¶ A new treatise in manner of a Dialogue/ which showeth the excellency of man's nature/ in that he is made to the Image of God, and wherein it resteth/ and by how many ways a man doth blot, and defile the same Image. Remember man, thou art earth plain And thereto shalt, return again. job. OF late as I lay, musing all alone Revolving a certain thing in my mind Which troubled me so, that my heart was gone But being compelled, remedy to find Mine old custom, not being yet resind I ●ose from my bed, and forth did depart And then heard I a bird sing, O man vnkynd● I say remember thou man, what thou art. ¶ Which thing so hearing, made me moche to muse And as I looked, what bird it should be She spied me and said, now fain thine excuse For truly I have, a quarrel to the And with that, I saw her sit in a tree Which made me I tell you, glad at my heart But she spyenge that said, streyghe unto me Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ I perceive by thy countenance, quoth she That thou dost moche rejoice, in my presence But little cause hast thou, thou mayst trust me For now art thou, with me out of credence Because thou hast not done, thy diligence To perform thy promise, made on thy part Therefore in reproach, of thy negligence Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Why what matter quoth I, hast thou to me That thou shludest me, thus spitefully reprove Matter enough, I warrant the quoth she For that thou didst not, as did the behove What is it quoth I, tell me for my love Have I in my promise, been overthawrte Ye none excuse quoth she, can it remove Therefore remember, thou man what thou art. ¶ Thou didst promise me, if thou call to mind To set forth a song, which I sang to the And now because untrue, I do the find Thou dost me provoke, displeased to be That song forth quoth I, thou mayst trust me I see no proof quoth she, for who doth revert From their vice reproved, not one I ca●se Therefore remember, thou man what thou art. ¶ It is forth quoth I, though small profit ape●e concerning of man's life, the amendment Thou mayst reprove sin, and never the near We are unto the flesh, All this world is set on mischief. 1. Ioh●. ●. so fully ben●e Then my labour quoth she, in vain have I spent But no doubt at length, for it ye shall smart whiles that by grace, your fault ye repent Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ Thou art but vile earth, and shall turn to dust Though all the worlds good, job. thou hadst at thy will At the last comes death, and then hence thou must There is no treasure, can keep the here still Therefore thou vain man, why dost thou fulfil Thy fleshly lust, and from god dost revert Wilt thou for thy flesh, thy soul deadly kill Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ God hath appointed, of his mere goodness How each man should live, Let every man abide in his calling whe● in he is called. 1. Co●. 7. in his vocation And scripture doth, unto you all express So that ye can make, no excusation But that ye provoke, your own dampna●yon whiles ye repent, or death with his dart Of body and soul, make separation Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ Somewhat I have, toched to the before How moste people here, In the 〈◊〉 of the misery of the world. doth live out of frame Not one shalt thou find, sca●●y in a score That liveth in his office, unworthy blame Nay clean to necele●●e, yet they have no shame Or else they abuse it, so overthwart That they seem not, to have a christian name Remember therefore thou man what thou art. ¶ What needs thou quoth I, this thing to rehearse It is superfluous, as far as I here In thy song before, in many a verse Thou hast touched this, as well doth apere What though said she, I am never the near I see no man graft, my words in his heart Therefore I warn the again, plain and cl●re Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ I showed the once, and so I do again How every creature, without blame Doth keep their course, ●ake we en● to our twne likeness and 〈…〉. as nature doth constrain But thou man which God, so nobly did frame Unto his image, thou wilt grant the same And yet like a beast, from God overthwart Thou defylest his image, to thy great shame Therefore remember, thou man what thou art. ¶ I know quod I, that thou toldest me all this Trouste thou that I have, so dull memory To forget what gods goodness, to me is Ye said she, I believe it verily For thou art so replete, with misery No thing can move thee, from sin to revert But yet when thou feedest, thy lust busily Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ What thou meanest said I, I can not tell I pray the show me, what thou dost intend Thou checkest me, me think for not living well And yet with no fault, dost me reprehend Have I not said she, how dost thou attend Unto my words, which enter not thy heart But in all thy time, that thou dost here spend Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Did not I say, how in sin thou dost live By which thy soul, thou dost most foully defile Which God of his goodness, to the did give Made to his image, and like no beast vile And yet the devil, from the for to excyle He suffered death here, with painful wounds smart amend therefore, and every mean while Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Thy