Volume 2 — A RYGHT DELECTABLE TRATYSE VPON A GOODLY GARLANDE OR CHAPELET OF LAURELL,[1458] BY MAYSTER SKELTON, POETE LAUREAT, STUDYOUSLY DYUYSED AT SHERYFHOTTON CASTELL, IN THE FORESTE OF GALTRES, WHEREIN AR COMPRYSYDE MANY AND DYUERS SOLACYONS AND RYGHT PREGNANT ALLECTYUES OF SYNGULAR PLEASURE, AS MORE AT LARGE IT DOTH APERE IN THE PROCES FOLOWYNGE.

Eterno mansura die dum sidera fulgent, Æquora dumque tument, hæc laurea nostra virebit: Hinc nostrum celebre et nomen referetur ad astra, Undique Skeltonis memorabitur alter Adonis.

Arectyng my syght towarde the zodyake, The sygnes xii for to beholde a farre, When Mars retrogradant[1459] reuersyd his bak, Lorde of the yere in his orbicular,[1460] Put vp his sworde, for he cowde make no warre, And whan Lucina plenarly[1461] did shyne, Scorpione ascendynge degrees twyse nyne; In place alone then musynge in my thought How all thynge passyth as doth the somer flower, On[1462] euery halfe my reasons forthe I sought, 10 How oftyn fortune varyeth in an howre, Now clere wether, forthwith a stormy showre; All thynge compassyd, no perpetuyte, But now in welthe, now in aduersyte. So depely drownyd I was in this dumpe, Encraumpysshed so sore was my conceyte, That, me to rest, I lent me to a stumpe Of an oke, that somtyme grew full streyghte, A myghty tre and of a noble heyght, Whose bewte blastyd was with the boystors wynde, 20 His leuis loste, the sappe was frome the rynde. Thus stode I in the frytthy forest of Galtres, Ensowkid with sylt[1463] of the myry mose, Where hartis belluyng, embosyd with distres, Ran on the raunge so longe, that I suppose Few men can tell now[1464] where the hynde calfe gose; Faire fall that forster[1465] that so well[1466] can bate his hownde! But of my purpose[1467] now torne we to the grownde. Whylis I stode musynge in this medytatyon, In slumbrynge I fell[1468] and halfe in a slepe; 30 And whether it were of ymagynacyon, Or of humors superflue, that often wyll crepe Into the brayne by drynkyng ouer depe, Or it procedyd of fatall persuacyon, I can not wele tell[1469] you what was the occasyon; But sodeynly at ones, as I me aduysed,[1470] As one in a trans or in an extasy, I sawe a pauylyon wondersly[1471] disgysede, Garnysshed fresshe after my fantasy, Enhachyde with perle and stones preciously, 40 The grounde engrosyd and bet with bourne golde, That passynge goodly it was to beholde: Within it,[1472] a prynces excellente of porte; But to recounte her ryche abylyment, And what estates to her did resorte, Therto am I full insuffycyent; A goddesse inmortall[1473] she dyd represente; As I harde say, dame Pallas was her name; To whome supplyed the royall Quene of Fame.[1474] The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas. Prynces moost pusant, of hygh preemynence, 50 Renownyd[1475] lady aboue the sterry heuyn, All other transcendyng, of very congruence Madame regent of the scyence[1476] seuyn, To whos astate all noblenes most lenen,[1477] My supplycacyon to you I arrect, Whereof I beseche[1478] you to tender the effecte. Not[1479] vnremembered it is vnto your grace, How you gaue me a ryall[1480] commaundement That in my courte Skelton shulde haue a place, Bycause that his tyme he[1481] studyously hath spent 60 In your seruyce; and, to the accomplysshement Of your request, regestred is his name With laureate tryumphe in the courte of Fame. But, good madame, the accustome and vsage Of auncient poetis, ye wote full wele, hath bene Them selfe to embesy[1482] with all there holl corage, So that there workis myght famously be sene, In figure wherof they were the[1483] laurell grene; But how it is, Skelton is wonder slake, And, as we dare, we fynde in hym grete lake:[1484] 70 For, ne were onely he hath your promocyon, Out of my bokis full sone I shulde hym rase; But sith he hath tastid of the sugred[1485] pocioun Of Elyconis[1486] well, refresshid with your grace, And wyll not[1487] endeuour hymselfe to purchase The fauour of ladys with wordis electe, It is sittynge that ye must hym correct. Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame. The sum of your purpose, as we ar aduysid,[1488] Is that[1489] our seruaunt is sum what to dull; Wherin this answere for hym we haue comprisid, 80 How ryuers rin not[1490] tyll the spryng be full; Better[1491] a dum mouthe than a brainles scull; For if he gloryously pullishe[1492] his matter, Then men wyll say how he doth but flatter; And if so[1493] hym fortune to wryte true and plaine, As sumtyme he must vyces remorde, Then sum wyll say he hath but lyttill brayne, And how his wordes with reason wyll not[1494] accorde;[1495] Beware, for wrytyng remayneth of recorde; Displease not an hundreth[1496] for one mannes pleasure; 90 Who wryteth wysely hath a grete treasure. Also, to furnisshe better his excuse, Ouyde was bannisshed for suche a skyll, And many mo whome I cowde enduce; Iuuenall was thret parde for to kyll For certayne enuectyfys,[1497] yet wrote[1498] he none ill, Sauynge he rubbid sum vpon[1499] the gall; It was not[1500] for hym to abyde[1501] the tryall. In generrall wordes, I say not gretely nay, A poete somtyme may for his pleasure taunt, 100 Spekyng in parablis,[1502] how the fox, the grey, The gander, the gose, and the hudge oliphaunt, Went with the pecok ageyne[1503] the fesaunt; The lesarde came lepyng, and sayd that he must, With helpe of the ram, ley all in the dust. Yet dyuerse ther[1504] be, industryous of reason, Sum what wolde gadder in there coniecture[1505] Of suche an endarkid chapiter sum season; How be it, it were harde to construe this lecture; Sophisticatid craftely is many a confecture; 110 Another manes mynde diffuse is to expounde; Yet harde is to make but sum fawt be founde. The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas. Madame, with fauour of your benynge sufferaunce, Vnto your grace then make I this motyue; Whereto made ye me hym to auaunce Vnto the rowme of laureat promotyue? Or wherto shulde he haue that[1506] prerogatyue, But if he had made sum memoryall, Wherby he myght haue a name inmortall?[1507] To pas the tyme in slowthfull ydelnes, 120 Of your royall palace it is not[1508] the gyse, But to do sumwhat iche man doth hym dres: For how shulde Cato els be callyd wyse, But that his bokis, whiche he did deuyse, Recorde the same? or why is had in mynde Plato, but for that he[1509] left wrytynge behynde, For men to loke on? Aristotille also, Of phylosophers callid the princypall, Olde Diogenes, with other many mo, Demostenes,[1510] that oratour royall, 130 That gaue[1511] Eschines suche a cordyall, That bannisshed was he by[1512] his proposicyoun, Ageyne[1513] whome he cowde make no contradiccyoun? Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame. Soft, my good syster,[1514] and make there a pawse:[1515] And was Eschines rebukid as ye say? Remembre you wele, poynt wele that clause; Wherfore then rasid ye not[1516] away His name? or why is it, I you praye, That he to your courte is goyng and commynge, Sith he is slaundred[1517] for defaut of konnyng? 140 The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas. Madame, your apposelle[1518] is wele inferrid, And at your auauntage[1519] quikly it is Towchid, and hard for to be debarrid;[1520] Yet shall I answere your grace as in this, With your reformacion, if I say amis, For, but if your bounte did me assure, Myne argument els koude not[1521] longe endure. As towchyng that Eschines is remembred, That he so sholde be, me semith it sittyng,[1522] All be it grete parte he hath surrendred 150 Of his onour,[1523] whos dissuasyue in wrytyng To corage Demostenes was moche excitynge, In settyng out fresshely his crafty persuacyon, From whiche Eschines had none euacyon. The cause why Demostenes so famously is brutid, Onely procedid for that he did outray Eschines, whiche was not[1524] shamefully confutid But of that famous oratour, I say, Whiche passid all other; wherfore I may Among my recordes suffer hym namyd, 160 For though[1525] he were venquesshid, yet was he not[1526] shamyd: As Ierome,[1527] in his preamble Frater Ambrosius, Frome that I haue sayde in no poynt doth vary, Wherein[1528] he reporteth of the coragius Wordes that were moch consolatory By Eschines rehersed to the grete glory Of Demostenes, that was his vtter foo: Few shall ye fynde or none that wyll do so. Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame. A thanke to haue, ye haue well deseruyd, Your mynde that can maynteyne so apparently; 170 But a grete parte yet[1529] ye haue reseruyd Of that most folow then conseqently, Or els ye demeane you inordinatly; For if ye laude hym whome honour hath opprest, Then he that doth worste is as good as the best. But whome that ye fauoure, I se well, hath a name, Be he neuer so lytell of substaunce, And whome ye loue not[1530] ye wyll[1531] put to shame; Ye counterwey not euynly your balaunce; As wele foly as wysdome oft ye do[1532] avaunce: 180 For[1533] reporte ryseth many deuerse wayes: Sume be moche spokyn of for makynge of frays; Some haue a name for thefte and brybery; Some be called crafty, that can pyke[1534] a purse; Some men be made of for their[1535] mokery; Some carefull cokwoldes, some haue theyr wyues curs; Some famous wetewoldis, and they be moche wurs; Some lidderons,[1536] some losels, some noughty packis; Some facers, some bracers, some[1537] make great crackis; Some dronken dastardis with their dry soules; 190 Some sluggyssh slouyns, that slepe day and nyght; Ryot and Reuell be in your courte rowlis; Maintenaunce and Mischefe, theis be men of myght; Extorcyon is counted with you for a knyght; Theis people by me haue none assignement, Yet they ryde and rinne[1538] from Carlyll to Kente. But lytell or nothynge ye shall[1539] here tell Of them that haue vertue by reason of cunnyng, Whiche souerenly in honoure shulde excell; Men of suche maters make but a[1540] mummynge, 200 For wysdome and sadnesse be set out[1541] a sunnyng; And suche of my seruauntes as I haue promotyd, One faute or other in them shalbe notyd: Eyther they wyll[1542] say he is to wyse, Or elles he can nought bot whan he is at scole; Proue his wytt, sayth he, at cardes or dyce, And ye shall well fynde[1543] he is a very fole; Twyshe,[1544] set hym a chare, or reche hym a stole,[1545] To syt hym[1546] vpon, and rede Iacke a thrummis bybille, For truly it were pyte that he sat ydle. 210 The Quene of Fame to Dame Pallas. To make repungnaunce agayne that ye haue sayde, Of very dwte it may not[1547] well accorde, But your benynge sufferaunce for my discharge I laid, For that I wolde not with you fall at discorde; But yet I beseche[1548] your grace that good[1549] recorde May be brought forth, suche as can be founde, With laureat tryumphe why Skelton sholde be crownde; For elles it were to great a derogacyon Vnto your palas, our noble courte of Fame, That any man vnder supportacyon 220 Withoute deseruynge shulde haue the best game: If he to the ample encrease of his name Can lay any werkis that he hath compylyd, I am contente that he be not[1550] exylide Frome the laureat senate by force of proscripcyon; Or elles, ye know well, I can do no lesse But I most bannysshe hym frome my iurydiccyon,[1551] As he that aquentyth hym with ydilnes; But if that he purpose to make a redresse, What he hath done, let it be brought to syght; 230 Graunt my petycyon, I aske you but ryght. Dame Pallas to the Quene of Fame. To your request we be well condiscendid: Call forthe, let se where is your clarionar, To blowe a blaste with his long breth extendid; Eolus, your trumpet, that[1552] knowne is so farre, That bararag blowyth in euery mercyall warre, Let hym blowe now, that we may take a[1553] vewe What poetis we haue at our retenewe; To se if Skelton wyll[1554] put hymselfe in prease Amonge the thickeste of all the hole rowte; 240 Make noyse enoughe, for claterars loue no peas; Let se, my syster, now spede you,[1555] go aboute; Anone, I sey, this trumpet were founde out, And for no man hardely let hym spare To blowe bararag[1556] tyll bothe his eyne stare. Skelton Poeta. Forthwith there rose amonge the thronge A wonderfull noyse, and on euery syde They presid in faste; some thought they were to longe; Sume were to hasty, and wold no man byde; Some whispred, some rownyd, some spake, and some cryde, 250 With heuynge and shouynge, haue in and haue oute; Some ranne the nexte way, sume ranne abowte. There was suyng to the Quene of Fame; He plucked hym backe, and he went afore; Nay, holde thy tunge, quod another, let me haue the name; Make rowme, sayd another, ye prese all to sore; Sume sayd, Holde thy peas, thou getest here no more; A thowsande thowsande I sawe on a plumpe: With that I harde the noyse of a trumpe, That longe tyme blewe a full timorous blaste, 260 Lyke to the boryall wyndes whan they blowe, That towres and townes and trees downe caste, Droue clowdes together lyke dryftis of snowe; The dredefull dinne droue all the rowte on a rowe; Some tremblid, some girnid, some gaspid, some gasid, As people halfe peuysshe, or men that were masyd. Anone all was whyste, as it were for the nonys, And iche man stode gasyng and staryng vpon other: With that there come in wonderly at ones A murmur of mynstrels, that suche another 270 Had I neuer sene, some softer, some lowder; Orpheus, the Traciane, herped meledyously Weth Amphion, and other Musis of Archady: Whos heuenly armony was so passynge sure, So truely proporsionyd, and so well did gree, So duly entunyd with euery mesure, That in the forest was none so great a tre But that he daunced for ioye of that gle; The huge myghty okes them selfe dyd auaunce, And lepe frome the hylles to lerne for to daunce: 280 In so moche the stumpe, whereto I me lente, Sterte all at ones an hundrethe[1557] fote backe: With that I sprange vp towarde the tent Of noble Dame Pallas, wherof I spake; Where I sawe come[1558] after, I wote, full lytell lake Of a thousande poetes assembled togeder: But Phebus was formest of all that cam theder; Of laurell leuis a cronell on his hede, With heris encrisped[1559] yalowe[1560] as the golde, Lamentyng Daphnes, whome with the darte of lede 290 Cupyde hath stryken so that she ne wolde Concente to Phebus to haue his herte in holde, But, for to preserue her maidenhode[1561] clene, Transformyd was she into the laurell grene. Meddelyd with murnynge[1562] the moost parte of his muse, O thoughtfull herte, was euermore his songe! Daphnes, my derlynge, why do you me refuse? Yet loke on me, that louyd you haue so longe, Yet haue compassyon vpon my paynes stronge: He sange also how, the tre as he did take 300 Betwene his armes, he felt her body quake. Then he assurded into this[1563] exclamacyon Vnto Diana, the goddes inmortall;[1564] O mercyles madame, hard is your constellacyon, So close to kepe your cloyster virgynall, Enhardid adyment the sement of your wall! Alas, what ayle you to be so ouerthwhart, To bannysshe pyte out of a maydens harte? Why haue the goddes shewyd me this cruelte, Sith I contryuyd first princyples medycynable? 310 I helpe all other of there infirmite, But now to helpe myselfe I am not able; That profyteth all other is nothynge profytable Vnto me; alas, that herbe nor gresse[1565] The feruent axes of loue can not represse! O fatall fortune, what haue I offendid? Odious disdayne, why raist thou me on this facyon? But sith I haue lost now that I entended, And may not[1566] atteyne it by no medyacyon, Yet, in remembraunce of Daphnes transformacyon, 320 All famous poetis ensuynge after me Shall were a garlande of the laurell tre. This sayd, a great nowmber folowyd by and by Of poetis laureat of many dyuerse nacyons; Parte of there names I thynke to specefye: Fyrste, olde Quintiliane with his Declamacyons;[1567] Theocritus with his bucolycall relacyons; Esiodus, the iconomicar,[1568] And Homerus, the fresshe historiar; Prynce of eloquence, Tullius Cicero, 330 With Salusty[1569] ageinst Lucius Catelyne, That wrote the history of Iugurta also; Ouyde, enshryned with the Musis nyne; But blessed Bacchus, the pleasant god of wyne, Of closters engrosyd with his ruddy flotis[1570] These orators and poetes refresshed there throtis; Lucan,[1571] with Stacius in Achilliedos; Percius presed forth with problemes diffuse; Virgill the Mantuan, with his Eneidos; Iuuenall satirray, that men makythe to muse; 340 But blessed Bacchus, the pleasant god of wyne, Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotes These orators and poetes refreshed their throtes; There Titus Lyuius hymselfe dyd auaunce With decadis historious, whiche that he mengith[1572] With maters that amount the Romayns in substaunce; Enyus, that wrate[1573] of mercyall war at lengthe; But blessyd Bachus, potenciall god of strengthe, Of clusters engrosid with his ruddy flotis[1574] Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis; 350 Aulus Gelius, that noble historiar; Orace also with his new poetry; Mayster Terence, the famous comicar,[1575] With Plautus, that wrote full[1576] many a comody; But blessyd Bachus was in there company, Of clusters engrosyd with his ruddy flotis[1577] Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis; Senek full soberly with[1578] his tragediis; Boyce, recounfortyd[1579] with his philosophy; And Maxymyane, with his madde ditiis, 360 How dotynge age wolde iape with yonge foly; But blessyd Bachus most reuerent and holy, Of clusters engrosid with his ruddy flotis[1580] Theis orators and poetis refresshed there throtis; There came Johnn Bochas with his volumys grete; Quintus Cursius,[1581] full craftely that wrate Of Alexander; and Macrobius that did trete Of Scipions dreme what was the treu probate; But blessyd Bachus that neuer man