¶ Of gentleness and nobility. A dialogue between the Marchaut the Knight and the ploughman disputing who is a very gentleman & who is a Noble man and how men should come to authority/ compilid in manner of an interlude with diverse toys & gifts added thereto to make merry pastime and disport. The merchant O what a great wealth and prosperity It is to any reme where merchants be Having free liberty and inteecourses also All merchandise to convey to and fro Which thing I have used and the very fet found And thereby gotten many a thousand pound Wherefore now be cause of my great riches Thoroughowt this land in every place doubtless I am magnified and greatly regarded And for a wise and noble man esteemed The knight Master merchant I here you right well But now in presumption me think ye excel To call yourself noble in presence here I iwis men know what your ancestors were And of what great stock descended ye be Your father was but a black smith perdie March. ¶ Why sir what then what be you I pray you Knight ¶ Marry I am a gentleman I would ye know And may dispend yearly v. C. mark land And I am sure all that ye have in hand Of yearly rent is not worth v. marks M ¶ But I would thou knewest for all thy krakkies I am able to buy now all the land That thou hast and pay for it out of hand Which I have got by mine own labour and wit K ¶ Yet art thou but a churl and I have a scorn Thou shuldist compare with me a gentleman born M ¶ Why what callyst thou a gentleman tell me K ¶ Marry I call them gentlemen that be Born to great lands by inheritance As mine ancestors by continuance Have had this v. C. year of whom now I Am desendid and common lineally bearing the same name and arms also That they bore this v. C. year ago Mine ancestors also have ever be lords Knights and in great authority captains in the war and governors And also in time of pease great rulers And thine were never but artysycers As smythꝭ masonꝭ carpenters or wevars M ¶ All that is truth I will not deny now Yet I am more gentleman born than thou For I call him a gentleman that gently Doth give unto other men lovingly Such thing as he hath of his own pper But he that taketh aught away from another And doth give him no thing again therefore ought to be called a churl evermore But mine ancestors have giffyn alway To thine ancestors such thing as they By their labours did truly get and win For mine ancestors bildid howsis wherein Thine ancestors have had their dwelling place Also mine ancestors have made tolis To all manner crafty men belonging Whereby clothes and every other thing Where of thine ancestors need have had With the same tolies have ever be made So mine ancestors have gyffin their labours Ever to comfort and help thine ancestors K ¶ I deny that ever thancestors of thine Did ever give to the ancestors of mine At any time any thing except that they Gafe some what therefore other ware or money M ¶ Marry god a mercy john for that now That is even a pig of our own sow How can lords & estatis have aught in store Except thartificers do get it before For all metalis be digged furst by miners And after wrought by the artificers will fell and every other thing That is necessary to man's covering And all other things that men use & were Is all weigh made by the artificer K I grant that the artificers do make it But be cause commonly they have little wit gentlemen that have lands & dominion Of all such riches have most possession For reason will ever it should so be wise men to have fools in captivity M Marry as for wit & subtle invencyou Mine ancestors with thine may make conꝑison For though my father were a smith what than yet was he a marvelous quick wyttyd man And could work as well for his part As any in this land using that art And devise new fashions in things that he made That every man to buy his ware was glad And carve & grave in iron & steel Both Image & letters marvelously weal And there on lay gold & guilt it also fine & pure as any gold smith could do My grauntfader also was a mason Of great wit as any in this region And could build a castle & tower right well In which some of thy kinsmen now do dwell where in appeareth right good masonry with images & arms wrought curiously My great graundfadyr lo was a weaver Of wollyn yarn & of other gear And made marvelous pleasant works to behold Lynyn dyaꝑ silk & cloth of gold All such subtle things as I have rehearsed lo Mine ancestors by their wyttis could work & do And as for thine ancestors I know no thing They could do by their wits worth of praising But use occupi & waste ever more Such things as mine ancestors 〈◊〉 before And thou & thy ancestors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of such things wrought 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of other men oughtist not be praised therefore But the praise ought to be given ever more To the artificer which by his wit It devised and so cunningly wrought it wherefore if thou say that wit & polesy Be the things pertaining to gentry Thine ancestors may never compare with, mine For their actis prove them wiser than thine For thine did never no thing in their days Concerning quick wit that was worthy prays K yes I wis lewd javel I would thou knewest it Mine ancestors have had more wisdom & wit Than thine have had & could do also Many things that thine could never do for in the country at sessions and size They have be elect to be justice And for their wit and great discretion They have judged and done correction Upon thine ancestors artificers That have made false wares & been dysseyvers And holp for to maintain every thing That is to the common weith pertaining They have been also in time of war Both in this land & other courreys far Dukrs & leaders of the hole army And by their wyttis & warly policy Study forecast & diligent travail Have won many a great filled & battle And thine ancestors that were there were never able to bear shield