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⸿The booke of the pylgrymage of man.
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⸿The table

Here begynneth a boke in Frenche called le pelry= nage de Lhomme/in latyn peregrinatio humani gene= ris/⁊ in oure Maternal tunge the pylgrymage of man kynd of late drawen and incompendiouce prose cōpoū ded by the reuerent father in god dane william hendred Prioure of the honourable place and pryory of Leomy nystre/And now newly at the specyal commaundemen te of the same Father reuerent I haue compyled the te= nure of the same in Metre comprehended in.xxvi.chap= tours as ensuynge appereth.

⸿The table.

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⸿The table

⸿Here endeth the table

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⸿Prologus

1 PHebus out of gemini his course when he ad= [margin-right-below] (ualyd)
2 ⁊ in þe crab gan take his mansyon.
3 Leo approchynge with coloure unpalyd.
4 Bryght resplendaunte and by exaltacyon.
5 Lyghtly in the stelyferall regyon.
6 His face publyssynge by course naturall.
7 Thetyme of estas his season pryncypall.
8 ⸿Whenne in place of pleasure full royall.
9 I stode beholdyne ferre and nere.
10 Lokynge if Luna by power potencyall.
11 At thapposycion appere wolde clere.
12 Moystnes sursesynge as tyme it were
13 The name of whiche place where I drewe nere.
14 Lallyd is the pryory of lyousmynystre.
15 ⸿Merveylouse moch musynge sōme matter to here
16 Monstryouse in sentence whereby I myght
17 My mynde besy to compounde clere
18 Theffect therof and hit to wryghte
19 A volume I founde that in prose was pyghte.
20 Of scripture by auctorytie grounded.
[?]Un̄ a
21 Abstract and.L.drawen by master hendred.
[?]3.li.u[?]lib9
22 ⸿O famouse prelat with prudence perseueryd.
[?]lina
23 Thy name of god is grounded oonly.
[?]mica
24 For lyke when a henne small crōmys hath gathered
[?]voca
25 Then clokketh she her chekyns hastely
[?]los s
26 They herynge the sounde of breste naturally.
[?]⁊ au
27 Folowe and fede this thynge is credyble.
[?]vocē
28 Bryght so of thy name the formoure syllable.
[?]tris
a.iii a3v
29 ⸿Thou dost accomplysshe and of no parable.
30 Thy mynde settynge but of grete auctorytie.
31 In all thy werkes full cōmendable.
32 Bothe pleasaunte to hyghe and lowe degree
33 Scripture gatherynge ensessauntely.
34 In prose compylynge all and some.
35 Compylynge sens of gostely wysdome.
36 ⸿Lyke as by grete expresse mensyon
37 In the glose recytyth Mathewe.
38 Of heimes the naturall dysposycion.
39 The chaptoure admyttyd vicesimo tercio.
40 Of the scrutacion thou dost right so.
41 The tenure amonge people publysshe ouer all.
42 Of grace and vertue aduocate pryncypall
43 ⸿And for synguler ensample to people uniuersall.
44 Thynge prouyd and approbate appereth in syght.
45 By thy lybrary who so sercheth fynde shall.
46 Gostely frure and pathe to the heuenly lyght.
47 Medycyns sanatysse to suche as haue myght.
[?].j.
48 By grace and connynge to beholde and se.
[?]orw
49 Durynge theyr lyfe the better shall they be.
[?]ex=[?]pec
50 ⸿Thus of thy name the formoure syllable.
[?]n.
51 Firste comprehended of grete vertue is.
[?]er.
52 But yet the secounde is more amyable.
[?]n ti
53 And gretlyer except aboue in celis.
[?]vn-i
54 For drede of synne from man expellys
[?]ecli=.
55 And front all euyll doth hym declyne.
[?]ma
56 Afforsynge to approche operacyons deuyne.
[?]o=[?]bo=[?]in.
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57 ⸿Of drede ferther it is wryten full playne
58 Who dredyth god wyll duely enquyre
[?]Eccl
59 What thynge to his pleasure he may most attayne.
[?]qui t
60 And lyke wyse god graunteth his hole desyre
[?]deum
61 Right so thou kendelyst full kyndly the fyre.
[?]rit q-
62 Unkynde goste burnynge by corrupt synne putrified.
[?]placi
63 The pathe makynge playne to the trynall godhed.
[?]funt
64 ⸿O my grete vertues remayneth in the drede.
65 As in saulter resyteth Dauyd.
66 Auctorysed by scripture for matter in dede.
67 Voluntarem timencium se faciet
68 And so forth yer ferther he procedeth.
69 Solempnely recytynge in the same salme.
70 Beneplacitum est un-o timentes eum.
71 ⸿Lo howe of grace hath god in one.
72 Heime to drede Joyntly Joyned.
73 For whole estate I aske a bowne.
74 To criste abone be longe maynteynyd.
75 In welth with prosperytte to be fusteynyd.
76 So that after the lyfe transytorye.
77 Reigne he maye in the imperyall see.
78 ⸿Nowe to my purpose I wyll me apply.
79 Groundely the prose to peruse and se.
80 Comprehended in the volume that before spake.
81 Entendynge to compyle the sense and it wyll be.
82 In metre roughe wherefore the trynytie
83 Thre perlons in one most of drede.
84 A lowly praye my werke to spede.
⸿Finis prologi.
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⸿Howe man was of.viii.parts made. Ca. primo

1 After thauctorytie of phylozofers exylent.
2 Groundely pused unto a purpose parfyte
3 Our formoure father adam by the father felucent.
4 Was of.viii. parts partytely knyt.
5 As ensuynge appereth who lyste to rede it.
6 Besechynge theym all with humble affeccyon.
7 Of fautes corryptyble to take the correccyon.
8 ⸿First oure father Adam by grete expresmencion.
9 Of [siyme] de terra was create and made
10 Which Joyned the Joynts of his corpus in one
11 Not lyght of metall but heuy and sad.
12 Fat and fulsome and seldome glad.
13 Suche nature hath erth whereof the body.
14 Of mankynde is made as appereth full playnly.
15 ⸿Of the ferefull wawes and water of the see.
16 Made was his blode to renne in euery vayne.
17 Both hye and lowe thorowe out the hole body.
18 Which maketh man wysdom unto hym to attayne
19 With prudens ⁊ psueraunce as philozofers sayne
20 Lo of the see this is the very nature.
21 Mankynde of mynde to make parfyte and sure.
22 ⸿The thirde parte of man I shall do my cure.
23 Playnly to expresse whiche namyd be his Ien.
24 Of the sonne they were made I you ensure
25 Whole power is resplendaunte in the spere celestyn
26 By compasse of the zodyake but what was therin.
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27 Man by that parte shall desyre to apparayle.
28 Hymselfe alwayes to procede unto batayle.
29 ⸿The.iiii.parte whiche is the wombe of man.
30 In the whiche is worled the wynde of his body.
31 Of the wynde it was made wherfore than.
32 Lyght he shalbe as by that propretye
33 I refull and wrothe and of no Iocoundytie.
34 Thus wynde of nature is lyght and ysefull.
35 And man in no wyse can his nature adnull
36 ⸿The fyfth parte whereof had man at his creacion.
37 For that it pleased god cotigitacions inwarde.
38 Hym for to graunte for a gode proteccion.
39 Of the cloudes of heuyn his thoughts were made.
40 By the whiche in synne he is ofte tymes clade
41 As borne on erthe to be lyght and lecherous
42 In the fyght of god synne moste contagyous.
43 ⸿Now sueth the fyxt part things right volorous.
44 That of man made was all the bones.
45 As philozophers say by matter monstryous.
46 Of issues corrupt of all maner stones.
47 Whole nature to publysshe ⁊ make pleyne at ones.
48 Is for to be gredy moche gatherynge and couerouse
49 And theuys condycions to use outeragyous.
50 ⸿Of man the understandynge ⁊ grete intelleccion.
51 By wysedome modered with reason uniuersall.
52 Of the mone issueth suche is her condycyon.
53 The.vii.parte of man a myttyd ouer all
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54 By vertue whereof right well knowe you shall
55 Borne he is in batayle gretly to precede.
56 Suche nature hath the mone as ye may here rede.
57 ⸿The.viii.parte complete of all benyng curtosye.
58 Comprehended in the father and lord sempiternall.
59 Is how he create the soule of man truely.
60 Of his owne superne spirite o god ouer all.
61 What preuylege by thy power supernall.
62 Myght more haue be done for mannes saluacion.
63 Then in thy see royall to graunte hym a mansion.

