The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Assemble of Goddes, by Anonymous

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Title: The Assemble of Goddes

Author: Anonymous

Release Date: February 21, 2007 [EBook #20642]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1

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

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

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

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




The assemble of goddes
by
John Lydgate


Printed at Westminster
by Wynkyn de Worde about the year
1500


Cambridge
at the University Press
1906




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

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

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

FRANCIS JENKINSON

1906 March 5.




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

P. DUJARDIN




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

[Illustration]

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     Nota

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     Mayntenours of ryghte verey penytentes.
     Dystroyers of errour causers of vnyte.
     Trew actyf lyuers that set her ententis
     The dedis to performe of mercy and pyte
     Contemplatyf people that desyre to be.
     Salytary seruauntis vnto god alone.
     Rather the{n} to habou{n}d in rychesses echone.

     Thyse wyth many mo than I reherce can
     were come thyder redy that batayl to abyde.
     And take such part as fyl to Vertu than
     Vyce to ouerco[m]e they hoped for al his pride        Original has
     Al though he had more people on his syde              uoerco[m]e
     For the men that Vertu had were ful sure.             instead of
     To trust on at nede & connyng in armure               ouerco[m]e

     Macrocosme was the name of the feld
     where this grete batayll was set for to be
     In the myddys therof stode co{n}syence & beheld
     whyche of hem shold be brought to captyuyte
     Of that noble tryu{m}ph Iuge wold he be
     Synderesys sate hy{m} wythin closed as a park
     {with} his table in his honde her dedys to marke.

     To come in to the feld were hygh wayes .v.
     Fre to both partyes large brode and wyde
     Vertu wold not tari but highed hy{m} thyd{er} bliue
     Lest he were by vyce deceyued at that tyde
     Long out of the feld loth was he to abyde
     In auenture that he out of it were kept.
    For tha{n} wold he haue thou{gh}t he had{e} to long slept

     In this mene tyme whyle Vertu th{us} p{ro}ceded
     For hy{m} & his people the feld for to wynne.
     He charged euery man by grace to be guyded
     And al that euer myght {the} feld to enter ynne.
     In all that season went orygynal synne.
     To let Vyce know how Baptym {with} his hoste.
    Had entred Macrocosme & serched euery cooste

     A sayd Vyce I se well it is tyme.
     Baners to dysplay & standardes to auaunce.
     Al most to long haddest {thou} taryed cryme.
     To let vs haue knolege of this purueyaunce.
     yet I trow I shal lerne hem a new daunce.
     Wherfore I commaund you al {with}out delaye
     Toward the felde draw in all the hast ye may

     Than sayd {the} god Pluto {that} al men my{gh}t here
     Vyce I the charge as thou wylt eschew.
     Our heuyous Indy{n}gnacyo{n} {thou} draw not arere
     But put {the} forth boldly to ouerthrowe Vertu.
     In fayth quod Attropos & I shal after sew /
     For yf he escape oure hondys this day.
     I tell you my seruyse haue lost for ay.

     Forth than rode Vyce {with} al his hole strength
     On his stede serpentyne as i told you byfore.
     The ost that hy{m} folowed was of a grete le{n}gth.
     Amo{n}g who{m} were penou{n}s & g[u]yt{er}s mani a scor{e} The next
     Of hys pety capteynes he made many a kni{gh}t              line is
     For they shuld not fle but manly {with} him fight          missing
                                                                 from the
     He doubed Falshod with Dyssymylacyon.                      original
     Symony Vsury Wrong and Rybawdy.             The missing line reads:
     Malyce Deceyt Lye wythout Extorcyon.      But as he went thederward
     Periury Dyffydence and Apostasy.          I shall tell you more
     Wyth boldnes in yl to bere hym company.
     Thyse .xiiii. knyghtes made vyce that daye.
     To wyn her spores they sayd they wold assay

     In lyke wyse Vertu doubed on his syde:
     Of pety capteyns other fourtene.
     Whyche made her auou wyth hym to abyde:
     Her spores wold they wy{n} {that} day shold it be sen{e} Original has
     Thyse wore her names yf it be as I wene                  Hor instead
     Feyth Hope & Mercy Trouth & also Ryght.                  of Her
     {with} Resystence of wronge a full hardy wyghte

     Confessyon Contrycyon wyth Satysfaction
     Verrey drede of God Performy{n}g of penau{n}ce
     Perfeccyon Connyng and Good dyspocision
     And all knyt to Vertu they were by alyauns
     Wherfore to hym they made assuraunce.
     That feld to kepe as long as they myght.
     And in his quarel agayn Vyce to fyght.

     The lord of Macrocosme & rewler of {the} fee
     Was called Frewyll chaunger of the chau{n}ce:
     To whome Vertu sent embassatours thre
     Reson dyscresyon & good reme{m}brau{n}ce.
     And prayed hy{m} be fauorable his honoure to e{n}ha{n}s
     For but he had his fauour at {the} poynt of nede
     He stood in gret doute he coude not lightly spede.

     In lyke wyse Vyce embassatours thre.
     For his party vnto Frewyll sent.
     Temptacyon foly & sensualyte.
     Prayng hy{m} of fauour that he wolde assent.
     To hy{m} as he wolde at his co{m}maundement.
     Haue hy{m} eftsones whan he lyst to call.
     On hy{m} for ony thy{n}g {that} afterward myght fall.

     Answere yaue he none to neyther party.
     Saue oonli he sayd {the} batayll wolde he se
     To wete whiche of hy{m} shold haue {the} vyctory.
     Hit hy{n}g in his balau{n}ce {the} ambyguyte.
     He sayd he wolde not restrayne his lyberte.
     Whan he come where sorow shold awake.
     Than it shold be know what part he wyl take

     Whan Vertu & Vyce be her ambassatours.
     Knew of this answere they stood in gret doute.
    Neuertheles they seyd they wold e{n}dure tho shours
     And make an ende shortly of {that} they we{n}t aboute.
     Soo forth came Vyce {with} all his grete route.
     Er he came at {the} felde he sent yet priuely.
     Sensualyte before in maner of a spy.

     Whiche sewe {the} felde {with} his vnkynde seede.
     That caused Vertu after mykyll woo to feele
     For therof grewe nought but all oonly weede.
     Whiche made the grounde as sleper as an yele.
     He went ayene to vice & tolde hym euery dele.
     How he had done and bad hym come a way.
     For he had so purueyde {that} vyce sholde haue {the} day

     Soo as it happed at {that} felde they mete.
     Frewyll vertu and vice as tripartite.
     Saaf vertu a litil before the felde had gete.
     And ellis his aua{n}tage forsoth had be ful lyght
     Not for then encombred so was neuer wyght.
     As vertu & his men were with the ranke wede
     That in {the} felde grew of sensualitees sede

     But as soone as vyce of vertu had a syght.
     He gan swage gonnes as he had be woode
     That heryng vertu co{m}maunded euery wyght
     To pauyce hym vnder the sygne of {the} rode.
     And bad he{m} not drede but kepe styll where thy stode.
     It was but a shour shold sone co{n}fou{n}de
     wherfore he co{m}mau{n}ded the{m} sta{n}d & kepe her grou{n}d

     And whan vyce cam nerer to the felde.
     He callyd sore for bowes & bad hem shote faste
     But vertu & hys meyny bare of with {the} sheld.
     Of the blyssyd Trynyte ay tyll shot was past.
     And wha{n} shot was done vyce cam forth at last.
     Purposyng the felde wyth assaute to wyn.
     But v{er}tu kept it long he myght not ent{er} theryn.