nor spear And were never but soldiers & pioneers Nor never had wisdom to be rulers But because mine ancestors have ever be discrete & wise they have had anctoryte M Nay nay thine ancestors came never all To authority for wisdom pnncypall For though some were wise yet some of them again Had small discretion little wit or brain But because of the long contynuannce Of their great possessions by inheritance By the foolish manner of the world we see For that cause ever they have had authority K And I say that good reason agreeth to it For though the father have no great wit The sone that is wise should never the more Lose his land or authority therefore For he that by study diligences & pain great lands or possessions doth attain His own life is to short & to light For to take the fruit of his merit Reason would therefore that after his life His heirs before strangers have progatyfe And the continuance of such possessions maketh noble men & gentle conditions And they whose blood hath long continued As gentlemen so they should be honoured And so mine ancestors long time have be great possyssyoners and in authority Therefore considering my great lineage My blood my noble birth and parentage Thou art not able to compare which me Nother in gentleness nor in nobility ¶ Here the plouman cometh in with a short whip in his hand & speaketh as followeth Blow. ¶ Nowhere is bybbyll babbyll clytter clatter I heard never of so foolish a matter But by God's body to speak the troth I am better than other of you both K Avaunt canker de churl fro whence commyst thou P Marry foolish peevish daw even fro my plough Now sayest woldyst any thing there withal M ye marry thou lewd villain & rud rascal It is for the full ill beseeming To ꝑturb any gentlemen's talking P ¶ gentlemen ye gentlemen Jack hearing Put your shone in your bosom for wearing I account myself by God's body Better than you both and more worthy K Avaunt knave get the out of the gate Or I shall lay my sword on thy pate P That shall I prove I make god avow Never in better time have at the now Et verberat eos M Now hold thy hand fellow I the pray And harkyn what I shall to the say P Say knave say what canst say M Hold thy hand I pray the & come no narr I am a merchant & no man of war K Thou art not honest I tell the plainly To make any quarrel here so suddenly To ꝑturb our communication P Here ye may see sirs by God's passion Two proud fools make a crakking And when it cometh to point dare do no thing M Our coming hither & our intent is not to fight but by way of argument Every man to show his opinion To see who could show the best reason To prove himself noble & most gentleman P By god all the reasons sith ye began That ye have made thereof be not worth a fly K ¶ No sir I pray the than tell me why P ¶ Furst as touching nobleness I say Theridamas is neither of you both did prove or lay any of your acts whereby that ye Should in reason prove you noble to be Or thereby deserve any manner praising But all the effect of your arguing To prove your nobleness was but only Of the deddies & actis of your ancestry And of the actis that your ancestors did before ye at the nobler never the more K ¶ As touching myself I dare make compison Of as noble deeds as he hath any done For I am & have been one of the chivalry At the commandment of my prince everredy And every time of war have be captain And leader of a. M. men or twain And with horse & harness spear and shield Have joydyd my body in every field The rentis of my lands have spend liberally And kept a great house continually And holp to ponyssh thieves & bribers alway To the great tranqaylyte of my contrary And you master merchant wit never take labour Except it be for your profit and lucoure Blow. Go to go to now master merchant There is a reason that giveth you a taunt I trow more than you can answer well M ¶ Nay I iwis pyvysh & rude Jack javel I can make an answer so substantially where to neither of you is able to reply K If thou canst answer my reason do M That can I well do. P. Then go to fool go to M I say the common well of every land In feet of marchauntdyse doth principally stand For if our commodities be uttered for nought In to strange landis and no riches brought Hydyr therefore/ we should come to beggary And all men dryffyn to life in misery Then we noble merchants that in this ream be what a great wealth to this land do we we utter our wares & by theirs good cheap And bring them hither that great profit And pleasure daily cometh to this region Too all manner people that here do won furthermore ye see well with your eyes That of straying lands the commodities we have such need of them that be there That in no wise we may them for bear As oil sylkis frutis & spices also Gold silver yryn & other metal is more All drammys & druggys' longing to physic which men must needs have when they be seek which in this ream can not well grow Our country is to cold & not hot I now which out which things we should life in misery And oft times for lak of them we should die And I spend my studi & labour continually And cause such things to come hither daily For the comfort of this land & comen wealth And to all the people great, pffer & health And for such noble deeds reason will than That I ought to be called a noble man And neither of you both that here now be In nobleness may accompare with me P Now well it by god's body well hit Of one that hath but lyttyll wit Answer me one word furst I pray the what is the noblest thing that can be K what sayst thou thereto thy self let see P Is not that the noblyst thing in deed That of all other things hath lest need As god which beynith etern in bliss Is not he the noblest thing that is K yes marry no man in reason can that deny P ¶ well than there is no reason thereof why But because he is the thing omnipotent And is in him self so sufficient And needeth the help of no nothyr thing To the help of his glorious