This is the dyalogus or communing betwxt the wise king Solomon and Marcolphus.  
  

  

¶ Here beginneth the dyalogus or comynication betwixt Solomon the king of jherusalem and Marcolphus that right rude and great of body was but right subtle & wise of wit/ and full of understanding. as thereafter following men shall here.  
Upon a season heretofore ask salomon full of wisdom and richesse: sat upon the kings seat or stole that was his fathers david: saw coming a man out of theste that was named marcolphus. of visage greatly myshapen and fowl nevyrthelesse he was right talkatyf elloquend & wise. His wife had he with him which was more fearful and rude to behold And as they were both comen before king Solomon/ he beheld them well This marcolꝭ wa● of short stature and thykke Th●●hede had he great: a broad for heed red and full of wrinkelies or frouncies: his ears hery and to the mid dies of cheky hanging. great yes and running. his nether lip hanging like an horse. A beard hard and fowl like unto a goet. The hands short and blockyssh His fingers great and thick Round feet. & the nose thick and crooked. a face like an ass: and the here of his heed like the here ef a goet: his shoes on his feet: were ovyrmoche chorlysh and rude: and his clothes fowl and dirty. a short kote to the buttockys his ha' sin hinge. full of wrynkelies and all his clothes Were of the most soul colour. his wife was of short stature and she was out of measure thick with great breasts: and the here of her heed clustered like thystelies. She had long wyndebrowes like brostelies of a swine. Long cries like an ass. Renning eye: bearded like a goet her visage and skin black and full of wrynkelies/ and upon her great breasts she had of span broad: a broche of lead: She had short fingers. full of yreuryngys'. she had right great nostrils Her legs short. and hery like a bear her clothes were rough and broken/ of such a woman or of an other like unto hire: a youngman hath made these verses following  
Femina deformis tenebrarum subdita formis  
Cum turpifacie transit absque die.  
Est mala res multum turpi concedere cultum  
Sed turpis nimirum turpe ferat vicium  
That is to say an evil favoured and a fowl black wife behovyth to show the days light.  
It is to our yes medicine to see that fair is and fine  
asking salomon these two persons thus had seen/ & beholden: he demanded of they of whence they weryn & of what lineage they were common Marcolphus thereo answered. say first to us your kindred & genleagie & of your fathers & than shall I show & declare yond of ours/ Solomon. I am of the xij. kindreds of patriarchs. that is to weet that judas gate phares. phares got esron. Esron got aron Aron gendered aminadab Aminadab got naazon Naazon got salmon Salmon got boos/ Boosgatobeth Obethgat ysay. ysay got david king David got salomon the king & that am I. Marcolfus answered I am of the xij. kindred of Chorlys'. Rusticus got rustam Rusta got rustum/ Rustus got rusticellun. Rusticellus got tarcum Tarcus got tarcol. Tarcol got pharsi Pharsi got marcuel Marcuel got marquat/ Marquat got marcolphun & that is I. And my wife is comen of the blood and twelve kindreds of untydy wives. That is to know of lupica that got lupicana. Lupicanagat ludibrac Ludibrac got bonestrung Bonestrung got boledrut Boledrut got paldrut. Paldrut got lordan Lordangat curta. Curta got Curtula. Curtula got Curtella. Curtella got polica Polica got polycana. & this is my wife Polycana. Solomon said I have herd of the that thou kanst right we'll clatre and speak/ and that thou art subtile of wyt-although that thou be mysshapyn and chorlyssh: let us have between us altercacon. I shall make questions to the and thou shalt thereto answer. Marcolphus answered he that singyth worst hegynne first.  Salo. 
If thou kanst unswere to all my questions I shall make the rich and be named above all other within my reaume  Marcol. 
The physician promysyth the seek folk health when he hath no power  Salo. 
I have judged betwixt two light women which dwelled in oon house and forlaye a child.  Mar. 
Were ears are there are causes. where women be there are words  Salo. 
God yawe wysdam in my mouth. for me like is none in all parties of the world  Marcolfus. 
He that hath evil neighbories praysyth himself  Sal. 
The wykkydman fleeth. noman folwing  Marcol. 
When the kid rennyth: men may see his arse  Solomon 
A good wife and a fair. is to her husband a pleasure  Mar. 
A potfull of milk must be kept weal from the katte  Sal. 
A wise woman buildeth an house: and she that unwise and a fool is: destroyeth with her hands that the findeth made  Marc. 
A pot that is weal baken may best endure and that clean is browyn that may they fair drinken  Solomon 
A ferdefull woman shabbe praised.  Marcolfus 
A Latte that hath a good skin shallbe slain  Solomon 
A shamefast wife and a fair is mickle to be beloved  Marcol. 
To poor men white meet are to be kept.  Salo. 
A woman strong in doing good who shall find.  Mar. 
Who shall find a cat true in keeping milk  Salo. 
Noon  Mar. 
And a woman seldom.  Salo. 
A fair woman and an honest: is to be praised above all richesse that a man find may  Marcol. 
A fat woman and a great is larger in yevyng than other.  Salo. 
A whit kerchyf becomth weal a woman's heed.  Mar. 
