+ Thus euer to vyce ar we redy and prone
+ The gyftis of grace we clene from vs exclude
+ We haue great cause sore to complayne and mone
+ We leue that thynge (our myndes ar so rude)
+ That myght vs gyde to helth and beatytude
+ Thus our owne foly, and our owne blynde madnes
+ Us often ledyth vnto great wretchydnes
+
+ And if it fortune, that at any tyme
+ Within our myndes we purpose stedfastly
+ For to confesse our synne, excesse, or cryme
+ Agayne our thought is changyd by and by
+ Away than ren we with the crowys crye
+ With one cras, to morowe, perauenture twayne
+ Without regarde had, vnto infernall payne
+
+ But in the meane space if that deth vntretable
+ Arrest the with his mace, fyers and cruell
+ And for thy synne and lyfe abhomynable
+ By iustyce damme thy soule for euer to hell
+ Than woldest thou gladly (If thou myght) do well
+ But there is no grace but doloure payne and sorowe
+ Than is to late to crye cras cras to morowe
+
+THE ENUOY OF THE ACTOUR.
+
+ Say what delyte, thou fole or what pleasoure
+ Takest thou in synne and voluptuosyte
+ It is small sothly, and passeth euery houre
+ Lyke to the water, and that in myserye
+ Therfore set nat in synne thy felycyte
+ This day begyn thy lewde lyfe to refuse
+ Perchaunce to morowe sholde be to late to the
+ So sholde cras the crwys songe the sore abuse
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of hym that is Jelous ouer his wyfe and
+watcheth hir wayes without cause, or
+euydent tokyn of hir myslyuynge.
+
+[Illustration: He that his wyfe wyll counterwayte and watche
+And feryth of hir lyuynge by his Jelowse intent
+Is as great fole, as is that wytles wratche
+That wolde kepe flees vnder the son feruent
+Or in the se cast water, thynkynge it to augment
+For thoughe he hir watche lockynge with lockys twayne
+But if she kepe hir selfe his kepynge is but vayne]
+
+ Orestes was neuer so blynde and mad as is he
+ Whiche for his wyfe taketh thought and charge
+ Watchynge hir wayes, thoughe that she gyltles be
+ This fole styll fereth, if she be out at large
+ Lyst that some other his harnes sholde ouercharge
+ But for all his fere and carefull Jelowsy
+ If she be nought there is no remedy.
+
+ Thou fole I proue, thy watchynge helpeth nought
+ Thy labour lost is, thou takest this care in vayne
+ In vayne thou takest this Jelowsy and thought
+ In vayne thou sleest thy selfe with care and payne
+ And of one doute thou fole thou makest twayne
+ And neuer shalt fynde eas nor mery lyuynge
+ (Whyle thou thus lyuest) but hatered and chydynge
+
+ For locke hir fast and all hir lokes marke.
+ Note all hir steppys, and twynklynge of hir iye.
+ Ordeyne thy watchers and dogges for to barke
+ Bar fast thy dores and yet it wyll nat be
+ Close hir in a Toure with wallys stronge and hye
+ But yet thou fole thou lesist thy trauayle
+ For without she wyll no man can kepe hir tayle
+
+ And yet more ouer breche hir with plate and mayle
+ And for all that if she be nought of kynde
+ She shall disceyue the (If she lyst) without fayle
+ But if that she be chast of dede and mynde
+ Hir selfe shall she kepe, though thou hir neuer bynde
+ Thus they that ar chast of nature, wyll byde so
+ And nought wyll be nought what so euer thou do
+
+ Thus is it foly and causeth great debate
+ Bytwene man and wyfe, whan he by Jelowsy.
+ His wyfe suspectyth, and doth watche or counterwayt
+ Or hir mysdemyth and kepyth in stratly.
+ Wherfore me thynke it is best remedy
+ For hym that gladly wolde escape the hode
+ Nat to be Jelous: but honest lyuynge and gode
+
+ The toure of bras that callyd was darayne.
+ Coude nat the damsell (by name Danes) defende
+ But that Jupiter fonde a cautell and trayne
+ In a golden shoure into hir to discende
+ And to be short, at conclusyon and ende
+ This mayde for all this Toure was there defylyd.
+ And by this lorde was she there brought with childe
+
+ By this example it apereth euydent
+ That it is foly a woman to kepe or close
+ For if she be of lewde mynde or intent
+ Outher preuy or apert there about she goys
+ Deuysynge wayes with hir good man to glose
+ But specially if that he hir suspect
+ With a hode shall he vnwars be ouerdect
+
+ But in the worlde right many other be
+ Whiche neuer folowe this fals and lothly way
+ We haue example of one Penolope
+ Whiche though that she alone was many a day
+ Hir husbonde gone, and she vexed alway.
+ By other louers: yet was she euer trewe
+ Unto hir olde: and neuer changyd for newe
+
+ I fynde that often this folysshe Jelowsy
+ Of men; causyth some women to mysdo
+ Where as (were nat theyr husbondes blynde foly)
+ The pore wymen knowe nat what longyd therto
+ Wherfore suche men ar folys and mad also
+ And with theyr hodes whiche they them selfe purchace
+ Within my shyp shall haue a rowme and place
+
+ For where as perchaunce theyr wyfes ar chaste and goode
+ By mannys vnkyndnes they chaunge and turne theyr herte
+ So that the wyfe must nedes gyue them a hode
+ But to be playne some wymen ar esy to conuert
+ For if one take them where they can nat start.
+ What for theyr husbondes folysshe Jelowsy
+ And theyr owne pleasour: they scars can ought deny
+
+THE ENUOY OF THE ACTOUR.
+
+ Therfore ye wymen lyue wysly and eschewe
+ These wanton wowers and suche wylde company
+ Get you gode name by sadnes and vertue
+ Haunt no olde quenys that nourysshe rybawdry
+ Than fere ye nat your husbondes Jelowsy
+ If ye be fawtles, chaste and innocent
+ But wanton wowers ar ful of flatery
+ Euer whan they labour for their intent.
+
+ Be meke, demure, bocsome, and obedyent,
+ Gyue none occasyon to men by your foly
+ If one ought asshe, deny it incontynent
+ And euer after auoyde his company
+ Beware of cornes, do nat your erys aply
+ To pleasaunt wordes nor letters eloquent
+ If that Helena had so done certaynly
+ She had nat ven rauysshed by handes violent
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of auoutry, and specially of them y^t ar
+bawdes to their wyues, knowynge and
+wyll nat knowe, but kepe counseyll, for
+couetyse, and gaynes or auauntage.
+
+[Illustration: A fole blynde, forsoth and wytles is that man
+Whiche thoughe his wyfe openly defylyd be
+Before his owne face, yet suche a chrafte he can
+To fayne hym a slepe, nat wyllynge it to se
+Or els he layeth his hande before his iye
+And thoughe he here and se howe the mater gose
+He snortynge slepyth, and wyll it nat disclose.]
+
+ O what disorder, what shame and what domage
+ Is nowe brought in, and right lykely to abyde
+ In the sacrament of holy mariage
+ The fere of payne and lawe is set a syde
+ Faythe is clene lost, and fewe them selfe do gyde
+ After theyr othe, but for lacke of punysshement.
+ They brake and despyse this dyuyne sacrament
+
+ Alas the lawe that Julius dyd ordeyne
+ Agaynst auoutry: is nowe a slepe or dede
+ None feryth iustyce punysshement nor payne
+ Both man and woman ar past all fere and drede
+ Theyr promes brekynge, without respect or hede
+ Had to theyr othe, by mariage solemnysed
+ The bed defylyd. the sacrament despysed
+
+ Many ar whiche thynke it is a thynge laudable
+ Anothers sponse to pullute and dyffame
+ And howe beit the synne is moche abhomynable
+ They fere nat god, nor dout nat worldly shame
+ But rather boldly they bost them of the same
+ They note no thynge the mortall punysshement
+ Taken on auoutrers in the olde testament
+
+ Yet is another thynge more lothsome and vyle
+ That many husbondes knowynge theyr wyues syn
+ Absent themselfe and stop theyr iyen the whyle
+ Kepynge the dore whyle the auoutrer is within
+ They forse no thynge so they may money wyn
+ Lyuynge as bawdes, and that to theyr owne wyues
+ O cursyd money, this madnes thou contryuys
+
+ O cursyd husbonde thou ought to be asshamyd
+ To set so great fors for syluer or for golde
+ That thou for them thy wyfe wyll se diffamyd
+ And helpe therto: ye: and the dede beholde
+ Blame it blynde dryuyll: by the lawe so thou sholde
+ And nat therat to gyggyll laghe and Jest
+ It is a lewde byrde that fyleth his owne nest
+
+ The Hystory of Atreus expressyth playne
+ Howe he (by his owne brother) for auoutry
+ Was dryuen from his royalme and his childre slayne
+ For his mysdede: without: let or remedy
+ These children thus bought theyr faders mad foly
+ What shall I wryte the wo and heuynes
+ Whiche Tarquyn had for rauysshynge lucres
+
+ I rede in the hystory of one Virginius
+ Whiche to thyntent this foule synne to eschewe
+ Whan his doughter was desyred by Clodius
+ And that by force; the fader his dowghter slewe
+ Bytwene the handes of Clodius vntrue
+ The fader answered (whan men his dede dyd blame)
+ Better is to dye chast: than longe to lyue in shame
+
+ But of auoutry somwhat more to speke
+ In it is yre Enuy and paynfull pouertye.
+ And also he or she that mariage doth breke
+ May fere of deth eternall whan they dye
+ And here without welth ioy and rest shall they be
+ And well ar they worthy (forsoth) of sore tourment
+ In hell: for brekynge this holy sacrament
+
+ But in the meane tyme here shalt thou haue discorde
+ And neuer prosper in vertue nor ryches
+ And lothsome be before the almyghty lorde
+ Thy dedes shall purchace mysfortune and distres
+ Thou lyue shalt in shame and dye in wretchydnes
+ And if thou procede therin and nat amende
+ Some great shame shalt thou haue before thyne ende.
+
+THE ENUOY OF THE ACTOUR.
+
+ O creatures vnkynde leue ye this outrage
+ Breke nat your othe whiche ye made solemly
+ Eche one to other for to lyue in mariage
+ Defyle ye it nat by synne and vylany
+ On both partis if ye lyue faythfully
+ After your promes: in loue, fayth and concorde
+ Than shall ye in erth encreas and multyply
+ And after haue syght of the almyghty lorde
+
+ Let all spousys in theyr myndes comprehende
+ The lawys and decrees of the olde testament
+ Howe they that in auoutry dyd offende
+ Were outher stonyd or els openly brent
+ Wherfore syns goddes son omnypotent.
+ Confermed hath the olde testament with the newe
+ Auoutrers nowe deserue that same punysshement
+ But well is to them, that stedfast ar and trewe
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of hym that nought can and nought wyll
+lerne, and seyth moche, lytell berynge
+away, I mene nat theuys.
+
+[Illustration: He is a fole, and so shall he dye and lyue
+That thynketh hym wyse, and yet can he no thynge
+And though he myght he wyll nat set nor gyue
+His mynde to good maners, vertue nor cunnynge.
+So is he a fole that doth to market brynge
+His Gese fast bounde, and game or sporte to se
+Lowsyth theyr fete, and suffreth them to fle]
+
+ Saynt George to borowe our Nauy is aflote
+ Forth shall we sayle, thoughe that it be a payne
+ And moche laboure to forge a pryuate bote
+ For euery faute: yet shall I nat refrayne
+ My hande nor penne: thoughe vnsure be my gayne
+ My laboure sure: my wyt and reason thynne
+ Than leue a thynge vnendyd better nat begynne
+
+ But in this place shall I a Shyp ordayne
+ For that fole: that heryth great doctryne
+ Wherby good maners and vertue aperyth playne
+ He seth all goodnes, stody, and disciplyne
+ And yet wyll nat his mynde therto enclyne
+ But though he knowe what thynge is godlyest
+ Ouer all the worlde, yet is he styll a beest.
+
+ Many of this sort wander and compase
+ All studies, the wonders of the worlde to se
+ With vnstabyll wynges fleynge from place to place
+ Some seyth lawe and some dyuynyte
+ But for all this byde they in one degre
+ And if they were Asses and folys blynde before
+ After all these syghtes yet ar they moche more
+
+ They se moche nought lernynge, and hauynge no delyte
+ In wysdome nor maners vertue nor goodnes
+ Theyr tyme is loste, without wysdome or profyte
+ Without grace, or other holynes
+ But whyle they labour thus with besynes
+ If they se ought newe, or any folysshe toy
+ That lyghtly they lerne, and set theron theyr ioy.
+
+ By this desyre folys may knowen be
+ For wytles men of fleynge mynde and brayne
+ Ar best pleasyd with thynges of neweltye
+ And them to haue, they spare no cost nor payne
+ To dyuers londes to ren but all in vayne
+ And so they labour alway from londe to londe
+ To se all wonders, but nought they vnderstonde
+
+ Some fle to se the wonders of englonde
+ Some to the court to se the maners there
+ Some to Wallys, Holonde, to Fraunce or Irlonde
+ To Lybye, afryke, and besyly enquere.
+ Of all marueyles, and skantly worth a here
+ Some vnto Fraunce and some to Flaunders ren
+ To so the wayes, and workes of cunnynge men
+
+ And to be shorte ouer all they range
+ Spendynge theyr goodes about vnthryftynes
+ In countrees knowen, vnknowen and strange
+ But whan theyr iourney they homwarde must addres
+ As folys vnware, and vagabundes thryftles
+ They haue nought lerned, kept, nor with them brought
+ Of maners, wysdome or other thynge that is ought
+
+ They that by the se sayle to londes strange
+ Oft chaunge the place and planete of the fyrmament
+ But theyr mynde nor maners they ne turne nor chaunge
+ And namely suche that ar lewde and neglygent
+ What euer they se styll one is theyr intent
+ Whan he departyd, If that he were a sote
+ Agayne anone he comyth in the same mynde and cote
+
+ Say mad folys blynde ouersene, and worthy scorne
+ Fayne wolde I knowe what necessyte ye haue
+ To go from the place where ye were bred and borne
+ Into another londe to lerne to play the knaue
+ Your mynde vnstable sheweth playne that ye raue
+ Laboure nat so sore, to lerne to be a fole
+ That cometh by it selfe without any other scole
+
+ He that is borne in walys or small brytayne
+ To lerne to pyke and stele nedys nat go to Rome.
+ What nede we sayle to Flaunders or Almayne
+ To lerne glotony, syns we may it lerne at home
+ Suche lewdnes soon may we lerne of our wombe
+ He that wyll lerne falshode gyle or sotelte
+ May lerne it here as well as beyonde the se.
+
+ To passe the se to lerne Uenus rybawdry
+ It is great foly, for thou mayst lerne thy fyll
+ In shoppis Innes and sellers, ye somtyme openly
+ At saynt Martyns Westmynster or at the tour hyll
+ So that I fere all London, in tyme it shall fyll
+ For it is there kept in lyght and in darke
+ That the pore Stuys decays for lacke of warke
+
+ But brefely to speke, and this to set a syde
+ He that on vyce, and synne wyll set his entent
+ May lerne it in Englonde, if he at home abyde
+ And that of all sortis: god sende amendement
+ But if thou alway wyll nede be dylygent
+ To labour in the worlde about from place to place
+ Do as dyd Plato, than shalt thou fynde great grace
+
+ This godly plato laboured with dilygence
+ To Egypt, and other londes sparynge for no payne
+ Where euer he came: augmentynge his scyence
+ And at the last retourned to Grece agayne
+ His countrey natyf: with laude and name souerayne
+ Thus he for all his wysdome laboured besyly
+ But that fowle that nought can nought settyth by
+
+ Wherfore that gose that styll about wyll wander
+ Moche seynge and herynge, and nought berynge away
+ Shall home come agayne as wyse as a gander
+ But more fole is he that may lerne euery day
+ Without cost or laboure out of his owne countrey
+ And whan the well of wysdome renneth by theyr dore
+ Yet looth they the water as if that it were soure
+
+ALEXANDER BARKLAY AD FATUOS VT DENT LOCUM OCTO SECUNDARIIS BEATE MARIE DE
+OTEREY QUI QUIDEM PRIMA HUIUS RATIS TRANSTRA MERENTUR.
+
+ Soft folys soft, a lytell slacke your pace
+ Tyll I haue space you to order by degre
+ I haue eyght neyghbours, that firste shall haue a place
+ Within this my shyp, for they most worthy be
+ They may theyr lernynge receyue costeles and fre.
+ Theyr wallys abuttynge and ioynynge to the scoles.
+ No thynge they can, yet nought wyll they lerne nor se
+ Therfore shall they gyde this one shyp of foles.
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY.
+
+ O vnauysyd, vnwyse and frowarde man
+ Great cause thou hast to morne sore and complayne
+ Whan no goodnes vertue nor wyt thou can
+ And yet to lerne thou hast scorne and dysdayne
+ Alas man mende, and spare no maner payne
+ To get wysdome, and it thou shalt nat want
+ Hym that nought wyll knowe, god wyll nat knowe certayne
+ Wo is hym that wylfully is ignorant.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of great wrathe, procedynge of small
+occasyon.
