¶ Nature:  
¶ A goodly interlude of Nature compiled by master Henry Medwall chaplain to the right reverent father in god johan Morton sometime cardinal and arch bishop of Canterbury⸫   

¶ first cometh in Mundue and syttyth down saith nothing and with him Worldly affection bearing a gown and cap and a girdle for Man. ¶ Than cometh in Nature/ Man/ Reason/ and innocency/ and Nature syttyth down and saith. ¶ Nature. 
¶ Thalmyghty god/ that made each creature  
As well in heaven/ as other place earthly  
By his wise ordinance/ hath purveyed me nature  
To be as minister/ under him immediately  
For thencheason/ that I should perpetually  
His creatures/ in such degree maintain  
as it hath pleased/ his grace for them to ordain  
¶ To me it longeth by natural engendure  
thing to continue/ that hath spirit of life  
which/ ne were my help should never endure  
But suddenly perish/ and wax all caitiff  
Atwyxt thesementies/ that whilom were at strife  
I have suaged/ the old repugnance  
and knit them together/ in manner of alliance  
¶ The I have ordained/ the God's Dean  
Lady of the see// and every fresh fountain  
which commonly decreceth/ when she gineth wane  
And waxeth abundant/ when she creceth again  
Of ebb and flood/ she is cause certain  
and raineth as princes/ in every isle and town  
That with the see/ is compassed environ  
¶ I am causer/ of such impression  
as appeareth wondrous/ to man's sight  
As of flames/ that from the sterry region  
Seemeth to fall/ in times of the night  
Some shoot sidelong/ and some down right  
which causeth the ignorant/ to stand in dread  
that stars do fall/ yet falleth there none in deed  
¶ What needeth it to speak/ of things here by low  
as fowls/ beasts/ and fishes in their hind  
Of trees/ herbs/ and stones how they grow  
In which/ men sundry and many virtuous find  
One thing be ye sure/ and think it in your mind  
No manner creature/ may take on hy●…ure  
Of these works/ but only I nature  
¶ And plainly there is/ in earth no manner thing  
That is not partner/ of my influence  
I do provide/ for every best living  
Of natural food/ always suffycence  
And give them also/ a manner of prudence  
Whereby they may/ naturallyensew  
Thing that is delectable/ and tother eschew  
¶ Who taught the cock/ his watch hours to observe  
And sing of courage/ with shyrll throat on high  
who taught the pellycan/ her tender heart to carve  
For she nold suffer/ her bird to die  
Who taught the nyghtyngall/ to record busily  
Her strange entuny●/ in silence of the night  
Certes I nature/ and none other wight  
¶ But if that I/ should clepe to memory  
Each strange effect/ and every great marvel  
That I have caused/ I ensure you faithfully  
That rather time/ than process should me fail  
it were your pain/ and to me but travail  
All such matters/ as now to bring in place  
Wherefore I let pass them/ tell other time and space  
¶ But if ye covet/ now to know theffect  
Of things natural/ by true conclusion  
Counsel with Arystotell/ my philosopher elect  
Which hath left/ in books of his tradition  
Now every thing/ by heavenly constellation  
Is brought to effect/ and in what manner wise  
As far as man's wit/ may naturally comprise  
¶ Wherefore sith god/ of his great largesse  
Hath thus enriched me/ with dower of his grace  
And made me as who saith/ a worldly goddess  
Of duty I can/ no less do in this case  
But with hartis joy/ and entyere solace  
Myself address/ to do his high pleasures  
And to this same/ move all other creatures  
¶ Enforce you therefore/ his creatures each on  
To honour your maker/ with humble obeisance  
Nomely thou man/ I speak to the alone  
Before all other/ as chief of his creance  
Think how he/ hath made the to this semblance  
Pluck up thine heart/ and hold thine head upright  
and ever more/ have heaven in thy sight  
¶ Ovid in his book/ cleped the transformation  
among all other his fables and poesies  
Maketh special/ mention of thy creation  
Showing how god/ wondrously 'gan devise  
when he the made/ and gave to the themprise  
Of all this world/ and feoffed the with all  
as chief possessyoner/ of things mortuall  
¶ In token whereof/ he gave the upright visage  
and gave the in commandment/ to life thine eye  
Up to ward heaven/ only for that usage  
Thou shouldest know him/ for thy lord almighty  
all other beasts/ as things unworthy  
To behold th'earth/ with grovelling countenance  
and be subdued/ to thine obeisance  
¶ But as touching/ the cause specially  
wherefore I have ordained thee/ this night to appear  
It is to put thee/ in knowledge and memory  
To what intent/ thou art ordained to be here  
I let the wit/ thou art a passanger  
That hast to do/ a great and long viage  
and through the world/ most be thy passage  
¶ Address the self/ now towards this journey  
For as now thou shalt/ nolenger here abide  
Lo here Reason/ to govern the in thy way  
and sensuality/ upon thine other side  
But reason I depute/ to be thy chief guide  
with innocency/ that is thy tender nurse  
Evermore to ween thee/ from thappetite of vice  Man. 
¶ O lord of lords/ my lord god immortuall  
To the be honour/ and joy ever to endure  
whose heavenly empyreshall never be final  
But world without end/ remain stable and sure  
whom heaven and hell/ and earthly creature  
with one assent/ and all with one accord  
Honoureth/ praiseth/ and knowledgeth for their lord  
¶ To the mine head/ I humbly incline  
Thanking thy grace/ that first hast ordained me  
To be as a syly creature of thine  
and after that/ of thy great bownte  
Thou hast me set/ in sovereign degree  
and given me the profetties/ of every earthly thing  
aswell of fruits/ as of beasts living  
and that that is/ also most precious  
thou hast me inspired/ with heavenly wisdom  
whereby I may/ do worhies marvelous  
In every place/ where soever I come  
Of each perfection/ thy grace hath sent me some  
So that I know/ that creature no where  
Of whose virtue/ I am not partner  
¶ I have as hath/ each other element  
among other in this world/ a comen being  
with herbs and trees/ continual nourishment  
that is suffysant/ to natural living  
with sensual beasts/ I have a manner of knowing  
whereby I should/ in good things delight  
and flee the contrary/ of mine appetite  
¶ And over all this/ thou hast given me virtue  
Surmounting all other/ in high perfection  
That is understanding/ whereby I may avew  
And well discern/ what is to be done  
yet for all that/ have I free election  
Do what I will/ be it evil or well  
And am put in the hand/ of mine own counsel  
¶ and in this point/ I am half angelic  
Unto thy heavenly spirits/ almost equal  
albeit in some part/ I be to them unlike  
For they be ordained/ to endure perpetual  
and I wretched body/ shall have my funeral  
When it pleaseth/ thy grace so to provide  
Man is not ordained/ always here to abide  
¶ Wherefore unto thy sovereign and high estate  
Most heavenly prince/ I make mine orison  
Sith it hath pleased/ thy noble grace algate  
That I unworthy/ of so great renown  
In this world/ shall have possession  
thou give me grace/ myself to enure  
as may me profit/ and be to thy pleasure  nature. 
¶ God hath herd thy prayer/ mankind no doubt  
In all thy requests/ and right full petition  
Now forth thy journey/ and look well about  
that thou be not/ deceived by false prodition  
Let reason the govern/ in every condition  
For if thou do not/ to his rule incline  
it will to thy great mischief and ruin  
¶ I wots well sensuality/ is to the natural  
And granted to thee/ in thy furst creation  
But notwithstanding/ it ought to be overall  
Subdued to reason/ and under his tuition  
Thou hast now liberty/ and needest no maynmyssyon  
And if thou abond thee/ to passions sensual  
Farewele thy liberty/ thou shalt wax thrall  sensua light, 
¶ What lady nature/ have I none intresse  
Aswell as reason/ or innocency  
Thank ye this lady/ a good process  
That they are advanced/ and I let go by  
ye know right well/ that I ought naturally  
Before all other/ to have of him the cure  
I am the chief perfection of his nature  
¶ Alas what could/ the silly body do  
Or how should it live/ ne were the help of me  
Certes it could not well/ creep nor go  
At the lest wise it should/ neither feel here nor see  
But be as other/ incensate bodies be  
In much wurscase/ than worms of the ground  
In which uneath/ any token of life is found  
¶ Mesemeth it should/ abhort him for to here  
That I distrained/ should be in any wise  
Standing that I/ was create to be his fere  
Of all his guiding/ to take th'enterprise  
And now ye put me out of his service  
And have assigned/ reason to be his guide  
With innocency his noryse/ thus am I set a side  
¶ ye clepe him lord/ of all beasts living  
And nothing worthy/ as far as I can see  
For if there be in him/ no manner of feeling  
Ne no lively quyknes/ what lord is he  
A lord made of clowtꝭ/ or carved out of tree  
And fareth as an image/ araved out of stone  
That nothing else can do/ but stand alone  
¶ If ye intent/ hymto continue long  
In honour/ or worldly felicity  
He most needs follow/ his apetyte among  
And confirm himself/ to the more part  
I tell you men/ will have no dainty  
to do service/ or homage to a block  
all the world will/ think it but a mock  
¶ Suffer me therefore/ to have with him a room  
and to be with him/ as chief counsel  
and if he do so/ I think to doom  
He shall reign in the world/ as chief governor  
But if Reason/ tykyll him in the ere  
Or bear him on hand the how is wood  
He shall never be able/ to do earthly good  nature. 
¶ My friend as I/ said to you before  
a Rome shall ye have/ no man saith nay  
But reason must be/ preferred evermore  
For he can best lead him to the way  
Of virtue and grace/ whereby he may  
Longest continue/ to goddyshygh pleasure  
To the which end/ god hath ordained this his creature  
¶ Content thyself/ now with Reason my friend  
And meddle the no further/ than thou hast to do  
Thou hast brought many a man/ to a wretched end  
And so thou wouldst spill/ his creature also  
But what so ever he say/ take no heed thereto  
without that Reason/ will allow the same  
For who so doth the contrary/ deserveth much blame  
¶ God and I Nature/ have set the in better case  
Than any creature/ under the firmament  
Abuse not man/ abuse not thy grace  
Of god almighty/ that from above is sent  
Thou shalt be the first/ that shall repent  
If ever thou i'll/ Reason and sue folly  
when once thou feelest/ the sinert of misery  
¶ But be of comfort/ hardly god shall send  
Both ghostly aid/ and worldly help also  
And I shall never/ fail unto thy lyfꝭ end  
To minister unto thee/ as me oweth to do  
To yonder the world/ which thou must needs to  
Now shape the thither/ there is no more to say  
Thy lord and mine/ guide the in thy way  Then Nature goeth out. sensua 
¶ Well lady nature leave/ ye me in this case  
Shall I have of you/ none other comfort  
By christ yet/ will I not hide my face  
For as soon as we/ shall to the world resort  
I put no doubt/ he will me support  
He hath been my good master many a day  
And he will not see me/ thus cast away  ¶ Reason. 
 
 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and wotyst not why  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 body/ will demean him thus  
be sure thy mind 〈◊〉 all erroneous  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 self well/ and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
Which 〈◊〉 thine and others confusion  sensua 
¶ ye Reason sir ye speak 〈◊〉 a noble man  
but yet are ye take/ with a 〈◊〉 of oversight  
What would ye make me/ stand as a sordan  
And not speak one word/ for mine own right  
I see it well/ that if your lordship might  
by means possible/ once bring it about  
yourself should be a ruler/ and I but a cast out  Rea. 
¶ A ruler? certes and so I ought to be  
and a lord also/ though ye say it in scorn  sensua 
¶ A lord? whose lord.  ¶ Rea. 
Thy lord  sensua 
¶ Nay so moat I the  
thou liest/ it may no longer be forborn  
thou camyst but to night/ & mayst hap go to morn  
For if thou be as haute/ as thou beginnest  
thou shalt avoid/ much sonar than thou wenuyst  Rea. 
