his kynde lxviii Fedyth god al thyng that is in erth of his makyng lxix Fysshes foules and beastes haue they soules or no lxx They that shal be after the incarnacyon shall they lyue as lōge as we do now lxxi How long shal the world endure lxxii Lyue eny men mo out of the erth that we on go lxxiii Why are some men whyt some broune and some blake lxxiiii Wherof comyth felony lxxv Why are not al beastes of one colour lxxvi They that ete or drīke more thā nede do they wel or no. lxxvii Whiche is the best thyng and the worst of the man lxxviii Whether is a man more apter to conyng in etyng of hote metis or of colde lxxix How may aman fle felony wrathe and malencoly lxxx Is it better to haue hate of woman or loue lxxxi A man that is yonge how angeryth he for a lytel thyng lxxxii How may aman blamles be to loue a woman and hym not she lxxxiii Wherof comyth fattnesse in a mannys body lxxxiiii Shal aman chasten a woman with betyng whan she doth amys lxxxv What thyng is gelousy and wherof comyth it lxxxvi Shal aman loue his frend open to hym all the secretes of his mynde lxxxvii May aman do his profyt and labor not for it lxxxviii Shal men do almes dedes to pouer that haue nede lxxxix How shal he order hym selfe that is alday amonge the people lxxxx Is a rych man lesse worthy that hath lost his good or the pouer that hath encresed lxxxxi Wherof comyth the wicked custome of men or maner lxxxxii Seyng yron is so strong and harde wher with was fyrst made the hamer tonges and hyth lxxxxiii Do they amys that swere by theyr god what so he be lxxxxiiii Shal aman in althynges be chair of his body lxxxxv With whom shal aman loue to go and whos company shal he tie from lxxxxvi Which is better to haue of ryehes or to be pouer lxxxxvii Shal a mā honour a pouer mā as he do a rych mā lxxxxviii Delyght the pouer men in theyr pouerte as the ryche men do in theyr ryches lxxxxix Shal aman bost hym of that thyng that he doth c. Why are houndes raster in doyng of theyr kynd than other beastes are c.i. He that coueyteth another mannes wyfe doth he wel or yl c.ii. May not aman scape dethe by ryches myght or by some other meanes c.iii. Is it good to answere them that speke foly c.iiii. Whiche conyng of all is most greuoust to man c.v. They that labour for to wyn cānot why do they not leue c.vi Wherof may it come that men waxe foles and vnwyse c.vii. Is the soule and the body wo whan they shal depart c.viii Whiche shall aman take for the more a yong mā or an old c.ix Why rayneth it more in one yere than in another c.x. Why made not god man so that he myght not haue synned c.xi Is it good to haue entermetynges with all maner of men indyfferently c.xii. Why wold god this world make c.xiii How was this world made as it is nowe and how holdeth it as it is c.xiiii Is there any other than we that hathe the claryte or the lyght of the sonne c.xv. Howe longe is the worlde how brode and how thycke c.xvi Why shall god this world clene vndo c.xvii How are the fowles borne a hye that do flye c.xviii Whence cometh the rayne that falleth c.xix. Hayle stones wherof come they c.xx. Whereof come the tempestes c.xxi Wherof cometh the thonder c.xxii The wynde wherof comethe it c.xxiii How issueth the water out of the hylles whiche hylles seme to be dry c.xxiiii The water that is in the see why is it salte c.xxv. Wherof cometh the lyghtenyng c.xxvi The water that dothe ebbe and flowe wherof come they and whyther do they go c.xxvii Ware not hylles and roches made at the fyrste makynge of the worlde c.xxviii Shall euer so great a flode come eny more as was in the tyme of Noe. c.xxix Why dyd Noe take with hym into the arch venemous beastys as scorpion edder and snake c.xxx Wherof cometh golde c.xxxi How spryngeth some waters out of the erth hote c.xxxi Wherof cometh the Brymstone c.xxxii Wherof cometh carbouncles other precyous stones c.xxxiii How many landys be in the world c.xxxiiii May aman by drye lande go the world round about c.xxxv Myght a man sayle so longe that his shyp came vnrent to the turnyng of the fyrmament c.xxxvi Why made not god man to be euer yonge iolyfe and of powre ryche and of longe lyfe and at his deth to haue blys c.xxxvii Whiche are the aungels that receyuethe mannes sowle into heuen c.xxxviii Which is better of thes two good workes without chaslyte or wycked workes and chast to be c.xxxix What maketh the erthe quake c.xl. Wherof cometh the eclypse of the sonne and mone c.xli. Howe falle the sterres that men se fall and from whens come they all c.xlii How many heuyns are there c.xliii How hye is the heuyn aboue the erthe c.xliiii Of what myght is the fyrmament c.xlv. Of what