     All that tyme Frewyll stode & hym bethought.
     To which he my{gh}t leue & what p{ar}t he wold take.
     At last sensualite had hy{m} so fer brought.
     That he sayd playnly he v{er}tu wold forsake.
     And in vyce hys quarell all his power make.
    Nota Iwis quod reason {that} is not for the beste.
     Noforse sayd frewyll I wyll do as my lyst.

     Vertu was full heuy when he see frewyll
     Take part with vyce but yet neuerthelesse.
     He dyde that he myght the felde to kepe styll.
     Tyll vyce with frewyll so sore gan hy{m} oppresse.
     That he was constrayned clerely by duresse.           Original has
     A lytyll tyne abacke to make abew retret.             constranyed
     All thyng consydered hit was the best feet.           instead of
                                                            constrayned
     Fyrst to remembre how vyce parte was.
     Ten ayen one strenger by lyklynesse.
     And than how frewyll was with hym alas.
     Whoo coude deme vertu but in heuynesse.
     Moreouer to thynke how that slyper grasse.
     That of sensualyte hys onkynde seede grew.
     Vnder foot in standyng encombred vertew

     Yet notwitstondyng vertue his men all.
     Nobelly theym bare and faught myghtyly.
     How be it {the} sleper grasse made many of he{m} fall.
     And from thense in maner departe sodenly.
     That seyng vyce his hoost began to shout & cry.
     And sayd on in Pluto name on & all is oure
     For this day shal Vyce be made a conquerour.

     Thus Vertu was by myght of vyce & Frewyll
     Dryuen out of the feld it was the more pyte
     How by it yet Baptym kept his ground styll.
     And {with} hym abode feyth hope & vnyte.
     And konnynge also {with} a grete meyne.
     Confessyon contrycyon were redy at her hond.
     And Satysfaction Vyce to wythstond.

     But al the tyme whyle Vertu was away.
     A my{gh}ty conflycte kept they {with} Vycys rout.
     And yet neuertheles for al that grete afray.
     Hope stod vpryght & feyth wold neuer lout
     And euermor{e} sayd Baptym syres put no dout.
     Vertu shal return & haue his entent.
     This feld shal be ours or let me be shent.

     And whyl thyse pety captey{n}s sustend th{us} {the} feld
     Wyth Vertu his reward come good p{er}seuerauns
     An hugy my{gh}ty hoost & whan he beheld.
     How Vertu hym withdrew he toke dysplesau{n}s.
     And wha{n} he to hy{m} cam he sayd ye shal your cha{n}s
     Take as it fallyth wherfore returne ye must.          Original has
     Yet ones for your sake {with} Vyce shal I Iust.       fallyrh
                                                            instead of
     Alas that euer ye shold lese your honour.             fallyth
     And therwyth also {the} hygh p{er}petuel crown.
     Which is for you kept in the celestyal tour.
     Wherfore be ye called chrystys champyon.
     How is it that ye haue noo compassyone.
     On baptyme feyth & hope konnyng & vnite.
     That sta{n}d so hard bestad & fyght as ye may see.

     All the tresour erthely vnder {the} fyrmame{n}t
     That euer was made of goddys creacyon.
     To reward theym euenly were not equyualent.
     For her noble labour in his affleccyon.
     Wherfore take vpon you your Iurisdyccyon
     Rescu yonder knyghtes & recontynu fyght.
     And els a dew your crown for al your gret my{gh}t

     Vith these & suche wordys as I haue you tolde
     By good perseueraunce vttred in this wyse.
     Vertu hym remembred & gan to vexe bolde.
     And sayd yeue trew knyghtis to rescu I auyse
     Let vs no lengar tary from this entrepryse.
     Agayn to {the} felde soo Vertu retourned.
     That caused he{m} be mery {that} lo{n}g afore had morned

     Auaunt baner q{uo}d he in {the} name of Iesu
     And with {that} his people set vp a gret shoute.
     And cryed with a loude voce a Vertu a Vertu.
     Then began Vyce his hoost for to loke a boute.
     But I trow p{er}seuerau{n}ce was not long withoute
     He bathed his swerd in his foos blood.
     The boldest of hem all not ones hy{m} withstoode.

     Constau{n}ce hym folowed & brought hy{m} his spere
     But when p{er}seuerau{n}ce saw Vyce on his stede.
     No man coude hym let tyll he came there.
     For to byd hym ryde I trow it was no nede.
     All Vertu his oost prayed for his good spede.
     Agayn Vyce he rode with his grete shaft.
     And hym ouerthrew for all his sotyll craft.

     That seyng Frewill came to conscyence.
     And gan hym to repente {that} he with hym had be.
     Prayeng hym of cou{n}sell for his grete offence.
     That he agayn Vertu had made his arme.
     What was best to doo to humylyte:
     Q{uo}d conscyence must {thou} go so he hym thyder sent
     Dysguysed {that} he were not knowen as he wente.

     And whan he thyder came humylyte hym toke.
     A token & bad hym go to conffessyon.
     And shew hym his mater with a peteous loke
     Whiche done he hym sent to contrycyon.
     And fro thensforthe to satysfaccyon.
     Thus fro poost to pyler was he made to dau{n}ce.
     And at the last he went forthe to penau{n}ce.

     But now for to tel you whe{n} Vyce was ou{er}throw
     A gret part of his oost about hym gan resorte.
     But he was so febyll {that} he coude noman know.
     And whan they se {that} they knew no comforte.
     But caryed hym away be a preuy porte.
     And as they caryed dyspeyre with hy{m} met.
     With Vyce his rewarde he cam theym for to fet

     Then came there downe goodly ladyes tweyn.
     From the hyghe heuen aboue the fyrmamente.
     And sayd the gret Alpha & Oo moost souereyn.
     For that nobell tryumphe had hem thyder sent.
     One of hem to dryue Vyce to grete tormente.
     With a fyry strong {that} she bare in her hande.
     And so he dede dyspere & all his hole bande.

     The name of this lady was called Prestyence.
     She neuer left Vyce ne none {that} wolde hy{m} folow.
     Tyll they were co{m}mytted by {the} dyuyne sentence.
     All to payne perpetuell & Infynyte sorow.
     Right wysnes went to se {that} noma{n} shold he{m} borow.
     Th{us} al entreted sharpely were they tyll Cerber{us}
     Had hem beshut within his gates tenebr{us}.

     And all {the} whyle {that} Prestye{n}ce {with} her scorge smert
     To rewarde Vyce gan her thus occupy.
     With all his hole bende after her desert.
     That other gloryo{us} lady {that} came fro heue{n} on hy.
     Hauyng in her honde the palme of vyctory.
     Came downe to Vertu & toke hym to {that} p{re}sent.
     Sayeng thus that Alpha & Oo hath hym sent.

     And as ferre as I ryght coude vnderstonde
     That ladyes name was Predestynacyon.
     Vertu & his oost she blessyd with her honde.
     And in heuyn graunted hem habytacyon.
     Whereto eche of hem reseruyd was a crowne.
     She sayd in token that they enherytours.
     Of the glory were & gracious conquerours.

     Wych done the ladyes ayen to gyder met
     And towarde heuen vp they gan to fly
     Embraced in armes as they had ben knyt.
     Togyd{er} {with} a gyrdyl but so sodenly.
     As {the}y wer{e} vanysshyd saw I neu{er} thy{n}g {with} ey.
     And anone Vertu wyth al his company.
     Kneled dou{n}n & tha{n}ked god of {that} vyctory.

