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THE 


POETICAL  WORKS 


OF 


SKELTON  AND  DONNE 


WITH  A  MEMOIR   OF    EACH 


FOUR  VOLUMES   IN   TWO 
VOL.  I. 


BOSTON 
HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  AND  COMPANY 

1881 


\ 


LItfHArtY  ^ 


(OF    THE 
UUNO  STANrORD  JUNi 
^        UNIVERSITY 


r 


ADVERTISEaMRNT. 

The  Poems  of  Skelton  are  here  reprinted 
from  the  excellent  edition  prepared  by  the  Rev. 
Alexander  Dyce.  The  various  readings  of  the 
text  have  in  general  been  omitted,  the  space 
which  they  occupy  being  out  of  proportion  to  the 
advantage  derived  from  them  by  most  readers. 
The  latest  improvements  made  by  Mr.  Dyce  have 
received  proper  attention.  A  very  small  num- 
ber of  his  notes  have  been  abridged,  or  dropped 
as  superfluous ;  about  as  many  have  been  added, 
or  enlarged,  and  a  few  have  been  altered,  —  it  is 
hoped,  for  the  better. 

The  American  editor  is  responsible,  wholly  or 

in  part,  for  those  annotations  which  are  marked 

with  an  asterisk. 
Caj« BRIDGE,  July,  1866. 


PREFACE.    • 


The  Yery  incomplete  and  inaccurate  volume  of 
1736,  and  the  reprint  of  it  in  Chalmers's  English 
Poets}  1810,  have  hitherto  been  the  only  editions 
of  Skelton  accessible  to  the  general  reader. 

In  1814,  the  Quarterly  Reviewer, — after  cen- 
suring Chalmers  for  having  merely  reprinted  the 
volume  of  1736,  with  all  its  errors,  and  without 

^"Mr.  A.  Chalmers,*' says  Haslewood,  "has  since  given 
place  [ttc]  to  Skelton*8  name  among  the  English  poets  [vol.  ii. 
P"  227):  and  having  had  an  opportunity  to  compare  the  ori- 
ginal edition  [that  of  Marshe,  1568]  with  Mr.  Chalmers's  vo- 
lu»ne,  I  can  pronounce  the  text  verbally  accurate,  although 
taken  from  the  reprint  of  1736."     BiH.  Bihliogr.  iv.  389.     As 
Haslewood  was  generally  a  careful  collator,  I  am  greatly  sur- 
prised at  the  above  assertion :  tlie  truth  is,  that  the  reprint  of 
1736  (every  word  of  which  I  have  compared  with  Marshe's 
edition— itself  replete  with  errors)  is  in  not  a  few  places 
P^ly  inaccurate. — The  said  reprint  is  without  the  editor's 
i"une;  but  I  have  seen  a  copy  of  it  in  which  Giflford  had 
written  with  a  pencil,  "  Edited  by  J.  Bowie,  the  stupidest  of 
*1J  two-legged  animals." 


VI  PREFACE. 

the  add  i  I  ion  of  those  other  pieces  by  Skelton  which 
were  known  to  be  extant, — observed,  that  "an 
editor  who  should  be  competent  to  the  task  could 
not  more  worthily  employ  himself  than  by  giv- 
ing a  good  and  complete  edition  of  his  works."  * 
Prompted  by  this  remark,  I  commenced  the  pre- 
sent edition,— perhaps  with  too  much  self-confi- 
dence, and  certainly  without  having  duly  estimated 
the  difficulties  which  awaited  me.  After  all  the 
attention  which  I  have  given  to  the  writings  of 
Skelton,  they  still  contain  corruptions  which  defy 
my  power  of  emendation,  and  passages  which  I  am 
unable  to  illustrate ;  nor  is  it,  therefore,  without 
a  feeling  of  reluctance  that  I  now  offer  these  vo- 
lumes to  the  very  limited  class  of  readers  for 
whom  they  are  intended.  In  revising  my  Notes 
for  press,  I  struck  out  a  considerable  portion  of 
conjectures  and  explanations  which  I  had  origin- 
ally hazarded,  being  unwilling  to  receive  from  any 
one  that  equivocal  commendation  which  Joseph 
Scaliger  bestowed  on  a  literary  labourer  of  old  ; 
"  Laudo  tamen  studium  tuum ;  quia  in  rebus 
obscuris  ut  errare  necesse  est,  ita  fortuitum  non 
errare."  * 

Having  heard  that  Ritson  had  made  some  col- 
lections for  an  edition  of  our  author,  I  requested 

1  Q.  Rev.  xi.  485.  The  critique  in  question  was  written  by 
Mr.  Southey, — who,  let  me  add,  took  a  kind  interest  in  the 
progress  of  the  present  edition. 

2  Joanni  Isacio  Pontano—  Ejnst.  p.  490.  ed  1627. 


PREFACE.  TU 

the  use  of  those  papers  from  his  nephew,  the  late 
Joseph  Frank,  Esq.,  who  most  obligingly  put 
them  into  my  hands :  they  proved,  however,  to 
be  only  a  transcript  of  Voa.  Poptdi,  vox  Dei  (from 
Ihe  Harleian  MS.)  and  a  few  memoranda  con- 
cerning Skelton  from  very  obvious  sources. 

The  individual  to  whom  I  have  been  the  most 
indebted  for  assistance  and  encouragement  in  this 
undertaking  has  not  survived  to  receive  my  ac- 
knowledgments ;  I  mean  the  late  Mr.  Heber,  who 
not  only  lent  me  his  whole  collection  of  Skelton's 
works,  but  also  took  a  pleasure  in  communicating 
to  nae  from  time  to  time  whatever  information  he 
supposed  might  be  serviceable.  Indeed,  without 
such  liberality  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Heber,  a  com- 
plete edition  of  the  poet's  extant  writings  could 
not  have  been  produced ;  for  his  incomparable 
library  (now  unfortunately  dispersed)  contained 
some  pieces  by  Skelton,  of  which  copies  were  not 
elsewhere  to  be  found. 

To  Miss  Richardson  Currer;  the  Right  Hon. 
Thomas  Grenville;  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  G.  N. 
Grenville,  Master  of  Magdalene  College,  Cam- 
bridge; Sir  Harris  Nicolas ;  Sir  Francis  Palgrave ; 
Kev.  Dr.  Bandinel ;  Rev.  Dr.  Bliss ;  Rev.  John 
^itford ;  Rev.  J.  J.  Smith  of  Caius  College,  Cam- 
bridge; Rev.  Joseph  Hunter;  Rev.  Joseph  Ste- 
venson ;  W.  H.  Black,  Esq. ;  Thomas  Amyot, 
Esq.;  J.  P.  Collier,  Esq. ;  Thomas  Wright,  Esq. ; 
J.  0.  Halliwell,  Esq. ;  Albert  Way,   Esq. ;  and 


COXTESTS- 

i^Tissce  A  cofaeij  cojstrowae,  that  cuiyowsly  chai 

rri,  aad  cimirshlT  cowaored.  Sec, 

BMoa  cinni  mttm  4t  nfyaummtam  ocmiMi,  &c. . , 
Vppoci  ;i  v:«<"Mi"5  hec,  th;dk£  was  seut  tt>  hvm  from 

hvHicniC^e  j<c:yLvoaiAa  for  a  token,  &c 

•^  WoBLaiihitxi,  vanDQQ,  re  «'ant,*'  &c 


Dttsks  Rjllettts  axd  Dtths  solacttous: — 

"  My  daryn  J  d«re.  my  daysy  floure,''  &c. 

\     **  Tfafe  aazbcl«nt  iicquaintuice,  madam,  betwen  ^ 
tway::."  &c 

*^  KitoI«^«  aqaaynCance,  resort,  &aoiir  with  grace, 
&o 

*^  <.\a«i,-<vi  A:tt  cecuHsti  jmitu  diacriauma  renun,*'  &c. 

*•  Thou^  ye  suppv^se  ail  jeperdj-s  ar  paste,*  ^  &c. . . 

*•  Go,  pvtyous  hart,  rasyd  with  dedly  wo,"  &c. .... 

Maneriy  )[:irgery  Mylk  and  Ale 

The  Bow^  of  Courte 

■*'     Phyllyp  Sparv>we 

'^-    The  tuuuyng  of  Elynour  Rummyng 

Poems  ag:^m<t  Gamesche 

Against  vonenious  tongues,  &c 

How  euery  thitig  mnst  haue  a  tyme 

Praver  to  the  Father  of  Heaaen 

To  the  Seoonde  Parson 

To  the  Holy  Goo«te 

"  Woffully  araid,"  &c 

"  Now  synge  we,  as  we  were  wont,"  &c ; 

*  I,  Uber^  ttpropera,  regtm  tupromu  adora,**  &c ] 

Ware  the  Huuke 1 

Epitnphe.    A  Deumte  TrtntaUforoldJvkn  Clarke^  &c..,  1 


CONTENTS.  XI 

Page 

"Mgo m^ncum cupi portarUj^  &o 194 

Lmentaiio  urbis  Norvicen 194 

A  Bedel,  &c 1 95 

Heme  wlo  transcribasy'"  &c 196 

Igitur  quia  sunt  qui  mala  cunctafremunV   &c 196 

Sake  plus  decies  quam  sunt  momenta  ditrum^''  &c 197 

l^aaici  Sepiimi  Epiiaphium 198 

hikgiuiapro  suorum  temporum  conditwnej  tantis  principi' 

bus  non  indignum 199 

Ttltratllkhon  veritaUs 201 

Against  the  Scottes 202 

Ynto  diuers  people  that  remord  this  rymynge,  &c 209 

CWttf  de  Dis  contra  Scoitos,  &c 211 

Chorvs  de  Dis^  &c.  super  tnumphaU  victoria  contra  GaUoSj 

&c 212 

Y'OEfuttmttf  Scotus  Dundas  aUegai  caudas  contra  Angligtr- 

nas 218 

Btgia  in  Margareia  nuper  comitissas  de  Derby  funebre  nd- 

msterium 217 

^y  were  ye  CaUicpe  embrawdred  with  letters  of  golde  ?  219 

^  tibi  contexta  est  aurea  Calliope  ? 220 

The  Bolte  of  Three  Fooles 221 

A  repiycacion  agaynst  certayne  yong  scolers  abiured  of 

late,  &c 280 


VOL.    11. 

rcence,  a  goodly  interlude  and  a  mery 8 

>iyn  Cloute 126 

•^iTght  delectable  tratyse  vpon  a  goodly  Garlarde  or 
Chapeletof  Laorell,  &c 170 


Ill  COXTEXTS. 

T 
Atlmnmfi  Sttiumu  4mme$  ariorm  dare  iyiun  nricfi  lauro 

jttzia  peattf  maam 

EaPariaataU  a  Fmru 

Oat  <^  FrensJie  into  Latrn 

Ovt  of  Latrne  icto  Ea^lTSsbe 

Speke,  PattoC 

WliT  come  ve  nmt  to  Courte 

Hove  the  douty  Duke  of  Albany,  lyke  a  oowarde  knjght, 

nn  awaye  shamfiilly,  &c 

A  Lawde  and  Prayse  nuuie  for  onr  Souereigne  Lord  the 

i^yng 

Verses  presented  to  King  Henry  the  Seventh  at  the  feast 
of  St.  Geor^re,  &c 

The  Epitafie  of  the  moste  noble  and  ralyaont  Jasparlate 
Diike  of  Beddeforde 

Elegy  on  King  Henry  the  Seventh 

Voacpcpuii,  vox  Dei 

The  Image  of  Ipocn-sy 

The  maner  of  the  World  now  a  dayw 


SOME  ACCOUNT 


OF 


SKELTON  AND  HIS  WRITINGS. 


John  Skelton^  is  generally  said  to  have  been 
descended  from  the  Skeltons  of  Cumberland  ;^  but 
there  is  some  reason  to  believe  that  Norfolk  was 
Ws  native  county.  The  time  of  his  birth,  which 
is  left  to  conjecture,  cannot  well  be  carried  back 
to  an  earlier  year  than  1460. 


^  Sometimes  written  ScTieUon :  and  Blomefield  says,  **  That 
his  Kame  was  SheUon  or  Skelton,  appears  from  his  Successor's 
Institution,  viz.  *  1529,  17  July,  Thomas  Cleric,  instituted  on 
the  Death  of  John  Sheltm,  last  Rector  [Lib.  Inst.  No.  18.] ' " 
Bin  of  Norfolk,  i.  20.  ed.  1739. 

^"John  Skelton  was  a  younger  branch  of  the  Skeltons  of 
Skelton  in  this  County  [Cumberland].  I  crave  leave  of  the 
deader,  (hitherto  not  having  fall  instructions,  and)  preserving 
the  undoubted  Title  of  this  County  unto  him,  to  defer  his 
character  to  Norfolk,  where  he  was  beneficed  at  Diss  therein." 
Fuller's  Worthies,  p.  221  {Ckimberland),  ed.  1662.  **John 
Skelton  is  placed  in  this  County  [Norfolk]  on  a  double  proba- 
^Uity,    First,  because  an  ancient  family  of  his  name  is  emi- 


xn  son  Accovmj  or 

Of  Blmosi  all  gkclton's 
descended   to  our  limes,  the  ifW  0 
perislied ;  and  it  is  impossible  todi 
at  what  period  he  c 
OT  St  wbal  dales  hie  ^. 
Mj  pnnteJ.     That  be  was  lli«||l 
composiliuns  which  a. 
from  ihc  pompous  eDumeTalioo  of'M 
the  Garfomde  of  LaurelL^    Ttiefii 
of  tht   nitbie  prince,   Kyngt 
who  deitiaaed  in  14S3,  were  pt 
earliest  aiiempta  in  ver;e. 

In  1489  SkellcHi  produced  a 
thuloumt  detke  and  mucie  U 


nuf  be  called  aan;  for  I  Bud  o 
jmr  UM,  at  whicb  time  allovinj 
hamiMlwBt  li»de«lh  A,  D.  1G39,  SB«tdl 
'eIb  probable  h«  mighl  be. 
Add.  US&.  (Brii.  Uiu.]  6B»0,  p.  ISS, 
1 1  aiif  pect  Ihsl,  during  Skelton'i  \ 
c«lelintle>l  pieces,  CU^  Ooutt  (lee  > 
Why  emu  ye  ttat  to  Qfuflt,  were  nt 
bnt  wunlervi]  alMut  In  mannfcripl 
rauiers.     A  portioii  of  ^kU,  Pan 

■  VoLiLSaiaqq.    NopoetiealH 


8KELT0N   AND    HIS    WBITINGS.  XV 

The  statement  of  his  biographers,  that  he  was 
educated  at  Oxford,^  I  am  not  prepared  to  contra* 
diet :  but  if  he  studied  there,  it  was  at  least  after 
he  had  gone  through  an  academical  course  at  the 
ttster  university  ;  for  he  has  himself  expressly  de- 
clared, 

''Alma  parens  0  Cantabrigensis, 


.     .     .     tibi  quondam  cams  alumnus  eram ;" 

adding  in  a  marginal  note, "  Cantabrigia  Skelton- 
idi  laureato  primam  mammam  eruditionis  pientis- 
rime  propinavit."^  Hence  it  is  probable  that  the 
poet  was  the  "  one  Scheklton,"  who,  according  to  / 

Cole,  became  M.  A.  at  Cambridge  in  1484.* 

*tt  Johanna. — In  Skelton's  Latin  lines  on  the  city  of  Nor 
wich(sec  vol.  i.  194)  we  find, 

**Ah  decus,  ah  patrioB  specie  piUcherrima  dudum ! 
Urbs  Norvicensis,"  &c. 

i^"pa/rMB"  mean  his  native  county? 

^  **  Having  been  educated  in  this  university,  as  Joh.  BaleuB 
attests."  Wood's  Aih.  Oxon,  i.  50.  ed.  Bliss.  Wood's  refer- 
ence in  the  note  is  "  In  lib.  De  Scriptoribm  AngKcis,  MS.  inter 
cod.  MSS.  Selden,  in  bib.  Bodl.  p.  69  b."  The  printed  copy 
^  Bale's  work  contains  no  mention  of  the  place  of  Skelton's 
education.  Part  of  Bale's  information  concerning  Skelton, 
*>  Appears  from  the  still  extant  MS.  collections  for  his  Script. 
ifli*.  ZJnT.,  was  received  "Ex  Guilhehno  Horman,"  the 
tuthor  of  the  Vulgaria,^SeQ  also  Tanners  BibUoQi.  p.  676. 
ed.  1748.— Warton  says  that  Skelton  "  studied  in  both  our 
«Biven»ities."    JK«<.  of  J?.  P.  ii.  886.  ed^  4to. 

'  A  RqAycacion^  &c.  vol.  L  281. 

• "  Wood  reckons  him  of  Ox.  on  the  author,  of  Bale  in  a 
MS.  in- the  Bodleian  Libr.,  but  with  mucl"  better  reason  he 


\ 


xvi  SOME   ACCOCNT   OF 

Of  almost  all  Skelton's  writings  which  ^ 
descended  to  our  times,  the  first  editions  ^  bave 
perished  ;  and  it  is  impossihle  to  determine  either 
nt  what  period  he  commenced  his  career  as  a  poet, 
or  at  what  dates  bis  variouB  pieces  were  ori^B* 
ally  printed.  That  he  was  the  author  of  manj' 
compositions  which  are  uo  longer  estani,  we  leam 
from  the  pompous  euiimeralioii  of  their  titles  in 
the  Garland*  of  LanreU?  The  lines,  Oft/iedeath 
of  ihe  noble  prince,  Kynge  Edwarde  the  forth.' 
who  deceased  in  1483,  wei-e  probably  among  bia 
earliest  attempts  in  Terse. 

In  1489  Skulton  produced  an  elegy  Vpon  the 
doulotirua  delhe  and  muehe  lameTttabte  chaunce  of 


may  be  cnlled  oure;  for  I  flud  one  SchoUtDn  M.  A.  ia  tin 
year  1484,  at  vliich  time  ullovviug  tiim  to  be  S4  years  of  age, 
he  must  be  at  Ms  death  A.  D.  1539,  GB  or  OB  yean  uli),  whiuh 
'til  probable  he  might  be.  v.  Bnle  6fiS."  Cule'a  Oiltcliant,— 
Add.  MSS.  (Brit,  iltis.)  5880,  p.  1S9. 

1 1  sii«p«ct  that,  daring  Skelton's  uretime,  two  or  hia  moit 
celeliriitBd  pieces,  Oalya  Oouii  (see  *.  123B,  vol.  ii.  197.)  and. 
Whs  <™"  *'  ""'  *"  ti""''',  were  not  eommilted  to  tlio  preo^ 
but  wondereii  utnut  In  mnunsoript  nTDOiig  hundreits  of  OagtH, 
randots.  A  portion  of  S/ieie,  Parrot,  and  the  f  oama  Agauitt 
Uametdie,  are  now  for  llie  flrst  time  printed. 

s  Vol.  ii.  aal  sqq.  No  poeticHi  antiquapy  oati  read  theWtlW- 
of  some  of  tha  lijjbler  pieces  menOoiied  in  thnt  ratBlogiie,™^, 
e  Tht  Baladt  uf  Uw  Uuibtrde  Tartt,  Tht  Mitm^ff  af^ 


U  vuijitiy  role  (see 

lieir  loss.     "  Mnny  of  the  soiiga  or  populi 
irae,"  observes  Sir  John  Hnwldns, 
rritten  by  Skolton."     Biit.  u/  Jflwii: 


-wllliout  regrettbSr 
Inr  tiallada  of  l}M 
.ear  to  have  bawff 


SKELTON   AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  XVll 

tke  most  honorable  JErle  of  Northumherlande^  who 
was  slain  during  a  popular  invsarrection  in  York- 
shire. His  son  Henry  Algernon  Percy,  the  fifth 
earl,  who  is  there  mentioned  as  the  "  yonge  lyon, 
but  tender  yet  of  age,"  ^  appears  to  have  afterwards 
extended  his  patronage  to  the  poet :  *  at  a  time  when 
persons  of  the  highest  rank  were  in  general  grossly 
illiterate,  this  nobleman  was  both  a  lover  and  a 
liberal  encourager  of  letters. 

Skelton  had  acquired  great  reputation  as  a  scho- 
lar, and  had  recently  been  laureated  at  Oxford,* 
when  Caxton,  in  1490,  published  The  hoke  of 
Eneydos  complyed  by  Vyrgyle,^  in  the  Preface  to 

1  Vol.  i.  8:  see  Notes,  vol.  iii.  7. 

'  He  was  only  eleven  years  old  at  his  father's  death.  See 
more  concerning  the  fifth  earl  in  Percy's  Preface  to  Th€ 
Ihrthimberland  Household  Booh^  1770,  in  Warton's  Hist,  of 
£  P.  iL  838.  ed.  4to,  and  in  CoUins's  Peerage^  ii.  304.  ed. 
Biydges. — Warton  says  that  the  Earl  "  encouraged  Skelton 
to  write  this  elegy,"  an  assertion  grounded,  I  suppose,  on  the 
Utin  lines  prefixed  to  it. 

'A splendid  MS.  volume,  consisting  of  poems  (chiefly  by 
Lydgate),  finely  written  on  vellum,  and  richly  illuminated, 
vliidi  formerly  belonged  to  the  fifth  earl,  is  still  preserved  in 
the  British  Museum,  MS,  Reg,  18.  D  ii  :  at  fol.  165  is  Skel- 
toa'g  Elegy  on  the  earl's  father. 

*  For  a  notice  of  Skelton's  laureation  at  Oxford,  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Bliss  obligingly  searched  the  archives  of  that  university, 
bnt  vithout  success:  "  no  records,"  he  informs  me,  "  remain 
between  1463  and  1498  that  will  give  a  coriect  list  of  de- 
paes." 

•  This  work  (a  thin  folio),  translated  by  Caxton  from  the 
French  is  a  prose  romance  founded  on  the  ^neid.  It  con- 
■Its  of  65  chapters,  the  first  entitled  "  How  the  ryght  puys- 

VOL.  I.  B 


XVlll  SOME   ACCOUNT    OF 

which  is  the  following  passage :  *'  But  I  praye 
mayster  John  Skelton,  late  created  poete  laureate 
in  the  vnyuersite  of  oxenforde,  to  ouersee  and  cor- 
recte  this  sayd  booke,  And  taddresse  and  expowne 
where  as  shalle  be  founde  faulte  to  theym  that 
shall  requyre  it.  For  hym  I  knowe  for  siiffy- 
cyent  to  expowne  and  englysshe  euery  diffyculte 
that  is  therin.  For  he  hath  late  translated  the 
epystlys  of  Tulle,^  and  the  boke  of  dyodorus  sycu- 
lus,^  and  diuerse  other  werkes  oute  of  latyn  in  to 

sant  knyge  pryamus  edyfyed  the  grete  Cyte  of  Ti*oye,"  the 
last,  "  How  Ascanyus  helde  the  royalme  of  Ytalye  after  the 
dethe  of  Eneas  hys  fader."  Gawin  Douglas,  in  the  Preface 
to  his  translation  of  Virgil's  poem,  makes  a  long  and  elaborate 
attack  on  Caxton's  performance; 

"  Wylliame  Caxtoun  had  no  compatioim 
Of  Virgin  in  that  buk  he  prey  t  in  prois, 
Clepand  it  Virglll  in  Eneados, 
Quhilk  that  he  sayis  of  Frensche  he  did  translate ; 
It  has  na  thing  ado  therwith,  God  wate, 
Nor  na  mare  like  than  the  Deuil  and  sanct  Austin^^^  &c. 

Sig.  B  iii.  ed.  1558. 

1  A  work  probably  never  printed,  and  now  lost:  it  is  men- 
tioned by  Skelton  in  the  Garlande  of  LaureU ; 

"Of  TuUis  Familiars  the  translacyoun.'*      vol.  ii.  222. 

2  A  work  mentioned  in  the  same  poem ; 

"  Diodorus  Siculus  of  my  translacyon 

Out  of  fresshe  Latine  into  owre  Englysshe  playne, 
Recountyng  commoditls  of  many  a  straunge  nacyon; 
Who  redy th  it  ones  wolde  rede  it  agayne ; 
Sex  volurais  engrosid  together  it  doth  containe." 

vol.  ii.  237. 

ft  is  preserved  in  Ms,  at  Cambridge:  see  Appendix  II.  to  this 
Memoir. 


SKELTON   AND   HIS   WRITINGS.  XIX 

englysshe,  not  in  rude  and  olde  Ian  gage,  but  in 
polysshed  and  ornate  termes  craftely,  as  he  that 
hath  redde  vyrgyle,  ouyde,  tuUye,  and  all  the 
other  noble  poetes  and  oratours,  to  me  vnknowen  : 
And  also  he  hath  redde  the  ix.  muses  and  vnder- 
stande  theyr  musicalle  scyences,  and  to  whom  of 
theym  eche  scyence  is  appropred.  I  suppose  he 
hath  dronken  of  Elycons  well.  Then  I  praye 
hym  &  suche  other  to  correcte  adde  or  mynysshe 
where  a?  he  or  they  shall  fynde  faulte,"  *  &c. 
The  laureatship  in  question,  however,  was  not  the 
office  of  poet  laureat  according  to  the  modern  ac- 
ceptation of  the  term :  it  was  a  degree  in  gram- 
mar, including  rhetoric  and  versification,  taken  2X^/^^' 
the  university,  on  which  occasion  the  graduate 
was  presented  with  a  wreath  of  laurel.^  To  this 
academical  honour  Skelton  proudly  alludes  in  his 
loarth  poem  Against  Garnesche  ; 

**  A  kyng  to  me  myn  haby te  gaue : 
At  Oxforth,  the  vniversyte, 

1  Sig.  A  ii. 

^  For  more  about  poet  laureat,  both  in  the  ancient  and 
niodern  acceptation,  see  Selden*s  Titles  of  Honor,  p.  405.  ed. 
1631;  the  Abb6  du  Resnel's  Recherches  sur  les  Poetes  Couron- 
^^,—Bi8t.  de  VAcad,  des  Inscript.  ( Mem.  de  Litterature, )  x.  507 ; 
^^'arton's  Hist,  of  R  P.  ii.  129.  ed.4to;  ^l&\one' s  Life  of  Dry- 
^n,  {Prose  Works,)  p.  78;  Devon's  In  trod,  to  Isstie  Roll  of 
Thomoi  de  BrarUingham,  p.  xxix.,  and  his  Introd.  to  Issues  of 
^  Exchequer,  Sic,  p.  xiii. — Churchyard,  in  his  verses  pre- 
fixed to  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Worhes^  1568,  says, 

"  Nay,  Skelton  wore  the  lawrell  wreath, 
And  past  in  schoels,  ye  knoe." 

See  Appendix  I.  to  this  Memoir. 


JtX  SOME   ACCOUNT    OP 

Auaunsid  I  was  to  that  degre; 
By  hole  consent  of  theyr  senate, 
I  was  made  poete  lawreate."  i 

Our  laureat,  a  few  years  after,  was  admitted  a 

eundem  at  Cambridge  :  "An.  Dom.  1493,  et  Her 

7  noQO.    Conceditur  Johi  Skelton  Poete  in  parti 

bus  transmarinis  atque  Oxon,  Laurea  ornato,  u 

apud  nos  eadem  decoraretur ; "  again,  "An.  1504-c 

Conceditur  Johi   Skelton,  P'oetae   Laureat.  quo< 

possit  stare  eodem  gradu  hie  quo  stetit  Oxoniis 

et  quod  possit  uti  habitu  sibi  concesso  a  Principe.' 

Warton,  who  cites  both  these  entries,^  remarks 

**  the  latter  clause,  I  believe,  relates  to  some  dis 

tinction  of  habit,  perhaps  of  fur  or  velvet,  grantee 

him  by  the  king."     There  can  be  no  doubt  tha 

Skelton  speaks  of  this  peculiar  apparel  in  the  linei 

just  quoted,  as  also  in  his  third  poem  Agains 

Gamesche,  where  he  says, 

"  Your  sworde  ye  swere,  I  wene, 
So  tranchaunt  and  so  kene, 
Xall  ky t  both  wyght  and  grene  : 
Your  foly  ys  to  grett 
The  kynges  colours  to  threte;  *'  8 

1  Vol.  i.  149. 

2  Hist.  ofE.  P.  ii.  130,  (note,)  ed.  4to.— The  second  entrj 
wras  printed  in  1736  by  the  Abb^  du  Resnel  (who  received  it 
rom  Carte  the  historian,)  in  Recherches  sur  Us  Poetes  Oouron- 
ie«, — Hist,  dt  VAcad.  des  Inscript.  {Mem.  de  Litter aiure^)  x.  522. 
Joth  entries  were  given  in  1767  by  Farmer  in  the  second  edi- 
ion  of  his  Essay  on  the  Learning  of  Shakespeare^  p.  50. — The 
5tev.  Joseph  Romilly,  registrar  of  the  University  of  Gam- 
»ridge,  has  obligingly  ascertained  for  me  their  correctness. 

3  Vol.  i.  144. 


SKELTON   AND   HIS   WKITINGS.  XXI 

from  which  we  may  infer  that  he  wore,  as  laureat, 
I  dress  of  white  and  green,  or,  perhaps,  a  white 
dress  with  a  wreath  of  laurel.  It  was  most  pro- 
bably on  some  part  of  the  same  habit  that  the 
word  CaUiope  was  embroidered  in  letters  of  silk 
and  gold : 

«  Calliope, 
As  ye  may  se, 
Regent  is  she 

Of  poetes  al, 
Whiche  gaue  to  me 
The  high  degre 
Laureat  to  be 

Of  fame  royall ; 
Whose  name  enrolde 
With  siGce  and  golde 
1  dare  be  boldt 

Thus  for  to  were^'^  i  &c. 

In  the  following  passage  Barclay  perhaps 
glances  at  Skelton,  with  whom  (as  will  afterwards 
be  shewn)  he  was  on  unfriendly  terms ; 

"  But  of  their  writing  though  I  ensue  the  rate, 
Ko  name  I  chalenge  of  Poete  laureate : 
That  name  vnto  them  is  mete  and  doth  agree 
Which  writeth  matters  with  curiositee. 
Mine  habite  blacke  accordeth  not  with  grene^ 
Blaclie  betokeneth  death  as  it  is  dayly  sene ; 
The  grene  is  pleasour,  freshe  lust  and  iolite; 
These  two  in  nature  hath  great  diuersitie. 
Then  who  would  ascribe,  except  Jhe  were  a  foole, 
The  "jleasaunt  laurer  vnto  the  mourning  cowle  ?  *•• 


^Vol.i,  219. 

'  Prologe  to  Eghget^  sig.  A  1.  cd.  1570. 


KXU  SOME   ACCOUNT   OP 

Warton  has  remarked,  that  some  of  Skelton'ft 
Latin  verse?,  which  are  sabscribed — ^  Haec  lau* 
reatus  Skeltonis,  regius  orator  " — ^  Per  Skelton- 
ida  laureatum,  oratorem  regium," — seem  to  have 
been  written  in  the  character  oiroycd  laureate;^ 
and  perhaps  the  expression  **  of  fame  royall  **  in 
Skelton's  lines  on  Calliope,  already   cited,   may 
be  considered  as  strengthening  this  supposition. 
There  would,  indeed,  be  no  doubt  that  Skelton 
was  not  only  a  poet  laureated  at  the  universities, 
but  also  poet  laureat  or  court  poet  to  Henry  the 
Eighth,  if  the  authenticity  of  the  following  state- 
ment were  established ;  "  la  patente  qui  declare 
Skelton  poete  laureat  d'Henry  viii.  est  dat^e  de  la 
cinquieme  annde  de  son  regne,  ce  qui  tombe  en 
1512  ou  1513  :"  so  (after  giving  correctly  the  se- 
cond entry  concerning  Skelton's  laureation  at  Cam- 
bridge) writes  the  Abb4  du  Resnel  in  an  essay 
already   mentioned ;    having   received,  it  would 
seem,  both  these  statements  concerning  Skelton 
from  Carte  the  historian,^  who,  while  he  commu- 
nicated to  Du  Resnel  one  real  document,  was  not 

1  Hut.  ofE.  P.  ii.  132  (note,)  ed.  4to,  where  Warton  gives 
the  subscription  of  the  former  as  the  title  of  the  latter  poem: 
bis  mistake  was  occasioned  by  the  reprint  of  Skelton's  Wwrkt, 
1786.    See  the  present  edition,  vol.  1.  211,  212. 

s  Dn  Resnel  expressly  says  that  he  was  made  acquainted 
with  the  Cambridge  entry  by  "  M.  Carte,  autrement  M. 
Phillips."  Recherches  sur  les  Poeies  Couronnez^ — Hist.  d» 
VAead,  des  Inscript.  (Mem.  de  Litterature^)  x.  522. — Carte  as- 
•Hned  the  name  of  Phillips  when  he  took  refuge  in  France. 


SKELTON   AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  XXlll 

iikelj  to  have  forged  another  for  the  purpose  of 
misleading  the  learned  Frenchman.  On  this  sub- 
ject I  can  only  add,  that  no  proof  has  been  dis- 
covered of  Skelton*s  having  enjoyed  an  annual 
salary  from  the  crown  in  consequence  of  such  an 
office. 

The  reader  will  have  observed  that  in  the  first 
entry  given  above  from  the  Cambridge  Univ.  Regis  t. 
Skelton  is  described  as  having  been  laureated  not 
only  at  Oxford  but  also  "  transmarinis  partibus." 
That  the  foreign  seat  of  learning  at  which  he  re- 
ceived this  honour  was  the  university  of  Louvaine,' 
may  be  inferred  from  the  title  of  a  poem  which  I 
Bubjoin  entire,  not  only  because  it  occurs  in  a  vol- 
ume of  the  greatest  rarity,  but  because  it  evinces 
the  celebrity  which  Skelton  had  attained. 


"IN  CLARISSIMI  SCHELTONIS  LOUjSJ^IEJ^SJS  POETJB 
LAUDES  EPIGRAMMA. 

Qoura  terra  omnifero  laetissima  risit  amictu, 

Plena  novo  foetu  quaelibet  arbor  erat ; 
Vertice  purpurei  vultus  incepit  honores 

Extensis  valvis  pandere  pulchra  rosa ; 
Et  segetum  teuero  sub  cortice  grana  tumescunt, 

Flavescens  curvat  pendula  spica  caput. 
Vix  Cancri  tropicos  aestus  lustravit  anhelans 

Pythius,  et  Nemeae  vertit  ad  era  ferae, 

^  A  gentleman  resident  at  Louvaine  obligingly  examine  J 
fef  me  the  registers  of  that  university,  but  could  find  in  them 
*>  mention  of  Skelton.  • 


/. 


KXIV  SOME   ACCOUNT    OP 

Vesper  solis  eqaos  oriens  dum  claasit  Olympo, 

Agmina  stellanim  surgere  cuncta  jubet: 
Hie  primo  aspiceres  ut  Cynthia  vecta  sereno 

Extulerat  surgens  cornaa  clara  polo; 
Inde  Hydram  cemas,  stravit  quam  clara  trinodis 

Alcidae,  nitidis  emicuisse  comis; 
Turn  ^  Procyon  subiit,  prsepes  Lepus,  hinc  Jovis  ales, 

Arctos,  et  Engonasus,  sidus  et  Eridani ; 
Ignivomis  retinet  radiis  quae  stellifer  orbis 

(Quid  multis  reniorer?)  sidera  cuncta  micant 
Nutat  Atlanteum  convexum  pondus,  ocellis 

Dum  lustro  hac  segris,  vergit  et  oceano. 
Turn  furtim  alma  quies  repens  mihi  membra  soporat, 

Curaque  Lethaeo  flumine  mersa  jacet: 
0  mihi  quam  placidis  Icelos  tulit  aurea  somnis 

Somnia,  musiphilis  non  caritura  fide ! 
Nuncia  percelebris  Polyhymnia  blanda  salutans 

Me  Clarii  ut  visam  numina  sacra  citat. 
Ut  sequar  banc  laetus,  mihi  visus  amoena  vireta 

Et  nemorum  umbrosos  praeteriisse  sinus: 
Scilicet  haec  montes  monstraverat  inter  eundum 

Et  fontes  Musae  quos  coluere  sacros ; 
Castalios  latices,  Aganippidos  atque  Medusei 

Vidimus  alipedis  flumina  rupta  pede ; 
Antra  hinc  Libethri  monstrat  Pimpleidos  undas, 

Post  vada  Cephisi,  Phocidos  atque  lacus; 
Nubifer  assurgit  mons  Pierus  atque  Cithaeron, 

Gryneumque  nemus  dehinc  Heliconque  sacer; 
Inde  et  Parnasi  bifidi  secreta  subimus, 

Tota  ubi  Mnemosynes  sancta  propago  manet. 
Turba  pudica  novem  dulce  hie  cecinere  sororum; 

Delius  in  medio  plectra  chelynque  sonat: 
Aurifluis  laudat  modulis  monumenta  suorum 

Vatum,  quos  dignos  censet  honore  poll : 


1  The  original  has  "  Cum:  "  but  the  initial  letters  of 
lines  were  intended  to  foi*m  a  distich ;  see  the  conclusion 
.he  poem. 


8KELT0N   AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  XXV 

De  quo  certarant  Salamin,  Camas,  vol  Athense, 

Smyrna,  Chios,  Colophon,  primus  Homerus  erat; 
Laadat  et  Orpheum,  domuit  qui  voce  leones, 

Eurydicen  Stygiis  qui  rapuitque  rogis; 
Antiquum  meminit  Mussum  Eumolpide  natam, 

Te  nee  Aristophanes  Euripidesque  tacet; 
Vel  canit  illustrem  genuit  quern  Teia  tellus, 

Qaemque  fovit  dulci  Coa  camena  siuu; 
DeiDde  cothurnatum  celebrem  dat  laude  Sophoclen:!, 

£t  quam  Losbides  pavit  amore  Phaon ; 
iEschylus,  Amphion,  Thespis  nee  honore  carebant, 

Pindarus,  Alcseus,  quern  tuleratque  Paros ; 
Sunt  alii  plures  genuit  quos  terra  Pelasga, 

Daphnseum  cecinit  quos  meruisse  decus: 
Tersa  Latinorum  dehinc  multa  poemata  texit, 

Laude  nee  Argivis  inferiora  probat : 
Insignem  tollit  ter  vat^m,  cui  dedit  Andes 

Cuaas  urbs,  cl^rum  Parthenopsea  taphum; 
Blanda  Gorinna,  tui  Ponto  religatus  amore, 

Sulmoni  natus  Naso  secundus  erat; 
lode  nitore  fluens  lyricus  genere  Appulus  ille 

Qai  Latiis  primus  mordica  metra  tulit; 
Statius  £acidem  sequitur  Thebaida  pingens, 

Emathio  hinc  scribens  prselia  gesta  solo; 
Cui  Verona  parens  hinc  mollis  scriptor  amorum, 

Tu  nee  in  obscuro,  culte  TibuUe,  lates ; 
Hand  reticendus  erat  cui  patria  Bilbilis,  atque 

Persius  hinc  mordax  crimina  spurca  notans; 
Eximius  poUet  vel  Seneca  luce  tragoedus, 

Comicus  et  Latii  bellica  prseda  duels ; 
Laudat  et  hinc  alios  quos  ssecula  prisca  fovebant; 

Hos  omnes  longum  jam  meminisse  foret. 
Tom  1  Smintheus,  paulo  spirans,  ait,  ecce,  sorores, 

Qns  clausa  oeeano  terra  Britanna  uitet! 
Oxoniam  claram  Patarsea  ut  regna  videtis, 

Aat  Tenedos,  Delos,  qua  mea  fama  viret: 


1  Here  again  the  ori^nal  has  "  Cum." 


xxTi  S03CE  Accotirr  of 

Iscc  ec  .Vor_:je  *:i:i:  -i.:*  r-jsa  '"•'-■  ? 
A---a  'y.Tiz  Ti:is  -ocis  bjcc  rerra  ailnistroR, 

Grar.  ii  i^cis  =■:>  is  ii i— ^  *uj.  scrip:*,  Ilccnda 
A-'irl*.  i  j^j  :i:  r  :<c«::are.  nccs; 

Otx  l-izcn  z-vr.:.  *i:u::  lives  Tain*  anp?, 
A-:  rrt**a  Hvi.jeis  i:i;oia  n-jLa  favis; 

Kr:e:.:r:v::i5  s^jr.io  rijr-:  recur,  iior  horto, 
Pule!::!:?  es:  z:.ii:o  3::i:i:c<L5.;ue  rosis, 

U~ia  limr.iirr.  Firijc-ir*  p<'.:dor  albo, 

yi.:icr  AI::   ::>  p*:::;:*.  r::i^r^i::ncr  ip-so 

:iurtc-e  rdnij.e':.  jrar-.r  e:  vto.is;  . 
Vizo  :  to,  i-Av.  I>e=:>>Li:e::e.  v'.noi:  Flyxim 

£'>::::■,  :i::~e  5;:--fzi  quezi  m'.::  ipse  Pylos; 
Ad  :erj.  telli  ::^a:  verL  :*,  nequiir  q'aod  Atiides 

Aut  Brlsif.  r!^:  lui::  :e  ".'cc:,  iacides; 
Tar.:uni  e'us  vercis  rrllui:  Siiiiela  Vermsqiie 

E:  Ch:irl:es  a::ln-.o<  qv.:.:be:  ille  u:  a2:at, 
Vel  Lacei3en:;<.^:;ics  cuo  rvrtseus  pede  claudo 

Pieriis  v:cv.o:i?  n::ir::a  te'.a  :n:-d:s, 
Magnus  A!es:i::dor  quo  io'.l:j:er  uoms  ab  ilia 

Mseonii  varis  gnir.dUonante  tuba; 
Gratia  tanta  suis  v:r:usqiie  est  diva  caTXienLs, 

Ut  revocet  raaiios  ex  Acheronre  ci:os; 
Leniat  hie  plectro  vol  peotora  sieva  leonmn. 

Hie  srrepitu  coudat  moenia  vasla  l^-ne; 
Omnimodos  aniiui  possit  depeliere  morix)?, 

Vel  Niobes  luctus  Ueliadumque  truces ; 
Beprimat  hie  rabidi  Sauiis  sedetque  furores, 

Inter  dclphinas  alrer  Arion  erit; 
Ire  Cupidiucos  quovis  hie  copit  nmores, 

Atque  diu  assuetos  hie  aboiere  queat; 


BKELTON    AND    HIS    WRlTiNGS.  XXvii 

iiBfItt  rae  tripoda?  Bentit,  ma  inflante  oalgres 
Rinci[H  t  etlicreof,  myatica  diva  eanit ; 

Mmun  cnrms,  uutarBin  vnati  et  OlyiDpi, 

ieift  fit  rirea  bio  aperire  potest, 
Vc]  qqld  cuDGCipareni  gremio  tfl]]ii£  favet  olmo  | 

Guzgiloquid  ladeat  Telivaliunqug  nmte^ 
Momtratar  dJg'tu  pbceitiae  ut  nrior  imOi 

Ecte  virum  de  quo  «plendida  Aiiou  volut  I 
Eipduiu  □oalrum  quo  fuJget  houorguc,  earoros, 

Herooi  Inndes  ikocimnilato  viro ; 
Ltldunccnmulent  Salyri,  jugu  dcam  Lyoiel. 

FiDdi,  Te!  Rbodopea,  Mnaala  qulqne  coluot; 
llgtDlbent  plaasDS  Dryadea  lacileaqTie  Nii[>di^, 

Onadma  OQlebriB  Tarbaet  HaniB^ryriJutn; 
SliDditodam  vntem,  vos  Oceniiitidasque  utque 

fUnu  Tlreat  qao  tos  oelebcavic  boaore, 

tiliiB  ao  aitria  fuma  pernmi.^  ent : 
Nam  madoere  sntis  veetro,  nuiio  pmtn  liqiior« 

Flunioii,  Picridefl,  siatlte,  Phccbua  nit 

tton  WliiUntonmn:  cnltB  poela,  viila. 
IiHpinlibiis  hexnmetroram  lltteris  ralertcr  comp:»i  tis  em«- 
fUm  diilichon ; 
QuB  Vhltialoims  cniiit  nd  Inudes  tibf,  Si^helton, 
Auglorum  -nktmn  gloria,  aume  llbsns,"  1 

Another  laudaiorj  notice  of  Sktillon  bj  a  con- 
Bnipoftir^  writer  will  not  here  bu  out  of  pl;ice ; 

"TdiU  anncient  poetDS,  litell  bokc,  sabmytto  the. 
Whilom  flooiyng  In  oloqucnce  fncundiaits, 

'  Jioio  the  4tn  volamB  antitlBd  Opumium  RobcHi  WhMn- 
^mjlartntimmii  Oxomaai adyadcmut Ltatrarti.  Attlioeud, 
Aoiertt  Whitinbmi  OxonU  Protoualii  Epygrammnla : 
MidyuihufU  Fiang^iiat.  Jrnjimtm  Lddiiii  per  me  wt/naKda 
Aitiio  ikiil  I'tr-jiiiti  pnrla,  M.,  in:ccc  sin.  dcciino  ctra 


SXTlii  SOME    ACCOCXT  OP 

Aud  10  nil  oUier  whidM  pracnt  now*  bet 
F.Tut  to  miiistB' Cbuicer  md  LodgKe  MoMmdol 
Als>  to  pralgiuBM  ftiffctcr  navs  bcrii^nlii^oa^ 
To  iMnriu  Stxiifli  ■*{  pod  (iiiirti  ,- 
Fmn  tbem  kU  of  pvdixi  bolh  etlj  and  Ikta." 

Sbelloo  frequenll)'  sljles  himself  "oraii 
mu$  ;"  '  but  tlie  nature  of  ihe  office  from  1 
he  derived  the  tide  is  not,  1  believe,  unden 
The  lines  id  which,  as  we  have  jost  seen,  1 
liogtoD  so  btvrshly  praises  bis  ^  rheloricus  ae) 
allude  mo^  probablj-  to  his  performances  ii 
capacity  of  royal  orator. 

la  1498  SkelioD  took  holy  orders.  The 
OD  which,  during  iLat  year,  he  was  ordained 
cessively  subdeacon,  deacon,  and  priest,  area 
tained  by  the  following  enlriea: 

'*  [In  ece1«sU  conneiitiuili  domiu  rioe  hot[Nlal!> 
Tbrnoa  mutiiit  de  Aeon  cdiiit&tu  London,  par  T 
loccnKiu  epixopain  Tldmo  die  meosla  Morcii]  , 

M.  Jobannes  Skellon  Loudan.  diac  Bd  (icalain  Hob. 
Mtirie  do  Graciis  inita  Tonitn  London," 

"  llu  cathedra  faocCi  Paoli  London,  apod  Hmmmm  i 


1  Bcary  Bradshaw's  Lg/e  if  Bayal  Wtrttusitt,  L  U. 
printed  by  Pynron  Ifiat,  *io. 

^  Sve  the  two  snlKcripIiouE  nlreadv  cited,  p.  xxltt>> 

!.l6<.a80,To1.ii.aT6— "ClBru5&6icuudu»ln  ntroqa 

I  heniUlCCDeTe,  protn  Bbjnv  nierro,  liubebulnr."     Bulo, 

■Halt.  BriL  &a.  p.  951.  ed.  ISsD.     "  Inter Bhetoresre^uic(«> 

IOC  bctOB."     Pita,  Dt  Ilhd.  Aigl  Scr^  p  701.  ed.  iei& 

"  With  regard  to  the  OrnWr  fits*!"/'  »»?"  Warton,  "I  fioA 

K«M  Johu  M]Ulnr<lin  [bat  office  to  Henry  the  eifilith,  and  Idi 

K«pttOliU7  BSCreUry,"  &c.    JTuLofE.  P.  ii.  1«2  (nMe),  ed.  il 


8K ELTON    AND 


ING9. 


per  Thomam  pennisiione  dinlnn  Londcni.  episcopum 
h  ulibsto  lancto  viz.  xilli  d<o  menais  Aprilis] 
Johwmea  Skelton  poele  In'c]  lanreatue  Lond.  dioc.  nd  titn- 
imHon.  de  GraonsJtixEa  turrim  London." 
"(la  ecclesin  conaeDtiuUi  lioapitidis  bcule  Mnria  da  Ela^ng 
ptr  TboiDam  Bothliirensem  epiaonpam  Ix  dia  meaais  luniil 
K.  JolnnueB  SkelLoa  poala  luraattis  [lic]  Londoii.  diijc.  nd 
tStatsn  Hob.  de  GnciiB  iuxU  torrim  Laiidoii."  ^ 

When  Arthur,  the  eldest  son  of  Henry  ihe 
Bwentli,  was  created  Prinee  of  Wales  and  Earl 
rfChtater,  in  1489,"  Skellon  celehriiled  tbe  event 
in*  Composilion  (probably  poetical)  called  Prince 
Irbuii  Cfreacyotm,' of  which  ihe  title  alone  re- 
■ilne  1  and  when  Prince  Henry,  afterwards  Henry 
llm  Eighth,  was  created  Duke  of  York,  in  149-t,* 
h  ITU  hailed  by  our  author  in  some  Latin  verses 
—Curmeti  ad  principem,  quanda  insiffnilm  erat 
iieii  Ebor.  titulo, — a  copy  of  wliich  (not  to  lie 
Ibaod  at  present)  was  once  among  (he  MSS.  in 
l4e  library  of  Lincoln  Cathedra],  having  been 
atm  by  Tanner,  who  cites  the  initiiil  words, — 
"Si  qtiid  babes,  men  Musa,"" 

A»  ax  llie  last  mentioned  dale  Piince  Henry 


belongbig  to 


eDioc 


*bl  Octr.:  Bee  SundRird'a  OcmoL  BUl  p.  4TB.  ed. 

•  Sm  [ha  Garlraule  o/LaweB,  vol.  ii.  221. 

I  Vmtj  wiu  created  Duke  of  York  3l! 
L  [UM|;  eea  Snndfard'e  Gental  Bitt.  p.  jEO.  cd. 
Mlb«  r*«  Creatim  of  Etsnj  Dukt  of  Toi-kr,  &c.  (1 
gtlHilianMS.)iiiLard  Semers's  T>-acli,  i.  2i.  ei.  Scot 

•aauoA.  p.  ere,  ed.  im. 


1. 10.  H 


XXX  SOME   ACCOUNT    OP 

was  a  mere  infant,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the 
care  of  his  education  had  not  yet  been  intrusteJ 
to  our  poet.  It  must  have  been  several  years 
after  1494  that  Skelton  was  appointed  tutor  to 
that  prince, — an  appointment  which  affords  a 
striking  proof  of  the  high  opinion  entertained  of 
his  talents  and  learning,  as  well  as  of  the  respect- 
ability of  his  character.  He  has  himself  recorded 
that  he  held  this  important  situation : 

'    "  The  honor  of  Englond  I  lernyd  to  spelle. 
In  dygnyte  roialle  that  doth  excelle: 
Note  and  marke  wyl  i  thys  parcele; 
I  yaue  hym  drynke  of  the  sugryd  welle 
Of  Eliconys  waters  crystallyne, 
Aqueintyng  hym  with  the  Musys  nyne. 
Yt  commyth  th4  wele  me  to  remorde, 
That  creaunser2  was  to  thy  sofre[yne]  lorde: 
It  plesyth  that  noble  prince  roialle 
Me  as  hys  master  for  to  calle 
In  hys  lernyng  primordialle."  * 

\^  And  in  another  poem  he  informs  us  that  he  coiO 
posed  a  treatise  for  the  edification  of  his  royfi 
pupil : 


1  i.  e.  well. 

2  i.  e.  tutor:  see  Notes,  vol. iii.  146.— When  ladies  attem] 
to  write  history,  they  sometimes  say  odd  things:  e.  g.  "  It 
affirmed  that  Skelton  had  been  tutor  to  Henry  [viii.]  in  sou 
department  of  his  education.  How  probable  it  is  that  the  co 
ruption  imparted  by  this  ribald  and  ill-living  wretch  laid  it 
foundation  for  his  royal  pupil's  grossest  crimes  I  "  ZAves  c 
the  Queens  of  England  by  Agnes  Strickland,  vol.  iv.  104. 

*  Fourth  Poem  Against  Gamesche^  vol.  i.  150. 


SKiSLTON   AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  XXXI 

"The  Duke  of  Yorkis  creauncer  wlian  Skelton  was, 
Now  Henry  the  viii.  Kyng  of  Englonde, 

A  tratyse  he  deuysid  and  browght  it  to  pas, 
Callid  Speculum  Principis,  to  bere  in  his  honde, 
Therin  to  rede ;  and  to  vnderstande 

All  the  demenour  of  princely  astate, 

To  be  our  Kyng,  of  God  preordinate."  i 

The  Speculum  Principis  has  perished:  we  are 
unable  to  determine  whether  it  was  the  same  work 
as  that  entitled  Methodos  Skeltonidis  laureati,  sc. 
PrcBcepta  qucedam  moralia  Henrico  principu  po- 
iUa  Henr,  viii,  missa.  Dat.  apud  Eltham  A.D. 
MDL,  which  in  Tanner's  days^  was  extant  (mu- 
tilated at  the  beginning)  among  the  MSS.  in  the 

1  Garlande  ofLaureU^  vol.ii.224. — Afternoticing  that  while 
Arthur  was  yet  alive,  Henry  was  destined  by  his  father  to  be 
archbishop  of  Canterbury,  "  it  has  been  remarked,"  says  Mrs. 
Thomson,  "  that  the  instructions  bestowed  upon  Prince  Henry 
by  his  preceptor,  Skelton,  were  calculated  to  render  him  a 
scholar  and  a  churchman,  rather  than  an  enlightened  legis- 
lator." Mem.  of  the  Court  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  i.  2.  But  the 
description  of  the  Speculum  Principis,  quoted  above,  is  some- 
what at  variance  with  such  a  conclusion.  The  same  lady 
observes  in  another  part  of  her  work,  "  To  Skelton,  who  in 
conjunction  with  Giles  Dewes,  clerk  of  the  library  to  Henry 
the  Seventh,  had  the  honour  of  being  tutor  to  Henry  the 
Eighth,  this  king  evinced  his  approbation,'*  ii.  590,  and  cites 
in  a  note  the  Epistle  to  Henry  the  Eighth  prefixed  to  Pals- 
tave's Lesclarcissemeni  de  la  Langue  Francoyse,  1530,  where 
mention  is  made  of  "  the  synguler  clerke  maister  Gyles 
Dewes  somtyme  instructour  to  your  noble  grace  in  this  selfe 
tong."  Though  Dewes  taught  French  to  Henry,  surely  it  by 
no  means  follows  that  he  was  "  his  tutor  in  conjunction  with 
8kelton: "  a  teacher  of  French  and  a  tutor  are  very  different 

*.BiNK^.  p.  676.  ed.  1748. 


XXXn  SOME,  ACCOI3T   OF 


LTc^vj.  b«c  whidi  (la 
I^-^  T'rr'^*^  n-tsiikMMd  in  a  precediaig  pag 
KTOr  Cncen  &lkpT«ii  lo  vandcr  ^nr  from  th 

WL-rn  Tr^'X  Henrr  wb$  a  bor  of  nine 
ol<L  EraKn:^§  •i-ni:-;::k:cd  :o  hixn  an  ode  IXf  Z 
fccs  BritaMmi^t^  R>!ji*q7£€  HtmrUi  Stpiimu  « 
^€fntm  JJytryntrM^     Tbe  IXr^ikatioo  codUb 
foUowixLg  mezior&ble  esccmiam  on  Skeltoo; 
baec  quni^ai  i=:erea  tsmqium  Indicrm  moni 
toae  paentue  dkavimas,  oberion  lar«itnri  nl 
Tiitus  ana  cam  state  accrescens  nbenorem 
minam  mareriam  snppeditabit.     Ad  qood  • 
dem  te  adhonarer.  nisi  et  ipt%  jamdodam  q 
taa  Tells  remisqae  (ut  aiunt)  eo  tenderer,  et  • 
haheres  Skeltonum^  unum  BritamMicarwm  U 
rum  lumen  ac  decuSj  qoi  toa  stndia  possit,  noi 
lum  accendere.  sed  etiam  consammare  ; "  an 
the  Ode  are  these  lines  ; 

**  Jam  puer  Henr'cn?,  genitoris  nomine  Ijetns, 
JfcmMtratUeJimttU  vaU  Sbtdcno  jarrac, 
Palladias  teneris  mediLitor  ab  ungolbas  arteis.**  ^ 


1  Eratmi  Opera,  L  1214, 1216,  ed.  1708.— The  Ode  ii 
pended  to  Erasmcs^a  Latin  rersioa  of  the  Becmba  and 
gema  in  AvUdt  of  Enripides,  printed  bv  Aldus  in  1507; 
in  that  edition  the  second  line  which  I  have  quoted  is  i 
with  the  following  yariation, 

**  ^lonstrante  fonteis  vate  Lmirigtro  sacros." 
**  It  is  probable,"  says  Granger,  **  that  if  that  greal 
good  matj  [Erasmus]  had  read  and  perfectly  understoot 
|Skelton*»J  *  pithy,  pleasaunt,  and  profitable  works,' 


SKELTON    ASD    HIS    WTtlTlNGS,        XSXiu 

The  circumalaiices  which  led  to  the  production  of 
tbu  Ode  are  related  by  Erasmus  iu  the  following 
arioua  passu^;  "la  erat  labor  fridui,  el  tamen 
labor,  quwl  jam  anoos  aliquot  oec  legcraui  nuc 
eeripserara  ullum  carmen.  Id  pai'tim  pudor  a 
aobie  extorsit,  parlim  dolor.  Pertraxerat  me 
l%(unaB  Moi'u^,'  qui  cum  me  in  pnedio  Montjoii^ 
igentem  inviserar,  ut  animi  causa  in  proxiraum 
ncnrn*  espaliaremur.  Nam  iUic  eduoibantur  om- 
net  liberi  regii,  uno  Arcturo  excepto,  qui  turn  erat 
tm  niBximus.     Ubi  Tentum  est  in  aulani,  conve- 


■mtaloly  reprinted,  he  would  havB  spokan  of  him  in  hm 
I  boMlrabIa  lenna."  Siog.  MiL  of  Eagl.  i.  102.  ed.  ITTG. 
Ihtimurk  is  sufficisatlf  roolishi  in  Skeltou'e  vorks  there 
Wootnfew  piiasages  which  Ernaniun,  himself  a  wriler  of 
rttimblo  wi^  must  havo  relished  and  adniiretli  nnd  it  was 
tirllboat  reaaoa  that  hennd  our  poet  hnvQ  heen  dtused 
fOiit  as  sutidiits,  in  the  foUowiDg  paaaa^qe;  "By  what 
•DM  could  Skelton  that  lunreiit  puet,  or  Erusmui  tJiut 
III  and  leDrned  dnrke,  have  vttGred  their  minilea  eo  well 
iBpj,  M  thorowe  their  clokes  of  morj-  ooucej-tes  in  wryt- 
M^of  loycj  lad  foolish  thflomeii  ai  9keIIoii  did  by  Sjirnkt 
pwrcl,  Wart  Iht  hauU,  the  Ttmninj  of  Eh/nnuT  Rumming, 
Tf^eotugtaol  to  Ihe  Omtlet  PldSp  Spnmire,  and  such 
ffita:  yst  what  greater  acute  or  better  mnttcr  can  bs,  thuu  is 
Id  Itili  ragged  ryme  coutnyuod?  Or  who  would  haue  henrde 
ttftnltMipIajnely  tolde  hiiu,  if  uotiu  Buch  gibyng  aorte? 
ikaZnsioue,  \aiBr  bit  prai/uqf  Folly,  what  nuittera  hath 
U  l<meh«d  Iherein?"  4a,  Tkc  Golika  AjihradUU,  &o.  by 
~  ~a  OningB,  l&TT  (I  quota  from  (^itura Liter,  vol.  i.  863. 

I  Tbea  >  Btudent  vf  Liocaln'i  Inn. 
■  Tbe  coanCry-wat  of  Lord  Moautjoy. 
*  Probably  ElUiam. 

VOL.    1.  C 


XXliv  SOME   ACCOUNT   OF 

Dit  tota  pompa.  non  solam  doroas  illias,  verc 
mm  Montjoiicse.     Stabat  in  medio  Henricas 
natos  novem,  jam  tam  indolem  qaandam  n 
prse  se  ferens,  h.  e.  animi  celsitudinem  can 
gulari  quadam  humaiiitate  conjunctam.     A 
tris  erat  Margareta,  andecim  ferme  annos 
qua  post  nupsit  Jacobo  Scotorum  Regi.     A 
tris,    Maria  lusitans  annos  nata  quatuor. 
Edmondus  adhuc  infans,  in  ulnis  gestabatar. 
rus  cum  Amoldo  sodali  salutato  puero  Hei 
quo  rege  nunc  floret  Britannia,  nescio  quid  » 
orum  obtulit.     Ego,  quoniam  hujusmodi  nihi 
pectabam,  nihil  habens  quod  exhiberem,  poUi 
sum  aliquo  pacto  meum  erga  ipsum  studium 
quandodeclaraturura.    Interim  subirascebarl^ 
quod  non  praeraonuisset ;  et  eo  magis,  quod 
Epistolio  inter  prandendum  ad  me  misso,  m 
calamum  provocaret.     Abii  domum,  ac  vel : 
tis  Musis,  cum  quibus  jam  longum  fuerat  di 
tium.  Carmen  intra  tridum  absolvi.     Sic  et  i 
sum  dolorem  meum  et  pudorem  sarsi."^ 

The  mother  of  Henry  the  Seventh,  the  Co 
ess  of  Richmond  and  Derby,  is  well  known  to  h 
used  her  utmost  exertions  for  the  advancemei 
literature  ;  she  herself  translated  some  pieces  f: 

1  Caial  {Primus)  LucubratUmum^  p.  2.  prefixed  to  the  at 
cited  vol.  of  Erasmi  Opera. — In  Turner's  Md.  of  the  A 
of  Henry  the  Eujlith^  it  is  erroneously  stated  that  Eras 
"  had  the  interview  which  he  thus  describes,  at  the  rem 
of  Lord  Mountjoy.^^  i.  11.  ed.  8vo. 


SKELTON   AND    HIS    WRITINGS.         XXXV 

the  French;  and,  under  her  patronage,  several 
works  (chiefly  works  of  piety)  were  rendered  into 
Engh'sh  by  the  most  competent  scholars  of  the 
time.  It  is  to  her,  I  apprehend,  that  Skelton  al- 
lodes  in  the  following  passage  of  the  Garlande  of 
LaureUy  where  he  mentions  one  of  his  lost  per- 
formances ; 

**  Of  my  ladys  gtrice  at  the  contemplacyoun, 
Owt  of  Frenshe  into  Englysshe  prose, 
Of  Mannes  Lyfe  the  Peregrynacioun, 
He  did  translate,  enterprete,  and  disclose."  ^ 

According  to  Churchyard,  Skelton  was  "  seldom 
oat  of  princis  grace  :"  ^  yet  among  the  Actes,  Or- 
derSy  and  Decrees  made  hy  the  King  and  his 
CwnseU^  remaining  amongst  the  Records  of  the 
Court,  now  commonly  cdUed  the  Court  of  Requests, 
we  find,  under  anno  17.  Henry  vii. ;  "  10  Junii 
apnd  Westminster  Jo.  Skelton  commissus  carceri- 
bu8  Janitoris  Domini  Regis.'*  *  What  could  have 
occasioned  this  restraint,  I  cannot  even  conjecture . 
but  in  those  days  of  extrajudicial  imprisonments 
be  might  have  been  incarcerated  for  a  very  slight 
offence.  It  is,  however,  by  no  means  certain  that 
the  "Jo.  Skelton^*  of  the  above  entry  was  the  in- 
dindual  who  forms   the  subject  of  the  present 


1  Val.  ii.  224. 

2  Lines  prefixed  to  Marshe^s  ed«  of  Skelton's  Worhes,  1568; 
^  Appendix  L  to  this  Memoir. 

»p.80,.-1692,  4to. 


SOME   ACCODNT    OF 


essay  ;  *  aod  it  la  equally  doubtful  whether  or  aft 
the  following  eutry,  dated  the  eame  year,  relaUi 
to  ihe  mother  of  the  poet ; 


(Ess' 


titJ.K.  i2.«.viijJ" 


It  has  been  already  shewn  that  Skelton  toot 
holy  ordei-B  iu  1498.'  How  soon  after  that  period 
he  became  rector  of  Diss  in  Norfolk,  or  what  poi^ 
tion  of  his  life  was  spent  there  in  the  exercise  of 
his  duties,  cannot  be  asceitaiDed.  He  certainly 
resided  there  in  1501  and  1511,' and,  as  it  wouM 

1  Aoeordjng  to  the  xiT*!"  of  tho  Merie  Tales  qf  SktOon  (m 
Appendix  I.  lo  the  present  Memoir,)  he  wna  "loog  coufiat4 
in  prison  at  WoBtnunater  by  the  command  of  the  cardinal: " 
bnt  tba  tmot  1b  of  saah  b.  nstars  that  we  must  liesltate  abost 
believing  *  eingie  etatement  which  It  contnins.  £vaD  taf- 
]K>sing  tbaC  St  soma  period  or  other  Skelton  yaa  really  imr 
priaoiied  by  Wolsey,  that  impHsontnent  ounld  hardly  hsfi 
taliea  plocB  so  early  as  1502.  Aa  far  as  I  con  gather  trtttii 
his  wrltinga,  Skalloii  first  offended  Woiaey  by  glaniang  ti 
liini  in  certain  passages  of  (Hyi  ChmU,  aod  iu  Chose  paMSgef 
tho  cudinol  ia  alluded  to  as  being  ia  the  fuhiees  of  pomp  hq^ 

*  By  Writ  of  PriTy  Seal— -dudito-'«  Oilendar  qf  Fiht  fnm 
1185  (0  ISia,  fol.  IDI  [b.],  in  the  Public  Becord  OfficB.  ^ 

■  Rilaoa  (iJiUin;.  i'lw:.  p.  102)  says  that  Skelton  iTO  "  ctqp 
jajn  to  king  Henry  the  eigbthi  "  qy.  on  whut  authority? 

*  "  Hb  .  ■  .  M'HS  Rector  and  lived  here  [at  Diss;  In  IHjl 
and  in  1611,  as  I  find  by  his  being  Witnc<^  to  eeveral  WUbU 
Hub  year.  (Note)  1604,  Tha  Will  of  Miiry  Cowpe:  of  DiiM{ 
'  WitDflseea  Muster  Jolm  Skellon,  Laureat,  Forsoa  of  Wnf, 
&0.'  And  among  tha  Evidencei  ot  Mr.  Thonuu  Coggetba^ 
1  fiiid  the  Houfo  in  the  Tenure  of  Master  Skelton,  Lrnrwii 
...  Mr.  Le-Nflve  suys,  ttiat  hlB  ISkelton's]  Inititutloa  dmi 


BKELTON    A 


>   HIS    1 


DlromBonieof  hia  cornpositioaB,*  in  150(>,  1507 
■od  1513  ;   in  the  year  of  his  decease  he  was,  at 
^l  Eoroinally,  the  rector  of  Diss." 
Fe  are  told'  that  for  keeping,  under  the  tille 

as,  ippenr  In  the  Books,  vhkb  Is  tnie,  Tor  odcn  (hosQ  Ibut 
■«re  snllnied  b;  tbo  Pope,  had  do  Inetitulitin  from  tba  Blabop, 
taaj  Inataacea  ofTrhicli  In  those  Books  occar;  but  \i  iicer- 
Unl  thiin  Hbimdimce  of  Reoords  and  Evideocoa  that  I  bave 
urn,  tbat  be  woe  Bector  BsYBral  jean."  Blomefiuld's  Bitt. 
e/.fafalk,  i.  ao.  ed.  ITSB—'niBpaTiah-regiBferof  DissftlTordi 
19  infonnalioa  concarnlng  Sltolton ;  (br  llie  earliest  dute 
ttwb  il  cont^ns  U  long  posterior  to  hie  death. 

I  Seo  A  deuaiU  irenlaU  for  <M  John  Clarke,  who  died  in 
lSO!,Trf.  i.lST;  iometKaflourJiiAbrncen.,  written  in  1607, 
p.191;  and  CionadtDii,  &c.  in  ISIS,  p.  311. 

I I  nuf  notice  bent,  tbnt  in  an  Assiii<Bnient  Tor  a  Snbsidy, 
mp.  Henr;  Tiil.,  we  Gnd,  under  "  Soscte  Hclencn  Pnri^be 
within  Biashopplsgate,^*— 

"Mr.  atrfftmin  goodos  xl  U.'' 

Sak  tfAe  TVeonuy  of  the  Exchiquer,  B.  4. 16,  fol.  r,— Pub- 
liD  Becord  Office.     Q7.  was  this  our  author '/ 

I**  Gam  qmbusdam  bbilerauiboH  fraterculia,  pTJDCJpuB  Do- 
nioiBuilB,  bellum  gerebat  couUuuum.  Sub  pseudopuntilioo 
Nocdaiiiveiisi  Rioanlo  Nixo,  mulierem  ilkio,  qanm  sibi  beereto 
ttAnUchriiti  meiimi  dcspoasanertU,  tub  concublnw  litulo 
mtodlebat.  In  altimo  tiuntin  uitm  oiiiculo  super  no.  re  io- 
bliiigitns,  reapondit,  sa  nusquara  illam 


fo  leg^tim 


legit. 


Bule,  SeripL  JUiu(.  Bi-U.  pp.  661,  i. 
UH^-^'Id  Uosachos  piviertim  Pnedicatorce  S.  Don 
MftHj^um  aonit,  &  lerminoi  prBtargTOBBus  modestia!, 
ttacmflDommatibuA  acerbiua  egit-  Quo  facto  fluum  1 
fnnit  Epiraopua  Blahacdum  Nlxuin,  qni  habito  de  vi 
Mribiu  eini  cxamiue,  deprehendit  hominem  vomni  Dec 
ShUm  fiolaue,  ilno  concubinam  domi  sue  diu  teiiui 
nt,Dt  ilbuL  Aagl  ScripL  p.  TOL  ed.  ItllS.— "  The  Dui 
■a  Ftrion  wete  the  next  be  contested  with,  whoie 


SXXVIU  SOME    ACCOUNT    OP 

of  a  concubine,  a  woman  wiiom  be  had  secretlj 
married,  Skelion  was  called  lo  accoiini,  and  sns- 
pended  from  liia  mtniaterial  functions  by  his  dio- 
cesan, the  bloodj'TQinded  and  impure  Rich&rd 
Njkke  (or  Nix),'  at  Che  inatigation  of  the  friara, 

Uy  pst  enoDgh  for  bis  Imtidj  but  suoh  IbiU  Lubbera  fell 
beavy  on  ttll  whiah  fbund  fuull  with  Clism.  Those  initigiilad 
NJK,  Bisbop  of  Norwicb,  to  coll  him  to  uicoiint  fur  keeping  > 
CoiicDbicB,  vhich  coat  him  (as  it  seemi)  a  Buspension  tma 
hit  beneOce.  .  .  .  We  must  sot  forger,  bow  being  cliiuged  ij 
•eioB  on  his  JesCh-bed  (or  liegetling  many  obiidrea  on  tin 
Broresnid  ConcaLiue,  he  prolested,  tb&t  in  hii  Coii^oieuce  ho 
kept  her  in  the  DOtiaa  of  a  wife,  thoa^  such  his  oDwacdll' 
neaa  that  he  would  rather  eonfeas  adnllaiy  [theu  aecouulsd 
but  a  venial)  tbim  own  marriage,  eateemsd  a.  capital  crime  in 
that  age."  Fnllef  B  WorOiiit,  p.  267,  (Sarfolk,)  ed.  1»81- 
Anlhony  Wood,  with  his  luuitl  want  of  charity  towards  tb* 
loia  of  geoioB,  sajs  that  Skelton  "  having  been  guilty  of  cer 
tain  crimsa,  (as  most  poets  are,)  at  least  not  agreeable  to  bis 
coat,  felt  under  the  heavy  ceasnre  of  Bicb.  N;kke  bishop  of 
NoTwIch  his  diocesan;  especially  for  bis  bcoOb  and  ill  lan- 
guage against  the  monks  and  dominlca:iB  in  hia  writinf^" 
AA.  OxoH.  i.  BO.  Bd.  Bliss,  who  adds  in  a  nole,  "  tit.  Thomu 
Dalafield  in  his  MS.  CbHtttian  of  Poeb  Laureate,  Ho.  among 
Gough'a  MSS.  in  :he  Bodleian,  says  it  was  in  retum  for  hH 
being  married,  oil  equal  oritne  in  the  eedosiaatics  of  thoi* 
days,  bishop  Nykke  auspeiided  Iiim  from  his  church." — Tan- 
ner giyea  B9  one  of  tlie  reasouE  for  Skelton'B  taking  laoctuacy 
at  Weenninitor  towards  the  close  of  hie  life,  "  propter  qaod 
nxorem  habnit"  Bi6lio&.  p.  STB.  ed.  1748.— In  thexili"-  tit 
the  Merit  Tola  (see  Appeudix  I.  to  the  pre^eut  Uemoii]  Skal' 
Um'a  mfi  is  mentioned. 

1"  Cui  [Nlxo]  utounque  a  uive  nompn  vldeatur  inditnm, 
adeo  nihil  erat  nivei  in  pectors,  Iniurioais  coptationihua 
plnrimum  sstuante,  ut  atro  carbone  libidines  cjue  iiotand> 
Tideantur,  ai  vera  sunt  qum  de  ilia  b  Nevillo  porliibontar." 
Godwin  Da  PnaaL  An^l.  p.  410.  ed.  174(1, 


8KELT0N   AND   HIS   WRITINGS.       XXXIX 

ddeiy  the  DomiDicans,  whom  the  poet  had  se- 
rerelj  handled  in  his  writings.  It  is  said,  too, 
that  by  this  woman  he  had  several  children,  and 
that  on  his  death-bed  he  declared  that  he  consci- 
entioosly  regarded  her  as  his  wife,  hut  that  such 
had  been  his  cowardliness,  that  he  chose  rather  to 
confess  adultery  (concubinage)  than  what  was  then 
reckoned  more  criminal  in  an  ecclesiastic — mar- 
riage. 

It  has  been  supposed  that  Skelton  was  curate 
of  Trumpington  near  Cambridge  ^  (celebrated  as 
the  scene  of  Chaucer's  Milleres  Tale,)  because 
&t  the  end  of  one  of  his  smaller  poems  are  the 
following  words ; 

**  Aactore  Skeltou,  rectore  de  Dis. 
Finis,  &c.  Apnd  Trampinton  scriptum  ^  per  Curatum  ejns- 

i'^In  the  Edition  of  his  Workes  in  6vo.  Lond,  1786,  which 
liuiTe,  at  p.  272  be  mentions  Trumpinton,  and  seems  to  have 
been  Ouraie  there,  5.  Jan.  1507.  At  p.  54  he  also  mentions 
Svafkam  and  Soham,  2  Towns  in  Cambridgeshire,  in  The 
Qmne  of  LaweU:'  Cole's  Coaeciion8,—Add.  MSS.  (Brit. 
Mm.)  5880,  p.  199.  1^ o  conciude  from  the  mention  of  these 
towDs  that  Skelton  resided  in  Cambridgeshire  is  the  height 
of  alwurdity,  as  the  reader  will  immediately  perceive  on  turn- 
ing to  the  passage  in  question,  Garlande  ofLaurelL,  v.  1416, 
^  ii.232.— Chalmers,  on  the  authority  of  a  MS.  note  by 
Kumet,  a  transcript  of  which  had  been  sent  to  him,  states 
ftit  •*  in  1612,  Skelton  was  presented  by  Bichard,  abbot  of 
(>lastonbiiry,  to  the  vicarage  of  Daltyng.'*  Biog,  Diet,  xxviii. 
tt:  If  Chalmers  had  consulted  Wood's  account  of  the  poet, 
ke  mi^t  have  learned  that  the  rector  of  Diss  and  the  vicaf 
^  Dul^g  were  difierent  persons. 

*  The  old  ed.  has  "  scrioter." 


or  ■ 

. . A 


Xl  SOME  ACCOFKT 

dem,  qninto  die  Januiuii  Anno  Dumini,  le 
An^in,  MDYU."  » 

But  the  meaning  eyidenlly  is,  that  the  curat< 
Trampingion  had  writien  out  (lie  verses  comp 
by  the  reclor  of  Dias  ;  and  that  the  former 
borrowed  them  from  tJie  iatier  for  the  purpos' 
transcription,  is  rendered  probable  by  two  I 
which  occur  soon  after  among  some  minor  pii 
of  our  author; 

-Banc 

Afllhooy  'Wood  affirms  that  "  at  Disse  and 
the  diocese  "  Skeiton  "  was  esteemed  more  fit 
the  stage  than  the  pew  or  putpit,"  *  It  ia  at  h 
certain  that  anecdotes  of  the  irregularity  of 
life,  of  his  bufibonery  as  a  preacher,  &x,  i 
were  current  long  after  his  deceaae,  and  gave  i 
to  that  tusuB  of  extravagant  figments  which  \i 
put  together  for  the  amusement  of  the  vulgar,  s 
entitled  the  Merie  Tales  of  Slcellon* 

Churchyard  informs  us  that  Skelton's 
was  AB  he  wraet  [wrote] ; "  '  and  in   ibis  propt 

»  Ji*.  OioB.  L  60.  ed.  Bliss. 

*  Repriuted  in  Appendix  1.  to  Ihia  Memoir; 
the  extniats  Croat  A  C  mtry  Tb^  &o. — Ttie  biogra^ 
SkelUni,  b  Smmtnl  Lit.  md  SciaU.  Uta  of  Great  BrUni^  I 
(Lardner'a  Cytkp,),  B^aerls  tlul  "Ac  tompmtdhit  Mtrie  Tit 

/r  tti  Idmj  and  tiMet " 

•  Lines  proflieil  to  Mnrahe'g  ed.  of  SkoUoii'a  Wvriet,  16( 
MB  Appendix  L  to  Uiia  Memoir. 


i 


SKELTON   AND    HIS   WKITIKG3. 


o  sulire,  as  nell  ii 

iripinatcd  perhaps  those  quarrtils  with  Gar- 
nescbe,  Barclay,  Gaguin,  and  Liiy,  which  I  have 

As  the  four  poems  Against  Garnesche  were 
composed  "  by  tlie  lijiifi^s  moat  noble  commauiide- 
meot,"  we  may  conclude  ihat  the  raonaivh  found 
Uttusemenl  in  the  Hngry  rhymea  with  which  Skel- 
lon  over u'h timed  his  opponent.  Giirnesche  it  ap- 
pears,  was  the  challenger  in' this  content ;  *  and  it 
it  Id  be  regretted  that  his  verses  have  perislied, 
tecaase  in  all  probability  they  would  hnve  tin-own 
i«ne  light  on  the  private  history  of  Sk<;lton.  2Se 
Fh/tinff  of  Dunbar  and  Kennedy  '  hears  h  con- 
liJerable  resemblance  lo  the  versea  a^'ainst  Gar- 
KBcbe;  but  the  two  Scotlieh  poets  arc  supposed 
lo  have  carried  on  a  sportive  wurfare  of  rude 
nJUvy,  while  a  real  animosity  seems  lo  have  ex- 

'"Sillis  ya  baas  me  cb]\l}'iigyd,  U(iuit(ir]  Gitraescho," 
fc.;  we  vol.  i.  laa. 
'Id  the  Holes  on  the  poems  AgiuHit  Gatnuche  I  hava  cited 
tUBTnl  (Hirallel  eipressioua  from  The  Flyling  vf  Duiibar  ami 
KmH^.  TliHt  corioiu  proiiuclion  may  bu  round  in  tlie 
nlniUs  eiUcion  of  Dunbu's  Posmi  (ii.  fl6)  by  Mr.  D.  Lain^, 
rto  iuppoMa  it  t»  have  been  written  beCwoen  1492  and  liltl 
PLUS.)  It  therefcro  preceded  the  "  flyting  "  of  Bkdlon  sn  J 
BunMofaa.  I  may  add,  that  tbe  last  portion  of  ou  author'! 
J^A,  Pamt  iitum  B  coneiderable  reaemb  nn  e  j)  a  o  py  of 
NnMtttributed  to  Dnnbar,  and  flnCitled  A  (.ene  al  Balyt 
fflwiw^  Q.  24);  Bod  tjiat  us  [lie  grsnt  Soo  sh  poe  vi  ed 
tagmd  more  than  once,  it  ia  probnble  ilial  e  and  5ke  on 
ra  person  ally  Bcquainlsit 


xlU 


soitK  Acconrr  or 


isted  between  oor  author  and  bit  adversarj.* 
the  time  of  lliU  quarrel  (ihe  exact  dale  of  whid 
CD oooi  be  determined)  Clirifiopher  Gnmesulie 
gentleman  asher  u>  Henry  the  Elgbili,  and  digni- 
fied wiib  knighthood;'  and  (if  Skelion  maj  ba 
credited)  had  then  from  the  peiformaneo  of  very 
tnenial  offices  to  the  elation  which  be  then  ocou- 
pted.  As  he  had  do  claims  on  the  remembnuca 
of  poMerity,  little  is  known  concerning  him  ;  but 
since  we  have  evidence  that  his  services  wsrs 
called  for  oD  more  than  one  ocea&ion  of  import- 
ance, he  must  have  been  a  person  of  considerablB 
note.  He  is  twice  incidentally  mentioned  in  con- 
nection with  the  roja]  sisters  of  Henry  the  Ei^lb. 
In  lal4,  when  ilie  Princess  Mary  embarked  for 
France,  in  order  to  join  her  decrepit  bridegroon 
Louia  the  TwelAb,  Garnesche  formed  one  of  tlu 
numerous  retinue  selected  to  attend  her,  and  had 
an  opportunity  of  parlicuhiriy  distinguishing  htin- 
eelf  (luring  that  perilous  voyage  :  "  The  ii.  dajs 
of  October  at  the  hower  of  foure  of  ibe  cloi^e  io 
the  morenyngethysfayre  ladye  tooke  her  ship  with 


'  At  a  later  period  Ihara  WM  a  poolicnl  "Byting"  b«twB«a 
Chorchj'ari)  and  a  pei^cw  aamed  Cnmcl,  who  bad  atUioked  • 
pQblicuIion  oTths  former  ciitlad  Dime  Dican  DreoDtai  tai 
■one  other  writen  took  n  puit  ia  the  oonlraversy  i  tbesa  rai^ 
pieces  (knowa  nulj  b;  tlielr  titles  to  Ritaon,  BUtSog.  AaC 
p.  IBl,  aad  to  Chalmers.  tJJi  of  Ciurdiyarti,  p,  E3)  ue  vnj 
(loll  and  poiutlese,  but  vere  evidently  put  fortli  in  eaatah'' 

Ur:"  butseeNoles,  vol.  iii.  1:2^1. 


BKELTON  AND   HIS    WRITINGS.  xliii 

ill  her  noble  com|];iignie ;  and  when  lliey  buJ 
»yled  a  quarter  of  the  eee,  the  wyiiJe  roso  anil 
senered  Botne  ol'  tho  sbyppea  to  Ciileyji,  anJ  some 
in  Flaanders,  and  her  Ghippe  with  gre^iie  dilfi- 
»  was  brought  to  Biilleyn,  and  wiiti  grout 
ieopirdy  at  tbe  enlryng  of  the  haiien,  fur  the 
ater  ran  the  ship  hard  on  shore,  but  the  botes 
reredy  anJ  reeeyued  tliis  nohie  hidy,  and  at  the 
kndjng  Sir  Ohrittopher  Gamyshe  stode  in  the 

Kfiai  toke  her  in  Lis  armes,  and  so  ciiryed 
fauid,  where  the  Duke  of  Vandosme  and  a 
wll  with  mjiiij  estiifea  receyued  her  and 
Ijes,"  ^  &c  Again,  in  a  letter,  dated  Har- 
Irtde  18th  Oct.  1515,  from  Lord  Dacre  of  Gilh?s- 
bnil  and  T.  Magnus  to  Henry  the  Eightli,  con- 
lirg  the  confinement  in  childbed  of  Miirgaret 
■idow  of  James  ihe  Fourth,  &c.  we  find  ;  "  Sir 
Oa-itto/er  Garneis  came  to  Morpeth  immediatly 
Tpon  the  quencis  delyueraunce,  and  hj  our  aduiee 
h  eontynued  there  with  suche  sluS'  as  your 
ce  balh  sent  to  the  said  quene  your  susler  till 
Sondaye  lasle  paste,  whiche  daye  he  delyuered 
jwr  letter  and  disclosed  your  credence,  grelely 
W  the  quenes  comforie.  And  for  3oniiclie  as  the 
lume  lieth  as  yet  in  childe  bedde,  and  shall  kepe 
ier  cliumbre  these  thre  wookes  at  the  leiste,  we 
lUe  aduise  the  said  sir  Ohristofsr  Garneis  to  r^ 
■atgne  at  Morpeth  till  Ihe  queneis  coinyng  thid- 


1  Hiill'a  Chnm.  (in. 


■».)fol.xlvii 


der,  and  then  her  grace  may  order  and  pnj 
euery  parte  of  the  said  stut' after  her  pleasure 
as  her  grace  eemelh  moste  conuenient,"  S/x.^ 
few  pariiculara  concerning  Garnesche  may 
gleaned  from  tlie  Books  in  the  Public  Rei 


(EaiisrTann,  is  Hen.  vii,)  "  Critlo/ero 

(lumeyt  de  j-egHrdo  de  denarlia  per  Jo-  >  xL  &*4 
hannom  Crawford  etal.pormBnua.  for."  , 

(i,  e,  in  reward  out  of  moneys  forfeltect'll 
Crawford  aud  another  upon  bail-bond,)  '* 

(lit  Henry  Tiii.)  "  Itam  to  OriHo/tr  Giu^- 
hmI^  for  lliekingoa  oCTrag  at  S.  Ed- 
wardea  Bhiryoe  the  next  dny  sflei  ths 

(Easter  Term,  1-2  Benryvui.)" Crulqftn' 
Gnmesi  vnl  geiierosorom  hosliariorum 
regis  [ono  of  tiia  kiDg'a  gontlenieo- 
nibers]  de  aiiniiitat«  sua  durante  regis 
bencplacilo  per  annum 

iCidcm  Oratofem  da  Ibodo  8U0  ad  xx.  li. ' 
per  azinuiu  pro  termiBo  vita  sue*  ; 

and  we  find  that  afterwards  by  letters  pat^ 
2Ut  May,  7tb  Henry  viii,,  in  consideration  of 
serviced  the  king  granted  him  an  annuity  of  th 


>  MS.  (M.  Calis.  B.  Yi.  fol.  113. 
«  Avdilor'i  CakmlaT  ifFilttfrom  H8S 
*  yVl'iy  Pane  AccamU,  A.  6.  IB.  p.  21. 
<  Aadilor'i  Cakudar,  &c.  foL  163  (b). 


SKELTON  AND   HIS   WRITINGS. 


xlv 


C.  8, 


poimds  for  life,  payable  half-yearly  at  the  Exche- 
quer.* 

,'ntii  Henry  viii.)  **  Item  to  iS»r  Oiristofer  • 
Gcarmttke  Jemght  opon  a  warrannt  for 
tin  hyre  of  his  howse  at  Grenewycbe  ^ 
at  X.  JL  by  the  yere  for  one  half  a  yere 
doe  at  Ester  last  and  so  after  half  yerely 
during  X  j'eres  * 

I20th  Henry  viii.)  "  Oristofero  Gamyshe 
miSd  do  annuitate  sna  ad  zzx  I.  per 
breve  currens  Rec.  den.  profestoMichls  J-xxx.  K." 
nit.  pret  viz.  pro  vno  anno  integro  per 
maDus  Ricardi  Alen  ^ 

see  above :  this  entry  is  several  times  repeated, 
and  occurs  for  the  last  time  in  26th-Henry  viii.* 


^Au£lor'8  Patent  Book,  No,  1.  fol.  6  (b). 

^  In  an  account  of  the  visit  of  the  Emperor  Charles  the 
Fifth  to  England  in  June  1522,  among  the  lodgings  which 
vere  occupied  on  that  occasion  at  Greenwich  we  find  men- 
tioQ  of  ^  Master  Gamyshe  house."  See  RtUland  Papers,  p.  82, 
(printed  for  the  Camden  Society.)  That  a  knight  was  fre- 
inently  called  "  Master,"  I  have  shewn  in  Notes,  vol.  iii.  123. 

'  Ptivj/  Purse  Accounts,  A,  5, 17.  p.  175. 

*  TtOer's  Book,  A.  8.  24.  p.  293. 

'  To  these  notices  of  Garnesche  I  may  add  the  following 
i^r,  the  original  of  which  is  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  J.  P. 
ColHer: 

"Pleas  it  your  grace.  We  haue  Receyued  the  Kyngs  most 
tncioase  letres  dated  at  his  manour  of  grenwich  the  x*^  day 
of  Aprill,  Wherby  we  peroeyue  his  high  pleasour  is  that  we 
tkilde  take  some  substanciall  direccion  for  the  preparacion 
ukI  fomyshing  of  all  maner  of  viiaiUes  aswell  for  man  as  foi 
^"^  to  bee  had  in  Redynesse  against  the  commyng  of  his 
Ptce^his  nobles  with  ther  trayn;  Like  it  your  grace,  so  it  is 
We  haue  not  been  in  tymes  past  so  greatly  and  sore  destitute 


Xlvi  SOME   ACCOUNT   OF 

Bale  mentions  among  the  writings  of  Alen 


this  many  yeres  past  of  all  maner  of  vitailles  both  fix 
and  beist  as  we  be  now,  not  oonly  by  reason  of  a  gretm 
of  catali  which  hath  ben  in  thies  partes,  but  also  for  th 
Kings  takers,  lieng  abont  the  borders  of  the  see  costo 
adionyng  vnto  vs,  haue  takyn  and  made  provision  t 
contrarie  to  the  olde  ordnannce,  so  that  we  be  vtterly  dei 
by  reason  of  the  same,  and  can  in  no  wise  make  any 
Btanciall  provision  for  his  highnes  nor  his  trayn  in  thies  p 
for  all  the  bochers  in  this  toun  haue  not  substaunce  of  I 
and  motones  to  serue  vs,  as  we  be  accompanyed  at  this 
for  the  space  of  ili  wekes  att  the  most.    And  also  as  now 
is  not  within  this  toun  of  Calais  fewell  suflScient  to  sere 
oon  hole  weke,  the  which  is  the  great  daunger  and  vnsn 
of  this  the  Kings  toun.    Wherfore  we  most  humbly  bo 
your  grace,  the  premisses  considered,  that  we  by  your 
cious  and  fauorable  heipe  may  haue  not  oonly  Remedi 
our  beiffs  and  motones  with  other  vitailles,  but  also  thai 
maner  of  vitaillers  of  this  toun  may  repair  and  resorte  ^ 
ther  shippes  from  tyrae  to  tyme  to  make  ther  purueyanoi 
all  maner  of  fewell  from  hensfurth  for  this  toun  oonlv.  w 
out  any  let  or  Interrupcionn  of  the  kings  officers  or  tak 
any  commandment  hertofore  gififen  to  the  contrarie  not  w 
standing,  for  without  that  both  the  Kings  Highnes,  yourgn 
and  all  this  toufa  shalbe  vtterly  disappoynted  and  discey 
both  of  vitailles  and  fewell,  which'  god  defend.    At  CaJ 
the  xviiit^  day  of  Aprill, 

By  your  seruantSi 
John  Peaclie, 

Wyllym  Sandys,  Robert  Wotton, 

Edward  GuldefeS-d,        Orystqffyr  Garm 
To  my  I^rde  cardynalls  grace, 

Legate  a  Latere  and  chan- 

celer  of  England." 

In  Proceed,  and  Ordin.  of  the  Privy  OouncU  (vol.  vii.  ] 
196),  1541,  mention  is  made  of  &  Lady  Gamishe  (probably 
widow  of  Sir  Christopher)  having  had  a  house  at  Calais;  f 


8KELT0N  AND   HIS   WRITINGS.  xlvii 

Barclay  a  piece  "  against  Skelton."  ^    It  has  not 
come  down  to  us ;  but  the  extant  works  of  Bar- 
clay bear  testimony  to  the  hearty  dislike  with  which 
he  regarded  our  author.     At  the  conclusion  of  The 
Ship  of  Fooh  is  this  contemptuous  notice  of  one 
of  Skel ton's  most  celebrated  poems ; 

"  Holde  me  excused,  for  why  my  will  is  good 
Men  to  induce  vnto  vertue  and  goodnes ; 
I  write  no  ieste  ne  tale  of  Robin  Hood, 
Nor  80we  no  sparkles  ne  sede  of  viciousnes ; 
Wise  men  loue  vertue,  wilde  people  wantonnes, 
It  iongeth  not  to  my  science  nor  cunning, 
Fw  Philip  ihe  Sparow  the  Dirige  to  singe ; "  2 

a  sneer  to  which  Skelton  most  probably  alludes, 
vben,  enumerating  his  own  productions  in  the 
Garlande  of  LaureU,  he  mentions, 

"  Of  Phillip  Sparow  the  lamentable  fate, 

The  dolefull  desteny,  and  the  carefull  chaunce, 

Dyuysed  by  Skelton  after  the  iiinerall  rate ; 
Yet  sum  there  be  therewith  that  take  greuaunce, 
And  grudge  therat  withjraumyng  countenaunce  ; 

Bat  what  of  that?  hard  it  is  to  please  all  men; 

Who  list  amende  it,  let  hym  set  to  his  penne."  * 

That  a  portion  of  the  following  passage  in  Bar- 

^  Privy  Purse  Expenses  of  the  Princess  Mary  (p.  120)  we  find 
under  June  1648,  "  Item  my  lady  gamyshe  seruaunt  for  bring- 
ing cherys    xiid" 

^^  Contra  SkeUonum^  Lib.  i."   Script,  lUust.  BHU  p.  723. 
ed.1559. 

'&l269.ed.l670. 
•loLii.  225. 


L 


SOME   ACCOUNT  OF 


leTelted  at  Skidbu,^ 


elafa  Fourth  Egloge  tnii 
peara  high  I  j  probaUe ; 

"ADDther  thing  jet  is  greallf  Di 
Of  TBscolde  poetes  yet  is  a  sbamfiiti  nble, 
Which  voyde  of  wiiedome  prEsamttth  tn  iodiM, 
Thoagh  Uiey  tuue  BCuilJy  the  cimniDg  of  a  eh 


T hoie  due  ihete  fbolet  solomnize  u 

Then  is  ha  declied  u  Pattt  laureate, 

Whea  stlnlciiig  Thsii  mods  him  her  gradaUe : 

When  Miues  tested,  she  did  her  aeasan  nols, 

And  aha  with  Bucchus  her  camo 

Such  rascolde  drames,  pniioaled  by  Tluui, 

Bnochu!,  LicoriB,  or  yet  by  Tettalis, 

Or  by  niohe  other  newa  forged  Mawe  nina, 

Thli;ke  in  thelc  minder  for  to  bans  nit  diolne ; 

They  laada  their  verses,  thoy  boi 

ThoQgh  all  their  cunning  be  scantly  worth  a  pet: 

If  they  baae  smelled  the  artes  triuiaJl, 

They  count  them  Poetes  hye  and  heroicall. 

Sncb  is  thoir  Ibly,  la  foolishly  they  dote, 

Thinking  that  none  can  their  playne  emmr  ii 

Yet  be  they  foallFhc,  aaoyde  of  honestie, 

Nothinj;  BeaaODed  with  spice  of  graaitle, 

Anoyds  of  pleaEnre,  auoyde  of  eloquenoa, 

With  many  wordes,  and  fruitlesae  of  sentvno 

Unapt  to  leome,  dlsdayning  to  be  taught, 

Theh  priaste  pleasure  hi  snaro  bath  them  go 

And  wont  yet  of  all,  they  corint  them  exoell 

Though  they  be  fmitlease,  nulie  and  improoi 

To  such  ambages  who  doth  their  minde  incline,  J 

Thay  count  all  other  as  priuate'  of  doctrine. 

And  that  the  fanltes  which  be  In  them  alotie, 

Alto  be  common  in  other  men  ocl 

1 1.  e.  snipe. 

s  See  NotM,  voL  iii,  B7.    If  this  line  allude,  to  Si 
praaerves  a  trait  of  his  personal  appearance. 
'  !.  a.  deprived,  deroid.  •  aig.  e,  T.  ed.  IBTO. 


SKELTON   AND   HIS    WRITINGS.  xlix 

In  the  Garlande  of  Laurell  we  are  told  by 
Skelton,  that  among  the  famous  writers  of  all 
ages  and  nations,  whom  he  beheld  in  his  vision,  was 

"  a  frere  of  Frannce  men  call  sir  Gagwyne, 

That  frownyd  on  me  ftill  angerly  and  pale;  '*  l 

and  in  the  catalogue  of  his  own  writings  which  is 
subsequently  given  in  the  same  poem,  he  mentions 
a  piece  which  he  had  composed  against  this  per- 
sonage, 

"  Th^  Rectde  ageinst  Gagugne  of  the  Frenshe  nacyoun."  ^ 

Robert  Gaguin  was  minister-general  of  the  Matu- 
rines,  and  enjoyed  great  reputation  for  abilities  and 
learning.*  He  wrote  various  works ;  the  most  im- 
portant of  which  is  his  Compendium  supra  Fran- 
corum  gesHs  from  the  time  of  Pharamond  to  the 
author's  age.  In  1490  he  was  sent  by  Charles 
the  Eighth  as  ambassador  to  England,  where  he 
probably  became  personally  acquainted  with  Skel- 
ton. 

That  Skelton  composed  certain  Latin  verses 
against  the  celebrated  grammarian  William  Lily, 
*e  are  informed  by  Bale,*  who  has  preserved  the 
initial  words,  viz. 

"  Urgeor  impnlsns  tibi,  Lilli,  retundere: " 

^VoLii.  186.  2  Vol.  ii.  222. 

'In  a  Tolame  of  various  pieces  by  Gaguin,  dated  1498,  is  a 
^tise  on  metre,  which  shews  no  mean  acquaintance  with 


^"/miectiuain  in  GuU.  lAUum,  Lib.  i.*'     8cry)t,  lUust.  Brit 
»C'  p.  662.  ed.  1669.    The  reader  must  not  suppose  from  the 
VOL.   I.  D 


I  SOME   ACCOUNT   OP 

and  that  Lily  repaid  our  poet  in  kind,  we  hav 
following  proff ; 

^  LUii  SendecasyUabi  in  SchelUmum  ejus  carmma  caiumnim 

"  Quid  me,  Scheltone,  fronte  sic  aperta 
Carpis,  vipereo  potens  veneno? 
Quid  versus  trutina  meos  iniqna 
Libras?  di cere  vera  num  licebit? 
Doctrince  tibi  dum  parare  famam 
£t  doctns  fieri  studes  poeta, 
Doctrinam  nee  habes,  nee  es  poeta.** 

It  would  seem  that  Skelton  occasionally  repei 
of  the  severity  of  his  compositions,  and  longed 
recall  them ;  for  in  the  Garlande  ofLaureU^  al 

description,  "  Lib.  i.,*'  that  the  invective  in  qaestion  ezfce 
ed  to  a  volume :  it  was,  1  presume,  no  more  than  8  o 
of  verses.  Wood  mentions  that  this  piece  was  "wril 
in  verse  and  very  carping.'*  AOi,  Ox,  i.  52.  ed.  Bliss: 
most  probably  he  was  acquainted  with  it  only  through  Bi 
He  also  informs  us  (i.  84)  that  Lily  wrote  a  tract  entit 

{Jdh.  SkeUonum. 
Rob.  WhittingUm!'  ^^^  «■  ^°Py  °^  ^^^^^  ^  ^ 
sought  in  vain. 

1  See  Weever's  Fun.  Monum.  p.  498.  ed.  1631 ;  Stowe*s  C 
lections,  MS.  Uarl  540.  fol.  57;  and  Fuller's  WoiUdeMy  (JW 
/ofife,)  p.  267.  ed.  1602.    "  And  this,"  says  Fuller,  "  I  will 
for  W.  Lilly,  (though  often  beaten  for  his  sake,)  endeavo 
to  translate  his  answer: 

"  With  face  so  bold.  Mid  teeth  so  sharp, 
Of  viper's  venome,  why  dost  carp  ? 
Why  are  my  verses  by  thee  weigh*d 
In  a  false  scale?  may  truth  be  said? 
Whilst  thou  to  get  the  more  esteem         * 
A  learned  Poet  fain  wouldst  seem, 
Skelton,  thou  art,  let  all  men  know  it, 
Neither  learned,  nor  a  Poet." 


SKELTON   AND   HIS    WRITINGS.  ll 

nwnjof  them  have  been  enumerated,  we  mete  with 
tlie  following  curious  passage ; 

''Item  JpoUo  that  whirUid  vp  his  chare^ 
Th&t  made  sum  to  snurre  and  snaf  in  the  wynde ; 
It  made  them  to  skip,  to  stampe,  and  to  stare, 
Whiche,  if  they  be  happy,  haue  cause  to  beware 
la  lyming  and  raylyng  with  hym  for  to  mell 
For  drede  that  he  leme  them  there  A,  B,  C,  to  spell. 

With  that  I  stode  vp,  halfe  sodenly  afrayd ; 

Snppleyng  to  Fame,  I  besought  her  grace. 
And  that  ii  toolde  please  htr^full  tenderly  Iprayd, 

Owt  of  her  bokis  ApoUo  to  rase. 

Nay,  sir,  she  sayd,  what  so  in  this  place 
Of  our  noble  conrte  is  ones  spoken  owte, 
b  must  nedes  after  rin  all  the  worlde  aboute. 

God  loote,  iKeis  toordes  made  me/uU  sad; 

And  when  that  I  sawe  it  wolde  no  better  be, 
But  that  my  peticyon  wolde  not  be  had, 

What  shulde  I  do  but  take  it  in  gre  ? 

For,  by  Juppiter  and  his  high  mageste, 
Ididtchat  I  cowde  to  scrape  out  the  scroVis, 
ApdOo  to  rase  out  of  her  ragriwn  roUisJ'^  ^ 

The  piece  which  commenced  with  the  words 
"Apollo  that  whirllid  vp  his  chare,"  and  which 
gave  such  high  displeasure  to  some  of  Skelton's 
contemporaries,  has  long  ago  perished, — ^in  spite 
of  Fame's  refusal  to  erase  it  from  her  books ! 

The  title-page  of  the  Garlande  of  LaureUy^  ed. 
1523,  sets  forth  that  it  was  "  studyously  dyusysed 
<rt  Shenjfhotton  Ca^teU,**  in  Yorkshire  ;  and  there 
Beems  no  reason  to  doubt  that  it  was  written  by 
Skelton  during  a  residence  at  that  mansion.    The 

1  VoL  ii.  235.  2  See  voL  ii.  170. 


BOUE    AOCODST 


dote  of  ita  composition  is  unknown  ;  but  i 
cerUunI;  pi'odui^J  al  an  actvanted  period  of  hii 
life;  *  and  itie  Counter  of  Surrey,  who  figures  in 
it  BO  conspicuously  na  his  patroness,  must  linve 
been  Elizubelh  Slnfford,  daugliter  of  Edward 
Duke  of  Buckingham,  second  wife  of  Thomas 
Howai-d  Eai-l  of  Surrey,  and  mother  of  ibftt  illua- 
trions  Surrey  "  whose  lame  for  aye  endures." 
Sheriff-Hution  Castle  was  tlien  in  the  posseBsioa 
of  her  £ill)er-in-lnw,  iLe  Duke  of  Norfolk,^  the 
victor  of  Flodden  Field ;  and  she  was  prcJwbly 
there  as  his  guest,  having  brought  Skelton  in  her 
train.  Of  this  poem,  unparalleled  for  its  egotiam, 
the  greater  part  is  allegorical ;  but  the  iccideDl 
from  which  it  derives  its  name, — the  weaving  of 
a  garland  for  the  author  by  a  parly  of  tadiea,  at 
the  desire  of  the  Countes,  aeema  to  have  had  some 
foundation  in  fact. 

From  a  passage  in  the  poem  just  mentioned,  we 
may  presume  that  Skellon  used  sometimes  to  re- 
side at  the  ancient  college  of  ihe  Bonhommes  »' 
Ashridge  ; 
"  Of  the  Banahoma  of  Aahrige  basyda  B, 

That  yoodly  place  to  Skelton  mooil  iynife, 
Wliero  tlia  saak  royall  ie,  Crystal  blode  eo  radc, 

WherTpon  ha  metre fyda  alter  bis  mynde) 

A  pleasQuntar  place  than  Ashrige  is,  Imrde  v 
fyiide,' '  &o.* 

I  S«a  Notes,  vol.  iil.  825. 

<■  It  was  granfsd  lo  him  by  the  klag  for  life. 

•  Vol.  ii.  386.    Ooncerning  this  college, BOa  Notes,  V 


SKELTON   AND   HIS   WRITINGS.  liii 

That  Skelton  once  enjoyed  the  patronage  of 
olsey,  at  whose  desire  he  occasionally  exercised 
3  pen,  and  from  whose  powerful  influence  he 
Kpected  preferment  in  the  church,  we  learn  from 
ae  following  passages  in  his  works : 

"  Honorificatissiino,  amplisssmo,  longeque  reverendissimo 
n  Ghristo  patri,  ac  dominOi  domino  Thomas,  &c.  tituli  sanctse 
CecQlae,  sacrosanctce  Bomanae  ecclesis  presbytero,  Cardinal! 
meritbsimo,  et  apostolicae  sedis  legato,  a  latereque  legato 
saperiUostri,  &c.  Skeltonis  laoreatus,  ora.  reg.,  humillimum 
dicit  obseqnium  cum  omni  debita  reverentia,  tanto  tamque 
inagnifico  digna  principe  sacerdotum,  totiusque  justitiae  cequa- 
bilissimo  moderatore,  necnon  prssentis  opusculi  fautore  ex- 
ceUentissimo,  &c.,  ad  cujus  auspicatissimam  contemplationem, 
sab  memorabili  prelo  glorioss  immortalitatis^praesens  pagella 
felicitatnr,  &c."  i 

"Ad  serenissimam  Majestatem  Regiam,  pariter  cum  Dominc 
Cardinali,  Legato  a  latere  honorificatissimo,  &c. 

Lautre  Enuoy. 

Perge,  liber,  celebrem  pronus  regem  venerare 
Henricum  octavum,  resonans  sua  praemia  laudis. 
Cardineum  dominum  pariter  venerando  salutes, 
Legatum  a  latere,  et  fiat  memor  ipse  precare 
Prebendae,  quam  promisit  raihi  credere  quondam, 
Meque  suum  referas  pignus  sperare  salutis 
Inter  spemque  metum. 


^  i  R^yccuAon  agaynst  certayne  yong  tcolert  abiured  of  kUe, 
^.  voL  i.  230.  In  Typograph,  Antiq.  ii.  639.  ed.  Dlbdin, 
*here  the  Replycacion  is  described  and  quoted  from  Heber's 

w>Py,  we  are  told  that  it  has  "  a  Latin  address  to  Thomas 

*bo  [nc]  he  [Skelton]  calls  an  excellent  patron,"  &c.  That 
tbe  editor  should  have  read  the  address  without  discovering 
**t  the  said  Thomas  was  Cardinal  Wolsey,  is  truly  marvel- 
ins. 


/' 


liv  SOME   ACCOUNT   OF 

Twene  hope  and  drede 
My  lyfe  I  lede, 
But  of  my  spede 

Sm^ill  sekemes; 
Howe  be  it  I  rede 
Both  worde  and  dede 
Should  be  agi^ede 

In  noblenes : 
Or  els,  &c."  1 

*•  To  my  Lorde  Cardynals  right  noble  grace,  &a 

Lenuoy, 

Go,  lytell  quayre,  apace. 

In  moost  humble  wyse, 
Before  his  noble  grace, 

That  caused  you  to  deuise 

This  lytel  enterprise ; 
And  hym  moost  lowly  pray. 

In  his  mynde  to  comprise 
Those  wordes  his  grace  dyd  saye 
Of  an  ammas  gray. 
lefoy  eniermeni  en  sa  bone  grace.^^  2 

We  also  find  that  Skelton  "  gaue  to  my  lord  C 
dynall "  The  Boke  of  Three  Fooles,^ 

What  were  the  circumstances  which  afterwa 
alienated  the  poet  from  his  powerful  patron,  c 
not  now  be  discovered  :  we  only  know  that  SI 
ton  assailed  the  full-blown  pride  of  Wolsey  \ 
a  boldness  which  is  astonishing,  and  with  a  fiei 


1  Garlande  of  LaureU^  vol.  ii.  241. 

2  See  vol.  ii.  339.  where  this  Lenttoy  (which  will  be 
particularly  noticed  presently)  is  appended  to  the  poem 
the  douiy  Duke  of  Albany,  &c. 

8  Vol.  i.  221. 


^^^^1     EKELTON  AND    HIS    WUtTlKGa. 

f^^WnioveclJve  which  baa  aeldom  been  surpusseilr 
I  Ferbps  it  would  have  been  beiler  fur  tlie  poei'« 
amaty,  if  the  paasagea  jiiat  quoled  had  never 
KKiied  us ;  but  nothing  uniavourable  lu  bia  cliar- 
icier  ought  10  be  hastily  inferred  fi'om  the  alter- 
tlkiD  in  liis  feelings  towarda  Wolaey  while  Ihc 
ai)^  of  their  quaiTel  is  buried  in  ub^curily.  Tbe 
proTOMtion  (nust  have  been  extraordinary,  whicb 
[rflDfifomied  the  humble  client  of  the  Cardinal  into 
liii  "dearest  foe." 

We  are  lolti  by  Francis  Thynne,  that  Wolsey 
Ms  liis  fatUer's  "  olde  enymye,  for  mauye  enuses, 
till  DMKtIy  for  that  my  fallier  had  furthered  Skel- 
kw  (0  poblishe  biA  CoUin  CSoufeagainstetbeCar- 
&11II,  the  moste  parte  of  whiuhe  Booke  waa  com- 
pkl  in  my  lather's  bowse  at  Erithe  in  Kente.'' ' 
Bui  iliough  Colyn  Clouts  contains  passages  which 
■Uiifeslly  point  at  Wolsey,  it  cannot  be  termed  a 
piwe  "  againite  the  Cardinall:  "  and  I  linve  no 
drnbt  tbat  the  poem  whieb  Thynne  had  in  view, 
•mlvihicb  Ly  mist^ko  ho  baa  mentioned  under  it 
iiMg  uile,  was  our  author's  Why  come  ye  nut  (u 
ftttrte.  Ill  tolya  Ctoute  Skellou  ventured  to 
•im  only  n  lew   eliafts   at  WoUey  :  in  W/it/   covie 


I,  &o.  p.  1 


I^T/infftu  iifimprEEtSwit  ofChauctrt  W<. 

InU'i  iBioL  of  Uoaer  and  Chauctr. 
1  taj  uotica  liere,  tliat  aiDoii|;  tba  Ifurldi 
Ht  IM,  U»)  wn  two  poeius  on  (lie  CnrdiiiHl 
(Uilogaa  of  liini  oolloaiion  WnnJey  lui^  ilescr 
iiii*illb«b:"   but  tliey  afo  flviduiitlj-  uot  by  1 


M  SOME   ACCOUNT  OF 


genal  lo    Courte,  and  in  S^eie,  Parrot,  lie  lot  J 
loose  agiunst  liim  the  full  asperity  of  repi'Oach. 

The  bull  appoinling  WoUej  and  Ciunpe^oio 
be  legates  a  latere  jointly,  is  dated  July  27th,  1518, 
that  appoioting  Wolsey  to  be  sole  Legale  a  lalert 
lOlh  June,  1519  ;  *  and  from  the  first  two  passa- 
ges which  I  have  ciled  above  (p.  liii.)  we  aa- 
ceriain  tlie  fact,  that  Wolsey  continued  to  be  tlje 
patroD  of  SkeltoD  for  at  least  some  time  afler  he 
had  been  invested  with  the  dignity  of  papal  legale. 
If  the  third  pas^ge  ciled  above  (p.  liv.)  "  Glolytell 
quayre,  apace,"  &c,  really  belong  to  the  poem 
How  the  doutj/  Diike  of  Albany,  &.c  to  which  it 
is  appended  in  Marehe'a  ed.  of  Skelion's  Woria, 
1568,  our  author  must  have  been  soliciting  Wt^- 
sey  for  preferment  as  lute  as  November  1523:  but 
his  luost  direct  satire  on  the  Cardinal,  W/iff  com 
ye  not  to  Courte,  was  evidently  composed  anterior 
to  that  period ;  and  his  Speke,  Parrot  (which 
would  require  the  scolia  of  a  Tzetzes  to  render  it 
intelligihle)  contains  seeming  allusions  to  eveola 
of  a  still  earlier  date.     The  probftbility  (or  ralber 


•  Wolaey  bad  previouily  been  named  a  Cnrdinnl  in  IBlfc-" 
Fidiei  {Life  ijfWolKs,  p.  SB.  ed.  1729)  fnyHbaC  be  beoBJH* 
LegKt«  a  Mere  in  lelfi :  bat  sec  Slate  P>ipen  (1930, }  1.  B  (nOtS-T 
Lingard'B  But  of  Engl.  vl.  57.  ed.  8vo,  &o.— Roping  to  »«#" 
taiu  tlie  exact  date  of  tlis  iiephjcncion,  &c.  (whiah  aonHiSfi^ 
the  fi«t  of  tho  pagsages  now  unilar  couaideratioa,)  I  h«** 
oougQltad  varioos  books  fbr  eonie  mention  of  tbe  "yauotf 


SKELTON  AND   HIS   WRITINGS.  Ivil 

eertainty)  is,  that  the  L'Envoy,  "Go,  lytell 
qmjre"  &c.  has  no  connexion  with  the  poem  on 
the  Duke  of  Albany :  in  Marshe*s  volume  the  ' 
various  pieces  are  thrown  together  without  any 
attempt  at  arrangement ;  and  it  ought  to  be  par- 
ticularly noticed  that  between  the  poem  against 
Albany  and  the  L'Envoy  in  question,  another 
LEfiwoy  is  interposed}'  Wolsey  might  have  for- 
given the  allusions  made  to  him  in  Coli/n  CloiUe  ; 
but  it  would  be  absurd  to  imagine  that,  in  1523, 
he  continued  to  patronize  the  man  who  had  writ- 
ten Why  come  ye  ncU  to  Courte, 

The  following  anecdote  is  subjoined  from  Hall : 
"And  in  this  season  [15  Henry  viii.]  the  Cardi- 
nall  by  his  power  legantine  dissolued  the  Conuo- 
cacion  at  Paules,  called  by  the  Archebishop  of 
CantorburryJI  Warham,]  and  called  hym  and  all  the 
dergie  to  his  conuocacion  to  Westminster,  which 
was  neur  seen  before  in  Englande,  wherof  master 
Skelton,  a  mery  Poet,  wrote, 

Gentle  Paule,  laie  doane  thy  gweard,^ 

For  Peter  pf  Westminster  hath  shauen  thy  beard."  « 

^  We  cannot  settle  this  pomt  by  a  comparison  of  old  edi- 
^,  the  poem  against  Albany  and  the  two  L' Envoys  which 
fellow  it  being  extant  only  in  the  ed.  of  Marshe. — It  may  be 
^nbfced,  too,  if  the  L'Envoy  which  I  have  cited  at  p.  liiL 
*f»g^  Uber^"  &c.  belongs  to  the  Garlande  of  Lattrelt^  to 
vhieh  it  is  affixed  in  Marshe's  edition  as.  a  iecond  L'Envoy: 
in  Faukes's  edition  of  that  poem,  which  I  couceive  to  be  the 
(nt  that  was  printed,  it  is  not  found:  the  Gott.  MS.  of  the 
ftWonde  is  unfortunately  imperfect  at  the  end. 

*L  e.  Fword.  *  Chron.  (Hen.  viii.)  fol.  ex.  ed.  1648. 


iviii 


eOUE  ACGOUHT  < 


From  the  veDgeaoce  of  ihe  Card 
sent  out  oificers  to  apprehend  him,  Skel 
■aoutuarj  at  Westminster,  where  he  w; 
received  and  protected  hj  tlie  abbot  I* 


1  "  01)  literos  qnasdnm  in  CardlDiilem  Vuolslom 
■d  VnestiDOuBStarieiiEe  tandem  Biylum  confligei 
Mroandai  coactm  fnit:  ubl  nibiloEauLaA  tab  abi 
faacffom  buenil."  BbIo,  Scr^.  lUail.  Sril.  p.  fl&l. 
"Vbi  licet  AbljaCii  Islepi  fauoro  protogerttur,  ta 
Ibi,  qn]U]tumni$  antes  incnnde  Bctam,  tristi  exita 
Pita,  Dt  lOutL  Angl  Scnpl.  p.  701.  ed.  Ifll9.— "  Bi 
Wolfej  (impar  conip-eitai,  betvlxC  a  poor  Poet  kdi 
R  Prelate)  being  iDTfligl^ed  sgninal  by  bii  pen,  u 
wilh  too  macb  trath,  so  psreecnicd  Um,  that  ha 
to  laks  BKnotuary  it  WesImiaBter,  where  Abbot 
bin  with  much  leepeet,"  &c.  Fuller's  WoiHiia 
p.  26T-ed.  160a,— "He  [Skultou]  wna  bo  oloaely  ] 
his  [Wobey'ii]  offioei^,  (hat  he  wa»  fbrced  to  tkkc 
at  Westminster,  where  be  waa  kindly  aiitart|^e 
biipp  thBabl>at,aodcontiDned  there  to  (lis  time  of 
Wood-*  AA.  Oxoa.  I.  Bl.  ed.  Bliss,  wbu  add*  in  a  i 
original  MS.  register  of  tliis  sftnctnary,  whioh 
been  a  gteot  ourioeity,  was  in  Sir  Henry  SpelmtU 
and  vas  purcliosed  at  tbe  Bala  of  that  aoUeotiaa 
for  Lord  Wej-mouth.  MS.  note  in  Waolej'i  copy 
wm'c  StloHcai  lAbrary  in  the  Bodleian." 

>  John  blip  WHS  sleeted  abbot  in  1500,  and  dii 
see  Wldmora'a  Siit.  of  WeaL  Abbe^,  llu,  132.  ". 
ton  ....  is  said  by  the  late  loanied  Bishop  of  Do 
son  (ISM.  Ub.  chap.  3.)  to  bare  first  colleoEad  III 
of  our  Kinga,  Priiioes,  and  Nobles,  tliat  lie  butted, 
bey  Church  of  Westminstsr:  but  1  apprehend  thi 
otherwiee  true,  ihoji  that,  vhon  ho,  to  avoid  til 
Cardinal  Woltey,  hnd  taken  sun.'tnary  at  Wert 
recommend  himself  lo  blip,  the  Abbot  iit  that  tlni 
■oms  copiei  of  vertea  lo  (lie  memories  of  Khig 


SKELTos  AND  ma  wBiTiNGS.  lis 

nhom  he  had  been  long  acquainted.  In  tLis  asy- 
lum he  apiieara  to  have  remained,  (ill  bis  dealli, 
irhicb  Lappened  June  21st,  1529.  What  he  ii 
leporUid  10  have  declared  on  liia  dealh-bed  con- 
cemiiig  the  n-oman  whom  he  had  secretly  married, 
mi  bj  whom  he  left  several  children,  has  been 
Urnij  mentioned  :  *  he  is  suid  also  to  have  Ut* 
lered  at  the  same  time  a  prophecy  concerning  the 
ikiwnlall  of  Wohey.*  He  was  buried  iu  the  than- 
nlofihe  neighhoui'iiig  church  of  St.  Margaret's; 


Etrulh  and  Lis  Queen,  und  his  mother  tlie  CouatesB  of  Bich- 
Uod,  and  perhapi  same  otlior  ponoaa  buried  in  tUs  church." 
Mnmltf  IViTtert,  &0.  p,  6,  nppended  to  Widmore'B  £>i^>r} 
'mSutimt^At/nauL  of  WeH.  AbUs.—Widraare  h  ia\t- 
■klTDeilher  inUaralie'Bed.  of  Skeltou'a  (Tarlu,  ISGS,  ddi 
bblJtiffu,  Jtcgiiue,  HubiltM,  gtc.,  1608,  ie  tbara  iiny  mpy  of 
iwitljoiir  authnr  oalhe  ftueea  n/iftBrstts  SelioK*;  ecs 
IinLilSS,  199,  ^17,  the  three  piecBs  which  I  huve  given 
tng  ihMe  aouroes-  two  of  them  at  laai^t  were  ooiaposed 
Wtn  Ibe  poet  hail  sought  refuge  ut  Weetmb&ter,  Tor  one 
IliUlcn  U  blip's  request}  Ls  duted  1&12,  and  another,  1010: 
OiAlrd  ba»  ao  data. 

'Swp.  xxxTx. 

'"Dimorte  Cardinnlis  nnticinium  edidit;  &  eius  uorilo- 
<n  aumtus  deolarauit."  Bale,  Script-  lUinl.  Bril.  p.  652. 
lilSH^J'The  word  Talit  hoing  Peer  or  Prophet,  minds 
ntilllbii  ilyiog  Sbeltons  prediction,  forelelUug  the  ruine  of 
Oudiliil  WoliCf.  Sorely,  one  uaskllled  in  proiiliecie°,  if 
Ml  WHil  In  Solomcins  Proverba,  might  liavBprcig<iusii<Mil«d 
11  much,  that  Priile  j/atlh  before  a  fall"  Fuller's  WbrOaa, 
p.  8BJ.  ed.  IBBS!.— Did  not  Uiia  anecdote  eriginnlB 
»  of  CH^  Cluuitl  Sue  the  frn^meat  from 
vol.  ii.  HI,  uoie. 


;   AOCOCNT   Of 

ter,  this  inscription  wbb' 

vatci  Picriui,  hie  rifui  «{.> 

CoDceraing  the  persooal  appearRuce  of  Skelton 
we  are  left  in  ignorance ; '  for  the  portrfiita  which 
ai-o  prefixed  to  the  old  editions  of  several  of  bia 
poema  must  certainly  not  be  received  aa  authentic 
representations  of  the  author.' 

1 «  Vnestmoniuteril  tundein,  cnptluitatlssniB  tempore,  mOF- 
tans  eat;  &  in  D.  Margaritn  EacsUa  sepultus,  oum  lioo  fi- 
BCriptioae  alubiutrlca:  Johajmsa  Ekslloiiiu,  uatas  PiBrina,  bio 
Bitoa  BSC  Aniiniun  eg^t  31  die  Junl),  umo  Dni  1G2S,  relictii 
UbetiB."  Bala,  Bciipt.  J&at.  BrU.  p.  053.  ed.  Ifiee.  Sea 
bIbo  PiB  {De  MisL  AngL  Scr^.  p.  703.  e>l.  1610)  and  Fuller 
(  WmrOdtt,  NorfoOi,  p.  9&T.  ed.  1S(J2,)  wbo  givG  Joaiaust  Scd- 
u  Pietiut  hie  tiftu  «■(  na  tbe  whole  of  Skeltoa'a  epi- 
taph. Weaver,  however  (/"«n.  Monam.  p.  4»7.  ed.  IBSl,) 
I  efil,  21  Junii  1G2S  "  apartion  of  it,  and  ink 
DUrgioal  QOla  snbsllnileB  "  i^loit"  for  "  egil,"  us  Mcorrt^iaS 
thsLatinilyl!  So  too  Wood  lAlh.  0-ron.  i.  63.  od,  BUm.) 
wbopUcoa  "  ^ioit "  between  hraoketB  iifter"e^7,"  aadatBtM 
(whatUie  otharnriters  do  oat  mentiou)  that  the  inaoriptias 
waa  put  on  tlie  lomb  "soon  after"  SkelloD's  death. 

In  the  Church-  Wardena  ArcompU  of  Si.  Stargareet,  Wol-' 
oiHufer  (Nichola'B  JliasL  of  Maimers  and  ExpuKO,  &o.  410. 
p.  9,)  ve  find  thia  entry; 

£.1.  d. 

"1629.  Itetu,  of  Mr.  Skeltonfor  viii  tapcra  .    .   0  a  S" 

The  iiutitutiou  of  the  person  vrho  anvcoedid  Skelton  U 
rector  of  Diss  it  dated  17tli  Jnly:  aw  firat  ooto  on  tlie  presani 
Uemoir. 

i  See  note,  p.  ilriiL 

■eg.  tbe  portrait  on  the  title-page  of  Dyuen  BaltU^  oM 
Dfiict  totact/oui  (cv-idently  Erom  tiie  pre^  of  Pyiison;  e«e  Ap- 
pendix I!.  In  thia  Memoir)  is  given  aa  a  porti-nit  of  "  Doctor 


SKELTON  AND    HIS   WRITINGS.  1x1 

/  The  chief  satirical  productions  of  Skelton  (and 
the  bent  of  his  genius  was  decidedly  towards  sa-  / 
tire)  are  The  Bowge  of  Gourte,  Colyn  Gloutej  and 
Why  come  ye  not  to  Courte, — In  the  first  of  these, 
an  allegorical  poem  of  considerable  invention,  he 
introduces  a  series  of  characters  delineated  with  a 
boldness  and  discrimination  which  no  preceding 
poet  bad  displayed  since  the  days  of  Chaucer,  and 
whicb  none  of  his  contemporaries  (with  the  sole 
eiception  of  the  brilliant  Dunbar)  were  able  to 
attain :  the  merit  of  those  personifications  has  been 
allowed  even  by  Warton,  whose  ample  critique 
on  Skelton  deals  but  little  in  praise ;  ^  and  I  am 
somewhat  surprised  that  Mr.  D'lsraeli,  who  has 
lately  come  forward  as  the  warm  eulogist  of  our 
author,*  should  have  passed  over  The  Bowge  of 
QowrU  without  the  slightest  notice. — Golyn  GlovJbe 


lioofde"  in  the  B6k%  ofKnouoUdge  (see  reprint,  sig.  I);  and 
(m  Mr.  F.  B.  Atkinson  of  Manchester  obligingly  informed 
iDe  by  letter  some  years  ago)  the  strange  fantastic  figure  on 
the  reverse  of  the  title-page  of  Faukes's  ed.  of  the  Garlande 
ofLa»ell,  1623  (poorly  imitated  in  The  Brit.  BlbUogr.  iv.  389) 
«  a  copy  of  an  early  French  print. 

^  **  Warton  has  undervalued  him  [Skelton];  which  is  the 
niore  remarkable,  because  Warton  was  a  generous  as  well  as 
>  competent  critic.  He  seems  to  have  been  disgusted  with 
iNiffooneries,  which,  like  those  of  Kabelais,  were  thrown  out 
tt  a  tub  for  the  whale;  for  unless  Skelton  had  written  thus 
fcr  &e  coarsest  palates,  he  could  not  have  poured  forth  his 
ftitter  and  undaunted  satire  in  such  perilous  times.* '  Southey, 
Bdtd  Works  o/BriL  Poeis,  (1881,)  p.  61. 
*  Jmem,  of  LiL  i\.  QQ, 


Ixii  SOME    ACCOUNT  OK 

is  a  jiienrrnl  sntire  on  Ibe  comiptions  of  tbe  CSl 
the  friari  and  (he  bisbops  being  attnrked  alik 
spariDglj  I  nor,  when  Skelton  himself  pronoi 
of  this  piece  ihat  "  though  his  ryme  be  ragg 
hath  in  it  some  pylh,"  '  did  he  orcrrate  its  v 
and  ita  weighty  truth:  Coign  Cloute  nolan^yi 
that fearlessnes a  which  on  all  occasions  distini 
ed  liim,  but  evinces  a  snperioritj  to  ihe  prejt 
of  hia  age,  in  assailing  abuses,  which,  if  manif 
his  more  enlightened  contemporaries,  few  at 
had  as  yet  presumed  to  censure. — In  Why 
ye  not  to  Courte  the  satire  is  entirely  pen 
and  aimed  at  the  all-powerful  minister  to  * 
the  author  had  once  humbly  sued  for  prefer 
While  throughout  this  remarkable  poem,  SI 
either  overlooks  or  denies  the  better  qualilit 
commanding  (alenta,  and  the  great  attaiiiniei 
Wolsey,  and  even  ungenerously  taunts  him 
tbe  meanness  of  bis  origin ;  he  faib  not  to  I 
his  character  and  conduct  in  those  partii 
against  which  a  satirist  might  justly  de< 
and  with  the  certainty  that  invecli' 
would  find  an  echo  among  the  people.  Th( 
pomp  and  luxury  of  Ibe  Cardinal,  his  ini 
ambition,  his  insolent  bearing  at  tbe  council- 
liis  in  accessibility  to  suitors,  &c.  &C.  are  dv 
with  an  intensity  of  scornful  bitterness,  and 
tionally   give    rise   to  vivid   descriptions 


SKELTON   AND    HIS    WRITINGS.  Ixiil 

lastorj  assures  us  are  but  little  exaggerated. 
Some  readers  may  perhaps  object,  that  in  this 
poem  the  satire  of  Skelton  too  much  resembles 
the  "  oyster-knife  that  hacks  and  hews,"  to  which 
that  of  Pope  was  so  unfairly  likened  ^)  ;  but  all 
mnst  confess  that  he  wields  his  weapon  with  pro- 
digious force  and  skill ;  and  we  know  that  Wolsejr 
writhed  under  the  wounds  which  it  inflicted. 

When  Catullus  bewailed  the  death  of  Lesbians 
bird,  he  confined  himself  to  eighteen  lines  and 
truly  golden  lines ;  but  Skelton,  while  lament- 
ing for  the  sparrow  that  was  "  slayn  at  Carowe," 
has  engrailed  on  the  subject  so  many  far-sought 
and  whimsical  embellishments,  that  his  epicede  is 
really  what  the  old  editions  term  it, — "  a  boke," 
Phylhfp  Sparowe  exhibits  such  fertility  and  deli- 
cacy of  fancy,  such  graceful  sportiveness,  and  such 
ease  of  expression,  that  it  might  well  be  charac* 
terized  by  Coleridge  as  '*  an  exquisite  and  original 
poem."* 

In  The  Tunning  ofMynour  Rummyng,  which 
would  seem  to  have  been  one  of  Skelton's  most 
popular  performances,  we  have  a  specimen  of  his 

''^Satire  should,  like  a  polish' d  razor,  keen, 

Wound  with  a  touch  that's  scarcely  felt  or  seen: 
ThvM  it  an  oygier-kmfe  thai  hacks  and  hews,^^  &c. 

Verses  addressed  to  the  imUator  of  the  I^rst  Satire 
of  the  Second  Bock  cf  Horace  (the  joint  composi- 
tion of  Lord  Hervey  and  Lady  M.  W.  Montagu.) 
•JSdMiMif,  u.  163. 


UlT  SOME   dCCOtST   OF 

talent  for  tlie  luw  burlesque ; — a  de^cripUi 
real  ale-wife,  auil  of  the  various  gossips  whokee] 
thronging  to  lier  for  liquor,  aa  if  uader  the  influ 
enee  of  a  spdi.  If  few  compositions  of  the  kin 
have  more  coarseness  or  exlrnvBgance,  there  ar 
few  which  have  greater  animation  or  a  riclie 
buinour. 

The  Garlaade  ofLaweU.  one  of  Skeltan's  long 
est  and  mo^t  elaborate  pieces,  cannot  also  U 
reckoned  among  liis  besL  It  contains,  bowevet 
several  pas^ges  of  no  mean  beuuiy,  which  shei 
that  he  possessed  powers  ibr  the  higher  kind  of 
poetiy,  if  he  had  chosen  lo  exercise  them ;  aD( 
is  interspersed  with  some  lyrical  addresses  to  tin 
ladies  who  weave  his  chaplet,  which  are  Terj 
happily  versified.  In  one  respect  the  Garliait 
o/'Zaurefl  stands  without  a  parallel:  the  hisior] 

Uieralure  aSbrds  no  second  example  of  a  poei 
'having  deliberalely  written  sixteen  hundred  iin« 

honour  of  himself. 

Skelton  is  to  be  regarded  as  one  of  the  ftthen 
of  the  English  drama.  His  Enleditde  of  Vtrftt 
and  bis  Comedy  calli/d  Achademios  ^  have  perisb 
ed:  so  perhaps  has  his  ifigramansir ;^  but  hi 

'  "  Q/"  Vcria  also  Oil  soueraj-ne  enWrlurfe." 

Goriondao/'Zourea.To!.   U.  Xtt 

"  "  ffii  mmmerfj,  AeluuUmiot  csUyd  by  nmnB."  li.  p.  aa], 

■  Sra  Appendix  II.  Co  this  Memoir.— Mr.  CaiUec  Lb  iniitab 

in  BDppoi'Iiig  Skeltan'a  "pniaunda  ttaat-ners  played  in lojrvl 

Garde  ■'  lo  hnve  bfien  draniatio  compos itions:  see  Notei,  Tl 

Hi.  344. 


SKELTON   AND   HIS    WRITINGS.  IxV 

Magmifycence  is  still  extant.  To  those  who  carry 
their  acquaintance  with  our  early  play-wrights  no 
ferther  back  than  the  period  of  Peele,  Greene,  and 
Marlowe,  this  "  goodly  interlude  "  by  Skelton  will 
doubtless  appear  heavy  and  inartificial :  its  supe- 
riority, however,  to  the  similar  efforts  of  his  con- 
temporaries, is,  I  apprehend,  unquestionable.* 

If  our  author  did  not  invent  the  metre  which 
he  uses  in  the  greater  portion  of  his  writings,  and 
which  is  now  known  by  the  name  Skeltomcal, 
he  was  certainly  the  first  who  adopted  it  in  poems 
of  any  length;  and  he  employed  it  with  a  skill, 
which,  after  he  had  rendered  it  popular,  was  be- 
yond the  reach  of  his  numerous  imitators.^  "  The 
Skeltonical  short  verse,"  observes  Mr.  D'Israeli, 
speaking  of  Skelton's  own  productions, "  contract- 
ed mto  five  or  six,  and  even  four  syllables,  is  wild 
tod  airy.  In  the  quick  returning  rhymes,  the 
playfulness  of  the  diction,  and  the  pungency  of 
new  words,  usually  ludicrous,  often  expressive, 
and  sometimes  felicitous,  there  is  a  stirring  spirit 
which  will  be  best  felt  in  an  audible  reading.  The 
velocity  of  his  verse  has  a  carol  of  its  own.    The 


^  A  writer,  of  whose  stupendous  ignorance  a  specimen  has 
h«tti  already  cited  (p.  xl,  note  4,)  informs  us  ttiat  Magnyftf- 
***«  "  is  one  of  the  dullest  plays  in  our  language.*'    EminerU 

^ndSdenL  Men  of  Great  Britain^  &c.  (Lardner's  Ctfchp.) 
ITXL 

'  See  Appendix  m.  to  this  Memoir,  and  Poems  aUributed  to 
Sktltm,  YoL  ii.  845. 

VOL.   I.  E 


ixr:  sour  xccoirsr  or 

'th-rr.*?  r*r.z  :n  :li»*  ear.  ar.d  die  thonsfats  are  flan 
sw>y.*  like  c*:-ra^oan»jcs.~  * 

.Skrlron  hi?  c«rirn  t?«q!2entlT  termed  a  Macaro 
r.:^  poet,  bat  i:  =iaj  be  d«3abced  if  with  strict  pre 
prietj;  for  the  pos^akre*  in  which  he  introduce 
-tnavih*^  of  Latin  and  French  are  thiniT  scatters 
r:.^r;^2h  Kh  works.  *"  This  anomaloas  and  motlej 
m'yi'^  of  Tersification."  sajs  Warton.  "  is  I  belieT( 
*riTtZi^j*ed  to  be  pecaliar  to  oar  author.  I  am  not 
Jyjwever.  qnite  certain  that  it  originated  with  Skel- 
triTi."  *  He  ought  to  have  been  **  quite  certain ' 
t^iat  it  did  not.* 


*  AjMn.  0/  LiL  ii.  69. 

•  **  In  hevyn  biyse  ye  xalle  wyn  to  be 

AmoT.^e  the  b!y«5yd  company 
Tfi'ir  SA  ifl  alle  raerth  joye  and  glee 
frUer  agmina  angdoi'um 

In  blyse  to  abyde/' 
C/fnfj,inj  yhjgUritti—MS.  CotL  Vtxp.  D.  viiL  fol.  112. 

A  reprir.t  of  Mar=he's  ed.  of  Skelton*s  Workt*  having  aj 
jAHffA  in  1736,  Pope  took  occasion,  during  the  next  year,  i 
mention  them  in  the  folIo\ring  ternis,^-casting  ablightonot: 
\>^ff',VA  r'?j;titation,  from  which  it  has  hardly  yet  recovered; 

"  Ciinucer's  worst  ribaldry  is  learned  by  rote, 
And  htfistbj  tike.Wm  Heads  of  Houses  quote  *' — 

Note — "  Skelton,  Poet  Laureat  to  Hen.  8.  a  Volume  of  whoe 
Ver«eH  lum  been  lately  reprinted,  consisting  almost  wholl, 
of  Uibaldry,  Obscenity,  and  Billingsgate  Language.'*  Th 
First  Kj/isth  of  Oie  Secon/J  Book  of  Horace  imkcUed,  1737.  Bt 
Pope  waa  unjust  to  Skelton;  for,  though  expressions  ofd( 
cided  groflHness  occur  in  his  writings,  they  are  con^raikt 


SKELTON   ANB   HIS    WRITINGS.  Ixvii 

/w;  and  daring  his  own  time,  so  far  were  such  expressions 
from  being  regarded  as  offensive  to  decency,  that  in  all 
I»obability  his  royal  pupil  would  not  have  scrupled  to  em 
ploy  them  in  the  presence  of  Anne  Bulleyn  and  her  maids  of 
boDOor. 


ADDITIONAL  NOTES. 

P.  xiivii.  The  following  verses  are  transcribed  from  a 
MS.  (in  the  collection  of  the  late  Mr.  B.  H.  Bright,)  consist* 
kg(f  %mm,  &c.,by  Plcus  Mlrandula:  — 

"  Pici  MtrandulcB  Carmen  Extemporale, 
Quid  tibi  facundum  nostra  in  prseconia  fontem 
Solvere  coUibuit, 

Jltema  vates,  Skelton,  dignissime  lauro, 
Castalidumque  decus? 

Kos  neque  Fieri  dum  celebramus  antra  sororum, 
Fonte  nee  Aonio 

Ebibimus  vatum  ditantes  ora  liquores. 
At  tibi  Apollo  chelym  \gic\ 
Auratam  dedit,  et  vooalia  plectra  sorores; 
Inque  tuis  labiis 

Dulcior  Hyblaeo  residet  suadela  liqnore: 
Se  tibi  Calliope 

Infudit  totam :  tu  carmine  vincis  olorem ; 
Gedit  et  ipse  tibi 

Ultro  porrecta  cithara  Rhodopeius  Orpheus: 
Tu  modulante  lyra 

Et  mulcere  feras  et  duras  ducere  quercus, 
Tu  potes  et  rapidos 

Flexanimis  ddibus  fluviorum  sistere  oursus; 
Flectere  saxa  potes. 

GrsBcia  Mseonio  quantum  debebat  Homero, 
Mantua  Virgillo, 

Tantum  Skelton!  jam  se  debere  &tetur 
Terra  Britanna  suo: 

Primus  in  banc  Latio  deduxit  ab  orbe  Camenas ; 
Primus  hie  edocuit 


Ixviil  SOME   ACCOUNT    OF 

Exculte  pureque  loqui:  te  principe,  SkeltoD, 
Anglia  nil  metuat 

Vel  cum  Romanis  versa  certare  poetis. 
Vive  valeque  diul " 

P.  xlv.  To  my  notices  of  Garnesche  add  the  followii 
(collected  by  Mr.  D.  E.  Davy)  from  Gent.  Mag.  for  Se 
1844,  p.  229:  — 

"  Sir  Christopher  Garneys,  knt.,  whom  I  suppose  to  be  1 
person  who  was  the  object  of  Skelton's  satire,  was  the  secc 
son  of  J^dmuud  Garneys,  esq.  of  Beccles,  who  was  the  secc 
»on  of  Peter  Garneys,  esq.  of  Beccles,  whose  eldest  & 
Thomas,  was  of  Kenton.  He,  *  Sir  Christopher,'  was  jani 
of  Caleys,  and  often  employed  in  the  wars  temp.  H.  viii.  . 

In  a  window  of  the  chapel  in  the  north  aisle  of  St.  Pete 
Mancroft  Church,  Norfolk,  was  the  following  inscription :  *. 
anda  .  a  .  .  Dei,  pro  animabus  Thome  Elys  tercia  vice  huj 
civitatis  Norwici  Majoriset  Margarete  consortis  sue.  —  Ora 
dumque  est  pro  animabus  Edmundi  Garnysh  armigeri, 
Matilde  ejus  consortis,  filie  predictorum  Thome  Elis  et  Mi 
gsirote,  ac  pro  longevo  statu  Christopheri  Garnysh  milit 
dicti  screiiissimi  Principis  ville  sue  Cahsie  Janitoris.'  S 
Hlomf.  Norf.  vol.  iv.  p.  199.    [vol.  ii.  628.  ed.  fol.j 

*  A  description  of  the  Standards  borne  in  the  field  by  Pee 
and  Kniglits  in  the  reign  of  Hen.  Eighth,  from  a  MS.  in  t 
College  of  Arms  marked  I.  2.  Compiled  between  the  yet 
IfilO  and  1525.'—  Syr  Christoffer  Garnys.  *  A  on  a  wrea 
Argent  &  Gules,  an  arm  erased  below  the  elbow,  and  ere 
pr<)i)er,  holding  a  falchion  Argent,  pomel  and  hilt  Or,  * 
i)!ado  imbrued  in  3  places  Gules.  (Imperfect.)  —  Arn 
Argent  a  chevron  Azure  between  3  escallops  Sable.'  E 
cerpta  Historica,  p.  317. 

*  Stanilards,  temp.  H.  viii.  Harl.  MS.  4632.  Syr  Xr'o 
Oarneyshe.  Blue.  The  device,  on  a  wreath  Argent  fl 
(lule.o,  an  arm  erased,  grasping  a  scymitar,  Proper.  —  Mo' 
*'  Oublere  ne  dois."  »     Collect.  Topog.  vol.  iii.  p.  64. 

*  The  names  of  the  Inglishmen  which  were  sent  in  ^ 
bftssado  to  the  French  King,  before  the  Qwenes  Landing} ' 
odor  Gentilmen  in  their  Compaigne.' — *  Su*  Christopher  ^ 
neys'  ', inter  al.).—  Leland's  Collect,  vol.  ii.  p.  704. 


8KELT0N   AND   HIS    WRITINGS. 


Jxix 


In  the  AthencBum  for  July  18, 1840,  p.  572.  there  is  a  long 
tetter,  dated  *  at  Morpeth,  the  xxviij  day  of  Decembre,*  and 
Bigned '  C.  Gameys,'  whom  the  editor  supposes  to  have  been 
ODe  of  the  medical  attendants  sent  by  the  King,  upon  the 
illness  of  Queen  Margaret:  it  was  more  probably  [certainly. 
Beep. xliii.]  Sir  Christ.  Garneys,  knt. 

Sir  Christopher  was  knighted  at  Touraine,  25  Dec,  5  H. 

viii.  1513,  and  married  Jane,  daughter  of She 

died  27th  March,  1552.  Her  will  was  dated  27th  Aug.  1550, 
and  proved  12th  May,  1552 ;  she  was  buried  at  Greenwich. 
Her  husband  was  dead  when  she  made  her  will.  She  names 
hw  son,  Arthur  Dymoke,  esq.  Bequeathes  most  of  her  per- 
NDil  estate  for  cb  iritaMe  pnrposeg.*' 


-/> 


iVi 


APPENDIX    1. 


MERIE  TALES  OF  SKELTON 


(  see  Memoir,  p.  xl.  ) ; 


AND  NOTICES  OF  SKELTON  FROM  VARIOUS  SOURCES 


MERIE   TALES 

Newly  Imprinted 
&  made  by  Ma- 
ster Skelton 
Poet 
Laureat. 


^  Imprinted  at  London 

in  Fleetstreat  beneath  the 

Conduit  at  the  signe  of  S. 

John  EuangcliBt, 

by  Thomas 

Cohvell. 
[W"**.  n.  d.J 


Here  begynneth  certayne 

merye  tales  of  Skelton, 

Poet  Lauriat. 

T  How  Skelten  came  late  home  to  Oxford  from  Abington.    Tale  i. 

Skklton  was  an  Englysheman  borne  as  Skogyn  was,  and 
hee  was  educated  &  broughte  vp  in  Oxfoorde :  and  there  was 
lie  made  a  poete  lauriat.  And  on  a  tyme  he  had  ben  at  Ab- 
l^ingtoa  to  make  mery,  wher  that  he  had  eate  salte  meates, 
>nd  hee  did  com  late  home  to  Oxforde,  and  he  did  lye  in  an 
ine  named  y«  Tabere  whyche  is  now  the  Angell,  and  hee  dyd 
^ke,  &  went  to  bed.  About  midnight  he  was  so  thyrstie 
w drje  that  hee  was  constrained  to  call  to  the  tapster  for 
^ke,  &  the  tapster  harde  him  not.  Then  hee  cryed  to  hys 
»te  &  hys  ostes,  and  to  the  ostler,  for  drinke ;  and  no  man 
wold  here  hyra:  alacke,  sayd  Skelton,  I  shall  peryshe  for 
lacke  of  drynke !  what  reamedye  ?  At  the  last  he  dyd  crie 
out  and  sayd,  Fyer,  fyer,  fyer!  When  Skelton  hard  euery 
^^  bustled  hymselfe  vpward,  &  some  of  them  were  naked, 
&  some  were  halfe  asleepe  and  amased,  and  Skelton  dyd  crye, 
Fiw,  fier,  styll,  that  euerye  man  knewe  not  whether  to  re- 
mote; Skelton  did  go  to  bed,  and  the  oste  and  ostis,  &  the 
tapster  with  the  ostler,  dyd  runne  to  Skeltons  chamber  with 
candles  lyghted  in  theyr  handes,  saying.  Where,  where,  where 
« the  fyer?  Here,  here,  here,  said  Skelton,  &  poynted  hyf 
vDger  to  hys  moouth,  saying,  Fetch  me  some  drynke  tc 
qnenche  the  fyer  and  the  heate  and  the  drinesse  in  my  niouthe: 
« so  they  dyd.  Wherfore  it  is  good  for  euerye  man  to  helpe 
^y^  owne  selfe  in  tyme  of  neede  wytho  some  policie  or  craft©, 
w  bee  it  there  bee  no  deceit  nor  falshed  vsed. 


Ixxiv  MERIE   TALES    OF    SKELTON. 


^  llow  Skrlt«iu  ilrust  the  Kuii(Ki!liii:iu  in  the  sweat  time.      [Tale  li.] 

Oil  n  timo  Skelton  rode  fnnii  Oxforde  to  London  with  a 
K6nd:ihn:in,  and  at  Uxbridgo  tliey  beyted.  The  KcndsiUmaa 
Ittvd  liys  cap  vpon  the  borde  in  the  luill,  and  he  -svcntto  aenie 
hv*  borso.  Skelton  tooke  y^  Kciidulmans  cappe,  and  dyd 
put  botwixto  the  linyng  &  tlie  vtter  sydo  a  dislie  of  butter: 
nnd  when  the  Kendahnau  had  dre.st  liys  hor?e,  liee  dyd  come 
in  to  diner,  and  dyd  put  on  hys  cappe  (that  tynie  the  sweat- 
inj;  sycknes  was  in  allKnglande);  at  the  last,  when  the  butter 
httd  take  heate  of  the  Kendalluians  hcade,  it  dyd  begj'nne  to 
run  oner  hys  face  and  abouto  liys  cheekes.  Skelton  sayde, 
Syr,  you  sweatc  soore:  beware  j-t  you  haue  not  the  sweat- 
yiigti  sycknesse.  The  Kcndalman  sayde,  By  the  mysse,  Ise 
wnuiK*  1  ^*^^  P^®  tyl^  ^cd.  Skelton  sayd,  I  am  skild  on 
phisicke,  &  si)ccially  in  the  sweatynge  sycknesse,  that  I  wyll 
wurant  any  man.  In  gewd  faith,  saith  the  Kendallman,  do 
HOi»,  and  Ise  bay  for  yonr  skott  to  London.  Then  sayde  Skel- 
ton, (Jiet  you  a  kerchicfe,  and  1  wyll  br3"'ng  you  abed:  the 
whiolio  was  dcnnie.  Skelton  caused  the  capp  to  bee  sod  in 
tioat  Ice,  6c  dryed  it:  in  the  morn^-ng  Skelton  and  the  Keudol- 
iium  dyd  rido  merely  to  London. 


%  IIowu  Skclioii  Uilile  the  inun  that  Chrysi  \\'as  very  busye  in  the 
vvoikIl-u  wiih  iheru  thut  made  fagois.    Tule  iii. 

When  Skelton  did  cum  to  London,  ther  were  manye  men 
lit  the  tabic  at  diner.  Amongest  all  other  there  was  one 
huy<ic  to  Skelton,  Be  you  of  Oxforde  or  of  Cambridge  a 
M'dlcrV  Skelton  sayd,  I  am  of  Oxford.  Syr,  sayde  the  man, 
1  will  pnt  you  a  qnestion:  you  do  know  wel  that  after  Christ 
(lv<i  riM'  from  death  to  life,  it  was  xl.  days  after  ere  he  dyd 
n-»M'ii<l  into  heanen,  and  hee  was  but  certaine  times  wythhyt 
dju'.yph's,  and  when  that  he  did  appeare  to  tliem,  hee  dyd 
iinu<*r  tary  loiigo  amongest  them,  but  sodainely  vanished  from 
llHMn;  I  wold  fiiyne  know  (saith  the  man  to  Skelton)  where 
Chryj-tc  was  all  those  xl.  dayes.  Where  hee  was,  saythe 
bk«;lt(jn,  Ciod  knoweth;  he  was  verve  busye  in  the  woods 


MERIE    TALES    OF   SKELTON.  IxXT 

ifflODg  bys  labourers,  that  dyd  make  fagottes  to  bume  here- 
tickes,  &  such  as  thou  art  the  whych  doest  aske  such  diffuse 
questions:  but  no  we  I  wyll  tell  thee  more;  whenhee  was  not 
with  hys  mother  &  hys  disciples,  hee  was  in  Paradyce,  to 
eomforte  the  holye  patriarches  and  prophets  soules,  the  which 
before  he  had  fet  out  of  hell.  And  at  the  daye  of  hys  ascen- 
don,  hee  tooke  them  all  vp  wyth  him  into  heauen. 


t  Howe  the  Welshman  dyd  desyre  Skelton  to  ayde  hyra  in  hys  sule 
to  the  kynge  for  a  patent  to  sell  drynke.    The  iiii.  Tale. 

Skeltou,  when  he  was  in  London,  went  to  the  kynges  courte, 
where  there  did  come  to  hym  a  Welshman,  saying,  Syr,  it  is 
80,  that  manye  dooth  come  vpp  of  my  country  to  the  kyngs 
court,  and  some  doth  get  of  the  kyng  by  patent  a  castell,  and 
KAQe  a  parke,  &  some  a  forest,  and  some  one  fee  and  some 
another,  and  they  dooe  lyue  lyke  honest  men;  and  1  sl^ojilde 
lyue  as  honestly  as  the  best,  if  1  myght  haue  a  patyhB'ifor 
good  dryncke :  wherefore  I  dooe  praye  you  to  writd'tJ.  feiWe 
woords  for  mee  in  a  lytic  byll  to  geue  the  same  to  the  kynges 
handes,  and  I  wil  geue  you  well  for  your  laboure.  I  am  con- 
tented, sayde  Skelton.  Syt  downe  then,  sayde  the  Welsh- 
man, and  write.  What  shall  I  wryte?  sayde  Skelton.  The 
Welshman  sayde,  Wryte  dryncke.  Nowe,  sayd  the  Welsh 
man,  wryte,  more  dryncke.  What  now?  sayde  Skelton. 
Wryte  nowe,  a  great  deale  of  dryncke.  Nowe,  sayd  the 
Welshman,  putte  to  all  thys  dryncke  a  littell  crome  of  breade, 
and  a  great  deale  of  drynke  to  it,  and  reade  once  agayne. 
Skelton  dyd  reade,  Dryncke,  more  dryncke,  &  a  great  deale 
of  dryncke,  and  a  lytle  crome  of  breade,  and  a  great  deale 
of  dryncke  to  it.  Then  the  Welsheman  sayde,  Put  out  the 
Btle  crome  of  breade,  and  sett  in,  all  dryncke,  and  no  breade : 
and  if  I  myght  haue  thys  sygned  of  the  kynge,  sayde  the 
Welsheman,  I  care  for  no  more  as  longe  as  I  dooe  lyue.  Well 
then,  sayde  Skelton,  when  you  haue  thys  signed  of  the  kyng, 
^n  will  I  labour  for  a  patent  to  haue  bread,  that  you  wyth 
yoM  drynke,  and  I  with  the  bread,  r\ay  fare  well,  and  Beek« 
our  liuinge  with  bagge  and  staflfe. 


Ixxiri  MEBIB  TALES   OF   SKELTON. 


IT  Of  Swaiiborne  the  kiiaue,  that  was  buried  vnder  St  I'etorsVi 

ill  Oxford.    [Tale  v.] 

There  was  dwelling  in  Oxford  a  stark  koaue,  whose  nan 
was  Swanborn;  and  he  was  such  a  notable  knauethat,if  ai 
Bcoler  had  fallen  out  thone  wyth  thother,  the  one  woulde  ct 
thother  Swanborn,  the  whyche  they  dyd  take  for  a  won 
woorde  than  knaue.    Hys  wife  woulde  diners  tymes  in  H. 
weeke  kimbe  his  head  with  a  iii.  footed  stoole:  then  lu 
woulde  runne  out  of  the  doores  wepinge,  and  if  anye  ma 
had  asked  hjin  what  he  dyd  aile,  other  whyle  he  woulde  say 
hee  had  the  megryra  in  hys  head,  or  ells,  there  was  a  grea 
smoke  wythin  the  house :  &  if  the  doores  were  shut,  hys  wyl 
woulde  beate  him  vnder  the  bed,  or  into  the  bench  hole,  am 
then  ho  woulde  looke  out  at  the  cat  hole ;  then  woulde  fail 
wife  saye,  Lookest  thou  out,  whoreson?    Yea,  woulde  hi 
saye,  thou  shalt  neuer  let  me  of  my  manly  lookes.    ThflE 
with  her  distaff  she  would  poore  in  at  hym.    1  knewe  faiii 
when  that  he  was  a  boye  in  Oxforde ;  hee  was  a  littell  oldl 
fellowe,  and  woulde  lye  as  fast  as  a  horse  woulde  trotte.    M 
last  hee  dyed,  and  was  buried  vnder  the  wall  of  S.  VeUxxt 
church.    Then  Skelton  was  desyred  to  make  an  epitaphft 
vppon  the  churche  wall,  and  dyd  wryte  wyth  a  role,  saymgt 
Belsabub  his  soule  saue,  Qui  iacet  hie  hee  a  knaue:  Jamtdo^ 
moriuus  est,  Et  iacet  hie  hee  a  beast:  SepuUus^  est  amonge  th0 
weedes:  God  forgiue  him  his  misdeedes! 


IT  Howe  Skelton  was  complayiied  on  to  the  bishop  of  Norwidi 

Tale  vi.  * 

Skelton  dyd  keepe  a  musket  at  Dys,  vpon  the  which  ht 
was  complayned  on  to  the  bishop  of  Norwych.    The  byshoppe 


i«ao]  Olded.  "sci.'* 

2  SepuUus]  Old  ed.  "  Sepuitus." — This  epitaph  is  made  op 
from  portions  of  Skelton's  verses  on  John  Clarke  and  Adam 
Uddersal:  see  vol.  i.  188, 192. 


HE    TALES    or   SKELTON. 

IfcStelWn.    Ssoltondjdtakfltvro  CBpOH8,logeuetheyiii 

flripruenUto  the  tiyibop.  And  as  eootie  as  hcB  hull  go- 
hM  tlie  bjshepp,  hce  hlj de,  Mj  lorde,  bore  I  liBiie  brought 
JM  >  (wiple  of  eapoQi,  TIib  byiliop  win  blynde,  Mid  Bajde, 
BigbesyDulf  1  am  Skdton,Baya  Skeltou.  The  byaliop 
Hjd,  A  luMrB  hend  I  I  will  nooe  of  tliy  CHpons:  thnii  keep- 
CN  nduppye  mla  is  tb;  house,  far  tlio  nliyche  [lioa  ahitllbe 
poUiHl.  What,  BoydB  Skelton,  is  the  winda  nt  thai  dooro? 
■mluyd,  God  be  with  yoo,  my  lordel  and  Skelton  with  liis 
npoMweiil  hys  v/«y.  The  hythop  sent  oflar  Skelton  to 
amesgayne.  SkeltoQ  snyds,  Whst,ahiil  I  come^  agayneta 
apattawylhe  a  nisdde  Tunn?  Atlaat  bee  rotnnmod  to  tha 
i/thap,  vhjebn  suyde  to  hym,  I  would,  tayd  the  byahop, 
Am  you  (houlde  noClyna  auche  asolnundoroaM  lyfc,  thai  all 
joir  pariMha  sbooLdo  not  wonder  &  complaina  ou  yoa  ks 
fay  done:  I  pmy  yoa  amende,  ftnd  herenftBr  Ij-ua  honaBtlya, 
Ibilltmre  no  more  anahe  woordes  of  you;  audif  you  wyll 
tirrtdyanei,  yoa  aball  be  wehiome;  and  I  Cbtinke  you,  eayde 
lUfcyslioppe,  for  your  caponi.  Skalton  Bayde,  My  iord,  my 
•fOHhuieprapec  names;  Ihe  one  laniimed  Alpha,  the  other 
kwned  Omega :  my  loide,  tuyd  Skelton,  tlils  capon  is  named 
ll(tu,thys  ia  Ihc  fyrst  capon  that  I  dyd  euer  gene  to  you,- 
ndthlteiipon  is  oainod  Omegn,  and  this  ia  the  l».?t  ciipun 
ttUmerl  wil  giue  you:  &  ao  fare  you  m-oU,  aayd  Skelton. 


GUtan  the  nexta  Sondnys  aiter  wento  into  Ihe  pnlpet  K 
^Ij.ind  Myde,  Pot  atii,  vo>  utM,  that  is  to  anye,  Yeu  be 
mbe.  And  wlmt  be  yon?  sayd  Skelton:  I  tiiyo,  thul  yoi! 
bB*nno  ufkiinaei,  yea,  and  a  man  might  suye  worse  tlier 
twiM;  uid  wliy,  I  nliall  shew  you.  You  hniic  cninplnyneii 
rffflUloIhoby^op  (lint  [duo  keepe  a  fuyre  wonch  in*  my 
tout:  I  dooe  tell  you,  if  yoa  hud  any  fuyre  wiuos,  it  wan 
nu  akat  tolieipe  me  at  neode;  I  am  u  m.in  myou  bu:  you 


I  thai  J  come]  Old  ed.  "  thai!  I  fca. 