myght are the planettis what be they called c.xlvi. How many maners of waters be there c.xlvii How many sees be there c.xlviii Why hathe god made the world rounde c.lxix Why is the mone colde and the sonne hote c.l. Whiche is the most thynge that is c.li Is there more grauel in erth or dropes of water in the see c.lii. Maye the grauell in erthe tolde be or dropes of water in the see c.liii How many sterres are on the skye c.liiii How many aungels dyd god make howe many be lefte and how many tell c.lv. Whiche are most of men beastes or fysshes c.lvi. Whiche is the delectablest place in all the world c.lvii Whiche is the most prowes in towne or forest c.lviii If a man haue an euyll wyfe or a wemme in any of his lymmes shall aman cast it in his tethe c.lix Shall men bothe worshyp men and do theyr wyll c.lx. Shall aman forget the seruyce of a good seruaunt that well hathe serued hym c.lxi May a man with holde hymselfe from a woman that he hath in kepyng that he commyt no lechery c.lxii Whiche is the greatest delyght that is c.lxiii Shal a man ought delyght hym with a woman c.lxiiii Whan two hoostes mete shall they streyght fyght c.lxv. Whiche of his membres myght a man worst forgo c.lxvi Who made the fyrst instrument that euer was and howe came it in his thought c.lxvii He that is dumbe defe and can not se what speche in his hert thynkethe he c.lxviii Why are some cloudes of the skye whyte some blacke c.lxix May no creature knowe goddes wyll or thought c.lxx. Shall aman worshyp god all day c.lxxi Wherof comethe bleryd eyen and why c.lxxii What people shall men worshyp in this world c.lxxiii Whiche is the largest man in the world c.lxxiiii Shall a pouer man put hymselfe at any tyme before a reche man c.lxxv
dey ¶ The people drew themself bake All that were angre with Sydrac They chose fouer men of the host That wysest were and coude most For to hold dysputacyon Ageyne Sydrac and his reson Thes fouer before the kynge went And sayd to hym with one assent This wich with his wichcraft lewdly Hath you mouyd gretly Syr let hym come forth now And we shall dyspute with hym before you ¶ So it come to pase at the last And to dyspute they began fast They shewed hym theyr fals lawe ¶ And he vndyd it on a rawe He destroyed with good reson All theyr fals and peruert opynyon Wrothe a way than gan they tourne For agayne hym cowd they not spourne Whan they ouercome wore And they myght do no more They went anon forth and fet Of starke venom a gobet And came to Sydrac there he stode And sayd thou seyst thy god is good Daryst thou in the name of hym Drynke this gobet of venym For if he be trew and strong also To the it can no velony do ¶ By god Sydrac that that you wene May not a vayl you a bene ¶ Uenom of adder nor of snake That eche in goddys name take May greue me ryght nought Gyue it hyther that ye haue brought ¶ The venom in his hande toke he That all the people about myght se Ye that to my god trust not to Anon shall se what he can do He dranke that venom anon ryght And was hole sownde and lyght All the people that there gadered was Had great wonder at that caas ¶ The kynge was full glad therefore And sayd to all that there wore Had Sydracis god not myghty byn He had brust that we had it syne And thes four that dyd hym spyte Thought he wold a be deed quyte ¶ Whan the deuyll was out lepyd Of his great god that he was in crepyd He and his felowes also In to other goddes dyd go And they all at the last Uppon the kynge a cry dyd cast And sayd Boccus thou had lost thy wyt To play now this folysh tyt To change thy old lawe And to trust in this withes sawe Us thou hast now forsakyn And to a wychcrafte the takyn And we shall forsake the None of vs thy frend wyll be Thy sacryfyce we shall forsake On thy goddes we shall do wrake All thy bestes we wyll slo And helpe ageyne the thy fo We shall also hast blyue Out of thy kyngdom the to dryue All thy chyldern sle we shall And other of thy kyne with all And thy self with soth to sey On euyl deth shall cause to dey But thou wilt slake all this And beleue styll in thy blys Reuoke all that thou hast sayd And all that thy hert is on layed And breke yender pot in two His wichcraft for to vndo And the water at the last Unto thy howndes thou cast Seyng that Sydrac doth not blynne This wo to bryng the in THe kynge all that wer thore Of this thyng wonderyd sore And a masyd were sumdele ¶ Sydrac that beheld full well And sayd syr dysmay ye noght On god of heuyn be thy thought Let the deuyll haue no intrese The with his engyn to refreshe For thou shalt se anon ryght That I shall destroy hym and his myght A betyll in his his hande he toke And