¶ A new interlude and a merry of the nature of the four elementis declaring many proper poyntis of philosophy natural/ and of diverse strange landies/ and of diverse strange effectis & causis/ which interlude if the hole matter be played will contain the space of an hour and a half/ but if ye list ye may leave out much of the sad matter as the messengers parte/ and some of naturies part and some of experience part & yet the matter will depend conveniently/ and than it will not be passed three quarters of an hour of length. ¶ Here follow the namies of the pleyers. ¶ The messengere/ Nature naturate/ humanity studious desire/ Sensual appetite/ The taverner/ Eyperyence/ yngnoraunce/ Also if ye list ye may bring in a dysgysing. ¶ Here follow diverse matters which be in this interlude contained. ¶ Of the situation of the four elementis that is to say the earth the water the air and fire/ & of their qualytese and propertese/ and of the generation & corruption of things made of the commyxion of them ¶ Of certain conclusions ꝓuing y● the earth must 〈…〉 round & y● it h●ngyth in the myddis of the fyr 〈◊〉 that it is in circumference a 'bove xxj M. mile 〈◊〉 Of 〈◊〉 conclusions ●●ynge that the see lieth 〈◊〉 upon 〈…〉. 〈…〉 ●●●osmography/ as how & 〈…〉/ & of ●yuers strange 〈◊〉 ●landys and which weigh th●y ly●● and of 〈◊〉 n●w found lands and the manner of the people. 〈…〉 cause of stone & metal 〈…〉. ¶ 〈…〉 cause of well spryngis & 〈…〉 of the cause o● hot fumies that come 〈…〉 of y● yerth/ and of the cause of the bathies 〈…〉 in the earth which be perpetually hot. ¶ Of th● cause of throb and flood of the see ¶ O● the cause of rain snow and hail ¶ O● th● cause of the winds and thunder ● Of th● cause of the lightning of blazing ster●ys and flamys fleeing in the air ¶ The messenger. th'abundant grace of the power divine which doth illumine the world invyron Preserve this audience and cause them to incline To charity this is my petition For by your pac●●ns and supportation A little interlude late made and prepared Before your presence here shall be declared ¶ which of a f●w conclusions is contrived And poyntis of philosophy natural But though the matter be not so well declared As a great clerk could do nor so substantial yet the author hereof requireth you all Though he be yngnorant and ca● little skill To regard his only intent and good will ¶ which in his mind hath oft times pondered what number of bokis in our tongue maternal Of joys and tryfellies be made and imprinted And few of th●m of matter substantial For though m●●y make bokis yet uneatheth ye shall In our english tongue found any warkis Of cunning that is regarded by clerkis ¶ The grek● th● romans with many other more In their mother tongue wrote warkis excellent Than if clerkis in this r●alm● would take pain so Consydering that our tongue is now sufficient ●o expoun any hard sentence evident ●hey might if they would in our english tongue ●ryt● works of gravity sometime among ¶ For diverse pr●●gnaunt wytt● 〈◊〉 this land ●s well of noble men as of mean estate 〈◊〉 ●othynge but ●nglyshe can understands 〈◊〉 if cunning latin books were translate 〈◊〉 english w●l corr●●t and approbate 〈…〉 in english might be l●rnyd 〈…〉 other people in their own tongis did about now so i● is that in our english tongue 〈◊〉 one th●r● is that can but read & write 〈…〉 will oft presume among 〈…〉 to compile and balatꝭ to endite Some o● love or other matter not worth a mite Some to opteyn favour will flatter and gloze Some write curious termꝭ nothing to purpose ¶ Thus every man after his fantasy will write his conseyte be it never so rude Be it virtuous vicious wisdom or folly wherefore to my purpose thus I conclude why should not th●● the author of this interlude Utter his own●●antesy and conseyte also As well as diverse other now a days do ¶ For wisdom and folly is as it is take For the one calleth wisdom a nother calleth folly y●t among most folk that man is holdyn most wise/ which to be rich studyeth only But he that for a common wealth busily Studyeth and laboryth and liveth by god law Except he wax rich men count him but a daw ¶ So he that is rich is ever honoured All though he have got it never so falsely The poor being never so wise is reproved This is the opinion most commynly Thorough out the world/ and yet no reason why Therefore in my mind when that all such dawis Have babbled what they can no force of ii strawis ¶ For every man in reason thus aught to do To labour for his own necessary living And than for the wealth of his neighbour also But what dyvylish mind have they which musing And labouring all their lyffꝭ do no nother thing But bring riches to their own possession Nothing regardinge their neighbours destruction ¶ yet all the riches in the world that is ●ysyth of the ground by God's sending And by the labour of poor men's hands And though thou rich man have thereof the keeping y●t is not this ●yches of thy getting Nor oughtyst not in reason to be praised the more For by other men's labour it is got before ¶ A great witted man may soon be enriched That laboryth and studyeth for riches only But how shall his conscyens than be discharged For all clerkis affirm that that man presysely which studyeth for his own wealth principally Of god shall deserve but little reward Except he the common wealth somewhat regard ¶ So they s●y that that man occupied is For a common wealth which is ever labouring To rel●ue poor people with temporal goods And that it is a common good act to bring People from vice and to use good living Like wise for a common wealth occupied is he That bringeth them to knowledge the yngnorant be ¶ But man to know god is a difficulty Except by a mean he himself enure which is to know god creaturies that be As furst them that be of the grosyst nature And than to know them that be more pure And so by little and little ascending To know god creaturies & marvelous werkinge ¶ And this wise man at the last shall come to The knowledge of god and his hie majesty And so to learn to do his duty and also To deserve of his goodness partner to be wherefore in this work d●claryd shall ye see Furst of the element is the situation And of their effectis the call and generation ¶ And though some men thyn●e this matter to hy● And not meet for an audience unlearned Me think for man nothing more necessary Than this to know though it be not used Nor a matter more low can not be argued For though the elementis goddys creaturis be yet they be most gross and lowyst in degree ¶ How dare men presume