¶ Here is a necessary treatise for all manner persons to read, and hath to name, the maidens Cross rue. Janus Byfrons, amids january With his frosty beard, & thick loches roar Begen the cold calendar of February Right than I thought, how long me before My master Lydgate, did apply him sore Fables to fain unto morality To show the evil their iniquity. ¶ All this considered to my bed I went falling a sleep than full right shortly And in this slumber me thought incontinent By an olive tree I was full suddenly Where sat a Maid complaining ruefully Beating her hands, and under bows did shroud In the manner following bewailing all aloud. ¶ Alas she said I may now sorrow ever My good friend is gone which would have remain The time so past se now shall I never Therefore no wonder though that I complain With sighs deep ●nd with mortal pain My flowering age I spent in vanity With all wretched folly and fragalyte. ¶ I took no heed unto dame reason Which these proverbs following did me tell Upon all the letters to have conclusion So was I ruled by three enemies so fell As the world, the flesh, and the fiend of hell But as I may, I will them specify Each after other as I hard them truly. A. ALas riot leadeth the brydyll rain Alas that I loved so concupisbence Alas time past may not turn again Alas that I lost it by negligence Alas to learning I had no diligence Alas that ever I loved unhappiness Alas I have banished reason and sadness. B. Beware thou youth evermore of idleness Beware of pride, and also envy Beware of wr●the, be ruled by meekness Beware of covetousness and of gluttony Beware also of the sin of Lechery Beware right well also of presumption Beware and wise also of false rebellion. C. covet heaven with deeds of charity covet cunning with all thy business covet the company of dame fidelity covet wisdom and all stableness covet repentance for the wretchedness covet measure for thy bodily wealth covet the way also of thy soul's health. D. dread god also above every king. dread for sin evermore the vengeance dread for the time, the time of reckoning dread for to do thy neighbour annoyance dread above other thyself for to advance dread for to do evil alway certain dread evermore also thy sovereign. E. Exile from the falsehood and flattery Exile from the evermore the vicious Exile also vile speech and rebaudry Exile all things now superstitious Exile disdain which is presumptuous Exile folly and dissimulation Exile alway also detraction. F. Follow the trace of truth and righteousness Follow example of virtuous governance Follow bounty and also lowliness Follow measure in all thy purveyance Follow wisdom by good remembrance Follow justice without corruption Follow conscience at every season. G. Gladly be ruled by council prudent Gladly incline always to reason Gladly to learn be thou much diligent Gladly take trauth to thy companion Gladly forsake the ill operation Gladly serve God and thy prince also Gladly be patient in trouble and wo. H. Have good respect unto things all Have thou no doubt of holy scripture Have God in thy mind most memorial Have gentle cheer and countenance demure Have good remorse to every creature Have most thy trust in God's goodness Have not thy trust in worldly riches. I. I knew nothing in youth what I was I would not know the steps of virtue I thought full little how my youth should pass I would nothing the carnal vice eschew I thought good fortune would me well renew I was ●●●●●ed or that I was ware I little thought of mine after care. K. Know first God and thyself secondly Know well thy prince by dew obedience Know thy neighbour well and certainly Know well cunning by dew expetyence Know well in whom thou mayst have confidence Know well the poor and not him forsake Know him well that thou of counsel make. L. Love God also above every thing Love thy neighbour and cherish thy wife Love not riot nor back reakening Love alway peace and avoid the strife Love in honest to lead thy life Love ever mirth and virtuous disport Love to the woeful to give aid and comfort. M. Moche mischief cometh of great debate Moche drink doth wisdom assuage Moche sorrow doth the courage abate Moche evil grieveth a great outrage Moche meddling letteth great advantage Moche joy grounded upon unity Moche harm doth grow of instabylyte. N. Nothing is sweeter than the dew of grace No man may taste it, but by sapience No man without charity may heaven purchase No man without labour may have a science Nothing to man is better than patience No earthly riches, but it is transmutable No man without manners can be convenable. O. O mortal man rise out of deadly sin O foolish love of worldly vanity O unkind man to amend the bygynne O man remember God's benignity O man God's goodness consider and se O man remember how he granteth space O man in time now take the gift of grace. P. Please God thy maker, and keep his commandment Please not thy flesh, by carnal affection Please well thy prince and be to him obedyenc Please not the world with hole occasion Please the causer of thy first creation Please not the devil, by Pride, Envy, and Ire Please him above, that is the heavenly Empire. Q. Quare deo fui sic contrarius Quare heu non ipsum amavi Quare noloissem cum habuerim tempus Quare ve sic semper peccavi Quare mundum ego frequentavi Quare me sequetis o tu vir in vanis Quare laboras sic mundi inanis. R. Right grievously I have God offended Right nought I thought upon his justice Right little I thought for to be a mended Right oft I did my neighbour prejudice Right well I thought fortune should suffice Right little I thought on my soul's health Right so my mind was all on worldly wealth. S. Support not wrong unto right contrary Support justice with all thy diligence Support not thy servant to do villainy Support no man when he doth offence Support alway the ground of Capyence Support poverty in the time of need Support alway the rightful man to speed. T. Truth may be bold in every manner of place Truth is good and must needs endure Truth doth his servant call unto great grace Truth is right fair and a precious treasure Truth is worshipped of every creature Truth is good both in word and deed Truth of God shall have reward and meed. W. woe worth falsehood now every where arrived Woe worth also false imagination Woe worth pride which hath meekness deprived Woe worth now flattery and dissimulation Woe worth doubleness and detraceyon Woe worth debate without extynguysshement Woe worth also a corrupt judgement. X. Xpi time semper potentiam Xpi vide ac quinque vulnera Xpi tunc pete misericordiam Xpi decem serva mandata Xpi sit nomen in memoria Xpi mors liberet nos a morte Xpi nos saluet omni ipse. Y. Ye that list heaven now for to attain Ye must apply to virtuous governance Ye in this world must yet take a pain Ye must not follow your sensual pleasance Ye should your end have in remembrance Ye must forgive as you would have forgiveness Ye than shall come to the glory that is endless. Amen. ¶ Alas these proverbs, which I have you told I little regarded in the time so past But now by reason I do them behold Full well is him that may have grace 〈◊〉 lost Beware right well, spend not your youth in waist Less no time, but spend it virtuously Than shall ye come to hea●en merely. ¶ I wretched maid plunged all in care The time so past may right sore bewail That the flesh with sloth had me in a snare Alas the devil did me right sore assail The world also did give me a battle These three me fettered in a deadly place Till I was helped out by good dame grace. ¶ Which me hath set in his garden green Under this olive tree to sing right sweetly amids this arbour so right fair and sheen giving great lauds unto God almighty Which me hath brought out of vainglory And there with all she began to sing Lawdes to her maker in the fair morning. ¶ The cock crowed and I did awake Greatly musing upon my vision And unto me I briefly began to take Pen and ink for to write that season All that I had hard without abusion Preyenge you all that it doth here or see To Pardon me of your benignity. ¶ Finis. ꝙ Robert wire.