The workes of Geffray Chaucer newlye printed, wyth dyuers workes whych were neuer in print before: as in the table more playnly doth appere. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum.

The testament of loue.

MAny men there bene, that wyth eeres openly sprad, so moche swalowen the deliciousnesse of iestes and of ryme, by queyn∣te knyttynge coloures, that of the goodnesse or of the badnesse of the sentence take they lytell hede or els none. Sothelye dull wytte & a thoughtfull soule, so sore haue my∣ned & grassed in my spirites, that suche crafte of endytynge woll not ben of myne acquayn¦taunce. And for rude wordes & boystous per∣cen the herte of the herer to the inrest poynte and planten there the sentence of thynges, so that wyth lytell helpe it is able to sprynge. Thys boke that nothynge hath of the greate floode of wyt, ne of semelych colours, is dol∣uen wyth rude wordes and boystous, and so drawe togyther to maken the catchers herof ben the more redy to hent sentence.

Some men there ben that peynten wyth colours ryche, and some wyth vers, as wyth red ynke, and some wyth coles and chalke: & yet is there good matere to the leude people of thilke chalky purtreiture, as hem thinketh for the tyme, and afterwarde the syght of the better colours yeuen to hem more ioy for the fyrst leudnesse. So sothly thys leude cloudye occupacion is not to prayse, but by the leude: for comenly leude, leudnesse cōmendeth. Eke it shal yeue sight that other precious thinges shalbe the more in reuerence. In latyn and french hath many soueraine wyttes had gret delyte to endyte, and haue many noble thyn∣ges fulfylde, but certes there ben some y^t spe∣ken theyr poysy mater in frenche, of whyche speche the frenche men haue as good a fanta∣sye as we haue in hearyng of french mennes englyshe. And many termes there ben in eng∣lyshe, whych vnneth we englyshmen connen declare the knowlegynge: Howe shulde then a frenche man borne, such termes conne ium∣pere in hys mater, but as the iaye chatereth englyshe. Ryght so truly the vnderstandynge of englyshmen woll not stretche to the priuy termes in frenche, what so euer we bosten of straunge langage. Let then clerkes endyten in latyn, for they haue the propertye of sciēce And the knowynge in that facultye: and lette frenchmen in theyr frenche also endytē theyr queynt termes, for it is kyndly to theyr mou∣thes, and let vs shewe our fantasyes in suche wordes as we lerneden of our dames tonge. And although thys boke be lytel thanke wor¦thy for the leudnesse in trauayle, yet such wry¦tynges exciten men to thylke thynges y^t bene necessarie: for euery mā therby maye as by a perpetual myrrour sene the vyces or vertues of other, in which thynge lyghtly may be cō∣ceyued to eschewe peryls, and necessaries to catche, after as auētures haue fallen to other people or persons. Certes y^e soueraynst thing of desyre and moste creature reasonable, haue or els shulde haue ful appetyte to theyr perfe¦ction: vnresonable beestes mowen not, syth reason hath in hem no werkynge. Then rea∣sonable that wol not, is comparysoned to vn∣resonable, and made lyke hem. Forsothe the moste souerayne and fynall perfection of mā is in knowynge of a soth, wythouten any en∣tent dysceyuable, and in loue of one very god, that is inchaungeable, that is to knowe and loue hys creatour. ¶Nowe principally the meane to brynge in knowlegyng and louyng hys creatour, is the consyderacion of thinges made by the creatour wherthrough be thylke thynges that bene made vnderstādynge here to our wyttes, arne the vnsene priuytees of god made to vs sightful & knowing, in our cō¦templacion & vnderstandyng. These thinges then forsoth moch bryngen vs to y^e ful know¦legynge sothe, and to the parfyte loue of the maker of heauenly thynges. Lo Dauid say∣eth: thou haste delyted me in makynge, as who sayeth, to haue delite in y^e tune how god hath lent me in cōsyderation of thy makynge. wherof Aristotle in the boke de Animalibus sayeth to naturel philosophers: It is a great lykynge in loue of knowynge theyr creatour and also in knowynge of causes in kyndelye thynges consydred. Forsothe the formes of kyndly thynges & y^e shap, a great kyndly loue mē shulde haue to the werkman y^t hem made The crafte of a werkman is shewed in the werke. Herefore truly the philosophers with a lyuely studye many noble thynges, ryghte precious and worthy to memory wrytten, &

by a great swet ande trauayle to vs leften of causes the properties in natures of thynges. To whyche therfore Phylosophers it was more ioye, more lykynge, more herty lust in kyndly vertues & maters of reason y^e perfecti¦on by busy study to knowe, thē to haue had al the treasure, al the rychesse, al y^e vaynglory y^t the passed Emperours, prynces, or kynges hadden. Therfore y^e names of hem in y^e boke of perpetual memory in vertue & peace arne wrytten, and in the contrary, that is to sayne in stixe y^e foule pytte of helle arne thilke pres∣sed that suche goodnesse hated. And bycause thys boke shall be of loue, and the pryme cau¦ses of sterynge in that doynge with passyons and dyseases for wantynge of desyre, I wyll that this boke be cleped y^e Testamēt of loue.

But now thou reder, who is thylke y^e wyl not in scorne laughe, to here a dwerfe or els halfe a man, say he wyll rende out the swerd of Hercules handes, & also he shulde set Her∣cules gades a myle yet ferther, and ouer that he had power of strength to pul vp the spere, that Alisander y^e noble myght neuer wegge.

And that passyng al thynge to ben master of Fraunce by myght, there as the noble gra¦cious Edwarde the thyrde for all hys greate prowes in vyctories ne myght al yet cōquere

Certes I wote wel, ther shalbe made more scorne & iape of me, that I so vnworthely clo¦thed altogether in the cloudy cloude of vncō∣nynge wyl puttē me in prees to speke of loue or els of the causes in that mater, sythen all y^e greatest clerkes han had ynough to done, and as who sayth gathered vp clene toforne hem & wyth theyr sharpe sythes of connynge all mowen and made therof great rekes and no∣ble, full of all plentyes to fede me and many another. Enuye forsothe cōmendeth nought hys reason, y^t he hath in hayne, be it neuer so trusty. And although these noble repers, as good workmen and worthy theyr hyer, haue al drawe and bounde vp in y^e sheues, & made many shockes, yet haue I ensample to gather the smale crōmes, and fullē my walet of tho that fallen from the borde among•• the smale houndes, notwythstandynge the trauayle of the almoygner, y^t hath drawe vp in the cloth al the remyssayles, as trenchours, and the re∣lyfe to bere to the almesse. Yet also haue I leue of y^e noble husbonde Boece, although I be a straunger of connynge to come after his doctrine, and these great workmē, and glene my handfuls of the shedynge after theyr han¦des & if me fayle ought of my ful, to encrease my porcion with that I shal drawe by priuy¦tyes out of the shocke, a slye seruaunt in hys owne helpe is often moche cōmēded, know∣yng of trouth in causes of thīges, was more hardyer in the fyrst sechers, and so sayth Ari∣stotle, & lyghter in vs y^t hath folowed after. For theyr passyng study han freshed our wyt¦tes, and our vnderstandynge han excyted in cosyderacion of trouth by sharpnesse of theyr reasons. Vtterly these thinges be no dremes ne iapes, to throwe to hogges, it is lyfelyche meate for chyldren of trouth, and as they me betyden whē I pylgrimaged out of my kyth in wynter, when the wether out of mea∣sure was boystous, & the wylde wynde Borias as hys kynde asketh wyth dryenge coldes, maked the wawes of the Occian see so to aryse vn∣kyndely ouer the cōmune bankes that it was in poynte to spyl al the earth.

¶Thus endeth the prologue, and here after foloweth the fyrst boke of the Testament of Loue.

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

ALas Fortune alas, I that somtyme in dely∣cious houres was wont to enioy blysful stoundes, am nowe dryue by vnhappy he∣uynes to bewayle my sondry yuels in tene. Trewlye I leaue, in myne herte is wryte of perdurable letters al the entencions of lamentacion that now ben ynempned, for any maner dysease outwarde in sobbynge maner, sheweth sorowfull yex∣ynge from wythin. Thus from my comforte I gynne to spylle, syth she that shulde me so∣lace, is ferre fro my presence. Certes her ab∣sence is to me an hell, my sternyng deth thus in wo it myneth, y^t endelesse care is throughe out myne herte clēched, blysse of my ioye, that ofte my murthed is turned into galle, to thyn¦ke on thynge that maye not at my wyll in ar¦mes me hent. Myrth is chaunged into tene, when swynke is there continually, that reste was wonte to soiourne and haue dwellynge place. Thus wytlesse thoughtfull, syghtlesse lokinge, I endure my penaunce in this derke prysone, caytisned fro frendshyp and acquain¦taunce, and forsaken of all y^e any worde dare speke. Straunge hath by waye of intrucyon made hys home, there me shuld be, yf reason were herde as he shulde. Neuerthelater yet hertely lady precious Margarit, haue mynd on thy seruaunt, and thynke on hys dysease howe lyghtles he lyueth, sythe the beames brēnende in loue of thyne eyen arne so be wēt that worldes and cloudes atwene vs tweye woll not suffre my thoughtes of hem to be en¦lumyned. Thynke that one vertue of a Mar∣garite precious is amonges many other the sorowful to cōfort, yet well of that me sorow¦full to comforte is my luste to haue nought els at thys tyme, dede ne dethe, ne no maner trauayle hath no power myne herte so moche to fade, as shulde to here of a twynckelynge in your dysease. Ah, god forbyde that, but yet lette me dey, lette me sterue wythouten any measure of penaunce, rather then myne herte¦ly thynkynge comforte in ought were dysea∣sed. What maye my seruyce aueyle in ab∣sence of her, that my seruyce shuld accepte? is thys not endlesse sorowe to thynke? Yes, yes god wote, myne hert breaketh nygh a sonder howe shulde the groūde wythout kyndly no∣riture bryngen forth any frutes? how shulde a shyppe withouten a sterne in the greate see be gouerned? Howe shulde I withouten my blysse, my herte, my desyre, my ioye, my good¦nesse, endure in thys contrarious prison, that thynke euery houre in y^e day an hūdred wyn∣ter? Wel may nowe Eue sayne to me Adam, in sorowe fallen from welth, dryuē art thou out of paradyse, wyth sweate thy sustenaūce to be swynke. Depe in thys pynynge pytte with wo I lygge ystocked, with chaynes lyn¦ked of care & of tene. It is so hye from thens I lye and y^e cōmune erth, there ne is cable in no lande maked, that myght stretche to me to drawe me in to blysse, ne steyers to stey on is none, so that wythout recouer endlesse here to endure I wote wel I purueyd. O, where arte thou nowe frēdshyp, that somtyme with laughande chere, madest both face and coun∣tenaunce to me wardes? truely now art thou went out of towne, but euer me thynketh he weareth hys old clothes, & that y^e soule in the whych the lyfe of frendshyppe was in, is dra∣wen out from hys other spirites. Nowe then farewell frendship, and farewel felawes, me thynketh ye al han taken your leaue: no force of you all at ones. But lady of loue ye wote what I mene, yet thinke on thy seruaūt, that for thy loue spylleth, all thynges haue I for∣sake to folowen thyne hestes: rewarde me w^t a thought, though ye do nought els. Remem¦braunce of loue lyeth so sore vnder my breste, that other thought cometh not in my mynde but gladnesse to thynke on youre goodnesse & youre merye chere, frendes and sorowe to thynke on youre wr••che and your daunger, from whych Chryst me saue. My great ioye it is to haue in meditacion the bounties, the vertues. The nobley in yon prynted: sorowe and hell comen at ones, to suppose that I be beyned: thus wyth care, sorowe, and tene am I shapte myne ende w^t dethe to make. Now good goodlye thynke on thys. O wretched foole that I am fallen into so lowe, the heate of my brēnyng tene hath me al defased: howe shulde ye lady sette pryse on so foule fylthe? My connynge is thynne, my wytte is exiled, lyke to a foole naturel am I comparysoned. Trewly lady but your mercy the more were I wote well al my labour were in ydel: your mercy then passeth ryght. God graunt that

proposycyon to be verifyed in me, so that by truste of good hope, I mowe come to the ha∣uen of ease, and sythe it is impossyble, the co∣lours of your qualyties to chaunge: & forsoth I wote well wemme ne spotte maye not a∣byde, there so noble vertue haboūdeth, so that the defasynge to you is verely ymagynable, as countenaunce of goodnesse wyth encrea∣synge vertue, is so in you knytte to abyde by necessary maner, yet yf the ryuers myght fal, whych is ayenst kynde, I wol wel myn hert ne shulde therfore naught flytte by the leste poynt of gemetrye, so sadlye is it sonded, that away from your seruyce in loue maye he not departe. O loue, when shall I ben pleased? O charite, when shall I ben eased? O good goodly, when shall the dyce turne? O full of vertue do the chaunce of comforte vpwarde to fal. O loue, when wolt thou thynke on thy seruaunt? I can nomore but here out caste of al welfare, abyde the daye of my dethe, or els to se the syght that myght all my wellyng so¦rowes voyde, and of the floode make an ebbe These dyseases mowen wel by duresse of so∣rowe, make my lyfe to vnbodye, and so for to dye: but certes ye ladye in a full perfection of loue ben so knytte wyth my soule, that dethe may not thylke knotte vnbynde ne departe, so that ye and my soule together is endelesse, in blysse shulde dwel, and there shal my soule at the full ben eased, that he may haue your pre∣sence to shewe thentēt of his desyres: Ah dere god, that shall be a great ioye. Nowe erthely goddesse take regarde of thy seruaūt, though I be feble, for thou arte wont to prayse them better, that wold conne serue in loue, al be he full mener then kynges or princes, that woll not haue that vertue in mynde. Nowe precy∣ous Margaryte, that wyth thy noble vertue haste drawen me into loue fyrst, me wenyng therof to haue blisse, as galle and aloes are so moch spronge, that sauour of swetnesse may I not attaste. Alas that your benigne eyen, in whych that mercy semeth to haue al hys nori¦ture, nyll by no waye tourne the clerenesse of mercy to me wardes. Alas that youre bren∣nande vertues, shynynge amonges all folke, and enlumynynge all other people by habun∣daūce of encreasing, sheweth to me but smok & no lyght. These thynges to thinke in myne hert maketh euery day weping in myne eyen to renne. These lyggen on my backe so sore, that importable burthen me semeth on my backe to be charged, it maketh me backwarde to meue, when my steppes by comune course euen forth pretende: These thynges also on ryghtsyde & lyfte, haue me so enuolued wyth care, that wāhope of helpe is throughout me ronne, trewly and leue that gracelesse is my fortune, whych that euer sheweth it mewar∣des by a cloudy dysease, already to make stor∣mes of tene, and the blysfull syde halte styl a∣wayward, & woll it not suffre to mewardes to turne: no force, yet wol I not ben cōquered

O, alas that your nobley so moch amonge all other creatures cōmended by folowynge streme by al maner vertues, but ther ben wō¦derful, I not which that let the flode to come into my soule, wherfore purely mated wyth sorowe thorough sought, my selfe I crye on your goodnesse to haue pyte on thys caytyfe, that in the inrest degre of sorowe and dysease is lefte, & wythout your goodly wyll frō any helpe and recouery. These sorowes maye I not sustene, but yf my sorowe shulde be tolde and to you wardes shewed, although moche space is bytwene vs twaine, yet me thynketh that by suche ioleynynge wordes, my dysease gyuueth ebbe. Trewly me thynketh that the sowne of my lamentacious wepyng, is right now flowe into your presence, & there cryeth after mercy & grace, to whyche thyng me se∣meth the lyst none answere to yeue, but with a deynous chere ye cōmaunden it to auoyde, but god forbyd that any worde shulde of you sprynge to haue so lytel routh. Parde pyte & mercy in euery Margarite is closed by kynde amōges many other vertues, by qualites of comforte, but comfort is to me ryght naught worth, wythouten mercy & pyte of you alone whych thynges hastely god me graūt for his mercye.

REhersynge these thinges and many other, wythout tyme or moment of rest me semed for anguyshe of dysease, that alto¦gether I was rauished, I can not tell howe, but holy all my passyons & felynges weren loste, as it semed for the tyme, and sodaynly a maner of drede lyght in me all at ones, nought such feare as folke haue of an enemy that were myghty, & wolde hem greue or done hem dysease: For I trowe thys is wel knowe to many persones

that otherwhyle yf a man be in hys soueray∣nes presence, a maner of ferdnesse crepeth in hys herte, not for harme, but of goodly subie∣ction namely as men reden that aungels ben aferde of our sauyour in heuen. And pardy there ne is, ne may no passyō of disease be, but it is to meane that angels ben adrade, not by frendes of drede, sythē they ben perfytly blys∣sed, as affection of wōderfulnesse & by seruice of obedience, such ferde also han these louers in presence of theyr loues, & subiectes aforne theyr soueraynes: Ryght so wyth ferdenesse myne herte was caught. And I sodaynly a∣stonyed, there entred into the place there I was lodged a ladye, the semelyest and moost goodly to my syght, that euer to forne apered to any creature, and truly in the blustryng of her loke, she yaue gladnesse and comforte so∣daynlye to all my wyttes, and ryghte so she dothe to euery wyght that cometh in her pre¦sence. And for she was so goodlye (as me thought) myne herte beganne somdele to be enbolded, and wexte a lytel hardy to speake, but yet wyth a quakynge voyce, as I durste, I salued her, and enquyred what she was, and why she so worthy to syghte, dayned to entre in to so foule a doūgeon, and namelye a pryson, wythout leaue of my kepers. For cer¦tes althoughe the vertue of dedes of mercye stretchen to vysyten the poore prisoners, and hem after that faculties ben had to comfort, me semed that I was so ferre fallē into my∣serye and wretched hyd caytyfnesse, that me shulde no precious thynge nyghe: and also that for my sorowe euery wyght shulde ben heauy, and wyshe my recouery. But when thys lady had somdele aperceyued, as wel by my wordes as by my chere, what thought be¦••yed me wythin, wyth a good womanly coū∣tenaunce she sayd these wordes.

O my nory, wenyst thou that my maner be, to foryet my frendes or my seruauntes? naye (quod she) it is my full entente to vy∣syte and comforte al my frendshyppes and a∣lyes, as well in tyme of perturbation, as of moost propertye of blysse, in me shall vn∣kyndnesse neuer be founden. And also sythen I haue so fewe especyal trewe nowe in these dayes, wherfore I maye well at more leysar come to hem that me deseruen, and yf my co∣mynge maye in any thynge auayle, wete wel I woll come often.

Now good lady (quod I) that art so fayre on to loke, reynynge honny by thy wordes, blysse of paradyse arne thy lokynges, ioy and comforte are thy mouynges. What is thy name? how is it that in you is so mokel wer∣kynge vertues enpyght, as me semeth, and in none other creature, that euer sawe I wyth myne eyen? My dyscyple ({quod} she) me wōdreth of thy wordes and on the, y^t for a lytel disease haste foryeten my name: woste thou not well that I am Loue, that first the brought to thy seruyce? O good lady (quod I) is thys wor∣shyp to the or to thyne excellence for to come into so foule a place? Parde somtyme tho I was in prosperite, and wyth foreyne goodes enuolued, I had mokel to done to drawe the to myne hostel, & yet many wernynges thou madest er thou lyste fullye to graunt, thyne home to make at my dwellyng place: & nowe thou comest goodly by thyne owne vyse, to comforte me wyth wordes, and so there tho∣roughe I gynne remembre on passed glad∣nesse. Trewly ladye I ne wotte whether I shal say welcome or none, sythen thy comyng wol as moch do me tene and sorowe, as glad¦nesse and myrthe: se why. For that me com∣forteth to thinke on passed gladnesse, that me anoyeth efte to be in doynge. Thus thy co∣mynge bothe gladdeth and teneth, and that is cause of moche sorowe: Lo ladye, howe then I am comforted by your commyng, and with that I gan in teeres to dystylle, and ten¦derlye wepe. Nowe certes (quod loue) I se well (and that me ouerthynketh) that wytte in the fayleth, and arte in poynte to dote. Trewly (quod I) that haue ye maked, and that euer woll I rue. Wottest thou nat wel (quod she) that euery shepeherde ought by re¦son to seke hys sperkelande shepe that arne ronne in to wyldernesse, amonge bushes and peryls, and hem to theyr pasture ayen bringe and take on hem priuy besy cure of kepynge? and tho the vnconnyng shepe scattred wolde ben loste, rennyng to wyldernesse, and to de∣sertes drawe, or els wolden put hem selfe to the swalowynge wolfe, yet shal the shepherd by busynesse and trauayle so put hym forth, that he shall nat let hem be loste by no waye. A good shepeherd putteth rather hys lyfe to ben loste for hys shepe. But for thou shalte not wene me beynge of werse condicyon, tru¦ly for euerych of my folke, and for all tho that

to me warde be knyt in any condicion, I wil rather dye than suffre hem through erroure to ben spylt. For me lyst, and it me lyketh, of all myne a sheperdesse to be cleped▪ wottest thou not well I fayled neuer wyght, but he me refused, and wolde neglygently go with vnkyndnesse? and yet parde hau•• I manye such holp and releued, and they haue oft me begyled, but euer at the ende it discendeth in theyr owne neckes. Hast thou not radde how kynde I was to Parys, Priamus son of Troye? How Iason me falsed for all hys false behest? how Sesars sonke, I left it for no tene tyll he was troned in my blysse, for his seruyce▪ what ({quod} she) most of all maked I not a louedaye betwene God and man∣kynde, and chese a mayde to be nompere, to put the quarell at ende? Lo, how I haue tra¦uayled to haue thanke on all sydes, and yet lyst me not to rest, & I myght fynde on whō I shulde werche, but truly myne owne dys∣ciple, bycause I haue the founde at all assa∣yes in thy wyll to ben readye, mye hestes to haue folowed, and hast ben true to that mar¦garyte peerle, that ones I the shewed, and she alway ayenwarde hath made but daun¦gerous cheare, I am come in propre person to put the out of errours and make the glad by wayes of reason, so that sorowe ne dys∣ease shall nomore hereafter the amaystrye. wherethrough I hope thou shalte lyghtlye come to the grace, that thou longe hast desy¦red, of thilke iewel. Hast thou not herde ma∣ny ensamples, howe I haue comforted and releued the scholers of my lore? who hathe worthyed kynges in the felde? who hath ho¦noured ladyes in boure by a perpetual myr∣roure of theyr trouthe in my seruyce? who hath caused worthye folke to voyde vyce & shame? who hath holde cyties and realmes in prosperitie? yf the lyste cleape ayen thyne olde remēbraunce, thou coudest euery poynt of this declare in especyall, and saye that I thy maystresse haue be cause, causyng these thynges and many mo other. Nowe ywys madame (quod I) al these thinges I know well my selfe, and that thyne excellence pas∣seth the vnderstandynge of vs beestes, and that nomans wyt erthly may comprehende thy vertues, well than ({quod} she) for I se the in disease and sorow, I wote wel thou art one of myne nories, I maye not suffre the so to make sorow thyne owne selfe to shende: but I my selfe come to be thy fere, thyne heauye charge to make to seme the lesse, for woo is hym that is alone: And to the sory to bē mo∣ned by a sorowfull wyght it is greate glad∣nesse. Right so with my sycke frendes I am sycke, and with sorye, I can not els but so∣rowe make, tyll whan I haue hem releued in suche wyse that gladnesse in a maner of countrepaysyng shal restore as mokel in ioy as the passed heuynesse beforne dyd in tene. And also ({quod} she) whan anye of my seruaun∣tes ben alone in solitary place, I haue yet e∣uer busyed me to be with hem, in comfort of theyr hertes, and taught hem to make son∣ges of playnte and of blysse, and to endyten letters of rethorycke in queynt vnderstādyn¦ges, & to bethynke hem in what wyse they mygt best theyr ladyes in good seruice plese and also to lerne maner in countenaunce, in wordes & in bearynge, and to ben meke and lowlye to euery wyght, his name & fame to encrease, and to yeue great yeftes and large that his renome may spryngen, but the ther¦of haue I excused for thy losse and thy great costages, wherthrough thou art nedy, arne nothynge to me vnknowen, but I hope to god somtyme it shall ben amended, as thus as I sayde. In nortuoure haue I taught al myne, and in curtesie made hem expert their ladyes hertes to wyn, and yf any wolde en∣deynous or proude or be enuious, or of wret¦ches acquayntaunce, hasteliche haue I such voyded out of my schole: for all vyces trulye I hate: vertues and worthynesse in all my power I auaunce. Ah worthye creature ({quod} I) and by iuste cause the name of goddesse dignely ye mowe beare: In the lyth y^e grace through which any creature in this worlde hath any goodnesse, truly all maner of blysse and precyousnesse in vertue out of the sprin∣gen and wellen, as brokes and ryuers pro∣ceden from theyr sprynges, and lyke as all waters by kynde drawen to the see, so all kyndly thynges thresten by full appetyte of desyre to draw after thy steppes, and to thy presence approche, as to theyr kyndely per∣fectiō: How dare than beestes in this world ought forfayte ayenste thy deuyne puruey∣aunce? Also ladye ye knowen all the pryuye thoughtes, in hertes no counsayle may ben hydde from your knowynge.

wherfore I wot well lady that ye knowe youre selfe that I in my conscyence am, and haue ben wyllyng to your seruyce, al coulde I neuer do as I shulde, yet forsothe fayned I neuer to loue otherwise thā was in myne herte: and yf I coulde haue made cheare to one, and ythought an other, as many other done all daye afore myne eyen, I trowe it wolde not me haue vayled. Certes quod she haddest thou so done, I wold not now haue the here vysited. Ye wete wel lady eke (quod I) that I haue not played racket, nettyll in, docke out, and with the wethercock waued and truly there ye me sette, by accorde of my conscience, I wolde not flye, tyll ye and rea∣son by aperte strength made myne herte to tourne. In good faythe (quod she) I haue knowe the euer of tho condicions, and sythē thou woldest (in as moche as in the was) a made me pryuy of thy counsayle, and iuge of thy conscience, though I forsoke it in tho dayes, tyl I sawe better my tyme, wold ne∣uer god that I shulde now fayle, but euer I wyll be ready wytnessynge thy soth in what place that euer I shall, ayenste all tho that wol the contrary susteyne: And for as moch as to me is nought vnknowen ne hydde of thy pryuy hert, but al hast thou tho thinges made to me open at the full, that hath cau∣sed my commynge into this prison to voyde the webbes of thyne eyen, to make the clerly to se the erroures thou hast bene in, and by∣cause that men bene of dyuers condicyons, some adradde to saye a soth, and some for a sothe anon readye to fyght, and also that I maye not my selfe bene in place to withsaye thylke men that of the speaken, otherwyse than the sothe, I woll and I charge the in vertue of obedyence, that thou to me owest, to wryten my wordes, and set hem in wry∣tynges that they mowe as my wytnessyng ben noted amonge the people. For bookes wrytten neyther dreden, ne shame, ne stryue conne, but only shewen the entent of the wri¦ter, and yeue remembraunce to the hearer: and yf anye woll in thy presence saye anye thynge to tho wryters, loke boldlye, truste on Mars to answer at the full. For certes I shall hym enfourme of all the trouthe in thy loue, with thy conscience, so that of his help thou shalt not varye at thy nede.

I trowe the strongeste and the best that may be founde, woll not transuers thy wor¦des, whereof than woldest thou drede?

GReatlye was I tho gladed of these wor∣des, and as who saith wexen somdele lyght in hert both for the au¦ctoritie of wytnesse & also for syckernesse of helpe of the forsayd be hest, and sayd. Trulye ladye now am I well gladded through cō∣fort of your wordes: be it now lykynge vnto your nobleye to shewe whiche folke defame your seruauntes, syth your seruyce ought a∣boue all other thynges to bene commended. Yet (quod she) I se well thy soule is not all out of the amased cloude, the were better to here thynge y^t the myght lyght out of thyne heuy charge, and after knowynge of thyne owne heelpe, than to styrr swete wordes & suche reasons to here: for in a thoughtfull soule (and namelye suche one as thou arte) woll not yet suche thynges synken. Come of therfore and let me sene thyne heuye charge, that I maye the lyghtlyer for thy comforte purueye.

Now certes ladye (quod I) the moost cō∣fort I myght haue, were vtterly to wete me be sure in herte of that Margaryte, I serue and so I thynke to done wyth all myghtes whyle my lyfe dureth. Thā (quod she) may∣est thou thereafter, in suche wyse that mys∣pleasaunce ne entre? In good fayth (quod I) there shall no myspleasaunce be caused through trespasse on my syde. And I do the to wetē ({quod} she) I set neuer yet persō to serue in no place (but yf he caused the contrary in defaultes and trespasses) that he ne spedde of hys seruyce. Myne owne earthlye ladye (quod I tho) and yet remembre to your wor¦thynesse how longe sythen by many reuol∣uynge of yeres, in tyme whan Octobre hys leue gynneth take, and Nouembre sheweth him to sight, whā bernes ben full of goodes as is the nut on euery halke, and than good lande tyllers gynne shape for the erth, with great trauayle to bryng forth more corne to mannes sustenaunce, ayenst the nexte yeres folowynge. In such tyme of plentie, he that hath an home, and is wyse, lyst not to wan∣der

maruayles to seche, but he be constray∣ned or excited: oft the loth thynge is done by excitacyon of other mennes opinion, which wolden fayne haue myne abydynge, take in hert of lust, to trauayle and se the wynding of the erth in that tyme of wynter, by woo∣des that large stretes werne in, by smal pa∣thes that swyne and hogges haden made, as lanes with ladles theyr maste to seche, I walked thynkynge aloone a wonder greate whyle, and the greate beestes that the wood haunten and adorneth all maner forestes, and heerdes gone to wylde: than er I was ware I neyghed to a see banke, & for ferde of the beestes shypcraft I cryed: For lady I trowe ye wete well your selfe nothynge is werse than the beestes that shulden bē tame yf they catche her wyldenesse, and gyn ayen waxe ramage: thus forsothe was I aferde, and to shyppe me hyed. Than were there y∣nowe to latch myne handes and drawe me to shyppe, of which many I knewe well the names. Syght was the fyrst, lust was ano∣ther, thought was the thyrde, and wyll eke was there a mayster: these broughten me w^t in boorde of this shyppe of trauayle. So whan the sayle was sprad, and this shyppe gan to moue, the wynde and water gan for to ryse, and ouerthwartly to turne y^e welken the wawes semeden as they kyst togyther, but often vnder colour of kyssyng is mokell olde hate priuily closed and kept. The storm so straungely and in deuouryng maner gan so fast vs assayle, that I supposed the date of my deth shulde haue made there his gyn∣nyng, now vp now downe, nowe vnder the wawe and nowe abouen, was my shyppe a great whyle. And so by mokel duresse of we¦thers and of stormes, and with greate auo∣wynge pylgremages I was dryuen to an yle, where vtterly I wende fyrste to haue be rescowed, but truly at the fyrst gynnynge, it semed me so peryllous the hauen to catche, that but thorowe grace I hadde bene com∣forted, of lyfe I was full dispayred. Truly, ladye yf ye be remembred aryght of all ma∣ner thynges, your selfe came hastely to sene vs see driuen, and to weten what we weren but fyrste ye were deynous of cheare, after whyche ye goone better alyght, and euer as me thought ye lyued in greate drede of dis∣ease, it semed so by your chere.

And whan I was certifyed of your name the lenger I looked in you, the more I you goddly dradde, and euer myne herte on you opened the more, and so in a lytle tyme my shyppe was out of mynde. But ladye as ye me lad, I was ware both of beestes and of fysshes a great nōbre throngynge togyther: among which a muskell in a blewe shel had enclosed a Margaryte perle, the moost pre∣cyous and best that euer toforne came in my syght, and ye tolden youre selfe that ylke ie∣well in his kynde was so good and so ver∣tuous, that her better shulde I neuer fynde, all sought I therafter to the worldes ende, and wyth that I helde my peace a greate whyle: and euer sythē I haue me bethought on the man that sought the precious Mar∣garytes, and whan he had founden one to his lykyng, he solde all his good to bye that iewell: Ywys thought I, & yet so I thynke, now haue I founden the iewelle that myne hert desyreth, wherto shulde I sech ferther? truly now woll I stynte, and on this Mar∣garyte I ••et me for euer. Nowe than also sythen I wyll well it was your wyl that I shoulde to suche a seruyce me take, and so to desyre that thynge of whiche I neuer haue blysse, there lyueth none, but he hath disease your myght than that brought me to suche seruyce, that to me is cause of sorowe and of ioye, I wondre of your worde that ye sayne to bryngen men into ioye, and parde ye wet well that defaulte ne trespasse maye not rea¦sonably bene put to mewardes, as farre as my conscience knoweth. But of my disease me lyste nowe a whyle to speake, and to en∣forme you in what maner of blysse ye haue me thronge. For truly I wene that al glad∣nesse, all ioye, and all myrth is beshet vnder locke, and the keye throwen in suche place y^t it may not be founde, my brennyng wo hath altred all my hewe. whan I shoulde slepe, I walowe and I thynke, & me disporte. Thus cōbred, I seme that all folke had me mased. Also ladye myne, desyre hath longe dured, some spekynge to haue, or els at y^e leest haue ben enmoysed with syght: and for wanting of these thinges, my mouth wolde & he durst pleyne right sore, sythen euyls for my good¦nesse arne manyfolde to me yolden. I won∣der lady truly, saue euermore your reuerēce, how ye mowe for shame such thinges suffre

on youre seruaunte to be so multyplyed: wherfore knelyng with a lowe hert I praye you to rue on this caytyfe, that of nothynge now may serue. Good ladye yf ye lyst nowe your helpe to me shewe, that am of your pri¦uyest seruauntes at al assayes in this tyme, and vnder your wynges of protection. No helpe to mewardes is shapen, how shal thā straungers in any wyse after succour loke, whan I that am so pryuy, yet of helpe I do fayle? Further may I not, but thus in this prison abyde: what bondes and chaynes me holden, lady ye se wel your selfe? A renyant foringed hath not halfe the care. But thus syghyng and sobbynge I wayle here alone, and nere it for cōfort of your presence, ryght here wold I sterne. And yet alytle am I gla¦ded, y^t so goodly suche grace and none happe haue I hent, gracyouslye to fynde the precy∣ous Margarete, that (all other leste) menne shulde bye, yf they shulde therfore sel all her substaunce. wo is me that so manye let ga∣mes and purpose brekers bene maked way∣ters suche prysoners as I am, euermore to ouerloke and to hyndre, and for suche lettou¦res, it is harde any suche iewell to wyn. Is this lady an honour to thy deytie? me thyn∣keth by ryght, suche people shoulde haue no maystry, ne ben ouerlokers ouer none of thy seruauntes. Truly were it leful vnto you, to all the goddes wolde I playne, that ye rule youre deuyne purueyaunce amonges youre seruauntes nothyng as ye shulde. Also lady my moeble is insu••••ysaunt to countreuayle the pryce of this iewell, or els to make thes∣chaunge: eke no wyght is worthy suche per∣les to weare, but kynges or princes, or elles theyr peres: this iewel for vertue wolde ad∣orne & make fayre al a realme, the no••ley of vertue is so moche that her goodnesse ouer all is cōmended who is it y^t wold not wayle but he myght suche rychesse haue at his wyl the vertue therof out of this prison may me delyuer, & nought els. And yf I be not there throw holpen, I se my selfe withouten reco∣uery: Althoughe I myght hence voyde, yet wolde I not, I wold abyde the day that de∣steny hath me ordained, which I suppose is without amendement, so sore is myne herte bounden, that I may thynken none other. Thus strayte (lady,) hath syr Daunger la∣ced me in stockes, I leue it be not your wyl: and for I se you taken so lytle hede, as me thynketh, & woll not maken by your myght the vertue in mercy of that Margaret on me for to stretch so as ye mow wel, in case that you lyst: my blysse and my myrth are felde, syknesse and sorowe ben alway redy, y^e cope oftene is wounde about all my bodye, that stondyng is me best, vneth may I lygge for pure myseasy sorowe, and yet all this is ly∣tel ynough to be the ernest siluer, in forward of this bargayne for treble folde, so mockell must I suffre, er tyme come of myne ease. For he is worthy no welth, that may no wo suffre. And certes I am heuye to thynke on these thynges, but who shall yeue me water ynough to drynke, lest myne eyen drye for rē¦nynge streames of teares? who shall waylē with me myne owne happy heuynesse▪ who shall counsayle me nowe in my lykyng tene, and in my goodly harse? I not. For euer the more I brenne, the more I couete, the more that I sorowe, the more thrist I in gladnes who shal than yeue me a contrarious drink to stanch the thyrst of my blysful bytternes? Lo thus I brenne and I drenche, I shyuer and I swet, to this reuersed euyl was neuer yet ordeyned salue, for soth all lyches ben vn¦connyng, saue the Margaryte aloone, anye suche remedye to purueye

ANd w^t these wordes I brast out to wepe, that euery tere of myne eyen for greatnesse se∣med they boren oute of y^e ball of my syght, and that all the water had ben out run. Thā thought me, that loue gan a lytle to heauye for miscomfort of my chere, and gan sobrely and in easye maner speake, well aduysynge what she sayde. Comenly the wyse speaken easelye and softe for manye skylles: One is, theyr wordes are the better beleued, and al∣so in easye speakyng, auysement men maye catche, what to put forth, and what to hol∣den in. And also the auctoritie of easye wor∣des is the more, and eke they yeuen the more vnderstandyng to other intention of the ma¦ter. Ryght so this lady easely and in a softe maner gan saye these wordes.