⸿Howe almyghty god put Adam to paradyse/and of his firste age. Ca. secundo

1 Whan the heuenly kynge and our father eternall.
2 Our formour father adam had forinate ⁊ made.
3 The perloure of paradyse pereles ouer all.
4 He gaue hym to mansion and then hym bad.
5 Take all the cōmodyties that therin were had.
6 Saue one frute that grewe there on a tree.
7 Whiche he hym forbad in euery degree.
8 ⸿The wylfulnes of adam by the mocion of Eue.
9 Alas may we say that it fortuned so
10 Atasted therof thus by grete repreef.
11 Hym selfe and his lssue he brought unto wo.
12 For from pleasure to payne scripture sayth so.
13 By an aungell was he dryucn in to this wretche vale
14 To all humanytie a full dredfull tale.
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15 ⸿Where with payne he labored vexacion and trouble.
16 And all the hole issue that of hym gan pursue.
17 Lyke wretches they wandred this thynge is credyble.
18 As careyns right uncurrouse not knowyng their due.
19 To their god and maker but as tyraunts untrue.
20 They toke their owne mynds not modered with reson.
21 And as clerks say they were gyaūts that season.
22 ⸿Sighty stronge gryme ⁊ gryfsull unto loke
23 And there unto deuoyde of wysedom and sapience
24 For soles they were approbate as recordeth ⁊ boke.
25 Of the first age of man who lyste make pretence.
26 At for to serche shall fynde that no prudence.
27 Was permanent in the persones that utterly denyed.
28 The moste drad cōmaundement of the myghty godhed.
29 ⸿Co pryde of al synne p-nnagmat to mānes confusion
30 These people adualyd to the vale of darkenes.
31 So that the father of heuen toke vengeaunce soone.
32 And drowned all the world for theyr unaythfulnes
33 Saue noe dyuerse mo as scripture doth expresse
34 Whiche Joyntely were of ryght perfyte lyuynge.
35 For whome god graunted a saue garde abydynge
36 Thus for theyr grete rudenes and infidelitie.
37 To consumpcion they were brought as before is sayde
38 In the yere from adam as apperyth right playnly
39 Unto noe.ii.M.for matter in dede.
40 with.CC.xi.fully completed.
41 The whiche of man callyd is the firste age.
42 As it is wryten by philozofers sage.
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⸿The secounde age of mankynde and howe the Son= nes of Noe byldyd the Toure of Babylon. Ca. iij.

1 From noe unto Abraham as recordyth the byble.
2 Of yeres were full.ix.hundred and forty.
3 In the whiche season as thynge right unpossyble
4 The sonnes of noe buldyd so hy.
5 The toure of bablyon preposynge utterly.
6 By meanes of the same to assende unto heuyn.
7 So couetouse they were as apperyth full playne.
8 ⸿Beholde here the secounde mortall vyse of synne
9 Whiche corrupted the carcayse of humayne kynde.
10 As bests unsatysfyed they lay styll therin
11 For the whiche the father as I rede and fynde
12 Confused theym on erthe for that they were unkynde.
13 Not knowynge theym selfe but clymynge to hy.
14 By couetouse constrayned so voluptuously.
15 ⸿Co thus the secounde age of mankynde.
16 Frome noe unto abraham as aboue is sayde
17 Consumed was by couetouse haue this in your mynde.
18 The trouth whereof can not be denayed.
19 But for theyr rebuke they were gretely dysmayde.
20 Yet neuertheles of mankyne lynage.
21 That tyme thorowe passed his secounde age.

⸿Howe man proceded his thyrde age and of the syn= kynge of Cyties. Ca. iiij.

1 WHen the secunde age of man was past ⁊ exprysed
2 The.iii.age aproched as aperyth by scripture
3 From abraham to Moysen as ye may here rede
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4 Of yeres full.D.L.I yon do ensure.
5 Accomplysshed was where grete mysaduenture.
6 Dolorous in sentence to haue in cōmunycacion.
7 Ye and mirroure monstryouce to euery xp-ynnacion.
8 ⸿Was had in that season and in the same age.
9 Why cyties for synne corruptly putryfyed.
10 Sonke bothe hye and also lowe lynage.
11 So haynyous it was in the syght of the godhed.
12 And playnly to shewe you howe they were namyd.
13 That one of them hight Sodame.
14 And that other by named Gomorra.
15 ⸿And as I haue before breuely expressed.
16 That god toke vengeaunce for theyr mystery.
17 Yet lothe with.ii.doughters to his mercy he callyd.
18 Ye and also to the wyse of the lothe truely.
19 But she in no wyse coude refrayne tho her iye
20 But turnyd and lokyd the cyties uppon
21 For the whiche she stondyth a salte stone.
22 ⸿O mercyfull lorde moste hyest in trone.
23 Thy marcy there sauyd suche as were thyne.
24 And suche as rebellyd agaynst alone.
25 Corruptyd with synne and laye styll therein.
26 Tho theym dyd subdue o corpus celestyn
27 What loste these people but onely gula.
28 With the socure of sua prole luxuria.

⸿How Moyses receyuyd ii.tables of the law in the.iiii.Age of man. Capitulo. v.

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1 FRom Moysen unto Dauid the puyssaunt kyng.
2 Of mankynde the.iiii.age full dyd contynue.
3 In the whiche season without faute or lokynge.
4 The children of Israell thorowe the red see dyd sue.
5 That separate was by Moyses this thynge is true.
6 Wheere pharro ferfely with his power pursued.
7 In the whiche he and his power breuely were drownyd
8 ⸿Wherupon by the father of the celestyall see
9 Receyuyd was.ii.tables of letters of the lawe.
10 By moyses on the mounte of Synay so hye.
11 All rigorouse demeanoure from man to withdrawe.
12 His uyse to redres and his maker to knowe.
13 For frome adam to Moysen the lawe of nature
14 Full febly was ordred I you do ensure.
15 ⸿For therin was non auctoure but all out of ordre.
16 What thyng had so happenyd ⁊ tyme in mannes mīde.
17 He thought it was lyfful for hym and all other.
18 So that tyme were sauyd full fewe as I fynde.
19 But lytterate lawe reduced mankynde.
20 In so moche he kept it unto the cōmynge
21 Of criste our souereygne sauyoure and heuenly kynge.

⸿How kynge Salamon byldy the temple of god in Jerusalem. Ca. vi.

1 FRom Dauyd the kyng unto the transmigration
2 Of Babylon as scripture by auctoryte doth spe [margin-right-below] (city
3 And byldyd in a maner full merueylously.
4 The temple of god in Jerusalem the Cytie.
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5 By kynge Salamon with Joy and grete honoure.
6 Whiche is to all people a full parfyte myrroure.
7 ⸿But yet by pryde the very rote and grounde.
8 Of synnes moste inordinate to manne saluacyon.
9 After the sayde temple was buylded and founde.
10 Ye and also [p] iniquitatem principium.
11 That moste was set by with all and some.
12 Una cum lege diuine transgressionem.
13 Ac diuersimodi prophetarum falsitatem.
14 ⸿The people of god were led in to Babylon.
15 And.L.yere there they dyd remayne.
16 Then Jeromias the profyte made lamentacion.
17 And for by cause he sayde that was certayne.
18 Cursed people to egypte dyd hym attayne.
19 And there of trouth full tyrauntely.
20 To deth hym stonyd unmercyfully.

⸿How the.vi.age endured tell the commynge of our sauyoure. Ca. vij.

1 Ate.vi.age of man ensue then dyd and come.
2 Whiche pleynly to expres I shall do my cure.
3 From babylon the captiuytie ⁊ grete thraldome.
4 Unto the cōmynge of our souereygne sauyoure.
5 D.C.yere is and somwhat ouer
6 In whiche age was grete batayle murder.
7 Bytwene the bretherne of Judas and dyuerse other.
8 ⸿Thus fynysshed I haue the.vi.age fully cōpleted.
9 At the souerayne incarnacion of our sauyour crist Jhū
b.ii. b2v
10 In terminat sence yseuely compyled.
11 Afforsynge to pronownce that perfyte is and true.
12 After my copy and in metre renewe.
13 The tenure of the same now lorde of myghtis moste.
14 Me spede father sonne and also holy goste.

