Bibliotheca Pearsoniana. By T. and I. EGERTON ●421 A right Delectable ●rayt●se upon a goodly Garland, or Claplet of Laurel, by Ma●●e● Ske●ton, Poet Laureate, Iudyous●y ●●●●sed at 〈…〉, in ye Foreste of Gal●●●●, where in ar● 〈◊〉 many and dyvers solations & 〈…〉 of singular pleasure, as more at 〈…〉 following, b. l. imprinted by 〈◊〉 Richard Fauke, dwelling in Duram Kent, or else in 〈…〉- yard, at the Sign of the A. B. C. 1523 N. B. The above extremely rare Volume of Skelton's, contains upon the back of the Title the Author's Portrait at full length, with a Branch in his Hand, and two neat wooden Prints of the Queen of Fame and 〈◊〉 Pallas; in it also, Occupation i● defined by the Queen of Fame, to expound" part of Skelton's Books and Baladis;" in this Poem, several Pieces of Skelton's are mentioned, which have hitherto cleped without notice, in particular, 〈◊〉 Comedy of A●●ademio●, translated from 〈◊〉 Familiar Epistles; it is undoubtedly one 〈…〉 Books in t●● English Language, and 〈…〉 Copy is known to exist. ¶ A right 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tyse upon a goodly Garland or Chapelet of Laurel by master Skelton Poet laureate stuoyously devised at Sheryfhotton castle. In the forest of galtres/ where in are comprysyde many & divers solations & right pregnant allectyves of singular pleasure/ as more at large it doth apere in thee, ꝓces following. ¶ Skelton Poeta. Eterno mansura die dumlidera fulgent Equora dumque tument hec lamea nostra virebit. Hinc nostrum celebre et nomen referetur ad astra. undique Skeltonis memorabitur altera donis Arecting my sight toward the zodiac. The signs twelve for to behold a far when mars retrogradant reversed his back Lord of the year in his orbucular Put up his sword for he cow●e make no war & when lucina plenary did shine Scorpione ascending degrees twice nine ¶ In place alone then musing in my thought How all thing passeth as doth the summer flower One every half my reasons forth I sought How often fortune varieth in an hour Now clear wether forthwith a stormy shower All thing compassed no perpetuity But now in wealth/ now in adversity ¶ So deeply crowned I was in this dump Encraumpyss●ed so sore was my conceit That me to rest/ I len● me to a stump Of an oak/ that sometime grew full straight A mighty tree and of a noble height whose beauty blasted was with the boystors wind His levis lost/ the sap was from the rind ¶ Thus stood I in the frytthy forest of Galtres Ensowkid with fylt of the miry mose where hartis belluing embossed with distress Ran on the range so long that I suppose Few men can tell where the hind calf goose Fair fall that forster that so well can bate his hound But of my purpose now torn we to the ground ¶ whiles I stood musing in this medytatyon In slumbering I fell and half in a sleep And whether it were of imagination Or of humours superflue that often will creep In to the brain by drinking over deep Or it proceeded of fatal persuasion I can not tell you what was the occasion ¶ But suddenly at once as I me advised As one in a trans or in an ecstasy I saw a pavilion wondrously disgysede garnished fresh after my fantasy Enhachyde with pearl and stones preciously The ground engrossed and bet with bourn gold That passing goodly it was to be hold ¶ within that a princes excellent of port But to recount her rich abylyment And what estates to her did resort Thereto am I full insufficient A goddess immortal she did represent As I hard say Dame Pallas was her name To whom supplied the royal queen of fame ¶ The queen of Fame. To dame Pallas Princes most pusant of high pre-eminence renowned lady a 'bove the sterry heaven All other transcending of very congruence Madam regent of the science seven To whose estate all nobleness most leanly My supplication to you I arrect where of I beseech you to tender the effect ¶ Not unremembered it is unto your grace How you gave me a rial commandment That in my court skelton should have a place Because that he his time studiously hath spent In your service: and to the accomplishment. Of your request: registered is his name with laureate triumph in the court of fame ¶ But good madame the accustom and usage Of ancient poets ye wot full weal hath been Themself to embesy with all there holl courage So that there works might famously be seen In figure whereof the were they laurel green But how it is skelton is wonder slake And as we dare we find in him great lake ¶ For ne were only he hath your promotion Out of my books full soon I should him raze But sith he hath tastid of the sugared pocioun Of elycoms well: refreshed with your grace And will not endeavour himself to purchase The favour of ladies with words elect It is sitting that ye must him correct ¶ Dame Pallas To the queen of Fame THe sum of your purpose as we are advysid Is that our servant is sum what to dull where in this answer for him we have comprisid How rivers run not till the spring be full Bete a dumb mouth than a brainless skull For if he gloriously publisshe his matter Then men will say how he doth but flatter ¶ And if so him fortune to write true and plain As sometime he must vices remorde Then sum will say he hath but lyttill brain And how his words with reason will not accord Beware for writing remaineth of record. Displease not an hundredth for one man's pleasure who writeth wisely hath a great treasure ¶ Also to furnish better his excuse huyde was baunssihed for such a skill And many more whom I could induce ●●●enall was threat par●e for to kill ●or certain enuectyfye: yet wrote he none ill Saving he rubbid sum on the gall It was not for him to abide the trial ¶ In generrall words I say not greatly na● A poe●e sometime may for his pleasure taunt Speaking in paroblis how the fox the grey The gander the goose: and the huge oliphaunt went with the peacock a geyne the pheasant The lesarde came leaping and said that he must with help of the ram lay all in the dust ¶ yet diverse there be industryous of reason Sum what would gadder in there convecture Of such an endarkid chapter sum season How be it/ it were hard to construe this lecture Sophisticatid craftily is many a confecture Another manes mind diffuse is to expound yet hard is to make but sum fawt be found ¶ The queen of fame to dame Pallas. ¶ Madam with favour of your benign sufferance Unto your grace then make I this motive where to made ye me him to advance Unto the room of laureate promotyve Or whereto should he have the prerogative But if he had made sum memorial whereby he might have a name immortal ¶ To pass the time in slothful idleness Of your royal palace it is not the guise But to do somewhat iche man doth him dres For how should Cato else be called wise But that his books: which he did devise Record the same: or why is had in mind Plato: but for that he left writing behind ¶ For men to look on: Aristotille also Of philosophers called the principal Old diogenes with other many more Dymostenes that orator royal That gave eschines such a cordial That banished was he by his proposicyoun again whom he could make no contradiccyoun ¶ Dame pallas to the queen of Fame SOft my good sister and make there a pause And was eschines: rebukid as ye say Remember you wel●: point we'll the clause wherefore then rasid ye not a way His name: or why is it I you pray That he to your cour●e is going and coming Sith he is slandered for default of cunning ¶ The queen of fame to dame Pallas. ¶ Madam your apposelle is weal inferrid And at your avanuntage quickly it is Towchid: and hard for to be barrid yet shall I answer your grace as in this with your reformation if I say a miss For but if your bounty did me assure Mine argument else koude not long endure ¶ As touching that eschines is remembered That he so should be: me seemeth it siteing All be it great part he hath surrendered Of his mour: whose dissuasyve in writing To courage demostenes was much exciting In serting out freshly his crafty persuasion From which eschines had none evacyon ¶ The cause why demostenes so famously is bruti● Only procedid for that he did outray Eschines? which was not shamefully confutid But of that famous orator I say which passed all other: wherefore I may Among my records suffer him named For though he were venquesshid yet was he not shamed. As ●●rome in his preamble ●●ater ambrocius from that I have said in no point doth vary where in he reporteth of the