to be called clerkis Dysputing of hie creaturis celestial As things invisible and god hie warkies And know not these visible things inferyall So they would know hie things & know nothing at all Of the earth here whereon they daily be Nother the nature form nor quantity ¶ wherefore it seemeth nothing convenient A man to study and his time to be stowe Furst for the knowledge of hie things excellent And of light matters beneath nothing to know As of these four elementis here below whose effectis daily appear here at eye Such things to know furst/ were most meet study ¶ which matter before your presence shortly In this interlude here shall be declared without great eloquence in rhyme rudely Because the compyler is but small learned This work with rhetoric is not adjourned For perhappis in this matter much eloquence Should make it tedious or hurt the sentence ¶ But because some folk be little disposed To sadness/ but more to mirth and sport This phylosophycall work is mixed with merry conseytis to give men comfort And occasion to cause them to resort To here this matter/ whereto if they take heed Some learning to them thereof may precede ¶ But they that shall now this matter declare Openly here unto this audience Be hold I pray you see where they are The pleyers begin to appear in presence I see well it is time for me to go hens And so I will do/ therefore now shortly To god I commit all this hole company ¶ Hic intrat natura naturata humanity & studious desire portans figuram ¶ Natura Naturata THe hie mighty most excellent of all The fountain of goodness verteu & cunning which is eterne of power most potential The perfection and furst cause of every thing I mean that only hie nature naturing Lo he by his goodness hath ordained and create Me here his minister called nature naturate ¶ wherefore I am the very naturate nature The inmedyate minister for the preservation Of every thing in his kind to endure And cause of generation and corruption Of that thing that is brought to distruction a nother thing still I bring forth a gain Thus wondrously I work and never in vain ¶ The great world be hold ●o divided wondrously In to two regyons whereof on I call The etherial region with the hevyns hie Containing the planetties sterris & spears all The lower region called the elemental Containing these four elementis be loo The fire the air the water and earth also ¶ But yet the elementis and other bodies all Beneath/ take their effecties and operations Of the bodies in the region ethereal By their influens and constellations They cause here corruptions and generations For if the mouyng● a 'bove should once cease Beneath should be nother in●r●se nor decrease ¶ These elementis of themself so single be Unto diverse formies can not be divided yet they commyx to guider daily ye s●e whereof diverse kinds of things be engendered which things eftsonies when they be corrupted each element I reduce to his ●urst estate So that nothing can be utterly ad●y●helate ¶ For though the form and fation of any thing That is a corporal body be destroyed yet every matter remaineth in his being whereof it was furst made and formed For corruption of a body commixed is but the resolution by time and space Of every element to his own place ¶ For who that will take any body corporal And do what he can it to destroy To break it or grinned it into ●ouder small To wash to drown to burns it or to dry yet the air and fire thereof naturally To their own proper places will ascend The water to the water the earth to the earth tend ¶ For if heat or moisture of any thing certain By fire or ●e water ●e cons●●●yd yet earth or ashes on earth will remain So the elementis can never be destroyed For essencyaliy there is now at this tide As much fire air water earth as was Ever before this time neither more nor 'las ¶ wherefore thou man now I speak to the Remember that thou art compound and create Of these elementis as other creaturis be yet they have not all like noble estate For plantis and herbs grow and be insensate Brute bestis have memory and their wyttis five But thou hast all those and soul intellective ¶ So by reason of thine understanding Thou hast dominion of other bestis all And naturally thou sholdyst desire cunning To know strange effectis and causes natural Fo● he that studyeth for the life bestial As voluptuous pleasure and bodily rest I account him never better than a best ¶ humanity. ¶ O excellent prince and great lord nature I am thine own child and formed instrument I beseech thy grace take me to thy cure And teach me such science thou thikyst expedient ¶ Nature. ¶ Than sith thou art so humble and benevolent That thing that is meet for thy capasyte And good for thy knowledge I shall Instruct the ¶ Furst of all thou must consider and see These elementis which do each other penetrate And by continual alteration they be Of themself daily corrupted and generate The earth as a point or centre is situate In the myddis of the world/ with the water joined with the air & fire round & hole environed ¶ Th● earth of itself is ponderous and heavy Cold and dry of his own nature ꝓper Some part lieth dry continually And part thereof covered over with water Som● with the salt see some with fresh river which earth and the water to guider with all So joined make a round figure sperycall ¶ So the water which is cold & moist is found In and upon the yerth filling the hol●nes In diverse partis lying with the earth round yet th● hillies and mountains of the earth excess Take nothing of it a way the roundness In comparison because they be so small No more than the prikkꝭ do that be on a gall ¶ The air which is hot and moist also And the fire which is ever hot and dry A bout th● earth and water jointly they go And compass them every where orbycularly As the white a bout the yolk of an egg doth lie But the air in the lower part most remaineth The fire naturally to the higher tendyth ¶ The eth●ryall region which conteynyth The stars and planetties and ●uery spear A bout the elementis daily moveth And covereth them round a bout every where Every star and spear in strange manner Upon his own poles mouy●h-dyuersly which now to declare were to long to tarry ¶ The fire and the air of their naturies be light Therefore they move by natural providence The water because it is ponderous in weight moveth not naturally but by violence Of the st●rris and plan●ttꝭ by whose influence The see is compelled to ebb and flow daily And fresh waters to spring continually ¶ And though that