It standeth written: that the fur is not all like the s●evys. and under a white cloth often are hid mothies  Sal. 
He that sowyth wickedness. shall reap evil.  Mar. 
He that sowyth chaff shall poorly mow.  Salo. 
Out of the mouth of a holy man shall come good learning & wisdom  Mar. 
The ass behovyth to be all weigh where he fedyth. for there it groweth: where he eryth congres: there grow xl. again where he dungyth: there it fattyth: where he pyssyth there maketh he wet and where he wallowyth there breaketh he the straw.  Sal. 
let an other praise the  Mar. 
if I should myself dispraise noman shall I please.  Sal. 
Thou shalt eat much any.  Mar. 
That beys dryve lykke fast their fingers  Sal. 
In an evil willed heart the spirit of wisdom shall not enter.  Mar. 
As ye smite with an axe in an hard tree beware that the chips fall not in your eye.  Shall 
It it is hard to spurn avenst the sharp prykyl.  Mar: 
The ov that draweth bacwarde shallbe twice pricked.  Sal 
Feed up your children & from thayre youth learn they to do well.  Mar. 
He that fedyth well is cow eateth often of the milk.  Salo. 
Allmaner kinds turn again to their first nature:  Mar. 
A worn table cloth turneth again to his first kind Sal What the judge knoweth of right & truth that speaketh he out.  Mar. 
A bishop that speaketh not is made a porter of a gate  Salo. 
Honour is to be yeven to the master and the rod to be feared  Mar. 
He that is wont to anoint the judges hands often times he maketh his ass lean  Sal. 
A yen a strongr & mighty man thau shalt not fight ne stryve against the stream  Marc. 
The vultier taketh the skin of strong fowls & maketh thaym naked of their fethrs'/ Salo let us amend us in good that unwythyngly we have miss done  Mar. 
As a man wypyth his arse he doth nothing else  Shall 
Wylthonn of deceive any man with fair word.  Mar 
By wit he eateth that gretyth the either:  Salo 
with brawling people hold no company  Marc 
/ It is reason that he of the swine eat that medlyth among te burns/  Sal 
There be many that kan have no shame/  Mar 
/ They live under the men that are like to hounds.  Shall 
There are many that to their good doers do evil for good  Marcolphus 
He that yevyth bred to an other many shownde shall have no thank  Solomon 
It is no friend that dureyth not in petition  Mar 
The dung of a calf stynkyth not long/  Sal 
He seeketh many occasions that will depart from his mayst/  Mar 
/ A woman that will not consent. saith that she hat a scabbed arse.  Solomon 
A kings word should be unchangeable or steadfast/  Marcolfus 
he is soon weary that plowyth with a wolf.  Solomon 
The radissh roots are good meet but they stink in the Counsel.  Mar. 
He that eateth Radyssh roots coughyth above and undyr.  Sal. 
It is lost that is spoken a fore people that understood not what they here. Mr. Helesyth his shaft that shetyth in the sand: Sal. He that stoppyth his cries from the crying of the poor people. our lord god shall not hear him  Mar. 
He that wepyth afore a judge loseth his teries:  Sal. 
Rise up thou northern wind and come forth thou southern wind and blow through my garden and the weal smelling herbs shall grow and multiply:  Marc. 
When the northern winds blow than been the high houses in great trouble and danger:  Salo. 
The death nor poverty will not be hid  Mar: 
A man that is brostyn and hide it they grow the moee/ Sal. As thou syttyst at a Richemans' table behold diligently what cometh afore thee:  Mar. 
all meats that is ordained for the body/ must through the belly: and it goth in the stomach:  Salo. 
When thou syttyst at the table beware that thou taste not furst:  Mar. 
He that syttyth in the highest seat/ he holdeth the uppermost place  Sal 
As the strong the weak winneth/ he taketh all that he hath:  Mar. 
The cat seeth weal whose verde she lick shall:  Salo: 
That he wicked feryth that falleth him often:  Mar: 
He that doth evil and hopyth good is deceived in they both  Sal 
For the cold the slothful would not go to plough be heggyd his breed: and no man would him yepe  Mar 
A naked ars no man kan rob or despoil  Salo. 
Study maketh a master welewylled  Mar. 
Thandys that are used in the fire fear not the ketyll.  Sal. 
Brawlers and janglers are to be kaste out of all good company  Mar. 
An angry ho wsewyf/ the smoke/ the rat and a broken platter/ are often times unprofitable in an house  Sal. 
For God's love men are bounden to love other/  Marc 
/ If thou love him that lovyth not the thou loseth thine love  Salo. 
say not to thy friend come to morrow I shall yeve thee/ that thou mayst forth with yeve him  Mar. 
He saith an other time he shall do it that hath noth wherewith ready for to do it with all  Sal. 
He that is wine drunken: holdyth nothing that he saith  Marcolphus 
An opyn arse hath no lord Salo/ Many coveyte to have richesse that with poverty are held under/  Mlarcol. 
Eat that ye have/ and se what shall remaigne  Solomon 
There are many that sustain hungyr and yet feed they their wyves  Mar. 