¶Meruayle ({quod} she) great it is, that by no maner of semblaunt, as farre as I can espy thou lyste not to haue anye recoure, but euer

thou playnest and sorowest, and wayes of remedye for foolysh wylfulnesse the lyst not to seche: but enquyre of thy next frēdes that is thyne in wyt, and me that haue ben thy maystresse, and the recoure and fyne of thy disease, or of disease is gladnesse and Ioye, with a ful vessel so helded, that it quencheth the felyng of the fyrst tenes. But thou that were wonte not onely these thinges remem¦bre in thyne herte, but also fooles thereof to enfourmen, in adnullynge of theyr errours, and distroying of theyr darke opinions, and in comforte of theyr seare thoughtes: nowe canst thou not bene comforte of thyne owne soul, in thynkyng of these thinges. O where hast thou ben so longe commensal, that hast so mykell eeten of the pottages of foryetful¦nesse: and dronken so of ignoraunce, that the olde soukyng which thou hadest of me, arne a maystred and lorne fro all maner of kno∣wynge? O this is a worthy parson to helpe other, that can not counsayle hym selfe. And with these wordes for pure & stronge shame I woxe all reed.

And she than seing me so astonyed by dy∣uers stoundes, sodaynly (which thyng kynd hateth) gan delyciouslye me comforte wyth sugred wordes, puttyng me in ful hope that I shulde the Margarete getten, yf I folo∣wed her heestes, and gan with a fayre cloth to wypen the teares that hyngen on my che¦kes: and than sayde I in this wyse. Nowe well of wysdome and of all welth, withou∣ten the may nothyng be lerned, thou bearest the keyes of all pryuye thynges. In vayne trauayle men to catche any stedshyp, but yf ye lady fyrst the locke vnshet, ye lady learne vs the wayes and the by pathes to heauen: ye lady maken al the heuenly bodyes good∣ly and benigly to do her course, that gouer∣nen vs beestes here on erth. Ye armen youre seruauntes ayenst all debates, with imper∣cyable harneys, ye setten in her hertes insu∣perable bloud of hardynesse, ye leden hem to the parfyte good. Yet all thynge desyreth, ye werne no man of helpe that wele done your lore, graunt me now a lytle of your grace, al my sorowes to cease. Myne owne seruaun∣te ({quod} she) truly thou syttest nye myne herte and thy bad chere gan soryly me greue: but amonge thy playnyng wordes me thought thou allegest thynges to be lettyng of thyne helpyng, and thy grace to hyndre, whertho∣rowe me thynketh that wanhoope is crope through thyne herte: God forbyd that nyse vnthryfty thought shulde come in thy mynd thy wyttes to trouble, sythen euery thing in cōmyng is contingente, wherefore make no∣more thy proposition by an impossyble. But nowe I praye the reherse me ayen tho thyn∣ges, that thy mistrust causen, and thilke thin¦ges I thynke by reason to destroyen, & put full hope in thyne hert. what vnderstandest thou ther ({quod} she) by that thou saydest many lette games are thyne ouerlokers. And also by that thy moeble is insuffysaunte, I not what thou therof meanest

Truly (quod I) by the fyrste, I saye that iangelers euermore arne speakynge rather of euyll than of good, for euerye age of man rather enclyneth to wyckednesse, than anye goodnesse to auaunce. Also false wordes spryngen so wyde, by the steryng of false ly∣inge tonges, that fame als swyftly flyeth to her eares, and sayeth many wycked tales, & as soone shall falsenesse ben leued as truthe, for all his great sothnesse. Nowe by y^e other (quod I) me thynketh thylke iewel so preci∣ous, that to no suche wretch as I am, wold vertue thereof extende, and also I am to fe∣ble in worldly ioyes, any suche iewell to coū¦treuayle. For suche people that worldlye io∣yes han at her wyl, ben set at the hyghest de¦gree, and moost in reuerence bene accepted, for false wenynge maketh felicitie therein to be supposed: but suche caytyues as I am euermore ben hyndred. Certes (quod she) take good hede, and I shall by reason to the shewen, that all these thynges mowe not let thy purpose, by the leeste poynte that anye wyght coude prycke.

REmembrest not (quod she) ensam∣ple is one of the strōgest maner as for to preue a mans purpose. Than if I now by ensample enduce the to any pro¦positiō, is it not proued by strength? Yes for soth ({quod} I) wel (quod she) raddest thou neuer how Parys of Troy and Heleyne loued to∣gyther, and yet had they not entrecomuned of speche? Also Acrisyus shette Dane hys doughter in a tour, for surete that no wight shulde of her haue no mastry in my seruyce,

and yet Iupiter by sygnes withoute anye spech had all his purpose ayenst her fathers wyll. And many suche mo haue ben knytte in trouth, and yet spake they neuer togyder: for that is a thynge enclosed vnder secret∣nesse of priuitie, why twe personnes entre∣mellen hertes after a syght. The power in knowynge of suche thynges so preuen, shall not all vtterlye be yeuen to you beestes, for manye thynges in suche precyous maters, ben reserued to iudgement of deuine puruey¦aunce, for amonge lyuynge people, by mans consyderation moune they not be determy∣ned. wherefore I saye, all the enuye, all the ianglynge, that welny people vpon my ser∣uauntes maken efte, is rather cause of es∣ployte than of any hyndrynge. why than ({quod} I) suffre ye suche wronge, and moune whan ye lyst, lyghtlye all suche euyls abate, me se∣myth to you it is a greate vnworshyp. O ({quod} she) holde nowe thy peace, I haue founden to manye that han bene to me vnkynde, that truly I wol suffre euery wyght in that wise to haue disease, and who that contynueth to the ende well and truly, hem woll I helpen, and as for one of myne into blysse to wende as Marcial doing in Grece. who was ycro∣wned, by God not the strongest, but he that rathest come and longest abode and conty∣nued in the iourneye, and spared not to tra∣uayle as longe as the play lest.

But thylke person that profred hym now to my seruyce therin is a whyle, & anon voy∣deth and redy to an other, and so now one he thynketh and now an other, and into water entreth and anon respyreth, such one list me not into parfyte blysse of my seruyce brynge A tree ofte set in dyuers places woll not by kynde endure to brynge forth frutes. Loke now I praye the, howe myne olde seruaun∣tes of tyme passed continued in her seruyce, and folowe thou after theyr steppes, & than myght thou not fayle, in case thou worch in this wise. Certes (quod I) it is nothing lich this worlde to tyme passed, eke this countre hath one maner, & an other coūtrie hath ano¦ther. And so may not a mā alway put to his eye the salue that he healed with his hele. For this is soth, betwex two thynges lyche oft dyuersitie is requyred. Now ({quod} she) that is soth, diuersitie of nacion, diuersitie of law as was maked by manye reasons, for that diuersitie cōmeth in by the contrarious ma∣lyce of wicked people y^t han enuyous hertes ayenst other. But trulye my lawe to my ser∣uauntes euer hath ben in generall, whyche maye not fayle, for ryght as mans lawes y^t is ordeyned by many determinacions, may not be know for good or bad, tyl assay of the people han proued it, and to what end it dra¦weth, and than it sheweth the necessitie ther¦of, or els the impossibilitie. Ryght so y^e lawe of my seruauntes so wel hath ben proued in generall, that hytherto hath it not fayled.

wyste thou not well, that all the lawe of kynde is my lawe, and by god ordeyned and stablysshed to dure by kynde reasoun, wher∣fore all lawe by mans wyt purueyed, ought to be vnderput to lawe of kynde, whiche yet hath be cōmune to euery kyndly creature, y^t my statutes and my lawes than ben kyndly are generall to all peoples. Olde doinges, & by many turnynges of yeres vsed, and with the peoples maner proued, mowen not so lyghtly ben defased, but newe doinges con∣trariaunces such olde, often causen diseases and breaken many purposes. Yet saye I not therefore, that ayen newe myschefe, menne shulde not ordaynen a newe remedy, but al∣way loke it contrary not the olde, no ferther than the malyce stretcheth. Than foloweth it the olde doinges in loue han bene vniuer∣sall, as for moost exployte forth vsed: wher∣fore I woll not yet, that of my lawes no∣thynge be adnulled.

But than to the purpose, suche iangelers and lokers, and wayters of games, yf they thynke in ought they mowe dere, yet loue well alwaye, and set hem at nought, and let thy portes ben lowe in euery wyghtes pre∣sence, and redy in thyne herte to mayntayne that thou hast begonne, and a lytle the fayne with mekenesse in wordes, and thus wyth sleyght shalt thou surmoūt and dequace the euyll in theyr hertes. And wysdome yet is to seme flye otherwhyle there a man wol fight Thus with suche thynges, the tonges or e∣uyll shall ben stylled: els fully to graunt thy full meanynge, for sothe euer was and euer it shall be, that myne enemyes ben aferde to trust to anye fyghtynge, and therfore haue thou no cowardes herte in my seruyce, no∣more than somtyme thou haddest in the con¦trary, for yf thou drede suche ianglers, thy

viage to make: vnderstād wel y^t he y^t dredeth any rayn to sow his cornes, he shal haue thā thynne bernes. Also he y^t is aferde of his clo∣thes, let hym daūce naked. who nothing vn∣dertaketh, & namely in my seruyce, nothyng acheueth. After great stormes the wether is often mery and smoth. After much clatering there is mokyll rownynge: thus after iang∣lynge wordes cometh huyshte, peace, and be styl. O good lady (quod I than) se now how seuen yere passed and more, haue I graffed & groubed a vyne, & with all the wayes that I coude I soughte to a fed me of the grape, but fruite haue I none founde. Also haue I thys seuen yere serued Laban to a wedded Rachell his doughter, but blereryed Lya is brought to my bedde, whiche alway engen∣dreth my tene, and is ful of children in tribu∣lacion & in care: and although the clepinges and kyssynges of Rachell shulde seme to me swete, yet is she so barayn, that gladnesse ne ioye by no way wol sprynge, so that I maye wepe with Rachel, I may not ben counsay∣led wyth solace, sythen issue of myne herte∣ly desyre is fayled. Nowe than I praye that to me sone fredome and grace, in this eyght yere, this eyghteth mowe to me both by kin¦rest & masseday after the seuen werkedayes of trauayle, to folowe the christen lawe: and what euer ye do els, that thylke Margaryte be holden so lady in your priuye chābre, that she in thys case to none other person be com∣mitted: Loke than (quod she) thou perseuer in my seruice, in which I haue the groūded, that thylke skorne in thyne enemyes mowe this on thy person be not sothed: lo this man beganne to edefye, but for hys foundemente is badde, to the ende maye he not it bringe. For mekenesse in coūtenaunce, wyth a man∣ly hert in dedes, and in longe countynaunce, is the conysaunce of my lyuerye, to al my re∣tynue deliuered. What wenyst thou that me lyste auaunce suche personnes as louen the fyrste syttynges at feestes, the hyghest sto∣les in churches, and in hal, loutinges of peo∣ples in markettes and fayres, vnstedfaste to byde in one place anye whyle togyther, we∣nynge hys owne wytte more excellent than other, scornynge all maner deuyse but hys owne: Naye naye God wotte, these shul no∣thyng pertteyne of my blysse. Truly my ma∣ner here toforne hathe ben wyrshyppe wyth my blysse, Lyons in the felde, and lambes in chambre, Egles at assaute and maydens in halle, foxes in counsayle, styl in theyr dedes, and theyr protection is graūted redy to ben a brydge, and theyr baner is arered like wol¦ues in the felde. Thus by these wayes shull men ben auaunced: ensample of Dauid that from kepynge of shepe, was drawen vp into the order of kyngly gouernaunce, and Iupi∣ter frō a bole to bene Europes fere, and Iu∣lius Cesar from the lowest degre in Rome, to be mayster of all erthly princes, and Ene∣as from hel, to be kinge of the countre there Rome is nowe stondynge. And so to the I saye, thy grace by bearynge therafter, maye sette the in suche plyghte, that no ianglynge maye greue the lest tucke of thy hēmes, that are theyr ianghes, is noughte to counte at a cresse in thy disauauntage.

EVer (quod she) hath the peo¦ple in thys worlde desyred to haue had great name in worthynesse, & hated foule to bere anye fame, and that is one of y^e obiections thou alegest to be ayen thyn her∣tely desyre. Ye forsothe (quod I) & that so co∣menly the people wol lye, and brynge about such enfame. Now ({quod} she) yf men wyth lea∣synges put on enfame, wenest thy selfe ther∣by ben enpeyred▪ that wenyng is wronge, se why: for asmuch as they lyen thy merite en∣creaseth, and make the bene more worthy to hem that knowen of the soth, by what thing thou art apeyred, that in so mokyl thou arte encreased of thy beloued frendes: and sothly a wounde of thy frend to the lasse harme, ye syr, and better than a false kyssyng in discey∣uable glosynge af thyne enemye, aboue that than to be wel with thy frende maketh such enfame. Ergo thou art encreased and not a∣peyred. Lady (quod I) somtyme yet yf a mā be in disease, thestymacyon of the enuyouse people ne loketh nothyng to desertes of men ne to the merites of theyr doynges, but only to the auēture of fortune, and therafter they yeuen theyr sentence: and some loken the vo∣luntarye wyll in his herte, and therafter tel∣leth hys iugement, not takynge hede to rea∣son ne to the qualyte of the doynge, as thus. If a mā be riche and fulfylled with worldly

welefulnesse, some commenden it, and saine it is so lente by iuste cause: and he that hath aduersyte, they sayne he is weaked, & hathe deserued thylke anoye. The cōtrary of these thynges some men holden also, & sayne that to the rych, prosperyte is puruayed into his confusyon, and vpon thys mater manye au∣thorites of many and greate wytted clerkes they alegen. And some men sayne, thoughe all good estimacyon forsaken folke that han aduersyte, yet it is meryte & encrease of hys blysse, so that these purposes arne so won∣derfull in vnderstandynge, that trewlye for myne aduersytie nowe I not howe the sen∣tence of the indifferent people wylingen my fame. Therfore (quod she) yf anye wyghte shulde yeue a trew sentence on such maters, the cause of the disease mayste thou se well, vnderstāde thervpon after what ende it dra¦weth, y^t is to sayne, good or badde, so ought it to haue his fame or by goodnesse, enfame by badnesse, for euery reasonable person, and namely of a wyse man, his wytte ought not w^tout reason toforne herde, sodainly in a ma¦ter to iuge. After the sawes of the wise, thou shalt not iuge ne deme toforne thou knowe. Lady ({quod} I) ye remembre wel that in moost laude and praysynge of certayne sayntes in holy churche, is to rehersen their conuercyon from badde into good, and that is so reher∣sed, as by a perpetuall myrroure of remem∣braunce in worshypping of tho sayntes, and good ensample to other misdoers in amēde∣ment. Howe turned the romayne zedeoreys fro the Romaynes, to be wyth Hanyball a∣yenst hys kynde nacyon? and afterwardes hym semyng the romaynes to be at the next degree of cōfusyon, turned to hys olde alyes by whose witte after was Hanibal discom∣fyted. Wherfore to enfourme you Lady the maner why I meane, se nowe in my youth I was drawe to bene assentaunt and in my myghtes helpinge to certayne coniuracions and other greate matters of rulynge of ci∣tezins, and thylke thynges ben my drawers in, & exitours to tho maters werne so payn∣ted and coloured, that at the prime face, me semed them noble & gloryous to all the peo∣ple: I than wenynge mykel meryte haue de∣serued in furtherynge and mayntenaunce of tho thynges, besyed and laboured wyth all my diligence, in werkynge of thylke maters to the ende. And trewlye lady to tell you the sothe, me roughte, lytell of anye hate of the myghty Senatours in thylke citie, ne of co∣munes malyce, for two skyllles: One was I had comforte to bene in suche plyte, that both profyte were to me and to my frendes. Another was for cōmen profite in cominal∣tye is not but peace and tranquilytie, wyth iust gouernaunce proceden from thylke pro∣fyte, sythen by counsayl of myne in witte, me thought the fyrste paynted thynges, malyce and euell meanynge, wythouten anye good auaylynge to any people, & of tyrannye pur∣posed, and so for pure sorow and of my med¦lynge and bad infame that I was in ronne, tho teeres lashed oute of myne eyen, were thus awaye washe, than the vnder hyd ma∣lyce and the rancoure of purposynge enuye fornecaste and ymagined, in distruction of mokyl people, shewed so openly, that had I bene blynde, wyth myne hondes all the cir∣cumstaunce I myght well haue feled.

Now than tho personnes that such thyn∣ges haue caste to redresse, for wrathe of my fyrste medlynge, shopen me to dwell in this pynande prison, tyll Lachases my threde no lēger wolde twine. And euer I was sought yf me lyst to haue grace of my lyfe, and fre∣nesse of that prison, I shulde openly confesse how peace myght ben endused to endē al the fyrste rancours. It was fully supposed my knowynge to be ful in tho maters. Than la∣dy I thoughte that euery man that by anye waye of ryght, ryghtfully done, maye helpe any comune help to ben saued, which thyng to kepe aboue all thynges I am holde to mayntayne, and namely in distroyenge of a wronge, all shulde I therthroughe enpeche myne owne fere, yf he were gylty, and to do mysdede assentaunt, and mayster ne frende may nought auayle to the soule of hym that in falsnesse dyeth, & also that I nere desyred wrathe of the people, ne indignacyon of the worthy, for nothynge that euer I wrought or dyd, in any doynge my selfe els, but in the mayntenaunce of these foresayd erroures, & in hydinge of the priuytees therof. And that all the peoples hertes holdynge on the er∣roures syde, weren blynde and of elde so fer∣forthe begyled, that debate and stryfe they maynteyned, & in distruction on that other∣syde, by whyche cause the peace, that moost

in cominaltie shuld be desyred, was in point to be broken and adnulled. Also the Citie of London, that is to me so dere and swete, in which I was forth growen, & more kyndly loue I haue to that peace thā to any other in earthe, as euery kyndely creature hathe full appetyte to that place of hys kyndly engen∣drure, and to wylne reste and peace in that stede to abide: thylke peace shulde thus there haue bene broken, and of all wyse it is com∣mended and desyred. For knowe thynge it is, all men that desyren to comen to the per∣fyte peace euerlastynge, muste the peace by God commended, both maintayn and kepe. Thys peace by aungelles voice was confir∣med, oure God entrynge in thys worlde. Thys as for hys Testamente he lefte to all hys frendes, whan he retourned to the place from whence he came: thys hys Apostle a∣monesteth to holden, wythout whyche man perfytely maye haue none insyght. Also this God by hys commynge, made not peace a∣lone betwene heuenly and erthly bodies, but also amonge vs on earth, so he peace confir∣med, that in one heade of loue, one bodie we shulde perfourme. Also I remembre me wel how the name of Athenes was rather after the God of peace than of batayle, shewynge that peace mooste is necessarye to the comu∣nalties & cities, I than so styred by all these wayes to forne nempned, declared certeyne pointes in thys wyse. Fyrste y^t thylke perso∣nes y^t hadden me drawen to their purposes, and me not wetyng the priuy entent of their meaning, drawē also the feable witted peo∣ple y^t haue none insyght of gubernatyfe pru∣dēce to clamur & to crie on maters y^t they sty¦red, and vnder poyntes for comune auaun∣tage, they enbolded the passyfe to take in the actyues doynge, and also styred innocentes of connynge to crye after thynges, whyche (quod they) may not stande but we bene exe∣cutours of tho matters, and auctorite of ex∣cecucion by comen electiō to vs be delyuered & that must entre by strength of your mayn∣tenaunce, for we out of suche degree put, op∣pression of these olde hyndrers shall agayne surmounten and putten you in such subiecti∣on, that in endelesse wo ye shull complaine. The gouernementes (quod they) of your ci∣tie left in the handes of torcencious citezins shall brynge in pestilence and distruction to you good men, and therfore let vs haue thecomune administration to abate such yuels. Also (quod they) it is worthy the good to cō∣mende, and the gyltye desertes to chastice. There bene citezins many for ferde of execu¦cyon that shall be doone, for extorcyons by hem committed, bene euer more ayenst these purposes, and all other good meanynges. Neuer the latter Ladye, trewelye the mea∣nynge vnder these wordes, was fullye to haue apeched the myghty senatours, which hadden heauy herte for the misgouernaunce that they seen. And so lady whan it fell that free election, by great clamour of much peo∣ple, for greate disease of mysgouernaunce so feruently stoden in her electiō, that they hem submitted to euerye maner face, rather than haue suffred the maner and the rule of the hated gouernours, not wythstandinge that in the contrary helden much comune meyny that haue no consideration, but onely to vo∣luntary lustes, withouten reason. But than thylke gouernoure so forsaken, faynynge to forne hys vndoynge for misrule in his time, shope to haue letted thylk election, and haue made a newe hym selfe to haue bene chosen, and vnder that mokyll rore haue arered. These thynges Ladie knowen amonge the princes, & made open to the people, draweth in amendement, that euery degree shal bene ordayned to stande there as he shulde, & that of errours coming, herafter men may light∣ly to forne hande puruaye remedye, in thys wyse peace and rest to be furthered & holde. Of the whiche thinges lady, thylke persons broughten in answere to forne theyr mooste souerayne iuge, not coarted hy paynyng du∣res, openlye knowlegeden, and asked therof grace, so that apertly it preueth my wordes bene sothe, without forgyng of leasynges.

But nowe it greueth me to remēbre these dyuers sentences, in ianglyng of these shepy people: certes me thynketh they oughten to maken ioye that a sothe maye be knowe. For my trouth and my conscience bene wytnesse to me bothe, that thys knowyng sothe haue I sayde for no harme ne malyce of tho per∣sonnes, but onely for trouth of my sacramēt in my leigiaunce, by whych I was charged on my kynges behalfe. But se ye not nowe ladye howe the felonous thoughtes of thys people, and couyns of wycked men, conspy∣ren 〈6 pages missing〉〈6 pages missing〉

What myghte thou more haue doone than thou dydeste, but yf thou woldeste in a false quarell haue bene a stynkynge martyr? I wene thou fleddest as longe as thou might, theyr priuytie to consayle, whyche thynge thou heleste lenger than thou shuldest. And thilke that ought the money no penny wold paye, they wende thy retourne had bene an impossible. Howe myghte thou better haue hem proued, but thus in thy nedye diseases? Nowe haste thou ensample for whom thou shalte meddle: trewely thys lore is worthe many goodes.

OFte ganne loue to sterne me these wordes, thynke on my speche, for trewly here after it woll do the lyking, and howe so euer thou se fortune shape her wheele to tourne, thys meditation by no waye reuolue. For certes fortune sheweth her fayrest, whan she thyn∣keth to begyle. And as me thoughte here to forne thou saydeste thy loos in loue, for thy ryght wesenesse oughte to be raysed, shulde be a lowed in tyme comynge. Thou myghte in loue so the haue, that loos and fame shull so bene raysed, that to thy frendes comforte and sorowe to thyne enemyes endelesse shul endure.

But yf thou were that one shepe amōges the hundred were loste in deserte, and out of the waye had erred, and nowe to the flocke arte restored, the shepeherde hathe in the no ioy, and thou ayen to the forrest tourne. But that ryght as the sorowe and anguysh was greate in the tyme of thyne out way goyng, ryght so ioye and gladnesse shall be doubled to sene the conuerted, & not as Lothes wyfe ayen lokynge, but hoole counsayle wyth the shepe folowyng, and wyth them grasse and herbes gadre. Neuer the later (quod she) I saye not these thinge for no wantrust that I haue in supposynge of the otherwise than I shulde. For trewly I watte well, that nowe thou arte set in such a purpose, out of which the lyste not to parte. But I saye it, for ma∣ny men there bene, that to knowing of other mennes doynges setten all theyr cure, and lyghtlye desyren the badde to clatter rather than the good, and haue no wyl theyr owne maner to amende. They also hate of olde rā∣coure lyghtly hauen, & there that such thyng abideth, sodainly in theyr mothes procedeth the abundaunce of the herte, and wordes as stones, stones out throw. wherfore my coū∣sayle is euer more openlye and apertelye, in what place thou syt, countreplete therrours and meaninges, in as farre as thou hem wy¦styst false, and leaue for no wyghte to make hem be knowe in euery bodyes eare, and be alwaye paciente and vse Iacobes wordes, what so euer menne of the clappen, I shall sustayne my ladyes wrathe whyche I haue deserued, so longe as my Margaryte hathe rightwysed my cause. And certes (quod she) I wytnesse my selfe, yf thou thus conuerted soroweste in good meanynge in thyne herte, wolte from all vanytie parfytelye departe, in consolatioun of al good plesaunce of that Margaryte, whiche that thou desyreste af∣ter wyl thyne herte, in a maner of a mothers pytie, shull fully accepte the in to grace. For ryghte as thou rentest clothes in open syght so openlye to sowe hem at hys worshyppe wythouten reprofe commended. Also ryght as thou were ensample of muche folde er¦roure, ryghte so thou muste be ensample of manyfolde correction, so good sauoure to forgoynge all erroure distroyeng causeth di∣lygent loue, with many playted praysinges to folowe, and than shal all the fyrst errours make the folowynge worshyppes to seme hugely encreased, blacke and whyte sette to∣gyder, euerye for other more semeth, and so dothe euery thynges contrary in kynde. But infame that gothe alwaye to fore, and pray∣synge worshyppe by any cause folowing af∣ter, maketh to ryse thylke honoure in double of welth, and that quēcheth the spotte of the fyrst enfame. why wenist I saye these thyn∣ges, in hyndrynge of thy name? Naye naye god wo••te, but for pure encreasing worship thy ryghtwysnesse to cōmende, & thy trouth to seme the more▪ wost not wel thy selfe, that thou in fourme of makynge passeth not Adā that ete of the apple. Thou passeth not the stedstastnesse of Noe, y^e eatynge of the grape become dronke. Thou passeth not the cha∣styte of Lothe, that laye by hys doughter. Eke the nobley of Abraham, whō god repro¦ued by hys pryde. Also Dauides mekenesse,

whyche for a woman made Vrye be slawe. What also Hector of Troye, in whome no defaute myght be founde, yet is he reproued that he ne hadde wyth manhode not suffered the warre begonne, ne Parys to haue wente into Grece, by whome ganne all the sorowe: for trewly hym lacketh no venyme of pryue consentynge, whyche that openlye leaueth a wronge to wythsaye.

Lo eke an olde prouerbe amōges many o∣ther, he that is styll semeth as he graunted.

Now by these ensamples, thou myght ful¦ly vnderstonde, that these thynges ben wryte to your lernynge, & in ryghtwysenesse of tho persones, as thus: To euery wyght hys de∣faute cōmitted, made goodnesse afterwardes done, be the more in reuerēce and in open she wynge, for ensample is it not songe in holye church. Lo howe necessary was Adās synne Dauyd the kynge gat Salomō the kynge of her that was Vries wyfe. Truly for reprofe is none of these thinges wrytte: Right so tho I reherce thy before dede, I repreue y^t neuer the more, ne for no vyllany of the are they re∣hersed, but for worshyppe, so t••••u contynue well here after, and for profyte of thy selfe, I rede thou on hem thynke.

Then sayd I ryght thus. Lady of vnyte and accorde, enuye and wrathe lurken there thou comest in place, ye wetē well your selue and so done many other, that whyle I admi∣nystred the offyce of cōmen doynge, as in ru∣lynge of the stablyshmentes amōges the peo∣ple, I defouled neuer my conscience for no maner dede, but euer by wytte and by coun∣sayle of the wysest, the maters were drawen to theyr ryght endes. And thus trewlye for you ladye I haue desyred suche cure, and cer∣tes in youre seruyce was I not ydell, as ferre as suche doynge of my cure stretcheth. That is a thynge (quod she) that may drawē many hertes of noble, and voyce of cōmune in to glorye, and fame is not but wretched and fyckle.

Alas that mankynde coueyteth in so leude a wyse, to be rewarded of any good dede, sith glorye of fame in this worlde, is not but hyn¦drynge of glorye in tyme cōmynge. And cer∣tes (quod she) yet at the hardest such fame in to heauen, is not the erthe but a centre to the cercle of heuen. And prycke is wōder lytell in respecte of al y^e cercle, and yet in al this prycke may no name be borne in maner of peersyng for many obstacles, as waters and wylder∣nesse, and straunge langages, and not onely names of men ben stylled and holden oute of knowlegynge by these obstacles, but also cy∣ties & realmes of prosperite ben letted to be know, and theyr reason hyndred, so that they mow not ben parfytly in mennes proper vn¦derstandynge. Howe shulde then the name of a synguler londenoys passe the gloryous name of London, whyche by many it is com¦mended, and by many it is lacked, and in ma∣ny mo places in erthe not knowen, then kno∣wen: for in many countrees lytel is London in knowyng or in speche, and yet among one maner of people may not suche fame in good¦nesse come, for as many as praysen comenly as many lacken. Fye then on suche maner fame, slepe and suffre hym that knoweth pre∣uyte of hertes, to dele suche fame, in thylke place there nothynge ayenst a sothe shal ney∣ther speake ne dare appere, by atturney ne by other maner. Howe many great named and many greate in worthynesse losed, han be to∣fore thys tyme, that now out of memorie are slydden and clenely forgetten, for defaute of wrytynges, and yet scriptures for great elde so ben defased, y^t no perpetualte maye in hem ben iuged. But yf thou wolte make compari∣son to euer, what ioy mayst thou haue in erth¦lye name, it is a fayre lykenesse, a pees or one grayne of wheate, to a thousand shyppes ful of corne charged. What nombre is betwene the one and thother, and yet mowe both they be nombred, and ende in rekenyng haue. But trewly all that maye be nombred, is nothyng to recken, as to thylke that maye not be nom∣bred, for ofte thynges ended is made compa∣ryson, as one lytel, another great, but in thin¦ges to haue an ende, and another no ende, suche comparyson maye not be founden. wherfore in heauen to ben losed wyth God hath none ende, but endlesse endureth, and thou canste nothynge done aryght, but thou desyre the rumoure therof be healed and in euerye wyghtes eare, and that dureth but a prycke in respect of the other. And so thou se∣kest rewarde of folkes smale wordes, and of vayne praysynges. Trewly therin thou le∣sest the guerdon of vertue, and lesest the grea¦test valoure of conscience, and vphap they re∣nome

euerlastyng. Therfore boldely renome of fame of the erthe shuld be hated, and fame after deth shulde be desyred, of werkes of ver¦tue asketh guerdoning, and the soule causeth al vertue: Thē the soule delyuered out of pri∣sone of erthe, is most worthy suche guerdone amonge to haue in the euerlastynge fame, & not the body that causeth all mannes yuels.

OF tweye thynges arte thou answered as me thynketh (quod Loue) and yf any thynge be in doute in thy soule, shewe it forth thyne ignoraūce to clere, and leaue it for no shame. Certes (quod I) there ne is no bo∣dye in thys worlde, that ought coude saye by reason ayenst any of your skylles, as I leue, & by my wytte nowe fele I wel, that euell spe∣kers or bearers of enfame, may lytel greue or lette my purpose, but rather by suche thynge my quarell to be forthered. Yea ({quod} she) and it is proued also, that the ylke iewell in my ke∣pynge shal not there thorowe be steered, of y^e lest moment y^t myght be ymagined. That is soth ({quod} I), well ({quod} she) then leueth there, to declare y^t thy insuffisaūce is no maner letting as thus, for that she is so worthye thou shul∣dest not clymbe so hygh, for thy moebles and thyne estate arne voyded, thou thynkest fallē in suche myserye, that gladnesse of thy pur∣sute woll not on thy dyscende. Certes (quod I) that is sothe: ryghte suche thought is in myne herte, for cōmenly it is spoken, and for an olde prouerbe it is leged: He that heweth to hye, wyth chyppes he maye lese his syght. Wherfore I haue ben about in al that euer I myghte, to studye wayes of remedye by one syde or by another. Nowe (quod she) god for∣bede ere thou seke any other doynges, but such as I haue lerned y^t in our restinge why∣les, and suche herbes as ben planted in oure gardyns. Thou shalt well vnderstande, that aboue man is but one god alone. How (quod I) hau mē to forne thys tyme trusted in writ¦tes and chauntementes, and in helpes of spi∣rites that dwellē in the ayre, and therby they han gettē theyr desyres, where as fyrst for all hys manly power he daunced behynde.

O (quod she) fye on such maters, for trew∣ly that is sacrilege, and that shal haue no sort with any of my seruaūtes, in myne eyen shall suche thynge not be loked after. Howe often is it cōmaunded by these passed wyse, that to one god shal men serue, and not to goddes. And who that lyst to haue myne helpes, shal aske none helpe of foule spirites. Alas, is not man maked semblable to god? wost thou not wel that al vertue of lyuelych werkynge by goddes purueyaunce is vnderputte to re∣sonable creature in erth, is not euery thynge a thishalfe god made buxome to mannes cō∣templacyon, vnderstandynge in heuen and in erthe, and in helle? Hath not manne beynge with stones, soule of wexyng with trees and herbes? Hathe he not soule of felynge, wyth beestes, fyshes, and foules, and he hath soule of reason and vnderstandyng with aungels, so that in hym is knyt all maner of lyuynges by a reasonable proporcion. Also mā is made of all the foure elementes. All vniuersytee is rekened in him alone: he hath vnder god prin¦cypalite aboue al thynges. Now is his soule here, now a thousand myle hence, now ferre nowe nygh, nowe hye now lowe, as ferre in a momente, as in mountenaunce often wyn∣ter, and al thys is in mannes gouernaunce & dysposition. Then sheweth it, y^t men ben lych vnto goddes, and chyldren of moste heyghte. But now sythen al thynges vnderputte to y^e wyll of reasonable creatures, god forbede a∣ny man to wynne that lordshyp, & aske helpe of any thynge lower then hym selfe, & thē na¦mely of foule thynges innominable. Nowe thē why shuldest thou wene to loue to high? sythen nothynge is the aboue but god alone. Trewly I wote well, y^t thylke iewell is in a maner euē in lyne of degre there thou art thy selfe, & nought aboue, saue thus. Angel vpon angell, man vpon man, and deuell vpon de∣uell, han a maner of soueraygnitie, and that shall cease at the daye of dome: and so I saye, thoughe thou be putte to serue the ylke iewel durynge thy lyfe, yet is that no seruage of vnderputtynge, but a maner of trauaylynge pleasaunce, to conquere and gette that thou haste not. I sette nowe the hardest, in my seruyce nowe thou deidest for sorowe of wā∣tynge in thy desyres: trewlye all heauenlye bodyes wyth one voyce shul come & make me lody in thy comynge, and saye welcome oure fere, and worthy to entre into Iupyters ioye for thou wyth myght haste ouercome dethe,

thou woldest neuer flytte out of thy seruyce, and we all shul now pray to the goddes row by rowe to make thilk Margarite y^t no routh had in this persone, but vnkyndely wythout comforte let the deye, shall besette her selfe in suche wyse, that in erthe for parte of venge∣aunce, shal she no ioye haue in loues seruyce, and when she is deed, then shal her soule ben brought vp in to thy presence, and whyther thou wylte chese, thylke soule shall ben com∣mytted. Or els after thy dethe anone all the foresayd heuenly bodyes by one accorde, shall benōmen from thylke perle, all the vertues that fyrste her were taken, for she hathe hem forfeyted, by that on the my seruaunte in thy lyue she wolde not suffre to worche all ver∣tues, withdrawen by myght of the hygh bo∣dyes: why then shuldest thou wene so any more? And yf thy lyste to loke vpon the lawe of kynde, and wyth order whyche to me was ordayned, sothely none age, none ouertour∣nynge tyme, but hytherto had no tyme ne power to chaunge the weddinge, ne y^e knotte to vnbynde of two hertes thorow one assent in my presence, together accorden to enduren tyll dethe hem departe. What trowest thou euery ydeot w••tte the menyng and the priuy entente of these thynges? they wene forsothe that suche accorde may not be, but the rose of maydenhede be plucked, do waye, do waye, they knowe nothyng of thys: for consente of two hertes alone, maketh the fastenynge of the knotte, neyther law of kynde, ne mannes lawe, determyneth neyther the age ne y^e qua∣lyte of persones, but onely accorde betwene thylke twaye. And trewlye after tyme that suche accorde by theyr consent in hert, is en∣sealed & put in my treasory amonges my pri∣uy thynges: then gynneth the name of spon∣sayle, and althoughe they breaken forwarde both, yet suche mater ensealed is kept in remē¦braunce for euer. And se nowe that spouses haue the name anone after accorde, thoughe the rose be not take. The aungell badde Io∣seph take Marye hys spouse, and to Egypte wende: Lo she was cleped spouse, and yet to forne ne after neyther of hem bothe mente no fleshly luste knowe, wherfore the wordes of trouthe accorden, that my seruaūtes shulden forsake both father and mother, and be adhe∣rande to hys spouse, and they two in vnite of one fleshe shulden accorde. And thys wyse two that werne fyrste in a lytell maner dysa∣cordaunt, hygher that one and lower that o∣ther, bene made euenlyche in gree to stonde. But nowe to enfourme the that ye ben lyche to goddes, these clerkes sayne, and in deter∣mynacion shewen, that thre thinges hauen y^e names of goddes ben cleped, that is to saine: man, dyuell, and ymages, but yet is there but one god, of whom al goodnesse, all grace, and al vertue cometh, and he is louyng & trewe, and euerlastynge, & pryme cause of al beynge thynges: but men bene goddes, louynge and trewe, but not euerlastyng, and that is by ad∣opcion of the euerlastynge god. Dyuels ben goddes styrrynge by a maner of lyuynge, but neyther bene they trewe ne euerlastyng, and theyr name of godlyheed they han by vsurpa¦cion, as the prophete sayeth: Al goddes of gentyles, that is to saye paynims, are dyuels But ymages bene goddes by nuncupacion, and they ben neyther lyuynge ne trewe ne e∣uerlastynge: After these wordes they celapē goddes ymages wrought with mennes han¦des. But nowe reasonable creature, that by adopcion alone arte to the greate god euerla∣stynge, and therby thou arte god cleaped: let thy fathers maners so entre thy wyttes, that thou myght folowe, in as moche as longeth to the thy fathers worshyppe, so that in no∣thynge thy kynde from hys wyll declyne, ne from hys nobley peruerte. In thys wyse yf thou werche, thou arte aboue all other thyn¦ges saue god alone, and so say no more thyne herte to serue in to hye a place.

