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The heven hath propirtie of sikirness, This worldè hath evir restlesse travaile, The last daie is the ende of myne entresse, In generall this rule ne maie not faile.

Th' envoye of Fortune.

Princes I praie you of your gentilnesse,
Let not this man and me thus crie and plain,
And I shall quitin you this businesse,

And if ye liste releve hym of his pain, Praie ye his best frende of his noblenesse That to some bettir state he maie attain.

Lydgate was a monk of Bury, who wrote about the same time with Chaucer. Out of his prologue to his third book of The Fall of Princes a few stanzas are se lected, which, being compared with the style of his two contemporaries, will show that our language was then not written by caprice, but was in a settled state.

LIKE a pilgrime which that goeth on foote,
And hath none horse to releue his trauayle,
Whote, drye and wery, and may finde no bote
Of wel cold whan thrust doth hym assayle,
Wine nor licour, that may to him auayle,
Right so fare I which in my businesse,
No succour fynde my rudenes to redresse.

I meane as thus, I haue no fresh licour
Out of the conduites of Calliope,
Nor through Clio in rhetorike no floure,
In my labour for to refresh me :
Nor of the susters in noumber thrise three,
Which with Cithera on Parnaso dwell,
They neuer me gaue drinke once of their wel.

Nor of theyr springes clere and christaline, That sprange by touchyng of the Pegase, Their fauour lacketh my making ten lumine I fynde theyr bawme of so great scarcitie, To tame their tunnes with some drop of plentie

For Poliphemus throw his great blindnes, Hath in me derked of Arges the brightnes.

Our life here short of wit the great dulnes
The heuy soule troubled with trauayle,
And of memorye the glasyng broteines,
Drede and vncunning haue made a strong ba-
tail

With werines my spirite to assayle,
And with their subtil creping in most queint
Hath made my spirit in makyng for to feint.
And ouermore, the ferefull forwardnes
Of my stepmother called obliuion,
Hath a bastyll of foryetfulnes,
To stoppe the passage, and shadow my reason
That I might haue no clere direccion,
In translating of new to quicke me,,
Stories to write of olde antiquite.

Thus was I sct and stode in double werre At the metyng of feareful wayes tweyne, The one was this, who euer list to lere, Whereas good wyll gan me constrayne, Bochas taccomplish for to doe my payne,

Came ignoraunce, with a menace of drede,
My penne to rest I durst not procede.

Fortescue was chief justice of the Common-Pleas, in the reign of king Henry VI. He retired in 1471, after the battle of Tewkesbury, and probably wrote most of his works in his privacy. The following passage is selected from his book of The Difference betwcen an absolute and limited Monarchy.

HYT may peraventure be marvelid by some men, why one Realme is a Lordshyp only Royall, and the Prynce thereof ruly th yt by his Law, callid Jus Regale; and another Kyngdome is a Lordschip, Royall and Politike, and the Prince thereof rulyth by a Lawe, callyd Jus Politicum & Regale; sythen thes two Princes beth of egall Astate.

To this dowte it may be answeryd in this manner; The first Institution of thes twoo Realmys, upon the Incorporation of them, is the Cause of this di

versyte.

When Nembroth by Might, for his own Glorye, made and incorporate the first Realme, and subduyd it to hymself by Tyrannye, he would not have it governyd by any other Rule or Lawe, but by his own Will; by which and for th' accomplishment thereof he made it. And therefor, though he had thus made a Realme, holy Scripture denyyd to cal hym a Kyng, Quia Rex dicitur a Regendo; Whych thyng he dyd not, but oppressyd the People by Myght, and therfor he was a Tyrant, and callid Primus Tyrannorum. But holy Writ callith hym Robustus Venator coram Deo. For as the Hunter takyth the wyld beste for to scle and eate hym; so Nembroth subduyd to him the People with Might, to have their service and their goods, using upon them the Lordschip that is callid Dominium Regale tantum. After hym Belus that was callid first a Kyng, and after hym his Sone Nynus, and after hym other Panyms; They, by Example of Nembroth, made them Realmys, would not have them rulyd by other Lawys than by their own Wills. Which Lawys ben right good under good Princes; and their Kyngdoms a then most resemblyd to the Kyngdome of God, which reynith upon Man, rulyng him by hys own Will. Wherfor many Crystyn Princes usen the same Lawe;

