Political, religious, and love poems. Some by Lydgate, Sir Richard Ros, Henry Baradoun, Wm. Huchen, etc. from the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lambeth Ms. no. 306, and other sources, with a fragment of The Romance of Peare of Provence and the fair Magnelone, and a sketch, with the prolog and epilog, of The Romance of the knight Amoryus and the Lady Cleopes,

Lydgate's Horse, Goose, and Sheep.

[Written after A. D. 1421: see note to l. 234, p. 25.] (92 stanzas; 77 in sevens, ababbcc; and 15 in eights, abab,bcbc; with an Envoy "Don't despise your Neighbour.") From the Lansdowne MS. 699, in the British Museum, collated with the Harley MS. 2251 (leaf 277, &c.) and the Roxburghe Club reprint of the black-letter copy of the poem.

¶ Incipit Disputacio inter Equum, Aucam, & Ouem. [folio 66b]

A Disputation between a horse, a Sheepe and a Goose, for superioritie (in a later hand).

[folio 67]

(1)

COntrouersies / plëys & discordis [pleys . .] plees and al discorde HR.] Line 1 Atween personës / were it too or thre, [Atween . .] Betwene . . bien yit of it, Bitwene . . were R.] Sought out the ground / bi witnessis of recordis: [witnessis . .] witnesse of Recorde H, groundes be recordes R.] This was the costom / of antiquyte; Iuges were sett / that hadde Auctor[i]te, Line 5 The cas conceyved / stondynge indifferent, [cas] cause H, caas R.] Attweene parties / to yeue A Iugëment. [Attweene] Betweene HR. A] om. R.] Line 7

(2)

¶ Parties assemblid / of hih or lowe degre, [or] and HR.] Line 8 Weren admittid / to shewen in senténce, [Weren . . shewen] They were . . shewe H, Weren . . shewen R.] Ground of here quarell / the lawë made hem fre [here quarell] theyr quarels HR.] Without excepcïoun / to come to Audience, Bi the president / commaundid first silence, Line 12 Fredam yove / the parties nat to spare [yove] yeven H, yeue R.] Bi rule of right / ther grevès to declare. [rule] title HR.] Line 14

Line 14

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¶ Vpon this matere / shortly to conclude, Line 15 Nat yoore a-gon / as I rehersë shall, [Nat] Nought HR.] I fond to purpos / A similitude Ful craftily / depeyntid vpon a wall: Tweyn sitt / in ther estat Roiall, [sitt] sette H, sittyng in estate R.] Line 19 The hardy Leoun / famous in al rewmys, [Leoun . . rewmys] Lyonne . . realmes H, The fierce lyon . . royames R.] Themperiall Egle / pershyng the sonnë bemys. [pershyng] percynge H, percyng R.] Line 21

(4)

¶ These were the dreedful / Roiall Iugis tweyne, [Roialle] om. R.] Line 22 In ther estatë / sittynge I took keepe, [keepe] goode kepe H, kepe R.] That herde the parties / bi & bi compleyne, The Hoors, the Goos / & eke the symple Sheepe. [& eke] and eke H, & LR.] The processe was nat / to profounde nor deepe, Line 26 Off that debat / but cóntryued of a fable: [that] theyr HR.] Which of them was / to man most profitáble. [was / to man] HR, to man was L.] Line 28

(5)

¶ Ech for his partie / proudly gan procede [folio 67b] Line 29 Tenforce hym silf / bi record of scripture [Tenforce] To enforce H.] In philosophie / as clerkis seen or rede, [In philosophie . . or] By philosophres . . and HR.] The prerogatives / geven hem bi nature, [The . . goven] This . . gyven H, The . . yeuen R.] Which of these thre / to euery crëature Line 33 In re publica / availeth most to man. [to] a R.] For his partie / then first the hors began: Line 35

(6)

¶ "To procede breffly, & nat long to tarie, [Equus] The Horse H. long to] HR, om. L.] Line 36 First fro the trowthë / that I do nat erre, [First] HR, om. L. trowthe] R, trowth LH.] What beste is found / at al so necessárie [at al] in al L, in alle thing R.] As is the hors / bothë nyh & ferre, [bothe] LR, bothe so II.] Or so notáble / to man in pees & werre? [in] bothe in H.] Line 40

Line 40 Hors in cronyclis / wo-so looke a-riht, [looke] redithe HR.] Hav be savacion / to many a worthi knyht. [Hav . . a] Han saved many a ful H, Haue saved often many a R.] Line 42

(7)

¶ "Marcial prowessis in especïall [prowessis] prowesse HR.] Line 43 God hath, bi hors / yovë to werreiours— [yove] gyven H, yeue R.] Record of Alisandre / whoos hors Busifall [Recorde . .] ¶ Bukoyfal equus Alexandri. Looke of Alisaunder . his hors Bukoyfal H.] Made hym tascapë / many sharp[ë] shours: [tascape] escape from H, fro R.] The golden chare / of oldë conqueroures [olde] R, old LH.] Line 47 Toward the tryumphe / for ther knyghtly deedis [Toward . . for] Towardis . . of H, Towarde for R. ther] om. R.] Conveied were / with fourë whitë steedis. [were] LH, hit was R.] Line 49

(8)

¶ "Remembre of Ector / the Troian chaumpioun, [Remembre] Now H. of] LH, om. R.] Line 50 Whoos hors was callid / whilom Galathe; [¶ Galathe equus Hec|toris H, in margin.] Vpon whos bak he pleyèd the leoun, And oftë sithë / made the Grekis flee. [ofte . . made] oft . . he made H, Full ofte sithes he made R.] The stede of Perseus / was callid the Pegasè, [stede of P.] persaus stede . was callid H, stede . . cleped R.] Line 54 With swift[ë] wengis, poetis seyn the same, [seyn] reherse H.] Was, for swifftnesse / callid 'the hors of Fame.' [Fame] LR, name H.] Line 56

(9)

¶ "Eques, ab 'equo' is seid of verray riht, [folio 68] Line 57 And cheualere is saide of cheualrye: [cheualere] LR, cheuallice H.] In Duche, a Rudder is a knyght; [Duche, a Rudder] whiche a Rider . callid H, Duche a rider is calld R (Hex|ham gives both Rudder and Rider in his Dutch Dict.).] Aragon tunge / doth also specifie [Aragon . . doth] LR, Arragoners don H.] Caualaro [MS. Caualato, alterd to Caualaro, and with "Cavalero" in margin.] / which, in that partie, [which in] LR, thurghout al H.] Line 61 Is name of worshipe / & took bigynnynge [took . .] so toke hys gynnynge H. name] LH, named R.] Off spooris of gold / & cheefly of rydynge. [of rydynge] LR, Ridynge H.] Line 63

Line 63

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¶ "Thes Emperoures / thes princis & thes kynges, Line 64 Whan thei been armyd / in bright plate & mayle, [&] or H.] Withouten hors / what were here mustrynges, There brodë Baneres / & there riche apparaile, [&] or H.] [&] LH, or R.] To-fore ther Enmyes / to shew them in bataile? Line 68 Withouten hors / spere, swerde, no sheld [no] or H, ne R.] Mihte litel a-vailë / for to holde a feeld. [to holde] LR, the conquest of H.] Line 70