Ixxviii  MEBIE   TALES    OF   SKSLT09. 

hane  fou!e  wvue*,  and  I  hane  a  faire  wenche,  of  tbe  wfaydtf 
I  haae  beji-^tten  a  favre  bove,  as  I  doe  thinke,  and  as  yon  •!! 
shall  see.  Thou  wvt'e,  sayde  Skeltoa,  that  hast  my  childe^be 
not  afraid;  bring  me  hither  my  childe  to  me:  tbe  whycbe 
was  doone.  And  he,  shewynge  his  childe  naked  to  all  the 
parishe,  sayde.  How  saye  yoa,  neibours  all  ?  is  not  this  child 
as  fayre  as  is  the  besre  of  all  yours  ?  It  hathe  nose,  eyes, 
handes,  and  fee:e,  as  well  as  any  of  your :  it  is  not  lyke  i 
py gge,  nor  a  cal'e,  nor  like  no  foole  nor  no  monstmous  bea^ 
If  I  had,  savde  Skelton.  broac:h:e  forthe  thvs  chvlde  without 
armes  or  Ie;^:;;es,  or  that  i:  wer  deformed,  being  a  nooostnioat 
thyng,  I  woulde  neuer  haue  blamed  yoa  to  haae  complayned 
to  the  bi<hop  of  me ;  bu:  :o  complain  without  a  cause,  I  nyt 
as  I  said  before  In  my  an:e:hem.  n.«  esdsy  you  be,  and  huM 
be,  (&  wyll  ani  jliall  be  knaues,  to  complaync  of  me  wytiioot 
a  cause  res^^nable.  For  yoa  be  presumptuous,  &  dooe  exate 
yourselues,  aiid  therefore  yoa  shall  be  made  low:  as  I  shsl 
shewe  you  a  f:imyller  ei.miple  of  a  parish  priest,  the  whydn 
dyd  make  a  sermoa  La  Rome.  And  he  dyd  take  that  for  hy 
antethem.  the  whioii  of  Ia:e  dayes  is  named  a  theme,  an' 
sayde«  C>i<  s^  iJr.:^.i:  .t:•.'/».'.V.'JiJ^■ir,  it  ijmpi  ^  kumiiiat  exaUabit^ 
that  is  to  ?av.  he  :ha:  do:a  exal:e  himselfe  or  dothe  erto 
hvin<el.e  ^V.A".Ve  made  meke,  i  he  that  doth  humble  hvtf 
selte  or  is  iiieke,  shalce  exalted,  extoulled,  or  eleuated,  < 
sull:r.iate\i.  or  <uoli  lyke:  ani  t>::it  I  will  shewe  yoa  by  tb 
mv  CAV.  riil<  o;-.vve  'A"as  :"vrs:e  nv  iocde,  when  that  I  wi 
stude:;:e  :r.  J::oal-.o.\  &  th^u  ::  was  ?o  pro  .lie  that  it  woal< 
to:  b<e  v.v":<::;:c'i«  cut  ::  w^ulie  sl'rre  and  fall  from  rt 
shculierf*  I  r«:a--;yv.yrp»  tiiy^  tiiat  he  was  proade,  wh; 
then  siv i  1 1  <>. , Tt.  V  : .  c .  lvtI::  if .  I  i^ri  make  of  hvm  a  par: 
ox'brxvr.cs  to  ro.y  .•.:<<;.  t:  .r^-rc-  ^7^  lowe.  And  when  th 
1  iyi  5i--e,  k.  .^^0.  .r  rr:^~'xyu:  :!'.2.t  he  w:i5  in  that  case,ai 
all:".<;<}  -  ,\--.e  oUar.;?  :u:e.  w>..xt  -yi  I  :h«i  to  exxoH  by 
^.*;v  *.rA'.  r.i  .  Y.u  all  iv.av  <<•*  rhit  this  mr  cap  was  made  ( 
.:5  v.-y  ,r>ev'h-r<.     rh-e.-^;'.  r^,  sayie  Sk^too^toi  ert 


<*5  .<5f  ;^r-.\  ::  i i  • . "  -.'  .  u  -.  i:  .-as  «^   Oli  ed-  **  QiiB  M  C 


OF    SKELTON.  Isxix 


I  Unfcray*!!  bee,  u  1  dyd  eaya  before:  if  Ihai 
'!e,  niid  cannot  lie  conleiiled  llint  I  hnue 
He  of  Jim  flliall  weure  hornB9 ;  and  tlierf^ 
faretrcU.    It  ie  merye  !□  the  ball,  v 


1  Bow  ihc  frjec  u1(ed  lei 


,L  Dyi, 


Bwaa  a  fryer  J*  whyeb  dydde  come  toSkellon  lobiiufl 
to  preach  ut  Dys.  Wbat  wonldo  yoii  proMliB  there? 
■file  SkelEon :  doue  not  you  Ihynke  that  t  am  aufQcteute  to 
{nuhi  there  in  myne  owns  cure  ?  Syr,  luyde  the  freere,  1 
m  the  limyter  of  Norwych,  and  once  a  yonre  one  of  our 
phce  dotbe  vao  to  preocha  wytb  you,  to  take  the  douocion  of 
tilt  people;  and  ir  1  may  bans  yoorgood  \!i],  eo  bee  It,  or  els 
InllEDme  and  preach  agaioat  your  will,  by  the  aufhor^tia 
(Tlln  byiliope  of  Boroe,  for  1  hnne  byi  buHoa  to  preache  in 
tasrye  plaee,  and  iherfors  I  wyll  be  there  on  Sonduye  nexte 
nmnyng.  Ooma  not  there,  fhiere,  t  dooe  connsell  thee,  snyd 
Sttlnm.  The  SundayeneiteroUovfyngeSlteUoTjIayde watch 
ttmeuniynge  of  the  frere:  and  ns  lone  as  Skulton  had 
bvlidge  of  the  freero,  he  went  into  tha  pulpet  to  preiiche. 
ilhatth«freere<]y<l  come  InM  the  chnrcha  witli  Uie  biiih- 
<(;•  of  Bome*  bulla:  in  hye  hande.  Skelton  then  aayd  to 
■a^jKriahe,  See,  aeo,  see,uiidpoy!ited  tn  theefryere.  All 
Hi^tlBh  (Died  on  the  frere.  Then  sayde  Skelton,  Malsters, 
hnli  as  wondarfnll  K  tliyuge  as  en^r  ivns  neeni'i  yon  all 
Im  known  Umt  11  ie  a  thynjje  diiylye  eeeiie,  n  bullo  dothe 
kplle  >  caUu;  bat  here,  coutmrye  to  alt  nature,  a  talfa 
tub*  gotten  a  bnlJaj  for  thya  fryBro,  baeynge  a  c.ilfe,  hiith 
pKnmbnlle  of  the  byahoppe  of  Rome.  The  frjore,  bojnge 
■inoed,  woulde  nauer  after  thiit  lima  preanmK  lo  preach 
Bby*. 

wSkollon  liuiiillsd  iLcfrjcr  Ihui  H-mildenH^dcEljeniLUlwinlii 
m  ryd  iulo  y  oountre,  Ihara  was  a  frcre  that  hap 


IXXX  MERIR   TALES    OF   SKELTON. 

ened  in  at  nn  alehouse  wheras  Skelton  was  lodged,  and  &e 
the  frere  dyd  desire  to  haue  lodj^nig.    The  alewife  sayd,  S} 
I  haue  but  one  bed  whereas  master  Skelton  doth  lye.    S} 
sayd  tlie  frere,  I  pray  you  that  I  maye  lye  with  yoo.    Ski 
ton  said,  Master  freere,  I  doo  vse  to  haue  no  man  to  lye  VU 
me.    Syr,  sayd  the  frere,  I  haue  lyne  with  as  good  men  i 
you,  and  for  my  money  I  doo  looke  to  haue  lodgynge  as  wft 
as  you.     Well,  sayde  Skelton,  I  dooe  see  than  that  you  wy 
lye  with  me.    Yea,  syr,  sayd  the  frere.    Skelton  did  fill  «1 
the  cuppes  in  the  house,  and  whitled  the  frere,  that  at  to 
last,  the  frere  was  in  mxiie  eames  peason.    Then  sayde  Skd 
ton,  Mayster  freere,  Jet  you  to  bed,  and  1  wyll  come  to  bet 
within  a  while.    The  frere  went,  and  dyd  lye  vpright,  an^ 
snorted  lyke  a  sowe.    Skelton  wente  to  the  chaumber,  and 
dyd  see  that  the  freere  dyd  lye  soe ;  sayd  to  the  wyfe,  GeM 
me  a  washyng  betle.    Skelton  tlien  caste  downe  the  clotheii 
and  the  freere  dyd  lye  starke  naked :  then  Skelton  dyd  shit* 
vpon  the  freeres  nauil  and  bellye ;  and  then   he  did  take  tii9 
washyng  betle,  and  dyd  strike  an  harde  stroke  vppon  tiitt 
nauill  &  bellye  of  the  freere,  and  dyd  put  out  the  canddli 
and  went  out  of  the  chaumber.    The  freere  felt  hys  bellye, 
&  smelt  a  foule  sauour,  had  thought  hee  had  ben  gored,  and 
cried  out  and  sayde,  Helpe,  helpe,  helpe,  I  am  kylled !    They 
of  the  house  with  Skelton  wente  into  the  chaumber,  and 
asked  what  the  freere  dyd  ayle.    The  freere  sayde,  I  am 
kylled,  one  hathe  thrust  me  in  the  bellye.    Fo,  sayde  Skel- 
ton, thou  dronken  soule,  thou  doost  lye ;  thou  hast  beshyttei 
thyselfe.    Fo,  sayde  Skelton,  let  vs  goe  oute  of  the  chaum- 
ber, for  the  knaue  doothe  stynke.     The  freere  was  ashamed, 
and  cryed  for  water.    Out  with  the  whoreson,  sayd  Skelton, 
and  wrap  the  sheetes  togyther,  aud  putte  the  freere  in  the 
hogge  stye,  or  in  the  barne.    The  freere  said,  geue  me  SCUM 
water  into  the  bame :  and  there  the  freere  dyd  wasshe  him 
selfe,  and  dydde  lye  there  all  the  nyght  longe.     The  chaum* 
ber  tmd  the  bedde  was  dressed,  and  the  sheetes  shy fted ;  and 
then  Skelton  went  to  bed. 


MEBIE   TALES    OF   SE ELTON.  Ixxxi 


T  Howe  the  cardynall  desyred  Skehon  to  make  aii  epiiaphe  vpun  his 

graue.    Tale  x. 

Thomas  Wolsey,  cardynall  and  archbyshop  of  Torke,  bad 
made  a  regall  tombe  to  lye  in  after  bee  was  deade :  and  be 
desyred  Master  Skelton  to  make  for  his  tombe  an  epytapbe, 
vhyohe  is  a  memoriall  to  shewe  the  lyfe  with  the  actes  of  a 
fioble  man.  Skelton  sayde,  If  it  dooe  lyke  your  grace,  I 
Mime  not  make  an  ep3rtaphe  vnlesse  that  I  do  fie  your  tombe. 
The  cardynall  sayde,  I  dooe  praye  you  to  meete  wyth  mee 
tomcffowe  at  the  West  Monesterye,  and  there  shall  you  se 
my  tombe  a  makynge.  The  pointment  kept,  and  Skelton, 
ieyng  the  sumptuous  coste,  more  pertaynyng  for  an  empe- 
nnre  or  a  maxymyous  kynge,  then  for  suche  a  man  as  he 
WIS  (although  cardynals  wyll  compare  wyth  kyngs),  Well, 
ttyd  Skelton,  if  it  shall  like  your  grace  to  creepe  into  thys 
tombe  whiles  you  be  alyue,  I  can  make  an  epitaphe ;  for  I 
va  rare  that  when  that  you  be  dead  you  shall  neuer  haue  it. 
The  whyche  was  verifyed  of  truthe. 


f  Howe  the  hostler  dyd  byte  Skeltous  mare  vader  the  lale,  for  biting 
him  by  the  arme.    Tale  xi. 

ftdton  vsed  mucbe  to  ryde  on  a  mare ;  and  on  a  tyme  hee 
Opened  into  an  inne,  wher  there  was  a  folish  ostler.    Skel- 
ton said,  Ostler,  hast  thou  any  mares  bread  ?    l^o,  syr,  sayd 
hostler:  I  haue  good  horse  bread,  but  I  haue  no  mares 
Ir^    Skelton  saide,  I  must  haue  mares  bread.    Syr,  sayde 
^  ostler,  there  is  no  mares  bred  to  get  in  all  the  towne. 
Well,  sayd  Skelton,  for  this  once,  seme  my  mare  wyth  horse 
bnad.    In  the  meane  time  Skelton  commaunded  the  ostler 
to  sadle  his  mare ;  &  the  hosteler  dyd  gyrde  the  mare  hard, 
ttd  the  hostler  was  in  hys  ierkyn,  and  hys  shirte  sleues  wer 
■bone  his  elbowes,  and  in  the  girding  of  the  mare  hard  the 
Bare  bitte  the  hostler  by  the  arme,  and  bitte  him  sore.    The 
liottler  was  angry,  and  dyd  bite  the  mare  ynder  th<i  tayle, 
Mying,  A  whore,  is  it  good  byting  by  the  bare  arme  ?    Skel- 
(OD  sayde  then,  Why,  fellowe,  haste  thou  hurt  my  mare? 

VOL.    I.  V 


MEKIE  TALES    OF   SKl.LTON. 

IS  Ifaf  hoMler,  ka  me,  kn  Uiee :  y{  the  done  h 


1  HonlliBcoblorluIileniaiiK 

fa:  Ifae  purjMhe  of  Dys.  whereas  Skelton  wn«  penoD, 
d««l!*d  ■  cobJcr,  bejniK  linlfe 
■id  agmle  ilouen,  oiherwvFe  muned  n  sIoDclie.    The  k 

e  wnixet  hyyonda  Ihe  ten,  SkeltoB 
Ihjrs  ■fdcwyd  dou^htie  man,  Neyboar,  joa  be  aUlli 
1»  »l*  kpges  warres  you  niQSt  beremtandsH.  AitlUi 
iMlbtCObler.whBtathitigiaChat?  Skdloutaide.l 
piBl  tanner,  such  a  one  as  thoa  dooost  »se  Hi  benre 
pejcnwetke)  and  n  lordoa.orakayghtes.oTaiieDtlen 
Umm  ehull  bee  vgion  ll ;  and  die  eooldien  thot  be  nidc 
alhMHfde  persons  fuyghtynge  Tndei  ihy  banner. 

eohbtler;  I  can  no  aki)  in  faighUi^ 
■a  sbiilte  noI  lAj^l,  but  holde 
!n     By  my  fay,  sajd  the  cobh 
■UUin  the  mattsr.    Well,  »ayd  Skolton,  there  is 
b«t  thou  Bbiille  forthe  to  dotw  the  kynges  aer 

thii  coantrey  theare  is  not  a  mora  till 
.cbe  a  >  feate  in  Ihoa  arte.  Syr,  tcyjf 
Otbbelcr,  I  wyll  gene  yon  a  latle  eapoa,  that  I  loeyo  b< 
lyde  Skellon,  I  wyll  not  haue  noue  of  th; 
HWl  for  ihou  shulte  doe  the  kjDg  >emice  iu  his  mm.  1 
fwd  tlie  ODbler,  what  shold  I  doo?  wyll  you  haue  me  ID 
IB  Ibe  kyngci  whttcs,  and  to  bee  killed  Cat  my  latwor? 
1  thall  be  well  at  ease,  Tor  I  shall  hnoe  my  mendss  il 
That,  knaue.  aayd  Skelton,  att  ibou  a 
e,  hnuyiig  >o  great  bones  V  No,  eaydethe  CDbier,Iul 
kAardo:  It  is  good  to  alepe  hi  a  wholeskinne.  Why, 
ftkelton,  'hou  jhalle  bee  bariiessed  to  keepe  away  theMi 
n  tliy  ekynne.  By  my  (ay,  sayde  the  coblei,  if  I 
«d«*  Ibrtbe,  I  will  see  howeyche  shnll  bee  ordered.    I 


HEBIB   TALES    OF   8KELT0N.  IXXXui 


Aidjdliarneeie  the  donghtye  squird],  and  dyd  put  an  liel- 
BMoDhia  head;  and  when  tho  helmet  was  on  the  coblen 
fcade,  the  cohleriayde.  What  »hall  Ihose  hoalei  aenie  for? 
Stillw  eay d.  Holes  to  looks  out  to  see  thy  enemyes.    Yea, 

trthon  one  may  come  and  thmst  s  naylo  info  one  of  the 
tiea,  and  prycke  out  myne  eye.  Therfore,  sud  the  cobler 
to  Mailer  Skelton,  I  wyil  not  goe  to  warre :  my  wyfe  shall 
|M  a  my  steado,  for  sho  can  fyghta  and  playe  the  douell 
(yiti  her  distaffe,  and  with  stole,  Ebiffe,  cnppe,  or  candlo- 
Aoke;  for,  by  my  fay,  I  cham  sicke;  1  chill  go  home  Co  bed) 
HUoke  I  Bhall  dye. 


Vhea  Maieter  Skelton  dyd  dwell  in  the  counlrey,  bee  wm 
tpMde  with  a  miller  to  hane  hya  come  gronndo  toile  free; 
■d  imnye  Qrmee  when  hye  niaydBn[«]  ibouldo  bake,  they  . 
■BMd  of  their  mete,  and  complained  to  their  mysCres  that 
Ih^  could  not  make  their  etint  of  breade.  Mystres  Skelton, 
iMTige  Terye  angrye,  totde  her  husbande  of  iC  Then  Maa- 
l<t  Skelton  eent  for  hia  miller,  aad  aaked  hym  hows  it  changed 
But  hoe  deceyued  hym  of  hia  corns.  II  aaide  John  miUari 
>>•;,  inrely  1  neuer  deceyued  you ;  if  that  you  can  prone  tliat 
bTmee,  do  with  mee  aa  yon  lyate.  Surely,  eayd  Skoltan,  if 
Iilotlynde  thee  false  anys  more,  thou  shalt  bo  hanged  np  by 
tenecke.  So  Skelton  apoyotad  one  of  hys  eeruauntes  lo 
Bud  at  the  mill  wbyle  the  come  was  a  grindyng.  John 
BjBer,  beyng  a  notable  theefe,  would  feyn  hane  dec«ued  him 
Mba  had  dou  Iwfore,  but  beyng  afrayd  of  Skeltona  sernaunle, 
Wind  his  wyfe  to  put  one  of  her  chyldren  into  y*  myll  dam, 
nd  Co  cTje,  Help,  help,  my  childa  ia  drowned  I  With  that, 
Mm  myller  and  all  weut  out  of  the  myll;  &  Skeltotit  aer- 
■inDle,  beint;  dilygent  to  helpe  the  chylde,  thought  not  of  the 
■wale,  and  the  whili  the  myllot*  boye  was  redy  wylh  a  sacka, 
■Bd  Hole  awaye  the  come ;  ao  when  they  bad  taken  td  tlw 


t 


[iKsiv  MElilE   TALES    OF   SKELTOM. 

childe,  and  all  was  fate,  ibej  carat  in  srjitiio;  &  bo  tIM  '^\ 
usanC,  luiiyng  iiys  Gryele,  went  home  iiiiBtru!t7iigiiDlfa;np( 
BQil  when  the  muy des  eiime  to  bnke  Hgaiiie,  ai  thej  dyd  b>- 
fan,  eo  the;  laokcd  of  tbejr  me&le  agajue.  Master  SkBtton 
CBlde  (br  bys  man,  and  asked  bim  bowe  it  chi\unced  thU  U 
was  deeeaued;  &  bee  sayd  that  bee  coulde  not  telt,  Forldjj 
foar  comQi&undement.  And  then  Muter  Skeboo  igntAt 
the  loyllBr.  and  myde,  Thon  bait  not  Tjed  me,'  well,  for  1 
wnnt  of  my  mele.  Why,  what  wold  youbnueme  uo?  ny4 
the  millerj  you  hflne  set  your  own  man  to  watcbe  nM. 
Well,  than,  sayd  Skslton,  if  thou  doest  not  tell  me  wtayd 
waye  tboQ  baaC  played  tbe  tbeefe  wytb  mee,  thon  ahtilb  ba 
luuiged.  I  preye  you  be  good  inaeter  Tiitt>  me,  &  I  wyll  nU 
you  the  truttbe:  your  aaruanut  wold  not  horn  myii^ll|& 
when  I  anwe  none  oilier  ramedye,  I  caaaod  my  wyfe  to  pul 
one  of  my  cbyldreii  into  the  waUr,  Sc  lo  crie  ttaat  ICtw 
drowned!  ^nd  whiles  wee  were  belpyng  of  the  chylde  ov^ 
one  of  my  boyea  djd  Bteals  yourcOTne.    Yea,  eayde  EkelUUV 

thya;  and  thorfore,  if  tbon  dooefitenot  one  tbynge  tbatlBbflU 
tell  thee,  I  wyll  folow  the  biwa  on  thee.  What  is  that?  afi 
the  myller.  If  that  tfaoa  dooest  not  stoale  my  cuppe  of  Uu 
table,  wben  I  am  setts  at  meate,  tbou  shalt  not  eskape  my 
hnades.  0  good  master,  sayd  John  miller,  I  prey  yoa  Sf 
gene  me,  and  let  me  not  dooe  ihys ;  I  am  not  able  to  dooe  H 
ThoaBholtnauerbBforgeuen,  saydo  Skellon,  withOBte  QliB 
dooest  it.  When  the  miller  eawa  no  remedye,  he  went  fi 
charged  one  of  liys  boyes,  in  an  enonyng  (when  that  Skrika 
was  at  supper)  lo  sella  fyro  in  one  of  hya  hoggca  stie^  fitfl* 
fi«m  anybonee,  for  doyng  any  barme.  And  it  cbauneii),,, 
that  one  of  Skeltona  samanntea  name  OQle,  and  apledlhe^,, 
and  bee  oryade,  Helpe,  beipe  1  for  all  that  my  maater  b«th  ftji 
lyketo  be  burnt.  Hys  masler,  hearing  this,  rose  from  1|JI;| 
supper  with  all  the  companie,  and  yieat  to  queucbe  the  tJIKf, 
and  the  while  John  miller  came  In,  and  stole  away  hys  onj^i" 
Sc  went  bya  way.  The  flro  being  quickly  slaked,  SkalU'| 
OHin  la  with  his  frendea,  and  reasoned  wytb  hys  fi«Bdtt'' 
which  way  they  thought  the  fjre  ahouldo  coma;  and  one^T* 
nun  made  answer  as  thel  thangbt  good     And  as  they  mf 


MERIK  TAI.es   of   SKELTON.  IxXXV 

rjag.  SkeltOD  caTed  for  a  cap  of  beare;  and  in  no  wise 
jppt  iriijdie  hee  Tsed  to  drynke  in  wonlde  not  be  founde. 
ao  was  TCfye  angrie  that  his  cap  was  mysynge,  and 
I  wldche  ware  it  shoalde  bee  gone;  and  no  manne 
e  tdl  hjm  of  it.  At  last  be  bethonght  him  of  the  mil- 
:  sard,  Sorelj,  he,  that  theefe,  hath  done  this  deede,  and 
guithje  to  be  hanged.  And  hee  sent  for  the  miller:  so 
liOer  tolde  hvm  all  howe  hee  had  done.  Trnelj,  sayd 
n,  tfaoa  art  a  notable  knaue;  and  withonte  thou  canste 
!  one  other  feate,  then  shalte  dye.  O  good  master,  sayde 
liller,  Toa  promised  to  pardon  me,  and  wil  yon  now 
ejovir  promise?  I,saydSkelton;  wythout  thou  canste 
the  sheeCes  of  my  bed,  when  my  wyfe  and  I  am  aslepe, 
ihalte  be  hanged,  that  all  suche  knaues  shall  take  en- 
e  by  tfaee.  Alas,  sayd  the  miller,  whych  waye  shall  ] 
his  thinge?  it  is  vnpossible  for  me  to  get  theym  while 
ee  tiiere.  Well,  sayde  Skelton,  withonte  thou  dooe  it, 
cnowest  the  daunger.  The  myller  went  hys  way,  beyng 
beany,  &  stndyed  whiche  waye  he  myght  doo  thys 
.  He  hanynge  a  little  boy,  whyche  knewe  all  the  cor- 
if  Skeltons  house  &  where  hee  lay,  vpon  a  night  when 
irere  all  busie,  the  boie  crepte  in  vuder  his  bed,  wyth  a 
<^yeste;  and  when  Skelton  &  hys  wyfe  were  fast 
e,  hee  all  to  noynted  the  sheetes  with  yeste,  as  farre  as 
onld  reache.  At  last  Skelton  awaked,  &  felt  the  sheetes 
3te;  waked  his  wife,  and  sayd,  What,  hast  thou  beshitten 
ed?  and  she  sayd,  Naye,  it  is  you  that  haue  doone  it,  I 
le,  fw  I  am  sure  it  is  not  I.  And  so  theare  fel  a  great 
betweene  Skelton  and  his  wyfe,  thinkyng  that  the  bedd 
)eo  beshitten;  and  called  for  the  mayde  to  geue  them  a 
le  payre  of  shetes.  And  so  they  arose,  &  the  mayde 
s  the  foulo  sheetes  and  threw  them  vnderneath  the  bed, 
:ynge  the  nexte  morning  to  haue  fetched  them  away, 
next  time  the  maydes  shuld  goe  to  washynge,  they 
d  all  about,  and  coulde  not  fynde  the  sheetes ;  for  Jacke 
lyllers  boy  had  stollen  them  awaye.  Then  the  myller 
sent  for  agayne,  to  knowe  where  the  sheetes  were  be- 
:  &  the  myller  tolde  Mayster  Skelton  all  how  he  denised 
ale  the  sheetes.    Howe  say  ye  ?  sayde  Skelton  to  hys 


U^Kvi  1ICB1E   TALKS    OF  BKELTOH. 

(t«i|'l**|  li  QOt  this  Bootable  Ih^fV  is  he  not  worf^nS 
h*l>(eil  thai  cuinA  <1ao«  iheu  deedes?  0 
ijuuUi  the  lulUer,  noire  fargeaa  mea  accordjage  to  jooni 
|mniiyiiil  Ibr  I  haue  dune  all  thai  ;oa  haae  comnmniided 
llive,  \tail  I  tnut  now  joa  -wyil  pardon  rati.  Htye,  quoth 
HkallDn,  thou  ilialt  dooyet  one  other  feate,  atid  tbaC  Ehall  bes 
lliyil  tlioa  sbnlte  ftenJo  maidtar  penon  out  of  hys  bed  stmid- 
iilgbt,  thnt  he  iball  ool  koow  where  he  Is  beconiB.  The  nul' 
I*r  innde  gre^t  mooe  and  l]uneii!ed,  snyiiig,  I  can  not  tal  In 
Hie  wortil  howe  I  sbaJl  dooe,  Tor  I  am  neaer  able  to  dooe  Ilia 
Ibala.  Well,  sayde  Skellon,  thon  ahalt  dooa  it,  or  els  Ihog 
ehalc  lyndeno  faumu  st  my  hondsi  uid  Ibetfore  ffi  thy  my. 
The  miller  beynge  sorj'e,  deuysed  with  hhnsiilfe  wbiiji  my 
li«  might  bryag  this  thing  to  piu^e.  And  ii.  or  iii.  ny^W 
after,  gathered  a  namber  a(  snails,  &  sread  with  the  tejM 
of  the  churchelo  bane  tlie  key  of  the  churohe  dore,andmal 
into  the  chorcbe  betireDe  the  faourcs  of  >  li.  and  lii,  in  Sk 
night,  it  tooke  the  sBayles,  and  lygfated  a  sorte  oT  little  wsO 
oandlei,  &  set  Tppon  euerie  mayle  one,  &  the  snayles  crapO 
abODt  the  chorchanyth  the  same  candelsvpon  Uieirbaelntl 
ind  then  be  went  mto  the  vesti«y,  and  pnl  a  cope  vppaa  Iijl 
backe,  &  Etoode  very  solemnely  at  the  hye  alter  with  s  bool*  ' 
In  hya  hand;  and  aftenrarde  lolled  tbs  beli,  that  the  pieari 
lyingB  ia  Ibe  chnicte  ysrf  might  hears  him.  The  pB>»^ 
hearyng  the  bell  telle,  starte  ootfi  of  hie  alepe,  and  loolted  ad 
of  hya  windowe,  and  sawe  sttche  a  lyghl  in  the  churuh,  wM 
very  muehe  amased,  and  thougbt  sorely  that  the  churchilhid 
ben  on  fire,  and  wenle  for  to  tee  what  wDDder  it  ahonlde  t«^ 
And  when  he  came  there,  he  fonnde  the  church  dore  optOi 
and  iient  Tp  into  the  qoier;  and  see  the  miller  standyng  )l 
l»-s  vestemantas,  and  a  booke  in  bji  hand,  praying  denoallj'i 
ii  all  the  lyghtaa  in  tlie  chnrch,  ihon^t  sarely  with  hyA- 
aelfe  it  was  soma  angeil  come  downe  from  heanon,  or  WIBI  i 
utlier  great  miracle,  blessed  hrmselfe  and  sayde,  In  IheuiDt  I 
of  the  Father,  the  Sonne,  and  the  Holy  QhffilB,  what  art  Hut  J 
that  ilaudMt  here  in  thys  hoUye  place  ?  0,  layde  the  mjt  . 
ter,  1  am  saynt  Peter,  whjcb  kepe  1  the  keyea  of  heauea  pU,  i 


MEBIE  TALES   OF  8KIXT0N.         Izzxvii 

Bd  IhMi  knowe&t  that  none  can  enter  into  beanea  excepts  I 
iMb^iD  in;  and  I  am  sent  oate  from  beaoen  for  thee.  For 
Bn[  queth  the  prBsst;  good  Hsynt  Peter,  Torahip  maye  thou 
ba!  I  mm  glad  to  heare  that  newee.  Because  tbon  bast 
iau  good  dsedes,  layd  the  xsyller,  and  eemed  God,  bee  hnth 
Mt  for  thee  afbre  dontea  da;  came,  that  thoashait  not  knowe 
tie  tronhlos  of  y  worlde.  0,  blessed  ha  Godi  eaj-de  the 
pwil;  I  am  very  well  contented  for  to  goe:  yet  if  it  woalde 
plaue  God  to  let  me  go  home  and  distrybute  such  things  u 
Ikue  to  the  poora,  I  woulde  bee  verye  gla4.  No  «ayde  the 
idler;  if  tfaoa  dooeet  delite  more  in  thy  goodes  then  in  the 
raw  of  heauen,  thou  art  not  for  God ;  tberefore  prepare  Ihy- 
Mlfa,  ud  goe  into  this  b^tge  which  I  have  brought  for  thee. 
lb»  miUer  hanyog  a  great  qnaiter  saeke,  the  poora  priest 
Wile  into  it,  thynkyng  veiylyo  bee  had  gOQ  to  heanen,  yet 
*■•  lery  Hiiy  to  parte  from  hyi  goodee;  naked  saynt  Peter 
bn  long  it  wold  be  ere  he  came  there.  The  miller  aayd  he 
■hold  b«  Ihere  quickly  i  and  In  he  got  the  pneat,  and  tied  vp 
tt<  Meke,  and  pat  out  the  lightes,  &  layed  euery  thynge  ia 
ttft  place,  and  tooke  the  preeat  on  hie  backe,  &  locked  the 
■lovk  doru,  &  to  go:  and  when  be  came  to  go  ouer  the 
ttasch  ttile,  the  preast  was  Terye  heauye,  and  the  miller 
MHg  hym  oner  the  atlle  that  the  priest  cryed  ob.  0  good 
Mfet  Peter,  nyde  the  preeete,  whyther  goe  I  nawe  ?  O,  sayde 
temper,  these  bee  the  pangea  that  ye  moat  abyde  before 
jn  eoiDe  to  heauen.  0,  quoth  the  preast,  I  would  1  were 
■hit  ooca!  Vp  he  got  the  prieat  agayn,  &  caried  hym  tyll 
kecama  to  the  toppe  of  an  bye  hyll,  a  litle  from  bvs  house, 
Ud  caite  hym  downa  the  hyll,  that  hya  head  had  many 
ibnrda  rappea,  tiiat  hys  Qecke  was  almoat  burst.  O  good 
i^iit  Peler,  said  the  prieat,  where  am  I  nowe  ?  You  are 
•taMatDowe  at  beaoen;  &  caried  hyra  with  much  a  doo,  tyll 
M  eune  to  hya  owoe  house,  and  then  the  miller  thiewe  him 
■Mr  the  thresholde.  O  good  saypte  Peter,  sayde  the  preeete, 
irtMn  am  Inowe?  thya  is  the  soreste  pange  that  euer  I  bydde. 
0,  Myd  dia  1  myUer,  gena  God  thankee  that  thou  haste  had 


i 


MKKIH   TALES   OF  SKKLTON. 


1X3 


hjs  HTOrda  cutte  it  of.  Then  thay  for  gkdnesae  presented  il 
.  nlD  Lheyrniaiter,  leauynge  tfasstabledaoreopen:  thea  John 
It  Id,  and  stole  attay  tbe  gelding.  tlosCec  Skeltan, 
kMfHS-vppan  the  head,  eawe  it  was  the  theuea  head  thai 
"^hangyng  vpoD  Ihe  galowHa,  Bayd.Alaa,  how  ofte  bath 
■knaue  decelued  vb!  Go  quickly  [o  the  stable  agayDe, 
b  mj  goldyug  lb  gene.  Hys  men,  goyiig  bacliQ 
en  so.  Then  they  came  Bgayn,  and  lold 
r  hy>  horse  vtuB  gone.  Ah,  I  thuught  so,  you 
"  lid  Skelton;  bat  if  I  had  sent  wise  man 
;  ben  so.  Then  Skelton  sent  (or  tbe  miller, 
dhym  if  hee  coulde  tell  nhere  hys  horse  waa.  Safe 
sayde  the  miller :  for  hee  tolde  Skelton  nil 
sr  how  hee  had  doue.  Wall,  sayd  Skellou,  couayd- 
Djugbyt  tale,  sayd,  that  be  waa  worthie  to  bee  huuged.  For 
DO  dacKt  excel!  all  the  theoues  that  euer  I  Itnow  or  hcanl 
I  bnt  for  ray  promise  sake  I  forgeue  thee,  vpon  condition 
Hea  witle  beoome  an  iionest  man,  &  leane  oil  thy  cralte  & 
Im  dealyug.    And  thus  John  mJlter  skaped  Tnpnoiahed. 


,     [Tale  I 


On  a  tyina  Skollon  did  meate  with  oertain  frondes  of  hy« 
It  Cbaiyng  oroaae,  afYar  lliflt  hee  w»«  in  prison  at  my  lord 
Htdynuls  eommaundement:  &  his  freode  sayd,  I  am  gind 
pla  bee  abrode  amonRe  yonr  frendas,  for  you  houe  ben  long 
IMl  In.  Skelton  tayd,  By  the  mtuse,  1  am  glad  I  am  out 
le,  for  I  haue  ben  pent  in,  like  a  rucha  or  fissh,  at  Weet- 
«  ID  prison.  Tbe  cardinal,  hearing  of  Ihoso  words. 
Ml  for  him  agayne.  Skelton  kneling  of  bys  kneea  before 
tniAer  longcummunioation  to  Sketlou  had,  Skelton  de- 
Qta  eardlnnll  to  graunta  hyml  a  boon.  Thou  ehalt 
none,  layd  the  oardynsll.  Thaaaiatance  desirid  that  ha 
aigbt  kaoe  it  grsanted,  for  they  thought  it  aiiould  be  Bome 
e  paaUme  that  he  wyll  ahewa  your  grace.      Say  on. 


HERIE   TALES    OF   SKELTON.  XCl 

yne  maye  men  be  deceyued,  and  be  hurte  by  drynkinge 
che  euell  wyne ;  for  all  wines  must  be  strong,  and  fayre, 
well  coloured;  it  must  haue  a  redolent  sauoure;  it  must 
M%f  and  sprinkclynge  in  the  peece  or  in  the  glasse. 


huB  endem  the  raerie  Tales  of  Mbmiw  SJcelton,  very  pteaaumt 
for  the  recreacioii  of  minde. 


NOTICES    OF    SKELTON 


FROM    VARIOUS    SOURCES. 


Prom  Uie  imperflBot  copy  of  A  C  Menf  TaJ^  tmall  ftl 
printod  by  John  Bastell.    (See  Singer's  rqurinti  p.  tf.) 

**  Of  in«>-»ier  Skeltoa  that  broughie  the  byssbop  of  Norwidie  3 

fcaauutva.    xL 


It  ix>rt\in«d  ther  wms  a  great  varrance  bitwen  the  bysshop  rf 
Norwych  (uid  one  raayster  Skelton  a  poyet  lamyat;  in  M 
muoh  that  tl>e  bysshop  commanndyd  hym  that  he  ahnld  Ml 
c«^me  in  ki»  g^tys.  Thys  mayster  Skeltoo  dyd  absent  Irji^ 
»«lf<»  fvMT  A  lor.^  seiaon.  Bat  at  the  laste  he  dioiight  to  do  IqV' 
d<^>K  ty  to  hyr.)«  And  ^mdyed  veys  how  he  myght  f^taynete' 
b\ti*hv^i''\"*  tfr»;:v^^i^,  and  de*«nnvnvd  hemseif  that  he  wflH 
CxMn^"  to  hy:^  "nyth  soiin«  p:«sent,  and  humble  hymself  to  At 
b\^v^{^;  Ar..;  pi:  a  vvp>  of  i)e!sans»,  and  cam  to  the  byohp 
uj^jn^  }>i«o<\»  Ar.,i  T>?<^**:yT>Ni  the  i^orter  be  mygfate  come  hi  tl 
*|^k^  wy  th  n;y  jv>rx;.  ThH  jvr:er,  knovyng  his  kfdys  plfli^ 
*nT^  >n^^ld  *.nv  ^ut^r  h:n;  to  cvxse  is  ax  the  gatys;  wherfv 
t>v>-it  r."A>'5't*!r  Sko'-r.-c,  ^^«r.:  or.  tie  baksyde  to  seke  sons 
o;h^v  n  j^v  to  Ot-«i>^  -r.  :c  :h^  r'iiic<r>.  But  the  place  vasmotyi 
J>*At  h<'  nVx^  :o^  js<^  TK-  ^-Av  tc  cccrj*  over,  except  in  one  plMM 
V  Nfr^p  tN*"*  ij^v  A  i^r^  me*  <-«er  lie  aKAie  in  maner  oCl 
>»*>v,^?\  t>st  «*$  fifc.ot  o-'^«t:  "wytL  inrod;  vfaerfore  tkQfi 
»^x  >?■<».  >vo:o-  «-^:.i  i.uTiT^  TTvir.  :ii*  sree  ;o  come  oner,  m 
%h*r.  h^-  "*jii^  *.':T»*>^:  cv,:^-.  .v-s-  /or*  Svyrc-yd  for  lak  of  av 
^^j^nft,  lijs;  f>»  .r,v  ;Jw  ?;>ccc  at  %:  myjiyll;  but  at  tlM  111 


NOTICES    OF   SKELTON.  Xciu 

he  recoueryd  hymself,  and,  as  well  as  he  coud,  dryed  hym- 
self  ageyne,  and  sodeuly  cam  to  the  byshop,  beyng  in  hys 
hall,  than  lately  rysen  from  dyner:  whyche,  whan  he  saw 
Skelton  commyng  sodenly,  sayd  to  hym,  Why,  thow  caytyfe, 
I  warayd  the  thow  shuldys  neuer  come  in  at  my  gatys,  and 
chtrgyd  my  porter  to  kepe  the  out.  Forsoth,  my  lorde,  quod 
Skelton,  though  ye  gaue  suche  charge,  and  though  your 
gatys  by  neuer  so  suerly  kept,  yet  yt  ys  no  more  possible  to 
kepe  me  out  of  your  dorys  than  to  kepe  out  crowes  or  pyes ; 
for  I  cam  not  in  at  your  gatys,  but  I  cam  ouer  the  mote,  that 
I  haue  ben  almost  drownyd  for  my  labour.  And  shewyd  hys 
dothys  how  euyll  he  was  arayed,  whych  causyd  many  that 
stodetherby  to  laughe  apace.  Than  quod  Skelton,  Yf  itlyke 
your  lordeshyp,  I  haue  brought  you  a  dyshe  to  your  super,  a 
cople  of  fesantes.  Nay,  quod  the  byshop,  I  defy  the  and  thy 
fesaantys  also,  and,  wrech  as  thou  art,  pyke  the  out  of  my 
bowse,  for  1  wyll  none  of  thy  gyft  how  [something  lost  here] 
Skelton  than,  consyderynge  that  the  bysshoppe  called  hym 
fole  so  ofte,  sayd  to  one  of  hys  famylyers  thereby,  that 
thoQgfae  it  were  euyll  to  be  christened  a  fole,  yet  it  wasmoche 
worse  to  be  confyrmyd  a  fole  of  suche  a  bysshoppe,  for  the 
name  of  confyrmacyon  muste  nedes  abyde.  Therfore  he 
ymagened  ho  we  he  myghte  auoyde  that  confyrmacyon,  and 
mused  a  whyle,  and  at  the  laste,  sayde  to  the  byoshope  thus. 
If  your  lordeshype  knewe  the  names  of  these  fesantes,  ye 
wold  [be]  contente  to  take  them.  Why,  caytefe,  quod  the 
bisshoppe  hastly  and  augrey,  [what]  be  theyr  names  ?  Ywys, 
my  lorde,  quod  Skelton,  this  fesante  is  called  Alpha,  which 
iSi  in  primys  the  f>Tst,  and  this  is  called  0,  that  is,  novissi- 
mus  the  last;  and  for  the  more  playne  vnderstandynge  of  my 
mynde,  if  it  plese  your  lordeshype  to  take  them,  I  promyse 
you,  this  Alpha  is  the  fyrste  that  euer  I  gaue  you,  and  this  0 
» the  laste  that  euer  I  wyll  gjrue  yon  whyle  I  lyue.  At 
which  answere  all  that  were  by  made  great  laughter,  and 
^y  all  de[8ired  the  bisphoppe]  to  be  good  lorde  vnto  him 
fit  his  merye  conceytes :  at  which  [earnest  entrety,  as  it] 
Wttte,  the  bysshope  was  contente  to  take  hym  vnto  his  fi^uer 
•Jiyne. 
By  thys  tale  ye  may  se  that  mery  conceytes  dothe  [a  man 


SOTICES    OF    f 


Bolfe  wiih  i(ngar]  siid  njtai 


Vtoai  Tola,  and  quidit  OMiMra,  ttrg  nwrii,  mil  ^Iciuaiil  M 
Ttdt.  Ito.  n.d.,  printed  by  TboiDS*  fiertluJel.  (See  Sing 
ar*!  reprint,  p.  9.) 


"  Of  It 


beggcri 


loM.Skeli 


A  rouRE  begger,  tint  was  foule,  blacks,  nnd  lothlye 
llolde,  CHin  TpoD  a  tyme  veto  mkytter  Skeltoa  the  pooM,  and 
taked  him  his  nlmeB.  To  wliom  mayBler  Skelfoo  isy*,! 
praye  the  getle  Iha  nwsyo  fre  me,  for  thon  lokeaw  as 

Cameat  out  of  lielle.    The  ponre  man,  perceynlng  W 
Tolde  syBS  him  no  Ihynge,  an«werd,  For  soth,  syr,  ye 
Irouth;  1  came  onlc  of  hells.     Why  dyddest  tliou  nM 
it^  there?  quod  mayster  Skelton.    Mary,  lyr,  qood  tliabefi 
1^,  then  Ii  DO  Toame  for  luofi  ponre  beggera  as  1  am 
kepta  for  anchft  geiityl  mea  tu  ye  be." 


PreGxei]  to  PWiy  pUntaunl  and  profilaOt  uwitct  qf  ..._ 
Btellon,  Pueti  iMareatt.  Nouk  colkctrdandnewljiptiU 
Anna  15G8.     IZmo. 

"If  elonth  aud  tract  of  time 

(That  wDors  who  thing  away) 
Should  nut  imd  mnker  n-orthy  artei, 

Good  works  vrouM  seen  decay. 
If  Buche  at  present  are 

Fergoeth  the  people  past, 
Onr  BelnlB]9  should  soon  in  silence  oleps. 

And  Io«3  renom  at  la^t, 
No  loyll  nor  land  so  mde 

But  torn  odd  men  can  gboe: 


FBOM   YABIOUS   SOURCES.  XCY 

Than  shoald  the  learned  pas  unknowne, 

Whoes  pen  &  skill  did  floe  ? 
Goa  sheeld  our  slouth  ^  wear  sutch. 

Or  world  so  simple  nowe, 
That  knowledge  soaept  without  reward 

Who  sercheth  vertue  throwe, 
And  paints  forth  vyce  aright, 

And  blames  abues  of  men,  ^W    ^^ 

And  shoes  what  lief  desarues  rebuke. 

And  who  the  prayes  of  peru<  ' 
You  see  howe  forrayn  realms 

Aduance  their  poets  all ; 
And  ours  are  drow^ned  in  the  dust, 

Or  flong  against  the  wall. 
In  Fraunoe  did  Marrot  raigne; 

And  neighbour  thear  vnto 
Was  Petrark,  marching  full  with  Dantte, 

Who  erst  did  wonders  do; 
Among  the  noble  Grekes 

Was  Homere  full  of  skill ; 
And  where  that  Ouid  norisht  was 

The  soyll  did  florish  still 
With  letters  hie  of  style; 

But  VirgiU  wan  the  fraes,^ 
And  past  them  all  for  deep  engyen, 

And  made  them  all  to  gaes 
Upon  the  bookes  he  made: 

Thus  eche  of  them,  you  see, 
Wan  prayse  and  fame,  and  honor  had, 

Eche  one  in  their  degree. 
I  pray  you,  then,  my  friendes, 

Disdaine  not  for  to  vewe 
The  workes  and  sugred  verses  fine 

Of  our  raer  poetes  newe ; 


**«(ft]  01ded."sloulth." 

Vniej]  i.  e.  phrase. — In  the  Mitsei  LSn'ory,  1737,  p.  188. 
^  word  is  altered  to  "  bayes." 


3 


XCVl  NOTICES   OF   SKELTON 


Whoes  barboms  lanj^age  med 

Perhaps  ye  may  mislike ; 
But  blame  them  not  that  raedly  playes 

If  they  the  ball  do  strike, 
Nor  skome  not  mother  tunge, 

0  babes  of  Englislie  breed  I 
I  haue  of  other  language  seen, 

And  you  at  full  may  reed 
Fine  verses  trimly  wrought, 

And  coutcht  in  comly  sort; 
But  neuer  I  nor  you,  I  troe. 

In  sentence  plaine  and  short 
Did  yet  beholde  with  eye, 

In  any  forraine  tonge, 
A  higher  verse,  astaetly[er]  style, 

That  may  be  read  or  song. 
Than  is  this  daye  indeede 

Our  Englishe  verse  and  ryme, 
The  grace  wherof  doth  touch  y«  goda, 

And  reatch  the  cloudes  somtime. 
Thorow  earth  and  waters  deepe 

The  pen  by  skill  doth  passe. 
And  featly  nyps  the  worldes  abuse, 

And  shoes  vs  in  a  glasse 
The  vertu  and  the  vice 

Of  euery  wyght  alyue: 
The  honv  combe  that  bee  doth  make 

Is  not  so  sweete  in  hyue 
As  are  tlie  golden  leues 

That  drops  from  poets  head. 
Which  doth  surmount  our  conmion  talke 

As  ftirre  as  dros  doth  lead : 
The  flowre  is  sifted  cleane. 

The  bran  is  cast  aside, 
And  so  good  come  is  knowen  from  chaffe; 

And  each  fine  graino  is  spide. 
Peers  Plowman  was  full  plaine, 
And  Chausers  spreet  was  great; 


\ 


t 


•  • 


FBOM   VARIOUS    SOURCES.  ZCVU 

Enrle  Surry  had  a  goodly  vayne; 
Lord  Vaos  the  marke  did  beat, 
And  Phaer  did  hit  the  pricke 
In  thinges  he  did  translate, 
And  Edwards  had  a  special  gift; 

And  diners  men  of  late 
Hath  helpt  our  Englishe  toung, 

That  first  was  baes  and  brute : — 
Che,  shall  I  leaue  out  Skeltons  name, 

The  blossome  of  my  frute, 
The  tree  wheron  indeed 

My  branchis  all  might  groe  ? 
Nay,  Skelton  wore  the  lawrell  wreath. 

And  past  in  schoels,  ye  knoe ; 
A  poet  for  his  arte, 

Whoes  iudgment  suer  was  hie. 
And  had  great  practies  of  the  pen, 

His  works  they  will  not  lie; 
His  terms  to  taunts  did  lean, 
His  taike  was  as  he  wraet. 
Full  quick  of  witte,  right  sharp  of  wordi| 

And  skilfuU  of  the  staet; 
Of  reason  riep  and  good,  / 

And  to  the  haetfull  mynd. 
That  did  disdain  his  doings  still, 

A  skomar  of  his  kynd ; 
Most  pleasant  euery  way. 

As  poets  ought  to  be, 
And  seldom  out  of  princis  grace,         L-    - 

And  great  with  eche  degre. 
Thus  haue  you  heard  at  full 
What  Skelton  was  indeed; 
A  further  knowledge  shall  you  haue, 

If  you  his  bookes  do  reed. 
1  haue  of  meer  good  will 

Theas  verses  written  heer, 

To  honour  vertue  as  I  ought, 

And  make  his  fame  apeer, 


^OL.  I. 


^YJtt  NOTICES   OF   8KBLTON 

That  whan  the  garland  gay 

Of  lawrel  leaues  but  laet: 
Small  is  my  pain,  great  is  his  prayesi 

That  thus  sutch  honour  gaet 

Fmis  quod  ChurckyarA 


}ftwx  Ma$mu  Parikvnti  ZAt£cra  due  ^pignuumaia  Ji 

tfio.    1578, 4to. 

"  De  Skeltono  vate  &  aaeerdole. 

SKKLTOinis  grauidam  reddd>at  forte  puellam, 

Insigni  forma  qus  peperit  puenim. 
lUico  moltorum  fama  haec  perrenit  ad  aores, 

Esse  patrem  nato  sacrificum  pueitk 
Skeltonum  facti  non  pcenitet  aut  pndet;  jsdes 

Ad  sacras  festo  sed  venit  ipse  die: 
Pulpita  conscendit  facturus  verba  popello; 

Inque  hsec  prorapit  dicta  vir  iUe  bonus; 
Quid  Tos,  0  scnrrse,  capit  admiratio  tanta? 

Non  sunt  eunuchi,  credite,  sacrifici: 
O  stolidi,  vimlum  nnm  me  genuisse  putatis? 

Non  genui  vitnlam,  sed  lepidum  pnemm; 
Sique  meis  verbis  n<xi  creditis,  en  puer,  inquit; 

Atque  e  suggesto  protulit,  ac  abiit." 


f  ran  A  TVdUiti!  Againii  Jc^ciai  At^vlagie.  Deditaiol  tti  iAi 
fiijftfffiMWoWti  Sir  riumat  EfferUm  Kniyhl,  lord  Xtiper 
'f  At  Onai  SeaU,  laid  one  b/ her  Maalia  nuwt  konorablc 
ffmi  CbmceS.  W^-Utea  by  John  Chambir,  me  of  Ihe  t're- 
Uirui  of  her  Maiaiia  fret  CkajiptU  of  Winihor,  a:id 
fiSaimfEa^on  CbOtgt.    lilul.    ilo, 

'Sm  iimoli  Tnliko  to  merria  Skollon,  who  thrust  his  wife  out 
II tin  doore,  and  receiued  bar  in  aftnloe  kX  Ihe  windoiv.  The 
■tint  ji  iiell  known  bow  the  binbop  had  charged  him  to 
liniK  faia  wira  out  of  (bedoore:  but  that  which  wks  but  a 
muioeiit  hi  SkeltoD,"  &o.  p.  BS. 


"  So  iuA  tiie  leape  7<Hre,  Tor  any  thing  I  tee,  miglil  ne!J 
nt  [be  derenee  of  merie  Skeltoa,  wlio  being  a  priest,  ojid 
Imiiiig  a  child  by  hi«  wife,  euerio  one  cijod  out,  Uh,  Skeltun 
)iUliichiId,eeanhim,  &c  Tbeirmoathes  at  timt  time  be 
tnjii  not  stop:  baton  a  holy  day,  in  a  mary  mood,  ha  brought 
i<  cliild  U  cbaroh  witli  lilm,  and  in  the  pulpit  Btript  it  nuked, 
■nd iMld  it  out,  saying,  See  this  child:  is  it  not  a  pretie cliild, 
"  Mlier  Ehiiilren  be,  puensaany  of  youraV  hath  it  not  legs, 
vuiSi,  licad,  feet,  limbes,  proportioned  ouory  way  as  it  ehuid 
bt?  ir  8keltou  had  begot  a  monster,  as  a  ealfe,  orsachlike, 
•hull  life  ihonld  poora  Skallon  hane  had  than?  So  we  say 
iMOieluipe  yearc,  i(  it  had  chaugad  the  oatare  of  thlnge, 
u  it  ii  charf^,  how  should  it  haue  done  then  to  defende 
Ilrifc7"p.  na. 


NOTICES    OF   SKELTON 


From  The  Life  of  Long  Meg  of  Westminster :  comlammg  ^ 
mad  merry  prankts  she  played  in  her  life  time,  not  oiuljii^ 
performing  sundry  quarrels  with  diuers  ruffians  about  LimiM: 
But  also  how  valiantly  Ae  hthaued  her  selfe  in  the  warns  of 
BolliHngne,  1635.  4to.  ( Of  this  tract  there  is  said  to  bare 
been  a  niucli  earlier  edition.  I  quote  from  the  reprint  in 
JJiiCtUanea  Aniiqua  Auglicana,  1S16.) 

"Chap.  II. 

Coiiiaiiiiiig  how  h«  [the  carrier]  placvd  her  in  AVeatmiiuter,  lad 
M'hai  shee  did  at  her  placing. 

After  the  carrier  had  set  vp  his  horse,  and  dispatcht  bia 
:adiiig,  hee  ivmembred  his  oath,  and  therefore  bethought  bio 
how  he  might  place  these  three  maides:  with  that  hee  called 
to  miiide  tiiat  the  mistresse  at  the  Eagle  in  Westminster  bad 
spoken  diners  times  to  h:m  for  a  seruant ;  he  with  his  ca^ 
riap?  passed  oner  the  delds  to  her  house,  where  he  found  btf 
sitting  and  drinking  wi:h  a  Spanish  knight  called  sir  Jaina 
of  Castile,  doctor  Skelton,  and  Will  Sotnmers;  told  her  bow 
hee  had  brv.^ugh:  vp  to  Li'nd.^n  three  Lancashire  lasses,  and 
seeing  she  w.is  ot'^  desirous  to  haue  a  maid,  now  she  should 
take  !:er  choyoe  which  of  ±em  she  would  haue.  Mvit, 
quoth  s::co,  v^olr.g  a  very  merr^*  and  a  pleasant  woman,)  ear- 
ner, tV.ou  ccn;:r.cs:  ir.  good  rlxe:  for  no:  onelr  I  wantamaid, 
but  heere  bee  three  gen:Ien:en  :i:a:  shall  giue  me  their  opi- 
nions, wh'.ch  of  tl'.om  I  shall  haue.  Wlrh  that  the  maids 
wew  bidde:*.  cv'r.:e  :::.  ar.d  sr.e  ::: treated  them  to  giue  th«r 
T«i>iicC.  Streigh:  as  socne  as  the  v  saw  Long  Meg,  they  begpa 
lo  smile:  and  doctor  Skeltoc  in  his  =i;;i merry Teire,b!eMtDg 
kiBMelA),  be^ran  thus: 


AwiM«.  Aykw,  rue  kv  f 
What  i*  she  in  the  gr^y  cass.vk? 
Me  th'.nkes  si"-,*  "#  ."f  a  !.*.rg^  "ength. 
Of  a  ^fcll  ritcr..  and  a  r-.v'o  sn:«n;ih- 
With  »Tv.'ni  artnfs  a-.i  *:  5e  S:-oes; 
Tlu*  i*  a  w>e-v*i:  :Vc  :i<  ncc-.es: 


FROM   VARIOUS    SOURCES.  CI 

Her  lookes  are  bonny  and  blithe, 

She  seemes  neither  lither  nor  lithe, 

But  young  of  age, 

And  of  a  merry  visage. 

Neither  beastly  nor  bowsie, 

Sleepy  nor  drowsie, 

But  faire  faoM  and  of  a  good  size; 

Therefore,  hostesse,  if  you  be  wise, 

Once  be  ruled  by  me, 

Take  this  wench  to  thee; 

For  this  is  plaine, 

Shee*l  doe  more  worke  than  these  twaine : 

I  tell  thee,  hostesse,  I  doe  not  mocke ; 

Take  her  in  the  gray  cassocke. 

it  is  your  opinion?  quoth  the  hostesse  to  sir  James  of 
ile.  Question  with  her,  quoth  he,  what  she  can  do,  and 
He  giue  you  mine  opinion:  and  yet  first,  hostesse,  aske 
Sommers  opinion.  Will  smiled,  and  swore  that  his 
tsse  should  not  haue  her,  but  king  Harry  should  buy  her. 
80,  Will?  quoth  doctor  Skelton.  Because,  quoth  Will 
mere,  that  she  shall  be  kept  for  breed ;  for  if  the  king 
d  marry  her  to  long  Sanders  of  the  court,  they  would 
;  forth  none  but  souldiers.  Well,  the  hostesse  demanded 
her  name  was.  Margaret,  forsooth,  quoth  she.  And 
worke  can  you  doe?  Faith,  little,  mistresse,  quoth  she, 
landy  labour,  as  to  wash  and  wring,  to  make  cleane  a 
J,  to  brew,  bake,  or  any  such  drudgery:  for  my  needle, 
it  I  haue  beene  little  vsed  to.  Thou  art,  quoth  the  host- 
a  good  lusty  wench,  and  therefore  I  like  thee  the  better: 
le  here  a  great  charge,  for  I  keepe  a  yictualling  house, 
liners  times  there  come  in  swaggering  fellowe?,  that, 
1  they  haue  eat  and  dranko,  will  not  pay  what  they  call 
yet  if  thou  take  the  charge  of  my  drinke,  I  must  be  an- 
ed  out  of  your  wages.  Content,  mistresse,  quoth  she; 
^hile  I  serue  you,  if  any  stale  cutter  comes  in,  and 
tes  to  pay  the  shot  with  swearing,  hey,  gogs  wounds,  let 
Joue !  Ue  not  onely  (if  his  clothes  be  worth  it)  make  him 
ere  hee  passe,  but  lend  him  as  many  bats  as  his  crag  will 


ni  NOTICES    OF 

cany,  aod  Iheo  throw  him  out  of  donres.  At  thii  Ih*/ 
Hniled.  N&>',  mlstrewe,  quoth  the  oarrlar, 'ds  true,  (be  mr 
poors  piJch  hers  is  able  with  a  palra  of  blew  ihoulden  to 
Bweore  m  mnch;  and  wiih'that  he  told  tbem  hnw  she  bid 
vaud  him  at  her  coiDmliiKto  Loadoa.  I  cannot  Ihfnke,  qunlli 
Kir  JamDS  of  Caatile,  that  she  ia  bo  strong.  Try  her,  qnolb 
filteltOQ,  fbr  1  haae  heard  That  Spaniards  are  of  wondtritiil 
■trength.  Str  Jtines  in  a  branei'}'  would  needs  mnke  eipe- 
rieuao,  and  therefore  askt  the  matda  if  sbs  duisC  change  i 
box  on  the  cbid  tvilh  him.  I,  sir,  quoth  ihe,  that  1  daie,  if 
my  miatreeee  will  giue  me  lenne.  Yes,  Ucg,  quoth  she;  doa 
thy  beet.  And  'with  thU  it  «u  a  question  who  should  itud 
first:  Many,  that  I  will,  sir,  quoth  ?he;  and  so  stood  to  Mit 
sir  James  his  blowj  who,  forcing  hiniseife  with  all  hisnii^I, 
gRue  her  taoh  a  bos  Uiat  she  could  scaicaly  stand,  yel  diM 
stirred  no  more  than  a  pwt.  Then  sir  James  he  £tood,iud 
the  hostesse  frilled  her  not  spare  her  strength.  No.  qontli 
Skellon  i  and  if  she  fell  liim  dowse,  He  giae  her  a  pah^  of 
new  hose  »nd  shoona.  Mistresse,  quoth  Meg  (and  with  fist 
she  stroke  <rp  her  sleeoe,)  bore  is  a  fania  fist,  and  it  hath  pot 
mncL  drudgery,  but,  trust  me,  I  thinke  it  will  giue  a  gind 
blow:  and  with  that  ehe  raoght  at  him  so  strongilT,  Ihu 
downe  Ml  sir  James  Bt  her  feet.  By  roy  ftitb,  qnoth  Will 
Sommars,  she  strikes  n  blow  like  an  oxe,  fbr  she  hath  slnwka 
down  an  asse.  At  this  they  all  laught.  Sir  James  WM 
ashamed,  and  Meg  was  enlerlained  into  seraice." 


it  CiiHile,  m  Spanish  kiiJehi,  and  whnt  w 


There  was  a  gi 


luen  WHS  a  great  suter  to  Meg's  mistresse,  called  sir  James 
oT  Castile,  to  wlnne  hec  lose:  but  her  oQbctiaei  was  set  An 
doctor  Skellon;  so  that  sir  James  could  get  do  gnuit  of  Mrr 
fanonr.  Whereupon  he  swore,  if  hee  knew  who  were  bm 
pamnoDr,  bee  would  nmne  him  tborow  with  his  rapier.  Th« 
mistresse  (who  bad  a  greitt  delight  to  bee  pleasant)  made  > 
match  benrsene  ber  and  Long  Ueg,  that  she  should  goe  di«Bl 


FROM   VARIOUS   SOURCES.  cili 

fai  gentlemans  apparell,  and  with  her  sword  and  buckler  goe 
ind  meet  sir  James  in  Saint  Georges  fieldfs] ;  if  she  beat 
hhn,  she  should  for  her  labour  haue  a  new  petticote.    Let 
me  alone,  quoth  Meg;  the  deuill  ts^e  me  if  I  lose  a  petticote. 
And  with  that  her  raistris  delmered  her  a  suit  of  white  sattin, 
tiiat  was  one  of  the  guards  that  lay  at  her  house.    Meg  put 
it  ODf  and  tooke  her  whinyard  by  her  side,  and  away  she 
wnt  into  Saint  Georges  fields  to  meet  sir  James.    Presently 
ifter  came  sir  James,  and  found  his  mistris  very  melancholy, 
«  women  haue  faces  that  are  fit  for  all  fancies.    What  aile 
yon, sweetheart?  quoth  he;  tell  me;  hath  any  man  wronged 
yon?  if  he  hath,  be  he  the  proudest  champion  in  London,  lie 
bine  him  by  the  eares,  and  teach  him  to  know,  sir  James  of 
Cutile  can  chastise  whom  he  list.    Now,  quoth  she,  shall  I 
bow  if  you  loue  me:  a  squaring  long  knaue,  in  a  white  sat> 
tfai  doublet,  bath  this  day  monstrously  misused  me  in  words. 
Ml  I  hane  no  body  to  reuenge  it;  and  in  a  brauery  went  out 
if  doores,  and  bad  the  proudest  champion  I  had  come  into 
ftdot  Georges  fields  and  quit  my  wrong,  if  they  durst:  now 
ilr  James,  if  euer  you  loued  mee,  leame  the  knaue  to  know 
Imr  he  haUi  wronged  me,  and  I  will  grant  whatsoeuer  you 
nqoeet  at  my  hands.    Marry,  that  I  will,  quoth  he ;  and  for 
ttit  yon  may  see  how  I  will  vse  the  knaue,  goe  with  me,  you 
iMl  master  doctor  Skelton,  and  be  eye-witnesses  of  my  man- 
hood.   To  this  they  agreed;  and  all  three  went  into  Saint 
Gioiges  fields,  where  Long  Meg  was  walking  by  the  wind- 
■dk   Yonder,  quoth  she,  walkes  the  villain  that  abused  me. 
FoUoir  me,  hostesse,  quoth  sir  James ;  Ue  goe  to  him.    As 
MQDe  as  hee  drew  nigh,  Meg  began  to  settle  herselfe,  and  so 
dM^dr  James:  but  Meg  past  on  as  though  she  would  haue 
|Mi  by.    Nay,  sirrah,  stay,  quoth  sir  James;  you  and  I  part 
lot io^  ire  must  haue  a  bout  ere  we  passe;  for  I  am  this  gen 
tiwwwiiiiw  champion,  and  flatly  for  her  sake  will  haue  you 
If  tte  aarea.    Heg  replied  not  a  word ;  but  only  out  with  her 
s  and  to  it  they  went.    At  the  first  bout  Meg  hit  him 
I  band,  and  hurt  him  a  little,  but  endangered  him  diuera 
mod  made  hhn  giue  ground,  following  so  hotly,  that 
•tmoke  air  James'  weapon  out  of  his  hand ;  then  when 
him  diaarm'd,  shee  atept  within  him,  and,  drawing 


KOTICES   OF   SKF.LTOW 


her  ponynrd,  tn-ore  all  the  world  sbaold  not 
ianeniee,  airl  quoth  bee;  lama  knight,  and 'tis  but^i 
maMBt  mntter;  spill  not  mj  blood.  Wart  thon  Cwenlr 
kni^te,  qnotb  M«g,  and  ware  Ibe  king  binuaUb  heart,  he* 
Hboold  not  saofl  thy  life,  toIqbhb  tbou  grant  mee  ana  Ihinf 
WbBtaoeuei  it  bee.  quoth  sir  James.  Msm-,  qnotb  shH, Bill 
Is,  that  thie  night  thou  wait  on  my  trencher  ai  snpper  xt  Uiii 
womans  house;  and  whan  supper  ii  dono,  (hen  tonfease  mt 
to  be  Iby  better  at  weapon  in  any  gmnnd  in  EngUnd.  I  will 
do  it,  sir,  quoth  he,  na  I  am  &  true  linlgbl.  With  this  tht? 
departed,  and  sir  James  went  hnnte  with  bis  boatesse  aonnir- 
Tuli  and  ashamed,  Bwearing  that  his  advenarj  was  the  atoBt- 
est  man  in  England.  Well,  aupperwu  proutded,  and  or 
ThomBB  Uoore  and  diners  other  gentlenwa  bidden  thithsrlij 
SIceltons  means,  to  nuke  Tp  the  jest;  which  when  eirJailiN 
saw  inuited,  liee  put  a  good  fhce  on  the  matlep,  and  Owogbl 
to  make  a  slight  matter  of  il,  and  therefore  beforehand  toU 
air  Thomna  Moore  what  had  befallen  him,  lion  entring  in  ■ 
quarrell  of  his  hostesae,  hee  fonght  with  a  despemte  geiSt' 
mnn  of  the  court,  who  hRd  fcnled  bim,  and  giuea  bha  in 
ohsTge  (o  wait  oa  bis  treacher  that  Dight.  Sir  Thomaa  Sfnon 
answeredsir  James,  that  it  waa  no  dishonour  to  be  foiled  bf 
a  geulleiOHn  [of  England?],  aitb  Cajsar  bimaelfe  was  boalw 
baeka  by  their  valour.  As  thus  (bey  were  discuiiting  rf  lit 
Taloar  of  Englishmen,  In  eatfle  Ueg  maroliing  In  her  man 
attire;  enen  as  ahee  entered  in  at  the  doors,  This,  sirThomsi 
Moore,  qnoCh  air  James,  ia  that  Enf^iah  gentiemnn  wh<H 
prowesae  I  I'D  highly  commend,  and  to  whom  In  rII  TaUnir  I 
Bcconnt  myselfe  so  iDferlDur.  And,  sir,  qaoth  shee,  pulUli| 
offherhBt,  nodherbRire  falUng  nbent  her  eares,  hee  IbiliM 
hurt  him  to  day  ia  none  other  bnt  Long  Meg  of  WestminatK; 
andeoyoaare  all  welcome.  Attbisall  tbecoiDpBny  fblliaft 
great  laogbin);,  and  sir  James  was  Bmazed  that  a  wonnui 
shonld  BO  wap  him  in  a  whinyard:  wall,  hee  as  the  rest  was 
fiune  to  langh  at  the  matter,  and  all  that  aupper  tiwa  ta 
wait  on  her  trencher,  who  bad  leaue  of  her  mistria  tikii 
ahee  might  be  master  of  the  feast;  where  with  a  gfioi 
langbter  they  made  good  cheera,  air  James  playing  llie  proper 
page,  nud  Ueg  sittitig  in  lier  mniesty.    Tlius  uos  sir  Janm 


^^^V'^'''" 


FROM   VARIOUS   SOURi 


Smgm  Old  Skdioa,  ISM,  a  play  by  Rlohnrd  HnthwHye  end 
Iffflkni  Ranklna,  ie  mentionBd  in  Honslowfl'a  MSS.:  see  Ma 
ImA  Siake^)tarfS  (by  Bostrell,)  Hi.  824. 

Meei  of  Skeiloii  mny  nlao  ba  fonnil  in:— 

iDiabi^iellujtlaaiaimtaBd  jntli/aBjidieTein  u  a  godSt 
tifiMut  agaitut  Ibe  Faatr  Pntilencc,  vilk  a  cotaola&n  and 
n^ftrW  agniHiit  ofcnrt.     Neinlit  tarreded  it/  H 


I,  Bvo.     Oft 


UiltU0  notic^a  of  Bevfiml  poets,  introduced  by  ^ny  of  In- 
ItriMa  or  diversion  in  Ibe  midst  of  a  Beriouf  diulopuo;  and 
(Up-  IT)  Skeltan  is  described  as  eitting  "  ill  tbe  comer  of  a 
PlUsr,  vith  a  frostia  bittau  face,  frownyng,"  and  "  writyng 
■017  niharpe  Diatioons"  ugninst  Wultoy — 
"How  tbe  Cardioal]  cama  of  nouglit, 
And  bia  Prelaole  solde  und  bouglil,"  &c. 
(llTWMichieflymndenpfVomSkeltoira  works).— Tie  Ke- 
tail  (^  HTcjfca/nu9(,  rfMcwminff  CAe  tusdr^t  nuniU-Dua  abatet 
fftieliiiioidimj/odlj/  tFerJdingi,  &e.  yeaiy  iompiled ht/ Rkk- 
wiSMntOH,  lei-uaaui  inliOaislioUleloIht  rishl  honorabU  Earlt 
^AraeAurn,  ha.  410,  n.d.  [The  Address  to  tbe  Reader 
dud  IST4,)  Rt  flijt.  Q  i.—A  DitcouTK  o/Enyliih  Potlrii,  &o., 
Bi  frU&m  iVrbit,  aradmle,  1S8D,  ila,  at  eig.  0  ill.— He 
JAtf  JJigUih  Pueue,  &c.  (Attributed  to  one  Puttenhem: 
tU  tee  D'laraeli'e  Abkh.  of  Lit.  11.  378,  aqq.],  1688,  4Co,  nl 
ff.i»,SI>,eil.—F(wreLrrteri,aiidceriid'ieSonaelt:  S^tHiatlg 
imUng  Siittrt  Grimi,  &c.  (byGabdell  Harvey,)  IBSS,  ItO, 
«t  p,  7,—Pitrca  Suprreragaliim  or  a  tfea  PmjjK  of  We  Old 
iat,  io.  [Iiv]  Gabi-icU  Unrnty,  15B3,  4to,  at  ]).  IS.—PnllaiJU 
Tumil.      ttilt  n-aUFiT,  Bting  Utt  ScconJ  pa,-l  1/  ITito  0"« 


X-Ticrs    OF   SKKLTOtJ 

I.  J^  Awn  Jfcro,  lea.,  ISflS.  lamo,  M  p.  Kl^ 
^^  rk  Arte  last  Bookei.  O/bt/ttBg  Saljrft^ 
Jj  IBM,  ISmo,  at  p.  SS—Thc  DoinnfuH  ^  JioM 
^rtiqa■^  4/t<ru;unf  rof^  AuUfi  Sood  tf  nerni 
k  *^  dy  Ai.lhony  Sluiidaj-,)  IfiOl,  410,  In  lA 
B*  fc  Mpposoil  In  ba  a  reheureal  previoua  Id  Hi  p« 
ariMv  Elmiy  Che  Eighth,  Skelton  acB  Uie  pmt  oJ 

m  Tli*atalki}fB«btH.BafkofHailiBslim,t»i 

j^JUkaV  UandDjr  Biid  Heni;  Cheltle,)  IBai,  Ua,  irtiU 
^^  a  Svesd  Pnil  la  ihs  drnmn  jUAt  described,  SkdUn, 
^1^  I*  ■«»o  is  not  mentioned  ihrongliout  it,  is  etill  mp 
^^MHltbB  Fmr.  .UiKeOunra,  written  out  by-'Joluia 
^^^W  Iwnreen  1601  and  1605— MS.  Stg.  ll.AV^ 
^^M  («*<''  H)  and  nttributes  to  fikelton,  a  welMnign 
^(^■Ir  jtn  fitprit. — Phdyiv,  or  Rtaave  Red-  Cap.  lb  i 
M|-  II  If  M  Oig^  IGOB,  tto.  Bs^ldes  a  notice  of  SkriM, 
^»  pMB  «ontnin6  twu  long  quotntioDs  from  his  Sf^now  An- 

_jU      " r-     Pra-jvili  Niglit-Cap :   Or  AnllMJbriit 

^i'  r'r  (by  Sniiiuel  Rotvlnnds,)  leiZ,  ito,  at  Big.  0 1  lod 
^  Ij  S.    The  teuoiid  nutice  of  Skelloa  in  this  poem  i>  H 

*JLr<(  •uoli  a.  woadroua  tronpe  tho  Hornpipe  traBdi, 
0»  cwinot  psfBe  nnotber  for  their  heads, 
nuit  shoitly  we  bIisJI  houe  (o«  Skdtan  I'eiB) 
A  greiUer  sort  uf  honied  msn  than  beaeU:  " 

^InMolloot  tiuthiug  in  hU  works  to  which  the  ailnilai 
0B  b»  »p|iileJ-— jJn  H'li/i-pemiflaa-a  of  B7(,  in  a  ft*^ 
M(A  (^  /■■v*''.  Or,  r*e  flwBHfM  Tufa.  The  tlA4  It- 
pmlla^  lOl^.  ^tO'  -A'  P-  ^^  "f  this  poem  I5  a  tatt  ndil 
■I  b*  "  in  Skeltoiis  rima  "—to  wliich,  howavep,  it  bows  M 
HtMnhlnnoO,— TAe  Shisplieartb  Pipe  (by  Brotvno  and  WI&- 
ip^  1014,  12mo,  in  Eglogue  i.,  at  sig.  C  r,—BspeTmSeil 
'  m  A  iW*  '/-'w'tfWKW  /oc  im'finj,  or  readmg  oar  ffuM]ft, 
jl^  ^  iil'iumd  BoUoa,  Author  0/  Ktro  Cosar  (poblltbel 
i|p  Of.  Aiilhuiiy  Hall  together  witi  Xicolai  Triveii  JusaM 
'TwHmniliV,  Jic-1. 1T^>  Bvo,  at  p.  Z3S.  At  whut  period  Bot 
m  wrat*  tliin  irontlse  is  unceitain:  he  probably  oompMii 
itRbaut  1118  i  flce  Hnslowood'a  PrefLice  to  Jnc.  CriL  EMf- 


FROM   TARIOCS   SOURCES.  CVU 

,  xvi. — Poenu!  By  Michatl  Dratfloa  Eigvirt,  D.d.  fblio, 
Ii3.—  The  Gulden  Fktct  Dimded  into  three  ParU,  &c., 
piewJunior  [Sir  William  Vaughan],  1628,  4to,  at  pp. 
,  93,  of  the  Third  ParL  In  this  piece  "  Scogin  and 
■  "  fij(uro  as  "the  chiefe  Aduncates  for  the  Dogrel 
1  by  the  procurcmaat  of  Zoilns,  Mmnus,  and  others  of 
'opitb  SecV—Th*  Fortunate  ItUa,  and  Iheir  (%>on. 
■ated  in  a  Matqat  lUagnedfor  Iht  Omrl,  on  Iht  Twdjih- 
1(126,  by  Ben  Jonsoa.  In  this  masque  are  introduced 
pn  and  SkeUon,  in  like  habits  as  they  livedi  "  see  Jon- 
IVbrfa,  nil.  ed.  Gifford:  Bee  also  his  TaU  of  a  T\il> 
•nA  1633),  Woria,  vi.  SBl.—  Wil  and  /"asrj  In  a  Maet. 
i  InctmparabU  Champion  of  Love  and  Beautie,  A  Mode- 
ice,  &c,  WHtien  origmaUy  in  l}te  Brtiiih  Tohi/w,  and 
^gUJi  by  a  perKm  of  vmch  Bmiir.  Si  fin-el  in  Cemt 
C  OemocTiiui.i  1666, 12mo.  In  this  romance  (p.  iOl) 
1  told  that  "  [In  Eirsium]  the  Brittish  Bards  (forsooth) 
■Iso  iDgaged  in  quarrel  for  Superiodty ;  and  who  think 
brew  the  Apple  of  Discord  amongst  them,  but  Ben 
D,  Trbo  bad  openly  vaunted  himself  the  first  and  best 

gllsh  Poet^ Skelion,  Gowsr,  and  the  Monk  uf 

were  at  Daggers-drawing  for  Chawoer:"  and  a  mar- 
note  on  "  Skelton  "  informs  ua  that  he  was  "  Henry  1, 
el  Lawreat,  who  wrote  disguises  for  the  yomif-  Princm  "  I 


Deb  is  the  title-page  of  the  cop;  now  before  m 
topies  (aee  Reitiluta,  iv.  IS6)  are  entitled  Don  Zi 
Ac  1SS4 ;  and  otben  Bomctncie-Maitix,  or  a  A 

«vu,  &c    Bij  Samutl  Buiiind.     Gent.  1690. 


f 


IBS,  "Koolege,  acquaynlancB,  resort^  fauonr  witU 

in  verses,  "Cunota  licet  ceoidisso  putaa,"    &a., 
jglish  tnuislation,  "  Thougli  ye  eupposB,"  &c. 
ies,  "  Go,  pytyous  hart,  rasjd  with  dedly  wo,"  &c. 


LauTeale  ai)ayate  a  comely  Coystnane  that  caryoaig 

ind  curryskly  coientrfd,  ATid  madly  in  hyt  Musykkyt 

made,  Ai/nynalt  Ike  .ur.  Sfaayt  of  polt/tykt  Poemi  4 

itryealat. 

«,  Oim  priiiUegio. 

,,  and  without  printer's  name,  but  Bvideutly  from 

)f  Pynson.    (Consisting  of  4  lenvee.) 

title-page  is  a  wcxxlcut,  the  aajne  as  in  the  Last  meD* 

;t,  but  with  a  dilTeretit  border. 

ses  mentioned  in  the  title-page. 

1  alia  Caiitilia  &  Orgnnisantu  Asinum,  qui  impng- 

llonida  pierinm  Snrcaemos." 

n  Laureat  oppon  a  deedmans  bed  yi  was  sent  to 

an  honorable  JeCyllwomnn  for  a  tolien  Denysyd 

'  ined}-tHcyon  hi  Englysli  Couenable  in  sentence 

e,   LRmetuble,   Locrymable,    Froly table   for   the 

tea,  "  Womanbod,  waolon,  ye  want,"  &o. 


lalistitnOj  Amplitdmo,  longiquR  reueren£gtimo  m 
ibi:  Ae  domino,  Anaino  Thoma  fc.  Titnli  tnncla 
yvaanda  Somana  ecel£$ia prf^ytcro  CardinaUmer 
ApottoUca  ledit  legato.  A  laUreqm  UgaUi  taperil- 
Btdttmit  lauTeatat   Ora,  reg.     HumUllmum,  diiil 


LIST   OF   LDITIOMS,    Si.C.  CXI 

in  tho  other,— iia^THK  at  lop  the  worjs  "  Skalton 
It  boUam  the  following  vecies,; 
Sinieviantura<KediBn  ndera/ulsett 
Ejnara  Atnq;  txanefii  Aec  ItmrBa  mxtru  virtbit. 
Sine  imlnitit  ctlebr^  ti  fiorne  referelur  ad  aatra 
Vt-Sg;  Sk^loaa  memoraiiibtr  aticra  diiiiu  [aUer  AilmU]. 
Qo  Uia  reverae  of  A  ii.  ore  small  woodouls  of  "  Tha  qusne  of 
Fmn"  and  "  Dame  Pnllai."     After  tha  coloplion  h  the  de- 
vicQof  the  printer,  "  Richard  rakes." 


Hngnjifyctiice,  A  gBodty  inlerlwU  n«J  a  nieri/  dmped  m 
nU  )j  majjiltr  Sl-etoti  poti  harenU  lain  dKeiia</-L 
Coloplion,  (Xm  priuikgio. 

Hlo,  n.d.,  Hud  without  printer's  nameJ 
IMiodidon  was  in  nil  probabililj  from  BaBtcU's  press. 


Onajia-folourelh  Ihe  bolie  «f  Pldllyp  Sim-oife  rompyUd  i, 
■q*r  Si,Sl(nt  Puele  Laureate. 

Crfophon, 

fr^liiilailjiadmaithepauUnjbsSgchnrdEele. 

Umo,  n.d.  On  tEverso  of  the  last  leaf  is  a  -vfoodciut  repre- 
WliBg  Phyllyp  Sparowe'a  tomb. 

io  edition  by  Kele,  4to,  n.d.,  is  mentioned  in  Tiffyigr.  Aniiq. 
<>■>(»,  ed.Dibdm:  bntq;.? 

Bm^UrfobmieOiaMs  booke  of  Phillyp  Sparaa,  comjaltd 
h  J^fMr  Stela  Poetc  Lam-eaie. 

MopllOD, 

Jnpyilfii  al  Lmdofi  tnptadei  douche  yerdt  bif  RiJivrt  Toy. 
UmOin.d.  On  rerense  of  the  last  leaf  is  the  enme  wood- 
Muin  thi  id.  htst  dssciibod. 


I 


CXii  LIST   OF  EDITIONS,   &C.  \ 

Here  after  fuloioetk  a  Me  boke  of  FtdOip  iparom.  Cbnyfi^ 
iy  mayster  Skelton  Poete  Laureate, 

Colophon, 

Imprinted  cU  London  inpouleM  churchyard,  at  the  sygm  cf  vi 
Sonne,  by  Antony  Kiison, 

Colophon  in  some  copies, 

Imprinted  at  London  inpoules  churchyard  at  the  tygne  of§k 
Lamb,  by  Abraham  Weale  [sic]. 

Colophon  in  some  other  copies, 

Imprinted  at  London  in  Foster-lane  by  Ihon  WaBey, 

12mo,  n.d. 

An  edition  Imprinted  at  London  in  paules  churche  yerdt  4 
John  Wyghty  with  a  woodcut  of  "  Phyllyp  Sparowes  tomb* 
on  the  last  page,  is  mentioned  m  Typogr,  Aniiq,  iv.  879.  tdi 
Dibdin. 


Here  after  foloweih  cericUne  bohes  cOpyled  by  maytter 
Poet  Laureat,  whose  names  here  after  shaU  appere, 

Speake  Parot, 

The  death  of  the  noble  Prynce  Kynge  Edwarde  the  fourth. 

A  treaty se  of  the  Scottes. 

Ware  the  Hawke. 

The  Tunnynge  of  Elynoure  Rummyng, 
Colophon, 

Thus  endeih  these  lytle  workes  compyled  by  maiUer  Shdion 
Poet  Laweat. 

Imprynted  at  London,  in  Crede  Lane,  by  John  Kyn^e  ow 
Thomas  Marche. 

12mo,  n.d. 

Heare  after  foloweih  certain  bohes  Compiled  by  Master  Sfcei 
ton,  Poet  Laureate  whose  names  here  after  doth  appere, 

(Enumeration  of  pieces  as  above.) 

Imprynted  at  London  by  Ihon  Day, 
Colophon, 


UST  OF  EDTTIOHS,  &C  CXlH 


limendeikAueliUeworiteompikdhg  matter  SteUom,Po€t 

vrtaL 

L2mo,  D^ 

Hisre  aftm'/abwdk  certayRe  bokeg,  dipfkd  tg  wiaytUrSketkm, 
Id  Laweai,  u^ote  names  here  after  Aatt  ofpere, 
(Enumeration  of  pieces  as  above.) 

Pmted  ai  London  by  Bichard  LaKL,for  Htmry  Tab,  dieelKmy 
Ptult  churchyard,  ai  ike  »ygne  ofJmBA, 
Colophon, 

Tka  endeihe  these  lyleU  worke*  conned  by  maytter  Skebom 
od  LmrtaL  Andprynied  by  Rkhard  Lanl,  for  Btnry  Tab, 
oeByug  tn  Poules  churche  yard  at  the  sygne  ofJu£tk, 
12mo,  n.d.  On  the  fly-leaf  of  the  copy  which  I  used,  but 
^aps  not  belonging  to  it,  was  pasted  a  woodcat  represent- 
g  the  author,  vrith  the  words  ^  Skelton  Poet  **  (copied  from 
fO!m^%  ed.  of  Dyuers  Balettys,  &c.,  and  the  same  as  that  on 
e  reverse  of  the  last  leaf  of  Kele*s  ed.  of  Why  came  ye  nat 
Omrte.) 

An  edition  printed  fir  W.  Bonham,  1547, 12mo,  is  men- 
ded by  Warton,  BisL  of  £  P.  IL  336  (note,)  ed.  4to. 

The  Tarioos  editions  of  these  **  certaine  bokes  "  contain, 

sides  the  pieces  specified  on  the  title-page,  the  following 

)ems — 

"All  noble  men,  of  this  take  hede,"  &c.  [prefixed  to  the 

Is.  of  Why  came  ye  nat  to  Qmrte.] 

"  Howe  euery  thing  must  haue  a  tyme." 

"Prayer  to  the  Father  of  Heauen." 

"To  the  seconde  Person." 

■To  the  Holy  Ghost" 


Bat  (rfierfiioujeih  a  liid  boke  called  Colyn  Cloute  compyled 
'■oyifflr  SkdUmpoete  Laureate. 

Qoi  eOturgat  meat  adoersus  malignantes,  aid  qvis  riabit  mecU 
^tnm  eperaales  iniqtdtatem.    Nemo  domine. 

TOL.  I.  H 


1 


Cxiv  LIST    OP   EDITIONS,    &C. 

Colophon, 

Imprinted  at  Lotidon  by  me  Rycharde  Kde  dwel^ng  m  At 
powUry  at  the  hmy  shop  vnJer  saynt  Myldredes  ckyrche,  , 

12mo,  n.d. 

An  edition  by  Kele,  4to,  n.d.,  is  mentioned  in  Typogr,  A^dq, 
iv.  805.  ed.  Dibdin :  but  qy.  V 

Here  after  fdhweih  a  liile  booke  called  Colyn  Clout  oomfM 
by  master  SkeUon  Poeie  Laureate, 

Quis  cosurgat ,  &c.  (as  above.) 
Colophon, 

htprinted  at  London  in  Patdes  Churche  yarde  at  the  Sygne  ^ 
the  Rose  by  John  Wyghte. 

12mo,  n.d. 

Here  ajierfokweth  a  litle  boke  called  Colyn  Clout  tompUi  ^ 
mxLsitr  Skelton  Poete  Laureate. 

Quis  consurgaiy  &c.  (as  above.) 
Colophon, 

Imprynted  at  London  in  Paules  Churche  yarde  at  the  Sgg^ 
of  the  Sunne  by  AnUiony  Kytson, 

Colophon  in  some  copies, 

Imprynted  at  London  in  Paules  Churche  yarde  at  ihe  S^^ 
of  the  Lambe  by  Abraham  Veale. 

12mo,  n.d. 

An  edition  Imprynted  at  London  by [Thomas  Godfray'J 

Oim  priuilegio  regali^  is  mentioned  in  Typogr.  Antiq.  iii.  ^l* 
ed.  Dibdin. 


Here  after  foloiceth  a  lytell  boke,  whiche  hath  to  name,  Tf^^i 
come  ye  nat  to  courte,  compyled  by  mayster  Skelton  poete  L^*** 
reaie. 

Colophon, 

Imprinted  at  hndon  by  me  Richard  kele  dwelllg  in  the  poiLH^ 
at  the  Vmge  shop  vnder  saynt  myldredes  chyrch. 

12mo,  n.d.    On  the  reverse  of  the  title-page  b  a  woodo^^ 


LIST    OF    EDITIONS,   &C'.  CXV 

representing  two  figures,  one  of  them  perhaps  meant  for 
Wolsey,  the  other  headed  "  Skelton; "  and  on  the  reverse  of 
the  last  leaf  is  a  woodcut  (copied  from  Pynson*s  ed  of  Dyuen 
BakUySf  &c.)  with  the  words  "  Skylton  poyet." 

An  edition  by  Kele,  4to,  n.d.,  is  mentioned  in  Typogr.  AnUq. 
iT.305.  ed.  Dibdin:  butqy.V 

Ren  afler  foloweih  a  little  bookcy  whiche  hath  to  name  Whi 
oome  ye  not  to  courte,  compiled  by  mayster  SkeliO  Poete  Laureate* 

CiJophon, 

Imprynied  at  London  in  Paules  churche  yarde  at  the  Sygne  of 
h  Hose  by  John  Wyght. 

12nio,  n.d.  On  the  reverse  of  the  title-page  is  a  woodcut, 
which  I  am  unable  to  describe,  because  in  the  copy  used  by 
ine  it  was  much  damaged  as  well  as  pasted  over. 

Here  after  fohweJth  a  litle  boke  tbhyche  hatke  to  namCy  rxhye 
oww  ye  not  to  Courte.     Compyled  by  mayster  Skelion  Poete  Lau- 

Colophon, 

Imprynted  at  London  in  Poules  church  yard  at  the  syne  of  the 
Mme  by  Anthony  Kytson. 

Colophon  in  some  copies, 

Imprynied  at  London  in  Poules  church  yard  at  the  syne  of  Hit 
I^mb  by  Abraham  Veale. 

Colophon  in  some  other  copies, 

Imprynied  at  London  in  Foster  lane  by  John  Wallye 

12010,  n.d. 

An  edition,  Imprynted  at  London,  in  PavUs  church  yarde  at 
Ike  Sygne  of  the  BtU  by  Robert  Toy,  is  mentioned  in  Ttffogr, 
^.  iii.  576.  ed.  Dibdin. 


J  IZ.-T-.   ?T.   i:. 


■-   ".-     ■   ■    ■-      .    ^;    :^;  — '  -.^  ..'^  zii     «_-~—  "■■■■ji^^H^ve, 


►     -.-       ->.>  .-■<  -ni  -■     ■  *»•  •>••  ^  -  i.  a  -;ii.trt3fc 


^  ^  ■  ■ 

^  «. —  ."..u^;r^   t.  --— ^  Cii^ii" 

-      V  _':      : :    -    ^:«. 

!.«*•  -  ■•-  ■    ■    "■•" 


LIST    OF   EDITIONS,   &C.  CXvH 

28.  Epitaphium    Margafete       81.  A  parable   by  William 

countisse  de  Derbi.  Gornishe  in  y*  Fleete. 

29.  Epita.  Hen.  septi.  82.  Against    yenemous 
80.  Eulogium    pro    suorum  tongues. 

temponim.  83.  Of  Calliope. 

How  the  very  dull  poem  (31)  by  William  Gornishe  came 
to  be  inserted  in  this  collection,  I  know  not :  but  I  may  just 
observe  that  it  is  found  (with  a  better  text)  in  MS.  Reg,  18. 
D>  IL  where  it  immediately  precedes  Skelton's  verses  on  the 
Death  of  the  Earl  of  Northumberland. 


"Now  synge  we,  as  we  were  wont,"  &c. — ^in  an  imperfect 
>^oliime  (or  fragments  of  volumes)  of  black-letter  Chrittmag 
Oirofles, — BibUograph,  JUisceU.  (edited  by  the  Sev.  Dr.  BlissJ 
1813, 4to,  p.  48. 


(^Deeming  the  comparatively  modem  edition  of  Eljfnour 
Smmt/nge,  1624,  4to  (celebrated  for  the  imaginary  portrait 
of  Elynour,)  see  Notes,  vol.  iil.  88  sqq. 


Wood  mentions  as  by  Skelton  {Ath.  Oxon.  i.  62.  ed.  Bliss)— 

Poetical  Fancies  and  Satyrs,  Lond.  1512,  Oct. 

Tanner  mentions  {Bibiu^.  p.  676) — 

Queries  qf  England  under  Benryvii.  Lond.  .  .  .  4to.  [Qy. 
i»it  the  same  piece  as  Vox  PcpuU,  Vox  Dei  f] 

Warton  mentions  {HisL  ofE,  P.  ii.  836,  note,  ed.  4to)— 

A  V)Ilection  of  Skelton's  pieces  printed  for  A,  Scolocherf 
'*V«2,12mo. 


L18T    OF   EDITIONS,   &C.  CXlx 

1ft  an  ftssessor  or  scribe.  The  prisonerB,  as  we  may  suppose, 
•refonnd  guilty,  and  ordered  into  hell  immediately.  There 
iinosort  of  propriety  in  calling  this  play  the  Necromancer: 
fx  the  only  business  and  use  of  this  chai-acter,  is  to  open  tlie 
labjectin  a  long  prologue,  to  evoke  the  devil,  and  summon 
tte  court.  The  devil  kicks  the  necromancer,  for  waking  him 
10 soon  in  the  morning:  a  proof  that  this  drama  was  per- 
ftrmed  in  the  morning,  perhaps  in  the  chapel  of  the  palace. 
A  variety  of  measures,  with  shreds  of  Latin  and  French,  is 
«sed:  but  the  devil  speaks  in  the  octave  stanza.  One  of  the 
rtig&-directions  is,  Enter  Balsebub  with  a  Berde.  To  make 
kirn  both  frightful  and  ridiculous,  the  devil  was  most  com- 
iBonly  introduced  on  the  stage  wearing  a  visard  with  an  im- 
mense beard.  Philarg5rria  quotes  Seneca  and  saint  Austin: 
lad  Simony  offers  the  devil  a  bribe.  The  devil  rejects  her 
iftenrith  much  indignation:  and  swears  by  the  ybu^e  £u- 
■encfei,  and  the  hoary  beard  of  Charon,  that  she  shall  be 
well  fried  and  roasted  in  the  unfathomable  sulphur  of  Cocy- 
tia,  together  with  Mahomet,  Pontius  Pilate,  the  traitor  Judas, 
md  king  Herod.  Tlie  last  scene  is  closed  with  a  view  of 
hell,  and  a  dance  between  the  devil  and  the  necromancer. 
The  dance  ended,  the  devil  trips  up  the  necromancer's  heels, 
ttd  disappears  in  fire  and  smoke."  HisL  ofE.  P,  ii.  860. 
ed.4to. 


In  the  Garlands  ofLaureU  (vol.  ii.  221,  sqq.)  Skelton  enu- 
merates many  of  his  compositions  which  are  no  longer  ex- 
tant 

PIECES  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON. 

Venei  presented  to  King  Henry  the  Seventh  at  the  feast  of  St. 
Otorgt  celebrated  at  Windsor  in  the  third  year  of  his  reign — 
Ast  printed  by  Ashmole  (see  vol.  ii.  345  of  the  present  work.) 

The  Epitaffe  of  the  moste  noble  and  valyaunt  Jaspar  late  Duke 
^Beddrforde^  printed  by  Pynson,  4to,  n.d.  (see  vol.  ii.  847.) 

Ekgy  on  King  Htnry  the  Seventh — an  imperfect  broadside 
[lee  vol.  ii.  862.) 


CXX  LIST   OF    EUlTiONS,    &0, 

Merie  TiUa  Ifaolg  Jm/irinted  f  mnde  bj  U'liltr  J-tcSoit  PmI 
LaareiiL  In^niUrd  iH  Lomloit  n  FUeUtttal  bmtalli  (tc  Om- 
iml  tit  At  si'jneo/S.JuhnEuimse'uil,  if  TlumiuCbbcdi,iliaa, 
ii.d.  (see  Iha  precediD<;  Appendix.)  Warlon,  HiiL  of  E.  P. 
il.  Baa  (note,)  gives  the  dale  IfiTB  to  theao  talcs,— on  wh« 
Hnthority  I  knoir  tioE. 


(Jtlie 


pieci 


Ini 


Miliilhi 


iefilm 


anpnn 


Ki(TD 


Vji"i  the  douloiina  dftlie  mtSmathe  tnmentiilite  diiHitce  Oftu 
mat  hmanMf  Erk  of  !forlkuiiibtria>idr.  MB.  Keg.  18  i>  ij, 
fcl.  IBS  (vol.  i.  S.) 

Ma'«trlsMnrscniil!pem>dAU.  Fairfax  MS—AiO.  MSB. 
(Brit.  Mu9.)  6486,  TdI.  lOfl  (vol.  i.  3G.} 

Poiatit  asaiial  CarMiccia.  MS.  Barl  367,  fol.  101.  So» 
for  IliB  first  time  printed  (voL  i.  132.) 

"  Wofuttji  arnii,"  &c.  Fairfax  MS.,— Ml  MSS.  U6S, 
fot  76  and  fol.  B8  {Brit.  Miu.):  und  MB,  copy  in  a  very  old 
hand  (Ml  Iho  fly-limves  of  Battiia  dt  Oadp.  Scliol.  cum  notaKS 
cBtimtHlO,  Darenlrit,  14B6,  41o  (in  the  colleclioa  of  the  klo 
^Ir.  Heber,)  which  hns  ^applied  several  Etanzos  hitherto  nn- 
{.rlnted  (vol.  I.  I6G.) 

"  7,  ZiAer,  4E  ^H'fl^iffra,  re^frm  tii  pnana  adoraf"  &c  Jf& 
a  a  G— No.  ooceKXKii.  of  Naamitli'i  Gilal  p.  400  [  voL  i.  ITS  ) 

"  Sahi  pha  deciei  ijuan  niitl  momnta  diavm,"  Sea.  jidil 
JV£S:(Brit.  UnikJ-ITBT.  fol.  324[vol.  i.  IB?.; 

COlj/n  Ooult.  MS.  Earl  22S2,  ful.  14T  (vol.  11.  13&.>--.ln 
MS.  Lanti&ium  782,  fol.  76,  is  a  friigioein  uF  Ihis  poem,  "  The 
proTecy  of  Skelton"  (vol.  li.  141.) 


LIST   OF  EDITIONS,   ScC.  CXXi 

Csrlmdg  of  LnunO.  XS.  CblL  Vit.  EX.  M.  SOO;  very 
tanporfect  (toI.  ii.  170.) 

^Kte,  PoTToL  MS.  Harl  2252,  fol.  133,  which  bai  eup- 
plied  niTich  now  Tor  the  Erst  time  printed  (vol.  ii.  245.) 

Diadona  Siaiba  Inmilated  into  Engliih  [by  Sidlon  pMt-Ioit- 
rtai].    MS.  C  C  C—Sa.  ccolvil.  of  Naamilh'e  OUaL  p.  Sfl2. 

For  the  ToUdwIde  account  of  (Ma  MS.  I  sm  Indebted  to  Mr. 
Tbomaa  Wright:— 

"  MS.  Corp.  Chr.  Camb.  No.  B6T. 

At  the  head  of  the  firal  folio—'  lnterpreCa.tio  Skeltoni  poeUe 
Laaraati,'  written  in  a  different  hand  from  the  MS.  {by  Na- 
smith  said  to  be  b<r  Archb.  Parker  himselO  over  something 
which  has  been  erased,  but  which  seems  to  haie  been  '  Pro- 
hem;e  of  Po^us.' 

At  the  end  of  this  jireface  is  written  in  the  same  hand  as 
MS. '  Thus  endeth  the  prohemyo  uf  Poggius.'  fol.  3  verso. 

At  foL  8  begins  '  The  prohomy  of  Diodorus  thauutour.' 
This  ends  at  fol.  7  thna,— 

T  'Nowwe  wyll  enforce  to  begynneourprocessebiatoryall. 
quod  Skelton. 

1  Her«  endeth  the  prohemy  of  all  the  hule  procesae.' 
The  words  ■  quod  Skelton '  are  wrillen  in  rather  a  different 

1  chink  It  DDt  impossible  that  thay  may  have  been  added  by 
Ihe  orijclnal  hand  at  another  time. 

Itlaintperfbct  at  theend:  but  on  aiesrbaund  up  with  it 
ii  written  in  a  ranch  later  hand  (perhaps  by  Parker,)  '  Hoc 

nni  in  litterifl  exercitato  aggiediendi  translationem  historic 

qiH  hio  dlminnta  est,  nt  sic  humeri  sai  vires  eiperiatur  quid 

I       farre  valeant,  qnidve  recusant,  tum  eogDOscet  quid  hie  trans- 

I       iitor  prestiterit,  fortaasis  non  ita  facile  in  hoc  genere  a  mul- 

1      Us  superandue.* " 

Tanner{5iAluith.p.  676.  ed.  ITiS)  mentions  the  following 
•»o  pieces  a>  extant  in  his  day  among  the  MSS.  of  Lincoln 
Cithednil  Library  (sea  Mtmuir,  pp.  ititi,  kkiii.) — 


Sarito  priiayii,  pOMlea  £ 
ILD.  MDt  Principium  de 


r 


CXXii  LIST    OF   EDITIONS,   &C. 

Carmen  adprwcipem,  juando  insigniius  erat  ducU  Ebor.  iU^ 
Pr.  **  Si  quid  babes,  mea  Musa.'* 


MSS.  OF  PIECES  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTOX. 

Vox  Pcpnii,  tor  Dei.     JfS.  2567  Cambridge  Public 
brary*     ^S.  Harl  367.  fol.  130  (see  vuL  IL  364.) 

The  Jmagt  of  Ipocrysy.    JIS.  Lansdotcm  79^  '«ee  toL  i^  ^ 

Other  pieces  might  be  mentimied. 


APPENDIX    III. 


EXAMPLES 


OP 


THE  METRE  CALLED  SKELTONICAL. 


'  ^«  Geneabgye  of  Hereaye,  Compyled  by  Ponce  Pantolabtts, 
^f^prynUd  at  London  In  Pater  nosier  rowe.  At  the  signe  of 
^bdyepifiye  [some  copies,  ourfadyfr  Pyte]  ByJohan  Red- 
>um.  Ad  imprimendum  aolum^  1542:  another  edition  was 
printed  by  Robert  Wyer:  vide  Typogi'aj)h,  Antiq,  iii.  59, 
182.  ed.  Dibdin  (the  size  of  them  not  mentioned.)  The 
author  was  John  Uantingdon. 

These  editions  I  have  not  seen:  the  whole  of  the  tract, 
wwever,  seems  to  be  quoted  in  A  mysterye  of  inyguyte  con- 
^yKdmthin  the  heretycaU  Genealogy e  of  Ponce  ParUolabus^  is 
^t  both  dyschsed  4"  confuted  By  Jciuin  Bale  An.  m.d.xlii. 
l2mo,  Geneva,  1545,  from  which  1  subjoin  the  following  pas- 
iages: 

"  Blynde  obstynacye 
Begate  heresye. 
By  a  myschaunce. 
Of  dame  ignoraunce. 
Heresye  begate 
Stryfe  and  debate. 


CXXIV  EXAMPLES    OF   THE   METBS 

Debate  and  ambycyon 
Begate  supersticyon. 
Supersticion  playDC 
Begate  disdayne. 
Dj'fdajme  of  trowthe 
Begate  slowthe. 
Slowthe  &  sluggyshnesse 
Begate  wylfulnesse. 
Wylfulnesse,  verelye 
Nygh  cosyne  to  heresye, 
Begate  myschefe, 
Father  of  Wyclefe, 
Which  ded  bringe  inne 
His  grandfather  synne. 
After  this  brother 
Came  forth  an  other; 
His  name  to  discusse, 
Menne  called  him  Huss6| 
He  and  his  cumpanye 
Began  in  Germauye. 
And  after  that 
Came  in  a  gnat 
Of  the  same  kynde, 
Whose  sowle  is  blynde ; 
His  name  you  shall  here, 
Menne  call  him  Luthere. 
He  by  his  meane 
Hath  bannyshed  cleane 
Out  of  that  coste 
The  Holye  Ghoste, 
And  hath  brought  inne 
Lyberte  and  synne. 
Next  after  him, 
Is  his  chefo  lym 
One  Melanchtonus, 
Nequaquam  bonus. 
Next  after  this  whelpe 
Came  in  to  helpe 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL.  CXXV 

One  Oecolampadius, 
With  his  brother  Zuinglins. 


And  for  this  tyme 
Here  endeth  my  ryme, 
The  Genealogye 
Of  stynkynge  heresye: 
Wherin  I  requyre 
And  humblye  desyre 
All  menne  y  wys 
That  shall  rede  this, 
Aboue  all  thinge 
To  praye  for  our  kynge, 
And  the  quene  also 
Where  so  euer  she  go, 
And  for  the  sauegarde 
Of  our  prince  Edwarde, 
Whom  1  praye  Jesu 
Longe  to  contynewe ! 
Amen." 


From  A  pore  Ae^^e. 

The  bufder  and  defence 
Of  mother  holy  hyrke^ 
And  toeape  to  driue  hence 
Al  thai  against  her  wircke, 

®'  ^thoat  date  or  printer^s  name. 

"  Wyll  none  in  all  this  lande 
Step  forth  and  take  in  hande 
These  felowes  to  withstande, 
In  nombre  lyke  the  sande, 
That  with  the  Gospell  melles. 
And  wyll  do  nothynge  elles 
But  tratljmge  tales  telles 


eXXVl  EXAMPLES    OF   THE   METRE 

Agaynst  our  holy  prelacie 

And  holy  churches  dygnitie, 

Sayinge  it  is  but  papistrie, 

Yea,  fayned  and  hipocrisy, 

Erronious  and  heresye, 

And  taketh  theyr  aucthoritie 

Out  of  the  holy  Euangelie, 

All  customes  ceremoniall 

And  rytes  ecclesiastically 

Not  grounded  on  Scripture, 

No  longer  to  endure  ? 

And  thus,  ye  maye  be  sure, 

The  people  they  alure 

And  drawe  them  from  your  lore. 

The  wliiche  wyll  greve  you  sore; 

Take  hede,  I  saye,  therfore, 

Your  nede  was  neuer  more. 

But  sens  ye  be  so  slacke. 

It  greueth  me,  alacke, 

To  heare  behynde  your  backe 

Howe  they  wyll  carpe  and  cracke, 

And  none  of  vou  that  dare 

With  1  one  of  them  compare. 

Yet  some  there  be  that  are 

So  bolde  to  shewe  tJieyr  ware, 

And  is  no  priest  nor  deacon, 

And  yet  wyll  fyre  his  becone 

Agaynst  suche  fellowes  frayle. 

Make  out  with  tothe  and  nayle, 

And  hoyste  vp  meyne  sayle, 

And  manfully  to  fyglit. 

In  holy  prelates  ryght. 

With  penne  and  ynke  and  paper, 

And  lyke  no  triflynge  iaper 

To  touche  these  felowes  indede 


1  With]  Old  ed.  "  Whiche. 


f» 


CALLED    SKELTOXICAL.  CXXVU 

With  all  expedient  spede, 

And  not  before  it  nede: 

And  I  indede  am  he 

That  wayteth  for  to  se 

Who  dare  so  hardy  be 

To  encounter  here  with  me ; 

I  stande  here  in  defence 

Of  some  that  be  far  hence, 

And  can  both  blysse  and  sence, 

And  also  vndertake 

Ryght  holy  thynges  to  make, 

Yea,  God  within  a  cake; 

And  who  so  that  forsake 

His  brcade  shall  be  do  we  bakej 

1  openly  professe 

The  holy  blyssed  masse 

Of  strength  to  be  no  lesse 

Then  it  was  at  the  fyrst: 

But  I  wolde  se  wlio  durst 

Set  that  amonge  the  worst, 

For  he  shulde  be  accurst 

With  boke,  bell,  and  candell, 

And  so  I  wolde  hym  handell 

That  he  shulde  ryght  well  knowe 

Howe  to  escape,  I  trowe, 

So  hardy  on  his  heade, 

Depraue  our  holy  breade, 

Or  els  to  prate  or  patter 

Agaynst  our  holy  watter. 

This  is  a  playne  matter, 

It  nedeth  not  to  flatter: 

They  be  suche  holy  thjTiges 

As  hath  ben  vsed  with  kynges ; 

And  yet  these  lewde  loselles, 

That  bragge  vpon  theyr  Gospelles, 

At  ceremonies  swelles. 

And  at  our  christined  belles, 

And  at  our  longe  gownes. 

And  at  your  shauen  crownes. 


•  •• 


CXXVIU         EXAMPLES    OF   THE   METRE 

And  at  your  typ[i]ttes  fyne, 

The  iauelles  wyll  repyne. 

They  saye  ye  leade  euyll  lyues 

With  other  mennes  wyues, 

And  wyll  none  of  your  owne, 

And  80  your  scde  is  sowne 

In  other  mennes  grounde, 

True  wedlocke  to  confounde; 

Thus  do  they  rayle  and  raue, 

Callynge  euery  priest  knaue, 

That  loueth  messe  to  saye, 

And  after  ydle  all  daye : 

They  wolde  not  haue  you  playe 

To  dryue  the  tj'me  awaye, 

But  brabble  on  the  Byble, 

Whiche  is  but  impossible 

To  be  learned  in  all  your  Ij'fe; 

Yet  therin  be  they  ryfe, 

Whiche  maketh  all  this  stryfe/*  &c. 


From   The  Vpcheringe  of  the  Messe:  InprirUed  at  JUa 
John  Daye  and  WiUyam  Seres,  12mo,  n.d. 

*'  Who  hath  not  knowen  or  herd 
How  we  were  made  afeard 
That,  magre  of  our  beard, 
Our  messe  shulde  cleane  awaye, 
That  we  did  dayly  saye, 
Aud  vtterly  decaye 
For  euer  and  for  aye  ? 
So  were  we  brought  in  doubte 
That  all  that  are  deuout 
Were  like  to  go  withoute 
The  messe  that  hath  no  peere. 
Which  longe  hath  taried  here, 
Yea,  many  an  hundreth  yere, 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL.  CXXIX 

And  to  be  destitute 

Of  that  whiche  constitute 

Was  of  the  highe  depute 

Of  Christe  and  his  apostles; 

Aithoughe  none  of  the  Gospels 

Ko  mention  maketh  or  tells, 

We  must  belue  (what  ellsV) 

Of  things  done  by  councells, 

Wherein  the  high  professours, 

Apostlique  successours, 

Take  holde  to  be  possessours ; 

And  some  were  made  confessours; 

Some  of  them  were  no  startars, 

But  were  made  holi  marters: 

Yet  plowmen,  sraythes,  &  cartars, 

With  such  as  be  their  hartars, 

Will  enterprise  to  taxe 

Thes  auncyont  mens  actes 

And  holy  fathers  factes. 

Thoughe  messe  were  made  bi  men, 

As  popes  nyne  or  ten, 

Or  many  more,  what  then  ? 

Or  not  of  Scripture  grounded, 

Is  yt  therfore  confounded 

To  be  a  supersticion  ? 

Nay,  nay,  they  mysse  the  quissioni 

Make  better  inquyssicion ; 

Ye  hane  an  euyll  condicion 

To  make  suche  exposicion ; 

Ye  tbinke  nothinge  but  Scripture 

Is  only  clene  and  pure ; 

Yes,  yes,  I  you  ensure. 

The  messe  shalbe  hir  better, 

Ab  light  as  ye  do  set  hir. 

i'he  Scripture  hath  nothing 
Wherby  profyte  to  bryng. 
But  a  lytyll  preaching, 
With  tattling  and  teaching; 


Vol.  I. 


EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 

And  nothing  can  ye  espie 
Nor  se  with  outwarde  eye. 
But  must  your  ears  applie 
To  learnyng  inwardlye; 
And  who  so  it  will  folowe, 
In  goods  though  he  may  walow, 
If  Scripture  once  him  swalowe, 
She  wyll  vndo  him  holowe; 
Wherfore  no  good  mes  singers 
Will  come  within  hir  fyngers, 
But  are  hir  vnder  styngers, 
For  she  wolde  fayne  vndo 
All  such  as  lyueth  so. 

To  the  messe  she  is  an  enymye^ 
And  wolde  distroye  hir  vtterlye, 
Wer  not  for  sum  that  frendfully 
In  time  of  nede  will  stand  hir  bj. 
Yet  is  the  messe  and  she  as  lyke 
As  a  Christian  to  an  heretike : 
The  messe  hath  holy  vestures, 
And  many  gay  gestures, 
And  decked  with  clothe  of  golde 
And  vessells  many  folde. 
Right  galaunt  to  beholde, 
More  then  may  well  be  tolde, 
With  basen,  ewer,  and  towell, 
And  many  a  prety  jwelle. 
With  goodly  candellstyckes, 
And  many  proper  tryckys. 
With  cruetts  gilt  and  chalys, 
Wherat  some  men  haue  malice. 
With  sensers,  and  with  pax, 
And  many  other  knackys, 
With  patent,  and  with  corporas 
The  fynest  thing  that  euer  was. 
Alasse,  is  it  not  pitie 
That  men  be  no  more  wittye 
But  on  the  messe  to  iest, 
Of  all  suche  thinge  the  best  ?  . 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL.  CXXXl 

For  if  she  were  supprest, 
A  pyu  for  all  the  rest. 


A,  good  mestres  Missa, 
Shal  ye  go  from  vs  thissa? 
Wei,  yet  I  muste  ye  kissa: 
Alacke,  for  payne  I  pyssa, 
To  se  the  raone  here  issa, 
Because  ye  muste  departe ! 
It  greueth  many  a  herte 
That  ye  should  from  them  start: 
But  what  then?  tushe«  a  fartel 
Sins  other  shifte  is  none, 
But  she  must  neades  be  gone, 
Nowe  let  vs  synge  eche  one, 
Boeth  Jak  and  Gyll  and  Jone, 
Requiem  etemam^ 
Ij&st  penam  sempUemam 
For  vUam  supernam^ 
And  vmbram  infemam 
For  veram  lucemam, 
She  chaunce  to  enherite. 
According  to  hir  merite. 

Fro  ciUus  memoria 
Ye  maye  wel  be  soria; 
Full  smale  maye  be  your  gloria^ 
When  ye  shal  heare  thys  storia; 
Then  wil  ye  crie  and  roria, 
We  shal  se  i  hir  no  moria: 
£t  dicam  vcbia  quare 
She  may  no  longer  starCy 
Nor  here  with  you  regnare, 
But  trudge  ad  vUra  mare^ 
And  after  habiiare 
In  regno  PluUmico 
Ei  euo  acronyco^ 


i#e]  Olded.  •*so. 


»» 


CXXXll  EXAMPLES    OF    THE    METRE 

Cum  cetu  Babilonico 
Et  cantu  diaboUco^ 
With  pollers  and  piller[s]. 
And  al  hir  well  willers, 
And  therto  dwel  euer: 
And  thus  wil  I  leaue  hir.** 


From  PhyhgamuSy  12mo,  without  date  or  printer's  name 
which  the  title-page  and  five  leaves  are  preserved 
volume  of  Ballads  and  Fragments  in  the  British  Mus 
The  late  Mr.   Douce  has  written  below  the    title- 
•*  Probably  by  Skelton;  **  but  it  is  certainly  not  his. 

"  Gyue  place,  ye  poetes  fine, 
Bow  douue  now  &  encline; 
For  nowe  y«  Muses  nyne, 
So  sacred  and  diuine 
In  Pamase  holy  hyll 
Haue  wrought  theyr  worthy  wyll. 
And  by  theyr  goodly  skyll 
Vppon  that  myghiy  mouutayne 
In  Hellycons  fountayne,  &c. 


0  poete  so  impudent, 
Whyche  neuer  yet  was  studente. 
To  thee  the  goddes  prudente 
Minerua  is  illudente ! 
Thou  wrytest  thynges  dyff*use, 
Incongrue  and  confuse, 
Obfuscate  and  obtuse; 
No  man  the  lyke  doth  use 
Among  the  Turckes  or  Jewes; 
Alwayes  inuentyng  newes 
That  are  incomparable. 
They  be  so  fyrme  and  stable* 


CALLED    8KELT0NICAL.  CXXXlll 

Lyke  as  a  shyppe  is  able, 
Wythout  ancre  and  cable, 
Roother,  maste,  or  sayle, 
Pully,  rope,  or  nayle, 
In  wynde,  weather,  or  hayle. 
To  gnyde  both  top  and  tayle, 
And  not  the  course  to  fayle ; 
So  thys  our  poet  maye, 
Wythout  a  stopp  or  staye, 
In  cunnynge  wend  the  way, 
As  wel  by  darke  as  day. 
And  neuer  go  astray, 
Yf  yt  be  as  they  saye. 

0  poet  rare  and  recent, 
Dedecorate  and  indecent, 
Insolent  and  insensate, 
Contendyng  and  condensate, 
Obtused  and  obturate, 
Obumbylate,  obdurate, 
Sparyng  no  priest  or  curate, 
Cyuylyan  or  rurate, 

That  be  alredy  marryed. 
And  from  theyr  vow  bene  varyed, 
Wherto  the  Scr}'^pture  them  caried ! 
They  myght  as  wel  haue  taryed ; 

1  sweare  by  the  north  doore  rood, 
That  stowte  was  whyle  he  stood. 
That  they  had  bene  as  good 

To  haue  solde  theyr  best  blew  hood. 
For  I  am  in  suche  a  moode, 
That  for  my  power  and  parte, 
Wyth  all  my  wyt  and  arte, 
Wyth  whole  intent  and  harte, 
1  wyl  so  at  them  darte,"  &c. 


..\\\iY         EXAMPLES    OF    THE   METRE 


i  fu  Ci'pye  of  a  letter^  sent  by  John  Bradford  to  tiie  right  honot 
ulilt  hrdes  the  Erhs  of  Arundel,  Darbie,  Shrewsbury^  ^  Pei 
bivkt,  dtcUirig  the  nature  of  sjMiniardeSj  and  discouering  t) 
iiu^t  detestable  treasons^  whiche  Oiey  haue  preien^d  mot 
fuUtlyt  againste  oure  vwste  nobk  kyngdome  of  England 
W hereunto  is  added  a  tragical  blast  of  the  papisticaU  irop 
for  mayntenaunce  of  the  Popes  kingdome  in  Englande.  b 
T.  E  Jf  ye  beleue  the  ti'ueth,  ye  saue  your  Uues^  &c.  12in 
uiui  without  date  or  printer's  name  on  the  title-page :  tt 
copy  now  before  me  is  imperfect  at  the  end,  where  perha] 
both  are  given.  According  to  Herbert's  Ames's  Typ,  Anti 
iii.  1582,  this  piece  was  printed  in  1555. 

In  the  two  subjoined  passages  (perhaps  in  more)  of  th 
tract,  the  author  adopts  the  Skeltouic  metre,  though  tl: 
whole  is  printed  as  prose : — 

**  There  be  many  other  noble  memie  [among  the  Spaniard 
besides  the  duke  of  Medena-zelieJ  vndoubtedly  very  wise  an 
politik,  which  can  throughe  their  wisdome  binde  themseluc 
for  a  time  from  their  nature,  and  applye  their  condicions  t 
the  maners  of  those  menne  with  whom  they  would  gladlj* 
bee  frended ;  whose  mischeuouse  maners  a  man  shal  new 
knowe,  till  he  come  vnder  their  subiection.  But  then  sha 
ye  perceiue  perfectly  their  pufled  pride,  with  many  mis 
chetles  beside,  their  prowling  and  poling,  their  bribinge  an 
shauing,  their  most  deceitful!  dealing,  their  braging  and  bos 
ing,  their  flatteringe  and  fainiiige,  their  abominable  whoK 
huntynge,  with  most  rufull  ruling,  |  their  doings  vniust, 
with  insaciate  lust,  |  their  stout  stubbemnes,  |  croked  crabbec 
nes,  I  and  vnmeasurable  madnes,  |  in  enui,  pride,  and  lechc 
rie,  I  which,  thei  sale,  God  loueth  hartelie,  |  vaineglorie  an 
hipocrisie,  |  with  al  other  vilanie  |  of  what  kinde  soeuer 
be;  I  supersticion,  desolacion,  extorcion,  adulacion,  dissimt 
laciou,  exaltacion,  suppression,  iuuocacion,  and  all  abominf 
oion;  with  innumerable  moe  mischeues,  whiche  I  could 
plainlio  declare,  that  no  nacion  in  the  world  can  suffer.  The 
masking  and  mumbling  |  in  the  holi  time  of  lent  |  makel 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL.  CXXXV 

many  wines  brente,  |  the  king  being  present,  |  nighte  after 
nighte,  |  as  a  prince  of  moste  mighte,  |  which  hath  power  in 
hiihande  |  that  no  man  dare  withstande:  |  yet  if  that  were 
the  greatest  euil,  |  we  might  suffer  it  wel,  |  for  there  is  no 
man  liuing  |  but  would  suffer  the  king  |  to  haue  wife,  sister, 
dougbter,  maide  and  all.  |  bothe  great  &  smal,  |  so  many  as 
he  liste,  |  no  man  would  him  resist ;  |  but  the  worst  of  all  the 
companie  |  must  haue  my  wife  priuelie,  |  when  I  am  present 
bi;  I  this  is  more  vilanie,  |  that  one  muste  kepe  the  dore;  | 
will  not  that  greue  you  sore  ?  |  &  dare  not  speake  for  your 
life,  I  when  another  hath  youre  wife,"  |  &c.    Sig.  B  i. 

"Ye  wil  say,  the  Spaniards  kepe  their  olde  rentaking: 
how  can  that  be,  when  euery  poore  man  must  pay  yerely  for 
euery  chimney  in  his  house,  and  euery  other  place  that  is  to 
make  fire  in,  as  ouen,  fornes,  and  smithes  forge,  a  Frenche 
crowne?  wil  Englishmen,  or  can  thei,  suffer  to  be  poled  and 
pilled  moste  miserably,  in  payeng  continually  suche  poling 
p€nc€  and  intollerable  tollages  for  all  maner  graine  and  breade, 
hefe,  beare  and  mutton,  goose,  pigge  and  capone,  henne,  mal- 
lard and  chicken,  milk,  butter  and  chese,  egges,  apples  & 
pcares,  |  wine  white  andreade,  |  with  all  other  wines  beside,  | 
salt  white  and  graye  ?  |  al  thinges  must  pay ;  |  small  nuttes 
&Dd  wallnuttes,  |  cheries  and  chestnuttes,  |  plumbes,  damas- 
sens,  philbeardes,  and  al  |  both  gret  &  smal,  |  whatsouer  thei 
DJaye  se,  |  to  fede  the  pore  commenalte ;  |  salmon  and  hear- 
ing; I  this  is  a  shameful!  thing;  |  tench,  ele  or  conger;  |  this 
shall  kepe  vs  vnder,  |  and  make  vs  die  for  hunger;  |  flounders, 
floucke,  plaice  or  carpe ;  |  here  is  a  miserable  warke  |  that 
Englande  must  abide  )  to  maintaine  Spanishe  pride,''  &c. 
Sig.Fu. 


CXXXVl 


EXAMPLES    OF   THE   METRB 


From  Doctour  Doubble  Ale^ — 12mo,  without  printer'! 

date, 

**  Although  I  lacke  intelligence, 
And  can  not  skyll  of  eloquence, 
Yet  wyll  I  do  my  diligence 
]      To  say  sumtLing  or  1  go  hence, 
Wherein  I  may  demonstrate 

\     The  figure,  gesture,  and  estate 

\    Of  one  that  is  a  curate. 
That  harde  is  and  endurate. 
And  emest  in  the  cause 
Of  piuish  popish  lawes, 
That  are  not  worth  two  strawes, 
Except  it  be  with  dawes. 
That  knoweth  not  good  from  euels, 
Nor  Gods  worde  from  the  deuels, 
Nor  wyll  in  no  wise  heare 
The  worde  of  God  so  cleare, 
But  popishnes  vpreare, 
And  make  the  pope  Gods  peare. 

Now  let  vs  go  about 
To  tell  the  tale  out 
Of  this  good  felow  stout, 
That  for  no  man  wyll  dout, 
But  kepe  his  olde  condicions 
For  all  the  newe  comvssions. 
And  vse  his  supersticions. 
And  also  mens  tradycions. 
And  syng  for  dead  folkes  soules, 
And  reade  hys  beaderolles, 
And  all  sucn  tnmgeb  wya  vse 
As  honest  men  refuse : 
But  take  hym  for  a  cruse. 
And  ye  wyll  tell  me  newes; 
For  if  he  ons  begyn, 
He  leaueth  nought  therin ; 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL.  CXXXVll 

He  careth  not  a  pyn         ^ 

How  much  ther  be  wythin, 

So  he  the  pot  may  wyn, 

He  wyll  it  make  full  thyn; 

And  wher  the  drinke  doth  please 

There  wyll  he  take  his  ease, 

And  drinke  therof  his  fyll, 

Tyll  ruddy  be  his  by  11 ; 

And  fyll  both  cup  and  can, 

Who  is  so  glad  a  man 

As  is  our  curate  than  V 

I  wolde  ye  knewe  it,  a  curate 

Not  far  without  Newgate; 

Of  a  parysh  large 

The  roan  hath  mikle  charge, 

And  none  within  this  border 

That  kepeth  such  order. 

Nor  one  a  this  syde  Naueme 

Louyth  better  the  ale  taueme: 

But  if  the  drinke  be  small, 

He  may  not  well  withall ; 

Tush,  cast  it  on  the  wall ! 

It  fretteth  out  his  gall ; 

Then  soke  an  other  house. 

This  is  not  worth  a  louse, 

As  dronken  as  a  mouse, 

Monsyre  gyf>et  a  vaus  ! 

And  ther  wyll  byb  and  bouse, 

Tyll  heuy  be  his  brouse. 


Thiis  may  ye  beholde 
This  man  is  very  bolde, 
And  in  his  learning  olde 
Intendeth  for  to  syt: 
I  blame  hym  not  a  whyt, 
For  it  wolde  vexe  his  wyt. 
And  cleane  agaynst  his  earning, 
fo  folow  such  learning 


exxsviii     examples  of  tue  metre 

As  now  a  dayes  is  taught; 
It  woldc  soiie  bryiig  to  naught 
His  olde  popish  brayne, 
For  then  lie  must  agayne 
Apply  hym  to  the  schole, 
And  come  away  a  fole, 
For  nothing  shulde  he  get, 
His  brayne  hath  bene  to  het 
And  with  good  ale  so  wet; 
Wheretbre  he  mav  now  set 
In  feldes  and  in  modes, 
And  pray  vpon  his  beades, 
For  yet  he  hath  a  payre 
Of  beades  that  be  right  fayre, 
Of  corall,  gete,  or  ambre, 
At  home  within  his  chambre; 
For  in  matins  or  masse 
Primar  and  portas, 
And  pottes  and  beades, 
His  lyfe  he  leades : 
But  this  I  wota, 
That  if  ye  nota 
How  this  iciiola 
Doth  fulow  the  pota, 

I  holde  vou  a  jirota 
Ye  wvll  rede  bv  rota 
That  he  mav  wore  a  cota 
In  Cocke  Loreis  i  beta. 
Thus  the  durtv  doctour. 
The  popes  oune  proctour, 
Wyll  bragge  and  boost 
Wyth  ale  and  a  tooct, 
And  Ivke  a  rutter 

II  vs  Latin  wvll  vtter, 
And  turne  and  tosse  hym, 
Wyth  iu  noHjMjssuin 


1  Lortb]  Old  ed.  *'  losels. 


tt 


CALLED    8KELT0NICAL.  CXXX  X 

Loquere  Latinum; 

This  alumjinum 

Is  bontis  then  vinum  ; 

Ego  volo  quare 

Cum  tu  drinkare 

Pro  iuum  capiUy 

Quia  apud 

Te  prqpiciaciOj 

Tu  non  pates /ado 

Tot  quam  ego  ; 

Quam  librum  tu  lego^ 

Catie  de  me 

Apponere  te : 

Juroper  Deum 

Hoc  est  lifuin  meum^ 

Quia  drinkum  stalwn 

Nonfacere  malum. 

Thus  our  domirms  dodkiu 

Wyth  ita  vera  bodkin 

Doth  leade  his  lyfe, 

Which  to  the  ale  wife 

Is  very  profitable : 

It  is  pytie  he  is  not  able 

To  mayntayne  a  table 

For  beggers  and  tinkers 

And  all  lusty  drinkers, 

Or  captayne  or  beddle 

Wyth  dronkardes  to  meddl*. 

Ye  cannot,  I  am  sure, 

For  keping  of  a  cure 

Fynde  such  a  one  well. 

If  ye  shulde  rake  hell: 

And  therefore  nowe 

Ko  more  to  you, 

Bed  peiiegas  w/«, 

Si  veils,  papista ; 

Farewell  and  adewe, 

With  a  whirlary  whewe, 


Cxl  EXAMPLES    OF   THE   METRE 

And  a  tirlary  typpe; 
Beware  of  the  whyppe." 


From  A  Commemoration  or  Dingeqf  Bastarde  Edmonds 
aUcu  SatMgey  vsurped  BissHwppe  of  London,     Compiled 
meke  Auale.    Episcopalum  eius  accipiet  alter.    Anno  2 
1569.    Imprinted  by  P.  0.    8vo.  (a  tract,  chiefly  ir 
and  of  various  metres :  see  Notes,  voL  iiL  47. ) 

"  Thejfte  lesson, 
Bomo  natus. 

"  Homo  natus 
Came  to  heauen  gatus. 
Sir,  you  do  come  to  latus, 
With  your  shome  patus : 
Frequeniia/alsa  Euangelii^ 
For  the  loue  of  your  bealle, 
Cum  auro  ^  argento, 
You  loued  the  rules  of  Lento, 
Whiche  the  Pope  did  inuento: 
You  are  spurius  de  muUere^ 
Not  legittimate  nor  lawful  here: 
0  quam  i  venenosa  pestis. 
Fur  J  peHurus,  latro,  mechus^ 
Homiddis^  tantum  decus  ! 
De  salute  aniniarum^ 

Of  Christes  flocke  thou  hadest  small  canim: 
Thou  art  Jiliuspqpuli: 
Go,  go  to  CunstantinopoUy 
To  your  maister  the  Turke ; 
There  shall  you  lurke 


1  0  quam^  ^-c]  A  line  which  ought  to  hsye  rhjm^ 

this  one  is  wanting. 

2  Eomicidis\  Old  ed.  "  Homicidus." 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL.  CxH 

Emong  the  heathen  soules. 

Somtyme  your  shorne  brethren  of  Ponies 

Were  as  blacke  as  monies, 

With  their  cappes  fower  forked, 

Their  shoes  warme  corked ; 

Nosed  like  redde  grapes. 

Constant  as  she  apes. 

In  nature  like  blacke  monkes, 

And  shoote  in  sparowes  tmnkes, 

And  boule  when  thei  haue  dinde. 

And  kepe  them  from  the  winde; 

And  thei  whiche  are  not  able 

Doe  sitte  still  at  the  table, 

With  colour  scarlet  pale, 

So  small  is  their  good  ale: 

Thus  from  God  thei  did  tourne. 

Long  before  their  chnrch  did  bnme. 

Then  when  riche  men  wer  sicke, 

Either  dedde  or  quicke, 

Valde  diUgmter  notani 

^  diuites  egroiant ; 

^w  currunl^  nee  cessabutU 

•^^c  ipsos  tumilabuni ; 

^^^  alienas  iondunt^ 

^^perochias  confundunL 

These  felowes  pilde  as  ganders, 

^luche  like  the  friers  of  Flanders, 

Whiche  serue  Sathan  about  the  cloisters, 

Thei  loue  red  wine  and  oisters. 

Qa»  vidi  SatancB  aenitre, 

(^tistinim  debet  introirej 

And  euer  haue  suche  an  hedde 

As  bastarde  Boner  that  is  dedde. 

He  would  for  the  Pope  take  pain ; 

Therfore  help,  you  friers  of  Spain, 

You  enquisiters,  take  paine: 

It  is  a  greate  maine 

Vnto  the  Pope,  your  hedde, 

That  Boner  is  thus  dedde. 


I 


lA-k^iriii    or    THE   AIETBB 

.     .   .  :--  ;•     ..  1  ..  ?.:*  J~:;-c, 

L.  .     ■  '•     ^-    ^    -'    —  -     i       -       -". 
..1.      V   .-    -.  -.  .    ..-. 

.*.:::..  i  =■    ":.■.!.-:! 

>;  1-   r.;  z^       .  :  .y  fr"  -sre: 

«■■---     - — ^    -— ■    -■    ".-•-    w  _•     ..LUkf 

V."-     "' .*    .."",.":_     ".     ..'J    ..     !   l'..Il"."^J 

I-.-..-.-  a:.'  .v.:1:  >\.; !:»  y.ur  *:i:::ct, 

H:*  l:j.r:-:  *  -.■*■  a:  II  :*-e. 

0.:u:  :'.r:.:.  y.u  :..;^.::o5  ■;:*  Ljuen, 

Av..:  <:i.--.e  .■-■■•■  .".:e  :!::>  *I-:-aea: 

\..  :  ..,  —  <''0    ■-'»  "►*. 

V.     «^  »  ... 

...    I.      ---        -_•     .  J^.  ^.  *«. 

\.-    J    '■  *        ^  ■  -*     ■  -1"  ■  i      .•* 

;"•    •■^•■'     -^*     1  ■••     <*">> 

fc     ..«    a^    ,    .     .    ^        &      ■■■■*      ^*a>^ 

YvV.r  kv::::.:::::e  will  not  dure." 


Si 


.Y*.  »•« ». .  ■"■•*■  f-f  /til.:'.?, 

S.i-  V-:  l\:o:-.  w:*:i  yv;;r  kaics; 
S.;owo  :::v  ".orv'.o  rho  T\zh<  waies! 
He  d\\c\:  o:io?  ut  roiilos, 
A'.'.vl  l'.:i.:  ouro  ol*  oursoules: 
I  w  '.<>o.  ho  w;i?  :;ot  a  baste, 
l?ii:  ::.'".-o.  m  ke.  an  J  chaste; 
I:  i>  a  jirouro  \ki\c 
riia:  i;o  is  ^».:;o  frvnn  our  citiej 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL.  Cxliu 

A  man  of  greate  honor; 
0  holy  sainct  Boner  I 
You  blessed  friers 
That  neuer  wer  Tiers, 
And  you  holy  nunnes 
Tliat  neuer  had  sonnes, 
Set  this  child  of  gi*ace 
In  some  angelles  place." 

Sig.  B  TiL 


A  Skeltonicall  Salutation^ 
Or  condigne  gratulation^ 
And  iust  vexation 
Of  die  Spanish  Nation^ 
That  in  a  bravado^ 
Spent  many  a  Cinisado^ 
In  setting  forth  an  Armado 
England  to  invado. 

yrifUed  al  Londtmfor  Toby  Cooke.    1589,  4tO. 

"  0  king  of  Spaine, 
Is  it  not  a  paine 
To  thy  heart  and  braine 
And  euery  vaine, 
To  see  thy  traine 
For  to  sustaine, 
Withouteii  gaine. 
The  worlds  disdaine, 
Which  doth  dispise 
As  toies  and  lies. 
With  shoutes  and  criet^ 
Thy  enterprise, 
As  fitter  for  pies 
And  butter-flies. 
Then  men  so  wise? 


KXAMPLES    OF   THE   METRS 

0  waspK«<h  kin<*, 

Whercs  now  thy  sting, 

Thy  dart  or  sling, 

C)r  strong  bow-string, 

That  siioultl  vs  wring, 

And  vnderbring, 

Wlio  eucry  way 

Thee  vexe  and  pa}', 

And  beare  tlie  sway 

By  niglit  and  day. 

To  tliy  dismay, 

In  battle  amy, 

And  every  fra^v-  ? 

O  pufto  with  pride, 

What  foolish  guide 

Made  thee  provide 

To  over-riile 

This  land  so  wide 

From  side  to  side, 

And  then,  vntride. 

Away  to  sliile, 

And  not  to  abide. 

But  nil  in  a  ring 

Awav  to  111 njr? 

0  conquering, 

0  vanqui>lii!^g, 

With  last  llvinff, 

And  no  roj^lyir.g. 

For  foaro  of  frying! 

•        •■••• 

lUit  who  but  r!i:lippii3S 

That  sot'ke:h  to  nip  vs. 

To  n.^b  vs,  a:;.l  strip  vs, 

Av.d  :ho:;  :>r  :o  whip  vt, 

Wou!.;  ovor  haue  ment. 

Or  V.irhcr  >c::: 

SuvV.  <h  v<  of  charge, 

Js^  s:i\'::i:  a::.i  so  large, 


CA.LLED    SKRLTONICAL.  CXiV 

Nay,  the  worst  barge, 

Trusting  to  treason, 

And  not  to  reason, 

Which  at  that  season 

To  him  was  geson, 

As  doth  appeare 

Both  plaine  and  cleare 

To  far  and  neere, 

To  his  confusion, 

By  this  conclusion. 

Which  thus  is  framed. 

And  must  be  named 

Argumentum  a  minore, 

Cum  horrore  et  timoref 

If  one  Drake  o. 

One  poore  snake  o. 

Make  vs  shake  o. 

Tremble  and  quake  o. 

Were  it  not,  trow  ye©, 

A  madnes  for  me 

To  vudertake 

A  warre  to  make 

With  such  a  lande. 

That  is  so  mande, 

Wherein  there  be 

Of  certaintie 

As  hungrie  as  he 

Many  a  thousand  more, 

That  long  full  sore 

For  Indian  golde. 

Which  makes  men  bolde?  "  te> 


VOL.  L 


CXlvi  EXAMPLES    OF   THE    METRE 


See  also — Jucke  of  (lit  Norihe,  &c.  printed  (most  inco 
rectly)  from  C.C.C.  MS.  in  Hartshorne's  Anc.  Met.  Talts^ 
288. — A  recantation  of  famous  Pasquin  of  Borne.  An.  1'7 
Imprinted  at  London  by  John  Daye,  8vo,  which  (known  to  rr 
only  from  Brit.  Bibliog.  ii.  2^9)  contains  Skeltonicnl  i)a 
sages. —  The  Riddles  of  J/tratlitus  and  Democritus.  Printed 
London  by  Ann  Hatfeld  for  John  Norton^  1598,  4to,  whic 
(known  to  me  only  from  Restituta,  i.  175)  has  SkeltonicJ 
rhymes  on  thebackof  the  title-page. —  The  Wisdomeof  DocU 
Dodypoll.  As  it  hath  bene  sundrie  times  Acted  by  the  Childn 
of  Powles,  1600,  4to,  which  has  some  Skeltonical  lines  at  si^ 
C  4. —  The  Downfall  of  Robert  Earle  of  Huntington^  &c.  (b 
Anthony  Munday,)  1601,  4to,  and  The  Death  of  Robert^  Ean 
of  Hvntingion^  &c.  (by  Anthony  Munday  and  Henry  Chettle 
1601,  4to,  (two  plays  already  noticed,  p.  cvi.),  in  which  ar 
various  Skeltonical  passages. — Hobson's  Horse-load  of  Letter, 
or  a  President  for  Epistles.  The  First  Part,  1617,  4to,  wliic 
concludes  with  three  epistles  in  verse,  the  last  entitled  "  - 
merry-mad  Letter  in  Skellons  rime^*^  &c. — Poems:  By  Miiha< 
Drayton  Lsqi'ii'e^  &c.,  n.d.,  folio,  which  contains,  at  p.  301, 
copy  of  verses  entitled  "  A  Skeltoniad." — The  Fortunate  Isle. 
&c.  1626,  a  masque  by  Ben  Jonson  (already  noticed,  p.  evil- 
in  which  are  imitations  of  Skel ton's  style  — All  The  Worh 
of  John  Taylor  The  Water-^wet,  &c.  1630,  folio,  which  cor 
tains,  at  p.  245,  "  A  Skeltonicall  salutation  to  those  that  know  ho 
to  reade^  and  not  marre  the  sense  with  hacking  or  mis-construi 
f.ion^*  (printed  as  prose). — Besjjerides:  or^  The  Woi'ks  Bo\ 
Humane  (f  Divine  of  Robert  Herrick  Esq.,  1648,  8vo,  amon 
which,  at  pp.  10,  97,  268,  are  verses  in  Skelton's  favouril 
metre. —  The  Works  of  Mr.  John  Cleveland,  Containing  h 
Poems,  Orations,  Epistles,  Collected  into  One  Volume,  1687, 8v( 
in  which  may  be  found,  at  p.  306,  a  piece  of  disgusting  grosJ 
ncss  (suggested  by  Skelton's  Elynour  Rummynge),  entitle 
"  The  Obi  GilU' 

A  poem  called  Philargyne  of  greate  Britayne,  1551,  printc 
(and  no  doubt  written)  by  Robert  Oowly,  has  been  frequentl. 


CALLED    SKELTONICAL.  Cxlvij 

mentioned  as  a  "  Skeltonic  "  composition,  but  improperly,  a» 
the  following  lines  will  shew ; 

"  Geue  eare  awhyle. 
And  marke  my  style. 
You  that  hath  wyt  in  store ; 
For  wyth  wordes  bare 
I  wyll  declare 
Thyngs  done  long  tyme  oefore. 

Sometyme  certayne 
Into  Britayne, 
A  lande  full  of  plentie, 
A  gyaunte  greate 
Came  to  seke  meate, 
Whose  name  was  Philargj'rie,"  &c. 

"See also,"  says  Warton  {Hist,  of  E.  P.  ii.  358,  note,  ed.  4to), 
"adoggrel  piece  of  this  kind,  in  imitation  of  SkcUon^  intra- 
duced  into  Browne's  Sheperd's  Pipe^'^ — a  mistake;  for  the 
poem  of  Hoccleve  (inserted  in  Eghgue  i.),  to  which  Wurton 
Widently  alludes,  is  neitner  doggrel  nor  in  Skelton's  maimer. 


THE 


POETICAL    WORK8 


OF 


JOHN    SKELTON. 


VOL.  I. 


POEMS     OF     SKELTON. 


OF  THE  DEATH 


^f"  THE  NOBLE   PRINCE,   KYNGE   EDWAKDE  THE    FOKTH, 
PER   SKELTONIDEM   L»VUREATUM.* 

"^ieremini  met,  ye  that  be  my  frendis  ! 

This  world  hath  formed  me  downe  to  fall : 
flow  may  I  endure,  when  that  eueri  thyngendi's  ? 

What  creature  is  borne  to  be  eternall  ? 


♦  From  the  ed.  by  Kynge.  and  ^larche  of  Certaine  bakes 
^^''ysfcd  by  Mayster  Sktlton,  n.  d.— collated  with  the  same 
*ork,ed.  Day,  n.  d.,  and  ed.  Lant,  n.  d.;  witli  Marshe's  ed. 
•^fSkelton's  WbrkeSj  1568;  occasionally  with  the  Mrrourfor 
^^figikraies,  1587  (in  the  earlier  eds.  of  which  the  poem  was 
wWrporated,)  and  with  a  contemporary  MS.  in  the  possession 
W^Miss  Richardson  Currcr,  which  last  has  furnished  a  stanza 
wtherto  imprinted. 


Ob'    THE    DEATH    OF 

.    ,..twi  ti  I  pmnoked  to  fuitity  the  wall ; 

■  .ut  >.i:i\::Hii  11  place  full  royall, 

\    Mv.>.-.",-,  KUain,  and  many  other  mo: 

...    u  -i."!  1  went  from  them  all, 
i ".    •  ■- ■- ,  •< « it <•'  ift  p fi^i-'^ re  do riii to  ! 

\    .  ,..    s  •.•.v>w  my  conquest  and  victory  ? 

^  K.A  ii'  "Jy  riches  and  my  royal  aray  ? 
*^  i,  .    x"  my  coursers  and  my  horses  hye? 

*.\  'vrv  is  my  myrth,  my  solas,  and  my  play? 

Xx  \  any  10,  to  nou.;ht  al  is  wandred  away. 
,*  :»■.:*  l»«*^»  longe  for  me  may  ye  call  1 

jVr  1  am  departed  tyl  domis  day  ; 
^i.  loui'  ye  that  Lorde  that  is  soueraygne  of  al 
W  jiorx*  ho  i»y  castels  and  buyldynges  royall  ? 

1*111  Windsore  alone,  now  I  haue  no  mo, 
V  ••{  of  Kiun  the  prayers  perpetuall, 

iW,  fivr,  nunc  in pulvere  dormio  ! 

\\  \\\  should  a  man  be  proude  or  presume  hye? 

SaiiH't  Uernard  therof  nobly  doth  trete, 
<v\lh  a  man  is  but  a  sacke  of  stercorry, 

\\\\\  shall  returne  vnto  wormis  mete. 

>Vhy,  what  cam  of  Alexander  the  greate? 
l>r  ds  of  stronge  Sampson,  who  can  tell? 

WtTc  not  wormes  ordeyned  theyr  flesh  to  frete 
And  iif  Salomon,  that  was  of  wyt  the  well? 
Ah-olon  prolliryd  his  heare  for  to  sell, 

\\  \  for  al  his  bewte  wormys  ete  him  also; 
A  Mil  I  hut  late  in  honour  dyd  excel, 

AV,  *'«f'<",  nunc  in  jndvere  dormio! 


KYNGE    EDTVARDE    THE    FORTH.  7 

f  Iiaue  played  my  pageyond,  now  am  I  past ; 

Ye  wot  well  all  I  was  of  no  great  yeld : 
This  al  thing  concluded  shalbe  at  the  last, 

When  death  approchyth,  then  lost  is  the  felie: 

Then  sythen  this  world  me  no  longer  vpTielde, 
Nor  nought  would  conserue  me  here  in  my  place,  m 

In  manus  tiias,  Domine,  my  spirite  vp  I  yelde, 
Humbly  beseching  the,  God,  of  thy  grace ! 
0  ye  curtes  commyns,  your  hertis  vnbrace 

Benyngly  now  to  pray  for  me  also  ; 
For  ryght  wel  you  know  your  kyng  I  was, 

Et,  ecce^  nunc  in  pulvere  dormio  ! 


8  UPON   THB  DRTHB   09 


POBTA  BKELTON 
UlUBEATUS  LIBEL LUM  8UUM  HSTBICB  ALLOQURUB.^ 

Jid  domtnum  propercUo  meum^  meapa^nOj  P$r€/i 

Qui  Northunibrorumjura  pcUema  gerit ; 
Ad  nutum  Celebris  tu  prona  repane  leonis 

Quceqae  suo  patri  tristiajusta  eano. 
A$t  uhi  perlegit,  dubiam  sub  mente  vohOet 

Fortunam,  cuncta  qua  maUfida  rotaL 
Qui  leo  sit  felix,  et  Nestoris  oecupet  annos  ; 

Ad  libitum  cujus  ipse  parcttus  ero. 

SKELTON  LAUREAT 

YFOH  THX 
DOULOUR[u]s  DETHB  AHD  MUCHB    LAMKSTABLB  CHAUfftt 
OP  THE  MOST  HONORABLE  ERLE  OP  KOBTIIUMBKRLAllDB* 

I  WAYLE,  I  wepe,  I  sobbe,  I  sigh  ful  sore 
The  dedely  fate,  the  dolefulle  destenj 

Of  hym  that  is  gone,  alas,  without  restore, 
Of  the  bloud  royall  descending  nobellj ; 

*  From  Marshe*s  ed.  of  Skeltou*8  TFbHbet,  1568,  ooBatii 
with  a  copy  of  the  poem  in  a  Ms.  toL  now  in  the  Biitii^ 
Museum  ( J/&  R<eg.  18.  D  ii  foL  165,)  which  formeriy  beloDg*^ 
to  the  fitth  Earl  of  Xorthumberland,  son  of  the  nobtoui^ 
who^e  fate  is  here  lamented:  vide  Acccma  q^  flk^li^  |^ 
This  ele;^  was  printed  by  Percy  in  his  Rdique*  of  Am.  Bt^ 
FotL  (i.  95,  ed.  1794,)  from  the  MS.  just  mentioiied. 


THE   EBLE    OF  NOBTHUMBERLANDE.  9 

Whose  lordshyp  doutles  was  slayne  lamentably 
Thorow  treson,  again  bim  compassed  and  wrougbt, 
Trew  to  bis  prince  in  word,  in  dede,  and  tbought. 

Of  heuenly  poems,  O  Clyo,  calde  by  name 
In  the  colege  of  Musis  goddes  bystoriall, 

Adres  tbe  to  me,  whicbe  am  botb  bait  and  lame  » 
In  elect  vteraunce  to  make  memoryall ! 
To  tbe  for  souccour,  to  tb^  for  beipe  I  call, 

Mine  homely  rudnes  and  drygbnes  to  expell 

With  tbe  fresbe  waters  of  Elyconys  well. 

Of  noble  actes  aunciently  enrolde 
Of  famous  pryncis  and  lordes  of  astate, 

By  thy  report  ar  wont  to  be  extold, 
Regestringe  trewly  euery  formare  date ; 
Of  tby  bountie  after  the  vsuall  rate 

Kyndell  in  me  sucbe  plenty  of  tby  nobles,  • 

These  sorowfulle  dites  that  I  may  shew  expres. 

In  sesons  past,  who  hath  herde  or  sene 
Of  formar  writyng  by  any  presidente 

That  vilane  hastarddis  in  their  furious  tene, 
Fulfylled  with  malice  of  froward  entente, 
Confetered  togeder  of  commonn  concente 

Palsly  to  slee  theyr  moste  singuler  good  lord  ? 

It  may  be  regestrede  of  sbamefull  recorde. 

So  noble  a  man,  so  valiaunt  lord  and  knyght, 
Fulfilled  with  honor,  as  all  the  world  doth  ken ;  m 


li  II'ON    THE   DETHB   OP 

But  iher  naa  fals  packing,  or  els  I  am  begylit^ 
How  be  it  lite  mater  was  euydent  and  (ilayne, 
F«»r  if  tljey  liad  occupied  their  epere  and  theif 
shilde, 
Tliii»  noble  man  doutles  haA  not  bene  ^layue. 
But  men  say  ihey  wer  iynked  with  a  double 
cbajne, 
And  held  wiib  the  eomones  voder  ti  cloke, 
Which  kindeled  the  wild  iyr  that  made  si  this 
Einoke. 

The  commons  renyed  tlier  taxes  to  pay, 

or  them  demaunded  and  asked  by  the  kynge  ; 

Willi  one  voice  importune  they  plainly  sayd  nay;  i 

They  buekt  them  on  a  bu^bmenC  themselfe  in 

baile  to  bring, 
Againe  the;  kynga  pleEure  to  wrestle  orJHH 
wring;  ^^H 

Bluntly  aa  bestia  with  boste  and  with  crye      ^^H 
They  sayd  ibcy  forsed  not,  nor  carede  not  to  Sy, 

The  nobelnes  of  the  north,  this  valiant  lord  and 
knight, 
Ai  man  that  was  innocent  of  trechery  or  Iraiae, 
Preseil  forth  holdly  to  withstand  the  myght. 
And,  lyke  marciall  Hector,  he  faught   them 
ngayne,  [maine, 

Vygorously  vpon  them  with  might  and  with 
Trustyngin  nuhle  men  that  were  with  him  there ;  « 
But  al  ihey  fled  from  bym  for  falshode  or  fere. 


THE    ERLE    OF    NORTHUMBERLANDE.  1  1 

saj,  ye  comoners,  why  wer  ye  so  stark  mad  ?  jo  ( 
W^hat  frantyk  frensy  fyll  in  your  brayne  ?  ' 

»Vhere  was  your  wit  and   reson  ye   should   haue  ) 
had  ?  / 

What  wilful  foly  made  yow  to  ryse  agayne        / 
Your  naturall  lord  ?  alas,  I  can  not  fayne : 
"STe  armyd  you  with  will,  and  left  your  wit  behynd ;  i 
\Toll  may  ye^  be  called  comones  most  vnkynd.      I 

He  was  your  chefteyne,  your  shelde,  your  chef 
defence, 
Redy  to  assyst  you  in  euery  time  of  nede ; 
Your  worshyp  depended  of  his  excellence  :        '^ 
Alas,  ye  mad  men,  to  far  ye  did  excede ;        *«» — 
Your  hap  was  vnhap{)y,  to  ill  was  your  spede  : 
^hat  moued  you  againe  him  to  war  or  to  fyglit  ? 
What  alyde  you  to  sle  your  lord  again  all  ryght  ?  / 

The  ground  of  his  quarel   was  for  his  souerain  I 
lord. 
The  well  concerning  of  all  the  hole  lande, 
i^emandyng  suche  duties  as  nedes  most  acord 
To  the  ryght  of  his  prince,  which  shold  not  be 

withstand ; 
For  whose  cause  ye  slew  him  with  your  owne 
hand : 
^ut  had  his  noble  men  done  wel  that  day, 
^e  Lad  not  bene  able  to  haue  sayd  hym  nay.      w 

1  ye]  So  MS.  Dyce,  "  you/'    C. 


UPON   THE   DETIIE    OF 

.:  ?;:oke  thy  sworde  so  noble  a  mar^ 

^-  ...a  Miiiraciou?,  vnliappy  be  thy  fame, 
%  .. :  •■•ere  endyed  with  rede  blond  of  the 
si.ue 
1^3^    .  ji^  erie  !  0  foule  mysuryd  ground, 
%  t.>e«..i  ^'««f  ^iit  l»i^  iinall  dedely  wounde  ! 

v.r».'iOss  of  the  fatall  systers  iii  i« 

.,\*.u\#  most  cruel  vnto  the  lyfe  of  man, 
^    uvrvi'-os.  in  the  is  no  pite! 
J  K-mioidc,  which  sleest  all  that  thou  can, 
>^.  vivibly  vpon  this  erle  thou  ran, 
V'.ui.  >*i»"  thy  sword,  enharpit  of  mortall  drede, 
l>.'a  &i5  asonder  his  perfight  vitall  threde ! 

^^  worvles  vnpullysht  be,  nakide  and  playne, 

V.Y  auivat  jH)ems  they  want  ellumynynge ; 
^rbv  iluMU  to  knowlege  ye  may  attayne 
^V  this  lordes  dethe  and  of  his  murdrynge ;  ^^ 
Whioh  whils  he  lyued  had  fuyson  of  euery 
thing, 
vV  knights,  of  squyers,  chyf  lord  of  toure  and 

lowne, 
IM  iSkkell  Fortune  began  on  hym  to  frowne: 

jVjivirall  to  ihikos,  with  kynges  he  might  compare, 
Surnuniniinge  in  honor  al  erlis  he  did  excede; 

To  all  iHUiiitHMS  aboute  hym  reporte  me  I  dare; 
l.\ko  to  Kneas  benigne  in  worde  and  dede, 


THE    ERLE    OF   NORTHUMBERLANDE.         15 

Valiant  as  Hector  in  euery  marciall  nede, 
f^rouydent,  discrete,  circumspect,  and  wyse, 
^yU  the  chaunce  ran  agayne  hym  of  Fortunes  "o 
duble  dyse. 

What  nedeth  me  for  to  extoll  his  fame 

With  my  rude  pen  enkankered  all  with  rust, 
Whose  noble  actes  show  worshiply  his  name, 
Transendyng   far   myne    homly   Muse,   that 

muste 
Yet  somwhat   wright   supprised   with    herty 
lust. 
Truly  reportyng  his  right  noble  estate, 
Immortally  whiche  is  immaculate  ? 


His  noble  blode  neuer  destayned  was, 
Trew  to  his  prince  for  to  defend  his  ryght, 

Doblenes  hatyng  fals  maters  to  compas,  ist 

Treytory  and  treason  he  banysht  out  of  syght. 
With  truth  to  medle  was  al  his  holl  delyght. 

As  all  his  countrey  can  testyfy  the  same  : 

To  sle  suche  a  lorde,  alas,  it  was  great  shame  I 

If  the  hole  quere  of  the  Musis  nyne 
In  me  all  onely  wer  set  and  comprysed, 

^nbrethed  with  the  blast  of  influence  deuyne. 
As  perfytly  as  could  be  thought  or  deuised ; 
To  me  also  allthough  it  were  promised 

Of  laureat  Phebus  holy  the  eloquence,  lei 

All  \?ere  to  lytell  for  his  magnificence. 


^ 


16 


UPON   THE   DETHE    OP 


0  yonge  lyon,  but  tender  yet  of  age, 

Grow  and  encrese,  remembre  thyn  estate ; 

God  th^  assyst  unto  thyn  herytage, 

And  gene  th^  grace  to  be  more  fortunate ! 
Agayn  rebellyones  arme  the  to  make  debat 

And,  as  the  lyone,  whiche  is  of  bestes  kynge, 

Unto  thy  subiectes  be  curteis  and  benygne. 


I  pray  God  sende  the  prosperous  Ijrfe  and  long^ 

Stable  thy  mynde  constant  to  be  and  fast,       *'' 
Ryght  to  mayntayn,  and  to  resyst  all  wronge : 
All  flateryng  faytors  abhor  and  from  the 

cast; 
Of  foule  detraction  Grod  kepe  th^  from  th.^ 
blast ! 
Let  double  delyng  in  th4  haue  no  place, 
And  be  not  lyght  of  credence  in  no  case. 


With  heuy  chere,  with  dolorous  hart  and  mynd, 
Eche  man  may  sorow  in  his  inward  thought 
This  lordes  death,  whose  pere  is  hard  to  fynd, 
Algife  Englond  and  Fraunce  were  thorow 

saught. 
Al  kynges,  all  princes,  al  dukes,  well  they  w 
ought, 
Both  temporall  and  spiritual,  for  to  complayne 
This  noble  man,  that  crewelly  was  slayne  : 

More  specially  barons,  and  those  knygtes  bold, 
And  al  other  gentilmen  with  him  enterteyned 


THE   ERLE    OF   NORTHDMBEKLANDE  17 

In  fee,  as  menyall  men  of  his  housold, 
Whom  he  as  lord  worshyply  mainteyned ; 
To  sorowful  weping  they  ought  to  be  con- 
streined, 
As  oft  as  they  call  to  theyr  remembraunce 
Of  ther  good  lord  the  fate  and  dedely  chaunce. 

0  perlese  Prince  of  heuen  emperyall  I  wo 

That  with  one  word  formed  al  thing  of  noughte ; 
Heuen,  hell,  and  erthe  obey  unto  thy  call ; 
Which  to   thy  resemblaunce  wondersly  hast 

wrought 
All  mankynd,   whom   thou   full   dere   hast 
bought, 
With  thy  bloud  precious  our  finaunce  thou  did  pay, 
And  vs  redemed  from  the  fendys  pray ; 

To  th^  pray  we,  as  Prince  incomparable. 
As  thou  art  of  mercy  and  pyte  the  well, 

Thon  bring  unto  thy  joye  eterminable 
The  soull  of  this  lorde  from  all  daunger  of  hell,  aoo 
In  endles  blys  with  th^  to  byde  and  dwell 

In  thy  palace  aboue  the  orient. 