soul thou knowest, well is made immortal Having will reason, and understanding In which thou dost deffer, from beasts brutal And therein to God, thou art resembling But now in what case, thy soul thou dost bring I purpose to show thee, or thou depart That for fear, thou wilt quake at the hearing Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ first thou ha●● reason, a gift excellent Which to the father, is apropryate Because that he is, always permenent And did his person, never derogate Note once altering, but in divine estate He always abideth, and can not revert For which by reason, he is fygurate Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ Now sith that by reason, thou dost represent In thy soul, to the Father eternal Which syngnyfyeth, thou must be diligent To ●●aye to reason, the power pryn●yall But how thou from reason, daily dost fall Thou mayst be ashamed man of thy part As somewhat hereafter▪ tell the I shall Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ So long as to reason, thou dost agree In all thy works, and conversation So long appeareth, i● thy soul to be Thimage of God, by his creation Let reason than, have domination Follow not will, and set reason apart Put not the Father, from his mansion Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ I trow quod I, thou knowest not what thou sayest Thou hast forgot clean, what thou didst begin Me think thou dost spend, many words in waste Wilt thou not, the other two powers bring in Yes quod she, but because thy wit is thine I would that to reason, thou shouldest convert Which thou daily, dost so fowl blot with sin Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ But for thy sake quoth she, I am content The other two powers, to the to express while in thy soul, doth the sone represent For as much as he did, 〈…〉 him always dress To do his father's will, with great meekness willingly suffling, for thy sinful heart Thus christ of good will, thy sins did redress Therefore remember, thou man what thou art. ¶ Now like as Christ, only of his good will Took here thy nature, 〈…〉 53. and redeemed thee From the devil and sin, which did thy soul kill He will not his death, thy safeguard shall be unless thy will, freely to his agre Not compelled, ●●e that Lo●yth me kepi●h my commandments. Ioh●. 15. but by love from thy heart This mean by justice, appointed hath he Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ Now stay there quoth▪ I, I pray the be still Let me in this point, understand the well Wilt thou affirm here, that man hath free will Thou sayest that God, doth not man's will compel Mary sir if I, that abroad should tell Some would say that I, the truth did pervartes Will they quoth she, against that thing rebel Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ A thou wicked man, now well I perceive Thou wouldest find, away thy vice to excuse For if thou couldst prove, God lemp●yth 〈◊〉 to evil. Ia●●. ●. the no free will to have Thou wouldest for thy sin, god's goodness accuse Because thou wilt say, he would not infuse Grace in to thy soul, from sin to convert Alas man do not, thy life so abuse Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ God offryth his grace, 〈…〉 to the man daily Knocking at thy soul, by many away Declaring his will, most mercifully To have the saved, if thou say not nay Therefore if thou wilt, God ●old h●ue all 〈…〉. be saved thou may God's help is ready, if thou do thy part Thou mayst consent, if thou wilt I dare say Remember therefore, If thou ●ylt 〈◊〉 to life keep the commandments. 〈…〉 thou man what thou art. ¶ In this quoth I, thou hast peased my mind But may ha● all other, so will not be For in this matter, great fa●te they will find When so ever they shall, it read or see What tho and they do, I pray the quoth she Truth will be truth, though they would it pervert Therefore to all them, as well as to the I say remember, thou man what thou art. ¶ I pass not said she, what any doth say So long as the truth, I do demonstrate To please all minds, I do not know the way unless I should, gods pleasure violate And that will I not do, for none estate Nothing shall cause me, from truth for to start But let all this pass, early and late Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ If thou hast said I, in this said thy mind I pray thee, in thy first purpose proceed Con●ent said she, I have it not resind Though I did degress, as I thought it need Understanding, is now the next in deed Or memory which twain, can not depart In this the holy ghost, thy soul doth lead Therefore remember, thou man what thou art, ¶ By understanding, well may syngnyfy In thy soul the Image, of the holy ghost Because it is a power, which inwardly Doth work, 〈…〉. in thy soul a thing which doth most Profit thy soul health, this well I dare boast For thereby gods will, thou knowest in thy heart Without which, thou shouldest, be blind as a post Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ None I trow said she, thou doth plain perceive How to god's image, that thou art create And in what it resteth, opened I have Now sith that God, in the is socyate Let not his grace, in the be vacuate Keep this image pure, in every part So shalt thou with him, be