+
+[Illustration: Assys erys for our folys a lyuray is
+And he that wyll be wroth for a thynge of nought
+Of the same leuray is nat worthy to mys
+For who that by wrathe to suche a wyll is brought
+To sle his Asse for hir pas slowe and soft
+Shall after his fury, repent his mad foly
+For to a clere mynde, mad wrathe is ennemy]
+
+ Come nere, ye wrathfull men, take your rowme and place
+ Within our shyp, and to slake our hastynes
+ Mount on an Asse slowe of hir gate and pace
+ Syns troublous wrath, in you, styreth this madnes
+ Often lacke of myght asswagyth cruelnes
+ To a wylde cowe god doth short hornys sende
+ Wrath is great foly, where myght may nat extende
+
+ O man yll myndyd what helpeth the this yre
+ None the commendyth whiche doth thy maners marke
+ What doste thou: but the waste with thyne owne fyre
+ Narrynge with thyselfe lyke as a dogge doth barke
+ Without meke worde and pleasyd with no warke
+ Art thou: but thoughe all men be dylygent
+ Mad wrathe to please, yet who can it content
+
+ This man malycious whiche troubled is with wrath
+ Nought els soundeth but the hoorse letter R
+ Thoughe all be well, yet he none answere hath
+ Saue the dogges letter, glowmynge with nar nar
+ Suche labour nat this mad rancour to defar
+ Nor yet his malyce to mytygate or asswage
+ But ioyeth to be drede of men for this outrage
+
+ His mouth fomyth his throte out gorgyth fyre
+ His ferefull furoure is, his hole felycyte
+ By his great yre, doth he coueyte and desyre
+ Dowtyd to be: of the pore comontye
+ His owne madnes and cruell furyosyte
+ Wyll he nat knowe as he were nat culpable
+ Of this mad fury and vyce abhomynable
+
+ Hym selfe is blynde, but other well note his dede
+ He shall be poynted whether he go or ryde
+ Saynge one to other take gode regarde and hede
+ Of yonder furyous fole whome reason doth nat gyde
+ Beware his wayes fle hym on euery syde
+ Who that hym sueth both hurte and shame shall fynde
+ Thus other hym notyth but he hymself is blynde
+
+ So his Asse crys to hym ar inuysyble
+ He thynkyth to haue pacyence though that he haue none
+ And vnto hym it is thynge incredyble
+ That suche ar folys whose pacyence is gone
+ Thus coueytyth he to kepe his erys alone
+ And to wrathfull men he wyll no thynge obiect
+ For that hym selfe is with the same infect
+
+ But somwhat to touche the inconuenyences
+ Whiche by this wrath procedyth to mankynde
+ It is chefe grounde of many great offences
+ Destroynge reason blyndynge the wyt and mynde
+ By malyce man is to all yll inclynde
+ Both symple man, and lordes excellent
+ Do that by wrath oft whiche they after repent
+
+ Reuoke thy mynde, somwhat thy herte enclyne
+ Unto Archytas a man of hye wysdome
+ Borne the the ryche Cyte namyd Tarentyne
+ Rede howe that he his malyce dyd ouercome
+ For thoughe his seruaunt was fals to hym become
+ And he sore mouyd to auenge the same offence
+ Yet he refraynyd his wrathe by pacyence
+
+ So socrates so Senyk and Plato
+ Suffred great wronge great iniury and payne
+ And of your fayth sayntis right many mo
+ For christ our mayster dyd great turment sustayne
+ What wo or payne cowde saynt Laurance refrayne
+ From pacience wherfore it is great shame
+ For christen men if they do not the same
+
+ They suffred deth, ye, and yet were pacyent
+ And many haue prayed, for suche that haue them slayne
+ Where thou mad fole takest greuous punysshement
+ For small occasyon, ye come by chaunce sodayne
+ Fole thou art blynde, and mad to set thy brayne
+ All thynge to venge (by wrath) that doth mysfall
+ For he that part hath lost: by wrath oft lesyth all
+
+ And forsoth no meruayle, if suche wyse actours
+ Hath wrathes madnes, expelled and set asyde
+ For where that wrath doth rayne with his furours
+ There can no reason nor wysedome longe abyde
+ The wyt it wastyth: so is it a lewde gyde
+ Therfore let mesure, this malyce holde agayne
+ But pacyence is brydyll his madnes to refrayne
+
+ It longeth nat to any man of hye prudence
+ For to be wrothe, yrous, or gyuys to malancoly
+ No suche passyon nor inconuenyence
+ Can fall to man, ay stedfast wyse and holy
+ But folys ar moste troublyd with this foly
+ Where as a wyse man for any aduersyte
+ Lyueth in quyete mynde and tranquylyte
+
+ A man well manerd, sad sober and dyscrete
+ If he be ware, wyse, chrafty and prouydent
+ Beholdeth all thynge before his syght and fete.
+ Gydynge hym by mesure a vertue excellent
+ Where as a fole doth all without aduysement
+ And in euery thynge shewyth his folysshnes
+ Wroth at eche worde, as mayster of madnes
+
+ Wherfore ye folys se ye no lenger tary
+ But on the dull Asse hastely assende
+ That a slowe beest may hasty folys cary
+ For your mad wrath dowtyth no thynge the ende
+ Your madnes can nat your blynde mysdede defende
+ For who that one sleyth, angry and feruent
+ Ought to be hangyd whan he is pacyent
+
+THE ENUOY OF THE ACTOUR.
+
+ Blynde myndyd man whiche wylt all thynge ouercome
+ Reputynge thy selfe, moste souerayne and royall
+ If thou be wyse or partener of wysdome
+ Labour to ouercome thyne owne selfe firste of all
+ Thy wrath asswage thou in especyall
+ Let neyther malyce, nor yre with the abyde
+ Thou art a fole the chefe or lorde to call
+ Of other: whan thou can nat thy selfe well gyde.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the mutabylyte of fortune.
+
+[Illustration: That man whiche hopyth hye vp to ascende
+On fortunes whele, and come to state royall
+If the whele turne, may doute sore to descende
+If he be hye the sorer is his fall
+So he whiche trustyth nat therto at all
+Shall in moste eas and suerty hymselfe gyde
+For vnsure fortune can in no place abyde]
+
+ We dayly proue by example and euydence
+ That many be made folys mad and ignorant
+ By the brode worlde, puttynge trust and confydence
+ In fortunes whele vnsure and inconstant
+ Some assay the whele thynkynge it pleasant
+ But whyle they to clym vp haue pleasour and desyre
+ Theyr fete them faylyth so fall they in the myre
+
+ Promote a yeman, make hym a gentyl man
+ And make a Baylyf of a Butchers son
+ Make of a Squyer knyght, yet wyll they if they can
+ Coueyt in theyr myndes hyer promosyon
+ And many in the worlde haue this condicion
+ In hope of honour by treason to conspyre
+ But ofte they slyde, and so fall in the myre
+
+ Suche lokys so hye that they forget theyr fete
+ On fortunes whele whiche turneth as a ball
+ They seke degrees for theyr small myght vnmete
+ Theyr folysshe hertis and blynde se nat theyr fall
+ Some folys purpose to haue a rowme Royall
+ Or clym by fortunes whele to an empyre
+ The whele than turneth lyuynge them in the myre
+
+ O blynde man say what is thyne intent
+ To worldly honoures so greatly to entende
+ Or here to make the hye ryche and excellent
+ Syns that so shortly thy lyfe must haue an ende
+ None is so worthy, nor can so hye ascende
+ Nor nought is so sure if thou the trouth enquyre
+ But that it may doute to fall downe to the myre
+
+ There is no lorde Duke kynge nor other estate
+ But dye they must, and from this wolde go
+ All worldly thynges whiche god hath here create
+ Shall nat ay byde, but haue an ende also
+ What mortall man hath ben promotyd so:
+ In worldly welthe or vncertayne dignyte
+ That euer of lyfe had houre of certaynte
+
+ In stormy wyndes lowest trees ar most sure
+ And howsys surest whiche ar nat byldyd hye
+ Where as hye byldynges may no tempest endure
+ Without they be foundyd sure and stedfastly
+ So gretest men haue moste fere and ieopardy
+ Better is pouertye though it be harde to bere
+ Than is a hye degre in ieopardy and fere,
+
+ The hyllys ar hye, the valeys ar but lowe
+ In valeys is come the hyllys ar barayne
+ On hyest places most gras doth nat ay growe
+ A mery thynge is mesure and easy to sustayne
+ The hyest in great fere, the lowest lyue in payne
+ Yet better ly on grounde, hauynge no name at all
+ Than hye on a Clyf ferynge alway to fall
+
+ Thus as me thynke it is no thynge lawdable
+ On fortunes whele, for one to clym to hye
+ Syns the swyft cours therof is so vnstable
+ And all must we leue whan we depart and dye
+ Of our short lyfe haue we no certayntye
+ For lachesys (whan that thou hast lefte drede)
+ Of thy lyue dayes shall shortly breke the threde.
+
+ Atropos is egall to pore man and estate
+ Defar wyll nat deth by prayer ne request
+ No mortall man may his furour mytygate.
+ Nor of hym haue one day longer here to rest:
+ Content the with measure (therfore) for it is best
+ Coueyt nat to moche in honour to excell
+ It is a fowle fall to fall from erth to hell
+
+ Unstable fortune exalteth some a loft
+ To this intent, them to brynge to an yll ende
+ For who that hye clymmeth his fall can nat be soft
+ If that mysfortune constrayne hym to dyscende
+ Though Julius Cesar his lordshyp dyd extende
+ Ouer all the worlde: yet fortune at the last.
+ From lyfe and lordshyp hym wretchydly dyd cast
+
+ This hath ben sene, is sene, and euer shall
+ That most peryll is in hyest dignyte
+ Howe many estatis, howe many men Royall.
+ Hath fortune dryuyn downe into aduersyte
+ Rede dyuers cronycles, and thou shall playnly se
+ That many thousandes hath endyd in doloure
+ By theyr immoderate mynde to honoure
+
+ Ouer rede Bochas and than shalt thou se playne
+ The fall of prynces wryten ryght compendeously
+ There shalt thou se what punysshement and payne
+ Haue to them fallen, somtyme by theyr foly
+ And oft is moche preuy hatered and enuy
+ Had agaynst lordes of the rude comonte
+ Where euer they go: they lyue in ieopardye
+
+ Ay dowtynge deth by cursed gyle and treason
+ Eche thynge mysdemynge, ferynge to be opprest
+ By some mysfortune, with venym or with poyson.
+ Thus in great honour is neyther ioy nor rest
+ But thought and fere, ye whyle the lyfe doth lest
+ Thus who that procuryth great honour to attayne
+ Procuryth with all, enuy, peryll, fere and payne
+
+ A lorde or state whom many men doth drede
+ With loueles fere, and fayned countenaunce
+ Unto hym selfe ought wysely to take hede
+ And them to fere, if he wyll voyde myschaunce
+ For why a comonty is of suche ignoraunce
+ And so enuyous, that both erly and late
+ They muse to destroy hym whom, they fere and hate
+
+ A man promotyd vnto hye dygnyte
+ Shall haue loue shewyd hym by adulacion
+ But no true loue nouther faythfull amyte.
+ Good fame nor name, ne commendacion
+ Ye though he be worthy great exaltacion
+ Pytefull louynge and full of equyte
+ Yet harde is to please a folysshe comonte
+
+ Therfore me thynke of all thynge it is best
+ Man to be pleased and content with his degre
+ For why in mesure, is suerty eas and rest
+ And ay moste peryll in hyest dignyte
+ Fortune is full of changes and mutabylyte
+ Trust nat therto, therby comyth do gode
+ But nowe hye nowe lowe, vnstable as a flode
+
+ALEXANDER BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Labour nat man with to moche besy cure
+ To clymme to hye lyst thou by fortune fall
+ For certaynly, that man slepyth nat sure
+ That lyeth lows vpon a narowe wall
+ Better somtyme to serue, than for to gouerne all
+ For whan the Net is throwen into the se
+ The great fysshe ar taken and the pryncipall
+ Where as the small escapyth quyte and fre
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that be diseasyd and seke and
+ar impacient and inobedyent to the
+Phesycyan.
+
+[Illustration: If one be vexed with sore infirmyte
+Within his body felynge dyseas and payne
+And wyll nat gladly with perfyte mynde agre
+To a wyse Phesycian that wolde hym hele agayne
+He is a fole, and shall his foly sore complayne
+And if that he by his selfe wyll do sterue
+It is but well: syns he it doth deserue.]
+
+ He that is feble with sekenes outher wounde
+ Wherwith he feleth hym selfe so kept in payne
+ That dye he muste but if remedy be founde
+ He is a fole, if that he haue dysdayne
+ Of wyse Phesycyans: and medecines souerayne
+ And wyll nat sue theyr counsell and aduysement
+ Wherby he myght haue helth and short amendement
+
+ Thoughe the Phesycyan (of his lyfe) hym assure
+ So he be ruled, and vnto his mynde agre
+ The pacyent yet kepyth no dyete nor mesure
+ In mete nor drynke, and wyll nat gouerned be
+ But foloweth Ryot and all superfluyte
+ Receyuynge colde water in stede of ale or wyne
+ Agaynst read and counsell of crafty medycyne
+
+ What mete or drynke that is most contagious
+ And most infectyf to his sekenes or dyseas
+ And to hym forbyden, as moste contrarious
+ Unto his sekenes. That namely doth hym pleas
+ But that thynge that myght hym helpe and greatly eas
+ He hatyth moste, and wyll none receyue at all.
+ Tyll this small sore, at the last become mortall
+
+ Suche wyll no counsell ensue, nor mesure haue
+ Nor temper theym selfe in lesse nor yet in more.
+ Tyll theyr yll gouernaunce brynge them to theyr graue
+ Retournynge into grounde lyke as they were before
+ But who that soone wolde, be helyd of his sore
+ Whan it is newe ought to fynde remedy.
+ For in olde sorys is greatest ieopardy
+
+ A small sparcle often tyme doth augment
+ It selfe: and groweth to flames peryllous
+ Right so small wellys whiche semeth to be spent
+ With lytell sprynges and Ryuers, ofte so growys
+ Unto great waters, depe and ieopadous.
+ So a small sore augmentyth, styll preuely
+ By lytell and lytell for lacke of remedy
+
+ A small diseas whiche is ynoughe durable
+ At the begynnynge, for lacke of medycyne
+ At longe contynuaunce becomyth incurable
+ The paynfull pacyent bryngynge vnto ruyne
+ Wherfore who wyll to his owne helth enclyne
+ And soone be helyd of yll without all tary
+ To the Phesician ought nat to be contrary
+
+ Obstynat frowarde or inobedyent
+ Ought he nat be, but with a pacyent mynde
+ Shewe all his soris truly playne and euydent
+ To the Phesician if he wyll socour fynde.
+ And thoughe his saluys in paynes hym sore bynde.
+ Let nat for that, but after his wyll the gyde
+ Better a shorte payne, than that doth longe abyde
+
+ No sore can be releuyd without payne.
+ Forsake nat the short, the longe payne to eschewe
+ To the Phesycian we ought in worde be playne
+ And shewe hym our sore, whether it be olde or newe
+ For in thy wordes if that thou be nat trewe
+ Or kepe ought close, thou dysceyuest be thou sure
+ Thy selfe. and nat hym that of the hath the cure.
+
+ In lyke fourme who comyth vnto confessyon
+ There to declare howe he his lyfe hath spent
+ And shewyth nat his synne lyke wyse as he hath done
+ Hymself he disceyuyth, as blynde of his entent.
+ Thus many one endureth infernall tourment
+ With wo contynuall and payne for euermore
+ For kepynge secrete there, of his goostly sore.
+
+ Thus who that is payned in any malady
+ Bodely or gostly, ought nat to be callyd wyse
+ To the Phesycian without that he aply.
+ And his preceptis hant kepe and exercyse
+ But now olde wytches dare boldly interpryse
+ To intromyt to hele all infyrmyte
+ And many them byleue, whiche sothly is pyte
+
+ Suche wytches of theyr byleue abhomynable
+ On brest or hede of the paynfull pacyent
+ With theyr wytchecraftis shall compasse chat and bable
+ Assurynge hym of helth, and short amendement
+ Than he that is seke fyxith his intent
+ Upon hir errour: to haue helpe of his sore
+ But she hym leuyth wors than he was before
+
+ Poule the apostyll doth boldly say and preue
+ That they whiche to suche wytches wyll assent
+ Ar heretykes, Lolardes and false of theyr byleue
+ Brekynge goddes lawes and commaundement
+ And oft also by profe it apereth euydent
+ That suche as to wytches craftis wyll intende
+ By theyr fals Phesyke come soner to theyr ende
+
+ Theyr body dede, theyr soule in ieopardy
+ By mysbyleue for euer in paynes infernall.
+ Whiche ar rewarde for wretchyd synne and heresy
+ But if thou to thy mynde and reason call
+ And of this wrytynge perceyue the sence morall
+ Whan thou art fallen seke and in dedely syn
+ Seke helpe betyme, and byde nat longe therein
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Thou man or woman, that lyest seke in vyce
+ To goddes vycayrs confesse thy syn holly
+ So shalt thou from thy goostly yll aryse.
+ For thy soule fyndynge helpe and remedy
+ Without leasynge shewe hym thy synne playnly
+ Let nat for shame nor fall nat thereto agayne
+ Better shewe thy sore there to one secretely
+ Than after openly: and byde eternall payne
+
+ Ensewe the counsell of a wyse confessour
+ Take nat colde water in stede of vermayll wyne:
+ For moche swetnes, endure thou a lytell soure
+ Kepe well the dyet and threfolde medicyne
+ Ordayned for synne by spirituall doctryne
+ That is confessyon, the next contrycyon.
+ With satisfaccion these thre, with grace deuyne
+ Ar salues parfyte for all transgressyon
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of ouer open takynges of counsel.
+
+[Illustration: Who that to clerely layeth his net or snare
+Before the byrdes whome he by gyle wolde take
+Them playnly techyth of his gyle to be ware
+And is a fole whether he slepe or wake
+Right so is he (and doth a sauegarde make)
+For his foes them (techynge remedy to fynde)
+Whiche sheweth them by thretenynge the secret of his mynde]
+
+ Who that intendyth by chraft and polycy
+ To take many byrdes, outher small or great
+ And layeth before them to playne and openly
+ His lynes snarys, his lyme twyggis or his net
+ He shall no profyte gayne nor auauntage get
+ For if that he his engynes can nat hyde
+ The byrdes shall be ware, and lyghtly fle asyde
+
+ So he that wyll openly manace and threte
+ With worde and hande, as he wolde sle adowne ryght
+ Is oft scant abyll a symple hounde to bete.
+ For in his worde is all his force and myght
+ And he that alway thretenyth for to fyght.
+ Oft at the profe is skantly worth a hen
+ For greattest crakers ar nat ay boldest men
+
+ Who that agaynst his ennemy wolde fyght
+ And gyueth hym before wepyn and armour.
+ Agaynst hym selfe to encreas his foes myght
+ Suche one hath reason and wyt of smal valour.
+ Ryght so that sole is led in lyke errour
+ Which nought can do, of mater les or more
+ Without he crake and boste therof before.
+
+ And also suche bosters and crakers comonly
+ Whiche doth theyr mynde in hasty wordes declare
+ Of other men ar lytell or nought set by
+ And by theyr wordes, full often yll they fare
+ A man also may ryght easely be ware
+ Of folys whiche thus theyr counsell out expres
+ Whose thretenyngs to theyr foes is armour and harnes
+
+ But hym call I wyse and crafty of counsell
+ Whiche kepeth close the secretis of his mynde
+ And to no man wyll them disclose nor tell
+ To man nor woman, ennemy nor yet frynde
+ But do his purpose whan he best tyme can fynde
+ Without worde spekynge, and so may his intent
+ Best come to ende, his foo, beynge inprouydent
+
+ And specially no man ought to be large
+ Of wordes nor shewe his counsell openly
+ In thynges weyghty, of peryll and great charge
+ Consernynge a royallue, or helth of his body
+ For many ar falsly disceyued fynally
+ By lewde tale berers whiche seke the way to fynde
+ To knowe the preuy counsell of theyr lordes mynde
+
+ They fawne and flater to knowe his pryuetee
+ But they forsoth, that wolde knowe thynges newe
+ For the moste part of this condicion be
+ No thynge to kepe, but lyghtly it to shewe.
+ Thus may the saynge of Salomon be fonde true.
+ Whiche sayth that he is wyse, and lyueth happely
+ Whiche to hym selfe kepyth his counsell secretely
+
+ I fynde foure thynges whiche by meanes can
+ Be kept close, in secrete, one longe in preuetee
+ The firste is the counsell of a wytles man
+ The seconde a Cyte, whiche byldyd is a bye
+ Upon a mountayne, the thyrde we often se
+ That to hyde his dedes a louer hath no skyll
+ The fourth is strawe or fethers on a wyndy hyll
+
+ A pore mannys dedys may soone be kept close
+ His name is hyd, and right so is his dede.