being But every other thing hath need of his aid M ¶ Marry that is very truth & well said P And likewise that thing that hath most need Is the thing that is most wretched So suffycyency is ever nobleness And necessity is ever wretchedness And he that hath more need of that thing For the preservation of his living Then his fellow hath his fellow must nedis be By this same reason more noble than he what than. P. by the same reason it proveth lo ye be but caytyffꝭ & wrechiss both two And by the same reason prove I shall That I am the noblyst man of us all For I have need of no manner thing That ye can do to help of my lyffing For every thing whereby ye do life I noryss it & to you both do give I blow I till & I stir the ground whereby I make the corn to abound whereof there is made both drink & bred who the which daily ye must nediss be fed I noryss the cattles & fowls also Fyssh & herbis & other thyngie more Fell hair & will which the bestis do bear I noryssh & preserve which ye do were which if ye had not no doubt ye should Starve for sak of clothes because of cold So both you should die or live in necessity If ye had not comfort & help of me And as for your fine cloth & costly array I cannot see why ye ought or may Call yourself noble because ye were it which was made by other menis labour & wit And also your delicate drinks & viand By other menis labours be made so pleasand Therefore master merchant now to you I sei I can not see but I am able & may life without you or your purveyance Live without you or your purveyance For of food & cloth I have suffisance Of myself for lyffing necessary And now sir knight to you I say plainly I see not that ye can any thing do For the common well or aught longing thereto But each man being in authority Having wit may do it as well as ye Therefore to speak now of necessity Theridamas is neither of you both but ye be In more need than I therefore I say plain I am more noble than other of you twain Now that is a foolish reason so god me save For by the same reason thou wouldst have Every best fish & other foul than To be more noble of birth than a man For man hath more need of bodily covering Than they have for they need no thing The bestis have hair & also a thick skin The fish skalis or shelis to keep their bodies in The foulis fethirs & so every thing By nature hath his proper covering Save man himself which is born all naked And therefore he should be than most wretched P ¶ Marry no man can make a better reason For that is a sure & a true conclusion For if a child when he is furst born were not holp & covered he were soon lorn He hath no strength to help him never a dell yet bestis have power to help themself well ¶ So considering man's body in deed A best is more noble & man more wretched Be cause he hath need of many more things Than bestis have to help of their lyffyngis Also man must daily labour & sweet To get him sustenance as drink & meet The ground he must dig & the bestis kill For breed and meet his body to fill Grapis frutis and herbis norssh diligently To make good drynkis to refresh his body But all brute bestis have covering natural sufficient to cover their bodies with all And find their food ever on the ground ready with out any pain labour or study So every man by reason of his body Is more wretched & in more misery Than bestis be/ yet thus not withstanding Man is most noble of creaturis living Not by his body for that is impotent But by his soul being so excellent For by reason of his soul intyllectyve He subde with all other bestis alive And compelleth all other bestis that be By his wit to relieve his necessity But bestis have no wit themself to defend Nor can get no more than god hath them send For take any best that weryth here And do clip it of bare against winter That best hath no manner of policy To get other covering for his body Of cloth nor skins nor hath no wit To put it upon him though one have made it Nor can build no house nor kyndyl no fire To warm his body if need should require But yet a man hath wit & understanding For to help himself in every such thing So man for his soul intellectual Is most noble creature of bestis all M ¶ That is a very good & preguant reason yet me thynkith thou makest a degression From the argument that we furst began which was to prove who was most gentleman which we disputed I would thou haddist heard it P ¶ Tussh I hard what ye said everi whit K ¶ Then show thy reason therein or thou go P ¶ Nay be god I have some what else to do I must go by me a halfpennyworth of gross The spokes of my cart therewith to dress Trow ye that I will leave my business For your babeling pomp & foolishness Nay by scent marry I will not do so For I can now to the merket go And for an haipeny as much gross by As shall cost me in our town a penny And I tell the plainly which out any boast A halfpenny is as well saved as lost P ¶ Straw for an halfpenny therein is no waist Tarry with us a while phapps thou mast By our acquaintance now here get more Than thou getest with thy cart this monyth before P ¶ Straw for thy council turd a fart Trowist I will give up my plough or cart And follow thy foolish appityte and mind Nay I am not yet so mad nor so blind For when I am at my cart of plough I am more merrier than other of you I would not change my life nor my lyffing For to be made a great lord or a king There is no joy nor pleasure in this world here But hill belly fill and make good cheer Be if prince lord gentleman or knave Hit is all the joy that here be can have But these covetous and ambitious wretches They set there minds in honour and riches So much that they be never content So they life ever in pain and torment But a man that can this means find To have food and cloth and a merry mind And to desire no more than is needful That is in this world the life most joyful Which life in this world no man shall acquire Till he subdue his insatiate