peticipate Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ What need 〈…〉 That thou 〈…〉 thing defile For now I see plain, th● work●● do reports Thou hast don● it ready, by thy 〈◊〉 ●yle For which cause I see, I must turn my style To show how thou dost, these th●● powers pervert By which I fear me, thou 〈◊〉 god excyle Remember I s●y, thou man what thou art. ¶ first for as m●che, as I told the before That reason is the power, most principal By which only, thou dy●●erest evermore From all other be●●●es, the which be brutal For set reason aside, and prove I shall That beasts may compare, with the in some part concerning the powers, which be natural Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ The lion in strength, doth man greatly pass And so doth th● Egle, in clearness of sight In hearing also, compare may the ass The grayhound to run, moste nemble and light In smelling the hound, by day or by night And in memory beasts▪ in plough and ●arte Now if they had reason, pass the they might Therefore remember, thou man what thou art. ¶ But now as scripture, 〈…〉. to the do record It hath pleased god, for to ordain the Over all beasts of the earth, ●o be lord And them 〈…〉 But how, by reason, or else thou 〈…〉 If beasts of reason, had now● any pa●●e By the in no 〈…〉 they would be Therefore remember, thou man what thou art▪ ¶ Now bee●●es by reason, thou dost make 〈◊〉 To serve the 〈◊〉, as God die them ordain And so must reason, also 〈…〉 Rule all thy 〈◊〉▪ which in the remain With all thy works; which proceed from the plain But worse is thy acts, reason to convert Then all brute beasts, which the world doth contay●● Remember therefore, thou man what thou art▪ ¶ sensuality in thee, beareth such ru●e That when reason, should have domination froward will, causeth him for to recoil To thy great shame, and defamation For will ought to be, in gubernation Of reason, fro whom he ought not to start But will doth rule all, I see probation Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. Reason would thou shouldest, to god have respect Always considering, his goodness to the But that most unkindly, thou dost reject Abusing reason, that daily I see Unreasonable, thou semyst to be From god's law, thy life is so overthwart Which way I will declare▪ or else blame me Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ To thy filthy carcase, 〈…〉. thou hast such delyte That thou lovest it more, than god or his law What thing can bind thee, from thy●e apety●e Can scripture cause thee, 〈◊〉 lust to withdraw● From the fowl fedy●ge, of thy beastly 〈◊〉 Nay truly, th●● dost thou reason pervert A beast and thou, doth not differ a stra●● Remember I say, tho● man what thou art. ¶ Now thou man quoth she, thou sayest very well That Christ commanded, that thou shouldest fast hear Against which, if tho● dost rebel To be Christ's disciple, thou dost not apere But most like a be'st, 〈…〉. against reason clear Thou regardest no time; but dost gods law pervert Christ's ensample, with the no rule doth ●ere Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Good reason would, that thou shouldest sacrafyce Thy carnal body, 〈…〉. to our lord above Which is by fasting, and other such wise But thy vile carcase, so much thou dost love That neither law, nor reason can the move To cause thy body, by fasting to smart But dost like a be'st, such virtue reprove Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Thus of thy belly, a god thou dost make And to that stinking Idol, dost sacrafyce For pleasure of it, more pain thou dost take Then thou for god, wilt do in any wise Ye, to please it, gods law thou wilt clean despise As though from hence, thou shouldest never depart Reason against this, daily on the cryse Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Truly quoth I, I confess this to the That in this matter, I have none excuse But yet me think, this a small fault to be And if I my soul, a right to god use Ye marry quoth she, but thou dost it abuse As and if thou harkyn, that shall here part Therefore to here, my words do not refuse Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ To make thy ●oule, a sacrifice perfit Thou oughcest it, to our lord to elyvate By devour prayer, A 〈◊〉 heart god doth not despise. Psalm. 〈◊〉. wherein he doth delight If it come from a heart, inmaculate But alas man, when thou art in that estate Thou goest about, good prayers to subvarte By which thy soul, thou dost sore vulnerate Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ christ taught the truly, ●ath. 6. how that thou shouldest pray knowledging thy need, and great misery And not seizing, ●. ●im. ●. ● but as saint Paul doth say Make prayers to God, Watch & pray that ye enter not into temptation. ●ath. ●6. continually And thou shouldest also, as christ doth testify Watch in prayers, with all thy mind and hart● This is the sure mean, thy soul to mundefy Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ By prayer Moses, Exod. 17. obtained victory By prayer the red see, Exod. 14. also divided By prayer king David, ●. hag. 1●. obtained mercy By prayer Hely, 1. Reg. 1●. the deed child revived By prayer Susan, Dan●el. 〈◊〉. Ios●a. x. The prayer of the righteous awayle the much. jacob. 