coragius words that were much consolatory By eschines rehearsed: to the great glory Of demostenes: that was his utter foo Few shall ye find or none that will do so ¶ Dame pallas to the queen of Fame A Thank to have ye have well deserved ●our mind that can maintain so apparently But a great part yet ye have reserved of that most follow then conseqently Or else ye demean you in ordinately For if ye laud him whom honour hath oppressed Then he that doth worst is as good as the best ¶ But whom that ye favour I see well hath a name Be he never so little of substance ●nd whom ye love not/ ye will put to shame ●e counterwey not evynly your balance As we'll folly as wisdom oft ye do advance For report riseth many deverse ways some be moche spoken of for making of frays ¶ Some have a name for theft and bribery Some be called crafty that can pike a purse Some men be made of for the mokery● Some careful cock woldes/ some have their wives curs. Some famous weet would is/ & they be moche wurs Some lidderous/ some losels/ some naughty packis Some facers'/ some bracers/ some make great crackis ¶ Some drunken dastardis with their dry souls Some sluggyssh slovyns that sleep day and night Riot and revel be in your court rowlis Maintenance and mischief these be men of might exposition is counted with you for a knight These people by me have none assignment yet they ride and rinne from carlyll to kente ¶ But little or nothing ye shall here tell Of them that have virtue by reason of cunning which soverenly in honour should excel Men of such matters make but mumming For wisdom and sadness be out a sunning And such of my servants as I have promoted One fault or other in them shallbe noryd ¶ Either they will say he is to wise Or e●les he can nought bot when he is at scol● Prove his wit saith he at cards or dice And ye shall well find he is a very fool Twice set him a char or reach him a stol. To sit him upon/ and read jack athrummis bybille For truly it were pity that he sat idle ¶ The queen of Fame To dame Pallas TO make repungnaunce again that ye have said Of very dwte it may not well accord But your benign sufferance for my discharge I lai● For that I would not with you fall at discord But yet I beseech your grace that good record May be brought forth such as can be found with laureate triumph why Skelton should be crowned ¶ For else it were to great a derogation unto your palas our noble court of ●ame That any man under supportation with out deserving should have the best game If he to the ample increase of his name Can lay any works that he hath compiled I am content that he be be not exylide ¶ from the laure at senace: by force proscription Or else ye know well I can do no less But I most bannysshe him from my jurisdiction As he that aquentyth him with idleness But if that he purpose to make a redress what he hath done let it be brought to sight Grant my petition I ask you but right ¶ Dame Pallas To the queen of Fame TO your request we be well condiscendid Call forth let see where is your clarionar To blow a blast with his long breath extendid Aeolus your trumpet that kuowne is so far That bararag blowyth in every mercial war 〈◊〉 him blow now that we may take a view ●hat poets we have at our retenewe ¶ To see if skelton will put himself in press among the thickest of all the hole rout ●ake noyst enough for claterars love no peace ●●r see my sister now speed you go a bout inone I say this trumpet were found out ●nd for no man hardly let him spare ●o blow bararag till both his eyen stare ¶ Skelton Poeta. FOrth with there rose among the throng A wonderful noise/ and on every side They presid in fast/ some thought they were to long some were to hasty & would no man bide ●ome whispered some to wnyd/ some spoke/ & some cried. ●ith hevyuge and shoving have in and have out ●ome ran the next way sum ran a bout ¶ There was suing to the queen of fame ●e plucked him back/ and he went afore ●ay hold thy tongue quoth another let me have the name ●ake room said another ye press all to sore ●ume said hold thy peace thou getteest here no more 〈◊〉 thousand thousand I saw on a plump ●ith that I hard the noise of a trump ¶ That long time blewe a full tunorous blast ●yke to the boryall winds when they blow ●hat towers/ and towns/ and trees down cast ●roue clouds to gether like dryfris of snow ●he dreadful din drove all the rout on a row ●ome tremblid/ some girnid/ some gaspid/ some gasid ●s people half pevysshe or men that were masyd ¶ Anon all was whyste as it were for the nonies And iche man stood gazing & staring upon other with that there come in wonderly at one's A murmur of mynstre●●/ that such another Had I never seen some softer some louder orphans the traciane herped meledyously with amphion and other musis of archady ¶ whose heavenly armony was so passing sure So truly proportioned and so well did 'gree So duly intuned with every measure That in the forest was none so great a tree But that he danced for joy of that gle The huge mighty oaks themself did advance And leap from the hills to learn for to dance ¶ In so much the stump where to I me lente start all at ones an hundreche foot back with that I sprang up toward the tent Of noble dame Pallas whereof I spoke where I saw come after I wot full little lake● Of a thousand poets assembled together But phoebus was formest of all that came thither ¶ Of laurel levis a cronell on his heed with heris enscrisped yellow as the gold Lamenting daphnes whom with the darce of lead cupid hath stricken so that she ne would Concente to phoebus to have his heart in hold But for to preserve her maidenhode clean Transformed was she in to the laurel green ¶ meddled with murming the most part of his muse O thoughtful heart was evermore his song Daphne's my darling why do you me refuse yet look on me that loved you have so long yet have compassion upon my pains strong He sang also how the tree as he did take Between his arms he felt her body quake ¶ Then he assurded in to his exclamation Unto Diana the god's immortal O merciless madame hard is your constellation So close to keep your cloister virginal Enhardid adyment the cement of your wall Alas what ail you to be so overthwhart To bannysshe pity out of a maidens heart ¶ why have the gods showed me this cruelty Sith I contrived first principles medicinable I help all other of there infirmity But now to help myself I am not able That profiteth all other is no thing profitable Unto me/ alas that herb nor grass The fervent axes of love can not repress ¶ O fatal fortune what have I offen did Odious disdain why raist thou me on this facyou But sith I have lost now that I intended And may not attain it by no mediation yet in remembrance of daphnes transformation All famous poets ensuing after me Shall were a garland of the laurel tree ¶ This said a great number followed by and by Of poets laure are of many diverse nations part of there names I think to specify first old Quintiliane with his declinations Theocritus with his bucolical relations Esiodus the I cononucar And homerus the fresh historiar ¶ Prince of eloquence tullius cicero with salusty a geinst lucius catelyne That wrote the history of iugurta also o●yde enshryned with the musis nine But blessed bacchus the pleasant god of wine of closters engrossed with his ruddy drops These orators and poets refreshed there throtis ¶ There titus lyvius himself did advance with decadis historious which that he mengith with matters that amount the romans in substance Enyus that wrote of mercial war at length But blessed bachus potential god of strength Of clusters engrosid with his ruddy drops These orators and poets refreshed there throtis ¶ Aulus Gelius that noble historiar Orace also with his new poetry Master Terence the famous conucar with plautus that wrote full many a comedy But blessed bachus was in there company Of clusters engrossed which his ruddy dropis These orators and poets refreshed there throtis ¶ Senek bookful soberly wit his tragedijs Boyce recomforted with his philosophy And maxymyane with his mad ditijs How doting age would jape with young folly But bles●yd bachus most reverent and holy of clusters engrosid with his ruddy dropis These orators and poets refreshed there throtis ¶ There came Iohn bochas with his volumies great Quin●us cursus full craftily that wrote Of Alexander/ and macrobins that did treat Of scipions' dream