¶ As for mine avoidance/ how soon so ever it be  
It shall not skill/ as for this intent  
But he that first fleeth/ or forsaketh me  
He shall have greatest/ occasion to repent  
It shallbe to his great trouble and torment  
that he hath lest Reason/ and sued his own folly  
that thereby is fallen/ to wretched penury  
¶ But now as touching/ the honour and degree  
that I am ordained to/ I will thou understand  
that almighty god/ of his grace and bounty  
Of the and such/ hath given me the over hand  
And will that I use/ the as a servant  
to advise the and reform thee/ when thou gynst to err  
And to clepe the homeward/ if thou rayll to far  
¶ And where thou sayest/ thou art so necessary  
that man without thee/ can have no living  
as in that point/ we shall not much vary  
I wot thou art necessary/ to his being  
But be thou sure/ that is not the very thing  
That maketh him/ to appear so wondrous  
and to be in his nature so noble and precious  
¶ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a thing that doth 〈◊〉 far exceed  
All other perfecc●●s/ and virtuous natural  
For sensuality/ in very deed  
Is but a mean/ which causeth him to fall  
In to much folly/ and maketh him bestial  
So that there is no difference/ in that at the lest  
betwixt man/ and an unreasonable best  
¶ But this other/ cometh of great tenderaunce  
and spiritual love/ that god oweth to mankind  
whom he hath create/ to his own semblance  
and endued/ with a wondrous mind  
whereby he may well discern and find  
Suffysant difference/ betwixt good and bad  
Which is to be left/ and which is to be had  
¶ Lo this is it/ that doth him dygnyfye  
and causeth him to be/ reputed so excessent  
and of all this/ the chief door am I  
which from heaven in to earth by god am sent  
Only for that cause/ and final intent  
That I should this his creature/ demean and guyd●  
For the season that he doth in this world abide  
¶ Now compare thy virtues/ and mine together  
and say which is/ the wurthyar of them to  sensua 
¶ Which is the worthyar? forsooth I trow neither  
we be good fellows.  ¶ Re. 
Nay my friend not so  
Thou ought to obey me/ where so ever I go  sensua 
¶ Nay that shall I never do/ for to die  
I shallbe thy fellow be/ look thou never so high  
¶ And therefore hardly/ be somewhat fellowlike  
Leave thine hawt conceyties/ and take a meetly way  
For shame of the world man/ let us not stick  
at a matter of tight nought/ and travers here all day  
Have me in few words man/ and hark what I say  
Medyll thou in no point/ that belongeth to me  
and I shall promise thee/ never to meddle with the  
¶ And standing the nonage/ of this gentleman  
On my apparel/ take no care therefore  
I shall demean it/ as well as I can  
till he be passed. xl. years and more  
and reason than/ if ye will undershore  
His crooked old age/ when lusty youth is spent  
Than take upon you. I hold me content  
¶ For trust ye me/ the very troth is this  
this man is put/ in his own liberty  
And certainly/ the free choice is his  
whether he will be governed/ by the or by me  
Let us therefore put it/ to his own jeopardy  
and therein stand/ to his arbitrement  
To which of us twain/ he had sever assent  Rea. 
¶ Nar syrnot so/ I know his frailty  
the body is/ disposed for to fall  
Rather to the worse/ than the better part  
Butrt be helped/ by power supernal  sensua 
¶ yet Reason/ when thou hast said all  
if thou see him not/ take his own way  
Call me cut/ when thou meetest me another day  Rea. 
¶ For cartayne yet/ according to mine office  
I must advertise/ and counsel him at the lest  
to hawnt virtue/ and show all vice  
And therein assist him/ to the uttermost  
and if he will/ algates be a best  
And take none heed/ to my lore and doctrine  
The apparel and hurt/ shallbe his and not mine  Inno. 
¶ Sirs I shall answer/ for this man as yet  
That he is maiden/ for all such folly  
as should disdain nature/ or dishonour it  
Brought up with me/ full well and tenderly  
wherefore I dare/ the surelyar testify  
for innocency/ that he is yet virgin  
Both for deed/ and eke consent of sin  
¶ And longer will not I be of his acquaintance  
Than he is virtuous/ and of good living  
for fleshly lust/ and worldly pleasance  
is with innocency/ nothing according  
But if his behaviour/ and daily demeaning  
Be of such draft/ as reason will allow  
I shall him favour/ and love as I do now  sensua 
¶ Well spoken and wisely/ now have ye all done?  
Or have ye ought else/ to this man to say  Rea. 
¶ O sir ye.  ¶ Sensualy. 
piece no more of this dysputacyd  
Here be many fantasies/ to drive forth the day  
That one chatreth like apye/ that other like aiay  
And yet when they both/ have done what they can  
Mangry them teeth/ I shall rule the man  ¶ Man. 
¶ O blessed lord/ what manner strife is this  
Atwix my reason/ and sensuality  
That one meaneth well/ and that all other amiss  
In one is sekernes/ and in other great frailty  
And both they be/ so annexed to me  
That needest I must/ with one of them abide  
Lord as thou thinkest best/ for me do provide  
¶ For I am wondrously/ entryked in this case  
and almost brought/ into perplexyte  
Not withstanding/ thanked be thy grace  
as I did never assent/ ne agree  
To thing that should/ be contraryouse unto the  
Of sinful deed/ and thought all innocent  
subdued to reason/ as his obedient  Rea. 
¶ christ grant you therein/ good continuance  
to be ever/ of the same mind and intent  
But now will ye call/ to your remembrance  
For what cause/ ye be hither sent  
I hold it well done/ and right expedient  
that ye were borough/ unto the Worlds presence  Man. 
¶ Be it so in God's name/ I pray you go we hens  Rea. 
¶ And will ye that I/ shall for you declare  
Unto the world/ the cause of your coming  
What is your intent/ and what parson ye are  Man. 
¶ ye I would be glad/ that every thing  
Be done even/ after your devising  sensua 
¶ Shall I than stand/ as I were tongue tied  ¶ Man. 
¶ ye hardly/ till reason have said  Rea. 
¶ Sir world/ it is the mind and also pleasure  
Of lady nature/ as she bade us to you tell  
that ye accept/ and receive this her creature  
With you for a season/ here to dwell  
Despring you heartily/ to entreat him well  
with all the favour/ that ye can devise  
Wherein ye shall do her/ great pleasure and service  ¶ The world. 
¶ Sirs ye be welcome/ to us heartily  
your messagye is/ to us right acceptable  
Be ye assured/ there is nothing earthly  
to us so joyful/ ne yet so delectable  
As to be acquainted/ with parson's honourable  
Namely such/ as ye seem to be  
Men of high honour/ and of great dignity  
¶ And as touching the message/ that ye have brought  
Have thereof/ the full mind and intent  
Assuring you that our busy thought  
shallbe to do/ dame natures commandment  
and thereunto/ we will be diligent  
To do her pleasures/ in that we may  
And so we would/ ye should to her say  
¶ And were ye show/ unto me that this man  
Is ordained to reign/ here in this empry  
I assent well/ for or nature began  
To shape the world/ the thought finally  
to ordain man/ therein to occupy  
He to take upon him/ as mighty governor  
Having all thing/ subdued to his power.  
¶ Wherefore I receive/ greatly his coming  
Mankind sir/ heartily welcome ye be  
ye are the parson/ without feigning  
that I have evermore/ desired to see  
Come let me kiss you. O benedycyte  
ye be all naked/ alas man why thus  
I make you sure/ it is right perilous.  ¶ Man. 
¶ I thank you/ but I need none other vesture  
Nature hath clothed me/ as yet suffysantly  
Guiltless of sin/ and as a maiden pure  
I were on me/ the garment of innocency  Inno. 
¶ ye hardly were that garment continually  
It shall thy body/ suffysantly safeguard  
From stormy weather my life to jeopard  ¶ The world. 
¶ Be piece/ fair woman ye are not very wise  
Care ye not/ if this body take cold  
ye must consider/ this is not paradise  
Ne yet so temperate/ by a thousand fold  
Whose so liveth here/ be he young or old  
He must suffer/ both fervent cold and heat  
And be out of temperance/ oft time in his diet  
¶ Also he must needs/ do as the world doth  
That intendeth any while/ here to reign  
And follow the guise that now a day goth  
As for as his estate/ may it maintain  
And who doth the contrary/ I will be plain  
He is abyect/ and despised utterly  
and standeth ever baneshed/ from all good company  
¶ Sith god therefore/ had ordained this body  
To dwell here/ in this earthly region  
Of convenience/ he must himself apply  
To worldly things/ and be of such condition  
As all men be/ and leave each fond opinion  
That is not approvable/ of wysar men than he  
to take such way/ it is but vanity.  
¶ Take this garment/ man do as I you bid  
Be not ashamed/ hardly to do it on  
So so/ now this girdle/ have gurd it in the mid  
And this for your head/ go set it upon  
By the charge of me/ you be a goodly on  
As ever I saw/ sith that I was borne  
Worth a thousand/ that ye were before.  
¶ give me your hand/ be not in fere  
Sytdown/ as ye are borne to occupy this place  
I give you here/ authority and power  
Over all thing/ that conceived is in the space  
Of all the earth/ that round is in compass  
To be as lord/ of every region  
and thereof I give you/ pessyble possession.  ¶ Man. 
¶ blessed be thou/ my lord most bounteous  
that of thy great/ abundant charity  
Me thy wretched creature/ hast honoured thus  
with natural gifts/ and worldly dignity  
Now I beseek thee/ for thy great pity  
Sith thou hast set me/ in so noble way  
Suffer me not here after/ wretchedly to decay  
¶ For certes it is/ mine hearts desire  
So to demayn me/ in this life present  
As may be most/ unto thy pleasure  
and unto nature/ not dysconuenyent  
This is my will/ and my chief intent  
this will I observe/ thy grace to borrow  
though I therefore/ suffer mouche worldly sorrow  Rea. 
¶ Forsooth these words/ be greatly to allow  
if they from meek/ and lowly heart proceed  
Now mankind/ sith thou hast made this vow  
Escape the thereafter/ thy life to lead  
And set thy world/ be cousin to thy deed  
that is to say/ do thou none other wise  Inno. 
Than thou here openly/ to god dost promise  
¶ ye sir and ever/ look that ye abstain  
Not only from deed/ but also from the assent  
So that ye commit/ neither of them twain  
if ye will observe/ the high commandment  
For surely ye may/ not be cleped innocent  
Nor guiltless of sin/ as for as I can find  
if once ye assent/ to folly in your mind.  ¶ Mundus. 
¶ This is an hard word/ sister that ye have spoken  
An hard word surely/ and an heavy sentence  
But think ye goddies/ commandment broken  
For a light tryfull/ and matter of insolence  
Alas have ye such a spiced conscience  
That will be entryked/ with every merry thought  
Leave it woman leave it. For it is nought  loquiad ho. 
¶ And man as for you/ ye shall not take that way  
That manner of observance/ is to hard and straight  
ye must attempt the world/ and therein assay  
Whether ye can live/ after that endrayte  
These. two. folk/ harp both on refrayte  
and ever enbesyeth them/ to rebuke you of sin  
¶ That never was spotted/ ne found guilty therein  
take none heed of them/ their words be but wind  
and as for this time/ I command them to silence  
And set us see now/ how prately ye can find  
By sage policy/ and worldly prudence  
To maintain the state/ in honour and reverence  
that ye shall be in/ while ye in the world dwell  
Speke of this matter/ and ponder it well  
¶ first me seemeth necessary/ to provide  
What manner folkys/ your servants shall be  
For surely ye are/ nothing accompanyde  
according/ to a man of your degree  
ye have here with you. two. parson's or. iii.  
That pleaseth you happily/ in the best wise  
yet it appeareth not so/ to every man's ges.  
¶ What man is this?  ¶ Man. 
¶ Reason sir my chief conselour  
And this innocency/ my nurse hitherto  
And sensuality that other/ by whom I have power  
To do/ as all sensate beasts do  
But reason and innocency/ chiefly these two  
Have the hole rule/ and governy of me  
To ●●●m eke is subdued/ my sensuality  sensua 
¶ For cartayne sir/ reason hath done me wrong  
More than ever he shallbe able to recompense  
God knoweth sir I thought/ the season very long  
Till we were brought/ unto your presence  
But now I pray you/ to adnul the sentence  
That nature gave unto me/ by reason's advise  
to my great hurt/ and uttyr preindyce  
¶ And sir I ask/ none amendys' earthly  
But that reason/ may have a check mate  
A little knack/ a little prayty congee  
His haut courage/ some thing to abate  
For hitherto/ he hath kept great estate  
And had of me/ the over hand and strengar  
But ye not disposed/ I will suffer it no longer  ¶ Mundus. 
¶ Thou hast had great wrong/ and that is pity  
For if thou be the parson/ that I take the fore  
thou sholdyst be/ as honourable as he  sensua 
¶ Lord ye say well/ but woldgod ye would see  
Some manner help/ and remedy for this evil  
And let me not always/ live this like a dryvyll  ¶ Mundus. 
¶ Sir ye know well/ that if so it were  
A man should suddenly/ come to a strange place  
Wherein he is/ but alyand and stranger  
He must needs be/ compelled in that case  
to put himself/ in the favour and grace  
Of some singular person/ that can show him the way  
Of all the behaviour/ and guise in that contrary  
¶ So it is now/ that ye be hither sent  
this contrary as yet/ to you unknown  
In mine opinion/ it is expedient  
to take some other counsel than your own  
Of well enured men/ such as have grown  
In worldly experience/ and have thereof the drift  
And can best for you/ in time of need skyft  ¶ Homo. 
