¶ Here beginneth a little treatise of the horse/ the sheep/ and the ghosts. ¶ Contreversyes/ pleas and discords ¶ between persons were two or three ¶ Sought out the grounds by records ¶ This was the custom of antiquity ¶ judges were set/ that had authority ¶ The case conceived standing indifferent ¶ between parties to give judgement ¶ Parties assembled of high and low degree ¶ Weren admitted to shown in sentence ¶ Grounded of their quarrels that law made 'em free ¶ Without exception to come in audience ¶ By the president/ commanded first silence ¶ freedom give/ the parties not to spare ¶ By title of right their griefs to declare ¶ Upon this matter shortly to conclude ¶ Nought yore agone as I rehearse shall ¶ I found to purpose a symplytude ¶ Full craftily depainted upon a wall ¶ twain sitting in estate Ryall ¶ The fierce lion famous in all Royames ¶ And themperyall 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 perfounde 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 by record of scripture ¶ By philosophers as clerks seen and read ¶ The prerogatives/ given 'em by nature ¶ Which of these three/ to every creature ¶ In republyca/ availeth most a man ¶ For his party thus first the horse began ¶ The horse. ¶ To proceed briefly and not long to tarry ¶ Fryste for 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 war ¶ Horse in chronicles who so readeth a right ¶ Have saved oft a many a worthy knight ¶ martial prowess in especial ¶ God hath by horse give to warriors ¶ Record of Alysaundre whose horse Bucyfall ¶ Made him escape fro many sharp showers ¶ The golden char of old conquerors ¶ Toward the triumph for knightly deeds ¶ conceived it was with four white steeds ¶ Remember Hector the trojan champion ¶ whose horse was called Whilom galathe ¶ Upon whose back played the lion ¶ Full oft scythes he made the Greeks flee ¶ The stead of Perseus was called Pygase ¶ With swift wings/ peotes sayen the same ¶ Was for his swiftness named the horse of fame ¶ Eques ab equo is said of very right ¶ And chyvaler is said of chyvatrye ¶ In Dutch a rydder is called a knight ¶ Arragon tongue doth also specify ¶ Cavaloro/ which in that party ¶ Is named of worship and took beginning ¶ Of spurs of gold and chiefly of riding ¶ These Emperors these princes & these kings ¶ When they been armed in bright plate & mail ¶ Without horse what were their mustrynges ¶ Their broad banners or their rich apparel ¶ Tofore their enemies to show 'em in battle ¶ Without horse/ spear/ sword/ ne shield ¶ Might little avail for to hold a field ¶ The hardy prykers upon horse back ¶ Be scent tofore what ground is best to take ¶ In their ordinance that there be no lack ¶ By providence how they the field shall make ¶ An horse will weep for his masters sake ¶ Chactcer remembreth the sword/ ring/ & glass ¶ Presented were upon a stead of brass ¶ between two hills the prophet Zacharye ¶ 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 third was white body neck and heed ¶ The fourth diverse of colours/ wonder strong ¶ And to knighthood all these colours long ¶ The read horse was token of hardiness ¶ 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 and widows 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 publyca/ called the champions ¶ Trought to sustain and show himself strong ¶ Bound by order to see no man have wrong ¶ Withouten horse Justes ne cournayll ¶ May not behold in war ne in peace ¶ Nor in palastee no plays martyall ¶ If horse do fail may come to none increase ¶ Ne noman soothly dare put him in press ¶ Withouten horse for short conclusion ¶ To attain the palm of triumphal guerdon ¶ Lower degrees there been of horse also ¶ Do great profit/ to every commonty ¶ The plough ne cart might nought do ¶ Without horse/ daily ye may see ¶ tilling were lost ne were we horses perde ¶ The busy merchant to his advantage ¶ Ne'er ships and horse could have no carriage ¶ The ship by likeness is called an horse of tree ¶ Full notably who can understand ¶ To lead men and carry them over the see ¶ As done horse when they come to land ¶ The poor 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 beall cheer ¶ The horse is needful wood and turf to carry ¶ Wine fruit & oil to serve through the year ¶ Is brought to vyneters and to potecarye ¶ diverse drugs and many a letuarye ¶ Sundry bales and shortly all victual ¶ Of the carriage horse have the travail ¶ Heye ne oats plainly who list learn ¶ May fro the fields net the medes green ¶ To the garner neither to the barn ¶ Without 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 sheaves been