paye the other and soo he can neuer ryse out of dette â—gayne for but yf that he sholde sell all his goodes he can â—ot paye them all the poore foole promyseth to paye hym the whiche is ryght greuous vnto hym bycause that the tyme passeth so lyghtly Durynge the space of tyme the Deutero xv ê“uerbio xxii vsury renneth alway wherfore he seeth that within a shorte space after it doubleth by halfe for and they haue lente hym a hondreth nobles he muste rendre vnto hym agayne two hondred And yf that he haue houses or rentes psal xxv Ecclesia iii. Esaye xxiiii it behoueth hym for to sell them for lytell or nought bycause that he is in daunger to be put in pryson or condempned for to paye it And whan that he hathe solde al Psal. lxxi ê“uer xxviii Luce. vi his landes no body wyll set no store by hym And thus the poore foole shall abyde all naked dyspoyled of hys goodes After that it behoueth hym for to make restytucyon and habandone his goodes or flee out of the countree And oftentymes the lenners leseth all the whiche Ecclesia vii et viii were more prouffyte for them to sell it for a iuste pryse take redy money In lyke wyse you lenners yé thynke not that god taketh your vsuryes for offences yes truely for he hathe defended it bycause that ye sell the space of tyme for ye sell the tyme the whiche is not yours but goddes that lenneth it to you Alas we wyll not do that whiche god commaundeth vs but rather do agaynste his commaundement and in doynge soo he sendeth vs his maladyccyon and mysery Note well that god often Ecc 〈…〉 a. xii xxiii q. iiii Nabuchodonosor tymes gyueth vs longe space for to lyue and all is for to amende our mysdedes in the whiche the deuyll hathe holden vs so longe He leueth vs not in this worlde for to commytte synnes but for to do penaunce and amende our wretched lyfe for whan we thynke full lytell dethe shall come and atrappe vs and our folysshe vnderstondynge with grete payne wyll repente hym for to haue coÌ„mytted so many euylles Thynke vpon Sodome Sodoma Gomorra and Gomorre where so many folkes perysshed and on the cyte of Sobyme the whiche cytees by theyr grete synnes perysshed pyteouslye as Nylycolas dyde how Gene. xxiii iiii Re. xxi Thobie xiii Michee iiii Exodi iii. Johelis iii. Amos. ix Esaie i. Prouer. xxii Thobie xiii Ezch. xxiii well that the folke of Nylycola were blessyd of our lorde Wherfore he that boroweth of euery body and can not paye it agayne is a fole resemblynge vnto a wulfe that deuoureth all at ones And he hateth nothynge soo moche as to fynde a thynge that pleaseth hym whan he is goynge out of the felde Also the dettour wolde neuer that the terme of payenge came for the borowynge maketh a man poore God suffreth vs to be in this worlde not to commytte vyle synnes but to the ende that we doo merytoryous dedes for whan the tyme shall come that we shall haue no space to do good dedes he shal punysshe vs lyke as the credytour dothe the dettour whan he faylleth at his terme ¶ Of petycyons vowes inutyle xxvi ¶ Who that on handes and fete dothe praye By false dyssymulacyon Cryenge on god bothe nyght and daye That he wolde graunte to them pardon And gyue them clene remyssyon They be fooles that with cryenge Thynketh to obteyne ony thynge AMonge you foles that maketh vowes and prayers to god of heuen vnderstonde this chapytre the whiche correcketh instrueth you to lyue well Afore that ye make prayers prepayre your soules for the iuste god wyll excuse and the synner shall not be herde in no wyse And therfore to the ende that ye reteyne some thynge I shall reherse vnto you the vowes reproued He that Eccle. xxiii Prouer. xx Eccle. vii Luce. xx i fi Joh. ix requyreth god withoute reason for a thynge that is not good and promyseth hym that and he graunte it that he shall do a pylgrymage or gyue of his goodes to the poore people It happeneth that his request is not iuste nor agreable to god wherthrughe cometh to hym some euyll fortune as it dyde to Mydas kynge of Frygye as the poetes recounteth bycause that he requyred of the Midas rex phrygum Ouidius metha xi Persius i. sa goddes to gyue hym grete haboundaunce of fyne golde the whiche they vttred to hym facyly wherfore it behoued hym to faste for all that he touched was conuerted in to fyne golde And bycause that he made his request Prouer. xxii there grewe on his heed two asse ere 's There is dyuerse that desyreth and prayeth for none other thynge to god Sapien. viii but for to haue theyr houses full of rychesse Alas open your conscyences and lyfte vp your hertes that be so oppressed and haue remembraunce that in olde antyquyte the rychesse was occasyon of many euylles What hath Lycinus Crassus Croesus Juuenalis Adhebre g. Prouer. xxii auayled the grete rychesses and possessyons to Lycynê° The rentes of Crassus The treasour of Cresus Sardanapalus They fynysshed theyr dayes in grete dystresse He the whiche floryssheth in youthe desyreth for