¶ Certes ye move/ right well and prudently  
and I am well content/ that it so be  
But as yet/ have I not the policy  
To know which men/ have most ability.  Mun. 
¶ Dare ye commit/ the matter unto me  homo. 
¶ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 well/ I am fully content  
That all thing be done/ by your assignment  Mun. 
¶ Than thus I will/ that above all thing  
From hens forward/ ye be like and conformable  
Unto other parsons/ in all your demeaning  
Namely to such/ as be companable  
Be they never so vycouse/ or abominable  
For every man/ clepeth him wise  
That doth after the comen guise.  
¶ And as for men/ that should do you service  
I know divers persons/ that be right honourable  
That can you serve/ always point device  
In all the world/ be there none so able  
So wise/ so politic/ ne yet so profitable  
Lo here is one of them/ that I speak fore  
and he himself can tell you/ where ye shall have more  
¶ Worldly affection is this man's name  
He is well brained/ and wondrous of invention  
afore casting man/ and pain of shame  
ye shall not find/ in any christian region  
a wiser fellow/ in things to be done  
specially of matters/ that be concerning  
Worldly pleasure/ that is for you according  
¶ Suffer him therefore/ never to depart  
But if it be/ for matters of great substance  
and for sensuality/ I pray you with all my heart  
To accept him to your favour and tendraunce  
He hath been long/ of mine acquaintance  
and on my faith/ my heart can not but grudge  
To think that ye should use him as a drudge  
¶ Do as he adviseth you/ hardly now and than  
and despise not/ utterly his counsel  
Think that ye be here/ a worldly man  
and must do as men/ that in the world dwell  
ye are not bound/ to live like an angel  
Ne to be as god/ always immutable  
Mannys nature/ of himself is full miserable  
¶ I have told you now/ my counsel and advise  
And ye have promised/ to be ruled thereby  
Now set each man/ execute his office  
and see how wisely/ ye can them occupy  
To increase the world/ and it thereto ye must apply  
 
Now address you thereto/ and demean you thus  
I shallbe to you ever good and prosperous  Man. 
¶ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of this courtesy  
●…nde 〈◊〉 as yet, but be ye sure  
I sh●… 〈◊〉 self/ endeavour busily  
to do that may be/ to your pleasure  
And for the season/ that I shall her endure  
I shall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉/ and to my power maintain  
That unto you in any wise do pertain  the wor. 
¶ Than to bygyn with all I will advise you  
to put this man/ from your company  
I tell you/ every man will despise you  
As long as ye/ be ruled by innocency  
to follow such counsel/ it is but folly  
For he can neither good neither evil  
and therefore he is taken/ but for a dryvyll  Man. 
¶ By my faith/ even as ye say  
It liketh me not right well  
With innocency long to dwell  
therefore according to your counsel  
I will not after this day  
with his company myself affere  
As me wet as it were a grey frere  
I suppose there is no man here  
what soever he be  
That could in in his mind be content  
all ways to be called an innocent  
Wherefore it is mine intent  
to do as ye advise me  the wor. 
¶ ye hardly do even so  Inno. 
¶ Forsooth and I hold me well content  
to depart at your commandment  
ye shall find me obedient  
What soever ye bid me do  ¶ Hear innocency goeth out, sensua 
¶ So the company is well amend  
Let him go to the devil of hell  
He is but a boy I warn you well  
and should ye follow his counsel  
All mighty god defend  
if ever ye sust to play the man  
It is time that ye now began  
Mar● to play the boy now and than  
For your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
It forceth not though ye do  
Wh●… ye may have ●●ser thereto  
And among I will help you also  
In due time and place  the wor. 
¶ ye that ye will indeed  
But now sir will ye any thing  
Command me before my departing  Man. 
¶ Nothing at all to my w●tyng  
But our lord have you in his kyping  
And send you well to speed  the wor. 
¶ Worldly affection come hither/ ye are politic  
and much better enured/ in this world than I  
I pray you dispose for me/ as ye think most like  
That I may live here well and honourably  the wor. 
¶ ye sir I shall. Doubt ye not hardly  
if it like you/ to put me in so great trust  
And I true ye shall find me/ true and just  Man. 
¶ I wot well I shall. Surely you be bound  
To the world/ that hath given you so great cōmendacy●●  the wor. 
¶ ye sir some men had liefer than a thousand pound  
They might be commended/ of the same fashion  
But sir set pass/ all this commendation  
and answer to me/ I pray you fruitfully  
In that I shall move you/ substantially  
¶ Sir at few Words/ I you exhort  
Sith that ye be come to your own  
Cast yourself to bear such a port  
That as ye be/ ye may be known  
Eke it is necessary/ for that behove  
that there be made/ some manner of purveyance  
Whereby/ ye may here out your countenance  
¶ Will it like you therefore that I survey  
And see thextent/ of all your land  
and there upon/ in all the hast purvey  
Both for you and yours/ all manner of viand  
with other utensytties/ ready at your hand  
So that ye be purveyed/ all times early and late  
Of each thing/ that belongeth to your estate  Man. 
¶ your counsel ye good/ do as ye think best  
I commit all such thing/ to your discretion  
¶ I shall do my true/ business at the lest  
To bring all things/ to good conclusion  Man. 
¶ Abide 〈◊〉 affection/ ye made no mention  
Who should await/ and give attendance  
I must have more servants/ what so ever chance  w. aff. 
¶ What ye havue sensuality/ 〈◊〉 never other counsel  
Of such 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can you best advise  
He knoweth where/ all such manner parsons dwell  
as be most 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worldly service  sensua. ¶ Then he goeth out. 
¶ ye on my ●●rell sir/ I shall take the enterprise  
Of all such matters/ and look where I find  
any man of pleasure/ on him set your mind  
Lo will ye see lo/ here cometh one  Man. 
Even the last man/ that was in my thought  
¶ What is he.  ¶ Sensua. 
ye shall see anon  
a well drawn man is he/ and a well taught  
That will not give his head for nought  
And thereto goodly/ as ye shall see in a day  pry. co. 
As well appareled/ at each point of his array  
¶ Who dwelleth here/ will no man speak  
Is there no fool nor body peke  
Now by the bell it were alms to break  
Some of these knaves brows  
A gentleman comys in at the doors  
That all his days hath worn gilt spears  
And none of this knaves nor cutted hories  
Byddys him welcome to house.  
¶ Wot ye not how great a lord I am  
Of how noble progeny I came  
My father a knight my my mother called madame  
Mine ancestors great estates.  
And now the livelihood is to me fall  
By both their deaths natural  
I am spoken of more than they all  
Hens to paris gates.  
¶ How say ye first by mine array  
Doth it please you ye ornay  
In the best wise I dare well say  
By that ye know me a while  
And one thing I put you out of doubt  
I have wherewith to bear it out  
As well as any man here about  
Within these hundredth mice.  
 
 
 
 
〈◊〉 scold cap 〈…〉  
〈◊〉 it cost him 〈…〉 he  
〈◊〉 there Pride had a pull  
¶ I love it well to have 〈◊〉 here  
〈◊〉 a wot beneath mine ere  
For ever more I stand in fere  
That mine nek should take cold  
I knit it up all the night  
and the day time comb it downright  
And then it cryspeth and shineth as bright  
as any pyrsed gold  
¶ My doublet is on laced before  
A stomacher of satin and no more  
Rain it snow it never so sore  
Me thinketh I am to hot  
Than have I such a short gown  
With wide sleeves that hang a down  
They would make some lad in this town  
a doublet and a cote  
¶ Some men would think that this were pride  
But it is not so/ ho ho abide  
I have a dagger by my side  
yet thereof spoke not I  
I bought this dagger at the mart  
A sharp point and a tart  
He that had it in his heart  
Were as good to die  
¶ Than have I a sword or twain  
To bear them myself it were a pain  
They are so heavy that I am fain  
to purvey such a sad  
Though I say it a pretty boy  
It is half my lives joy  
He maketh me laugh with many a toy  
The urchin is so mad  
¶ I begat the whoreson in baste  
It was done all in haste  
ye may see there was no waste  
 
Sometime he serveth me at board  
sometime he beareth my two hand sword  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
Look 〈◊〉 thy father's face  
¶ But now to be that I come fore  
And of these things to speak no more  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me longeth fore  
To here some newly  
I here say there is a great state  
Come in to this contrary late  
And is disposed algate  
an householder to be  
¶ Father's soul sirs/ ye shall understand  
That if he keep household in this land  
I will thrust in one hand  
who so ever say nay  
what so ever the man intent  
To appear the world or to amend  
I willbe with him at that one end  
Hap what hap may  
¶ I meet worldly affection ere wile  
From this town scant a mile  
and he hath she wed me a pretty while  
If I may put it in ure  
He tells me that sensuality  
begins a great ruler to be  
and if it be so/ care not for me  
The matter is cock sure  
¶ Ay good lord what man is that  
Father's soul this is some great wat  garcius. 
¶ This is he that ye seek  Pride 
¶ See this brat  
This boy is passing taunt  
Come behind and follow me  
Set out the better leg I warn the  garcius. 
¶ yes in the best wise trust ye me  
ale seygniour ale vouse avant  Pride 
¶ Saluus to you sir.  ¶ Man. 
into you also  
Whence are ye  Pride 
¶ I shall tell you or I go  
But first would I speak a word in no more  
with this servant of yours  sensua 
¶ With 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ye speak with me  Pride 
¶ 〈◊〉 for god 〈◊〉 not sensuality  sensua 
¶ ●…es 〈◊〉  Pride 
〈◊〉 such a gentleman ye seem to be  sensua 
¶ your pox 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all ●…owus  ¶ Then Pride speaketh to Sensua./ in/ his ere that all may here Pride 
〈◊〉 Sir I understand that this gentleman is borne to great 〈◊〉 and intendeth to inhabit herein the contrary. And I am a gentleman that always hath be brought up with great estates and affeed with them and if I might be in like favour with this gentleman I would be glad thereof/ & do you a pleasure.  sensua 
¶ Where is your dwelling  Pride 
¶ I dwell her by  sensua 
¶ What is your name  Pride 
¶ Pride  sensua 
¶ Pride?  Pride 
¶ ye sickerly  
But I am cleped worship commonly  
In places where I dwell.  sensua 
¶ Worship now in faith ye saw true  
ye be radix viciorum. Rote of all virtue.  Pride 
¶ ye ye man ye would say so if ye me knew.  sensua 
¶ Turd I know you well  
Sir ye are welcome as I may say  
I shall bring you in service if I may  
And if one man stand not in the way.  Pride 
¶ One man what the devil is he  sensua 
¶ By god one that loveth not the  
Nor me neither.  Pride 
¶ I pray the tell me  
what manner of man he is  
And I shall give him a life as I guess  sensua 
¶ Wilt thou so doubtless.  Pride 
¶ ye and that within a short process  
In faith I will not miss.  sensua 
¶ Surely I can not spy the ways how  Pride 
¶ Let me alone I shall do well enough  
Aquaynt me with that man and care not thou  
The matter shall speed  sensua 
¶ Hark cousin first speed this matter  
And if yonder man make the not good cheer  
As any man that ever came here  
 Pride 
¶ Sir I shall tell the how/ when I am in  
To thy masters service I will first begin  
To set his heart on a merry pin  
And bid him make good cheer  
I will bid him/ think how he is create  
To be a worthy potestate  
And eke that he is predestinate  
to be a princes peer  
And other things more than this  
I shall bring that heart of his  
To be more how'wt than it is  
By a dewies ase  
specially I will commend his wit  
That no man can amend it  
And that he is able thereby to sit  
as a judge in comen place  
And when I praise him this wise  
I think his heart will begin to rise  
and after that utterly despise  
any opray counsel to here  
He shall trust all to his own brain  
and than would Reason never so fain  
Though he come and such opry twain  
He shallbe never the near  sensua 
¶ Surely this conseyt is well found  
I shall bring the in service for twaynty pound  Pride 
¶ Gramercy brother I think me much bound  
To the forty courtesy  
But sir abide here on thing  
I will not be known that it is my seeking  sensua 
¶ No more would I for. xl. shilling  
Let me alone hardly  sensua 
¶ Sir if it please you here is come a straunge●…  
That never was acquainted with you ere  
Somewhat shame fast and half in fere  
To put himself in press  
A goodly parson be ye sure  
Both of countenance and of feature  
If he were drawn in portraiture  
And a good man doubtless  
ye and a wise man at all  
Will it please you that I him call  
to s●…che with you.  ¶ Ma. 
hid h●…m come.  ¶ S●…. 
