Part 33

Of broken warkis[1685] wrought many a goodly thyng, In castyng, in turnynge, in florisshyng of flowris, With burris rowth[1686] and bottons surffillyng,[1687] In nedill wark raysyng byrdis in bowris,[1688] With vertu enbesid all tymes and howris; And truly of theyr bownte thus were they bent To worke me this chapelet by goode aduysemente.[1689]

_Occupacyon to Skelton._

Beholde and se in your aduertysement How theis ladys and gentylwomen all For your pleasure do there endeuourment, 810 And for your sake how fast to warke[1690] they fall: To your remembraunce wherfore ye must call In goodly wordes plesauntly comprysid, That for them some goodly conseyt be deuysid,

With proper captacyons of beneuolence, Ornatly pullysshid after your faculte, Sith ye must nedis afforce it by pretence Of your professyoun vnto vmanyte,[1691] Commensyng your proces after there degre, To iche of them rendryng thankis commendable, 820 With sentence fructuous and termes couenable.

_Poeta Skelton._[1692]

Auaunsynge my selfe sum thanke[1693] to deserue, I me determynyd for to sharpe my pen, Deuoutly arrectyng my prayer to Mynerue, She to vowchesafe me to informe and ken; To Mercury also hertely prayed I then, Me to supporte, to helpe, and to assist, To gyde and to gouerne my dredfull tremlyng[1694] fist.

As a mariner that amasid[1695] is in a stormy rage, Hardly bestad and[1696] driuen is to hope 830 Of that the tempestuows[1697] wynde wyll aswage, In trust[1698] wherof comforte[1699] his hart doth grope, From the anker he kuttyth[1700] the gabyll rope, Committyth all to God, and lettyth his shyp ryde; So I beseke[1701] Ihesu now to be my gyde.

_To the ryght noble Countes of Surrey._

After all duly ordred obeisaunce, In humble wyse as lowly[1702] as I may, Vnto you, madame, I make reconusaunce,[1703] My lyfe endurynge I shall both wryte and say, Recount, reporte, reherse without delay 840 The passynge bounte of your noble astate, Of honour and worshyp which hath the formar date:

Lyke to Argyua by iust resemblaunce, The noble wyfe of Polimites kynge; Prudent Rebecca, of whome remembraunce The Byble makith; with whos chast lyuynge Your noble demenour is counterwayng, Whos passynge bounte, and ryght noble astate, Of honour and worship it hath the formar date.

The noble Pamphila,[1704] quene of the Grekis londe,[1705] 850 Habillimentis royall founde out industriously; Thamer also wrought with her goodly honde Many diuisis passynge curyously; Whome ye represent and exemplify, Whos passynge bounte, and ryght noble astate, Of honour and worship it hath the formar date.

As dame Thamarys, whiche toke the kyng of Perce, Cirus by name, as wrytith the story; Dame Agrippina also I may reherse Of ientyll corage the perfight[1706] memory; 860 So shall your name endure perpetually, Whos passyng bounte, and ryght noble astate, Of honour and worship it hath the formar date.

_To my lady Elisabeth Howarde._

To be your remembrauncer,[1707] madame, I am bounde, Lyke to Aryna, maydenly of porte, Of vertu and[1708] konnyng the well and perfight grounde; Whome dame Nature, as wele I may reporte, Hath fresshely enbewtid with many a goodly sorte Of womanly feturis, whos florysshyng tender age Is lusty to loke on, plesaunte, demure, and sage: 870

Goodly Creisseid, fayrer than Polexene,[1709] For to enuyue Pandarus appetite; Troilus, I trowe, if that he had you sene, In you he wolde haue set his hole delight: Of all your bewte I suffyce not[1710] to wryght; But, as I sayd, your florisshinge tender age Is lusty to loke on, plesaunt, demure, and sage.

_To my lady Mirriell Howarde._

Mi litell lady I may not[1711] leue behinde, But do her[1712] seruyce nedis now I must; Beninge, curteyse, of ientyll harte and mynde, 880 Whome fortune and fate playnly haue discust Longe to enioy plesure, delyght, and lust: The enbuddid blossoms of[1713] roses rede of hew With lillis[1714] whyte your bewte doth renewe.