The poor had ne breed and yet he bought an hound  Shall 
The fool answereth after his foolishness/ for that/ he should not be known wise/  Mar 
/ what the stone heareth/ that shall te oak answer  Sal. 
wrath hath no mercy/ & trefore he that angrily speaketh/ beyth evyle or shrewdly/  Mar 
/ Say not in thine anger to thy friend no evil/ lest thou forthynke it astreward  Sal. 
The mouth of an enemy can say no good. ne his lips shall sound no truth:  Mar. 
he that lovyth me not/ doth not diffame me/  Salo. 
sleep as ye have need/  Ma 
/ He that layeth him down to step & can not/ is not at his hearts ease  Sal 
We have well filled our beliys let us thank god  Mar. 
As the ouzel whystelyth so answereth the thrush the hungry and the sulle sing not oon song  Sal. 
let us eat and drink we shall all die  Marc. 
The hungry dieth aswele as the full fed: As a man playeth upon an harp he kan not weal indict  Mar. 
So when the hound shytyth he berkyth noth  Sal: 
The wretched womb is full go we now to bed.  Marcol. 
He turneth and walowyth & stepyth evil that hath not for to eat.  Salo. 
Despise thou not a little gift that is yeven the of a true friend  Mar. 
That a Geldyd man hath that yevyth he to his neighborwes/  Salo 
/ Go thou not with the cvyll man or the braweling: lest thou suffer evil for him or peril  Marcolphus 
A deed be maketh no honey/  Salo. 
If thou make frendeship with a false and evylwylled man. it shall hinder the more than profit:  Marcolphus: 
What the wolf doth/ that pleaseth the wolfesse  Solomon: 
He that answereth afore he is demanded she with himself a fool:  Mar 
When a man tredyth drawelto you your feet  Shall 
Every thing chooseth his like:  Mar 
/ Where a scabbed horse is/ he sekyth his like and either of they gnappyth other  Salo. 
A meycyfull man doth weal to his soul/  Mar: 
He despiseth a great gift that knoweth not himself.  Shall 
He that skapyth te wolf/ metyth the lion/  Mar 
colfus From evil into worse/ as the Look to a baker:  Sal 
Ware that no man do the non evil/ if he do/ do it not again  Mar 
/ The still standing watyr/ & the man that speaketh but little/ believe thaym not  Salo. 
We may not all be like  Mar 
/ It standeth written in a book/ he that hath no horse must go onfote.  Salo. 
A Child of an hundred year is cursed  Mar. 
It is to late an old hound in a band to lead.  Sal. 
He that hath shallbe yeven/ & shall flow.  Mar. 
Woe to that man that hath friends & no breed/ Salome/ who to that man that hath a do wble heart/ and inbothe ways will wander.  Mar 
He that/ wall two ways go must eythre his arse or his breach tear/ Salome/ Of abundance of theart the mouth spekyst/  Mar. 
Out of a full womb tharse trompyth/  Salo 
/ Two oven in one pocke draw like:  Mar. 
Two veins go like to oon ars.  Sal. 
A fair woman is to belove of hire husband/  Mar 
/ In the neck is she white as a dove, and in the ars black and dark like a molle.  Salo: 
Out of the generation of inda is my most kyndrede/ n the lord of my father hath made governor ovyr his people:  Mar. 
I know weal a tabylcloth: and of what work it is made.  Solomon 
Need maketh a right wise man to do evil  Mar. 
The wolf that is take and fet fast/ eythre he biteth or shytyth.  Sal. 
Were it so that god alle the world under my power had set/ it should suffice me/  Marc. 
Men kan not yeve the katte so much/ but that she will her tail wag.  Sal. 
He that late cometh to dinner his part is least in the meet  Mar. 
The glouton can not see or run alaboute/  Salo. 
Though it be so that thy wife be sour fere her not.  Mr 
The shephde that wakyth well: there shall the wolf no wool shit:  Sal. 
It beconth no fools to speak or to bring forth any wise reason.  Mar. 
It become not a dog to bear asadyll/  Salo 
/ whiles the children are little: reighte their limbs: & manners/  Marc: 
He that kyssyth the lamb lovyth the sheep?  Salo. 
all reyght paths goon to wards don weigh:  Marc 
/ So done all the veins run towards the arse:  Salo. 
Of a good man cometh a good wife:  Marcolf 
Of a good meal cometh a great torde that men with their feet tread So must men also/ all the bestial wines tread under foot/  Salo: 
A fair wife become well by her husband/  Marc. 
A pot full with wine becomth well by the thrusty/  Salo. 
well become a fair sword by mysyde.  Mar 
/ Well becomth my hedge a great heap of stonies  Sal. 
The greater that ye be the more meek should ye be in all things/  Mar 
/ he rydyth well that ridyth with his fellows/  Sal 
The wise child gladyth the father: & the foolish child is a sore we to the modyr/  Mar. 
They sing not all oon song the glad & the sorry:  Salo. 
he that sowyth with skaerstye/ repyth skaersty:  Mar: 
The more it fryseth the more it vyndeth:  Sal. 
do all things by counsel & thou shalt not astre forthinke it.  Mar 
/ he is sekeynough that the sickness draweth or followeth:  Sal. 
all things have their seasons & time:  Mar. 