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¶ "The hardy prikeris / vpon hors[ë] bak [The . . prikeris . . hors] LR. These . . Rynners . . theyr hors H.] Line 71 Be sent to-forn / what ground is best to take, [Be . . toforne] Bien . . afore H.] In that ordynaunce, that ther be no lak [In that] In theyr HR.] Bi providance / the feelde / whan thei shal make, [the . . shal] how they the fielde shul HR.] An hors wole weepë / for his maistir sake: [with '¶ secundum Bartholomeum de proprietatibus rerum' in margin.] Line 75 Chaunser remembrith / the swerd, the ryng, the glas, [Chaunser . . ryng] Chawer . . the swerd . rynge R, Chauncier . . the rynge the swerd H.] Presented wern / vpon a stede of bras. [Pre|sented] LR, Whiche presented H.] Line 77

(12)

¶ "Tween to hyllis / the prophete Zacarie [to] two HR. H has '¶ Montes erant &c. Zakarie .iij^o.' in margin.] Line 78 Sauh steedis foure / the first of hem was red, In charis foure / the feeld to magnyfie; The secunde was blak / it is no dreed; [it is no] leevith withouten H.] The thrydde was whighte / bodi, nek, & hed; Line 82 The fourthe was dyuers / & euerichon were strong; [was . . were] dyuers and eche of hem was H, diuerce of colours / wonder R.] And to knyghthood / alle these colourës longe. Line 84

(13)

¶ "The red hors / was tokne of hardynesse, [folio 68b] [was] LR, was there H.] Line 85 Which Apperteneth / to euery hardy knyht; The cole-blak hew / a sygne of sobirnesse, [a] LR, om. H.]

Poraile oppressid / to helpe them in ther right; The mylk-whiht steede / that was so glad of siht, [of] LR, a H. mylk-whight . . so] LH, white mylke. .was R.] Line 89 Tokne that knyhthod / trewly shuld entende, [Tokne] Toknyth HR.] Holi chirche / & preesthod to deffende. [Holi. .preesthod] The chirche and pristhode, Holi chirche maidens & wedewis holy H.] Line 91

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¶ "The many-fold coloures / to speke in generall, [(in margin) ¶ Significant virtutes diuersas ad Miliciam pertinentes H.] Line 92 Been sondry vertues / & condicïouns, [vertues] vertuous] As the fower vertues / callid Cardynall [As. .callid] And. .clepid H.] Longyng to knyhthod / tencrese ther hih renouns, [Longyng. .hihe] Longen. .to encresen theyr H, long|yng. .tencrece their R.] In re publica / callid the Chaumpiouns, Line 96 Treuthe to sustene / shewë hem siluen strong, [shewe hem siluen] they ay to shewe hem H, & shewe hem self R.] Bounde bi ther ordre / to se no man have wrong. [to se no man] HR, so no moor L.]

(15)

¶ "Withouten hors / Iustis ne turney, att all [hors. .alle] horses.Ioustes ne turnal H, horse iustes ne tournaill R.] Line 99 May nat be holden, in werrë ne in pees; [holden] holde HR.] Nor in palestre / nor pleyes marcïall, [nor] no HR.] Yiff hors do faile / may come to non encres, [do] om. H.] Nor no man sothly dar put hym silf in pres [Nor] Ne H. sothly] LR, om. H. silf] LH, om. R.] Line 103 Withouten hors / for short conclusïoun, To atteyne the palme / of tryumphal guerdoun. [palme of] LR, om. H.] Line 105

(16)

¶ "Lower degrees / ther been of hors al-so, Line 106 Do grett profite / to euery comounte, [Do. .to] LR, To. .of H.] The plouh, the cart / myhtë no thyng doo [myhte no thynge] neyther myȝhte nat H, ne carte myght nought R.] Withouten hors / dayly ye may see: [Withouten] H, Without L, With oute R.] Tilthë were lost, ne werë hors parde; [ne were] ner we H. Tilthe] LH, Tillyng R. were] LH, were we R.] Line 110 The besi Marchant / to his ávauntage [besi] H, best L.] Nar shippis & hors / coude make no cariage. [Nar. .hors] Ner. .horses H. make] LH, haue R.] Line 112

Line 112

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¶ "The shipe, bi liknesse / is clepid an hors of tree [folio 69] [bi] in H, be R. clepid] LH, callid R.] Line 113 (Ful notably / who can vndirstond,) To leden men / & carien ouer see [carien] carye hem ouer the see HR.] As don these hors whan thei are come to lond: [hors. .are] horsis they H, horse whan they R.] The poor man / ladith vpon a lond [vpon] eke in H, eke ledith in R.] Line 117 His litel capil / his corn, his mele, to selle; Whan it is grounde / hors carye it hom from melle. [hom. .] from the mylle H. from] om. L. And whan it is grounden bringeth it fro y^e melle R.] Line 119

(18)

¶ "In Wyntir seson / for to make bele cheere, [bele] the beal H, beal R.] Line 120 The hors is nedeful / wode & stuff to carie; [The hors is nedeful] HR, Than is neede L. stuff] LH, turf R.] Wyn, frute, & oyle / to servë thoruh the yeere [vynteres] the vynter H. appotecarie] potecarye HR.] Is brought to vynteres / & to the appotecarie Divers draggës / & many a letuarie, Line 124 Sondry bales / & shortly, al vitaille, Off the cariágë / hors have the travaille. [the. .have] LR, cariage horsis han H.] Line 126

(19)

¶ "Hey nor Otis / (playnly who list lerne,) [lerne] to lierne H.] Line 127 May from the feeldis / nor the medewis grene [feeldis nor] fieldis. ne H, feldes nor (the medes) R. feeld nor L.] To the garnere / nother to the berne, [To. .to] Vnto. .to H, To. .to R, To. .fro L.] Withouten hors / be caried, it is seene; [Withouten] H, Without L.] And to purpos / (I sei right as I meene) [to. .as] vnto purpos. .herk what H, vnto pourpose I seye as R.] Line 131 Ther is no best / (to rekne as I be-gan) [began] can H. to] LH, om. R.] So necessarie / as hors is on-to man. Line 133

(20)

¶ "August is a season / mery & glad, Line 134 Whan euery tre / with newë frut is lade, With drauht of hors / the shevis ben hom lad:

That moneth past / the levis gynnë fade, [gynne] begynne to H, gyn to R.] Which made, in somer / a plesant lusti shade: [plesant lusti] LR, lusti ple|saunt H.] Line 138 What doon hors than / (to speke in wordis pleyn,) [What. .than] Than what don hors H.] The secunde crop / thei carie home Roweyn. [home Roweyne] of Rowayne H, home of ryweyn R.] Line 140

(21)

¶ "Bi draught of hors / fro riveres & fro wellis [folio 69b] [fro. .& fro] from. .from & H, fro. .& R.] Line 141 Bowges be brought / to breweres for good ale; Leede, ston, & tymbre / cariage eek for bellis, [for] of H, caryage of bellis R.] We brynge to chyrches / (of trouthe, this is no tale); [We] horsis H. of] LH, in R.] We lade cloth sakkis / & many a largë male, [lade] leede H, lede R.] Line 145 And gladly someres / ar sent euyr to-forn [ar. .] ever be sent aforn H, be sent to forne R.] With gardeviaundis / how myht we be for-born? [we] hors H, horse R.]