I shall  
〈◊〉 will ye come near.  sensua 
¶ Sir hid him welcome for the manner sake  
Another day I am sure he will crack  
And say such a gentleman did him make  
very great cheer  
Desire him for to dwell with you  
I tell you he is a man for your prow  
And knoweth the world well I now  
No man better than he  Man. 
¶ Sir ye be welcome to this place  Pride 
¶ I thank you sir/ but I do you trespass  
to come thus homely.  ¶ Sensua. 
ye a perilous case  
God wot ye are welcome hither  
On my faith by my will  
ye shall dwell with us still  
Go near to him and task your fill  
I leave you together  ¶ ●…e goeth forth. Man. 
¶ Now sir what have ye to say to me  Pride 
¶ No great thing sir/ but I come to see  
And to know what manner man ye be  
That all men praiseth so much  Man. 
¶ Praise whom praise they.  ¶ Pride. 
Marry you  
Man me.  ¶ Pride. 
ye sir I make mine avow  
They give you a praising good I now  
I hard never none such  
and surely ye be right worthy  
I see well now they do not lie  
and therefore I did my hither hy  
To acquaint me with you  
●…ut ye may say that I am bold  Man. 
¶ Nay ye are worth thy weight of gold  
Me thinketh me to you much behold  
I pray you what is your name  Pride 
¶ My name is worship.  ¶ Man. 
Wurshpp now surely  
The world told me it was my destyny  
To come to worship or I die  Pride 
¶ Truly I am the same  Man. 
¶ Now worship I pray you me tell  
your wisdom and also counsel  
ye can advertise me passing well  
In things that I have to do  Pride 
¶ In good saith any thing that I  
May do to your pleasure it is ready  
I am your own and pray you heartily  
That ye accept me so  
But where ye ask counsel of me  
Me seemeth ye save not your honest  Man. 
¶ Mine honesty. Wherefore let see  
I pray you show me why  Pride 
¶ Marry sir for it is right fitting  
That a man of your behaving  
Should have always sufficient cunning  
Of worldly wit and policy  
To guide himself every where  
And not to be led by the ere  
And beg wit here and there  
Of every Jack a pie  
ye are well complexyond be ye sure  
And nature hath done on you here cure  
As much as upon any creature  
that ever I saw with mine eye  
And by lykylyhod sir I iwis  
ye have wit according to all this  
Dressys nature hath wrought a miss  
And that is not likely  Man. 
¶ Now certain thanked be heaven king  
I have a right quick understanding  
If ye show me any thing  
I can soon perceive it  
But I was forbid by reason  
On mine own fantasy to run  
Or to take any presumption  
Of mine own wit  Pride 
¶ Said reason so. Marry fie on him knave  
it were better the hangman where in his grave  
than ever the lewd fool should have  
the governance of you  Man. 
¶ Certain nature advised me  
to follow reason what time that she  
Put me first in authority  
that I stand in now  Pride 
¶ Alas alas man ye be mad  
I see well ye be but a very lad  
On my faith I was very glad  
 
 
 
 
Of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
〈◊〉 ye 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…e ha●… 〈◊〉 with a why●…  
〈◊〉 upon the b●…re hip  
If I should you not grieve  
He that would lordship enjoy  
And ●…laye ever still the old boy  
Me seemeth he doth but make a toy  
And ye will me believe  Man. 
¶ ●…urshyp for God's sake grieve ye no●…  Pride 
¶ I iwis ye are but an ydeot  
I pray you sir make not me a sot  
I am no trifler  
I have been in honour here tofore  
ye allow the counsel of a ●…arse borne  
Before mine I have ytin scorn  
It is a thing I can not bear  Man. 
¶ Whom mean ye Reason  Pride 
¶ ye that same daw  Man. 
¶ What is he a wise man  Pride 
¶ ●…e is astraw  
Because he kepys you under awe  
ye be therein blind  Man. 
¶ And so doth he without feigning  
for hitherto I might do nothing  
but after high will and by dding  
And that groged my mind  Pride 
¶ Grouge 〈◊〉 it is no marvel hardly  
〈◊〉 shall grieve me certainly  
As long as I am in your company  
To see you dame 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that wise  
ye be now in good way  
but in faith I like not your array  
It is not the fashion that goth now a day  
For now there is a new guise  
It is now●… Says a gone  
Sith that men began this fashion  
And every knave had it anon  
Therefore at this season  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 man th●…t setteth the●…eby  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…wn honesty  Man. 
¶ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 certa●…nly  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fre●…her than I  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 re●…son  ¶ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in worldly affec●… Sensua. sensua 
¶ 〈◊〉 ●…od and no  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what ye shall do  
〈◊〉 ●…et ●…s ●…go  
To some tavern here beside  
Co●…on I can bring you there  
and let them alone with all this ge●…e  
〈◊〉 ye nothing for the matter  
but let them here abide  
And ye will suffer and set them alone  
ye shall see them devise you a new fashion  
●…hat all the world shall wonder thereon  Man. 
¶ By god that will I do goodly  
but I pray you sirs do your diligence  
for this array and spare none expense  
and for a while I will go hens  
And come again shortly  ¶ ●…ere Man and sensuality go out. w. aff. 
¶ Brother Pride now the weight  
Of all this matter resteth in the  Pride 
¶ Thus he thou shalt see me devise it even straight  
It is but tapes that gear with me  
I have none other study a days pard  
but how I may new fashions find  
and thereon I set all my labour and mind  
¶ Sir our master shall have a gown  
That all the galandies in this town  
Shall on the fashion wonder  
It shall not be sowed but with a face  
by twixt every some a space  
Of two handful asunder  
¶ Than a doublet of the new make  
Close before and open on the back  
No sleeve upon his arm  
Under that a shirt as soft as silk  
and as white as any milk  
to keep the carcase warm  
¶ Than shall his hosen be striped  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
 
And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
 
 
¶ And wh●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
There 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 men will say  
〈◊〉 huf 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
ye shall see these fol●…s on him gaze  
and muse as it w●…reon a maze  
New brought into the land  w. aff. 
¶ Ha ha ha now by the marrow virgin  
This will set him on a merry pin  
Even as it should be  
But ever I am in great fere  
That Reason will whyster him in the ere  
and tome his mind clean fro this gear  
This thing feareth me  Pride 
¶ Reason nay nay hardly  
He is forsaken utterly  
Sith I came to his company  
He would not once appear  
Nevertheless for a surte  
Worldly affection I advise the  
as shortly as ever it may be  
For speed of the matter  
To bring him shortly in acquaintance  
With all the company of mine affiance  
and settheym give continual attendance  
Every man busily  
after the property of his office  
Than shall ye see him utterly dospyce  
Reason's counsel on waran●…yse  
and forsake him utterly  sensua 
¶ Nay nay sirs care ye nothing  
That matter is sped well and fine  Pride 
¶ Is it so.  ¶ Sensua. 
ye by heaven king.  
Even as we sat together at the wine  w. aff. 
¶ Thou shalt have God's blessing and mine  
but is it true  sensua 
¶ ye sir by this day  
Our master and Reason have made a great fray  Pride 
¶ Now so  sensua 
¶ 〈◊〉 forth we sat together  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hereby  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who should come together  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and margery  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 you ●…rde so pra●…ly  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the last morning  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 while 〈◊〉 say ●…pyng  Pride 
¶ I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ye ●…ne well I now  
〈◊〉 that is nothing to this purpose  
〈◊〉 on thy tale for god avow  sensua 
¶ I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had I wypt my nose  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I spied them anon I rose  
an●… called them unto me by name  
And without more tarrying anon they came  
¶ And sat down with us/ & made nothing strange  
as they be full courteous/ ye know it well  
And anon our masters colour began to change  
whereof it came/ I can not tell  
His cheer was appalled/ every dell  
and scant that he could speak to me one word  
But s●…ert him even up and rose fro the board  
¶ He said he would go/ lie down on a bed  
and prayed me for the manners sake  
That margery might come hold his heed  
Which as he told me/ began to ache  
And so she hath him undertake  
To make him hole/ in an hour or twain  
when soever he hath any such sudden pain  
¶ What it meaneth I wot never  
But he seeketh her phy●…yk so well  
That I trow the devil of hell  
Can not them two dissever  
¶ Lo this have I done/ and what trow ye more  
yet can I tell you better tiding  ¶ Worldly aff. 
what is that.  sensua 
¶ Marry Reason that ye two spoke of before  
Ca●… even to us as we sat so drinking  
And gave our master an heat worth an hanging  
Because that margery sat on his knee  
while that other whore sat talking with me  
¶ My master saw that he could have no rest  
Never be rid of this controlling  
He prayed the man and thought it best  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…ut more ta●…yeng  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Reason so 〈◊〉 the head  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…ruayll but he be now deed  w. aff. 
¶ 〈◊〉 ●…an fill all t●…e cups at one's  
〈◊〉 this be true  sensua 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these, 〈◊〉  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 never a word  Pride 
¶ Trowyst thou it is no feigned strife  
betwixt them two  sensua 
¶ No on my life.  
For when they fought I ran between  
and cried keep piece and leave debate  
But ye would have laughed had ye seen  
How I departed them/ and for all that  
Sometime I clapped Reason on the pate  
and cried keep the piece as fast as I could  
Till I was horse I cried so loud  w. aff. 
¶ But can our master play the man now  
and far with this gear  sensua 
¶ ye make god avow  
And beware ye of one thing  
Medyll ye no more with margery  
For by cokkies precious body  
If our master may it espy  
Or have an understanding  
That ye use her company  
I tell you he will be angry  
He is so full of jealousy  
As ever I knew man  w. aff. 
¶ jealousy piece man be still  
He can thereof no manner of skill  sensua 
¶ No but say what ye will  
I am sure he can  
¶ He is now as familiar  
With bodily lust as ever ye were  
ye and thereto as great a swearer  
When time requires  
Knew I never of his age  
A man of better courage  
To do all manner of outrage  
After our desires  
¶ Sith Reason and he were thus at variance  
He hath be full of such dalliance  
And both called to his favour and a●…quayntaunce  
●…ur 〈◊〉 by and by  
●…uy wretch gluttony and co●…se  
Sloth and lechery become to his ser●…yce  
And utterly he hateth their 〈◊〉  
And that he professeth o●…enly  w. aff. 
¶ And be these folk of his retinue  sensua 
¶ ye everyone on I tell you true  
But marry there names be changed new  
For to blear his eye  
I tell you he is a serefull man  
For Reason stirreth him now and than  
And therefore do we what we can  
It is little I now hardly  
¶ Sir a there is first Pride as ye wots well  
The sweet darling of the devil of hell  
How his name is changed ye can tell  w. aff. 
¶ ye marry on the best wise  
worship I ween is now his name  sensua 
¶ ye by the road even the same  
And covetise to eschew all blame  
Doth his name dysgyse  
And calleth himself worldly policy  
Wretch because he is somewhat hasty  
Is called manhood. Then is there envy  
and he is called disdain  
gluttony for good fellowship is taken  
and sloth his old name hath forsaken  
And as fair a name hath he shapen  
as ever man could ordain  
He is called ease right comfortable to the blood  
specially for them that lust to do no good  
and among all other I would ye understood  
That lechery is called lust  
Lo these be fair names pard  
Both good and honest as seemeth me  
as for their conditions what they be  
ye know well  w. aff. 
¶ ●…ery just  
I know their conditions on the best wise  
if they keep still their old guise  sensua 
¶ yes that they do on warantyse  w. aff. 
¶ But yet I have gr●…t maruay●…  
that covetise should dwell in his company  sensua 
¶ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 troth so/ and so have I  
But one thing I ensure you faithfully  
And that I have espied well  
that 〈◊〉 ●…derto our master setteth no store  
By his council nor his lore  
Mary when his head waxeth door  
than shallbe good season  
To follow covetise and his way  
ye time I now another day  
Even so I hard our master say  w. aff. 
¶ By my faith he said but reason  
but all the remanent be well retained  sensua 
¶ ye be ye sure it is matter unfeigned  
And wot ye who is greatly disdained  
With our master now  Pride 
¶ Who  sensua 
¶ By god even shamefastness  
when he shall do any such excess  
No shame can fere him doubtless  
I may say to you  Pride 
¶ No than the craft were nought  
but now sirs well bethought  
Sith the matter is hereto brought  
It is time for me  
To go and make some provision  
Of garments after the new invention  
As he commanded me to be done  
thereto must I see  
For it is committed to my negligence  
And if he come hither while I am hens  
I pray the excuse mine absens  sensua 
¶ ye and mine also  Pride 
¶ Why wilt thou go with me  sensua 
¶ Will I ꝙ a ye pard  
It is according for sensuality  
With Pride for to go  w. aff. 