what was the true probate But blessed bachus that never man forgot Of clusters engrossed with his ruddy dropis These orators and poets refreshed there throtis ¶ Poggens also that famous florentine Mustered there among them with many a mad tale with a frere of france men call sir gagwyne That frowned on me full angrily and pale But blessed bachus that boar is of all vale of clusters engrossed with his ruddy dropis These orators and poets refreshed there throtis ¶ Plutarch and Petrarke two famous clarkis Lucilius and valerius maximus by name with vincencius in speculo that wrote noble warkis Propercius and Pisandros poets of noble fame But blessed bachus that mastris oft doth frame Of clusters engrossed with his ruddy dropis These notable poets refreshed there throtis ¶ And as I thus sadly among them avysid I saw Gower that first garnished our english rude And master Chaucer that nobly enterprised How that our english might freshly be a meude The monk of Bury then after them ensued Dane Iohn lydgate these english poets three As I imagined repayrid unto me ¶ together in arms as brethren enbrasid There apparel far passing beyond that I can tell with diamauntiss and ruby there tabor were trasid None so rich stones in turkey to sell They wantid nothing but the laurel And of there bounty they made me godly cheer In manner and form as ye shall after here ¶ Master Gower. To Skelton. ¶ Broacher Skelton your endevorment So have ye done that meretoryously ye have deserved to have an enplement In our collage above the sterry sky By cause that increase and amplyfy The brutid britons of brutus albion That wellnigh was lost when that we were gone ¶ Master Chaucer To Skelton. COunter waing your busy diligence Of that we began in the supplement Enforcid are we you to recompense Of all our whole collage by the agreement That we shall bring you personally present Of noble fame before the queens grace In whose court pointed is your place ¶ Poeta Sketon answeryth. O Noble Chaucer whose pullis●hyd eloquence Our english rude so freshly hath set out That bound are we with all d●u reverence w'all our strength that we can bring about To owe to you our service/ & more if we mowte But what should I say ye wot what I intend which glad am to please and loath to offend ¶ Master Lydgate. To Skelton. SO am I preventid of my brethren twain In rendering to you thankkis meritory That wellnigh no thing there doth remain wherewith to give you my regraciatory But that I point you to be prothonatory Of fame's court by all our holl assent advanced by pallas to laurel preferment ¶ Poeta Skelton answereth ¶ So have ye me far passing my meretis extolled. Master lidgate of your accustomable Bownte/ and so gloriously ye have enrolled My name/ I know well be yond that I am able That but if my work thereto be agreeable I am else rebuked of that I intend which glad am to please and loath to offend ¶ So finally when they had showed there devise Under the form as I said to fore I made it strange & drew back once or twice And ever they pressed on me more and more Till at the last they forced me sore That with them I went where they would me bring Unto the pavilion where pallas was sitting _●Ame Pallas commanded that they should me convey In to the rich palace of the queen of fame There shall he here what she will to him say when he is called to answer to his name I cry anon forthwith she made proclaim All orators and poets should thither go before uviht all the press that there was less and more ¶ Forth with I say thus wadring in my thought How it was or else within what howris I can not tell you/ but that I was brought In to a palace with turrettis and towris Engolerid goodly with hallis and bowris So curiously/ so craftily/ so cunningly wrowght That all the word I trow and it were sought ¶ such another there could no man find where of partly I purpose to expound whiles it remanyth fresh in my mind with Turks and grossolitis enpavyd was the ground ●f hi●rall enbosid were the pillars round ●f Elephantis teeth were the palace garis Enlosenged with many goodly platis ¶ Of gold entachid which many a precious stone An hundred steppis mounting to the hall One of jasper another of whalis bone Of dyamauntis pointed was the wall The carpettis within and tappettis of pall The chambers hanged with clothes of arace Enuaw●yd with rubies the vaw●e was of this place ¶ Thus passed we forth walking unto the pretory where the postis were enbulyoned with saphiriss indy blue Englaund glittering with many a clear story jacineris and smaragdis out of the flor●he they grew Unto this place all poets there did sue wherein was set of fame the noble queen 〈◊〉 other transcending most richly beseen ¶ Under a glorious cloth of astate Fret all with orient pearls of garnate encrowned as empress of all this worldly fate So ●●ally so richly/ so passingly ornate It was exceeding by yond the commowne rate This house environ was a mile a bout If xii were let in. xi●. hundredth stood without ¶ Then to this lady & sovereign of this palace Of pursuants there presid in with many a diverse tale Some were of poyle & sum were of trace Of lymerik/ of lorraine/ of spain of portyngale from napuls/ from Navern & from rouncevall Some from ●●●nders sum fro these cost Some from the main la●de/ some fro the frensche host ¶ with how doth the north what tidings in the sowth The west is windy ● the est is me●ely weal It is hard ●o tell of every man's mouth A slipper hold the tail is of an ele And he haltith often that hath a kyby he'll Some showed his salt cundight some showed his charter Some looked full smoothly and had a false quarter ¶ with sir I pray you a little tyne stand back And let me come in to deliver my letter Another told how ships went to wreck There were many words smaller and greater with I as good as thou/ I faith and no better Some came to tell creuth/ some came to lie Some come to flacer/ some came to spy ¶ There were I say of all manner of sortis Of deremouth/ of plummouth/ of portismouth also The burgeis/ and the ballyvis of the .v. portis with now let me come/ and now let me go And all time wandered I thus to and fro Till at the last these noble poets three Unto me said/ so sir now ye may see ¶ Of this high court the daily business From you most we but not long ●o tarry Lo hither cometh a goodly maysties' occupation famys regestary which shall be to you a sufferayne accessary with singular pleasures to drive a way the time And we shall see you again or it be prime ¶ when they were past & went forth on there way This gentle woman that railed was by name occupation in right goodly array ●ame toward me and smylid half in game I saw her smile and I then did the same with that on me she kest her goodly look Under her arm me thought she had a book ¶ Occupacyoun to Skelton. Like as the lark upon the summer's day when titan radiant burnisshith his bemis bright Moūri●h on high with her melodious lay Of the son shine engladid with the light So am I surprised with pleasure and delight To see this hour now that I may say How ye are welcome to this court of array ¶ Of your aqueintaunce I was in times passed Of studious doctrine when at the port salu The first arroved when broken was your mast Of worldly trust than did I you rescue your storm driven ship I repaired new So well entakeled what wind that ever blow No stormy tempest your barge shall over throw ¶ welcome to me as heartily as heart can think welcome to me with all my hole desire And for my sake spare neither pen nor ink Be well assured I shall a quite your hire your name recounting be yond the land of tire From sydony to the mount olympyan from babel towrets the h●llis Ga●●ian ¶ Skelton poeta answereth I Thanked her moche of her most noble offer ●ffyaunsynge her my●e hole assurance For her pleasure to make a large proffer ●●●●●ntyng her words in my remembrance. To owe her my 〈◊〉 with true perseverance Come on with me she said let us not stand And with that word she took me by the hand So passed we forth in to the foresaid place with such communication as came to our mind And then she said whiles we have time and space To walk where we list/ let us somewhat find To pass the time with/ but let us waste no wind For idle ●angelers have but lytill brain words be sword and hard to call again ¶ In to a field she brought me wide and large enwalled about with the stony