to lyue longe in his force and pleasure How well that by glotony and excesse he shorteth his lyfe without consyderyÌ„ge that in olde aege there is many that endureth greate payne and anguysshe dolours and inestymable calamytes in theyr bodyes heedes armes and legges and all was of to moche etynge drynkynge in theyr youth And yet they were renowmed in theyr flourynge aege dyscrete and full of sapyence As it appereth of Nestor Peleus Nesior Laertes horatiê° i arte SapieÌ„tie v. Eccle. xi and of Lacertes and Peleus the whiche lyued lenger than necessyte requyred for they had many accydentes and outrages in theyr aege Bycause that it happeneth oftentymes that olde and auncyente men become chyldysshe agayne and fynyssheth theyr dayes myserably Some there be that desyreth to haue fayre wyues the whiche whan they haue ben conuersaunte with them a whyle and sene all the guyse they repente them all the dayes of theyr lyfe ensuyng after To this sayth the phylosophre yf thou haue a wyfe kepe her and yf thou haue none take none for dyuers euylles haue fallen therby Some desyreth puyssaunce mondayne the whiche is cause of theyr grete ruyne The other desyreth corporall beaute Juuenalis that causeth theyr soules for to descende in to the depe pytte of helle O fooles that forgeth newe vowes by your insacyate volente ful of maladyccions DemauÌ„de of god helthe of thy body salute for thy soule good fayth good renowme and to habounde in vertues to the ende that ye maye se face to face hym that deyed on the crosse for all the humayne lygnage ¶ Of studye inutyle ca. xxvii ¶ Who wyll not excercyse studye But renne aboute from place to place
¶ The shyppe of fooles Gaudeamê° oeÌ„s· ¶ Here after foloweth the prologue of the translatour of this present booke intytled the grete shyppe of fooles of this worlde KNowynge that Melius est habundare quam deficere It is better to haue haboundaunce of dyuers thynges than to haue necessyte Wherfore I haue put myselfe to translate this presente booke called the grete shyppe of fooles out of Frensshe in to Englysshe bycause that this booke hathe ben fyrste made in Allemayne language and out of Allemayne it was translated into latyn by mayster Jaques Locher and oute of latyn in to rethoryke Frensshe I haue consydered that the one delyteth them in latyn the other in Frensshe some in ryme and the other in prose for the whiche cause I haue done this more ouer consyderynge this that Therence Therentius sayth Tot capita tot sensus also many heedes also many opynyons And than consyderynge the saynge of Uyrgyle Uirgilius Trahit sua queque voluntas Euery body wyll do after theyr voluntees and wyll accomplysshe them but as Uyrgyle sayeth more ouer Nescia mens hoiÌ„m The voluntees of men is vnknowen Wherfore they that wyll haue latyn take it the frensshe ryme or prose or alleman or Englysshe Who wyll haue the morall sens take it who that wyll haue the lytterall sens take it And who wyll haue all take all as sayeth Esope ¶ To the honour of the Esopas ryght hye and ryght sacred trynyte fader sone and holy ghost in one essence and of the ryght gloryous moder of god and of all the sayntes of paradyse I haue begon to make this translacyon for to exhorte the poore humaynes the whiche by imbelycytes pusyllanimytes haue ensued the fooles of this presente worlde theyr werkes And to the ende that they may eschewe al mondanytes and folyes I praye them that they haue regarde vnto this present booke and that they comprehende the substaunce to the ende that they maye wysely gouerne them selfe in the tyme to come and that thorugh theyr labour they may be of the nombre of the saued For whan a man debateth the shame that it be not vaynquysshed multe plyeth his force And the good conscyence also multeply eth vertues in man Consyderynge also that the prose is more famylyer vnto euery man than the ryme I Henry Uirgilius Watson indygne and symple of vnderstondynge haue reduced this present boke in to our maternall tongue of Englysshe out of Frensh at the request of my worshyp full mayster wynkyn de worde thrughe the entysement exhortacyon of the excellent pryncesse Margarete couÌ„tesse of Rychemonde and Derby and grandame vnto our moost naturell souerayne lorde kynge Henry ye. viii whome Ihesu preserue from all encombraunce If that I haue added ony thynge in ony place I haue not done it by arrogaunce but for to applye vnto the scrypture and bycause that it came vnto purpose I haue not wylled to chaunge the name of the boke the whiche hathe ben called by the fyrste composer the shyppe of fooles He hathe fygured a shyppe full of fooles fletynge vpon a see ¶ By the shyppe we may vnderstonde the folyes and er roures that the mondaynes are in by the se this present worlde the fooles beynge in the shyppe is the synners for we are in this worlde as pylgrymes fletynge frome one countree to another and after our operacyons we shall be