Hier begynneth the booke callyd the Myrrour of the worlde ...

¶Hier begynneth the booke callyd the Myrrour of the worlde. And treateth first of the power and puyssaunce of god / Capitulo primo.

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WE ought to knowe that whan our lorde god made the worlde And that he had made alle thynges of nought / he had no nede of it. For as moche had he byfore / as he had after∣ward certainly god was to fore. And shal be inces¦santly after wythout en∣de / and wythout begynnyng / ¶Thenne he shal nothyng amende ne be better For hym faylled neuer ony thynge he seeth all hereth all knoweth alle / And holdeth alle thynge in his honde. He had neuer hunger. ne thurste. ne tyme / ne daye / ne hour / but abydeth contynuelly in alle goode. For to hym ne aperteyneth soone ne late / And of alle them that euer were / that ben / and shal be haue alway ben and shal be to fore his eyen as well the ferre as the nyghe / And the euyll as the goode he sawe as wel the world er it was ma¦de and fourmed as he doth now at this daye / ¶And yf he had neuer made the worlde / as moche had he ben thenne worth. and of as grete valewe as he euer myght haue be. ¶For other wyse he myght not be god. Yf he knewe not sawe and herde alle that myght be. And yf he were not soo he sholde be lackyng and not myghty of euery thynge.

¶ And of so moche he was and shold be a mortal man / but his nature was not suche / For he is god entierly and hooll wythout begynnyng and wythout ende / Nothyng is to hym newe ne olde / Alle weel and goode thyngis ben his by right. And by nature goon. and retourne ageyn to hym. For fro hym alle thynges procede and meue. And re∣tornyng to hym in holdyng the right waye / He retcheth ne∣uer of ony harme. For his bounte is alle pure / clene hool / and clere wythout ony espece of euyll / Certes alle euyll is ben to hym contraryes / And therfor it is pure necessite that they wythdrawe them vnder hym & fro all his goodnes for it is / nothyng but donge and ordure / whiche must nedes d••s¦cende in to the deppest / And the good thyngis must nedes goo vpward to fore the souerayn creatour whiche is clere net / and pure. And the synnes whiche ben obscure. horryble and derke aboue alle other thyng seuen the goode whiche is aboute god and auale and goo doun / For so behoueth it to be by rayson and nature / Alle in lyke wyse as we see the ordure of the wyn that is put in the vessell. and the ••oule departeth fro the clere / In suche wyse as the good and clere abydeth aboue / ¶And the lye whiche is thordure abydeth byneth in the bottom as infecte and not goode / And the good wyn that is aboue abydeth alwaye clere and fyn / ¶And that whiche is not good that is benethe in the bot¦tom abydeth alway obscure / fowle. and black / And so mo¦che the more as the wyn is good and more clere / so moche more reteyneth the lye more of fylthe and obscure / thus is it of the good and euyll / For the euyll muste descende in to places derke and horryble / and full of all sorow and bitter∣nesse / ¶And so moche more as the good shyneth to fore

god and the more it Ioyeth / so moche the more sorowe and derkenesse is in helle. where it is contynuell and shal be as longe as god shal be in heuen / Where as god hath alle goodnesse to fore hym and alleway shal haue wythout payne. wythout trauayll / and wythout grief or Ennoye he hath alle / and alle he enlumyneth wythout ony defaulte and wythout ony terme / God may make alle thyng. and alle deffete or vnmake wythout changyng hym self in ony thyng that may be / For he may alle and conceyueth alle. ¶Ther is nothyng that may hurte hym / he is esta∣bled wythout ony meuyng. And alle meuynges m••ue of hym / An hondred thousand yere mounte not to hym so moche as the thousand parte of one onely houre of thys world. ne to alle them that be in heuen / of whiche the les∣te that abydeth there hath more Ioye in an hour only. and of deduyte soulace gladnes and of honour of whiche he shal neuer be wery ne full / than ony man may thynke ne knowe ne esteme in this world in an hondred thousand yere yf he myght so longe lyue and endure. thaugh he were the most subtyll of alle the men that euer were born or euer shal be though he thought the beste he myghte / ¶Of this so grete and Inestymable glorye is god the ve¦ray and souerayn lord wythout ony other. as god that alle knoweth and alle seeth. alle that euer that hath ben alle that is / and alle that euer shal be / & alle that belongeth to hym / Hym faylled neuer ony thynge that is good / he hath hem allew••y to fore hym / Ner ther was neuer ony goode thynge ne neuer shal be / But that it was pourtrayed to fo¦re hym. byfore the creacion of the world / Now ye shal here why and wherfore god created and made the world /

¶Wherfor god made and created the world / Capitulo. ij.

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GOd made and cre¦ated al the world of his onli wille by cau¦se that he myght haue so¦me thynge that myght be suche as myght deser∣ue of his wele and good¦nes yf it were not in his defaulte / And ther¦fore he establysshid this world. Nothynge for y^t he shold be the better ne y^t he had ony nede / But he dyde it for charyte & by his grete debonayrte / For as right charytable / he wolde that other shold parte wyth hym of his wele and goodnes. And that alle other creatures euerich after his nature shold fele of his puyssaū¦ce after that it myght apperteyne to hym. Thus wold god establissh this world. that suche thyngs shold Issue y^t might vnderstande & knowe the noblesse of his power & of his sa¦pyence / & also of the good that he made for the man erthely / that he myght serue hym in suche maner. y^t by hym he myght deserue the grete wele & good that he had made for hym / then ne ought we aboue alle other thynge to loue hym & than∣ke hym that made and fourmed vs / Whan we haue suche power and suche auctoryte by hym. That yf we wyll loue him we shal be lordes of all goodes. Now loue we him thē¦ne wyth all our myght. & thenne shal we doo as wyse men

¶And yf we doo not we shal haue grete harme and dā∣mage / For yf we by our cause lose suche goodes as our lord hath made for vs / Yet for alle that god shal lese nothyng / Certaynly he made them to thende that we shold haue them syth that by our good dedes we myght conne deserue them and that he of his grace hath gyuen to vs the wytte. then∣tendement and the power /

¶Wherfore god fourmed man lyke vn∣to his ymage and to his se∣mblaunce / Capl^o. iij.

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Whan god fourm••∣ed mā he wol∣de make and create hym li∣ke vnto his ymage and semblamce / to thende that he shold haue remembranuce of the goodes that he had lente hym / ¶And that he myght deserue them alle by ryght and ray∣son / For he shewde to hym so grete loue / that aboue alle o∣ther treasures he fourmed hym to his fygure and sem∣blaunce / And gaf to hym naturelly right parfyght vn∣derstondyng for to loue and knowe hym more than ony other thynge / to thende that he myght parte more largely of his goodes than ony other creature / Ne god dyde nene•• ne made for other creature so many goode thynges / as he hath made for man / But who is he that wyll deserue them And yf he doo not it is reason that he sorowe. For he doth

to god no bounte. that doth well for to haue his grace and his loue / For he doth it more for his owen prouffyt / than he doth it for other / And ther for he doth well that loueth and seruyth hym. For moche may he calle hym self caytyff and meschaunt / that by his folye leseth so hye. so noble and so excellente glorye. For his synne that prouffyteth hym nought. And hath not in thende but shame and blame And draweth hym in to suche a place where is no thynge but payne. y••e. sorowe. and heuynesse. of whiche he shal ne¦uer see hym delyuerd as longe as helyueth / Thus hath he∣loste the grete Ioye that was gyuen to hym / whiche is ta∣ken awaye by his synne. And myght haue ben a lord yf he had wolde / Yf he had mayntened hym self in doyng al∣way goode werkes. and wold haue absteyned and kepte hym fro doyng euyll / For who that doth wel in this worlde he hath so moche good and honour that thangels of heuen make hym theyr lord and maystre / by fore god kynge of alle kynges. ¶Thenne he may well holde hym for ewrous and happy that doth so moche goode in erthe duryng his lyff that may conquere and haue this honour / And that may euery persone do all for hym self yf it pleseth hym / ¶Now late euerych doo as hym goode shal seme. and ta∣ke whiche that he wylle / For he may wynne by doyng well and also lese by doyng euyll /

¶Wherfor god made not the man / suche as he myght not synne / Capitulo. iiij.