Compare you I may to Cidippes, the mayd, That of Aconcyus whan she founde the byll In her bosome, lorde, how[1715] she was afrayd! The ruddy shamefastnes in her vysage fyll, Whiche maner of abasshement became her not yll; Right so, madame, the roses redde of hew 890 With lillys whyte your bewte dothe renewe.

_To my lady Anne Dakers of the Sowth._

Zeuxes,[1716] that enpicturid fare Elene the quene, You to deuyse his crafte were to seke; And if Apelles your countenaunce had sene, Of porturature which was the famous Greke, He coude not deuyse the lest poynt of your cheke; Princes of yowth, and flowre of goodly porte, Vertu, conyng, solace, pleasure, comforte.[1717]

Paregall in honour vnto Penolepe, That for her trowth is in remembraunce had; 900 Fayre Diianira surmountynge[1718] in bewte; Demure Diana womanly and sad, Whos lusty lokis make heuy hartis glad; Princes of youth, and flowre of goodly porte, Vertu, connyng, solace, pleasure, comforte.[1719]

_To mastres Margery Wentworthe._

With margerain ientyll, The flowre of goodlyhede,[1720] Enbrowdred the mantill Is of your maydenhede.[1721] Plainly I can not[1722] glose; 910 Ye be, as I deuyne, The praty primrose, The goodly columbyne. With margerain iantill, The flowre of goodlyhede, Enbrawderyd the mantyll Is of yowre maydenhede. Benynge, corteise, and meke, With wordes well deuysid; In you, who list to seke, 920 Be vertus well comprysid. With margerain iantill, The flowre of goodlyhede, Enbrawderid the mantill Is of yowr maydenhede.

_To mastres Margaret Tylney._

I you assure, Ful wel I know My besy cure To yow I owe; Humbly and low 930 Commendynge me To yowre bownte. As Machareus Fayre Canace, So I, iwus,[1723] Endeuoure me Yowr name to se It be enrolde, Writtin with golde. Phedra ye may 940 Wele represent; Intentyfe ay And dylygent, No tyme myspent; Wherfore delyght I haue to whryght Of Margarite, Perle orient, Lede sterre[1724] of lyght, Moche relucent; 950 Madame regent I may you call Of vertues[1725] all.

_To maystres Iane Blenner-Haiset._[1726]

What though[1727] my penne wax faynt, And hath smale lust to paint? Yet shall there no restraynt Cause me to cese, Amonge this prese, For to encrese Yowre goodly name. 960 I wyll my selfe applye, Trust[1728] me, ententifly, Yow for to stellyfye; And so obserue That ye ne swarue For to deserue Inmortall fame.[1729] Sith mistres[1730] Iane Haiset[1731] Smale flowres helpt to sett In my goodly chapelet, 970 Therfore I render of her the memory Vnto the legend of fare Laodomi.[1732]

_To maystres Isabell Pennell._

By saynt Mary, my lady, Your mammy and your dady Brought forth a godely babi! My mayden Isabell, Reflaring rosabell, The flagrant camamell; The ruddy rosary, The souerayne rosemary, 980 The praty strawbery; The columbyne, the nepte, The ieloffer well set, The propre vyolet; Enuwyd your[1733] colowre Is lyke the dasy flowre After the Aprill showre; Sterre[1734] of the morow gray, The blossom on the spray, The fresshest flowre of May; 990 Maydenly demure, Of womanhode[1735] the lure; Wherfore I make you sure[1736], It were an heuenly helth, It were an endeles welth, A lyfe for God hymselfe, To here this nightingale, Amonge the byrdes smale, Warbelynge in the vale, Dug, dug, 1000 Iug, iug, Good yere and good luk, With chuk, chuk, chuk, chuk!

_To maystres Margaret Hussey._

Mirry Margaret, As mydsomer flowre, Ientill as fawcoun Or hawke of the towre; With solace and gladnes, Moche mirthe and no madnes, All good and no badnes, 1010 So ioyously, So maydenly, So womanly Her demenyng In euery thynge, Far, far passynge That I can endyght, Or suffyce to wryght Of mirry Margarete, As mydsomer flowre, 1020 Ientyll as fawcoun Or hawke of the towre; As pacient and as styll, And as full of good wyll, As fayre[1737] Isaphill; Colyaunder, Swete pomaunder, Good cassaunder; Stedfast of thought, Wele made, wele wrought; 1030 Far may be sought Erst that[1738] ye can fynde So corteise, so kynde As mirry Margarete[1739], This[1740] midsomer flowre, Ientyll as fawcoun Or hawke of the towre.