remunered at the porte of salute Syth that it is so we must serche in this booke the whiche may well be â—â—lled the doctrynall of fooles for there may be fouÌ„den good and helthfull doctrynes conteyned as well in the holy pagyne as in the werkes of the sayntes and prophetes of lawes and of the decretes of holy faders the whiche haue rowed so well in this worlde that they are aryued at a good porte that is in the glorye eternall to the whiche wyll conduyte vs the fader the sone and the holy ghost amen You lectours humbly I requyre you for to pardon me yf that I haue erred in ony thynge for the tendernes of my yeres hathe so affusked me that I haue not applyed me vnto the lettres as Jought to haue done the language is not autentyke to the ende that euerybody may vnderstonde some thynge for folkes vn lyttered demaundeth not thynges obscure ¶ Prolude of this present boke NOwe is the worlde ful of scyence and documentes made by our auÌ„cyent faders in suche wyse that the holy scrypture is in gretter vygoure than euer it was for in her is all ryght Fyrst we haue the holy byble of the auÌ„cyent faders In the whiche appereth euydently theyr feates and lyues we maye take good ensamples for to susteyne and nourysshe our poore soules For he that loueth not vertues is reputed vyle More ouer we haue the bookes of phylosophye wherin is conteyned all goodnes it is they wherin all the wyse men dyd lerne she is excellente and of grete pryse And who that delyteth in her may haue ryght grete prouffyte But this notwithstondynge I meruayle me of euery mortall man bycause that they thynke not vpon theyr salute and thynke soner to assemble a grete sorte of synnes and how that god consumeth vs not seynge that we offende hyÌ„ soo moche Good doctryne is chaced out of the worlde euery daye and in folye and imbelycyte man passeth his dayes he fleeth leueth good doctryne Palas was wonte to kepe the ren Palâ—s ges in this worlde but by our grete and enorme synnes we maye not suffre it She is in heuen where as she serueth the sayntes of whome she is loue None or ryght fewe haue her prudence scyence or doctryne we haue not the ouerture of probyte fayth conscience loue and pyte is not in vs but echone dysprayseth his god wher fore he that taketh vertues cheseth a good place Noneste thynges and good condycyons we dysprayse The holy sayntes documentes and admonestinges we dyspyse with the celestyall doctrynes so dulcet and amerous vnto the good and dyscrete men of this worlde ¶ More ouer we fall in infynyte errours that in the worlde is the worste and are releued in a myscheuous empyre by our synnes are infynyte and none of vs hathe a stedfaste degree By playnes wayes pathes tauernes markettes stretes mountaynes hylles felde s and fynably by al quarters is excercysed glotonye whiche is so vyle in takyng inutyle wayes and not the waye of salute We folowe capons tauernes etynge drynkynge insacyably we replenysshe our bodyes vnmesurably with lecherye and delycates sobrenes is not fouÌ„de in vs euery body is trobled with this vyce Our hertes is affusked so that it demaundeth nothynge but vanytees our soules we fulfyl with fylthes and lecheryes in lyke wyse and of othervyces mo than a hondred By the meanes wherof there is grete haboundaunce of fooles thorugh the worlde in suche wyse that in dyuers regyons and countrees theyr folyes redoundeth so moche that all vertues pure thynges
and fynysshed Horrestes receyued guaryson of his maladye and neuer after that he sawe no more that the whiche he had sene before and that was by his loyall felowe that accomplysshed his auowe so truely We rede also of Amon and of the good Pythyas that were so go Demades Pithias Scipio Lelius valerius li. c. supradic Hercules de felowes and frendes for Denys the cruell tyraunte wolde haue put one of them to dethe wherfore his felowe wolde not accorde therto for the one was contente to suffre dethe for the other In semblable wyse we haue example of Scypyon ryght excellent domynatour of sodomy and Lybye that loued Lelyus so feruently that the memorye redoundeth yet vnto this daye Beholde we also the grete loue that Theseus had vnto Pyrrothus ouidius lactantius narraÌ„t vt refert boca de ge deo li. ix c. xxxiiii Prouerâ— 10 xiii xxix that for to rauysshe Proserpyne goddesse of helle transported hym in to the cauerne and whan Cerberus the porter of helle sawe Pyrrothus anone he slewe hym Theseus was taken prysoner by Pluto god of helle the whiche made hym be bounden in a spelunke Hercules aduertysed of the trouthe descended in to helle and vaynquysshed all and bounde Cerberus with thre chaynes and after vnbounde Theseus and ledde hym away maugre all the enhabytauntes therin By this we may vnderstonde the amyte of Theseus and the pyte of Hercules that dyde socoure hym Suche frendes be no more in course the tyme of loue is passed for euery body entendeth to his synguler prouffyte there