Chapter I: Part 1

[Transcriber's note: Until recently this work was attributed to John Lydgate, but now most scholars consider that the author is unknown. The first mention of Lydgate's authorship of this work was made by Stephen Hawes in 1505 as one of Lydgate's seven major works. But many scholars have doubted over the years that this poem was written by Lydgate, because the style used doesn't greatly resemble the style of Lydgate's other works, and the vocabulary is somewhat more modern than Lydgate is known to have used. Modern scholars believe that this work was written between 1478 and 1483 (about forty years after Lydgate's death). Analysis of style and vocabulary have led scholars to conclude that the author might have been a woman. For further information about this poem please see The Assembly of Gods, edited by Jane Chance, published by Medieval Institute Publications, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 1999, ISBN: 1580440223, which is also available online at http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/teams/asint.htm.

The book from which this e-book was transcribed is a fascimile reprint of the third printing of this book, made by Wynkyn de Worde circa 1500. The book was printed in blackletter font known as Wynkyn de Worde's type 3, and uses many abbreviations, which I have expanded and rendered inside parenthesis, eg., {x}. The abbreviations used in this book are:

*Macron over the letter. The most common one, usually meaning
missing "n" or "m" after the letter. But in some cases might also
mean missing "e," "er" or "re" after the letter. This happens
usually when p, q or r have macrons.
*Little e over Middle-English thorn, meaning "the."
*Little t over Middle-English thorn, meaning "that."
*Little u over Middle-English thorn, meaning "thou."
*Little t over w, meaning "with."
*Middle-English yogh, representing "gh."
*Superscripted 9 after letter, meaning missing "us." Used only at
the end of the word.
*Superscripted 2 after letter, meaning missing "e," "er" or "re."
Used only at the end of the word.
*Stretched s, looking like integral sign, meaning missing "e" or "i"
before letter s.
*Dot over the letter, meaning missing "e," "er" or "re" after the
letter. Usually used with d, t, e and u. Combination q+d with dot
means "quod."
*Strike through letter, meaning missing "e," "er" or "re" after the
letter. Usually used with p, v and s. Striked through p might also
mean missing "ro" or "or" after p.

Occasionally there were some letters printed upside down. I have rendered them inside brackets, e.g., [x]. The poem uses two types of punctuation--a dot, meaning longer pause, and a slash, meaning shorter pause or comma. I have corrected many errors and noted them on a right margin. Also this printing was missing three lines and one line had several letters missing from the middle of the line. I have marked them on a right margin and the correct reading supplied from the modern edition. There were a couple of places where the word "nota" or "note" was printed, but the actual notes weren't found in this reprint. There's a fair chance that those notes were never printed. The original page images are available with html edition.]

The assemble of goddes by John Lydgate

Printed at Westminster by Wynkyn de Worde about the year 1500

Cambridge at the University Press 1906

The work here reprinted formed part of the famous volume of black-letter tracts (formerly marked AB. 4. 58), which came to the University Library in 1715 by the gift of King George the First with the rest of the library of John Moore, Bishop of Ely. No other copy of this edition is recorded to be in existence.

The types used are Caxton's type 3 (for the title) and Wynkyn de Worde's type 3, with final m and n etc. from type 1 (in the rest of the book). This type 3 is not known to have been used before 1499.

Mr Sayle remarks that the woodcut illustration is taken from Caxton's second edition (ab. 1483-4) of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

FRANCIS JENKINSON

1906 March 5.

I certify that I have printed 250 copies only of this facsimile, that the impressions have been rubbed off the plates and the negatives destroyed.

P. DUJARDIN

Here foloweth the Interpretacoin of the names
of goddes and goddesses as is reherced
in this tretyse folowynge as Poetes wryte

¶ Phebus is as moche to saye as the Sonne.
¶ Apollo is the same or elles God of syght.
¶ Morpleus Shewer of dremis
¶ Pluto God of hell.
¶ Mynos Iuge of hell.
¶ Cerberus Porter of hell.
¶ Colus the wynde or God of the Eyre.
¶ Dyana Goddesse of wode and chase.
¶ Phebe the Mone or Goddesse of waters.
Aurora Goddes of {the} morow or spry{n}g of {the} daye
¶ Mars God of batyll
¶ Iupiter God of wysdom.
¶ Iuno Goddesse of rychesse
¶ Saturne God of colde.
¶ Ceres Goddesse of corne.
¶ Cupydo God of loue.
¶ Othea Goddesse of wysdome.
¶ Fortune The varyant Goddesse
¶ Pan God shepherdes.
¶ Isys Goddesse of frute.
¶ Neptunus God of the se.
¶ Mynerue Goddes of {the} batail or of heruest
¶ Bachus God of wyne.
¶ Mercuryus God of langage.
¶ Venus Goddesse of loue.
¶ Dyscorde Goddes of debate & stryffe
¶ Attropos Dethe
¶ Here endeth {the} interpretacyon of the names
of Goddes & Goddesses as is reherced in the
treatyse folowynge as poetes wryte.

Whan Phebus the crabbe had nere his cours ronne
And toward {the} Leon his Iourney gan take
To loke on Pyctagoras spere / I had begonne
¶ Syttyng all solytary allone besyde a lake.
¶ Musyng on a maner how {that} I myght make.
¶ Reason and sensualyte in one to accorde.
¶ But I coude not bryng about {the} manacorde.

¶ For longe er I myght slepe me gan oppres
¶ So ponderously I coud make none obstacle
¶ In myne hede was fall suche an heuinesse.
¶ I was fayne to drawe to myne habytacle.
¶ To rowne {with} a pylow me semyd best tryacle.
¶ So leyde I me downe my dysease to releue.
¶ Anone cam in Morpleus & toke me by {the} sleue

¶ And as I soo laye halfe in a traunse
¶ Twene slepyng & wakyng he bad me aryse.
¶ For he sayd I must yeue attendaunce.
¶ To the grete Courte of Mynes the Iustyse.
¶ Me nought auayled ayene hym to sylogyse.
¶ For hit is oft sayd by hem that yet lyues.
¶ He must nedes go that the deuell dryues.

¶ Whan I see noo better but I must go.
¶ I sayd I was redy at his co{m}maundement.
¶ Wheder that he wolde me lede to or fro.
¶ Soo vp I arose and forth with hym went.
¶ Tyll he had me brought to the parlament.
¶ Where Pluto sate and kepte is estate.
¶ And with hym Mynos the Iuge desperate.

¶ But as we thyderwarde went by the way.
¶ I hym besought his name me to tell.
¶ Morpleus he sayde thou me call may.
¶ A syr sayde I than where do ye dwell.
¶ In heuen or in erthe eyther elles in hell.
¶ Nay he sayde myn abydyng most commonly
¶ Is in a lytyll corner called fantasy.

