Hoccleve's works. Ed. by Frederick J. Furnivall.

[§ 15. OF PEACE.]

(718)

Touche I wol heere, of pees, a worde or two, [This page is illuminated] [¶ Scriptum est, Qui am|plectitur pa|cem in mentis hospicio ⁴ mansionem preparit Christo, &c.⁴ [4_4 added in R.] leronimus: Qui sine pace est, christum non habet. apud christi|anos non qui patitur sed qui facit con|tumeliam miser est.] Line 5020 As þat scripturës maken mencïoun, And [And R, An H.] þan my boke is endid al, and do. To crist ordeyneþ he a mancïoun, Which in his hertës habitacïoun Line 5024 Embraceth pees. wher pees is, crist is there, ffor crist nat lyst a-byden ellës-where. [elleswhere R, els where H.] Line 5026

(719)

A-mongës cristen folk, wreche is he none [Prouerbia|rum 12^o. Qui pacis ineunt consilia, se|quitur eos gaudium. Ciprianus dicit, Sacri|ficium deo est pax nos|tra & fraterna concordia.] Line 5027 Þat pacïéntly suffreth a duresse; But sikirly a wrecchë [wrecche R, wrecch H.] is he one Þat makiþ strife; & hym sueth gladnesse Which þat of pees conséilith þe suernesse. [swetnesse R.] Line 5031 Our pees also and concorde brothirly Is sacrificë to god ál myghty. Line 5033

Line 5033

(720)

Thyngës þat leden men to pees be thre: [¶ Scriptum est, Tria sunt pacis subsidia & ad pacem ducencia, scilicet con|formitas in deo, humilitas in seipso, & tranquillitas cum proximo, &c.] Line 5034 Conformyng in god; in our self humblesse; And with [with R, wit H.] our neighëboures tranquillite. ffirst seye I þat we moot our willës dresse, And hem conformen allë more & lesse Line 5038 To goddis wil; al þingis [all thyng R.] is in his myght, Sauf only þat he máy done non vnright. Line 5040

(721)

Euene as a man is euer in werre and strife, Line 5041 Þat besieth hym withstande a man, which he ¶ Nat may; right so hathe he peisible [pesible R, preisible H.] lyfe [folio 89a] Continuelly, whos willës fully be To goddës wille conformyng: o, pardee! [[R] Iob iiij ^to Quis resistit Deo, et pacem habuit? quasi diceret nullus.] Line 5045 A-geyn god helpeth þere no résistence, So strong and myȝty is his excellence. [residence R.] Line 5047

(722)

¶ Humilite, to pees eke may men lede; Line 5048 Men say two gretë may nat [grete may evill R, gret may nat H.] in o sak; But symple humblesse is of such [such R, schuch H.] godely-hede, Þat she of troubly hatë haþ no smak; She stryueth nat; of discorde hath she lak; Line 5052 She voyde and empty is of cruelte: Humble spirit desirith vnite. Line 5054

(723)

¶ The thrid is eke tranquillite of þought, Line 5055 Þat gydeth man to pees; for as a wight May in a bedde of þornës restë [rest H R.] noght, Riȝt so, who [who þat H, he that R.] is with greuous þoughtës twight, May with himself nor [nor R, non H.] othir folk a-riȝt Line 5059 Hauë no pees; a man mot nedys smert Whan irous þoughtës occupye his hert. Line 5061

Line 5061

(724)

¶ And euene as vppon a pillow softe, Line 5062 Man may him restë [rest H R.] wele, and take his ese, Riȝt so þat lorde þat sittith in heuen a-lofte, Hertë [Hert H R.] peisible can so like and plese, Þat he wol entre þér-in, and it sese, Line 5066 And occupie it as iust póssessoure; [¶ Scriptum est, In pace factus est locus eius, &c. [R] Est enim pax mala, que est vere paci contra|ria; & hoc est quando corda sunt in mala concor|dancia, &c. Talem pacem habuit Pila|tus cum Herode, &c. ¶ De tali pace loquitur psalmista, Zelam super iniquos pa|cem pecca|torum videns.] In place of pees, resteth our savïour. Line 5068

(725)

