Chapter V: Part 5

Suche in the Senate ar taken oft to counsayle
With Statis of this and many a other region.
Whiche of theyr maners vnstable ar and frayle
Nought of Lawe Ciuyl knowinge nor Canon.
But wander in derknes clerenes they haue none.
O noble Rome thou gat nat thy honours
Nor general Empyre by suche Counsellours.

Whan noble Rome all the worlde dyd gouerne
Theyr councellers were olde men iust and prudent
Whiche egally dyd euery thynge descerne
Wherby theyr Empyre became so excellent
But nowe a dayes he shall haue his intent
That hath most golde, and so it is befall
That aungels worke wonders in westmynster hall.

There cursyd coyne makyth the wronge seme right
The cause of hym that lyueth in pouertye
Hath no defence, tuycion, strength nor myght
Suche is the olde custome of this faculte
That colours oft cloke Justyce and equyte
None can the mater fele nor vnderstonde
Without the aungell be weyghty in his honde

Thus for the hunger of syluer and of golde
Justyce and right is in captyuyte
And as we se nat gyuen fre, but solde
Nouther to estates, nor sympell comonte
And though that many lawyers rightwysnes be
Yet many other dysdayne to se the ryght
And they ar suche as blynde Justycis syght

There is one and other alleged at the barre
And namely suche as chrafty were in glose
Upon the lawe: the clyentis stande afarre
Full lytell knowynge howe the mater goose
And many other the lawes clene transpose
Folowynge the example, of lawyers dede and gone
Tyll the pore Clyentis be etyn to the bone

It is not ynough to conforme thy mynde
Unto the others faynyd opynyon
Thou sholde say trouthe, so Justyce doth the bynde
And also lawe gyueth the commyssyon
To knowe hir, and kepe hir without transgressyon
Lyst they whome thou hast Juged wrongfully
Unto the hye Juge for vengeaunce on the crye.

Perchaunce thou thynkest that god taketh no hede
To mannes dedys, nor workes of offence
Yes certaynly he knowes thy thought and dede
No thynge is secrete, nor hyd from his presence
Wherefore if thou wylt gyde the by prudence
Or thou gyue Jugement of mater lesse or more
Take wyse mennys reade and good counsayle before

Loke in what Balance, what weyght and what mesure
Thou seruest other. for thou shalt serued be
With the same after this lyfe I the ensure.
If thou ryghtwysly Juge by lawe and equyte
Thou shalt haue presence of goddes hyghe maiestye
But if thou Juge amys: than shall Eacus
(As Poetis sayth) hell Juge thy rewarde discusse

God is aboue and regneth sempiternally.
Whiche shall vs deme at his last Jugement,
And gyue rewardes to echone egally
After suche fourme as he his lyfe hath spent
Than shall we them se whome we as violent
Traytours: haue put to wronge in worde or dede
And after our deserte euen suche shall be our mede

There shall be no Bayle nor treatynge of maynpryse
Ne worldly wysdome there shall no thynge preuayle
There shall be no delayes vntyll another Syse
But outher quyt, or to infernall Gayle.
Ill Juges so iuged, Lo here theyr trauayle
Worthely rewarded in wo withouten ende.
Than shall no grace be graunted ne space to amende.

THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY THE TRANSLATOUR.

Therfore ye yonge Studentes of the Chauncery:
(I speke nat to the olde the Cure of them is past)
Remember that Justyce longe hath in bondage be
Reduce ye hir nowe vnto lybertye at the last.
Endeuer you hir bondes to louse or to brast
Hir raunsome is payde and more by a thousande pounde
And yet alas the lady Justyce lyeth bounde.

Thoughe your fore Faders haue take hir prysoner
And done hir in a Dongeon nat mete for hir degre
Lay to your handes and helpe hir from daungere
And hir restore vnto hir lybertye
That pore men and monyles may hir onys se
But certaynly I fere lyst she hath lost hir name
Or by longe prysonment shall after euer be lame.

* * * * *

Of Auaryce or Couetyse and prodygalyte.

He that is besy euery day and houre
Without mesure, maner, or moderacion
To gather riches and great store of treasoure
Therof no ioy takinge, confort nor consolacion.
He is a Fole: and of blynde and mad opynyon
For that which he getteth and kepeth wrongfully
His heyre often wasteth moche more vnthryftely.

While he here lyueth in this lyfe caduke and mortal.
Ful sore he laboureth: and oft hungry gothe to bed
Sparinge from hymselfe: for hym that neuer shal
After do hym goode. thoughe he were harde bested.
Thus is this Couetous wretche so blyndly led
By the fende that here he lyueth wretchydly
And after his deth damned eternally.

There wandreth he in dolour and derknes
Amonge infernall flodes tedyous and horryble
Let se what auayleth than all his ryches
Ungracyously gotyne, his paynes ar terryble
Than wolde he amende but it is inpossyble
In hell is no order nor hope of remedy
But sorowe vpon sorowe, and that euerlastyngly.

Yet fynde I another vyce as bad as this
Whiche is the vyce of prodygalyte
He spendyth all in ryot and amys
Without all order, pursuynge pouertye
He lyketh nat to lyue styll in prosperite
But all and more he wastyth out at large
(Beware the ende) is the leste poynt of his charge.

But of the couetous somwhat to say agayne
Thou art a fole thy soule to sell for riches
Or put thy body to labour or to payne
Thy mynde to fere, thy herte to heuynesse
Thou fole thou fleest no maner cruelnesse
So thou may get money, to make thy heyr a knyght
Thou sleest thy soule where as thou saue it myght

Thou hast no rest thy mynde is euer in fere
Of mysauenture, nor neuer art content
Deth is forgoten, thou carest nat a here
To saue thy soule from infernall punysshement
If thou be dampned, than art thou at thy stent
By thy ryches which thou here hast left behynde
To thy executours, thou shalt small comforte fynde

Theyr custome is to holde fast that they haue
Thy pore soule shall be farthest fro theyr thought
If that thy carkes be brought onys in the graue
And that they haue thy bagges in handes cought
What say they, than (by god the man had nought)
Whyle he here lyuyd he was to lyberall
Thus dampned is thy soule, thy ryches cause of all

Who wyll denay but it is necesary
Of riches for to haue plenty and store
To this opynyon I wyll nat say contrary
So it be ordred after holy lore
Whyle thy selfe leuest departe some to the pore
With thy owne hande trust nat thy executours
Gyue for god, and god shall sende at all houres

Rede Tullius warkes the worthy Oratour.
And writen shalt thou fynde in right fruteful sentence
That neuer wyseman loued ouer great honour.
Nor to haue great riches put ouer great diligence
But onely theyr mynde was set on Sapience
And quyetly to lyue in Just symplycite.
For in greatest honour is greatest ieoperdye.