¶ And as sone as he thyse wordes had sayd.
¶ Cerberus the porter of hell {with} his cheyne.
¶ Brought theder Colus i{n} ragges euyll arayd
¶ Agay{n} whom Neptun{us} & Dyana dyd co{m}pley{n}t Original has
¶ Saynge thus O Mynos {thou} Iuge souerayn. co{m}pey{n}t
¶ Gyue thy cruel iugeme{n}t aye{n} this traytour so instead of
¶ {That} we may haue cause to preyse thy lord Pluto co{m}pley{n}t

¶ Then was there made a proclamacyon.
¶ In Plutoos name co{m}maunded scylence.
¶ Vpon the payn of strayt correccyon.
¶ {That} Dyana & Neptun{us} might haue audience.
¶ To declare her grefe of the grete offence.
¶ To hem do by Colus wheron they co{m}pleined
¶ And to begyn Dyana was constreyned.

¶ Whyche thus begyn as ye shall here.
¶ Saynge in this wyse. O thou lorde Pluto.
¶ Wyth thy iuge Mynos syttyng {with} the in fere
¶ Execute your fury vpon Colus soo.
¶ Accordyng to thofence that he to me hath do
¶ That I haue no cause forther to appele.
¶ Whyche yf I do shall not be for youre wele.

¶ Remembre fyrst how I a goddesse pure.
¶ Ouer all desertes / forestes and chaces.
¶ Haue the guydynge and vnder my cure.
¶ This traytour colus hath mani of mi places
¶ Destroyd {with} his blastes & daily me manaces
¶ Where ony wood is he shall make it playne.
¶ If he to his lyberte may resorte ageyne

¶ The gretest trees that ony man may fynde
¶ In forest to shade the dere for her comforte.
¶ He breketh he{m} aso{n}der or rendith he rote & ri{n}de
¶ Out of the erthe this is his dysporte.
¶ So that the deere shall haue noo resorte.
¶ Wythin shorte tyme to noo maner shade
¶ Where thorough the game is lykly to fade.

¶ Which to my name a reproche synguler.
¶ Sholde be foreuer whyle the worlde laste.
¶ And to all the goddes an hygh dyspleyser.
¶ To see the game soo destroyed by his blaste.
¶ Wherfore a remedy puruey in haste.
¶ And lete hym be punysshed after his offence.
¶ Cousyder the cryme and yeue your sentence.

¶ And whan Dyana had made her compley{n}t
¶ To mynos the Iuge in Plutoos presence.
¶ Came forth Neptun{us} {with} vysage pale & feynt
¶ Desyrynge of fauour to haue audyence.
¶ Saynge thus Pluto to thy magnyfycence.
¶ I shall reherce what this creature.
¶ Colus hath done me out of mesure.

¶ Thou knowest well that I haue the charge
¶ Ouer all the se and therof god I am.
¶ No shyp may sayl Keruel / bote ne barge.
¶ Grete karyk nor hulke {with} ony lyuyng man.
¶ But he haue my saue conduyte than.
¶ who me offendith wythin my Iurysdyccyon
¶ Owyth to submyt him to my correccyon.

¶ But in asmoche as it is now soo.
¶ That ye hym here haue as your prysonere
¶ I shall shew my compleynt soo.
¶ wherfore I pray you that ye wyll here.
¶ And let hy{m} not escape out of your daungere.
¶ Tyl he haue made full sethe & recompence
¶ For hurt of my name thrugh his grete offe{n}ce

¶ Fyrst to begyn this Colus hath ofte.
¶ Made me to retorne mi course agein nature.
¶ wyth his grete blastes whan he hath be alofte
¶ And charged me to labour fer out of mesure
¶ {that} it was grete merueyl how I might endure Original has
¶ The com of my swete wyll testyfy. gtete
¶ That on the se bankes lye beten full hye. instead of
grete
¶ Secundly where my nature is.
¶ Both to eb & flowe a[n]d so thy course to kepe.
¶ Ofte of myne entent hath he made me mys
¶ where as I shulde haue fylled dykes depe.
¶ At a full water I myght not theder crepe.
¶ Before my season came to returne ageyn.
¶ And than went I faster than i wold certayn

¶ Thus he hath me dryuen ayen myn entente
¶ And contrary to my course naturall.
¶ where I shuld haue be he made me absente
¶ To my grete dyshonour & in especyall.
¶ Do thynge he vsed that worst was of all.
¶ For where I my sauegard graunted
¶ Ay in that coste he comonly haunted

¶ Of very pure malyce and sylfwyll.
¶ Theym to destroy in dyspyte of me.
¶ To whome I promised both in gode & yll.
¶ For to be her protectour in all aduersyte.
¶ That to theym shulde fall vpon the se.
¶ And euen sodenly or they coud beware
¶ wyth a sodeyn pyry he lapped theym in care.

¶ And full oft syth wyth hys boystous blaste.
¶ Or they myght be war{e} he drof he{m} on {the} sond
¶ And other whyle he brake top sayl & maste.
¶ which caused thei{m} to peryssh or thei ca{m} to lond
¶ Then cursed they the tyme {that} euer thei me fa{n}d
¶ Thus amonge the people lost is my name.
¶ And so by his labour put I am to blame.
Original has
¶ Consyder this mater and ponder my case. sencence
¶ Tender my compleynt as rygure requyreth instead of
¶ Shew forth youre sentence {with} a breef clause sentence
¶ I may not longe tary the tyme fast expyreth Original has
¶ The offence is grete wherfore it desyreth. erpyreth
¶ The more greuous payn and hasty iugeme{n}t instead of
¶ For offence don wylfully wyl non auysement expyreth

And wha{n} {the} god pluto a whyl had hi{m} bethought
¶ He rowned {with} mynos what was to do.
¶ Then he sayde openly loke thou fayl nought
¶ Thy sentence to yeue wythoute fauoore soo.
¶ Lyke as thou hast herde the causes the too.
¶ And so euenly dele twene thise partyey twein
¶ That none of he{m} haue case on {the} other co{m}pleint

¶ Thenne sayd mynos full indyfferently.
¶ To Dyana & Neptunus is there ony more.
¶ That ye wyll declare ageyn hym openly.
¶ Nay in dede they sayd we kepe none in store /
¶ we haue sayd Inough to punysshe hym fore
¶ If ye in this mater be not parcyall·
¶ Remembre your name was wont to be egall.