forgate, Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotis[1582] 370 These orators and poetis refresshid ther throtis; Poggeus also, that famous Florentine, Mustred ther amonge them with many a mad tale; With a frere of Fraunce men call sir Gagwyne, That frownyd[1583] on me full angerly and pale; But blessyd Bachus, that bote is of all bale, Of clusters engrosyd with his ruddy flotis[1584] Theis orators and poetis refresshid there throtis; Plutarke and Petrarke, two famous clarkis; Lucilius and Valerius Maximus by name; 380 With Vincencius in Speculo, that wrote noble warkis; Propercius and Pisandros, poetis of noble fame; But blissed Bachus, that mastris oft doth frame, Of clusters engrosed with his ruddy flotis[1585] Theis notable poetis refresshid there throtis. And as I thus sadly amonge them auysid,[1586] I saw Gower, that first garnisshed our Englysshe rude, And maister Chaucer, that nobly enterprysyd How that our Englysshe myght fresshely be ennewed;[1587] The monke of Bury then after them ensuyd, 390 Dane Johnn Lydgate: theis Englysshe poetis thre, As I ymagenyd, repayrid vnto me, Togeder in armes, as brethern, enbrasid; There apparell farre passynge beyonde that I can tell; With diamauntis and rubis there tabers[1588] were trasid, None so ryche stones in Turkey to sell; Thei wantid nothynge but the laurell; And of there bounte they made me godely chere, In maner and forme as ye shall after here. Mayster Gower to Skelton. Brother Skelton, your endeuorment 400 So haue ye done, that meretoryously Ye haue deseruyd to haue an enplement In our collage aboue the sterry sky, Bycause that ye[1589] encrese and amplyfy The brutid Britons of Brutus Albion, That welny[1590] was loste when that we were gone. Poeta Skelton[1591] to Maister Gower. Maister Gower, I haue nothyng deserued To haue so laudabyle a commendacion: To yow thre this honor shalbe reserued, Arrectinge vnto your wyse examinacion 410 How all that I do is vnder refformation, For only the substance of that I entend, Is glad to please, and loth to offend. Mayster Chaucer to Skelton.[1592] Counterwayng your besy delygence Of that we beganne in the supplement, Enforcid ar we you to recompence, Of all our hooll collage by the agreament, That we shall brynge you personally present Of noble Fame before the Quenes grace, In whose court poynted is your place. 420 Poeta Skelton answeryth. O noble Chaucer, whos pullisshyd eloquence Oure Englysshe rude so fresshely hath set out, That bounde ar we with all deu reuerence, With all our strength that we can brynge about, To owe to yow our seruyce, and more if we mowte! But what sholde I say? ye wote what I entende, Whiche glad am to please, and loth to offende. Mayster Lydgate to Skelton. So am I preuentid of my brethern tweyne In rendrynge to you thankkis meritory, That welny[1593] nothynge there doth remayne 430 Wherwith to geue you my regraciatory, But that I poynt you to be prothonatory[1594] Of Fames court, by all our holl assent Auaunced by Pallas to laurell preferment. Poeta Skelton answeryth. So haue ye me far passynge my meretis extollyd, Mayster Lidgate, of your accustomable Bownte, and so gloryously ye haue enrollyd My name, I know well, beyonde that I am able, That but if my warkes therto be agreable, I am elles rebukyd of that I intende, 440 Which glad am to please, and lothe to offende. So finally, when they had shewyd there deuyse, Vnder the forme as I sayd tofore,[1595] I made it straunge, and drew bak ones or twyse, And euer they presed on me more and more, Tyll at the last they forcyd me so[1596] sore, That with them I went where they wolde me brynge, Vnto the pauylyon where Pallas was syttyng. Dame Pallas commaundid that they shold me conuay Into the ryche palace of the Quene of Fame; 450 There shal he here what she wyl to hym[1597] say When he is callid to answere to his name: A cry anone forthwith she made proclame, All orators and poetis shulde thider go before, With all the prese that there was lesse and more. Forthwith, I say, thus wandrynge[1598] in my thought, How it was, or elles within what howris, I can not[1599] tell you, but that I was brought Into a palace with turrettis and towris, Engolerid[1600] goodly with hallis and bowris, 460 So curiously, so craftely, so connyngly wrowght, That all the worlde,[1601] I trowe, and it were sought, Suche an other there coude no man fynde; Wherof partely I purpose to expounde, Whyles it remanyth fresshe in my mynde. With turkis and grossolitis enpauyd was the grounde; Of birrall enbosid wer the pyllers rownde; Of elephantis tethe were the palace gatis, Enlosenged with many goodly platis Of golde, entachid with many a precyous stone; 470 An hundred steppis mountyng to the halle, One of iasper, another of whalis bone; Of dyamauntis pointed was the rokky[1602] wall; The carpettis within and tappettis of pall; The chambres hangid with clothes of arace; Enuawtyd with rubies the vawte was of this place. Thus passid we forth walkynge vnto the pretory Where the postis wer enbulyoned with saphiris indy blew, Englasid glittering with many a clere story; Iacinctis and smaragdis out of the florthe they grew: 480 Vnto this place all poetis there did sue, Wherin was set of Fame the noble Quene, All other transcendynge, most rychely besene, Vnder a gloryous cloth of astate, Fret all with orient perlys of Garnate, Encrownyd as empresse of all this worldly[1603] fate, So ryally, so rychely, so passyngly ornate, It was excedyng byyonde the commowne rate: This hous enuyrowne was a myle about; If xii were let in, xii hundreth[1604] stode without. 490 Then to this lady and souerayne of this palace Of purseuantis ther presid in with many a[1605] dyuerse tale; Some were of Poyle, and sum were of Trace, Of Lymerik, of Loreine, of Spayne, of Portyngale,[1606] Frome Napuls, from Nauern, and from Rounceuall, Some from Flaunders, sum fro the se coste, Some from the mayne lande, some fro the Frensche hoste: With, How doth the north? what tydyngis in the sowth? The west is wyndy, the est is metely wele; It is harde to tell of euery mannes mouthe; 500 A slipper holde the taile is of an ele, And he haltith often that hath a kyby hele; Some shewid his salfecundight,[1607] some shewid his charter,[1608] Some lokyd full smothely, and had a fals quarter;[1609] With, Sir, I pray you, a lytyll tyne stande backe, And lette me come in to delyuer my lettre; Another tolde how shyppes wente to wrak; There were many wordes smaller and gretter, With, I as good as thou, Ifayth and no better; Some came to tell treuth, some came to lye, 510 Some came[1610] to flater, some came to spye: There were, I say, of all maner of sortis, Of Dertmouth, of Plummouth, of Portismouth also; The burgeis and the ballyuis of the v portis, With, Now let me come, and now let me go: And all tyme wandred I thus to and fro, Tyll at the last theis noble poetis thre Vnto me sayd, Lo, syr, now ye may se Of this high courte the dayly besines; From you most we, but not[1611] longe to tary; 520 Lo, hither commyth a goodly maystres, Occupacyon, Famys regestary, Whiche shall be to you a sufferayne accessary, With syngular pleasurs to dryue away the tyme, And we shall se you ageyne or it be pryme. When they were past and wente forth on there way, This gentilwoman, that callyd was by name Occupacyon, in ryght goodly aray, Came towarde me, and smylid halfe in game; I sawe hir smyle, and I then[1612] did the same; 530 With that on me she kest[1613] her goodly loke; Vnder her arme, me thought, she hade a boke. Occupacyoun to Skelton. Lyke as the larke, vpon the somers day, Whan Titan radiant burnisshith his bemis bryght, Mountith on hy with her melodious lay, Of the soneshyne engladid with the lyght, So am I supprysyd with pleasure and delyght To se this howre now, that I may say, How ye ar welcome to this court of aray. Of your aqueintaunce I was in tymes past, 540 Of studyous doctryne when at the port salu Ye[1614] fyrste aryuyd; whan broken was your mast Of worldly trust, then did I you rescu; Your storme dryuen shyppe I repared new, So well entakeled, what wynde that[1615] euer blowe, No stormy tempeste your barge shall ouerthrow. Welcome to me as hertely as herte can thynke, Welcome to me with all my hole desyre! And for my sake spare neyther pen nor ynke; Be well assurid I shall aquyte your hyre, 550 Your name recountynge beyonde the lande of Tyre, From Sydony to the mount Olympyan, Frome Babill towre to the hillis Caspian.[1616] Skelton Poeta answeryth. I thanked her moche of her most noble offer, Affyaunsynge her myne hole assuraunce For her pleasure to make a large profer, Enpryntyng her wordes in my remembraunce, To owe her my seruyce with true perseueraunce. Come on with me, she sayd, let vs not stonde;[1617] And with that worde she toke me by the honde. 