INTRODUCTION (continued 2)

12. MS. Cotton Titus A. xxvi. 15th century. [fol. 153, r^o.] 1 Erthe oute of erthe is wondirly wroght, Erthe of þe erthe hathe goten a dyngnyte of noght, Erthe vpon erthe hathe set alle hys thovght 4 Houe erthe vpon erthe maye be hyghe broght. 2 Erthe vpon erthe wolde be a kyng; Bot how erthe shalle to erthe thynkethe he nothyng; Whan that erthe biddethe erthe hys rentis hom to bryng, 8 Than shalle erthe oute of erthe haue a pytous partyng. 3 Whan erthe vpon erthe wynythe casteles & tourys, Than says erthe to erthe: ‘Þys is alle ourys’. And whan erthe vpon erthe hathe byggid hys bourys, 12 Than shalle erthe vpon erthe suffer sharpe shoures. 4 Erthe gothe vpon erthe as molde vpon molde1, So gothe erthe vpon erthe alle glytryng in golde, Lyke as erthe into erthe never goo sholde; 16 And yet shal2 erthe in to erthe rathar then he wolde. [fol. 153, v^o.] 5 O thou wreched erthe that on erthe trauayles nyght & daye To fflorysshe3 and paynt þe erthe with wanton araye; Yet sshalle þou, erthe, for alle thy erthe, make þou it neuer so queynt or gaye, 20 Oute of thys erthe in to erthe to klyng as clot in claye. 6 O wrechyd man, why4 art þou5 prowde that of erth art maked, And hyder thou broght no shrowde, bot pore com and nakyd? Lewe thy syne and lyffe in ryght, 24 And than shalt thou lyffe in heuyn as a knyght.

13. MS. Rawlinson Poetical 32. After 1450. [fol. 32, v^o.] A descripture alchimicall of erthe & the nature of man1. Whanne life is most louyd, And deth is most hatid, Deth drawith his drauȝte 4 And makith a man nakid. 1 Erthe oute of erthe Is wonderly wrouȝte; Erthe hath of the erthe 8 Ȝetyn a dignite of noughte. 2 Erthe a-pon erthe Hath set alle his thoughte How erthe apon erthe 12 May be hiere y-broughte. 3 Erthe a-pon erthe Wolde be made a kyng, How erthe schal to erthe 16 Thynkyng no thyng. 4 Whanne erthe biddith erthe Than he his rente hom brynge, Thanne schal erthe for erthe 20 Haue a petous partynge. 5 Whanne erthe apon erthe Hath billid al his bowris, Thanne schalle erthe for erthe 24 Suffre ful harde schowris. [fol. 33, r^o.] 6 Erthe a-pon erthe Wynnyth castellis and towris. Thanne saithe erthe to erthe: 28 ‘This is alle owris’. 7 Erthe gothe apon erthe As molde a-pon molde, Erthe gothe apon erthe 32 Gleteryng alle in golde, 8 As thouh erthe to erthe Neuer a-yen go schulde, But yit schal erthe to þe erthe 36 Rather thanne he wolde. 9 Oute of the erthe cam the erthe Wantynge his garnament, To hide the erthe, to lappe the erthe, 40 To hym was clothing y-lent. 10 Now goth the erthe apon erthe Disgesily ragged and to-rent, Therfore schal erthe vnder erthe 44 Suffer ful grete turment. 11 Whi that erþe loueþ erthe Wonder y may thinke, Or whi that erthe for the erthe 48 Unresonably swete wol or swynke, [fol. 33, v^o.] 12 Ffor whanne erthe vnder erthe Is brouȝte withynne brynke, Thanne schal erthe of the erthe 52 Haue an oribyll stynke. 13 Yif erthe wold of erthe Thus hartily haue thynkynge, And how erthe out of erthe 56 Shal at last haue risynge, 14 Thanne schal erthe for erthe Yelde riht streite rekenynge, Thanne schuld [erthe] for erthe 60 Neuer mys-plese heuene kynge. 15 Thow wrecchid erthe þat thus for erthe Trauelist nyht and day To florische the erthe, to paynte the erthe 64 With thi wanton array, 16 Yit schalt thou erthe for alle thi erthe, Make thou neuer so gay, Ffor thi erthe in to erthe 68 Clynge as clotte in clay. 17 Thinke now erthe how thou in erthe Goist euer in dethis2 grace, And thanne thou erthe for the erthe 72 Shalt neuer stryue ne race. [fol. 34, r^o.] 18 Bute for thou erthe with thi erthe Hauntist enuye and hate, Therefor schal erthe for erthe 76 Be excludid from heuene gate. 19 Ffowle erthe whi louyst thou erthe That is thi dedly foo, And bildist on erthe 80 As thou schuldist dwelle euer moo? 20 But thou erthe forsake the erthe, Or that thou hennys goo, Vnder erthe for lust of erthe 84 Thou schalt haue sorow and woo. 21 Whiles erthe may in erthe To festis and to drynkis gon, Til the be made frome the erthe 88 As bare as any bon. 22 Thanne if erthe comyth to erthe Makyng sorow and mone, Thanne saith erthe to the erthe, 92 ‘Thou were a felow, but now art thou none’. 