desire M ¶ I see well thou has a cursed apish wit Then if thou wilt departed I pray the yet Come again when thy bisines is do P ¶ For what intent now should I do so M ¶ For we will in hour old argument proceed Who should be called a gentleman in deed And we would be glade to here thy reason P ¶ I will come again upon a condition That ye will wait upon me both twain And be not out of the way when I come again K ¶ We will not be far hens P. then I will not fail M ¶ Then I pray the let not the pmise quail P ¶ Lo here is my finger now trust me well I will come again if I have my hele For by god I promise you one thing I am as true of my word as the King But if I find you not here then by my trough I shall call you oppenly false knaves both M ¶ Thou shalt find us true in every thing P ¶ I think so/ except lying and stealing K Then far well for a season a dew Then far ye well both I dare say as true As some that be tied in newgate M well now he is gone god speed well his gate But what shall we do now the mean season K Let us take now some recreation And come again here and keep our pointment M Now thereto I am right well content And in the meayn wile good lord of thy grace Preserve all the people here in this place Amen Finis prime partis ¶ Secunda pars The Plouman P Here I may walk and wander to and fro But I see not them which I would speak to M Yes by road here we be both twain To whom thou dydyst promise to meet here again To dispute the question that we began which of us could prove him most gentleman K Thou seydest thou heardest our arguments all P so did I neither good nor substantial For thy foolish and pyvysh opinion was because of the great dominion Of the landis and rentis where to thou wast bore which thine ancestors had long time before Thou thinkest thyself a gentleman to be Ant that is a foolish reason seemeth ne For when adam dolf and eve span who was then a gentleman But than came the churl and gathered good And there began furst the gentle blood And I think verily ye do believe That we came all of adam and eve Then to speak by reason great possessions Make no gentlemen but gentle conditions That is the cause and best reason why One should be called a gentleman truly And forthermor mark well this reason then If a man's ancestors have be gentlemen And virtuous and good to common well That aught to be reputed never addle To the praise of the child which doth refuse Such good conditions & the contrary use But he ought to be dispraised the more Because his ancestors hath showed him before A precedent of gentleness & virtue which good example he doth not infew For the gentleness of hysblode clery In him doth decay & utterly die So he that useth conditions virtuous Though that his ancestors were vicious Ought not to be dispraised therefore But aught to be honoured & praised the more K yet me thinketh more honour should be given To him which is of noble blood & kin P Then if thou wilt look honoured to be Be cause of thy blood then mark well & see The vylyst beggar that goth by the door Had ye not both one god & creature ye came of one furst stock & progeny Both of adam & eve ye will not deny The beggar & thou were both do wtles Lonseyvyd & born infylth & uncleanness Thy blood & the beggars of one colour be Thou art as apt to take sickness as he if thou be in the body wounded Thy flesh is as ill as his to be healed Alas I have known many or this So proud of their birth that all theyrlyffies would give them to no labour nor learning which brought them to miserable ending That in poverty wretchedly did die Or fallen to theft & hanged therefore full high So I say virtue & good conditions than Is that which maketh the very gentleman And though the father may bequeath to his son its riches his land & his possess yond yet may he nothyr give nor vequeth Unto him in no wise after his death His virtue nor his gentle conditions They can not descend as other possessions And if thou wilt be a gentleman needs Thou must then use virtue & gentle deeds K Why desire men than praise evermore Of the acts of their ancestors done before P One cause there of is for lak of learning They ꝑseyve not the reason of the thing Another is be cause there be many That call themself gentlemen unworthy which life voluptuously & bestial And do no good in the world at all But lice in pride sloth & unthrystynes And be cause they have no manner goodness Nor property nor virtue in them where by Any man should think them any praise worthy Therefore they seek for commendation Of the actis that their ancestors have done M Then Imeruell men desire to be called Of the blood of them that excelled In worldly honour as kings & emperors where some were tyrantꝭ some were conquerors And few desire to be called of their blood which have been called Just men virtuous & good And used indifferent justice & equity meekness abstynens or wilful poverty P if I should tell the the very cause true It is because they love no such virtue which virtue & gentle conditions should be Longing to gentlemen of property K If gentle conditions be the cause lo Tken will I compare with both you two For I have used ever gentle manner And so have mine ancestors that before were For fursto: all when this world began Long after theridamas were but few people than Men had sufficient of every thing with out great labour for food & clothing All thing was in common among them doubtless But after ward when people did increase Ich man to increase his pleasure & volupte Of goods & lands desired property whereof great sttyf & debate did arise Then such as my ancestors were that werewyse Did studi to make laws how the people might be Lyssing together in pease & unity And against enmiys alway defended The people that tilled the ground & laboured The people pseyving than their goodness Their great wit discretion & gentleness were content to gift them ꝑt of the profit Coming of their lands which they did get