560 So passyd we forthe into the forsayd place, With suche communycacyon as came to our mynde; And then she sayd, Whylis we haue tyme and space To walke where we lyst, let vs somwhat fynde To pas the tyme with, but let vs wast no wynde, For ydle iangelers haue but lytill braine; Wordes be swordes, and hard to call ageine. Into a felde she brought me wyde and large, Enwallyd aboute with the stony flint, Strongly enbateld, moche costious of charge: 570 To walke on this walle she bed I sholde not[1618] stint; Go softly, she sayd, the stones be full glint. She went before, and bad me take good holde: I sawe a thowsande yatis new and olde. Then questionyd I her what thos[1619] yatis ment; Wherto she answeryd, and breuely me tolde, How from the est vnto the occident, And from the sowth vnto the north so colde, Theis yatis, she sayd, which that ye beholde, Be issuis and portis from all maner of nacyons; 580 And seryously she shewyd me ther denominacyons. They had wrytyng, sum Greke, sum Ebrew, Some Romaine letters, as I vnderstode; Some were olde wryten, sum were writen new, Some carectis of Caldy, sum Frensshe was full good; But one gate specyally, where as I stode, Had grauin in it of calcydony a capytall A; What yate[1620] call ye this? and she sayd, Anglia.[1621] The beldynge therof was passynge commendable; Wheron stode a lybbard, crownyd with golde and stones, 590 Terrible of countenaunce and passynge formydable, As quikly towchyd as it were flesshe and bones, As gastly that glaris, as grimly that gronis, As fersly frownynge as he had ben fyghtyng, And with his forme foote he shoke forthe this wrytyng: Cacosinthicon[1622] ex industria. Formidanda nimis Jovis ultima fulmina tollis: Unguibus ire parat loca singula livida curvis Quam modo per Phœbes nummos raptura Celæno; Arma, lues, luctus, fel, vis, fraus, barbara tellus; Mille modis erras odium tibi quærere Martis: 600 Spreto spineto cedat saliunca roseto. Then I me lent, and loked ouer the wall: Innumerable people presed to euery gate; Shet were the gatis; thei might wel knock and cal, And turne home ageyne, for they cam al to late. I her demaunded of them and ther astate: Forsothe, quod she, theys be haskardis[1623] and rebawdis, Dysers, carders, tumblars with gambawdis, Furdrers of loue, with baudry aqueinted, Brainles blenkardis that blow at the cole, 610 Fals forgers of mony, for kownnage[1624] atteintid, Pope holy ypocrytis, as they were golde and hole, Powle hatchettis, that prate wyll[1625] at euery ale pole, Ryot, reueler, railer, brybery, theft, With other condycyons that well myght be left: Sume fayne themselfe folys, and wolde be callyd wyse, Sum medelynge spyes, by craft to grope thy mynde, Sum dysdanous dawcokkis that all men dispyse, Fals flaterers that fawne thé, and kurris of kynde That speke fayre before thé and shrewdly behynde; 620 Hither they come crowdyng to get them a name, But hailid they be homwarde with sorow and shame. With that I herd gunnis russhe out at ones, Bowns, bowns, bowns! that all they out cryde; It made sum lympe legged and broisid there bones; Sum were made peuysshe, porisshly pynk iyde, That euer more after by it they were aspyid; And one ther was there, I wondred of his hap, For a gun stone, I say, had all to-iaggid[1626] his cap, Raggid, and daggid, and cunnyngly cut; 630 The blaste of the byrnston[1627] blew away his brayne; Masid as a marche hare, he ran lyke a scut; And, sir, amonge all me thought I saw twaine, The one was a tumblar, that afterwarde againe Of a dysour, a deuyl way, grew a ientilman, Pers Prater, the secund, that[1628] quarillis beganne; With a pellit of peuisshenes they had suche a stroke, That all the dayes of ther lyfe shall styck by ther rybbis: Foo, foisty bawdias! sum smellid of the smoke; I saw dyuers that were cariid away thens in cribbis, 640 Dasyng after dotrellis, lyke drunkardis that dribbis; Theis titiuyllis[1629] with taumpinnis wer towchid and tappid; Moche mischefe, I hyght you, amonge theem ther happid. Sometyme, as it semyth, when the mone light By meanys of a grosely endarkyd clowde Sodenly is eclipsid in the wynter night, In lyke maner of wyse a myst did vs shrowde; But wele may ye thynk I was no thyng prowde Of that auenturis, whiche made me sore agast. In derkenes thus dwelt we, tyll at the last 650 The clowdis gan[1630] to clere, the myst was rarifiid: In an herber[1631] I saw, brought where I was, There birdis on the brere sange on euery syde; With alys ensandid about in compas, The bankis enturfid with singular solas, Enrailid with rosers, and vinis engrapid; It was a new comfort of sorowis escapid. In the middis a coundight,[1632] that coryously[1633] was cast, With pypes of golde engusshing out stremes; Of cristall the clerenes theis waters far past, 660 Enswymmyng with rochis, barbellis, and bremis, Whose skales[1634] ensilured again the son beames Englisterd, that ioyous it was to beholde. Then furthermore aboute me my syght I reuolde, Where I saw growyng a goodly laurell tre, Enuerdurid with leuis[1635] contynually grene; Aboue in the top a byrde of Araby, Men call a phenix; her wynges bytwene She bet vp a fyre with the sparkis full kene With braunches and bowghis of the swete olyue, 670 Oliva speciosa in campis. Nota[1636] excellentiam virtutis in oliva. Whos flagraunt flower was chefe preseruatyue Ageynst all infeccyons with cancour[1637] enflamyd, Ageynst all baratows broisiours of olde, It passid all bawmys that euer were namyd, Or gummis of Saby so derely that be solde: There blew in that gardynge a soft piplyng colde Enbrethyng of Zepherus with his pleasant wynde; All frutis and[1638] flowris grew there in there kynde. Dryades there daunsid vpon that goodly soile, With[1639] the nyne Muses, Pierides by name; 680 Phillis and Testalis,[1640] ther tressis with oyle Were newly enbybid; and rownd about the same Grene tre of laurell moche solacyous game They made, with chapellettes and garlandes grene; And formest of all dame Flora, the quene Of somer, so formally she fotid the daunce; There Cintheus sat twynklyng vpon his harpe stringis; And Iopas his instrument did auaunce, The poemis and storis auncient inbryngis Of Athlas astrology, and many noble thyngis, 690 Of wandryng of the mone, the course of the sun, Of men and of bestis, and whereof they begone, What thynge occasionyd the showris of rayne, Of fyre elementar in his supreme spere, And of that pole artike whiche doth remayne Behynde the taile of Vrsa so clere; Of Pliades he prechid with ther drowsy chere, Immoysturid with mislyng and ay droppyng dry, And where the two Trions[1641] a man shold aspy, And of the winter days that hy them so fast, 700 And of the wynter nyghtes that tary so longe, And of the somer days so longe that doth[1642] last, And of their shorte nyghtes; he browght in his songe How wronge was no ryght, and ryght was no wronge: There was counteryng of carollis in meter and[1643] verse So many, that longe it[1644] were to reherse. Occupacyon to Skelton. How say ye? is this after your appetite? May this contente you and your mirry mynde? Here dwellith pleasure, with lust and delyte; Contynuall comfort here ye may fynde, 710 Of welth and solace no thynge left behynde; All thynge conuenable[1645] here is contryuyd,[1646] Wherewith your spiritis may be reuyuid. Poeta Skelton answeryth. Questionles no dowte of that ye say; Jupiter hymselfe this lyfe myght endure; This ioy excedith all worldly[1647] sport and play, Paradyce this place is of syngular pleasure: O wele were hym that herof myght be sure, And here to inhabite and ay for to dwell! But, goodly maystres, one thynge ye me tell. 720 Occupacyon to Skelton. Of your demawnd shew me the content, What it is, and where vpon it standis; And if there be in it any thyng ment, Wherof the answere restyth in my[1648] handis, It shall be losyd[1649] ful sone out of the bandis Of scrupulus[1650] dout; wherfore your mynde discharge, And of your wyll the plainnes shew at large. Poeta Skelton answeryth. I thanke you, goodly maystres, to me most benynge, That of your bounte so well haue me assurid; But my request is not[1651] so great a thynge, 730 That I ne force what though[1652] it be discurid; I am not[1653] woundid but that I may be cured; I am not ladyn of liddyrnes with lumpis, As dasid doterdis that dreme in their dumpis. Occupacyon to Skelton. Nowe what ye mene, I trow I coniect; Gog[1654] gyue you good yere, ye make me to smyle; Now, be[1655] your faith, is not[1656] this theffect[1657] Of your questyon ye make all this whyle, To vnderstande who dwellyth in yone[1658] pile, And what blunderar is yonder that playth didil diddil? 