+ A ryche mannys dede may no man hyde nor glose
+ It fleeth farthest, all men of it take hede
+ So that yll fame whome all men ought to drede
+ In fleynge about hir myght doth multyply
+ Augmentynge to his lynage shame and vylany
+
+ Therfore who that intendyth to be wyse
+ Ware and crafty, auoydynge all inconuenyence
+ To shewe his counsell ought nat to interpryse
+ But do his mynde, kepynge alway sylence
+ In seruauntis is small trust or confydence
+ He that is nowe thy frende may after be thy fo
+ Warne nat thy ennemy of that that thou wylt do
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ O ye that ar put to wronge and Iniury
+ If ye intende for to yelde the same agayne
+ It is great foly to warne your ennemye
+ Or hym to threten with bostynge wordes vayne.
+ For oft is sayde, and true it is certayne
+ That they that wyll lyue in quyetnes and rest
+ Must here and se and hasty wordes refrayne
+ All styll with fewe wordes do that they thynke best
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folys that can nat beware by the mysfortune
+and example of others damage.
+
+[Illustration: Here we expresse, the errour and blyndnes
+Of them that se others aduersyte
+Theyr wofull fall the ruyne and dystres.
+Yet sue they the same, and ware they wyll nat be
+Though they by example the payne of other se
+Yet leue they nat: thus may they clayme a place
+Within my Nauy, as folys voyde of grace]
+
+ We dayly se the mysfortune and damage
+ And often fallys, to pouerte and payne
+ Whiche folys suffer for theyr synne and outrage
+ Some drowned, some maymed, some other wyse slayne
+ Yet this example can nat cause vs refrayne
+ Our wretchyd lyfe, and seke for remedy
+ We marke no thynge anothers ieopardy.
+
+ We se the mockynge scorne and derysyon
+ That folys hath ofte tyme whan they offende
+ We se theyr losse, theyr shame and theyr confusion
+ Howe be it all this can cause vs to amende
+ We can no thynge and to nought we intende
+ So many folys I fynde that playne I thynke
+ Theyr weyghty charge shall cause my shyp to synke
+
+ Suche ar despysyd of men discrete and wyse
+ Ye and more ouer these folys ar so blynde
+ That echone of them the other doth despyse
+ With sharp rebukes, wordes lewde and vnkynde
+ Yet in theyr lyfe no difference may we fynde
+ And though they haue sene a thousande brough to shame
+ For one sore vyce: yet lyue they in the same
+
+ The example of other can nat theyr myndes moue
+ Theyr wyttis ar blynde theyr foly is the cause
+ Alas mad folys why do ye vyce thus loue
+ Rennynge ay to deth without all rest or pause
+ Alas, at the last retourne to christis lawes
+ Be ware, whan ye other se taken in the snare
+ Let anothers peryll cause you to be ware
+
+ Ye do nat so, alas it is great shame
+ Your synne hath quenchyd your grace and gostly lyght
+ One blynde man another doth chyde and blame
+ And yet both stomble, nat goynge euyn or right
+ A blynde man hym ledyth that also hath no syght
+ So both in the dyche fallyth in suche a wyse
+ That one can nat helpe, the other agayne to ryse
+
+ One crab blamys another for hir bacwarde pace
+ And yet the blamer sothly can none other do
+ But both two ar in theyr goynge in lyke case
+ The one goeth bocwarde, the other doth also
+ Many of these folys after that maner go
+ But who that of his moders doctryne hath disdayne:
+ Shall by his stepdame endure wo care and payne
+
+ And perchaunce after abyde the correccyon
+ Of the sayde stepdame, in place of punysshement.
+ For his synne, sufferynge hir vniust subieccien
+ And who that nat foloweth the commaundement
+ Of his fader beynge to hym obedyent
+ May fortune after in hunger thyrst ond colde
+ Obey that stranger, whom he nat gladly wolde
+
+ We fynde Hystories wryten longe and ample
+ In dyuers bokes of great auctoryte
+ The hole Bybyll sheweth to vs example
+ Howe they were punysshed that lyuyd in cruelte
+ I fynde also wryten in bokes of Poetrye
+ Howe that Pheton was brent with the lyghtnynge
+ For his presumpcion, agaynst a myghty kynge
+
+ We haue example also by Icarus
+ Whiche contrary vnto the commaundement
+ Of his crafty father named Dedalus
+ By fleynge to hye his wynges and fethers brent
+ And so descendyd and in the se was drent
+ Thus these two endynge by theyr lewdnes in care
+ By theyr example sholde cause vs to beware
+
+ We dayly se before our syght and our presence
+ What mysauenture to many one doth fall
+ And that worthely for theyr synne and offence
+ Yet ar we blynde, and ar nat ware at all
+ But in our synnes lyue vnto them egall
+ And where by synne we se one come to shame
+ We wyllyngly (alas) ensue the same
+
+ Therfore who sethe a mad fole come to wo
+ Or fall in peryll for lacke of a good gyde
+ By another way ought craftely to go
+ And (by anothers yll) for his helthe to prouyde
+ The fox was ware, and peryll set asyde
+ And wolde nat enter into the caue, for playne
+ Of bestis that entred sawe he none come agayne
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY
+
+ Lerne man, lerne of bestes to be ware
+ Of others peryll, by theyr enormyte
+ For if one byrde be onys tane in a snare
+ The other auoyde as fast as they may flee
+ A fysshe byrde or beste that hath in peryll be
+ Of net hoke or snare, if that they may escape.
+ Wyll after euer beware, but blynde man wyll nat se
+ His owne destruccion, but after it doth gape
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that forceth or careth for the
+bacbytynge of lewde people.
+
+[Illustration: Whether that a bell be hangyd or lye on grounde
+If vnto the same a clapper lacke or fayle
+The bell shall make but sympyll noyse or sounde
+Though thou in it do hange a Foxys tayle
+Right so backbyters that vse on men to rayle
+Can nat greatly hurt them that lyue rightwysly
+Wherfore it is foly theyr babblynge to set by.]
+
+ Who that within this worlde wolde rest and lyue
+ In eas of mynde, peas and tranquyllyte
+ Must nat his mynde set, nor his erys gyue
+ To the vayne talys, of the rude comonte
+ And though some people of suche condicion be
+ Oft to dyffame good people true and Just
+ Let them nought care, for byde it nede they must
+
+ Let no man care for the lewde hyssynges
+ And yll soundynges of this vnhappy rage
+ It is great foly to set by the lesynges
+ Of cursyde tunges syns none can them asswage
+ For who in this worlde wyll come to auautage
+ Hym selfe exaltynge to worshyp and honoure
+ Shall fynde the swetnes mengled with the sowre
+
+ And he that wyll of his dygnyte be sure
+ Or sympyll lyuynge what so euer it be
+ Right greuous chargis somtymes must endure
+ And with his iyen often beholde and se
+ Suche thynges wherwith his mynde can not agre
+ And he that wyll with the worlde haue to do
+ Must suffer suche trouble as belongeth therto
+
+ Yet some haue pytched theyr tentis stedfastly
+ Upon sure grounde, auoyde of all this payne
+ Despysynge the worldes wantonnes and foly
+ For in the same is nought sure nor certayne
+ Nought se we tranquyll in these wawes mundayne
+ We se no loue, lawe, fydelyte, nor trust
+ But nowe up hye, and nowe lowe in the dust
+
+ To auoyde the worlde with his foly and stryfe
+ Many hath left londes townes and ryches
+ And yll company lyuynge solytary lyfe
+ Alone in desert and in wyldernes
+ Ye and that: men of moste wyt and worthynes
+ Whiche by that meane dyd best of all eschewe
+ All worldly sclaunder and lyuyd in vertue
+
+ He that intendeth to lyue a rightwyse lyfe
+ And so procedeth in maners and good dede
+ Of worldly sclaunder, complaynt, hatered, and stryfe
+ And all yll wyll, he ought nat to take hede
+ For he that is iuste ought no thynge for to drede
+ A sclaundrynge tonge, ye, be it neuer so wode
+ For suche lewde tonges can none hurte that ar gode.
+
+ Lyue well and wysely, than let men chat theyr fyll
+ Wordes ar but wynde, and though it oft so fall
+ That of lewde wordes comyth great hurte and yll
+ Yet byde the ende, that onely prouyth all
+ If thou canst suffer truste well that thou shall
+ Ouercome thyne ennemyes better by pacience
+ Than by hye wordes rygour or vyolence
+
+ If poetis that somtyme vyce blamyd and discommendyd
+ And holy Prophetis whiche also dyd the same
+ To suche vayne and mortall wordes had intendyd
+ They sholde nat haue durst the peoples vyce to blame
+ So sholde they haue lost their honour and good name
+ Theyr fame and meryt, but nowe they haue nat so
+ But spred theyr fame, whiche neuer away shall go
+
+ Forsoth none lyueth within the worlde wyde
+ Suche meke so holy, so wyse or pacyent
+ Whiche can hym selfe at euery tyme so gyde
+ To please eche fole, for none can some content
+ Forsoth he myght be named excellent
+ Happy and blessyd and lyue in welth and eas
+ Whiche euery man cowde serue content and pleas
+
+ But suche is none, and he that wyll assay
+ For to content eche folysshe mannes mynde
+ Must brake his slepe and stody nyght and day
+ And yet alway some fole shall be behynde
+ Ye if one lyue well, yet wyll they somwhat fynde
+ Behynde his backe hym to sclaunder and diffame
+ For beggers and bawdes therin haue all theyr game
+
+ For whether thou dwell in Est west north or south
+ Of suche dryuels euer shalt thou fynde plente
+ One must haue moche mele, to stoppe eche mannys mouth
+ Sclander is the cunnynge of all the comonte
+ And in the same suche ay moste besy be
+ Whiche lyue them selfe in shame and vylany
+ Euen nowe they speke repentynge by and by
+
+ Thus all the cunnynge and stody dilygent.
+ Of people vnthryfty is alway to despyse
+ And diffame other whiche ar but innocent
+ Wherfore let suche as ar discrete and wyse
+ Nought set by them that lesyngys doth deuyse
+ Nor theyr vayne foly: for he that doth certayne
+ Is but, a fole. and euer shall lyue in payne.
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Trouble nat thy selfe (thou man) where is no nede
+ And arme thou thy selfe with goodly pacyence
+ Be sure it is great foly to take hede
+ Unto backbytynge syns that no resystence
+ May be founde to withstande his violence
+ And take thou this one thynge for thy comfort
+ That none wyse, or good, wyll commyt this offence
+ But all ar caytyffes, that ar of this lewde sort.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of mockers, and scorners, and
+false accusers.
+
+[Illustration: Yet ar mo Folys whiche mocke and scorneth fast
+Suche as them shewyth wysdome and doctryne
+And at theyr hedes (vngoodly) stonys cast
+In mynde disdaynynge to wysdome to enclyne
+But gladly they ensue the discyplyne
+Of folysshe mockers, let wyse men them eschewe
+For no correccion can brynge them to vertue]
+
+ O Hertles folys, haste here to our doctryne
+ Leue of the wayes of your enormyte
+ Enforce you to my preceptis to enclyne
+ For here shall I shewe you good and veryte
+ Enclyne, and ye fynde shall great prosperyte
+ Ensuynge the doctryne of our faders olde
+ And godly lawes in valour worth great golde
+
+ Who that wyll folowe the graces manyfolde
+ Whiche ar in vertue, shall fynde auauncement
+ Wherfore ye folys that in your syn ar bolde
+ Ensue ye wysedome and leue your lewde intent
+ Wysdome is the way of men most excellent
+ Therfore haue done, and shortly spede your pace
+ To quaynt your selfe and company with grace.
+
+ Lerne what is vertue, therin is great solace
+ Lerne what is trouth sadnes and prudence
+ Let grutche be gone, and grauyte purchace
+ Forsake your foly and inconuenyence
+ Cesse to be folys, and ay to sue offence
+ Folowe ye vertue, chefe rote of godlynes
+ For it and wysdome is grounde of clenlynes
+
+ Wysedome and vertue two thynges ar doutles
+ Whiche man endueth with honour specyall
+ But suche hertis as slepe in folysshnes
+ Knoweth no thynge, and wyll nought knowe at all
+ But in this lytell barge in pryncypall
+ All folysshe mockers I purpos to repreue
+ Clawe he his backe that felyth ytche or greue
+
+ Mockers and scorners that ar harde of byleue
+ With a rugh combe here wyll I clawe and grate
+ To proue if they wyll from theyr vyce remeue
+ And leue theyr foly whiche causeth great debate
+ Suche caytyfs spare neyther pore man nor estate
+ And where theyr selfe ar moste worthy of dyrysion
+ Other men to scorne is all theyr moste condicion
+
+ Yet ar mo folys of this abusion
+ Whiche of wyse men despyseth the doctryne
+ With mowes, mockes, scorne, and collusyon
+ Rewardynge rebukes, for theyr good disciplyne
+ Shewe to suche wysdome, yet shall they nat enclyne
+ Unto the same, but set no thynge therby
+ But mocke thy doctryne, styll or openly
+
+ So in the worlde it apereth comonly
+ That who that wyll a Fole rebuke or blame
+ A mocke or mowe shall he haue by and by
+ Thus in derysyon, haue folys theyr speciall game
+ Correct a wyse man, that wolde eschewe yll name
+ And fayne wolde lerne, and his lewde lyfe amende
+ And to thy wordes he gladly shall intende
+
+ If by mysfortune a rightwyse man offende
+ He gladly suffreth a iuste correccion
+ And hym that hym techyth taketh for his frende
+ Hym selfe puttynge mekely vnto subieccion
+ Folowynge his preceptis and good dyreccion
+ But if that one a Fole rebuke or blame
+ He shall his techer, hate, sclaunder, and dyffame
+
+ Howbeit his wordes, oft turne to his owne shame
+ And his owne dartis retourne to hym agayne
+ And so is he sore woundyd with the same
+ And in wo endyth, great mysery and payne
+ It also prouyd full often is certayne
+ That they that on mockes alway theyr myndes cast
+ Shall of all other be mocked at the last
+
+ He that goeth right, stedfast sure and fast
+ May hym well mocke that goth haltynge and lame
+ And he that is whyte may well his scornes cast
+ Agaynst a man of ynde, but no man ought to blame
+ Anothers vyce whyle he vsyth the same
+ But who that of synne is clene in dede and thought
+ May hym well scorne whose lyuynge is starke nought
+
+ The scornes of Naball full dere sholde haue ben bought
+ If Abigayll his wyfe discrete and sage
+ Had nat by kyndnes right crafty meanes sought
+ The wrath of Dauyd to temper and asswage
+ Hath nat two berys in theyr fury and rage
+ Two and fourty Children rent and torne
+ For they the Prophete Helyseus dyd scorne
+
+ So myght they curse the tyme that they were borne
+ For theyr mockynge of this Prophete dyuyne
+ So many other of this sorte often mowrne
+ For theyr lewde mockes, and fall in to ruyne
+ Thus is it foly for wyse men to enclyne
+ To this lewde flocke of Folys for se thou shall
+ Them moste scornynge that ar most bad of all
+
+THENUOY OF BARCLY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye mockynge Folys that in scorne set your ioy
+ Proudly dyspysynge goddes punycion
+ Take ye example by Cham the son of Noy
+ Whiche laughyd his Father vnto derysyon
+ Whiche hym, after, cursyd for his transgressyon
+ And made hym seruaunt to all his lyne and stocke
+ So shall ye Caytyfs at the conclusyon
+ Syns ye ar nought, and other scorne and mocke
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that dyspyse euerlastynge ioye,
+and settyth thynges transytory before
+thynges eternall and euerlastynge.
+
+[Illustration: He is a foule that weyeth in one balaunce
+The heuen and erth to knowe the heuyest
+And by his foly and cursed ignoraunce
+He thynketh that this wretchyd erth is best
+And thoughe that here be neyther ioy nor rest
+Yet had some leuer here styll to remayne
+Than to depart to heuen voyde of al payne]
+
+ My hande is wery: fayne wolde I rest a space
+ But folys comyth to my shyp so besely
+ That to haue rest: they wyll graunt me no grace
+ That nede I must theyr lewdnes notefy
+ But to recorde this folysshe company
+ They ar suche that this worlde so greatly loue
+ That they despyse the heuenly Royalme aboue
+
+ They often thynke in theyr mynde preuely
+ And by them selfe in this wyse oft they say
+ O glorious lorde raynynge eternally
+ Graunt me thy grace that I may lyue alway
+ To se of this worlde the extreme ende and day
+ This is my wyll and synguler askynge
+ As for thy royalme, forsoth I set no thynge
+
+ But yet this fole doth nat desyre this tyme
+ Of so longe lyfe, and yeres alway newe
+ To clens his mynde from all synfull cryme
+ Nor for the loue of goodnes or vertue
+ But rather that he his pleasour may ensue
+ And with his maters and felawes suche as he
+ To folowe ryot, delytys and enormyte.
+
+ To lyue in wantonnes and blyndnes lascyuyte
+ In pryde in Lechery andin couetyse
+ Suche sytteth theyr myndes and theyr felycyte
+ Not ferynge hell whiche is rewarde of vyce.
+ Those dredefull dennys, in a right ferefull wyse
+ With fyres flamynge, and manyfolde tourment
+ Can nat suche folys, theyr synnes cause to stent
+
+ O sleuthfull fole say why doste nat thou call
+ Unto thy mynde that this worldes wretchydnes
+ Is full of sorowe moche more bytter than gall
+ Uoyde of all ioy, all pleasour and swetnes
+ Why settest thou so moche by frayle delyciousnes
+ On vayne pleasours, whiche shall sothly decay
+ Lyke as the sone meltyth the snowe away
+
+ Man note my wordes and gyue to them credence
+ I say that pleasours and also ioyes mundayne
+ As it apereth playne by good euydence
+ Ar fylled with sorowe bytternes and payne
+ Without all rest quyete or certayne
+ And yet alas the worlde so doth men blynde
+ That it they loue and caste heuen out of mynde
+
+ Wherfore it hapneth full often as I fynde
+ That suche as foloweth shamefull wantonnes
+ Ungoodly luste, and statelynes of mynde
+ Shall ofte perceyue great shame and wretchydnes
+ And them most suffer, with great mundayne distres.
+ And better charges, and after must nede endure
+ Cruell deth whiche ende is of euery creature
+
+ The worlde shall passe: ye and all ioy mundayne
+ Without all doute at last shall haue an ende
+ And euery thynge outher fruytfull or barayne
+ Shall to the grounde outher firste or last discende
+ We se also that none can hym defende
+ From dethes dartis. and for conclusyon.
+ We dayly se many mennys confusyon.
+
+ We dayly se the fallys innumerable
+ And greuous deth aswell of youth as age
+ Thus is this wretchyd worlde moche vnstable
+ Wherfore me thynke it is a great outrage
+ To trust therto, or for an vnsure stage
+ Or hye place of welth or worldly honour
+ The presence to despyse of our sauyoure
+
+ But without doute the tyme shall come and houre
+ Whan all mankynde shall se hym euydent
+ Some to theyr ioy, some to wo and doloure
+ None shall eskhape that rightwyse iugement.
