A BIBLIOGRAPHICAL CATALOGUE
OF BARCLAY'S WORKS.
CONTENTS.
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I. The Castell of Laboure.
II. The Shyp of Folys.
III. The Egloges.
IV. The Introductory.
V. The Myrrour of Good Maners.
VI. Cronycle complyed by Salust.
VII. Figure of our Mother Holy Church.
VIII. The Lyfe of Saynt George.
IX. The Lyfe of Saynte Thomas.
X. Haython's Cronycle.
I. The Castell of Laboure.—Wynkyn de Worde. 1506. Small Quarto. Black
letter.
The title, "The castell of laboure," is within a scroll above a woodcut
of men over a tub: on the verso, a cut of a man sitting at a desk. At sign.
a ii. (recto) "Here begynneth the prologue of this present treatyse." [The
Brit. Mus. copy has this on the verso of the title instead of the cut, a
peculiarity which may entitle it to be called a separate edition, though it
appears to agree otherwise with the copy described.] There are many curious
woodcuts. Colophon on the reverse of sign. i iii. (51b): "Thus endeth the
castell of labour, wherin is rychesse, vertue, and honour. Enprynted at
London in Fletestrete in the sygne of the sonne. by Wynkyn de worde. Anno
dni M.ccccc.vi." There is no indication of authorship. Signatures: a b c d e
f g h, alternately 8s and 4s, i 4; 52 leaves, not numbered. The British
Museum and Cambridge University Library copies of this book have been
collated, but as the former ends with H 3 and the latter wants the last
leaf, that leaf must remain undescribed. Mr Bradshaw, however, says, "it
almost certainly contained a woodcut on the recto, and one of the devices on
the verso."
A copy of this very scarce book was sold among Mr. West's books in 1773
for £2.
I.a. The Castell of Laboure.—Pynson. No date. Small Quarto. Black letter.
The title, "Here begynneth the castell of laboure," is over a woodcut;
and on the reverse is a woodcut; both the same as those in the previous
edition. In the body of the work there are 30 woodcuts, which differ from
those of the first edition, one of these (at G 6) is a repetition of that on
the title page. Colophon: "Thus endeth the castell of labour wherin is
rychesse, vertue and honoure. Enprynted be me Richarde Pynson." After the
colophon comes another leaf (I 6), on the recto of which is the printer's
device, and on the verso a woodcut representing a city on the banks of a
river. Without indication of authorship. Signatures: A, 8 leaves; B—I, in
sixes.
"Neither Ames nor Herbert appear to have seen this rare volume; which is
probably a reprint of Wynkyn de Worde's impression of 1506." (Dibdin's Typ.
Antiq., II. 557.) There is a copy in the Library of H. Huth, Esq.
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II. The Ship of Folys of the Worlde.—Pynson. 1509. Folio.
On the recto of the first leaf there is a large woodcut of Pynson's arms,
or device No. VII., similar to that which is on the reverse of the last leaf
of each of the volumes of his edition of Lord Berners' translation of
Froissart's Chronicles; on the back of the first leaf is the translator's
dedication to "Thomas Cornisshe, bishop of Tine, and suffragan bishop of
Bath;" on the next leaf begins "The regyster or table of this present boke
in Englyshe," (all as on pp. cxiii.—cxx.), succeeded by a Latin table. Then
on sign. a i. and fol. i. a large woodcut, the same as is used for the title
page of Cawood's edition (and on p. 313, Vol. II.), with a Latin description
in the margin. Beneath is the title in Latin. On the back, "Alexander
Barclay excusynge the rudeness of his translacion," followed with "An
exhortacion of Alexander Barclay." Then on fol. ii., etc., follow in Latin,
"Epigramma," "Epistola" in prose, and various "Carmina." On the back of fol.
v. "The exhortacion of Brant to the fools" in Latin verse, followed by
Barclay's version with the heading "Barclay the Translatour tho the Foles."
On fol. iiii. the "Prologus Jacobi Locher ... incipit," followed by its
translation into English. On fol. ix., etc., "Hecatastichon in proludium
auctoris et Libelli Narragonici" and the English translation, "Here
begynneth the prologe." On xii. "The Argument" in Latin and English, and
then on xiii. commences the first chapter, "De inutilibus libris," in Latin,
and then in English, which is the order throughout, with the cuts at the
beginning of either the one or other as the page suited. The book concludes
with a ballad in honour of the virgin Mary, consisting of twelve octave
stanzas: at the end of which is the colophon in a stanza of seven lines. On
the verso of the last leaf is the printer's device, No. v.
The Latin is uniformly printed in the Roman type, and the English in the
Gothic. Herbert supposes the diphthongs to be "the first perhaps used in
this kingdom."
The cuts are rude, coarse, English imitations of those in the original
editions. They are, including the preliminary one, 118 in number. The cut
illustrating the chapter, "Of them that correct other," etc., fol. liii. has
been exchanged with the cut of the succeeding chapter. The cut illustrating
"The unyuersall shyp and generall Barke," fol. cclxii., is repeated at the
succeeding chapter. The one illustrating Barclay's new chapter "Of folys
that ar ouer worldly" is an imitation of the illustration of "De
singularitate quorundam novorum fatuorum" in the Latin edition of March
1497. The cut illustrating the ballad of the Virgin appears in the original
at the head of "Excusatio Jacobi Locher Philomusi," and illustrates,
according to the margin, "Derisio boni operis."
The word "Folium" is on the left hand page, and the number, in Roman
capitals, on the right throughout the book; the last is cclxxiiii. Including
the dedication and table (4 folios) there are 283 folios. The numbering is a
model of irregularity: iiii. is repeated for vi., xx. stands for xv., xviii.
is repeated, xx. is wanting, xxii. is repeated, xxiv. is wanting, xxx. is
repeated, xxxvi. is wanting, xxxix. is repeated in place of xliv., xlviii.
is wanting, xlix. is repeated, lvii is repeated after lxi., lviii follows
twice, lix., lx., lxi. being repeated in succession after lviii., lxvii.,
lxviii. are repeated after lxviii., lxxxii. is wanting, lxxxiii. is
repeated, lxxxii. stands for lxxxvii., lxxxiii. succeeds for lxxxviiii,
cclxv. succeeds for lxxxix., lxxxxii. is repeated for lxxxxvii., [in the
Grenville copy this leaf is correctly numbered], cxxxii is wanting, cxl.
stands for cxxxviii., cxlxi. stands for cxlvi., clxxiv. is wanting,
clxxxxxi. stands for cci., ccxii. is repeated for ccxvii., ccxxxviii. is
wanting, cclx. stands for ccl., cclviii. is repeated for cclx.
The numeration by signatures is as follows: + iiij; a, 8; b—p, 6 s; q, 7;
r, s, t, v, x, y, z, &, 6 s; A—Y, 6 s.
The book is extremely rare. There is a fine copy in the Bodleian Library
among Selden's books, another in the British Museum, Grenville Collection,
and another in the Library of St. John's College, Oxford.
The following are the more notable prices: Farmer, 1798, £2. 4s.;
Sotheby's, 1821, £28; Dent, £30. 9s.; Bib. Anglo-Poetica, £105; Perkins,
1873, £130.
The following amusing note on prices is taken from Renouard's "Catalogue
d'un Amateur." "Les premières éditions latines de ce singulier livre, celles
des traductions françoises, toutes également remplies de figures en bois, ne
déplaisent pas aux amateurs, mais jamais ils ne les ont payées un haut prix.
La traduction angloise faite en 1509, sur le francois, et avec des figures
en bois, plus mauvaises encore que leurs modèles, se paye en Angleterre 25,
30 et mème 60 guinées; c'est là, si l'on veut, du zèle patriotique, de
l'esprit national."
II.a. Stultifera Nauis.... The Ship of Fooles..... With diuers other
workes.... very profitable and fruitfull for all men.... Cawood. 1570.
Folio.
A large cut of vessels filled with fools (the same as on p. 313, Vol.
II.) is inserted between the Latin and English titles. This edition omits
the ballad to the Virgin at the end. The English is in black letter, and the
Latin in Roman, in the same order as in the preceding edition. On the recto
of leaf 259: Thus endeth the Ship of Fooles, translated ... by Alexander
Barclay Priest, at that time Chaplen in the Colledge of S. Mary Otery in the
Countie of Deuon. Anno Domini 1508. On the back "Excusatio Iacobi Locher
Philomusi," in Sapphic verse. On the next page five stanzas by Barclay
"excusing the rudenes of his Translation." Lastly, an Index in Latin, and
then in English. Then, follow the "diuers other workes," the Mirrour of good
maners, and the Egloges. Colophon: Imprinted at London in Paules
Church-yarde by Iohn Cawood Printer to the Queenes Maiestie. Cum Priuilegio
ad imprimendum solum.
The woodcuts, including the one on the title-page, number 117. They are
the same as those of Pynson's edition, but show occasional traces of the
blocks having been chipped in the course of their preservation in a
printer's office for 60 years or so. The borders only differ, being of a
uniform type, while those of the previous edition are woodcuts of several
patterns.
The numbering is a little irregular; the preliminary leaves (12) are
unnumbered. The folios are numbered in figures on the left hand page,
'folio' being prefixed to the first six, 16 is repeated for 17, 13 stands
for 31, [in one of the Adv. Lib. copies the latter irregularity is found,
though not the former; in the other, 17 and 31 are numbered correctly], 96
is repeated for 99, 188 for 191, 100 for 200, and 205 for 201. The last
number is 259, and there are three extra leaves, thus making 274 for the
Ship. The supplementary works are not numbered. The signatures are as
follows: The Ship, ¶ six leaves; ¶¶ six leaves; A to U u, in sixes; X x,
four leaves; Mirrour of good manners, A—G, in sixes; Egloges, A to D, in
sixes; in all 680 pp.