FUlly haue I nowe declared thyne estate to be good, so thou folowe therafter, & that the abiection fyrste be the ale¦ged in worthines of thy mar¦garite shal not the lette, as it shal forther y^e, & encrease the, it is nowe to de∣clare, y^e last abiection in nothyng may greue.

Yes certes ({quod} I) both greue and let muste it nedes, the contrary maye not ben proued, and se now why. Whyle I was glorious in worldly welfunesse, and had such goodes in welth as maken men ryche, tho was I dra••¦in to companyes that loos, pryse, and name yeuen: tho loutēden blasours, tho curreyden glosours, tho welcomedē flatterers, tho wor¦shypped thilke, that nowe deynen not to loke Euery wight in such erthly wele habaūdant

is hold noble, precious, benigne, and wyse to do what he shall, in any degre that men hym set, al be it that the sothe be in the contrary of all tho thynges: But he that can, ne neuer so well hym behaue, & hath vertue haboūdaunt in manyfolde maners, & be not welthed with suche erthly goodes, is holde for a foole, and sayd hys wyt is but sotted. Lo howe false for auer is holde trewe. Lo howe trewe is clea∣ped false for wantynge of goodes. Also lady, dygnities of offyce maken men mykel comen∣ded as thus: he is so good, were he oute hys pere shuld men not fynde. Truely I trowe of some suche that are so praysed, were they out ones, another shulde make hym so be knowe he shulde of no wyse no more ben loked after: but onely fooles well I wotte, desyren suche new thinges. Wherfore I wōder that thilke gouernoure, out of whome alone the causes proceden, that gouerne all thynges, whych that hath ordeyned thys world in werkes of the kyndely bodyes so be gouerned, not with vnstedfast or happyous thynge, but with ru∣les of reason, whych shewen the course of cer¦tayne thynges: why suffreth he such slydyng chaunges, that mysturnen suche noble thyn∣ges as ben we men, that arne a fayre parsell of the erthe, and holdē the vpperest degre vn∣der god of benigne thinges, as ye saide right nowe your selfe, shulde neuer man haue bene set in so worthy a place, but if his degre were ordeyned noble. Alas, thou that knyttest the purueyaunce of al thynges, why lokest thou not to amenden these defautes: I se shrewes that han wicked maners, sytten in chayres of do nes, lambes to punyshen, there wolues shulden be punyshed. Lo vertue shynende naturallly, for pouertie lurketh and is hydde vnder cloude▪ but the moone false forsworne, as I knowe my selfe, for aue•• & yeftes hath vsurped to shyne by daye lyght, w^t peynture of other mens praysynges: and truely thylke forged lyʒt fouly shuld fade, were the trouth away of colours fayned. Thus is night tur∣ned into daye, and daye in to nyght, wynter into sommer, & sommer into wynter, not in dede, but in mysclepyng of folyshe people.

Now (quod she) what wenest thou of these thynges? howe felest thou in thyne herte, by what gouernaunce y^t thys cometh aboute?

Certes ({quod} I) that wotte I neuer, but yf it be that fortune hath graunt from aboue, to lede the ende of men as her lyketh. Ah nowe I se (quod she) thentent of thy meanyng: Lo bycause thy worldly goodes ben fullych dys∣pente, thou berafte out of dygnite of offyce, in whych thou madest the gatheryng of thylke goodes, and yet dyddest in that office by coū∣sayle of wyse, any thynge were ended: & true were vnto hem, whose profyte thou shuldest loke, and seest nowe many that in thylke her∣uest made of the mokel, and now for glosing of other, deineth the nought to forther, but en¦haunsen false shrewes, by wytnessynge of trouthe. These thynges greueth thyne herte to sene thy selfe thus abated, & then fraylte of mankynde ne setteth but lytel by the lesers of suche rychesse, haue he neuer so moche vertue and so thou wenest of thy iewell to renne in dyspyte, and not ben accepted into grace: All thys shal the nothyng hynder. Nowe ({quod} she) fyrst thou wost wel thou lostest nothing that euer thou myghtest chalēge for thyne owne: when nature brought the forthe, come thou not naked out of thy mothers wombe? thou haddest no rychesse, and when thou shalt en∣tre into the ende of euery fleshly body, what shalt thou haue wyth the then? So euery ry∣chesse thou haste in tyme of thy lyuynge, nys but lente, thou myght therin chalenge no pro¦pertie. And se now euery thyng that is a mā∣nes owne, he may do therwyth what hym ly¦keth, to yeue or to kepe: but ryches thou play¦nest from the lost, yf thy myght had stretched so ferforth, fayne thou woldst haue hem kept multiplied with mo other: and so ayenst thy wyl ben they departed frō the, wherfore they were neuer thyn. And if thou laudest & ioyest any wyght, for he is stuffed with such maner rychesse, y^u arte in y^t beleue begyled, for thou wenest thylke ioy to be selynesse or els ease, & he that hath loste suche happes to ben vnsely Yea forsoth ({quod} I). Wel ({quod} she) then woll I proue that vnsely in that wyse is to prayse, & so y^e tother is y^e cōtrary to be lacked. Howe so ({quod} I)? For vnsely ({quod} she) begyleth not, but sheweth thentent of her workyng. Et ecōtra Selynesse begyleth, for in prosperite she ma∣keth a iape in blyndnesse, that is she wyndeth hym to make sorowe when she withdraweth wolt thou not ({quod} she) prayse hym better that sheweth to y^u hys herte, tho it be with bytāde wordes & dispytous, thē him y^e gloseth & thin¦keth in theyr absence to do the many harmes

Certes ({quod} I) the one is to cōmende, & the o∣ther to lacke & dyspyce. A ha ({quod} she) ryght so ease whyle he lasteth, gloseth & flatereth, and lyghtly voydeth whē she moste plesaūtly she∣weth, & euer in her absence she is about to do the tene & sorowe in herte: but vnsely all be it wyth bytande chere, sheweth what she is, & so doth not that other, wherfore vnsely dothe not begyle. Selynesse dysceyueth: vnsely put awaye doute. That one maketh men blynde, that other openeth theyr eyen in shewyng of wretchednesse. The one is ful of drede to lese that is not his owne: that other is sobre and maketh men dyscharged of mokell heuynesse in burthen. The one draweth a man from ve¦ry good, y^e other haleth hym to vertue by the hookes of thoughtes. And wenyst thou not that thy dysease hath done the mokel more to wynne, then euer yet thou lostest? and more then euer the contrary made the wynne. Is not a greate good to thy thynkynge, for to knowe the hertes of thy sothfast frēdes▪ Par¦dy they ben proued to y^e ful, & the trewe haue dysceuered from the false. Trewly at the go∣ynge of the ylke brotel ioy, ther yede no more awaye, then the ylke that was not thyne pro¦per: He was neuer from that lyghtly depar∣ted, thyne owne good therfore leaueth it styl wyth the. Nowe good (quod she) for howe moche woldest thou somtyme haue boughte thys very knowyng of thy frendes, from the flatterynge flyes that the glosed, when thou thought thy self sely? But thou that playnest of losse in rychesse, hast founden the most dere worthy thynge that thou clepest vnsely, hath made the moche thynge to wynnen. And also for conclusion of all, he is frende that nowe leaueth not hys herte frō thyne helpes. And yf that Margarite denyeth nowe not to suf∣fre her vertues shyne to the wardes, wyth spreadynge beames, as farre or farther then yf thou were sely in worldly ioye: trewely I saye not els but she is somdele to blame.

Ah, peace (quod I) and speake nomore of thys, myne hert breaketh, now thou touchest any suche wordes. A well (quod she) then let vs syngen, thou hearest no more of these thyn¦ges at thys tyme.

¶Thus endeth the fyrste boke of the Testa∣ment of Loue, and here after folo∣weth the seconde.

VEry welthe maye not be founden in al thys world and that is well sene:

Lo howe in my moost comforte, as I wende & moste supposed to haue hadde ful answere of my contrary thoughtes, sodaynly it was vanys∣shed. And all the workes of man faren in the same wyse, when folke wenen beste her en∣tente for to haue, and wylles to perfourme, anone chaungynge of the lyft syde to y^e ryght halue, tourneth it so clene into another kynde that neuer shall it come to the fyrste plyte in doynge.

O thys wrongful sterynge so soone other wysed out of knowynge, but for my purpose was at my begynnynge, and so dureth yet, yf God of hys grace tyme woll me graunt, I thynke to perfourme thys worke, as I haue begonne in loue, after as my thynne wytte, with inspiracion of him that hildeth al grace woll suffre. Greuously god wotte haue I suf¦fred a great throwe that the romayne Empe¦rour, whyche in vnite of loue shulde accorde and euery wyth other, in cause of other to a∣uaunce, and namely sythe thys empyre to be corrected of so many sectes in heresie, of faith, of seruyce, o rule in loues religion. Trewlye al were it but to shende errontous opinions, I maye it no lenger suffre: for many menne there ben that sayne loue to ben in grauel and sande, that wyth see ebbynge and flowynge woweth, as ryches that sodaynly vanysheth And some sayne that loue shuld be in wyndy blastes, that stoundmele turneth as a phane, and glorye of renome, whyche after lustes of the varyaunt people is areysed or stylled. Many also wenen that in the sonne and the moone, and other sterres, loue shulde ben foū¦den, for amonge all other planettes moste so∣ueraynly they shynen, as dygnityes in reue∣rence of estates rather then good han and oc∣cupyen. Ful many also there ben that in okes and in huge postes supposen loue to be groū∣ded, as in strength & in might, which mowen not helpen theyr owne wretchednesse, when they gynne to fall. But suche dyuersyte of sec∣tes ayenst the ryghtfull byleue of loue, these errours ben forth spredde, that loues seruaū∣tes in trewe rule and stedfaste faythe, in no place darne apere: Thus irrecuperable ioy is

went, and anoy endlesse is entred, for no man aryght reproueth suche errours, but confyr∣men theyr wordes, and sayne that bad is no∣ble good, and goodnes is badde: to whyche folke the prophet byddeth, wo without ende.

Also many tonges of great false techinges in gylynge maner, principally in my tymes, not only wyth wordes, but also wyth armes loues seruauntes and professe in hys religyō of trewe rule, pursewen to confoūden and to dystroyen. And for as moche as holy fathers that oure christen faythe aproued and streng∣thed to the iewes, as to mē resonable, and of dyuinite lerned, proued thilke fayth with re∣sones, and wyth authorities of the olde testa∣ment & of the newe, her pertinacye to distroy But to paynyms, that for beestes and houn∣des were holde, to put hem out of theyr er∣rour, was myracles of god shewed. These thynges were fygured by comynge of thāgel to the shepeherdes, and by the sterre to pay∣nyms kynges, as who sayeth: angel reasona∣ble to resonable creature, and sterre of myra∣cle to people bestial not lerned, werne sent to enforme. But I louers clerke in all my con∣nyng and with al my mightes, truly I haue no such grace in vertue of myracles, ne for to dyscomfyte falsheedes, suffyseth not authori∣tes alone, sythen that suche heretykes and mayntenours of falsytes. Wherfore I wote wel sythen that they ben men, and reason is approued in hem, the clowde of erroure hath her reason bewonde probable resons, whych that catchende wyt rightfully may not with sytte. By my trauaylynge studye I haue or∣deyned hem, wyth y^e authorite mysglosed by mannes reason, to graunt shall be enduced.

Now gynneth my penne to quake, to thyn¦ken on the sentences of the enuyous people, whych alwaye ben redy, both ryder and goer to skorne and to iape thys leude boke, and me for rancoure & hate in theyr hertes they shul∣len so dyspyse, that althoughe my booke be leude, yet shall it ben more leude holden, and by wycked wordes in many maner apayred. Certes me thynketh the sowne of theyr bad speche, ryght nowe is full both myne eares. O good precious Margarite, myne herte shulde wepe yf, I wyste ye token hede of suche maner speche, but trewly I wotte wel in that your wysedom shal not asterte. For of god maker of kynde wytnesse I toke, that for none enuy ne yuell haue I drawe thys mat∣ter together, but onely for goodnesse to main∣tayne, and errours in falsytees to destroye. Wherfore (as I sayde) wyth reason I thyn∣ke, thylke forsayd errours to distroye and de∣quace.

These reasons and suche other, yf they en∣duce men in loues seruyce, trewe to beleue of parfyte blysse, yet to full fayth in credence of deserte, fully mowe they not suffise, sythen faythe hath no meryte of mede, when man∣nes reason sheweth experience in doynge. For vtterlye no reason the parfyte blysse of loue by no waye may make to be comprehen¦ded. Lo what is a parcell of louers ioye, par¦fyte scyence in good seruyce, of theyr desyre to comprehende in bodely doynge the lykyng of the soule, not as by a glasse to haue con∣templacyon of tyme comynge, but thylke fyrste ymagyned and thought, after face to face in beholdynge: what herte, what rea∣son, what vnderstandynge can make hys he∣uen to be feled and knowe wythout assaye in doynge? certes none. Sythen then of loue cometh suche fruyte in blysse, and loue in him selfe is the moste amonge other vertues, as clerkes sayne: The sede of suche spryngynge in all places, in all countreys, in al worldes shulde ben sowe.

But o welawaye thylke sede is forsake, & mowen not ben suffred the lāde tyllers to see a werke, wythout medlynge of cockle, badde wedes whych somtyme stonken, hath caught the name of loue amonge ydiotes and badde meanynge people. Neuer the later, yet how so it be that men cleape thylke kynge precy∣ousest in kynde, wyth many eke names, that other thynges, that the foule yeuen the ylke noble name, it sheweth well that in a maner men haue a great lykynge in worshyppynge of thilke name, wherfore thys worke haue I wryt, and to the tytled of loues name, I haue it auowed in a maner of sacrifice, that where euer it be radde, it mowe in merite by the ex∣cellence of thylke name the more wexe in au∣thorite and worshyppe of takynge in hede, and to what entente it was ordayned, the in∣feeres mowen be moued: Euery thynge to whome is owande occasyon done as for hys ende Aristotle supposeth that the actes of eue¦ry thynge ben in a maner hys fynall cause.

A fynal cause is noblerer or els euen as no∣ble as thylke thynge that is fynally to thilke ende, wherfore accion of thyng euerlastyng, is demed to be eternal, and not temporal, sy∣then it is his fynal cause: Ryght so the actes of my boke loue, and loue is noble, wherfore though my boke be leude, the cause w^t which I am stered, and for whom I ought it done, noble forsothe ben bothe. But bycause that in connynge I am yonge, and canne yet but crepe, this leude A, b, c, haue I sette in to ler∣nyng, for I can not passen the tellyng of thre as yet: and yf god wyl in shorte tyme I shall amende this leudnesse in ioynyng syllables, whyche thyng for dulnesse of wytte I maye not in thre letters declare. For trewly I saye the goodnesse of my Margaryte perle wolde yeue mater in endityng to many clerkes: cer∣tes her mercy is more to me swetter than any lyuynges, wherfore my lyppes mowen not suffyse in spekyng of her full laude and wor∣shyppe as they shulde. But who is that in knowynge of the orders of heuen, & putteth his resones in the erthe? I for sothe may not w^t blere eyen, the shynyng sonne of vertue in bright whele of this Margaryte behold, ther¦fore as yet I maye her nor discryue in vertue as I wolde. In tyme comyng in another tre¦tyse thorowe goddes grace, this sonne in cle∣renesse of vertue to be knowe, and howe she enlumyneth al this day, I thynke to declare.

IN this meane whyle this cōfor¦table lady ganne syng, a wōder mater of endityng in latyn, but trewly the noble colours in re∣thorykwyse knytte were so craf¦tely, y^t my connyng wol not stretche to remē∣bre, but the sentence I trow somdele haue I in mynde. Certes they were wōder swete of sowne, and they were touched al in lamenta∣cyon wyse, and by no werbles of myrthe: Lo thus ganne she synge in latyn, as I may cō∣strewe it in our englyshe tonge.

Alas that these heuenly bodyes their light and course shewen, as nature yaue hem in cō∣maundement at the gynnyng of the first age, but these thynges in free choyce of reson han none vnderstondynge: but man that ought to passe all thynge of doynge, of ryght course in kynde, ouer whelmed sothnesse by wrong∣full tytle, and hath drawē the sterre of enuye to gon by his syde, that the clyps of me that shulde be his shynande sonne, so ofte is seyl, that it wened thilke errour thorowe hē come in, shulde ben myne owne defaute. Trewely therfore I haue me withdrawe, & made my dwellynge out of lande in an yle by my selfe, in the occian closed, and yet sayn there many they haue me harberowed but god wote they faylen. These thynges me greuen to thynke, and namely on passed gladnesse, that in thys worlde was wonte me dysporte of hygh and lowe, and nowe it is fayled: they that woldē maystries me haue in thylke stoundes. In heuen on hyghe aboue Saturnes sphere, in seasonable tyme were they lodged, but nowe come queynte consaylours that in no house woll suffre me soiourne, wherof is pyte: and yet sayne some that they me haue in celler wyth wyne shede, in gernere there corne is layde, couered wyth whete, in sacke sowed with wolle, in purse with money fast knytte, amonge pannes mouled in a wyche, in presse amonge clothes layde wyth ryche pelure a∣rayed, in stable among horse & other beestes, as hogges, shepe, and nete, and in other ma∣nye wyse. But thou maker of lyght (in wyn∣kynge of thyne eye the sonne is queynt) wost ryght well that I in trewe name was neuer thus herberowed. Somtyme to forne the sonne in the seuenth partye was smyten, I bare bothe crosse and mytre, to yeue it where I wolde. With me the pope went a fote, and I tho was worshypped of all holye churche Kynges baden me their crownes holdē. The lawe was set as it shulde: tofore the iuge as well the poore durste shewe hys grefe as the ryche, for all hys money. I defended tho tay∣lages, and was redy for the poore to pay. I made gret feestes in my tyme, & noble sōges & maryed damoselles of gētyl feture, withou¦ten golde or other rychesse. Poore clerkes for wytte of schole, I sette in churches, and made such persones to preache: and tho was seruyce in holy churche honest and deuoute, in pleasaunce bothe of god and of the people. But nowe the leude for symonye is auaun∣ced, and shendeth all holy churche. Nowe is stewarde for his achates, nowe is courtyour for hys debates, nowe is eschetoure for hys wronges, nowe is losell for hys songes, per∣soner and prouendre alone, wyth whych ma∣nye thriftye shulde encrease. And yet is thys

shrewe behynde, free herte is forsake, and lo∣sengeour is take. Lo it accordeth, for suche there ben that voluntarye lustes haunten in courte with rybaudye, that tyl midnight and more woll playe and wake, but in the chur∣che at matyns he is behynde, for yuell dispo∣sycion of hys stomake: therfore he shulde eate beane breed, & so dyd hys syre, his estate ther∣with to strenghthen. Hys auter is broke, and lowe lythe in poynte to gone to the erth, but hys horse muste ben easy and hye to beare hym ouer great waters. Hys chalyce poore, but he hath ryche cuppes. No towayle but a shete there god shal ben handled. And on his meate borde there shal ben borde clothes and towelles many payre. At masse serued but a clergyon: fyue squiers in hall. Poore chaun∣sell, open holes in euery syde: beddes of sylke wyth tapytes goyng all aboute his chambre. Poore masse boke and leude chapelayne, and broken surplyce wyth manye an hole: good houndes and many, to hounte after harte & hare, to fede in theyr feestes. Of poore men haue they great care, for they euer craue, and nothynge offren, they wolden haue hem dol∣uen. But amonge legystres there dare I not come, my doynge they sayne maken hem ne∣dy, they ne wolde for nothynge haue me in towne, for than were tort and forthe nought worthe an hawe aboute and pleasen no men but thylke greuous & torcious ben in myght and in doynge: these thynges to forne sayde mowe well yf men lyste ryme, trewly they a∣corde nothynge. And for as moche as al thyn¦ges by me shulden of ryght ben gouerned, I am sorye to se that gouernaunce fayleth, as thus: to sene smale and lowe gouerne the hye and bodyes aboue. Certes that polesye is naught, it is forbode by them that of gouer∣naunce treaten and enformen. And right as beestly wytte shulde ben subiect to reason, so erthly power in it selfe, the lower shulde ben subiect to the hygher. What is worth thy bo¦dye, but it be gouerned wyth thy soule? ryght so lytell or naught is worthe erthely power, but if reignatyfe prudence in heedes gouerne the smale, to whyche heedes the smale owen to obey, and suffre in their gouernaunce. But soueraynnesse ayenwarde shulde thynke in thys wyse: I am seruaunt of these creatures to me delyuered, not lorde but defendour, not mayster but enfourmer, not possessoure but in possessyon, & to hem lyche a tree in whiche sparowes shullen stelen, her byrdes to no∣ryshe and forthe brynge vnder suretye ayenst all raueynous foules and beestes, and not to be tyraunt them selfe. And than the smale in reste and quyete, by the heedes well disposed owen for their soueraynes helth and prospe∣ryte to pray, and in other doynges, in mayn∣tenaunce therof performe, wythouten other admynistracion in rule of any maner gouer∣naūce. And they wyt haue in hem, and grace to come to such thinges, yet shulde they cease tyll theyr heedes them cleped, although pro∣fyte and pleasaunce shulde folowe. But trew¦lye other gouernaunce ne other medlynge ought they not to clayme, ne the heedes on hem to put. Trewly amonges cosynage dare I not come, but yf rychesse be my meane, soth¦ly she and other bodily goodes maketh nygh cosynage, ther neuer propynquite ne alyaūce in lyue was, ne shulde haue be, nere it for her medling maners, wherfore kyndly am I not ther leged. Pouert of kynred is behynde, ry∣chesse suffreth hym to passe: truly he saith he come neuer of Iaphetes chyldre. Wherof I am sory that Iaphetes chyldren for pouert, in no linage ben rekened, & Caynes chyldren for ryches be maked Iaphetes heires. Alas thys is a wonder chaunge bytwene tho two Noes chyldren, sythen that of Iaphetes of∣spryng comeden knightes, & of Cayn discen∣ded y^e lyne of seruage to his brothers chyldre Lo howe gentyllesse and seruage as cosyns, bothe discended out of two bretherne of one body: wherfore I saye in sothnesse, that gen∣tylesse in kynrede maken not gentyll lynage in succession, without deserte of a mans own selfe. Where is nowe the lyne of Alysanndre the noble, or els of Hector of Troye? who is discended of ryght bloode of lyne fro king Ar¦tour? Parde syr Perdicas, whom that kyng Alisandre made to bē his heire in Grece, was of no kynges bloode, hys dame was a tomby¦stere. Of what kynred ben the gētyles in our dayes: I trow therfore if any good be in gen∣tylesse, it is only that it semeth a maner of ne¦cessyte be input to gentylmen, that they shul∣den not varyen fro the vertues of their aun∣cestres. Certes al maner lynage of men ben euen liche in byrth, for one father maker of al goodnes enformed hem all, & al mortal folke of one sede arne greyned, wherto auaūt men

of her lynage, in cosynage or in elde fathers. Loke nowe the gynnyng, and to god maker of mans person, there is no clerke ne no wor∣thy in gentylesse: and he that norysheth hys corare wyth vyces and vnresonable lustes, and leaueth the kynde course, to whych ende hym brought forthe hys byrthe, trewly he is vngentyll, and amonge clerkes may ben nēp∣ned. And therfore he that woll ben gentyl, he mote daūten hys fleshe fro vyces that causen vngentylnesse, and leaue also reignes of wic∣ked lustes, and drawe to hym vertue, that in all places gentylnesse gentylmen maketh. And so speke I in feminyne gendre in gene∣rall, of tho persones at the reuerence of one, whom euery wyght honoureth, for her boū∣tie and her noblesse ymade her to god so dere that hys moder she became, and she me hath had so great in worshyp, that I nyll for no∣thynge in open declare, that in any thynge ayenst her secte maye so wene: for all vertue and al worthynesse of pleasaunce in hem ha∣boundeth. And although I wold any thyng speke, trewly I can not, I may fynde in yuel of hem no maner mater.

RIght wyth these wordes she stynte of that lamentable me∣lodye, and I ganne wyth a lyuely herte to praye, yf that it were lykynge vnto her no∣ble grace, she wold her deyne to declare me the mater that fyrste was be∣gonne, in whiche she lefte and stynte to speke beforne she gan to synge.

O ({quod} she) thys is no newe thyng to me, to sene you menne desyren after mater, whyche your selfe caused to voyde.

Ah good lady ({quod} I) in whom victorie of strength is proued aboue al other thynge, af∣ter the iugement of Esoram, whose lordshyp all lignes: who is that right as emperour hē cōmaundeth, whether thilke ben not womē, in whose lykenesse to me ye aperen. For right as man halte the principalte of all thyng vn∣der his beynge, in the masculyne gender, and no mo genders ben there but masculyne and femenyne, all the remenaunt ben no gendres but of grace, in facultie of grammer. Ryght so in the femenyne, the women holden the vp¦perest degree of all thynges vnder thilke gen¦dre conteyned. Who bryngeth forth kynges, whyche that ben lordes of see and of earthe? and al peoples of womē ben borne: they no∣rysshe hem that graffen vynes, they maken men comforte in their gladde cheres. Her so∣rowe is dethe to mannes herte. without wo∣men the beyng of mē were impossible. They conne with their swetnesse the crewel herte rauyshe and make it meke, buxome, and be∣nigne, wythout violence meuynge. In beau∣tie of theyr eyen, or els of other maner fetu∣res is all mēs desyres, yea more thā in golde precious stones, eyther any rychesse. And in thys degree lady your selfe manye hertes of men haue so bounden, that parfyte blysse in womankynde to ben, men wenen, and in no∣thynge els. Also lady the goodnesse, the ver∣tue of women, by properte of discrecyon, is so well knowen, by lytelnesse of malyce, that desyre to a good asker by no waye conne they warne: and ye thanne that woll not passe the kynde werchynge of your sectes by generall discrecyon, I wotte wel ye wol so enclyne to my prayere, that grace of my requeste shall fully ben graunted. Certes ({quod} she) thus for the more parte fareth al mankynde to praye, and to crye after womans grace, and fayne manye fantasyes to make hertes enclyne to your desyres: and whan these sely womē for freelte of theyr kynde beleuen your wordes, and wenen al be gospell the promyse of your behestes, than graunt they to you their her∣tes, and fulfyllen your lustes, wherthrough theyr lyberte in maystreship that they toforn had is thralled, and so maked souerayn and to be prayed, that fyrste was seruaunte, and voyce of prayer vsed. Anone as fylled is your luste, manye of you be so trewe, that lytell hede take ye of suche kyndenesse, but wyth traysoun anon ye thynke hem begyle, and let lyght of that thynge whyche fyrste ye maked to you wonders dere, so what thyng to wo∣men it is to loue any wight er she hym well knowe, & haue him proued in many halfe, for euery glyttryng thynge is nat golde, & vnder colour of fayre speche many vices may be hid and conseled. Therfore I rede no wyght to trust on you to rath, mens chere & her speche right gylefull is full ofte, wherfore without good assay, it is nat worthe on many on you to truste: Trewly it is right kyndely to euery man that thynketh women betraye, & shewē outward al goodnesse, til he haue his wil per¦formed.

Lo the byrde is begyled with the me¦ry voice of the foulers whistel. Whan a wo∣man is closed in your nette, than wol ye cau∣ses fynden, and beare vnkyndenesse her vn∣hande or falsete vpon her putte, youre owne malycious trayson wyth suche thynge to ex∣cuse. Lo than han women none other wrech in vengeaunce, but bloder and wepe tyl hem lyst stynte, and sorily her mishap complayne, and is put in to wenynge that all men ben so vntrewe. Howe often haue men chaunged her loues in a lytell whyle, or els for faylyng theyr wyll in theyr places hem sette: for fren∣shyp shal be one, and fame with another him lyste for to haue, and a thirde for delyte, or els were he loste bothe in packe and in clothes: Is this fayre? nay god wot, I maye nat tell by thousande partes, the wronges in treche∣ry of suche false people, for make they neuer so good a bonde, all sette ye at a myte whan your hert tourneth: And they that wenen for sorow of you dey, the pyte of your false herte is slowe out of towne. Alas therfore, y^t euer anye woman wolde take anye wyght in her grace, tyll she knowe at the full on whome she myght at all assayes trust. Women cone no more crafte in queynte knowynge, to vn∣derstande the false disceyuable coniectemen∣tes of mannes begilynges. Lo howe it fa∣reth, though ye men gronen and cryen, certes it is but disceyt, & that preueth well by then∣des in your werkynge. Howe many women haue ben lorne, and wyth shame foule shent by long lastyng tyme, which thorowe mēnes gyle haue ben disceyued? euer their fame shal dure, and theyr dedes radde and songe in ma¦ny londes, that they han done recoueren shal they neuer, but alwaye ben demed lightly, in suche plyte ayen shulde they fall, of whyche slaunders and tenes ye false men and wicked ben the verey causes, on you by ryght ought these shames and these reproues all holy dis∣cende. Thus arne ye all nyghe vntrewe, for all youre fayre speche youre herte is full fyc∣kell. What cause han ye women to dispyse? better fruyte than they ben, ne swetter spy∣ces to youre behoue mowe ye not fynde, as farre as worldely bodyes stretchen. Loke to theyr formynge at the makynge of theyr per∣sones by god in ioye of paradyce, for good∣nesse of mans propre bodye were they ma∣ked, after the sawes of the Byble, rehersynge goddes wordes in thys wyse: It is good to mankynde that we make to hym an helper. Lo in paradyse for your helpe was this tree graffed, out of whyche all lynage of man dis∣cendeth: yf a man be noble frute, of noble frute it is sprongen: the blysse of paradyse to mennes sory hertes, yet in thys tree abydeth. O noble helpes ben these trees, and gentyll iewell to ben worshypped of euery good crea¦ture: He that hem anoyeth dothe hys owne shame, it is a comfortable perle ayenst all te∣nes. Euerye companye is myrthed by theyr present beyng. Trewely I wyste neuer ver∣tue, but a womā were therof the rote. What is heauen the worse though sarazins on it lyen? Is your faythe vntrewe though renno¦gates maken theron leasynges. If the fyre dothe anye wyght brenne, blame hys owne wytte that put him selfe so farre in the heate. Is not fyre gentyllest and moste element, comfortable amonges all other▪ fyre is chefe werker in fortherynge sustenaunce to man∣kynde: shall fyre ben blamed for it brende a foole naturelly, by hys owne stulty wytte in sterynge? Ah wycked folkes, for youre pro∣pre malyce, and shreudnesse of your selfe: ye blame & dispyse the precioust thyng of youre kynde, and whyche thynges amonge other moste ye desyren. Trewely Nero and hys chyldren ben shrewes, that dispysen so theyr d••••••es. The wyckednesse and gylyng of me, in disclaundryng of thylke that moste hathe hem gladed and pleased, were impossyble to write or to nempne. Neuer y^e later yet I say he that knoweth a way, may it lightly passe: eke an herbe proued may safely to smertande sores ben layde: So I say, in him that is pro¦ued is nothyng such yuels to gesse. But these thynges haue I rehersed to warne you wo∣men al at ones that to lyghtly without good assaye ye assenten not to mannes speche. The sonne in the day light is to knowen from the moone that shyneth in the nyght. Nowe to the thy self (quod she) as I haue ofte sayd, I knowe wel thyne herte thou arte none of al the tofore nempned people, for I knowe wel the contynaunce of thy seruyce, that neuer sythen I set the a werke, myght thy Marga∣ryte for plesaunce, frendshyp, ne fayrehede of none other, be in poynte moued frome thyne herte, wherfore in to myne housholde hastely I wol that thou entre, and all y^e parfyte pri∣uyte

of my werkynge make it be knowe in thy vnderstondynge, as one of my pryuy fa∣myliers. Thou desyrest ({quod} she) fayne to here of tho thynges there I lefte. Yea forsothe ({quod} I) that were to me a great blysse. Nowe ({quod} she) for thou shalt not wene that womans condycyons for fayre speche suche thynge be∣longeth.

THou shalt ({quod} she) vnderstond fyrste amonge al other thyn∣ges, that all the cure of my seruyce to me in the parfyte blysse in doynge is desyred in euery mannes herte, be he ne¦uer so moche a wretche, but euerye man tra∣uayleth by dyuers studye, and seke thylke blysse by dyuers wayes, but al the endes are knyt in selynesse of desyre in the perfyte blisse that is suche ioye, whan men it haue gotten, there lyueth nothynge more to ben coueyted: But howe that desyre of suche perfectyon in my seruyce be kyndely sette in louers hertes, yet her erronyous opinyons mysturne it by falsenesse of wenyng. And although mennes vnderstandynge be mysturned, to knowe whyche shulde ben the way vnto my person, and whyther it abydeth: yet wote they there is a loue in euery wyght, weneth by y^t thyng that he coueyted moste, he shulde come to thylke loue, and that is parfyte blysse of my seruauntes, but than fulle blysse may not be, and there lacke anye thynge of that blysse in anye syde. Eke it foloweth than, that he that must haue full blysse, lacke no blysse in loue on no syde.

Therfore ladye ({quod} I) tho thylke blysse I haue desyred, and sothe toforne this my selfe by wayes of riches, of dignite, of power, and of renome, wenynge me in tho thrages had ben thylke blysse, but ayenst the heere it tur∣neth. Whan I supposed beste thylke blysse haue get and come to the ful purpose of your seruyce, sodaynly was I hyndred, and thro∣wen so fer abacke, that me thynketh an im∣possyble to come there I lefte. I woll well ({quod} she) & therfore hast thou fayled, for thou wentest not by the hye way: a lytel misgoyng in the gynnynge causeth mykyll erroure in the ende, wherfore of thylke blysse thou fay∣ledest for hauynge of rychesse, ne none of the other thynges thou nempnedest, mowen nat make suche parfyte blysse in loue as I shall shew. Therfore they be nat worthy to thylke blysse, and yet somwhat muste ben cause and waye to thylke blysse: Ergo there is some suche thyng and some way, but it is lytell in vsage and that is nat openlye yknowe. But what felest in thyne herte of the seruyce, in whyche by me thou art entred: wenest aught thy selfe yet be in the hye waye to my blysse? I shall so shewe it to the, thou shalte nat con¦saye the contrary.