     Yet had I forget whan Vyce was ouerthrow.
     To haue told you hou many of Vycys hoost.
     Gan to seke pease & darked dou{n}n ful low.
     And besought mercy what so euer it coste.
     To be her mene to Vertu els {the}y we{re} but lost.
     And some in lyke wyse to feyth & hope sought.
     What to do for pease they sayd they ne rou{gh}te.

     Some also Baptym sewed to be her mene.
     Som to one som to other as thei he{m} gete my{gh}te.
     But al to Confessyon we{n}t to make he{m} clene
     And as {the}y came to co{n}sye{n}ce he they{m} bad go ly{gh}te.
     Er tha{n} old attropes of he{m} had a sy{gh}t.
     For yf he so theym toke lost they we{re} for euer
     He sayd Vyce to forsake better late thy{n} neuer.

     Som eke for socour drew to circu{m}cision.
     But by hy{m} coud they gete but smal fauoure.
     For he in that company was had but in derysyo{n}
     Neuer{the}lesse to feyth he bad he{m} go laboure.
     Prayng they{m} for olde acqueynta{n}ce they{m} socoure
     Wel q{uo}d feth for his sake I shal do {that} I may doo
     But fyrste for the best way baptym go ye to.

     For by hym sonest shal ye recouer grace.
     Which shal to Vertu bryng you by processe.
     Wherfore in ony wyse loke ye make good face.
     And let noman know of your heuynes.
     So they were by baptym brou{gh}t out of destres
     Turned al to Vertu & whan this was done.
     Vertu cu{m}mau{n}ded Frewyl before hym come.

     To whom thus he sayd I haue grete merueyl
     Ye durst be so bold Vyces party to take.
     Who bad you do so & yaue you that counseyl.
     Iustly vnto that ye shal me preuy make.
     Then sayd Frewyll & swemfully spake.
     Knelyng on his kne wyth a chere benygn.               Original has
     I pray you syr let pyte your eres to me enclyne.      benyng
                                                            instead of
     And I shall yow tel the verrey soth of all.           benygn
     How it was & who made me that way drawe.
     For soth sensualyte his p{ro}pre name they call.
     A sayd reason then I know wel that felowe.
     Wyld he is & wanton of me stant hy{m} none awe.
     Is he so q{uo}d Vertu wel he shall be taught.
     As a player shuld to draw another draught.

     And {with} that came sadnesse wyt his sober chere.
     Bryngyng Sensualite beyng ful of thought.
     And sayd that he had take hym prysonere.
     A welcome sayd Vertu now haue I {that} I sou{gh}t.
     Blessed be the good lord as {thou} wold it is nought
     Why arte {thou} so wanton he sayd for shame.
     Or {thou} go at large {thou} shalt be more tame.

    But sto{n}d a part a whyle tyl I haue spoke a word
     Wyth Frewyl a lytyl & then shalte {thou} knowe.
     What shalbe thy fynau{n}ce & then he sayd in bord
     Vnto Frewyl the bend of your bowe.
     Begynnyth to slake but suche as ye haue sowe
     Must nedes repe there is none waye.
     Notwythstondy{n}g that lette what ye can saye.

     What is your habilite me to recompense.
     For the grete harme that ye to me haue do.
     Forsoth sayd Frewyll in open audyence.
     But oonly Macrocosme more haue I not loo.
     Take {that} yf it pleyse you I wyl that it be soo.
     Yf I may vnderstond ye be my good lorde.
     In dede sayd Vertu to that wyll I accorde.

     Then made Vertu Reason his leyftenaunte.
     And yaue hi{m} a grete charge macrocosme to kepe
     That done Sensualite yeld hym recreaunte.
     And began for anger bytterly to wepe.
     For he demed surely hys sorowe shold not slepe
     Then made Vertu Frewyll bayl vnd{er} Reason.
     The feld for to ocupy to his behoue that season.

     And then sayd Vertu to Sensualyte.
     Thou shalt be rewarded for thy besynesse.
     Vnder this furme al fragylyte
     Shalt {thou} forsake both more and lesse.
     And vnd{er} the guydy{n}g {thou} shalt be of sadnesse.
     All though it somwhat be agayn thy herte.
     Thy Iugements gyuen {thou} shalt it not asterte.

     And evyn {with} that came in dame Nature.
     Sayeng th{us} to Vertu syr ye do me wronge.
     By duresse & constreynt to put this creature.
     Gentyll Sensualyte {that} hath me s{er}ued longe.
     Clerely from his lyberte & set hym amonge.
     They{m} that loue hy{m} not to be her vnd{er}loute.
     As it were a cast away or a sho cloute.

     And perde ye know well a rewle haue I must
     Wythin Macrocosme forsoth I say not nay.
    Q{uo}d Vertu but se{n}sualyte shal not p{er}form your lust
     Lyke as he hath do befor this yf I may.
     Therfro hy{m} restreyn sadnesse shal assay.
     How be it ye shal haue your hole lyberte.
     Wythin Macrocosme as ye haue had fre.

     And whan Vertu had to Nature sayd thus
     A lytyll tyne his ey castyng hym besyde.
     He se in a corner stondyng Morpleus
     That hy{m} before warned of {that} berely tyde.
     A syrs sayd Vertu yet we must abyde.
     Here is a frend of ours may not be forgete.
     After his deserte we shall hy{m} entreate

     Morple{us} sayd Vertu I tha{n}ke you hertely
     For your trew herte & your grete laboure.
     That ye lyst to come to me soo redely.
     Whan ye vnderstood {the} comy{n}g of that shoure.
     I thanke god & you of sauy{n}g of my{n} honour.
     Wherfore this preuylege now to you I gra{n}t
     That {with}in Macrocosme ye shall haue your hau{n}t

     And of fyue posternes {the} keys shall ye kepe.
     Lettyng in & out at hy{m} whome ye lyst.
     As long as in Macrocosme your fad{er} wyll crepe.
     Blere whos ey ye wyll hardely {with} your myst
     And kepe your werkes close there as in a chyst
     Saaf I wold desyre you spare Pollucyon.
    For no thy{n}g may me plese {the} sou{n}eth to corrupcyon.

     And wha{n} he had th{us} sayd {the} keyes he hy{m} toke.
     And toward his castell {with} his people went
     Byddy{n}g reason take good hede & about loke
     That se{n}sualite by Nature were not she{n}t.
     Kepe hy{m} short he sayd tyll his lust be spe{n}t
     For better were a chylde to by vnbore
     Than let hy{m} haue {the} wyll & foreuer be lore.

     And wha{n} olde Attropos had seen & herd all this
     How Vertu had opteyned astonyed as he stood.
     He sayd to hy{m}selfe somwhat there is amys.
     I trow well my patent be not all good.        Next line is missing
     Sayeng to the goddys I see ye do but iape.    from the original.
     After a worthy whew haue ye made me gape.     The line reads:
                                                    And ran to the palyse
     How a deuyll way sholde I Vertue ouerthrow.   as he had be wood
     When he dredeth not all your hole route.
     How ca{m} ye make good your pate{n}t wold I know
     Hit is to Impossable to bryng that aboute.
     For stryke hym may I not {that} is out of doute.
     A good Attropos sayd god Apollo.
     An answere conuenyent shall thou haue herto.