the water be gross and heavy ●●t nothing so gross as the earth I wis Therefore by heat it is vapoured up lightly And in the air makeeth cloudies and mystꝭ But as soon as ever that it grossly is Geder●d to guider/ it descendyth a gain And causyth upon the earth hail snow & rain ¶ The earth because of his ponderosyte A voydyth equally the movyngꝭ great Of all extremytes and speries that be And ●endyth to the place that is most quiet So in the mids of all the speries is set Fo●mast abject from all manner moving where naturally he resteth & moveth nothing ¶ Mark well now how I have the showed & told Of every element the very situation And qualyte● wherefore this figure behold For a more manifest demonstration And by cause thou sholdyst not put to oblyu●on My doctrine/ this man called studious desire with the shall have con●ynuall habitation The still to exhort more science to adquire ¶ For the more that thou desirest to know any thing Therein thou semyst th● more a man to be For that man that desires no manner cunning All that wile no better than a b●st is he why been the ey●s made but only to see The legs to bear the body of a creature So ●uery thing is made to do his nature ¶ So like wise reason wit and understanding is given to the man for that thou sholdyst in deed Know thy maker & cause of thine own being And what the world is & whereof thou dost precede wherefore it be hovyth the of very need The cause of things ●urst for to learn And than to know● & laud the hie god eterne ¶ humanity. ¶ O glorious lord and prince most pleasant Greatly am I now held unto the So to illumine my mind that was yngnorant with such noble doctrine as thou hast here showed me wherefore I promise upon my fidelity My diligence to do to keep in memory And the for to honour still perpetually ¶ studious desire ¶ And sith it hath pleased thy grace to admit Me upon this man to give attendance with thy doctrine here showed I shall qikkyn his wit And daily put him in remembrance His courage and desire I shall also enhance So that his f●lycyte shall be most of all To study and to serche for causes natural ¶ Nat●●e. ¶ well than for a seas●n I will depart leaving you to guider here both twain what I have shewed man print well in thine heart And mark well this figure that here shall r●mayne whereby thou mayst perceive many things more plain ●●ncernynge the matter I spoke of befor● ●nd when that I shall resort here a gain Of hie poyntis of cunning I shall show the more ¶ studious desire. ¶ Now humanity call to your memory The cunning poyntis that nature hath declared And though he have showed diverse poitꝭ & many Of the el●mentis so wondrously form yet many other causes there are would be learned As to know the generation of things all Here in the earth/ how they be engendered As herbs planties well spryngis stone and mehall ¶ Humany●t. ¶ Those things to know for me be full expedient But yet in those poyntis which nature late showed me My mind in them as yet is not content For I can no manner wise perceive nor see Nor prove by reason why the earth should be In the myddis of the firmament henging so small And the earth with the water to be round with all ¶ Studyo●s desire. ¶ Me thinketh myself as to some of those pointis I could give a sufficient solution For furst of all thou must needs grant this That the earth is so deep and bottom hath non Or else there is some gross thing it stondyth upon Or else that it hangeth thou must nedis consent Euyn in the myddis of the firmament ¶ humanity. ¶ what than go forth with thine argument ¶ studious desire. ¶ Than mark well in y● day or in a winters night The soon and moon and sterris celestial In the est furst they do apere to thy sight 〈◊〉 after in the west they do down fall 〈◊〉 again in the morrow next of all 〈◊〉 xxiiij hours they be come Just To●● est pointis again where thou sawist them fur●● ¶ T●an if the earth should be of endless de●nes Or should stand upon any other gross th●●g● It should be an impediment doubtless To the son moan and sterris in their moving They should not so in the est again spring Therefore in reason it seemeth most convenient The earth to hang in the myddis of the firmament humanity. ¶ Thine argument in the point doth me confounded That thou hast made but yet it ꝓuytht not right That the earth by reason should be round For though the firmament with his sterris bright Compass about the earth each day and night yet the earth may be plain ꝑaduentnre Quadrant triangle or some other figure studious desire. ¶ That it can not be plain I shall well ꝓue the Be cause the sterris that a rise in the orient Appear more sooner to them that there be Than to the other dwelling in the occident The eclipse is thereof a plain experiment Of the son or moon which whane it doth f● Is never one time of the day in placies all ¶ yet the eclipse generally is alway In the hole world as one time being But when we that dwell here see it in the mydday They in the west partis see it in the morning And they in the est behold it in the evening And why that should so be no cause can be found But only by reason that the earth is round ¶ humanity. That reason proveth the earth at the least One ways to be round I cannot gain say As for to account from the est to the west But yet not withstanding all that it may Less his rowndenesse by some other way ¶ studious desire. nam no doubt it is round every where which I could prove thou shoudest not say nay if I had thereto any time and leser But I know a man called experience Of diverse instruments is never without Cowde prove all these points & yet by his scyē● Can tell how many mile the earth is a bout 〈◊〉 many other strange conclusions no doubt ●●●ys instruments could show them so certain ●●at every rude carter should them ꝑsayve plain ¶ humanity. Now would to god I had that man now here For the contembtacyon of my mind ¶ studious desire. ¶ if ye will I shall for him inquire And bring him heder if I can him found ¶ humanity. Then might I say ye were to me right kind ¶ studious desire. I shall assay by god that me dear bought For cunning is the thing that would be sought ¶ Sensual appetite. well hyet quod hykman when that he smote His wife on the buttockꝭ with a bear pot Aha now god even foal god even It is even the knave that I mean Hast thou done thy babeling ¶ studious desire. ¶ ye peradventure what than ¶ Sensnall appetite. Than hold down thy heed like a pretty man & take my blessing Benedicite/ I grant to thee/ this ꝑdo● And give the absolution For thy