¶ Well than sayd Mynos now let vs see.
¶ what this boystous Colus for hy{m}self cay say
¶ For here Prima facie to vs doth appere.
¶ That he hath offended no man can say naye
¶ wherfore thou Colus wythoute more delaye
¶ Shape vs an answere to thyne accusemente
¶ And elles I must procede vpon thy iugeme{n}t

¶ And euen as col{us} was onward to haue said
¶ For his excuse / came in a messengere.
¶ Fro god Appolo to Pluto and hym prayde.
¶ On his behalfe that he wythoute daungere
¶ wolde to hym come & bry{n}ge wyth hym in fere
¶ Dyana and Neptunus vnto his banket
¶ And yf they dysdeyned hy{m}self he wold he{m} fet.

¶ Moreouer he sayde to god Appolo
¶ Desyred to haue respyte of the iugemente
¶ Of Colus bothe of Mynos and Pluto
¶ So Dyana & Neptun{us} were therwith co{n}te{n}t
¶ And yf they were dysposed to assente
¶ That he myght come vnto his presente
¶ He it desyred to knowe his offence

¶ What say ye herto sayd Pluto to hem tweyn
¶ wyll ye both assente that it shal be thus
¶ ye sayd the goddesse for my parte certeyne
¶ And I also sayd this Neptunus
¶ I am well plesid quod this Colus
¶ And whan they had a whyle th{us} togyd{er} spoke
¶ Pluto commaunded the court to be broke

¶ And than togeder went they in fere.
¶ Pluto and Neptunus ledynge the goddesse
¶ whome folowed Cerberus {with} his prysonere.
¶ And alderlast wyth grete heuynesse.
¶ Came I and Morpleus to the forteresse.
¶ Of the god appolo vnto his banket.
¶ where many goddes and goddesses met.

¶ Whan Appolo se that they were come.
¶ He was ryght glad & prayed theym to syt.
¶ Nay sayd Dyana this is all and some.
¶ ye shall me pardone I shall not syt yet.
¶ I shall fyrste know why Colus abyde.
¶ And what execucyon shall on hym be doo
¶ For his offence / well sayd Appollo.

¶ Madame ye shall haue all your plesere.
¶ Syth that it wyll none otherwyse be.
¶ But fyste I pray you let me {the} mater here
¶ why he is brought in this perplexyte.
¶ well sayd Pluto that shall ye sone se.
¶ And gan to declare euen by and by.
¶ Bothe theyr complayntes ordynatly.

¶ And whan Appolo had herd the reporte
¶ Of Pluto in a maner smylynge he sayd.
¶ I se well Colus thou hast small comforte.
¶ Thy selfe to excuse thou mayst be dysmayde·
¶ For to here so grete co{m}pleyntes ayen the layd
¶ And notwythstondyng if thou can say ought
¶ For thyne own wele say and tary nought

¶ Nota

¶ Forsoth sayd Colus yf I had respyte.
¶ Hereto an answere cowd I counterfete.
¶ But to haue her grace more is my delyte.
¶ wherfore I pray you all for me entrete.
That I may by your req{ue}st her gode grace gete
¶ And what payn or greef ye for me prouyde
¶ wythout ony grutchyng I shall it abyde.

¶ Lo good dame sayd god Appollo.
¶ what may he do more but sew to your grace.
¶ Beholde how the teres from his eyen goo.
¶ It is satysfaction half for his trespace.
¶ Now gloryo{us} goddes shew your petio{us} face
¶ To this pore prysoner at my request.
¶ All we for youre honour thynke thus is best.

¶ And yf it lyke you to do in thys wyse.
¶ And so to foryeue hym clerely his offence.
¶ One thynge surely I wyll you promyse.
¶ If he ought rebell and make resystence
¶ Or dysobey vnto your sentence. Original has
¶ For euery tree that he maketh fall. sencence
¶ Out of the erthe an /C/ ryse shall. instead of
sentence
¶ Soo that youre game shall not dyscrease
¶ For lacke of shade i dare vndertake
¶ well syr Appolo sayd she than wyll I cease
¶ Off all my rancour and mercy {with} you make
¶ And than god Neptunus of his maner spak
¶ Saying th{us} appolo though dyana him relese
¶ yet shall he sue to me to haue his pease.

¶ A sayd Appolo ye wende I had forgete.
¶ You for my lady Dyana the goddesse.
¶ Nay thynke not so for I wyll you entrete.
¶ As well as her wythoute longe processe.
¶ wyll ye agre that Phebus your maystresse.
¶ May haue the guydyng of your varyaunce.
¶ I shall abyde quod he / her ordynaunce.

¶ Wel than quod appolo I pray you godd{i}s all
¶ And goddesses that ben here presente.
¶ That ye companable wyll aborde falle.
¶ Nay than sayd Othea it is not conuenyente.
¶ A dew ordre in euery place is expedyente.
¶ To be hadde wherfore ye may not lette.
¶ To be your own marshal at your own ba{n}ket

¶ And whan appolo se it wolde none other be
¶ He called to hym Aurora the goddesse.
¶ And sayd though ye wepe ye shall before me.
¶ Ay kepe your course and put yourself in p{re}sse
¶ Soo he her set fyrste at his owne messe.
¶ wyth her moyst clothes {with} teres all be sprey{n}t
¶ The medewes in may shew therof her co{m}plei{n}t

¶ Next her sat Mars myghty god and strong
¶ wyth a flamme of fyre enuyroned all about Original has
¶ A crown of yron on his hede a spere i{n} his ho{n}d aboeut
¶ It semed by his che{re} as he wold haue fought. instead of
¶ And next vnto hym as I perceyue mought. about
¶ Sat {the} goddesse Dyana in a mantell fyne.
¶ Of black sylke purfyled {with} poudred ermine

¶ Lyke as he had take {the} mantell & the rynge
¶ And next vnto her arayed roally.
¶ Sat the god Iupyter in his demenynge.
¶ Full sad and wyse he semed sykerly.
¶ A crowne of tynne stood on his hede.
¶ And that I recorde of all phylosophers.
¶ {that} lytyll store of Coyne kepe in her cofres.

¶ Ioyned to hy{m} in syttyng next there was
¶ The goddesse Iuno full rychely besene.
¶ In a sercote {that} shone as bryght as glas
Of goldsmyth werk {with} spa{n}gles wrought beden{e}
¶ Of royall ryches wanted she none I wene.
¶ And next to her sat the god saturne.
¶ That oft syth causeth many one to morne.

¶ But he was clad me thought straungely
¶ For of froste & snowe was all his aray.
¶ In his honde he helde a fawchon all blody
¶ It semed by his chere as he wold make a frai
¶ A baudryck of Isykles about his necke gaye
¶ He had and aboue on hygh on his hede.
¶ Couchid {with} hayl sto{n}es he wered a crou{n} of lede

¶ And nexte in ordre was set by his syde.
¶ Ceres the goddesse in a garmente.
¶ Of sacke cloth made {with} sleues large & wyde
¶ Embrowdered wyth sheues and sycles bent
¶ Of all maner greynes she sealed {the} patente.
¶ In token {that} she was goddes of corne.
¶ Olde Poetes saye she beryth the heruest horn

¶ Then was there set the god cupydo·
¶ All fresshe & galaunte and costly in aray.
¶ Wyth ouches and rynges he was beset so.
¶ {the} paleys therof shon as though it had be day
¶ A kerchyff of plesau{n}s stood ouer his helm ay
¶ The goddesse Ceres he loked in the face.
¶ And wyth one arme he her dyde enbrace.