     The wordes of thy patent dare I well say
     Stretche to no forther but were dame Nature
     Hath Iurysdyccyon the{re} to haue the way Nota.
     And largesse to stryke as longet to thy cure.
     And as for Vertu he his no cryature.
     Vnder the predycament conteyned of quantyte
     Wherefore his dystruccyon longeth not to the.

     A ha sayd Attropos then I see well.
     That all ye goddys be but cou{n}terfete.              Original has
     For oo God there is that can euerydell.               goodys and
     Tourne as hym lest bothe drye & whete.                coue{n}terfete
     In to whoos seruyce I shal assay to gete.             instead of
     And yf I may ones to his seruyce come.                goddys and
     Your names shal be put to oblyuyone.                  cou{n}terfete

     Thus went Attropos fro the paleys wrooth.
     But in the mene tyme whyle {that} he there was.
     Glydyng by the paleys resydyuacyon gooth.
     Towarde Macrocosme with a peynted fase.
     Clad lyke a pylgryme walkyng a grete pase.
     In the forme as he had ben a man of ynde.
     He wede haue made reson & sadnesse both bly{n}de

     With sensualyte was he soone aqueynted.
     To whome he declared his mater pryuely.
     Yet he was espyed for all his face peynted.
     Then reson hy{m} co{m}mauded pyke hy{m} the{n}s lightly.
     For his ease q{uo}d sadnesse so cou{n}seyll hym wyll I.
     Soo was sensualyte ay kepte vnder foote.
     That to resydyuacyon myght he doo no boote.

     Then went he to Nature & asked her auyse.
     His entent to opteynde what was best to doo.
     She sayd euer syth Vertu of vyce wan {the} pryse.
     Reson with sadnesse hath rewled the felde soo.
     That I & sensualyte may lytyll for the doo.
     For I may noo more but oonly kepe my cours.
     And yet is sensualyte strenger kept & wours.

     Th{us} hery{n}g resydiuacon fro the{n}s he went ageyn
     Full of thought & sorow {that} he myght not spede.
     Than reson & sadnesse toke wedehokes tweyn.
     And all wylde wa{n}tonesse out {the} felde gan wede.
     With all the slyper grasse {that} grewe of the sede.  Original has
     That sensualyte before therin sew.                    thr instead
     And fro thens forth kept it clene for vertew          of the

     Than began new grase in the felde to spryng.
     All vnlyke {that} other of colour fayr & bryght.
     But then I aspyed a meruelous thyng.
     For the grou{n}de of {the} felde gan wex hore & whyt.
     I coude not conceyue how {that} be myght.
     Tyll I was enformed & taught it to know.
     But wher vertu occupyet must nedes wel grow

    Yet in the mene tyme while the felde thus grow.
     And reson with sadnesse therof had gouerau{n}ce.
     Many a preuy messenger thyder sent Vertew.
     To know yf it were guyded to his plesau{n}ce.
     Now prayer eft fastyng & often tyme penau{n}ce.
     And whan he myght goo preuely almesdede.
     And bad hy{m} to his power helpe where he se nede

    While {that} felde thus rewled reson with sadnesse.
     Maugre dame Nature for all her carnall might
     Came thyder Attropos voyd of all gladnesse.
     Wrapped in his shete & axed of ony wyght.
     Coude wysse hym the vay to the lorde of light.
     Or ellis where myght fynde ryghtwysnesse.             Original has
     Forsothe sayd reyson I trow as I gesse.               ryghwysnesse
                                                            instead of
     At Vertu his castell ye may soone hym fynde.          ryghtwysnesse
     If ye lyst the laboure thyder to take.
     And there shall ye know yf ye be not blynde.
     The next wey to the lord of lyght I vndertake.
     So thyder went Attropos petycyon to make.
     To ryghtwysnesse preyeng that he myght.
     Be take in to the seruyse of the lorde of lyght.

     What sad ryghtwysnesse {thou} olde dotyng foole.      Original has
     Whome hast thou seruyd syth the worlde bega{n}        ryghwysnesse,
     But oonly hym where hast {thou} go to scole.          yast and oonhl
     Whethery art {thou} double or elles the sam man.      instead of
     That thou were fyrst a syr sayd he than.              ryghtwysnesse,
     I praye you hertely holde me excused.                 hast and oonly
     I am olde & febell my wyttys are dysused.

     Well sayd ryghtwysnes for as moche as thow.
     Knowest not thy mayst{er} thy name shal I chau{n}ge
     Dethe shalt {thou} be caled from he{n}s forward now
     Among all the peple that shal be had strau{n}ge.
     But whan {thou} begynnest to make thy chalau{n}ge.
     Dredde shalt thou be where so thou become.
     And to noo creature shalt thou be welcome.

     And as for theym whome thou dedest serue.
     For as moche as they presume on hem to take.
     That hygh name of god they shal as they des{er}ue
     Therfore be rewarded I dare vnd{er}take.
     Wyth payn p{er}petual among fendes blake.
     And her names shall be put to oblyuyon.
     Among men but it be in dyrysyon.

     Aha sayd Attropos now begy{n}ne I wex glad.
     That I shal thus auenged of hem be.
     Syth they so long tyme haue made me so mad.
     Yee q{uo}d ryghtwysnesse here what I say to the.
     The lorde of lyght sent the worde by me.
     That in Macrocosme sesyne shalt thou take
     wherfore thy darte redy loke thou make

     And as soone as Vertue that vnderstood
     He sayd he was pleased that it sholde soo be
     And euen forth with he co{m}maunded presthood
     To make hym redy the felde for to se
     So thyder went presthode with benygnyte
     Conueyeni{n}g thyder the blessyd sacrament
     Of Eukaryst but fyrst were thyder sent

     Confessyo{n} contrycyon and satysfaccyo{n} (nota
     Sorow for synne and grete repentaunce
     Holy deuocyon with good dysposycyon
     All these thyder came and also penaunce
     As her dewte was to make purueaunce
     Agayn the comyng of that blessyd lorde
     Feyth hope & charyte therto were acorde

     Reason with sadnesse dyde his dylygence
     To clense the felde within and without
     And whan they se the bodely presence
     Of that holy Eukaryst lowly gan they lout
     So was that lorde receyued out of dout
     With all humble chere debonayre & benygne
     Lykly to pleasure it was a grete sygne

     Then came to the felde the mynyster fynall
     Called holy vnccyon with a crysmatory
     The fyue hye wayes in especyall
     Therof he anoy{n}ted & made hit sanctuary
     Whome folowed deth whiche wolde not tary
     His feruent power there to put in vre
     As he was co{m}mau{n}ded grau{n}tyng dame Nature

     Nota.