Where  thou  art  Lord  and  God  omnipotent. 

0  quene  of  mercy,  0  lady  full  of  grace, 
Mayden  most  pure,  and  Goddes  moder  dere, 

To  sorowful  hartes  chef  comfort  and  solace. 
Of  all  women  O  flowre  withouten  pere ! 
I*ray  to  thy  Son  aboue  the  sterris  clere, 

VOL.  I.  2 


,    COlIEIxT    Ci 


SKELTON  LAUREATE 

^       '     AGAYNatK 

i  oomrfy  coyitrowiie,  that  curi/oiBsli/  ckatcnlyd. 
wi  mrryiMy  eowjttred,  and  madlij  in  liyt 
otw/kh/g  mokh/shly  made  agaynste  the  ix  Musyt 
ofjK^ytykepoenii  and  poettyt  taalryculat.' 

Of  aJlnaoyons  vndtr  Ihe  heuyn, 
TLese  I'rantyke  foolys  I  liale  nwsl  of  a!l ; 

'ur  IlioDgh  tliey  stumble  in  ihe  syiinys  seuyn, 
In  peuyshnes  ycL  they  snapper  aud  liill. 
Which  men  the  viii  dedly  syn  call. 

Tfiij  peuysh  pi'oud,  thys  prendei'gesi, 

"ben  be  is  well,  yet  can  ht  not  rust. 

iwcle  suger  lol'e  and  sowre  biiyardya  bun 

Be  sumdcle  lyke  in  ibrme  and  thup, 
file  ope  for  a  duke,  Ihe  olhifr  for  dun,  k 

A  mauDuliet  fur  monill  tlieron  to  snap. 
Hys  bun  is  lo  hy  to  huuu  any  liu|); 
I'ulfor  in  his  gamut  uurp  ihut  lit:  cazi, 
liO,  Juk  wold  be  a  jeutylmun  1 

*TUipo«iD,  uid  tlie  throe  piecee  nhlcti  fullow  It,  arc 
pm  Awn  B  tract  offourleiiTes,  a.  d.,  uuJ  nilhout  prliitpi-'i 
(bat  erideiitly  from  the  [iress  of  I'vnson,)  qolluteil  wUli 
le'BeiL  afSkoIlou'a  IFw-jtu,  luGS. 


I 


20        AGATN8TE   A   COMELY   COTSTROWNS. 

Wjth,  Hej,  trolj,  loly,  lo,  whip  here,  Jak, 
Alumbek  sodyldym  syllorym  ben  ! 

Curjowsly  he  can  both  counter  and  knak 
Of  Martyn  Swart  and  all  hys  mery  men. 
Lord,  how  Perky  n  is  proud  of  hys  pohen  ! 

But  ask  wher  he  fyndy th  among  hys  monacordys 

An  holy  water  clarke  a  ruler  of  lordys. 

He  can  not  fynd  it  in  rule  nor  in  space  : 
He  solfyth  to  haute,  hys  trybyll  is  to  hy ; 

He  braggyth  of  his  byrth,  that  borne  was  full  bac4 
Hys  musyk  withoute  mesure,  to  sharp  is  h^ 

my; 
He  trymmyth  in  hys  tenor  to  counter  pyrdewj 

His  dyscant  is  besy,  it  is  withoute  a  mene ; 

To  fat  is  hys  fantsy,  hys  wyt  is  to  lene. 

He  lumbryth  on  a  lewde  lewte,  Roty  bully  joys 
Rumbyll  downe,  tumbyll  downe,  hey  go,  no^ 
now ! 
He  fumblyth  in  hys  fyngeryng  an   vgly  good 
noyse, 
It  semyth  the  sobbyng  of  an  old  sow  : 
He  wold  be  made  moch  of,  and  he  wyst  how  ; 
Wele  sped  in  spyndels  and  turnyng  of  tauellya ; 
A  bungler,  a  brawler,  a  pyker  of  quarellys. 

Comely  he  clappy  th  a  pay  re  of  clauycordys  ; 
He  whjstelyth  so  swetely,  he  makyth  me  t 
swete ; 


AGATN8TE   A   COMELY    COYSTROWNE.        21 

His  descant  is  dasslied  full  of  djscordes  ; 
A  red  angry  man,  but  easy  to  intrete : 
An  vssher  of  the  hall  fayn  wold  I  get,  4c 

To  poynte  this  proude  page  a  place  and  a  rome, 
For  Jak  wold  be  a  jentylman,  that  late  was  agrome. 

hk  wold  jet,  and  yet  Jyll  sayd  nay ;     [the  best : 
He  counteth  in  his  countenaunce  to  checke  with 

A  malaperte  raedler  that  pryeth  for  his  pray. 
In  a  dysh  dare  he  rush  at  the  rypest ; 
Dremyng  in  durapys  to  wrangyll  and  to  wrest : 

He  fyndeth  a  proporcyon  in  his  prycke  songe. 

To  drynk  at  a  draught  a  larg  and  a  long. 

Nay,  iape  not  with  hym,  he  is  no  small  fole,       so 
It  is  a  solemnpne  syre  and  a  solayne ; 

For  lordes  and  ladyes  lerne  at  his  scole  ; 
He  techyth  them  so  wysely  to  solf  and  to  fayne, 
That  neyther  they  synge  wel  prycke  songe  nor 

playne : 
Thys  docter  Deuyas  commensyd  in  a  cart,     ' 
A  master,  a  mynstrell,  a  fydler,  a  farte. 

What  though  ye  can  cownter  Gustodi  nos  f 
As  well  it  becomy%  yow,  a  parysh  towne  clarke. 

To  syiig  Sospttati  dedit  cegros : 
Yet  here  ye  not  to  bold,  to  braule  ne  to  bark  go 
At  me,  that  medeled  notliyng  with  you  re  wark  : 

Con-ect  fyrst  thy  self ;  walk,  and  be  nought ! 

Oeme  what  thou  lyst,  thou  knowyst  not  my  thought. 


21  TPPOX   A    DEEDMANS    OED. 

For  w her  so  we  dwell 
IVih  wvll  us  qwell. 
And  wi;h  us  mell. 

For  ;ftll  our^  pamperde  paanchjs, 
Tber  may  no  fraunchys, 
Nor  woHdlr  blvs, 

m  m 

KedtMne  r^  from  this : 

Oure  diiv<  be  darvd. 

To  be  chekmii:vd  ' 

AVi:h  dniw::v>  of  deth« 

StoppyiiiT  oure  breih  ; 

Ourv  tv^ii  svnkvnj. 

Oure  bovlvs  5:vnkTii«r% 

Oure  nummvs  jjrvnnTnjsr, 

Oure  soulvs  brvnnvns. 

To  whom,  ihen,  siiall  we  sew, 

For  to  haue  reseew, 

l^uc  to  swete  Jesu, 

On  vs  then  tor  to  rew?  ^ 

O  !i^H.xUv  ohvid 
Ot*  Marv  mvlde, 
Tlun  be  oure  shvlde  ! 
Tiuu  we  be  not  exvld 

m 

"Fo  tl:e  dvue  diile 
i.>r"  IvCflts  bale. 
Nor  to  tlie  lake 
i.V  rVrtav>  Make. 

U.j:  ^r.iunt  vs  sraoe 
r.>  <v'  ihv  race, 
A:'.d  10  pu:vI:aoe 


WOHANHOD,  WANTON,  YE  WANT.     20 

Thyne  heuenly  place,     ^ 

And  thy  palace. 

Full  of  solace, 

Aboue  the  sky, 

That  is  so  hy ; 

Eternally 

To  beholde  and  se 

The  Trynyte ! 

Amen.  «o 

Myrres  vous  y. 


ANHOD,  wanton,  ye  want ; 

ure  medelyng,  mastres,  is  manerles  ; 

e  of  yll,of  goodnes  skant, 

ray  11  at  ryot,  recheles : 

prayse  youre  porte  it  is  nedeles  ; 

11  your  draffe  yet  and  youre  dreggy s, 

ell  borne  as  ye  full  oft  tyme  beggys. 

so  koy  and  full  of  skorne  ? 
ne  horse  is  sold,  I  wene,  you  say ; 
ew  furryd  gowne,  when  it  is  worne,  »o 

t  vp  youre  purs,  ye  shall  uon  pay. 
crede,  I  trust  to  se  the  day, 
^ud  a  pohen  as  ye  sprede, 
e  and  other  ye  may  haue  nede. 


»»ll 


*.M)  WOMANIIOD,   WANTON,   YE    WANT. 

'rii()U«?h  aiigelyk  be  youre  smylyng, 
Yet  is  you  re  tong  an  adders  tayle, 

Full  lyk<^  a  soorpyon  styngyng 
All  thoso  by  whom  ye  haue  auayle : 
(uH>d  nuistrt.\s  Anne,  there  ye  do  shayle: 

What  pmte  ye,  praty  pyggysny  ? 

1  iruslc  to  quyto  you  or  I  dy. 

Youtv  kov  is  meto  for  euerv  lok, 

Yourt*  key  is  ivmmen  and  hangyth  owte ; 
You IV  kov  is  rtH^v,  we  nede  not  knok. 

Nor  stand  lon^  wrestmj;  there  aboute  ; 

i^t*  \ourt*  dore^te  ve  haae  no  doate : 
Uut  vn\o  th\  nil  is*  that  re  be  lewde : 
lloldo  YvH^r^^  un^c  ih>w,  sdl  beshrewde! 

IV  uvis:w^  Ann<^«  that  tauriy  swete* 


rXUERS   BALETTYS   ETC.  27 


Here  fohywythe  dyuers  Balettys  and  Dyties  sola- 
cyous,  deuysyd  by  Master  Skelton,  LaureaL* 

With,  Lullaj,  lullay,  Ijke  a  chylde, 
Thou  slepyst  to  long,  thou  art  begylde. 

My  darljng  dere,  my  daysy  floure. 

Let  me,  quod  he,  ly  in  your  lap. 
Ly  styll,  quod  she,  my  paramoure, 

Ly  styll  hardely,  and  take  a  nap. 

Hys  bed  was  heuy,  such  was  his  hap, 
All  drowsy  dremyng,  dround  in  slepe. 
That  of  hys  loue  he  toke  no  kepe, 

"With,  Hey,  lullay,  &c. 

With  ba,  ba,  ba,  and  bas,  bas,  bas, 
She  cheryshed  hym  both  cheke  and  chyn. 

That  he  wyst  neuer  where  he  was  ;  lo 

He  had  forgoten  all  dedely  syn. 
He  wantyd  wyt  her  loue  to  wyn : 

He  trusted  her  payment,  and  lost  all  hys  pray :  *    ^ 

She  left  hym  slepying,  and  stale  away, 

Wyth,  Hey,  lullay,  &c. 

*  A  tract  80  entitled,  of  four  leaves,  n.  d.  and  without  print- 
er's name,  but  evidently  from  the  press  of  Pynson,  consisti 
of  the  five  following  pieces. 

Vayl  Qy.«pay"?    C. 


28  DYUERS    BALETTYS    JLNTD 

The  ryuers  rowth,  the  waters  wan, 
She  sparyd  not,  to  wete  her  fete ; 

She  wadyd  ouer,  she  found  a  man 

That  halsyd  her  hartely  and  kyst  her  swete : 
Thus  after  her  cold  she  cought  a  hete. 

My  lefe,  she  sayd,  rowtyth  in  hys  bed  ; 

I  wys  he  hath  an  heuy  hed, 

Wyth,  Hey,  lullay,  &c. 

What  dremyst  thou,  drunchard,  drousy  pate ! 

Thy  lust  and  lykyng  is  from  th^  gone  ; 
Thou  blynkerd  blowboll,  thou  wakyst  to  late. 

Behold,  thou  lyeste,  luggard,  alone  ! 

"Well  may  thou  sygh,  well  may  thou  grone, 
To  dele  wyth  her  so  cowardly : 
I  wys,  powle  hachet,  she  bleryd  thyne  I^ 

Qd  Skelton,  laureate. 


The  auncient  acquaintance,  madam,  betwen    ' 
twayn, 
The  famylyaryte,  the  formar  dalyaunce, 
Causyth  me  that  I  can  not  myself  refrayne 
But  that  Imust  wrytefor  my  plesaunt  pastaunc^ 
Remerabryng  your  passying  goodly  counte* 
naunce, 
Your  goodly  port,  your  bewteous  visage, 
Ye  may  be  countyd  comfort  of  all  corage. 


DYTIES    SOLACYOUS.  29 

Of  all  your  feturs  fauorable  to  make  tru  discrip- 
cion, 
I  am  insuffycjent  to  make  such  enterpryse ; 

For  thus  dare  I  say,  without  [conjtradiccyon,  lo 
That  dame  Menolope  was  neuer  half  so  wyse : 
Yet  so  it  is  that  a  rumer  begynnyth  for  to  ryse, 

How  in  good  horsmen  ye  set  your  hole  delyght. 

And  haue  forgoten  your  old  trew  louyng  knyght 

Wyth  bound  and  rebound,  bounsyngly  take  vp 
Hys  jentyll  curtoyl,  and  set  nowght  by  small 
naggys I 
Spur  vp  at  the  hynder  gyrth,  with,  Gup,  morell, 
gup! 
With,  Jayst  ye,  jenet  of  Spayne,  for  your  tayll 

waggys ! 
Ye  cast  all  your   corage  vppon  such  courtly 
haggys. 
Haue  in  sergeaunt  ferrour,  myne  horse  behynd  m 

is  bare ; 
"6  rydeth  well  the  horse,  but  he  rydeth  better 
the  mare. 


,  ware,  the  mare  wynsyth  wyth  her  wanton 
hele! 
She  kykyth  with  her  kalkyns  and  keylyth  with 
a  clench  ; 
ohegoyth  wyde  behynde,  and  hewyth  neuer  a  dele : 
Ware  gallyng  in  the   widders,  ware  of  that 
wrenche  1 


30  DTUEE5    BALETTTS    AVD 

It  is  [/frrlous  for  a  horsemaD  to  dvg  in  tbe 

tranche. 
TUyn  grfcuyth  your  hasband,  that  ryght  jentyll 

knyght, 
And  »o  M'ilh  youre  seruantjs  he  fersly  doth  fygbt. 

So  ferhly  he  fytyth,  hi.s  mynde  is  so  fell, 

I'hat  he  dryuyth  tliem  doune  with  dyntes  on 
ther  day  wach  ;  * 

He  breHyth  theyr  braynpannys  and  makyth  them 
to  swell, 
They  re  browys  all  to-brokyn,  such  clappys  they 

each ; 
Wlio>e  jalawsy  malycyous  makyth  them  tolep* 
tlie  hacli ; 
Hy  iheyr  conusaunce  knowing  how  they  serue    * 

wily  py ; 
Ank  all  your  neybours  whether  that  I  ly. 

It.  can  be  no  eounsell  that  is  cryed  at  the  cros; 

For  youre  jentyll  husband  sorowfull  am  I; 
!Iow  be  it,  he  is  not  furst  hath  had  a  los : 

A(huMlysyn«jj  you,  madame,  to  warke  mor^^ 

secret  I V, 
Let  not  all  tlie  world  make  an  owtcry;  * 

riay  I'ayro  plav,  madame,  and  loke  yeplayclet:*^ 
Or  ells  with  gret  shame  your  game  wylbe  sene  - 

Qd  SkeltoD,  laureat 


DYTIES    SOLACYOUS.  31 


Knolege,  aquayntance,  resort,  fauour  with  grace ; 

Delyte,  desyre,  respyte  wyth  lyberte ; 
Corage  wyth  lust,  conuenient  tyrae  and  space ; 

Dysdayns,  dystres,  exylyd  cruelte ; 

Wordys  well  set  with  good  habylyte  ; 
Demure  demenaunce,  womanly  of  porte; 
Transendyng  plesure,  surmountyng  all  dysporte  ; 

Allectuary  arrectyd  to  redres 

These  feuerous  axys,  the  dedely  wo  and  payne 
Of  thoughtfull  hertys  plungyd  in  dystres ;  io 

Refresshyng  myndys   the  Aprell  shoure  of 

rayne ; 
Condute  of  comforte,  and  well  most  souerayne ; 
Herber  enverduryd,  contynuall  fressh  and  grene  ; 
C>F  lusty  soraer  the  passyng  goodly  quene ; 

1*1:16  topas  rych  and  precyouse  in  vertew  ; 

Tour  ruddy 8  wyth  ruddy  rubys  may  compare  ; 
^«>.phyre  of  sadnes,  enuayned  wyth  indy  blew ; 
The  pullyshed  perle  youre  whytenes  doth 

declare ; 
Dyamand  poyntyd  to  rase  oute  hartly  care ; 
^^^yne   surfetous  suspecte  the  emeraud  com-  » 

endable ; 
*^^  lucent  smaragd,  obiecte  imcoraperable ; 

■^ricleryd  myrroure  and  perspectyue  most  bryght, 
Xllumynyd  wyth  feturys  far  passyng  my  reporte ; 


32  DYUERS    BALETTYS   AND 

Radyent  Esperus,  star  of  the  clowdy  nyght, 
Lode  star  to  lyglit  these  louers  to  theyr  porte5= 
Gayne  dangerous  stormy s  theyr  anker  of  su^ 
porte, 
Theyr  sayll  of  solace  most  comfortably  clad, 
Whych  to  behold  makyth  heuy  hartys  glad  : 

Remorse  haue  I  of  youre  most  goodlyhod, 
Of  youre  behauoure  curtes  and  benynge,. 

Of  your  bownte  and  of  youre  womanhod, 
Which    makyth   my   hart   oft   to   lepe   and 

sprynge, 
And  to  remember  many  a  praty  thynge ; 

But  absens,  alas,  wyth  tremelyng  fere  and  dred^ 

Abashyth  me,  albeit  I  haue  no  nede. 

You  I  assure,  absens  is  my  fo, 

My  dedely  wo,  my  paynfull  heuynes ; 

And  if  ye  lyst  to  know  the  cause  why  so, 
Open  myne  hart,  beholde  my  mynde  expres: 
I  wold  ye  coud  !  then  shuld  ye  se,  mastres. 

How  there  nys  thynge  that  I  couet  so  fayne 

As  to  enbrace  you  in  myne  armys  twayne. 

Nothynge  yerthly  to  me  more  desyrous 

Than  to  beholde  youre  bewteouse  countenaunc^ 

But,  hateful  1  absens,  to  me  so  enuyous, 

Though  thou  withdraw  me  from  her  by  loc^ 

dvstaunce. 
Yet  shall  she  neuer  oute  of  remembraunce ; 


DYTIES    SOLAOYOUS.  33 

For  I  haue  grauyd  her  wythin  the  secret  wall 
Of  my  trew  hart,  to  loue  her  best  of  all ! 

Qd  Skelton,  laureat. 


Ouncta  licet  cecidisse  putas  discrimina  rerum^ 

Et  prius  incertCt  nunc  tihi  certa  manent, 
Oonsiliis  usure  meis  tamen  aspice  cmite, 

Suhdola  nonfcdlat  te  deafraude  sua  : 
Scepe  solet  placido  mortcUes  faUere  vvltu. 

Et  cute  sub  placida  tahida  scape  dolent ; 
Ui  quando  secura  putas  et  cuncta  serena, 

Anguis  sub  viridi  gramme  scepe  latet 
Though  ye  suppose  all  jeperdys  ar  paste, 

And  all  is  done  that  ye  lokyd  for  before,         w 
Ware  yet,  I  rede  you,  of  Fortunes  dowble  cast, 

For  one  fals  poynt  she  is  wont  to  kepe  in  store. 

And  vnder  the  fell  oft  festered  is  the  sore  : 
That  when  ye  thynke  all  daunger  for  to  pas. 
Ware  of  the  desard  lyeth  lurkyng  in  the  gras. 

Qd  Skelton,  laureat. 


Go,  pytyous  hart,  rasyd  with  dedly  wo, 
^ersyd  with  payn,  bleding  with  wondes  smart, 

oewayle  thy  fortune,  with  vaynys  wan  and  bio. 
^  Fortune  vnfrendly.  Fortune  vnkynde  thow 
art, 

VOL.  I.  3 


34  DYUERS    BALETTYS,   ETC 

To  be  so  cruell  and  so  ouerthwart, 
To  suffer  me  so  carefull  to  endure, 
That  wher  I  loue  best  I  dare  not  dyscure ! 

One  thcr  is,  and  euer  one  shalbe, 

For  whose  sake  my  hart  is  sore  dyseasyd ; 
For  whose  loue,  welcom  dysease  to  me !  la 

I  am  content  so  all  partys  be  pleasyd , 
Yet,  and  God  wold,  I  wold  my  payue   were 
easvd ! 
But  Fortune  euforsyth  me  so  carefully  to  endure. 
That  where  I  loue  best  I  dare  not  dyscure. 

Skelton,  laureat, 

At  the  instance  of  a  nobjU  lady. 


MANERLT   MAltGEBY.  85 


MANERLY  MARGERY  MYLK  AND  ALE.* 

Ay,  besherewe  yow,  be  my  fay, 

This  wanton  clarkes  be  nyse  all  way ; 

Avent,  avent,  my  popagay ! 

What,  will  ye  do  no  thyng  but  play  ? 

TuUy  valy,  strawe,  let  be,  I  say ! 

Gup,  Cristian  Clowte,  gup,  Jak  of  the  vale  ! 

With,  Manerly  Margery  Mylk  and  Ale. 

lie  God,  ye  be  a  praty  pode. 

And  I  loue  you  an  hole  cart  lode. 

Strawe,  Jamys  foder,  ye  play  the  fode,  u 

*  am  no  hakney  for  your  rode  ; 

^^  watch  a  bole,  your  bak  is  brode ; 

^up,  Cristian  Clowte,  gup,  Jak  of  the  vale ! 

'^iih,  ]VIanerly  Margery  Mylk  and  Ale. 

*  From  the  Fairfax  3i8.,  which  formerly  belonged  to  Ralph 
*-  boresby,  and  now  forms  part  of  the  Additional  mss.  (5405. 
*^1. 109)  in  the  British  Museum.  It  was  printed  (together 
^^''ith  the  music,)  by  Hawkins,  Ilist.  of  Music^  iii.  2.  This  song 
^^"^  inserted  also  in  the  first  edition  of  Ancient  Songs^  1790, 
P*  100,  by  Ritson,  who  observes, — "  Since  Sir  J.  Hawkins's 
^*^nscript  was  made,  the  MS.  appears  to  have  received  certain 
^»terations,  occasioned,  as  it  should  seem,  but  certainly  not 

^'ithorised,  by  the  over-scrupuUms  delicacy  of  its  late  or 

r»f«sent  possessor."  p.  102. 


MARGERr. 

-  ;r  --cii'LIi  me?  now,  fy  ! 
.  ':  -la-.c  Ziv  piggesnye? 
"T  >:a—  T'.c.  r.o  Lurdelv : 

.:ij  ,'!•-  iFtt.  z"-?-  Jake  of  the  vale! 
r  -"  5Lir-jrrv  Mvik  aod  Ale. 


*  ii^    .  ru  -ur  ▼"JIT.  re  cost  me  nought ; 
•».  .     li--:   I  o*f -Jc'i  :ia;  1  haue  sought, 
V    •:-*    ':   -•*:  :»r?cii  ih^it  euvr  I  bought. 
..    .-■  J:>  *.t:t  "Jdik  iil  halh  wrought, 

*  ..   -i-     .-  :  >  I  ije  lor  thought ! 

w,..   -  '">*=u:  .^v.'*^?.  vour  breth  is  stale! 

.„.  "L^i  •■    k^>^^rv  Alylk  and  Ale! 

,^, .   .  ->i:cu:  .^Ic  *:e,  gup,  Jak  of  the  vale ! 

I.    .  "^i.-^-..-;   ^iiirgvry  My  Ik  and  Ale. 


THE   BOWGE    OF    COURTE.  37 


HERE    BEGYNNETH   A   LTTELL   TREATYSE, 

NAMED 

THE   BOWGE   OF  COURTE.* 

THE  PUOLOGUE  TO   THE    BOWGE  OF  COURTE. 

umpne,  whan  the  sonne  in  Virgine 
rad}  ante  liete  eniyped  hath  our  corne ; 

Luna,  full  of  mutabylyte, 
iimperes  the   dyademe  hath  worne 
)ur  pole  artyke,  smylynge  halfe  in  scorue 
•  foly  and  our  vnstedfastnesse  ; 

ine  wlian  Mars  to  werre  hym  dyde  dres ; 

ynge  to  mynde  the  greate  auctoryte 

joetes  olde,  whyche  full  craftely, 
as  couerte  termes  as  coude  be,  lo 

touche  a  trouth  and  cloke  it  subtylly 

th  fresslie  vtteraunce  full  sentencyously ; 

se  in  style,  some  spared  not  vyce  to  wryte,* 

of  moralyte  nobly  dyde  endyte  ; 

m  the  ed.  of  Wynkyn  de  Worde,  n.  d.,  in  the  Advo 
Library,   Edinburgh,  collated  with  another  ed.   by 
n  de  Worde,  n.  d.,  in  the  Public  Library,  Cambridge, 
h  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Workes^  1568. 
^1  Qy.  "  wyte  "  (i.  e.  blame)? 


\ 


38  THE    BOWGE    OP    COUBTK. 

"Wherby  I  rede  tlieyr  renome  and  theyr  fame 
Maye  neuer  dye,  bute  euermore  endure: 

I  was  sore  moued  to  aforce  the  same, 

But  Ignoraunce  full  soone  dyde  me  dyscure, 
And  sliewed  that  in  this  arte  I  was  not  sure ; 

For  to  illumyne,  slie  sayde,  I  was  to  dulle,       « 

Auysynge  me  my  penne  alwaye  to  pulle, 

And  not  wryte ;  for  he  so  wyll  atteyne 
Exoedynge  farther  than  his  connyuge  is, 

His  hede  maye  be  harde,  but  feble  is  his  brayne, 
Yet  haue  1  knowen  suche  er  this ; 
But  of  reproche  surely  he  maye  not  mys, 

That  clymmeth  hyer  than  he  may  fotynge  haue; 

What  and  he  slyde  downe,  who  shall  hym  saue? 

Thus  vp  and  down  my  mynde  was  drawen  and 
cast. 

That  I  ne  wyste  what  to  do  was  beste ;        " 
So  sore  enwered,  that  I  was  at  the  laste 

Enforsed  to  slepe  and  for  to  take  some  reste ; 

And  to  lye  downe  as  soone  as  I  me  dreste, 
At  Ha^^^yche  Porte  slumbrynge  as  I  laye, 
In  myne  hostes  house,  called  Powers  Keys, 

Methoughte  I  sawe  a  shyppe,  goodly  of  sayle, 
Come  saylynge  forth  into  that  hauen  brood, 

Her  takelynge  ryche  and  of  bye  apparayle : 
She  kyste  an  anker,  and  there  she  laye  at  rod* 
Marchauntes  her  horded  to  see  what  she  had  * 
lode ; 


THE   BOWGE    OP   COUBTE.  39 

rherein  they  founde  royall  marchaundyse, 
J'raghted  with  plesure  of  what  ye  coude  deuyse. 

ht  than  I  thoughte  I  woulde  not  dwell  behynde 
Amonge  all  other  I  put  myselfe  in  prece. 

Than  there  coude  I  none  aquentaunce  fynde : 
There  was  moche  noyse ;  anone  one  cryed,  Cese ! 
Sharpely  commaundynge  eche  man  holde  hys 
pece: 

laysters,  he  sayde,  the  shyp  that  ye  here  see, 

.'he  Bowge  of  Courte  it  hyghte  for  certeynte : 

?he  owner  therof  is  lady  of  estate,  « 

Whoos  name  to  tell  is  dame  Saunce-pere  ; 

ler  marchaundyse  is  rj'che  and  fortunate. 
But  who  wyll  haue  itmuste  paye  therfore  dere ; 
This  royall  chaffre  that  is  shypped  here 

s  called  Fa u ore,  to  stonde  in  her  good  grace. 

^^han  sholde  ye  see  there  pressynge  in  a  pace 

)f  one  and  other  that  wolde  this  lady  see ; 
Whiche  sat  behynde  a  traues  of  sylke  fyne, 

^f  golde  of  tessew  the  fy nest  that  myghte  be, 
In  a  trone  whiche  fer  clerer  dyde  shyne  a- 

Than  Pbebus  in  his  spere  celestyne ; 

"hoos  beaute,  honoure,  goodly  porte, 

*  haue  to  lytyll  connynge  to  reporte. 

"Qt,  of  eche  thynge  there  as  I  toke  hede, 
^onge  all  other  was  wrytten  in  her  trone, 


V..-      -  r    ''Jir  ." 


Tir-      9 


i.  . .  — 


..  -.  -    ::-.   T  '.  -      -   .    :.-  -i:*--;*?. 

"...  .  .:::r      iiiv^  I  t;i  - 1-.    i   Via-Iriit 

V  . .     r.    :■  .     -r.  TTX'j«i  sir.  i7-i«it-r  "^r  .riiK.' 

_:_:  .   ;  ■ c  V  ji-ie  '>n  me  siie  ziui-  4  rJ-'CK   * 

"^     .      ■.  V  "!  .mre.  ami  rin  }ii  3bt  ■.:  ?ci-'« 
J  .  ...'.'i.-i".  iirni  :vo  me  itie  ItI.-  :*:*- 

.. :  ■  . -r'l:  ':um»i  an  odier  2»ia:Tl»:.iiaii; 

wr--  r-':  i.'-r  nanif:  w;i.j,  and  so  she  me  ;;".ie- 
Si;  'ri:":  to  rn^:,  Itrudiir,  be  of  g(»i  chere, 

\u:\-'\\'\  w;ij  not,  liiit  hanielv  be  bolde, 

Arj;iuri''"  yoiir««'lfi:  to  aproche  and  comeiwrei 
WliMi  iliMii;^li  our  clmtTer  be  neuer  so  dere, 

Yrf  I  ;iiiv  r  VNii  to  siM'kc,  tor  onv  drode:         " 

■  t  1  m 

Wlio  .-.p.irrili  (i)  N|M*k(\  in  taythhespareih  tospe^ 

1  /.'.ri..'.    I  M  ii^lio'*  Oil.  "  Uardt.'"     Qy.  **  Gardaf" 


strea,  qood  I,  I  liaue  none  aquentaiince, 
Thnt  wj-ll  for  me  be  medyatoure  and  mene  ; 
ijiA  (his  an  othur,  I  haae  but  smale  substaiince. 
Pece,  quoil  Desyre.  ye  speke  not  worth  a  bene 
Tfye  haue  noi,  in  tiiyth  I  wyll  you  lene 
A  precyoHs  Jewell,  no  rycher  in  this  londej 
Bone  Auenture  baue  here  now  in  your  honde. 

Sbffte  now  Cberwith,  let  see,  as  ye  can, 
In  Bowge  of  Courle  cheoysaunte  to  make  ;    '« 

Fwldare  siiye  that  there  nys  erlbly  man 
Bui.  HD  '  he  can  Bone  Auenlure  lake, 
ThBrecntinofanonrnorfrendshyp  hym  forsake ; 

Bow  AuMiture  may  brynge  you  in  suche  caae 

lludye  shall  elonde  in  fauoure  and  in  grace. 

BnioFoae  tliynge  I  wei'ne  you  er'  I  goo, 
Rbethat  slyreih  ttieslivp,  make  her  you  rfrende. 

Uipircj,  quod  I,  I  prsye  you  tell  me  why  aoo, 
And  how  I  maye  that  waye  and  meanes  f'ynde. 
Por^ullie,   quod   she,   how   eui:r  bluwe   the     "lo 
wynde 

Fortune  gydetli  and  ruleth  ail  cure  shyppe ; 

Wlifimeshehatelb  shall  ouerlhe  seeboordeskyp; 

ffhonie  she  Inueth,  of  all  plesyre  ia  ryehe, 

Whyltisslie  laughed]  and  Lath  luste  for  loplaye; 
Vlwme  she  haletii,  she  castetli  in  the  dyche, 


42  THE   BOWGE    OP   COURTE. 

For  whan  she  frouneth,  she  thjnketh  to  make 

a  fray  ; 
She  cheryssheth  him,  and  hy m  she  casseth ' 
awaye. 
Alas,  quod  I,  how  myghte  I  haue  her  sure  ? 
In  fayth,  quod  she,  by  Bone  Auenture. 

Thus,  in  a  rowe,  of  martchauntes  a  grete  route  w 
Suwed   to  Fortune  that  she  wold  be  theyre 
frynde  : 

They  thronge  in  fast,  and  flocked  her  aboute; 
And  I  witli  them  prayed  her  to  haue  in  mynde. 
She  promysed  to  vs  all  she  wolde  be  kynde: 

Of  Bowge  of  Court  she  asketh  what  w^e  wold  haue; 

And  we  asked  Fauoure,  and  Fauour  she  vs  gaue. 

Thus  endeth  the  Prologue  ;  and  hegyrmetk  th 
Bowge  of  Gourte  hreuely  compyled, 

DREDE. 

The  sayle  is  vp,  Fortune  ruleth  our  helme, 
We  wante  no  wynd  to  passe  now  ouer  all ; 

Fauoure  we  haue  tougher  than  ony  elme. 
That  wyll  abyde  and  neuer  from  vs  fall :      * 
But  vnder  hony  ofte  tyme  lyeth  bytter  gall ; 

For,  as  me  thoughte,  in  our  shyppe  I  dyde  see 

Full  subtyll  persones,  in  nombre  foure  and  thr^ 


1  casseth]  W.  de  Worde's  ed.  P.  L.  C, "  casteth."    MarB*** 
ed.  "  chasseth." 


n 


The  fyrete  was  Fanell,  full  of  fialery, 

Wyth  faLles  false  that  well  coude  fayne  i 
tale; 

The  seconds  was  Suspecte,  whicbe  that  daylj 
MyBilempte  echo  man,  with  face  deedly    an 

And  Haruy    Hafterj'tLat    well   coude   picke 

With  other  foure  of  itiejr  affynyle, 

Djsilajrne,  Ryotte,  DysaymuJer,  Sublylie.  i 

Fortane  iheyr  frende,  wilh  whome  oft  she  dyd 
daunce ; 
They  coude  not  faile,  thei  thouglit,  they  wer 


And  oftentymes  I  wolde  myselfe  a 
I    Willi  tlnjm  lo  make  solace  and  pleasure  ; 
Rill    iiiv    ilvsjifiriB    tliey   coude   not   well  en- 

li;iied  for  10  dele  wilh  Drede, 


44  THE   BOWGE    OP   COURTE. 

Ye  be  an  apte  man,  as  ony  can  be  founde, 
To  dwell  with  vs,  and  serue  my  ladyes  grace; 

Ye  be  to  her  yea  worth  a  thousande  poande ; 
I  herde  her  speke  of  you  within  shorte  space. 
Whan  there  were  dyuerse  that  sore  dyde  you 
manace ; 

And,  though  I  say  it,  I  was  myselfe  your  frende, 

For  here  be  dyuerse  to  you  that  be  vnkynde.    •" 

But  this  one  thynge  ye  maye  be  sure  of  me ; 
For,  by  that  Lorde  that  bought  dere  all  mon- 
kvnde, 
I  can  not  llater,  I  muste  be  playne  to  th^ ; 
And  ye  nede  ought,  man,  shewe  to  me  joar 
mvnde, 

m 

For  ye  baue  me  whome  ^ythfull  ye  shall  fynde; 
Whyles  I  haue  ought,  by   God,  thoa  shalt  not 

laoke. 
And  vt'  ntnle  be,  a  bolde  worde  I  dare  cracke. 

m 

Nav,  nave,  be  sure,  whrles  I  am  on  vour  syde, 
Yx}  niave  not  tall.  tru<ie   me,  ye  maye  not  *" 
fa  vie : 
Ye  sioiuie  in  fauoure.  and  Fortune  is  joar  gy^^' 
And.  as  she  wyU,  so  shall  oar  grete  shypp* 
sa  vie : 

* 

Thvso  lew.:e  cok  wattes  shall  neoermore  p*^ 


uavio 


Ageyrs:e  vv>u  harvioly.  therlbn?  be  not  afirayd^  ' 
Far^n^cII  :vll  Svvne  :  but  no  worde  tkat  I^yd^- 


THE   BOWGE   OF   COURTE.  45 

DREDE. 

Than  thanked  I  hym  for  his  grete  gentylnes : 
But,  as  me  thoughte,  he  ware  on  hym  a  cloke, 

That  lyned  was  with  doubtfull  doublenes  ; 
Me  thoughte,  of  wordes  that  he  had  full  a  poke  ; 
His  stomak  stuffed  ofte  tymes  dyde  reboke :  i8« 

Suspycyon,  me  thoughte,  mette  hym  at  a  brayde, 

And   I   drewe  nere  to  herke   what  they  two 
sayde. 

En  fay  the,  quod  Suspecte,  spake  Drede  no  worde 
of  me? 
Why,  wliat  than?   wylte  thou  lete  men  to 
speke  ? 
He  sayth,  he  can  not  well  accorde  with  th^. 
Twyst,*  quod  Suspecte,  goo  playe,  hym  I  ne 

reke. 
By  Cryste,  quod  Fauell,  Drede  is  soleyne 
freke : 
What  lete  vs  holde  him  vp,  man,  for  a  whyle  ? 
Ye  soo,  quod  Suspecte,  he  maye  vs  bothe  begyle. 

And  whan  he  came  walkynge  soberly,  i« 

Wyth  whom  and  ha,  and  with  a  croked  Kike, 

Me  thoughte,  his  hede  was  full  of  gelousy. 
His  eyne  roily nge,  his  hondes  faste  they 

quoke ; 
And  to  me  warde  the  stray  te  waye  he  toke  : 

*  T»ya]  W.  de  Worde's  ed.  P.  L.  C,  "  Whist."    Marsho's 
•^•"TwysshS." 


I 


46  TH£   S>>WGE   OF   COURTE. 

Gc*i  ?r-r^T.  rr.'iier !  to  me  quod  he  than  ; 
A:i«i  :1'^  :c-  Lfclke  viih  me  he  began. 

SrSPTCTOX. 

Ye  rememl  re  the  geotylmaD  rj-ghte  nowe 
That  cv*aimauiKie  with  tou,  me  thought,  a  party 

Beware  o;'  him.  tor,  I  make  God  aoowe, 

He  wvll  beg  vie  vou  and  speke  fay  re  to  your 

lace ; 
Te  neuer  dwelte  in  suche  an  other  place,      ^ 

f  or  here  is  none  that  dare  well  other  truste  ; 

But  I  wolde  telle  you  a  thynge,  and  I  durste. 

Spake  he  a  fayth  no  worde  to  you  of  me  ? 
I  wote,  and  he  dyde,  ye  wolde  me  telle. 

I  haue  a  fauoure  to  you,  wherof  it  be 

That  I  muste  shewe  you  moche  of  my  counselle: 
But  I  wonder  what  the  deuyll  of  helle 

He  sayde  of  me,  whan  he  with  you  dyde  talke: 

By  myne  auyse  vse  not  with  him  to  walke.      "• 

The  soueraynst  tliynge  that  ony  man  maye  haue, 
Is  ly tyll  to  saye,  and  moche  to  here  and  see ; 

For,  but  I  trusted  you,  so  God  me  saue, 
I  wolde  noo  thynge  so  playne  be ; 
To  you  oonly,  me  thynke,  I  durste  shryuenie; 

1  ajMriy  sjxice]  So  W.  de  Worde's  ed.  P.  L.  C.    Other**- 
** apurty  spake."     Qy.  "  &praiy  (pretty)  space?  " 


THE   BOWGE    OP   COURTE.  47 

now  am  I  plenarely  dysposed 
shewe   you   thynges   that   may  not  be  dia 
closed. 

DREDE. 

n  I  assured  hym  my  fydelyte, 

is  eounseyle  secrete  neuer  to  dyscure, 

le  coude  fynde  in  herte  to  truste  me  ;  «« 

Is  I  prayed  hym,  with  all  my  besy  cure, 

0  kepe  it  hymselfe,  for  than  he  myghte  be  sure 

t  noo  man  erthly  coude  hym  bewreye, 

^'les  of  hys  mynde  it  were  lockte  with  the  keye. 

God,  quod  he,  this  and  thus  it  is ; 

nd  of  his  mynde  he  shewed  me  all  and  some. 

swell,  quod  he,  we  wyll  talke  more  of  this  : 

oo  he  departed  there  he  wolde  be  come. 

dare  not  speke,  I  promysed  to  be  dome : 

,  as  I  stode  musynge  in  my  mynde,  aao 

uy  Hafter  came  lepynge,  lyghte  as  lynde. 

)n  his  breste  he  bare  a  versynge  boxe  ; 
lis  throte  was  clere,  and  lustely  coude  fayne ; 
though te,  his  gowne  was  all  furred  wyth  foxe  ; 
^d  euer  he  sange,  Sythe  I  am  no  thynge 

playne. 
To  kepe  him  frome  pykyng  it  was  a  grete 

payne : 
5  gased  on  me  with  his  gotyshe  berde  ; 
"an  I  loked  on  hym,  my  purse  was  half  aferde. 


1   BOWGE   OF   COUKTIl. 


Sjr,  Go(]  you  siiu« !  why  loku  ye  so  suilde  F 
Wluit  tbjiiga  is  that  I  nmye  do  for  you  ?      " 

A  wotidur  (bynge  liiat  ye  wuxe  not  madde ! 
For,  and  I  studye  sholde  as  yo  doo  uowe, 
My  wytte  wolde  wasti;,  I  iniike  Grod  auowe, 

Tell  me    jour  mynde ;  me  ihynke,  ye  make  a 

I  Coude  it  skan,  and  ye  wolde  it  reherae. 

But  to  tht:  poynte  shortely  lo  procede, 

Whero  hailiH  your  dwellynge  btsn,  er  ye  mm 

For,  as  I  trowe,  I  baue  sene  you  indede 

£r  this,  whHQ  thut  ye  made  me  royall  chere. 

Holde  vp  theLelme,  loke  vp,  and  lete  God  stereo 

I  wolde  be  mery,  what  wynde  ihat  euer  blowe,*' 

Heue  and  how  rombelow,  row  the  bote,  NorcoaD, 


Prynces  of  youglhe  can  ye  synge  by  rote?  i 

Or  shall  I  sayle  wyth  you  a  felashyp  assays  i 

For  OD  the  booke  I  can  not  synge  a  note. 
Wolde  to  GoJ,  it  wolde  please  yon  some  dftya 
A  balade  boke  before  me  lor  to  laye, 

And  leiTie  me  lo  synge,  Be,  my,  fa,  sol  ! 

Andj  whan  I  fayle,  bobbe  me  on  the  noU. 

Loo,  what  is  lo  you  a  pleasure  grete,  *" 

To  bane  thai  uounynge  and  wayea  that  yc  haue  > 


THE-  BOWGE   OP   COURTE.  49 

iy  Goddis  soule,  I  wonder  how  ye  gete 
Soo  greate  pleasure,  or  who  to  you  it  gaue : 
Syr^pardone  me,  I  am  an  homely  knaue, 

'o  be  with  you  thus  perte  and  thus  bolde ; 

kt  ye  be  welcome  to  our  housholde. 

Vnd,  I  dare  saye,  there  is  no  man  here  inne 
But  wolde  be  glad  of  your  company  : 

i  wyste  neuer  man  that  so  soone  coude  wynne 
The  fauoure  that  ye  haue  with  my  lady ;       «• 
I  praye  to  God  that  it  maye  neuer  dy : 

(t  is  your  fortune  for  to  haue  that  grace ; 

<^  I  be  saued,  it  is  a  wonder  case. 

• 

For,  as  for  me,  I  serued  here  many  a  daye, 
And  yet  vnneth  I  can  haue  my  lyuynge  : 

But  I  requyre  you  no  worde  that  I  saye ; 
For,  and  I  knowe  ony  erthly  thynge 
That  is  agayne  you,  ye  shall  haue  wetynge : 

^d  ye  be  welcome,  syr,  so  God  me  saue : 

( hope  here  after  a  frende  of  you  to  haue.  sm 

DREDE. 

^yth  that,  as  he  departed  soo  fro  me, 

Anone  ther  mette  with  him,  as  me  thoughte, 
^naan,  but  wonderly  besene  was  he  ; 
He  loked   hawte,  he   sette   eche   man   at 

noughte ; 
Hb  gawdy  garment  with  scornnys  was  all 

wrought ; 
VOL.  I.  4 


I 


so  THE   BOWGE   OF   COURTK. 

With  indygnacyoD  lyned  was  Lis  bode; 
He  frownuil,  as  he  wolda  swera  b^  CockH 
blode; 

He  bole  ihe  ly|^>  he  lokod  paesynge  coje; 
HU  face  was  btilymmed,  as  byes  had  him 
stounge : 

It  was  no  tjnie  with  bim  to  jape  nor  loye  ;  " 
Enuye  bathe  wasted  \iU  lyuer  and  his  loutigi^i 
Hatred  by  iho  herte  so  had  bym  wrounge, 

That  he  loked  pale  as  assbes  to  my  syghte : 

"Dysdayne,  I  wene,  tiiis  comerous  crabes  hyglils. 


To  Heruy  Hafter  than  be  sp»ke  oi'  me, 

And  Idrewenere  toharke  what  they  twosa^de' 

^uw,  quod  Dysdayne,  as  I  bIiuU  saued  be, 
I  haue   grete  ecome,  and  am  lyghie  ea;ll 

a payed. 
Than  quod  Heruy,  why  arte  thou  so  dyBmajJ*'    j 

By  Crysle,  quod  be,  lor  it  is  shame  to  saye  i    •  J 

To  see  Johan  Dawes,  that  came  bat  yeslef  6*J^    I 

How  he  is  now  taken  in  conceyte,  ] 

This  doctour  Dawcocke,  Drede,   I  wene,  li=     ' 
hyghte :  j 

By  Goddis  bones,  but  yf  we  baue  som  sleyte, 
It  is  lyke  he  wyll  slonde  in  our  lyghte. 
By  God,  quod  Heruy,  and  it  so  happen  mjg'i''' 
I   Leie  Ts  tbertbre  shorlely  at  a  worde 
I'ynde  some  mene  to  caste  him  ouer  the  bonl* 


THE   BOWGE    OF   COUBTE.  51 

3y  Him  that  me  bough te,  than  quod  Dysdayne, 
I  wonder  sore  he  is  in  suche  conceyte.  sic 

Turde,  quod  Hafter,  I  wyll  th^  no  thynge  layne, 
There  muste  for  hym  be  layde  some  prety  beyte  ; 
We  tweyne,  I  trowe,  be  not  withoute  dysceyte  : 

Fyrste  pyeke  a  quarell,  and  fall  oute  with  hym 
then, 

And  800  outface  hym  with  a  carde  of  ten. 

Forthwith  he  made  on  me  a  prowde  assawte, 
With  scornfull  loke  meuyd  all  in  moode ; 

He  wente  aboute  to  take  me  in  a  fawte ; 
He  frounde,  he  stared,  he  stamp ped  where  he 

stoode. 
I  lokyd  on  hym,  I  wende  he  had  be  woode.    aac 

He  sent  the  arme  proudly  vnder  the  syde, 

And  in  this  wyse  he  gan  with  me  to  chyde. 

DISDATNE. 

Remembrest  thou  what  thou  sayd  yester  nyght  ? 
Wylt  thou  abyde  by  the  wordes  agayne  ? 

%  God,  I  haue  of  th6  now  grete  dyspyte ; 
I  shall  th^  angre  ones  in  euery  vayne : 
It  is  greate  scorne  to  see  suche  an  hayne 

As  thou  arte,  one  that  cam  but  yesterdaye, 

"ith  vs  olde  seruauntes  suche  maysters  to  playe. 

1  tell  th^,  I  am  of  countenaunce :  sao 

What  weneste  I  were  ?  I  trowe,  thou  knowe 
not  me. 


52  THE  BOWGE  OP  couRTE. 

By  Goddis  woundeg,  but  for  dysplesaunce. 
Of  my  querell  soone  wolde  I  venged  be: 
But  DO  forte,  I  shall  ones  mete  with  th^t 
Come  whan  it  wyll,  oppose  the  I  eliall, 
Whal  soraeuer  auenture  therof  fall. 


Trowest  thou,  drenyll,  I  saye,  ihou  gawdyknau^'i 

TliHt  I  haue  deynte  lo  see  th^  cheryisshed  ibite! 

By  Goddissyd,  my  swordelliy  berdesliallBhsiie; 

Well,  ones  thou  shalte  b«  chenned,  I  wus:  " 

\      Naye,  strawe  fur  tales,  diou  fhalle  not  roIe^s 

We  be  thy  betters,  and  so  tliou  shatte  ya  lake, 
.  Or  we  shall  ifad  oute  of  thy  clolhes  sh;ike. 


Wytli  that  came  Ryotte,  russhynge  all  at  ones, 
A  rusty  giilknde,  to-ragged  and  to-rente ; 

And  on  the  horde  he  whyrled  a  payre  of  bonea. 
Quater  treye  dews  he  clatered  as  he  wente  ; 
Now  hftue  at  all,  by  saynte  Thomas  of  Kentel 

And  euer  he  (hrene  and  kyst  I  wote  nere  what: 

His  here  was  growen  thorowe  oute  bis  hat.       ** 

Thenne  I  behelde  how  he  dyagysed  was: 

Hia  hede  was  heuy  for  walchynge  ouernygbtCi 

His  eyen  blereed,  his  face  shone  lyke  a  glas ; 
His  gowne  so  ehorle  that  it  ne  couer  myghte 
His  rumpe,  lie  wente  so  all  for  somer  lyghlei 

Hia  hose  was  garded  wyth  a  lysle  of  grene, 

Yet  lit  llie  knee  ihey  were  broken,  I  wane. 


^^^^1  Tllli:    BOWGE    OF    COL'ltTR.  53 

I  'i£)Wte  was  cliei:keil  with  jjiitcties  rede  and  blewe  ; 

I        Of  Kyrkeby  Kendall  was  his  shorCe  ilemye  ; 

And  ay  lie  sange,  In  faytli,  decon  thou  crewe  ;   m 

Rh  elbowe  bare,  he  ware  his  gere  m  nj-e ; 

His  nose  a  droppynge,  bia  lyppes  were  full  drye ; 

And  by  his  syde  bis  whynarde  and  his  pouulie. 

The  deuyll  myghledaunceliierin  forony  crowclie. 

CouBler  he  coude  0  lux  vpon  a  potte ; 
An  eeslryche  fedder  of  n  cnpona  layie 

He  set  vp  fressbely  vpon  hia  bat  alofte  : 
What,reueU  route  !  quod  he,  and  gan  to  rayle 
Bow  oft  he  hadde  hit  Jenet  on  the  tayle. 

Of  Felyce  fetewse,  and  lytciU  prety  Cate,  " 

How  ofte  he  knocked  at  her  klycked  gate, 

Wliat  Kholde  I  tell  more  of  his  rebaudrye  ? 
I  «as  ashamed  bo  to  here  hym  prate  : 

He  had  no  pleasure  but  in  hiirlotryu. 
Ay,  quod  be,  in  the  deuylles  date, 
Wbat  art  tliou?  I  sftwe  tb^  nowe  but  late. 

FdRolhe,  quod  I,  in  ihia  courle  I  dwell  nowe. 

Welcome,  quod  Ryole,  I  make  God  auowe. 


*iMl.syr,  in  faylb  why  oomste  not  vs  amonge, 

Ttt  make  the  raery,  as  other  felowes  done  ?   » 

I  riion  muste  swere  ana  stare,  man,  a1  diiya  longe, 

Anil  nuke  all  nygbte,  and  slepe  tyll  it  bn  none  ; 

'     'I'liou  inaysle  not  studye,  or  muse  on  the  moiie ; 


54  THE   BOWGE    OF    COUKTE. 

,  This  worlde  is  nothyiige  but  ele,  drynke,  and  glepe, 
I    And  thus  with  ts  good  comgianj  lo  ke)re. 

Plucke  vp  lliyne  herte  vpon  a  mery  pyne, 
And  lete  vb  laugh  a  plaeke  or  iweyne  at  n»l«i 

What  the  deuyll,  man,  myrllie  was  neuer  one! 
What,  loo,  man,  see  htre  of  dyee  a  bale  1 
A  brydelynge  cast*  for  that  is  in  thy  malel  ■■ 

Now  haut!  at  all  that  lyelh  vpon  the  borde ! 

Fye  on  this  dyce,  they  bt  not  worth  a  Inrdel         ' 

Qaue  at  the  hasarde,  or  at  iIib  doaen  browne, 
Or  els  I  pas  a  peny  to  a  puunde  i 

Now,  wolde  to  God,  thou  wolde  leye  money  downe ' 
Lorde,  bow  that  I  wolde  caate  it  full  roundel 
Ay,  in  my  pouche  a  hackell  I  liaue  tounde! 

The  armes  of  Calycc,  I  haue  nocoyoe  norcroase' 

I  am  not  happy,  I  renne  ay  on  the  losse. 

Now  renne  musle  I  to  the  etewys  syde,  * 

To  wete  yf  Mulkyn,  my  lemman,  haue  ge'" 

I  lete  her  to  byre,  that  men  maye  on  ber  ryde, 
Her  arraes  tasy  ferre  and  nere  is  sougbte; 
By  Goddis  sydea,  syns  1  her  Ibyder  brought*' 
She  hath  gote  me  more  money  with  her  layle 
Than  hath  some  ehyppe  that  into  Bordews  aayl^ 

iplaeke]  Marsho'a  ed.  "  plucke," — perhaps  tho  right  nt** 


THE   BOWGE    OP   COUBTE.  55 

lad  I  as  good  an  hors  as  she  is  a  mare, 
I  durst  auenture  to  iourney  through  Fraunce ; 

Vho  rydeth  on  her,  he  nedeth  not  to  care, 
For  she  is  trussed  for  to  breke  a  launce  ;       4w 
It  is  a  curtel  that  well  can  wynche  and  praunce  : 

To  her  wyll  I  nowe  all  my  pouerte  lege ; 

^nd,  tyll  I  come,  haue  here  is  myne  hat  to 
plege. 

DREDE. 

Grone  is  this  knaue,  this  rybaude  foule  and  leude ; 

He  ran  as  fast  as  euer  that  he  myglite : 
Vnthryftynes  in  hyra  may  well  be  shewed. 

For  whome  Tyborne  groneth  both  daye  and 
nyghte. 

And,  as  I  stode  and  kyste  asyde  my  syghte, 
Bysdayne  I  sawe  with  Dyssymulacyon 
Standynge  in  sadde  communicacion.  «m 

But  there  was  poyntynge  and  noddynge  with  the 
hede, 
And  many  wordes  sayde  in  secrete  wyse ; 
They  wandred  ay,  and  stode  styll  in  no  stede  : 
Me  thoughte,  alwaye  Dyscymular  dyde  deuyse ; 
Me  passynge  sore  myne  herte  than  gan  agryse,* 
I  dempte  and  drede  theyr  talkynge  was  not 

good. 
inone  Dyscymular  came  where  I  stode. 

1  agiffte]  Eds.  **  aryse.'*    See  notes. 


.fO  THE    BOWGE    UF   COURTE. 

Thftii  in  (lis  iiode  I  sawe  itiere  faces  tweynej 
That  one  was  lene  and  l^ke  a  pyned  goost, 

That  other  loked  as  he  walde  me  hnue  ^layne 
And  to  me  warde  ae  he  gun  for  to  coost^ 
Whan  that  he  was  euen  at  me  alinoosC, 

I  sawe  a  kiiyfe  hyd  in  liis  one  sleue, 

WheroQ  wa«  wryten  tliis  worde,  J^seheitii 


layne  i  *■ 

I 


And  in  his  other  sleue,  me  thought,  I  s 
A  spone  of  golde,  full  of  hony  swele, 

To  fede  a  fole,  and  far  to  preue  a  dawe  ; 
And  on  that  sleue  these  wordes  were  wrete, 
Afaht  ahstracte  eonietkfrom  afais  concrett! 

His  hode  was  syde,  his  cope  was  rosel  graye ;  *• 

Thyae  were  the  wordes  that  he  lo  me  dyde  eaye. 

DYSSTMULATION.  <^l 

How  do  ye,  mayster  ?  ye  lolie  so  soberly :  ''*''^H 

Aa  I  be  saiiiid  at  llie  dredefull  daye,  "H 

It  is  a  perylous  vyce,  this  enuy: 

Alas,  a  connyiige  man  ne  dnette  mays 
In  no  place  well,  but  foles  with  hym  frayel 
But  as  for  that,  connynge  hath  no  foo 
Salle  hym  that  nought  can,  Scrypmre  snyth  soo. 

I  knowe  your  Terto  and  your  lyttemture 

By  that  lylel  connynge  that  I  haue  :  « 

Ye  he  malygned  sore,  I  you  ensure  ; 
But  ye  haue  ci-afie  your  sell'e  ahvaye  to  saue: 
It  is  grele  acorne  io  se  a  mysprouJe  knaue 


THE    BOWGE   OF   CODHTK,  57 

Willi  a  clerke  tbat  conujnge  is  to  pi'aie  : 

Lela  llieym  go  luw^e  the^m,  in  the  deuyllcd  dale  ! 

For  all  be  it  tliat  this  longe  not  to  isg, 
Ye!  on  my  backs  1  bure  auclie  k-wde  ilelynge  ; 

Hjghle  now  I  spake  with  one,  I  trowe,  I  sue  ; 
Bui,  wlial,  a  straws  !  I  niaye  not  tell  all  tliynge. 
By  God,  I  saye  there  is  grele  herte  brennynge 

Belwena  lh«  persone  ye  wole  of,  yoli  i  «i 

Aias,  I  coude  not  dele  so  with  a  Jew  1 

I  wolJe  eche  man  were  as  playne  as  I ; 
It  ii  s,  woi'lde,  I  saye,  to  here  of  some  i 

IhalB  this  faynynge,  t'ye  vpOQ  it,  fye  ! 
A  man  can  itoi  woie  where  to  be  come: 
Iwys  I  coude  tell, — but  huralery,  home  ; 

I  dure  not  speke,  we  be  so  luyde   awayte, 

For  all  our  courts  is  fijll  of  dyacuyte.  <" 

Now,  by  saynle  Fraunceys,  that  holy  man  and 

I  liaie  these  wayes  agayne  you  thnt  they  lake 
Were  I  as  you,  I  wolde  ryde  them  full  nere  ; 
And,  by  my  troulhe,  but  yf  an  eiide  they  make, 
Yet  Hy!l  I  saye  some  wordea  tor  your  saJte, 
That  shall  them  aiigre,  I  holde  thereon  a  grate ; 
For  Bome  shall  wena  be  banged  by  the  Ihrote. 

I  hue  a  stoppynge  oyster  in  my  poke, 
Tnisle  me,  and  yf  it  come  to  a  nede  : 


I  ben 

H  It  fcfc ;  aad  OM*  arU  Am  vok 

HMd  ykt,  wl  wnae  diji  Ijtj 

A  no  mui  v«n  niTseaafcotei 
M  that  ihail  it  «e«  or  nd^ 
IB  M  be  iodytentitK, 
jjhwteiM'wrfalwhiiji^e  jothp 

ajro  it  i«  maier  in  d«de, 

t,»JW*8  JB  ifiial  fe  lie  reaj^wc 

j]i»  niAM  Iht  Bowyt  of  i 


THE   BOWSE    OP   COCRTE.  59 

iFor,  ^flhnd  not  quyckely  fledde  (ho  louche, 
I  He  had  plucle  oute  the  noblea  of  my  punche. 

He  WM  IrniBed  in  a  garmetHe  slrayle  ; 

I  haue  not  aene  aucht;  an  others  |iiige  ; 
Fnr  h«  coadn  well  vpon  a  caskt-t  wiiyie  j 

His  hode  ull  pounsed  ami  garded  lyke  u  cage  ; 

Lygble  lyrne  fynger,  he  toke  none  oilier  vuge. 
Hnrken,  quod  he,  loo  here  rayne  horide  in  iliyne  j 
To  vs  ndconie  tliou  arte,  by  euynie  Qaynlynu.  "i 

DiaCETTE. 

Bal,  hy  that  Lorde  ihat  is  one,  two,  and  thre, 
IliHue  an  errande  to  roundu  in  your  ere  ; 

H«  loldt  me  so,  by  G™],  ye  maye  truale  me, 
Panu'  remeinbre  wlian  ye  were  there, 
Thew  I  wynked  on  you, — wote  ye  not  where? 

In  A  ho),  I  mfine  Juxta  B : 

Woo  is  hym  that  is  blynde  and  raaye  not  see  1 

Bui  la  here  tlie  subtylte  and  tlie  crafte, 
■Aa  1  fliall  tell  you,  yf'ye  wyllharkeagajne  ;•« 

^i,  wimn  I  sttwe  the  horsons  woliia  you  hafie, 
Toliolde  myne  honde,  by   God,  I  had  gvele 

paynet 
For  forihwyiji  iheve  I  had  him  slayne. 

But  tlini  I  di-ede  mordre  wolde  come  oute  : 

Wliodeletliwith  shreweahalh  nede  to  loke  abouie 

'PiU-ii]  Qy.  ■■I'lirdo"  (?ui-ditu— insoQth)? 


60         THE  BOWGE  OP  COURTE. 

DREDE. 

And  aa  he  rounded  thus  in  myne  ere 
Of  false  collusyon  confetryd  by  assente, 

Me  thoughte,  I  see  lewde  felawes  here  and  there 
Came  for  to  slee  me  of  mortall  entente ;  »^ 
And,  as  they  came,  the  shypborde  faste  I  hente, 

And  thoughte  to  lepe ;  and  euen  with  that  woke, 

Caughte  penne  and  ynke,  and  wrote  thys  lytyH 
boke. 

I  wolde  therwith  no  man  were  myscontente; 

Besechynge  you  that  shall  it  see  or  rede. 
In  euery  poynte  to  be  indyfferente, 

Sy th  all  in  substaunce  of  slumbrynge  doth  prcr 
cede : 

I  wyll  not  saye  it  is  mater  in  dede. 
But  yet  oftyme  suche  dremes  be  founde  trewe : 
Now  constrewe  ye  what  is  the  resydewe. 

ThiLs  endeth  the  Bowge  of  CaurU* 


PHYLLYP   SPARC  WE.  CI 


HERE   AFTER   FOLOWETH   THE   SOKE   OF 

PHYLLYP   SPAROWE. 

CX>11PYLED   BY  MAYSTER  SKELTON,  POETB  LAUREATE.* 

Pla  ce  bo, 

Who  is  there,  who? 
Di  le  oci, 
Dame  Margery ; 
Fa,  re,  my,  my, 
Wherfore  and  why,  why  ? 
For  the  sowle  of  Philip  Sparowe, 
That  was  late  slayn  at  Carowe, 
Among  the  Nones  Blake, 
For  that  swete  soules  sake,  ii 

And  for  all  sparowes  soules, 
Set  in  our  bederoUes, 
Pater  noster  qui, 
With  an  Ave  Mari, 
And  with  the  corner  of  a  Crede, 
The  more  shalbe  your  mede. 
Whan  I  remember  agayn 
How  mi  Philyp  was  slayn, 

*From  the  ed.  by  Kele,  n.  d.,  collated  with  thatby  Kitson, 
^*  i  (which  in  some  copies  is  said  to  be  printed  by  Weale,) 
•^^dwithMarshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Wovkes,  1568. 


62  PHYLLYP    SPAROWB. 

Neuer  h  life  the  payne 
Was  betwene  you  twayne, 
Pyramus  and  Thesbe, 
As  than  befell  to  me : 
I  wept  and  I  wayled, 
The  tearys  downe  hayled ; 
But  nothynge  it  auayled 
To  call  Piiylyp  agayne, 
Whom  Gyb  our  cat  hath  slayne. 

Gib,  I  saye,  our  cat 
Worrowyd  her  on  that 
Which  I  loued  best : 
It  can  not  be  exprest 
My  sorrowfull  heuynesse, 
But  all  without  redresse; 
For  within  that  stounde, 
Halfe  slumbrynge,  in  a  sounde 
I  fell  downe  to  the  grounde. 

Vnneth  I  kest  myne  eyes 
Towarde  the  cloudy  skyes : 
But  whan  I  dyd  beholde 
My  sparow  dead  and  colde, 
No  creatuer  but  that  wolde 
Haue  rewed    vpon  me, 
To  behold  and  se 
What  heuynesse  dyd  me  pange ; 
Wherewith  my  handes  I  wrange. 
That  my  senaws  cracked, 
As  though  I  had  been  racked. 


PHYLLYP   SPAROWE.  03 

So  payned  and  so  strayned, 
That  no  lyfe  wellnye  remaynerl. 

I  syghed  and  I  sobbed,  so 

For  that  I  was  robbed 
Of  my  sparowes  lyfe. 
O  mayden,  wydow,  and  wyfe, 
Of  what  estate  ye  be, 
Of  hye  or  lowe  degre. 
Great  sorowe  than  ye  rayght  se 
And  lerne  to  wepe  at  me  1 
Such  paynes  dyd  me  frete, 
That  myne  hert  dyd  bete, 
My  vysage  pale  and  dead,  •• 

Wanne,  and  blewe  as  lead ; 
The  panges  of  hatefull  death 
Wellnye  had  stopped  my  breath. 

Heu^  heu,  me. 
That  I  am  wo  for  th^ ! 
Ad  Dominum,  cum  trihvlarer,  clamavi  • 
Of  God  nothynge  els  craue  I 
But  Phyllypes  soule  to  kepe 
From  the  marees  deepe 
Of  Acheron tes  well,  * 

That  is  a  flode  of  hell ; 
And  from  the  great  Pluto, 
The  prynce  of  endles  wo ; 
And  from  foule  Alecto, 
With  vysage  blacke  and  bio ; 
And  from  Medusa,  that  mare, 
That  lyke  a  fende  doth  stare : 


34  PHYLLTP   SPAROWE. 

And  from  Megeras  eddera, 

For  rufflynge  of  Phillips  fethers, 

And  from  her  fyry  sparklynges, 

For  burnynge  of  his  wynges  ; 

And  from  the  smokes  sowre 

Of  Proserpinas  bowre ; 

And  from  the  dennes  darke, 

Wher  Cerberus  doth  barke, 

Whom  Theseus  dyd  afraye, 

Whom  Hercules  dyd  outraye, 

As  famous  poetes  say  ; 

From  that  hell  hounde, 

That  lyeth  in  cheynes  bounde, 

With  gastly  hedes  thre, 

To  Jupyter  pray  we 

That  Phyllyp  preserued  may  be ! 

Amen,  say  ye  with  me  ! 

Do  mi  nus, 
Helpe  no  we,  swete  Jesus ! 
Levavi  oculos  meos  in  monies  : 
WolJe  God  I  had  Zenophontes, 
Or  Socrates  the  wyse, 
To  shew  me  their  deuyse, 
Moderatly  to  take 
This  so  row  that  I  make 
For  Phyllip  Sparowes  sake ! 
So  feruently  I  shake, 
I  fele  my  body  quake  ; 
So  vrgently  I  am  brought 
Into  carefull  thought. 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  65 

Like  An dromach,  Hectors  wyfe, 

Was  werj  of  her  lyfe, 

Whan  she  had  lost  her  ioye,  no 

Noble  Hector  of  Troye  ; 

In  lyke  raaner  also 

Encreaseth  my  dedly  wo, 

For  my  sparowe  is  go. 

It  was  so  prety  a  fole, 
It  wold  syt  on  a  stole, 
And  lerned  after  my  scole 
For  to  kepe  his  cut, 
With,  Phyllyp,  kepe  your  cut ! 

It  bad  a  veluet  cap,  lao 

And  wold  syt  vpon  my  lap, 
And  seke  after  small  wormes. 
And  soratyme  white  bred  crommes  ; 
And  many  tymes  and  ofte 
Betwene  my  brestes  softe 
It  wolde  lye  and  rest ; 
It  was  propre  and  prest. 

Somtyme  he  wolde  gaspe 
Whan  he  sawe  a  waspe ; 
A  fly  or  a  gnat,  i«o 

He  wolde  flye  at  that ; 
And  prytely  he  wold  pant 
Whan  he  saw  an  ant ; 
Lord,  how  he  wolde  pry 
After  the  butterfly  I 
Lorde,  how  he  wolde  hop 
After  the  gressop ! 
VOL.  I.  5 


66  PHYLLTP   SPAROWE. 

And  whan  I  sayd,  Phyp,  Phyp, 
Than  he  wold  lepe  and  skyp, 
And  take  me  by  the  lyp. 
Alas,  it  wyll  me  slo, 
That  Phillyp  is  gone  me  fro ! 

Sin  in  i  qui  ta  tes 
Alas,  I  was  euyll  at  ease ! 
De  pro  fun  dis  da  ma  vi. 
Whan  I  sawe  my  sparowe  dye ! 

Nowe,  after  my  dome, 
Dame  Sulpicia  at  Rome, 
Whose  name  regystered  was 
For  euer  in  tables  of  bras, 
Because  that  she  dyd  pas 
In  poesy  to  endyte, 
And  eloquently  to  wryte, 
Though  she  wolde  pretende 
My  sparowe  to  commende, 
I  trowe  she  coude  not  amende 
Reportynge  the  vertues  all 
Of  my  sparowe  royall. 

For  it  wold  come  and  go, 
And  fly  so  to  and  fro ; 
And  on  me  it  wolde  lepe 
Whan  I  was  aslepe, 
And  his  fetliers  shake. 
Wherewith  he  wolde  make 
Me  often  for  to  wake, 
And  for  to  take  him  in 
Vpon  my  naked  skyn  ; 


IfB 


PHYLLTP   SPAROWB.  67 

God  wot,  we  thought  no  syn  : 

What  though  he  crept  so  lowe  ? 

It  was  not  hurt,  I  trowe,  »» 

He  dyd  nothynge  perde 

But  syt  vpon  my  kne : 

Phyllyp,  though  he  were  nyse, 

In  him  it  was  no  vyse ; 

Phyllyp  had  leue  to  go 

To  pyke  my  lytell  too ; 

Phillip  myght  be  bolde 

And  do  what  he  wolde  ; 

Phillip  wolde  seke  and  take 

All  the  flees  blake  « 

That  he  coulde  there  espye 

With  his  wanton  eye. 

0  jpe  ra, 
La,  soil,  fa,  fa, 

Conjitebor  tibi,  Domme,  in  toU    .orde  meo. 
Alas,  I  wold  ryde  and  go 
A  thousand  myle  of  grounde  ! 
If  any  such  might  be  found. 
It  were  worth  an  hundreth  pound 
Of  kynge  Cresus  golde,  iso 

Or  of  Attains  the  olde, 
The  ryche  prynce  of  Pargame, 
Who  so  lyst  the  story  to  se. 
Cadmus,  that  his  syster  sought. 
And  he  shold  be  bought 
For  golde  and  fee, 
He  shuld  ouer  the  see, 


PHYLLYP   SPAKOWK. 

To  wele  if  lie  coulile  bryngo 

Auy  ol'  tlie  ofsprynge, 

Or  any  of  [be  blotle. 

But  wlioso  VDUersttKle 

Of  Medeas  arle, 

I  woUIe  I  bad  a  parte 

Of  her  cnifly  magyke  ! 

My  Bpnrowe  than  shuld  be  qujoke 

With  a  clianue  or  twayne, 

A.n(l  playe  with  me  aguyne. 

But  all  this  is  in  vayne 

Thus  for  to  complayne. 

I  loke  my  sampler  onfis, 
Of  purpose,  for  the  nones, 
To  sowe  with  elytchis  of  ayike 
My  apaTOW  whyle  as  inyike, 
That  by  reprefientacyon 
Of  his  image  and  facyon, 
To  me  it  myght  iraporte 
Some  pleasure  and  comforte 
For  my  sohta  and  sporte  : 
But  whan  I  was  sowing  his  beke. 
Met  bought  my  apai-ow  did  spoke. 
And  opened  his  prety  hyll, 
Saynge,  Muyde,  ye  are  in  wyll       | 
Agaynn  me  for  to  kyll, 
Te  pijclkS  mt;  in  the  head! 
With  that  my  nedle  wiixed  red, 
Methought,  ot   Phylljpa  blode; 
Myne  hmr  ijght  vjj=iudc, 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  69 

And  was  in  suche  a  fray, 

My  specbe  was  taken  away. 

I  kest  downe  that  there  was,  am 

And  sayd,  Alas,  alas, 

How  commeth  tins  to  pas  ? 

My  fyngers,  dead  and  colde, 

Coude  not  my  sampler  holde ; 

My  nedle  and  threde 

I  threwe  away  for  drede. 

The  best  now  that  I  maye, 

Is  for  his  soule  to  pray  : 

A  porta  inferi, 

Good  Lorde,  haue  mercy  w 

Vpon  my  sparowes  soule, 

Wry  ten  in  my  bederoule  ! 

Au  di  vi  vo  cent, 
Japhet,  Cam,  and  Sem, 
Ma  gniji  cat, 
Shewe  me  the  ryght  path 
To  the  hylles  of  Armony, 
Wherfore  the  birdes  ^  yet  cry 
Of  your  fathers  bote. 

That  was  sometyme  aflote,  aso 

And  nowe  they  lye  and  rote ; 
Let  some  poetes  wryte 
Deucalyons  flode  it  hyght : 
But  as  verely  as  ye  be 
The  naturall  sonnes  thre 

1  birdes]  So  other  eds.    Kele's  ed.  "  hordes,"  which,  per- 
laps,  is  the  right  reading.    See  notes. 


70  PHYLLYP    SPAR  OWE. 

Of  Noe  the  patryarke, 

That  made  that  great  arke, 

Wherin  he  had  apes  and  owles, 

Beestes,  byrdes,  and  foules, 

That  if  ye  can  fynde  * 

Any  of  my  sparowes  kynde, 

God  send  the  soule  good  rest ! 

I  wolde  haue  yet  a  nest 

As  prety  and  as  prest 

As  my  sparowe  was. 

But  my  sparowe  dyd  pas 

All  the  sparows  of  the  wode 

That  were  syns  Noes  flode. 

Was  neuer  none  so  good ; 

Kynge  Phylyp  of  Macedony  *" 

Had  no  such  Phylyp  as  I, 

No,  no,  syr,  hardely. 

That  vengeaunce  I  aske  and  erye, 
By  way  of  exclamacyon, 
On  all  the  hole  nacyon 
Of  cattes  wylde  and  tame  ; 
Grod  send  them  sorowe  and  shame ! 
That  cat  specyally 
That  slew  so  cruelly 

My  lytell  pi*ety  sparowe  * 

That  I  brought  vp  at  Carowe. 

O  cat  of  carlvshe  kvnde, 
Tho  fynde  Wi\s  in  thy  mynde 
Whan  thou  my  bynle  vntwynde ! 
1  woKi  thou  haddest  ben  blynde  I 


PHYLLYP   SPAROWE.  71 

The  leopardes  sauage, 

The  lyons  in  theyr  rage, 

Myght  catche  th^  in  theyr  pawes, 

And  gnawe  the  in  theyr  iawes  I 

The  serpen tes  of  Lybany  «« 

Myght  stynge  th6  venymously ! 

The  dragones  with  their  tonges 

Might  poyson  thy  lyuer  aud  longes ! 

The  mantycors  of  the  mountaynes 

Myght  fede  them  on  thy  braynes  ! 

Melanchates,  that  hounde 
That  plucked  Acteon  to  the  grounde, 
Gaue  hym  his  mortall  wounde, 
Chaunged  to  a  dere, 

The  story  doth  appere,  soo 

Was  chaunged  to  an  harte  : 
So  thou,  foule  cat  that  thou  arte. 
The  selfe  same  hounde 
Myght  the  confounde, 
Tliat  his  owne  lord  bote, 
Myght  byte  asondre  thy  throte  ! 

Of  Inde  the  gredy  grypes 
Myght  tere  out  all  thy  try  pes  ! 
Of  Arcady  the  beares 

Might  plucke  awaye  thyne  eares  !  sio 

The  wylde  wolfe  Lycaon 
Byte  asondre  thy  backe  bone ! 
Of  Ethna  the  brennynge  hyll. 
That  day  and  night  brenneth  styl 
Set  in  thy  tayle  a  blase, 


I'liyi.i.vp  srAROwK. 

Tliftl  iill  [lie  world  may  gase 

AiiJ  woniler  Tpon  l)iii, 

From  Occyan  ihe  gj-eate  se 

Vnto  the  lies  of  Orchady, 

From  Tyllbery  fery 

To  ibe  playne  of  SnI jabery  I 

So  trayterously  my  byrde  lo  kyll 

That  neuer  ouglit  the  euyll  wyll  I 

Was  neuer  byrde  in  cage 
More  gentle  of  corage 
In  doynge  his  homage 
Vnto  bia  Bouerayiie. 
Aliis,  I  say  agayne, 
Deth  liath  (Imparled  vs  twaynel 
The  false  cat  hatb  th6  slayne  : 
Farewell,  Pbyllyp,  adew ! 
Our  Lorde  thy  sonle  reskew  I 
Farewell  without  restore, 
Farewell  for  euermore  ! 
And  it  were  a  Jewe, 
It  wolde  make  one  rew, 
To  se  my  Borow  new. 
Tbejte  vylanous  false  cattes 
Were  made  for  rayse  andratlesi 
And  not  for  byrdos  smale.    ' 
Alas,  my  face  waxeth  pale, 
Tellynge  this  pyieyus  lale, 
How  uiy  byrde  so  layre, 
Thai  was  wont  lo  repayre, 
■  And  go  in  at  my  sjiayre, 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  73 

And  crepe  in  at  my  gore  ^ 
Of  my  gowne  before, 
Flyckerynge  with  his  wynges ! 
Alas,  my  hert  it  stynges, 
Remembrynge  prety  thynges  !  aso 

Alas,  myne  hert  it  sleth 
My  Phyllyppes  dolefull  deth, 
Whan  I  reinembre  it, 
How  pretely  it  wolde  syt, 
Many  tymes  and  ofte 
Vpon  my  fynger  aloft ! 
I  played  with  him  tyttell  tattyll. 
And  fed  him  with  my  spattyl. 
With  his  byll  betwene  my  lippes ; 
It  was  my  prety  Phyppes !  sso 

Many  a  prety  kusse 
Had  I  of  his  swete  musse  ; 
And  now  the  cause  is  thus, 
That  he  is  slayne  me  fro. 
To  my  great  payne  and  wo. 
A   Of  fortune  this  the  chaunce 
Standeth  on  varyaunce  : 
Oft  tyme  after  pleasaunce 
Trouble  and  greuaunce  ; 
No  man  can  be  sure  iw 

AH  way  to  haue  pleasure  : 


^Kitson's  ed.; 

"  And  often  at  my  spayre 
And  gape  in  at  my  gore.^* 


74  PHYLLYP    SPAROWE. 

As  well  perceyue  ye  maye 
How  my  dysport  and  play 
From  me  was  taken  away 
By  Gyb,  our  cat  sauage, 
That  in  a  furyous  rage 
Caught  Phyllyp  by  the  head, 
And  slew  him  there  starke  dead. 

Kyrie^  eleison, 

Christe,  eleison, 

Kyrie^  eleison  ! 
For  Phylyp  Sparowes  soule, 
Set  in  our  bederoUe, 
Let  vs  now  whysper 
A  Pater  nosier. 

Lauda,  anima  mea,  Domtnum  ! 
To  wepe  with  me  loke  that  ye  come, 
All  manner  of  byrdes  in  your  kynd ; 
Se  none  be  left  behynde. 
To  mornynge  loke  that  ye  fall 
With  dolorous  songes  funerall, 
Some  to  synge,  and  some  to  say, 
Some  to  wepe,  and  some  to  pray, 
Euery  byrde  in  his  laye. 
The  goldfynche,  the  wagtayle ; 
The  ianglynge  iay  to  rayle. 
The  fleckyd  pye  to  chatter 
Of  this  dolorous  mater ; 
And  robyn  redbrest, 
He  shall  be  the  preest 
The  requiem  masse  to  synge, 


pftly  wnrLelynge, 

IVilli  helpo  of  iLe  red  isparow, 

And  the  cliadiynge  swallow, 

Tliis  herse  for  to  halow ; 

The  larke  with  hia  longe  to ; 

The  spynke,  and  the  martynet  also; 

The  shouelar  with  his  hrode  bck  ; 

The  doterell,  thai  folyshe  pek, 

And  aUo  the  mad  L-oule, 

With  a  baldG  fuue  to  tuole ; 

The  feldefare,  and  the  snyiej 
The  crowe,  and  the  kyle ; 
The  rauyn,  called  Rolle, 
His  piajne  songe  to  Bolfe; 
The  partryche,  the  quayle  ; 
The  plouer  with  vs  lo  wayle; 
The  woodliacke,  that  syrigeth  chur 
Horsly,  as  he  had  ihe  mur; 
The  lusty  chauntyng  njghtyngale ; 
The  popyngay  to  tell  her  lale, 
That  toielh  oft  in  a  gliisse, 
Slial  rede  the  Gospell  at  ma.sse  ; 
The  mauys  with  her  whystell 
Shal  rede  there  the  pysttll. 
But  with  a  large  aud  a  longe 
To  kepe  iust  playne  songe, 
Our  chauntera  shalbe  the  euckoue, 
The  culucr,  ihe  atockedowue, 
With  puwyt  the  lapwyng, 
The  versydes  bhali  syng. 


76  PIJYLLYP   SPAROWE. 

The  bitter  with  his  bumpe, 
The  crane  with  his  trumpe, 
The  swan  of  Menander, 
The  gose  and  the  slander, 
The  ducke  and  the  drake, 
Shall  "vatche  at  this  wake ; 
The  pecocke  so  prowde, 
Bycause  his  voyce  is  lowde, 
And  hath  a  glorious  tayle, 
He  shall  syng  the  grayle ; 
The  owle,  that  is  so  foule, 
Must  helpe  vs  to  houle ; 
The  heron  so  gaunce, 
And  the  cormoraunce, 
"With  the  fesaunte, 
And  the  gaglynge  gaunte, 
And  the  churlysshe  chowgh ; 
The  route  and  the  kowgh ; 
The  barnacle,  the  bussarde, 
With  the  wilde  n)allarde ; 
The  dyuendop  to  slepe ; 
The  water  hen  to  wepe ; 
The  puffin  and  the  tele 
Money  they  shall  dele 
To  poore  folke  at  large, 
That  shall  be  theyr  charge ; 
The  semewe  and  the  tytmose ; 
The  wodcocke  with  the  longe  nose ; 
The  threstyl  with  her  warblyng ; 
The  starlyng  with  her  brabljng ; 


PHYLLYP   SPARC  WE.  77 

The  roke,  with  the  ospraye 
That  putteth  fy sshes  to  a  fraye ; 
And  the  denty  eurltJwe, 
With  the  turtyll  most  trew. 

At  this  Placebo 
We  may  not  well  forgo 
The  countrynge  of  the  coe : 
The  storke  also, 

That  maketh  his  nest  47t 

In  chymneyes  to  rest ; 
Within  tliose  walles 
No  broken  galles 
May  there  abyde 
Of  cokoldry  syde, 
Of  els  phylosophy 
Maketh  a  great  lye. 

The  estryge,  that  wyll  eate 
An  horshowe  so  great, 
In  the  stede  of  meate,  w 

Such  feruent  heat 
His  stomake  doth  freat ; 
He  can  not  well  fly, 
Nor  synge  tunably, 
Yet  at  a  brayde 
He  hath  well  assayde 
To  solfe  aboue  ela, 
Ga,^  lorell,  fa,  fa  ; 

-A^  quando  «m 

Jdcde  cantando, 

1  Ga]  Marshe's  ed.  "  Fa." 


78  PHYLLYP    SPAROWK. 

The  best  that  we  can, 
To  make  hym  our  belman, 
And  let  hyin  ryng  the  bellys ; 
He  can  do  nothyng  ellys. 

Chaunteclere,  our  coke, 
Must  tell  what  is  of  the  clocke 
By  the  ostrology 
That  he  hath  naturally 
Conceyued  and  cought, 
And  was  neuer  tought 
By  Albumazer 
The  astronomer, 
Nor  by  Ptholomy 
Prince  of  astronomy, 
Nor  yet  by  Haly  ; 
And  yet  he  croweth  dayly 
And  nightly  the  tydes 
That  no  man  abydes. 
With  Partlot  his  hen. 
Whom  now  and  then 
Hee  plucketh  by  the  hede 
Whan  he  doth  her  trede. 

The  byrde  of  Araby, 
That  potencyally 
May  neuer  dye, 
And  yet  there  is  none 
But  one  alone ; 
A  phenex  it  is 
This  herse  that  must  blys 
With  armatycke  gummes 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  79 

That  cost  great  summes, 

Th^  way  of  thurify  cation 

To  make  a  fumigation, 

Swete  of  reflary,* 

And  redolent  of  eyre, 

This  corse  for  to  sence 

With  greate  reuerence, 

As  patryarke  or  pope 

In  a  blacke  cope ; 

Whyles  ^  he  senseth  [the  herse],  » 

He  shall  synge  the  verse, 

Libera  me, 

In  de,  la,  soil,  re, 

Softly  bemole 

For  my  sparowes  soule. 

Plinni  sheweth  all 

In  his  story  naturall 

What  he  doth  fynde 

Of  the  phenyx  kynde ; 

Of  whose  incyneracyon  S4i 

There  ryseth  a  new  creacyon 

Of  the  same  facyon 

Without  alteracyon, 

Sauyng  that  olde  age 

Is  turned  into  corage 

Of  fresshe  youth  agayne ; 

This  matter  trew  and  playne. 


^ejlary]  Qy.  "reflayre? '» 

^hyleSj  &c.]  So,  perhaps,  Skclton  wrote:  the  line  is  in*- 
rfect  in  eds. 


so  rilYLLYP   SPAROWE. 

Plrtxne  waner  indede. 
Who  s*^  h>t  to  n^e, 

Um  lor  the  o^rU*  doih  flje 

Tii;^  *\arro  :o  demoAne, 

To  ;;>AK"*!i  ;i:eni  ::«'>r  ondTBall; 

r:-r>  >,'.x'."  :K>,ir.-^  tsor;  j^i  sCtH 
>.    .     .  »  .-.v'^^  .-.\ai'-  ai.-:»^ 


^  -t  :-i-  ^r*:^;; 


-  -^Mu.     f^   Jl  IM  — 


PHTLLTP   SPAROWE.  81 

Fa,  fa,  fa,  my,  my. 

Credo  videre  bona  Domini, 
I  pray  God,  Phillip  to  heuen  may  fly  !       sso 
Domine,  exaudi  orationem  meam  ! 
To  heuen  he  shall,  from  heuen  he  cam ! 

Do  mi  nus  vo  bis  cum  ! 
Of  al  good  praiers  God  send  him  sum ! 

Oremus. 
Deus,  cui  proprium  est  misereri  et  parcere, 
On  Phillips  soule  haue  pyte ! 
For  he  was  a  prety  cocke. 
And  came  of  a  gentyll  stocke. 
And  wrapt  in  a  maidenes  smocke,  sso 

And  cherysshed  full  dayntely, 
Tyll  cruell  fate  made  him  to  dy : 
Alas,  for  dolefull  desteny ! 
But  whereto  shuld  I 
Lenger  morne  or  crye  ? 
To  Jupyter  I  call. 
Of  heuen  emperyall. 
That  Phyllyp  may  fly 
Aboue  the  starry  sky, 

To  treade  the  prety  wren,  «« 

That  is  our  Ladyes  hen : 
Amen,  amen,  amen ! 

Yet  one  thynge  is  behynde, 
That  now  commeth  to  mynde ; 
An  epytaphe  I  wold  haue 
For  Phyllyppes  graue : 
But  for  I  am  a  mayde, 
TOL.  I.  6 


82  PHYLLYP    SPAROWE. 

Tymerous,  halfe  afrayde, 

That  neuer  yet  asayde 

Of  Elyconys  well,  ™ 

Where  the  Muses  dwell ; 

Though  I  can  rede  and  spell, 

Recounte,  reporte,  and  tell 

Of  the  Tales  of  Caunterbury, 

Some  sad  storyes,  some  mery 

As  Palamon  and  Arcet, 

Duke  Theseus,  and  Partelet ; 

And  of  the  Wyfe  of  Bath, 

That  worketh  moch  scath 

Whan  her  tale  is  tolde 

Amonge  huswyues  bolde, 

How  she  controlde 

Her  husbandes  as  she  wolde, 

And  them  to  despyse 

In  the  homy ly est  wyse, 

Brynge  other  wyues  in  thought 

Their  husbandes  to  set  at  nought* 

And  though  that  rede  haue  I 

Of  Gawen  and  syr  Guy, 

And  tell  can  a  great  pece 

Of  the  Golden  Flece, 

How  Jason  it  wan, 

Lyke  a  valyaunt  man  ; 

Of  Arturs  rounde  table, 

With  his  knightes  commendable, 

And  dame  Gaynour,  his  quene. 

Was  somewhat  wanton,  I  wene ; 


PHTLLTP    SPAROWE.  83 

How  syr  Launcelote  de  Lake 

Many  a  spere  brake 

For  his  ladyes  sake ;  64o 

Of  Trystram,  and  kynge  Marke, 

And  al  the  hole  warke 

Of  Bele  Isold  his  wyfe, 

For  whom  was  moch  stryfe ; 

Some  say  she  was  lyght, 

And  made  her  husband  knyght 

Of  the  comyne  hall, 

That  cuckoldes  men  call ; 

And  of  syr  Lybius, 

Named  Dysconius  ;  «o 

Of  Quater  Fylz  Amund, 

And  how  they  were  sommonde 

To  Rome,  to  Charlemayne, 

Vpon  a  great  payne, 

And  how  they  rode  eche  one 

On  Bayarde  Mountalbon ; 

Men  se  hym  now  and  then 

In  the  forest  of  Arden  : 

What  though  I  can  frame 

The  story es  by  name  «« 

Of  Judas  Machabeus, 

And  of  Cesar  Julious  ; 

And  of  the  loue  betwene 

Paris  and  Vyene ; 

And  of  the  duke  Hannyball, 

That  made  the  Romaynes  all 

X'ordrede  and  to  quake  ; 

How  Scipion  dyd  wake 


81  PHTLLTP   SPAROWE. 

The  cvtve  of  Cartajre, 
Which  by  his  vnmerciful  rage 
He  bete  down  to  the  grounde : 
And  though  I  can  expounde 
Of  Hector  of  Troye, 
That  was  all  thejr  ioye, 
Whom  Achvlles  slew, 
Whertbre  all  Troy  dyd  rew 
And  of  the  loue  so  bote 
That  made  Trovlus  to  dote 
Vpon  fay  re  Cressyde, 
And  what  they  wrote  and  sayd. 
And  of  theyr  wanton  wylles 
Pandaer  bare  the  bvlles 

w 

From  one  to  the  other ; 
His  maisters  loue  to  further, 
Somtyme  a  presyous  thyng. 
An  ouche,  or  els  a  ryng ; 
From  her  to  hvm  asravn 
Somtymo  a  preiy  chayn, 
Or  a  braoi^Iet  of  her  here, 
Pnivd  Trovlus  for  to  were 
That  token  for  her  sake  ; 
How  hariolv  ho  dvd  it  take, 

«  » 

And  nuxMio  iher^^f  dvd  make 

» 

And  all  that  was  in  vavne. 
For  she  dvd  but  favne ; 
The  storv  telleih  plavne. 
He  eouKle  not  oprayne, 
Thouirii  his  taiher  were  a  kyng, 
Vet  li.ere  w:\s  a  ihvns 


s^ 


PHYLLYP   SPAROWE.  85 

That  made  the  male  to  wryng;  wo 

She  made  him  to  syng 

The  song  of  louers  lay ; 

Musyng  nyght  and  day, 

Mournynge  all  alone, 

Comfort  had  he  none. 

For  she  was  quyte  gone  ; 

Thus  in  conclusyon. 

She  brought  hira  in  abusyon  ; 

In  ernest  and  in  game 

She  was  moch  to  blame ;  nt 

Disparaged  is  her  fame. 

And  blemysshed  is  her  name. 

In  maner  half  with  shame  ; 

Troylus  also  hath  lost 

On  her  moch  loue  and  cost, 

And  now  must  kys  the  post ; 

Pandara,  that  went  betwene. 

Hath  won  nothing,  I  wene. 

But  lyght  for  somer  grene  ; 
Yet  for  a  speciall  laud 

He  is  named  Troylus  baud, 
Of  that  name  he  is  sure 
^^hyles  the  world  shall  dure  : 

Though  I  remembre  the  fable 
Of  Penelope  most  stable 
To  her  husband  most  trew, 
"Yet  long  tyme  she  ne  knew 
Whether  he  were  on  lyue  or  ded ; 
Tier  wyt  stood  her  in  sted, 


7K 


5*  FHTIXTP   SPAROWE. 

That  she  was  true  and  ioat  * 

For  ar.v  bodelv  lost 

To  Uiixes  her  make. 

And  neaer  wold  him  tbrsake : 

Ot  3Lin.ni5  iLvreuIIos 
A  prcees  I  coald  tell  ts  ; 
And  ot  Anreocos ; 
And  oc  Jo!?erha> 

And  ot"  >Ianio«*h«ea5» 
And  ot  irrva:  Aiisueniss. 
And  ot  Vcsoa  his  qaeene. 
Whom  he  ror^^ke  with  teenCiy 
And  ot  Hester  h£>  other  wyfe, 
Wkh  whom  he  ledd  a  plesaant  life ; 
Or  kvn^  Alexander ; 
And  ot  kvrd:  Eaander; 
At:d  or*  Forcena  liie  great, 
Tha:  rjiivie  :he  Roauivas  to  si 

Tboujil:  I  haiie  er.roli 
A  thousiir i  nrw  ar.i  old 
0:*:hc?<:  hisioriocs  t:iles.» 
To  fvll  Ic^^-rts  a::d  m;\les 
W::h  loixe>  :r.a:  I  haue  red, 
Yc:  I  am  rocr.vr.z  >c»ed. 

«        '^         fc 

O:  O:^}  i  or  V:r;^v::. 

Or  c:  F:-:  Arkr^" 

Or  Fn;u:vys  Fcrr.irke, 


PHYLLTP   SPAROWIi*  87 

Alcheus  or  Sapho, 

Or  such  other  poetes  mo,  '« 

As  Linus  and  Homerus, 

Euphorion  and  Theocritus, 

AnacreoQ  and  Arion, 

Sophocles  and  Philemon, 

Pyndarus  and  Symonides, 

Philistion  and  Phorocides ; 

These  poetes  of  auiicyente. 

They  ar  to  diffuse  for  me : 

For,  as  I  tofore  haue  sayd, 
I  am  but  a  yong  mayd,  rm 

And  cannot  in  effect 
My  style  as  yet  direct 
With  Englysh  wordes  elect: 
Our  naturall  tong  is  rude, 
And  hard  to  be  enneude 
With  pullysshed  termes  lusty ; 
Our  language  is  so  rusty, 
So  cankered,  and  so  full 
Of  frowardes,  and  so  dull. 
That  if  I  wolde  apply 
To  wryte  ornatly, 
I  wot  not  where  to  fynd 
Termes  to  serue  my  mynde 

Gowers  Englysh  is  olde, 
-And  of  no  value  told ; 
His  mater  is  worth  gold, 
-And  worthy  to  be  enrold. 

In  Chauser  I  am  sped, 
His  tales  I  haue  red  : 


VM 


SS  PHIXLTP   SPAROWE. 

Hi?  mater  is  dt:l*rcU4ble, 
Solacious.  and  commen'iable ; 
Hb  En^lvsh  well  alowed^ 
So  as  it  is  enprowed« 
For  as  it  is  en  ployed. 
There  is  no  En^rlvsh  vovd. 
At  those  davesmoch  commended. 
And  now  men  wold  haue  amended 
His  Englvsh,  whereat  they  barke. 
And  mar  all  they  warke  : 
Chaucer,  that  famus  clerke. 
His  termes  were  not  darke, 
But  plesaunt,  easy,  and  playne; 
No  worde  he  wrote  in  vavne. 

Also  Johnn  Lvdrate 
Wryteth  after  an  hyer  rate  ; 
It  is  dyffuse  to  fynde 
The  sentence  of  his  mvnde. 
Yet  wryteth  he  in  his  kynd, 
No  man  that  can  amend 
Tliose  maters  that  he  hath  pende ; 
Yet  some  men  fynde  a  faute, 
And  say  he  wryteth  to  haute. 

Wherfore  hold  me  excused 
If  I  haue  not  well  perused 
Myne  Englyssli  halfe  abused ; 
Thoufjjh  it  be  refused, 
In  worth  I  shall  it  take, 
And  fewer  wordes  make. 

But,  for  my  sparowes  sake, 


n( 


PHYLLYP   SPABOWE.  89 

Yet  as  a  woman  may,  wb 

My  wyt  I  shall  assay 

An  epytaphe  to  wryght 

In  Latyne  playne  and  lyght, 

Wherof  the  elegy 

Foloweth  by  and  by  : 

Flos  volucrum  formoscj  vale! 

Philippe^  sub  isto 

Marmore  jam  recubas, 

Qui  mihi  carus  eras. 

Semper  erunt  nitido  su 

Radiantia  sidera  ccelo  ; 

Impressusque  meo 

Pectore  semper  eris. 

Per  me  laurigerum 
JBritonum  Skeltonida  vatem 
ITcBc  cecinisse  licet 
Ficta  sub  imagine  texta, 

Cujv^  eras  *  volucris, 
-Prcestanti  corpore  virgo  ; 
Candida  Nais  erai,  tie 

JFormosior  ista  Joanna  est ; 
X>octa  Corinnafuit, 
tSed  magis  ista  sapit, 
Bien  men  souient. 


1  eras]  Eds.  **  eris. 


»» 


90  PHTLLYP   SPABOWE, 


THE    COMMENDACIONS. 

Beati  im  ma  cu  la  ti  in  via^ 
0  gloriosa  fcemina  ! 
Now  myne  hole  imaginacion 
And  studyous  medytacion 
Is  to  take  this  commendacyon 
In  this  consyderacion  ; 
And  vnder  pacyent  tolleracyon 
Of  that  most  goodly  mayd 
That  Placebo  hath  sayd, 
And  for  her  sparow  prayd 
In  lamentable  wyse, 
Now  wyll  I  enterpryse, 
Thorow  the  grace  dyuyne 
Of  the  Muses  nyne, 
Her  beautye  to  commende, 
If  Arethusa  wyll  send 
Me  enfluence  to  endyie, 
And  with  my  pen  to  wryte; 
If  Apollo  wyll  prorayse, 
Melodyously  it  to  deuyse, 
His  tunable  harpe  stryngges 
With  armonv  that  svnges 
Of  princes  and  of  kynges 
And  of  all  pleasaunt  thynges, 
Of  lust  and  of  delv«rht, 
Thorow  his  goillv  mvjjht ; 
To  whom  be  the  laude  ascrjbed 
That  my  pen  hath  enbybed 


PHYLLYP   SPAROWE.  91 

With  the  aureat  droppes, 

As  verely  my  hope  is, 

Of  Thagus,  that  golden  flod, 

That  passeth  all  erthly  good ; 

And  as  that  flode  doth  pas 

Al  floodes  that  euer  was 

With  his  golden  sandes, 

Who  so  that  vnderstandes  sso 

Cosmography,  and  the  stremys 

And  the  floodes  in  straunge  remes, 

Ryght  so  she  doth  excede 

All  other  of  whom  we  rede, 

Whose  fame  by  me  shall  sprede 

Into  Perce  and  Mede, 

From  Brytons  Albion 

To  the  Towre  of  Babilon. 

I  trust  it  is  no  shame. 
And  no  man  wyll  me  blame,  wo 

Though  I  regester  her  name 
In  the  courte  of  Fame ; 
For  this  most  goodly  floure. 
This  blossome  of  fresshe  coulour, 
So  Jupiter  me  socour, 
She  floryssheth  new  and  new 
In  bewte  and  vertew  ; 
Hac  claritate  gemina 
0  gloriosa  fcsmina, 

Retrihue  servo  tuo,  vivifica  me!  «oo 

Labia  mea  laudabunt  te. 

But  enforsed  am  I 


9f  PHYLLYP    SPAROWE. 

Openly  to  askry, 

And  to  make  an  outcri 

Against  odyous  P^nui, 

That  euennore  wil  ly, 

And  say  cursedly  ; 

With  his  ledder  ey, 

And  chekes  dry ; 

With  vysage  wan, 

As  swarte  as  tan  ; 

His  bones  crake, 

Leane  as  a  rake  ; 

His  gunimes  rusty 

Are  full  vnlusty ; 

Hys  herte  withall 

Bytter  as  gall ; 

His  lyuer,  his  longe 

With  anger  is  wronge  ; 

His  serpentes  tonge 

That  many  one  hath  stonge ; 

He  frowneth  euer; 

He  laugheth  neuer, 

Euen  nor  morow, 

But  other  mennes  sorow 

Causeth  him  to  gryn 

And  reioyce  therin  ; 

No  slepe  can  him  ciitch. 

But  euer  doth  watch, 

He  is  so  bete 

With  malyce,  and  frete 

With  angre  and  yre. 

His  foule  desyre 


049 


PHYLLYP    SPARC  WE.  93 

Wyll  suffre  no  slepe 

In  his  hed  to  crepe ; 

His  foule  semblaunt 

All  displeasaunte ; 

Whan  other  ar  glad, 

Than  is  he  sad ; 

Fran  tyke  and  mad  ; 

His  tong  neuer  styll 

For  to  say  yll, 

Wrythyng  and  wringyng, 

Bytyng  and  styngyng ; 

And  thus  this  elf 

Consumeth  himself, 

Hymself  doth  slo 

Wyth  payne  and  wo. 

This  fals  Enuy 

Sayth  that  I 

Vse  great  folly 

For  to  endyte, 

And  for  to  wryte, 

And  spend  ray  tyme 

In  prose  and  ryme, 

For  to  expres 

The  noblenes 

Of  my  maistres. 

That  causeth  me 

Studious  to  be  ^^ 

To  make  a  relation 

Of  her  commendation ; 

And  there  agayne 


»;o 


94  PHYLLTP   SPAROWE. 

Enuy  doth  complayDe, 
And  hath  disdajne ; 
But  yet  certayne 
I  wyll  be  playne, 
And  my  style  dreg 
To  this  presses. 

Kow  Phebus  me  ken 
To  sliarpe  my  pen, 
And  lede  my  fyst 
As  hym  best  lyst, 
That  I  may  say 
Honour  alway 
Of  womankynd! 
Trouth  doth  me  bynd 
And  loyalte 
Euer  to  be 
Tlieir  true  bedell, 
To  wryte  and  tell 
How  women  excell 
In  noblenes ; 
As  my  maistres, 
Of  whom  I  thvnk 
With  ptMi  and  ynk 
For  to  ov>mpyle 
Some  !I0ih11v  stvle ; 
For  this  most  goodly  floure, 
This  blossom e  of  fresh  coloui 
8i>  Jupyter  me  socoure. 
She  I'onrissheih  new  and  ne¥ 
In  Ihwuio  and  verlew : 


PHYLLYP   SPABOWE.  95 

Hac  claritate  gemina 

0  gloriosa  fcemina^ 

Legem  pone  mihi,  domina^  in  viam  jus- 

tificationum  tuarum! 
Quemadmodum  desiderat  cervus  ad 
fontes   aquarum. 

How  shall  I  report 
All  the  goodly  sort 

Of  her  fetures  clere,  low 

That  hath  non  erthly  pere  ? 
Her  ^  fauour  of  her  face 
Ennewed  all  with  grace, 
Confort,  pleasure,  and  solace, 
Myiie  hert  doth  so  enbrace, 
And  so  hath  rauyshed  me 
Her  to  behold  and  se, 
That  in  wordes  playne 
I  cannot  me  refrayne 
To  loke  on  her  agayne :  mw 

Alas,  what  shuld  I  fayne  ? 
It  wer  a  plesaunt  payne 
With  her  aye  to  remayne. 

Her  eyen  gray  and  stepe 
Causeth  myne  hert  to  lepe ; 
With  her  browes  bent 
She  may  well  represent 
Fay  re  Lucres,  as  I  wene, 
Or  els  fayre  Polexene, 

I  Her]  Qy.  "The?»» 


96  PHYLLTP   SPAROWE. 

Or  els  Caliope, 

Or  els  Penolope  ; 

For  this  most  goodly  floure, 

This  blossome  of  fresshe  coloure, 

So  Jupiter  me  socoure, 

She  florisheth  new  end  new 

In  beautye  and  vertew  : 

Hoc  claritate  gemma 

0  gloriosa  foeminoy 

Memor  esto  verin  tui  servo  too  ! 

Servtts  tuns  sum  ego. 

The  Indy  saphyre  blew 
Her  vaynes  doth  ennew  ; 
The  orient  perle  so  clere, 
The  whytnesse  of  her  lere  ; 
The  *  lusty  ruby  ruddes 
Resemble  the  rose  buddes ; 
Her  lyppes  soft  and  mery 
Emblomed  lyke  the  chery, 
It  were  an  heuenly  blysse 
Her  sugred  mouth  to  kysse. 

Her  beautye  to  augment. 
Dame  Nature  hath  her  lent 
A  warte  vpon  her  cheke, 
Who  so  lyst  to  seke 
In  her  vvsaore  a  skar, 
That  seraylh  from  afai 
Lyke  to  the  radyant  star, 
All  with  fauour  fret, 

1  Thf]  Qy.  "Her?** 


PHYLLYP   SPAROWE.  97 

So  properly  it  is  set : 

She  is  the  vjolet,  mm 

The  daysj  delectable, 

The  columbine  coindiendable, 

The  ielofer  amyable ; 

[For]  ^  this  most  goodly  floure, 

This  blossom  of  fressh  colour, 

So  Jupiter  me  succour, 

She  florysheth  new  and  new 

In  beaute  and  vertew : 

Hoc  claritate  gemina 

0  gloriosa  fcemina,  ic« 
Bonitatem  fecisti  cum  servo  tuo,  domina, 

Et  ex  prcBcordiis  sonant  prceconia  I 

And  whan  I  perceyued 
Her  wart  and  conceyued, 
It  cannot  be  denayd 
But  it  was  well  conuayd, 
And  set  so  womanly. 
And  nothynge  wantonly, 
But  ryght  conuenyently, 
And  full  congruently,  i«Ta 

As  Nature  cold  deuyse. 
In  most  goodly  wyse ; 
Who  so  lyst  beholde. 
It  makethe  louers  bolde 
To  her  to  sewe  for  grace, 
Her  fauoure  to  purchase ; 

1  [For J  Compare  w.  989, 1022,  1083,  1107,  &o. 

VOL.   I.  7 


PHYLLYP    SPARC  WE. 

The  sker  upon  her  chyn, 

Eiihached  on  her  fay  re  tikyn, 

Whyter  than  the  swan, 

It  wold  make  any  man 

To  forget  deadly  syn 

Her  fauour  to  wyn  ;  » 

For  this  most  goodly  floure, 

This  blossom  of  fressh  colon  re, 

So  Jupiter  me  soconre, 

She  flouryssheth  new  and  new 

In  beaute  and  vertew  : 

Hac  clarltate  gemina 

0  gloriosa  f(£mina, 

Defecit  in  sahUatione  tua^  anima  mea;     ^ 

Quid  petis  Jilio,  mcUer  dulcisstmaf  baba  ^ 

Soft,  and  make  no  dyn. 
For  now  I  wyll  begyn 
To  haue  in  remembraunce 
Her  goodly  dalyaunce, 
And  her  goodly  pastaunce : 
So  sad  and  so  demure, 
Behauynge  her  so  sure. 
With  wordes  of  pleasure 
She  wold  make  to  the  lure  »»- 

And  any  man  conuert 
To  gyue  her  his  hole  hert. 


^  salutadone  iua]    Eds.  "siilutare  tuum"   and  "salutal 
luum.** 
'^baha]  Eds.  "baba." 


rnTLLYP    SPAROWE.  99 

She  made  me  sore  amased 

Vpon  her  whan  I  gased, 

Me  thought  rain  hert  was  erased, 

My  eyne  were  so  dased ; 

For  this  most  goodly  flour, 

This  blossom  of  fressh  colour, 

So  Jupyter  me  sooour. 

She  flouryssheth  new  and  new  nw 

In  beauty  and  vertew : 

Hoc  claritate  gemina 

0  gloriosa  foemina^ 

Quomodo  dilexi  legem  tuam,  domina! 
Recedant  Vetera,  nova  sint  omnia. 

And  to  amende  her  tale, 
Whan  she  lyst  to  auale. 
And  with  her  fyngers  smale, 
And  handes  soft  as  sylke, 
Whyter  than  the  mylke,  »» 

That  are  so  quyckely  vayned, 
Wherwyth  my  hand  slie  strayned, 
Lorde,  how  I  was  payned  ! 
Vnneth  I  me  refrayned. 
How  she  me  had  reclaymed, 
And  me  to  her  retayned, 
Enbrasynge  therwithall 
Her  goodly  myddell  small 
With  sydes  longe  and  streyte ; 
To  tell  you  wliat  conceyte  iim 

1  had  than  in  a  tryce, 
The  matter  were  to  nyse, 
And  yet  tliere  was  no  vyce, 


100  PHYLLYP   SPABOWS* 

Nor  yet  no  villany, 

But  only  fantasy  ; 

For  this  most  goodly  flonre. 

This  blossom  of  fressh  coloure, 

So  Jupiter  me  succoure, 

She  floryssheth  new  and  new 

In  beaute  and  vertew  : 

Hoc  claritate  gemina 

0  gloriosa  fcemina, 

Iniquos  odio  hahui! 

Non  calumnientur  me  superbi. 

But  whereto  shulde  I  note 
How  often  dyd  1  tote 
Vpon  her  prety  fote  ? 
It  raysed  myne  hert  rote 
To  se  her  treade  the  grounde 
_  With  heles  short  and  rounde. 

She  is  playnly  expresse 
Egeria,  the  goddesse, 
And  lyke  to  her  image, 
Emporiured  with  corage, 
A  louers  pylgrimage ; 
Ther  is  no  beest  sauage, 
Ne  no  tyger  so  wood, 
But  she  wolde  chaunge  his  mood, 
Such  relueent  grace 
Is  formed  in  her  face ; 
For  this  most  goodly  floure, 
This  blossorae  of  fresshe  coloure, 
So  Jupiter  me  succour, 


PHYLLYP    SPAROWE.  101 

She  flourysslieth  new  and  new 
In  beaute  and  vertew  : 
Hac  claritate  gemina 
0  gloriosa  fcemina, 
MiraJnlia  testimonia  tua  ! 
Sicut  novellce  plantationes  in  juventute  sua. 
So  goodly  as  she  dresses,  1170 

So  properly  she  presses 
The  bryght  golden  tresses 
Of  her  heer  so  fyne, 
Lyke  Phebus  beames  shyne. 
Wherto  shuld  I  disclose 
The  garterynge  of  her  hose  ? 
It  is  for  to  suppose 
How  that  she  can  were 
Gorgiously  her  gere ; 

Her  fresshe  habylementes  iiso 

"With  other  implementes 
To  serue  for  all  ententes, 
Lyke  dame  Flora,  quene 
Of  lusty  somer  grene ; 
For  this  most  goodly  floure, 
This  blossom  of  fressh  coloure. 
So  Ju[)iter  me  socoure, 
She  fiorishfcth  new  and  new 
In  beautye  and  vertew : 
Hoc  claritate  gemina  iiit 

0  gloriosa  foemina, 
Clamavi  in  toto  corde,  exaudi  me  ! 
Misericordia  tua  magna  est  super  me* 


102  PHYLLYP   SPARC  WE. 

Her  kyrtell  so  goodly  lased, 
And  ynder  that  is  brased 
Such  plasures  that  I  may 
Neyther  wryte  nor  say ; 
Yet  though  I  wryte  not  with  ynkie 
No  man  can  let  me  thynke, 
For  thought  hath  lyberte, 
Thought  is  franke  and  fre ; 
To  thynke  a  mery  thought 
It  cost  me  lytell  nor  nought. 
Wolde  God  myne  homely  style 
Were  pullysshed  with  the  fyle 
Of  Ciceros  eloquence, 
To  prase  her  excellence ! 
For  this  most  goodly  floure, 
This  blossome  of  fressh  coloure, 
So  Jupiter  me  succoure, 
She  flouryssheth  new  and  new 
In  beaute  and  vertew: 
Hew  chxritate  gemina 
0  ghriosa  fcdmina^ 
Principes  persecuti  sunt  me  gratii 
Omnibus  consideratis, 
Paradisus  voluptatis 
Hcec  virgo  est  dulcissima. 

My  pen  it  is  vnable, 
My  hand  it  is  vn stable, 
My  reson  rude  and  dull 
To  prayse  her  at  the  full ; 
Goodly  maystres  Jane, 
Sobre,  demure  Dyane ; 


PHYLLTP   SPAROWE.  103 

Jane  this  maystres  hygbt 

The  lode  star  of  delyght, 

Dame  Venus  of  all  pleasure. 

The  well  of  worldly  treasure ; 

She  doth  excede  and  pas 

In  prudence  dame  Pallas  ;  is» 

[For]  this  most  goodly  floure, 

This  blossome  of  fresshe  colour, 

So  Jupiter  me  socoure, 

She  floryssheth  new  and  new 

In  beaute  and  vertew  : 

Hoc  claritcUe  gemina 

0  gloHosa  foemina  ! 

Requiem  ceternam  dona  eis,  Domine! 
With  this  psalme,  Domine,  probasti  me, 
Shall  sayle  ouer  the  see,  i«o 

With  Tibi,  Domine,  commendamus, 
On  pylgrimage  to  saynt  Jamys, 
For  shrympes,  and  for  prayns, 
And  for  stalkynge  cranys ; 
And  where  my  pen  hath  offendyd, 

1  pray  you  it  may  be  amendyd 
By  discrete  consyderacyon 

Of  your  wyse  reformacyon  ; 

I  haue  not  offended,  I  trust, 

If  it  be  sadly  dyscust.  laso 

It  were  no  gentle  gyse 

This  treatyse  to  despyse 

Because  I  haue  wrytten  and  sayd 

Honour  of  this  fay  re  mayd  ; 


104  PHYLLTP   SPAROTTE. 

Wherefore  sbulde  I  be  blamedy 

That  I  Jane  Laue  named, 

And  famously  proclamed  ? 

She  is  worthy  to  be  enrolde 

With  letters  of  golde. 
Car  eUe  vault. 
Per  me  laurigerum  Britonum  SkeUonida  v^^ — ^^^ 
LaudiJms  extmns  merito  hcec  redimita  pue/^^-    '  ^ 
Formosam  cecini^  qua  nonformosior  uUa  es^  '^'' 
Formosam  potius  quam  commendaret  Homer     ■*^^' 
Sicjuvai  inter dum  rigidos  recreare  lahores. 
Nee  minus  hoc  titulo  tersa  Minerva  mea  est 

Rien  que  pla^sere. 


nus  endeth  the  hoke  of  Philip  Sparow^  and  i^^ 
fohweth  an  adicyon  made  by  maister  Shdtoi^^^ 


The  gyse  now  a  dayes 
Of  some  ianglynge  iayes 
Is  to  discoramende 
That  they  cannot  amend, 
Though  they  wold  spend 
All  the  wyttes  they  haue. 

What  ayle  them  to  depraue 
Phillip  Sparowes  graue  ? 
His  Dirige,  her  Commendacyoo 
Can  be  no  derogacyon, 
But  myrth  and  consolacyon 
Made  by  protestaeyon, 


PHYLLYP   SPAROWE.  105 

No  man  to  my  scon  tent  n» 

With  Phillyppes  enterement. 

Alas,  that  goodly  mayd, 
Why  shuld  she  be  afrayde? 
Why  shuld  she  take  shame 
That  her  goodly  name, 
Honorably  reported, 
Sholde  be  set  and  sorted. 
To  be  matriculate 
With  ladyes  of  estate  ? 

I  coniure  th^,  Phillip  Sparow,  vm 

By  Hercules  that  hell  dyd  harow, 
And  with  a  veneraous  arow   , 
Slew  of  the  Epidaures 
One  of  the  Centaures, 
Or  Onocentaures, 
Or  Hipocentaures ; 
By  whose  myght  and  mayne 
An  hart  was  slayne 
AVith  homes  twayne 

Of  glytteryng  gold  ;  wc 

And  the  appels  of  gold 
Of  Hesperides  withhold. 
And  with  a  dragon  kept 
That  neuer  more  slept, 
By  marcyall  strength 
He  wan  at  length  ; 
And  slew  Gerion 
With  thre  bodyes  in  one ; 
With  myghty  corage 


■••      |-»i»i"« 


-  -    -»-f  *^5  ; 


-     •   .    ..      .-.-^^  ■*   •rn. 
.?   ■   _-    .Tr.  ■lieu  ; 

1  .^.  .-.  V7  _   .i-Ji  i  rri'ie  ore 


PHYLLTP    SPAROWE.  107 

And  with  his  frownsid  fore  top  i«o 

Gydeth  his  bote  with  a  prop : 
I  coniure  Phylyp,  and  call 
In  the  name  of  kyng  Saul ; 
Primo  Regum  expresse, 
He  bad  the  Phitonesse 
To  wytchcraft  her  to  dresse, 
And  by  her  abusyons, 
And  dampnable  illusyons 
Of  marueylus  conclusyons, 
And  by  her  superstieyons,  «" 

And  wonderfull  condityons, 
She  raysed  vp  in  that  stede 
Samuell  that  was  dede  ; 
But  whether  it  were  so, 
He  were  idem  in  numero. 
The  selfe  same  Samuell, 
How  be  it  to  Saull  dyd  he  tell 
The  Philistinis  shuld  hym  ascry, 
And  the  next  day  he  shuld  dye, 
I  wyll  my  selfe  dyscharge  ""» 

To  lettred  men  at  large : 
But,  Phylyp,  I  coniure  thee 

Now  by  these  names  thre, 

Diana  in  the  woodes  grene, 

Luna  that  so  bryght  doth  shene, 

Procerpina  in  hell. 

That  thou  shortly  tell, 

And  shew  now  vnto  me 

What  the  cause  may  be 

Of  this  perplexite  1  is» 


ELYNOUR    RUMMYNG.  109 


IB    A.FTER   FOLOWETH   THE    BOOKE    CALLED 

ELYNOUR   RUMMYNGE* 

rUNNYNG  OF  ELYNOUR  KUMMYNG  PER  SKELTOM 

LAUKEAT. 

Tell  you  I  chyll, 
If  that  ye  wyll 
A  whyle  be  styll, 
Of  a  comely  gyll 
That  dwelt  on  a  hyll : 
But  she  is  not  gryll, 
For  she  is  somwhat  sage 
And  well  worne  in  age ; 
For  her  vysage 

It  would  aswage  m 

A  mannes  courage. 
Her  lothely  lere 
Is  nothynge  clere, 
But  vgly  of  chere, 
Droupy  and  drowsy, 
Scuruy  and  lowsy ; 
Her  face  all  bowsy, 

n  the  ed.  by  Kynge  and  ^larche  of  Cerfaine  bokei 
'  by  mayster  Skelton,  n.  d.,  collated  with  the  same  work, 
,  n.  d.,  and  ed.  Lant,  n.  d.,  with  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skel- 
yrkety  1568,  and  occasionally  with  the  comparatively 
ed.  of  Elinovr  JRummin  by  Ran^i,  1624. 


no  ELYNOUR   RUMMYNG. 

Comely  crynklyd, 
Woundersly  wrynkled, 
Lyke  a  rost  pygges  eare, 
Brystled  wyth  here. 

Her  lewde  lyppes  twayne, 
They  slauer,  men  sayne, 
Lyke  a  ropy  rayne, 
A  gummy  glayre : 
She  is  vgly  fay  re  ; 
Her  nose  somdele  hoked, 
And  camously  croked, 
Neuer  stoppynge. 
But  euer  droppynge ; 
Her  skynne  lose  and  slacke, 
Grained  lyke  a  sacke  ; 
With  a  croked  backe. 

Her  eyen  gowndy  ' 

Are  full  vnsowndy, 
For  they  are  blered  ; 
And  she  gray  hered ; 
Jawed  lyke  a  jetty  ; 
A  man  would  haue  pytty 
To  se  how  she  is  gumbed, 
Fyngered  and  thumbed, 
Gently  ioynted, 
Gresed  and  annoynted 
Vp  to  the  knockels  ; 
The  bones  [of]  her  buck  els 
Lyke  as  they  were  with  buckles 
Togyther  made  fast : 
Her  youth  is  farre  past : 


ELTNOUR   RUMMYNO.  Ill 

Foted  lyke  a  plane, 

Legged  lyke  a  crane ;  « 

And  yet  she  wyll  iet, 

Lyke  a  iolly  fet, 

In  her  furred  flocket, 

And  gray  russet  rocket. 

With  symper  the  cocket. 

Her  huke  of  Lyncole  grene, 

It  had  ben  hers,  I  wene, 

More  then  fourty  yere  ; 

And  so  doth  it  apere, 

For  the  grene  bare  thredes  • 

Loke  like  sere  wedes, 

Wyddered  lyke  hay, 

The  woll  worne  away ; 

And  yet  I  dare  saye 

She  thynketh  herselfe  gaye 

Vpon  the  holy  daye, 

Whan  she  doth  her  aray, 

And  gyrdeth  in  her  gytes 

Stytched  and  pranked  with  pletes ; 

Her  kyrtel  Brystow  red,  n 

With  clothes  vpon  her  hed 

That  wey  a  sowe  of  led, 

Wrythen  in  wonder  wyse, 

After  the  Sarasyns  gyse, 

With  a  whym  wham, 

Knyt  with  a  trym  tram, 

Vpon  her  brayne  pan, 

Like  an  Egyptian, 


ELYNOUR   RUMMYNG.  113 

And  maketh  therof  port  sale  * 
To  trauellars,  to  tynkers, 
To  sweters,  to  swynkers, 
And  all  good  ale  drynkers, 
That  wyll  nothynge  spare, 
But  drynke  till  they  stare 
And  brynge  themselfe  bare, 
With,  Now  away  the  mare,  ui 

And  let  vs  sley  care. 
As  wyse  as  an  hare  ! 
Come  who  so  wyll 
To  Elynour  on  the  hyll, 
Wyth,  Fyll  the  cup,  fyll, 
And  syt  there  by  sty  11, 
Erly  and  late: 
Thyther  cometh  Kate, 
Cysly,  and  Sare, 

With  theyr  legges  bare,  •» 

And  also  theyr  fete 
Hardely  full  vnswete ; 
Wyth  theyr  heles  dagged, 
Theyr  kyrtelles  all  to-iagged, 
Theyr  smockes  all  to-ragged, 
Wyth  tytters  and  tatters, 
Brynge  dysshes  and  platters, 
Wyth  all  theyr  myght  runnynge 


ort«a/e]  So  Lant's  ed.    Ed.  of  Kynge  and  Marche,  *'  pore 
Day's  ed.  "  poore  «aZe."     Marsha's  ed.  "poorte  »ale.^ 
id's  ed.  "  pot-sa/e.")    See  notes. 

^OL.  I.  8 


114  ELYNOUR   RUMMYNG. 

To  Elynour  Rummynge, 
To  haue  of  her  tunnynge :  »m 

She  leneth  them  on  the  same, 
And  thus  begjnneth  the  game. 
Some  wenches  come  vnlased. 
Some  huswyues  come  vnbrased, 
Wyth  theyr  naked  pappes, 
That  flyppes  and  flappes ; 
It  wygges  and  it  ^  wagges, 
Lyke  tawny  saffroA  bagges ; 
A  sorte  of  foule  drabbes 
All  scuruy  with  scabbes :  »«• 

Some  be  flybytten, 
Some  skewed  as  a  kytten ; 
Some  wyth  a  sho  clout 
Bynde  theyr  heddes  about ; 
Some  haue  no  herelace, 
Theyr  lockes  about  theyr  face, 
Theyr  tresses  vntrust, 
All  full  of  vnlnst ; 
Some  loke  strawry, 

Some  cawry  mawry ;  i« 

Full  vntydy  tegges, 
Lyke  rotten  egges. 
Suche  a  lewde  sorte 
To  Elynour  resorte 
From  tyde  to  tyde  : 
Abyde,  abyde, 


!/(....  it]  Qy.  "That  ....  that? 


•I 


ELYNOUR   RUMMYNG.  115 

And  to  you  shall  be  tolde 
Howe  hyr  ale  is  solde 
To  Mawte  and  to  Molde. 

Secundus  passus. 

Some  haue  no  mony  i« 

That  thyder  commy, 
For  theyr  ale  to  pay, 
That  is  a  shreud  aray ; 
Elynour  swered,  Nay, 
Ye  shall  not  beare  away 
My  ale  for  nought. 
By  hym  that  me  bought ! 

With,  Hey,  dogge,  hay, 
Haue  these  hogges  away  ! 
With,  Get  me  a  staffe,  it* 

The  swyne  eate  my  drafFe  ! 
Stryke  the  hogges  with  a  clubbe, 
They  haue  dronke  vp  my  swyllynge  tubbe ! 
For,  be  there  neuer  so  much  prese, 
These  swyne  go  to  the  hye  dese. 
The  sowe  with  her  pygges ; 
The  bore  his  tayle  wrygges, 
His  rumpe  also  he  frygges 
Agaynst  the  hye  benche  ! 
With,  Fo,  ther  is  a  stenche  !  i* 

Gather  vp,  thou  wenche ; 
Seest  thou  not  what  is  fall? 
Take  vp  dyrt  and  all, 
And  here  out  of  the  hall : 


116  ELYNOUR   RUMMYNG. 

God  gyue  it  yll  preuynge 
Clenly  as  yuell  cheuynge ! 
But  let  vs  turne  playne, 
There  we  lefte  agayne. 
For,  as  yll  a  patch  as  that, 
The  hennes  ron  in  the  mashfat; 
For  they  go  to  roust 
Streyght  ouer  the  ale  ioust, 
And  donge,  whan  it  commes, 
In  the  ale  tunnes. 
Than  Elynour  taketh 
The  mashe  bolle,  and  shaketh 
The  hennes  donge  away, 
And  skommeth  it  into  a  tray 
Whereas  the  yeest  is. 
With  her  maungy  fystis : 
And  somtyme  she  blennes 
The  donge  of  her  hennes 
And  the  ale  together ; 
And  sayeth,  Gossyp,  come  hyther. 
This  ale  shal  be  thvckor, 
And  llowre  the  more  quicker ; 
For  I  mav  tell  vou, 
I  lenied  it  of  a  Jewe, 
Whan  I  began  to  brewe, 
And  I  haue  founde  it  trew ; 
Drinke  now  whvle  it  is  new ; 
And  ve  mav  it  broke. 
It  shall  make  vou  loke 
Yoniior  than  ve  be 


ELYNOUR   RUMMYNG.  117 

Yeres  two  or  thre, 

For  ye  may  proue  it  by  me ; 

Beholde,  she  sayde,  and  se 

How  bryght  I  am  of  ble ! 

Ich  am  not  cast  away, 

That  can  my  husband  say,  «w 

Whan  we  kys  and  play 

In  lust  and  in  lykyng  ; 

He  calleth  me  his  whytyng, 

His  mullyng  and  his  mytyng,* 

His  nobbes  and  his  conny, 

His  swetyng  and  his  honny, 

With,  Bas,  my  prety  bonny, 

Thou  art  worth  good  and  monny. 

This  make  I  my  falyre  fonny, 

Til  that  he  dreme  and  dronny ;  w 

For,  after  all  our  sport. 

Than  wyll  he  rout  and  snort ; 

Than  swetely  together  we  ly. 

As  two  pygges  in  a  sty. 

To  cease  me  semeth  best. 
And  of  this  tale  to  rest. 
And  for  to  leue  this  letter. 
Because  it  is  no  better. 
And  because  it  is  no  swetter  ; 
We  wyll  no  farther  ryme  «« 

Of  it  at  this  tyme  ; 

"^y^y^ff]  Eds.  of  Kynge  and  Marche,  and  of  Lant,  "  nyt- 
."  Day's  ed.  "  nittinge."  Marshe's  ed. "  nittine."  (Band's 
■*  mittine." )    See  notes. 


118  ELTNOUB  BUMMYNG. 

But  we  wyll  turne  playne 
"Where  we  left  agayne. 

Tertius  passus, 

Instede  of  coyne  and  monny/ 
Some  brynge  her  a  conny, 
And  some  a  pot  with  honny, 
Some  a  salt,  and  some  a  spone, 
Some  theyr  hose,  some  theyr  shone ; 
Some  ran  a  good  trot 
With  a  skellet  or  a  pot; 
Some  fyll  theyr  pot  full 
Of  good  Lemster  woU : 
An  huswyfe  of  trust. 
Whan  she  is  athrust, 
Suche  a  webbe  can  spyn, 
Her  thryft  is  full  thyn. 

Some  go  streyght  thyder, 
Be  it  slaty  or  slyder ; 
They  holde  the  hye  waye. 
They  care  not  what  men  say, 
Be  that  as  be  maye ; 


1  Instede  of  coyne^  &c.]    In  Skelton's   Worhes,  1786,  the 
passage  is  thus  exhibited: 

"  Some  instede  ofcoine  andmonny 
Will  come  and  brynge  her  a  conny 
Or  else  a  pot  with  honni 
Some  a  knife  and  some  a  spone 
Some  biynge  their  hose^  some  ther  shone,^* 


ELYNOUR   RUMMYXG.  119 

Some,  lothe  to  be  espyde, 
Start  in  at  the  backe  syde, 
Ouer  the  hedge  and  pale, 
And  all  for  the  good  ale. 

Some  renne  tyll  they  swete, 
Brynge  wyth  them  malte  or  whete, 
And  dame  Elynour  entrete 
To  byrle  them  of  the  best. 

Than  cometh  an  other  gest ;  «w 

She  swered  by  the  rode  of  rest. 
Her  lyppes  are  so  drye, 
Without  drynke  she  must  dye  ; 
Therefore  fyll  it  by  and  by. 
And  haue  here  a  pecke  of  ry. 

Anone  cometh  another, 
As  drye  as  the  other. 
And  wyth  her  doth  brynge 
Mele,  salte,  or  other  thynge. 
Her  haruest  gyrdle,  her  weddynge  rynge,    sw 
To  pay  for  her  scot 
As  cometh  to  her  lot. 
Som  bryngeth  her  husbandes  hood, 
Because  the  ale  is  good  ; 
Another  brought  her  his  cap 
To  offer  to  the  ale  tap, 
Wyth  flaxe  and  wyth  towe ; 
And  some  brought  sowre  dowe ; 
Wyth,  Hey,  and  wyth,  howe, 
Syt  we  downe  a  rowe,  w" 

And  drynke  tyll  we  blowe, 
And  pype  tyrly  tyrlowe ! 


Some  layde  to  pledge 
Theyr  liatchet  and  thtyr  wedge, 
Thejr  hekell  and  tbejr  rele, 
Theyr  I'ocfce,  tbeyr  spynnyng  vi\ 
And  some  went  so  ntirrowej 
Tbey  layde  to  pledge  tbeyr  whap. 
Theyi"  rjbsltyn  and  ihejr  apyndej 
Tbeyr  nedell  and  iheyr  ihyrabeU-j 
Here  waa  scant  thiTft 
Whan  tliey  maJe  suche  abyft. 

Theyr  tbrust  was  bo  great, 
They  asked  neuer  for  mete. 
But  drynke,  styll  dryrke, 
And  let  the  cat  wynke, 
Let  TS  washe  our  gommea 
From  the  drye  cronimea. 

Quarlui  pastas. 
Some  for  very  nede 
layde  downe  a  skeyne  of  thredef 
And  some  a  skeyne  of  yarne ; 
Some  brought  from  the  bame 
Both  benes  and  pease  [  i 

Small  chafftir  doth  ease 
Somelyme,  now  and  than!  < 

Another  there  was  that  ran 
With  a  good  brasse  pan ; 
Her  colour  was  full  wan ; 

n  in  all  the  ha?t  i 

r  Tnbraaed  and  vnlast ;  ( 


ELYNOL'R   UUMJir.NC. 

Tawny,  swart,  and  sallon-e, 
Lyke  B  Ciibe  of  lullowe  ; 
1  Bwere  by  all  ImDow, 
It  was  a  stale  to  take 
The  lieuyll  in  a  brake. 

And  lUun  <Mtne  haltyng  Jone, 
And  brought  a  gambone 
Of  biikon  tbat  was  resty : 
Bui,  Irfn-de,  as  she  was  toafy. 
Angry  as  a  waspy  I 
Sbe  began  lo  yane  and  gaspy, 
And  bad  Elynotir  go  bel, 
And  fyll  in  good  met ; 
It  was  dert!  that  was  farre  feL 

Anolber  brought  a  spy  eke 
Of  a  bacon  flyeke  ; 
Her  toiige  was  verye  quycke, 
Bui  she  »pake  somwhut  ihycke: 
Her  felow  did  slammer  and  slut, 
But  she  was  a  fuule  slui, 
For  her  mouth  fomyd 
And  her  bely  groned : 

saytie  shu  had  ealen  a  fyest; 
Christ,  sayde  she,  thou  lyest, 
as  ewete  a  bi'eth 
As  thou,  wylh  shamfull  deth  I 

Than  Elynour  sayde.  Ye  calletles, 
I  shall  breake  your  palettes, 
Wythout  ye  now  aease ! 

id  su  was  mudti  the  peai^e. 


{  ELVNOUR   KUUMTSG. 

Than  iLyiler  came  dronken  AIe«i 
And  gIib  was  full  of  tales, 
Of  I^^Jyiigea  in  Wales, 
Aii>]  of  sainct  James  iu  Gales, 
And  of  ihu  Portyngales  i 
Wj'tli,  Lo,  gossyp,  I  wja, 
1'hus  iiuil  tbus  it  ia, 
Tlicre  batli  ben  great  war 
Belwene  Tumple  Bar 
And  the  Croase  in  Cliepe, 
And  tliere  came  an  hepe 
Of  mylstones  in  a  route: 
She  spekBtli  tliua  in  her  sno 
Sneuelyng  in  her  nose, 
As  thougbe  she  had  ihe  poM'd 
Lo,  here  is  an  olde  tappet] 
And  ye  wyll  gyue  me  a  b; 
Of  your  stale  ale, 
God  sende  you  good  ealel 
And  as  she  was  drynkynge, 
She  fyll  in  a  wynkynge 
"Wylh  a  barlyhood, 
She  pyst  where  she  stood; 
ThBD  began  she  to  wepe, 
And  forlhwylh  felt  on  slepe. 
Eiynour  toke  her  vp. 
And  blessed  her  wyib  a  Gup 
Of  newe  ale  in  comes ; 
Ales  founde  therin  no  thomeB, 
But  supped  it  vp  at  ones, 
She  founde  therin  no  bones. 


ELYNOUR  RUMMYNG. 

Quinttis  passus. 
Nowe  in  cometh  another  rabell ; 
Fyrst  one  wyth  a  ladell, 
Another  wyth  a  cradell, 
And  wyth  a  syde  sadell : 
And  there  began  a  fabell, 
A  clatterynge  and  a  babell 
Of  folys  fylly  ^ 
That  had  a  fole  wyth  wylly, 
With,  last  you,  and,  gup,  gylly  '  *«» 

She  coulde  not  lye  stylly. 
Then  came  in  a  genet, 
And  sware  by  saynct  Benet, 
I  dranke  not  this  sennet 
A  draught  to  my  pay ; 
Elynour,  I  the  pray, 
Of  thyne  ale  let  vs  assay. 
And  haue  here  a  pylche  of  graj 

I  were  skynnes  of  conny, 

That  causeth  I  loke  so  donny.  w 

Another  than  dyd  hyche  her, 

And  brought  a  pottel  pycher, 

A  tonnel,  and  a  bottell, 

But  she  had  lost  the  stoppell ; 

She  cut  of  her  sho  sole. 

And  stopped  therwyth  the  hole 
Amonge  all  the  blommer, 

Another  brought  a  skommer, 

^fyUy]  Marshe's  ed.  "silly." 


1 


124  ELYNOUB  BUMMYNG. 


A  fryinge  pan,  and  a  slyce ;  ^ 

Elynour  made  the  piyce 
For  good  ale  eche  whyt. 

Than  sterte  in  mad  Kyt, 
That  had  ly  ttle  wyt ; 
She  semed  somdele  seke, 
And  brought  a  peny  cheke 
To  dame  Elynour, 
For  a  draught  of  lycour. 

Than  Margery  Mylkeducke 
Her  kyrtell  she  did  vptucke 
An  ynche  aboue  her  kne, 
Her  legges  that  ye  myght  se ; 
But  they  were  sturdy  and  stubbed, 
Myghty  pestels  and  clubbed, 
As  fay  re  and  as  whyte 
As  the  fote  of  a  kyte : 
She  was  somwhat  foule, 
Crokenecked  lyke  an  oule  ; 
And  yet  she  brought  her  fees, 
A  eantell  of  Essex  chese 
Was  well  a  fote  thycke,  « 

Full  of  maggottes  quycke ; 
It  was  huge  and  greate, 
And  myghty  stronge  meate 
For  the  deuyll  to  eate  ; 
It  was  tart  and  punyete. 

Another  sorte  of  sluttes, 
Some  brought  walnuttes, 
Some  apples,  some  peres, 
Some  brought  theyr  clyppynge  shares. 


ELYXOUR   RUMMYNG.  125 

Some  brought  this  and  that,  <« 

Some  brought  I  wote  nere  what, 
Some  brought  theyr  husbandes  hat. 
Some  podynges  and  lynkes. 
Some  trypes  that  stynkes. 

But  of  all  this  thronge 
One  came  them  amonge, 
She  semed  halfe  a  leche. 
And  began  to  preche 
Of  the  tewsday  in  the  weke 
Whan  the  mare  doth  keke ;  «ao 

Of  the  vertue  of  an  vnset  leke; 
Of  her  husbandes  breke ; 
Wyth  the  feders  of  a  quale 
She  could  to  Burdeou  sayle; 
And  wyth  good  ale  barme 
She  could  make  a  charme 
To  helpe  wy thall  a  stytch . 
She  semed  to  be  a  wytch. 

Another  brought  two  goslynges,  ^ 
That  were  noughty  froslynges ;  4m 

She  brought  them  in  a  wallet. 
She  was  a  cumly  callet : 
The  goslenges  were  untyde; 
Elynour  began  to  chyde. 
They  be  wretchockes  thou  hast  brought, 
They  are  shyre  shakyng  nought ! 

Sextus  passus. 

Maude  Ruggy  thyther  skypped : 
She  was  vgly  hypped. 


126  ELYNOUR    RUMMYNG. 

And  vgly  thjcke  lypped, 

Lyke  an  onyon  syded, 

Lyke  tan  ledder  hyded : 

She  had  her  so  guyded 

Betwene  the  cup  and  the  wall, 

That  she  was  there  wythall 

Into  a  palsey  fall ; 

Wyth  that  her  hed  shaked, 

And  her  handes  quaked : 

Ones  hed  wold  haue  aked 

To  se  her  naked : 

She  dranke  so  of  the  dregges, 

The  dropsy  was  in  her  legges ; 

Her  face  glystryng  lyke  glas ; 

All  i'oggy  fat  she  was ; 

She  had  also  the  gout 

In  all  her  ioyntes  about ; 

Her  breth  was  soure  and  stale. 

And  smelled  all  of  ale  : 

Suche  a  bedfellaw 

Wold  make  one  cast  his  craw ; 

But  yet  for  all  that 

She  dranke  on  the  mash  fat. 

There  came  an  old  rybybe ; 
She  halted  of  a  kybe, 
And  had  broken  her  shyn 
At  the  threshold  comyng  in, 
And  fell  so  wyde  open 
That  one  myght  se  her  token, 
The  deuyll  lliereon  be  wroken ! 
What  nede  all  this  be  spoken? 


ELTNOUR  RUMMYNG.  127 

She  yelled  lyke  a  calfe :  «o 

Ryse  vp,  on  Gods  halfe, 

Said  Elynour  Rummyng, 

I  beshrew  th^  for  thy  cummyDg! 

And  as  she  at  her  did  pluck, 

Quake,  quake,  sayd  the  duck 

In  that  lampatrams  lap ; 

Wyth,  Fy,  couer  thy  shap 

Wyth  sum  flyp  flap ! 

God  gyue  it  yll  hap, 

Sayde  Elynour  for  shame,  wc 

Lyke  an  honest  dame. 

Vp  she  stert,  halfe  lame, 

And  skantly  could  go 

For  payne  and  for  wo. 

In  came  another  dant, 
Wyth  a  gose  and  a  gant : 
She  had  a  wide  wesant ; 
She  was  nothynge  plesant ; 
Necked  lyke  an  olyfant ; 
It  was  a  bullyfant,  •  m 

A  gredy  cormerant. 

Another  brought  her  garlyke  hedes ; 
Another  brought  her  bedes 
Of  iet  or  of  cole, 
To  offer  to  the  ale  pole : 
Some  brought  a  wymble. 
Some  brought  a  thymble. 
Some  brought  a  sylke  lace, 
Some  brought  a  pyncase. 


128  KLYNOUR   RUMMYNG. 

Some  her  husbandes  gowne,  « 

Some  a  pyllow  of  downe, 

Some  of  ^  the  napery ; 

And  all  this  shyfte  they  make 

For  the  good  ale  sake. 

A  strawe,  sayde  Bele,  stande  vtter, 
For  we  haue  egges  and  butler, 
And  of  ^  pygeons  a  pay  re. 

Than  sterte  forth  a  fysgygge, 
And  she  brought  a  bore  pygge  ; 
The  fleshe  therof  was  ranke, 
And  her  brethe  strongly  stanke, 
Yet,  or  she  went,  she  dranke, 
And  gat  her  great  thanke 
Of  Elynour  for  her  ware. 
That  she  thyther  bare 
To  pay  for  her  share. 
Now  truly,  to  my  thynkynge, 
This  is  a  solempne  drinkynge. 

Septimus  passus. 

Soft,  quod  one,  hyght  Sybbyll, 
And  let  me  wyth  you  bybyll.  sa 

She  sat  downe  in  the  place, 
With  a  sory  face 
Whey  wormed  about; 

1  Some  of  J  &c.]  The  line  which  rhymed  with  this  has  dropt 
out. 

2  And  of  J  &c.]  The  line  which  rhymed  with  this  has  dropt 
out. 


ELYNOUR   RUMMYNG.  129 

Garnyshed  was  her  snout 

Wyth  here  and  there  a  puscull, 

Lyke  a  scabby d  muscull. 

This  ale,  sayde  she,  is  noppy ; 

Let  vs  syppe  and  soppy, 

And  not  spyll  a  droppy, 

For  so  mote  I  hoppy,  «« 

It  coleth  well  my  croppy. 

Dame  Elynoure,  sayde  she, 
Haue  here  is  for  me, 
A  cloute  of  London  pynnes  ; 
And  wyth  that  she  begynnes 
The  pot  to  her  plucke, 
And  dranke  a  good  lucke ; 
She  swynged  vp  a  quarte 
At  ones  for  her  parte  ; 
Her  paunche  was  so  puffed,  «• 

And  so  wyth  ale  stuffed. 
Had  she  not  hyed  apace, 
She  had  defoyled  the  place. 

Than  began  the  sporte 
Amonge  that  dronken  sorte : 
Dame  Eleynour,  sayde  they, 
Lende  here  a  cocke  of  hey, 
To  make  all  thynge  cleane  ; 
Ye  wote  well  what  we  meane. 

But,  syr,  among  all  » 

That  sat  in  that  hall, 
There  was  a  pryckemedenty, 
Sat  lyke  a  seynty, 
VOL.   I.  9 


130  ELYNOUB   RUMMYNG. 

And  began  to  paynty, 

As  thoughe  she  would  faynty  ; 

She  made  it  as  koy 

As  a  lege  de  moy  ; 

She  was  not  halfe  so  wyse 

As  she  was  peuysshe  nyse. 

She  sayde  neuer  a  worde,  •" 

But  rose  from  the  borde, 

And  called  for  our  dame, 

Elynour  by  name. 

We  supposed,  I  wys, 

That  she  rose  to  pys  ; 

But  the  very  grounde 

Was  for  to  compounde 

Wyth  Elynour  in  the  spence. 

To  pay  for  her  expence : 

I  haue  no  penny  nor  grote  * 

To  pay,  sayde  she,  God  wote, 

For  washyng  of  my  throte ; 

But  my  bedes  of  amber 

Be  re  them  to  vour  chamber. 

Thou  Elvnour  dvd  them  hydo 

Wythin  her  beddes  syde. 

But  some  than  sat  ryght  sad 
That  not  hv  11  lie  had 
There  of  theyr  uwne, 

^seythor  geh  nor  pawne ;  ■• 

Sueho  were  there  menny 
That  luid  not  a  penny, 
But,  whan  they  <hould  walke^ 


Were  fnyne  wjtli  a  clialke 
To  score  on  tlie  balke, 
Oi'  score  on  iho  lajle : 
God  gyue  it  yll  lidj-le  ! 
For  my  l'j*iigi'i-s  jttliu  ; 
I  liHue  wryllen  to  tnyitiie 
Oftliis  rand  nmmmytige 
Of  Elynour  Ruramyiige. 
Thus  endelli  the  gf^t 
p.Of  tliis  woi'tliy  fest. 

Quod  Skelton,  Laurea 


Quamw'j  insams,  quameis 
Invide,  cantamut ;  kwc  loca  plena  jocis. 
Biea  men  souuieiU. 


Ujieminas,  qum  vel  nimis  hihuliE  sunt,  vd 
he  iqwaloris,  atil  quit  spiirca  J'adi- 
l  verbosa  loquaci(ate  noluTilar,  poeta 
r  !s»lat  ad  aiidlendum  kunc  Hhellum,  Src. 
I  ^ria,  squalida,  sordida  fiemina,  prodlga  verbis, 
I  Hue  curral, propereC,  veniat.'  Sua  gesta  libellm 
I  kU  volidabit :  Peean  sua  plectra  ionondo 
[  KaUriam  rieua  cantabil  c. 


QuoJ  Ski-lioj),  Lav 


Ib2  POEMS   AGAINST    GARN£SCHE. 


POEMS   AGAINST   GARNESCHE* 

8KELTON   LAUKIATK   DKFENDfKRj    AGEXST   M[AS1ER] 
GARNESCHE   CllALE^GEK,   ET   CETERA. 

SiTHE  ye  liaue  me  chalyngyd,  Mfaster]  Garnescb^; 

Ruduly  revilyng  me  in  the  kynges  noble  ball? 
Soche  an  odyr  chalyngyr  cowde  me  no  man  wyscli» 
But  yf  yt  war  Syr  Tyrmagant  that  tyrnyd  witli 

out  nail ;  ^ 
For  Syr  Frollo  de  Franko  was  neuer  halfe  so 
tall^. 
But  sey  me  now,  Syr  Satrapas,  what  autoryte  ye 

haue 
In  your  chalenge,  Syr  Chystyn,  to  cale  me  knaue  ? 

What,  haue  ye  kytliyd  yow  a  knyght,  Syr  Dugles 
the  dowty, 
So  curry  sly  tobeknaue  me  in  the  kynges  place  ? 

*  These  Poems  against  Gnrnesche  (now  for  the  first  time 
printed)  are  from  a  MS.  in  the  Harleian  Collection,  367  (f«J- 
101),  which  is  in  many  parts  scarcely  legible,  being  written 
in  a  hand  very  diflicult  to  decipher,  as  well  as  being  miicb 
injured  by  damp. 

1  wysch]  So  MS.  seems  to  read. 

^  with  out  nall\  Seems  to  be  the  reading  of  MS., — "d&U" 
having  been  added,  instead  of  "  alle,"  which  is  drawn  tbroagb 
with  the  pen. 

^ place\  Miglit  be  read  perhaps  "  palace.'* 


POEMS    AGAINST   GARNESGHE.  138 

Ye  stronge  sturdy  stalyon,  so  sterne  and  stowty,  w 
Ye  bere  yow  bolde  as  Barabas,  or  Syr  Terry 

of  Trace ; 
Ye  gyrne  grymly  with  your  gomys  and  with 
your  grysly  face. 
But  sey  me  yet,  Syr  Satropas,  what  auctoryte  ye 

haue 
tn  your  chalange,   Syr  Chesten,  to  calle  me  a 
knaue  ? 

Ye  fowle,  fers,  and   felle,  as  Syr  Ferumbras  the 

ffreke, 

Syr  capten  of  Catywade,  catacumbas  of  Cay  re, 

Tbow   ye   be   lusty  as    Syr  Lybyua  launces  to 

breke, 

Yet  your  contenons  oncomly,  your  face  ys  nat 

fayer : 

For  alle  your  proude  prankyng,  your  pride  may 

apayere. 

But  sey  me  yet,  Syr  Satrapas,  wat  auctoryte  ye 

haue  so 

In  your  chalenge,  Syr  Chesten,  to  cal  me  a  knaue  ? 

Of  Mantryble  the  Bryge,  Malchus  the  murryou, 
Nor  blake  Baltazar  with  hys  basnet  routh  as  a 
here, 
Nor  Lycon,  that  lothly  hiske,  in  myn  opynyon. 
Nor  no  bore  so  bryraly  brystlyd  ys  with  here, 
As  ye  ar  brystlyd  on  the  bake  for  alle  your 
gay  gere. 


[Bvl  %T  Bfte  Ttrc«  Sjr  Satrapas,  what  auctorjte 

re  Laae 
Id  Tour  cLil^c:je,  Svr  Chesten,  to  calle  me  a 

Yoor  wTiide  schakTn  shankkes,  jour  longe  lotbj 

CYv>kTU  a;^  a  oamoke,  and  as  a  koire  calfles,  " 

BrTno;v;i»$  vow  ou;  ot'  aiuyr  with  alle  femall  teggys  > 

Thac  niAsrrvs  l\;n:  pui  yow  of,  yt  was  nat  alle 

At  Orwell^  hyr  hauyn  your  anggre  was  laules. 
[Bui  $4?y  ni^  y^«*  Syr  Sanrapas,  what  auetoryte 

re  haiw 
In  your  chaWrp?,  Syr  Chesten,  to  calle  me  a 

knaue :] 

I  sey*  ye  solem  Scinron,  alle  blake  ys  your  ble ; 

As  a  iiU'vU'  iilv  >»yr^,  your  ien  glyster  as  glasse, 
Rowly-^:^^  i:i  yo^^cr  holox  hede,  vgly  to  see;     • 

Ycur  uiro  :c::::vi  wi;h  lawny;  your  semely 
sr.v^w:e  vvoch  rcisse, 

Hvn>kyoI  ,•*<  a::  r-Awkys  beke,  lyke  Syr  Topyas. 
Bolvily  Kr.d  AvU  :v>  bcL;rIL  and  baske  yourselft 

CiiA.er^-  V,  ur  <c':V  :or  a  tole,  call  me  no  more 

t  •*  '■*  "  '-* 

Be  :*:.^  k\:\:c5  ir.os^:  r.v^ble  commandemeDt. 


POEMS   AGAINST    GARNESCHE.  135 


BKELTON    LAUBYATE    DEFENDER    AOEKST    M[ASTEK]    GAR- 
NESCHE   CHAIiANOAR,   WITH  ORESY,  60RBELYD 
GODFREY   [ET]   CETERA. 

How  may  I  your  mokery  mekely  toUerate, 
[Your]^  gronynge,  ^our  grontynge,  your  groin- 
ynge  lyke  a  swyne  ? 
[Your]  pride  ys  alle  to  peuiche,  your  porte  im- 
portunate ; 
[You]  mantycore,^  ye  maltaperte,  ye  can  bothe 

wins  and  whyne ; 
[Your]  lotbesum  lere  to  loke  on,  lyke  a  gresyd 
bote  dothe  schyne. 
Ye  cappyd  Cayface  copious,  your  paltoke  on  your 

pate, 
Thow  ye  prate  lyke  prowde  Pylate,  be  ware  yet 
of  chek  mate. 

Hole  ys  your  brow  that  ye  brake  with  Deu[ra]n- 

dall  your  awne  sworde ; 
Why  holde  ye  on  yer  cap,  syr,  then?   your 

pardone  ys  expyryd : 
Ye  hobble  very  homly  before  the  ky  nges  borde ;    lo 

^  Tour]  The  beginning  of  this  line,  and  of  the  next  three 
K  torn  off  in  MS. 
*  UKuUycore]  MS.  "  mantyca.*' 


184  POEM  .  -  •*:   ^-AKXHSCHE. 

[But  807  '»■  ■•      '  '"  <^"P<-Tou^ly,  ano  arte 

ye  li       .'■■■"..  .     .. 

In  your  «.  ••  ■  '      • 

ki  .  .'"• 

I,  ;i\  UlV  :■-"}■}  oiis,  your  paltoke  on  your 

Your  V.         •'■■•  - 

;:Ue  ';■  J^-   y:*'nvJe  Pyhite,  be  ware  ot 

(J,..  ..liiemi:-- 

Br^  ,  , 

'  .ijvte  i"'"  v-AOvone,  why  do  ye  gane  and 

I  criuf.'  :  v.i.r.*!iosohe,  loke  on  yourcomiY 


.•i?rs ! 


.  V  Giir^-^"^"  '"•  -^  '^^^  ^  lowse,  ye  jet  full  Ijke  a 

jasjv. 
\<  wjtt*'*'  *"   ^  ^x >  Me  goos,  ye  baue  but  s 


ron 


*-.'.   •  N 


"\lf  f^"  "  'i ■»'•''-;♦-'  th;it  of  your  chalennge 
V  .  ^.flin  *  *■  *'  ■•'M.^ous,  your  paltoke  on  your 
,-.,  .,.       .•     ^■v•■    uowde  Pvlate,  be  ware  of 

.1.    .,  •  ii.il'  ■- 

Sri  ^•"'     '^  '      •••»^'«'  "^."^^  Cay  us,  for  and  Syr 

^V-*'*^ '-*    "'    "'''linus   nor   Syr  Pyrrus  llic 

uu.i ^♦-  :u    u'lN:*  no  where  ys  prouyd 


iThe  fticyouu  of  jour  fysniimy  llie  devyl 

■  Your  harle  ys  to  hnwle,  I  wys,  jt  vtjll  ni 

■  alowde. 

fe  capyd  Cayfas  copyus,  your  paltoke  on 

pale, 
Cbow  ye  prate  lyke  prowJe  PyliitL',  be  war 


Se  grounde  yow  vpon  Godfrey,  tiiiit  grysXy  gar- 

goss  face, 

Your  stondurdB,  Syr  Olifmuke,  agonst  me  for 

to  aplay ;  » 

Baile,  baile  at  yow  boilie,  frantyke  I'olys !  follow 

on  the  chase  1 

Cam  Garnyche,  cum  GtodCrey,  with  aa  many  as 

}e  may  I 
1  advyse  yow  be  ware  of  tliys  war,  rannge  yow 

w  cappyd   Cayfas   copyous,   [your  paltoke  on 

iWw  ye  prale  lyke  prowde  Pylale,  be  ware  of 
clieke  mate.] 

"ipi  gorbellyd  Godfrey,  gup,  Garnysche,  gaudy 
fole! 
turrey  or  to  tante  witL  me  ye  ar  to  fare  to 

ynj  whypslouena  ealle  for  a  coke 


Jv<  lOLJlfe    AGAIKET    &ASKXSCHS. 

ijoff.vriff  meke.  * 

I  l.«/w  ^«:  \tniXtt  Ivke  provde  Pvlase.  be  vi:^  V 
<'li<:k<;  mate.] 

Mirrei  rou*  j, 
Loke  nat  to  hj. 

Ity  I  lie  k)'ngeH  most  noble  oommamidaeBti 


POEMS    AGAINST    GARNF.SCHE.  139 


L.TON  LAWRYATE  DEFENDER  AGENYST  LU8TT  OARNTOKE 
WZLLX  BE  8EYN  CRTSTEOUYR  CHALANNOHR,  ET 

CETERA. 

I  HAUE  your  lewde  letter  receyuyd, 

And  well  I  haue  yt  perseyuyd. 

And  your  skrybe  I  haue  aspyed, 

That  your  mad  mynde  contryuyd. 

Sauynge  your  vsscheres  rod, 

I  caste  me  nat  to  be  od 

With  neythyr  of  yow  tewyne  : 

Wherfore  I  wryght  ageyne ; 

How  the  fauyr  of  your  face 

Is  voyd  of  all  good  grace ;  ii 

For  alle  your  carpet  cousshons, 

Ye  haue  knauyche  condyc}onns. 

Gup,  marmeset,  jast  ye,  morelle  I 

I  am  laureat,  I  am  no  lorelle. 

Lewdely  your  tyme  ye  spende, 

My  lyuyng  to  reprehende  ;  ^ 

And  wyll  neuer  intende 

Your  awne  lewdnes  to  amende : 

Your  Englyshe  lew[d]ly  ye  sorte, 

And  falsly  ^e  me  reporte.  » 

Garnyche,  ye  gape  to  wyde : 

My  h/uyng  to  reprehende]  Added  to  MS.  in  a  different  hand. 


144  POEMS    AGAINST    GARNESCHE. 

Your  sworde  ye  swere,  I  wene, 

So  tranchaunt  and  so  kene, 

Xall  ky t  both  wyght  and  grene : 

Your  foly  ys  to  grett  '* 

The  kynges  colours  to  threte. 

Your  brethe  yt  ys  so  felle 

And  so  puauntely  dothe  smelle, 

And  so  haynnously  doth  stynke, 

That  nay  thy  r  pump  nor  synke 

Dothe  sauyr  halfe  so  souer 

Ageynst  a  stormy  shouer. 

O  ladis  of  bryght  colour, 

Of  bewte  that  beryth  the  flower, 

When  Garnyche  cummyth  yow  amonge    * 

With  hys  brethe  so  stronge, 

Withowte  ye  haue  a  confectioun 

Agenst  hys  poysond  infeccioun, 

Els  with  hys  stynkyng  jawys 

He  wyl  cause  yow  caste  your  crawes, 

And  make  youer  stomoke  seke 

Ovyr  the  perke  to  pryk. 

Now,  Garnyche,  garde  thy  guramys ; 
My  serpentins  and  my  gunnys 
Agenst  ye  now  I  bynde  ;  '* 

Thy  selfe  therfore  defende. 
Thou  tode,  thow  scorpyone, 
Thow  bawdy  babyone, 
Thow  here,  thow  brystlyd  bore, 
Thou  Moryshe  mantycore. 
Thou  rammysche  stynkyng  gote, 


POEMS   AGAINST    GARNESCHB.  145 

Thou  fowle  chorlyshe  parote, 

Thou  gresl/  gargone  glaymy, 

Thou  swetj  sloueii  seymy, 

Thou  murrionn,  thow  mawment,  in 

Thou  fals  stynkyng  serpent, 

Thou  mokkyshe  marmoset, 

I  wyll  nat  dy  in  they  ^  det. 

Tyburne  thou  me  assynyd, 

Where  thou  xulddst  haue  bene  shrynyd  ; 

The  nexte  halter  ther  xall  be 

I  bequeth  yt  hole  to  the : 

Soche  pelfry  thou  hast  pachchyd. 