He that is symple, and on the grounde doth lye
And that can be content with ynoughe or suffisaunce
Is surer by moche than he that lyeth on hye.
Nowe vp nowe downe vnsure as a Balaunce.
But sothly he that set wyll his plesance
Onely on wysdom and styl therfore labour.
Shal haue more goode than all erthly tresour.

Wysdom techeth to eschewe al offence.
Gydynge mankynde the ryght way to vertue.
But of couetyse Comys all Inconuenyence.
It cawseth man of worde to be vntrue.
Forswerynge and falshode doth it also ensue.
Brybery and Extorcion, murder and myschefe.
Shame is his ende: his lyuyinge is reprefe.

By couetyse Crassus brought was to his ende.
By it the worthy Romayns lost theyr name.
Of this one yl a thousand ylles doth descende.
Besyde enuy, Pryde, wretchydnes and Shame.
Crates the Philosopher dyd Couetyse so blame:
That to haue his mynde vnto his stody fre.
He threwe his Tresour all hole into the see.

But shortly to conclude. Both bodely bondage.
And gostly also: procedeth of this couetyse.
The soule is damned the body hath damage
As hunger, thyrst, and colde with other preiudice.
Bereft of the ioyes of heuenly Paradyse.
For golde was theyr god and that is left behynde
Theyr bodyes beryed the soule clene out of mynde

THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY TRANSLATOUR.

Therefore thou couetouse thou wretch I speke to the.
Amende thy selfe ryse out of this blyndenes.
Content the wyth ynoughe for thy degre.
Dam nat thy soule by gatheringe frayle riches
Remembre this is a Uale of wretchednes.
Thou shalt no rest nor dwellynge place here fynde.
Depart thou shalt and leue it al behynde.

* * * * *

Of newe fassions and disgised Garmentes.

Drawe nere ye Courters and Galants disgised
Ye counterfayt Caytifs, that ar nat content
As god hath you made: his warke is despysed
Ye thynke you more crafty than God onipotent.
Unstable is your mynde: that shewes by your garment.
A fole is knowen by his toyes and his Cote.
But by theyr clothinge nowe may we many note.

Aparayle is apayred. Al sadness is decayde
The garmentes ar gone that longed to honestye.
And in newe sortes newe Foles ar arayede
Despisynge the costom of good antiquyte.
Mannys fourme is disfigured with euery degre
As Knyght Squyer yeman Jentilman and knaue,
For al in theyr goynge vngoodely them behaue

The tyme hath ben, nat longe before our dayes
Whan men with honest ray coude holde them self content.
Without these disgised: and counterfayted wayes.
Wherby theyr goodes ar wasted, loste, and spent.
Socrates with many mo in wysdom excellent.
Bycause they wolde nought change that cam of nature
Let growe theyre here without cuttinge or scissure.

At that tyme was it reputed to lawde and great honour.
To haue longe here: the Beerde downe to the brest
For so they vsed that were of moste valour.
Stryuynge together who myht be godlyest
Saddest, moste clenely, discretest, and moste honest.
But nowe adayes together we contende and stryue.
Who may be gayest: and newest wayes contryue.

Fewe kepeth mesure, but excesse and great outrage
In theyr aparayle. And so therin they procede
That theyr goode is spent: theyr Londe layde to morgage.
Or solde out right: of Thryft they take no hede.
Hauinge no Peny them to socour at theyr nede.
So whan theyr goode by suche wastefulnes is loste.
They sel agayne theyr Clothes for half that they coste.

A fox furred Jentelman: of the fyrst yere or hede.
If he be made a Bailyf a Clerke or a Constable.
And can kepe a Parke or Court and rede a Dede
Than is Ueluet to his state mete and agreable.
Howbeit he were more mete to here a Babyl.
For his Foles Hode his iyen so sore doth blynde
That Pryde expelleth his lynage from his mynde.

Yet fynde I another sort almoste as bad as thay.
As yonge Jentylmen descended of worthy Auncetry.
Whiche go ful wantonly in dissolute aray.
Counterfayt, disgised, and moche vnmanerly
Blasinge and garded: to lowe or else to hye.
And wyde without mesure: theyr stuffe to wast thus gothe
But other some they suffer to dye for lacke of clothe.

Some theyr neckes charged with colers, and chaynes
As golden withtthes: theyr fyngers ful of rynges:
Theyr neckes naked: almoste vnto the raynes
Theyr sleues blasinge lyke to a Cranys wynges
Thus by this deuysinge suche counterfayted thinges
They dysfourme that figure that god hymselfe hath made
On pryde and abusion thus ar theyr myndes layde.

Than the Courters careles that on theyr mayster wayte
Seinge hym his Uesture in suche fourme abuse
Assayeth suche Fassion for them to counterfayte.
And so to sue Pryde contynually they muse.
Than stele they; or Rubbe they. Forsoth they can nat chuse.
For without Londe or Labour harde is it to mentayne.
But to thynke on the Galows that is a careful payne.

But be it payne or nat: there many suche ende.
At Newgate theyr garmentis ar offred to be solde.
Theyr bodyes to the Jebet solemly ascende.
Wauynge with the wether whyle theyr necke wyl holde.
But if I shulde wryte al the ylles manyfolde.
That procedeth of this counterfayt abusion
And mysshapen Fassions: I neuer shulde haue done.

For both States, comons, man, woman, and chylde
Ar vtterly inclyed to this inconuenyence.
But namely therwith these Courters are defyled.
Bytwen mayster and man I fynde no dyfference.
Therfore ye Courters knowledge your offence.
Do nat your errour mentayne, support nor excuse.
For Fowles ye ar your Rayment thus to abuse.

To Shyp Galauntes come nere I say agayne.
Wyth your set Busshes Curlynge as men of Inde.
Ye counterfayted Courters come with your fleinge brayne
Expressed by these variable Garmentes that ye fynde.
To tempt chast Damsels and turne them to your mynde
Your breste ye discouer and necke. Thus your abusion
Is the Fendes bate. And your soules confusion.