This book was licensed to Cawood in 1567-8, and is said to be the only
book he had license for. It is now very rare.
Prices: Digby, 1680, 4s. 4d. Bernard, 1698, 1s. 10d. Gulston, 1783, £1,
16s. White Knights, £8, 12s. Roxburghe, £9, 19s. 6d. Fonthill, £13, 13s.
Bib. Anglo-Poet, £12, 12s. Heber, £8, 12s. Sotheby's, 1873, £48, 10s.
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A complete bibliography of the various editions and versions of the Ship
of Fools will be found in Zarocke's edition of the original, or in Graesse's
Trésor de livres rares et précieux. A notice is subjoined of the two
editions of the English prose translation, and of the two other publications
bearing the title.
The abridged prose translation, by Henry Watson, from the French prose
version of Jehan Droyn, appeared from the press of De Worde in the same year
in which Barclay's fuller poetical version was issued. In both text and
illustrations it is a much inferior production to the latter. As the
existence of the first edition has been, and still is, denied, it being
frequently confounded with Barclay's book, we transcribe the following
description of the only known copy from Van Praet's "Catalogue des livres
imprimés sur vélin de la Bibliotheque du Roi."
The Shyppe of Fooles, translated out of frenche, by Henry Watson. London,
Wynkyn de Worde, 1509, petit in—4.
Edition en lettres de forme, sans chiffres ni réclames, avec signatures,
figures et initiales en bois; à longues lignes, au nombre de 32 sur les
pages entierès; cont. 169 f.; les 7 premiers renferment 1. le titre suivant,
gravé audessus d'une figure qui représente le navire des fous:
¶ The shyppe of fooles.
2. Le prologue du traducteur; 3. la préface; 4. la table des chapitres.
Au recto du dernier f. est cette souscription:
¶ Thus endeth the shyppe of fooles of this worde. Enprynted at London in
Flete strete by Wynky de worde prynter vnto the excellent pryncesse
Marguerete, Countesse of Rychemonde and Derbye, and grandame vnto our moost
naturall souereyne lorde kynge Henry y viii. The yere of our lorde. m.ccccc.
ix. ¶ The fyrste yere of the reygne of our fouerayne lorde kynge Henry the
viii. The. vi. daye of Julii. On aperçoit au verso le monogramme et la
marque de William Caxton, au bas desquels on lit ces mots: Wynken de Worde."
This beautiful copy upon vellum is the only example of this edition
known.
The grete Shyppe of Fooles of this worlde. Wykyn de Worde. 1517. Quarto.
This is the second edition of Watson's translation. Colophon: "Thus
endeth the shyppe of fooles of this worlde. Jmprynted at Londod in flete
strete by Wykyn de Worde. ye yere of our lorde m.ccccc. & xvii.
¶ The nynthe yere of ye reygne of our souerayne lorde kynge Henry ye
VIII. The xx. daye of June." It contains G G 6, fours and eights alternately
(the signatures ending on G G iij.), besides 6 leaves, with the prologue,
prolude and table, before signature A.
Extremely rare. Roxburghe, £64.
The Ship of Fools Fully Fraught and Richly Laden with Asses, Fools,
Jack-daws, Ninnihammers, Coxcombs, Slenderwits, Shallowbrains, Paper-Skuls,
Simpletons, Nickumpoops, Wiseakers, Dunces, and Blockheads, Declaring their
several Natures, Manners and Constitutions; the occasion why this Ship was
built, with the places of their intended Voyage, and a list of the Officers
that bear Command therein.
If for this Voyage any have a mind,
They with Jack Adams may acceptance find,
Who will strain hard ere they shall stay behind.
Licensed, Roger L'Estrange.
[A large woodcut of the Ship.]
London, Printed by J. W. for J. Clark, at the Bible and Harp in
West-Smithfield. n. d. [Circa 1650.] 4to. 4 leaves.
"This book, or rather tract, has nothing in common with Barclay's Ship of
Fools, except the general idea. It is entirely in prose. My copy has nothing
to show to whom it formerly belonged."—(Letter of H. Huth, Esq.) The last
sentence was elicited by the inquiry whether Mr Huth's copy were the one
formerly belonging to Mr Heber.—See Bibliotheca Heberiana, Part IV., No.
752.
Stultifera Navis ... The modern Ship of fools. Lond. 1807, 80. Pp. xxiv.,
295.
A wretched production in verse, in imitation of Barclay's Ship of Fools,
published anonymously by W. H. Ireland, the Shakesperian forger.
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III. The Egloges of Alexader Barclay, Prest.—The first three, without
printer's name or device. No date. Quarto. Black letter.
"Here begynneth the Egloges of Alexader Barclay, prest, wherof the fyrst
thre conteyneth the myseryes of courters and courtes of all prynces in
generall, the matter wherof was translated into Englyshe by the sayd
Alexander in fourme of Dialogues, out of a boke named in latyn Miserie
Curialiu, compyled by Eneas Siluius, Poete and oratour, whiche after was
Pope of Rome, & named Pius." This title is over a cut of two shepherds,
Coridon and Cornix, the interlocutors in these three eclogues. On the back
is a cut of David and Bathsheba. At the end of the third egloge: "Thus
endyth the thyrde and last egloge of the mysery of court and courters,
composed by Alexander Barclay, preste, in his youthe." A cut of the two
shepherds and a courtier fills up the page. Without date, printer's name, or
device. Contains P 6, in fours, the last leaf blank.
III.a. The Fourthe Egloge of Alexander Barclay.—Pynson. No date. Quarto.
Black letter.
It is entitled, "The Boke of Codrus and Mynaclus," over the cut of a
priest, with a shaven crown, writing at a plutus. It concludes with "The
discrypcion of the towre of Vertue & Honour, into whiche the noble Hawarde
contended to entre, by worthy acts of chiualry," related by Menalcas, in
stanzas of eight verses. At the end, "Thus endeth the fourthe Eglogge of
Alexandre Barcley, coteyning the maner of the riche men anenst poets and
other clerkes. Emprinted by Richarde Pynson priter to the kynges noble
grace." On the last leaf is his device, No. V. Contains 22 leaves, with
cuts.
III.b. The Fyfte Egloge of Alexander Barclay. —Wynkyn de Worde. No date.
Quarto. Black letter.
"The fyfte Eglog of Alexandre Barclay of the Cytezen and vplondyshman."
This title is over a large woodcut of a priest, sitting in his study.
Beneath, "Here after foloweth the Prologe." On the verso of A ii. are two
cuts of two shepherds, whole lengths, with this head-title, "Interlocutoures
be Amyntas and Faustus." There are no other cuts. Colophon: "Here endeth the
v. Eglog of Alexandre Barclay of the Cytezyn and vplondysshman. Imprynted at
London in flete strete, at the sygne of [the] Sonne, by Wynkyn de worde."
Beneath, device No. v. Contains A 8, B 4, C 6; 18 leaves. There is a copy in
the British Museum.
With the first four Eclogues as above, Woodhouse, 1803, (Herbert's copy),
£25.; resold, Dent, 1827, £36.; resold, Heber, 1834, £24. 10s. At Heber's
sale this unique set, containing the only known copy of the first edition of
the first four Eclogues, was bought by Thorpe; further I have not been able
to trace it.
III.c. The Egloges.—John Herforde. No date. Quarto.
"Here begynneth the Egloges of Alex. Barclay, Priest, whereof the first
three conteineth the Miseries of Courters and Courtes." "Probably a reprint
of Pynson's impression," Dibdin. Contains only Eclogues I.-III. Herbert
conjectures the date to be 1548; Corser, 1546; Hazlitt, 1545.
III.d. The Egloges.—Humfrey Powell. No date. Quarto. Black letter.
"Here begynneth the Egloges of Alexander Barclay, priest, whereof the
first thre conteineth the miseries of courters and courtes, of all Princes
in general ... In the whiche the interloquutors be, Cornix, and Coridon."
Concludes: "Thus endeth the thyrde and last Eglogue of the Misery of Courte
and Courters, Composed by Alexander Barclay preest, in his youth. Imprinted
at London by Humfrey Powell." Contains only Eclogues I.-III. Collation:
Title, A 1; sig. A to P2, in fours; 58 leaves not numbered.
This is an edition of extreme rarity. It is very well printed, and the
title is surrounded with a woodcut border with ornamented pillars at the
sides. Herbert conjectures the date to be 1549, the Bib. Anglo-Poetica,
Lowndes, and Corser, 1548. There is a copy in the Cambridge University
Library, and another in the possession of David Laing, Esq.
Prices: Inglis, £6. 2s. 6d.; Bright, 1845. £10. 10s.; Bib. Anglo-Poetica,
£15.
III.e. Certayne Egloges of Alexander Barclay Priest.—Cawood. 1570. Folio.
Black letter.
Appended to Cawood's edition of the Ship of Fools. No title-page, cuts,
or pagination. The above heading on A i.
Colophon: Thus endeth the fifth and last Egloge of Alexander Barclay, of
the Citizen and the man of the countrey. Imprinted at London in Paules
Church-yarde by Iohn Cawood, Printer to the Queenes Maiestie. Cum Priuilegio
ad imprimendum solum.
Contains A—D, in sixes.
III.f. The Cytezen and Uplondyshman: an Eclogue [the fifth] by Alexander
Barclay.