sooth saws/ stand up jack daw I be shrew thy faders soon ¶ Make room sirs and let us be merry with huffa galand sing tyrll on the berry, And let the wide world wound Sing fryska joly with hay trolyloly For I see well it is but a folly For to have a sad mind ¶ For rather than I would use such folly To pray to study or be pope holy I had as life be ded By goggys' body I tell you true I speak as I think now else I be shrew Euyn my next fellows head ¶ Master humanyte sir be your leave I were right loath you to greve Though I do him despise For if ye known him as well as I ye would not use his company Nor love him in no wise Hu. ¶ Sir he looketh like an honest man Therefore I marvel that ye can This wise him deprave. Sen. ¶ Though he look never so well I promise you he hath a shrewd sme●● ●u. ¶ why so I pray you tell ●en. ¶ For he saveryth sick a knave St. ¶ Hold your pease sir ye miss take me what I trow that ye would make me Like to one of your kin Sen. ¶ Hark sirs here ye not how boldly He calleth me knave again by policy The peril pull of his skin I would he were hanged by the thro●● For by the mess I love him not we two can never agree I am content sir with you to tarry And I am for you so necessary ye can not live without me Hu. why sir I say what man be ye Sen. I am called sensual appetite All craturs in me delight I comfort the wits five The ●astyng smelling & hearing I refresh the sight and feeling To all creatures a live For when the body wexith hungry For lack of food or else thirsty Than with drinks plesaund I restore him out of pain And oft refresh nature again with delicate vyand with plesaunde sound of harmony The hearing alway I satysfy I dare this well report The smelling with sweet odour And the sight with pleasant fygour And colours I comfort The feeling that is so pleasant Of every member foot or hand what pleasure therein can be By the touch of so●t & hard Of hot or cold nought in regard Except it come by me Hu. Than I cannot see the contrary But ye are for me full necessary And right convenient. Stu. ye sir beware yet what ye do For if you forsake my company so Lord nature will not be content. Of him ye shall never learn good thing Nother virtue nor no other cunning This dare I well say Sen. Marry avaunt knave I the defy Died nature for bide him my company what sayest thou thereto speak openly Hu. As for that I know well nay Sen. No by god I am right sure For he knoweth well no creature without me can live one day Hu. Sir I pray you be content It is not utterly mine intent your company to exile But only to have communication And a pastime of recreation with this man for a while Stu. well for your pleasure I will depart Sen. Now go knave go I beshrew thy hart The peril send the forward Sen. Now by my troth I marvel greatly That ever ye would use the company So much of such a knave For if ye do no nother thing But ever study and to be musing As he would have you it will you bring At the last unto your grave ¶ ye should ever study principal For to comfort your life natural with metis and drinks dilycate And other pastimes & pleasures a 'mong Dancing laughing or pleasant song This is meet for your estate Hu. ¶ Be cause ye say so I you promise That I have mused & studied such wise Me thynketh my wits weary My nature desireth some refreshing And also I have been so long fasting That I am somewhat hungry Sen. ¶ well than will ye go with me To a tavern where ye shall see Good pastance & at your liberty Have what so ever ye will Hu. ¶ I am content so for to do if that ye will not fro me go But keep me company still Sen. ¶ Company qd a/ ye that I shall point device And also do you good and true service And thereto I plight my truth And if that I ever forsake you I pray god the devil take you Hu. ¶ Marry I thank you for that oath Sen. ¶ A mischief on it my tongue loo will trip sometime what so ever I do But ye wots what I mean well Hu. ¶ ye no force let this matter pass But seydest evin now thou knewyst where was A good tavern to make solas where is that I pray the tell Sen. ¶ Marry at the door even here by if we call any thunge on hie The taverner will answer Hu. ¶ I pray the than call for him now Sen. ¶ Marry I will/ How taverner how why dost thou not appear Taverner. ¶ who is that calleth so hastily I shrew thine heart speak softly I tell the I am not here Sen. ¶ Than I be shrew the page of thine age Come hither knave for thine advantage why makyst thou it so tow Ta. ¶ For mine advantage marry than I come Beware sirs how let me have room Lo here I am what saist thou Sen. Marry thus here is a gentleman I say That nother eat nor drank this day Therefore ●ell me I the pray if thou have any good wine Ta. ye shall have spayneshe wine & gascoyn Risen colour whit claretrampyon Tyre capryck and maluesyne Sak raspyce alycaunt rumney Greek ipocrase new made clary Such as ye never had For if ye drink a draught or too it will make you or ye thence go By goggꝭ body stark mad Sen. I wots thou art not without good wine But here is a gentleman hath list to dine Canst thou get him any good meet Ta. what meet master would ye have Hu. I care not so god me save So that it be wholesome to eat I would we had a good stewed capon Sen. As for capons ye can get none The king's taker took up each one I wots well there is none to get Ta. Though all capons be gone what than yet I can get you a stewed hen That is ready dight. Hu. if she be fat it will do well Ta. Fat or leanly I cannot tell But as for this I wots well She lay at the stews all night. Hu. Thou art a mad gest be this light. Sen. ye sir it is a fellow that never faylys But canst get my master a dish of quails small birds swallows or wagtaylꝭ They be light of digestion. Ta. Light of digestion for what reason Sen. For physic puttyth this reason thereto Because those birds i'll to & fro And be continual moving Ta. Then know I a lighter meet than y● Hu. I pray the tell me what Ta. if ye will needs know at short & long It is euyn a woman's tongue For that is ever steering Hu. Sir I pray the let such fanteses be And come heder near & hark to me And do after my bidding. Go purvey us a dyner even of the mos● Of all manner dishes both sod and roast That thou canst get spare for no cost if thou make three course Ta. ¶ Tha● ye get nother goose nor swain But a dish of dreggys' a dish of bra●e A dish of draff and I trow than ye can not get three worse Hu. ¶ what whoreson wouldst thou purvey Bran draff & stinking dreggꝭ I say I hold the mad I trow Ta. ¶ Gogs passion