¶ But al an othir pees þer is also, Line 5069 Which is naght worth; it is envenymouse; ffor it is vnto verray pees a foo; [folio 89b] Whan [Whan R, Wham H.] men in a purpós malicïouse Acorden, þát pees is to god greuous: Line 5073 Swich pees was twix Heródes & pilat; And in swich caas, pees is wers þanne debat. Line 5075

(726)

¶ A feynëd pees, eeke is to pees verray, Line 5076 A foo; and swich was þe pees of Iudas Kissyng crist. Lord! whedir þat þis day Any swich pees vsëd is as [as R, os H.] þat was! Ȝe, so I drede me, by seynt Thomas, Line 5080 The kus of Iudas is now widë sprad,⁵ Tokenes of pees ben, but smal loue is had.⁵ [5_5 spradde . . hadde R, sparde . . had H.] Line 5082

(727)

¶ Men contrefete in wordis Tullïus, Line 5083 And folwe in werke Iudas or Genyloun [The traitor at Roncesvalles. See Chaucer's Monk's Tale, Pedro of Spayne.] ; Many an hony [hony R, heny H.] worde and many a kus Ther is; but wayte on þe conclusïoun, [¶ Et de tali pace loquitur psalmista. Qui loquun|tur pacem cum proximo suo, mala autem, &c.] And pryue galle all turnyth vp-so-doun; Line 5087 Ther leueth naght of pees, but contenance, ffor al þe peyntyd chere and daliance. Line 5089

Line 5089

(728)

¶ Ther is also a pees inordinat, Line 5090 Whan þe grettér obeith to þe lesse; As [As R, And H.] þus, whan to his soget a prelat Obeyeth; and whan reson, þe blyndnesse Sueth of sensualitees madnesse, Line 5094 Obeying it: al swich pees is haynous, ffor it is goodë [to god. R.] pees contrarious. Line 5096

(729)

¶ Right swich a pees, Adam had with Eue, Line 5097 Whan þat he vnto hir desire obeyde; He was, per caas, adraddë [adredde R, adrad H.] for to greue; [folio 90a] Where-for he did as þat she to [as that she R, at þat she H.] hym seide: [¶ Contra talem pacem loquitur christus, Matthaei 10. Non veni, inquit, pacem mittere, sed gladium. &c.] In þat obediencë he foleyde, Line 5101 ffor god hir him bytoke him to obeye; But I a-drad am þat I þus fer seye [ferre sey R, fer seide H.] ; Line 5103

(730)

¶ If þat þis come vnto the audience Line 5104 Of women, I am sure I shal be shent: ffor þat I touche of swich obedience, Many a browë shal on me be bent; Thei willë wayten been [wolden waite to ben R, wil . . . H.] equipollent, Line 5108 And sumwhat morë, vnto hir housbondis, [husbondis R, housbond (es scratcht out) H.] And sum men seyn swich vsage in þis lond is. [lond is R, lond(es scratcht out) H.]

(731)

¶ And it no wonder is, as semeth me, Line 5111 Whan þat I me be-þought haue al aboute, Þogh þat womén desiren souereynte, And hir housbondës makë to hem loute; Thei made ware of a ribbe, it is no doute, [¶ Genesis 20. Mulier facta fuit de costa Ade; homo vero de limo terre, &c.] Line 5115 Which more strong is, and súbstancial, Þan slyme of eerthe, & clenner þer-with-al. Line 5117

Line 5117

(732)

¶ Wher-for it semeth þat þe worthynesse Line 5118 Of women, passyth mennës encerteyne; And ȝit sum nysë men, of lewdënesse, [lewdenesse R, lewenes H.] In répref of hem holden ther-a-geyn, ffor crokid was þat ribbe; and speke & seyne, Line 5122 That also crokid is hir curtaisie; But a-gayn þat, strongly wil I replie; Line 5124

(733)

ffor in the writyng and in þe scripture Line 5125 Of Philosophers, [Philosofres R, Philosophes H.] men may see & reede, ¶ Cercly [Cerclelyk R.] shap is most perfite figúre, [folio 90b] [¶ Secundum omnes phi|losophos, ffigura circu|laris est per|fectissima figura, & significat in geometria vnitatem.] Bi-tokenyng, in gémetrie, onhede; And crokydnesse a part is, þat may lede Line 5129 Sumwhat vnto [vnto (overline,? later) R, om. H.] cercle or a cumpas: What so men seyen, women stonde in gode caas.