to the false goddes he it shoke He stode and sayd all on hye In his name that is almyghty I shall you breke this uery day And the deuyll dryue away With his betyll he layd vpon And brake the ydols euerychone Whan the deuyll saw nomore That his dwellynge myght be thore He and all his company Began then from thens to hye And an hydyous cry they cast Whan the ydols were all to brast An erthquake dyd they make anone So that y e folke thought euerychone That the yerth sanke downe went Thunder and lyghtenyng also they sent Hayle and rayne also there wore That made the folke abasshed sore And the kynge of all the host Was abasshed all the moost ¶ Sydrac sawe the kynge in drede Anon he vnto hym dyd yede And sayd syr dyscomfort ye nought Goddys myght that all hath wroght Is stronger than the deuyl of hell And that thou shalt perseue well Therfore dred not but comfort the Ouer vs shall sone his grace be Downe came than an aungell bryght All abowt hym mych lyght ¶ And sayd Sydrac take with thyn handys The water that in the pot standys On the fouer corners of the how 's it cast As long as eny of it doth last In the name of the Trynyte Betokenyd of the stakys thre Bete together fast the two And the deuyll shall fle there fro ¶ Sydrac dyd as he hym bad And fayer wether anon they had An other aungel they sawe commyng Beryng aswerd all brennyng And smot the deuyll and hym dyd shent And thos ydols all to brent All the folke that there wore And wold not be conuertyd before Whan they had sene that syght They turned vnto god anon ryght ¶ Boccus the kynge whan he that sauh Alytel he began to lawgh In his hert he was full iocound And askyd Sydrac in that stound ¶ Leue Sydrac and tell now me What syngnyfy the stakes thre And the pot of erth also That thou the water dydyst put into And why thou so the water dyd cast And bet to gyther the stakes fast ¶ Syr he sayd the stakes thre Do sygnyfye the Trynytye Father and sonne and holygoost That ar one god as thou well knowest By the erthen pot I take This world that god of erth dyd make The thre Rakys the pot vp bar God it syngnyfyeth be thou well ware The water that in the pot was don Syngnyfyeth playnly goddys sonne That in this world shall borne be Of a fayr vyrgyn puer and fre And that sonne shall all with ryght Destroy the deuyll and his myght Uppon a crosse he shall be done And dye about the tyme of none In erth shall he buryed without fayl be And ryse vp within dayes thre Through that dede shall he call Adam and verely his frendes all Out of wo and of theyr mornfull care That now in the deuyllys handes are The water that I at the last About on the fouer corners dyd cast Betokenys fouer men that shall tho In fouer sydes of the world shall go That many a man shall suerly wyte Euery one his boke shall wryte By the whiche they confownde shall The deuyl and his power all The stakes that I together smot Made gret benne as ye it wot That was in tokyn of them tho That with goddys sonne shall go And shall his dyscypyls also be They shall preche the Trynyte And the noyse of them shall wende Ouer all to the worldes ende For they shall to the people preche And the ryght beleue them teche That man had better not be borne That it despysyth for he is forlorne And thos that ar in ryght beleue Goddys sonne shall
foure and thyrty dayes therto His dedes and his wyl also His regne is in Caprycorne And in Canser his myght is lorne ¶ The fourth planet is the sonne And yf you vnderstande conne It is the planet of great worshype Of kynges and of â—ordshype Kepar of erth we hym cal And by the sygnes he passyth al And in ech whan he comyth thore He dwelleth a moneth and no more That is borne in that he may euery yere Change his worke and his manere His regne so is in Aâ—yes And in Lybra he hym restes ¶ The fyfte planet venus is Planet of loue delyte and blys He that therin borne shal be Feble herte shal haue of vanyte But in foure hundreth and forthy dayes May he change al his wayes His worke and thought holly The .xii. sygnes goyth he by And in ech one of tho shal he Seuen and twenty dayes be In piscibus rayneth he stabely And doune he goyth in Gemyny ¶ The syxte planet Mercurius That arte and conyng geuyth vs By the .xii. sygnes lyeth his wayes Dwellyng in ech one seuentene dayes He that is borne in hym may Be two hundred and the fourth day Chaunge his corage and his thought And the workes that he wrought ¶ The mone the seuenth planet we say Planet of water and of waye By the .xii. sygnes she goyth also Dwellyng in ech one dayes two He that is borne in this planet In a moneth may he byete And chaunge his worke and wyl Be it good be it yl In Taurus