said ye not thus That I should purvey you three course dysshe● And these be course Enough Hu. ¶ Three course dishes qd a what mad ●ole thou miss takest me clean I see well thou wottest not what I mean And understandyst a miss I mean this wise I would have the To purvey meet so great plenty That thou sholdyst of necessity Serve them at three coursies ¶ That is to understand at one ●●rde Thou shouldst bring them unto y●●or● At three several tymes● Ta. ¶ what than I see well ye will make a fes●e ●u. ¶ ye by the road euyn with the gretest Sen. ¶ By my troth than do ye best Euyn after my mind But ye must have more company. Hu. ¶ That is true and so would I gladl● If I known any to found Sen. ¶ why will ye follow my counsel Hu. ¶ ye Sen. ¶ Than we will have little nel A proper wench she daunsith well And jane with the black lace we will have bouncing bess also And two or three proper wenchiss more Right feyr and smotter of face Hu. ¶ Now be it so thou art sans pere Ta. ¶ Than I perceive ye will make good cheer Hu. ¶ why what should I else do Ta. ¶ If ye think so best than will I Go before and make all thing ready Again ye come thereto Hu. ¶ Marry I pray the do so Ta. ¶ Than farewell sirs for I am gone ¶ Hu. And we shall follow the anon without any tarrying Sen. Then it is best sir ye make haste For ye shall spend here but time in waist And do no nother thing Hu. ¶ if ye will let us go by and by Sen. I pray you be it for I am ready No man better willing Ex●a● Sen. & Hu. Intrat Exꝑies. & Stu. ¶ Now cousin experience as I may say ye are right welcome to this country without any feigning. Exꝑiens Sir I thank you thereof heartily And I am as glad of your company As any man living. Stu. Sir I understand that ye have be In many a stra●nge country And have had great fylycyte Strange causes to seek and found E●. Right far sir I have ridden & gone And seen strange things many one In affryk/ europe and ind Both est & west I have been far North also and seen the sowth sterr Both by see and land And been in sundry nations with people of diverse conditions Stu. Marvellous to understand. Sir if a man have such courage Or devotion in pilgrimage Iheruzalem unto For to account the nexte way How many mile is it I you pray Ex. From hens thither to go Sir as for all such questyons Of towns to know the situation How ferr they be a sunder And other points of cosmogryfy ye shall never learn then more surely Then by that fugure yonder For who that figure did fyrst devise It seemeth well he was wise And perfect in this s●yens For both these and land also Lie true and just as they should do I know by experience. Stu. who think you brought here this figure Ex. ¶ I wots not Stu ¶ Certes lord nature Himself not long a gone ¶ which was here personally Declaring hie philosophy And lafte this figure purposely For humanytes' instruction Ex. ¶ Doubtless right nobly done Stu. Sir this realm ye knou is called england Sometime brettayne I understand Therefore I pray you point with your hand In what place it should lie. Ex. ¶ Sir this is ynglande dying here And this is skotlande that joineth him near compassed a bout every where with the occian see round ¶ And next from them westwardly Here by himself alone doth lie Ireland that wholesome ground ¶ Here than is the narrow seey To Calyce and Boleyne the next weigh And flanders in this part Here lieth france next him joining And spain southward from thence standing And portyngale in this quart This country is called italy Behold where Rome in the myddis doth lie And Naples here be yond And this little See that here is Is called the Gulf of Uenys And here venies doth stand ¶ As for almain lieth this way Here lieth denmark and norway And northward on this side There lieth Iselonde where men do fish But be yond that so cold it is No man may there abide ¶ This See is called the great occian So great it is that never man Coude tell it sith the world began Till now within this twenty year westward be found new lands That we never hard tell of before this By writing nor other meanies yet many now have been there ¶ And that country is so large of room Much longer than all cristendome without fable or guile For diverse mariners have it tried And sailed straight by the cost side Above .v. thousand mile ¶ But what commodities be within No man can tell nor well Imagine But yet not long a go Some men of this country went By the king's noble consent It for to search to that intent And could not be brought thereto ¶ But they that were they venteres Have cause to curse their mariners Falls of promise and dissemblers That falsely them be trayed which would take no pain to sail farther Than their own list and pleasure wherefore that voyage and diverse other Such kaytyffes have destroyed ¶ O what a thing had be than if that they that be english men Might have been the furst of all That there should have take possession And made furst building & habitation A memory perpetual And also what an honourable thing Both to the realm and to the king To have had his dominion extendyng● There into so fare a ground which the noble king of late memory The most wise prince the vij Herry Caused furst for to be found ¶ And what a great meritoryouse deed It were to have the people instructed To live more virtuously And to learn to know of men the manner And also to know god their maker which as yet live all bestly For they nother know god nor the devil Nor never hard tell of heaven nor hell writing nor other scripture But yet in the stead of god almight The honour the son for his great lygg● For that doth them great pleasure ¶ Building nor house they have none at all But woods/ cotꝭ/ and cavys small No marvel though it be so For they use no manner of iron Nother in toll nor other weapon That should help them thereto ¶ Copper they have which is found In diverse places above the ground yet they dig not therefore For as I said they have non yryn whereby they should in the earth mine To serche for any wore ¶ Great haboundavace of woddis there be Most part vyr and pine apple tree Great riches might come thereby Both pyche and tar and soap asshies As they make in the east lands By burning thereof only ¶ Fish they have so great plenty That in havyns take and slain they be with staffs withouten fail Now frenchmen & other have found the trade That yearly of fish there they lad A 'bove an. C. sail ¶ But in the south part of that country The people there go naked always The land is of so great he●e And in the north part all the clothes That they