740 He fyndith fals mesuris out[1659] of his fonde fiddill. Interpolata,[1660] quæ industriosum postulat[1661] interpretem, satira in vatis adversarium. Tressis agasonis species prior, altera Davi: Aucupium culicis, limis dum torquet ocellum, Concipit, aligeras rapit, appetit,[1662] aspice, muscas! Nota Alchimaiam et 7 metalla. Maia quæque fovet, fovet aut quæ Jupiter, aut quæ Frigida Saturnus, Sol, Mars, Venus, algida Luna, Si tibi contingat verbo aut committere scripto, Quam sibi mox tacita sudant præcordia culpa! Hinc ruit in flammas, stimulans[1663] hunc urget et illum, Invocat ad rixas, vanos tamen excitat ignes, 750 Labra movens tacitus, rumpantur ut ilia Codro. 17. 4. 7. 2. 17. 5. 18. 18. 19. 1. 19. 8. 5. 12. His name for to know if that ye lyst, Enuyous Rancour truely he hight: Beware of hym, I warne you; for and[1664] ye wist How daungerous it were to stande in his lyght[1665], Ye wolde not[1666] dele with hym, thowgh[1667] that ye myght, For by his deuellysshe drift and graceles prouision An hole reame[1668] he is able to set at deuysion: For when he spekyth fayrest, then thynketh he moost yll; Full gloryously can he glose, thy mynde for to fele; 760 He wyll set men a feightynge[1669] and syt[1670] hymselfe styll, And smerke, lyke a smythy kur, at[1671] sperkes of steile; He[1672] can neuer leue warke whylis it is wele; To tell all his towchis it were to grete wonder; The deuyll of hell and he be seldome asonder. Thus talkyng we went forth[1673] in at a postern gate; Turnyng[1674] on the ryght hande, by a[1675] windyng stayre, She brought me to[1676] a goodly chaumber of astate, Where the noble Cowntes of Surrey in a chayre Sat honorably, to whome did repaire 770 Of ladys a beue[1677] with all dew reuerence: Syt downe, fayre ladys, and do your diligence! Come forth, ientylwomen, I pray you, she sayd; I haue contryuyd for you a goodly warke, And who can worke beste now shall be asayde; A cronell of lawrell with verduris light and darke I haue deuysyd for Skelton, my clerke; For to his seruyce I haue suche regarde, That of our bownte we wyll hym rewarde: For of all ladyes he hath the library, 780 Ther names recountyng in the court of Fame Of all gentylwomen he hath the scruteny,[1678] In Fames court reportynge the same; For yet of women he neuer sayd shame, But if they were counterfettes that women them call, That list of there lewdnesse with hym for to brall. With that the tappettis and carpettis were layd, Whereon theis ladys softly myght rest, The saumpler to sow on, the lacis to enbraid; To weue in the stoule sume were full preste, 790 With slaiis, with tauellis, with hedellis well drest; The frame was browght forth with his weuyng pin: God geue[1679] them good spede there warke[1680] to begin! Sume to enbrowder put them in prese, Well gydyng ther[1681] glowtonn to kepe streit theyr sylk, Sum pirlyng of goldde theyr worke to encrese With fingers smale, and handis whyte[1682] as mylk; With, Reche me that skane of tewly sylk; And, Wynde me that botowme of such an[1683] hew, Grene, rede, tawny, whyte, blak,[1684] purpill, and blew. 800 Of broken warkis[1685] wrought many a goodly thyng, In castyng, in turnynge, in florisshyng of flowris, With burris rowth[1686] and bottons surffillyng,[1687] In nedill wark raysyng byrdis in bowris,[1688] With vertu enbesid all tymes and howris; And truly of theyr bownte thus were they bent To worke me this chapelet by goode aduysemente.[1689] Occupacyon to Skelton. Beholde and se in your aduertysement How theis ladys and gentylwomen all For your pleasure do there endeuourment, 810 And for your sake how fast to warke[1690] they fall: To your remembraunce wherfore ye must call In goodly wordes plesauntly comprysid, That for them some goodly conseyt be deuysid, With proper captacyons of beneuolence, Ornatly pullysshid after your faculte, Sith ye must nedis afforce it by pretence Of your professyoun vnto vmanyte,[1691] Commensyng your proces after there degre, To iche of them rendryng thankis commendable, 820 With sentence fructuous and termes couenable. Poeta Skelton.[1692] Auaunsynge my selfe sum thanke[1693] to deserue, I me determynyd for to sharpe my pen, Deuoutly arrectyng my prayer to Mynerue, She to vowchesafe me to informe and ken; To Mercury also hertely prayed I then, Me to supporte, to helpe, and to assist, To gyde and to gouerne my dredfull tremlyng[1694] fist. As a mariner that amasid[1695] is in a stormy rage, Hardly bestad and[1696] driuen is to hope 830 Of that the tempestuows[1697] wynde wyll aswage, In trust[1698] wherof comforte[1699] his hart doth grope, From the anker he kuttyth[1700] the gabyll rope, Committyth all to God, and lettyth his shyp ryde; So I beseke[1701] Ihesu now to be my gyde. To the ryght noble Countes of Surrey. After all duly ordred obeisaunce, In humble wyse as lowly[1702] as I may, Vnto you, madame, I make reconusaunce,[1703] My lyfe endurynge I shall both wryte and say, Recount, reporte, reherse without delay 840 The passynge bounte of your noble astate, Of honour and worshyp which hath the formar date: Lyke to Argyua by iust resemblaunce, The noble wyfe of Polimites kynge; Prudent Rebecca, of whome remembraunce The Byble makith; with whos chast lyuynge Your noble demenour is counterwayng, Whos passynge bounte, and ryght noble astate, Of honour and worship it hath the formar date. The noble Pamphila,[1704] quene of the Grekis londe,[1705] 850 Habillimentis royall founde out industriously; Thamer also wrought with her goodly honde Many diuisis passynge curyously; Whome ye represent and exemplify, Whos passynge bounte, and ryght noble astate, Of honour and worship it hath the formar date. As dame Thamarys, whiche toke the kyng of Perce, Cirus by name, as wrytith the story; Dame Agrippina also I may reherse Of ientyll corage the perfight[1706] memory; 860 So shall your name endure perpetually, Whos passyng bounte, and ryght noble astate, Of honour and worship it hath the formar date. To my lady Elisabeth Howarde. To be your remembrauncer,[1707] madame, I am bounde, Lyke to Aryna, maydenly of porte, Of vertu and[1708] konnyng the well and perfight grounde; Whome dame Nature, as wele I may reporte, Hath fresshely enbewtid with many a goodly sorte Of womanly feturis, whos florysshyng tender age Is lusty to loke on, plesaunte, demure, and sage: 870 Goodly Creisseid, fayrer than Polexene,[1709] For to enuyue Pandarus appetite; Troilus, I trowe, if that he had you sene, In you he wolde haue set his hole delight: Of all your bewte I suffyce not[1710] to wryght; But, as I sayd, your florisshinge tender age Is lusty to loke on, plesaunt, demure, and sage. To my lady Mirriell Howarde. Mi litell lady I may not[1711] leue behinde, But do her[1712] seruyce nedis now I must; Beninge, curteyse, of ientyll harte and mynde, 880 Whome fortune and fate playnly haue discust Longe to enioy plesure, delyght, and lust: The enbuddid blossoms of[1713] roses rede of hew With lillis[1714] whyte your bewte doth renewe. Compare you I may to Cidippes, the mayd, That of Aconcyus whan she founde the byll In her bosome, lorde, how[1715] she was afrayd! The ruddy shamefastnes in her vysage fyll, Whiche maner of abasshement became her not yll; Right so, madame, the roses redde of hew 890 With lillys whyte your bewte dothe renewe. To my lady Anne Dakers of the Sowth. Zeuxes,[1716] that enpicturid fare Elene the quene, You to deuyse his crafte were to seke; And if Apelles your countenaunce had sene, Of porturature which was the famous Greke, He coude not deuyse the lest poynt of your cheke; Princes of yowth, and flowre of goodly porte, Vertu, conyng, solace, pleasure, comforte.[1717] Paregall in honour vnto Penolepe, That for her trowth is in remembraunce had; 900 Fayre Diianira surmountynge[1718] in bewte; Demure Diana womanly and sad, Whos lusty lokis make heuy hartis glad; Princes of youth, and flowre of goodly porte, Vertu, connyng, solace, pleasure, comforte.[1719] To mastres Margery Wentworthe. With margerain ientyll, The flowre of goodlyhede,[1720] Enbrowdred the mantill Is of your maydenhede.[1721] Plainly I can not[1722] glose; 910 Ye be, as I deuyne, The praty primrose, The goodly columbyne. With margerain iantill, The flowre of goodlyhede, Enbrawderyd the mantyll Is of yowre maydenhede. Benynge, corteise, and meke, With wordes well deuysid; In you, who list to seke, 920 Be vertus well comprysid. With margerain iantill, The flowre of goodlyhede, Enbrawderid the mantill Is of yowr maydenhede. To mastres Margaret Tylney. I you assure, Ful wel I know My besy cure To yow I owe; Humbly and low 930 Commendynge me To yowre bownte. As Machareus Fayre Canace, So I, iwus,[1723] Endeuoure me Yowr name to se It be enrolde, Writtin with golde. Phedra ye may 940 Wele represent; Intentyfe ay And dylygent, No tyme myspent; Wherfore delyght I haue to whryght Of Margarite, Perle orient, Lede sterre[1724] of lyght, Moche relucent; 950 Madame regent I may you call Of vertues[1725] all. To maystres Iane Blenner-Haiset.