Chapter 3

¶ Suffraunce in trouble wyth Innocensy ¶ Clennes contynence and virgynyte ¶ Kyndnes reuerence {with} curteysy ¶ Content & pleased wyth pyteous pouerte ¶ Entendyng wel mynystryng equyte ¶ Twene ryght & wrong hole indyfferently ¶ And labouryng the seruyse of god to multyply

¶ Refuse of ryches & worldly vaynglory ¶ Perfeccyon wyth perfyght contemplacyon ¶ Relygyon professyon wel kept in memory ¶ Verry drede of god wyth holy predycacyon ¶ Celestyall sapyence wyth gostly inspyracyon ¶ Grace was the guyde of al this meyne ¶ Whome folowed konnyng {with} his genealogy

¶ That is to say gramer and Sophystry ¶ Phylosophy naturall logyke and Rythoryke ¶ Arsmetrycke geometry wyth astronomye ¶ Canon and Cyuyll melodyous musyke ¶ Noble Theology and corporal physyke ¶ Moralyzayson of holy scrypture ¶ Profound poetry and drawy{n}g of pycture

¶ Thyse folowed connyng & thyd{er} wyth hin cam ¶ Wyth many one mo offryng her seruyse ¶ To Vertu at that nede but notwythsto{n}dy{n}g than ¶ Some he refused and sayd in nowyse ¶ They shuld wyth hym go & as I coud auyse ¶ Thyse wore her names fyrst Nygro{m}mancy ¶ Geomansy magyke and glotony

¶ Adryomansy Ornomancy {with} pyromancy ¶ Fysenomy also and pawmestry ¶ And al her sequeles yf I shal not lye ¶ Yet connyng prayed Vertu he wold not deny ¶ Theym for to know nor dysdeyn his eye ¶ On hem to loke wherto Vertu graunted ¶ How be it in his werres ge wold not they hau{n}ted

¶ So had they connyng lyghly to depart ¶ From Vertu his feld and they seyng this ¶ By comyn assent hyred them a carte ¶ And made hem be caryed toward Vyce Iwys. ¶ Fro thens forth to serue hy{m} this wold not mys ¶ For loth they were to be maysterles ¶ In stede of the better the worse there they ches

¶ But forth to relese al the remenaunt Original has ¶ Of pety capteins that wyth Vertu were rrmenaunt ¶ Moderate dyet and wysdom auenant instead of ¶ Euen weyght and mesure ware of contagyo{us} ge{re} remenaunt ¶ Loth to offend and louyng ay to lere Original has ¶ Worshyp and profyte {with} myrth in maner ann instead ¶ Thyse pety capteyns wyth Vertu were in fere of and

¶ Comons hem folowed a grete multitude ¶ But in came pyson to that other syde ¶ I trow there was not brefely to conclude. ¶ The .x. man that batayl to abyde. ¶ Yet neuertheles I shal not from you hyde. ¶ what maner people they were & of what secte ¶ As nere as my wyt therto wyll me derect.

¶ There were noble and famous doctours. ¶ Example yeuers of lyuyng gracyous. ¶ Perpetuel prestes and dyscrete confessours. ¶ Of holy scrypture declarers fructuous. ¶ Rebukers of syn & myscheues odyous. ¶ Fysshers of soules & louers of clennes. ¶ Dyspysers of veyn and worldly rychesse.

¶ Peasyble prelatys Iustycyal gouernours. ¶ Founders of chyrches wyth mercyfull peres. ¶ Reformers of wrong of her progenytours ¶ On peynfull pore pyteous compassyoners ¶ well menyng marchau{n}tes {with} trew artefecers ¶ Vyrgyns pure and also Innocentes ¶ Hooly matrones {with} chast contynence

¶ Pylgrymes & palmers {with} trew laborers ¶ Holy heremytes goddys solycytours ¶ Monesteryal monkes & well dysposed freres ¶ Chanons and nonnes feyth p{ro}fessoures ¶ Of worldly people trew coniugatours. ¶ Louers of Cryst Confounders of yll. ¶ And all that to godward yeue her good wyll

¶ Mayntenours of ryghte verey penytentes. ¶ Dystroyers of errour causers of vnyte. ¶ Trew actyf lyuers that set her ententis ¶ The dedis to performe of mercy and pyte ¶ Contemplatyf people that desyre to be. ¶ Salytary seruauntis vnto god alone. ¶ Rather the{n} to habou{n}d in rychesses echone.