home lad ¶ That month passed/ the leaves 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 wells ¶ Bouges be brought to brewers for good ale ¶ lead stone timber carriage of bells ¶ We bring to churches in truth this is no tale ¶ We lead cloth sacks and many a large male ¶ And gladly summer's be sent toforn ¶ With gardevyandes'/ how might horse be forborn ¶ Ye prudent judges the 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/ late it not be spared ¶ Unto an horse be likened and compared ¶ That I have told is tronght and no feigning ¶ No wight of reason again it may apply ¶ ghosts ne gander ne green gosseling ¶ But if they enter the bounds of envy ¶ let her come forth and say for her party ¶ ghosts yes trust me well for the I will not spare ¶ Like as I feel my verdict to declare ¶ Where as thou haste unto thy pasture ¶ But one place/ to make in thy repair ¶ Hit is granted to me by nature ¶ To abide on water/ land & eyer ¶ Now among flowers and grenes that be fair ¶ Now bathe in rivers swim in many a pond ¶ For storm or shower as dry as on the land ¶ To mine intent more things ye may seen ¶ As men expert known that been old ¶ When wild ghees high in thayre up fleen ¶ With their wings displayed and unfold ¶ A pronostyque of snow and frost cold ¶ kalends bring plainly for to say ¶ Again winter how men should purvey ¶ The grease of ganders is good in medicine ¶ With sundry gums tempered for the gout ¶ diverse aches to swayen and decline ¶ In thextremity to draw the malice out ¶ Feathers of ghees when they fall or moute ¶ To gather hem up herds hem delight ¶ To sell to fletchers the grey with the white ¶ Men pluche stalks out of my wings twain ¶ Some to portreye some to note or write ¶ When Rethorycyens have do their busy pain ¶ Fresh epistles and letters to indite ¶ Without writing availeth not a mite ¶ For if pens and writing were away ¶ Of remembrance than were lost the key ¶ Of ghees also the deed is proved oft ¶ In many a country and many a region ¶ To make pylowes and fetherbeddes soft ¶ Of prudence men plucken of the down ¶ Thus to make a plain comparison ¶ As pylowes' been to chambers agreeable ¶ So is hard straw litter for the stable ¶ The fyme of ghees and green ghoselynges ¶ gathered in many among the herbs sot ¶ Again brenning scalding and other things ¶ Tempered with oil or butter doth both ¶ To suage pain pierceth to the rote ¶ But horse dung as refuse is cast away ¶ Is good for furnace tempered with clay ¶ A deed horse is but a foul carrion ¶ Thayer Infecting it is so corruptible ¶ But a fat ghosts when it is new slain ¶ In dishes of gold a mussel agreeable ¶ Is served upon a hinges table ¶ swiming a live in waters crystallyne ¶ Tenderly roasted requireth to have wine ¶ Thurgh all the land of Brutus' albion ¶ For feathers arrows as I rehearse can ¶ ghosts is the best to make comparison ¶ Except feathers of peacock and of swan ¶ Be bow and arrows sith the war began ¶ Have english men remembered in story ¶ Of their enemies had many a victory ¶ Horse in the field may muster with great pride ¶ When they of trompetties here the bloody sowun ¶ But when an arrow hath pierced his side ¶ To ground he gooth & cast his master dowun ¶ entering the field he playeth the lion ¶ What followeth after/ his carrion stinketh sore ¶ Save skin and shone there leaveth no more ¶ Mighty captains and knights in the field ¶ Make their wards in 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 & the worthy duke of clarence ¶ Road on baiard 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 Lapytole hepte 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 fine gold ¶ His waker noise was their savacowne ¶ By which the captain ran upon the wall ¶ Thus by a gandre recovered was the town ¶ Called of the world the city most ryalle ¶ city of cities that day most principal ¶ Was ever horse in book that ye can read ¶ Pro re publyca/ that died such a deed ¶ In the book named of chivalry destyne ¶ The story telleth as in sentiment ¶ There were children of the rial line ¶ Born with chains/ & when they were of rent ¶ They turned to swans by enchantment ¶ Took their flight the truth is full clear ¶ And as swans they swam in the river ¶ This story is full authentic and old ¶ In french compiled oft red and said ¶ Of thilk chains was made a cup of gold ¶ Which is yet kept as some folks say ¶ And by descent it longeth in certain ¶ To the hertordes ye shall so find in deed ¶ seriously who so list 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 ytorned by craft of sorcery ¶ And so abode seven 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 ¶ Born of good blood and notable in substance ¶ His kindred giveth a ghosts for their lyveree ¶ The said marvel to put in remembrance ¶ poise all things justly in balance ¶ And let the horse leave his boost and roos ¶ To make comparison with gander or ghosts ¶ Within Rome the gander was defined ¶ Set in their Temples of great affection ¶ By Senators of the town magnified ¶ As chief protector & saver of the town ¶ let horse & sheep lay their boost a down ¶ But if the Ram with his brazen bell ¶ Can for the sheep some better story tell ¶ The Ram speaketh for the sheep ¶ The sheep was simple & loath to make a fray ¶ Like a be'st disposed to meekness ¶ The sturdy Ram his advocate was that day ¶ Tofore the judges he 'gan him dress ¶ With an exordye of latin he died express ¶ vest purpurea ut rectores regum ¶ Induti sunt arietes ovium ¶ Of this notable rial 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 & deed ¶ Brought forth a lamb of most virtue ¶ The lamb of grace whose name was Ihesu ¶ Augustyn called this lamb in estate ¶ By manifold record of scripture ¶ The rial lamb of colour purpurate ¶ Which for mankind list passion tendure ¶ Born of a maid by grace again nature ¶ When he by mean of her humility ¶ Took the clothing of our humanity ¶ Born by dyscente to be both priest & 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 away all venyin serpentine ¶ On caluarye/ when he for man was deed ¶ With his pure blood purpurate and reed ¶ This paschal lamb without spot all white ¶ By his passion in Bosra stained red ¶ Which came from Edom this lamb of delight ¶ That gaf his body to man in form of breed ¶ On sherthursdaye 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 dyscente conveyed de peace degree ¶ From the patriarch called Abraham ¶ By Ysaac and jacob so down to Yesse ¶ Which by virtue of his humility ¶ list to be called the blessed Ihesu ¶ For his meekness the lamb of most virtue ¶ And for to rehearse worldly commodities ¶ In re publyca/ make no comparison ¶ There is no be'st/ which in all degrees ¶ Neither Tiger/ Olyphant/ ne Grysson ¶ all things reckoned through every region ¶ Doth so great profit/ horse/ ghosts/ ne swan ¶ As doth the sheep unto the ease of man ¶ Lece be thy boost thou horse & thy jangeling ¶ Say down thy trappours forged of plate & mail ¶ last of thy fadell of gold so freshly shining ¶ What may brydett or bores now avail ¶ This ghostly lamb hath done a great battle ¶ By his meekness he offered up for man ¶ Clad in purple vanquished hath Satan ¶ The ghosts may cakle the horse prick & prance ¶ Neither of hem in process may attain ¶ For to be set or put in remembrance ¶ Again the lamb though they disdain ¶ For common profit he passeth both twain ¶ Weigh and consider between poor and rythe ¶ To him in valowe they be no thing like ¶ Of Bruces albion his mulle is chief richesse ¶ In price surmounting every other thing ¶ Save grain & come merchants all express ¶ Wulle is chief treasure in this land growing ¶ To rich & poor 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 and the 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 richesse in many sundry wise ¶ The sheep also turneth to great profit ¶ To help of man heareth furs black & white ¶ There is also made of the sherps skin ¶ Pylches & gloves to drive away the cold ¶ Thereof also is made good parchemyne ¶ To write of books & quayers manifold ¶ 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 seen after great sickness ¶ Roasted or sudden wholesome is mutton ¶ Boileth with gruel/ phesycyens express ¶ Full nutritive after great access ¶ The sheep also concluding doubtless ¶ Of his nature loveth rest and peace ¶ Of the sheep is cast away no thing ¶ His horn for nockes to hastes go his bone ¶ To land great profit doth his tyrteling ¶ His tallow served for plasters more than one ¶ For harp strenges his roppes serve eachone ¶ Of whose heed boiled with wool and all ¶ There cometh a gely & an ointment rial ¶ For the ache of bones & also for brosure ¶ Hit remedieth and doth 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 need can well straunce blood ¶ Unto the wolf contrary of nature ¶ As say auctors is this humble best ¶ 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 publycam/ ye should of right preferr● ¶ Alway considering that peace is better than 〈◊〉 ¶ In this matter briefly to conclude ¶ peace to prefer as to my devise ¶ By many old provide similitude ¶ Make no delay/ give the thepe the price ¶ Of one assent sith that ye be wise ¶ let all war and strive 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 