Chapter IX: Part 9

But from the rest of the poem it seems that Skelton intended each hexameter to be cut only into two parts.

[651] _socios_] Ed. “socias.”

[652] _caput aut ovis_] Ed. “caput caput.” I give the conjectural reading of the Rev. J. Mitford. The rhyme suggests (but the metre will not allow) “bidentis.”

[653] _incola_] Ed. “Nicolas.”

[654] _Vddersall, &c._] Ed. “Vddersale:” but compare vv. 13, 32. In this passage I have adopted the arrangement proposed by the Rev. J. Mitford.—Ed. thus;

“Adam Vddersale. alias dictus
Adam all. a knaue his Epitaph.
Foloweth deuoutly,
He was somtime the holy
baillyue of dis.”

[655] _rapidus_] The Rev. J. Mitford conjectures, “rabidus;” but _rapidus_ is frequently used in the same sense.

[656] _benedictis_] Ed. “Benedictus;” and in the next line but one, “Maledictus.”

[657] _Dis, tibi, &c._] The emendation of the Rev. J. Mitford: compare above, “Baillyue of Dis.”—Ed.

“Sis _tibi baccatus_
Balians _prædominatus_.”

[658] _sit_] Ed. “fit.”

[659] _pejus_] Ed. “peuis.”

[660] _scriptum_] Ed. “scripter.”

_Diligo rustincum[661] cum portant bis duo quointum,_
_Et cantant delos est mihi dulce melos._
1. _Canticum dolorosum._

[661] _Diligo rustincum, &c._] This and the following piece are from Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s _Workes_, 1568. In that collection the present couplet is twice printed: “_rustincum_” is the reading of the first copy, “_rusticum_” (which the metre will not admit) of the second: the first copy has “_quonintum_,” the second “_quointum_;” the Editor of 1736 gave “_quantum_.” See notes for the conjectures of the Rev. J. Mitford on this enigma. “_Canticum dolorosum_” is probably part of the title of the next piece.

LAMENTATIO URBIS NORVICEN.

_O lacrymosa lues nimis, O quam flebile fatum!_
_Ignibus exosis, urbs veneranda, ruis;_
_Fulmina sive Jovis sive ultima fata vocabant,_
_vulcani rapidis ignibus ipsa peris._
_Ah[662] decus, ah patriæ specie pulcherrima dudum!_
_Urbs Norvicensis labitur[663] in cineres._
_Urbs, tibi quid referam? breviter tibi pauca reponam:_
_Prospera rara[664] manent, utere sorte tua;_
_Perpetuum mortale nihil, sors omnia versat:_
_Urbs miseranda, vale! sors miseranda tua est._ 10

Skelton.[665]

[662] _Ah ... ah_] Ed. “Au ... au.”

[663] _labitur_] Ed. “labitar.”

[664] _rara_] Ed. “raro.”

[665] _Skelton_] Ed. “inifiranda _Skelton_:” the former word perhaps having been inserted by some mistake of the printer, whose eye had caught “miseranda” in the preceding line.

IN BEDEL, QUONDAM BELIAL INCARNATUM, DEVOTUM EPITAPHIUM.

_Ismal, ecce, Bedel, non mel, sed fel, sibi des el![666]_
_Perfidus Achitophel, luridus atque lorell;_
_Nunc olet iste Jebal,[667] Nabal. S. Nabal, ecce, ribaldus!_
_Omnibus exosus atque perosus erat;_
_In plateaque cadens animam spiravit oleto:_
_Presbyteros odiens sic sine mente ruit._
_Discite vos omnes quid sit violare sacratos_
_Presbyteros, quia sic corruit iste canis._
_Cocytus cui si detur[668] per Tartara totus,_
_Sit, peto, promotus Cerberus huncque voret._ 10
_At mage sancta tamen mea Musa precabitur[669] atros_
_Hos lemuresque eat sic Bedel ad superos;_
_Non eat, immo ruat, non scandat, sed mage tendat,_
_Inque caput præceps mox Acheronta petat._

_Bedel. Quanta malignatus est inimicus in sancto!_[670]

Psa. 73.

[666] _des el_] The Rev. J. Mitford proposes “dorell.”

[667] _Jebal_] Qy. “Jabel?” but I do not understand the line.

[668] _si detur_] So the Rev. J. Mitford reads. Ed. “sic petus.”

[669] _precabitur_] Ed. “precabiturum.”

[670] _sancto_] Ed. “sāctā.”

_Mortuus est asinus,_
_Qui pinxit mulum:[671]_
_Hic jacet barbarus_;
The deuill kys his _culum_! _Amen._

_Hanc volo transcribas, transcriptam moxque remittas Pagellam; quia sunt qui mea scripta sciunt._

[671] _pinxit mulum_] Corrected by the Rev. J. Mitford. Ed. “vixit multum.” The progress of the error was evidently—pinxit, _vinxit_, _vixit_. See notes.

_Redde_ { _Igitur quia sunt qui mala cuncta fremunt,[672]_
{ _Igitur quia sunt qui bona cuncta premunt._
_Nec tamen expaveo de fatuo labio,_
_Nec multum paveo de stolido[673] rabulo._

[672] _fremunt ... premunt_] So Editor of 1736. Ed. “frenuitur,” “prenuitur.”

[673] _stolido_] Ed. “scolido.”

_Salve plus[674] decies quam[675] sunt momenta dierum!_
_Quot generum species,[676] quot res, quot nomina rerum,_
_Quot prati[677] flores, quot sunt et[678] in orbe colores,_
_Quot pisces, quot aves, quot sunt et[679] in æquore naves,_
_Quot volucrum pennæ, quot sunt tormenta gehennæ,_
_Quot cœli stellæ, quot sunt et[680] in orbe puellæ,_
_Quot sancti Romæ, quot sunt miracula Thomæ,_
_Quot sunt virtutes, tantas tibi[681] mitto salutes._

[674] _Salve plus, &c._] From Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s _Workes_, 1568, (where it is printed on the reverse of the title-page), collated with a copy in Additional MSS. Brit. Mus. (4787, fol. 224), which is headed “Ex Jo. Skeltono Poeta Laureato.”

[675] _quam_] So MS. In Marshe’s ed. a contraction, which the Editor of 1736 resolved into “quot.”

[676] _generum species_] MS. “_species generum_.”

[677] _prati_] MS. “pratis.”

[678] _et_] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[679] _et_] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[680] _et_] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[681] _tantas tibi_] So MS. Marshe’s ed. “tot vobis;” but compare v. 1. “_Salve_,” &c.

ORATOR[682] REGIUS SKELTONIS[683] LAUREATUS IN SINGULARE MERITISSIMUMQUE PRÆCONIUM NOBILISSIMI PRINCIPIS HENRICI SEPTIMI, NUPER STRENUISSIMI REGIS ANGLIÆ, HOC EPITAPHIUM EDIDIT, AD SINCERAM CONTEMPLATIONEM REVERENDI IN CHRISTO PATRIS AC DOMINI, DOMINI JOHANNIS ISLIPPÆ[684] ABBATIS WESTMONASTERIENSIS[685] OPTIME MERITI, ANNO DOMINI MDXII. PRIDIE DIVI[686] ANDREÆ APOSTOLI, &c.

