country versies/ pleas and discords between persons were two or three Sought out the grounds be records This was the custom of antiquity judges were set/ that had authority The case conceived standing in different Between parties to give judgement Parties assembled of high & low degree Weren amitted to shown in sentence Grounded of their quarrels the law made 'em free With out exception to come in audience Be the precedent/ commanded first silence Freedom give/ the parties not to spare Be titel of right their griefs to declare Upon this matter shortly to conclude Nought yore agoon as I rehearse shall I fond to purpose a similitude Full craftily depainted upon a wall twain sitting in estate royal The fierce lion famous in all royalmes And themperial eagle piercing the son beams These were the dreadful judges twain In their estate sitting I took keep That heard the parties by and by complain The horse the ghosts and the simple sheep The process was not to perfound● ne deep Of their debate but contrived of a fable Which of hem was to man most profitable Each for his party proudly 'gan proceed To force himself be record of scripture By philosophers as clerks seen and read The prerogatives/ yeven hem be nature Which of these three/ to every creature In re publica/ avayleeth most a man For his party thus first the horse began ▪ The horse▪ To proceed briefly and not long to tarry First fro the truth that I do not err What be'st is found in all thing so necessary As is the horse both nigh and far And so notable to man in peace and were Horse in chronicles who so readeth a right Have saved oft many a worthy knight martial prowess in especial God hath be horse give to werrours Record of alexander whose horse bucyfall Made him escape fro many sharp showers The golden char of old conquerors Toward the triumph for knightly deeds conceived hit was with four white steeds Remember hector the trojan champion whose horse was called whilom galathe Upon whose back he pleyde the lion Full oft fithes he made the greeks flee The stead of perseus was cleped pigase With swift wings/ poetes sayn the same Was for his swiftness named the horse of fame Eques ab equo is said of very right And chyvaler is said of chivalry In duche a rider is called a knight Arragon tongue doth also specify C●ualoro/ which in that party Is named of worship & took beginning Of spurs of gold & chief of riding These emperors these princes & these kings When they been armed in bright plate & mail Without horse what were their mustringes Their broad banners or their rich apparel To fore here enemies to show 'em in battle Without horse. spear. sword. ne shield Might little avail for to hold a field The hardy prykars upon horse back Be sent toforn what ground is best to take In their ordinance that there be no lack Be providence how they the field shall make An horse will weep for his master sake Chawcer remembrith the sword. ring & glass Presented were upon a stead of brass Between two hills the prophet zachary Saw steeds four/ the first of hem was red In chares four the field to magnify And the second was black it is no dread The ●hirde was white body neck and heed The fourth diverce of colours/ wonder strong And to knighthood all these colours long The read horse was token of hard●●●● Which appertaineth to every manly knight The coal black hew a sign of soberness Poraylle oppressed to help in their right The white milk stead that was glad of sight Tokeneth that knighthood truly should intend Holy church maidens & wedewis to defend The many fold colours to speak in general Be sundry virtues and conditions As the four virtues called cardinal Longing to knighthood tincrease their renons In re publica/ called the champion's Truth to sustain & show 'em self strong Bound be order to see noman have wrong Withouten horse jousts ne tournayll May not be hold in were ne in peace Nor in palastre no plays martial If horse do fail may come to non increases Ne noman soothly dar put him in press Withouten horse for short conclusion To attain the palm of triumphal guerdon 〈…〉 there been of horse also Do great prouffit/ to every commonty The plough ne cart might nought do With out horse/ daily ye may see ●yllyng were lost ne were we horses pard The busy marchante to his advantage N●● ships & horse could have no carriage The ship be likeness is called an horse of t●● Full notably who can understand To lead men and carry them over the see As done horse when they come to land The power man eke leadeth in a band His little caple. his corn his meal to sell And when it is grounden bringeth it fro the mill In winter season to make beal cheer The horse is needful wood & turf to carry Wyn fruit and oil to serve through the year Is brought to vyneters & to the potecarye diverse drugs and many a letuarye Sundry bales and shortly all victual Of the carriage horse have the travail they ne oats plainly who 