¶ Thyse wyth many mo than I reherce can ¶ were come thyder redy that batayl to abyde. ¶ And take such part as fyl to Vertu than ¶ Vyce to ouerco[m]e they hoped for al his pride Original has ¶ Al though he had more people on his syde uoerco[m]e ¶ For the men that Vertu had were ful sure. instead of ¶ To trust on at nede & connyng in armure ouerco[m]e

¶ Macrocosme was the name of the feld ¶ where this grete batayll was set for to be ¶ In the myddys therof stode co{n}syence & beheld ¶ whyche of hem shold be brought to captyuyte ¶ Of that noble tryu{m}ph Iuge wold he be ¶ Synderesys sate hy{m} wythin closed as a park ¶ {with} his table in his honde her dedys to marke.

¶ To come in to the feld were hygh wayes .v. ¶ Fre to both partyes large brode and wyde ¶ Vertu wold not tari but highed hy{m} thyd{er} bliue ¶ Lest he were by vyce deceyued at that tyde ¶ Long out of the feld loth was he to abyde ¶ In auenture that he out of it were kept. For tha{n} wold he haue thou{gh}t he had{e} to long slept

¶ In this mene tyme whyle Vertu th{us} p{ro}ceded ¶ For hy{m} & his people the feld for to wynne. ¶ He charged euery man by grace to be guyded ¶ And al that euer myght {the} feld to enter ynne. ¶ In all that season went orygynal synne. ¶ To let Vyce know how Baptym {with} his hoste. Had entred Macrocosme & serched euery cooste

¶ A sayd Vyce I se well it is tyme. ¶ Baners to dysplay & standardes to auaunce. ¶ Al most to long haddest {thou} taryed cryme. ¶ To let vs haue knolege of this purueyaunce. ¶ yet I trow I shal lerne hem a new daunce. ¶ Wherfore I commaund you al {with}out delaye ¶ Toward the felde draw in all the hast ye may

¶ Than sayd {the} god Pluto {that} al men my{gh}t here ¶ Vyce I the charge as thou wylt eschew. ¶ Our heuyous Indy{n}gnacyo{n} {thou} draw not arere ¶ But put {the} forth boldly to ouerthrowe Vertu. ¶ In fayth quod Attropos & I shal after sew / ¶ For yf he escape oure hondys this day. ¶ I tell you my seruyse haue lost for ay.

¶ Forth than rode Vyce {with} al his hole strength ¶ On his stede serpentyne as i told you byfore. ¶ The ost that hy{m} folowed was of a grete le{n}gth. ¶ Amo{n}g who{m} were penou{n}s & g[u]yt{er}s mani a scor{e} The next ¶ Of hys pety capteynes he made many a kni{gh}t line is ¶ For they shuld not fle but manly {with} him fight missing from the ¶ He doubed Falshod with Dyssymylacyon. original ¶ Symony Vsury Wrong and Rybawdy. The missing line reads: ¶ Malyce Deceyt Lye wythout Extorcyon. But as he went thederward ¶ Periury Dyffydence and Apostasy. I shall tell you more ¶ Wyth boldnes in yl to bere hym company. ¶ Thyse .xiiii. knyghtes made vyce that daye. ¶ To wyn her spores they sayd they wold assay

¶ In lyke wyse Vertu doubed on his syde: ¶ Of pety capteyns other fourtene. ¶ Whyche made her auou wyth hym to abyde: ¶ Her spores wold they wy{n} {that} day shold it be sen{e} Original has ¶ Thyse wore her names yf it be as I wene Hor instead ¶ Feyth Hope & Mercy Trouth & also Ryght. of Her ¶ {with} Resystence of wronge a full hardy wyghte

¶ Confessyon Contrycyon wyth Satysfaction ¶ Verrey drede of God Performy{n}g of penau{n}ce ¶ Perfeccyon Connyng and Good dyspocision ¶ And all knyt to Vertu they were by alyauns ¶ Wherfore to hym they made assuraunce. ¶ That feld to kepe as long as they myght. ¶ And in his quarel agayn Vyce to fyght.

¶ The lord of Macrocosme & rewler of {the} fee ¶ Was called Frewyll chaunger of the chau{n}ce: ¶ To whome Vertu sent embassatours thre ¶ Reson dyscresyon & good reme{m}brau{n}ce. ¶ And prayed hy{m} be fauorable his honoure to e{n}ha{n}s ¶ For but he had his fauour at {the} poynt of nede· ¶ He stood in gret doute he coude not lightly spede.