As corn cattles & such thynꝭ as they won But after when that coin of money began They changed those sevenuse & were content To gift them in money an amnyell rend So for their good & vetteous conditions They came furst to landꝭ & possessions So possessions began & were furst found Upon a good & reasonable ground P By goggꝭ sweet body thou liest falsely All possessions began turst of tyranny For when people began furst to increase Some gave themself all to Idylnes And would not labour but take by violence That other men got by labour & diligence Than they that laboured were fain to gift Them ꝑt of their gettingꝭ in peace of life Or ellis for their lands money a portion So possessions began by extortion And when such extorsyoners had oppressed The labouring people than they ordained And made laws marvelous straight & hard That their heyris might enjoy it afterward So the law of inhetyaunce was furst begun which is a thing against all good reason That any inheritance in the world should be K That is a shameful opinion seemeth me For when I have laboured & by great study Got & purchased lands truly It is good reason that I have liberty To gift those lands to whom it liketh me Or ellis to let them descend lynyyally To my child or cousin of my blood most nigh For inheritance must needs be a good thing Because so much good thereof is proceeding Every man to his blood such love doth bear Because the land shall descend to his heir Be will build thereon & the land improw And make corn & grass to increase & grow Graft fruit set trecs & nourish timber And to increase fyssh make pondies with water Stok busshiss & weeds which dystroy herbage And all barren ground bring to tillage And amend the high ways that be there about And do many other good dediss no doubt For the profit of his heirs that shallbe And for the common wealth of his country which things surely he would never intend if the land should not to his heir descend P ¶ By thy reason no nothyr thing is meant But a good deed upon an evil intent when men for love or pride do such good dediss The devil therefore shall quit them their medys' K whither god or the devil quit them therefore Is now to our purpose never the more For their myndis & intentꝭ no man can tell But touching in heritance this I wots well Much good cometh thereof & dayli doth grow P Nay much Ill cometh thereof I shall prove how For these men that be of great possessions Unto their blood have such affections If any land like them that lieth nigh them Of their poor neghbors they will destroy them Or by extort means they will them compel The land for half the worth to them to sell And when they lake money they will alway Ever borrow & never willing to pay And when they shall die ye see the experience Few of them have remorse of consyens To make any manner restitution Of any land so wrongfully gotten K Thou hast spoke fore against gentlemen But what sayst thou of marchaundꝭ than P Many be good and worshipful also And many charitable dediss they do build churcs & amend the high ways Make alms houses & help many decays But some be coverous & full falsely Get their good is by dysseyt & usury And when they have a. M. li. in their coffers They will rathyr suffer their neyghbers To starve for hunger & cold & to die Or they will gift to help them a penny And yet more over when any of them be promoted to rule or authority They dysdayn all learning law & reason And jug all by will & affection M Thou art but a railer to speak so sore Again gentlemen & merchants evermore Be not plowmen & other that dryfe the cart And such rustical fellows as thou art Falls shrews & life as viciously also As gentlemen of lands & merchants do K yes this vylleyn carters almost echon Have neither conscience nor devotion For bribe & steel every thing they will If they may secretly come theruntyll And as for prayer & divine service They love them in no manner wise Nor never would labour nor work do If need of lyffing drove them not thereto P yet gentlemen & the rich merchants that be Use much more vice & iniquity M why thinkest all merchants & gentlemen nought P Nay I say not so that is not my thought I am not yet so foolish nor so mad For I know many good though some be bad yet some will suffer his debts unpaid to be And die and jeoꝑd his soul rather than he wyil any of his lands minish and impair That should after his death come to his heir And some of them so proud be of their blood And use small virtue and do little good But gift all their minds and their study To opprese the poor people by tyranny And some of them think this for a surety It is the most honour to them that can be To the able for to do extortion And to maintain it without punition K By goggrs' sweat body thou art a stark knave Noble men and gentlemen so to deprave P what thou proud whoreson fool whom dost thou knave I trow thou wouldest a good blow or two have with a good whypstoke to tech the courtesy K avant beggarly knave I the defy P what wilt thou wage battle by & by now That shall I prove straight I make god avow Et hic verberat eos M Keep the peace masters hold your hands for shame To make this business ye be greatly to blame ye will dysturb all this hole company P Nay marry it is a cause to make them merry To walk such a proud fool is but sport & gane K By cokkys body were not for worldly shame I should cut thy flesh or ellis see thy heart blood M Sir hold your tongue your words be nothing good we lose here with this lewd altercation Much good pastime and recreation P why what better pastime her canst thou have Then to here one to call an other knave And see such a proud fool walked with a whip M But I love it not therefore of fellowship Leave this brabbling and with good argument Try the matter that is nost convenient P Nay I will try it how so ever he will Be it with words or dedis I will answer him still For be god if he will not be content To be concluded by good