Come nere disgysed foles: receyue your Foles Hode.
And ye that in sondry colours ar arayde.
Ye garded galantes wastinge thus your goode
Come nere with your Shertes brodered and displayed.
In fourme of Surplys. Forsoth it may be sayde.
That of your Sort right fewe shal thryue this yere.
Or that your faders werith suche Habyte in the Quere.

And ye Jentyl wymen whome this lewde vice doth blynde
Lased on the backe: your peakes set a loft.
Come to my Shyp. forget ye nat behynde.
Your Sadel on the tayle: yf ye lyst to sit soft.
Do on your Decke Slut: if ye purpos to come oft.
I mean your Copyntanke: And if it wyl do no goode.
To kepe you from the rayne. ye shall haue a foles hode.

By the ale stake knowe we the ale hous
And euery Jnne is knowen by the sygne
So a lewde woman and a lechcrous
Is knowen by hir clothes, be they cours or fyne
Folowynge newe fassyons, not graunted by doctryne
The bocher sheweth his flesshe it to sell
So doth these women dampnyng theyr soule to hell

What shall I more wryte of our enormyte
Both man and woman as I before haue sayde
Ar rayde and clothyd nat after theyr degre
As nat content with the shape that god hath made
The clenlynes of Clergye is nere also decayed.
Our olde apparale (alas) is nowe layde downe
And many prestes asshamed of theyr Crowne.

Unto laymen we vs refourme agayne
As of chryste our mayster in maner halfe asshamed
My hert doth wepe: my tunge doth sore complayne
Seing howe our State is worthy to be blamed.
But if all the Foly of our Hole Royalme were named
Of mys apparayle of Olde, young, lowe, and hye,
The tyme shulde fayle: and space to me denye.

Alas thus al states of Chrysten men declynes.
And of wymen also disfourmynge theyr fygure.
Wors than the Turkes, Jewes, or Sarazyns.
A Englonde Englonde amende or be thou sure
Thy noble name and fame can nat endure
Amende lyst god do greuously chastyce.
Bothe the begynners and folowes of this vyce.

THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY YE TRANSLATOUR.

Reduce courters clerly vnto your rembrance
From whens this disgysyng was brought wherein ye go
As I remember it was brought out of France.
This is to your plesour. But payne ye had also.
As French Pockes hote ylles with other paynes mo.
Take ye in good worth the swetnes with the Sour.
For often plesour endeth with sorowe and dolour.

But ye proude Galaundes that thus yourselfe disgise
Be ye asshamed. beholde vnto your Prynce.
Consyder his sadnes: His honestye deuyse
His clothynge expresseth his inwarde prudence
Ye se no Example of suche Inconuenyence
In his hyghnes: but godly wyt and grauyte.
Ensue hym: and sorowe for your enormyte.

Away with this pryde, this statelynes let be
Rede of the Prophetis clothynge or vesture
And of Adam firste of your ancestrye
Of Johnn the Prophete, theyr clothynge was obscure
Uyle and homly, but nowe what creature
Wyll then eusue, sothly fewe by theyr wyll
Therfore suche folys my nauy shall fulfyll

* * * * *

Of old folys that is to say the longer they lyue the more they ar gyuen to foly.

The madnes of my youthe rotyd in my age
And the blynde foly of my iniquite
Wyll me nat suffer to leue myne old vsage
Nor my fore lyuynge full of enormyte
Lame ar his lymmys, and also I can nat se
I am a childe and yet lyuyd haue I
An hundreth wynter, encresynge my foly.

But though I myght lerne my wyll is nat therto
But besy I am and fully set my thought
To gyue example to children to mysdo
By my lewde doctryne bryngynge them to nought
And whan they ar onys into my daunce brought
I teche them my foly wysdome set asyde
My selfe example, begynner, and theyr gyde.

My lewde lyfe, my foly and my selfwyllyd mynde
Whiche I haue styll kept hytherto in this lyfe
In my testament I leue wryten behynde
Bequethyng parte both to man childe and wyfe
I am the actour of myschefe and of stryfe
The foly of my youth and the inconuenyence
In age I practyse, techynge by experyence

I am a fole and glad am of that name
Desyrynge lawde for eche vngracious dede
And of my foly to spred abrode the same
To showe my vyce and synne, as voyde of drede
Of heuen or hell. therfore I take no hede
But as some stryue disputynge of theyr cunnynge
Right so do I in lewdnes and myslyuynge.

Somtyme I bost me of falshode and dysceyt
Somtyme of the sede that sawyn is by me
Of all myschefe, as murder flatery debate
Couetyse bacbytynge theft and lechery
My mynde is nat to mende my iniquyte
But rather I sorowe that my lyfe is wore
That I can nat do as I haue done before

But syns my lyfe so sodaynly dothe apeyre
That byde I can nat styll in this degre
I shall infourme and teche my sone and heyre
To folowe his fader, and lerne this way of me
The way is large, god wot glad shall he be
Lernynge my lore with affeccion and desyre
And folowe the steppys of his vnthryfty syre

I trust so crafty and wyse to make the lad
That me his father he shall pas and excell
O that my herte shall than be wonder glad
If I here of may knowe, se, or here tell
If he be false faynynge sotyll or cruell
And so styll endure I haue a speciall hope
To make hym scrybe to a Cardynall or Pope.

Or els if he can be a fals extorcyoner
Fasynge and bostynge to scratche and to kepe
He shall be made a comon costomer
As yche hope of Lyn Calays or of Depe
Than may he after to some great offyce crepe
So that if he can onys plede a case
He may be made Juge of the comon place.

Thus shall he lyue as I haue all his dayes
And in his age increas his folysshenes
His fader came to worshyp by suche ways
So shall the sone, if he hym selfe addres
To sue my steppes in falshode and lewdnes
And at leste if he can come to no degre
This shyp of folys shall he gouerne with me

BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.

Awake age alas what thynkest thou be
Awake I say out of thy blynde derkenes
Remembrest thou nat that shortly thou shalt dye
Aryse from synne amende thy folysshenes
Though thy youth reted were in vyciousnes
Aryse in age is full tyme to leue it
Thy graue is open thy one fote in the pyt

Leue thy bostynge of that thou hast done amys
Bewayle thy synnes, sayeng with rufull mone
Delicta iuuentutis mee deus ne memineris
Amende the or thy youth be fully gone
That sore is harde to hele that bredes in the bone
He that is nought yonge, procedynge so in age
Shall skant euer his vyciousnes asswage

What thinge is more abhomynable in goddes syght.
Than vicious age: certaynly no thynge.
It is eke worldly shame, whan thy corage and mycht
Is nere dekayed, to kepe thy lewde lyuynge.
And by example of the, thy yonge children to brynge.
Into a vicious lyfe: and all goodnes to hate.
Alas age thus thou art the Fendes bate.