Now day to morwe day. said the ox: that the hare chased.  Sa. 
I am weary of spekyug: let us therefore rest  Mar: 
Therefore shall not I leave my clapping:  Sa: 
j may no more Mar/ if ye may no more yield yourself ovyr comen: & give me that ye have promised With that spoke to maacolf Hanany as the son of joiade: and zabus the kings friend: and adonias the son of abde which hadden the charge and governanee ovyr the kyges tribute/ and said: Thou shalt not therefore be the third in the kingdom of our sovereign lord Men shall rather put both thine worst eyen out of thy most vile heed: for it become the better to lie among verys: than to be exalted to any dignity or honour/ Than marcolphus said wherefore hath the king than promised Than said the kings seven. provosts/ that is to wite Neuthur Benadachar Benesya Bena Benanides Banthabar Athurady Bominia/ josephus Seems and Samer/ Whereto cometh this fool our sovereign lord althus to trouble and mock Why drive ye him not out/ with stavies of his fight though said salomon/ not so but give him weal to eat and drink/ and let him than go in pease To spoke marcolphus goyug his weigh to the king I suffer enough what that ye have said I shall always say There is no king were no law is  
once upon a time the king road an hunting with his hunteries and ho wndes and fortuned him to come by the house of marcolf: And turned himself thid rewards with his horse and demanded with his heed inclined under the dorre bow. who was within. Marcolf answered to the king: within is an hool, man & an half. & an horse heed/ & the more that they ascend the more they down fall To that spoke salomon what menyst thou therewithal/ though answered marcolphus The hole man is myself sitting within/ ye are the half man sitting without upon your horse looking in with your heed declynedy. And the horse heed is the heed of your horse that ye sit on: Than Solomon demawded of Marcolphus what they were that clymen up and fallyn down.  Marcol: 
answered & said: they are the benies boylling in the pot Salome/ where is thy father: thy modyr/ thy Sustyr/ and thy brothyr/  Mar 
My father is in the field and maketh of oon harm two My modyr is goon and doth to her neighborwe that she nevyr more shall do/ my brothyr lytting without the house steyth all that he findeth My sustyr syttyth in hire. Chambre & be wepyth that a fore time she laughed.  Salome 
What betokenth they  Mar: 
My father is in the field and puttyth or setteth thorns in a foot path/ & coming men they make an other path thereby/ & so he maketh of oon harm two My modyr is goon and closyth the yes of her neyghborwe deying the which she shall hevyr more do My brothyr sitting without the house in the son & lo wsyth & all that he findeth he slayeth My sustyr/ the last year loved a young man and with kissing/ laughing/ tasting: japing & playing: she was getyn with child: whereof she now travayllyth/ and that now she bewepyth sore:  Solomon 
How cometh to the all this wisdom & subtlety/  Marcolfus 
In the time of king david your father there was a yongeman his physician. & as he once had take a vulture for to occupy in his me dicins/ and had take thereof that was to him expedient So took your modyr Barsebea the heart & laid it upon a crust of breed and roasted it upon the fair/ and gave you the heart to eat/ and I than being in the kechin she kast at my heed the crust through moisted with theart of the vulture: & that eat j and thereof I suppose is comen to me my subtlety like as to you is comen by eting of theart wisdom.  Solomon 
As verily god help the. in gabaa good appeared to me & fulfilled me with sapience: Marcolphus He is holdyn wise that reputyth himself a fool:  Sa. 
Haste thou not herd what richesse god hath yevyn me aboven that wisdom  Mar. 
I have heard it And i know well that where god will/ there reynyth if. To that said salomon all laughyngly/ my folks wait/ upon me without j may no leugyr with the talk/ but say to thy modyr that she send me of her best cow a pot full of milk and that the pot of the same cow be covered & bring thou it to me:  Marcolphus 
It shallbe done. King salomon with his company riding to wardys' Jerusalem was honourably received as a rich and most puyssant king. And when floscemy a marcolphus modyr was common home to her house/ he deed to her the kings message Than she taking a pot full with milk of her cow/ and covered it with a flawn of the same milk made. and sent it so forth to the king by her son as marcolphus went ovyr the field the wethir was warm of the son saw lying there a dry bakyn cow torde: & for haste he uneath could set down the pot to the earth but that he had etyn the fsawne/ and took up the cow torde. and therewith covyrd the pot: And so covyrd presented it before the king. and he asked why is the pot thus covyrd.  Marcolf 
My lord have not ye commanded that the milk should becovyrd of the same cow/ Salo. I commanded not so to be done:  Mar. 
Thus I understood/  Sal. 
It had been better covered with a fsawne made with the milk of the same Low.  Mar. 
So was it first done/ but hungyr chamigyd wit  Sal 
How:  Marc. 