WHan our lord god created the man / he gaf to hym power to doo his fre wylle. That is to wete to doo good or euyll whiche he wolde / For yf god had made the man suche as he myght not haue synned ne to haue doon nothyng but well. he shold haue take from hym somwhat

of his power / For he myght not thenne haue doon euyll whan it had plesyd hym / And thenne it shold haue fo∣lowed / that wold he or not / he shold alwaye haue doon well wythoute reson / ¶And thus he shold not haue ben cause of the goode that he sholde haue doon / but it sholde haue proceded of another whiche by force sholde haue cau∣sed hym and haue gyuen hym the wylle / ¶And he by the moyen of that he so sholde doo / sholde deserue the gwer∣don / and not onely he / For lytyl deserueth he that by force of other doth seruyse / who that to morow shold put me in a stronge pryson ayenst my wylle for to doo goode / I sholde not holde hym for wyse / For he shold doo me wronge / Neuertheles it was well in our lordes power yf it had plesed hym to haue made man suche that he shold not haue synned ne haue don ony harme ne euyll / But he had not deseruyd yet suche meryte ne reward as he now doth in noo tyme of the world / And therfore god gaf to man playn fre¦wylle to doo well or euyll to thende that in wel doyng and leuyng the euyll he myght haue more meryte / For other∣wyse he myght not deserue so moche / yf god had made than∣gels suche as myght not haue synned dedly / ne haue don e∣uyll / For that yet shold not they deserue so noble a yefte as the men / And who that wyll deserue these hye merytes / he ought gladly wyth entyer herte and parfyght serue by grete loue and grete reuerence hym that hath made hym for to conquere and come to the most hye honour. And our lord god wolde that man were suche / that by ryght he myght deserue as moche goode a boute hym as he hym self hath. ¶And therfore he gaf to hym witte and r••son for to haue entencion to hym / For by ryght he ought well to serue hym / Thenne is he a moche fooll that pourueyeth

not to doo wel whiles he is here lyuynge / For all the good that euery man shal do. shal be for hym self / & alle the euyll also. And eche man shal haue for one good thinge / an hon∣dreed good thynges / and for one euyll an hondred euellis / For he is a moche fool that weneth to doo god ony bounte of his goodys in ony maniere that it be / And whan he ab∣steneth hym fro doyng euyll. so moche our lord holdeth hym the derrer. and loueth hym the better. For yf he loste alle the world. Our lord shold neuer be the lasse worth. ne none of the goodys that ben in his power / yf alle the sayntes that euer here to fore in the world or euer shal be / had neuer don goode / ¶And that alle by her demerytes were perpetuelly dampned in helle. yet for alle that our lord god shold neuer haue the lasse Ioye ne consolacion. And shold not be the las¦se worth. ne noo thynge that is in heuen / But the sayntes were wyse prudent. and constaunt for to doo well and prouffyt / as they that playnely knewe that this world is not but a vayn thynge and transsitoyre. And had moche leuer to suffre paynes & trauaylles / and offre their bodyes to tourment and martirdom & to haue shames / blasphemies and other Iniuryes for the loue of our lord in this misera∣ble world that so lytyl whyle endureth / And to haue the goodes of heuen euerlastyng. than to haue ease chaungea∣ble to the body / for to haue payne perdurable / They retched not ne had no charge of suche goodys that atte laste shold be of noo value / ¶But they toke the brydle by the teeth for to gete the right hye wytte and vnderstandyng of he∣uen. And ther ben many of them that hol••e them for foolys in this world / the whiche now at this tyme haue their nee∣kys charged. of whiche the other be deliueryd. For they ben herberowed in heuen / And yet holde they many a wyse

man for fool that preyse not moche their wordes. Ther ben plente of wyse people in heuen now / that yf they had prey∣sed the foolissh dictes or sayngis And the folishe werkys of the people that so moche coueyte the honouyr and loos of this world for the worde of foles. that they had lefte the commaundement{is} of god / In whiche the sayntes in heuen dyde gretely their deuoyr / For they lefte not for the delytes of the world to serue their maker and creatour for to gete heuen where they haue Ioye and alle honour as they that ben lordes and shal ben wythout ende / ¶And yf they had doon otherwyse they shold haue perpetuelly shame fylthe & tourmentis of helle where as ben alle the euyllys that man can deuyse. ¶It is moche grete meruayle of this world how that it is so. that ther ben so moche people that wyl suf¦fre payne and trauaylle more for to gete loos of the people or for to amasse grete tresours. the whiche so lytyl tyme a∣byde wyth hem / that in an one hour fayll / than they wylle doo for to conquere the goodes of our lord the whiche shal neuer fayll. whiche the blyssyd sayntes haue goten by a ly∣tyl hard lyf that they haue endured in this world that me semeth but a right delyte to them that of good herte doo it / ¶And in thend••it semeth to them. that for litil or nought they haue goten heuen / and alle thus may euery persone ge¦te it. and be comyn of the goodes of our lord and haue the Ioyes and glorye of heuen / yf the defaulte be not in hem self. But they that desyre the Ioyes the glorye and henours of this world / they empayre them self so moche that they may not lerne no good ne entende to their sauacion / And had moche leuer the ease and consolacions of the body of whiche they ben so sone put out. and brought to sorow and payne than they doo the ease of the soule whiche endureth

wythout ende / Ne they preyse not the witte ne entendemēt of the man yf he can not wel haue hym in the world and haue plente of temporal goodes. by whiche he may be en∣haunsed and lyft vp in the world / but saye he is nyce and folissh by cause he can not knowe their malyces & cawteles ¶But alle they ben cursed of god by the mouth of dauid the prophete that so payne them to plese the world by alle the wayes that they can doo / For suche pryde is vayne thynge by whiche y^e soule is enpayred / of whom dauid saith in the psaulter accursid be alle they and confused / as peo∣ple of exyle that playse the world / For of all goodes they extende them and discorde fro god and fro his loue / Syth they haue gyuen them and that they accorde them to the world to his vanytees and delytes. For god hath them all in despyte / and put them fro his grace / by cause they seche y^e loos and the glorye. of the world / In whiche he was put out and sette a backe and in thende crucyfyed and helden for a fool. ¶Thus sayth our lord god in his gospel / that alle they shal be blyssyd that haue the world in despyte / ¶And shal be as people hated defowled and cast out as foles for the loue of me and of my name / For they shal haue in heuē their reward and guerdon / And this may euery man see yf god hym self lye not / And trouthe may not be false / that they whiche plese the world / and wylle haue and take the loos and glorye of the world / it may not be but they after haue sorowe. ¶Therfore he is a fool that secheth to haue it by cause alle they that weeshe or pourchace it. be euyl coun∣seyled / For alle suche maner of people ben by the deuyl led¦de in to helle where they haue a ryght sorouful guerdon / And ther is nowher so valyaunt a kynge ne so puyssaūte prince / duk. erle. knyght. or noble man to whom the deuyll

hath regard but that he do to hym as moche gryef to his po¦wer / as to the most vyle and most poure that cometh in¦to helle / whan he hath so vsed his dayes and lyf that he is fallen in his handes / For alle they that ben dampned for to goo theder of what estat that they be. ben called rybaul¦dis For he myght haue conquerd in heuen more noble and more worthy Royamme than is in this world / For who that in thys world serueth our lord vnto the deth / he is mo¦re honoured in heuē than alle the kynges that euer were in this world that so lityl endureth wyth vs / Now serue we him thēne & leue we the euyl / the glorye & y^e vanyte of this world / Syth thenne that hereto fore we haue deuysed how & wherfore god hath created the world & wherfor he made mā / we shal deuyse to yow herafter the fourme of y^e world and the facyon after that it conteyneth & compryseth / and how it is made and composed rounde aboute. But it is ex∣pedyent that to fore this we speke of the vij Artes lyberal and of their resons. And how they were founden by them that apperceyued the sciences and vertues. For by the vij. Artes ben knowen the faytes of the world / And how it is sette. And therfore we owe now to speke therof for to vnderstonde the better that we shal saye here after.

¶Wherfor and how the seuen Artes liberall were foūden and of their ordre / Capitulo / v^o.

NOw declared this booke whiche is drawen out of Astronomye how somtyme the notable & wyse phi∣losophers wold enquere of the maner of the world / & how hit had ben created and made of god. wherof moche people meruaylled / And thenne whan the world was made and compassed / ther was people ynowhe / of whiche many behelde

the firmamēt / that torned round aboute the world & meuyd they had grete meruaylle how it myght be made / And they waked & studyed many nyghtes & many dayes. Thenne be∣gan they to beholde the sterres that roos in the eest. & meuyd aboute ouer their hedes Certaynly thyse philosophers ape∣tyted not these grete mangeryes ne. delycyous wynes ne for to fylle their belyes as don beestis that seche nothynge but their pasture lyke as this day do they that retche of no∣thynge but to fylle their paūche wyth good wynes & good vitaylles & after to haue a fair bedde / whyte shetes & softe / And there to slepe as the swyne / but those were wakyng & studienge many nyghtes & it greued them not. but they were embelysshid moche of that they sawe the fyrmament thus tourne & so nobly to holde his cours & termes / Thus sawe they the sterres meue tyl they went doun in the weste. somme on that one syde. & somme on that other syde / And somme sonner than the other / Thus behelde the prudent mē philosophers & other aboute the firmament tyl it was day y^t they sawe the sonne shewe & reyse in the mornyng rede and clere whiche ascended & mounted half the day / And that o∣ther half descended so longe tyl he went vnder whiche made the nyght tapproche / & thenne cam agayn the sterres in the nyght in their cours tyl the sonne cam agayn & enlumyned the day / & helde his way and cours tyl that he repayred on y^e morne in to his pryncypal place. After they behelde the mo∣ne. whiche was a comune thynge & apered to the world dy¦uersely. One tyme she mas rounde. another tyme half. and after horned / & so wente & becam suche as noman myght see her / And after she appered horned & syth half as she had ben to fore / & also round & ful. Thenne knewe they wel by their entendement that she approched the sonne tyl she was euen