(22)

¶ "Ye prudent Iugis / the Egle & the leoun, Line 148 What I haue saide / doth wisly advertise; Weieth this mater / in your discrecïoun, [Weieth] LR, Wey H.] Whedir Goos / or Sheepë (pleynly to devise) Off ther naturë / may in any wise [may] LR, mowen H.] Line 152 (Iustly demyth / lat it nat be sparid,) [demyth] LH, deme ye R.] Vn-to an hors / be likned & comparid. [&] LR, or H.] Line 154

(23)

¶ "That I have told / is trouth, & no feynynge; [no feynynge] LR, nat feyned H.] Line 155 No wiht of reson / may a-geyn replie, [may ageyn] agenst it may HR.] Goos nor Gandir / nór no Grene goslynge, [nór. .nor no] ne. .ne HR.] But if he entre / the boundis of Envie: [he] they HR.] Lat hir come forth / & say for hir partie." [hir. .hir] theym. .theyr H, her. .her R. The Goose answers.] Line 159 ¶ "Yis, trust me weel / for the [MS. "the I" with I crost thro.] I wil nat spare, [Auca] The Goose H. trust me weel] saide the goose H, Ghoos yes truste me wel R.] Lik as I fele / my verdite to declare: Line 161

Line 161

(24)

¶ "Where-as thou hast / vnto thi pasture [as . . vnto] that . . lo vnto H.] Line 162 But oo place / to make in, thi repair [But . . in] LR, Only but oon . . make H.] It is me grauntid / pleynly by nature [It . . pleynly] Yit is it to me I graunted H, Hit is graunted to me.] Tabide in thre / lond, watir, & ayer, [Tabide . . watir] To abide . . in water land H, To abide on water . . londe R.] Now a-mong floures & grevis that been fair, [among . . been] among . . grenys . . be R, on greues . amonge the floures H.] Line 166 Now bathe / in riveres / swymme in many a pond, For stormes & shoure / as drie as on the lond. [&] or H, storme or R.] Line 168

(25)

¶ "To myn entent / mo thyngës ye may seen [folio 70] [ye] LR, eke ye H.] Line 169 As men expertë knowen / that been olde: [men ex|perte] R, men expert H, expert L. wele] H.] Whan wildë gees, hihe / in the ayer vp fleen, [in . . fleen] LR, vp in . . flone H.] A pronostik / o snow & wedris colde [H and R transpose these lines, H leaves out o, has frostis for wedris, and theyr for her. R has 'frosti.'] With her weenges / displayed & vnfolde. [H and R transpose these lines, H leaves out o, has frostis for wedris, and theyr for her. R has 'frosti.'] Line 173 Kalendis bryngë / pleynly for to seye [Kalendis] The kalendis H.] A-geyn wyntir / how men shal them purueye. [Agayn . . shal] Agenst . . shulde H. shal them] sholde R.] Line 175

(26)

¶ "The grees of gandris / is good in medicyne, Line 176 With sundry gummës / tempred for the gout, [tempred] medled H.] Diveres achis taswáge / & to declyne [diveres . . taswage] Sundry . . to swage H, Dyuerce . . to swa|gen R.] In thextremytes / drawe the malice out: [thextr . . drawe] the extremytees to drawe H, . . to drawe R.] Fetheres of goos / whan thei falle or mout, [goos] ghees R. mout] mowte HR.] Line 180 To gadre hem vp / heerdis hem delite, Selle hem to flatcheres / the grey with the whihte. [Selle hem] LH, To selle to R.]

(27)

¶ "Men plukke stalkes / out of my weengis tweyn, [stalkes] fethers H.] Line 183 Some to portraye, somme to noote & write,

Whan Rethoriciens / han doon ther besy peyn Fressh Epistolis / & lettris to endite. With-out writyng / vaileth nat a myte; Line 187 For, yiff pennys / & writyng were a-way, [yiff] if that H, yf R.] Off rémembrauncë / we had lost the kay. [we had] LH, than were R.] Line 189

(28)

¶ "Off Gees also / the deede is previd oft Line 190 In many a contre / and many a regioun, To make pilwes / & Fether-beddis soft, Of provident men / plukkid of the doun: [pro|vident] providence H, prudence R.] Thus, to make / a pleyn comparisoun, [Thus . . pleyn] Lo thus to make a H.] Line 194 As pilwes been to chaumbris ágreáble, So is hard strauhë / litteer for the stable. [strauhe / litter] strawe to litter H, strawe lytter R.] Line 196

(29)

¶ "The fymë of gees / & greenë gos[e]lyngis [folio 70b] [goselynges] HR, goslyngis L.] Line 197 Gadred in May / among the herbis soote [the herbis] LR, these erbis H.] A-geyn brennyng, scaldyng / & many othir thynges, [Ageyne] Agenst H. many] LH, om. R.] Tempred with oile & Buttir doth gret boote [&] or H.] Tasswage the peyne / that perceth to the roote; [that] H, om. LR.] Line 201 But hors[ës] dungë / as refus al-way [hors . .] hors|dunge as refuse . is cast away HR.] Is good for forneyssis, temprid with clay. [forneyssis . . with] furneys . . with white H, furneis . . with R.] Line 203

(30)

¶ "A dedë hors / is but a fowle careyn, [dede] HR, ded L. is] is ne H.] Line 204 The ayr Infectyng / it is so corrypable; [it] HR, om. La, corrupable H, coruptable R.] But a fatt goos / whan it is newë slayn, [newe] R, new LH.] In disshis of gold / a morsel ágreáble, [morsel . .] LH, mussell greable R.] Is sewid vp / attë kyngis table, [sewid vp atte] served vp at the H, seruid vpon a R.] Line 208 Swymmyng on lyve / in watris cristallyn; Tendre rostid / requeerith to have good wyn. [Tendre . . good] LH, Tenderly . . haue R.] Line 210

Line 210

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¶ "Through al the lond / of Brutis Albion, [Side-note: ¶ auca petit Bachum, Mortua vina lacum. Through] Though La, Thurghe H, Thurgh R.] Line 211 For fetherid Arwes / (as I rehersë can) Goos is the best / (as in comparisoun,) [as in] LH, to make R.] Except fetheris / of Pekok or of Swan: [fetheris] . . or] the fethers . . . & H, fethers . . & R.] Bi bowe & Arwis / sith the warr began, [bowe . . warre] LR, Bowes . . werris H.] Line 215 Have ynglysshmen / as it is red in story, [as it is red] Remembrede is H, r. in R.] On her enmyes / had many gret victóry. [her . . many] theyr . . many a H, Of their many a R.] Line 217

(32)

¶ "Hors in the feeld / may mustre in gret pride, [Hors] LR, Horsis H. in] LH, with R.] Line 218 Whan thei of trumpetis / here the blody soun; But whan an Arwe hath perced thoruh his side, [an . . his] LR, the . . the H. thoruh] LH, om. R.] To ground he goth / & cast his maistir doun: Entryng the feeld / he pleyeth the leoun; [the] the fiers H.] Line 222 What folwith aftir? / his cooreyn stynkith sore; Sauf skyn & shoon / men leve of hym no more. [men . . hym] of hym profiteth H, ther leveth R.]

(33)

¶ "Mihty capteyns / & knyhtis in the feeld [folio 71] [Mihty] These H.] Line 225 Makë her wardis / & her ordynaunce: [Make her . . her] Maken theyr . . theyr H, Make their . . their R.] First, men of Armys / with pollax, spere & sheeld, Sett in dew ordre / to have the gouernaunce, [dew ordre] the Renges H, ordre dewe R.] Which at Peiters / toke the kynge of Fraunce. Line 229 Thank to the goos / mote be yove of riht, [mote be yove] must be gyve H, most be youen R.] Which in that feeld / so proudly took her flight. [that] H, here La, the R.]

(34)

¶ "Slouth of my fliht / for hasti necligence Line 232 Of presumcion / the goos was left bi-hynde, [was] LR, om. H.]