[1726] What though[1727] my penne wax faynt, And hath smale lust to paint? Yet shall there no restraynt Cause me to cese, Amonge this prese, For to encrese Yowre goodly name. 960 I wyll my selfe applye, Trust[1728] me, ententifly, Yow for to stellyfye; And so obserue That ye ne swarue For to deserue Inmortall fame.[1729] Sith mistres[1730] Iane Haiset[1731] Smale flowres helpt to sett In my goodly chapelet, 970 Therfore I render of her the memory Vnto the legend of fare Laodomi.[1732] To maystres Isabell Pennell. By saynt Mary, my lady, Your mammy and your dady Brought forth a godely babi! My mayden Isabell, Reflaring rosabell, The flagrant camamell; The ruddy rosary, The souerayne rosemary, 980 The praty strawbery; The columbyne, the nepte, The ieloffer well set, The propre vyolet; Enuwyd your[1733] colowre Is lyke the dasy flowre After the Aprill showre; Sterre[1734] of the morow gray, The blossom on the spray, The fresshest flowre of May; 990 Maydenly demure, Of womanhode[1735] the lure; Wherfore I make you sure[1736], It were an heuenly helth, It were an endeles welth, A lyfe for God hymselfe, To here this nightingale, Amonge the byrdes smale, Warbelynge in the vale, Dug, dug, 1000 Iug, iug, Good yere and good luk, With chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk! To maystres Margaret Hussey. Mirry Margaret, As mydsomer flowre, Ientill as fawcoun Or hawke of the towre; With solace and gladnes, Moche mirthe and no madnes, All good and no badnes, 1010 So ioyously, So maydenly, So womanly Her demenyng In euery thynge, Far, far passynge That I can endyght, Or suffyce to wryght Of mirry Margarete, As mydsomer flowre, 1020 Ientyll as fawcoun Or hawke of the towre; As pacient and as styll, And as full of good wyll, As fayre[1737] Isaphill; Colyaunder, Swete pomaunder, Good cassaunder; Stedfast of thought, Wele made, wele wrought; 1030 Far may be sought Erst that[1738] ye can fynde So corteise, so kynde As mirry Margarete[1739], This[1740] midsomer flowre, Ientyll as fawcoun Or hawke of the towre. To mastres Geretrude Statham. Though[1741] ye wer hard hertyd, And I with you thwartid With wordes that smartid, 1040 Yet nowe doutles ye geue me cause To wryte of you this goodli clause, Maistres[1742] Geretrude, With womanhode[1743] endude, With vertu well renwde. I wyll that ye shall be In all benyngnyte Lyke to dame Pasiphe; For nowe dowtles ye geue me cause To wryte of yow this goodly clause, 1050 Maistres Geretrude, With womanhode endude, With vertu well renude. Partly by your councell, Garnisshed with lawrell Was my fresshe coronell; Wherfore doutles ye geue me cause To wryte of you this goodly clause, Maistres Geretrude, With womanhode endude, 1060 With vertu well renude. To maystres Isabell[1744] Knyght. But if I sholde aquyte your kyndnes, Els saye ye myght That in me were grete blyndnes, I for to be so myndles, And cowde not[1745] wryght Of Isabell Knyght. It is not[1746] my custome nor my gyse To leue behynde Her that is bothe womanly[1747] and wyse, 1070 And specyally which glad was to deuyse The menes[1748] to fynde To please my mynde, In helpyng to warke my laurell grene With sylke and golde: Galathea, the made well besene, Was neuer halfe so fayre, as I wene, Whiche was extolde A thowsande folde By Maro, the Mantuan prudent, 1080 Who list to rede; But, and I had leyser competent, I coude shew you[1749] suche a presedent In very dede Howe ye excede. Occupacyon to Skelton. Withdrawe your hande, the tyme passis[1750] fast; Set on your hede this laurell whiche is wrought; Here you[1751] not[1752] Eolus for you blowyth a blaste? I dare wele saye that ye and I be sought: Make no delay, for now ye must be brought 1090 Before my ladys grace, the Quene of Fame, Where ye must breuely answere to your name. Skelton Poeta. Castyng my syght the chambre aboute, To se how duly ich thyng in ordre was, Towarde the dore,[1753] as we were comyng oute, I sawe maister Newton sit with his compas, His plummet, his pensell, his spectacles of[1754] glas, Dyuysynge in pycture, by his industrious wit, Of my laurell the proces euery whitte. Forthwith vpon this, as it were in a thought, 1100 Gower, Chawcer, Lydgate, theis thre Before remembred, me curteisly[1755] brought Into that place where as they left me, Where all the sayd poetis sat in there degre. But when they sawe my lawrell rychely wrought,[1756] All other besyde were counterfete[1757] they thought In comparyson of that whiche I ware: Sume praysed the perle, some the stones bryght; Wele was hym that therevpon myght stare; Of this warke[1758] they had so great delyght, 1110 The silke, the golde, the flowris fresshe to syght, They seyd my lawrell was the goodlyest That euer they saw, and wrought it was the best. In her astate there sat the noble Quene Of Fame: perceyuynge how that I was cum, She wonderyd me thought[1759] at my laurell grene; She loked hawtly, and gaue[1760] on me a glum: Thhere was amonge them no worde[1761] then but mum, For eche man herkynde what she wolde to me[1762] say; Wherof in substaunce I brought this away. 1120 The Quene of Fame to Skelton. My frende, sith ye ar before vs[1763] here present To answere vnto this noble audyence, Of that shalbe resonde you[1764] ye must be content; And for as moche as, by the hy[1765] pretence That ye haue now thorow[1766] preemynence Of laureat triumphe,[1767] your place is here reseruyd, We wyll vnderstande how ye haue it deseruyd. Skelton Poeta to the Quene of Fame. Ryght high[1768] and myghty princes of astate, In famous glory all other transcendyng, Of your bounte the accustomable[1769] rate 1130 Hath bene full often and yet is entendyng[1770] To all that to[1771] reason is condiscendyng, But if hastyue[1772] credence by mayntenance of myght Fortune to stande betwene you and the lyght: But suche euydence I thynke for to[1773] enduce, And so largely to lay for myne indempnite, That I trust[1774] to make myne excuse Of what charge soeuer ye lay ageinst[1775] me; For of my bokis parte ye shall se, Whiche in your recordes, I knowe well, be enrolde, 1140 And so Occupacyon, your regester, me tolde. Forthwith she commaundid I shulde take my place; Caliope poynted me where I shulde sit: With that, Occupacioun presid in a pace; Be mirry, she sayd, be not[1776] aferde a whit, Your discharge here vnder myne arme is it. So then commaundid she was vpon this To shew her boke; and she sayd, Here it is. The Quene of Fame to Occupacioun. Yowre boke[1777] of remembrauns we will now that ye rede; If ony[1778] recordis in noumbyr can be founde, 1150 What Skelton hath compilid and wryton in dede Rehersyng by ordre, and what is the grownde, Let se now for hym how ye can expounde; For in owr courte, ye wote wele, his name can not[1779] ryse But if he wryte oftenner than ones or twyse. Skelton Poeta. With that of the boke losende were the claspis: The margent was illumynid all with golden railles And byse, enpicturid with gressoppes and waspis, With butterfllyis and fresshe pecoke taylis, Enflorid with flowris and slymy snaylis; 1160 Enuyuid picturis well towchid and quikly; It wolde haue made a man hole that had be ryght sekely, To beholde how it was garnysshyd and bounde, Encouerde ouer with golde of tissew fyne; The claspis and bullyons were worth a thousande pounde; With balassis and charbuncles the borders did shyne; With aurum musicum euery other lyne Was wrytin: and so she did her spede, Occupacyoun, inmediatly[1780] to rede. Occupacyoun redith and expoundyth sum parte of Skeltons bokes and baladis with ditis of plesure, in as moche as it were to longe a proces to reherse all[1781] by name that he hath compylyd, &c. Honor est benefactivæ operationis signum: Aristotiles. Diverte a malo, et fac bonum: Pso. Nobilis est ille quem nobilitat sua virtus: Cassianus. Proximus ille Deo qui scit ratione tacere: Cato. Mors ultima linea rerum: Horat. Of your oratour and poete laureate 1170 Of Englande, his workis[1782] here they begynne: In primis the Boke of Honorous Astate; Item the Boke how men shulde fle synne; Item Royall Demenaunce worshyp to wynne;[1783] Item the Boke to speke well or be styll; Item to lerne you to[1784] dye when ye wyll; Virtuti omnia parent: Salust. Nusquam tuta fides: Virgilius. Res est soliciti plena timoris amor: Ovid. Si volet[1785] usus, quem penes, &c.: Horace. Of Vertu also the souerayne enterlude; The Boke of the Rosiar; Prince Arturis Creacyoun; The False Fayth that now goth, which dayly is renude; Item his Diologgis of Ymagynacyoun; 1180 Item Antomedon[1786] of Loues Meditacyoun; Item New Gramer in Englysshe compylyd; Item Bowche[1787] of Courte, where Drede was begyled; Non est timor Dei ante oculos eorum: Psalmo. Concedat laurea linguæ: Tullius. Fac cum consilio, et in æternum non peccabis: Salamon. His commedy, Achademios callyd by name; Of Tullis Familiars the translacyoun; Item Good Aduysement, that brainles doth blame; The Recule ageinst Gaguyne of the Frenshe nacyoun; Item the Popingay, that hath in