¶ Next to Cupido in order by and by
¶ Of wordly wysdum sat the forteresse.
¶ Called Othea chyef grounde of polycy.
¶ Reuler of knyghthode of prudence {the} goddes
¶ Clad all in purpure was she more & lesse.
¶ Saaf on her hede a crowne there stode.
¶ Couched wyth perles oryent fyne & good.

¶ And nexte to her was god Pluto set
¶ Wyth a derke myste enuyrond al about.
¶ His clothy was made of a smoky net.
¶ His colour was bothe wythin & wythoute.
¶ Foule / derke & dy{m}me his eyen grete & stoute.
¶ Of fyre & sulfure all his odoure wase.
¶ That wo was me whyle I beheld his face

¶ Fortune the goddesse {with} her perty face.
¶ Was vnto Pluto next in order sette.
¶ Varyant she was ay in shorte space.
¶ Her whele was redy to turne wythout let.
¶ Her gowne was of gawdy grene clamelet.
¶ Chaungeable of sondry dyuerse colours.
¶ To {the} condycyons accordy{n}g to her shoures

¶ And by her sat thoughe he vnworthy were.
¶ The rewde god Pan of shepherdes {that} gyde
¶ Clad in russet frese & breched lyke a bere.
¶ Wyth a grete terbox hangyng by his syde.
¶ A shepcrok in his ho{n}d he spared for no pryde.
¶ And by his fete lay a prekered curre.
¶ He rateled in {the} throte as he had {the} murre.

¶ Isys the goddes bare hym company.
¶ For at the table next she sat by his syde.
¶ In a close kyrtell embrowdered curyously
¶ {with} braunches and leues brood large & wyde.
¶ Grene as any grasse in {the} somer tyde.
¶ Of all maner frute she had the gouernaunce
¶ Of fauours odyferous was her sustynauns

¶ Next to her than was god Neptunus set.
¶ He sauoured lyke a fyssher of hy{m} i spak before
¶ It semed by his clothes as they had be wet.
About hy{m} i{n} his gyrdelsted hi{n}g fysshes mani a xx
¶ Of his straunge aray merueyled I sore.
¶ A shyp wyth a top and sayle was hys creste.
¶ Me thought he was gayly dysgysed at {the} fest.

¶ Than toke mynerue the goddes her sete.
¶ Ioyntly to Neptunus all in curas cladde.
¶ Gau{n}telettis on ho{n}des & sabatou{n}s on her fete
¶ She loked about as though she had be mad.
¶ An hamer and a sythe on her hede she hadde
¶ She wered two bokelers one by her syde.
¶ that other ye wote were this was al her prid

¶ Tha{n} cam {the} god bach{us} & by her set hy{m} doun
¶ Holdynge in his honde a cuppe full of wyne.
¶ Of grene vyne leues he wered a Ioly croun
¶ He was clad in clustres of grapes gode & fine
¶ A garlonde of yuy he chose for his sygne.
¶ On his hede he had a thredbare ke{n}dall hode.
¶ A gymlot and a fauset therupon stode.

¶ Next hym sat phebus wyth her colour pale.
¶ Fat she was of face but of complexon feynte.
She sayd she rewled Neptun{us} & made hy{m} bayl
¶ And ones in {the} monthe {with} pheb{us} was she mei{n}t
¶ Also ne were she Ceres were ateynte
¶ Thus she sat & tolde the myght of her nature
¶ & on her hede she wered a croun of siluer pure

¶ Ioyntly to her Marcuryus toke his see.
¶ As came to his cours wytnesse the zodyake.
¶ He had a gylden tonge as fyll for his degree
¶ In eloquence of langage he passed al {the} pake
¶ For in his talkyng no man coud fynde lake
¶ A box wyth quycksyluer he had in his honde /
¶ Multyplyers know it wel in euery londe

¶ By hym sat dame Ven{us} {with} colour crystalline
¶ Whos long here shone as wyre of gold bry{gh}t
¶ Cryspe was her skyn her eyen columbyne
¶ Rauysshed myne herte her chere was so ly{gh}t
¶ Patrones of plesau{n}ce be named wel she my{gh}t
¶ A smocke was her wede garnysshed curyusli
¶ But all other she had a wanton eye

¶ On her hede she wered a red coper crowne
¶ A nosegay she had made ful plesauntly
¶ Bytwene her & aurora Apollo set hym doune
¶ Wyth his beames bryght he shone so ferue{n}tly
¶ That he therwyth gladyd al {the} company
¶ A crown of pure gold was on his hede set
¶ In syne {that} he was mayster & lorde of {that} banket
¶ Nota
¶ Thus was the table set round aboute
¶ Wyth goddes & goddesses as i haue you told
¶ Awaytyng on the bord was a grete route
¶ Of sage phylosophers & poetes many fold
¶ There was sad Sychero & Arystotle olde
¶ Tholome Dorothe wyth Dyogenes
¶ Plato Myssehala and wyse Socrates

¶ Sortes & Saph[y]r{us} {with} hermes stode behynd
¶ Auycen & Aueroys wyth hem were in fere
¶ Galyen & ypocras that physyk haue in mynd
¶ wyth help of Esculapyo{n} toward he{m} drow ner
¶ Vyrgyle Orace Ouyd and Omere
¶ Euclyde and albert yaue her attendaunce
¶ To do the godds & goddesses plesaunce

¶ Horeberded Orphe{us} was there {with} his harpe.
¶ And as a poyt musycal made he melody
Other mi{n}stral had ther non saf Pan ga{n} to carpe
¶ Of his leud bagpyp which caused {the} compani
¶ To law yet many mo ther we{re} yf i shuld not ly
¶ Som yong som old both better and werse
¶ But mo of theyr names can I not reherce

¶ Of al maner deyntes there was habu{n}dau{n}ce
¶ Of metes & drynkes foyson plenteuous
¶ In cam Dyscord to haue varyaunce
¶ But there was no roum to set her i{n} that hous
¶ The goddis remembred the scysme odious
¶ Among the thre goddesses {that} she had wrought Original has
¶ At the fest of Peleus wherfore they thought he instead
of she
¶ They wold not {with} her dele in a venture
¶ Lest she hem brought to som inconuenyente
¶ She seyng this was wroth out of mesure
¶ And in that grete wrath out of {the} paleyse we{n}t
¶ Say{n}g to herself that chere shuld thei repent
¶ And anone {with} Attropes happed she to mete.
¶ As he had ben a gost came in a wy{n}dy{n}g shete