¶ In lyke wyse Vyce embassatours thre. ¶ For his party vnto Frewyll sent. ¶ Temptacyon foly & sensualyte. ¶ Prayng hy{m} of fauour that he wolde assent. ¶ To hy{m} as he wolde at his co{m}maundement. ¶ Haue hy{m} eftsones whan he lyst to call. ¶ On hy{m} for ony thy{n}g {that} afterward myght fall.

¶ Answere yaue he none to neyther party. ¶ Saue oonli he sayd {the} batayll wolde he se ¶ To wete whiche of hy{m} shold haue {the} vyctory. ¶ Hit hy{n}g in his balau{n}ce {the} ambyguyte. ¶ He sayd he wolde not restrayne his lyberte. ¶ Whan he come where sorow shold awake. ¶ Than it shold be know what part he wyl take

¶ Whan Vertu & Vyce be her ambassatours. ¶ Knew of this answere they stood in gret doute. Neuertheles they seyd they wold e{n}dure tho shours ¶ And make an ende shortly of {that} they we{n}t aboute. ¶ Soo forth came Vyce {with} all his grete route. ¶ Er he came at {the} felde he sent yet priuely. ¶ Sensualyte before in maner of a spy.

¶ Whiche sewe {the} felde {with} his vnkynde seede. ¶ That caused Vertu after mykyll woo to feele ¶ For therof grewe nought but all oonly weede. ¶ Whiche made the grounde as sleper as an yele. ¶ He went ayene to vice & tolde hym euery dele. ¶ How he had done and bad hym come a way. ¶ For he had so purueyde {that} vyce sholde haue {the} day

¶ Soo as it happed at {that} felde they mete. ¶ Frewyll vertu and vice as tripartite. ¶ Saaf vertu a litil before the felde had gete. ¶ And ellis his aua{n}tage forsoth had be ful lyght ¶ Not for then encombred so was neuer wyght. ¶ As vertu & his men were with the ranke wede ¶ That in {the} felde grew of sensualitees sede

¶ But as soone as vyce of vertu had a syght. ¶ He gan swage gonnes as he had be woode ¶ That heryng vertu co{m}maunded euery wyght ¶ To pauyce hym vnder the sygne of {the} rode. ¶ And bad he{m} not drede but kepe styll where thy stode. ¶ It was but a shour shold sone co{n}fou{n}de ¶ wherfore he co{m}mau{n}ded the{m} sta{n}d & kepe her grou{n}d

¶ And whan vyce cam nerer to the felde. ¶ He callyd sore for bowes & bad hem shote faste ¶ But vertu & hys meyny bare of with {the} sheld. ¶ Of the blyssyd Trynyte ay tyll shot was past. ¶ And wha{n} shot was done vyce cam forth at last. ¶ Purposyng the felde wyth assaute to wyn. ¶ But v{er}tu kept it long he myght not ent{er} theryn.

¶ All that tyme Frewyll stode & hym bethought. ¶ To which he my{gh}t leue & what p{ar}t he wold take. ¶ At last sensualite had hy{m} so fer brought. ¶ That he sayd playnly he v{er}tu wold forsake. ¶ And in vyce hys quarell all his power make. Nota Iwis quod reason {that} is not for the beste. ¶ Noforse sayd frewyll I wyll do as my lyst.

¶ Vertu was full heuy when he see frewyll ¶ Take part with vyce but yet neuerthelesse. ¶ He dyde that he myght the felde to kepe styll. ¶ Tyll vyce with frewyll so sore gan hy{m} oppresse. ¶ That he was constrayned clerely by duresse. Original has ¶ A lytyll tyne abacke to make abew retret. constranyed ¶ All thyng consydered hit was the best feet. instead of constrayned ¶ Fyrst to remembre how vyce parte was. ¶ Ten ayen one strenger by lyklynesse. ¶ And than how frewyll was with hym alas. ¶ Whoo coude deme vertu but in heuynesse. ¶ Moreouer to thynke how that slyper grasse. ¶ That of sensualyte hys onkynde seede grew. ¶ Vnder foot in standyng encombred vertew

¶ Yet notwitstondyng vertue his men all. ¶ Nobelly theym bare and faught myghtyly. ¶ How be it {the} sleper grasse made many of he{m} fall. ¶ And from thense in maner departe sodenly. ¶ That seyng vyce his hoost began to shout & cry. ¶ And sayd on in Pluto name on & all is oure· ¶ For this day shal Vyce be made a conquerour.