argument I will conclude him one way or that I go Or I shall prove it on his pate that shall I do K Thou spekyst lyk a clerk that hath little wit when a case is put if he can not soil it By no manner reason that he can lay Then will he answer him this wise & say Beware what ye say sir now I advise you for it is treason or herysy that ye speak now To th'intent to rebuke him openly Before the unlearned people that stand thereby And if he can no colour of such thing find Then will he vex and chafe in his mind And cast out some lewd words of quarreling To torn the hole matter to chiding & fighting And so dost thou now like one that were mad P Nay I would thou knewest thou foolish lad I am neither mad nor drunken yet For mine opinion I have well proved it By substantial reason and argument That inheritance is not convenient And showed better reasons than thou canst do K Nay thy reasons may soon be answered unto For god defend that estates of inheritance Should be destroyed for by that good ordinance gentlemen of lands undoubtedly Bring up their children full honourably Some put to the school to learn cunning To instruct the people in virtuous living Some made to be active in martial dedis Able to defend the land when need is And the rustical people that have no land Such things be not able to take in hand wherefore if we should destroy inheritance we should destroy all good rule and ordinance P But such men as have great rentis and lands And no estate but term of their lives And every thing thereon will nourish and save For the great zeal & love that they only have To the common wealth of their country And for god sake lo these people be they That be worthy to have possessions And such people of virtuous conditions And no nother should be chosen governors & they should have landꝭ to maintain their honour's Term of their lives as long as they take pain For the common wealth this is good reason plain So that noman ought to have any land But such as be apt and have charge in hand For the common wealth as princes and rulers Bysshoppis curatis preachers and teachers judges ministers and other officers That of the common wealth be executors And valiant men of the chivalry That be bound to defend the people daily Such men as be apt to all such things Should have lands to maintain their lyffyngꝭ So inheritance is not dreaming To let them have lands that can do no such thing Nor I think it not reasonable neither One man to life by labour of another For each man is borne to labour truly As a bird is to i'll naturally Nor a man ought not to have such liberty To lief lands to his child where by that he Shall lust for to life in sloth & gluttony compelled to do nought but life voluptuously M There is always good remedy for that That is to compel them to do some what So that each man having inheritance Have some auctoryce and governance wherein he should take pain and business To coustrayn him to eschew idleness P Then this great mischief should follow of hit Oft times they should rule that have little wit Or disposed to be proud & covetous Or to life after their lusts voluptuous which if such men had authority Many things no doubt miss ordered should be where justice should be/ there would be tyranny where peace should be war debat & envy So there is no good reason that I can see To prove that any inheritance should be K yes that shall I prove by good authority For read in the bible and thou shalt therein see God said to abraham tibi dabo Terram hanc et semine tuo which is as much to say to expound it true I shall gift this land to the and thine issue Here is a good prove that it was god's will. That Abraham and his blood should continue still As possessyoners and have the governance Of that land as their proper inheritance P Thou answerest me now even like a fool As some of these fond clerks that go to school when one putteth of them a subtle question Of phylozophy to be provide by reason when they have all their wits & reason spend And can not tell how their part to defend Than they will allege some authority Of the laws or else of devynite which in no wise men may deny And yet ye know well that of phylozophy The principles oft contraryant be Unto the very groundꝭ of devynite For the phylozophers agree here unto Quod mundus fuit semper ab eterno And devynies quoth in principio oim Creavit deus terram et celum But thou didst promise openly even now Only by natural reason to prove how That inheritance ought for to be had M ¶ By gogs body sirs I hold you both mad ye be like some woman that I know well when they would any matter unto a man tell They will tell twenty tallies by the way Nothing to purpose to the matter that they Did furst intend to tell and declare And in like manner now both ye do fare For ye dispute now whytheyr inheritance Be a reasonable thing or a good ordinance which is a matter no thing pertaining To the question moved at the begynnying For the question was which of us all three Could prove himself most gentleman to be K As touching that we have all spoke & said Ich man for his part as much as can be said P Nay I have yet reasons last whereby I can prove myself of us all most gentleman That neither of you both can void by reason M If thou have aught ellis to say now speak on P Then to you both answer me this short clause Is not gentle conditions the most principal cause To make one to be a gentleman K Peradventure it may be so what than peradventure qd a Nay I shall prove that by examples many on For music maketh one a musician Grammar to be good gramareon And also geomytry a god geometryeyon And chorlysh conditions a churl for to be And so of every other estate & degree And where gentle conditions be doubtless In any person there is gentyllnes Than as virtue maketh a good man So gentle conditions a gentleman M All those poyntis I think must needs granted be what arguyst more therot forth let us see P How sayst than to