flint Strongly enbateld much costious of charge To walk on this wall she bed I should not stint Go softly she said the stones be full glint She went before and bade me take good hold I saw a thousand yaris new and old ¶ Then questioned I her what those yatis meant whereto she answered and briefly me told How from the est unto the occident And from the sowth unto the north so cold These yatis she said which that ye behold Be issuis and portis from all manner of nations And seriously she showed me there denominations ¶ They had writing sum greek/ sum ebrew Some roman letters as I understood Some were old written/ sum were written new Some carectis of caldy/ sum french was full good But one gate specially where as I stood Had gravin in it of calcydony a capital. A. what gate call ye this/ and she said Anglea The belding thereof was passing commendable whereon stood a lybbard crowned with gold and stones Terrible of countenance and passing formydable As quickly touched as it were flesh and bones As ghastly that glaris as grimly that gronis As fiercely frowning as he had been fighting And with his form foot he shaken forth this writing Formidandammis ●ouis ultima fulmina tollis unguibus ●re parat loca singula livida curuis Caco●●thicō ex industria Q● modo perphebes Nummos raptura celeno Arma/ lues/ ●uctus ● fel●vis/ fraus barbara tellus mill modis erra● odium tibi qu●rere martis 〈…〉 dare ●al●m●ea rosero _●Hen I me lent and looked over the wall Innumerable people pressed to every gate She● we●e the ga●is they might well knock & call ●n divine home again for they came all to l●ce I her demanded of them and their estate Forsooth quod she they● be hastardis and r●bawdis Dysers/ ●●●●ers/●um●lars with gambawdis ¶ 〈◊〉 of love with bawdry acquainted Brainless blenkardis that blow at the coal false forgets of money for kownnage atteintid Pope holy ypocrytis as they were gold and hole paul hatche●●is that prate will at every ale pole Riot/ reveller/ railer/ bribery theft with other conditions that well might be left ¶ some fain themself fools & would be called wise Sum meddling spies by craft to grope thy mind Sum dysdanous dawcokkis that all men despise Falls flatterers that fawn the & kurris otkind That speak fair before the & shrewdly behind Hither they come crowding to get them a name But hailid they be homeward with sorrow and shame ¶ with that I herd ●unnis rusche our at ones Bowns/ bowns/ bowns/ that all they out cried It made sum lympe legged & broisid there bones Sum were made penysshe porisshly pink iyde. That ever more after by it they were aspyid And one there was there I wondered of his hap For a gun stone I say had all to iaggid his cap ¶ ragged and daggid and cunningly cut The blast of the byrnston blew away his brain Masid as a march hare he ran like a scut And sir among all me thought I saw twain The one was a tumblar the afterward again Of a dysour a devil way grew a jentilman Pers prater the second tha quarillis began ¶ with a pellit of peuisshen●s they had such a stroke That all the days of their life shall stick by ●her rybbiss Foo/ foisty bawdias sum smellid of the smoke I saw divers that were ca●ijd away thence in cribbiss dazing after dotrelliss like drunkardis that dribbiss These titinyllis with taumpinnis were towchid & cappid Mache mischief I height you/ among them there happed Sometime as it seemeth when the moan light By means of a grossly endarked cloud Suddenly is eclipsid in the winter night In like manner of wise a mist did us shroud But wel● may ye think I was no thing proud Of that adventures which made me sore aghast In darkness thus dwelled we ●yll at the last ¶ The clowdiss 'gan to cle●e/y● 〈◊〉 was rarifijd In a an herber I saw brought where I was There birdis on the brere s●nge on every side with allies ensandid about in compass The bankis en●u●fid with singular solas Enrailid with rosers and vinis engrapid It was a new comfort of sorrows escapid ¶ In the middis a coundight that coryously was cast with pipes of gold engusshing out streams Of crystal the clearness these waters far past Enswymming with rochiss/ barbellis/ and bremis Englisterd: the joyous it was to be hold Then furthermore about me my sight I revolde ¶ where I saw growing a goodly laurel tree Enuerdurid with levis continually green Above in the top a bird of araby Men call a phoenix: her wings between She bet up a fire with the sparkis full keen Oliva speci osa in campis with branches and bowghiss of the sweet olive whose flagraunt flower was chete preseruaryve ¶ against all infections with cancour inflamed against all baratows broisiours of old quam excellentiam virtutis in oliva. It passed all bawmies that ever were named Or gummis of saby so dearly that ve sold There blue in that guarding a soft pipling cold Enbrething of zepherus with his pleasant wind All frutis' flow●is grew there in there kind ¶ Dryads there daunsid upon that goodly soil wit the nine muses pierides by name Phillis and testalus ther tressis with oil were newly enbybid: and round a bout the same Grene tree of laurel much solacyous game They made/ with chapellettes and garlands green And formest of all dame flora the queen ¶ Of summer: so formally she fotid the dance There cintheus sat twinkling upon his harp stringis And topas his instrument did advance The poems and storis ancient inbryngis Of athlas astrology and many noble thyngiss Of wandering of the moan/ the course of the sun Of men and of bestis and where of they begun ¶ what thing occasioned the showris of rain Of fire elementar in his supreme spear And of that pole arctic which doth remain Behind the tail of ursa so clear Of pliades he preached with there drowsy cheer Immoysturid with mis●yng and ay dropping dry And where the two troons a man should a spy ¶ And of the winter days that by them so fast And of the winter nights that tarry so long And of the summer days so long that doth last And of their short nights/ he brought in his song How wrong was no right/ and right was no wrong There was countering of carollis in metre and verse So many: that long it were to rehearse ¶ occupation. To Skelton. NOw say ye: is this after your appetite May this content you & your merry mind Here dwelleth pleasure with lust & delight continual comfort here ye may find Of wealth & solace no thing left be hind All thing convenable here is contrived where with your spiritis may be revyuid ¶ Pocta Skelton answeryth. Questionless no doubt of that ye say jupiter himself this life might endure This joy excedith all worldly sport & play Paradyce/ this place is of singular pleasure O weal were him that hereof might be sure And here to inhabit/ and ay for to dwell But goodly master one thing ye me tell ¶ occupation. To Skelton. OF your demawnd show me the contene what it is and where upon it standis And if there be in it any thing meant whereof the answer resteth in my handis It shall be solid full soon out of the handis O● 〈◊〉 doubt: wherefore your mind discharge And of your will the plainness show at large ¶ Poeta Skelton answeryth. I Thank you goodly master to me most bening ● of your bounce so well have me assured But my request is not so great a thing That I ne force what though it be discurid I am not woundid but that I may be cured I am not ladyn of liddyrnes' uviht lumpis As das●d doterdis the dream in their dumpis ¶ occupation. To Skelton. _●Owe whacye mean I trow I conject Gog give you good year ye make me to smile Now be your faith is not this th'effect Of your question ye make all this while To understand who dwelleth in yone p●●e And what blunderer is yonder that play●h didil diddil He fyudith false mesuris out of his fond fiddill Interpolata que industriosum Postulan tin terpre●em satira in vatis adversarium. ¶ Tressis agasonis species prior: altera davi. Ancupium culicis lunis dumtorquet ocellum. Cōc●pit/alig●ras/ rapit/ opetit/ aspice muscas Nota 〈…〉. 7. metalla. Maia queq to●et: fovet aut q jupiter aut que Frigida/ saturnus/ sol/ mars venus algida luna Sitibi contingat verbo aut committere scripto Quam sibi moxtacita sudant precordia culpa. Hinc ruit in drammas: stimulas hunc urget & illum invocat ad rixas/ vanos tamen excitatignes Labra movens tacitus/ rumpantur utilia Codro .17.4.7.2.17.5.18. 