⸿The nombre of yeres from the begynnynge of the worlde to the bythe of criste. Ca. viij.

1 From þe begynnyng of þe worlde unto þe glorios hourre.
2 That criste was incarnat of pure virgyne mary.
3 As of yeres fyue thousande a.C.⁊.iiii.score
4 And.vi.monethes ouer appereth full paynely.
5 By leynt austeyne and other good auctours many.
6 This tyme beganne thencreace of all goodnes.
7 Thanke with prylynge be to our lorde Jhesus.
8 ⸿I haue tretyd before of the ages of mankynde.
9 By dyuerse yeres comprehended in to syx.
10 And nowe the.vii I shall call to my mynde.
11 Cordially there on my herte to enfyx
12 In the whiche is dayly used nona lex.
13 And to contryue I enteade by the same.
14 Oyuerse maner of ages of mankyne by name.
15 ⸿In.xii.comprehende to a pafyte purpose
16 With the cause that man shold passe on pylgrymage.
17 And for thentent I wyll it dyseclose.
18 Accordynge to myne auctoure of euery age.
19 That grounded is by a philozopher sage.
20 Whose name in the prologe is recyted full playne.
21 Wowe to my purpose I wyll me constrayne.
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⸿Howe almyghty god was pylgryme for .iii. causes/and howe he gaue mankynde ensample to doo his pylgrymage. Ca. ix.

1 SEth by þe mighty power of our father supnall
2 with the holy goste by trynall prouycion
3 Dyscended hath oure sauyoure criste coequall.
4 In mary his mother and for oure redempcion.
5 From oure mortall foo to be tuicōn.
6 Of her naturall corpus he was incarnat.
7 And she hym conceyuyd as virgyn immaculate.
8 ⸿Hym selfe admyttynge of no hye estate.
9 But as a pylgryme apparaysed in his gere
10 Thoughe his see celestyall hyghly was sublymat.
11 He was for thre causes as ye may rede her
12 Appoynted lyke a pylgryme as by scripture dothe a= [margin-right-below] (pere.)
13 O benīg Jhū thus haue we gret auctoritie
14 To call the our creature and lambe of humylitie.
15 ⸿The firste cause that he a pylgryme was and why
16 Lyke as a pylgryme many hospitalles doth seke.
17 Right so in the wombe of his mother mary
18 Full out.ix.monethes he dyd tumble and crepe
19 Thyrtie yere in his world he was and more eke.
20 And in the sepulture.xi.houres he lay
21 This was the firse cause without ony nay.
22 ⸿The secounde is where that euery day.
23 A pylgryme opteyneth right grete aduersyties.
24 Somtyme by rempests dogges ⁊ theuys by the way
25 So oure sauyoure ihū durynge his erth dayes.
b.iii. b3v
26 Was subject to adherryte manyfolde wayes.
27 For after his byrthe he some full on wepynge.
28 Consyderynge the trouble that to hym was ensuyng.
29 ⸿The thirde cause was if ye duely hede take.
30 For.iii.signes that doth belonge to a pylgryme.
31 That is to saye his scrip his staffe and his hat.
32 But our sauyoure Jhū toke upon hym.
33 In itede of his staffe a crosse full gryme
34 For his hat he toke of thorne a crowne.
35 And for his script a spere of stele browne.
36 ⸿O god gloryfyed in the heuenly trone.
37 What more for man myghtest thou haue done.
38 Thenne fore to suffer so grete passyon.
39 On caluery the mounte with grete affeccyon.
40 The soule of man couetyng from sathanas dn-acion.
41 Meke as a lambe that lowe were of lynage.
42 On casuery full kyndly thou dyest thy pylgrymage.
43 ⸿Thus to brynge us from Lucyfers damage.
44 By simylytude of thyne owne persone.
45 Lyke a pylgryme þe apperedest our sorow to swage.
46 Techynge us pylgrymes howe we shold done.
47 For that this worlde is no sure mansyon.
48 But frayse and fletynge lowe and hye
49 Why man of erth made is create to dye.

⸿Whiche.iii.synguler poynts appertayne to a pylgryme. Ca. x.

1 NOw syth pylgrymage is moste approbate.
2 For mannes soule the welth uniuersall.
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3 It thre things he kepe in his pylgrymage gate.
4 That to pylgrymes p-tendyth in this worlde ouerall
5 Firste humble verture on his corpus carnall
6 Secundely in ordynate takynge for to refuce.
7 And the thirde from vanyties his iyes to abuse
8 ⸿Thenne if he duely these thre do peruse.
9 He optayne shall the blysse by due enhabytaunce.
10 Wherefore I mankynde my synnes to excluse.
11 To pylgrymage gyue my hole affyaunce.
12 On my purpose to procede with gostely substaunce.
13 Wherefore I entende to puruey a gouernoure.
14 My guyde to be thorowe the realme of aduenture.
15 ⸿Fortune my guyde if it were her pleasure.
16 Myght right well be and frendely to me.
17 But stedfast to haue her it is a cure
18 That in no wyseyll approued be
19 And seth suche grete duplycytie.
20 In her is permanent I wyll refrayne.
21 The felysshyp of her tell we mete agayne.
22 ⸿Yet a guyde I wyll attayne.
23 In place where euer I can hym fynde.
24 Worldly wysedome were good certayne.
25 For to be guyde unto mankynde.
26 But his also lucrus of mynde.
27 ⸿That dysreyue he wolde oure company.
28 And cure stokke eubessell secretely.
29 ⸿Of suche a guyde beware wyll I.
30 For he is no thynge mere ne protytable.
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31 Of mannes soule the welth truely.
32 Thoughe to this worlde he be agreable.
33 And where ryches is moste exceptable
34 For nowe a dayes where so euer I come.
35 Namyd is falshed worldly wysedome.
36 ⸿Therfore betyme nowe all and sōme.
37 Of his croked company I wyll forsake.
38 And for to passe this ferefull regyon.
39 A better guyde to me wyll I take.
40 The whiche by the way me mery wyll make.
41 By mynstralsy of moche myght.
42 Beatus vic my guyde shall hyght.
43 ⸿Nowe thanke I hyghly the lanterne of lyght
44 For chosen I haue me a perfyte guyde.
45 On my passage to gouerne me right.
46 The holy trynyte be my spede.
47 Of whome I take my leue this tyde.
48 For in his cytie I had grete chere.
49 In the delectablyst season of all the yere.

⸿Howe mankynde enteryth the londe of June at the age of.ix. Ca. xi.

1 THan was I in my hyhest power.
2 And sol moste hotest in the spere celestyn.
3 Metely lusty at the age of thre score
4 My pylgrymage duly for to optayne.
5 For cancer then ouer me dyd reygne.
6 Thus went I forth with myrth and game.
7 Folowynge my guyde blessed by name.
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8 ⸿Thorowe this countrey of royall fame.
9 And of pleasures precyouce full plenty to se.
10 For gretely I was refresshed by sight of the same.
11 Ye and moreouer I ete dyd plenteously.
12 Strawberyes and cheryes wherof that countrey.
13 Was full planteouse in euery lane.
14 And so were passed by the same.
15 ⸿Thenne towarde a goodly coste we came.
16 That by the Pope of June was holden.
17 Where the clenyst catell in cristendome.
18 Full ryche we sawe and well be sene
19 Enquyrynge what was the name then.
20 Of that place whiche by benyuolence.
21 There graunted was so grete indulgence.
22 ⸿Anone we perceyuyd by grete experyence.
23 That this catell whiche was so hye.
24 By potencyall power of superne audyence.
25 Namyd is the castell of corpus xp-i.
26 Of whiche indulgence by auctorytye.
27 The founder is called by naturall sext.
28 Of the romaynes romanus pontifex.
29 ⸿To whole bullys dyd marteyne annex.
30 Augmentacion with encrease of more.
31 Indulgence to that castell as the tex.
32 Bereth well wytnes man to restore.
33 From worldly wretchednes and synfull fore.
34 Thus lefte we that Castell and way dyd take
35 Farther on our Journey us mery to make.
b5v
36 ⸿Thenne vir beatus me made forsake.
37 His pathe wherin he used to go.
38 Wyllynge me shortly my mynde to breke
39 Unto dominus illuminatio
40 And of his fauoure defyse so.
41 That thorowe all londes where we shold lyte.
42 Graunte us he wolde a saffe condyte.
43 ⸿So for to purchas a parfyte wryte.
44 So soule Justicie we toke oure way
45 Sealed to haue oure saffe condyte.
46 And he shortly sayde not nay.
47 But also haue us of his lyuerey.
48 A fencyble garment Joyntely compyled.
49 With fayth and hope that we exiled
50 ⸿Sholde not be and yet besyde.
51 He made us drynke of his maluesay
52 Us to comforte so in that tyde.
53 We departed and on our Journey.
54 None we doubted but toke the way.
55 This maluesay to us to comfortable was.
56 Our hertes lyghtenynge with dropis of grace.
57 ⸿Procedynge forthe and by a shorte space.
58 We sawe a comely gay Monastery.
59 A cōmodyouse thynge and a freshe place.
60 That strawed was full plesauntely.
61 With rycches grene right amyably
62 I asked of whome this place was prest
63 And my guyde sayde of seynt John̄ Baptyst.
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⸿In exposycion auctorysed by scripture of the cō cepcyon of seynt John- Baptyst. Ca. xij.