And  so  thy  selfe  houyr  wachyd 

That  ther  thou  xuldyst  be  rachchyd,  iio 

If  thow  war  metely  machchyd. 

Ye  may  wele  be  bedawyd, 
Ye  ar  a  fole  owtelauyd  ; 
And  for  to  telle  the  gronde. 
Pay  Stokys  hys  fyue  pownd. 
I  say,  Syr  Daly  rag, 
Ye  here  yow  bold  and  brag 
With  othyr  menys  charge  : 
Ye  kyt  your  clothe  to  large  : 
Soche  pollyng  paiaunttis  ye  pley,  m 

To  poynt  yow  fresche  and  gay. 

And  he  that  scryblyd  your  scroUes, 
I  rekyn  yow  in  my  rowllys, 
For  ij  dronken  sowUys, 

1  ikey]  Compare  v.  18  of  the  next  poenL 
VOL.   I.  10 


146  POEMS   AGAINST    GARNESCHB. 

Rede  and  lerne  ye  may, 
How  olde  proverbys  say, 
That  byrd  ys  nat  honest 
That  fylythe  hys  owne  nest. 
Yf  he  wyst  what  sum  wotte, 
The  flesche  bastyng  of  his  cote 
Was  sowyd  with  slendyr  thre[de]  : 
God  sende  you  wele  good  spede, 
With  DomintLS  vohiscum  ! 
Good  Latyn  for  Jake  a  thrum, 
Tyll  more  matyr  may  cum. 

By  the  kynges  most  noble  commaundment. 


DONUM  LAUREATI   DISTICHON  CONTRA  GOLIARDUM 
GAKNISHE  £T  SCRIBAM   EJUS. 

Tuy  Garnishe,  fatu%is,fatuus  tuus  est  mage  scriha .' 
Qui  sapuit  puer,  insanit  vir^  versus  in  hydrarn. 


BKELTON   LAUREATE   DEFENDAR   AGEINST  LUSTY  GARNYSB* 
WELL  BESEEN   CRYSTOFER   CHALANGAR,   ET   CETERA' 

Garnysiie,  gargone,  gastly,  gryme, 
I  haue  receyuyd  your  secunde  ryme. 
Thowthe  ye  kan  skylle  of  large  and  longe. 
Ye  syng  allvvay  the  kukkowe  songe  : 


POEMS   AGAINST   GARNESCHE.  HI 

The  insyde  ye  ded  calle  • 

Your  best  gowne  festyvalle. 

Your  drapry  ^e  ded  wante, 

The  warde  with  yow  was  skante. 

When  ye  kyst  a  shepys  ie, 

^mastres  Andelby, 

Gynys  vpon  a  gonge, 

sat  surawhat  to  longe  ; 

hyr  husbandes  hed, 

jnalle  of  lede, 

that  ye  ther  prechyd,  •• 

To  hyr  loue  ye  nowte  rechyd : 
Ye  wolde  haue  bassyd  hyr  bumme, 
So  that  sche  wolde  haue  kum 
On  to  your  lowsy  den  ; 
But  sche  of  all  men 
Had  yow  most  in  despyght, 
Y'e  loste  hyr  fauyr  quyt ; 
Your  pyllyd  garleke  hed 
Cowde  hocupy  there  no  stede ; 
Slie  callyd  yow  Syr  Gy  of  Gaunt,  w 

Nosyd  lyke  an  olyfaunt, 
A  pykes  or  a  twybyll ; 
Sche  seyd  how  ye  ded  brydell, 
Moche  lyke  a  dromadary  ; 
Thus  with  yow  sche  ded  wary, 
Vith  moche  mater  more 
'hat  I  kepe  in  store. 

1  A  portion  of  MS.  torn  off  here. 


148  POEMS    AGAINST    GAKNtSCDK. 

TLy  cajtyvys  cnrkcs  cours  anJ  crasj ; 
Mocbe  of  ihj  muneres  I  urn  bla^y. 

Of  Lunibaidy  Gorge  Hanlyson, 
Tliow  wolde  haue  scoryd  hys  babarion ; 
That  jeolyll  Jorge  the  Januay, 
Ye  woliie  huue  Irysyd  hya  trowie  away  : 
Soche  paianles  with  your  frynJes  ye  jilny, 
Wilh  irecheiy  ye  iLom    betray, 
Gamysbe,  ye  gale  of  Gorge  wilh  gaudry 
Ci'iinsin  velvet  ior  your  bawdry. 
Ye  baue  a  fanlasy  lo  Faucbyrcbe  strete, 
With  Lumbardes  leminuiins  fur  to  mute, 
With,  Bas  tnc,  buityug,  praty  Cya  I 
Yower  lothesum  lypps  louci  well  to  kyse, 
Slaueryng  lyke  a  slymy  snuyle ; 
1  wulde  ye  bud  kyet  byr  on  the  tayle  1 

Also  nal  fare  from  Eowgy  i*ow, 
Ye  pressyd  perttly  to  pluk  a  crow ; 
Ye  lost  your  holde.  onhende  your  bow. 
Ye  wan  uulhyng  there  hut  a  mow ; 
Y'e  wan  nolhyiio  tbere  hut  a  skome  ; 
Sche  wolde  nat  of  yt  thow  liad  swoi-oe 
Sche  seyd  ye  war  eoluryd  with  cole  dust ; 
To  duly  wilh  yow  she  had  no  lust. 
Sche  seyd  your  brelhe  etaiike  lyke  a  hrokiii 
With,  Gap,  Syr  Gy,  ye  gate  a  moke. 
Suhe  sware  wilh  hyr  ye  xulde  nat  dele, 
.For  ye  war  smtiry,  lyke  a  sele. 
And  ye  war  herey,  lyke  a  csdfe; 
Sehe  praiid  yow  wrilke,  on  GudJes  halle ! 


POEMS   AGAIN3T    OARNESCUE. 

And  thu3  there  ye  lost  yower  pray  ; 

Get  ye  anothyr  where  ye  may.  , 

Dysparnge  ye  myn  auncetry  ?       '•"''^ 
Ye  ar  dyspoayd  for  to  ly  : 
I  sey,  thow  felle  and  fowle  flessh  fly, 
In  Ihys  debate  I  tlie  askry. 
Thow  daimist  the  jentyll,  thou  art  a  curre 
Haroldis  tliey  know  tliy  cote  armur : 
Thow  thou  be  a  jantyll  man  borne. 
Yet  jentylnes  iD  tlie  ys  thi-ed  bare  worne  ; 
Haroldes  from  honor  may  th4  devors, 
For  harlotles  bawnte  thyn  halefull  cors : 
Ye  beie  out  broihells  lyke  a  hawde ; 
Y'e  get  iherby  a  slendyr  hiude 
Betweyn  the  lappet t  and  the  walle, — 
Fusty  bawdyas  !  I  sey  nat  alle. 
Of  hai'lottes  to  vse  soche  an  liarres, 
Yt  bredth  mothys  in  clothe  of  Arres. 

What  eylythe  ih^,  rebawde,  on  me  to  rti 
A  kyng  to  me  myn  habyte  gaue  ;     i^^' 
At  Oxibrth,  the  vniversyle, 
Auaunsid  I  was  to  that  degre; 
By  hole  consent  of  tlieyr  senate, 
1  was  made  jioele  lawi-eate. 
To  cal  me  lorell  ye  ar  to  lewde: 
Lythe  and  lystyn,  all  bechrewde  ! 
Of  tlie  Musys  nyne.  Calliope 
Haih  pointyd  me  to  rayle  on  the. 
It  semyih  nat  thy  pylljd  pate 
Agenst  a  poyet  luwrtal 


1 


t 


150  POEMS    AOAINST    GAKNESCHE. 

To  take  vpon  ilie  for  to  scrjue; 
It  cuniys  th4  better  for  to  dr^ue 
A  ilong  cart  or  a  (umrclle 
Than  with  my  poems  for  to  melle. 

The  honor  of  KngJond  I  lernyd  to  spelle, 
In  dygnylB  roialle  that  dutb  exctille : 
Note  and  marke  wjl'  thjs  parcelej 
I  jaue  lijni  drynke  of  the  BugryJ  welle 
Of  Eliconjs  wjiiers  cryslallyne, 
Aqueintyng  hym  with  the  Mu^ys  nyoe. 
Tt  commj'th  tb&  wele  ma  to  reraorde, 
That  creaunser  was  to  thy  Bofre[yne]  lonle; 
1    It  plesyih  that  noble  prince  roialie 
Me  as  hys  niasttir  for  to  c-alle 
In  hjs  lernyng  primordiitlle. 
Aoaunt,  rybawde,^  ihi  lung  recltkms  I 
Me  to  beknaue  [bow  art  to  blame  ; 
Thy  tong  vniawie,  with  poyson  infecle, 
Withowie  thou  leue  thou  shall  be  cheki,' 
And  lakyn  vp  in  such  tt  frame, 
That  all  llie  warJde  wyjl  spje  your  shame. 
Auaunt,  uununt,  thow  slogysh     . 
And  sey  poeiis  no  dya     .     .     . 
It  ya  lor  no  bawdy  knaue 
The  dignile  lawreat  for  to  biiue. 

1  m/l]  Compara  v.  ISd. 
*  rylHaale]  MS.  seema  lo  have  "  rj-lawde." 
■  WiiioicU  Owu  lnue,  ic.\  la  (IS.  Uie  ktier  part  of  UiIiUM. 
■nd  tbe  concluding  ponioiu  of  tljc  next  two  lines,  ara  w  (»• 
jored  byslnins  lliat  I  can  only  gneaa  atlhfl  w 
Ingi  of  tlie  third  and  Itiiirth  liiiea  ufter  tlita  u 


I 


POEMS   AGAINST    GARNESCHE.  151 

Thow  callyst  me  scallyd,  thou  callyst  me  mad : 
Thow  thou  be  pyllyd,  thow  ar  nat  sade. 
Thow  ar  frantyke  and  lakkyst  wyt, 
To  rayle  with  me  that  the  can  hyt. 
Thowth  it  be  now  ful  tyde  with  th^,  i* 

Yet  ther  may  falle  soche  caswelte, 
Er  thow  be  ware,  that  in  a  throw 
Thow  mayst  fale  downe  and  ebbe  full  lowe  : 
Wherfore  in  welthe  beware  of  woo, 
For  welthe  wyll  sone  departe  the  froo. 
To  know  thy  selfe  yf  thow  lake  grace, 
Lerne  or  be  lewde,  I  shrow  thy  face. 
Thow  seyst  I  callyd  the  a  pecok : 
Thow  liist,  I  callyd  th^  a  wodcoke  ; 
For  thow  hast  a  long  snowte,  m 

A  semly  nose  and  a  stowte, 
Prickyd  lyke  an  vnicorne  : 

I  wold  sum  manys  bake  ink  home 

^Vher  thi  nose  spectacle  case ; 

Yt  wold  garnyche  wyll  thy  face. 
Thow  demyst  my  raylyng  ouyrthwarthe  ; 

I  rayle  to  th^  soche  as  thow  art. 

It'  thow  war  aquentyd  with  alle 

The  famous  poettes  saturicall,        I 

As  Pereius  and  luuynall,  h» 

Horace  and  noble  Marciall, 

If  they  wer  lyueyng  thys  day, 

Of  the  wote  I  what  they  wolde  say 

They  wolde  th^  wryght,  all  with  one  Bteuyn, 

The  follest  slouen  ondyr  heuen, 


^T   T3aaaiXiT2i   TCOTfiCSS. 


•303.   .»XI    ? 


Qfu*z  Arrnr  7.>i^  rztc  pu'C  jsn^imiimr  JfJi  ad  Un- 

7t   irf    Tjxhrr^iucuuj   m*/^  fC  r&cVvJi  f  now  <^ 

H,^  si*1iI  i  ii^<  7—^  ridi  ^2  be  n?warded? 
Si'::i   :-"j,rf<  ?^._'i   :«i   r.ime  cc:  br  the  barde 

"...         — ^- :    -     t_» 

For.  jLS  I  l/-.:r  r:'-:r    V  v:\:=&es  «>kie, 
A  :a1<  Ij  : :—  .  _ .  ^    :i  j  a^It  :  ?  whhhoMe ; 
A  <-.li-::i-r:i5  .-  p:.  ^  :uz-^  or  a  skolde, 
Wcrk-:_  z:::-  z:  >,1  rie  ;b*iz  cam  be  tolde; 


AGAINST   VENEM0U8    TONGUES.  155 

riiat,  if  I  wist  not  to  be  controlde, 

Yet  somwhat  to  say  I  dare  well  be  bolde, 

How  some  delite  for  to  lye  thy  eke  and  threfolde. 

Ad  sannam  hominem  redlgit  cornice  et  graphice. 

For  ye  said,  that   he  said,  that  I  said,  wote  ye 

what? 
I  made,  he  said,  a  windmil  of  an  olde  mat : 
If  there  be  none  other  mater  but  that, 
Than  ye  may  commaunde  me  to  gentil  Cok  wat. 

Hie  notat  purpuraria  arte  intextas  literas  RomancLS 
in  amictibus  post  ambulonum  ^  ante  et  retro. 

For  before  on  your  brest,  and  behind  on  your 

back, 
In  Romaine  letters  I  neuer  founde  lack  ; 
In  your  crosse  rowe  nor  Christ  crosse  you  spede, 
Your  Pater  noster,  your  Aue,  nor  your  Crede. 
^ho  soeuer  that  tale  vnto  you  tolde. 
He  saith  vntruly,  to  say  that  I  would 
ControUe  the  cognisaunce  of  noble  men 
Either  by  language  or  with  my  pen. 

^(^dagogium  meum  de  suhlimiori  Minerva  con^ 
Stat  esse :  ergo,  S^c, 

%  scole  is  more  solem  and  somwhat  more  haute 
^han  to  be  founde  in  any  such  faute. 

^  post  amlmlonum]  The  Rev.  J.  Mitford  would  read  "  ambu- 
WMtmjyoa/;"  post  is  probauiy  an  abridgment  of  posUas. 
W  Mag.  Sept.  1844,  p.  244. 


156  AGAINST   VENEMOUS    TONGUES. 

Pcedagogium  meum  male  sanos  maledtcos  sihUii 
complosisque  manihus  explodity  S^c. 

My  scoles  are  not  for  vnthriftes  vntaught. 

For  franiick  t'aitours  half  mad  and  half  straught  ; 

But  my  learning  is  of  an  other  degree 

To  taunt  theim  like  liddrous,  lewde  as  thei  bee. 

Laxent   ergo   antennam   elationis   sum   injlatam 
vento  vanitatis,     li.  ille,  S^c, 

For  though  some  be  lidder,  and  list  for  to  rayie, 
Yet  to  lie  vpon  me  they  can  not  preuayle : 
Then  let  them  vale  a  bonet  of  their  proud  sayle, 
And  of  their  taunting  toies  rest  with  il  hayle. 

NohiUtati  ignohilis  cedat  tnlitas,  S^c. 

There  is  no  noble  man  wil  iudge  in  me 

Any  such  foly  to  rest  or  to  be  : 

I  care  muche  the  lesse  what  euer  they  say, 

For  tunges  vntayde  be  renning  astray ; 

But  yet  I  may  say  safely,  so  many  wel  lettred 

Embraudred,  enlasid  together,  and  fettred, 

And  so  little  learning,  so  lewdly  alowed, 

What  fault  find  ye  herein  but  may  be  auowed? 

But  ye  are  so  full  of  vertibilite, 

And  of  frenetyke  folabilite,  •• 

And  of  melancoly  mutabilite, 

That  ye  would  coarte  and  enforce  me 

Nothing  to  write,  but  hay  the  gy  of  thre, 

And  I  to  suffre  you  lewdly  to  ly 

Of  me  with  your  language  full  of  vilany! 


I  AGAINST  VENEMons  TONGUEa,  1;>7 

Sievt  novacula  aeulaficUti  dolum.  L'lii  3. 
Malicious  lunges,  though  fhi'y  haue  no  bones, 
Are  sharper  then  Ewordes,  stui'dier  tlien  stones. 

Lege  Pkiloiiratwn  de  vita  l^anai  ApoUmtiu 
I  Sharper  theti  raysora  that  shaue  and  cut  llirotes, 
\   Huh  stinging  then  scorpions  that  stung  Pharn- 


Venenum  hspidum  sub  lahlis  eoriiin.     Ps. 
More  veneiDous  and  much  more  virulent 
Then  any  poysoned  todo  or  any  serpent. 

Quid peregrinis  egemus  exempUs?  ad  domesliea 
recurramus,  Sfc.  li.  ille. 
■  Such  tunges  vahappy  hath  matfe  great  diuision 
<  In  realmes,  in  cities,  by  suche  fals  abui>ion 

Of  falfl  ficliil  tunges  suche  clolied  collusion 
I   ttath   brought  nobil   prineea   to   extreme   confu- 


Quiequid  logttantur,  ut  efeemifianiur,  ifa  effiin- 

tur  4r. 
Somlime  women  were  put  in  great  blame, 
Uea  ^d  they  could  not  (heir  tunges  atame  ; 
But  men  take  vpon  (heim  nowe  all  the  shame, 
With  skolding  and  sklaundering  make  their  tungg 


AGAIS3T    VENEMOCS    TONOUES. 


i,  captalores,  delatBTU, 


Novamm  rerum  cupidisi 

adulalores,    inoigilaiores,    deliratoret,     SfC.    id 

genus,  li.  itle. 
For  men  be  now  Irntlers  and  tellers  of  tale«^^H 
What  tidings  at  Tutn&ai,  wb&L  newig  in  Wfl^^^f 
Wbat  sliippis  are  sailing  lo  Scalis  Malis?    ^^^H 
And  all  i£  not  worth  a  couple  of  nut  ebalis: 
But    lering   and   lui'king  here  and   there  like 

The  deuil  tere  tlieir  tuugiis  and  pike  out  tbeir 

Then   reo   they  with   lesin^ee   and    blow  them 

With,  He  wrale  suche  a  bil  wilhouten  doat; 
With,  I  can  tel  jou  what  such  a  man  said  ; 
And  }'ou  knew  all,  ye  would  be  ill  apay d.  " 

De  more  vulpino,  gannienles  ad  aurem,jidaif'^ 


Jnauspicattim,  male  ominatum,  infortunaium  f* 
faieaiur  hahuiase  horoscopum,  quicvnque  ma^^' 
dixerit  vati  Pierio,  Slkeltomdf]    X[auria(a, 


But  if  that  I  knewe  uhal  his  name  hight, 
For  clalering  of  me  I  would  him  sone  quig 
For  his  false  lying,  of  that  I  spiike  neuer, 
I  could  make  him  shortly  repent  him  for  e: 
Although  be  made  it  neuer  so  louji;h, 
He  might  be  sure  lo  batie  i^hamc  ynough. 


I 


AGAINST   VENEMOUS   TONGUES.  159 

Cerherus  horrendo  harathri  latrando  sub  antro 
Te  rodatque  voret,  lingua  dolosa,  precor, 

A  fals  double  tunge  is  more  fiers  and  fell 

Then  Cerberus  the  cur  couching  in  the  kenel  of 

hel; 
Wherof  hereafter  I  thinke  for  to  write, 
Of  fals  double  tunges  in  the  dispite. 

Reciptt  se  scrtpturum  opus  sanctum^  laudahile, 
acceptahile^  memorabilequey  et  nimis  honorific 
candum, 

Disperdat  Dominus  universa  labia  dolosa  et  lii^ 
guam  magniloquam  I 


160  ON   TYME. 


Ye  may  here  now,  in  this  ryme, 
How  euery  thing  must  haue  a  tyme.* 

Tyme  is  a  thing  that  no  man  may  resyst ; 

Tyme  is  trancytory  and  irreuocable  ; 
Who  sayeth  the  contrary,  tyme  passeth  as  hym 
lyst; 
Tyme  must  be  taken  in  season  eouenable ; 
Take   tyme    when    tyme  is,  for   tyme  is  ay 
mutable ; 
All  thynge  hath  tyme,  who  can  for  it  prouyde ; 
Byde  for  tyme  who  wyll,  for  tyme  wyll  no  m^^ 
byde. 

Tyme  to  be  sad,  and  tyme  to  play  and  sporte;   *" 
Tyme  to  take  rest  by  way  of  recreacion ; 

Tyme  to  study,  and  tyrae  to  use  comfort ; 
Tyme  of  pleasure,  and  tyme  of  consolation  : 
Thus   tyme  hath  his  tyme  of  diuers  maner 
facion : 

*  This  and  the  next  three  poems  are  from  the  ed.  byKyr^® 
and  Marche  of  Cerlaine  bokes  com2)yledbymaysterSkeUon,u.d-* 
vx)llated  with  the  same  work,  ed.  Day,  n.  d.,  and  ed.  Laiit^' 
and  with  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Woi-kes^  1668.  I  may  her^ 
notice  that  in  those  eds.  the  present  piece  is  preceded  by  ^ 
copy  of  verses,  "All  nobyll  men  of  this  take  hede,"  &c*» 
which  will  be  given  afterwards,  before  Why  come  ye  wA  i^ 
Courte  t  where  it  is  repeated  in  all  the  eds. 


ON   TTME.  161 

Tyme  for  to  eate  and  drynke  for  thy  repast ; 
Tyme  to  be  lyberall,  and  tyme  to  make  no  wast ; 

Tyme  to  trauell,  and  tyme  for  to  rest ; 

Tyme  for  to  speake,  and  tyme  to  holde  thy 
pease; 

Tyme  would  be  vsed  when  tyme  is  best ; 

Tyme  to  begyn,  and  tyme  for  to  cease ;  » 

And  when  tyme  is,  [to]  put  thyselfe  in  prease, 

And  when  tyme  is,  to  holde  thyselfe  abacke ; 

For  tyme  well  spent  can  neuer  haue  lacke. 

The  rotys  take  theyr  sap  in  tyme  of  vere ; 

In  tyme  of  somer  flowres  fresh  and  grene ; 
In  tyme  of  haruest  men  their  corne  shere  ; 
In  tyme  of  wynter  the  north  wynde  waxeth  kene, 
So  bytterly  bytynge  the  flowres  be  not  sene ; 
The  kalendis  of  Janus,  with  his  frostes  hore,       «• 
That  tyme  is  when  people  mustlyuevpon  the  store. 

Quod  Skelton,  Laureat. 


VOL.  I.  11 


I.'« 


••:  PRATERS. 


^^ 


rO  TBI  rATEEM,  OF  HHUIf. 

'    •»*-!.  ^:::::nai7  of  Ijght  mtermvnable, 

--  . :.  y  k :  :.t  r.  potenciall  God  of  mvglii, 

'  ur*i  :-v&:^h,  0  Lord  inoooipenible, 

•v-t  •:':j;in<  the  essencial  most  perfrgitl 

: «   •  . i'  r.*A2kvnde,  that  formjd  day  id 
» 'J 

.  i    -  ::rnperyal  comprehendeth  eaeir 

•^  -.  r J-  mrDde,  mj  thought,  mj  Iw^ 

*  y r.. 

•  -^  *  -^^  :o  see  thj  glorious  face : 

'     :  ■   ;  ^-^-xv  is  incomprehensjbjU, 
•,■    ,  s  .:*  re.ison  which  far  doth  excedei 
V  »..\s  is  indiujsjbjll,  " 

•*  .t.  ^Axines  aod  vertue  doth  pro- 


■v".  ,i"  creatures  haue  nede: 
'^  ^  ^  ^     ■  .  ^-  >  .  •  I.v\-\;.  Arid  irraunte  me  of  thr  grace, 

;   r 'ensure  in  word,  thoughie, 
•■  ■  -  • . 
■"•"'-  r  ..:>  :x  rV.  to  see  thy  glorious  face. 


PRAYERS.  163 


TO   THE   SECONDS   PABSON. 

ENYGNE  Jesu,  my  souerayne  Lord  and  Kynge, 
'he  only  Sonne  of  God  by  filiacion, 
I  Seconde  Parson  withouten  beginnynge, 
►oth  God  and  man  our  fayth  maketh  playne 

relacion, 
[ary  the   mother,  by  way  of  incarnacion, 
ose  glorious  passion  our  soules  doth  reuyue ! 
.gayne  all  bodely  and  goostely  trybulacion 
ende  me  with  thy  piteous  woundis  fyue. 

ereles  Prynce,  payned  to  the  deth, 
.ufully  rent,  thy  body  wan  and  bio,  w 

my  redempcion  gaue  vp  thy  vytall  breth, 
i^'as  neuer  sorow  lyke  to  thy  dedly  wo  ! 
rraunte  me,  out  of  this  world  when  I  shall  go, 
ne  endles  mercy  for  my  preseruatyue ; 
Lgaynst  the  world,  the  flesh,  the  deuyl  also, 
ende  me  wyth  thy  pyteous  woundis  fyue. 


TO   THE   HOLY    600STB. 


fiRT  feruence,  inflamed  wyth  all  grace, 
Snkyndelyng  hertes  with  brandis  charitable, 


164  PRATERS. 

The  endles  reward  of  pleasure  and  solace, 
To  the  Father  and  the  Son  thou  art  communi' 

cahle 
In  unitate  which  is  inseperable ! 

0  water  of  lyfe,  0  well  of  consolacion  I 

Agaynst  all  suggestions  dedly  and  dampnable 

Rescu  me,  good  Lorde,  by  your  preseruacion : 

To  whome  is  appropryed  the  Holy  Ghost  by  name, 
The  Thyrde  Parson,  one  God  in  Trinite, 

Of  perfyt  loue  thou  art  the  ghostly  flame  : 
O  myrrour  of  mekenes,  pease,  and  tranquylyte, 
My  confort,  my  counsell,  my  parfyt  charyte! 

O  water  of  lyfe,  O  well  of  consolacion  ! 
Agaynst  all  stormys  of  harde  aduersyte 

Rescu  me,  good   Lord,  by  thy  preseruacion. 
Amen. 

Quod  Skelton,  Laureat. 


WOFFULLY   ARAID.  1G5 


WoFFULLY  araid,* 

My  blode,  man, 

For  th^  ran, 
It  may  not  be  naid  ; 

My  body  bloo  and  wan, 
Woffully  araid. 

eholde  me,  I  pray  th^,  with  all  thi  hole  reson, 
Jid  be  not  so  hard  hartid,  and  ffor  this  encheson, 
ith  I  for  thi  sowle  sake  was  slayne  in  good  seson, 
•egylde  and  betraide  by  Judas  fals  treson ;         ic 
Vnkyndly  entretid, 
With  sharpe  corde  sore  fretid, 
The  Jewis  me  thretid, 
They  mowid,they  grynned,  they  scornyd  me, 
Condempnyd  to  deth,  as  thou  maist  se, 
Woffully  araid. 

*  From  the  Fairfax  MS.  (which  once  belonged  to  Ralph 
I'horesby,  and  now  forms  part  of  the  Additional  MSS.,  5465, 
Q  the  British  Museum),  where  it  occurs  t\vice, — (fol.  76  and, 
^s  perfectly,  fol.  86);  collated  with  a  copy  written  in  a  very 
M  hand  on  the  fly-leaves  of  Boetius  de  Discip.  Schol.  cum  no- 
^^commentOj  Davsntiie^  1496,  4to.  (in  the  collection  of  the 
^te  Mr.  Heber),  which  has  supplied  several  stanzas  not  in 
'he  Ffdrfax  MS.  It  was  printed  from  the  latter,  not  very 
•^rrectly,  by  Sir  John  Hawkins,  Hist,  of  Mitsic,  ii.  89.  I  have 
Allowed  the  metrical  arrangement  of  the  MS.  in  the  Boetiui, 


IGG  WOFFL-LLr    ARAID. 

Thus  nakj-d  nm  I  Dailid,  0  man,  for  tby  sake! 
I  loue  the,  then  loueme;  why  Klepist  thou?  awikef 
Remembir  my  tendir  hart  rote  for  the  brake,    ■ 
With  panys  my  vajnjs  constreyn[e]d  to  crake) 
Thus  toggid  to  and  fro, 
Thus  wrappid  all  in  woo, 
Whereas  neuer  man  was  bo, 
Enlretid  thus  in  most  cruell  wyse, 
Was  like  a  lorabe  ofierd  in  sacrifice, 
Wotfully  araid. 

Off  sharpe  thorne  I  haue  wornu  a  (M'owtie  onBJ 

So  paynyd,  ao  straynyd,  so  rufuU,  so  red  i 
Tbus  bobbid,  tbua  robbid,'  thus  for  thy  loue  itA 
Olifaynyd  *  not  deynyd  my  blod  for  to  shed  ;     ■ 
My  fete  and  bandes  sore 
The  sturdy  nailis  bore  ; 
What  iny}t  1  sufHr  more 
Than  I  huue  don,  0  man,  for  the  ? 
Cum  when  thou  list,  wellcum  to  me, 
WoffulJy  araide.* 

Off  record  thy  good  Lord  y  bane  beyii  and  eel* 

bee; 
T  am  [hyn,  tbou  artt  myoe,  my  brother  y  call  ibc* 

I  bobbid  .  .  rnibid]  US.in(he£«ltiii,"bovds  .  .  rovT^" 
i  On/ojHjJ]  IIS.  ill  the  Baeliut,  "  Unfmynyd." 
•  Wofulln  araUc]  Here  tlia  Fuirfui  MS.  conoliidoi!  «*" 
luIlun'S  'n  giveu  from  Ilie  (IS.  in  Ilie  Botlita. 


WOFFULLY   ABAID.  167 

le  love  I  enterly ;  see  whatt  ys  befall  me  ! 
re  bettyng,  sore  tbretyng,  too  mak  thee,  man, 
all  fre :  <« 

Why  art  thou  wnkynde  ? 
Why  hast  nott  mee  yn  mynde  ? 
Cum  3ytt,  and  thou  schalt  fynde 
Myne  endlys  mercy  and  grace ; 
See  how  a  spere  my  hert  dyd  race, 
WoyfuUy  arayd. 

3yr  brother,  noo  other  thyng  y  off  thee  desyre 
itt  gyve  me  thyne  hert  fre  to  rewarde  myn  byre : 
wrou^t  th^,  I  bowgjt  th^  frome  eternal  fyre ; 
pray  th^  aray  the  tooward  my  hy^t  empyre,    m 
Above  ^  the  oryent, 
Wheroff  y  am  regent, 
Lord  God  omny potent, 
Wyth  me  too  reyn  yn  endlys  welthe ; 
Remember,  man,  thy  sawlys  helthe. 

Woofully  arayd. 

My  blode,  man. 

For  th^  rane, 
Hytt  may  nott  be  nayd ; 

My  body  blow  and  wane,  « 

WoyfuUy  arayde. 

Explicit  qd.  Skelton. 

1  Abwe]  MS.  "  I  love." 


108  NOW  8YNGE   WE,   &C. 


ic 


Now  synge  we,  as  we  were  wont, 
Vexilla  regis  prodeunt,  * 

The  kinges  baner  on  felde  is  [sjplayd, 
The  crosses  mistry  can  not  be  nayd, 
To  whom  our  Sauyour  was  betray d. 

And  for  our  sake ; 
Thus  sayth  he, 
I  sufFre  for  the, 

My  deth  I  take. 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 

Beholde  my  shankes,  behold  my  knees, 
Beholde  my  hed,  armes,  and  thees, 
Beholde  of  me  nothyng  thou  sees 

But  sorowe  and  pyne ; 
Thus  was  I  spylt, 
Man,  for  thy  gylte, 

And  not  for  myne. 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 


*  From  Bibliographical  Miscellanies  (edited  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Bliss),  1813,  4to,  p.  48,  where  it  is  given  from  an  imperfect 
volume  (or  fragments  of  volumes)  of  black-letter  Chrittmai 
Carolles  partly  (but  probably  not  wholly)  printed  by  Eele. 


NOW   STNGE   "WE,   &C.  169 

Behold  my  body,  how  Jewes  it  donge 
With  knots  of  whipcord  and  scourges  strong ; 
As  stremes  of  a  well  the  blode  out  sprong 

On  euery  syde ;  « 

The  knottes  were  knyt, 
Ryght  well  made  with  wyt, 

They  made  woundes  wyde. 
Now  synge  we,  &c. 

2Man,  thou  shalt  now  vnderstand. 
Of  my  head,  bothe  fote  and  hand, 
Are  four  c.  and  fyue  thousand 

Woundes  and  sixty ; 
Fifty  and  vii. 
"Were  tolde  full  euen 

Vpon  my  body.  » 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 

Syth  I  for  loue  bought  th^  so  dere, 

-A.S  thou  may  se  thy  self  here, 

I  pray  th^  with  a  ryght  good  chere 

Loue  me  agayne, 
That  it  lykes  me 
To  suffre  for  th4 

Now  all  this  payne. 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 

^an,  vnderstand  now  thou  shall, 

In  8ted  of  drynke  they  gaue  me  gall, 

•^nd  eysell  mengled  therwithall,  *o 


170  NOW   STNGE   WE,   &C. 

The  Jewes  fell ; 
These  paynes  on  me 
I  suffred  for  th^ 

To  bryng  th^  fro  hell. 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 

Now  for  thy  lyfe  thou  hast  mysled, 

Mercy  to  aske  be  thou  not  adred ; 

The  lest  drop  of  blode  that  I  for  th^  bled 

Myght  dense  th^  soone 
Of  all  the  syn 
The  worlde  within, 

If  thou  haddest  doone. 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 

I  was  more  wrother  with  Judas, 
For  he  wold  no  mercy  aske, 
Than  I  was  for  his  trespas 

Whan  he  me  solde ; 
I  was  euer  redy 
To  graunt  hym  mercy, 

But  he  none  wolde. 

Now  synge  we,  &c 

Lo,  how  I  hold  my  armes  abrode, 

Th^  to  receyue  redy  isprode  I 

For  the  great  loue  that  I  to  th^  had 

Well  may  thou  knowe, 
Some  loue  agayne 
I  wolde  full  fayne 


NOW   STNGE   WE,   &C.  171 

Thou  woldest  to  me  shewe. 
Now  synge  we,  &c. 


For  loue  I  aske  nothyng  of  th^ 

But  stand  fast  in  fay  the,  and  syn  thou  fie, 

Ind  payne  to  lyue  in  honeste 

Bothe  nyght  and  day ; 
Vnd  thou  shalt  have  blys 
Dhat  neuer  shall  mys 

Withouteu  nay. 

Now  synge  we,  &c. 


^ow,  Jesu,  for  thy  great  goodnes, 
?hat  for  man  suffred  great  hardnes, 
►aue  vs  fro  the  deuyls  cruelnes, 

And  to  blys  us  send, 
Lnd  graunt  vs  grace 
'o  se  thy  face 

Withouten  ende. 

Now  synge  we,  &c* 


70 


172  I,' LIBER,   &C. 


["  CCCCXXXII. 

**  Codex  memhranaceus  in  4to,  seculo  xiv  scrt'p' 
tuSyJiguns  illuminatis,  sed  injuria  temporis  pene 
deletis  ornatus,  in  quo  continetur^ 

I.  Polichronitudo  basileos  sive  historia  belli 
quod  Rica rd us  I.  gessit  contra  Sarracenos,  Gallice, 

Hoc  opus  Skeltono  ascrihitur  a  CI,  Stanleio ; 
primo  autem  intuitu  satis  liquet  codicem  ipsum 
longe  ante  tempus  quo  claruit  Skekomis  Juisst 
scriptum,  ah  eoque  regi  dono  missum,  ut  testantur 
sequentes  versus  diverso  et  recenti  caractere  prinuB 
pagincB  inscripti :  *] 

ly  liber,  et  propera,  regem  tu  pronus  adora  ; 
Me  sihi  commendes  humilem  Skeltonida  vatem : 
Ante  suam  mcifestatem,  (per  ccetera  passim,) 
Inclyta  hella  refer,  gessit  quce  maximus  heros 
Anglorum,  primus  nostra  de  gente  Ricardus, 
Hector  ut  intrepidas,  contra  validissima  castra 
Gentis  Agarence  ;  memora  quos  ille  labores, 
Quos  tulit  angores,  qualesque  recepit  honores, 
Sed 

Chronica  Francorum,  validis  inimica  Britannis^ 
Scepe  Solent  celebres  Britonum  compescere  lavdes, 

*  Nasmitli's   Catal.  Libr.  Manuscript,  quos   OoU.   Corporis 
Christi  et  B.  Maria  Virginis  in  Acad.  Cantabrig.  legavU  i?«v 
erendiss.  in  Christo  Pater  Matthceus  Parker,  Archiepisc*  CoM' 
(uar.  p.  400.     1777,  4to. 


WARE    THE   HAUKE.  173 


HEBE  AFTEB  FOLOWETH   THE   SOKE  ENTYTULED 

WARE    THE   HAUKE,* 

FER  SKELTON,  LAUREAT. 


« 


PBOLOOUS    SKELTONIDIS    LAUREATI    SUPER  WARE   THE 

HAWKE. 

This  worke  deuysed  is 

For  such  as  do  amys ; 

And  specyally  to  controule 

Such  as  haue  cure  of  soule, 

That  be  so  farre  abused, 

They  cannot  be  excused 

By  reason  nor  by  law  ; 

But  that  they  play  the  daw, 

To  hawke,  or  els  to  hunt 

From  the  aulter  to  the  funte,  »• 

With  cry  vnreuerent, 

Before  the  sacrament, 

Within  the  holy  church  bowndis, 

That  of  our  faith  the  grounde  is. 

That  pryest  that  hawkys  so, 

All  grace  is  farre  him  fro ; 

•^  From  the  ed.  by  Kyuge  and  Marche  of  Ceriaine  bohei 
^kd  by  mayster  SkeUon^  n.  d.,  collated  with  the  same 
^rk,  ed  Day,  n.  d.,  and  ed.  Lant,  n.  d.,  and  with  Marshe'i 
^  of  Skeltou's  Worhea^  1668 


174  WARE    THE    HAUKE. 

He  semetb  a  sysmatyke, 
Or  els  an  heretyke, 
For  fayth  in  him  is  faynte. 
Therefore  to  make  complaynte 
Of  such  mysaduysed 
Parsons  and  dysgysed, 
This  boke  we  haue  deuysed, 
Compendiously  comprysed, 
No  good  priest  to  offende, 
But  suche  dawes  to  amende, 
.  In  hope  that  no  man  shall  ~ 
I  Be  myscontent  withall. 

I  shall  you  make  relacion, 
By  waye  of  apoatrofacion, 
Vnder  supportacion 
Of  youre  pacyent  tolleracion, 
How  I,  Skelton  Laureat, 
Deuysed  and  also  wrate 
Vpon  a  lewde  curate, 
A  parson  benyfyced. 
But  nothing  well  aduysed: 
He  shall  be  as  now  nameles, 
But  he  shall  not  be  blameles, 
Nor  he  shal  not  be  shameles ; 
For  sure  he  wrought  amys. 
To  hawke  in  my  church  of  Dis. 
This  fonde  frantyke  fauconer, 
With  his  polutid  pawtenar^ 
As  priest  vnreuerent, 
Streyght  to  the  sacrament 


WARE    THE   HAUKE.  175 

He  made  his  hawke  to  fly, 

With  hogeous  showte  and  cry. 

The  hye  auter  he  strypt  naked ; 

There  on  he  stode,  and  craked ;  •• 

He  shoke  downe  all  the  clothis, 

And  sware  horrible  othes 

Before  the  face  of  God, 

By  Moyses  and  Arons  rod, 

Or  that  he  thens  yede, 

His  hawke  shoulde  pray  and  fede 

Vpon  a  pigeons  maw. 

The  bloude  ran  downe  raw 

Vpon  the  auter  stone ; 

The  hawke  tyrid  on  a  bonne  ;  •• 

And  in  the  holy  place 

She  mutid  there  a  chase 

Vpon  my  corporas  face. 

Such  sacrificium  laudis 

He  made  with  suche  gambawdis. 

OBSERVATE. 

His  seconde  hawke  wexid  gery, 

And  was  with  flying  wery ; 

She  had  flowin  so  oft, 

That  on  the  rode  loft 

She  perkyd  her  to  rest.  ic 

The  fauconer  then  was  prest, 

Came  runnyng  with  a  dow, 

And  cryed.  Stow,  stow,  stow  I 

But  she  would  not  bow. 


178  WARE   THE   HAUKK. 

Or  holy  sinodals, 

Or  els  prouincials, 

Thus  within  the  wals 

Of  holy  church  to  deale, 

Thus  to  rynge  a  peale 

With  his  hawkis  beb  ? 

Dowtles  such  losels 

Make  the  churche  to  be 

In  smale  auctoryte :  ^ 

A  curate  in  speciall 

To  snappar  and  to  fall 

Into  this  open  cryme ; 

To  loke  on  this  were  tyme. 


VIGILATE. 

But  who  so  that  lokys 

In  the  officiallis  bokis, 

Ther  he  may  se  and  reed 

That  this  is  matter  indeed. 

How  be  it,  raayden  Meed 

Made  theym  to  be  agreed, 

And  so  the  Scrybe  was  feed, 

And  the  Pharasay 

Than  durst  nothing  say, 

But  let  the  matter  slyp. 

And  made  truth  to  trip ; 

And  of  the  spiritual  law 

They  made  but  a  gewgaw, 

And  toke  it  out  in  drynke, 

And  this  the  cause  doth  shrynke : 


fit 


WARE    THE   HAUKE.  177 

But  lyke  a  Marche  harum, 

His  braynes  were  so  parum. 

He  sayde  he  would  not  let 

His  houndis  for  to  fet, 

To  hunte  there  by  lyberte 

In  the  dyspyte  of  me, 

And  to  halow  there  the  fox :  u« 

Downe  went  my  offerynge  box, 

Boke,  bell,  and  candyll. 

All  that  he  myght  handyll : 

Cros,  staffe,  lectryne,  and  banner, 

Fell  downe  on  this  manner. 

DELIBERATE. 

With,  troll,  cytrace,  and  trouy. 

They  ranged,  hankin  bouy. 

My  churche  all  aboute. 

This  fawconer  then  gan  showte. 

These  be  my  gospellers,  m 

These  be  my  pystillers. 

These  be  my  querysters. 

To  helpe  me  to  synge. 

My  hawkes  to  mattens  rynge. 

In  this  priestly  gydynge 

His  hawke  then  flew  vppon 

The  rode  with  Mary  and  John. 

Delt  he  not  lyke  a  fon  ? 

Delt  he  not  lyke  a  daw  ? 

Or  els  is  this  Goddes  law,  .» 

Decrees  or  decretals, 

VOL.  I.  12 


180  WARE   THE   HAUKK. 

Into  mv  chalis  at  mas. 
When  consecrated  was 
The  blessed  sacrament : 

0  prieest  vnreuerent ! 

He  savde  that  he  woulde  hunt 
From  the  auher  to  the  funt. 

REFORM  ATE. 

Of  no  tvnmde  I  rede,  •" 

That  so  farre  dyd  excede « 

Neyther  yet  Dioclesyan, 

Nor  vet  Domisian, 

Nor  vet  croked  Cacus, 

Nor  vet  dronken  Baeus ; 

Not  her  Olibrius, 

Nor  Dionisyus ; 

Not  her  Phalary, 

Rohorsod  in  Valerv ; 

Nor  Saixlanapall,  • 

Yn  hap  pi  est  of  all ; 

Nor  Neix^  the  worst. 

Nor  Clawdius  the  curst ; 

Nor  vot  KiTt^as, 

Nor  vot  Svr  Pherumbras: 

Noihor  Zorobaboll, 

N'or  oruol  Jt'saboU ; 

Nor  }  ot  Tarquinius, 

Whom  Tvtus  Liuius 

In  wrvtvi^iro  dv>th  enroll; 

1  hauo  rwi  thorn  jK»ll  by  poll; 


WARE    THE   HAUKE.  181 

The  story  of  Arystobell, 
And  of  Constantinopell, 
Whiche  citye  miscreantys  wan, 
And  slew  many  a  Christen  man ; 
Yet  the  Sowden,  nor  the  Turke, 
Wrought  neuer  suche  a  worke, 
For  to  let  theyr  hawkes  fly 
In  the  Church  of  Saint  Sophy; 
With  much  matter  more. 
That  I  kepe  in  store. 

PENSITATE. 

Then  in  a  tabull  playne 

I  w route  a  verse  or  twayne, 

Whereat  he  made  dysdayne : 

The  pekysh  parsons  brayne 

Cowde  not  rech  nor  attayne 

What  the  sentence  ment ; 

He  sayde,  for  a  crokid  intent 

The  wordes  were  paruerted  : 

And  this  he  ouerthwarted.  sic 

Of  the  which  proces 

Ye  may  know  more  expres, 

If  it  please  you  to  loke 

In  the  resydew  of  this  boke. 

Here  after  followeth  the  tabulL 

Loke  on  this  tabull, 
Whether  thou  art  abuU 


:-r2 


ktiUn^ioA  y'Udhrijm  *  mmsudiu  iinutfunut, 
:-;.:*..  i.  ::  -  13.4.  13.3.3.  I.*«B«e::* 
/'/hfjr'JtJjt  ittf,  pnewr.  htBe  nuUo  temerrauut  ymuta- 
Kftt  rn-pi^X  tuMU!ros  nan  homo,  wtd  maia  »a 
f/f,  pnrtA  r^tTtfi  chartjE  adverte  aperte,  pmm  JBuw* 
Ar^thjLAom  hone, 

Wh^Tero  *hould  I  rehcrs 

Th^,  aentence  of  my  vers?  ■ 

hi  th^-m  be  no  scholys 

V(tT  bravnsycke  fraotycke  folys: 

(J(mntrua$  hoc, 
J)omin*i  Daw  crock  e ! 
VVarfj  the  hawke! 

Maistfr  ^(tphista, 

\i\  Birnplcx  sijllogista, 

\{\  (IciM'lyHh  dogmatista. 

Your  Imwkc  on  your  fista, 

«  hi\v,v'vi\\  In  Pny'B  imI.  tlio  final  letter  of  ag-imniwi^ 

I, In I  in..K«  liko  n  «/;  and  MaR«he's  ed.  ka*  ^ronnaB"- 

II...  nM'.M.i..j\  i»ni\i!»  "tubull  playne"  isqiiia  »vobl  ffiT 

■«  f.-iw  ■•'•■  ^1  lM;\i-^l>o*!>  r«1.  *'  tauntantes." 

•i  ^  ..  «• I    IM<».   of  P«y,  and  Marshe.  '^S«miliT*6- 


WARE   THE    HAUKE.  183 

To  hawke  when  you  lista  «si 

In  eccUsia  tsta, 

Domine  concupisti}- 

With  thy  hawke  on  thy  fisty  ? 

Nunquid  sic  dixzsti  ? 

Nunquid  sic  fecisti  f 

Sed  ubi  hoc  legisti 

Aut  unde  hoc. 

Doctor  Dawcocke  ? 

Ware  the  hawke ! 
Doctor  Dialetica,  w 

Where  fynde  you  in  Hypothetical 
Or  in  Categoria, 
Latina  sive  Dorica, 
To  vse  your  hawkys  forica 
In  propitiatorio^ 
Tanquam  diversorio  ? 
Uiide  hoc, 
Domine  Dawcocke  ? 

Ware  the  hawke ! 
Saye  to  me,  Jacke  Harys,  zn 

Quare  aucuparis 
Ad  sacramentum  altaris  ? 
For  no  reuerens  thou  sparys 
To  shake  my  pygeons  federis 
Super  arcam  foederis : 
Unde  hocy 
Doctor  Dawcocke  ? 

Ware  the  hawke  I 
1  concupisti]  Eds.  "  racapisti  "  and  "  cacapisti.** 


WARE   THE   HAUKR.  185 

Tihi  sunt  cequalia : 

TJnde  hoc^  sio 

Domine  Dawcocke  ? 

Ware  the  hawke ! 
JEt  relis  et  ralisy 
JEt  reliqualisy 
From  Granado  to  Galis, 
From  Wynchelsee  to  Walys, 
Non  est  braynsycke  talis, 
Nee  minus  rationalis, 
Nee  magis  bestialis, 

That  synggys  witli  a  chalys :  wo 

Construas  hoc. 
Doctor  Dawcocke ! 

Ware  the  hawke  I 
Masyd,  wytles,  smery  smyth, 
Hampar  with  your  hammer  vpon  thy  styth, 
And  make  hereof  a  syckyll  or  a  saw, 
For  thoughe  ye  lyue  a  c.  yere,  ye  shall  dy  a  daw. 

Vos  vakte, 

Doctor  indiscrete  ! 


^TONIS     APOSTROPHAT    AD    DIVUM    JOHAI7NEM    DECOL- 
liATUM,   IN  CUJUS  PROFESTO  FIEBAT  HOC  AUCUPIUM. 

'memoranda  dies,  qua,  decollate  Johannes, 
^ucupium  Jactt,  haud  quondam  quod  fecerit,  intra 
'^ccksiam  de  Dis,  violans  tua  sacra  sacrorum  ! 


186  BE   LIBERA  BICACTTATE,   &C. 

Redor  de  Whipstci,  doctor  eogmomume  JDaueod, 
JBt  dominn*  Wodeod;  probai  is,  proiai  kie^pro* 
bat  kete  hoc. 


IDKM  1  DK  LIBKRA  DICACITATK  FOEnCA.  TS  KXT(HI£XDi 
FBOUIATE,  ET  Dl  PEBTSICAXDtA.  IGSOBILITATK. 

Libertas  veneranda  pits  conctua  poetis 
Dicendi  est  gmgeungve  placenta  gu^eeunque  jwo^ 

bunt, 
Vel  qiuBcunque  valentjusUu  defendere  ctnuas, 
Vel  qiuecunque  vcUent  stolidos  mordere  petvkoS' 
Ergo  daJbis  veniam. 

Qaod  Skdton,  laaieat. 

^Hem,fc\  These  lines  follow  Wan  A^Bawkmi^  ^ 


EPITAPHE.  187 


EPITHAPHE.* 

This  tretise  devysed  it  is 
Of  two  knaues  sointyme  of  Dis. 
Though  this  knaues  be  deade, 
Full  of  myschiefe  and  queed, 
Yet,  where  so  euer  they  ly, 
,Theyr  names  shall  neuer  dye. 

ridium  de  duohus  versipellihus,  John  Jay^ 
^d,  et  Adarii,  all  a  knaue,  deque  illorum  no- 
sima  vilitcUe. 

rrE  TRENTALE  FOB  OLD  JOHN  CLARKE,  SOMETTMf 
THE  HOLT  PATRIARKE  OF  DI8. 

Sequitur  trigintale 
Tale  quale  rati07iale, 
Licet  p arum  curiale^ 
Tamen  satis  estformaUy 
Joannis  Clerc,  hominis 
Cujusdam  multinomtms, 

From  Marshe^s  ed.  of  Skelton's  Wbrkes^  166S. 


_'•-  ■••*.    .     .:  -'  ::«•. 


•  c'.  "t       -i      '' -^       r^    »< 
3U7n   •,•*.->*     -•:Vj'*tt 


EPITAPHE.  189 

Unde  resuhando- 
que  Acheronta  ^  hoando  tonaret. 
Nunquam  sincere 
soUtus  sua  crimina  jiere  ; 
Cui  male  livgua  loquaX" 
que  dicax  mendaxque^  fuere 
Et  mores  tales 

resident  in  nemine  quales  ;  » 

Carpens  vitales 
auras,  turhare  sodales 
Et  cines  socios, 
asimus,  mulus  velut,  et  bos, 
Omne  suum  studium 
rubeum  pictum,  per  amictum 
Discolor  ;  et  victum 
faciens  semper  maledictum 
Ex  intestinis  ovium- 
que  boumque  caprorum  ;  so 

l^endens  adque  forum ^ 
fragmentum  colUgit  horum 
Dentibus  exemptis 
mastigat  cumque  polentis 

icherorUa^  <fc que  dicax,  ^c]  Perhaps  these 

ought  to  be  arranged  thus  for  the  sake  of  the  rhyme ; 

"  que  Acheronta  boando 
tonaret.    Nunquam  sincere,**  ^c. 


"  que  dicax  mendaoc- 
que,  fuere  Et  mores  tales,**  ^c, 

1  the  rest  of  the  poem  it  seems  that  Skelton  intended 
tameter  to  be  cut  only  into  two  parts. 


190  EPITAPHE. 

Lanigerum  captU  atU  ovis  * 
aut  vacccR  mugienits. 
QmdpetiSy  hie  sit  quis  f 
John  Jayherd^  incola  de  Dis  ; 
Cui,  dum  vixerat  is, 
sociantur  jurgia,  vis,  lis. 

Jamjacet  hie  starke  deed, 
Neuer  a  toth  in  his  heed. 
Adieu,  Jayberd,  adue, 
I  faith,  dikkon  thou  crue  I 
Fratres,  orate 
For  this  knauate. 
By  the  holy  rode, 
Dyd  neuer  man  good : 
I  pray  you  all. 
And  pray  shall. 
At  this  trentall 
On  knees  to  fall 
To  the  fote  ball ; 
With,  fill  the  blak  bowle 
For  Jayberdes  sowle. 

Bihite  muUum : 
Fcce  sepultum 
Sub  pede  stuUum, 
Asinum,  et  mulum  ! 

The  deuill  kis  his  euluml  ^ 

Wit[h],  hey,  howe,  rumbelowe, 

J  caput  aut  ovis]  Ed.  "  caput  caput."  I  give  the  conjectu- 
ral reading  of  the  Rev.  J.  Mitford.  The  rhyme  suggests  (bnl 
the  metre  will  not  allow)  "  bidentis." 


EPITAPHE.  191 

Rumpopubrum^ 

Per  omnia  secula  seculorum  I     Amen. 

Requiem^  SfC. 

Per  Fredericum  Hely^ 
Fratrem  de  Monte  Oarmeli, 
Qui  condunt  sine  sale 
Hoc  devotum  trigintale. 
Vale  Jayberd,  valde  male  I 


Adam  Vddersall/ 
Alias  dictus  Adam  all 

a  knaue,  his 
Epitaph  foloweth  deuoutly ; 
He  was  somtime  the  holy 

Baillyue  of  Dis. 

Of  Dis 

Adam  degehat : 

dum  vixit,  falsa  gerehat, 

irsaU,  ^c.\  In  this  passage  I  have  adopted  the  ar* 
Jnt  proposed  by  the  Rev.  J.  Mitford. — Ed.  thus: 

"  Adam  Vddersale.  alias  dictus 
Adam  all.  a  knaue  his  Epitaph. 
Foloweth  deuoutly, 
He  was  somtime  the  holy 
baillyue  of  dis." 


KTITArBE. 


Jirt  A'Afr  naha  ;  ropiA 

dt  BA'ol  i$t»  Jtlatmt 

&ii  ped*  eideaitu 
TuAaril,  nvne  vitJatm*  : 
Ptrfidtu,  iiatta, 
mmmtqtiaBt  /kit  ilh  iaabm 
tMdma/l  ttratta 
iateJied*  til  rpoK<^ta, 
JmproSi*,  itijhtta. 


ioBifMi  vfiFdfntntittm 
Biefkit  ingratm*, 
porms  rrlia  tmtatu^itM, 

ttimt  Agog  tit  r^prtt&otef  / 

baratktv,  pelo,  tit  tmmtAtttt 
Bebabub  Iiis  £oul«  sane, 
Q»ijac*t  He,  like  a  knaue! 
•Am  (oo  BMwfmu  rtt, 
Etj^eti  ine,  tike  s  be^ 


EPITAPHE.  193 

Anima  efus 

De  malo  in  pejus.         Amen.  » 

De  Dis  hcec  semper  erit  camenOj 
Adam  Udder  sail  sit  anathema  ! 

Auctore  SkeUon,  rectore  de  Dis, 

Finis,  S^c.  Apvd  Trumpinton  scriptum  per 
Curatum  ejusdem,  quinto  die  Januarii  Anno 
Domini,  secundum  computat.  Anglice,  mdvii. 

Adam,  Adam,  uhi  es?  Genesis.  Re.  Ubi  nulla 
requies,  ubi  nullus  or  do,  sed  sempiternus  horror 
inhabitat.     Job. 


TOi..  !•  13 


lO*!  DILIGO   RUSTIXCUM,   &C. 


DUigo  rustincutn  *  cum  portant  bis  duo  quainium^ 
Et  coMitant  delos  est  mi'hi  dulce  melos. 
1.   Caniicum  dolorosunu 


LAILEXTATIO  USBIS  50RVICE3U 

0  lacrymosa  lues  m'misy  0  quam  fiebile  fatum! 

Ignibus  exosis^  urbs  renerandcL,  ruis; 
Fulmina  sive  Jovis  sive  ultima  fata  vocabant, 

Vulcani  rapidis  ignibus  ipsa  peris. 
Ah  decuSy  ah  patrice  specie  puleherrima  dudu»' 

Urbs  S^orvicensis  labitur  in  dneres, 
Urbs,  tibi  quid  rejeram  f  breviter  tibi  pauca  Tt- 
ponam  : 

Prospera  rara  manent,  utere  sorte  tua; 
Perpetuum  mortale  nihil,  sors  omnia  versat- 

Urbs  miseranda,  vale  J  sors  miseranda  tua  est. 

Skelton. 

♦  This  and  the  following  piece  are  finom  Marshe*s  ed.  of 
Skekon's  Workes,  15GS.  In  that  collection  the  present  coup- 
let is  twice  printed:  "  rmtincuTn  "  is  the  reading  of  the  fii^* 
copy,  *•  msticum ''  (which  the  metre  will  not  admit)  of  th® 
second :  the  first  copy  has  "  quonintum,*^  the  second  "  ^'^ 
:wn ;  "  the  Editor  of  1736  gave  *'  quantum.**  See  notes  for 
the  co:\icotures  of  the  Kev.  J.  Mitford  on  this  enigma.  "  ^ 
tkum  dolorcsum''  is  probably  part  of  the  title  of  the  n**^ 
oiece. 


IN   BEDEL,  SiC. 


hmal,  ecce.  Bedel,  non  mel,  sed  /el,  silii  des  el ! 

Pei-fidus  Achitophel,  luridus  algue  lorell; 
Aimo  oUt  UU  Jebal,^  Nabal.  S.  Mbaf,  ecce,  i 
baldus  ! 

Omnibus  exoms  atqite  perosiis  eral  ; 
Inplateagtte  cadena  animam  spiravic  oleto: 

Preabffteros  odiens  sic  sine  vienle  rtiil. 
"iscite  vos  omnes  qtiid  sit  violare  gacratoi 

Presh/teros,  quia  sic  corruit  iste  caiiis. 
Cocgtut  cui  «'  deiur  '  per  7'artara  totus, 

Sit,  peto,  promotus  Gerherus  huncque  voret. 
■At  mage  ganeta  tanien  niea  Musa  preeahitiir  air 

Hot  lemuresque  eat  sic  Bedel  ad  superos  ; 
^Vh  eat,  immo  mat,  non  scandal,  sed  mage  lendt 

hque  caput  praeeps  mox  Aeherottta  petal. 


Btd^   Qttaiita  maUgiialvs  est  ininiicus  in  sunctoJ 
Via.  73. 


Motiuut  est  asinus, 
QtU  pinxit  malum  : 

'*i«ll  Tha  Rev.  J.  Milfonl  ppoi.oses  "  d 
'JWJ  Qy.".rabel?"  bol  I  do  aot  nndt 
*li  dKBrl  So  lliB  Kbv.  J.  Miifoiii  reads. 


196  IN   BEDEL,   Sec. 

Hie  jacet  barharus  ; 

The  deuill  kvs  his  calumf    Amen. 

w 

Heme  volo  transcribaSj  transeripiam  moxque  re- 
mittas 
Pajdlam  ;  quia  sunt  qui  mea  scripta  sciunt, 
D  ,  T    (  fyitur  quia  sunt  qui  mala  cuncta  fremurd^ 
\  Igitur  quia  sunt  qui  bona  cuncta  premunL 
Sec  tamen  expaveo  de  fatuo  labiOy 
Nee  multum  paveo  de  stoiido  rahukk 


SALVE,    &C.  197 


e  plus  *  decies  quam  sunt  momenta  dierum  ! 
tgenerum  species^  quot  res,  quot  nomina  ren^um^ 
t  prati  Jlores,  quot  sunt  et  in  orbe  colores, 
(  pisceSy  quot  aves,  quot  sunt  et  in  cequore 
naves, 

t  volucrum  pennce,  quot  sunt  tormenta  gehenna, 
t  cceli  stellcB,  quot  sunt  et  in  orbe  puellce, 
t  sancti  Romce,  quot  sunt  miracula  Thomce^ 
t  sunt  virtutesj  tantas  tibi  mitto  salutes. 


rrom  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skel ton's  Workes,  1563,  (where  it 
nted  on  the  reverse  of  the  title-page,)  collated  with  a 
in  Additional  MSS.  Brit.  :Mus.  (4787,  fol.  224,)  which 
ided  "  Ex  Jo.  Skeltono  Poeta  Laureate. " 


198    EPITAPHIUM   IN   HENRICUM    SEPTIMUK. 


OBATOB  REGIUS  8KELTONIS  LAUREATUS  IN  SIN6ULABI 
MBRITISSIMUMQUE  PIt£CONIUM  KOBILISSIMI  PBINCIPn 
HENRICI  SEPTIMI,  KUPER  6TRENUISSIMI  REGIS  ASOWL 
HOO  EPITAPHIUM  EDIDIT,  AD  8INCESAM  COinXllFU- 
TIONEM  BEVERENDJ  UT  CHRISTO  PATRIS  AG  DOHHIi 
DOMINI  JOHANNIS  ISLIPP^  AUBATIS  WESTMONASTEBIKV* 
SIS  OPTIME  MERITI,  ANNO  DOMINI  MDXn.  PBIDIS  Dm 
ANDREiE  APOSTOLI,   &C.  * 

Tristia  Melpomenes  cogor  modo  plectra  sonant 

jETos  elegos  foveat  Gynthius  ille  meos. 
Si  quas  fata  movent  lacrymas,  lacrymare  videtur 

Jam  bene  maturum^  si  bene  mente  sapis. 
Flos  Britonum,  regiim  speculum,  Salomonis  imagOf 

Septimus  Henricus  mole  sub  hac  tegitur. 
Punica,  dum  regnal,  redolens  rosa  digna  vocari^ 

Jam  jam  marcescit,  ceu  levis  umbra  fugit 
Multa  novercantis  fortunce,  multa  favenJtis 

Passus,  et  infr actus  iempus  utrumque  tulit,    "• 
Nobilis  Anchises,  armis  metuendus  Atrides, 

Hie  erat ;  hunc  Scottus  rex  timuit  Jacobus, 
Spiramenta  animce  vegetans  dum  vescitur  aura, 

Francorum  populus  conticuit  pavidus* 

*  This  and  the  next  piece  from  Marsha's  ed,  of  Skelton's 
Workes^  1568,  collated  with  the  poems  as  given  in  Rtgti^ 
RtgincBj  Nobiles^  et  alii  in  Ecdesia  ChUegiata  B.  Petri  Wdi- 
mujicuterii  sepuUi^  &c.,  1603,  4to. 


ICTLOGIUM   PRO    SUORUM   TEMPORUM,   &C.    199 

imensas  sibi  divitias  cumulasse  quid  horres  ? 
JW  cumulasset  opes,  forte,  Britanne,  luas. 
rgentes  casus  tacita  si  menie  volutes, 

Vix  tihi  sufficeret  aurea  ripa  Tagi. 
i  sua  te  probitas  consulta  mente  labor  am 
Mexissit  satius,  vix  tibi  tuta  solus,  20 

\d  quid  plura  cano?  mtdiians  quid  plura  voliUof 

Quisque  vigil  sibi  sit :  mors  sine  lege  rapit. 
i  Dominum,  qui  cuncta  regit,  pro  principe  tanto 
Funde  preces  quisquis  carmina  nostra  legis. 

Vel  mage,*  si  placeat,  hunc  timuit  Jacobus, 
Scottorum  dominus^  qui  sua  fata  luit ; 
uem  Leo  Candidior  Rubeum  necat  ense  Leonem, 
Et  jacet  usque  modo  non  tumulatus  humo. 

efrigerii   sedem,  quietis   beatitudinem^  luminis 
habeat  claritatem.    Amen. 


rLOGIUM    PRO    SUORUM    TEMPORUM    COKDITIONE,    TANTIS 
PRINCIPIBUS  NON   INDIGNUM,   PER   SKELTONIDA 
LAUREATUM,  ORATOREM  REGIUM. 

^uc,  pia  Calliope,  propera,  mea  casta  puella, 
Et  mecum  resona  carmina  plena  deo. 

*  }iumo\  Not  in  Reges^  &c.  These  lines  (containing  an  allu- 
ionto  the  battle  of  Flodden)  are  of  a  later  date  than  the 
receding  poem,  to  the  12th  verse  of  which  they  are  intended 
8  a  sort  of  note.  This  is  not  the  only  passage  in  our  author's 
•atin  pieces  where  two  pentameters  occur  witliout  an  inter- 
«ning hexameter:  see  conclusion  of  The  Garlandeof  LauretL 


200    EULOGIUM   PRO    SUORUM   T£>fPOBUM|  ScC 

Septimus  Jlenricus^  Britonum  memorahilis  hena^ 

Anglica  terra,  tuus  magnanimus  Priamus, 
AttalvLS  hie  opihus,  rigidus  Oato,  clarus  Acestes, 

Sub  gelido  clausus  marmore  jam  recubat. 
Sic  honor  omnis,  opes,  probitas,  sic  gloria  regtMy 

Omnia  nuiabunt  mortis  ad  imperium. 
Anglia,  num  h.crymas'^   rides;  lacrymare  quid 
obstas  ? 

Dum  vixit,  lacrymas  ;  dum  moritur,  jubilas.  * 
Canta,  tamen  penses,  dum  vixerat,  Angligenensei 

Vibrabant  enses,  bella  nee  ulla  timent, 
Undique   bella  fremunt   nunc,   undique  praUa 
surgunt : 

Nosier  honor  solus,  filius,  ecce,  suusf 
Nbster  honor  solus,  qui  pondera  tanta  suhire 

Non  timet,  intrepidus  arma  gerenda  vocat; 
Arma  gerenda  vocat,  (superi  sua  coepta  seew^ 
dent !) 

Ut  quatiat  Pallas  cegida  scepe  rogat^ 
Sors  tamen  est  versanda  diu,  sors  ultima  belli: 

Myrmidonum  dominus  Marte  silente  ruit;     * 

£t  quern  non  valuit  validis  super  are  sub  armis 

Mars,  tamen  occubuit  insidiis  Paridis, 
Nos  incerta  quidem  pro  certis  ponere  rebus 

Arguit,  et  prohibet  Delius  ipse  pater. 
Omnia  sunt  hominum  dubio  labentia  Jato, 

Marte  sub  incerto  militat  omnis  homo, 
Omne    deans   nostrum,  nostra   et   spes   unica 
tantum, 

Jam  bene  qui  regnal,  hunc  Jovis  umbra  tegat! 


202  AGAINST   THE    SCOTTES. 


SKELTOJ^  LAUREATE  AGAINST  THE 

SCOTTES.  ♦ 

Agaynst  the  prowde  Scottes  clatterynge, 
That  neuer  wyll  leaue  theyr  tratljnge : 
Wan  they  the  felde,  and  lost  theyr  kynge? 
They  may  well  say,  fye  on  that  wynnyngel 

Lo.  the^e  fonde  sottes 
And  tratlynge  Scottes 
Ho\^  thei  are  blynde 
In  theyr  owne  mynde. 
And  wyll  not  know 
Theyr  ouerthrow 
At  Branxton  more ! 
They  are  si^  btowre, 
So  frantyke  mad, 
They  say  they  had 
And  wan  the  felde 
With  spere  and  shelde : 

♦  The  following  pieces,  called  forth  by  the  batde  of  '' 
dun,  and  the  lines  on  the  Battle  of  the  Spurs  annexed  to  tn^' 
are  from  the  ed  of  K_\iige  and  Marche  of  Oerlame  ^^  ^ji 
pykd  by  maysier  Sktiton,  n.  d.,  collated  with  the  sanw  ^fv 
ed.  Day,  n.  d.,  ed.  Lant,  n.  d.,  and  with  Uarshe's  ed.of  5*^ 
ton^s  Hor/rc^,  1568. 


1 


/ 


AGAINST   THE    SCOTTES.  203 

That  is  aiii  trew 

As  blacke  is  blew 

And  grene  is  gray. 

What  euer  they  say,  • 

Jemmy  is  (led 

And  closed  in  led, 

That  was  theyr  owne  kynge : 

Fy  on  that  wynnynge ! 

At  Floddon  hyllys 
Our  bowys,  our  byllys, 
Slewe  all  the  floure 
Of  theyr  honoure. 
Are  not  these  Scottys 
Folys  and  sottys,  ■ 

Suche  boste  to  make, 
To  prate  and  crake, 
To  face,  to  brace, 
All  voyde  of  grace, 
So  prowde  of  hart, 
So  ouerthwart. 
So  out  of  frame, 
So  voyde  of  shame, 
As  it  is  enrolde, 

Wrytten  and  tolde  •• 

Within  this  quayre  ? 
Who  lyst  to  re  pay  re, 
And  therin  reed, 
Shall  fynde  indeed 
A  mad  rekenynge, 
Consyderynge  al  thynge. 


^^^^^^K                                        ^M 

^^^^^^^^          Tbat  ibe  Si^ollis  may  ejnge           ^^M 

^^^M                      Kv  on  Uie  w^tiDjiige                      ^H 

^^H                             Whtn  tht  SeoHe  Umed.             ^^ 

^^H              Jftif  J«tiimy,  j'e  sromeful  Scut, 

^^^^                biicouie  vnio  vour  lot                                  ■    1 

^^^V              JL  9»leiiipiie  sumoer  for  to  be  ?                      J 

^^^V                U  sreylli  noiighl  fur  j'our  degre                      1 

^^H               \^  kj-iige  of  Eiigtande  for  to  syght,           J 

^^^H               Tmr  soueniytie  lord,  our  prince  of  miBH^J 

^^^H               Tt  for  10  spnde  such  a                             ^H 

^^^^             It  ehamvili  all  your  nougbty  nacton,      ^H 

^^^^^^]a  coniparjfson  but  kynge  Koppyuge      ^1 

^^^^^^^^KKitD  our  prince,  annoynted  kynge. 

^^^^^^^^^Sb  plA7  Hob  liobbyn  of  Lowdi^an 

^^^^^^^^Kaii  ftttew  rrgbt  well  what  good  yo  caai 

^^^^V             Te  HUT  bt'  lot-d(^  of  Locrian,  — 

^^^H             Ulnya  wiii-u  you  with  a  frying  pan  !— 

^^^H             Of  Edingl'on'ciw  and  Saint  lonis  towoe: 

^^^H            >dl«u.  Ml'  »«in)iier,  cast  of  youre  crowne! 

^^^V                       When  the  Scot  was  slagne. 

1 

^^^r               (.Vi'-'^'^'mIIv  I  e^hall  remember                  ^B 

^^M                                 KioHf^ih  of  September,          ^M 

^^^^               \Vsti'                (luye  of  the  same,            ^^M 

^^^^^^^^LjtVI  >L>*'"  tu'giin  our  myvtb  and  game;  ^^M 

^^^^^^^^^Bfcltel  IKiw     haue                                 ^^M 

^^^^^^^^^^■Ug^ay  minde     baue  comprised,   ^^M 

AGAINST   THE    SCOTTES.  205 

>f  the  prowde  Scot,  kynge  Jemmy, 
'o  wryte  some  lyttle  tragedy, 
or  no  maner  consyderacion 
►f  any  sorowful  lamentacion, 
►ut  for  the  special  consolacion 
>f  all  our  royall  Englysh  nacion. 
Melpomone,  O  Muse  tragediall, 
''nto  your  grace  for  grace  now  I  call, 
'o  guyde  my  pen  and  my  pen  to  enbybe! 
llumyn  me,  your  poete  and  your  scrybe,  « 

?hat  with  myxture  of  aloes  and  by  tier  gall 
may  compounde  confectures  for  a  cordiall, 
Co  angre  the  Scottes  and  Irysh  keteringes  withall, 
L'hat  late  were  discomfect  with  battayle  marcyall. 

Thalia,  my  Muse,  for  you  also  call  I, 
To  touche  them  with  tauntes  of  your  armony, 
^  medley  to  make  of  myrth  with  sadnes, 
The  hartes  of  England  to  comfort  with  gladnes : 
A.nd  now  to  begyn  I  wyll  me  adres, 
To  you  rehersynge  the  somme  of  my  proces.       * 

Kynge  Jamy,  Jemmy,  Jocky  my  jo, 
Ye  summond  our  kynge,  —  why  dyd  ye  so  ? 
To  you  nothing  it  dyd  accorde 
To  summon  our  kynge,  your  soueraygne  lord.      } 
A  kyng,  a  sumner !  it  was  great  wonder ;  I 

Know  ye  not  suger  and  salt  asonder  ? 
Your  sumner  to  saucy,  to  malapert, 
Tfour  harrold  in  armes  not  yet  halfe  experte. 
le  thought  ye  dyd  yet  valyauntly. 
Hot  worth  thre  skyppes  of  a  pye :  loo 


AGAINST   THE   3COrTE8. 


Syr  akyrgalyard,  ye 


skyt, 


Tour  wyll  than  ran  before  ycur  wyt, 
Your  lege  ye  layd  and  your  aly. 

Your  frantick  fable  not  worili  a  fly, 

Frenche  kynge,  or  one  or  otliar; 

Regarded  ye  should  your  lord,  youi-  broiher. 

Trowid  ye,  Syr  Jemy,  his  nobul  grace 

From  you,  Syr  Scot,  would  tume  hia  face? 

Wilh,  Gup,  Syr  Scot  of  Galaweyl 

Now  ig  your  pryde  fall  to  decay. 

Male  vryd  was  your  fals  enlent 

For  to  ofl'eniJe  your  presydent, 

Your  souerayne  lord  raoat  rcuei-Mit, 

Your  lord,  your  brother,  and  your  regent, 
la  Lim  is  fygured  Melchisedec, 

And  ye  were  disioyall  Aroalec 

He  is  OUT  noble  Scipione, 

Aiinoynled  kynge;  and  ye  were  none, 

Thoughe  ye  vniruly  yoiiFfafEer  h'aae  fllajw. 

Hia  tytle  ia  true  in  Fraunce  to  raygne;  ' 

And  ye,  proud  Scot,  Dunde,  Dunbar, 

Pardy,  ye  were  bis  bomager, 

And  suter  to  his  parliament: 

For  your  vntrulh  now  ar  ye  shent. 

Ye  bare  youraelfe  sorawhat  to  bold, 

Therfore  ye  lost  your  copyehold  i 

Ye  were  bonde  tenent  to  hie  estate ; 

LoHt  ia  your  game,  ye  are  checkmnte. 
Vnto  the  caslell  of  Norram, 

I  vnderetaude,  to  sone  ye  eame. 


AGAINST   THE    SCOTTES.  207 

Kston  more  and  Flodden  hylles, 
lysh  bowes,  our  Englysh  by  lies, 
you  gaue  so  sharpe  a  shower, 
Scotland  ye  lost  the  flower. 
yie  Lyon,  there  rampaunt  of  moode, 
1  and  rent  out  your  hart  bloode ; 
Vhyte,  and  ye  the  Red, 
yie  there  slew  the  Red  starke  ded. 
your  guerdon  quyt  ar  ye, 
be  God  in  Trinite,  uo 

te  Sainct  George,  our  ladies  knyght  I 
J  is  out ;  adew,  good  nyght ! 
re  Starke  mad  to  make  a  fray, 
3  beyng  out  of  the  way : 
he  power  and  might  of  God, 
owne  tayle  ye  made  a  rod. 
id  wit,  syr,  at  a  worde ; 
our  spurres,  ye  lost  your  sworde. 
t  haue  buskyd  you  to  Huntley  bankys ; 
de  was  peuysh  to  play  such  prankys :  im 
lerte  coude  not  attayne 
kynge  royal  war  to  mayntayne. 
kyng  of  Nauerne  ye  might  take  heed, 
usly  how  he  doth  speed : 
i  delynge  so  he  did  dreme, 
is  kynge  without  a  reme  ; 
example  ye  would  none  take, 
IS  hath  brought  you  in  suche  a  brake, 
ith,  your  ioy,  your  sport,  your  play, 
gynge  host,  your  royal  aray,  » 


iwAlNST   THE    SCOTIES. 

..'.  -o  brym  as  bore  at  bay, 
^^....ii  Systers,  that  gun  so  gay, 
....  \e  lost  and  cast  away. 
^>     /iiuiie   hath   tourned   you,   I  dare  well 
?ave, 
Nv .»    iviu  II  kynge  to  a  clot  of  clay : 

..    i'  ^oul*  robes  ye  were  sbaked, 
V   .;  wivU'liedly  ye  lay  starke  naked. 
.'.    :K-ko  of  grace  hard  was  your  hap: 
I  iiv-  ro[»i.*s  curse  gaue  you  that  clap. 

Oi  I  lit*  out  yles  the  roughe  fotcd  Scottes,       "* 
W  *.'  luuio  well  eased  them  of  the  bottes : 
I'Jk'  rude  ranke  Scottes,  lyke  dronken  dranes, 
Vi  Knglysh  bowes  haue  fetched  theyr  banes, 
li  is  not  fy tting^  in  tower  and  towne 
\  sunnier  to  were  a  kynges  crowne : 
Worm  no  on  you  therfore  did  frowne; 
\o  wore  to  hye,  ye  are  cast  downe. 
Svr  sumner,  now  where  is  your  crowne? 
^*ast  of  your  crowne,  cast  vp  your  crowne ! 
Jivr  sumner,  now  ve  haue  lost  vour  crowne. 

Quod  Skolton  laureate,  oratoure  to  t 
Kvnfres  most  rovall  estate. 

Scotia^  redacta  in  formam  provincice, 
J^etfis  parcbit  nutibus  Anglice: 
AUoqnin^  per  desertum  Sin^  super  cherubim, 
Cherubin,  seraphim,  scraphinquey  ergo,  SfC. 

^flitting]  Other  eds.  "  sytting  "  and  "  sitting,"  which,  p€ 
^)w,  Skchon  wrote,  as  he  elsewhere  uses  the  word. 


"   1 

AGAINST    TDB    aCOTTltS.                       209                        ^M 

„™„™.™„^^™.™„..    1 

I  AH  now  uunstraj'ned,                              ^^^^H 

'With  wordes  oothyoge  fanned,                ^^^^^^M 

Thifi  inuediue  to  make,                            ^^^^^| 

For  some  peoples  eake                             ^^^^^^| 

That               10                                          ^^^^^1 

And  wayward]/  to  wrangyll                    ^^^^^^| 

Agaynat  this  my  makynge,                      ^^^^^| 

Tbtiir  males  therat  aliakynge,                  ^^^^^| 

At  it  re  pre  lien  ding,                                   ^^^^^^| 

And  venemously  etingynge,                  ■              ^^M 

Eebukyrge  and  remordyng,                                   ^H 

And  nothing  according.                                           ^H 

Cause  haue  they  none  other,')                                   \ 

But  for  that  he  was  brother, 

Brother  vnnaiural 

VdIo  our  kynge  royall, 

Against  whom  he  dyd  fighte 

Falsly  agaynst  all  rjght. 

^HLyke  that  vnlrue  rebell 
^^BUa  Eayn  agaynst  Abell. 

« 

^^V  Who  so  therat  pyketh  mood, 
^^^te  tokens  are  not  good 

To  be  true  Euglysh  blood  j 

For,  yf  they  vnderslood 

Hia  Iraylourly  dispygbt. 

He  woa  a  rocrayed  knyghl. 

TOL.  I.                     14 

1      ^ 

210  AGAI>'ST   THE    SCOTTES. 

A  subtyll  svsmatyke, 

Ryght  nere  an  heretyke. 

Of  grace  out  of  the  state. 

And  died  excomunjcate.  ^ 

And  for  be  was  a  kjnge. 
The  more  shamefull  rekenjnge 
Of  hjm  should  men  report. 
In  emest  and  in  sport. 
He  skantlj  loueth  our  kynge, 
That  grudgeth  at  this  thing : 
That  cast  such  ouerthwartes 
Percase  haue  hollow  hartes. 


Si  vtrUaUm  dieo^  quare  non  creditis 


CHORUS   DE    DI8    CONTRA   8COTT08.      211 


iUS  DE  DIS  CONTRA  SCOTTOS  CUM  OMNI  PROCESSIONAL! 
FESTIVITATE  SOLEMNISAYIT  HOC  EPITOMA  XXn 
DIE  SEFIEMBRIS,  &0. 

76,  festa  dtesy  toto  resonabilis  cevo, 
}ua  Scottus  Jacobus,  obrutus  ense,  cadit 
hara  Scottorum  gens,  perfida,  plena  malorvrHf 
^indtur  ad  Norram,  vertitur  in  que  fug  am. 
ta  palus,  sed  campestris,  (horie  memoratur 
ranxton  more),  Scottis  terra  perosa  fuiU 
tica  contra  fremunt  Floddun  sub  moniihus 

altis, 
>ucB  valide  invadens  dissipat  Angla  manus. 
\ia  Scottorum  trusit  gens  Anglica  passim  ; 
uxuriat  tepido  sanguine  pinguis  humus :       »« 
s  animal  miseri  miseras  misere  sub  umbrae, 
^ars  ruit  in  foveas,  pars  subiit  latebras. 
I  quid  agit  Jacobus,  damnorum  germine  cretusl 
\rfidus  ut  Nemroth,  lapsus  ad  ima  ruit, 
■  modo,  Scottorum  dudum  male  sane  malorum 
Sector,  nunc  regeris,  tnortuus,  ecce,  jaces  / 
Leo  te  rapidus,  Leo  Candidus,  inclytus  ursit, 
}uo  Leo  tu  Rubev^  ultima  fata  luis. 
'l^a,    due    choreas;    resonent    tua    tympana, 

psaUas ;  ^ 
<2  laudes  Domino,  da  pia  vota  Deo,  » 

HcBc  laureatus  SkeUonis,  regius  orator. 

^  tjfmpana^  psaUas\  Qy.  "  tympana  psalmis?  " 


;   DIS    COSTKA   GALLOS- 


Salne./eiia  dies,  tola  memoralfitis  caio. 

Qua  rex  Jlenricus  Gailica  bella  premit, 
IFenricus  nuilans  Octaviis  noster  in  armit 

Tirwinam  genJit  mania  siravit  humi. 
Sceptriger  Anglorum  helio  validissimus  ITeelor, 

Francomin  gentis  eolia  tuperba  tent. 
Dttx  armis  nuper  Celebris,  modo  dux  inermii, 

De  Longville  modo  die  quo  lua  pompa  ruil? 
De  Clenaount  chtvs  dudum  die,  GaUe  sitperb^^ 

Unds  superbva  eris  ?  carcere  nonne  germs  ? 
IHscite  Francorum  gens  calera  capta,  Britatm** 

Noacite  magnanimum,  mbdiu  vosque  sibi. 
Gloria  Cappadoeit,  ditite  milesque  Mariie, 

fllius  hie  sub  ope  Gailica  regna  reget. 
Hoc  insigiie  bonum,  divhm  numins  gtstum, 

Angliea  gens  Teferat  semper. 

Per  Sktltuitida  laureaCum,  oratorem  regi\ 


CAUDATOS   ANGLOS,    &C.  213 


SIM  US'-  8COTUS    DUNDAS  ALLEGAT  CAUDA8    OONTBA 
AKGLIGENAS. 

ato8  Anglos,  spurcissime  Scote,  quid  effers  f 
m  es,  quoque  sons,  mendax,  tua  spurcaque 
mcca  est, 

Anglicus  a  tergo 
caudam  gerit ; 
est  canis  ergo. 
Anglice  caudate, 
cape  caudam 
ne  cadat  a  te,    * 
Mix  causa  caudle 
manet  Anglica 
gens  sine  laude, 

Diffamas  patriam,  qua  non 

est  melior  usquam. 
Cum  Cauda  plaudis  dum         " 

possis,  ad  ostia  pultas 
Mendlcans  ;  mendicus  eris, 

mendaxque  hilinguisy 

Mmmui]  So,  perhaps,  Skelton  wrote;  butqy.  "  Vllis- 
?  "—This  ptx^m  from  Miirslie's  ed.  of  Skelton's  WbrkeSf 


211  CAUDATOS  ANGLOS,   &C. 

Scabidus,  horrihilis^  quern 
vermes  sexque  pedcUes 

Corrodunt  misere  ;  miseris 
genus  est  maledictum, 

Skelton,  nohilU  poet^ 

Gup,  Scot, 
Ye  blot : 
Laudate 
Caudate, 
Set  in  better 
Thy  pentameter. 
This  Dundas, 
This  Scottishe  as, 
He  rymes  and  railes 
That  Bnglishmen  haue  tailes. 

Skekonus  laureatus* 
Anglicus  natus, 
Provocat  Musas 
Contra  Dundas 
Spurctssimum  Scotum^ 
Undique  notum, 
Rusiice  fotum, 
Vapide  potum. 
Skehon  laureat 
After  this  rate 
Defendeth  with  his  pen 
All  Englysh  men 
Agayn  Dundas, 
That  Scottishe  asse. 


CAUDATOS   ANGLOS,    &C.  215 

Shake  thy  tayle,  Scot,  lyke  a  cur, 

For  thou  beggest  at  euery  inannes  dur : 

Tut,  Scot,  I  sey. 

Go  shake  thy  ^  dog,  hey  ! 

Dundas  of  Gala  way 

With  thy  versyfyeng  rayles  v 

How  they  haue  tayles. 

By  Jesu  Christ, 

Fals  Scot,  thou  lyest : 

But  behynd  in  our  hose 

We  here  there  a  rose 

For  thy  Scottyshe  nose, 

A  spectacle  case 

To  couer  thy  face, 

With  tray  deux  ase. 

A  tolman  to  blot,  « 

A  rough  foted  Scot ! 

Dundas,  sir  knaue, 

Why  doste  thow  depraue 

This  royall  reame. 

Whose  radiant  beame 

And  relucent  h'ght 

Thou  hast  in  despite. 

Thou  donghyll  knyght  ? 

But  thou  lakest  might, 

Dundas,  dronken  and  drowsy,  sn 

Skabed,  scuruy,  and  lowsy. 

Of  vnhappy  generacion 

And  most  vngracious  nacion. 

^  %1  Qy-  "  th4  ?  "  but  see  notes. 


216  CAUDATOS    ANGLOS,   ScC* 

Dundas, 

That  dronke  asse, 
That  rati 3  and  rankis, 
That  prates  and  prankes 
On  Huntley  bankes, 
Take  this  our  thankes  ; 
Dunde,  Dunbar, 
Walke,  Scot, 
Walke,  sot, 
Bajle  not  to  far. 


ELEGIA    IN    COMITISSAM   DE    DERBT.      217 


V    IN    SERENISSIM.B    PRINCIPIS    ET  DOMINiE,  DOMU9.fi 

» 

OARETiB  MUTER  COMITISSiB  DE  DERBT,  8TBEMUIS8IMI 
[S  HENRICI  8EPTI3II   MATRIS,  FUNEBRE  MINISTERIUM, 

8KELTONIDA   LAUREATUM,  ORATOREM    REGIUM,   XVI. 

MENSIS  AUGU8TI,  ANXO   8ALUTI8   MDXVI.  * 

"ate  meis  elegis,  pia  turma  sororum, 

Margaretam  collacrymate  piam, 
sub  mole  latet  regis  cehhernma  mater 
nrici  magni,  quern  locus  iste  fovet ; 
1  locus  iste  sacer  celehri  celehrat  polyandro^ 
ius  en  genitrix  hac  tumulatur  humo  / 
cedat  Tanaquil  (Titus  have  super  astra  re- 

portet), 
ddt  Penelopej  cams  UHxis  amor : 

Abigail,  velut  Hester,  erat  pietate  secunda : 
I  tres  jam  proceres  nobilitate  pares  !  ic 

iomina,  precor,  implora,  pro  principe  tanta 
ecte  Deum  precibus,  qui  legis  hos  apices. 
1  referre  piget,  calamus  torpore  rigescit, 
^rmit  Meccenas,  negligitur  probitas  ; 
}uvat,  aut  modicum  prodest,  nunc  ultima  versu 
^ta  recensere  (mortua  mors  reor  est). 

'rom  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton's  WorkeSj  1568,  collated 
the  piece  as  given  in  RegeSy  Regina,  NdbileSy  et  alii  in 
«w  CoUegiata  B.  Petri  WesimoncuteHi  sejmUij  &c.,  1603, 


218       ELEGIA    IN    COMITISSAM    D£    DERBT. 

Queen's  quid  decus  estf    d£cus  est  modo  dicier 
hircus  ; 

Cedit  honos  hirco,  cedit  honorque  capro. 
Fallens  ipse  Charon  ;  itenim  surrexit  Abyron, 

Et  Stygios  remos  despicit  iUe  tuos.  " 

Vivitur  ex  voto :  mentis  prcecordia  tangunt 

Nulla  sepulcra  ducum,  nee  monumenta  patrum; 
No7i  regum,  non  ulla  hominum  labentia  fato 

Tempora^  nee  totiens  mortua  turba  ruens. 
Hinc  statuo  certe  penturce  parcere  ckarta, 

Ceu  Juvenalis  avet  eximius  satirus. 

Distichon  execrationis  in  phctgoloBdoros, 

Qui  laceraty  violatve  rapit  prcesens  epitomaj 
Hunc  laceretque  voret  Cerberus  absque  moral 

Calon,  a^aton,  cum  areta.  Re,  in  pa* 

Hanc  tecum  statuas  dominam,  precor,  Osatororlnii 

Quo  regnas  rutilans  rex  sine  fine  manensl 


CALLIOPE.  219 


^ore  ye  CaUiope  erabrawdred  with  letters 
of  golde  ?  * 

ELTON  LAUREATE,  ORATO.    REO.   MAKETH   THIS 
AUNSWERE,  &C. 

Calliope, 
As  ye  may  se, 
Regent  is  she 

Of  poetes  al, 
Whiche  gaue  to  me 
The  high  degre 
Laureat  to  be 

Of  fame  royall ; 
Whose  name  enrolde 
With  silke  and  golde 
I  dare  be  bolde 

Thus  for  to  were. 
Of  her  I  holde 
And  her  housholde ; 
Though  I  waxe  olde 

And  somdele  sere, 
Yet  is  she  fayne, 


5se  pieces  on  Calliope  from  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton*! 
1568. 


220  CALLIOPE. 

Voyde  of  disdayn, 
Me  to  retayne 

Her  seruiture : 
With  her  certayne 
I  wyll  remayne, 
As  my  souerayne 

Moost  of  pleasure, 
Maulqre  touz  maiheiireux. 


ULTUOJM   CARMEN  SEQUTTUR. 

Cur  tihi  contexta  est  aurea  Calliope  ? 

RESrONSIO  EJUSDEM  YATI8. 

Candida  Calliope,  vatum  regincL,  coronans 
Pierios  lauro,  radiante  intexta  sub  auro! 
Hanc  ego  Pierius  tanto  dignahor  honore, 
Dum  mihi  vita  manet,  dum  spiritus  has  regit  arttn  • 
Quamquam  conjicior  senio  marcescoque  sensiit^i 
Ipse  tamen  gestare  sua  hcec  pia  pignora  certo, 
Assensuque  sua  pi  acid  is  parebo  camenis. 
Inclyta  Calliope,  et  semper  mea  maxima  cura  es^' 

Hcec  Pierius  omni  Spartauo  liberior, 

CALUOPE, 

Musarum  excellentissima,  speciosis^ima,  fortnosi^' 
sima,  hero  ids  prceest  versibus. 


THE    BOKE    OF   THREE   FOOLES.  221 


THE  BOKE   OF  THREE  FOOLES.* 

SKELTON,  POETE  DAUREATE,  OAUE  TO  MY  LOUD 
CARDYNALL. 


THE   FTRST   FOOLE. 

The  man  that  doth  wed  a  wyfe 
For  her  goodes  and  her  rychesse,\ 

And  not  for  lygnage  femynatyfe,        i 
Procureth  doloure  and  dystresse, 
With  infynyte  payne  and  heuynesse ; 

For  she  wyll  do  hym  moche  sorowe, 

Bothe  at  euyn  and  at  morowe. 

the    SECONDE    FOOLE. 

The  dartes  ryght  cursed  of  Enuye 
Hath  rayned  sythe  the  worlde  began, 

Whiche  bryngeth  man  euydently 
Into  the  bondes  of  Sathan  ; 
Wherfore  he  is  a  dyscrete  man 

That  can  eschewe  that  euyll  synne 

Where  body  and  soule  is  lost  in. 

THE   THYRD    FOOLE. 

Dyuers  by  voluptuousnes 
Of  women,  the  which  be  present, 

*  From  Marshe^s  ed.  of  Skelton*s  Workes,  1668. 


Be  broiiglil  info  full  great  dysirea, 
Forgellyng  verlues  excellent 
Of  God,  ihi!  wliych  \i  permanent. 
And  sufiretli  lliemselfe  to  be  bounde 
In  cordtis,  as  it  were  a  hounde. 


Come  Iiylber,  and  lake  [bis  boke,  and  I 
therein  for  your  lernyng  witli  clere  iyen,  and  lobv 
in  tbis  boke,  that  shewetb  you  folysh  fooles  willi- 
out  wyt  or  vnderslanding.  Petunyous  foolea,  that 
bee  auaryce,  and  for  to  baue  good  tyme  and  to 
lyue  meryly,  weddeth  these  olile  wyddred  wotnerip 
whych  hHlh  sackes  full  of  nobles,  clarylye  here 
your  Byghle,  and  ye  shal  know  what  goodnea 
commeih  therby,  and  wliaC  joye  and  gladnes. 
Some  there  be  that  habandontili  ihen]--plfe  for  lo 
gather  togylher  Ihe  donge  that  yasueib  oute  of 
theyr  aases  arse,  for  to  Ijnde  eiiermore  grese:  it 
is  gretfl  foly  irulye;  but  yet  the  yonge  man  la 
more  folyesher  the  whiche  weddeth  an  olde  wyfe, 
for  to  baue  her  gotde  and  syluer.  I  gay  thai  he 
is  a  great  foole  that  laketh  anne  oldo  wyfe  for  litt 
goodes,  and  ie  much  to  blame. 

They  the  whiehe  do  so  procureth  all  irybulii' 
tions:  for  with  her  he  shall  neither  baue  ioji 
recreacion,  nor  rest.  He  noryeslielh  sirjfes  and 
greate  debate.',  iboughle,  payne,  anguyshe,  and 
melancoly :  and  yf  he  wolde  accomplyssbe  the 
workes  of  maryage,  hee  may  not,  for  s' 
debylyte,  colde,  vnpropyce,  ynnniunill,  a 


THE  SOKE  OF  THREE  FOOLES.     223 

currente,  for  the  coldenes  that  is  in  her.  The 
husbande  of  this  olde  wyfe  hath  none  esperaunce 
to  haue  lygnage  by  her,  for  he  neuer  loued  her. 
The  man  is  a  verye  foole  to  make  his  demoraunce 
vpon  such  an  olde  wife.  Whan  he  thinketh  som- 
time  ypon  such  thynges,  he  lescth  his  naturall  wit, 
in  cursynge  hymselfe  more  then  a  m.  tymes  with 
the  golde  and  the  syluer,  and  the  cursed  hasarde 
of  Fortune.  And  when  he  seeth  his  poore  lyfe  in 
suche  dystresse,  his  hert  is  all  oppressed  with 
melancoly  and  dolour:  but  whan  the  vnhappye 
man  seeth  that  it  is  force,  and  that  hee  is  con- 
stray  ned  to  haue  pacience,  he  putteth  his  cure  to 
draw  to  hym  the  money  of  the  olde  wyddred 
woman  in  makyng  to  her  glade  chere.  And  whan 
hee  hath  the  money  and  the  bagge  with  nobles, 
God  knoweth  what  chere  he  maketh,  wythoute 
thynkinge  on  them  that  gathered  it.  And  when 
he  hath  spente  al,  he  is  more  vnhappyer  than  hee 
was  before.  Yf  that  the  foole  be  vnhappye,  it  is 
well  ryghte,  for  hee  hath  wedded  auaryce,  mother 
of  all  euylles :  yf  hee  had  taken  a  wyfe  that  had 
ben  fayre  and  yonge,  after  his  complection,  he  had 
not  fallen  into  so  great  an  inconuenience.  It  is 
wry  ten  in  auncient  bokes,  that  hee  whiche  weddeth 
a  wyfe  by  auaryce,  and  not  for  to  haue  lygnage, 
hath  no  cure  of  the  honestie  of  matrymonye,  and 
thynketh  full  euyll  on  his  conscience.  The  vnyon 
of  maryage  is  decayed ;  for,  vnder  the  colon  re  of 
good  and  loyall  maryage,  is  wedded  auaryce,  as 


221  THE    BOKE    OP    THREE    FOOL 

we  Be  euery  day  by  ejti>ei'ienee  ihrougl]  the  worH. 
And  one  wil  haue  a  wife,  and  thai  hee  marke  his 
to  be  (lemaunded  ia  maryage,  ihey  will  enqiiyro 
of  his  rychea  and  conninge.  And  on  llie  oilier 
syde  he  wyl  demaunde  great  goodes  wiih  her,  W 
noryaslie  Iier  witli :  for  and  her  fatbei-  and  mollier 
and  frendes  hane  no  gi^ale  rycbes,  he  wyllnolof 
bar;  but  and  slie  be  ryche,  bee  demaundeih noofl 
other  ihynge.  It  is  written,  that  one  were  better 
haue  his  house  in  deaerle,  whereas  no  mendon 
sliooldebeof  hynijthennelobidewiihsuchewyaei!, 
for  ihey  be  replete  with  all  cm-aednes.  And  (he 
pore  foole  brekelh  bis  liearle  ;  be  loseih  his  soule, 
and  corrompetb  his  Iwdy.  He  aelleih  his  joulii 
vnio  the  olde  wife  that  weddelh  her  for  anarjce, 
and  bath  but  noyae  and  discention,  in  vsyng  his  Ijft 
tlius  in  eynne,  Coiisydre,  you  foolea,  what  seru)'- 
tude  ye  put  your  self  in,  when  ye  wedde  such 
wyucs,  I  pray  you  be  cbaat,  if  that  ye  wj'lllyue 
without  vnhap.  My  frends,  whiehe  be  not  in  llwl 
bande,  put  you  not  therin,  and  yee  ahalbe  wS 
happy.  Notwi  lbs  landing,  I  defende  you  not  ID 
marj',  but  1  exhorte  you  to  take  a  wyfe  that  je 
may  haue  progeny  by,  and  solace  bodely  and 
go»lly,and  therel)y  to  wyn  the  ioyes  of  ParadyBOi 


Approche,  you  folyshe  enuyous,  the  which  tnil 
1  by  ihem  that  ye  hate,  come  and  se 
e  youre  peruerse  and  euyll  condyciona. 


THE  BOKE  OF  THREE  FOOLE8.     225 

O  Enuy,  that  deuoureth  the  condycions  of  men, 

and  dyssypers  of  honour  !     Thou  makest  to  haue 

rauisshynge  heartes  famyshed ;  thou  brennest  the 

desyres,  and  sleeth  the  soule  in  the  ende ;  thou 

engendrest  the  darte  enuyronned  with  mischefe, 

that  whiche  traueyleth   diuers   folkes.      Cursed 

foole,  howe  haste  thou  thy  heart  so  replete  with 

cruelte?    for,  if  I  haue  temporall  goodes,  thou 

wilte  haue  enuye  therat ;  or,  if  that  I  can  worke 

well,  and  that  I  apply  mee  vnto  dyuers  thynges 

the  whiche  be  honest,  or  if  that  I  haue  castels, 

landes,  and  tenementes,  or  if  that  I  am  exalted 

vnto  honoure  by  my  science,  or  won  it  by  my 

hardyues  truely  and  iustlye,  or  if  that  I  am  be- 

loued  of  dyuers  persons  whiche  reclaymeth  mee 

good  and  vertuous  and  of  a  noble  courage,  thou 

wylt  vilepende  me  with  thy  wordes :  thou  wottest 

ueuer  in  what  maner  thou  mayst  adnychell  mine 

honour.     Thy  malicious  hert  is  hurt  with  a  mor- 

tall  wounde,  in  such  wise  that  thou  haste  no  ioye 

nor  solace  in  this  world,  for  the  darte  of  Enuye 

perceth  thy  herte  lyke  a  spere.    Thou  hast  wylde 

lycoure,  the  whiche  maketh  all  thy  storaacke  to 

be  on  a  flambe.    There  is  no  medicyne  that  raaye 

hele  thy  mortall  wounde.     I,  beynge  in  a  place 

vhere  as  myne  honoure  was  magnyfyed,  thoughte 

ibr  to  haue  taken  alyaunce  w^ith  an  odyfferaunt 

floure,  but  all  sodaynely  I  was  smyten   with  a 

darte  of  Enuye  behinde  my  backe,  wherthroughe 

all  tho  that   were   oft   my  partye    turned   theyr 

VOL.  I.  15 


226  THE   BOKE    OP  THREE    FOOLES. 

b&okes  \[ioa  me,  for  to  agree  to  one  of  Venna 
dissolalc  seruaunles,  procedjnge  frome  a  hearie 
enuenymed  with  eiiuje.  Wheffore  I  $ball  specy- 
fye  tqCo  you  tlie  condycrjons  of  llie  enayoDS. 
Wbo  lliat  boldelh  hym  of  the  subgecles  of  Eouyc^ 
she  conslyiueih  lo  deaoure  and  byte  euwry  boilye; 
gynynge  vnhappes  and  myserves  vuio  ber  aei^ 
ununies.  Sucke  futkes  dolb  ibe  innocenle  a  tbou- 
«nnde  wroiigea.  They  be  repleoysshed  with  «o 
many  trea^^ns,  ihst  ibey  can  not  slepe  in  theyr 
beddes ;  tbey  baue  ito  gweie  i:antycles  nor  sooges. 
They  bane  ibeyr  tonges  hoiiyed  with  swete  words 
Tuder  the  coloure  of  loue  ;  ihey  be  lone,  and  in- 
fecte  of  rygoure  Ibese  enuyous,  more  byllerer 
Ihenne  the  gall  of  the  fysbe  glauca,  wylb  theyr 
eyeu  beholdioge  a  Irauers,  of  storaackes  ebaufed 
syniillously,  and  without  their  mouthes,  as  the 
Tyoe  that  is  newe  cut,  tbey  be  enayroiied  wiih 
rage  and  greate  anguyssbe.  beholdynge  euennore 
to  destroy  some  body.  Conceyae  the  history  of 
Joseph  in  your  myndes,  the  whieh  had  viL 
brethren,  that  were  enuyous  against  bim  which 
was  the  yongesle,  and  solde  lijm  vnio  the  mu- 
chauntes  of  Egypie  by  enuy,  and  betrayed  him; 
the  which  were  delybered  of  a  longe  time  Lo  baw 
destroyed  bim.  These  enuioua  neuer  laugliB  bPl 
ivban  some  good  man  bath  domage  vpon  the  sc« 
orlande;  or  at  the  disforlune  of  gome  body,  b« 
dryoketh  his  bloud  as  milke.  Notwilhstandinge 
s  heart  is  euer  enbraced  with  enuy,  and  oj  long* 


;    BOKE    OF    THREE    F00LE3.  22T 

(  he  lyuuth  it  aliall  gnawe  his  Lert.  Hee  re- 
getnbleth  vnio  Ethna  whiche  brenneth  alwnyes. 
As  of  Romulus,  and  Kemtts  his  broiher,  the 
wbiche  Homulua  eiJefyed  firel  Korae,  and  gaiie  il 
to  name  Rome,  nfter  bis  owne  nume.  Mi^ueriheles 
lliey  were  pasloure,  for  they  eslublysheil  lawea  in 
tbe  citie.  And  Romulus  punished  eucryb  body 
cgally.  He  dyd  insljiute  lymitles  or  markes 
abouie  ihe  citie,  and  ordeyned  mat  he  that  passed 
■s  shuld  be  put  to  death.  His  brotber 
I  them,  wherforti  be  was  put  volo  death  in- 
1  the  same  place.  Wee  rede  also 
pCayme  slewe  his  owna  brother  by  enuje. 
:  eueainple  seniblablye  of  AtreuB,  of 
whom  hia  brother  occupyed  the  parke,  howe  welt 
^«t  ihey  were  in  ibe  realme  slronge  and  puya- 
o  defende  them  ?  It  was  Thesiiia  that 
eipuked  his  brother  oute  of  the  realme  by  enuy, 
•ndwaa  called  agayne  byeaiise  that  lie  had  tak".ii 
'he  parke,  aod  fynally  was  bunyshed,  and  bj 
enaje  and  vnder  the  eolour  of  peace  he  was  sunt 
for.  And  when  bee  was  coinraen  vuto  a  feast,  he 
oisde  his  Iwo  children  for  to  be  rested,  and  made 
llieim  to  drynke  their  bloude.  0  what  horroure 
"M  it  to  see  his  iwoo  children  dye  (hat  were  so 
ifiCKtB  t  In  lykewise  Kibiocles  by  his  bretlireo 
Moeyned  great  ehormylies  by  that  cursed  Eiiuye. 
0  feou  prudent  roan,  if  thou  wilt  be  discrole, 
gwd,  and  wise,  Hye  from  Enuy,  and  thou  shall 
flnde  thy  selfe  sounde  of  body  and  soule  1 


COBFOHALl,   T 


Eyghte  heariely  I  besecbe  you,  fulyashe  onJ 
lecherous  people,  tlint  it  will  please  you  for  to 
come  and  moke  a  litell  collacion  in  thiabooke; 
find  if  tliere  be  any  iliinge  that  I  can  do  for  yon, 
7  Hin  all  yours  both  body  and  goodes ;  for  truelje 
I  haue  an  ardauntu  desyre  to  doo  you  some  men- 
torioiia  ^  dede,  bicaiifie  that  I  hnue  ener  frequenied 
your  Beruyce, 

Nowe  hei'ken  what  I  haue  found  yon,  cauiellous 
women.  They  that  the  pappes  be  sene  hU  naked, 
their  heyre  combed  and  trassed  in  dyuere  plaiws 
memeylously,  he  vnreasonabie  fooles,  for  thej 
dresse  Iheim  like  voluptuous  harlottes,  that  make 
their  heyre  to  appere  at  theyr  browes,  yalowe  ns 
iine  golde,  made  id  lytel  tresses  for  to  draws 
yonge  folke  to  theyr  loue.  Some,  for  to  hane 
their  goodes,  presenleth  to  theim  their  beddes  for 
to  take  their  camall  desires  j  and  after  ihat  thfj 
haue  taken  all  iheir  dispvorles,  they  pill  theim  M 
an  onion.  The  other,  for  to  haue  their  plesam 
raondayne,  cheseth  theim  that  she  louetb  be*  j 
and  maketh  sygnyfyanm*  to  theim,  sayeng'Itet  1 
she  is  anamoured  on  theim.  Thou  srt  *  TUfe  I 
idyot  so  (o  abandone  thy  selfe  vnto  the  Tylft  eynB* 
of  lecherye,  for  thou  leltest  thy  selfe  be  wraRH^ 


THE  SOKE  OF  THREE  FOOLES.     229 

therein,  lyke  as  a  calfe  or  a  shepe  is  bounde  in  a 
corde,  in  suche  wise  that  ye  can  not  vnbynde 
youre  selfe.      O   foole,  haue  aspecte  vnto    that 
whiche  thou   commyttest!    for  thou   puttest  thy 
poore  soule  in  great  daunger  of  damnation  eter- 
nall;  thou  puttest  thy  goodes,  thyne  vnderstand- 
inge,  and  thy  ioy,  vnto  dolorous  perdicion :  and 
for  all  that  yee  bee  in  your  wor[I]dly  pleasures, 
yet  it  is  mengled  with  dystres  or  with  mysery, 
greate  thoughte  or  melancoly.     I  requyre  thee, 
leue  thy  wor[l]dlye  pleasures,  that  endureth  no 
lenger  then  the  grasse  of  the  feelde.   Yf  you  haue 
ioye  one  only  momente,  thou  shalt  haue  twayne 
of  sorow  for  it.     Wee  rede  of  Sardanapalus,  that 
for  his  lecherye  and  lybidinosite  fell  into  hell ; 
the  whiche  put  him  selfe  in  the  guise  of  a  poore 
woman :  his  men,  seinge  hym  so  obstinate  in  that 
vile   sinne,  slewe  him,  and  so  fynished  hee  his 
dayes  for  folowinge  of  his  pleasaunce  mondayne. 
The    soueraigne   Creatour   was   more   puyssante 
thenne  this  wretched  sinner.     Let  vs  not  apply 
our  selfe  therto,  sith  that  hee  punysheth  sinners 
so  asprely ;  but  with  all  our  hertes  enforce  we 
our  selfe  for  to  resist  againste  that  vyle  and  ab- 
bomynable  sinne  of  lechery,  the  whiche  is  so  full 
of  enfeccion  and  bytternes,  for  it  distayneth  the 
Boule  of  man.     Fie  frome  the  foolisshe  women, 
that  pylleth  the  louers  vnto  the  harde  bones,  and 
you   shal   be   beloued    of   God   and  also  of  the 
worlde 


ri.YCACiON,  flee. 


ffonoriJieatiMimo,'  amplimmo,  hngeque  rtve- 
rendisunto  in  Ckrislo  patri,  ac  doiaino,  dondno 
Thomre,  S/c,  titidt  sanetie  Cecilia,  sacroaaneUl 
RitmaiKE  eeclesiie  presbytero,  Cardinali  tneritiiti- 
mo,  et  apostolicte  sedts  legato,  a  iaferegue  legolo 
superillustri,  Sfc,  Skellonis  Imireatut,  ora.  ttg^ 
iiumiUimam  dicit  obsequitim  cum  omni  debiia 
revereittia,  tanio  tamque  magnifieo  digna  pnneipi 
tacerdolum,  totiatqtte  justitite  eegaabiltssimo  modi- 
ratore,  necnon  pnesentii  opusculi  fauiore  ered- 
lenlissimo,  SfC^  ad  etijiu  auspicatiitimam  conltit- 
plationem,  sub  memorabiU  prelo  ghrioaa  ii 
lalitatit,  prtesena  pagella  /elicitalur,  Jfc 


JLBll^KED    OF    LATE,    &C 

Arffwnenlvin. 
Orasiontet  nimium,  nimium  sItriUsque  labnadi^ 
fined  quas  Domini  Sabaol  7ion  siistinet  vltra 
Laxiut  expandi,  nostra  est  rtsecare  voluntas. 

Cum  priviltgio  a  rege  indtdto. 


A   REPLTCACION,    &C.  231 

Proteslacion  alway  canonically  prepensed,  pro- 
fessed, and  with  good  delyberacion  made,  that 
this  lytell  pamphilet,  called  the  Replicacion  of 
Skelton  laureate,  ora.  reg.,  remordyng  dyuers 
recrayed  and  moche  vnresonable  errours  of  cer- 
tayne  sophystycate  scolers  and  rechelesse  yonge 
heretykes  lately  abiured,  &c.  shall  euermore  be, 
with  all  obsequious  redynesse,  humbly  submytted 
vnto  the  ryght  discrete  reformacyon  of  the  reue- 
rende  prelates,  and  moche  noble  doctours  of  our 
mother  holy  Churche,  &c. 

Ad  almam  Uhwersitatem  Cantabrigensem,  S^c. 

Eulogium  consolationis. 

Alma  parens  0  Cantabrtgensis,  sk"/*^*^ 

Our  lacrymaris?     Esto,  tui  sint  laureate  pri- 

,       ,     ,  mam    mam- 

Deqeneres  hi  filiolL  sed  inam  erudi- 

*'  •^  ,  tionis    pieii- 

^on  00  tnertes,  O  pia  mater,  tissime  pro. 

Insciolos  vel  decolor  esto. 
Progenies  non  nohilis  omnis, 
Quam  tuaforsan  mamma  fovehaU 
Tu  tamen  esto  Palladis  almce 
Gloria  pollens  plena  Minerva, 
Dum  radiabunt  astra  polorum : 
Jamque  valeto,  meque  foveto, 
^amque  tihi  quondam  cams  alumnus  eram. 


BKrLTCAClOK,   a^a 


How  yong  scolers  novre  a  ^ 
i>  bullied  with  the  H^blowen  blast  of  tlu! 
■  iwoelie  vayiie  gbrioua  pipplyng  wyadej 
K  wbao  th<;y  baue  dcleutubly  lycked  » 
'  lytfill  of  tbe  lycoroua  eleuluary  of  liuiy 

lemyng,  in  ihe  rooche  studious  soolt:-  I 
"  lious  of  sirupiiloiia  Pbitology,  countjng  i 
'*'***''nSai  ^^^"^  ^"""'^  ck-rU's  exellently  entbrmd 
■tnlaniioHM  and  transcendingly  ajied  in  moche  high 
Mio-  connyng,  and  wban  they  liaue  ones  la- 
k  perciliusly  i;aught 
kUuilsi|Hi- 
MUUiniUi,quoddc 


'^  A.  lytell  nigge  of  relhorike, 

■'  A  lesse  lumpe  of  logyke, 
piiiruaipiiiiii  A  pece  tir  a  patclie  at'  philosophy, 
^nlugiari'  Than  forlhnith  by  and  by 
K^"l1'    They  tumble  bo  In  llieology, 
52Sn'?Kc^  Drowned  iu  dregges  of  diuinite, 

^  That  they  iuge  them  selfe  able  to  U 
fti\hit«m.   Doelours  of  tbe  eliayre  in  rbe  Oynim 
^BEi.u.  At  the  Thre  Cranes, 
wn.  fBciiieii-  To  magnifye  ibeir  nttmes:  ' 

■^'-  ^"'-  But  madly  it  frnmea, 

II  For  all  thai  iliey  prethe  and  iHube 
Is  farther  than  their  wyiie  wyll  reciifc 

[|  Thus  by  demeryllea  of  their  abusjoi'i 


A   REPLYCACION,   &C.  233 

Finally  they  fall  to  carefull  confusyon    anseres  stre- 

•^  •'  •'  peiitea   uiier 

To  beare  a  fagot,  or  to  be  enflamed :       eauoros  oio- 

res,     relega- 

Thus   are   they   vndone   and   vtterly    mus  ad  tr^s 

I  J  grues      hac- 

snamecl.  cimto    b.o- 

mio  iiiitiatos, 
pro     foribus 
Vinitoris,  propter  fluenta  Thamisice.    Ubi  poti  potati  cum  fusciculo 
inambusio  ainbustum  futuruiii  fasciculum  peusitate,  Sec.  hsec  11. 


Urgo 

Licet  non  e7iclitice, 

Tamen  enthymematice^ 
Notandum  iniprimis^ 

Ui  ne  quid  nimis, 
Tantum  pro  primo, 

Ouer  this,  for  a  more  ample  processe 
to   be  farther  delated  and   contynued, 
and  of  euery  true   christenman  lauda- 
bly to  be  enployed,  iustifyed,  and  con- 
stantly  maiiiteyned ;    as   touchyng  the 
tetrycall   theologisacion  of  these  demy 
diuines,  and  Stoicall  studiantes,  and  fris-     Stoicam 
caioly  yonkerkyns,  moche  better  bayned  non  primus 
than  brayned,  basked  and  baththed  in     juveiles 
their  wyldeburblyngandboylingblode,  Zt-^H" 
feruently  reboyled  with   the  infatuate  Salir'^^ 
flames  of  their  rechelesse  youthe  and  ^'^"a"]!   ^^• 

^  rnae,     fre- 

wytlesse  wontonnesse,  enbrased  and  en-  q«e"ter  fieri 

''  ,  '  Bolent  sedm- 

terlased  with  a  moche  fantasticallfrenesy  *«i-     haec 

^    Dias. 

of  their  insensate  sensualyte,  surmysed 


^^f     itu 

A   REPLYCACIOX,   &:c.                   ^H 

^^^        ~"'S~ 

rnaurcly  in  their  periliermeniall  priS* 

1                         hu 

pies,  lo  praie  anil  (o  preche  prou Jlj  and 

leiidly,  and  loudly  to  Ijei  and  yet  xbey 

^H    rTB 

were  but  febly  enformed  inmaisierPor- 

pliiria  problemes,  and   liaue  waded  bul 

^^1 

wi^kly    in    his  llire  tnaner  of  darkly 

^^^H            Juwliix^ 

workes,  aiiBleticalJ,  topimll,   and  logj- 

^B   -'"'s?' 

call :  howbeit  ihey  were  puffed   bo  I'lill 

^^^^1          tt*    Mu^ibU 

elacjon,  ihat  popholy  andpenysshepre- 

^M   'r:^,^ 

Bumpcion  prouolied  them  to  publysabe 

^H     EX".."' 

and  lo  preche  lo  people  imprudent  pe 

^^^H         Mikhw*  til- 

rilously,  howe  it  was  idolalry  looffrelo 

ymages  of  our  blessed  lady,  or  to  pray 

^m    re::. 

and  go   on   pylgriinages,  or  lo  loske 

^^V          "^^ula 

oblacions  to  any  ymages  of  sayntea  in 

^^            «Hl»  roin- 

churches  or  els  where. 

Agaynst  whiche  erronyous  erronr!, 

Sl^^TA'" 

odyous,  orgulyous,  and  flyblovea 

opjnions.  See., 

^Jl..  quill  •> 

ictiiui  spoiiDlica  '.'lun  CdnmsDiiiKi  nuifna  ComnV' 

»'H'"1">"'"'« 

1.  in  coi«.l>o  L«.,™,  muulf-»™p™„  uj;^ 

To  Ihe  honour  of  onr  blessed  lady, 

■ 

And  her  most  blessed  baby. 

r\ 

I  purpose  for  lo  reply                            • 

ft.  -^   ^^X 

Agnynat  ibis  horryble  heresy 

M^                      Ikl     iill>lrK- 

Of  iliese  yotig  heretikes,  ihat  sljnk* 

r         I'l^^Ti^ 

cnbrent. 

i 

A  BEPLYCACION,   &C. 


235 


Whom  I  nowe  sommon  and  content, 
That  leudly  haue  their  tyme  spent, 
In  their  study  abhomynable, 
Our  glorious  lady  to  disable, 
And  heynously  on  her  to  bable 
With  langage  detestable ; 
With  your  lyppes  polluted 
Agaynst  her  grace  disputed, 
Whiche  is  the  most  clere  christall 
Of  all  pure  clennesse  virgynall. 
That  our  Sauyour  bare, 
Whiche  vs  redemed  from  care. 

I  saye,  thou  madde  Marche  hare, 
I  wondre  howe  ye  dare 
Open  your  ianglyng  iawes, 
To  preche  in  any  clawes, 
Lyke  pratynge  poppyng  dawes, 
Agaynst  her  excellence, 
Agaynst  her  reuerence, 
Agaynst  her  preemynence, 
Agaynst  her  magnifycence. 
That  neuer  dyde  offence. 

Ye  heretykes  recrayed, 
Wotte  ye  what  ye  sayed 
Of  Mary,  mother  and  mayed  ? 
With  baudrie  at  her  ye  brayed ; 
With  baudy  wordes  vnraete 
Your  tonges  were  to  flete  ; 
Your  sermon  was  nat  swete ; 
Ye  were  nothyng  discrete ; 


O  prodigi* 
ofa     proge- 
nies, qualein 
de  filio  quae- 
riiiii    habere 
niisericor- 
dium,    cujus 
matrem  iiift- 
ciamini  esse 
matrem  mis- 
**  ericordisB  ? 
Caiiit  tamr.i 
universalis 
ecclesia, 
Salve,   regi- 


ita, 


maier 


misericor- 
dioe,  &c. 

Convenio 
voe,  O  Ari- 
aui,  Juliaiio 
apostaia  ^r- 
ecrabiliores 


40 


Convenio 
voi,  O  spur- 
cissimi,    O 
vilissimi,    O 
iiequis^imi 
obtrcc'aiores 
matris  Chrii- 


90 


I^ 


I. 


^^H^      K)6 

A  i[t:nLycACioM,  &a.             ^H 

Ye  were  in  a  dronken  hete.           ^^H 

^^^^M 

H  i^ 

Lyke  Iierotjkes  eonfetlred,            ^^M 
Te  count  jouraeife  wele  letlredi  -^^f 

Your  lernyng  is  slarke  nought,       ^^^ 

P'or  sljamefully  ye  liaue  wcought, 

And  iu  filjame  your  seli'e-  huue  brougliL 

H  »?i 

fiycuuse  ye  her  mysnamtiJ, 
■  And  wolde  baue  her  duf'amed,            •    | 

^H   ir.i?o°- 

Your  madnesse  she  attamed ; 

^^H 

For  ye  were  woi'ldly  shamed,                  ( 

At  Poules  crosse  openly, 

AJl  men  ean  teatifye ; 

^^H          ^N'HI^^t 

,  Tliere,  lyke  a  aorle  of  sottes, 

^V     Sr'B 

.  Ye  were  fayne  to  beare  fagottea ; 

^^^H             anl,  nan  vn- 
^^^H             mi,  iDquam, 

]  At  the  feeat  of  her  concepcion 

^B     s:i?f.  i^r: 

!  Ye  Buffred  suche  correcrion. 

^B    X^^ 

Sive  per  tequivocvm. 

^H    ni.v.n'^'' 

■  Sivt  per  univocum,                             " 

^^^H 

Sive  lie,  tive  nat  so. 

Ye  are  brought  lo,  Lo,  lo,  lo ! 

^^^B      (^i;]™''' 

Se  where  the  herelykes  go, 
',  Wytlesse  wandring  lo  and  fro ! 

^^^H        tniixlBDl. 

With,  Te  he,  la  ha,  bo  ho,  bo  ho! 

And  suche  wondringea  many  mo- 

Helas,  ye  wreches,  ye  may  be  wo! 

Ye  may  syng  wele  away, 

And  curse  bothe  nyght  and  day, 

Whan  ye  were  bredde  and  borne,      • 

^^^M          ncO  But 

And  whan  ye  were  preeaies  shoroe, 
Thus  to  be  laughed  to  akorne, 

,.-  r 


A  BEPLYCACION,   &C. 


237 


rhus  tattred  and  thus  torne, 
rhorowe  your  owne  foly, 
ro  be  blowen  with  the  flye 
Of  horryble  heresy. 
Fayne  ye  were  to  reny, 
And  mercy  for  to  crye, 
Or  be  brende  by  and  by, 
Confessyng  howe  ye  dyde  lye 
In  prechyng  shamefully. 

Your  selfe  thus  ye  discured 
As  clerkes  vnassured, 
With  ignorance  obscured : 
Ye  are  vnhappely  vred. 
In  your  dialeticall 
And  principles  silogisticall, 
If  ye  to  remembrance  call 
Howe  syllogisari 
■"on  est  ex  particularij 
Netpie  negatims, 
^ecte  concludere  si  vis, 
•®  ccBtera  id  genus, 
J^e  coude  nat  corde  tenus, 
^or  answere  verho  tenus, 
Whan  prelacy  you  opposed ; 
Your  hertes  than  were  hosed, 
Your  relacions  reposed ; 
And  yet  ye  supposed 
^99pondere  ad  quantum, 
fiut  ye  were  confuse  tantum, 
Surrendring  your  supposycions, 


/ 


90 


Convenio 
vos,  O  La- 
theriam. 


100 


Nequa 
non,    neqne 
legat. 


Quoniam 
iguorantibiui 

BUpfiObiTio- 

nes  veritatia 
no  propositio- 
numnon  re 
lucent,  &o. 


^ 


A.   REPLTCACION,    Scc. 

For  there  ye  myst  you[r]  quosstiwir^. 
Wolde  God,  for  your  owne  ease, 
JTJ^J:  Thiit  wyse  Harpocrates 
J^^  Had  your  mouthes  stopped,         ^^h 
JJiJ^  And  your  longes  cropped,  ^^^H 

j^;^_^    Wtan  ye  logyke  chopped)  ^^^| 

jcooi-  And  in  the  pulpete  hopped,  ^^^ 

And  folysahly  there  fopped,  ■ 

And  porisshly  ibrthe  popped 

Your  sysmaticale  gawea 

Agaynat  Groddes  lawea, 

And  shewed  your  selfe  dawes  I 
It  pt»-  Ye  argued  argumentes, 
hujua    As  it  were  vpon  the  elenkes, 
■  hie     He  rehis  apparentihut 
IoqH^'  £!t  non  existentibus  ; 

And  ye  wolde  appere  wyse, 

But  ye  were  fofyssLe  nyse:  ■ 

Tet  be  meanes  of  that  vyse 

Ye  dyde  prouoke  and  tyse, 

Of'inar  than  ones  or  twyae. 

Many  a  good  man 

And  many  a  good  woman, 

By  way  of  their  deuocion 

To  htfipe  you  to  promocion, 

Whose  charite  wele  regarded 

Can  nat  he  vn  re  warded, 
rronlo        J  ggye  it  for  no  eedicion,  " 

But  Tuder  pocient  tuicyoD, 

It  is  halfe  a  supersticyon 


A   REPLYCACION,    &C. 


239 


you  exhibycion 
teyne  with  your  skoles, 
DFoue  your  selfe  suche  foles. 
of  you  had  ten  pounde, 
b  for  to  be  founde 
nyuersyte, 

id  whiche  myght  haue  be 
etter  other  wayes. 
he  man  sayes, 
ade  eteth  many  a  flye : 
ay  be  ment  hereby, 
soone  make  construction 
;ht  lytell  instruction ; 
an  auncyent  brute, 
Dple  tre,  suche  frute. 
ulde  I  prosecute, 
of  this  to  clatter? 
e  we  to  our  matter. 
Dred  ouer  hye 
rarchy 
lyans  heresy, 
mes  to  magnifye, 
:he  scabbed  skyes 
lifFes  flesshe  flyes ; 
iged  so  Luthers  lute, 
dawns  all  in  a  sute 
itykes  ragged  ray, 
nges  you  out  of  the  way 
churches  lay ; 
le  inter  enigmata 


iw 


Obscurui 
sarcasmoB. 


£x  fructt- 
bus    eorum 
coguoscetis 
eos,  &c. 


leo 


Sublimiufl 
BBquo  aucu- 
pium  aguni, 


Convenio 
vos.O  Wich 
liftistse. 


DD 


7 

/ 


l^ 


^H^        S40 

A   REPLYCACION,    i'C. 

^^^ 

And  inter  paTodigmata, 

^^^1 

Marked  in  your  cradula 

^^^1 

To  beare  t'agoiies  !br  babyla. 

^^^1 

And  yet  some  men  aay, 

^^^1 

Howe  je  are  tbis  day, 

^^H 

And  be  nowe  as  yll, 

^^H 

And  so  ye  wyli  be  styll. 

^^H 

As  ye  were  before.                            i» 

^^H 

Whatshuldclreckettmore? 

^^^1                Oonvanls 

Men  hiiue  you  in  suspidon 

^^^H          bo.1  wiphis-  Howe  je  baue  small  contrydoQ           1 

^^H 

Of  that  ye  baue  myswrought :             1 

^^K 

For,  if  it  were  w«ll  Bougb^                   ' 

^^H 

One  of  you  iLere  was 

^^H 

That  Jaughed  whan  he  dyd  pas 

^^H 

With  his  fagol  in  processjon ; 

^^H 

He  counted  it  for  no  correction, 

^^H 

But  with  scoroefull  affection             * 

^^H 

Toke  it  for  a  sporte, 

^^H 

His  heresy  to  supporte  j 

^^1 

Whereat  a  ibousanJe  gased, 

^^H 

As  people  halfe  amased, 

^^M 

And  ibougiit  in  hym  amale  grace 

^^M 

His  foly  so  to  face. 

^^m 

Some  iuged  in  this  case 

^^M 

Your  penauitce  loke  no  place, 

^^M 

Your  penaunce  waa  to  lyght ; 

^^B 

And  thought,  if  ye  had  right,            " 

^^M             toUci    i^ 

Ye  sliulde  take  further  payne       ^m 

La 

I'o  resorte  agayne                          ^^H 

A  REPLTCACION,   &C. 


241 


ices  where  ye  haue  preehed, 

our  lollardy  lernyng  teched, 

lere  to  make  relacion 

in  predycacion, 

nowlege  your  offence 

J  open  audyence, 

falsely  ye  had  surmysed, 

euyllysshely  deuysed 

2ople  to  seduce, 

base  them  thorowe  the  muse 

jr  noughty  counsel!, 

nt  them  into  hell, 

jlowyng  out  your  homes, 

f  mockysshe  scornes, 

3hatyng  and  rechatyng, 

our  busy  pratyng : 

J  gospell  and  the  pystels 

ke  out  many  thystels, 

remely  with  your  bristels 

)ble  and  ye  clout 

Scripture  so  about, 

)eople  are  in  great  dout 

iare  leest  they  be  out 

good  Christen  order. 

ill  thyng  ye  disorder 

ive  out  euery  bord[e]r. 

ad  ben  moche  better 

1  neuer  lerned  letter, 

)ur  ignorance  is  gretter, 

i  you  fast  and  sure, 

OL.   I.  16 


no 


no     Sum   |ri*> 
rique    alii, 
86(1     non 
alieni,    qui 
tantundein 
paene   enun* 
liani,  &c. 


/ 


^ 


Coiivcnio 
V08,     mule 
23U  docii  legism, 


F 

A    RErLYCACIOX,   JiCC.                 ^^H 

K\ 

Tlian  all  your  Ijtieralure.           ^^^| 

^■\ 

Te  are  but  lydder  loffiei,             ^^^M 

^B  \ 

Bui  moche  worse  isagogici,         ^^^| 

^V  "'. 

For  }-e  haue  enduced  a  secte      ^^^| 

With  hen-^y  all  JDfecle ;              ^^| 

^^^^ 

Wbetfure  ye  are  well  checte,      ^^H 

^^^^ 

And  by  holy  churcbe  correcte,  --^^H 

^^^H 

And  in  mnner  as  nbiecte,               ^H 

^^^1 

For  euermore  suspecte,                 ^^| 

^^^1 

And  banysshed  in  cSect                 ^^| 

^^^1 

Prom  all  honest  tompaoy,                       ■ 

^^^1 

Byeause  ye  haue  eaten  a  fije, 

^^^V 

To  your  great  vyilony. 

^V 

That  neuer  more  may  dye. 

^^1           na.  o  h^pcK      Come  forihe,  ye  popeholy, 

^^^H 

Full  of  melancoly ; 

^^H 

Your  madde  ipocrisy. 

^^H 

And  your  idiocy,                                 ■ 

^^H 

And  your  vayne  glorie, 

^■" 

Haue  made  you  eaie  the  flye, 

H 

Pufte  full  of  heresy. 

To  preche  ii  idolairy. 

^^ 

"Who  so  doihe  magnifye 

..ss-i- 

\  That  glorious  mayde  Mary  i 

JJ'^ip^ 

"  That  glorious  maj-de  and  mother, 

>w>,   o 

So  was  there  neuer  another 

S£:~ 

■  Bui  thai  princcjse  alone. 

To  whom  «e  are  bounde  ecbcue       • 

The  ymage  of  her  grace 

1^ 

To  iruen-nee  in  euerj-  place. 

A   REPLTCACION,    &C.  243 

J,  ye  braynlesse  beestes,  vo^^p^Su- 

igle  you  suche  iestes,  S?^""**"*' 

diuynite 

ers  affynite, 

)eople  of  lay  fee, 

:  in  your  rages 

hyppe  none  ymages, 

pylgrymages  ?  wo 

^e  deuyllysshe  pages, 

luche  dottages, 

3  your  selfe  good  clerk es, 

pper  in  suche  werkes  ? 

Gregorie  and  saynt  Ambrose,     Com-enio 
o  J  >  V08,  o  (IB- 

reed  them,  I  suppose,  moniaci  mo 

'  r  r        7  ndianii  ate. 

ii'ome  and  saynt  Austen, 
ler  many  holy  men, 
homas  de  Aquyno, 
ler  doctours  many  mo,  s» 

de  latria  do  trete ; 
e  howe  latria  is  an  honour grete, 
ng  to  the  Deite : 
TQ  nedes  must  agre. 
trowe,  your  selfe  ye  ouerse 
ngeth  to  Christes  humanyte. 
le  reed  de  hyverdulia,  Nota  de 

^^  lairia,    hy- 

knowe  what  betokeneth  dulia :  perduiia,  du- 
dl  ye  fynde  it  fy rme  and  stable,  sanciosanxi- 

«  .  ,  ,  .  ,  lum  esiCon- 

»ur  taithe  moche  agreable,      290  staminopoh 

L  «,  ^  ab    ecclesia 

nyppe  ymages  of  sayntes.  cathoiica  et 

e  make  ye  no  mo  restrayntes,    uerum^Tn- 


244  A  BEPLTCACIOK,   &C. 

qu^w  sibi  ^"*  mcnde  your  mjndes  that  are  mased; 
vuii,  fatcicu-  Or  els  doutlesse  ye  shalbe  biased, 

lain    consu-  •'  ' 

liie    inflam-  And  be  brent  at  a  stake, 

malum,  &c. 

If  further  busynesse  that  ye  make. 
medianuler-  Theifore  I  vyse  you  to  forsake 
^iie  ve-  Of  heresy  the  deuyllysshe  scoles, 

And   crye    Gk)dmercy,   lyke   frantyke 
foles. 

Tantum  pro  secundo* 

Peroraiio  ad  nuper  dbjuratas  quosdan 
hypotheticos  JuBreticoSy  SfC, 

AuditCy  viri  Jsmaelitce^  non  dico  b- 
raelitce  ; 

Audite,  inquam,  viri  Madianitay  Ai' 
ecdonitce  ; 

Ammonitce,  Gahaonitce^  audiU  v&Aa 
qtus  loquar. 

Opus  evangelii  est  cibus  perjectorum; 
Sed  quia  non  estis  de  genere  honorutni 
Qui  caterisatis^  categorias  cacodcstno' 
niorum, 

Ergo 

Et  reliqua  vestra  problemata,  schento^ 
Dilemmata,  sinto  anatkemata  ! 
Ineluctahile  argumentum  est, 

1  caterisaiis]  Qy.  "catarrhizatU?** 


A  BEPLYCACIOK,   &C. 


245 


tfutaciou  responsjue,  or  an  in- 
'  prepensed  answere  to  all  way- 
i:  frowarde  altercacyons  that  can 
be  made  or  obiected  agaynst 
laureate,  deujser  of  this  Reply- 


fall  ye  at  debate 
Skelton  laureate, 
:yng  hym  vnable 
insay  replycable 
'ons  detestable 
resy  execrable  ? 
saye  that  poetry 

nat  flye  so  hye 
jology, 
nalogy, 
►hilology, 
hilosophy, 
swere  or  reply 
ist  suche  heresy 
erfore  by  and  by 

consequently 
to  this  rekenyng 
1,  that  royall  kyng, 
1  Hieronymus, 
loctour  glorious, 

bothe  write  and  call 

of  poetes  all, 
)rophete  princypall. 


90O 


810 


Tota  ernu 
via,  si  doc- 
tor poetas 
(illis  autein 
non  desum 
charismata) 
ar^ui8  de  in- 
scitia.  h.  11. 


David  rex 
et    prophflia 

g>r    divum 
ierony- 
mum  matri- 
culatur    in 
nobili  catalo* 
o  poetaniin 
yricoruin,ui 
Fatei  infra, 
&c.  hec  11. 


f, 


A   REFLTCACION,  &C. 

'  Tiiis  may  nat  be  reinorded) 

For  it  is  wete  recorded 

In  his  pysteU  ad  PaaUnum, 

Presh/lerum  divinum, 

Where  words  for  worde  ye  may 
>-      Rede  whai  Jerome  there  dothe  My. 

David,  inquil,  Simonides  nosier,  Piw 
dariu,  et  Alceeta,  Flaccui  guogue,  Co 
tallus,  alque  Serenus,  Christum  li/ra 
persOTiatf  et  in  decachordo  piaUeria 
ab  infefis  excitat  resurgentem.    Hat 


The  Englysshe.  ^H 

Kyng  Dauid  the  prophete,  of  propbeKi 
prlncijiull. 
Of  poettiB  chefe  poete,  saint  Jerome 
dothe  Wright,  » 

Eeeemhled   lo   Symonides,  that  pO£ie 
lyricall 
Among  the  Grekes  moat  relaceot  of 

lyght, 
Id  that  faculie  whiche  ghyned  ne  Ph^ 
bus  bright ; 
Lyke  to  Pyndurus  in  glorious  poetry, 
Lyke  vnlo  Aleheos,  be  dothe  bytn  mif 


A  REPLYCACION,   &C. 


247 


Flaccus  nor  Catullus  with  hjm  maj  nat 
compare, 
Nor  solempne  Serenus,  for  all  his 
annony 
In  metricall  muses,  his  harpyng  we  maj 
spare ; 
For  Dauid,  our  poete,  harped  so  me- 

loudiously 
Of  our  Sauyour  Christ  in  his  deca- 
corde  psautry,  sio 

That  at  his  resurrection  he  harped  out 

of  hell 
Olde  patriarkes  and  prophetes  in  heuen 
with  him  to  dwell. 


Retume  we  to  our  former  processe. 

Than,  if  this  noble  kyng 

Thus  can  harpe  and  syng 

With  his  harpe  of  prophecy 

And  spyrituall  poetry, 

As  saynt  Jerome  saythe. 

To  whom  we  must  gyue  faythe, 

Warblyng  with  his  strynges 

Of  suche  iheologicall  thynges,  i 

Why  haue  ye  than  disdayne 

At  poetes,  and  com  play  ne 

Howe  poetes  do  but  fayne  ? 

Ye  do  moche  great  outrage. 
For  to  disparage 
And  to  discorage 


Fama  ma* 
iricula,    i. 
Bcripta    in 
quadam 
cnartula  iin« 
mortalitatis 
ei    schedula 
gratiae    in- 
niarcescibi- 
lis,  &,c  h.  il 


249 


A   REPLTCACION,    itc. 


The  fame  matiyculate 
Of  poetes  laureate. 

For  if  ye  sadly  loke. 
And  wesely  rede  iLe  Boke  ■ 

Of  Good  Aduertysemeot, 
With  me  ye  must  consent 
And  infallibly  agre 
Oi'  neceasyte, 

Howe  there  b  a  gpyritnall. 
And  a  inysteriall, 
And  a  myfiiicall 
Emrjia     Effecle  energiatl, 
iiBfl  sflicKj:  As  Grekes  do  it  call, 
wrnuiiui       Of  auche  an  industry,  ■ 

iiM  inipuiiu  And  Euehe  a  pregnacy, 
itcMiginaiii,  Of  heuenly  inspyracion 
In  laureate  creacyon, 
,  Of  poeies  commendacion, 
^^  hi"'"!  That  of  diuyne  myseracioQ 
^f«"»  ™J  God  makelli  his  habytacion 

Sedibu*  (In  poetes  whiche  excellee, 
riiuniniiyB-'And  EoiotiraE  with  ibem  and  dwello- 

iMnB  D^i,      By  whose  infiammacion 
dDm,  ewiin-  Of  spyrituall  instygacion  ■ 

l^iihncfi  And  diuyni?  inspyradon, 

e  kyndled  in  suche  facyon 
.t  iIKb     '^''i''>  hele  of  the  Holy  Cost, 

Wliich  is  God  of  myghles  mos^ 
That  he  on r  penne  dolfae  led^ 


pcti^ 


^^Siirai^  And  maketb  in  vs  sachfl  a\ 


A  REPLTCACION,   &C. 


249 


dso 


MO 


forthwith  we  must  nede 

penne  and  ynke  precede,  / 

rme  for  affection, 

rme  for  sadde  dyrection,  / 

rxne  for  correction, 

^me  vnder  protection      ' 

cient  sufferance, 

sobre  cyrcumstance, 

lyndes  to  auaunce 

mannes  anoyance ; 
ore  no  greuance, 
r  you,  for  to  take, 
5  that  I  do  make 
nst  these  frenetykes, 
nst  these  lunatykes, 
nst  these  sysmatykes, 
nst  these  heretykes, 

of  late  abiured, 
vnhappely  vred:  , 

le  ye  wele  assured,  ' 

frensy  nor  ielousy 
leresy  wyll  neuer  dye. 


Dixi 

iSf  Nolite  inique  agere ;  et  delin' 
centibus,  Nolite  exaUare  comu, 

Tantum  pro  tertio, 

aritate  poetarum,  deque  gymnoso- 
'starumy  philosophorum,  theologo- 


na  Spirituf 
&>ancu  gra- 
tia, hsecuia- 
rony. 


Liiig^uu 
mea  calamus 
scribGB  velo- 
citer  scriben- 
tii.  h.  psal. 


misiA. 


250  A  BEPLYOAOION,   8cO. 

rurriy  ccBterorumque  eruditorum 
nita  numerositatej  SkeL  L,  epii 

QuiB  flunt  Sunt  tnfiniti»sunttnnumertQue 801 

inter    socia-  .    ^    .  .  .  .  f 

but  *   sicut   iSunt  tnfiniti,  sunt  tnnumenque  U 

Achate*,  h.  "^  .  ,      ,  .7  z  •  . 

Qa^.  dus.       Innumen  sunt  phiLosophij  sunt 

gique, 
Sunt  infiniti  doctoreSj  suntque  nn 
Innumeri;  sed  suntpauci  rarique 
Sine  omne  est  rarum  carum  :  reo 

poetas 
Ante  altos  omnes  divino  flamine  ^ 
Sic  Plato  dimnaty  divinat  sicqi 

crates  ; 
^^Max-  ^^^  magnus  MacedOy  sic  Ccesar, 

iraura  de  In-  fjfiUS  hcrOS 

Bigiu  Tenera- 

tione  poeta-  I^omanus,  ceUores  semper  coluen 

nun* 

Thus  endeth  the  Replicacyon 
Skel.  L.  &c. 

1  iodabiu\  Qy.  **  sociatos  ?  ** 


KND   OF  TOL.  I. 


THE  POETICAL  WORKS 

OF 

JOHK  SKELTON". 

VOLUME  II. 


THE 


POETICAL    WORKS 


OP 


JOHN    SKELTON. 


VOL.    II. 


1 


MAGNYFYCENCE, 


▲  QOODLT   IKTERLUDB  AND  ▲  MBBT, 


DKUTSKD  AJXD  MADE  BT 


MAYSTER  SKELTON,  POET  LAUREATE* 


These  be  the  Xames  of  the  Players: 

fkl.tcttb.  i       folt. 

Ltbkrtk.  Aduebsttb. 

Measure.  Pouebte. 

Maqxtftcexce.  Dtspaee. 

Faxst.  Mtschefe. 

oocxtkrfkt  couxtb-  goodhope. 

[nauxce].  Redresse. 

Crafty  Coxuktausce.  [Sad]  Ctbccmsi eoctoi. 

CbOKTD   OOLISYOX.  FeBSEUERACSCB. 
COI'RTLT   AbUSYOX. 

*-  Fn>m  the  ed.  printed  by  Rastell,  n.  d. ; — in  which  the 
oboT^  list  01  charHo:ejrs  is  pl^ured  at  the  eud  of  die 


POEMS    OF     SKELTON 


MAGNTFYCENOE. 

Felicite.  Al  thyngys  contryuyd  by  manays 

reason, 
The  world  enuyronnyd  of  hygh  and  low  estate. 
Be  it  erly  or  late,  welth  hath  a  season, 
Welth  is  of  wysdome  the  very  trewe  probate ; 
A  fole  is  he  with  welth  that  fallyth  at  debate : 
But  men  nowe  a  dayes  so  vnhappely  be  vryd. 
That  nothynge  than  welth  may  worse  be  end uryd. 
To  tell  you  the  cause  me  semeth  it  no  nede, 
The  amense  therof  is  far  to  call  agayne ; 
For  when  men  by  welth,  they  haue  lytyll  drede  w 
Of  that  may  come  after ;  experyence  trewe  and 

playne, 
Howe  after  a  drought  there  falleth  a  showre  of 

rayne, 


^ 


UAGNYFYOENOE. 

And  ader  a  liete  oft  cometh  a  atormy 
A'iDoit  may  haut:  wellb,  but  not,  as  he  wolde, 
Ay  to  contynewe  and  styll  to  endure; 
But  yf  prudence  be  proued  with  sad  cyrcumapet' 

cyon, 
Welthe  mygbt  be  wonne  and  made  to  (he  lure, 
If  noblc-nesse  were  aquaynlyd  with  sober  djrec- 

cyon; 
But  wyll  hath  reason  so  vnder  subieccyon, 
And  so  dysordereth  this  woi'lde  ouer  all, 
That  welthe  and  felicile  is  paasyuge  BmHil, 
But  where  wonnys  Wellhe,andamaM  wolde' 
For  weilhfuU  Felicite  truly  ia  my  name. 

lA/herte}  Mary,  Welthe  and  I  was  apoynted  to 

And  eylher  I  am  dysseyued,  or  ye  be  the  same. 
Fel.  Syr,  aa  ye  say,  I  haue  hai-de  of  your  fame  i 
Tour  name  is  Lyberte,  as  I  voderstande. 

Lyb.  Trewe  you  say,  syr ;  gyue  meyourhande. 
FeL  And  from  whens  come  ye,  and  it  niyght 

be  askyd  ? 
Lyb.  To  tell  you,  eyr,  I  dare  not,leest  I  ebolde 
be  mask  yd  * 

In  a  payre  of  fetters  or  a  payre  of  atockys. 
Fel.  Here  yoQ  not  howe  this  gentylQiaDinockj«J 
Lyh.   Ye,  to   knackynge    ernyst   what  aofW^H 
preue  ^H 

'  Zj6erte|  Enters,  probably,  lowarda  Iho  end  of  Ihe  Jirt- 


MAGNYFTCENCE.  5 

* 

Fel.  Why,  to  say  what  he  wyll,  Lyberte  hath 
leue. 

Lyh,  Yet  Lyberte  hath  ben  lockyd  vp  and  kept 
in  the  mew. 

FeL  In  dede,  syr,  that  lyberte  was  not  worth© 
a  cue : 
Howe  be  it  lyberte  may  somtyme  be  to  large, 
But  yf  reason  be  regent  and  ruler  of  your  barge. 

Lyh,  To  that  ye  say  I  can  well  condyssende : 
Shewe  forth,  I  pray  you,  here  in  what  you  intende. 

FeL  Of  that  I  intende  to  make  demonstracyon, 
It  askyth  lesure  with  good  aduertysment.  « 

Fyrst,  I  say,  we  owght  to  haue  in  consydera- 

cyon. 
That  lyberte  be  lynkyd  with  the  chayne  of  coun- 

tenaunce, 
Lyberte  to  let  from  all  maner  offence  ; 
For  lyberte  at  large  is  lot  he  to  be  stoppyd, 
But  with  countenaunce  your  corage  must  be 
croppyd. 

Lyh,  Then  thus  to  you — 

FeL  Nay,  suffer  me  yet  ferther  to  say. 
And  peraduenture  I  shall  content  your  mynde.  n 
Lyberte,  I  wot  well,  forbere  no  man  there  may, 
It  is  so  swete  in  all  maner  of  kynde  ; 
Ilowe  be  it  lyberte  makyth  many  a  man  blynde; 
By  lyberte  is  done  many  a  great  excesse ; 
Lyberte  at  large  wyll  oft  wax  reklesse : 
Perceyue  ye  this  parcell  ? 

Lyb.  Ye,  syr,  passyng  well : 


IIAGKYFTCEKCK. 


but  rawe. 
Lyh.  Yet  suffer  me  to  saj  tlie  eurplu^e  of  mj 


What  wole  ye  where  vpon  I  wyll  conclude? 
I  eaj,  there  is  no  wellhe  where  as  lyberte  is 

duUe; 
I  trowe  ye  can  not  say  nay  moche  to  thi 
To  lyue  vntler  lawe,  it  is  capiynyte ; 
Where  drede  ledyth  the  daunce,  there  i 

nor  biysse  ; 
Or  howe  can  you  proue  that  there  is  feijftyi 
And  you  haue  not  your  owoe  fre  lyberte 
To  gporte  at  your  plea^are,  to  ryn  snd  to 
Where  lyberte  is  absent,  set  welthe  asjit 


1 


MAGNTFTCENCE.  7 

Hie  intrat  Measure. 

Meas,  Cry  St  you  assyste  in  your  altrj  cacyon  ! 

FeL  Why,  haue  you  harde  of*  our  dysputacyon  ? 

Meas.  I  parceyue  well  ho  we  eche  of  you  doth 
reason. 

Lyh.  Mayster  Measure,  you  be  come  in  good 
season . 

Meas.  And  it  is   wonder  that  your  wylde  in- 
solence 
Can  be  content  with  Measure  presence. 

FeL  Wolde  it  please  you  then — 

Lyh,  Vs  to  informe  and  ken — 

Meas.  A,  ye  be  wonders  men  I  » 

Your  langage  is  lyke  the  penne 
Of  hym  that  wryteth  to  fast. 

Fel.  Syr,  ^{  any  worde  haue  past 
Me  other  fyrst  or  last, 
To  you  I  arecte  it,  and  cast 
Therof  the  reformacyon. 

Lyh.  And  I  of  the  same  facyon ; 
Howe  be  it,  by  protestacyon, 
Dyspleasure  that  you  none  take, 
Some  reason  we  must  make.  m 

Meas,  That  wyll  not  I  forsake, 
So  it  in  measure  be : 
Come  of,  therfore,  let  se ; 
Shall  I  begynne  or  ye  ? 

Fel.  Nay,  ye  shall  begynne,  by  my  wyll. 

Lyh.  It  is  reason  and  skyll, 
We  your  pleasure  fulfyll. 


I  MAa.NTFTCKNCE, 

ifeas.  Then  ye  must  botLe  coneent 
Tou  to  holde  content 
With  myne  argument; 
And  I  mustti  you  requyre 
Me  pacyeiilly  to  here. 

FeL  Tes,  syr,  with  ryghl  good  chere. 

Lyb.  With  all  my  lierle  inlere. 

Mkas.  Omciua  lo  recorde,  in  liis  volumys  olde, 
With  euery  condycjon  measure  mual  lieeoughl; 
Wellhe  without  meaaure  wolde  here  hymselfe  to 

bolde, 
Lyberle   wiihont   measure    prone    a   thynge  of 


I  ponder  by  nomber,  by  measure  all  ihj 

wrought, 
As  at  the  fyrst  oryyynall  by  godiy  opynyo%> 
Whych  prouyih  well  tliat  measure  ehcrid  ban* 

domynyon : 
Where  measure  is  maysier,  plenty  dothe  none 

Where  measure  lackj-th,  all  thynge  dysorderyd  ia 
Where  measure  is  absent,  ryot  kepeth  I'e^dence 
Where  measure  is  ruler,  there  is  noihynge  amysM; 
Measure  is  treasure:  howe  say  ye,  is  it  not  this? 

Fet  Tes,  quesiyonlesse,  in  myne  opynyoi^ 
Measure  is  worthy  to  haue  domynyon, 

Lyi.  Vnio  thai  same  I  am  ryght  welt  agrede, 
So  that  tyberie  be  not  lef^e  behynde.  is 

Afeas.    Ye,  lyberte  with  measure  nede  neiier 
drede. 


MAGNYFYCENCE.  9 

Lyh.  What,  lyberte  to  measure  then  wolde  ye 

bynde  ? 
Meas,    What  ellys  ?    for  otherwyse  it   were 
agaynst  kynde : 
If  lyberte  sholde  lepe  and  renne  where  he  lyst, 
It  were  no  vertue,  it  were  a  thynge  vnblyst ; 
It  were  a  rayschefe,  yf  lyberte  lacked  a  reyne, 
Where  with  to  rule  hyni  with  the  wry thyng  of  a 

rest: 
All  trebyllys  and  tenours  be  rulyd  by  a  meyne ; 
Lyberte  without  measure  is  acountyd  for  a  beste; 
There  is  no  surfet  where  measure  rulyth  the  feste ; 
There   is   no   excesse  where   measure   hath  his 

helthe ; 
Measure  contynwyth  prosperyte  and  welthe.      wa 
Feh  Vnto  your  rule  I  wyll  annex  my  mynde. 
Lyh.  So  wolde  I,  but  I  wolde  be  lothe, 
That  wonte  was  to  be  formyst,  now  to  come  be- 

hynde : 
It  were  a  shame,  to  God  I  make  an  othe. 
Without  I  myght  cut  it  out  of  the  brode  clothe, 
As  I  was  wonte  euer  at  my  fre  wyll. 

Meas,  But  haue  ye  not  herde  say,  that  wyll  is 
no  skyll  ? 
Take  sad  dyreccyon,  and  leue  this  wantonnesse.  i« 
Lyh,  It  is  no  maystery. 
Fd,  Tushe,  let  Measure  procede, 
A.nd  after  his  mynde  herdely  your  selfe  adresse 
For,  without  measure,  pouerte  and  nede 
Wyll  crepe  vpon  vs,  and  vs  to  myschefe  lede ; 


10  MAGNTFTCENCB. 

For  myjschefe  wyll  maysier  vs,  yf  measure  n 
forsake. 
ZyJ.  Well,  I  am  conitnt  your  waves  to  take. 
Meat.  Surely,  I  am  ioyous  tbat  ye  be  niyiidyil 
thus. 
Magnyfycence   lo    mayotayne,  your   pronuKTon 
ehalbe. 
Fel.  So  in  liis  barte  he  may  be  glad  of  vs.    *■ 
Lj/b.  There  is  no  prynce  but  he  faatb  nede  of 

Welibe,  with  Measnre  and  plesaunt  Lyberte. 
Meat,    Kowe  pleasyth  you  a  lylell  whyle  ID 

stande  ; 
Me  semeih  Magnyfycence  is  comynge  here  si 

baude. 


Jfie  intrat  Magntftckkce. 
Mayn.  To  assure  you  of  my  noble 

Who  lysi  lo  knowe,  Magnyfycence  I  hygl 
Bui,  Measure  my  frende,  what  hyghl  Ihts 
name? 
Mens.    Syr,  though  ye  be  a  nohle  prynce 
myght, 
Yet  in  this  man  you  must  set  your  delyghl ; 
And,  syr,  this  other  mannys  name  is  Lyberte. 
Magn.  Weloome,frendysyearebolheTntoi: 
But  Dowe  let  me  knowe  of  your  conuereacyoD. 
^rf.   Pleasyih  your  grace, 
call. 


prynce  w 


/ 


MAGNTFYCENCE.  11 

Lyb.    And  I  am  Lyberte,  made  of  in  euery 

nacyon. 
Magn.    Conuenyent   persons   for  any  pry  nee 
ryall. 
Welthe  with  Lyberte,  with   me  bothe  dwell  ye 

shall, 
To  the  gydynge  of  my  Measure  you  bothe  com- 

myttyiige : 
That  Measure  be  mayster,  vs  semeth  it  is  syttynge. 
Meas,  Where  as  ye  haue,  syr,  to  me  them  as- 
sygned, 
Suche  order,  I  trust,  with  them  for  to  take,        w 
So  that  welthe  with  measure  shalbe  conbyned. 
And  lyberte  his  large  with  measure  shall  make. 
Fel,  Your  ordenaunce,  syr,  I  wyll  not  forsake. 
Lyh.  And  I  my  selfe  hooly  to  you  wyll  inclyne. 
Magn,  Then  may  I  say  that  ye  be  seruauntys 
myne, 
/For  by  measure,  I  warne  you,  we  thynke  to  be 

gydyd ; 
Wherin  it  is  necessary  my  pleasure  you  knowe, 
Measure  and  I  wyll  neuer  be  deuydyd 
For  no  dyscorde  that  any  man  can  sawe ;  iso 

For  measure  is  a  meane,  nother  to  hy  nor  to  lawe, 
In  whose  attemperaunce  I  haue  suche  delyght, 
That  measure  shall  neuer  departe  from  my  syght. 
Fel.  Laudable  your  consayte  is  to  be  acountyd ; 
For  welthe  without  measure  sodenly  wyll  slyde. 

lAJb.  As  your  grace  full  nobly  hath  recountyd, 
Measure  with  noblenesse  sholde  be  alyde. 


nnexyd  ca 
de;      ^J 


Magin.  Tben,  Liberie,  ee  that  Mensui 
gyde, 
For  I  wyl!  vse  you  bj*  his  aduerljsmenl. 

I'el.  Tlien  sluill  jou  haue  with  you  pre 
res  J  dent. 

Meat.  I  troiTe,  good  fortune  hatb   annexed  ca 
togeihei-,  ^_ 

To  se  howe  greublc  we  are  of  one  mynde; 
There  is  no  flaierer,  nor  lo^yll  so  lythet 
This  lynkyd  chuyite  of  loue  that  can  vobysd 
Nowe  That  ye  haue  me  chtfe  ruler  aaeyngf 
I  wylt  endeuour  me  lo  order  euety  ihynge  ^ 
Tour  nobleiiesse  and  houour  consemynge. 

Lgb.  In  ioy  and  royrthe  yuur  niynde  sholbe  iff' 
largyd. 
And  not  embracyU  wiib  piisyllanyrajte  ; 
But  plenarly  all  thought  from  you  mui't  be  dys- 

chargyd. 
If  ye  lyst  to  lyue  after  your  fre  lyberle :  " 

All  delectauyons  aquajntyd  is  with  me. 
By  me  all  ptirsoiis  worke  what  they  lyate. 

Meat.  Hem,  syr,  yet  beware  of  li«d  I  wystel 
Lyberte  in  some  cause  becomyth  a  genlyll  myude, 
Bycause  courae  of  measure,  yf  I  be  in  the  way  '■ 
Who  countyth  wiihuui  me,  is  caste  to  f«r  behvnd* 
Of  his  rekenyoge,  as  euydently  we  may 
Se  at  our  eye  the  worlde  day  by  day  ; 
For  defaute  of  measure  all  thynge  daihe  e 

Fel.  All  that  ye  say  is  as  liewe  as  the  Cr« 
For  howe  be  it  lyberle  lo  welihe  is  conueuveni, 


MAGNTFYCENCE.  13 

And  from  felycyte  may  not  be  forborne, 
Yet  measure  hath  ben  so  longe  from  vs  absent, 
That  all  men  laugh  at  lyberte  to  scorne ; 
Welth  and  wyt,  I  say,  be  so  threde  bare  worne. 
That  all  is  without  measure,  and  fer  beyonde  the 
mone. 
Magn.  Then  noblenesse,  I  se  well,  is  almoste 
vndone. 
But  yf  therof  the  soner  amendys  be  made ; 
For  dowtksse  I  parceyue  my  magnyfycence 
Without  measure  lyghtly  may  fade,  aao 

Of  to  moche  lyber*«  vnder  the  offence  : 
Wherfore,  Measu^e,  take  Lyberte  with  you  hence, 
And  rule  hym  after  the  rule  of  your  scole. 
Lyh,  What,  syr,  wolde  ye  make  me  a  poppynge 

fole? 
MeaSn  Why,  were  not  your  selfe  agreed  to  the 
same. 
And  now  wolde  ye  swarue  from  your  owne  ordyn- 
aunce  ? 
Lyh.  I  wolde  be  rulyd,  and  I  myght  for  shame. 
FeL  A,  ye  make  me  laughe  at  your  inconstaunce. 
Magn,  Syr,  without  any  longer  delyaunce. 
Take  Lyberte  to  rule,  and  folowe  myne  entent.  24i 
Meas,  It  shalbe  done  at  your  commaundement. 