I wist weal that ye had no need of meet/ and I having great hungyr eat the fsawne with milk anyonted and for that with wit changed the pot I have thus covered with a cow torde.  Shall 
now leave me all this. and if that thou this night wake not aswele as I: thou mayst have no trust to morn of thy heed. Solomon & maccolph consented both. & within a little while after marcolph began to rout/ Salo. said marcolf thou stepyst:  Marcolph 
answered. Lord I do not I think/  Solomon 
/ what thinkyst thou/  Marcolf 
I think that there are as many joynties in the tail of an hare/ as I hire chine:  Solomon 
if thou ꝓve not that to morn thou art worthy to die Solomon being still/ began marcolph to sleep: again and said to him/ thou slepyst And he answered I do not/ for I think/  Solomon 
what thinkest thou/  Marcolphus 
/ I think that the pie hath as many white fethries as black.  Salomo 
But thou also prove that true thou shalt lief thine heed/ As salomon again began to be still  
Marcolph began again terowte and to blow And Solomon said to him thou slepyst/  Marcolphus 
Nay I think/  Solomon 
/ What thinkest thou/  Marcolph 
I think that under therhe is no clearer thing than the/ day  Salome 
Is the day clearer than milk/  Marcolph 
je/ Solomon That must thou prore. Anon hereupon began marcolphus to sleep.  Salo. 
Thou slepyst  Mar 
/ I sleep not but I muse  Solomon 
What musyst thou.  Marcolph 
I muse how that men may not surely trust the women.  Solomon 
And that of the shaw provided Anon after as Solomon was srylle began marcolf again to blow and to sleep. Salomo Thou slepyst.  Marcolph 
do not but I think/  Solomon 
What thinkest thou  Marcoph 
I think how that nature goth afore learning:  Solomon: 
If thou prove not that true thou shalt lose thine heed/ A ftyr that the night was ovyr passed and salomon very of waking put himself to rest Than marcolf left the king and ran hastily to his sustyr Fudasa: and feigned himself forwefull. and hevy. and said to hire: The king Solomon is against me/ and I may not bear his threyties and injuries: and but I shall take this knife/ & hide it secretly undyr my clothes/ and there with this day all privily he not knowing I shall smite him to theart and slay him: now good dear sustyr I pray the accuse me not but in any wise keep it secret ne show it not to mine own brothyr Bufrydo/ Fudasa answered my dear and leevest brothyr Marcolf put no doubts therein I had levyr die and be brent at a stake rather than I should discover it or accuse thee/ after that returned marcolf all pryvely towards the kings Court The son rising & spreading her beamys ovyr there the jllnmined & fulfilled the kingys' palace: and solomon rising from his bed went and sat in the throne or seat of his palace Than commanded he to bring to fore him an hare. and asmany joints in his tail as in his chine were fownden by marcolph and nombredys' ¶ then was there apye brought before the king/ and asmany white fethries as black were fownden by marcolph And than took marcolph a great pan with milk and set it in the kings bed chambre all pryvely. and closed to all the windows that no light might in come then called he the king into the chamber/ And as he come in he stumbled at the pan & was nigh fallyn therein though was the king angry and displeased/ & said thou fowl evil body/ what is it that thou dost  Marcolphus 
answered ye ought not herefore to be angry. For have ye not said that milk is clearer than the day How is it that ye see not aswele by the clearness of the milk as ye do by the clearness of the day semble egaly and ye shall find that I have nothing misdone unto you  Solomon 
God foryene the. my clothes be all with milk sprongyn And nigh I had my neck broken and yet thou haste me nothing trespassed  
Marcolphus answered anothre time see better to fore youlnevyrhtelesse sit down and do me justice upon a matter that I shall show afore you: When he was set Marcolph complained and showed Lord I have a sustyr that hath to name Fudasa and she hath yeven hyrself to horedam and is with child wherewith she shamyth and dishonesty dalle our blood and lineage: and yet would she part with me in my fathres good and heritage then said Solomon let her come a fore us: And we shall hear her what she will say hereto. As Solomon saw her come from far said all laughyngly This may weal be Marcolphus sustyr This fudasa was short and thyeke and thereto was she great with child and thus was she thicker than she was of lenghthe She had thick legs and short. and went on boat lame/ with visage/ then and stature lick to Marcolph. Solomon said to Marcolph/ What complainest or askyst thou of thy sustyr. Marcolph answered My lord I complain and show opynly afore you of my sustyr that she is a strong harlot and a strumpet and is with child. as ye may see and all our blood and kindred by her is shamed. that withstanding she would deal and part with me in my fathres good and heritage Wherefore I require you of justice. and that ye command hire that she take no part ne make no claim thereto. This hearing Fudas● replete with anger and woednesse cried on high and said: Thou foul mysshapyn harlot wherefore should not I have my part in our fathers good and heritage. and is not Floscemya mother to us boat:  Marcoph 
Thou shalt not have any deal or part therein For thin offence judgeth the clearly therefro/ Fudasa Therefore I may not lose mine heritage. For have j misdone I shall amend it/ but oon thing I promise the and swear by god and all his might. if thou wilt not let me be in pease: and suffer me to have my parthe in the land. I shall show such a thing of the. that the king or it be night shall do the to behangyd:  Marcolphus. 