5. from death was saved By prayer of joshua, the son did revert Thus prayers of the just, God never depraved Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ Now prayer of all works, being most high For the which our lord, great wonders hath wrought Why dost thou not man, thyself more apply Wnto this virtue, in heart, will and thought But alas it seemeth, thou regards it nought For all times thou thynkyst, long spent in that part But no short time to play, thy lust hath sought Remember I say▪, thou man what thou art. ¶ If good prayers, thou regardest nothing Thy soul to god, thou canst not sacrifice Then into what case that thou doest it bring Reason can tell that, thou dost that despise By which thy soul, truly to god should rise And it moveth the daily, to convert But reason can not thy foul flesh suffice Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ Thou hast in this quod I, been somewhat plain For in prayer in deed, man is neelygente But yet for all this, one doubt doth remain Whether that scripture, of vocal prayer mente Or ●lles of mental, which is most excellent By my troth quoth she, thou art overthwart I have much a do, thy mind to content Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ With vocal prayer, 〈…〉. when that thou dost pray Thy heart from god, then being alienate That prayer doth not merit, I dare say For vain thoughts, doth make thy prayer frustrate But mental prayer, of more high estate If thou use it, to vice will not ●euarte But doth thy heart pure, to god elyvate Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ Then quoth I, Lord 〈…〉 to y● 〈◊〉 of my prayer. Psal. 129. I see I need not all To pray with the voice, for that is but vain If the effect rest, only in prayer ment●all I mean not so quoth she, I tell the playve For when the heart, with the voice doth remain Two ways thou dost merit e●he in his part Where as one doth, but half so much obtain Remember therefore▪ thou man what thou art▪ ¶ When that thou dost pray, but in hare only It is known to god, and he doth it here But that doth not, 〈…〉 before 〈◊〉 that they may see your go● works▪ & ●ath. 5. thy neighbour edify Because good example, doth not apere Therefore double merit, thou shalt have clear When the voice doth show, what is in the heart This kind of prayer, to god is most dear Remember therefore, thou man what thou art▪ ¶ Thou hast my mind, quoth I well satisfied concerning prayer, in every thing That is marvel quoth she, for I have spied It is hard in thy head, virtue to bring For which with sorrow, thy hands thou mayst wring But thou dost not care, until time that thou smart Yet in the mean while, I give the a warning Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Now have I told thee, how thou oughtest alway Thy body and soul, to god to sacrafyce Which thou canst not do, unless thou obey Unto reason, and thine own will despise But how thou dost that, 〈…〉 thin● own will Eccl. 1●. thy living well tryse Will doth rule thee, like a horse in a cart What shame is this to thee▪ that should be wise Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ But in the matter, farther to proce●e Reason would also, that thou shouldest truly Thy goods sacrifice, in heart will and deed Unto our lord▪ ●●●●owlegyng thereby That he is the giver, of them only After what sort▪ I will show the a part How thou must use them, unto god's glory Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ first give thanks to god, ●ake you friends of the wicked ●ammon that they may receive you into eternal tabernacles. Luke. 16. for thy richesse all And help the poor, in their necessity And unlose those, which are in prison thrall Forget not the widow, in her misery Nor the fatherless child, in thynfancy Take the poor how●les, under thy covartes Suffer not the poor, in the street to die Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ This shouldest thou do, 〈…〉. which hath riches at will Sacrafyce to god, with righteous able Which offrede the best, god's law to fulfil And not the worst, for which to him be●ell That his offering, did please our lord right well His fire brent bright, declaring his good heart But caynes did smolder, the cause I will tell Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Good able thought, the best was not to good To give to god▪ the giver of all thing But cursed Cain, which no grace understood Thought the worst▪ to good to burn in offering For which his sacrifice, brent all smouldering Which declared, that he from god did revartes But this matter, now in thy mind nothing Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ It is not meet quoth I, in our time I am sure To burn our goods, to god for sacrifice That is truth quoth she, but they in figure Burnt their offerings, in many so●dry wise Which figure in truth, ye must exercise As thus Abel's fire, burning bright in each part signifieth charity, which all good works tryse Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ The bright fire, causeth the sm●ke to ascends And so doth charity, cause thy good works all Before god to have reward at the end As saith, 〈…〉. the holy apostle say●t paul But when that thou from charity dost fall Thy works doth smolder & thou playest Cayves part Abusing gods gifts, with thy life bestial Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Now of those that offer