23 Thus the erthe queytith the erthe That doith to him seruyse, Or tristyn on erthe, or plese the erthe 96 In any maner wise. [fol. 34, v^o.] 24 Therfor thou erthe be ware of erthe And thou the wele auyse, Lest thou erthe perische for erthe 100 By-fore the hihe iustyse. 25 Ffor the erthe was made of erthe At the first begynnynge, That erthe schuld labour the erthe 104 In trowthe and sore swynkynge; 26 But now erthe lyueth in erthe With falshode and begilynge, Therfor schal erthe for erthe 108 Be punsched in payne euerlastynge. 27 But erthe forsake the erthe And alle his falshede, And of the erthe restore the erthe 112 Goodis that ben mys-gete, 28 Or that erthe be doluyn in erthe And vnder fote y-trede, Ffor synne of erthe, þat hath do in erthe, 116 Fful sore he schalle be bete. 29 Drede thou erthe while thou in erthe Hast witte & resoune at thi wille, That, erthe, for loue of erthe, 120 Thi soule thou nougth spille. [fol. 35, r^o.] 30 And thou erthe, repente the in erthe Of alle that thou hast don ille, And thanne schalt thou, erthe apon erthe, 124 Goddis biddyngis fulfille. 31 Lord God that erthe tokist in erthe, And suffredist paynes ful stille, Late neuer erthe for the erthe 128 In dedly synne ne spille, 32 But that erthe in this erthe Be doynge euer thi wille, So that erthe for the erthe 132 Stye vp to thi holy hille. Amen. S. J.

14. MS. Porkington 10. 15th century. [fol. 79, v^o.] 1 1Erthe vppon erthe is woundyrely wrouȝte; Erthe vppon erthe has set al his þouȝte2 [fol. 80, r^o.] How erthe vppon erth to erthe schalle be3 brouȝte; 4 Ther is none vppon erth has hit in þouȝte.4 Take hede! Whoso þinkyse on5 his ende, ful welle schal he spede. 2 Erth vppon erth wolde be a kynge; 8 How erth schal to erthe he þinkis no þinge. When erth byddyþ erth his rent whome brynge, Then schal erth fro þe erth have a harde parttynge, With care; 12 Ffor erth vppon erþe wottis neuer wer þerfor to fare. 3 Erth vppon erth wynnis castyllis & tovris. Then sayþe erth to erth: ‘Al þis is ourus’. When erth vppon erth has bylde al his bovres, 16 Then schal erth fro þe erth soffyre scharpe schorrys, Ande smarte. Man, amende þe betyme, þi lyfe ys but a starte. 4 Erth gose on erth as molde vponne molde, 20 Lyke as erth to þe erth neuer a-gayne scholde; Erth gose on erth glytteryng in golde6, [fol. 80, v^o.] Ȝet shale erth to þe erth, raþer þen he wolde. Be owris! 24 Ȝefe þi almis with þi hande. Trust to no secatovrs. 5 Why þat erth louis erþe merwel me þinke, 7Or why erth vppon erth wyl swet or swinke, 7Ffor when erth vppon erth is brouþt to þe brynke, 28 Then schal erth frov þe erth have a fovl stynke To smele, Wars þen þe caryon þat lyis in þe fele. 6 Lo, erth vppon erth, consayfe þis þou maye, 32 That þou commys frome þe erth nakyde alway[e]; How schulde erth vppon erth soe8 prode or gaye, Sen9 erth vnto erth schal pase in symple araye, Unclade? 36 Cloth þe nakyd whyl þou may, for so Gode þe bade. 7 Erth vppon erth, me þinkyȝ þe ful blynde, That on erth ryches to set al10 þi mynde; In þe gospel wryttyne exampul I fynde, 40 The pore went to heyuyn, þe rych to hel I fynde, Witt skyle: [fol. 81, r^o.] The commandmentis of Gode wolde he not fulfyle. 8 Erth vppon erth, deyle duly thy goode 44 To þe pore pepul þat favtt pe þi fovde, Ffor þe loue of þi Lorde, þat rent was on þe roode, Ande for þi loue on þe crose sched his11 hart blode,— Go rede!— 48 nWittovte anny place to reste on his hede. 9 Erth vppon erth, take tent to my steyuyne; Whyl þou leuyst, fulfyle þe werkys of mercy vij. Loke þou lete, for oode ne for ewyne, 52 Ffor þo byne þe werkis þat helpyne vs to heyuyne, In haste. Tho dedis who so dose þar, hyme neuer be agaste. 