is noo more fayth nor lawe in this worlde to the moyen of this I coÌ„clude that our volente and courage is worse than a spere trauersynge some body for we haue neyther felycyte nor loue but soner crudelyte reygneth amonge vs for the whiche cause it is no meruayll thoughe aduersyte do myne vpon vs that be voyde of benygnyte ¶ Of the conteÌ„mynge of scrypture c. xi ¶ Who wyll byleue eloquacyte Of the foles seynge the scrypture Shewynge our grete felycyte And wyll not in vertues endure Is a grete fole without mesure Wherfore as foles makynge dyscordes Of our grete shyp they dresse the cordes GOod chrysten men I supply you with al my herte that ye retayne this that shall be reherced vnto you here after folowynge for veretably it is ryght prouffytable vnto vs. They that by wanhope wyll not gyue credence vnto the auncyent scryptures be fooles seynge that they dysprayse the parables and wordes of the prophetes the i. ad thymo iiii whiche proceded from the dyuynyte They desyre more soner to rede playes tryfles and fables than to here the documentes and techynges of good men that hath had euer god in reuerence and honoured the heuens They flee the holy scryptures and the force of the fayth by the whiche the synful soule myght be preserued Suche folkes Ecclesia ii Marci xvi Johannis iii hathe none enuye to lyue honestly lyke creatures but lyke as vnreasonable beestes thynkynge that there is no god and that there is none habytacyon so noble and excellent as this myserable worlde and fereth nothynge Psalm xiii the meruayllous dedes of our lorde Ihesu cryst all the payne is lost that is done for to teche them how they sholde gouerne them for they wyll do nothynge at all saue to dyspyse it Whan ony body telleth them of the goodnes of heuen of the precyous treasours of the blessyd aungelles of the archaungelles of the cherubynes of the potestates of the thrones of the ordres and of the holy syeges aourned and replenysshed with holy sayntes as wel men as women martyrs confessours and vyrgyns And that is more ouer whan one reherseth to them the wayes vnto helle the cursed treasours ryght stynkyng replete with playntes and with infynyte euylles enuy ronned with floodes all enuenymed certaynly it is payne lost for theyr harde hertes obstynate vnto god may not be molefyed What auayleth menaces vnto fooles who wolde trauayle his body and herte for to rede vpon Psalmê° xci so many dyuers bookes for to recyte vnto them chapytres lawes holy scryptures the ensygnementes of the puer xxiii prophetes is nothynge worthe to them for they ben soo vnhappely molefyed so affusked and hardened that hygh puerb xii brayenge and hye cryenge auayleth to them nothynge Luce. xvi for they wyll not byleue nor kepe the scryptures of the fayth nor the commaundementes of the lawe The pore fooles be not aferde for to go in to the infernall pyt of helle there to endure paynes intollerable harde cryes and tormentes inhumayne O poore fole thou seeth wel ynoughe yf thou be not a slepe afore thy fete the mouynge the gylted doctrynes of our fayth the lawes of olde antyquyte and the tryumphes of our lorde Thynkest thou that thyn ygnoraunce shall excuse thyn erroures no but shall cause the for to be plonged in the infernal pytte with the dampned Syth it is so that euery body studyeth for to lyue vycyously they maye well perceyue De cogna spiri c. cum vir in anti that god almyghty the whiche Jugeth the wycked and the cruell that wyll not amende theyr lyues in this transytory and mortall worlde shall gyue them horryble tormentes in helle where as they shall remayne in euerlastynge payne Without the seynge of ony lyght or daye that euer was create Ecclesia iii. ¶ Of fooles vnpuruayed ca. xii Who fastneth not the sadle well Upon his horse whan he shall ryde Unto some towne his stuffe to sell Thynkynge all sure on euery syde Yf that he falle in some dytche syde They that passe by maye to hym saye Here lyeth a foole without delaye AWake your spyrytes fooles vnpuruayed that is alway slombrynge in thynges transytory and remembreth not the felycyte of thy soule â—uerb xiiii By cause that I knowe that there is many dyuers fooles in this worlde errynge froÌ„ the way of veryte I haue grete wyll for to reduce them vnto the hye waye to the ende that they adnychyll theyr insacyate erroures ryght daungerous The ygnoraunt vnpuruayed of wytte and reason that neuer thynketh on the thynges to come yf by aduenture there come ony fortune to hym he wyll saye Alas I thought not that suche a fortune sholde haue befallen me And whan the Seneca fortune is passed they studye how they myght eschewe it to the ende that they appese theyr sorowe â—e must not al waye thynke on the tyme present but on the tyme future Eccle. xxxiii as well for the wyse man seeth the thynges to come and the foole full of vnpurueyauÌ„ce shytteth the stable dore whan the horse is stolen He hathe his vnderstondynge ryghte good that puruayeth hym for the tyme to come for he maye eschewe all daungers peryllous and shall be sure at all seasons in prouydynge for the tyme future Yf Adam had taken regarde vnto the dyshonoure Salustius Adam Eua. and shame that happened to