with good Abel A little before I have showed to the And now of another sort I will tell Which doth offer with Cain in each degr● And of these no small number there be I can scantly think on them all by heart Therefore though I hap some to over see Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ The first that be figured by Cain chiefly Be those that there tenths untruly doth pay giving unto god unreverently The worst of every thing that they may Tush it is good enough for the priest they say And yet they here scripture call it gods part This offering smuldreth with Caynes musty hay● Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ No more of that quoth I, and thou love me For if I abroad should plain report this The priests proctor straight called I should be But from that report I will me sure bliss My tongue shall not yet run so far amiss What quoth she wilt thou now from truth reuar●● Darest thou not now tell the truth as it is Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Well quoth I, I pray the if thou intend To proceed farther, show forth thine intent mary quoth she, thou dost me reprehend When I would show thee, my mind evident But trip me no more, and I will not stente Till I have showed thee, my hole mind and heart And whatsoever, I say here present Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ All such as money, 〈…〉. to their neighbours lend Thereof to have profit, by usury With cursed Cain, our lord they do offend Because that their work, doth lack charity For against god's word, no good work can be Let them gloze what they can truth to pervert They are a cursed of god, from heaven on high Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ To speak more of that, quoth I, shall not need For thou dost, but throw stoness against the wind Do quod she, then will I forth proceed To those that offer, in another kind With cursed Cain, 〈…〉. and they be those I ●ynde which giveth large money their neighbours to subvarte Which way, I will tell the as comes to mind Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ All such as giveth money, leaces to take Of their neighbours houses, for the intent That they themselves so, the rytcher would make By unreasonable, raising of the rent To their neighbours great hurt, and detrement poor men cry out for this, in every part These with cursed Cain, shall have punishment Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ next cousin to these, be all such truly Which doth their neighbour, by craft cyrcumuente By going about, privily to spy Such houses as they think, for them convenyente Not passing on the poor men, there in resydente Let them go and beg, or else drive a cart Trow these to scape hell, unless they repent Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Because thou speakest, of driving cart quod I Some saith, that both carts and ploughs decays All those that so saith, quoth she, doth not lie For I am a bird, that flieth many ways And where I was wont, to feed many days Upon sweet corn, which comforted my heart Now is there nothing, because the plough stays Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ To what use quoth I, then serveth the ground For pastor quoth she, for beasts for to feed So where many poor men's, livings was found Now twain or three, their lives alone doth lead Not forcing at all▪ for the poor man's need These do the common wealth, falsely subvartes But for this at last, hell shall be thy meed Remember I say, thou man what thou art ¶ It boots not quo● I, to speak more of this The cause why, I could to the plain express Ye quoth she, I know full well where it is Those men which chiefly, should this thing redress Have vantage thereby, therefore nothing less Intend they, then to speak on the poor man's part This is true surely, all men will confess Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ Say not so quoth I, though thou dost so think No more I will quod she, I have all said But thou knowest, the ca●te at sweet milk can wink When she feeds thereof, and is well apaid And so can such, this can not be denayed wink at that, which from their wealth doth revart But this thing among them, being well weighed Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ ●ush, quoth I, I pray the tell me no more Of this matter, I love it not to here To rehearse it quoth she, doth grieve me sore But yet to speak this, I could not forbear Sith that my mind is, for to show the clear The truth, how thou dos●e reason pervert In all these sorts, it doth well apere Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ Farther now quoth she, thy mind to fulfil even like as thou dost, thy reason abuse In like manner, so thou dost thy free-will As I will prove, thou caused make none excuse For gods grace daily, thou dost here refuse From which thy will ought never to revert Thou blots gods Image, which y● shouldest well use Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Will as I told thee, aught to be subject Unto reason, in every degree And to consent to nothing in effect Which against reason, any thing should be The which if thou do, I dare assure the I mean, if will from reason do not start God his own Image, in thy soul doth see Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ But as I