were/ is but bestis skins They have no nother feet But how the people furst began In that country or whence they came For clerks it is a question Other things more I have in store That I could tell thereof but now no more Till a nother season Stu. ¶ Than at your pleasure show some other thing y● liketh me so well your commyninge ye can not talk a miss Ex. ¶ Than will I torn a gain to my matter Of Cosmogryfy where I was err Behold take heed to this ¶ Loo eastward beyond the great occyan Here entereth the see called mediterran Of two M. mile of length The Soudans' country lieth here by The great Turk on the north side doth lie A man of marvelous strength ¶ This said north parte is called europa And this south parte called affrica This east part is called ind But this new landis found lately Been called america by cause only Americus did furst them found ¶ Loo Ihrfin lieth in this country And this be yond is the red see That moyses maketh of mention This quarter is India minor And this quarter India maior The land of prester Iohn ¶ But northward this way as ye see Many other strange regions there be And people that we not know But eastward on the see side A prince there is that rulyth wide called the Cane of catowe ¶ And this is called the great east see which goth all a long this weigh Towards the new lands again But whether that see go thither directly Or if any wilderness between them do lie No man knoweth for certain But these ●ewe landis by all cosmografye from the cane of catous land can not lie Lytell passed a thousand mile But from those new landis men marvel plain eastward & come to england again where we began ere while ¶ Lo all this part● of the earth which I Have here descrived openly The north part we do it call But the south parte on the other side is as large as this full and as wide which we know nothing at all ¶ Nor whether y● most parte be land or see Nor whether ●he people that there be Be besty●●l or cunning Nor wh●th●r th●y know god or no No●●ow● th●y believe nor what they do Of this we know nothing Lo is not this a thing wooderfull How that ¶ Et subito studyouse desire dicat. Stu. ¶ Peses sir no more of this matter Behold where humanity comes here Sen. ¶ How say you master humanity I pray you have ye not be mere And had good recreation Hu ¶ yes I thank the thereof every dell For we have fared marvellously well And had good communication Ta. ¶ what how master where be ye now Sen. ¶ what I shrew the what haste hast thou That thou spekyst so hie Ta. ¶ So hie qd a I trow ye be mad by saint guile For did ye not ere while Make pointment openly To come again all to supper There as ye were to day at dinner And yet ye pointed not plain what meet that ye will have dressed Nor what delycatꝭ ye love best M● think you fare over sayne Hus ¶ As for mine own part I care not Dressy what meet thou lovest spare not what so ever thou dost best think Ta. ¶ Now if ye put it to my liberty Of all metꝭ in the world that be By this light I love best drink Sen. ¶ It seemeth by thy face so to do But my master will have meet also what so ever it cost Ta. ¶ By god sir than ye must tell what Hu. At thy digression I force not whether it be sudden or roast Ta. ¶ well sir than ●are not let me a lone ye shall see that all thing shall be done And ordained well and fine Hu. ¶ So I require the heartily And in any wise specially Let us have a cup of new wine T●. ¶ ye shall have wine as new as can be For I may tell you in privity Hit was brewed but yester night Hu. ¶ But that is nothing for my delight Ta. ¶ But than I have for your appetite A cup of wine of old claret There is no better by this light Hu. ¶ well I trust the well Enough Ta. ¶ But on thing if it please you now ye see well I take much pain for you I trust ye will see to me Hu. ¶ ye I promise the get the hens And in this matter do thy diligence And I shall well reward the Sen. By cause thou lokyst for a reward One thing for the I have prepared That here I shall the gyffe Thou shalt have a knaves skin For to put thy body therein For term of thy life Ta. ¶ Now gramercy my gentle brother And therefore thou shalt have nother For voiding of strife Sen ¶ Now farewell gentle Iohn Ta. Than farewell foal for I am gone Sen. ¶ A bide torn once a gain hark what I say yet there is a nother thing would do well at our master's washing Hu. ¶ what thing is that I the prey ●●n. ¶ Marry thus canst thou tell us yet where is any rose water to get Ta. ye that I can well purney As good as ever you put to your nose For there is a ●eyre wench called rose distilleth a quart every day Sen. By god I would a pint of that were p●wryd tuyn upon thy pate Before all this presence Ta. ¶ yet I had lever she and I where both to gether secretly In some corner in the expense For by god it is a pretty girl It is a world to see her whirl Dancing in a round O lord god how she will trip She will bounce it she will whip ye clean above the ground Hu. ¶ well let all such matters pass I say And get the hens and go thy way About this other matter Ta. ¶ Than I go straight lo fare ye well Sen. ¶ But look yet thou remember ●uerydell That I spoke of full ere Ta. ¶ yes I warrant you do not fere ¶ Exeat Taverner. Hu. ¶ Goddis lord s●ist not who is here now what study●us desire what newis with you Stu ¶ ye shall know sir or I go Sen. ¶ what art thou here I see well I The more kn●●ys the worse company Stu. ¶ Thy lewd conditions thou dost still occupy As thou art wont to do Hu. ¶ But I s●y who is this here in presence Stu. ¶ Sir this is the man called experiens That I spoke of before Hu. ¶ Experyens why is this he Sir ye are right welcome unto me And shall be ever more Expe. ¶ Sir I thank you thereof heartily But I assure you faithfully I have small courage here to tarry As long as this man is here Sen. ¶ why whoreson what eylyst at me Ex. ¶ For thou hast ever so lewd a ꝓperte Science to despise and yet thou art he That nought canst nor nought wilt lere Sen. ¶ Marry avaunt knave I make god avow I think myself as cunning as thou And that shall I prove shortly I shall put the a question now come near Let me see how well thou canst answer How spellest this word tom Couper In true a●tografye Ex. ¶ Tom co●per qd a a wise question herdly Sen. ¶ ye I tell y● again yet/ tom couꝑ how spellyst it Lo he hath for gotten ye may see The first word of his a b c. Hark foal hark I will teach thee P. a. pa. t. ●. r. ●er. do to gether tom couper is not this a sore matter Loo here ye may see him provided a foal He had more need