1 SO to that place we hyed us with haste.
[?]dita
2 Duely enquyryng the maner of this seynt.
[?]catio
3 A partie moche merueylynge and euyn at the laste
[?]⁊c.L
4 We sawe how an aungell from heuen was sent.
5 Gabryell by name whiche saunce entent
6 Sayde to zacharias that euer was in oryson
7 Fere thou no thynge for graunte is the petycion.
8 ⸿And thy wyfe Elyzbeth shall brynge to the a sonne.
[?]Erit
9 Whose name shalbe John- that Joy and grete gladnes.
[?]mag
10 Shall be to the ye and grete congregacion.
[?]⁊c.e
11 Of people shall Joy in his byrth for suernes.
[?]copi
12 That he shalbe takyn of so pure perfitens.
13 In the sight of the godhed in the by trone
14 This highly shalbe magnyfied thy only sōne John-.
15 ⸿Then answered zacharias right shortly and soone.
[?]tace
16 How may it be true this tale that thou haste tolde
[?]pot
17 Seth youth away is fletyd and fro me clene gone.
[?]qui
18 My natoure away wasted and I am very olde.
[?]usq=
19 My wyse also past temynge this dare I be bolde.
[?]quo
20 The aungell answered syth that thou sayst so.
[?]unt
21 Tyll thy chylde be borne dombe thou shalt go
[?]eod
22 ⸿We there taryed no lenger but left hym euyn so.
23 Passyng on our pylgrymage thorugh this countre.
24 Roles and lyllyes plenty seynge blowe.
25 Flouryssynge theym selfe full sayre for to se.
26 So on oure passage pryuely passed we.
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27 Towarde the palayce of peter and Poule.
28 When oure ot cancro passed was soule.
29 ⸿Where that we dronke of a blacke boll.
30 By a fyre there full fresshely made.
31 The tyme when the cloke dyde.viii.toll
32 At nyght suche chere there we had.
33 That cause we founde none for to be sad.
34 Farther on oure Journey then we paste
35 And sodenly euyn at the laste.

⸿How mankynde enteryth in to a kyngdome na ymed the londe of July ⁊ parte of the martyrdome of seynt Thomas of Cauntorbery. Ca. xiij.

1 AT July the monyth we dyd us haste.
2 In the whiche soule dyscended from his stacion.
3 Then my nature beganne for to waste.
4 Lyke as dyd the ete of the sonne.
5 For the age approched and plucked me downe.
6 My braynes were febled my wyt wared thyne.
7 My age was then.ix.yere and tenne
8 But yet at the lest I bethought me then.
9 But pylgrymage to procede howe for euer Joyd.
10 Then a mountayne I sawe that was passynge dyme.
11 And was sore affacyed but reuely I asked.
12 My guyde what thynge it myght betyd.
13 And he me answered without delaye.
14 That of seynt John- it was the .viii.daye.
15 ⸿So reuely we sawe in a lowe valey.
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16 A byshoppys place that rychely was dyght.
17 Thy therwarde streyte takynge the way.
18 We enquyred howe this bysshope hyght.
19 But there we founde none erthly wyght.
20 That coulde us tell the Bysshoppys name.
21 Nor well from what coste that he came.
22 ⸿We then perceyuyd what it dyd meane.
23 That whan by degre in man in eleuate.
24 His formoure surname is take in vayne.
25 And so exyled and put a parte.
26 Yet or this bysshop came to his estate.
27 As we understode by certayne there.
28 Named he was doctoure prayoure
29 ⸿I noble relate and a grete prechoure.
30 By vertue wherof he came to hygh degre.
31 Grace beynge his guyde and grete socoure
32 By the helpe of the holy trynytie.
33 Thus towarde the palayce we passed prymalye.
34 Of this bysshop to haue a fyght.
35 But hym to se we had no myght.
36 Then herde we saye in harnes bryght.
37 Foure men that were of the kyngs house.
38 Hasted theym by daye and nyght.
39 Theyr myscheuouce mynde right dolorouse.
40 On this bysshop and myroure monstryouce.
41 Thacomplysshe with grete wreth.
42 Hym to bereue from lyfe to deth.
43 ⸿Thus of theyr purpose they neuer toke breth
c. i. c1v
44 But whyles this bysshop in prayer was knelynge.
45 Before an aulter as scripture sayth.
46 Thenne violently as tyraunts wyllynge.
47 Theyr purpose to pursue with wepyns unsyttyng.
48 By one assent full cruelly.
49 Stroke at this bysshop ⁊ dyd hym to dye.
50 ⸿And as playnly of trouth herde I
51 One of the tyraunts that had the dede done.
52 This bysshop brought up from in fancye.
53 Unto mannes state and as his godsone.
54 O in hym lacked grace with manly reasone.
55 His godfather to stryke so violently.
56 That brought hym up full tenderly.
57 Thenne for this case we mere right sory.
58 And with deuocyon knelyd downe.
59 Prayeng to criste on the soule to haue mercy.
60 Of this gostely holy [fycysyon]
61 That fynysshed we rose of soone.
62 Enquyrynge where was the bysshoppys obsequi.
63 And they us shewed at Cauntorbury.
64 ⸿The breuer and shorlyer tyme knewe we.
65 What he was when he knewe the name.
66 Certayne of the place where tombed was he
67 Of Cauntorbery seynt Thomas it was the same.
68 Then louyd we criste moste myghtyest of fame.
69 And on oure vyage toke oure way.
70 In conceytes us delytynge the sothe for to say.

⸿A parable of auctoritie of the holy ordre of seynt Benet. Ca. xiiij.