Printed from the original edition by Wynkyn de Worde. Edited, with an
Introductory Notice of Barclay and his other Eclogues, by F.W. Fairholt,
F.S.A. London; printed for the Percy Society [vol. XXII.], 1847. 8vo. Pp. +
6, lxxiv., 47.
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IV. The Introductory To Write and To Pronounce Frenche. Coplande. 1521.
Folio. Black letter.
'Here begynneth the introductory to wryte, and to pronounce Frenche
compyled by Alexander Barcley compendiously at the commaudemet of the ryght
hye excellent and myghty prynce Thomas duke of Northfolke.' This title is
over a large woodcut of a lion rampant, supporting a shield, containing a
white lion in a border, (the same as that on the title of the Sallust, VI.),
then follows a French ballad of 16 lines in two columns, the first headed,
"R. Coplande to the whyte lyone, and the second, "¶ Ballade." On the recto
of the last leaf, 'Here foloweth the maner of dauncynge of bace dauces after
the vse of fraunce & other places translated out of frenche in englysshe by
Robert coplande.' Col.: Jmprynted at London in the Fletestrete at the sygne
of the rose Garlande by Robert coplande, the yere of our lorde. m.ccccc.xxi.
ye xxii. day of Marche.' Neither folioed nor paged. Contains C 4, in sixes,
16 leaves.
In the edition of Palsgrave (see above, p. lxxiii.), published among the
"Documents inédits sur l'histoire de France," the editor says of this work
of Barclay's: "Tous mes efforts pour découvrir un exemplaire de ce curieux
ouvrage ont été inutiles." There is a copy, probably unique, in the
Bodleian; it was formerly Herbert's, afterwards Douce's.
All the parts of this treatise relating to French pronunciation have been
carefully reprinted by Mr A. J. Ellis, in his treatise "On Early English
Pronunciation" (published by the Philological Society), Part III., p. 804.
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V. The Myrrour Of Good Maners.——Pynson. No date. Folio. Black letter.
'Here begynneth a ryght frutefull treatyse, intituled the myrrour of good
maners, coteynyng the iiii. vertues, callyd cardynall, compyled in latyn by
Domynike Mancyn: And translate into englysshe: at the desyre of syr Gyles
Alyngton, knyght: by Alexander Bercley prest: and monke of Ely. This title
is over a cut, the same as at the head of Barclay's preface to his
translation of Sallust, a representation of the author in a monkish habit on
his knees, presenting a book to a nobleman. The text begins on back of
title. The original is printed in Roman letter in the margins.——Colophon in
a square woodcut border: Thus endeth the ryght frutefull matter of the foure
vertues cardynall: Jmprynted by Rychard Pynson: prynter vnto the kynges
noble grace: with his gracyous pryuylege the whiche boke I haue prynted, at
the instance & request, of the ryght noble Rychard yerle of Kent. On the
back, Pynson's device, No. v. It has neither running titles, catch-words,
nor the leaves numbered. Signatures; A to G, in sixes, and H, in eights; 100
pp.
In the British Museum, Grenville collection, from Heber's collection.
"This edition differs materially from that used by Herbert, which has led Dr
Dibdin to the conclusion that there were two impressions." So says a MS.
note on the copy, (quoted in the Bib. Grenv.), but Dibdin does not commit
himself to the conclusion, his words being these: "This description is given
from a copy in the possession of Mr Heber; which, from its varying with the
account of Herbert, Mr H. supposes, with justice, must be a different one
from Herbert's." I have failed to discover the difference.
Prices: Perry, £9.; Roxburghe (last leaf wanting), £10. 10s.; Bibliotheca
Anglo-Poetica, £12. 12s.; Sykes, £16. 16s.
To the above edition must belong the fragment entered in Bohn's Lowndes
under "Four," thus: "Four Vertues Cardinal. Lond. R. Pynson, n.d. folio.
Only a fragment of this Poem is known; it was printed at the request of
Rychard Erle of Kent."
V.a.. The Mirrour of Good Maners.——Cawood. 1570. Folio. Black letter.
Appended to Cawood's edition of the Ship of Fools. No title page,
pagination, or cuts. The above heading on A 1. The Latin original printed in
Roman by the side of the English. Contains A-G, in sixes.
It may be useful to give here the bibliography of the other English
translations of Mancyn.
Mancinus de quattuor Virtutibus. [The englysshe of Mancyne apon the foure
cardynale vertues.] No place, printer's name, or date, but with the types of
Wynkyn de Worde, circa 1518. 4to, a-d, in eights. Bodleian.
Following the title occurs: Petri Carmeliani exasticon in Dominici
Mancini de quattuor cardineis virtutibus libellum. The Latin portion is in
verse, printed in Roman letter, with marginal notes in black letter, of a
very small size, and the English in prose.
The English part, in black letter, is entitled: The englysshe of Mancyne
apon the foure cardynale vertues. n.p. or d. This portion has a separate
title and signatures; the title is on A 1. On sign. F ii. occurs, "The
correccion of the englysshe," and on the verso of the same leaf is printed,
"The correction of the texte." A, B, C, and D, 8 leaves each; E, 6 leaves;
and F, 4 leaves; 42 leaves altogether. A copy of this is in the British
Museum. Only two perfect copies are known.
A Plaine Path to Perfect Vertue: Deuised and found out by Mancinus, a
Latine Poet, and translated into English by G. Turberuile, Gentleman.
Ardua ad virtutem via.
Imprinted at London in Knightrider-strete, by Henry Bynneman, for Leonard
Maylard. Anno. 1568. 8vo., 72 leaves. Black letter, in verse. Dedicated "To
the right Honorable and hys singular good Lady, Lady Anne, Coutesse
Warvvicke." There is also a metrical address to the reader, and 8 4-line
stanzas by James Sanford in praise of the translator.
Freeling, 1836, No. 911, £7., bought for Mr Corser: now in the British
Museum. Supposed to be unique.
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VI. Cronycle compyled in Latyn, by the renowned Sallust.——Pynson. No
date. Folio.
"Here begynneth the famous cronycle of the warre, which the romayns had
agaynst Jugurth, vsurper of the kyngdome of Numidy. which cronycle is
compyled in latyn by the renowmed romayne Salust. And translated into
englysshe by syr Alexander Barclay preest, at comaundement of the right hye
and mighty prince: Thomas duke of Northfolke." There are two editions by
Pynson of this book.
I. In this edition the lower half of the title page has a square enclosed
by double lines containing the Norfolk arms, a lion rampant, holding a
shield in his paws, on which is another lion, a cut which also appears on
the title of The Introductory. There is a full page cut of the royal arms
with portcullis, &c., on the back, followed by five pages of Table. The
preface to his patron, in English,——together with a Latin dedication to
Bishop Veysy, in parallel columns,——begins on the verso of signature a iiii,
under a cut of the author presenting his book to him, the same as that which
appears on the title of The myrrour of good maners. [See the cut prefixed to
the Notice of Barclay's life, which is confined however to a reproduction of
the two principal figures only, two other figures, evidently of servants,
and some additional ornamentation of the room being omitted.] At the end of
this preface is another cut of the author, writing at a desk; also on the
back of the leaf is a cut of the disembarking of an army. There are no other
cuts, but the volume is adorned throughout with very fine woodcut initials.
Catchwords are given irregularly at the beginning, but regularly towards the
end, at the bottom of the left hand page only, but the preface has them to
every column. Colophon:——"Thus endeth the famous cronycle of the war ...
imprented at London by Rycharde Pynson printer vnto the kynges noble grace:
with priuylege vnto hym grauted by our sayd souerayne lorde the kynge." On
the back of the last leaf is Pynson's device, No. v. The date is erroneously
conjectured in Moss's Classical Bib. to be 1511. It was probably 1519,
certainly between 1519 and 1524. Contains 92 numbered leaves, and one leaf
unnumbered, besides eight leaves of preliminary matter: numbering quite
regular: signatures; a 8, A—O, 6 s, P, Q, 4 s. In the British Museum,
Grenville Collection, the Bodleian, and the Public Library at Cambridge.
Prices: Roxburghe, £23, 12s.; Sykes, £8, 12s.; Heber, £5, 15s. 6d.;
Sotheby's, 1857, £10.
II. In this edition, the title page is the same as in the other with the
exception of a semicolon for a full point after Numidy, the succeeding which
having an e added, and romayne being without the e, but on the back instead
of a cut of the royal arms The table commences; the preface begins on the
recto of sign. a 4, under the cut of the author presenting his book to the
Duke of Norfolk, and ends without the leaf of woodcuts which is appended to
the preface of the first edition. Pynson's device at the end of the book is
also wanting in this edition. It contains only fol. lxxxvi., with six leaves
of preliminary matter; the pagination is a little irregular, xxi. and xxii.
are wanting but xxiii. is given three times, and lxxvii. is repeated for
lxxviii.; the British Museum copy is deficient in folios lxii. and lxv.:
signatures; a 6, A—N, 6 s, and O, P, 4 s. The initials are the same as those
in the first edition in the great majority of cases, but appear much more
worn. There are catch-words only at the end of every signature throughout
the book, except to the preface, which has them to every column. In the
British Museum, and the Public Library, Cambridge.
Both editions have the Latin in Roman letter in the margins, and
running-titles. Ames mentions an edition with cuts, which must be the same
as the first of these.
VI.a. Cronicle of Warre. Compiled in Laten by Saluste. Corrected by
Thomas Paynell. Waley, 1557. Quarto.