18 19.1.19.8.5.12. HIs name for to know if that ye list Envious rancour truly he hight Beware of him I wa●ne you for & ye w●st How doung●rous it were to stand in his light 〈…〉 deal with him although that ye might For by his devellysshe drift it graceless provision In hole rea●e he is able to set at division ¶ For wh●●● he sp●kyth fairest then thinketh he most ill Full gloriously can he gloze thy mind for to feel He will see men a frighting & set himself still And smerke like a smythy ●u● o● sperkes of st●ile It can never ●e●e work whiles it is weal To tell all his towchiss it were to great wonder The devil of hell and he be seldom a sunder THus talking we went forth in at apostern gate Turning on the right hand by winding stair She brought me to a goodly chamber of estate where the noble cowntes of Surrey in a chair Sat honourably/ to whom did repair Of ladies above with all due reverence Sit down fair ladies and do your diligence ¶ Come forth jentylwomen I pray you she said I have contrived for you a goodly work And who can work best now shall be a said A cronell of laurel with verduris light and dark I have devised for Skelton my clerk For to his service I have such regard That of our bownte we will him reward ¶ For of all ladies he hath the library Theridamas names recounting in the court of fame Of all gentlewomen he hath the scuteny In fame's court reporting the same For yet of women he never said shame But if they were counterfettes that women them call That list of there lewdness with him for to brawl ¶ with that the tappettis and carpettis were laid where on these ladies softly might rest The saumpler to sow on the lacis to enbraid To weave in the stoule sum were full pressed with slaijs/ with tavellis/ with hedellis well dressed The frame was brought forth with his weving pin God give them good speed there work to begin ¶ some to enbrowde● put them in press well guiding their glowton to keep straight their silk Sum pirling of goldde their work to increase With fingers small and hands white as milk with reach me that skane of tewly silk And wind me that botowme of such an hue Grene/ read/ tawny/ white/ purpill and blue ¶ Of broken warkis wrought many a goodly thing In casting/ in turning/ in flourishing of flowers with burris rowth and buttons surffilling In nedill wark raising bird in bowris with vertuenbesid all times and howris And truly of their bownte thus were they bend To work me this chapelet by good advisement ¶ occupation. To Skelton. Behold and see in your advertisement How these ladies & gentlewomen all For your pleasure do there endevourment And for your sake how fast to work they fall. To your remembrance wherefore ye must call In goodly words pleasantly comprysid That for them some goodly conseyt be devysid ¶ with proper captations of benevolence Ornatly pullysshid after your faculty Sith ye must nediss afforce it by pretence Of your professyoun unto umanyte Commencing your process after there degree To iche of them rendering thanks commendable with sentence fructuous & terms covenable ¶ Poeta Skelton answeryth. Auaunsing myself sum thank to deserve I me determined for to sharp my pen Devoutly arrecting my prayer to minerve She to vowche safe me to inform and ken To mercury also heartily prayed I then Me to support to help and to assist To guide and to govern my dreadful tremling fist ¶ As a mariner that amasid is in a stormy rage Hardly be stad and driven is to hope Of that the tempeous wind will a suage In trust whereof comfort his heart doth grope From the anchor he kuttych the gabyll rope Committyth all to god and lettyth his ship ride So I beseek Jesus now to be my guide ¶ To the right noble counts of Surrey ¶ After all duly ordered obeisance In humble wise as lowly as I may Unto you madame I make recounsaunce My life enduring I shall both write and say Becount/ report/ rehearse with out delay The passing bounty of your noble estate Of honour & worship which hath the former date ¶ Like to argyvaby just resemblance The noble wife of polimites king Prudent rebecca of whom remembrance The bible maketh/ with whose chaste living your nobl● demeanour is counterwaing whose passing bounty/ and right noble estate Of honour & worship it hath the former date ¶ The noble pamphila queen of the greeks land Habillimentis royal found out industriously Thamer also wrought with her goodly hand Many divisis passing curyously whom ye represent and exemplify whose passing bounty & right noble estate Of honour & worship it hath the former date ¶ As dame thamaries which took the king of pere● Cirus by name as wrytith the story Dame agrippina also I may rehearse Of gentle courage the profight memory So shall your name endure perpetually whose passing bounty & right noble estate Of honour and worship it hath the former date ¶ To my lady elisabeth howard ¶ To be your remembrauncer madame I am bound Like to aryna maidenly of port Of virtue & konning the well and perfect ground whom dame nature as weal I may report Hath freshly enbewtid with many a goodly sort Of womanly feturis/ whose flourishing tenderage Is lusty to look on pleasant demure and sage ¶ Goodly creisseid: fairer than polexene For to enuyve pandarus appetite Troilus I trow if that he had you seen In you he would have set his hole delight Of all your beauty I suffice not to write But as I said your florisshinge tender age Is lusty to look on pleasant demure and sage ¶ To my lady mirriell howard My little lady I may not leave behind But to do you service nedis now I must Benign courteous of gentle heart & mind whom fortune and fate plainly have discussed. Long to enjoy pleasure delight and lust The enbuddid blossoms of roses read of hue with lillis white your beauty doth renew ¶ Compare you I may to cidippes the maid That of aconcyus when she found the bill In her bosom/ lord how she was afraid The ruddy shamefastness in her visage fill which manner of abasshement became her not ill Right so madame the roses red of hue with lilies white your hewte doth renew ¶ To my lady anne dakers of the sowth _●Euxes y● enpicturid far clean the queen you to devise his craft were to seek And if apelles your countenance had seen Of porturature which was the famous greek He could not devise the least point of your cheek Princes of youth and flower of goodly port Uertu/ cunning/ solace/ pleasure/ comfort ¶ Paregall in honour unto penolepe That for her trowth is in remembrance had Fair dijanira surmewnting in beauty Demure diana womanly and sad whose lusty lokis make heavy hartis glad Princes of youth & flower of goodly port Uertu/ cunning/ solace/ pleasure/ comfort ¶ To master's margery wentworthe. ¶ with margerain gentle The flower of goodly heed Enbrowdred the mantle Is of your maidenhead ¶ Plainly I can not gloze. ye be as I divine The praty primrose The goodly columbine. ¶ with margerain iantill The flower of goodly heed embroidered the mantle Is of your maidenhead ¶ benign corteise & meek with words well devysid In you who list to seek Be vertus well comprysid ¶ with margerain iantill The flower of goodlihead Enbrawderid the mantle Is of your maidenhead ¶ To master's margaret tylney. I you assure Full well I know My busy cure to you I own Humbly and low Commending me To your bownte ¶ As machareu● Fair canace So I/ iwis endeavour me your name to see It be enrolled writtin with gold ¶ Phedra ye may weal represent Intentyfe ay And diligent No time my spent wherefore delight I have to whryght ¶ Of margarite Pearl orient lead star of light Moche relucent Madam regent I may you call Of vertuows all ¶ To master jane blenner haiset. ¶ what though my pen/ wax faint & hath small lust to paint yet shall there no restraint Cause me to cese Among this press For to increase your goodly name ¶ I will myself apply Trust me ententifly you for to st●llyfye And so observe. That ye ne serve For to deserve. immortal fame ¶ Sith mistress iane haiset Small flowers helped to se●● In my goodly chapelet Therefore I render of her the memory. unto the legend of fare laodomi ¶ Too master Isabella pennell ¶ By saint marry my lady your mammy and your dady Brought forth a godly babi ¶ My maiden Isabella Reflaring rosabell The flagrant camamell ¶ The ruddy rosary The sovereign rosemary The praty strawberry ¶ The columbine the nepte The ieloffer well set The proper violet ¶ En●wyd your colour Is like the dasy flower After the aprill shower ¶ star of the morrow grey The blossom on the spray The freshest flower of may. ¶ Maidenly demure Of womanhood