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1 SO mortsy we came to a royall abbay.
2 Full fayre goodly and comely set.
3 Pleasaunte to loke on euery way.
4 Whiche place is callyd without let.
5 The holy monastery of seynt Benet.
6 So we shortly with all oure myght.
7 Toke oure lodgynge before the nyght.
8 ⸿Euyn at the abbay gate right.
9 Where I wysshed to haue ben away.
10 Longe or euer it was day lyght.
11 For so huge a noyse and so meruaylouse array.
12 Herde I neuer by nyght nor day.
13 What with syngynge and ryngynge of bellys.
14 Slepe I coulde not in no wyse.
15 ⸿And as we thought it was a guyse.
16 Not conuenyent in no good place.
17 Oute of tyme to make suche noyse.
18 And specyally when that it was.
19 Of naturall rest the tyme and space.
20 At mydnyght for all gode men.
21 To slepe and no suche werks begyn.
22 ⸿For and if that aboue in heuyn.
23 The noyse were so odyble as to us it was.
24 But lytell thanke shoulde they wyn.
25 As we thought for in that place.
26 Preferuyd is euer perpetuall peace.
27 And to oure herynge and fyght in warde.
28 Easely thyther it myght be harde
c. ii. c2v
29 ⸿Than the purpose shortly we pondered
30 Of houre myndes breuely entendynge.
31 In to this abbay with yen blere yed.
32 And hedys full yuse for ouer watchynge.
33 To take oure way in mynde meruaylynge
34 What maner of men and people they were.
35 That kepte suche rule thorowe out the yere.
36 ⸿And with that there dyde full shortly appere.
37 Personally present before oure fyght.
38 A man right meuaylouse in all his gere.
39 Apoynted solempnely and then with myght.
40 We enquyred howe his name hyght.
41 He answered and sayde he hyght contemplacion.
42 The parfyte pathe to the heunly regyon.
43 ⸿We asked hym yet shortly this questyon.
44 What meane myght that fulsome case.
45 That by nyght tyme was made and done.
46 In so gay a Monastory and fayre place.
47 And what they were that neuer dyd sease.
48 Theyr grete rumoure and longe syngynge
49 And why with bellys they made suche ryngynge.
50 ⸿He answered us with wordes right syttynge.
51 What meanyth this noyse I shall yeu tell.
52 To criste in heuen it is well pleasynge
53 And allthe fendes power of hell.
54 Aunychyll it doth euery deall.
55 And of what maner thyse men be
56 Walke in my sonne thou shalte theym se.
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57 ⸿Thus shortly he toke his leue of me.
58 Thenne came my guyde beatus vir.
59 And bad me folowe hym hastely.
60 So in to that place he brought me nere.
61 Where we sawe present personally appere.
62 Dedely persones of coloure right pale
63 I seynge theym my coloure dyd aduale.
64 ⸿Consyderyng theyr rule some and all.
65 So ryotoussy ordred in euery degre.
66 Meruaylynge moche who was the pryncypall.
67 Gouernoure of that goodly see.
68 That suffred suche rule encessauntly.
69 For as me thought it were more right.
70 To slepe all day then wake all nyght.
71 ⸿And as we behelde this dedely sight.
72 Rounde aboute in euery degre.
73 We sawe howe that by hostely myght.
74 Thyse men that dyd appere dedely.
75 Had.vi.wynges redy to flye.
76 Lyke unto thaungellys cheruphyn
77 That be enhabit aboue in heuyn.
78 ⸿And when of vertue they so dyde shyne.
79 Then knew I by parfyte experience.
80 That my guyde present had bene
81 Full often personall in theyr audyence.
82 And so with vertue we left theyr presence.
83 Hertely praynge my holy guyde.
84 That on our passage we myght procede.
c. iij. c3v
85 ⸿Procedynge forth a well good spede.
86 Sol in Leone by sourse exitynge
87 We hyed us faste and matter in dede.
88 Passe we dyde by a full goodly thynge.
89 That virgyn was pure and parfyte of lyuynge.
90 Whole name was callyd without lette.
91 Holy marter and virygn Margarete.
92 ⸿Then on our waye farther we sette
93 And by Magdaleyne shortly we came.
94 A blessed woman that wysshed the fete.
95 Of our sauyoure Jhesu callyd by name.
96 And with her here wypyd thesame.
97 Whole name as scripture doth playnly sho.
98 Auctorysed was a Magdalo castro.
99 ⸿And so to the place of compostellane.
100 Where James lyeth the appostell holy.
101 We passed and by blessed Anne.
102 That mother is knowen to virgyn mary.
103 And there my guyde by and by.
104 Made me shortly with vixi custodiam.
105 To be acquaynted a full goodly man.
106 ⸿That in the bysshoppys courte was tane.
107 Gretely in fauoure and by reputacion.
108 Was holden right a worshypfull man.
109 And after acquayntaunce by cōmunycacion
110 He shewed us that the dysposycion.
111 In that londe at many dyuerse season.
112 Was for to ete benes and peason.
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113 ⸿To ferther costes we toke oure mocion.
114 Oure ferefull pylgrymage for to fulfyll.
115 Enterynge in to the myghty regyon.
116 That duely is holden by grete skyll.
117 At the Emperoure of Augustus wyll.
118 For royally he reigneth therin at pleasure.
119 In the structuouste season of all the yere.
120 ⸿Howe be it that tyme I dyde drawe nere
121 Me to prouyde for the sustenaunce in age.
122 Both corne of the erth and futes of all maner.
123 For nowe am I.xxiiii.both wyse and sage.
124 Whether that I be of hye or lowe lynage.
125 I muste haue me to fynde ensuynge yere by yere.
126 For drade that pouerty me brynge unto daunger.

⸿Howe mankynde entereth the empyre of August and of the abundaunte welth that there is. Ca. xv.

1 [S]O august of vertue doth gretely appere.
2 Aboue all other bothe est and west.
3 For in that londe nother sowe ne ere.
4 No man doth but as they luste.
5 For they repe and mowe in euery coste.
6 This londe of plentie with pleasure is so mete.
7 That whete lyes under euery mannes fete.
8 ⸿There the firste that we set on sight
9 By name was callyd the cytye of Lammas.
10 Where petyr pope by veray right.
11 Was wrongfully imprysoued in that place.
12 Thenne my guyde in right shorte space.
c4v
13 Made us acqueynted with one right wyse.
14 Whole name was callyd quid gloriaris.
15 ⸿That coopcyner admytted was.
16 With themperoure of this fructuouse londe.
17 So thense we parted and by a place.
18 Of seynt Laurence paynted rounde.
19 With gyrdyrons and in that stounde.
20 We us be thought in conclucyon.
21 To the grete abbay of thassumpcion.
22 Strayte we went and passe that mancyon.
23 Without ony taryeng only there.
24 And by Bartylmewe were straunge fassyon.
25 He had brought up as dyd appere
26 For all his skynne was of clere.
27 And on his arme he hyde it caste.
28 As one that was not moche agaste.
29 ⸿Forth farther on our way we paste.
30 And to a goodly cytie hyghe we dyde.
31 By seynt Austeyns place and at the laste.
32 By medryp- we came where matter in dede.
33 We syghte had of seynt Jones hede.
34 That done without delaye.
35 To another loude we toke the waye.

⸿Howe mankynde entereth/and goeth thorowe the Dukedome of September. Ca. xvi.

1 [S]Ome to a dukedome the pathe laye.
2 Septembre namyd the ryche duchery.
c5r
3 In the whiche is made the sothe to saye.
4 Wyues mankynde to refresshe truely.
5 For then nature away doth clye
6 And as I tell you mankynde is than.
7 Of yere full.iiii.score and tenne
8 ⸿Febylytie man that faste cōmeth on.
9 He wareth croked unneth go he canne.
10 Lyke as wynter approcheth this season.
11 So playnly it appereth yerely by man.
12 But neuertheles when we thyther came.
13 Dixit insipiens we dyde fynde there.
14 Thorowe all that londe a right grete doer.
15 ⸿And when I it sawe I meruayled fore.
16 Howe and what wyse it come myght to passe.
17 A unwyse man to haue suche power.
18 Ouer all suche a countrey as it was.
19 Thenne shortely I sawe howe stode the case.
20 Scripture when I serched the trouth to knowe.
21 In the epistelys of poule libro primo.
22 ⸿Ad corintios capitulo tercio.
23 That the wysdome of this world before the godhed.
24 For folysshenes is taken and seth it is so.
25 Me thought is name right well myght be suffred.
[?]Sap
26 So there we hym lefte and farther proceded.
[?]cia c
27 And solempnely we came erely on a morne
[?]ius
28 To the place where the mother of crist was borne.
[?]stul
29 ⸿And strayte we wente to the exaltacion.
[?]ad
30 Of the holy crosse without delay.
[?]thio[?]ca. c5v
31 From thense procedynge on our pathe full sone.
32 To the ryuer of ymber this is no nay.
33 Where ouer we rowed then on our Journey.
34 On fote for fallynge we dyd us hy
35 Unto the Monastory of seynt Mathy.
36 Attendynge soone thense full hastely.
37 Unto the hye mounte of seynt Myghell.
38 Where we dyd fynde certaynly.
39 That Myghell was archaungell.
40 Thenne no lenger there wolde we dwell.
41 As in that londe but walked nere.
42 To warde the Erledome of October.

⸿Howe mankynde entereth in to the londe of October at the age of a.C.yere. Ca. xvii.