〈…〉 May fro the fields ner the 〈…〉 To the garner neither to the barn With out horse be carried it is seen And unto purpose/ I say as I mean There is no be'st reckon as I began So necessary/ as horse is unto man august is a season merry and glad When every tree with new fruit is lad With draft of horse the shevis been home lad That month passed/ the leevis begin to fade Which made in summer a pleasant lusty shade What done horse than to speak in words plain The second crop they carry home of ryweyn By draft of horse fro rivers and well is Bouges be brought to brewars for good ale lead stone timber carriage of bellis We bring to churches in troth this is no take We lead cloth sackis & many a large male And gladly summer's be sent tofore With gardevyandes/ how might horse be for born Ye ●●●dent judges th● eagle and the lion What I have said doth wisely advertise weigheth this matter in your discretion Where ghosts or sheep plainly to devise Of their nature may in any wise justly dame ye/ let it not be spared Unto an horse be likened and compared That I have told is troth & no feigning No wight of reason again it may apply ghosts ne gander ne green gosseling But if they entre the bounds of envy Late her come forth and say for her party ghosts yes trust me well for the I will not spar● Like as I feel my verdict to declare Where as thou hast unto thy pasture But one place/ to make in thy repair Hit is granted to me by nature To abide on water/ land and eyer Now among flowers & grenies that be feyr Now bathe in rivers swim m many a pond For storm or shower as dry as on the land Thurgh all the land of brutes albion For feathers arrows as I rehearse can ghosts is the be'st to make comparison Except feathers of peacock and of swan Be bow and arrows sith the war began Have englishmen remembered in story Of their enemies had many a victory Horse in the field may muster with great pride When they of trompettis here the bloody sowun But when an arrow hath pierced his side To ground he goth & cast his master dowun Entering the field he playeth the lion What followeth after/ his carrion stinketh sore Sauf skin and shone there leaveth no more Mighty captains and knights in the field Make their wards and their ordinance First men of arms with pole-axe spear & shield Set in order dew to have the governance Which at peyters took the king of france Thank to the ghosts most be given of right Which in the field so proudly took her flight Sloth of my flight for hasty negligence Of presumption/ the ghosts was left behind When the famous & worthy duc of clarence Road on bayard with his eyen blind Flight of my feathers was put out of mind And for he set that day of me no force So little or nought what availed him his horse Books old remember well in sentence Whilom when Rome by his soon was take The capitoled kept of with great defence Noise of a gander/ the captain died wake Which remembered/ they set up for his sake In their temples wide and old A large gandre forged all of fyn gold His waker noise was their salvation Be which the captain ran upon the wall Thus be a gander recovered was the town Called of the world the city most ryall city of cities that day most principal Was ever horse in book that ye can read Pro re publica/ that died such a deed In the book named of chevalier destyne The story telleth as in sentement There were children of the ryall line Born with chains/ and when they were of rent They turned to swans be enchantement Took their flight the troth is full clear And as swans they swame in the river This story is fu●● autentyk and old In frenshe compiled oft red and sayne Of thilk chains was made a cup of gold Which is yet kept as some folks sayne And by descent it longeth in certain To the herfordes ye shall so find in deed seriously who so lift the story to read And semblably/ not long here toforn I tell this tale as for my party There was a man in lombardy born To a ghosts turned by craft of sorcery And so abode vij year me list not to lie His writ fill of than stood he up a man And bode in service with the duke of melan And for he was a man of high degree Borne of good blood & notable in substance His kindred giveth a ghosts for their liveree Thy said marvel to put in remembrance poise all tynges justly in balance And lete the horz leave his boost and rose To make comparison with gander or ghosts With in rome the gander was deysyed Set in their temples of great affection Be senators of the town magnified As chief protector and saver of her town Late horse and sheep lay their boost adown But if the ram with his brasyn bell Can for the sheep some better story telle . The Ram speaketh for the sheep. The sheep was simple & loath to make affray Like a be'st disposed to meekness The sturdy Ram his advocate was that day To fore the judges he 'gan him dress With an exordye of latin he died express vest purpurea ut rectores regum In duti