[taqae  Measure  exeat  locum  cum  Libertate,  ei 
maneat  Magnyfycence  cum  Felicitate. 

McKfn.  It  is  a  wanton  thynge  this  Lyberte  ; 
Perceyue  you  not  howe  lothe  he  was  to  abyde 


14  MAGNYFYCENCE. 

The  rule  of  Measure,  notwilhatandynge  we 
Hnue  depulyd  Measure  hjm  to  gyde  ? 
By  measure  eche  iliynge  duly  U  iryde: 
Tliyiike  you  not  thus,  my  frcnde  Felycyle  ? 

Fel.   God  forbede  that  it  ottier  wy^ie  sholdclie! 

Magn.  Te  coulde  not  ellyi^,  I   wote,  with  ido 
endui^. 

Fd.   Endure?  do,   God   wote,   it   were   gfur 
payne ;  * 

But  yf  I  were  orderyd  by  iust  measure, 
U  were  not  possyble  me  longe  to  retayne. 

Hie  intral  Fan  sir. 
Fmi.  Tusche,  Lolde  your  pece,  your  langageiB 
vayne. 
Please  it  your  grace  to  take  no  dysdayne, 
To  shewe  you  playuly  the  troutb  8S  I  ihynke. 
Magn.   Here  is  none  forsylh  whether  you  flete 

or  Bynke, 
Fel,   From  whens  come  you,  syr,  that  no  miin 

lokyd  after? 
Maga.  Or  who  made  you  so  botde  lointerru]>« 

Fan..   Nowe,  benediciU,  ye  wetie  I   were   some 

Or  ellys  some  iangelynge  Jacke  of  the  vale ;     " 
To  wene  that  I  am  dronken,  bytause  J  loke 

Magn.  Me  semeth  thai  yc  haue  dronkenji 
than  ye  liaue  bled. 


MAGNYFYCENCE.  15 

Fan,  Yet  amonge  noble  men  I  was  brought  vp 

and  bred. 
Fel,  Nowe  leue  this  iangelynge,  and  to  vs  ex- 
pounde 
Why  that  ye  sayd  our  langage  was  in  vayne. 

Fan,  Mary,  vpon  trouth  my  reason  I  grounds, 
That  without  largesse  noblenesse  can  not  rayne  ; 
And  that  I  sayd  ones,  yet  I  say  agayne, 
I  say  without  largesse  worshyp  hath  no  place,  909 
For  largesse  is  a  purchaser  of  pardon  and  of  grace. 
Magn,  Nowe,  I  beseche  the,  tell  me  what  is 

thy  name  ? 
Fan,  Largesse,  that  all  lordes  sholde  loue,  syr, 

I  hyght 
Fel,  But  hyght  you.  Largesse,  encreace  of 

noble  fame? 
Fan,  Ye,  syr,  vndoubted. 
Fel.  Then,  of  very  ryght, 
With  Magnyfycence,  this  noble  prynce  of  myght, 
Sholde  be  your  dwellynge,  in  my  consyderacyon. 
Magn,  Yet  we  wyll  therin  take  good  ddybera- 

cyon. 
Fan,  As  in  that,  I  wyll  not  be  agaynst  your 

pleasure. 
Fel,  Syr,  hardely  remembre  what  may  your 
name  auaunce.  am 

Magn,  Largesse  is  laudable,  so  it  be  in  measure. 
Fan,  Largesse  is  he  that  all  prynces  doth 
auaunce ; 
I  reporte  me  herein  to  Kynge  Lewes  of  Frauncei 


16  MAGNTPyCESCE. 

fel.  Wh^  haue  ye  hym  aamed,  and  all  other 

refused  ? 
^an.  For,  sylh  he  dyed,  largeaae    was  Ijtell 

Plucke  vp  your  oijnde,  syr;  what  ayle  you  10 

Haue  ye  not  welihe  here  at  your  wyll  ? 
It  13  but  a  maddynge,  these  wayes  that  ye  vse: 
What  auaylmb  lordshyp,  yourselte  tor  to  kyll 
With  care  and   with  thought  howa  Jai:ke  sliall 
haue  Gyl  T  ™ 

Magti.   Wlial  ?     I  haue  aspyed  ye  are  a  turle* 

page. 

Fan.  By  God,  syr,  ye  se  but  fewe  wyae  meii 

of  myne  age ; 

But  couetyse  liatli  blowen  you  so  full  of  wynde, 

That  colicapassio  hath  gropydyoa  b;tbegDtiy3< 

Fel.  In  fuylit,  broder  Largesse,  you  liaue  » 

mery  mynde. 
Fan.  In  fayih,  I  net  not  by  the  worlde  l"0 

*Dauncasler  cultys. 
Magn.   Ye  nunte  hut   a  wylde  flyeng  bolle  K 
shote  at  the  butter: 
Though  Large^^e  ye  hyght,  your  laDgage  is  » 

large; 
For  whiche  enile  goih  forwarde  ye  take  lyttJl 
cliarge. 
F«l.  Let  se,  this  checte  yf  ye  voyde  canne.  " 
Fan.  In  fayihe,  els  had  I  gone  to  longe  to  scolc. 
But  yf  I  coulde  koowe  a  guse  from  a  swanoe. 


MAGNTFYCENCE.  17 

Magn.  Wei,  wyse  men   may  ete  the  fysshe, 

when  ye  shal  draw  the  pole. 
Fan,  In  fayth,  I  wyll  not  say  that  ye  shall 
proue  a  fole, 
But  ofte  tymes  haue  I  sene  wyse  men  do  mad 
dedys. 
Magn,  Go,  shake  the  dogge,^  hay,  syth  ye  wyll 
nedys ! 
You  are  nothynge  mete  with  vs  for  to  dwell, 
That  with  your  lorde  and  mayster  so  pertly  can 

prate : 

Gete  you  hens,  I  say,  by  my  counsell ;  309 

1  wyll  not  vse  you  to  play  with  me  checke  mate. 

Fan,  Syr,  y^  I  haue  offended  your  noble  estate, 

I  trow  I  haue  brought  you  suche   wrytynge  of 

recorde, 
That  I  shall  haue  you  agayne  my  good  lorde : 
To  you  recoramendeth  Sad  Cyrcumspeccyon, 
And  sendeth  you  this  wrytynge  closed  vnder  sele. 
Magn.  This  wrytynge  is  welcome  with  harty 
affeccyon : 
Why  kepte  you  it  thus  longe  ?  howe  dothe  he  ? 
wele? 
Fan,  Syr,  thanked  be  God,  he  hath  his  hele. 
Magn.  Welthe,  gete  you  home,  and  commaunde 
me  to  Mesure  ;  sifl 

Byd  hym  take  good  hede  to  you,  my  synguler 
tresure. 


1  (he  dogge]  Qy.  "  thd,  dogge?  "  but  see  notes. 
VOL.   II.  2 


18  MAGNYFYCENCE. 

Fel.  Is  there  ony  thynge  elles  your  grace  wyll 

comraaunde  me  ? 
Magn,  Nothynge  but  fare  you  well  tyll  sone ; 
And  that  he  take  good  kepe  to  Lyberte. 
Fel,  Your  pleasure,  syr,  shortely  shall  be  done 
Magn.  I  shall  come  to  you  myselfe,  I  trowe, 
this  afternone.^ 
I  pray  you,  Larges,  here  to  remayne, 
Whylest  I  knowe  what  this  letter  dothe  contayne. 

Hie  faciaJt  tanquam  legeret  litter  as  tacite.  Interim 
superveniat  cantando  Countebpet  Counte- 
NAUNCE  suspenso  gradu,  qui,  visa  Magntfy- 
CENCE,  sensim  retrocedat ;  at  temptis  postpusil- 
lum  rursum  accedat  Counterfet  Cocnte- 
NAUNCE  prospectando  et  vocitando  a  longe ;  ci 
Fansy  animat  ^  silentium  cum  manu. 

C.  Count,  What,  Fansy,  Fansy ! 

Magn.  Who  is  that  that  thus  dyd  cry  ? 
Me  thought  he  called  Fansy.  ^ 

Fan.  It  was  a  Flemynge  hyght  Hansy. 

Magn.  Me  thought  he  called  Fansymebehyn3*^' 

Fan.  Nay,  syr,  it  was  nothynge  but  your  myn  J  ^ 
But  nowe,  syr,  as  touchynge  this  letter— 

Magn.  1  shall  loke  in  it  at  leasure  better : 
And  surely  ye  are  to  hym  beholde  ; 
And  for  his  sake  ryght  gladly  I  wolde 
Do  what  I  coude  to  do  you  good. 

1  rt/Ter  none]  Here  Felycyte  goes  oat. 
'^  animat]  Qy.  "  animet  V  " 


MAGNTPYCENCE.  19 

Fan,  I  pray,  God  kepe  you  in  that  mood ! 

Magn,  This  letter  was  wryten  ferre  hence.    3« 

Fan.  By  lakyn,  syr,  it  hathe  cost  me  pence 
And  grotes  many  one,  or  I  came  to  your  presence. 

Magn.  Where  was  it  delyuered  you,  shewe  vnto 
me. 

Fan.  By  God,  syr,  beyonde  the  se. 

Magn.  At  what  place  nowe,  as  you  gesse  ? 

Fan,  By  my  trouthe,  syr,  at  Pountesse  ; 
This  wrytynge  was  taken  me  there, 
But  neuer  was  I  in  gretter  fere. 

Magn,  Howe  so? 

Fan,  By  God,  at  the  see  syde,  w 

Had  I  not  opened  my  purse  wyde, 
I  trowe,  by  our  lady,  I  had  ben  slayne, 
Or  elles  I  had  lost  myne  eres  twayne. 

Magn}  By  your  soth  ? 

Fan,  Ye,  and  there  is  suche  a  wache. 
That  no  man  can  scape  but  they  hym  cache, 
Tliey  bare  me  in  hande  that  I  was  a  spye ; 
And  another  bade  put  out  myne  eye. 
Another  wolde  myne  eye  were  blerde, 
Another  bade  shaue  halfe  my  berde  ;  w 

And  boyoB  to  the  pylery  gan  me  plucke, 
And  wolde  haue  made  me  Freer  Tucke, 
To  preche  out  of  the  pylery  hole, 
Without  an  antetyme  or  a  stole ; 


1  By  your  soth]  Ed.  prefixes  "  Famy  "  to  these  words,  and 
omits  the  prefix  to  tlie  next  speech. 


80  HiOMTTCESCC. 

Anil  iK)fn«  bade  tuMv  IiTin  vriih  a  markt ; 

To  gi-ie  m^  fro  lf'<-m  I  l>»"i  tuoche  w»rke. 

jVujn.  Mary,  bjt,  ye  were  aJrajrcle. 


^<an.    By  my  truuthc, 


He, 


payde  wul 


I 


Aixl  made  largesse  as  I  hygbt, 

I  )iaiJ  not  bfti  here  wiih  you  ihts  nyght; 

Hut  surely  largesse  saued  my  lyfe, 
l-'or  Irtigesse  Btynteih  all  maner  of  strj-fe. 
Magn.  Il  doihe  so  sure  nowe  and  than, 
But  largesse  is  not  mete  for  euery  man. 

Fan.  No,  but  for  you  grete  estates: 
largesse  siynleili  grete  debates; 
And  lie  llmt  I  came  fro  lo  this  place 
Sayd  I  was  mete  for  your  gi'aee  ; 
And  ill  dede,  syr,  I  litre  men  taike, 
By  ilie  way  ns  I  ryde  and  walke, 
Say  howe  you  e>:cedc  in  noblenesse, 
If  you  hnd  with  you  largesse. 

Magn.  And  suy  tliey  so  in  very  dede  ? 
Fan.  Willi  j-e,  sj'r,  ao  God  me  spede. 
Magn.  Yet  mesure  is  a  mery  mene. 
Fan.  Ye,  syr,  a  blannclied  almonde  is  no  bei 
^Hcn^ure  is  inele  for  a  tnarcbannles  ball, 
PSut  birgesse  beeometU  a  stale  ryall. 
F'WIiBl,  sholdt^  you  pynebe  at  a  pecke  of  oies, 
Llf«  wolda  Eone  pvnctie  at  a  pecke  ofgrotes. 
[Thas  is  lite  Wlkynge  of  one  and  of  oder, 
Bspeke  il  hu^er  muggeri 

■IT  ameade  your  lunne. 


MAGNYFTCENCE.  gl 

Magn.  In  faythe,  Largesse,  welcome  to  me. 

Fail.  I  pray  you,  syr,  I  may  so  be, 
And  of  my  ssruyce  you  shall  not  mysse. 

Magn,  Togyder  we  wyll  talke  more  of  tliis : 
Let  vs  departe  from  hens  home  to  my  place. 

Fan.  I  folow  euen  after  your  noble  grace.      «» 

Hie  discedat  Magnificens  cum  Fanst,€^  intrat^ 

COUNTERPET  COUNTENAUNCE. 

(7.  Count,  What,  I  say,  herke  a  worde. 

Fan,  Do  away,  I  say,  the  deuylles  torde ! 

G,  Count,    Ye,  but   how  longe   shall  I  here 
awayte  ? 

Fan,  By  Goddys  body,  I  come  streyte: 
I  hate  this  bJunderyng  that  thou  doste  make. 

C,  Count,  No  we  to  the  deuyll  I  th^  betake, 
For  in  fayth  ye  be  well  met. 
Fansy  hath  cachyd  in  a  flye  net 
Tliis  noble  man  Magnyfycence, 
Of  Largesse  vnder  the  pretence.  ««• 

They  haue  made  me  here  to  put  the  stone: 
But  nowe  wyll  I,  that  they  be  gone. 
In  bastarde  ryme,  after  the  dogrell  gyse, 
Tell  you  where  of  my  name  dothe  ryse. 
For  Counterfet  Countenaunce  knowen  am  1; 
This  worlde  is  full  of  my  foly. 


1  intrat]  Qy.  "  intretV  "—This  stage-direction  is  not  quite 
correct,  for  Gmnt.  Count,  enters  as  Fansy  is  going  off,  and 
detains  him  till  v.  406. 


KAOHTFICCKCE. 

}  MtDOl  by  kjm  fi  dvi 

CM  not  r«uiiierft:l  a  Ife. 
i^  and  stare,  aii<)  bydc  iherbj, 
(omitetuiDnn:  it  clenly, 
f  And  def«D(]«  ii  manerlj'. 
I  A  knaue  wyll  counieri'et  nowe  a  kay^b^ 
1  A  lanlftyoe  lyke  a  ionle  to  fygbl,* 

A  myn^in;!!  lyke  a  man  ot'  rarght, 
,  A  lappyeier  lyke  a  lady  bryghc: 

Tbua  make  1  them  w^ib  tbt^ft  lo  fygha, 

Tbus  at  the  taste  I  brjngt:  hjm'  ryght 

To  TjburnK,  where  they  hange  on  bji^rt. 

To  coiinlcriei  I  c«n  by  praty  wayes: 
I   Of  nyghlys  to  occupy  cuutilerlel  knyes, 

Clenly  to  eounlerfet  newe  arayes, 

CounIertt:t  eyvnest  by  way  of  filayes : 
I  Tbutt  am  1  occupyed  at  alt  assnyes ; 
I   Wliai  so  euer  I  do,  all  men  me  prayae, 
i   And  mckyll  am  1  madu  of  nowc  adays : 

I  inulera  in  ilie  lawe  of  the  lande,    I 

Wylli  goldc  and  groles  ihey  gres 

lu  eletle  of  ryght  that  wrongs  may  litande, 
I  And  couiiturt'cil  fredome  that  ia  boundo; 

I  eounlerfet '  suger  that  ia  but  fuunde ; 

Counloi'fet  capylaynisa  by  me  ai-e  mande ; 

Of  tkll  lewdnes^e  1  kyndell  the  brande ; 


3IAGNTFTCENCE.  23 

iterfet  kyndnesse,  and  thynke  dyscayte ; 

aterfet  letters  by  the  way  ofsleyght; 

elly  vsynge  counterfet  weyght ; 

Iterfet  laiigage,  fayty  bone  gey  to. 

iterfetynge  is  a  proper  bayte ; 

unte  to  counterfet  in  a  resayte ; 

ounterfet  well  is  a  good  consayte. 

Iterfet  maydenhode  may  well  be  borne,       «o 

counterfet  coynes  is  laughynge  to  scorne ; 

euyll  patchynge  of  that  is  tome ; 

u  the  noppe  is  rughe,  it  wolde  be  shorne ; 

iterfet  haltynge  without  a  thorne ; 

counterfet  chafer  is  but  euyll  corne ; 

hynge  is  worse  whan  it  is  worne. 

t,  wolde  ye,  wyues,  counterfet 

courtly  gyse  of  the  newe  iet  ? 

►Ide  barne  wolde  be  vnderset : 

nioche  worthe  that  is  ferre  fat,  «» 

t,  wanton,  wanton,  nowe  well  ymet ! 

t,  Margery  Mylke  Ducke,  mermoset ! 

Me  be  masked  in  my  net ; 

jlde  be  nyce,  thoughe  I  say  nay  ; 

Jrede,  it  wolde  haue  fresshe  aray, 

thertore  shall  my  husbande  pay ; 

ounterfet  she  wyll  assay 

he  newe  gyse,  fresshe  and  gaye, 

be  as  praty  as  she  may, 

iet  it  ioly  as  a  iay :  47b 

Iterfet  prechynge,  and  byleue  the  contrary  • 

iterfet  conscyence,  peuysshe  pope  holy ; 


Si  MAIiNVKVCKXCK. 

Counlerfet  BOdnesse,  wiili  (ii;lyngB  full  m 
Counierfet  holjnes  is  cnll«d  jpocrj-syi 
Counlei-fel  reason  ia  not  wonli  a  flyej 
Counterfet  wysUoiiie,  and  (vorkes  of  foly ; 
Counlerfut  con  utena  unci;  eueiy  mnn  dot  he  occupy . 
Counterftl  woi'sbyp  ouLwarde  men  niay  si 
HycbeB  rydctb  out,  nt  lionie  is  puutirle; 
Couiiterfet  pleasure  is  borne  out  by  me; 
Coll  woldB  go  clenly,  and  it  wyll  not  be, 
And  AnnoL  wolde  be  njce,  and  Inugbes,  i 

Your  couiiterftt  counteiiauuce  is  all  of  nynyta, 
A  plummiid  partrydge  all  redy  to  flye ; 
A  knokyibonyiii-de  wjll  couulurfet  a  clai-ke, 
He  wolde  trutte  gcntylly,  but  lie  is  to  starku, 
A I   bis   clukcd   couiiterfctyuge   doggeg   dollie 

A  carter  a  courlyer,  it  is  a  wortby  warfc«. 
That   with    liis  whyp  bis   mared  wa^s  wonte  Id 

A  ciisfrell  to  dryue  the  douyll  out  of  Ilie  derke, « 
A  counlerfet  courtyer  with  a  kiiautw  marka. 
To  counteri't^L  this  freors  haue  lunied  me ; 
This  nonnoB  nowe  and  ilien,  and  it  mygbt  j| 
Wolde  lake  in  ibe  way  of  cM:inlerft>t  charjtfi 
The  grace  of  God  vnder  henedteite; 
To  counterfet  thyr  counsell  iliey  gyue  n 
Ciianons  can  nol  counterfet  but  vpoit  ihre^  , 
Monkys  nrny   not   for   drede   that   men  fitti 
tbeiufe. 


MAGNYFYCENCE.  2  J 

Hie  ingrediatur  Fai^sy  proper anter  cum  Crafty 
CoNUEYAUNCE,  cum  famine  mvlto  adinvicem 
garrulantes :  tandem,  viso  Counterfet  Coun- 
TENAUNCE,  dicat  Crafty  Conueyaunce. 
Cr,  Con.  What,  Counterfet  Countenaunce ! 
G,  Count,  What,  Crafty  Conueyaunce  1         son 
Fan.  What,  the  deuyl^  are  ye  two  of  aquaynt- 
aunce  ? 
God  gyue  you  a  very  myschaunce ! 

Or.  Con.  Yes,  yes,  syr,  he  and  I  haue  met. 
G.  Count,  We  haue  bene  togyder  bothe  erly 
and  late  :  [longe  ? 

But,  Fansy  my  frende,  where  haue  ye  bene  so 
Fan,  By  God,  I  haue  bene  about  a  praty 
pronge  ; 
Crafty  Conueyaunce,  I  sholde  say,  and  I. 

Cr,  Con,  By  God,  we  haue  made  Magnyfycence 

to  ete  a  flye. 
C.  Count,  Howe  coulde  ye   do  that,  and  [Ij 

was  away  ? 
Fan,  By  God,  man,  bothe  his  pagent  and  thyne 

he  can  plaj^. 
C,  Count.  Say  trouth  ?  sii 

Gr.  Con,  Yes,  yes,  by  lakyn,  I  shall  the  warent, 
As  longe  as  I  lyue,  thou  haste  an  heyre  parent. 
Fan,  Yet  haue  we  pyckyd  out  a  ronie  for  th^. 
C,  Count,  Why,  shall  we  dwell  togyder  all 

thre? 
Cr,  Con,  Why,  man,  it  were  to  great  a  wonder, 
That  we  thre  gulauntes  sholde  be  longe  asonder. 


m  M-VGNYPVCENCE. 

O,  Count.  ForCockyslmrtejgyuemethyhan**- 
Fan.  By  the  luasse,  for  je  are  able  to  dysiroy 

an  hol»  lanJc 
O.  Con,  By  God,  yet  it  muBte  begynne  mtwlie 
oUhi.  " 

Fan.  Who  thiit  is  ruled  by  vs,  ii  shulbe    longe 

or  he  thee. 
C   Count,  But,  I  say,  kepest  thou  the  olde  mime 

Eiyll  ihiil  Ihou  had? 
Cr.    Con.  Wliy,  wenysl  thou,  horson,  that  I 

were  so  mad  ? 
Fan.  Kay,  nay,  he  hath  chaungod  his,  and  I 

haue  ehiiunged  mync. 
O.  Count,  Nowe,  what  is  his  name,  and  wiini 

iaihjue? 
Fan.  In  fayilie.  Largesse  I  liyght, 
&.nd  I  am  made  a  knyght. 

C.  Count.  A  rehellyon  agaynat  nature, 
Bo  large  a  man,  and  so  ly  tell  of  siaturei  I 
But,  syr,  howe  counlerfelyd  ye? 

Or.  Con.  Hare  Surueyaunce'  I  named  b 
C.  Counl.  Surueyaunce !  where  yi 
Thryfte  halhu  lost  her  cofer  Itay. 

Fan.  But  i.s  it  not  well  ?  hoive  thyubtjift  tl 
C.  Count.  Yes,  syr,  1  gyue  God  auowe,  • 
Myeelfe  coude  not  couDLeH'et  it  better. 
Bui  what  became  of  the  letter. 
That  I  couiiierfeyied  you  vnduraeath  ashrairj 

1  Sm  Simcynunce,  *c.]  Ed.  givea  this  line  to  C  Omt., 


MAGNTFTCENCE.  27 

Fan,  By  the  masse,  odly  well  alowde. 

(7r.  Clon,  By  God,  had  not  I  it  conuayed,      sw 

't  Fansy  had  ben  dysceyued.^ 

G,  Count,  I  wote,  thou  arte  false  ynoughe  for 

one. 
Wan,  By  my  trouthe,  we  had  ben  gone  : 
id  yet,  in  fayth,  man,  we  lacked  th^ 
r  to  speke  with  Lyberte. 
G.  Count.  What  is  Largesse  without  Lyberte  ? 
Gr,  Con,  By  Mesure  mastered  yet  is  he. 
C  Count.  What,  is  your  conueyaunce  no  better? 
Fan.  In  faythe,  Mesure  is  lyke  a  tetter, 
lat  ouergroweth  a  rapnnes  face,  530 

he  ruleth  ouer  all  our  place. 
Cr.  Con.  Nowe  therfore,  why  lest  we  are    to- 

gyder,— 
unterfet  Countenaunce,  nay,  come  hyder, — 
ay,  whylest  we  are  togyder  in  same — 
G.  Count.  Tushe,  a  strawe,  it  is  a  shame 
at  we  can  no  better  than  so. 
Fan,  We  wyll  remedy  it,  man,  or  we  go ; 
r,  lyke  as  mustarde  is  sharpe  of  taste,^ 
ght  so  a  sharpe  fansy  must  be  founde 
herwith  Mesure  to  confounde.  «i' 

Cr,  Con,  Can  you  a  remedy  for  a  tysyke, 
at  sheweth  yourselfe  thus  spedde  in  physyke  ? 
G.  Count.  It  is  a  gentyll  reason  of  a  rake. 


1  Qy.  Dyscryued? 

*  taaU\  Qy.  a  line  wanting  to  rhyme  with  this  ? 


28  MAGNYFYCENCE. 

Fan,  For  all  these  iapes  yet  that  ye  make— 
Or,  Gon.  Your  fansy  maketh  myne  elbowe  tt 

ake. 
Fan,  Let  se,  fynde  you  a  better  way. 
C,  Count,  Take  no  dyspleasure  of  that  we  sajr. 
Or,  Con,  Nay,  and  you   be  angry  aud  oue^ 

wharte, 
A  man  may  beshrowe  your  angry   harte. 
Fan.  Tushe,  a  strawe,  I  thought  none  yll.    •" 
C  Count.  What,  shall  we  iangle  thus  all  the 

day  sty  11  ? 
Cr.  Con,  Nay,  let  vs  our  heddes  togyder  cast 
Fan.  Ye,  and  se  howe  it  may  be  compast, 
That  Mesuj'e  were  cast  out  of  the  dores. 

C,  Count.  Alasse,  where  is  my  botes  and  my 

spores  ? 
Cr,  Con.  In  all  this  hast  whether  wy  11  ye  ryde? 
C,  Count.  I  trowe,  it  shall  not  nede  to  abyde. 
Cockf^s  woundes,  se,  syrs,  se,  se ! 

Ilic  ingrediatur  Cloked  Colusyon  cum  ekto 
aspectu,  deorsum  et  sursum  amhulando. 

Fan,  Cockes  arraes,  what  is  he  ? 
Cr,  Con.  By  Cockes  harte,  he  loketh  hye;  ®* 
He  hawketh,  me  thynke,  for  a  butterflye. 
C.  Count.  No  we,  by  Cockes  harte,  well  abyden> 

For,  had  you  not  come,  I  had  ryden. 

CI.  Col.  Tliy  wordes  be  but  wynde,  neuertl^®5 
haue  no  vvayght ; 
Thou  hast  made  me  play  the  iurde  hayte. 


MAGNYFYCENCE.  29 

(7.    Count.  And  yf  ye  knewe  howe  I  haue 
mused, 
1  am  sure  ye  wolde  haue  me  excused. 

CL    Col,  I  say,  come  hyder :  what  are  these 
twayne  ? 

O.    Count,  By  God,  syr,  this  is  Fansy  small 
brayne  ; 
And  Crafty  Conuayaunce,  knowe  you  not  hym?  590 

CI,  Col,  Know  hym,  syr!  quod  he;  yes,  by 
Saynt  Sym. 
Here  is  a  leysshe  of  ratches  to  renne  an  bare : 
Woo  is  that  purse  that  ye  shall  share ! 

Fan,  What  call  ye  him,  this  ? 

Or,  Con,  I  trowe,  that  he  is. 

O,  Count,  Tushe,  holde  your  pece. 
Se  you  not  how  they  prece 
For  to  knowe  your  name? 

CI,  Col,  Knowe  they  not  me,  they  are  to  blame. 
Knowe  you  not  me,  syrs  ?  eoo 

Fan.  No,  in  dede. 

Cr,  Con,  Abyde,  lette  me  se,  take  better  hede  ; 
Cockes  harte,  it  is  Cloked  Colusyon. 

CL  Col,  A,  syr,  I  pray  God  gyue  you  con- 
fusyon ! 

Fan,  Cockes  armes,  is  that  your  name  ? 

C,  Count,  Ye,  by  the  masse,  this  is  euen  the 
same. 
That  all  this  matter  must  vnder  grope. 

Gr,  Con.  What  is  this  he  wereth,  a  cope  ? 

CI,  Col,  Cappe,  syr  ;  I  say  you  be  to  bolde. 


30  MAGNYFTCENCE. 

Fan,  Se,  howe  he  is  wrapped  for  the  coldern 
Is  it  not  a  vestment  ? 

C7.  Col,  A,  ye  wante  a  rope. 

C,  Count,  Tushe,  it  is  Syr  Johnn  Double  cloke. 

Fan.  Syr,  and  yf  ye  wolde  not  be  wrothe— 

CI.  Col.  What  sayst  ? 

Fan.  Here  was  to  lytell  clothe. 

CI.    Col.   A,  Fansy,  Fansy,  God  sende  iU 

brayne  I 
Fan.  Ye,  for  your  wyt  is  cloked  for  the  rape. 

Cr.  Con,  Nay,  lette  vs  not  clatter  thus  styll. 

CI.  Col,  Tell  me,  syrs,  what  is  your  wylL    « 

C.  Count,  Syr,  it  is  so  that  these  twayne 
With  Magnyfycence  in  housholde  do  remayne; 
And  there  they  wolde  haue  me  to  dwell, 
But  I  wyll  be  ruled  after  your  counsell. 

Fan,  Mary,  so  wyll  we  also. 

CI,  Col.  But  tell  me  where  aboute  ye  go. 

C.  Count,  By  God,  we  wolde  gete  vs  all  thyder, 
Spell  the  remenaunt,  and  do  togyder. 

CI,  Col,  Hath  Magnyfycence  ony  tresure? 

Cr,  Con.  Ye,  but  he  spendeth  it  all  in  mesure.<» 

CI,  Col,  Why,  dwelleth  Mesure  where  ye  two 
dwell  ? 
Fn  faythe,  he  were  better  to  dwell  in  hell. 

Fan.  Yet  where  we  wonne,  nowe  there  wonnetu 
he. 

CI,  Col,  And  haue  you  not  amonge  you  M" 
berte  ? 

C  Count,  Ye,  but  he  is  a  captyuyte. 


MAGNTFTCENCE.  31 

CL  Col.  What,  the  deuyll,  howe  may  that  be  ? 

(7.  Count.  I  can  not  tell  you :  why  aske  you  me  ? 
A^ske  these  two  that  there  dothe  dwell. 

Gl.  Col,  Syr,  the  playnesse  you  tell  me.* 

Cr.  Con.  There  dwelleth  a  mayster  men  calleth 
Mesure —  •« 

Fan.  Ye,  and  he  hath  rule  of  all  his  tresure. 

Cr.  Con.  Nay,  eyther  let  me  tell,  or  elles  tell  ye. 

Fan.  I  care  not  I,  tell  on  for  me. 

G.  Count.  I  pray  God  let  you  neuer  to  thee  I 

CI.  Col.   What  the  deuyll  ayleth  you?  can  you 
not  agree  ? 

Cr.  Con,  I  wyll  passe  ouer  the  cyrcumstaunce, 
And  shortly  shewe  you  the  hole  substaunce. 
Fansy  and  I,  we  twayne, 
With  Magnyfycence  in  housholde  do  reraayne, 
And  counterfeted  our  names  we  haue  «m 

Craftely  all  thynges  vpryght  to  saue, 
His  name  Largesse,  Surueyaunce  myne : 
Magnyfycence  to  vs  begynneth  to  enclyne 
Counterfet  Countenaunce  to  haue  also. 
And  wolde  that  we  sholde  for  hym  go. 

C.  Count.  But  shall  I  haue  myne  olde  name 
styll  ? 

Cr.  Con.  Pease,  I  haue  not  yet  sayd  what  I 
wyll. 


1  Syr,  the  playnesse  ^^  teUme]  Ed.  prefixes  Crafty  Con,  to 
these  words,  and  omits  the  prefix  to  the  next  line. — Qy.,  for 
the  rhyme,  — "  you  me  tell  ?  " 


I'an.  Here  is  a  [lystell  of  a  poslyke  I 

CI,  Col.  Tusslie,  fonn^ashe  Fiinsy,  ihou  arie 
franiyke. 
Tell  on,  BjT,  howe  then  ?  ^^^^ 

Or.  Con.  Mary,  syr,  be  tolde  va,  nhea  ^^^H 
Wc  hod  hym  founde,  we  sliolde  hym  bryi^^^^ 
And  ilial  we  fn^Ied  not  for  nolhjnge.         ^^^| 

CI.  Col.  All  ihiB  ye  may  easely  brynge  abonte. 

Ihti.  Mary,  Ihe  better  and  Mesure  were  oni, 

CI  Col.    Why,  can  ye  not  put  out  that  foule 
freke? 

CV.  Coa.  No,  in  euery  corner  be  wyll  p 
So  lliflt  we  baue  no  lyberte. 
Nor  no  insn  in  courle  hat  lie, 
For  Lyberte  he  hath  in  gydyng. 

C,  Cuunl.  In  fayth,  and  without  Lyberte  there 

Fan.   In  faylb,  and  Lybertyes  rome  is  ID 
but  email. 

a.  Col.  Hem !  that  lyke  I  noihynge  at  al 

Ci".  Con,  But,  Counterfet*  Counienaunoj 
we  togyder, 
All  thre,  I  say, 

C.  Count.  Shall  I  go  ?  whyder  ? 

CV.  Con."  To  Magnyfycetice  with  vs  twayne, 
And  in  his  seniyce  ih^  to  relayne. 

C,  Count.  But  tlien,  syr,  what  shall  I  hyght? 


taai  louie 

rte  there 
ita^H 


MAGNTPTCEXCE.  83 

Cr.  Con,  Ye  and  I  talkyd  therof  to  nyght.     «» 
Fan.  Ye,  my  fansy,  was  out  of  owle  flyght, 
For  it  is  out  of  my  mynde  quyght. 

(7r.  Con,  And  nowe  it  cometh  to  my  remem- 
braunce : 
Syr,  ye  shall  hyght  Good  Demeynaunce. 

G,  Count,   By  the  armes  of  Calys,  well  con- 

ceyued ! 
Cr.   Con,  When  we  haue  hym  thyder  con- 
uayed, 
What  and  I  frame  suche  a  slyght, 
That  Fansy  with  his  fonde  consayte 
Put  Magnyfycence  in  suche  a  madnesse, 
That  he  shall  haue  you  in  the  stede  of  sadnesse,  69o 
And  Sober  Sadnesse  shalbe  your  name  ? 

CL  Col,  By  Cockys  body,  here  begynneth  the 
game! 
For  then  shall  we  so  craftely  cary, 
That  Mesure  shall  not  there  longe  tary. 

Fan,    For  Cockys  harte,  tary  whylyst  that  I 

come  agayne. 
Cr.  Con,   We  wyll  se  you  shortly  one  of  vs 

twayne. 
G.  Count,  Now  let  vs  go,  and  we  shall,  then. 
OL  Col,  Nowe  let  se  quyte  you  lyke  praty 
men.* 


^  praty  men]  Here  Fansyj  Crafty  Conueyavnce^  and  CbtMler- 
fet  Oounienaunce,  go  out. 

VOL.   II.  3 


Top 


Of 


Hie  deamhulat. 
isse  the  tyme  and  order  whyle  a  i 

taiko 
e  tbynge  a 


other  to  occupy  tl 
Then  for  the  eeason  that  I  here  ^hnll  waike, 
As  good  lo  be  oci;u|)yed  as  vp  and  downe  to  tnce 
And  do  nothynge ;  how  be  it  full  lytell  g 
There  coiueth  and  groweili  of  my  comyi 
For  Clokyd  Colusyoii  is  a  peryloua 
Double  delyoge  and  I  be  all  one ; 
Crat'tyoge  aud  hafiynge  contryaed  is  by  me; 
I  can  dys^emble,  I  can  bothe  langhe  and  grone; 
Playne  delymge  and  I  can  neuer  agre ;  "< 

But  dyuysyon,  dysseucyon,  dyrysyon,  Ifae^  ihra 
And  I  am  counterftil  of  one  mynde  and  thoogbt, 
By  the  menya  of  myscbyef  v>  hryng  all  ibyngBi 

to  nought. 
And  though  I  be  so  odyons  a 
Aod   euery   man  gladly  my  company  < 

In  bytbe  yet  am  I  occupred  with  the  best; 
FoU  fewe  that  own  tbemselfe  of  me  exctne. 
Whan  other  men  Iniigbe,  ilian  study  I  mid  maif-, 
DeuT^ynge  the  meanes  and  w«ye$  tluU  I  can, 
Hone  I  mar  burte  and  tiynder  eoerr  nuui : 
Tito  fece^  in  a  bode  cooeftly  I  bere,  " 

Water  in  the  oa«  haade,  and  fyre  in  the  olber; 
I  oa  fcdc  lottli  a  fble,mi«d  lede  hym  by  the  eyi«j 
f akbode  in  (eluw^hyp  is  my  swome  broibor. 
]^  deked  coliksyoo.  I  »y,  and  naae  other, 


MAGNTFTCENCE.  85 

Comberaunce  and  trouble  in  Englande  fyrst  I 

began ; 
From  that  lorde  to  that  lorde  I  rode  and  I  ran, 
And  flatered  them  with  fables  fayre  before  theyr 

face, 
And  tolde  all  the  myschyef  I  coude  behynde  theyr 

backe. 
And  made  as  I  had  knowen  nothynge  of  the  case ; 
I  wolde  begyn  all  myschyef,  but  I  wolde  here  no 

lacke :  tso 

Thus  can  I  lerne  you,  syrs,  to  here  the  deuyls 

sacke ; 
And  yet,  I  trowe,  some  of  you  be  better  sped 

than  I 
Frendshyp  to  fayne,  and  thynke  full  lytherly. 
Paynte  to  a  purpose  good  countenaunce  I  can. 
And    craftely  can  I  grope  howe  euery  man  is 

mynded ; 
My  purpose  is  to  spy  and  to  poynte  euery  man ; 
My  tonge  is  with  fauell  forked  and  tyned : 
By  Cloked  Colusyon  thus  many  one  is  begyled. 
Eehe  man  to  hynder  I  gape  and  I  gaspe ; 
My  speche  is  all  pleasure,  but  I  stynge  lyke  a 

waspe :  740 

I  am  neuer  glad  but  whan  I  may  do  yll, 
And  neuer  am  I  sory  but  whan  that  I  se 
I   can   not  myne   apyetyte   accomplysshe   and 

fulfyll 
In  hynderaunce  of  welthe  and  prosperyte ; 
I  laugbe  at  all  shrewdenes,  and  lye  at  lyberte* 


1  uiujior,  I  meiJIe;  ainonge  tbese  grcte  efiates 
I  jowe  scdytj'ous  8L-dea  of  dyscorde  and  de- 
bates: 
To  (liHir  aud  to  &e.ij  is  all  my  pretence 
Amonge  all  £ui;he  persoiies  as  I  well  vnder- 

eionde 
Be  lyglit  of  bylene  and  liasty  of  credence ;        " 
I  mabe  tliem   to  slartyll  and    Ejiarkyll  lyke  a 

bronde, 
I  noue  them,  I  ma^e  them,  I  make  them  eo 

r»nd«, 
TbftI  tljey  wyll  lu-re  no  man  hut  the  fyrst  tale: 
Aiikl  so  by  these  meancs  I  brewe  moche  bale. 

J/ie  ingrediaiur  CotmTLT  Aboston  cantatido. 
Court.  Ab.  Huff&,  hufTn,  launderum,  taunderam. 

Cayne,  hufiU,  hufih ! 
CI.  Col.  This  was  properiy  pi'aled,  syi-s  !  wbai 

6ftjd  a  ? 
Cotirt.Ab.  Rutty  bully,  iojy  rulterkyn,  bejda: 
CI.  Col.  Da  que  pays  ette  voiuf 

Mfaciat  tanguam  exiat  bereirum  eronia.' 
Courl,  Ab.  Decke  your  hofte  and  couer  it 

loivce. 
CI  Col.    Say  vous  c/iaunler  Vetiter  tre  dawcef 
Court.  Ah.    Wyda,  wyda.  ni 

Howfl  aayst  liiou,  man  ?  am  not  I  a  ioly  ruiter? 


MAGNYFYCENCE.  37 

CL    Col.     Gyue   this   gentylman   rome,   syrs, 
stonde  vtter ! 
By  God,  syr,  what  nede  all  this  waste  ? 
What  is  this,  a  betell,  or  a  batowe,^  or  a  buskyn 
lacyd  ? 
Court,  Ah.    What,  wenyst  thou  that  I  knowe 

the  not,  Clokyd  Colusyon  ? 
CL  Col,    And  wenyst  thou  that  I  knowe  not 

the,  cankard  Abusyon? 
Court,  Ah,    Cankard  Jacke  Hare,  loke  thou  be 
not  rusty ; 
For  thou  shalt  well  knowe  I  am  nother  durty  nor 
dusty. 
CI,  Col,  Dusty  !  nay,  syr,  ye  be  all  of  the  lusty, 
Howe  be  it  of  scape  thryfte  your  clokes  smelleth 
musty :  ^n 

But   whether  art  thou   walkynge  in   faythe  vn- 
faynyd  ? 
Court,  Ah,   Mary,  with  Magnyfycence  I  wolde 

be  retaynyd. 
CL  Col,  By  the  masse,  for  the  cowrte  thou  art 
a  mete  man : 
riiy  slyppers  they  swap  it,  yet  thou  fotys  it  lyke 
a  swanne. 
Court,  Ah,   Ye,  so  I  can  deuyse  my  gere  after 

the  cowrtly  maner. 
CL  CoL    So  thou  arte  personable   to  bere  a 
prynces  baner. 

1  haiowe]  Qy.  "  batone?  "  [or  "  botowe, "  boot? J 


8  MAONTFTCESCE. 

iy  GoJdes  fote,*  and  I  dare  well  fy^ 

wj-U  uol  slnrt. 
Court,  db.   Naj,  ihou  art  a  man  good  inoug 

but  for  tiij-  false  hart. 
CI.  Col.    Well,  and  I  be  a  coward,  theria  m 


faythe,  a  bolde  man  and 
[I  bole  of  Dewe  ale  i 
e  Ibis  gentylmaii  is  all  i 
o  dwell 


1 


than  I. 
Court.  Ab.    Ye, 

CI.  Col.   A  bolde  man 

comys. 
Court.  Ab.  Wyll  yi 

his  skoniye  ? 
CL  Col.  But  are  ye  not  suysed 

ye  spake  ? 
Cowt.  Ab.    I  am  of  fewe  wordys,  I  loue 

barbe 

Btryst  tbou  any  rome,  or  cannyet  thou  do  ought? 
Cannyst   tbou    hel[ie  in   fauer  that  I  myght  b» 

brought  ? 
CI.  Col.  1  may  do  somwhat,  and  more  I  ihynkt 

shall. 

^Bij  GodiUifole,^'^.]  Heia  the  prefixes  to  tlie  speuhii!  Ml 
■nnly  wrong:  bat&alnni  dDabCfdl  bow  tliey  ought  to  bs 
BsaigneJ,  I  hnvo  Hot  Teotarecl  to  allor  them.    Qy. 

"  Cuurl.  Ab.  By  Gnddea  Tote,  and  I  dare  wall  fygbc,  tot  1 
wyll  not  start. 

Ct  tW.  Nay,  tlioa  art  >  maa  good  inoogb  bot  for  [hj  W" 


OnTl  Ab.  Well,  and  I  be  n  eowu-d,  [her  is  mo  tba 
a.  Col.  Te,  in  faylhe,  a.  bolde  man  and  a  hardyi 
K  bolde  mun  In  a  bole  of  aewe  ale  in  comya. 
Owl.  Ai.  WyU  ve  ^,"  Sco 


MA.GNYFYCENCE.  89 

Here  cometh  in  Crafty  Conueyaunce,  poynt* 
yng  with  his  fjpiger^  and  saythy  Hem, 

Colusyon ! 

Court,  Ah,  Cockys  harte,  who  is  yonde  that  for 

the  dothe  call? 
CV.  Con}  Nay,  come  at  ones,  for  the  armys  of 

the  dyce !  790 

Court,  Ah,   Cockys  armys,  he  hath  callyd  for 

the  twyce. 
CI,  Col,  By  Cockys  harte,  and  call  shall  agayne : 
To  come  to  me,  I  trowe,  he  shalbe  fayne. 

Court,  Ah.    What,  is  thy  harte  pryckyd  with 

such  a  prowde  pynne  ? 
CL  Col,    Tushe,  he  that  hath  nede,  man,  let 

hym  rynne. 
Cr,  Con,   Nay,  come  away,  man :  thou  playst 

the  cayser. 
CI,  Col,^   By  the  masse,  thou  shalt  byde  my 

leyser. 
Cr,  Con,    Abyde,  syr,  quod  he !   mary,  so  I 

do.^ 
Court,  Ah,   He  wyll  come,  man,  when  he  may 

tende  to. 
Cr,  Con,  What  the  deuyll,  who  sent  for  the  ?  soo 
CI,  Col,   Here  he  is  nowe,  man;  mayst  thou 

not  se  ? 


1  Cr.  Con.\  Ed.  **  CI.  Cd.^^    Compare  the  next  line,  and 
V.  796. 
a  a  Col.]  Ed.  "  Qmrt.  Ab," 


40  MA.GNVFYCENCE. 

O.  Con.    What   the   deuyll,  n 
menyst  ? 
Art  thou  BO  angry  as  thou  serayst? 

Court.  Ab.   "What  the  deuyll,  can  ye  agre 
better  ? 

Or.  Con.  Whitt  the  deuyll,  where  had  we  t 
ioly  letter? 

CL  Col.  What  sayst  ihou,  man  ?  why  doBt  tlioii 
not  sopplye. 
And  desyre  me  thy  good  mnyster 

Court.  Ab.  Spekeat  thou  to  me ! 

CI.  Col  Ye,  80  I  tell  lU. 

Court.  Ab.  Cockes  bones,  I  ne  1 
Wbiebe  of  jou  is  the  better  man, 
Or  whiche  ol'  you  ejin  do  most. 

O.  Con.  In  fajib,  I  rule  niodie  of  the 

CI  Col.  Rule  the  rosle!  ye,  thou  woldi 
As  skante  thou  had  no  nede  of  me. 

Cr.  Con,  Nede !  yes,  mary,  I  say  not  najw 

Cowl,  Ab.  Cockes  hafrjte,  I  trowe  thoa  wylw 

Cr.  Con.  Nay,  in  good  fayihe,  it  is  but  the  gjsc. 
CI.  Col.  No,  for,  or  we  stiyke,  we  wyll  be  nd- 

uysed  twyse. 
Court.  Ab.   Wliat  (he  deuyll,  yse   ye  not  to 

drawe  no  ewordes  ? 
Cr.  Con.  No,  hy  my  trouihe,  but  crake 

wordes. 


doBt  tlioii 

J 

l.na^!^| 


4 


ige,  Ihrm  imlJccl]  Qy.,  for  tlie ihyma,  "  thou  »olde6t,ye!" 


MAGNYPTCENCE.  41 

Court,  Ah,  Why,  is  this  the  gyse  nowe  adayes  ? 

Gh  Col.  Ye,  for  surety,  ofte  peas  is  taken  for 
frayes. 
But,  syr,  I  wyll  haue  this  man  with  me. 

(7r.  Con,  Conuey  yourselfe  fyrst,  let  se. 

GL  Col.    Well,  tarry  here  tyll  I  for  you  sende. 

Gr,  Con,  Why,  shall  he  be  of  your  bende  ? 

GL  Col,  Tary  here :  wote  ye  what  I  say  ? 

Court,  Ah,  I  waraunt  you,  I  wyll  not  go  away. 

Gr.  Con,  By  Saynt  Mary,  he  is  a  tawle  man.  sao 

GL  Col,  Ye,  and  do  ryght  good  seruyce  he  can ; 
I  knowe  in  hym  no  defaute 
But  that  the  horson  is  prowde  and  hawte. 

And  so  they^  go  out  of  the  pUzce, 

Court,  Ah,  Nay,  purchace  ye  a  pardon  for  the 
pose, 
For  pryde  hath  plucked  the  by  the  nose. 
As  well  as  me :  I  wolde,  and  I  durste. 
But  nowe  I  wyll  not  say  the  worste. 

Courtly  Abuston  alone  in  the  place. 

What  nowe,  let  se. 

Who  loketh  on  me 

Well  rounde  aboute,  mo 

Howe  gay  and  howe  stoute 

That  I  can  were 

Courtly  my  gere : 

A  ihey\  i.  e.  Cloked  Colusyon  and  Crafty  Oomuyavnce, 


42  MAGNYPYCENCE. 

My  hey  re  bussheth 

So  plesauntly, 

My  robe  russhetli 

So  ruttyngly, 

Me  seme  I  flye, 

I  am  so  lyght, 

To  daunce  delyght ;  «• 

Properly  drest, 

All  poynte  deuyse, 

My  persone  prest 

Beyonde  all  syse 

Of  the  newe  gyse. 

To  russhe  it  oute 

In  euery  route : 

Beyonde  measure 

My  sleue  is  wyde, 

Al  of  pleasure,  "^ 

My  hose  stray te  tyde, 

My  buskyn  wyde, 

Ryche  to  beholde, 

Gletterynge  yn  golde. 

Abusyon 

Forsothe  I  hyght: 

Confusyon 

Shall  on  hym  lyght. 

By  day  or  by  nyght 

That  vseth  me  ;  w 

He  can  not  thee. 

A  very  fon, 

A  veiy  asse. 


MAGNYFTCBNCE.  18 

Wyll  take  vpon 

To  com  passe 

That  neuer  was 

Abusyd  before ; 

A  very  pore 

That  so  wyll  do, 

He  doth  abuse  »« 

Hym  selfe  to  to, 

He  dothe  mysse  vse 

Eche  man  take  a  f e  ^ 

To  crake  and  prate ; 

I  befoule  his  pate. 

This  newe  fonne  iet 

From  out  of  Fraunce 

Fyrst  I  dyd  set ; 

Made  purueaunce 

And  suche  ordenaunce,  wo 

That  all  men  it  founde 

Through  out  Englonde : 

All  this  nacyon 

I  set  on  fyre 

In  my  facyon, 

This  theyr  desyre, 

This  newe  atyre ; 

This  ladyes  haue, 

I  it  them  gaue  ; 

Spare  for  no  coste ;  w) 

And  yet  in  dede 

1  Eche  man  take  afe]  There  seems  to  be  seme  corraption 
>f  the  text  here.    [Qy. "  each  man  to  ahuse,  ?  "  0.  J 


41  MJlGKTFTCENCE. 

It  Is  oin>te  loste 
Moche  tttort)  than  aede 
For  to  Qxcede 
lu  suche  Jirajr : 
Howe  be  it,  I  saj, 
A  carlvs  soiine* 
Brou^t  vp  of  Qonght^ 
Wvth  me  wvU  wonne 
Whylvst  he  hath  ought ; 
He  wyll  haue  wrought 
Hts  jjowtie  so  wvde 
Diat  he  mar  hvde 
Hi:>  dame  and  his  sjre 
Wicuiu  his  slvue : 
Speude  ail  hi*  hvre^ 
Ubac  meu  hrm  grue  ; 
Whertbre  1  preue, 
\  I*}  bone  ohecke 
Siuill  >rr:rk.e  Iiis  uecke* 

^t^  ,\hntai    .1  FjJ*:>r.  >jm^n^^  Stow  stow! 

A  i  :>  jac  jf"  a;UTe, 
,V  id  jac  ji  :raot?» 
\v   -rai^r^  .uid  warre 


1 1  c?at:rv  .»i.ace% 


3uL    \  la:  ::ie  deuyil  ar£  ihoo* 
ym.    'Via.*   '\jc'iii   jaue   we  hens^  JenkjB 

yovv!:i   V'TiC^joj,  :?v  .jt;  God  ioiv. 


MAGNYPYCENCE.  45 

CourU  Ah,  What,  Fansy,  my  frende!  howe 

doste  thou  fare  ? 
Fan.  By  Cryst,  as  mery  as  a  Marche  hare,  sso 
Court.  Ah.  What  the  deuyll  hast  thou  on  thy 

fyste  ?  an  owle  ? 
Fan.  Nay,  it  is  a  farly  fowle. 
Court.  Ah.  Me  thynke  she  frowneth  and  lokya 

sowre. 
Fan.  Torde,  man,  it  is  an  hawke  of  the  towre  •, 
She  is  made  for  the  malarde  fat. 

Court.  Ah.  Methynke  she  is  well  becked  to 

catche  a  rat. 
But  nowe  what  tydynges  can  you  tell,  let  se. 
Fan.  Mary,  I  am  come  for  th^. 
Court.  Ah.  For  me? 

Fan.  Ye,  for  th^,  so  I  say.  wo 

Court.  Ah.  Howe  so  ?  tell  me,  I  th^  pray. 
Fan.  Why,  harde  thou  not  of  the  fray, 
That  fell  amonge  vs  this  same  day 
Court,  Ah.  No,  mary,  not  yet. 
Fan.  What  the  deuyll,  neuer  a  whyt  ? 
Court.  Ah.  No,  by  the  masse ;  what  sholde  I 

swere  ? 
Fan.  In  faythe,  Lyberte  is  nowe  a  lusty  spere. 
Court.  Ah,  Why,  vnder  whom  was  he  abydynge  ? 
Fan.  Mary,  Mesure   had  hym  a  whyle  in 

gydynge, 
Tyll,  as  the  deuyll  wolde,  they  fell  a  chydynge 
With  Crafty  Conuayaunce. 
Court,  Ah.  Ye,  dyd  they  so  ? 


46  MAC.STFYCESCE. 

Fan.  Tc,  by  GoJdes  sacranienC,  and    ■ 

Court.  Ah.  What  neded  that,  in  the  dyuyls  dale  ? 

Fan.  Yes,  yes,  he  tell  with  me  also  at  deliate. 

Court,  Ab.  With    Ih^   also  ?  what,  he  plajeili 
the  slate  ? 

Fan.  Ye,  but  I  bade  hym  pyke  out  of  ihe  gate, 
By  Goddea  body,  so  dyd  I. 

Ootirt.  Ab.  By  the  masse,  well  done  and  boldely- 

fan.  Holde  thy  pease,  Measure  shall  frome  n 
walke. 

Court.  Ab.  Why,  ia  he  crossed  than  ^ 
chalke  ? 

Fan.  Crossed  1  ye,  checked  out  of  o 

Court.  Ab.  Howeso? 

Fan.  By  God,  by  a  praly  slygtit, 
As  here  after  thou  shalte  knowe  more : 
But  I  must  lary  here;  go  thou  before. 

Court.  Ab.  With  whom  shall  I  (here  mete  f 

Fan.  Crafty  Conueysuncestandelbin  thestr^te, 
Ellen  of  purpose  for  the  same. 

Court.  Ah.  Ye,  but  what  shall  I  call  my  oame? 

Fan.  Cockes  harle,  tourne  ih&,  let  me  se  thyne 

Cocker  bones,  this  is  all  ofJohnn  de  giijr. 

Court.  Ab.   So  I  ampoynledafterray  coDS«yte- 
Fan.   Mary,  thou  ietles  it  of  hyght. 
Court.  Ab.  Ye,  but  of  my  name  let  vs  be  wyse- 
Fan.  Mary,  Lusty  Pleasure,  by  myne  a 

To  nnme  thyselfe,  come  of,  it  were  done. 


3  and  boldeiy- 
ball  frome  t^ 

than  wi^^l 


MAGNYPYCENCE.  47 

Court,  Ah,  Farewell,  my  frende. 
Fan,  Adue,  IjU  sone.  * 

owe,  bjrde,  stowe,  stowe !  seo 

is  best  I  fede  my  hawke  now. 
lere  is  many  euyll  faueryd,  and  thou  be  foule ; 
jbe  thynge  is  fayre  when  it  is  yonge :  all  hayle, 
owle! 

Lo,  this  is 

My  fansy,  I  wys: 

Nowe  Cryst  it  blysse ! 

It  is,  by  Jesse, 

A  byrde  full  swete. 

For  me  full  mete : 

She  is  furred  for  the  hete  "» 

All  to  the  fete ; 

Her  browys  bent, 

Her  eyen  glent : 

Frome  Tyne  to  Trent, 

From  Stroude  to  Kent, 

A  man  shall  fynde 

Many  of  her  kynde, 

Howe  standeth  the  wynde 

Before  or  behynde : 

Barbyd  lyke  a  nonne,  m« 

For  burnynge  of  the  sonne ; 

Her  fethers  donne ; 

Well  faueryd  bonne. 

Nowe,  let  me  se  about, 

1  iiyll  8one\  Here  Omrtly  Abusyon  goes  out 


MAGNVFICENCE. 

In  nil  lliis  rowie 

Yf  I  can  fynde  out 

So  Bfmelj  a  soowte 

Amonge  this  prese  i 

EucD  a  hale  meae  — 

FeasB,  mHn,  pease  I 

I  rede,  we  sease. 

So  farly  t'ayre  as  it  lokys, 

And  her  becke  so  comely  crokys. 

Her  naylys  aharpe  as  tenter  hokyst 

I  haiie  not  tepl  her  yet  Ihre  wokya, 

And  howe  styll  she  dollie  sytl 

Teuyt,  teuyt,  where  is  my  wyt  ? 

The  deuyll  spede  whyt ! 


That  n 

Somlyni 
Somtym 

SomtjiTi' 
Somtym 


a  hefore,  I  eet  bebyode ; 
0  curleys,  fovthivith  TnkjndeH^ 
e  lo  sober,  eomtyme  to  eaddeil 
e  to  mery,  somtyme  to  madde^ 
e  I  eyt  as  I  were  solempe  pn> 
e  I  Inughe  ouer  lowde  ; 
e  I  wepe  for  a  gew  gaw  ; 
Somtyme  I  laugbe  at  waggynge  of  a  stra 
Wilh  a  pere  my  loue  you  may  wynne, 
And  ye  may  lese  it  for  &  pynne. 
I  haue  a  thynge  for  to  say, 
And  1  may  tende  therlo  for  play; 
But  in  faythe  I  am  ko  occupyed 
On  this  balfe  and  on  euery  syde,  I 

That  I  wote  not  where  I  may  rest. 
Fyrst  lo  tell  you  what  were  best, 


MAGNYFTCENCE.  49 

Frantyke  Fansy-seruyce  I  hyglit ; 

My  wyttys  be  weke,  my  braynys  are  lyght : 

For  it  is  I  that  other  whyle 

Plucke  downe  lede,  and  theke  with  tyle ; 

Nowe  I  wyll  this,  and  nowe  I  wyll  that ; 

Make  a  wyndrayll  of  a  mat ;  i»« 

Nowe  I  wolde,  and  I  wyst  what ; 

Where  is  my  cappe  ?  I  haue  lost  my  hat ; 

And  within  an  houre  after, 

Plucke  downe  an  house,  and  set  vp  a  rafter ; 

Hyder  and  thyder,  I  wote  not  whyder ; 

Do  and  vndo,  bothe  togyder; 

Of  a  spyndell  I  wyll  make  a  sparre ; 

All  that  I  make,  forthwith  I  marre ; 

I  blunder,  I  bluster,  I  blowe,  and  I  blother ; 

I  make  on  the  one  day,  and  I  marre  on  the  other; 

Bysy,  bysy,  and  euer  bysy,  ion 

I  daunce  vp  and  downe  tyll  I  am  dyssy ; 

I  can  fynde  fantasyes  where  none  is ; 

I  wyll  not  haue  it  so,  I  wyll  haue  it  this. 

Hie  ingrediatur   Folt,   quatiendo  crema^  et 

faciendo  multum,  feriendo  tabtdas 

et  similia, 

FoL  Maysters,  Cryst  saue  euerychone  I 
What,  Fansy,  arte  thou  here  alone  ? 


1  crema]  If  this  be  the  right  reading,  I  am  nnacqnainted 
with  the  word.  It  can  hardly  be  a  misprint  for  "  cremia:  ** 
qy.  **  crembalumV  "  [Or,*'  crebro?"C.  J 

VOL.   II.  4 


i 


JIAOS ITTCEN  C  E. 

.  Wliat.  fonnjssbe  Foly  !  I  befule  thy  face, 
t  Wlwt,  frantyke  Faiisy  in  a  Ibles  Msel 
JKis  this,  an  nwle  or  a  glede  ? 
jr  ttouihe,  she  liaihe  a  greie  hede.  "■ 

Pan.  Tusshe,  iby  lyppea  hange  in  ihjiie  eye: 
I  It  is  a  Frroclie  boiterflye. 

Fol.  By  my  irouihc,  I  trowe  well ; 
Btti  s1m>  is  lesw  ■  grele  dele 
llian  a  biiiterflve  ofuur  iutde. 

/•m.    What   pyUe  curre  ledest   ihou  in 

r«L  ApyUecaml 
An.  T«  $«^  I  tell  tbi,  a  pyl^e  cun% 
AL  T«t  I  eoM«  fab  skynne  to  Mackemurre. 
I»  tb«  Mcde  of  a  badge  fnrre. 

JW.  Wh«,l(eyestihoahbsk7nnei.-ueryyere? 
Jii  T*«,  io  fayllie,  1  Ibanke  God  I  may  liere. 
Am.  What,  tbod  write  eot^be  me  a  dawe  for 

AC  ihtiy.  fijT,  CakenDowihe  is  a  good  v»j 

Aa.  What  ?  oCCtikxtntnnh  ^pake  I  no  nonlr- 
Ai   By  MT  bytbe,  syr,  Ihe  frabyssher  hnili 

my  strorde. 
i^fc  A.  I  trowe,  y^  sJmII  maghe  me  a  fole. 
Ai.  In  faytbe.  trxMiihc  ye  s>y,  we  ireole  ti^ 

gydw  to  scute. 
Ah.  Te,  bat  I  cait  sonwbat  moK  of  (be  letter. 
HL  I  wyQ  WW  gyae  an  balfepeny  Ft 

the  better. 


MAGNYFYCENCE.  51 

Fan.  But,  broder  F0I7, 1  wonder  moche  of  one 
thynge, 
That  thou  so  hye  fro  me  doth  sprynge, 
And  I  so  lytell  alway  styll. 

FoL  By  God,  I  can  tell  th^,  and  I  wyll. 
Thou  art  so  feble  fantastycall, 
And  so  braynsyke  therwithall, 
And  thy  wyt  wanderynge  here  and  there, 
That  thou  cannyst  not  growe  out  of  thy  boyes 

gere; 
And  as  for  me,  I  take  but  one  folysshe  way. 
And  therfore  I  growe  more  on  one  day  «w 

Than  thou  can  in  yerys  seuen. 

Fan,  In  faythe,  trouth  thou  sayst  nowe,  by  God 
of  heuen ! 
For  so  with  fantasyes  my  wyt  dothe  flete, 
That  wysdome  and  I  shall  seldome  mete. 
Nowe,  of  good  felowshyp,  let  me  by  thy  dogge. 
FoL  Cockys  harte,  thou  lyest,  I  am  no  hogge. 
Fan,  Here  is  no  man  that  callyd  th^  hogge  nor 

swyne. 
Fol,  In  faythe,  man,  my  brayne  is  as  good  as 

thyne. 
Fan,  The  deuyls  torde  for  thy  brayne ! 
Fol,  By  my  syers  soule,  I  fele  no  rayne.       noo 
Fan,  By  the  masse,  I  holde  th^  madde. 
FoL  Mary,  I  knewe  th^  when  thou  waste  a 

ladde. 
Fan,    Cockys  bonys,  herde  ye  euer  syke  an- 
other ? 


^H        52 

MAQNTFYCBNCE.                                 ^^| 

^^B 

Te,  a  fole  the  tone,  and  a  fole  ihe  iaiS^^ 

^^H          Fan 

.  Nnj*,  but  H'olest  thou  what  I  do  say  ? 

^^M          Fol 

Why,  sajst  thou  that  I  was  liere  yester- 

day ? 

^^H          Fan 

.   Cwkys  armys,  this  is  a.  warke,  I  trowe. 

^^^H          FoL  What,  callyst  tbou  me  a  (Jonnyehe  crowe? 

^H 

.   NoA'c,  in  good  faythe,  thou  art  a  fondit 

gust. 

^H 

Ye,  here  me  this  strawe  to  a.  dawys  nest. 

^^H          ^an 

.  What,  wenyst  thou  that  I  were  so  ibiysshe 

andsofonde?                                            uii 

^H 

In  faylhe,  ellya  is  there  none  in  all  Eng. 

londe. 

^^^B          ^on, 

■  Tet  for  my  fansy  sake,  I  say. 

^^m       Let  mE 

i  haue  thy  dogge,  what  soeuer  I  pay. 

^H       ^0^ 

Thou  Hhalie  haue  my  purse,  and  I  wyll 

haue  thyne.                                                   ^^^H 

^^H 

,  By  my  trouth,  there  is  myne.            ^^^| 

^^1 

Nowe,  by  my  trouth,  man,  lake,  th^^^H 

myne                                                             ^^^H 

^^^V       And  I  beshrowe  hym  that  hath  the  worse.      ^^^| 

^H 

Torde,  I  say,  what  haue  I  do?            ^^H 

^        Here  is 

\  iiothynge  but  the  bockyll  of  a  eho,      ^^^| 

And  in 

my  purse  was  twenty  marke.                ^^H 

i^oi. 

Ha,  hii,  ha  1  herke,  syrs,  liarke  I            ^^H 

For  nil  that  my  name  hyglit  Foly,                        ^* 

By  the 

masse,  yet  art  thou  more  fole  thar.  I, 

Fan. 

Xet  gyue  me  thy  dogge,  and  I  am  content; 

^^^^       And  thou  shalte  haue  my  Imoke  to  a  botchmenU  ^^ 

1 

1                 1  myne]  Qy.,  for  the  rhj-me,  "my  purse?"                  ^^H 

MAGNYFTCENCB.  53 

Fol,  That  euer  thou  thryue,  God  :.t  forfende ! 
For,  Goddes  cope,  thou  wyll  spendc. 
No  we  take  thou  my  dogge,  and  gyue  me  thy 

fowle.^ 
Fan,  Hay,  chysshe,  come  hyder !  iiao 

FoL  Nay,  torde,  take  hym  be  tyme. 
Fan,  What  callyst  thou  thy  dogge  ? 
Fol.  Tusshe,  his  name  is  Gryme. 
Fan,    Come,  Gryme,  come,  Gryme!  it  is  my 

praty  dogges, 
FoL  In  faythe,  there  is  not  a  better  dogge  for 

hogges. 
Not  from  Anwyke  vnto  Aungey. 

Fan,    Ye,  but  trowest   thou   that  he  be  not 

maungey  ? 
Fol,  No,  by  my  trouthe,  it  is  but  the  scurfe  and 

the  scabbe. 
Fan.  What,  he  hathe  ben  hurte  with  a  stabbe? 
Fol,  Nay,  in  faythe,  it  was  but  a  strype        n4o 
That  the  horson  had  for  etynge  of  a  trype. 

Fan,  Where  the  deuyll  gate  he  all  these  hurtes  ? 
Fol,  By  God,  for  snatchynge  of  puddynges  and 

wortes. 
Fan.  What,  then  he  is  some  good  poore  mannes 

curre  ? 
Fol.  Ye,  but  he  wyll  in  at  euery  mannes  dore. 
Fan.  Nowe  thou  hast  done  me  a  pleasure  grete. 
Fol.  In  faythe,  I  wolde  thou  had  a  marmosets 

"^fowU]  Qy.  a  line  wanting;  to  rhyme  with  this? 


^^H    u 

^^^ 

^H           Fan 

Coukes  harle,  I  loue  suche  iapes. 

^H 

Ye,  for  ull  thy  myode  is  on  owlea  «iid  apes. 

^^^H       liut  I  haue  tliy  pultre,  and  iLou  hasE  my  catell.  "» 

^H           Fan 

Te,  but   tLryfte   aud  we   Laue  maile  a 

^^V 

batell. 

^H 

Eemembrest  ibou  not  ibe  iapes  and  iLe 

^H             ^an 

toyea  — 
What,  that  we  vsed  whan  we  were  boye*? 

^H 

Te,  by  the  rode,  euen  the  same. 

^^^^             Fan 

Tea,  yes,  I  am  yet  as  full  of  game    ^^^ 

^^K        Ab  eue 

r  I  was,  and  as  full  of  tryfyls,            ^^M 

^^B         mi,  niMliim,  nihil,  anglice  njfyls.                   ^^| 

^^1 

What  canest  thou  all  this  Latyn  yetv^^H 

^^H      And  Le 

St  so  mased  a  wandrynge  wyt?               iw 

^H 

Tusbe,  man,  1  kepe  some  Latyn  in  slore. 

^^H 

By  Cockea  harte,  I  wene  thou  bast  VB 

^^V 

JH 

^^1           ^an 

No?  yes,  in  faythe,  1  can  vei-ayfy.  ^^^| 

^^P 

Tiien,  I  pray  th^  barttfly,                    ^^^| 

Make  a 

verse  of  my  butLerSy;                         ^^H 

It  forseih  not  of  the  reason,  so  it  kepe  rymo.  *^^| 

Ft,n 

But  wylte  (bou  make  another  on  GrjI^^H 

Fol. 

Nay,  in  fayth,  fyrsi  let  me  here  thya^H 

Fan. 

Mary,  aa  for  that,  thou  sballe  sonsi!^^| 

V 

^^H          Est  snavi  mago  with  a  shrewde  Tace  vt7ts  imagoJ 

H 

Giirabaldua  gredy,  snatche  a  puddyng  lyl 

■ 

lie  rost  be  redy.                                       im 

^ 

m,  tff.J  Betweea  this  line  arid  the  next,  ed.  t^H 

r  - 

^^ 

MAGNTFYCENCE.  55 

Fan.  By  the  harte  of  God,  well  done ! 
Foh  Ye,  so  redely  and  so  sone  ! 

Here  cometh  in  Crafty  Conueyaunce. 

Cr.  Con.  What,  Fansy !   Let  me  se  who  is  the 

tother. 
Fan.   By  God,  syr,  Foly,  myne  owne  sworne 

brother. 
Cr.  Con.  Cockys  bonys,  it  is  a  farle  freke : 
Can  he  play  well  at  the  hoddypeke  ? 
Fan.   Tell  by  thy  trouth  what  sport  can  thou 

make. 
Fol.  A,  holde  thy  peas;  I  haue  the  tothe 

ake. 
Cr.  Con,  The  tothe  ake !  lo,  a  torde  ye  haue. 
Fol,    Ye,  thou   haste  the  four  quarters  of  a 

knaue.  iiw 

Cr.  Con.   Wotyst  thou,  I  say,  to  whom  thou 

spekys  ? 
Fan.  Nay,  by  Cockys  harte,  he  ne  reckys, 
For  he  wyll  speke  to  Magnyfycence  thus. 
Cr.  Con.  Cockys  arrays,  a  mete  man  for  vs. 
FoL  What,  wolde  ye  haue  mo  folys,  and  are  so 

many  ? 
Fan.  Nay,  offer  hym  a  counter  in  stede  of  a 

peny. 
Or.  Con.  Why,  thynkys  thou  he  can  no  better 

skyll  ? 
Fol.  In  fayth,  I  can  make  you  bothe  folys,  and 

I  wyll. 


^^H 

™^^ 

^^V 

CoH.   What  haate  thou  on  thy  tyUj  raP 

teryll  F 

^^M 

Nay,  I  wya,  fole,  it  ia  a  doteryll.            iw 

^K 

Con.  In  a  cote  Ition  can  play  well  the 

dyser. 

^^M 

Te,  but  thou  can  play  the  Tole  wilhout  a 

^^m           Far, 

vyser. 
1.    Howe  rode  he  by  you  ?  howe  put  he  to 

yoo  F^ 

^^1 

Con.   Mary,  as  thon  sayst,  he  g&ne  m^L 

,^H 

^^1       Butw 

here  galte  thou  that  mangey  eurre?  ^^H 

^^M 

!.  Mary,  it  was  his.  and  nowe  it  is  mjl^^l 

■                     CS-. 

Con.  And  was  it  his,  and  nowe  it  is  thyae7 

1                  Thou  1 

must  haae  thy  fansy  and  thy  wyll. 

L But  yet  thou  alialt  holde  me  a  fole  styll. 

^H               ^o/. 

Why,  wenyst  thou  that  I  cnnuot  make  ih^ 

play  the  foa  ?                                            im 

^^^             Fmt 

.  Yes,  by  my  faythe,  good  8yr  Johnn. 

^^^B             O.  Cfm.  For  you  bothe  it  were  Enough. 

^H 

Why,  wenyst  thou  that  I  were  as  tooche 

a  fole  as  thou  ? 

^B           J-m 

.  Nay,  nay,  thou  ehalte  fynde  hym  another 

mauer  of"  man. 

^H 

In  fnytbe,  I  can  do  niastryes,  so  I  can. 

^"               Or. 

Con.  What  canest  thou  do  but  play  GodatH 

..tp                             9 

1                        *,.» 

.  Tea,  yei,  he  .yll  unke  the  ete  ■  gni^^l 

ipoB]  Qj-.,fortlierb,vmo,"so.thare7"        ^H 

MAGNTFTCENCE.  57 

FoL   Yes,  yes,  by  my  trouth,  I   holde  tb^  a 
grote, 
That  I  shall  laughe  the  out  of  thy  cote. 

(7r.  Con,   Than  wyll  I  say  that  thou  haste  no 
pere.  1210 

Fan,  Nowe,  by  the  rode,  and  he  wyll  go  nere. 
Foh  Hem,  Fansy !  regardes^  voyes. 

Here  Foly  maketh  semblaunt  to  take  a 
lowse  from  Crafty  Conueyaunck 
showlder. 
Fan,  What  hast  thou  founde  there  ? 
FoL  By  God,  a  lowse. 

Or.  Con,  By  Cockes  harte,  I  trowe  thou  lyste. 
FoL  By  the  masse,  a  Spaynysshe  moght  with 

a  gray  lyste. 
Fan,  Ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha,  ha! 
Or,  Con,  Cockes  armes,  it  is  not  so,  I  trowe. 

Here  Crafty  Conu[ey]aunce  putteth 
of  his  gowne, 
FoL  Put  on  thy  gowne  agayne,  for  nowe  thou 

hast  lost.^ 
Fan,  Lo,  Johnn  a  Bonam,  where  is  thy  brayne  ? 
Nowe  put  on,  fole,  thy  cote  agayne.  i«i 

FoL  Gyue  me  my  grote,  for  thou  hast  lost. 

Here  Foly  maketh  semblaunt  to  take 
money  of  Crafty  Conueyaunce, 
saynge  to  hym^ 
8hyt  thy  purse,  dawe,  and  do  no  cost, 

'^for  nowe  ihou  hast  lost]  Qy.,  for  the  rhyme,  "  for  thou  hast 
lost  nowe?" 


58 


MAGSTTTCESCE, 


Fan.  Xone  bait  ihoo  oot  a  prawde  d 

Cr.  Con,  Wiib,  <re$,  bj-  the  rode  i^  Wodslode 
Paite. 

Fan,  Siij,  I  tell  ih^,  he  maketh  no  dowtes 
To  loume  a  fole  out  of  his  clowies. 

Cr,  Con.  And  for  a  fote  a  man  wolde  b7ni  take> 

Jot  Naj,  it  is  I  ibat  foles  can  make ; 
For,  be  he  cayser  or  be  he  kyoge,  n 

To  felowsbvp  with  Folj  I  can  hjm  btyDge. 

Fan.  Say,  irjlte  ibou  here  oQwe  of  bis  Bcole«, 
And  what  maner  of  people  he  makeih  folea? 

Cr.  Con.  Yc,  let  vs  here  a  worJe  or  twayne. 

FoL  Sjr,  of  my  maner  I  shall  tell  yoo  tlie 
playne. 
Fyrst  I  lay  before  ibem  my  bybyll. 
And  teche  tbem  bowe  ihey  sholde  ajt  ydyl!, 
To  pyke  (beyr  fyfg^rs  itl'  ^^^  ^y  longe  i 
So  in  theyr  eyre  1  synge  tbem  a.  songe. 
And  make  ihem  eo  longe  to  mu^e,  wi 

That  some  of  them  renneih  struyght  to  the  Hose ; 
To  (beOe  and  bryboury  I  make  some  fall. 
And  pyke  a  locke  and  clyme  a  wail; 
Atid  where  I  spy  a  nysot  gay. 
That  wyll  syt  ydytl  alt  the  day, 
And  can  not  set  heraelfe  to  warke, 
1  kyndell  in  her  sache  a  lyiber  sparke, 
I'bat  rubbed  she  mufl  be  on  the  gall 
liyttrene  the  tappet  and  the  wall. 

Cr.  Coa.  Whtu,  horsoi),  ane  thou  such  a 


1 


MAGNYFTCENCE.  59 

Fan,  Nay,  beyonde  all  other  set  hym  alone. 

Cr.  Con.  Hast  thou  ony  more  ?  letse,  procede. 

FoL  Ye,  by  God,  syr,  for  a  nede, 
I  haue  another  nianer  of  sorte, 
That  I  laugh  at  for  my  dysporte ; 
And  those  be  they  that  come  vp  of  nought, 
As  some  be  not  ferre,  and  yf  it  were  well  sought : 
Suche  dawys,  what  soeuer  they  be, 
That  be  set  in  auctorite, 

Anone  he  waxyth  so  hy  and  prowde,  law 

He  frownyth  fyersly,  brymly  browde. 
The  knaue  wolde  make  it  koy,  and  he  cowde  ; 
All  that  he  dothe,  muste  be  alowde  ; 
And,  This  is  not  well  done,  syr,  take  hede ; 
And  maketh  hym  besy  where  is  no  nede : 
He  dawnsys  so  longe,  hey,  troly  loly. 
That  euery  man  lawghyth  at  his  foly. 

Cr.  Con,  By  the  good  Lorde,  truthe  he  sayth. 

Fan.  Thynkyst  thou  not  so,  by  thy  fayth  ? 

Cr.  Con.  Thynke  I  not  so,  quod  he !  ellys  haue 
I  shame,  1^70 

For  I  knowe  dyuerse  that  vseth  the  same. 

FoL  But  no  we,  forsothe,  man,  it  maketh  no 
mater ; 
For  they  that  wyll  so  bysely  smater. 
So  helpe  me  God,  man,  euer  at  the  length 
I  make  hym  ^  lese  moche  of  theyr  strength  ; 


1  hym\  Compare  v.  427,  p.  22.     Perhaps  these  inconsisten- 
cies may  have  arisen  from  contractions  in  the  MS. 


00  MAGrrrrYCENCE. 

For  with  foly  so  do  I  them  iede. 

That  wyt  he  waQtyih  when  he  hath  moste  ned«. 

Jan.  Forsothe,  tell  ou:  husC  thou  any  mo? 

Fol.  Yes,  1  shall  tell  jou,  or  I  go. 
Of  dyuerse  mo  that  hauntytb  my  acoljrs. 

Cr.  Con.  All  tana  beware  of  eucbe  fol^ 

Fal,  Thei'e  be  two  Ijther,  rude  sod  n 
Symkyn  Tytyuell  and  Pers  Pykthanke ; 
Theys  lylhera  I  leme  Ihem  for  to  lere 
What  he  Baytb  and  she  sayth  to  lay  good  9 
And  tell  to  hia  sufferayne  euery  whyt, 
And  then  he  is  nioche  made  of  for  bis  wyt 
And,  be  the  mater  yll  more  or  lease. 
He  wyll  make  it  mykyll  wor$e  than  it  is;] 
But  uU  that  he  dothe,  and  yf  he  reken  w 
It  is  but  foly  euery  dell. 

Fan.  Are  not  his  wordys  curaydly  cowohy^' 

O.  Con.    By   God,   there   be  some    that  bo 
shroudly  towchyd : 
But.  I  eay,  let  ee  and  yf  thou  haue  any  more. 

Fol.  I  haue  an  hole  armory  of  suche  hnburdasbe 

For  there  be  other  that  foly  dothe  vse. 
That  fojowe  fonde  fanlasyes  and  verlu  refuse. 
Fan.  Nay,  that  is  ray  parte  that  thou  sptkefl 

FqI.    Ho  19  all  the  remenaunt,  I  make  GtA 


For  thou  fourmest  suche  fantasy ea  in  theyriq 
Tcat  euery  man  almost  groweih  out  of  kyr 


HAGNYFYCENCB.  61 

Qr,  Con.  By  the  masse,  I  am  glad  that  I  came 
hyder, 
To  here  you  two  rutters  dyspute  togyder. 
Fan.  Nay,  but  Fansy  must  be  eyther  fyrst  or 

last. 
F6L  But  whan  Foly  cometh,  all  is  past* 
Fan.  I  wote  not  whether  it  cometh  of  th^  or 
of  me, 
But  all  is  foly  that  I  can  se. 

Or.  Con,  Mary,  syr,  ye  may  swere  it  on  a 

boke. 
Fol,  Ye,  toume  ouer  the  lefe,  rede  there  and 
loke, 
Howe  frantyke  Fansy  fyrst  of  all  wio 

Maketh  man  and  woman  in  foly  to  fall. 
Cr.  Con,  A,  syr,  a,  a  1  howe  by  that  I 
Fan,  A  peryllous  thynge,  to  cast  a  cat 
Vpon  a  naked  man,  and  yf  she  scrat. 

Fol,  So  how,  I  say,  the  hare  is  squat ! 
For,  frantyke  Fansy,  thou  makest  men  madde ; 
And  I,  Foly,  bryngeth  them  to  qui  fait  gadde. 
With  qui  fait  brayne  seke  I  haue  them  brought 
From  qui  fait  aliquid  to  shyre  shaky  nge  nought. 
Cr,  Con,   Well  argued   and  surely  on  bothe 
sydes :  laao 

But  for  th^,  Fansy,  Magnyfycence  abydes. 
Fan,  Why,  shall  I  not  haue  Foly  with  me 

also? 
Cr,  Con,    Yes,  perde,  man,  whether  that  ye 
ryde  or  go : 


02  UAaxiFTCENCB.  1 

Yet  for  his  name  we  musl  fynde  a  slygliL* 
Fan.  By  the  in»^»e,  he  shall  hyglit  CaoMiyie. 
Or.  Con.  Not  a  belter  name  vnd«r  tbe  sanne: 

With  Magnyfycence  tbou  shalte  wonne. 
Fol.  God  haiie  merty,  good  godfatlier. 
Or.  Con.  Yet  I  woide  that  ye  iiad  gone  rather; 

for.  as  sone  as  yoa  coine  in  Mtignyl'ycence  sygbli 

All  mesure  and  good  rule  is  gone  quyte.  i" 

Fan.   And  shall   we  haue  lyberte  to  do  vbal 

Cfr.  Con.  Ryot  at  lyberie  russfaeth  it  out  stjlL 

Fol.  Ye,  but  tell  me  one  thynge. 

Or.  Con.  What  is  thai  ? 

Fol.  Who  is  mayster  of  the  massbe  fat  ? 

Fan.  Ye,  for  he  halhe  a  full  dry  soule. 

Or.  Oon.    Cockes  armes,  itiou  shalte  kepe  llis 

brewbouse  boule. 
Fol.    But  may  I  drynke  iherof  whylesl  thai  I 


I  is  gone,  wbat  nedeet 


Ct.  Cou.   When  i 
thoo  spare  ? 
Whan  mesure  is  gone,  we  may  slee  care. 
FoL  Nowe  then  goo  we  hens,  away  [he  msrel' 

CKAPTr  CoNUETACNCE  alont  in  the  platf- 
Ct.  Con.  It  is  wonder  lo  se  the  worlde  abouie, 
To  se  what  foly  ia  vsed  iti  euery  place; 

Irfjjfe]  Ed.  "shjflB."     Compare  r.  68T,  p.  8S,  bb'I'-**' 
p.  48,  whera^slyglit"  (sleight)"  tba  rhyme  lo  "comy''''' 
*  Ae  m(rre\  Hera  Foig  and  Faiug  go  ont. 


MAGNYFTCENCE.  63 

Foly  hath  a  rome,  I  say,  in  euery  route, 
To  put,  where  he  lyst,  Foly  hath  fre  chace ; 
Foly  and  Fansy  all  where,  euery  man  dothe  face 

and  brace ; 
Foly  fotyth  it  properly,  Fansy  ledyth  the  dawnce ; 
And  next  come  I  after,  Crafty  Conueyaunce. 
Who  so  to  me  gyueth  good  aduertence,  ikb 

Shall  se  many  thyngys  donne  craftely : 
By  me  conueyed  is  wanton  insolence, 
Pryuy  poyntmentys  conueyed  so  properly, 
For  many  tymes  moche  kyndnesse  is  denyed 
For  drede  that  we  dare  not  ofte  lest  we  be  spyed ; 
By  me  is  conueyed  mykyll  praty  ware, 
Somtyme,  I  say,  behynde  the  dore  for  nede ; 
I  haue  an  hoby  can  make  larkys  to  dare ; 
I  knyt  togyther  many  a  broken  threde. 
It  is  great  almesse  the  hungre  to  fede,  law 

To  clothe  the  nakyd  where  is  lackynge  a  smocke, 
Trymme  at  her  tayle,  or  a  man  can  turne  a  socke: 
What  howe,  be  ye  mery !   was  it  not  well  con- 
ueyed ? 
As  oft  as  ye  lyst,  so  honeste  be  sauyd ; 
Alas,  dere  harte,  loke  that  we  be  not  perseyuyd ! 
Without  crafte  nothynge  is  well  behauyd ; 
Though  I  shewe  you  curtesy,  say  not  that  I  craue,* 
Yet  conuey  it  craftely,  and  hardely  spare  not  for 
me, 


1  craue\  Qy.,  for  the  rhyme,  "  craued?  "  unless  something 
be  wanting. 


MAGNYFTCENCE. 


So  that  ihero  knowe 


1  but  I  and  she. 


Thefie  also  and  pety  brybery 
Witbout  me  be  lull  oft  aspyed  : 
My  iiiwyt  delyDgi?  tbere  eiin  no  man  dyscry, 
Oonuey  it  be  crafte,  lyft  and  lay  osyde: 
Full  ittoche  fiatery  and  falEebods  I  hyde, 
And  by  crafty  conueyaunce  I  wyll,  and  I  can, 
Saue  a  stronge  [hefe  and  liunge  a  trew  man. 
But  some  man  nolde  conuey,  and  can  not  fkfll. 
As  malypert  tauernars  that  checke  with  thetr 

be  Hera, 
Theyr  conueyaunce  weltyth  the  worke  all  by  wylli 
And  some    wyll  take  vpon  them    to   conlerTiiI 

letters,  ™ 

And  therwithall  conuey  hyraselfe  into  a  payre  ol 

fetters ; 
And  some  wyll  conuey  by  the  pretence  of  eml- 

Tyli  all  theyr  conueyaunce  is  tnmyd  into  mad- 
Crafty  coDueyaunce  is  no  chyldlya  game  : 
By  crafty  conueyaunce  many  one  is  brought  vp 

of  nought ; 
Crafty  Conueyaunce  can  cloke  bymselfe  frooe 


For  by  crafty  conueyaunce  wonderful 

are  wrought: 
By  conuayaunce  crafty  I  haue  brought 
Vnto  Magnyfyce[nce]  a.  full  Tngracyous 
For  all  liokea  vnliappy  to  me  haue  resorle. 


thj^ 


MAGNYFYCENCE.  (S5 

Here  cometh  in  Magnyfycence  with  Lybertb 

and  Felycyte. 

Magn.  Trust  me,  Lyberte,  it  greueth  me  ryght 
sore 
To  se  you  thus  ruled  and  stande  in  suche  awe. 
Ijyb,  Syr,  as  by  my  wyll,  it  shall  be  so  no  more. 
Fd.  Yet  lyberte  without  rule  is  not  worth  a 

strawe. 
Magn.  Tushe,  holde  your  peas,  ye  speke  lyke 
a  dawe ; 
Ye  shall  be  occupy  ed,  Wei  the,  at  my  wyll.    [sky  11. 
Or.  Con.   All  that  ye  say,  syr,  is  reason  and 
Magn.  Mayster  Suruayour,  where  haue  ye  ben 
so  longe  ? 
Remembre  ye  not  how  my  lyberte  by  mesure 
ruled  was? 
Or.  Con.   In  good  faythe,  syr,  me  semeth  he 
had  the  more  wronge.  1400 

Lyh.  Mary,  syr,  so  dyd  he  excede  and  passe. 
They  droue  me  to  lernynge  lyke  a  dull  asse. 
Fel.    It  is  good  yet  that  lyberte  be  ruled  by 

reason. 
Magn.  Tushe,  holde  your  peas,  ye  speke  out 
of  season : 
Yourselfe  shall  be  ruled  by  lyberte  and  largesse. 
Fel.  I  am  content,  so  it  in  measure  be. 
Lyh.   Must  mesure,  in  the  mares  name,  you 

furnysshe  and  dresse  ? 
Magn.  Nay,  nay,  not  so,  my  frende  Felycyte. 

VOL.   II.  5 


i 


66  UAGNTPTCENOE. 

Or.  Con,  Not,  and  your  grace  wolde  be  n\A  I 

by  me. 
Ijfb.  Nil)',  he  eball  be  ruled  euen  as  I  Ijil  i( 
Fel.  Yel  it  ii  good  lo  beware  of  Had  I  wyst. 
Miign.  Syr,  by  lyberte  and  largesse  Iwyllttii 
ye  shall 
Be  gouerned  and  gj'dt'd :  wole  ye  what  I  say  ? 
Mayster  Suruayour,  Largesse  to  me  call. 
Cr.  Con.   It  shall  be  done. 
Magn.  Ye,  but  byd  hym  come  away 
Al  ones,  tind  let  faym  not  tury  all  day. 

Here  goth  out  Crafty  Condayachck- 
Fel.  Yet  it  is  good  wysdonie  lo  worke  wysely 

by  wellh. 

lAjh.  Holde  thy  tonge,  and  thou  loue  Ihy  heltk 

Magn.  What,  wyll  ye  waste  wynde,  and  pnite 

thus  in  voyne?  '» 

Ye  haue  eten  sauce,  I  trowe,  at  the  Taylere  Hall. 

hyb.  Be  not  lo  bolde,  iny  frende ;  I  counsell 

you,  here  a  brayne. 
Magn.  And  whal  so  we  say,  bolde  yon  conieni 

with  all. 
Fel,  Syr,  yet  without  sapyence  your  sobstauncE 
may  be  sisal ; 
For,  where  is  no  mesure,  howe  raay   worshjp 
endure?  ^^ 


Here  comelh  in  Fanst. 


Fan.  Syr,  I 
Tour  grace  sen 
wyll? 


It  your  pleasure  ;     ^^1 
I  wcne;  what  U  yoW 


MAGNYFTCENCE. 

1   byther,  Largessi 


G7 


1  'ake  her 
Feljcyfe. 
F<m.  Why,  wene  you  that  lean fcepe  hym  longe 

styll  ? 
Magn.  To  rule  aa  ye  lyst,  lo,  here  is  X^yberle  ! 
Lyb,  I  am  here  redy.  hsi 

Fan.  What,  shall  we  haue  welih  at  our  gydynge 
10  rule  aa  we  lyst  ? 
Then  fare  well  thryfie,  by  hym  that  croase  kyst ! 
Fd.  I  truste  your  grace  wyjl  be  agreabyll 
'  That  I  shall  suffer  none  impeehmeat 
By  iheyr  demenaunce  nor  losae  repryuable, 
Magn.  Syr,  ye  shall  folowe  myne  appetyte  and 


Ftl.  So  it  be  by  n 


eli 


m  ryght  \ 
good  syr,  i 


Fan.  What,  all  by  n 

excesse  ? 
L^b.  Why,  wehh   hath  made  maoy  a  man 

braynlesse.  "" 

JiS  That  was  by  the  menys  of  to  moche  lyberte. 
Magn.  What,  can  ye  agree  thus  and  appose  ? 
I'd.  Syr,  ns  I  say,  there  was  no  faote  in  nie. 
iyd.  Ye,  of  Jackea  thromroys  bybyll  can  ye 

Fan,  Sore  sayde,  I  tell  you,  and  well  lo  the 
purpose : 
nljttt  sholde  a  man  do  with  you  ?  loke  you  ynder 
kay? 
iVt  I  say,  it  ia  foly  to  gyuo  ail  wellL  away. 


68  XAGXTTTCmCK. 

l^.  tTbrihersboUewdUttenitj^dbj-lj'bei'le, 

Or  Ubcrtc  bj  wehli?  let  se,  teD  mc  tliat.         iw 

^(Z.  Syr,  as  Bie  aenieik,  je  tJioIile  be  rulyil 

Jfi^M.  Wlwt  Beds  fo*  nth  liTin  thus  praie 

UMidBt? 

A*.  Sbe««  vs  TOUT  Bjnde  ibeo,  bowa  t( 

■nd  wbaL 
JIG9M.  I  sMj,  tbai  I  K7Q  je  iiAue  hjn 

Zyi^  Uajster  Fvljcrte,  I«i  be  joar  cbjdynge, 
And  ao  as  je  se  it  wjU  be  no  bener. 
Take  it  in  voctbe  sudhe  as  re  f^nde. 

Fan-  Wbot  the  deoTll,  man,  jonr  naote  sbslbe 
ibegnier, 
For  trelih  wilhoot  larg«M  b  all  oat  of  kjmde. 
Lgk,  And  wdih  b  aou*iit  wonhe,  vf  Ij^berie  be 

bdijDde. 
i^ign.  Nbwe  hoUejeooQtent,  for  thneii  none 
other  ehj-fte,  "" 

Fd.  Than  wa~te  mast  be   •relootne,  and  lire 

veU  thrjfie! 
Magn.  Takeof  faiasataetanneeasuremoentoT^. 
And  gel  Iboa  *  botae  togTtber  i  tot  Lj-bene  iktU 

bjde. 
Aad  wane  Tpon  me. 

Lyi.  And  ret  for  a  meBHuj, 
UUke  uidentures  hotre  je  and  I  shal  gjde. 


m)  Qj.  '  ymt?  "  ne  aote  ea  t.  nTtt  fi.  n> 


MAGNTFYCENCE.  69 

Fan.  I  can  do  notbjnge  but  he  stonde  besyde. 
Lyb.  Syr,  we  can  do  nothynge  the  one  without 

the  other. 
Magn.  Well,  get  you  hens  than,  and  sende  me 

some  other. 
Fan.   Whom?  lusty  Pleasure,  or  mery  Con- 
sayte  ?  "to 

Magn,  Nay,  fyrst  lusty  Pleasure  is  my  desyre 
to  haue, 
And  let  the  other  another  *  awayte, 
Howe  be  it  that  fonde  felowe  is  a  mery  knaue ; 
But  loke   that  ye  occupye  the  auctoryte  that  I 

you  gaue. 
[^Here  goeth  ouU  Feltc yte,  Lyberte,  and  Fans Y. 

Magnyfycence  alone  in  the  place. 

For  nowe,*  syrs,  I  am  lyke  as  a  prynce  sholde  be ; 
I  haue  welth  at  wyll,  largesse  and  lyberte : 
Fortune  to  her  lawys  can  not  abandune  me, 
But  I  shall  of  Fortune  rule  the  reyne  ; 
I  fere  nothynge  Fortunes  perplexyte  ; 
All  honour  to  me  must  nedys  stowpe  and  lene  ; 
I  synge  of  two  partys  without  a  mene  ;  i«i 

I  haue  wynde  and  wether  ouer  all  to  sayle, 
No  stormy  rage  agaynst  me  can  peruayle. 
Alexander,  of  Macedony  kynge, 
That  all  the  oryent  had  in  subieccyon. 


1  cmoOier]  Qy.  "  anoUier  time  ?  '* 

*  For  noioe,  ^c]  In  ed.  this  speech  is  given  to  Fanty, 


jtxattTTTcrsicx. 
^tiiM  eonqataijs  were  brougbt  to  rekw 


me.  * 

1 

iaiid(»il 


"H^jH  awKOt  iTgbl  *^  vnder  mv  proteccyoo 

g^j^iam  for  ■!)  bb  BBTcj^  aSeeeyoa  ; 

f%t  1  an  {irrnce  perksse  proujd  or  porte, 

^gj^«  mUh  blysM!,  enbrmcvd  with  comfone. 

^jp    ihai  ftoleme  ever  of  Babylon, 

^^  W«rU  retevsyd  of  ibejr  captjuytfi) 

fte  *i  Iti*  jionipe,  for  all  hi$  rjall  Ipone, 

1^  ^i^i  not  be  comparjd  vnta  me. 

1  aM  tb*  ^^mounde  dowtlesse  of  dygn^e 

!$^^  It  ia  I  thai  all  may  saue  and  spjll; 

Jit  swui  i«0  liurdy  ro  worke  agajnst  my  wy] 

Vtowvojni,  tlie  prowde  prouoste  of  Turky 

l^u  ratyd  tliH  IloiTiaynej  and  made  them  y  11  reil> 

Sm  V\'Mr  July,  Ihnt  no  mnn  mygfat  wilhslaodi, 

^i^M  Bouer  IihIA;  bo  rychely  as  I  am  drest :    * 

Jjt\  ibai  I  Hdgure  you  ;  loke  wlu>  was  the  best. 

tn^YM  ii>  my  robys,  I  rule  as  me  lyst, 

I  4^uc  downe  lb[ejse  dailardy^  with  a  dynl  J 

my  ("yate. 
QlfOKlO  tlie  counte  acounlyd  the  cane, 
^Miyua,  the  doughty  cheftayn  of  Perse, 
I  «•!  uoi  liy  tlxe  prowdesl  of  them  a  prane, 
({»  by  aon  olher  tbat  any  man  can  rehersM. 
I  folvwv  in  felj'cyte  without  reue[r^s3e, 
k  Uivtlu  no  daunger,  I  dawnce  all  in  delyte;    >" 
^  uume  is  Magnyfycence,  man  most  of  mjgl''' 
he  herdy,  with  hia  slobburne 


MAGNYFTCENCE.  71 

Fhat  made  Cerberus  to  cache,  the  cur  dogge  of 

hell, 
^nd  Thesius,  that  prowde  was  Pluto  to  face, 
[t  wolde  not  become  them  with  me  for  to  mell : 
For  of  all  barones  bolde  I  here  the  bell, 
!)f  all  doughty  I  am  doughtyest  duke,  as  I  deme  ; 
Vo  me  all  prynces  to  lowte  man  be  sene.* 
>herlemayne,  thatmantenyd  the  nobles  of  Fraunce, 
\.rthur  of  Albyan,  for  all  his  brymme  berde,    i«« 
!sor  Basyan  the  bolde,  for  all  his  brybaunce, 
sTorAlerycuSjthatrulyd  the  Gothyaunce  by  swerd, 
^or  no  man  on  molde  can  make  me  aferd. 
Vhat  man  is  so  maysyd  with  me  that  dare  mete, 
shall  flappe  hym  as  a  fole  to  fall  at  my  fete. 
i^alba,  whom  his  galantys  garde  for  a  gaspe, 
J'or  Nero,  that  nother  set  by  God  nor  man, 
for  Vaspasyan,  that  bare  in  his  nose  a  waspe, 
for  Hanyball  agayne  Rome  gates  that  ranne, 
Jor  yet  Cypyo,  that  noble  Cartage  wanne,        isao 
^or  none  so  hardy  of  them  with  me  that  durste 

crake, 
^ut  I  shall  frounce  them  on  the  foretop,  and  gar 
them  to  quake. 

Here  cpmeth  in  Courtly  Abusyon,  doynge 
reaerence  and  courtesy. 

Court,  Ah.  At  your  commaundement,  syr,  wy  th 
all  dew  reuerence. 

1  be  tene]  Qy., «  may  beseme  ?  '*  C. 


.  WelMin,  Pleasura 
.  Plesyih  it  jou 


IdusNall? 
Moffn.  Lei  v 


toourmagnj'fyceMtr  I 
'  grace  to  ahevre  wlul  I 


of  yoor  plea.^u 


the  tyme  withall. 
CoHrt.  Ab.   Syr,  then  wild  the  fauour  of  j'ODt 
benynge  sufferaunce 
To  aliewe  you  my  myBde  myfielfe  I  wyll  auauncCi 
If  it  lyke  your  grace  to  take  it  in  degre. 

Magn.  Yes,  syr,  so  good  man  in  you  I  se,    »• 
And  in  your  delycge  so  good  a^suraunce, 
Thai  Via  delyte  gretiy  in  your  dalyauoce, 

Court.  Ab.  A,  syr,  your  grace  me  dothe  eiiole 
and  rayse, 
And  ferre  beyond  my  merytya  ye  me  corameniie 

and  prayse ; 
Howe  be  it,  I  wolde  be  ryght  gladJe,  I  you  assure, 
Any  ibynge  to  do  thiit  myglit  be  to  yoLtr  plensure. 
Magn.  As  I  be  saued,  with  pleasure  I  am  enp- 
pry  By  d 
Of  your  langage,  it  is  so  well  deuysed  ; 
Pullyflhyd  and  fresshe  is  your  ornacy. 

Court.  Ab.  A,  1  wolde  to  God  thai  I  weK  halft 
60  crafty,  i" 

Or  in  elecie  vlleraunce  halfe  bo  eloquent. 
As  tlial  I  myght  your  noble  grace  content! 
Magn.    Truste  me,  with  you   1   am    bygblj 
pi  easy  d, 
For  in  my  fauour  I  haue  you  fe.ffyd 
He  \i  not  lyuynge  your  muners  can  auiendfi 


MAGNYFYCENCE.  73 

Mary,  your  speche  is  as  pleasant  as  though  it 

were  pend ; 
To  here  your  comon,  it  is  my  hygh  comforte ; 
Poynt  deuyse  all  pleasure  is  your  porte. 

Court.  Ah.  Syr,  I  am  the  better  of  your  noble 

reporte ; 
But,  of  your  pacyence  vnder  the  supporte,        i«o 
If  it  wolde  lyke  you  to  here  my  pore  mynde  — 
Magn.    Speke,  I  beseche  th^,  leue  nothynge 

behynde. 
Court.  Ah.    So  as  ye  be  a   prynce  of  great 

myght, 
It  is  semynge  your  pleasure  ye  delyte, 
And  to  aqueynte  you  with  carnal  1  delectacyon, 
And   to  fall  in  aquayntaunce  with  euery  newe 

facyon ; 
And    quyckely   your  appetytes   to   sharpe   and 

adresse, 
To  fasten  your  fansy  vpon  a  fay  re  maystresse, 
That  quyckly  is  enuyued  with  rudyes  of  the  rose, 
Inpurtured  with  fetures  after  your  purpose,       i57e 
The  streynes  of  her  vaynes  as  asure  inde  blewe, 
Bnbudded   with  beautye  and  colour  fresshe  of 

hewe, 
k&  lyly  whyte  to  loke  vpon  her  leyre, 
Her  eyen  relucent  as  carbuncle  so  clere, 
Her  mouthe  enbawmed,  dylectable  and  mery, 
Her  lusty  lyppes  ruddy  as  the  chery : 
Howe  lyke  you?   ye  lacke,  syr,  suche  a  lusty 

lasse. 


Jji^k  J>(fac  «m  a  babr  la  hnce  and  » 

t>«aW»  t  bMi^  b«n  Am  bed  djd  barowe, 
Wife  «■  ilk  hmyi^M^Aa  * Phjrljp  >pargwe!  m 
K  <«dfe  taafeM  Mi*l«iC  UT  bnle  d;d  warke, 

"Ptiiji  «■■*»  itt  B^M  «TT«  tbej  be  so  lustel; 

T^M  4M  MMite  •  frdale  mj  flessbe  wolda  be 

IhlBr  Hiwiifci  mt  m  itanolj,  and  ijkjU  mj  «»• 

Ita*  w^^  K  wnth  b*  on  AKfae  a  ba^le : 
^  CTIiAiilj   aniMb  wfara  m jght   Boebe  one  be 

Am.  Jlk  IhH  yu  speaik  (Wv  monej  ? 

Jftpib  Ti^  a  ttuwrapAi  pounde. 

Am.  JK   >«>.  aar.  be  iaett  I  wanonl  70U 

.Aaa  kcMt^  hHMw  m2  kvOe  »  jwv  bed. 

JM^a^  TiiJ^i  — if,»awt»i  ihoo,  make  and* 

<M»a»dto«a)t? 
Om«.  A  Ska^raaiLMfa  iaarchacmlea,Ilell 

««^<w«raiL 
■My^   ^'Vs  *?^  *  aurures  b«   wonne  fnr 

VMl^  Mil  ^gaUc? 

Owc^Jk  VX*.«»faMtiariB(nc7TnviM>il» 
bwqteaadMlie? 
^^  ■>■?  a  $c«^it  ^«e  and  Uwne  kaib  Ul 


MAGNTFYCENCE.  75 

Bj  the  meanes  of  money  without  onj  gonne. 
A  majstres,  I  tell  you,  is  but  a  small  thynge ; 
A  goodly  rybon,  or  a  golde  rynge, 
May  Wynne  with  a  sawte  the  fortresse  of  the 
holde ;  isoo 

But  one  thynge  I  warne  you,  prece  forth  and  be 
bolde. 
Magn.  Ye,  but  some  be  full  koy  and  passynge 

harde  harted. 
Court.  Ah,   But,  blessyd  be   our  Lorde,  they 

wyll  be  sone  conuerted. 
Magn,   Why,  wyll  they  then  be  intreted,  the 

most  and  the  lest  ? 
Court.  Ah.   Ye,  for  omnis  rmUier  meretrix,  si 

celari  potest. 
Magn.  A,  I  haue  spyed  ye  can  moche  broken 

sorowe. 
Court.  Ah.  I  coude  holde  you  with  suche  talke 
hens  tyll  to  morowe ; 
But  yf  it  lyke  your  grace,  more  at  large 
Me  to  permyt  my  mynde  to  dyscharge, 
I  wolde  yet  shewe  you  further  of  my  consayte.  mo 
McLgn.  Let  se  what  ye  say,  shewe  it  strayte. 
Court.  Ah.    Wysely  let  these  wordes  in  your 
mynde  be  wayed : 
By  waywarde  wylfulnes  let  eche  thynge  be  con- 

uayed ; 
What  so  euer  ye  do,  folowe  your  owne  wyll ; 
Be  it  reason  or  none,  it  shall  not  gretely  skyll ; 
Be  it  ryght  or  wronge,  by  the  aduyse  of  me, 


XA  GNTFICESCE. 

Take  yotir  pleasure  and  vse  frea  liberie; 
And  yf  you  se  ony  thvnge  agMynsl  four  mj^de, 
Then  some  ocvacyoD  of  quarell  je  muiit  tjaie, 
Aiid  irowoe  it  and  face  il,  as  iboughe  je  wolde 
fyght,  ■• 

Prete  joureelfe  for  anger  and  for  dyepyte; 
Here  no  man,  what  fo  euer  ihey  say, 
liul  do  as  ve  Ij^st,  and  lake  your  owna  way. 
Maffn.   Thy  wordes  and  my  mynde  odly  wU 

Covri,  Ah.  What  sfaolde  ye  do  elles?  are  nDt 
you  a  lorde  ? 
Let  your  iust  and  lykynge  slande  for  a  lawe; 
Be  wrasiynge  and  wrylhynge,  and  away  drawe. 
And  ye  ^  a  man  lliut  wilh  hvm  ye  be  noC  {Jea£<fi!< 
And  that  your  mynde  ram  noi  well  be  eased,    ■" 
Aj  yf  a  man  fonune  lo  louche  yon  on  Ihe  qujtei 
Then  fejne  yourseire  dyseased  and  make  pur- 
sell  e  $(;ke : 
To  styre  rp  your  ^tomake  you  must  you  fo^ 
Cnll  for  a  candell   and   ca^t  vp  your  gor^; 
With.  Cocbes  arme$,  re$t  shnll  I  none  haue 
Tyll  I  be  nuenged  on  thai  horson  fcnaue  ( 
A,  hone  my  slomake  wnmbletb !    I  am  all  in  ' 


Is  llierp  no  borson  ihal  knaue  that  wyll  bfle  ? 
Magn.    By  Cocke?  «-ouDdes,  a  wonder  li^< 
ibou  ane ; 


MAGNYFTCENCE.  77 

For  ofte  tymes  suche  a  wamblynge  golh  ouer  my 

harte ; 
Yet  I  am  not  harte  seke,  but  that  me  lyst  i64o 

For  myrth  I  haue  hym  coryed,  beten,  and  blyst, 
Hym  thai  I  loued  not  and  made  hym  to  loute, 
I  am  forthwith  as  hole  as  a  troute ; 
For  suche  abusyon  I  vse  nowe  and  than. 

Court,  Ah,   It  is  none  abusyon,  syr,  in  a  noble 

man, 
It  is  a  pryncely  pleasure  and  a  lordly  mynde ; 
Suche  lustes  at  large  may  not  be  lefte  behynde. 

Here  cometh  in  Cloked  Coluston  with 

Mesure. 

CI,  Col,  Stande  styll  here,  and  ye  shall  se 
That  for  your  sake  I  wyll  fall  on  my  kne. 

Court.  Ah,  Syr,  Sober  Sadnesse  cometh,  wher- 
fore  it  be  ? .  i«m 

Magn,  Stande  vp,  syr,  ye  are  welcom  to  me. 
CL  Col,  Please  it  your  grace,  at  the  contem- 
placyon 
Of  my  pore  instance  and  supplycacyon. 
Tenderly  to  consyder  in  your  aduertence, 
Of  our  blessyd  Lorde,  syr,  at  the  reuerence, 
Hemembre  the  good  seruyce  that  Mesure  hath 

you  done, 
And  that  ye  wyll  not  cast  hym  away  so  sone. 
Magn,  My  frende,  as  touchynge  to  this  your 
mocyon, 
I  may  say  to  you  I  haue  but  small  deuocyon ; 


llou'e  be  it,  at  jour  inslauDce  I  wjInE^n 


Do  as  moche  as  for 


myni 


e  father. 


01.  CoL  Nay,  syr,  thai  atfeccyon  ought  to  be 

reserued, 
For  of  your  grace  I  haue  it  nought  deserued ; 
But  y{  it  lyke  you  that  I  myght  rowne  id  your 

eyre, 
Tc  ehewe  you  my  mynde  I  wolde  haue  the  lead 

Magn.  Stands  a  lytell  abacke,  syr,  and  let  bym 

come  hyder. 
Court.  Ab.   With  a  good  wyl!,  Byr,  God  fpede 

you  hot  he  togyder. 
CI.  CoL  Syr,  to  it  is,  this  man  is  here  b 
That  for  hyra  to   labours   be   bath    ] 

harlely ; 
Notwithstandynge  to  you  be  it  sayde, 
To  trust  in  roe  he  is  but  dyssayued  i 
For,  so  heipe  me  God,  for  you  he  is  not  n 
I  spcke  ibe  Bot'tlyer,  because  he  sliolde  not  « 
Magn.  Come  hyder,  Pleasure,  you  shall  bete 
myne  eiitent : 
Mesure,  ye  knowe  wel,  with  byro  I  can   not  be 

content, 
And  surely,  as  I  am  nowe  ailuysed, 
I  wyll  haue  Iiym  rehayled  and  dyapysed. 
Howe  aay  ye,  ayrs  ?  herein  wliat  is  best  ? 

Coart.  Ab.  By  myne  aduyse  with  yoii  in  fcyli 
he  shall  not  rest. 


,  ijoa  epeuo 
leret^^jjH 

notni«^| 


MAGNTFTCENCE.  79 

CZ.  OoL  Yet,  syr,  reserued  your  better  aduyse- 
ment,  i«i 

It  were  better  he  spake  with  you  or  he  wente. 
That  he  knowe  not  but  that  I  haue  supplyed 
All  that  I  can  his  matter  for  to  spede. 

Magn,  Nowe,  by  your  trouthe,  gaue  he  yon 

not  a  brybe  ? 
GL  Col,  Yes,  with  his  hande  I  made  hym  to 
subscrybe 
A  byll  of  recorde  for  an  annuall  rent. 

Court,  Ah,  But  for  all  that  he  is  lyke  to  haue 

a  glent. 
CI,  Col,  Ye,  by  my  trouthe,  I  shall  waraunt 
you  for  me, 
And  he  go  to  the  deu[y]ll,  so  that  I  may  haue 

my  fee, 

"What  care  I  ?  lew 

Magn,  By  the  masse,  well  sayd. 

Court,  Ah.  What  force  ye,  so  that  ye  be  payde  ? 

CI,  Col,  But  yet,  lo,  I  wolde,  or  that  he  wente, 

Lest  tliat  he  thought  that  his  money  were  euyll 

spente. 
That  ye  wolde  loke  on  hym,  thoughe  it  were  not 
longe. 
Magn,  Well  cannest  thou  helpe  a   preest  (o 

synge  a  songe. 
CL  Col,  So  it  is  all  the  maner  nowe  a  dayes, 
For  to  vse  suche  haftynge  and  crafty  wayes. 
Court,  Ah.  He  telleth  you  trouth,  syr,  as  I  you 
ensure. 


80  MAGNTFTCENCK. 

Magn.  Well,  for  thy  sake  the  belter  I  n 

Thai  he  come  hyder,  and  to  gyne  hjm  a  loke 
That  he  t^biill  Ijki-  ihe  worse  all  ihia  woke. 

CI.  Col.  I  care  not  howe  sons  he  be  refaaed, 
So  ihftl  I  may  crafiely  be  excused. 

Court.  Ah.  Where  is  he  ? 

a.  Col.  Mary,  I  made  hym  abyde. 
Whyleat  I  came  to  you,  a  lylell  hero  besyde. 

Magn.  Well,  call  hym,  and  let  va  here  bjin 


MAGNYFTCENCE.  •    81 

Mb8.  Syr,  God  rewarde  you  as  ye  haue  de- 
serued : 
But  thynke  you  with  Magnyfycence  T  shal  be 
reserued  ? 
Ol.  Col.  By  my  trouth,  I  can  not  tell  you  that ; 
But,  and  I  were  as  ye,  I  wolde  not  set  a  gnat 
By  Magnyfycence,  nor  yet  none  of  his, 
For,  go  when  ye  shall,  of  you  shall  he  mysse. 
Mes,  Syr,  as  ye  say. 
CL  CoL  Nay,  come  on  with  me : 
Yet  ones  agayne  I  shall  fall  on  my  kne  itso 

For  your  sake,  what  so  euer  befall ; 
I  set  not  a  ilye,  and  all  go  to  all. 

Mes.  The  Holy  Goost  be  with  your  grace. 
67.  GoL  Syr,  I  beseche  you,  let  pety  haue  some 
place 
In  your  brest  towardes  this  gentylman. 

Magn,  I  was  your  good  lorde  tyll  that  ye  be- 
ganne 
So  masterfully  vpon  you  for  to  take 
With  my  seruauntys,  and  suche  maystryes  gan 

make, 
That  holly  my  mynde  with  you  is  myscontente  ; 
Wherfore  I  wyll  that  ye  be  resydent  1740 

With  me  no  longer. 

CI,  CoL  Say  somwhat  nowe,  let  se,  for  your 
selfe.* 

1  Ui  te^for  your  «e{/e]  Qy.,  for  the  rhyme,  **  for  your  selfe, 
let  86?  ** — ^unless  "  for  your  selfe  "  was  intended  to  form  tha 
ftommencement  of  the  next  verse. 

VOL.   II.  6 


82 

Mel,  Syr,  yf  I  myglit  permytted  b 
[  wolde  to  you  say  a  worde  or  tnajne. 
Magn.  Wtial,  woldest  thou,  luixlen,  with  ma 
brawie  Jlgayne  ? 
Haue  hym  hens,  I  say,  out  of  my  syght; 
That  day  I  se  hym,  I  shall  he  wor^e  a]|  nygfal. 
\_Here  Mesubk  gotk  out  of  t&e pla-t} 
Court.  Ab.  Heiu,  thou  haytiyarde,   out  of  ibe 

dorea  last  I 
Mitgn.  Alas,  my  sloinake  fareth  as  it  wolde  vasi  I 
CI,  Col  Abyde,  eyr,  abyde,  let  me  tiolde  your 

MagTi.  A  bolle  or  a  basyn,  I  say,  for  Ooddei 
bi-edo  I 
A,  my  hede  1  But  ia  the  horson  gone  ? 
God  gyu<!  hym  a  myschefie  !  Kay,  nowe  let  W 

CL  Co!,  A  good  dryfte,  ayr,  a  praty  fete: 
By  (he  good  Lorde,  yet  your  temples  bete. 
Magn.  Nay,  so  Giod  me  helpe,  it  wa§  no  grate 
yexacyon, 
For  I  am  pauged  ofie  tymes  of  this  same  facjoD. 
CI.  Col.  Cockes  armea,  Lowe  Pleasure  plncJEnl 
bym  forth  ! 


1  i3ii"<  3/esu™  jdA  Dti(  ii/*ifteplH:<]  To  thi 
ought  lo  ba  added—"  ailh  Omrdy  Abuit/im,  who,  at  ha  t«Tt» 
Aim  d^,  ezi'Jainu."  See  what  Cl<ii</d  Oiiuiyint  aayt  a  lilUl 
■tiler, 

"Coctes  armes,  howe  Pleasaro  plucked  hym  (brill!" 
Pleasare  is  the  nasumrd  natae  of  Omrlly  Abuti/an. 


MAGNYPYCENCB.  83 

Magn.  Ye,  walke  he  must,  it  was  no  better 

worth. 
CL  Col,  Syr,  no  we  me  thynke  your  harte  is 
well  eased.  neo 

Magn,  Nowe  Measure  is  gone,  I  am  the  better 

pleased. 
Gl,  Gol.  So  to  be  ruled  by  measure,  it  is  a  payne. 
Magn,  Mary,  I  wene  he  wolde  not  be  glad  to 

come  agayne. 
CL  Col.  So  I  wote  not  what  he  sholde  do  here : 
Where  mennesbelyes  is  mesured,  there  is  nochere; 
For  I  here  but  fewe  men  that  gyue  ony  prayse 
Vnto  measure,  I  say,  nowe  a  days. 

Magn,  Measure,  tut  I  what,  the  deuyll  of  hell ! 
Scantly  one  with  measure  that  wyll  dwell. 

CL  Col,  Not  amonge  noble  men,  as  the  worlde 
gothe :  1770 

It  is  no  wonder  therfore  thoughe  ye  be  wrothe 
With  Mesure.    Where  as  all  noblenes  is,  there  I 

haue  past: 
They  catche  that  catche  may,  kepe  and  holde  fast, 
Out  of  all  measure  themselfe  to  enryche; 
No  force  what  thoughe  his  neyghbour  dye  in  a 

dyche. 
With  pollynge  and  pluckynge  out  of  all  measure, 
Thus  must  ye  stuffe  and  store  your  treasure. 
Magn,    Yet  somtyme,   parde,   I    must  vse 

largesse. 
CL  CoL    Ye,  mary,  somtyme  in   a  messe  of 
vergesse, 


til 


A*  III  a  IrytyU  nr  iu  a  tbyn^  « 
A>  m;uvu|i((  u  iliyiigu  ibnt  ye  neDcr  Unigbt : 
It  i*  the  KJ1V  uii^Vd,  I  saj'.  ooer  all : 
l.nrKi-'Hse  in  wontca,  (or  rt^waniee  are  b«  hisE: 
'I'u  Hitiku  (nyrv  pramjea.  what  are  f«  the  mne-' 
I>«t  IDU  Imiin  ttii!  ruin  of  your  pune. 
Mitgn.  \  Imitft  tnkeu  it  ta  Lirg«we  »q4  LtImW 
a.  Vol  Thmi  is  it  done  ub  it  ^koUe  be: 
lliit  VHP  your  lurgfisse  by  tlie  •JuTb^  of  tob. 
And  I  Hhftll  wnniiint  you  welth  vml  Irberte. 
Mngn.  8iiy  on  ;  me  thjuke  joor  ranods  be 
priifiiiinile.  i* 

67.  CW.  Syr,  of  my  cwuusayle  this  shall  be  ibt 
fSrcmiiflc, 
To  choHe  out  ii.  iii.  of  suuhe  as  yoo  lot»e  bsL 
And  let  oil  your  fansyes  vpoo  them  nsi; 
Spuru  fur  no  cost  to  gyue  lliem  pounde  axiA  penj. 
UotCer  to  ninko  iii.  ryohe  than  for  to  nmlce  nmuj: 
Uyuu  tltuni  more  than  ynou^'lie  und  let  tliennnt 

Ineke, 
And  UB  for  all  oiher  let  lliem  Irusse  and  packtl 
Plucke  froni  an  hundred,  and  gyue  il  to  ibre. 
Let  neyilier  palent  scape  tliem  nor  fee  i  "■ 

And  wliere  soeuer  you  wyll  ikil  to  a  rekenyngei 
Tliose  ilire  wyll  be  redy  euuu  at  your  bekenyngCi 
Kor  then  •  sliati  you  haue  at  lyberte  to  lowie; 
I^t  Ihem  huue  all,  and  the  other  go  wiihoui: 
Tbua  ioy  without  mesure  you  eliall  buue. 


"tte»]  (Jy."thein?" 


MAGNYPTCENCE.  85 

Magn,   Thou  eayst  truthe,  by  the  harte  that 
God  me  gaue ! 
For,  as  thou  sayst,  ryght  so  shall  it  be : 
And  here  I  make  the  vpon  Lyberte 
To  be  superuysour,  and  on  Largesse  also, 
For  as  thou  wylte,  so  shall  the  game  go ; 
Foi  in  Pleasure,  and  Surueyaunce,  and  also  in 
th^,  WW 

I  haue  set  my  hole  felycyte. 
And  suche  as  you  wyll  shall  lacke  no  promocyon. 
€1.  Col.   Syr,  syth  that  in  me  ye  haue  suche 
deuocyon, 
Commyttynge  to  me  and  to  my  felowes  twayne 
Your  welthe   and  felycyte,  I  trust  we  shall 

optayne 
To  do  you  seruyce  after  your  appetyte. 

Magn,  In  fay  the,  and  your  seruyce  ryght  well 
shall  I  acquyte ; 
And  therfore  hye  you  hens,  and  take  this  ouer- 
syght. 
CL  Col,  Nowe,  Jesu  preserue  you,  syr,  prynce 
most  of  myght ! 

Here  goth  Cloked  Colusyon  awaye^ 
and  leueth  Magntftcence  alone 
in  the  place, 
Magn.    Thus,  I  say,  I    am    enuyronned  with 
solace ;  |82« 

I  drede  no  dyntes  of  fatall  desteny. 
Well  were  that  lady  myght  stande  in  my  grace, 
Me  to  enbrace  and  loue  moost  specyally : 


pi.   Ti^  womia  hmi^  m^fiet  m  Stit» 


HAGNTFTCENCB.  87 

FoL  A,  sjr,  tolde  I  not  you  howe  I  djd  fynde 
A  knaue  and  a  carle,  and  all  of  one  kynde  ? 
I  sawe  a  wethercocke  wagge  with  the  wynde ; 
Grete  meruayle  I  had,  and  mused  in  my  raynde ; 
The  houndes  ranne  before,  and  the  hare  behynde ; 
I  sawe  a  losell  lede  a  lurden,  and  they  were  bothe 

blynde ; 

I  sawe  a  sowter  go  to  supper  or  euer  he  had 

dynde. 

Magn,  By  Cockes  harte,  thou  arte  a  fyne  mery 

knaue.  ism 

FoL  I  make  God  auowe,  ye  wyll  none  other 

men  ^  haue. 
Mdgn,  What  sayst  thou  ? 
FoL   Mary,  I  pray  God  your  maystershyp  to 
saue: 
I  shall  gyue  you  a  gaude  of  a  goslynge  that  I 

gaue, 
The  gander  and  the  gose  bothe  grasynge  on  one 

graue ; 
Than  Rowlande   the  reue  ran,  and  I  began  to 

raue, 
And  with  a  brystell  of  a  bore  his  berde  dyd  I 
shaue. 
Magn.  If  euer  I  herde  syke  another,  God  gyue 

me  shame. 
FoL    Sym  Sadylgose  was  my  syer,  and  Daw- 
cocke  my  dame :  i« 

imenj  Qy.  "man?" 


88  MAGNTFTCENCE. 

I  coude,  and  I  lyst,  garre  you  Isugfae  at  a  game, 
Howe  a  wodcocke  wra«tleJ  wilh  a  larke  lliat  wu 

lame: 
Tbe  bytter  sayil  boldly  that  they  were  to  blame  i 
Tiie  feldfare  wolde  haue  t'ydled,  and  it  wolde  mil 

Tlie  uraue  and  the  curlen'e  tkerat  ga&  lo  grame; 
-  Tbe  snyte  snyueled  in  the  snowte  and  cmyled  '1 

Magn.    Cockes   tionea,  befde   you  euer  su(lie 

another  ? 
Fol,    Se,   syr,    I   besecLe  you.   Largesse  wj 

brother. 

Here  Fanbt  eomath  in. 
Magn.  What  tydynges  with  you,  syr,  that  p" 

loke  50  sad  ? 

Fan.    When  ye  knowe  that  I  knowe,  ye  wjH 

not  be  glad.  *• 

Fol.  What,  brother  braynsyke,  how  farest  ibco? 

Magn.  Ye,  let  be  thy  iapes,  and  tell  roekoK 

The  case  requyreth. 

Fait.  Alaese,  alasse,  an  heuy  metynge  1 
I  wolde  tell  you,  and  yf  1  myght  for  wepynge. 
Fol.  What,  is  all  your  myrihe  nuwe  lourtii^ '" 

I  are  well  tyll  sone,  adue  tyil  to  rooi-owe. 

//ere  golh  Folt  iff}' 

Magn.   I  pray  ih6,  Largesse,  let  be  thy  soli- 
bynge. 


MA6NTFTCENCE.  89 

Fan,  Alasse,  syr,  ye  are  vndone  with  stelyng 
and  robbynge ! 
Te  sent  vs  a  superuysour  for  to  take  hede :       mw 
Take  hede  of  your  selfe,  for  no  we  ye  haue  nede. 
Magn,  What,  hath  Sadnesse  begyled  me  so? 
Fan*    K^ay>  madnesse  hath  begyled  you  and 
many  mo ; 
For  Lyberte  is  gone  and  also  Felyeyte. 
Magn,  Grone  ?  alasse,  ye  haue  vndone  me ! 
Fan.  Nay,  he  that  ye  sent  vs,  Clokyd  Colusyon, 
And  your  payntyd  Pleasure,  Courtly  Abusyon, 
And  your  demenour   with  Counterfet  Counten- 

aunce. 
And  your  suruayour,^  Crafty  Conueyaunce, 
Or  euer  we  were  ware  brought  vs  in  aduersyte, 
And  had  robbyd  you  quyte  from  all  felyeyte.    isw 
Magn,  Why,  is  this  the  largesse  that  I  haue 

vsyd  ? 
Fan,  Nay,  it  was  your  fondnesse  that  ye  haue 

vsyd. 
Magn.  And  is  this  the  credence  that  I  gaue  to 

the  letter? 
Fan.  Why,  coulde  not  your  wyt  serue  you  no 

better  ? 
Magn.    Why,  who  wolde  haue  thought  in  you 
suche  gyle  ? 


A  mrwiy(mr\  Ed.  "superuysour:  "  compare  v.  1414,  p.  66: 
«  652,  p.  31,  &c.  (X  Col.  has  just  been  made  "  superuy 
soir:  *'  see  y.  1808,  p.  85. 


Fan.  What?  jes,  by  Ihe  rode,  sjr,  it  w 

That  yoa  irustyd,  and  Fansy  is  my  Dame ; 
And  Foly,  my  bixxlur,  tbat  made  you  moclie  gamft 

Here  eomelh  in  Adcbrstte. 
Mitgn.  Alas,  who  is  yonder,  Ihat  grymly  lokys? 
Fail.  Adewe,  for  I  wyll  uol  come  in  Lis  eiokys.' 
Magn.   Lorde,  so  my  flesshe  trymblyih  nowa 
for  dredti !  uu 

litre  Magntficence  it  ieten  dowiu, 
and  ipoylyd  from  all  his  goodp 
and  rayment. 
Aduer.  I  am  Aduersyle,  thnt  for  thy  my^dede 
From  God  am  sent  lo  quyte  tti^  thy  roede. 
Vyle  velyarde,  ihoti  must  not  nowe  my  dynt  witt 

gtonde, 
Thou  must  not  abyde  the  dynt  of  my  hai 
Ly  there,  losell,  for  all  thy  pompe  and  p 
Thy  pleasure  now  with  payne  and  trouble  d 

iryde. 
The  stroke  of  God,  Aduersyte  I  byght ; 
I  pluku  downe  kyuge,  prynce,  lorde,  and  knyghl, 
I  rushe  at  ihem  rughly,  and  make  ihem  ly  full 

And  in  iheyr  mosle  Iruste  I  make  them  oue^ 

Ihrowe. 
Tbys  loayll  v. 


y  dynt  wilfr 
bao^H 


■,  lyke 


1  lorde,  and  lyuyd  at  his  lust, 
L  lurden,  he  lyech  in  t 


>  clukipl  Here  Fansy  gota  oi 


MAGNYFYCENCE.  91 

He  kneifve  not  hymselfe,  his  harte  was  so  hye;  ' 
No  we  is  there  no  man  that  wyll  set  by  hym  a  flye : 
He  was  wonte  to  boste,  brage,  and  to  brace ; 
Nowe  dare  he  not  for  shame  loke  one  in  the  face : 
All  worldly  welth  for  hym  to  lytell  was ; 
Nowe  hath  he  ryght  nought,  naked  as  an  asse : 
Somtyme  without  measure  he  trusted  in  golde,  !•» 
And  now  without  mesure  he  shal  haue  hunger 

and  colde. 
Lo,  syrs,  thus  I  handell  them  all 
That  folowe  theyr  fansyes  in  foly  to  fall : 
Man  or  woman,  of  what  estate  they  be, 
I  counsayle  them  beware  of  Aduersyte. 
Of  sorowfuU  seruauntes  I  haue  many  scores : 
I  vysyte  them  somtyme  with  blaynes  and  with 

sores ; 
With  botches  and  carbuckyls  in  care  I  them  knyt ; 
With    the   gowte  I  make  them  to  grone  where 

they  syt ; 
Some  I  make  lyppers  and  lazars  full  horse ;      iko 
And  from  that  they  loue  best  some  I  deuorse ; 
Some  with  the  marmoU  to  halte  I  them  make ; 
And  some  to  cry  out  of  the  bone  ake ; 
And  some  I  vysyte  with  brennynge  of  fyre ; 
Of  some  I  wrynge  of  the  necke  lyke  a  wyre ; 
And  some  I  make  in  a  rope  to  totter  and  waiter ; 
And  some  for  to  hange  themselfe  in  an  halter ; 
And  some  I  vysyte  to  ^  batayle.,  warre,  and  mur- 

ther, 

*  *»]  Qy.  "  with?"  compare  vv.  1927, 1934.  [Bather change 
**  Tysyte  "  to  ynsyle^  incite.    C.j 


And  make  eclie  man  to  sle  other; 
To  (Irowne  or  to  *lc  tbemsdfe  wiili  a  kn^fei   >■■ 
And  atl  is  for  iheyr  vngracyous  lyte. 
'Yet  somlyme  I  3tr)-ke  where  is  none  offence, 
Bytauise  I  wolde  proue  men  ol'theyr  [lacyence. 
But,  nowe  a  dayue,  to  eiryke  I  haue  grete  aut^ 
Lydderyns  ao  lylell  aet  by  Goddes  lawes. 
Fadera  and  modera,  that  be  neclygent,  \ 

And  suffre  llieyr  diyldren  lo  baue  theyr  enlenl, 
To  gyde  them  verluously  that  wyll  not  reiBembft, 
Them  or  tliejT  chyldren  ofie  lymes  I  dyerovitibKi 
Theyr    chyldren,    bycause    that    they    baue  B" 

mekenesee ; 
I  vysyte  theyr  fadera  and  moders  with  edi 
And  yf  I  se  iherby  ihey  wyll  not  amende,!^ 
Then  myschefe  sodaynly  I  them  sende  j 
For  there  is  nolhynge  that  more  dyapleaselh  Go3 
Than  from  iheyr  chyldren  to  spare  ibe  rod 
Of  correccyon,  Imt  let  thera  haue  iheyr  wyll; 
Some  1  make  lame,  and  some  I  do  kyll  ; 
And  »ume  I  stryke  with  a  franaey  ; 
Of  some  of  theyr  chyldren  I  atryke  out  ibe  eyei 
And  wliere  the  tader  by  wysdom  worthjpV 

wonne, 
I  aende  ot\  lymes  a  fole  to  his  soniie. 
Wherfbre  of  Aduersyte  loke  ye  be  wart^  ' 
For  when  I  come,  eomyth  aorowe  and  cttm'l 
For  1  gtryke  Jordys  of  realmes  and  landyi^  • 
That  rule  not  by  mesure  that  they  liaue  in  tfcq*'' 

liandys, 


1* 


ibe  eye  I 


MAGNTFTCENCE.  93 

rhat  sadly  rule  not  theyr  howsholde  men  ; 

[  am  Goddjs  preposytour,  I  prynt  them  with  a 

pen; 
Because  of  theyr  neglygence  and  of  theyr  wanton 

vagys, 
[  vysyte  them  and  stryke  them  with  many  sore 

plagys. 
Fo  take,  syrs,  example  of  that  I  you  tell,  wo 

^nd  beware  of  aduersyte  by  my  counsell, 
Fake  hede  of  this   caytyfe   that   lyeth   here   on 

grounde ; 
Beholde,  howe  Fortune  of  ^  hym  hath  frounde  ! 
[•'or  though  we  shewe  you  this  in  game  and  play, 
iTet  it  proueth  eyrnest,  ye  may  se,  euery  day. 
For  nowe  wyll  I  from  this  caytyfe  go, 
\.nd  take  myscheflfe  and  vengeaunce  of  other  mo, 
Chat  hath  deseruyd  it  as  well  as  he. 
Howe,  where  art  thou?  come  hether,  Pouerte ; 
Fake  this  caytyfe  to  thy  lore.  i«o 

Jlere  cometh  in  Pouerte.^ 

J^ouer.  A,  my  bonys  ake,  my  lymmys  be  sore ; 
Alasse,  I  haue  the  cyatyca  full  euyll  in  my  hyppe ! 
Alasse,  where  is  youth  that  was  wont  for  to  skyppe  ? 
I  am  lowsy,  and  vnlykynge,  and  full  of  scurfiTe, 
My  colour  is  tawny,  colon ryd  as  a  turffe : 
I  am  Pouerte,  that  all  men  doth  hate, 
I  am  baytyd  with  doggys  at  euery  mannys  gate : 

^of\  Qy.  "onV" 

3  Pouerte]  And  Aduersyte  goes  out. 


M  A  GSTFY  CEN  CE. 


Full  fewe  but  ihej  haue  enuy  at  me. 

No  we  must  I  this  cnrcasse  lyf't  vp  : 

lie  dynyd  witji  delyle,  widi  Pouerle  ben 


-,  and  V 


p.  Pjr, 

ific  accedat  ad  Icvandum  MA-GNTFTCKSCH 
et  locabit  eum  super  locum  ttratum. 
Magn.  Alasse,  where  is  nowe  my  goldeandfe! 
Alasse,  I  Bay,  where  lo  am  I  brought? 
Alaese,  alaaae,  alasae,  I  dye  lor  thought  I 

Pouer.  Syr,  all  thia  wolde  haue  bene  thougW 
on  before : 
He  vroteth  not  wliat  wellb  is  tbat  neuer  was  son- 
Magn.  Fy,  fy,  that  euer  I  sholde  be  brought  id 


Ibis 


el 


I  wenjd  ones  neuer  lo  haue  knowen  of  care 

Pouer.  Lo,  suche  >e  thia  worlde !  I  lynd  it 
In  weiih  lo  beware,  and  thai  is  wyt. 

Magn.  In  wellli  to  beware,  yf  I  had  grace, 
Neuer  bad  I  bene  brought  in  t 

Pouer.  Nowe,  eyth  il  wyll  no  nolher  b 
All  that  God  sendeth,  take  it  in  gre ; 
For,  thougbe  you  were  soratyme  a  noble  e 
Nowe  must  you  lerne  to  beggeateueryniannes  gate. 

Magn.  Alasse,  that  euer  I  sbolde  be  so  aliamed  I 
Alasse,  that  euer  I  Magnyfycence  was  named ! 
Alaase,  that  euer  I  was  so  Itarde  happed.         *" 
In  Diysery  and  wrelchydnesse  thas  to  be  lapped  I 
Alasse,  that  I  coude  not  myselfe  □□  better  g 


itwryl. 


ble  crHI^ 


Mas 


'radell  tbat  I  had  n 


I  dydel 


HA6NTFTCENCE.  95 

Pouer,  Ye,  syr,  ye,  leue  all  this  rage, 
And  pray  to  God  your  sorowes  to  asswage  : 
It  is  foly  to  grudge  agaynst  his  vysytacyon. 
With  harte  contryte  make  you  supplycacyon 
Vnto  your  Maker,  that  made  bothe  you  and  me. 
And,  whan  it  pleaseth  God,  better  may  be. 

Magn.  Alasse,  I  wote  not  what  I  sholde  pray  I 
Pouer.   Rem[e]mbre  you  better,  syr,  beware 

what  ye  say,  sow 

For  drede  ye  dysplease  the  hygh  deyte. 
Put  your  wyll  to  his  wyll,  for  surely  it  is  he 
That  may  restore  you  agayne  to  felycyte^  * 
And  brynge  you  agayne  out  of  aduersyte. 
Therfore  pouerte  loke  pacyently  ye  take. 
And  remembre  he  suffered  moche  more  for  your 

sake, 
Howe  be  it  of  all  synne  he  was  innocent, 
And  ye  haue  deserued  this  punysshment 

Magn,  Alasse,  with  colde  my  lymmes  shall  be 

marde  I  am 

Pouer,   Ye,  syr,  nowe  must  ye  leme  to  lye 

harde, 
That   was   wonte   to  lye   on   fetherbeddes   of 

downe ; 
Nowe   must  your  fete   lye   hyer   than   your 

erowne : 
Where  you  were  wonte  to  haue  cawdels  for  your 

hede, 
Nowe  must  you  monche  mamoekes  and  lumpes 

of  brede; 


9G 


And  V 


llAUNYFtCENCE. 


u  Lad  c 


d  chaunges  o 
Nowe  lap  you  in  a  couerlet  full  fayue  iliat  ym 

And  wbei'e  that  ye  were  poraped  with  whal  tbM 

ye  wolde, 
Howe  must  ye  suffre  bolhe  hunger  and  coMe : 
Willi  (iourlely  sylkea  ye  were  wtrnle  lo  be  drawe; 
Nowe  must  ye  lerue  to  lye  on  llie  BLrawe ;        *"! 
Your  skj-nne    that  was  wrapped   in   cherles  of 

Rnynes, 
Nowe  must  ye  be  slormy  beten'-  witb  shoHTes 

and  raynes ; 
Your  hede  iliat  was  wonle  to  be  happed  u 

drowpy  and  drowsy, 
Now  sbal  ye  be  scabbed,  acuruy,  and  lowqj 
Mitffn.  Fye  on  ihia  worlde,  full  of  trecha 
That  euer  noblenesse  shotde  lyue  thus  wretcbyci 
Pouer.  byv,  remembre  the  touroe  of  FortuaH 

That  wantonly  can  wynke,  and  wynche  with  lii^r 

Nowe  she  wyll  lauglie,  forthwith  she  wyll  frownei 
Sodenly  set  vp,  and  aodenly  pluckyd  downe:-  •^m 
She  dawnsytb  varyaunce  wtih  mulabylyle;  -^l 
Nowe  all  in  welth,  Ibrthwiih  in  pouerte:         ^H 
In  her  promyse  there  is  no  sykernesse ;  ■ 

All  her  delyte  ia  set  in  di^ublenesae. 

Magn,  Alaa,  of  Fortune  I  may  well  complajne' 


ped  mvA 
retchySp^ 


1  liormj  btttn]  Perhaps  "  BlonD  jbetBu." 


MA.GNTFYCENCE.  97 

Pouer.  Ye,  syr,  yesterday  wyll  not  be  callyd 

agayne : 
But  yet,  syr,  nowe  in  this  ease, 
Take  it  mekely,  and  thanke  God  of  his  grace ; 
For  nowe  go  I  wyll  begge  for  you  some  m^^te ;  «« 
It  is  foly  agaynst  God  for  to  plete ; 
I  wyll  walke  nowe  with  my  beggers  baggys, 
And    happe   you   the   whyles  with  these  homly 

raggys. 

Discedendo  dicat  tsta  verba* 
A,  howe  my  lymmys  be  lyther  and  lame ! 
Better  it  is  to  begge   than  to  be  hangyd  with 

shame ; 
Yet  many  had  leuer  hangyd  to  be, 
Then  for  to  begge  theyr  mete  for  charyte : 
They  thynke  it  no  shame  to  robbe  and  stele, 
Yet  were  they  better  to  begge  a  great  dele ; 
For  by  robbynge  they  rynne  to  in  manus  tuas 

quecke,  soro 

But  beggynge  is  better  medecyne  for  the  necke ; 
Ye,  mary,  is  it,  ye,  so  mote  I  goo : 
A  Lorde  God,  howe  the  gowte  wryngeth  me  by 

the  too ! 

Here  Magnyftcence  dolorously  makeih  his 

mone* 

Magn,  O  feble  fortune,  O  doulfull  destyny!     .,-,■ 
0  hateful!  happe,  O  carefuU  cruelte ! 
0  syghynge  sorowe,  O  thoughtfuU  mysere  I 
0  rydlesse  rewthe,  O  paynfuU  pouerte  I 

VOL.   II.  7 


^^F   m 

■■■^ 

^^^H      0  dolorous  lierte,  0  barde  aduc-rsyle!              ^^^ 

^^H      Oodyo 

us  dysiresse,  0  dedly  payne  and  woo !    "» 

^^H      For  wc 

irldly  Bharae  I  was  holhe  wnniie  and  bloo. 

^^B        Where 

is  nowe  my  welUi  and  my  noble  estate? 

^H        Where 

h  nowe  my  ireasure,  my  landes,  and  my 

rent? 

^^B        Where 

is  nowe  all  ray  seruaunlys  that  I  had  here 

akte?                                                     ^H 

^^^1       Where 

is  uowe  my  golde  vpon  them  that  I  Bp^^H 

^^H       Wbi:re 

ia  nowe  all  my  ryche  abylement  ?        T^| 

^^m 

is  uowe  my  kynne,  my  frendys,  and  mj 

noble  blood  ? 

^^M       Where 

is  nowe  all  my  pleasure  and  my  worldly 

good? 

^^^H 

,  my  foly !  nlasse,  my  wanton  wyll ! 

^^^H           niAy 

no  more  speke,  lyll  I  baue  wept  my  fyll. 

[Here  cometk  in  Ltbektb.]          ^^^| 

^m 

With  ye,  mary,  syrs,  thus  sholde  it  l)^^^| 

^H        I  kyst                                                                  _^ 

her  swule,  and  she  kysi^yd  me ;           ^^^| 

^^^H         I  dannsed  the  darlynge  on  my  kne;                 ^^| 

^^m         I  gardi 

i  her  gaspe,  I  garde  her  gle,                  ^H 

^^P        With,  1 

jaunce  ou  the  le,  Ihe  le  !                                ^B 

^^^1     ^  ]  bassed  Ihat  baby  with  barle  so  free; 

^H         She 

the  bote  of  all  my  bale: 

^^B 

ihat  syghe  was  farre  fet  I 

^H               lou 

e  Ihat  louesome  I  wyll  not  let  i 

^H         Myhn 

riG  is  holly  on  her  set: 

^^^1          X  pluuked  her  by  ihe  patlet ;                              *" 

^^H          At  my 

deuyse  I  with  her  met; 

MAGNYFYCENCE.  99 

My  fansy  fayrly  on  her  I  set ; 

So  merely  syngeth  the  nyghtyngale ! 

In  lust  and  lykynge  my  name  is  Lyberte : 

I  am  desyred  with  hyghest  and  lowest  degre ; 

I  lyue  as  me  lyst,  I  lepe  out  at  large ; 

Of  erthely  thynge  I  haue  no  care  nor  charge ; 

I  am  presydent  of  pry  noes,  I  prycke  them  with 

pryde :  ^ 
What  is  he  lyuynge  that  lyberte  wolde  lacke  ? 
A  thousande  pounde  with  lyberte  may  holde  no 

tacke ;  21  w 

At  lyberte  a  man  may  be  bolde  for  to  brake ; 

Welthe  without  lyberte  gothe  all  to  wrake. 

But  yet,  syrs,  hardely  one  thynge  lerne  of  me : 

I  vvarne  you  beware  of  to  moche  lyberte, 

For  totum  in  toto  is  not  worth  an  ha  we ; 

ft  ' 

To  hardy,  or  to  moche,  to  free  of  the  dawe ; 

To  sober,  to  sad,  to  subtell,  to  wyse ; 

To  mery,  to  mad,  to  gyglynge,  to  nyse ; 

To  full  of  fansy es,  to  lordly,  to  prowde  ; 

To  homly,  to  holy,  to  lewde,  and  to  lowde ;        aiae 

To  flatterynge,  to  smatterynge,  to  to  out  of  harre, 

To  claterynge,  to  chaterynge,  to  shorte,  and  to 

farre ; 
To  iettynge,  to  iaggynge,  and  to  full  of  iapes  ; 
To  mockynge,  to  mowynge,  to  lyke  a  iackenapes: 
Thus  totum  in  toto  groweth  vp,  as  ye  may  se, 
By  meanes  of  madnesse,  and  to  moche  lyberte ; 

"^  pryde]  Qy.  a  line  wanting  to  rhyme  with  thia? 


JIAGNYFTCENCE. 


X    F„ 


Magn.  A.  woo  worlhe  the,  Lyber 


eaysl:  full  t: 


■el 


That  I  vifU  th4  to  moche,  sore  may  I  r 
Lyb.  Wliiii,  a  very  vengeaunee,  I  ;ay,  who  is 
that? 

What  bi-oihuli,  I  say,  is  yonder  bounde  in  a  mat? 
Mufftt.    I  am  Magnytyceoce,  that  somtyme  thy 

Ij/b,  What,  ia  the  worlde  thus  come 
Cockes  armes,  s)  r-,  wyll  ye  not  se 
Howe  he  is  vodone  by  the  meanes  of  n 
For  yf  Measure  had  ruled  Lyberte  aa  he  began, 
Thia  lurden  Iliat  hete  lyeth  had  ben  a  noble  man. 
But  fie  abused  so  his  frre  lyberte, 

e  he  hath  lostc  all  his  felycyte,  "" 

Not  ihoione  largesse  ot  lyberall  esp 
But  by  the  way  of  lan-y  insolence ; 
For  lyberalyie  ib  most  conuenyent 
A  prynce  lo  vse  wiib  all  his  hole  inlen^ 
Largely  rewardyngc  them  that  haue  desem 
And  so  shall  a  noble  man  nobly  be  seruyd: 
But  Dowe  adayeaua  hukstei'S  ihey  huckeandl^ 

And  pyncbe  at  ihepayment  of  a  poddynge  prjt 
A  laudable  iai'gesse,  I  tell  jiiu,  for  a  lorde. 
To  pi'ttle  for  the  patchynge  of  a  pot  sharde ! 
Spare  for  the  apence  of  a  noble,  that  his  Lddou 
myght  fi. 


yd:  i^m 
:andl^H 


MAGNYFTCENCK.  101 

And  spende  c.  i.  for  the  pleasure  of  a  knaue ! 
But  so  longe  they  rekjn  with  theyr  reasons  amy sse, 
That  they  lose  theyr  lyberte  and  all  that  there  is. 
Magn,  Alasse,    that  euer  I  oecupyed   suche 

abusyon  I 
Lyh.  Ye,  for  nowe  it  hath  brought  th^  to  con- 

fusyon  : 
For,  where  I  am  oecupyed  and  vsyd  wylfully, 
It  can  not  con ty new  longe  prosperyously  ; 
As  euydently  in  retchlesse  youth  ye  may  se,     a«» 
Howe  many  come  tomyschefefor  tomoche  lyberte; 
.And  some  in  the  worlde  theyr  brayne  is  so  ydyll, 
That  they  set  theyr  chyldren  to  rynne  on   the 

brydyll, 
In  youth  to  be  wanton  and  let  them  haue  theyr 

wyll; 
And  they  neuer  thryue  in  theyr  age,  it  shall  not 

gretly  skyll : 
Some  fall  to  foly  them  selfe  for  to  spyll, 
And  some  fall  ^  prechynge  at  the  Toure  Hyll ; 
Some  hath  so  moche  lyberte  of  one  thynge  and 

other, 
That  nother  they  set  by  father  and  mother ; 
Some  haue  so  moche  lyberte  that  they   fere  no 

synne, 
Tyll,  as  ye  se  many  tymes,  they  shame  all  theyr 

kynne.  2170 

I  am  so  lusty  to  loke  on,  so  freshe,  and  so  fre, 


^faU\  Qy.  "faUto? 


»» 


That  I 


aftei 


v.'j*ll  leue  ihejT  Lolynes,  t 


I  ryo 


Freers  with  foly  I  make  them  so  fajne, 
They  cast  vp  tbeyr  obedience  Ui  uache  am  agayne, 
At  Ijberle  to  wander  uaii  walkn  ouer  all, 
Thai   lustely   they    lepe   somtyme   iheyr  cloyali-r 
wall.  J 

Hie  aliquis  buccat  in  eomu  a  Ml|fl 
post  populam.  ^H 

Tondiir  is  a  hoison  I'or  me  doth  recbate :  ^^ 

Adewti,  ayrs,  for  I  ihynke  leyst  that  I  cotne  lo  late.' 
Maffn.  0  gwd  Lorde,  howe  long  shall  I  indur« 
This  mysery,  tliis  carafuU  wrechydnease  ? 
Of  worldly  welthe,  alas^e,  who  can  be  aartt  ? 
In  Fortunya  fretidihyppe  there  is 

She  hath  dyssuyuyd  me  with  her  doublene: 
For  to  be  wyse  all  men  may  It-rne  of  me. 
In  welthe  to  beware  of  herde  aduersyte. 

Here  cometh  in  Chaftt  CosuEYAtjircK,  [« 
Cloked  Coluston,  with  a  lititi/  lavyhter.^ 
Or.  Con.  Ha,  ha,  ha !  for  laughter  I  am  lyie 

10  bra£t. 
CL  Col.  Ha,  ha,  ha  I  for  sporle  I  am  lyke  to 

spcwe  and  cast. 
Cr.  Con.  What  hast  thou  gotied  in    fay  the  I 

thy  share? 


]  HareZ^erl 


MAGNTFTCENCE.  103 

CI.  Col.  In  fayihe,  of  his  cofers  the  bottoma  are 

bare. 
Gr,  Con.  As  for  his  plate  of  eyluer,  and  snche 

Irasshe,  •!" 

waraunt  you,  I  haue  gyuen  it  a  lasshe. 
CI.  Col.  What,  then  he  may  dryuke  out  of  a 

Or.  Con,  With,  ye,  ayr,  by  Jesu  that  slayne 

was  with  Jewes! 
!Je  may  rynse  a  pyclier,  for  bis  plate  is  to  wed. 
CL  CoL   la  faythe,   and   he    may   dreme   on  a 

daggeswane  for  ony  fellier  bed, 
Cr.  Con.  By  my  troolhe,  we  baue  ryfled  hym 

metely  well. 
CI.  CoL  Ye,  hut  thanke  me  tberof  euery  dele. 
Cr.  Con.  Tbanke  the  therot^  in  the  deuyls  date ! 
CL  CoL  Leue  thy  pratynge,  or  els  I  shall  lay 

th^  on  I  be  pate. 
Cr.  Con.  Nay,  to  wrangle,  I  warant  th^,  it  is 

but  a  slone  caste.  aan 

CL  Col.  By  ibe  niesse,  I  shall  cleue  thy  heed  to 

the  waste. 
Cr.  Con.  Ye,  wylie  thou  clenly  cleue  me  in  the 

clyfte  with  iby  nose? 
CI.  CoL  I  shall  thrust  in  ibe  my  dagger  — 
Cr.  Con.  Thorowe  the  legge  in  to  the  hose. 
CL  Col.   Nay,  borson,  bei'e  is  my  gloue  ;  take 

it  Tp,  and  thou  dare. 
Cr.  Con.   Toi'de,  ibou  arte  good  (o  be  a  mnn 

ofwarre. 


6 


^^H     104 

i 

^^M 

CoL    I  filmll  ekeipe  tlie 
seest  tliou  that  ? 

on  the 

HRP 

^^M 

Omi.    What,  wylte  tbou 

skelpe  me?  (hou 

dare  not  loke  on  a  gniit. 

j^ 

^^M 

CoL   By  Cockts  bones,  I 
HncI  thou  be  to  bolde. 

shall 

''''""^fl 

^^P 

Con.    Nay,   ilien   Ihou 

wylte 

dynge  I^" 

duuyll,  and  thou  be  not 

Lohle. 

RU 

^^H             CL  Col.    Bui  wottest  thou,  horsoni 

'  1  rede  lh<i 

lo  be  wyse. 

^^B 

Con.    Nowe  I  rede   thi 
warned  th^  twyae. 

1    be  HI 

ire,  I  baue 

^^M 

Col.  Why,  wenest  Ihou 

that  I  forbere  t\%^ 

for  thyne  owoe  sake? 

M 

^^m 

Con.    Peas,  or  I  shall  wrynge 

thy  be'<H 

brake. 

^ 

^^m            CL  Col.  Holde  iLy  hande,  de 

iwe,  of 

Ihy  da^r, 

and  etynl  of  iliy  dyn. 

^H         Orii 

!hul  fawthyn  ihy  flesshe,  i 
tlie  skyn. 

and  ec 

rape  th6  oo 

^H 

Con.  Ye,  wylte  thou,  ha[n]gn 

,.n!  I^m 

thou  Ciiuell ! 

^ 

^^              Ci  Co/.  Nay,  ihou  rode  thui 

5ner,  rayne  heieo 

iuuell ! 

L           o. 

Cow-'Whal,  Ihou  Colyn 

cowai'de,  knowen 

and  tryde  I 

^^H             CL  CoL  Kay,  ihou  false  harted  dasiiirde,  ibou 

dare  not  abyde  I 

■at 

^H 

Con.  And  yf  there  were 
but  rhoii  and  1, 

i 

o  dy.ple«jj 

MAGNTFTCENCB.  105 

Thou  sholde  not  scape,  horson,  but  thou  sholde 

dye. 
Gl.  CoL   Nay,  iche  shall  wrynge  th^  horson. 

on  the  wryst. 
Cr.  Con.  Mary,  I  defye  thy  best  and  thy  worsti 

\Here  comethin  Counterfet  Countenaunce.^] 

G.  Count,    What,  a  very  vengeaunce,  nede  all 

these  wordys? 
Go  together  by  the  heddys,  and  gyue  me  your 

s  wordys. 
GL  CoL  So  he  is  the  worste  brawler  that  euer 

was  borne. 
Gr.  Con,   In  fayth,  so  to  suffer  th^,  it  is  but  a 

skorne. 
G  Count   Now  let  vs  be  all  one,  and  let  vs 

lyue  in  rest. 
For  we  be,  syrs,  but  a  fewe  of  the  best.  2230 

Gl,  CoL   By  the  masse,  man,  thou  shall  fynde 

me  resonable. 
Cr.  Con.   In  faythe,  and  I  wyll  be  to  reason 

agreable. 
G  Count,  Then  truste  I  to  God  and  the  holy 

rode. 
Here  shalbe  not  great  sheddynge  of  blode. 
GL  CoL  By  our  lakyn,  syr,  not  by  my  wyll. 
Gr.  Con.  By  the  fayth  that  I  owe  to  God,  and 

I  wyll  syt  styll. 

1  Here  comeih,  ^c]  Ed.,  besides  omitting  this  stage-direc- 
tion, leaves  the  two  following  linos  unappropriated. 


lOG  MAGNYFTCEMCE. 

01  Count,  Well  sayd :  but,  in  fayth,  what  was  : 

your  quarell  ? 
CL  OoL   Mary,  syr,  this  gentylman  called  me 

iauell. 
Cr.  Con.  Nay,  by  Saynt  Mary,  it  was  ye  called 

me  knaue. 
CL  CoL   Mary,  so  vngoodly  langage  you  me 

gaue.  ^ 

C,  Count.  A,  shall  we  haue  more  of  this  maters 

yet? 

Me  thynke  ye  are  not  gretly  acomberyd  with  wyt. 
Cr.  Con.    Goddys  fote,  I  warant  you,  I  am  a 
gentylman  borne, 
And  thus  to  be  facyd  I  thynke  it  great  skorne. 
C.  Count.  I  can  not  well  tell  of  your  dysposy- 
cyons ; 
And  ye  be  a  gentylman,  ye  haue  knauys  condj- 
cyons. 
CL  CoL    By  God,  I  tell  you,  I  wyll  not  be  out 

facyd. 
Cr.  Con,    By  the  masse,  I  warant  th^,  I  wvll 

not  be  bnicyd. 
C  Count.  Tushe,  tushe,  it  is  a  great  defaute: 
The  one  of  you  is  to  proude,  the  other  is  to  haute. 
Tell  me  brefly  where  vpon  ye  began.  2«' 

CL  CoL    Mary,  syr,  he  sayd  that  he  was  the 
pratyer  man 
Then  I  was,  in  opynynge  of  lockys  ; 
And,  I  tell  you,  1  dysdayne  moche  of  his  mockys. 
Cr.  Con.   Thou  sawe  neuer  yet  but  1  dyd  my 
parte, 


MAGNTFYCENCE.  107 

The  locke  of  a  caskyt  to  make  to  startcj. 

C  Count,    Naj,  I  know  well   inough  ye  are 

bothe  well  handjd 
To   grope   a   gardeuyaunce,   though   it  be  well 

bandyd. 
CL  CoL  I  am  the  better  yet  in  a  bowget. 
Cr.  Con,  And  I  the  better  in  a  male.  vm 

C,  Count.   Tushe,  these  maters  that  ye  moue 

are  but  soppys  in  ale: 
Your  trymynge  and   tramynge  by  me  must  be 

tangyd, 
For,  had  I  not  bene,  ye  bothe  had  bene  hangyd, 
When  we  with  Magnyfycence  goodys  made  cheuy- 

saunce. 
Magn.   And  therfore  our  Lorde  sende  you  a 

very  wengaunce ! 
01  Count,  What  begger  art  thou  that  thus  doth 

banne  and  wary  ? 
Magn,    Ye   be   the   theuys,  I  say,  away  my 

goodys  dyd  cary. 
CL  Col,    Coekys  bonys,  thou  begger,  what  is 

thy  name  ? 
Magn.    Magnyfycence  I  was,  whom  ye  haue 

brought  to  shame. 
C,  Count,  Ye,  but  trowe  you,  syrs,  that  this  is 

he  ?  swo 

Cr,  Con,  Go  we  nere,  and  let  vs  se. 
CI,  CoL  By  Coekys  bonys,  it  is  the  same. 
Magn.  Alasse,  alasse,  syrs,  ye  are  to  blame ! 
t  was  your  mayster,  though  ye  thynke  it  skorne. 