Whan the famous / worthi duke of Clarence [Thomas, Duke of Clarence (1388?-1421), second son of Henry IV., by his first wife, Mary de Bohun. . . After Henry V.'s marriage, he accompanied the king at his triumphal entry into Paris on Dec. 1, 1420. On Henry's departure for England at the end of Jan. 1421, Clarence was appointed Captain of Nor|mandy and Lieutenant of France in the king's absence. Soon after, he started on a raid thro' Maine and Anjou, and advanced as far as Beaufort-en-Vallée, near the Loire. Meantime the Dauphin had collected his forces, and, being joind by a strong body of Scottish knights, reached Beaugé, in the English rear, on March 21. Clarence, on hearing the news, at once set out with his cavalry, not waiting for the main body of his army. He drove in the Scottish outposts, but was in his turn overwhelmed, and, together with many of the knights who accompanied him, was slain. His defeat was due to his own impatience, and his anxiety to win a victory which might compare with Agincourt. After his death the archers, under the Earl of Salisbury, came up and recovered the bodies of the slain (Cotton MS., Claud. A, viii., leaf 10 a). Clarence's body was carried back to England, and buried at Canterbury.—Dict. Nat. Biog., lvi., 158, 159.] [worthi] LH, & worthy R.] Rood on baiard / with his eynë blynde,— [eyne] Ien H, eyen R.] Fliht of my fetheris / was put out of mynde; [was put] LR, that day H.] Line 236 And, for he sett / of me, that day no fors, [of me that day] LH, that day of me R.] Ful litel or nouht / availed hym his hors. [Ful . . nouht] LH, So . . nought / what R.] Line 238

(35)

¶ "Bookis old / remembren in sentence [Bookis] LR, The bookes H.] Line 239 Som tyme whan Romë / bi his foon was take, [Som tyme . . foon] Whilom . . foomen H, Whilom . . foon R.] The Capitoilë kept / with gret deffence: Noise of a Gandre / the Capteyn did awake; [The Grey Lag-Goose is one of the most wary and knowing of birds, yet the word 'Goose,' as applied to men and women, is a term of ridicule, and this not|withstanding that the bird is credited with having saved Rome; neither can we forget that the Grey Goose feather winged the deadly cloth-yard shafts, which, on many a hard-fought field, against overwhelming odds, brought victory to the side of England.—1897, Dr. Henry O. Forbes in Butler's British Birds, iv. 58.] [did awake] LH, dide wake R.] Which thyng remembryd / thei sett vp for his sake, [thyng] LH, om. R. thei sett vp] LR, om. H.] In her templis wondir wide & olde, [here tem|plis] theyr temple . so H, their temples, om. wondir . R.] A largë gandre / forgid of fyn golde. [large] LR, grete H. of] LH, al of R.] Line 245

(36)

¶ "His wakir noise / was their savacïoun [their] they H, theire R, the L.] Line 246 Bi which the Capteyn / ran vp to the wall: [ran vp to] gate vpon H, ran vpon R.]

Thus, bi a Gandre / recurèd was the toun, [recured] rekouered HR.] Callid of the world / Cite most Roiall, [H transposes these lines.] [the . . most] al the . . most excelent H, the world the cyte moste R.] Cite of Citees / that day most principall. [H transposes these lines.] Line 250 Was euyr hors / in bookis that ye can rede, [bookis] LH, book R.] Pro re publica / that dide sich a deede? Line 252

(37)

¶ "In the book / of Chyvaler de Sygne, [folio 71b] [of] LH, named of R.] [[See the E. E. T. S. text]] The stori tellith / (as in sentement,) Ther were childre / of the Roiall ligne [childre] children HR.] Born with cheynes / which, whan thei wern of rent, [whiche . . rent] whan they were from hem went H, and whan they were of rent R.] Thei turned to Swannës / by enchantëment, [enchantement] thenchauntement] H.] Line 257 Took her fliht / (the cronycle is ful cleer,) [cronycle] LH, trouth R.] And, as swannys / thé swomme in the Riveer. [as . . swomme] right as . . swamme H, as . . swamme R.] Line 259

(38)

¶ "This story is ful Autentik / & old, Line 260 In frenssh compiled / often rad & seyn: [often . .] ful oft radde and sene H, oft red and seyn R.] Of thilkë cheynes / was made a cuppe of gold [thilke] HR, the L.] Which is yit kept / as sommë folkis seyn, [as somme folkis] as that some folk H.] And bi descent / it longith (in certeyn,) [in] om. H.] Line 264 To the Herfordis / ye shal it fynde in dede [Herfordis . . it] Warewyk . . so H, herfordes . . so R, And to the herfordis . yif ye H.] Ceriously / who list the storye reede. [Ceriously / who list] Ceriously who so liste R.] Line 266

(39)

¶ "And semblably / nat longë here-to-forn, [And . . here] LR, Right . . ther H.] Line 267 (I telle this talë / as for my partie) [as] LR, here as H. my] HR, this L.] Ther was a man, in Lumbárdy born, To a goos turned / bi craft of sorcerye, [turned] Itorned H, y torned R.] A-bood so seuene yeer / (me list nat lye); [Abood] Boode H, And so abode R. lye] H, to l. LR. for to l. H.] Line 271

Line 271 His writ fill of / tho stood he vp a man, [tho . . vp] than . . forthe H, than . . vp R.] A-bood with the duke in seruyce of Melan. [Abood] Dwellid H, And bode (in seruyce with the duke of melan) R.] Line 273

(40)

¶ "And for he was / a man of hih degre, Line 274 Born of good blood / & notable in substaunce, [&] LR, om. H.] His kynrede yeuyth a goos / for ther leveré, [for] LR, to H.] The seide merveile / to put in rémembraunce. [these thyngis] LH, tynges R.] Peise alle these thyngis / iustly in balaunce, Line 278 And lat the hors leven his boost & roos, To be comparid / with gandir or with goos. [with . . with] othir with to gandir or La, to gander or to H, To make comparison with gander or ghoos R.] Line 280

(41)

¶ "Withynnë Rome / the Gandre was deified, [folio 72] Line 281 Set in ther templis / of gret Affeccïoun Bi senatoures / of costom magnyfied [costom] the toun R.] As cheeff protector / & saviour of the toun: [savioure] saver HR. the] her R.] Lat hors & sheepë / lay her bost a-doun, [here] theyr H, their R.] Line 285 But yiff the Ram, with his brasen belle, [Ram] LR, Ram here H.] Can for the sheepe / any bettir story telle." [any] som HR.] Line 287

(42)

¶ The sheepe was symple / loth to make a-fray, [¶ The sheepe spekith at side] H, The ram speketh for the sheep R.] Line 288 Lik a beste / disposid to meeknesse: [Lik] Ful liche H.] The sturdy Ram / aduócat was that day: [aduocat] his vocate H, his aduocate R.] Be-for the Iuges / Anon he gan hym dresse, [Be] To HR.] With an exordie / in latyn, this texpresse: [in] of R.] Line 292 "Veste purpurea / O Egle, & thou leoun, [O Egle, & thou leoun ¶ Ouis] vt rectores gregum HR.] Induti sunt Arietes Ouium. Line 294

(43)

¶ "Off this notáble / Roiall hih scripture, [Roialle] and H.] Line 295 The blessed Doctour Austyn, as I reede,

As by manere / a gostly fayr Figure [As . . a] H, Be manere gostly fayr La, Be a maner . . faire of R.] Off a chast sheepë / (thus he doth procede,) [chast . . doth] meke shepe . thus doth he H, m. s. t. he doth R.] Callid Maria, a maide / in thouht & deede, [Callid . . deede] om. H.] Line 299 Brouht forth the lambe / lambe of most vertu, [the . . of] a lamb that was H, a lambe R.] The lambe of grace / which is callid Ihesu. [is callid] namede is H, whos name was R.] Line 301