10 Erth vppon erth, be þou neuer so gaye, 56 Thow moue12 wende of þis worlde an vnreydy waye; Turne þe betyme, whyle þat þou maye, Leste it lede þe into hele, to logege þer for13 ay, In pyne; 60 Ffor þer is noþer to gett brede, ale, ne wyne. [fol. 81, v^o.] 11 Erth vppon erth, Gode ȝeyf þe grace, Whyle þou leuuyst vppon erth, to purway þe a place In heywyn to dweylle, whyl þat þou hast space; 64 That myrthe for to myse it wer a karful case. Ffor whye? That myrth is withowttyn ende, I tel þe securlye. 12 I concele erth vppon erth þat wykydely has wroȝte, 68 Whyl erth is on erth, to torn alle his þovȝte, Ande pray to Gode vppon erth, þat al made of nov[ȝte]14, That erth owte of erth to blys may be bovȝte15 Witt myȝthe16, 72 Thorow helpe Jhesu Cryst þat was oure ladis byrthe. Do for þiself.

15. MS. Balliol 354. Before 1504. [fol. 207, v^o.] (Richard Hill’s Commonplace-Book.) 1 Erth owt of erth is worldly wrowght, Erth hath goten oppon erth a dygnite of nowght, Erth vpon erth hath1 set all his thowght, 4 How þat erth vpon erth myght be hye browght. 2 Erth vpon erth wold be a kyng, But how þat erth shall to erth, he thynkith no thyng; When erth biddith erth his rentes2 home bryng, 8 Then shall erth for erth haue a hard partyng. 3 Erth vpon erth wynneth castlles2 & towres, Then seyth erth vnto erth: ‘Þis is all owres’; But when erth vpon erth hath bildyd his bowres, 12 Than shall erth for erth suffre hard showres. 4 Erth vpon erth hath welth vpon molde, Erth goth vpon erth glydryng all in golde, Like as he vnto erth neuer torn shuld; 16 & yet shal erth vnto erth soner than he wold. 5 Why þat erth loweth erth, wonder3 I thynk; Or why þat erth will for erth swet or swynk; For whan erth vpon erth is browght within þe brynk, 20 Than shall erth for erth suffre a fowle stynk. 6 As erth vpon erth were þe worthyes ix, & as erth vpon erth in honour dide shyne; But erthe liste not to know how þei shuld enclyn, 24 & þer crownnys leyd in erth, whan deth hath made hys fyne. [fol. 208, r^o.] 7 As erth vpon erth, fulle worthy was Josue, Dauyd þe worthy kyng, Judas Machabe; They were but erth vpon erth, non of them thre, 28 And so from erth vnto erth þei loste þer dignite. 8 Alisander was but erth, þat all the world wan, & Ector vpon erth was hold a worthy man, & Julius Cesar þat þe empire first be-gan; 32 & now, as erth within erth, þei lye pale & wan. 9 Arthur was but erth, for all his renown; No more was kyng Charlis, ne Godfrey of Bolown; But now erth hath torned þer noblenes vpsodown; 36 & thus erth goth to erth, by short conclusion. 10 Who so rekyn also of William Conquerowre4, Kyng Harry þe first, þat was of knyghthode flowre4; Erth hath closed them ful streytly in his bowre4; 40 Loo, the ende of worthynes! here is no more socowre4. 11 Now thei þat leve vpon erth, both yong & old, Thynk how ye shall to erth, be ye neuer so bold; Ye be vnsiker, wheþer it be in hete or cold, 44 Like as your brether5 did beffore, as I haue told. 12 Now ye folk þat be here, ye may not long endure, But þat ye shall torn to erth, I do you ensure; & yf ye lyst of þe trewth to se a playn fugure, 48 Go to seynt Powlis, & see þer the portratowre4. 13 All ys erth, & shall be erth, as it shewith ther, 6Þer-for, or dredfull deth with his dart you dere, & for to torn in to erth, no man shall it forbere, 52 Wisely purvey you beffore, & þer-of haue no fere. 14 Now, sith by deth we shal al pas, it is to vs certeyn, For of þe erth we com all, & to þe erth shall torn agayn; Þer-for to strive of grucche it were but in vayn, 56 For all is erth, & shall be erth, no thyng more certayn. 15 Now erth vppon erth, consydre thow may, How erth commeth to erth nakyd all way. Why shuld erth vpon erth go stowt or gay, 60 Sith erth owt of erth shall passe in pore a-ray? 16 I consaill you vpon erth þat wikkidly haue wrowght, Whill þat erth is on erth, torn vp your thowght, & pray to God vppon erth, þat all þe erth hath wrowght, 64 Þat erth owt of erth to blis may be browght. Amen.