the lure wherefore I make you sure ¶ It were an heavenly health It were an endless wealth A life for god himself ¶ To here this nightingale Among the birds small warbeling in the vale Dug/ dug/ jug/ jug. Good year and good luck with chuk/ chuk/ chuk/ chuk. ¶ To masters margaret Hussey ¶ Merry margaret As midsummer flower jentill as fawcoun or hawk of the tower ¶ with solace and gladness Moche mirth & no madness All good & no badness So joyously So maidenly So womanly Her demeaning In every thing Far/ far passing That I can endyght Or suffice to write Of merry margarete as midsummer flower gentle as fawcoun or hawk of the tower ¶ As patient & as still And as full of good will As fair Isaphill Colyaunder Swe●e pomaunder Good cassaunder Steadfast of thought weal made/ we'll wrought Far may be sought Erst that ye can find So corteise so kind As merry margarete This midsummer flower gentle as fawcoun or hawk of the tower ¶ To master's Geretrude statham Though ye were hard her●yd And I with you thwartid with words that smartid yet now doubtless ye give me cause To write of you this goodli clause Maistres geretrude with womanhood endued with virtue well renwde ¶ I will that ye shall be In all benyngnyte Like to dame pasiphe For now doubtless ye give me cause to write of you this goodly clause Maistres geretrude with womanhood endued with virtue well renewed ¶ Partly by your council. Garnisshed with laurel was my fresh colonel wherefore doubtless ye give me cause to write of you this goodly clause Maistres geretrude with womanhood endued with virtue well renewed ¶ To master Isabella knight BUt if I should acquit your kindness Else say ye might That in me were great blindness I for to be so myndles And could not write Of Isabella knight ¶ It is not my custom nor my guise To leave be hind Her that is both womanly and wise And specially which glad was to devise The means to find To please my mind ¶ In helping to work my laurel gre●e with silk and gold Galathea the made well beseen was never half so fair as I ween which was extolleth A thousand fold ¶ By maro the mantuan prudent who list to read But & I had leisure competent I could show you such a president In very deed How ye exceed ¶ occupation. To Skelton. ¶ with draw your hand the time passis fast Set on your heed this laurel which is wrought Here you not eolus for you blowyth a blast I dare we'll say that ye and I be sought Make no delay for now ye must be brought Before my ladies grace the queen of fame where ye must briefly answer to your name ¶ Skelton Poeta. Casting my sight the chamber about To see how duly ich thing in order was toward the door as we were coming out I saw master newton sit with his compass His plummet/ his pencil/ his spectacles with glass devising in picture by his industrious wit Of my laurel the process every whit ¶ Forthwith upon this as it were in a thought Gower/ Chawcer/ Lydgate these three Be fore remembered me courteously brought In to that place where as they left me where all the said poets sat in there degree But when they saw my laurel richly whought All other beside were counterfeit they thought ¶ In comparison of that which I ware some praised the pearl some the stones bright weal was him that there upon might stare Of this work they had so great delight The silk the gold the flowers fresh to sight They said my laurel was the goodliest That ever they saw/ & wrought it was the best ¶ In her estate there sat the noble queen Of fame/ perceiving how that I was come She wondered me thouhht at my laurel green She looked hawtly and gave on me a glum Thhere was among them no word then but mum For each man her kind what she would to me say whereof in substance I brought this away ¶ The queen of fame To Selton. ¶ My friend sith ye are before hus here present To answer unto this noble audience Of that shallbe resonde you ye must be content And for asmuch as by the hy pretence That ye have now by the preemynence● Of laureate triumph: your place is here reserved we will understand how ye have it deserved ¶ Skelton poeta to the queen of fame Right high & mighty princes of estate In famous glory all other transcending Of your bounty the accustomable rate Hath been full often & yet is intending To all though that reason is condiscendyng But if hastyve credence by maintenance of might Fortune to stand between you and the light ¶ But such evidence I think for to endure And so largely to lay for mine indempnite That I trust to make mine excuse Of what charge so ever ye lay against me For of my books part ye shall see which in your records I know well be enrolled And so occupation your register me told ¶ Forth with she commanded I should take my place Calliope pointed me where I should sit with that oc●upacioun presid in a pace Be merry she said be not afeard a whit your discharge here under mine arm is it So then commanded she was upon this To show her book: and she said here it is ¶ The queen of fame to occupacioun. your books of remembrauns we will now that ye rede● If any recordis in noumbyr can be found what skelton's hath compilid & written in deed rehearsing by order & what is the ground Let see now for him how ye can expound For in our court ye wot weal his name can not rise But if he write oftenner than ones or twice ¶ Skelton Poeta. ¶ with that of the book losende were the claspis The margin was illumynid all with golden railles And byse: enpicturid with gressoppes and waspis with butterfllyis and fresh peacock taylis Enflorid with flowers and sly my snaylis Enuyvid picturis well towchid & quickly It would have made a man hole that had be right sekely ¶ To be hold how it was garnished & bound Encoverde over with gold of tissue fine The claspis and bullions were worth a thousand pound with balassis & charbuncles the borders did shine with aurum musicum every other line was wrytin: and so she did her speed Occupacyoun immediately to read ¶ Occupacyoun readeth and expoundyth sum part of Skelton's books and baladis with ditis Honour est bnfactine oꝑacionis signum Aristoti●: ●iuerte a ma●o & fac bonū● nobilis (p̄o est ille quem nobilitat sua utꝰ●cassianꝰ ꝓximus ille de ● quiscit racione tacere. ca●o mors ultina linea rerum horac ●tuti oina pa/ 〈◊〉 salust. ●●usquam tuta 〈◊〉 virg●●●tes est so●●i●iti plena timoris amor. Ovid of pleasure in asmuch as it were to long a ꝓces to rehearse all by name that he hath compiled. etc. OF your orator and poet laureate of England his works here they begin In primis the book of honorous estate Item the book how men should i'll sin Item royal demenaunce worship to wine Item the book to speak well or be still Item to learn you do die when ye will ¶ Of virtue also the sovereign interlude The book of the rosiar: prince arturis creacyoun The false faith that now goth which daily is renewed Item his diologgis of ymagynacyoun Item anto medon of loves meditacyoun Item new grammar in english compiled Item bowche of court where dread was beguiled Si ●acet vsus quem penes. ●c Horace. Non est timor dei ante oclos eorum. spalmo. con●edat laurea lingue. ¶ His comedy achademios called by name of tullis familiars the translacyoun Item good advisement that brainless doth blame The recoil against gaguyne of the frenshe nacyoun Tullius Fat cum consili o ●īe●nū non peccabis Solomon Item the popiugay that hath in commendacyoun Ladies and gentlewomen such as deserved And such as be counterfettis they be reserved Non mihi sit modulo rusti ca papilio. Uates● ¶ And of soveraynce a noble pamphlet And of magnificence a notable matter How cownterfet cowntenaunce of the new got D●●are in utu te tua. p̄o. maginficavit cum in conspectu/ regum. sapienc. Fuger pu●r verūque●idesque In●rum subiet loc in fraudesque dolique. with crafty conveyance doth smater and flatter And cloaked collucyoun is brought in to clater with courtely abusyoun: who pryntith it weal in mind Moche dowblenes of the world therein he may find ¶ of mannerly margery masters milk and ale To her he wrote many matters of mirth Insidieque et. vis et amor. scileratus habendi. oui●. Filia ba●ilo nis micera. Psalmo. yet though ye say it there by lyith a tale For margery wynshed and break her hinder girth Lorrique how she made moche of her gentle birth with gingirly go gingirly her tail was made of hay Go she never so gingierly her honesty is gone a way De nihilo nihil tit. Aristoti● ¶ Hard to make