"Here begynneth the famous Cronicle of warre, whyche the Romaynes hadde
agaynst Jugurth vsurper of the kyngedome of Numidie: whiche Cronicle is
compiled in Laten by the renowmed Romayne Saluste: and translated into
englyshe by syr alexander Barklaye prieste. And nowe perused and corrected
by Thomas Paynell. Newely Jmprinted in the yere of oure Lorde God M.D.L
vij." On the verso of the title begins Paynell's dedication—"To the ryghte
honorable Lorde Antonye Vycounte Mountegue, Knyghte of the ryghte honorable
order of the garter, and one of the Kynge and Queenes Magesties pryuie
counsayle." "The prologue" begins on a 1. Barclay's preface and dedication
are omitted, as well as the Latin of Sallust. Col.: "Thus endeth the famouse
Cronicle of the warre ... against Jugurth ... translated... by syr Alexander
Barkeley, prieste, at commaundemente of ... Thomas, duke of Northfolke, And
imprinted at London in Foster lane by Jhon Waley." Signatures; H h, 4 s,
besides title and dedication, two leaves: the pagination commences on a 4,
at "The fyrste chapter," the last folio being cxx.; xxi. is repeated for
xxii., xxiii. for xxiv., xix., stands for xxix., lvii. is repeated, and
lxxiv. is repeated for lxxv.
This edition forms the second part of a volume having the following
general title page: The Conspiracie of Catiline, written by Constancius
Felicius Durantinus, and translated bi Thomas Paynell: with the historye of
Jugurth, writen by the famous Romaine Salust, and translated into Englyshe
by Alexander Barcklaye.
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VII. Alex. Barclay his figure of our Mother holy church oppressed by the
Frenche King. Pynson. Quarto.
This is given by Herbert on the authority of Maunsell's Catalogue, p. 7.
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VIII. The lyfe of the glorious Martyr saynt George. Translated by
Alexander Barclay, while he was a monk of Ely, and dedicated to N. West, Bp.
of Ely. Pinson [Circa 1530.] Quarto. [Herbert, 289].
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IX. The lyfe of saynte Thomas. Pynson. No date. Quarto. Black letter.
"¶ Here begynneth the lyfe of the blessed martyr saynte Thomas." This
title is the headline of this little treatise; at the beginning of which is
indented a small woodcut of a man in armour, striking at the bishop, with
his cross-bearer before him. It begins "The martir saynte Thomas was son to
Gylberde Bequet a burgeys of the Cite of London. And was borne in ye place,
whereas now standeth the churche called saynte Thomas of Akers." It
concludes, "¶ Thus endeth the lyfe of the blessed martyr saynt Thomas of
Caunturbury. Jmprynted by me Rycharde Pynson, prynter vnto the kynges noble
grace." Contains eight leaves. There is a copy in the British Museum.
Assigned to Barclay on tne authority of Wood.
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X. Haython's Cronycle. Pynson. No date. Folio. Black letter.
"Here begynneth a lytell Cronycle, translated & imprinted at the cost &
charge of Rycharde Pynson, by the comaundement of the ryght high and mighty
prince, Edwarde duke of Buckingham, yerle of Gloucestre, Staffarde, and of
Northamton," over a large woodcut. Colophon: "Here endeth, [&c.] Imprinted
by the sayd Richarde Pynson, printer unto the Kinges noble grace." Date
conjectured to be between 1520 and 1530. Pynson's device, No. 5, at the end.
Collation: A—E, and H, in sixes; F and G, and I, in fours; forty-eight
leaves.
On the verso of fol. 35, "Here endeth ye boke of thistoris of thoriet
partes copyled by a relygious man frere Hayton frere of Premostre order,
sotyme lorde of court & cosyn german to the kyng of Armeny vpon ye passage
of the holy lande. By the comaudement of ye holy fader ye apostle of Rome
Clemet the V. in ye cite of Potiers which boke I Nicholas Falcon, writ first
in French ... I haue traslated it in Latyn for our holy father ye pope. In
the yere of our lorde god m.ccc.vii. in ye moneth of August. Deo gras."
"The travels of Hayton into the Holy Land and Armenia, and his history of
Asia, is one of the most valuable of the early accounts of the east. The
present is the only translation into English, and from the circumstances of
its being printed by Pynson and having been (when in Mr Heber's collection)
bound with two other works (Mirrour of good Maners and Sallust) both
translated by Barclay, was probably also translated by him. It is a book of
extraordinaiy rarity, no perfect copy that can be traced having previously
occured for sale." (Bibliotheca Grenvilliana, vol. I.)
Heber's copy (the one above mentioned), £40. 9s. 6d.
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THE SHIP OF FOOLS.
Venerandissimo in Christo Patri ac Domino: domino Thome Cornisshe
Tenenensis pontifici ac diocesis Badonensis Suffraganio vigilantissimo, sue
paternitatis Capellanus humilimus Alexander Barclay suiipsius
recommendacionem cum omni summissione, et reuerentia.
Tametsi crebris negocijs: varioque impedimentorum genere fatigatus paulo
diutiùs quàm volueram a studio reuulsus eram. Attamen obseruandissime
presul: Stultiferam classem (vt sum tue paternati pollicitus) iam tandem
absolui et impressam ad te destinaui. Neque tamen certum laborem pro incerto
premio (humano. s.) meis impossuissem humeris: nisi Seruianum illud dictum
(longe anteaqam inceperam) admonuisset. Satius esse non incipere quàm
inceptum minus perfectum relinquere. Completo tamen opere: nec quemquam
magis dignum quàm tua sit paternitas existimaui cui id dedicarem: tum quia
saluberrima tua prudentia, morum grauitas, vite sanctitas doctrineque
assiduitas: errantes fatuos mumdanis ab illecebris ad virtutis tramites:
difficiles licet: possint reducere: tum vero: quia sacros ad ordines per te
sublimatus et promotus, multisque aliis tuis beneficiis ditatus non potui
tibi meum obsequium non coartare. Opus igitur tue paternitati dedicaui:
meorum primicias laborum qui in lucem eruperunt Atque vt tua consuluerit
paternatis: autoris carmina cum meis vulgaribus rithmicis vná alternatim
coniunixi: et quantum a vero carminum sensu errauerim, tue autoritatis
iudicium erit. Fateor equidem multo plura adiecisse quam ademisse: partim ad
vicia que hac nostra in regione abundantius pullulant mordacius carpenda:
partimque ob Rithmi difficultatem. Adieci etiam quasdam Biblie aliorumque
autorum concordancias in margine notatas quo singula magis lectoribus
illucescant: Simul ad inuidorum caninos latratus pacandos: et rabida ora
obstruenda: qui vbi quid facinorum: quo ipsi scatent: reprehensum audierint.
continuo patulo gutture liuida euomunt dicta, scripta dilacerant. digna
scombris ac thus carmina recensent: sed hi si pergant maledicere: vt
stultiuagi comites classem insiliant. At tu venerande Presul Discipuli tui
exiguum munusculum: hilari fronte accipito, Classemque nostram (si quid
vagum, si quid erronium: si quid denique superfluum emineat: optimam in
partem interpretando: ab inuidorum faucibus: tue autoritatis clipeo tucaris.
Vale. Ex Impressoria officina Richardi Pynson. iij. Idus Decembris.
¶ This present Boke named the Shyp of folys of the worlde was translated
in the College of saynt mary Otery in the counte of Deuonshyre: out of
Laten, French, and Doche into Englysshe tonge by Alexander Barclay Preste:
and at that tyme Chaplen in the sayde College. translated the yere of our
Lorde god. M.ccccc.viii. Imprentyd in the Cyte of London in Fletestre at the
signe of Saynt George. By Rycharde Pynson to hys Coste and charge: Ended the
yere of our Sauiour. M. d. ix. The. xiiii. day of December.
TABULA.
¶ THE REGYSTER OR TABLE OF THIS PRESENT BOKE IN ENGLYSSHE.
[VOLUME I.]
¶ Alexander Barclay excusynge the rudenes of his translacion, ye first lefe
Barclay ye translatour to ye folys.
A prologe in prose shewynge to what intent this Boke was firste made, &
who were the first Auctours of it.
Another Prologe: in Balade concernyng the same.
In what place this Boke was translate and to what purpose it was
translatyd.
¶ Here begynneth the Folys and firste of inprofytable bokys.
¶ Of euyll Counsellours Juges & men of lawe.
Of couetyse and prodigalyte.
Of newe disgysynges in apparayle.
¶ A lawde of the nobles and grauyte of Kynge Henry the eyght.
Of olde Folys encresynge foly with age.
Of negligent Fathers ayenst their Children.
Of taleberers: & mouers of debate.
Of nat folowers of good counsel.
Of vngoodly maners, and dysordred.
Of the hurtynge of frendshyp.
Of dispysers of holy scripture.
Of folys inprouydent.
Of disordred & venerious loue.
Of them that synne trustynge vpon the mercy of almyghty god.
Of folys yt begyn great byldynge without sufficient prouysion.
Of glotons, and droncardes.
Of ryches vnprofytable.
Of folys that wyl serue two lordes both togyther.
Of superflue speche.
Of them that correct other, them self culpable in the same faut.
Of folys that fynde others good, nat restorynge the same to the owner.
¶ The sermon or doctryne of wysdom.
Of Folys bostyng them in fortune.
Of the superflue curyosyte of men.
Of great borowers, & slacke payers.
Of vnprofitable vowers & peticions.
Of negligent stodyers.
Of them that folvsshly speke ayenst the workes of god.
Of lewde Juges of others dedes.
Of pluralytees of benefyces.
Of synners that prolonge from daye to day to amende theyr myslyuyng.
Of men that ar Jelous.
Of auoutry, and specially of suche as ar bawdes to theyr wyues.