before, have told unto the Thou sayest that free-will, in the hath no place But only to sin, in that it is free And not unto virtue, though thou hast grace Which saying is false, but yet in one case Thy words is well proved, true on thy part For the path of sin, thy will doth still trase Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ In one case, I say, thou dost prove truly That unto sin, thy will is ever free For wholly to sin, thou dost thy well apply And then dost affirm, the chief cause to be For that, there is no virtue in the It is because, god will the not convert So is he the cause, of thine iniquity Remember I say, thou man what thou art, ¶ The highest gift, which god to the hath lent Above all creatures, on earth create Is thy free-will, by which thou mayst consent To virtue or vice, both early and late For if thou couldst not, free-will were frustrate And all gods precepts, in every part In vain to thee, they were all promulgate Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ If free-will can not, but to sin consent Thou canst not prove it, a free-will to be For if will can not chose, this indifferent Virtue or vice, there is necessity Which compelleth will, to sin thou mayst see And then is not will, fire in any part But god as a doom instrument, doth use the Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Thy phrase of speech quoth I, is very obscure Thou sayest me think, that man's will is not free If it can not chose, for to put in ure As well virtue as vice, in each degree If not, than thou sayest god must needs be The cause of my sin, in deed or in heart And that can I prove, be thou sure quoth she Remember therefore, thou man what thou art ¶ first thou must grant, thou art a christian man And p●a●ted, in Christ's church by help of grace I speak to thee, and not a to pagan For I know ye twain, are not in one case Thou with that grace, I say mayst purchase To have further grace, from sin to convert Even by thy free-will, thou canst not this deface Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ Now since thou must needs, grant this to be true That by thy free-will, thou mayst always consent Not only to sin, but also to virtue By help of grace, which is ever present Now to say free-will, is not permynent In thy soul, the devil doth the man pervert As I will prove to thee, even continent Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ When that thou dost say, thou haste no free-will Thou mayst as well say, no fault is in the For that, that thou canst do nothing but ill Thou canst, in no wise to virtue agree And then, 〈…〉. for lack thereof condemned to be Thou wouldest prove god, to play a tyrants part But leave that error, and learn this of me Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ By that reason quoth I, I see in deed That I should prove god, the cause of my sin And the farther me think, that I proceed In this matter, more blindness I fall inn Therefore I will leave, for nought I do win Nor they neither quoth she, which doth take thy part To defend an error, thy wit is to thin Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ In denying free-will, now thou mayst see That th'image of god, thou dost full defile For by will, gods sone is figured to be In thy soul, from which thou wouldest him exile But beware thyself, thou dost not beguile For will, I fear me will make the to smart Thou dost so abuse it, every mean while Remember therefore, thou man what thou art. ¶ How will doth rule, It is not good to have respect of person i● Iugeme● 〈…〉 to reason contrary I reporte●●e, to true experience Doth not most judges, from justice vary Yes yes, and that well knoweth, their conscience judgement is defarde, but for what pretence I know not, for I can not, search the heart unless I may judge, with the wise man's evidence Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ What saith the wiseman quoth I, in that thing Doth he against judges, any thing surmise Ye marrow quoth she, his words I will bring Forth unto thee, thou shalt here what he cryse Gifts and rewards saith he, doth blind the ●eyese Of Iud●es, which hath a covetous heart Causing them, true judgement clean to despise Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ I could ●hewe the scriptures, 〈…〉. many 〈◊〉 Which doth reprove such, as judge not rightly Oh what curse is that, when god doth cry w● Unto all rulers, in authority Which doth not maintain right and equity O man thinkest thou not from hence to depart And that as thou dost judge, judged thou shalt be Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ What rule doth friendship now bear in each place Without due respect had to the offence Favour doth justice, 〈…〉. even clearly deface Being by friendship now brought in presence And if I lie look on experience Doth this with god's law agree, in any part A ●udge to sit, in a chair of pestilence Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ But the cause hereof, what is it but will When he doth rule, and hath reason reject It is 〈◊〉 thou sayest, such things to fulfil truely so it is, thou showest the effect But canst thou turn now, or art thou subject So much to this vice, thou canst not convert Then art thou damned without more respect Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Soft