     He toke his darte called his mortall launce
     And bent his stroke towarde the feldes herte
     That seyng preesthode bad good remembrau{n}ce
     Towarde the felde tourne hym & aduerte
     For except hym all vertues thense must sterte
     And euen with that dethe there sesyne toke
     And then all the company clerely hit forsoke

     And as soone as dethe thus had sesyne take
     The colour of the felde was chau{n}ged sodeynly
     The grasse therin seere as though it had be bak
     And the fyue hygh wayes were mured vpon hy
     That fro the{n}sforwarde none entre shold therbi
     The posternes were also without lette
     Bothe inwarde & outwarde fyne fast shette

     Whiche done sodeynly dethe vanysshed a way
     And Vertu exalted was aboue the fyrmament
     Where he toke crowne of glory {that} is ay
     Preparate by Alpha & oo omnypotent
     The swete frute of macrocosme thyd{er} {with} hy{m} we{n}t
     And on all this mater as I stood musyng thus
     Agayn fro the felde to me came Morpleus

     Saye{n}g thus what chere how lyketh {the} this fyght
     Haste thou seen ynough or wyll thou see more
     Nay syr I sayd my trouthe I you plyght
     This is suffycyente yf I knew wherfore
     This was to me shewed for therof he lore
     Coueyte I to haue yf I gete myght
     Folow me quod he and haue thy delyght

     Soo I hym folowed tyll he had me brought
     To a foresquare herber walled round aboute
     Loo q{uo}d Morple{us} here maist thou {that} thou sought
     Fynde yf thou wyll I put the out of doute
     A lytyll whyle we stood styll there withoute
     Tyll wytte chyef porter of that herber gate
     Requyred by stodye lete vs in there ate

     But whan I came in meruayled gretly
     Of that I behelde & herde reporte
     For fyrst in a chayre apparaylled royally
     There sate dam doctryne her childern to exorte
     And about her was many a sondry sorte
     Some wyllyng to lerne dyuerse scyence
     And some for to haue perfyte intellygence

     Crowned she was lyke an Emperesse
     With .iii. crownes standyng on her hede on by
     All thyng about her an Infynyte processe              Original has
     Were to declare I tell you certaynly                  teyng
     Neuerthelesse some in mynde therof haue I             instead of
     Whiche I shall to you as god wyll yeue me grace       thyng
     As I sawe & herde tell in short space

     Fast by Doctryne on that one syde
     As I remembre sate holy Texte
     That opened his mouthe to {the} people wyde
     But not in comparyson to Glose {that} sate nexte.
     Moralyzacyon with a cloke contexte
     Sate & Scrypture was scrybe to theym all
     He sate ay wrytyng of that that sholde fall

     These were tho that I there knewe
     By no maner waye of olde acqueyntau{n}ce
     But as I before saw theym with Vertewe
     Company in felde & hauyng dalyau{n}ce
     And as I thus stood halfe in a traunce
     Whyle they were occupyed in her besynesse
     Aboute the walles myn ey gan I dresse

     Where I beheld the meruaylous story
     That euer I yet sawe in ony pycture
     For on tho walles was made memory
     Syngulerly of euery creature
     That there had byn bothe forme & stature
     Whoos names reherse I wyll as I can
     Bryng theym to mynde in ordre euery man

     Fyrst to begynne there was in portrature
     Adam & Eue holdyng an apell rounde
     Noe in a shyp & Abraham hauyng sure
     A flyntstone in his honde & Isaac lay bounde
     On an hyghe mou{n}te Iacob slepyng sounde
     And a long ladder stood besyde
     Ioseph in a Cysterne was also there that tyde.

     Next whom stode Moyses with his tables two
     Aaron and Vrre his armes supportynge
     Ely in a brennyng chare was there also.
     And Elyze stode clad in hermytes clothynge.
     Dauyd wyth an harpe and a stone slynge.
     Isaye Ieremy and Ezechyell.
     And closed wyth Lyons holy Danyell.

     Abacuc Mychee with Malachy.
     And Ionas out of a whales body comynge.
     Samuel in a Temple & holy zachary.
     Besyde an aulter all blody stondynge.
     Osee wyth Iudyth stood there conspyryng.
     The deth of Dioferne & Salamon.
     A chylde wyth hys swerde dyuydynge in two.

     Many mo p{ro}phetes certeynly there were.
     Whoos names now come not to my mynde:
     Melchysedech also I espyed there.
     Brede & wyne offryng as fell to his kynde.
     Ioachym & Anna stode al behynde.
     Embraced in armes to the golden gate.
     And holy Iohan Baptyst in desert sat.

     And now comyth to my remembrunce.
     I am auysed I saw Sodechy:
     And Amos also with sober countenaunce.
     Stondyng wyth her faces towarde Sophony.
     Neemy & Esdras bare hem companye.
     The holy man Iob as an Impotente.
     Then folowed in pycture wyth Thoby pacyent

     Thyse wyth many mo on that one syde.
     Of that grene herber portrayed were.
     A sayd Morpleus a lytyll tyme abyde.
     Turn thy face where thy backe was ere.
     And beholde well what thou seeste there.
     Than I me turned as he me badde.
     With herte stedfaste & countenaunce sadde.

     Where I sawe Peter wyth his keyes stonde.
     Poule wyth a swerde and Iames also.
     Wyth a scalop & Thomas holdyng in his honde
     A spere and Phylyp aproched hym to:
     Iames the lesse nexte hem in pycture too.
     Stode wyth Bartylmew whych was all flayn
     Symon & Thadee shewed how they were slayn

     Mathy and Barnabe drawy{n}g lottys stode
     Nexte whome was Marke a Lyon hym by.
     Hys boke holdyng & Mathew in his mode.
     Resembled an aungell wyth wyngys gl{or}yously.        Original has
     Luke had a calfe to holde his boke on hye.            gl{or}youly
     And Iohan wyth a cuppe & palme in his honde.          instead of
     An Egle bare his book thus saw I hem stonde           gl{or}yously

     Gregory and Ierome Austyn and Ambrose.
     Wyth pyllyo{n}s on ther hedes stode lyke doctors
     Bernard wyth Amselme and as I suppose.                Original has
     Thomas of alquyne and Domynyk co{n}fessours.          suppese
     Benet and Hew relygyous gouernours.                   instead of
     Martyn & Iohan with bysshops tweyne.                  suppose
     Were there also and Crysostom certayne.

     Behynd all thyse was worshypfull Bede.
     All behynde and next hym stood Orygene.
     Hydynge his face as he of his dede.
     Had hem ashamed ye wote what I mene.                  Original has
     For of errour he was not al clene.                    bem instead
     And on that syde stode laste of alle.                 of hem
     The noble p{ro}phetyssa Sybell men her call.

     Let me remembre now I you pray
     My barayn is so thynne I deme in my herte
     Some of the felyshyp that I there say.
     In all this whyle to haue ouersterte.
     A benedicite none coude I aduerte.
     To thy{n}ke on Andrew the apostle {with} his crosse.
     Whome to forgete were a grete losse.

     Many one were peynted on that wall.
     Whoos names come not to my remembrau{n}ce.
     But thyse I marked in especyall.
     And moo coude I tell in countenaunce.
     Of tyme but forth to shewe you the substaunce.
     Of this mater in the myndys of that arbere.
     Sat Doctryne coloured as ony crystall clere.

     Crowned as I tolde you late here before.
     Whoos apparayl wos worth tresour Infynyte
     All erthly rychesse count I no more.
     To that in co{m}paryson valewy{n}g the{n} a myte.
     Ouer her hede houed a culuer fayr & whyte.
     Out of her byll p{ro}ceded a grete leme.
     Downward to Doctryne lyke a sonne beme

     The wordes of Doctryne yaue grete redole{n}s
     In swetnesse of sauour to her dyscyples al.
     It fer exceded myr & frankencense.
     Or ony other tre spyce or els galle.
     And whan she me espyed anone she gan me cal.
     A{n}d co{m}mau{n}ded morple{us} {that} he shold bry{n}g me nere
     For she wold me hew the effect of my desyre.          Original has
                                                            Ad{n}, bry{n}
     She sayd I know the cause of thy comyng.              and theffect
     Is to vnderstond be myn enformal yon.                 instead of
     Sensyble the mater of morpleus his shewynge           A{n}d, bry{n}g
     As he hath the led about in vesyon.                   and the effect
     Wherfore now I apply thy natural reason.
     Vnto my wordes & or thou hens wend.
     Thou shalt it know begynnyng and ende.