to go to school Than to come hither to clatter Stu. ¶ Certain this is a solution Meet for such a boys question Hu. ¶ Sensual appetite I pray the Let pass all such trifles and vanity For a wy●e it shall not long be And depart I the require For I would talk a word or two with this man here or he hens go For to satisfy my desire Sen. ¶ why goggis soul will ye so shortly Break pointment with yonder company where ye should come to supper I trust ye will not break ꝓmys so Hu. ¶ I care not greatly if I do it is but a tavern matter Sen. ¶ Than will I go show them what ye say Hu. ¶ Spare not if thou wilt go thy weigh For I will here tarry Sen. ¶ Than a dew for a while I tell you plain But I promise you when I come a gain I shall make yonder knaves twain To repent and be sorry Ex. ¶ Now I am full glad that he is gone Stu ¶ So am I for good will he do none To no man living But this is the man with whom ye shall I trust be well content with all And glad of his coming ¶ For he hath expounded cunningly divers points of Cosmogryfy In few words and short clause Hu. ¶ So I understand he hath good science And that he hath by plain experience learned many a strange cause Stu. ¶ ye sir and I say for my part He is the connyngest man in that art That ever I could found For ask what question ye will do How the earth is round or other more He will satisfy your mind Ex. ¶ why what doubt have ye therein found Think ye the earth should not be round Or else how suppose ye Hu. ¶ One weigh it is round I must consent For this man proved it evident Toward the east and occident It must nedis round be Ex. ¶ And likewise from the south to north Hu. That point to prove were sum thanke worth Ex. ¶ yes that I can well prove For this ye know as well as I ye see the north star in the sky Mark well ye shall unethe it spy That ever it doth remove ¶ But this I assure you if you go Northward an hundreth mile or two ye shall think it riseth And how that it is near approached The point over the top of your head which is called your zenyth ¶ yet if ye go the other weigh southward ten or xii days journey ye shall then think anon It descended and come more nigh The sercle ꝑting the earth and sky As ye look straight with your eye which is called your orison ¶ But ye may go southward so fare That at the last that same star will seem so fare down right Clere under neth your orison That sight thereof can you have non The earth will stop your sight ¶ This ꝓuyth of necessity That the earth must nediss round be This conclulsyon doth it try Hu. ¶ Now that is the ꝓperist conclusion That ever I heard for by reason No man may hit devye But sir if that aman sail fare Upon the see will than that star Do there as on the ground Ex. ¶ ye doubtless sail northward rise it will And sail southward it falleth still And that proveth the see round Stu. ¶ So doth it in mine opinion But know you any other conclusion To prove it round save that alone Ex. ¶ ye that I know right well As thus mark well when y● see is clear That no storm nor wawe theron doth peer This mariners can tell ¶ Than if a fire be made on night Upon the shore that giveth great light And a ship in the see fare They in the top the fire see shall And they on hache nothing at all yet they on haches be nerr ¶ Also on the see where men be sailing Fare from land they see nothing But the water and the sky yet when they draw the land more near Than the hill tops begin to apere Styll the near more hie and hie As though they were still growing fast Out of the see till at laste when they come the shore to They see the hill top foot and all which thing so could not be fall But the see lay round also Hu. Me thynketh your argument somewhat hard Ex. ¶ Than ye shall have it more plainly declared If ye ●aue great desire For here loo by mine instrumentis I can show the plain exꝑimentꝭ Hu. ¶ Thereto I you require Ex. ¶ with all my heart it shall be done But for the furst conclusion That I spoke of the fire Be this the s●ey that is so round And this the fire upon the ground And this the ship that is here ye know well that a man's sight Can never be but in a line right Hu. ¶ Just you say that is clear Ex. ¶ Mark well than may not that man's eye ¶ with arging here their fo●y●●● 〈◊〉 That is not worth iij. straws ¶ I love not this whoreson losophers Nor this great cunning extromers That tell how far it is to the stars I hate all manner cunning I would ye knew it I am Ignorance A lord I am of greater pusans Than the king of yngland or france ye the grettyst lord living ¶ I have servants at my retynew That long to me I assure you Here with in ynglande That with me yngnorance dwell still And term of life continue will A 'bove v C. thousand Sen. Goggꝭ naylys I have paid some of them I trow ing. why man what eylyth y● so to blow Sen. For I was at a shrewd fray ing. Hast thou any of them slain than Sen. ye I have slain them every man Save them that ran away ing. why is any of them scaped & gone Sen. ye by goggꝭ body everychone All that ever were there 〈◊〉. O sir ye know right well this That when any man is In other men's company He must nedis follow the appyte Of such things as they delight Some time among perdie ing. But such knaves would always have y● To put all thy mind & felicity In this foolish cunning to study which if thou do will make the mad And always to be pensive & sad Thou shalt never be merry 〈◊〉. Merry quoth a/ no I make god avow But I pray the master hark on word now And answer this thing whether thought you it better cheer At the tavern where we were ere Or ellis to clatter with these knaves here Of their foolish cunning Hu. Nay I can not say the contrary But y● I had much myryer company At the tavern than in this place Sen. Than if ye have any wit or brain Let us go to the tavern again And make some merry solace ing. if he will do so than doth he wisely Hu. By my troth I care not greatly For I am indifferent to all company whether it be here or there Sen. Then I shall tell you what we will do Master yngnorans you & he also Shall tarry both still here And I will go fet hither a company That ye shall hear them sing as sweetly As they were angellis clear ¶ And yet I shall bring hydyr a nother sort Of lustily bluddꝭ to make disport That shall both dance & spring And torn clean above the ground with fryscas & with gambawdꝭ round That all the hall shall ring ¶ And that done with in an hour or twain I shall at the town again Prepare for you a banquet Of meties that be most delicate And most pleasant drynkꝭ & wines there