¶ Now the matter is all most in good case  
After the world is mind and pleasure  
there is no more/ but now must I cupace  
With all my wit and busy endeuure  
how it may be stablished & continued sure  
For a little fantasy of man's own will  
May quayll this matter and utterly it spy●…  
And if he vary again  
of scrypyll imagination  
Or else by the suggestion  
Of the foresaid reason  
One thing I am certain  
He will no longer me support  
And that were a shrewd crank dor●…  
Therefore it is best that I resort  
to my masters presence  
And see of what demeanour he is  
I am greatly to blame I iwis  
For that I saw him not or this  
Sith he departed hens.  ¶ ¶ He goeth out and Reason cometh in. Rea. 
¶ O good lord/ to whom shall I complain  
And show the sorrows of my mind  
and nothing for mine own cause certain  
But only for the decay of mankind  
which now of late is waxen so blind  
That he hath despised and forsaken me  
And followeth every motion of his sensuality  
¶ What advayled at the beginning  
that Nature committed me to his service  
and charged me that before all thing  
Of all his guiding I should take th'enterprise  
when he lusteth not to follow mine advise  
but followeth thappety●… of his sensual affection  
As a brute best that lacketh reason  
¶ And yet not withstanding  
that he doth me disdain  
I will resort to him again  
And do my labour and busy pain  
To assay if I can him refrain  
●…ro such beastly living  
but first will I stand hereby  
In secret manner to espy  
Some token of grace in him whereby  
I may discern and find  
that he hath any shamefastness  
After his great surfeit and excess  
And if it be so doubtless  
It sha●… content my my●…  ¶ Man cometh in. 
¶ I say sirs where is worship can ye tell  
In this place I left him last  w. aff. 
¶ Sir I warand you he is occupied well  
In ordaining your garments full fast  
He departed fro me in great haste  
For that intent/ and so he desired  
That I would tell you when need required  
¶ He showed me his mind or he went  
How he had devised your garment  
And if it be made after that intent  
as he told me  
When ye were on that vestour  
Every man shall do your honour  
as becometh a man of your haviour  
And so it should be  Man. 
¶ ye but what will Reason say  
When he seeth me in that array  w. aff. 
¶ Reason. Marry let him go play  
To the devil of hell  
He promised me at the beginning  
That ye would no more be under his guiding  Man. 
¶ No but yet it were according  
To have therein his counsel  
Man without reason is but blind  
And if I should speak after my mind  
I can well a difference find  
betwixt man and a best  
When he hath Reason in presence  
and duly obeyeth his saw and sentence  w. aff. 
¶ Why have ye such a spiced conscience  
Now within your breast  
that changeth your mind so suddenly  
I am sorry and ashamed truly  
On your behalf  Man. 
¶ No force hardly  
Thouledest me all wrong  
and therefore will I no more follow the  w. aff. 
¶ Not worldly affection?  Man. 
¶ Nparde  
Nor yet thy brother sensuality  
I have followed you to long  w. aff.. 
¶ Is that your mind  Man. 
¶ ye doubtless  
And now will I seek shamefastness  
By whom I trust I shall redress  
All my mysded  w. aff. 
¶ And sith thou wilt needs to shame bow  
I pray god send the shame I now  
and yet I trust make god avow  
Ones thou shalt have need  
To call me again to thy service  Man. 
¶ Nay nay on warantyse  
Now sirs who can me advise  
what is best to do  ¶ Shamefastness. 
¶ Sir if ye lust to have mine acquaintance  
I am ready to give you attendance  
Happily my service shall you advance  
I am called shamefastness  Man. 
¶ By your troth are ye the same  shame. 
¶ ye forsooth that is my name  
alms deeds I can attame  
And help for to repress  
when ye have done offence or sin  
if ye will mercy and grace win  
with shame fastness ye must bygyn  
This way must ye take  Man. 
¶ ye be the man without feigning  
That I wished for/ or ye came here  
and glad am I now of your coming  
praying you with heart enter  
when I have need thus to come near  shame. 
¶ So will I do ye may trust it verily  
When soever ye call ye shall find me ready  ¶ He goeth out Rea. 
¶ Sir is it your mind to do as ye say  Man. 
¶ ye that is it as god me speed  
Hard ye all this matter ye or nay  Rea. 
¶ yes that I did in very deed  Man. 
¶ O ghostly reason I have greater need  
Of your help than ever I had before  
Help me now & I shall never forsake you more  
Sith I forsook your company  
I have committed much folly  
I am ashamed certainly  
when I think thereon  
Bu●… now have I refused 〈◊〉  
All such manner of company  
and three have I done verily  
Of mine own motion  Rea. 
¶ Than my help shall be ready as oft as ye me ta●…  
It is my duty so for to do  
And of your offences will I make no rehearsal  
But what soever ye have done hitherto  
To me ward set it pass and go  
Against god your offence is great  
Of the which matter I will not long treat  
¶ But this comfort of me ye shall have  
if ye be contrite as ye pretend  
God is merciable if ye lust to crave  
Call for grace and soon he will it send  
And be not in purpose hereafter to offend  
accustom yourself in the ways of virtue  
And be not in doubt grace will ensue  Man. 
¶ Sir it is my mind and intent  
Hereafter to be your true obedient  
and never more to assent  
To such folly again  Rea. 
¶ And upon that condition  
I take the unto my tuition  
with all hearts affection  
Never to part at wain  
And for this season  
Here we make an end  
Lest we should offend  
This audience/ as god defend  
It were not to be done  
ye shall understand nevertheless  
That there is much more of this process  
wherein we shall do our business  
and our true endeuure  
To show it unto you after our guise  
when my lord shall so devise  
It shallbe at his pleasure  
¶ Thus endeth the first part.   

¶ The second part●….  Reason and Man come i●…. 
¶ I assemble the life of mortal creature  
To the allyege again a s●…rong town or castle  
In which there is much b●…st endenure  
much warly policy with busy travail  
On every side which par●…e shall pray ayll  
By sleight of ingyns or by strong power  
that other to subdue and bring into danger  
¶ In such case and manner of condition  
Is wretched man here in this life earthly  
While he abideth within the garrison  
Of the frayll carcase and carynouse body  
Whom to impugn laboureth incessantly  
the world/ the flesh/ the enemy/ these three  
Him to subdue and bring into captivity  
¶ And for to show you what wise they us ipugn  
first doth the world give us an allectyfe  
to covetryches and worldly renown  
With other vanyteys that be used in this life  
Next that our flesh which ever is in stryse  
again our spirit/ doth provoke and excite  
Is to accomplish our sensual appetite  
¶ The last of all is our great enemy  
Which ever hath us in continual haterede  
Of old enkankred malice and envy  
that he oweth to us and all the kindred  
Of all the ancestors of whom we do succeed  
Nor yetcesseth his malice unto this day  
Is to endanger in all that he can or may  
¶ And certes these our said enemies  
Be of their nature so mighty and so strong  
That hard it will be for us in any wise  
Again them war or battle to underfong  
also our garrisons and fortress to maintain long  
Again their ingens without spiritual grace  
We can not perform in no manner case  
¶ Wherefore it is to us right behovable  
busily to pray to god that is immortal  
Beseeching him as he is merciable  
To have compassion and pity on us all  
And not to suffer us any wise to fall  
Into such folly and utter mischance  
Is 〈◊〉 them grieve and do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
¶ Also it behoveth on our part  
To i'll all such manner of occasion  
as may be put in fere and jeopardy  
Of their displeasure in any con●●●cyon  
New fangl●…s and c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nice 〈◊〉  
we must forsake in all manner wise  
And acquaint us with their contrar●se  
Quia contraria contrariis curantur. etc.  
I tell this tale sir to you  
Trusting that it be not done in waste  
ye remember as I suppose well I now  
Now it is not fully. in. days past  
Sith ye me promised and bound it fast  
From that day forth to be obedient  
unto my counsel and advisement  Man. 
¶ ye sir so I did in very deed  
And yet it is my mind and intent  
To follow the same have ye no dread  Rea. 
¶ if ye do not yourself shall repent  
Now far ye well for I must be absent  
As for a season/ and for your comfort  
when so ever ye call me I shall to you resort  ¶ Then he goeth out & Sensua. cometh in. sensua 
¶ God forbid that ever he come again  
jesus how may ye this life endure  
Me seemeth it should be to you a great pain  
Sith ye be of good complexion and nature  
To forbear the worldly sport and pleasure  
As ye have done now a great season  
and all by the foolish counsel of reason  
¶ Where is your lusty heart bycom  
That served you so well this other day  
Now so help me god and halydom  
I have great marvel how ye may  
Live in such misery/ and this dare I say  
without ye take some other ways  
By my troth it will shorten your days  
¶ And though I say it that were pity  
For by christ and ye were gone  
Many a good fellow would make great moan  ¶ Then he wepyth Man. 
¶ Why weep ye so  sensua 
¶ let me alone  
It will none other wise be  
and ye saw the sorrowful countenance  
Of my company your old acquaintance  
that they make  
For your sake  
I dare say ye would moon them in your mind  
They be so loving and so kind  
That I am sure  
if ye endure  
In this peevish opinion  
It will be their confession  
There is none other remedy  
But for sorrow they shall die  Man. 
¶ Nay god forbid they should so do  sensua 
¶ In faith without ye help thereto  
There is none other way  Man. 
¶ I will help it in all that I may  
And I wist by what mean  sensua 
¶ Marry call them to your company  Man. 
¶ By saint Ihamn I am content  
For I may say here to the  
Sith I forsook my liberty  
And did to Reason assent  
I had never merry day  
But lived under awe and dread always  
Nothing to mine intent  
Another while I will me dysport  
and to mine old company resort  sensua 
¶ O than shall ye them comfort  
and yourself also  
Wot ye who will be very glad  Man. 
¶ Who  sensua 
¶ Margery  Man. 
¶ Why was she sad  sensua 
¶ ye by the mass she was stark mad  
Even for very woe  
When she hard tell of this chance  
And because she would live in penance  
Her sorrow for to quench  
She hath entered into a religious place  
At the green friars hereby  Man. 
¶ ye hast.  
Alak good 〈◊〉 wench  
Is it an house of straight religion  sensua 
¶ ye as any that ever was bygon  
Sith the world stood  Man. 
¶ Be they close nuns as other be  sensua 
¶ Close ꝙ a nay nay pard  
That guise were not good  
ye must beware of that gear  
Nay all is open that they do there  
As open as a goose eye  Man. 
¶ And cometh any man into their sellies  sensua 
¶ ye ye god forbid else  
It is free for every body  
And beside all this they be  
Ex omni gente cognite  
No nation they forsake  
Without it be beggars going by the way  
That have never a penny to pay  
For that that they do take  
¶ And yet can I beggars thyderlede  
Where they shallbe for lumps of breed  
satisfy their desire  
such drabs some there be  
That require none other fe  
Nor yet any other hire  Man. 
¶ Be they not wedded as other folk be  sensua 
¶ Wedded quod a no so mote I the  
They will nottary therefore  
they can wed themself alone  
Come kiss me Ihamn gramercy jone  
This wed they ever more  
And it is the more to commend  
For if the woman hap to offend  
as it is their guise  
a man may let her alone with sorrow  
and wed another whore on the morrow  
Even of the same wise  Man. 
¶ Forsooth this is a noble religion  
It stirreth me to great devotion  
For to see that place  
Canst thou bring me thither well I now  sensua 
¶ ye and it were mid night I make god avow  
As dark as ever it was  Man. 
¶ But where is bodily lust now  bodily 
¶ Then cometh in bodily lust with him w. aff.  
¶ Marry sir I have sitten and sought you  Man. 
This three or. iiii. howries  
¶ I make god avow  
ye give shrewd attendance  bodily 
All this. two. days I could not the espy  
¶ Sir ye know well that ye and I  
Be never much asunder  Man. 
albe it I be from you among  
¶ And now me seemeth thou hast tarried to long  bodily 
which is to me great wonder  
¶ Wonder ye pard for an hour or twain  
Forth for a passing while and come again  
Here is a sore matter  
when was I so long absent as now  
and yet I was for to seek you  
at the other side of the water  
The place that ye wots of pard  Man. 
Understand ye what ye mean  bodily 
¶ ye ye  Man. 
¶ Tell me in mine ere  bodily 
¶ Quid est latinum propter le stews  
¶ What latin now this of the newies  
I herd never this ere  Man. 
I trow ye begin to wax shamefast  
¶ Nay nay hardly that gear is past  
Many days a gone  bodily 
I am as wanton as ever I was  
¶ It were alms to hang you else by the mass  
By the hard neck bon  
Butler will ye now go with me to a place  
and I shall show you the smorterst place  Man. 
That ever ye saw with eyes  bodily 
¶ What thing is it young or old  
¶ What ever it be it is able to be sold  Man. 