¶ Thus Vertu was by myght of vyce & Frewyll ¶ Dryuen out of the feld it was the more pyte· ¶ How by it yet Baptym kept his ground styll. ¶ And {with} hym abode feyth hope & vnyte. ¶ And konnynge also {with} a grete meyne. ¶ Confessyon contrycyon were redy at her hond. ¶ And Satysfaction Vyce to wythstond.

¶ But al the tyme whyle Vertu was away. ¶ A my{gh}ty conflycte kept they {with} Vycys rout. ¶ And yet neuertheles for al that grete afray. ¶ Hope stod vpryght & feyth wold neuer lout ¶ And euermor{e} sayd Baptym syres put no dout. ¶ Vertu shal return & haue his entent. ¶ This feld shal be ours or let me be shent.

¶ And whyl thyse pety captey{n}s sustend th{us} {the} feld ¶ Wyth Vertu his reward come good p{er}seuerauns ¶ An hugy my{gh}ty hoost & whan he beheld. ¶ How Vertu hym withdrew he toke dysplesau{n}s. ¶ And wha{n} he to hy{m} cam he sayd ye shal your cha{n}s ¶ Take as it fallyth wherfore returne ye must. Original has ¶ Yet ones for your sake {with} Vyce shal I Iust. fallyrh instead of ¶ Alas that euer ye shold lese your honour. fallyth ¶ And therwyth also {the} hygh p{er}petuel crown. ¶ Which is for you kept in the celestyal tour. ¶ Wherfore be ye called chrystys champyon. ¶ How is it that ye haue noo compassyone. ¶ On baptyme feyth & hope konnyng & vnite. ¶ That sta{n}d so hard bestad & fyght as ye may see.

¶ All the tresour erthely vnder {the} fyrmame{n}t ¶ That euer was made of goddys creacyon. ¶ To reward theym euenly were not equyualent. ¶ For her noble labour in his affleccyon. ¶ Wherfore take vpon you your Iurisdyccyon ¶ Rescu yonder knyghtes & recontynu fyght. ¶ And els a dew your crown for al your gret my{gh}t

¶ Vith these & suche wordys as I haue you tolde ¶ By good perseueraunce vttred in this wyse. ¶ Vertu hym remembred & gan to vexe bolde. ¶ And sayd yeue trew knyghtis to rescu I auyse ¶ Let vs no lengar tary from this entrepryse. ¶ Agayn to {the} felde soo Vertu retourned. ¶ That caused he{m} be mery {that} lo{n}g afore had morned

¶ Auaunt baner q{uo}d he in {the} name of Iesu ¶ And with {that} his people set vp a gret shoute. ¶ And cryed with a loude voce a Vertu a Vertu. ¶ Then began Vyce his hoost for to loke a boute. ¶ But I trow p{er}seuerau{n}ce was not long withoute ¶ He bathed his swerd in his foos blood. ¶ The boldest of hem all not ones hy{m} withstoode.

¶ Constau{n}ce hym folowed & brought hy{m} his spere ¶ But when p{er}seuerau{n}ce saw Vyce on his stede. ¶ No man coude hym let tyll he came there. ¶ For to byd hym ryde I trow it was no nede. ¶ All Vertu his oost prayed for his good spede. ¶ Agayn Vyce he rode with his grete shaft. ¶ And hym ouerthrew for all his sotyll craft.

¶ That seyng Frewill came to conscyence. ¶ And gan hym to repente {that} he with hym had be. ¶ Prayeng hym of cou{n}sell for his grete offence. ¶ That he agayn Vertu had made his arme. ¶ What was best to doo to humylyte: ¶ Q{uo}d conscyence must {thou} go so he hym thyder sent ¶ Dysguysed {that} he were not knowen as he wente.

¶ And whan he thyder came humylyte hym toke. ¶ A token & bad hym go to conffessyon. ¶ And shew hym his mater with a peteous loke ¶ Whiche done he hym sent to contrycyon. ¶ And fro thensforthe to satysfaccyon. ¶ Thus fro poost to pyler was he made to dau{n}ce. ¶ And at the last he went forthe to penau{n}ce.