_Tristia Melpomenes cogor modo plectra sonare;_
_Hos elegos foveat Cynthius ille meos._
_Si quas fata movent lacrymas, lacrymare videtur[687]_
_Jam bene maturum, si bene mente sapis._
_Flos Britonum, regum speculum, Salomonis imago,_
_Septimus Henricus mole sub hac tegitur._
_Punica, dum regnat, redolens rosa digna vocari,_
_Jam jam marcescit, ceu levis umbra fugit._
_Multa novercantis fortunæ, multa faventis_
_Passus, et infractus tempus utrumque tulit._ 10
_Nobilis Anchises, armis metuendus Atrides,_
_Hic erat; hunc Scottus rex timuit Jacobus._
_Spiramenta animæ vegetans dum vescitur aura,_
_Francorum populus conticuit pavidus._
_Immensas sibi divitias cumulasse quid horres?_
_Ni cumulasset opes, forte, Britanne,[688] luas._
_Urgentes casus tacita si mente volutes,_
_Vix tibi sufficeret aurea ripa Tagi._
_Ni sua te probitas consulta mente laborans_
_Rexisset satius, vix tibi tuta salus._ 20
_Sed quid plura cano? meditans quid plura voluto?_
_Quisque vigil sibi sit: mors sine lege rapit._
_Ad Dominum, qui cuncta regit, pro principe tanto_
_Funde preces quisquis carmina nostra legis._

_Vel mage,[689] si placeat, hunc[690] timuit Jacobus,_
_Scottorum dominus, qui sua fata luit;_
_Quem Leo Candidior Rubeum necat ense Leonem,_
_Et jacet usque modo non tumulatus humo._

_Refrigerii sedem, quietis beatitudinem, luminis habeat
claritatem. Amen._

[682] _Orator, &c._] This and the next piece from Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s _Workes_, 1568, collated with the poems as given in _Reges, Reginæ, Nobiles, et alii in Ecclesia Collegiata B. Petri Westmonasterii sepulti_, &c., 1603, 4to.

[683] _Skeltonis_] _Reges_, &c. “Skeltonus;” but see _ante_ and _post_.

[684] _Islippæ_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “Islip.”

[685] _Westmonasteriensis_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “Westmonastericii.”

[686] _divi_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “domini.”

[687] _videtur_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “videt.”

[688] _Britanne_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “Britainie.”

EULOGIUM PRO SUORUM TEMPORUM CONDITIONE, TANTIS PRINCIPIBUS NON INDIGNUM, PER SKELTONIDA LAUREATUM, ORATOREM REGIUM.

_Huc, pia Calliope, propera, mea casta puella,_
_Et mecum resona carmina plena deo._
_Septimus Henricus, Britonum memorabilis heros,_
_Anglica terra, tuus magnanimus Priamus,_
_Attalus hic opibus, rigidus Cato, clarus Acestes,_
_Sub gelido clausus marmore jam recubat.[691]_
_Sic[692] honor omnis, opes, probitas, sic gloria regum,_
_Omnia nutabunt[693] mortis ad imperium._
_Anglia, num lacrymas? rides; lacrymare quid obstas?_
_Dum vixit, lacrymas; dum moritur, jubilas._ 10
_Canta,[694] tamen penses, dum vixerat, Angligenenses_
_Vibrabant enses, bella nec ulla timent._
_Undique bella fremunt nunc, undique prœlia surgunt:_
_Noster honor solus, filius, ecce, suus!_
_Noster honor solus, qui pondera tanta subire_
_Non timet, intrepidus arma gerenda vocat;_
_Arma gerenda vocat, (superi sua cœpta secundent!)_
_Ut quatiat Pallas ægida sæpe rogat._
_Sors tamen est versanda diu, sors ultima belli:_
_Myrmidonum dominus Marte[695] silente ruit;_ 20
_Et quem non valuit validis superare sub armis_
_Mars, tamen occubuit insidiis Paridis._
_Nos incerta quidem pro certis ponere rebus_
_Arguit, et prohibet Delius ipse pater._
_Omnia sunt hominum dubio labentia fato,_
_Marte sub incerto militat omnis homo._
_Omne decus nostrum, nostra et spes unica tantum,_
_Jam bene qui regnat, hunc Jovis umbra tegat!_
_Ut quamvis mentem labor est inhibere volentem,_
_Pauca tamen liceat dicere pace sua:_ 30
_Pace tua liceat mihi nunc tibi dicere pauca,_
_Dulce meum decus, et sola Britanna salus._
_Summa rei nostræ remanet, celeberrime princeps,_
_In te præcipuo, qui modo sceptra geris._
_Si tibi fata favent, faveant[696] precor atque precabor,_
_Anglia, tunc plaude; sin minus, ipsa[697] vale._

_Polychronitudo basileos._

[689] _Vel mage ... humo_] Not in _Reges_, &c. These lines (containing an allusion to the battle of Flodden) are of a later date than the preceding poem, to the 12th verse of which they are intended as a sort of note. This is not the only passage in our author’s Latin pieces where two pentameters occur without an intervening hexameter: see conclusion of _The Garlande of Laurell_.

[690] _hunc_] Ed. “hunc _hunc_.”

[691] _recubat_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “recubit.”

[692] _Sic_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “Hic.”

[693] _nutabunt_] _Reges_, &c. “mutabunt.”

[694] _Canta_] Marshe’s ed. “Cauta.” _Reges_, &c. “Tanta.”

[695] _Marte_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “mater.”

[696] _faveant_] So _Reges_, &c. Not in Marshe’s ed.

[697] _ipsa_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “ipse.”

TETRASTICHON VERITATIS.

_Felix qui bustum formasti,[698] rex, tibi cuprum;_
_Auro si tectus fueras, fueras spoliatus,_
_Nudus, prostratus, tanta est rabiosa cupido_
_Undique nummorum: rex, pace precor requiescas. Amen._

[698] _formasti_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “torniasti.”

SKELTON LAUREATE AGAINST THE SCOTTES.[699]

Agaynst the prowde Scottes clatterynge,
That neuer wyll leaue theyr tratlynge:
Wan they the felde, and lost theyr kynge?
They may well say, fye on that wynnynge!

Lo, these fonde sottes
And tratlynge Scottes,
How thei are blynde
In theyr owne mynde,
And wyll not know
Theyr ouerthrow 10
At Branxton[700] more!
They are so stowre,
So frantyke mad,
They say they had
And wan the felde
With spere and shelde:
That is as trew
As blacke is blew
And grene is gray.
What euer they say, 20
Jemmy is ded
And closed in led,
That was theyr owne kynge:
Fy on that wynnynge!
At Floddon[701] hyllys
Our bowys, our byllys,
Slewe all the floure
Of theyr honoure.
Are not[702] these Scottys
Folys and sottys, 30
Suche boste to make,
To prate and crake,
To face, to brace,
All voyde of grace,
So prowde of hart,
So ouerthwart,
So out of frame,
So voyde of shame,
As it is enrolde,
Wrytten and tolde 40
Within this quayre?
Who lyst to[703] repayre,
And therin reed,
Shall fynde indeed
A mad rekenynge,
Consyderynge al thynge,
That the Scottis may synge[704]
Fy on the wynnynge!

_When the Scotte lyued._

Joly Jemmy, ye scorneful Scot,
Is it come vnto your lot 50
A solempne sumner for to be?
It greyth nought for your degre
Our kynge of Englande for to syght,[705]
Your souerayne lord, our prynce of might:
Ye for to sende such a citacion,
It shameth all your noughty nacion,
In comparyson but kynge Koppynge
Vnto our prince, annoynted kynge.
Ye play Hob Lobbyn of Lowdean;
Ye shew ryght well what good ye can; 60
Ye may be lorde of Locrian,—
Chryst sence[706] you with a frying pan!—
Of Edingborrow and Saint Ionis towne:
Adieu, syr sumner, cast of youre crowne!