quoth I, me think thou speakyst very large Against judges as though all did amiss Wilt thou with faults of some, all the rest charge Me think in that small charity there is Nay quoth she, thou mayst understand, in this That all such, as doth play a true judges part Are not blame worthy, for doing justis Remembre I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ In that quoth I, thou hast answered me well But yet in one thing, thou do●e me offends Thou sayest, I must needs be damned in hell So thou wouldest make me despair, at mine end Mary quoth she, if thou wilt still defend That god doth give thee, no power to convert Then mayest thou despair, for thou canst not amend Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ If god did not offer, to the his grace Which by thy free-will, thou mayest leave or take Of justice he could not, damn the in that case But sith wilfully, thou dost it forsake Thy mo●st grievous pain, in th'infernal lake shallbe for that thou, wouldest not here reuart● From sin, but wilfully gods precepts broke Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Do lewd preest● lack grace, These are cursed children leu●ng the right way and are geu●●● 〈◊〉 errors ●. Pet. ●. which keepeth not their Do rich men lack grace, which help not the poor (vows Do lawer● lack grace, which from the right bows Doth that man lack grace, which doth keep an whore Doth those men lack grace, which do false men succour Doth he lack grace, which doth gods word pervert Doth he lack grace, which doth poor men devour Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Will thou say quod I, that these lack not grace Yes forsooth quoth she, they lack grace in deed But why, because they will it not inbrace For god doth offer it, their souls clean to weed From all filthiness, and forth would them lead To farther virtue, if they from it hot start So that they lack thereof, of will doth proceed Remember therefore, thou man what thou art ¶ Now thou wretched man, here thou mayest perceive How thou dost offend, through thy wickedness Even worse than a beast, thou dost thyself behave No threatening nor preaching, can thy life redress No plague of god, ca● turn thy wilfulness Surely I believe, thou haste Pharos heart That thus abusest will, against god's goodness Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ I pray the quoth I, speak no more of will For truly I feel, in my conscience The fault is in me, if I my soul kill For of gods will, I have experience If I perish, it is my negligence Is it so quoth she, than thou mayest convert Why dost thou thereto, slack thy diligence Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Now to leave will, and to another thing The which I told thee, that thou dost abuse It is gods high gift, of understanding The which the holy ghost, in the did infuse joined with reason, so that none excuse Of yngnoraunce, thou shouldest allege on thy part But knowing good and ill, and how them to use Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Understanding, as I told the before Is in very beasts, in a certain kind Through which they, are brought evermore To serve the man, according to thy mind And when disobedient, thou dost them find With correction, thou makest them to smart And then as a lamb, the strongest thou mayst bind Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ But understanding, now being in the Thou haste it, with reason for to discus All things, which are good or bad in degree And them to use, to god's honour as thus All good things to use, as gifts gracious And evil things perceiving, from them to revert But how thou dost use it, it is marvelous Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ As god hath made, beasts to be under the So art thou under god, him to obey And because to know his will, sure thou shouldest be Understanding he hath given the alway Not like to a beast, and yet I may say Sooner dost thou make, a beast to convert Then thou wilt, to god by night or by day Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ The beast by sore beating, here thou dost ●eache To know thy mind sure, and it to fulfil But god in his ministers, to the doth preach Declaring daily, unto the god's will But thou like one, which thereof cold no skill Wilt not obey god, although thou dost smart And yet will say, thou art gods darling still Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ In that quoth I, me think I could answer the By the words of the wise man, written plain The child whom the father doth beat, saith he The same doth he love, and will him maintain Now by this I may say, to the again God scourging us, playeth a good father's part● That is truth quoth she, but more grace to obtain Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Like a father, god doth the admonys●e Many sundry ways thy soul for to win And with divers plagues, he doth the punish But when to convert, wilt thou once begin Nay rather thou wilt defend, thy foul sin How art thou gods child, in deed or in heart When thou for his law, doth not pass a pin Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Therefore unless, thou thy life dost amend To call g●d father, thou art not worthy For such father such son, shall not contend Therefore god, unto