+ But eche be rewardyd as he his tyme hath spent
+ So they that vertuously haue lyuyd here
+ Despysynge this worlde shall gladly there apere
+
+ But they that here haue led theyr lyfe in vyce
+ For to depart ar wo in herte and mynde
+ And ferefull to byde that sentence of iustyce
+ Syns of theyr synne excuse they can none fynde
+ But to conclude forsoth that fole is blynde
+ That for worldly welth, from god wolde hym deuyde
+ And for vayne clay, the hye heuyn set a syde
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ O blynde man whiche hast thy moste felycyte
+ On worldly thinges, alas make clere thy mynde
+ What fyndest thou here, but great aduersyte
+ Wylt thou for it leue y^t heuenly ioy behynde
+ And where thou myght euerlastynge ryches fynde
+ Where as is helth, endles lyfe and all goodnes
+ Wylt thou forsake it for worldly wretchydnes
+
+ Wylt thou heuyn compare with his paynfull lyfe
+ There on to thynke thou art vnwyse certayne
+ There is concorde, here is no thynge but stryfe
+ There is all rest, and here is care and payne
+ There is true loue: here is scorne and disdayne
+ There is all goodnes, here all yll and offence
+ Nowe chuse the best: here is great difference
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that make noyses rehersynges of
+talys and do other thynges vnlaufull
+and dishonest in y^e chirche of god.
+
+[Illustration: A fole is he, and hath no mynde deuoute
+And gyueth occasyon to men on hym to rayle.
+Whiche goth in the chirche, his houndes hym aboute
+Some rennynge, some fast tyed to his tayle
+A hawke on his fyst suche one withouten fayle
+Better were to be thens, for by his dyn and cry
+He troublyth them that wolde pray deuoutly:]
+
+ Yet of mo folys fynde I a great nomber
+ Whiche thynke that it is no shame nor vylany
+ Within the chirche, the seruyce to encomber
+ With theyr lewde barkynge roundynge dyn and cry
+ And whyle good people ar praynge stedfastly
+ Theyr herte to good, with meke mynde and deuout
+ Suche folys them let, with theyr mad noyse and shout
+
+ And whyle the prestis also them exercyse.
+ In matyns masse sermon or prechynge dyuyne
+ Or other due thynges that longe to theyr seruyce.
+ Techynge the people to vertue to enclyne
+ Than these folys as it were rorynge swyne
+ With theyr gettynge and talys of vycyousnes
+ Trouble all suche seruyce, that is sayd, more and les
+
+ In to the churche than comys another sote
+ Without deuocyon gettynge vp and downe
+ Or to be sene, and to showe his gardyd cote
+ Another on his fyst a Sparhauke or fawcon
+ Or els a Cokow, and so wastynge his shone
+ Before the auters he to and fro doth wander
+ With euyn as great deuocyon as a gander
+
+ In comys another his houndes at his tayle
+ With lynes and leshes and other lyke baggage.
+ His dogges barkyth, so that withouten fayle
+ The hole churche is troubled by theyr outrage
+ So innocent youth lernyth the same of age
+ And theyr lewde sounde doth the churche fyll.
+ But in this noyse the good people kepe them styll.
+
+ One tyme the hawkys bellys Jenglyth hye
+ Another tyme they flutter with theyr wynges
+ And nowe the houndes barkynge strykes the skye
+ Nowe sounde theyr fete, and nowe the chaynes rynges
+ They clap with theyr handes, by suche maner thynges
+ They make of the churche, for theyr hawkes a mewe
+ And Canell to theyr dogges, whiche they shall after rewe
+
+ So with suche folys is neyther peas nor rest
+ Unto the holy churche they haue no reuerence
+ But wander about to see who get may best
+ In rybawde wordes pryde and insolence
+ As mad men they fere nat our sauyours presence
+ Hauynge no honour vnto that holy place
+ Wherin is gyuen to man euerlastynge grace
+
+ There ar handlyd pledynges and causes of the lawe
+ There ar made bargayns of dyuers maner thynges
+ Byenges and sellynges scant worth a hawe
+ And there ar for lucre contryued false lesynges
+ And whyle the prest his Masse or matyns synges
+ These folys whiche to the Churche do repayre
+ Ar chattynge and bablynge as it were in a fayre
+
+ Some gygyll and lawghe and some on maydens stare
+ And some on wyues with wanton countenaunce
+ As for the seruyce they haue small force or care
+ But full delyte them in theyr mysgouernaunce
+ Some with theyr slyppers to and fro doth prance
+ Clappynge with their helys in churche and in quere
+ So that good people can nat the seruyce here
+
+ What shall I wryte of maydens and of wyues
+ Of theyr roundynges and vngoodly comonynge
+ Howe one a sclaundre craftely contryues
+ And in the churche therof hath hyr talkynge
+ The other hath therto theyr erys lenynge
+ And than whan they all hath harde forth hir tale
+ With great deuocyon they get them to the ale.
+
+ Thus is the churche defylyd with vylany
+ And in stede of prayer and godly oryson
+ Ar vsyd shamefull bargayns and talys of rybawdry
+ Jettynges and mockynges and great derysyon
+ There fewe ar or none of perfyte deuocion
+ And whan our lorde is consecrate in fourme of brede
+ Therby walkes a knaue, his bonet on his hede
+
+ And whyle those wordes of consecracion
+ Ar sayde of the preste in goddes owne presence
+ Suche caytyfs kepe talys and communycacion
+ Fast by the auter, thynkynge it none offence
+ And where as the angels ar ther with reuerence
+ Laudynge and worshyppynge our holy sauyour
+ These vnkynde caytyfs wyll scantly hym honour
+
+ Alas wherto shall any man complayne
+ For this foly and accostomed furour
+ Syns none of them theyr fautes wyll refrayne
+ But ay procede in this theyr lewde errour
+ And nat withstandynge that Christ our sauyour
+ Hath left vs example, that none sholde mysdo
+ Within the chirche, yet inclyne we nat therto.
+
+ Jhonn the euangelyst doth openly expres.
+ Howe criste our sauyour dyd dryue out and expell
+ From the Temple, suche as vsed there falsnes
+ And all other that therin dyd bye and sell
+ Saynge as it after lyeth in the Gospell
+ Unto the Jues rebuke and great repreues
+ That of goddes house they made a den of theues.
+
+ Remember this man, for why thou dost the same
+ Defylynge goddes Chirche with synne and vanyte
+ Whiche sothly was ordeyned to halowe goddes name
+ And to lawde and worshyp the holy trynyte
+ With deuout harte, loue, and all benygnyte
+ And with all our myght our lorde to magnyfy
+ And than after all the heuenly company
+
+ For this cause hath god the holy chirche ordeyned
+ And nat for rybawde wordes and thynges vayne
+ But by vs chrysten men it is distayned.
+ Moche wors than euer, the Jewes dyd certayne
+ And if our lorde sholde nowe come downe agayne.
+ To dryue out of the churche suche as there do syn
+ Forsoth I thynke, right fewe sholde byde within
+
+THE ENUOY TO THE REDERS.
+
+ O man that bostest thy selfe in cristes name
+ Callynge the christen, se thou thy synne refuse
+ Remember well it is both synne and shame
+ The house of god, thus to defyle and abuse
+ But this one thynge causeth me oft to muse
+ That the false paynyms within theyr Temples be
+ To theyr ydols moche more deuout than we
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of them that wyllynge and knowyngly
+put them self in ieopardy and peryll.
+
+[Illustration: He is a fole that wyll purchace and desyre
+His owne deth or putteth hym selfe in ieopardy
+Lepynge in a well, or in a flamynge fyre
+And where he myght lyue so dyeth wyllyngly
+Suche suffer theyr destruccyon worthely
+And if that they be drowned outher brent
+It is to late them after to repent.]
+
+ I fynde mo folys yet. whome I shall note
+ Suche ar they whiche pray both day and nyght
+ To god and his sayntes cryeng with open throte
+ O glorious god helpe me by thy great myght
+ That I may clens my herte and clere my syght
+ Wherby all foly and synne may fro me fall
+ But yet this fole it leuyth nat at all
+
+ Suche folys oft pray for theyr amendement
+ Unto our lorde with syghynges sore and depe
+ But yet to synne contynually they assent
+ And after the same often complayne and wepe
+ Than say they playne that god hath had no kepe
+ Unto theyr prayer and taken of it no hede
+ But theyr owne foly is cause of theyr lewde dede
+
+ They se the peryll before theyr faces playne
+ That god hath ordeyned, for foly and for synne
+ They pray for helpe, and yet ar they full fayne
+ After the folys hode alway to ren
+ And besely laboure the same alone to wyn
+ So vnto god for helpe they cry and call
+ But they them selfe wyll helpe no thynge at all
+
+ Than thynke they theyr prayers to god nat acceptable
+ Bycause (anone) they haue nat all theyr wyll
+ And for that god is nat sone agreable
+ To here theyr cry and it graunt and fulfyll
+ These folys in theyr vyce contynue styll
+ And put theyr selfe in wylfull ieopardy
+ And where they myght they fynde no remedy
+
+ But these folys vnstabyll as the wynde
+ Prayeth vnto god and to his sayntis aboue
+ Nat knowynge what may content theyr folysshe mynde
+ Nor whether theyr askynge be for theyr behoue
+ But sothly this dare I both say and proue
+ And it auowe after my sympyll skyll
+ That neuer man shall syn without his wyll
+
+ If that one with his owne wyll doth fall
+ Into a well to assay the ieopardy
+ Whan he is there. if he lowde crye and call
+ Bothe on god and man for helpe and remedy
+ He sekyth that peryll, and dyeth worthely
+ So were it foly to gyue hym corde or trayne
+ Or other engyne to helpe hym vp agayne
+
+ Whan suche folys ar sure vpon the grounde
+ Without all daunger, peryll hurt or fere
+ They lepe in the wel and yet fere to be drowned
+ Empedocles though he right myghty were
+ With suche lyke foly hym selfe so sore dyd dere
+ That knowyngly and with his owne consent
+ Hymself he lost and by fyers fyre was brent
+
+ He lept hedelynge into the flamynge fyre
+ Of a brennynge hyll whiche callyd is Ethnay
+ To knowe the trouth, and nature to enquyre
+ Whether that same flame were very fyre or nay
+ So with his deth the trouth he dyd assay
+ But who that wolde hym drawen out of that hyll
+ Had ben a fole, syns it was his owne wyll
+
+ For why his mynde was blyndyd so certayne
+ That thoughe a man had hym delyuered than
+ The same peryll wolde he haue proued agayne
+ As mad as he forsoth is euery man
+ That is at eas, and hym nat so holde can
+ And also he that putteth hymselfe in drede
+ Or fere and peryll, where as he hath no nede
+
+ So he that prayeth to god that he may get
+ The blysse of heuen, and scape infernall payne
+ He is a fole his herte or mynde to set
+ On frayle ryches, welth and ioy mundayne
+ On stedfast fortune, on lucre or on gayne
+ For certaynly these thynges of worldly welth
+ Oft man deuydeth away from heuenly helth
+
+ Thus he that prayeth for welth or for ryches
+ Or in this worlde hym selfe to magnyfy
+ Prayeth for his hurt and cause of viciousnes
+ For worldly welth doth vyce oft multyply
+ So seke men theyr owne peryll wyllyngly
+ But who that prayeth, and can nat as he ought
+ He bloweth in the wynde, and shall nat haue his thought
+
+ And who that to honour couetyse to ascende
+ Or to lyue in damnable voluptuosyte
+ He seketh his peryll for if that he descende
+ From welth and worshyp to payne and pouerte
+ It is but worthy, and let hym pacyent be
+ It to endure with mynde demure and meke
+ He is worthy sorowe that wyll it alway seke
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye that fayne wolde escape all ieopardy
+ Auoyde suche thynges the whiche myght cause the same
+ To proue a peryll, is foly certaynly
+ Whether it be done in ernest or in game
+ They that so doth may theyr owne madnes blame
+ For he that is sure, and to a fray wyll ren
+ May fortune come home agayne, nosles or lame
+ And so were it better for to haue byd within
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the way of felycyte and godnes, and of
+the payne to come vnto synners.
+
+[Illustration: Many in this lyfe the cart of syn doth drawe
+By payne and labour, alway right dylygent
+Norysshynge theyr syn agaynst all right and lawe
+And alway lyuynge after one lyke assent
+But whan they ar dede than shall theyr punysshement
+In hell be dowblyd with cartis of whelys foure
+Where as they thought, deth shuld ende theyr laboure]
+
+ God suffreth nat eche vicious fole to knowe
+ The wonders that he made hath on this grounde
+ And dayly worketh. wherfore theyr syn doth growe
+ So that theyr foly them selfe doth confounde
+ And here theyr bodyes to great labours ar bounde
+ Sparynge no peryll for pleasour and for gayne
+ Than after deth haue they euerlastynge payne
+
+ So he that here lyueth in vyce and synne
+ Shall extreme dolour after deth endure
+ Than what auantage is it for man to wyne
+ All orthly tresour, and of hell payne be sure
+ But without dowt that wretchyd creature
+ Whiche goddes lawes wyll nat here holde and kepe
+ Shall after deth haue cause to wayle and wepe
+
+ And suche as here wyll nat knowe theyr sauyour
+ Obseruynge his preceptis and commaundement
+ Whiche god hathe ordeyned to saue vs from erroure
+ And vs commaundyd to kepe with clene intent
+ Ouer all the worlde. as rule moste excellent
+ To lyue godly. and who so euer he be
+ That foloweth in this worlde voluptuosyte
+
+ Or carnall lust ryot or other offence
+ Wastynge his tyme in syn and viciousnes
+ All suche in this worlde, by theyr blynde negligence
+ Drawe styll the cart of greuous besynes.
+ With payne and charge and, whan this wretchydnes
+ Is past and gone, yet after this they shall
+ In hell endure great tourmentis eternall
+
+ There shalt (thou fole) the charet drawe alway
+ With dowble paynes both tedyous and cruell
+ Wherfore thou fole retourne the I the pray.
+ Seke nat the way whiche ledeth vnto hell
+ With his foule dennes, more darke than tunge can tell
+ And thoughe the way be esy streyght and playne
+ The ende is nought, I aduyse the tourne agayne
+
+ The way to hell is greatly occupyed
+ The path is playne, and easy to ouergo
+ The dore ay open no entre is denyed
+ To suche as purpose in mynde to come therto
+ But at the ende therof is care and wo
+ With syghtis odyous and abhomynable
+ Yet in the way ar folkes innumerable
+
+ Thus is no meruayle though this way be playne
+ And greatly worne syns it is hantyd so
+ By dyuers folys whiche haste them to that payne.
+ By way contynuall therto: but none therfro
+ The dredefull dore to them that wyll in go
+ Both day and nyght is open, it doth forsake
+ No folys that wyll theyr iourney thyther take
+
+ But that way that to hye heuen doth lye
+ Is way of grace plesour, and all felycyte
+ In it suche walke as here lyue vertuously
+ And blessyd men, but nat suche as vyciouse be
+ Yet is it narowe, and full of difficulte
+ There is many a harde flynt brere and thorne
+ And no meruayle for it is nat greatly worne
+
+ For why lewde people, whiche is the gretest sort
+ Forsake this way for the payne and hardnes
+ But godly men therin haue chefe consort
+ With all that lyue by grace in ryghtwysnes
+ Suche well consyder that heuyns blessydnes
+ Can nat be gotten by pleasour rest nor eas
+ Wherfore this way can nat suche synners pleas
+
+ God so hath ordeyned that who wyll haue vertue
+ Must it obtayne with payne and dilygence
+ And great labour, whiche many nowe eschewe
+ Without it be to seke synne and offence
+ Fewe seke the way to christis hye presence
+ Therby it hapneth that many a thousande
+ Fast rennyth leftwarde, but fewe on the right hande
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Alas man remembre heuens blyssednes
+ And though the way be harde that lyeth therto
+ Forsoke it nat for all that great sharpnes
+ For at the ende is lyfe and rest also
+ Euerlastynge glory with other ioyes mo
+ But who that taketh the other way certayne
+ Shall fynde at the ende eternall payne and wo
+ Thoughe the way thether be easy streyght and playne
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the yll example of elders gyuyn vnto
+youth.
+
+[Illustration: If that the fader and mother before theyr son
+By anger or malyce brake, platter pot, or pan
+The son in hande shall take some cauderon
+And lerne to breke it if his small power can
+Thus oft tyme chyldren haue cause to curse or ban
+Theyr frendes for suche example of lewdnes
+For soner that they lerne than vertue or goodes]
+
+ Ye aged men rotyd in folysshnes
+ And folysshe parentis lewde of your langage
+ Vnto our shyp swyftly your selfe addres
+ Syns ye be worthy therin to haue a stage
+ Nowe cast I repreues agaynst your outrage
+ Whiche boldly bost you of your vnthryfty lyues
+ Before your maydes, your doughters and your wyues
+
+ Alas the folys of this mad company
+ By theyr example cause great inconuenyence
+ Before theyr children recountynge rybaudry
+ Of suche as they haue had experyence.
+ So gyue they to them example of offence
+ And in that synne wheron they bost and vant
+ They make them perfyte whiche erst were ignorant
+
+ Theyr wordes ar voyde of shame and honestye
+ Theyr lyfe is without mesure and reuerence
+ But yet they thynke that they moste worthy be
+ That moste can tell of this greuous offence
+ Thus all the youth that is in theyr presence
+ Or that doth here theyr vyce and rybawdry
+ Vnto the same with theyr full mynde aply
+
+ Thus theyr yonge children maners lernyth none
+ The wyfe hath occasyon to breke hir chastyte
+ So is the lyfe defyled of them echone
+ And to be playne, we often tymes se
+ That of what maners the folysshe husbondes be
+ Such ar theyr wyues, children and housholde
+ The yonge Cok lerneth to crowe hye of the olde
+
+ A folysshe Father, full hardly shall ensyne
+ His sone to good lyfe or to good gouernaunce
+ For if the father to foly doth enclyne
+ The sone wyll folowe his father in that daunce
+ And if the father vse hasarde or the chaunce
+ Or any prohybyt and vnlawfull game
+ Most comonly the sone wyll do the same
+
+ If that the husbonde be vycious of his lyfe
+ Wastfull or dronken, or vyle in his langage
+ His sonnes doughters, his seruauntes and his wyfe
+ Wyll lerne of hym to passe the same passage
+ And if the husbonde breke his maryage
+ If the wyfe knowe, in mynde she wyll be wroth
+ Without he haue a hode of the same cloth
+
+ An olde prouerbe hath longe agone be sayde
+ That oft the sone in maners lyke wyll be
+ Vnto the Father, and in lyke wyse the mayde
+ Or doughter, vnto the mother wyll agre
+ So if the elders vse enormyte
+ And before theyr children bost them of the same
+ The sone and doughter shall folowe syre and dame
+
+ The monkes thynke it lawfull for to play
+ Whan that the Abbot bryngeth them the dyce
+ Right so the Father, can nought or lytell say
+ Agaynst the sone, nor hym blame or chastyce
+ If he hym selfe be taken in that same vyce
+ Thus lyues the Father in synne withouten shame
+ And after his deth the sone shall do the same
+
+ O wretchyd maners o tyme full of furour
+ And full of foly without all hope to stent
+ Howe longe shall god our lorde and sauyour
+ This synne suffer without greuous punysshement
+ Alas it nowe apereth euydent
+ That the fathers foly synne and great outrage
+ Is left to the sonne as it were herytage
+
+ And no meruayle, for it hath neuer ben seen
+ That of a wolfe a shepe hath be forth brought
+ Or that a calfe or lambe gendred hath been
+ Of a fell tygre: right so if it were sought
+ Ouer all the worlde. a Father that is nought
+ Sholde scant be founde, whiche coude brynge vp his childe
+ With his synne in no maner poynt defylyd
+
+ The yonge crab bacwarde doth crepe or go
+ As doth the olde, none can hir cours redres
+ These yonge children for the moste part also
+ Foloweth theyr fathers synne and his lewdnes
+ But they that lyue in maners of mekenes
+ In honest lyfe, goodnes grace and chastyte
+ May brynge forth children of maners as they be
+
+ I rede howe the Phylosopher Diogenes
+ Sayde by a childe whiche dronken was with wyne
+ That his Father was in that case doutles
+ Whan he it gate, so his hye wyt dyuyne
+ Knewe that the childes maners dyd inclyne
+ Vnto his Fathers, and so was it founde trewe
+ By them whiche well that childes fader knewe
+
+ But though the Father and mother also be nought
+ Without dout this one thynge apereth playne
+ That the childe is suche as it is vp brought
+ And nat lyghtly chaungyd without great charge or payne
+ Therfore let euery man hym selfe refrayne
+ Within his hous from all thynge worthy blame
+ Than shall his children and seruautes do the same
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY.