16. MS. Harleian 984. 16th century. [fol. 72, r^o.] 6 1How schulde erthe vpon erthe be prud & gay When erthe schal to erthe in so pore aray? 7 I consell erthe vpon erthe þat wikyd hade wroȝt, 4 Whyle erthe ys apon erthe to turne al his þoȝt, Ande pray to God þat al þe world wroȝt2 Þat erthe out of erthe to blesse may be broȝt.

17. The Maitland MS. (Pepysian MS. 2553, p. 338.) c. 1555-1585. 1 1Eyrd vpone eird wondirfallie is wrocht, Eird hes gottin vpone eird ane dignite for nocht, Eird apone eird hes set all his thocht 4 How þat2 eird vpone eird till hicht may be brocht. 2 Eird apone eird wald fayne be a king, And how þat eird gois to eird thinkis he no thing. Quhone eird byddis eird his rentis hame to bring, 8 Than sall eird haue to eird herd depairting. 3 Eird apon eird wynnis castellis and towris, Than sayis eird vntill eird: ‘All þir ar owris’. Quhone eird apone eird hes biggit all his bowris, 12 Than sall eird vpone eird suffir scharp schowris. 4 Eyrd apone eird and mold vpone mold, Lyke as eird vnto eird never go sold. Eird gois apone eird glitterand as gold, 16 Ȝit sall eird go to eird sonar nor he wold. 5 How þat eird luiffis eird grit wondir I think, Or quhy þat eird will for eird owþir swet or swynk. Quhone þat eird within eird is closit vndir bynk, 20 Than sall eird within eird haue ane ewill stynk. 6 Lo eird vpone eird considdir þow may, How eird vnto3 eird gois nakit away, Quhy sould eird apone eird go ower proud or gay, 24 Sen eird vntill eird sall wend in pure array? 7 I counsall eird vpone eird þat wondirlie is wrocht, Quhill4 eird is apone eird to turne all his thocht, And pray to God apone eird þat maid all of nocht, 28 That eird vpone eird to blys may be brocht. Quod marsar.

18. John Reidpeth’s MS. Cambr. Univ. Libr. Ll. 5. 10. [fol. 43, v^o.] (Transcribed from the Maitland MS. 1622-3.) 1 Eird vpoun eird wonderfull is wrocht, Eird hes gottin vpoun eird ane dignitie for nocht, Eird vpoun eird hes sett all his thocht 4 How þat1 eird vpoun eird till hicht may be brocht. [fol. 44, r^o.] 2 Eird vpoun Eird wold fane be ane king, And how þat eird gois to eird thinkis he nothing. Quhen eird biddis eird his rentis hame to bring, 8 Than sall eird haue to eird herd depairting. 3 Eird vpoun Eird wins castellis and towris; Than sayis eird vnto eird: ‘All now ar ouris’. Quhen eird vpoun eird hes biggit all his towris, 12 Than sall eird vpoun eird suffer grit showris. 4 Eird vpoun eird and mold vpoun mold, Lyk as eird vnto eird neuer go sold, Eird gois vpoun eird glitterand as gold, 16 Ȝitt sall eird go to eird sonear nor he wald. 5 How þat eird luiffis eird grit wonder I think, Or quhy þat eird will for eird owther sweit or swink, Quhen þat eird within eird is closit vnder bink, 20 Than sall eird with eird haue ane evill stink. 6 Lo eird vpoun eird considder thow may How eird vnto eird gois nakit away, Quhy sould eird vpoun eird go our2 proud or gay, 24 Sen eird vntill eird sall wend in pure aray? 7 I counsall eird vpoun eird þat wondirlie is wrocht, Quhill eird is vpoun eird to turne all his thocht, And pray to God vponn eird þat maid all of nocht, 28 That eird vpoun eird to blis may be brocht. Quod dumbar.