wouÌ„de wolde not suffre that it sholde be serched and made clene and greuous maladye where thorughe dethe sholde procede in xv q. i. ca. in canonibus whome sholde the faute be in the and not in the physycyen In lyke wyse yf that thou saye I haue lyued wel all my lyfe I haue done alwayes good thyn vnderstoÌ„dynge dothe contrarye Thou contempneth good werkes Thou doost not well for the pryncypall thynge is not to begynne well an operacyon but muste lyue well and vertuously vnto the laste ende and so contynue in werke also O poore gendre humayne I praye you doo Eccle. xviii Eccle. vii Sapien. v. Mathei x. Deuter. xxxii Ecclesia ix merytoryous dedes in your lyues contynue ye shall please god For yf that ye be not good at the ende ye shal meryte nothynge of the realme of heuen They the whiche reyse vp perturbacyons maye well go with the other that gothe in the stretes by nyght makynge suche noyse that no body can haue no reste in theyr beddes They make the begynnynge of theyr helle for they borne horses and maketh the moost vyllaynous stynke that can be thought or ymagyned of the whiche I am sore abasshed that the Justyce setteth not handes on them for the moneye that they take and demaunde is agaynst god reason and yf they be suffred here yet god for all that permytteth it not And it is ryght euyll done to suffre suche thynges for it were ynoughe to enfecte a hole countree with ¶ Of the dysprysynge of dethe ca. lxxxi ¶ O dethe dethe thou arte ryght cruell To destroye all thumayne lygnage And to sende them to heuen or hel To dwell there with theyr parentage Where ryche nor poore hathe no vauntage For golde nor syluer in no manere Saue of all good vertues in fere LOke that ye wasshe your eyen with clere water fooles that contempneth the dethe and come and se this chapytre and it shall prouffyte SenecaÌ„ ff de condi de l. i. Tulliê° de se. Job xviii ii reguÌ„ xiii Ouidius in tristium ê“uer x. Eccle. ix SapieÌ„tie ix Ad roma v. you gretely Mondayne brederen howe haue we our wylles soo dyuers to thynke for to lyue alwayes in this wretched worlde ¶ Alas we be walkynge in dyuerse passages we thynke not on the furour of this dethe he pardoneth no body for he hath his houres amytted He taketh certayne and vncertayne can not tell whan it shall be We resemble to the water that without ony restynge renneth in the ryuer For yf we be hole to daye we shall be deed to morowe so moche he is cruell and peruerse be it yonge or olde he putteth all in his cercle castynge his darte at auenture He loketh not at the auauntage that the yonge sholde haue He taketh all without fauourynge O foole thou sayeth dethe abyde it is not tyme that I deye for I am yonge Eccle. xi ad roma vi Job xxi Juuenalis Eccle. vii ê“uer xi stronge puyssaunt lyght knowynge fayre honeste tryumphynge Were thou also stronge as the olyphauÌ„t yet sholde thou haue no more respyte than the other for thou shalte deye Thou labourest in vayne for whan de the wyll take the thy wytte shal not kepe the for thy body shal swete for colde and for styffenes thy fayre membres that were wonte to be well coloured shall be pale Thy herte for grete payne shall tremble for fere to descende bynethe thy speche shall fayle whan thy poore lyf Ecclesi xli Uirg vi en Horatius Job xv Eccle. xlviii Job iii. Eccle. ii iii Eccle. xiiii Nestor Sybilla l. fi C. de saâ— san eccle Apo. xxi i auteÌ„ de nup deiceps col iiii Juuenalis Uirg vi en SapieÌ„tie iii. wyll fynysshe The dethe is suche to all men O dethe cruell and sodayne vnto hym that hathe assembled grete treasours thou takest hym in a shorte space Alas it dothe hym grete euyll for to departe from his goodes the whiche he loued so well Thou takest from euery body be it kynge duke or erle thou goth frely knocketh at theyr gates without beholdynge why or wherfore Thy courage is so fyerse that and one wolde gyue the a grete somme of moneye thou wolde haue dysdayne at it And yet yf the pope or the rustyke procure thou wylt do nothynge for thou wylte beholde none euyll tyme but shortely wyll destroye them And yf he had reygned and domyned euer in the worlde syth Nestreus vntyll this presente tyme or syth Sybylle the wyse his lyfe shol de be shorter If that some haue lyued a thousande yere in Juuenalis Horatius Martialis this worlde yet dethe hathe vsurped them at the laste for this tyme presente we be wel sure that we shal not lyue paste a hondreth yere for there is but fewe that lyueth lenger After that the fader is deed the sone dyscoÌ„forteth hymselfe and more ouer we se that the sone lyueth lesse than the fader or as moche and no more Pore foole wepeth thou not whan thou haste knowledge that the