* * * * *

Of the erudicion of neglygent faders anenst theyr chyldren.

A myserable Fole euermore shal he be.
A wretche vnauysed, and a Catyf blynde.
Whiche his chyldren fawtes forseth nat to see
Hauynge no care for to induce theyr mynde
To godly vertue: and vyce to leue behynde.
For whyle they ar yonge fereful and tender of age
Theyre vyce and foly is easy to asswage.

Two dyuers sortes of these foles may we fynde.
By whome theyr chyldren ar brought to confusion.
The one is neglygent. the other is starke blynde.
Nat wyllynge to beholde his childes yl condicion.
Whyle he is in youthe: But for a conclusion
He is a Fole that wyl nat se theyr vyce.
And he that seyth: and wyl it nat chastyce.

Alas thou art a cursed counselloure
To wanton youth that tender is of age
To let them wander without gouernoure
Or wyse mayster, in youthes furious rage
Get them a mayster theyr foly to asswage
For as a herdles flocke strayth in Jepardy
So children without gyde wandreth in foly.

To moche lyberty pleasoure and lycence
Gyuen vnto youth, whether it be or age
Right often causyth great inconuenyence
As ryot mysrule with other sore damage
Theyr londe and goodes solde or layde to gage
But thou folysshe father art redy to excuse
Thy yonge children of theyr synne and abuse

Thou sayst they ar ouer tender to eschewe
Theyr folysshe maners and they haue no skyll
To knowe the wayes of goodnes or vertue
Nor to discerne what is gode, what is yll
Thou blynde dodart these wordes holde thou styll
Theyr youth can nat excuse thy folysshenes
He that can yll as well myght lerne goodnes

A yonge hert is as apt to take wysdome
As is an olde, and if it rotyd be
It sawyth sede of holy lyfe to come
Also in children we often tymes se
Great aptness outwarde and syne of grauyte
But fyll an erthen pot first with yll lycoure
And euer after it shall smell somwhat soure

So youth brought vp in lewdnes and in sin
Shall skant it shrape so clene out of his mynde
But that styll after some spot wyll byde within
A lytell twygge plyant is by kynde
A bygger braunche is harde to bowe or wynde
But suffer the braunche to a byg tre to growe
And rather it shall brake than outher wynde or bowe

Correct thy childe whyle he is lyke a twygge
Soupyll and plyant, apt to correccion
It wyll be harde forsoth whan he is bygge
To brynge his stubron herte to subieccion
What hurtyth punysshement with moderacion
Unto yonge children, certaynely no thynge
It voydeth vyce, gettynge vertue and cunnynge

Say folysshe fader haddest thou leuer se
Thy sonnes necke vnwrested wyth a rope.
Than with a rod his skyn shulde brokyn be.
And oft thou trustest: and hast a stedfast hope
To se thy son promoted nere as hye as is the Pope
But yet perchaunce mourne thou shalt ful sore.
For his shameful ende: fortuned for lacke of lore.

Some folowe theyr chyldrens wyl and lewde plesour
So grauntinge them theyr mynde: that after it doth fal
To theyr great shame: they sorowe and dolour
As dyd to Priamus a Kynge Imperial
Whiche suffred his men: his son chefe of them al
By force from Grece to robbe the fayre Helayne.
Wherby both Fader and son were after slayne.

With noble Hector and many thousandes mo.
The Cyte of Troy vnto the ground clene brent.
I rede in the Cronycles of the Romayns also
Howe Tarquyne the proude had shame and punysshment
For rauysshynge chaste Lucres agaynst hyr assent.
Wherfore hyrselfe she slewe hyr seynge thus defiled.
For the which dede this Tarquyn was exiled,

From Rome: wandrynge in the Costes of Italy.
Dyd nat the traytour Catelyne also conspyre
And many mo sworne to his cruel tyranny
Agaynst the Romans to oppresse theyr Impyre,
But he and all his were murdred for theyr hyre,
And nat vnworthely. Beholde wherto they come
Which ar nat enfourmed in youth to ensue wysdom.

The son oft foloweth the faders behauour
And if the fader be discrete and vertuous.
The son shal suche wayes practyse both day and hour.
But if that the fader be lewde and vicious
By falshode lyuynge: and by wayes cautelous.
The son also the same wayes wyl ensue
And that moche rather than goodnes or vertue

Therfore it nedeth that better prouysion.
Were founde for youthe by sad and wyse counsayle
Far from theyr faders of this condicion.
And other lewde gydes which myght theyr myndes assayle
Greuously wyth syn. So were it theyr auayle
From theyr faders frawde and falshode to declyne
And them submyt to some lawdable mannys doctryne.

Peleus, somtyme a noble and worthy kynge
Subdued Achylles vnto the doctryne
Of phenix whiche was both worthy and cunnynge
Wherfore Achyllys right gladly dyd enclyne
With his hert and mynde vnto his disciplyne
Wherby his name so noble was at the last
That all Asy in worthynes he past

Ryght so Philippus a kynge worthy of name
Ouer all Grece made great iniquicion
To fynde one wyse, sad and laudable of fame
To Alexander his sonne for to gyue Instruccion
Founde was great Aristotyl at the conclusion
Disciple of Plato. whiche in euery Science.
Infourmed this chylde with parfyte diligence.

Whiche Alexander afterward had so great dignyte.
What by his strength, his cunnynge, and boldenes.
That he was lorde both of Londe and See.
And none durst rebel aganst his worthynes.
Lo here the lawde, the honour, and nobles.
Which dothe procede of vertue and doctryne
But few ar the faders that nowe hereto inclyne

Fewe ar that forceth nowe adayes to se
Theyr chyldren taught: or to do any cost
On som sad man, wyse, and of auctorite:
Al that is theron bestowed thynke they loste.
The folyssh Fader oft tymes maketh great boste.
That he his son to habundant riches shal auance
But no thynge he speketh of vertuous gouernance.

The feder made but smal shyft or prouysion.
To induce his Son by vertuous doctryne.
But whan he is dede and past: moche les shal the son
To stody of grace his mynde or hert inclyne.
But abuse his reason: and from al good declyne.
Alas folysshe faders gyue your aduertence
To Crates complaynt comprysed in this sentence.