_When the Scot was slayne._

Continually I shall remember
The mery moneth of September,
With the ix[707] daye of the same,
For then began our myrth and game;
So that now I haue deuysed,
And in my minde I haue comprysed, 70
Of the prowde Scot, kynge Jemmy,
To wryte some lyttle tragedy,
For no maner consyderacion
Of any sorowful lamentacion,
But for the special consolacion
Of all our royall Englysh nacion.
Melpomone,[708] O Muse tragediall,
Vnto your grace for grace now I call,
To guyde my pen and my pen to enbybe!
Illumyn me, your poete and your scrybe, 80
That with myxture of aloes and bytter gall
I may compounde confectures for a cordiall,
To angre the Scottes and Irysh keteringes withall,
That late were discomfect with battayle marcyall.
Thalia, my Muse, for you also call I,
To touche them with tauntes of your armony,
A medley to make of myrth with sadnes,
The hartes of England to comfort with gladnes:
And now to begyn I wyll me adres,
To you rehersynge the somme of my proces. 90
Kynge Jamy, Jemmy, Jocky my jo,[709]
Ye[710] summond our kynge,—why dyd ye so?
To you nothing it dyd accorde
To summon our kynge, your soueraygne lord.
A kyng, a sumner![711] it was great wonder:
Know ye not suger and salt asonder?
Your sumner to saucy, to malapert,
Your harrold in armes not yet halfe experte.
Ye thought ye dyd yet valyauntly,
Not worth thre skyppes of a pye: 100
Syr skyrgalyard, ye were so skyt,
Your wyll than ran before your wyt.
Your lege ye layd and your aly
Your frantick fable not worth a fly,
Frenche kynge, or one or other;
Regarded ye[712] should your lord, your brother.
Trowid ye, Syr Jemy, his nobul grace
From you, Syr Scot, would turne his face?
With, Gup, Syr Scot of Galawey!
Now is your pryde fall to decay. 110
Male vryd was your fals entent
For to offende your presydent,
Your souerayne lord most reuerent,
Your lord, your brother, and your regent.
In him is fygured Melchisedec,
And ye were disloyall Amalec.
He is our noble Scipione,[713]
Annoynted kynge; and ye were none,
Thoughe ye vntruly your father haue slayne.
His tytle is true in Fraunce to raygne; 120
And ye, proud Scot, Dunde, Dunbar,
Pardy, ye were his homager,
And suter to his parliament:
For your vntruth now ar ye shent.
Ye bare yourselfe somwhat to bold,
Therfore ye lost your copyehold;
Ye were bonde tenent to his estate;
Lost is your game, ye are checkmate.
Vnto the castell of Norram,
I vnderstande, to sone ye came. 130
At Branxston more and Flodden hylles,
Our Englysh bowes, our Englysh bylles,
Agaynst you gaue so sharpe a shower,
That of Scotland ye lost the flower.
The Whyte Lyon, there rampaunt of moode,
He ragyd and rent out your hart bloode;
He the Whyte, and ye[714] the Red,
The Whyte there slew the Red starke ded.
Thus for your guerdon quyt ar ye,
Thanked be God in Trinite, 140
And swete Sainct George, our ladies knyght!
Your eye is out; adew, good nyght!
Ye were starke mad to make a fray,
His grace beyng out of the way:
But, by the power and might of God,
For your owne[715] tayle ye made a rod.
Ye wanted wit, syr, at a worde;
Ye lost your spurres, ye lost your sworde.
Ye myght haue buskyd you to Huntley bankys;
Your pryde was peuysh to play such prankys: 150
Your pouerte coude not attayne
With our kynge royal war to mayntayne.
Of the kyng of Nauerne ye might take heed,
Vngraciously how he doth speed:
In[716] double delynge so he did dreme,
That he is kynge without a reme;
And, for example ye[717] would none take,
Experiens hath brought you in suche a brake.
Your welth, your ioy, your sport, your play,
Your bragynge bost, your royal aray, 160
Your beard so brym as bore at bay,
Your Seuen Systers, that gun so gay,
All haue ye lost and cast away.
Thus fortune hath tourned you, I dare well saye,
Now from a kynge to a clot of clay:
Out of your[718] robes ye were shaked,
And wretchedly ye lay starke naked.[719]
For lacke of grace hard was your hap:
The Popes curse[720] gaue you that clap.
Of the out yles the roughe foted Scottes, 170
We haue well eased them of the bottes:
The rude ranke Scottes, lyke dronken dranes,
At Englysh bowes haue fetched theyr banes.
It is not fytting[721] in tower and towne
A sumner[722] to were a kynges crowne:
Fortune on you therfore did frowne;
Ye were to hye, ye are cast downe.
Syr sumner, now where is your crowne?
Cast of your crowne, cast vp your crowne!
Syr sumner, now ye haue lost your crowne. 180

Quod Skelton laureate, oratoure to the Kynges most royall estate.

_Scotia,[723] redacta in formam provinciæ,_
_Regis parebit nutibus Angliæ:_
_Alioquin, per desertum Sin, super cherubim,_
_Cherubin, seraphim, seraphinque, ergo, &c._

[699] _Skelton Laureate against the Scottes_] The following pieces, called forth by the battle of Flodden, and the lines on the Battle of the Spurs annexed to them, are from the ed. of Kynge and Marche of _Certaine bokes compyled by mayster Skelton_, n. d., collated with the same work, ed. Day, n. d., ed. Lant, n. d., and with Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s _Workes_, 1568.

[700] _Branxton_] Day’s ed. “Branxion.”

[701] _Floddon_] So Marshe’s ed. Other eds. “Folddon.”

[702] _not_] Lant’s ed. “nat.”

[703] _to_] Not in Lant’s ed.

[704] _synge_] Marshe’s ed. “sin.”

[705] _syght_] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “fight.”

[706] _sence_] So Marshe’s ed. Other eds. “fence.”

[707] _ix_] Eds. “xi.”

[708] _Melpomone_] Other eds. “Melnomone.”

[709] _jo_] So Lant’s ed. Other eds. “ioye.”

[710] _Ye_] So Lant’s ed. Not in other eds.

[711] _sumner_] Here and in next line but one, Marshe’s ed. “summer.”

[712] _ye_] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “you.”

[713] _Scipione_] So other eds. Ed. of Kynge and Marche, “Scripione.”

[714] _ye_] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “you.”

[715] _owne_] Not in eds. of Day, and Marshe.

[716] _In_] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “An.”

[717] _ye_] Eds. “he.”

[718] _your_] So Lant’s ed. Not in other eds.

[719] _starke naked_] So Lant’s ed. Ed. of Kynge and Marche, and of Day, “_starke_ your _naked_.” Marshe’s ed. “_starke_ all _naked_.”

[720] _curse_] Eds. “cures.”

[721] _fytting_] Other eds. “sytting” and “sitting,” which, perhaps, Skelton wrote, as he elsewhere uses the word.

[722] _sumner_] Marshe’s ed. “summer,” here, and in the concluding line.

[723] _Scotia_] Eds. “Scotica.”

VNTO DIUERS PEOPLE THAT REMORD THIS[724] RYMYNGE AGAYNST THE SCOT JEMMY.

I am now constrayned,
With wordes nothynge fayned,
This inuectiue to make,
For some peoples[725] sake
That lyst for to iangyll
And waywardly to wrangyll
Agaynst this my makynge,
Their males therat shakynge,
At it reprehending,
And venemously stingynge, 10
Rebukynge and remordyng,
And nothing according.
Cause haue they[726] none other,
But for that he was brother,[727]
Brother vnnatural
Vnto our kynge royall,
Against whom he dyd fighte[728]
Falsly agaynst all ryght,
Lyke that vntrue rebell
Fals Kayn agaynst Abell. 20
Who so[729] therat pyketh mood,
The tokens are not good
To be true Englysh blood;
For, yf they vnderstood
His traytourly dispyght,
He was a recrayed knyght,
A subtyll sysmatyke,
Ryght nere an heretyke,
Of grace out of the state,
And died excomunycate. 30
And for he was a kynge,
The more shamefull rekenynge
Of hym should men report,
In ernest and in sport.
He skantly loueth our kynge,
That grudgeth at this thing:
That cast such ouerthwartes
Percase haue hollow hartes.

_Si veritatem dico, quare non creditis mihi?_

[724] _this_] So other eds. Ed. of Kynge and Marche, and of Lant, “his.”

[725] _peoples_] So Lant’s ed. Other eds. “people.”

[726] _haue they_] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “_they haue_.”

[727] _brother_] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “hys _brother_.”

[728] _fighte_] So other eds. Ed. of Kynge and Marche, “syght.”

[729] _Who so_] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “But _who so_.”

CHORUS DE DIS[730] CONTRA SCOTTOS[731] CUM OMNI PROCESSIONALI FESTIVITATE SOLEMNISAVIT HOC EPITOMA XXII DIE SEPTEMBRIS, &c.