It shall like you on the best wise  
¶ For my love let us some night be there  
at a banquet or a rear supper  
and get us some wanton meet  
So we may have some dainty thing  
yet would I spend. xx. shilling  
where so ever I it get  bodily 
¶ Nay nay will ye spend a coyell of crowns  
and there shall no gentleman in this. x. towns  
Be better served than ye  
Nor be received more honestly  
As to an house of bawdry  
For a banquet or ●…nkry  
For a dish. two. or three  Man. 
¶ yes that will I spend with all mine heart  bodily 
¶ By your leave I will departed  
To make ready this gear  Man. 
¶ What now in all this hast  bodily 
¶ ye for god sir I am aghast  
that other knaves will come thither  
before us and take up all  Man. 
¶ See there to I pray the  bodily 
¶ So I shall  
elys fie on all together  ¶ Then goeth he out. w. aff. 
¶ Now will margery make great moan  
because ye come not.  ¶ Man. 
ye let her alone  
I am not her bond man pard  
She hath dysappoynted me or now  w. aff. 
¶ yet on my faith sir and I were as you  
at the lest I would excuse me  
Send her word that ye in no wise  
May this night keep her promise  
And if ye do not so  
She will so morn that as I think  
Of all this night she will sleep no wink  
She shallbe so full of woe  Man. 
¶ ye on my apparel take no care  
This answer will I deffar and spare  
till I be certain  
what answer bodily lust shall bring  
Of this other pretty new thing  
when he cometh again  w. aff. 
¶ Will it please you that I go to mergery  
In your stead  Man. 
¶ Marry that were merry  
woldyst thou serve me so  w. aff. 
¶ Why sir by my troth I mean but well  Man. 
¶ ye what thou menyst I can not tell  
But that shall thou not do  w. aff. 
¶ In good faith sir ye may do worse  
For while I have any thing in my purse  
Or any penny to spend  
I will make her even such cheer  
As I would mine own wife if she were here  
elys god defend  Man. 
¶ ye I thank the for thy good will  
But as for that cheer keep it still  
Till I call thereon  w. aff. 
¶ By god sir for good love I spoke it  
And now that I see ye will not take it  
I shall let it alone  Man. 
¶ How now hast thou been yonder away  bodily 
¶ ye syr.  ¶ Man. 
Et que novellies  bodily 
¶ Ie nescey  
I could not speak with her  
No with none of her folks  Man. 
¶ Not with one  bodily 
¶ No they be a sleep everichone  
All that ever dwell there  Man. 
¶ How knowest thou weather they be a sleep or n●…  bodily 
¶ Marry she herself told me so  
when I rapped at the door  Man. 
¶ It seemeth she was not a sleep than  bodily 
¶ No she was a bed with a strange man  Man. 
¶ A mischief on her hore  
I would this fire were i her tail I make god avow  bodily 
¶ That needeth not she is hot I now  
It were more alms to get  
Some cold water her fire to quench  
I tell you it is as warm a wench  
As any in all this street  
I supposed I had angered her ill  Man. 
¶ How so  bodily 
¶ For I rang her a knyll  
That waked her from her sleep  
I gave her a peel for her friends souls  
a man might have hard the noys from Paul'S  
To the farthest end of cheap  
She saw that I would not feace but knock  
And rap still at the gate  
She opened a window and put forth her head  
Hens. xl. d. ꝙ she. Jack noble is a bed  
This 〈◊〉 ye come ●…o 〈◊〉  
I ha' standeth the wind so cold quoth I  
〈◊〉. q. title we have a bry  
This gear goeth all wide  
And so I came thence a great pace  
till I came hither/ lo this is the case  
Have I not well hide  Man. 
¶ Well man there is no more to do  
that we cannot have we must forego  
there is none other remedy  
Lo worldly affection now mayst thou see  
Thy counsel was nought that thou gavest me  w. aff. 
¶ No more it was truly  Man. 
¶ ye I told the asmyche before  
It is good to be sure ever more  
therefore now let us go  
And resort again to our old hosts  
that is the best way now as I guess  w. aff. 
¶ ye hardly do so  ¶ Then they three go out & Pride cometh in. Pride 
¶ Sirs remember ye that this other day  
Man promised me even in this stead  
that I should with him dwell and now I here say  
The wild worm is come into his head  
So that by reason only he is led  
It may well be so/ but I am sure  
that Reason shall not always with him endure  
¶ Me thinketh that Sensua. doth not his part  
according to the duty of his office  
for no body can better torn a man's heart  
Nor yet a readier mean devise  
to put away such foolish fantasyse  
than sensuality if he lust to assay  
for he is chief ruler when Reason is away  sensua 
¶ ye/ a ruler will I be though Reason say nay  Pride 
¶ Ah sensuality welcome by this day  
what tidings good  sensua 
¶ ye by my faith  
as good as can be told  
I have brought this man to his old guise  Pride 
¶ Hast thou so  sensua 
¶ ye on warantyse  Pride 
¶ Now forsooth I give the prick and prise  
Thou 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
Of this tidings I am glad and fain  
But shall I be welcome to him again  
and all our company  sensua 
¶ ye hardly  
as welcome as ever ye were before  Pride 
¶ Goddys blessing have thine heart therefore  
thus am I in thy det more and more  sensua 
¶ japes why say ye so  Pride 
¶ for I speak it after my mind  
thou art to me always so kind  
But where shall I our master find  
to him will I go  sensua 
¶ He is busy hark in your ere  
with little margery ye wot where  
And as soon as I had brought him there  
I came my way a pace  
and because he should not be alone  
I left with him worldly affection  
and other errand had I none  
Now to this place  
but even to show you what is done  
and from hens I must anon  
for to seek an other companion  
to give attendance  Pride 
¶ Who is that  sensua 
¶ Marry gluttony  
Our master calleth for him busily  
Sawyst thou him not  Pride 
¶ No certainly  
To my remembrance  sensua 
¶ I must go seek him without any tarrying  
But Pride I warn you of one thing  
While I think thereon  
when my master and ye shall meet  
In any wise see that ye him great  
In the old fashion  
And make as though ye know nothing  
Of his divers and variable dealing  
Keep that in your breast  
ye can not do him more displeasure  
Than thereof to make reporture  
Therefore let it rest  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…gh treason  ¶ Then he goeth out. ●…de 
¶ 〈◊〉 g●…ad ye warn me thus in season  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the better were  
B●…th ●…s warning I shallbe wise  
And do as ye me advertise  
take thereof no ca●…  ¶ Sloth. 
¶ Will ye be wise quoth a/ mary that is a thing  
By god ye had need to have better warning  
Or ye bring that about  ●…de 
¶ What brother Sloth fro whence comyst thou  ●…h. 
¶ Straight fro my bed I make god avow  
Mine eyes be almost out  
for lak of sleep/ but this sir to you  
Me thought ye called me sloth right now  
Piece no more of that  
I have a new name as well as ye  ●…de 
¶ What is that/ ease  ●…h. 
¶ ye pard  
But it forceth not  
while our master is not present  
between us twain I am content  
Call me what ye will  
But where is our master  ●…de 
¶ Wottest thou near  ●…h. 
¶ No  ●…de 
¶ No more do I  ●…h. 
¶ There there there  
Thou shalt dwell with me still  
Thou art as good a waiter as I  ●…de 
¶ I shrew the better of us both hardly  
But surely we do not well  
we shall not continue with yonder man  
but we await better now and than  
Therefore by my counsel  
Let us twain go together  
To seek our master  ●…h. 
¶ But wotyst thou whether  
we shall now go  
To find our master  ●…de 
¶ I shall assay  
Thou shalt see me guess the way  
And happily find him to  
Now must I to the stews as fast as I may  
to ●…ech this gentleman but sirs I say  
Can any man here tell me the way  
For I came never there  
ye know the way pard of old  
I pray the tell me which way shall I hold  
will ye see this whoreson cocold  
I trow he cannot here  
Now it were alms to clap the on the crown  ¶ Then cometh in man and worldly aff. Man. 
¶ Why be there any cuckolds in town  Pride 
¶ ye I durst hold thereon my gown  
that there be a score  
but for god I cry you mercy  
for by my saith I wist you not so nigh  
Had I wist it I ensure you faithfully  
that word I would have forbore  Man. 
¶ No force hardly it toucheth not me  
But worship tell me where have ye be  
Me thinketh long sith I you see  Pride 
¶ Sir it is no marvel  
Bad ye not me the last day  
To go purvey for your array  
And ye remember well  Man. 
¶ ye for god have ye done the same  Pride 
¶ ye by the road else were I to blame  
All thing is ready in pain of shame  
elys I quite me ill  
The tailor told me yester night  
that all your garments were ready dight  
will ye go thither and have a sight  Man. 
¶ ●…emary with a good will  sloth. 
¶ Will ye that I go with you also  Man. 
¶ I wot never whether ye may attend thereto  
for ye do nothing  
But even after your own sweet will  sloth. 
¶ Why should I ever wait nay that I nill  
for to be a king  
I may not endure continual business  
I was never used thereto doubtless  
I should not live a year  
if I followed you I am sure  
〈◊〉 and ●…our ●…ut of me sure  
I saw never your peer  
He ween there can nothing be do  
But if ye put your hand thereto  
and I wrs that is no need  
ye have servants that be true and just  
if it would like you to put them in trust  
And quite well they ●…e meed  
what should I attend you for to please  
when I see well ye set by none ease  
which belongeth to me  Man. 
¶ Why ease what meaneth the thus to say  
I do but eat drink sleep and play  
And none other labour pard  sloth. 
¶ ye/ ye may say what ye will  
But I can never see you idle  
And quiet as ye should be  
your body laboureth as doth an hakney  
That bareth the burden every day  
That pity it is to see  
And your mind on that other side  
Is never Idle nor unoccupied  
I iwis it grieveth me  
To see you demeaned that wise  
I trow ye be set all on covetise  Man. 
¶ Cou●…tyse/ nay let be  
It is a thing of greater cure  
That sticketh in my mind be thou sure  sloth. 
¶ So me thought by the road  
I wist as much there was some thing  
By your ●…o wring cheer and your sighing  
That was not all thing good  
But what is the matter I pray you heartily  Man. 
¶ I iwis thou canst not devise the remedy  
with all the wit thou hast  
But this is the case to tell it shortly  
A thing was told me as I came hereby  
Now Reason puruayth fast  
And maketh very great labour and ordinance  
To dash us all out of countenance  
And for that purpose  
He hath gathered a great company  sloth. 
¶ What to do  〈◊〉. 
¶ I wore near I  
But as I suppose  
It is to bring me in captivity  
And to take from my l●…berte  
So he hath oft said  Pride 
¶ ●…ere ye that matter  Man. 
¶ Nay never a dell  
but I care for it wit ye well  
Yet am I not afraid  
For I wist withstand it proudly  
and sirs I trust ye will stand thereby  
when it shallbe need  Pride 
¶ ye by the way that god went  
Or he have of you his intent  
first shall I bleed  
The best blood that is in this carcase  Man. 
¶ Well ease go thy way hens a pace  
and make therein good speed  
Call my company all together  
and bid them every man come hither  
That is with me affeed  sloth. 
¶ Marry sir that shallbe do  ¶ Then he goeth out. Man. 
¶ worship in the mean time let us go  
To see my new apparel  Pride 
¶ Will ye so. Now for your ladies sake  
Go do it on you and I undertake  
It shall become you well  Man. 
¶ Worldly affection abide thou here  
For I will go do on this new gear  
as worship doth me counsel  ¶ Then Man and Pride goeth out. w. aff. 
¶ Marry I shall with all mine heart  
this good fire and I will nor departed  
For very cold mine hand is do smart  
It maketh me woe bygon  
Get me a s●…ole here may ye not see  
Or e●…ys a chair will it not be  
thou pyld knave I speak to the  
Now ●…ong shall I stand  ¶ gluttony. 
¶ ●…et him stand with a foul evil  
 
〈◊〉 ye see so/ every dr●…uyll  
Now adays I w●…rand  
Must command as he were a king  
Let him stand on his seat with breeding  w. aff. 
¶ What gluttony/ I can tell the one thing  
In fa●…th you will be shent  gloto. 
¶ Why  w. aff. 
¶ My master hath sent sensuality  
To seek the all about the country  
Spakest thou not with him  gloto. 
¶ yes pard  
I know all his intent  
And thereupon I am come here  
For to awa●…t/ but wottest thou where  
Our master is now  w. aff. 
¶ Nay I wot near  
I am not very certain  
But Pride and he together begun  
Ne said he would come again anon  
within an hour or twain  
Tarry thou here and go net away  
I will go break my fast and I may  
For I eat never a morsel this day  ¶ Then he goeth out. gloto. 