dethe maketh so grete lamentacyons vnto them the whiche is lyuynge If that he pycke ony it is nature for ones muste we deye none excepte he spareth neyther yonge nor olde He taketh them in the ayer in the fyre in the water and in the erthe Dethe hathe not reserued our lorde Ihesu cryste nor the holy sayntes the which he hathe conduyted vnto the celestyall courte And thâ— other vycyous synners he hathe ledde in to yâ— fyre of he This dethe hathe taken awaye townes castelles places and worldly goodes from grete lordes how well that Eccle. xxxix i. corin xv Eccle. xlviii Eccle. ii iii. Horatius fortune fauoured them had eleuate them on heyght And the other she hathe vnclothed of goodes The one shall be a greate succeder for all that rychesse hathe habandoned hym But this dethe wyll come make mortell warre without takynge ony to mercye They that haue lyued in syÌ„ne shall be depryued from paradyse He murdreth and sleeth that whiche pleaseth hym And ledeth all the mondaynes to his daunce There is no prayer nor request that is ought worthe and yf all the humaynes were afore hym cryenge with theyr handes ioyned yet he wolde refuse them There is nothynge create bestes byrdes nor fysshes be they neuer so fayre nor pleasaunt but that he rauyssheth maketh to passe by hys handes He calleth with his trompe pope emperour all lyuynge in an instaunte Thou the whiche edefyeth vpon thy body a grete crosse and epytaphe a tabernacle gylted and paynted meruaylously or a marble stone I demaunde the wherfore thou doost soo Arte thou Arthemisia de qua Hiero vii a. g. li. x. Chemnis de q o diodo li. ii more purer clener of synne than the other naye But full of crymes and parauenture tormented in helle all this serueth the not of a lytell halfepeny Tell me what auaylleth the grete monumente
of Arthemesye it was heresye to make vpon a vyle rotten body so grete an ede fyce that was made of fyne golde and precyous stones Inlyke wyse of Chemnys that had iii. M. men werkynge on one foure dayes His broder Demetyque that reg ned after hym had almoost destroyed his people with famyne for makynge of one for they had but lytell herbes to theyr nourysshynge And before they had grete hepes of rychesses in theyr possessyons Rodulphus and Amaphis in lyke wyse made for to make a grete monument Alas it is notefyed vnto vs that it is grete foly 〈…〉 amasis herod li. ii Eccle. viii math xxiii Luce. ii ecclesi rr iz q. ii c. vbi cum 〈…〉 Seneca ê“uer xi pÌ„s iz grete abusyon as we may clerely knowe by experyence What may I saye more saue for to speke of them that dyspendeth grete rychesses and treasours aboute suche vayne thynges in makynge themselfe poore and nedy Edefye not then suche monumentes vpon a pyt full of fylthe O humayns haue we mynde of dethe the whiche pursueth vs. Reconsyle we vs to god to the ende that that dethe take vs not in synne and to the ende that we may reygne aboue in heuen with the holy sayntes men and women where as domyneth the fader the sone and the holy ghost ¶ Of the grete contempnynge and dyspraysynge of god ca. lxxxii ¶ Yf that god wyll not punysshe the In thy body withouten fayle He wyll in other thynges truely Ryght sore the punysshe and assayle In thy goodes or in catayle Wherfore please hym bothe daye and nyght That he may saue the in thy ryght IN the moost profoundyte of our shyppe is the fooles that dysprayseth god and his sayntes who is he then that may suffre murmuracion JohaÌ„nis xv psal cviii Eccle. vii Exodi xvi Danie xii Sapien. xi Persius Eccle. viii agaynst god and contempnyÌ„ge with wordes Also his documentes and hye puyssaunce his clemence scyence of whome we sholde be protectours O foole what foly holdeth the and how arte thou so hardy to dysprayse god and his sayntes with thy mouthe polluted and foule And thynketh euer to contynue in the same There is noo daunger saue that he punysshe the perpetually therfore Thynkest thou not on the paynes of hell and of the mysfortunes here in this worlde ¶ O ad roma ii c. tua d simÌ„ folkes dysgarnysshed of hope knowe you not your offen ces Byleue you not that he is veray god remaynynge aboue in the celestyall mansyon byleue you that he kno weth not your secrete thoughtes and that he wyll not punysshe the for thy synnnes yes truely how well that I wyll not saye but that he is mercyfull Neuerthelesse ê“uer xxvii Hiere xiii thou the whiche kepeth no rule nor reason take hede what may come to the for who that synneth agaynst god shal perysshe without ony faute bycause that synne deceyueth gis mayster And yf that thou leue the sapyence of god Esaye xlvii Uirgi li. i. and thy conscyence maculed with synnes the whiche thou hast kepte couertly by longe space of tyme. Somtyme god is so mercyfull that he wyll pardone the thy synnes But who that perseuereth in many foule and abhomynable synnnes with grete payne may they come to gode porte The creatour maketh deluge for the synnes Eccle. xxxvii Ad Roma ii pÌ„s vii xlvi Eccle. v. Eccle. 