(734)

¶ ffor ther-by shewith it, þat crokydnesse Line 5132 Streccheth vnto þe gretter perfeccioun, Þan doth a þing þat is of euenesse; Of þis helpith no contradiccïoun, ffor it soth is; [is R, om. H.] it is no ficcïoun; Line 5136 Euery perfit body þat man kan neuene, Is rounde and crokyd, and noght [not R, nogh H.] streghte ne euene.

(735)

¶ By-gynnë first at heuen, & rounde it is; Line 5139 Þe sonne and mone, & þe sterrës also; Hed of man, þen mouth, & hert, I-wisse, Ben allë [alle R, al H.] rounde; and othir ben þer moo Than I expresse as [as R, os H.] now; but or I goo, Line 5143 Ȝit shal I bet wommannës part sustene; So biddeth pees, & þat to folwe I mene. Line 5145

Line 5145

(736)

¶ Now for to speke or touchen of þe place Line 5146 In which þat man & womman ¹fourmed were: Almyghty God to womman¹ [1_1 H om.] shope swich grace, That she was formëd in the worthier; [¶ Mulier fuit formata in paradiso, & homo in agro damaseeno, qui locus est extra paradi|sum, &c.] In paradys men wot wel he made here; Line 5150 But man ymade [ymade R, made H.] was out of paradys, In place of lessë worthinesse & prys. Line 5152

(737)

¶ And of þe maner of formacïoun Line 5153 Of bothë [bothe two herkeneth R, both . . . H.] two herkenþ now wel I prey; The token or þe significacioun [folio 91a] Of making of Adám, may be no way Strecchë [Strecche R, Strecch H.] to so perfyte a goode, I say, Line 5157 As didë [did H R.] þe formacïoun of Eue; And þat as swithë here I schal it preue. Line 5159

(738)

¶ ffor morë haue I for hir partye ȝit: [¶ Secundum augustinum & omnes doc|tores catho|licos, ffor|macio Eue significauit formacionem ecclesie & sa|cramentorum eius; Nam sicut, Adam dormiente, formabatur Eua & mem|bra eius de latere ipsius Ade, sic christo dor|miente in cruce, forma|batur de latere &c. [R eius ec|clesia et eius sacramenta.] Beatus ber|nardus dicit. ¶ A tempore quo christus erat duoden|nis, vsque ad annum xxx^ti, fuit cum ma|tre sua, ser|uiens ei in omnibus que sciuit sibi placitura, eo quod ad hoc venerat in mundum, vt doceret ver|am humili|tatem.] Line 5160 Making of Euë tokned þe makyng Of holy chirche, and sacramentes of it; As of þe syde of Adam, him slepyng, Euë vas [was R.] made, so our lorde crist deyeng Line 5164 Vpon þe crois, holý chirche, of his syde, And þe sacrámentes made were in þat tyde. Line 5166

(739)

¶ ffro tyme eeke crist was of xij ȝerë [twelve yere of R.] age Line 5167 Vnto þritty, he with his modir ay Was seruyng hir with right [right, om. H R.] plesant coráge; To teche humilite, he tooke þe way ffro heuen hiddir, and mekënesse verray Line 5171 Tauȝt he, þe mostë [most H R.] partie of his lyf, Whil he was with his modir & his wyfe; Line 5173

Line 5173

(740)

¶ ffor she was bothë [both H R.] two; and syn she had Line 5174 So long of hir housbondë þe maystrie, Women, I trowë, [trowe R, trow H.] be nat now so mad Þat stylë to for-go; nay, swich folye, What man þat can in a womán espye, Line 5178 Is worthi shrynëd be; god saue hem alle, And graunt hir hyë corage nat to palle! [This is a faint imitation of Chaucer.] Line 5180

(741)