108  MAGNYFYCENCE. 

And  nowe  on  me  ye  gaure  and  sporne. 
G,  Count,  Ly  styll,  ly  styll  nowe,  with  yl 

hayle  I 
Or.  Con,  Ye,  for  thy  langage  can  not  ty  ana] 
CL  Col,  Abyde,  syr,  abyde,  I  shall  make  h; 

to  pysse.^ 
Magn.  Nowe  gyue  me  somwhat,  for  God  sab 

I  craue ! 
Cr,  Con.   In  fay  the,  I  gyue  the  four  quartea 

of  a  knaue. 
C,  Count,   In  faythe,  and  I  bequethe  hym  the 

tothe  ake. 
CI,  Col,  And  I  bequethe  hym  the  bone  ake. 
Cr,  Con,   And  I  bequethe  hym  the  gowte  awl 

the  gyn. 
CI.  CoL  And  I  bequethe  hym  sorowe  for  his 

syn. 
C,  Count,  And  I  gyue  hym  Crystys  curse, 
With  neuer  a  peny  in  his  purse. 

Cr.  Con,   And  I  gyue   hym   the  cowghe,  the 

murre,  and  the  pose. 
CL  CoL  Ye,  for  requiem  cetemam  groweth  forlli 

of  his  nose : 
But  nowe  let  vs  make  mery  and  good  chere. 
C,  Count,    And  to  the  tauerne    let  vs  drawe 

nere.  ** 

Cr,  Con,  And  from  thens  to  the  halfe  strete, 
To  get  vs  there  some  freshe  mete. 

i/>y«e|  Qy.  a  line  wanting  to  rhyme  vith  this? 


MAGNYFYCENCE.  109 

Kfl.  Col,    Why,  is   there   any  store  of  rawe 

motton  ? 
(7.  Count,   Ye,  in  faythe,  or  ellys  thou  arte  to 

great  a  glotton. 
Or,  Con,  But  they  say  it  is  a  queysy  mete ; 
wyll  sti-yke  a  man  myscheuously  in  a  bete. 
CI,  Col,   In  fay,  man,  some  rybbys  of  the  mot 

ton  be  so  ranke, 
hat   they  wyll   fyre   one  vngracyously  in  the 
flanke. 
C7.  Count,   Ye,  and  when  ye  come  out  of  the 

shoppe, 
e  shall  be  clappyd  with  a  coloppe,  saw 

hat  wyll  make  you  to  halt  and  to  hoppe. 
Cr.  Con,    Som    be  wrestyd   there  that  they 

thynke  on  it  froty  dayes, 
or  there  be  horys  there  at  all  assayes. 
CI,  Col,  For  the  passyon  of  God  let  vs  go 
thyther ! * 

Et  cum  festinatione  discedant  a  loco, 
Magn.  Alas,  myne  owne  seruauntys  to  shew  me 

such  reproche, 
bus  to  rebuke  me,  and  haue  me  in  dyspyght! 
3  shamfully  to  me  theyr  mayster  to  aproche, 
hat  somtyme  was  a  noble  pry  nee  of  myght ! 
lasse,  to  lyue  longer  I  haue  no  delyght ! 
or  to  lyue  in  mysery  it  is  herder  than  dethe :  »io 

1  ih%fti.tT\  Qy.  a  line  wanting  to  rhyme  with  this? 


MAGNTFYCENCE. 


1  ivery  of  ihe  worlde,  for  vnliyndnense  me 

sleelb. 


Hie  intrnt  Dtspare. 
Dys.  Dyspare  is  my  name,  that  aduersylGdolb 

1  n  Ijme  of  dysl  resse  I  am  redy  at  hande ; 
I  inftke  tieuj  herljs  with  eyen  full  liolovre  i 
Of  fftntent  cliaryie  I  qutnche  oul  Ibe  bronde; 
Faythe  and  gooilliope  I  muke  asyAe  to  stoniic; 
In  Goddjs  mercy  I  tell  them  is  but  foly  lo  inisie  i 
All  grace  and  pyte  I  lay  in  ihe  du^ie. 
What   lyest  ihou   there    lyngrynge,  lewdly  ad 

a  latfi  tiowe  Iby  synnys  to  repi-nt ;  "  . 

si  bene  so  waywai'de,  so  wranglyrg,  »pJ 
a  wTOlbsorae, 
o  fer  thnu  arie  bchynde  of  thy  rent, 
jngmeyoaaly  Ihy  dayes  thou  hast  spent, 
Thiit  thou  arte  not  worthy  to  ]ok<!  God  in  the  fiM. 
Moffn.  Nay,  nay,  man,  I  loke  neiier  lo  lixK 
parte  of  liis  grace  ; 
F'lr  I  baue  so  vngracyously  my  l_>-fe  mysu^yd, 
'I'lioiigh  I  aske  mercy,  I  raast  nedys  be  ruhfji- 
Dys.  No,  no,  for  tliy  synnys  be  so  njxxAyt^ 
farre. 
So  innumerable  and  so  full  of  dyspyie. 
And  agayne   thy  Maker  thou  hast  made 


Thou  h 


And  81 
And  s> 


That  ihou  ci 


It  hnuc 


mercy  inhygiyghl. 


MAGNYFTCENCE.  Ill 

Magn.  Alasse,  my  wyckydnesse,  that  may  1 
wyte  I 
But  nowe  I  se  well  there  is  no  better  rede, 
But    sygh   and   sorowe,   and    wysshe  my   selfe 
dede. 
Dys.  Ye,  ryd  thy  selfe,  rather  than  this  lyfe  fur 
to  lede  ; 
The  worlde  waxyth  wery  of  the,  thou  lyuest  to 
longe. 

Htc  intrat  Myschefe. 

Mys,  And  I,  Myschefe,  am  comyn  at  nede, 
Out  of  thy  lyfe  the  for  to  lede : 
And  loke  that  it  be  not  longe 
Or  that  thy  selfe  thou  go  honge  mm 

With  this  halter  good  and  stronge  ; 
Or  ellys  with  this  knyfe  cut  out  a  tonge 
Of  thy  throte  bole,  and  ryd  the  out  of  payne  : 
Thou  arte  not  the  fyrst  hymselfe  hath  slayne. 
Lo,  here  is  thy  knyfe  and  a  halter !  and,  or  we  go 

ferther. 
Spare  not  thy  selfe,  but  boldly  the  murder. 
J^ys,  Ye,  haue  done  at  ones  without  delay. 
Magn.  Shall  I  myself  hange  with  an  halter  ? 
nay; 
Nay,   rather  wyll   I   chose   to   ryd   me  of  this 

lyue 
In  styckynge  my  selfe  with  this  fay  re  knyfe.     mm 
Here  Magnyfycence  wolde  she  hyniselfe 
vnth  a  knyfe. 


Myi^  Aliiruin,  alarum !  to  longe  we  ahyie^ 
Dyi.  Our,  Imrowe,  hyW  burneih  !  wlierc  sliull! 
me  hyde? 

Hie  inlrat  Goodjiofe,  fui/ientiiius  OvapxYEE* 
MTSCnKFK:  repents  Goodhope  sum'piai  iH* 
ffladium,  el  tltcat. 

Good.  Alma,  dere  Gooe,  sore  combred  is  tby 
inynde, 
Tliyselfe  lliol  thou  woIUe  sloo  agaynsl  nalure  atid 
kynde I 
ifoffn.  A,  blessj-d  may  ye  be,  syri  what  sLi.ll 

I  you  call  ? 
Good.  Goodliope,  syr,  my  name  is  ;  remedy 
piyneypall 
AgaynsI  all  saiitea  of  your  goostly  foo; 
Wlio  knowelh  me,  liymstlfe  may  neuer  slno. 

Magn,  Alas,  eyr,  so  I  am  lapped  in  aduertytB, 
That  dy»  pay  re  well  nyglie  liad  myscheued  mel"" 
For,  bad  ye  not  ihe  soner  ben  my  refuge. 
Of  dompnaojoD  I  had  ben  di-awen  in  ibe  luge. 
Good,   Vndoubled  ye  bud  lost  yourselfe  eto 
n«liy: 
There  is  no  man  may  synne  more  morlally 
Than  of  wanbope  thrughe  the  ynltappy  wnye^ 
Ky  myseliefe  to  breuyate  and  shorten  his  dnyes: 
Bui,  my  good  eonne,  lerne  from  dyspujre  lo 


.  J/j«.]  Ell.  "Jfapi." 


MAGNYFTCENCE.  113 

Wynde  you  from  wanhope,  and   aquaynte   you 

with  me. 
A  grete  mysaduenture,  thy  Maker  to  dysplease, 
Thyselfe  myscheuynge  to  thyne  endlesse  dysease  ! 
There  w^s  neuer  so  harde  a  storme  of  mysery,  asn 
But  tbrnghe  goodhope  there  may  come  remedy. 
Magn.  Your  wordes  be  more  sweter  than  ony 

precyous  narde, 
They  molefy  so   easely   my  harte   that    was  so 

harde ; 
There  is  no  bawme,  ne  gumme  of  Arabe, 
More  delectable  than  your  langage  to  me. 

Good.  Syr,  your  fesycyan  is  the  grace  of  God, 
That  you  hath  punysshed  with  his  sliar])e  rod. 
Goodhope,  your  potecary  aspygned  am  I: 
That  Goddes  grace  hath  vexed  you  sharply,     asso 
And  i)ayned  you  with  a    purgacyon    of  odyous 

pouerte, 
Myxed  with  bytter  alowes  of  hcrde  a<luersyte ; 
Nowe  must  I  make  you  a  lectuary  softe, 
I  to  mynyster  it,  you  to  receyue  it  ofte, 
With  rubarbe  of  repentaunce  in  you  for  to  rest ; 
With  drammes  of  deuocyon  your  dyet  must  be 

drest ; 
With  gommes  goostly  of  glad  herte  and  mynde, 
Fo  thanke  God  of  his  sonde,  and  comforte  ye  shal 

fynde. 
Put  fro  you  presumpcyon  and  admyt  humylyte, 
And  hartely  thanke  God  of  your  aduersyte  ;     saw 
And  loue  that  Lorde  that  for  your  loue  was  dede, 

VOL.   II.  8 


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MAGNYPYCENCE.  115 

Hie  intrat  Bedbesse. 

Red.    Cr)8t  be   amonge   you   and   the  Holy 

Goste ! 
Good.    He   be  your  conducte,  the  Lorde  of 

myghtys  moste  I 
Red.    Syr,   is  your   pacyent  any   thynge   a- 

mendyd? 
Good.    Ye,    syr,  he  is  sory  for  that  he  hath 

ofTendyd. 
Red.  How  fele  you  your  selfe,  my  frend  ?  how 

is  your  mynde? 
Magn.    A  wrecbyd   man,  syr,  to  my  Maker 

vnkynde. 
Red.  Ye,  but  haue  ye  repentyd  you  with  harte 

contryte  ? 
Magn.   Syr,  the  repentaunce  I  haue,  no  man 

can  wryte.  2**-w 

Red.    And   haue  ye  banyshed   from   you   all 

dyspare  ? 
Magn.  Ye,  holly  to  goodhope  I  haue  made  my 

repare. 
Good.  Questyonlesse  he  doth  me  assure 
In  goodhope  alway  for  to  indure. 

Red.  Than  stande  vp,  syr,  in  Goddys  name  ! 
And  I  truste  to  ratyfye  and  amende  your  fame. 
Goodhope,  I  pray  you  with  harty  affeccyon 
To  sende  ouer  to  me  Sad  Cyrcumspeccyon. 
Good.  Syr,  your  requeste  shall  not  be  delayed. 

Et  exeat. 


[^^^^^^■nAGKrrVCEKCl 

Red.    Yet  let  vs  se  ibis 

Iter   ihorowly  io- 

gi'osaed. 

Magn.  Sjr,  this  letter  ye 

sent 

tg  me,  at  PounleJ 

was  enclosed. 

Sad  Cyr.   Wbo  brought 

you 

that  letter,  wots 

ye  what  he  hyght? 

Magn.  Largesse,  ayr,  by 

his 

credence  was  hj» 

Sad  Cyr.  This  letttr  ye  apeke  of,  neuer  dyd  1 

Med.  To  gyue  so  hasty  credence  je  were  mocte 

to  blame. 
Magn.   Truth  it  is,  syr;  for  after  he  wrought 
me  moch  shame, 
And  eaused  me  also  to  vse  to  moche  lyberle. 
And  made  also  mesure  to  be  put  fro  me. 

Ktd.  Then  wellhe  with  you  mygbi  in  no  wyse 

Sad  Ci/r.  A  ha  I  fansy  and  foly  met  with  yon. 


£»d.    It  wolde  be  founde  so,  yf  it  wei 
^.  Surely  my  wolthe  with  them  wa:; 


.  Btimvmbre  you,  Uieifore,  bowe  kit' 
e  low.  Mi 

^ibewure  oj'vnhnppy  abu^yon. 

n  you  from  counttrfayiyugc 


9 1  am  to  amende. 


MAGNYFYCENCE.  117 

For  to  vnderstande  your  pleasure  and  also  your 

mynde. 

Red,  Syr,  to  accompte  you  the  contynewe  of 

my  consayte, 

Is  from  aduersyte  Magnyfycence  to  vnbynde.  a«o 

Sad  Cyr,    How  fortuned  you,  Magnyfycence, 

so  far  to  fal  behynde  ? 
Magn,  Syr,  the  longe  absence  of  you,  Sad  Cyr- 
cumspeceyon. 
Caused  me  of  aduersyte  to  fall  in  subieccyon. 
Red.   All  that  he  sayth,  of  trouthe  doth  pro- 
cede  ; 
For  where  sad  cyrcumspeccyon  is  longe  out  of 

the  way, 
Of  aduersyte  it  is  to  stande  in  drede. 

Sad  Cyr,  Without  fayle,  syr,  that  is  no  nay ; 
Cyrcumspeccyon  inhateth  all  rennynge  astray. 
But,  syr,  by  me  to  rule  fyrst  ye  began.  2459 

Magn,  My  wylfulnesse,  syr,  excuse  I  ne  can. 
Sad  Cyr,  Then  ye  repent  you  of  foly  in  tymes 

past? 
Mojgn,    Sothely,  to  repent   me  I   haue  grete 
cause : 
Howe  be  it  from  you  I  receyued  a  letter,* 
Whiche  conteyned  in  it  a  specyall  clause 
That  I  sholde  vse  largesse. 

Sad  Cyr,  Nay,  syr,  there  a  pause. 


1  a  fetter]  Qy.  some  corruption  ?    This  lino  ought  to  rhyme 
with  the  preceding  line  but  one. 


Rill  vsuniunce  with  good  peradnertaonoft 
hr.  Tf  J-ou  be  so  myndyd,  we  be  ryghl  gIsA 
ittd.  And  je  $liall  liaue  more  wonhyp  ibb 


jOQ  there  is  moclix 


nee,  and  wyt ; 

id  wyi  esecUjih  pil! 


IT  coTAge  lo  knyl: 
here  in  to  cxpresse, 
It  ID  ay  St  tr  R«dreise. 


JK^.  WeU,  I  perceyue  i 
eadnesse, 
Grauyte  of  Mtunsdl,  prouydt 
Ymii*  comforiuble  adtiyse  ai 

Bui  Fivndly  I  wyll  refrayne 

Wlierelo  were  most  metely  i 
Vour  myiidys  I  beseche  you 
Commensynge  this  pr*wesse 

Std.     Sjth  Tnto   me   formest  ibis  processe  U 
mcljd, 
Herein  I  wyll  aforse  me  lo  shewe  you  my  myndr. 
KyrsI,   from  yom-   maguylycence    syn    must  \n 

abieclyd, 
III  ill!  your  warkys  more  grace  shall  ye  fyndu : »" 
Be  geniyll  tben  of  rorage,  and  leme  lo  lie  kyude, 
J  For  of  noblenesse  the  cliefe  poynl  is  In  be  lybemll, 
So  tbat  your  largea^e  be  not  lo  prodygalL 
Sitd  Cyr.    Ljbt-ne  lo  a  lorde   belungylli  of 

jt  wylful]  wuywardnesse  muste  walke  otit  of  ibt 


And  I 


way ; 
of  your  luslys  mi 
:  all  I  be  ny  garde 


<t  haue  tbe  ouersygh'i 
lor  tbe  chyncburdti  U 


MAGNTFYCENCE.  121 

Let  neuer  negarsliyp  your  noblenesse  affray; 
In  your  rewardys  vse  suche  moderacyon  «is 

That  nothynge  be  gyuen  without  consyderacyon. 
Per,  To  the  increse  of  your  honour  then  arme 
you  with  ryght, 
And  fumously  adresse  you  with  magnanymyte; 
And  euer  let  the  drede  of  God  be  in  your  syght; 
And  knowe  your  selfe  mortall,  for  all  your  dyg- 

nyte ; 
Set  not  all  your  affyaunce  in  Fortune  full  of  gyle; 
Remember  this  lyfe  lastyth  but  a  whyle. 

Magn.    Redresse,  in  my  remembraunce  your 
lesson  shall  rest, 
And  Sad  Cyrcumspeecyon  I  marke  in  my  mynde ; 
But,  Perseueraunce,  me  semyth  your  probleme 

was  best; 
I  shall  it  neuer  forget  nor  leue  it  behynde,        asao 
But  hooly  to  perseueraunce  my  selfe  I  wyll  bynde. 
Of  that  I  haue  mysdone  to  make  a  redresse, 
And  with  sad  cyrcumspeecyon  correcte  my  van- 
ton  nesse. 
Red,  Vnto  this  processe  brefly  compylyd, 
Comprehendyng  the  worlde  casuall  and  transy  tory, 
Who  lyst  to  consyder  shall  neuer  be  begylyd, 
Yf  it  be  regystryd  well  in  memory ; 
A  playne  example  of  worldly  vaynglory, 
Howe  in  this  worlde  there  is  no  seke[r] nesse,  ssw 
But  fallyble  flatery  enmyxyd  with  bytternesse ; 
Nowe  well,  nowe  wo,  nowe  hy,  nowe  lawe  degre, 
Nowe   ryche,   nowe   pore,    nowe   hole,  nowe  in 
dysease, 


124  MAGNYFYCENCE. 

Magiu  I  am  content,  my  frendys,  that  it  so 
Red.   And  je  that  haue  harde  this  dyspo 
and  game, 
Jhesus  preserue    you    frorae   endlesse  wo  a 
shame  I 

Amen. 


COLYN    CLOUTE.  125 


COLYN  CLOUTE.* 

p-XER    FOLOWETH    A    LITEL.    BOKE  CALLED     COLYW 
TE,     COMPYLED    BY   MAYSTER    SKELTON,   POETE 


LAUREATE. 


consurget  mecum  adversiis  maltgnantes? 
s  stohit  mecum  adversus  operantes  tniqui- 
JVemo,  Domine! 

What  can  it  auayle 
To  dryue  forth  a  snayle, 
Or  to  make  a  sayle 
Of  an  herynges  tayle  ; 
To  ryme  or  to  rayle, 
To  wryte  or  to  indyte, 
Eyther  for  delyte 
Or  elles  for  despyte , 
Or  bokes  to  compyle 
Of  dyuers  maner  style, 
Vyce  to  reuyle 
And  synne  to  exyle ; 
To  teche  or  to  preche, 
As  reason  wyll  reche  ? 


fom  the  ed.  by  Kele,  n.  d.,  collated  with  the  ed.  by 
Q,  n.  d.,  with  Marsha's  ed.  of  Skelton's  Worket^  1568, 
ith  a  MS.  in  the  Harlelan  Collection,  2252.  fol.  147. 


*:-    iii  -*- 


T ~  n;:  *  nj*r7e  5J:. 

?    -     ■    ..  s  -.1   r—: : 

-'  ■  ■  ...     I'f    I  "T 

Z    -         ■  :    :r  :t:  >re£e  : 
r:;f  ~  vt..~  ic  ^"i. 


•  _  , 


COLYN    CLOUTE.  127 

Varyablenesse, 

With  vnslablenesse. 

And  if  ye  stande  in  double 

Who  brought  this  ryme  aboute, 

My  name  is  Colyn  Cloute. 

I  purpose  to  shake  oute  m 

All  my  connyng  bagge, 

Lyke  a  clerkely  hagge ; 

For  though  my  ryme  be  ragged, 

Tattered  and  iagged, 

Kudely  rayne  beaten, 

Rusty  and  moughte  eaten, 

If  ye  take  well  therwith,     ^,  ,  ,vj^   ? 

It  hath  in  it  some  pyth,        ^ 

For,  as  f'arre  as  I  Ciin  se, 

It  is  wronge  with  eche  degre:  » 

^  For  the  temporalte 

Accuseth  the  spiritualte  ; 

The  spirituall  agayne 

Dothe  grudge  and  complayne 

Vpon  the  tem^iorall  men  : 

Thus  eche  of  other  blother 

The  tone  agayng  the  tother  : 

Alas,  they  make  me  shoder ! 

For  in  hoder  moder 
>  The  Churche  is  put  in  faute  ;  »• 

The  prelates  ben  so  haut. 

They  say,  and  loke  so  hy, 

As  though  they  wolde  fly 

Aboue  the  sterry  skye. 


I 


COLTN   CLOrTB. 


Laj'e  men  say  inilfde 
IIiiw  tliey  lake  no  hede 
Tlieyr  sely  sliepe  lo  feiie, 
liul  plucke  awHy  and  pull 
Tlie  Heces  of  llieyr  wul!, 
Viipthes  iticy  leue  a  lotke 
Of  «q!1  amonges  [hafr  flueke ; 
And  as  for  ilieyr  connyn^ 
A  glomraynge  and  a  mutrmynge, 
And  miike  iherof  a  iape; 
Tlicy  gaspe  and  Ihey  giipe 
Ail  to  liaue  pi'otnouyon. 
There  is  iheyr  liole  deuocyon, 
'Wiib  money,  if  it  wyll  liap, 
To  catuhe  llm  forked  cop  : 
Foi'sotlie  they  are  to  lewd 
To  say  so,  all  bushrewd ! 

Whai  trow  ye  they  say  more  I 
Of  the  bjasUoppua  lore  ? 
How  in  matlerj  tiiey  be  rawe 
a^.  lumber  forth  tlie  Inwe, 
T^iirken  Jacke  and  Gyll, 
whan  they  put  yp  a  byll, 
And  iudge  it  aa  ihey  ivyll. 
For  other  mennes  skyll, 
Kxpoutidyng  out  theyr  clatisea,  J 
And  kue  theyr  owne  causes: 
In  theyr  prouyneiall  cure 
They  make  but  lytell  sure, 
And  meddels  very  lyght 
In  the  CburchsB  ryght ; 


COLYN  CLOUTE.  129 

ire  and  venire^ 
I  sol  fa  so  alamyre, 

at  the  premenyre 

lyke  to  be  set  a  fyre 
ii  thejr  iurisdictions  im 

Through  temporall  afflictions : 
Men  say  they  haue  prescriptions      / 
Agaynst  spirit uall  contradictions^ 
Accomptynge^  them  as  fyctions. 

And  whyles  the  heedes  do  this, 
The  remenaunt  is  amys^ 
Of  the  clergy  aUj 
Bothe  great  and  small. 
I  wot  neuer  how  they  warke. 
But  thus  the  people  barke  ;*^  w 

And  surely  thus  they  say, 
Bysshoppes,  if  they  may, 
Small  houses  wolde  kepe, 
But  slumbre  forth  and  slepa. 
And  assay  to  crepe 
Within  the  noble  walles 
Of  the  kynges  halles, 
To  fat  theyr  bodyes  full, 
Theyr  soules  lene  and  dull, 
And  haue  full  lytell  care  lai 

■How  euyll  theyr  shepe  fare.  ^ 

The  temporalyte  say  playne, 
Howe  bysshoppes  dysdayne 
§firmons  for  to  make, 
]  SoMS.  Eds.  "carke.»'    Qy.  "carpe?"    Compani 

»L.  n.  9 


130  COLYN   CLOUTE. 

Or  suche  laboure  to  take ; 
And  for  to  say  trouth, 
A  great  parte  is  for  slouth, 
But  the  greattest  parte 
Is  for  thej  baue  but  small  arte 
And  rjght  sklender  connjng 
Within  theyr  heedes  wonnyng. 
But  this  reason  they  take 
How  they  are  able  to  make 
With  theyr  golde  and  treasure 
Clerkes  out  of  measure, 
And  yet  that  is  a  pleasure. 
Howe  be  it  some  there  be, 
Almost  two  or  thre, 
Of  that  dygnyte, 
Full  worshypfull  clerkes, 
As  appereth  by  theyr  werkes, 
Lyke  Aaron  and  Ure, 
The  wolfe  from  the  dore 
To  werryn  and  to  kepe 
From  theyr  goostly  shepe, 
And  theyr  spirituall  lammes 
Sequestred  from  rammes 
And  from  the  herded  gotes 
With  th€yr  heery  cotes ; 
Set  nought  by  golde  ne  grotes, 
Theyr  names  if  I  durst  tell. 
But  they  are  loth  to  mell, 
And  loth  to  hang  the  bell 
Aboute  the  cattes  necke, 
For  drede  to  haue  a  checke ; 


i 


COLYN    CLOUTE.  131 

They  ar  faj'ne  to  play  4au^degke, 

They  ar  made  for  the  becke. 

How^be  it  they  are  good  men, 

)    Mocne  herted  lyke  an  hen': 

Tl^eyr  lessons  forgotten  they  haue       'W 

T^at  Becket  them  gaue  : 

Tl^RHMi^anum  mittit  ad  fortia, 

Spemit  damnaf  spemit  opprobrta, 

Nulla  Thomam  frangit  injuria. 

But  nowe  euery  spiritual!  father, 

Men  say,  they  had  rather 

Spende  moche  of  theyr  sl^re 

Than  to  be  combred  with  care : 

Spende  I  nay,  nay,  but  spare : 

For  let  se  who  that  dare  « 

Sho  the  mockysshe  mare ; 

They  make  her  wynche  and  keke, 

But  it  is  not  worth  a  leke: 

Boldnesse  ia^to  seke 

The  Churcne  for  to  defend. 

Take  me  as  I  intende. 

For  lothe  I  am  to  offende 

In  this  that  I  haue  pende : 

I  tell  you  as  men  say; 

Amende  whan  ye  may,  m 

For,  usque  ad  montem  Sare,^ 

Meif  say  ye  can  not  appare ; 

For  some  say  ye  hunte  in  parkes. 

And  hauke  on  hobby  larkes, 

And  other  wanton  warken, 
e]  Other  ed3."  fare.*'    MS.  **  8ciij|yf    (Perhaps  Skel 
:e  "  Seir" — and  in  the  next  Im^^ippeire.'' 


COr.TK    CLOCTB, 


Ibe  nysrht  linrkec 


Wbikt  Ijiklb  lay  n 
The  gray  go.-ie  lor  lo  sho? 
Lyke  liuuiides  ol'  liell, 
They  crye  and  they  yell, 

'  Howe  that  ye  sell 

iThe  grace  of  the  Holy,  Gosl ; 
Thus  ihey  make  theyr  bosC 
Through  owte  euery  cost, 
Howe  eome  of  you  do  Bate 
la  Lenlon  season  fleshe  mete, 
FesautiteE,  partryehe,  and  cranes; 
Men  call  yon  tlierfor  prophanes; 
Te  pycke  no  ehrympes  nor  prunes, 
Saltfysshe,  slocfysshe,  nor  heryng, 
It  is  iml  for  your  weiynge; 
Kor  in  holy  Leofon  seuson 
Te  wyll  nelheyr  benea  ne  peaaon, 
But  ye  loke  lo  be  let  lose 
To  a  pygge  or  to  a  goae, 
Tour  gorge  not  eodewed 
'Without  a  capon  stewed, 
Or  a  stewed  cocke. 
To  knowo  whale  ys  a  clocke 
Tnder  her  surfled  smocke, 
And  her  wanton  wodicocke. 

And  howe  whan  ye  gyue  orders 
In  your  prouinciall  borders, 
As  at  Sitienlet, 
Some  are  insufficienles, 
Some  paru/n  sapienta. 


COLYN  CLOUTE.  138 


Some  nihil  intelligentes, 
Some  valde  negligentes, 
Some  nullum  sensum  habentes, 
But  bestial!  and  Tntaaght ; 
But  whan  the!  haue  ones  caught 
Dominus  vobiscum  by  the  hede, 
Than  renne  they  in  euery  Btede, 
God  wot,  with  dronken  nolles ; 
Yet  take  they  cure  of  soules, 
And  woteth  neuer  what  thei  rede, 
Paternoster,  Ave,  nor  Crede ; 
Construe  not  worth  a  whystle 
Nether  Gospell  nor  Pystle ; 
Theyr  mattyns  madly  sayde, 
Nothynge  deuoutly  prayde ; 
Theyr  lernynge  is  so  small,      ^ 
Theyr  prymes  and  houres  fall 
And  lepe  out  of  theyr  lyppes 
Lyke  sawdust  or  drye  chyppes. 
I  speke  not  nowe  of  all, 
But  the  moost  parte  in  generall.  1 
Of  suche  vagabundus 
Speketh  totus  mundus  ; 
Howe  some  synge  Lcetahundus 
At  euery  ale  stake. 
With,  welcome  hake  and  make  I 
By  the  brede  that  God  brake, 
I  am  sory  for  your  sake. 
I  speke  not  of  the  good  wyfe, 
But  of  theyr  apostles  lyfe ; 


Cum  ipsia  vel  illi» 

Qui  itiaiierti  in  viUit 

Ett  uxor  vel  ancilla, 

Welcome  Jacke  and  Gjlla ! 

My  prety  PetroDylla, 

And  you  wylt  be  stylln, 

Tou  Rliall  tiaue  your  wylla. 

Of  Buche  Paternoster  pekes 

All  I  lie  wo  ride  spekttB. 

In  you  the  fauie  is  supposed, 

For  tliat  they  are  not  apposed 

By  iust  exuminacjon 

In  coQtiyng  and  conuersacyon  j 
^  Tbey  haue  none  iiiMii'uctyoa 

To  malve  a  true  consli'uctyon  ; 
f-A  preest  without  a  leller, 

Wilboat  hia  verfue  be  gretter, 

Doullesae  w'ere  moche  better 

Vpon  hym  for  to  take 

A  mallouke  or  a  rake. 

Alas,  for  very  sliumo  I 

Some  can  not  declyne  their  nam* 

Some  can  not  scai^ly  rede,      I' 

And  yet  be  nyll  not  drede 

For  to  kepe  a  cure, 

And  in  noihyng  Ia  sure; 

This  Dominus  vobucum. 

As  wy^e  as  Tora  a  tbrum, 

A  cbajilayne  of  trust 

Laytb  all  in  tbe  dust. 


COLTN   CLOUTB.  135 

Thus  I,  Colyn  Cloute, 
As  I  go  aboute, 
And  wandrjnge  as  I  walke, 
I  here  the  people  talke.  *o 

Men  say,  for  syluer  and  golde 
Myters  are  bought  and  solde ; 
There  shall  no  clergy  appose 
A  myter  nor  a  crose, 
But  a  full  purse : 
A  strawe  for  Goddes  curse ! 
What  are  they  the  worse  ? 
For  a  symonyake 
Is  but  a  hermoniake ; 
And  no  more  ye  make  •* 

Of  symony,  men  say. 
But  a  chyldes  play. 

Ouer  this,  the  foresayd  laye 
Beporte  howe  the  Pope  may 
An  holy  anker  call 
Out  of  the  stony  wall. 
And  hym  a  bysshopp  make, 
If  he  on  hym  dare  take 
To  kepe  so  harde  a  rule. 
To  ryde  vpon  a  mule  tit 

With  golde  all  betrapped. 
In  purple  and  paule  belapped ; 
Some  hatted  and  some  capped, 
Bychely  and  warme  bewrapped, 
Grod  wot  to  theyr  great  paynes,  j 

In  rotchettes  of  fyne  Eaynes, 


COLTK  CLOUTE. 

Tk^lc  ta  morowes  mrlkv ; 
XWjr  laberUs  of  fyse  nlkie, 
TWjr  styrops  of  my  W  gold  besved  i 
Titere  ma;  tn>  wet  be  epand :  ■ 

T>eyr  moyles  golde  doibe  emie, 
Tbtjr  nejghboore  dye  for  Meate. 

What  care  they  tboi^  Gil  sweaie^ 
Or  Jacks  of  (he  Noke  ? 
The  pore  people  they  yoko 
With  SDQimons  and  dtacyooa 
Aad  excommunycocyoiw. 
About  churches  and  market: 
The  bys^hop  on  kh  carpel 
At  tiome  full  aofle  dothe  tjt.  ■ 

Thia  is  a  furly  fyt. 
To  here  ihe  people  iangle, 
Howe  wai-ely  they  wratigle : 
Alas,  why  do  ye  not  han(U« 
And  them  all  to-maiigle? 
Full  falsely  on  you  they  ly^ 
And  shamefuHy  yon  ascrye, 
And  any  iia  rntruely. 
As  the  builerliye 

A  mun  myght  anye  in  modie  " 

Ware  the'welhereocke 
Of  (he  sleple  of  Poulea  ; 
And  thus  they  hurte  ibeyr  sotiles 
In  sclaiirnleryng  jou  for  triube: 
Alas,  it  is  fjiieat  rmhe! 
SiJiiie  ?iiy  vf  'yl  in  tronea, 


COLYN  CLOUTE.  13^ 

Lyke  prynces  aquilonis, 
\  And  shryne  your  rotten  bones 

With  perles  and  precyous  stones ; 

But  how  the  commons  gi'ones,  aw 

And  the  people  mones 

For  prestes  and  for  lones 

Lent  and  neuer  payd, 

But  from  day  to  day  delayae, 
-~iThe  commune  welth  decay de, 

Men  say  ye  are  tonge  tayde, 

And  therof  speke  nothynge 

But  dyssymulyng  and  glosyng. 

Wherfore  men  be  supposyng 

That  ye  gyue  shrewd  counsell  m 

Agaynst  the  commune  well. 

By  pooUynge  and  pyllage 

In  cytyes  and  vyllage, 

By  taxyng  and  tollage, 

Ye  make  monkes  to  haue  the  culerage 

For  coueryjige  of  an  olde  cottage, 

That  commytted  is  a  collage 

In  the  charter  of  dottage, 

Tenure  par  seruyce  de  soitage\ 

And  not  par  seruyce  de  socage^  an 

After  olde  seygnyours, 

And  the  lerning  of  Lytelton  tenours : 

Ye  haue  so  ouerthwarted, 

That  good  lawes  are  subuerted, 

And  good  reason  peruerted. 
Relygous  men  are  fayne 

For  to  tourne  agayne 


■IT.      -"^ 


5j  p  <:oruin, 
per  j'aratn^ 
wj  ^M*:>iM  laeritorutH, 


e  with  sbiune 
<^ly  tiuunes ; 
-ti«  I'OoiMe,  , 
July  -jiir  abbesise, 

iir  .uiii  liuly  Besee, 


'  ^  MivjT  bUuke  vsyles, 
1/  Umjt  ruck«  sables, 
.  ^uUo  itiili  iheir  venial 
>,tiju,  ilier«  thoa  shales^ 
vi-ti  J  U  lilt)  lea 

II  I  <u(4tf  ntf  Lea. 
:t»ie  ilw-y  laj 

.  i-im  uiwl  no  ry; 
^1^  Utu»  lu  It^ghl ; 


> 


COLYN    CLOUTE.  139 

No  matyns  at  mydnyght, 

Boke  and  chalys  gone  quyte ; 

And  plucke  awaye  the  leedes  4Ui 

Evyn  ouer  theyr  heedes, 

And  sell  away  theyr  belles, 

And  all  that  they  haue  elles : 

Thus  the  people  telles, 

Rayles  lyke  rebelles, 

Redys  shrewdly  and  spelles, 

And  with  foundacyons  melles, 

And  talkys  lyke  tytyuelles, 

Howe  ye  brake  thB  dedes  wylles,   * 

Turne  monasteris  into  water  millesy     iw 

Of  an  abbay  ye  make  a  graunge ; 

Your  workes,  they  saye,  are  straunge ; 

So  that  theyr  founders  souleg 

Haue  lost  theyr  beade  rolles, 

The  mony  for  theyr  masses 

Spent  amonge  wanton  lasses ; 

The  Diriges  are  forgotten ; 

Theyr  founders  lye  theyr  rotten. 

But  where  theyr  soules  dwell, 

Therwith  I  wyll  not  mell.  «• 

What  coulde  the  Turke  do  more 

With  all  his  false  lore,  ' 

Turke,  Sarazyn,  or  Jew  ? 

I  reporte  me  to  you, 

O  mercyfull  Jesu, 

You  supporte  and  rescue. 

My  style  for  to  dyrecte. 


COLtX  CLOm. 

li  maj  lake  sane  tfttM! 
For  I  Mbkom  w  wrjm 
Howe  Uw  bif  fee  ijvpjtm 
You  prekuea,  ibac  of  ngkt 
SbuIdB  be  iMKenee  ef  Ij-glM. 
Ye  lyue.  tber  faj,  in  d«ljrt^ 
I>rowne<!  ni  Mieiit, 
In  gloria  H  tUvitiitt  , 

/n  admiraiili  kommr*, 
Jit  gloria,  ft  tpiemdon 
FaiguraiOii  Aatl^ 
Viventei  porvtm  eattt : 
Yet  »wcle  mexre  iMlb  $oure 
For  afier  gloria,  tarn*, 
Cbryst  by  crueli« 
Was  nayled  vpon  a  ire; 
He  jiayed  a  bytter  peacjoa 
For  maDitee  redemcyoD) 
He  Jjanke  eysell  and  gall 
To  redeme  vs  withall ; 
But  swete  3'pocras  ye  drjrtika, 
Wlib,  Let  ibc  c*I  wynke! 
Ichc;  wul  wbul  yche  other  tbynk^ 
Howe  be.  it  p^  asiimile  , 
Some  men  thynke  that  jro 
Sball  baue  p«naUe 


I 


COLTN    CLOUTE.  141 

It  is  good  for  astrologys ; 

For  Ptholome  tolde  me 

The  Sonne  somtyme  to  be  «o 

In  ArietCy  ^ 

Ascendent  a  degre,* 

Whan  Scorpion  descendjnge^ 

Was  so  then  pretendynge 

A  fatall  fall  of  one 

That  shuld  syt  on  a  trone,_^ 

And  rule  all  thynges  alone. 

Your  teth  whet  on  this  bone 

Amongest  you  euerychone, 

And  let  Colly n  Cloute  haue  none  ^      48o 

Ascendent  a  degre]  This  passage  seems  to  be  cormpted. 
.  **  Assendente  adextre:"  (and  compare  the  Lansdown 
.  quoted  below.) 

haue  none]   MS.  has  "alone;"  and  omits  the  seventy- 
[it  lines  which  follow.    Among  the  Lansdown  MS8.  (762i 
75)  I  find  the  subjoined  fragment: 

"  Sora  men  thynke  that  ye 
shall  haue  penaltie 
for  your  Inyquytie 
Note  well  what  to  saye 
yf  yt  please  the  not  onely 
yt  is  good  for  astrollogy 
ffbr  tholomy  tolde  me 
the  sonn  somtyme  to  be 
In  a  Signe  called  ariotte 
assendam  ad  dextram 
when  Scorpio  is  descendyng  • 

afiatuall  fall  of  one 
that  syttys  now  on  trone 
and  rewles  all  thynge  alone 


law    3 

^^c    •    -jur  ««n«  son. 


^:ist  aolnted 


-»*-:^   ^■':as:^n«  3«belles, 
;  •  "^  -'t  Ji-ircae  to  the  groQi*' 

I  ■     ^^^ 

:    r"-.:r-rce  :o  be. 


w^»Tr   ? 


COLYN    CLOUTE.  143 

And  eyther  ye  be  to  bad, 
Or  els  tbey  ar  mad 
Of  tbis  to  reporte  : 
But,  vnder  your  supporte, 
Tyll  my  dyenge  day 
I  shall  bothe  wryte  and  say, 
And  ye  shall  do  the  same,  fi> 

Howe  they  are  to  blame 
You  thus  to  dyffame : 
For  it  maketh  me  sad 
Howe  that  the  people  are  glad 
The  Churche  to  depraue ; 
And  some  there  are  that  raue, 
Presumynge  on  theyr  wyt, 
Whan  there  is  neuer  a  whyt, 
To  maynteyne  argumentes 
Agaynst  the  sacramentes.  a» 

Some  make  epylogacyon 
Of  hyglie  predestynacyon ; 
And  of  resydei^acyon 
They  make  interpretacyon 
Of  an  aquarde  facyon  ; 
And  of  the  prescience 
Of  dyuyne  essejje^ 
And  what  ipostacis 
Of  Christes  manhode  is. 
Suche  logyke  men  wyll  chop,  it 

And  in  theyr  fury  hop, 
When  the  good  ale  sop 
Dothe  daunce  in  theyr  fore  top ; 


COLTN   CLOUTB. 


Suclie  ye  may  well  knowe  anil  ken, 

That  agnynal  preesthode 

Tlieyr  malyce  Bprede  abrode, 

Euylynge  haynousiy 

And  dyadaynously 

Of  preeatly  dygoytes, 

But  theyr  maiygnytes. 

Aud  jome  haue  a  smacke 
Of  Luthers  sacke. 
And  a  brennyng  sparke 
Of  Lulhers  warke, 
And  are  eomewliat  auspecte 
lu  Luthers  secte ; 
And  Eome  of  ibem  barke, 
Claller  and  carpe 

Of  (hat  hertsy  arte  " 

Called  Wiuleuiata, 
The  dmielygehe  dogmatista  ; 
And  EOine  be  Hussyana, 
And  some  be  Arryans, 
And  sume  be  Pollegiana, 
And  make  moche  varyana 
Bytwene  the  clergye 
And  Ihe  lemporaltye, 
HowB  Ihe  Church^  hath  to  mykel, 
And  lliey  haue  to  lytell,  ' 

1  ffiwe  the  Chanh,  <fc.|  This  pa!sngB  in  MS.  iturfB  BiM' 
"  Some  »ey  lioly  chjrclte  haue  lo  mykell 


COLYN    CLOTJTE.  145 

And  bryng  in  materialites 

And  qualyfyed  qualytes ; 

Of  pluralytes, 

Of  tryalytes, 

And  of  tot  quottes, 

They  commune  lyke  sottes, 

As  commeth  to  theyr  lottes ; 

Of  prebendaries  and  deanes, 

Howe  some  of  tbem  gleanes 

And  gathereth  yp  the  store  «• 

For  to  catche  more  and  more ; 

Of  persons  and  vycaryes 

They  make  many  outcry es ; 

They  cannot  kepe  theyr  wyues 

From  them  for  theyr  lyues ; 

And  thus  the  loselles  stryues, 

And  lewdely  sayes  by  Christ 

Agaynst  the  sely  preest, 

Alas,  and  well  away,  ^ 

What  ayles  them  thus  to  say  ?  m 

They  mought  be  better  aduysed 

Then  to  be  so  dysgysed : 

But  they  haue  enterprysed, 

And  shamfuUy  surmysed, 

Aud  some  sey  they  brynge  plaralitet 

And  qaalifie  qualites 

And  also  tot  cotte 

They  taike  lyke  sottes 

Makynge  many  owte  cryes 

That  they  cannot  kepe  ther  wyffes 

And  thus  the  losselles  stryvys.*' 

TOL.  U.  10 


Howe  prelacy  is  soUle  and  bought 

And  come  vp  of  nought ; 

And  where  the  prelates  be 

Come  of  lowe  degre, 

And  eet  in  maieale 

And  Bpiritiiall  dj'ngnyto, 

Far  well  benygnyte, 

Farwcll  aymplieite,  . 

Far  well  humylyte, 

Farwell  good  charjte ! 

Te  are  so  puffed  wylh  pryde, 
That  no  man  may  abyde 
Your  hygh  and  lordely  lokea: 
Ye  CHst  vp  then  your  bokei. 
And  Terlue  ia  forgotten  ; 
For  then  ye  wyll  be  wroken 
Of  euery  lyght  quarell. 
And  call  a  lorde  a  iutiell, 
A  knyght  a  knaue  ye  nmke  i 
,  Ye  boBt,  ye  face,  ye  cruke, 

IAnd  vpon  you  ye  take 
To  rule  boihe  kynge  and  kayser; 
And  yf  ye  may  liaue  layser. 
Ye  wyll  brynge  all  to  nought. 
And  thai  is  alt  your  thought; 
For  (he  lordea  temporall, 
Tlieyr  rule  is  very  small, 
Almost  nothyng  at  all. 
Men  saye  howe  ye  appall 
The  noble  blode  royall  i 


COLTN    CLOUTE.  147 

In  ernest  and  in  game, 

Ye  are  the  lesse  to  blame, 

For  lordes  of  noble  blode, 

If  they  well  vnderatode 

How  connyng  myght  them  auaunce, 

They  wold  pype  you  another  daunce :  ean 

But  noble  men  borne 

To  lerne  they  haue  scome, 

But  hunt  and  blowe  an  home, 

Lepe  oiier  lakes  and  dykes, 

Set  nothyng  by  polytykes ; 

Therfore  ye  kepe  them  bace. 

And  mock^  them  to  theyr  face : 

This  is  a  pyteous  case, 

To  you  that  ouer  the  whele 

Grete  lordes  must  crouche  and  knele,  no 

And  breke  theyr  hose  at  the  kne, 

As  dayly  men  may  se, 

And  to  remembraunce  call, 

Fortune  so  turneth  the  ball 

And  ruleth  so  ouer  all, 

That  honoure  hath  a  great  fall^^,.^,^--^  # 

Shall  I  tell  you  more  ?  ye,  shall. 
I  am  loth  to  tell  all ; 
But  the  communalte  yow  call 
Ydolles  of  Babylon,  <«a 

Dt  terra  Zabulon, 
De  terra  Neptalym ; 
For  ye  loue  to  go  trym. 
Brought  vp  of  poore  estate, 


With  pryde  inordinate, 
Sodaj'nly  ypstarle 
From  I  be  donge  carte, 
The  matiocke  and  ihtj  sbule, 
To  rejgne  and  to  ruJe; 
And  haue  no  grace  lo  tbynke 
Howe  ye  were  woote  to  dryuke 
Of  a.  lether  bottell 
With  a  knauyssbe  etoppeU, 
Whan  mamockes  was  your  meate, 
With  moldy  brede  to  eale ; 
Te  cowde  none  other  gele 
To  cbewe  and  to  gnawe, 
To  fyll  therwith  your  mawe ; 
Loggyng  in  fay"^  strawe, 
Couchyng  your  drousy  beddee 
Somtyme  in  lousy  heddes. 
Alas,  this  is  out  of  inynde  I 
Ye  growe  nowe  out  of  kynde : 
Many  one  ye  haue  vntwynde, 
And  made  the  coromona  blyode. 
But  qui  te  existimat  glare, 
Let  hym  well  bewAre 
Lest  Ibat  bis  fote  alyp, 
And  haue  suche  a  tryp, 
And  falle  in  authe  dekay, 
That  all  the  worlde  may  say, 
Come  downe,  in  the  deuyil  way  1 

Yet,  ouet  uU  that. 
Of  hyssUops  they  cbat, 


COLYN    CLOUTE.  149 


That  though  ye  round  your  hear 
An  ynche  aboue  your  ear, 
And  haue  aures  patentes 
And  parum  intendentes, 
And  your  tonsors  be  croppyd, 
Your  eares  they  be  stopped ; 
For  maister  Adulator^ 
And  doctour  Assentatory 
And  Blandior  hlandiris, 
With  Mentior  mentiris^ 
They  folowe  your  desyres, 
And  so  they  blere  your  eye, 
That  ye  can  not  espye 
Howe  the  male  dothe  wrye. 

Alas,  for  Goddes  wyll, 
Why  syt  ye,  prelates,  styll, 
And  suffre  all  this  yll  ? 
Ye  bysshops  of  estates 
Shulde  open  the  brode  gates 
Of  your  spirituall  charge. 
And  com  forthe  at  large, 
Lyke  lanternes  of  lyght. 
In  the  peoples  syght. 
In  pullpettes  awtentyke. 
For  the  wele  publyke 
Of  preesthode  in  this  case ; 
And  alwayes  to  chase 
Suche  maner  of  sysmatykes 
And  halfe  heretykes, 
That  wolde  intoxicate, 


COLTN    CLOCTE. 

CtMC  wolile  conquinate, 
Ttei  wolde  coutaminate, 
A)m1  ihHt  wolde  vyolale, 
^nd  tlial  wolile  derogate, 
And  that  woldo  ttbrdgHte 
Tbe  Cliurclii:!  hjgh  estates, 
After  this  maner  rales, 
Tlie  which  sbulde  be 
Both  franke  and  free, 
And  liaue  tbeyr  lyberte. 
As  of'  atitiquyte 
It  waa  rattfyed, 
And  alfo  gratifyeil, 
By  huly  eynudallcs 
Ai]d  bullud  papalles. 
As  it  is  Tei  eerta 
Conteyned  in  Magna  Oharla. 

But  maister  Damyan, 
Or  some  other  man, 
That  clerkuly  is  ai>d  can 
Well  acryplure  expounde 
And  bys  tejcteB  gi-ounde. 
His  bBnelyce  worihe  ten  pounde, 
Or  skunte  worth  twenty  inarke, 
And  yet  a  noble  clcrke, 
He  must  do  this  werke  j 
As  I  kiiowt!  a.  parte, 
Some  inatjters  of  arte, 
Some  douioura  of  la  we, 


COLYM    CLOUTE.  151 

As  in  dyuynyte, 

That  liath  oo  dygnyte 

But  the  pore  degre 

Of  the  ynyuereyte ; 

Or  els  frere  Frederyekc, 

Or  els  frere  Dominike,  ym 

Or  frere  Hugulinus, 

Or  frere  Agustinus, 

Or  frere  Carmelus, 

That  gostly  can  heale  vs;  ~^ 

Or  els  yf  we  may 

Get  a  frere  graye, 

Or  els  of  the  order 

Vpon  Grenewyche  border. 

Called  Obseruaunoe, 

Or  a  frere  of  Fraunce ;  i» 

Or  else  the  poore  Scot, 

It  must  come  to  his  lot 

To  shote  forthe  his  shot ; 

Or  of  Babuell  besyde  Bery, 

To  postell  vpon  a  kyry, 

That  wolde  it  shulde  be  acted 

Howe  scripture  shulde  be  coted, 

And  so  clerkley  pronK>ted; 

And  yet  the  frere  doted. 

But  men  sey  your  awtoryte, 
And  your  noble  se, 
And  your  dygnyte, 
Shulde  be  iraprynted  better 
Then  all  the  freres  letter ; 
For  if  ye  wolde  take  payne 


vm 


COLYN    CLODTE. 

To  preohe  a  worde  or  twayne, 
Though  it  were  neuer  go  playne, 
Willi  clauses  ino  or  ihre, 
So  as  [hey  myght  be 
Compendyously  conueyde, 
These  wonies  ahuld  be  more  weyd, 
And  belter  perceyued, 
And  tbankfullerlye  receyued, 
And  betrer  sbulde  remayue 
Amonge  the  people  playne, 
That  wold  your  wordes  relay ne 
And  reherce  them  agayne. 
Than  a  thousand  Ihousaude  other. 
That  blaber,  barke,  and  blother, 
And  make  a  Walshmans  hose 
Of  [he  (fxte  and  of  the  glose. 

For  proteslatyon  made, 
That  I  wyll  not  wade 
Farther  in  Ihia  broke, 
Nor  farther  for  to  loke 
In  deuysynge  of  this  boke, 
Bat  answere  that  I  may 
For  my  selt'e  alway, 
Eyiher  analoffice 

Or  els  categorice,  ■ 

So  that  in  diuinite 
Doctors  that  lerned  be, 
Mor  h»chelera  of  that  faculie 
That  halh  taken  dtgre 
In  the  viiiuersiK;, 
Shall  not  b«  obiecie  at  by  luc 


COLYN    CLOUTE.  153 

But  doctour  Bullatus, 
Parum  litiercUus, 
Domintis  doctoratus 
At  the  brode  gatus,  aot 

Doctour  Daupatus, 
And  bacheler  hacheleratus, 
Dronken  as  a  mouse, 
At  the  ale  house, 
Taketh  his  pyllyon  and  his  cap 
At  the  good  ale  tap, 
For  lacke  of  good  wyne ; 
As  wyse  as  Robyn  swyne, 
Vnder  a  notaryes  sygne 
Was  made  a  dyuyne  ;  wt 

As  wyse  as  Waltoms  calfe,    i' 
Must  preche,  a  Goddes  halfe, 
In  the  pulpy t  solempnely ; 
More  mete  in  the  pyllory, 
For,  by  saynt  Hyllary, 
He  can  nothyng  smatter 
Of  logyke  nor  scole  matter, 
Neyther  syllogisare, 
Nor  enthymemare^ 

Nor  knoweth  his  elenkes,  «• 

Nor  his  predicamens ; 
And  yet  he  wyll  mell 
To  amend  the  gospell, 
And  wyll  preche  and  tell 
What  they  do  in  hell ; 
And  he  dare  not  well  neuen 


cocis  c<«im. 


EitkcroM* 

Soduyaw  s  faaoMi  flfdc, 
lliM  H  rin  fyi^en  ihjckfl 

ThcTT  oMeat  U  ttiMue. 
I  p«i  T<M  aw  of  doBie, 
Tlu.''  nn  DM  be  hmaght  aJMVie 
But  tbef  tbrjrr  loiQea  fj-le, 
And  iask«  ■  phniMBt  My  le 
To  UmrgtTj  wnA  Is  lUode^ 
Uove  tbej  l«uo  IM  ffMtdef 
And  aantjwM  ibvf  pnooke 


I 


COLYN   CLOUTE.  155 

Bothe  Gyll  and  Jacke  at  Noke 
Their  dewtyes  to  withdrawe, 
That  they  ought  by  the  la  we 
Theyr  curates  to  content  8« 

In  open  tyme  and  in  Lent : 
God  wot,  they  take  great  payne 
To  flatter  and  to  fayne ; 
But  it  is  an  olde  sayd  eawe, 
That  nede  hath  no  lawe. 
Some  walke  aboute  in  melottes, 
In  gray  russet  and  heery  cotes ; 
Some  wyl  neyther  golde  ne  grotes ; 
Some  plucke  a  partrych  in  remotes, 
And  by  tlie  barres  of  her  tayle  sw 

Wyll  knowe  a  rauen  from  a  rayle, 
A  quayle,  the  raile,  and  the  olde  rauen 
Sed  libera  nos  a  mah  !   Amen. 
And  by  Dudum,  theyr  Clementine, 
Agaynst  curates  they  repyne ; 
And  say  propreli  they  ar  sacerdoteSy 
To  shryue,  assoyle,  and  reles 
Dame  Margeries  soule  out  of  hell : 
But  when  the  freare  fell  in  the  well. 
He  coud  not  syng  himselfe  therout     sau 
But  by  the  helpe  of  Christyan  Clout. 
Another  Clemen tyne  also,* 

nothvr  Clementyne  also,  ^c]  I  suspect  some  corruption 
In  MS.  the  passage  stands  thus; 

"  Another  clementyn  how/rere  faby  and  mo 


OOLYN    CLOUTE. 

IIow  frere  Fabiun,  with  olher  mo, 
Exivit  de  Paradiso  ;  I 

Whan  they  agayn  iLeJer  shal  come, 
J)e  hoc  petimas  eontiUum  : 
Anil  through  all  the  world  ihej  go 
Wilh  Dirige  and  Placebo. 

But  nuwe  my  mjnd  ye  ToderstaiKli 
For  ihey  must  take  hi  hande  ■ 

Tu  prech,  and  to  withslHJide 


For  hysshopa  haue  prote 
Tliey  9«y,  to  do  correclioi 
But  they  haue  do  affeeliu 
To  lako  the  sayd  d 
III  such  maner  of  cases, 
Men  say,  they  bare  no  faces 
To  occupye  euclie  plucea. 
To  sowe  (be  sede  of  graces: 
Tbeyr  hertes  are  so  faynled, 
And  they  be  so  aiiaynted 
Witti  coueylous  and  arnbycyon, 
And  other  supersiycyon. 
That  they  be  deef  and  dum, 
And  play  scyleas  and  glum,    *    * 
Can  say  noihynge  but  mum. 

They  occupye  them  so 
"With  syngyng  Plaeeho, 
They  wjll  no  farlliur  go ; 
They  had  leoer  lo  please. 
And  liike  ihfir  iioridly  east 


COLYN    CLOUTE.  157 

Than  to  take  on  hande 

WorsshepfuUy  to  withstands 

Such  temporall  warre  and  bate. 

As  Dowe  is  made  of  late 

Agaynst  holy  Churche  estate, 

Or  to  maynteyne  good  quarelles. 

The  lay  men  call  them  barrelles 

Full  of  glotony  wi 

And  of  hypocrysy, 

That  counterfaytes  and  payntes 

As  they  were  very  sayntes : 

In  matters  that  them  lyke 

They  she  we  them  poly  tyke, 

Pretendyng  grauyte 

And  sygnyoryte, 

With  all  solempnyte, 

For  theyr  indempnyte ; 

For  they  wyll  haue  no  losse  « 

Of  a  peny  nor  of  a  crosse 

Of  theyr  predyall  landes, 

That  Cometh  to  theyr  handes, 

And  as  farre  as  they  dare  set, 

All  is  fysshe  that  cometh  to  net : 

Buyldyng  royally 

Theyr  mancyons  curyously. 

With  turrettes  and  with  toures, 

With  halles  and  with  boures, 

Stretchynge  to  the  starres,  »•• 

With  glasse  wyndowes  and  barres ; 

Hangynge  aboute  the  walles 


COLYN    CLOUTE.  159 


And  a  mete  meditacjon 
For  prelates  of  estate, 
Their  courage  to  abate 
From  worldly  wantonnesne, 
Thejr  chambres  thus  to  dresse 
With  suche  parfetnesse 
And  all  suche  holjnesse ; 
How  be  it  they  let  downe  fall 
Their  churches  cathedrall. 

Squyre,  knyght,  and  lorde, 
Thus  the  Churche  remorde ; 
With  all  temporall  people 
They  rune  agaynst  the  steple, 
Thus  talkynge  and  tellyng 
How  some  of  you  are  mellyng ; 
Yet  softe  and  fayre  for  swellyng, 
Beware  of  a  quenes  yellyng. 
It  is  a  besy  thyng 
For  one  man  to  rule  a  kyng 
Alone  and  make  rekenyng, 
To  goueme  ouer  all 
And  rule  a  realme  royall 
By  one  mannes  verrey  wyt ; 
Fortune  may  chaunce  to  flyt, 
And  whan  he  weneth  to  syt, 
Yet  may  he  mysse  the  quysshon : 
For  I  rede  a  preposycyon, 
Cum  regihus  amicare, 
Et  omnibus  dominari, 
Et  supra  (e  pravare  ; 


C01.TS   CLOCTK, 

Wlierforc  he  hathe  good  vre 
That  can  hjmselle  assure 
Howe  roriiine  w^ll  endure. 
Than  lei  reason  you  supporle, 
For  the  communaiie  doihe  reporte 
That  ihey  haue  great  wonder 
Thai  ye  kepe  them  so  vnder; 
Yet  they  meruayle  so  moche  lesse, 
For  ye  play  so  at  the  cheese, 
Aa  they  suppose  and  gesae. 
That  some  of  you  bttt  late 
Hath  played  ?o  checkemate 
With  lordes  of  greai  estate, 
Ailer  euche  a.  rate. 
Thai  they  shall  mell  nor  make. 
Nor  vpon  ihera  lake, 
For  kynge  nor  kayser  sake, 
But  at  the  playsure  of  one 
Thai  rulelh  the  ro3le  alone. 
Helas,  I  say,  helas ! 


That  a.  man  shall  here  ■  masse, 
And  not  so  hardy  on  his  hede 
To  loke  oh  God  in  forme  of  brede^,  J 
But  that  the  parysshe  clerka 
There  rpon  musi  herke, 
And  graunt  hym  at  his  askyng 
For  to  se  the  sacryng? 
And  liowe  may  rhis  accorde, 


COLYN   CLOUTE.  l6l 

So  liardy  to  make  sute, 

Nor  yet  to  execute 

His  commaundement, 

Without  the  assent 

Of  our  presydent, 

Nor  to  expresse  to  his  person, 

Without  your  consentatyon 

Graunt  hym  his  lycence  wit 

To  preas  to  his  presence, 

Nor  to  speke  to  hym  secretly, 

Openly  nor  preuyiy, 

Without  his  presydent  be  by, 

Or  els  his  substytute 

Whom  he  wyU  depute  ? 

Neyther  erle  ne  duke 

Permytted  ?  by  saynt  Luke, 

And  by  swete  saynt  Marke, 

This  is  a  wonderous  warkel  loso 

That  the  people  talke  this, 

Somewhat  there  is  amysse : 

The  deuil  cannot  stop  their  mouthes,     ) 

But  they  wyl  talke  of  such  vncouthes,  \ 

All  that  euer  they  ken 

Agaynst  all  spirituall  men. 

Whether  it  be  wrong  or  ryght, 
Or  els  for  dyspyght, 
Or  howe  euer  it  hap, 
Theyr  tonges  thus  do  clap,  um 

And  through  suche  detractyon 
They  put  you  to  your  actyon ; 
VOL.  II.  11 


COLTK    CLOTTE. 

TliM  floihe  Ihvnke  or  wene 
That  hi*  cwincyence  be  noi  dene. 
And  fel«h  hymeeHe  sycke, 
Or  loopbed  on  the  (jaycke, 
godte  grtice  God  them  senda 
Tlieniselfe  to  mtnende, 
For  I  wjH  not  prelende 
Any  man  to  offende. 

Wherfore,  as  tliynketb  me, 
Great  ydeoil«i  I  hey  be, 
And  lytell  grace  they  haae. 
This  ti-eaiyse  to  depraue; 
Nor  wyll  here  no  prectiyng, 
Nor  no  vertuous  techyng. 
Nor  wyll  haue  no  resytyng 
Of  any  vertuous  wrylyng; 
Wyll  knowe  none  intellygence 
To  pefourme  theyr  neglygenea, 
But  lyue  styll  out  of  f'acyon, 
To  theyr  owne  dampnapyon. 
To  do  ehanie  ibey  bane  no  ehanie. 
Bntlhey  wold  no  man  shwitieihem blame' 
They  haue  na  euyl  name, 
But  yet  they  wyll  occupy  ihe 

With  ihem  the  worde  of  God 
Is  counted  for  no  rod  ; 
They  counte  it  for  a  raylyng, 
That  nothyng  is  aiiaylyng; 
The  prechers  with  euyll  bayli 


-^ 


e  precher 
Shall  they  dai 


s  prelates. 


COLTN   CLOUTE.  168 

Wreke  ye  your  anger  on  me  ? 
For  those  that  vertuous  be 
Haue  no  cause  to  say 
That  I  speke  out  of  the  way. 

Of  no  good  bysshop  speke  I, 
Nor  good  preest  I  escrye, 
Good  frere,  nor  good  chanon, 
Good  nonne,  nor  good  canon,  im 

Good  monke,  nor  good  clercke, 
Nor  yette  of  no  good  werke : 
But  my  recountyng  is 
Of  them  that  do  amys, 
In  speking  and  rebellyng, 
In  hynderyng  and  dysauaylyng 
Holy  Churche,  our  mother. 
One  agaynst  another ; 
To  vse  suche  despytyng 
Is  all  my  bole  wrytyng  ;  iim 

To  hynder  no  man, 
As  nere  as  I  can, 
For  no  man  haue  I  named : 
Wherfore  sholde  I  be  blamed  ? 
Ye  ought  to  be  ashamed, 
Agaynst  me  to  be  gramed. 
And  can  tell  no  cause  why. 
But  that  I  wryte  trewly. 

Then  jf  any  there  be 
Of  hygh  or  lowe  degre  im 

Of  the  spiritualte. 
Or  of  the  temporalte 


At  Poules  Crosse  or  els  wher 
Openly  at  Wesimynslere, 
And  Saynl  Mary  Spyiiell, 
They  Bet  not  by  V8  a  whystell : 
At  Ihe  Ausien  fryera 
They  count  vs  for  lyera  : 
And  at  Saynt  Thomas  of  Akers 
They  carpe  vs  lyke  crakera, 
Howe  we  wyll  rule  allatwyll 
Wilhout  good  reason  or  skyllj 
And  sny  bow  that  we  be 
Full  of  parcy»lyte ; 
And  iiowe  at  a  pronge 
We  tourne  ryght  into  wronge, 
Delay  causes  so  longe 
That  ryght  no  man  can  fonge; 
They  suy  many  matters  be  born  I 
By  the  ryght  of  a  rambes  horoe.  ■! 
la  not  this  a  ^hnoifull  scome, 
To  be  leareil  thu^  and  (orne 

How  may  we  thy*  iodureP 
Wherfore  we  make  you  sure, 
Ye  prechera  ahali  be  yawde; 
And  some  shall  be  aawde, 
As  noble  Irtaias, 
The  holy  piuphet,  was; 
And  some  of  you  shall  dye, 
Lyke  holy  Jeremy ; 
Some  hanged,  some  slayne, 
Some  beaten  to  the  bmynej 


COLYN   CLOUTE.  167 

And  we  wyll  rule  and  rayne, 

And  our  matters  mayntayne 

Who  dare  say  there  agayne, 

Or  who  dare  dysdayne 

At  our  pleasure  and  wyll : 

For,  be  it  good  or  be  it  yll, 

As  it  is,  it  shall  be  styll,  im 

For  all  master  doetour  of  Cyuyll, 

Or  of  Diuine,  or  doetour  Dryuyll, 

Let  hym  cough,  rough,  or  sneuyll ; 

Renne  God,  renne  deuyll,      ' 

Renne  who  may  renne  best,  ; 

And  let  take  all  the  rest  1 

We  set  not  a  nut  shell 

The  way  to  heueu  or  to  hell. 

Lo,  this  is  the  gyse  now  a  dajes  1 
It  is  to  drede,  men  sayes,  vm 

Lest  they  be  Saduces, 
As  they  be  sayd  sayne 
Whiche  determyned  playne 
We  ehulde  not  ryse  agayne 
At  dredefuU  domis  day ; 
And  so  it  semeth  they  play, 
Whiche  hate  to  be  corrected 
Whan  they  be  infected, 
Nor  wyll  suffre  this  boke 
By  hoke  ne  by  croke         —  tm 

Pry n  ted  for  to  be, 
For  that  no  man  shulde  se 
Nor  rede  in  any  scroUes 


COLTN   OLOUTE. 

Of  ilieyr  dronken  nolles, 
Nor  of  thejT  nodily  pollea, 
Nor  of  theyr  sely  soulea, 
Nor  of  some  wytl«a  pates 
or  doners  great  estates, 
Aa  well  AG  other  men. 

Now  to  witlidrawe  my  pen. 
And  now  a  whjie  to  rest. 
Me  semeth  it  fur  the  best. 

The  forecaslell  of  mj  sbjp 
Shall  glyde,  and  smoihely  slyp 
Out  of  the  wawes  wod 
Of  the  stormy  flod; 
Sliutc  anker,  and  lye  at  rode, 
And  sa/ie  not  farre  abrode, 
Tyll  the  cost  be  clere. 
And  the  lode  slarre  appere ; 
My  shjp  nowe  wyll  I  stere 
Towards  the  portti  ealu 
Of  our  SnujDur  Jesu, 
Suche  grace  that  he  va  sende, 
To  rectytye  and  aioeade 
Thynges  that  arc  amya, 
Whan  that  hi$  [^asure  is. 

In  opere  imjierfecto. 

In  opere  temper  perfeeto, 

Et  in  opere  plusqvam  perjieto  / 


( 


COLTN    CLOUTE.  169 


Colinus  Cloutus,  quanquam  mea  carmina  muUis 
Sordescunt  stultis,  sed  puevinate  sunt  rare  ctdtis, 
Pue  vinatis  altisera  divino  Jlamine  Jlatis* 
Unde  med  refert  tanto  minuSf  invida  quamvis 
Lingua   nocere  paraty   quia^  quanquam  rustica 

cantOy 
Undique  cantabor  tamen  et  celehrahor  ubique, 
Inclita  dum  maneat  gens  Anglica,  Laurus  honoris^ 
Qu&ndam  regnorum  regina  et  gloria  regum^ 
Heu^  modo  marcescit,  tabescit,  languida  torpet! 
Ah  pudet,  ah  miseret  1  vetor  hie  ego  pandere  plura 
Pro  gemitu  et   lacrimis:   prcestet  peto  prcemia 

pcena,* 

*  These  verses,  not  in  eds.,  follow  the  poem  of  Colyn  Cloute 
in  the  Harlciun  MS.  The  corruptions  in  the  second  and  third 
lines  (distinguished  by  Roman  letter)  have  baffled  the  inge- 
nuity of  the  several  scholars  to  whom'  I  submitted  them. 

A  reviewer  in  the  Gentleman's  Magazine  (Sept.  1844,  p.  246,) 
wonld  cure  this  corrupted  passage  as  follows: 

Cnlinus  ClotUiUy  quanquam  mea  camunct  mvltU 
Sordescunt  ^uUis ;  sed  paucis  aunt  data  cuUi»^ 
Faucis  ante  alios  divino  Jlamine  ftcUii. 


170        6ARLANDE  OF  LAURELL. 


A  RTGHT  DELECTABLE  TRATY8E  VPON  A  GOODLT 

GARLANDE  OB  CHAPELET  OF  LAURELL* 

BT  MAT8TER  8KELTON,  FOETE  LAUREAT,  8TUDY0USLT 
DYUYSED  AT  8HERYFHOTTON  CASTELL,  IN  THE  FORESH 
OF  GALTRES,  WHEREIN  AR  COMPRY8YDB  MANY  ASD 
DYUERS  80LACYON8  AND  RYGHT  PREGNANT  ALLECTTUE8 
OF  8YNGULAR  PLEASURE,  AS  MORE  AT  LARGE  FT  DOTH 
APERE  IN  THE  PROCE8  FOLOWYNGB. 

Elemo  mansura  die  dum  sidera  fulgeiU^ 
^quora  dumque  tumerU,  hcBC  laurea  nostra  vireUU 
Hinc  nostrum  celehre  et  nomen  referetur  ad  astro, 
Undique  Skeltonis  memorabitur  alter  Adonis, 

Arecttng  my  syght  towarde  the  zodyake, 
The  sygnes  xii  for  to  beholde  a  farre, 

When  Mars  retrogradant  reuersyd  his  bak, 
Lorde  of  the  yere  in  his  orbicular, 
Put  vp  his  sworde,  for  he  cowde  make  no  warre, 

And  whan  Lucina  plenarly  did  shyne, 

Scorpione  ascendynge  degrees  twyse  nyne; 

*  From  Faukes's  ed.  1523,  collated  with  Marshe's  ed.  of 
Skelton's  Wm-kes,  1568,  (in  which  it  is  entitled  The  CrowM 
o/Laiorell,)  and  with  fragments  of  the  poem  among  the  Cot- 
tonlan  MSS.  Vit.  E.X.  fol.  200.  The  prefatory  Latin  lines 
are  from  Funkes's  ed.,  where  they  are  given  on  the  back  of 
the  title-page,  and  below  a  woodcut  portrait  headed  "  Skdio* 
Potta,^^  (see  List  of  Editions^  in  Appendix  to  Account  of  Slxl' 
touy  &.C.):  they  are  not  in  Marshe's  ed.  nor  in  MS. 


6AULANDE  OF  LAURELL.        171 

n  place  alone  then  musynge  in  my  thought 
How  all  thynge   passyth   as  doth  the  sOmer 
flower, 
On  euery  halfe  my  reasons  forthe  I  sought,        lo 
How  oftyn  fortune  varyeth  in  an  howre, 
Now  clere  wether,  forthwith  a  stormy  showre ; 
All  thynge  compassyd,  no  perpetuyte, 
Bot  now  in  welthe,  now  in  aduersyle. 

So  depely  drownyd  I  was  in  this  dumpe, 
Encraumpysshed  so  sore  was  my  conceyte, 

That,  me  to  rest,  I  lent  me  to  a  stumpe 

Of  an  oke,  that  somtyme  grew  full  streyghte, 
A  myghty  tre  and  of  a  noble  heyght. 

Whose    bewte    blastyd   w^as   with   the   boystors 
wynde,  a 

His  leuis  loste,  the  sappe  was  frome  the  rynde. 

Thus  stode  I  in  the  frytthy  forest  of  Galtres, 

Ensowkid  with  sylt  of  the  myry  mose, 
Where  hartis  belluyng,  embosyd  with  distres, 
Ran  on  the  raunge  so  longe,  that  I  suppose 
Few  men  can  tell  now  where  the  hynde  calfe 
gose; 
Faire  fall  that  forster  that  so  well  can  bate  his 

hownde ! 
But  of  my  purpose  now  torne  we  to  the  grownde. 

Why  lis  I  stode  musynge  in  this  medytatyon. 
In  slumbrynge  I  fell  and  halfe  in  a  slepe ;       « 


172  GARLANOK    OF    HLKKLI.- 

Aiid  w!jf![lier  it  wui'e  of"  jmiifjj'nacj'on. 

Or  of  huiiiora  aup<;rflut:,  lliat  ofltu  wjill  CN 
Iii[o  (he  brayiH;  by  djyiikyng  ouer  depe, 
Or  it  proceiJyd  of  faiall  persuaejoo, 
J  can  not  wtile  tell  you  wIihI  was  the  occsejod; 

But  sodeynly  at  ones,  as  I  me  aduyaed, 
Ad  one  in  a  trans  or  in  an  extasy, 

I  gttwe  a  paujiyon  woudersly  disgysede, 
Garnyssiied  t're^sbe  after  my  fantasy, 
Enhaclijde  with  pei'le  and  clones  precioosiy,  • 
Tbe  grounile  engrosyd  and  bet  witb  hournegoldej 
Tliat  paasynge  goodly  it  was  to  heholde: 

Within  it,  a  pryncea  exeelleoEe  of  porte ; 

But  to  reuuunt  her  ryube  abylyment, 
And  what  esiatea  to  her  did  resorfe, 

Tberto  am  1  full  inpuffycyent ; 

A  gndde^se  inmurlali  she  dyd  repreae 
As  I  bai'de  say,  damo  Pallas  was 
To  whome  supplyed  the  royall  Quene  of  F«i 

27ie  Queim  of  Faint  to  Dami  PaiUiMJ* 
]'rynues  mooot  pusanl,  of  hygb  pruemynot 

Keuownyd  iady  aboiie  tbe  ateriy  henyn^;! 
All  other  transcendyng,  of  very  congrueneB 


1  QatneofFamt]  Oppotite  tbia  liao  MS.  baa  a.  amrtpnll 
jte,  parity  Illogibja,  Bnd  partly  cut  oO,  "  £, 
.  .  .  dea  peclore foria  .  .  ." 


GARLAND E    OP    LAURELL.  173 

Madame  regent  of  the  scyence  seuyn, 
To  who^'  astate  all  noblenes  most  lenen, 
My  supplycacyon  to  you  I  arrect, 
Whereof  I  beseche  you  to  tender  the  effecte. 

Not  vnremembered  it  is  vnto  your  grace, 

How  you  gaue  me  a  ryall  coramaundement 
That  in  my  courte  Skelton  shulde  haue  a  place^ 
Bycause   that   his    tyme    he  studyously  hath 
spent  •• 

In   your  seruyce ;   and,  to  the  accomplysshe- 
raent 
Of  your  request,  regestred  is  his  name 
With  laureate  tryumphe  in  the  courte  of  Fame. 

But,  good  madame,  the  accustorae  and  vsage 
Of  auncient  poetis,  ye  wote  full  wele,  hath  bene 

Them  selfe  to  embesy  with  all  there  holl  corage, 
So  that  there  workis  myght  famously  be  sene, 
In  figure  wherof  they  were  the  laurell  grene ; 

But  how  it  is,  Skelton  is  wonder  slake, 

And,  as  we  dare,  we  fynde  in  hym  grete  lake :   w 

For,  ne  were  onely  he  hath  your  promocyon, 
Out  of  my  bokis  full  sone  I  shulde  hym  rase  ; 

But  sith  he  hath  tastid  of  the  sugred  pocibun 
Of  Elyconis  well,  refresshid  with  your  grace, 
And  wyll  not  endeuour  hymselfe  to  purchase 

The  fauour  of  ladys  with  wordis  electe, 

Tt  -18  Bittynge  that  ye  must  hym  correct. 


>■ 


DoTTte  Pallas  to  the  Quene  of  Fame. 

The  sum  of  your  purpose,  as  we  ar  aduysid, 
la  that  our  soruaunt  is  sum  what  to  dull  i 

Wherin  this  answere  for  hym  we  haue  compriid, 
How  ryuera  rin  not  lyll  the  spryng  be  full;  • 
Better  a  dum  niouthe  than  a  brainlea  scull; 

For  iihe  gloryously  puliishe  hia  mailer, 

Then  mtin  wjU  say  how  he  doth  but  flaller ; 

And  if  60  hym  fortune  to  wryte  true  and  pluine, 

As  Bumlyme  lie  must  vyces  remorde. 
Then  sum  wyll  say  he  hath  but  lyttill  brayne, 
And   how  his   wordea  with    reason  wjll  nol 

accord e ; 
Beware,  for  wrjtyng  reraaynelb  of  recordej 
Diapltiiise    not    an     hundruth     for    one    mannH 
pluasure ;  * 

Who  wryleih  wyaely  liath  a  gvfiu  treasure. 

AlfO,  to  furnijdlie  better  his  excuse, 

Ouyde  was  bannisshed  for  suche  a  skyl^ 

And  many  mo  whome  I  cowde  enduce 
luuenall  wae  thret  parde  for  to  kyll 
For  ceriayne  enuectyfys,  yet  wrote  he  none  iH 

Sauynge  he  rubbid  6um  vpon  the  gall ; 

]t  vaa  not  for  hym  to  abyde  the  IryalL 


A 


In  gt-nerrall  wordes,  I  say  not  gretely  nil] 
A  poF>Ie  sooityiiie  may  tor  his  pleasure  lannt, 


tannl,  ■ 


GARLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        175 

Spekyng  in  parablis,  how  the  fox,  the  grey, 
The  gander,  the  gose,  and  the  hudge  oliphaunt, 
Went  with  the  peeok  ageyne  the  fesaunt ; 
The  lesarde  came  lepyng,  and  sayd  that  he  must, 
With  helpe  of  the  ram,  ley  all  in  the  dust. 

Yet  dyuerse  ther  be,  industryous  of  reason, 
Sam  what  wolde  gadder  in  there  coniecture 

Of  suche  an  endarkid  chapiter  sum  season ; 
How  be  it,   it   were   harde   to   construe   this 

lecture; 
Sophisticatid  craftely  is  many  a  confecture ;  "• 

Another  manes  mynde  diffuse  is  to  expounde ; 

Yet  harde  is  to  make  but  sum  fawt  be  founde. 

The  Queue  of  Fame  to  Dame  Pallas, 

Madame,  with  fauour  of  your  benynge  sufferaunce, 
Vnto  your  grace  then  make  I  this  motyue ; 

Whereto  made  ye  me  hym  to  auaunce 
Vnto  the  rowme  of  laureat  promotyue  ? 
Or  wherto  shulde  he  haue  that  prerogatyue, 

But  if  he  had  made  sum  memoryall, 

Wherby  he  myght  haue  a  name  inmortall  ? 

To  pas  the  tyme  in  slowthfull  ydelnes,  iso 

Of  your  royall  palace  it  is  not  the  gyse, 

But  to  do  sum  what  iche  man  doth  hym  dres: 
For  how  shulde  Cato  els  be  callyd  wyse, 
But  that  his  bokis,  whiche  he  did  deuyse, 

Recorde  the  same  ?  or  why  is  had  in  mynde 

Plato,  but  for  that  he  left  wrytynge  behynde, 


176  GARLANDK   OF   LAURELU 

For  men  to  luke  on  ?    ArUtntille  also. 
Of  pliyloeophers  eallid  ibe  princypall, 

Olile  Diogene*,  with  other  many  mo, 

D-'mopit-ne!",  thai  orntour  royall,  ' 

That  gaue  Eschines  Kuche  a.  cordyall, 

That  ^unniaslied  wiia  he  by  his  propo*ieyoun, 

Ageyoe  ivhome   be   cowde  make  no  coDiradH- 


^amoJ^H 


Dame  Pallas  to  the  Quene  of  Farm 
Soft,  my  good  aysler,  and  make  there  a 

And  was  Esuhinea  rebukid  as  ye  eayP 

Bemetnbre  you  wele,  jwynt  wele  that  clause  i 

Wherfore  then  rasid  ye  not  away 

His  name  ?  or  why  is  it,  I  you  pniyR, 

That  he  to  your  coune  is  goyng  and  commynge, 

Sith  he  is  sJaundred  for  defaut  of  konnyogL 

The  Quene  of  Fame  to  Dame  Pali 

Madame,  your  apposelle  ie  wele  inferrid,   { 
And  at  your  auauntage  quikly  it  is 

Towchid,  and  bard  for  to  be  debarrid ; 
Yet  shall  I  an^were  your  grace  as  in 
Wi(h  your  reforraacion,  if  I  say  amb. 

For,  but  if  your  bounle  did  n 

MynH  argument  eis  koude  not  longe  endid 

As  lowchyng  that  Escbines  iE  remembred)  i 

That  be  so  sholde  be,  me  sitmiih  it  si 
All  be  it  grete  paile  he  batli  surrcndred 


GARLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        177 

Of  his  onour,  whos  dissuasyue  in  wrytyng 
To  corage  Demostenes  was  mocbe  excitynge, 
In  settyng  out  fresshely  his  crafty  persuacyon, 
From  whiche  Esehines  had  none  euacyon. 

The  cause  why  Demostenes  so  famously  is  brutid, 
Onely  procedid  for  that  he  did  outray 

Esehines,  whiche  was  not  shamefully  confutid 
But  of  that  famous  oratour,  I  say, 
Whiche  passid  all  other ;  wherfore  I  may 

Among  my  recordes  suffer  hym  namyd,  i« 

For  though  he  were  venquesshid,  yet  was  he  not 
shamyd : 

As  lerome,  in  his  preamble  Frater  AmhrostttSf 
Frome  that  I  haue  sayde  in  no  poynt  doth  vary, 

Wherein  he  reporteth  of  the  coragius 
Wordes  that  were  moch  consolatory 
By  Esehines  rehersed  to  the  grete  glory 

Of  Demostenes,  that  was  his  vtter  foo : 

Few  shall  ye  fynde  or  none  that  wyll  do  so. 

Dame  Pallas  to  the  Queue  of  Fame, 

A  thanke  to  haue,  ye  haue  well  deseruyd, 

Your  mynde  that  can  maynteyne  so  apparently ; 

But  a  grete  parte  yet  ye  haue  reseruyd  m 

Of  that  most  folow  then  conseqently, 
Or  els  ye  demeane  you  inordinatly ; 

For  if  ye  laude  hym  whome  honour  hath  opprest, 

Then  he  that  doth  worste  is  as  good  as  the  best. 

VOL.   II.  12 


178  GAKLANDE    OF   LACBt:i.L. 

But  whome  that  ye  fiiuoure,  I  se  wpII,  Latb  i 

Be  he  neuer  so  lytell  of  snbstaunpe, 
And  whome  yc  loue  not  ye  wyll  put  to  shatne; 

Ye  counterwey  not  euynly  your  balaunce ; 

As  wele  foly  ae  wyadome  oft  ye  do  avaunce:  * 
For  reporle  ryselh  many  deiierse  wayea : 
Sume  be  moche  epokyn  of  for  makyiige  of  U|fl 

Some  haue  a  name  for  thefte  and  bryberyj  ^^ 
Some  be  called  crafty,  thai  cnii  pyke  a  purse; 


Some  men  be  made  of  for  the 
Some    carefull    cokwoldes, 


;ome    haue  tbeyr 


Some  famous  wetewoldis,  and  they  be  moche 
Some   tidderons,  some  losels,   some   noughiy 
Some   facers,  some  bracers,   some    make  great 

Some  dronken  dastardis  with  their  dry  soulea,'  * 
Some  sluggyssh   slouyns,  that  slepe  day  and 
nyghl ; 
Ryot  and  Beuell  be  in  your  court*  rowlia; 
Maintenaunce  and  Miachefe,  theis  be  men  <)< 

myght ! 
Estorcyon  is  counted  with  yon  for  a  knyghti 
s  people  by  me  haue  none  assign ement, 


Yet  [hey  ryde  and,  ri 


a  CailyD  ti 


GARLANDE  OP  LAURELL.        179 


I 

B^     .1  or  nothynge  ye  shall  here  tell 
Mf       m  that  haue  vertue  by  reason  of  cunnyng, 
||.-       souerenly  in  honoure  shulde  excell ;      im 
^       of  suche  maters  make  but  a  mummynge, 
vvysdome  and  sadnesse  be  set  out  a  sun- 
nyng; 

jche  of  my  seruauntes  as  I  haue  promotyd, 
lUte  or  other  in  them  shalbe  notyd : 

it  they  wyll  say  he  is  to  wyse, 
elles  he  can  nought  bot  whan  he  is  at  scole ; 
*e  his  wytt,  sayth  he,  at  cardes  or  dyce, 
nd  ye  shall  well  fynde  he  is  a  very  fole ; 
wyshe,  set   hym  a  chare,  or  reche  hym  a 

stole, 
syt  hym  vpon,  and  rede  lacke  a  thrummis 

bybille, 
p  truly  it  were  pyte  that  he  sat  ydle.  «o 

The  Queue  of  Fame  to  Dame  Pallas. 

make   repungnaunce   agayne  that  ye   haue 

sayde, 
)f  very  dwte  it  may  not  well  accorde, 
t  your  benynge  sufferaunce  for  my  discharge 

I  laid,  ' 
?or  that  I  wolde  not  with  you  fall  at  discorde ; 
Jut  yet  I  beseche  your  grace  that  good  recorde 
y  be  brought  forth,  suche  as  can  be  founde, 
th  laureat  tryumphe  why  Skelton  sholde  be 

crownde ; 


For  elks  ii  were  lo  great  a  derogacyon 

Vnio  your  palas,  our  noble  courts  of  Fame, 

That  any  man  vnder  eupportscyon  ■ 

Withuule   deseruynge    shulde   h»ue    rhe  bett 


If  he  to  the  ample  encrease  of  hia  name  '^H 
Can  lay  any  werkis  that  he  haih  com pyly^  "B 
I  am  conlente  that  he  be  not  exylide 

Frome  the  laureat  senate  by  force  of  proscrip- 

i,  ye  k 
But   I   muat   bannyeshe   hym 
dicey  on, 
As  he  tliat  aquentyth  hyra  with  ydilnes; 
But  if  that  he  purpose  to  make  a  redrea%  J 
What  he  hath  done,  let  it  be  brought  ^ 
Grnunt  my  petycyon,  I  aske  you  but  ryght;  1 

Dame  PaUai  to  the  Quene  of  Fomt. 
To  your  request  we  be  well  condiscendid : 

Call  forthe,  let  se  where  ia  your  clariona;^.,^ 
To  blowe  a  blaste  with  hia  long  bretfa  exlenffii'n 

Eolus,  your  trumpet,  ihat  knowne  is  so  &r«. 

That  bnrarag  blowylli  in  euery  mercyall  warre, 
Let  hyin  blon-e  now,  that  we  may  take  a  ve** 
What  poetia  we  haue  at  o 


To  se  if  Skellon  wyll  put  hyraselfe  in  p 
Amonge  ihe  thickeste  of  all  (he  hole 


GARLANDE  OP  LAURELL.        181 

Make  noyse  enoughe,  for  claterars  loue  no  peas ; 

Let  se,  my  syster,  now  spede  you,  go  aboute ; 

Anone,  I  sey,  this  trumpet  were  founde  out, 
And  for  no  man  hardely  let  hym  spare 
To  blowe  bararag  tyll  bothe  his  eyne  stare. 

Skelion  Poeta, 

Forthwith  there  rose  amonge  the  thronge 
A  wonderfull  noyse,  and  on  euery  syde 
They  presid  in  faste ;  some  thought  they  were  to 
longe ; 
Sume  were  to  hasty,  and  wold  no  man  byde ; 
Some  whispred,  some  rownyd,  some  spake,  and 
some  cryde,  « 

With  heuynge  and  shouynge,  haue  in  and  haue 

oute ; 
Some  ranne  the  nexte  way,  sume  ranne  abowte* 

There  was  suyng  to  the  Quene  of  Fame ; 

He  plucked  hym  backe,  and  he  went  afore ; 
Nay,  holde  thy  tunge,  quod  another,  let  me  haue 
the  name ; 
Make  rowme,  sayd  another,  ye   prese  all  to 

sore ; 
Sume  sayd,  Holde  thy  peas,  thou  getest  here 
no  more ; 
A  thowsande  thowsande  I  sawe  on  a  plumpe : 
With  that  I  harde  the  noyse  of  a  trumpe. 

That  longe  tyme  blewe  a  full  timorous  blaste,    «» 
Lyke  to  the  boryall  wyndes  whan  they  blowe. 


That  towres  and  tovines  and  trees  downe  caelfi, 
Droue  clowdea  togethei'  lyke  dryfiis  of  snowei 
The  dredefuU  dinne  droue  all  the  rowte  on  > 

Some  tremblid,  eoniti  giniid,  some  gaspid,  eonM 

As   people   halfe    peu^ashe,  or  men    that  1 
muayd. 


"ooifV 


Anone  all  was  whyste,  as  it  were  for  the  Don 
And  iche  man  etode  ga^yng  and  Glaring  TpcM 

With  that  there  come  in  wonderlj  at  ones 

A  murmur  of  mynslrels,  that  suche  another  n 
Had  I  neiier  sene,  some  »}fier,  eome  lowder; 
Orpheus,  the  Traciane,  herped  meledyously 
Weth  Amphion,  and  other  Musia  ot'Archadj': 

Whos  heuenly  armony  was  so  passynge  aure, 
So  truely  proporsionyd,  and  so  well  did  gree, 

So  duly  eulunyd  with  euery  meaure. 

That  in  the  forfst  was  none  so  great  a  tre 
But  thai  he  daunced  for  ioye  of  thai  gle; 

The  huge  myghly  ekes  them  selfe  dyd  auaaace. 

And  lepe  tjrome  the  hylles  to  leme  for  to  dauDH! 

In  sj  mocbe  the  eiumpe,  w'lereto  I  me  leute,  -J 
Stiirie  all  at  ones  an  huudrethe  fote  baekoNf 

Wilh  thai  I  sprange  vp  towarde  the  tent 
Of  nuble  Dume  Pallas,  nherof  I  epskej 
Where  Isawe  come  after,  I  wote,  fttlllytdlW 


GARLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        183 

Of  a  thousande  poetes  assembled  togeder : 
But  Fhebus  was  formest  of  all  that  cam  theder ; 

Of  laurell  leuis  a  cronell  on  his  hede, 

With  heris  encrisped  yalowe  as  the  golde, 
Liamentyng  Daphnes,  whome  A^ith  the  darte  of 
lede  sn 

Cupyde  hath  stryken  so  that  she  ne  wolde 
Concente   to   Fhebus    to   haue  his   herte  in 
holde, 
Hut,  for  to  preserue  her  maidenhode  clene, 
Transformyd  was  she  into  the  laurell  grene. 

Meddelyd  with  murnynge  the  moost  parte  of  his 
muse, 
O  thoughtfull  herte,  was  euermore  his  songe  I 
Daphnes,  my  derlynge,  why  do  you  me  refuse  ? 
Yet  loke  on  me,  that  louyd  you  haue  so  longe, 
Yet  haue   compassyon   vpon   my   paynes 

stronge :  bm 

He  sange  also  how,  the  tre  as  he  did  take 
Betwene  his  armes,  he  felt  her  body  quake. 

Then  he  assurded  into  this  exclamacyon 
Vnto  Diana,  the  goddes  inmortall ; 

O  mercyles  madame,  hard  is  your  constellacyon, 
So  close  to  kepe  your  cloyster  virgynall, 
Enhardid  adyment  the  sement  of  your  wall  I 

Alas,  what  ayle  you  to  be  so  ouerthwhart, 

To  bannysshe  pyte  out  of  a  maydens  harte  ? 


184  GARLANDE   OF   LADRELL. 


Wby  liaiie  ihe  goddes  shewjd  me  tliis  omelie, 
Sith  1  wmtryiijd  first  princyplesmedj'cynaWd 

I  heipe  all  other  of  tliere  inlirmile,  *> 

But  now  to  helpn!  myselle  I  am  aot  able; 
Tbctt  profyteth  all  otiier  is  nothynge  profytdbb 

Vnto  me ;  alaa,  that  herhe  nor  grease 

The  feruent  axes  of  loue  can  not  represse ! 

0  falall  fortune,  what  haue  I  ofietulid  ? 

Odious  disdayne,  why  raiat  thou   me  on  liiis 
facyon  ? 
But  sitii  I  haue  lost  now  that  I  entended, 
And  may  not  atieyne  it  by  no  raedyacyon, 
Tel,  in  I'enierobraunue  of  Daphnes  IranBfornw- 

All  famous  poetis  ensitynge  after  me 
Shall  were  a  garlaude  of  the  laurell  tre. 

This  sayd,  a  grate  nowtnber  folowyd  by  and  by 
Of  poelia  laureat  of  many  dyuerse  nacyons; 

Parte  of  there  nantu.'^  I  tbynke  to  epecefye : 
Fyrale,  olde    Quintiliane   with    his  Declin*- 

Theocritus  with  his  hucolycatl  relacyons} 
Esiodua,  the  icnnomicar, 
And  Homerus,  the  fresshe  historiar; 

Prynee  of  eloquenoe,  Tullius  Cicero, 

"With  Sulusiy  agefnal  Lueius  Calelyn^ 
That  wrote  llie  history  of  luguria  also  ; 


0ARLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        185 

Ouyde,  enshryned  with  the  Musis  nyne ; 

But  blessed  Bacchus,  the  pleasant  god  of  wyne, 
)f  closters  engrosyd  with  his  ruddy  flotis 
Chese  orators  and  poetes  refresshed  there  throtis  ; 

iiucan,  with  Stacius  in  Achilliedos  ; 

Percius  presed  forth  with  problemes  diffuse ; 
Virgin  the  Mantuan,  with  his  Eneidos ;  sas 

luuenall  satirray,  that  men  raakythe  to  muse ; 

But   blessed    Bacchus,   the   pleasant  god  of 
wyne, 
)t'  clusters  engrosed  with  his  ruddy  flotes 
rhese  orators  and  poetes  refreshed  their  throtes ; 

["here  Titus  Lyuius  hymselfe  dyd  auaunce 
With  decadis  historious,  whiche  that  he  mengith 

¥ith  maters  that  amount  the   Romayns  in  sub- 
staunce ; 
Enyus,  that  wrate  of  mercyall  war  at  lengthe  ; 
But  blessyd  Bachus,  potenciall  god  of  strengthe, 

)f  clusters  engrosid  with  his  ruddy  flotis  849 

?heis  orators  and  poetis  refresshed  there  throtis  ; 

Lulus  Gelius,  that  noble  historiar ; 

Grace  also  with  his  new  poetry ; 
layster  Terence,  the  famous  comicar. 

With  Plautus,  that  wrote  full  many  a  comody ; 

But  blessyd  Bachus  was  in  there  company, 
>f  clusters  engrosyd  with  his  ruddy  flotis 
?heis  orators  and  poetis  refresshed  there  throtis ; 


186  GARI.ANDK    OP   LiURELL. 

Sfniik  full  goberly  wilh  hia  IragediU  i 
Boyce,  reeoiinfortyd  with  his  pliilusophy; 

And  Huxymyane,  with  Ms  madde  ditii^  ■ 

How  dotynge  age  wolde  japu  with  yonge  folj; 
But  blessyd  Bachus  most  reuerent  and  holy, 

Of  clusters  eiigro^id  with  liis  ruddy  fldtts 

Thsis  orators  and  poelis  refreashed  (here  liirotts; 

There  e&me  Johnn  Boclja^    with    his    volnmji 

Qiiintus  Curaiu?,  Tull  cniftely  that  wrate 
Of  Alesander;  and  Macrobiua  Ihat  did  trete 
Of  SuipioDS  dreme  what  was  tlie  treu  probatei 
Bui  blessyd  Bauhud  that  nener  man  forgale, 
Of  (iluslere  engrosed  with  his  ruddy  flolis  » 

Thei<e  oralora  and  poetis  refressliid  iber  throlis ; 


?oggeu3  also,  that  famous  Florentine, 
Mustred  iher  nmonge  them  with,  mastji 


tale; 


Willi  a  frero  of  Fraunue  men  call  sir  Gagwyne, 
That  frowiiyd  on  me  full  angerly  and  palu  i 
But  blessyd  UH,ehu^,  that  bote  is  of  all  btile, 
Of  clusters  engroeyd  with  his  ruddy  Hotia 
Thtis  orators  and  poetis  refre^shid  there  ll 


Plutarke  and  Petrarkc,  two  famous  vlarkis; 

Lucilius  and  Valerius  Masimua  by  a 
With  Vini^ncius   in  Specula,    thekt  wr 


4 

;wynei 
ilui 


GARLAND E    OF   LAURELL.  187 

Propercius  and  Pisandros,  poetis  of  noble  fame ; 

But  blissed  Bachus,  that  mastris  oft  doth  frame. 
Of  clusters  engrosed  with  his  ruddy  flotis 
Theis  notable  poetis  refresshid  there  throtis. 

And  as  I  thus  sadly  amonge  them  auysid, 

I  saw  Gower,  that  first  garnisshed  our  Eng« 
lysshe  rude, 
And  maister  Chaucer,  that  nobly  enterprysyd 
How  that  our  Englysshe  myght  fresshely  be 

ennewed ; 
The  monke  of  Bury  then  after  them  ensuyd,  w 
Dane  Johnn  Lydgate:    theis  Englysshe  poetis 

thre, 
As  I  ymagenyd,  repayrid  vnto  me, 

Togeder  in  armes,  as  brethern,  enbrasid ; 

There  apparell  farre  passynge  beyonde  that  I 
can  tell; 
With   diamauntis   and   rubis  there  tabers  were 
trasid,  '    • 

None  so  ryche  stones  in  Turkey  to  sell ; 
Thei  wantid  nothynge  but  the  laurell; 
And  of  there  bounte  they  made  me  godely  chere, 
In  maner  and  forme  as  ye  shall  after  here. 

Mayster  Gower  to  Shelton, 

Brother  Skelton,  your  endeuorment  « 

So  haue  ye  done,  that  meretoryously 
Ye  haue  deseruyd  to  haue  an  enplement 


188  CAB1.A.SDE    OF   LAURELL. 

Ic  our  collage  aboue  ibe  eleny  ekj, 
Bycuusi;  tlmt  je  encrepe  sntl  amplj'ly 
The  brulid  Britons  of  Bratus  Albion, 

That  welny  was  losle  when  that  we  were  gtmb 

Poeta  SieltoH  to  Maister  Gower. 

MaUter  Gowei*,  I  baue  nothyng  deserued 
To  hauti  BO  laudabjle  a  commendacion: 

To  yow  thre  tliis  boiior  ehalbe  re^erued, 

ArrectiijgK  vnto  your  wyse  examiDacioD       ■ 
How  all  (liat  I  do  is  vnder  reffonnalion. 

Fur  only  the  suhstunre  of  that  I  entend, 

la  glad  to  please,  and  loth  lo  offend. 

Maysfer  Chaucer  to  Sktiton, 
Counterwayng  your  hesy  delygence 

Of  that  we  beganne  in  the  supplement, 
Eoforcid  ar  wb  you  to  reoompence, 

or  all  our  booll  collage  by  the  agreamenl, 
That  we  shall  brynge  you  personally  preasnl 
Of  noble  Fame  before  the  Quenea  grace, 
In  whose  court  poynted  ia  your  place.  " 

Poeta  Sketton  anneerylh. 

0  noble  Chaucer,  wbos  pullisshyd  eloquence 
Oure  Englysshe  rude  so  fresshely  bath  Ktou', 

That  bounde  ar  we  with  all  deu  reuerente, 
With  all  our  sirength  tbat  we  can  brynge  nbwli 
To  WiH  to  yow  our  gemyce,  and  more  if  ** 


GARLANDE  OP  LAURELL.        189 

But  what  sholde  I  say?  ye  wote  what  I  entende, 
Wbiche  glad  am  to  please,  and  loth  to  offend e. 

Mayster  Lydgate  to  Shelton. 

So  am  I  preuentid  of  my  brethern  tweyne 
In  rendrynge  to  you  thankkis  meritory, 

That  welny  nothynge  there  doth  remayne  «i 

Wherwitu  to  geue  you  my  regraciatory, 
But  tnai  JL  poynt  you  to  be  prothonatory 

Of  Fames  court,  hy  all  our  holl  assent 

A^uaunced  by  Pallas  to  laurell  preferment. 

Poeta  Shelton  answeryth. 

So  haue  ye  me  far  passynge  my  meretis  extollyd, 
Mayster  Lidgate,  of  your  accustomable 

Bownte,  and  so  gloryously  ye  haue  enroUyd 
My  name,  I  know  well,  beyonde  that  I  am 

able, 
That  but  if  my  warkes  therto  be  agreable, 

I  am  elles  rebukyd  of  that  I  intende,  «o 

Which  glad  am  to  please,  and  lothe  to  ofiende. 

So  finally,  when  they  had  shewyd  there  deuyse, 
Vnder  the  forme  as  I  sayd  tofore, 

I  made  it  straunge,  and  drew  bak  ones  or  twyse, 
And  euer  they  presed  on  me  more  and  more, 
Tyll  at  the  last  they  forcyd  me  so  sore. 

That  with  them  I  went  where  they  wolde  me 
brynge, 

Vnto  the  pauylyon  where  Pallas  was  syttyng. 


■^Ltte  rycbe  palace  of  tbe  Qa«ne«f  Fbim|  ■ 
K^al  k  here  what  the  wrl  u  hjm  t^ 
B  callid  to  anawere  »  tus  name : 
Be  forthwith  she  mmie  praclnme, 
MBod  poetis  shulda  tlnifer  go  before, 
1  ibe   prese  that   there  ««$.  lesse  anl 
More. 


Ifcwith,  I  saj,  thus  waodrTnge  in  mj  ibooght, 
tt>>«  it  wHd,  or  elles  wiibiD  what  howiis, 
tiM*  ■><*!  lell  you,  bat  ifaal  I  was  hrooghl 
two  a  palace  with  tum^ttis  and  lowiu, 
Ei^ltrid  goodlj  with  hallis  and  bowiis,      * 
St»  ctiHousl/,  go  cTHfielj,  so  coonjniglj  >-row^ 
Xhat  all  the  worlde,  I  irowe,  and  it  were  £oa^[| 

Suohe  an  other  ibere  coude  no  num  fvude; 

Wherof  partely  I  purpose  lo  expounde, 
Vbflcd  it  remanjib  fressbe  in  mj  mynde. 

With  turkis  and  grossolitis  enpaajd  woe  Ac 
grounde ; 

Of  birralt  eobosid  wer  the  pj-Uers  rowndei 
Ol  etephaotia  tetbe  were  tbe  palace  gatis, 
£nlo^oged  with  manj  goodly  platie 


Of  golde. entachid  with  nuuir  Bpi«cTDi»«loirti' ' 
An  hundred  fleppi^  mountyng  to  the  \ttJ\e, 
r,  anolber  of  wbalts  bone  i 


GARLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        191 

Of  dyamauntis  pointed  was  the  rokky  wall ; 

The  carpettis  within  and  tappettis  of  pall ; 
The  chambres  hangid  with  clothes  of  arace ; 
!Enuawtjd   with   rubies  the  vawte  was  of  this 
place. 

Thus  passid  we  forth,  walkynge  vnto  the  pretory 
Where  the  postis  wer  enbulyoned  with  saphiria 
indj  blew, 
Englasid  glittering  with  many  a  clere  story  ; 
lacinctis  and  smaragdis  out  of  the  florthe  they 
grew :  «» 

Vnto  this  place  all  poetis  there  did  sue, 
Wherin  was  set  of  Fame  the  noble  Quene, 
All  other  transcendynge,  most  rychely  besene, 

Vnder  a  gloryous  cloth  of  astate. 

Fret  all  with  orient  perlys  of  Garnate, 

Encrownyd  as  empresse  of  all  this  worldly  fate, 
So  ryally,  so  rychely,  so  passyngly  ornate, 
It  was  excedyng  byyonde  the  commowne  rate: 

This  hous  enuyrowne  was  a  myle  about ; 

If  xii  were  let  in,  xii  hundreth  stode  without.     48f 

Then  to  this  lady  and  souerayne  of  this  palace 
Of  purseuantis  ther  presid   in   with   many   a 
dyuerse  tale ; 
Some  were  of  Poyle,  and  sum  were  of  Trace, 
Of  Lymerik,  of  Loreine,  of  Spayne,  of  Port- 
yngale. 


l02  GARLANDE 

Fromu  K'apula,  from  Xnuern,  and  rrom  Bonii- 
ccuall, 
Some  frum  FlaunderB,  gum  fro  the  se  costs, 
Some  from  iJie  maynu  lande,  eome  fro  the  Freosclie 


With,  How  doth  the  north  ?  what  tj-dyngis  in  lie 

BOWtb? 

The  west  is  wyndy,  the  est  is  metely  wele  t 

It  is  harde  to  tell  of  euery  manoes  mouthe  ;      ■ 

A.  sUpper  holds  the  taile  is  of  an  ele. 

And  he  haltith  often  that  hath  a  kjbyhele; 

Some  shewid  hia  satfecundtght,  some  shewid  his 

charier, 
Some  lokyd  full  emothelj,  and  had  a  fala  quarter; 

With,  Sir,  I  pray  you,  a  lytyll  tyne  stande  baoksi 
And  lette  me  come  in  to  delyuer  my  lettre: 

Another  tolde  how  shyppes  wenle  to  wrak ; 
There  were  many  wordea  smaller  and  gretter, 
With,  I  as  good  as  thou,  Ifaylh  and  no  belier; 

Some  Clime  lo  tell  trenlh.  some  came  to  lye,     '" 

Some  came  lo  flater,  some  came  to  spye: 

There  were,  I  say,  of  all  maner  of  sortis, 

Of  Dertmouth,  of  Plummouth,  of  PortiMi»»lfc 

also! 
Tlie  bur^eia  and  the  ballyuia  of  the  t  p 

With,  Now  let  me  come,  and  ni 
And  all  lyme  wandred  I  ihus  ti 


GARLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        193 

Tyll  at  the  last  theis  noble  poetis  thre 
Vnto  me  sayd,  Lo,  syr,  now  ye  may  so 

Of  this  high  courte  the  dayly  besines  ; 

From  you  most  we,  but  not  longe  to  tary ;     m 
Ix),  hither  commyth  a  goodly  maystres, 

Occupacyon,  Famys  regestary, 

Whiche  shall  be  to  you  a  sufTerayne  accessary, 
With    syngular   pleasurs   to   dryue   away   the 

tyme, 
And  we  shall  se  you  ageyne  or  it  be  pryme. 

When  they  were  past  and  wente  forth  on  there 
way, 

This  gentilwoman,  that  callyd  was  by  name 
Occupacyon,  in  ryght  goodly  aray. 

Came  towarde  me,  and  smylid  halfe  in  game ; 

I  sawe  hir  smyle,  and  I  then  did  the  same  ;   sat 
With  that  on  me  she  kest  her  goodly  loke ; 
Vnder  her  arme,  me  thought,  she  hade  a  boke. 

Occupacyoun  to  Skelton. 

Lyke  as  the  larke,  vpon  the  somers  day. 

Whan    Titan  radiant  burnisshith   his  bemis 
bryght, 

Mountith  on  hy  with  her  melodious  lay. 
Of  the  soneshyne  engladid  with  the  lyght. 
So  am  I  supprysed  with  pleasure  and  delyght 

To  se  this  how  re  now,  that  I  may  say, 

How  ye  ar  welcome  to  this  court  of  aray. 

VOL.   II.  13 


194        GARLAXDE  OF  LAURELL. 

Of  your  aqueintaunce  I  was  in  tymes  past,       «■ 
v^  Of  studyous  doctryne  when  at  the  port  sala 

Ye  fyrste  aryuyd  ;  whan  broken  was  your  mast 

Of  worldly  trust,  then  did  I  you  rescu  ; 

Your  storrae  dryuen  shyppe  I  repared  new, 
So  well  entakeled,  what  wynde  that  euer  blowe, 
No  stormy  terapeste  your  barge  shall  ouerthrow. 

Welcome  to  me  as  hertely  as  herte  can  thynke, 

Welcome  to  me  with  all  my  hole  desyre ! 
And  for  my  sake  spare  neyther  pen  nor  ynke; 
-  Be  well  assurid  I  shall  aquyte  your  hyre,      « 

Your  name  recountynge  beyonde  the  lande  of 
Tyre, 
From  Sydony  to  the  mount  Olympyan, 
Frome  Babill  towre  to  the  hillis  Caspian. 

Skelton  Poeta  answeryth, 

I  thanked  her  moche  of  her  most  noble  offer, 
AfTyaunsynge  her  myne  hole  assuraunce 

For  her  pleasure  to  make  a  large  profer, 

Enpryntyng  her  wordes  in  my  remembraunce, 
To  owe  her  my  seruyce  with  true  perseueraunce. 

Come  on  with  me,  she  sayd,  let  vs  not  stonde ; 

And  with  that  worde  she  toke  me  by  the  lionde. 

m 

So  passyd  we  forlhe  into  the  forsayd  place, 
With  suche   communycacyon   as   came  to  out 

mynde  ; 
And  then  she  sayd,  Whylis  we  haue  tyme  ^-^^ 

space 


To  walke  where  we  lyst,  let  va  somwhat  fynde 
To  pus  the  tyme  witli,  but  let  Vij  WHst  no  wyade, 

For  ^'dle  iangelers  hiiue  but  lyiill  braitie ; 

Wordcs  be  swordea,  and  hard  Co  call  ngeine. 


'  Into  a  felde  abe  brougbt  me  wyde  anil  large, 

Sowallyd  Hboute  with  the  stony  flint, 
'  Strongly  enbaleld,  raoche  co^lious  of  charge :     n" 
To  walke  on  this  walle  she  bed  1  sholde  not 

stint; 
Go  softly,  she  sayd,  the  stones  be  full  glint. 
She  went  before,  and  bud  mc  lake  good  holds: 
1  eawe  a  ihowsunde  ysitis  ni^w  and  olJe, 

Then  quesiionyd  I  her  what  thos  yalia  raent ; 
Wherlo  she  anaweryd,  and  breuely  me  tolde, 

How  i'rom  the  est  vnto  the  Occident, 

And  trom  the  aowlh  vnto  the  north  so  colde, 
Theis  yatrs,  she  sayd,  which  llial  ye  beholde, 

Be  issuis and  portis from  all  manerofnacyons;  « 

Andseryoualy  she  shewyd  me iher denomiuacyons. 

They  had  wrylyng,  sum  Greke,  sum  Ebraw, 
Some  Uomaine  letters,  as  I  vnderslode ; 

'Some  were  olde  wryten,  sura  were  wi'iten  new. 
Some  careclis  of  Caldy,  sum  Frensshe  was  i'ull 

Bui  one  gale  specyally,  where  as  I  slode, 
Ead  granin  in  it  of  calcydony  a  capylall  A ; 
'  VHiat  yale  call  ye  this?  and  she  ?ayd,  Anglia. 


I9C  GAllLA-SDE    OF    LiULtELl,. 

The  beiJynge  iherof  was  |JUsSj*nge  commendublei 
Wlieron  siode  a.  Ivbtuu'd,  crowned  witli  golile 
and  slones,  " 

Terrible  of  coumeuaunce  and  pasi^ytige  formrd- 
able, 
As  quikly  lowchjd  as  it  were  flesslie  and  bones, 
As  g»sily  Ibai  glarjs,  as  grimlj  that  gninis, 
As  Tersly  fi'ovriijnge  as  he  had  bea  lyglitfng. 
And  wtih  his  forme  foote  he  sliokc  forihe  ihii 
wrytj-ng : 


i 


Furmidanda  nimis  JovU  ultima  Julmina  toStti 
Unguibus  irepumt  ioca  liagvla  iivida  earvit 
Quam  modo  per  Pkabft  nummot  raplnra  Crlavo; 
Jmia,  lues,  luctut,  feL,  vi$,  j'raut,  barbara  UUia, 
Jfiile  modi's  erras  odium  tibi  qumrere  Mardt:  " 
Spreto  tpineto  eedal  taliunca  roseto,  ^M 


Then  I  me  lent,  and  loked  oaer  the  nail:      ^^H 

InDumeriible  people  presed  lo  euerj-  gale; 
Shel  were  the  galis;    Ihei  might  wel  knock  anJ 

And  turne  home  agejne,  for  they  com  nl  to  tatc 
I  her  demaund<.-d  of  them  and  Iber  a:^Iale: 

Forsoibe,  qaod  she,  iheya  be  haskardis  bdi] 
rebawdi:*, 

Pfsers,  carder^  lumblars  with  gambawdts,  ■ 


a  CBGoaiiidiicoa  >  ex  iodni 
I  CatrmmAiaml  Prapettj ' 


[SikNU^l   J 


6ARLANDE  OP  LAURELL.        197 

Furdrers  of  loue,  with  baudry  aqueinted, 

Brainles  blenkardis  that  blow  at  the  cole,       sw 
Fals  for.qjers  of  mony,  for   kownnage  atteintid, 
Pope  holy  ypocrytis,  as  they  were  golde  and 

hole, 
Powle  hatchettis,  that  prate  wyll  at  euery  ale 
pole, 
Ryot,  reueler,  railer,  brybery,  theft. 
With  other  condycyons  that  well  myght  be  left: 

Sume  fayne  themselfe  folys,  and  wolde  be  callyd 
wyse, 
Sum  medelynge  spyes,  by  craft  to  grope  thy 
mynde. 
Sum  dysdanous  dawcokkis  that  all  men  dispyse, 
Fals  flaterers  that  fawne  thd,  a:?d  kurris  of 

kynde 
That   speke   fayre   before   th(5   and   shrewdly 
behynde ;  ea 

Hither  they  come  crowdyng  to  get  them  a  name, 
But   hailid   they  be   homwarde  with  sorow  and 
shame. 

With  that  I  herd  gunnis  russhe  out  at  ones, 
Bowns,  bowns,  bowns !  that  all  they  out  cryde; 

It  made  sum   lympe   legged   and    broisid   there 
bones ; 
Sum  were  made  penysshe,  porisshly  pynk  iyde, 
That  euer  more  after  by  it  they  were  aspyid ; 

And  one  ther  was  there,  I  wondred  of  his  hap, 

For  a  gun  stone,  I  say,  had  all  to-iaggid  his  cap. 


GARLAND E    OF    LAUKT?,:,.  I  •" 

Furdrers  ofloue,  with  baudry  arj»;*::       i, 
^  Brainles  blenkardis  that  blow  a:  r.-r  'j^>..        •• 
^ als  for.aers  of mon J,  for   kowiiii?i^«r  >--*■•:  .'.. 
^ope  holj  jpociytis,  as  th*'y  wrJ'r  ^,1.**    tun 

Iiole, 
Powie  hatchettis,  that  prate  wvJJ  <,%  *-u»r-    <**• 
pole, 
^yot,  reueler,  railer,  brjbery,  thr^f-, 
vuh  other  condycyons  that  well  W4y:r-.«'  1^   ♦^■• 

Sume  fayne  themselfe  folys,  and  vvv.Ci»   w   -^a.^.y 
^vyse, 
oum  medelynge  spyes,  by  cra't  n    •;'*»»'     •«» 
mynde, 
dysdanous  dawcokkis  that  a':  itMri    CUn-  j 
flaterers   that   fawne  th'L   »*-•<    .*»»'•■<■.-    r 
kynde 
•iM*kp   favre    before    xui    *•«•     tf«--v  •!•* 


11)8 


LEEL_. 


Ruggid,  Rnd  diiggiJ,  and  cunnjnglj-  cut ; 
Tbe   bla^te   of  tlie   brynsloii    blew  aw 

Ma^id  as  a  marche  hare,  he  ran  lyke  a  scut;-' 
And,  sir,  amonge  ail  me  tbuugbt  I  saw  twaine, 
The  one  was  a  tumblar,  that  afierwarde  againe 
Of  a  dysour,  a  deuyl  way,  grew  a  ientilman, 
Fers  Prater,  ibe  secund,  ibaC  quai'illis  hegiinnei 


With  a  pellit  of  peuisshenes  Ihey  bad  suche 

That  all  the  dayes  of  iher  lyfe  shall  8tyi 

iher  I'ybbis : 
Foo,  foUly  bawdias  !  Bum  sraellid  of  the  sraokei 
J  saw  dyuei-s  that  were  cariid  away  theos  in 

cribbis,  "i 

Dasyng  after  dotrellis,  lyke   drunkardia  thul 


1 


drihbis 


Theis 


tiiiuyllis  with  taumpini 

Moche  miscbet'e,  I  byght  you, 
happid. 


r  towchid  and 


entB^H 


Sometyme,  as  it  fiemyth,  wlien  (he 

By  raeanys  of  a  grossly  endarkyd  clowde. 

Sodenly  is  edipsid  in  the  wynler  night, 

In  lyke  maner  of  wyse  a  myst  did  vs  Bhroffiel 
But  wele  may  ye  lliynk  I  was  no  thyng  pTO'«i' 

Of  that  auen[urb,  whiebe  made  me  «ore  ngiiet. 

In  derkeiiea  thus  dwelt  wcj  tyll  at  ibe  lust        ■ 


GARLAND E   OP   LAURELL.  199 

The  clowdis  gan  to  clere,  the  myst  was  rarifiid : 
In  an  herber  I  saw,  brought  where  I  was, 

There  birdis  on  the  brere  sange  on  euery  syde ; 
With  aljs  ensandid  about  in  compas, 
The  bankis  enturfid  with  singular  solas, 

Enrailid  with  rosers,  and  vinis  engrapid  ; 

It  was  a  new  comfort  of  sorowis  escapid. 

In  the  middis  a  coundight,   that  coryously  was 
cast. 
With  pypes  of  golde  engusshing  out  stremes ; 

Of  cristall  the  clerenes  theis  waters  far  past,  ew 
Enswymrayng  with  rochis,  barbellis,and  brerais, 
Whose  skales  ensilured  again  the  son  beames 

Englisterd,  that  ioyous  it  was  to  beholde. 

Then  furthermore  aboute  me  my  syght  I  reuolde, 

Where  I  saw  growyng  a  goodly  laurell  tre, 
Enuerdurid  with  leuis  contynually  grene ; 

Aboue  in  the  top  a  byrde  of  Araby, 

Men  call  a  phenix ;  her  wynges  bytwene 
She  bet  vp  a  fyre  with  the  sparkis  full  kene 

■  With  braunches  and  bowghis  of  the  swete  olyue, 

Wbos  flagraunt  flower  was  chefe  preseruatyue  sn 

^  Ageynst  all  infeccyons  with  cancour  enflamyd, 
Ageynst  all  baratows  broisiours  of  olde. 


a  Oliva  speciosa  in  campis.    [Side  Note.] 

b  Nota  excellentiam  virtutis  in  oliva.    [Hide  Note.] 


200  GARLiNDE   OF   LAUHELL. 

It  pusiiii  hII  basf'inys  tlotl  eiier  were  namjd, 
Or  guniniU  of  Saiiy  so  (lercl/  liiat  be  solde; 
There  hlnvi  iu  that  gard^nge  a  soft  pip'j'BE 

Etibrelhyng  of  ZL'|jherus  wUli  his  pteasajit  wjrnAfi 
All  frutifl  and  llowris  grew  there  in  Ihere  kynfc. 

Drjadea  there  daunsid  vpon  that  gtxxll]'  Goile, 
With  the  iij-ne  Muses,  Pierides  bjr  Oiunei 

Phillip  and  Tec'talis,  iher  trfJisis  with  OjUt 
Wure  newl^  enbjbid ;  and  roveod  nbout  tha 

Grene  ire  of  laurel!  moche  solac^us  game 
They   m.ide,    with    chape Uettes    and 


And  forraest  of  all  datne  Flora,  the  queue 


Of  somer,  so  farmally  she  fotid  the  danoce ; 
There  Cinllieus  =at  twjnklyng  vpou  hb  harp! 

And  lopas  lijs  inslrament  did  auaunce. 
The  poemis  and  sloris  auncient  inhryogis 
Of  Aililas  asirology,  and  many  noble  iUyngi»i  * 
Of  wandrjng  of  ihe  mone,  the  course  of  ibti  suih 
or  luen  and  of  besiis,  and  whereof  Ihey  brgone) 


Wha 


Ihynge  occasionyd  the  Khowris  of  rt 

fyre  eieinentar  in  his  supr<;nie 


And  of  lltui  pule  arlike  whiclie  dolh  re 
Bcbyiide  the  tuile  of  Vrsa  so  clere; 


GARLANDS  OF  LAURELL.        201 

Of  Pliades  he  prechid  with  ther  drowsy  chere, 
Immoysturid  witli  mislyng  and  ay  droppyng  dry, 
And  where  the  two  Trions  a  man  shold  aspy, 

And  of  the  winter  days  that  hy  them  so  fast,     tm 
And  of  the  wynter  nyghtes  that  tary  so  longe, 

And  of  the  somer  days  so  longe  that  doth  last, 
And  of  thuir  shorle  nyghtes ;  he  hrowght  in  his 


songe 


How  wronge  was  no  ryght,  and  ryght  was  no 


wronge : 


There  was  counteryng  of  carollis  in  meter  and 

verse 
So  many,  that  longe  it  were  to  reherse. 

Occupacyon  to  Skelton, 

How  say  ye  ?  is  this  after  your  appetite  ? 

May  this  contente  you  and  your  mirry  mynde? 

Here  dwelHth  pleasure,  with  lust  and  delyte ; 
Contynuall  comfort  here  ye  may  fy nde,  7i« 

Of  wellh  and  solace  no  thynge  left  behynde ; 

All  thynge  conuenable  here  is  contryuyd, 

Wherewith  your  spiritis  may  be  reuyuid. 

Poeta  Skelton  answer yth. 

Questionles  no  dowte  of  that  ye  say ; 

Jupiter  hymselfe  this  lyfe  myght  endure; 

This  ioy  excedilh  all  worldly  sport  and  play, 
Paradyce  this  place  is  of  syngular  pleasure: 
O  wele  were  hym  that  herof  myght  be  sure. 


E 


Otywmt  4MM*a4  dttw  me  ttie  cootrtu, 
TkM  il  it,  1*4  where  vpon  it  Eiandis  i 

A»J  if  tkR  be  b  il  an*  ihrag  Bteat, 

yShiamt  the  •oswm  rexlrtii  in  mr  haiiiE^ 
It  j^hall  be  k>£^<rii  ful  ioae  ool  uf  ihc  tuuiJU 

Of  iuf]>i  A«t;    aberftin:   }-v 


Ami  «f  jowr  wilt  tbe  pbinDes  shew  at  large 


X   Aaake    joo.  goodlT^   IlMlv:^I^«^    lo    me  nX 

That  of  }iwr  boonle  so  neil  li*a«  rae  m 

Bm  n;  mtucsl  b  doi  so  great  a  ibjnge, 

TbM  I  be  bmx  wbai  iboagli  ii  be  disaiiij 

I  wB  Bvt  voiuadid  bvi  ibat  I  may  be  e 

I  aoi  Bol  Wfn  of  liddrme^  wiib  lumpis. 

As  da^  (kterdk  tbu  dncme  in  ibeir  Janipie. 


Kmtc  vbai  n  dwbc,  I  irov  I  coniect  j 
Gog  gviK  Ton   nood    Tere,  ]*£    ■ 

Xo",  bi:  }ruur  tiulb,  i»  not  lbi5  ibeScct 
Of  joar  qiHKilj^tMa  te  nwke  all  ihu  vhjl 
To  VndcRTbuDilc  wbo  dodlj^ib  in 


1 


GARLAND E    OF   LAURELL.  203 

ad  what  blunderar  is  yonder  that  playtli  didil 
diddil  ?  740 

B  fyndith  fals  mesuris  out  of  his  fonde  fiddill. 


terpolata,    qua    industriosum   posttdat    inter 
pretem,  satira  in  vatis  adversarium. 

essis  agasonis  species  prior,  altera  Davi : 
icupium  cuUcis,  limis  dum  torquet  ocellum, 
^ncipit,  aligeras  rapit,  appetit,  aspice,  muscas  ! 
%ia  quceque  fovet,  fovet  aut  quce  Jupiter,  aut 

quce  " 
'igida  Saturnus,  Sol,  Mars,  Venus,  algida  Luna, 
tlhi  contingat  verho  aut  committere  scripto, 
lam  sihi  mox  tacita  sudant  prcecordia  culpa  ! 
\nc  ruit  in  jiamma^,  stimulans  hunc  urget  et 

ilium, 
vocat  ad  rixas,  vanos  tamen  excitat  ignes,       tso 
ibra  movens  tacitus,  rumpantur  ut  ilia  Codro, 

17.  4.   7.    2.   17.   5.    18. 

18.  19.    1.  19.     8.   5.    12. 

is  name  for  to  know  if  that  ye  lyst, 
Enuyous  Rancour  truely  he  hight : 
p.ware  of  hym,  I  warne  you ;  for  and  ye  wist 

a  Nota  Alchimiam  et  7  metalla.    \Sidt  Noit.\ 


:i>^  GARLAXDE    OF   LAURELL. 

".low  daungeious  it  were  to  stande  in  his  Ij^ 
\r,»  wukle  not  dele  with  hym,  thowgh  that  je 
myght, 
V'H'  bv  his  deuelljsshe  drift  and  graceles  prouisioo 
.Vji  hole  reame  he  is  able  to  set  at  deuysion: 

b^or  when  he  spekyth  fayrest,  then   thynketh  he 

raoost  vH ; 

Full  gloi  yously  can  he  glose,  thy  mynde  for  to 

fele  \  m 

lie  wyll  set  men  a  feightynge  and  syt  hymselfe 

sty  II, 

And  smerke,  lyke  a  smythy  kur,  at  sperkes  of 

steile ; 
He  can  neuer  leue  warke  whylis  it  is  wele; 
To  tell  all  his  towchis  it  were  to  grete  wonder; 
The  deuyll  of  hell  and  he  be  seldome  asonder. 

Thus  (alkyng  we  went  forth  in  at  a  postern  gate; 
Turnyng  on  the  ryght   hande,  by  a  windjng 
stavre, 
She  brought  me  to  a  goodly  chaumber  of  astate, 
Where    the    noble    Cowntes    of    Surrey  in  a 

eliavre 
Sat  honorably,  to  whome  did  repaire  ^ 

Dfladvs  a  beue  with  all  dew  reuerence : 
Syt  downe,  fay  re  ladys,  and  do  your  diligence  I 

Voxuo.  forth,  ietUylwoinen,  I  pray  you,  she  sayd; 
1  liaue  contryuyd  for  you  a  goodly  warke, 


GARLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        205 

And  who  can  worke  beste  now  shall  be  asayde ; 
;    A  cronell  of  lawrell  with  verduris  light  and 
darke 
I  haue  deuysed  for  Skelton,  my  clerke ; 
■For  to  his  seruyce  I  haue  suche  regarde, 
That  of  our  bownte  we  wyll  hym  rewarde : 

For  of  all  ladyes  he  hath  the  library,  rao 

Ther  names  recountyng  in  the  court  of  Fame ; 

Of  all  gentylwomen  he  hath  the  scruteny, 
In  Fames  court  reportynge  the  same ; 
For  yet  of  women  he  neuer  sayd  shame, 

But  if  they  were  counterfettes  that  women  them 
call, 

That  list  of  there  lewdnesse  with  hym  for  to  brail. 

With  that  the  tappettis  and  carpettis  were  layd, 

Whereon  theis  ladys  softly  myglit  rest. 
The  saumpler  to  sow  on,  the  lacis  to  enbraid ;    789 
To  weue  in  the  stoule  sume  were  full  preste ; 
With    slaiis,  with    tauellis,  with   hedellis   well 
drest, 
The  frame  was  browght  forth  with  his  weuyng 

pin: 
Ood  geue  them  good  spede  there  warke  to  begin ! 

Sume  to  enbrowder  put  them  in  prese, 

Well  gydyng  ther  glowtonn  to  kepe  streit  theyi 
sylk. 
Sum  pirlyng  of  goldde  theyr  worke  to  encrese 


mm  ' 

JLiiL  "^fTi'Lii  m.*t  z.:-AZ  i«]C!3wnt*  jc  ^a^^  an  hew, 
ijr^ae.  T^ir^.   :a¥^J.   T-iija;.  biiai.    porpil],  aid 

'3r  'rr-ikrn  -vi^-ki:?  Trr^ii:rii:  aaaj  a  ajDodlj  thjDgi 
Li    i'JL:Z^':z.    in    rimj-z^K.   la.   rforiasliTiig  of 

W.:j.  T-r.-'i  ri:":«r:ii«i  a"-l  rraes  arspl  howris; 
An«i  r"i-"  :r  :!i*r^n:  bown:*  tha*  went  thev  bent 

For  '17  ..r-.--rr  £:•  :.itrr  en-irruourment,  « 
Ar.  .  - .  7  - .  17  ?^vr  how  :a<:  :o  warkt  iher  fall: 
T:  J  .  IT  r-:r..zi:ra-n*^  whcrt"-»r^  ve  must  call 

In  j.'i'l.v  .  :rlr5  Llrsajr.ilv  comprvsid, 

W::..  :  7  ;.-7  .\\-::a:v.::i5  of  bentfuolence, 
O.:  ..--v     .;'/..  ?^h:i  uritrr  voar  fuculie, 

S:::.  ; '-  -'^  >:  iriis  ;-.5.»ive  it  by  pretence 
Or"  •■  . ■J7  ^:■o:•r^^vo•Jn  vnto  vmanTie, 
Gjmiw-rrifvrig  your  proces  at'ter  there  degre,  "H 

To  i''r.»i  ''f  th^fm  rendrvng  thankis  commendable, 

With  sentence  tructuous  and  termes  couenable. 


GARLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        207 

Poeta  Skelton. 

Auaunsynge  my  selfe  sum  thanke  to  deserue, 
I  me  determynyd  for  to  sharpe  my  pen, 

Deuoutly  arrectyng  my  prayer  to  Mynerue, 
Slie  to  vowchesafe  me  to  informe  and  ken ; 
To  Mercury  also  hertely  prayed  I  then, 

Me  to  supporte,  to  helpe,  and  to  assist, 

To  gyde  and  to  gouerne  my  dredfull  tremlyng 
fist. 

As  a  mariner  that  amasid  is  in  a  stormy  rage, 
Hardly  bestad  and  driuen  is  to  hope  sao 

Of  that  the  tempestuows  wynde  wyll  aswage. 
In  trust  wherof  comforte  his  hart  doth  grope, 
From  the  anker  he  kuttyth  the  gabyll  rope, 

Committyth  all  to  God,  and  lettyth  his  shyp  ryde; 

So  I  beseke  Ihesu  now  to  be  my  gyde. 

To  the  ryght  noble  Connies  of  Surrey, 

After  all  duly  ordred  obeisaunce. 
In  humble  wyse  as  lowly  as  I  may, 

Vnto  you,  madame,  I  make  reconusaunce, 

My  lyfe  endurynge  I  shall  both  wryte  and  say, 
Recount,  reporte,  reherse  without  delay  84o 

The  passynge  bounte  of  your  noble  astate, 

Of  honour  and  worshyp  which  hath  the  formal 
date: 

Lyke  to  Argyua  by  iust  resemblaunce. 
The  noble  wyfe  of  Polimites  kynge  ; 


T\  iiifc  III  KefaccoL  of  wboree  remcmbraiincc 

Thit  Bfbte  ■nkiib;  with  whos  clou.!  tTnjnze 

T«Kr  MoUe  dancDMtr  b  MMnternama^ 

Wkas  pa-ijj^gii  boanle,  and  tt^I  noUe  aslaie, 

Of  kaaaormd  vorsiup  it  haib  tke  funnar  dRie. 

Tb*  abUe  PlunpLiia,  <]iMne  of  the  Grvkb  tondr. 

llabilliaicatis  rojall  foaixie  ant  iDduslrionsWi 
'n*a>Fr  9l«  vrou^rbt  wHIi  her  ^oodljr  hoode    * 

Unny  dtui^$  pa^ynge  cartiooslT ; 

Wbofn«  ve  reprtisent  and  ex<Mii|ilUy, 
Wbos  p^synge  bounle,  an<)  i^^ht  noble  wlkte^ 
Of  honour  und  worship  ii  baih  ili«  rorouu'  iau. 

Aa  dame  TImraarys,  whiche   lokt  ihe  kjng  of 

Cirus  by  name,  as  wrjiiiii  the  siotT) 
Dame  Agrijipina  also  I  mav  rebene 
Olientyll  torage  ibe  ]>er{>ght  n 
So  sHhII  your  name  endure  perprttralff*  a 
Whos  pn^syng  bounle,  and  rygLt  nvMe  m 
Of  lionour  and  woreliip  ii  liaiti  Ibe  fi 

To  my  ladg  EUtahelh  Bincante. 
To   be    your    runiembrauncer,    DmiiMaev  I  •■■ 
buunde, 
Lyke  to  Arynii,  maydenly  of  pORe, 
Of  veriu   and   konnyng   the  well   and  perfghl 

le  dame  Nature,  as  wele  I  may  npetie. 


GARLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        209 

Hath  fresshely  enbewtid  with  many  a  goodly 
sorte 
Of  womanly  feturis,  whos  florysshyng  tender  age 
Is  lusty  to  loke  on,  plesaunte,  demure,  and  sage : 

Goodly  Creisseid,  fayrer  than  Polexene,  sn 

For  to  enuyue  Pandarus  appetite ; 

Troilus,  I  trowe,  if  that  he  had  you  sene, 
In  you  he  wolde  haue  set  his  hole  delight : 
Of  all  your  bewte  I  suffyce  not  to  wryght ; 

But,  as  I  sayd,  your  florisshinge  tender  age 

Is  lusty  to  loke  on,  plesaunt,  demure,  and  sage. 

To  my  lady  Mirriell  Howarde. 

Mi  litell  lady  I  may  not  leue  behinde, 

But  do  her  seruyce  nedis  now  I  must ; 
Beninge,  curteyse,  of  ientyll  harte  and  mynde,  sao 
Whome  fortune  and  fate  playnly  haue  discust 
lionge  to  enioy  plesure,  delyght,  and  lust : 
The  enbuddid  blossoms  of  roses  rede  of  hew 
With  lillis  whyte  your  bewte  doth  renewe. 

Compare  you  I  may  to  Cidippes,  the  mayd. 
That  of  Aconcyus  whan  she  founde  the  byll 

In  her  bosome,  lorde,  how  she  was  afrayd ! 
The  ruddy  shamefastnes  in  her  vysage  fyll, 
Whiche  maner  of  abasshement  became  her  not 
yll; 

Bight  so,  madame,  the  roses  redde  of  hew  sm 

With  lillys  whyte  your  bewte  dothe  renewe. 

VOL.   II.  14 


*5BAHLANDE    OF   LAURB&1 


To  my  lady  Anne  Dakera  oflhe 

Ileuses,  tliat  enpicturid  fare  Elene  the  queue, 
You  to  deuyse  liie  crafte  were  to  seke ; 

And  if  Apelles  your  countenaunce  bad  sene, 
Of  porturature  which  was  Ihe  famous  Grekp, 
He  coude  not  deuyse  the  lest  poynt  of  yuur 

Princes  of  yowth,  and  flowre  of  goodly  port^.  wm 
Vertu,  conyng,  solace,  pleasure,  comforte.       Mfl 

Paregall  in  honour  vnto  Penolepe,  -^^ 

Thnt  for  her  Irowth  is  in  remembraunce  had; 

Fayre  Diianira  surmounfynge  in  bewte;  •" 

Demure  Diana  womanly  and  sad, 
Whos  lusty  lokis  make  heuy  hartis  glad; 

Princes  of  youth,  and  (Jowre  of  goodly  porle, 

Vertu,  connyng,  solace,  pleasure,  comforte. 

To  mistrss  Margery  Wentworthe. 
With  niargerain  ientjll, 

The  flowre  of  goodlyhede, 
Enbrowdred  the  mantill 

Is  of  your  raaydenhede. 
Plainly  I  can  not  glosej  flU 

Ye  be,  as  I  deuyne,  ^^M 

The  praty  primrose,  ^^^| 

The  goodly  columbyne, 
Wiih  margerain  iantiUt 

The  flowre-A 


GARLANDS  OF  LAUBELL.        211 

Enbrawderyd  the  manlyll 

Is  of  yowre  maydenhede. 
Benynge,  corteise,  and  meke, 

With  wordes  well  deuysid ; 
In  you,  who  list  to  seke,  nt 

Be  vertus  well  comprysid. 
With  margerain  iantill, 

The  flowre  of  goodlyhede, 
Enbrawderid  the  noantill 

Is  of  yowr  maydenhede. 

To  mastres  Margaret  Tylney. 
I  you  assure, 
Ful  wel  I  know 
My  besy  cure 
To  yow  I  owe ; 

Humbly  and  low  m 

Comraendynge  me 
To  yowre  bownte. 

As  Machareus 
Fayre  Canace, 
So  I,  iwus, 
Endeuoure  me 
Your  name  to  se 
It  be  enrolde, 
Writtin  with  golde. 

Phedra  ye  may  tM 

Wele  represent; 
Intentyfe  ay 
And  dylygent, 


sau-ikde  of  laurllu 

No  tj-me  myspeni  j 
Wherfbre  deljght 
I  haue  to  wbiyght 

Of  Miirgai-iie, 
PerJe  orient, 
Le(ie  slerre  of  \yght, 
Moi;lie  relucent; 
Mai] am e  regent 
I  may  you  call 


Of  V. 


«alL 


To  ma^itrei  lane  Blenner^Haiitt. 

Wbal  though  my  penne  tsax  faynt, 
And  hath  siaale  lust  to  pfunt? 
Yet  shall  there  no  restraynt 
Cause  me  to  cese, 
Amonge  this  prese, 
For  to  encresa 
Yowre  goodly  name. 

I  wyll  my  selfe  appljc, 
Trust  me,  ententifly. 
Tow  for  to  stellyfye ; 
And  io  obserue 
That  ye  ne  swanie 
For  to  desenie 
Inniortall  fame. 

Sith  mistres  lane  Haiset 
Smale  flowrea  helpt  to  sett 
In  my  goodly  chapelet,  " 

Therfore  I  render  of  her  the  memorj 
Vnto  the  legend  of  tare  Lttodomi. 


GARLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        213 

To  maystres  IsabeU  PennelL 

By  saynt  Mary,  my  lady, 
Your  mammy  and  your  dady 
Brought  forth  a  godely  babi  I 

My  mayden  Isabell, 
Reflaring  rosabell, 
The  flagrant  camamell ; 

The  ruddy  rosary, 
The  souerayne  rosemary,  » 

The  praty  strawbery ; 

The  columbyne,  the  nepte, 
The  ieloffer  well  set, 
The  propre  vyolet ; 

Enuwyd  your  colowre 
Is  lyke  the  dasy  flowre 
After  the  Aprill  showre  ; 

Sterre  of  the  morow  gray. 
The  blossom  on  the  spray,  9» 

The  fresshest  flowre  of  May  ; 

Maydenly  demure, 
Of  womanhode  the  lure  ; 
Wherfore  I  make  you  sure. 

It  were  an  heuenly  helth, 
It  were  an  endeles  welth, 
A  lyfe  for  God  hyraselfe, 

To  here  this  nightingale, 
Amonge  the  byrdes  smale, 
Warbelynge  in  the  vale, 
Dug,  dug,  10* 

lug,  iug, 


Wrry 


ImtiU  a*  & 

Or  hawfce  oTlke  M 

Wilb  mImc  Md 
Mocbe  ninbe  aad  as  ■ 
All  good  aod  ao  bada4 
So  ioyoual;, 
Su  (naydeolj, 
Ho  woinautj 
Her  dcmenyog 
In  yuery  th^Dge, 
l''iir,  far  poMjnga 
'I'liut  I  can  endj^^ 
Or  Buflyce  to  wry^t 
Of  niirrj  Mai^aret^ 
Alt  mjdsonier  flowre, 
Tdiiiyll  as  afawconn 
Or  liiitvke  of  the  lowre ; 

A*  (uiuient  and  aa  styll, 
Anil  us  full  of  good  wyll, 
Ah  fiiyre  haphill ; 
Culynuniler, 
Swots  pomauader, 
Quod  cassnunder; 
Swdfit^t  of  thought, 


6ARLA.NDE   OF   LAUBELL.  215 

Wele  made,  wele  wrought;  vm 

Far  may  be  sought 

Erst  that  ye  can  fynde 

So  corteise,  so  kynde 

As  mirry  Margarete, 

This  midsomer  flowre, 

lentyll  as  fawcoun 

Or  hawke  of  the  towre. 

To  mastres  Geretrude  Statham. 

Though  ye  wer  hard  hertyd, 

And  I  with  you  thwartid 

With  wordes  that  smartid,  wm 

Yet  nowe  doutles  ye  geue  me  cause 

To  wryte  of  you  this  goodli  clause, 

Maistres  Geretrude, 

With  womanhode  endude. 

With  virtu  well  renwde. 

I  wyli  that  ye  shall  be 
In  all  benyngnyte 
Lyke  to  dame  Pasiphe  ; 
For  nowe  dowtles  ye  geue  me  cause 
To  wryte  of  yow  this  goodly  clause,  im 

Maistres  Geretrude, 
With  womanhode  endude. 
With  vertu  well  renude. 

Partly  by  your  councell, 
Garnisshed  with  lawrell 
Was  my  fresshe  coronell ; 
Wherfore  doutles  ye  geue  me  cause 


T*  aiT*  «f  *■■  t^  gM^  daoM, 


ij  I      hmUlJOtfskL 
kuUt  Mfijw  JOMT  kjinlnea, 

«  mat  wrr^ 
[  OflsdbdlEBTfk. 


Ber  tfcu  is  boibe  woawdr  and  wfse,      ■ 
And  •pvcvallv  vhidi  glad  was  to  deuvic 
'    TbeMcKsto^ade 
To  plnse  MT  Hrade. 

la  helpjmg  to  waike  nr  tanrdl  gwM 

Galttii&ea.  tk«  nade  ■«li  tKBcne, 
Was  Br«er  UWe  so  fikyn.  as  1 « 


Bt  Maro.  the  UaaioaB  pnidaM,  J 
Vbo  t»l  TO  ivde: 
Bui,  and  I  had  kner  eooipeleM. 
I  coude  f  Ivrw  Toa  socbc  a  |j 
In  *«T  di-de 


GARLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        217 

Occupacyon  to  Skelton, 

Withdrawe  your  hande,  the  tjme  passis  fast; 
Set  on  your  hede  this  laurell  whiche  is  wrought ; 

Here  you  not  Eolus  for  you  blowyth  a  blaste  ? 
I  dare  wele  saye  that  ye  and  I  be  sought : 
Make  no  delay,  for  now  ye  must  be  brought  low 

Before  my  ladys  grace,  the  Quene  of  Fame, 

Where  ye  must  breuely  answere  to  your  name. 

Skelton  Poeta. 

Castyng  my  syght  the  chambre  aboute, 
To  se  how  duly  ich  thyng  in  ordre  was, 

Towarde  the  dore,  as  we  were  comyng  oute, 
I  sawe  maister  Newton  sit  with  his  compas, 
His  plummet,  his  pensell,  his  spectacles  of  glas, 

Dyuysynge  in  pycture,  by  his  industrious  wit, 

Of  my  laurell  the  proces  euery  whitte. 

Forthwith  vpon  this,  as  it  were  in  a  thought,    noo 
Gk)wer,  Chawcer,  Lydgate,  theis  thre 

Before  remembred.  me  curteisly  brought 
Into  that  place  where  as  they  left  me. 
Where  all  the  sayd  poetis  sat  in  there  degre. 

But  when  they  sawe  my  lawrell  rychely  wrought. 

All  other  besyde  were  counterfete  they  thought 

In  comparyson  of  that  whiche  I  ware : 

Sume    praysed    the    perle,    some    the    stones 
bryght ; 


SlS  GARLAHDK   OF   LADRELL. 

Wele  was  liym  that  therei-pon  mj-glit  srare; 
Of  this  warke  they  had  eo  great  delyght. 
The  ailke,    the   golde,  the   flowris  fressbe  tt  | 
ayglit, 
They  aejd  my  lawrell  was  the  goodljest 
That  euer  ihey  Haw,  and  wrought  it  v 

In  her  asiate  there  sat  the  noble  Qu» 

Of  Fame :  perceyuyiige  how  that  I  was  cnm, 

She  wenderyd  me  thought  at  my  laurell  greneg 
She  lokcd  hawlly,  and  gaue  on  me  a  glum : 
Thhere  was  amonge  tbem  no  worde  then  bat 

For  eche  man  herkynde  what  she  wolde  to  me 

Wherof  in  subalaunce  I  brought  this  away.        n" 

T/ie  Qvene  of  Fame  to  SkeUnn. 

My  frende,  sith  ye  ar  before  V3  here  preeeot 
To  answere  vnto  this  noble  audyence, 

Of  that  shalhe  resonde  you  ye  must  be  contsll| 
And  for  as  moche  aa,  by  the  hy  pretence 
That  ye  haue  now  thorow  preemynence 

Of  laureat  triumphe,  your  place  is  here  reaeniyd, 

We  wyll  vndersiande  how  ye  haue  it  deseruyd. 

SkeUon  Poeta  to  the  Quene  of  Fame, 
Ryght  high  and  mygbty  princes  of  astate, 
In  famous  glory  all  other  Irnnscendyng, 
Of  your  bounte  the  accustomable  rate 


eeol^^l 
e         ^P 


GABLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        219 

Hath  bene  full  often  and  yet  is  entendyiig 
To  all  that  to  reason  is  condiscendjng, 
But  if  hastyue  credence  by  mayntenance  of  myght 
Fortune  to  stande  betwene  you  and  the  lyght: 

But  suche  euydence  I  thynke  for  to  enduce, 
And  so  largely  to  lay  for  myne  indempnite, 

That  I  trust  to  make  myne  excuse 

Of  what  charge  soeuer  ye  lay  ageinst  me ; 
For  of  my  bokis  parte  ye  shall  se, 

Whiche    in    your  recordes,   I   knowe   well,   be 
enrolde,  im 

And  so  Occupacyon,  your  regester,  me  tolde. 

Forthwith   she   commaundid   I  shulde  take  my 
place ; 
Caliope  poynted  me  where  I  shulde  sit : 

With  that,  Occupacioun  presid  in  a  pace ; 
Be  mirry,  she  sayd,  be  not  aferde  a  whit, 
Your  discharge  here  vnder  myne  arme  is  it. 

So  then  commaundid  she  was  vpon  this 

To  shew  her  boke ;  and  she  sayd,  Here  it  is. 


The  Quene  of  Fame  to  Occupacioun. 

STowre  boke  of  remembrauns  we  will  now  that 
ye  rede ; 
If  ony  recordis  in  nourabyr  can  be  founde,    hm 
What  Skelton  hath  compilid  and  wryton  in  dede 


Reliersjng  bj  orUre,  anil  what  is  tlic  gi-owiide, 
Let  se  now  for  lijm  how  ye  can  expounde; 

For  in  owr  courte,  ye  wole  wele,  his  name  ran 
not  ryse 

But  if  he  wryte  oftenner  than  ones  or  twyse. 

SkeUon  Poela. 
With  (hat  of  the  boke  losende  were  the  daepic: 
The  margent  was   iliumynid  aU  with  goWoi 
raiiles 
And  byse,  enpicturid  with  gresaoppes  and  waspi^ 
With  buiteriilyis  and  fressfae  pecoke  (ayliat 
Enflorid  with  flowria  and  elymy  enaylis;      "* 
Ennyuid  picturis  well  towchid  and  quikly; 
Jt  wolde  haue  made  a  mnn  bole  that  liad  be  rygbl 

To  beholde  how  it  was  gamysshyd  and  boonde, 
Encoucrde  ouer  with  golde  of  tissew  fyne,' 

The  clajpifl  and  bullyona  were  worth  a  thouMOiie  , 
pounde ;  I 

With  balassis  and  charbuncles  the  bordeW  itt 

With  auTum  musicum  euery  other  lyne 
Was  wry  tin:  and  bo  she  did  her  spede, 
Oc'-'upacyopn,  inmedially  to  rede. 


GARLANDE    OF   LAUrtELI.. 


\  tjccicpaci/oun  reditk  and  expotind^h  sum  partt 
of  Skeltona  bokes  and  haladU  with  dids  of 
plesure,  in  as  tnoe/ie  as  it  were  to  longe  a  proces 
to  raherse  all  hy  name  that  he  hath  oompylyd. 


Of  your  oratour  and  poete  laureate"  nn 

Of  Englande,  bis  workis  here  lliey  begynue  : 
\^pnmi3  ihe  Boke  of  Honorous  Astsiie; 

3  Ibe  Buke  bow  meu  ebulde  fle  synue; 
1  Eojall  Demenaunce  worsLjp  to  wyune; 
^.the  Boke  to  speke  well  or  be  styll ; 
B  to  lerne  you  to  dye  wben  ye  wyll ; 

Of  VertU-alao  tbe  souerayne  enlerludei' 

The  Boke  of  tbe  Rosiar;  Prince  A rluris  Crea- 

The  False  Faylh  tbat  now  golb,  which  dayly  is 
renude; 
Item  Lis  Diologgis  of  Ymagynacyoun  ;  "" 

Item  Aiitomedon  '  of  Louea  Meditacyoun  ; 


a  Honor  e 


Dive 
nnbilitat  si 


LieractiviB  operationii!  eigiiiim:  Arislotlles. 


it  fiw  b 


Nob  lilt 


Proslmt 

ntione  tscere:   Cnlo.     Mon  ultima  linea  rerum;   Horot. 
\Bidt  Nott.] 

i  Virtuli  omnia  parent  I  SuJust.    Nusqanm  tula  Bdes:  Vtt>- 
(^liot.    Be»  est  soliciti  plena  Cimoris  Binor:  Ovid.     SI  volet 
onu,  quem  penei,  &o. :  Horace.    [Side  Note-I 
1  .Jnfams&n]  Q7.  "  AutomcdoaV  " 


GASLAJKDE   OF  tAUKELL. 

TiMB  New  Gmnpr  in  Engljrsshe  oompjlj'd  i 
liHB  Boncbe  of  Conrte,  where  Drede  wu  bfr 
grW; 

*H»  commtdy,  Achademios  called  by  nsine; 
~~    OfTnllb  Puniliars  (lie  Iranslacjoun ; 
Item  Good  Adajsemeot,  ihat  brainles  dotli  blame; 
TIm  Rcoola  ageiu«t  Giigiiyne  of  rhe  FrettsU 


_     lien  Ibe  Poptagaj,  ttiat  hath  id  commendl' 

Ladj-es  and  gcDijlwomen  sDche  rs  deserajd) 
And  mcbe  as  be  couDterfettis  ihej  be  teaenjil 

And  of  Soaeravnte  »  ooble  pampbel«t  i  ■** 

And  of  Jlagnyfycence  k  notable  matef , 
How  Cownlerfei  Cown  tens  u  nee  of  tbe  new  get 
With  CnSij  CoDQeyaunce  dotbe  smeter  ni 

flater. 
And  C]ok«d  CoIIacy onn  is  brought  in  to  dUer 
With  Courlelj  Abus^oun ;  who  pryniith  it  *ele 

Moche  dovrblenes  of  the  worlde  tberin  he  bi*J 
fjude; 

■  KoaeattimorDeluitiiXBlwecinini:  Psolmo.  CooH^ 
lanna  tinf^* :  Tnltioa.  Fan  cam  conulio,  gt  in  ctona 
Doo  pecobii:  Silunon.    [Sifa  /Hit.] 

t  Sia  mihi  lit  modoio  mslioa  papilio:  Vatea-  DamUW 
t  earn  la  cotupecra  rtpio" 


rabicte  locom  tr 


fagen  pndor,  Tcnrntqao,  Sdeu(DC 


GARLANDS  OF  LAUBELL.        228 

Of  manerly  maistres  Margery  Mylke  and  Ale ; 

To  her  he  wrote  many  maters  of  myrthe  ; 
Yet,  thoughe  I  say  it,  therby  lyith  a  tale,  laoo 

For  Margery  wynshed,  and  breke  her  hinder 

girth; 
Lor,  how  she  made  moche  of  her  gentyll  birth  I 
With,  Gingirly,  go  gingerly !  her  tayle  was  made 

of  hay ; 
Go  she  neuer  so  gingirly,  her  honesty  is  gone 
away; 

Harde  to  make  ought  of  that  is  nakid  nought ;  * 
This  fustiane  maistres  and  this  giggisse  gase. 

Wonder  is  to  wryte  what  wrenchis  she  wrowght. 
To  face  out  her  foly  with  a  midsomer  mase ; 
With  pitche  she  patchid  her  pitcher  shuld  not 
erase ; 

It  may  wele  ryme,  but  shroudly  it  doth  accorde, 

To  pyke  out  honesty  of  suche  a  potshorde :       wu 

Patet  per  versus. 
Hinc  puer  hie  natus  ;  mr  conjugis  hinc  spoUatus  * 
Jure  thori  ;  est  fceius  Deli  de  sanguine  cretus  ; 
Hinc  magis  extoUo,  quod  erit  puer  alter  Apollo  ; 
Si  qtueris  qualis  ?  meretrix  castissima  talis  ; 
JSt  relis,  et  ralis,  et  reliqualis. 


a  De  nihilo  nihil  fit:   Aristotiles.     Le  plus  displeysant 
pleiser  puent.    \Side  Note.] 
b  Nota.    [Side  Note.\ 


°  ,ldbjn«»«| 


A  good  herynge  of  tlies  olde  talis ; 
Fyniie  no  mo  suche  fro  Wanfletc  to  Walis, 
El  relirpia  omelia  de  dtversig  traet'itihis. 

'  Of  mj  ladya  grace  at  the  conlempiacyoun, 
Owt  of  Frenshe  into  Efiglysshe  proae,  i" 

Of  Mantles  Lyfe  the  Peregrjnacioun, 

He  dill  translate,  enierprete,  and  disclose; 
The  TratyBB  of  Triumphia  of  the  Rede  Rose. 

Wherein  many  aloria  ar  breuely  contajned 

That  vnremembred  longe  tyme  remayned ; 


The  Duke  of  Torkis  creiiuncer  whan  Skelloo  wu,    | 
Uow  Heni'j  the  viij,  Kyng  of  Englonde, 

A  tratyse  he  deuysid  and  browghl  it  to  pas, 
'Callid  SpecidumPrifieipu.ta  here  in  hishoode, 
Therin  lo  rede,  and  to  vnderstantle 

All  the  demenour  of  princely  astate. 

To  bu  our  Kyng,  of  God  preordinale ; 


•Also  the  Tunnynge  of  Elinour  Ruinniyn^ 
With  Colyn  Clowt,  lohnn  lue,  with  loforll 
lack; 


ilns:  Nm  Imboinua  hie  civlCttem  minentuniKJ 
erquKrimus.     Nolat  belltiiD  CoTDobieDSB,  quod  lO 


canip^acribus  et  In  putentioribus  vaatliqas  ■oUtndiuUiiii  pnp< 
Grenewiche  geatnoi  eat.     [SidB  Nate,] 

6  Eradimlni  qui  ,jndicE,tiB  ternim  i  Fko.     [SUi  AoM.! 

e  Qaii  alabit  niBctim  adverans  opemntes  iniqnjcatemf  Fm 
Airideiit  melius  letia  plotu  jocis:  le  fsbulia  Mxapt  [U 
Nut.] 


GARLAND E   OF  LAUR?:LL.  225 

I 

ITo  make  suche  trifels  it  asketh  sum  konnyng, 
\    In  honest  myrth  parde  requyreth  no  lack ; 
V  The  whyte  apperyth  the  better  for  the  black, 
And  after  conueyauns  as  the  world  goos, 
It  is  no  foly  to  vse  the  Walshemannys  hoos ; 

The  vmblis  of  venyson,  the  botell of  wyne*       1240 
To  fayre  maistres  Anne  that  shuld  haue  be  sent, 

He  wrate  therof  many  a  praty  lyne, 
Where  it  became,  and  whether  it  went, 
And  how  that  it  was  wantonly  spent ; 

The  Balade  also  of  the  Mustarde  Tarte 

Suche  problemis  to  paynt  it  longy th  to  his  arte ; 

Of  one  Adame  all  a  knaue,  late  dede  and  gone, — » 
Dormiat  in  'pace,  lyke  a  dormows  ! — 

He  wrate  an  Epitaph  for  his  graue  stone,  law 

With  wordes  deuoute  and  sentence  agerdows, 
For  he  was  euer  ageynst  Goddis  hows, 

All  his  delight  was  to  braule  and  to  barke 

Ageynst  holy  chyrche,  the  preste,  and  the  clarke ; 

Of  Phillip  Sparow  the  lamentable  fate. 

The  doleful!  desteny,  and  the  carefuU  chaunce. 


a  Implentiir  veterU  Bacchi  pinguisque  ferinsB:  Virgilins. 
Jixxt  prodesse  volant  aut  delectare  poetae:  Horace.  [Side 
2foU.\ 

b  Adam,  Adam,  nbi  es?  Genesis.  Resp.  Ubi  nulla  re- 
qaies,  nbi  nullus  ordo,  sed  sempiternus  horror  inhabitat:  Job. 
1 8ide  Note.] 

VOL.  II.  15 


1 

^^^L         Dj-uysed  by-  Skelton  after  the  funerull 

rale-T^^ 

^^^H            And   gruil(;e    tlierat  with   frownj'nf 

counte- 

^^H         ■  But  nbal  of  lliat  P  hard  it  is  to  please 

all  men  i 

^^H          Who  list  amende  it,  let  hym  set  to  his 

penne ;  i" 

^^^^                            For  th«  gyse  now  adays 

^^^^L                          Of  gum  iangelyng  lays 

^ 

H 

^^^1                       That  Ibuy  can  out  amende, 

^^^^1                       Though  lliey  wolde  ependu 

^ 

^^^1                       All  the  wittis  they  haue. 

^^^1                            Whut  aylo  them  to  deprau 

•  9 

^^^^^1                        Fhillippe  SparowG  graueP 

^^^H                        Can  be  no  derogacyoun, 

>n 

^^^H                        But  myrth  and  conBolaoyoaa 

1 

^^^H                        Made  bj  protestaeyoun, 

■ 

^^^H                          No  man  to  myseontent 

^ 

^^^H                        With  Phillippis  enteremeote. 

^^^H                            Alas,  that  goodly  mayd, 

^^^1                        Why  shulde  she  be  afruyd  ? 

^^H                        Why  shulde  she  take  fihaioe 

^^^H                        That  her  goodly  name, 

^^^^1                            Honorably  reporlid, 

^^H                         Shulde  be  set  and  sortyd, 

m 

^^^1                         To  he  matiicnlale 

^^H                          With  ladyes  of  astale  ? 