Cambridge Univ. Libr. Ii. 4. 9. 15th century. [fol. 67, r^o.] 1 Erthe vpon erth is waxin and wrought, Erthe takys on erth a nobylay of nought; Now erthe vpon erthe layes all his þought 4 How erthe vpon erthe sattys all at noght. 2 Erthe vpon erth has hallys & towris1; Erthe says to erth: ‘This is alle owris’. But quan erth vpon erth has byggyd his bowris, 8 Than xal erth for the erth haue scharpe schowris. 3 Erthe vpon erth wolde be a kyng, But hove2 erth xal to erth thynkyth he no thyng. 4 And of the same erthe mad God man, 12 And sethe he made that erth & callyd it Adam, For loue of erthe, the wych was woman, That erth in this erthe fyrst be-gan. 5 Erthe goos on erth & tyllys with hys plowe, 16 Erthe a-geyn erth holdys it full toght3, Erthe vpon [erth] stelis hym a slogh4, Erthe on this erth thynkys he has neuer i-nowe5. 6 Erth vpon erthe gos in the weye, 20 Prykys and prankys on a palfreye; When erth has gotyn erth alle that he maye, He schal haue but seven fote at his last daye. 7 Than xal not be lykyng vn-to hym 24 Bu[t]6 an olde sely cloth to wynde erthe in, When erthe is in erth for wormys wyn, The rof of his hows xal ly on his chyn. [fol. 67, v^o.] 8 7When erthe says to erth: ‘My rent þou me bryng’, 28 Then has erth fro erthe a dolfull partyng. 9 How erthe louys erth wondyr me thynke, How erth for erth wyll swete and swynke. When erth is in erthe broght with-in the brynke, 32 What as herth than of erthe but a fowle stynke? 10 Erthe wrotys in erth as molys don in molde, Erthe vp-on erth glydys as golde, As erthe leve in erthe euer more schulde. 36 11 Erthe vp-on erth mynd euer more þou make How erthe xal to erth when deth wyll hym take. 12 Be ware, erth, for erthe, for sake of thi sowle, Erthe may of erth at þe last take a fowle, 40 When erth is in erthe here so long in his slogh. 13 Ffor erth gos in erth walkand in vede, And erthe rydys on erth on a fayr stede, When he was8 gotyn in erth erth to his mede, 44 Than is erth layde in erthe wormys to fede. Whylke ar the wormys the flesch brede? God wote the wormys for to ryght rede. 14 Erthe a-geyn erthe I holde it on-kynde, 48 Erthe is as sone wroth as is the wynde, Swyche fowle erth mekyl may we fynde, That wyl speke fayre before vs & falsly be-hynde. [fol. 68, r^o.] 15 When erth vp-on erth be-gynnys to be wroth, 52 Erth vpon erth swerys many a gret othe, Erth berys pride in herte & in cloth, When erth is layde in erth þan xal it be loth. 16 Erthly coveytous makyth erth to be schent, 56 Erth for this erth yeldis a gret rent, If erth in thys erth levyd in good entent Than dare erthe nevyr recke where that he went. 17 Erth vp-on erth is stronge as a mast, 60 And erth wyth is erth fyghtys ful fast, There is non so stowte that in erth may hym cast, And alle xal we be erth at the last. 18 Erthe bygyth hallys & erth bygith towres, 64 When erth is layd in erth, blayke is his bours; If erth haue welth, he dwellyth in flowres9, And if erth haue mys don, he getyth scharpe shours. 19 If erth wyste in erth quat that erth is, 68 Ther wolde neuer erth in erth do a-mys. God mad erth of erth, & namyd it for his, Adam of erth in erthly paradys. 20 God walkyd in erth as longe as he wolde, 72 He had not in this erth but honger & colde, And in this erth also his body was solde, Here in this erth, whan þat he was xxx^ti ȝere olde. [fol. 68, v^o.] 21 God lytyd in erth, blyssed be that stounde! 76 He sauyd hijs herth with many a scharpe wounde, Ffor to sawe erth owght of hell grounde, He deyd in erth vpon þe rode with many a blody vounde10. 22 And God ros ovght of the est11 this erth for to spede, 80 And went into hell as was gret nede, And toke erth from sorowe þus12 erth for to spede, The ryght wey to heuen blys Iesus Cryst vs lede! fine.