comyth her regne vnto And abesses her in Scorpyo And al the world is not I wys So great as one planet is Saue the thre that lowest wone Uenus Mercurius and the mone ¶ The C.xlvij questyon ¶ Tel me now this ones yet ¶ How many maner of waters is it OF waters many maner there be Fyrst the water of the see That al other waters come fro Water of welles there is also That theyr hew and manere Foure tymes change in a yere Welles are spryngyng elles whore Foure dayes in the weke no more I stode theris that rennyth ay Al the weke saue saturdaye A stode is in the est see ryght Which rennyth euer on nyght And a daye it frosen is fast But on nyght may it not last Yet men may a welle fynde In the yles of the see of ynde That who so put a stafe therin As of a fyre it shuld bryn And it nothyng slekyn can But only the breyne of man Other welles are yet mo And who the water dronke of tho Of some good memory shuld he take And some forgetfulnesse shuld make Some amerous wyl make the men And some wyl bareyne make wymen Some wyl make yren and stele In the fyre to tempre we le A great wel yet is there one Standyng stylle as eny stone But who so makyth solace there by Anone it rennyth hastely Some waters are hote of kynde And some colde as men do fynde And the kynde of the ground causyth al this Where eny water rennyng is And al is at goddys wyl Both rennyng and stondyng styll ¶ The C.xlviij questyon ¶ Now wold I wyt of the see How many sees that there be SEes we fynde there are thre Wherof one hyght the see beter Al about the erth goyth she And is salt as men may se That other see the blacke see hyght And enuyrons that other ryght The thyrd is called the stynkyng see Therin may no man lyuyng be For the stynke that it cometh fro Enuyrous truly that other two And god hath made them so to be Of his wyl and his potence ¶ The C.xlix questyon ¶ Why hath god the world made al Rownde aboute as a balle THere are many skylles why But thre I fynde pryncypally For his owne lycknes is one There non ende ne is vpon For he ne had begynynge Nor neuer shal haue endynge And seke y e world neuer so w t trauayle miÌ„d No endyng shal men therin fynde Another sayl is comodyte Why it behoueth so to be For al the formes that thou knowst Rownde contaynes aldermost Now is it so at the begynyng That the world contaynes althyng Wherfore it behoued therto That it shuld rownde be also The thyrde cause is for the sky And I shal tel the how and why Late with war here fyll a canne And whan it is ful breke it than The wax shal be of that shapnes As was the canne more ne les Now is the saye rounde and fayre And conteyneth fyre and ayre Water and erth ferrest therfro And al behoueth rounde to be tho The round saye the fyre round maketh And ayre of fyre roundhed taketh Water within ayre also And erthe within all tho And bycause the skye as thou hast hard Is round and al are in hym sperd All behoueth them round tobe As thou ere on the waxe myght se ¶ The C.l. questyon ¶ Why is the mone colde of kynd And the sonne hote as we fynde The sonne is welle of hete And the mone of waters wete Now is that one drye and hote And that other moyst and wote The hete of the sonne doth spryng That in erthe is al thynge But with that hete may they not dure But yf they haue withal moysture And that the sonne heteth on daye lyght The mone keleth vpon nyght And geueth it moysture there vnto Therfore al thynges spryngeth so Shuld the sonne geue vs for aye His here bothe nyght and daye Man nor beast shuld lyue no throwe Ne nothyng shuld in erth growe And yf the keelth of the mone Shuld euer amonge vs wone And of the hete haue rygâ—t nought Shuld no leuyng thyng forthe be brought Therfore hath god ordayned so As the world hathe myster to ¶ The C.lj. questyon ¶ Now I praye the tel me this Whiche is the most thyng that is OF al thynge that thou most Goddes marcy is the most For no mouthe may speke I wys No harte thynke how great it is Unto tho that wyl it craue And desyreth it to haue It is greater than al erth may be Or al the water in the see It passyth al leues that sprynge Or herbes or eny other thynge Ye an hundreth thowsand folde It passys al that I haue tolde ¶ The C.lij. questyon ¶ Whether may grauel of erth mo be Or droppes of water of the see GRauel of the erth is wel more ThaÌ„ al water dropes y t euer wore For al that were or yet shal be Al they come of the see And for an handfuf of grauel Behouyth of droppes a gooddele For wel smaller is one hope Of grauel than a water drope And water may be no where But yf erth be vnder there And many myles may men gon Drye where no water is on And the see was neuer so depe a flete That deper ne is vnder erth grete And yf water vpon roche stande Under roche is erth molde or sande Now is the erth apperyng smal And wyde