¶ Holy writ seith, 'if women souereynte [¶ Ecclesi|astici. 25^o. Mulier, si primatum habeat, con|traria est viro suo.] Line 5181 Of hir housbondës haue, how þat þei Vnto housbondës [her husbondes R.] contrarïous be:' [folio 91b] Þe text is such, [is such I wote wele R, I woot wel is schuch H.] I woot wel, but what þei? That text I vndir-stondë þus al-wey: Line 5185 Whan þat housbondës hem mys-take and erre, Ageyn þat vicë wyuës maken werre. Line 5187

(742)

¶ Thogh a woman hir housbonde contrarie Line 5188 In his oppynyoun erroneous, Shul men for þat deme hir his aduersarie? Straw! be he neuer so harrageous, [outrageous R.] If he & she shul dwellen in on house, Line 5192 Goode is he suffre; therby pees may spring; Housbondës pees is pesible suffryng. Line 5194

(743)

¶ By concorde, smalë [smale R, smal H.] þingës multiplien; Line 5195 And by discorde, hate, ire, and rancour, Perysshen þingës grete, & wast & dyen. Pees hath þe fruyt of eese [oseese H, ese R.] in his fauour; To getë pees holsóme is þe labour, Line 5199 And kepe it wel, whan a [that a R, a rubd out of H.] man hath it cauȝt, That ire ne discórde bannysshe it naght. Line 5201

Line 5201

(744)

¶ How plesant to god, is of pees þe myrthe! Line 5202 What delyte eeke in pees and vnioun [¶ Et in terra pax homini|bus. Pax vobis. Pacem relin|quo vobis.] The prince of pees hath shewëd in his birth, By angels delitáble song and soun; Also, aftir his resurreccïoun Line 5206 He pees bad; and whan vnto heuen he stigh, He leftë pees in erthë truëly. [lefte . . . truly R, left . . . truly H.] Line 5208

(745)

¶ Þat ȝift of pees, þat precïouse Iewel, Line 5209 If men it kepe, & do it naght away, Sonës of crist þei may be clept [clept R, clepyd H.] ful wel; [folio 92a] [¶ Beati paci|fici &c.] But strif, which moche is to þe fendës paye, Among vs feruent is so, welawey! Line 5213 We [We R, Whe H.] cristen folk, with-inne vs [what within R.] and with-out, Haue so gret stryfe, þat þer may no pees rout.

(746)

¶ The ryot þat haþ ben with-in þis lande [lande R, londe H.] Line 5216 Among our-self, many [full many R.] a wyntrës space, [The rebellions of the Percies against Henry IV.] Hath to þe swerd put many a thousand: The gredy hert, þat woldë al embrace, With [With R, Wit H.] irous wil, and crabbed palë face, Line 5220 And swypir [swepir R.] feendly hand with strook vengeáble, Haþ many a woman maad hem cloþe [made clothed R, maad hem cloþ H.] in sable.

(747)

¶ Þis is no doutë, þat ambicïoun Line 5223 And couetysë fyre al þis debate; Tho two be of wikkéd condicïoun. No wight halt hym content of his estate; Euery man wilneþ to ben éxaltat; Line 5227 Þogh he be gret, ȝit hirë [hier R.] wolde he goo, And þeis aren causes of our stryues [ben . . . stryfe R.] & woo. Line 5229

Line 5229

(748)

¶ Werrë within our-Iself is most harmfúl Line 5230 And perillous, & most is a-gayn kynde. Þer-with þis land hath wrastled many a pul; Þe smert is swich, it may nat out of mynde, ffor it haþ cast our welthë [welthe R, welth H.] far be-hynde, Line 5234 And ferther wolë, [wole R, wold H.] but thoo werrës stynt; No goode may come of werrës wrathful dynt.