     For whan Colus to pluto was broughte:
     By hys owne neclygence taken prysonere.
     Wythin the erth for he so fer foughte.
     Sygnyfed is no more be that matere.
     But only to shew the how it doth appere:
     That welth vnbrydeled at thyn eye.
     Enbraseth mysrewle and oft causyth foly.

     For lyke as Colus beyng at his large
     Streyted hymself thrugh his own lewdenesse
     For he wolde deele where he had no charge
     Ryght soo wantons by her wyldenesse
     Oftesythe bryng hymselfe in dystresse
     Because they sometyme to largely deele
     What may wors be suffred tha{n} ouermykell weele

     By Mynos the Iuge of hell desparate
     May be vnderstonde goddys ryghtwysnes
     That to euery wyght his payne deputate
     Assygneth acordyng to his wyckednes
     Wherfore he is called Iuge of cruelnes
     And as for Dyana & Neptunus compleynte
     Fygured may be fooles reason feynt.

     For lyke as they made her suggestyon
     To haue me Colus from cours of hys kynde
     Which was Impossyble to bryng to correccyon
     For euermore hys lyberte haue wyll the wynde
     In lyke wyse fooles other whyle be blynde
     Wenyng to subdew with her one honde
     That is ouermykell for all an hole londe

     But what foloweth therof that shall thou here
     When they were come to the bankete
     The grete Apollo with his sad chere
     Soo fayre & curtously gan theym entret
     That he made her beerdys on the new gete
     Loo what wysdome dooth to a foole
     Wherefore are children put to scoole

     Ofte is it seen with sobre contenaunce
     That wyse men fooles ouercome ay
     Tornyng as hem lyst & all her varyaunce
     Chaunge from ernest in to mery play
     What were they bothe amendeth that day
     When they were dreuen to her wyttes ende
     Were they not fayne to graunt to be his frende

     Ryght soo fooles when they haue done
     All that they can than be they fayne
     Gyue vp hed mater to oblyuyone
     Without rewarde they haue no more brayne
     And yet ful ofte hath hit be sayne
     When they it haue foryete & set at nought
     That they full dere haue afterwarde it bought

     And as for all tho that represent
     To be called goddys at that banket
     Resemble false ydollys but to his entent
     Was Morpleus co{m}maunded thyder the to fet
     That thou sholdest know the maner & the get
     Of the paynym law and of her byleue
     How false ydolatry ledeth hem by the sleue

     For soone vppon the worldys creacyon
     When Adam and Eve had broke the precept
     Whiche clerkes call the tyme of deuyacyon
     The worldly people in paynym law slept
     Tyll moyses vnd{er} god the tables of stone kept
     In whiche tyme Poetes feyned many a fable
     To dyscrete Reason ryght acceptable

     And to the entent that they sholde sounde
     To the eeres of hem the more pleasantly
     That they{m} sholde rede or here the yaue they{m} a grou{n}d{e}
     And addid names vnto they{m} naturally
     Of whom they spake & callid he{m} goddis hy
     Some for the strength & myght of her nature
     And some for her sotyll wytty coniecture

     By nature thus as the seuen planettes
     Haue her propre names by Astronomeres
     But goddys were they called by old Poetes
     For her gret feruency of werkyng in her speres
     Experyence preueth this at all yeres
     And for as other that goddys called be
     For sotyll wytte that shall I teche the

     How they by that hyghe name of god cam
     In this sayd tyme the people was so rude
     That what maner creature man or woman
     Coude ony newelte contryue and conclude
     For the comon wele all the multytude
     Of the comon people a god sholde hym call
     Or a goddesse after hit was fall

     Of the same thyng that was so newefounde
     As Ceres for she the crafte of tylthe fonde
     Wherby more plentouously corne dyd habou{n}de
     The people her called thrugh out euery londe
     Goddesse of corne wendyng in her honde
     Had layn all power of cornes habundaunce
     Thus were {the} Paynems deceyued by ignorau{n}ce

     In lyke maner Isys was called the goddesse
     Of frute for she fyrst made it multuply
     By the name of graffyng & soo by processe
     The name of Pan gan to deyfy
     For he fyrst founde the mene shepe to guy
     Some toke it also by her condycyon
     As Pluto Fortune and suche other doon

     Thus all that Poetes put vnder couerture
     Of fable the rurall people hit toke
     Properly as acte refusyng the fygure                  Original has
     Which errour some of hem neuer forsoke                arte
     Ofte a false myrour deceyueth a mannes loke           instead of
     As thou mayst dayly pryue at thyne ey                 acte
     Thus were the paynyms deceyued generally

     That seyng the dedely enemy of mankynde
     By his pouer premyssyue entred the ymagys
     Within the Temples to make the people blynde
     In her ydolatry standyng on hyghe stagys
     Insomoche whoo vsed dau{n}gerous passagys
     Ony maner way by water or be londe
     When hyd his sacryfyce his answere redy fonde

     Thus duryng the tyme of deuyacion
     From Adam to Moyses was ydolatry
     Through the worlde vsed in comon opynyon
     These were the goddys that thou there sy
     And as for the awayters that stood hem by
     They polytyke Phylosophers & Poetes were
     Whiche feyned the fables {that} I speke of here

     Then seased the tyme of deuyacyon
     When Moyses receyued that tables of stone
     Entryng the tyme of reuocacyon
     On the mounte of Synay stondyng allone
     God yaue hym myght ayene all his fone
     And then began the olde testament
     Whiche to the people by Moyses was sent

     And that tyme dured the Incarnacyon
     Of Cryste and then began it to sese
     For then came the tyme of reconcylyacyon
     Of man to god I tell the doutlese
     When the sone of man put hym in prese
     Wylfully to suffre dethe for mankynde
     In holy scrypture this mayst thou fynde

     This Reconcylyacyon was the tyme of grace
     When fou{n}ded was the chirche vpon {that} fayre sto{n}e
     And to holy Peter the keye delyuered was
     Of heuen hell dyspoyled was anone
     Thys was mankynde delyuered from his fone   Original has Wnd
     And then began the newe testament           instead of And
                                                The last line of stanza
     Whiche .iii. tymes a sondry dyuyded       is missing. The line reads:
     Mayst thou here see yf thou lyst beholde      That the Crystyn pepyll
     The fyrst behynde the in pycture is prouyded  beleve in present.
     The seconde of the lyft honde shew p{ro}phet olde       Original has
     The .iii. on the ryght honde here it is to {the} tolde  in instead
     Thus hast thou in vysyon the verey fygure               of is
     Of these .iii. tymes here shewed in portrayture

     That is to say fyrst of deuyacyon
     From Adam to Moyses recordyng scripture
     Seconde fro Moyses to the Incarnacyon
     Of Cryst kepeth reuocacyon cure
     And as for the thyrd thou mayst be verrey sure
     Wylt dure from thens to the worldes ende
     But now the .iiii. must thou haue in mynde

     Whiche is callid p{ro}perly {the} tyme of pylgremage
     After some & some named it otherwyse
     And call hit the tyme of daungerous passage
     And some of werre that fully hit dyspyse
     But what so it be named I wyll the auyse
     Remembre it well and prynte it in thy mynde
     Wherof the fygure mayst thou me behynde