Of suche as nedys wyll contynue in theyr foly nat withstandynge holsom
erudicion.
An addicion of the secundaries of Otery saynt Mary, in Deuynshyre.
Of wrathfull folys.
Of the mutabylyte of fortune.
Of seke men inobedient.
Of to open councellers.
Of folys that can nat be ware by ye mysfortune nor take example of others
damage.
Of folys that force or care for the bacbytynge of lewde people.
Of mockers and fals accusers.
Of them that despyse euerlastynge blys for worldly thynges & transitory.
Of talkers and makers of noyse in the Chirche of god.
Of folys that put them self in wylful ieopardy and peryll.
Of the way of felycyte, and godnes and the payne to come to synners.
Of olde folys yt gyue example of vyce to youth negligent & vnexpert.
Of bodely lust or corporall voluptuosyte.
Of folys that can nat kepe secrete theyr owne counsell.
Of yonge folys that take olde wymen to theyr wyues nat for loue but for
ryches.
Of enuyous Folys.
Of impacient folys disdaynynge to abyde and suffer correccion, for theyr
profyte.
Of folysshe Fesicians vsynge theyr practyke without speculacyon.
Of the ende of worldly honour & power and of folys yt trust in them.
An addicion of Alexander barclay.
Of predestinacyon.
Of folys that aply other mennys besynes leuynge theyr owne vndone.
Of the vyce of ingratytude or vnkyndnes and folys that vse it.
Of Folys that stande to moche in theyr owne conceyte.
Of folys that delyte them in daunsynge.
Of nyght watchers.
Of the vanyte of beggers.
Alexander Barclay excusynge the rudenes of his translacion.
Go Boke: abasshe the thy rudenes to present.
To men auaunced to worshyp, and honour.
By byrthe or fortune: or to men eloquent.
By thy submyssion excuse thy Translatour.
But whan I remember the comon behauour
Of men: I thynke thou ought to quake for fere
Of tunges enuyous whose venym may the dere
Tremble, fere, and quake, thou ought I say agayne.
For to the Redar thou shewest by euydence
Thy selfe of Rethoryke pryuate and barayne
In speche superflue: and fruteles of sentence.
Thou playnly blamest without al difference
Bothe hye and lowe sparinge eche mannes name.
Therfore no maruayle thoughe many do the blame.
But if thou fortune to lye before a State
As Kynge or Prince or Lordes great or smal.
Or doctour diuyne or other Graduate
Be this thy Excuse to content theyr mynde withal
My speche is rude my termes comon and rural
And I for rude peple moche more conuenient.
Than for Estates, lerned men, or eloquent.
But of this one poynt thou nedest not to fere
That any goode man: vertuous and Just.
Wyth his yl speche shal the hurt or dere.
But the defende. As I suppose and trust.
But suche Unthriftes as sue theyr carnal lust
Whome thou for vyce dost sharply rebuke and blame
Shal the dysprayse: emperisshinge thy name.
An exhortacion of Alexander Barclay.
But ye that shal rede this boke: I you exhorte.
And you that ar herars therof also I pray
Where as ye knowe that ye be of this sorte:
Amende your lyfe and expelle that vyce away.
Slomber nat in syn. Amende you whyle ye may.
And yf ye so do and ensue Vertue and grace.
Wythin my Shyp ye get no rowme ne place.
Barclay the translatour tho the Foles.
To Shyp galantes the se is at the ful.
The wynde vs calleth our sayles ar displayed.
Where may we best aryue? at Lyn or els at Hulle?
To vs may no hauen in Englonde be denayd.
Why tary we? the Ankers ar vp wayed.
If any corde or Cabyl vs hurt, let outher hynder.
Let slyp the ende, or els hewe it in sonder.
Retourne your syght beholde vnto the shore.
There is great nomber that fayne wold be aborde.
They get no rowme our Shyp can holde no more.
Haws in the Cocke gyue them none other worde.
God gyde vs from Rockes, quicsonde tempest and forde
If any man of warre, wether, or wynde apere.
My selfe shal trye the wynde and kepe the Stere.
But I pray you reders haue ye no dysdayne.
Thoughe Barclay haue presumed of audacite
This Shyp to rule as chefe mayster and Captayne.
Though some thynke them selfe moche worthyer than he.
It were great maruayle forsoth syth he hath be.
A scoler longe: and that in dyuers scoles
But he myght be Captayne of a Shyp of Foles
But if that any one be in suche maner case.
That he wyl chalange the maystershyp fro me
Yet in my Shyp can I nat want a place.
For in euery place my selfe I oft may se.
But this I leue besechynge eche degre:
To pardon my youthe and to bolde interprise.
For harde is it duely to speke of euery vyce.
For yf I had tunges an hundreth: and wyt to fele
Al thinges natural and supernaturall
A thousand mouthes: and voyce as harde as stele.
And sene all the seuen Sciences lyberal.
Yet cowde I neuer touche the vyces all.
And syn of the worlde: ne theyr braunches comprehende:
Nat thoughe I lyued vnto the worldes ende.
But if these vyces whiche mankynde doth incomber.
Were clene expellyd and vertue in theyr place.
I cowde nat haue gathered of fowles so great a nomber.
Whose foly from them out chaseth goddys grace.
But euery man that knowes hym in that case
To this rude Boke let hym gladly intende.
And lerne the way his lewdnes to amende.
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[The Prologe of James Locher.]
After that I haue longe mused by my self of the sore confounded and
vncertayne cours of mannys lyfe, and thinges therto belonginge: at the last
I haue by my vigilant meditacion found and noted many degrees of errours:
wherby mankynd wandreth from the way of trouth I haue also noted that many
wyse men and wel lettred haue writen right fruteful doctrines: wherby they
haue heled these dyseses and intollerable perturbacions of the mynde: and
the goostly woundes therof, moche better than Esculapius which was fyrst
Inuentour of Phesyke and amonge the Gentyles worshypped as a God. In the
contrey of Grece were stodyes fyrst founded and ordeyned in the which began
and sprange holsom medicyne which gaue vnto infect myndes frutful doctryne
and norisshinge. Amonge whome Socrates that great begynner and honourer of
wysdom began to dispute of ye maners of men. But for that he coude nat fynde
certayne ende of goodnes and hyest felicite in naturall thinges: nor induce
men to the same, he gaue the hye contemplacions of his mynde to moral
vertues. And in so moche passed he al other in Philosophy moral that it was
sayde that he called Philosophy down from the Imperial heuen. whan this
Socrates perceyued the mindes of men to be prone, and extremely inclyned to
viciousnes he had gret affeccion to subdue suche maners. Wherfore in comon
places of the Cyte of Athenes he instruct and infourmed the peple in such
doctrynes as compasith the clere and immaculate welles of the moste
excellent and souerayne gode. After the disces of Socrates succeded ye godly
Plato whiche in moral Philosophy ouerpassed also a great part of his tyme
And certaynly nat without a cause was he called godly. For by what stody
myght be more holely or better socour mankynde than by suche doctrynes as he
gaue. He wrote and ordeyned lawes moste egal and iust He edityed vnto the
Grekes a comon welthe stable, quyet and commendable. And ordeyned the
societe and company of them most iocund and amyable. He prepared a brydel to
refrayne the lust and sensualyte of the body. And fynally he changed the yl
ignorance feblenes and negligence of youth vnto dylygence, strength and
vertue. In tyme also of these Phylosophers sprange the florisshynge age of
Poetes: whiche amonge lettred men had nat smal rowme and place. And that for
theyr eloquent Retoryke and also for theyr mery ficcions and inuencions. Of
the whiche Poetes some wrote in moste ornate termes in ditees heroycal
wherin the noble actes and lyues both of dyuyne and humayne creatures ar
wont to be noted and writem. Some wrote of tylling of the grounde. Some of
the Planetes, of the courses of ye sterres: and of the mouynge of the heuyn
and fyrmament. Some of the Empyre and shameful subieccion of disordred loue.