ate That is possible to get ●which shall be in a chamber feyre Replete with sote & fragrant air prepared point devise with damask water made so well That all y● house thereof shall smell As it were pardyse ¶ And after that if ye will touch A feyre wench naked in a couch Of a soft bed of down For to satisfy your wanton lust I shall appoint you a trull of trust Not a feyrer in this town ¶ And when ye have taken your delight And thus satisfied the appetite Of your wyttis five ye may say than I am a servant For you so necessary and pleasant I trow non such a live Hu. ¶ Now by the weigh that god did walk It comforthe mine heart to here the talk Thy manche was never sayne king. ¶ Than go thy weigh by and by And bring in this company And he and I will here tarry Till thou come again Hu. ¶ And I pray the heartily also Sen. ¶ At your request so shall I do Lo I am gone now far well I shall bring them in to this hall And come myself formast of all And of these revels be ch●fe mershall And order all thing well ¶ yngnoraunce. ¶ Now set thy heart on a merry pin again these lusty bluddꝭ come in And drive fantesys a weigh Hu. And so I will by hevyn king If they other dance or sing Have a 'mong them by this day ¶ yngnorau●ce. ¶ Than thou takyst good & wise ways And so shalt thou best please All this hole company For the foolish arguing that thou hast had with that knave experiens that hath made All these folk thereof weary ¶ For all they that be now in this hall They be the most part my servants all And love principally Disportis as dancing syngyuge Toys tryfuls laughing jesting For cunning they set not by Hu. I see well such company ever more As sensuell appetite is gone fore will please well this audyens ing. ¶ ye that I suppose they will But pease hark I pray the be still I ween they be not far hens ¶ Then the dancers with out the hall sing this wise and they with in answer or else they may say it for need. ¶ The dancers & Sensually P●ase sirs pease now pease sirs all ¶ humanity & yngnorans. why who is that so hie doth call ¶ The dancers. Silence I say be you among For we be disposed to sing a song ¶ humanity & yngnorans. Come in then boldly a 'mong this presence For here ye shall have good audyens. Time to pass with goodly sport our sprytꝭ to Time to pass etc. Time to pass etc. revive & comfort to pipe to sing to dance 〈…〉 with pleasure & delight following sensual appetite to pipe etc. ing. I ●an you thank y● is done well It is pity ye had not a minstrel For to augment your solas Seu. As for minstrel it maketh no force ye shall see me dance a course without a minstrel be it better or worse Follow a●l I will lead a trace Hu. Now have a 'mong you by this light ing. That is well said be god almight Make room sirs & gy● them p●ace ¶ Than he syngyth this song & danceth with all And evermore maketh countenance according To the matter & all the other annswer like wile ¶ Dance we/ dance we. prance we prance we So merely let us dance aye/ so merely &c And I can dance it gyngerly & I &c And I can foot it by & by & I &c And I can prank it properly And I can countenaunse comely And I can kroke it courteously And I can leap it lustily And I can torn it trimly And I can fryske it freshly And I can look it lordly king. I can the thank sensual appetite That is y● best dance with out a py●e That I saw this seven year Hu. This dance would do much better yet if we had a kit or taberet Butler alas there is none here Sen. Then let us go to the tavern again There shall we be sure of one or twain Of mynstrellis that can well play ing. Then go I pray ye by & by And purvey some minstrel ready And he & I will follow shortly As fast as ever we may Hu. There with I am right well content Sen. Then will I go in continent And prepare every thing That is meetly to be done And for lack of mynstrellis y● mean season Now will we begin to sing ¶ Now we will here begin to sing For dance can we nomore For mynstrellis here be all lacking To the tavern we will therefore ¶ Et exeunt cantando etc. Hu. Now if that sensual appetite can find Any good mynstrellis after his mind Doubt not we shall have good sport ing. And so shall we have for a surety But what shall we do now tell me The mean while for our comfort Hu. Then let us some lusty balet sing king. Nay sir by the heaven king For me thinketh it serveth for no thyn● All such peevish prickered song Hu. Pes man pryksong may not be dispysy● For there with god is well pleased honoured praised & served In the church oft times among king. Is god well pleased trowst thou thereby Nay nay for there is no reason why For is it not as good to say plainly Give me a spad● As give me a spa ve va ve va ve vade But if thou wilt have a song that is good I have one of robin hood The best that ever was made Hu. Then a fellowship let us here it ing. But there is a bordon thou must bear it Or else it will not be Hu. ¶ Than begin and care no●●o● ¶ Down down down etc. ing. ¶ Robin hood in barnysdale stood And lent him till a mapyll thystyll Than came our lady & sweet saint andrew Slepyst thou wakyst thou geoffrey coke ¶ A.C. winter the water was deep I can not tell you how broad He took a goose nek in his hand And over the water he went ¶ He start up to a thistle top And cut him down a holyn clobe He struck the wren between the horns That fire sprang out of the pyggꝭ tail ¶ jak boy is thy bow I broke Or hath any man done the wryguldy wrage He plucked muskyllies out of a willow And put them in to his satchel ¶ wylkyn was an archer good And well could handle a spade He took his bend bow in his hand And set him down by the fire ¶ He took with him lx bows and ten A peses of beef a nother of baken Of all the birds in merry england So merely pypys the merry bottle ¶ Nature. ¶ well humanity now I see plainly That thou hast used much folly The while I have been absent Hu. ¶ Sir I trust I have done nothing That should be contrary to your pleasing Nor never was mine intent ¶ For I have followed the counsel clear As ye me bad of studious desire And for necessity a 'mong Sometime sensual appety●ꝭ counsel For without him ye ●nowe right well My life can not endure long ¶ Nature. ¶ Though it be for the full necessary For thy comfort sometime to satisfy Thy sensual appetite yet it is not convenient for the To put therein thy felicity And all thy hole delyte ¶ For if thou wilt learn no sciens Nother by study nor experiens I shall the never advance But in the world thou shalt dure than despised of every wise man Like this rude best ignorance