_Salve, festa dies, toto resonabilis ævo,_
_Qua Scottus Jacobus, obrutus ense, cadit._
_Barbara Scottorum, gens, perfida, plena malorum,_
_Vincitur ad Norram, vertitur inque fugam._
_Vasta palus, sed campestris, (borie memoratur_
Branxton more), _Scottis terra perosa fuit._
_Scottica castra fremunt Floddun sub montibus altis,_
_Quæ valide invadens dissipat Angla manus._
_Millia Scottorum trusit gens Anglica passim;_
_Luxuriat tepido sanguine pinguis humus:_ 10
_Pars animas miseri miseras misere sub umbras,_
_Pars ruit in foveas, pars subiit latebras._
_Jam quid agit Jacobus, damnorum germine[732] cretus?_
_Perfidus ut Nemroth, lapsus ad ima[733] ruit._
_Dic modo, Scottorum dudum male sane malorum_
_Rector, nunc regeris, mortuus, ecce, jaces!_
_Sic Leo te rapidus, Leo Candidus, inclytus ursit,_
_Quo Leo tu[734] Rubeus ultima fata luis._
_Anglia, due choreas; resonent tua tympana, psallas;[735]_
_Da laudes Domino, da pin vota Deo._ 20

_Hæc laureatus Skeltonis, regius[736] orator._

[730] _Dis_] So eds. of Day, and Marshe. Other eds. “Dyd.”

[731] _Scottos_] So Lant’s ed. Other eds. “Scottes.”

[732] _germine_] Eds. “gremine.”

[733] _ima_] Eds. “iam.”

[734] _tu_] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “in.”

[735] _tympana, psallas_] Qy. “tympana psalmis?”

[736] _regius_] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “Regine.”

CHORUS DE DIS, &C. SUPER TRIUMPHALI VICTORIA CONTRA GALLOS, &C. CANTAVIT SOLEMNITER HOC ELOGIUM IN PROFESTO DIVI JOHANNIS AD DECOLLATIONEM.

_Salve, festa dies, toto memorabilis ævo,_
_Qua rex Henricus Gallica bella premit._
_Henricus rutilans Octavus noster in armis_
_Tirwinnæ gentis mœnia[737] stravit humi._
_Sceptriger Anglorum bello validissimus Hector,_
_Francorum gentis colla superba terit._
_Dux armis nuper celebris, modo dux inermis,_
_De Longville modo dic quo tua pompa ruit?_
_De Clermount clarus dudum dic, Galle superbe,_
_Unde superbus eris? carcere nonne gemis?_ 10
_Discite Francorum gens cætera capta, Britannum_
_Noscite magnanimum, subdite vosque sibi._
_Gloria Cappadocis, divæ milesque Mariæ,_
_Illius hic sub ope Gallica regna reget._
_Hoc insigne bonum, divino numine gestum,_
_Anglica gens referat semper, ovansque canat._

_Per Skeltonida laureatum, oratorem regium._

[737] _mœnia_] Eds. of Day, and Marshe, “menit.”

VILITISSIMUS[738] SCOTUS DUNDAS ALLEGAT CAUDAS CONTRA ANGLIGENAS.

_Caudatos Anglos, spurcissime Scote, quid effers?_
_Effrons es, quoque sons, mendax, tua spurcaque[739] bucca est._

_Anglicus a tergo_
_caudam gerit;_
_est canis ergo._
_Anglice caudate,_
_cape caudam_
_ne cadat a te._
_Ex causa caudæ_
_manet Anglica_
_gens sine laude._

_Diffamas patriam, qua non_
_est melior usquam._
_Cum cauda plaudis dum_
_possis, ad ostia pultas[740]_
_Mendicans; mendicus eris,_
_mendaxque bilinguis,_
_Scabidus, horribilis, quem_
_vermes sexque pedales_
_Corrodunt misere; miseris[741]_
_genus est maledictum._

Skelton, _nobilis poeta_.

Gup, Scot,
Ye blot:
_Laudate_
_Caudate_,
Set in better
Thy pentameter.
This Dundas,
This Scottishe as,
He rymes and railes
That Englishmen haue tailes. 10
_Skeltonus laureatus,_
_Anglicus natus,_
_Provocat Musas_
_Contra Dundas_
_Spurcissimum[742] Scotum,_
_Undique notum,_
_Rustice fotum,_
_Vapide potum._
Skelton laureat
After this rate 20
Defendeth with his pen
All Englysh men
Agayn Dundas,
That Scottishe asse.
Shake thy tayle, Scot, lyke a cur,
For thou beggest at euery mannes dur:
Tut, Scot, I sey,
Go shake thy[743] dog, hey!
Dundas of Galaway
With thy versyfyeng rayles 30
How they haue tayles.
By Jesu Christ,
Fals Scot, thou lyest:
But behynd in our hose
We bere there a rose
For thy Scottyshe nose,
A spectacle case
To couer thy face,
With tray deux ase.
A tolman[744] to blot, 40
A rough foted Scot!
Dundas, sir knaue,
Why doste thow depraue
This royall reame,
Whose radiant beame
And relucent light
Thou hast in despite,
Thou donghyll knyght?
But thou lakest might,
Dundas, dronken and drowsy, 50
Skabed, scuruy, and lowsy,
Of vnhappy generacion
And most vngracious nacion.
Dundas,
That dronke asse,
That ratis and rankis,
That prates and prankes
On Huntley bankes,
Take this our thankes;
Dunde, Dunbar,[745] 60
Walke, Scot,
Walke, sot,
Rayle not to far.

[738] _Vilitissimus_] So, perhaps, Skelton wrote; but qy. “Vilissimus?”—This poem from Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s _Workes_, 1568.

[739] _spurcaque_] Ed. “spureaquæ.”

[740] _pultas_] Ed. “pultes.”

[741] _miseris_] Ed. “miseres.”

[742] _Spurcissimum_] Ed. “Norpacissimum.”

[743] _thy_] Qy. “thé?” but see notes.

[744] _tolman_] See notes.

[745] _Dunde, Dunbar_] Ed. “Dunde bar.”

ELEGIA[746] IN SERENISSIMÆ PRINCIPIS ET DOMINÆ, DOMINÆ MARGARETÆ NUPER COMITISSÆ DE DERBY, STRENUISSIMI REGIS HENRICI SEPTIMI MATRIS, FUNEBRE MINISTERIUM, PER SKELTONIDA LAUREATUM, OBATOREM REGIUM, XVI. DIE[747] MENSIS AUGUSTI, ANNO SALUTIS MDXVI.

_Aspirate meis elegis, pia turma sororum,_
_Et Margaretam collacrymate piam._
_Hac sub mole latet regis celeberrima mater_
_Henrici magni, quem locus iste fovet;_
_Quem locus iste sacer celebri celebrat polyandro,_
_Illius en genitrix hac tumulatur humo!_
_Cui cedat Tanaquil (Titus hanc super astra reportet[748]),_
_Cedat Penelope, carus Ulixis[749] amor:_
_Huic[750] Abigail, velut Hester, erat pietate secunda:_
_En tres jam proceres nobilitate pares!_ 10
_Pro domina, precor, implora, pro principe tanta_
_Flecte Deum precibus, qui legis hos apices._
_Plura referre piget, calamus torpore rigescit,_
_Dormit Mecænas, negligitur probitas;_
_Nec juvat, aut modicum prodest, nunc ultima versu_
_Fata[751] recensere (mortua mors reor est)._
_Quæris quid decus est? decus est modo dicier hircus;[752]_
_Cedit honos hirco, cedit honorque capro._
_Falleris ipse Charon; iterum surrexit Abyron,_
_Et Stygios remos despicit ille tuos._ 20
_Vivitur ex voto: mentis præcordia tangunt_
_Nulla sepulcra ducum, nec monumenta patrum;_
_Non regum, non ulla hominum labentia fato_
_Tempora, nec totiens[753] mortua turba ruens._
_Hinc[754] statuo certe perituræ parcere chartæ,_
_Ceu Juvenalis avet[755] eximius satirus._

_Distichon execrationis in phagolœdoros._

_Qui lacerat, violatve rapit præsens epitoma,_
_Hunc laceretque voret Cerberus absque mora!_

_Calon,[756] agaton, cum areta. Re. in pa._
_Hanc tecum statuas dominam, precor, O sator orbis,_
_Quo regnas rutilans rex sine fine manens!_

[746] _Elegia, &c._] From Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s _Workes_, 1568, collated with the piece as given in _Reges, Reginæ, Nobiles, et alii in Ecclesia Collegiata B. Petri Westmonasterii sepulti_, &c., 1603, 4to.