ayenst hym. and after departed / And after she wythdrewe her more and more tyl that she was vnder the sonne as she had ben to fore. And thenne she went & cam agayn euery nyght & tornyng and makyng her cours aboute the firma∣ment. right as she now doth with out ony thing changyng the contrarye. But now as said is the people that ben now thynke more / And ben moche more curyous of their grete and fatte paunches for to fylle / and to make them fatte. by whiche they come the sonner to their ende and to carayn̄ & by their ouer moche norysshyng and vylaynous. whiche de¦lyuereth them first to trauaylle & after to shame & damp∣nacyon. The auncient faders gouerned them not in this wyse / For they setted not by mete & drynke / but for to taled∣ge their hungre and thurste for to susteyne theyr bodyes & tobolee hem in helthe in suche wyse as they might helpe them self by their wyttes / as they ought to doo for to come to the glorye of our lord / And that tyme they lyued xx or xxx ye∣re lenger than they do now of an honderd one / And that procedeth of their folissh & outrageous gouernaunce / Cer∣taynly suche people vnderstande not wel the worde of our lord whan he sayd to the deuyll whā he cam to tempte him and sayde that he shold make of the stones brede and that he shold ete / Thenne Ihesu Cryst answerd. that man lyued not onely by brede / but by the worde that procedeth fro the mouth of god yf the men in thyse dayes vnderstode well this worde / they wolde reteyne more gladly the doctrynes that procede and come fro the mouth of our creatour and maker But the grete rentes that they haue. and the grete tresours of their coffres ben cause of shortyng & abredgyng of their dayes. by their disordynat mangeries that ouer∣moche noye and greue them. so that nature may not well

bere ne susteyne / wherof the muste nedes the sonner rendre their soule and deye. Thus their rentes / their tresours or other thynge wherin they delyte them / take away thier lyf their herte / & their wytte alle attones. In suche wyse that whan deth cometh & muste nedes dye / they haue lost wytte & vnderstondyng / of whom many ben deed & dampned / whi¦che at their nede may not be coūseylled ne can not helpe them self / whā they haue most nede / they lyue not lyke them that for to kepe them fro perilles studyed in sciences & vsed their lyf in suche manere that they wold but susteyne theyr body onely as longe as they shold be in this world. as they that well knewe that this lyf shold not to them longe endure / And had enuye at none other thynge. but onely for to ler∣ne suche science by whiche they myght knowe the souerayn kynge allmyghty that alle hath created of nought & ma∣de it wyth his hand. Thenne they thought in their entende∣ment as people that was of noble and vertuous entenciō that they shold neuer haue knowleche of our lord god ne of so hye myght but yf they entended & serched in his wer∣kes whiche they fonde so excellente. And as grete as they myght enquere & knowe. For men shal neuer wel knowe the maystre. but yf byfore mē knowe par••yghtly his estate and what his werkes ben / For by the werkys is the wer∣keman knowen. and how he may be suche one / And therfor the auncyent faders wold employe them & assaye the wer¦kys of our lorde / And first for to haue knowleche of his power and his vertue. Consideryng that they myght not ocupye them self in a more digne ne worthy scyence ne more diffycyle. And whan the more that they knewe of his werkys & of his wysedom / somoche more had they the better wylle to loue her creatour and maker / & to honoure

hym consyderyng that he had made so noble a thynge and so worthy as is the heuen in whiche ben y^e sterres that shyne bright therin / and his other meruayllous vertues whiche they preysed moche. For how moche more they presed hym / somoche wyth good wylle they seruyd hym. For it was all their affeccion. Intencion and reson to knowe god / for as moche as they knewe certainli that god had gyuē to them wyth nature wytte and rayson for to serche and compryse of thynges of therthe. and of them of heuen as moche as they might knowe. For otherwyse they myght neuer haue thought it / Thus a man be he neuer so wyse ne discrete / may neuer come for to vnderstande the hye secretes of god ne of his myracles / but by hym for by right he knoweth al But of them that by nature be made and ordeyned in he∣uen and in erthe / man may wel enquere somme resons yf it be gyuen him & that he be garnisshed of good quyk witte And that be haue sette & employed his tyme to studye & to lerne / And sith they had goten vnderstandyng & rayson by their grete estudye labour and trauayll / somoche that they myght compryse wherfore & how alle the world was made & compassed as ye haue herd here to fore / So thought they thenne / that they myght wel knowe and haue reson of somme thynges sith they had the vnderstandyng of hym that is almyghty to knowe in partye or atte leste of suche as they myght se wyth their eyen. how well that they were ferre. Thus wold they knowe the reson of that. that they sawe so meue the sterres of the firmament & of them that shone so clere. Certaynly this was the princyial cause whi first they put them to studye for tenquere the science that they knewe not. And knewe wel that they shold enquere sonner of thynges that they sawe than of them that they

sawe not / And therfore were they meuyd for to knowe & tenquere the sciēce whiche they knewe not of that they had ofte seen y^e firmament to meue / & wold knowe the trouth And sayde it was right good to knowe it / Yf it pleasyd god / & to knowe of his naturel werkes. for the more par∣fightly to byleue & knowe how he was god all myghty / for men coude not knowe ne fynde no resons of god but only by his werkis / The good auncient wyse men / whiche dy∣lygenly wold vnderstonde this mater / had no cure for to amasse none other goodes / but only to lerne the pure sciē∣ce. they were not couetous / ne sette not to gadre tresours / & ther were plente of them that apperceyued as wyse men y^t it was a grete charge to them oftymes as wel to kepe it / as to spende it by mesure as in other wayes to gete it and brynge it to gydre / And that alle this was a lettyng to them for to lerne. And they delyberyd emonge them and concluded that somme caste and threwe their tresour in to the see. The other gaf it away and abandonned to them that wold take it. & wente as heremytes. And the other departed it to poure people. And other ther were that lefte their good in suche wyse as them semed that they shold ha∣uelasse cause to thynke theron. & reteyned nothing but onli for their vse / And helde wyth hem certayn folke to serue them to thende only that they shold entende to nothyng but to studye and to lerne / They dyde do edefye their houses fro the people lyke as relygeous people and sette them in suche places that thries or foure tymes the weke they myght as∣semble & come to gydre for to solace them & sporte / and there eche rendred his reson of that he had founde and lerned / And so longe dyde they thus tyl they had experymented whiche was trewe. and who knewe moste & that they had

foūde who had moste grettest entendement / And hym they chose by consent of them alle for maystre. And he recorded their resons heryng all the felawys / & reherced to them alle to gydre that euery man had sayd / In this manere were y^e clergyes first foūden contryued & auaūced. and so moche tra¦uaylled & studyed that they knew by the helpe of our lorde of whom all science groweth & haboundeth grete partye of that it is. But this was not in lytyl tyme. For they were longe in studie and vnderstode moche / And they that were first. alle that they vnderstode & knewe. they put it in wry∣tyng the best wyse they coude. to thende that they that sholde come after them. & wold entremete in conning myght haue their wrytynges & trauaylle allway in the science as they had don byfore Alle that they foūde and sawe / they sette in compylacyons / And dyde so moche eche in his tyme that they were more than .ij.M. & CCCC. yere er they by their labours & contynuel studyes had goten the vij. artes or sci¦ences liberal & put to gydre. but they helde their labour well employed & the payne that they put therto / For they kne∣we by their wytte and by their clergye / alle that was come on erthe by nature / whan they wold sette ther cure theron. And also were not abasshed whan a merueyllous caas happed on heuen or on erthe / for they coude wel enquere the reson wherfore it was & sith that it happed by nature / And so loued god moche y^e more whan they sawe suche meruayl∣lous werkis. And watched many nyghtes wyth right gre¦te Ioye & grete studye of this that they sawe fonde so hye werkes by whiche they amended them self ayenst our lord that they knewe trouth. & lefte the vanyte of this world / that so lytyl is worth for to come to y^e Ioye that neuer shal faylle / Of whom plente of wyse philosophers that were in

the world deyde wrongfully & wythout reson / by cause they shewde rightfully to the grete lordes / & gaf them fayr exam¦ples in repreuyng & myspreysyng their euyl tyrannyes & thextorsions that they dyde to moche people. And preched to them ryght & trouth. & thoo that wold not byleue them & had shame of that they were of them blamed / they made them to be put in their prysons / where they made them to deye by greuous tourmentes by cause they shewd to them y^e trouth wherof they were certayn / lyke as was don to holy sayntes that suffred deth & passyon for the loue of Ihu crist whom they wold enhaunse. so were ther suche philosophers that by their wytte & vnderstandyng prophecyed the holy ty¦me of the comyng of Ihu crist lyke as virgyle said whiche was in the tyme of Cezar at rome / by whiche plente of peo¦ple haue ben better syth / than they were byfore / For he sayde that a newe lygnage was enioyed fro heuen on hygh that shold doo vertues in erthe by whom the deuyll shold be ouer¦comen / Vpon whiche saynt poul that sawe this scrypture whiche he moche preysed / sayde wyth a sorowful herte for so moche as he had not ben crysten. Ha that I shold haue ren / dred & yelden y^t to god yf thou haddest lyued / & that I had come to the. Other philosophers ther were of whome eue∣rich sayde goode wordes and meruayllous. But we may not now reherce alle the goode thynges that they sayde For they were prudent alle and valyant. seen that they set to fore alle other thinges clergye / For yf it were not by clergye / men shold not knowe that god were / And yf they had not ben so prudent men as they were ther had neuer be so grete clergye as is now / And yf ther were now suche as they were thenne that founde first clergye / It sholde be other wyse than it now is / But clergye goth now all to