If it were graunted to me to shewe my thought
Ye follysshe faders Caytifes I myght you cal
Whiche gather riches to brynge your chylde to nought.
Gyuynge him occasion forto be prodigal.
But goode nor cunnynge shewe ye hym none at all.
But whan ye drawe to age, ye than moste comonly.
Sorowe for your suffrance. But without remedy.

An olde sore to hele is oft halfe incurable
Ryght so ar these Chyldren roted in myschefe
Some after euer lyueth a lyfe abhomynable
To all theyr Kyn great sorowe and reprefe.
The one is a murderer the other a fereles thefe,
The one of god nor goode man hath no fors ne care.
Another so out wasteth that his frendes ar ful bare.

Some theyr londe and lyuelode in riot out wasteth,
At cardes, and, tenys, and other vnlawful gamys.
And some wyth the Dyce theyr thryft away casteth.
Some theyr soule damnes, and theyr body shames.
With flesshly lust: which many one dyffamys.
Spendynge the floures of youth moche vnthryftely.
On dyuers Braunches that longe to Lechery.

Another delyteth hymselfe in Glotony.
Etynge and drynkynge without maner, or mesure:
The more that some drynke: the more they wax drye.
He is moste Galant whyche lengest can endure.
Thus without mesure ouercharge they theyr nature.
So that theyr Soule is loste theyr body and goode is spent.
For lacke of doctryne, Norture and punysshment.

Se here playne prose, example and euydence
Howe youthe which is nat norysshed in doctryne.
In age is gyuen vnto al Inconuenyence.
But nought shall make youthe soner forto inclyne.
To noble maners: nor Godly dysciplyne:
Than shal the doctryne of a mayster wyse and sad:
For the rote of vertue and wysdome therby is had.

Without dout Noblenes is moche excellent
Whiche oft causeth youth to be had in great honour.
To haue the name, and lawde they ar content.
Thoughe it be nat gotten by theyr owne labour.
But what auayleth them this lewde obscure errour
Of suche hye byrthe them self to magnyfy.
Sythe they defyle it with vice and Uilany.

Why art thou proude thou foul of that nobles
Whyche is nat gotten by thyne owne vertue.
By thy goode maners, wyt nor worthynes:
But this forsothe oft tymes fynde I true
That of a goode beste, yl whelpes may weshewe.
In lyke wyse of a Moder that is bothe chast and goode.
Often is brought forth a ful vngracious Brode.

But though the childe be of lewde condicion
And of his nature frowarde and varyable
If the fader be slacke in the correccion
Of his childe, he onely is culpable
Whiche wyll nat teche hym maners commendable
Thus is the fader a fole for his suffraunce
And the sone also for his mysgouernaunce

THE ENUOY.

Auoyd faders your fauour and suffraunce
Anenst your children in theyr faute and offence
Reduce ye clerely vnto your remembraunce
That many a thousande inconuenyence
Haue children done by theyr faders negligence
But to say trouth brefely in one clause
The fader's fauour onely is the cause

* * * * *

Of tale berers, fals reporters, and prometers of stryfes.

Some ar that thynke the pleasoure and ioy of theyr lyfe
To brynge men in brawlynge to discorde and debate
Enioynge to moue them to chydynge and to stryfe
And where loue before was to cause mortall hate
With the comonty, and many great estate
Suche is moche wors than outher murderer or thefe
For ofte of his talys procedeth grete myschefe

Within his mouth is venym Jeperdous and vyle
His tonge styll laboryth lesynges to contryue
His mynde styll museth of falshode and on gyle
Therwith to trobyll suche as gladly wolde nat stryue
Somtyme his wordes as dartis he doth dryue
Agaynst good men: for onely his delyte.
Is set to sclaunder to diffame and bacbyte.

And namely them that fautles ar and innocent.
Of conscience clene, and maners commendable
These dryuyls sclaunder, beynge full dilygent.
To deuyde, louers that ar moste agreable
His tonge Infect his mynde abhomynable
Infectyth loue and ouertourneth charyte
Of them that longe tyme haue lyuyd in amyte

But he that accused is thus without all faute
And so sclaundred of this caytyf vnthryfty
Knowyth nought of this ieoperdous assaute
For he nought dowteth that is no thynge fauty
Thus whyle he nought feryth comyth sodaynly
This venemous doloure distaynynge his gode name
And so gyltles put to rebuke, and to shame.

Thus if one serche and seke the worlde ouerall
Than a backbyter nought is more peryllous
His mynde myscheuous, his wordys ar mortall
His damnable byt is foule and venemous
A thousande lyes of gyles odyous
He castyth out where he wolde haue debate
Engendrynge murder whan he his tyme can wayt

Where as any frendes lyueth in accorde
Faythfull and true: this cowarde and caytyf
With his fals talys them bryngeth to dyscorde
And with his venym kepeth them in stryfe
But howe beit that he thus pas forth his lyfe
Sawynge his sede of debate and myschefe
His darte oft retourneth to his own reprefe

But nat withstandynge, suche boldely wyl excuse
His fals dyffamynge: as fautles and innocent.
If any hym for his dedes worthely accuse
He couereth his venym: as symple of intent.
Other ar whiche flater: and to euery thynge assent.
Before face folowynge the way of adulacion,
Whiche afterwarde sore hurteth by detraccion.

The worlde is nowe alle set on dyffamacion.
Suche ar moste cherisshed that best can forge a tale.
Whych shulde be moste had in abhomynacion.
And so they ar of wyse men without fayle.
But suche as ar voyde of wysdom and counsayle
Inclyneth theyr erys to sclander and detraccion,
Moche rather than they wolde to a noble sermon.

But euery Sclanderer, and begynner of stryfe.
Lousers of loue, and infecters of Charite.
Unworthy ar to lyue here at large in this lyfe.
But in derke Dongeon they worthy ar to be.
And there to remayne in pryson tyl they dye.
For with there yl tunges they labour to destroy
Concorde: whiche cause is of loue and of ioy.

An olde quean that hath ben nought al hyr dayes.
Whiche oft hath for money hyr body let to hyre
Thynketh that al other doth folowe hyr olde wayes.
So she and hyr boul felawes syttinge by the fyre.
The Boule about walkynge with theyr tunges they conspyre
Agaynst goode peple, to sclander them wyth shame.
Than shal the noughty doughter lerne of the bawdy dame.