(749)

¶ Whilës þat Romaynes were in hert al oon, Line 5237 And vndeuydid, al [alle R.] hool stode, þei were Lordës of al þe worlde; foo was þer non [folio 92b] Out-warde, as who seith, myght hem greue or dere; But al sauf welthë [welthe R, welth H.] may men suffre and bere; Line 5241 With [With R, Wit H.] -Inne hym-self sprang such deuysïoun, Þat it hem broughtë [brought H R.] to confusioun. Line 5243

(750)

¶ What causyd hir inwárd werre and rumour [murmur R.] Line 5244 But auericë? she reft hem her wele; Whilës þei had in cheerte and fauour Profit commun, thei hadden bi þe stele Prosperite; but it a-way gan stele Line 5248 Whan þei him drough to profyte singuler, [syngulere R, singurer H.] And of profyt commun nat weren cheer. Line 5250

(751)

¶ By-hold how [how R, of H.] auaricë crepith inne, [¶ Nota de Auaricia.] Line 5251 And kyndlith werre, and quenchiþ vnite! O fauel! þou myghtést ben of hir kynne, ffor swich a breekë [breke pees R, breek pees H.] -pees as þat is she, Right swich a-nothir, may I namë þe; Line 5255 Þou rekkest nat, ne dredest nat, to wende ffor muk to helle, vnto þe ferthest [into the ferrest R.] ende. Line 5257

Line 5257

(752)

¶ This fauel is of pees a déstourbour; Line 5258 Twix god and mannës [mannes R, man H.] soule he werrë reisith; This worlde is blent by þis dissymulour; Vertú he blameþ, ánd vicés he preysith; Sore in þe bowe of treccherye he teisyth; Line 5262 His shot is gay, but it is énvenymed; His fikil art may nat a-ryght be rymed. Line 5264

(753)

¶ Vertuouse trouthë, [trouthe R, trouth H.] hydë þou þine heede! Line 5265 Þou mayst as wele, thyn art may nat a-vayle; Out of þis worldës grace art þou as dede: [folio 93a] But fauel, traitour! þi fals gouernaile Makith ful manny shippës for to saile Line 5269 In-to þi cofre; warme is þine office; Þat trouthë [trouthe R, trouth H.] lesith, wynnë can þi vice. Line 5271

(754)

¶ Alas! so manny a worthi clerk famóuse, Line 5272 In Oxinford, and in Cambrigge also, Stonde [Stonde R, Stode H.] vn-avancëd, wher the viciouse ffauel hath chirches. & preuendres, [prebendes R.] moo Þan god is plesid with; [with R, wit H.] alasse! of thoo Line 5276 Þat weiuen vertu so to be [wernen . . . so to be R, weiuen (or weinen) . . . so be H.] promoted; And þei helples, in whom vertu is rooted. Line 5278

(755)

¶ The knyght or sqwier, on þat othir syde, Line 5279 Or Ieman, þat haþ in pees or in werris Dispent with his lorde his blode, but he hyde Þe trouth, and [and R, an H.] can currey fauel, he nat þe nere is His lordës grace; and vn-trouth ful fer is Line 5283 ffrom him, þat worthy corage hath honóured; Grace of his [his R, þis H.] lorde by fauel is deuóured. Line 5285

Line 5285

(756)

¶ Now vnto my mateere of werre inwarde Line 5286 Resort I; but to sekë stories olde Non nede is, syn þis day sharp werre & harde Is at þe dore here, as men may be-holde: ffrauncë, no wondir þogh þine hertë [hert H R.] colde, Line 5290 And brenne also: [also sithen R, also seith H.] swich is þine agonye, Thi self manaseth þi self for to dye. Line 5292

(757)

¶ Thi self destroye, and feble is þi victórye! Line 5293 Thow hast in þi self stryven oft [ofte R, of H.] or nowe, And hast appesid al, [all R.] haue in memórie, [folio 93b] Thurgh þi prudence; wost þou nat wel how Slaghtre is defendid? and nat rekkest þow Line 5297 To rebelle a-geyn god þat it forbedith? ffor the, myne heuy gost bisily dredith. Line 5299

(758)

¶ What any part offendid hath to othir, Line 5300 Redresse it faire and charytablely; [charitably R, charytably H.] By lawe of god, ye ben ech others brothir. O! now adayës is noon enemye Lyke oon þat is to othir of bloodë nye; Line 5304 Beth ware! correct it! lest men of yow seye, 'lo! whilom this was ffraunce of hye nobley!'