+
+ Ye that haue children or other great housholde
+ Subdued to your seruyce, and your obedyence
+ Kepe vertuous lyfe, for that is worth great golde
+ And great example to youth to auoyde offence
+ But if ye boost you of synne and neglygence
+ In rybawde wordes, gyue credence to this clause
+ If the herers fall into incouenyence
+ Your lewde example is the chefe grounde and cause
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of bodely pleasour or corporall
+voluptuosyte
+
+[Illustration: Wanton wastfull and vayne voluptuosyte
+Oft blyndeth attysynge vnto inconuenyence
+Many that ar rude, for theyr symplycyte
+And them as shepe sleeth for all theyr innocence
+But other some it kepyth with myght and violence
+As bulles bounde sure to endure great care
+And other as byrdes it tangleth in hir snare]
+
+ Drawe nere ye folys to you I crye and call
+ Whiche ar of grace clene destytute and bare
+ Folowynge your lust and pleasour corporall
+ But for your soule ye take no thought ne care
+ To whome may I this shamefull lust compare
+ Saue to a harlat faynynge, fals and couetous.
+ Of whome comyth shame and bytes venemous
+
+ She syttyth in the strete as past both shame and fere
+ Hir brestes bare to tempt them that passe by
+ Hir face anoyntyd blasynge abrode hir here
+ Or els on hir folysshe front enlaced hye
+ Hir smocke to garnysshyd so hir dysceytfull iye
+ To shamfull lust a thousande doth attyce
+ Of youth whiche erst perchuance knewe nought of vyce
+
+ Hir chamber full of flatery and disceyte
+ Anone is opened the blynde fole entreth in
+ The hoke of deth is hyd vnder the bayte
+ Of folysshe lust pleasour and mortall syn
+ Hir soule she sellyth ryches therby to wyne
+ And what riches: a rewarde sothly full vyle
+ The soules damneth and bodyes doth defyle
+
+ The one departyth, another comys in agayne
+ Without all shame dare she them boldly pray
+ To hir fals pleasours, Thus by hir gyle and trayne
+ This folysshe youth to hir wyll nat denay
+ But vnto hir some lepe both nyght and day
+ Without mesure, rennynge to lese theyr lyfe
+ As ox or shepe vnto the bochers knyfe
+
+ The symple lambe his necke doth out extende
+ Vnto the Bocher his mortall ennemy
+ So doth these folys, sekynge a shamefull ende
+ And theyr owne deth, though they myght fynde remedy
+ O blynde fole I requyre the to aply
+ Vnto my wordes and thou shalt here and se.
+ Howe moche thou oughtest this folysshe lust to fle
+
+ The soule it damneth, and drowneth depe in hell
+ The wyt it wastyth, and confoundeth the mynde
+ It causeth man his londe and good to sell
+ And if that he none other mene can fynde
+ To rob and stele he oft tyme is inclyned
+ Besyde all these this fowle lust is so vyle
+ That with fowle sauour it shall thy body fele
+
+ Thoughe of lewde lust the ioy be short and small
+ And thoughe the pleasour therof be soon ouer past
+ The payne that foloweth it, is eternall
+ With wofull dolour menglyd, that euer shall last
+ Therfore leue of: do nat thy pleasour cast
+ On worldly welth, delyte ioy and pleasour
+ For soon they pas and chaunge at euery hour
+
+ Who that in this wretchyd worlde wyll auoyde
+ Of voluptuousnes the ioyes frayle and vayne
+ And suffre nat hym with them to be acloyde
+ Infect or drownyd, shall for the same certayne
+ Euerlastynge lyfe, and endles ioy obtayne
+ And for his hye tryumphe and dyuyne prudence
+ Haue the fruycyon of goddes hye presence
+
+ But who that wyll his carnall lust ensue
+ Shall here haue shame, and after payne cruell
+ I coude hereof dyuers examples shewe
+ But of right many this one I shall you tell
+ One Sardanapalus all other dyd excell.
+ In carnall lust and so his mynde dyd cast
+ On loue prohybyte, that grace was fro hym past
+
+ The loue of vertue was full out of his mynde
+ So he concludyd to sue dilyciousnes
+ Thynkynge after deth no welth nor ioy to fynde
+ For this is the sentence of the prynce of derknes
+ But good almyghty seynge his vycyousnes
+ His body and soule deuydyd soon in twayne
+ From worldly pleasour vnto infernall payne
+
+ By this hystory to vs it apereth playne
+ That from worldly pleasour and voluptuosyte
+ With all our myght we ought vs to refrayne
+ For thoughe the first of them delycious be
+ Theyr ende is poyson, and of sournes plente
+ Sue wyse men vertue, and set suche lust asyde
+ For they ar folys that in it lyue and byde
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Amende mad men your blynde mysgouernaunce
+ Subdue nat your necke to the captyuyte
+ Of flysshely lust and corporall pleasaunce
+ Nor to blynde Venus with hir lasciuyte
+ (If ye it note) ye dayly here and se
+ The mysfortune of them that it ensue
+ And certaynly no man can saued be
+ By carnall lust, but by godly vertue
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folys that can nat kepe secrete theyr
+owne counsell.
+
+[Illustration: Of other Foles a nomber yet I fynde
+Which by theyr bablynge wordes and langage
+Can nat kepe close the secrete of theyr mynde.
+But all theyr counsel out they shewe at large.
+So that oft therof procedeth great damage.
+As Murder, myschefe, hatered and debate.
+That after they repent. But than it is to late]
+
+ He is a naturall fole and vndiscrete
+ And to hym selfe ingendryth oft great stryfe
+ Whiche can nat hyde his counsell and secrete
+ But by his foly it sheweth to his wyfe
+ And all that he hath done in his hole lyfe
+ Or that to do here after he doth purpose
+ To euery man suche a fole wyll disclose
+
+ The noble Sampson moste excellent of myght
+ And strongest man that euer was get or borne
+ Were nat this foly: sholde nat haue lost his syght
+ Nor had his here, by gyle from his hede ofshorne
+ And of his ennemyes ben laughyd vnto scorne
+ And at the last with herte wrethfull and wo
+ His ennemyes murdred and hym selfe also
+
+ Where as he myght haue lyued in honour
+ If he had kept his secretes in his mynde
+ With his owne wyll he dyed in great dolour.
+ By the fals treason of his lemman vnkynde
+ We may in dyuers mo examples fynde
+ Howe many thousandes haue suffred paynes smart
+ And all for shewynge the secretes of theyr hart
+
+ Amphiaraus a Prynce moste excellent
+ Shortened the dayes of his pore doutfull lyfe
+ For shewynge the preuetees of his intent
+ By his owne foly to his disceytfull wyfe
+ And thoughe he longe escaped had the stryfe
+ And war of Thebes whiche he dyd longe defende
+ Yet at the leest his tunge was his owne ende
+
+ Thus olde storyes doth oft recorde and tell
+ By theyr examples whiche they vnto vs gyue
+ That wymen ar no kepars of councell
+ It goeth through them as water trough a syue
+ Wherfore let them that quyetly wolde lyue
+ No more of theyr counsell to any woman showe
+ Than that they wolde that euery man dyd knowe
+
+ Let euery man that is discrete and sage
+ Of suche folys with all wysdome be ware
+ Whiche shewe theyr counsell by theyr hasty langage.
+ To euery man without all thought and care
+ For they of wysdome and reason ar but bare
+ And who that his owne secrete wyll forth tell
+ Howe sholde he hyde another mannes counsell
+
+ Yet other be whiche by theyr flaterynge trayne
+ Labour to knowe euery mannys pryuete
+ And by and by to shewe it forth agayne
+ Of them be ware for they disceyfull be.
+ Some other bost them of theyr felycyte
+ Bablynge that they haue theyr wyll in euery thynge
+ As prosperous welth loue, ryches and cunnynge
+
+ And of great dedes done both on see and londe
+ Some by theyr falshode, some by strength and vertue
+ But if one laboured the trouth to vnderstonde
+ Suche folysshe wordes sholde all be founde vntrewe
+ Let neuer man to suche his counsell shewe
+ For of one worde these folys makyth twayne
+ Whiche tourneth many to losse rebuke and payne
+
+ Wherfore if thou wylt that thy pryuete
+ Be kept secrete and nat come out at large
+ Be nat so folysshe to showe it unto me
+ Or any other if it be thynge of charge
+ And if thou do thou shalt be in this barge
+ For howe wylt thou thynke that another man
+ Can kepe thy counsell syns thou thy selfe ne can
+
+ If the kynge Achab had nat vttred and tolde
+ Vnto his wyfe his wyll and mynde so playne
+ By hir fals treason, and dysceyt manyfolde
+ Vnrightwysly Nabot had nat ben slayne
+ But for the same, Achab suffred great payne
+ By deth in batayle, and for a punysshment
+ His wyfe with houndes was all to torne and rent
+
+ Thus it apereth that he is wyse and ware
+ Whiche can his counsell kepe within his hart
+ For by that mean may he escape great care
+ And suerly lyue without yll wyllys dart
+ The Prophete seynge what dyuers paynes smart
+ Comyth oft to them whiche doth theyr secret tell
+ Eche man exortyth to kepe close his counsell.
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Thou man that hast thy secret in thy brest
+ Holde it styll there suffer it nat out to go
+ Who that so doth, therby shall fynde great rest
+ Ne to thy frende shewe nat thy mynde also
+ For if that he after become thy fo
+ As often hapneth, than myght he the bewry
+ So sholde thy foly tourne vnto thy great wo
+ Howe be it suche thynges are prouyd comonly.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of yonge folys that take olde wymen to
+theyr wyues, for theyr ryches.
+
+[Illustration: Within our shyp that fole shall haue a hode
+Whiche an olde wyfe taketh in maryage
+Rather for hir ryches and hir worldly gode
+Than for pure loue, or hope to haue lynage
+But suche youth as mary them selfe with age
+The profyte and pleasour of wedlocke lese certayne
+And worthely lyue in brawlynge stryfe and payne.]
+
+ Under the Asse tayle thoughe it be no thynge pure
+ Yet many seke and grope for the vyle fatnes
+ Gatherynge togyther the fowle dunge and ordure
+ Suche ar they that for treasour and ryches
+ Whyle they ar yonge in theyr chefe lustynes
+ An agyd woman taketh to theyr wyfe
+ Lesynge theyr youth, and shortynge so theyr lyfe
+
+ They that so do hath neyther rest nor peas
+ But besy brawlynge and stryfe contynuall
+ They have no pleasour, but thought and great dyseas
+ Rebuke out braydynge, and strypes whan they fall
+ But theyr owne foly is grounde and cause of all
+ For they be maryd unto the vyle treasour
+ And precious bagges, but nat for godly pleasour
+
+ They haue no hope of children nor lynage
+ Loue is there none, and durynge theyr wretchyd lyfe
+ Is nat one day in suche mad maryage
+ Auoyde of brawlynge, of hatered and of stryfe
+ But that pore man that weddeth a ryche wyfe
+ Cast in his nose shall styll hir bagges fynde
+ For whose cause he made was made and blynde
+
+ They that ar weddyd nat for loue but rychesse
+ Of moryage despysynge the pleasour and profyte
+ Suche seldome sauour fortunes happynes
+ But oft mysfortune them greuously doth byte
+ Thus gone is theyr pleasour theyr ioy and delyte
+ And for vayne treasoure suche ar so glad and fayne
+ That for the same they them subdue to payne
+
+ They wyllyngly to payne them selfe subdue
+ The whiche ar weddyd for wretchyd couetyse
+ They take no hede to maners and vertue
+ To honeste nor wysdome but lyue ay in malyce
+ For if a woman be fowle and full of vice
+ And lewde of maners, nought both to man and lad
+ Yet good shall hir mary be she neuer so bad
+
+ If that a man of hye or lowe degre
+ Wolde spouse his doughter vnto a strange man
+ He nought inquyreth of his honestye
+ Of his behauour, nor if he norture can
+ But if he be ryche in londes and good: than
+ He shall be prayed his doughter for to haue
+ Thoughe be but a bonde man or a knaue
+
+ The firste enquyrynge and speciall questyon
+ Is of the money, that thynge namely they moue
+ And last of all aske they the condicion
+ So whan they mete they neuer haue perfyte loue
+ Wherfore it were better to suche for theyr behoue
+ To byde alone in deserte and wyldernes
+ Than in wedloke in payne for frayle ryches
+
+ Forsoth it is an vnmete maryage
+ And disagreynge and moche agaynst the lawe
+ Bytwene fresshe youth, and lame vnlusty age
+ The loue bytwene them is scantly worth a strawe
+ So doth the one styll on the other gnawe
+ And oft the man in mynde doth sore complayne.
+ His sede to sowe vpon a grounde barayne
+
+ Than muste he haue another prymme or twayne
+ With them to slake his wanton yonge cowrage
+ But in that space must he endure great payne
+ With hir that he hath tane in maryage
+ Hir bablynge tunge whiche no man can asswage
+ With wrathfull wordes shall sle hym at the laste
+ His other prymes his good shall spende and waste
+
+ Thus who that selleth his youthes lustynes
+ For frayle ryches and this mundayne vanyte
+ He byeth stryfe, gyle and falshode endlesse
+ Suche force nat for fayth true loue nor honestye
+ And thoughe that he discende of hye degre
+ For hope of money he shall an olde fole wed
+ By whose foly he to euery yll is led.
+
+ And so these folys subdue them to bondage
+ And worthely endure suche payne and punysshement
+ They hope therby to come to auantage
+ But that they lese and lyue in sore tourment
+ They wast theyr good, and so whan that is spent
+ And nought remayneth theyr bodyes to relefe
+ Theyr disputacion is nought but hore and thefe
+
+ But if I sholde wryte all the vnhappynes
+ The wrath discorde and the great deuysyon
+ Wherin they lyue, that mary for ryches
+ And nat for loue. I neuer sholde haue done
+ Wherfore this say I for a conclusyon
+ That he shall neuer thryue ne come to his behoue
+ That weddyth a wyfe for gode and nat for loue
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY.
+
+ Alas man myndles what is thyne intent
+ To wed for ryches, that weddynge I defy
+ Maryage was ordeyned by god omnypotent
+ In goddes lawes the worlde to multyply
+ Wherfore that man that wyll therto aply
+ And wolde haue the profyte of faythfull maryage
+ This worldly ryches ought no thynge to set by
+ But wed for loue and hope to haue lynage
+
+ Remember ryches is no thynge comparable
+ To mekenes vertue and discrete gouernaunce
+ And other maners whiche ar more commendable
+ Than worldly treasour or suche vnsure substaunce
+ Wherfore consyder and call to thy remembraunce
+ That better is to haue some woman pore and bare
+ And lyue in eas: Than one with habundaunce
+ Of great ryches: and euer to lyue in care
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of enuyous Folys.
+
+[Illustration: Yet ar mo folys whiche greatly them delyte
+In others losse, and that by fals enuy
+Wherby they suche vnrightwysly bacbyte
+The dartis of suche ouer all the wordly flye
+And euer in fleynge theyr fethers multyply
+No state in erth therfro can kepe hym sure
+His sede encreasyth as it wolde euer endure]
+
+ Wastynge enuy oft styreth to malyce
+ Folys nat a fewe whiche ar therto enclynyd
+ Pryckynge theyr frowarde hertes vnto vyce
+ Of others damage reioysynge in theyr mynde
+ Enuyes darte doth his begynnynge fynde
+ In wrathfull hertes, it wastyth his owne nest
+ Nat suffrynge other to lyue in eas and rest
+
+ If one haue plenty of treasour and ryches
+ Or by his merytis obteyne great dignyte
+ These folys enuyous that of the same haue les
+ Enuy by malyce, the others hye degre
+ And if another of honour haue plente
+ They it enuy and wysshe that they myght sterue
+ Howe be it suche folys can nat the same deserue
+
+ These folys desyre agaynst both lawe and right
+ Anoters good if they may get the same
+ If they may nat by flaterynge nor by myght
+ Than by fals malyce they hym enuy and blame
+ Outher if one by his vertue hath good name
+ By fals enuy these foles hym reproue
+ Their wrath them blyndeth so that they none can loue
+
+ The wounde of this malycious, fals enuy
+ So dedely is, and of so great cruelte
+ That it is incurable and voyde of remedy
+ A man enuyous hath suche a properte
+ That if he purpose of one vengyd to be
+ Or do some mysche, whiche he reputyth best
+ Tyll it be done, he neuer hath eas nor rest
+
+ No slepe, no rest nor pleasour can they fynde
+ To them so swete, pleasaunt and delectable
+ That may expell this malyce from theyr mynde
+ So is enuy a vyce abhomynable
+ And vnto helth so frowarde and damnable
+ That if it onys be rotyd in a man
+ It maketh hym lene. his colour pale and wan.
+
+ Enuy is pale of loke and countenaunce
+ His body lene of colour pale and blewe
+ His loke frowarde, his face without pleasaunce
+ Pyllynge lyke scalys, his wordes ay vntrue
+ His iyen sparklynge with fyre ay fresshe and newe
+ It neuer lokyth on man with iyen full
+ But euer his herte by furious wrath is dull
+
+ Thou mayst example fynde of this enuy
+ By Joseph whome his bretherne dyd neuer beholde
+ With louynge loke, but sharpe and cruelly
+ So that they hym haue murdred gladly wolde
+ I myght recount examples manyfolde
+ Howe many by enuy lost hath theyr degre
+ But that I leue bycause of breuyte
+
+ Enuyous folys ar stuffed with yll wyll
+ In them no myrth nor solace can be founde
+ They neuer laughe but if it be for yll
+ As for gode lost or whan some shyp is drounde
+ Or whan some hous is brent vnto the grounde
+ But whyle these folys on other byte and gnawe
+ Theyr enuy wastyth theyr owne herte and theyr mawe
+
+ The mount of Ethnay though it brent euer styll
+ Yet (saue itselfe) it brenneth none other thynge
+ So these enuyous Folys by theyr yll wyll
+ Wast theyr owne herte, thoughe they be ay musynge
+ Another man to shame and losse or hurt to brynge
+ Upon them sellfe Thus tournyth this yll agayne
+ To theyr destruccion both shame great losse and payne
+
+ This fals enuy by his malycious yre
+ Doth often, bretherne so cursedly inflame
+ That by the same the one of them conspyre
+ Agaynst the other without all fere and shame
+ As Romulus and Remus excellent of fame
+ Whiche byldyd Rome, but after: enuy so grewe
+ Bytwene them that the one the other slewe
+
+ What shall I wryte of Cayme and of Abell
+ Howe Cayme for murder suffred great payne and wo
+ Atreus story and Theseus cruell.