^^^H                 a  Etenim  pouer  iuvenit  tibi  domuoi:  Fealmo. 

[Sideim- 

■ 

6ABLANDE  OF  LAUR£LL.       227 

I  coniure  th^,  Phillip  Sparow, 
By  Hercules  that  hell  did  harow, 
And  with  a  venomows  arow 
Slew  of  the  Epidawris 
One  of  the  Centawris, 
Or  Onocentauris, 
Or  Plippocentauris ; 
By  whos  myght  and  maine  isn 

An  hart  was  slayne 
With  hornnis  twayne 
Of  glitteryng  golde ; 
And  the  apples  of  golde 
Of  Hesperides  withholde, 
And  with  a  dragon  kepte 
That  neuer  more  slepte, 
By  merciall  strength 
He  wan  at  length ; 

And  slew  Gerione  isot 

With  thre  bodys  in  one ; 
With  myghty  cor  rage 
Adauntid  the  rage 
Of  a  lyon  sauage  ; 
Of  Diomedis  stabyll 
He  brought  out  a  rabyll 
Of  coursers  and  rounsis 
With  lepes  and  bounsis ; 
And  with  myghty  luggyng, 
Wrastelynge  and  tuggyng,  laic 

He  pluckid  the  bull 
By  the  hornid  scull, 


GARI.ANDE    OF   LACBKLL. 


And  offri^d  lo  Cornucopia; 
And  ao  forthe  per  cetera  : 

Also  by  Hectalvs  bowre 
In  Plulofigastly  towre; 

By  the  vgly  Eumenidea, 


Tlial  n 


r  ea^e; 


By  Ihe  V 


'd  serpent 
Tba[  in  hell  is  neuer  breote, 
Id  Lerna  the  Grekia  fen 
That  was  engendred  then ; 

By  Cbemeras  flainys, 
And  all  ihe  dedely  oamys 
or  infernall  posty, 
WLere  suuUs  fry  and  rosty ; 

By  the  Stigiall  Uode, 
And  Ihe  5Lrenies  wode 
Of  Cocbitos  bottumles  well ; 

By  the  ferymao  of  hell, 
Caron  with  bis  berde  hore, 
That  rowyth  with  a  rude  ore. 
And  with  his  trown^id  fortop 
Gydiih  his  bote  with  a  prop: 

I  conjure  '  Pbillippe,  and  call 
In  the  name  of  Kyng  Saul] ; 
Prima  Eegvtn  expres. 
He  bad  the  Phitones 
To  witche  craft  her  to  dres, 
And  by  her  abuEioung, 


I 
I 


OABLANDB  OF  LAUBELL.       229 

And  damnable  illusiouns 

Of  meruelous  conclusiouns, 

And  by  her  supei^sticiouns 

Of  wonderfull  condiciouns, 

She  raysed  vp  in  that  stede 

Samuell  that  was  dede  ; 

But  whether  it  were  so, 

He  were  idem  in  numerOy 

The  selfe  same  Samuell, 

How  be  it  to  Saull  he  did  tell  iw 

The  Fhilistinis  shulde  hym  askry, 

And  the  next  day  he  shulde  dye, 

I  wyll  my  selfe  discharge 

To  letterd  men  at  large : 
But,  Phillip,  I  coniure  th^ 

Now  by  theys  names  thre, 

Diana  in  the  woddis  grene, 

Luna  that  so  bryght  doth  shene, 

Proserpina  in  hell. 

That  thou  shortely  tell,  vm 

And  shew  now  vnto  me 

What  the  cause  may  be 

Of  this  perplexyte ! 
Inforias,  Philippe,  tucts  Scroupe  pulchra  Jo- 
anna'^ 
[nstanter  petiit :  cur  nostri  carminis  iUam 
Nunc  pudet  f  est  sero  ;  minor  est  infamia  vera. 

a  Phillyppe  answeryth.    [<Su2e  NoUJ\ 


230 

Tlien  siicli  Ihat  haiie  diKclayn^dfl 
And  of  tliis  ivorke  eotnpiaynyd, 
I  pray  Grod  I  bey  be  paynyd 
No  wors  than  is  conlaynyd 
In  versea  Iwo  or  llire 
That  folowe  as  je  may  se  ; 
Luride,  cur,  livor,  vohie-rii  pia  fan 
Talia  te  rapiant  rcgriunt  qute  fata  vobtcren 
Est  tamen  invidia  mart  tibi  oontinua  : 

Tilt  Gruntyng  and  the  groycninge  of  the 
njng  swyne  i " 
Also  the  Murnyng  of  the  mapely  role; 

How  the  grene  cotierlet  sufferd  grete  pine, 
Whan  the  £ye  net  was  set  fur  to  catche  a  QJ 
Struke  one  with  a  birdbolt  to  the  Itart  rotSH 

Also  H  deuoute  Prayer  to  Moyses  hornis, 

Metrifyde  merely,  medelyd  with  scorais ; 

'Of  piiiuuntia  that  were  played  in  loyov 
He  wrate  ofa  muse  throw  a  mud  wail ; 

How  a  do  cum  trippyng  in  at  the  rere  warde, 
But,  lorde,  how  the  parker  was  wroth  withal 
And  of  Custell  Aungell  the  feoeatrall,        m 


.ergit!  G™ 


Pbo.  c.    Exaltnlinntnr  ( 


GARLAND E    OF   LAURELL.  231 

Glittryng  and  glistryng  and  gloryously  glasid, 
It  made  sum  mens  eyn  dasild  and  dasid ;  isss 

The  Repete  of  the  recule  of  Rosamundis  bowre,* 
Of  his  pleasaunt  paine   there  and  his  glad 
distres 
In  plantynge   and    pluckynge   a  propre   ieloflPer 
flowre ; 
But  how  it  was,  sum  were  to  rechelcs, 
Not  withstandynge  it  is  remedeles ; 
What  myght  she  say  ?  what  myght  he  do  therto  ? 
Though  lak  sayd  nay,  yet  Mok  there  loste  her 
sho ; 

How  than  lyke  a  man  he  wan  the  barbican  * 
With  a  sawte  of  solace  at  the  longe  last ; 

The  colour  dedely,  swarte,  bio,  and  wan 

Of  Exione,  her  lambis  ^  dede  and  past,  i4oo 

The  cheke  and  the  nek  but  a  shorte  cast ; 

In  fortunis  fauour  euer  to  endure. 

No  man  lyuyng,  he  sayth,  can  be  sure  ; 


a  Introduxit  me  in  cabiculum  suum:  Cant.  Os  fatu»^ 
ebullit  stultitiam.    Cant.    {Side  Note.] 

b  Audaces  fortuna  juvat :  Virgilius.  Nescia  mens  hoininum 
eortis  *  fatique  futuri :  Virgilius.     [  Side  Note.  J 

1  lambis]  Marsha's  ed.  "  lambe  is,"  —  which  may  be  the 
riglit  reading.    MS.  defective  here. 
^fattuB]  Altered  purposely  by  Skelton  from  ^^fatuorwm^ 

of  the  Vulgate,  Prov.  xv.  2.  (not  Cant.) 

•  aortiSj  yc]  ^^fati  sortisque  futura.^^    JEn,  x.  601. 


i   OF   LAURRLL. 


'  first  found  the  olyBel 


•  How  dame  Min 

And  plantid  it  there  where  ne'Jer  before  nu 
none !  tmskred 
An  fa^nde  vnhurt  hit  by  casuelte,  not  bied 
Becouerd  whan  the  foi^ter  was  gone ;  and  iptd 
The  benis  of  the  herd  began  for  to  grone,  aai 
fled 
The  liuu'Ddes  began  to  yeme  and  to  quest;  and 
dred  m 

With  litell  besynes  standith  moche  rest ;  t'n  M 

*Hia  Epitomis  of  the  mjller  and  Lis  ioly  make; 
How  her  ble  was  bryght  as  blossom  on  the 
spray, 

A  wanton  wenehe  and  wele  coude  bake  a  cnke^^ 
Tlie  myllar  was  lolb  to  be  out  of  the  waj,^^| 
But  yet  for  all  that,  be  as  be  may,  |^^| 

Whether  be  rode  to  SwafThamm  or  to  Somei^^l 

The  miliar  durst  not  leue  his  wyfe  at  home; 

a  OletEijoe  Minerra  inventrii!  GeorgiGornm.  Alqoe  «r 
mina  cervi  pulvonilenta  {fugaj  glomaninC:  jEuefd.  it.  [SUi 
AbM.) 

b  I>iiiH  molentes  in  pistrino,  una  asanDietar,  altera  relJnqiU- 
tur;  Isaia*.*    Fori*  vaitabit  anm  llmor,  et  intaxpaTc>r:  1^' 

1  SmB  iau  Mmenm,  fc-]  Tha  worfa  which  IhaTOpfinW 
in  Italics  destroy  both  sense  nnd  metrs.  Bat  thcjr  >r«  Ibiuri 
in  bDlJi  eds.     SIS.  defective  here. 

•Pm.]  2)(b(.  xixii.2E,  where  "ForUvsslnhil  «nt  jl»*( 
•t,  &c.-' 


( 


6ARLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        233 

With,  Wofully  arajd,^  and  Shamefully  betrayd,* 
Of  his  makyng  deuoute  medytacyons ; 

VexiUa  regis  he  deuysid  to  be  displayd ;  i4» 

With  Sacris  solemnns^  and  other  conteropla- 

cyouns, 
That  in  them  comprisid  consyderacyons ; 

Thus  passyth  he  the  tyme  both  nyght  and  day, 

Sumtyme  with  sadnes,  sumtyme  with  play ; 

Though  Galiene  and  Dioscorides,  * 
With  Tpocras,  and  mayster  Auycen, 

By  there  phesik  doth  many  a  man  ease, 

And  though  Albumasar  can  the  enforme  and 

ken 
What  const ellacions  ar  good  or  bad  for  men,  uqb 

Yet  whan  the  rayne  rayneth  and  the  gose  wynkith, 

Lytill  wotith  the  goslyng  what  the  gose  thynkith ; 

He  is  not  wyse  ageyne  the  streme  that  stryuith ;  • 
Dun  is  in  the  my  re,  dame,  reche  me  my  spur ; 


a  Opera  quae  ego  facio  ipsa  perhibent  testimonium  de  me : 
In  Evang.  &c.    [Side  Note,] 

6  Honoramedicum;  propter  necessitatem  oreavit  eum  al- 
tissimns,  &c.  Superiores  constellationes  influunt  in  corpora 
Bubjecta  et  disposita,  &c.    Nota.    [Side  Note.] 

c  Spectatum  admisse,2risusteneaturamor?  Horace.  Nota. 
[Side  NoU.] 

1  Wofully  arayd]  See  vol.  i.  p.  165. 

3  Speeiatum  admisse^  ^c]  ^*  Spectaium  admissi  risum  teneaiU, 
andci  f  '*  A.  P.  5.  Qy.  Is  the  barbarous  alteration  of  this 
line  only  a  mistake  of  the  printer? 


234  GAJILASDE    OF    LAITHKLL. 

Nedes  must  be  rin  thai  tbe  deuyll  drynitb  ; 

Wben  (be  slede  is  ^lolyn,  »partbe  stable  dat; 

A  icnl^ll  howtide  sbulde  neuer  phij  tbe  kar; 
It  is  Bone  aspyed  where  tile  thome  prikkilb ; 
And  wele  woiitb  the  cat  whoa  berde  ehu  likfcitbi 

•  Witb  Itfarione  clarione,  sol,  lucerne, 

Graund  Jutr,  of  tbi«  Fretislie  prouerbe  olde,  "■> 

How  men  were  wonle  for  fo  discerue 

By  candelmes  day  what  wedder  shuld  bolder 

But  Marione  clarione  was  caught  with  a  coliic 

toide,  (angliee  a  cokwolde, 

And  all  ouercast  with  cloudis  rnkynde, 

This  goodly  flowre  with  slonnis  was  vnlwjnde; 

'This  ielofier  ientyll,  ihb  to^,  this  l^rllr  flowrt, 
This  primeiose  pereJes,  this  propre  vy<Jet, 

Thii  colucnbyDe  dere  and  fresi^hest  of  i-oloure. 
This  delycate  da^y,  this  strawbery  prelely  £«ti 
With  frowarde  frosiis,  ala%  was  all  tD-fret !  ■■ 

But  who  may  baue  a  more  vngrscyous  lyfe 

Than  a  chyldis  birde  and  a  knauis  wyfW  ? 

'  Thynke  what  ye  wyll  '^^^^ 

Of  [bid  WKOUm  byll ;  ^^H 

a  Luineu  xJ  rerelationem  geDtiiim:  Pso.  elxzr.  ISA 
X<iu.\    |Luc.  n.33.) 

t  VatOI  KKs  ral  lilivm,  O  pQlcbemins  mulieniis,  &(•- 
GhntUMdwii.    |S>ie  Altl 

■  KoUMTert>i,sif>atiiBnlcru:  Grcgqri.     \Sii>  St-A 


GARLANDE  OP  LAURELL.        235 

By  Mary  Gipcy, 

Quod  scripsi,  scripsi  : 

Uxor  tua,  sicut  vitis, 

Hahetis  in  cusiodtam, 

Ctistodite  sicvi  scitis, 

Secundum  Lucam,  S^c,  nso 

e  Bonehoms  of  Ashrige  besjde  Barkamstede, 
at  goodly  place  to  Skelton  moost  kynde, 
'e  the  sank  royall  is,  Crystes  blode  so  rede, 
tierevpon  he  metrefyde  after  his  mynde ; 
pleasaunter  phice   than  Ashrige  is,  harde 

were  to  fy nde, 
melton  rehersith,  with  wordes  few  and  playne, 
3  distichon  made  on  verses  twaine ; 

aocinus  in  clivo  frondetque  viret  sine  rivo,  • 
n  est  sub  diva  similis  sine  jiumine  vivo  ; 

N^acyoun  of  Folys  he  left  not  behynde ;  *   "to 
m  Apollo  that  whirllid  vp  his  chare, 
made  sum  to  snurre  and  snuf  in  the  wynde ; 
made  them  to  skip,  to  stampe,  and  to  stare„ 
biche,  if  they  be  happy,  haue  cause  to  beware 
ming  and  raylyng  with  hym  for  to  mell, 
drede  that  he  lerne  them  there  A,  B,  C,  to 
spell. 

)ta  pennriam  aquae,  nam  canes  ibi  hauri'int  ex  puteo 
no.     {Side  Note.\ 

iltorum  infinitus  est  numerus,  &c. :  Ecclesia.  Factum 
n  Apollo  esset  Corinthi :  Actus  Apostolonim.  Stimu-^ 
>  pectore  vertit  Apollo :    Virgilius.     {Side  Note,\ 


236       CABLANDE  OF  LACBELL. 

Pueta  Siellon. 
With  llmt  I  stode  vp,  halfu  sodenly  afraj'dj 

Supplej'ng  lo  Fame,  I  besought  her  grace, 
And    ihut  it  wolde  please   her,   full  teuderlf  I 

Owt  of  her  bokis  Apotlo  to  rnse.  " 

Nay,  sir,  Shu  sayd,  what  bo  in  this  place 
'  Of  our  noble  wiurie  is  ones  s[H>keD  owte, 
II  must  nedes  after  rin  all  the  worlde  abouie. 

God  wote,  thets  wordes  made  me  full  sad; 

And  when  that  I  eawe  it  wolde  no  better  be, 
But  that  my  peticyon  wolde  Dot  be  had, 
What  ebulde  I  do  but  take  it  in  gre  ? 
*Foi',  by  Juppiler  aod  his  high  magest^ 
1  did  what  I  cowde  to  «:rape  out  the  ectdlif^ 
Apollo  to  rase  out  of  her  ragman  rollis. 


■Now  hereof  it  erkilh  me  lengei  Ii 


wryte; 


To  Occupacyon  I  wyll  agayiie  resorle, 

Wliiehe  redde  on  slill,  oa  it  cam  to  her  syglt, 

Kendrynge  my  deuiais  I  made  in  dispone 

Of  the  Mayden  of  Kent  callid  Counforte, 

Of  Louers  teaiameDtis  and  of  there  wanton  wytliit 

And  how  loUaa  louyd  goodly  Phillis ; 

a  Fuaa  replsM  niBli*  peniicubiu  CToUl  ulis,  &a.    \^ 

.Vats.] 

h  Ego  quiaem  tarn  Psnli,  ego  Apollo:  Corr».     [5Ui  M*l 

c  Molo  me  Cultttm  peUt,  lueiva  pnellii  Vii:^Qi>    D'^ 

cBrUSjCODCcdetlollu:  3.  Buool.  [SUaiWi 


6ABLANDE  OF  LAUBELL.       237 

Diodorus  Siculus  of  mj  translacjon 

Out  of  fresshe  Latine  into  owre  Engljsshe 
playne, 
Becountjng  commoditis  of  manj  a  straunge 
nacyon ;  *  um 

Who  redyth  it  ones  wolde  rede  it  agayne ; 
Sex  volumis  engrosid  together  it  doth  containe : 
3ut  when  of  the  laurell  she  made  rehersall, 
■All  orators  and   poetis,   with   other  grete  and 
sniale, 

^  thowsande  thowsande,  I  trow,  to  my  dome,^ 

IViumphaf  triumpha  I  they  cry  id  all  aboute ; 
Of  trumpettis  and   clariouns  the  noyse  went  to 
Rome; 
The  starry  heuyn,  me  thought,  shoke  with  the 

showte ; 
The  grownde  grouid  and  tremblid,  the  noyse 
was  so  stowte : 
Xhe  Quene  of  Fame  commaundid  shett  fast  the 
boke ;  uio 

And  therwith  sodenly  out  of  my  dreme  I  woke. 


a  Mille  hominam  species,  et  remm  discolor  usos:  HoraceJ 
[<SMfe  NaU,\ 

b  Millia  miUium  et  decies  xnillies  centena  millia,  &c. : 
Apocalipsis.  Virtate^  senatum  laureati  possident:  Eccle- 
Biastica.  Gauit'.    [Side  NoU.] 

1  Sorace]  Persius,  V.  62. 

s  VirMe]  Faukes's  ed.  (which  alone  has  these  marginal 
ikotes)  **  Ftte."    The  reference  **  Cauit''*  I  do  not  understand. 


I 


239  CAKIASBK    OF    LAUREI.I.. 

Uy  mjnUe  of  flie  greie  din  was  somdtle  nmiaiii 
I  wj[Hd  mjne  enie  for  (o  make  ihem  clere; 

Then  (o  the  heura  sperjcull  rpwanle  I  gasid, 
Where  1  saw  laaus,  wiih  his  double  chere, 
Makynge  his  almannk  for  ihe  new  yere ; 

He  luroyd  his  tirikkts.  Lis  volue]l  ran  fast; 

Good  luk  this  new  yere  !  the  olde  yere  h  pasl. 
'  Jfetu  tibi  sit  eoittulla,pefig?  ticcongiiletae»ti: 
^ntaia  til  Jani,  retro  speeuletar  ft  ante.      * 


Stttiow  aUoqttiiur  Ubrunt  nncn*. 
^e,  Bntcat»onaii  lux  0  radtoaa,  firiVawnm 
OanmmamotlrapiumvestrumctkiraU  Cattt^MJ 

JXtitt,  St^oiiis  rater  Adonis  erat ; 

Didu,  Stdtimi*  wetter  Homenta  erat. 
BarAara  emm  Latia  pariter  jam  cvrriU  cwrtv ,' 
Et  Ueri  est  itriopart  maxiMa  tcrUt  JBniaam, 

JioH  moffit  tiKvnMpto  ncttra  TiioUa  p^Uet, 

Est  moffis  iitcuka  mec  mea  OaSioye. 
Ver  r(«  pttmiteat  hporit  tela  tu&ire, 
Vm  rotpamHat  ratiem  t^erart  etmiitam,      * 
^^iN  JWaro  tiitsimiht  non  tttlit  iOs  minat, 
M*  KK  enim  Afiua  Xaaomt  trot 


Go,  Htill  qnaire, 
Drmene  yon  &ire ; 


OAHLANDE  OF  LAURELL.        239 

Take  no  dispare, 

Though  I  you  wrate 

After  this  rate 

In  Englysshe  letter ; 

So  moche  the  better 

Welcome  shall  ye  iwa 

To  sum  men  be : 

For  Latin  warkis 

Be  good  for  clerkis ; 

Yet  now  and  then 

Sum  Latin  men 

May  happely  loke 

Vpon  your  boke, 

And  so  pi-ocede 

In  you  to  rede, 

That  so  indede 

Your  fame  may  sprede 

In  length  and  brede. 

But  then  I  drede 

Ye  shall  haue  nede 

You  for  to  spede 

To  hamnes  bryght, 

By  force  of  myght, 

Ageyne  enuy 

And  obloquy : 

And  wote  ye  why  ? 

Not  for  to  fyght 

Ageyne  dispyght, 

Nor  to  derayne 

Batayle  agayne 


£lmm,0  txdri  fiAJHitB 
Aritria  aaune  gemu  virid 

•  TWm  bita  Bw,  ^a  b>  oupT  erf  rn^  «B«  *«>1 
MknrttOB, ud  the  BuiiWiMa  «r it  ta*)  L^  ad U|M 
■n  bam  fufco'i  ad-^vfaac,  tkM|^  Mitt  bra  i^  ■ 
nnMidin  with  n»  CvfaaA  ifL^r^  Ik^  an  L»il^ 
M>p«tknaf  diUpcitni,*(s  tha  colopfa^  ^SU;  lA* 

uccDi  towHdi  Uw  end  itf  UieTaL,dM  Im*  On*  r^B^  " 
gelfaer,  lod  the  fint  ■  (ev  pajics  afttr.^Hanha'f  (d.  'A^ 


GARLAND  £   OF   LAURELL.  243 


EN  PARULMEMT  A  PABIS. 

Justice  est  morte, 

JEt  Veryte  sommielle  ; 

Droit  et  liaison 

Sent  alez  aux  pardons  : 

Lez  deux  premiers 

Nul  ne  Us  resuelle  ; 

M  lez  demiers 

Sount  corrumpus  par  dons. 


OUT  OF  FRENSHB  IllTO   LATTN. 

ftulit  cUra  dies  Astraam  ;  cana  Fides 
Somno  pressa  jacet ;  Jus  iter  arripuity 
secum  Ratio  profidscens  Umite  hngo : 
Nemo  duasprimas  evigilare  parat ; 
•jfue  duo  postrema  absunt,  et  munera  tantum 
hnpediunt  nequeunt  quod  remeare  domum. 


OWT  OF  LATTNE  IlITO  ENGLTSSHB. 

Justyce  now  is  dede ; 
Trowth  with  a  drowsy  hede, 
As  heuy  as  the  lede, 
Is  layd  down  to  slepe, 
And  takith  no  kepe ; 
And  Ryght  is  ouer  the  fallows 
Gone  to  seke  hallows, 
With  Reason  together, 
No  man  can  tell  whether: 


241       6ARLANDE  OF  LAURKLL. 

No  man  wyll  vndcrtake 
The  first  twayne  to  wake ; 
And  the  twayne  last 
Be  withholde  so  fast 
With  mony,  as  men  sayne, 
They  can  not  come  agayne. 

A  grant  torty 
Foy  dart. 

Here  endith  a  ryght  delectable  tratyse  v 
goodly  Garlonde  or  Chapelet  of  Laurell,  dy 
by  mayster  Skelton,  Poete  Laureat 


SPEKE,    PARROT.  245 


SPEKE,  PARROT.* 

BOKB  COMPILED  BT  MAI8TER  8KSLTON,  POET  LAUREAT, 
CALLED  SPEAKE,  PARROT. 

torihusauctor  recipit^  opusculi  hujus  auxesim. 

cet  in  immensum  me  vivo  pagina  prcRsens  ; 
J  mea  diceiur  SheUonidis  aureafama* 

ParotJ] 

name  is  Parrot,  a  byrd  of  paradyse, 
Y  nature  deuysed  of  a  wonderous  kynde, 
titely  dyeted  with  dyuers  dylycate  spyce, 
Y\  Euphrates,  that  flode,  dryueth  me  into 
Inde  ; " 

ucanus.s    Tigris  et  Euphrates  uno  se  fonte  resolvunt. 
NoieJ\ 

Vom  the  ed.  by  Lant  of  Certayne  bokes  compyledhy  may»- 
'^Uon^  &c.,  n.  d.,  collated  with  the  same  work  ed.  Kynge 
larche,  n.  d.,  and  ed.  Day,  n.  d. ;  with  Marshe's  ed.  of 
Dn*8  Workes,  1568;  and  with  a  MS.  in  the  Harleian  Col- 
n,  2252.  fol.  133,  which  has  supplied  much  not  given  in 
rinted  copies,  and  placed  between  brackets  in  the  present 
n.  The  marginal  notes  are  found  only  in  MS. 
\cipii\  MS.  "recf^pft."  The  next  two  lines  are  given 
inaccurately  here  in  MS.,  but  are  repeated  (with  a  slight 
:ion)  more  correctly  at  the  end  of  the  poem.  The  Latin 
ms  of  the  MS.  are  generally  of  ludicrous  incorrectness, 
ranscriber  evidently  not  having  understood  that  lan- 
). 

ucantts]  See  Phar,  iii.  256.    But  the  line  here  quoted  is 
Boethii  Consol.  Phil.  lib.  v.  met  1. 


'Then 


Where  men   of  that  i^ountrey   by   fortune 

id  Gentl  me  to  greate  ladj'es  of  estate  ; 
Farot  must  haue  an  almon  or  a  dale; 


xhh  aylu( 


•A  mge  curyously  ca 

Properly  paynled,  to  be  my 
A  mrrroitr  of  glasse,  [bat  1  may  loote  therioj 

Tlieit'  maidens  ful  mekely  wiib  many  a  A 

Frvshly   ihey  dresse,  and   make    awelflt 

With,  Speke,  Parrot,  I  pray  joo,  full  mil 
ihey  say  j 
is  a  goodly  byrd.  a  prety  popagey ; 

"With  my  becke  bent  my  lyttyl  tranlon  eye, 
My  fedders  freshe  as  is  ihe  emrawde  grene. 

About  my  neck  a  cyrculet  lyke  the  ryche  rnby^ 
My  lyityll  leggys,  my  feet  both  fete  and  dei 
1  am  a  mynyon  to  wayt  Tppon  a  queae  : 

My  proper  Parrot,  my  lyttyl  prety  foole ; 

With  iadyes  I  leme,  and  go  with  tbt:iii  to  eeoie, 

Hflgb,  ha,  ha,  Parrot,  ye  can  teugh  ptettly ! 
Parrot  hath  not  dyned  of  al  thl^  long  da/ : 

■  Topc^nphis,  qiwm  luibel  hee  avitrala  ia  delteSi.    | 
t  DttHtalur  in  &ctim  ini,  tomea  m  eat  fbnn  fn 


SPEKE,   PARROT.  247 

^Lyke  your  pus  cate,  Parrot  can  mute  and  cry 
•In  Lattyn,  in  Ebrew,  Araby,  and  Caldey; 
In  Greke  tong  Parrot  can  bothe  speke  and  say, 
As  Percyus,  that  poet,  doth  reporte  of  me, 
Quis  expedivit  psittaco  suuyn  chaire  ?  w 

Dowse  French  of  Parryse  Parrot  can  leme,* 

Pronounsynge  my  purpose  after  my  properte, 
Witliv  Perliez  bi/en,  Parrot,  ou  perlez  rien  ; 

With  Douch,  with  Spanysh,  ray  tong  can  agre  ; 
lo-Bgglysh  to  God  Parrot  can  supple, 
)  Qlr^  ^^  ^y"S  Henry  the  viii.,  our  royall  kyng, 
IQ^P  Xfirose  in  honour  to  florysh  and  sprynge! 

Witb  Kateryne  incomparable,  our  ryall  queue  also,* 
That  pereles  pomegarnet,  Chryst  saue  her  noble 
grace  I 
Parrot,  saves  ^  habUr  CastilianOy  40 


a  Psittacos  a  vobis  aliorum  nomina  disco:  Hoc  per  me 
didici  dicere,2  Caesar,  ave.    [Side  Note.] 

b  Docibilem  se  pandit  in  omni  idiom  ate.  Polichronitudo 
Basileos.    {Side  NoteJ] 

c  Katerina  nniyersalis  vitii  ruina,  Grsecum  est.  Fidasso 
de  cosso,  i.  habeto  fidem  in  temet  ipso.  Aactoritate[m]  in- 
consultam  taxat  hie.  Lege  Flaccum,  et  observa  plantatum 
diabolom.    {Side  NoUJ\ 

^scmeB]  So  MS.    Eds.  "  satttca ; "— "  Aa6/er "  ought  to  be 
"hedflar;**  but  throughout  this  work  I  have  not  altered  the 
I^Mj^ing  of  quotations  in  modem  languages,  because  probably 
S:elton  wrote  them  inaccurately, 
s  dicere]  In  Martial  thus : 

'*  PtiUacfts  a  vobis  aliorum  nomina  discam: 

Hoc  didici  per  me  dicere^  CcRsar^  are."        xiv.  78. 


248  sruKE,  PABiiOT. 

With  fdusio  lie  cosso  in  Turkey  and  in  Tticc 
Vii  coniilii  erpera,  as  tecliiib  me  Horace, 
Mole  rw't  sua,  whose  dicles  ar  pregnaunte, 
Souentez  foyt,  Parrot,  en  tmienaunte, 

'My  Jadj  mayaires,  dame  Philology, 

Gaue  me  a  gjfte  in  my  nest  whao  I  Inye, 
To  lerDe  ail  language,  aud  it  to  spake  apteiy;      I 
Now  pandes  mory,  wax  frantycke,  some  menf^  ' 

Phruiiesea  fur  Frenesesmay  not  holdeberWlj. 
An  altnon  now  fur  PaiTot,  dllycatly  dreslj 
lu  Salve/eila  dies,  lolo  theyr  dolli  beat. 


''Moderatajwvant,  hut  toto  dotli  excede ; 
Oyscre^ayoi)  is  moder  of  noble  vertues  al 

Myden  agan  in  Greke  tonge  w 

But  reason  and  wyt  wnrityih  iheyr  prouyncyiift 
When  wylfulnes  ie  vycar  generall. 

Htec  ret  acu  tangitur,  Parrol,  par  mafoy : 

Ticee  voiu,  Parrot,  ietiex  vous  i 


"'Mil 

^5" 


Besy,  besy,  besy,  and  besynea  agayne ! 
Que penaee  voe,  Parrot?  what  meneth 
synea  ? 


b  Aptiiis  liic  loqultor  Rnlmos  qimm  lii 
ium  at  eK]i.-<p«raiis.     \SidtyoU.i 

^prummlio]  Probably  not  tlis  rigUt  r 
wms  lo  have  eittiec  "  p6  aio  "  or  "  pu  flo. 


rMwll^ 


p^-'l 


SPEKE,   PARROT.  249 

Vitvlus  in  Oreb  troubled  Arons  brayne, 
Melchisedeck  mercyfull  made  Moloc  mercyles ; 
To  wyse  is  no  vertue,  to  medlyng,  to  restles ; 

In  mesure  is  tresure,  cyLm  seiisu  maturcUo  ; 

Ne  tropo  sannOy  ne  tropo  mato. 

Aram  was  fyred  with  Caldies  fyer  called  Ur ; 
lobab  was  brought  vp  in  the  lande  of  Hus ; 
The  lynage  of  Lot  toke  supporte  of  Assur ; 
^reboseth  is  Ebrue,  who  lyst  the  cause  dyseus. 
l^$/ffQ,  Parrot,  ye  prate,  as  ye  were  ebritis  :    » 
k  HowjA  the,  lyuer  god  van  hemrtky  iq  ^g  ; 
'In  Pgpering  grew  peres,  whan  Parrot  was  an  eg. 

What'  IS  this  to  purpose  ?  Ouer  in  a  whynny  meg ! 
Hop  Lobyn  of  Lowdeon  wald  haue  e  byt  of 
bred; 
The  iebet  of  Baldock  was  made  for  Jack  Leg ; 
An  arrow  vnfethered  and  without  an  bed, 
A  bagpype  without  blowynge  standeth  in  no 
sted: 
Some  run  to  far  .before,  some  run  to  far  behynde, 
Some  bMo  chuffywhe,  and  some  be  to  kynde. 

_  for  the  eoBltfych  fether,  » 

Ic  dien  is  the  language  of  the  land  of  Beme ; 

Fn  AflGpycJtongue  hyrsa  is  a  thonge  of  lether ; 
In  Palestina  there  is  lerasulem. 
Colostrum  now   for   ParOt,   whyte  bred  and 
swete  cremel 


250  apE 

Our  Thomasen  sbe  tlolli  tri|>,  our  lenet  she  dolli 

ehayle : 
Parrot  hutli  a  blauke  beard    and  a   fayre  grene 

tAjle. 


Moryshe  mjne   owtie   sbetfe,  tbe    coslermonger 

Fate,  fate,  fate,  ye  Irysh  water  lag; 

In  flallryng  fables  men  fynife  but  lytiyl  feyi 

But  movealur  Ifrra,  let  [he  world 

Let  ajr  Wrigwrag  wraslell  wi[h  syr  I 

Euery  man  after  his  maner  of  wayes, 

Pawbe  une  aruer,  so  the  Welche  man  i 


Suche  ahredis  of  sentence,  strowed  in  the  a 
Of  auncjent  Arislippus  ami  such  otber  U 

I  gader  logylher  and  close  in  my  cr 
Of  my  wanton  conseyi,  unde  depromo 
Dilemmata  docta  in  ptedagoffio 

Saero  vatum,  whereof  lo  you  I  bwke : 

T  pray  you,  let  Parot  haue  lyberie  lo  speku 


But 


«kt,  Parol,  ware  the  fals  dM  ' 
With,  Wlio  is  there?  a  mnyd?  nay,  [ 


Ware  ryal.  Parrot,  ware  ryoi,  ware  thai  1 
Mete,  mete  for  Parrot,  mete,  I  say,  howl 
Thus  dyuers  of  language  by  lernyng  I  grow: 
With,  Bhs  me,  Ewece  Parrot,  baa  me,  swete  sweto 
To  dwell  araonge  ladyes  Parrot  is  mete. 


SPEKE,   PARROT.  251 

Parrot,  Parrot,  Parrot,  praty  popigay ! 

With  my  beke  I  can  pyke  my  lyttel  praty  too . 
My  delyght  is  solas,  pleasure,  dysporte,  and  pley ; 

Lyke  a  wanton,  whan  I  wyll,  I  rele  to  and 
froo :  III 

Parot  can  say,  Ccesar^  ave,  also ; 
But  Parrot  hath  no  fauour  to  Esebon : 
Aboue  all  other  byrdis,  set  Parrot  alone. 

UluUt^  Esebon,  for  leromy  doth  wepe ! 
Sion  is  in  sadnes,  Rachell  ruly  doth  loke ; 

Madionita  letro,  our  Moyses  kepyth  his  shepe ; 
iGhedeon  is  gon,  that  Zalmane  vndertoke, 
Oreb  et  Zeb,  of  Judicum  rede  the  boke ; 

Now    Geball,    Amon,    and    Amaloch,  —  harke, 
harke !  iw 

Parrot  pretendith  to  be  a  bybyll  clarke. 

O  Esebon,  Esebon  !  to  the  is  cum  agayne 

Seon,  the  regent  Amorrceorum, 
And  Og,  that  fat  hog  of  Basan,  doth  retayne, 

The  crafty  coistronus  Cananceorum  ; 

And  asylum^  whilom  refugium  mtserorunij 
Non  fanum^  ted- prof anum^  standyth  in  lyttyll 

sted: 
Uhda^  Esebon,  for  lepte  is  starke  ded ! 

B^bon,  Marybon,  Wheston  next  Bam  et; 
A  trym  tram  for  an  horse  myli  it  were  a  nyse 
thyng;  no 


BPEKE,    PARROT. 

ics  for  dammoysels,  chafliir  far  fet  : 
Bo  ho  (loth  bark  wel,  but  Hougli  ho  he  rulvdi 

the  ring ; 
From  Scarpary  to  Tartary  lenouo   therin  doA 
spryng, 
With,  He  sajd,  and  we  said,  ich  wot  now  what 

ith  wot, 
Quod  magnm  est  dominus  Judas  Scariotk. 

Tholomye  HnJ  Haly  were  cannyng  an^ 
In   the  volvel),  in    tlm  quadrant,  i 
ttstroloby, 
To  pronostycate  truly  the  chaunce  of  f 

e  of  llieyr  tirykis,  po 
Somyseutfo-jjTopAe^a  with  chiromancy!  1 
Yf  fortune  be  fVendly,  and  grace  be  the  g 
Honowre  with  renowne  wyll  rcn  on  that  8yl| 

Mo/ion  colon  agaton 
Quo  J  Para  to 
In  Greeco. 


Let  Tarrot,  I  pray  you,  bane  lyberte  to  prJ 
I  linyua  Graeea  ought  lo  be  B 

rf  it  v^t^^^^Tytely,  and  after  the  n 

n  Moltj  matter  occupyi 
X  &r«kc  BO  well  I 


SPEEE,    PARROT.  253 

That  they  cannot  say  in  Greke,  rydynge  by  tho 

way, 
How,  hosteler,  fetche  my  hors  a  botell  of  hay  I 

Neyther  frame  a  silogisme  in  phrtsesomorum^ 
Formaliter  et  GrcBce^  cum  medio  termino : 
Our  Grekys  ye  walow  in  the  washbol  Argoli" 
corum  ; 
For   though   ye   can   tell  in    Greke   what  is 

phormio^ 
Yet  ye  seke  out  your  Greke  in  Capricomio  ; 
For  they  ^  scrape  out  good  scrypture,  and  set  in 

a  gall, 
Te  go  about  to  amende,  and  ye  mare  alL 

Some  argue  secundum  quid  ad  simpliciter,         i« 
And  yet  he  wolde  be  rekenyd  joro  Areopagita; 

And  some  make  distinctions  multipliciter, 

Whether  ita  were  before  non,  or  non  before  ita, 
Nether  wise  nor  wel  lernid,  but  like  hermor 
phrodita : 

Set  Sophia  asyde,  for  euery  Jack  Raker 

And  euery  mad  medler  must  now  be  a  maker. 

In  Academia  Parrot  dare  no  probleme  kepe ; 

For  Greece  fari  so  occupyeth  the  chayre, 
That  Latinum  fari  may  fall  to  rest  and  slepe. 


1  they]  Qy.  "  ye  "  here— or  "  they  "  in  the  three  preceding 
Ones? 


WH   dromied  at   Sturbiy 


T^ftpk  «m1  ^nUTajals  a 


TWk  Eknat  Am  pofMfftj  hath  pjtje  to  bebolde 
lfa«  Am  BMt  «f  (Md  fcniyng  b  roufled  Tp  and 


W  trynea  oat  of  scole  -, 
m  hxndr  dandy, 

B  rekened  Tor  a  fole ; 

of  Uenanders  pale, 
■St  out  of  the  giile, 
re  B04  fbew  bis  p&te.      " 

J^Mt  i*  ^  «■■£»  a  Ay\d  shall  now  reherse. 
.tail  M^«ak4>bBi7lTan  in  his  Declam*- 

Cte  Ihi^  Omm  «•  acaDlly  construe  a  vcrae, 
VUk  ^^  w  ft«My  and  such  aolempne  salu- 


Mass  of  hia  ooni  ugacyons ; 
j^l^Mt  A^s^  ■jiwJjfi  M  iDoche  of  eloquens, 
1|te  it  JM«r  sniAt  Baiets  lost  is    the  liole 


n  gariophoh, 
*  P7^  rpoD,  hn  brayne  for  U> 


SP£K£,  PARROT.  255 

Swete  synamum  stjckxs  and  pleris  cum  muscol  ^ 
Id  Paradyce,  that  place  of  pleasure  perdurable, 
The  progeny  of  Parrottis  were  fay  re  and  fauor- 
able; 
Nowe  in  valle  Ebron  Parrot  is  fayne  to  fede : 
Cristecrosse  and  saynt  ^ycholas,  Parrot,  be  your 
good  spede  I 

The  myrrour  that  I  tote  in,  quasi  diaphanumy 
Vel  quasi  speculum,  in  tsnigmatCj 

.EJlencticum,  or  ells  enthym,emaiicum, 

For  logicions  to  loke  on,  somwhat  sophisHce: 
Ketoricyons  and  oratours  in  freshe  humanyte, 

Support  Parrot,  I  pray  you,  with  your  suffrage 
^    ornate,  aw 

Of  confuse  tantum  auoydynge  the  chekmate. 

But  of  that  supposicyon  that  callyd  is  arte 
Confuse  distributive,  as  Parrot  hath  deuysed, 

Let  euery  man  after  his  merit  take  his  parte, 
For  in  this  processe  Parrot  nothing  hath  sur- 

mysed, 
No  matter  pretendyd,  nor  nothyng  enterprysed. 

But  that  metaphora,  aUegoria  with  all, 

Shall  be  his  protectyon,  his  pauys,  and  his  wall. 


^pleris  cum  musco]  Ed.  of  Eynge  and  Marche,  ^pkris  com 
otttfco."  Eds.  of  Day,  and  Marshe,  "/?/c»*w  comrausco."  In- 
stead of  "/>/crM,"  the  Rev.  J.  Mitford  proposes  **flami8" 
i^ciet  placentie). 


256  SPEKR,   PABROT. 

For  Pai'ol  ia  no  churlish  chowgh,  nor  no  flekjJ 

Parrot   is  no   pendugum,   ihat    mea    call  a 
carlyng, 
Parrot  is  no  woodeeoike,  nor  no  butterfly,         ■» 
Parrot  is  no  slamerjng  stare,  that  men  call » 

etarlyng: 
But  Parot  is  my  owne  dere  harte  and  iny  dere 
derling ; 
Melpomene,  ibat  fayre  mayde,  she  bumeshed  bis 

beke: 
I  pray  you,  let  Parrot  haue  lyberte  to  speke. 

Parrot  ia  a  fayre  byrd  for  a  lady ; 

God  of  bis  goodnea  hira  framed  and  wrought; 

When  Parrot  is  ded,  she  dollia  not  putrefy : 
Ye,  all  ihyng  mortall  shall  tome  vnto  nought. 
Except   tnannes   soule,   that    Chrysl   eo  dei« 

That  neoor  may  dye,  nor  neuer  dye  shall: 
Make  raoche  of  Parrot,  the  popegay  ryall. 

For   that   pereles   prynce   that    Parrot   dyd 

He  made  you  of  nolhjnge  by  his  mngi^tye: 

Poynt  well  this  probleme  that  Parrot  dotli  pnW, 
And  rememhre  araonge  how  Parrot  and  ye 
Shall  lepe  from  this  lyfe,  as  inery  as  we  Iw; 

Pompe.  pryde,  honour,  rychea,  and  worldly  lint. 

Parrot  saylh  plajnly,  shall  tourne  all  to  du't. 


8PBKE,  PABROT.  257 

Thus  Parrot  dothe  pray  you  «•» 

With  hert  most  tender, 
To  rekyn  with  this  recule  now, 

And  it  to  remember. 

Pstttacus,  ecce,  eano,  nee  stmt  mea  camiina  Phceho 
Digna  sciOf  tamen  est  plena  camena  deo. 

Secundum  Skeltomda  famtgercUum, 
In  Piereorum  catalogo  numeratum. 
Itaque  consolamim  tnmcem  in  verbis  istis,  S^e, 
Candidi  lectoresy  caUide  callete ;  vestrum  fovete 

Pstttacuniy  S^c. 

[  Galathea.'' 

Speke,  Parrotte,  I  pray  yow,  for  Maryes  saake, 
Whate  mone  he  made  when  Pamphylus  loste  hys 
make. 

Parrotte. 

My  propire  Besse,  910 

My  praty  Besse, 

Turne  ones  agayne  to  me :  * 
For  slepyste  thou,  Besse, 

a  Hio  occurrat  memoriffi  Pamphilus  de  amore  GalathesB. 
[mde  NoU.] 

6  In  ista  cantilena  ^  ora  stilla  plena  abjectis  frangibulii 
et  aperit    [Bide  Abte.] 

1  In  ista  cantilena,  fc]  Grossly  corruptevl.  The  Bev.  J. 
Mitford  proposes  "ore  stiUanti.**    MS.  has  "  eperit.** 

VOL.   II.  17 


258  8PEKE,  PARBOT. 

Or  wakeste  thow,  Besse, 
Mjne  herte  hyt  ys  with  th^ 

My  deysy  delectabyll, 
My  prymerose  commendabyll, 
•My  vyolet  amyabyll, 
My  ioye  inexplicabill, 
Now  torne  agayne  to  me. 

I  wylbe  ferme  and  stabyll, 
And  to  yow  seruyceabyll, 
And  also  prophytabyll, 
Yf  ye  be  agreabyll 
To  turne  agayne  to  me, 

My  propyr  Besse. 

*Alas,  I  am  dysdayned, 
And  as  a  man  halfe  maymed, 
My  harte  is  so  sore  payned ! 
I  pray  the,  Besse,  vnfayned, 
Yet  com  agayne  to  me ! 

Be  loue  I  am  constreyned 
To  be  with  yow  retayned, 
Hyt  wyll  not  be  refrayned : 


a  Quid  quseritis  tot  capita,  tot  census?    \8idt  NoU,\ 
b  Maro:  Malo  me  Galatea  petit,  lasciva  puella,  Et  fiigi 
•alices,  &c.     [Side  Note.] 


SPEKE,   PABBOT.  259 

I  pray  yow,  be  reclaymed, 
And  torne  agayne  to  me, 

My  propyr  Besse. 

Quod  Parot,  the  popagay  royalL 

^,%al%s  cecinit  carmen  fit  mihi  scutum:-^ 
nihi  lasctva  pagtna,  vita  proba,]  * 

Galethea, 

kus  me,  Parrot,  kus  me,  kus,  kus,  kus : 
lys    blessyng    lyght  on   thy   swete    lyttyU 
mus  1 '  m 

Vita  et  anima, 
Zoe  kai  psyche, 

umhunt  Greece.  Non  est  hie  sermo  pudicus.  * 

Attica  dictamina  * 
Sunt  plumhi  lamina, 


)e  kai  psyche.    Non  omnes  capiunt  yerbnm  istud,  sed 

)  datum  est  desnper.    [Side  Nott.^ 

}uinate8.s    [Side  Note.\ 

la  consequentia  magni  sestimatur  momenti  Attica  sane 

ntia.     {Side  NoU.\ 

t  mihi  latciva  pagina^  vita  prdbd]  "  Lcuciva  e$l  nobit 
'^  ffilaproba  est.^*    £p,  i.  6. 

minates]  Has  crept  into  the  text  in  eds.,  and  is  not 
r  distinguished  from  the  text  in  MS.    But  it  is  cer 
a  marginal  note — meaning  Juvenal,  from  whom  "  Cbn- 
rU  GrcBcey'^  &c.  is  quoted:  see  Sat.  vl.  191. 


8PEKE,   P ABBOT. 

Avertathae  Crania! 

\_Amen.'\ 

Amen,  Amen, 

And  set  to  a  D, 
And  then  il  is.  Amend 

Our  new  found  A,  B,  C. 

Own  eaterii  paribu». 

[Leivaotj  primers 
Go,  litell  quayre,  namyd  the  Popagay, 

Home  to  resorte  Jerobesethe  perjwadej 
For  tlie  clifies  of  Scaloppe  thej  rore  wellavHy, 

And  tbc  Baodes  of  Cefas  begyn  to  waste  ami 

For  replicacion  restles  ibat  be  of  late  tber 

Now  N<jptune  and  Eolus  ar  agreed  of  lyclybmhi 
For  Tjtua  at  Dover  abydytbe  in  the  rode; 

Lucina  she  wadythe  among  the  watry  floddes, 
And  the  ajkkes  begyn  to  crowe  agayne  I 

Le  tonsan  de  Jaion  is  lodgid  among  the  shrowdM 

Of  Argus  revengjd,  reeover  when  he  iMJi  • 

Lyacon  of  Libyk  and  Lydy  hathe  cawghle  hj* 

pray: 

Goe,  lytyll  qnayre,  pray  them  (hat  jow  be!iolil«( 

In  there  remeoibrauiius  ye  may  lie  iiirolde. 


SPEKE,   PARROT.  261 

Yet  some  folys  say  that  ye  arre  flfurnysshyd  with 
knakkes, 
That  hang  togedyr  as  fethyrs  in  the  wynde ; 
But  lewdlye  ar  they  lettyrd  that  your  lernyng 
lackys, 
Barkyng  and  whyning,  lyke  churlysshe  currys 

of  kynde, 
For  whoo  lokythe  wyselye  in  your  warkys  may 
fynde 
Muche  frutefull  mater :  but  now,  for  your  defence 
Agayne  all  remordes  arme  yow  with  paciens.    aw 

Monostichon, 

Ipse  sagax  cequi  ceu  verax  nunttus  ito. 
Morda  puros  mal  desires,     Portugues. 
PenuUimodie  Octohris,        83*.    ' 

Secunde  Lenuoy, 

Passe  forthe,  Parotte,  towardes  some  passengere, 
Require  hym  to  convey  yow  ovyr  the  salte  fome ; 
Addressyng  your  selfe,  lyke  a  sadde  messengere, 
To  ower  soleyne  seigneour  Sadoke,  desire  hym 

to  cum  home, 
Makyng  hys   pylgrimage  by  nostre   dame  de 
Crome  ; 
For  Jerico  and  Jerssey  shall  mete  togethyr  assone 
ka  he  to  exployte  the  man  owte  of  the  mone. 

With  porpose  and  graundepose  he  may  fede  hym 
fatte, 


36-* 


SPEKR,  PAKBOT. 


TliuiTglie  he  pampyr  not  hys  pauncbe  with  llit 
grele  seall :  w 

We  Uaue  longyd  and  lokyd  long  tyme  for  that, 
Whyehe  cawsytlie  pore  sutera  baue  many  i 

hungry  mele : 
As   presydent  and  regenle  he  rulyihe  eveiy 
deal). 
Now  pas  furthe,  good  Parol!,  ower  L>orde  be  joai 

In  ihis  your  journey  to  prospere  and  spede  ! 

And  thowe  BUm  dysdajne  yow,  and   sey  how  j( 
prate, 
And  hone  your  poemya  arre  barayne  of  pal- 
yshed  eloquena, 
There  ia  none  that  your  came  woH  abbrogate 
Then  nodypollys  and  gramatolys  at  smsUe 

lellygens ; 
To  rude  ys   tliere  reason   to   reche  to  yw 


Suche  malyncoly  mastyvys  and  mangye  cam 

dogges 
Ar  mete  for  a  swyneherde  to  hunte  after 

Monostickon, 
Prittaee,  perge  volant,  fataorum  ttla 
Mordapurog  mall  detcrg.     Portugnm- 

In  diehut  Novembrit, 
84. 


SPEKE,    PABROT.  268 

Le  dereyn  Lenveoy, 

"PTep&jre  yow,  Parrot,  breuely  your  passage  to 
take, 
Of  Mercury  vndyr  the  trynall  aspecte, 
And  sadlye  salute  ower  solen  syre  Sydrake, 
And  shewe  hym  that  all  the  world  dothe  con- 

iecte, 

How   the  maters  he  mellis  in  com  to  small 

effecte; 

For  he  wantythe  of  hys  wyttes  that  all  wold  rule 

alone ;  as9 

Hy  t  is  no  ly  tyll  bordon  to  here  a  grete  mylle  stone : 

To  bryng  all  the  see  into  a  cheryston  pytte,. 

To  nombyr  all  the  sterrys  in  the  fyrmament, 
To  rule  ix  realmes  by  one  mannes  wytte, 

To  suche  thynges  ympossybyll  reason  cannot 

consente : 
Muche  money,  men  sey,  there  madly  he  hathe 
spente : 
Parrot,  ye  may  prate  thys  vndyr  protestacion. 
Was  neuyr  suche  a  senatour  syn  Crystes  incama- 
cion. 

Wherfor  he  may  now  come  agayne  as  he  wente, 
Nbn  sine  postica  sanna,  as  I  trowe,  sm 

From  Calys  to  Dovyr,  to  Caunterbury  in  Kente, 
To  make  reconyng  in  the  resseyte  how  Robyn 
loste  hys  bowe. 


264  SPEKE,  rARRor. 

To  sowe  come  in  (he  see  saode,  ther  wjHil 

crope  growe. 
Tliow  ye  be  tauntyd.  Parotic,  wiih  f  onges  atta yntyd, 
Yet  your  problemea  ar  preignaunte,  and  nilh 

lojalte  acqoajD^d. 

Monostichott. 

J,  properaits,  Parrot[^e},^  malai  sie  eorript  lingiM 

Morda  puros  mall  desires.     Portiguet, 

15  kalendis  Deeembria, 

3i. 

Dittichon  miserabile. 
Alitor,  keu,  cedro,  erudelior,  heu,  leopardo  / 
Stu,  vttiUiu  buhaii fit  doiatniu  Priam*/ 

Telrattichon, — Uhde  species  Priann  est  (2^fiM 

JSim  annii  licet  et  Priamus  sed  konore  voetritt 
Dam  foveas  viiulum,  rex,  regerit,  BritawM! 

Rex.  regeris,  noa  ipse  regis  ;  rex  ine^U,  calls  i 
Subde  libi  vituiuta,  ne/atuet  niaunim.  * 

God  amend  all, 

Tbat  all  amend  maj  t 
Amen,  quod  Farott, 

I  Parralt]  MuiEbecoiBidaradhere  aa  s  I^ttiwrt**'' 


SPEKE,    PARROT.  265 

The  royall  popagay. 

Kdlendis  Decembns^ 
34. 

Lenvotf  roycUL 

Gro,  propyr  Parotte,  my  popagay, 

That  lordes  and  ladies  thys  pamdett  may  behold, 

With  notable  clerkes :  supply  to  them,  I  pray, 
Your  rudenes  to  pardon,  and  also  that  they  wolde 
Vouchesafe  to  defend  yow  agayne  the  brawlyng 
scolde,  860 

Callyd  Detraxion,  encankryd  with  envye, 

Whose  tong  ys  attayntyd  with  slaundrys  obliqui. 

For  trowthe  in  parabyll  ye  wantonlye  pronounce, 
Langagys  diuers,  yet  vndyr  that  dothe  reste 

Maters  more  precious  then  the  ryche  jacounce, 
Diamounde,  or  rubye,  or  balas  of  the  beste, 
Or  eyndye  sapher  with  oryente  perlys  dreste : 

Wherfor  your  remorde[r]s  ar  madde,  or  else 
Starke  blynde, 

Yow  to  remorde  erste  or  they  know  your  mynde. 

Distichon, 

T,  volitans}-  Parrote^  tuam  moderare  Minervam  . 
Vix  tua  percipient^  qui  ttuz  tegue  legent,         an 


1  tfolUans]  MS.  "  vHhns  " — ^not,  I  think,  a  mistake  for  "  ru* 
Ulans : "  compare  ante^  '*  Psittace,  perge,  volaruy'*  p.  262  and 
**I,  properans,  Parrot,"  p.  264. 


SPEKE,  PA.RIIOT. 


3yper&t:Uo[tt]. 
Ptitlaeui  hi  nolut  jii  Persim  estputo  notat, 
iftc  reor  est  nee  ent  llcel  est  eri't.^ 

Maledite  ioyte  houcke  maVieureiose  I 
34. 

LawAiiTB  de  Parott, 

0  ray  Parrot,  0  taiice  dilecte,  votontm  meoram 

omnia  lapii,  lapis  prefiosug  opmmentum 

tuum/ 

ParroU. 

Sicut  Aaron  populumque,  He  huhati  vittdtu,  A 

hubali  viCulus,  tic  buhaU  vitultu. 

Thus  mjche  Parott  bathe  opynlye  expreste: 
Let  se  who  dare  make  vp  the  reale. 

JLe  Popagay  ten  va  complayndrt. 

Helas !  I  lamente  the  dull  abusjd  brayne, 
The  enfatuale  fantasies,  the  wytlea  wylfubes 

OF  on  and  hothyr  at  me  that  haue  dyBdajne: 
Som  Bey,  they  cannot  my  parables  expresses 
Som  sey,  I  rayle  att  ryoil  rechelea;  ■ 

1  Ttang  ooneetAd  bj  a  revisvvr  in  OaaL  Mag, 
PUlaau  hio  wAa  Mil  Pertiia  iMpiUo  iMM^ 
Ntc  rtor  at,  •«  eril,  nee  Sett  at,  nee  eriL 


SPEKE,   PARROT.  267 

Some  say  but  lityll,  and  thynke  more  in  there 

thowghte, 
How  thys  presses  I  prate  of,  hyt  ys  not  all  for 

nowghte. 

O  causeles  cowardes,  O  hartles  hardynes  ! 

O  manles  manhod,  enfayntyd  all  with  fere ! 
O  connyng  clergye,  where  ys  your  redynes 
To  practise  or  postyll  thys  presses  here  and 

there  ? 
For  drede  ye  darre  not  medyll  with  suche  gere, 
Or  elles  ye  pynche  curtesy,  trulye  as  I  trowe, 
Whyche  of  yow  fyrste  dare  boldly e  plucke  the 
crowe. 

The  skye  is  clowdy,  the  coste  is  nothyng  clere ;  aw 

Tytan   hathe   truste   vp   hys   tressys  of  fyne 

golde ; 

lupyter  for  Saturne  darre  make  no  royall  chere ; 

Uyacon  lawghyth  there  att,  and  berythe  hym 

more  bolde ; 
Racell,  rulye  ragged,  she  is  like  to  cache  colde ; 
Moloc,  that  mawmett,  there  darre  no  man  withsay ; 
The  reste  of  suche  reconyng  may  make  a  fowle 
fraye. 

Dtxity  quod  Parrott,  the  royall  popagay. 

Oest  chose  mal€heure[u]sef 
Que  mall  houche. 


SP1!EK,  PARROT. 


Parrotte. 
Jupiter  ut  mtido  deui  est  venerat.u»  Olj/mpoJ 

Hie  coliturque  delta.  <■ 

Sunt  data  tkura  Jbvi,  rultlo  ioKo  residmti} 

Cum  Jove  ihura  eapit. 
Jupiter  aetrofum  rector  domifiusqug  poloriai; 

Angliea  seeptra  regit. 

Galatkea. 
t  compAS  the  conreyaunce  vnto  the  capitaQ' 
Of  ower  clerke  Cleros,  whylhyr,  thydyr,  uX 
why  not  hethyr? 
For  pa^ae  a  paae  apase  jh  gon  to  cacba  a  moUe, 
Over    Starpary  mala    vi,    Monsyre    cy  and 

sliddyr : 
Wliate   aeqaele  shall  folow  when   pendaginu 
mete  logethyr  ? 
Speke,  Parolle,  my  sweto   byrde,  and    ye  aiall 
haue  a  date,  ■>■ 

Of   ffaulyckoeB   and    folysahnes   whyche    ys  the 
greit  state? 

Parolte.  ^^M 

BifTicille  hit  ys  to  anaswere  thys  deiiroiui%f^^| 

Yet,  nftyr  ihe  sagacite  of  a  popagay, —  ^^^ 
Franliknes  dothe  rule  and  all  ihyng  cumniaDnde; 

Wylfulnea  and   braynles   no[wJ  rule  all  the 

Agnyne  ffrentike  frentsy  tbei'e  dar  no  man  spj 


SPEKE,   PARROT.  269 

For  ffrantiknes,  and  wylfulnes,  and  braynles  en- 

sembyll, 
The  nebbis  of  a  Ijon  they  make  to  trete  and 

trembyll ; 

To  jumbyll,  to  stombyll,  to  tumbyll  down  lyke 

folys, 

To  lowre,*  to  droupe,  to  knele,  to  stowpe,  and 

to  play  cowche  quale,  «» 

To  fysshe  afore  the  nette,  and  to  drawe  polys ; 

fie  make[th]  them  to  bere  baby  lies,  and  to 

here  a  lowe  sayle ; 
He  caryeth  a  kyng  in  hys  sieve,  yf  all  the 
worlde  fayle ; 
He  facithe  owte  at  a  fflusshe,  with,  shewe,  take 

all! 
Of  Pope  Julius  cardys  he  ys  chefe  cardynall. 

He  tryhumfythe,  he  trumpythe,  he  tumytke  all 

vp  and  downe, 
With,  skyregalyard,  prowde  palyard,  vaunte- 

perler,  ye  prate  I 
Hys  woluys  hede,  wanne,  bloo  as  lede,  gapythe 

ouer  the  crowne : 
Hyt  ys  to  fere  leste  he  wolde  were  the  garland 

on  hys  pate, 
Feregall  with  all  prynces  farre  passyng  his 

estate ;  «» 

llowre]  Qy.  "lowte?" 


270  SPEKE,  PARROT. 

For  of  ower  regente  the  regiment  he  hath6,tf 

qtuz  vt, 
PcUet  per  versus,  quod  ex  vi  boUe  harvu 

Now,  Galathea,  lett  Parrot,  I  pray  yow,  haue  hys 
date; 
Yett  dates   now  ar   deynte,   and  wax  verye 
scante, 
For  grocers  were  grugyd  at  and  groynyd  at  but 
late; 
Grete  reysons  with  resons  be  now  reprobitante, 
For  reysons  ar  no  resons,  but  resons  currant: 
Ryn  God,  rynne  Devyll  I  yet  the  date  of  ower 

Lord 
And  the  date  of  the  Devyll  dothe  shrewlye  accord 

JXxitj  quod  Parrott,  the  popagay  royalL 

Galathea, 

Nowe,  Parott,  my  swete  byrde,  speke  owte  yet 
ons  jigayne,  ** 

Sette  asyde  all  sophyms,  and  speke  now  trew 
and  playne. 

Parotte, 

So  many  morall  maters,  and  so  lytell  vsyd; 
So  myohe  newe  makyng,  and  so  madd  tyme 
spente ; 
So  myche  traiislaclon  in  to  Englyshe  confused; 
So  myche  nobyll  prechyng,  and  so  lytell  amend- 
ment ; 


SFEKE,  FARROT.  271 

I  myclie  consultacion,  ftlmosle  to  none  entente ; 
So  myche  provision,  and  so  lyiell  wyiie  ut  nede ; — 
Syna  Dewcalyons  flodde  there  can  no  clerkes  rede. 

So  lytyll  dyscreasyon,  Hud  bo  myehe  reasonyng; 
So  myclie  hardy  dardy,  and  bo  lylell  manly- 

So  prodigall  expence,  and  so  shamfull  reeonyng; 
So  goi'gyous  garmentes,  and  so  myehe  wrecbyd- 

So  myche  portlye  pride,  with  pursys  penylea  ; 
So  mycbe  apente  before,  and  ao  myche  vopayd 

behyiide ;  — 
Syne  Dewcalyons  flodde    there    can  no  clerkea 

I      So  myche  forcastyng,  and  so  farre  an  arter  dele ; 

So  myche    polelyka    pratyng,   and  so   lytell 

slondylhe  in  stede  ; 

So  lylell  secretneae,  and  eo  mycbe  grele  councell ; 

So  manye  Lolde  barons,  there  hertes  as  dull  as 

So  many  nobyll  bodyes  vndyr  on  dawya  hedd; 
So  royall  a  kyng  as  reynylbe  vppon  vs  all; —  "i  ' 
Syns  Uencalions  flodde  was  nevyr  sens  nor  shall. 

So  many  eomplayates,  and  so  amalle  redrease; 
So  myche  callyng  on,  and  bo  amalle  takyng 

o  myche  losse  of  mercbautidyse,  and  so  remedy- 
les; 


272  8PEKE,  PABBOT. 

So  lytell  care  for  the  comjn  wetfll,  and  n 

myche  nede ; 
So   mycbe   dow^tfuU  daunger,   and  so  Ijtd 
drede ; 
So   mycbe  pride  of  prelattes,  so  cruell  and  bo 

kene ;  — 
Syns  Dewcalyons  flodde,  I  trowe,  was  nevyr 
sene. 

So  many  thevys  hangyd,  and  thevys  never  the 

lesse  ;  « 

So  mycbe  prisonment  ffor  matyrs  not  worthe 

an  ha  we ; 

So  mycbe   papers  weryng  for  ryghte  a  smalle 

exesse ; 

So  mycbe  pelory  pajauntes  vndyr  colower  of 

good  lawe ; 
So   mycbe   towrnyng  on  the  cooke  stole  for 
euery  guy  gaw ; 
So   mycbe    mokkysbe   makyng   of    statutes  of 

array ;  — 
Syns  Dewcalyons  flodde  was  nevyr,  I  dar  sey. 

So   braynles   caluys   bedes,   so   many   sbepis 
taylys ; 
So  bolde  a  braggyng  bocber,  and  flesshe  sold 
so  dere ; 
So  many  plucte  partrycbes,  and  so  fatte  quaylles ; 
So  mangye   a  mastyfe  curre,  tbe  grete  grej 
boundes  pere ;  * 


SPEKE,   PARROT.  273 

So  bygge  a  bulke  of  brow  auntlers  cabagyd 
that  yere ; 
So  many  swannes  dede,  and  so  small  revell ;  — 
Syns  Dewcalyons  flodde,  I  trow,  no  man  can 
tell. 

So   many  trusys   takyn,   and   so   lytyll  perfyt6 
trowthe ; 
So  myche  bely  joye,  and  so  wasteful!  banket- 

So  pynchyng  and  sparyng,  and  so  lytell  profyte 
growthe ; 
So  many  howgye  howsys  byldyng,  and  so  small 

howseholding ; 
Suche  statutes  apon  diettes,  suche  pyllyng  and 
pollyng ; 
So  ys  all  thyng  wrowghte  wylfully  withowte  reson 

and  sky  lie  ;  — 
Syns  Dewcalyons  flodde  the  world  was  never  so 

yll.  490 

So  many  vacabondes,  so  many  beggers  bolde ; 
So  myche  decay  of  monesteries  and  of  relygious 
places ; 
So   bote    hatered    agaynste    the   Chyrche,   and 
cheryte  so  colde ; 
So  myche  of  my  lordes  grace,  and  in  hym  no 

grace  ys ; 
So  many  holow  hartes,  and  so  dowbyll  faces ; 
VOL.  II.  18 


I 


274  BPEi 

So  mj'che  sayutuary  brekjng,  and  jireujIegidJe 

baiTjild;  — 
Hjns  DewcalyOQS   floJde  was   nei-yr  sene  not 

So  myche  raggyd  rj-ghte  of  a  rammes  faomei 

So  I'jgoi-oua  revelyug  ^  in  a  prelate  specially ; 

So  bold  and  eo  braggyog,  and  was  so  tweelje 

boruK ;  «» 

So  lordlyc  ofhys  lokes  and  so  dysdajoeslfe; 

So  fatte  a  magott,  bred  of  a  flesshe  llye ; 

Was  nevyr  suche  a  ffyltj  gorgon,  nor  sucbe  in 

epycure, 
Syn[?]  Dewcalyoiia  flodde,  I  make  the  fastean^ 


So    myche    preuye    wachyng    in    cold    wjnwn 

So  mycbc  sercliyng  of  iosellea,  and  ys  bymselfe 
80  lewde  ; 
So  myche  coniuraoions  forelvyshemydaysprettes; 
So    muuy   bullys   of   pardon    puplysshyd   and 

Bbewyd ; 
So  myche   ci'ossyng  and  blyssyng,  and  liym  nU 
beshrewJe  j 
Suche  pollaxis  and  pyllers,  euche  mvlya  IrspW 
wish  gold ; —  '» 

Sens  DewcalyoQS  flodde  in  no  eronycle  ys  lolJ. 


3P.jrlSo5IS,ii(t 


, "  trolbll' 


SPEKE,   PARROT.  275 

Dixit,  quod  Parrot. 

Orescet  in  immensum  me  vivo  Psittactts  iste  ; 

Hinc  mea  dicetur  SkeUonidis  inclyta  famcu 

Quod  Skelton  Lawryat, 

Orator  Reg%u9» 

34.] 


276        WHY    COME   YE   NAT    TO    COURTE? 


HEBE   AFTER   FOLOWSTH  ▲   LTTK^L  BOKE,   WHICIII 

HATH  TO   NAME 

WHY  COME  YE  NAT  TO  COURTE  ?  * 

COMPYLED  BT  MAY8TER  SKELTON,  FOBTE  LAUBEATE. 


'¥■' 


The  relucent  mirror  for  all  Prelats  and  Presidents; 
as  well  spirituall  as  temporally  sadly  to  loke 
vpon,  deuised  in  English  by  Skelton. 

All  noble  men,^  of  this  take  hede, 
And  beleue  it  as  your  Crede. 

To  hasty  of  sentence, 
To  ferce  for  none  offence, 
To  scarce  of  your  expence, 
To  large  in  neglygence. 
To  slacke  in  recompence, 
To  haute  in  excellence, 


*  From  the  ed.  by  Kele,  n.  d.,  collated  with  that  by  Wyght, 
n.  d.,  with  that  by  Kytsoii,  n.  d.,  and  with  Marshe's  ed.  of 
Skelton's  Warkes,  1568. 

1  AU  noble  men^  ^c]  These  twenty-eight  introductory  lines, 
v/hich  are  found  in  all  the  eds.  of  this  poem,  are  also  printed, 
as  a  distinct  piece,  in  the  various  editions  of  CericUne  bokei 
comjnjledhy  Maysttr  Skdton,  &,c.,  n.  d.,  and  in  Marshe's  ed. 
of  Skelton's  Workts,  1568. 


WHY    COME    YE    NAT    TO    COURTE?         277 

To  lyglit  [in]  intellegence, 

And  to  lyght  in  credence ;  w 

Where  these  kepe  resydence, 

Reson  is  banysshed  thence. 

And  also  dame  Prudence, 

With  sober  Sapyence. 

All  noble  men,  of  this  take  hede. 

And  beleue  it  as  your  Crede. 

Than  without  collusyon, 
Marke  well  this  conclusyon, 
Thorow  suche  abusyon. 
And  by  suche  illusyon,  m 

Vnto  great  contusyon 
A  noble  man  may  fall, 
And  his  honour  appall ; 
And  yf  ye  thynke  this  shall 
Not  rubbe  you  on  the  gall. 
Than  the  deuyll  take  all ! 
All  noble  men,  of  this  take  hede. 
And  beleue  it  as  your  Crede. 

Jlcec  votes  iUe^ 

De  quo  loquuntur  miUe.  m 


WHY  COME  YE  NAT  TO  COURT? 
For  age  is  a  page 
For  the  courte  full  vnmete. 
For  age  cannat  rage, 
Nor  basse  her  swete  swete : 


VRT    COMK    VE    NAT    TO    COUETE? 

But  wbim  age  seeth  that  rage 
Dothe  a«w3ge  Hiid  reirayne, 
Than  v/y\[  nge  haue  a  corage 
To  come  to  cout^  agayna. 
But 

Helas,  eage  oaerage 
So  modi/  decayed 
Tliat  age  for  dottage 
Is  reeoned  now  adayea : 

Thus  age  (a  graunt  domage) 
Is  nothynge  set  by, 
And  rage  in  arerage 
Dothe  rynne  lamenlablj. 
So 

That  rago  must  make  pyllage, 
To  catehe  iliat  cftlche  may,  ' 
And  with  euclie  forage 
Hunte  the  boskage, 
Thai  hartes  wyll  ronne  away ; 
Boibe  hnrtes  and  hyndes, 
"VViih  all  pood  myndes : 
Fare  well,  ilian,  haue  good  day! 

Than,  haue  good  daye,  adewel 
Fordefuuteofrescew, 
Some  men  may  happely  rew, 
And  some  theyr  hedes  mew ; 
The  tyme  dothe  fast  ensew, 
That  bates  begynne  to  brew ! 
I  di'ede,  by  swete  lesu, 
This  tale  «yll  be  to  Irew; 


WELY   COME  YE  NAT  TO  COURTE  ?    279 

In  faythe,  dycken,  thou  krew, 
In  fayth,  dicken,  thou  krew,  &c. 
Dicken,  thou  krew  doutlesse ; 
For,  trewly  to  expresse, 
There  hath  ben  moche  excesse,  \ 

With  banketynge  bray nl esse, 
With  ryotynge  rechelesse, 
With  ganibaudynge  thryftlesse,  tn 

With  spende  and  wast  witlesse,  ' 

Treatinge  of  trewse  restlesse, 
Pratynge  for  peace  peaslesse. 
The  countrynge  at  Cales 
Wrang  vs  on  the  males : 
Chefe  counselour  was  carlesse, 
Gronynge,  grouchy ug,  gracelesse ; 
And  to  none  entente 
Our  talwod  is  all  brent, 
Our  fagottes  are  all  spent,  » 

We  may  bio  we  at  the  cole  : 
Our  mare  hath  cast  her  fole. 
And  Mocke  hath  lost  her  sho ; 
Whf^t  may  she  do  therto  ? 
An  ende  of  an  olde  song, 
Do  ryght  and  do  no  wronge,  i 

As  ryght  as  a  rammes  home ; 
For  thrifte  is  threde  bare  worne. 
Our  shepe  are  shrewdly  shorne, 
And  trouthe  is  all  to-torne;  •• 

Wysdom  is  laught  to  skorne, 
Fauell  is  false  forsworne, 


OUKTK?  J 


lauell  is  nobly  borne, 
Hatiell  and  Uaruy  Uafter, 
lack  Trauell  and  Cole  Craller,   j 
We  shall  liei'e  more  hurafWi; 
With  pollynge  Jind  sbaiiynge, 
With  borowjnge  and  cranyDge, 
With  reuynge  and  rauynge, 
With  sweryngB  and  starynge, 
Tlier  vayleth  no  resonynge, 
For  wyll  dolhe  rule  all  thynge,  j 
Wyil,  wyll,  wyll,  wyll,  wyll, 
He  ruklli  alway  styll. 
Good  reason  and  good  skyll, 
They  may  garlyeke  pyll, 
Cury  saukes  to  the  myll, 
Or  pescoddes  lliey  may  shyll, 
Or  tilles  go  rost  a  atone  : 


Tbei 


1  but  o 


That  huthe  Ibe  strokes  alone; 

Be  it  blacks  or  whight, 

All  iliat  he  dothe  is  ryght, 

As  right  as  a  cammocke  rroke^  ] 

Tbls  byll  well  ouer  lokeS, 

Clerely  perceuye  we  may 

There  went  the  bare  away. 

The  hare,  the  fox,  the  gray, 

The  harie,  the  hynde,  the  buckiJ 

God  Gende  vs  better  luck! 

God  seiide  vs  belier  lucke,  &&  1 

Twit,  Andrewe,  Iwit,  Scot, 
Ge  htuie,  ge  fuoui;  thj'  pot  i 


WHY  COME  YE  NAT  TO  COUKTE  ?    281 

For  we  haue  spenle  our  shot : 

We  shall  haue  a  tot  quot 

From  the  Pope  of  Rome, 

To  weue  all  in  one  lome  'I        V*'^*^ 

A  webbe  of  lylse  wulse,     ,ii*        ' 

Opus  male  dulce: 

The  deuyll  kysse  his  cule  !  w* 

For,  whyles  he  doth  rule,     I 

All  is  warse  and  warse  ;        * 

The  deuyll  kysse  his  arse  I 

For  whether  he  blesse  or  curse, 

It  can  not  be  moche  worse. 

From  Baumberow  to  Bothombar 

We  haue  cast  vp  our  war, 

And  made  a  worthy  trewse, 

With,  gup,  leuell  suse !         i 

Our  mony  madly  lent,  m 

And  mor  madly  spent : 

From  Croydon  to  Kent, 

Wote  ye  whyther  they  went  ? 

From  Wynchelsey  to  Rye, 

And  all  nat  worth  a  fiye ; 

From  Wentbridge  to  Hull ; 

Our  armye  waxeth  dull, 

With,  tourne  all  home  agayne, 

And  neuer  a  Scot  slayne.  t 

Yet  the  good  Erie  of  Surray,        T ,    i 

The  Frenche  men  he  doth  fray, 

And  vexeth  tliem  day  by  day 

With  all  tlie  power  he  may ; 


The  Froneb  men  he  hulb  fayiiled, 
And  made  Iheyr  hertts  atla^nled: 
or  cheunlry  be  ia  the  Houre  j 
Our  Larde  be  his  socc-oure ! 
The  French  men  he  bathe  bo  mated, 
And  llieyr  courage  abated, 
That  they  are  but  halfe  men; 
Lyke  foxes  in  theyr  denne, 
Lyke  cankerd  oowardea  all, 
Lyke  vreheons  in  a  stone  wall, 
They  kepn  them  in  theyr  holdes, 
Lyke  heiiherted  cokoldes, 
But  yet  they  oner  shote  VS 
'  Wyth  crownes  and  wyth  acutuB; 
With  BCutia  and  crownes  of  gold 
I  drede  we  are  bought  and  solde  i 
It  is  a  wonders  warke : 
They  shote  all  at  one  marke, 
At  the  Cardynala  hat, 
The;  shote  all  at  that ; 
Oute  of  theyr  strongs  lownes 
They  shotn  at  him  with  crownes; 
With  crownea  of  golde  enblaaed 
They  make  him  so  amased, 
And  Ilia  eyen  so  daaed, 
That  he  ne  se  can 
To  know  God  nor  man. 
He  is  aet  eo  hye 
In  hia  ierarchy 
Of  franlycke  frenesy 


WHY    COMB    TE    NAT   TO    COUETB?         288 

And  folysshe  fantasy, 

That  in  the  Ghambre  of  Starres 

All  maters  there  he  marres ;  1 

Clappyng  his  rod  on  the  borde,  ; 

No  man  dare  speke  a  worde,  --'^■' 

For  he  hathe  all  the  sayenge, 

Without  any  renayenge ;  iW 

He  rolleth  in  his  recordes, 

He  say th,  How  saye  ye,  my  lordes  ? 

Is  nat  my  reason  good? 

Good  euyn,  good  Robyn  Hood  I 

Some  say  yes,  and  some 

Syt  styll  as  they  were  dom : 

Thus  th  warty  ng  ouer  thom, 

He  ruleth  all  the  roste 

With  braggynge  and  with  host ; 

Borne  vp  on  euery  syde  ■» 

With  pompe  and  with  pryde, 

With,  trompe  vp,  alleluya! 

For  dame  Philargerya 

Hathe  so  his  herte  in  holde. 

He  loueth  nothyng  but  golde ; 

And  Asmodeus  of  hell 

Maketh  his  membres  swell 

With  Dalyda  to  mell, 

That  wanton  damosell. 

Adew,  Philosophia, 

Adew,  Theologia ! 

Welcome,  dame  Simonia, 

With  dame  Castrimergia, 


VHT    CO.ilt:    Ti!   NAT   TO    COCBTI 

To  cirjnke  Hiiil  for  lo  eate 
Swete  jjiocrus  and  swete  d 
To  kepe  his  flesdhe  chas^ 
In  Lent  for  a  repast 
He  cat(;tli  capons  stewed, 
Fesaunt  and  piirtriclie  n 
Hennes,  checkynges,  and  p) 
He  foynes  and  lie  fryggea, 
Spareth  neitber  mayde  ne  wyfPi 
This  is  a  poslels  lyfel 

Htilas !  my  hm'te  ia  Bory 
To  tel!  of  Tayiie  glory : 
But  now  ypon  tliU  Btioy 
I  wyll  no  further  rymB 
Tyll  anolher  tynie, 
Tyll  another  lywe^  i 

Wha 


WHY   COME   YE   NAT   TO    COIJRTB?         285 

What  here  ye  of  Lancashyre? 
They  were  nat  payde  their  hyre ; 
They  are  fel  as  any  fyre. 

What  here  ye  of  Chesshyre  ? 
They  haue  layde  all  in  the  myre ; 
They  grugyd,  and  sayde 
Theyr  wages  were  nat  payde  ;  «•• 

Some  sayde  they  were  afrayde 
Of  the  Scottysshe  hoste, 
For  all  theyr  crack  and  host, 
Wylde  fyre  and  thonder ; 
For  all  this  worldly  wonder, 
A  hundred  myle  asonder 
They  were  whan  they  were  next ; 
That  is  a  trew  text. 

What  here  ye  of  the  Scottes  ? 
They  make  vs  all  sottes,  «• 

Poppynge  folysshe  dawes ; 
They  make  vs  to  pyll  strawes ; 
They  play  their  olde  pranckes. 
After  Huntley  bankes : 
At  the  streme  of  Banockes  burne 
They  dyd  vs  a  shrewde  tume, 
Whan  Edwarde  of  Karnaruan 
Lost  all  that  his  father  wan. 

What  here  ye  of  the  Lorde  Dakers  ? 
He  maketh  vs  Jacke  Rakers  ;  «• 

He  sayes  we  ar  but  crakers ; 
He  calleth  vs  England  men 
Stronge  lierted  lyke  an  hen  5 


rny  cosiE  te  nat  to  codkt»H 

Fur  llic  Scottes  and  he 
To  well  they  do  Rgre, 
With,  do  thou  for  me, 
And  I  sliall  do  for  th^. 
Whiles  llie  red  hat  doth  endure, 
He  maketh  himselfe  cxtck.  sure ; 
The  red  hat  with  his  lure 
Bryiigetb  all  thynges  voder  cure. 

But,  as  the  worlde  now  gose, 
What  here  ye  of  the  Lorde  Rose? 
Hothynge  to  purpose, 
Nat  worth  a  cockly  fose : 
Their  hertes  be  Id  thyr  hose. 
The  Erie  ofNonliuruberlande 
Dare  take  nolhynge  on  handei 
Our  barons  be  so  bolde, 
Inlo  a  mouse  hole  they  wolde 
Eynne  away  and  erepe ; 
Ljke  a  muyoy  of  Bhepe, 
Dare  nat  loke  out  at  di 
For  drede  of  the  mastyue  caff 
For  drede  of  the  bochei'S 
Wold  wyrry  them  lyke  tin  ho{ 

For  and  this  eilrre  do  gnar, 
They  must  stande  all  a  far, 
To  bolde  Yp  their  hande  at  the 
For  all  their  noble  blode 
He  pluckeii  tbcni  by  ihe  hode, 
And  sliakes  ihcni  by  Ihe  eore, 
Anil  bfyiigL-[<]  iliein  in  suche  few*! 


WHY  COME  YE  NAT  TO  COURTE?    287 

He  bajteth  them  lyke  a  here, 

Lyke  an  oxe  or  a  bull : 

Theyr  wyttes,  be  saith,  are  dull ; 

He  sayth  they  haue  no  brayne 

Theyr  astate  to  mayntayne ; 

And  maketh  them  to  bow  theyr  kne 

Before  his  maieste.  sto 

Juges  of  the  kynges  lawes, 

He  countys  them  foles  and  dawes ; 

Sergyantes  of  the  coyfe  eke, 

He  sayth  they  are  to  seke 


In  pletynge  of  theyr  case  ^  V 


>t 


At  the  Commune  Place, 

Or  at  the  Kynges  Benche ; 

He  wryngeth  them  suche  a  wrenche, 

That  all  our  lerned  men 

Dare  nat  set  theyr  penne  wo 

To  plete  a  trew  try  all 

Within  Westmynster  hall ; 

In  the  Chauncery  where  he  syttes, 

But  suche  as  he  admyttes 

None  so  hardy  to  speke ; 

He  sayth,  thou  huddypeke, 

Thy  lernynge  is  to  lewde, 

Thy  tonge  is  nat  well  thewde, 

To  seke  before  our  grace ; 

And  openly  in  that  place  «•• 

He  rages  and  he  raues, 

And  cals  them  cankerd  knaues ; 

Thus  royally  he  dothe  deale 


VHT   COME   TE    KAT   TO    COURTK? 

VnJer  ihe  kynges  brode  scale ; 
And  in  the  Checker  he  them  cheks ; 
In  the  Ster  Charabre  he  noddis  and  bdu. 
And  boreth  him  there  ao  stowte, 
That  no  man  dare  rowte, 
Duke,  erle,  baron,  nor  lorde. 
Hat  to  his  seaCcnce  must  accorde; 
Whether  lie  be  knyght  or  squyre. 
All  men  must  folow  hia  desyre. 

What  say  ye  of  the  Scottyah  kynge? 
That  is  another  ihyng. 
He  is  but  an  yonglyng, 
A  stalworlhy  slryplyng: 
There  is  a  whyepring  and  a  whipling, 
He  shulde  be  hyder  brought  j 
But,  and  it  were  well  aought, 
I  trow  all  wyll  he  nought,  ■ 

Nat  worth  a  shyttel  Cocke, 
Nor  worth  a  sowre  calstocke. 
There  golli  many  a  lye 
Of  ih    D  k      f  Alb     y, 
That    r   h  Id    ^    1      bede, 

q  J  ke  or  dede, 


And 
Them 
But,  m 

I  dred      t 
Subt  lly 
Vnde        f  y 
But        I 


1     d 


f  two  houres. 


f  !se  trayne 


WHT   COME   TE  NAT   TO    COUBTB  ?       ^89 

Men  may  happelj  se 

The  trechery  and  the  prankes  ■ 

Of  the  Scotlysshe  bankes. 

What  here  ye  of  Burgonyons, 
And  the  Spainyardes  onyons  ? 
They  haue  slain  our  Englisshmen 
Aboue  threscore  and  ten :  an 

For  all  your  amyte, 
No  better  they  agre. 

Grod  saue  my  lorde  admyrell ! 
What  here  ye  of  Mutrell  ? 
There  with  I  dare  nat  mell. 

Yet  what  here  ye  tell 
Of  our  graunde  counsell  ? 
I  coulde  say  some  what, 
But  speke  ye  no  more  of  that, 
For  drede  of  the  red  hat        ,-     ,^       »• 
Take  peper  in  the  nose ; 
For  than  thyne  heed  of  gose, 
Of  by  the  harde  arse. 
But  there  is  some  trauarse 
Bytwene  some  and  some, 
That  makys  our  syre  to  glum  ; 
It  is  some  what  wronge, 
That  his  berde  is  so  longe ; 
He  morneth  in  blacke  clothynge. 
I  pray  God  saue  the  kynge  !  »• 

Where  euer  he  go  or  ryde, 
I  pray  God  be  his  gyde  ! 

VOL.   II.  19 


290        WHY   COME   YE   NAT   TO    COUBTB? 

Thus  wyll  I  condade  my  style, 
And  fall  to  rest  a  whyle, 
And  so  to  rest  a  whyle,  &c 

Ones  yet  agayne 
Of  you  I  wolde  frayne, 
Why  come  ye  nat  to  court?— 
To  whyche  court  ? 
To  the  kynges  courte, 
Or  to  Hampton  Court  ? — 
Nay,  to  the  kynges  court : 
The  kynges  courte 
Shulde  haue  the  excellence ; 
But  Hampton  Court 
Hath  the  preemynence, 
And  Yorkes  Place, 
With  my  lordes  grace, 
I  To  whose  magnifycence 
Is  all  the  conflewence, 
Sutys  and  supplycacyons, 
Embassades  of  all  nacyons. 
Strawe  for  lawe  canon, 
Or  for  the  lawe  common. 
Or  for  lawe  cyuyll  I 
It  shall  be  as  he  wyll : 
Stop  at  law  tancrete. 
An  obstract  or  a  concrete  ; 
Be  it  souie,  be  it  swete. 
His  wysdome  is  so  dyscrete. 
That  in  a  fume  or  an  hete, 
Wardeyn  of  the  Flete, 
Set  hym  fast  by  the  fete ! 


WHY    COME   YE   NAT   TO    COUBTE?         291 

And  of  his  royall  powre 

Whan  him  lyst  to  lowre, 

Than,  haue  him  to  the  Towre, 

Saunz  avlter  remedy, 

Haue  hym  forthe  by  and  by 

To  the  Marshalsy, 

Or  to  the  Kynges  Benche  !  vm 

He  dyggeth  so  in  the  trenche 

Of  the  court  royall, 

That  he  ruleth  them  all. 

So  he  dothe  vndermynde, 

And  suche  sleyghtes  dothe  fynde, 

That  the  kynges  mynde 

By  hym  is  subuerted. 

And  so  streatly  coarted 

In  crodensynge  his  tales, 

That  all  is  but  nutshales  ^ 

That  any  other  sayth ; 

He  hath  in  him  suche  fayth. 

Now,  yet  all  this  myght  be 
Suffred  and  taken  in  gre. 
If  that  that  he  wrought 
To  any  good  ende  were  brought ; 
But  all  he  bringeth  to  nought. 
By  God,  that  me  dere  bought ! 
He  bereth  the  kyng  on  hand. 
That  he  must  pyll  his  lande,  i» 

To  make  his  cofers  ryche ; 
But  he  laythe  all  in  the  dyche. 
And  vseth  suche  abusyoun, 


292        WHY   COME   TB  NAT   TO    COUBTB? 

That  in  the  condusyoun 
All  commeth  to  confusjon. 
Perceyue  the  cause  why, 
To  tell  the  trouth  playnly, 
He  is  so  ambicyous, 
So  shamles,  and  so  vieyous, 
,  And  so  supersticyous, 

\  And  so  moche  obliuyous 

From  whens  that  he  came, 
That  he  falleth  into  a  caciam,  ^ 
Whiche,  truly  to  expresse, 
Is  a  forgetfulnesse, 
Or  wylfuU  blyndnesse, 
Wherwith  the  Sodomites 
Lost  theyr  inward  syghtes, 
The  Grommoryans  also 
Were  brought  to  deedly  wo, 
As  Scrypture  recordis : 
A  ccscitate  cordis^ 
In  the  Latyne  synge  we, 
Libera  nos,  Domine  ! 

But  this  madde  Amalecke, 
Lyke  to  a  Mamelek, 
He  regardeth  lordes 
No  more  than  potshordes  ; 
He  is  in  suche  elacyon 
Of  his  exaltacyon, 
And  the  supportacyon 
Of  our  souerayne  lorde, 
That,  God  to  recorde, 

1  a  cactaTw]  Eds.  "  Acisiam. "  Compare  v.  472. 


WHY   COME   YB   NAT   TO    COURTB?         298 

He  ruleth  all  at  wyll, 

Without  reason  or  skyll : 

How  be  it  the  primordyall 

Of  bis  wretched  original], 

And  his  base  progeny, 
•   And  his  gresy.  genealogy, 
,  He  came  of  the  sank  royall,  m 

That  was  cast  out  of  a  bochers  stall.  ^ 
But  how  euer  he  was  borne, 

Men  wolde  haue  the  lesse  scorne, 

If  he  coulde  consyder 

His  byrth  and  rowme  togeder, 

And  call  to  his  mynde 

How  noble  and  how  kynde 

To  him  he  hathe  founde 

Our  souereyne  lorde,  chyfe  grounde 

Of  all  this  prelacy,  mo 

And  set  hym  nobly 

In  great  auctoryte, 

Out  from  a  low  degre, 

Whiche  he  can  nat  se : 

For  he  was  parde 

No  doctor  of  deuinyte, 

Nor  doctor  of  the  law, 

Nor  of  none  other  saw ; 

But  a  poo  re  maister  of  arte, 

God  wot,  had  lytell  parte  «• 

Of  the  quatriuials, 

Nor  yet  of  triuialis, 

Nor  of  philosophy, 


WHT    COVE    IK    KAT    TO    COrBTE? 

Nor  of  pfaQDlo^, 

Nor  of  good  poOjvy, 

Nor  of  latneoaaj, 

Nor  metfMjvg^A  vonli  «  fl  j 

Wbh  botxir^ile  Haly, 

Nor  with  rojaQ  PtlwlaiBy, 

Nor  villi  ARMmasv, 

To  tPMie  ■rfuT'  Mur 

PjrxtorAmatijU; 

Hb  Laiyne  tonge  doUke  hobbjpll, 

H«  dotli  bol  dovw  &Dd  eoUOl 

la  Tvlla  bralte, 

CUkd  hnmanyte ; 

Y«t  piondl  J  Im  (fare  pretenJa 

How  DO  nMUi  tarn  Iiin  »Ma»ie; 

Bat  iMoa  ye  nsl  barde  Ibia, 

How  an  ooe  ejed  mail  is 

WeU  BTgfaHd  wtwn 

He  b  amonge  Ujnde  laea? 

Than,  oar  pnxc^se  far  la  itMa, 
Tt^  mu  w«s  fan  ToaUs 
To  recfae  to  tneba  degra^ 
Had  aat  oor  ptynce  be 
RoTall  HciBT  the  ej-fat. 
Take  bim  ia  sncbe  eoaeej'ght. 
That  be  $«4  bin  OB  beTgbt, 
Id  «x«iDpljr}refiee 
Gmt  Alexander  tlw  kvnge. 
In  wriiyo-e  a»  we  fjwle  : 
Whicbe  of  bis  njrall  ■  jnde, 


WHY   COMB   YE  NAT   TO    COUBTK?         295 


And  of  his  noble  pleasure, 

Transcendynge  out  of  mesure,    , 

Thought  to  do  a  thjnge 

That  perteyneth  to  a  kynge, 

To  make  vp  one  of  nought, 

And  made  to  him  be  brought 

A  wretched  poore  man,  , 

Whiche  his  lyuenge  wan  ' 

With  plantyng  of  lekes 

By  the  dayes  and  by  the  wekes, 

And  of  this  poore  vassall 

He  made  a  kynge  royall, 

And  gaue  him  a  realme  to  rule, 

That  occupyed  a  showell, 

A  mattoke,  and  a  spade, 

Before  that  he  was  made 

A  kynge,  as  I  haue  tolde. 

And  ruled  as  he  wolde. 

Suche  is  a  kynges  power. 

To  make  within  an  hower, 

And  worke  suche  a  myracle, 

That  shall  be  a  spectacle 

Of  renowme  and  worldly  fame  : 

In  lykewyse  now  the  same 

Cardynall  is  promoted, 

Yet  with  lewde  condicyons  cotyd, 

As  herafter  ben  notyd, 

Presumcyon  and  vayne  glory, 

Enuy,  wrath,  and  lechery, 

Couetys  and  glotony. 


VWr    COME    TF.    NAT    TO    CODRTa? 

SloulliruU  to  do  good, 

Nov  frantick,  now  starke  wode. 

Sliulde  this  man  ot'suuhe  mode 
Rule  the  Bwerde  of  myght, 
How  can  he  do  ryght  ? 
For  he  wyll  as  gone  amygtil 
Hia  frende  ae  his  fo ; 
A  prouerbe  longe  ago. 

Set  vp  a  wretche  on  hye 
In  a  trone  triumphantlye, 
Make  him  fi  great  astate, 
And  be  wyll  play  cheuke  mate 
With  ryall  maie^te, 
Couute  him  selt'e  aa  good  as  he : 
A  prelate  potency  a  II, 
To  rule  vnder  Bellyall, 
As  ferce  and  as  cmcU 
As  the  fynd  of  bell. 
His  SQi^usiinles  menyall 
He  dotbe  reuyle,  and  brail, 
Lyke  Muhounde  in  a  play  i 
No  man  dare  him  wilhiay  : 
He  halh  dispyglit  and  scome 
At  ihetn  that  he  well  borne; 
He  rebukes  them  and  vayle^, 
Ye  horson*,  ye  vassaylea. 
Ye  knaues,  ye  cburles  soaaya, 
Ye  rebads,  nnt  worth  two  plummiS) 
Ye  rayiibeiyn  beggers  reiagged. 
Ye  recrayed  ruflyiis  nil  ragged  1 


WHY  COME  TE  NAT  TO  COURTE?    297 

With,  stowpe,  thou  hauell, 

Rynne,  thou  iauell  I 

Thou  peuysshe  pye  pecked, 

Thou  loseil  longe  necked  ! 

Thus  dayly  they  be  decked. 

Taunted  and  checked, 

That  they  ar  so  wo,  •!• 

Tliat  wot  not  whether  to  go. 

No  man  dare  cotne  to  the  speche 
Of  this  gentell  lacke  breche, 
Of  what  estate  he  be, 
Of  spirituall  dygnyte. 
Nor  duke  of  hye  degre, 
Nor  marques,  erle,  nor  lorde ; 
Whiche  shrewdly  doth  accorde, 
Ttius  he  borne  so  base 
All  noble  men  shulde  out  face,  m 

His  countynaunce  lyke  a  kayser. 
My  lorde  is  nat  at  layser ; 
Syr,  ye  must  tary  a  stounde, 
Tyll  better  layser  be  founde ; 
And,  syr,  ye  must  daunce  attendaunce, 
And  take  pacient  sufferaunce. 
For  my  lordes  grace 
Hath  nowe  no  tyme  nor  space 
To  speke  with  you  as  yet. 
And  thus  they  shall  syt,  •» 

Chuse  them  syt  or  flyt, 
Stande,  walke,  or  ryde, 
And  his  layser  abyde 


919 


Thou  «'*"««' 
If""  Wjj  wJ^"  Packed, 

^"""fe/aL'''"^  '^  decked, 
^''«t  wot  „  ''"» 

fio  man  dar^  _        '"  go. 
Of  (his  o.  *^'ne  to  ti, 

/>«  better  iav/   f  ''"""'^e, 
'^''*^'  «Jr,      ' jf'"'-  ^^  found,. 

^«'i  neve  n    ^  *''^ 

"''  ""■  'te^  S  "'• 


/ 

I 
/ 

/ 


/ 

/ 


Ptifchaance  Imllt:  a  jcre, 

Jioi  ret  neuer  (he  nere. 
Tbis  daungerous  dowsjpera, 

tyke  a  kyngfjjs  peve  ; 

Jiud  wiiliin  iliis  xvi.  yere 

He  wolde  haue  ben  ryglit  fayne 

To  haue  ben  a  cbapleyne, 

Anil  baue  taken  ryght  gret  payne 

Wilh  a  poore  knyght, 

Wbal  soeuer  he  hyghL 

Tiie  chefe  ot'  his  owne  couosell, 

They  can  nal  well  lell 

Whan  they  wilh  hym  shuldc  melli 

lie  is  so  lyers  and  Fell; 

He  rayles  and  he  ratis, 

Ho  palletb  tbera  doddypatis ; 

He  gryiinea  and  he  gapis, 

As  it  were  lack  napis. 

Suche  a  madde  bedleme 

For  lo  rewie  this  reame, 

It  is  a  wonders  case : 

That  the  kyngea  grace 

Is  toward  him  so  mynded, 
I  Aiid  so  iarre  blynded, 

Tiiat  be  can  nat  parceyue 
I  Huw  he  doth  hym  disceyue, 

I  dought,  lest  bysoraery, 
'  r  suche  other  loselry, 

3  wychecraft,  or  charmyng, 
for  lie  lit  the  kyngos  derlyiig, 


WHY    COME    YE   NAT    TO    COURTE?         299 


And  his  swete  hart  rote, 
And  is  gouerned  by  this  mad  kote : 
For  what  is  a  man  the  better 
For  the  kynges  letter  ? 
For  he  wyll  tere  it  asonder ; 
Wherat  moche  I  wonder, 
Howe  suche  a  hoddypoule 
So  boldely  dare  controule, 
And  so  malapertly  withstande 
The  kynges  owne  hande, 
And  settys  nat  by  it  a  myte  ; 
He  sayth  the  kynge  doth  wryte 
And  wrlteth  he  wottith  nat  what ; 
And  yet  for  all  that, 
The  kynge  his  clemency 
Despensyth  with  his  demensy. 

But  what  his  grace  doth  thinke, 
I  haue  no  pen  nor  inke 
That  therwith  can  mell  ; 
But  wele  I  can  tell 
How  Frauncis  Petrarke, 
That  moche  noble  clerke, 
Wryteth  how  Charlemayn 
Coude  nat  him  selfe  refrayne, 
But  was  rauysht  with  a  rage 
Of  a  lyke  dotage : 
But  how  that  came  aboute. 
Rede  ye  the  story  oute, 
And  ye  shall  fynde  surely 
It  was  by  nycromansy, 


VHT   COJIK    VE    NAT   TO    COL'BTE? 

Bj  i-Hi'i-cms  aod  coDiurai:yon, 
Vnder  a  uerlcyue  coiisleliscion, 
And  a  («riaj*ne  fumygaoion, 
Vnder  a  stonu  on  a  golde  rjng, 
WrougkC  to  CliarleiDHyn  ihe  ^ingi 
Wliiciie  constraynud  Liin  futcebly 
For  to  loae  a  ceriajue  body  ' 

Aboue  all  other  iiiurdiuaily. 
This  is  no  fablti  nor  no  lyei 
At  Aeon  it  wtu  brought  to  pOSi 
As  by  luyne  aucior  iried  it  was. 
But  let  tni  maiiiers  nwihematical 
Tell  you  tbe  rest,  for  me  they  shalf 
They  haue  the  full  iiHellygence, 
Aad  dare  7S0  llie  expcryttos, 
In  there  obsolule  oonsciena 
To  practyue  suche  sbolete  sden>;     * 
Fur  I  abliure  to  sniatter 
Of  one  so  (icuyliy^she  a  matter. 

But  1  wyll  make  further  reladoa 
Of  ihis  isagogieall  eolation. 
How  maisUjr  Gi^uiue,  tbu  orownycler 
Of  tbe  Icjtis  of  war 
That  were  done  in  Fraunoe, 
Makeib  remembraunce. 
How  Kynge  Lewes  of  lute 
Made  vp  a  great  aslate  * 

Of  a  [HK>re  wrelcbid  mim, 
Wherof  inuche  tare  bi'gan. 
lobannc^  Bulua  was  lii^  uam^ 


WHY  COME  YE  NAT  TO  COURTE  ?    301 

Myne  auctor  writeth  the  same ; 

Promoted  was  he 

To  a  cardynalles  dygnyte 

By  Lewes  the  kyng  aforesayd, 

With  hym  so  wele  apayd, 

That  he  made  him  his  chauncelar 

To  make  all  or  to  mar,  m 

And  to  rule  as  him  lyst, 

Tyll  he  cheked  at  the  fyst, 

And  agayne  all  reason 

Com  my  ted   open  tray  son 

And  *  against  his  lorde  souerayn ; 

Wherfore  he  suffred  payn, 

Was  hedyd,  drawen,  and  quarterd, 

And  dyed  stynkingly  marterd. 

Lo,  yet  for  all  that 

He  ware  a  cardynals  hat,  t« 

In  hym  was  small  fayth, 

As  myne  auctor  sayth : 

Nat  for  that  I  mene 

Suche  a  easnelte  shulde  he  sene, 

Or  suche  chaunce  sbulde  fall 

Vnto  our  cardynall. 

Allmyghty  God,  I  trust. 
Hath  for  him  dyscust 
That  of  force  he  must 

•         ^ 

Be  faythfull,  trew,  and  iust  wo 

To  our  most  royall  kynge, 

And]  Perhaps  ought  to  be  thrown  out.    Compare  v.  1062 


802        WHY   COME   YE   NAT   TO    COUBTB? 

Chefe  rote  of  his  makjnge ; 
Yet  it  is  a  wyly  mouse 
That  can  bylde  his  dwellinge  house 
Within  the  cattes  eare 
Withouten  drede  or  feare. 
It  is  a  nyce  reconynge, 
To  put  all  the  gouernynge, 
All  the  rule  of  this  lande 
Into  one  mannys  hande : 
One  wyse  mannys  hede 
May  stande  somwhat  in  stede ; 
i   But  the  wyttys  of  many  wyse 
■   Moche  better  can  deuyse, 
By  tlieyr  cyrcumspection, 
And  theyr  sad  dyrrection, 
To  cause  the  commune  weale 
I  Lonn'e  to  endure  in  heale. 
Christ  kepe  King  Henry  the  eyght 
From  trechery  and  dysceyght, 
And  graunt  him  grace  to  know 
The  faucon  from  the  crow, 
The  wolfe  from  the  lam, 
From  whens  that  mastyfe  cam  I 
Let  him  neuer  confounde 
The  gentyll  greyhownde: 
Of  this  matter  the  grownde 
Is  easy  to  expounde. 
And  soone  may  be  perceyued. 
How  the  worlde  is  conueyed. 

But  harke,  my  frendf,  one  worde 
In  ernest  or  in  borde : 


"WHY    COME   YE   NAT   TO    COURTE  ?         308 

Tell  me  nowe  in  this  stede 

Is  maister  Mewtas  dede, 

The  kynges  Frenche  secretary, 

And  his  vntrew  aduersarj? 

For  he  sent  in  writynge 

To  Fraunces  the  French  kyng 

Of  our  maisters  counsel  in  eueri  thing : 

That  was  a  peryllous  rekenyng ! —     790 

Nay,  nay,  he  is  nat  dede ; 

But  he  was  so  payned  in  the  hede, 

That  he  shall  neuer  ete  more  bred. 

Now  he  is  gone  to  another  stede, 

With  a  bull  vnder  lead. 

By  way  of  commissyon, 

To  a  straunge  iurisdictyon, 

Called  Dymingis  Dale, 

Farre  byyonde  Portyngale, 

And  hathe  his  pasport  to  pas  w 

Ultra  Sauromatas, 

To  the  deuyll,  syr  Sathanas, 

To  Pluto,  and  syr  Bellyall, 

The  deuyls  vycare  generall, 

And  to  his  college  conuentuall. 

As  well  calodemonyall 

As  to  cacodemonyall, 

To  puruey  for  our  cardynall 

A  palace  pontifycall. 

To  kepe  his  court  prouyncyall,  «• 

Vpon  artycles  iudicyall. 

To  contende  and  to  stryue 


I  inn  »ife  ;•»  aof.  ka  ■ 


W^T   COME   YE  NAT  TO    COUBTS?         305 


For  I  make  you  sure, 
Where  trouth  is  abhorde. 
It  is  a  plajne  recorde 
That  there  wantys  grace; 
In  whose  place 
Dothe  occupy, 
Full  vngracyously, 
Fals  flaterj) 
Fals  trechery, 
Fals  brybery, 
Subtyle  Sym  Sly, 
With  madde  foly ; 
For  who  can  best  lye^ 
He  IB  best  set  by. 
Than  farewell  to  th^, 
WelthfuU  felycite ! 
For  prosperyte 
Away  than  wyll  fle. 
Than  must  we  agre 
With  pouerte ; 
For  mysery, 
With  penury, 
Myserably 
And  wretchydly 
Hath  made  askrye 
And  outcry, 
Folowynge  the  chase 
To  dryue  away  grace. 
Yet  sayst  thou  percase. 
We  can  lacke  no  grace, 
OL.  II.  20 


XH)       WHY   COME  TE   NAT  TO   COUBTB? 

For  my  lordes  grace, 
And  my  ladies  grace, 
With  trey  duse  ase, 
And  ase  in  the  face, 
Some  haute  and  some  base, 
Some  daunce  the  trace 
Euer  in  one  case : 
Marke  me  that  chase 
In  the  tennys  play. 
For  synke  quater  trey 
Is  a  tall  man  : 
He  rod,  but  we  ran. 
Hay,  the  gye  and  the  gan ! 
The  gray  gose  is  no  swan ; 
The  waters  wax  wan. 
And  beggers  they  ban. 
And  they  cursed  Datan, 
J)e  trihu  Dan^ 
That  this  warke  began, 
Palam  et  clam, 
With  Balak  and  Balam, 
The  golden  ram 
Of  Flemmyng  dam, 
Sem,  lapheth,  or  Gim. 

But  howe  comme  to  pa% 
Your  cupboard  that  was 
Is  tourned  to  glasse, 
From  syluer  to  brasse. 
From  golde  to  pewter. 
Or  els  to  a  newter, 


WHY  COME  TK  NAT  TO  COURTE  ?    307 

To  copper,  to  tyn, 

To  lede,  or  alcumjn  ? 

A  goldsmyth  your  mayre  ; 

But  the  chefe  of  your  fayre 

Myght  stande  nowe  by  potters, 

And  suche  as  sell  trotters  : 

Pytchars,  potshordis, 

This  shrewdly  accordis  «• 

To  be  a  cupborde  for  lordys. 

My  lorde  now  and  syr  knyght, 
Good  euyn  and  good  nyght ! 
For  now,  syr  Trestram, 
Ye  must  weare  bukram. 
Or  Cannes  of  Cane, 
For  sylkes  are  wane. 
Our  royals  that  shone, 
Our  nobles  are  gone 
Amonge  the  Burgonyons,  m 

And  Spanyardes  onyons. 
And  the  Flanderkyns. 
Gyll  swetis,  and  Gate  spynnys, 
They  are  happy  that  wynnys ; 
But  Englande  may  well  say,  / 

Fye  on  this  wynnyng  all  way ! 
Now  nothynge  but  pay,  pay. 
With,  laughe  and  lay  downe, 
Borowgh,  cyte,  and  towne. 

Good  Sprynge  of  Lanam  ■• 

Must  counte  what  became 
Of  his  clothe  makynge : 


808      wnr  comu 


He  is  at  5u<^he  lukynge, 
Ttiougb  his  puriie  wax  dull, 
He  must  tax  for  his  wnll 
By  nature  of  a  newe  writ  i 
My  lordys  grace  nametfa  it 
A  quia  non  tatisfacit.' 
In  the  spyght  of  his  tethe 
He  must  pay  agayne 
A  thousande  or  twayns 
Of  his  golde  in  store ; 
And  yet  he  payite  before 
An  huTiderd  pounde  and  more, 
Whiche  pyncheth  him  sore, 
My  lordis  grace  wjll  brya^ 
Downe  Ihis  hye  sprynge, 
And  brynge  it  so  lowe, 
It  shall  nat  euer  flowe. 

Suche  a  prelate,  I  trowe. 
Were  worthy  to  rowe 
Thorow  the  streyles  of  Maro 
To  the  gybbet  of  Baldock  : 
He  wolde  dry  vp  tho  stremys  j 
Of  ix,  kinges  realmys, 
All  ryuers  and  wellys, 
All  waters  that  swellya; 
For  wiih  vs  he  so  mellys 
That  within  Englande  dwellys, 
I  wolde  he  were  Homwhere  ellys; 
Foi'  els  hy  and  by 
He  wyll  drynke  VS  so  iJrje, 


WHY  COME  TK  NAT  TO  COURTE?    307 

To  copper,  to  tyn, 

To  lede,  or  alcumjn  ? 

A  goldsmyth  your  mayre  ; 

But  the  chefe  of  your  fayre 

Myght  stande  nowe  by  potters, 

And  suche  as  sell  trotters : 

Pytchars,  potshordis, 

This  shrewdly  accordis  na 

To  be  a  cupborde  for  lordys. 

My  lorde  now  and  syr  knyglit. 
Good  euyn  and  good  nyght  I 
For  now,  syr  Trestram, 
Ye  must  weare  bukram, 
Or  canues  of  Cane, 
For  sylkes  are  wane. 
Our  royals  that  shone, 
Our  nobles  are  gone 
Amonge  the  Burgonyons,  m 

And  Spanyardes  onyons. 
And  the  Flanderkyns. 
Gyll  swetis,  and  Gate  spynnys. 
They  are  happy  that  wynnys ; 
But  Englande  may  well  say,  / 

Fye  on  this  wynnyng  all  way ! 
Now  nothynge  but  pay,  pay. 
With,  laughe  and  lay  downe, 
Borowgh,  cyte,  and  towne. 

Good  Sprynge  of  Lanam  w 

Must  counte  what  became 
Of  his  clothe  makynge : 


■WHY    COME    TE    NAT    TO    COrnjTE? 

That  nileth  but  he  alone, 
"^     Without  all  good  reason, 
And  all  out  of  season  : 
For  Folam  peason 
"Wilh  hira  be  nat  geson  ; 
They  growwe  very  rauke 
Vpon  euery  banke 
Of  his  herbers  grene, 
With  Taj  lady  bryght  and  sbene;1 
On  theyr  game  it  is  sene 
They  play  nat  all  clene, 
And  it  be  &s  1  wene. 

But  as  toucliynge  dyscrecyon,  I 
With  sober  dyrectyon, 
He  kepeth  them  in  subiectyon: 
They  crtn  baue  no  prolectyon 
To  rule  nor  to  guyde, 
But  all  must  be  tryde. 
And  abyde  the  correciyon 
Of  his  wylfull  affectyon. 
For  as  for  wylte. 
The  deuyll  spede  wfaitle  I 
But  brayngyk  and  braynlesse, 
Wyilea  and  recheleese, 
Carcles  and  ebamtesse, 
Thriftles  and  gracelesse, 
Together  are  bended 
And  so  eondyscended, 
That  the  commune  welth 
Shall  ncuer  liaue  good  lieUh. 


WHY  COME  TK  NAT  TO  COURTE  ?    307 

To  copper,  to  tyn, 

To  lede,  or  alcumjn  ? 

A  goldsmyth  your  mayre  ; 

But  the  chefe  of  your  fay  re 

Myght  stande  nowe  by  potters, 

And  suche  as  sell  trotters : 

Pytchars,  potshordis, 

This  shrewdly  accordis 

To  be  a  cupborde  for  lordys. 

My  lorde  now  and  syr  knyght, 
Good  euyn  and  good  nyght ! 
For  now,  syr  Trestram, 
Te  must  weare  bukram. 
Or  canues  of  Cane, 
For  sylkes  are  wane. 
Our  royals  that  shone, 
Our  nobles  are  gone 
Amonge  the  Burgonyons, 
And  Spanyardes  onyons. 
And  the  Flanderkyns. 
Gyll  swetis,  and  Gate  spynnys. 
They  are  happy  that  wynnys ; 
But  Fnglande  may  well  say,  / 


/ 


Fye  on  this  wynnyng  all  way ! 
Now  nothynge  but  pay,  pay. 
With,  laughe  and  lay  downe, 
Borowgh,  cyte,  and  towne. 

Good  Sprynge  of  Lanam 
Must  counte  what  became 
Of  his  clothe  makynge : 


/ 


WHY    COME    TB    NAT    TO    COURT 

His  mailnesae  by  writynge, 
Hia  sjtnplenesse  rcsylynge, 
Remordyiige  and  bylynge, 
With  chydjng  and  with  flytyi 
Shewynge  him  Goddl^  lawis: 
He  calleth  the  preciioure  dawis, 
And  of  holy  scnptutes  sawis 
He  couniuih  tJiem  fur  gygawis, 
And  putteth  them  to  lyleiice 
And '  with  wordii  of  vyolence, 
Lyke  Pharao,  voyde  of  grace, 
Dyd  Mojses  sore  manitse. 
And  Amn  Bore  be  tliret. 
The  worde  of  God  to  let; 
Tbis  maumet  in  lyke  wyse 
Against  the  churcbe  dolli  ryee; 
The  preehour  he  dothe  dyspyse, 
With  crakynge  in  puche  wyse, 
So  bnkggynge  all  with  host, 
That  no  prechoui-  almost 
Dare  epeke  for  his  lyfe 
Of  my  iordis  grace  nor  his  wjfe, 
For  he  liaih  suclie  a  bull, 
He  may  take  whom  he  wull. 
And  as  many  as  him  lykys  ; 
May  ete  p'ggea  in  Lent  for  pikys, 
After  the  sectes  of  licreljkis. 
Lent  he  wyll  eie 


AIlD 


r  of  fleasbe 


>  And]  rerliap?  onght  to  be  tt 


yrBY   COME  TE   NAT   TO    COURTE  ?         313 

That  he  can  ony  where  gete ; 

With  other  abusyons  grete, 

Wherof  for  to  trete 

It  wolde  make  the  deuyll  to  swete, 

For  all  priuileged  places  /^  , 

He  brekes  and  defaces,  ^ 

All  plads  of  relygion 

He  bathe  them  in  derisyon, 

And  makith  suche  prouisyon  :m 

To  dryae  them  at  diuisyon, 

And  fynally  in  conclusyon 

To  bringe  them  to  confusyon ; 

Saint  Albons  to  recorde 

Wherof  this  vngracyous  lorde 

Hathe  made  him  selfe  abbot, 

Against  their  wylles,  God  wot. 

All  this  he  dothe  deale 

Vnder  strength  of  the  great  scale, 

And  by  his  legacy,  iioo 

Whiche  madly  he  dothe  apply 

Vnto  an  extrauagancy 

Pyked  out  of  all  good  lawe, 

With  reasons  that  ben  rawe. 

Yet,  whan  he  toke  first  his  hat, 

He  said  he  knew  what  was  what ; 

All  iustyce  he  pretended. 

All  thynges  sholde  be  amended. 

All  wronges  he  wolde  redresse, 

All  iniuris  he  wolde  represse,  nw 

All  periuris  he  wolde  oppresse ; 


THT    COJIE   TE   NAT   TO    COCBTBg 

And  yet  this  gracelesse  elfe, 

He  is  peri u red  liimselfe. 

As  plainly  it  liothe  appere,        | 

Wbo  \yst  to  enquere 

111  Che  regestry 

Of  my  Lords  of  Cantorburjr, 

To  whom  be  was  professed 

In  tlire  poyntes  expressed; 

The  fjrst  to  do  him  reuerence,        i" 

The  eeconde  to  owe  hym  obedjenWf 

The  thirde  with  hole  affectyon 

To  be  vpder  his  subiectyon  ; 

But  now  be  makeib  obiectyoD, 

Vuder  the  pi'olectyon 

Of  tlie  kynges  great  seale, 

Thai  he  setteth  oeuer  a.  deale 

By  his  former  othe. 

Whether  God  be  pleased  or  wrolh. 

He  niakith  so  proude  prelens,         "■ 

Tliut  in  his  equipolens 

He  iugyth  him  equiuaknt 

With  God  omnipotent : 

But  yet  beware  the  rodi 

And  the  stroke  of  God  I 

The  Apostyll  Peter 
Hud  a,  pore  mjter 
And  a  pooi-e  cope 
Wlian  lie  was  cieat  Pope, 
First  in  Anlioche; 
He  dyd  neuer  approchu 


WHY  COME  YE  NAT  TO  COURTE  ?    315 

Of  Rome  to  the  see 
Weth  suche  dygnyte. 

Saynt  Dunstane,  what  was  he  ? 
Nothynge,  he  sayth,  lyke  to  me  : 
There  is  a  dyuersyte 
Bytwene  him  and  me  ; 
We  passe  hym  in  degre, 
As  legatus  a  latere. 

JEcce,  sacerdos  magnus,  iw 

That  wyll  hed  vs  and  hange  vs, 
And  streitly  strangle  vs 
And  he  may  fange  vs  ! 
Deere  and  decretall, 
Constytucj'on  prouincyall, 
Nor  no  lawe  canonicall, 
Shall  let  the  preest  pontyficall 
To  syt  in  cattsa  sanguinis. 
No  we  God  amende  that  is  amys ! 
For  I  suppose  that  he  is  >»8« 

Of  leremy  the  whyskynge  rod, 
The  flayle,  the  scourge  of  almighty  God. 

This  Naman  Sirus, 
So  fell  and  so  irous, 
So  full  of  malencoly, 
With  a  flap  afore  his  eye, 
Men  wene  that  he  is  pocky, 
Or  els  his  surgions  they  lye, 
For,  as  far  as  they  can  spy 
By  the  craft  of  surgery,  im 

It  is  manus  Domini, 


NAT  TO  c(k;btk2'I 


And  yet  this  proude 
He  U  i>o  ambicious, 
So  elvtu,  and  so  vidom^ 
And  50  croell  liertjd, 
Tlml  lie  w^lt  nul  be  eauuenji; 
For  he  icileili  God  •foi). 
He  b  ootve  to  ouenbwti>rt. 
And  so  pajrned  with  puigu. 
That  «I1  bis  irusl  han^ 
la  Bttlikasor,  wLielie  lulled 
Dotuingos  nose  cUat  w»t  whded; 
Tliai  I.Hinberdes  Do$e  nesnc  i. 
Thai  jidiidwh  yet  awiye; 
Ii  wjto  iiat  ht^lt'd  alderbesl. 
It  ji:ti>d«'tli  somwhat  oa  ibe  V( 
1  01VUIIV  Uoiiijngo  LodmIth, 
Tlutl  WAS  woiti  u>  wjn 
Uurhe  mooey  uf  rhe  ^jage 
Al  ihe  cHrdya  nnH  hasndj-np:        "■ 
BttllliMMir,  that  helyd  Ooioii^ns  noa 
Frunt  Ihe  [>Uiskylde  pcx^ky  po^e, 
\uw  wild  his  gummTs  of  Arabj 
HhiU  iiroutised  to Lele  our  <^mliiiab ep:: 
Yet  SUN  surgions  put  a  dont, 
litMt  ho  wyll  put  it  cl«n«  omi. 
Andinitkc  him  lame  oThiFoedST'liniDi'^^'' 
Liml  hmide  him  sorowe  for  bii  siini«l 
Siiinn  men  myght  a>ke  a  qatatiA 
By  whose  tiuggestyoa  * 

'  lokii  on  hand  (his  wnrkv, 
Tliua  boldly  for  to  barke  ? 


e  •» 

^ 


WHY   COMB   YE   NJLT  TO    COURTS?         817 

And  men  lyst  to  harke, 

And  my  wordes  marke, 

I  vryW  answere  lyke  a  clerke  ; 

For  trewlj  and  vnfayned, 

I  am  forcebly  constrayned. 

At  luuynals  request, 

To  wryght  of  this  glorious  gest, 

Of  this  vayne  glorj'ous  best,  vm 

His  fame  to  be  en  crest 

At  euery  solempne  feest ; 

Quia  difficile  est 

Satiram  non  icribere. 

Now,  mayster  doctor,  ho  we  say  ye, 

What  soeuer  your  name  be  ? 

What  though  ye  be  namelesse, 

Ye  shall  not  escape  blamelesse, 

Nor  yet  shall  scape  shamlesse : 

Mayster  doctor  in  your  degre,  vm 

Yourselfe  madly  ye  ouerse  ; 

Blame  luuinall,  and  blame  nat  me : 

Maister  doctor  Diricum, 

Omne  animi  vitium,  && 

As  luuinall  dothe  recorde, 

A  small  defaute  in  a  great  lorde, 

A  lytell  cry  me  in  a  great  astate, 

Is  moche  more  inordinate, 

And  more  horyble  to  beholde, 

Than  any  other  a  thousand  folde.       i«o 

Ye  put  to  blame  ye  wot  nere  whom ; 

Ye  may  weare  a  cockes  come ; 


WBV   COME   TE   NAT   TO    COrRTE? 

Your  I'unde  hed  in  jour  furred  liuoJ, 
Ilulde  ye  your  tong,  ye  caa  no  goodc 
And  at  more  conuenyent  tyoie 
I  may  fortune  for  lo  ryme 
SotnwhHI  of  yonr  miidnesse  ; 
For  small  is  your  saJnesse 
To  put  uny  ratm  in  lack, 
And  say  jll  behjndt:  liU  back:  '' 

And  my  wordes  marke  truly. 
That  ye  can  nat  Lyde  thereby. 
For  smegma  now  est  etitnanwrnum 
But  de  ahsentibui  nii  nisi  boKUiH, 
CompUyae,  or  do  what  ye  wyll, 
Of  your  complaynt  il  shall  Da[  skytr 
/This  in  the  tenor  of  my  byl, 

dmicockye  be,  and  so  sbalbe  stylL 

SequituT  Eipitoma 
Dc  iitorbilloio  noma, 
Necnan  ohicveno 
De  Pul^p/temo,  ^e. 

Purro  ferheUe  dissimiiiatutTt 
Ilium  Piindulphum,  taratim  U 
Tarn  fotijiidatum  niiptr  prteLtluni 
Ceu  Namaa  Sffrum  nw 
In  goliladinejam  eoinmoratum, 
NeapoUtano  inorho  j/rai^tnn, 
MalayiniVe.  catapUtam-Ue  ttrahtm 
Ph  tirmaa-pvlee  frrrv  /uralitm. 


n 


WHY  COME  YE  NAT  TO  COURTE?    319 

Nihilo  magis  cUlevicUum, 

Nihilo  melius  aiU  medicatum,  it 

Jielictis  famulis  ad  famulatum, 

Quo  toUatur  infamia, 

Sed  major  patet  insania  ; 

A  modo  ergo  ganea 

AbhorrecU  iUe  ganeus, 

Dominus  male  creticusy 

Aptius  dictus  tetricusy 

I^ancUicus,  pkreneticus, 

Graphicus  sicut  metricus 

Autumat,  « 

Hoc  germs  dictaminis 
Non  eget  examinis 
In  centihquio 
Nee  centimetro 
Honorati 
Grammatici 
Mauri, 

SCASTICHON  yiRULEMTUM  IN  OALERATUM  LYCAOMTA 

MARimjM,  &C. 

)h  dolor,  ecce,  maris  lupus,  et  nequissimus  ursus, 
mifids  vitiUus,  Britonumque  buhulcus  iniquus^ 
iflatus  vitulus  vel  Oreb,  vel  Salmane  vel  Zeb, 
"duus,  et  crudelis  Asaphque  Datan  reprobatuSy 
ndus  et  Achitophel  regis,  scelu^  omne  Britan^ 

num, 
desias  qui  namque  Thomas  confundit  uMque, 
%  sacer  iste  Thomas^  sed  duro  corde  GolcaSy 


SiO       WHT  COME  TE  NAT  TO  COnRTE  ? 

Quern  geilat  mulu*, —  SaC/iane,  cacel,  ohsecro, 
Fundeaa  atpkaltuin,  precor !  Hune  versum 
cautum  ; 

Aaperim  nihil  est  misera  quum  iurget  in  alti 


Exeital,  en,  asirtiu  nmlum,  mira/iila  msu, 
Oalcibus  !   0  veitro  cives  occttrrile  ateUo, 
Qui  regnum  Tegemque  regit,  qui  vegtra  gubtruai 
J'rxdia,  divitias,  uitntmos,  gazas,  ipoliandoJ 

Dijril    alludeiis,    iminn    ilfudeits, 

aiiiio  uui-eo  gnleraio. 


THE  DOUTT  DUKE    OP   ALBANY,   ETC.     321 


\ 


SKELTON,  LAUREATE,  &c 

[OWB  THE  DOUTT  DUKE  OF  ALBANY,*  LTKE  A  COWARDK 
KNYGHT,  RAN  AWAYE  8H  AM  FULLY,  WITH  AN  HUNDRED 
THOUSANDS  TRATLANDE  SCOTTES  AND  FAINT  HARTED 
PBENCHEMEN,  BESIDE  THE  WATER  OF  TWEDE,  &0. 

Reiotse,  Englanie,  "v  . 

And  vnderstande 

These  tidinges  newe, 

Whiche  be  as  trewe 

As  the  gospell : 

This  duke  so  fell 

Of  Albany, 

So  cowardly, 

With  all  his  boost 

Of  the  Scottyshe  coost,  m 

For  all  theyr  boost, 

Fledde  lyke  a  beest; 

Wherfore  to  ieste 

Is  my  delyght 

Of  this  cowarde  knyght, 

And  for  to  wright 

In  the  dispyght 

Of  the  Scottes  ranke 

Of  Huntley  banke, 

♦  From  Marshe's  ed.  of  Skelton'8  Workeif  1668. 
VOL.  II.  21 


822  THE  DOUTT  DUKE  OP  ALBANY,  ETC. 

Of  Lowdyan, 
Of  Locryan, 
And  the  ragged  ray 
Of  Galaway. 

Dunbar,  Dunde, 
Ye  shall  trowe  me, 
False  Scottes  are  ye : 
Your  hartes  sore  faynted, 
And  so  ^  attaynted, 
Lyke  cowardes  starke, 
At  the  castell  of  Warke, 
By  the  water  of  Twede^ 
Ye  had  euill  spede  ; 
Lyke  cankerd  curres, 
Ye  loste  your  spurres. 
For  in  that  fraye 
Ye  ranne  awaye. 
With,  hey,  dogge,  hay  I 
For  Sir  William  Lyle 
Within  shorte  whyle. 
That  valiaunt  knyght, 
Putte  you  to  flyght ; 
By  his  valyaunce 
Two  thousande  of  Fraunce 
There  he  putte  backe, 
To  your  great  lacke. 
And  vtter  shame 
Of  your  Scottysshe  name. 


1  80]  Qy.  "sore? 


»♦ 


THE  DOUTT  DUKE  OP  ALBANY,  ETC.  323 

Your  chefe  cheftayne, 

Voyde  of*  all  brayne, 

Duke  of  all  Albany,  «» 

Than  shamefuly 

He  reculed  backe, 

To  his  great  lacke, 

Whan  he  herde  tell 

That  my  lorde  amrell 

Was  comyng  downe, 

To  make  hym  frowne 

And  to  make  hym  lowre,  j 

With  the  noble  powre 

Of  my  lorde  cardynall,  • 

As  an  boost  royall, 

After  the  auncient  manner, 

With  sainct  Cutberdes  banner, 

And  sainct  Williams  also ; 

Your  capitayne  ranne  to  go, 

To  go,  to  go,  to  go, 

And  brake  vp  all  his  boost 

For  all  his  crake  and  host, 

Lyke  a  cowarde  knyght. 

He  fledde,  and  durst  nat  fyght,  it 

He  ranne  awaye  by  night. 

But  now  must  I 
Your  Duke  ascry 
Of  Albany 

With  a  worde  or  twayne 
In  sentence  playne. 

Ye  duke  so  doutty. 
So  Sterne,  so  stoutty. 


:   DOt'TT    DCKK  OF   ALBANY,    ETq 

Id  shurle  -lenteiis, 

Of  your  pmtena 

Whut  i^  the  grounde, 

Breucly  and  rounde 

To  me  expounde, 

Or  els  wjil  I 

Eujdenlly 

Sbeu-e  as  it  isj 

For  the  cause  is  this, 

Howe  ye  pretends 

For  to  det'cnde 

The  yonge  Scottyshe  kyng 

But  ye  meane  a  ihyng, 

And  ye  coude  bryng 

The  matter  about, 
\    To  puite  bis  eyes  out 
'    And  put  hvm  dowue, 

And  set  liys  crowoe 

On  your  owne  heed 

Whan  he  were  deed. 

Such  ti-echery 

And  Irajtory 

la  all  your  cast; 

Thus  ye  baue  compast 

With  the  Frenche  kyng 

A  fals  rekenyng 

To  eituade  Englande, 

Ab  I  vnderBtande : 

But  our  kyng  royall, 

Whose  name  ouer  sU, 

Noble  Henry  the  eyghV 


THE  DOUTT  DUKE  OF  ALBANY,  ETC.  325 

Shall  cast  a  bejght,  im 

And  sette  suche  a  snare, 

That  shall  cast  you  in  care, 

Bothe  Kyng  Fraunces  and  the. 

That  knowen  ye  shall  be 

For  the  moost  recrayd 

Cowardes  afrayd. 

And  falsest  forsworne. 

That  euer  were  borne. 

O  ye  wretched  Scpttea, 
Ye  puaunt  pyspottes,  m 

It  shalbe  your  lottes 
To  be  kuytte  vp  with  knottes 
Of  halters  and  ropes 
About  your  traytours  throtes ! 
O  Scottes  pariured, 
Vnhaply  vred, 
Ye  may  be  assured 
Your  falshod  discured 
It  is  and  shal  be 

From  the  Scottish  se  m 

Vnto  Gabione ! 
For  ye  be  false  echone. 
False  and  false  agayne, 
Neuer  true  nor  playne, 
But  fiery,  flatter,  and  fayne, 
And  euer  to  reraayne 
In  wretched  beggary 
And  maungy  misery, 
In  lousy  lothsumnesse 


;e  douty  duke  of  albani,  kto.^ 

And  scabbed  scorSjnesse, 
And  in  abliominacion 
OfuUmHn^rofnacion, 
Nacion  moost  in  hute, 
Proude  und  poore  of  siaie. 
Twyt,  Scot,  go  kepe  tby  den, 
MeU  nat  with  Englyslie  men  ; 
Thou  dyd  notbyng  but  barke 
At  the  caslell  of  Warke. 
Twyt,  Scot,  yet  agnjne  ones, 
We  sliall  breke  thy  bones. 
And  hang  you  vpon  poUes, 
And  byrne  you  all  lo  colles ; 
With,  iwyt,  Scot,  twyt,  Scot,  twyl, 
Walke,  Scot,  go  begge  a  byl 
Of  brede  at  yike  mannes  beeke : 
The  fyndc,  Scot,  breke  thy  neoki- ! 
Twyl,  Scot,  agayne  I  saye, 
Twyt,  Scot  of  Galaway, 
Twyt,  Scot,  shake  tby  dogge,'  Imj ! 
Twyt,  Scot,  thou  ran  away. 

We  set  not  a  flye 
By  your  Duke  of  Albany ; 
We  set  nat  a  prane 
By  Budie  a  dronken  dranei 
We  Bet  nat  a  myght 
By  suche  a  cowarde  knyght, 
Suche  a  proude  palyarde, 


l%(foj,i-ej  (Jy.  "lh6,doggBV'  butM 


THK  DOUTT  DUKE  OF  ALBANY,  ETC.  327 

Suche  a  skyrgaliarde, 

Suche  a  starke  cowarde, 

Suche  a  proude  pultrowne,  i« 

Suche  a  f'oule  coystrowne, 

Suche  a  doutty  dagswayne ; 

Sende  him  to  F[r]aunce  agayne, 

To  bring  with  hyrn  more  brayne 

From  Kynge  Fraunces  of  Frauns : 

God  sende  them  bo  the  myschauns ! 

Ye  Scottes  all  the  rable, 
Ye  shall  neuer  be  liable 
With  vs  for  to  compare ; 
What  though  ye  starape  and  stare  ?     »« 
God  sende  you  sorow  and  care  I 
With  vs  whan  euer  ye  mell, 
Yet  we  bear  away  the  bell, 
Whan  ye  cankerd  knaues 
Must  crepe  into  your  caues 
Your  heedes  for  to  hyde, 
For  ye  dare  nat  abyde. 

Sir  Duke  of  Albany, 
Right  inconuenyently 
Ye  rage  and  ye  raue,  i» 

And  your  worshyp  depraue: 
Nat  lyke  Duke  Hamylcar, 
With  the  Romayns  that  made  war, 
Nor  lyke  his  sonne  Ha ny ball. 
Nor  lyke  Duke  Hasdruball 
Of  Cartage  in  Aphrike  ; 
Yet  somwhat  ye  be  lyke 


THE  DOUXY  DUKE  OF  ALBANT, 

Id  some  of  their  condicions. 
And  their  fltlse  sedyciona, 
And  their  deuiyng  double, 
And  llieir  weywarde  trouble: 
But  yet  they  were  bolde, 
And  manly  inanyibide, 
Their  etiemyea  to  assayls 
In  playn  ielde  and  ballayle; 
But  ye  and  your  boost. 
Full  of  bra^e  and  boost, 
And  I'uil  of  wastd  wynde, 
Howe  ye  wy!l  beres  bynde, 
And  the  deuill  dowae  dynge, 
Yet  ye  dare  do  nothyiige, 
But  lepe  away  lyke  IVoggea, 
And  hyde  you  vnder  logges, 
Lyke  pygges  aud  lyke  bogges, 
And  lyke  muungy  do^es. 
What  an  army  were  ye  ? 
Or  what  actyuyte 
Is  in  yoo,  heggera  braules, 
Full  ot'  scabbes  and  scaulea, 
Of  vermyne  and  of  lyce, 
And  of  ull  luaner  vyce  ? 

Syr  duke,  nay,  syr  dudte, 
Syr  dmke  of  the  lake,  s: 
Of  the  donghyll,  for  amaU  iuc 
Te  haue  in  feiiEea  of  warre 
Ye  make  nought,  bat  ye  n 
Ye  are  a  " 


THE  DOUTT  DUKE  OF  ALBANY,  ETO.  829 

And  a  fals  abusar, 

And  an  vntrewe  knyght ; 

Thou  hast  to  lytell  myght  w 

Agaynst  Englande  to  fyght ; 

Thou  art  a  graceles  wyght 

To  put  thy  selfe  to  flyght : 

A  vengeaunce  and  dispight 

On  th^  must  nedes  lyght^ 

That  durst  nat  byde  the  sight 

Of  my  lorde  amrell, 

Of  chiualry  the  well, 

Of  knighthode  the  floure 

In  euery  marciall  shoure,  *« 

The  noble  Erie  of  Surrey, 

That  put  th^  in  suche  fray ; 

Thou  durst  no  felde  derayne. 

Nor  no  batayle  mayntayne 

Against  our  8t[r]onge  captaine, 

But  thou  ran  home  agayne, 

For  feare  thou  shoulde  be  slayne, 

Lyke  a  Scottyshe  keteryng, 

That  durst  abyde  no  reknyng ; 

Thy  hert  wolde  nat  serue  the :  «» 

The  fynde  of  hell  mot  sterue  th^  I 

No  man  hath  harde 
Of  suche  a  cowarde, 
And  such  a  mad  ymage 
Caried  in  a  cage, 
As  it  were  a  cotage ; 
Or  of  suche  a  mawment 


S30     THE    DOCTY   DDKE    OP   ALB 

Carjed  in  a  lent; 
In  a  lent !  nay,  nay, 
Bui  in  ft  mounlayne  gaj 
Lyke  H  great  hill 
For  8  wyndinil, 
TLerin  tu  uouclie  styll, 
Tliatng  man  bym  kylii, 

About  liym  a  parks 

Of  a  madde  warku, 

Heu  uill  it  a  loyle  ; 

Therin,  lykti  a  royle, 

Sir  Dunkan,  ye  dured,^ 

And  thus  ye  prepared'f 

Toure  carkiis  to  kepa,  ■ 

L3'ke  a  sely  sliepe, 

A  shepe  of  Cotiysivolda, 

From  rayne  wnd  from  colde, 

And  from  raynniiig  of  rappes,  j 

And  sucUe  aftyr  olappes ; 

Thus  in  your  cowardly  CMtell  1 

Ye  decte  you  to  dwell : 

SucLe  a  rapinyne  of  bors, 

It  made  no  gi-eat  fora 

If"  that  ye  had  lane 

Your  last  deedly  bane 

With  a  goD  Bioiie, 

To  uiake  you  lo  grone. 

Bui  liyde  ihe,  sir  Topiaa, 


THB   DOUTY  DUKE    OF  ALBANY,    ETC.    331 

Nowe  into  the  castell  of  Bas, 

And  lurke  there,  lyke  an  as, 

With  some  Scotyshe  [I]as,  mi 

With  dugges,  dugges,  dugges : 

I  shrewe  tliy  Scottishe  lugges, 

Thy  munpynnys,  and  thy  crag, 

For  thou  can  not  but  brag, 

Lyke  a  Scottyshe  hag : 

Adue  nowe,  sir  Wrig  wrag, 

Adue,  sir  Dalyrag ! 

Tliy  mellyng  is  but  mockyng ; 

Thou  may  St  glue  vp  thy  cocking, 

Gyue  it  vp,  and  cry  creke,  300 

Lyke  an  buddy peke. 

Wherto  shuld  I  more  speke 
Of  suche  a  farly  freke, 
Of  suche  an  home  keke, 
Of  suche  an  bolde  captayne. 
That  dare  nat  turne  agayne. 
Nor  durst  nat  crak  a  worde, 
Nor  durst  nat  drawe  his  swerde 
Agaynst  the  Lyon  White, 
But  ran  away  quyte  ?  «• 

He  ran  away  by  nyght, 
In  the  owle  flyght, 
Lyke  a  cowarde  knyght. 
Adue,  cowarde,  adue, 
Fals  knight,  and  mooste  vntrue  I 
I  render  the,  fals  rebelle, 
To  the  flingande  fende  of  belle. 


132      THK   DOCTY    I 


;    OF   AiBANT,   Bid 


worde, 


Uarkc  yet,  »ir  duke,  a 
In  einest  or  ia  borde: 
WLai,  liaue  je,  viDayn,  forged, 
And  virulently  djsgorged, 
Ai  though  ye  wolde  parbrake, 
Your  uuauns  to  make, 
WitU  wordes  enbosed, 
Vngracioualy  engrosed, 
Howe  ye  wyll  vudertake 
Our  Toj-all  kyng  to  make 
His  owne  realme  to  Forsake  ? 
Suciie  lewde  langage  ye  spoke. 
Sir  Duiikan,  in  the  deuill  naye, 
Be  well  ware  what  ye  say : 
Ye  saye  liiat  he  and  ye, — 
Whycbe  he  and  ye?  let  se; 
Ye  racane  Frauncea,  French  kyngi 
Shuhle  bring  about  that  thing. 
I  say,  thou  levvi]e  lurdayne, 
Thai  neyther  of  you  Iwayne 
So  hardy  nor  so  bolde 
His  countenaunce  lo  beholde: 
If  our  moost  royall  Harry 
Lyst  with  you  to  varry. 
Full  8oone  ye  should  miscary, 
For  ye  durst  nal  tarry 
With  hym  to  siryue  a  stownde; 
If  he  on  you  but  frounde, 
Nat  for  a  ihoufande  pounde 
Ye  dui'st  byde  on  the  grounde, 


THK   DODTT   DUKE    OF   ALBANY,   ETC.     333 

Ye  wolde  ryn  away  rounde, 

And  cowardly  tourne  your  backes, 

For  all  your  comly  crackes,  aw 

And,  for  feare  par  case 

To  loke  hym  in  the  face. 

Ye  wolde  defoyle  the  place. 

And  ryn  your  way  apace. 

Thoughe  I  trym  you  thys  trace 

With  Englyshe  somwhat  base. 

Yet,  satie  voster  grace, 

Therby  I  shall  purchace 

No  displesaunt  rewarde, 

If  ye  wele  can  regarde  «•■ 

Your  cankarde  co ward n esse 

And  your  shamfull  doublenesse. 

Are  ye  nat  frantyke  madde, 
And  wretchedly  bestadde. 
To  rayle  agaynst  his  grace, 
That  shall  bring  you  full  bace,      \ 
And  set  you  in  suche  case, 
That  bytwene  you  twayne 
There  shalbe  drawen  a  trayne 
That  shalbe  to  your  payne  ? 
To  fly  eye  shalbe  fayne. 
And  neuer  tourne  agayne. 

What,  wold  Fraunces,  our  friar, 
Be  suche  a  false  lyar, 
So  madde  a  cordylar, 
So  madde  a  murmurar? 
Ye  muse  somwhat  to  far ; 


334     THE  DOtTY    DUKE    OF  ALBAJiT,   I 


Wene  ye,  daucockes,  (o  diiae  ■! 
Our  kyng  out  of  his  reme  ? 
Ge  heme,  ranke  S«oI,  ge  h( 


With  fonde  Frauuces,  French  kj- 

Our  luaysler  shall  you  brynge 

I  trust,  to  lowe  estate, 

And  mate  you  with  chekma(e^_ 
Tour  braynes  arr  ydell  i 

Ii  is  time  for  yoa  to  brydell. 

And  pype  in  a  quibyble  i 

For  it  is  impossible 

For  you  to  bring  about. 

Oar  kyng  for  to  dryne  out 
'   Of  lliis  his  realme  rayall 
I  And  lande  imperialli 

So  noble  a  prince  as  he 
I  In  all  actyuite 

Of  hardy  mirrmll  aci^ 

Fortunute  in  all  tiis  fayies.' 
And  nowe  I  wyll  m«  dfcae 
\  Hi:)  valinuncc  to  espresse, 
JTbough  insufficient  am  I 

IHis  grace  to  magnify 

Und  Uude  equiualently ; 

Howe  be  it,  loyally. 

i&fter  myne  allegyaunce, 

^y  pen  I  nyll  auauDce 


4 


[•HE   DOUTY   DUKE    OP   ALBANY,   ETC.     335 

To  extoll  hid  noble  grace,  / 

In  spyght  of  thy  cowardes  face, 

In  spyght  of  Kyng  Fraunces, 

Deuoyde  of  all  nobles,  ^w 

Deuoyde  of  good  corage, 

Deuoyde  of  wysdome  sage. 

Mad,  frantyke,  and  sauage  ; 

Thus  he  dothe  disparage 

His  blode  with  fonde  dotage. 

A  prince  to  play  the  page  (^ 

It  is  a  rechelesse  rage, 

And  a  lunatyke  ouerage. 

What  though  my  stile  be  rude  ? 

With  trouthe  it  is  ennewde :  !    «» 

Trouth  ought  to  be  rescude, 

Trouthe  should  nat  be  subdude. 

But  nowe  will  I  expounde 
What  noblenesse  dothe  abounde, 
And  what  honour  is  founde. 
And  what  vertues  be  resydent 
In  our  royall  regent. 
Our  perelesse  president, 
Our  kyng  most  excellent : 

In  merciall  prowes  m 

Lyke  vnto  Hercules ; 
In  prudence  and  wysdom 
Lyke  vnto  Salamon  ; 
In  his  goodly  person 
Lyke  vnto  Absolon ; 
In  loyalte  and  foy 


THE   DOUTT   DL'KE    OF   ALBANY, 

Lyke  to  Eclor  of -Troy  ; 
And  his  glory  lo  incres, 
Lyke  lo  Scipiuclea; 
In  royal  mageste 
Lyke  vnlo  Ptliolome, 
Lyke  to  Duku  losue, 
And  ibe  valimini  Mochube; 
That  if  I  wolde  reporte 
All  the  roiall  sorle 
Of  his  nobilyle, 
Hia  magnBiiyinyte, 
His  animosiie, 
His  frugalite, 
lyberMlile, 
His  affiibililis 
His  humnnj'te, 
His  slahilile, 


His  hu[ 


His  benignite, 
His  royall  dif^nyte, 
My  lernyiig  is  lo  sraall 
For  to  recount  iliem  all. 
\    What  loseU  than  are  ye, 
Lyke  cowardes  as  ye  be. 
To  rayle  on  his  astate, 
With  wordes  inordinate  I 
He  rules  his  cominalte 
With  all  benignite ; 
His  noble  baronage, 
|He  puttetb  them  in  corage 


aE    DOUTT  DUKE    OP   ALBANY,    ETC.     837 

To  explojte  dedes  of  arrays, 

To  the  domage  and  harmys 

Of  suche  as  be  his  foos  ; 

Where  euer  he  lydes  or  goos,  «w 

His  subiectes  he  dothe  supporte,    ; 

Maintayne  them  with  comforte 

Of  his  moste  princely  porte. 

As  all  men  can  reporte. 

Than  ye  be  a  knappishe  sorte, 
Et  faiiez  a  luy  grant  iorie, 
With  your  enbosed  iawes 
To  rayle  on  hym  lyke  dawes ; 
The  fende  scrache  out  your  mawes ! 

All  his  subiectes  and  he  «• 

Moost  louyngly  agre 
With  hole  hart  and  true  mynde, 
They  fynde  his  grace  so  kynde ; 
Wherwith  he  dothe  them  bynde 
At  all  houres  to  be  redy 
With  hym  to  lyue  and  dye, 
And  to  spende  their  hart  blode. 
Their  bodyes  and  their  gode, 
With  hym  in  all  dystresse, 
Alway  in  redynesse  «« 

To  assyst  his  noble  grace ; 
In  spyght  of  thy  cowardes  face, 
Moost  false  attaynted  traytour. 
And  false  forsworne  faytour. 

Auaunte,  cowarde  recrayed  [ 
Thy  pride  shalbe  alayd ; 
OL.  II.  22 


33S      THE    DOCTY    J 


Wilh  sir  Fraunces  of  Frannce 
We  shall  pype  you  a  daunce. 
Shall  lourne  you  to  myschauns. 

I  rede  ytiu,  lake  about ; 
For  ye  ^balbe  driuen  out 
Of  your  lande  in  shorle  apace : 
We  will  so  folowe  in  ihe  chace, 
That  ye  shall  haue  do  grace 
For  to  lourne  your  face  ; 
And  thus,  Sainct  George  to  boro< 
Ye  shall  haue  ghame  and  soroffftj 

JLenuoi/, 
Go,  lytell  quayre,  quickly ; 

Shew  them  that  shall  you  teit, 
How  that  ye  are  lykely 

Ouer  all  the  woilde  to  spredi 
The  fab  Scoties  lor  dred, 

Wiih  the  Duke  of  Albany, 
Beside  the  water  of  Twede 

They  fledde  full  cowardly. 
Though  your  Engliahe  be  rude,    j 

Barreyne  of  eloquence, 
Tel,  iireuely  lo  couclude, 

Grounded  is  your  sentence 
On  trouthe,  viider  defence 

Of  all  trewe  Englysbemen, 
Thia  mater  to  credence 

Thai  I  wraie  with  my  pen. 


THE    DOUTT   DUKE    OF   ALBANY,    ETC.     339 

SKELTON  LAUREAT,  OBSEQUIOUS  ET  I^YALL.1 
O   MY  U>RD£  CARDYNAL3  RIGHT  MOBLE  GRACE,   ETO. 

Lenuoy, 

Go,  lytell  quay  re,  apace. 

In  moost  humble  wyse. 
Before  his  noble  grace, 

That  caused  you  to  deuise 

This  lytel  enterprise ; 
And  hym  moost  lowly  pray. 

In  his  mynde  to  comprise 
Those  wordes  hid  grace  dyd  saye 
Of  an  ammas  gray. 

le  foy  enterment  en  sa  horu  grace. 

SkeUon  Laureat,  cbsequioua  et  loyall]  Perhaps  these  worda 
a  portion  of  the  superscription  to  the  Lenuoy  which  fol- 
8.  The  Lenuoy  itself  does  not,  I  apprehend,  belong  to  tba 
m  on  the  Duke  of  Albany.    See  Accowat  of  SkeUon^  &o. 


340      A   LAWDE   AND    PRATSE   MADE    FOR 


A  LAWDE    AND    PRATSE    HADE    FOB    OUR    SOUEBEIONI 

LORD   THE   KYNG.l 

Candida,  pu-  The  Rose  both  White  and  Rede 

nica,  &c.  ▼  -r* 

In  one  Rose  now  dothe  grow ; 

Thus  thorow  every  stede 

Thereof  the  fame  dothe  blow : 
Grace  the  sede  did  sow : 

England,  now  gaddir  flowris, 

Exclude  now  all  dolowrs. 

NobOis  Hen-  Noble  Henry  the  eight, 

Thy  loving  souereine  lorde, 

Of  kingis  line  moost  streight, 
His  titille  dothe  recorde : 
In  whome  dothe  wele  acorde 

Alexis  yonge  of  age, 

Adrastus  wise  and  sage. 

1  A  laicde  andprayse  made  for  our  souereigne  lord  the  iyi/l 
Such  (in  a  different  handwriting  from  that  of  the  poeiuj  S' 
the  endorsement  of  the  MS.,  which  consists  of  two  leave*, 
bound  up  in  the  volume  marked  B.  2.  8,  (pp.  67-69,)  amonj: 
tlie  Kecords  of  the  Treasury  of  the  Receipt  of  the  Exchequer, 
now  at  the  Rolls  House.  [Printed  for  the  first  time  by  D.v-'^' 
from  a  manuscript  discovered  by  Mr.  W.  H.  Black.]  Qy.  ^ 
this  poem  the  piece  which,  in  the  catalogue  of  his  own  writ- 
ings, Skelton  calls  "  The  Boke  of  the  Rosiar,"  Garlattde  of 
Laurtll,  V.  1178,  vol.  ii.  221V 


OUB  SOUEREIGNE  LORD  THE  KYNG.   341 


Astrea,  Justice  hight, 
That  from  the  starry  sky 

Shall  now  com  and  do  right, 
This  hunderd  yere  scantly 
A  man  kowd  not  aspy 

That  Right  dwelt  vs  among, 

And  that  was  the  more  wrong : 


Sedibu*    ce- 
Iheriis,  Scc. 


Right  shall  the  foxis  chare, 
The  wolvis,  the  beris  also. 

That  wrowght  have  moche  care. 
And  browght  Englond  in  wo : 
They  shall  wirry  no  mo, 

Nor  wrote  the  Rosary 

By  extort  trechery : 


Arcehii  vuH' 


Of  this  our  noble  king 

The  law  they  shall  not  breke ; 

They  shall  com  to  rekening ; 
No  man  for  them  wil  speke : 
The  pt'pil  durst  not  creke 

Theire  grevis  to  complaine. 

They  browght  them  in  soche  paine : 


Ne  tanti  r^ 


Therfor  no  more  they  shall 
The  commouns  ouerbace, 

That  wont  wer  ouer  all 

Both  lorde  and  knight  to  face  ; 
For  now  the  yeris  of  grace 

And  welthe  ar  com  agayne. 

That  maketh  England  faine. 


Ecce   Plato, 
iiis  secJa,  Slc. 


:U^    ▲  LAWDE   AND    PRAYSE   MADE    FOB,  ETC. 

ti'siiii    jam  Adonis  of  freshe  colour, 

iMitauitr  Aidk>» 

uiH,  *c.  Of  yowthe  the  godely  flour, 

Our  prince  of  high  honour, 
Our  paves,  our  succour, 
Our  king,  our  emperour. 
Our  Priamus  of  Troy, 
Our  welth,  our  worldly  joy ; 

AAfiorom      Vpon  vs  he  doth  reigne, 

"*     *        That  makith  our  hartis  glad. 
As  king  moost  soueraine 
That  ever  Englond  had ; 
Demure,  sober,  and  sad. 
And  Martis  lusty  knight ; 
God  save  him  in  his  right ! 

Amen. 


Blen  men  souient} 
Per  me  laurigerum  Britonum  Skeltonida 
vatem. 

1  Bien  men  souient]  The.«e  words  are  followed  in  the  M>- 
by  a.  sort  of  flourished  device,  which  might  perhaps  be  renJ- 

"  Deo  (21)  gratias.'' 


EMS    ATTRIBUTED    TO    SKELTON. 


POEMS 


ATTRIBUTED    TO     SKELTON 


V'XBSES  PRESENTED  TO  KUfQ  HENRY  THE  SEVENTH  AT  THE 
FEAST  OF  ST.  OEOUOE  CELEBRATED  AT  WINDSOR  IN  THE 
THIRD  YEAR  OF  HIS  REIGN.* 

O  MOSTE  famous  noble  king!  thy  fame  doth  sprmg  and 
spreade, 

Henry  the  Seventh,  our  soverain,  in  eiche  regeon ; 
All  England  hath  cause  thy  grace  to  love  and  dread, 

Seing  embassadores  seche  fore  protectyon, 

For  ayd,  helpe,  and  succore,  which  lyeth  in  thie  electyone. 
England,  now  rejoyce,  for  joyous  mayest  thou  bee, 
To  see  thy  kyng  so  floreshe  in  dignetye. 

This  realme  a  seasone  stoode  in  greate  jupardie. 

When  that  noble  prince  deceased,  King  Edward, 
Which  in  his  dayes  gate  honore  full  nobly; 


*  Ashmole,  who  first  printed  those  lines  from  "  MS,  penes 
Artii.  Com.  Anglesey,  ful  169,"  thinks  that  they  were  proba- 
bly by  Skelfon:  see  Order  of  the  Garter,  p.  694. 


Frannoa,  Spsyno,  Sootelond,  >nd  Brilancf,  Flnodan  ilU| 
Three  of  thorn  presant  kiwpiDge  tby  noble  feailc 

Of  St.  GflOrfTH  ia  Windsor,  ambtaBiidots  oomjing  more,' 
Iclis  of  tliem  in  honors,  bolbe  tlie  more  and  IhelcM^ 
Seeking  thie  gtaco  Co  bare  thie  noblo  begestei 

Wherefore  now  nyoise,  itnd  joyons  maisle  thon  bs, 

To  He  tby  kyngs  so  florishing  in  dlgseCye. 

O  knightly  orders,  clothed  In  cobea  witb  gartenl 
The  queezi'B  gruae  and  thy  motlier  clotheJ  in  tht  BUK 

The  nobles  of  thie  realoie  ricba  in  araye,  aitere, 
Lordi,  knighta,  and  ladyo",  unlo  thy  greale  &IIW! 
Now  shall  all  embusaadois  know  thie  noble  oaiiie^ 

By  thy  feaste  royal  j  nowe  joyeooa  mayBst  tiioa  be. 

To  9«e  thie  king  so  Sorishinge  in  digne^. 

llere  tbis  day  St.  George,  patmn  of  this  place, 
Honored  witb  the  gartare  ohoofe  of  ohevalfye! 

Chapleues  synging  proceseyon,  keeping  the  umo, 
With  arcbboshopes  and  bushopes  bceeene  nobly; 
Unch  people  preEanta  tn  sea  the  King  Hesiyv: 

WheraGire  oow,  St.  George,  all  ws  pray  to  thee 

To  keepo  our  soveraine  !n  his  dignetye. 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    347 


EPITAFFE    OF    THE    MOSTE    NOBLE    AND    VALTAUNT 
JASPAR  LATE  DUKE  OF   BEDDEFORDE.* 

NGE  al  alone,  with  sorowe  sore  encombred, 
rosty  fornonc,  faste  by  Seuernes  syde, 
vordil  beholdynge,  wherat  mocb  I  wondred 
the  see  and  sonne  to  kepe  both  tyme  and  tyde, 


'he  old  ed.  is  a  quarto,  n.  d.  Above  these  words,  on  the 
)age,  is  a  woodcut,  exhibiting  the  author  (with  a  falcon 
J  hand)  kneeling  and  presenting  his  work  to  the  king, 
le  reverse  of  the  last  leaf  is  Pynson's  device, 
act  really  written  by  Smert,  (or  Smart,)  the  duke's  fal- 
',  (see  stanza  3,  and  the  subscription  at  the  conclusion, 
irUj  maister  de  ses  ouzeaus")  this  curious  poem  was  not, 
events,  as  the  style  decidedly  proves,  the  composition 
elton,  to  whom  it  was  first  attributed  by  Bishop  Tanner, 
ow  print  it  from  a  transcript  of  the  (probably  unique) 
in  the  Pepysian  library, — a  transcript  which  appears  to 
been  made  with  the  greatest  care  and  exactness;  but  1 
right  to  add,  that  I  have  not  had  an  opportunity  of 
r  the  original  myself. 

per  Tudor,  second  son  of  Owen  Tudor  by  Katherine 
r  of  King  Henry  the  Fifth,  was  created  Earl  of  Pem- 
,  in  1452,  by  his  half-brother,  King  Henry  the  Sixth, 
that  monarch  had  been  driven  from  the  throne  by  Ed- 
Jasper  was  attainted,  and  his  earldom  conferred  on 
Br.  He  was  agjiin  restored  to  it,  when  Henry  had  re- 
}d  the  crown ;  but  being  taken  prisoner  at  the  battle  of 
t,  he  lost  it  a  second  time.  After  the  battle  of  Bos- 
,  Henry  the  Seventh  not  only  rehistated  Jasper  (his 
)  in  the  earldom  of  Pembroke,  but  also  created  him 
of  Bedford,  in  1485;  subsequently  appointed  him  Lieu- 
t  of  Ireland  for  one  year,  and  granted  to  him  and  his 


POEMS   ATTRIBUTED  TO    SKELTON.        349 

His  temples  I  rubbyd,  and  by  the  nose  him  hente; 

Al  as  in  vayne  was,  he  coude  nat  be  reuyued; 

He  waltered,  he  werule,  and  with  himsilfe  stryued, 

Such  countenaunce  contynuyng;  but  or  I  parte  the  place, 

Vp  his  hede  he  caste ;  whan  his  woful  goste  aryued, 

Those  wordes  saynge  with  righte  a  pytous  face: 

O  sorowe,  sorowe  beyonde  al  sorowes  sure ! 
All  sorowes  sure  surmountynge,  lo ! « 
*^»  which  payne  no  pure  may  endure, 
Kndure  may  none  such  dedely  wo ! 
Wo,  alas,  ye  inwrapped,  for  he  is  go ! 
^o  is  he,  whose  valyaunce  to  recounte, 
To  recounte,  all  other  it  dyd  surmounte. 