¶ Marry that is a thing  
Go when thou wist I will abide  
My stomach he shall not rule or guide  
That is now fasting  
Nay of all thing earthly I hate to fast  
Four times a day I make repast  
Or thrice as I suppose  
And when I am well fed  
Than get I me to a soft bed  
my body to repose  
There take I a nap or twain  
●…p I go straight and to it again  
Though nature be net ready  
yet have I some meet of delight  
For to provoke ●…happetyte  
And make the stomach greedy  
After all this needs I must  
Sometime follow the wanton lust  
For hot drinks and delicate reflection  
Causeth fleshly insurrection  
ye know it as well as I  Man. 
¶ Troth as ye say I know it well  gloto. 
¶ What gentleman is this can ye tell  bodily. 
¶ Wotyst thou never  gloto. 
¶ No by the bell  
I saw him never before  bodily 
¶ Is it our master  gloto. 
¶ Nay by the rood  
It is not he woldyst thou make me wood  Man. 
¶ yes I am the same  gloto. 
¶ I cry you mercy I see it well now  
Before I knew you not I make god avow  
In earnest nor in game  Man. 
¶ Why. Because I have changed mine array  gloto. 
¶ For that cause trow ye nay nay  
That is not the thing  
That can deceive me be ye sure  
but I pray you who hath had you in cure  
Sith my last departing  Man. 
¶ By my faith a little season  
I followed the counsel and diet of reason  gloto. 
¶ There went the hare away  
His diet ꝙ a/ it may be verily  
For ye be haltered marvelously  
Altered I would say  
alas the while had ye no meet  
As long as ye were under his diet  Man. 
¶ Meet/ yes I had some  
without it were on fasting days  
Than he withdrew my supper always  
and gave me never a crumb  gloto. 
¶ No force hardly why would ye than  
favour him as ye did like a madman  
ye look now as it were a ghost  
Had ye dwelled with him till this day  
ye had been pined even away  
as ye be now almost  
your flesh is gone every dell  
A vengeance on the morsel  
That is left thereon  bodily 
¶ Now talk of the remedy  gsoto. 
¶ 〈◊〉 now 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 safe  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ye there none  bodily 
¶ ye bu●… where ye the m●…te now 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  gsoto. 
¶ ye are ●…yng hasty be ne d●…  
frist must ye go  
where as prover spon thereof ye made  
Let ve go thither and re shallbe had  Man. 
¶ But what to the marsiers of the in  
A wedded woman or a virgin  gloto. 
¶ Nerther of both I joys  bodily 
〈◊〉 No/ but for a maiden she goth  gloto. 
¶ ye forgod that she doth  
But yet she ye none by jye  bodily 
¶ No/ no/ what than  gloto. 
¶ I weigh I not/ but as men clater  
They say she ye innupta matter  
Hardly an holy woman  Man. 
¶ Well thither we will/ go we hens  bodily 
¶ Sir ye will give me licence  
To sport me for a season  Man. 
¶ yes for a while ye well I now  
but go not out of the way I charge you  
for hither will come anon  
All my company as I suppose  
Keep them together for I purpose  
to come again anon  
and show them my mind what I will do  ¶ Then he goeth out bodily 
¶ Marry I shall do what I can thereto  
and yet it ye hard for me  
to keep them together any while  
But I shall tell you what  
I had sever keep as many flese  
Or wild hares in an open lose  
as undertake that  ¶ Wrath. 
¶ Wherebe these knaves that make this array  bodily 
¶ Marry they be gone that other way  
tell me whom ye mean  wrath. 
¶ I trow thou scornyst  bodily 
¶ Nay certainly  
How so be it if I should not lie  
at the first blush I ensure you faithfully  
I f●…nd forgot you 〈◊〉  
〈◊〉 ye be thus defensybly arrayed  
〈◊〉 at that are ye afraid  
who fiath you grieved  wrath. 
¶ Nay I fear no man that beareth an he  
〈◊〉 I sever that I were deed  
than that should be proved  bodily 
¶ By my faith ye are wont to be as bold  
as it were a lion of cottyswold  
but now to my question  
what meaneth all this defensible array  wrath. 
¶ Marry sloth warned us two this same day  
Even sith it was none  
that our moister and Reason should make a stay  
and therefore he had us without delay  
to await on our captain  bodily 
¶ A now I know the matter right well  
But what shall come thereof I can not tell  
It passeth my brain  
Our master willed that we twain  
Should tarry here till he come again  envy. 
¶ What wilt thou do than  bodily 
¶ Who I jenay care not for me  
I will not come where strokes be  
I am not so mad a man  
And I iwis it is not for any fere  
But it is a thing that I can well forbear  
And will as long as I can  
Of lust and pleasure is all my mind  
It longeth to me of property and kind  
And if I should to the war  
And lie in mine harness as other men do  
●…yth hunger and thirst a day or two  
It should me utterly mar  envy. 
¶ It were a great loss if thou were marred  
Now fie on the stath whoreson coward  
By cokkies precious blood  
It were no sin to slay such a knave  
Host not thou wages as other men have  
And few of us so good  
yet wilt thou fail us at this need  
Now who so ever shall quite my meed  
〈◊〉 will no further go  
〈◊〉 I have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mine own hand  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I sh●…d 〈◊〉 were the land  
Even when I have do  ¶ When ●…orth out bodily lust 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I your  
〈◊〉 as wo●… ye not at my desire  
Do so my●…e for me  
I 〈◊〉 would have done me more good  
to have s●…ne the knaves heart blood  
than. xx. shrll●… ngys' of fee  Man. 
¶ What how sirs what meaneth this gear,  
will ye slay each other here  
No more of this work  envy. 
¶ By the heart of god and he had abiden  
A little while he should never have spoken  
with pressed nor with clerk  Man. 
¶ Who was that  envy. 
¶ your own minion  
Bodily lust  Man. 
¶ Why what hath he done  envy. 
¶ Even like a lurden  
He saith that ye have given him licence,  
to abide at home and keep residence  
while we bear the burden  
And serve you now at your need  Man. 
¶ He prayed me so in very deed  
within these. two. days  
He said he would serve me with a good will  
But of the wars he could no skill  
Nor known thereof the ways  
How be it I gave him thereof none answer  envy. 
¶ No but I am sure he will not come there  
And now ma●… ye see  
That no man is so much to blame  
As yourself  Man. 
¶ I  envy. 
¶ ye by saint Iame  
No man but even ye  
for I am well a Jured of one thing  
ye gave him better clothing  
Than ye did me  
And better wages and fees also  
And though I said but little thereto  
But suffered ever more  
yet I by ●…aynd it ever in my mind  
And though that ye were to me unkind  
To set so 〈◊〉 at store  
By such a knave as he was  
I would I had him here by the mass  
And no man but we twain  Man. 
¶ By my troth this is ever thy guise  
joke by whom I set any prise  
Him thou wilt most dysoayn  wrath. 
¶ By christ he can do none other wise  
but now sir is there any service  
That ye will command me  Man. 
¶ ye marry is there/ but my company  
Dresseth them forward passing slowly  
I trow it will not be  
Manhood thou art good I now for one  wrath. 
¶ ye by christ and they came every eachone  
I will not greatly fere  envy. 
¶ By my troth because he saith so  
I shall tell you what I saw him do  
I was present there  
Sir it happyned in westminster hall  
Even before the judges all  
His hands were bound fast  
And never upon him that ever god made  
Dagger sword nor knife he had  
And yet at the last  
He drove. xii. men into a corner  
and an howi after durst they not appear  
How say ye hereto  
and his hands had been at liberty  
He whose have put them in great I eoparde  
It is to suppose so  Man. 
¶ Marry there he qurte him well  
but where be mine other folk can ye tell  
¶ Then cometh i gluttony with a cheese i a bottle.  wrath. 
¶ Marry here cometh one  
Good fellowship me seemeth it should be  gloto. 
¶ Sirs god speed you  Man. 
¶ What tidings with the  gloto. 
¶ I shall tell you anon  
〈◊〉 I am co●… 〈◊〉  
For ●…o a●…de upon 〈◊〉  
〈◊〉 ●…ll a warfare 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me  Man. 
〈◊〉 w●…re ●…s 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  gloto. 
¶ Ma●…y 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
●…re ●…s ●…es I now  wrath. 
¶ Why hast thou no●…e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but this  gloto. 
¶ What the devil harness should I miss  
without it be a bottle  
Another bottle I will go purvey  
Lest that drink be scarce in the way  
Or happily none to sell  wrath. 
¶ Thou must have other harness than this man  gloto. 
¶ Other harness nay I shrew me than  
I can no skill thereon  
why trowest thou that I will fight  envy. 
¶ ye so I trow  gloto. 
¶ Nay by god almight  
Thereof will I none  
I was never wont to that gear  
But I may serve to be a vyteler  
And thereof shall ye have store  
So that I may stand out of danger  
Ofgon shot/ but I will come no near  
I warn you that before  envy. 
¶ Now such a knave I betake to the devil  
This is even such another drivel  
As was here while ere  
They be. two. knaves anointed  
I fear me sir ye shallbe dysappoynted  
I sick not this gear  gloto. 
¶ O I had for gotten I make god avow  
Sir my fellow ease commandeth me to you  Man. 
¶ Commandeth the to me  gloto. 
¶ you to me  Man. 
¶ Me to the  gloto. 
¶ Commandeth you to him I would have said  Man. 
¶ Why cometh he not hither  gloto. 
¶ By god for he is afraid  
And lieth sick in his bed  
He took such a consext when he hard of this gear  
That for thought and very fere  wrath. 
¶ And he were hanged it were no 〈◊〉  
I p●…ay god the devil break his ne●…  
and all such as he is  Man. 
¶ Well l●…t us suffer for a while  
I will go walk hens half a mile  
and for all this  
Happily all this gear shall not need  
Now be it that I doubt and dread  
The worst as wise men do  
Manhood come thyself with me  gloto. 
¶ And I to sir  Man. 
¶ ye pard  
woldyst thou be prayed thereto  ¶ Than goeth out Man gluttony/ & wrath. envy. 
¶ Now he that would have war or strife  
I pray god send him a shrewd wife  
and than shall he have I now  
But I shall tell you sirs as for me  
I am none of them so mote I the  
I may say to you  
I will no such rekenning is abide  
Goddys' body here cometh Pride  
as crank as a peacock  
As soon as he and I meet  
without he stand right upon his feet  
He shall bear me a proud mok  Pride 
¶ What tidings sirs can any man tell  envy. 
¶ ye marry that can I do as well  
as any that was in field  
ye have tarried so long about your gay gear  
That the field is done or ye come there  Pride 
¶ Done marry god shield  envy. 
¶ It is done without fail  
But whyehe of them hath won the balayll  
I can not tell you certain  Pride 
¶ Thou were not there it seemeth thereby  envy. 
¶ Not I there ꝙ ayes hardly/ 〈◊〉 that to my great  
but as soon as the batellies joined together (pain  
I came my way straight hither/ for to tell tydyng●…  Pride 
¶ What the devil tidings canst thou tell  envy. 
¶ Marry I can show you nothing of the battle  
but of ma●…y other tidings  
ye are out of concext I tell you forever  
B●…cause 〈◊〉 not you endeuou●…  
●…t th●…s great 〈◊〉  
I●… so m●…e 〈◊〉 ye o'er 〈◊〉 to sees  
●…eth 〈◊〉 off●…ce and all your fees  
And 〈◊〉 out of wa●…s  Pride 
¶ That is not true as I suppose  envy. 
¶ Sir and ●…t be not t●…ke my nose  
And my head also  
your office was given or I came thence  Pride 
¶ Marry that was a very short sentence  
and I not cassed thereto  
Now envy what counsel wist thou give me  envy. 
¶ By my troth Pride thou mayst believe me  
I●… I were in thy case  
I would withdraw me for a season  
though it be neither felony nor treason  
Nor yet wilful tree space  
yet the same is worst of all  
For every knave will the call  
a coward to thy face  Pride 
¶ I am unhappy I seyt well  
for thexpense of mine apparel  
towards this viage  
what in horses and other array  
●…ath compessed me for to say  
all my sand to mortgage  
and now when I have all do  
To less mine office and fees also  
For my true intent  
I may say that all my cost  
and all my time is evil lost  
In service that I have spent  
well what so ever by tide me  
for a season I will hide me  
after thy counsel  
and sith it will no better be  
Far well I take my seve of the  envy. 
¶ ●…ow gentle Pride far well  
Alas that I had no good fellow here  
to bear me company and laugh at this gear  
this game was well found  sensua 
¶ yes and ye lust to play the knave  
Some manner of company ye might have  
S●…e within this ground  envy. 
¶ Some I can think y●…ng or old  
And 〈◊〉 it were a small household  
as any might be found  sensua 
¶ It is not small the company showeth well  
But me thought thou were about to tell  
Of some merry I este  
Or some merry game at my coming  envy. 