And many other of the myserable ruyne and fal of Kynges and princes for
vice: as Tragedies. And some other wrote Comedyes with great libertye of
speche: which Comedies we cal Interludes. Amonge whome Aristophanes Eupolis
and Cratinus mooste laudable Poetes passed al other. For whan they sawe the
youth of Athenes and of al the remanent of Grece inclyned to al ylles they
toke occasion to note suche myslyuinge. And so in playne wordes they
repreued without fauour the vyces of the sayd yl disposyd peple of what
condicion or order they were: Of this auncient wrytinge of Comedyes our
laten Poetes deuysed a maner of wrytinge nat inelegant. And fyrst Lucilius
composed one Satyre in the whiche he wrote by name the vices of certayne
princes and Citezyns of Rome And that with many bourdes so yt with his mery
speche myxt with rebukes he correct al them of the cyte that disordredly
lyued. But this mery speche vsed he nat in his writing to the intent to
excercyse wanton wordes or vnrefrayned lascyuyte, or to put his pleasour in
suche dissolute langage: but to ye intent to quenche vyces and to prouoke
the commons to wysdome and vertue, and to be asshamed of theyr foly and
excessyfe lyuynge. of hym all the Latyn poetes haue takyn example, and
begynnynge to wryte Satyrs whiche the grekes named Comedyes: As Fabius
specifyeth in his X boke of institucions. After Lucilius succeded Horacius,
moche more eloquent in wrytynge whiche in the same deseruyd great laude:
Persius also left to vs onely one boke by the whiche he commyttyd his name
and laude to perpetuall memory. The last and prynce of all was Juuenall
whiche in his iocunde poemys comprehendyd al that was wryten most eloquent
and pleasaunt of all the poetis of that sorte afore his tyme: O noble men,
and diligent hertes and myndes, o laudable maners and tymes, these worthy
men exyled ydelnes, wherby they haue obtayned nat small worshyp and great
commodyte example and doctryne lefte to vs theyr posteryours why begyn we
nat to vnderstonde and perceyue. Why worshyp nat the people of our tyme
these poetis why do nat they reuerence to ye interpretours of them do they
nat vnderstonde: that no poetes wryte, but outher theyr mynde is to do
pleasure or els profyte to the reder, or ellys they togyther wyll doo bothe
profyte and pleasoure why are they dyspysed of many rude carters of nowe a
dayes which vnderstonde nat them, And for lacke of them haue nat latyn to
vtter and expresse ye wyl of their mynde. Se whether poetes ar to be
dispised. they laude vertue and hym that vseth it rebukyng vices with the
vsers therof, They teche what is good and what is euyll: to what ende vyce,
and what ende vertue bringeth vs, and do nat Poetis reuyle and sharply byte
in their poemys all suche as ar vnmeke, Prowde, Couetous, Lecherous, Wanton,
delycyous, Wrathfull glotons, wasters, Enuyours, Enchauntours,
faythebrakers, rasshe, vnauysed, malapert, drunken, vntaught foles, and
suche lyke. Shulde theyr writyng that suche thinges disprayse and reuyle be
dyspised of many blynde Dotardes yt nowe lyue whiche enuy that any man
shulde haue or vnderstonde ye thyng whiche they knowe nat. The Poetes also
wyth great lawdes commende and exalt the noble folowers of vertue ascribyng
to euery man rewardes after his merytes. And shortly to say, the intencion
of al Poetes hath euer ben to repreue vyce: and to commende vertue. But syns
it is so that nowe in our dayes ar so many neglygent and folysshe peple that
they ar almost innumerable whiche despisynge the loue of vertue: folowe the
blyndenes and vanyte of this worlde: it was expedient that of newe some
lettred man, wyse, and subtil of wyt shulde awake and touche ye open vices
of foles that now lyue: and blame theyr abhomynable lyfe. This fourme and
lybertye of writinge, and charge hathe taken vpon hym the Right excellent
and worthy Mayster Sebastian Brant Doctour of both the Lawes and noble
Oratour and Poete to the comon welthe of al people in playne and comon
speche of Doche in the contrey of Almayne: to the ymytacion of Dant
Florentyne: and Francis Petrarche Poetes heroycal which in their maternal
langage haue composed maruelous Poemes and ficcions. But amonge diuers
inuencions composed of the sayde Sebastian brant I haue noted one named ye
Shyp of Foles moche expedient and necessary to the redar which the sayd
Sebastian composed in doche langage. And after hym one called James Locher
his Disciple translated the same into Laten to the vnderstondinge of al
Christen nacions where Laten is spoken. Than another (whose name to me is
vnknowen) translated the same into Frenche. I haue ouersene the fyrst
Inuencion in Doche and after that the two translations in Laten and Frenche
whiche in blaminge the disordred lyfe of men of our tyme agreeth in
sentence: threfolde in langage wherfore wylling to redres the errours and
vyces of this oure Royalme of Englonde: as the foresayde composer and
translatours hath done in theyr Contrees I haue taken vpon me: howbeit
vnworthy to drawe into our Englysshe tunge the sayd boke named ye shyp of
folys as nere to ye sayd thre Langages as the parcyte of my wyt wyll suffer
me. But ye reders gyue ye pardon vnto Alexander de Barklay If ignoraunce
negligence or lacke of wyt cause hym to erre in this translacion his purpose
and synguler desyre is to content youre myndes. And sothely he hathe taken
vpon hym the translacion of this present Boke neyther for hope of rewarde
nor lawde of man: but onely for the holsome instruccion commodyte and
Doctryne of wysdome, and to clense the vanyte and madnes of folysshe people
of whom ouer great nombre is in the Royalme of Englonde. Therfore let euery
man beholde and ouerrede this boke: And than I doute nat but he shal se the
errours of his lyfe of what condycyon that he be. in lyke wyse as he shal se
in a Myrrour the fourme of his countenaunce and vysage: And if he amende
suche fautes as he redeth here wherein he knoweth hymself gylty, and passe
forth the resydue of his lyfe in the order of good maners than shall he haue
the fruyte and auauntage wherto I haue translatyd this boke.
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Here begynneth the prologe.
Amonge the people of euery regyon
And ouer the worlde, south north eest and west
Soundeth godly doctryne in plenty and foyson
Wherin the grounde of vertue and wysdome doth rest
Rede gode and bad, and kepe the to the best
Was neuer more plenty of holsome doctryne
Nor fewer people that doth therto enclyne
We haue the Bybyll whiche godly doth expresse
Of the olde testament the lawes mysticall
And also of the newe our erour to redresse
Of phylosophy and other artes liberall
With other bokes of vertues morall
But thoughe suche bokes vs godly wayes shewe
We all ar blynde no man wyll them ensue
Banysshed is doctryne, we wander in derknes
Throughe all the worlde: our selfe we wyll not knowe
Wysdome is exyled, alas blynde folysshenes
Mysgydeth the myndes of people hye and lowe
Grace is decayed, yll governaunce doth growe
Both prudent Pallas and Minerua are slayne
Or els to heuyn retourned are they agayne
Knowledge of trouth, Prudence, and iust Symplicite
Hath vs clene left: For we set of them no store.
Our Fayth is defyled loue, goodnes, and Pyte:
Honest maners nowe ar reputed of: no more.
Lawyers ar lordes: but Justice is rent and tore.
Or closed lyke a Monster within dores thre.
For without mede: or money no man can hyr se.
Al is disordred: Vertue hathe no rewarde.
Alas, Compassion: and Mercy bothe ar slayne.
Alas, the stony hartys of pepyl ar so harde
That nought can constrayne theyr folyes to refrayne
But styl they procede: and eche other meyntayne.
So wander these foles: incresinge without nomber.
That al the worlde they vtterly encomber.
Blasphemers of Chryst; Hostlers; and Tauerners:
Crakars and bosters with Courters auenterous,
Bawdes and Pollers with comon extorcioners
Ar taken nowe adayes in the worlde moste glorious.
But the gyftes of grace and al wayes gracious
We haue excluded. Thus lyue we carnally:
Utterly subdued to al lewdnes and Foly.
Thus is of Foles a sorte almost innumerable.
Defilynge the worlde with syn and Vylany.
Some thynkinge them self moche wyse and commendable
Thoughe al theyr dayes they lyue vnthryftely.
No goodnes they perceyue nor to no goode aplye.
But if he haue a great wombe, and his Cofers ful
Than is none holde wyser bytwene London and Hul.
But to assemble these Foles in one bonde.
And theyr demerites worthely to note.
Fayne shal I Shyppes of euery maner londe.
None shalbe left: Barke, Galay, Shyp, nor Bote.
One vessel can nat brynge them al aflote.
For yf al these Foles were brought into one Barge
The bote shulde synke so sore shulde be the charge.
The sayles ar hawsed, a pleasant cole dothe blowe.
The Foles assembleth as fast as they may dryue.
Some swymmeth after: other as thycke doth rowe
In theyr small botes, as Bees about a hyue
The nomber is great, and eche one doth stryue
For to be chefe as Purser and Capytayne
Quarter mayster, Lodesman or els Boteswayne.
They ron to our shyp, eche one doth greatly fere
Lyst his slacke paas, sholde cause hym byde behynde
The wynde ryseth, and is lyke the sayle to tere
Eche one enforseth the anker vp to wynde
The se swellyth by planettes well I fynde
These obscure clowdes threteneth vs tempest
All are nat in bed whiche shall haue yll rest
We are full lade and yet forsoth I thynke
A thousand are behynde, whom we may not receyue
For if we do, our nauy clene shall synke
He oft all lesys that coueytes all to haue
From London Rockes almyghty god vs saue
For if we there anker, outher bote or barge
There be so many that they vs wyll ouercharge
Ye London Galantes, arere, ye shall nat enter
We kepe the streme, and touche nat the shore
In Cyte nor in Court we dare nat well auenter
Lyst perchaunce we sholde displeasure haue therfore
But if ye wyll nedes some shall haue an ore
And all the remenaunt shall stande afar at large
And rede theyr fautes paynted aboute our barge.
Lyke as a myrrour doth represent agayne
The fourme and fygure of mannes countenaunce
So in our shyp shall he se wrytyn playne
The fourme and fygure of his mysgouernaunce
What man is fautles, but outher ignoraunce
Or els wylfulnes causeth hym offende:
Than let hym nat disdayne this shyp, tyll he amende.
And certaynly I thynke that no creature
Lyuynge in this lyfe mortall in transytory
Can hym self kepe and stedfastly endure
Without all spot, as worthy eternall glory
But if he call to his mynde and memory
Fully the dedys both of his youthe and age
He wyll graunt in this shyp to kepe some stage
But who so euer wyll knowlege his owne foly
And it repent, lyuynge after in sympylnesse
Shall haue no place nor rowme more in our nauy
But become felawe to pallas the goddesse
But he that fyxed is in suche a blyndnesse
That thoughe he be nought he thynketh al is well
Suche shall in this Barge bere a babyll and a bell
These with other lyke may eche man se and rede
Eche by themselfe in this small boke ouerall
The fautes shall he fynde if he take good hede
Of all estatis as degres temporall
With gyders of dignytees spirituall
Bothe pore and riche, Chorles and Cytezyns
For hast to lepe a borde many bruse theyr shynnys
Here is berdles youth, and here is crokyd age
Children with theyr faders that yll do them insygne
And doth nat intende theyr wantones to swage
Nouther by worde nor yet by discyplyne
Here be men of euery science and doctryne
Lerned and vnlerned man mayde chylde and wyfe
May here se and rede the lewdenes of theyr lyfe.