pride wrath & ennuy K They be nought & evil I think verily P what is meekness pacyens & charity K everichone a gentle & good ꝓꝑte P what is covetous & liberality K The furst good the other nought for surety P what is gluttony sloth & lechery K They be nought all who can that deny P what abstynens good business & chastity K Uerteous & gentle properties they be P Sith ye have granted this I shall prove plain I am a gentleman so is none of your ●●ayn Furst for pride your raiment showeth what ye be L. i. For ye will never be content except that ye Have the finest cloth & silk for to were Of orient colours & all your gear So costly/ your housys' gilt gloriously As though ye would therein yourself deyfy ye covet evermore goods lands & rent what so ever ye get yet never content wrathful ye be moved to anger anon And envious disdaining every man And as for me I am content alway with a poor cottage & simple array I dysdayn no man & yet patiently Can suffer to be called knave and not angry Sometime I call him knave again in haste And when I have said my anger is passed ye have your beddies so pleasant & soft wherein ye ease yourself to long and to oft which maketh your bodies so tender to be that ye can not endure labour like me with no manner course food ye will be fede But with pleasand wines & most whitest breed with flesh & fish most dylycate & fat All frutis & spices that can be got And when ye have had such pleasant refections To assuage your carnal insurrections what so ever she be wife widow or maid If she come in the way she shallbe assayed M Thou liest sklanderours churl for I think of troth Thou usyst such vyse more than we both P Nay by cokkꝭ body I use no such life For I am content with black maud my wife Trow ye that I care for these nice proud primmies These painted popagays that hold up their chynnꝭ And look so smoterly as who say they would Have every man woe them that doth them behold Tote man for all such venereal work As good is the foul as the fair in the dark K Thou sayest true/ drafe is good Enough for swine P yet thou answerest to no reason of mine K Thy reasons all right well answer I can For I say it be cometh a noble man To have rich apperel & clothing And goodly houses of costly building And that each man according to his degree Be known from other and what they be For if such costly things were not made work for poor people could never be hade And many folkis than should fall to Idylnes which is the mother of vice and wretchedness P ye but I delight no such vanytese worldly I delight neither in sloth nor gluttony I dig and delfe & labour for my living Never ydyll but somewhat ever doing Daily I ren and go bear sweet & swynk I eat brown breed and drink small drink Content with course meat what so ever it be so it quench the hunger it suffysyth me These points I use which I have rehearsed now Be not these gentle conditions I pray you M If thou use them need compelleth the thereto For if thou couldest hardli thou would other wise do P what I would do then ye can not tell It is not to purpose but this I wots well Sith that I use my life in such good manner with such gentle conditions expressed here More than ye both do still continuing And sith that gentle conditions is the thing To make a gentleman the cause principal wherein I use my life most of us all who can by any reason deny than But that I am of us all most gentleman K In faith if thou be gentleman therefore Thou art a gentleman again thy will full sore M Sith I see he standeth in his own consait so well That opinion we shall never expel From him by no argument nor reason Therefore now for a little season Let us deꝑt from him I hold it best Than we shall have with him some rest K I agree thereto for caton saith this Contra verbosas noli cotendere verbis Contend nor argu never in no matter which him that is full of words and clatter M wherefore for a season let us both deꝑt K I am agreid thereto with all mine heart P why sirs than will ye deꝑt & be gone M ye that we will farewell for a season For to tarry here longer we see no great cause Et exeant Then far ye well as wise as two dawies And I pray god send you such grace both twain To be stark cockcoldꝭ or ye come again Now masters they be both gone away Therefore one word now hark what I say we see well now by plain experience when a man is set in a wilful credens All to fortify his own opinion If god himself than would with him reason In effect it shall no more avail Than which a whip to dryfe a snail Therefore no remedy is that I can see For evil men that be in authority But let them alone till god will send A time till our governors may intend of all enormities the reformation And bring in their handis the rod of correction And the reforming of injuries themself see And will say precysely thus it shall be For exortations teaching and preaching Jesting and railing they mend no thing For the amendment of the world is not in me Nor all the great arguments that we three Have made sith we reasoned here together Do not prevail the weight of a feather For the helping of any thing that is amiss we can not help it then sith it so is I will let the world wag & home will I go And dryf the plough as I was wont to do And pray god send us peace I will no far mell Therefore masters all now far ye well Hic miles & mercator iterum intrant K Now by my troth I am glad that is he gone M And so am I by sweet saint john I heard not a chorll this six year Show so cursed reasons as he hath done here For the maintenance of his opinion yet he his deceived for all his reason For it is necessary that rulers be To have posseyons to maintain their degree And those few to dryfe the multitude all of the other people to labour to fall For if the rulers drof them not thereto The people would be ydyll & nothing do And most reason is that governance Should come to such rulers by inheritance Rather than to have them choose by