     And elles remembre thyselfe in thyne herte
     How Vyce & Vertue dayly theym occupy
     In maner one of hem hym to peruerte
     Another to bryng hym to endeles glory
     Thus they contynue fyght for the vyctory
     Hit is no nede herof to tell the more
     For in this short vysyon {thou} hast seen it before

     And as for Attropos greuous compleynt
     Vnto the goddys betokeneth noo more
     But oonly to shew the how frendely constrey{n}t
     On a stedfast herte weyeth full sore
     Good wyll requyreth good wyll ayene therfore
     Dyscorde to deth hathe ay byn a frende
     For Dyscorde bryngeth many to her ende

     Wherfore Dethe thought he wolde auenged be
     On his frendes quarell yf that he myghte
     For her gret vnkyndnesse is somoche as she
     Was among hem all had so in despyte
     And at that ba[n]ket made of soo lyte
     Which caused hym among he{m} to cast in a bone
     That fou{n}de they{m} gnawyng ynough euerichone

     Thus ofte is seen on frende for a nother
     Wyll say & doo and some tyme maters feyne
     And also kynnysmen a cosyne or a brother
     Wyll for his alyer he haue cause compleyne
     And where that he loueth doo his besy peyne
     His frendes mater as his owne to take
     Whiche oft sythe causeth mychyll sorow awake

     Be hit ryght or wrong he chargeth not a myte
    Ap towarde that poynt he taketh lytyll hede
     So that he may haue his frowarde appetyte
    Performed he careth not how his soule spede (not{e}
     Of God or Deuyll haue suche lytyll drede
     How be it one there is that lord is of all
     Whiche to euery wyght at last rewarde shall

     And as for {the} batayl betwene Vertu holde
     Soo playnly appereth to the inwardly
     To make exposycyon therof new or olde
     Were but superfluyte therefore refuse hit I
     In man shall thou fynde {that} were kept dayly
     Lyke as {thou} hast seen it fowty[u]e before thy face
     The pycture me behynd{e} sheweth it i{n} lytyll space

     And as for Macrocosme it is nomore to say
     But the lesse worlde to the comon entent
     Whiche applyed is to man both nyght & day
     Soo is man the felde to which all were sent
     On bothe partyes & they that thyder went
     Sygnyfye nomore but after the condycyon
     Of euery manes opynyon

     And as for the noble knygt Perseueraunce
     Which gate the felde when it was almost gone
     Betokeneth nomore but the contynuaunce
     Of vertuous lyvyng tyll dethe hath auergone
     Who soo wyll doo rewarded is anone
     As Vertue was with the crowne on hy
    whiche is noo more but euerlastyng glory

     And as for Prestynacyon                       The line is cut short.
     That eche of hem rewarded after his deserte   The line must be:
     Is to vnderstonde nomore but dampnacyon       And as for Prescience
     To vycyous people is the verey scourge smert  and Predestinacion
     Rewarde for they fro Vertue wolde peruert
     And endelesse Ioye is to hem that be electe
     Rewarded & to all that folow the same secte

     And as for the keyes of the posternes fyue
    Whiche were to Morple{us} rewarded for his laboure
     Sygnyfye not elles but whyle man is on lyue
     His fyue inwarde wyttes shall be euery hour
     In his slepe occupyed in hele & in langour
     With fantasyes tryfels Illusyons & dremes
     Whiche Poetes call Morpleus stremes

     And as for Residiuacyon is nomore to say
     But after Confessyon tornyng ayene to synne
     Whiche to euery man retornyth sauns delay
     To vycyous lyuyng agayn hym to wynne
     Whyle ony man lyueth wyll it neuer blynne
     That cursed conclusyon for to bryng aboute
     But Reason with Sadnes kepe it styll oute

     Here hast thou properly the verrey sentence
     Perde now declared of this vysyon
     The pycture also yeueth clere intellygence
     Therof beholden with good dyscresyon
     Loke well aboute and take consyderasyon
     As I haue declared whether hit soo be
     A syr quoth Morpleus what tolde I the

     Hast thou properly the verey sentence
     Loke on yon wall yonder before
     And all that tyme stood I in a wyre
     Whiche way first myn hert wolde yeue more
     To loke in a stody stood I therfore
     Neuerthelesse at last as Morpleus me badde
     I loked forwarde with contenaunce sadde

     Where I beheld in portrayture
     The maner of the felde euen as it was
    Shewed me before & euery creature
     On bothe sydes beyng drawyng in small space
     Soo caryously in soo lytyll a compace
     In all this worlde was neuer thyng wrought
     Hit were Impossyble in erthe to be thought

     And when I had long beholde that pycture
     What q{uo}d Morpleus how longe shalte thou loke
     Daryng as a dastard on yon portrayture:
     Come of for shame thy wytte stante a croke
     I heryng that myn herte to me toke
     Towarde the fourthe wall tornyng my vysage
     Where I sawe Poetes & Phylosophers sage

     Many one moo that at the banket
     Serued the goddes as I sayde before
     Som were made standyng & som in chayris set
     Som lokyng on bokys as they had stodyed sore
     Som drawyng almenakis & in her hondis bore
     Astyrlabes takyng the altytude of the sonne
     Among whome Dyogenes sate in a tonne

     And as I was lokyng on that fourthe wall
     Of Dyogenes beholdyng the ymage
     Sodeynly Doctryne began me to call
     And bad me tourne towarde hyr my vysage
     And soo then I dyde with humble corage
     Whan thynkest {thou} she sayd hast {thou} not thentent
     Yet of these foure walles what they represent

     The pycture on the fyrst {that} standeth at my bake
     Sheweth the {the} present tyme of pylgremage
     Of whiche before I vnto the spake
     Whiche is the tyme of daungerous passage
     The seconde dyscrettly agayne my vysage
     The tyme expresseth of Deuyacyon
     Whyle paynyme lawe had the domynacyon

     The thryd wall standyng on my lyfe honde
     The tyme representeth of Reuocacyon
     And the fourthe standyng on my ryght honde
     Determyneth the tyme of Reconsylyacyon
     This is the effecte of thy vysyon
     Wherfore the nedeth no more theron to muse
     Hit were but veyne thy wyttes to dysuse

     But duryng the tym of Reconsylyacyon
     Thy tyme of pylgremage loke well {thou} spende
     And then woll gracyous Predestynacyon                 Original has
     Bryng the to glory at thy law ende                    well instead
     And euen with that came to my mynde                   of woll
     My fyrst conclusyon that I was aboute
     To haue dreuen er slepe made me to lute

     That is to say how Sensualyte
     {With} Reason to acorde myght be brought aboute
     Whiche caused me to knele downe on my kne
     And beseke Doctryne determyne that doute
     Oo Lord god sayd Doctry{n}e canst {thou} not withoute
     Me that conclusyon bryng to an ende
     Ferre is fro the wytte & ferther good mende

     And euen with that Dethe gan appere
     Shewyng hymselfe as though that he wolde
     His darte haue occupyed within that herbere
     But there was none for hym yong nor olde
     Saue oonly I Doctrine hym tolde
     And when I herde hyr with hym comon thus
     I me withdrew behynde Morpleus.