(44)

¶ "Austyn callith / this lambe, in his estat [Austyn] Augustyn R. his] om. R.] Line 302 (Bi many-foldë / recorde of scripture,) The roial lambe / of colour purpurat, Which for mankynde / list passioun to endure, [to] om. HR.] Born of a maide / bi grace, a-geyn nature, [ageyn] agenst H, agayn R.] Line 306 Whan he, bi mene / of hir humylite, [bi] bi the H, be R.] Took the meeke clothyng of our humanyte. [Took the meeke] List take the H, Toke the R.] Line 308

(45)

¶ "Born bi descent / to be bothe preest & kyng, [folio 72b] Line 309 Kyng bi successioun / fro Dauid doun bi line, [fro] from H, fro R.] Of purpil red / was his Roial clothyng, [purpil] purpur H.] This Agnus dei / born of a pure virgyne, Which wessh a-wey / all venym superfyne Line 313 On Calverie / whan he for man was ded, With his pure blood / purpurat & red. Line 315

(46)

¶ "This Paschale lamb / withouten spot, al whiht, [The Lambeth MS. 306 begins here.] Line 316 Bi his passioun / in Bosra steyned red, Which cam from Edom / lamb of most delite, [lamb . . most] this lamb . . grete H, this lambe of R.] That yaff his bodi / to man in forme of bred On sheerthursday / be-forn ar he was ded. [beforne ar] to-fore or H, to-fore R.] Line 320 Was euyr founde / afore this in scripture, [euyr . . this] there euer founde HR.] Off hors or goos / so solempne a Figure? Line 322

Line 322

(47)

¶ "This lamb was Crist / which lyneal doun cam; [lyneal] lineally HR. doun cam] cam doun LH, cam R.] Line 323 Bi descent / conveide the peedegree [Bi . . convaide] LR, In . . conveyede . bi. the] LH, de R.] Fro the Patriarch / I-callid Abraham, [Icallid] callid loo H.] Bi Isaac, Iacob / & so doun to Iesse, [Lord] LH, om. R.] Which, bi the vertu / of his humylite, Line 327 List to be callid the blessed Lord Ihesu, For his hih meekenesse / lamb of most vertu. [hih meekenesse] mekenesse . . the HR.] Line 329

(48)

¶ "And to reherse / worldly comoditees [to] LH, for to R.] Line 330 In re publica make no comparison; Ther is no best / which, in all degrees, Nouther Tigre / Olifant, nor Gryffon— [nor] ne HR.] Al thyngës rekned / thoruh euery region— Line 334 Doth so gret profite / hors, nor goos, nor swan, [nor . . nor] goos ne HR.] As doth the Sheepe, vn-to the ese of man. Line 336

(49)

¶ "Lat be thi bost, thou / hors, & thi Iangelyng! [folio 73] Line 337 Ley doun thi trapures / forgid of plate & maile! Cast of thy brydyl / of gold so fresshe shynyng! [brydyl] sadil HR.] What may thi sadil / or boses the availe? [sadil] bridel HR. boses] bos LH, boces R.] This gostly lambe / hath doon a gret bataile; Line 341 Bi his meknesse / he offred vp for man, [vp for] LR, for H.] Clad in pure purpil / venquysshid hath Satan. [venq . .] LR, he venquyssede H.] Line 343

(50)

¶ "The Goos may gagle / the hors may prike & praunce: [gagle] cacle H, cakle R. may] om. R.] Neither of hem / in prowes may atteyne [prowes] LH, processe R.] For to be set / or put in rémembraunce A-geyn the lamb / thouh thei ther-at disdeyne: [Ageyn] LR, Agenst H. ther-at] LH, om. R.] For comon profite / he passith bothë tweyne, Line 348

Line 348 Weied & considred / thei be no thyng liche [Weied . . liche] Considre it wele . be-twene pore and riche H, Weye and considere betwene . . R.] To hym in valew / be-tween poore & riche. [To . . riche] To the lamb in valu . . they be nothynge liche H, To hym in . . . liche R.] Line 350

(51)

¶ "Off Brutis Albion / his wolle is cheeff richesse, [Brutis . . his] LR, Inglande the wulle H.] Line 351 In prys surmountyng / euery othir thyng Sauff Greyn & corn: marchauntis al expresse, Woolle is cheeff tresoure / in this lond growyng: To Riche & poorë / this beeste fynt clothyng: [fynt] fyndith H, fynde R.] Line 355 Alle Nacïouns / afferme vp to the fulle, [afferme] affermen it HR.] In al the world / ther is no bettir wolle. [the . . is] this . . nys H, the . . is R.] Line 357

(52)

¶ "Of sheepe al-so / comyth pilet & eke fell, [pilet] pelt H. Lm (Lambeth), pellet R.] Line 358 Gadrid in thys lond / for a gret Marchaundise [in . . a] to gydre . for H, in . . for R. Marchaundise] in margin, later; tresoure dotted under for omission, in text.] Caried ovir see / where men may it sell: [ovir] bi H, over the R.] The wollë skynnys / makith men to rise [wolle . . makith] wullen . . causen H, wulle . . causen R.] To gret richesse / in many sondry wise; Line 362 The sheepe al-so / turnyth to gret profite, [turnyth] tournynge H, tornyth R.] To helpe of man / berith furris blak & white. [furris blak] LR, both blak H.] Line 364

(53)

¶ "Ther is also / made of sheepis skyn, [folio 73b] [of] of the HR.] Line 365 Pilchis & glovis / to dryve awey the cold. Ther-of also / is made good parchëmyn, To write on bookes / in quaiers many fold; [366, 368 as in HR; La transposes these lines.] [on . . in] on . . and HR, of . . & R.] The Ram of Colcos / bare a flees of gold; Line 369 The flees of Gedeon / of deuh délectáble [of . .] with dewe delitable H, . . delectable R.] Was of Maria / a Figure ful notáble. [ful notable] LR, delectable H.] Line 371

Line 371

(54)

¶ "His fleessh is / natural restauracion; Line 372 As summe men seyn / aftir gret siknesse, [seyne] LR, om. H.] Rostid or sodyn / holsom is moton: [sodyn] LR, soode . right H.] Wellid with growel / phisiciens expresse, [Wellid] Boyled H.] Ful nutritiff aftir a gret accesse. [accesse] LR, sikenesse H.] Line 376 The sheepe al-so / concludyng doutelees [doutelees] doutlees L, douteles R.] Of his naturë / louyth rest & pes. [louyth] lovithe ay H.] Line 378

(55)

¶ "Of the sheepe / is cast a-way no thyng: [Of] Of al H.] Line 379 His horn for nokkis / to haftis goth the bone; To the lond / gret profite doth his tirdelyng; [To the] The H, To R. tirdelynge] tyrtelyng R.] His talwe eke seruyth / for plaistres mo than on; [eke] om. R.] For harpë strynges / his roppis serue echone; Line 383 Of his hed / boilèd holle, with wolle & all, [his] LH, whos R. boiled holle] boild La, boylede holle H.] Ther comyth a gelle / an oynement ful Roiall; [an oynement] H, an oynemet La, oynement R.] Line 385

(56)

¶ "For ache of bonys / & also for brosoure [ache] LH, the ache R.] Line 386 It remedieth / & dooth men ese ful blyve; [men] H, om. LaR. ful] als H.] Causith men starkid / bonys to recure; [starkid / bonys] stark ioyntes H, of starke Ioyntes R.] Dede synnewis / restorith a-geyn to live. [Dede . . live] LaR, om. H.] Blak sheepis wolle / with fresh oil of olive— [fresh] om. R. oil of] oyle HR.] Line 390 These men of Armys / with charmys previd good,— [previd] LR, preve it H.] At a streight neede / thei can weel staunchë blood. [a . . weel] strayte nede . therwith H, . . . can wel R.]