aught of that is nakid nought This fustianes masters and this giggisse gaze wonder is to write what wrenchiss she wrowght Le plus displeysant plei●cer puent. To face out her folly with a midsummer maze with pitch she patched her pitcher should not crase It may weal rhyme but shroudly it doth accord To pike out honesty of such a po●shorde ●●ate● per versus. Nota. ¶ Hinc puer hic ●a●us: vir riugis h●nc spoliatus jure thou: est: fetus deli de sanguine cretus Hinemagis extollo qd erit puer alter apollo Si queris qualis: meretrix castissima talis ¶ Et r●lis et ralis? et reliqualis A good he●ynge of thes old talis Fy●de no more such fro wanflete to walis Et relequa. omelia de diversis tractatibus OF my lady's grace at the contemplacyoun apostol. non abemus h●● i●itatē maentem sed tutu ●ā ꝑ qrinnis. Out of frenzy in to english prose Of man's life the peregrynacioun He did translate/ interpret and disclose The tratyse of triumphis of the red rose Notht bellan corn●b●●●e ●d in capistribus ● in pa●en●●●rib ●vall●sque solitudini bus prope Grenewiche ●estum est. ●rudemini ●● indicatio ●rrā. p̄o. where in many storis are briefly contained That unremembered long time remained The duke of yorkis creaunc●r when skelton was Now henry the eight king of euglonde A tratyse he devysid and brought it to pas Callid speculum principis to bear in his hand Therein to read and to understand All the demeanour of princely estate To be our king of god preordinate Quis stabit mecum adversus oꝑantes iniquitatem. p̄o. ¶ Also the tunning of elinour rumming With colyn clout/ iohn ive/ with ioforth jack To make such trifles is asketh sum konning In honest mirth pard requireth no lack Arrident melius seria pi●/ 〈◊〉 iocis. In 〈…〉 bulis isopis ●●●plēt vete 〈…〉 acchis pin/ 〈…〉 gilius The whyce appeareth the better for the black And after conveyauns as the world goose It is no folly to use the walshemannies hoos The umblis of venison/ the botell of wine To fair masters anne that should have be sent H● wrote thereof many a praty line where it became and whether it went And how that it was wanton spent Aut ꝓdesse volunt aut de lectare poet Horace. Adam adam ubi es. genesis/ ℞; ubi nulla reqies ubi nullus ordo sed sempiternus horror in habitat. job The ballad also of the mustard cart such problemis to paint it longyth to his art ¶ Of one adam all a knave late deed and gone Dormiat in pace/ like a dormows He wrote an epitaph for his grave stone With words devout and sentence agerdows For he was ever against God's h●ws All his delight was to brawl and to bark against holy church the pressed and the clerk ¶ Of philip sparrow the lamentable fate The doleful destiny and the careful chance devised by skelton after the funeral rate yet sum there be there with that take grievance And grudge there at with frewning countenance Etenim passer invenit sibi do ●●um. spalmo. But what of that: hard it is to please all men who list amend it l●t him set to his p●nne ¶ For the guise now a days with phillippis en●●●emente Of sum iangrling iays Is to discommend that they can not amend Though they would spend All the wittis' they have ¶ what ail them to deprave Phillippe sparows g●aue His dirige: her commendacioun Can be no derogacyoun But mirth & consolacyoun Made by protestacyoun No man to myscontent ¶ Alas that goodly maid why should she be afraid why should she take shame That her goodly name Honourably reportid Should be set and sorted To be matriculate with ladies of estate ¶ I conjure the philip sparrow by hercules the hell did harow And with a venomows a-row Slew of the epidawris One of the centawris ¶ Or onocentauris Or hippocentaurus By whose might and main An heart was slain With hornnis twain Of glittering gold And the apples of gold Of hesperides with hold And with a dragon kept That never more slept By merciall strength He won at length ¶ And slew gerione with three bodies in one with mighty courage A dauntid the rage Of a lion savage. Of diomedis stable He brought out a rabyll Of coursers and roun●is wit leaps and bounsis ¶ And with mighty lugging wrestling and tugging He pluckid the bull By the hornid skull And offered to cornucopia And so forth per cetera ¶ Also by hecate's power In plutos ghastly tower ¶ By the ugly cumenides. that never have rest nor ease ¶ By the venemows serpent That in hell is never brent In lerua the greeks fen That was engendered then ¶ By chemeras flamys And all the deadly names Of infernalll posty where soulis fry and rosty ¶ By the stigiall flood And the streams wooed Of cochiros vottumles well By the ferryman of hell ¶ Charon with his beard hoar That rowyth with a rude ore And with his frownsid fortop. G●dith his boat with a prop ¶ I conjure phillippe & call In the name of king saul Primo regum express He bade the phitones To witch craft her to dres And by her abusiouns And damnable illusiouns Of marvelous conclusiouns. And by her supersticiouns Of wonderful condiciouns S●e raised up in the stead Samuel that was deed ¶ But whether it were so He were idem in numero T●e self same samuell How be it to saul he did tell The phillistimis should him askry And the next day he should die I will myself discharge To letterd men at large ¶ But philip I conjure the Now by they names three Diana in the woddis green Luna that sobryght doth sheen Proserpina in hell That thou shortly tell And show now unto me what the cause may be of this proplexyte ¶ Inferias phillippe tuas scroupe pulcra johanna Instanter pecut: cur nostri carminis illam Phillyppe answereth. Nunc pudet: est sero: minor est: infamia vero THen such that have disdained And of this work complained I pray god they be pained No worse and i● contained In verses two or three That follow as ye may see ¶ Luride curlivor volucrꝭ piafunera damnas Talia te rapian● rapiunt quefata volucrem. Boreus se in gurgitat ce/ no & luto se in mergit guari lius vero nenc. et sicut oportorium muta/ bis eos & mutabunt. p̄o. C. Exultabun/ tur cornua mufti. spalmo Est tamen invidia mors tibi continua THe grunting a groynninge gronning swine Also the murming of the mapely rote How the green coverlet suffered great pine when the fly net was set for to catch a cote S●rake one with a bird bolt to the heart rote Also a devout prayer to moyses hornis Metrifyde merely/ meddled with stormis ●●●quam pariet●●linato & ma●●rie depulse palmo. ¶ Of paiauntis that were played in ioyows guard He wrote of a muse throw a mud wall How a do came tripping in at the rear ward But lord how the parker was wroth with all Militat omnis ●mans et hent sua castra cupido. Ovid. And of castle angel the fenestrall Glittering and glistering and gloriously glasid It made sum men's eyn: dasild and dasid Introduxit me in cubuculun suum. caut. ¶ The repeat of the recoil of rosamundis bower Of his pleasant pain there and his glad distress In planting and plucking a proper ielo●fer flowrt But how it was sum were to reckless Not withstanding it is remedeles ●s fatue ball●t st●l●●●●. ca●●. w●at might she say: what might he do thereto T●ough ●ak said nay: yet mok there lost her shoe ¶ How than like a man he won the barbican A ●ac●s for 〈◊〉. U●●gili●● which a assault of solace at the long last T●e colour deadly swart blue and wan Ofexione her lambis deed and past T●e cheek and the nek but a short cast nesci● 〈◊〉 ho●m sortio 〈…〉 futuri. ●irgili●●●leeque my 〈…〉. georgi●●cor●. In for●unis favour ever to endure N● man living he saith can be sure ¶ How dame Minerva first found the olive tree: she red And plantid it there where never before was none: unshred An hind unhurt it by casuelte: not bled Recovered when the forster was gone: and sped Atque agmina cerui pulue/ rulenta glomerant. eneid. 