Good lady ({quod} I) altho I suppose it in my herte, yet wolde I here thyne wordes, howe ye meanen in this mater. (Quod she) that I shall wyth my good wyl. Thylke blysse desy∣red, some deale ye knowē, altho it be nat par∣fytly, for kyndely entention ledeth you ther∣to, but in thre maner lyuenges is all suche ways shewed. Euery wight in this world to haue thys blysse one of thylke thre wayes of lyues muste procede, whyche after opynions of great clerkes arn by names cleaped, besti∣allich, resonablich, is vertuous: manliche is worldelich, bestialliche is lustes & delytable nothynge restrayned by brydell of reason, all that ioyeth and yeueth gladnesse to the hert, and it be ayenst reason, is lykened to bestyall lyueng, whyche thynge foloweth lustes and delytes, wherfore in suche thynge maye nat that precious blysse that is mayster of al ver∣tues abyde. Youre fathers to forne you haue cleaped suche lusty lyuenges after the flesshe passyons of desyre, whyche are innominable to fore god and man bothe. Than after deter∣mination of suche wyse, we accorden that suche passyons of desyre shull nat be nemp∣ned, but holden for absolute frome all other lyuenges and prouynges, and so lyueth in to lyuenges, manlyche and resonable to declare the maters begonne. But to make the fullye haue vnderstandynge in manlich lyuenges, whiche is holden worldlich in these thynges so that ignoraunce be made no letter. I woll ({quod} she) nēpne these forsayd wayes be names and cōclusions. First riches, dignyte, renome and power, shull in thys worke be cleped bo∣dily goodes, for in hē hath ben a gret throwe mānes trust of selynesse in loue, as in riches, suffysance to haue mayntayned that was be∣gon, by worldly catel in dignite, honour, & re¦uerēce of hem that werne vnderput by mai∣stry therby to obey. In renome glorie of peo∣ples

praysyng, after lustes in their hert, with out hede takyng to qualite & maner of doing, and in power, by trouth of lordshyps mayn∣tenaunce, thynk to procede forth in doynge. In all whyche thynges a longe tyme mans coueytise in commune hath ben greatly groū¦ded, to come to the blysse of my seruyce, but trewely they were begyled, and for the prin∣cypall muste nedes fayle and in helpynge mowe nat auaile. Se why for holdest hym not poore that is nedy? Yes parde ({quod} I) And hym for dishonored that moche folke deyne nat to reuerence. That is soth ({quod} I) & what hym that his mightes faylen and mowe nat helpen? Certes ({quod} I) me semeth of al men he shuld be holden a wretch. And wenest nat ({quod} she) that he that is lytell in renome, but ra∣ther is out of the praysynges of mo men thā a fewe be nat in shame? For soth ({quod} I) it is shame and villany to hym that coueyteth re∣nome, that more folke nat praise in name thā preyse. Sothe ({quod} she) thou sayst soth, but all these thynges are folowed of suche maner doynge, & wenden in ryches suffysaunce, in power might, in dignyte worshyp, and in re∣nome glorie, wherfore they discēded in to dis∣ceyuable wening, & in that seruice disceyte is folowed. And thus in general, thou & al such other that so worchē faylen of my blysse that ye longe han desyred, wherfore truly in lyfe of reason is the hye way to thys blysse, as I thynke more openly to declare herafter. Ne∣uer the later, yet in a lytell to comforte thy herte, in shewyng of what way thou arte en∣tred thy selfe, and that thy Margaryte maye know the set in the hye way, I wol enforme the in this wise. Thou hast fayled of thy first purpose, bycause thou wentest wronge and leftest the hye way and on thy ryght syde, as thus, thou lokedest on worldly lyueng & that thyng y^e begyled, & lightly therfore as a lytel assay thou songedest, but whan I turned thy purpose, & shewed the parte of the hye waye tho thou abode therin, and no dethe ne ferd∣nesse of none enemy miʒt y^e out of thilke way reue, but euer one in thyn hert, to come to the ylke blysse whan thou were arested and fyrst tyme enprisoned, y^u were loth to chaunge thy way, for in thy hert thou wendest to haue bē there thou shuldest, & for I had routh to sene the miscaried, & wyst wel thyne ablenesse my seruyce to forther & encrease, I come my selfe wythout other mean to visyt thy person, in comforte of thy hert: and perdy in my cōming thou were greatly gladed, after whiche tyme no disease, no care, no tene, myght moue me out of thy herte. And yet am I gladde and greatly enpited, howe continually thou had∣dest me in mynde, wyth good auysement of thy conscience, whan thy Kyng and his prin∣ces by huge wordes and gret, loked after va∣riaunce in thy speche, and euer thou were re∣dye for my sake in plesaunce of that Marga∣rite peerle, and many mo other, thy bodye to oblyge in to Marces doynge, yf anye contra∣ryed thy sawes, stedfast way maketh stedfast herte wyth good hope in the ende. Trewely I woll that thou it well knowe, for I se the so set and not chaungyng hert haddest in my seruyce, and I made thou haddest grace of thy kynge in foryeuenesse of mykell misdede: to that gracious kyng arte thou mykell hol∣den, of whose grace and goodnesse somtyme herafter I thynke the enforme, whā I shew the grounde where as morall vertue gro∣weth. Who brouʒt y^e to werke? who brouʒt thys grace aboute? who made thy herte har∣dy? Trewly it was I, for haddest thou of me fayled, than of this purpose had neuer taken in this wyse. And therfore I say thou might well truste to come to thy blysse, sythen thy gynnyng hath ben harde, but euer gracious∣ly after thy hertes desyre hath proceded. Syl¦uer fyned wyth manye heates men knowen for trewe, and safely men may trust to the a∣lay in werkynge. This diseases hath proued what waye hence forwarde thou thynkest to holde. Nowe in good fayth ladye (quod I tho) I am nowe in, me semeth it is the hye waye and the ryght. Yea forsoth (quod she) and nowe I wol dysproue thy fyrste wayes, by whyche many men wenen to gette thylke blysse. But for as moche as euery herte that hath caught full loue, is tyed wyth queynte knyttynges, thou shalt vnderstande that loue and thylke forsayd blysse toforne declared in this prouinges, shal hote the knot in the hert

well ({quod} I) this inpossession I wol wel vn¦derstande. Nowe also ({quod} she) for the knotte in the herte muste ben from one to another, and I knowe thy desyre: I woll thou vnder∣stande these maters to ben sayd of thy selfe in dysprouing of thy fyrst seruyce, & in strengh∣thynge of thylke that thou hast vndertake to

thy Margaryte perle. A goddes halfe ({quod} I) ryght well I fele that al thys case is possible and trewe, and therfore I admitted al togi∣ther. Vnderstāden well ({quod} she) these termes, and loke no contradiction thou graunt.

If God woll ({quod} I) of all these thynges wol I not fayle, and yf I graunt contradic∣cyon, I shulde graunte an impossible, & that were a foule inconuenience, for whych thin∣ges Ladye ywys herafter I thynke me to kepe.

WEll (quod she) thou knoweste hat euerye thynge is a cause wherthrough any thyng hath beynge, that is cleped caused, than yf rychesse causen knotte in herte, thylke rychesse arne cause of thylke precious thyng beyng: but after the sentence of Aristotle, euerye cause is more in dignitie than hys thynge caused, wherthrough it fo∣loweth rychesse to bene more in dignitie thā thilke knot, but rychesses arne kindly naugh¦ty, badde, and nedy, & thylke knotte is thyng kyndely good, mooste praysed and desyred: Ergo thinge naughtye, badde, and nedye, in kyndelye vnderstandynge is more worthye than thyng kyndely good, most desyred and praysed: the consequence is false, nedes the antecedent mote bene of the same condition. But that rychesses ben badde, naughty, and nedy, y^t woll I proue, wherfore they mowe cause no such thyng, that is so glorious and good: The more rychesse thou hast, the more nede haste thou of helpe hem to kepe. Ergo thou nedeste in rychesse, whyche nede thou shuldest not haue yf thou hem wantest. Than must rychesse bene nedy, that in theyr hauinge maken the nedy to helpes in suretie thy rychesse to kepē, wherthrough foloweth rychesse to bene nedy. Euery thynge causyng yuels is badde and naughty: but rychesse in one causen misease, in another they mowen not euenly stretchē al about. wherof cometh plee, debate, thefte, begylynges, but rychesse to wynne, whych thynges bene bad, & by ri∣chesse arne caused: Ergo thylke ryches bene badde, whych badnesse & nede bene knytte in to rychesse by a maner of kyndely propertie, and euery cause and caused accorden, so that it foloweth thylke rychesse to haue the same accordaunce with badnesse & nede, that their cause asketh. Also euery thyng hath hys be∣yng by his cause, thā yf y^e cause be distroyed, the beyng of caused is vanyshed: And so if ry¦chesse causen loue, & richesse weren distroyed the loue shulde vanyshe, but thylke knot and it be trewe maye not vanyshe for no goynge of no richesse: Ergo richesse is no cause of the knotte. And many men as I sayd, setten the cause of the knotte in rychesse, thilke knytten the rychesse, and nothynge the yuell: thylke persons what euer they ben, wenen that ry∣chesse is most worthy to he had, & that make they the cause: & so wene they thylke rychesse be better thā the person. Cōmenly such askē rather after the quantyte than after the qua∣lyte, and such wenen as well by hem selfe as by other, that coniunction of hys lyfe and of hys soule is no more precious, but in as my∣kel as he hath of riches. Alas howe maye he holden such thynges precious or noble, that neyther han lyfe ne soule, ne ordynaunce of werchynge lymmes: such richesse bene more worthy whan they ben in gatherynge, in de∣parting ginneth his loue of other mens pray¦syng. And auerice gatheryng maketh be ha∣ted and nedy to many out helpes: and whan leueth the possession of suche goodes, & they gynne vanysh, than entreth sorow and tene in theyr hertes. O badde & strayte ben thylke that at theyr departing maketh men teneful and sory, and in the gatheryng of hem make men nedy: Moche folke at ones mowen not togyder moch therof haue. A good gest glad¦deth his hoste and al hys meyny, but he is a badde gest that maketh his host nedy & to be aferde of hys gestes goyng. Certes ({quod} I) me wondreth therfore that the comune opinion is thus: He is worth no more than y^t he hath in catell. O ({quod} she) loke thou be not of that o∣pinion, for yf gold or money, or other maner of richesse shinen in thy sight, whose is that? not thyne: & tho they haue a lytle beautye, they be no thyng in cōparison of our kynd, & therfore ye shulde not set your worthinesse in thyng lower thā your self, for the ryches, the fayrenes, the worthines of thylke goodes yf ther be any such preciousnesse in hem are not thine, thou madest hem so neuer, from other they come to the, & to other they shul from y^t: wherfore enbrasest y^u other wightes goodes as tho they were thine▪ kind hath draw hem by hem self. It is soth the goodes of the erth

bene ordayned in your fode and noryshynge, but yf thou wolte holde the apayed wyth y^e suffyseth to thy kynde, thou shalte not be in daunger of no such ryches, to kinde sufficeth lytle thynge who that taketh hede. And yf thou wolte algates wyth superfluite of ry∣chesse be a throted, thou shalt hastelych be a∣noyed, or elles yuell at ease. And fayrnesse of feldes ne of habitations, ne multytude of meyne, maye not be rekened as rychesse that are thyne owne, for if they be bad it is great sclaunder and vylany to the occupyer, and if they be good or fayre, y^e mater of the worke∣man that hem made is to praise. How shuld otherwyse bountie be cōpted for thine, thilke goodnesse & fayrnesse be proper to tho thyn∣ges hem selfe, thā yf they be not thine sorow not whā they wend, ne glad the not in pōpe and in pryde whan thou hem haste, for their bountie & their beauties cometh out of their owne kynde, and not of thyne owne person: as fayre bene they in theyr not hauynge as whan thou haste hem, they be not fayre for thou haste hem, but thou hast geten hem for the fayrnesse of them selfe. And ther the vay∣lance of men is demed in rychesse outforthe, wenen men to haue no proper good in them selfe but seche it in straunge thynges? trew∣ly the condition of good wenyng is in y^e my∣stourned, to wene your noblenesse be not in your selfe, but in the goodes and beautie of other thynges. Pardy the beastes that han but felynge soules, haue suffysaunce in their owne selfe: and ye that bene lyke to God, se∣ken encrease of suffysaunce from so excellent a kind of so low thynges, ye do great wrōge to hym that you made lordes ouer all erthly thynges, and ye put your worthinesse vnder the nombre of the fete of lower thynges and foule, whā ye iuge thylke rychesse to be your worthynesse, than put ye your self by estima¦cyon vnder thylke foule thynges, and than leue ye the knowyng of yourselfe, so be ye vy¦ler thā any dombe beest, y^e cometh of shreude vice. Ryghte so thylke persons y^t louen none yuel for dere worthynesse of the person, but for straunge goodes, and sayth the adorne∣ment in the knotte lyth in such thing, hys er∣rour is perylous and shreude, and he wrieth muche venym with moch welth, & that knot moy not be good whā he hath it getten. Cer∣tes thus hath ryches wyth flyckeryng syght anoyed many: & often whan ther is a throw out shrew, he coyneth al the golde, al the pre∣cious stones that mowen be foundē to haue in his bandon, he weneth no wight be wor∣thy to haue such thynges but he alone. How many hast thou knowe nowe in late tyme, y^t in their riches supposed suffisaunce haue fo∣lowed, & nowe it is al fayled? Ye lady ({quod} I) that is for mysse medlynge, & otherwyse go∣uerned thylke rychesse than they shulde. Yee ({quod} she tho) had not the floode greatlye arey∣sed, and throwe to hemwarde both grauel & sande, he had made no medlyng. And ryght as see yeueth flood, so draweth see ebbe, and pulleth ayen vnder wawe all the fyrste out throwe, but yf good pyles of noble gouer∣naūce in loue, in wel meanynge maner, bene sadly grounded, to which holde thylke gra∣vel as for a while, y^e ayen lightly mow not it turne, & yf the pyles bene trewe, the grauell and sande wol abyde. And certes full war∣nyng in loue shalte thou neuer thorowe hem gette ne couer y^t lightly with an ebbe er thou be ware it wol ayen meue. In rychesse many mē haue had tenes and diseases, which they shuld not haue had, if therof they had fayled Thorowe whiche nowe declared partly it is shewed, that for rychesse shulde the knotte in herte neyther ben caused in one ne in other: trewly knott maye ben knytte, and I trowe more stedfast in loue though rychesse fayled and els in rychesse is the knotte & not in hert. And than such a knotte is false, whan the see ebbeth & withdraweth the grauel, that such rychesse voydeth, thilke knotte wol vnknytte wherfore no trust, no way, no cause, no par∣fyte beyng is in rychesse of no suche knotte, therfore another way must we haue.

HOnoure in dignitie is wened to yeuen a ful knot. Yee certes ({quod} I) & of that opinion bene manye, for they same dignitie, wyth honour and reuerence, causen hertes to encheynen, and so abled to be knytte togyther, for the ex¦cellence in soueraynte of such degrees

Nowe ({quod} she) yf dignitie, honour, and re∣uerence causen thilke knot in herte, this knot is good and profitable. For euery cause of a cause, is cause of thinge caused: Than thus, good thynges and profitable ben by dignite honour, and reuerence caused. Ergo they ac∣corden,

and dignities bene good wyth reue∣rences and honoure, but contraryes mowen not accorden: wherfore by reason ther shuld no dignitie, no reuerēce, none honour accord wyth shrewes, but y^t is false: they haue bene cause to shrewes in many shreudnesse, for w^t hem they accorden. Ergo frō begynnyng to argue ayenwarde tyl it come to the last con∣clusyon, they are not cause of the knot. Lo all day at eye, arne shrewes not in reuerence, in honoure, and in dignitie? yes forsoth, rather thā the good. Thā foloweth it that shrewes rather thā good shull ben cause of this knot. But of this contrary of al louers is bileued, and for a soth openly determyned to holde.

Nowe (quod I) fayne wolde I here how suche dignities accorden wyth shrewes.

O (quod she) that woll I shewe in many∣folde wise. Ye wene (quod she) that dignites of office here in your ciite is as y^e sūne, it shy∣neth bryghte wythouten any cloude, whiche thynge whan they comen in the handes of malycyouse tyrauntes, there cometh muche harme, and more greuaunce therof, than of the wylde fyre, though it brende all a strete. Certes in dignite of office, the werkes of the occupyer shewen the malice and the badnes in the personne, wyth shrewes they maken manyfolde harmes, and muche people sha∣men. How often han rancours for malyce of the gouernoure shulde bene maynteyned? Hath not than such dignities caused debate rumours, and yuels? yes God wote, by such thynges haue bene trusted to make mennes vnderstādyng encline to many queynt thyn∣ges. Thou woteste well what I meane. Ye (quod I) therfore as dignitie suche thyng in tene ywrought, so ayenwarde the substaūce in dignitie chaunged, relyed to brynge ayen good plyte in doyng. Doway, doway (quod she) if it so betyde, but that is selde, that such dignitie is betake in a good mannes gouer∣naunce. what thynge is to recken in the dig∣nities goodnesse? parde the bountie & good∣nes is hers, that vsē it in good gouernaūce, and therfore cometh it that honoure and re∣uerence shulde bene done to dignitie, bicause of encreasynge vertue in the occupyer, and not to the ruler, bicause of souerayntie in dig¦nitie. Sythen dignitie may no vertue cause, who is worthy worship for such goodnesse? no•• dignitie, but person y^t maketh goodnesse in dignitie to shyne. Thys is wonder thyng (quod I) for me thynketh, as the person in dignitie is worthye honoure for goodnesse so tho a person for badnesse magre hath de∣serued, yet the dignite leneth to be commen∣ded. Let be (quod she) thou errest right foule dignite with badnes is helper to perfourme the felonous doynge: pardy were it kyndly good or any propertie of kyndly vertue had∣den in hem selfe, shrewes shulde hem neuer haue, wyth hem shulde they neuer accorde. water and fyre that ben cōtrarious mowen not togyther bene assembled, kynde wol not suff••e suche contraryes to ioyne, & sythen at eye by experiēce in doyng, we sene that shre∣wes haue hem more often thā good menne, syker mayste thou be, y^e kyndly good in suche thynges is not appropred. Pardy were they kyndly good, as wel one as other shulden e∣uenliche in vertue of gouernaūce ben worth: but one faileth in goodnes another doth the contrary, and so it sheweth kyndly goodnes in dignitie not be grounded. And thys same reason (quod she) maye be made in generall on all the bodily goodes, for they comen ofte to throw out shrewes. After this he is strōg that hath myght to haue great burthyns, & he is lyght and swyfte that hathe souerante in runnynge to passe other ryghte so he is a shrewe on whō shreude thynges and badde han most wyrchyng. And ryght as philoso∣phy maketh philosophers, & my seruice ma∣keth louers: Ryghte so if dignities weren good or vertuous, they shulde maken shre∣wes good, and turne her malyce and make hem be vertuous, but that do they not, as it is proued, but causē rancour & debate. Ergo they be not good, but vtterly badde. Had Ne¦ro neuer bene Emperoure, shulde neuer hys dame haue be slayn, to maken open the priui¦tie of his engendrure. Herodes for his digni¦tie slewe many chyldrē. The dignite of king Pompey wolde haue distroyed al Italy Therfore mokyl wisedome & goodnes both nedeth in a person, the malyce in dignitie sly∣ly to bridel, and with a good bytte of arest to withdrawe, in case it wolde praunce other∣wise than it shulde: trewly ye yeue to digni∣ties wrongful names in your cleping. They shulde hete not dignitie, but moustre of bad∣nes & mayntenour of shrewes. Pardy shyne the sūne neuer so bryght, & it brynge forth no

heate, ne sesonably the herbes brynge out of the erth, but suffre frostes and colde, and the erth baraine to lygge be time of his compas in circute aboute, ye wolde wonder and dis∣preyse that sunne. If the mone be at full and sheweth no lyghte but derke and dymme to your syghte appereth, and make distruction of y^e waters, wol ye not suppose it be vnder cloude or in clips? and that some priuy thing vnknowen to your wyttes, is cause of suche contrarious doyng. Thā yf clerkes that han ful insight and knowyng of such impedimē∣tes enforme you of the sothe, very idiotes ye bene, but yf ye yeuen credence to thylke cler∣kes wordes, & yet it doth me tene, to sene ma¦ny wretches reioycen in such maner planets Trewly lytle con they on phylosophy or els on my lore, that any desyre hauen such ligh∣tyng planettes in y^t wyse any more to shew. Good Ladye ({quod} I) tell ye me how ye meane in these thynges. Lo (quod she) the dignities of your citie, sunne & mone, nothyng in kynd shewe theyr shynyng as they shulde. For the sunne made no brēnyng hete in loue, but fre∣sed enuye in mennes hertes for feblenesse of shynynge hete: and the mone was about vn∣der an olde cloude, the lyuenges by waters to distroye.

Lady ({quod} I) it is supposed they had shined as they shulde. Yee (quod she) but nowe it is proued at the full their beaute in kyndly shy∣nynge fayled, wherfore dignitye of hym sel∣uen hath no beautie in fayrnesse, ne dryueth nat awaye vices but encreaseth, & so be they no cause of the knot. Now se in good trouth holde ye not such sonnes worthy of no reue∣rence and dignities, worthy of no worshyp, that maketh men to do the more harmes? I not (quod I) No ({quod} she) and thou se a wyse good man, for hys goodnesse and wysenesse wolte thou not do hym worship? Therof he is worthy. That is good skyl (quod I) it is dewe to suche, both reuerence and worshyp to haue. Than (quod she) a shrewe for hys shreudnesse, all tho he be put forth to forne o∣ther for ferd, yet is he worthy for shreudnes to be vnworshypped: of reuerence no part is he worthy to haue, to cōtrarious doyng be∣longeth and that is good skyl. For righte as besmyteth the dignities, thylke same thinge aycuwarde hym smyteth, or els shulde smite And ouer this thou wost wel (quod she) that fyre in euery place heateth where it be & wa∣ter maketh wete: why? for kyndely werking is so yput in hem to do such thinges: for eue∣ry kyndly in werkynge sheweth his kynde. But though a wight had ben mayre of your citie manye wynter togyther, and come in a straunge place ther he were not knowen, he shuld for his dignite haue no reuerence. Thā neyther worshyppe ne reuerence is kyndelye propre in no dignitie, sythen they shuldē don theyr kynde, in such doyng yf any were. And yf reuerence ne worshyppe kyndly be not set in dignities, & they more therin bene shewed thā goodnesse, for that in dignitie is shewed but it proueth that goodnesse kyndly in hem is not grounded. I wys neyther worshyppe ne reuerence ne goodnesse in dignitie, doone none offyce of kynde, for they haue none such propertie in nature of doenge, but by false o∣pinion of the people. Lo how somtyme thilk that in your citie werne in dignitie noble, yf thou lyst hem nempne, they bene nowe ouer∣turned, bothe in worshyppe, in name, and in reuerence: wherfore suche dignities haue no kyndely werchynge to worshyppe and of re∣uerence, he that hathe no worthynesse on it selfe. Now it ryseth and nowe it vanysheth after the varyaunt opynyon in false hertes of vnstable people. Wherfore yf thou desyre the knotte of thys iewell, or els yf thou wol∣dest suppose she shuld sette the knotte on the for such maner dignitie than thou weneste beautye or goodnesse of thylke somwhat en∣creaseth the goodnesse or vertue in the body: But dignitye of hem selfe bene not good, ne yeuen reuerence ne worshippe by their owne kynde, howe shulde they than yeue to any o∣ther a thynge, that by no waye mowe they haue hem selfe? It is sene in dignitie of the Emperour and of many mo other, that they mowe not of hem selue kepe theyr worshyp ne theyr reuerence, that that in a lytle whyle it is now vp and now downe, by vnstedfast hertes of the people. what boūtie mow they yeue that wyth cloude lyghtlye leaueth hys shyning? Certes to the occupier is mokyl ap¦peyred, sythen such doynge dothe vylany to hym that maye it not mayntayne, wherfore thylke waye to the knotte is croked: and yf anye desyre to come to the knotte, he muste leane thys waye on his lefte syde, or els shal he neuer come there.

AVayleth ought ({quod} she) power of myght in mayntenaunce of worthy to come to thys knot Parde ({quod} I) yee, for hertes bene rauyshed from such ma∣ner thynges. Certes ({quod} she) though a fooles hert is with thing rauished yet therefore is no generall cause of the po∣wers, ne of a syker parfyte herte to be loked after. Was not Nero the moost shrewe one of thylke that men rede, & yet had he power to make senatours, iustices & princes of ma¦ny landes? was not that great power? Yes, certes (quod I) wel (quod she) yet myght he not help him selfe out of disease, whā hē gan fal. How many ensamples canst thou remē∣bre of kynges great and noble, and huge po∣wer holden, & yet they myghte not kepe hem selue from wretchednesse. Howe wretched was kyng Henry Curtmantyll er he deyed? he had not so moch as to couer w^t hys mem∣bres: and yet was he one of the greatest kin∣ges of al the Normandes of sprynge, & most possession had. O, a noble thinge and clere is power, that is not founden myghty to kepe hym selfe. Nowe trewly a greate fole is he, that for such thyng wolde sette the knotte in thyne herte. Also power of realmes is not thylk greatest power amonges the worldly powers rekened? And yf suche powers han wretchednesse in hem selfe, it foloweth other powers of febler condicion to ben wretched, and than that wretchednesse shulde be cause of such a knotte. But euery wyght that hath reason wote well that wretchednesse by no waye maye bene cause of none suche knotte, wherfore such power is no cause. That po∣wers haue wretchednesse in hem selfe, maye ryght lyghtly bene preued. If power lacke on any side, on that side is no power, but no power is wretchednesse: for al be it so the po¦wer of emperours or kynges, or els of theyr realmes (whych is the power of the prynce) stretchen wyde and brode, yet besyde is ther mokell folke of whyche he hath no cōmaun∣dement ne lordshyp, & ther as lacketh his po¦wer, hys nonepower entreth, where vnder spryngeth that maketh hem wretches. No power is wretchednesse, and nothynge els: but in this maner hath kinges more porcion of wretchednesse thā of power. Trewly such powers bene vnmighty, for euer they ben in drede howe thylke power frō lesinge may be keped of sorowe, so drede sorily prickes euer in their hertes: litle is y^e power which careth & ferdeth it selfe to maintayn. Vnmyghty is y^e wretchednes whych is entred by the ferd∣ful wenyng of the wretch him selfe: & knotte ymaked by wretchednesse is betwene wret∣ches, & wretches all thyng bewaylen: wher∣fore the knotte shulde be bewayled, and ther is no such perfyte blysse that we supposed at the gynning. Ergo power in nothing shulde cause such knottes. wretchednesse is a kynd∣ly propertie in suche power, as by waye of drede, whiche they mowe not eschewe ne by no way lyne in sikernesse. For thou wost wel ({quod} she) he is nought mighty that wold done y^t he may not doone ne perfourme. Therfore (quod I) these kynges and lordes that han suffysaunce at the ful of men and other thin∣ges, mowen well bene holden myghty: their cōmaūdemētes ben done, it is neuermore de¦nied. Foole ({quod} she) or he wot him selfe migh∣ty or wotte it not: for he is nought myghty, that is blynde of his might and wote it not. That is sothe (quod I). Than yf he wet it, he must nedes ben a drad to lesen it. He that wot of his might is in dout y^t he mote nedes lese, & so leadeth hym drede to ben vnmygh∣tye. And yf he retche not to lese, lytle is that worth y^t of y^e lesyng reson retcheth nothing: & if it were myghty in power or in strengthe the lesyng shulde bene wythset, and whan it cometh to the lesyng he may it not wyth••yt. Ergo thylke myght is leude and naughty. Such mightes arne ylike to postes and pyl∣lers that vpright stonden, and greate might han to beare many charges, & yf they croke on any syde, lytell thynge maketh hem ouer∣throw. Thys is a good ensāple ({quod} I) to pyl¦lers & postes y^t I haue seneouerthrowed my selfe, and hadden, they bene vnderput wyth any helpes, they had not so lyghtly fal. Thā holdeste thou hym mighty that hath manye men armed and many seruauntes, and euer he is adradde of hem in his herte, and for he gasteth hem, somtyme he mote y^e more feare haue. Comenly he that other agasteth, other in hym ayenwarde werchen the same: and thus warnyshed mote he be, and of warnish the houre drede: Lytel is that myght & right leude, who so taketh hede. Than semethe it ({quod} I) that such famulers about kinges and

greate lordes, shulde great myght haue. Al∣though a sypher in augrym haue no myght in signifycation of it selfe, yet he yeueth po∣wer in significacion to other, and these clepe I the helpes to a post to kepe hym from fal∣lynge. Certes (quod she) thylke skylles bene leude. why? but yf y^e shorers ben wel groun∣ded, the helpes shullen slyden and suffre the charge to fal, her myght lytle auayleth. And so me thynketh (quod I) that a poste alone stondynge vpright vpon a basse, may lenger in great burthen endure, than croken pillers for all theyr helpes, and her grounde be not syker. That is soth ({quod} she) for as the blynde in bearynge of the lame gynne stomble, both shulde fal, right so such pyllers so enuyroned wyth helpes in fallynge of the grounde fay∣leth altogyther, how ofte than suche famu∣lers in theyr moost pryde of prosperyte bene sodaynly ouerthrowen. Thou haste knowe many in a moment so ferre ouerthrow, that couer might they neuer, whan the heuynesse of suche faylynge cometh by case of fortune, they mowe it not eschewe: and myghte and power, yf there were any, shulde of strength such thynges voyde & weyue, and so it is not Lo than whiche thynge is this power, that tho men han it they bene agast, & in no tyme of full hauyng be they syker, & yf they wolde weyue drede, as they mowe not, lytle is in worthynesse. Fye therfore on so naughtye thynge any knot to cause. Lo in aduersitie, thylke bene his foes that glosed and semed frendes in welthe: thus arne hys famylyers his foes and his enemyes: and nothynge is werse ne more myghty for to anoy than is a familier enemye, & these thynges maye they not weyue: so trewelye theyr myghte is not worth a cresse. And ouer all thing, he y^t maye not wythdrawe the bridell of hys fleshly lu∣stes and hys wretched complayntes (nowe thinke on thy selfe) trewly he is not mighty. I can se no waye y^u lyeth to the knot. Thylke people thā that setten their hertes vpō suche myghtes and powers, often bene begyled. Parde he is not myghty that maye do anye thing, that another may done him the selue and that mē haue as great power ouer hym as he ouer other. A iustice that demeth men, ayenward hath bene often demed. Buserus slewe his gestes, and he was slaine of Hercu¦les his geste, Hugest betrayshed many men, and of Collo was he betrayed. He that with swerde smytteth, with swerde shall be smit∣ten. Than gan I to studyen a while on these thinges, and made a countenaunce with my hande in maner to bene huyshte. Nowe lette sene (quod she) me thynketh somwhat there is wythin thy soule, that troubleth thy vn∣derstandynge, saye on what it is. (Quod I tho) me thynketh that although a mā by po∣wer haue suche myghte ouer me, as I haue ouer other, that disproueth no myght in my person, but yet may I haue power & myght neuer the later. Se nowe ({quod} she) thine owne leudnesse: He is myghty that may wythout wretchednes, and he is vnmyghty that may it not with sitte: but then he that might ouer the, & he woll put on the wretchednesse, thou might it not wythsytte. Ergo thou seest thy selfe what foloweth. But nowe (quod she) woldest thou not skorne & thou se a flye han power to done harme to another flye, & thilk haue no myght ne ayenturninge him selfe to defende? Yes certes (quod I) who is a fray∣ler thyng (quod she) than the fleshly bodye of a man, ouer whyche haue oftentyme flyes, and yet lasse thyng than a flye, mokel might in greuaunce and anoyenge withouten any withsytting, for al thylke mannes mightes And sythen thou frest thy fleshlye bodye in kyndely power fayle, how shulde thā the ac∣cident of a thing ben in more surete of beyng than substancial? wherfore thylke thinges y^t we clepe power, is but accident to the fleshly body, and so they may not haue that suretie in might, which wanteth in the substanciall body, why there is no waye to the knot, that loketh aright after the hye way as he shulde

VErily it is proued that ri¦chesse, dignite, & power, ben not trew way to the knot, but as rath by such thynges the knotte to be vnbounde: wherfore on these thynges I rede no wight trust, to gette anye good knotte. But what shul we saye of renome in the peoples mouthes, shulde y^t ben any cause: what sup∣posest y^u in thine hert? Certes (quod I) yes I trow, for your fly resons I dare not sac••ly it say. Than ({quod} she) wol I preue y^t shrewes as rath shul ben in y^e knot as the good & y^u were

ayenst kynde. Fayne (quod I) wolde I that here, me thynketh wondre howe renoume shoulde as wel knyt a shrewe as a good per¦son: renoume in euery degree hathe auaun∣ced, yet wist I neuer the contrary: shuld thā renoume accorde with a shrewe? it may not synke in my stomacke tyll I heare more. Nowe (quod she) haue I not sayd alwayes the shrewes shull not haue the knot. what ne¦deth (quod I) to reherse that anye more? I wote well euery wyght by kyndely reason, shrewes in knyttyng wol eschewe. Than ({quod} she) the good ought thylke knotte to haue. Howe els? (quod I) It were greate harme (quod she) that the good were weyued and put out of espoire of the knot, yf it be desired O ({quod} I) alas, on suche thynge to thynke I wene that heuen wepeth to se suche wrōges here bene suffred on erth: the good ought it to haue and no wyght els. The goodnesse ({quod} she) of a person may not ben knowe out∣forth, but by renome of the knowers, wher∣fore he must be renoumed of goodnesse to come to the knot. So must it be ({quod} I) or els all lost that we carpen. Sothly ({quod} she) that were great harme, but yf a good mā might haue his desyres in seruyce of thylke knot, and a shrewe to be veyned, and they ben not knowen in general but by lackyng and pray sing and in renome, and so by the cōsequēce it foloweth, a shrewe to ben praysed & knyt, and a good to be forsake and vnknyt. Ah ({quod} I tho) haue ye ladye bene here abouten, yet wolde I se by grace of our argumentes bet∣ter declared, how good & bad do accordē by lackyng and praysyng, me thynketh it ayēst kynde. Nay ){quod} she) and that shalt thou se as yerne: these elementes han cōtrarious quali¦ties in kynde, by whiche they mowe not ac∣corde nomore than good & bad, and in quali¦ties they accorde, so that contraryes by qua¦litie accorden by qualitie. Is not erth drye, & water that is nexte and bytwene therth is wete: drye and were ben contrary, & mowen not accorde, & yet this discordaunce is boūd to accorde by cloudes, for bothe elementes ben colde. Ryght so the eyre that is next the water is wete, and eke it is hote. This eyre by his hete contraryeth water that is colde, but thylke contraryoustye is oned my moy∣sture, for both be they moyst. Also the fyre y^t is next the eyre, and it encloseth al about, is drye: wherthrough it contraryeth eyre that is were: & in hete they accorde, for both they ben hote. Thus by these accordaūces, discor¦daūtes ben ioyned, and in a maner of accor∣daunce they accorden by connection, that is knyttyng togyther: of that accorde cōmeth a maner of melody y^t is ryght noble. Ryght so good and bad are contrarye in doinges, by lackyng and praysyng: good is both lacked and praysed of some, and bad is both lacked and praysed of some: wherfore theyr contra¦rioustie accorde both by lackynge and pray∣syng. Than foloweth it, though good be ne∣uer so mokel praysed, oweth more to bē knit than the bad: or els bad for the renome that he hath, must be takē as wel as y^e good, and that oweth not. No forsoth ({quod} I) wel, {quod} she than is renome no way to the knot: Lo fole ({quod} she) howe clerkes writen of suche glorye of renome. O glorie, glorie, thou arte none other thynge to thousandes of folke, but a great sweller of eares. Many one hath had full greate renoume by false opynion of va∣ryaunt people: And what is fouler thā folke wrongfully to ben praysed, or by malyce of the people gyltelesse lacked? nedes shame fo¦loweth therof to hem y^t with wronge pray∣seth, and also to the desertes praysed, and vi¦lanye and reprofe of hym that disclaūdreth.

Good chylde (quod she) what echeth suche renome to the conscience of a wyse man that loketh and measureth his goodnesse, not by sleuelesse wordes of the people, but by sothe fastnesse of conscience? by god nothyng. And if it be fayre a mans name be eched by moch folkes praysyng, and fouler thynge that mo folke not praysen. I sayde to the a lytle here beforne, that no folke in straunge countries nought praysen, suche renoume may not co∣men to theyr eares, bycause of vnknowyng and other obstacles, as I sayde: wherfore more folke not praysen, and that is ryghte foule to hym that renome desyreth, to wete¦lesse folke praysen than renoume enhaunce. I trowe the thanke of a people is nought worth in remembraunce to take, ne it proce∣deth of no wyse iudgement, neuer is it sted∣fast perdurable: it is veyne and flying, with wynde wasteth and encreaseth.

Trulye such glorye ought to be hated. Yf gentyllesse be a clere thyng, renome and glo¦ry to enhaūce, as in rekenyng of thy lynage

than is gentyllesse of thy kynne, for why, it semeth that gentylesse of thy kynne, is but praysynge and renoume that come of thyne auncestres desertes: and yf so be that pray∣synge and renoume of theyr desertes, make theyr clere gentylesse, than mote they nedes ben gentyl for theyr gentil dedes, & not y^u: for of thy selfe commeth not suche maner gen∣tylesse, praysynge of thy desertes. Than gen¦tylesse of thyne auncesters that forayne is to the, maketh the not gentyl, but vngētyl and reproued, and yf thou contynuest not theyr gentyllesse. And therfore a wyse man ones sayde. Better is it thy kynne to bene by the gentyled, than thou to glorify of thy kynnes gentylesse, and haste no deserte thereof thy selfe.