1 ANd when there entered farre we were.
2 My legges waxed feble ⁊ I lackyd myght.
3 For then wad I full oute a hunderde yere.
4 And when there entred farre we were.
5 Unneth I coude go so faysed my fight
6 My way to se by day nor by nyght.
7 Very feble suche state had I.
8 When phebus caste his lyght lewly.
9 ⸿Yet in this londe men full besy were.
10 There erth to ere and corne to sowe
11 Theym to fynde a nother yere.
12 Thenne parfytely well myght we knowe.
13 At was that thynge muste nedys be do.
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14 The tyme whan phebus casteth his lyght.
15 Towarde the scorpyon accordynge to right.
16 So eur purpose to fulfyll pertly procedynge.
17 Delytynge our lyfe right Iocoundely.
18 Blakberyes plumbes and nuttes etynge.
19 That in that londe was nothynge deyntye.
20 But in euery hedge appered right goodly.
21 And in this londe there was abydynge.
22 A solempne man and a well lyuynge.
23 ⸿The whiche was callyd without lesynge
24 Saluum me fac with whom my guyde.
25 Shortly and fodeynly euyn at the metynge
26 Was very well and passyngly well acquented.
27 Thenne on warde on our way we hyed.
28 Lerned men and lawyars seynge full bely.
29 In kepynge of courtes of euery degre.

⸿Howe mankynde entereth the barury of No uember. Ca. xviij.

1 FRom theuse procedynge and so shortely.
2 Entre we dyde bothe in fere.
3 With payne full grete on my partie.
4 In to the Baruery callyd nouember.
5 For lew and wan waxed my chere.
6 As nature trees in the crop doth fayle.
7 That the leues thereof away doth sayle.
8 ⸿Right to I lykyn my worldly trauayse.
9 Whan youth is wasted and age is come.
c6v
10 Thenne'doth deth drawe nere me to assayle.
11 My welth fayleth gone is my wysedome.
12 Lyke as from here adualyd is the sonne.
13 In this season yere by yere ensuynge.
14 In lyke wyse it fareth by me in all thynge.
15 ⸿For strenght is gone ⁊ my power is as nothing.
16 My wyte is wanted as hete of the sonne.
17 My nature is wasted as trees in theyr wanynge.
18 My welth my Jolytie my pryde is clene gone.
19 Yet nedys must I age as his cōmpynge welcome.
20 For but I anone wyll in dede ellys where.
21 My age is a.C.now and ten yere
22 ⸿But for to speke more of this matter.
23 On oure pylgrymage boldly forth passed we.
24 By the abbay of all holon I you ensure.
25 Anone in that parties we sawe there suerly.
26 Men in that countrey to sow full besy.
27 Thenne made my guyde me acquaynted to be.
28 With one whole name was exultate.
29 ⸿That with the barne of this barury
30 Amyttyd is grete ruler.
31 Thorowe that londe and contynently.
32 We walked by a mynyster.
33 Well appoynted in euery where.
34 And as we understode it was callyd by name.
35 The Bysshopryche of seynt Martyne.
36 ⸿Where we mette Bysshoppys tweyne.
37 That Edmunde that archebysshop hyght.
d1r
38 That other he Bysshop of Lyncolne.
39 Thenne asked we with all oure myght.
40 If in the way we were right.
41 Unto the lordshyp of December.
42 And they sayde ye do you not fere.
43 ⸿The day passynge the nyght drawynge nere.
44 By pope clement takynge oure way.
45 We sawe a virgyne whose body clere.
46 With rasers was raced saunce delay.
47 That bounde was to a whele this herde we say.
48 The name that callyd was this virgyne.
49 Properly is sayde marter Katheryne.
50 ⸿Thenne by one redely we came.
51 That had his membrys quadrauntangly.
52 Drawen on a Crosse andrewe by name.
53 And shortly thense we passed by.
54 Thorowe oute all this grete baruery.
55 Whose name naturall is Nouember.
56 Enterynge streyte the lordshyp of December.

⸿Howe mankynde entereth the lordshyppe of December. Ca. xix.

1 NOwe be we passynge thorowe the power
2 Of December the lordshypp myghty.
3 Where my guyde sodeynly there.
4 Made me acueynted with Cantate.
5 But yet as far as I coulde se.
6 Est weste North South and south by
7 It was buteuyn a barayne country.
v. i d1v
8 ⸿A right good c̄ause and wot ye why
9 For the sonnes is descended to his lowest degre.
10 In this season and shyneth full lewly
11 For lower on erth can no man hym se
12 And euyn right so it fareth by me
13 For no hete haue I what sholde I saye more.
14 I am nowe of yeres full oute syx score.
15 ⸿Yet holde I well tell I maye no more
16 On my pylgrymage way my lyfe durynge
17 Passynge this monyth as I sayde before.
18 Where we sawe men right fore laborynge.
19 To molyfy theyr londes in vunge caryenge.
20 Thenne hasted we forth with besy cure.
21 Unto the myghty see callyd Aduenture.
22 ⸿And euyn shortly when we came there
23 Anone we toke shyppynge and sayed at wyll
24 Fysshe ynough etynge and makynge good chere.
25 We sawe in the inyddes of this see stande an yse.
26 Full properly pytched upon a pyle.
27 I asked my guyde what was that place.
28 And he me answered howe that it was.
29 ⸿An I londe that of seynt Nicholas.
30 Callyd it was the bysshopryche.
31 From that coste thenne dyd we passe.
32 By an abbay I neuer sawe suche
33 I asked of whome byldyd was the churche
34 My guyde me answered shortly and soon.
35 Sayeng of our lady it was the concepcion.
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36 ⸿So up unto the mounte of wysedome.
37 We assendyd and came by an hospytall.
38 That namyd was saynt Thomas mansyon.
39 Shortly then passynge with pleasure at all
40 Ouer this see with myndys cordyall
41 Lowly thankynge the hy holy trynyte
42 Thas passed we had that grete Jeberdye.
43 ⸿Safe and sounde in euery degre.
44 So we londyd and ancre cast.
45 At cristmas the myghty cytie
46 Where eueryman kept grete feste.
47 With brede and ale and mete of the best.
48 And all for Joye that mayden free.
49 Borne had a childe of hye degree.
50 ⸿And when of that tydyngs the routh here we.
51 I mused in my mynde and meruayled moche.
52 Then.iii.shepardes shortly shewed me.
53 That as to that childe none lyke was suche.
54 In all this worlde and who lyste to serche.
55 Shall fynde this childe so resplendaunte.
56 To the kyngdome of heuen heyre apparaunte.
57 ⸿Yet I meruayled with thoughtes abundaunte.
58 Why this childe so lowly lay.
59 In a crache where bestes recyaunte.
60 Were takyng theyr fode doth strawe and hay.
61 Anone my guyde dyde take his way.
62 Shortly to speke with on-e exaudi.
63 That nyghe kynne was unto Cantate.
v. ii. d2v
64 ⸿And I hym folowed full dylygently
65 More of this babys byrthe to here.
66 And when the trouth of all herde I.
67 I purposed veryly to approche nere.
68 The kyngdome of heuen to all my power
69 My guyde quyckely aduysed me then.
70 To passe on my purpose and spye a new tyme.
71 ⸿So passyng forth on our Journey procedyng.
72 Thorowe that lordshyp as the path lay
73 There were founde withoute ony lesynge.
74 A full longe nyght and but a short day.
75 And this one thynge we dare well say.
76 In parte of this countre we sawe theym amonge.
77 The day lyte ouer passed.vi.houres longe.
78 ⸿From the sōne arysyng tell the sōne goyng downe
79 Ferther yet procedyng at one thyng meruaylynge.
80 What maner of slaughtoure in þe lordshyp was done.
81 For lyke as with a beste in maner is the dealynge.
82 So on mānes hed they neuer stynte knockynge
83 With grete stones tell all his braynes.
84 Aboute his sholders lay at oones.
85 ⸿Another they dressed in as euyll maners.
86 For wasshe hym they dyd in bollynge oyle.
87 And more ouer toke oute of cardes.
88 Yonge infauntes and theym dyde spyll.
89 With theyr spereys a syght full euyll.
90 And to make festes by suche dealynge
91 To oure semynge it was vnsyttynge
d3r
92 ⸿And to trete farther of this maner of thynge.
93 I am nowe so olde I may no farther go
94 But my houre to abyd at cristes owne pleasynge.
95 Deth draweth me nyghe his pangs be full wo.
96 To chaunge my lyfe I wayte to and fro.
97 Wherefore on my soule good lorde haue mercy.
98 For my synnes dedely Jhesu nowe I crye.
99 ⸿All mankynde is mortall and made for to dye.
[?]est n
100 Wherefore mankynde of thy mysse the remebre.
[?]hui9
101 And thynke thou this worlde is full transytory.
[?]di es
102 And euer amonge haue mynde of thy maker.
[?]sitor
103 Thus leue I of this lyfe and loke for a better.
[?]vita
104 Wherefore mankynde my brother I pray.
[?]ni g
105 Contynelly remembre thy endynge daye.
[?]est m

⸿Howe mankynde entereth þe londe of Janua December. Ca. xx.