noght that almost it is perysshid. For in thise dayes y^e peo¦ple seeth not by cause that they that ought vnderstande ver¦tues & to teche other & enseyne & gyue example to doo well they ben they that recule & wythdrawe fro it. And all this procedeth by their folye / For noman holdeth clergye for ver∣tue. ne he loueth it not ne applyeth it in all poyntes. But many ther ben that sechen the lyes & drestys / & leue the clere wyn / For noman lerneth ne secheth now / but for to conne so moche that he myght conquere & gete the moneye / And whan they haue goten & largely assemblyd therof / thenne ben they werse than they were a fore / For the money hath so surprysed them that they may entende to none other thynge. Ther ben plente of poure clerkes that gladly wold lerne yf they had the power / But they may not entende therto. by cau¦se they haue not wherof for to furnysshe them of their neces∣sytees as wel for to haue bookes as mete drinke & clothes But ben cōstrayned for to gete their liuyng other wyse / for the riche haue now in thise dayes seased somoche / that the poure abyde naked & must suffre. yet ben ther plente of riche clerkis that haue bookes wythout nombre of one & other richely adoubed and couerd to thende that they ben holden for wyse and goode clerkes / For they seche to haue nomore. but only the loos and preysing of the people / And dooo in lyke wyse as the Cock that shrapeth in the duste for to fynde pasture. he shrapeth so longe in the duste and mulle tyl he fynde a gemme riche and precyous whiche shineth clere / thenne he be gynneth to loke theron and beholdeth it / and doth no more but late it lye / For he demandeth not af∣ter the ouche or gemme / but had leueyr haue somme corn to ete / In lyke wyse is it of many of thyse not wyse clerkys couetous that haue the precyous bookes richely lymned

storyed & wel adoubed. that do nothynge but loke & beholde them wythout forth while they be newe by cause them seme that they ben fair / & so they beholde them gladly & passe ther∣wyth / & after they torne on that other syde & thynke for to fylle their belyes. & to come to their folyssh desyres / and they myght lerne ynoughe yf they wold entende it. For they ha∣ue wel the power. & myght do as the wise men dyde herto fo∣re / the whiche by their trauayl studye & dylygēce fonde first the clergyes. but they haue their entendemēt folyssh & out of the way / And therfore the sciences & artes perysshe in suche wyse that vnneth and wyth grete payne knowe they their partes of reson whiche is the first booke of gramayre. the whiche is the fyrst of the seuen sciences / But put their ar∣tes in their males / and goo lerne anon the lawes or decre∣tals / and become aduocates and iuristes for to amasse and gadre alway money wherin the deuyll conforteth hem / and yet doo they not somoche for to lerne / as they doo for to fylle their purses / In Parys / Oxenford and Cambrydge is there suche maner of clerkes that ben acustomed to wylle haue the renomme and fame to be called maystres for to be the more preysed and honoured / ¶And haue leuer to conne lytyll and to haue the name of maystre. than they shold be good clerkes wythout hauyng the degree and na∣me of maystre. But they be called maystres wrongfully / For vanyte maystryeth them in suche wyse that they can but lytyl trouthe. bycause that they haue so sone the name of maystre they leue the clergye / ¶And take them to the wynnyng / lyke as marchants doo and brokers / And in this wyse ben many in the world that haue the name of maystre. that knowe right lytyl of good and reson / For they that now desyre this ben not maystres after right. for

they ordeyne them otherwyse to the sciences than they dyde that fonde them first. They entred first in to gramayre for to drawe reson in their ordynaūce & after logique for to pre¦ue & shewe the trouth fro the false. After they fonde rethori¦que for to speke fayr in iugement & right whiche they mo∣che loued & after arsmetrique for to be expert in all thinges After they foūde geometrye for to mesure & cōpasse all mai¦strye & after the foūde they sciēce of musyque for to sette al thinges in cōcordaūce / after they had y^e vnderstandyng of astronomye. for therby were they meuyd to haue science & vertue. In this manere ye may vnderstāde how they y^e first foūde science ordeyned the vij artes or vij sciēces. & they ben in suche wyse entrelaced that they may not be auctorised that one wythout that other ne entierly preysed. And also the first may not be perfyghtly cōned wythout the laste / ne the laste wythout the first / & he that wyl lerne one a right and vnderstonde it. hym behoueth to lerne all the other / ffor other wyse may not be knowen apertly the certayn / ne the incer∣tayn / For that one is so comune to that other that it beho∣ueth to knowe of alle. but now men seche to lerne nomore but the arte for to gete the moneye / & ben to blame of that the other were preysed that first so trauaylled of whiche it is to vs so grete nede / For lytyl shold we haue knowen yf we had not seen it by writyng / For as it is to fore sayd / yf clergye had be lost we had knowen nothyng ne who had be god / ne men shold neuer haue knowen / what thyng had ben best to do. & so shold all y^e world haue ben dampned thē∣ne had we ben born in an euyl houre For the men had kno∣wen nomore than dombe beestis / & all the good thynges ben now knowen & alle comen of y^e seuen sciences that the philosophers fonde somtyme by their wyttes / For therby

had they vnderstondyng to loue god & his vertues / And y^e god is alway & shal be wythouten ende. & so byleued they in grete fayth truly in the auncyent lawe / But in thyse da¦yes the sciences perisshe by our enuyes detractions & other euylles in suche wyse that ryght lytyl is reteyned of one & other / For now dar no man entende but for rychesse / For ••••yssayers felons & enuyous men that wyl lerne no good. & yf they see ony entende to sciences & clergyes. & they be not riche & myghty for to furnysse hem / the riche men wyl anon scorne & mocque them / & thus wyl the deuyl exhorte them y^t is their maister & their lord & to whom it pleseth that they myssaye in so moche as he shal reward them wyth grete hy¦re that they shal be sure to haue all euyl aduentures in hel∣le that stynketh where they shal mocke them self & shal sa∣ye that they were born in an euyll houre whā they haue not lerned y^t they ought to lerne / there shal they haue more {pro}uf¦fyt of their sciēces / y^e loued better to cōquere clergye thā the fool to cōne knowe to assemble y^e grete tresours & y^e grete richesses / & knowe ye that all they that for to gete wordely goodes lefte their tyme for to lerne good / ben all assured to haue euyl & payne after their deth. for by their auaryce and cheuaūce the sciēces come to nought. so that almost they be perisshid. & that whiche now is knowen. cometh & groweth of the vnyusitees of parys oxenford & cambrige & other &c

¶Of thre maner of people and how clergye cam fyrst in to the royamme of ffraunce / Capitulo vj^o.

NOw regneth clergye moche strongely in ffraunce in the cyte of parys as somtyme was in y^e ••yte of athe∣nes whiche thenne was moche noble & puyssaūt / The phi¦losophers that thenne were / & whiche that oughte to teche & lerne other / acompted but thre maner of people in the world

after their vnderstandyng / and that were clerkes. knygh∣tes and labourers. The labourers ought to pourueye for y^e clerkes and knyghtes suche thynges as were nedeful for them to liue by in the world honestly / & the knyghtes ought to defende the clerkis & the labourers that ther were no wrō¦ge don to them. And the clerkis ought to enseygne & teche these two maner of people / & to adresse them in their wer∣kis in suche wyse that none do thyng by whiche he shold dis¦plese god ne lese his grace. Thus setted somtyme the wyse philosophers thre maner of people in y^e world / as they that knewe / That no man myght sette his corage in that he myght be wyse a ryght in two maners or thre / For it hap∣ped neuer day of y^e world that clergye cheualrye & labourers of therthe myght be well knowen by one onely man in all his lyf ne lerned ne reteyned / therfore he that wold lerne byhoueth hym / only to lerne one of the thre. and therfore y^e philosophers sette thre manner of people wythout moo in the erthe. for they wold seche the very trouthe / And sought a cyte in the world. where they myght best be & dwelle for tenquere thestate of the clergye. and thus the better for ta∣dresse them / & to teche other they chees the cyte of athenes whiche was noble and somtyme one where they had their comyn resydence & assemble. And there regned first chiual∣rye wyth clergye / & after fro thens it wente to rome / whi∣che now is of grete renomme. And there cheualrye conty∣nued long / And frothens after it remeuyd into ffraunce / where chyualrye hath more power than ony other place in the world. And thus haboundeth there that one & that o∣ther / For chiualrye sieweth alway clergye where she goth. thēne the kynge of fraunce & of Englonde may be ioyous that there is in his royames suche seignourye as is sciēce