that man is knowen by If it be fayre and semely A fayre man men wyl hym call And leue his other lymmes all And in a fayre vysage and whyte Hath aman moch delyte Wherfore in al the man not lyeth truly So cōly a lym as is a fayre vysage verely ¶ The CCC.viij questyon ¶ How shal aman lede hys lyfe That fyndes ama hauntyng his wife Fynde thou aman with thy wyfe Loke thou make w t hym no stryfe Preuely thou go thy way And nothyng vnto them say But afterward thou say her to That she no more do so Say she doth here selfe shame For in her lyeth al the blame There wold no man her come tyl But it were by her wyl Wherfore chastyse her courtesly And loke how she wyl do there by And she wyl not do after thy lore Of that vpbreyd her no more If thou smyte on the man a non Whan thou comest hym fyrst vpon And begyn to fyght also The deuyl procurys there vnto One of you may lyghtly the other slo And so encresyth sone thy wo Therfore thoughe it greues the sore Better the lasse scathe than the more ¶ The CCC.ix. questyon Shal men for tene or for lesyng Blame god of heuen in ony thyng GOd of heuen is so wyse That in hym no blame lyse But thākyng worshyp honour As to hym that is our creatour And yf thou for thy foly Fal in any malencoly Blame thou god therfore nothyng Blame the and thyne vnconyng Haue thou not as thy wyl wore Why shalt thou blame god therfore Thoughe thou pray god send me It may not at thy wyl be But yf thou trauayle for to lyue God shal helpe the for to thryue Were aman a water in That depe ware and coud swym And he cryed on god fast And ware perysshed at the last For defaute of steryng That he wold helpe hym selfe nothyng Wherfore blame god no man shuld He wold haue holpe yf hym selfe wold ¶ The CCC.x questyon ¶ Which is the sauourest thynge Of al that are at thy wenynge OF al thynges that euer be Is there none so sauoure Unto man beast and foule also As slepe is whan tyme is therto There nis nother mete ne drynke That sauoryth aman I thynke As slepe whan aman wold fayne No delyte is there agayne With out slepe may nothyng thryue Of al that euer are a lyue For that ordayned god the nyght Therein to rest and slepe euery wyght Slepe norysshes mannys kynde And beastes as that men fynde Man beast ne foule is none So iolyfe nor so wel be gone Hold hym fro slepe agayne his wyl Thou mayst hym sone spyl And cause hym to lese both flesshe and blode Be he neuer so totter and wode Wherfore is slepe sykerly The sauorest thyng that I wot truly ¶ The CCC.xj questyon ¶ Of what maner of what bounte Ought kynges and lordes to be LOrdes kinges ought ryght wel To be trewe as eny stele In worde ī werke to their myght And with iustyce deme a ryght Uyse them wel also to be Curteys meke and of pyte And to mysdoars neuerthelesse Stout to deme theyr wickydnesse For he may neuer god wel plese Nor his lordshyp in honour with ese That sparyth wickednesse to shent And god is not there with content They ought also to be doughty Wygrous and fers of theyr body Large and geuyng courtesly Theyr state may they maynteyne ther by To pouer they ought be mercyable And vnto the rych stable And aboue al thyng To worke the wyl of heuyn kyng For he hath them lordes set Good to do and yī to let ¶ The CCC.xij questyon ¶ Swete that cometh of the body How comes it wherof and why Swete kyndly cometh comenly Of wicked blod in the body That steryth somtyme and hath no roo And other humours hym mynges to And whan they to gether take Great hete in the body they make And that hete that is within Maketh the body as it shuld brynne And that body that is so hote Anon castes out the swote The kynd clensys ther with all But ouer moch hurte shall ¶ The CCC.xiij questyon ¶ Which are the best hewes that ere Of clothyng men for to were BEst hewes that may be To mannys clothyng are thre That are rede whyte and grene And for thes causes I it mene The red supposys regalyte And is colour of dygnyte It geuyth the werer moch blys And to the sonne lyckened it is Whyte wede is a worthy thyng And of aungels it is clothyng Hyt makyth hym mylde that it weryth And hewe of the mone it beryth Grene is a precyons colour And shuld be hold in honour Of al other most is it borne For gras tre and also corne And al that waxyth in erth by dene Al is it clad in grene And that most thynges are clad with al Dygnyest hewe men hold shal ¶ The CCC.xiiij questyon ¶ Seyng men grene a good hew call Which is the grenest thyng of al THe grenest thyng is water I wene For waters make al thyng grene And ware