Here ar vyle wymen: whome loue Immoderate
And lust Venereall bryngeth to hurt and shame.
Here ar prodigal Galantes: wyth mouers of debate.
And thousandes mo: whome I nat wel dare name.
Here ar Bacbyters whiche goode lyuers dyffame.
Brakers of wedlocke, men proude: and couetous:
Pollers, and pykers with folke delicious.
It is but foly to rehers the names here
Of al suche Foles: as in one Shelde or targe.
Syns that theyr foly dystynctly shal apere
On euery lefe: in Pyctures fayre and large.
To Barclays stody: and Pynsones cost and charge
Wherfore ye redars pray that they both may be saued
Before God, syns they your folyes haue thus graued.
But to thentent that euery man may knowe
The cause of my wrytynge: certes I intende
To profyte and to please both hye and lowe
And blame theyr fautes wherby they may amende
But if that any his quarell wyll defende
Excusynge his fautes to my derysyon
Knowe he that noble poetes thus haue done.
Afore my dayes a thousande yere ago
Blamynge and reuylynge the inconuenyence
Of people, wyllynge them to withdrawe therfro
Them I ensue: nat lyke of intellygence
And though I am nat to them lyke in science
Yet this is my wyll mynde and intencion
To blame all vyce lykewyse as they haue done.
To tender youth my mynde is to auayle
That they eschewe may all lewdenes and offence
Whiche doth theyr myndes often sore assayle
Closynge the iyen of theyr intellygence
But if I halt in meter or erre in eloquence
Or be to large in langage I pray you blame nat me
For my mater is so bad it wyll none other be.
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[The Argument.]
Here after foloweth the Boke named the Shyp of Foles of the world:
translated out of Laten, French and Doche into Englysse in the Colege of
saynt Mary Otery By me Alexander Barclay to the felicite and moste holsom
instruccion of mankynde the whiche conteyneth al suche as wandre from the
way of trouth and from the open Path of holsom vnderstondynge and wysdom:
fallynge into dyuers blyndnesses of ye mynde, folysshe sensualytees, and
vndlawful delectacions of the body. This present Boke myght haue ben callyd
nat inconuenyently the Satyr (that is to say) the reprehencion of
foulysshnes, but the neweltye of the name was more plesant vnto the fyrst
actour to call it the Shyp of foles: For in lyke wyse as olde Poetes
Satyriens in dyuers Poesyes conioyned repreued the synnes and ylnes of the
peple at that tyme lyuynge: so and in lyke wyse this our Boke representeth
vnto the iyen of the redars the states and condicions of men: so that euery
man may behold within the same the cours of his lyfe and his mysgouerned
maners, as he sholde beholde the shadowe of the fygure of his visage within
a bright Myrrour. But concernynge the translacion of this Boke: I exhort ye
reders to take no displesour for yt it is nat translated word by worde
acordinge to ye verses of my actour. For I haue but only drawen into our
moder tunge, in rude langage the sentences of the verses as nere as the
parcyte of my wyt wyl suffer me, some tyme addynge, somtyme detractinge and
takinge away suche thinges a semeth me necessary and superflue. wherfore I
desyre of you reders pardon of my presumptuous audacite trustynge that ye
shall holde me excused if ye consyder ye scarsnes of my wyt and my vnexpert
youthe. I haue in many places ouerpassed dyuers poetical digressions and
obscurenes of Fables and haue concluded my worke in rude langage as shal
apere in my translacion. But the speciyl cawse that mouethe me to this
besynes is to auoyde the execrable inconuenyences of ydilnes whyche (as
saint Bernard sayth) is moder of al vices: and to the vtter derision of
obstynat men delitynge them in folyes and mysgouernance. But bycause the
name of this boke semeth to the redar to procede of derysion: and by that
mean that the substance therof shulde nat be profitable: I wyl aduertise you
that this Boke is named the Shyp of foles of the worlde: For this worlde is
nought els but a tempestous se in the whiche we dayly wander and are caste
in dyuers tribulacions paynes and aduersitees: some by ignoraunce and some
by wilfulnes: wherfore suche doers ar worthy to be called foles. syns they
gyde them nat by reason as creatures resonable ought to do. Therfore the
fyrst actoure willynge to deuyde suche foles from wysemen and gode lyuers:
hathe ordeyned vpon the se of this worlde this present Shyp to contayne
these folys of ye worlde, whiche ar in great nomber. So that who redeth it
perfytely consyderynge his secrete dedys, he shall not lyghtly excuse hym
selfe out of it, what so euer good name yt he hath outwarde in the mouth of
the comontye, And to the entent yt this my laboure may be the more pleasaunt
vnto lettred men, I haue adioyned vnto the same ye verses of my Actour with
dyuerse concordaunces of the Bybyll to fortyfy my wrytynge by the same, and
also to stop the enuyous mouthes (If any suche shal be) of them that by
malyce shall barke ayenst this my besynes.
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Here begynneth the foles and first inprofytable bokes.
I am the firste fole of all the hole nauy
To kepe the pompe, the helme and eke the sayle
For this is my mynde, this one pleasoure haue I
Of bokes to haue grete plenty and aparayle
I take no wysdome by them: nor yet auayle
Nor them preceyue nat: And then I them despyse
Thus am I a foole and all that sewe that guyse
That in this shyp the chefe place I gouerne
By this wyde see with folys wanderynge
The cause is playne, and easy to dyscerne
Styll am I besy bokes assemblynge
For to haue plenty it is a plesaunt thynge
In my conceyt and to haue them ay in honde
But what they mene do I nat vnderstonde
But yet I haue them in great reuerence
And honoure sauynge them from fylth and ordure
By often brusshynge, and moche dylygence
Full goodly bounde in pleasaunt couerture
Of domas, satyn, or els of veluet pure
I kepe them sure ferynge lyst they sholde be lost
For in them is the connynge wherin I me bost.
But if it fortune that any lernyd men
Within my house fall to disputacion
I drawe the curtyns to shewe my bokes then
That they of my cunnynge sholde make probacion
I kepe nat to fall in altercacion
And whyle they comon my bokes I turne and wynde
For all is in them, and no thynge in my mynde.
Tholomeus the riche causyd longe agone
Ouer all the worlde good bokes to be sought
Done was his commaundement anone
These bokes he had and in his stody brought
Whiche passyd all erthly treasoure as he thought
But neuertheles he dyd hym nat aply
Unto theyr doctryne, but lyued unhappely.
Lo in lyke wyse of bokys I haue store
But fewe I rede, and fewer understande
I folowe nat theyr doctryne nor theyr lore
It is ynoughe to bere a boke in hande
It were to moche to be it suche a bande
For to be bounde to loke within the boke
I am content on the fayre couerynge to loke
Why sholde I stody to hurt my wyt therby
Or trouble my mynde with stody excessyue
Sythe many ar whiche stody right besely
And yet therby shall they neuer thryue
The fruyt of wysdom can they nat contryue
And many to stody so moche are inclynde
That utterly they fall out of theyr mynde
Eche is nat lettred that nowe is made a lorde
Nor eche a clerke that hath a benefyce
They are nat all lawyers that plees doth recorde
All that are promotyd are nat fully wyse
On suche chaunce nowe fortune throwys hir dyce
That thoughe one knowe but the yresshe game
Yet wolde he haue a gentyllmannys name
So in lyke wyse I am in suche case
Thoughe I nought can I wolde be callyd wyse
Also I may set another in my place
Whiche may for me my bokes excercyse
Or else I shall ensue the comon gyse
And say concedo to euery argument
Lyst by moche speche my latyn sholde be spent
I am lyke other Clerkes whiche so frowardly them gyde.
That after they ar onys come vnto promocion
They gyue them to plesour theyr stody set asyde.
Theyr Auaryce couerynge with fayned deuocion.
Yet dayly they preche: and haue great derysyon
Against the rude Laymen: and al for Couetyse.
Though theyr owne Conscience be blynded wt that vyce.
But if I durst trouth playnely vtter and expresse.
This is the special cause of this Inconuenyence.
That greatest foles, and fullest of lewdnes
Hauynge least wyt: and symplest Science
Ar fyrst promoted: and haue greatest reuerence
For if one can flater, and bere a hawke on his Fyst
He shalbe made Person of Honyngton or of Clyst.
But he that is in Stody ay ferme and diligent.
And without al fauour prechyth Chrystys lore
Of al the Comontye nowe adayes is sore shent.
And by Estates thretened to Pryson oft therfore.
Thus what auayle is it, to vs to Stody more:
To knowe outher scripture, trouth, wysedom, or vertue
Syns fewe, or none without fauour dare them shewe.
But O noble Doctours, that worthy ar of name:
Consyder our olde faders: note wel theyr diligence:
Ensue ye theyr steppes: obtayne ye such fame,
As they dyd lyuynge: and that by true Prudence.
Within theyr hartys they planted theyr scyence
And nat in plesaunt bokes. But nowe to fewe suche be.
Therefore in this Shyp let them come rowe with me.
The Enuoy of Alexander Barclay Translatour exortynge the foles accloyed
with this vice to amende theyr foly.
Say worthy doctours and Clerkes curious:
What moueth you of Bokes to haue such nomber.
Syns dyuers doctrines throughe way contrarious.
Doth mannys mynde distract and sore encomber.