_To mastres Geretrude Statham._

Though[1741] ye wer hard hertyd, And I with you thwartid With wordes that smartid, 1040 Yet nowe doutles ye geue me cause To wryte of you this goodli clause, Maistres[1742] Geretrude, With womanhode[1743] endude, With vertu well renwde. I wyll that ye shall be In all benyngnyte Lyke to dame Pasiphe; For nowe dowtles ye geue me cause To wryte of yow this goodly clause, 1050 Maistres Geretrude, With womanhode endude, With vertu well renude. Partly by your councell, Garnisshed with lawrell Was my fresshe coronell; Wherfore doutles ye geue me cause To wryte of you this goodly clause, Maistres Geretrude, With womanhode endude, 1060 With vertu well renude.

_To maystres Isabell[1744] Knyght._

But if I sholde aquyte your kyndnes, Els saye ye myght That in me were grete blyndnes, I for to be so myndles, And cowde not[1745] wryght Of Isabell Knyght. It is not[1746] my custome nor my gyse To leue behynde Her that is bothe womanly[1747] and wyse, 1070 And specyally which glad was to deuyse The menes[1748] to fynde To please my mynde, In helpyng to warke my laurell grene With sylke and golde: Galathea, the made well besene, Was neuer halfe so fayre, as I wene, Whiche was extolde A thowsande folde By Maro, the Mantuan prudent, 1080 Who list to rede; But, and I had leyser competent, I coude shew you[1749] suche a presedent In very dede Howe ye excede.

_Occupacyon to Skelton._

Withdrawe your hande, the tyme passis[1750] fast; Set on your hede this laurell whiche is wrought; Here you[1751] not[1752] Eolus for you blowyth a blaste? I dare wele saye that ye and I be sought: Make no delay, for now ye must be brought 1090 Before my ladys grace, the Quene of Fame, Where ye must breuely answere to your name.

_Skelton Poeta._

Castyng my syght the chambre aboute, To se how duly ich thyng in ordre was, Towarde the dore,[1753] as we were comyng oute, I sawe maister Newton sit with his compas, His plummet, his pensell, his spectacles of[1754] glas, Dyuysynge in pycture, by his industrious wit, Of my laurell the proces euery whitte.

Forthwith vpon this, as it were in a thought, 1100 Gower, Chawcer, Lydgate, theis thre Before remembred, me curteisly[1755] brought Into that place where as they left me, Where all the sayd poetis sat in there degre. But when they sawe my lawrell rychely wrought,[1756] All other besyde were counterfete[1757] they thought

In comparyson of that whiche I ware: Sume praysed the perle, some the stones bryght; Wele was hym that therevpon myght stare; Of this warke[1758] they had so great delyght, 1110 The silke, the golde, the flowris fresshe to syght, They seyd my lawrell was the goodlyest That euer they saw, and wrought it was the best.

In her astate there sat the noble Quene Of Fame: perceyuynge how that I was cum, She wonderyd me thought[1759] at my laurell grene; She loked hawtly, and gaue[1760] on me a glum: Thhere was amonge them no worde[1761] then but mum, For eche man herkynde what she wolde to me[1762] say; Wherof in substaunce I brought this away. 1120

_The Quene of Fame to Skelton._

My frende, sith ye ar before vs[1763] here present To answere vnto this noble audyence, Of that shalbe resonde you[1764] ye must be content; And for as moche as, by the hy[1765] pretence That ye haue now thorow[1766] preemynence Of laureat triumphe,[1767] your place is here reseruyd, We wyll vnderstande how ye haue it deseruyd.

_Skelton Poeta to the Quene of Fame._

Ryght high[1768] and myghty princes of astate, In famous glory all other transcendyng, Of your bounte the accustomable[1769] rate 1130 Hath bene full often and yet is entendyng[1770] To all that to[1771] reason is condiscendyng, But if hastyue[1772] credence by mayntenance of myght Fortune to stande betwene you and the lyght:

But suche euydence I thynke for to[1773] enduce, And so largely to lay for myne indempnite, That I trust[1774] to make myne excuse Of what charge soeuer ye lay ageinst[1775] me; For of my bokis parte ye shall se, Whiche in your recordes, I knowe well, be enrolde, 1140 And so Occupacyon, your regester, me tolde.