By his warkes knowen is euery creature
For if one good, louynge, meke and charitable be.
He labours no debates amonge men to procure.
But coueyteth to norysshe true loue and charite.
Where as the other ful of falshode and iniquyte
Theyr synguler plesour put to ingender variaunce.
But oft theyr folysshe stody retournes to theyr myschaunce

Therfore ye bacbyters that folke thus dyffame
Leue of your lewdnes and note wel this sentence.
Which Cryist hymself sayd: to great rebuke and shame
Unto them that sclandreth a man of Innocence.
Wo be to them whych by malyuolence
Slandreth or dyffameth any creature.
But wel is hym that wyth pacience can indure.

* * * * *

Of hym that wyll nat folowe nor ensue good counsell, and necessary.

He is a fole that dothe coueyt and desyre
To haue the name of wysdome and prudence
And yet of one sought thorugh a cyte or a shyre
None coude be founde of lesse wysdome nor science
But whyle he thynketh hym full of sapience
Crafty and wyse, doutles he is more blynde
Than is that fole whiche is out of his mynde

But though he be wyse, and of myght meruaylous
Endued with retoryke and with eloquence
And of hym selfe both ware and cautelous
If he be tachyd with this inconuenyence
To dysdayne others counseyll and sentence
He is vnwyse, for oft a folys counsayle
Tourneth a wyse man to consort and auayle

But specially the read and auysement
Of wyse men, discrete, and full of grauyte
Helpeth thyne owne, be thou never so prudent
To thy purpose gyuynge strength and audacyte.
One man alone knowys nat all polycye
Thoughe thou haue wysdome cunnynge and scyence
Yet hath another moche more experience

Some cast out wordes in paynted eloquence
Thynkynge therby to be reputed wyse
Thoughe they haue neyther wysdome nor science
Suche maner folys them self do exercyse
A plughe and teame craftely to deuyse
To ere the path that folys erst hath made
The trouth vnder glose of suche is hyd and layde

For why, they trust alway to theyr owne mynde
And furour begon whether it be good or yll
As if any other, no wyser read coude fynde
Thus they ensue theyr pryuate folysshe wyll
Oft in suche maters wherin they haue no skyll
As did Pyrrus whiche began cruell Batayle
Agaynst Orestes refusynge wyse counsayle

But folowyd his owne rasshe mynde without auayle
As blynde and obstynat of his intencion
Wherfore he was disconfyted in Batayle
Hymselfe slayne, his men put to confusyon
If that the Troyans in theyr abusyon
With false Parys, had confourmed theyr intent
To Helenns counsayle Troy had nat ben brent.

For that Priamus his mynde wolde nat aply
To the counseyll of Cassandra Prophetes
The grekys distroyed a great parte of Asy
Hector also by his selfwyllydnes
Was slayne with Peyn for all his doughtynes
Of Achylles in open and playne Batayle
For nat folowynge of his faders counsayle

If Hector that day had byddyn within Troy
And vnto his fader bene obedient
Perchaunce he sholde haue lyuyd in welth and ioy
Longe tyme after and come to his intent
Whereas his body was with a spere through rent
Of the sayd Achyllys cruell and vnkynde
Alas for suynge his owne selfwyllyd mynde

I rede of Nero moche cursed and cruell
Whiche to wyse counsayle hymself wolde nat agre
But in all myschef all other dyd excell
Delytynge hym in synne and crueltye
But howe dyde he ende forsoth in myserye
And at the last as wery of his lyfe
Hymselfe he murdred with his owne hand and knyfe

The Bybyll wytnessyth howe the prophete Thoby
Gaue his dere sone in chefe commaundement
That if he wolde lyue sure without ieoperdy
He sholde sue the counsayle of men wyse and prudent
The story of Roboam is also euydent
Whiche for nat suynge of counseyll and wysdome
Lost his Empyre, his scepter and kyngdome

If that it were nat for cawse of breuyte
I coude shewe many of our predecessours
Whiche nat folowynge counceyll of men of grauyte
Soone haue decayed from theyr olde honours
I rede of Dukes, Kynges, and Emperours
Whiche dispysynge the counsayle of men of age
Haue after had great sorowe and damage.

For he suerly whiche is so obstynate
That onely he trusteth to his owne blyndnes
Thynkynge all wysdome within his dotynge pate
He often endyth in sorowe and dystres
Wherfore let suche theyr cours swyftly addres
To drawe our Plough, and depe to ere the ground
That by theyr laboure all folys may be founde.

THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY THE TRANSLATOUR.

O man vnauysed, thy blyndnes set asyde
Knowledge thy owne foly thy statelynes expel
Let nat for thy eleuate mynde nor folysshe pryde,
To order thy dedes by goode and wyse counsel
Howbeit thou thynke thy reason doth excel
Al other mennys wyt. yet oft it doth befall.
Anothers is moche surer: and thyn the worst of all.

* * * * *

Of disordred and vngoodly maners.

In this our tyme small is the company
That haue good maners worthy of reuerence
But many thousandes folowe vylany
Prone to all synne and inconuenyence
Stryuynge who sonest may come to all offence
Of lewde condicions and vnlefulnesse
Blyndnes of yll, and defylyd folysshenesse

All myserable men alas haue set theyr mynde
On lothsome maners clene destytute of grace
Theyr iyen dymmyd, theyr hertes are so blynde
That heuenly ioy none forceth to purchace
Both yonge and olde procedeth in one trace
With ryche and pore without all dyfference
As bonde men subdued to foly and offence

Some ar busshed theyr bonetes, set on syde.
Some waue theyr armys and hede to and fro
Some in no place can stedfastly abyde
More wylde and wanton than outher buk or do
Some ar so proude that on fote they can nat go
But get they must with countenaunce vnstable
Shewynge them folys, frayle and varyable

Some chyde that all men do them hate
Some gygyll and lawgh without grauyte
Some thynkes, hymselfe a gentylman or state
Though he a knaue caytyf and bonde churle be
These folys ar so blynde them self they can nat so
A yonge boy that is nat worth an onyon
With gentry or presthode is felowe and companyon.

Brybours and Baylyes that lyue upon towlynge
Are in the world moche set by nowe a dayes
Sergeauntis and Catchpollys that lyue upon powlynge
Courters and caytyfs begynners of frayes
Lyue styll encreasynge theyr vnhappy wayes
And a thousande mo of dyuers facultyes
Lyue auauntynge them of theyr enormytees.