sunt arietes ovium Of this notable ryalle high scripture The blessed doctor Augustyn as I read Be a man ghostly fair of figure Of a meek sheep thus he doth proceed Called maria a maid in thought and deed Brought forth a lamb of most virtue The lamb of grace whose name was thesu Augustyn called this lamb in estate Be many fold record of scripture The rial lamb of colour purpurate Which for mankind list pastion tendure Born of a maid be grace again nature When he be mean of her humility Took the clothing of our humanity Born by discente to be both priest and king King by succession fro david down by line Of purple red was his rial clothing This agnus dei born of a pure virgin Which wish a way all venyn serpentine Ou caluerye when he for man was deed With his pure blood purpurate and red This paschal lamb with out spot all white Be his passion in bosra stained red Which came from edom this lamb of delight That ghaf his body to man in form of breed On sherthursday tofore that he was deed Was there ever found in scripture Of horse or ghosts so solemn a figure This lamb was christ that lineally came By disc●nt conveyed de peace de gree From the patriarch called abraham Be isaac and jacob so down to jesse Which be virtue of his humility List to be called the blessed Ihesu For his meekness the lamb of most virtue And for to rehearse worldly comoditees In re publica make no comparison There is no best/ which in all degrees Neither. tiger. olyphante. ne griffon all things reckoned through every region Doth so great prouffit. hots. ghosts ne swan As doth the sheep unto the ease of man Late be thy boost thou horse & thy jangeling Leye down thy trappours forged of plate & mail Cast of thy saddle of gold so freshly shining What may thy bridal or boces now avail This ghostly lamb hath done a great battle Be his meekness he offered up for man Clad in purple veynquysshid hath sathan The ghosts may cakle the horse prike & prance Neither of hem in process may acteyne▪ For to be set or put in remembrance Again the lamb though they disdain For common profit he passeth both twain Weigh and considere between pour & rich To him in value they be nothing liche Of brutes albion his wool is chief richesses In price surmounting every other thing Save grain & corn merchants all express Wulle is chief treasure in this land growing To rich and pour this be'st find clothing all nations affirm it up to the full In all the world is no better wool Of the sheep also cometh pellet & eke fell gathered in this land for great merchandise Carried over the see where men may hit sell The wool skins causen men to rise In to great richesses in many sundry wise The sheep also tornyth to great profit To help of man beareth furs black & white There is also made of the sheep's skin Pilches & gloves to drive away the cold Thereof also is made good parchemyne To write of books & quayers many fold The ram of cholchos bore a flees of gold The flees of gedeon with dew delectable Was of maria a figure full notable His flesh his natural restoration As some men say after great sickness Roasted or sodyn wholesome is mutton Boiled with gruel/ phisiciens express Full nutrityf after great access The sheep also concluding doubtless Of his nature loveth rest and peace Of the sheep is cast away nothing His horn for nockes to haftes go his bone To land great profit doth his tyrteling His tallow serveth for plasters more than one For harp strings his roppes serve eachone Of whose heed boiled with wool and all there cometh a gely and an ointment rial For the ache of bones and also for brefure Hit remedieth and death ease belive Causeth men of stark joints to recure Deed sinews restoreth again to live Black sheeps wool with oil olive These men of arms with charms proved good At a straight n●de can well staunch blood Unto the wolf contrary of nature As say auctors is this humble be'st loveth no debate for which each creature For his party he would live in rest Wherefore ye judges I hold it for the best Rem publicam ye should of right prefer Always considering that peace is better than were In this matter briefly to conclude Pees to prefer as to my device Be many old proved similitude Make no delay/ give the sheep the price Of one assent sith that ye be wise Late all were and strife be set a side And upon peace do with the sheep abide . The horse. Nay said the horse your request is wrong all thing considered me were loath to err The sheep is cause and hath be full long Of new strives and of mortal were The circumstance, me list not to defer Thy wulle was cause and great occasion Why that thy proud duke of bourgoyn Cam tofore calais with flemyngis not a few Which give the sacks & sarplers of the town To gaunt & brugges his freedom for to show Of thy wulles/ he hight 'em possession His boistous vastyle first was beat down Himself uneath escaped with the ●yf What/ but thy wools was cause of this