of clergye where euery man may drawe out wytte & con∣nyng humayn. & ther abydeth neuer the lasse. For it is as a fontayn that contynuelly sourdeth and springeth. And the more it renneth & the ferther. the more it is holsom. & how more the sprynge of the fontayn renneth and ferther somoche is the more of the water. & the more may be takē fro it for nede / In lyke wyse may I saye to yow / that pa∣rys Oxenford & Cambryge ben the fontayns where men may drawe out most science & more in parys than in other places / & syth it is soo that clergye is soo moche auaunced in fraunce. Thenne ought to knowe by reson in especyall yf the heyres of ffraunce daygne to conne it. For lyke as the sonne is moyst fayr of alle the sterres. & causeth moste good thynges to growe in the world by the bounte that ha¦boūdeth in hym. so ought the kyng be of more valewe than ony other. & to haue more vnderstandyng & clergye / that so by his valyaunce & suffysaunce he myght shyne emōge o∣ther people / & by thexemple of his wel doyng that they see in hym they myght by right conduyte drawe them to our lord & in suche wyse shold he be kynge by right in this world / & in heuen / so thenne shold it be wel right & rayson that they do their dyligence to lerne suche clergye & sciēce. that after this mortal lyf they lese not the seignorye of heuen. For by na∣ture & lyg••age ought they alle to loue clergye & alway to lerne it certes themperour of almaygne louyd wyth al his herte clergye / And auaūced it to his power in ffraunce / And alle the good clerkys that he coude fynde he reteyned them to his courte. & sente for them oueral where he knewe ony. he had in his tyme many a trauayll / many a payne / & many a daunger & ennoye for to mayntene and enhaūce crysten fayth. ¶And therfore he neuer lefte / but helde the

[illustration]

THe fi∣rst of the vij sciē∣ces is gra∣mayre / of whiche for y^e tyme that is now. is not knowen the fourth parte wythout w¦hiche science sykerly alle other sciences in especial ben of lytyl recommē∣dacion by cause wythout gramayre ther may none prouf∣fyte. For gram••yre is the fondement and the begynnynge of clergye. & it is the yate by the whiche in thenfancye is be¦gonne & in contynnyng men come and atteyne to sapience of clergye. this is the science to fourme the speche be it in la¦tyn frenshe or englissh or in ony other langage y^e mē speke wyth. & who that coude all gramayre he couthe make & cons∣true eueri worde. and {pro}noūce it by exemple god made the worlde by wor••e / & the word is to y^e world sentence

¶Here fo∣loweth of lo¦gyke ca. viij

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THe se∣conde sci¦ēce is logike whiche is called dyale¦tyque This

science proueth the. pro. and the. contra / That is to saye the veryte or trouthe / & other wyse / And it preueth wherby shal be knowen the trewe fro the fals / & the good fro the euyll. So veryly that for the good was created heuen & maad. & on the contrarye wyse for the euyl was helle maad & esta∣blysshyd whiche is horryble stynkyng & redoubtable /

¶Hier speketh of Rethoryque. Capitulo / ix^o.

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THe ther¦de of the vij. sciēces is callid rethory¦que whiche cō¦teineth in sub¦stance / right∣wysnes ray∣son and ordy∣naūce of wor¦des / & ought not to be hol∣den for folye / For the droytes and lawes by whiche the Iu∣gemēts be made and that by rayson and after right ben kept and mayntened in the court of kynges of prynces & of barons come and procede of rethoryque / Of this science were extrayt and drawen the lawes and decrees whiche by nede serue in alle causes / and in all rightes and droytes / Who well knewe the science of rethoryque. he shold knowe the right and the wronge / For to doo wronge to another who so doth it / is loste and dampned / and for to doo right & reson to euery man. he is saued and geteth the loue of god his creatour /

¶Here foloweth arsmetryque & wherof it procedeth / ca / x^o.

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THe four¦th sciēce is called ars∣metrique this sciēce cometh after rethory∣que / & is sette in the myddle of the vij sci∣ences / And wythout her may none of the vij sciences parfyghtly ne weel and entierly be knowē wherfore it is expedyent that it be wel knowen & conned For all the sciences take of it their substaūce in suche wy¦se that wythout her they may not be / And for this reson was she sette in the myddle of the vij sciences. & there hol∣deth her nombre. For fro her procede al maners of nombres And in alle thynges renne comme & goo. And no thyng is wythout nombre / But fewe perceyue how this may be. but yf he haue be maystre of the vij Artes so longe that he can truly saye the trouthe / But we may not now recomp∣te ne declare alle the causes wherfore / For who that wolde dispute vpon suche werkes him behoued despute and kno∣we many thynges and moche of the glose who that kne∣we well the science of arsmetryque he myght see thordy∣naunce of alle thynesby ordynaunceg was the world ma¦de and created. And by ordynaunce of the souerayn it shal be deffeted /

¶Next foloweth the science of Geometrye / Capitulo / xj^o.

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THe fif∣the is called geome¦trie the whi∣che more auai¦leth to astrono¦mye than ony of the vij o∣ther. For by her is compas¦sed & mesured Astronomye Thus is by geometrye mesured all thyngis where ther is mesure by geometrye / may be knowen the cours of y^e ster∣res whiche alleway go & meue / And the gretenes of the firmament of the sonne of the mone & of the erthe. By ge¦ometrye may be knowen all thinges & also the quantyte they may not be so ferre yf they may be sen or espyed wyth eye but it may be knowen / who wel vnderstode geometrye he myght mesure in all maystryes. for by mesure was the world made and alle thynges hye▪ lowe and deep /

¶here folowed of musyque. Capitulo / xij^o.

THe syxthe of the vij sciences is called musyque. the whiche fourmeth hym of arsmetryque / Of this sciēce of musyque cometh alle attemperaunce / And of this arte procedeth somme phsisyque / For lyke as musique accordeth all thynges that dycorde in them / & remayne them to cōcor¦daūce. right so in like wyse trauaylleth phisyque to brynge nature to poynt that disnatureth in mannes body / whan ony maladye or sekenes encombreth hit. But phisique is not of the nombre of the vij sciēces of philosophie / But it is a maestier or a craft that entēdeth to y^e helthe of mānes

[illustration]

body & for to preserue it fro alle maladyes & sekenesse as longe as the lyf is in the body. and therfore it is not libe¦ral / For it serueth to hele mānes body / whiche ellys oftentymes my∣ght lyghtly perysshe. & ther is nothyng liberal ne free that groweth of therthe / & for as moche as science that serueth to mānes body leseth his franchise. but science that serueth to the soule deserueth in the world to haue name liberal. for y^e soule ought to be liberal as thing that is of noble beyng as she that cometh of god / & to god wylle & ought retorne. & therfor ben the vij sciēces liberall / for they make the sou∣le al free. & on that other part / they teche & enseygne al that in euery thyng ought proprely to be don / & this is the very reson why thyse artes all vij ben called vij sciēces liberall / For they make the soule liberall / & delyuer it fro all euyll / Of this arte is musyque thus comune / that she accordeth her to euerich so well that by her the vij sciēces were sette in concorde that they yet endure / by this sciēce of musyque ben extrayt & drawen all the songes that ben songen in ho∣ly chirche & all the accordaūces of all y^e instruments that haue diuerse accordes & dyuse sownes. & where ther is reson & entendement of somme thynges / Certes who can wel the science of musyque / he knoweth the accordaunce of alle

thynges / And alle the creatures that payne them to doo well remayne them to concordaunce /

¶Here speketh of Astronomye. Capitulo. xiij^o.

[illustration]

The vij & the laste of the vij sciēces lyberall is astronomie Whiche is of alle cler∣gie the ende by this sci¦ence may & ought to be enquyred of thynges of heuen & of therthe / & in especyall of them that ben made by nature / how ferre that they be / And who knoweth wel & vnderstandeth astronomye / he can set∣te reson in alle thynges. For our creatour made alle thyn¦ges by reson & gaf his name to euery thyng / By this ar∣te & science were first emprysed & goten alle other sciences of decrees & of dyuinyte / by which all crystiante is cōuted to the right fayth of our lord god to loue hym / & to serue y^e kynge almyghty. fro whom all goodes come and to whom they retorne / whiche made all astronomye. & heuen & erthe / the sonne / y^e mone & the sterres. as he that is the very rew∣ler & gouernour of all the world / & he that is the very ref∣fuge of all creatures. For wythout his playsir nothynge may endure. Certes he is the very Astronomyer. For he knoweth all the good & the badde as he hym self that com∣posed astronomye. that somtime was so strongly frequēted & was holden for a right hye werke. for it is a science of so