(57)

¶ "But to the wolff / contrárie of nature [folio 74] [But to] Vnto HR.] Line 393 As seyn auctours / it is the humble best, [it . . humble] is this symple H, is this humble R.] Louyth no debat / for which eche crëature,

For his party / he woldë lyve in rest. [he wolde] R, the sheepe wolde H, he wol La.] Where-fore, ye Iugis / I hold it for the best, Line 397 Rem publicam / ye must of riht preferre, [must] shulde H, shold R.] Alwey consideryng / that pees is bet than werre. [Alwey . . than] . . better than R, Considerynge alwey . the peas is bette the H.]

(58)

¶ "In this matere / breffly to conclude, Line 400 Pees to preferrë / as to my devis, [my devis] LaR, myn advise H.] Bi many an old / previd symylitude, [an] om. R.] Makith no delay / yeuyth to the sheepe the pris, [Makith . . yeuyth] Make . . yeue R.] Of oon assent / sith that ye be wis: [sith . . be] LaR, sithen . . bien H.] Line 404 Lat al this werre & striff / be sett a-side, [al this] H, al La, alle R.] And vpon pees / dooth with the sheepe a-bide."

(59)

¶ "Nay," quod the hors / "your request is wronge, [youre] LaR, for youre H.] Line 407 Al thyng considerid / me were loth to erre: The sheepe is causë / & hath be ful longe, [and] LaR, and so H.] Of newë stryvës / & of mortal werre. [stryves] HR, striff La.] The circumstancis / me list nat to defferre: [to] om. H.] Line 411 Thi wolle was cause / & gret occasïon Whi the forsworn / and proude Duke of Burgon [the . . and] H, that the proude LaR.]

(60)

¶ "Cam befor Caleis / with Flemynges nat a fewe, Line 414 Which yaff the sakkis / & sarpleres of the toun [sakkis . . of] LaR, sarpluce . and sakkis in H.] To Gaunt & Brugis / his fredam for to shewe, And of thi wolle / hiht hem pocessïoun; [And . . hem] Of thy wullis theyr gaf theym H, Of . . he hyght hem R.] But his boistous baistille / first was bete doun; [But] om. HR.] Line 418 He vnethe / escapid with the liff: [He] Hym self HR.] What but thi wolle / was cause of al the striff? [wolle] wulles R. the] this HR.]

(61)

¶ "Wher richesse is / of wollë & sich good, [folio 74b] [Wher . . wolle] . . . wulles R, There riches is of wullis H.] Line 421 Men drawë thidir / that be rekëles, [that be] whiche bien H. rekeles] recheles R, rekles La.] As Soudïoures / that braynles been, & wood, To gete baggagë / put hem silf in prees. [put] LaH, they put R. silf] LR, forth H.] Thou Causist werre / and seist thu louest pees; [Thou . . and] Thus causest thou werre & R, Causist werre LaH. seist thu] seystow H.] Line 425 And yiff ther were / no werrë nor bataille, [yiff . . nor] gyve . . nother H, yf . . ne R.] Lityll or nouht / gret horsis shuld availe." [horsis] H, hors La, horse R.] Line 427

(62. The Goose)

¶ "No," quod the Goos / "nór my Fetharis white, [quod] said R.] Line 428 Withoutë werre / shuld do non Avauntáge, Nor hookid Arwis / profite but a lite. [hookid] LaR, sharpe H.] To mete oure enmyes / magre ther visage, [enmyes] ennyes La, enemyes HR.] And from oure foomen / save vs from damáge, [foomen] H, enmyes to La, them to R.] Line 432 Fliht of my Fetheris / despite of sheepe echon, [despite] LaR, faute H.] Shal vs defende / a-geyn our mortal foon." Line 434

(63)

¶ "Sothe," quod the hors / "as in my inward siht, [Sothe] R, Sithe H, Bothe La.] Line 435 Withouten werre / (be-forn as I yow told), [Withouten] H, Without La, With oute R. beforne] to-fore H, afore R.] We may nat save / nor keepë wele our right, [save] LaR, sawen H. wele] HR, om. La.] Our garisonës / nor oure castelis old. But here this sheepë / rowkyng in his fold, [rowkyng] H, vukyng La, ruckyng R.] Line 439 Set litill stoor / of swerd or Arwis keene, Whan he, in pees, may pasture on the greene. [in pes may] LaR, may in pease H.] Line 441

(64)

¶ "Yiff it so stood / that neuer werrë were, [Yiff . . stood] If it so were H. neuer] H, no LaR.] Line 442 Lost were the craft / of thesë Armoreres. [these] om. R.] What shuld availë / pollax, swerd or spere,

Or these daggarës / wrouht bi coteleres, Bowës, crosbowës / arwis of fletcheres? [of] R, or La, of the H.] Line 446 These instrumentis / for the werre all wrouht, [These . . all] The . . al H, All these Inst . . for the werre La, Alle . . is R.] Yif werrë stynt / they shuldë serue of nouht. [stynt] were stint HR. they shulde] shuld La.] Line 448

(65)

¶ "Her occupacioun / shold have non encres; [folio 75] [Her] Theyr H, Their R.] Line 449 Knyhthod nat flouren shuld / in his estat; [nat . . shuld] ne shuld . flaure H, shold not floure R.] In euery contre / yiff ther werë pees, No man of armys shold be fortunat: I preve that pees / is grond of all debat, Line 453 For on five spookis / lik as on a wheel, [on . . on] in . . spekis . . as is R.] Turnyth al the world / who can considre weel. [can considre] considereth R.] Line 455

(66)

¶ "Gyn first at pees / which causith most richesse, [most] al H, om. R.] & riches is / the originall of pride: Pride causith / for lak of Rihtwisnesse, Werre between Rewmys / look on euery side, Hertis contrarye / in pees can nat A-bide: [can] wil R.] Line 460 Thus, fynally / (whoo can considre & see,) Werre is cheff ground & cause of pouerte. Line 462

(67)

¶ "Pouert bi werrë / brouht to disencrese, Line 463 For lak of tresoure / than he can no more, Sauff only this / he crieth aftir pees, And, compleyneth / on the warris sore: [on] LaR, vpon H.] He seith, 'bi werris / he hath goodis lore, [goodis] his goodis HR.] Line 467 Can no recure / but grutchyng & disdeyn,' And seith he wold right fayn / have pees a-geyn. [And, right] H, om. La. he] LaH, the world R. fayn] lief H.]

(68)

¶ "Thus pride & richesse / to conclude in a clause, Line 470 Betwene thextremytes / of pes & pouertee, [Betwene] LaR, om. H. (Scan 'thextremytes' as 1 foot).]