Thou fowl stinking hore. what kanst thou say of me I have no man misdone/ say thy worst I dyffye thee/ thou haste much misdone thou foul faced knave and ribald that thou art. For thou gladly wouldst slay the king/ and if ye believe not me seek undyr his cote & ye shall find the knife though was the knife sought by the kings servants and it was not fownde-Sayde marcolph to the king and to the aboutestanders. And have I not said truth: that men should not put ovyrmoche trust or confidence in the women. with that they all begun to laughen  
though said salomon. Marcolph Thou dost all thy things by craft and subtlety Marcolph answered Lord it is no subtlety. but that my sustyr had promised me to have kept it secret/ & she hath falsely discovered it as though it had been of a truth. Solomon/ wherefore haste thou said that art or nature. goth before learning Marcolph Take patience a little and afore or ye go to bed I shall show you The day passed ovyr and the time of souper came on. The king sat to sowper and other. With whom sat marcolph. and had all pryvely put unto his sleve three quick mice There was nourished in the kings house a Cat▪ that every night as the king sat at sowper. was wont to hold betwixt hire fore feet a brenning kandell upon the table. then let marcolphoon of the mice go out of his sleve. As the cat that saugh she would have leapt after: but the king ya uc her a wink or countenance that she bode still sitting and removed not. and in like wise deed she of the second mouse/ then let marcolph the third mouse go: and as the katte saw he could no longer abide. but kaste the kandell away and leapt after the mouse and took it And as marcolph that saw: said to the king Here I have now proved before you that nature goth afore learning: though commanded Solomon his servants. have this man out of my sight: and if he come hythre any more/ set my hounds upon him.  Marcolphus: 
now for certain I know and may say that where as the heed is seek and evil at ease/ there is no law  
As marcolph was thns out dryven: he saide to himself/ neythre so nor so shall the wise Solomon of marcolf be quite. on the next morning following as he was out of his couch or kennel risen he bethought him in his mind how he might best get him again into the kings court without hurt or devouring of the hounds he went & bought a quick hare & put it under his clothes & go again to the court And when the kings servants had sight of him they let upon him all the hounds & forthwith he cast the hare from him: and the hounds after. & left marcolph. and thus came he again be the king And as he saw him he asked who had letyn him in/ Marcolph answered with great sutyltie am j in comen. Sal Beware that this day thou spit not but upon the bare ground: The palace was all covered with tapetties. & the walls hanged with rich clothes. Marcof within short space after/ with his talking & clattering with other his mouth was full of spytyll began to cough and reach up/ beholding alaboute him where he might best spit & cowd find no bare earth: saw a bald man standing by the king bareheaded and spatyld evyn upon his forehead. The bald man was therewith ashamed made clean his forehead: and fill on kneyes before the kingys' feet and made a complaint upon marcolph. Solomon Wherefore haste thou made fowl the forehead of this man. Mar. I have not made it fowl but j have dunged it or made it fat. for on a barren ground. it behovyth dung to be laid. that the corn that is thereon so win may the better grow and multiply. Saolmon What is that to this man. Mar. My lord have ye not forbedyn me that this day I should not spit but upon the bare earth & I saw his forehead all bare of hairs: and thinking it 〈◊〉 vare earth. and therefore I spitted upon it The king shall not be angry for this thing for i have done it for the man's profit for and if his so rehede were thus used to be made fat the hairs should aven increase & multiply. Salo. God give the shame for the bald men aught to be abouen other men in honure. for balyonnesse is no shame but a beginning. of worship. Marcolphus/ Balydnesse is a flies nest Behold j not fire how the flies follow more high forehead than all the other that been within this house. for why they trowen that it be a vessel turning full wythsom good drink or else to be a stone anointed with any sweet thing. and therefore they haste them to his bare forehead To this said the bald man afore the king: Whereto is this most vile ribald suffered in the kings presence us to rebuke and shame. let him be kast out. Marcolph/ and be it pease in thy virtue/ and j shallbe still. herewythall come in two women bringing with them a lyving child/ for the which they afore the king began to stryve: For the oon said it be longyd to hire/ but the oō of them had forlayne hire child sleeping So that they were mstryre for the levying child/ Solomon said to oon of his servauntiss: take a sword & depart this child in two pieces: and yeve either of them the oon half/ That hearing the natural bodyr of the lyvyng child: said to the king Lord j beseech you jeve it to that woman all hool lyving/ for the his the verraye modyr thereof. Than said Solomon that she was the modyr of the child▪ and gave it to hire/ Marcolph demanded of the king how he the modyr knew. Solomon By changing of her colour and affection and by effusion of teties/ Marcolphus ye myghthe so bedisceyved/ for believe ye the weeping of the women/ and are so wise and know the craft of them no better/ whyllies a woman wepyth she laughyth with theart/ They kan weep with oon eye/ and laugh with the othyr. They make countenance with the visage that they think not They speak with the tongue that they mean not with theart They promise many times that they parforme not-bnt they change their contenaunces as their minds run/ The women have innumerable crafts/ Solomon As many crafts as they have/ so many good conditions and propyrtyes they have/ Marcolphus Say not good conditions or propyrtyes. but say shrewdnessies and deceptions. Solomon Surely she was an hore that bare snche a son. Marcolph Wherefore say ye so▪ Solomon For thou blamyst all women/ and they are