〈◊〉 Hiere xviii Ere xviii Mathei iii. sendeth the synners in to helle in paynes inestymable Of a thousande with grete payne cometh one to saluacyon O you wysemen that hathe your hertes so affusked in the obscurtees mondayne haue some recours vn to god It is he that created all thynges bothe heuen erthe sonne and mone sterres and skye and the daye to lyght vs and the nyght to be obscure And that gyueth vs space to lyue or deye whan it pleaseth hym ¶ He the whiche is in synne and wyll amende his euyll lyfe and aske mercy with a contryte herte in repentynge hym of his synnes god wyll vttre hym true perdon so that he haue his herte contryte and replete with bytternes that he haue talent to lyue well he shall wynne the glorye of heuen And to the ende that god gyue it vs be we prudent and wyse and haue we volente for to do well and then wyll he gyue vs his glorye where as we shall lyue in Joye perdurable ¶ Of them that blaspheme our lorde Ihe su cryste ca. lxxxiii ¶ Oswerers by god omnypotente Makynge hym smarte by othes cruell In terynge his body all shente By blasphemynge as I you tell Leue your othes or ye shall dwell In the tenebres funerall With deuylles blacke in paynes fynall O Swete Thalya helpe me to encheue this werke and to wepe make lamentacyon for the vyle synnes that domyneth in this worlde nowe And brynge with the thyn in Mathei xii de pe dis i. c. pena S. thomas 〈◊〉 sâ—de q. q. xiii aâ— i. strumentes to the ende that we may bewale them affectuously O Thalya wepe with my soule I praye the let vs not haue in our myndes the vyces nor the thynges passed and correcke them to the ende that we encoÌ„bre them not for all these fooles wyll do nothyÌ„ge but soner wyl mocke vs. And how well that they be replete leuiti xxiiii with abhomynable synnes that regneth nowe vnyuersally neuertheles they haue theyr hertes soo vyle that Luce. xii marci iii. Esaye â–ª â—ii xxii q. i â–ª si 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 capillâ— they commyt many vycyous thynges agaynst god O good lorde how my herte is sorowfull whan I remembre the vnhappy fooles that blasphemeth the they wolde crucefye the agayn with theyr horryble othes yf they myght They speke wordes touchynge his dy 〈…〉 yte by ymagynacyon enuy berynge armes agay 〈…〉 hym in theyr vnhappy hertes but they procure they 〈…〉 〈…〉 mpnacyons by theyr swerynge and blasphemynge 〈◊〉 god Some dothe blaspheme his name the whiche is soo precyous The other swereth by the crowne of thorne his woundes his armes his bones his crosse his vertue ii mach xii de pe dis ii i aâ—c orytas inteâ— glo Ad Roma ii Leui. xlx Math. v xxiii q. v quid exgo iâ— para xxxii ii math xv ii math v his dethe his bloode his body his heed his sydes and his feestes What rygour what rage hathe taken thy spyryte to blaspheme so our lorde Ihesu cryste thy creatour For a lytell playe this happeneth oftentymes and whan they be dronke they swere out of mesure For suche blasphemynges falleth on them greuous sekenesses aduersytees and sodayne dethe For god leueth noo syn vnpunysshed At this tyme the nobles and gentylmen dothe nothynge but blaspheme and swere by the name of god and sayeth that it apperteyneth not to vyllayns for to swere by god but to myn aduyse no more dothe it not to gentylmen to go in to paradyse Sennacheryâ—
dormen tarium glo c. si de cle noÌ„ res li. vi pÌ„s xv they be so enflambed with auaryce yf that they haue no moneye nor dystrybucyon and wyll not go vnto the chirche for the loue of god O what horrour to dysobeye the creatour Peruers folkes of condycyons thynke where god shall put your soules ye well symonyacles It were better for you that ye wente not vnto the chirche than for to go in esperaunce to take money I praye you that ye go not in to sacred places by auaryce for that is not a greable to god bycause that it polluteth the sacred place so worthy Ye be not ashamed to speke vnto harlottes and baudes in the chirche in makynge them sygnes they fo lowe you paas by paas God out and auoyde holy â—hâ—â—che go your wayes hastely be ye not ashamed that foâ—kes Neemie xiii Eccle. xxi xvi q. vii et â—oc diximus â—hoâ—de se you no for ye be no more ashamed than 〈◊〉 sowe that lyeth her downe in the myre that dyspleaseth moche vnto god More ouer ye gyue euyll example vnto the seculers You ought to be the refulgent sterre but Ictâ—uÌ„ xii xxiiii q. 