[747] _die_] Not in Marshe’s ed.

[748] _reportet_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “reportat.”

[749] _Ulixis_] _Reges_, “Ulyssis.”

[750] _Huic_] Eds. “Hec” and “Hæc.”

[751] _Fata_] So _Reges_. Marshe’s ed. “Facta.”

[752] _hircus_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “hircum.”

[753] _totiens_] _Reges_, &c. “toties.”

[754] _Hinc_] So _Reges_, &c. Marshe’s ed. “Hunc.”

[755] _avet_] Eds. “ouat.”

[756] _Calon, &c.... pa._] Placed after the next two lines in _Reges_, &c.

Why were ye[757] _Calliope_ embrawdred with letters of golde?

SKELTON LAUREATE, ORATO. REG. MAKETH THIS AUNSWERE, &C.

Calliope,
As ye may se,
Regent is she
Of poetes al,
Whiche gaue to me
The high degre
Laureat to be
Of fame royall;
Whose name enrolde
With silke and golde 10
I dare be bolde
Thus for to were.
Of her I holde
And her housholde;
Though I waxe olde
And somdele sere,
Yet is she fayne,
Voyde of disdayn,
Me to retayne
Her seruiture: 20
With her certayne
I wyll remayne,
As my souerayne
Moost of pleasure,
_Maulgre touz malheureux_.

[757] _Why were ye, &c._] These pieces on Calliope from Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s _Workes_, 1568.

LATINUM CARMEN SEQUITUR.

_Cur tibi contexta est aurea_ Calliope?

RESPONSIO EJUSDEM VATIS.

_Candida Calliope, vatum regina, coronans_
_Pierios lauro, radiante intexta sub auro!_
_Hanc ego Pierius tanto dignabor honore,_
_Dum mihi vita manet, dum spiritus hos regit artus:_
_Quamquam conficior senio marcescoque sensim,_
_Ipse tamen gestare sua hæc pia pignora certo,_
_Assensuque suo placidis parebo camenis._
_Inclyta Calliope, et semper mea maxima cura est._

_Hæc Pierius omni Spartano[758] liberior._

CALLIOPE,

_Musarum excellentissima, speciosissima, formosissima, heroicis præest versibus._

[758] _Spartano_] Ed. “Spartane.”

THE BOKE OF THREE FOOLES,[759] M. SKELTON, POETE LAUREATE, GAUE TO MY LORD CARDYNALL.

THE FYRST FOOLE.

The man that doth wed a wyfe
For her goodes and her rychesse,
And not for lygnage femynatyfe,
Procureth doloure and dystresse,
With infynyte payne and heuynesse;
For she wyll do hym moche sorowe,
Bothe at euyn and at morowe.

THE SECONDE FOOLE.

The dartes ryght cursed of Enuye
Hath rayned sythe the worlde began,
Whiche bryngeth man euydently
Into the bondes of Sathan;
Wherfore he is a dyscrete man
That can eschewe that euyll synne
Where body and soule is lost in.

THE THYRD FOOLE.

Dyuers by voluptuousnes
Of women, the which be present,
Be brought into full great dystres,
Forgettyng vertues excellent
Of God, the whych is permanent,
And suffreth themselfe to be bounde
In cordes, as it were a hounde.

Come hyther, and take this boke, and rede therein for your lernyng with clere iyen, and loke in this boke, that sheweth you folysh fooles without wyt or vnderstanding. Pecunyous fooles, that bee auaryce, and for to haue good tyme and to lyue meryly, weddeth these olde wyddred women, whych hath sackes full of nobles, claryfye here your syghte, and ye shal know what goodnes commeth therby, and what joye and gladnes. Some there be that habandoneth themselfe for to gather togyther the donge that yssueth oute of theyr asses arse, for to fynde euermore grese: it is grete foly trulye; but yet the yonge man is more folyssher the whiche weddeth an olde wyfe, for to haue her golde and syluer. I say that he is a great foole that taketh anne olde wyfe for her goodes, and is much to blame.

They the whiche do so procureth all trybulations; for with her he shall neither haue ioy, recreacion, nor rest. He noryssheth stryfes and greate debates, thoughte, payne, anguyshe, and melancoly: and yf he wolde accomplysshe the workes of maryage, hee may not, for shee is so debylyte, colde, vnpropyce, vnnaturall, and vndyscurrente, for the coldenes that is in her. The husbande of this olde wyfe hath none esperaunce to haue lygnage by her, for he neuer loued her. The man is a verye foole to make his demoraunce vpon such an olde wife. Whan he thinketh somtime vpon such thynges, he leseth his naturall wit, in cursynge hymselfe more then a m. tymes with the golde and the syluer, and the cursed hasarde of Fortune. And when he seeth his poore lyfe in suche dystresse, his hert is all oppressed with melancoly and dolour: but whan the vnhappye man seeth that it is force, and that hee is constrayned[760] to haue pacience, he putteth his cure to draw to hym the money of the olde wyddred woman in makyng to her glade chere. And whan hee hath the money and the bagge with nobles, God knoweth what chere he maketh, wythoute thynkinge on them that gathered[761] it. And when he hath spente al, he is more vnhappyer then hee was before. Yf that the foole be vnhappye, it is well ryghte, for hee hath wedded auaryce, mother of all euylles: yf hee had taken a wyfe that had ben fayre and yonge, after his complection, he had not fallen into so great an inconuenience. It is wryten in auncient bokes, that hee whiche weddeth a wyfe by auaryce, and not for to haue lygnage, hath no cure of the honestie of matrymonye, and thynketh full euyll on his conscience. The vnyon of maryage is[762] decayed; for, vnder the coloure of good and loyall maryage, is wedded auaryce, as we se euery day by experience through the world. And one wil haue a wife, and that hee marke his to be demaunded in maryage, they will enquyre of his ryches and conninge. And on the other syde he wyl demaunde great goodes with her, to norysshe her with: for and her father and mother and frendes haue no greate ryches, he wyll not of her; but and she be ryche, hee demaundeth none other thynge. It is written, that one were better haue his house in deserte, whereas no mencion shoulde be of hym, thenne to bide with suche wyues, for they be replete with all cursednes. And the pore foole breketh his hearte; he loseth his soule, and corrompeth his body. He selleth his youth vnto the olde wife that weddeth her for auaryce, and hath but noyse and discention, in vsyng his lyfe thus in synne. Consydre, you fooles, what seruytude ye put your self in, when ye wedde such wyues. I pray you be chast, if that ye wyl lyue without vnhap. My frends, whiche be not in that bande, put you not therin, and yee shalbe well happy. Notwithstanding, I defende you not to mary, but I exhorte you to take a wyfe that ye may haue progeny by, and solace bodely and gostly, and thereby to wyn the ioyes of Paradyse.

OF ENUYE, THE SECONDE FOOLE.