Off all debatis / & werrë, be cheeff cause; [debatis] La R, delayes H.] And, sith wollis bryngith in greet plente [sith] thy H, saith R.] Wher thei habounde / (as folk expert may se), Line 474 Than may I seyn / (yiff men wole takyn keepe,) [yiff] yif that H, yf R.] Werre is brouht in / al only bi the sheepe. Line 476

(69)

¶ "Here is a gentil reson of an hors! ¶ Ouis [Ouis] ¶ The Ram spekyth H, The shepe answereth R.] Line 477 I trowë he be fallen / in a dotáge, [folio 75b] [trowe . . a] trowe . . into som R, leeve he be fal . in grete H.] Which, of madnesse / bi wollë set no fors, [wolle] wullis H. no] HR, so La.] Falsly affermeth / it doth non ávauntáge, [affermeth] affermyng HR.] Vertuous plente / may do no damáge: Line 481 Sheepe berith his wolle / I told so whan I gan, [wolle] flees HR. so] om. R.] [H has in margin: ¶ Non sibi, sed Reliquis, Aries sua vellera portat.] Nat for hym-silf, but for profit of man. [H has in margin: ¶ Non sibi, sed Reliquis, Aries sua vellera portat.] [Nat] Nought H, Not R.] Line 483

(70)

¶ "Divers comoditees that comen of the sheepe [Divers] LaR, om. H (scan 'comodi|tees' as 1 foot).] Line 484 Causë no werris / what men Iangle or muse, As in her gilt / ¶ ye Iuges, takith keepe [her . . takith] her take ye R, his . . taken H.] What that I sei / her Innocence texcuse! [texcuse] LaR, to excuse H.] Of Coveitise / men may falsly mysvse [mysvse] vse H, muse R.] Line 488 Her bëenfatis / & wrongly hem attwite [Her . . attwite] LaR, His . . bewite H.] Of such occasiouns / where he is nat to wite. [occasiouns . . he] lewdenesse . . he H, occasions . . she R.] Line 490

(71)

¶ "What is the sheepe / to blamë in your sight Line 491 Whan she is shoorn / & of hir flessh made bare, [she . . flessh] he . . his flees H, she . . her flees R.] Thouh folk of malice / for hir wollis fiht [hir wollis] his wulle H, his wollis La, her wulles R.] Causelees to stryve / foolis wil nat spare: [stryve] LaR, deryve H.] Where pees restith / thér is al weelfare; [Where] Where that H.] Line 495

Line 495 And sith the sheepe / louyth pes of Innocence, Yeuyth to his party / diffynytiff sentence." [Yeuyth . . party] Yeue ye for his parte R. to his party] for his part H. (72) The lyon & egle yeuyng Iugement R.] Line 497

(72)

¶ The Roial Egle / the leon of assent, [the leon of] and the lyon of one R.] Line 498 Al thyng considerid / rehersid heere-to-forn [toforn] aforn H, beforn R.] Of all these thre / bi good avisëment, Of hors, of goos, of Ram, with his gret horn, [of Ram . . gret] and Ram with croked H, and ghoos / and the ram with his R.] Sauh in re publica / myht nat be for-born, [nat] noun R. forborne] LaR, forsworn H.] Line 502 Bi short sentence / tavoydë al discorde, [tavoyde] to avoyde H, to voyden R.] Cast a meene / to sett hem at a-corde. [Cast] They cast H.] Line 504

(73)

¶ This was the meene / tavoidë first the stryves, [folio 76] [tavoide first] to awoyde al HR. the] her R. stryves] H, strif La, her striues R.] Line 505 And al old Rancour / with her hertis glade; [al . . her] of olde grucchynge with theyr H, R (less 'of').] Vse her yiftës / & her prerogatives [Vse . . here] To vse they gyftes and theyr H, Vse these ghyftes & thise R.] To that same eende / for which that thei were made, [same] H, om. LaR. for] to R, om. La. that] om. H.] Ware, with presumpcioun / her bakkis be nat lade, [Ware] H, War La. her] theyr HR.] Vndevided / with hert(ë), will & thouht [Vndevided with] al . vndevided . in Vndeuoyded in R.] Line 510 To doon her office / as nature hath hem wrouht.

(74)

¶ The hors, bi kynde, to lyvë in travayle, [lyve] lyuen R.] Line 512 Goos, with his gooslynges / to swymme in the lake, [Goos . .] The ghoos . . his La. to] R, om. LaH. his . . swymme] their goselynges to.] The Sheepe, whoos wollë / doth so myche availe, [wolle / doth] wullis . don H, wulles doth R.] In hir pasturë grese / & mery make; [hir . . grese] his . . gresen H, his . . grese R.] Her comparisouns / bi on assent for-sake, [Her] om. H, Their R ('-parisouns' is 1 foot).] Line 516 Al-wey remembryng / how god & nature, [Alwey . . &] LaR, Remembrynge hem how god & eke H.] To a good ende / made euery creature. [To] LaR, Til H.] Line 518

Line 518

(75)

¶ That noon of hem, to othir / shuld do no wrong [of hem] H, om. LaR. no] om. La.] Line 519 The ravenous wolf / the sely lambe toppresse; [wolf] HR, om. La.] And thouh oon bé / more than an othir strong, [And thouh] Although La.] To the febler / do no froward duresse. [no froward] LaR, none hard H.] Al extorcioun / is groundid on falsnesse; Line 523 Will is no lawe / whethir it be wrong or riht: [no] now R.] Treuthe is put doun / the feeble is put to fliht. [put] leyd R.]

(76)

¶ Odious of old / been all comparisouns, [comparisouns] HR, coparisouns La.] Line 526 And of comparisons / is gendrid hatereede; [compari|sons . .] hem engendred bien fowle hateredis H. gendrid] engendrid R.] All folk be nat / of lik condicïouns, [lik] oon H, And alle . . lyke of R.] Nor lik disposid / of thouht, wil, or deede; [or deede] or dedis H, & dede R.] But this fable / which that ye now reede, [But . .] For whiche cause this fable that ye rede R, For whiche this fable. whiche that ye redis H.] Line 530 Contreuëd was / that who that hath grettest part [that who that] who that H, who R.] Off vertuous yiftis / shold with his freend depart. [freend depart] LaR, friendis part H.]

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¶ Thus all vertues / alloone hath nat oo man: [folio 76b] [Thus] As thus R. alloone . . oo] LaR, oon have no lyveng H.] Line 533 That oon lakkith / god hath yove a-nothir: [god] nature HR.] That thou canst nat / parcas a-nothir can: [parcas] LaR, parchaunce H.] So entircomon / as brothir doth with brothir; [So . .] Entercomen therfore R. doth with] LaR, with his H.] And if charite / gouerne weele the tothir, [And if . . tothir] If . . Roother H, Yf . . rother R.] Line 537 And in oo clausë / speke in wordis pleyn, [And in oo clause] Al in oon vessel . . to H.] That no man shold / of othir ha disdeyn. [of othir ha] have . . of othir H.] [Below, a later hand has written "Amor uincit omnia." The Roxb. Club reprint of 1822 has no envoy, but says, "Thus endeth the hors, the ghoos, and the sheep."] Line 539

¶ The Auctour makith a Lenvoie vpon alle the mateere be-fore said. [The Auctour. .] ¶ The moralite of the hors, the goose, and the sheepe, trans|lated by Dan Iohn Lidgate, H, in margin.]