the proud duke of Bourgon ¶ came tofore calais with flemings not a few ¶ Which gaf the sacks & sarplers of the town ¶ To Gaunt & Brugges his freedom for to show ¶ Of thy wulles/ he height hem possession ¶ His boustous bastille first was beaten down ¶ Himself uneath escaped with the life ¶ What/ but thy wools was cause of this strife ¶ Were richesse is of wools and such good ¶ Men draw thither that been reckless ¶ As soldiers that brainless be and wood ¶ To get baggage they put himself in press ¶ Thus causest thou war/ & sayest thou lovest peace ¶ And if there were no war ne battle ¶ little or nought the great horse should avail ¶ The ghosts. ¶ No said the ghosts nor my feathers white ¶ Without war should do none advantage ¶ Ne'er hooked 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 echoones ¶ Shall us defend again our mortal foone ¶ The horse holding with the ghosts. ¶ Soothe qd the horse as in my Inward sight ¶ Without war afore as I you told ¶ We may not save/ ne keep our right ¶ Our garysouns ner castlellies old ¶ But here this sheep ruching in his fold ¶ Set little store of sword nor arrows keen ¶ When he in peasmay pasture on the green ¶ If it so stood that no war were ¶ Lost were the craft of armourers ¶ What should avail polar sword or spear ¶ Or these daggers wrought by cu●tellers ¶ Bows/ crossbows/ arrows of fletchers ¶ All these Instruments for the war is wrought ¶ Is wars were stint they should serve of nought ¶ Their occupation should have none encreas ¶ knighthood should not flower in his estate ¶ In every country if that there were peace ¶ No men 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 thoriginal of pride ¶ Pride causeth for lack of rightwiseness ¶ War between reams look on every side ¶ hearts contrary in peace will not abide ¶ Thus finally who can consider and see ¶ War is chief ground & cause of povertes ¶ Hit is full hard to know any estate ¶ Double visage looketh out of every hood ¶ surety is lost Trust is passed the date ¶ thrift hath take his leave over the flood ¶ Law can do no thing without good ¶ theft hath leave to go out at large ¶ Of the commons myscule hath take the charge ¶ And thou desire thyself to advance ¶ poor or rich whether that thou be ¶ Be lowly and gentle in thy governance ¶ Good rule doubtless may best prefer the ¶ If thou be gentle hurt not thy degree ¶ And thou be poor do all that thou can ¶ To use good manners for manner maketh man ¶ at thy meal be glad in countenance ¶ In mere and dryke be thou measurable ¶ Beware of surfeit and misgovernance ¶ They cause men oft to be unreasonable ¶ Suffer no thing be said at thy table ¶ That any man may hurt or displease ¶ For good meet & drink asketh joy and ease ¶ If thy goods to the not suffice ¶ Conform the ever to that thou haste ¶ 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 ¶ misrule maketh oft many men to smart ¶ Beware of novellies that be new brought ¶ Though they be pleasant/ lock 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 own ease/ heap thy tongue in mewe ¶ The world so wide the air so remuable ¶ The silly man so little of stature ¶ The grave and gounde of cloting so mutable ¶ The fire so hot and subtle of nature ¶ The water never in one/ what creature ¶ That made is of these four thus flitting ¶ May endure stable & persevere in abiding ¶ The further I go/ the more behyndt ¶ The more behind/ the ner my ways end ¶ The more I seek/ the worse can I find ¶ The lighter leave/ the loather for to wend ¶ The truer I serve/ the ferther out of mind ¶ Though I go louse I am tied with a line ¶ Is it fortune or Infortune thus I fine ¶ Explicit. An Hare in his form is sholdring or leaning a dove sitteth a heart is herbored a Knight is herbored a Buck is lodged a squire is lodged a roe is bedded a yeoman is bedded If an heart stand he stalleth If a buck stand he herkenyth If a roo stand he feareth a Dear broken a ghosts reared a Swan lift a Capon sauced a Hen spoiled a chicken frusshed a Malarde unbraced a Coney unlaced a Heron dismembered a Crane dysplayde a peacock dysfygured a Curlewe unjointed a Byttore untached a pheasant ailed a Patryche ailed a Woodcok thighed All small birds thighed a Pygge hedet & sided a Lamb & hide shuldred a heart if he be chasid he will desire to have a river. As son as he taketh the river he suleth/ it he take over the river he crosseth/ if he return he recrosseth/ & if he take with the stream he fleeteth/ if he take again the stream he beateth or else beketh/ if he take the land he fleeth. ¶ Explicit. W C printer's or publisher's device