(759)

¶ I am an Englyssh-man, & am þi foo, Line 5307 ffor þou a foo art vnto my lygeánce; And yit myn hertë [hert H R.] stuffid is with woo To see þyn vnkyndly disseueraunce: Accordeth yow! girdeþ [gurdeth R.] yow with suffraunce! Line 5311 Ye greuë god, and your-self harme & shame, And your foos ther-of han disport & game. Line 5313

Line 5313

(760)

¶ Alase! Also, þe greet dissencïoun, Line 5314 The pitous harme, þe hatëful discorde, Þat hath endurëd twix þis regioun And othir landës cristen! he, þat lorde Of Remes al is þe auctor of [all is the actour and R.] concorde Line 5318 And pees, sore is meeuëd þer-with; but we Naght dreden for to offend his mageste. Line 5320

(761)

¶ Off fraunce and englonde, o cristen princes, Line 5321 Syn þat your style of worthynes is ronge Thurgh-out þe world, in al þe prouinces, [folio 94a] If þat of yow myghtë [myght H R.] be red [radde R.] or songe That ye were oon in herte, ther nys no [is no R, nys H.] tonge Line 5325 That myghte expresse, how profitable and good Vnto al peple it were of cristen blood. Line 5327

(762)

¶ Yeue hem ensamplen! [ensample R.] ye ben hir mirrours; Line 5328 They folowen yow: what sorwe lamentable Is causëd of youre werrës scharpë schoures Ther wot no wight, it is irréparable! O noble cristen Princes honurable, Line 5332 ffor him þat for yow suffred passïoun, Of cristen blod, haueþ compassïoun! Line 5334

(763)

¶ Allas! what peple haþ your werrë slayn! Line 5335 What cornës wast, and dounë [wasted and doune R, wast and doun H.] trode & schent! How many a wif and maide haþ be by layn! [forlayne R.] Castels doun bette, and tymbred houses brent, And drawen downe, and al to-tornë [all to-tore R, also torne H.] and rent! Line 5339 The harm ne may nat rekened be, ne told; This werrë wexiþ al to hoor and old. Line 5341

Line 5341

(764)

¶ To wynnë worldly tresour and richesse, Line 5342 Is of your strif þe [your R.] longe continuaunce; Wherby it semeth þat ye han scantnesse Of good, or ye konne haue no súffisaunce Of plente; and if þér be hábundaunce Line 5346 In youre cofres, and in your hertës nede, Of lordly [lordes R.] cónceit may it not procede. Line 5348

(765)

¶ Whan Alisaundre deed was, and y-graue, [in his graue R.] Line 5349 And his toumbe óf gold wroght ful richëly, As kyngës dignite wole axe and craue, [folio 94b] Dyuerse philosophres droghen [drowe R, drogh H.] hem nygh Therto; and as oon of hem stood þerby, Line 5353 he seidë þus among þe folkës alle:— "Seeþ swiche a chaunge is newë now byfalle! [chaunce now newe is falle R.]

(766)

¶ "This Alisaundre madë yistirday Line 5356 Of gold his tresor, but gold makiþ now Tresor of him, as ye be-holdë may." An [An R, And H.] othir philosopher seide eek how "Al þis world yistirday was nat y-now Line 5360 To stoppen [stoppen R, stoppe H.] Alisaundres couetise, And now thre elnes of cloþë [cloth hym do, cloþ him H.] him suffice." Line 5362

(767)

¶ O worthi princes two, now takiþ hede! Line 5363 As hardy, deth is yow for to assaille As sche [he R.] dide Alisaundre, whom in drede Hadde al þis world; what myght his force auaille A-gayn þe deth? no thing, sanȝ faille; Line 5367 ffor þogh þat he swerd wer [were R.] of chiualrie, Deth threwe him doun to grounde, & lete him lye.

(768)

¶ With how [out R.] grete labour, or wiþ how [out R.] gret peyne, Men wynnë good, to þe world [þey] leue it schal; Vnto þe pitte goþ nought but þe careyne: And þogh gold werë grauen þer-with-al, Naght myght it helpë: beth nat goldës thral! Line 5374 Suffiseth to your good, [Chaucer, Truth 'Suffiseth to your good, thogh it be smal.'] ye princes boþe; With pees and restë, armë yow and clothe! Line 5376

(769)