〈◊〉 oibê° et c. quare ex sola ye be withouten lumynarye or lyght O what scandale and what dyshonour I demaunde you yf that ye shall haue the gyrtes of god and his realme perduraâ—â—e for to do so no But muste praye vnto hym in the chirche as mayster and lorde of heuen and erthe and purge you clene of all your vyces and synnes Some there is that wyll be without syngynge masse vnto a leuen of the clocke a bydynge that some sholde gyue them moneye for to synge malse for yf that they haue no moneye gyuen theym they wyll synge no masse ¶ O what dyshonour to holy chirche of mandyens or other as well monkes as abbottes chanons as pryours nothyÌ„ge I speke but they may be in the nombre with the other Suche folkes can not wynne the realme of paradyse but yf that they amen de theyr lyues and do penaunce for theyr synnes For it is they that ought to be resplendysshynge as the sterres And they be more obscure than many of the seculers commytte mo vyces and abhomynable synnes in gyuynge ryght euyll examples vnto the poore folkes parysshynges ¶ Of the grete demonstraunce of pryde ca. lxxxviii ¶ All â—â—ey that be replete with pryde Foloâ—ynge the fende ryght cruell Is worthy with hym to abyde And for euermore with hym dwell In the horryble paynes of hell There to be rewarded doubtelesse And neuer come in heuens blesse PRoude fooles approche you hastely and come here my doctryne for there is dyuerse Eccle. ix Judith ix â—s xc et 123. â—â—er vii Eccle. vii Dui meth de pe dis ii hinc etiam Esaie xiiii Thobie iiii Jacobi iiii vi q. i. imita xii q. ii glo â—ia eâ—i in â—i peregrinatio noÌ„ facit medâ— cuÌ„ nulla ars lorâ— disciâ— vt ait Sene. Johel ii Ecclesia x. et xxvii Luce. x. xxiiii q. iii. quideÌ„ vel lâ—ciâ—iceriant fooles that be full of pryde that by theyr vyces is entred in to our shyppe They wyl holde the empyre and domyne aboue all the other Ofte ntymes the foole surprysed rowynge with in the foule shyppe the whiche was of auncyente forged by Lucyfer prynce of pryde that wolde haue mounted aboue god is deceyued but god almyghtye made hym for to descende into the obscure pyt of helle where as is tormentes intollerable This lucyfer was the fyrst that synned in pryde He is fader and mayster of pryde And they that folowe hym ben his chyldren the whiche he holdeth euer ferre from our lorde They ben habandoned vnto hym and be replete with dyscordes with vaynglo rye and also with iactaunce saynge I haue had the solycytude of pauonye the wyse cyte in my youthe I haue redde the holy ensygnementes of sapyence And bycause that I haue knowen suche thynges I ought to be exalted aboue all the other ¶ The other hathe ronne in frauÌ„ce in spayne and in other places where as he is hated not for no valyauntyse that he hathe done yet he wyll be exalted aboue the other Tell me what auayleth thy pryde Yf thou haue sene dyuers countrees in grete daungers as well on the see as on the londe and thou sayst more by halfe Thy wordes ben to bytter and yet thou sayst them not of a good sorte Beholde yf the wyse taketh so grete laude no for neuer a wyse man desyred laude nor neuer blameth none But thou arte as full of pryde as lucyfer that was sayd berynge lyghte For by his beaute he wolde enhaunce hym in pryde and wolde haue mounted vpon the hyghe syege of our lorde But our good god the whiche is so Juste made hym to falle Job x. puer xv et viii â—s xvii Sapien. v â—uer xiiii Job xxvi Eccle. xi â—uer xi Eccle. vii Eccle. xix puer v. Holofernes Judith ix Jesabell iiii ReguÌ„ ix into the abys 〈…〉 es of helle with his complyces ¶ Alas it was for them grete euyll And thus the proude folkes shall descende into the tenebres and paynes infernalles Lucyfer and his complyces layeth many gynnes nettes for to take the proude soules the whiche they drawe in to theyr cauernes from daye to daye withouten euer to haue ony Joye or solace This cursed synne of pryde destroyeth all good condycyons vertues and scyences and engendreth thynges contrary that is to knowe abhomynacyon This synne reygneth in dyuers persones and pryncypally in women For al the gendre femynyne is replete with pryde the whiche synne maculeth totally the body and the soule of the persone they were ambycyous clothes They make theyr husbandes to stoupe or other without reason by theyr lokes that they caste dyuers wyse men ben almoost depryued from theyr wyt Judyth dyde soo moche by her fayre speche that she cut of Holofernes heed bycause that he wolde haue destroyed her londe how well that Jesabell was fayre yet she anoynted her vysage for to make her foule in the presence of her husbande Jehu Euery daye wysdome calleth vs in saynge that we â—â—ee frome claterynge wyues for they haue theyr tongues to lyght and to daungerous they be replenysshed with lechery the whiche with their eyen and â—restes byteth the hertes of the poore men le deth the soule in to the pytte of helle there to remayne perpetually The good woman hathe all good vertues wher honour ensueth her she vseth laudes and good operacyons Eccle. xiiii xxvii q. v. nec salomon puer xiiii Eccâ— xxv ii Reg. xi she kepeth chastyte and setteth noughte by concupy scence carnal yf Bersabee had not ben esprysed with loue she wolde neuer haue shewed her naked body vnto kynge Dauyd She was the pryncypall cause that her husbande Urye was slayne for The women at this presente tyme ben cause of many folysshe loues you doo Ecclesia