¶ But now for to tel you whe{n} Vyce was ou{er}throw ¶ A gret part of his oost about hym gan resorte. ¶ But he was so febyll {that} he coude noman know. ¶ And whan they se {that} they knew no comforte. ¶ But caryed hym away be a preuy porte. ¶ And as they caryed dyspeyre with hy{m} met. ¶ With Vyce his rewarde he cam theym for to fet

¶ Then came there downe goodly ladyes tweyn. ¶ From the hyghe heuen aboue the fyrmamente. ¶ And sayd the gret Alpha & Oo moost souereyn. ¶ For that nobell tryumphe had hem thyder sent. ¶ One of hem to dryue Vyce to grete tormente. ¶ With a fyry strong {that} she bare in her hande. ¶ And so he dede dyspere & all his hole bande.

¶ The name of this lady was called Prestyence. ¶ She neuer left Vyce ne none {that} wolde hy{m} folow. ¶ Tyll they were co{m}mytted by {the} dyuyne sentence. ¶ All to payne perpetuell & Infynyte sorow. ¶ Right wysnes went to se {that} noma{n} shold he{m} borow. ¶ Th{us} al entreted sharpely were they tyll Cerber{us} ¶ Had hem beshut within his gates tenebr{us}.

¶ And all {the} whyle {that} Prestye{n}ce {with} her scorge smert ¶ To rewarde Vyce gan her thus occupy. ¶ With all his hole bende after her desert. ¶ That other gloryo{us} lady {that} came fro heue{n} on hy. ¶ Hauyng in her honde the palme of vyctory. ¶ Came downe to Vertu & toke hym to {that} p{re}sent. ¶ Sayeng thus that Alpha & Oo hath hym sent.

¶ And as ferre as I ryght coude vnderstonde ¶ That ladyes name was Predestynacyon. ¶ Vertu & his oost she blessyd with her honde. ¶ And in heuyn graunted hem habytacyon. ¶ Whereto eche of hem reseruyd was a crowne. ¶ She sayd in token that they enherytours. ¶ Of the glory were & gracious conquerours.

¶ Wych done the ladyes ayen to gyder met ¶ And towarde heuen vp they gan to fly ¶ Embraced in armes as they had ben knyt. ¶ Togyd{er} {with} a gyrdyl but so sodenly. ¶ As {the}y wer{e} vanysshyd saw I neu{er} thy{n}g {with} ey. ¶ And anone Vertu wyth al his company. ¶ Kneled dou{n}n & tha{n}ked god of {that} vyctory.

¶ Yet had I forget whan Vyce was ouerthrow. ¶ To haue told you hou many of Vycys hoost. ¶ Gan to seke pease & darked dou{n}n ful low. ¶ And besought mercy what so euer it coste. ¶ To be her mene to Vertu els {the}y we{re} but lost. ¶ And some in lyke wyse to feyth & hope sought. ¶ What to do for pease they sayd they ne rou{gh}te.

¶ Some also Baptym sewed to be her mene. ¶ Som to one som to other as thei he{m} gete my{gh}te. ¶ But al to Confessyon we{n}t to make he{m} clene ¶ And as {the}y came to co{n}sye{n}ce he they{m} bad go ly{gh}te. ¶ Er tha{n} old attropes of he{m} had a sy{gh}t. ¶ For yf he so theym toke lost they we{re} for euer ¶ He sayd Vyce to forsake better late thy{n} neuer.

¶ Som eke for socour drew to circu{m}cision. ¶ But by hy{m} coud they gete but smal fauoure. ¶ For he in that company was had but in derysyo{n} ¶ Neuer{the}lesse to feyth he bad he{m} go laboure. ¶ Prayng they{m} for olde acqueynta{n}ce they{m} socoure ¶ Wel q{uo}d feth for his sake I shal do {that} I may doo ¶ But fyrste for the best way baptym go ye to.

¶ For by hym sonest shal ye recouer grace. ¶ Which shal to Vertu bryng you by processe. ¶ Wherfore in ony wyse loke ye make good face. ¶ And let noman know of your heuynes. ¶ So they were by baptym brou{gh}t out of destres ¶ Turned al to Vertu & whan this was done. ¶ Vertu cu{m}mau{n}ded Frewyl before hym come.

¶ To whom thus he sayd I haue grete merueyl ¶ Ye durst be so bold Vyces party to take. ¶ Who bad you do so & yaue you that counseyl. ¶ Iustly vnto that ye shal me preuy make. ¶ Then sayd Frewyll & swemfully spake. ¶ Knelyng on his kne wyth a chere benygn. Original has ¶ I pray you syr let pyte your eres to me enclyne. benyng instead of ¶ And I shall yow tel the verrey soth of all. benygn ¶ How it was & who made me that way drawe. ¶ For soth sensualyte his p{ro}pre name they call. ¶ A sayd reason then I know wel that felowe. ¶ Wyld he is & wanton of me stant hy{m} none awe. ¶ Is he so q{uo}d Vertu wel he shall be taught. ¶ As a player shuld to draw another draught.