How passyng is the beautie of fleshly bo∣dyes? more flyttyng than mouable floures of sommer. And yf thyne eyen were as good as the Lynx, that may sene thorowe many stone walles, both fayre and foule in theyr entrayles, of no maner hewe shoulde appere to thy syght, that were a foule syght. Than is fayrenesse by feblesse of eyen, but of no kynde, wherfore thylke shoulde be no waye to the knot: whan thylke is went the knotte wendeth after.

Lo nowe at all proues, none of all these thinges mowe perfectlye ben in vnderstan∣dyng, to ben way to the duryng blysse of the knot. But nowe to conclusyon of these mat∣ters, herkeneth these wordes. Very sommer is knowe from the wynter: in shorter cours draweth the dayes of Decēbre, than in the moneth of Iune: The sprynges of May fa∣den and folowen in October. These thinges ben not vnbounden from theyr olde kynde, they haue not lost her werke of their propre estate. Men of volūtarious wyll, withsyt y^e henens gouerneth. Other thynges suffren thynges pacyently to werche: Man in what estate he be, yet wolde he bene chaunged. Thus by queynt thynges blysse is desyred, and the frute that cometh of these springes, nys but anguysh and bytter, although it be a whyle swete, it may not be withholde, ha∣stely they departe: thus al daye fayleth thin¦ges that fooles wende. Ryght thus haste thou fayled in thy fyrste wenynge. He that thinketh to sayle and drawe after the course of the starre, de polo antartico, shall he ne∣uer come northwarde to the contrary starre of polus articus: of whiche thinges yf thou take kepe, thy fyrst out waye goinge, pryson and exyle maye be cleped. The grounde fal∣sed vnderneth, and so haste thou fayled. No wyght I wene blameth hym that stynteth in misgoing, and secheth redye waye of hys blysse. Nowe me thynketh (quod she) that it suffyseth in my shewynge the wayes, by di∣gnitie, rychesse, renoume, and power, if thou loke clerely, arne no wayes to the knotte.

EVerye argument ladye ({quod} I tho) that ye han maked in these fore nempned ma¦ters, me thynketh hem in my full wytte conceyued, shall I nomore yf god wil in the contrary be begyled But fayne wolde I and it we••e your wyll, blysse of the knotte to me were declared, I myght fele the better how myne hert myght assente to pursue the ende in seruyce, as he hath be gone. O (quod she) there is a melody in heuen, which clerkes clepen armonye, but that is not in breakynge of voyce, but it is a maner swete thynge of kyndly werchynge, that causeth ioye out of nombre to recken, & and that is ioyned by reason and by wyse∣dome, in a quantitie of proporcyon of knyt∣tyng. God made all thynge in reason and in wytte of proporcyon of melodye, we mowe not suffyse to shewe. It is wrytten by great clerkes and wyse, that in earthlye thynges lyghtly by studye and by trauayle, the kno∣wynge maye be getten▪ but of suche heuenly melodye, mokell trauayle wol brynge out in knowyng ryght lytle. Swetnesse of this pa¦radyse hath you rauyshed, it semeth ye slep∣ten, rested from all other diseases, so kyndly is your hertes therin ygrounded. Blysse of two hertes in full loue knyt, may not aright ben ymagyned: euer is theyr contemplacion in full of thoughty study to pleasaunce, ma∣ter in bryngyng, comforte eueryche to other. And therfore of erthly thynges mokell ma∣ter lyghtly commeth in your lernynge. Kno∣wledge of vnderstondynge that is nygh af∣ter eye, but not so nygh the couetyse of knyt∣tynge in your hertes: More soueraygne de∣syre hath euerye wyght in lytle hearynge of

heuenly connyng, than of mokell materyall purposes in earth. Ryght so it is in proper∣tie of my seruauntes, that they ben more af∣fyched in sterynge of lytle thynge in his de∣syre, than of mokell other mater, lasse in his conscience. This blysse is a maner of sowne delicious, in a queynt voyce touched, and no dynne of notes: there is none impressyon of breakynge laboure. I can it not otherwyse nempne, for wantynge of pryuye wordes, but Paradyse terrestrye full of delicyous melodye withouten trauayle in sowne per∣petual seruice in full ioy coueyted to endure.

Onely kynde maketh hertes in vnderstan∣dyng, so to slepe, that otherwyse may it not be nempned, ne in other maner names for ly¦kyng swetnesse can I not it declare, al sugre and hony, all mynstralsye and melodye ben but soote and galle in comparisō by no ma∣ner proporcyon to recken, in respecte of thys blysfull ioye. This armonye, this melodye, this perdurable ioye may not be in doinge, but betwene heuens and elementes, or twey kyndly hertes, ful knyt in trouth of naturall vnderstondyng, withouten wenyng and dis¦ceyte, as heuens and planettes, which thin∣ges contynually for kyndely accordaunces, foryeteth all contraryous meanynges: that into passyue diseases may sowne, euermore it thyrsteth after more werkyng. These thin¦ges in proporcyon be so well ioyned, that it vndoth all thyng, which into badnesse by a∣ny waye maye be accompted. Certes ({quod} I) this is a thynge precious and noble. Alas, that falsenesse euer or wantruste shoulde be mayntayned, this ioye to voyde. Alas that euer any wretche shulde thorowe wrath or enuy, ••anglyng dare make to shoue this me∣lody so farre abacke, that openly dare it not ben vsed: truly wretches ben fulfylled with ••auy and wrath, and no wight els. Flebring and tales in suche wretches shall appeare o∣penly in euery wyghtes ere, with ful mouth so charged, mokell malyce moued many in∣innocentes to shende, god wold theyr soule therwith were st••angled. Lo, trouth in this blysse is hyd, and ouer all vnder couert hym hydeth: He dare not come a place for way∣tyng of shrewes.

Cōmenly badnesse, goodnesse amastryeth with my selfe and my soule this ioye wolde I bye, yf I the goodnesse were as moche as the nobley in melody. O ({quod} she) what good∣nesse maye be accompted more in this mate∣ryall worlde, truly none that shalt thou vn∣derstonde. Is not euery thyng good that is contrariant and destroying euyll? Howe els ({quod} I) Enuy, wrath, and falsenesse ben gene∣rall ({quod} she) and that wote euery man beinge in his ryght mynde, the knotte the whiche we haue in this blysse, is contraryaunt and distroyeth such maner euils: ergo it is good.

what hath caused any wyght to don any good dede? Fynde me anye good, but yf this knotte be the chefe cause: Nedes mote it be good, that causeth so many good dedes.

Euery cause is more and worthyer than thyng caused, and in that mores possessyon, all thynges lesse ben compted. As the kynge is more than his people, and hath in posses∣syon all his realme after: Ryght so the knot is more than all other goodes, thou myght recken all thynges lasse, and that to hym lō∣geth, oweth into hys mores cause of wor∣shyppe and of wyll do tourne, it is els rebell and out of his mores defendynge to voyde. Ryght so of euery goodnesse into the knotte and into the cause of his worshyp oweth to turne. And truly euerye thyng that hath be∣inge profytably is good, but nothynge hath to ben more profytably than this knot: kyn∣ges it mayntayneth, and hem theyr powers to mayntayne: It maketh mysse to ben amē¦ded with good gouernaunce in doinge. It closeth hertes so togyther, y^e rancour is out thresten. who that it lengest kepeth, lengest is gladded. I trowe ({quod} I) heretyckes and mysmeanynge people hence forwarde woll mayntayne this knotte, for there throughe shall they ben mayntayned, and vtterly wol turne and leaue theyr olde euyll vnderston∣dyng, and knytte this goodnesse, and profer so farre in seruyce, that name of seruauntes myght they haue.

Theyr iangles shal cease, me thynketh hē lacketh mater now to alege. Certes ({quod} loue) yf they of good wyll thus tourned as thou sayest wolen truly perfourme, yet shul they be abled partye of this blysse to haue: & they woll not, yet shull my seruauntes the werre well susteyne in myne helpe of mayntinaūce to the ende. And they for theyr good trauayl shullen in rewarde so be ben meded, that end lesse ioye bodye and soule togyther in this

shullen abyden, there is euer action of blysse withouten possible corruption, there is acti∣on perpetuell in werke withoute trauayle, there is euerlastyng passyfe, withouten any of labour, continuel plyte without seasynge coueted to endure. No tonge may tel ne hert maye thynke the leest poynte of this blysse. God brynge me thyder ({quod} I than). Conty∣nueth well ({quod} she) to the ende, and y^u myght not fayle than, for thoughe thou spede not here, yet shal the passyon of thy martred life ben wrytten and rad toforne the greate Iu∣pyter that god is of routh, an hygh in the ho¦lownesse of heuen, there he syt in his trone: & euer thou shalt forwarde ben holden amōge all these heuens for a knyght, that myghtest with no penaunce bene discomfyted. He is a very martyr that lyuynglye goinge is gna∣wen to the bones. Certes ({quod} I) these bene good wordes of comfort, a lytle myne herte is reioysed in a mery wyse. Ye ({quod} she) and he that is in heuen feleth more ioye, than whā he first herde therof speke. So it is (quod I) but wyst I the sothe, that after disease com∣fort wolde folowe with blysse, so as ye haue often declared, I wolde well suffre this pas¦syon with the better chere, but my thought∣full sorowe is endlesse, to thynke how I am cast out of a welfare, & yet dayneth not this euyll none herte none hede to mewarde tho∣rowe, which thynges wolde greatly me by wayes of comfort disporte, to weten in my selfe a lytle with other ni•• ben ymoued: and my sorowes peysen not in her balaunce the weyght of a peese: Slynges of her daunger so heuyly peysen, they drawe my causes so hyghe, that in her eyen they semen but lyght and ryght lytle.

O, for ({quod} she) heuen with skyes that foule cloudes maken and darke wethers, wyth great tempestes and huge, maketh the mery dayes with soft shynynge sunnes. Also the yere withdraweth floures & beautye of her∣bes and of earth. The same yeres maketh sprynges and iolitie in Vere so to renouell with paynted colours, that erth semeth as gaye as heuen. Sees that blasteth, & with wawes throweth shyppes, of which the ly∣uyng creatures for great peryll for hem dre¦den: ryght so the same sees maken smothe waters and golden saylynge, and cōforteth hem w^t noble hauen that first were so ferde. Hast thou not ({quod} she) lerned in thy youth, y^e Iupyter hath in his warderobe bothe gar∣mentes of ioye and of sorowe? what woste thou howe soone he woll tourne of the gar∣ment of care, and cloth the in blysse? parde it is not farre fro the. Lo an olde prouerbe ale∣ged by manye wyse: whan bale is greatest, than is bote a nye bore. whereof wylte thou dismaye? hope well and serue well, and that shall the saue, with thy good beleue.

Ye, ye (quod I) yet se I not by reason how this blysse is comyng, I wot it is cōtingent it may fal on other. O ({quod} she) I haue mokell to done to clere thyne vnderstandynge and voyde these erroures out of thy mynde, I woll proue it by reason thy wo maye not al∣way enduren. Euery thynge kyndely (quod she) is gouerned, and ruled by the heauen∣ly bodyes, which hauen full werchyng here on earth: & after course of these bodyes, all course of youre doinges here bene gouerned and ruled by kynde.

Thou wost wel by course of planettes all your proceden, & to euerych of synguler hou∣res be enterchaunged stondmele aboute, by submytted worchyng naturally to suff••e, of which chaunges commeth these transitory tymes that maketh reuoluing of your yeres thus stondmele, euerye hath full myght of worchyng, tyl al seuen han had her course a∣bout. Of which worchinges & possessyon of houres, the dayes of the weke haue take her names, after denominacyon in these seuen planettes. Lo, your sondaye gynneth at the fyrst houre after noone on the saturdaye, in which houre is than the sunne in ful myght of worchynge, of whom sonday taketh hys name. Nexte hym foloweth Venus, & after Mercurius, & than the Mone, so than Sa∣turnus, after whom Iouis, & than Mars, & ayen than the Sunne, and so forth, be .xxiiii houres togyther, in which houre gynnynge in the second day stant the mone, as master for that tyme to rule, of whom mondaye ta∣keth his name, & this course foloweth of all other dayes generally in doing. This cours of nature of these bodyes chaungynge, styn∣ten at a certayne terme, lymytted by theyr fyrst kynde, and of hem all gouernementes in this elemented worlde proceaden, as in sprynges, constellacions, engendrures, and all that folowen kynde and reason, where∣fore

the course that foloweth sorowe & ioye: kyndly moten entrechaungen theyr tymes, so that alway on wele, as alwaye on woo, may not endure. Thus seest thou apertly thy sorowe into wele mote bene chaunged, wherefore in suche case to better syde euer∣more enclyne thou shuldest. Truly nexte the ende of sorowe anon entreth ioye, by maner of necessitie it wol ne may none other betide and so thy contigence is disproued: yf thou holde this opinyon anye more, thy wytte is ryght leude. wherfore in full conclusyon of all this, thylke Margaryte thou desyreste, hath ben to the dere in thy herte, and for her hast thou suffred many thoughtful diseases hereafter shall be cause of mokell myrth and ioye, and loke how glad canst thou ben, and cease al thy passed heuynesse with manifold ioyes. And than woll I as blythlye here the speken thy myrthes in ioye, as I nowe haue yherde thy sorowes and thy complayntes. And yf I mowe in ought thy ioye encrease by my trouth on my syde shal not be leaued, for no maner trauayle, that I with all my myghtes ryght blythly woll helpe, and euer ben redy you both to plese. And than than∣ked I that lady with al goodly maner that I worthely coude, and truly I was greatly reioysed in myne hert, of her fayre behestes, and profred me to be slawe in al that she me wolde ordayne whyle my lyfe lested.

ME thynketh ({quod} I) that ye haue ryght wel declared that way to y^e knot shuld not ben in non of these dis¦prouing thinges, & nowe ordre of our purpose this asketh, that ye shulde me shewe yf any waye be thyther, and whyche thylke waye shulde ben, so that openly may be sey, the very hye waye in full confusyoun of these other thynges.

Thou shalt ({quod} she) vnderstande, that one of thre lyues (as I first sayd) euery creature of mankinde is sprongen, and so forth proce¦deth. These lyues bene thorowe names de∣parted in thre maner of kyndes, as bestyal∣lyche, manlyche, and resonablyche, of which two bene vsed by fleshlye bodye, and the thyrde by his soule. Bestyall amonge rea∣s••nables is forboden in euery lawe and eue∣ry sect, both in chrysten and other, for euerye wyght dispyseth hem that lyueth by lustes, and delyttes, as hym that is thrall & boun∣den seruaunt to thynges ryght foule, suche ben counted werse than men, he shall not in theyr degre ben rekened, ne for such one alo∣wed. Heretykes sayne they chosen lyfe be∣stial, that voluptuouslye lyuen, so that (as I fyrst sayde to the) in manly and reasona∣ble lyuynges, our mater was to declare, but manly lyfe in lyuyng after flesh or els fleshly wayes to chese, maye not blysse in this knot be conquered, as by reason it is proued.

wherfore by resonable lyfe he must nedes it haue, syth away is to this knotte, but not by the fyrste tway lyues, wherefore neades mote it ben to the thyrde, and for to lyue in flesh but not after flesh, is more resonablyeh than manliche rekened by clerkes. Therfore how this way commeth in, I wol it blithly declare.

Se now (quod she) that these bodyly goo¦des of manlyche lyuynges, yelden sorowful stoundes and smeretande houres, who so wele remembre hym to theyr endes, in their worchynges they ben thoughtfull and sory. Ryght as a bee that hath hadde his honye, anon at his flyght begynneth to stynge: So thylke bodyly goodes at the last mot away and than stynge they at her goinge, where•• through entreth and clene voydeth al blysse of this knotte.

Forsoth (quod I) me thynketh I am wel serued, in shewīg of these wordes, although I had lytle in respect amonge other greate and worthye, yet had I a fayre parcell, as me thought for the tyme, in fortherynge of my sustenaunce, whiche whyle it dured, I thought me hauyng mokell hony to myne e∣state. I had rychesse suffyciauntly to weyue nede, I had dignitie to be reuerenced in wor¦ship. Power me thought that I had to kepe fro myne enemyes, and me semed to shyne in glory of renoume as manhode asketh, in meane, for no wyght in myne administra∣tion coude none euyls ne trecherye by sothe cause on me put. Lady your selfe weten wel that of tho confedecacyes maked by my so∣ueraynes I nas but a seruaunt, and yet mo¦kell meane folke woll fullye ayenste reason thilke maters mayntayne, in which mayn∣tenaunce glorye them selfe, and as often ye

hauen sayde, therof ought nothyng in euyll to be layde to mewardes, sythen as repen∣taunt I am tourned, and nomore I thynke neyther tho thynges ne none suche other to susteyne, but vtterly destroy without med∣lynge maner, in all my myghtes. Howe am I nowe caste oute of all swetnesse of blysse, and myscheuously stongen my passed ioye? sorowfullye muste I wayle, and lyue as a wretche.

Euery of tho ioyes is turned into his con¦trary: For rychesse nowe haue I pouertye, for dignitie now am I emprysoned, in stede of power, wretchednesse I suffer, and for glory of renoume I am now dispysed, and soulyche hated: thus hath farne Fortune, that sodaynly am I ouerthrowen, and out of all wealth dispoyled.

Trulye me thynketh this way in entre is ryght harde, god graunt me better grace er it be al passed, y^e other way lady me thought ryght swete. Now certes ({quod} Loue) me lyst for to chyde. what ayleth thy darke dulnesse woll it not in clerenesse ben sharped. Haue I not by many reasons to the shewed suche bo¦dily goodes faylen to yeue blis, their might so ferforth wol not stretche? Shame ({quod} she) it is to say, thou lyest in thy wordes. Thou ne hast wyst but ryght fewe, that these bo∣dyly goodes had al at ones, commenly they dwellen not togyther. He that plentie hath in richesse, of his kynne is ashamed: another of lynage ryght noble and well knowe, but pouerte him hādleth he were leuer vnknow An other hath these, but renome of peoples praysyng maye he not haue ouer al he is ha¦ted and defamed of thynges ryght foule.

An other is fayre and semely, but dignite hym fayleth: and he that hath dignite is cro¦ked or lame, or els mishappen and fouly di∣spysed: thus pertable these goodes dwellen cōmenlye in one houshold ben they but selde. Lo how reetched is your trust, on thynge y^t wol not accorde. Me thynketh thou clepest thylke plyte thou were in selynes of fortune and thou sayest for that y^e selynesse is depar¦ted, thou art a wretche. Than foloweth this vpon thy wordes, euerye soule resonable of man, may not dye, and yf death endeth sely∣nesse and maketh wretches, as nedes of for∣tune maketh it an ende. Than soules after deth of y^e body in wretchednesse shuld lyuen.

But we know many that han getten the blysse of heuen after theyr deth. Howe than may this lyfe maken men blysful, that whā it passeth it yeueth no wretchednesse, & ma∣nye tymes blysse, yf in this lyfe he con lyue as he shulde? And wolt thou accompt with fortune, that now at the fyrst she hath done the tene and sorow: yf thou looke to the ma∣ner of al glad thynges & sorowful, y^u mayest not naye it, that yet, and namely nowe thou standest in noble plyt in a good gynnyng, w^t good forth goinge hereafter. And yf thou wene to be a wretch for such welth is passed why thā art thou not wel fortunate for bad thynges & anguys wretchednesse bē passed? Art thou now come first into the hostrye of this lyfe, or els the booth of this world, art thou now a sodayne gest into this wretched exyle? wenest there be any thing in this erth stable? Is not thy fyrst arest passed y^e brouʒt the in mortal sorowe? Ben these not mortal thinges agone with ignoraunce of bestiall wyt, and hast receyued reason in knowynge of vertue? what cōfort is in thy hert? the kno¦wynge sykerly in my seruyce be grounded. And wost thou not wel as I sayde, y^t death maketh ende of al fortune? what thā stādest thou in noble plyte, lytle hede or rekenynge to take, yf thou let fortune passe dyng, or els that she flye whan her lyst, now by thy lyue. Pardy a mā hath nothyng so lefe as his life and for to holde that he doth al his cure and dyligent trauayle. Than saye I, thou arte blisfull & fortunate selye, yf thou knowe thy goodes that thou hast yet beloued, whiche nothinge maye dout, that they ne bene more worthy than thy lyfe? what is that ({quod} I)? Good contēplacion ({quod} she) of well doinge in vertue in tyme coming, both in plesaunce of me & of thy Margaryte perle. Haestly thyne hert in ful blysse with her shalbe eased. Ther¦fore dismay the not, fortune in hate greuou∣sly ayēst thy bodily persō, ne yet to gret tem∣pest hath she not sēt to y^e, sithen y^e holding ca¦bles & ankres of thy life holden by knytting so fast, that thou discomforte the nought of tyme y^t is nowe, ne dispayre the not of tyme to come, but yeuen the cōfort in hope of well doing, and of gettyng agayne the double of thy lesynge, w^t encreasyng loue of thy Mar∣garite perle therto. For this hytherto y^u hast had al her ful daūger, and so thou myght a∣mende

all that is mysse, and all defautes that somtyme thou dyddest, and that nowe in all thy tyme to that ylke Margaryte in full ser∣uyce of my lore thyne herte hath contynued, wherfore she ought moch the rather enclyne fro h••t daungerous sete. These thynges ben yet ••••yt by the holdynge anker in thy lyue, & holden mote they: To god I praye all these thynges at full ben performed. For whyle thys anker holdeth I hope thou shalte safely escape, and whyle thy trew meanyng seruice aboute brynge in dispyte of all false meaners that the of newe haten, for this trew seruyce thou arte nowe entred.

CErtayne ({quod} I) amonge thynges I asked a que∣stion, which was y^e way to the knot. Trewly lady howe so it be, I tēpt you wyth questions and an∣swers, in spekyng of my fyrst seruyce, I am now in full purpose in the pricke of the hert, y^t thilke seruice was an en∣prisonmēt, & alway bad & naughty in no ma∣ner to be desyred. Ne y^t in gettyng of the knot, may it nothyng auayle. A wyse gentyll hert loketh after vertue, & non other bodily ioyes alone. And bycause toforne this, ī tho wayes I was sette, I wote wel my selfe I haue er∣red, & of the blysse fayled, & so out of my waye hugely haue I ron. Certes ({quod} she) y^t is sothe, & there thou hast myswent, eschew that path frō hens forwarde I rede. Wonder I trew∣ly why the mortal folke of this worlde seche these wayes outforth, & it is preued in youre selfe. Lo howe ye ben cōfounded with errour & folly. The knowyng of very cause & waye is goodnesse & vertue. Is there any thyng to the more precious than thy selfe? Thou shalt haue in thy power, y^t thou woldest neuer lese and that in no way may be taken fro the, and thilk thyng is that is cause of this knot. And yf dethe mow it nat reue more thā an erthly creature, thilke thing than abydeth with thy selfe soule, & so our conclusion to make suche a knot thus getten, abydeth with this thyng & with the soule, as long as they last, a soule dieth neuer, vertue & goodnesse euermore w^t y^e soule endureth, & this knot is perfite blysse. Thā this soule in this blysse endlesse shal en¦duren. Thus shul hertes of a trewe knot ben eased: thus shul their soules bē pleased: thus perpetually in ioye shul they synge. In good trouth ({quod} I) here is a good begynnyng, yeue vs more of this way. (Quod she) I sayd to y^e nat longe sythen, that resonable lyfe was one of thre thynges, & it was proued to the soule. euerye soule of reason hath two thynges of steryng lyfe, one in vertue and another in the bodily workynge: and whan the soule is the maister ouer the body, than is a man maister of hym selfe: & a mā to be a maister ouer him selfe, lyueth in vertue and in goodnesse, & as reson of vertue techeth, so the soule & the bo∣dy worchyng vertue togider lyuen resonable lyfe, which clerkes clepen felycite in lyueng, and theryn is the hye way to this knot, these olde philosophers that hadden no knowyng of diuyne grace of kyndly reason alone, wen∣den that of pure nature, wythoutē any helpe of grace, me might haue yshoued thother ly∣uenges, resonablye haue I lyued: and for I thynke herafter, yf god woll (& I haue space) thylk grace after my leude knowyng declare: I leaue it as at thys tyme. But (as I sayd) he that outforth loketh after y^e wayes of this knotte, connyng with which he shulde know the way inforth slepeth for the tyme, wher∣fore he that wol this way knowe must leaue the lokyng after false wayes outforth, & opē the eyen of hys conscience and vnclose hys herte. Seest nat he that hath trust in the bo∣dily lyfe is so besy bodily woūdes to anoynt in kepynge frome smert (for all out may they nat be healed) that of woundes in hys true vnderstandynge he taketh no hede, the kno∣wynge euenforth slepeth so harde, but anone as in knowyng a wake, than gynneth y^e pre∣uy medicines for healyng of his trewe entēt, inwardes lightly healeth conscience yf it be wel handled. Than must nedes these wayes come out of the soule by ste••yng lyfe of the bo¦dy, & els maye no man come to perfyte blysse of this knotte: and thus by this waye he shal come to the knot, and to the perfyte selynesse that he wende haue had in bodilye goodes outforthe? Yea ({quod} I) shall he haue bot••e knotte, riches, power, dignite, and renome in this maner waye? Ye ({quod} she) y^t shall I shewe the. Is he nat riche that hath suffisaunce, and hath the power that no man may amaistriē? Is nat gret dignite to haue worshyp and re∣uerēce? & hath he nat glorie of renome whose name perpetuall is duryng? and out of nom∣bre

in comparation? These be thynges that men wenen to getten out forth ({quod} I). Ye ({quod} she) they that loken after a thyng that nouʒt is therof in al ne in partie, longe mowe they gapen after: That is soth ({quod} I:) therfore ({quod} she) they that sechen gold in grene trees▪ and wene to gader precyous stones amonge vy∣nes, and layne her nettes in mountaynes to fysh, & thynkē to hunt in depe sees after hart & hynde, and sechen in erth thylke thynges that surmoūteth heuen, what may I of hem say? but folyshe ignoraunce mysledeth wan∣dryng wretches by vncouth wayes that shul¦den be forleten, and maketh hem blynde fro the ryght pathe of trewe way that shuld ben vsed. Therfore in generall erroure in man∣kynde, departeth thylke goodes by mysse se∣chynge, whyche he shulde haue hole and he sought by reason. Thus gothe he begyled of that he sought, in hys hode men haue blowe a iape. Nowe ({quod} I) yf a man be vertuous & all in vertue lyueth, howe hathe he all these thynges? That shall I prouen ({quod} she) what power hathe anye man to let another of ly∣uēg in vertue? for prisonmēt or any other di∣sese, he taketh it paciently, discōfyteth he nat, the tyraunt ouer hys soule no power maye haue? Than hathe that man so tourmented suche power, that he nyll be discōfit, ne ouer∣come may he nat ben, sythen pacience in hys soule ouercometh, and as nat ouercomen. Suche thyng that may nat be a maistred, he hath nede to nothyng, for he hath suffisaunce ynowe to helpe him selfe. And thylke thyng that thus hath power and suffysaunce, & no tyrant may it reue, & hath dignyte to sette at nought all thynges, here it is a great dignite that deth may a maistry. Wherfore thilk po∣wer suffisaunce so enclosed wyth dignyte, by all reson renome must haue. Thys is thylke ryches w^t suffisance ye shulde loke after: thys is thilke worshipful dignite ye shulde coueyt this is thylke power of myght, in whyche ye shulde truste, this is the ilke renome of glorie that endlesse endureth, and all nys but sub∣staunce in vertuous lyueng. Certes ({quod} I) all thys is sothe, & so I se well that vertue with ful gripe encloseth al these thīges. Wherfore in sothe I may saye, by my trouth, vertue of my Margarite brouʒt me first in to your ser∣uice, to haue knytting with that iewel, nat so¦dayn longinges ne folkes smale wordes, but onely our cōuersation togider: & thā I seinge thentent of her trewe menyng w^t florishyng vertue of pacience, that she vsed nothynge in yuel, to quyte the wicked leasynges that false tonges ofte in her haue layde, I haue sey it my selfe, goodlye foryeuenesse hathe spronge out of her herte, vnite and accorde aboue all other thynges she desyreth in a good meke maner, and suffereth many wicked tales.

TRewly lady t〈…〉〈…〉 it were a gret worship, ••••at such thyn¦ges by due chastysment were amended. Yea ({quod} she) I haue the excused, al suche thynges as yet mowe nat be redressed thy Margarytes vertue I commende well the more that paciently such anoyes suffreth. Dauid kynge was meke and suffred mokell hate and manye yuell speches: no dispyte ne shame that his enemis him deden, might nat moue pacience out of hys herte, but euer in one plyte mercy he vsed. Wherfore god hym selfe toke rewarde to the thynges, and therō suche punyshement let fall. Trewely by rea∣son it ought be ensample of drede to all ma∣ner peoples myrthe. A man vengeable in wrathe no gouernaūce in punishment ought to haue. Plato had a cause hys seruaunt to scoure, and yet cleaped he hys neyghbour to perfourme the doynge, hym selfe wolde nat, lest wrath had hym a maistred, & so might he haue layde on to moche: euermore grounded vertue sheweth thentent fro within, & trew∣ly I wott well for her goodnesse and vertue, thou hast desyred my seruyce to her pleasance well the more, and thy selfe therto fully haste profered. Good lady ({quod} I) is vertue the hye waye to thys knot, that long we haue yhand¦led? ye for sothe ({quod} she) and wythout vertue goodlye thys knotte maye nat be goten. Ah nowe I se (quod I) howe vertue in me fay∣leth, and I as a seer tre wythout burionyng or frute alwaye welke, & so I stonde in dys∣peyre of thys noble knotte, for vertue in me hathe no maner workynge. A wyde where a∣boute haue I trauayled. Peace ({quod} she) of thy fyrst way thy traueyle is in ydel, and as tou∣chynge the seconde way, I se well thy mea∣nyng. Thou woldest cōclude me yf thou cou∣dest, bycause I brought the to seruyce, and euery of my seruātes I helpe to come to this

blysse, as I sayd here beforne: & thou saydest thy selfe, thou myghtest nat be holpē as thou wenyst, bycause that vertue in the fayleth, & thys blysse perfytly without vertue may nat be goten, thou wenest of these wordes con∣tradiction to folowe. Parde at the hardest I haue no seruaunt but he be vertuous in dede and thoughe I brought the in my seruyce, yet arte thou nat my seruant: but I say, thou myght so werche in vertue herafter, that thā shalt thou be my seruante, and as for my ser∣uaunt acompted. For habyt maketh no mōke ne wearynge of gylte spurres maketh no knyght. Neuer the later, in conforte of thyne herte, yet wol I otherwyse answere. Certes lady ({quod} I tho) so ye must nedes, or els I had nyghe caught suche a cordiacle for sorowe, I wotte it well I shulde it neuer haue recoue∣red. And therfore nowe I praye to enforme me in this, or els I holde me wythout reco∣uerye. I maye nat longe endure tyll thys les∣son be lerned, and of this myschefe the reme∣dy knowen. Nowe ({quod} she) be nat wrothe, for there is no man on lyue that maye come to a precious thynge longe coueyted, but he som∣tyme suffre tenefull diseases, and wenyst thy selfe to ben vnlyche to all other▪ that may nat ben: And with the more sorowe that a thyng is getten, the more he hath•• ioye, the ylke thynge afterwardes to kepe, as it fareth by chyldren in schole that for lernynge arne bea∣ten, whan theyr lesson they foryetten, com∣mēly after a good disciplynyng with a yerde they kepe ryght wel doctryne of theyr schole.

RIght wyth these wordes, on thys lady I threwe vp myne eyen to se her countenaunce and her chere, and she apercey¦uynge thys fantasye in myne herte, gan her semblaūt good¦ly on me caste, and sayde in this wyse.

It is well knowe, bothe to Reason and ex¦perience in doyng, euery actyue worcheth on hys passyue, and whan they ben togider, ac∣tyue and passyue ben ycleaped by these philo¦sophers, yf fyre be in place chafynge thynge able to be chafed or hete, and thylke thynges ben sette in suche a distaūce that the one may werche, the other shall suffre. Thylke Mar∣garite thou desyrest is ful of vertue, and able to be actyue in goodnesse: but euery herbe she weth his vertue outforthe from within, the sonne yeueth lyght that thynges may be sey. Euery fyre heteth thylke thyng y^t it neyghed and it be able to be hete, vertue of this Mar∣garite outforth wrethe, and nothyng is more able to suffre worching or worke catch of the actyfe, but passyfe of the same actyfe, and no passyfe to vertues of thys Margaryte, but y^t in all my donet can I fynde, so that her ver∣tue must nedes on the werche, in what place euer thou be, within distaūce of her worthy∣nesse, as her very passyfe thou arte closed: but vertue may the nothyng profyte, but thy de∣syre be perfourmed and all thy sorowes cea∣sed. Ergo through werchynge of her vertue thou shalte easely ben holpen and driuen out of all care, and welcome to this ionge by the desyred. Lady ({quod} I) thys is a good lesson in gynnyng of my ioye: but wete ye wel for∣sothe, though I suppose she haue moche ver∣tue, I wolde my spousayle were proued, and than maye I lyue out of doute, and reioyce me gretly in thynkyng of tho vertues so she∣wed. I herde the say (quod she) at my begyn¦nyng whan I receyued the fyrste for to serue that thy iewel, thylke Margaryte thou desy¦rest, was closed in a muskle with a blew 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ Ye forsothe ({quod} I) so I sayd, and so it is 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ({quod} she) euery thyng kyndely sheweth 〈…〉〈…〉 thys iewell closed in a blewe shel, excelle•••• of coloures sheweth vertue frome wyt•••••• and so euery wight shulde rather loke to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 propre vertue of thynges, thā to hys fora•••••• goodes. If a thynge be engendred of g•••••••• mater, comenly and for the more parte it ••••••loweth after the congelement vertue of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fyrste mater, and it be not corrupt with vy∣ces, to procede with encrease of good vertues eke right so it fareth of badde. Trewly great excellence in vertue of lynage, for the more parte discendeth by kynde to the successyon in vertues to folowe. Wherfore I saye, the co∣lours of euery Margarite sheweth frō with∣in the fynesse in vertue. Kyndely heuen whan mery wether is a lofte, apereth in mānes eye of coloure in blewe, stedfastnesse in peace be∣tokenyng within and without: Margaryt is engendred by heuenly dewe, & sheweth in it selfe by fynenesse of coloure, whether the en∣gendrure were maked on morowe or on eue: thus sayth kynd of this perle. This precious

Margaryte that thou seruest, sheweth it self dyscended by nobley of vertue from thys he∣uenlych dewe, norished and congeled in meke¦nesse, that mother is of all vertues, and by werkes that men sene withouten the signyfi∣cation of the coloures, ben shewed mercy and pytie in the herte wyth peace to al other, and all thys is yclosed in a muskle, who so redily these vertues lokē. All thyng that hath soule is reduced in to good by meane thynges, as thus: In to god man is reduced by soules re∣sonable, and so forthe beestes or bodyes that mowe not mouen, after place ben reduced in to manne, by beestes meue that mouyn from place to place: so that thylke bodyes that han felynge soules, and moue not frome places, holdē the lowest degree of soulynge thynges in felynge, and suche ben reduced in to man by meanes. So it foloweth, the muskle as mother of al vertues, halte the place of meke∣nesse to hys lowest degree discendeth downe of heuen, and there by a maner of virgyne en¦gendrure arne these Margaretes engendred and afterwarde congeled. Made not meke∣nesse so low the hye heuen to enclose & catche out therof so noble a dewe, that after cōgele∣ment a Margaryte wyth endelesse vertue & and euerlastyng ioy was wyth full vessell of grace yeuen to euery creature, that goodlye wolde it receyue. Certes ({quod} I) these thyn∣ges ben ryght noble, I haue er thys herde these same sawes. Than ({quod} she) thou woste well these thynges ben sothe▪ yea forsothe ({quod} I) at the full. Nowe ({quod} she) that thys Margaryte is full of vertue it is well pro∣ued, wherfore some grace, some mercye a∣monge other vertues, I wotte ryght wel on the shall discende▪ ye ({quod} I) yet wolde I haue better declared vertues in thys Margaryte, kyndely to ben grounded. That shal I shewe the ({quod} she) and thou woldest it lerne? Lerne ({quod} I) what nedeth suche wordes: wete ye nat well lady youre selfe that all my cure, all my dyligence, and all my might haue turned by your counsayle, in plesaunce of that perle all my thought and all my studye, with your helpe desyreth, in worshyppe thylke iewel to encrease all my trauayle and al my besynesse in youre seruyce, thys Margaryte to gladde in somehalue: me were leauer her honoure, her pleasaunce, and her good chere thorowe me for to be mayntayned and kepte, and I of suche thynge in her lykynge to be cause, than al y^e welthe of bodyly goodes ye coude reckē And wolde neuer god, but I put my selfe in great ieoperdye of all that I wolde, that is nowe no more but my lyfe alone, rather than I shulde suffre thylke iewell in anye poynt ben blemyshed, as ferre as I may suf∣fre, and wyth my myghtes stretche. Suche thynge ({quod} she) maye mokel further thy grace and the in my seruyce auaunce. But nowe (quod Loue) wylte thou graunte me thylke Margaryte to ben good? O good good ({quod} I) why tempte ye me and tene wyth suche maner speche: I wolde graunte that, though I shulde anone dye, and by my trouthe fyght in the quarell, yf any wyght wolde countre∣plede. It is so moche the lighter ({quod} Loue) to proue our entent.