noble being. that who y^e myght haue y^e parfayt sciēce therof he myght wel knowe how y^e world was cōpassed & plente of their parcyal sciēces / for it is y^e sciēce aboue all other by whiche all maner of thinges ben knowen the better / by the sciēce of astronomye only. were foūden alle the other .vj. to fore named / & wythout them maye none knowe a right astronomye / be he neu so sage ne myghty / In lyke wyse as an hamer or an other tool of a mason ben the instruments by whiche he formeth his werke. & by whiche he doth his craf¦te / In like wyse by right maistrye ben the other / the instru∣ments & fondements of astronomye. & the auncient wyse∣men as kynges / princes. dukes / erles knyghtes & other gre¦te lordes by their vnderstōdyng grete trauayl / estudye. & by the hye cōduyte that was in them sette by good manere al their payne & labour to lerne & knowe y^e sciēces & artes of clergye for to vnderstōd the sciēce of astronomye / & so longe they trauaylled that by the wylle of our lord they lerned & knewe ynough. for they knewe plente of grete affaires & werkes that happened in y^e world. & they preysed nothing tho thinges that were erthely. as they that knewe wel the resons therof / And that tyme was the custome that yf a man were bonde / to one or moo. or yf he were comen of litil extraction. & were riche & ful of grete goodes. yet durste he not estudye in the vij sciēces liberall / For the nobles & hye men that in all poyntes wolde reteyne them pryncypal & to thende that they were free & liberal / & by this reson they put therto for name the vij artes or sciēces liberall / for they ben so fre / that they ••endre to god the soule all free / & they ben so wel to poynt that ther may nothing be taken away. ne no¦thing put to. how wel yf ony wold or coude medle therwith thaugh he were a good clerke & experte / For yf they were torned or chaūged ony thing that myght be. all shold be dis¦fygured

by cause they ben so resonabli & truly cōposed / that that ther is nomā lyuyng in the world. be he neuer of so mo¦che & profoūde sciēce / be he paynem Iewe or cristen that may ony thyng or can change torne / ne take away ne defowle it in ony maner. & who that parfyghtly knewe the vij artes. he shold be byleuid in all lawes / for ther is nomā y^t coude inter¦rupte hym of ony thing that he wold preue. were it true or otherwyse / by cause he shold preue by quyck reson all that he wold were it wronge or right Thēne is he a fool that thin¦keth to knowe perfyghtly ony thyng that appeteyneth to clergye / By what mestere or crafte that may come to him but yf it be by myracle of god that all may doo. yf he can no¦ne of the vij sciēces / for otherwyse all his trauaylle shold be of no valewe ne he shold not conne shewe thynge of recom∣mēdaciō ne preue by right the pro. & contra. Therfor the vij sciēces ben byleued in all the lawes. there as they ben red / And ther is noman be he neuer of so dyuerse a lawe ne of diuse langage that yf he conuerse wyth people that can no∣thing of the vij sciēces ne preue of their vsages ne of their partes that shal be bileuyd for experte & wyse / Ne ther shal neuer be Paynem ne sarasyn so moche diuerse / that a Cristē man or a Iewe may wythsaye hym of thynges that he wil aledge or preue / And the decretals ne the lawes be not e∣uyll / thaugh somme people holde euyl the cōstitucions that ben emonge them bycause that other doo them & holden / For alle the lawes depende of the vij sciences / And alle men byleue them and reteyne them. there where as people kno∣we them. And alle resons that procede of the vij sciences ben trewe in alle causes and in alle places. Thus ben not the sciences muable / but allewaye ben estable & trewe Herwyth I deporte me to speke more to you herof / For ther is ynough here of tofore made ample mencion / And now

I shal reherce to you here after of thaccidentes & of the fay∣tes of nature & that shal be short / for god created nature al∣therfirst. & tofore he created ony other thynge that apper∣teyned to the world. & we ought to fore all other werke sa¦ye & declare what she is / for to deuyse after & descryue of the world / For the firmament torneth & meueth by nature / & in lyke wyse do all y^e thinges that haue meuyng / Nature meueth the sterres & maketh them to shyne & growe & al∣so may anoye & greue as moche as she wylle. and by cause alle men vnderstonde not wel what this foloweth in sub∣staūce / we shal declare a lytyl our matere a longe / for to gy¦ue the better vndestondyng what nature is / & how she wer¦keth to thende that more fully ye may compryse the facion of the world by this that herafter shal be to you declared. yf ye wyl well vnderstande the resons / And therfore gyue ye dylygence for to compryse them & wel to reteyne them /

¶Here foloweth of nature / how she werketh & what she is ¶Capitulo / xiiij^o.

OVre lord god created alther first nature / for she is the thinge by whiche all creatures & other werkes haue dured & lyue what someuer they bee or∣deyned of god vnder y^e heuen / wythout nature may nothin∣ge growe / And by her haue all thynges created lyf / & ther∣fore behoueth nature to be the firste / For she noryssheth and entertieneth all creatures. & habondonneth her self where it pleseth the creator or maker / Nature werkyth in lyke wyse whan she is employed. as doth the axe of a carpenter. whan he employeth it in his werke. For the axe doth nothynge but cutte. And he that holdeth it addressyth it to what par∣te he wylle so that in thende by the axe the werke is achie∣uyd and made after thentente of the werker. right so natu∣re maketh redy and habandonneth where as god wyll For alle thinges ben made by her. & entiertiened as god wylle

make them / & she werketh after this in suche manere. that yf she lacke on one syde she recouerith it on that other na∣ture formeth nothyng in vayn / But she werketh in suche maner that she taketh away fro nothyng his playn / For her werke is alway hool after that she fyndeth matere / be i•• in persones or in beestes / Thenne ben her werkes aboue all other to be recomended as she that doth nothyng that in ony wyse may be contrarye to god / But where as ma••er lac••keth she leueth to werke / & alleway somoche ther is more of mater somoche more she werketh. as men see of somme bees¦tis. of whiche somme haue two heedes & vj feet / or it hath a mēbre lasse than he ought to haue. of whiche he abydeth wythout veray fourme naturell / & many be called therfor a mōstre. also men see otherwhile some that almost lacke all & other that haue plente & habondaūce in their faites all in lyke wyse falleth ofte & is seen happen vpon some men the whiche whan they ben born / they haue vj fyngres on one hand / & other that haue one or ij or iij lasse than they shold haue / or them lacketh an hole membre / by whiche they be of lasse valewe of that / that apperteyneth to the world & in an other shal be so grete habondaūce of nature or matere in bo¦dy or in mēbre that he hath other thing than forme humayn setteth / for hym lacketh a foot or a honde / Or he shal be born somtyme more or lasse / or he shal haue a legge more lenger or shorter or an arme than y^e other. yet ther is another thin∣ge whiche ought not to be forgoten. For that one shal be born black or broun. & that other whyte. one grete and ano∣ther lytyll. that one shal happen to be wyse and dyscrete & that other folissh or shrewyssh sōme be wise & sadde in their yongthe. & in their age ben ofte folissh sōme be soles yong & olde / And other ben wyse alle their lyff yong & olde som∣me be fatte / & sōme be lene. somme ben se••k & sōme ben hoole

some be sklendre. & sōme be thyk sōme be harde & rude / and sōme be softe & tendre sōme be slowe & sōme be hasty sōme be hardy & sōme be cowardys. sōme be lame. haltyng & cro∣ked sōme ben wel fourmed in all rightis & poyntes / A gre¦te man is ofte euyll made / and a lytyl man is ofte wel ma¦de & auenaūt / for ther is no membre but it be wel made & a∣perteynyng to his body / A fair childe oftymes in his gro∣wyng becometh fowl / Sōme wyl haue their wylles / & o∣ther desyre it but lytyl. euerich hath his talente & his apety∣te. a lytyl man engēdreth ofte a grete mā / & a grete mā ofte getyth a lityl one▪ a lytyl man otherwhile empriseth to do a grete thing that right a grete mā wyl not emprise / Sōme deye lightly & other lyue longe / & sōme lyue aslonge tyl age make them to gyue ouer the world / after that / that nature endureth to them by y^e wylle of god. also it is seen ofte emō¦gemen that sōme entende to clergye. & other gyue them to other style of sciēce & crafte as of carpenter mason smyth or ony other crafte in whiche he employed his tyme. For euy man gyueth hym self gladly to that whiche his entēdemēt is enclyned to & to other crafte or sciēce than nature & vn∣derstondyng gyueth hym to / he shal neuer perfyghtly vnder∣stonde ne so wel meddle wyth all as he shold to that whiche his propre nature gyueth hym to / ther ben yet other maner of people that sette and gyue them self to do many thynges that other may not ne can not do. for asmoche as their na∣ture hath not gyuē it to them / for sōme pretēde to hye esta∣tes & grete richesses / & other ben cōtent wyth lityl estate. & it happeth ofte that a man cometh to that where he pretēdeth & other can not come therto. but torneth cōtrarye to them & to their dommage / & ofte wyth grete payne may they come to their aboue / of y^e thing y^t they wold accōplysshe. & other doo & make plente of thynges. that sōme can not ne may not