¶ She toke hym by {the} hond & rowned in his ere
¶ And told hy{m} of the banket {that} was so delycate.
How she was receyued & what chere she had {the}re
¶ And how euery god sat in his astate
¶ Is it thus q{uo}d attropos what in {the} deuyls date
¶ Well he sayd I se well how the game goth
¶ Ones yet for your sake shal I make he{m} wroth

¶ And whan she had hym al togyder told
¶ From her he departed & of her toke his leue /
¶ Sayng {that} for her sake his way take he wolde
¶ In to the paleys his maters to meue
¶ And or he thens went he trowed he{m} to greue.
¶ Wyth such tydynges as he wold hem tel
¶ So forth he went & spake wordes fell

¶ Whan he came in the p{re}sence of {the} goddis [a]lle
¶ As he had ben mad he loked hym a bout
¶ His shete from his body downe he let fall
¶ And on a reud maner he saluted al the route
¶ Wyth a bold voys spekyng wordes stoute
¶ But he spake all holow as it had ben one
¶ Had spoke in a nother world {that} had wo begon

¶ He stode forth boldly {with} grym countenau{n}ce
¶ Sayng on this wyse as ye shal here
¶ All ye goddes yeue attendaunce
¶ Vnto my wordes {with}out all daungere
¶ Remembre how ye made me your offycere
¶ Al tho wyth my darte fynally to chastyse
¶ That {thou} dysobeyed or wolde your law dyspise

¶ And for the more surete seiled my patent
¶ Gyuyng me full power so to ocupy
¶ Wherto I haue enployed myn entent
¶ And that can dame Nature testefy
¶ If she be examyned she wyll not it denye
¶ For whan she forsakyth ony creature
¶ I am al redy to take hy{m} to my cure

¶ Thus haue I deuly wyth al mi dylygence.
¶ Executed the offyce of olde antyquyte
¶ To me by you grau{n}ted by your comyn se{n}tece
¶ For I spared none hygh nor low degre
¶ So that on my parte no faute hath be
¶ For as sone as ony to me commytted was
¶ I smote hy{m} to {the} hert he had none other grace

¶ Ector of Troy for al his cheualry
¶ Alexander the grete & myghty conqueroure
¶ Iulyus Cezar {with} al his companye
¶ Dauyd nor Iosue nor worthy Artur
¶ Charlis the noble that was so gret of honour
¶ Nor Iudas Machabee for al his trew herte
¶ Nor Godfrey of Boleyn coud me not asterte

¶ Nabugodonozor for al his grete pryde
¶ Nor the kyng of Egypt cruel Pharao
¶ Iason ne Hercules went they neuer so wyde.
¶ Cosdras Hanyball nor gentyll Sypyo·
¶ Cyrus Achylles nor many another mo
¶ For fayr nor foule gat of me no grace
¶ But al be at {the} last I seased hem {with} my mace.

¶ Thus haue I brought euery creature
¶ To an ende both man fysshe foule and best
And euery other thyng in whome dame nature
¶ Hath ony Iurysdyccion eyther most or lest
¶ Except oonly one in whome your be hest
¶ Is to me broke for ye me promysed
That my myght of non{e} shold haue be dyspysed

¶ Wherof the contrary daoe I well a uow Original has
¶ Is trew for one there is that wyl not apply aontrary
¶ Vnto my correction nor in no wyse bow instead of
¶ To the dynt of my darte for dole nor desteny· contrary
¶ What comfort he hath nor the cause why
¶ That he so rebellyth I can not thynk of ry{gh}t Original has
But yf ye hy{m} grau{n}ted your alders saf condyght. yot instead
of not
¶ And yf he so haue than do ye not as goddis.
¶ For a goddys wrytyng may not reuersed be.
¶ Yf it shold I wold not gyue you ii pesecodd{i}s
¶ For grau{n}t of your patent of offyce nere of fee. Original has
¶ Wherefore in this mater do me equyte gra{n}ut
¶ Accerdi{n}g to my patent for tyl this be do instead of
¶ Ye haue no more my seruyse nor my gode wyl grau{n}t

¶ And whan al the goddis had attropos hered
¶ As they had ben wode brayd vp attones
¶ & sayd they wold not rest tyll he were conq{ue}red
¶ Taken and dystroyed body blode and bones
¶ And that they swere grete othes for {the} nonis
¶ Her lav to dyspyce that was so malapert
¶ They sayd he shuld be taught for to be so pert

¶ Wel sayd Appollo yf he on erth be
¶ wyth my brennyng chare I shall hy{m} co{n}found
¶ In feyth quod neptunus & he kepe these
¶ He may be well sure he shall be drownd
¶ A syr sayd Mars this haue we wel found
¶ That ony dysubeyed oure goodly precept
¶ We may well thynk we haue to long slept

¶ But neuertheles where I may hym fynd
¶ wyth thu{n}d{er} & lyghtning about I shall hy{m} chase
¶ And I quod Saturnus before and behynd.
¶ {with} my bytte cold shall shew hy{m} harde grace
¶ well sayd Mercuryus yf I may se his face.
¶ For euer of his spech I shall hym depryue Original has
¶ So that hym were better dede than alyue depryur
instead of
¶ Ye quod Othea yet may he well be depryue
¶ In the eyr where he wyll & ax you no leue
¶ wherfore my counseyl is that all we
¶ May entrete Neptun{us} his rancour foryeue. Original has
¶ And than I dout not Colus wyl hy{m} myscheue rahcour
¶ So may ye be sure he soal you not escape instead of
¶ & ellis of you anger he wyll make but a iape. rancour

¶ But for to tel you how Colus was brought.
¶ In daungere of Pluto yet had I forget
¶ wherfore on this mater forther wyl I nou{gh}t.
¶ Procede tyll I therof haue knowlege you let
¶ It befell on a day the weder was wete
¶ And Colus thought he wold on his dysport.
¶ Goo t[u] reioyse his spyrytis and comforte

¶ He thought he wold se what was in {the} grou{n}d
¶ And in a krauers forth he gan hym dresse
¶ A drough had the erthe late before found.
¶ That caused it to chyne & krauy more & lesse /
¶ Sodenly by wete constreyned by duresse
¶ Was the ground to close his sup{er}fycyall face.
¶ So streyt that to scape col{us} had noo space

¶ This seyng Colus be styll wythin abode.
¶ Seky{n}g where he my{gh}t haue gene fer or nere.
¶ A[n]one he was espyed and one to Pluto rode
¶ And told hy{m} how Colus was in his dau{n}gere.
¶ Than sayd he to Cerber{us} fet me {that} prysonere /
¶ Tyl I haue hy{m} sene let hy{m} not go at large /
¶ As {the} wylt answere of hem I yeue the charge