election Oft times by dread meed and affection Men of evil conscience that great tyrants be Reed old cronyclys the prove ye shall see And though they have great wit and learning Yet so proud they be thereof they fear nothing Nother god nor man but evermore still which out council or advise follow their own will But they that by inheritance rulers be Though they have no great learning yet we see yet maketh them more fearful & better content To follow wise men's council and advisement And sith that it hath been so long contynned inheritors to have rule and so long used And that they have ruled by as discretion As the other that have be chose by election If that order of rule by succession of blood Should be destroyed it should do hurt & no good M That reason is so great no man can debar Nevertheless that churllysh knave that carter After his fond opinion thinketh thus Himself more gentleman than us K And therein he lieth for by expiens we see That gentle conditions most comenly be In them that be of noble blood borne For take twenty carters which never were before acquainted let them be to guider Take twenty straying gentlemen in like manner These churlish carters I dare well say will not agree to guider scant one day which out chiding quarrelling or fighting ychone will steel from other and be pyking And strife which of them at the skot shall pay lest And endeavour them who can play the knave best But these gentlemen I warrant you will study who can show to other most courtesy And of their gentleness will pfer to pay For the other and show what pleasures they may So touching gentleness I say surely Men of great birth use it most comynly M There can be no truer saying nor sentence And the cause thereof we see by expience For these poor wretches that have no thing Must be nygardies churlyth and spayring But gentlemen be taught to be liberal And so they may be for they have where with all K And as touching nobleness that argument which the ploughman made late puyth evident That gentlemen borne to land must needs be For suffyency of most nobility For beside God's gifts of grace & of nature As wit and bodily stryngh yet they be sure Of other riches as of land and rent To avoid need so they be more sufficient of themself than other poor people doubtless Then if need of strange help cause wretchedness And suffysauns be cause wretchedness M A better reason no man can devise And yet farther I think likewise He that hath great abundance of riches May use liberality and gentleness And also it is ever necessary That some life in wealth and some in misery And let churllies babble and say what they will Hit hath been so ever and will be so still For it is almighty God's purveyance wise men of fools to have the governance And they that rule well I beseech Ihesu Send them good life & long to continue Amen. The Philosopher ye soferayns all discrete & excellent Before whom this dialog showed hath be Touching three points by weigh of argument Furst what is gentleness & what nobility And who should be chose to high authority This questions they be so high and sottell Few dare pnsume to define them well ¶ Yet I think now under your corrections The thing that maketh a gentleman to be is but virtue & gentle conditions which as well in poor men oft times we see As in men of great birth of high degree And also vicious churlyssh conditions May be in men born to great possessions ¶ And further as touching nobility yet standeth much part I think doubtless An suffycyencye reason doth agree But that suffisance making nobleness Must needs he annexed unto goodness For suffysauns is not the cause principal That god his noble but his goodness withal ¶ So virtue is ever the thing principal That gentleness & nobleness doth ensue Then these hedys' rulers & governors all Should come thereto be cause of their virtue And in authority they ought not continue Except they be good men discrete & wise And have a love & zeal unto justice ¶ wherefore sovereigns all that here present be Now mark well these reasons here brought in Both against men of high & of low degree For this intent only to rebuke sin For the best weigh that is for one to begin To convert the people by exhortation is to persuade them by natural reason ¶ For when that a man by his own reason juggyth himself for to offend That grudgeth his conscience & gyffyth compunction Into his heart to cause him amend But such blind bestis that will not intend To here no good council nor reason Ought by thee law to have sharp correction ¶ But then if the laws be not sufficient which have be made & ordained before To gift there fore condign punishment The princes & governors be bound evermore To cause new laws to be made therefore And to put such men in auctocyte That good men Just & indifferent be ¶ But because that men of nature evermore Be frail & following sensuality it is impossible in a manner therefore For any governouss that be in authority At all times Just & indifferent to be Except thes be bridled & thereto compelled By some straight laws for them devised ¶ As thus that no man such room occupy But certain years & than to be removed yet that while bound to attend diligently And if he offend & surely proved with out any favour that he be punished For the ponysshment of a judge or office Doth more good than of thousand other ¶ And until that such orders be devised substantially/ and put in execution Look never to see the world amended Nor of the great mischiefs the reformation But they that be bound to see the things done I pray god of his grace put in their minds To reform shortly such things amiss ¶ And though that I myself now praise Thus mine opinion have published Or any of my fellows hare in this place In any point here have us abused we beseech you to hold us excused And so the author hereof requireth you all And thus I commit you to god eternal. AMEN. Iohens rastell me fieri fecit Cum privilegio regali.