doo ne make / For in the persones ben so many dyuersetees and facions not lyke and of wylles that men shal not fin¦de in ony contree of the world two men that parfyghtly be lyke / who ferre they can seche / but that they be dyuerse in sō∣me cas. or of body or of membres or of entendement or of the vysage or of their sayngis or of their faytes or dedes / For the puyssaūce of nature is so diuerse / that ther is no∣thyng that hath growyng but that she hath vpon it myght in suche wyse that she gyueth to one somme thyng that ano¦ther hath not in hym / how be it that noman can perceyue o∣ny dystaūce / Suche is the vertu of nature where plente of clerkes haue somtyme sette their entendement & cure and haue strongely laboured to thende that they myght better de¦clare the fayte & puissance of nature / And first of all saith Plato whiche was a man of grete renomme / that nature is an ouer puyssaūce or myght in thynges that she maketh to growe lyke by lyke after that / that euerych may bee. and this may be vnderstande by one man that engendreth ano¦ther. and by beestes by plantes & by sedes the whiche after their semblaunces growe & aftyr their facion. And lo this is that that the wyse platon saith whiche was a grete cler∣ke / After hym sayth aristole / that this was a yefte comen fro the hye prynce. Whan he gaf vertu to the firmament & to the sterres for to meue & to be / And that wythout god su¦che power ne myght not be gyuen / as the thynges that ha∣ue power to remeue to bee & to meue / Aristotle that sayth this studied in many a booke treatyng of nature. Many o∣ther philosophers ther were that sayd that nature proceded of vertues of hete whiche causeth all thynges to growe & nourisshe. But for this present tyme I passe ouer for to spe¦ke of other matere Tho philosophers ensiewen better plato

than Arystotle. Thus sayd they that them semeth. & they spack so hye lyke as afore is said. that fewe clerkes myght atteyne to come therto / and for to abredge it. he is not that myght parfyghtly knowe what it is / sauf god that al kno¦weth & that all seeth / And that first wold establysshe for taccomplyssh all thynges / herby may well be knowen that god is of moche grete puyssaūce / And it is of hym a right grete thynge whan he of nought & wythout trauayll crea∣ted and fourmed so excellent a thinge & so hye & noble awer¦ke. And therfore wold he hym self create & make man to y^e ende that he myght be so myghty & haue suche wytte & vn∣derstandyng in hym self that he knewe by nature that whi∣che myght greue hym in his sowle. & lyue vnto our lord. for yf he wylle Iustely & rightfully conduyte hym self. he may well brynge his herte to that. that nature shal not mowe greue hym in no manere. And therfore were foūden the vij sciences or artes. For to take away the euyll thoughtes that myght brynge a man to the deth. whiche they may des∣troye by the sciences. And thus may one chaūge his euyl estate / by the techynges of a good maystre. and therfore it is good for to haunte emonge the vertuous men / For ther men may lerne & prouffyte in dyuerse maners. Thus then∣ne is he wyse that is prudent in suche manere that after his deth he hath the better / and that god receyueth hym in gree Thus than he shal haue doon more for his owen prouffyt than for an other. This knewe alle men certaynly. For he shall resseyue alle the weel. And moche is he a fooll that somoche louy•• his body that he forgeteth to saue his sowle. Whiche god hath lente to hym pure and clene to thende that he shold rendre it suche agayn at his deth. And that he gouerne hym not in suche wyse that by hys culpe and

defawte defowle hym in synnes / he that so conduyteth hym self doth in lyke wyse as the euyll seruaunt dyde / to whom the maystre delyuerd his besaūtes for to multyplye in good But he dyde not iustly as he that was of euyll fayth wher¦fore the maystre seeyng the vntrouth of hym chaced hym away fro hym And euer after he had shame & reproche ly∣ke as the gospel wytnesseth & to vs wherceth / Alle in lyke¦wyse shal it be of them that leue the good grayn / for the chaff / these ben they that suffre their soules to perisshe for y^e playsance of their bodyes / of whiche alle euylles come to them herwyth for this present I leue the declaracion of the vij sciences and of nature / & purpose by the grace of god to deuyse the facion of the world how it is by nature made & pourtrayed of god / whiche of one onely wylle created and formed the world and alle that is therof appendant. Now entende ye to this that we saye to yow /

¶Of the fourme of the firmament Capitulo / xv^o.

GOd fourmed the world alle rounde. lyke as is a pe∣lette / the whiche is all round. and he made the heuen all rounde whiche enuyroneth and goth rounde aboute the erthe on alle parties hooly wythout ony defaulte alle in lyke wyse as the shelle of an egge that enuyronneth the whytte all aboute. ¶And so the heuen goth rounde aboute an ayer / whiche is aboue thayer the whiche in latyn is called Hester / this is as moche to saye as pure ayer and clene / ¶For it was made of pure and of clere purete / This ayer shyneth nyght and daye of resplenduer perpe¦tuel / And is so clere and shynyng that yf a man were a∣bydyng in that parte / he shold see alle one thynge and other And alle that is fro on ende to the other also lyghtly or more as a man shold doo here byneth vpon the erthe ther

only lengthe of a foot or lasse yet yf he had nede. Alle in lyke wyse I saye to yow. who that were there he myght see al aboute hym aswell ferre as nyghe. the ayer is so clere & nette / Of this hester thangels taken their bodies and their wynges / whan our lord god sendeth them in message hether lowe in to therthe to his frendes. Whan he wyll shewe to them ony thynge. And therfore seme they to be so clere to synfull men in this world / that their eyen may not suffre the resplendour ne beholde the grete clerenes as they that ben ful of obscurte and derknes / that is to saye of synnes and of inyquytees of whiche they ben replenesshid / And it happeth oftymes. that whan angels ben comen to ony man in ony place by the wyll of god for to saye and shewe their messaye / that whiles thangele speketh to hym He fal∣leth to grounde as he were a slepe or in a traūce / and hym se∣meth he hereth not the worde of thangele but as he dremed / And is muet wythout spekyng / vnto the tyme that than∣gele repayreth agayn. Thenne whan he is awaked / and comen agayn to hym self / he remembryd well the sayeng of thangele / and what he hadde shewd to hym. Thus I saye you for trouthe that no bodyly man. may not susteyne for to see hym in no manere / for so moche as a man is made of heuy matere / Ne no byrde ne fowle be he neuer so stronge ne so well fleyng may not suffre to be there. but that hym beho¦ueth to come doun as sone as a stone. tyl that he come in to thayer where he may repryse his fleyng / yf he were not a∣basshyd to descende. for there may nothyng abyde. but yf it be thynge espirytuell / ne may not lyue there / For nomore than the fysshe may lyue in this ayer where we ben in ne susteyne hym / but right soone muste dye / and shortely perys∣she. but yf he be contynuelly nouryssed in the water. All in

lykewyse I saye you of vs / For we may not meue in this ayer perpetuell ne lyue ne dwelle there as longe as we ha∣ue the body mortall /

¶How the four Elementes ben sette / Capitulo / xvj^o.

THis clerenesse of whiche we haue spoken. whiche is callyd ayer spyrytuell / And where the angels take their araye and atourement enuyronneth all aboute the worlde / the foure elementis whiche god created and sette that one wyth in that other / ¶Of whiche that one is the ffyre / The seconde is thayer. The thyrde is the water. And the fourthe is therthe / Of whiche that one is fastned in that other. And that one susteyned that other in suche maner as therthe holdeth hym in the myddle. The fyre whi¦che is the firste / encloseth this ayer / in whiche we bee / And this ayer encloseth the water after the whiche holdeth hym all aboute the erthe. Alle in lyke wyse as is seen of an eg∣ge and as the whyte encloseth the yolke / And in the myd¦dle of the yolke is also as it were a drope of grece whiche holdeth on no parte / And the drope of grece whiche is in the myddle / holdeth on neyther parte / By suche and sembla∣ble regard is the erthe sette in the myddle of heuen so iuste and so egally. that as fer is the erthe fro heuen fro aboue as fro bynethe For whersomeuer thou be vpon therthe thou art lyke ferre fro heuen. lyke as ye may see the poynt of a compas whiche is sette in the myddle of the cercle / that is to saye. that it is sette in the lowest place / For of alle fourmes that be made in the compaas / alway the poynt is lowest in the myddle / And thus ben the foure Elementes sette that one wythin that other so that the erthe is alway in the myddle / For as moche space is alway the heuen from vnder erthe as it appiereth from a boue This fygure folo¦wyng

on that other side of the leef sheweth y^e vnderstāding therof. and deuyseth it playnly / and therfore ye may take hede therto /

¶How the erthe holdeth her right in the myddle of the worlde Capitulo. xvij^o.