¶ Thus was this Colus take prysonere
¶ Than happed it so that the sa[m]e day Original has
¶ Pluto had prefyxed for a grete mater thh instead
¶ Mynos to syt in his robe of Ray of the
¶ Wherfore Cerber{us} toke the next way
¶ And led hy{m} to the place where the court shalbe
¶ where I told you Morpleus brought me

¶ So thyder c[a]me Dya[n]a caryed in carre
¶ To make her compleynt as I told you all
¶ And so dyd Neptunus {that} doth make and mar
¶ Walewyng {with} his wawys & to{m}blyng as a ball
¶ Her matters they meued fal what may befall
¶ There was the fyrst syght {that} euer I them saw
¶ And yf I neuer do eft I care not a straw

¶ But now to my matter retourne agayn
¶ And tu begyn new where I left.
¶ whan al the goddis had done her besy payne.
¶ The way to contryue how it shuld be reft
¶ Of his lyf Attropos had no cause eft
¶ To co{m}pleyn than Phebus stert vpon her fete /
¶ And sayd I pray you let me speke a word yet

¶ Othea menyth wel to say on this wyse
¶ But al to entret Neptun{us} i hope shal not nede
¶ Me semyth I alone durst take {that} entesprise.
¶ Er I am begyled or ellis I shal spede Original has
¶ How say ye Neptunus shal I do this dede. ellie
¶ Wy[l] ye your rancour seale at my request instead of
¶ Madame quod he reule me as ye lykyth best ellis

¶ Gr[a]mercy sayd she of your good wyll
¶ That it pleysyth you to shew me that fauorus
¶ Wherfore the goddys hygh pleysur to fulfyll
¶ Performe my desyre & leue al olde rancoure
¶ For our elders wele & sauyng of oure honour
¶ Agayn this colus that ye long haue had
¶ It is done quod he forsoth than am I gladd

¶ Sayd he now than Colus be {thou} to vs trewe
¶ Kepe well the eyr and oure grete rebell
¶ May we than sone euer to vs subdew
¶ Yes and that quod Colus shall here tell
¶ Nowhere in the eyr shall he rest nor dwel
¶ If he do therof put me in the faute
¶ Wyth my bytter blastes so shal I hy{m} asaut

¶ What sayd the god Pluto what is his name.
¶ That thus presumyth agayn vs to rebell
¶ Vertu quod attropes {that} haue he mykyl shame
¶ He is neuer confou{n}ded thus of hy{m} here I tell
¶ A sayd this pluto in dede I know hy{m} wel
¶ He hath ben euer myn vtter ennemye Original has
¶ Wherfore this mater agayn hy{m} take wyll I Ho instead
of He
¶ For all the baytes {that} we for hym haue layde
¶ Wythout my helpe be not worth a pere
¶ For though ye all the contrary had sayd
¶ yet wold he brede right nigh your althris ere
¶ No maner of thynge can hym hurt or dere
¶ Saue only a sone of my bastard
¶ Whos name is vice he kepyth my vawarad.

¶ Wherfore you Cerber{us} now I the charge
¶ Of Colus & wyl that thou heder fet
¶ My dere sone Vyce & say that I hy{m} charge.
¶ That he to me come without ony let
¶ Armed at all poyntes for a day is set
¶ That he {with} Vertu for al {the} goddis sake
¶ In our defence must on hym batayl take.

¶ Forth then went Cerberus {with} his fyry chein
¶ Brought thyd{er} vyce as he co{m}mau{n}ded was
¶ Agayn noble Vertu {that} batayl to dercygne
¶ On a glydy{n}g serpent rydy{n}ge a grete pace
¶ Formed lyke a dragon scaled hard as glas
¶ whoos mouth flammed fyre {with}out fayll
¶ wyng{i}s had it serpentyne & a long tayll

¶ Armed was vyce all in cure boyll
¶ Harde as horne blacker fer than sute
¶ An vngoodly sort folowed hym perde
¶ Of vnhappy capteyns of myschyfe crop & rot
¶ Pryde was the fyrst {that} next hy{m} rode god wote
¶ On a roryng Lyon next whom{e} came Enuye
¶ Syttyng on wolfe he had a scornful eye

¶ Wrath bestrode a wyld bore & next hy{m} ga{n} ride.
¶ In his hond he bare a blody swerd
¶ Next whom cam couetise {that} goth so fer & wide
¶ Rydy{n}g on a Olyfau{n}t as he had ben a ferd
¶ After whom rode Gloteny wyth his fat berd
¶ Syttyng on a bere wyth his grete bely
¶ And next hy{m} on a gote folowed Lechery

¶ Sloth was so slepy he came all behynd
¶ On a dull asse a full wery pase
¶ Thyse were {the} capteins that vyce coud fynde
¶ Best to set his feld & folow on the chase
¶ As for pety capteyns many mo there was
¶ As sacrylege symony & dyssymulacyon
¶ Manslaughter mordre theft & extorcyon

¶ Arrogau{n}ce Presu{m}pcyon wyth contumaci Original has
¶ Conte{m}pcyon Co{n}tempt & Inobedyence contumact
¶ Maly[s]e Frowardnes grete Ielasy instead of
¶ wodnes Hate Stryf and Impacyence contumaci
¶ Vnkyndnes Opp{re}ssyon {with} wofull neglyge{n}ce.
¶ Murmur Myschef Falshod & detraccyon
¶ Vsury Periury Ly and adulacyon

¶ Wrong Rauyne Sturdy vyolence
¶ Fals Iugement {with} Obstynacyon
¶ Dysceyt Dronknes & Improuydence.
¶ Boldnes in yll {with} foule and Rybaudy.
¶ Fornycacyon Incest and Auoutry
¶ Vnshamfastnes {with} Prodygalyte
¶ Blasfeme vaynglory & worldly vanyte

¶ Ignorau{n}ce Dyffydence {with} Ipocrysy
¶ Scysme Rancour Debate and Offence
¶ Heresy Errour {with} Idolatry.
¶ New fangylnes and sotyll false Pretence
¶ I{n}ordynat desyre of worldly excellence
¶ Fayned pouerte wyth apostasy
¶ Dysclaunder scorn & vnkynd Ielousy

¶ Hoordom baudry false mayntenaunce
¶ Treyson abusyon and pety brybry
¶ Vsurpacyon {with} horryble vengaunce
¶ Came alder last of that company
¶ All thyse pety capetayns folowed by and by.
¶ Shewyng theymself in the paleyse wyde
¶ And say they were redy that batayl to abyde

¶ Idylnes set the comyns in aray
¶ Without the palayse on a fayr felde
¶ But there was an ost for to make a fray
¶ I trow suche a nother neuer man beheld
¶ Many was the wepyn among he{m} {that} they weld
¶ What they were {that} came to that dysporte
¶ I shall you declare of many a sondry sort

¶ There were bosters crakers & brybours
¶ Praters sasers strechers and wrythers
¶ Shamefull shakelers soleyn slauedours
¶ Oppressours of people and myghty crakers
¶ Mayntenours of quarels horryble lyers
¶ Theues traytours {with} false heretykes
¶ Charmars sorcerers & many scysmatykes.