commendacyoun Ladyes and gentylwomen suche as deseruyd, And suche as be counterfettis they be reseruyd; 1190 Non mihi sit modulo rustica papilio: Vates. Dominare in virtute tua: Pso. Magnificavit eum in conspectu regum: Sapient. Fugere pudor, verumque fidesque: In quorum subiere locum fraudesque, dolique, Insidiæque, et vis, et amor sceleratus habendi: Ovid. Filia Babylonis misera: Psalmo. And of Soueraynte a noble pamphelet; And of Magnyfycence a notable mater, How Cownterfet Cowntenaunce of the new get With Crafty Conueyaunce dothe smater and flater, And Cloked Collucyoun is brought in to clater With Courtely Abusyoun; who pryntith it wele in mynde Moche dowblenes of the worlde therin he may fynde; Of manerly maistres Margery[1788] Mylke and Ale; To her he wrote many maters of myrthe; Yet, thoughe I[1789] say it, therby lyith a tale, 1200 For Margery wynshed, and breke her hinder girth; Lor,[1790] how she made moche of her gentyll birth! With, Gingirly, go gingerly! her tayle was made of hay; Go she neuer so gingirly, her honesty is gone away; De nihilo nihil fit: Aristotiles. Le plus displeysant pleiser puent. Harde to make ought of that is nakid nought; This fustiane maistres and this giggisse gase, Wonder is to wryte what wrenchis she wrowght, To face out her foly with a midsomer mase; With pitche she patchid her pitcher shuld not[1791] crase; It may wele ryme, but shroudly it doth accorde, 1210 To pyke out honesty of suche a potshorde: Patet per versus. Nota. Hinc puer hic[1792] natus; vir conjugis hinc spoliatus Jure thori; est fœtus Deli de sanguine cretus; Hinc magis extollo, quod erit puer alter Apollo; Si quæris qualis? meretrix castissima talis; Et relis, et ralis, et reliqualis. A good herynge of thes olde talis; Fynde no mo suche fro[1793] Wanflete to Walis. Et reliqua omelia[1794] de diversis tractatibus. Apostolus: Non habemus hic civitatem manentem, sed futuram perquærimus. Notat bellum Cornubiense, quod in campestribus et in patentioribus vastisque solitudinibus prope Grenewiche gestum est. Of my ladys grace at the contemplacyoun, Owt of Frenshe into Englysshe prose, 1220 Of Mannes Lyfe the Peregrynacioun, He did translate, enterprete, and disclose; The Tratyse of Triumphis of the Rede Rose, Wherein many storis ar breuely contayned That vnremembred longe tyme remayned; Erudimini qui judicatis terram: Pso. The Duke of Yorkis creauncer whan Skelton was, Now Henry the viij. Kyng of Englonde,[1795] A tratyse he deuysid and browght it to pas, Callid Speculum Principis, to bere in his honde, Therin to rede, and to vnderstande 1230 All the demenour of princely astate, To be our Kyng, of God preordinate; Quis stabit mecum adversus operantes iniquitatem? Pso. Arrident melius seria picta jocis: In fabulis Æsopi. Also the Tunnynge of Elinour Rummyng, With Colyn Clowt, Iohnn Iue, with Ioforth Iack; To make suche trifels it asketh sum konnyng, In honest myrth parde requyreth no lack; The whyte apperyth the better for the black, And after conueyauns as the world goos, It is no foly to vse the Walshemannys hoos; Implentur veteris Bacchi pinguisque ferinæ: Virgilius. Aut prodesse volunt aut delectare poetæ: Horace. The vmblis of venyson, the botell[1796] of wyne, 1240 To fayre maistres Anne that shuld haue be sent, He wrate[1797] therof many a praty lyne, Where it became, and whether it went, And how that it was wantonly spent; The Balade also of the Mustarde Tarte; Suche problemis to paynt it longyth to his arte; Adam, Adam, ubi es? Genesis. Resp. Ubi nulla requies, ubi nullus ordo, sed sempiternus horror inhabitat: Job. Of one Adame all a knaue, late dede and gone,— Dormiat in pace, lyke a dormows!— He wrate[1798] an Epitaph for his graue stone, With wordes deuoute and sentence agerdows,[1799] 1250 For he was euer ageynst Goddis hows, All his delight was to braule and to barke Ageynst holy chyrche,[1800] the preste, and the clarke; Etenim passer invenit sibi donum: Psalmo. Of Phillip Sparow the lamentable fate, The dolefull desteny, and the carefull chaunce, Dyuysed by Skelton after the funerall rate; Yet sum there be therewith that take greuaunce, And grudge[1801] therat with frownyng countenaunce; But what of that? hard it is to please all men; Who list amende it, let hym set to his penne; 1260 For the gyse now adays Of sum iangelyng iays[1802] Is to discommende That they can not[1803] amende, Though they wolde spende All the wittis they haue. What ayle them to depraue Phillippe Sparows graue? His Dirige, her Commendacioun Can be no derogacyoun, 1270 But myrth and consolacyoun, Made by protestacyoun, No man to myscontent With Phillippis enteremente. Alas, that goodly mayd, Why shulde she be afrayd? Why shulde she take shame That her goodly name, Honorably reportid, Shulde be set and sortyd, 1280 To be matriculate With ladyes of astate? I coniure thé, Phillip Sparow, By Hercules that hell did harow, And with a venomows arow Slew of the Epidawris One of the Centawris, Or Onocentauris,[1804] Or Hippocentauris;[1805] By whos myght and maine 1290 An hart was slayne With hornnis twayne Of glitteryng golde; And the apples of golde Of Hesperides withholde, And with a dragon kepte That neuer more slepte, By merciall strength He wan at length; And slew Gerione 1300 With thre bodys in one; With myghty corrage Adauntid the rage Of a lyon sauage; Of Diomedis stabyll He brought out a rabyll Of coursers and rounsis With[1806] lepes and bounsis; And with myghty luggyng, Wrastelynge and tuggyng, 1310 He pluckid the bull By the hornid scull, And offred to Cornucopia; And so forthe per cetera: Also by Hecates bowre[1807] In Plutos gastly towre; By the vgly Eumenides, That neuer haue rest nor ease; By the venemows serpent That in hell is neuer brente, 1320 In Lerna the Grekis fen That was engendred then; By Chemeras flamys, And all the dedely namys Of infernall posty, Where soulis fry and rosty; By the Stigiall flode, And the stremes wode Of Cochitos bottumles well; By the feryman of hell, 1330 Caron with his berde hore, That rowyth with a rude ore, And with his frownsid fortop Gydith his bote with a prop: I coniure[1808] Phillippe, and call, In the name of Kyng Saull; Primo Regum expres, He bad the Phitones To witche craft her to dres, And by her abusiouns, 1340 And damnable illusiouns Of meruelous conclusiouns, And by her supersticiouns Of[1809] wonderfull condiciouns, She raysed vp in that stede Samuell that was dede; But whether it were so, He were idem in numero, The selfe same Samuell, How be it to Saull he did tell 1350 The Philistinis[1810] shulde hym askry, And the next day he shulde dye, I wyll my[1811] selfe discharge To letterd men at large: But, Phillip, I coniure thé Now by theys names thre, Diana in the woddis grene, Luna that so bryght doth shene, Proserpina in hell, That thou shortely tell, 1360 And shew now vnto me What the cause may be Of this perplexyte![1812] Phillyppe answeryth. Inferias, Philippe, tuas Scroupe pulchra Joanna Instanter petiit: cur nostri carminis illam Nunc pudet? est sero; minor est infamia vero. Then such that[1813] haue disdaynyd And of this worke complaynyd, I pray God they be[1814] paynyd No wors than[1815] is contaynyd 1370 In verses two or thre That folowe as ye may se: Luride, cur, livor, volucris pia funera damnas? Talia te rapiant rapiunt quæ fata volucrem! Est tamen invidia mors tibi continua: Porcus se ingurgitat cæno, et luto se immergit: Guarinus Veronens. Et sicut opertorium mutabis eos, et mutabuntur: Pso. c. Exaltabuntur cornua justi: Psalmo. The Gruntyng and the[1816] groynninge of the[1817] gronnyng swyne; Also the Murnyng[1818] of the mapely rote; How the grene couerlet sufferd grete pine, Whan the flye net was set for to catche a cote, Strake one with a birdbolt to the hart rote; 1380 Also a deuoute Prayer to Moyses hornis, Metrifyde merely, medelyd with scornis;[1819] Tanquam parieti inclinato et maceriæ depulsæ: Psalmo. Militat omnis amans, et habet sua castra Cupido: Ovid. Of paiauntis that were played in Ioyows Garde; He wrate of a muse[1820] throw a mud wall; How a do cam trippyng in at the rere warde, But, lorde, how the parker was wroth with all! And of Castell Aungell the fenestrall, Glittryng and glistryng and gloryously glasid, It made sum mens eyn dasild and dasid; Introduxit me in cubiculum suum: Cant. Os fatuæ[1821] ebullit stultitiam. Cant. The Repete of the recule of Rosamundis bowre, 1390 Of his pleasaunt paine there and his glad distres In plantynge and pluckynge a propre ieloffer flowre; But how it was, sum were to recheles, Not[1822] withstandynge it is remedeles; What myght she say? what myght he do therto? Though Iak sayd nay, yet Mok there loste her sho; Audaces fortuna juvat: Virgilius. Nescia mens hominum sortis[1823] fatique futuri: Virgilius. How than lyke a man he wan the barbican With a sawte of solace at the longe last; The colour dedely, swarte, blo, and wan Of Exione, her lambis[1824] dede and past, 1400 The cheke and the nek but a shorte cast; In fortunis fauour euer to endure, No man lyuyng, he sayth, can be sure; Oleæque Minerva inventrix: Georgicorum. Atque agmina cervi pulverulenta [fuga] glomerant: Æneid. iv. How dame Minerua[1825] first found the olyue tre, she red And plantid it there where[1826] neuer before was none; vnshred An hynde vnhurt hit[1827] by casuelte, not[1828] bled Recouerd whan the forster was gone; and sped The hertis of the herd began for to grone, and fled The howndes began to yerne and to quest; and dred With litell besynes standith moche rest; in bed 1410 Duæ molentes in pistrino, una assumetur, altera relinquetur: Isaias.