+ Ar vnto vs example hereof also
+ Ethyocles with his brother: and many mo
+ Lyke as the storyes declareth openly
+ The one the other murdred by enuy
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Wherfore let hym that is discrete and wyse
+ This wrathfull vyce exyle out of his mynde
+ And yll on none by malyce to surmyse
+ Let charyte in perfyte loue the bynde
+ Sue hir preceptis than shalt thou consort fynde
+ Loue in this lyfe, and ioy whan thou art past
+ Where as enuy thy conscyence shall blynde
+ And both they blode and body mar and wast
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of impacient Folys that wyll nat abyde
+correccion.
+
+[Illustration: Unto our Folys shyp let hym come hastely
+Whiche in his Bagpype hath more game and sport
+Than in a Harpe or Lute more swete of melody
+I fynde vnnumerable Folys of this sort
+Whiche in theyr Bable haue all they hole confort
+For it is oft sayd of men both yonge and olde
+A fole wyll nat gyue his Babyll for any golde]
+
+ The grettest synners that man may se or fynde
+ In myserable Folys theyr foly to expres
+ Is whan they wyll by no mean gyue theyr mynde
+ To frendly wordes, to grace or to goodnes
+ Suche folys so set theyr mynde on frowardnes
+ That though one gyue them counsell sad and wyse
+ They it disdayne and vtterly despyse
+
+ But he that is discrete sad and prudent
+ Aplyeth his mynde right gladly to doctryne
+ He hereth wyse men, his wysdome to augment
+ He them doth folowe and to theyr wordes enclyne
+ But that fole whiche ay goeth to ruyne.
+ And mortall myschefe had leuer be dede or slayne
+ Than byde correccyon or for his profyte payne
+
+ Suche haue suche pleasour in theyr mad folysshe pype
+ That they dispyse all other melody.
+ They leuer wolde dye folys than: byde a strype
+ For theyr correccyon and specyall remedy
+ And without dout none other Armony
+ To suche folys is halfe so delectable
+ As is their folysshe bagpype and theyr babyll
+
+ These frantyke folys wyll byde no punysshement
+ Nor smale correccion, for theyr synne and offence
+ No frendly warnynge can chaunge theyr yll intent
+ For to abyde it, they haue no pacyence.
+ They here no wysdome but fle from hir presence
+ And so it hapnyth that in the worlde be
+ Mo folys than men of wyt and grauyte
+
+ O mortall fole remember well what thou art
+ Thou art a man of erth made and of clay
+ Thy dayes ar short and nede thou must depart
+ Out of this lyfe, that canst thou nat denay
+ Yet hast thou reason and wyt wherby thou may
+ Thy selfe here gyde by wysdome ferme and stable
+ Wherby thou passest all bestis vnreasonable
+
+ Thou art made lorde of euery creature
+ All thynge erthly vnto thyne obedyence
+ God hath the creat vnto his owne fygure
+ Lo is nat here a great preemynence
+ God hath also gyuyn vnto the intellygence
+ And reason and wyt all foly to refuse.
+ Than art thou a fole that reason to abuse
+
+ He that is fre outher in subieccion.
+ If by his foly he fall into offence
+ And than submyt hym vnto correccyon.
+ All men shall laude his great obedyence
+ But if that one by pryde and insolence
+ Supporte his faute and so bere out his vyce
+ The hell tourmentis hym after shall chastyce
+
+ Correccyon shall the vnto wysdome brynge
+ Whiche is more precious than all erthly ryches
+ Than londes rentis or any other thynge
+ Why dost thou bost the of byrth or noblenes
+ Of ryches, strength beauty or fayrnes
+ These often ar cause of inconuenyence.
+ Where as all good comyth by wysdome and prudence
+
+ A wyse man onely as we often fynde
+ Is to be named moste ryche and of most myght
+ Here thou his wordes and plant them in thy mynde
+ And folowe the same for they ar sure and right.
+ Better is to endure, thoughe it be nat lyght
+ To suffer a wyse man the sharply to repreue
+ Than a flaterynge fole to clawe the by the sleue
+
+ Thoughe sharpe correccyon at the first the greue
+ Thou shalt the ende therof fynde profytable
+ It oft apereth, therfore I it byleue
+ That man also forsoth is fortunable
+ Whiche here in fere lyueth sure and stable
+ And in this lyfe is clene of his intent
+ Ferynge the sharpe payne of hellys punysshement
+
+ He may hym selfe right happy call also
+ Whiche is correct in his first tender age
+ And so lernyth in goodes law to go
+ And in his yocke, whiche doth all yll asswage
+ But these folys bydynge in theyr outrage
+ Whiche of correccyon in this lyfe hath dysdayne
+ May fere to be correct in hell with endles payne
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ Ye obstynate folys that often fall in vyce
+ Howe longe shall ye kepe this frowarde ignoraunce
+ Submyt your myndes, and so from synne aryse
+ Let mekenes slake your mad mysgouernaunce
+ Remember that worldly payne it greuaunce
+ To be compared to hell whiche hath no pere
+ There is styll payne, this is a short penaunce
+ Wherfore correct thy selfe whyle thou art here.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folysshe Fesycyans and vnlerned that
+onely folowe paractyke knowynge nought
+of the speculacyon of theyr faculte.
+
+[Illustration: Who that assayeth the craft of medycyne
+Agaynst the seke and paynfull pacyent
+And hath no insyght cunnynge nor doctryne
+To gyue the seke, helth and amendement
+Suche is a fole, and of a mad intent
+To take on hym by Phesyke any cure
+Nat knowynge of man, nor herbe the right nature]
+
+ Yet be mo folys vpon the grounde and londe
+ Whiche in our Shyp may clayme a rowme and place
+ Suche be Phesycians that no thynge vnderstonde
+ Wandrynge about in euery towne and place
+ Uysytynge the seke whiche lyue in heuy case
+ But nought they relefe of those paynes harde
+ But gape alway after some great rewarde
+
+ Suche that haue practyse and nought of speculatyfe
+ Whan they go vysyte some paynfull pacyent
+ Whan they hym note sure to forgo his lyfe
+ Without all hope of any amendement
+ Yet say they other than is in theyr intent
+ That his diseas is no thynge incurable
+ So that the pacyent to hym be agreable
+
+ Sayth the Phesycyan whan he hath his rewarde
+ Abyde a whyle tyll I my bokes ouer se
+ Wherby I may relyue thy paynes harde
+ Than from the pacyent homewarde departyth he
+ To se his bokes but if the pacyent dye
+ In that meane space the medycyne is to late
+ So may he lay it to his owne folysshe pate
+
+ The speculacion sholde he before haue sene
+ For that in Phesyke is chefe and pryncypall,
+ Yet many ar that vse the craft I wene
+ Whiche of the cunnynge knowe lytell or nought at all
+ A herbe or wede that groweth vpon a wall
+ Beryth in it these folys medycyne.
+ None other bokes haue they nor doctryne
+
+ Nor none they rede to haue the true scyence
+ Or perfyte knowlege and grounde of medycyne
+ They rede no volumes of the experyence
+ Of Podalirius nor Mesues doctryne
+ Suche folys disdayne theyr myndes to enclyne
+ Unto the doctryne of bokes of Auycen
+ Of ypocras and parfyte galyen
+
+ But all the substance of theyr blynde faculte
+ They take in bokes that speke of herbes only
+ Without respect had to theyr properte
+ Or operacion so often they them aply
+ To fals doctrynes, but first and specyally
+ These olde wyues therwith wyll haue to do
+ Thoughe they nought knowe that doth belonge therto
+
+ They dare be bolde to take on them the cure
+ Of them diseasyd howe be it that they nat can
+ Suche thynge descerne as longyth to nature
+ What is for woman good, and what for man
+ So oft they ende moche wors than they began
+ That the pore pacyent is so brought to his graue
+ Yet dyuers suters suche folysshe wytches haue
+
+ Suche wytches boldly dare afferme and say
+ That with one herbe they hele can euery sore
+ Under euery syne plenete, houre and day
+ Yet besyde this they boldly dare say more
+ That it that helyth a man aged and hore
+ Shall helpe also a woman or a childe
+ Thus many thousandes oft ar by them begyled
+
+ They say also in this our charge or cure
+ What nedes it note the synes or fyrmament
+ The cause of thynges, or the strength of nature
+ Whether that the seke be stronge or impotent
+ They gyue one medesyn to euery pacyent
+ And if it fortune it be to colde or warme
+ The faythles wytche in hande goth with hir scharme
+
+ Say folysshe Surgyan by what experyence
+ Or whose Doctryne discyplyne or lore
+ Takest thou on the, nought knowynge of scyence
+ With one Salue or plaster, to heale euery sore
+ Yet so thou thynkest, I the compare therfore
+ Unto a lawyer that of his craft nought can
+ And yet presumeth to counsell euery man
+
+ A lawer and a Phesician ar both lyke
+ Of theyr condicion and both insue one trayne
+ The one begylyth the pacyent and seke
+ Takynge his god for to encreas his payne
+ The other labours and cauteles oft doth fayne
+ To clawe the coyne by craft from his clyent
+ Castynge hym of whan all his good is spent
+
+ Thus thryues the lawer by anothers good
+ Iniustly gotten, disceyuynge his clyent
+ Also some other ar callyd Phesicians good
+ Whiche vtterly disceyue the pacyent
+ If he haue money than hath he his intent
+ And if the seke haue store ynough to pay
+ Than shall the cure be dryuen from day to day
+
+ So if the lawer may any auauntage wyn
+ He shall the cause from terme to terme defarre
+ The playntyf for a player is holde in.
+ With the defendaunt kepynge open warre
+ So laweyers and Phesicians thousandes do marre
+ And whan they no more can of theyr suers haue
+ The playntyf beggyth, the seke is borne to graue
+
+ But of these lawyers bycause I spoke before
+ Of folysshe Phesicians here onely I intende.
+ Somwhat to say: And of lawers no more
+ On you Phesicians shall I conclude and ende
+ I say no man may hym so well defende
+ That he for murder may auoyde punysshement
+ Yet may Phesicians, sleynge the pacient
+
+ Thus thou that of Phesycian hast the name
+ If thou nought knowe of perfyte medycyne
+ It is forsoth to thy rebuke and shame
+ To boste the scyence: nat hauynge the doctryne
+ Therfore I counsell that thou thy mynde inclyne
+ To haue the cunnynge, els certaynly thou shall
+ Haue thy blynde craft and lyue a fole with all.
+
+THE ENUOY OF THE TRASLATOUR.
+
+ Thou blynde Phesician that of thy craft nought can
+ Leue of thy lewdnes and bolde audacyte
+ To take on the: the cure of chylde or man
+ For by thy foly the wors myght they be
+ And ye that suerly perceyue your faculte
+ Be true therin, and auaryce from you cast
+ Shame is to brynge a man to pouertye
+ And than in paynes to leue hym at the last
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the ende of worldly honour and power
+and of Folys that trust therein.
+
+[Illustration: On erth was neuer degre so excellent
+Nor man so myghty: in ryches nor scyence
+But at the ende all hath ben gone and spent
+Agaynst the same no man can make defence
+Deth all thynge drawyth, ferefull is his presence,
+It is last ende of euery thynge mundayne
+Thus mannys fortune of cours is vncertayne]
+
+ O creatures of myndes mad and blynde
+ I wonder of your hertis proude and eleuate
+ Whiche on vayne power set so sore your mynde
+ And trust so moche to your vnsure estate
+ As of your lyfe were neyther yere nor date
+ To worldly worshyp ye stedfastly intende
+ As if your lyfe sholde neuer more come to ende
+
+ Alway ye labour to come to dignyte
+ And oft by falshode your power to augment
+ Alas fewe ar content with theyr degre
+ But by extorcion spoyle the pore innocent
+ On worldly treasour so set is theyr intent
+ And styll to honour as besely to ascende
+ As if theyr lyfe sholde neuer more come to ende
+
+ Take thou example by Julius cesar
+ That of the worlde durynge a whyle was sure
+ And many kynges subduyd by myght of warre
+ And of the Empyre had lordshyp charge cure
+ But this his myght great space dyd nat endure
+ And whyle he trustyd yet hyer to ascende
+ By cruell deth he soon came to his ende
+
+ Right in lyke wyse the myghty Darius
+ Was kynge of Persy a realme moche excellent
+ Yet was his mynde so greatly couetus
+ That with the same helde he hym nat content
+ But warred on other Royalmes adiacent
+ So whan his myght coude nat therto extende
+ His owne Royalme he loste and so came to his ende
+
+ And also Xerxes in ryches abundant
+ Was longe in peas and great tranquyllyte
+ And in his Royalme was hye and tryumphant
+ As longe as he was content with his degre
+ Than had he pleasour and great felycyte.
+ To assay by warre his kyngdome to amende
+ But all he lost and so came to his ende
+
+ Whyle Nabugodonosor kynge of Babylone
+ In vnsure fortune set to great confydence
+ Commaundynge honour vnto hym to be done
+ As vnto god: with all humble reuerence,
+ God by his power and hye magnyfycence
+ Made hym a beste, for that he dyd offende
+ And so in proces of tyme came to his ende
+
+ Alexander the great and myghty conquerour
+ To whome all the worlde scantly myght suffyse
+ Of Grece was the origynall lorde and Emperour
+ And all the worlde subdued as I surmyse
+ Yet hath he done as is the comon gyse
+ Left all behynde, for nought coude hym defende
+ But as a symple man at the last came to his ende
+
+ The myghty Cresus with his kyngdomes and store
+ Of golde and ryches hym selfe coude nat content
+ But whyle he trustyd and laboured for more
+ Fortune hym fayled: So lost he his intent.
+ What shall I wryte of Cyrus excellent
+ Drynkynge his blode by deth whiche fortune sende
+ To here of states the comon deth and ende
+
+ All kyngdomes dekay and all estate mundayne
+ Example of Rome Cartago and Mycene
+ Of Solyme Tyre grace and Troy moste souerayne
+ None of these places ar nowe as they haue ben
+ Nor none other ouer the worlde as I wene
+ Thus shortly to speke and all to comprehende
+ All worldly thynges at last shall haue an ende.
+
+THE ENOUY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.
+
+ O man that hast thy trust and confydence
+ Fyxed on these frayle fantasyes mundayne
+ Remember at the ende there is no difference
+ Bytwene that man that lyued hath in payne
+ And hym that hath in welth and ioy souerayne
+ They both must dye their payne is of one sort
+ Both ryche and pore, no man can deth refrayne
+ For dethes dart expellyth all confort
+
+ Say where is Adam the fyrst progenytour
+ Of all mankynde is he nat dede and gone
+ And where is Abell of innocence the flour
+ With adamys other sonnes euerychone
+ A: dredfull deth of them hath left nat one
+ Where is Mathusalem, and Tuball that was playne
+ The first that played on Harpe or on Orgone
+ _Ilz sont tous mortz ce monde est choce vayne_
+
+ Where is iust Noy and his ofsprynge become
+ Where is Abraham and all his progeny
+ As Isaac and Jacob, no strength nor wysdome
+ Coude them ensure to lyue contynually
+ Where is kynge Dauyd whome god dyd magnyfy
+ And Salomon his son of wysdome souerayne
+ Where ar his sonnes of wysdome and beauty
+ _Ilz sont toutz mortz ce monde est choce vayne._
+
+ Where ar the prynces and kynges of Babylon
+ And also of Jude and kynges of Israell
+ Where is the myghty and valiant Sampson
+ He had no place in this lyfe ay to dwell
+ Where ar the Prynces myghty and cruell
+ That rayned before Christ delyuered vs from payne
+ And from the Dongeons of darke and ferefull hell
+ _Ilz sont toutz mortz ce monde est choce vayne._
+
+ Of worldly worsyp no man can hym assure
+ In this our age whiche is the last of all
+ No creature can here alway endure
+ Yonge nor olde, pore man nor kynge royall
+ Unstable fortune tourneth as doth a ball
+ And they that ones pas can nat retourne agayne
+ Wherfore I boldly dare speke in generall
+ We all shall dye: _ce monde est choce vayne_.
+
+ Ryches nor wysdome can none therfro defende
+ Ne in his strength no man can hym assure
+ Say where is Tully is he nat come to ende
+ Seneke the sage with Cato and Arture
+ The hye Arystotyll of godly wyt and pure
+ The glorious Godfray, and myghty Charlemayne
+ Thoughe of theyr lyfe they thought that they were sure
+ Yet ar they all dede: _ce monde est choce vayne_.
+
+ Where ar the Phylosophers and Poetis lawreat
+ The great Grammaryens and pleasant oratours.
+ Ar they nat dede after the same fourme and rate
+ As ar all these other myghty conquerours
+ Where ar theyr Royalmes theyr ryches and treasours
+ Left to theyr heyres: and they be gone certayne
+ And here haue left theyr riches and honours
+ So haue they proued that this worlde is but vayne.
+
+ So I conclude bycause of breuyte
+ That if one sought the worlde large and wyde
+ Therin sholde be founde no maner of dere
+ That can alway in one case suerly byde
+ Strength, honour, riches cunnynge and beautye
+ All these decay, dayly: thoughe we complayne
+ _Omnia fert etas_, both helth and iolyte
+ We all shall dye: _ce monde est choce vayne_.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of predestynacion.
+
+[Illustration: That man that lokyth for to haue a rewarde
+Whiche he hath nat deseruyd to obtayne
+And lenyth his body vpon a rede forwarde
+Whiche for waykenes may hym nat well sustayne
+Forsoth this fole may longe so loke in vayne
+And on the Crauys he styll shall bacwarde ryde
+Cryenge with the doue, whose flyght shall hym ay gyde]
+
+ It is vnlawfull, man to be dilygent
+ Or serchynge goddes workes to set his thought
+ Howe he hath made the heuen and fyrmament
+ The erth the see and euery thynge of nought
+ Yet of some Folys the cause hereof is sought,
+ Whiche labour also with curyosyte
+ To knowe the begynnynge of his dyuynyte
+
+ These folys forgettynge their owne fragilyte
+ Wolde loke to knowe the ende of euery thynge
+ Boldly disputynge in goddys pryuete
+ And what rewarde is ordeynyd for men lyuynge
+ Of many folys this is the moste musynge
+ Whiche labour dayly with besy cure and payne.