honest chaste meek loving and curtayse/ Marcolf To that might ye add & say that they are brotyll and mutable. Solomon If they be brotyll: that have they of man's condition/ if they be change able that have they by delectacioun: Woman is though made of man's rybbe/ and yeven unto him for his help and comfort For woman is asmuch to say as a weak earth or a weak thing/ Mar: in likewise it is asmuch to say as a soft error/ Sal There liest thou false kaytyf Thou must needs be cryll and onhappy▪ that sayest so much shame and harm of women For of women we are all comen/ and therefore he that saith evil of the kind of women is greatly to be blamed for what is richesse/ wat is kingdoms/ what is possessions what is goold what is sylver what is costly clothing or precious stonies▪ what is costly meats or drinks. what is good company or solace what is mirth whitoute women. On truth they may call weal the world deed that from women are exiled or banished For women must bear the children they feed & nourish them up/ and love them well She desyryth thayre helthies She governeth the household. She forwyth the health of her husband & household. women is the delectation of all things: she is the sweetness of youth She is the solace of joy of age. She is gladness of children: She is joy of the day She is solace of the night She is the gladynd of labour. of all hevynesses. she is the forgeter She servyth whithoute grudging And she shall watch my going out and mine incoming. Thereupon answered marcolphus. he saith truth. that thinkyth with his heart. as he speaketh with his mowth. ye have the women in great favour/ & therefore ye praise them. richesse nobylnesse/ fairness & wisdom be in you. and therefore it behovyth you to love women. but y assure you one thing albe it that ye now praise them ovyr much/ or ye sleep ye shall dispraise them as fast. Solomon Thereof thou shalt lie/ for all my live days I have loved women & shall during my life. But now go from me/ & see weal to. that before me thou nevyr speak evil of women Than marcolphus going out of the kings palace. called to him the woman that had her child to hire yeven ayen by the king and said to hire knowyst thou not what is done & concluded in the kingys' counsel to day. She answered my child is yevyn me again alive/ what else there is done. that know not I. though said marcoph the king hath commanded & is uttyrly determined that to morwe thou and thy fellow shall come again afore him: and that thou shalt have the one half of thy child & thy fellow the other half Than said the woman O what evil king/ & what false & untrue sentence yevyth he. Marcoph said yet shall j show the grettyr matters & more chargeable & of grettyr weight The king & his counsel hath ordained that evyr man shall have seven. wives therefore remember & think what therein is best to be done. for as one man hath seven. wives. so shall their nevyr. more be rest or pease in thousese. one shallbe beloved an other shall displease him for her that he lovyth shallbe most with him: and the other nevyr or seldom She shallbe weal clothed & the other shallbe forgetyn: her that he lovyth best shall have ryngys' jo wells goold sylvyr furs & were fylkys She shall keep tije keys of all the house She shallbe honoured of all the servaunties and be called masters all his goods shall fall to hire: what shall then say the other vj. And if he love tweryne: what shall the other v. say & if he love three what shall say the other three & if he love iiij▪ what shall the other iij. do & c̈. That he lovyth best he shall always have by him & kiss hire and half hire The othyr shall mow say that they are neythre widows nor wedded nor yet unwedded. nor without husband They shall mow well forthynke that they have their mayndehede lost There shall evyr strife anger envy and braweling reign & if there be not found a remedy herefore many great inconvenyencies shall grow there of And by cause that thou art a woman and well acquainted with the conditions of women: haste the and show this to all the ladies and women within this city and advise them that they ●sente not to it in any wise. but withstand it. and say against the king and his counsel. Marcolf returned and went again to the court & pryvely hid him in a corner And the woman trowed his words to be true. ran through the city & clapped hire hands to gydre and cried with opyn mouth & showed all that she had herd and more And each neyghborwe or gossip said it forth to an other/ So that in short time there was a great assemble or gathering of women well nigh that all the women that weren within the City. and see gathered went to the kings palace well by the number of uj M●. women/ and brake up doors and ovyr went the king and his counsel with great malice and loud crying: The king as he this herd/ avid what the cause was of thayre gathering. To that oon woman that wiser and more eloquent than the other: said unto the king. most mighty prince to whom goold/ sylver▪ precious stones and all richesse of the world though you are brought ye do one thing as ye will. and non ayensayth your pleasure: ye have a Queen and many queens. and oryr that ye have concubines or paramours without number or as asmany as you pleaseth for ye have all that ye will: So may not every man d● Solomon answered God hath anointed and made me king in jsrahel may I not than do and accomplyssh all my will Do your will wy●●… your own. and meddle not with us. We are of the noble blood of Abraham and hold moyses law/ Wherefore will ye thane that change and alter ye are bounden to do right and justice. wherefore do ye unright. though said Solomon with great unpatience. Thou shame full wife what unright or wrong do y She answered: as great unright do ye as can be thought or imagined For ye have ordained that every man shall have mow lawfully seven. wines/ & certaynli that shall not be: For there is not that prince/ duke/ or earl/ that so rich and puissant is/ but that oon woman alone shall mow fullfylle. all his desires and will. what than should he do with vij wyves: it is aboven any man's might or power: It were better ordained that oon woman should have