Within the chirche and euery other place
These folys use theyr lewde condicions
Some starynge some cryeng some haue great solace
In rybawde wordes, some in deuysyons
Some them delyte in scornes and derysons
Some pryde ensueth and some glotony.
Without all norture gyuen to vylany

Theyr lyfe is folysshe lothsome and vnstable
Lyght brayned, theyr herte and mynde is inconstant
Theyr gate and loke proude and abhomynable
They haue nor order as folys ignorant
Chaungyng theyr myndes thryse in one instant
Alas this lewdnes and great enormyte
Wyll them nat suffer theyr wretchydnes to se

Thus ar these wretchyd caytyfes fully blynde
All men and wymen that good ar doth them hate
But he that with good maners endueth his mynde
Auoydeth this wrath hatered and debate
His dedes pleaseth both comonty and estate
And namely suche as ar good and laudable
Thynketh his dedes right and commendable

As wyse men sayth: both vertue and cunnynge
Honoure and worshyp grace and godlynes
Of worthy maners take theyr begynnynge
And fere also asswagyth wantones.
Subduynge the furour of youthes wylfulnes
But shamefastnes trouth constance and probyte
Both yonge and olde bryngeth to great dignyte.

These foresayde vertues with charite and peas.
Together assembled stedfast in mannys mynde.
Cawseth his honour and worthynes to encreas.
And his godly lyfe a godly ende shal fynde
But these lewde caytyfs which doth theyr myndes blynde
With corrupt maners lyuynge vnhappely.
In shame they lyue and wretchedly they dye.

* * * * *

Of brekynge and hurtynge of amyte and frendshyp.

A Fole frowarde cruell and vntrewe
Is he whiche by his power wrongfully
His frendes and subiectes laboures to subdewe
Without all lawe, but clene by tyranny
Therfore thou Juge thy erys se thou aply
To right Justyce and set nat thyne intent
By wrath or malyce to be to vyolent.

It is nat lawfull to any excellent
Or myghty man, outher lawyer or estate
By cruelnes to oppresse an innocent
Ne by pryde and malyce Justyce to violate
The law transposynge after a frowarde rate
With proude wordes defendynge his offence
God wot oft suche haue symple conscience

O that he cursed is and reprouable
Whiche day and nyght stodyeth besely
To fynde some meanes false and detestable
To put his frende to losse or hurte therby
Our hertes ar fully set on vylany
There ar right fewe of hye or lowe degre
That luste to norysshe trewe loue and amyte

Alas exyled is godly charyte
Out of our Royalme we all ar so vnkynde
Our folys settyth gretter felycyte
On golde and goodes than on a faythfull frynde
Awake blynde folys and call vnto your mynde
That though honest ryches be moche commendable
Yet to a true frende it is nat comparable

Of all thynges loue is moste profytable
For the right order of lowe and amyte
Is of theyr maners to be agreable
And one of other haue mercy and pyte
Eche doynge for other after theyr degre
And without falshode this frendeshyp to mayntayne
And nat departe for pleasour nor for payne

But alas nowe all people haue dysdayne
On suche frendshyp for to set theyr delyte
Amyte we haue exyled out certayne
We lowe oppressyon to sclaunder and bacbyte
Extorcyon hath strength, pyte gone is quyte
Nowe in the worlde suche frendes ar there none
As were in Grece many yeres agone.

Who lyst thystory of Patroclus to rede
There shall he se playne wryten without fayle
Howe whan Achyllys gaue no force nor hede
Agaynst the Troyans to execute batayle
The sayd Patroclus dyd on the aparayle
Of Achylles, and went forth in his steade
Agaynst Hector: but lyghtly he was dede.

But than Achylles seynge this myschaunce.
Befallen his frende whiche was to hym so true.
He hym addressyd shortly to take vengeaunce.
And so in Batayle the noble Hector slewe
And his dede cors after his charot drewe.
Upon the grounde traylynge ruthfully behynde
Se howe he auengyd Patroclus his frende.

The hystory also of Orestes dothe expresse
Whiche whan agamenon his fader was slayne
By egystus whiche agaynst rightwysnes
The sayde Orestis moder dyd meyntayne
The childe was yonge wherfore it was but vayne
In youth to stryue, but whan he came to age
His naturall moder slewe he in a rage

And also Egystus whiche had his fader slayne
Thus toke he vengeaunce of both theyr cruelnes
But yet it grewe to his great care and payne
For sodaynly he fell in a madnesse
And euer thought that in his furiousnes
His moder hym sued flamynge full of fyre
And euer his deth was redy to conspyre

Orestes troubled with this fereful vysyon
As franatyke and mad wandred many a day
Ouer many a countrey londe and regyon
His frende Pylades folowynge hym alway
In payne nor wo he wolde hym nat denay
Tyll he restoryd agayne was to his mynde
Alas what frynde may we fynde nowe so kynde.

Of dymades what shall I lawde or wryte.
And Pythias his felawe amyable
Whiche in eche other suche loue had and delyte
That whan Denys a tyrant detestable
And of his men some to hym agreable
Wolde one of them haue mordred cruelly
Echone for other offred for to dye

Ualerius wrytyth a story longe and ample
Of Lelius and of worthy Cipio.
Whiche of trewe loue hath left vs great example
For they neuer left in doloure wele nor wo
I rede in thystory of Theseus also:
Howe he (as the Poetes fables doth tell)
Folowyd his felawe perothus in to hell.

And serchynge hym dyd wander and compas
Those lothsome flodys and wayes tenebrous
Ferynge no paynes of that dysordred place
Nor obscure mystes or ayres odyous
Tyll at the laste by his wayes cautelous
And Hercules valyaunt dedes of boldnesse
He gat Perothus out of that wretchydnesse.

Alas where ar suche frendes nowe a dayes
Suerly in the worlde none suche can be founde
All folowe theyr owne profyte and lewde wayes
None vnto other coueytys to be bounde
Brekers of frendshyp ynough ar on the grounde
Whiche set nought by frendshyp so they may haue good
All suche in my shyp shall haue a folys hode

THE ENUOY OF BARKLAY TO THE FOLYS.

Ye cruell folys full of ingratitude.
Aryse be asshamyd of your iniquyte
Mollyfy your hertes vnkynde stuberne and rude
Graffynge in them true loue and amyte
Consyder this prouerbe of antyquyte
And your vnkyndnes weray ban and curse
For whether thou be of hy or lowe degre
Better is a frende in courte than a peny in purse

* * * * *

Of contempt, or dispisynge of holy scripture.