1 ALl naked ⁊ bare to this worlde am I come.
2 On pilgrimage to procede I prupose if I can
3 Without strength connynge or naturall reason.
4 And to tell you trouth mankynde I am
5 In innocency by cristēdom to attayne me a name.
6 For lyke I am to the monyth of January.
7 In the whiche I begyn my pylgrymage truely.
8 ⸿For in that monyth as appereth full playnly.
9 Nothynge groweth but all is full barayne.
10 Right so of no strength nor connynge am I.
11 Wyrte nor wysedome I can none attayne.
v. iii. d3v
12 But yet procede I wyll in certayne.
13 On pylgrymage to my persone accordynge.
14 Thorowe this monyth wherein growth nothyng.
15 ⸿With humble affeccion my guyde besechynge
16 To shewe me the gouernoure of all January.
17 Anone me he asweryd without lesynge.
18 That exchetoure he was callyd of that countrye.
19 And myght be callyd by auctorytie.
20 Of all that countrey so excheted was.
21 That no good lefte in neuer a place.
22 ⸿Saue frost and snowe and yse as glasse.
23 Slepyr I now both on londe and water.
24 But then we herde in a certayne place
25 Two men with staues lay fast togyther.
26 And shortly then we hyed us thyther.
27 To loke what maner of chaunce sodayne.
28 That was fallyn bytwene theym twayne.
29 ⸿And when we came there we sawe certayne.
30 They betynge were wete oute of the sheues.
31 That they had purchased in the realme.
32 Of the Emperoure of Augustus.
33 And as we sawe bothe theyr staues.
34 Were brokyn in the myddys and then to gyther.
35 Tayed they were with thougs of lether.
36 ⸿hus thyse men from the coulde wehter.
37 Kepte theym selfe with laboure fore.
38 So shortly in a wyle after.
39 We passed farthe more and more.
d4r
40 On oure Journey and as were there.
41 Anone in acqueyntaunce god brought us.
42 With one that hyght Dixit dominus.
43 ⸿Syttyng on the right handes as Justyce of pease.
44 Of the myghty lorde in the grete Cytie.
45 Of the circumsicion and from them dyde we passe.
46 By coleyne there as be kynge thre.
47 And by many other places that bene in haue we.
48 Whiche were to longe processe for to be tolde.
49 But shortly from that cost we pykkyd us for colde.

⸿Howe mankynde entereth þe londe of Fe bruary. Ca. xxi.

1 THenne to a coste the way dyd we holde.
2 That namyd was the londe of february.
3 And there my guyde my spryts dyd bolde.
4 Byddynge me loke rounde aboute me.
5 And marke well beati immaculati.
6 For he in this londe is cheyf gouernoure.
7 And of all men ruler and guyder.
8 ⸿Yet and nexte hym is moste of power.
9 A noble Shyryffe and a myghty.
10 That is callyd bothe fere and nere.
11 Master legem pone.
12 So in this londe we sawe men besy.
13 For to stop gappes in hedges euery where.
14 That by thexchetoure of January distroyed were.
15 ⸿For by his extort meanes as dyde appere.
16 Brought they were and dryuen to defecit.
v. iiij. d4v
17 So all this company we lefte there.
18 Anone we sawe mirabilia fecit.
19 Hauynge a childe in his armys of trouth.
20 we then of that childe duely enquired.
21 He answered it was the sonne of the godhed.
22 Thenne glad was my herte I lefte vp my hed.
23 Beholdynge the coste of euery country.
24 And howe the grounde grenyd in euery mede.
25 Remembrynge that I waxed to thage of .xx.
26 wysdome to lerne and counnynge to apply.
27 By increase of the same as this monyth dose.
28 The grounde make grene to bryngeforth floures.
29 ⸿Right so after January the stormy shoures.
30 In February I but as braunches on tree.
31 The day then is lengthened by full .ii. houres.
32 And phebus assendaunte to his hyghe degree.
33 From pisces to aries resplendauntly.
34 Aparty hote lyke wyse euyn by me.
35 I som what take of euery degree.

⸿Howe men procedyth his pylgrymage in / and thorowe the londe of Marche Ca. xxii.

1 SOin our pylgrymage farther we passed.
2 In pleasure delytynge vs all and some.
3 So in to the londe of Marche we entred
4 where Ad dn̄m cū tribularer bat vs welcome.
5 And also leuaui with letatus sum.
6 ye and vnder hym a stewarde goodly.
7 That callyd is domine probasty.
d5r
8 ⸿A mighty post in all that country
9 was he taken but what as therin
10 My yeres then encreased vnto thirty.
11 I waxed stronge to fight with a wepyn.
12 I was in my Iolytie in all that season.
13 To be goodly arrayed I had grete affeccyon.
14 why in that age it is mannes condycion.
15 ⸿But neuerthelesse of many a good mancyon.
16 Set in this country I tell you playne.
17 The people were besy for to sowe peson.
18 Otes and barley for very certayne.
19 ye and trees graffynge in euery vayne.
20 where good erth is approued requysyte.
21 In all this country suche is theyr delyte.
22 ⸿Laborynge sore as men that haue might
23 In euery where theym selfe besyeng.
24 To euery trye man a right good sight.
25 Thenne shortly dyde we take shyppynge.
26 At the hauen of right parfyte lyuynge
27 Ane so sayled or euer we stynte.
28 Ouer the grete mayne see of lente.
29 ⸿On passage procedynge as we wente.
30 Full euyll we faryd this knowe I trouth.
31 For laus tibi domine after me sente.
32 That was oure maryoner and was full loth.
33 To do any fare cost of any of us both.
34 So of his fare we were full mery
35 But when alleluia the hyll we dyd se.
d5v
36 ⸿Thenne loked we vp and waxed mercy.
37 Thankynge god that passed we had.
38 The feble fare of laus tibi domine.
39 we londed then and nothynge were sad.
40 Strayte vppon the promysse we made.
41 To the londe of Aprell we dyde vs hy.
42 That was full of shoures and a country lusty.
43 ⸿whiche couered therth full plesaunte to se.
44 Bothe north and south with coloure grene.
45 Thenne goodes encreasyth abundayntly.
46 Unto makynde but what as therin.
47 I muste good manners to me this tyme myne.
48 For nowe I am completed sixty.
49 Bellicosus and bolde if grete need be.

⸿Howe batayle was maynteyned bytwene Sol Iusticie and Pluto duke of tenebris. Ca. xxiii.

1 yEt right sodeynly there stode we.
2 In maner dysmayde in grete dystresse.
3 For pluto we sawe come rydynge hastely.
4 That duke is mayd of tenebris.
5 Saynge that we sholde be subiectis.
6 And also trybutours vnto hym
7 whiche to do we bothe refuseden.
8 ⸿Thenne sol Iusticie all in good tyme.
9 By vs stode and armyd was redy.
10 Confortynge vs for to defye hym.
11 And by his mayce set not a peny
12 But arme vs both he bad hastely.
d6r
13 With oure garments of fayth and hope
14 And downe with theym at the firste stroke.
15 ⸿Nowe dyspleyed is and set a lofte.
16 The bener of the prynce of pease.
17 Thenne came one with noyse vnsoste.
18 That naturally was callyd vyce.
19 Sonne to the duke of tenebris.
20 And with hym came moche raskall
21 That thougth sure to conquere all.
22 ⸿But Sol iusticie dyde both vs call
23 And sayde though parte of oure pylgrymes were
24 Ageynst vs yet doubte not we shall
25 On oure enmyes forsely to were.
26 For as I knowe in no wyse sure.
27 Is theyr harness wherfore gladly.
28 Ioyntly togyther keep we company.

⸿Howe vyce toke the forwarde on his parte / and howe Sol iusticie fled. Ca. xxiiij.