Ye ({quod} I) but yet wolde I here howe ye wolde proue that she were good by reasona∣ble skyl, that it mowe not ben denyed, for al∣thoughe I knowe and so dothe many other, manyfolde goodnesse & vertue in this Mar∣garyte ben prynted, yet some men there ben that no goodnesse spekē: and wher euer your wordes ben herde and your reasons ben she∣wed, suche yuell spekers lady by auctorite of your excellence, shullen ben stopped & asha∣med. And more they that han none acquayn∣taunce in her persone, yet mowe they knowe her vertues, and ben the more enformed in what wyse they mowe sette theyr hertes, whan hem lyste in to your seruyce any entre make: for trewly al thys to begynne, I wote well my selfe that thylke iewel is so precious perle, as a womanly woman in her kynde, in whome of goodnesse, of vertue, and also of answerynge, shappe of lymmes, and fetures so well in all poyntes acordyng, nothyng fay¦leth: I leue that kynde her made wyth great studye, for kynde in her person nothyng hath foryet, and that is well sene. In euery good wyghtes herte she hath grace of commen∣dynge and of vertuous praysyng. Alas that euer kynde made her deedely saue onely in that I wot well, that Nature in fourmyng of her in no thynge hathe erred.

CErtes ({quod} Loue) thou hast well begonne, and I aske the thys questyon: Is not in generall euerye thynge good? I not ({quod} I) No ({quod} she) sawe not god euerye thynge that he made, and werne ryght good? Than is wonder ({quod} I) howe yuell thynges comen a place, sythen that al thynges weren right good. Thus ({quod} she) I woll declare eueryche qualyte and eue¦ry action, and euery thyng that hath any ma∣ner of beynge it is of god, and god it made, of whom is all goodnesse and all beyng, of him is no badnesse: badde to be is naught: good to be is somwhat, and therfore good and beyng is one in vnderstandyng. Howe may this be ({quod} I) for often han shrewes me assayled, and mokell badnesse therin haue I founden, & so me semeth bad to be somwhat in kynde? Thou shalt ({quod} she) vnderstande that suche maner badnesse, whyche is vsed to purifye wronge doers is somwhat, and god it made and beyng hath, and that is good: other bad∣nesse no beyng hath vtterly, it is in the nega∣tyue of somwhat, and that is naught, and no thyng beyng. The parties essenciall of beyng arne sayde in double wyse, as that it is, and these parties ben founde in euerye creature, for all thynge a this halfe the fyrste beyng is beyng through partycipacion, takyng partye of beyng, so that euerye ••eature is dyfference bytwene beynge and of hym through whom it is & hys owne beyng: ryght as euery good is a maner of beynge, so is it good thorowe beynge, for it is naught other to be: and eue∣ry thynge though it be good it is not of hym selfe good, but it is good by that it is ordina∣ble to the great goodnesse. This dualite after clerkes determission is founden in euery crea¦ture, be it neuer so syngle of onhed. Ye ({quod} I) but there as it is ysayd that god sawe euery thynge of his makyng, and were right good, as youre selfe sayde to me not longe tyme sy∣then. I aske whether euery creature is ysayd good, throughe goodnesse vnfourmed eyther els fourmed, and afterwarde yf it be accepte vtterly good? I shall saye the ({quod} she) these great passed clerkes han deuyded good in to good beyng alone, and that is nothynge but good, for nothynge is good in that wyse but god. Also in good by partycipacion, and that is ycleped good, for farre fette and representa¦tyue of goodly goodnesse, and after thys ma∣nyfolde good is sayd, that is to saye, good in kynde and good in gendre, and good of grace and good of ioye. Of good in kynde Austen saythe, all that ben ben good: But peraunter thou woldest wete whether of hem selfe it be good, or els of anothers goodnesse, for natu∣rel goodnesse of euery substaunce is nothyng els than his substanciall beyng, whiche is y∣cleaped goodnesse, after comparyson that he hath to his fyrste goodnesse, so as it is induc∣tatyfe by meanes in to the fyrste goodnesse. Boece sheweth thys thynge at the full, that this name good is in general name in kynde as it is comparysoned generally to his prin∣cypal ende, whyche is god, knotte of al good¦nesse. Euery creature cryeth god vs made, & so they han full apered to thylke god by af∣fection, suche as to hem longeth: and in thys wyse all thynges ben good of the great god, whyche is good alone. Thys wonder thyng ({quod} I) howe ye haue by manye reasons pro∣ued my fyrst way to be errour and misgoyng and cause of baddesse and feble meuynge in the grounde ye aleged to be roted: whence is it that suche badnesse hathe sprynges, sythen all thynges thus in generall ben good, and badnesse hathe no beynge, as ye haue decla∣red? I wene if al thinges ben good, I might than wyth the fyrst waye in that good haue ended, and so by goodnesse haue comen to blysse in your seruyce desyred. All thynge ({quod} she) is good by beyng in partycipacion out of the fyrst goodnesse, whyche goodnesse is cor∣rupte by badnesse, and badde meanyng ma∣ners: god hathe in good thynges that they ben good by beyng, and not in yuel, for there is absence of ryghtfull loue, for badnesse is nothynge but onelye yuell wyll of the vser, and through gyltes of the doer, wherfore at the gynnyng of the worlde, euery thynge by hym selfe was good, and in vnyuersall they werne ryght good. An eye or a hande is fay∣rer and betterer in a body sette in his kyndely place, than from the body disceuered. Euerye thing in his kyndly place being kyndly, good dothe werche, and out of that place voyded, it dissolueth and is defouled him selue. Oure noble god in glyterāde wyse by armony this worlde ordeyned, as in purtreytures storyed wyth colours medled, in whyche blacke and

other derke coloures cōmenden the golden & the asured paynture, euerye putte in kyndely place one besyde another, more for other gly∣tereth: right so lytle fayre maketh right fayre more glorious, and right so of goodnesse and of other thynges in vertue. Wherfore other badde, and not so good perles as thys Mar∣garyte that we han of this matter, yeuen by the ayre lytell goodnesse and lytell vertue, ryght mokell goodnesse and vertue in thy Margaryte to ben proued, in shynynge wyse to be founde and shewed. Howe shulde euer goodnesse of peace haue ben knowe, but yf vnpeace somtyme reygne, and mokell yuell wrothe? Howe shulde mercy ben proued and no trespeace were, by due iustifycacion to be∣punysshed? Therfore grace and goodnesse of a wyght is founde, the soroufull hertes in good meanynge to endure, ben comforted, vnyte and accorde bytwene hertes knytte in ioye to abyde. What wenest thou I reioyce or els accompte hym amonge my seruaūtes that pleaseth Pallas, in vndoynge of Mer∣curye, all be it that to Pallas he be knytte by tytle of lawe, not accordyng to reasonable cō∣science: and Mercurye in doynge haue grace to ben suffered: or els hym that weneth the moone for fayrenesse of the eue sterre. Lo o∣therwhyle by nyghtes lyght of the moone, greatlye comforteth in derke thoughtes and blynde. Vnderstandyng of loue yeueth great gladnesse: who so lyste not byleue whan a sothe tale is shewed, adewe and a deblys his name is entred. Wyse folke and worthy in gentyllesse bothe of vertue and of lyuyng ye∣uen full credence in sothnesse of loue wyth a good hert, there as good euydence or expe∣ryence in doynge sheweth not the contrarye. Thus myghtest thou haue full prefe in thy Margarytes goodnesse, by commendement of other iewels badnesse, and yuelnesse in doynge. Stoundemele diseases yeueth seue∣rall houres in ioye.

Nowe by my trouthe ({quod} I) thys is well declared that my Margaryte is good, for sy∣then other ben good, and she passeth manye other in goodnesse and vertue, wherthrough by maner necessarye she muste be good: and goodnesse of thys Margaryte is no thynge els but vertue, wherfore she is vertuous, and yf there fayled any vertue in any syde, there were lacke of vertue: badde nothynge els is ne maye be, but lacke and wante of good and goodnesse, and so shulde she haue that same lacke, that is to saye badde, and that maye not be, for she is good, and that is good me∣thynketh all good: and so by consequence me semeth vertuous and no lacke of vertue to haue. But the sonne is not knowe but he shyne, ne vertuous herbes but they haue het kynde werchynge, ne vertue but it stretche in goodnesse or profyte to another, is no vertue▪ Than by all wayes of reason, sythen mercye and pytie ben moste commended amonge o∣ther vertues, and they myght neuer ben she∣wed refreshement of helpe and of comforte, but nowe at my moste nede, and that is the kynde werkynge of these vertues: trewely I wene I shall not varye frome these helpes. Fyre and yf he yeue non heate, for fyre is not demed. The sonne but he shyne for sonne is not accompted, water but it wete, the name shall ben chaunged. Vertue but it werche of goodnesse dothe it fayle, and in to his contra∣rye the name shall ben reuersed, and these bē impossyble: wherfore the contradictorie that is necessarye, nedes muste I leue.

Certes ({quod} she) in thy person and out of thy mouthe these wordes lyen well to ben sayd, and in thyne vnderstandyng to be leued, as in entent of thys Margaryte alone: and here now my speche in cōclusyon of these wordes.

IN these thynges ({quod} she) that me lyst now to shew openly, shal be founde the mater of thy sycknesse, & what shal ben y^e medicyn that may be thy sorowes lysse and comfort, as well the as al other that amysse haue erred, & out of the way walked, so that any drope of good wyll in amendement ben dwelled in theyr hertes. Prouerbes of Salomon openly tea∣cheth, howe somtyme an innocent walkyd by the waye in blyndnesse of a derke nyght, whom mette a woman (yf it be lefely to saye) as a strumpet arayed, redily purueyed in tur¦nynge of thoughtes with veyne ianglynges and of rest inpacient by dissymulacion of my termes, sayeng in thys wyse: Come & be we

dronken of our swete pappes, vse we couey∣tous collynges. And thus drawen was this innocent, as an oxe to the larder. Ladye ({quod} I) to me this is a queynte thynge to vnder∣stonde: I praye you of this parable declare me the entent. This innocent ({quod} she) is a scholer lernynge of my lore, in seckyng of my blysse, in whyche thynge the daye of hys thought turnyng enelyneth in to eue, and the sonne of verye lyght faylinge, maketh derke nyght in hys connynge. Thus in derkenesse of many doutes he walketh, and for blynde∣nesse of vnderstandynge, he ne wote in what waye he is in: forsothe suche one may lightly ben begyled. To whome came loue fayned, not clothed of my lyuery, but vnlefull iustye habyte, wyth softe spech and mery, and with fayre honyed wordes heretykes & mysse me∣nynge people skleren and wymplen theyr er∣rours. Austen wytnesseth of an heretyke that in hys fyrst begynnynge he was a man right expert in resones, and swete in hys wordes, and the werkes myscorden. Thus fareth fay∣ned loue in her fyrst werchynges: thou kno∣west these thynges for trewe, thou haste hem proued by experience. Somtyme in doyng to thyn owne person, in which thyng thou hast founde mater of mokel dysease, was not fay∣ned loue redely purueyed thy wyttes to catch and tourne thy good thoughtes? trewlye she hath wounded the conscience of many wyth floryshynge of mokel ianglynge wordes: and good worthe thanked I it for no glose, I am gladde of my prudence thou haste so manlye her veyned. To me arte thou moche holden, that in thy kynde course of good meanyng I returne thy mynde: I trow ne had I shewed the thy Margarite, thou haddest neuer retur¦ned. Of fyrste in good parfyte ioye was euer fayned loue impaciēt, as the water of Siloe whyche euermore floweth wyth stylnesse & priuy noyse, tyll it come nyghe the brynke, & then gynneth it so out of measure to bolne, with nouelleries of chaūgynge stormes, that in course of euery rennynge it is in poynte to spyll al his circuite of cankes. Thus fayned loue priuelye at the fullest of hys flowynge, newe stormes debate to arayse. And all be it that Mercurius often wyth hole vnderstan∣dynge knowen suche peryllous matters, yet Venetiens so lusty ben and so leude in theyr wyttes, that in suche thynges ryght lytell or nought done they fele, & wryttē and cryen to theyr felawes: here is blysse, here is ioy, and thus into one same erroure, mokel folke they drawen. Come they sayne, and be we dron∣ken of our pappes, that ben fallas and lyenge glose, of whych mowe they not souke mylke of helthe, but deedlye venym and poyson cor∣rupcyon of sorowe. Mylke of fallas, is ve∣nym of dyscryte: Mylke of lyeng glose is ve¦nym of corrupcion. Lo what thynge cometh out of these pappes: vse we coueyted collyn∣ges, desyre we and meddle we false wordes wyth sote, and sote wyth false, trewly this is the sorynesse of fayned loue, nedes of these surfettes sycknesse must folowe. Thus as an oxe to thy langoryng deth were thou drawe, the sote of the smoke hath y^e all defased. Euer the deper thou somtyme wadest y^e soner thou it founde: yf it had the kylled it had be lytell wonder. But on that other syde my trewe seruaūt not faynen ne dysceyue conne, sothly theyr doynge is open, my foundement endu∣reth, be the burthē neuer so great, euer in one it lasteth: it yeueth lyfe and blysful goodnesse in the last endes, though the gynnynges ben sharpe. Thus of two contraryes, contrarye ben the effectes. And so thylke Margaryte thou seruest shall sene the by her seruyce oute of peryllous trybulacyon delyuered, bycause of her seruyce into newe dysease fallen, by hope of amendement in the laste ende, wyth ioye to be gladded, wherfore of kynde pure, her mercy wyth grace of good helpe shall she graūt, and els I shal her so straine, that with pyte shall she ben amaystred. Remembre in thyne herte how horrybly somtyme to thyne Margaryte thou trespasest, and in a greate wyse ayenst her thou forfeytest: clepe aye thy mynde, and know thyne owne gyltes. What goodnesse, what bountye, wyth mokell folo∣wynge pyte founde thou in that tyme? were thou not goodlye accepted into grace? by my pluckynge was she to foryeuenesse enclyned. And after I her styred to drawe the to house and yet wendest thou vtterlye for euer haue ben refused. But well thou wost, sythen that I in suche sharpe dysease might so greatly a∣uayle, what thynkest in thy wyt? howe ferre maye my wytte stretche? And thou lache not on thy syde I wol make the knotte: Certes in thy good beryng I wol acorde with the psau¦ter. I haue foūde Dauid in my seruice trewe

and with holy oyle of peace and of rest longe by hymdesyred, vtterly he shalbe anoynted. Truste well to me, and I woll the not fayle. The leuynge of y^e fyrst waye with good hert of continuaunce, that I se in the grounded, thys purpose to perfourme, draweth me by maner of cōstraining, that nedes must I ben thyne helper: although myrth a whyle be ta∣ryed, it shall come at suche season, that thy thought shall ben ioyed. And wolde neuer god, sythē thyne herte to my reasons arne as∣sented, and openlye haste confessed thyne a∣mysse goynge, and nowe cryest after mercye, but yf mercy folowed: thy blisse shal ben redy ywys, thou ne wost howe sone. Nowe be a good chylde I rede. The kynde of vertues in thy Margarite rehersed, by strength of me in thy person shul werche. Comforte the in this for thou mayst not myscary. And these wor∣des sayde, she streyght her on lengthe and re∣sted a whyle.

¶Thus endeth the seconde booke, and here after foloweth the thyrde boke.

OF nōbre sayne these cler∣kes y^t it is naturell sūme of discrete thinges, as in tellynge one, two, thre & so forth: but amonge all nombres thre is determi¦ned for moste certayne. Wherfore in nombre certayne this werke of my besy leudnesse I thynke to ende and par∣fourme. Ensample by thys world in thre ty∣mes is deuyded: of whych the fyrst is cleped Demacion, that is to say, goyng out of trewe way, and al that tho deyden, in hel were they punyshed for a mans synne, tyll grace & mer∣cy fette hem thence, and there ended the fyrste tyme. The seconde tyme lasteth from the cō∣mynge of merciable grace, vntyll the ende of transytory tyme, in whyche is shewed y^e true way in fordoyng of the badde, and that is y∣cleped tyme of grace: and that thynge is not yeuen by deserte of yeldynge one benefyte for another, but onely through goodnesse of the yeuer of grace in thilke tyme. Who so cā well vnderstande, is shapen to be saued in souled blysse. The thyrd tyme shal gyn when trāsy∣tory thynges of worldes han made their end and that shal ben in ioye, glory, and rest, both body and soule, that well han deserued in the tyme of grace. And thus in that heuen togy∣ther shul they dwel perpetuelly without any ymaginatyfe yuel in any halue. These tymes are fygured by tho thre dayes that oure god was closed in erthe, and in the thyrde arose, shewynge our resurrection, to ioye and blysse of tho that it deseruē, by his merciable grace. So this leud boke in thre maters accordaūt to tho tymes, lyghtly by a good inseer maye ben vnderstande, as in the fyrste erroure of mysse goynge is shewed, with sorowful pyne punyshed is cryed after mercye. In the secōde is grace in good waye proued, whyche is fay¦lynge wythout deserte, thylke fyrst mysse a∣mendynge in correction of tho erroures and euen waye to brynge, wyth comforte of wel∣fare into amendement wexynge. And in the thyrde ioye and blysse graunted to hym that well canne deserue it, and hath sauour of vn∣derstandynge in the tyme of grace. Thus in ioye of my thyrd boke shal the mater be tyl it ende. But speciall cause I haue in my hert to make this processe of a Margarit peerle, that is so precious a gēme with clere and lytel, of which stones or iewel, y^e tōges of vs English people turneth y^e right names, & clepeth hem Margery perles: thus varieth our speche frō many other langages. For trewly Latyn, Frenche, and many mo other langages clea∣peth hem Margery perles, the name Marga∣rites or Margaryte perles: wherfore in that denominacion I wol me acorde to other mēs tonges, in that name clepyng. These clerkes that treaten of kyndes, & studyen out the pro∣pertye there of thynges, sayne the Margarit is a lytel whyte perle, throughout holowe & rounde, and vertuous, and on the see sydes in the more Britayne in muskel shelles of y^e hea¦uenly dewe the best ben engendred: in which by experience ben founde thre fayre vertues. One is, it yeueth comforte to the felyng spiri¦tes in bodely persones of reason. Another is good, it is profytable helth ayenst passyons of sorye mēs hertes. And the thyrd it is nede∣ful and noble in staunchyng of bloode, there els to moche wolde out ren. To whych perle and vertues me lyst to lyken at this tyme phi¦losophie wyth her thre speces, that is naturel and moral, and resonable: of whych thynges hereth what sayne these great clerkes. Philo¦sophye

is knowyng of deuynly & manly thin¦ges ioyned wyth studye of good lyuyng, and thys stante in two thynges, that is connyng and opinion: connynge is when a thynge by certaine reson is cōceyued. But wretches and fooles and leude men, many wyll conceyue a thynge and maynteyne it as forsoth, though reson be in the contrarye, wherfore connyng is a straūger. Opinion is whyle a thynge is in none certayne, and hydde from mens very knowlegynge, and by no parfyte reson fully declared, as thus: yf the sonne be so moke•• as men wenen, or els yf it be more then the erth For in sothnesse the certayne quantyte of that planet is vnknowen to erthly dwellers, and yet by opinion of some men it is holden for more then mydle erthe. The fyrst spece of phi¦losophye is naturel, whych in kyndely thyn∣ges treten, and sheweth causes of heuen, and strength of kyndely course: as by arsmetryke, geometry, musyke, & by astronomye, teacheth wayes and course of heuens, of planetes, and of sterres aboute heuen and erthe, and other clemetes. The seconde spece is morall, which in order of lyuyng maners techeth, and by re∣son proueth vertues of soule most worthy in our lyuyng, whych ben prudence, iustyce, tem¦peraunce, and strength. Prudence is goodlye wysedome in knowyng of thinges. Strēgth voydeth al aduersitees alyche euen. Tempe∣raunce destroyeth beestial lyuyng, wyth easy bearyng. And iustyce ryghtfully iugeth, and iugyng departeth to euery wyght that is his owne. The thyrde spece turneth into reason of vnderstandynge, al thynges to be said soth and dyscussed, & that in two thynges is deuy∣ded: one is art, another is rethorike, in which two al lawes of mans reason ben grounded or els mayntayned. And for thys booke is all of loue, and therafter beareth hys name, and phylosophie and lawe muste here to acorden by theyr clergiall dyscripciōs: as philosophie for loue of wysedome is declared: Lawe for maynteynaunce of peace is holden, and these with loue must nedes acordē, therfore of hem in this place haue I touched. Ordre of homly thynges & honest maner of lyuyng in vertue, with rightful iugemēt in causes & profitable administracion in cōminaltyes of realmes & cites, by euenhed profitably to raigne, not by synguler auaūtage ne by priue enuy, ne by so¦leyn purpose in couetise of worship or of goo∣des, ben dysposed in opē rule shewed, by loue philosophy, & law, & yet loue toforne al other Wherfore as susterne in vnite they acordē & one ende that is peace & rest, they causen nory¦shynge, & in the ioye maynteynen to endure.

Now then, as I haue declared: my boke a∣cordeth with discripciō of thre thynges, & the Margarit in vertue is lykned to philosophie wyth her thre speces. In whych maters euer twey ben acordaūt with bodely reason, & the thyrde with the soule: But in cōclusion of my boke & of thys Margarit peerle in knyttyng together lawe by thre sondry maners shalbe lykened, y^t is to saye, lawe, ryght, & custome, whych I wold declare: all y^t is lawe cometh of goddes ordynaūce by kyndly worchyng, & thylke thynges ordayned by mānes wyttes arne ycleped ryght, which is ordained by ma¦ny maners & in constitucion wrytten: but cu∣stome is a thynge that is accepted for ryghte or for lawe, there as lawe and ryght faylen, and there is no dyfferēce, whether it come of scrypture or of reason. Wherfore it sheweth that lawe is kyndly gouernaunce: Ryght co∣meth out of mannes probable reason: and cu¦stome is of cōmen vsage by length of tyme v∣sed, and custome not wrytte is vsage, and yf it be wrytte constitucion it is ywrytten and ycleped: But lawe of kynde is cōmen to eue∣ry nation, as coniunction of man and womā in loue, succession of chyldren in heritaunce re¦stitucyon of thynge by strength taken or lent and this lawe amōge al other halte the soue∣raynest gree in worshyp, whych lawe began at the begynnynge of reasonable creature, it varyed yet neuer for no chaungyng of tyme: cause forfothe in ordaynynge of law, was to constrayne mens hardynesse into peace, and wythdrawyng his euell wyl, & turnynge ma¦lyce into goodnesse, and that innocence syker¦ly withouten tenefull anoye amōge shrewes safely myght inhabyte by protection of safe∣conducte, so that y^e shrewes harme for harme by brydle of ferdenesse shulden restrayne. But forsothe in kyndely lawe nothynge is cōmen∣ded, but suche as goddes wil hath cōfyrmed, ne nothyng denyed but cōtrarioustye of god∣des wyl in heauen: eke then all lawes or cu∣stome, or els cōstitucion by vsage or wryting that cōtraryen lawe of kynde, vtterly ben re∣pugnaunt and aduersary to our goddes wyl of heuen. Trewly lawe of kynde for goddes

owne lusty wil is verely to mainteine, vnder which lawe (& vnworthye) both professe and reguler arne obediencer and bounden to this Margarite perle, as by knotte of loues statu¦tes and stablyshment in kynde, whyche that goodlye may not ben wythsetten. Lo vnder this bonde am I constrayned to abyde, and man vnder lyuyng lawe ruled: by that lawe oweth after desertes to be rewarded by payn or by mede, but yf mercy weyue the payne: so then be parte, reasonfully maye be sey, that mercy both ryght and lawe passeth, thentent of al these maters is the lest clere vnderstan∣dynge, to wetē at thende of this thyrde boke ful knowyng thorow goddes grace, I thinke to make neuerthelater, yet yf these thynges haue a good & a sleight inseer, which that can souke hony of the harde stone, oyle of the drye rocke, may lightly fele nobley of mater in my leude ymaginacion closed. But for my boke shalbe of ioye (as I sayde) & I so ferre set fro thylke place, fro whēce gladnesse shuld come, my corde is to shorte to let my boket oughte catch of that water, and fewe men ben about my corde to eche, & many in ful purpose be re∣dy it shorter to make, & to enclose thētre, that my boket of ioy nothing shuld catch, but em∣pty returne, my careful sorowes to encrese, & yf I dye for payne, y^t were gladnesse at theyr hertes. Good lord sende me water into y^e cop of these moūtaynes, & I shall drynke therof, my thurstes to stāch: & sey these be cōfortable welles into helth of goodnesse of my sauiour am I holpen. And yet I say more, the house of ioye to me is not opened. How dare my so∣rowful goost then in any mater of gladnesse thynken to trete? for euer sobbynges & com∣plaintes be redy refrete in his meditaciōs, as werbles in manyfold stoūdes cōmyng about I not then. And therfore what maner of ioye coud•• endite, but yet at dore shal I knocke, yf the key of Dauid wold the locke vnshyt, & he bryng me in, which that chyldrēs tōges both opneth and closeth. Whose spirite, where he wyl worcheth, departing goodly as hī liketh

Now to goddes laude & reuerēce, profit of the reders, amēdemēt of maners of y^e herers, encresyng of worship amōge loues seruaūts, releuyng of my hert into grace of my iewel, & frenshyp plesaūce of thys peerle. I am stered in thys makynge, and for nothynge els: and yf any good thynge to mēnes lykynge in this scripture be founde, thanketh the mayster of grace, whych that of that good and all other is authour, and pryncypall doer. And yf any thynge be insuffycyent or els myslykynge, w^t that that the leudnesse of myne vnable con∣nynge, for body in dysease anoyeth the vnder∣standynge in soule. A dyseasely habitacyon letteth the wyttes many thynges, and name∣ly in sorowe. The custome neuer the later of loue, be longe tyme of seruyce in termes I thynke to pursue, whiche ben lyuely to yeue vnderstandyng in other thynges. But nowe to enform the of thys Margarites goodnesse I may her nat half preyse. Wherfore nat she for my boke, but this boke for her is worthy to be comended, tho my boke be leude: ryght as thynges nat for places, but places for thin¦ges oughten to be desyred and praysed.

NOw ({quod} Loue) trewly thy wortes I haue wel vnderstād. Cettes me thinketh hē right good, & me wō∣dreth why thou so lightlye passest in the lawe. Sothly ({quod} I) my wyt is leude & I am right blynd and that mater depe, how shulde I than haue waded, lightly myght I haue drenched and spylte ther my selfe. Ye ({quod} she) I shall helpe the to swym. For ryght as lawe punisheth brekers of preceptes, and the contrary doers of the written constitutions: ryght so ayenward, lawe rewardeth and ye∣ueth mede to hem that lawe strengthen. By one lawe thys rebel is punished and this in∣nocent is meded, the shrewe is enprisoned & thys ryghtfull is corowned. The same lawe that ioyneth by wedlocke without forsaking, the same lawe yeueth lybel of deperticion by cause of deuorse both demed and declared. Ye ye ({quod} I) I fynde in no lawe to mede and re∣ward in goodnes, the gyltie of desertes. Fole ({quod} she) gyltie cōuerted in your lawe, mykell merite deserueth. Also Paulin of Rome was crowned, that by hym the maynteyners of Pompeus weren knowē & distroyed: & yet to forn was this Paulyn chefe of Pōpeus coū∣sayle. This law in Rome hath yet his name of mesuryng in mede, y^e bewrayeng of the cō∣spiracy, ordayned by tho senatours the dethe. Iulius Cesar is acōpted in to Catons right witnesse, for euer in trouth florisheth his na∣me among the knowers of reason. Perdicas was crowned in y^e heritage of Alexāder the

great, for tellynge of a preuy hate that kinge Porrus to Alexander hadde. wherfore euery wyght by reason of law after his rightwyse¦nesse apertly his mede maychalēge: & so thou that maynteynest lawe of kynde, & therfore disease hast suffred in y^e law, reward is wor∣thy to be rewarded & ordayned, & apartly thy mede might thou chalēge. Certes ({quod} I) thys haue I wel lerned, & euer hēsforward I shal drawe me therafter in onehed of wyl to abyd this lawe both mayntene & kepe, & so hope I best entre into your grace, wel deseruynge in to worship of a wight, without nedful cōpul¦syon, ought medfully to be rewarded. Truly ({quod} Loue) that is sothe, & tho by constitution good seruyce in to profyt & auaūtage stretch, vtterly many mē it demē to haue more desert of mede, thē good wyl not cōpelled. Se now ({quod} I) how may men holden of thys the con∣trary. And what is good seruice•• of you wold I here thys question declared I shall say the ({quod} she) in a fewe wordes, reasonable workin¦ges in plesaunce & profyte of thy souerayne. How shuld I this performe ({quod} I?) Riʒt wel ({quod} she) & here me nowe a lytel. It is hardely ({quod} she) to vnderstande y^e ryghte as mater by due ouerchaūgynges foloweth his perfectiō and his forme: Ryght so euery mā by ryght∣full werkynges ought to folowe the leful de¦syres in hys herte, and se toforne to what end he deserueth, for many tymes he that loketh not after thēdes, but vtterly therof is vnkno∣wen, befalleth oftē many yuels to don, wher through er he be ware shamefully he is con∣founded, thende therof neden to be before lo∣ked to euery desyrer of suche forsyght, in good seruyce thre thynges specially nedeth to be ru¦lers in hys workes. Fyrste that he do good, nexte that he do by election in hys own hert, and the thyrde that he do godlye wythouten any surquedry in thoughtes. That your wer¦kes shulden be good in seruice or in any other actes, authorites many may be aleged neuer the later, by reason thus maye it be shewed. All your werkes be cleped seconde, & mouen in vertue of the fyrst wercher, whych in good workes wrought you to procede, and ryghte so your werkes mouen in to vertue of the last ende, & right in the fyrst workyng were not, no man shulde in the secōde werche. Right so but ye feled to what ende & sene theyr good∣nes closed, ye shulde nomore retche what ye wrought but the gynnynge gan wyth good, and there shall it cease in the last ende, yf it be well consydred. Wherfore the myddle, yf other wayes it drawe then accordaunt to the endes, there stynteth the course of good, and another maner course entreth, & so it is a par∣tye by hym selue, and euery part be not accor∣daunt to hys all, is foule & ought to be esche∣wed. Wherfore euery thynge y^t is wrought•• and be not good, is not accordaūt to the••••es of hys all hole, it is foule, & ought to be with¦drawe. Thus the persons that neyther ••o good ne harme, shamen foule theyr makyng: wherfore wythout workynge of good actes in good seruyce, may no man ben accepted. Trewly the ylke that han myght to do good and done it not, the crowne of worshyp shall be take from hem, and wyth shame shull they be anulled. And so to make one werke accor∣daunt wyth hys endes, euery good seruaunt by reason of cōsequēce muste do good nedes. Certes it suffyseth not alone to do good, but goodly wythall folowe, the thanke of good∣nesse els in nought he deserueth: For ryghte as al your beyng come frō the greatest good in whom all goodnesse is closed. Ryght so your endes ben directe to the same good. Ari∣stotel determineth y^e end & good ben one, & cō¦uertible in vnderstandynge, & he that in wyll doth away good, & he that loketh not to thēd loketh not to good, but he that doth good & doth not goodly, draweth away the dyrectiō of thende not goodly, must nedes be bad. Lo badde is nothyng els, but absence or negatyf of good, as derknesse is absence or negatyue of lyght. Then he that doth goodly, dyrecteth thylke good in to thende of badde: So must thyng not good folowe, eke badnesse to suche folke ofte foloweth. Thus contrariant wor∣kers of thende that is good, ben worthy the contrary of thēde y^t is good to haue. How ({quod} I) may any good dede be done, but yf goodly it helpe: Yes ({quod} Loue) the deuell doth many good dedes, but goodly he leueth behynd, for euen badly & in disceyuable wyse he worketh wherfore the cōtrary of thende him foloweth And do he neuer so many good dedes, bicause goodly is away, his goodnes is not rekened. Lo then tho a mā do good, but he do goodly thende in goodnesse wol not folowe, & thus in good seruice both good dede & goodly don musten ioyne together, & that it be don wyth

free choise in hert: & els deserueth he not y^t me¦rite in goodnesse, y^e woll I proue, for yf thou do any thyng good by chaūce or by happe, in what thyng art thou therof worthy to be cō∣mended▪ for nothynge by reason of y^e turneth into thy praysyng ne lackyng. Lo thilke thīg done by hap by thy wyl is not caused, & ther∣by shulde I thanke or lacke deserue: & sythen that fayleth, thende whych that wel shuld re∣warde, must nedes faile. Clerkes sayn, no mā but wyllyng is blessed, a good dede y^t he hath done is not done of fre choyse willyng, with out which blyssednesse may not folowe. Er∣go neither thāke of goodnesse ne seruice in y^t is cōtrary of the good ende, so thē to good ser¦uice lōged good dede goodly don, thorow fre choice in hert. Truely ({quod} I) this haue I wel vnderstande. Wel ({quod} she) euery thynge thus done sufficiētly by lawe, that is cleped iustice after reward clayme. For lawe & iustice was ordained in this wyse, suche desertes in good¦nesse after quantite in doynge, by mede to re∣warde, & of necessite of such iustice, y^t is to say ryghtwisenesse was fre choice in deseruynge of wel or of yuel graūted to resonable creatu¦res. Euery man hath fre arbitremēt to chose good or yuel to performe. Now ({quod} I tho) yf I by my good wyl deserue this Margarite perle & am not therto cōpelled, and haue free choice to do what me lyketh: She is thē hol∣den as me thinketh to rewarde thentēt of my good wyl. Goddes forbode els ({quod} Loue) no wiʒt meaneth otherwyse I trowe, fre wyl of good hert after mede deserueth. Hath euerye man ({quod} I) free choice by necessarye maner of wyl in euery of his doynges, y^t him lyketh by goddes proper purueyance? I wolde se y^e wel declared to my leude vnderstādynge, for necessary & necessyte ben wordes of mokel en¦tencion, closyng (as to saye) so mote it be ne∣des & otherwyse maye it not betyde. Thys shalt thou lerne ({quod} she) so thou take hede in my speche. Yf it were not in mānes owne ly∣berte of fre wyl to do good or bad, but to the one tyed by bonde of goddes preordinaunce: Thē do he neuer so well it were by nedefull cōpulcion of thilke bonde & not by fre choice, wherby nothyng he deserueth, & do he neuer so yuel it were not man for to wyte, but one∣lyche to hym that such thynge ordayned hym to done. Wherfore he ne ought for bad be pu∣nyshed, ne for no good dede be rewarded, but of necessite of ryghtwysnesse was ther∣fore free choice of arbitremente put in mans proper dispositiō: truely yf it were otherwise it cōtraryed goddes charite, y^e badnes & good¦nesse rewardeth after deserte of payne or of mede. Me thynketh this wōder ({quod} I) for god by necessite forwote al thynges cōmyng, and so mote it nedes be: & thylke thynges y^t bene done be our fre choice comen nothynge of ne∣cessite but onely by wyll: Howe maye thys stande togyther? and so me thynketh truely, that fre choice fully repugneth goddes for we¦tynge. Truly lady me semeth they mowe not stande together.