Alas blynde men awake, out of your slomber
And if ye wyl nedys your bokes multyplye
With diligence endeuer you some to occupye.
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Of euyl Counsellours, Juges and men of lawe.
He that Office hath and hyghe autorite.
To rule a Royalme: as Juge or Counsellour
Which seynge Justice, playne ryght and equyte
Them falsly blyndeth by fauour or rigour
Condemnynge wretches gyltles. And to a Transgressour
For mede shewinge fauour. Suche is as wyse a man
As he that wolde seeth a quycke Sowe in a Pan.
Right many labours nowe, with hyghe diligence
For to be Lawyers the Comons to counsayle.
Therby to be in honour had and in reuerence
But onely they labour for theyr pryuate auayle.
The purs of the Clyent shal fynde hym apparayle.
And yet knowes he neyther lawe good counsel nor Justice.
But speketh at auenture: as men throwe the dyce.
Suche in the Senate ar taken oft to counsayle
With Statis of this and many a other region.
Whiche of theyr maners vnstable ar and frayle
Nought of Lawe Ciuyl knowinge nor Canon.
But wander in derknes clerenes they haue none.
O noble Rome thou gat nat thy honours
Nor general Empyre by suche Counsellours.
Whan noble Rome all the worlde dyd gouerne
Theyr councellers were olde men iust and prudent
Whiche egally dyd euery thynge descerne
Wherby theyr Empyre became so excellent
But nowe a dayes he shall haue his intent
That hath most golde, and so it is befall
That aungels worke wonders in westmynster hall.
There cursyd coyne makyth the wronge seme right
The cause of hym that lyueth in pouertye
Hath no defence, tuycion, strength nor myght
Suche is the olde custome of this faculte
That colours oft cloke Justyce and equyte
None can the mater fele nor vnderstonde
Without the aungell be weyghty in his honde
Thus for the hunger of syluer and of golde
Justyce and right is in captyuyte
And as we se nat gyuen fre, but solde
Nouther to estates, nor sympell comonte
And though that many lawyers rightwysnes be
Yet many other dysdayne to se the ryght
And they ar suche as blynde Justycis syght
There is one and other alleged at the barre
And namely suche as chrafty were in glose
Upon the lawe: the clyentis stande afarre
Full lytell knowynge howe the mater goose
And many other the lawes clene transpose
Folowynge the example, of lawyers dede and gone
Tyll the pore Clyentis be etyn to the bone
It is not ynough to conforme thy mynde
Unto the others faynyd opynyon
Thou sholde say trouthe, so Justyce doth the bynde
And also lawe gyueth the commyssyon
To knowe hir, and kepe hir without transgressyon
Lyst they whome thou hast Juged wrongfully
Unto the hye Juge for vengeaunce on the crye.
Perchaunce thou thynkest that god taketh no hede
To mannes dedys, nor workes of offence
Yes certaynly he knowes thy thought and dede
No thynge is secrete, nor hyd from his presence
Wherefore if thou wylt gyde the by prudence
Or thou gyue Jugement of mater lesse or more
Take wyse mennys reade and good counsayle before
Loke in what Balance, what weyght and what mesure
Thou seruest other. for thou shalt serued be
With the same after this lyfe I the ensure.
If thou ryghtwysly Juge by lawe and equyte
Thou shalt haue presence of goddes hyghe maiestye
But if thou Juge amys: than shall Eacus
(As Poetis sayth) hell Juge thy rewarde discusse
God is aboue and regneth sempiternally.
Whiche shall vs deme at his last Jugement,
And gyue rewardes to echone egally
After suche fourme as he his lyfe hath spent
Than shall we them se whome we as violent
Traytours: haue put to wronge in worde or dede
And after our deserte euen suche shall be our mede
There shall be no Bayle nor treatynge of maynpryse
Ne worldly wysdome there shall no thynge preuayle
There shall be no delayes vntyll another Syse
But outher quyt, or to infernall Gayle.
Ill Juges so iuged, Lo here theyr trauayle
Worthely rewarded in wo withouten ende.
Than shall no grace be graunted ne space to amende.
The Enuoy of Alexander Barclay the translatour.
Therfore ye yonge Studentes of the Chauncery:
(I speke nat to the olde the Cure of them is past)
Remember that Justyce longe hath in bondage be
Reduce ye hir nowe vnto lybertye at the last.
Endeuer you hir bondes to louse or to brast
Hir raunsome is payde and more by a thousande pounde
And yet alas the lady Justyce lyeth bounde.
Thoughe your fore Faders haue take hir prysoner
And done hir in a Dongeon nat mete for hir degre
Lay to your handes and helpe hir from daungere
And hir restore vnto hir lybertye
That pore men and monyles may hir onys se
But certaynly I fere lyst she hath lost hir name
Or by longe prysonment shall after euer be lame.
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Of Auaryce or Couetyse and prodygalyte.
Ye that ar gyuen ouer moche to Couetyse
Come nere, a place is here for you to dwel
Come nere ye wastfull people in lyke wyse
Youre rowme shall be hye in the Topcastell
Ye care for no shame, for heuen nor for hell
Golde is your god, ryches gotten wrongfully
Ye dame your soule, and yet lyue in penury.
He that is besy euery day and houre
Without mesure, maner, or moderacion
To gather riches and great store of treasoure
Therof no ioy takinge, confort nor consolacion.
He is a Fole: and of blynde and mad opynyon
For that which he getteth and kepeth wrongfully
His heyre often wasteth moche more vnthryftely.
While he here lyueth in this lyfe caduke and mortal.
Ful sore he laboureth: and oft hungry gothe to bed
Sparinge from hymselfe: for hym that neuer shal
After do hym goode. thoughe he were harde bested.
Thus is this Couetous wretche so blyndly led
By the fende that here he lyueth wretchydly
And after his deth damned eternally.
There wandreth he in dolour and derknes
Amonge infernall flodes tedyous and horryble
Let se what auayleth than all his ryches
Ungracyously gotyne, his paynes ar terryble
Than wolde he amende but it is inpossyble
In hell is no order nor hope of remedy
But sorowe vpon sorowe, and that euerlastyngly.
Yet fynde I another vyce as bad as this
Whiche is the vyce of prodygalyte
He spendyth all in ryot and amys
Without all order, pursuynge pouertye
He lyketh nat to lyue styll in prosperite
But all and more he wastyth out at large
(Beware the ende) is the leste poynt of his charge.
But of the couetous somwhat to say agayne
Thou art a fole thy soule to sell for riches
Or put thy body to labour or to payne
Thy mynde to fere, thy herte to heuynesse
Thou fole thou fleest no maner cruelnesse
So thou may get money, to make thy heyr a knyght
Thou sleest thy soule where as thou saue it myght
Thou hast no rest thy mynde is euer in fere
Of mysauenture, nor neuer art content
Deth is forgoten, thou carest nat a here
To saue thy soule from infernall punysshement
If thou be dampned, than art thou at thy stent
By thy ryches which thou here hast left behynde
To thy executours, thou shalt small comforte fynde
Theyr custome is to holde fast that they haue
Thy pore soule shall be farthest fro theyr thought
If that thy carkes be brought onys in the graue
And that they haue thy bagges in handes cought
What say they, than (by god the man had nought)
Whyle he here lyuyd he was to lyberall
Thus dampned is thy soule, thy ryches cause of all
Who wyll denay but it is necesary
Of riches for to haue plenty and store
To this opynyon I wyll nat say contrary
So it be ordred after holy lore
Whyle thy selfe leuest departe some to the pore
With thy owne hande trust nat thy executours
Gyue for god, and god shall sende at all houres
Rede Tullius warkes the worthy Oratour.
And writen shalt thou fynde in right fruteful sentence
That neuer wyseman loued ouer great honour.
Nor to haue great riches put ouer great diligence
But onely theyr mynde was set on Sapience
And quyetly to lyue in Just symplycite.
For in greatest honour is greatest ieoperdye.
He that is symple, and on the grounde doth lye
And that can be content with ynoughe or suffisaunce
Is surer by moche than he that lyeth on hye.
Nowe vp nowe downe vnsure as a Balaunce.
But sothly he that set wyll his plesance
Onely on wysdom and styl therfore labour.
Shal haue more goode than all erthly tresour.
Wysdom techeth to eschewe al offence.
Gydynge mankynde the ryght way to vertue.
But of couetyse Comys all Inconuenyence.
It cawseth man of worde to be vntrue.
Forswerynge and falshode doth it also ensue.
Brybery and Extorcion, murder and myschefe.
Shame is his ende: his lyuyinge is reprefe.
By couetyse Crassus brought was to his ende.
By it the worthy Romayns lost theyr name.
Of this one yl a thousand ylles doth descende.
Besyde enuy, Pryde, wretchydnes and Shame.
Crates the Philosopher dyd Couetyse so blame:
That to haue his mynde vnto his stody fre.
He threwe his Tresour all hole into the see.
But shortly to conclude. Both bodely bondage.
And gostly also: procedeth of this couetyse.
The soule is damned the body hath damage
As hunger, thyrst, and colde with other preiudice.
Bereft of the ioyes of heuenly Paradyse.
For golde was theyr god and that is left behynde
Theyr bodyes beryed the soule clene out of mynde
The Enuoy of Alexander Barclay translatour.
Therefore thou couetouse thou wretch I speke to the.
Amende thy selfe ryse out of this blyndenes.
Content the wyth ynoughe for thy degre.
Dam nat thy soule by gatheringe frayle riches
Remembre this is a Uale of wretchednes.
Thou shalt no rest nor dwellynge place here fynde.
Depart thou shalt and leue it al behynde.
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