not of water the moystyng Shuld no grene thyng spryng Grasses that on hylles are standyng There no water is rennyng With rayne and dewes of the ayre Waxe they both grene and fayre And seyng grennesse is by watrys myght Than is it grenest with ryght ¶ The CCC.xv. questyon ¶ Tel me now so haue thou blys Which is the fattest thyng that is FAttest thyng that is of kynde Than is erth that men fynde For trees and al othere thynge Of the fatnesse of erth sprynge And ware fattnesse of the erth no whore Shuld they neuer spryng more Of the fatnesse of erth comyth al That they spryng and waxe with al Of erth take they theyr nature And els myght they not endure ¶ The CCC.xvj questyon ¶ Whether is bettar at the deth day Repentaunce or hope of blys for ay BOth are good soth to say Unto man whan he shal deye Repentaunce is good to haue But good hope shal aman more saue For euery man that deye shal May not repent hym of al For thy behouyth hym nedly Trust hym al in goddys mercy But he that in no hope is For to come to heuyn blys Shal he neuer come therin Be he neuer so clene of synne But he that hath al his trust That god is of mercy most That trust shal saue hym at the last Whan other shal be out cast ¶ The CCC.xvij questyon ¶ Shal men greue make euyl chere For aman that deyes here By kynde men wepe and make care Whan theyr frendes fro them fare Neuerthelesse the man that ay Hath kept goddys law I say Of his deeth no sorow is For he goyth vnto blys There to be for euer more Hym shuld no man sorow sore But he that in god trustes nought Nor his cōmaundment hath not wrought And dyeth so in that entent And is so to helle went For hym is sorow to make That he such lyfe wold not for
body lowe or hye So the erth that we on go Is vnder ful of veynes also And open the hyde the veyne vpon The blode spryngeth out anon Euyn as wel vpon the crowne As on the fote beneth downe So the veynes that in the erth lye Haue water runnyng lowe and hye Up and doune to and fro As the veynes in erth go And there they the erth feble se Hye or lowe whether it be It brestyth out and rennyth there Hylle or dale whether it be ¶ The C.xxv questyon ¶ The water that is in the see Why is it salt tel you me IN the mydel of the world a see is Where the sonne euer brennyng is And by that brennyng hete Are the waters that shuld be swete Become bytter and salt also Which see renneth the other vnto Wherof al salt it is And y e hete of y e sonne makyth moche of this Ware it that the see styl stode And ware the water fresshe and good The stynke therof so great shuld be That al the fysshes in the see Shuld dye anon both great and smal And that ware vnto man great bale And on the land shuld be such stynke More than I can expresse or thynke Which shuld on lande so be here That it shulde al the people dere ¶ The C.xxvi questyon ¶ Wherof euer may it be The lyghtenyng that we here se CLowdes somtyme on the sky Renne to gether vp a hy With so great fyre and so kenne That fyre lyghtenyth them betwene And that is that we lyghtnyng call And somtyme downe wyl it fall Somtyme slekenys it a lofte In the cloude and that is ofte ¶ The C.xxvij questyon ¶ The waters that ebbe flow also Wherof come they whyter do they go ALl the waters that euer be Al they come out of the see And thyther agayne they go Unto the see wher they came fro The waters that fall in erth synkyth And as a spryng the erth them drynkyth And whan they are come thether In veynes gather they to gether And they that go in by one syde By another out they glyde The erth takyth and geuyth all The waters that are and on erth fall ¶ The C.xxviii questyon ¶ Hylles and roches ware they nought Made whan y e world was fyrst wrought FRom the fyrst tyme of adam Unto the tyme that Noe came Was neuer hyl ne rocke with al But as playne about as a ball Rayne fell than to erth none No tempest was nor storme But in the tyme of Noe For the great iniquyte And for the synne that adam wrought God sent astode that sesyd nought Xl. dayes and xl nyghtes Al the world destroyed he thore Saue them that in the arch wore And the course of the stode them among In his comyng was so strong That where it neysshe ground fonde It dyd fret away both erth and sonde Stone and rocke felde and towne Al was turned vp se downe But whan the flode began to slake And lytel stremes for to make Stones on hepes so with stode And turned no more for the flode And whan some with stode so Mo them gathered vnto The neysshe ground the water doth fret For no hardnes it doth let And afterward the sonnys hete With frost and snow to gether do mete Dryuyng the stones to gether harde And became rockes afterwarde