THen gan loue nygh me nere, & with a noble coūtenaūce of vysage & lymmes, dressed her nygh my sytting place. Take forth ({quod} she) thy pen & redely wryt these wordes, for if god wol, I shal hem so enforme to the, y^t thy leud¦nesse which I haue vnderstād in that mater, shal openly be clered, & thy sight in ful loking therin amēded. Fyrst if thou thinke that god∣des prescience repugne lyberte of arbytrye of arbitrement, it is impossible y^t they shuld ac∣corde in onheed of soth to vnderstādyng. Yea ({quod} I) forsoth so I it cōceyue. Well ({quod} she) yf thylke impossible were away, the repugnāce that semeth to be therin, were vtterlye remo∣ued. Shewe me y^e absence of that impossibi∣lite ({quod} I.) So ({quod} she) I shall. Nowe I sup∣pose y^t they mowe stāde together, presciēce of god whō foloweth necessite of thīges cōming & lyberte of arbitremēt, thorow whych thou beleuest many thīges to be without necessite Both these proporcions be sothe ({quod} I) & wel mowe stāde together, wherfore thys case as possible I admyt. Truly ({quod} she) & this case is impossible. Howe so ({quod} I). For herof ({quod} she) foloweth & wexeth another īpossible. Proue me that ({quod} I), that I shal ({quod} she) for sothyng is cōmyng without necessite, & god wot that toforne, for althīg cōmyng he before wote, & that he beforne wot of necessite is cōming: as he beforne wot be y^e case by necessary maner then, or els thorow necessite is sothyng to be without necessite, & wetherto euery wyght y^t hath good vnderstāding, is sene these thīges to be repugnāt. Presciēce of god, which that foloweth necessite & lyberte of arbytrement,

fro which is remoued necessitie, for trulye it is necessary y^t god haue foreweting of thyng withouten any necessitie cōmynge. Ye ({quod} I) but yet remeue ye not away fro myne vnder standyng, the necessitie folowynge gods be∣forewetyng, as thus. God beforne wote me in seruice of loue to be boūden to this Mar∣garyte perle, & therfore by necessitie thus to loue am I bounde, & yf I not had loued, tho rowe necessitie had I bene kept from al loue dedes. Certes ({quod} loue) bicause this mater is good & necessary to declare, I thynke herein wel to abyde, and not lightly to passe. Thou shalt not ({quod} she) say al only god beforne wot me to be a louer or no louer, but thus: god be forne wot me to be a louer without necessite And so it foloweth whether thou loue or not loue, euery of hem is and shalbe. But nowe thou seest the impossibilitie of the case, and y^e possibilitie of thylke that thou wendest had ben impossyble, wherfore the repugnaunce is adnulled. Ye ({quod} I) & yet do ye not awaye the strengthe of necessitie whan it is sayde: though necessitie it is me in loue to abyde, or not to loue without necessitie for god beforn wot it. This maner of necessitie forsothe se∣meth to some men in to coaction, that is to sayne, constraynyng or els prohibicion that is defendynge▪ wherfore necessitye is me to loue of wyll. I vnderstande me to be con∣strayned by some priuy strength to the wyll of louynge, and if no loue to be defended frō the wyll of louyng, and so thorow necessitie me semeth to loue, for I loue, or elles not to loue, if I not loue wherthrugh neither thāk ne maugre in tho thynges may I deserue.

Now ({quod} she) thou shalt wel vnderstande, that often we sayne thyng thorow necessitie to be that by no strength to be neyther is co∣acted ne constrayned, and through necessitie not to be, that with no defendynge is remo∣ued, for we sayne it is thorowe necessite god to be immortall nought deedlyche, and it is necessitie god to be ryghtfull, but not that a∣ny strength of vyolente maner constrayneth hym to be immortall, or defendeth him to be vnryghtfull, for nothynge maye make hym deedly or vnryghtful. Ryght so if I say tho∣rowe necessite is the to be a louer or els none onelye thorowe wyll, as god beforne wete: It is not to vnderstande that any thyng de∣fendeth or forbyt, the thy wyll whiche shall not be, or els cōstrayneth it to be which shal∣be: that same thyng forsoth god before wot which he beforne seeth any thynge cōmende of only wyll, that wyl neyther is cōstrayned ne defended thorowe any other thynge: & so thorowe lybertie of arbytrement it is do, y^t is done of wyll. And trulye my good chylde, yf these thynges be wel vnderstond I wene that none inconuenient shalt thou fynde be∣twene gods forwetyng & lybertie of arbytre mēt, wherfore I wot wel they may stand to¦gyder. Also ferthermore, who y^t vnderstan∣dyng of presciēce proprelyche cōsydreth tho∣row the same wyse that any thyng be afore wyst, is sayd for to be cōmyng it is pronoū∣ced, there is nothing to forn wyst, but thyng cōmyng, forewetinge is but of trouth doute may not be wyst: wherfore whā I sey y^t god toforne wot any thyng, thorow necessitie is thilke thyng to be cōmyng, al is one if I sey if it shalbe: but this necessitie neither cōstray¦neth ne defēdeth any thing to be or not to be Therfore sothly yf loue is put to be, it is said of necessitie to be, or els for it is put not to be it is affirmed not to be of necessite: not for y^e necessite cōstraineth or defēdeth loue to be or not to be. For whā I say, if loue shalbe of ne∣cessitie it shalbe, here foloweth necessitie, the thyng toforn put, it is as moche to sey, as yf it were thus pronoūced, y^e thing shalbe: none other thynge signifyeth this necessitye but onely thus, y^t shall be maye not togyder be & not be. Euenlyche also it is sothe, loue was and is, & shalbe, not of necessitie, and nede is to haue be all that was, & nedeful is to be al that is, & cōmyng to all that shalbe: and it is not the same to saye, loue to be passed, & loue passed to be passed, or loue present to be pre∣sent, and loue to be present, or els loue to be commynge, and loue commynge to be com∣mynge: dyuersitye in settynge of wordes, maketh diuersitie in vnderstonding altho in the same sentēce they accordē of significatiō ryght as it is not all one: loue sweete to be swete, & loue to be swete: for moche loue is bitter & sorowful er hertes ben eased, & yet it gladeth thilke sorouful hert on suche loue to thynke. Forsothe ({quod} I) otherwhyle I haue had mokell blys in hert of loue, y^e stou••mele hath me sorily anoyed: & certes lady for I se my selfe this knit with this Margarit perle as by bonde of your seruyce, & of no lybertie

of wyl my hert wil now not accorde this ser¦uice to loue. I can demen in my selfe none o∣therwyse, but thorowe necessitie am I con∣strayned in this seruyce to abyde. But alas than, yf I thorowe nedefull cōpultion ma∣gre me be withholde, lytle thanke for all my great trauayle haue I than deserued. Now ({quod} this lady) I saye as I sayde: Me lyketh this mater to declare at the full, & why? for many men haue had dyuers fantasyes, and reasons, both on one syde thereof & in the o∣ther. Of whiche ryght sone I trowe if thou wolt vnderstōd, thou shalt con yeue the sen∣tence, to the partye more probable by reasō, & in soth knowyng, by y^t I haue of this ma∣ter maked an ende. Certes ({quod} I) of these thī∣ges long haue I had great lust to be lerned, for yet I wene gods wyl & his prescience ac¦cordeth with my seruyce, in louyng of thys precious Margaryte petle. After whō euer in my hert with thurstyng desyre wete I do brenne: vnwastyng I langour & fade, and y^t day of my desteny in deth or in ioy I vnbide but yet in thende I am comforted be my sup¦posayle in blysse, & in ioye to determyne af∣ter my desyres. That thyng ({quod} loue) hastely to the neygh, god graūt of his grace & mer∣cy, and this shalbe my prayer tyl thou be ly∣kende in hert at thyne owne wyll. But now to enfourme the in this mater ({quod} this lady) thou woste where lefte, that was loue to be swete, and loue swete to be swete, is not all one for to saye: for a tree is not alway by ne∣cessitie whyte sometyme er it were whyte, it myght haue be not whyte: & after tyme it is whyte, it maye be not whyte: But a whyte tree euermore nedeful is to be whyte: for nei¦ther toforne ne after it was whyte, myght it be togyther whyte and not whyte. Also loue by necessitie is not present as nowe in y^e for er it were present it myght haue be, that it shulde now not haue be, and yet it may be that it shal not be presente, but thy loue pre∣sent, which to her margarite the hath bond, nedefull is to be present. Truly seme doing of action not by necessitie is cōmyge ferre to forne it be, it maye be that it shal not be com¦myng: thing forsoth comynge nedefull is to be cōmynge, for it may not be that cōmynge shall not be cōmynge: and ryght as I haue sayde of present and of future tymes, y^e same sentence in sothnesse is of the preterit, y^t is to say tyme passed for thīg passed, must nedes be passed, & yet it wer myght haue not be, wherfore it shuld not haue passed. Ryght so whā loue cōming is said of loue y^t is to com¦nedeful is to be y^t is sayd, for thyng cōmyng neuer is not comyng, & so oft the same thing we sayn of the same, as whā we sayn euery man is a man, or euerye louer is a louer, so must it be nedes, in no way may he be mā & no man togyther. And yf it be not by necessi∣tie, that is to say, nedeful al thyng cōmynge to be cōmyng, than som thyng commyng is not cōming, and that is impossible, right as these termes nedefull, necessitie, and neces∣sary betoken and signify thyng nedes to be, & it may not otherwyse be. Ryght these ter∣mes impossyble signifyeth, that thynge is not & by no way may it be, than thorow par¦fyte necessitie, al thyng cōmyng is cōmyng, but that is by necessitie, foloweth with no∣thyng to be cōstrayned: lo whan that com∣myng is sayd of thyng, not alwaye thynge thorowe necessitie is, altho it be commynge. For if I saye tomorowe loue is cōmynge in this Margarites hert, not therfore thorow necessitie shal thilke loue be, yet it maye be y^t it may not be, although it were commynge. Neuerthelater, sōtyme it is soth that some∣thyng be of necessitie, that is sayde to come: as yf I say tomorow by cōmyng the rising of the sun. Yf therfore with necessitie I pro∣nounce cōmynge of thynge to come, in this maner loue to morne cōmynge in thy Mar∣garyte to the warde by necessitie is cōmyng or els the rysyng of the sunne to morne com¦myng, through necessitie is comynge. Loue sothly which may not be of necessitie aloone folowyng, thorowe necessitie cōmynge it is made certayne. For futur of future is sayde, that is to sayne cōmyng of cōminge is saide as if tomorow cōmyng is thorowe necessite cōming it is. Arysyng of the sun thorowe .ii. necessitis in cōming, it is to vnderstād y^e one is to forgoīg necessite, which maketh thing to be, therfore it shalbe, for nedefull is that it be. Another is folowyng necessitie, which nothing cōstrayneth to be, and so by necessi∣te it is to come, why? for it is to come. Now than, whan we sayne, y^e God beforne wote thing cōmyng, nedeful it is to be commyng, yet therfore make we not in certayne, euer∣more thyng to be thorow necessitie cōmyng.

Sothly thynge commynge may not be not cōmynge by no waye, for it is the same sen∣tence of vnderstandyng: as yf we saye thus. Yf god beforne wot any thynge, nedefull is that to be commynge. But yet therfore folo∣weth not the prescience of God, thynge tho∣rowe necessitie to be comyng: for all tho god toforne wote all thynges comynge, yet not therfore he beforne wote euery thynge com∣myng thorowe necessetie. Som thynges he beforne wot commynge of frewyll out of re¦sonable creature. Certes ({quod} I) these termes nede and necessitie, haue a queynte maner of vnderstandynge, they wolde dullen manye mens wyttes. Therfore ({quod} she) I woll hem openly declare, and more clerely thā I haue toforne er I departe hence.

HEre of this mater quod she, thou shalt vnderstande▪ that ryght as it is not nedefull God to wylne, that he wyll, nomore in manye thynges is not nedeful a man to wylne that he woll.

And euer ryght as nedeful is to be what that god woll, ryght so to be it is nedefull, that man woll in tho thynges, whiche that god hath put into mans subiection of wyl∣lynge: as yf a man woll loue, that he loue: & yf he ne wol loue, that he loue not, & of suche other thynges in mans dispositiō. For why nowe than that god woll maye not be, whā he woll the wyll of man thorowe no neces∣sitie to be constrayned or els defended for to wylne, and he woll theffecte to folowe the wyll, than is it nedefull wyll of man to be free, and also to be that he woll. In this ma∣ner it is soth, that thorowe necessitie is mā∣nes werke in louyng, that he wol do althouʒ he woll it not with necessitie. (Quod I) thā how stant it in loue of thylke wyl, sythen mē louē wyllyng of free choyce inhert wherfore yf it be thorowe necessitie, I pray you ladye of an answer this questyon to assoyle. I wil (quod she) answere the blyuely: Ryght as men wyll not thorowe necessitie, ryght so is not loue of wyll thorowe necessitie, ne tho∣rowe necessitie wrought thylke same wyll: for yf he wold it not with good wyl, it shuld not haue ben wrought, although y^t he doeth it is nedefull to be done.

But yf a man do synne, it is nothyng elles but to wyll, that he shulde not: ryght so syn of wyl is not to be maner necessary done, no more than wyll is necessary. Neuerthelater this is soth, yf a man woll synne, it is neces∣sary hym to synne, but though thylke neces∣sitie nothyng is constrayned ne defended in the wyll, ryght so thylke thyng that frewyll woll and may, and not may, not wylne, and nedefull is that to wylne he may not wylne but thilke to wylne nedefull is, for impossy∣ble to hym it is onethyng, and the same to wylne he may not wilne, but thilke to wilne nedefull is: for impossyble to hym it is one thynge, and the same to wylne and notte to wylne. The werke forsoth of wyl to whome it is yeue that it be that he hath in wyll, and that he wol not voluntary of spontany it is, for by spontany wyll it is do, that is to saye with good wyll, not constrayned: than by wyl not constrayned, it is constrayned to be and that is it may not togyther be. Yf thys necessitie maketh lybertye of wyll, whiche y^e aforne they weren they myght haue bene es∣chewed and shonned: God than, which that knoweth al truthe, and nothyng but truthe, al these thynges as they are spontany or ne∣cessarye syght, and as he seeth so they ben: & so with these thynges well consydered, it is open at the full, that withoute all maner re∣pugnaunce, god beforne wot all maner thin¦ges ben done by frewyll, which aforen they weren myght haue ben neuer they shulde be and yet ben they thorowe a maner necessitie from frewyll discended.

Hereby maye (quod she) lightly ben knowe that not all thynges to be is of necessytye though God haue hem in his prescience, for some thynges to be is of lybertye of wyll: and to make the to haue full knowynge of goddes beforne wetynge. Heare me (quod she) what I shall I saye? Blythlye ladye ({quod} I) me lyst this mater entyrely to vnderstād. Thou shalt ({quod} she) vnderstande, that in hea∣uen is goddes being, although he be ouer al by power, yet there is abydynge of deuyne person, in which heuen is euerlastynge pre∣sence, w^thoutē any mouable tyme there sole haue I not sayd toforne this, as tyme hur¦teth, ryght so ayenwarde tyme healeth and rewardeth: and a tre oft fayled is hold more deyntye whan it frute forth bryngeth.

A marchaunt that for ones lesyng in the see nomore to auenture thynketh, he shal neuer with auenture come to rychesse: so oft must men on the oke smyte, tyll the happye dente haue entred, which with y^e okes owne sway maketh it to come all at ones. So ofte fal∣leth the lethy water on the harde rocke, tyll it haue thorow persed it. The euen draught of the wyre drawer, maketh the wyre to ben euen and supple werchyng, and if he stynted in his draught, the wyre breaketh a sonder. Euery tre wel springeth whā it is wel groū¦ded and not often remoued. what shall this frute be ({quod} I) nowe it gynnethe rype? Grace (quod she) in parfyte ioye to endure and ther with hou begon. Grace ({quod} I) me thīketh I shulde haue a rewarde for my long trauayle I shal tell the (quod she) retrybution of thy good wylles to haue of thy Margaryte per¦le it beareth not the name of mede, but only of good grace, and that cometh not of thy de¦serte, but of thy Margarytes goodnesse, & vertue alone. (Quod I) shulde al my longe trauayle haue no reward but thorow grace and somtyme your seluen sayde, ryghtwis∣nesse euenlyche rewardeth to quyte one be∣nefite for an other. That is soth (quod loue) euer as I sayd, as to hym that doeth good, which to done he were neyther holdē ne yet constrayned. That is soth (quod I). Truly, (quod she) all that euer thou dost to thy mar¦garyte peerle, of wyll, of loue, and of reason thou owest to done it, yet is nothyng els but yeldynge of thy det in quytyng of thy grace, which she the lent whā ye fyrst met. I wene (quod I) ryght lytle grace to me she delyue∣red. Certes, it was harde grace, it hath nigh me astrangled. That it was good grace I wot wel thou wylt it graunt er thou depart hence. Yf anye man yeue to an other wyght to whom that he ought not, and which that of hym selfe nothyng maye haue, a garmēt or a cote, though he weare the cote or elles thylke clothynge, it is not to put hym y^t was naked the cause of his clothyng, but onely to him that was yeuer of the garnement. wher¦fore I saye, thou that were naked of loue, & of thy selfe none haue myghtest, it is not to put thyne owne persō, sythen thy loue came to thorowe thy Margaryte perle. Ergo she was yeuer of the loue although thou it vse, and there lent she the grace thy seruyce to be¦gynne. She is worthye the thanke of this grace, for she was the yeuer. All the though¦tes, besy doinges, and plesaūce in thy might and in thy wordes that thou canste deuyse, ben but ryght lytle in quytynge of thy dette: had she not ben, suche thyng had not ben stu¦dyed. So all these maters kyndly drawen homewarde to this Margaryte peerle, for from thence were they borowed, all is holy her to wyte the loue that thou hauest: and thus quytest thou thy dette, in that thou sted¦fastly seruest. And kepe well that loue I the rede, that of her thou hast borowed, and vse it in her seruyce thy dette to quyte, and than art thou able right sone to haue grace, wher¦fore after mede in none halue mayest thou loke. Thus thy gynnyng and endyng is but grace alone, and in thy good deseruyng thy det thou aquytest: without grace is nothing worth what so euer thou werche. Thanke thy Margaryte of her great grace, that hy∣therto the hath gyded, and praye her of con∣tynuaunce forthe in thy werkes hereafter, and that for no myshappe thy grace ouer∣thwartly tourne. Grace, glorye, and ioye, is commynge thorowe good folkes desertes, and by gettynge of grace therin shulde ende. And what is more glorye or more ioye than wysdome and loue in parfite charitie which god hath graunted to all tho that well can deserue. And with that this lady al at ones start into myne hert: here woll I onbyde ({quod} she) for euer. And neuer woll I gone hence, and I woll kepe the from medlynge whyle me lyst here onbyde: thyne intremetyng ma∣ners into stedfastnesse shullen be chaunged.

SObrelyche tho threwe I vp myne eyen, and huge∣lye tho was I astonyed of thys sodayne aduen∣ture, and fayne wolde I haue learned howe ver∣tues shulden ben knowē in whyche thynges, I hoope to God, hereafter she shall me en∣fourmen, and namelye sythen her restynge place is nowe so nyghe at my wyll, and a∣non all these thynges that thys lady sayde, I remembred me by my selfe, and reuolued

the lyues of myne vnderstandyng wyttes. Tho founde I fully all these maters parfit∣ly there wrytten, howe mysse rule by fayned loue both realmes and cyties hathe gouer∣ned a great throwe. How lyghtly me might the fautes espye, howe rules in loue shoulde ben vsed, howe sometyme with fayned loue foule I was begyled, howe I shoulde loue haue knowe, and how I shall in loue wyth my seruyce procede. Also furthermore, I founde of perdurable letters wonderly ther grauen, these maters which I shal nempne. Certes, none age ne other thynge in earthe maye the leest syllable of this in no poynte deface, but clerelye as the sunne in myne vn∣derstandyng soule they shynen. This maye neuer out of my mynde, how I may not my loue kepe, but thorowe wyllynge in herte. wylne to loue maye I not, but I louynge, haue. Loue haue I none but thorowe grace of this Margaryte peerle. It is no maner dout, that wyl woll not loue but for it is lo∣uyng, as wyl woll not ryghtfully, but for it is ryghtful it selue. Also wyll is not louyng for he woll loue, but he woll loue for he is lo¦uynge. It is all one to wyll to be louynge, and louynges in possessyon to haue. Ryght so wyll wol not loue, for of loue hath he in no partye, and yet I deny not louynge wyl wylne more loue to haue, which that he hath not whan he wolde more than he hath: but I saye he maye no loue wylne, yf he no loue haue, throughe whiche thylke loue he shulde wylne: but to haue this louynge wyll may no man of hym selfe, but onely through grace toforne going: Ryght so maye noman it kepe, but by grace folowynge. Consydre nowe euery man aryght, and let sene if that any wyght of hym selfe mowe this louynge wyl get, and he therof fyrste nothynge haue: for yf it shulde of hym selfe sprynge, eyther it must be wyllyng or not wyllynge▪ wyllynge by hym selfe maye he it not haue, sythen him fayleth the mater that shulde it forth bryng, the mater hym fayleth: why▪ he may thereof haue no knowyng, tyll whan grace put it in his herte. Thus wyllyng by hym selfe may he it not haue, and not wyllynge maye he it not haue. Parde euery conceyt of euery rea∣sonable creature otherwyse wyl not graunt wyll in affyrmatyfe with not wyllynge by no waye mowe accorde. And although this louynge woll come in myne hert by frenesse of arbytrement, as in this boke fully is she∣wed, yet owe I not therfore as moche alow my free wyll, as grace of that Margaryte to me leaned, for neyther myght I without grace to fornegoinge, and afterwarde folo∣wyng, thylke grace get ne kepe, and lese shal I it neuer but yf frewyll it make, as in wyl∣lyng otherwyse than grace hath me graun∣ted. For ryght as whan any person taketh wyllynge to be sobre, and throweth that a∣waye, wyllynge to be dronke, or els taketh wyll of drynkynge oute of measure, whiche thyng anon as it is doone, maketh thorowe his owne gylte by free wyll that leseth hys grace. In which thyng therfore vpon the no¦bley of grace I mote trusten, and my busye cure set thylke grace to kepe, that my frewyl otherwyse than by reason it shulde werche, cause not my grace to voyde: for thus must I both loke to frewyll & to grace. For right as naturall vsage in engendrynge of chyl∣dren maye not bene withoute father, ne also but with the mother, for neyther father ne mother in begettynge maye it lacke: ryght so grace and frewyll accorden, and without hem both maye not louynge wyll in no par∣tye ben getten. But yet is not frewyl in get∣tynge of that thyng, so mokell thanke wor∣thy as is grace, ne in the kepynge thereof, so moche thanke deserueth, and yet in gettyng and kepynge both done they accorde.

Trulye oftentyme grace frewyll helpeth in foredoinge of contrarye thynges, that to wyllynge loue not accorden, and strengthe wyll aduersities to withsytte, wherfore all togyther to grace oweth to bene accepted, that my wyllynge deserueth. Frewyll to louynge in this wyse is accorded.

I remembre me well howe all this boke (who so hede taketh) consydreth all thyn∣ges to werchynges of mankynde, euenlye accordeth, as in tournynge of thys worde loue into trouth, or els ryghtwisnesse, whe∣ther that it lyke. For what thynge that fal∣leth to man in helpynge of free arbytremēt, thylke ryghtwysnesse to take or els to kepe, thorowe whiche a man shall be saued, of whiche thyng all this booke mencyon hath maked, in euery poynt thereof grace oweth to be thanked.

wherfore I saye, euerye wyght hauynge

this ryghtfulnes ryghtfull is, and yet ther∣fore I sey not in my concyence, that to all ryghtfull is behoten the blysse euerlastynge but to hem that ben ryghtfull withouten a∣ny vnryghtousnesse. Some man after som degree maye ryghtfully ben accompted: as chaste men in lyuynge, and yet ben they ian∣glers and full of enuye pressed: to hem shal this blysse neuer bene delyuered. For ryght as verye blysse is withoute all maner nede, ryght so to noman shal it be yeuen but to the ryghtful, voyde from all maner vnryghtful∣nesse founde, so noman to her blysse shal ben folowed, but he be ryghtfull, and wyth vn∣ryghtfulnesse not bounde, and in that degre fully be knowe. This ryghtfulnesse in as moche as in hym selfe is, of none euyll is it cause, and of all maner goodnesse truly it is mother. This helpeth the spyrite to withsyt the leude lustes of fleshly lykyng: This strē∣gtheth and mayntayneth the lawe of kynde and yf that otherwhyle me weneth harme of this precyous thyng to folowe, theretho∣rowe is nothynge the cause, of somwhat els commeth it aboute who so taketh hede. By rightfulnesse forsoth werne many holy sayn¦tes good sauour in swetnesse to god almigh¦tye, but that to some folkes they weren sa∣uour of deth into deedly ende, that come not of the saynctes ryghtwysnesse, but of other wycked mens badnesse hath proceded. Tru∣ly the ilke wyl whiche that the ladye of loue me lerned, affectiō of wyl to nempne, which is in wyllyng of profytable thynges, euel is it not, but whan to fleshly lustes it cōsenteth ayenst reason of soule. But that this thyng more clerely be vnderstand, it is for to know whence and how thylke wyll is so vycious, and so readye, euyll dedes to perfourme. Grace at the gynnyng ordeyned thylke wyl ingoodnesse euer to haue endured, and neuer to badnesse to haue assented: Men shoulde not beleue that God thylke wyll made to be vycious. Our fyrst father as Adam & Eue, for vycyous appetytes and vycious wyll to such appetytes consentyng, ben not one thīg in kynde, other thyng is done for the other. And howe this wyll fyrst into man fyrst as∣sented I holde it profytable to shewe, but if the fyrste condicyon of reasonable ceeature wol be consydred and apertly loked lyghtly the cause of suche wyll maye ben shewed. Intention of God was that ryghtfully and blyssed shulde reasonable nature ben maked hym selfe for to kepe, but neyther blysfull ne ryghtfull myght it not be withouten wyl in them bothe. wyll of ryghtfulnesse is thylke same rightfulnesse as heretoforne is shewed but wyll of blysse is not thylke blysse, for e∣uery man hath not thylke blysse, in whome the wyll therof is abydynge. In this blysse after euery vnderstandyng is suffysaunce of couenable commodityes without anye ma∣ner nede, whether it be blysse of aungelles or els thylke, that grace fyrst in paradyse suffe∣red Adam to haue. For although aungelles blysse be more than Adams was in Para∣dyse, yet may it not be denyed, that Adam in Paradyse ne hadde suffysaunce of blysse, for ryght as great herte is without al maner of coldnesse, and yet maye an other herte more heate haue, ryght so nothyng defruded Adā in Paradyse to bene blessed, without al ma∣ner nede. Although aungels blysse be moche more, forsothe it foloweth not lasse than an other to haue therefore hym nedeth, but for to wante a thynge whiche that behoueth to ben had, that may nede ben cleped, and that was not in Adam at the fyrst gynnynge. God and the Margaryte, weten what I meane.

Forsothe where as is nede, there is wret∣chednesse, good withoute cause to fornego∣inge made not resonable creature wretched, for hym to vnderstand and loue had he fyrst maked. God made therfore mā blyssed with out al maner indigēce, togyther and at ones toke reasonable creature blysse, and wyll of blyssednesse and wyl of rightfulnesse, which is ryghtfulnesse it selfe, and lybertye of arbi∣trement, that is free wyl, with which thilke ryghtfulnesse may he kepe and lese. So and in that wyse ordayned thylke two, that wyl which that instrument is cleped, and here to forne mencyon is maked, shoulde vse thylke ryghtfulnesse by teachynge of hys soule to good maner of gouernaunce, in thought and in wordes, and that it shulde vse the blysse in obedyent maner withouten any incommo∣ditie. Blysse forsothe into mannes profyte, and ryghtwysnesse into his worshyppe god delyuered at ones: but ryghtfulnes so was yeuen, that man myght it lese, whiche yf he not loste hadde not, but continuallye haue it

kepte, he shulde haue deserued the auaunce∣ment into the felowshyp of angels, in which thinge yf he that loste, neuer by hym selfe for¦warde shuld he it mowe ayenward recouer: and as well the blysse that he was in, as an∣gels blysse that to himwardes was coming shulde be nome at ones, & he depriued of the both. And thus fyl man vnto likenesse of vn∣reasonable beestes, and with hem to corrup∣cyon and vnlustye appetytes was he vnder, throwen, but yet wyl of blysse dwelleth, that by indigence of goodes whiche that he loste through great wretchednesse, by ryght shuld he bene punyshed. And thus for he weyued, ryghtfulnes, lost hath he hys blysse: but faile of hys desyre in his owne comoditie may he not, and were comodities to hys resonable nature whych he hath lost may he not haue. To false lustes, which ben vestial appetites he is turned: foly of vnconning hath him be∣gyled, in wening that thylke bene the como∣dities that owen to bene desyred. This affec¦tion of wyll by libertie of arbitriment is en∣duced to wylne thys thing that he shuld not and so is wyl not maked yuyll but vnryght∣ful, by absence of rightfulnesse, whych thing by reason euer shulde he haue. And freenesse of arbitriment maye he not wylne, whan he it not haueth, for whyle he it hadde, thylke halpe it not to kepe: so y^t wythout grace may it not bene recouered. Wyll of cōmoditie, in as much as vnryghtful it is maked, by wyl∣lynge of yuell lustes, wyllynge of goodnesse may he not wylne: for wyll of instrument to affection of wyl is thralled, sithen that other thyng maye it not wylne, for wyll of instru∣ment to affection desyreth, and yet bene both they wyl cleped: for y^e instrumēt woll, throuʒ affection it wylneth, and affection desyreth thylke thynge wherto instrumente hym le∣deth. And so frewil to vnlusty affectiō ful ser¦uaunt is maked, for vnryghtfulnesse may he not releue, & wythout ryghtfulnes full fredō may it neuer haue. For kyndly libertie of ar∣bytriment without it, veyne and ydell is for sothe. wherfore yet I saye, as often haue I sayd the same, whan instrument of wyl lost hath rightfulnesse, in no maner but by grace may he ayen returne ryghtfulnesse to wylne For sythen nothyng but ryghtfulnesse alone shulde he wylne, what y^t euer he wylneth w^t oute ryghtfulnesse, vnryghtfullye he it wyl∣neth. These than vnryghtfull appetites and vnthryfty lustes which the flyes desyreth, in as mokell as they bene in kynde, bene they not bad, but they ben vnryghtful and badde for they ben in resonable creature, where as they beyng in no waye shulde bene suffred. In vnreasonable beastes neyther bene they yuell ne vnryghtfull, for there is theyr kynde beyng.

KNowen maye it wel bene nowe, of these thynges to forne declared, that man hathe not alwaye thylke ryghtfulnesse, whyche by dutie of ryghte euermore hauen he shulde, & by no way by him selfe may he get ne kepe, and af∣ter he it hath if he it lese, recouer shal he it ne∣uer, without especial grace: wherfore the co¦mune sētence of the people in opinion, y^t eue∣ry thing after destiny is ruled, false and wic∣ked is to bileue: For though predestinacyon be as wel of good as of badde, sithen that it is sayde God hadnest made, whych he neuer ne wrought, but for he suffreth hem to be ma¦ked, as that he hardeth whā he naught mis∣sayth, or ledde into temptation whan he not delyuereth, wherfore it is none incōuenient yf in that maner be sayd, God to forne haue destenyed bothe badde, & her badde werkes whan hem ne theyr yuel dedes neyther amē∣deth, ne therto hem grace leueth. But speci∣allyche predestinacion of goodnesse alone, is sayde by these great clerkes, for in him God doth that they bene, & that in goodnesse they werchen. But the negatyfe herof in badnesse is holdē, as the lady of loue hath me lerned, who so aryght in thys boke loketh. And vt∣terly it is to weten, that predestinacyon pro∣perly in God maye not bene demed, no more than beforne wetinge. For in the chapiter of gods beforne wetynge, as loue me rehersed, al these maters apertly may ben foundē. All thinges to god ben now togither and in pre∣sence during. Trewly presence & predestina∣cyon in nothyng disacorden, wherfore as I was lerned how gods before wetyng & free choyce of wyll mowe stonden togyther, me thinketh the same reason me leadeth, that de¦stenye and frewyll accorden, so that neyther of hem both to other in nothing contrarieth

And resonablelyche maye it not ben demed, as often as any thynge fayleth frewyl wer∣chyng, as yf a man another man wrongful∣ly anoyeth, wherfore he him sleyth, that it be constrayned to that ende, as mokel folke cry¦eth and sayeth: Lo, as it was destenyed of God to forne knowe, so it is thorowe neces∣sytie fall, and otherwise myght it not betyde Trewly neyther he y^t the wronge wroughte ne he that hym selfe venged, none of thylke thynges thorowe necessitie wrought: for yf that wyth freewyll there had it not wylled, neyther had wrought that he perfourmed: & so vtterly grace y^e frewyll in goodnesse bryn∣geth and kepeth, and fro badnesse it turneth, in all thynge moost thanke deserneth. Thys grace maketh sētēce in vertue to abide, wher¦fore in body and in soule in full plentie of co∣nyng after theyr good deseruyng in the euer lastyng ioy, after the daye of dome shul they endelesse dwell, and they shul bene learned in that kyngdome wyth so mokel affect of loue & of grace, that the leste ioy shall of the grea∣test in glorye reioyce & bene gladded, as i•• he the same ioye had. What wonder syth God is the greatest loue, and y^e ne ought to loke thynges wyth resonnynge to proue, and so is instrumēt o•• wyll, wyll: and yet varyeth he from effecte and vsynge both. Affection of wyll also for wyll is cleped, but it varyeth f••ō instrument in thys maner wyse, by that name, lyche whan it commeth into minde a∣none ryght it is in wyllyng desyred, and the negatyfe therof with wyllyng nyl not acord this is closed in hart, thoughe vsage and in∣strument slepe. This slepeth whā instrumēt and vs waken: and of suche maner affection trewly some man hath more and some man lesse. Certes trew louers wenen euer therof to lytle to haue. False louers in lytle wenen haue ryght mokel: Lo instrument of wyl in false and trewe both euen liche is proporcia∣ned, but affection is more in some place than in some, bycause of the goodnesse that folo∣weth, and that I thinke herafter to declare. Vse of thys instrument is wyl, but it taketh hys name whan wylned thyng is in doyng. but vtterly grace to catche in thy blysse, desi∣red to ben rewarded. Thou must haue than affection of wyl at the ful, and vse whan his tyme asketh wisely to ben gouerned. Soth∣ly my disciple wythout feruente affection of wyll may no man bene saued: thys affection of good seruyce in good loue, maye not bene groūded, without feruent desire to the thing in wyll coueyted. But he that neuer retcheth to haue or not to haue, affection of wyll in y^t hath no restyng place. why? for whan thyng cometh to mynde, and it be not taken in hede to comyn or not come, therfore in that place affection fayleth: and for thylke affection is so lytle, throwe which in goodnesse he shulde come to his grace, the lytelnesse wyl not suf∣fre to auaile by no way in to his helpes: Cer∣tes grace & reason thylke affection foloweth Thys affection withe reason knytte, dureth in eueryche trewe herte, and euermore is en¦creasyng, no ferdnesse, no strength maye it re¦moue whyle truthe in hert abydeth. Sothly whan falshed gynneth entre truth draweth away, grace and ioye both: but than thilke falsheed that trouth hath thus voyded, hath vnknyt the bonde of vnderstondyng reason, bytwene wyl and the hert. And who so that bonde vndoth, and vnknytteth wyl to be in other purpose thā to y^e first accorde, knitteth hym wyth cōtrary of reason, and that is vn∣reason. Lo, than wyl and vnreason bringeth a man from the blysse of grace, whych thing of pure kynde, euery man ought to shonne & to eschewe, & to the knot of wyll and rea••on confyrme. Me thynketh ({quod} she) by thy stud••∣ent lokes, thou wenest in these woordes me to contraryen, from other sayenges here to forne in other place, as whā thou were som∣tyme in affection of wyl, to thynges y^t nowe han brought the in disease, whiche I haue y^e counsayled to voyde, and thyne herte disco∣uer, and there I made thy wyl to ben chaun∣ged, whyche nowe thou wenest I arg••e to wythholde and to kepe. Shortly I say that reuers in these wordes may not ben founde: for thoughe dronkennesse be forboden, men shul not alway ben drinklesse. I trowe right for thou thy wil out of reasō shuld not turne thy wyll in one reason shulde not vnbyde, I saye thy wyll in thy fyrst purpose wyth vn∣reason was closed: Constrewe forthe of the remenante what the good lyketh. Trewly that wyll & reason shulde be knitte togyther was fre wyl of reasō, after tyme thyne hert is assentaunt to them both, thou myghte not chaunge, but yf thou from rule of reason va∣rye, in whyche varyaunce to come to thylke

blysse desyred, cōtrariously thou werchest: & no thyng may knowe wyl & reason but loue alone. Than yf thou voyd loue, than weuest the bonde that knytteth, and so nedes or els ryght lyghtly, y^t other gone a sondre: wher∣fore thou seest apertly that loue holdeth this knot, & a maystreth hem to be bounde. These thynges, as a rynge in circuite of wrethe ben knytte in thy soule wythout departynge. A let be, let be ({quod} I) it nedeth not of this no re∣hersayle to make, my soule is yet in parfyte blysse, in thynkynge of that knotte.