Approche, you folyshe enuyous, the which can say no good by them that ye hate, come and se in this booke youre peruerse and euyll condycions. O Enuy, that deuoureth the condycions of men, and dyssypers of honour! Thou makest to haue rauisshynge heartes famyshed; thou brennest the desyres, and sleeth the soule in the ende; thou engendrest the darte enuyronned with mischefe, that whiche traueyleth diuers folkes. Cursed foole, howe haste thou thy heart so replete with cruelte? for, if I haue temporall goodes, thou wilte haue enuye therat; or, if that I can worke well, and that I apply mee vnto dyuers thynges the whiche be honest, or if that I haue castels, landes, and tenementes, or if that I am exalted vnto honoure by my science, or won it by my hardynes truely and iustlye, or if that I am beloued of dyuers persons whiche reclaymeth mee good and vertuous and of a noble courage, thou wylt vilepende me with thy wordes: thou wottest neuer in what maner thou mayst adnychell mine honour. Thy malicious hert is hurt with a mortall wounde, in such wise that thou haste no ioye nor solace in this world, for the darte of Enuye perceth thy herte lyke a spere. Thou hast wylde lycoure, the whiche maketh all thy stomacke to be on a flambe. There is no medicyne that maye hele thy mortall wounde. I, beynge in a place where as myne honoure was magnyfyed, thoughte for to haue taken alyaunce with an odyfferaunt floure, but all sodaynely I was smyten with a darte of Enuye behinde my backe, wherthroughe all tho that were on my partye turned theyr backes vpon me, for to agree to one of Venus dissolate seruauntes, procedynge frome a hearte enuenymed with enuye. Wherfore I shall specyfye vnto you the condycyons of the enuyous. Who that holdeth hym of the subgectes of Enuye, she constytueth to deuoure and byte euery bodye; gyuynge vnhappes and myseryes vnto her seruauntes. Suche folkes doth the innocente a thousande wronges. They be replenysshed with so many treasons, that they can not slepe in theyr beddes; they haue no swete cantycles nor songes. They haue theyr tonges honyed with swete words vnder the coloure of loue; they be lene, and infecte of rygoure these enuyous, more bytterer thenne the gall of the fyshe glauca, wyth theyr eyen beholdinge a trauers, of stomackes chaufed syntillously, and without their[763] mouthes, as the vyne that is newe cut, they be enuyroned with rage and greate anguysshe, beholdynge euermore to destroy some body. Conceyue the history of Joseph in your myndes, the which had vii. brethren, that were enuyous against him which was the yongeste, and solde hym vnto the marchauntes of Egypte by enuy, and betrayed him; the which were delybered of a longe time to haue destroyed him. These enuious neuer laughe but whan some good man hath domage vpon the see or lande; or at the disfortune of some body, he drynketh his bloud as milke. Notwithstandinge his heart is euer enbraced with enuy, and as longe as he lyueth it shall gnawe his hert. Hee resembleth vnto Ethna whiche brenneth alwayes. As of Romulus, and Remus his brother, the whiche Romulus edefyed first Rome, and gaue it to name Rome, after his owne name. Neuertheles they were pastours, for they establyshed lawes in the citie. And Romulus punished euerye body egally. He dyd instytute lymittes or markes aboute the citie, and ordeyned that he that passed the lymyttes shuld be put to death. His brother passed them, wherfore he was put vnto death incontinente in the same place. Wee rede also how Cayme slewe his owne brother by enuye. Haue we not ensample semblablye of Atreus, of whom his brother occupyed the parke, howe well that they were in the realme stronge and puyssaunte, for to defende them? It was Thesius[764] that expulsed his brother oute of the realme by enuy, and was called agayne bycause that he had taken the parke, and fynally was banyshed, and by enuye and vnder the colour of peace he was sent for. And when hee was commen vnto a feast, he made his two children for to be rested, and made theim[765] to drynke their bloude. O what horroure was it to see his twoo children dye that were so dyscrete! In lykewise Ethiocles by his brethren receyued great enormyties by that cursed Enuye. O thou prudent man, if thou wilt be discrete, good, and wise, flye from Enuy, and thou shalt finde thy selfe sounde of body and soule!

OF THE VOLUPTUOUSNES CORPORALL, THE THIRD FOOLE.

Ryghte heartely I beseche you, folysshe and lecherous people, that it will please you for to come and make a litell collacion in this booke; and if there be any thinge that I can do for you, I am all yours both body and goodes; for truelye I haue an ardaunte desyre to doo you some meditorious[766] dede, bicause that I haue euer frequented your seruyce.

Nowe herken what I haue found you, cautellous women. They that the pappes be sene all naked, their heyre combed and trussed in dyuers places merueylously, be vnreasonable fooles, for they dresse theim like voluptuous harlottes, that make their heyre to appere at theyr browes, yalowe as fine golde, made in lytel tresses for to drawe yonge folke to theyr loue. Some, for to haue their goodes, presenteth to theim their beddes for to take their carnall desires; and after that they haue taken all their disportes, they pill theim as an onion. The other, for to haue their plesures mondayne, cheseth theim that she loueth[767] best, and maketh sygnyfyaunce to theim, sayeng that she is anamoured on theim. Thou art a verye idyot so to abandone thy selfe vnto the vyle synne of lecherye, for thou lettest thy selfe be wrapped therein, lyke as a calfe or a shepe is bounde in a corde, in suche wise that ye can not vnbynde youre selfe. O foole, haue aspecte vnto that whiche thou commyttest! for thou puttest thy poore soule in great daunger of damnation eternall; thou puttest thy goodes, thyne vnderstandinge, and thy ioy, vnto dolorous perdicion: and for all that yee bee in your wor[l]dly pleasures, yet it is mengled with dystres or with mysery, greate thoughte or melancoly. I requyre thee, leue thy wor[l]dlye pleasures, that endureth no lenger then the grasse of the feelde. Yf you haue ioye one only momente, thou shalt haue twayne of sorow for it. Wee rede of Sardanapalus, that for his lecherye and lybidinosite fell into hell; the whiche put him selfe in the guise of a poore woman: his men, seinge hym so obstinate in that vile sinne, slewe him, and so fynished hee his dayes for folowinge of his pleasaunce mondayne. The soueraigne Creatour was more puyssante thenne this wretched sinner. Let vs not apply our selfe therto, sith that hee punysheth sinners so asprely; but with all our hertes enforce we our selfe for to resist againste that vyle and abhomynable sinne of lechery, the whiche is so full of enfeccion and bytternes, for it distayneth the soule of man. Fle frome the foolisshe women, that pylleth the louers vnto the harde bones, and you shal be beloued of God and also of the worlde.

[759] _The Boke of Three Fooles, &c._] From Marshe’s ed. of Skelton’s _Workes_, 1568.

[760] _constrayned_] Ed. “constrayneth.”

[761] _gathered_] Ed. “gathereth.”

[762] _is_] Ed. “in.”

[763] _their_] Ed. “these.”

[764] _Thesius_] See notes.

[765] _theim_] See notes.

[766] _meditorious_] Qy. “meritorious?”

[767] _she loueth_] Old copy, “we loue.”

_Honorificatissimo,[768] amplissimo, longeque reverendissimo in Christo patri, ac domino, domino Thomæ, &c. tituli sanctæ Ceciliæ, sacrosanctæ Romanæ ecclesiæ presbytero, Cardinali meritissimo, et apostolicæ sedis legato, a latereque legato superillustri, &c., Skeltonis laureatus, ora. reg., humillimum dicit obsequium cum omni debita reverentia, tanto tamque magnifico digna principe sacerdotum, totiusque justitiæ æquabilissimo moderatore, necnon præsentis opusculi fautore excellentissimo, &c., ad cujus auspicatissimam contemplationem, sub memorabili prelo gloriosæ immortalitatis, præsens pagella felicitatur, &c._

A REPLYCACION AGAYNST CERTAYNE YONG SCOLERS ABIURED OF LATE, &c.

_Argumentum._

_Crassantes nimium, nimium sterilesque labruscas,_
_Vinea quas Domini Sabaot non sustinet ultra_
_Laxius expandi, nostra est resecare voluntas._

_Cum privilegio a rege indulto._

Protestacion alway canonically prepensed, professed, and with good delyberacion made, that this lytell pamphilet, called the Replicacion of Skelton laureate, ora. reg., remordyng dyuers recrayed and moche vnresonable errours of certayne sophystycate scolers and rechelesse yonge heretykes lately abiured, &c. shall euermore be, with all obsequious redynesse, humbly submytted vnto the ryght discrete reformacyon of the reuerende prelates and moche noble doctours of our mother holy Churche, &c.

_Ad almam Universitatem Cantabrigensem, &c._

_Eulogium consolationis._

[Sidenote: Cantabrigia Skeltonidi laureato primam mammam eruditionis pientissime propinavit.]