Forthwith she commaundid I shulde take my place; Caliope poynted me where I shulde sit: With that, Occupacioun presid in a pace; Be mirry, she sayd, be not[1776] aferde a whit, Your discharge here vnder myne arme is it. So then commaundid she was vpon this To shew her boke; and she sayd, Here it is.

_The Quene of Fame to Occupacioun._

Yowre boke[1777] of remembrauns we will now that ye rede; If ony[1778] recordis in noumbyr can be founde, 1150 What Skelton hath compilid and wryton in dede Rehersyng by ordre, and what is the grownde, Let se now for hym how ye can expounde; For in owr courte, ye wote wele, his name can not[1779] ryse But if he wryte oftenner than ones or twyse.

_Skelton Poeta._

With that of the boke losende were the claspis: The margent was illumynid all with golden railles And byse, enpicturid with gressoppes and waspis, With butterfllyis and fresshe pecoke taylis, Enflorid with flowris and slymy snaylis; 1160 Enuyuid picturis well towchid and quikly; It wolde haue made a man hole that had be ryght sekely,

To beholde how it was garnysshyd and bounde, Encouerde ouer with golde of tissew fyne; The claspis and bullyons were worth a thousande pounde; With balassis and charbuncles the borders did shyne; With _aurum musicum_ euery other lyne Was wrytin: and so she did her spede, Occupacyoun, inmediatly[1780] to rede.

_Occupacyoun redith and expoundyth sum parte of Skeltons bokes and baladis with ditis of plesure, in as moche as it were to longe a proces to reherse all[1781] by name that he hath compylyd, &c._

[Sidenote: Honor est benefactivæ operationis signum: Aristotiles. Diverte a malo, et fac bonum: Pso. Nobilis est ille quem nobilitat sua virtus: Cassianus. Proximus ille Deo qui scit ratione tacere: Cato. Mors ultima linea rerum: Horat.]

Of your oratour and poete laureate 1170 Of Englande, his workis[1782] here they begynne: _In primis_ the Boke of Honorous Astate; Item the Boke how men shulde fle synne; Item Royall Demenaunce worshyp to wynne;[1783] Item the Boke to speke well or be styll; Item to lerne you to[1784] dye when ye wyll;

[Sidenote: Virtuti omnia parent: Salust. Nusquam tuta fides: Virgilius. Res est soliciti plena timoris amor: Ovid. Si volet[1785] usus, quem penes, &c.: Horace.]

Of Vertu also the souerayne enterlude; The Boke of the Rosiar; Prince Arturis Creacyoun; The False Fayth that now goth, which dayly is renude; Item his Diologgis of Ymagynacyoun; 1180 Item Antomedon[1786] of Loues Meditacyoun; Item New Gramer in Englysshe compylyd; Item Bowche[1787] of Courte, where Drede was begyled;

[Sidenote: Non est timor Dei ante oculos eorum: Psalmo. Concedat laurea linguæ: Tullius. Fac cum consilio, et in æternum non peccabis: Salamon.]

His commedy, Achademios callyd by name; Of Tullis Familiars the translacyoun; Item Good Aduysement, that brainles doth blame; The Recule ageinst Gaguyne of the Frenshe nacyoun; Item the Popingay, that hath in commendacyoun Ladyes and gentylwomen suche as deseruyd, And suche as be counterfettis they be reseruyd; 1190

[Sidenote: Non mihi sit modulo rustica papilio: Vates. Dominare in virtute tua: Pso. Magnificavit eum in conspectu regum: Sapient. Fugere pudor, verumque fidesque: In quorum subiere locum fraudesque, dolique, Insidiæque, et vis, et amor sceleratus habendi: Ovid. Filia Babylonis misera: Psalmo.]