^one  is  he,  alas,  that  redy  was  to  do 

*che  thynge  that  to  nobles  required !  * 

Gone  is  he,  alas,  that  redy  was  to  do 

Kche  thynge  that  curtesye  of  him  desyred  I 

Whose  frowarde  fate  falsely  was  con  spy  red 

By  Antraphos  vnasured  and  her  vngracyous  charmys; 

Jaspar  I  mene  is  gone.  Mars  sou  in  armys. 

He  that  of  late  regnyd  in  glory, 
With  grete  glosse  buttylly  glased,* 
Nowe  lowe  vnder  fote  doth  he  ly. 
With  wormys  ruly  rente  and  rasyd. 
His  carayne  stynkynge,  his  fetures  fasyd; 
Brother  and  vncle  to  kynges  yesterday, 
Nowe  is  he  gone  and  lafte  ys  as  mased ; 
Closed  here  lyeth  he  in  a  clote  of  clay : 
Shall  he  come  agayne  ?  a,  nay,  nay ! 
Where  is  he  become,  I  can  nat  discusse : 
Than  with  the  prophet  may  we  say, 
Horn,  inuefUus  est  locus  eiua, 

a  Metricus  primus.  Color,  repeticio.    [Side  Note.\ 

b  Metricus  secundus.    C.  recitacio  simplex.    [Side  JVbte.] 

e  M.  iii.    C.  narracio.     [Side  Note.] 


850        POEMS   ATTRIBUTED    TO    SKELTON 

BestjTige  in  him  was  honoure  with  sadnesse, 
Curtesy,  kjiidenesse,  with  great  assuraunce, 
•  Dispysynge  vice,  louynge  alway  gladnesse, 
Knyghtly  condicyons,  feythful  alegeaunce, 
Kyndely  deraenoure,  gracyous  vtteraunce; 
Was  none  senielyer,  feture  ne  face ; 
Frendely  him  fostered  quatriuial  aliaunce; 
Alas,  yet  dede  nowe  arte  thou,  Jaspar,  alas ! 

Wherfore  sorowe  to  oure  sorowe  none  can  be  foondt}, 

Ne  cause  agayne  care  to  mollyfy  cure  monys: 

h  Alas,  the  payne ! 

For  his  body  and  goste, 

That  we  loued  moste. 

In  a  graue  in  the  grounde 

Deth  depe  hath  drounde 

Among  robel  and  stonys : 

Wherfore  complayne. 

Complayne,  complayne,  who  can  complayne; 

For  I,  alas,  past  am  compleynte  I 

To  conipleyne  wyt  can  not  sustayne, 

«  Deth  me  with  doloure  so  hath  bespraynte; 

For  in  my  syghte, 

Oure  lorde  and  knyghte, 

Contraiy  to  righte, 

Deth  liatli  siteynte. 

As  the  vyiest  of  a  nacyon, 

Dcuoyde  of  consolacyon, 

By  cruel  crucyacyon, 

He  hath  combryd  hym  sore ; 

He  hath  him  combryd  sore. 


a  Metricus  quartus  et  retrogradiens.      Color,  disci 
r Side  Note.] 
b  Metricus  quintus.     [Side  Note.] 
C  M.  vi.    M.  vii.     C.  iteracio.     [Side  Note.\ 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    351 

Frannce  and  Englonde  bere  byfore 

rs  of  both  qnarteryd, 

with,  hony  totfte  was  garteryd, 

»we  he  is  nowe  marteiyd ! 

for  sorowe  therfore, 

for  sorowe  therfore ! 

and  weleaway, 

leople  many  a  score 

lira  that  yel  and  rore, 

that  we  were  bore 

I  this  dolorous  day ! 

asshy  hue  compleyne  also,  I  cry, 
es,  damosels,  mynyonat  and  gorgayse; 
;htcs  aunterus  of  the  myghty  monarchy, 
jlayne  also;  for  he  that  m  his  dayes 
ihaunce  wonte  was  your  honoure,  youre  prayse, 
is  he  gone,  of  erthly  blysse  ryfyld ; 
redeful  Deth  withouten  delayse 
olorously  his  breth  hath  stifild. 

J  degontynge,  also  complayne,  complayne, 
des  peerles,  haukes  withoute  pereialyte, 
s,  faucons,  heroners  hautayne ;  a 
owe  darked  is  youre  pompe,  your  prodogalyte, 
3  plesnres  been  past  vnto  penalyte ; 
th  your  rich  caperons,  put  on  your  mourning  hodes; 
ispar,  your  prynce  by  proporcyon  of  qualyte, 
is  by  Deth  those  daungerous  flodys. 

at  manhode  meyntened  and  magnamynite, 
lasynge  blys  nowe  is  with  balys  blechyd ;  h 
igh  Dethes  croked  and  crabbed  cruelte, 
lonre  depe  nowe  is  he  drowned  and  drcchyd; 


a  G.  transsnmpcio.    [Side  Note.] 
b  M.  viii.    [Side  Note.] 


.352         P0EM9    ATTRIBUTED    TO     5K. 

HU  staiyoge  stiuidErda,  that  in  stJinres  etrcclij'd 
With  B  Bnble  Berpent,  oowa  Eot  is  on  a  wall. 
His  holms  hsedles,  cote  corselBB,  wofal  Dnd  nreehyd, 
With  a  Bwerdo  handeles,  there  liangB  thoy  all. 

Gewell  j3  of  lata  poysyd  at  groto  valoyra, 
•He  ded,  they  deBolate  of  eyerj  msiobre, 
6tyk}-ngs  an  Etnliea  aa  thynges  of  none  Bhaloyrai] 
For  the  corse  that  they  conchad  cast  is  in  gaodn  j 
■  By  cruel  oompulEyon  oanstid  to  enrrendre 
Lyfe  Tp  to  Dath  that  al  ouerepurneth; 
0,  se  howa  this  narlde  tourneth  1 
Soma  langheth,  Boroe  roonrnolh: 
Yet,  ya  pryncea  pracyouB  and  lendre, 
■WhylB  that  ya  hare  in  glory  Boioumath, 
The  deth  of  our  mnyeter  rua  to  remembre. 

O  turmeotonre,  traytonrc,  torterous  [yraanta, 
'  So  Tiiwnrely  cure  dnka  liasta  thou  slayno, 
That  wyt  and  mynde  are  vjisnlTycynunla 
Agayne  lliy  myschyf  moljoe  to  mnyiitaynel 
We  that  ill  blysse  vonte  were  to  buyne, 
With  fortune  llotyngs  moste  Otuoui'ably, 
Nowa  thorow  thrylled  and  persyd  with  pttpM, 
LangonrQ  we  in  ferueute  ezatoEy. 

0  mnrthersr  tnmesnmble,  wilhoaten  remim, 
Motistruus  of  entrayla,  abonyd  in  Icynde, 
'  Tliou  liaslB  his  corae  dyatreBsad  by  farce, 
WhoB  parayla  alyna  thou  can  not  fyndel 
Bono  dur«t  thou  his  flessh  and  ipytyte  Titlynde, 
Disaendynge  fro  Cyzylo,  Jerusalem,  and  PntuiM? 
0  baialyks  bryboure,  with  iyes  biynde, 
8ore  may  Uiounie  thy  Tltarquid ounce! 

a  M.  is.    [Side  JVbft] 

[Side  Kbu.] 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.   358 

ite  berafte,  I  say,  the  erthly  ioya 
)roder  and  vncle  to  kynges  in  degre, 
descendynge  fro  Eneas  of  Troye, 
;le  and  vncle  to  prynces  thre, 

0  a  saynte  by  way  of  natyuyte, 
another  whom  men  seketh  blyae, 
:roked,  lame,  for  remedyes  hourly; 

1  that  bromecod  had  gyuen  a  prerogatyue. 

hoUf  doloroos  Deth,  to  the  herte  hast  him  stynged : 
bon,  felon,  such  murther  to  escape  ? 
brewstors  of  Wales  on  the  wyl  be  reuenged  • 
alse  conspyracy  and  frowarde  fate: 
truantes  also  sole  disconsolate 
•u  lafte ;  so  that  creatures  more  maddyr 
lone.wandreth  atwene  senit  and  naddyr. 

,  to  the  felde,  to  the  felde,  on  with  plate  and  male, 

rde,  foule,  eche  body  terrestryal !  * 

>his  murtherer  him  to  assayle ; 

e  iojrne  in  ayde,  ye  bodyes  celestyal ; 

nt,  with  iyes  faynte  to  the  also  I  cal, 

rothers  sake,  help  Deth  to  take,  that  al  may  on  him 

nder; 

e  reyne,  by  drift  sodeyne  he  wil  ech  kynd  encnmbre 

Deihe. 

Fonconer,  thou  arte  to  blame. 

And  onghte  take  shame 

To  make  suche  pretense ;« 

For  I  Deth  hourly 

May  stande  truly 

At  ful  lawful  defence: 


a  C.  newgacio.    [Side  Note.] 

b  M.  X.     [Side  Note.] 

c  M.  xi.    C.  prosopopeya.    [Side  Abfo.| 

L.  II.  23 


S5i        POEJia   ATTitlBDTED    1 
Deth  lialh  no  m;j;1ite. 


Whcthar  to  byde  or  go. 


Of  one 

Tbalki 

Wherfonj  (Vo  Detbo 

Thy  wo  and  wrath 

I  wolde  thou  ehoide  retejni, 

And  Hgayna  God 

For  thy  bromeeod 

BatnjlQ  to  darayne. 


Thnn,  if  it  be  ryghlo,  moit 
"For  thy  myght  contrury  t< 
Katfffes  TDkind  Ihon  leal 

And  ourmaister  gret  tboD  gancwcTmeatoeta;  whom;!^ 


myght,  thy  i;odhed  I  wiii^ 
ght  thon  dosta  gretly  abdnt 
bahiad,  paynis,  ToAoi,  "* 


Is  this  wel  doue?    answer  ma  . 


iDBke,  Loida,  tt]" 


Dyd  thou  disdayne  that  he  shtild  nijue?  was  Ihi 

In  his  rayne  he  was  moate  fayne  to  mynester  thy  1> 
Thun  certiiya,  nnd  than  be  playn  and  atedfitste  in  I 
*Enery  knyght  that  doth  right,  faryngB  drede  ne  B' 
Of  thy  face  br^'ghte  shaQ  hnae  syglit«, 
After  this  worldly  wanes: 


POEMS   ATTRIBUTED    TO   SKELTON.        355 

Than,  gode  Ix)rde,  scripture  doth  record,  verefieng  that 
cause,  ^ 

That  our  bromcod  with  the,  gode  God,  m  heuen  shal  rest  and 
pause. 

For  first  of  nought  thou  him  wrOtjht  of  thy  special  grace, 
And  wers  than  noght  him  also  boght  in  Caluery  in  that 

place; 
Thou  by  thoght  oft  he  were  broght  with  Satanas  to  trace, <> 
Yet,  Lorde,  to  haue  pyte  thou  oght  on  the  pycture  of  thy 

face. 


We  neyther  he  dampned  to  be,  willyngly  thou  wilt  noght ;  * 
Yet  dampned  shal  he  and  we  be,  if  thy  mercy  helpe  nought: 
Discrccion  hast  thou  gyuen,  yde  [ Lorde  VJ;  what  wold  we 

more  ought? 
After  deth  to  lyue  with  the,  if  we  ofTende  nought. 

There  is  a  cause  yet  of  oure  care,  thou  creatoure  alofte. 
That  thy  gospel  doth  declare,  whiche  I  forgete  noughte ; 
Howe  vnwarly  our  welfare  fro  vs  shal  be  broughte 
By  Deth  that  none  wyl  spare,  Lorde,  that  knowe  we 

noughte:  e 
In  syn  drowned  if  we  dare,  and  so  soderiy  be  couj^h^c, 
Than  of  blysse  ar  we  bare ;  that  fyUetb  me  ful  of  thcnght*. 

Thou  knowest,  Lorde,  beste  thysylfe, 

Man  is  but  dnste,  stercorye,  and  fylthe, 

Of  himsylfe  vnable, 

Saue  only  of  thy  specyal  grace, 

A  soule  thou  made  to  occupye  place. 

To  make  man  ferme  and  stable ;  d 


a  M.  xiiii.    C.  probacio.  [Hide  Note.] 

b  M.  XV.    [Side  Note.] 

c  M.  xvi.     [Side  Note.\ 

d  C.  degressio.    M.  xvii.  ISiJr  Vo*,.  j 


356        POEMS  ATTRIBDTED   TO    SKtlLTf 

Which  nmn  to  do  us  thou  ordeyned, 

With  fendaa  fnule  ehnl  neuar  be  payned, 

But  in  bIyssB  ba  penlarnbte; 

Aud  ir  he  da  Chs  conlrarye, 

After  this  lyfe  thiin  shtl  he  dye, 

Feiides  to  fedo  vnaactablei 

For  whicli  fendys  fonle  Chou  tuada  a  aantra. 

In  which  oontre  thou  mnde  an  eutre, 

Thnt  such  tbnC  tobrelie  thy  commuuiidementea  noIdenD 

Theder  downs  eholda  desaendo; 

But  Dure  maiBter,  whan  Deth  hym  triipte, 

In  pure  peraeuereance  bo  waa  wrapte, 

Tlint  [hou  inuisybie  hie  speryte  ihyder  raple 

Whore  thy  ^heltrons  him  eIioI  dofande. 


If  wo  nal  offende, 
He  wyl  purchace 
Aglocjonsplaoa 
AtourelastaeadCi 


To  90  hi!  faoa 
I  We  Blui  osaanda, 
By  his  grata  gnM, 
If  wa  aat  offend*. 


Satnyoe  W  do  lalriid: 

And  why,  Lorde,  I  dyd  the  reprouo, 

Was  for  perfyts  xelo  and  lone, 

To  the  nat  preladicjnt; 

For,  Lorde,  this  1  knowe  expresse. 

This  worldly  fruta  is  bytturnasiio, 

Faroyd  with  wo  and  pnyna, 

Lyib  ledynga  dolomuBly  in  distreue, 

ijhadowed  with  Dethes  lykenessa, 

Aa  in  uons  certayne. 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.   357 

And  al  to  prone  who  doth  him  lone  and  who  wil  be  vnkynd,a 
Thou  hast  in  led  layde  him  abed,  this  trow  I  in  my  mynd; 
For  this  we  trow,  and  thou  dost  know,  as  thy  might  is  most, 
That  him  to  dye,  to  lowe  and  hye  it  were  to  grete  a  lost. 

And  he  be  dede,  this  knowe  I  very  right; 
Thou  saw,  Lorde,  this  erth  corrupt  with  fals  adulacyon. 
And  thought  it  place  vnmete  for  Jaspar  thy  knyght; 
Wherfore  of  body  and  soule  thou  made  seperacyon,* 
Preantedate  seynge  by  pure  predestynaoyon 
Whan  his  lyfe  here  shulde  fyne  and  consum ; 
Wherfore,  Lorde,  thus  ende  I  my  dolorous  exclamacyon, 
Thy  godenes  knewe  what  was  besto  to  be  done. 

As  a  prynce  penytente  and  ful  of  contricion, 
So  dyed  he,  we  his  seruauntes  can  recorde: « 
And  that  he  may  haue  euerlastynge  firuicyon, 
We  the  beseche,  gloryous  kynge  and  lorde  1 
For  the  laste  leson  that  he  dyd  recorde, 
To  thy  power  he  it  aplyed,  saynge  Hin  omneM, 
As  a  hye  knyghte  in  fidelyte  fermely  moryd, 
AngeU  celi  etpotestates  ; 
Wherwith  payne  to  the  hert  him  boryd, 
And  lyfe  him  lefte,  gyuynge  deth  entres. 

Whiche  lyfe,  in  comparyson  of  thyne. 
Is  as  poynt  in  lyne,  or  as  instant  in  tyme; 
For  thou  were  and  arte  and  shal  be  of  tyme, 
In  thy  silfe  reynynge  by  power  diuyne, 
Makynge  gerarcyiis  thre  and  orders  nyne. 
The  to  deifye: 
Wherfore  we  crye, 
SuiTer  nat  Jaspar  to  dye, 


a  G.  neugacio.    [Side  Note.] 

b  C.  excusacio.    [Side  Note.] 

c  M.  xviii.    C.  conclusio.    [Side  Note.] 


358        POEMS   ATTRIBUTED   TO   SKELTOM. 

But  to  lyue; 

For  eternally  that  he  sha]  Ijne 

Is  oure  byleue. 

And  than  [  ?]  moste  craftely  dyd  combyna 

Another  heuen,  called  cristalline, 

■  So  the  thyrde  steUyferal  to  shyne 

Aboue  the  skye: 

Wherfore  we  crye, 

Suffer  nat  Jaspar  to  dye, 

But  to  lyue ; 

For  eternally  that  he  shal  lyue 

Is  oure  byleue. 

^loreouer  in  a  zodiake  pure  and  fyne 

Synys  xii.  thou  set  for  a  tyme, 

And  them  nexte,  in  cercle  and  lyne, 

Satume  thou  set,  lupiter,  and  Mars  oitryiMy 

Contect  and  drye : 

Wherfore  we  crye, 

Suffer  nat  Jaspar  to  dye, 

But  to  lyue ; 

For  eternally  that  he  shal  lyue 

Is  cure  bvleue. 

Than,  to  peryssh,  thorouthrvll,  and  myne 
The  mystes  blake  and  cloudes  tetryne, 
Tytan  thou  set  clerely  to  shyne. 
The  worlJes  iye: 
Wherfore  we  crye,  vt  supra. 

Yet  in  their  epycercles  to  tril  and  twyne, 
Ketrograte,  stacyoner,  directe,  as  a  syne, 
(.'onus  thou  set,  Marcur}',  and  the  Mone  masseline; 
Nexte  fyre  and  ayre,  so  sotyl  of  engyne. 


a  M.  xix.     C.  prolongacio.    [Side  Note.] 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.   359 

The  to  gloryfye: 

Wherfore  we  crye, 

Suffer  nat  Jaspar  to  dye, 

But  to  lyne ; 

For  eternally  that  he  shal  lyue. 

Is  oure  bylene. 

Water,  and  erth  with  braunch  and  vine; 

And  so,  thy  werkes  to  ende  and  fyne, 

Man  to  make  thou  dyd  determyne. 

Of  whome  cam  I: 

Wherfore  I  cry  and  the  supplye. 

Suffer  nat  Jaspar  to  dye, 

But  to  lyue; 

For  etemaUy  that  he  shal  lyue 

Is  oure  byleue. 

With  him,  to  cqmford  at  all  tyme, 

Thou  ioyned  the  sex  than  of  frayle  femynyne, 

Which  by  temptacyon  serpentyne 

Thejrre  hole  sequele  broughte  to  rayne 

By  ouergrete  folye: 

Wherfore  we  crye, 

Suffer  not  Jaspar  to  dye. 

But  to  lyue; 

For  eternally  that  he  shal  lyue 

Is  oure  byleue. 

Than,  of  thy  godenes,  thou  dyd  enclyne 

Flessh  to  take  of  thy  moder  and  virgyne. 

And  vs  amonge,  in  payne  and  famyne, 

Dwalte,  and  taughte  thy  holy  doctryne 

Uulgarly : 

Wherfore  we  crye. 

Suffer  nat  Jaspar  to  dye, 

But  to  lyue; 

For  eternally  that  he  shal  lyue 

Is  oure  byleue. 


3'iO         POEUa    ATTRIBDTED    TO    SKEI.T01 

'lyl  t,  travtoure,  by  fitlse  oonyno, 

To  Pytat  accused  ihe  at  pryme; 

So  token,  aluyns,  ftnd  buryad  ac  oomplyne. 

Bow  Bgayns,  of  Adam  redeniyuge  the  l;iM 

By  thy  infynyW  meroy ; 

For  whyoh  metcy, 

IneBaaantly  wa  crya, 

And  the  aupplye, 

Suffer  nat  our  lords  to  dye, 

But  to  lyuoi 

For  eterneJly  Ibat  ha  ahol  lyue 

Is  oare  by  J  cue. 

Kynges,  prynces,  remembre,  nhyle  ye  may, 
•  Do  for  yonreiifo,  for  that  ahal  ye  Tynde 
Eieonlours  often  maJtflth  delay, 
The  bodye  buryed,  [he  eoule  eotie  oiUe  of  tnyndei 
Marke  tlils  wel,  and  graue  it  in  yonre  myitde, 
Howe  many  grets  eatataa  gone  are  before. 
And  howe  after  ye  shal  folowe  by  oourae  of  kynihi 
Wberfore  do  for  youreailTB;  I  can  say  do  man. 

Though  ye  be  guuemours,  moste  precious  id  kynde, 
Caste  downe  yeur  orounes  aod  costely  appareyle, 
Endored  with  golde  and  precyeus  stones  of  Ynde, 
For  al  in  Ihs  enda  lytyl  sbul  aaayloj 
Whan  youre  estates  Oetb  lyketb  to  assayle, 
Yonr  bodyea  bnlgynge  witlt  a  blyster  aors, 
Than  wiihstande  sbal  neytber  plate  ne  mayle: 
Wbarfore  do  for  youraBilTo}  I  can  aay  uo  inoia. 


Therala 

By  whon 
Which  is 


I  bni  by  diligenu  tranaylsl 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.   361 

Ware  in  the  ende;  for  and  that  vertue  fayle, 
Body  and  soule  than  are  ye  forlore: 
Wherfore,  if  ye  folowe  wyll  holsom  connsayle, 
Do  for  youresilfe;  I  can  say  no  more. 

Kynges,  prynces,  moste  souerayne  of  renoune, 
Remembre  oure  maister  that  gone  is  byfore: 
This  worlde  is  casnal,  nowe  vp,  nowe  downe; 
Wherfore  do  for  yoursilfe;  I  can  say  no  more. 

Amen. 

Hoikor  tUn,  Dem^  gloria,  et  laus  I 

Smerte,  maUier  de  se*  outeaus. 


IIIUTED   TO    SKELTl 


DrIdB  all  wrapped  in  nretolifdiiel, 
liy  pompflH  ao  gny  and  gtoryaQB, 
easuTBfl  and  all  thj*  ryoh^ 
y  bo  but  traneytoryouB; 

e  that  echo  man  whilom  deed, 
by  naturull  lyne  and  oaun, 
8,  alas,  lyethdEda! 

rj-Hll  a  kyngo, 

laner  the  prudant  Ssliuann; 

BK  and  in  ener;  ttiynge, 

10  Crysten  regyon, 

not  louge  Kgone, 

bis  Dams  by  fsme  spr[a]de; 

te  nowe  destytuls  alone, 

as,  aim,  lyetli  dedel 


«  From  an  imperfBCt  broudalde  in  the  Donee  CollEvt 
DOW  in  tbB  Bodleian  Lihriiry,  Oiford.  This  unique  pi 
fbrmerly  belonged  to  Dr.  Farmer,  vtao  has  writlQDonil.  "< 
the  author  of  this  Eiagy?  Per  J.  fitefion.tho'  not  in  his  wotfc 
to  whloh  Douee  hoe  added,  "  The  Doctor  Is  probably  rlgt 
what  he  snye  concerning  the  Elegy  oti  Henry  the  Sam 
which  is  a  singular  curiosity." 

At  Ibe  top  of  the  origiaal  is  t,  woodcut,  repreaenling 
dead  king,  lying  on  a  bed  or  bier,  cniwnetl  and  holding 
sceptre  i  on  one  side  the  royal  arm!,  on  the  other  th«  en 
resting  on  n  fnll-bloivn  rose,  which  has  the  king's  bUMh 


d  April  3l3t,  IfiOS:  t 


B,  vol.  iU.  J 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON. 


SGd 


nter  we  wretchyd  creatures, 

es  and  tryumphaunt  maiestye, 

pastymes  and  pleasures, 

tbouten  remedye; 

o  wyll  the  myserable  bodye 

n  heny  lede, 

Ide  but  vanyte  and  all  vanytye, 

h  alas,  alas,  lyeth  dede ! 

is  subgectes  and  make  lamentacyoa 

o  noble  a  gouemoure ; 

ayers  make  we  exclamacyon, 

de  to  his  supemall  toure; 

dly  rose  floure, 

yally  all  aboute  spred, 

lated  where  is  his  power? 

alas,  alas,  lyeth  dede ! 


his  moost  Crysten  kynge  in  ys  it  lyeth  not, 
is  tyme  passed  honour  suffycyent  to  prayse ; 
yet  though  that  that  thyng  envalue  we  may  not, 
prayers  of  suertye  he  shall  haue  alwayes ; 
nd  though  that  Atropose  hathe  ended  his  dayes, 
name  and  fame  shall  euer  be  dred 
er  as  Phebus  spredes  his  golden  rayes, 
tiough  Henry  the  Seuenth,  alas,  alas,  lyeth  dede ! 

nowe  what  remedye?  he  is  vncouerable, 
niehyd  by  the  handes  of  God  that  is  moost  just; 
yet  agayne  a  oause  moost  confortable 
e  haue,  wherin  of  rygbt  reioys  we  must, 
is  sone  on  lyoe  in  beaute,  force,  and  lust, 
ononr  lykely  Traianus  to  shede; 
lierfore  in  hym  put  we  our  hope  and  trust, 
L  Henry  his  fader,  alas,  alas,  lyeth  dede! 


nowe,  for  conclusyon,  aboute  his  herse 
t  this  be  grauyd  for  endeles  memorye, 


With  BOrdwfiiU  tunas  of  ThoByphoncs  yeraei 
Hers  l^elb  the  puyssnunC  and  mygb^  Usurf, 
Hector  in  batByll,  Vlyxes  in  polecy, 


Mr.  Skeltone,  po«te. 
To  the  KJDges  mcsta  Exelliuit  M»!mCI*. 

1  PRAV  yow,  be  not  wrotha 
Fnr  tellyng  of  the  ErothHi 
For  this  the  vorltle  jt  ffitba 
Bntbe  In  lyffe  and  lothe, 
At  God  hymselffe  he  knothe ; 
And,  B£  ikll  men  vndrBstandes, 
)  Bolli  lordeshipes  and  limdes 

I  Are  nowe  in  fewe  meaa  haadea; 

JBoth  subatBacB  and  bandes 

[Of  ail  the  bole  realme 


Are  no  we  coasniajd  cl 


Vea  PopvU,  Fas  Dei\  From  US.  3597  in  the  Ctni^ 
lie  Library,  colJutad  with  US.  Harl.  867,  ToL  lao,  TU 
r,  thnngh  it  coolajna  a  very  GOnaideiabla  numbarofli* 
:h  are  not  fonud  in  the  fonoer,  aud  whicb  1  Imre  p'x*' 
'oen  brackets,  1b  on  the  whole  the  inferiot  US.,  ilt  u' 
g  greatly  dlBflgured  by  piayincialitms. 
lie  poem,  irhioh  is  usigued  to  Skelton  only  In  l)u  C'"' 
jB  MS.,  vna  evidently  composed  by  Bome  very  cli"".' 
itor  of  lii?  style.     The  subject,  however,  rendett  II  " 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.   365 


From  the  fermour  and  the  poore 

To  the  towne  and  the  towre; 

Whiche  makyth  theym  to  lower, 

To  see  that  in  theire  flower 

Ys  nother  malte  nor  meale, 

Bacon,  befle,  nor  veale, 

Grocke  mylke  nor  kele, 

But  readye  for  to  steale 

For  very  pure  neade. 

Your  comons  saye  indeade, 

Thei  be  not  able  to  feade 

In  theire  stable  scant  a  steade, 

To  brynge  vp  nor  to  breade, 

Ye,  scant  able  to  brynge 

To  the  marckytt  eny  thynge 

Towardes  theire  housekeping; 

And  scant  have  a  cowe, 

Nor  to  kepe  a  poore  sowe : 

This  the  worlde  is  nowe. 

And  to  heare  the  relacyon 

Of  the  poore  mens  communycacio% 

Vndre  what  sorte  and  fashyon 

Thei  make  theire  exclamacyon, 

You  wolde  have  compassion. 

Thus  goythe  theire  protestacion, 

Sayeng  that  suche  and  suche, 

That  of  late  are  made  riche, 

Have  to,  to,  to  myche 

By  grasyng  and  regratinge. 

By  poulyng  and  debatynge, 

By  roulyng  and  by  dating. 

By  checke  and  checkematynge, 

[With  delays  and  debatynge. 

With  cowstomes  and  tallynges, 

Forfayttes  and  forestallynges] ; 

So  that  your  comons  saye, 

Thei  styll  paye,  paye 

Most  willyngly  allwaye. 

But  yet  thei  see  no  staye 


SncliB  labouro  tar  to  waste  i 
This  ys  the  news  oBfte, 
The  uawe  cjut  from  the  oldo; 
Thk  comon  prjoe  tbei  holds; 
Whiche  ii  a  vnry  rutho, 
Yf  men  myght  faje  the  truQie. 
The  comons  thns  dothe  mje, 
Tbey  are  DOt  nble  to  pays, 

Vaapopuli,  twc  Orij 
OmostnoHlekpig; 
CanEjdre  veil  this  thjrnge  I 


Howe  MTB  yon  to  this,  mj  lordHf     i 
Are  not  these  plaTne  reoiwdee? 
Ve  knowe  as  well  as  1, 
Thii  make*  Hie  comons  ervB, 
Thia  makes  tbeym  crye  and  WBp« 
Uy»eT«ng  hi  thdre  >hepe, 
Thein  ebepe,  and  eke  tfaeln  bem,    | 


But  yoa  that  welthe  this  beta, 

Toa  taadUxxles  that  be  gF«tS, 

ToQ  wftlde  not  pay  »  ft 

Exceple  joor  fraaing  wm  M>  s«Mtl 

Or  elles  !  feani  me  I, 

Ye  wold  fjnde  remeadTe, 

And  that  right  !bonlT«. 

Bat  yet  this  eitramyiie, 

Kooe  lelu  yt  bat  the  cnnyatllia; 

Alai,  is  Iben  do  mnsdje. 

To  beipe  Hwym  at  ihis  mnaja? 

Tf  IbfTB  ihuld  come  a  nyne, 

To  make  a  deaitbe  of  gnjat, 

Aa  God  may  aend  yt  playin 

For  oar  ooTCtani  anddiadajai^ 


P0BM8  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    369 

I  wold  knowe,  among  vs  all, 

What  wafe  he  that  shuld  not  fall 

And  sorowe  as  he  went, 

For  Godes  ponyshment? 

Alas,  this  were  a  plage  ^ 

For  poverties  pocession, 

Towardes  theire  suppression. 

For  the  greate  mens  transgression! 

Alas,  my  lordes,  foresee 

There  may  be  remeadyel 

For  the  comons  saye, 

The!  have  no  more  to  paye: 

VoxpcptiU,  vox  Dei ; 

0  most  noble  kyng, 

Oonsydre  well  this  thyng! 


And  yet  not  long  agoo 
Was  preachers  on  or  twoo. 
That  spake  yt  playne  inowe 
To  yon,  to  yon,  and  to  you, 
Hygh  tyme  for  to  repent 
This  dyvelishe  entent 
[Of  covltis  the  convente] : 
From  Scotland  into  Kent 
This  preaching  was  bysprent; 
And  from  the  easte  frount 
Vnto  Saynct  Myghelles  Mount, 
This  sayeng  dyd  surmount 
Abrode  to  all  mens  eares, 
And  to  your  graces  peeres, 
That  from  piller  vnto  post 
The  powr  man  he  was  tost; 
I  meane  the  labouring  man, 
I  meane  the  husbandman, 
I  meane  the  ploughman, 

^ plage]  A  line  wanting  to  rhyme  with  this. 
)L.  II.  24 


TO   SKELTOR. 


I 

I 

Mi. 

4 


■mlMS.  C  -p«A.-     JK  S-(  'W*'   " 


POEMS   ATTBIBUTED   TO   SKBLTON.        371 

And  I  am  hat  the  hayne 

That  wryttes  yt  newe  agayne, 

The  coppye  for  to  see, 

That  also  learneth  me 

To  take  therby  good  hede 

My  shepe  howe  for  to  fede; 

For  I  a  shepherd  am, 

A  sorye  poore  man; 

Tet  wolde  I  wyshe,  my  lordes, 

This  myght  be  your  recordes, 

And  make  of  yt  no  dreame, 

For  yt  ys  a  worthy  realme, 

A  realme  that  in  tymes  past 

Hath  made  the  prowdest  agast. 

Therfore,  my  lordes  all, 

Note  this  in  espeeiall, 

And  have  it  in  memoryall 

[With  youre  wysse  vnyversall, 

That  nether  fayer  nor  effection, 

Yowe  grawnt  youre  protection 

To  suche  as  hath  ^  by  election 

Shall  rewie  by  erection, 

And  doth  gett  the  perfection 

Of  the  powre  menes  refection; 

Wiche  ys  a  grett  innormyte 

Vnto  youre  gnsys  commynalte; 

For  thay  that  of  latt  did  supe 

Owtt  of  an  aschyn  cuppe, 

Are  wonderfully  sprowng  vpe; 

That  nowght  was  worth  of  latt, 

Hath  now  a  cubborde  of  platt. 

His  tabell  fumyscheyd  tooe, 

With  platt  besett  inowe, 

PerseU  gylte  and  sownde, 

Well  worth  towo  thousande  pounde. 

tucke  atJuUhf  ^c.  J  There  appears  to  be  some  cormption 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTBD  TO  SKE&TON.   '373 

'  ^ 
That  1  any  marchant  here, 
Above  all  charges  clere, 
In  landes  myght  lett  to  hyre 
To  tbowsant  markes  by  yere? 
Other  where  shall  ye  fynde 
A  gentyllman  by  kynde, 
Bat  that  thay  wyll  ly  in  the  wynde, 
To  breng  hyme  fer  behynde, 
Or  elles  thay  wyll  haue  all, 
Yf  nedes  thay  hyme  forstidl? 
Wiche  ys  the  hole  dec&ye 
Of  your  marohantmen,  I  saye, 
And  hynderes  youre  grasys  costome 
By  the  yere  a  thowsant  pawnde, 
And  so  marryth,  the  more  petye, 
The  comonwelth  of  yohe  sytte, 
And  vndoth  the  cowntre. 
As  prosse  [  V]  doth  make  propertiet 
This  matter  most  spesyally 
Wolde  be  loked  one  qniclye. 
Tett  for  ther  recreation. 
In  pastime  and  procreation, 
In  tempore  necessitatUf 
I  wysche  thay  myght  hane  grattift 
Lysens  to  compownde. 
To  purchasse  fortie  pownde 
Or  fyf  te  at  the  moste, 
By  fyne  or  wrytte  of  post; 
And  yf  any  marchantman. 
To  lyve  his  occupieng  then, 
Wolde  purchasse  any  more, 
Lett  hyme  forfett  it  therfore. 
Then  showld  ye  se  the  trade 
That  marchantmen  frist  mayde, 
Whyche  wysse  men  dyd  marshall, 
For  a  welth  vnyversall, 


1  That]  Qy.  dek  I 


STI        rOKMS   ATTRIBCTED   TO    SCELTOt 

Yche  mun  [his  lawe  to  lerne, 
And  trewty  hia  fniodet  to  veme, 
Tka  Icodkird  witb  bia  terme, 
Tba  plovghluui]  with  bl9  femie, 
Tite  kn^hl  wyth  his  fare, 
n*  Buduiit  with  bis  witra, 
Ttea  dwwM  inorese  Ihe  hellh 
Of  Tclie  comonwelihe], 


Oraqnlre  wdl  ll»  ^Bgt 


But,  bona,  fiobirii,  bovel 

Herkel  hockel  hciek*! 
T>  DM  ben  >  pjtiMM  vska. 
The  gmmdcmad  &■  ckatffa 
Of  allthiibi'  " 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.   875 

Prove  it  who  shall 

To  make  therof  tryall, 

Thus  goithe  theire  dyall: 

I  knowe  not  whales  a  clocke, 

But  by  the  couutre  cocke, 

The  mone  i  nor  yet  the  pryme, 

Vntyll  the  sonne  do  shyne; 

Or  els  I  coulde  tell 

Howe  all  tbynges  shiilde  be  welL 

The  compas  may  stand  awrye, 

But  the  earde  wyll  not  lye: 

Hale  in  your  mayne  shete, 

This  tempest  is  to  grete. 

[For  prlrre  men  dayiy  sees 

How  oiflcers  takes  their  fees, 

Snmme  yll,  and  some  yet  worse, 

As  good  right  as  to  pike  there  purse: 

Deservethe  this  not  Codes  curse? 

There  consyenes  ys  sooe  grett, 

Thaye  fere  not  to  dischare,^ 

Tf  it  were  as  moche  more, 

Soe  thay  maye  haue  the  stowre. 

Thud  is  oure  we[ljthe  vndone 

By'synguler  coramodome; 

For  we  are  in  dyvision, 

Bothe  for  reght  and  religion; 

And,  as  some  saythe, 

We  stagger  in  our  faythe: 

But  excepte  in  shortt  tyme 

We  drawe  by  one  lyne,  '* 

And  agre  with  one  accorde,  \ 

Bothe  the  plowghman  and  the  lorde, 

We  shall  sore  rewe 

That  ever  this  statte  we  knewe.] 


ne]  So  both  MSB,    But  qy.  "  none  ?  ♦» 

chare]  There  is  some  error  here ;  and  perhaps  a  line  or 

las  dropt  out. 


876        POEMS  ATTRIBUTED   TO   SKEVtiJftU 

The  comons  so  do  saye, 

Tf  thei  had  yt,  thei  wold  payet 

VoxpcpuUyVox  Jkif 

O  most  noble  kyng, 

Consydre  well  this  thyngel 


Thus  rannes  this  mmoiir  abool 
Amongest  the  hole  route; 
Thei  can  not  bryug  aboate 
How  this  thyng  shuld  be, 
Yt  bathe  snche  high  degree: 
The  coyne  yt  is  so  scante, 
That  every  man  dothe  waiit% 
And  some  thincke  notdo  scaoe^ 
But  even  as  myche  to  bfise. 
Our  merchanntmen  do  saye, 
Thei  fynde  it  day  by  daye 
To  be  a  matter  straunge, 
When  thei  shulde  make  exchani^ 
On  the  other  side  the  sea, 
Thei  are  dryven  to  theire  plea; 
For  where  oure  pounde  somtyme 
Was  better  then  theires  by  nyne, 
Nowe  ours,  when  yt  comes  forthe, 
No  better  then  theires  is  worthe, 
No,  nor  scant  soo  good ; 
Thei  saye  so,  by  the  roode. 
Howe  maye  the  merchauntman 
Be  able  to  occupye  than. 
Excepts,  when  he  comes  heare, 
He  sell  his  ware  to  deare? 
He  neades  must  have  a  lyveng, 
Or  elles,  fye  on  hys  wynneng  I 
This  covne  by  alteracion 
Hat  he  brought  this  desolacyon, 
Whiche  is  not  vet  all  knowen 
^Yhat  mvscheitie  it  hathe  so  wen. 


JEMS    ATTBIBDTED    TO    SKELTON. 

TheE  sayo,  Woo  worlho  thnt  man 

Tbat  fint  that  coj^e  begna, 

To  put  In  any  hecldB 

The  myncle  to  audio  a  Kile, 

Td  oama  hi  suebs  n  biers 

For  covetous  deayre  I 

I  knowe  not  wha.t  it  meniietlie; 

But  tliia  Ihel  saye  and  denmytbe, 

Va  iiliptrqaem  tcaadalum  cent!/ 

For  this  wyll  axe  greate  fnjae 

Before  it  be  veil  nfjuyne, 

Greate  payiie  and  tore 

To  make  It  a*  it  via  before. 

The  comona  Ibua  do  laye, 

Yf  tbei  liadile  yl,  tbel  would  payai 


Vaepopidi,  twc  D 

la  kynge, 

roll  thia  tliiiige  L 


7. 


Tbat  mujy  man  dotbe  re 

For  poors  men  tbei  duo  crye, 
And  eaye  it  is  uwrye; 
Tbei  snye  tliei  can  not  be  herds, 
Bnt  ttyll  from  duye  delTeidB, 
When  thai  buve  any  ante, 

IXbei  may«  goo  bluwe  tbelre  flute; 
"" '   goithe  the  comon  brute, 
ricbe  man  wyll  come  in; 


.ke  bis  waye, 
With  bande  in  banda  to  paye, 
Bothe  to  tbicko  and  thynae;  ^ 


F,  bas  dnipt  out  here. 


378        POEMS   ATTRIBDTED 


Orek  to  knows  tl 

Uy  lorde  w  not  M  leysura;! 

Tbe  poora  man  tt  the  durre 

SlondBi  \ylte  »a  l^luid  euttq, 

And  dates  oot  oris  to  •tune, 

Eioepte  ha  goo  bia  wBye, 

And  come  aaotbei  daye; 

Aod  then  the  matter  it  made, 

Tbat  ths  poore  man  with  hi>  »pada 

Utut  no  more  hia  fnnne  tnvrnte. 

Bat  miut  na  hhdb  oiher  tnidv: 

For  yt  it  «  ■greed 

Thu  toy  tadye  muteies  Mede> 

Shall  bym  espuke  with  oil  *pede, 

And  oiir  master  tbe  Undlorda 

SbaU  hare  yt  all  at  U*  accorda, 

Hill  house  and  &niie  npyne. 

To  w»kv  thsFof  fais  Tttomust  g^ae; 

For  iai  Tuitage  wylbe  more. 

With  theiie  and  cattail  it  ts  Hun, 

And  Dot  to  plou^ie  bit  gnniiule  do  nur 

Excepte  the  rermoiu  wyll  arynre 

Tlie  tent  hyere  by  a  hole  yeu«: 

Y«  mast  be  bavo  a  lyoa  WO, 

The  liargayue  he  may  better  knoHii 

Wbieh  mates  the  marctet  noir  tn  d«4J1 

Hiat  then  be  fewe  tha'  makes  pao^  i^ 

For  tbe  feniNMir  must  tell  his  gooke^ 

As  he  mar  be  aUe  to  paye  (at  ba  beoi 

Or  eb.  Tor  non  payeiig  tbe  raM, 

Anj^  at  Dm  Lady  daye  is  Lent: 

Tbm  die  poon  man  ibalhe  sbcnl  t 


t  J^*rJiua<fMlq»v<]  A  fioe  boimved  fioalitdM^ 
my  «•  yi  iHt  ta  OwM,  r.  at.  mL  il.  3VT. 

wriMT.  perhaps  noelhcl«dlbU»*    ' 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.   379 

And  then  he  and  his  wyffe, 

With  theire  children,  all  theire  lyffe. 

Doth  crye  oute  and  ban 

Ypod  tliis  covetous  man. 

I  sweare  by  God  omnypotent, 

I  feare  me  that  this  presedent 

Wyll  make  ts  all  for  to  be  shent. 

Trowe  you,  my  lordes  that  be, 

That  Qod  dothe  not  see 

This  riche  mans  charitie 

Per  tpecuium  aidgmaUB  f 

Tes,  yes,  you  riche  lordes, 

Yt  is  wrytten  in  Cristes  recordes. 

That  Dives  laye  in  the  fyere 

With  Belsabub  his  sire. 

And  Pauper  he  above  satte 

In  the  seate  of  Habrahams  lappe. 

And  was  taken  from  thys  Troye, 

To  lyve  allwaye  with  God  in  ioye 

The  comons  thus  do  saye, 

Yf  thei  had  yt,  thei  wold  paye: 

VoxpcpuHj  vox  Dei ; 

0  most  noble  kyng, 

Consydre  well  tliis  thyngo ! 

8. 

The  prayse  no  les  is  worthe, 
Ghxtee  worde  is  well  sett  forthe: 
Tt  never  was  more  preached. 
Nor  never  so  playnlye  teached; 
Yt  never  was  so  hallowed. 
Nor  never  so  lytle  followed 
Bothe  of  highe  and  lowe. 
As  many  a  man  dothe  trowe; 
For  this  ys  a  playue  pei'scripcion, 
We  have  banyshed  superstycion, 
But  styll  we  kepe  ambycion ; 
We  have  sent  awaye  all  cloysterers, 
But  styll  we  kepe  extorcy oners; 


3S0        FOKX3  JlTTBmiTED  TO   SKELTCHl. 

We  hie  takes  UMin  landes  fbr  tfaeire  ahui^ 


Tra 


"ly". 


II7  lordo,  this  kdtUw  awiye; 

Awij^  awr^a  je  goo, 

Wnh  noBj  tlilDgn  moo, 

4)BTts  from  the  hi^o  vaja. 

The  eomoBs  (hiu  do  tays, 

Tff  Etui  hidd  jt,  llui  wold  p^«t 

0  meet  ooUa  k?iig, 
Cinuydm  wall  thu  Ihinga  t 


Hjlanleio 

I  dBva  all  be  BDt  ttii, 
Jumbjvitm  ■>  dottaa  imU, 
Aa  gscba  bf  npma, 
ABWBgB  liM  gnalesl  sorte; 


Hm  poav  VB  (a  bcQ-lcs 
WillB  tacka  and  packa  to  ^rla, 

Fv  an  oSx*  U  « 

Howe  auj«  ucliB  m^  da  nght, 


1 


B<u  thif  wa  jpiQ  it  ^pM 

B;  bi7b«nf  aM  ^fae  axMH^at^ 


FOEliS   ATTBIBUTED   TO    SKELTON. 


881 


With  many  ferrelys  moo, 
That  I  conld  truly  shewe  i 
There  never  was  suche  myserye, 
Nor  never  so  myche  vserye. 
The  comons  so  do  saye, 
Yf  we  had  ytt,  we  wold  paye: 
Voxjxpuli^  vox  Dei; 
0  most  noble  kynge, 
Consydre  well  this  thynge ! 


10. 

And  thus  this  ile  of  Brutes, 
Most  plentyfull  of  frutes, 
Ys  sodenlye^decayede; 
Poore  men  allraost  dysmayde, 
Thei  are' so  overlayed: 
I  feare  and  am  afrayde 
Of  the  stroke  of  God, 
Whiche  ys  a  perelous  rodde. 
Praye,  praye,  praye, 
We  never  se  that  daye ; 
For  yf  that  daye  do  come. 
We  shall  dyssever  and  ronne, 
The  father  agaynst  the  sonne, 
And  one  agaynst  another. 
By  Godes  blessed  mother, 
Or  thei  begynne  to  hugger. 
For  Godes  sake  looke  aboute. 
And  staye  betymes  this  route, 
For  feare  thei  doo  come  oute. 
I  put  you  out  of  doubte. 
There  ys  no  greate  trust, 
Yf  trothe  shuld  be  discuste: 
Therfore,  my  lordes,  take  heade 
That  this  gere  do  not  brede 
At  chesse  to.playjB.a  mate, 
For  then  yt.is  to  late: 
We  may  well  prove  a  checke, 
But  thei  wyll  have  the  lieke; 


382        POEMS   ATTRIBUTED    TO    SKELTON. 

yt  is  not  to  b6  wondered, 

For  thei  are  not  to  be  nombred. 

This  the  poore  men  saye, 

Tf  thei  hadde  yt,  thei  wolde  paye: 

Vox  popuU^  vox  Dei ; 

0  most  noble  kyng, 

Consydre  well  this  thinge  I 


11. 

Tt  is  not  one  alone 
That  this  dothe  gronte  and  gnxne, ' 
And  make. this  pytyous  mone; 
For  yt  is  more  then  wonder, 
To  heare  the  infynyte  nombre 
Of  poore  men  that  dothe  shewe 
By  reason  y  t  must  be  soa 
Thei  wishe  and  do  coniector 
That  my  lordes  grace  and  prote^^tor, 
That  cheiffe  is  nowe  erector 
And  formost  of  the  rynge, 
Vnder  our  noble  kynge. 
That  he  wold  se  redresse 
Of  tkis  moete  greate  excesse, 
For  yt  stondes  on  hym  no  lesse; 
For  he  is  calde  doabteles 
A  man  of  greate  prowesse. 
And  so  dothe  beare  the  fame. 
And  dothe  desyre  tlie  same; 
His  mjTide  thei  save  is  good, 
Yf  all  wold  followe  his  moode. 
Nowe  for  to  sett  the  frame. 
To  kepe  styll  this  good  name, 
He  must  delaye  all  excuses. 
And  ponnyshe  these  greate  abuses 
Of  these  fynes  and  uewe  vses, 
That  have  so  many  muses ; 
And  first  and  pryucipallye 
Suppresse  this  shamfull  ysorye,. 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON*    388 

Comoulye  called  husbondrye; 
For  yf  there  be  no  remeadye 
In  tyme  and  that  right  shortlye, 
Yt  wyll  breade  to  a  pluresye, 
Whiche  is  a  greate  innormytie 
To  all  the  kynges  coroynaltye; 
For  there  is  no  smale  nombre 
That  this  faute  dothe  incombre: 
Yt  is  a  wordly  wondre. 
The  conions  thus  do  saye, 
Yf  thei  had  yt,  thei  wolde  paye: 
Voxpopuli,  vox  Dei  ; 
.0  most  noble  kyng, 
Consydre  well  this  thynge! 

12. 

No  we,  at  your  graces  leysour, 

Yf  you^  wyll  see  the  seisor 

Of  all  the  cheffe  treasure,  ' 

Heapyd  without  measure, 

Of  the  substance  of  your  realme^  ' 

As  yt  were  in  a  dreame, 

I  wyll  make  an  esteame. 

In  the  handes  of  a  fewe. 

The  trothe  you  to  shows, 

Howe  this  matter  dothe  goo; 

For  I  wyll  not  spare 

The  trothe  to  declare; 

For  trothe  trulye  ment 

Was  never  yet  shent, 

Kor  never  shent  shalbe ; 

Note  this  text  of  me, 

Yt  may  a  tyme  be  framed 

For  feare  some  shuld  be  blamed^ 

But  yt  wyll  not  be  shamed ; 

Yt  is  of  suche  a  streinghe, 

Yt  wyll  overcome  at  leinghe. 

Yflf  nowe  I  shaU  not  fayne. 

The  trothe  to  tell  you  playne 


TO    BKELTOlf. 


Of  all  thcHQ  thnt  So  Mia 


And  si 


rlly« 


ocilU, 


>f  this  renlmej  > 


Allmott  tbei  b^ve  si); 

Att  least  thd  faavs  tbe  trade 

Of  all  that  may  be  nude: 

And  tjtat  to  declare 

Bj  a  bryiffo  what  Chei  are, 

To  make  flborta  rebHTHaJl, 

As  well  apyrytuall  as  lemporalli 

The  laweare  and  tbe  latidelorde, 

The  greate  reava  and  Ihe  recorde,— 

The  recorde  I  meane  is  ha 

That  hnthe  oftice  or  ela  ffee, 

To  BervH  our  noble  kyng 

In  his  accomplaa  or  recknyng 

Of  Ms  treasare  aunnonttynge,— 

Lords  chauncellour  and  cbaaneelloiin, 

Maslere  of  myntaa  and  monyara, 

Sseoiidaryes  and  snrveyouri, 

Andlton  and  receivourv, 

Cnstmncrs  and  comptrollBn, 

Porryours  and  prollara, 

Marchanntea  of  greate  sailea, 

'With  the  miuter^  of  woodsalBs, 

With  gnuyars  and  ragraters. 

With  Master  Williams  of  shape  misteni 

Aod  sucha  l.vke  camonwullhe  wasters, 

That  of  arnbiB  groundes  make  paalwi, 

[And  psyemaAtera  9iiche  as  bythe 

With  Trappas  your  golden  amytbe,] 


I  nalmel  A  line  wanting,  to  rhyme  wllli  thii. 
3  Duuter]  MS.  Sari.  "  maisleras: "  but  perhapi  wot  P 
tioular  indiTidtial  is  alluded  to;   oompare  ths  ucoiil  IQ 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.   385 

With  iij  or  iiij  greate  clothiars, 

And  the  hole  lybell  of  lawyars: 

Withe  theise  and  theire  trayne, 

To  be  bryeffe  and  playne, 

Of  theire  to,  to  myche  gayne 

That  thei  take  for  theire  payne, 

Yt  is  knowen  by  ceirten  sterres 

That  thei  may  inayntayne  your  graces  warres 

By  space  of  a  hole  yeare, 

Be  yt  good  chepe  or  deare, 

Thoughe  we  shulde  withstande 

Both  Fraunce  and  Scotlunde, 

And  yet  to  leave  ynough 

Of  money,  ware,  and  stufTe, 

Both  in  cattell  and  come, 

To  more  then  thei  were  borne, 

By  patrymonye  or  bloode 

To  enherytte  so  myche  goode. 

By  cause  thei  be  so  base, 

Thei  wylbe  neadye  and  scace ; 

For  quod  ncUura  dtdii 

From  gentle  blode  them  ledyth ; 

And  to  force  a  chorlishe  best 

Nemo  aUollere  potest : 

Yet  rather  then  thei  wold  goo  before, 

Thei  wolde  heipe  your  grace  with  somwhat 

more. 
For  thei  be  they  that  have  the  store ; 
Those  be  they  wyll  warraunt  ye, 
Though  you  toke  never  a  penye 
Of  your  poore  comynaltie. 
This  is  trewe  vndoubtelye, 
I  dare  affyrme  it  certeynlye; 
For  yf  this  world  do  holde. 
Of  force  you  must  be  bolde 
To  borowe  theire  fyne  golde ; 
For  thei  have  all  the  store ; 
Fur  your  comons  have  no  more; 

OL.  II.  25 


386    POEMS  ATTRIBU1£D  TO  SKELTOS* 

Ye  may  it  call  to  lyght, 
For  >'t  is  your  awne  right, 
Yf  that  your  grace  have  neade: 
Beleve  this  as  vour  Creade. 

•r 

The  poore  men  so  do  saye, 
Yf  thai  had  yt,  thei  wold  paye 
With  &  better  wyll  then  thei: 
Vcxp(^mli,  vox  Dei  ; 
O  most  noble  kyng, 
Consyder  well  this  thynge! 

13. 

0  worthiest  protectour, 

Be  herin  corrector! 

And  yon,  my  lordes  all. 

Let  not  your  honor,  S4)pall, 

But  knocke  betvmes  and  call 

For  thcise  greate  vsurers  all; 

Ye  knowe  the  pryncypall : 

What  neadith  more  rehersall  ? 

Yf  you  do  not  redresse 

By  tyme  this  coyeteousnes. 

My  hed  I  hold  and  gage, 

There  wylbc  greate  outrage; 

Suche  rage  as  never  was  seene 

lu  anv  olde  mans  tvme. 

Also  for  this  perplexyte, 

Of  these  that  are  ra«:>st  welthye, 

Yt  ware  a  deade  of  charyte 

To  helpe  iheym  of  this  pluresie: 

Yt  comes  bv  suche  create  fvttes 

That  i:  takes  awaye  iheire  wyttes, 

Bothe  -in  theire  treasure  tellynge. 

Or  els  in  byeng  and  sellynge. 

Yf  ibe:  of  this  weare  eased, 

Yoiir  ^race  shuid  be  well  pleased, 

And  the:  but  lytle  deseased 

Of  this  covetous  dropsye. 

That  bryi^ges  Iheym  to  thys  ploreaie} 


POEMS   ATTRIBUTED    TO    SKELTON.        387 

Bothe  the  pluresye  and  goute, 

Vncurable  to  be  holpe  [out], 

Excepte  your  grace  for  pytie 

Provyde  this  foresaid  remeadye; 

As  doctors  holde  opynyon, 

Both  Ambros  and  Tertulian, 

Withe  the  Swepestake  and  the  Mynyon, 

The  Hertc  and  the  Swallowe, 

And  all  the  rest  that  foUowe, 

Withe  the  Gallye  and  the  Roo 

That  so  sivyflfte  do  goo, 

Goo,  and  that  apase. 

By  the  Henry  Grace, 

The  Herrye  and  the  Edwarde, — 

God  sende  theym  all  well  forwarde. 

Withe  all  the  hole  fleete! 

Whose  councell  complete  i 

Saithe  it  is  full  mete 

That  greate  heddes  and  dyscreate 

Shulde  loke  well  to  theire  feate. 

Amen,  I  saye,  so  be  y tt ! 

As  all  your  coraons  praye  / 

For  your  long  healthe  allwaye. 

Yf  thei  hadde  yt,  thei  wold  paye 

[With  a  better  wyll  then  thay] : 

VoxpoptUij  vox  Dtif 

Thus  dothe  wrytte,  and  thus  doth  saye, 

With  this  psalme,  Miserere  mei  ; 

0  most  noble  kyng, 

Consyder  well  this  thynge ! 

ffinis  quothe  Mr.  Skelton,  Poete  Lawriate.^ 


t  quothe  Mr.  Skelton,  Poete  Laioriaie]  Instead  of  theM 
MS.  Earl  has, 

"  God  saue  the  kenge 
Finis  quod  vox  populi  vox  del." 


i   AIIltlBUtED    1 


Vfos 

or  the  i-'mell  clergy!  ?|, 

And  the  proiiJe  preJacy[?|,  Tlier  ix 

Thatunvf  dooloobesohie,  Tho|wppe[ll 

At  thougU  tbat  by  ttnil  by  Curtei  ?|  .    .    , 

Tbsy  wuld  clymbe  und  fflya  Tho  rest  of  B 

Vp  to  tUo  olowdy  tkye:  inpirkes, 

Wlier  ali  men  miiy  espyo,  Thnt  be  hermyBrlMS, 

By  fals  hipocrysye  Wliith  do  coai(yl?l  Ij 

Thei  lo»B  haue  blered  ihe  aye  wiirkes, 

or  all  <he  wocld  well  nye;  A9  one  lliat  in  the  dul 

Comytling  apojtacie  And  wotBS  not   whepfl 

AgRinat  Chat  Terytya  nmrke  yi  

That  the!  can  nut  denye:  Do  tiike  the  kites  forlulita. 


•  The  Image  of  /pacryty]  Is  now  printed  ftom  MS.  Uat 
dam  TM.  The  original  bea  very  cmisldenible  >itoratio«*ii'' 
Bdditions  by  »,  difTercnt  hand:  the  lirat  piiKH  la  hers  ■udlh''' 
lilegiblB,  pnrtly  Trom  the  pnlene-ta  or  the  ink,  and  pnrllyfmn 
the  nolea  whinh  Peter  Le  Neve  (the  possesHir  of  the  US,  Id 
1721)  htus  unineroirully  icrihtiled  over  it.  I  give  the  tills  )wn 
as  it  atsndti  at  the  eud  of  the  First  Port. 

Hearne  nnd  olhers  ImvB  nttrihutad  this  reniBrkaWt  p" 
dttctlon  to  Skeitoa.     The  poem,  however,  conlninii  dtciait 

pBBBBgBR, — the  moDtion  of  certain  writings  of  Sir  Thmw 
Mote  Hud  of  "the  mnyde  orEeiit"(Eliiiibuth  Dartahli  *''^ 
occurs  in  tlie  Third  Tart,  would  slone  be  sufficient  to  t""* 
that  it  was  tha  coit.potition  of  tome  writer  potterior  ">  1>* 


POEMS   ATTRIBUTED    TO    SKELTON.        889 

be  owr  primates,  Lo,  thus  they  vndertake 

isshopps  and  prelates,  The  trothe  false  to  make ! 

irsons  and  curates,!^  Alas,  for  Christ  his  sake  1 

>ther  like  estates  Is  the  sonnelight  darke, 

vere  shaven  pates;  Or  ignoi*aunc[eJ  a  clarke, 

nkes  white  and  blacke,  Bycawse  thatthei  hath  powre 

shannons  that  cane  To  sende  men  to  the  Towre, 

chatte,  The  simple  to  devowre  V 

ns  ffayre  and  fatt,  If  they  Ivst  to  lowre, 

Friers  of  the  sacke,  Ys  suger  therfor  sowre? 

rothers  of  the  bagg,  Dothe  five  and  three  make 
nble  as  a  nagg,  fifour? 

cane  bothe  prate  and  As  well  I  durst  be  bolde 

bragg,  To  sey  the  ffier  were  colde. 

ke  the  pulpett  wagge  But  yet  they  worke  muche 
iwenty  thousand  lyes,  worse, 

ke  the  blind  eate  flyes,  When  they  for  blissinge 
lere  our  symple  eyes,  cowrse ; 

ke  vs  to  beleve  For  Father  Friska  jolly, 

lorowe  is  god  eve ;  And  Paier  Pecke  a  lolly, 

synly  to  be  breve,  That  be  all  full  of  folly, 

J  they  do  vs  drove,  Doo  fayne  them  seem  holy, 

ve,  to  our  great  greve.  For  ther  monopoly, 

ey  that  white  is  blacke.  And  ther  private  welthe, 

)s  they  sey  we  smacke.  That  they  haue  take  by 
nell  we  wote  not  what:  stelthe; 

en  beware  the  catt;  And  in  the  churche  they 
they  smell  a  ratt,  lurke, 

^sely  chide  and  chatt.  As  ill  as  any  Turke, 

iaue  him  by  the  jack.  So  proudely  they  vsurpe, 

tt  for  his  backe,  Besyde  the  spritt  of  Christ, 

ke  him  to  the  racke,  The  office  of  a  pryste 

rowne  hyme  in  a  sacke,  In  any  wise  to  take, 

ue  hyme  on  a  stake !  As  thoughe  it  were  a  iape. 


T  parsons  and  curates]  This  line  (now  pasted  over  in 
>.)  has  been  obtained  from  a  transcript  of  the  poem 
Dy  Thomas  Martin  of  Palgrave. 


390        rOEMS    ATTRIBUTED    TO    SKELTON. 


To  runne  in  att  the  rove; 
For  some  of  them  do  prove 
To  cl  yme  vpp  ere  they  knowe 
The  doore  from  the  wyudowe ; 
They  may  not  stoope  alowe, 
But  backe  bend  as  a  bowe; 
They  make  an  owtwarde 

showe, 
And  so  forthe  one  a  rowe, 
As  dapper  as  a  crowe, 
And  perte  as  any  pye, 
And  lighte  as  any  ffly. 
At  horde  and  at  table 
They  be  full  servy sable, 
Sober  and  demure, 
Acquayntans  to  allure, 
Wher  they  may  be  sure  i 
By  any  craft  or  trayne 
To  fyshe  for  any  gayne,2 
Or  wayt  for  any  wynnyng, — 
A  prestly  begynnynge  1 
For  many  a  hyerlinge, 
With  a  wilde  fyerlinge, 
Whan  his  credyte  is  most. 
With  mikell  brag  and  bost 
Shall  pryck  owt  as  a  post, 
Chafyng  lyke  myne  hoste. 
As  hott  as  any  teste, 
And  ride  from  cost  to  cost. 
And  then  shall  rule  the  rost. 


And  some  aTannced  be 
For  ther  auncente, 
Thoughe  ther  antiqnitye 
Be  all  innequitye; 
Yett  be  tbey  called 
To  the  charge  of  the  fald, 
Because  they  be  balled, 
And  be  for  bisshopps  stalled 
And  some  kepe  ther  statimu 
In  owtwarde  straoz^  nip 

tyons, 
Lernynge  invocatyons, 
And  crafty e  incantatyons; 
And  so  by  inchantement 
Gette  theyr  avauncement 
And  some  by  fayned  favour 
For  honour  or  for  havour, 
By  voyses  boughte  and  solde, 
For  sylver  and  for  gokte, 
For  lande,  for  rente  or  ffee, 
Or  by  authoritye 
Of  menn  of  hye  degree. 
Or  for  some  qualitye. 
As  many  of  them  bee. 
For  ther  actyvitee, 
Ther  practyse  and  industiye, 
Sleyght,  craft,  and  knavery, 
In  matters  of  bawdery. 
Or  by  helpe  of  kynoe. 
An  easy  life  to  wynue. 


1  Wher  thtij  miy  be  sure\  Followed  by  a  deleted  line,  now 

partly  illegible, — 

" wayte  to  haue  wynnynge." 

2  To/ysliejor  any  yayne\  Followed  by  a  deleted  line  wU^cb 
seems  to  h&ve  been, — 

*'  With  shotinge  or  with  singinge." 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    391 


)y  Saincte  Mary, 

Is  by  these  men  forbod; 

ihiiR  dotLe  cary 

Pater  noster  and  Creedo 

senary, 

They  vtterly  forbeede 

mgunary. 

To  be  said  or  songe 

e  for  to  pull 

In  our  vulgar  tonge. 

1  skynne  and  wolle. 

Ohe  Lorde,  thou  hast  jjreat 

t  Christ  be  the  doer. 

wrongo 

ce  not  of  his  looer, 

Of  these  that  shoulde  be 

t  therby  no  stoore ; 

trustye, 

iy  is  for  moore: 

Whiche  sey  the  breade  is 

11  youe  therfore 

musty. 

y  ther  tyrae  temper 

And  with  ther  lawe  vnlusty 

irovisoo  semper 

Make  it  rusty  and  dusty ! 

'  wey  to  enter. 

But  I  do  thinke  it  rustye 

of  wordely  good, 

For  lacke  of  exercyse : 

nge  of  the  fflode 

Wherfore  they  be  vnwise 

t  that  bledd  the  roode ; 

That  will  the  lawe  despise, 

for  ther  moode. 

And  daylye  newe  devyse, 

ike  deambulacyons 

So  dyvers  and  so  straunge. 

tat  ostentations. 

Which  1  chaunge  and  re- 

J  for  salutations 

cliaunge 

r  mannes  face, 

Of  fastinges  and  of  feestes, 

5  merkett  place 

Of  bowes  2  and  behestes, 

,   God  saue  your 

With  many  of  ther  8  iestes, 

ace! 

As  thoughe  lay  men  war 

churche  and  che- 

bestes ; 

nge, 

As  many  of  vs  bee. 

ey  may  haue  me- 

That  may  and  will  not  see, 

»ge 

Nor  ones  cast  vpp  an  eye, 

les  and  with  ladyes, 

These  jugglinges  to  espye; 

lied  Rabyes: 

For  this  that  nowe  is  vsed 

>d  saue  these  dadyes, 

Is  efte  ageyne  refused, 

her  yonge  babyes ! 

Chaunged  or  mysvsed, 

worde  of  God 

That  we  be  still  abused: 

1  Which]  Qy.  "With?" 

2  bowes]  Qy.  "  vowes?  " 
^ofUier]  Qy.  "other?" 


r 

^^^^H 

^ 

■           892        POKMS   ATTniBUIED   TO    BKELTON. 

^1 

W         The  hi«e  that  Ben-ethe  nowe. 

Cod  dolhe  not  slepe  nor 

1 

AgeynB  they  diealowe. 

wynko, 

TlinB  forlbe  and  b^ke.l 

Bui  aetlia  lande  and  htyitaj 

1 

Witb  bryvB  aud  wiih  bull 

Aud  yf  yo  lake  Ihe  ohynki, 

They  dnyly  plucks  aud  pull, 

1  feara  mo  ye  will  ityuka, 

■            And  yfiltba  never  ffuli; 

And  corrupt  your  TDCtTSU 

■         For  wher  one  bull  makw. 

WithsDiDinnctyOD; 

■         Another  bull  fonukee; 

r           The  IhyrJe  j-eK  raderulios 

InabvsillKyou^liln^Iyo^ 

To  alter  all  of  newa: 

Will  br^ade  a  cousumtjco, 

TbD>  Dona  will  otber  gue. 

1 

WberTore,  by  svrete  Jean, 

To  brlDBO  yuue  to  coaipro. 

I  thinkD  they  be  vntrewe 

^^^H 

That  iu^le  tyma  and  tyme 

Yonre  lawei  Calialy  groondad, 

To  gett  thy  no  and  myne; 

That  hath   llie    world  MH- 

Yea,  thougha   the   worlds 

ou  tided. 

pyune, 

Bytroutbeshalbeconfoundtd 

^^^1 

No  man  wyll  they  spare, 

ThoiighejebBlord«dl([l* 

YoshoDldDuomatLiDaliKDU, 

But  ever  be  benynguei 

To  bynde  va  nera  aud  forrei 

And  namely  In  suche  cue 

^^^^ 

Wherto  may  be  no  batre 

Wher  God  hie  gyfte  or  gMM 

In  peace  lyme  nor  in  warre ; 

Lyst  to  trfaule  or  plae*: 

For  none  thor  is  Ihat  dnrra 

The  poore  man,  or  the  rietWi 

Beplye  ageyne  or  apaake, 

k  to  bin  plaasurs  lynlHI 

^m 

This  duunce  of  tlicrs   to 
bnake; 

For  Chr>»^  our  donut  Urd^ 
That  iDBdo  the  full  icconh 

The  tniutha  it  U  ao  weeka: 

As  Scripture  dollia  mvi*. 

^^^M 

Tbey   make   all   men   cry 

Bot«7xt  God  and  mui. 

oraake. 

Snpprefsyngo  SHilan 

Or  fry  tliem  to  a  ilaake,— 

And  oil  hia  kingdom,  «lw 

Adieu,  Sir  IIiuldypi-akBl 

Vpon  Die  holv  roodd 

Lo,  Peter*  barge  is  lei.ke, 

DesliaddhiablisHdblooJ^ 

^^^M 

And  redy  for  to  aynke! 

As  tnuclle  for  one  M  Mbtt^ 

Beware    yetl    luuat    yone 

ExcDptinge  tn>t  liis  ivcUitr, 

\ 

drinke; 

Made  every  miinlibblMIW, 

1  inrie]  Somali 

ling  wanting  hcra. 

POEMS  ATTHIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.   893 


r  as  ther  bee 
3  and  chariteo. 
e  by  fals  abvsyon, 
gy  by  collution, 
good  conclution, 
oughte  vs  to  confu- 
)n, 

le  an  illution: 
;  inyquytie, 
themi^elfes  to  be 
then  godes,  yee, 
11  authorytye; 
by  ipocrysye, 
ther  dignytye, 
:he  leudd  lay  ffee, 
:emporalitee ; 
'  pretend  to  bee 
)  etemall| 
-  supernall : 
),  infemall; 
'  that  be  carnall, 
1  to  Boall, 

binge  gostely  at  all, 
id  spirituall ; 
3  must  them  calle, 
ye  do  and  shall, 
ippe  soever  falle. 
icessyon  may  not  dye, 
>  etemallye; 
iiout  question, 
ill  succession 
ue  from  one  to  other, 
er  of  ther  mother; 


Ten,  they  kepe  all  in  store 
That  other  hadd  afore. 
And  davlye  gather  more. 
Lo,  thus  the  people  rore, 
As  on  a  fistred  sore 
Of  matter  most  vnpure. 
That  thei  ar  dryven  toindore 
Tyll  God  himself  send  cure ! 
That  as  you  be  possessors, 
So  be  yee  successors 
Vnto  your  predecessors: 
And  yet  ye  be  questors. 
And  hoorders  vppe  of  testers, 
Ye  daylye  cache  and  gather 
Of  motlier  and  of  father. 
And  of  no  man  rather 
Then  of  your  poore  brother. 
And  of  euery  other; 
Yea,  all  that  comes  is  gayne. 
You  passe  of  no  mans  payne, 
Whiche  ye  allwey  reteyne, 
Who  ever  grudge  or  playne. 
It  may  not  out  agayne; 
Koughte  may  be  remitted 
That  to  youe  is  comroytted ; 
Ye  be  not  so  lighte  witted. 
The  people  thinke  it  true 
That  ye  possession  sue 
To  haue  an  easy  life. 
Without  debate  or  strife, 
To  lyve  without  a  wife, 
Lordely  ^  and  at  ease. 
Without  payne  or  disease. 


lely^  4^.]  On  the  outer  margin  of  the  MS.,  opposite 
e,  are  the  following  lines,  partly  cut  off  by  the  binder; 

"  Thes  be  the  knavysh 
knackes  that  ever  w  .  .  . 


flfor  Javelles  and  for  J[ackesl." 


894        POEM3    ATTRIBUTED    TO    SKELTON. 


Your  belly  god  to  please, 
And  worldly  welth  to  hane: 
Ye  do  your  heeades  shavef 
To  make  youe  sure  and  save 
In  every  wind  and  wave, 
That  wolde  as  sone  rave 
As  ones  to  chippe  ^  an  heare 
So  farre  abouo  your  eare, 
Or  snche  an  habite  weare, 
With  a  polled  heade, 
To  fayne  yourselves  deade ; 
But  for  possessions  sake 
That  ye  suche  rules  take, 
And  bynde  youe  to  the  brake, 
That  ve  mave  not  forsake 
Durj'nge  all  your  lyves: 
So  well  is  he  that  thrives. 
Thus  be  youe  spirituall; 
And  yett  ye  do  vs  call 
But  lewde  and  temporall ; 
And  that  is  for  that  we 
So  weake  and  simple  be, 
To  put  oure  possession 
From  oure  succession 
And  heires  lyniuU 
Or  kynne  colhiteriill, 
That  be  menu  temporall, 
And  so  from  Ivne  to  Ivne; 
For  ech  muii  for  his  tyme 
Saves,  Wliile  it  is  mvne, 
I  will  give  while  I  maye, 
That,  when  1  am  away, 
Thev  shall   both   singe   and 


save 


And  for  my  soules  helthe 
pray, 


Tyll  it  be  domes  day: 
So,  after  this  array, 
Alake  and  well  awav! 

m 

We  oure  landes  straye, 
And  other  goodes  decay; 
Wherat  ye  langhe  and  pbyt 
And  natheles  allwoy 
We  dayly  pay  and  pay, 
To  haue  youe  to  go  gaye 
With  wonderfoU  araye, 
As  dysardes  in  a  play. 
God  wolde  it  were  imprentBd, 
Written  and  indentyd, 
What  youe  haue  invented! 
So  great  diversyte 
Nowe  in  your  garmentes  be, 
That  wonder  is  to  se; 
Your  triple  cappe  and  crowaa, 
Curtle,  cope,  and  gowne, 
More  worthe  then  halfe  a 

towne. 
With  golde  and  perle  sett, 
And  stones  well  iffrett; 
Ther  can  be  no  bett; 
And  for  no  price  ye  lett. 
How  fur  of  they  be  fett 
Oh  ye  kynde  of  vipers. 
Ye  beestly  bellyters, 
With  Raynes  and  Cipres, 
That  haue  so  many  miters! 
And  yett  ye  be  but  mycberi. 
Youe  weere  littell  liattcs, 
Myters,  and  square  capp^, 
Decked  with  five  flappes, 
With  many  prety  knackes, 
Like  Turkes  of  Tartary, 


chijjpe]  Qy.  "  clippe  ?  " 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    39j 

or  men  of  Moscovye,  Your  shoes  wroughte  with 
bagges  of  Arraby,  go'^i 

ches  and  bosses,  To  tredd  vpon  the  molde; 

ives  and  crosses,  Wandnng,  as  Vandals, 

lers  and  posses,  In  sylke  and  in  sandals, 

.nders  and  banners.  Ye  kepe  your  holy  rules, 

good  life  or  manners :  As  asses  and  mules ; 

ue  youc  gay  gloves.  For  on  your  cloven  cules 

:h  your  hand  moves.  Will  ye  never  sytt 

te  with  true  loves,  But  on  a  rich  carpett; 

ie  well,  for  the  nones.  And  nowe  and  then  a  fitt, 

>lde  and  precious  After  the  rule  of  Bennett, 

ones:  With,  dythmunia  vennett, 

5  vs  with  your  bones,  A  gaye  a  vott  gennett, 

h  your  riche  ringes.  With  Gill  or  with  Jennyt^ 

anes  and  kinges,  Wyth  Cycely  or  Sare ; 

offringes,  Yf  thei  come  wher  they  are, 

ise  with  knelinges ;  Thei  lay  one  and  not  spare, 

•our  mynykyns  And  never  look  behind  them, 

nyon  babbes,  Wher  soever  they  ffynd  them ; 

losse    clmmbred  For  whan  that  thei  be  hett, 

•abbes.  And  Asmodeus  grett, 

asse  and  all  is  done,i  They  take,  as  thei  can  gett, 

jre  at  afternone :  All  fyshe  that  comes  to  nett, 

rtells  be  of  sylke,  For  lust  fyndea  no  lett  2 

)chetes   white    as  Tyll  hys  poyson  be  spett ; 

ylke ;  Be  she  fyne  or  feat, 

otes  of  righte  sattyne.  Be  she  white  or  jett, 

stt  crymosyne ;  Long  or  short  sett, 


n  masse  and  all  is  done]  Followed  by  a  deleted  line; 

"  The  paynes  to  release." 

fustfi/ndts  no  lttl\  Occupies  the  place  of  the  follow- 
)  deleted  lines; 

"  be  she  ffayre  or  fowle 
for  vnderneth  an  amys 
alyke  ther  hart  is." 


'OEMS   ATTRIBliTED    TO    SKELTON.        397 


your  mery  poppes : 
make  vs  sottes, 
with  vs  boopepe, 
r  gambaldes  like, 
re  Lordes  slieepe, 
)ur  for  to  kepe, 
3ftt  excesse, 
•ray  God  represse, 
)  to  sende  redresse ! 
in  can  expresse 
nd  wretchednesse 
are  neckes  do  lye, 
rett  tyrannye, 
e  and  surquedrye, 

0  openlye : 
one  secretly 
)ryvylye, 

e  tolde, — and  why  V 

herysye, 

by  and  by 

1  faggott  ffrye. 
n  not  deny, 

h  doth  playne  dys- 

ysemen  espye 
le  fait  doth  lye 
5  owne  foly, 
8  so  iolye, 
>iire  owne  goodes 


We  fether  vppe  oure  i  hoodes. 
Youe  sanguinolently, 
Your  mony  is  so  plenty, 
That  youe  make  no  deynty 
Of  twenty  pound  and  twenty, 
So  youe  may  haue  entry; 
And  then  youe  laughe  and 

skorne 
To  se  vs  were  the  home, 
Ridinge  here  and  hether, 
Goinge  ther  and  thether, 
Lyke  cokold  foles  together. 
In  colde,  wynde,  and   in 

wether, 
For  woll,  for  ledd,  and  lether; 
And  yet  do  not  consydre 
We  wer  an  oxes  fether: 
This  is  a  prety  bob, 
Oure  hedes  for  to  gnob  * 
With  suche  a  gentill  job : 
And  we  oure  selves  rob 
Of  landes  temporall. 
And  jvelles  great  and  smalle. 
To  give  youe  parte  of  all 
In  almes  perpetuall. 
To  make  our  heyres  thrall 
For  your  hye  promotyon, 
Through  our  blynde  devo- 
tion 


3y« "  youre  ?  "  but  compare  6th  line  of  next  column, 
lowing  line,  ^^ sanguinolently^^  should  perhaps  be 
Latin, — "  sanguinolentiy 
^edufor  to  gndb\  Followed  by  two  deleted  lines; 

**  And  make  vs  soch  a  lob 
To  vse  one  lyke  a  lob." 


3S8       POEMS   ATTKIBUTED   TO    SKELTOIB 


Aaa  Roall '  inldlygens, 
Bol  (tnt  oar  conacyeiu. 
L»jen  m'th  oBeu!, 
AdJ  joa  Tt  «a  iiiceiue, 
nu  we  be  going  hens, 
Tn  Bike  tocb  rccumpenj 
Brgr^g'  ywe  our  pt 
thirluid,  gooile^i  ftnd  re 
For  thai  hoi)- pretflQ", 
Ib<7iig  ffull  coiirydeiis 
That  baa  BBfe  dcreiis: 
So  do  we  atyll  dyspens 


With  &1I  rOR 

Of  hnrty  peoytem. 

Your  joggly  nge  i»  «^M, 
Your  nrnvBier  ia  vntyed, 
Which  ii  the  prince  of  pridti 


Can  auffrv  oi 
To  here  the  troai  tiy«d, 
Which  ye  intend  to  hid* 
With  Teliement  desyre, 
As  bote  as  any  ffire, 
ffirst  parte  of  this  present  treiityse,  ndlBd 
tbd  linage  of  Ipocryty. 


Alake,  for  Christea  might. 
These  thinges  go  not  nrighte ! 
Oare  lanterns  give  no  lighte, 
A!!  bieshopps  bo  not  brighte: 
They  be  «o  full  of  spyle, 
Thay  cam  not  wlioin  they 


Both  fread  and  too  Oiq 

Wylb   prii-UD,  .lelh,  Md 

fligUte; 
So  (luyly  they  do  (ygtit 
To  overtnine  the  iJghK 
So  ws  ba  in  the  pljta, 


O/harlgpenslera] 
sljtnted  for  three  deleteij 
B  .  .  .  foiida  iiflljction 


3EMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON. 


399 


g  of  onre  sight, 
not  black  from 

ght, 

IS  blinded  quyte, 

lot  day  from  nyght. 

jT  syres  soule, 

ipostell  Paule 

ve  may  see 

d  Tymothe, 

d  a  bisslioppe  be: 

tioly  liffe, 

nde  of  one  wiffe; 
not  to  strife, 
with  sworde  or 

3; 

;  any  tyme 
is  of  cryme, 
nd  provident, 
contynent, 
vynolent; 
lie  eat  or  driiike, 
ke,  or  winke, 
on  measure  thinke, 
*  vse  a  messe, 
ay  excesse, 
3  lowe  and  chast; 
ake  no  wast 
dite 

or  to  be, 
lis  degree, 
lUite 
itallite; 

e  sadd  and  sage, 
I  outrage, 
Y  with  reason 
in  tyme  and  season, 
kepe  his  meason ; 
no  wise  streke. 


But  suffer  and  be  meke, 

Shamefast  and  discrete, 

Temperat,  dulce,  and  swete, 

Not  speakinge  angerly. 

But  soft;  and  manerly; 

And,  in  any  wise, 

Beware  of  covetyse. 

The  rote  of  all  ill  vice; 

He  must  be  liberall, 

And  thanke  oure  Lorde  of  all; 

And,  as  a  heerde  his  sheepe, 

His  childer  must  he  kepe, 

And  all  his  family 

In  vertu  edyfy, 

Vuder  disciplyne 

Of  holsome  doctryne, 

With  dew  subiection, 

That  non  obiection 

Be  made  vnto  his  heste 

Of  most  or  of  leste; 

For  thus  he  doth  conclude, 

As  by  simylitude, 

Howe  he  that  cane  not  skill 

His  housholde  at  his  will 

To  governe,  rule,  and  teche, 

Within  his  power  and  reach, 

Oughte  to  haue  no  speache 

Of  cure  and  diligence, 

Of  suche  premynence, 

Within  the  churche  of  God; 

And  eke  it  is  forbode 

That  he  no  novice  be, 

Lest  with  superbite 

He  do  presume  to  hye, 

And  consequently 

Fall  vnhappely 

Into  the  frenesy 

Of  pride  and  of  evyll, 

Lyke  Lucyfer,  the  devyll; 


-100 

For  be  playnly  writea, 
That  of  tbe^  nirapbitea, 
And  paviuhe  prosBlites, 
Sprinjw  Tpp  Ipocritei ; 
A  bissUoppe  eke  inu?t  hauB, 
Hii  lionestr  (o  »>i*e, 
or  nil  men  BDch  a  nnme, 
That  his  out  wards  fiuiie 
Be  clana  from  any  blame, 
Impecbed  with  no  sbnrae, 
To  draw  ail  people  In, 
Thej  may  repeut  of  aynne, 
And  so  he  may  them  nynno, 
That  ^ei  faii  not  Toware 
Into  Ibe  deviis  snirs. 
Thus  Paulo,  B9  ye  may  so, 
Tonghle  Tyte  and  Tymotbe, 
Who  Bhooid  a  bisshapiie  be: 
And  Christ  oure  maierer  dere, 
While  be  lyred  here, 
Fall  poorly  did  appera, 
Mekely  ban^e  and  bredd ; 
The  bnre  earth  waa  his  badd, 
For  wbeca  to  hela  bis  headii. 
Or  where  to  lye  and  rest, 
He  btul  no  hole  nor  nest ; 
But  in  great  poverty 
Hb  lyved  soberiy, 
Hiswordetoninllyply; 
And  thus  did  edifye 


i|!MS   ATTRIBCTED   TO    8KELTOS. 


To  gather  and  to  Icape, 
By  piliinge  of  histbepei 
Not  forsynR  who  do  wejn 
And  to  bis  flucke  Tepayn 
As  it  were  Eo  a  Qjjn; 
To  alt  in  Peten  chAycl 
With  pride  and  amblllan, 
Sowyng  grent  seditiMi 
And  by  superBtiHon 

By  bulles  vnder  led, 

To  serve  both  quiefee  ud 

den.J ; 
And  fay  Hint  way  pretend 
To  elyme  vpp  and  ui*iid 
That  Lucifer  did  diHsad. 
I  Oiloke  thnt  anohs  ftTkm 
Be  not  Chrittea  rfcku^ 
But  crafty  intrycais, 
And  pryry  pnrm  pyfciitt 
For  they  that  be  nkui 
Of  stores  newe  andntd^ 
Mny  perceyva  and  bdioUt 


To  galkir  nnd  to  ttpe] 
t  sabstilnled  for  iw'>  deleted  liMit 
"  To  j/alher  ami  to  kept 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    401 


mery  thinge  is  solde 
ver  and  for  golde : 
aft  can  not  be  told, 
8  and  hath  bene  done 
iychryst  of  Borne; 
tns  the  sourdes  springe 
ry  naughty  thinge, 
ndemeth  the  whynge 
Sire  of  Synne ; 
»m  I  will  begynn 
lat  for  to  speake, 
aynly  to  intreate 
farly  freake, 
ttetli  in  his  seat, 
Inge  synne  as  meatte, 
i  he  and  his  do  eate 
y  may  catch  and 
reate :  i 

pare  not  to  devower 
owne,  and  tower, 
,  no  man  may  lower; 
it  swete  or  sower, 
t  good  or  yll, 
st  b*»  muett  still, 
tes  to  fulfill 
;  cocodryll, 
at  his  only  will 
h  man  save  or  spyll. 
icked  man  of  warr 
It  is  that  he  darr, 
yste,  make  and  mart, 
le  lawe  to  prefarr 
the  worde  of  God ; 
ith  Codes  forbod 
'er  it  should  be; 


A  man  to  cljrme  so  hy, 
By  reason  of  his  see. 
To  clayme  auctoritye 
Aboue  the  Deyte, 
It  is  to  hy  a  host. 
And  synne  one  of  the  most 
Ageynst  the  Holy  Cost, 
That  is  not  remissable : 
For  as  for  the  Bible, 
He  taketh  it  for  a  ridle. 
Or  as  a  lawles  lible, 
Which,  to  the  hy  ofifence 
Of  his  conscience. 
He  dare  therwith  dispence, 
And  alter  the  sentence ; 
For  wher  God  do  prohibitt, 
He  doth  leve  exhibite, 
And  at  his  lust  inhybyte; 
And  wher  God  doth  com- 

maunde, 
Therhe  doth  countermaunde; 
After  his  owne  purpose 
The  best  text  to  tume  and 

glose, 
Like  a  Welshe  manes  hose, 
Or  lyke  a  waxen  nose: 
But  wyse  men  do  suppose 
That  truth  shall  judge  and 

trye. 
For  lyars  can  but  lye. 
He  is  so  hault  and  taunt, 
That  he  dare  hvme  avaunt 

m 

All  erthly  men  to  daunt; 
And  faynes  to  give  and 
graunt, 


tv]  Followed  by  a  deleted  line; 

**  Be  it  by  colde  or  heate." 

^OL.  II.  26 


^^V            402         F0EU9    ATTRIB 

FED   TO   SKELTON.   ^^H 

^^^1          Ii.  heuven  abo^e  or 

Like  the  pri»co  of  prid^!B 

^^^^1           A  plHce  vhcrin  to  dwell, 

Thu!  of  euerv  »vde 

^^^H         Ak  aU  hit  \yan  tell. 

Wnrro9  tbe  warFde  »yde. 

^^^B         Wbiob  be  di>tli  dnyly  lell, 

WlioiD   no  »lroiiglia  miy 

^^^1         Alter 

ebide- 

^^^1         ir  meD  come  to  hia  pri^e; 

Tlie  devill  be  liia  E^yd*! 

For  loke  in  hiB  dBe^eB^ 

^^^^1         For,  DS  ya  will  deinnunde, 

And  ye  shall  Qnde  outlya, 

^^^H           He  can  nn<l  mny  cDmmDULde 

As  Ihik  AS  Bwnrme  of  bygi^ 

Thnl  ihroiighc  the  wmlde 

^^^1            or  angells  out  of  be^yen, 

flyes, 

^^^^^M           To  name  throUKlie  ths  leven, 

^^^1           Aud  make  >lI1  UiiDge  OTSiI, 

^^^1          m»  biddinges  to  obey, 

But  great  raercyraonyu 

^^^H            Wbich  bB&TBs  the   grenCist 

Of  hW  fiercmonvBS, 

^^^1                    Bnrsye, 

Tosmoddorvs  wilhsiMtot 

^^^H          Your  eoules  to  convey 

For,  when  he  wUbe  wroke, 

^^^^^H           Frome  all  ilecaye 

NotnanniaybcnihUBmlwi 

^^^1            Out  oC  the  rande>  wey; 

SohevyiBhisyoke, 

^^^H          But  provided  nlwey, 

ToChristesfullvnlike, 

^^^H           That  ye  Snt  mon j  payo ; 

Thntsaida  his  yoke  i»«wel% 

^^^^V            At  the  Hppoyntsd  diiya 

Hte  burthen  lights  uiid  ontt 

^^^V            Ye  preieiit,  if  it  mnye; 

For  ell  men  that  be  mekl, 

^^H             Then,  vnder  thi  pelyclon. 

To  Buffer  and  to  hero, 

^^^H             ThDD  gsttflBt  true  nuDyBeiOD, 

Without  dtwie  or  fere: 

But  Popea  nfterwarde, 

^^^^^B           By  thiihii  owiieconiiiiyssioa, 

That  never  hnd  reg»n! 

^^^H            By  bryve  or  eh  by  bull, 

Whioh  eude  shouMe  p  to* 

^^^1          To  fill  h»  coflen  full; 

„,.rde. 

^^^1           Ye  may  aske  whiit  ye  wuU. 

Hnue  draweii  y»  bokwwl*      ' 

^^^M          Alue,  ye  be  to  dull 

And  made  tlie  yoke  W  la* 

^^^1          To  te  this  lorde  of  losse 

By  faiBB  invented  lawN, 

^^^P           The  fo  of  Christea  cross  >, 

As  Ihoughe  l»y  om  »w 

^^^           This  hoore  ef  Babilon, 

dawes. 

P                          AnJ  leede  of  Zabuloe, 

And  domett!  any  )to««, 

1                            The  enemy  of  Christ, 

With  aivile  and  canOO 

L                       Tho  devels  holy  pryet, 

To  serve  God  and  M«ffl«»L 

^^^^_              And  very  Antechrist, 

Bif!h<e  nnd  wronga  i>3^^H 

^^K            To  reveU  and  to  ride, 

Serobe  hU  decretlllH^^H 

POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    403 


And  bnlles  papalles, 

Et,  inter  aUa, 

Loke  in  his  paHa 

And  B€u:chanaUa,^ 

With  his  extravagantes 

And  wayes  vagarantes : 

His  Ittwes  arrogantea 

Be  made  by  truwantes 

That  frame  his  finctions 

Into  distinctionsi 

With  clontes  of  clawses, 

Qnestyons  and  cawses, 

With  Sext  and  Clementyne, 

And  lawes  legantyne : 

His  connty  pallantyne 

Hane  coustome  colabryne. 

With  codes  viperjme 

And  sectes  serpentyne: 

Blinde  be  his  stores 

Of  interogatores 

And  declarators, 

With  lapse  and  relapse, 

A  wispe  and  a  waspe, 

A  clispe  and  a  claspe, 

And  his  after  clappes; 

For  his  paragnifies 

Be  no  oosmografTes, 

But  vnhappy  graflfes, 

That  wander  in  the  warrayne, 

Fmteles  and  bara3'ne, 

To  fede  that  foule  carrayne, 

And  dignite  papall ; 

With  judges  that  scrape  all, 

And  doctoiirs  that  take  all, 


By  lawes  absynthyall 
And  labirynthyall: 
His  tabellions 
Be  rebellions ; 
His  laweres  and  scribee 
Live  only  by  bribes ; 
His  holy  advocates 
And  judges  diligates 
Haue  robbed  all  estates, 
By  many  inventions 
Of  sundry  suspentions, 
Subtile  subventions, 
Crafty  conventions, 
Prevy  preventions. 
And  evell  exemptions; 
So  hath  his  indictions 
And  his  interdictions. 
With  croked  coramyssiont, 
Colde  compromyssions, 
Cursed  conditions, 
Hevy  traditions, 
Elvishe  iuibitions, 
And  redv  remissions : 
Then  hathe  he  inductions 
And  colde  conductions; 
His  expectatyves 
Many  a  man  vnthrives ; 
By  his  constitutions 
And  his  subtitutions 
He  maketh  institutions, 
And  taketh  restitutions, 
Sellinge  absolutions. 
And  other  like  pollutions: 
His  holy  actions 


i-paUa  •  •  .  BftcchaftaHd]  It  would  seem  from  the  context 
Uk&t  the  right  reading  is  "  Palilia."  The  MS.  has  "  Baccha- 
fMOlia." 


^^^H               404        POBUS   ATTRIBUTED   TO   SKELTOi^^H 

^^^H               B0  SHllsrnctiorui 

j.^^     M 

^^H             Hembbeltmllnstiom 

PubUoBtloni,           ^^M 

^^H                With  bU  nilmioaEIonB, 

KennnttUtiot^      ^^M 

^^H               And  other  like  vexntiong; 

^^^H               At  with  abinratioDB, 

^^^^1               A).-grnTBtic)DB, 

^^^B              fresenUtiona, 

Hid  holy  vntons        ^^H 

^^^1           AdvoonCioni, 

His  triHliteu          ^^H 

^^^m           UilHFHdntioni, 

Be  full  of  qnalllM^^^H 

^^^H           Sustentntlone, 

His  lalies  M,d  ijuoV^^H 

^^H             AAmiayitntiom, 

Befuiloriilollea:   ^^H 

Willi  qnibffi  and  ql^^H 

And  Df  moi1uarfU,^^H 

^^^H             Dccliirstlons, 

By  sutea  o{  upi'BRl^^^H 

^^^L 

Anii  by  h»  ofle  repeB^W 

^^^B           Collocaliorui, 

Ha  on™  urnny  Jte«lB«.       "    ' 

^^^H           RBTOoilions, 

I  ap«akfl  uol  uf  hiaK»M«> 

^^^^^P             tntimatidDB, 

01  de  iind  aTTlcnlw.i^^^ 

Cokie  and  C!Hniaiil«^^^| 

WitlibispyldespltliPVI 

^^^H 

PlByilB  [ha  knnvjon*  ■  •« 

^^H               ConyocatiODS, 

Vndemeth  a  mdl: 

I  amy  not  lall  yoM  lU, 

In  tenaBB  special', 

or  pardon  nor  of  p«U, 

^^^^1             OomnifiiiitionB, 

^^H             ExctuBtloru, 

Forlfeure.  yfliecill 

The  eeiitance  genenll. 

1                           Vkilatioas, 

1  uiigbte  BO  Inke  a  Ul. 

1^ 

POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    405 


And  haue  his  bitter  curse, 
And  yett  be  not  the  warse, 
Save  only  in  my  purse, 
Because  I  shoulde  be  fiEiyne 
To  by  my  state  agayne 
Ex  leno  vd  ex  Unci, 
Aid  pelUce  cbtcana^ 
Res  certe  inanuena : 
PapisUcortan  tcena^ 
Malorwn  semper  plena; 
For  all  the  worlde  rounde 
He  falsely  doth  confounde 
By  lawes  made  and  founde, 
By  thyr  devyse  vnsownde, 
With  no  steadfast  grounde. 
But  with  fayned  visions 
And  develyshe  devisions, 
With  basterde  religions : 
Thus  this  cursed  elfe, 
To  avaunce  his  pelfe, 
Falsely  fayne[s]  hymeself 
To  be  semideus: 
Ko,  youe  Asmeodeus, 
Te  are  Amoreus, 
The  Sonne  of  Chanaan; 
0  thou  monstrous  man. 
And  childe  of  cursed  Chan, 
Arte  thou  halfe  god,  halfe 

man? 
Gup,  leviathan, 
And  Sonne  of  Sattan, 
The  worme  Uinphagus, 
And  sire  to  Symonde  Magus  1 
0  porter  Cerberus, 
Thou  arte  so  monstrous, 
Boo  made  and  myschevous, 
Proude  and  surquedrous, 
And  as  lecherous 
At  Heliogabalus 


Or  Sardanapalus  I 
Hatefull  vnto  God, 
And  father  of  all  falsehoode, 
The  poyson  of  prestoode, 
And  deth  of  good  knight- 

hoode, 
The  robber  of  riche  men, 
Aad  murderer  of  meke  men, 
The  turment  of  true  men 
That  named  be  nev/e  men, 
The  prince  of  periury, 
And  Christes  enemy, 
Vnhappy  as  Achab, 
And  naughty  as  N&  lab. 
As  cnifty  as  Caball 
And  dronken  as  Na^'<ll, 
The  hope  of  I&maeU, 
And  false  Achitofell, 
The  bliss inge  of  Bell. 
And  advocate  of  he!  I 
Thou  hunter  Nembr  >• 
And  Judas  Iscarioth, 
Thou  bloody  Belyali. 
And  sacrifise  of  Ball, 
Thou  elvishe  ipocrite, 
And  naughty  neophif  e 
Thou  pevishe  proselile, 
And  synefull  Sodymiro. 
Thou  gredy  Gomorrite, 
And  galefull  Gabaonite, 
Tho[uJ  hermofrodite, 
Thou  arte  a  wicked  sprite 
A  naughty  seismatike, 
And  an  heritike, 
Abeestely  bogorian. 
And  devill  meridian. 
The  patrone  of  proctors. 
And  dethe  of  trewe  doctourj. 
The  founder  of  faytors, 


The  •heiidor  of  srwhb, 
And  brenker  of  Uwm, 
The  (jre  af  lerdoaera. 
And  prince  of  pardmiars, 
Tho  kipge  of  quenlors. 
AoJnila  of  regeslors, 
Tlie  eUtt  of  froggo*, 
And  mnkiir  of  godd^n, 
The  brother  of  brothcllt, 
And  lords  of  all  losells. 


Farnr 


e  the  t> 


,a  falla 


With 


i^rioi 


vDthriftea, 


Amonj^e  Irasty  biiwiie", 
■J'lio  fathor  ef  (bles, 
And  ignorannES  of  woIbs, 
Thi  Iwlpor  of  harkCU a. 
And  caplftyns  of  i     ' 
The  oloke  of  all  t 
And  capUyna  i 


ide  BA  OD  hogge, 
hide  as  nay  dogRB, 
lipwraUofNoye^ 
sikue  ths  and  Sainc 
Loy! 

hoa  the  blest  prysti 
ienr  vnto  Christ? 

iraed  erekar, 
A  cmfly  vpporepwi 
Thou  urt«  Iha  ieviit  viosr, 
A  priryo  pnnie  pikar, 
By  lawes  mid  by  titea 
for  Bowles  oDd  for  ^pritH: 
0  lordo  of  ipocrites, 


To  spenke  of  cardiinUai, 
That  kepe  ther  holy  h*tlu 
With  lowrm  and  nnlles; 
Be  they  not  cHmallH, 
Atid  lordM  itifernnllos? 
Yea,  gredy  onnnulles, 

Willi  ther  cappdDtanta 
Tliey  lok«  aduMaU: 
For  Mlh.  men  tajr  Uiej  te 
Full  of  iniquile, 
LyvingB  III  habondBDU 
Of  all  woridl.v  sabiUuiiM, 
Wherin  they  lodge  and  ]j, 
And  wallowe  bauletUf , 
At  ho^e*  do  la  a  Hye, 
Serrlnge  ther  god,  th>r  bAi 
Witb  chosttea  nnd  <r[th|ellT. 
With  ranyson  nnd  with  liiWi 
With  coaffte*  wid  wicb  bMi 
;    To  esae  ther  holy  hitrtei. 
They  taka  ther  statiou, 
And  make  dyambalUiOIII 
Into  lU  oalioiia, 
For  ther  TiBltationi, 
OalUnge  convoattfani^ 
SailiiiBB  dUpoDiatloHf 
Glvinjce  GondanMlanii 
UnkiiiKe  permmatloM, 
And  of  excomDDyoUiw 
Sell  they  ralaxalloni 
For  tliry,  in  ther  pngnM 


i 


POEMS   ATTRIBUTED   TO    8KELTON.        407 


item,  Mawde,  and 

tsse, 

fall  great  excesM, 

any  redresse; 
nen  they  oppreese 
towne,  and  village; 
le  and  yong  of  age 
be  and  make  pyllage, 
ts  for  to  aswage, 
ley  extorte  by  mighte 
)  churches  rtghte; 
y  not  lese  a  fether: 
,  that  lyyeth  ever, 
hat  they  never 
veer  to  come  hether! 
r  they  ones  arive, 
9  they  do  vs  shry  ve, 
vere  by  my  life, 
;ry  ther  shall  thrive 
in  and  ffive 
im  the  worse: 
)  them  Godeg  curse 

within  ther  purse; 
lyd  and  lewde 
ley  were  beshrewed, 
rer  mighte  come  nere 
sitt  here, 


Altho  they  haue  sotch  cbere 
As  they  cann  well  desyre. 
And  as  they  will  requier; 
For  why,  it  doth  appere. 
The  hartes  ar  sett  on  fyer 
Of  chanon,  monke,  and  fryer, 
That  daylye  dothe  aspyre,^ 
By  bulles  vnder  ledd, 
How  they  should  be  fedd; 
It  is  therfore  great  skill 
That  every  Jacke  and  Gyll 
Performe  the  Popes  will, 
Hys  purse  and  panch  to  ffill; 
For,  as  I  erst  haue  toide. 
There  lyves  not  suche  a 

scolde 
That  dare  ons  be  so  bold, 
From  shome  ne  yet  from 

polde. 
Nor  monye,  raeate,  nor  golde. 
From  soch  men  ^  to  withholde, 
Ther  favour  boughte  and 

solde. 
That  take  a  thowsand  ffblde 
More  then  that  Judas  did: 
The  trouth  can  not  be  hid ; 
For  it  is  playnly  kid 


e]  Followed  by  a  deleted  line  (inserted  above  with 
variation); 

**  Thyr  hartes  ar  so  on  fyer." 

nen]  Originally  *'  them.**    This  line  is  followed  by 
leted  lines  (inserted  above, — the  first  two  slightly 


"  Mony  meat  or  golde 
But  be  they  shome  or  polde 
Ther  lyves  not  suche  a  scolde.** 


^^^1                408         POEMS    ATTItTDUTED    TO    @EELTOIh^^| 

^^^1           Jadni  for  hU  dispense 

Ag..yn.t  ii^re.ye   ^H 

^^^H             Sold  Christ  Tor  thirty  pen>e, 

In  bi9sho[,p  or  tn  othn)          il 

^^^^1             And  did  a  ronle  offence, 

Yea.   thouKhe  It  wero  ay 

^^^^1             Hia  Lorde  Ood  bo  Id  truf ; 

brother. 

^^^B             And  they  in  Uknwiee  aa.y, 

My  father  or  my  mothn, 

^^^^^1            After  Jaila»  wny, 

My  »y»l«r  or  my  >.onnei 

^^^H             What  will  yt  give  and  pay, 

For,  M  1  liBUe  bepMins, 

^^^H              A5  IhG  mutter  fal\ia. 

I  wlU,  as  I  haiie  doiHM, 

^^^H              For  pardonnei  and  fi>r  pnllss 

DisolosB  the  great  ootnijl 

That  ia  in  this  linage; 

For  be  tliat  fiiles  the  p^ic^^ 

^^^H             Without  rattylDtyons, 

Ana  theron  groweth  sycM, 

^^^1             And  nt  OUTB  owns  Blectioa 

May  with  the  guldbmellbf 

For,  aa  I  erst  hnoe  uid, 

^^^H             Be«yd«  ChfiibH  psssion 

Oure  bi^ahops  at  n  btn/d 

^^^H             To  make  snU^fnction ; 

Ar  pxiwnH  so  sore  admvft 

^^^^H              We  (van  for  nmi  ofTeotie, 

And  in  Hie  world  ao  Hill- 

^^^H            So  they  hnue  recompODce: 

Do  Tte  !utcli  ponip^  (111 

^^^H              By  great  aadncititeB 

pride. 

AndmlBOiienerytjdft 

^^^H            For  hesTen  and  for  hell 

Th(ilno-.eranytliem«telii 

^^^H              They  mony  Uke  and  tell 

Of  no  prince,  lord,  nor  aitt 

^^^1            So  thus  they  by  uid  »ell. 

They  take  will  a  ralrake; 

^^^H              And  take  that^  no  ehnme, 

All  lay  men  they  lUnniM 

^^^H            But  Inughe  uid  haue  good 

Makings  non  nconyW,      , 

^^H 

Nor  cute  ]>o  rookoqM^H 

^^^H            To  all  onre  soals  bnne: 

Scarcely  of  B  kingO^^^H 

^^H              God  heipe,  we  be  to  blame 

This  it  a  wonder  l^^^l 

^^^H              Satch  lordfls  to  defame; 

They  standa  so  >i^^^H 

^^^H              Yatl,  hy  the  common  fame, 

fa.'tt,               ^^M 

^^^^H              Some  biBBhops  vse  fhe  same. 

And  be  nothioge  t^^^H 

^^^1              In  Chrlstes  holy  name 

that  blodyjHd^^^H 

^^^H              Soulei  to  Mil  and  bye: 

And  nii^qcj^l^^^^^H 

^^H              My  mjude      not  lo  lye, 

The  Pojtti^^^^^l 

^^H              But  to  write  plnynlyt. 

IbMI^^^^^^^H 

^^H                  1  •«I<M]  Followed  bj  ■  Chd* 

^s^^^^k 

^^H                             "Batf«UJM 

1 

POEMS    ATTRIBUTED    TO    8K ELTON.       iCO 


le  cardinalles 
er  defence  and  walles, 
horn  they  stifly  stande 
9r  and  by  lande, 
the  overhande 
he  world  rounde, 
rofitt  may  be  founde : 
)  80  many  legions, 
ey  oppresse  regions 
)ke,  bell,  and  candell, 
ige  to  handell, 
bane  many  one: 
U  herevpon 
f  good  Kinge  John, 
t)y  the  bitinge 
subtill  smy  tinge, 
'  acytinge, 
er  interditinge, 
lynations 
)mmunication8; 
ther  holy  poores 
ored  vpp  stoores, 
pte  suche  stvrre  with 
ores, 

ut  vpp  all  churche 
oores 

f  princely  pleasure, 
Te  so  owt  of  measure, 
Y  might  haue  leasure, 
)g  lorde  and  kinge 
and  lowe  to  bringe ; 
was  a  pyttevs  thyng, 
t  with  wepinge  yees, 
8  backe  and  thies, 
elinge  on  his  knees, 
Oder  vpp  his  fees, 
ngly  dignytees, 
orowne,  and  landes, 
nrholjhandes: 


Alas,  howe  mighte  it  be 
That  oure  nobilitee 
Could  then  no  better  se  ? 
For  thevi'8  was  the  fault 
Oure  prelates  were  sohaulte; 
Their  strength  then  was  to 

seke 
Ther  liege  lorde  to  kepe ; 
They  durst  not  fight  ne  strike, 
They  feared  of  a  gleke, 
That,  no  day  in  the  weke, 
For  any  good  or  cattell. 
Durst  they  go  to  battell, 
Nor  entre  churche  ne  chap> 

pell 
In  syxe  or  seven  yere, 
Before  Christ  to  uppere, 
And  devine  seruice  here 
In-  any  hallowed  place, 
For  lacke  of  ther  good  grace ; 
Ther  was  no  tyme  nor  space 
To  do  to  God  seruice, 
But  as  they  wolde  devise; 
Their  lawes  be  so  sinystre, 
That  no  man  durst  minvstre 
The  holy  sacrementes 
Till  they  hadd  ther  intent«8 
Of  landes  and  of  rentes. 
By  lawes  and  by  lyes; 
To  inriche  ther  sees, 
The  blind  men  eat  vpp  flees; 
For  by  ther  constitutions 
They  toke  restitutions 
Of  cyties  and  of  ca<*tells, 
Of  townes  and  bastells. 
And  make  ther  prince  pike 

wastells. 
Till  they  rang  out  the  belles, 
And  did  as  they  wold  elles, 


410         POEMS    ATTRIBDl 

Like  traylours  and  robeUe.?, 
As  the  ttory  telles. 
But  Jt9\i  Clirift  fajmeselT, 
Kor  Iiii  nppoilelEi  iwDtO^ 
VdId  Ihnt  cTnyd  elfe 
Did  nover  [each  hjm  so 
In  luiy  wiM  to  do, 
Fur  lours  or  iidvaylB, 
Ageynsl  tbjr  k<rng  to  rajle, 

Within  hi!  owne  luide 
To  put  hym  Tnder  bando, 
And  tiiko  hredo  of  hU  honde: 
Tlie  Lnrde  «bub  sulch  k  flock 
Tlial  Ki  could  mows  and  mock 


kliige  a  block, 
r  langfunge 


And   eke  i 

Thej*  hiered  hym  with 

And  said  thai  he  mast  wnrcbe 
By  louoseli  of  the  cbnreho! 
Wberby  they  menl  nolhingo 

OniT  for  to  brinxe 


This  wan  o  midday 
A  kln;re  to  (o  eaforce 
With  patyence  pertbree. 
Take  hade  therfote  and 

walche, 
All  ye  that  knnwe  this  MitH 
Te  make  not  siitcb  a  raatctt; 
Luke   rorth,   hewnra  tlu 

Ye  fall  not  in  Ihe  nixttlii! 
Of  that  vngTBliori  pnelliE, 
Before  the  rope  hym  nirlb^ 
Or  Tybume  dotha  byn 

Bat  who  te  preacbe  WfO* 
1  wnme  yone,  nOe  and  kN 
To  loke  Tpp  and 
Thnt  ye  do  mtct 
Yoor  tnaister  nor 


■nk*^ 


Aj^siist  all  God*  Uwe, 
All  rijihle  and  coatience, 
For  doioga  ooa  olfencB 
To  make  snlch  recompeuce! 
They  gare  ther  lords  a  Iscki 
To  purge  Tilhall  hit  enake, 
And  putt  hym  lo  no  laska, 
But  u  Ihey  wold  hyme  aske 


e  hede,  for  ChriUn  tiM> 
knowe  yoUTOnaiiW^ 
re  be  tardy  takei 
.telitbe'lAlM 
To  trust  on  hadd  I  wU, 
Imaskei)  !□  ■  myitr' 
At  good  to  1y  brpnij 
For  these  hie  primatB, 
ByMhopg  and  pnUui, 
Aiid  popeholy  letnitei, 
With  ther  pild  patat, 
Dare  conqnvr  all  etMtn: 
They  do  but  aa  they  will 
For,  l.e  il  i;Dod  or  IIL 
We  mtut  be  mnelt  ttlO: 
Why  lay  men  MX  oot", 
Ittalhem 


OEMS   ATTRIBUTED    TO    SKiXTON.        411 


re  nowe  adayes 
Pariseyes, 
the  Lordes  layes, 
le  therowne  wayes; 
)we  of  late 
n  great  debate ; 
champe  and  chaffe 
do  in  draffe, 
cry  out  apase 
)s  at  a  chase, 
r  lacke  of  grace 
le  truthe  wold  de- 

• 

they  barke, 
n  the  darke, 
3usarde  starke, 
not  se  the  marke, 
1  at  this  warke, 
)re  taketh  carke 
le  is  no  clarke. 
ofb  and  still 
» in  a  mill, 
cry  and  yell 
do  in  hell ; 
tere  and  ther, 

I  wote  not  whor; 
.e  ypp,  yea  and  nay, 
foreake  ther  lay ; 
till  and  stey, 
to  haue  a  daye; 
3  not  what  to  say, 
vhether  they  may 
une  away ; 
IS  be  so  weake, 

they  dare  not 
ike, 
frayd  of  heate; 


Some  be  sycke  and  sadd, 
For  sorrowe  almost  madd; 
I  tell  youe  veryly, 
Ther  wittes  be  awry. 
They    peyne    themselyes 

greatly 
To  haue  the  trouth  go  by; 
Some  on  bokes  dayly  prye, 
And  yett  perceyve  not  reason 

whie; 
Tho  some  affirme,  some  do 

deny. 
With  nowe  a  trouth  and  then 

aly, 
To  say  one  thinge  openly. 
And  an  other  prively; — 
Here  be  but  youe  and  I; 
Say  to  me  your  mynd  playn- 

lye. 
Is  it  not  open  heresy  ? 
Thus  say  they  secretly, 
Whisperinge  with  sorrowe 
That  they  deny  to  morowe. 
Ther  tales  be  so  dobble. 
That  many  be  in  trobble. 
And  doubt  which  way  to  take, 
Themselves  sure  to  make: 
A  lorde,  it  makes  me  shake  I 
For  pyty  that  I  quake. 
They  be  so  colde  and  horse, 
That  they  haue  no  foree, 
So  they  be  prefarred, 
Tho  all  the  rest  were  marred. 
Thus  the  people  smatter. 
That  dayly  talke  and  clatter. 
Cure  preachere  do  but  flatter, 
To  make  themselves  the  fatter. 


V^HV^^O 


I    TW  .M«   ^1 


S:^BHB?'si«(flJ4r' 


POEMS    ATTRIBUTED    TO    SKELTON.        413 


her  Festino, 
toure  Attamino, 
;  camino^ 
•  conaobrinOf 
dno 

isinino ; 
in  Umo 
'tmdo  fimOy 
in  cvUno 
ma  de  AqtdnOy 
'8  in  ima 
anina 
aprina. 

:  toure  Chekraate 
pardoned  pate, 
II  educate ; 
is  indurate, 
i  eke  edentate ; 
s  be  obfuscate, 
les  obumbrate, 
stions  to  debate; 
2;he  cam  but  late, 
;  !•*  explicate 
nes  intricate, 
lero^'  conflate; 
fore  must  he  make 
ind  antedate. 
3toui'  Tom-to-bold 
r  whote  nor  colde, 
dies  be  solde ; 
!  may  not  be  tolde 


For  syluer  nor  for  golde ; 

But  he  is  sutch  a  scolde, 

That  no  play  may  hym  iiolde 

For  anger  vnbepyst, 

Yf  his  name  were  wist; 

Ye  may  judge  as  ye  liste; 

He  is  no  Acquiniste, 

Nor  non  Occanist,^ 

But  a  mockaniste ; 

This  man  may  not  be  myste, 

He  is  a  suer  sophiste, 

And  an  olde  papist. 

But  nowe  we  haue  a  knighte :  * 

That  is  a  man  of  mighte. 

All  armed  for  to  fighte. 

To  put  the  trouthe  to  fiighte 

By  Bowbell  pollecy. 

With  his  poetry 

And  his  sophestry; 

To  mocke  and  make  a  Jy, 

With  quod  he  and  quod  I; 

And  his  appologye. 

Made  for  the  prelacy, 

Ther  hugy  pompe  and  pride 

To  coloure  and  to  iiide ; 

He  maketh  no  nobbes, 

But  with  his  diologges 

To  prove  oure  prelates  goddes, 

And  lay  men  very  lobbes, 

Betinge  they[m]  with  bobbes, 

And  with  ther  ow[n]e  roddes ; 


astel  of  maleperduyi  was  the  beste  and  the  fastest 

it  he  had,  ther  laye  he  inne  whan  he  had  nede  and 

ly  drede  or  fere."    Sig.  a  8.  ed.  1481. 

utt]  So  written,  it  would  seem,  for  the  rhyme,  prop- 

camist" 

j/Ue]  i.  e.  Sir  Thomas  More. 


414        POEMS   ATTRIBUTED    TO    SKELTON. 


Thus  he  taketh  payne 
To  fable  and  to  fayne, 
Ther  myscheflf  to  mayntayne, 
And  to  haue  tbem  rayne 
Over  hill  and  playne, 
Yea,  over  heaven  and  hell, 
And  wheras  sprites  dwell. 
In  purgatorye  holies. 
With  whote  ffier  and  coles, 
To  singe  for  sely  soules, 
With  a  supplication, 
And  a  confutation, 
Without  replication, 
Havinge  delectation 
To  make  exclamation, 
By  way  of  declamation. 
In  his  Debellation,^ 
With  a  popishe  fasshion 
To  subvert  oure  nation : 
But  this  daucok  doctoure 
And  purgatory  proctoure 
Waketh  nowe  for  wages, 
And,  as  a  man  that  rages 
Or  overcome  with  ages,* 
Disputith  per  ambage*^ 
To  helpe  these  parasites 
And  naughty  ipocrites, 
With  legendes  of  lyes, 
Fayned  fantasies, 
And  verv  vanvties, 
Calleii  verj'ties, 
Vnwrittcn  and  viiknowcn, 
But  as  thev  be  blo>vne 


From  Iyer  to  Iyer, 
Inventyd  by  a  flfryer 
In  magna  ccpioj 
Brought  out  of  Vtopia 
Vnto  the  mayde  of  Kcntf 
Nowe  from  the  devill  scB^i 
A  virgyne  ffayre  and  gentj 
That  hath  our  yees  blent: 
Alas,  we  be  myswent! 
For  yf  the  false  intent 
Were  knowen  of  this  wite 
It  passeth  dogg  and  bitche 
I  pray  God,  do  so  mutche 
To  fret  her  on  the  itche, 
And  open  her  intymel 
For  this  manly  myne 
Is  a  darke  devyne, 
With  his  poetry. 
And  her  iugglery, 
By  conspiracy 
To  helpe  our  prelacy, 
She  by  ypocresye, 
And  he  by  tyranny. 
That  causeth  cruelly 
The  simple  men  to  dye 
For  fayned  herisye: 
He  saythe  that  this  nody 
Shall  brenne,  soule  and  bod] 
Or  singe  hi>  palanody, 
With  feare  till  he  pant, 
To  make  hvm  recreante 

m 

His  sayinges  to  recants, 
So  as  he  shalbe  skante 


^kis  I\btllitioH\  i.  e.  Sir  Thomas  More's  DebeBac§m 

*  J^vi]  i.  e.  age  is. 

•  tlu  m<iyjf  tj'  KiHt]  L  e.  Elizabeth  Barton. 


OEMS   ATTRIBUTED    TO    SKELTON.        415 


>]oke 

e  or  in  booke, 
ithe  of  the  rote 
b&se  and  fote 
>homynation ; 
sutche  a  faashion, 
man  in  station 
vill  passion 
ession, 
procession 
to  stalke, 
ipeny  to  walke, 
le  preacher  talke, 
lath  made  a  baike ; 
9  innocent, 
to  be  brent, 
Fer    checke    and 
eke, 

t  on  his  necke, 
)  life  to  quecke, 
3  vpp,  like  a  bosse, 
It  PHules  crosse, 
er  losse 

•de  name  and  fame : 
1  great  payne  and 
me 

e  men  in  bandes, 
;e  goods  and  landes, 
to  hete  ther  handes 
sottes  and  with 
ides, 

hem  be  abjure : 
iges  be  in  vre ; 
e  vs  with  the  lure 
ersecution 
I  execution, 
}Ty  fume 
s  shall  consume 
by  two,  and  one ; 


Men  say  ye  will  spare  none 

Of  hye  nor  iowe  degre. 

That  will  be  eneme 

To  your  ipocrese, 

Or  to  your  god  the  bele ; 

For  who  dare  spoake  so  felle 

That  clerkes  should  be  simple, 

Without  spott  or  wrinkell  ? 

Yett  natheiesse  alwey 

I  do  protest  and  saye, 

And  shall  do  while  I  may, 

I  never  will  deny. 

But  confesse  openly, 

That  puunysshement  should 

be. 
In  every  degre. 
Done  with  equite ; 
When  any  doth  offende. 
Then  oughte  youe  to  attende 
To  cause  hyme  to  amend, 
Awaytinge  tyme  and  place. 
As  God  may  give  youe  grace, 
To  haue  hyme  fase  to  fase, 
His  fautes  to  deface, 
With  hope  to  recency  le  hyme; 
But  not  for  to  begile  hym. 
Or  vtterly  to  revile  hyme. 
As  thoughe  ye  wold  excile 

hyme; 
For  then,  the  trouth  to  tell, 
Men  thinke  ye  do  not  well. 
Ye  call  that  poore  man 

wretch. 
As  thoughe  ye  hadd  no 

retche. 
Or  havinge  no  regarde, 
Whiche  ende  should  go  for- 

warde : 
Ye  be  so  sterne  and  harde, 


^^^^r             ^16         POEMS    ATTRIBCTED    TO    SKELTOK. 

^^^^H              Yc  ratlier  dmwe  bncknnrde, 

^^H             Vonr  brotlier  so  to  blinde, 

But  holy  at  his  hniide 

^^^^H             'I'o  grope  Slid  ssitche   liii 

We  shoulde  all  be   and 

^^H 

stande, 

Bolh  olerhes  epirilpaH, 

^^H 

Andluymenlemporall: 

^^^H            Some  v-urde  to  pika  and 

But  youe  makalaweolirill, 

^^H 

The  poore  to  plncke  and  piU, 

^^^H             n'herbfvemaybymabUiide 

Andsome  tluitdonoy!!, 

^^H           With  yoor  poplBhe  laws 

Yoar  appetite  to  ffilt, 

^^^^H             To  kepe  tb  Tnder  avre, 

Yedodistroyandtm. 

^^H             By  captious  storyei 

UltGodea  woniBtiythMl 

^^^H           Orinterrogatoryei!: 

And  then  jB  shsll  not  fill 

^^H             Thus  do  ye  full  Ttikindly, 

thenii 

^^^H            To  reyoe  younelvea  Bindley, 

Yea,letttbowordeot6<id 

^^^^H             And  be  uolliiiige  bat  fyudly. 

Be  euery  mannas  rode, 

^^^H             I  tell  youe,  men  be  lotlie 

And  Ibu  kinges  tile  Itwe 

^^^^H             To  ee  yone  wode  snd  wrotlis, 

To  kepe  i)iem  vnder  awe, 

^^H           And  tben  for  to  be  bothe 

lo  fray   Uie   riHl  with  Of 

^^^H             111'  ncmaerand  thejndge: 

roure,                          ( 

^^H             Then  fnn^veU  all  refuge, 

They  may  rereka  lli«  * 

^^^H            And  welcom  aiuiguiauge  1 

ronre: 

^^^H             Wlien  ya  be  mndd  and  nugry, 

And  thn«,  1  (ay  agarnt, 

Thepai.plewuhlBlMBl7M 

^^^H            It  is  ogej'ii^t  h!I  oqultye 

Ve  prelnies  wolde  Uk* 

^^H           Ye  sboulde  ^K  judge  and 

^^H 

To  preache  the   pi^ 

^^^H           Therfore  [lie  kinges  grece 

playuei 

^^H             Your  Jawee  muete  deface 

For  otherwise  oBitayM 

^^H           For  before  lilE  face 

Your  Inbuuia  u  in  fi^l 

^^^H           Youe  ehonid  your  playntes 

For  uU  yoor  cruellye. 

I  liuowB  that  yon  and  « 

^^^^H             Ab  to  your  lords  and  kinge 

Shall  never  well  igrN- 

^^^H           And  judge  iu  euery  tliinge, 

Yemayinnowi^jt. 

^^^H           Tbat,  by  Godes  worde, 

Sutch  as  disposed  b« 

^^^H             Uathe  power  of  the  aworde. 

or  ther  charitye 

^^H            A>  kinr^  and  only  lorde. 

To  preach  the  »«iyty»| 

^^^^B              tio  Bcripture  doth  rccurde; 

YestopetbemwithdniM 

^^^f              Fur  her  within        ]aiido 

And  with  your  vetium.         1 

3EMS   ATTRIBUTED    TO    SKELTON.        417 


as  ye  saye ; 
ake  them  Btay : 
tiat  all  do  may, 
and  pray, 

the  day, 
le  very  knye 
ige  of  his  way, 
ue  stolen  awaye ! 
my  lordes,  perfay, 
r  popishe  play, 
r  gold  80  gay, 
rriche  araye, 

youe  to  deluye 
hall  go  astraye, 
o  swyme  or  sinke; 
do  thinke, 
ill  wake  or  wyuke, 
$at  or  drinke 
ithont  ye  swynke. 
xrold  make  youe 
Ue; 

e,  ye  be  lothe 
ir  of  both, 
irself  to  cloth 
are    and    with 
te 

ill  youe  eate 
'one  erne  and 

'» 

;e8  and  pages, 

:r  parsonages, 

and  your  cages, 

lyly  wages: 

vs,  and  Sainct 
.! 

hevy  case. 


A  chaunce  of  ambesase, 
To  se  youe  bronghte  so  base 
To  playe  without  a  place: 
Now  God  send  better  grace ! 
And  loke  ye  leme  apase 
To  tripe  in  trouthes  trace, 
And  seke  some  better  chaunce 
Yourselves  to  avaunce, 
With  sise  synke  or  synnes ; 
For  he  laughe[sj  that  wynues 
As  ye  haue  hetherto. 
And  may  hereafter  do ; 
Yf  ye  the  gospell  preche, 
As  Christ  hymself  did  teche, 
And  in  non  other  wise 
But  after  his  devise, 
Ye  may  with  good  advyse 
Kepe  your  benefise 
And  all  your  dignite, 
Without  malignite, 
In  Christes  name,  for  me; 
I  gladely  shall  agre 
It  ever  may  so  be. 
But  this  I  say  and  shall, 
What  happ  soeuer  fall, 
I  pray  and  call 
The  Kinge  oelestiall. 
Ones  to  give  youe  grace 
To  se  his  wordo  haue  place; 
And  then  within  shorte  space 
We  shall  perceyve  and  se 
Howe  euery  degre 
Hath  his  auctorite 
By  the  la  we  of  Christ, 
The  lay  man  and  the  prest, 
The  poore  man  and  the  lorde 


1  by]  i.  e.  buy, — acquire,  earn. 

II.  *    27 


418    POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON. 


For  of  thftt  monocorde 
The  scripture  doth  recorde ; 
And  then  with  good  accorde, 
In  love  and  in  concorde 
We  shall  together  holde ; 
Or  elles  ye  may  be  bolde, 
For  heate  or  colde 
Say  ye  what  ye  will, 
Yt  were  as  good  be  still ; 

Thuse  endith  the  thirde  parte  of  this  present  treatise  called 
the  Image  of  Ypocresye. 


For  thoughe  ye  glose  vA 

frase 
Till  your  eye*  dase, 
Men  hulde  it  but  a  mase 
Till  Godes  worde  haue  plMii 
That  doth  include  mora 

grace 
Then  all  erthly  men 
Gould  ever  knowe  or  keo. 


Nowe  with  sondry  sectes 
The  world  sore  infectes, 
As  in  Christes  dayes 
Amonge  the  Pharisees, 
In  clothinge  and  in  names; 
For  some  were  Rbodyans, 
And  Samaritans, 
Some  were  Publicanes, 
Some  were  Nazai*enes, 
Bisshops  and  Essen  es, 
Preestes  and  Pharisees; 
And  so  of  Saducees, 
Prophetes  and  preachers, 
Doctours  and  teachers, 
Tribunes  and  tribes, 
Lawers  and  scribes. 
Deacons  and  levytes, 
With  many  ipocrites; 
And  so  be  nowe  also, 
With  twenty  tyines  mo 
Then  were  in  Christes  dayes 
Amonge  the  Pharisees: 
The   Pope,  whom   first  they 

call 
Ther  lorde  and  principall, 
The  patriarke  withall; 


And  then  the  Gardinall 
With  tytles  all  of  pride, 
As  legates  of  the  side, 
And  some   be  cutt  and 

shorne 
That  they  be  legates  borne; 
Then  archebisshops  bdd, 
And  bisshops  for  the  folde, 
They  metropolitannes. 
And  these  diocysanyes, 
That  haue  ther  sufiragaoyea 
To  blesse  the  prophanyes; 
Then  be  ther  cur  tisanes 
As  ill  as  Arrianes 
Or  Domicianes, 
Rioll  residentes. 
And  prudent  presidentes; 
So  be  their  sejisors. 
Doughty  dispensors, 
Crafty  inventors, 
And  prevy  precentors, 
With  chaplaynes  of  honour 
That    kepe    the    Popes 

bower ; 
Then  allmoners  and  deane«i 
Tliat  geit  by  ther  meanes 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.   419 


The  rule  of  all  reames; 
Vett  be  ther  subdeanes, 
With  treasorers  of  tnist, 
And  chauncelours  iniust, 
To  scoure  of  scab  and  rust, 
With  vicars  generalls, 
And  ther  officialles, 
Ghanons  and  ehaunters, 
That  be  great  avaunters ; 
So  be  ther  subchaunters, 
Sextons  and  archedeakons, 
Deakons  and  sabdeakons, 
That  be  ypodeakons, 
Parsonnes  and  vicars, 
Surveyors  and  sikers, 
Prevy  pursepikers, 
Provosteaand  preachers, 
Headers  and  teachers, 
With  bachilers  and  maysters, 
Spenders  and  wasters; 
So  be  ther  proctors. 
With  many  dull  doctors, 
Pronde  prebendaryes, 
Colde  commissaries, 
Synfull  secundaries. 
Sturdy  stipendaries, 
With  olde  ordinaryes. 
And  penytencyaryes. 
That  kepe  the  sanctuaries; 
So  be  ther  notaries. 
And  prothonotaries, 
Lawers  and  scribes, 
With  many  quibibes, 
Redy  regesters, 
Pardoners  and  questers. 
Maskers  and  mummers, 
Deanes  and  sumners, 
Apparatoryes  preste 
To  ride  est  and  weste; 


Then  be  ther  advocates, 
And  parum  litterates. 
That  eate  vpp  all  estates, 
With  wyly  visitors. 
And  crafty  inquisitors. 
Worse  then  Maraalokes, 
That  catche  vs  with  ther 

crokes. 
And  brenne  vs  and  oure 

bokes ; 
Then  be  ther  annivolors. 
And  smalle  benivolers. 
With  chauntry  chapleynes, 
Oure  Ladyes  chamberleynes ; 
And  some  be  Jesu  Christes, 
As  be  oure  servinge  pristes, 
And  prestes  that  haue  cure 
Which  haue  ther  lyvinge 

sure. 
With  clerkes  and  queresters. 
And  other  smale  mynisters, 
As  reders  and  singers, 
Bedemen  and  bellringers. 
That  laboure  with  ther  lippes 
Ther  pittaunce  out  of  pittes. 
With  Bennet  and  Collet, 
That  bere  bagg  and  wallett; 
These  wretches  be  full  wely. 
They  eate  and  drinke  frely. 
Withe  scUve^  siella  cas/t. 
And  ther  de  pro/uncUs ; 
They  lye  with  immuruiisy 
And  walke  with  vacabundis. 
At  good  ale  and  at  wynue 
As  dronke  as  any  swynne ; 
Then  be  ther  grosse  abbottes, 
That  observe  ther  sabbottes, 
Payer,  ffatt,  and  ffuU, 
As  gredy  as  a  gull. 


^^H^             (20         POEMfl    ATrJilbUTK.D    TO    SKELTO&^^H 

^^^1            And  ranhe  at  uny 

hn<iBiuiSH>ea!        ^^M 

^^^H              Willi  priars  of  liks  plnc^.l 

Some  be  Punluies,                   ' 

^^^H              Some  blcicka  auJ  lame 

^^M 

^^^H             A-  Fhnnnuus  be  and  moakea, 

^^^^^^,          GreiLl  labyes  aud  lompea, 

So<ne  be  FlBmytlBa  ^^M 

^^^^H            Ffttbers  and  maltien, 

Some  be  Oolumbin^^^B 

^^^1          &nxta  and  oaam. 

Some  be  GUberlto^^H 

^^^H            And  llttell  prelj-  baniuB, 

Some  be  Diialpllirt^^H 

^^^H          With  licua  snd  laoton, 

Some  be  Ctariiiei,  ^^H 

^^^H            Myiislan  nod  ractora. 

And  miiay  Aneiufi^^H 

Some  CI»ri»iM*,  ^^H 

^^H             With  pap»l]  Golluctoi^, 

Some  be  AwNtUtMi^^H 

Some  be  SklBVCOU^^^H 

^^^H             Muckinge  myitugoset. 

Some  be  MynoUM^^^H 

^^^H             III  slrBunge  array  Biid  lubea, 

Some  be  Uat«my^^^H 

^^H             WiilunUiersinDgagei; 

Some  be  LmujIm^^^H 

^^^H             With  «ecteE  many  mo. 

&»me  Iw  Xipiril«^^^^| 

^^H           Ad  Uuiidrelh  in  a.  tbnxi 

Some  bi  JohaonjI^^^H 

^^^H             Ihidie  to  nams  bf  RM, 

Some  be  JtwiphHfj^^H 

^^^^H            Ai  they  come  to  my  myode. 

Some  be  Jmiyte^^^^H 

^^^^H            Wbum,  Choughs  they  lie  vn- 

&m  Hud  S«rvyt«,         ^ 

^H 

Atidsondiy  JuiiobiUii 

^^H           Tlie  L&y  mens  lobar  fiudo; 

^^H           Fw  tome  be  Benedlutes 

HierMOtynulB*,        ^^JMA 

Mn^yoiM,         ^^M 

^^^H            Suine  be  Cluny, 

^^V            Ami  some  be  PItxoy. 

^^B              Willi  OiMi-fSCtKa, 

And  SoenoUtWt     ^^M 

So  be  lixN  Sopbal^^^M 

Hal;  Hanguim,  ^^H 

PufgatorUM,           HH 

liLi-icaUiata, 

■■plitB"-orthen.mvta.— 

cnilsiui,  in  the  IIS.  after  lUit 

line. 

POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON. 


421 


Lmbrosians; 

be  ther  Indianes, 

IscocyaneS) 

ans, 

isyanesi 

tanesy 

ianes, 

lians,. 

*iane8, 

-ianes, 

sianes, 

slanes, 

iiuffianes, 

ith  Rfaodianes; 

be  Teraplers, 

xemplers, 

be  Spitlers, 

>me  be  Vitlere, 

be  Scapelere, 

)me  Cubiculers, 

be  Tercyaris, 

)ine  be  of  St.  Marys, 

be  HostiariSf 

r  St,  Johns  frarys, 

be  StelliferSf 

)me  be  Enaefers, 

Lucifers, 

)me  be  Crucyfers, 

haue  signe  of  sheres, 

;ome  were  shurtes  of 

heres, 

be  of  the  spone, 

lome  be  crossed  to 

Rome, 

daiinto  and  dnly 

ihathes  valley, 

1  the  blak  alley 

IS  it  ever  darke  is, 

ome  be  of  St  Markis 


Mo  then  be  good  clarkes, 
Some  be  Mys^iricordes, 
Mighty  men  and  lonlea, 
And  some  of  Godes  house 
That  kepe  the  poore  ^jouse, 
Minimi  and  Mymcs, 
And  other  blak  devinc% 
With  Virgins  and  Vestalles, 
Monkes  and  Monyalles, 
That  be  conventualles, 
Like  frogges  and  todes ; 
And  some  be  of  the  Rhodes, 
Swordemen  and  knighte5>, 
That  for  the  [faithj  fightes 
With  sise,  sinke,  and  quatter. 
But  nowe  never  the  latter 
I  intend  to  clatter 
Of  a  mangye  matter, 
That  smelles  of  the  smatter. 
Openly  to  tell 
What  they  do  in  hell, 
Wheras  oure  ffryers  dwell 
Everich  in  his  sell. 
The  phane  and  the  prophane. 
The  croked  and  the  lame, 
The  mad,  the  wild,  and  tame, 
Every  one  by  name : 
The  formest  of  them  all 
Is  ther  General! ; 
And  the  next  they  call 
Ther  hie  Provincyall, 
With  Cvstos  and  Wardyn 
That  lye  next  the  gardeyn ; 
Then  oure  father  Prior, 
With  his  Subprior 
That  with  the  covent  comes 
To  gather  vpp  the  cromes; 
Then  oure  frver  Douche 
Goeth  by  a  crouche, 


^^^r            I9A         1>nKM'4    ATTltlUOTI 

tD   TO    BKEtT©»'^^H 

^^1             And  ran>!e  1^  ""J  *"'"' 

^nrlBMi""""'           ^1 

Some  be  Fa"!'""'         ^" 

^H             Wim  priors  of  UttB  plii^^' 

Soma  bo  Aiitonyo»»> 

^H             Same  lili^^l^e  »»^  <»"^ 

S.-.iiebaHe"!"^'"'"' 

^H                                                                .               L» 

SomabeCelestUia.. 

S„me  be  Flamyna.            r\ 

^H            A,  ch;.mio.iB  bB  »ad  mocU«. 

^^H^         Gre»l  lobye*  «ucl  lo.ni.aB, 

Some  bo  t~ulig>a«^<^^H 

^^V        Willi  Bunhmnas  «id  biclUew, 

^^^1           Fnlhere  and  rootben. 

Snnia  be  GilMr^M^^^H 

^^^H            Syiters  «nd  noiioas. 

Some  be  DiMslpli"**^^! 

^^H            And  IttWil  P'Oly  bono"- 

Same  be  ClBnn*>>^^H 
And  many  Anf!"''^^^! 

^^^H           Willi  VioUiM  ud  leoton, 

^^^H             Mvii-tenHiid  rectors. 

Souie  Clari>«it«j^^M 

^^1            Cu^lw  and  oorreuton.. 

^^H            Witli  pap«ll  collBCtors, 

sZ'e  b>:  SkUvre^^^l 

be  MywUt^^H 

^H             M«kmgemy.taEOB-», 

^^H               WItbm  tlier  [magage^ ; 

Sjmc  be  Kioi»l"^^H 

^^H               Wilb  eecles  iii>">y  ">*>> 

Some  l.e  Jnlui'-nfl^M 

^^H             All  bundreth  in  a  tUroo 

Some  be  Jo^l'^^^H 

^^H             1             to  name  bfaUB 

k  B...B«  W  Jeaoj-l^^M 

^^H                As  they  come  to  i^^H 

i^^udSer^i^H 

^^^1               AMiom,  tlMugba  Ita^^^H 

■Ai.d  ^"'"''^  ^"f^H 

^^H                                         ^^^M 

■tuen  be  tber  >^^H 

^^H                         Uy  mens  l^j^^^l 

^Kieit»olynJ><^^^| 

^^H                        «>iae  be  Dei^^^H 

^Lgd»l  yr>il°V^^H 

^^H                          manf  mal^^^H 

^^M                          bfl  Cluny.  ^^H 

^^H                 A  a.l  snn.e  be  Pli^^H 

^^M                 WKU  C^''.!,c.h:^^H 

^^H                   i;,v<w&j>vr|(otcM,^^H 

E 

St? 


sTlt*^  *•  rf  the  B»l,_ 


fc??*'. 


Phaos  «nd  t] 


^^F             432         POEtfS    ATTRIDO 

iH 

^^^^H           Anil  ilnuilirull  (Tryer  Sluuctio 

Ptirderer         ^^| 

^^^H            That  btn\h  Judu  pouohe; 

And  ffrier  Mnrdsm^^H 

Flier  Toitlfoee        4^^H 

^^^1            And  ffryor  DemoDrke, 

And  fTriec  SotCifaoif^^H 

^^^1            FrjerCordller 

Frier  FottifacB        ^^^1 

^^^H          And  fTrver  Bordiler, 

And  (Her  PocltTba^^H 

^^^H          Frver 

Frier  TroKapHca      ^^^^ 

^^^^^1            PrTBr  AngasIjiiB, 

And  ffner  Topiaoei,  ^^^| 

^^^^^1            And  ffryer  Incubyne 

Frier  Kuttoa              ^^^H 

^^^H            And  Syer  Sncculntie, 

And  flWor  Glotton,                I 

^^^H          Frj'cr  Ciinnelyte 

Flier  Suliard 

^^^H            And  (Tryci  HcnniUle, 

And  ffrier  Pnliard, 

^^^H            Fryer  UynniltB 

Frier  Coliard               , 

^^^H           And  llryer  Ipocrite, 

And  ITrier  Foliud,   ^^M 

^^^H             Frier  tTranclBcane 

Frier  Gnddsid         ^^H 

^^^H             And  ffrier  DamiaQe, 

And  Srier  Fodd(ud,.?^^H 

^^^H                       Precher 

Frier  Bnllard           ^^H 

^^^^H             And  OVigr  Ledher, 

And  ffrier  Skftllud,!^^! 

^^H           Frier  Crueifbr 

Frier  Crowiy           ^^^1 

^^^H             And  tTrior  Lusifer, 

And  SHer  Lowty.   ^^H 

^^H                       Purcifer 

Frier  glolxril              ^^H 

^^^^H             And  Brier  Fvrtiftr, 

And  ffrier  Bloholl, 

^^H             Kricr  Perdifer 

Frier  ToddypoU 

^^H            And  IfVior  Mirdifer, 

And  ffrier  NoddypOll, 

^^H            Fryer  Snoheler 

Frier  Hlaphole                   • 

^^^H             And  Biysr  Dnclieler, 

And  mw  Clapbol^^^M 

^^^^H             Fryer  ClojitBTBr 

Frier  KispaK           ^^^M 

^^^H             And  ffrier  FloyXerer, 

And  SHer  Fitpott,  ^^H 

^^H             FHer  PaBra 

Frier  Cbipehop        ^^H 

^^M             And  ffrier  /-nSax, 

And  ffriw  UbptttI,  ^^H 

^^H                       Ftis'O! 

Frier  ClBtterer        ^^^| 

^^^H             And  ITrier  JVufoo, 

And  ffrier  fflnttercdV^^H 

^^^H             Frier  Ai/xu: 

Frier  Bib,  (Trier  Bs^^^H 

^^^H             And  l^er  ChpoiE, 

Frier  Lib,  (Trier  UI^^^H 

^^H              Frier  Lendax 

Frier  Fear,  flHer  ?«^^H 

^^H              Aitd  tn-ier  Mniliz, 

Frier  Beare,  ffiier  B^^H 

^^H              Filer  Vorax 

Frier  Rookt,  firier^^H 

^^^^K              And  ffrior  Xycticorax, 

Frier  Flooke.  (Merl^^H 

^^B            F.7nJv<-, 

Frier  Spict,  ffrier  S|^^^| 

POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    423 


Jk,  ffrier  Ly, 
Frier  We-he 
by  the  Trinytye, 
'ier  Faiidigo, 
ID  Mundred  mo 
I  in«me  by  ro, 
re  for  losse  of  tyme, 
ke  to  loDge  a  ryme: 
•Ufli  laudatif 
ffemifuUi, 
alsati, 

'.c(Uij 
Toccaiij 
nerdad^ 
larvady 

ucttUad, 

ibiouoti, 

spolicUij 

rifuUif 

'evastatij 

ItbeUaH, 

ii  laitdaUf 
termincUif 
ubligalij 
mjvrad^ 
i  profugi, 

umpwHci! 
!  drune  bees, 
ody  fleshcflees, 
tefull  spittle  spyes, 


And  jj^roande  of  herisees, 

That  dayly  without  sweat 

Do  but  drlnke  and  eate. 

And  murther  meat  and  meat, 

mjures  ei  latrone*  I 

Ye  be  incubiones^^ 

But  no  ^fadone$^ 

Ye  haue  your  cuUonei  ; 

Ye  be  kiUrione*^ 

Beastely  balatronet, 

Grandes  thratonet^ 

Magtu  nebukmUy 

And  cacodasmones, 

That  [eat]  vs  fleshe  and 

bones 
With  teeth  more  harde  then 

stones; 
Youe  make  hevy  mones. 
As  it  were  for  the  nones, 
With  great  and  grevous 

grones, 
By  sightes  and  by  sobbes 
To  blinde  vs  with  bobbes ; 
Oh  ye  false  faytours, 
Youe  theves  be  and  tratours. 
The  devils  dayly  wayters  I 
Oh  mesell  Meiidicantes, 
And  mangy  Obseruauntes, 
Ye  be  vagararUes  I 
As  persers  penitrantes, 
Of  mischef  nUnistrante$j 
In  pilWnge  poghUantes, 
In  preachinge  j9«^ti^aiitea, 
Of  many  sycophanieSf 
That  gather,  as  do  astes, 


1  caihaphi]  Qy.  "  cataphagi "  (voraces)? 
*  incubiones\  Properly  "  incubones." 


^^^^P         426        POEMS  ATTKISDTBD   TO    SKELTOH. 

With  wnrdea  trneuidi^Vi^ 

^^^1           In  lodgings  prmtibHlai, 

HowotheyjegtwidioU 

^^^1         Id  bBdJliige  promluuaiu, 

With  Uier  nody  p(rtl. 

^^^1           LiconncdlimyMbeTOiu, 

With  rownynga  and  rolllnp, 

With  liUinge  and  ]olllns^ 

With  knyllinga  and  kuoUinp, 

^^^^H           In  eicsue  oulraj^ous. 

With  tilliDfce  and  tallmge, 

With  .bavinge  at>d  poHinpi, 

^^^1           The  w>in-l  kind  of  eHien, 

With  snvppinge  and  wa.!^ 

^^^^^M          And  BtiaagB  BCordj  beggen: 

tBge, 

^^^H           WbsT  one  etujide  and  Leaubsa, 

^^^H           An  otlmr  praU  and  prechea, 

Witb  kapinge  and  kBtcluii|c, 

WiU.»e|.inReandwatditaff^ 

^^H          So  tills  nuty  rable 

With  takinge  and  oalehinp, 

^^^H           Ac  Unird  and  at  Uble 

With  peltixga  ajid  jMcIMp, 

^^H            Sludt  fume  and  (klile, 

With  andinga  and  latohlnjl, 

^^H            With  bible  uid  with  btible, 

^^H          To  mnke  nil  tliinge  tUbla, 

inge. 

^^H            by  luwribgs  and  b?  lokin;^ 

^^H            riy  pn»r3-»ge  wid  by  polliige, 

That  DO  miui  can  mitDhl 

^^H            By  slRndinge  und  hy  stop- 

Uiem, 

^^M 

Till  the  dsTtll  fklehe  UiM, 

^^^H            By  Imndlnge  and  by  ffolinse, 

AndTOlOROtoeWhw 

^^^H           By  vony  uid  by  crokiage, 

VataUuirdenMlteani, 

^^^H            Wit)]  their  DWiie  pelf  promo- 

Wher  hens  ns  Ihey  new 

^^^B 

Hereafter  ihaU  dine™, 

But  dy  Btamnlly, 

^^H 

That  Iwe  «o  camslfyi 

^^^H             U'hoi   ihey  may  hnae    alio- 

For  that  wilbatheroiid^ 

^^H 

Bntvf  God  them  Had! 

^^^H             riieran*!  herengaynei 

Hii  gnce  here  to  vimii 

^^^H            rbu^  llie  people  teyne. 

AndthtialmaksMeJ* 

^^^H              I'liui.  eridatb  the  ffonithe  an 

d  iBBle  parte  of  tliii  WrfK 

^^H                                       c^tfld  the  Im 

geofYpooresy. 

POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    427 


frudgt  ofypocrites  conceyved  ageynst  (he  auctor  qfthii 

treatise. 


be    as    knappishe 
:nackes 
*  mail  made, 
ells  and  for  iackes, 
am  for  a  iade. 

ere  we,  yf  we  wist 
wight  he  were 


That  starred  vpp  this  myst, 
To  do  vs  all  this  dere: 

Oh,  yf  we  could  attayne  hym, 
He  mighte  be  fast  and  sure 
We  should  not  spare  to  payne 

hym, 
W^le  we  mighte  indurel 


The  axotuwer  of  the  auctor. 


n  qw  sum, 

ne  may  not  be  told; 
ere  ye  go  or  come, 
r  not  be  to  bold: 

ni,  is,  and  was, 
er  truste  to  be, 
r  more  nor  las 
sketh  charite. 

ngo  tale  to  tell 
made  me  almost 
lorse: 


I  trowe  and  knowe  right  well 
That  God  is  full  of  force, 

And  able  make  the  dome 
And  defe  men  heare  and 

speake. 
And  stronge  men  overcome 
By  feble  men  and  weke: 

So  thus  I  say  my  name  is ; 
Ye  geit  no  more  of  me. 
Because  I  wilbe  blameles, 
And  live  in  charite. 


se  endith  this  boke  called  the  Image  of  Ypocresys* 


428        F0EM8   ATTRIBUTED   TO    SKELTOK. 


THE  MAKER  OF  THE  WORLD  NOW  A  DATES* 

So  many  poynted  caps 
Lased  with  double  flaps, 
And  so  gay  felted  hats, 

Sawe  I  never: 
So  many  good  lessons, 
So  many  good  sermons, 
And  80  few  devocions, 

Sawe  I  never. 

So  many  gardes  wome, 
Jagged  and  al  to-tome. 
And  so  man}'  falsely  forswome, 

Sawe  I  never: 
So  few  good  polycies 
In  townes  and  cytyes 
For  kepinge  of  blinde  liostryes 

Sawe  I  never. 

So  many  good  warkes, 
So  few  wel  lemed  darken, 
And  so  few  that  goodnes  markcs, 
Siiwe  I  never: 


*  Was  Imprinted  at  London  in  Flete  Strete  at  the  mgneqfi}^ 
Hose  Garland  by  W.  Copland^n.d,  This  piece  (of  the  oripnnl 
impression  of  which  I  have  not  been  able  to  procure  ft  si?^^) 
is  now  given  from  Old  Ballads,  1840,  edited  by  J.  P.  Collieri 
Esq.,  for  the  Percy  Society. 


POBMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    429 

Such  pranked  cotes  and  sieves, 
So  few  yonge  men  that  proves, 
And  such  enorea«e  of  theves, 
Sawe  I  never. 

So  many  ^rded  hose, 

Such  comede  shoes, 

And  so  many  envious  foes, 

Sawe  I  never: 
So  many  questes  sj'tte 

With  men  of  smale  wit,  so 

And  so  many  falsely  quitte, 

Sawe  I  never. 

So  many  gay  swordes, 
So  many  altered  wordes, 
And  so  few  covered  hordes, 

Snwe  I  never: 
So  many  empti  purses, 
So  few  good  horses, 
And  so  many  curses, 

Sawe  I  never.  «> 

Such  hosters  and  hraggers. 
So  newe  fashyoned  daggers, 
And  so  many  beggers, 

Sawe  I  never: 
So  many  propra  knyves. 
So  well  apparrelled  wyves 
And  so  yll  of  theyr  lyves. 

Saw  I  never. 

So  many  cockolde  makers, 

So  many  crakers,  s^ 

And  80  many  peace  breakers. 

Saw  I  never: 
So  much  vayue  clothing 
With  cultjmg  and  jagging. 
And  so  much  braggiuge, 

Saw  I  never. 


430    POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON. 

So  many  newes  and  knacker. 
So  many  naughty  packes. 
And  so  many  that  mony  lacker. 

Saw  I  never: 
So  many  maidens  with  child 
And  wylfully  begylde. 
And  so  many  places  ontilde, 

Sawe  I  never. 

So  many  women  blamed 
And  rightnonsly  defaimed. 
And  so  lytle  ashamed, 

Sawe  I  never: 
Widowes  so  soue  wed 
After  their  hnshandes  be  deade, 
Having  such  hast  to  bed, 

Sawe  I  never. 

So  much  strivinge 

For  goodes  and  for  wivinge. 

And  so  lytle  thryvynge, 

Sawe  I  never: 
So  many  capacities. 
Offices  and  plunilite*. 
And  cliaun^ng  of  dignities, 

Sawe  1  never. 

So  many  lawes  to  use 
The  truth  to  refuse, 
Suche  falshead  to  excuse, 

Sawe  I  never: 
Executers  havinge  the  ware, 
Taking  so  littel  care 
Howe  the  soule  doth  fare, 

Sawe  I  never. 

Ainon<re  them  that  are  riche 
No  frendshyp  is  to  kepe  tuche, 
A'.ul  *iu  h  fa\-Te  glosing  speche 
bawe  1  never: 


POEMS   ATTRIBUTliD   TO    SKKI/ 

So  many  pom 
In  every  bordonrd. 
And  30  tmoll  soccaure, 


And  to  tkaiit  of  mans;, 

Shk  I  never : 
Sn  mnny  boiTf  era, 
So  many  fletcben, 
And  so  few  good  inibsn, 

Saw  1  never. 


So  many  pinkers, 
So  many  thinkers. 
And  iomnny^oi!  >te  drinken. 

So  many  wrongo?, 

So  few  mery  sanges, 
And  50  ninny  yll  tonjfBS, 


432         I'OKyiS    ATTKIBUTED    TO    SKELTON. 

So  many  fleyiig  tales, 

Pickers  of  purses  and  mnle«,  * 

And  so  many  sales, 

Saw  1  never: 
So  much  preacliinge, 
Speaking  fayre  and  teachiuflr* 
Aiid  so  ill  belevinge. 

Saw  I  never. 

So  much  wrath  and  eury, 
Covetous  and  glottouy, 
And  so  litld  charitio, 

Sawe  I  never:  ^ 

So  msuiy  carders, 
Hevelers  and  dicers, 
Aud  so  niHuy  yl  ticers, 

Sawe  I  never. 

So  many  lollers. 

So  few  true  tollers, 

So  many  baudes  aud  pollein, 

Sawe  I  never: 
Such  treacher}'. 

Simony  and  usury,  ** 

Poverty  and  lechery, 

Saw  I  never. 

So  many  avayles, 

So  many  geales, 

And  so  manv  fals  bavlies.i 

Sawe  I  never: 
By  fals  and  subtyll  wayes 
All  England  decayes, 
For  more  envy  and  lyers  * 

Sawe  1  never.  ^ 


lbaylits\  Qy.  "baylesV" 
2/^tr<J  Qy.  "lyesy 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    438 

So  new  facioned  jackes 

With  brode  flappes  in  the  neckes, 

And  80  gay  new  partlettes, 

Sawe  I  never: 
So  many  slutteshe  cookes, 
So  new  facioned  tucking  hookes, 
And  so  few  bien  of  bookes, 

Saw  I  never.  ^^«< 

Sometime  we  song  of  myrth  and  play,  *  ^ 

But  now  our  joy  is  gone  away,  iw 

For  so  many  fal  in  decay 

Sawe  I  never: 
Whither  is  the  welth  of  England  gon  ? 
The  spiritual  saith  they  have  none, 
And  so  many  wrongfully  undone 

Saw  I  never. 

It  is  great  pitie  that  every  day 

So  many  brybors  go  by  the  way. 

And  so  many  extorcioners  in  eche  cuntrey 

Sawe  I  never.  uo 

To  th^.  Lord,  I  make  my  mone, 
For  thou  maist  heaipe  us  everichone : 
Alas,  the  people  is  so  wo  begone, 

Worse  was  it  never ! 

Amendment 

Were  convenient. 

But  it  may  not  be; 

We  have  exiled  veritie. 

God  is  neither  dead  nor  sicke; 

He  may  amend  al  yet,  191 

And  trowe  ye  so  in  dede. 

As  ye  beleve  ye  shal  have  mede. 

After  better  I  hope  ever, 

For  worse  was  it  never. 

Finis.*        J.  S. 

>  [The  above  poem]  may,  after  all,  be  Skelton's;  but,  at 

VOL.  II.  28 


POEXS    ATTRIBUTI^D    TO    SKELTf 


laj  rate,  it  l>  onty  «  ri/octiMflfs  c/  th«  thllawt 

fcniid  iD  Jf A  £tHM,  717.  ful.  iS,  uid  Ttuy  "~     " 


■  So  ptopr*  cdppea 
So  IjUe  hHltea 
And  to  ttlae  hartn 


In  cytees  Bad  townes 

And  »  man  J  HJlen  of  bromji 


SqcIm  planted  «hDe> 


So  nuu>;  rjvea  ilieites 
So  well  Kppitnld  chyrcbM 


So  giMj  tappea 
And  ao  Awe  IbhiBS 


?  knT^US  and  lorte 
I  fen  coTciBl  buJw 


So  mkn  J  djppan  of  gi 


POEMS  ATTBIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.   435 

So  many  wyde  pu[r]oe8 
And  so  fewe  gode  hones 
And  8o  many  curses 

Say  y  never. 

Suche  bosters  and  braggers 

And  suche  newe  facyshyont  daggers 

And  so  many  cnrsers 

Say  I  never. 

So  many  propere  knyffes 
So  well  apparelld  wyfes 
And  so  evyll  of  there  lyfes 
Say  I  never. 

The  stretes  so  swepynge 
With  wemen  clothynge 
And  so  moche  swerynge 
Say  I  never 

Suche  blendynge  of  legges 
In  townes  and  hegges 
And  so  many  plegges 

Say  I  never. 

Of  wymen  kynde 
Lased  be  hynde 
So  lyke  the  fende 

Say  I  never. 

So  many  spyes 

So  many  lyes 

And  so  many  thevys 

Say  I  never. 

So  many  wronges 
So  few  mery  songges 
And  so  many  ivel  tonges 
Say  I  neuer* 


iM        POEMS   ATTRIBUTED   TO    SKELTOH. 

So  moche  trechery 
Symony  and  vsery 
Poverte  and  lechory 

Say  I  never. 

So  fewe  sayles 
So  lytle  avayles 
And  so  man}  jayles 

Sawe  y  never. 

So  many  esterlynges 
Lombardes  and  flem3mges 
To  bere  awey  our  wynyngm 
Sawe  I  never. 

Be  there  sotyll  weys 
Al  Englande  decays 
For  suche  false  Januayes 
Sawe  I  neuer. 

Amonge  the  ryche 
Where  frenship  ys  to  seche 
But  so  fayre  glosynge  speche 
Sawe  I  never. 

So  many  poore 
Comyuge  to  the  dore 
And  so  litle  soconr 

Sawe  I  never. 

So  prowde  and  say  [gay  ?] 
So  joly  in  aray 
And  so  litle  money 

Sawe  I  never. 

So  many  sellers 
So  fewe  byers 

And  so  many  marchaunt  taylofs 
Sawe  I  never. 


POEMS  ATTRIBUTED  TO  SKELTON.    437 

Executores  havynge  mony  and  ware 
Than  havynge  so  litle  care 
Howe  the  pore  sowie  shall  fare 
Sawe  I  never. 

So  many  lawers  Yse 
The  truthe  to  refuse 
And  sucbe  falsehed  excuse 
Sawe  I  never. 

Whan  a  man  ys  dede 
His  wifife  so  shortely  wed 
And  havynge  suche  hast  to  bed 
Sawe  I  neuer. 

So  many  maydeus  blamed 
Wrongefiiliy  not  defamed 
And  beyenge  so  lytle  ashamyd 
Sawe  I  never. 

Relygiouse  in  cloystere  closyd 
And  prestes  and  large  ^  losed 
Beyenge  so  evyll  disposyd 
Sawe  I  never. 

God  saue  our  sovereygne  lord  the  kynge 
And  alle  his  royal  sprynge 
For  so  noble  a  prince  reyny[n]ge 
Sawe  I  never." 


1  and  large]  Qy.  *'  at  large  ?  "  but  it  is  by  no  means  certain 
hat  ^  large  **  is  the  reading  of  the  MS. 


END    OF    VOL.    II. 


*  J    Ttl™  010  501  tH5 


J 


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