[1829] Foris vastabit eum timor, et intus pavor: Pso.[1830] His Epitomis of the myller and his ioly make; How her ble was bryght as blossom on the spray, A wanton wenche and wele coude bake a cake; The myllar was loth to be out of the way, But yet for all that, be as be may, Whether he rode to Swaffhamm[1831] or to Some, The millar durst not[1832] leue his wyfe at home; Opera quæ ego facio ipsa perhibent testimonium de me: In Evang. &c. With, Wofully[1833] arayd, and shamefully betrayd; Of his makyng deuoute medytacyons; Vexilla regis he deuysid to be displayd; 1420 With Sacris solemniis, and other contemplacyouns, That in them comprisid consyderacyons; Thus passyth he the tyme both nyght and day, Sumtyme with sadnes, sumtyme with play; Honora medicum; propter necessitatem creavit eum altissimus, &c. Superiores constellationes influunt in corpora subjecta et disposita, &c. Nota. Though Galiene[1834] and Dioscorides,[1835] With Ipocras,[1836] and mayster Auycen, By there phesik doth[1837] many a man ease, And though Albumasar can thé enforme and ken What constellacions ar good or bad for men, Yet whan the rayne rayneth and the gose wynkith, 1430 Lytill wotith the goslyng what the gose thynkith; Spectatum admisse,[1838] risus teneatur amor? Horace. Nota. He is not[1839] wyse ageyne the streme that stryuith; Dun is in the myre, dame, reche me my spur; Nedes[1840] must he rin that the deuyll dryuith; When the stede[1841] is stolyn, spar the stable dur; A ientyll hownde shulde neuer play the kur; It is sone aspyed where the thorne prikkith; And wele wotith the cat whos berde she likkith; Lumen ad revelationem gentium: Pso. clxxv.[1842] With Marione clarione, sol, lucerne, Graund Juir, of this Frenshe prouerbe olde, 1440 How men were wonte for to discerne By candelmes day what wedder shuld holde; But Marione clarione was caught with a colde colde,[1843] (anglice a cokwolde,)[1844] And all ouercast with cloudis vnkynde, This goodly flowre with stormis was vntwynde; Velut rosa vel lilium, O pulcherrima mulierum, &c.: Cantatecclesia. This ieloffer ientyll, this rose, this lylly flowre, This primerose pereles, this propre vyolet, This columbyne clere[1845] and fresshest of coloure, This delycate dasy, this strawbery pretely set, With frowarde frostis, alas, was all to-fret! 1450 But who may haue a[1846] more vngracyous[1847] lyfe Than a chyldis birde and a knauis wyfe? Notate verba, signata mysteria: Gregori. Thynke what ye wyll Of this wanton byll; By Mary Gipcy, Quod scripsi, scripsi: Uxor tua, sicut vitis, Habetis in custodiam, Custodite sicut scitis, Secundum Lucam, &c. 1460 Nota penuriam aquæ, nam canes ibi hauriunt ex puteo altissimo. Of the Bonehoms of Ashrige besyde Barkamstede, That goodly place to Skelton moost kynde, Where the sank[1848] royall is, Crystes blode so rede, Wherevpon he metrefyde after his mynde; A pleasaunter place than Ashrige is, harde were[1849] to fynde, As Skelton rehersith, with wordes few and playne, In his distichon[1850] made on verses twaine; Fraxinus in clivo frondetgue viret sine rivo,[1851] Non est sub divo similis sine flumine vivo; Stultorum infinitus est numerus, &c.: Ecclesia. Factum est cum Apollo esset Corinthi: Actus Apostolorum. Stimulos sub pectore vertit Apollo: Virgilius. The Nacyoun of Folys he left not[1852] behynde; 1470 Item Apollo that whirllid vp his chare, That made sum to snurre[1853] and snuf in the wynde; It made them to skip, to stampe, and to stare, Whiche, if they be happy, haue cause to beware In ryming and raylyng with hym for to mell, For drede that he lerne them there A, B, C, to spell. Poeta Skelton. Fama repleta malis pernicibus[1854] evolat alis, &c. With that I stode vp, halfe sodenly afrayd; Suppleyng to Fame, I besought her grace, And that it wolde please her, full tenderly I prayd, Owt of her bokis Apollo to rase. 1480 Nay, sir, she sayd, what so in this place Of our noble courte is ones spoken owte, It must nedes after rin all the worlde aboute. Ego quidem sum Pauli, ego Apollo: Corᵐ. God wote, theis wordes made me full sad; And when that I sawe it wolde no better be, But that my peticyon wolde not[1855] be had, What shulde I do but take it in gre? For, by Juppiter and his high mageste, I did what I cowde to scrape[1856] out the scrollis, Apollo to rase out of her ragman rollis. 1490 Malo me Galatea petit, lasciva puella: Virgilius. Nec, si muneribus certes, concedet Iollas: 2. Bucol. Now hereof it erkith me lenger to wryte; To Occupacyon I wyll agayne resorte, Whiche redde[1857] on still, as it cam to her syght, Rendrynge my deuisis I made in disporte Of the Mayden of Kent callid Counforte,[1858] Of Louers testamentis and of there wanton wyllis, And how Iollas louyd goodly Phillis; Mille hominum species, et rerum discolor usus: Horace.[1859] Diodorus Siculus of my translacyon Out of fresshe Latine into owre Englysshe playne, Recountyng commoditis of many a straunge nacyon; 1500 Who redyth it ones wolde rede it agayne; Sex volumis engrosid together it doth containe: But when of the laurell she made rehersall, All orators and poetis, with other grete and smale, Millia millium et decies millies centena millia, &c.: Apocalipsis. Virtute[1860] senatum laureati possident: Ecclesiastica. Cauiť. A thowsande thowsande. I trow, to my dome, Triumpha, triumpha! they cryid all aboute; Of trumpettis and clariouns the noyse went to Rome; The starry heuyn, me thought, shoke with the showte; The grownde gronid and tremblid, the noyse was so stowte: The Quene of Fame commaundid shett fast the boke; 1510 And therwith sodenly out of my dreme[1861] I woke. My mynde of the grete din was somdele amasid, I wypid myne eyne for to make them clere; Then to the heuyn sperycall vpwarde I gasid, Where I saw Ianus, with his double chere, Makynge his almanak for the new yere; He turnyd his tirikkis, his voluell ran fast: Good luk this new yere! the olde yere is past. Vates. Mens tibi sit consulta, petis? sic consuls menti; Æmula sit[1862] Jani, retro speculetur et ante. 1520 Skeltonis alloquitur[1863] librum suum. Ite, Britannorum lux O radiosa, Britannum Carmina nostra pium vestrum celebrate Catullum! Dicite, Skeltonis vester Adonis erat; Dicite, Skeltonis vester Homerus erat. Barbara cum Latio pariter jam currite versu; Et licet est verbo pars maxima texta Britanno, Non magis incompta nostra Thalia patet, Est magis inculta nec mea Calliope. Nec vos pœniteat livoris tela subire, Nec vos pœniteat rabiem tolerare caninam, 1530 Nam Maro dissimiles non tulit ille minas, Immunis nec enim Musa Nasonis erat. Lenuoy. Go, litill quaire, Demene you faire; Take no dispare, Though I you wrate After this rate In Englysshe letter; So moche the better Welcome shall ye 1540 To sum men be: For Latin warkis Be good for clerkis; Yet now and then Sum Latin men May happely loke Vpon your boke, And so procede In you to rede, That so indede 1550 Your fame may sprede In length and brede. But then[1864] I drede Ye[1865] shall haue nede You for to spede To harnnes bryght, By force of myght, Ageyne[1866] enuy And obloquy: And wote ye why? 1560 Not[1867] for to fyght Ageyne dispyght, Nor to derayne Batayle agayne Scornfull disdayne, Nor for to chyde, Nor for to hyde You cowardly; But curteisly That I haue pende 1570 For to deffend, Vnder the banner Of all good manner, Vnder proteccyon Of sad correccyon, With toleracyon And supportacyon Of reformacyon, If they[1868] can spy Circumspectly 1580 Any worde defacid That myght be rasid, Els ye shall pray Them that ye may Contynew still With there good wyll. Ad serenissimam Majestatem Regiam,[1869] pariter cum Domino Cardinali, Legato a latere honorificatissimo, &c. Lautre Enuoy. Perge, liber, celebrem pronus regem venerare Henricum octavum, resonans sua præmia laudis. Cardineum dominum pariter venerando salutes, Legatum a latere, et fiat memor ipse precare 1590 Prebendæ, quam promisit mihi credere quondam, Meque suum referas pignus sperare salutis Inter spemque metum. Twene hope and drede My lyfe I lede, But of my spede Small sekernes; Howe be it I rede Both worde and dede Should be agrede 1600 In noblenes: Or els, &c.