¶ And {with} that came sadnesse wyt his sober chere. ¶ Bryngyng Sensualite beyng ful of thought. ¶ And sayd that he had take hym prysonere. ¶ A welcome sayd Vertu now haue I {that} I sou{gh}t. ¶ Blessed be the good lord as {thou} wold it is nought ¶ Why arte {thou} so wanton he sayd for shame. ¶ Or {thou} go at large {thou} shalt be more tame.

But sto{n}d a part a whyle tyl I haue spoke a word ¶ Wyth Frewyl a lytyl & then shalte {thou} knowe. ¶ What shalbe thy fynau{n}ce & then he sayd in bord ¶ Vnto Frewyl the bend of your bowe. ¶ Begynnyth to slake but suche as ye haue sowe ¶ Must nedes repe there is none waye. ¶ Notwythstondy{n}g that lette what ye can saye.

¶ What is your habilite me to recompense. ¶ For the grete harme that ye to me haue do. ¶ Forsoth sayd Frewyll in open audyence. ¶ But oonly Macrocosme more haue I not loo. ¶ Take {that} yf it pleyse you I wyl that it be soo. ¶ Yf I may vnderstond ye be my good lorde. ¶ In dede sayd Vertu to that wyll I accorde.

¶ Then made Vertu Reason his leyftenaunte. ¶ And yaue hi{m} a grete charge macrocosme to kepe ¶ That done Sensualite yeld hym recreaunte. ¶ And began for anger bytterly to wepe. ¶ For he demed surely hys sorowe shold not slepe ¶ Then made Vertu Frewyll bayl vnd{er} Reason. ¶ The feld for to ocupy to his behoue that season.

¶ And then sayd Vertu to Sensualyte. ¶ Thou shalt be rewarded for thy besynesse. ¶ Vnder this furme al fragylyte ¶ Shalt {thou} forsake both more and lesse. ¶ And vnd{er} the guydy{n}g {thou} shalt be of sadnesse. ¶ All though it somwhat be agayn thy herte. ¶ Thy Iugements gyuen {thou} shalt it not asterte.

¶ And evyn {with} that came in dame Nature. ¶ Sayeng th{us} to Vertu syr ye do me wronge. ¶ By duresse & constreynt to put this creature. ¶ Gentyll Sensualyte {that} hath me s{er}ued longe. ¶ Clerely from his lyberte & set hym amonge. ¶ They{m} that loue hy{m} not to be her vnd{er}loute. ¶ As it were a cast away or a sho cloute.

¶ And perde ye know well a rewle haue I must ¶ Wythin Macrocosme forsoth I say not nay. Q{uo}d Vertu but se{n}sualyte shal not p{er}form your lust ¶ Lyke as he hath do befor this yf I may. ¶ Therfro hy{m} restreyn sadnesse shal assay. ¶ How be it ye shal haue your hole lyberte. ¶ Wythin Macrocosme as ye haue had fre.

¶ And whan Vertu had to Nature sayd thus ¶ A lytyll tyne his ey castyng hym besyde. ¶ He se in a corner stondyng Morpleus ¶ That hy{m} before warned of {that} berely tyde. ¶ A syrs sayd Vertu yet we must abyde. ¶ Here is a frend of ours may not be forgete. ¶ After his deserte we shall hy{m} entreate

¶ Morple{us} sayd Vertu I tha{n}ke you hertely ¶ For your trew herte & your grete laboure. ¶ That ye lyst to come to me soo redely. ¶ Whan ye vnderstood {the} comy{n}g of that shoure. ¶ I thanke god & you of sauy{n}g of my{n} honour. ¶ Wherfore this preuylege now to you I gra{n}t ¶ That {with}in Macrocosme ye shall haue your hau{n}t

¶ And of fyue posternes {the} keys shall ye kepe. ¶ Lettyng in & out at hy{m} whome ye lyst. ¶ As long as in Macrocosme your fad{er} wyll crepe. ¶ Blere whos ey ye wyll hardely {with} your myst ¶ And kepe your werkes close there as in a chyst ¶ Saaf I wold desyre you spare Pollucyon. For no thy{n}g may me plese {the} sou{n}eth to corrupcyon.