4. due molates in pistrino uno ●ssūe● altera ●elīq̄●. isaia● The hearts of the herd began for to groan: and fled The hounds began to yearn & to quest: and dread with little besyves standeth much rest: in bed ¶ His epitomis of the miller & his jolly make How her ble was bright as blossom on the spray A wan●on wench and weal could bake a cake ●●oris vasta ● bitten e●● timoret intus pranor. p̄o. The myllar was loath to be out of the way But yet for all that be as be may whether he road to swassham or to some The miller durst not leave his wife at home with wofuf●ly arrayed and shamefully betrayed Opera que ego facio ipa ꝑhiben● testimonium de me In evang. etc. Of his making devout meditations Uexilla regis he devysid to be displayed with sacris solempniis and other contemplacyouns That in them comprisid considerations Thus passeth he the time both night and day sometime with sadness sometime with play Honora me/ dicum ꝓpter necessitatem creavit eum altissimus. etc. Superiores la●iones influunt in corpora/ subiecta et disponsita. etc. ¶ Though galiene and diascorides with hippocras and master avycen By there phesik doth many a man ease And though albumasar can the inform and ken what constellations are good or bad for men yet when the rain raineth and the goose wynkith Lytill wotith the gos●yng what the goose thinketh Nota. ¶ He is not wise again the stream that striveth Spectatum ad m●serisum tenea● amor Horace. Dun is in the mire dame reach me my spur when the stead is stolyn spar the stable dur Nededes must run rin that the devil dryvit A gentle hound should never play the kur It is soon espied where the thorn prikki●h ¶ Nota. And we'll wot●ch the cat whose beard she likkith ¶ with marione clarione sol lucerne Grand ivy: of this frenshe proverb old Lumen ad revelacionem gencium. p̄o.. Clxxu. How men were wont for to discern By candelmes day what wedder should hold But marione clarione was caught with a cold cold anglice a cokwolde & all overcast with cloudis unkind This goodly flower with stormis was untwind This iel●●●er gentle/ this rose this lily flower ●elut ro●a vel lilium O pulcherrima mulierum. etc. Cā● ecclesia. This prime rose peerless/ this proper violet This delicate dasy/ this strawberry prettily set This columbine clear and freshest of colour with froward frostis alas was all to fret But who may have a more ungraryous life Than a chyldis bird and a knavis wife Notat● uba signate mist ●ia. Gregori. ¶ Think what ye will Of this wanton bill By marry gipcy Quod scripsi scripsi ¶ Uxor tua sicut vitis Habetis in custodiam Custodite sicut scitis Secundum lucam. etc. ¶ Of the bone homs of a shrige beside barkamsted● That goodly place to skelton most kind where the sank royal is Christ's blood so read where upon he metrefyde after his mind A pleasant place than a shrige is hard where to find As skelton rehersi●h with words few and plain ¶ Nota. In his distinction made on verses twain Penuriam aq̄● nam canes ibi. hauriunt ex puteo altissio Stultorum infinitus est numetus. etc. ec●t'● Factum est cum apollo esset corinthi. ac●. apostolorunt Stimules sub pectore ●tit apollo. Uirgilius ¶ Fraximus in clino: frondetque viretsine viro. Non est subdivo: similissine flumine vivo. ¶ The nacyoun of fools he left not behind Item apollo that whirllid up his char That made sum to surt and snuff in the wind It made them to skip to stamp and to stare which if they be happy have cause to be ware In rhyming and railing with him for ●o mell For dread that he learn them there A. B. C. to spell ¶ Poeta Skelton. WIth that I stood up half suddenly a frayed Suppling to fame I besought her grace And that it would please her full ●tenderly I pray● Out of her ●okis apollo to raze Nay sir she said: what so in this place Fama repl●●ta malis ꝑ virilis evo/ lat alis. etc. Of our noble court is once spoken out It must needs after run all the world a bout ¶ God wot these words made me full sad And when that I saw it would no better be But that my petition would not be had what should I do but take it in gre Ego quidem sum pauli ego apollo. ●orum. For by jupiter and his high majesty I did what I could to scrape out the scrollis Apollo to raze out of her ragman rollis Malo me galathea petit lascina puel/ la. virgilius. ¶ Now here of it erkith me longer to write To occupation I will again resort which red on still as it came to her sight Rendering my devisis I made in disport Nec si mune tibus certes concedet iollas .2. bucol. Of the maiden of kent called comfort Of lovers testamentis and of ●here wanton wyllis And how iollas loved goodly phillis ¶ Diodorue siculus of my translation Out of fresh latin in to hour english plain mill ho●m species & rerum discolor usꝰ horace. R●ountyng commoditis of many a strange nation who redyth it once would read it again Sex volumis engrosid to gether it doth contain But when of the laurel she made rehearsal All orators and poets with other great and small Millia millium & decies millies centena millia. etc. apocalypsis. Uite senatum laureati pos/ sident. ecclesiastica. Caui●. ¶ A thousand thousand I trow to my doom Triumpha triumpha they cryid all about Of trumpettis and clariouns the noise went to rome The starry heaven me thought shook with the shower The ground gronid & tremblid the noise was so stout The queen of fame commanded she●t fast the book And there with suddenly out of my dream I work ¶ My mind of the great din was somedeal amasid I wypid mine eyen for to make them clear Then to the heaven sperycall upward I gasid where I saw janus with his double cheer Making his almanak for the new year He turned his tirikkis his voluell ran fast Good luck this new year the old year is passed Uates. Meus tibi sit consulta petis: sic consule menti Emula sit iani retro speculetur et ante ¶ Skeltonts alloquium Librum suum. ITe britannorum lux: O radiosa britamnum Carmina nostra pium vestrum celebra te catullun. ¶ Dicite Skeltonis vester adonis erat. ¶ Dicite Skeltonis vester homerus erat. ¶ Barbara cum lacio pariter iam currite versu: Et licet est ubo pars maxima texta britamnno. ¶ Non magis incompta: Nostra thaly a patet. ¶ Est magis inculta: Nec mea caliope. ¶ Nec vos penite at livoris telasubire. Nec vos peniteat rabiem tolerare caninam. ¶ Nam maro dissimiles Non tulit ille minas. ¶ Immunis necenim Musa nasonis erat. ¶ Envoy. SO little quaire demene you fair Take no despair Though I you wrote After this rate. In english letter ¶ So much the better welcome shall ye To sum men be For latin warkis Be good for clerks ¶ yet now and then Sum latin men May happily look Upon your book And so proceed. In you to read That so in deed your fame may spread In length and breed ¶ But then I dread ye shall have need. you for to speed To harness bright By force of might again envy And obloquy And wot ye why ¶ Not for to fight again despite Nor to derayne battle again Scornful disdain Nor for to chide Nor for to hide you cowardly ¶ But curteissy That I have pend. For to deffend Under the banner Of all good manner Under protection Of sad correction with toleration And supportation Of reformation If thy can spy Circumspectly Any word defacid That might be rasid ¶ Else ye shall pray Them that ye may Continue still with there good will ¶ Admonet Skeltonis: omnes arbores dare locum viridi lauro juxta genus suum. ARaxinus in siluis: altis In montibus Orni. Populus in flwiis Abies patulissima Fagus. Lenta Salix platanus pinguis ficulnea ficus Glandifera et Quercus/ pirus/ esculus ardua pinus. Balsamus exudans: oleaster/ oliva Minerva. junipirꝰ Buxus: lentiscus cuspide lenta. Botrigera & dno vitis gratissima Baccho Ilex & sterilis/ labrusta ꝑ rosa colonis Mollibus exudans fragancia thura Sabeis. Thus: redolens arabis parit notissima mirrha Et vos o corili fragiles: Humilesque mirice. Et vos o Cedri redolentes vos quoque mirti. Arboris omne genus viridi concedite Lauro: ¶ Prennees Engre ¶ En parliament A Paris. Justice est morte Et verity sommielle Droit et raison Sont alem aux pardo● ¶ Lem deux premiers Nul ne less resuelle Et lem derniers Sount corrumpus pardons. ¶ Out of frenshe in to latin. ¶ Abstulit atra dies countryman: Cana fides sed Sompno pressa jacet: Ius iter arripuit. ¶ Et secum racio proficistens limit longo Nemo duas primas evigilare parat ¶ Atque duo postrema abiunt. et numera tantum Impediunt: nequiunt ꝙ remeare domum. ¶ Out of latin in to english. ¶ justice now is deed Trowth with a drowsy heed As heavy as the lead Is laid down to sleep And taketh no keep ¶ & right is over the fallows Gone to seek hallows With reason to gether No man can tell wheth●● ¶ No man will undertake The first twain to wake ¶ And the twain last Be with hold so fast With money as men say They can not come again ¶ A grant tor● Foy do●●. ¶ H●r● end●th a right delectable tratyse upon a goodly ●●●londe or chapeler of laurel devised by master Skelton Poet laureate. ¶ imprinted by me richard faukes' dwellydg in duram rent or else in Powlis church yard at the sign of the A.B.C. The year of our lord god. M. CCCCC.xxiij. The three day of Octobre. Richard Fakes