_Alma parens O Cantabrigensis,_
_Cur lacrymaris? Esto, tui sint_
_Degeneres hi filioli, sed_
_Non ob inertes, O pia mater,_
_Insciolos vel decolor esto._
_Progenies non nobilis omnis,_
_Quam tua forsan mamma fovebat._
_Tu tamen esto Palladis almæ_
_Gloria pollens plena Minervæ,_
_Dum radiabunt astra polorum:_
_Jamque valeto, meque foveto,_
_Namque tibi quondam carus alumnus eram._

[Sidenote: Zebub musca inflativa sibilans ab austro, quæ intumescere facit hæresiarchas contra fidem orthodoxam, &c. h. il. Eruditionis exordium in tenera audacique juventa temperatæ moderationis frenum postulat. Alioquin scientia effrenata inflataque spuma elationis, quod dulce venenum est, subtiliter intoxicat interimitque incautum possessorem suum, &c. h. il. Non sit igitur tibi, Philologia, ratione intemperatæ loquacitatis suæ,[769] inordinatæ dicacitatis, incogitatæ procacitatis, in singultum et scrupulum cordis tui, &c. h. il. Eloquentiam sine sapientia prodesse nunquam, obesse plerumque, satis constat evidenter i. veterum rhetoris.]

Howe yong scolers nowe a dayes enbolned[770] with the flyblowen blast of the moche vayne glorious pipplyng wynde, whan they haue delectably lycked a lytell of the lycorous electuary of lusty lernyng, in the moche studious scolehous of scrupulous Philology, countyng them selfe clerkes exellently enformed and transcendingly sped in moche high connyng, and whan they haue ones superciliusly caught.

[Sidenote: Rhetoricari incomposite, logicari meticulose, philosophari perfunctorie, theologisari phrenetice, arguit in concionatore, nedum lucidum intervallum, sed continuam pertinacemque mentis alienationem, fæculentam, amurcatam, temulentam, &c. hæc il. Vos ergo elephantice evangelizantes, tanquam anseres strepentes intercanoros olores, relegamus ad tres grues bacchato Bromio initiatos, pro foribus Vinitoris, propter fluenta Thamisiæ. Ubi poti potati cum fasciculo inambusto ambustum futurum fasciculum pensitate, &c. hæc il.]

A lytell ragge of rethorike,
A lesse lumpe of logyke,
A pece or a patche of philosophy,
Than forthwith by and by
They tumble so in theology,
Drowned in dregges of diuinite,
That they iuge them selfe able to be
Doctours of the chayre in the Uyntre
At the Thre Cranes,
To magnifye their names: 10
But madly it frames,
For all that they preche and teche
Is farther than their wytte wyll reche.
Thus by demeryttes of their abusyon,
Finally they fall to carefull confusyon,
To beare a fagot, or to be enflamed:
Thus are they vndone and vtterly shamed.

_Ergo_
_Licet non enclitice,_
_Tamen enthymematice,_
_Notandum imprimis,_
_Ut ne quid nimis._
_Tantum pro primo._

[Sidenote: Stoicam sectam Zenon primus instituit. Juvenes sanguinolenti, propter libidinem dominandi et gloriam famæ, frequenter fieri solent seditiosi. hæc Dias. Perihermenias, Latine interpretatio, &c. Porphyrius floruit Athenis tempore Gordiani imperatoris CC.XLIX. &c. Analytica, libri priorum et posteriorum Aris. Topica, i. liber totalis de totalibus locis, &c. Presumere, est non audenda facere, &c. De idolatria[771] lege Hieronymum ad Jovenianum, &c. Idolatria dictio composita ex idolo (quod est simulacrum) et latria (quod est cultura) apud nos, &c. De latria, hyperdulia, dulia, quid sanctitas apostolica cum Constantino magno Constantinopoli ordinavit in concilio Latrensi, manifeste reperies et infra.]

Ouer this, for a more ample processe to be farther delated and contynued, and of euery true christenman laudably to be enployed, iustifyed, and constantly mainteyned; as touchyng the tetrycall theologisacion of these demy diuines, and Stoicall studiantes, and friscaioly yonkerkyns, moche better bayned than brayned, basked and baththed in their wylde burblyng and boyling blode, feruently reboyled with the infatuate flames of their rechelesse youthe and wytlesse wontonnesse, enbrased and enterlased with a moche fantasticall frenesy of their insensate sensualyte, surmysed vnsurely in their perihermeniall principles, to prate and to preche proudly and leudly, and loudly to lye; and yet they were but febly enformed in maister Porphiris problemes, and haue waded but weakly in his thre maner of clerkly workes, analeticall, topicall, and logycall: howbeit they were puffed so full of vaynglorious pompe and surcudant elacyon, that popholy and peuysshe presumpcion prouoked them to publysshe and to preche to people imprudent perilously, howe it was idolatry to offre to ymages of our blessed lady, or to pray and go on pylgrimages, or to make oblacions to any ymages of sayntes in churches or els where.

Agaynst whiche erronyous errours, odyous, orgulyous, and flyblowen opynions, &c.,

To the honour of our blessed lady,
And her most blessed baby,
I purpose for to reply 20

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O publici injuriatores sanctæ et apostolicæ ecclesiæ, &c.]

Agaynst this horryble heresy
Of these yong heretikes, that stynke vnbrent,
Whom I nowe sommon and content,
That leudly haue their tyme spent,

[Sidenote: O prodigiosa progenies, qualem de filio quæritis habere misericordiam, cujus matrem inficiamini esse matrem misericordiæ? Canit tamen universalis ecclesia, Salve, regina, mater misericordiæ, &c.]

In their study abhomynable,
Our glorious lady to disable,
And heynously on her to bable
With langage detestable;
With your lyppes polluted
Agaynst her grace disputed, 30
Whiche is the most clere christall
Of all pure clennesse virgynall,
That our Sauyour bare,
Whiche vs redemed from care.

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O Ariani, Juliano apostata execrabiliores, &c.]

I saye, thou madde Marche hare,
I wondre howe ye dare
Open your ianglyng iawes,
To preche in any clawes,
Lyke pratynge poppyng dawes,
Agaynst her excellence, 40
Agaynst her reuerence,
Agaynst her preemynence,
Agaynst her magnifycence,
That neuer dyde offence.

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O spurcissimi, O vilissimi, O nequissimi obtrectatores matris Christi, &c.]

Ye heretykes recrayed,
Wotte ye what ye sayed
Of Mary, mother and mayed?
With baudrie at her ye brayed;
With baudy wordes vnmete
Your tonges were to flete; 50
Your sermon was nat swete;
Ye were nothyng discrete;
Ye were in a dronken hete.
Lyke heretykes confettred,

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O insensati literarum professores, &c.]

Ye count your selfe wele lettred:
Your lernyng is starke nought,
For shamefully ye haue wrought,
And to shame your selfe haue brought.

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O Jebusæi, O Judæi, O Cananæi, O Pharisæi, &c.]

Bycause ye her mysnamed,
And wolde haue her defamed, 60
Your madnesse she attamed;
For ye were worldly shamed,
At Poules crosse openly,
All men can testifye;

[Sidenote: Non vacat, O contemptores Mariani, non vacat, inquam, quod digna factis recepistis in deiparæ virginis conceptione, &c. hæc il.]

There, lyke a sorte of sottes,
Ye were fayne to beare fagottes;
At the feest of her concepcion
Ye suffred suche correction.
_Sive per æquivocum,_
_Sive per univocum,_ 70
_Sive sic, sive_ nat so,
Ye are brought to, Lo, lo, lo!

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O malesani, vani, profani Christiani.]

Se where the heretykes go,
Wytlesse wandring to and fro!
With, Te he, ta ha, bo ho, bo ho!
And suche wondringes many mo.
Helas, ye wreches, ye may be wo!
Ye may syng wele away,
And curse bothe nyght and day,
Whan ye were bredde and borne, 80

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O Husiani, &c.]