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¶ Off this fable / conceivith the sentence; [the] this H.] Line 540 At good leiser / doth the mateer see, Which inporteth gret intelligence Yiff ye list takë / the moralite Profitable to euery comounte, [co|mounte] comunalte H.] Line 544 Which includith in many sondry wise, No man shuld / of hih nor lowe degre, [nor] or H.] For no prerogatiff / his neighbore to despise. [to despise] despise La, to dispise H.] Line 547

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¶ Som man is strong / hardi as a leoun Line 548 To byndë Beeris / or Booris to oppresse, Wher-as anothir / hath gret discrecïoun: Som man hooly / liveth in parfitnesse, Line 551 A-nothir besi / to gadre gret richesse; But with al this / tak heed of this emprise, No man presume / so hih his hornes dresse, For no prerogatiff / his neihbour to despise. [548-555] H omits.] Line 555

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¶ Trappures of gold / ordeyned were for steedis; [folio 77] Line 556 Sheepe in the pasture / gresen with mekënesse, [the . . gresen] theyr . . to grace H.] Yit of ther wollis / be woven richë weedis, [be woven] bien wonder H.] Of smothë doun / maad pilwis for softnesse, Line 559 Fethirbeddis to sleepe, whan men dresse [whan men] on whan men hem H.] Toward Aurora / ageyn til thei arrise: [ageyn] H. a gey La.] Rolle vp this problem / thynk what it doth expresse: [what it] it H.] For no prerogatiffe / thi neihbour nat despise. Line 563

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¶ The inward meenyng / to-forn as it is told, [meenyng / to forne] meanes . aforn H.] Line 564 The hors is tokne / of Marcïal noblesse

With his hi belle / & bocïs brood of gold. [belle] bellis H.] Estat of Tirantis / the poraile doth oppresse; Line 567 The woolff in ffoldis / to sheepë doth duresse, [ffoldis . . doth] fieldis the sheepe doth grete H.] Rukkyng in ffoldis / for dreed dar net arryse, [dreede] feer H.] Ye that han power / be war in your hihnesse, For no prerogatiff, your sogettis to despise. Line 571

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¶ As pronostatik / clerkis bare witnesse; [As pronostatik] H; A pronostik La.] Line 572 Both ware of phebus / that erly cast his liht, [cast] castith H.] Of reyn, of stormis / of myste or of derknesse [of stormis / of] storme or H.] Shal aftir folwe / longe or it be nyht, Line 575 Signe of gret wyntir / whan wild gees tak her fliht [wild . . her] wielde . . theyr H.] Lik as nature / hir stoundis can devise: [H. leaves out.] Lat hih nor lowe / presumen of his myht, [Lat] Nat H.] For no prerogatiff / his neihbour to despise. Line 579

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¶ Of mony strange vncouth simylitude, Line 580 Poetis of old / fablis haue contryvid, Of sheepe, of hors / of Gees, of bestis rude, [of bestis] and bestis H.] Bi which ther wittis / were secretly apprevid, [wittis were] witte was H.] Line 583 Vndir covert / tyrauntis eeke reprevid, [covert] covert termes H.] Ther oppressiouns & malis to chastise Bi exanplis / of resoun to be mevid, [exanplis of reason] ex|ample of reason . goodely H.] For no prerogatiff / poore folk to despise. [poore folk] the poraile H.] Line 587

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¶ Fortunës cours / dyuersly is dressid [folio 77b] Line 588 Bi liknessis / of many othir tale; [liknessis . . othir] liknes of many another H.] Man, best, & fowle / & fisshis been oppressid [Man] Men H.] In ther nature / bi female or bi male: Line 591 Of grettest fissh / devourid been the smale, [grettest] grete H (H transposes lines 591, 592).] Which in nature / is a ful straungë guyse,

To seen a kokkow / mordre a Nityngale, An Innocent bird / of hattreede to despise. Line 595

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¶ With this processe / who that be wroht or wood, Line 596 Thynges contrarie / be founde in euery kynde: [contrarie] outrage H.] A cherl of berthë / hatith gentil blood: It were a monstre / a-geyn nature, as I fynde, Line 599 That a gret mastyff should a leoun bynde; A parlious Clymbyng / whan beggeres vp arise [parlious] perilous H.] To hih estat—merk this in your mynde— Bi fals prerogatives / ther neihbours to despise.

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¶ Fals supplantyng / clymbyng vp of foolis, [vp] om. H.] Line 604 Vnto chairës / of wordly dygnyte, Lak of discrecioun sett Iobbardis vpon stoolis, [Lak] Looke H.] Which hath distroied many a comounte; Line 607 Marcolf to sitt / in Salamon-is see; [Marcolf . . Salamon-is] Marchol . . Salamons H.] What folwith aftir? / nor resoun nor Iustise, [nor . . nor] no . . no H.] Vn-Iust promocioun / & parcialite, [Vniust] Iniuste H.] Bi fals prerogativis / the neihboures to despise. Line 611

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¶ Tweene riche & poore / what is the difference, [Tweene] Atwene H.] Line 612 When deth approchyth / in any crëature, [any] euery H.] Sauff a gay tumbë / ffresh of ápparence? The riche is shet / with coloures & picture [shet] shitte H.] Line 615 To hide his careyn / stuffid with fowle ordure; The poore lith lowe / aftir the comoun guyse, [proude] prowde men H.] To techyn al proude / of resoun & nature, For no prerogatiff / ther neihbour to despise. Line 619

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¶ Ther was a kyngë / whilom as I rede, [folio 78] Line 620 As is remembrid / of ful yore a-gon, [of] of not H.]

Which cast away / croune [[? MS.]] & purpil weede, [croune & purpil] crowne and purpier H.] Bi causë that he / knew nat bon fro bon, [bon . .] boon from boon H.] Line 623 Of poore nor riche / hym sempte thei were al on, [nor] ne H.] Refusid his crōūnë / gan to aduertise [crounne] corowne and H.] Pryncis buried / in gold nor precious ston, [gold nor] glasse and H.] Shuld, of no pompe / ther suggettis nat despise. [nat] to H.]

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¶ This thyng was doon / in Alisandris tyme, [Alisandris] Alisaunder H.] Line 628 Bothë autentik / & historiall; Bood nat til nyht / left his estat at pryme; His purpil mantil / his garnement Roiall, [garnement] gar|nementis H.] Line 631 Texemplifië / in especiall [Texemplifie] To exemeplifie H.] To Imperial power / what perel is to rise: [perel . . rise] H; powere . . arise La.] Who clymbith hihest / most dredful is his fall. Beeth war, ye princis / your sogetis to despise. [Beeth . . to] Eche man be ware . his neyghburgh H.] Line 635

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¶ Hih & low / wer maad of oo mateer; [mateere] nature H.] Line 636 Of erthe we cam / to erthe we shal a-geyn; Thees emperours / with diadémys cleer, [H. leaves out.] With ther victóries / & triumphes in corteyn, Line 639 In charis of gold / lat hem nat disdeyn, [nat] have no H.] Thouh thei, eche day / of newe hem silf disguyse. Fortune is fals / hir sonne is meynte with reyn: Beth ware, ye pryncis / your suggettis to despise. [Beth] Be H.]

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¶ Hed & feete / been necessary bothe; Line 644 Feet beryn vp all / & hedis shal provide; [beryn] bere H.] Hors, Sheep, & Gees / whi shuld thei bei wrothe, For ther comoditees / tabreyden vpon pride? [ta . . vpon] to abrayden vp H.] Line 647 Nature, his giftis / doth dyversly devide, [his] theyr]

Whoos power lastith / from Cartage into Fryse: [Fryse] prise H.] He lastith weel / that wisly can a-byde, For any prerogatiff/ his neihbour to dispise. Line 651

¶ Conclusio.

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¶ To beast & foule / Nature hath set a lawe, [folio 78b] Line 652 Ordeyned steedis / in Iustis for the knyht, In carte & plouh / stokkis for to drawe, [stokkis] horsis H.] Sheepe in the pasture / to gresë day & nyht, [grese] grase H.] Line 655 Gees to swymme / a-mong to take ther fliht; Of god & kynde / to takë ther ffraunchise, [to take] taken al H.] Yeuyng exaumple / that no maner wiht, For no prerogatiff / his neihbour shal dispise. Line 659

Explicit.

¶ Incipit quedam compilacio de Regibus Anglie.

THis myhti William / Duke of Normandie, [folio 79] As bookis old[ë] / makë mencïoun, &c. [¶ William conquerour.]