And of Soueraynte a noble pamphelet; And of Magnyfycence a notable mater, How Cownterfet Cowntenaunce of the new get With Crafty Conueyaunce dothe smater and flater, And Cloked Collucyoun is brought in to clater With Courtely Abusyoun; who pryntith it wele in mynde Moche dowblenes of the worlde therin he may fynde;

Of manerly maistres Margery[1788] Mylke and Ale; To her he wrote many maters of myrthe; Yet, thoughe I[1789] say it, therby lyith a tale, 1200 For Margery wynshed, and breke her hinder girth; Lor,[1790] how she made moche of her gentyll birth! With, Gingirly, go gingerly! her tayle was made of hay; Go she neuer so gingirly, her honesty is gone away;

[Sidenote: De nihilo nihil fit: Aristotiles. Le plus displeysant pleiser puent.]

Harde to make ought of that is nakid nought; This fustiane maistres and this giggisse gase, Wonder is to wryte what wrenchis she wrowght, To face out her foly with a midsomer mase; With pitche she patchid her pitcher shuld not[1791] crase; It may wele ryme, but shroudly it doth accorde, 1210 To pyke out honesty of suche a potshorde:

_Patet per versus._

[Sidenote: Nota.]

_Hinc puer hic[1792] natus; vir conjugis hinc spoliatus_ _Jure thori; est fœtus Deli de sanguine cretus;_ _Hinc magis extollo, quod erit puer alter Apollo;_ _Si quæris qualis? meretrix castissima talis;_ _Et relis, et ralis, et reliqualis._ _A good herynge of thes olde talis;_ _Fynde no mo suche fro[1793] Wanflete to Walis._

_Et reliqua omelia[1794] de diversis tractatibus._

[Sidenote: Apostolus: Non habemus hic civitatem manentem, sed futuram perquærimus. Notat bellum Cornubiense, quod in campestribus et in patentioribus vastisque solitudinibus prope Grenewiche gestum est.]

Of my ladys grace at the contemplacyoun, Owt of Frenshe into Englysshe prose, 1220 Of Mannes Lyfe the Peregrynacioun, He did translate, enterprete, and disclose; The Tratyse of Triumphis of the Rede Rose, Wherein many storis ar breuely contayned That vnremembred longe tyme remayned;

[Sidenote: Erudimini qui judicatis terram: Pso.]

The Duke of Yorkis creauncer whan Skelton was, Now Henry the viij. Kyng of Englonde,[1795] A tratyse he deuysid and browght it to pas, Callid _Speculum Principis_, to bere in his honde, Therin to rede, and to vnderstande 1230 All the demenour of princely astate, To be our Kyng, of God preordinate;

[Sidenote: Quis stabit mecum adversus operantes iniquitatem? Pso. Arrident melius seria picta jocis: In fabulis Æsopi.]

Also the Tunnynge of Elinour Rummyng, With Colyn Clowt, Iohnn Iue, with Ioforth Iack; To make suche trifels it asketh sum konnyng, In honest myrth parde requyreth no lack; The whyte apperyth the better for the black, And after conueyauns as the world goos, It is no foly to vse the Walshemannys hoos;

[Sidenote: Implentur veteris Bacchi pinguisque ferinæ: Virgilius. Aut prodesse volunt aut delectare poetæ: Horace.]

The vmblis of venyson, the botell[1796] of wyne, 1240 To fayre maistres Anne that shuld haue be sent, He wrate[1797] therof many a praty lyne, Where it became, and whether it went, And how that it was wantonly spent; The Balade also of the Mustarde Tarte; Suche problemis to paynt it longyth to his arte;

[Sidenote: Adam, Adam, ubi es? Genesis. Resp. Ubi nulla requies, ubi nullus ordo, sed sempiternus horror inhabitat: Job.]

Of one Adame all a knaue, late dede and gone,— _Dormiat in pace_, lyke a dormows!— He wrate[1798] an Epitaph for his graue stone, With wordes deuoute and sentence agerdows,[1799] 1250 For he was euer ageynst Goddis hows, All his delight was to braule and to barke Ageynst holy chyrche,[1800] the preste, and the clarke;

[Sidenote: Etenim passer invenit sibi donum: Psalmo.]

Of Phillip Sparow the lamentable fate, The dolefull desteny, and the carefull chaunce, Dyuysed by Skelton after the funerall rate; Yet sum there be therewith that take greuaunce, And grudge[1801] therat with frownyng countenaunce;