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and therfor it is, that the Lawys sayen,
Quod Principi placuit Legis habet vigorem.
And thus I suppose first beganne in
Realmys, Dominium tantum kegale. But
afterward, whan Mankynd was more
mansuete, and better disposyd to Vertue,
Grete Communalties, as was the Feliship,
that came into this Lond with Brute,
wyllyng to be unyed and made a Body
Politike callid a Realme, havyng an Hced
to governe it; as after the Saying of the
Philosopher, every Communaltie unyed
of many parts must needs have an Heed;
than they chose the some Brute to be
their Heed and Kyng. And they and
he upon this Incorporation and Institu-
tion, and onyng of themself into a Realme,
ordeynyd the same Realme so to be rulyd
and justyfyd by such Lawys, as they al
would assent unto; which Law therfor
is callid Politicum; and bycause it is
mynystrid by a Kyng, it is callid Regale,
Dominium Politicum dicitur quasi hezi-
men, plurium Scientia, sive onsilio minis-
tratum. The Kyng of Scotts reynith
upon his People by his Lawe, videlicet,
Regimine Poltico & Regali.
Regali. And as
Diodorus Syculus saith, in his Boke de
priscis historis, The Realme of Egypte is
rulid by the same Lawe, and therfor the
Kyng therof chaungith not his Lawes,
without the Assent of his People. And
in like forme as he saith is ruled the
Kyngdome of Saba, in Felici Arabia, and
the Lond of Libie; And also the more
parte of al the Realmys in Afrike. Which
manner of Rule and Lordship, the sayd
Diodorus in that Boke, praysith gretely.
For it is not only good for the Prince,
that may thereby the more sewerly do
Justice, than by his owne Arbitriment;
but it is also good for his People that re-
ceyve therby, such Justice as they de-
syer themself. Now as me seymth, it
ys shewyd opinly ynough, why one Kyng
rulyth and reynith on his People Do
miniq tantum Kegali, and that other reyn-
ith Dominio Politico & Regal: For that
one Kyngdome beganne, of and by, the
Might of the Prince, and the other be-
gaune, by the Desier and Institution o
the People of the same Prince.

Of the works of Sir Thomas More i was necessary to give a larger specimen both because our language was then in great degree formed and settled, and be cause it appears from Ben Jonson, the his works were considered as models pure and elegant style. The tale, whic

is placed first, because earliest written, will show what an attentive reader will, in perusing our old writers, often remark, that the familiar and colloquial part of our language, being diffused among those classes who had no ambition of refinement, or affectation of novelty, has suffered very little change.

There is another reason why the extracts from this author are more copious: his works are carefully and correctly printed, and may therefore be better trusted than any other edition of the English books of that or the preceding ages.

A merry iest how a sergeant would learne to playe the frere. Written by maister Thomas More in hys youth.

WYSE men alway,

Affyrme and say,

That best is for a man:

Di igently,

For to apply,

The business that he can,

And in no wyse,

To enterpryse,
An other faculte,

For he that wyll,

And can no skyil,

Is neuer like to the. He that hath lafte, The hosiers crafte,

And falleth to making shone,
The smythe that shall,
To payntyng fall,

His thrift is welt nigh done.
A blacke draper,
With whyte paper,

To goe to writyng scole,
An olde butler,
Becum a cutler,

I wene shall proue a fole.

And an olde trot,
That can I wot,

Nothyng but kysse the cup,
With her phisick,
Wil kepe one sicke,

Tyll she haue soused hym vp.

A man of lawe,

That neuer sawe,

The wayes to bye and sell,
Wenyng to ryse,
By marchaundise,

I wish to spede hym well.
A marchaunt eke,
That wyll goo seke,

By all the meanes he may,
To fall in sute,
Tyll he dispute,

His money cleane away,
Pletyng the lawe,
For every strawe,

Shall proue a thrifty man,
With bare and strife,
But by my life,

I cannot tell you whan.
Whan an hatter
Wyll go smatter

In philosophy, Or a pedlar, Ware a medlar, In theology,

All that ensue,

Suche craftes new,

They driue so farre a cast, That euermore,

They do therfore,

Beshrewe themselfe at last.