Wherfore by the forsayd skyl That flode made both dale and hyll ¶ The C.xxix questyon ¶ Shal the dyluuy come eny more In the world that was before GOd hath hyght vnto man kynde As we in our bokes fynde That neuer shal come to destroy man Such a dyluuy as than ran But yf of synne man not amende A sharpe scourge he shal them sende That scourge is a swerd of wrake That one shal agayne a nother take And oâ—e shal a nother for do And destroye the world also ¶ The C.xxx questyon ¶ Whan Noe shuld to the arch go And of ech beastes toke w t hym two Why wold he euyl beastes take As scorpyons adder and snake NOe dyd them in the arch ley For two thynges that I shal the sey That one for the coÌ„maundment That god hym be the aungel sent And that durst he not breke For he sawe moch wreke Of ech one two god byd hym take For he wold not them al new make Wherfore his precept dyd he And of them came that now be ¶ That other was for mannys he le For but yf venemous beastes fele Ware dwellyng in ech countre So ful of venom the erth shuld be That it shuld enuenym al thynge As frute and corne that in erth dyd sprynge And so shuld no man therof ete But he dyed by that mete And the beastes ne lyue I wys But of the venym that in erth is And they clense the erth by kynde Of the venym they therin fynde And al theyr venym is truly Of the erth that they lyue by For take an adder for asay The venemost that men fynde may And in a vessel hym do That no erth come hym to With flesshe and bred kepe it thore Fyftene dayes and no more Al his venom shal be gon And hurte may he do none For venom in hym none doth abyde Except he on the erth do slyde ¶ The C.xxxj questyon ¶ Wherof euer comyth the gold That man so precyous doth hold THe myne of gold without mys In veynes of y e erth waxyng is And syluer also with metals mo Which the erth come fro But gold and syluer men fynde betwene The erth there it is pure and clene Men gather it and dyght it so With arte that they haue therto But there men it most fynde Is a lande by the west Inde In gyse of brasse men fynde there By the banke of the see euerywhere But euery man can not it dyght For to brynge it to the ryght ¶ The C.xxxi questyon ¶ Tel me now yf thou wote How out of y e erth spryng waters hot WAters that al hote so sprynge Haue it somwher in theyr reÌ„niÌ„g By brymstone hath his cours And not fare from his sours By y e hete of y â— kynd of brimstone The water becomyth warme anon And warme spryngeth out also And who so leyd his nose therto He shuld anon fele ful we le Sauoure of brymstone somdele ¶ The C.xxxii questyon ¶ Among al other tel me one Wherof comyth the brymstone QUycke brymstone that men call Cometh of lyghtenyng that doth fall Upon roches by the see Eyther on hylles whether it be And so hard downe are they cast With ayre aboue and wyndes blast That they fall the erth within And that erth they lye and â—ryâ— Which erth exâ—st hyght therby For it is brente so wondersly And that turneth to brymstone Which wellyth vp somtyme anon ¶ The C.xxxiij questyon ¶ Carboncles and other stones mo Wherof may come al tho OUt of Nygre that is a see Where cokyls are in great plente And hang to gether two and two
Openyng in the water hangyng so The rayne falleth from aboue And entres in them there they houe WhaÌ„ they haue receyued the rayne astound They close them and go to ground And at the ground lye they thore Wel a C. yere and more And they that are of that countre Whan they seke them in the see Theyr vysages to couar they begyn With netes blathers blowen thyn And in blacke sowe them also For the fysshe wyl fle them fro Than go they doune them to wyn And perlys fynde they them with in Whyte and rounde but neysshe they be But whan they come out of the see And the ayre haue them smyt vpon They become ryght hard anon But tho that are not in season Nor theyr tyme haue after they weÌ„te doune To be fulfylled by the ground They stynke as a pyllyd hownd The Carboncles come also Of cokyls as perles do But Carboncles of smal hayle fall And in fresshe water be they all They by the grounde wylbe Two hundred wynter wel or thre And they stynke and fare amys Whan theyr tyme not fulfylled is But al the rayne that doth fall Turne not to stones al The rayne that the fyrst day fallyth Of the mone in Ianuary that men callyth And the mone be in that sygne That vnto that thynge be dygne If that rayne in the cokyl go Perles shal come of tho And hayle that to fal is wone The eyght daye of the mone In feueryere and the mone be ryght In a sygne that Cancer hyght And the cokyls that hayle in take Carboncles therof they make But that rayne and hayle ech dele Fall