strife Were richesses is of wools & such good Men draw thither that be reckless As soldiers that brainless be & wood To get baggage they put 'em self in press Thus causest thou were/ & sayst thou lovest peace And if there were no were ne battle Lytil or nought great horse should a will . The ghosts. No said the ghosts nor my feathers white With out war should do none a vantage Ne'er hokyd arrows profit but a light To meet our enemies maugre their visage And from them to save us fro damage Flight of feathers despite of sheep echene Shall us defenden again our mortal foone . The horse holding with the ghosts. Soothe qd the horse as in my juward fight With out were afore as I you told We may not save/ ne kept our right Our garisouns ner castellis old But here this sheep rucking in his fold Set little store of sword nor arrows stene When he in peace may pasture on the green If hit so stood that no were were Lost were the craft of armourers What should avail pole-axe sword or spear Or these daggers wrought be cuttelers Bows. crossbows. arrows of fleathers All these instruments for the were is wrought Yef wars were stint they should serve of nought Their occupation should have none increase knighthood should not flower in his estate In every country yef that there were peace No man of arms should be fortunate I prove that peace is ground of all debate For in five spekes like as is a wheel turned all the world who considereth weal Begin first at peace which causeth richesse And richesse is th'original of pride Pride causeth for lack of rightwiseness Were between rheims look ou every side hearts contrary in peace will not abide Thus finally who can consider and see Were is chief ground and cause of poverty poverty be were brought to disencrees For lack of treasure when he can no more Save only this/ he crieth after peace And complaineth on the wars sore He saith be war he hath his goods lore Can no recoure be/ but grucching & disdain Saith the world would fain have peace again Thus pride and richesse to conclude in clause Between thextremities of peace and poverty Of all debates and were be chief cause And saith wools bring in great plente Where they abound as folk expert may see That may I say if men will take kept War is brought in all only by the sheep . The sheep answereth. Here is a gentle reason of an horse I trow he be fall in to some dotage Which of madness by wulle set no force Falsely affirming it doth none advantage Virtuous plenty may do no damage The sheep beareth his flees I told when I began Not for himself but for the profit of man diverse comoditees that common of a sheep Cause no wars what men jangle or muse As in her guilt/ ye judges take ye keep What that I say their Innocence texcuse Of covetise men falsely may muse Her benefits and wrongly her atwyte Of such occasions/ where she is not to wite What is the sheep to blame in your sight When she is shorn and of her flees mad bare Though folk of malice for her wulles fight Causeless to strive fools will not spare Where peace resteth there is all welfare And scythe the sheep loui●h peace of Innocence Yeve ye for his part diffinytyf sentence . The lion & eagle giving judgement. The rial eagle and the lion of one assent all thing considered rehearsed here before Of all these three be good advisement Of horse and ghosts/ and the ram with his horn Saw in re publica might none be forborn Be short sentence to voiden all discord Cast a mien to set 'em at accord This was the mean to avoid first her strives And old grucching with their hearts glade Use these ghyftes and these prerogatives To that end/ to which they were made Ware with presumption their backs be not lad undevoyded in heart will and thought To den her office as nature hath 'em wrought The horse be kind to liven in travail The ghosts with her geslinges to swim t the lake The sheep/ whose wools doth so moche avail In his pasture to grease & him merry make Their comparisons by on assent forsake Always remembering how god and nature To a good end made every creature That none to other should do wrong The ravenous wolf the silly lamb toppresse And though one be more than another strong To the febeler do no froward duresse all extortion is grounded on falseness Wille is now law whether it be wrong or right Truth is laid a down/ the feeble is put to flight odious of old been all comparisons And of comparisons engendered is hatred And all folk be not like of conditions Nor like disposed of thought will and deed For which cause this fable that ye read Contrived was/ that who hath the greatest part Of virtuous yefts should with his friend depart As thus all virtues alone hath not one man That one lacketh nature hath give to another That thou canst▪ not/ percas another can Entercomen therefore as brother doth with brother If charity govern well the rother Alle in one vessel to speak in words plain That noman should of