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FOr as moche as therthe is heuy more th¦an ony other of thelemen∣tis / therfore she holdeth her more in the myddle. and that / whiche is most heuy abydeth abou¦te her / for the thynge / whiche most weyeth. draweth most lowest / And alle that is heuy draweth therto / And therfore behoueth vs to Ioyne to the erthe / and alle that is extrayt of therthe / yf so were / & myght so happene / that ther were nothing vpon therthe / watre ne other thynge that letted and trobled the waye. what someuer pate that a man wold he myght goo round aboute therthe / were it man or beeste aboue and vn∣der. whiche parte that he wold lyke as a flye goth round aboute a round apple In lyke wyse myght a man goo roū¦de aboute therthe as ferre as therthe dureth by nature. alle aboute so that he sheld come vnder vs / And it shold seme to hym that we were vnder hym / lyke as to vs he shold seme

vnder vs for he shold holde his feet ayenst oure / And the heed towad heuen / no more ne lasse as we doo here and the feet toward therthe. And yf he wente alway forth his way to fore hym he shold goo so ferre that he shold come agayn to the place fro whens he first departed. And yf it were so that by aduēture two men departed that one fro that other And that one went alleway toward the eest / & that other toward the weste / so that bothe two wente egally / it behoued that they shold mete agayn in the opposite place fro where as they departed. And bothe two shold come agayn to the place. fro whens they meued first / For thēne had that one and that other go on rounde aboute the erthe aboue and vn¦der / lyke rounde aboute a whele that were stylle on ther∣the in lyke wyse shold they goo aboute therthe. as they that contynuelly drewe them right toward y^e myddle of therthe for she fastneth all heuy thing toward her / & that most we∣yeth most draweth & most ner holdeth toward the myddle / For who moche depper one delueth in therthe. so moche heuy∣er

[illustration]

shal he fynde it & for to vnderstonde this that j haue de∣uysed to you here to fore of the goynges of the flies aboute thapple. & of the mē aboute therthe In li¦ke wyse maye ye see all the manere & fa¦cion by thyse two fi¦gures y^• whiche ben here to you represen¦ted and shewde alle entierly / dij.

[illustration]

BBut for to vnderstonde the better & more clerly conceyue / ye may vnder∣stāde by ano¦ther ensāple yf the erthe were depar∣ted right in the myddle in suche wy¦se that the heuen myght be seen thurgh / And yf one threwe a stone or an heuy plomette of leed that wel weyed whan it shold co∣me in the myddle and half waye thurgh of therthe / there right shold it abyde and holde hym for it myght nether goo lower ne aryse hyer. But yf it were that by the force of the grete heyght it myght by the myght of the weyght in fal∣lyng falle more depper than the myddle. but anon / it shold aryse agayn in suche wyse that it shold abyde in the myddle of therthe / ne neuer after shold meue thens / For thenne shold it be egally ouerall vnder the firmament whiche tor∣neth nyght and daye / And by the vertue and myght of his tornyng nothyng may approche to it that is poysant & heuy / But wythdraweth alway vnder it / of whiche ye may see the nature and vnderstondyng by this present fygure. on that other syde /

[illustration]

ANd yf ther the were perced thurgh in ij places of whi¦che that one hole were cutte ī to y^e other like a cros¦se and foure mē stoden ryght at the foure hedes of thise ij hooles one / aboue / & a nother bineth. & in lyke wyse on bothe sydes and that eche of them threwe a stone in to the hoole whether it were grete or lytyl eche stone shold come in to the myddle of therthe. wythout e∣uer to be remeuyd fro thens. But yf it were drawen away by force / & they shold holden them one aboute another for to take place eueryche in the myddle of therthe & yf the stones were of like weight. they shold come therto alle at one tyme assone y^e one as that other / For nature wold suffre it none other wyse. & that one shold come ayenst another as ye may ANd yf their weyght & ¶playnely see by this fygure powers were not egall fro the place fro whens they shold falle / that whiche were most heuy / y^t shold sonnest co∣me to the myddle of therthe. & other shold be al aboute her as this seconde fygure sheweth playnly on that other syde / ANd so moche may be caste therin that the hooles may be full lyke as they were to fore / as ye may playnli see

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in this fygure. whiche sheweth to you the plain trouth now this suffyseth ynouh herof / & here after we shal speke of other thynges /

¶What y^e roū¦denes of the er∣the is. ca. xviij^o.

NOw then ne plese it you to here for to deuyse playn∣ly to you how the erthe is rounde. Who that myghte moūte

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on hye in thayer & how that myght beholde by valeyes & by playnes the hyenes of the gre¦te montaynes / & the grete & depe va¦leyes y^e grete wa∣wes of the See & y^e grete flodes they shold seme lasse tap¦pere vnto the gret¦nes of the erthe than sholde an heer of a man do vpon an ap¦ple. or vnder his fygure / For nether montayne ne valeye. how someuer hye ne depe it be taketh not away fro therthe

his roundenesse nomore than the galle leueth to be rounde for his prickys / For it behoueth the erthe to be rounde. For to amasse the more people. and we shal saye to you here af¦ter how the world muste nedes be rounde /

¶Wherfor god made the world al rounde. Capl^o. xix^o.

GOd fourmed the world al round / For of all the four¦mes that be / of what dyuerse maners they be / may none be so plenere ne resseyue so moche by nature. as may y^e fygure rounde. For that is the most ample of alle fygures

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that ye may take example by. For ther is none so wyse ne so subtil in all thinges ne somoche can vn∣derstāde that may for ony thing ma¦ke a vessel be it of woode or of stone / or of metal that may be so ample ne that may holde within it so moche ī right quantite as shal do the rounde / Ne fygure that ony may make may so sone meue ne so lyghtly make his torne to goo aboute. that ony man can vnderstande. but that it must take other place than this to fore / sauf only the roūde whi∣che may meue roūd without takyng other place / for she may haue non other than the first. Ne passe one only ligne or ray fro the place where she holdeth her in wherof ye may see

the nature by a fygure squared sette wythin a roūde or ano∣ther which is not round And make them bothe to torne. the corners of them that ben not roūd shal take dyuerce places that the rounde secheth not / And that may ye see by thyse iij. fygures in one whiche ben here / of whiche that one is round all aboute & that other tweyne ye may see squared /

YEt is ther another thynge that ther is no thyng vn∣der heuen enclosed of what dyuerse facion it be / that may so lyghtly meue by nature as may the rounde / And therfore god made the worlde rounde. to this ende that it myght best be fylled on all partyes For he wyl leue nothin∣ge voyde / and wyll that it torne day and nyght For it beho¦ueth to haue meuyng on the heuen. whiche maketh alle to meue For alle meuynges come fro heuen. therfor it behoueth lyghtly and swyftly to meue. And wythout it ther is no∣thyng may meue /

¶Of the meuynges of heuen and of the vij planetes & of the lytylnes of therthe vnto the regarde of heuen. Capl^o. xx

OWr lord god gaf meuyng vnto the heuen / whiche goth so swyftly and so appertly / that noman can cō∣pryse in his thought. but it semeth not to vs for his grete∣nes / no more than it shold seme to a man. yf he sawe fro fer∣re an horse rennyng vpon a grete montayne it shold not se∣me to hym that he wente ne onely paas / And for somoche as he sholde be most ferre fro hym somoche the lasse / sholde he seme to goo / And the heuen is so moche hye and ferre abo∣ue vs that yf a stone were in thayer as hye as the sterres be / And were the most heuyest of alle the world of leed or of metall / And began to falle fro an hye aboue this thyng

is proued and knowen. That it shold not come to therthe tyl thende of an hondred yere so moche and ferre is the heuē fro vs. The whiche is so grete. that alle the erthe rounde a¦boute hath nothyng of gretenes ayest y^e heuē nomore than hath the poynt or pricke in the myddle of the most grete cō¦paas that may be ne to the grettest cercle that may be ma∣de on therthe / And yf a man were aboue in heuen / and behel¦de and loked here doun in the erthe / And that alle the erthe were brennynge all in cooles flammyng & lyghted. it shold seme to hym more lytyll / than the lest sterre / that is aboue semeth to vs here in therthe / thawh we were on a montay∣ne or in a valeye / and therfore it may well be knowen. that the heuen muste lyghtly meue. whan it maketh his torne & goth round aboute therthe in a day & a nyght / lyke as we may apperceyue by the sonne / that men see in the mornyng arise in thoryent or in the eest / & goth doun in the west / & on the morn erly we see hym come agayn in the eest / For thē∣ne he hath perfourmed his cours roūd aboute therth. whiche we calle a day naturel / the whiche conteyneth in hym day & nyght Thus goth and cometh the sonne the whiche neuer shal haue reste / ne neuer shal fynysshe to goo wyth the heuen. lyke as the nayle that is fyxed in the whele. the whiche torneth whan she torneth. But by cause that it hath meuyng ayenst the cours or tornynge of the fyrmament / ¶We shal saye to yow another reson / yf a flye wente rounde aboute a whele that went rounde itself. And that the flye wente ayenst it / The whele shold brynge the flye wyth her / And so shold it falle that the whele shold haue made many tornes / whylis that the flye shold make one torne. and er she had gon rounde aboute the whele vnto the

first poynt / So ye muste vnderstonde that in suche manere gon the mone & the sonne. by away that is comune to the vij planetes that ben on the heuen / whiche alle goo by the same way alleway toward the eest / and the heuen torneth toward the weste. lyke as nature ledeth hym / Thus & her∣wyth the first partie taketh his ende of this present booke. And shal folowe for to deuyse of the seconde partye of ther∣the & of the fourme of the firmament /

¶Thus endeth the first partye of this present booke /