¶ Preuy symonyakes wyth false vsurers
¶ Multyplyers coyn wasshers & clyppers
¶ Wrong vsurpers wyth grete extorcyoners
¶ Bacbyters Glosers and fayre flaterers.
¶ Malycyous murmurers with grete claterers
¶ Tregetours Tryfelers Feyners of tales·
¶ Lastyuous lurdeyns and Pykers of malys.

¶ Rouners Vagabundes Forgers & lesingis.
¶ Robbers Reuers Rauenous Ryfelers.
¶ Choppers of Chyrches Fynders of tydynges
¶ Merrers of maters and mony makers.
¶ Stalkers by nyght wyth Euysdroppers.
¶ Fyghters Brawlers Brekers of louedayes
¶ Getters Chyders Causers of frayes.

¶ Tytyuyllis Tyrau{n}tis {with} Tourmentours.
¶ Corsyd apostatis Relygyous dyssymulers:
¶ Closshers Carders wyth comon hasardours.
¶ Tyburne colops and Purskytters.
¶ Pylary knyghtys double tollyng Myllers.
¶ Gay Ioly tapters {with} hostelers of the stewes.
¶ Hores and Bawdes that many bale brewes

¶ Bold blasfemers wyth false Ipocrytes.
¶ Brothellers Brokers abhomynable swerers.
¶ Dryuylls Dastardes dyspysers of ryghtis
¶ Homycydes Poyseners & comon morderers
¶ Scoldis Caytyues Comberous clappers.
¶ Idolatres Enchauntors {with} false regenates.
¶ Sotyl ambydextrys and sekeers of debatis.

¶ Pseudo Prophetes false Sodemytes.
¶ Quesmers of chyldren wyth fornycatours.
¶ wetewoldes that suffre syn in their syghtis.
¶ Auoutrers and abhomynable auauntours.
¶ Of syn grete clappers & makers of clamours
¶ Vnthryftes & vnlustes came al to that game
¶ {with} lusk{i}s & loselis {that} might not thryue for sham{e}

¶ These were the comons {that} came thid{er} {that} day.
¶ Redy bowne in batayl Vertu to abyde.
¶ Apollo theym beholdyng began to say·
¶ To the goddys & goddesses beyng there {that} tid{e}
¶ Me semyth conuenyent an herowd to ryde
¶ To Vertu & byd{e} hy{m} to batayl make hy{m} boune
¶ Hy{m}self to defend forsoth it shal be sone.

¶ And let hym not be sodeynly take.
¶ All dyspur[u]eyed or that he beware.
¶ For than shold our dyshonour awake.
¶ If he were cowardly take in a snare.
¶ Ee quod Vyce for that haue I no care.
¶ I wyll auauntage take where I may.
¶ That heryng Morpleus p{re}uely stale away.

¶ And went to warne Vertu of al this afray.
¶ And bad hy{m} awake and make hymself strong
¶ For he was lyke to endure that daye.
¶ A grete mortall shoure er it were euensonge.
¶ {with} Vyce wherfore he bad hym not longe.
¶ Tary to send after more socoure.
¶ If he dyde it shold torne hym to dolour.

¶ And brefely the mater to he declared.
¶ Lyke as ye haue herd begynnyng and ende.
¶ Well quod Vertu he shall not be spared
¶ To the feld I wyl go how it wende.
¶ But gramercy Morple{us} myn own dere fre{n}de
¶ Of your trew hert & faythfull entente.
¶ That ye in this mat{er} to meward haue ment.

¶ This done Morpleus departed away.
¶ Fro Vertu to the palayse retorny{n}g agayn.
¶ None hym aspyed that I dare well say.
¶ In whych tyme Vertu dyde his besy payn
¶ People to reyse his quarell to maynteyn.
¶ Ymagynacyon was his messengere.
¶ He went to warne people both fer & nere.

¶ And bad hem come in all hast they myght
¶ For to strength Vertu for wyth out fayll.
¶ He sayd he shold haue long or it were nyght.
¶ Wyth Vyce to do a myghty strong batayl.
¶ Of vngracyo{us} gestes he bryngyth a gret tayll
¶ Wherfore it behouyth to help at this nede.
¶ And after this shal Vertu rewar yo{re} mede

¶ Whan ymagynacyon had gone his cyrcuyte
¶ To Vertue & frendis thus all about.
¶ Wythin short tyme many men of myght
¶ Gadered to Vertu in all that they myght.
¶ They hym comforted & bad hy{m} put no doute.
¶ His vtter enmy Vyce to ouerthrowe.
¶ Thoughe he {with} hy{m} brou{gh}t neuer so gret arow Original has
h instead of
¶ And whan Vertu se the sustau{n}ce of his oost he
¶ He prayed all the comons to the feld hem hye
¶ Wyth her pety capteyns both lest and moste
¶ And wyth his capteyns shold folow redely.
¶ For he sayd he knew well {that} vyce was ful nye.
¶ And who myght fyrst of {the} feld recouer {the} ce{n}tre
¶ Wold kepe out {that} other he shuld not esely e{n}tre

¶ Then sent he forth Baptym to {the} feld before
¶ And prayed hym hartely it to ouerse·
¶ That no maner trayn nor coltrop therin wor{e} Original has
¶ To noy nor hurt hym nor his meyne. cotlrop
¶ And whan he thyder came he began to se. instead of
¶ How Vyce his purseua[u]nt cryme orygynall. coltrop
¶ Was entred before and had seased vp all.

¶ But as sone as herof Baptym had a syght.
¶ He fled fast away and left the feld alone.
¶ And anone Baptym entred wyth his myght.
¶ Serchyng al about where this crym{e} had gon{e}
¶ But the feld was clene defaut fou{n}d he none.
¶ Then came Vertu after with his gret oste.
¶ And his myghty capteyns both lest and most

¶ But to enfourme you how he thyder came.
¶ And what maner capteins he to {the} feld brou{gh}t
¶ Hymselfe sekerly was the fyrst man.
¶ Of all his grete host {that} thyderwarde sought.
¶ Syttyng in a chare {that} rychely was wrought.
¶ Wyth golde and peerles & gemmes precyous.
¶ Crowned with laurer as lord vyctoryous.