+ To knowe what god doth discerne and or ordayne
+
+ Therfore in this part I shall dispyse and blame
+ Unchrafty folys whiche scantly haue ouer sene
+ Ought of scripture, if they knowe the bokes name
+ Or els a whyle hath at the Scoles bene
+ Than bende they the browys and stedfastly they wene
+ In theyr conceyt that they ar passynge wyse
+ For all scripture newe commentis to deuyse
+
+ They frowardly the sentence do transpose
+ And that whiche is wryten, both playne and holely
+ By theyr corruptynge and vnlawfull glose
+ Oft tyme they brynge to damnable heresy
+ Falsly expoundynge after theyr fantasy
+ They labour to transpose and turne the right sence
+ Thoughe the wordes stryue and make great resystence
+
+ Here what these folys with theyr audacyte
+ Dare besely say by theyr fals errour blynde
+ Presumynge on goddes secrete and pryuete
+ Here what lewde wordes they cast out in the wynde
+ They say what man can chaunge or turne his mynde
+ To lyue after any other fourme and rate
+ But lyke as he is therto predestynate
+
+ They say: if god that rayneth ouerall
+ Hath any ordeyned that in this worlde is
+ To come to the place and rowme celestyall
+ For to be partyner of euerlastynge blys
+ Ordeyned for suche as here doth nat amys
+ No man can chaunge, not other thynge mundayne
+ That thynge whiche god by his myght doth ordayne
+
+ But if that god prefyxed hath before
+ Any creature vnto infernall payne
+ In derknes to be damnyd for euer more
+ No erthly thynge may that sentence call agayne
+ Nor hym delyuer: o fole thou mayst complayne
+ For this thy foly and also it repent
+ Thynkest thou nat god alway omnypotent
+
+ Is god nat rightwyse and grounde of all iustyce
+ Rewardynge man after his gouernaunce
+ He that hath here nat lyen in synne and vyce
+ Hauynge in goddys seruyce his pleasaunce
+ Shall of his lorde be had in remembraunce
+ And of rewarde worthely be sure
+ Where it is worthy that synners payne endure
+
+ Trust well who seruyth his maker stedfastly
+ With pure herte kepynge sure his commaundement
+ And lawes shall be rewardyd fynally
+ With heuenly ioy and scape all punysshement
+ Therfore thou fole leue of this lewde intent
+ Lyue vertuously and trust in goddes grace
+ Than yll desteny in the shall haue no place
+
+ Vnto great ioy god hath vs all create
+ And to vs all ordeyned his kyngdome
+ And none hath vnto Hell predestynate
+ But often whan we folowe nat wysdome
+ By ouer owne foly we fall, and so become
+ Vnto our maker vnkind: and hym deny
+ Whiche them rewardyth that here lyue vertuously
+
+ Therfore thou Fole desyst thy wordes vayne
+ And let thy tunge no more suche wordes say
+ For god hath vs made all of one stuf certayne
+ As one potter makyth of one clay
+ Vessels dyuers, but whan he must them lay
+ Vpon the kyll with fyre them there to dry
+ They come nat all to good, moste comonly
+
+ Doth this erthyn pot his maker dispyse
+ Whether it be made of fassyon good or yll
+ Saynge why dost thou make me in this wyse
+ Wherfore mad man I reade the to be styll
+ Blame nat thy maker, for thy vnhappy wyll
+ For god hath neuer man nor childe create
+ But all he hath to heuen predestynate
+
+ And whyle we lyue here on this wretchyd grounde
+ We haue our reason and wyttes vs to gyde
+ With our fre wyll and if no faute be founde
+ In our demenour, in heuen we shall abyde
+ But if we goddes lawes set asyde
+ Howe may we hope of hym rewarde to wyn
+ So our owne foly is moste cause of our syn.
+
+THE ENUOY OF BARCLAY.
+
+ O creature vnkynde vnto thy creatour
+ What carest thou to knowe or to inuestygate
+ The pryuetye, of god, leue this thy errour
+ To thynke the by hym to be predestynate
+ To endles wo and from his blysse pryuate
+ For syns thou hast thy reason and frewyll
+ Gyuyn the by god, thou art in suche estate
+ To take the eleccion outher of good or yll
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folys that forget them selfe and do
+another mannys besynes leuynge theyr
+owne vndone.
+
+[Illustration: Who that wyll suffer his owne hous to bren
+Tyll nought of it saue the bare wallys stonde
+And with his water hastely doth ren
+To quenche the fyre of anothers hous or londe
+He is a fole and haue shall in his hande
+A folysshe Pype or horne therwith to blowe
+For other folys that in my Shyp wyll rowe.]
+
+ Within my Shyp of rowme he shall be sure
+ Whiche for anothers auantage and profyte
+ Takyth great thought and doth moche payne endure
+ Vnto his owne charge takynge no respyte
+ But settyth it asyde and hath all his delyte
+ With all his stody hym to enforce and dres:
+ To care for euery mannys besynes.
+
+ Suche hertles folys to them self neglygent
+ In theyr owne charge slepe contynually
+ But with open iyen they ar full dylygent
+ The worke of other with all theyr myght to aply
+ And for others profyte prouyde they besely.
+ But whyle these Folys ar glad to take in hande
+ Anothers charge, theyr owne styll let they stande
+
+ Wherfore I am so bolde within my boke
+ Somwhat to touch these folys mad vsage
+ That if it fortune them on the same to loke
+ They may therby perceyue in theyr corage
+ That labour they ought for their owne auauntage
+ Most specyally. for that is the degre
+ And the true order of perfyte charite
+
+ For perfyte loue and also charite
+ Begynneth with hym selfe for to be charitable
+ And than to other after his degre
+ Thy owne auauntage is ay moost profytable
+ The great Phylosophers of maners ferme and stable
+ And also of wysdome godly and dyuyne
+ Hath left to vs suche techynge and doctryne
+
+ We haue by Therence the same commaundement
+ The same is wryten also as I fynde
+ In the holy lawe of the olde testament
+ And therfore he that oft wyll set his mynde
+ For others maters with care his thought to blynde
+ Let hym first se vnto his owne profyte
+ Lyst some mysfortune hym after sharply byte
+
+ Let hym turne his labour to his owne auauntage
+ And than do for other where as he seeth moste nede
+ For who that playeth for mony outher gage
+ And on his felawes cast takyth onely hede
+ And nat to his owne, suche one shall seldom spede
+ And is a Fole. So is he that doth ren
+ To quenche another hous, suffrynge his owne to bren
+
+ Suche one of his owne damage hath no fere
+ And worthy is his losse and hurte to byde
+ So is he that wyll anothers burthen bere
+ Or takyth anothers charge at any tyde
+ Despysynge his owne werke and settynge it asyde
+ If suche haue losse and after it forthynke
+ No man shall moche force whether he flete or synke
+
+ He is well worthy to haue a folys pype
+ That goth vnbyddyn to rype anothers corne
+ And suffreth his owne to stande though it be rype.
+ And generally all Folys ar worthy scorne
+ Of what maner byrth so euer they be borne
+ If they them self put, to losse or damage
+ Therby to do some other auauntage
+
+ Say curyous Fole: say what pleasour thou hast
+ In others maters thy self to intermyt
+ Or theyr great charges thus in thy mynde to cast
+ Thy selfe to socour set thou thy mynde and wyt
+ Let others maters therfore in quyete syt
+ On thy owne profyte of all firste set thy mynde
+ And than (if thou mayst) do somwhat for thy frende
+
+ For vtterly that man is moche vnwyse
+ That thus takyth thought for anothers charge
+ And doth his owne by neglygence despyse
+ For suche Folys I forgyd haue this barge
+ But of the same suche men I clene discharge
+ That first of his pryuate profyte can take hede
+ And than helpe a frende and felowe at a nede
+
+THENUOY OF BARKLAY.
+
+ Ye that take charge, thought and besy cure
+ For others mysfortune, losse or aduersyte
+ First of your self I aduyse you to be sure
+ For this is the order of parfyte charyte
+ Eche to hym selfe moste louynge ay to be
+ And next to his frende, but who that doth dispyse.
+ His owne besynes whiche is in ieopardye
+ Seynge to anothers forsoth he is vnwyse
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of the vyce of vnkyndnes.
+
+[Illustration: That Fole can neyther gode nor honeste
+Whiche whan one doth to hym a frendly dede
+It gladly takyth, thoughe it be two or thre
+Lokynge for kyndnes, yet takyth he no hede
+To shewe the same agayne in tyme of nede
+Let suche Folys be no thing wroth therfore
+Thoughe in this Shyp I set them to an ore.]
+
+ He is a Fole that crauynge is alway
+ Takynge the seruyce and rewardes of his frende
+ And nat remembryth the same agayne to pay
+ But as a churle it castyth out of his mynde
+ For who that wolde haue one to hym be kynde
+ And lyberall, he ought the same to be
+ For kyndnes meyntayneth bothe loue and charyte
+
+ He that wyll charge another with cures harde
+ And great labours greuous to sustayne
+ Ought for his labour hym worthely rewarde
+ That the rewarde may be confort to his payne
+ It is disworshyp and also shame certayne
+ To take the labour of any ryche or pore
+ And nat iustly hym to content therfore
+
+ Wherfore the workman ought also to intende
+ Vnto his labour to saue his honestye
+ And workemanly to brynge it the ende
+ If he therby wolde well rewardyd be
+ And if the owner therof beholde and se.
+ His worke so done, he is a chorle vnkynde
+ If he do nat content the workmannys mynde.
+
+ He that wolde gladly that men sholde hym commende
+ Must fully purpose and fyx within his mynde
+ Lyberall to be and nat euer to intende
+ To false Auaryce, whiche many one doth blynde
+ And if he purpose hye honours for to fynde
+ Or hym auaunce to any great degre
+ He must haue mekenes and lyberalyte
+
+ He must of maners also be commendable
+ And of his speche als pleasaunt as he can
+ For an olde prouerbe true and verytable
+ Sayth that good lyfe and maners makyth man
+ But euery lawe doth dam and also ban
+ The churlysshe vyce and lewde of vnkyndnes
+ Whiche dryeth vp the well of bounte and goodnes
+
+ For vnkynde folys if one labour dylygent
+ And so brynge theyr worke vnto good conclusyon
+ They fynde yet fautis and so ar nat content
+ Withdrawynge the rewarde by theyr collusyon
+ Wherfore let suche thynke it no abusyon
+ Nor haue disdayne ne yet in mynde complayne
+ If the pore laborer gyue vp his worke agayne
+
+ These frowarde Folys, doth wronge and iniury
+ To suche as to them do profyte and honour
+ For kyndnes, they render shame and vylany
+ Rebukes sclander extorcion and rygour
+ But whyle they hope to come to great valoure
+ And by such rygour to honours to aryse
+ Theyr hope vanyssheth as doth the snowe or yce
+
+ Wherfore who that puttyth one to besynes
+ To charge or labour of body or of mynde
+ Ought hym rewarde agayne for his kyndnes
+ If he do nat forsoth he is unkynde
+ But specyally as I oft wryten fynde
+ It is a thynge whiche doth for vengeaunce cry
+ A pore laborer to put to Iniury
+
+ What man can wryte the inconuenyence
+ Whiche groweth of this lewde and cursyd vyce
+ Vnkyndnes causeth great myschefe and offence
+ And is repugnynge to reason and iustyce
+ Wherfore let suche that wyll be namyd wyse
+ Leue it: and folowe lyberalyte
+ Whiche is noryssher of loue and amyte
+
+ In dyuers bokes examples we may fynde
+ Howe many Cytees hygh and excellent
+ Agaynst all lawe and reason were vnkynde
+ To suche as dyd theyr dignyte augment
+ O vnkynde rome thou was of this intent
+ Whiche hast Camyllus exyled in great payne
+ Thoughe he euer laboured thy honour to mentayne
+
+ O cruell Athenes by thy ingratytude
+ Hast thou nat banysshyd Solon also fro the
+ Though he enfourmyd hath thy maners rude
+ And gyuyn the lawes of right and equyte
+ For his great meryte, loue and benygnyte
+ Thou hast hym gyuen exyle and paynes harde
+ His labour was nat worthy that rewarde
+
+ Thou vnkynde Sparta: of thy audacyte
+ What shall I wryte or thy lewde vnkyndnes
+ Hast thou nat banysshed by thy cruelte
+ Thy kynge Lycurgus, bycause he dyd redres
+ Thy wanton errours by lawe and rightwysnes
+ And Scipio whiche his country dyd defende
+ Fonde it to hym, vnkynde at the last ende
+
+ A thousande mo whome I can nat expresse
+ To suche as haue for them abyde great payne
+ Haue done displeasour, and shewed vnkyndnes
+ And them disceyued by some cautele or trayne
+ Yet none of them great goodnes cowde obtayne
+ By theyr vnkyndnes for who that so doth cast
+ Vnkyndly shall be seruyd at the last.
+
+THENUOY OF BARKLAY.
+
+ O fals vnkyndnes out on the I cry
+ From all goodnes dost thou nat man withdrawe
+ Byndynge his herte to gyle and vylany
+ Agaynst nature, agaynst both right and lawe
+ Thou makest man his maker nat to knawe
+ Therfore thou man expell out from thy mynde
+ This vyce, for we fynde in an olde sayde sawe
+ Wo is hym that to his maker is vnkynde.
+
+ Remember man the great preemynence
+ Gyuen unto the by good omnypotent
+ Bytwene the and Angels is lytell difference
+ And all thynge erthly to the obedyent
+ Fysshe byrde and beste vnder the fyrmament
+ Say what excuse mayst thou nowe lay or fynde
+ Syns thou art made by god so excellent
+ But that thou oughtest agayne to hym be kynde.
+
+ God hath the made vnto his owne lykenes
+ No erthly creature vnto the comparable
+ Thy iyen vpwarde to consyder his hyghnes
+ Where other creatures that ar vnresonable
+ Goeth on all foure and ar nat other able.
+ Theyr loke alway vnto the grounde inclynyd
+ Therfore thou ought in vertue to be stable
+ And to thy maker neuer to be vnkynde
+
+ Whan man offendyd by disobedyence
+ Subduynge hym self to labour care and payne
+ And lost the consort of goodes hye presence
+ Hath nat christ Jhesu redemyd hym agayne
+ Besyde all this thou hast no thynge certayne
+ In erth but by hym. wherfore I call the blynde
+ And of thy maners vncurtayse and vylayne
+ If to thy sauyour thou be nat true and kynde
+
+ Thoughe god hath made the (man) thus excellent
+ To lyue (if thou lyst) in ioy eternally
+ A lytell thynge shall hym agayne content
+ He nought requyreth but thy herte onely
+ And that thou defy thy gostly ennemy
+ And in goddes seruyce thy herte and body bynde.
+ Than shall he rewarde the in heuen right gloriously
+ So mayst thou be callyd vnto thy maker kynde
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folys that stande so well in their owne
+conceyt that they thinke none so wyse,
+stronge, fayre, nor eloquent, as they
+ar themself.
+
+[Illustration: We haue ouercome the malyce and enuy
+Of suche as agaynst our Nauy did conspyre
+Wherfore I shall my folys call quyckly
+That they my Shyp may aparayle and atyre
+Drawe nere ye Folys whiche syttynge by the fyre
+Loke ay in a glasse to se your countenaunce
+And in your owne dedis haue all your hole pleasaunce]
+
+ Vnto my shyp I call hym to be Coke
+ The mete to dresse to other Folys echone
+ Whiche in his myrrour doth alway gase and loke
+ Whan he may get hym vnto a place alone
+ And though of colour and beaute he haue none
+ Yet thynketh he hym self fayre and right plesant
+ And wyse: thoughe that he be mad and ignorant
+
+ In his owne dedys is onely his delyte
+ In his owne conceyte thynkynge hymself right wyse
+ And fayre, thoughe he be yelowe as kyte
+ Is of hir fete: yet doth he styll deuyse
+ His vayne myrrour: that onely is his gyse
+ And thoughe he beholde hym self of lothly shape
+ He wyll it nat byleue, but in his glasse doth gape.
+
+ Though for his foly all men myght hym repreue
+ And that he se it before hym openly
+ Within his glasse: he wyll it nat byleue
+ But strongly it defende and eke deny
+ He seyth nat his erys longe and hye
+ Whiche stande vpon his folysshe hode behynde
+ His lewde conceyt thus makyth hym starke blynde
+
+ Whan people comon of men of hye prudence
+ Or of hye beauty, and strength if men doth tell
+ If one suche fole were there in the presence
+ He swere durst boldly and that on the gospell
+ That he onely all other dyd excell
+ And that to gyue councell good and profytable
+ Were none in the worldly vnto hym comparable
+
+ These folys bost them selfe of theyr wysdome
+ And thynke them selfe to haue preemynence
+ Aboue all other that ar in christendome.
+ In gyftis of grace as beautye and scyence
+ Of strength, gode maners, vertue, and eloquence
+ But thoughe they stande in theyr owne conceytis
+ Nought is saue foly within theyr folysshe patis
+
+ And thoughe theyr face and vysage stande awry
+ And all to reuylde, theyr mouth standynge asyde
+ Within theyr myrrour the same can they nat spye
+ But in theyr foly contynually abyde
+ And whether that they ar styll outher go or ryde
+ Labour or be ydyll, they gase styll in theyr glasse
+ Yet wyll they nat byleue to haue erys lyke an Asse.
+
+ Oft whan these folys lye in theyr bed vpright
+ With tawny loke or els theyr botyll nose
+ They haue theyr myrrour alway in theyr syght
+ The vayne glasse (of theyr beautye) to apose
+ And whan suche a fole into the kechyn gose
+ To stere the pot, there whether he syt or stande
+ The glasse alway is in the other hande
+
+ Whan he a whyle his glas hath loken than
+ If one examynyd hym of his beautye
+ He boldly durst swere both by god and man
+ That nought were in hym whiche myght repreuyd be
+ But all goodnes, fayre shape, and loke of grauyte
+ And that his gere gayly vpon his backe doth syt
+ He hardly is wyse: if he had any wyt.
+
+ I wryten fynde that great inconuenyence
+ As losse, contempt and occasyon of pryde
+ Hath fallyn vnto many by this lewde complacence
+ Whiche haue nat knowen the way themself to gyde
+ The emperour Otho had ay borne by his syde
+ In warre and peas (a glasse) for his pleasaunce
+ To se his colour therin; and countenaunce
+
+ And to the entent to make his colour gay
+ With Assys mylke he noyntyd oft his skyn
+ And shauyd his berde onys euery day
+ But for that he offendyd god herein
+ After was he sharply punysshyd for this syn
+ And put vnto extreme rebuke and shame
+ To gyue other example to auoyde the same
+
+ It is forsoth a maner femynyne
+ And nat for man to be so elegant
+ To suche toyes wanton wymen may inclyne
+ A yonge mayde may at her forhede haue pendant
+ The vayne myrrour to se hir shape pleasant
+ Man sholde nought set by to norysshe his beautye
+ But onely manhode strength and audacyte
+
+ The wanton mayde may for hir self ordayne
+ Hir call hir coyfe, and suche conceytis newe
+ As broches fyletes and oyntmentis souerayne
+ And clothynge of dyuers colour and of hewe
+ But nowe yonge men the same fourme do ensue
+ And to content theyr mad and folysshe mynde
+ To wymen they compare themselfe agaynst kynde
+
+ Disorder rayneth as I before haue sayde
+ The yonge men takyth womans countenaunce
+ And hir aparayll, and wymen ar arayde
+ As men: agaynst all lawe and ordynaunce
+ Thus man and woman ensue mysgouernaunce
+ In theyr behauour is small dyuersyte
+ Theyr owne conceyt causeth great enormyte
+
+ The poet Ouyde shewyth in a fable
+ Howe that one callyd Pygmalyon by name
+ A fygure made vnto hymselfe semblable
+ Whiche he in marbyll right craftely dyd frame
+ And in so moche he worshypped the same
+ Tyll at the last his mynde was past and gone
+ And he transformed so was in to that stone
+
+ And if the Poetis fables be all sure
+ As by theyr subtyle wordes oft we here
+ The childe Narcissus was chaungyd of fygure
+ Whyle he behelde into the water clere
+ For whyle his shadowe vnto hym dyd apere
+ Vpon the same so sore he set his mynde
+ That he transformyd was to another kynde.