seven. husbands Than said Solomon all laughyngly I had not trowed that of men had been fewer in number than of women though kryed all the women as mad people with out any reason/ ye are anevyle king & your sentences been false and unrightful Now may we well here & see that it is truth that we have herd of you: and that ye have of us said evil: and thereto ye skorue & mock us before our visages that we see it O lord god who was so evyle as soul that reigned ovyr us first yet david was worse/ and now this Solomon wert of all than the king being full of wrath said There is no heed more worse than the serpent/ and there is no malice to the malice of a woman: for it were better to dvelle with serpents and lions/ than with a wicked woman all evil are but little though the cursedness: of a shrewd woman all wickedness fall upon women/ as the sand falleth in the shoes of the oolde people going up an hill So a talkatyf woman and dishobedyent is a great confusion That wife that is hlr husbands master is evyr contrary to him An evil wife maketh a patient heart. and a sorry visage & if as plague of the death A woman was the beginning of sin/ and through hire we die all The woman that is luxurious may men known in the uppermest of hire yes. and by her brows For hire yes are without revyrence & their need noman wonder although she forget her husband As the king althus had said. so spaknathan the prophet and said My lord why rebuke ye & shame ye thus all these women of iherusalem. Solomon have ye not herd what dishonour they have said of me without deserving Na than answered he that will with his subgietties live in rest & pease/ he must some time be blind dumb. & deef. Solomon. it is to be answered to a fool after his foolishness. though sprang Marcolph out of the corner that he sat in/ and said to the king/ now have ye spoken after mine intent. for ones this day ye praised women out of all measure/ and now have ye dispraised them asmuch. that is it that I sought: always ye make my saying true: Salo. Thou fowl evyle body/ knowyst thou of this commotion: Marcolph/ nay. nevyr thelesse ye should not give credence to all thing that ye here though said the king salomon go from hens out of my sight: & I charge the that j see the nomere betwixt the yes/ forth with was marcolph kast out of the kings palace/ Than they that stoden by the king saiden: mylord speak to thief women somewhat that may please them to here. to th'intent that they may depart Than turned the king towards they & said your goodness shall understand. that I am not to be blamed in that: that ye lay to my charge/ That evil sayer marcolf/ that ye here late saw. hath out of himself all this matter surmised & feigned: and every man shall have his own wife & her with faith & honesty love and cherish That I have spoken against the wyves I have not said it but against the froward wyves who should of the good wyves speak any evil For a good wife maketh her husband glad and blithe with hire goodness She is a part the lyring of hire husband upon earth. and her learning advauntagyth or forthryth his body She is a gift of god/ A wise wife and a still is a grace above graces/ A good shame fast and an honest wife is like the son climbing up to god. A wife of good condioyons is the ornament or apparel of the house. She is a light shining bryghther/ than the light of candeliys: She is like the goolden pillar standing upon her feet and an ovyr fast fnndament grwnded upon a sure stone without mutations and the command manties of god evyr in her mind/ The heoly god of Israhel bless you and multiply your seed and kyndre bede/ unto the end of the world though said they all/ amen: And took leve of the king and went their ways: Marcoph bearing in his mind of the unkindness that the king had commanded him that he should no more so him betwixt the yes Thought in himself. what was best to do. It happened that the next night following fill a great snow Marcolphus took a little Cyve or Temse in his oon hand & a foot of a bear in the other hand: and he turned his shoes that stood forwards upon his feet backward and upon the morning early he began to go like a beast upon all four feet through the street. and when he was comen a little without the town: he found an old oven and crept into it. And as the light of the day was on comen. oon of the kingys' servants found the footstappies of marcolph. and thought that it was the trace or stappies of & merveylous best & in all haste went & showed it to the king then incontinent with hunters and hounds he went to hunt and seek the said wonderful beast and followed it unto they comen before the oven where they had lost and found no more of the steps. The king Solomon descended from his horse and began to look into the oven. Marcolpus lay all crooked his visage from him wards. had put down his breach into his hams that be might see his arse hole and all his other fowl gear. As the king Solomon that seeing demawnded what lay there. Mar. answered j am here: Sal wherefore liest thou thus/ Marcolf. for ye have commanded me that ye should no more see me betwixt mynyes Now and ye will not see me betwixt mynyes: ye may see me between my buttockies in the mids of mine arsehole: Than was the king sore moved commanded his servants to take him & hang him upona tree/ Mar. So take. said to the king: Mylord well it please you to yeve me leave to choose the tree whereupon that j shall hang Salsayde be it as thou haste desired/ for it forcyth not on what tree that thou be hanged/ Than the kings servants token & leddyn marcolph without the city/ & through the vale of iosaphath & ovyr the hight of the hill of olyvete from theus to ierirho. & could find no tree that marcolf would cheese to be hanged on From thence went they ovyr the flome jordan and all araby through And so forth all the great wilderness unto the red see: And nevyrmore could marcolph find a tree that he would cheese to hang on And thus he escaped out of the danger & hands of king salomon/ and turned again unto his house/ and lived in pease & joy And so moat we all do aboven with the father of heaven Amen   

¶ imprinted at andewerpe by me M. Gerardleen