¶ The, xxv, orders of Fools,  

STay a while with patience, my friends I you pray,  
Of the orders of Fools, somewhat I will say:  
Five and twenty, just a quartern is ye know,  
Every Fool in his foolishness will I show.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

¶ Many Fools, the cart of sin now a days doth draw,  
Nowrishing their sin against all right and law:  
Though that the way to hell be very plain,  
Yet like a fool I advise thee to return again.  
If thou in foolishness still dost devil,  
Thou shalt have a babble and a bell.   

* He is a fool that his sins can not hate,  
nought young, worse old, such is his estate:  
This old fool is glad of that name,  
Desiring all men to take part of the same.  
This fool must have in hand without fail,  
A babble, a bell, or else a Fox tail.   

¶ Of fools, yet I find an other sort,  
Which are causers of lying, and ill report:  
And he is a fool both even and morrow,  
That nothing will lend, but all things borrow.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain  
A hood for this fool to keep him from the rain.   

* Of Fools, yet an other sort doth come,  
Which never seeketh for to have wisdom:  
Many such fools, wisdom disdain,  
Yet for their foolishness they shall suffer pain.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

¶ He is a Fool which to others doth preach and tell,  
And yet this fool is ready himself to go unto hell:  
Live thou uprightly, be cause of no blame,  
If thou do not, the more is thy shame.  
And as the proverb doth say very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

* He is a Fool, and ever be shall,  
That others judgeth, and himself worst of all:  
This fool is blind, frantic, and wood,  
Without all reason, judgeth bad things good.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

¶ He is a Fool that wisdom doth eschew,  
For no good counsel can bring him to virtue:  
This fool which scorneth his neighbour fast,  
Shall be scorned justly himself at the last.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

* An other Fool yet, I do here find,  
Which can not keep close the secrets of his mind:  
This is a natural fool, and undiscrete,  
Which can not hide his own counsel and secret.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

¶ He is a Fool, that in youth will not provide,  
In age must he starve, or in poverty abide:  
This is a fool, and of the numb one,  
Which in the Summer can make no provision.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

* He is a Fool, that getteth his goods wrongfully,  
For his heirs after him, will spend it unthriftelye:  
This fools gold is his God, wrongfully got,  
Why thou fool, thy gold is muk & clay, knowest thou not?  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

¶ He is a Fool, whether he be man or wife,  
Whice still delighteth in discord and strife:  
Such fools their own flesh to the bones may gnaw,  
That contendeth in matters, scant worth a straw.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

* He is a Fool that on message is sent,  
And when he is on his way, forgot whether he went:  
This feel is worthy of the babble and the bell,  
For of all other fools, he doth excel.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

¶ Yet of Fools, a whole dozen I have espied,  
And lead in a string, together they are tied:  
These fools you may know by their favour,  
For like the Aspen leaf, with every wind they waver.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for these fools, to keep them from the rain.   

* He is a Fool, that thinketh it great wonder,  
When God striketh by lightning and thunder:  
Alas, we daily without all dread commit  
Much cursed vice, for lack of godly wit.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

¶ All youth, I do liken unto Fools blind,  
That unto their Parents are rebels unkind:  
Thou unkind child, and fool disobedient,  
Remember what goods thy friends on thee spent.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for these fools, to keep them from the rain.   

* He is a Fool, that greatly doth flatter and boast,  
When he thinks lest, he shall taste of the roast:  
This fool at last, is cast out of favour,  
For flattering pleaseth no wise man of honour.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

¶ He is a Fool, and void of all prudence,  
Which to vain tales doth give all his credence:  
Therefore remember this both low and high,  
That flatterers speak fair when they do lie.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

* He is a natural Fool, and a very daw,  
That from doing good, his neighbour doth withdraw:  
Such froward fools, all goodness they defile,  
If their neighbours do good, than they revile.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

¶ He is a Fool, and greatly unprovable,  
That in all his doings he is unfortunable:  
But in his misfortune he is so blind,  
He never considereth no remedy in mind.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool to keep him from the rain.   

* He is a Fool, that himself doth apply  
Behind his neighbours back to slander with envy:  
Such beastly fools commonly are well a paid,  
Which think all is well, that falsely is weighed.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for this fool, to keep him from the rain.   

¶ Yet more Fools there be, which be uncommendable,  
That useth ill manners always at the table:  
Of pleasant nurture they have no heed,  
But beastly intend as swine always to feed.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for these fools, to keep them from the rain.   

* Many fools there be, in these our days,  
Which seem to be wise, yet follow foolish ways:  
Therefore I have told unto you very plain,  
What foolishness in these days in many doth remain.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for these fools, to keep them from the rain.   

¶ He is a Fool, that will still desire  
His own death, to run in to the fire:  
And he is a fool, that hath no mind devout,  
But in the temple still walketh about.  
And as the proverb doth show very plain,  
A hood for these fools to keep them from the rain.   

* GOD grant that all fools wisdom may learn,  
And that they may good from ill always discern:  
Then no more fools we may them call,  
But wise men, and wisdom show they shall.  
God grant that on all parts we may now begin  
To repent of our folly, and fly from our sin.   
¶ FINIS.  
qd T. Gr.   

❀ Imprinted at London by Alexander Lacie, for Henry Kyrkham, dwelling at the sign of the black Boy: at the middle North door of Paul's church.