other have disdain . Thus endeth the horse the ghosts & the sheep. Hit is full hard to know any estate Double visage looketh out of every ho●d Sewerte is lost Trust is passed the date Thrifte hath take his leave over the flood Law can do no thing withouten good Theft hath leave to go out at large Of the commons misreule hath take the charge And thou desire thyself to advance Pour or rich whether that thou be Be lowly and gentle in thy governance Good rule doubtless may best prefer the If thou be gentif hurt not thy degree And thou be pour Do all that thou can To use good manners for manner maketh man at thy meal be glad in countenance In meet and drink 〈…〉 measurable Beware of surfeit and misgovernance They cause men oft to be unreasonable Suffer nothing be said at thy table That any man may hurt or displease For good meet and drink asketh joy and ease If thy goods to the not suffice Conform the ever to that thou hast Govern so thyself in such a wise In thine expenses make no waste great excess causeth unthrift in haste Beware betime bear this in thine heart Misrewle maketh oft many men to smart Beware of novellis that be new brought Though they be pleasant/ lokke fast thy lip An hasty word may be to sore bought Close thy mouth lest thy tongue trip To thyself/ look thou make not a whip Hurt not thyself/ lest thou sore rue For thine owen ease/ kept thy tongue in mewe The world so wide the air so remuable The silly man so little of stature The grave & ground of cloting so mutable The fire so hoot and subtle of nature The water never in one/ what creature That made is of these four thus flitting May endure stable and ysevere in abiding The further I go/ the more behind The more behind/ the ner my ways end The more I seek/ the worse can I sinned The lighter leave/ the loather for to wend The truer I serve/ the ferther out of mind Though I go lose I am teyde with a sign Is hit fortune or Infortune thus I fine . Explicit. an Herd of hearts an Heard of dear an Herd of swannies an Heard of cranes an Heard of wrennys an Herd of all dear a Neye of pheasants a Coveye of partriches a bevy of larks a bevy of ladies a bevy of quails a bevy of rose a Siege of bitterns a Siege of heyrons a Spring of teeles a Sourd of malardes a deceit of lapwinks a Muster of peacocks a Fall of Wodecoks a Walk of snytes a congregation of plovers a covert of coats an unkindness of ravens a Murder of crows a building of roosts a Clatering of chowhis a murmuration of stars an host of men an host of sparrows a fellowship of yeomen a Gagyll of ghees a Gagyll of women a Chyrme of fynches a Swarm of bees a Exaltation of larks a dissension of wodewalis a Mutation a Cety of greyes an Earth of foxes a Bery of conies a nest of rabettis a Litter of whelps a Rout of knights a Rout of wolves a Pride of lions a Lepe of lebardes a Sloth of bears a Lees of greyhounds a Brace of hounds a kennel of recches a Copill of spaynels a Suit of a lyhm a Cast of hawks of the tour. a Cast of breed a Flight of goshgukes a Flight of doves a Flight of cormerants a drove of neat a Trippe of get a Flock of sheep a Flock of lice a business of flies a Hareys of horse a Stood of mares a Rag of colts a Drift of tame swine a Sondre of wild swine a Trippe of hares a Trase of an hare Skulk of foxes a Skulk of freres a Skulk of thieves a Pontifical of prelate's a State of princes a dignity of canons a Truth of barons Charge of curates a Lordship of monks Supfluyte of nuns Prees of priests Scole of fish Scole of scholars Cluster of grapes Cluster of nots Cluster of carls Cluster of tame cats destructonn of wild caties Boast of soldiers threat of cortyars' Lausters of hostlers Glozing of taverners a Promise of tapsters a Soolding of kempsters a Fight of beggars a Disworship of stottes a Rascal of boys a Rafull of knaves a thrave of thrashers a Lash of carters a Trynkette of tordwaners a Blecche of souters a Smere of coryers a pity of prisoners a glorifying of liars a Lying of pardoners a hastiness of cook's Explicit An hare in his form is sholdring or leming A dove sitteth an heart is herbored a knight is herbored a Buck is logged a squire is logged a roe is bedded a yeoman is bedded If an heart stand he stalleth. If a buck stand he herkenyth. if a roo standr he feareth a Dear broken a ghosts rerid a Swan lift a Capon sauced a Hen spoiled a chicken frusshed a Malard unbraced a Coney unlaced a Heron dismembrid a Crane displayed a peacock disfigured a Curlew unjointed a Byctore untached a pheasant ailed a partridge ailed a Wodecok thighed all small birds thighed a Pig heeded & sided a lamb & kyde shuldeed A heart if he be chasid he will desire to have a river Assene as he taketh the River he suleth/ if he take over the river he crosseth If he return he recrosseth And if he take with the stream he fleeteth If he take again the sire me he beateth or else bresteth If he take the land he fleeth. Explicit.