This thing was tryed

And verefyed,

Here by a sergeaunt late,
That thriftly was,
Or he coulde pas,

Rapped about the pate,
Whyle that he would
See how he could,

A little play the frere:
Now yf you wyll, ·
Knowe how it fyil,

Take hede and ye shall here. It happed so,

Not long ago,

A thrifty man there dyed, An hundred pounde,

Of nobles rounde,

That had he lavd a side:

His son ne he wolde,

Should haue this golde,
For to beginne with all:
But to suffise

His chylde, well thrise,

That money was to smal. Yet or this day,

I have hard say,

That many a man certesse, Hath with good cast,

Be ryche at last,

That hath begonne with lesse.
But this yonge manne,
So well beganne,

His money to imploy,
That certainly,
His policy,

To see it was a joy,
For lest sum blast,
Myght ouer cast,

His ship, or by mischaunce, Men with sum wile,

Myght hym begyle,

And minish his substaunce, For to put out,

Al maner dout,

He made a good puruay,

Came ignoraunce, with a menace of drede,
My penne to rest I durst not procedc.

Fortescue was chief justice of the Common-Fleas, in the reign of king Henry VI. He retired in 1471, after the battle of Tewkesbury, and probably wrote most of his works in his privacy. The following passage is selected from his book of The Difference between an absolute and limited Monarchy.

HYT may peraventure be marvelid by some men, why one Realme is a Lordshyp only Royall, and the Prynce thereof rulyth yt by his Law, callid Jus Regale; and another Kyngdome is a Lordschip, Royall and Politike, and the Prince thereof rulyth by a Lawe, callyd Jus Politicum & Regale; sythen thes two Princes beth of egall Astate.

To this dowte it may be answeryd in this manner; The first Institution of thes twoo Realmys, upon the Incorporation of them, is the Cause of this di

versyte.

When Nembroth by Might, for his own Glorye, made and incorporate the first Realme, and subduyd it to hymself by Tyrannye, he would not have it governyd by any other Rule or Lawe, but by his own Will; by which and for th' accomplishment thereof he made it. And therefor, though he had thus made a Realme, holy Scripture denyyd to cal hym a Kyng, Quia Rex dicitur a Regendo; Whych thyng he dyd not, but oppressyd the People by Myght, and therfor he was a Tyrant, and callid Primus Tyrannorum. But holy Writ callith hym Robustus Venator coram Deo. For as the Hunter takyth the wyld beste for to scle and cate hymn; so Nembroth subduyd to him the People with Might, to have their service and their goods, using upon them the Lordschip that is callid Dominium Regale tantum. After hymn Belus that was callid first a Kyng, and after hym his Sone Nynus, and after hym other Panyms; They, by Example of Nembroth, made them Realmys, would not have them rulyd by other Lawys than by their own Wills. Which Lawys bon right good under good Princes; and their Kyngdoms a then most resemblyd to the Kyngdome of God, which reynith upon Man, rulyng him by hys own Will. Wherfor many Crystyn Princes usen the same Lawe;