+
+ But to retorne agayne to our purpose
+ And of this sort of Folys to conclude
+ If god sholde them to other shape transpose
+ That thynke them fayre though they be foule and rude
+ Into foule fassyon he many sholde include
+ For whyle Folys theyr owne beauty magnyfy
+ So growyth the nomber and so they multyply
+
+THENUOY OF BARKLAY THE TRANSLATOUR.
+
+ Blynde man inclere thy wylfull ignoraunce
+ Stande nat so great in thy owne conceyte
+ Ne in thy lewde fassyon set nat thy pleasaunce
+ Whether thou be pore or man of great estate
+ Another man moche more shall in the wayte
+ Of gode and yll than thou thy self canst do
+ Therfore be nat cause to thy self of disceyte
+ If one the teche: aply thy mynde therto
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of lepynges and dauncis and Folys that pas
+ theyr tyme in suche vanyte.
+
+[Illustration: That fole that settyth his felycyte
+In wanton daunces and lepes immoderate
+Hath in my Shyp a rowme for his degre
+Bysyde the stere for troublynge of his pate
+He god dyspleasyth, whiche doth suche foly hate
+Suche lese theyr tyme in vayne and oft therin
+Ar many hurtis: and cause of dedely syn.]
+
+ Those folys a place may chalenge in my shyp
+ Whiche voyde of wysdome as men out of theyr mynde
+ Them selfe delyte to daunce to lepe and skyp
+ In compase rennynge lyke to the worlde wyde
+ In vnkynde labour, suche folys pleasour fynde
+ Rennynge about in this theyr furyous vyce
+ Lyke as it were in Bacchus sacryfyce
+
+ Or as the Druydans rennyth in vayne about
+ In theyr mad festes vpon the hylle of yde
+ Makynge theyr sacrafyce with furour noyse and shout
+ Whan theyr madnes settyth theyr wyt asyde
+ Or whan the prestis of mars all nyght abyde
+ Within theyr temple by vse abhomynable
+ To theyr ydollys doynge theyr seruyce detestable
+
+ Lyke as these paynyms hath to theyr ydols done
+ Theyr sacryfyce wandrynge in theyr madnes
+ Theyr bodyes weryenge, in vayne wastynge their shone
+ So do these fowlys them selfe to daunsynge dres
+ Sekynge occason of great vnhappynes
+ They take suche labour without all hope of gayne
+ Without rewarde sure, of werynes and payne
+
+ Say Folys that vse this fury and outrage
+ What causyth you to haue delyte therin
+ For your great labour say what is your wage
+ Forsoth ye can therby no profyte wyn
+ But seke occasyon (as I haue sayde) of syn
+ And for thy werynge thy fete thus in the dust
+ Thou gettest no gayne but cause of carnall lust
+
+ But whan I consyder of this folysshe game
+ The firste begynnynge and cause orygynall
+ I say the cause therof is worthy blame
+ For whan the deuyll to disceyue man mortall
+ And do contempt to the hye god eternall
+ Vpon a stage had set a Calfe of golde.
+ That euery man the same myght clere beholde
+
+ So than the Fende grounde of mysgouernaunce
+ Causyd the people this fygure to honour
+ As for theyr god and before the same to daunce.
+ Whan they were dronkon, thus fell they in errour
+ Of Idolatry, and forgate theyr creatour.
+ Before this ydoll daunsynge both wyfe and man
+ Dispysynge god: Thus daunsynge fyrst began
+
+ Suche blynde folyes and inconuenyence
+ Engendryth great hurte and incommodyte
+ And sawyth sede wherof groweth great offence
+ The grounde of vyce and of all enormyte
+ In it is pryde, fowle lust and lecherye
+ And whyle lewde lepys ar vysd in the daunce
+ Oft frowarde bargayns ar made by countenaunce
+
+ What els is daunsynge but euen a nurcery
+ Or els a bayte to purchase and meyntayne
+ In yonge hertis the vyle synne of rybawdry
+ Them fe*trynge therin, as in a dedely chayne
+ And to say trouth in wordes clere and playne
+ Venereous people haue all theyr hole pleasaunce
+ Theyr vyce to norysshe by this vnthryfty daunce
+
+ And wanton people disposyd vnto syn
+ To satysfye theyr mad concupyscence
+ With hasty cours vnto this daunsynge ryn
+ To seke occasyon of vyle synne and offence
+ And to expresse my mynde in short sentence
+ This vyciouse game oft tymes doth attyse
+ By his lewde synes, chast hartis vnto vyce
+
+ Than it in erth no game is more damnable
+ It semyth no peas, but Batayle openly
+ They that it vse of myndes seme vnstable
+ As mad folke rennynge with clamour showt and cry
+ What place is voyde of this furyous foly
+ None: so that I dout within a whyle
+ These folys the holy churche shall defyle
+
+ Of people what sort or order may we fynde
+ Ryche or pore hye or lowe of name
+ But by theyr folysshnes, and wanton mynde
+ Of eche sort some ar gyuen vnto the same
+ The prestis and clerkes to daunce haue no shame
+ The frere or monke in his frocke and cowle
+ Must daunce in his dortor lepynge to play the fole
+
+ To it comys children, maydes and wyues.
+ And flaterynge yonge men to se to haue theyr pray
+ The hande in hande great falshode oft contryues
+ The olde quean also this madnes wyll assay
+ And the olde dotarde thoughe he skantly may
+ For age and lamenes stere outher fote or hande
+ Yet playeth he the fole with other in the bande
+
+ Than lepe they about as folke past theyr mynde
+ With madnes amasyd rennynge in compace
+ He moste is commendyd that can moste lewdnes fynde
+ Or can most quyckly ren about the place
+ There ar all maners vsyd that lacke grace
+ Mouynge theyr bodyes in synes full of shame
+ Whiche doth theyr hertes to synne right sore inflame
+
+ So oft this vyce doth many one abuse
+ That whan they ar departyd from the daunce
+ On lust and synne contynually they muse
+ Hauynge therin theyr wyll and theyr pleasaunce
+ Than fall they oft to great mysgouernaunce
+ As folys gyuyn to worke vnprofytable
+ So in my shyp they well deserue a babyll.
+
+THENUOY OF BARKLAY
+
+ Do way your daunces ye people moche vnwyse
+ Desyst your folysshe pleasour of trauayle
+ It is me thynke an vnwyse vse and gyse
+ To take suche labour and payne without auayle
+ And who that suspectyth his mayde or wyues tayle
+ Let hym nat suffer them in the daunce to be
+ For in that game thoughe sys or synke them fayle
+ The dyse oft renneth vpon the chaunce of thre
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of nyght watchers and beters of the stretes
+playnge by nyght on instrumentes and
+vsynge lyke Folyes whan tyme is to
+rest.
+
+[Illustration: He is a Fole that wandreth by nyght
+In felde or towne, in company or alone
+Playnge at his lemmans dore withouten lyght
+Tyll all his body be colde as lede or stone
+These folys knockynge tyll the nyght be gone
+At that season thoughe that they fele no colde
+Shall it repent and fele whan they be olde.]
+
+ Nowe wolde I of my boke haue made an ende
+ And with my shyp drawen to some hauen or porte
+ Stryken my sayle, and all my folys sende
+ Vnto the londe, a whyle them selfe to sporte
+ But this my purpose is lettyd by a sorte
+ Of frantyke folys, wandrynge about by nyght
+ For often all yll doers hatyth the day lyght
+
+ Whyle (man) beste and euery lyuely creature
+ Refresshe theyr myndes and bodyes with rest
+ And slepe: without the whiche none can endure
+ And whyle all byrdes drawe them to theyr nest
+ These dronken bandes of Folys than doth Jest
+ About the stretis, with rumour noyse and cry
+ Syngynge theyr folysshe songes of rybawdry
+
+ The furyes ferefull spronge of the flodes of hell
+ Vexith these vagabundes in theyr myndes so
+ That by no mean can they abyde ne dwell
+ Within theyr howsys, but out they nede must go
+ More wyldly wandrynge than outher bucke or doo
+ Some with theyr harpis another with his lute
+ Another with his bagpype or a folysshe flute
+
+ Than mesure they theyr songes of melody
+ Before the dores of theyr lemman dere
+ Yowlynge with theyr folysshe songe and cry
+ So that theyr lemman may theyr great foly here
+ And tyll the yordan make them stande arere
+ Cast on theyr hede, or tyll the stonys fle
+ They nat depart, but couet there styll to be
+
+ But yet more ouer these Folys ar so vnwyse
+ That in colde wynter they vse the same madnes
+ Whan all the howsys ar lade with snowe and yse
+ O mad men amasyd vnstabyll and wytles
+ What pleasour take ye in this your folysshenes
+ What ioy haue ye to wander thus by nyght
+ Saue that yll doers alway hate the lyght
+
+ But folysshe youth doth nat alone this vse
+ Come of lowe byrth and sympyll of degre
+ But also statis them selfe therein abuse
+ With some yonge folys of the spiritualte
+ The folysshe pype without all grauyte
+ Doth eche degre call to this frantyke game
+ The darkenes of nyght expellyth fere of shame
+
+ One barkyth another bletyth lyke a shepe
+ Some rore, some countre, some theyr balades fayne
+ Another from syngynge gyueth hym to wepe
+ Whan his souerayne lady hath of hym dysdayne
+ Or shyttyth hym out, and to be short and playne
+ Who that of this sort best can play the knaue
+ Lokyth of the other the maystery to haue
+
+ The folysshe husbonde oft of this sort is one
+ With wanton youth wandrynge by nyght also
+ Leuynge his wyfe at home in bed alone
+ And gyueth hyr occasyon often to mysdo
+ So that whyle he after the owle doth go
+ Fedynge the Couko, his wyfe hir tyme doth watche
+ Receyuynge another whose egges she doth hatche.
+
+ Therfore ye folys that knowe you of this sort
+ To gyue occasyon of synne vnto your wyues
+ And all other: I you pray and exort
+ Of this your foly to amende your lyues
+ For longe nyght watches seldome tymes thryues
+ But if it be in labour: good to wyn
+ Therfore kepe your dorys: els abyde within
+
+ Thoughe I have touchyd of this enormyte
+ In englysshe tunge: yet is it nat so vsed
+ In this Royalme as it is beyonde the se
+ Yet moche we vse whiche ought to be refusyd
+ Of great nyght watchynge we may nat be excusyd
+ But our watchynge is in drunken glotony
+ More than in syngynge or other meledy
+
+ Whan it is nyght and eche shulde drawe to rest
+ Many of our folys great payne and watchynge take
+ To proue maystryes and se who may drynke best
+ Outher at the Tauerne of wyne, or the ale stake
+ Other all nyght watchyth for theyr lemmans sake
+ Standynge in corners lyke as it were a spye
+ Whether that the weder be, hote, colde, wete, or dry
+
+ Some other Folys range about by nyght
+ Prowdely Jettynge as men myndeles or wode
+ To seke occasyon with pacyent men to fyght
+ Delytynge them in shedynge mennys blode
+ Outher els in spoylynge of other mennys gode
+ Let these folys with suche lyke and semblable
+ Drawe to this barge, here shall they here a bable
+
+THENUOY OF BARCLAY.
+
+ Ye folys that put your bodyes vnto payne
+ By nyghtly watchynge, voyde of auauntage
+ Leue of your foly or els ye shall complayne
+ And mourne it sore if ye lyue vnto age
+ For though ye thynke that this your blynde outrage
+ Is vnto you no hurte nor preiudyce
+ It doth your body and goodes great dammage
+ And great cause both to you and yours of vyce.
+
+ * * * * *
+
+
+Of folysshe beggers and of theyr vanytees.
+
+[Illustration: Syns I haue taken the charge one me
+Mo botis and Barges for Folys to aparayle
+And so agayne of newe to take the se
+I feryd lyst company shulde me fayle
+Within my folysshe shyppis to trauayle
+But nowe doth beggers them selfe to me present
+For fewe of them I fynde of good intent]
+
+ A great company of folys may we fynde
+ Amonge beggers, whiche haue theyr hole delyte
+ In theyr lewde craft: wherfore I set my mynde
+ In this Barge theyr maners, brefely for to write
+ For thoughe that nede them greuously do byte.
+ Yet is theyr mynde for all theyr pouerte
+ To kepe with them of children great plente
+
+ And though that they myght otherwyse well lyue
+ And get theyr lyuynge by labour and besynes
+ Yet fully they theyr myndes set and gyue
+ To lede this lyfe alway in wretchydnes
+ The clerke, frere, or monke, whiche hath store of ryches
+ For all his lyfe. if he it gyde wysely.
+ Wyll yet the beggers offyce occupy
+
+ Suche oft complayne the charge of pouerte
+ In garmentis goynge raggyd and to rent
+ But yet haue they of ryches great plente
+ Whiche in gode vse can neuer of them be spent
+ Almys is ordeyned by god omnypotent
+ And holy churche: for to be gyuyn in dede
+ Vnto good vse, and suche as haue moste nede
+
+ Almes is ordeyned by god our creatour
+ For men that lyue in nede and wretchydnes
+ Therwith their paynfull lyues to socour
+ And nat for ryche that lyues in viciousnes
+ But yet suche caytyfs boldly in dare pres
+ For their lewde lyfe without all maner drede
+ This almes takynge from them that haue most nede
+
+ The abbot, the Pryour, and also theyr couent
+ Ar so blyndyd with vnhappy couetyse
+ That with theyr owne can they nat be content
+ But to haue more, they alway mean deuyse
+ Ye: in so moche that some haue founde a gyse
+ To fayne theyr bretherne tan in captyuyte
+ That they may begge so by auctoryte
+
+ They fayne myracles where none were euer done
+ And all for lucre: some other range about
+ To gather and begge with some fayned pardon
+ And at the alehows at nyght all drynkyth out
+ So ren these beggers in company rowt
+ By stretis tauernes townes and vyllagys
+ No place can well be fre of theyr outragys
+
+ Some begge for byldynges, some for relyques newe
+ Of holy sayntis of countreys farre and strange
+ And with theyr wordes faynyd and vntrewe
+ For cause of Lucre, about they ren and range
+ But in a sympyll vyllage, ferme or grange
+ Where as these beggers moste sympyll men may fynde
+ With theyr fals bonys as relykes they them blynde
+
+ Other beynge stronge and full of lustynes
+ And yonge ynoughe to labour for theyr fode
+ Gyuyth theyr bodyes fully to slewthfulnes
+ The beggers craft thynkynge to them moost good
+ Some ray theyr legges and armys ouer with blood
+ With leuys and plasters though they be hole and sounde
+ Some halt as crypyls, theyr legge falsely vp bounde
+
+ Some other beggers falsly for the nonys
+ Disfygure theyr children god wot vnhappely
+ Manglynge theyr facys, and brekynge theyr bonys
+ To stere the people to pety that passe by
+ There stande they beggynge with tedyous shout and cry
+ There owne bodyes tournynge to a strange fassion
+ To moue suche as passe to pyte and compassyon
+
+ Suche yonge laddys as lusty ar of age
+ Myghty and stronge, and wymen in lyke wyse
+ Wanton and yonge and lusty of cowrage
+ Gyueth them selfe vtterly to this gyse
+ The cause is that they labour do despyse
+ For theyr mynde is in ydylnes to be styll
+ Or els in vyce to wander at theyr wyll
+
+ They paciently theyr prouertye abyde
+ Nat for deuocion of herte or of mynde
+ But to the intent that at euery tyde
+ Other mennys godes sholde them fede and fynde.
+ But if they a whyle haue ron in the wynde
+ And in theyr hande the staf some hete hath caught
+ They neuer after shall leue the beggers craft
+
+ Amonge these beggers also is comonly
+ Braulynge debate hatered and chydynge
+ Great othes, mockes falshode and enuy
+ And one with other euer more fyghtynge
+ As for theyr dronkennes and vnsure abydynge
+ Theyr rebaudry both in dede and communycacion
+ These ar chefe poyntis of theyr occupation
+
+ If the begger haue his staf and his hode
+ One bagge behynde and another before
+ Than thynkes he hym in the myddes of his goode
+ Thoughe that his clothes be raggyd and to tore
+ His body nere bare he hath no thought therfore
+ And if some man cloth them well to day
+ To morowe it shall agayne be solde away
+
+ And if these caytyfes fortune to begge or cry
+ For mete or money, on woman or on man
+ If one to them that, that they aske deny
+ And so depart: anone these beggers than
+ Whan he is gone, doth wary curse and ban
+ And if another gyue them ought of pyte
+ At the next alestake dronken shall it be
+
+ But if that I sholde gather in my barge
+ All folysshe beggers, and labour or intende
+ To note all theyr vyces, to sore sholde be the charge
+ And as I suppose I neuer sholde make an ende.
+ Wherfore I counsell them shortly to amende
+ Or els theyr lewdnes, synne, and enormyte
+ Shall cause men withdrawe theyr almes of charyte
+
+THENUOY OF BARCLAY THE TRANSLATOUR.
+
+ O people vnthrifty gyuen to ydlenes
+ Spendynge your youth this wyse in vanyte
+ What ioy haue ye to lyue in wretchydnes
+ Where ye myght come to better rowme and degre
+ By worke, and labour: and so auaunsyd be
+ Yet begge ye styll hauynge your ioy therin
+ Amende your foly, and lerne ye this of me
+ That goddes good sholde nat be spent in syn
+
+Corrections made to printed original.
+
+"He shalbe made parson of Honington or Clist." - 'mde' in original.
+
+"a mistake as to identity" - 'indentity' in original.
+
+"the executours of this my last Will" - 'th executours' in original.
+
+"written [p=] me" - 'written[p=]nce' in original.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's The Ship of Fools, Volume 1, by Sebastian Brandt
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SHIP OF FOOLS, VOLUME 1 ***
+
+***** This file should be named 20179.txt or 20179.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+ http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/1/7/20179/
+
+Produced by Frank van Drogen, Keith Edkins and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This
+file was produced from images generously made available
+by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+http://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
+paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works. See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+ the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+ you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is
+ owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+ has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+ Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments
+ must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+ prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+ returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+ sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+ address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+ the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+ you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+ does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+ License. You must require such a user to return or
+ destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+ and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+ Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+ money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+ electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+ of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+ distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at http://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+ Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+ Chief Executive and Director
+ gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit http://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+ http://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/20179.zip b/20179.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..30cf5c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/20179.zip
Binary files differ
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..342a073
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #20179 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20179)