his children doth cry Be holy saith he, 〈…〉 as I am holy Turn unto me, and from sin reuart● And eternal death, 〈…〉 ye shall never die Remember I say, thou man what thou art, ¶ Thus god is god, to the man most unkind To call the by grace, which thou dost abuse Understanding, in the doth seem to be blind ●or as he should be, 〈…〉 thou dost him not use Thou thinkest to be gods child, and yet dost refuse To do that pertaineth, to a good child's part Which is to please him, thou shouldest daily muse Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Thou oughtest, understanding hole to aply● Unto god's honour, with a faith perfit But thou from god, turnest it clean a wry By taking scripture, to thine appetite I pray thee, what virtue can I recite But that thou findest, scripture it to pervert By false understanding, from god's truth quite Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Of this sort, If th●● make ●●owe unto god be not 〈◊〉 to perform it. Eccl. 5. Dent▪ 2●. 〈◊〉 6. thou hast full many a one As priests chiefly, which there vows do not keep And if cut will come, they will not lie alone ●ushe say they, we are neither stones nor sheep This makes them to make, when other doth sleep Such understand, gods word ouerthwa●te They fear not, ne think the pains of 〈◊〉 deep Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Some saith quoth I, that they ought to have wives For they say in deed, they can not live chaste They must needs ●o quoth she, whom the devil drives For of virtuous living, they have no taste As to fast and pray, nay 〈◊〉 of that haste They will feed, and play a revellers part For to say their service, they count ●●yme waste Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ They use not the means, to live a chaste life For where as they, should be solitary Contrary, to all pleasures they are ry●e And commonly, cou●t light company Then reason they, there is no remedy We must needs marry, our flesh to subvarte Thus for their vows, they care not a butterfly Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ Thus of understanding, the grace they destroy And like beasts they live, without godly respect Very Epicures, seeking belly joy With which, all the realm they have infect Fasting is now, so clearly reject That no good preacher, can make them convert Well, I say no more, but this in effect Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ I pray the quoth I, of them speak no more Nor yet of none other, it is ●yme to end I see well, virtue decayeth very sore I have herd as moche, as I do int●●de Art thou weary quoth she, god the amend ●o here thou mayst see thy mischievous heart Thou thinkest time long, thy life to reprehend Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ I have done quoth she, but now thou mayest see That I have kept promise, as I did say Have I not proved thee, so wicked to be That thou gods image, in thy soul dost decay ●o much as lieth in thee, thou canst not say nay I have not flattered the truly, in no part ●ut now thou art warned, convert while thou may● Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ defer not amendment, lest time do fail the Uncertain thou art, when death shall the kill Therefore to be sure, take warning of me ●aste, watch, and pray, and do not thy soul spill Turn thou to god, and turn to the he will I can say no more, for now I will depart But yet at my going, keep this in mind still Remember I say, thou man what thou art. ¶ When she had thus spoken, away she flew Mounting wonders high, into the wind So that where she became, I never knew Then did I revolve, her words in my mind And when that I, the next leisure did find I wrote out her sentence, hole with my pen Wherein I perceive, how people are blind Whom god graunt● to mend, say we all amen. FINIS. ¶ The ●enuoy of the Auctor. ¶ zaerthe my book, speak thy mind And flatter none, of no degree All men, be men of Adam's kind Without any diversity For all men's souls created be To gods image, as thou dost tell Which they foul blot, as they may see If that they do, peruse the well. ¶ And I pray thee, tell all men this If chance I fail, in any thing That I err not, of no malices In error, any man to bring But am ready to reforming In any thing, that thou dost say But truly, to my knowledging Thou tellest the truth, near as thou may ¶ And where, as lacketh eloquence To make the pleasant, for to read Axe pardon, for my negligence For I confess, in very deed That of learning, surely I need To make thee, a more pleasant style But a rude wit, rudely doth lead So rudely needs, I must compile ¶ And all doubts, clean to put away Who was thine auctor, the to frame Say miles Hogarde, so swe●e thou may Though some doth think, he sets his name To that, which other men might claim But of that, no man proof can bring And if they can, ●et them him shame As well they may, proving that thing. ¶ But now an end, of the to make trusting thou shalt, be taken well God grant us all, vice to forsake And to think on both, heaven and hell With fear and love, not to rebel Against god's law, in any case And then no doubt, but we shall dwell With him, in his most joyful place. FINIS. ¶ God save the King. ¶ Imprinted by me Robert wire, dwelling in S. Martin's parish at Charing cross. ¶ Ad 〈…〉.