ful seldome wyte you wel ¶ The C.xxxiiij questyon ¶ Of this world now tel me How many landes therein be LAnde but one is there none Who so al hole myght se there on But for departynge of the see That departyth them in thre Thre landes are that we call With out smale yles all But al are one lande to gethere fest And al vpon one grounde they rest And who so myght the lande be holde That no water let hym sholde Al hole and one he shulde it se And so made god it to be The water aboue in sonder it castys But vnder hole and fast it lastys ¶ The C.xxxv. questyon ¶ Myght eny man on drye lande wel Go y e world about euery dele IN erth no man myght go The world about to ne fro For he shuld fynde many lettynges And that of many thynges He shuld fynde wastenes ful great There nethere were drynke ne mere But wylde beastes many one Redy to tere hym as a bone Ware a hundreth men on one wrought And yf that ne let hym nought The open erth shuld lettynge be That swellyth and geuyth agayne the see And many lettynges other mo If he est and west wyl go And yf north and south go he Many other lettynges be For thre zones shal he fynde Where no man may lyue in one kynde One is hote and colde are two May no lyuyng thyng be in tho And goddys wyl it is also Shaâ— no man be myghty therto ¶ The C.xxxvj questyon ¶ Myght eny man sayle nyght day That had the wynde with hym ay ¶ So long y â— his shyppe came vnreÌ„t To the turnyng of the fyrmament A Man that in a shyppe wore Thoughe he sayled euer more Yet shuld he not come nere the sky And I shal tel the why The erth is rounde as a ball In the mydel and the sky ouer al Is alyke fer there fro And the water also Al about on the erth doth stande And thoughe a man toke vnderhande To sayle an hundred yere He shuld the sky be al so nere Whan that he from home went As whan his hundred yere ar spent ¶ The C.xxxvij questyon ¶ Why made not god man to be Ay yong ioylyfe and of pouste ¶ Rych and longe lyfe hym lent And at his deth to blys haue went HAd god made man on that manere As that thou tellyst here God as I thynke in my thought Had the deuyl great wrong wrought Which for a thought fel to hell And mo with hym than I can tel Shuld aman than be of longe lyfe Rych yonge and ioylyfe And haue here al his delyte And than fare to heuyn quyte Noman is worthy to come thore But yf he haue don wherfore God hath graunted vs vnto Be cause we shal here wel do Helth with out sycknesse Ioy and delyte and great rychesse And lyfe also without ende For the deth that men here to wende Than is it for to reken ryght No other but as a byâ—des flyght That flyeth here in yonder out And be a man neuer so stout Nor so yonge nor fayre to day To morow shal it al a way I wold not lyue a thowsand yere And al my delyte haue here And than vnto heuyn gon I had leuer be there a non For one delyte that is thore Is worth a thowsand here and more And therfore ware it moche scate Thether for to come so late ¶ The C.xxxviij questyon ¶ Whiche are the aungels tel me this That receyueth mannys soule to blys EChe man an aungel hath hym to To kepe hym that he not mys do And whan the soule at the ende Shal out fro the body wende And it vnto god be dere The aungel that was his kepare here Shal come with great melody And of aungels great company Receyuyng hym vnto mede And to ioye hym lede After the tyme that is to sey That goddys sonne shal dey But or he dey on the rode Al go to hel wycked and good But al alyke shal they nought Be payned but as they haue wrought And some shal be in fre pryson Tyl tyme of his passyon But whan the great dome shal be Men shal agre at wonder se Sowle and body to gether go And to gether fele ioye or wo And the sowle that to hel shal went The deuyl that hym holpe to shent Shal receyue hym and sey hym to Thou hast don as I bad the do Thou withstodyst not my wyl Nor my techyng vnto yl Wherfore shalt thou go with me Euer more in payne to be Thus shal they be receyuyd thycke Good with good and wicked with wicke ¶ The C.xxxix questyon ¶ I pray the mayster sey me now Which is better of the two ¶ Good werkes without chastyte Or werkes wickyd and chast to be GOod werkes wolde I chese Thoughe I chastyte forlese For be thou chast of thy body And thou worke wickydly What vertu than hast thou in the Percaas is than thy chastyte For sycknesse that thou may not dure Or for kelth of thy nature Or for age that thou may no more What meryt art thou worthy therfore And than for to go sle aman Or to robbe in wode or fen Or thy neyghbore to begyle sotelly Or his good to forlese falsly What is worth such chastyte Whan thou of othere hast no pyte But that vnchast lyfe ledys And