Suche as dispyseth auncyent scripture
Whiche prouyd is of great auctoryte
And hath no pleasoure felycyte or cure
Of godly Prophetis whiche wrote of veryte
A fole he is for his moste felycyte
Is to byleue the tales of an olde wyfe
Rather than the doctryne of eternall lyfe

The holy Bybyll grounde of trouth and of lawe
Is nowe of many abiect and nought set by
Nor godly scripture is nat worth an hawe
But talys ar louyd grounde of rybawdry
And many blynddyd ar so with theyr foly
That no scripture thynke they so true nor gode
As is a folysshe yest of Robyn hode.

He that to scripture wyll not gyue credence
Wherin ar the armys of our tuycion
And of our fayth foundacion and defence
Suche one ensueth nat the condycion
Of man resonable, but by abusyon
Lyuyth as a best of conscyence cruell
As saue this worlde were neyther heuen nor hell.

He thynketh that there is no god aboue
Nor nobler place than is this wretchyd grounde
Nor goddes power suche neyther fere nor loue
With whom all grace and mercy doth abounde
Whiche whan hym lyst vs wretches may confounde
Alas what auayleth to gyue instruction
To suche lewde folys of this condycion.

It nought auayleth vnto them to complayne
Of theyr blyndnes, nor enfourme them with vertue
Theyr cursed lyfe wyll by no mean refrayne
Their viciousnes, nor their erroure eschewe
But rather stody theyr foly to renewe
Alas what profytis to suche to expresse.
The heuenly ioy, rewarde of holynesse.

Alas what auayleth to suche to declare
The paynes of hell, wo dissolate and derke
No wo nor care can cause suche to beware
From their lewde lyfe corrupt and synfull warke
What profyteth sermons of any noble clarke
Or godly lawes taught at any Scolys
For to reherse to these myscheuous folys.

What helpeth the Prophetis scripture or doctryne
Unto these folys obstynate and blynde
Their hertis ar harde, nat wyllynge to enclyne
To theyr preceptis nor rote them in theyr mynde
Nor them byleue as Cristen men vnkynde
For if that they consydred heuen or hell
They wolde nat be so cursed and cruell

And certaynly the trouth apereth playne
That these folys thynke in theyr intent
That within hell is neyther car nor payne
Hete nor colde, woo, nor other punysshement
Nor that for synners is ordeyned no turment
Thus these mad folys wandreth euery houre
Without amendement styll in theyr blynde erroure

Before thy fete thou mayst beholde and se
Of our holy fayth the bokys euydent
The olde lawes and newe layde ar before the
Expressynge christes tryumphe right excellent
But for all this set is nat thyne intent
Theyr holy doctryne to plant within thy brest
Wherof shold procede ioy and eternall rest

Trowest thou that thy selfe wyllyd ignoraunce
Of godly lawes and mystycall doctryne
May clense or excuse thy blynde mysgouernaunce
Or lewde erroure, whiche scorne hast to inclyne
To theyr preceptis: and from thy synne declyne
Nay nay thy cursed ignoraunce sothly shall
Drowne thy soule in the depe flodes infernall

Therfore let none his cursydnes defende
Nor holy doctryne, nor godly bokes dispyse
But rather stody his fawtes to amende
For god is aboue all our dedes to deuyse
Whiche shall rewarde them in a ferefull wyse
With mortall wo that euer shall endure
Whiche haue dyspysyd his doctryne and scripture

BARCLAY TO THE FOLYS.

Out of your slomber folys I rede you ryse.
Scripture dyuyne, to folowe and inbrace
Be nat so bolde it to leue nor dispyse
But you enforce it to get and purchase
Remember mannys consort and solace.
Is holy closyd within the boke of lyfe
Who that it foloweth hath a speciall grace
But he that doth nat a wretche is and caytyfe

* * * * *

Of folys without prouysyon.

Of other folys yet is a moche nomber
Whom I wolde gladly brynge to intellygence
To auoyde their blyndnes which sore doth incomber
Theyr mynde and herte for lackynge of science
Suche ar vnware and gyuen to neglygence
Mad and mysmyndyd pryuate of wysdome
Makynge no prouysyon for the tyme to come.

If any mysfortune aduersyte or wo
As often hapnyth, to suche a fole doth fall
Than sayth he I thought it wolde nat haue be so
But than ouer late is it agayne to call
It is nat ynough thou fole to say I shall
For this one daye prouyde me by wysdome
A wyse man seyth peryll longe before it come

He is vnwyse and of prouysyon pore
That nought can se before he haue damage
Whan the stede is stolyn to shyt the stable dore
Comys small pleasoure profyte or vauntage
But he that can suche folysshenes asswage
Begynnynge by counsayll, and fore prouydence
Is sure to escape all inconuenyence

Whan Adam tastyd the appyll in Paradyse.
To hym prohybyte by dyuyne commaundement
If he had noted the ende of his interpryse
To Eue he wolde nat haue ben obedyent
Thus he endured right bytter punysshement
For his blynde erroure and improuydence
That all his lynage rue sore for his offence.

Hymselfe dryuyn out from Paradyce all bare
With Eue, into this vale of wretchydnes
To get theyr lyuynge with laboure payne and care
And also if Jonathas by errour and blyndnes
Had nat receyued the gyftis of falsnes
Unto hym gyuen of Tryphon by abusyon
He sholde haue escapyd great confusyon

If that he before had notyd craftely
His ennemyes gyftis of frawde full and of treason
He myght haue sauyd hymselfe from ieoperdy
And all his people by prouydence and reason
Where as he blynde was as at that season
And to a cyte broughte in by a trayne
Where he was murdred and all his people slayne

Julius Cesar the chefe of conquerours
Was euer warre and prudent of counsayle
But whan he had obteyned great honours
And drewe to rest as wery of Batayle
Than his vnwarnes causyd hym to wayle
For if he had red with good aduysement
The letter whiche to the counselhous was sent

He had nat gyuen his owne iugement
As he dyd by his foly and neglygence
For whiche he murdred was incontynent
Without respect had vnto his excellence
Alas se here what inconuenyence
Came to this Emperour hye and excellent
For nat beyng wyse dyscrete and prouydent

If Nichanor before had noted well
The ende of his dedes he had nat be slayne
By Judas and the children of Israell
His hande and tunge cut of to his great payne
And than his hede, as the bybyll sheweth playne
Thus may all knowe that wyll therto entende
Wherto they come that caryth nat the ende