¶ ye fardely it is a game for a hang  
when he lusteth best  
To laugh for his disport and solace  
Sir I shall tell the this is the case  
Right now as I stood  
In this place and never a man with me  
In came Pride garnished as it had be  
One of the rial blood  
It grieved me to see him so well be seen  
But I have abated his courage clean  
For a little season  
By the road I have given him a check mate  
For I bore him an hand that he came to fate  
And that the field was done  
and how his office was given away  
Because he failed our master that day  
I made him to believe so  
And when I had told him all this tale  
anon he began to wax all pale  
Full of care and woe  
and now he hideth him self for shame  
I gave him mine advise to the same  
and so he is gone  sensua 
¶ Now on my faith this was madly do  
but in faith what moveth the thereto  envy. 
¶ Marry cause had I none  
but only that it is my guise  
When I see another man arise  
Or far better than I  
Than must I chafe and fret for ire  
and imagine with all my desire  
To destroy him utterly  
But now in earnest sensuality  
tell me when this fray shall be  
I pray the heartily. ¶ Sensua. What against Rea.  〈◊〉. 
¶ ●…e the same  sensua 
¶ 〈◊〉 they be agreed in yarn of shame  
and go●…d company they keep  envy. 
¶ Agreed 〈◊〉 in the m●…re name  
Mary fyr●… at were a game  
to make some of us weep  sensua 
¶ We●…e or laugh man so it is  
and who trow ye is the ●…a user of this  envy. 
¶ Who  sensua 
¶ Age the devil him quell  envy. 
¶ Why is age now come in pl●…ce  sensua 
¶ ye and that may ye spy by his face  
and ye mark it well  
His stomach fainteth every day  
His back croketh his head waxeth grey  
His nose droppeth among  
His lust is gone and all his liking  
I see it well by every thing  
He may not live long  
and all maketh age as I said before  
He is the dear/ and what trow ye more  
this age hath done  envy. 
¶ What  sensua 
¶ By my faith he hath brought in Reason  
In such wise that at no season  
Nothing can be wrought  
B●…t Reason must be called thereto  
I fear me he will us all undo  
within few days  
As soon as gluttony had espied  
all this gear he would not abide  
but went even his ways  
Our master prayed him to t●…ry a season  
Nay nay quoth he/ now have I done  
I may no longer tarry  
For age and I may not together dwell  
and straight way he departed fair and well  
Bodily lust stood by  
and saw that gluttony would needs be gone  
●…aue with the gluttony quoth he anon  
For I must go with the  
So that. 〈◊〉. be gone together  
〈◊〉 am there none of them both hither  envy. 
¶ Never a one that I see  sensua 
¶ Well they be gone some other way  
to get a new master as soon as they may  
They can not be ou● urueyd  
and as for● as they. two. were gone  
Our master sent for covetise anon  
and courtesy him prayed  
to await on him well for a year or two  
and he hath promised him so to do  
as for a year or twain  
But Reason may not thereof know  envy. 
¶ Reason quod a/ no so I trow  
He will that disdain  
but where hath covetise been many a day  sensua 
¶ He dwelled with a priest as I herd say  
For he loveth well  
Men of the church/ and they him also  
and lawyers the/ when they may tend thereto  
will follow his counsel  envy. 
¶ So men say these as I dwell  
but sensuality canst thou tell  
Now in this case  
what were best for us to do  sensua 
¶ Marry I hold it best that we go  
near by to some place  
and semble together all our company  
to here there minds by and by  
and every man's opinion  
what shallbe best for to do  envy. 
¶ By my troth and be it so  
I hold it welldon  ¶ Than they go forth & Reason & Man come in. Rea. 
¶ Sir I have oft times you advised  
to live virtuously/ and showed you the way  
and that not withstanding/ ye have me despised  
And followed sensuality/ many a day  
will ye so continue/ ye or nay  
If ever ye purpose yourself to amend  
It is time/ for your life draweth fast to th'end  Man. 
¶ I can not continue/ though I would  
For age hath waned me clean therefro  
and yet Reason/ when ye me told  
Of this gear many day a go  
I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉/ I should 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
〈◊〉 of your Words/ great story and d●…  
Would god that my life were to bygyn again  Rea. 
¶ Hosts not thereof/ that may not be  
a thing done/ can not be called again  
but the thing/ that most feareth me  
On your behalf/ I tell you plain  
Is that ye would/ in no wise abstain  
From sinful lusts/ as I willed you to do  
Till now that age compelleth you thereto  Man. 
¶ That is full true/ wrthout feigning  
as long as mine appetite did endure  
I followed my lusts/ in every thing  
which now by the course and law of nature  
And not of my policy/ or good endeavour  
Is taken fro me/ for ever more  
And so can I deserve/ no meed therefore  
¶ But not withstanding this mine abusion  
I trust that by the help of your good advise  
I may be made the child of salvation  Rea. 
¶ yes and ye will sir on warantyse  
So that ye utterly forsake and despise  
All your old servants in will and deed  
and do by my counsel  Man. 
¶ yes have ye no dread  Rea. 
¶ Than my soul for yours/ I lay to wed  
ye shall do well/ have ye no mistrust  
And first to begin with/ I you forbid  
All manner of despair/ and secondly ye must  
Put to your mind/ and good will  
To be recured/ of your great excess  
For without your help/ it can not be doubtless  
¶ Is in this example/ if so be the patient  
Of himself/ be willing to have any remedy  
It is a great furtherance to that intent  
So that to the precepts of physic he apply  
And who so doth the contrary/ no maruarll truly  
Though he myskary/ what should I bring  
Any more examples for so plain a thing  Man. 
¶ It shallbe no need as in this case  
I know right well/ what ye mean thereby  
And that will I follow by gods grace  Rea. 
¶ Than as I told you/ it shallbe no mastery  
yourself comfort/ and ●…o ●…aue good remedy  
〈◊〉 ●…st the great 〈◊〉 that thou hast done  
〈◊〉 why the thou hast deserved endless dam●… o●…  
¶ ●…ut do 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the/ and ●…aue no d●…de  
And for to 〈◊〉 the medyeyns/ most ●…yng  
〈◊〉 thy force/ do by mr read  
Look what disease/ ●…s 〈◊〉 and b●…  
take ever such a medyeyn as is 〈◊〉 in w●…yng  
So that the contrary in all manner of wrse  
Must hele his contrary as physyh doth devise  
¶ Right so who so lusteth fro sin to arise  
where he hath in pride/ done any offence  
He can be helpen thereof none other wise  
but only by meekness/ that is the recompense  
again Wretch and Envy/ take charity and patience  
take alms deed/ again the sin of coue●…rse  
¶ And to repress glotyny/ acquaint the with abstynece  
Again foul lust of body/ take chastrte 〈◊〉 continence  
Much sin groweth by Sloth and by idleness  
and that must be eschewed by mean of good business  
●…o this be preparatyfies most sovereign  
Against thy sores which be mortal  
Unless that this medyeyns to them be lain  
When thou hast received these preparatyfies all  
I will come again if thou me call  
And order the further after my mind  Man. 
〈◊〉 ye but where shall I these preparatyfies find  Rea. 
¶ Thou shalt them find wythm thine own breast  
Of the it must come/ it must be thy deed  
For voluntary sacrifice pleaseth god best  
Thou canst not thereof have help or meed  
But if this gear of thine own heart proceed  Man. 
¶ Well I shall endeavour me to the uttermost  
And trll I have found them I shall never rest  
But how shall I know them that wot I near  
I pray you show me that before your departing  Rea. 
¶ It needeth not thereof to inquire  
Thou shalt know them at the first me●…yng  
Of. 〈◊〉. contraries there is but one serving  
That is to say when thou knowest well that o●…  
The other contrary is known anon  ¶ Then he goeth out 〈◊〉 ●…kenes cometh in. 
¶ Who so woteth histories/ of scripture well  
for your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉  
It fort not thou●… ye do  
When ye 〈◊〉 ●…aue 〈◊〉 for there●…o  
And among I wrll help you also  
In due t●…e and place  the wor. 
¶ ye that ye wrll in deed  
But now ●…ye will ye any thing  
Com●…nd me before mr ●…yng  Man. 
¶ Nothing at all to my w●…tyng  
But our lord have you in his kyping  
And send you well to speed  the wor. 
¶ Wo●…dly affection come hither/ ye are politic  
and much better enured/ in this world than I  
I pray you dispose for me/ as ye think most like  
That I may live here well and honourably  the wor. 
¶ ye s●… I shall. Doubt ye not hardly  
if it like you/ to put me in so great trust  
And I true ye shall find me/ true and just  Man. 
¶ I wot well I shall. Surely you be bound  
To the world/ that hath given you so great cōmendacy●…  the wor. 
¶ ye sir some men had liefer than a thousand pound  
They might be commended/ of the same fashion  
But sir let pass/ all this commendation  
and answer to me/ I pray you fruitfully  
In that I shall move you/ substantially  
¶ Sir at few Words/ I you exhort  
Sith that ye be come to your own  
Cast yourself to bear such a port  
That as ye be/ ye may be known  
Eke it is necessary/ for that behove  
that there be made/ some manner of purveyance  
Whereby/ ye may veer out your countenance  
¶ Will it like you therefore/ that I survey  
And see thex●…ent'of all your land  
and there upon/ in all the hast purvey  
Both for you and yours/ all manner of v●…nd  
with other vtensy●…tys/ ready at your hand  
So that ye be puruerd/ all times ●…rely and late  
Of each thing/ that belongeth to your estate  Man. 
¶ your counsel is good/ do as ye think best  
I comm●…t all such thing/ to your discretion  
¶ I shall do my ●…ew/ business at the lest  
To bring all things/ to good conclusion  
 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 in  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●…yll first 〈◊〉  
 
 
 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy 〈◊〉  
 
 
And other thyn●…rs more tha●… this  
I shall bring that heart of ●…ys  
To be more how'wt than it is  
●…y a de wis a●…e  
●…crally I will commend his wit  
That no man can amend it  
And that he is able thereby to sit  
as a judge in comen place  
And when I praise him this wise  
I think his heart will begin to rise  
and after that utterly despise  
any opray counsel to here  
He shall trust all to his own brain  
and than would Reason never so fain  
Though he come and such oprytway●…  
He shallbe never the near  sensua 
¶ Surely this conseyt is well found  
I shall bring the in service fortwaynty pound  Pride 
¶ Gramercy brother I think me much bound  
To the forty courtesy  
But sir abide here on thing  
I will not be known that it is my seeking  sensua 
¶ No more would I for. 〈◊〉. shilling  
Let me alone hardly  sensua 
¶ Sy●… if it ●…ase you here is come a straunge●…  
Th●… never was acquainted with you ere  
Somewhat 〈◊〉 fast and half in fere  
To put himself in press  
A goodly parson be ye sure  
Both of countenance and of feature  
If he w●… drawn in portraiture  
And a good man doubtless  
ye and a wise man at all  
Will it please you that I him call  
to such with you.  ¶ Man. 
bid him come.  ¶ Sem. 
I shall  
〈◊〉 will ne come near.  sensua 
¶ 〈◊〉 did him welcome for the manner sake  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 day I am sure he will crack  
And 〈◊〉 such a gentleman did him make  
〈◊〉 gr●…at cheer  
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for to dwell with you  
〈◊〉 you he is a man for your prow  
And knoweth the world well I now  
No man better than he  Man. 
〈◊〉 Sir ye be welcome to this place  Pride 
¶ I thank you sir/ but I do you trespass  
to come thus homely.  ¶ Sensua. 
ye a perilous case  
●…d w●…te ye are welcome hither  
●…n my faith by my will  
ye shall dwell with us still  
Go near to him and talk your fill  
I leave you together  ¶ He goeth forth. Man. 
¶ Now sir what have ye to say to me  Pride 
¶ No great thing sir/ but I come to see  
And to know what manner man ye be  
That all men praiseth so much  Man. 
¶ Praise whom praise they.  ¶ Pride. 
Marry you  
Man me.  ¶ Pride. 
ye sir I make mine avow  
They give you a praising good I now  
I hard never none such  
and surely ye be right worthy  
I see well now they do not lie  
and therefore I did my hyderhy  
To acquaym me with you  
But ye may say that I am bold  Man. 
¶ Nay ye are worth thy weight of gold  
Me thinketh me to you much behold  
I pray you what is your name  Pride 
¶ My name is worship.  ¶ Man. 
Wurshpp now surely  
The world told me it was my destyny  
To come to worship or I die  Pride 
¶ Truly I am the same  Man. 
¶ Now worship I pray you me tell  
your wisdom and also counsel  
ye can advertise me passing well  
In things that I have to do