¶ Whan ye haue stryue and foughten al your fille, Pees folwe moot; but good were it, or thanne, [¶ ffinis belli pax.] That pees were hadde: what lust han ye to spille [folio 95a] The blood þat crist with his blood boghte, whanne He on þe croys starf? o lady seint Anne, Line 5381 Thi doughter preyë to beseche hir sone To stynte of werrës þe dampnáble wone. Line 5383

(770)

¶ The book of reuelacïouns of Bride [¶ libro 4^o de reuelacioni|bus sancte Brigide, ca|pitulo cv^o Christus di|cit, "ego sum pax," &c. ¶ Si reges ffrancie & Anglie volue|rint habere pacem, ego dabo eis per|petuam pa|cem: sed pax vera non po|test haberi, nisi veritas & iusticia diligantur. Ideo quia al|ter Regum habet iustici|am, placet mihi quod per matrimo|nium fiat pax, & sic regnum ad legitti|mum here|dem poterit peruenire &c.] Line 5384 Expressith how crist þus seide hir vnto: "I am pees verray; þere I wole abide, Where as pees is; non oþer wole I do. Of ffraunce and Engëlond þe kyngës two, Line 5388 If þei wole haue pees, pees perpetuel Thei schul han"; thus hir book seiþ, woot I wel;

(771)

¶ "But verray pees may be had by no way, Line 5391 But if trouthë and Iustice louëd be; And for þat á [o R.] kyng haþ right, forthi may By matrimoignë pees and vnite Ben had; [Henry V's marriage with Francis's daughter Katherine. 'Cesynge' (l. 5397) turnd out in the end to be 'aggravating.'] cristës plesance is swiche; þus he Line 5395 That right heir is, may þe remë reioyse, Cesynge al strif, debate, or werre, or noyse." Line 5397

Line 5397

(772)

¶ Now syn þe wey is open, as ye see, Line 5398 How pees to gete in vertuous manere, ffor loue of him þat dide vppon þe tree, And of Mary, his blysful modir dere, ffolweþ þat way, and your strif leye on bere; Line 5402 Purchaseth pees by wey of marïage, And ye þerinne schul fynden auauntage. Line 5404

(773)

¶ Now, pees! approche, and dryue out werre & strif! ffrenchepe! appere, and bannysshë thow hate! Tranquillite! reuë þou [thou reve R.] ire hir lif [folio 95b] That feruent is, and leef for to debate! Ye thre vertuës, now late see abate Line 5409 The malice of þe foulë vices thre, Þat verray foos ben to al christiante. Line 5411

(774)

¶ O cristen princes! for þe loue and awe Line 5412 Of him þat is þe king of kingës al, [alle, falle, galle R.] Nessheth [Softeth R.] your hertës, and to pees yow drawe! Considereth what good may þerof fal! [alle, falle, galle R.] The hony takiþ, and leuyth þe gal! [alle, falle, galle R.] Line 5416 The sternë iugë in his iugëment May doo but right for his punyschëment. Line 5418

(775)

¶ What desobeïssance and rébellioun, Line 5419 What wil vnbuxum, what vnkyndënesse, May he preue in yow, þat destruccïoun Don of men, his handwerk, soothly, I gesse. It mostë nedës stire his rightwisnesse Line 5423 A-geyn yow; stinteþ at his reuerence, Sueth his grace and his beneuolence! Line 5425

Line 5425

(776)

¶ ffrom hennës-forth lat þere by-twixe yow be Line 5426 So vertuous a strif, [lyfe R.] for cristës sake, That ye of pees and loue and charite May striuë [be R.] ; lat your pite now a-wake, That longe haþ slept; and pees bytwixt yow make; And on þe foos of crist, your rédemptour, Werreth! thére kitheth your vigour! Line 5432

(777)

¶ Vppon þe mescreantys to makë werre, Line 5433 And hem vnto the feith of crist to brynge, ³Good were; therynne may ye [he R.] no thyng erre, That were a meritórye werrying; [werreying R, werryng H.] That is the wey vn-to the conqueryng Line 5437 Of hevenes [heven R.] blyssë, that is endëles, To which yow bryngë the [the Actour R, thauctour H.] auctour of pees. Amen!³ [3_3 In the much later hand than the rest of the poem, the same as wrote the first leaf.]

Explicit.