1 SO vyce the forwarde in contynently.
2 Toke vpon hym with many mo.
3 In harness armyd full rustely.
4 And pychyd the felde then on a rowe.
5 The capteynes stode the trympetts gan blowe.
6 Pypynge vp the game to begyn.
7 Uices horse was trapped with synne.
8 ⸿Thenne Sol iusticie entered in.
9 Shortly the felde armyd full bryght.
d6v
10 And is his shelde bare of grene.
11 A crosse of tymber greyne in syght.
12 with .iii. nayles tryangle by right.
13 The felde apperynge blode rede.
14 Thus entered our capteyne on mercy his stede.
15 ⸿we hym folowynge a full good spede.
16 Shortly anone the skrymysshe beganne.
17 And so sure for matter in dede.
18 Uyce with his felysshyp faste layed on.
19 That voce mea was agast soone
20 Thenne oure capteyne Sol iusticie.
21 With In manus tuas away dyd flye.
22 ⸿In to a darke vale that was nygh by.
23 But yet at the defyre and specyall request.
24 Of a a gracyouse man callyd dn̄m exaudi.
25 He came agayne and shortly in haste.
26 To ayde vs there came one hyeng taste
27 whiche is callyd with all and some.
28 Benedictus qui venit ad prelium.

⸿Howe Soliusticie turnyd agayne and dyscum= fyte vyce and wan the felde. Ca. xxv.

1 THenne shortly by force we set on.
2 And whan vyce sawe vs come so fersely.
3 He and his company soone away ron.
4 As faste as euer they might flye.
5 Thus wan the felde sol Iusticie.
6 So exultabo made a crye.
7 That all men sholde shortly drawe nye.
d7r
8 Under the baner of the prynce truely.
9 Amyttyd of peace wherby all and some.
10 Myght be knowen and perceyuyd Iustly
11 Servauntes to the kynge heuyns sonne.
12 After that was fynyshed and done.
13 we were of myndes euyn right bolde.
14 On our pylgrymage the way to holde.
15 ⸿For lauda anima mea / that sponce was tolde.
16 And partytely knowen of sol Iusticie.
17 Gaue vs councell that we sholde.
18 Oure waye keep and passe on boldely
19 Admyttynge vs a chaumpion goodly
20 whole name was callyd amonge vs.
21 Laudate dn̄m quoniam bonus.
22 ⸿A mighty chaumpion and a gloriouse.
23 So with hym we went as victoryouse men
24 Thorowe the londe most fresshest of floures.
25 That callyd is Lauda Ierusalem.
26 And the londe of behest in a nother Realme
27 where most hath rule of may the mayr monstryouse
28 The pease maynteyne that by batayle gloryouse.
29 ⸿Sol iusticie by power victoryouse.
30 Conquered had thus past we on oure way.
31 Thenne Laudare dn̄m de celis.
32 wente forth with vs on our Iourney.
33 Delytynge in conceytes we passed the way.
34 Tyll come we dyd to the ryuer of rogacion.
35 And there for the fery bote we callyd soone.
d7v
36 ⸿So ouer that cyuer we passed anone.
37 And came a londe euyn right shortly.
38 At the royall cytye of the assenssyon.
39 where worthely we saw Soliusticie.
40 Strayte vp assendynge vnto the sky.
41 Towarde the hy stelyferall region.
42 Thenne came two men apprayled right soone
43 ⸿In garments full whyte and to vs come.
44 Byddynge vs both of good chere to be.
45 For a nother daye there shall come downe.
46 The mighty maker Soule Iusticie.
47 with moche more glory and tryumphe to se
48 Then euer you dyd hym se before.
49 So seased we oure sorowe / and no lenger dyd morne
50 ⸿Passynge forth with gostely affeccyon.
51 Unto the mighty abbay of the holy goste.
52 And there we sawe cantate dn̄m.
53 A messenger good and a mighty poste.
54 That from Sol iusticie of myghtes moste.
55 was cōmyn and sayd plainly that he.
56 Cōmaunded vs bothe of good chere to be.
57 ⸿Thenne in to the tabernacle of the trynyte.
58 with omnis spūs laudet dominum.
59 whom we came and welcome were we.
60 From pygrymage then all and some
61 with benedictus Israell bad vs welcome
62 Both magnificat and nunc dimittis.
63 That to quicumqȝ vult / brought vs.
d8r
64 ⸿Nowe thanke I hyly lorde swete Ihesas.
65 This ferefull pylgrymage that I haue passed.
66 And fynysshed the same amonge fresshe floures.
67 In may whan byrdes with songe vnseased
68 warble and relesse with tunes armonyzed.
69 On breres and chornes full pleasaunt to se.
70 Both moste and lest in euery degree
71 ⸿And I my selfe of gret Iocundytie
72 Mercy stronge and cherefull to beholde
73 Euen full at the age of fyfty
74 After this monyth as I beforetolde.
75 what sholde I more saye gone is all the colde.
76 And full mercy I am beleue me thus.
77 wherfore by your leue this one we wyll test vs.

⸿The conclucyon of this boke. Ca. xxvi.

1 NOwe almighty lorde swete Ihesus.
2 To the we call wich humble affeccyon.
3 That in this wretched worlde thou gouerne vs
4 So that after this miserable mansion.
5 Thou graunte vs nowe this oure petycion.
6 That reygne we maye in the heuenly place
7 with Drux beata trinitas
8 ⸿Thus of mankynde the ferefull pylgrymage
9 Thoroughe this vale corrupt and tetryble
10 Compounded I haue with all the passage.
11 Besechynge the reders with herte amiable.
12 Thoughe many fautes therin be corryptyble.
13 ye wyll me admytte vnto my lernynge.
14 Ponderynge the sence the metre adnychylynge.
d8v
15 ⸿Now we go lycle volum submyttynge affeccyon.
16 Unto my synguler Master by humble affeccyon.
17 wich mercy and pytie besechynge hym humbly.
18 Of thy compoundynge to take the correccyon.
19 For as no thing thou were put by his compilacion.
20 In prose thou haddest ben auccorysed of fame.
21 O famous prelate be praysed thy name.
Finis.

About this text

Title: The booke of the pylgrymage of man.
Author: Hendred, William (1470-1520)
Edition: Taylor Edition
Series: Taylor Editions: Guest
Editor: Edited by W.G. Hazelwood

Identification

Oxford, Queen's College Library, Sel.d.81

History

Provenance

One of nine 16th-century printed pamphlets bound in the Sammelband (Sel.d.81).

About this edition

This is a facsimile and transcription of The booke of the pylgrymage of man.. It is held by Queen’s College (shelf mark Sel.d.81(3)).

The transcription was encoded in TEI P5 XML by William Hazelwood .

'The boke of the pylgrymage of man' offers a verse translation of Guillaume de Deguileville's 'Le pellerinage de Lhomme'. Although various sources cite William Hendred (1470-1520), an Anglo-Danish clergyman and translator, as the author of '[...]the pylgrymage of man', it is likely that this verse edition was produced either in collaboration or by a separate hand altogether (see preface). Hendred did produce a prose translation of Deguileville's work prior to this verse edition, although this has likely not survived.

The text has been suggested as an inspiration to John Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress' (as per a comparative 1847 edition), although references and information pertaining to the contemporary circulation of the pamphlet is scarce.

The verse shares various formal and thematic features (including the rhyme royal structure) with Chaucer's 'Canterbury Tales'.

Transcribed from: Queen’s College Library Sel.d.81 Images reproduced from Digital Bodleian https://digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/objects/eccf0442-5119-4ce3-9f5c-b408a54907f3/

Availability

Publication: Taylor Institution Library, one of the Bodleian Libraries of the University of Oxford, 2021. XML files are available for download under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License . The images are reproduced from the Bodleian Library. The images can be also be found on the Bodleian Library website.

Source edition

Hendred, William (1470-1520) The booke of the pylgrymage of man. Printed in London : by Rychard Faques; in Paul's church yard by the sign of Maidenhead, 1508.  

Editorial principles

Main body transcribed and encoded by W.G. Hazelwood

This is a diplomatic transcription of the original text with some draft critical additions.

Where variation has occurred from the original text signification in the form of annotation is present. Typographic variations have been encoded as present in the original text except for where specialised Unicode is required (i.e. the long 's' has been transcribed as an 's' and the distinction between the two types of 'r' has been disregarded). The use of macrons have been included but are denoted using '-' after the relevant character where standard representation was unavailable.

Annotation of poetic form remains in draft format and for use as general guidance only.