¶ Foure doubty knyghtes about {the} chare went.
¶ At euery corner one hit for to gyde.
¶ And conuey accordyng to Vertue his entent.
¶ At the fyrst corner was Ryghtwysnesse {that} tyde.
¶ Prudence at the seconde was set to abyde.
¶ At {the} thryd strength {the} fourth kept temperau{n}ce.
¶ These {the} chare gyded to Vertue his pleasau{n}ce.

¶ Next to {the} chare seuen capyteyns there roode.
¶ Echone aftre other in ordre by and by.
¶ Humylyte was {the} fyrst a lambe he bestroode.
¶ With contenau{n}ce demure he rood full soberly.
¶ A fawcon gentyll stood on his helme on hy.
¶ And next after hym came there Charyte.
¶ Rydyng on a tygre as fyll to his degre.

¶ Roody as a roose ay he kept his chere.
¶ On his helme on hyghe a pellycan he bare.
¶ Next whom cam pacye{n}ce {that} no where hath no pere
¶ On a camell rydyng as voyde of all care.
¶ A fenix on his helm stood so forth gan he fare.
¶ Who next hym folowed but lyberalyte.
¶ Syteng on a dromedary {that} was both good & fre.

¶ On his helm for his crest he bare on ospray.
¶ And next after hym folowed abstynence.
¶ Rydyng on an hete was trapure and gay.
¶ He semed a lorde of ryght grete excellence.
¶ A popyniay was his crest he was of gret dyffe{re}ce.
¶ Next hym folowed chastyte on an vnicorne.
¶ Armed at all poyntes behynde & beforne.

¶ A tortyldoue he bare on hyghe for his crest.
¶ Than came good besynesse last of {the} seuen.
¶ Rydyng on a panter a sondry coloured best.
¶ Gloryously beseen as he had come from heuen.
¶ A crane on his hede stood his crest for to steuen.
¶ All these .vii. capteyned had standardis of pryce.
¶ Eche of hem accordy{n}g after his deuyse.

¶ Many pety capteyns after these went.
¶ As trew feyth & hope mercy pease & pyte.
¶ Ryght trouth mekenesse {with} rood ente[n]t.
¶ Goodnes concorde & parfyte vnyte.
¶ Honest trewe loue with symplycyte. Original has
¶ Prayer fasty{n}g preuy almysdede. Hoeest
¶ Ioyned with {the} artycles of the crede. instead of
Honest
¶ Confessyon contrycyon & satysfaccyon.
¶ With sorow for synne & grete repentaunce.
¶ Foryeuenesse of trespas {with} good dysposycyon.
¶ Resystence of wrong performy{n}g of penance.
¶ Holy deuocyon wyth good contynaunce
¶ Presthode hem folowed with the sacrame{n}tis
¶ And sadnesse alse wyth the commau{n}dementes

¶ Suffraunce in trouble wyth Innocensy
¶ Clennes contynence and virgynyte
¶ Kyndnes reuerence {with} curteysy
¶ Content & pleased wyth pyteous pouerte
¶ Entendyng wel mynystryng equyte
¶ Twene ryght & wrong hole indyfferently
¶ And labouryng the seruyse of god to multyply

¶ Refuse of ryches & worldly vaynglory
¶ Perfeccyon wyth perfyght contemplacyon
¶ Relygyon professyon wel kept in memory
¶ Verry drede of god wyth holy predycacyon
¶ Celestyall sapyence wyth gostly inspyracyon
¶ Grace was the guyde of al this meyne
¶ Whome folowed konnyng {with} his genealogy

¶ That is to say gramer and Sophystry
¶ Phylosophy naturall logyke and Rythoryke
¶ Arsmetrycke geometry wyth astronomye
¶ Canon and Cyuyll melodyous musyke
¶ Noble Theology and corporal physyke
¶ Moralyzayson of holy scrypture
¶ Profound poetry and drawy{n}g of pycture

¶ Thyse folowed connyng & thyd{er} wyth hin cam
¶ Wyth many one mo offryng her seruyse
¶ To Vertu at that nede but notwythsto{n}dy{n}g than
¶ Some he refused and sayd in nowyse
¶ They shuld wyth hym go & as I coud auyse
¶ Thyse wore her names fyrst Nygro{m}mancy
¶ Geomansy magyke and glotony

¶ Adryomansy Ornomancy {with} pyromancy
¶ Fysenomy also and pawmestry
¶ And al her sequeles yf I shal not lye
¶ Yet connyng prayed Vertu he wold not deny
¶ Theym for to know nor dysdeyn his eye
¶ On hem to loke wherto Vertu graunted
¶ How be it in his werres ge wold not they hau{n}ted

¶ So had they connyng lyghly to depart
¶ From Vertu his feld and they seyng this
¶ By comyn assent hyred them a carte
¶ And made hem be caryed toward Vyce Iwys.
¶ Fro thens forth to serue hy{m} this wold not mys
¶ For loth they were to be maysterles
¶ In stede of the better the worse there they ches

¶ But forth to relese al the remenaunt Original has
¶ Of pety capteins that wyth Vertu were rrmenaunt
¶ Moderate dyet and wysdom auenant instead of
¶ Euen weyght and mesure ware of contagyo{us} ge{re} remenaunt
¶ Loth to offend and louyng ay to lere Original has
¶ Worshyp and profyte {with} myrth in maner ann instead
¶ Thyse pety capteyns wyth Vertu were in fere of and

¶ Comons hem folowed a grete multitude
¶ But in came pyson to that other syde
¶ I trow there was not brefely to conclude.
¶ The .x. man that batayl to abyde.
¶ Yet neuertheles I shal not from you hyde.
¶ what maner people they were & of what secte
¶ As nere as my wyt therto wyll me derect.

¶ There were noble and famous doctours.
¶ Example yeuers of lyuyng gracyous.
¶ Perpetuel prestes and dyscrete confessours.
¶ Of holy scrypture declarers fructuous.
¶ Rebukers of syn & myscheues odyous.
¶ Fysshers of soules & louers of clennes.
¶ Dyspysers of veyn and worldly rychesse.

¶ Peasyble prelatys Iustycyal gouernours.
¶ Founders of chyrches wyth mercyfull peres.
¶ Reformers of wrong of her progenytours
¶ On peynfull pore pyteous compassyoners
¶ well menyng marchau{n}tes {with} trew artefecers
¶ Vyrgyns pure and also Innocentes
¶ Hooly matrones {with} chast contynence

¶ Pylgrymes & palmers {with} trew laborers
¶ Holy heremytes goddys solycytours
¶ Monesteryal monkes & well dysposed freres
¶ Chanons and nonnes feyth p{ro}fessoures
¶ Of worldly people trew coniugatours.
¶ Louers of Cryst Confounders of yll.
¶ And all that to godward yeue her good wyll