NOw trewly lady I haue my groūde well vnderstand, but what thyng is y^e thylke spire that in to a tree shulde wexe: expowne me y^e thynge, what ye therof meane. That shall I ({quod} she) blithly, & take good hede to the wordes I the rede. Cōtinuaunce in thy good seruice, by longe processe of time in ful hope abiding, wythout any chaung to wylne in thyne hert: this is the spire, whych yf it be wel kepte & gouerned, shall so hugely spryng, tyl the fruite of grace is plentuously out sprongen: for although thy wyl be good yet may not therfore thilke blisse desyred ha∣stely on the discendē, it must abyde hys seso∣nable tyme. And so by processe of growyng, wyth thy good traueyle, it shall in to more & more wexe, tyll it be founde so myghty, that windes of yuel spech, ne of stormes of enuy, make not the traueyle ouerthrow, ne frostes of mystruste, ne hayles of ielousy ryght lytle myght haue in harmyng of suche sprynges. Euery younge setlynge lyghtly wyth smale stormes is a peyred, but whan it is woxen somdele in gretnesse, than han great blastes and wethers but lytle myght, any disauaun¦tage to them for to werch. Mine owne soue¦rayne lady ({quod} I) and welth of myne herte, & it were lykynge vnto your noble grace, ther∣throuʒ not to be displeased, I suppose ye er∣ren, now ye makē ielousy enuy, & disturbour to hem that ben your seruauntes. I haue ler¦ned ofte to forne this tyme, that in euery lo∣ners hert, greate plentie of ielousyes greues ben sowe, wherfore me thinketh ye ne ought in no maner accompte, thylke thyng among these other welked wyners and venomous serpentes, as enuy, mistrust, and yuel speche O foole ({quod} she) mistrust with foly with yuel wyl medled, engendreth that welked padde. Trewly yf they were distroyed, ielousye vn∣done were for euer, & yet some maner of ie∣lousy I wote wel is euer redy in all the her∣tes of my trew seruauntes, as thus: to be ie∣lous ouer hym selfe, leste he be cause of hys owne disease. Thys ielousy in full thoughte euer shulde be kepte for ferdnesse to lese hys loue by miskeping, thorow his owne doyng in leudenesse, or els thus: Lest she that thou serueste so feruently is beset there her better lyketh, that of al thy good seruyce she comp∣teth not a cresse. These ielousyes in herte for acceptable qualities ben demed: these ough∣ten euery trew louer by kindly, euermore ha∣uen in his minde, tyll fully the grace & blysse of my seruice be on hym discended at wyll. And he that than ielousy catcheth, or els by wenyng of hys owne folysh wylfulnesse mis¦trusteth, truely wyth fantasy of venyme, he is foule begyled. Yuelwyll hathe grounded thylke mater of sorowe in hys leude soule, & yet not for thā to euery wight shulde me not truste, ne euery wyghte fully misbeleue, the meane of these thynges owen to be vsed. Sothly wythouten cause••••ll euidence, my∣struste in ielousye shulde not be wened in no wyse person cōmenly, such leude wickednes shulde me not synde. He that is wyse & with yuell wyll not be acomered, can abyde well hys tyme, tyl grace & blysse of his seruice fo∣lowyng, haue hym so mokel eased, as his a∣byding to forehande hath him diseased. Cer∣tes lady ({quod} I tho) of no thyng me wondreth sythen thylke blysse so precious is and kynd∣ly good, & wel is and worthy in kynde, whā it is medled with lo••e & reasō, as ye to forne haue declared. Why, anone as hye one is spronge, why springeth not the other? and a¦none as the one cometh, why receyueth not the other? For euery thyng that is out of his kyndly place, by full appetite, euer commeth thytherwarde kyndly to draw, & his kyndly being therto him cōstrayneth. And the kind∣ly stede of this blysse, is in suche wyl medled to vnbyde, & nedes in that it shulde haue hys kyndly beyng. wherfore me thynketh anone as that wyll to be shewed & kydde hym pro∣freth, thylke blysse shulde him hye thylke wil to receyue, or els kynde of goodnesse worchē not in hem as they shulde. Lo, be the sunne

neuer so ferre, euer it hathe hys kynde wer∣ching in erth: great weyght on hye onloft ca¦ryed, stynteth neuer tyll it come to thys re∣styng place. waters to the see ward euer ben they drawyng, thynge that is lyght blythly wyl not synke, but euer ascendeth & vpward draweth. Thus kynde in euery thynge hys kyndely course, & hys beyng place sheweth: wherfore be kynde on thys good wyl, anone as it were spronge, this blysse shulde theron discend, her kynde wolde they dwelleden to∣gyther, & so haue ye sayd your selfe. Certes ({quod} she) thyne herte sytteth wonder sore this blysse for to haue, thyne hert is sore agreued that it taryeth so longe, and yf thou durstest, as me thynketh by thyne wordes, this blysse woldest thou blame. But yet I saye, thylke blysse is kyndly good, and hys kyndly place in that wyl to vnbyde. Neuer the later, their cōmyng togyther after kyndes ordynaunce not sodaynly may betyde, it must abide time as kynde yeueth hym leaue for yf a man, as thys wyl medled gonne hym shew, & thylke blysse in hast folowed, so lyghtly commyng shulde lyghtlye cause goynge, longe tyme of thurstyng, causeth drynke to be the more de∣lycious whan it is atasted. Howe is it ({quod} I thā) that so many blysses se I al day at mine eye, in the fyrst moment of a syght with such wyl accorde. Yee, and yet other whyle wyth wyll assenteth, syngulerly by hym selfe there reason fayleth, traueyle was none, seruyce had no tyme. Thys is a queynt maner thing howe suche doing cometh aboute. O ({quod} she) that is thus, the earth kyndely after seasons & tymes of the yere, bryngeth sorth innume∣rable herbes and trees both profytable and other, but such as men myght leaue, though they were naught in noryshynge to mannes kynde seruen, or els such as turnen soone vn¦to mennes confusion in ease that therof they atast comen forthe out of the earthe by theyr owne kinde, wythouten any mannes cure or any busynesse in traueyle: and thylke herbes that to mennes lyuelode necessaryly seruen, wythout whyche goodlye in thys lyfe crea∣tures mowen not enduren, and mooste bene nouryshen to mankinde, wythout great tra¦ueyle, great tylth, and longe abydyng tyme, comen not out of the earth, and it with seede to forne ordeyned such herbes to make sprīg and forth growe. Ryght so the perfite blisse, that we haue in meanyng of duryng time to abyde maye not come so lyghtlye, but wyth great traueyle and ryght besytylth, and yet good feed to be sowe, for ofte the croppe fay∣leth of bad seed, be it neuer so wel traueyled. And thylke blysse thou spoke of so lyghtly in cōming, truely is not necessary nor abiding: and but it the better be stamped, and the ve∣nomous ieuse out wrongen, it is likely to en¦poysonen all tho that therof tasten. Certes ryght bytter bene the herbes y^t shewen fyrste the yere of her owne kynde. well the more is the haruest that yeldeth many graynes, tho longe & sore it hath ben traueiled. what wol∣dest thou demē if a mā wold yeue thre quar∣ters of nobles of gold, that were a precious gyfte▪ Yee certes ({quod} I). And what ({quod} she) thre quarters full of peerles? Certes ({quod} I) y^t were a rych gift. And what ({quod} she) of as mo∣kel azure? (Quod I) a precious gyfte at ful▪ were not ({quod} she) a noble gyfte of all these at ones? In good fayth ({quod} I) for wantynge of englysh namynge of so noble a worde, I can not for preciousnesse yeue it a name. Ryght∣fully ({quod} she) haste thou demed, and yet loue knytte in vertue, passeth al the golde in thys erth. Good wil accordant to reason, with no maner properte maye be countreuayled, all the azure in the worlde is not to accompt in respecte of reason, loue that wyth good wyll & reason accordeth, wyth no earthly ryche se may not ben amenden. Thys yefte hast thou yeuen I know it my self and thy Magaryte thilke gyft hath receiued, in the which thing to reward she hath her selfe bounde. But thy gyfte as I sayd, by no maner rychesse maye be amended, wherfore wyth thynge y^t maye not be amended, thou shalt of thy margary∣tes rightwisenesse be rewardede. Right suf∣fred yet neuer but euery good dede sōtime to be yolde. Al wold thy Margarite with no re¦warde the quite. Ryght that neuer more di∣eth thy mede in meryte woll puruey. Certes such sodaine blysse as thou first nēpnest, ryʒ•• wyl hem reward as the well is worthy, and though at thyne eye it semeth the rewarde y^t desert to passe, right can after sende such byt∣ternes euēly it to reward: so y^e sodayne blisse by alwaies of reason in great goodnes may not ben accompted, but blisse long, both long it abydeth, & endlesse it wol last. Se why thy wyl is endelesse, for if thou louedest euer, thy

wyll is euer there tabyde and neuer more to chaunge: euenhed of rewarde must ben done by ryght, than muste nedes thy grace & thys blisse endeles in ioy to vnbide. Euēlich disese asketh euēlych ioy, which hastely thou shalt haue. A ({quod} I) it suffiseth not thā a long good wyll, be it neuer so wel with reason medled, but yf it be in good seruice longe trauayled. And so throuʒ seruice shul men come to y^e ioy and this me thynketh shulde be the wexing tree of whiche ye first meued.

VEry trouth ({quod} she) hast thou now cō¦ceyued of these thinges in thyne hert hastely shalt thou be able very ioye & parfite blysse to receyue. And nowe I wote wel thou desyrest to know y^e maner of braū∣ches, that out of the tree shulde spring. Ther¦of lady ({quod} I) hertely I you pray: for thā leue I woll, that right soone after I shall ataste of the fruite that I so longe haue desyred. Thou haste herde (quod she) in what wyse this tree to forne this haue I declared, as in grounde and in stocke of wexinge. Firste the grounde shuld be thy frewyl ful in thine hert & the stocke (as I said) shuld be continuaūce in good seruice, by longe time in traueyle, tyl it were in greatnesse right wel woxen. And whan this tree such greatnesse hath caught, as I haue rehersed: the braunches than that the frute shulde forth bring, spech must they be nedes in voice of prayer, in complayning wise vsed. Out alas ({quod} I tho) he is sorouful¦ly wounded that hydeth his speche and spa∣reth his complayntes to make, what shall I speke y^e care: but payne euen lyke to hell, sore hath me assayled, & so ferforthe in payne me thronge, that I leue my tree is seer, & neuer shal it frute forth bringe. Certes he is great∣ly eased, that dare his pryuy mone discouer to a trewe felowe, that cōninge hath & myʒt wherthrough his playnt in any thyng maye be amēded. And mokel more is he ioyed that with herte of hardynesse dare complayne to his Lady, what cares y^t he suffreth, by hope of mercy with grace to be auaunced. Trew∣ly I saye for me, syth I came this Marga∣ryte to serue, durst I neuer me discouer of no maner disease, and wel the later hathe myne hert hardied such thinges to done, for y^e gret bounties & worthy refreshmentes that she of her grace goodly without any deserte on my halue ofte hath me rekened, & nere her good∣nesse the more wyth grace and wyth mercy medled, whiche passen al desertes, traueyls, and seruinges, that I in any degree mighte endyte, I wolde wene I shulde be wythout recouer, in gettynge of thys blysse for euer. Thus haue I stylled my disease, thus haue I couered my care, that I brenne in sorow∣full anoy, as gledes and coles wasten a fyre vnder deed ashen. Well the hoter is the fyre, that wyth ashen it is ouerleyn: ryght longe this wo haue I suffred. Lo ({quod} Loue) howe thou farest: me thynketh y^e palasy yuel hathe acomered thy wittes, as faste as thou hyest forwarde, anone sodaynly backwarde thou mouest: Shall not yet al thy leudnesse out of thy braynes? dull bene thy skylfull vnder∣stādynges, thy wyll hath thy wyt so a may∣stred▪ woste thou not well ({quod} she) but euerye tree in hys sesonable tyme of burionynge shewe his blomes fro w^tin, in sygne of what frute shulde out of him sprynge, els the frute for y^t yere men halte delyuered, be y^e grounde neuer so good. And thouʒ the stock be migh∣ty at the full, and the braunches seer and no burions shewe, farwell the gadiner he may pipe w^t an yue leafe his frute is failed. wher∣fore thy braunches must burionen in presēce of thy Lady, yf thou desyre any fruite of thy ladyes grace, but beware of thy lyfe, y^t thou no wodelaye vse, as in askynge of thynges that stretchen in to shame, for than myghte thou not spede by no waye that I can espy. Vertue woll not suffre vyllanye out of hym selfe to sprynge. Thy woordes maye not be queynt ne of subtell maner vnderstandynge. Free wytted people supposen in suche poe∣syes to be begyled, in open vnderstandynge muste euery worde be vsed. Voyce wythout clere vnderstandynge of sentence sayeth A∣ristotle, ryght naught printeth in herte. Thy wordes than to a byde in herte, & clene in ful sentence of trew meaning plattly must thou shewe & euer be obedient, her hestes and her wyls to perfourme, and be thou set in such a wytte to wete by a loke euer more what she meaneth. And he that lyste not to speke, but stilly his disease suffre: what wōder is it tho he come neuer to his blisse? who y^t traueileth vnwyst, & coueyteth thing vnknowe, vnwe∣tinge he shal be quyted, and wyth vnknowe thynge rewarded. Good Lady ({quod} I than) it

hath oft ben sene, that wethers & stormes so hugely haue fal in burionynge tyme, and by parte duresse han beaten of the sprynges so clene, wherthroughe the fruite of thylke yere hath fayled. It is a great grace whan bur¦ions hā good wethers, their frutes forth to brynge. Alas than after such stormes howe harde is it to auoyde, tyll efte wedrynge and yeres han maked her circute cours al about, er any fruite be able to be tasted he is shente for shame, y^t foule is rebuked of hys speche. He that is in fyre brenning sore smarteth for disease. Him thynketh ful longe er the water come, that shulde the fyre quenche. Whyle men gone after a leche, the body is buryed. Lo howe semely this frute wexeth, me thin∣keth that of tho frutes maye no man ataste, for pure bytternesse in sauour. In thys wyse bothe frute and the tree wasten away togy∣ther, though mokel besy occupacion haue be spent to brynge it so ferforth, that it was a∣ble to spring. A lyte speche hath maked that al thys labour is in ydel. I not ({quod} she) wher∣of it serueth thy question to assoyle, me thin∣keth the nowe duller in wittes, than whā I with the first mette, although a mā be leude cōmenly for a foole he is not demen, but if he no good wol lerne, sottes & fooles le•• lightly out of mynd, y^t good that men teacheth hem. I sayde therfore thy stocke muste be stronge and in greatnesse well herted, the tree is full ••eble that at the fyrste dente falleth: and al∣though frute faileth one yere or two, yet shal suche a seasen come one tyme or other, that shall brynge out frute that is nothynge pre∣terit ne passed there is nothyng future ne cō∣myng, but all thinges togyther in that place bene present euerlastynge wythout any me∣nyng, wherfore to God al thing is as now: and thoughe a thynge be nat in kyndely na∣ture of thinges as yet, and yf it shuld be here after, yet euermore we shulde say God it ma¦keth be time present, and nowe for no future ne preterit in hym maye be founde. wherfore hys wetynge and hys before wetynge, is al one in vnderstandyng. Thā yf wetyng & be∣fore wetyng of God putteth in necessite to al thinges whiche he wotte or before wotte ne thyng after eternitie, or els after any time he woll or dothe of libertie but all of necessitie, which thing if thou wene it be ayenst reason not thorowe necessitie to be or not to be, all thynge that God wot or before wot, to be or not to be, & yet nothyng defendeth any thing to be wyst or to be before wyst of hym in our wylles or oure doinges to be done, or els cō∣mynge to be for fre arbitriment. whan thou hast these declarations wel vnderstand, thā shalt thou fynde it resonable at proue, & that many thinges be not thorowe necessitie, but thorowe libertie of wyll, saue necessitie of fre wyl, as I to forne sayd: & as me thynketh al vtterly declared. Me thynketh lady ({quod} I) so I shulde you not displease, & euermore your reuerence to kepe, that these thynges cōtra∣rien in any vnderstanding, for ye sayne som∣tyme is thorowe libertie of wyll & also tho∣row necessitie. Of this haue I yet no sauour without better declaration. what wōder ({quod} she) is there in these thynges, sythen al daye thou shalte se at thyne eye, in many thynges receyuen in hem selfe reuers: thorow diuers reasons, as thus. I praye the ({quod} she) whych thinges bene more reuers than commen and gone: For yf I bydde the come to me, & thou come, after whan I bydde the go and thou go, thou reuersest fro thy fyrst commynge. That is soth ({quod} I) & yet ({quod} she) in thy fyrste alone by diuers reason was full reuersynge to vnderstande. As howe ({quod} I) That shall I shewe the ({quod} she) by ensample of thynges that haue kyndely mouynge. Is there anye thinge that meueth more kyndely than doth the heuens eye whyche I clepe the sunne. Sothly ({quod} I) me semeth it moost kyndly to moue. Thou sayest soth ({quod} she) Thā if thou loke to the sunne, in what parte he be vnder heuen, euermore he heigheth him in mouing fro thylke place, and heygheth meuynge to∣warde thylke same place, to thylke place frō whyche he goth he heigheth commyng, and wythout any ceasynge to that place he neig∣heth frō which he is chaunged & withdraw. But now in these thynges after diuersitie of reason, reuers in one thyng may be sey with out repugnaunce. wherfore in the same wise wythout anye repugnaunce by my reasons to fore maked, al is one to beleue, somthinge to be thorowe necessitie commynge, for it is cōminge, and yet wyth no necessitie cōstray∣ned to be commyng, but wyth necessitie that cometh out of fre wyll, as I haue sayd. Tho lyst me a lytle to speke, & gan stynt my penne of my writyng, & sayd in this wyse. Trewly

lady as me thinketh, I can allege authorites great y^e contrary your sayenges. Iob sayeth of mannes person, thou hast put hys terme, whych thou myght not passe. Then saye I that no man may shorte ne length the day or∣dayned of hys doyng, altho somtyme to vs it semeth some man to do a thynge of free wyl, wherthorow hys deth he henteth. Naye for∣soth ({quod} she) it is nothynge ayenst my sayenge for god is not begyled, ne he seeth nothynge whether it shal come of lyberte or els of neces¦site, yet it is said to be ordeyned at god immo∣uable, which at mā or it be done may be chaū¦ged. Such thyng also is that Paule the apo∣stel sayth of hem that tofore were purpossed to be sayntes, as thus, whych that god before wyst, & hath predestined, conformes of yma∣ges of hys sonne, that he shulde be the fyrste begotten, that is to say, here amonges many brethrē, & whom he hath predestyned, hem he hath cleped, and whō he hath cleped, hem he hath iustifyed, & whom he hath iustified, hem he hath magnifyed. This purpose after whi∣che they ben cleped sayntes or holy in y^e euer∣lastyng presēt, wheris neither tyme passed ne tyme cōmynge, but euer it is only presente, & nowe as mokel a momēt as seuen thousande wynter, & so ayenwarde wythouten any me∣uyng is nothynge lych temporel presence, for thīge y^t there is euer present. Yet amōges you mē er it be in your presence it is mouable tho¦rowe lyberte of arbytremēt. And ryght as in the euerlastyng present no maner thing was ne shalbe, but only is, & nowe here in your tē∣porel tyme, somthyng was & is, & shalbe, but mouynge stoundes, & in thys is no maner re∣pugnaunce. Right so in the euerlastynge pre∣sence nothynge may be chaūged: & in your tē¦porel tyme other while it is proued mouable by lyberte of wil or it be do, wythoutē any in∣cōuenience therof to folowe. In your tēporel tyme is no such presence as in the tother, for your present is done, when passed & to come gynnē entre, whych tymes here amōges you euerych easely foloweth other, but y^e presence euerlastyng dureth in onehed, wythout any ymaginable chaūgyng, & euer is present and nowe. Truely the course of the planetes & o∣uerwhelmynges of the sonne in dayes & nigh¦tes, with a new gynnyng of his circute after it is ended, that is to sayne, one yere to folow another. These maken your trāsitory tymes wyth chaūgyng of lyues & mutation of peo∣ple. But right as your tēporel presence couey¦teth euery place, & al thinges in euery of your tymes be cōteyned, & as now both sey & wyst to goddes very knowynge. Then ({quod} I) me wōdreth why Paule spake these wordes, by∣voice of significatiō in tyme passed, that god his saītes before wyst, hath predestined, hath cleped, hath iustifyed, & hath magnifyed: Me thynketh he shulde haue sayde tho wordes in tyme present, & that had be more accordaunt to the euerlastynge present, thē to haue spoke in preterit voice of passed vnderstandynge. O ({quod} Loue) by these wordes I se well thou hast lytel vnderstādyng of y^e euerlastyng pre∣sence, or els of my before spoken wordes, for neuer a thing of tho thou hast nēpned was to fore other or after other, but all at ones euen∣lych at y^e god bē, & al together in y^e euerlastīg present be nowe to vnderstādyng, the eternal presence, as I sayd, hath enclose together in one, al tymes, in which close & one al thinges y^t ben in dyuers tymes & in dyuers place•• tē∣porel wythout posteriorite or priorite be clo∣sed therin perpetuel now, & maked to dwel in present sight. But there thou sayest y^t Paule shulde haue spoke thilke forsaid sentēce by ty∣me present, & that most shulde haue ben accor∣daunt to the euerlastyng presence, why gab∣best thou to thy wordes: Sothly I say Paul moued y^e wordes by significatiō of tyme pas∣sed, to shewe fully y^t thylke wordes were not put for tēporel signification, for al thilk tyme were not thilk sentēce tēporallich borne whi∣che that Paule pronounced god haue tofore knowe, & haue cleped then magnifyed, wher∣thorow it may wel be know that Paule vsed tho wordes of passed significaciō, for nede & lacke of a word in mānes bodely spech beto∣kenyng the euerlastynge presence. And ther∣fore worde is moste semelyche in lykenesse to euerlastynge presence, he toke his sentēce for thynges that here beforne ben passed, vtterly be immouable, ylyke to y^e euerlasting presēce. As thylke that ben there neuer mowe not be present, so thinges of time passed ne mowe in no wyse not bē passed: but al thinges in your temporal presence that passen in a lytel while shullen ben not present. So then in that it is more similitude to the euerlastyng presence, sygnifycacion of tyme passed, then of tyme temporal present, & so more in accordaunce.

In this maner what thyng of these that ben don thorow fre arbytremēt, or els as necessa¦ry, holy wrytte pronoūceth, after eternite he speketh, in which presence is euerlasting soth and nothyng but sothe immouable, not after tyme, in which nought alway ben your wyl∣les & your acts, & right as while they be nat, it is not nedeful hem to be: so oft it is not ned¦full that somtyme they shulde be. As how ({quod} I) for yet must I be lerned by some ensample Of loue (quod she) woll I nowe ensample make, sythen I know the heed knotte in that yelke. Lo, somtyme thou wrytest no arte, ne arte then in no wyll to wryte. And ryght as whyle thou wrytest not, or els wol not write it is not nedeful the to wryte, or els wylne to wryte. And for to make y^e knowe vtterly, th•••• thynges ben otherwyse in y^e euerlastyng pre¦sence, thē in temporall tyme: se now my good chylde, for somthynge is in the euerlastynge presence, then in temporel tyme, it was not in eternite tyme, in eterne presence shal it not be Then no reason defēdeth, that somthyng ne maye be in tyme temporall mouynge, that in eterne is immouable. Forsothe it is nomore contrary ne reuers for to be mouable in tyme temporal, and mouable in eternite, then not to be in any tyme, and to be alway in eternite and haue to be or els to come in tyme tempo∣rel, & not haue be ne nought cōmyng to be in eternite. Yet neuer the later, I saye not som∣thynge to be neuer in tyme tēporel, that euer is eternite, but al onely in somtyme not to be. For I saye not thy loue to morne in no tyme to be, but to day alone I deny ne it to be, and yet neuer the later it is alwaye in eternite.

A so (quod I) it semeth to me that cōmyng thing or els passed here in your tēporal tyme to be, in eternite euer nowe & presente oweth not to be demed, and yet foloweth nat thylke thynge, that was or els shalbe, in no maner therto ben passed, or els cōmyng: then vtter∣ly shul we deny, for there wythout ceasyng, it is in hys present maner. O (quod she) myne own disciple, now gynnest thou able to haue the name of my seruaunt. Thy wytte is cle∣red, away is now errour of cloude in vncon∣nyng, awaye is blyndnesse of loue, awaye is thoughtfull study, of medlyng maners hast∣ly shalte thou entre into the ioye of me, that am thyne owne maystres. Thou haste (quod she) in a fewe wordes, wel and clerely conclu¦ded mokel of my mater. And ryght as ther is no reuers ne contrarioustie in tho thynges, ryght so wythoutē any repugnaūce, it is sayd somthyng to be mouable in tyme temporel, & for it be, that in eternite dwelleth immouable not a for•• it be or after that it is, but wythout cessyng, for right nought is there after tyme, that same is there euerlastynge, that tēporal∣lyche somtyme nys, and toforne it be it maye not be, as I haue sayd. Nowe sothlye ({quod} I) this haue I wel vnderstāde, so that nowe me thynketh that prescience of god and fre arby∣tremēt wythouten any repugnaūce acorden, and y^t maketh the strength of eternite, which encloseth by presence duryng al tymes, and al thynges that ben, han ben, & shull ben in any tyme. I wolde nowe ({quod} I) a lytel vnderstād sythen that all thyng thus beforne wot, whe¦ther thylke wetynge be of tho thinges, or els thylke thynges ben to ben of goddes wetyng and so of god nothynge is: and yf euery thing be thorowe goddes w••tynge, and therof take hys beynge, then shuld god be maker and au∣thor of badde werkes, & so he shuld not right∣fully punyshe yuell doynges of mankynde. (Quod Loue) I shal tel the thys lesson to lerne myne owne tene seruaūt, the noble phi∣losophicall poete, in Englyshe, whyche euer∣more hym besyeth and trauayleth ryght sore my name to encrese, wherfore al that wyllen me good, owe to do him worship & reuerence both, truely his better ne his pete in schole of my rules conde I neuer fynde: He ({quod} she) in a treatyse y^t he made of my seruaūt Troylus, hath this mater touched, and at the full thys questyon assoyled. Certaynly hys noble say∣enges can I not amende: In goodnes of gē¦tyll manlyche speche, wythout any maner of nycite of starteres ymaginacion in wytte and in good reason of sentence he passeth al other makers. In y^e boke of Troylus, the answere to thy questyon mayste thou lerne, neuer the later yet may lyghtly thyne vnderstandynge somdele ben lerned, if thou haue knowyng of these to fornsayd thiges, with that thou haue vnderstandynge of two the last chapiters of thys seconde boke, y^t is to say, good to be som¦thyng, and bad to want al maner beynge, for badde is nothynge els but absence of good, & that god in good, maketh that good dedes be good, in yuel he maketh y^t they ben but nauʒt that they ben bad: for to nothyng is badnesse

to be. I haue ({quod} I tho) ynough knowīg therī, me nedeth of other thinges to here, y^e is to say how I shall come to my blysse so lōge desired

IN thys mater toforne declared ({quod} loue) I haue well shewed, y^t euery man hath fre arbytremēt of thynges in hys power to do or vndo what hym lyketh. Out of thys grounde must come the spire, that by processe of tyme shall in greatnesse sprede, to haue braunches & blosmes of warynge frute in grace, of whych the caste and the sauoure is endlesse blysse in ioy euer to onbyde. Now lady ({quod} I) that tree to set same wold I lerne So thou shalt ({quod} she) er thou departe hence. The fyrst thynge thou must set thy werke on grounde syker and good, accordaunte to thy sprynges. For yf y^u desyre grapes, thou goest not to the hasell, ne for to fetchen roses, thou sekest not on okes: and yf thou shalt haue ho∣ny soukles, thou leauest the frute of the soure docke Wherfore yf thou desyre this blysse in parfyte ••oye▪ thou must set thy purpose there vertue foloweth, and not to loke after the bo∣dely goodes, as I sayd when thou were wry¦t••ng in thy seconde booke. And for thou hast set thy selfe in so noble a place, and vtterly lo∣wed in thyne herte the mysgoyng of thy fyrst purpose, thys se••teles is the esyer to sprynge, and the more lyghter thy soule in grace to be bl••ssed. And trewly thy desyre, that is to saye thy wyll, algates mote ben stedfaste in thys mater wythout any chaungynge, for yf it be stedfast, no man maye it voyde. Yes parde ({quod} I•• ••ny wyll maye ben turned by frendes, and dysease of manace & thretnyng in lesynge of my lyfe and of my lymmes, & in many other wyse, that nowe cometh not to mynde. And also it mote ofte ben out of thought, for no re¦membraunce may holde one thynge continu∣ally in herte, be it neuer so lusty desyred.

Nowe se ({quod} she) how thy wyl shal folowe thy frewyl to be groūded cōtinuelly to abyde It is thy fre wil that thou louest and hast lo∣ued, and yet shal louē thys Margaryte perle, and in thy wyl thou thinkest to holde it. Thē is thy wyl knyt in loue, not to chaūge for no newe lust besyde: thys wyll teacheth thyne hert frō al maner varyeng. But thē although thou be thretened in deth or els in otherwyse yet is it in thyne arbitremēt to chose, thy loue to voyde or els to holde: And thylke arbytre∣ment is in a maner a iugement bytwene de∣syre and thy herte. And yf thou deme to loue thy good wyl fayleth, then arte thou worthy no blysse that good wyl shulde deserue: and if thou chose contynuaunce in thy good seruyce then thy good wyll abydeth, nedes blysse fo∣lowīg of thy good wil must come by strēgth of thylke iugement: for thy fyrst wyl y^t taught thyn hert to abyde, & halte it from theschaūge wyth the reson is accorded. Trewly this ma∣ner of wyl thus shal abyd, impossible it were to turne yf thy herte be trewe, & yf euery man dyligently the menynges of hys wyl cōsider, he shall wel vnderstande that good wyl knyt wyth reason, but in a false herte neuer is voy¦ded: for power & myght of kepyng thys good wyl is thorow lyberte of arbytremēt in hert, but goodwil to kepe may not fayle. Eke then yf it fayle, it sheweth it selfe that goodwyl in kepyng is not there. And thus false wyll that putteth out the good, anone constrayneth the herte to accorde in louynge of thy goodwyll, & thys accordaūce bytwene false wyl & thyne herte, in falsyte ben lykened together. Yet a ly¦tel wol I say the, in good wyll thy goodwyl∣les to rayse & strength. Take hede to me ({quod} she) how thy wylles thou shalt vnderstande. Right as ye han in your body dyuers mem∣bres, and fyue sondrye wyttes, euerych apart to hys owne doyng, which thinges as instru¦mētes ye vsen, as your hādes aparte to han∣dle, fete to go, tonge to speke, eye to se: Ryght so y^e soule hath in hym certayne sterynges & strengthes whych he vseth as instrumētes to his certayne doynges. Reason is in the soule, which he vseth thīges to know & to proue, & wil, which he vseth to wilne: & yet is neither wyl ne reason al y^e soule, but eueryche of hem is a thing by him self in y^e soule. And right as euerich hath thus singuler īstrumētes by hē selfe, they han as well diuers aptes & dyuers maner usynges, & thilke aptes mowē in wyll ben cleped affectiōs. Affectiō is an instrumēt of wyllyng in his apetites. Wherfore mokel folke sayne, if a resonable creatures soule any thing feruētly wylneth, affectuously he wyl∣neth, & thus may wyl by terme of equiuocas in thre wayes be vnderstād: One is instrmēt of wyllyng, another is affectiō of thys instru¦ment: & the thyrd is vse, y^t setteth it a werke. Instrumēt of willyng is thilke strēgth of the soule, which y^e cōstraineth to wylne, ryght as

reson is instrumēt of reasons, which ye vsen when ye loken. Affection of thys instrument is a thyng, by which ye be drawe desyrouslye any thyng to wylne in coueytous maner, all be it for the tyme out of your mynde: as yf it come in your thought thylke thyng to remē∣bre, anone ye be wylling thilke to done or els to haue. And thus is instrument wyl, & affec∣tion is wyl also, to wylne thynge as I sayd: as for to wylne helth, whē wyl nothing ther∣on thiketh, for anon as it cometh to memorie it is in wyl, and so is affection to wylne slepe whē it is out of mynde, but anone as it is re∣membred wyl wylneth slepe, when his tyme cometh of y^t doynge. For affection of wyll ne∣uer accordeth to sycknesse, ne alway to wake. Right so in a true louers affectiō of willyng instrument, is to wylne truth in hys seruyce, & this affection alway abydeth, although he be sleping or thret••ed, or els not theron thin∣kyng, but anon as it cometh to minde, anone he is stedfast in that wil to abyde. Vse of this instrument forsoth is another thyng by hym selfe, & that haue ye not but whē ye be doynge in wylled thyng by affect or instrumēt of wil purposed or desyred, & this maner of vsage in my seruice wisely nedeth to be ruled frō way¦ters w^t enuy closed, frō spekers ful of iāgelig wordes, from proude folke & hautayne, that labes & innocentes both scornen & dyspysen. Thus in doyng varieth the actes of willing euerich from other, & yet ben they cleped wil, & the name of wyl vtterly owen they to haue as instrument of wyll is wyl, when ye turne into purpose of any thynge to don, be it to syt or to stande, or any suche thynge els. This in¦strument maye ben had, although affecte and vsage be lefte out of doynge, right as ye haue syght and reason, and yet alway vse ye grea∣test wysedome in hem shall he be, and they in god. Nowe then when all false folke be asha∣med, which wenen al bestialte & erthly thing be swetter and better to the body, then heuēly is to the soule: thys is the grace & the frute y^t I longe haue desyred, it doth me good the sa∣uoure to smel. Christ nowe to the I crye of mercy and of grace, and graunt of thy good∣nes to euery maner reder full vnderstādynge in thys leude pamflet to haue, and let no man wene other cause in thys werke, then is vere¦ly the soth: For enuy is euer redy all innocē∣tes to shende, wherfore I wolde that good speche enuye euermore hynder. But no man wene thys werke be sufficiently maked, for goddes werke passeth mans, no mās wyt to perfit werke may by no way puruay thende: How shuld I thē so leude, ought wene of per¦fectiō any ende to get? Neuer the later grace glorie, & laude I yeld & put w^t worshypful re¦uerēces to y^t sothfast god ī thre, with vnite clo¦sed which y^t the heuy lāgour of my sycknesse hath turned into mirth of helth forecouer: for right as I was sorowed thorow the gloton cloude of manyfolde syckly sorowe, so myrth ayen comyng helth hath me gladed & greatly cōforted. I besech & pray therfore, & I crye on goddes gret pyte & on hys mokel mercy, that thys present scorges of my fleshe mow make medecyn & lech craft of my inner mans helth, so y^t my passed trespas & tenes, throughe we∣pyng of myne eyen ben wash, & I boyded frō al maner dysese, & nomore to wepe herafter, I now be kept thorow goddes grace: so th•••• goddes hāde whych that mercyably me ha•••• scorged, herafter in good plyte frō thens mer¦cyably me kepe & defēde. In thys boke be ma¦ny preuy thynges wympled & folde, vnneth shul leude mē the plytes vnwynde, wherfore I pray to the holy goost he lene of hys oynt mētes mens wyttes to clere, and for goddes loue no man wonder why or howe thys que¦stion come to my mynde, for my great lustye desyre was of thys lady to be enfourmed, my leudnesse to amende. Certes I knowe not o∣ther mennes wyttes what I shuld aske, or in answere what I shulde saye, I am so leude my selfe, that mokel more lernynge yet me be¦houeth. I haue made therfore as I coud, but not sufficiently as I wolde, & as mater yaue me sentence, for my dull wytte is hyndered by stepmother of foryetynge, & wyth cloud of vnconnynge, that stoppeth the lyghte of my Margarite perle, wherfore it may not shyne on me as it shulde. I desyre not onely a good reder, but also I coueyte & praye a good boke amender, in correction of wordes and of sen∣tence: and onely thys mede I coueyte for my trauayle, that euery inseer and herer of thys leude fantasye, deuoute orisons and prayers to god the great iudge yelden, and prayen for me, in that wyse that in hys dome my synnes mowe ben released & foryeuen: He that pray∣eth for other, for him selfe trauayleth. Also I pray that euery man parfytly mowe knowe

thorowe what intencion of herte this tretyse haue I drawe. How was it y^t syghtfull Mā∣na in deserte to chyldrē of Israel was spiritu¦all meate: bodely also it was, for mennes bo∣dies it norisheth. And yet neuer y^e later Christ it sygnifyed. Ryght so a iewell betokeneth a gemme, & that is a stone vertuous, or els a perle Margarite a womā betokeneth grace, lernyng or wysedō of god, or els holy church Yf breed thorow vertue is made holy fleshe, what is that our god sayth? It is the spirete that yeueth lyfe, the fleshe of nothynge it pro¦fyteth. Fleshe is fleshly vnderstandyng: Flesh wythout grace and loue nought is worth. The letter sleeth, y^e spirite yeueth lyfelich vn∣derstādyng. Charite is loue, and loue is cha∣ryte, god graunt vs all therin to be frended. And thus the Testament of Loue is ended.