and therfor it is, that the Lawy's sayen,
Quod Principi placuit Legis habet vigorem.
And thus I suppose first beganne in
Realmys, Dominium tantum Regale. But
afterward, whan Mankynd was more
mansuete, and better disposyd to Vertue,
Grete Communalties, as was the Feliship,
that came into this Lond with Brute,
wyllyng to be unyed and made a Body
Politike callid a Realme, havyng an Heed
to governe it; as after the Saying of the
Philosopher, every Communaltie unyed
of many parts must needs have an Heed;
than they chose the some Brute to be
their Heed and Kyng. And they and
he upon this Incorporation and Institu-
tion, and onyng of themself into a Realme,
ordeynyd the same Realme so to be rulyd
and justyfyd by such Lawys, as they al
would assent unto; which Law therfor
is callid Politicum; and bycause it is
mynystrid by a Kyng, it is callid Regale,
Dominium Poiticum dicitur quasi Kegis
men, plurium Scientia, sive Consilio minis-
tratum. The Kyng of Scotts reynith
upon his People by his Lawe, videlicet,
Regimine Politico & Regali.
And as
Diodorus Syculus saith, in his Boke de
priscis histories, The Realme of Egypte is
rulid by the same Lawe, and ther for the
Kyng therof chaungith not his Lawes,
without the Assent of his People.
in like forme as he saith is ruled the
Kyngdome of Saba, in Felici Arabia, and
the Lond of Libie; And also the more
parte of al the Realmys in Afrike. Which
manner of Rule and Lordship, the sayd
Diodorus in that Boke, praysith gretely.
For it is not only good for the Prince,
that may thereby the more sewerly do
Justice, than by his owne Arbitriment;
but it is also good for his People that re-
ceyve therby, such Justice as they de-
syer themself. Now as me seymth, it
ys shewyd opinly ynough, why one Kyng
rulyth and reynith on his People Do-
minio tantum Reguli, and that other reyn-
ith Dominio Politico & Regal: For that
one Kyngdome beganne, of and by, the
Might of the Prince, and the other be-
game, by the Desier and Institution of
the People of the same Prince,

And

Of the works of Sir Thomas More it was necessary to give a larger specimen, both because our language was then in a great degree formed and settled, and because it appears from Ben Jonson, that his works were considered as models of pure and elegant style. The tale, which

is placed first, because earliest written, will show what an attentive reader will, in perusing our old writers, often remark, that the familiar and colloquial part of our language, being diffused among those classes who had no ambition of refinement, or affectation of novelty, has suffered very little change.

A merry iest how a sergeant would learne to playe the frere. Written by maister Thomas More in hys youth.

WYSE men alway,
Affyrme and say,

That best is for a man:

Diligently,

For to apply,

The business that he can,

And in no wyse,
To enterpryse,

An other faculte,

For he that wyll,

And can no skyil,

Is neuer like to the.

He that hath lafte,
The hosiers crafte,

And fal'eth to making shone,

The smythe that shall,
To payntyng fall,

His thrift is well nigh done.

A blacke draper,
With whyte paper,

To goe to writyng scole,
An olde butler,

Becum a cutler,

I wene shall proue a fole.

And an olde trot,

That can I wot,

Nothy ng but kysse the cup,
With her phisick,
Wil kepe one sicke,

Tyll she haue soused hym vp.

A man of lawe,

That neuer sawe,

The wayes to bye and sell, Wenyng to ryse,

By marchaundise,

I wish to spede hym well. A marchaunt eke,

That wyll goo seke,

By all the meanes he may,
To fall in sute,
Tyll he dispute,

His money cleane away,
Pletyng the lawe,
For every strawe,
Shall proue a thrifty man,
With bare and strife,
But by my life,

I cannot tell you whan.
Whan an hatter
Wyll go smatter

There is another reason why the extracts from this author are more copious: his works are carefully and correctly printed, and may therefore be better trusted than any other, edition of the English books of that or the preceding

ages.

In philosophy, Or a pedlar, Ware a medlar, In theology, All that ensue,

Suche craftes new,

They driue so farre a cast, That euermore,

They do therfore,

Beshrewe themselfe at last.

This thing was tryed

And verefyed,

Here by a sergeaunt late,
That thriftly was,
Or he coulde pas,

Rapped about the pate,
Whyle that he would
See how he could,

A little play the frere:
Now yf you wyll,
Knowe how it fyl,

Take hede and ye shall here.

It happed so,

Not long ago,

A thrifty man there dyed, An hundred pounde,

Of nobles rounde,

That had he layd a side:
His socne he wolde,
Should haue this golde,
For to beginne with all:
But to suffise

His chylde, well thrise,

That money was to smal. Yet or this day,

I have hard say,

That many a man certesse, Hath with good cast,

Be ryche at last,

That hath begonne with lesse. But this yonge manne,

So well beganne,

His money to imploy,
That certainly,
His policy,

To see it was a joy,
For lest sum blast,
Myght ouer cast,

His ship, or by mischaunce, Men with sum wile,

Myght hym begyle,

And minish his substaunce, For to put out,

Al maner dout,

He made a good puruay,

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