     Dredyng full sore lest he with his dart.
     Through Doctrynes wordes ony entresse.
     In me wolde haue had or claymed ony part
     Which sholde haue caused me grete heuynesse
     Within whiche tyme & short processe
     Came thyder Reason and Sensualyte.
     A quoth Doctryne ryght welcome be ye

     Hit is not long sythe we of you spake
     Ye must er ye goo determyne a doute
     And euen with that she the mater brake
     To theym & tolde hit euery where aboute
     I wolde haue be thens yf I had moute
     For fere I loked as blake as a cole
     I wolde haue cropen in a mouse hole

     What quoth Doctryne where is he now
     That meu[i]d this mater straunge & dyffuse
     He is a cowarde I make myn auow
     He hyded his hede his mocyon to refuse
     Blame hym not q{uo}d Reason alway {that} to vse
     When he seeth Dethe soo nere at his honde
     Yet is his part hym to withstonde

     Or at the leste way elles fro hym flee                Original has
     As longe as he may who dooth other wyse               fym instead
     Is an ydeote quoth Sensualytee                        of hym
     Who dredeth not Dethe wyse men hym dyspyse
     What said Doctryne how long hathe this gyse
     Be holden & vsed thus atwixe you tweyne
     Ye were not wonte to acorde certeyne

     Yes quoth Reason in this poynt alway
     To euery man haue we yeuen our counsayll
     Dethe for to flee as long as they may
     Although wo otherwyse haue done our trauayl
     Eche other to represse yet withoute fayll
     In that poynt oonly dyscordeth we neuer
     Thus condescended therin be we for euer

     Aha sayd Doctryne then is the conclusyon
     Clerely determined of the gret doute
     That here wes meuyd & halfe in derysyon
     She me then called & bade me loke oute
     Come forthe she sayd & feere not this route
     And euen with that Reason & Sensualyte
     And Dethe fro thens were vanysshed all thre

     Then loked I forthe as Doctryne me badde
     When Dethe was gone me thought I was bolde
     To shewe myselfe but yet was I sadde
     Me thought my doute was not as I wolde
     Clerely and openly declared & tolde
     Hit sowned to me as a parable
     Derke as a myste or a fayned fable                    Original has
                                                            myhe instead
     And Doctryne my conceyte gan espy                     of myste
     Wherfore sayd she standest thou soo styll
     Wherin is thy thought arte thou in stody
     Of thy questyon hast thou not thy fyll
     To the declared tell me thy wyll.
     Herdest thou not Reason & Sensualyte
     Declared thy doute here before the

     Forsothe quoth I I herde what they sayde
     But neuerthelesse my wytte is so thynne
     And also of Dethe I was so afrayde
     That hit is out where hit vent ynne
     And so that mater can I not wynne
     Without your helpe & benyuolence
     Therof to expresse the veray sentence

     Well quod Doctryne then yeue attendaunce
     Vnto my wordes & thou shalt here
     Openly declared the concordaunce
     Atwene Sensualyte & Reason in fere
     If thou take hede hit clerely dooth apere
     How they were knette in one opynyon
     Bothe agayn Dethe helde contradyccon

     Whiche concordaunce no more sygnyfyeth
     To playne vnderstandyng but in euery mane
     Bothe Sensualyte & Reason applyeth
     Rather Dethe to flee then with hir to be tane
     Loo in that poynt accorde they holly thane
     And in all other they clerely dyscorde
     Thus is trewly set thy doubtfull monacorde

     I heryng that kneled on my kne
     And thanked her lowly for her dyscyplyne
     That she wouchesafe of her benygnyte
     Of tho gret doubtes me to enlumyne
     Well was she worthy to be called Doctryne
     If it had be no more but for the solucyon
     Of my demaunde & of this straunge vysyon

     And as I with myne hede began for to bow
     As me well ought to do her reuerence
     She thens departed I can not tell how
     But within a moment gone was she thens
     Then sayd Morpleus let vs go hens
     what sholde we here tarye lengere
     Hast thou not herde a generall answere

     To all thy materes that thou lyst to meue
     My tyme draweth nere that I must rest
     And euen therewith he toke me by the sleue
     And sayd goo we hens for that sholde I best
     As good is ynough as a grete fest
     Thou hast seen ynough holde the content
     And euen with {that} forthe with hym I went

     Tyll he had me brought agene to my bedde
     where he me founde and then pryuely                   Original has
     He stale awaye I coude not vnderstande                pruyely
     were he became but sodeynly                           instead of
     As he came he went I tell you veryly                  pryuely
     whiche done fro slepe I gan to awake
     My body all in swet began for to shake

     For drede of the syght that I had sene
     wenyng to me all had be trew
     Actuelly done where I had bene
     That batyll holde twene Vyce & Vertew
     But when I see hit hit was but a whew
     A dreme a fantasy & a thyng of nought
     To study thereon I had nomore thought

     Tyll at the last I gan me bethynke
     For what cause shewed was this vysyon
     I knew not wherefore I toke pen & ynke
     And paper therof to make mencyon
     In wrytyng takyng consyderacyon
     That noo defaute were found in me
     whereon accused I ought for to be

     For slouthe that I had left hit vntolde
     Neyther by mouthe nor in remembrau{n}ce
     Put it in wrytyng where thorugh manyfolde
     wayes of accusacio{n} myght torne me to greuau{n}ce
     All this I sawe as I lay in a traunce
     But wheder it was with myne ey bodely
     Or not in certayn god knoweth & not I

     That to dyscerne I purpose not to dele
     Soo large by my wyll it longeth not to me
     were hit dreme or vysyon for your owne wele
     All that shall hit rede here rad or se
     Take thereof the best & let the worst be
     Try out the corne clene from the chaff
    And then may ye say ye have a sure staff

     To stande by at nede of ye wyll it holde
     And walke by the way of Vertue
     But alwey beware be ye yong or olde
     That your Frewyll ay to Vertue more
     Apply than to Vyce the easyer may be bore
     The burden of the felde that ye dayly fyght
     Agayn your .iii. enemyes for all her gret myght

     That is to say the Deuyll & the Flesshe
     And also the worlde with hith his glosyng chere
     Whyche on you loketh euer newe & fresshe
     But he is not as he dooth apere
     Loke ye kepe you ay out of his daungere
     And soo the vyctory shall ye obteyne
     Vyce fro you exyled & Vertue in you reyne

     And then shall ye haue the tru{m}phall guerdon
     That god reserued to euery creature
     Aboue in his celestyall mansyon
     Ioye & blysse infynyte eternally to endure
     Wherof we say we wolde fayne be sure
     But the way thyderwarde to holde be we lothe
     That oft sythe causeth {the} good lord to be wrothe

     And by our deserte our habytacyon chau{n}geth
     Fro Ioye to payne & woo perpetuelly
     From his gloryous syght thus he vs estrau{n}geth
     For our vycyous lyuyng thorugh our owne foly
     Wherfore let vs praye to that lorde of glory
     Whyle we in erthe be {that} he wyll yeue vs grace
     So vs here to guyde that we may haue a place

     Accordyng to oure Regeneracyon
     Which heuenly spyrytes his name to magnyfy.
     Whiche downe descendeth for oure redempcyon
     Offryng hymselfe on the crosse to his fad{er} on hy
     Now benygne Ihesu that boren was of Mary
     All that to this vysyon haue gyue{n} her audyence
     Graunte eternal Ioye after thy last se{n}tence

    A M E N

     Here endeth a lytyll Treatyse
    named The assemble of goddes

[Illustration]

[Illustration]





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