And whan ye were preestes shorne,
Thus to be laughed to skorne,
Thus tattred and thus torne,
Thorowe your owne foly,
To be blowen with the flye
Of horryble heresy.
Fayne ye were to reny,
And mercy for to crye,
Or be brende by and by,
Confessyng howe ye dyde lye 90
In prechyng shamefully.
Your selfe thus ye discured
As clerkes vnassured,
With ignorance obscured:

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O Lutheriani.]

Ye are vnhappely vred.[772]
In your dialeticall
And principles silogisticall,
If ye to remembrance call
Howe _syllogisari_
_Non est ex particulari_ 100

[Sidenote: Neque non, neque legas.]

_Neque negativis_,
_Recte concludere si vis_,
_Et cætera id genus_,
Ye coude nat _corde tenus_,
Nor answere _verbo tenus_,
Whan prelacy you opposed;
Your hertes than were hosed,

[Sidenote: Quoniam ignorantibus suppositiones veritatis propositionum non relucent, &c.]

Your relacions reposed;
And yet ye supposed
_Respondere ad quantum_, 110
But ye were _confuse tantum_,
Surrendring your supposycions,
For there ye myst you[r] quosshons.
Wolde God, for your owne ease,

[Sidenote: Harpocrates digito labiis impresso admonuit silentium fieri in Isidis templo, &c.]

That wyse Harpocrates
Had your mouthes stopped,
And your tonges cropped,

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O coaxantes ranæ, &c.]

Whan ye logyke chopped,
And in the pulpete hopped,
And folysshly there fopped, 120
And porisshly forthe popped
Your sysmaticate sawes
Agaynst Goddes lawes,
And shewed your selfe dawes!

[Sidenote: Sunt præterea nonnulli hujus farinæ, de quibus hic non est narrandi locus.]

Ye argued argumentes,
As it were vpon the elenkes,
_De rebus apparentibus_
_Et non existentibus_;
And ye wolde appere wyse,
But ye were folysshe nyse: 130
Yet be meanes of that vyse
Ye dyde prouoke and tyse,
Oftnar than ones or twyse,
Many a good man
And many a good woman,
By way of their deuocion
To helpe you to promocion,
Whose charite wele regarded
Can nat be vnrewarded.

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O Herodiani.]

I saye it for no sedicion, 140
But vnder pacient tuicyon,
It is halfe a supersticyon
To gyue you exhibycion
To mainteyne with your skoles,
And to proue your selfe suche foles.
Some of you had ten pounde,
Therwith for to be founde
At the vnyuersyte,
Employed whiche myght haue be
Moche better other wayes. 150

[Sidenote: Obscurus sarcasmos.]

But, as the man sayes,
The blynde eteth many a flye:
What may be ment hereby,
Ye may soone make construction
With right lytell instruction;
For it is an auncyent brute,

[Sidenote: Ex fructibus eorum cognoscetis eos, &c.]

Suche apple tre, suche frute.
What shulde I prosecute,
Or more of this to clatter?
Retourne we to our matter. 160

[Sidenote: Sublimius æquo aucupium agunt, &c.]

Ye soored ouer hye
In the ierarchy
Of Iouenyans heresy,
Your names to magnifye,
Among the scabbed skyes

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O Wichliftistæ.]

Of Wycliffes flesshe flyes;
Ye strynged so Luthers lute,
That ye dawns all in a sute
The heritykes ragged ray,
That bringes you out of the way 170
Of holy churches lay;
Ye shayle _inter enigmata_
And _inter paradigmata_,
Marked in your cradels
To beare fagottes for babyls.
And yet some men say,
Howe ye are this day,
And be nowe as yll,
And so ye wyll be styll,
As ye were before. 180
What shulde I recken more?

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O verbosi sophistæ, &c.]

Men haue you in suspicion
Howe ye haue small contrycion
Of that ye haue myswrought:
For, if it were well sought,
One of you there was
That laughed whan he dyd pas
With his fagot in processyon;
He counted it for no correction,
But with scornefull affection 190
Toke it for a sporte,
His heresy to supporte;
Whereat a thousande gased,
As people halfe amased,
And thought in hym smale grace
His foly so to face.
Some iuged in this case
Your penaunce toke no place,
Your penaunce was to lyght;

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O díabolici dogmatistæ, &c.]

And thought, if ye had right, 200
Ye shulde take further payne
To resorte agayne
To places where ye haue preched,
And your lollardy lernyng teched,
And there to make relacion
In open predycacion,
And knowlege your offence
Before open audyence,
Howe falsely ye had surmysed,
And deuyllysshely deuysed 210
The[773] people to seduce,
And chase them thorowe the muse
Of your noughty counsell,
To hunt them into hell,
With blowyng out your hornes,
Full of mockysshe scornes,
With chatyng and rechatyng,
And your busy pratyng:
Of the gospell and the pystels

[Sidenote: Sunt plerique alii, sed non alieni, qui tantundem pæne enuntiant, &c.]

Ye pyke out many thystels, 220
And bremely with your bristels
Ye cobble and ye clout
Holy Scripture so about,
That people are in great dout
And feare leest they be out
Of all good Christen order.
Thus all thyng ye disorder
Thorowe out euery bord[e]r.

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, male docti legistæ, &c.]

It had ben moche better
Ye had neuer lerned letter, 230
For your ignorance is gretter,
I make you fast and sure,
Than all your lytterature.
Ye are but lydder _logici_,
But moche worse _isagogici_,
For ye haue enduced a secte
With heresy all infecte;
Wherfore ye are well checte,
And by holy churche correcte,
And in maner as abiecte, 240
For euermore suspecte,
And banysshed in effect
From all honest company,
Bycause ye haue eaten a flye,
To your great vyllony,
That neuer more may dye.

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O hypocritæ, &c.]

Come forthe, ye popeholy,
Full of melancoly;
Your madde ipocrisy,
And your idiosy, 250
And your vayne glorie,
Haue made you eate the flye,
Pufte full of heresy,
To preche it idolatry,
Who so dothe magnifye

[Sidenote: Maledictio Mariana descendat super capita vestra, O hæretici, cretici, phrenetici, &c.]

That glorious mayde Mary;
That glorious mayde and mother,
So was there neuer another
But that princesse alone,
To whom we are bounde echone 260
The ymage of her grace
To reuerence in euery place.

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O Machomitani, &c.]

I saye, ye braynlesse beestes,
Why iangle you suche iestes,
In your diuynite
Of Luthers affynite,
To the people of lay fee,
Raylyng in your rages
To worshyppe none ymages,
Nor do pylgrymages? 270
I saye, ye deuyllysshe pages,
Full of suche dottages,
Count ye your selfe good clerkes,
And snapper in suche werkes?

[Sidenote: Convenio vos, O dæmoniaci meridiani, &c.]

Saynt Gregorie and saynt Ambrose,
Ye haue reed them, I suppose,
Saynt Jerome and saynt Austen,
With other many holy men,
Saynt Thomas de Aquyno,
With other doctours many mo, 280
Whiche _de latria_ do trete;
They saye howe _latria_ is an honour grete,
Belongyng to the Deite:
To this ye nedes must agre.
But, I trowe, your selfe ye ouerse
What longeth to Christes humanyte.

[Sidenote: Nota de latria, hyperdulia, dulia, quid pro sancto sanxitum est Constantinopoli ab ecclesia catholica et apostolica iterum infringere; quid hoc sibi vult, fasciculum consulite inflammatum, &c.]

If ye haue reed _de hyperdulia_,
Than ye knowe what betokeneth _dulia_:
Than shall ye fynde it fyrme and stable,
And to our faithe moche agreable, 290
To worshyppe ymages of sayntes.
Wherfore make ye no mo restrayntes,
But mende your myndes that are mased;
Or els doutlesse ye shalbe blased,
And be brent at a stake,
If further busynesse that ye make.

[Sidenote: O medici, mediam pertundite venam.]

Therfore I vyse you to forsake
Of heresy the deuyllysshe scoles,
And crye Godmercy, lyke frantyke foles.

_Tantum pro secundo._

_Peroratio ad nuper abjuratos quosdam hypotheticos hæreticos, &c._