,transcriber's note3 ,the original text has no page numbers4 ,page breaks have been marked with double lines like this4 ,three apparent typographic errors were corrected and are listed at the end of this text4 ,all other spelling and punctuation are as in the original4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,c,two dyaloges wrytten in laten by the famous clerke4 ,d4 ,eras- mus of ,roterodame_/ one called ,polyphemus or the gospeller_/ the other dysposyng of thynges and names_/ translated in to ,englyshe by ,edmonde ,becke4 ,and prynted at ,cantorbury in saynt ,paules paryshe by ,joh ,mychell4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the preface to the ,reader4 ,lucius ,anneus ,seneca amonge many other pratie saienges 7gentle reder7 hathe this also1 whiche in my iudgement is as trew as it is wittie4 ,rogdo cogit qui rogat superior4 ,and in effecte is thus moch to say1 yf a mnes superior or his better desyre any thige1 he might aswell cmde it by authoritie as ones to desyre it4 ,a gentleman a nere cosyn of myne1 but moch nerer in fryndshyp1 eftesones dyd instant and moue me to translate these two dyaloges folowynge1 to whose getlenes ,i am so moch obliged1 indetted and bounde1 that he myght well haue cmaunded me to this and more paynes3 to whome ,i do not onely owe seruyce1 but my selfe also4 ,and in accplysshynge of his most honest request 7partly by cause ,i wolde not the moost inhumane fawte of ,ingratitude shuld worthely be imputed to me1 that ,i might in this thynge also 7accordynge to my bounden dutie7 gratifie my frende7 ,i haue hassard my selfe in these daungerous dayes1 where many are so capcyous1 some prone and redy to malygne depraue1 and fewe whose eares are not so festidious1 tendre1 and redy to please1 that in very tryfles thynges of small importaunce1 yet exacte dylygence and exquisite iudgement is loked for and requyred1 of them whiche at this present wyll attempte to translate any boke be it that the matter be neuer so base4 ,but what diligence ,i have enployed in the translaci hereof ,i referre it to the iudgement of the lerned sort1 whiche cferynge my translacion with the laten dyaloges1 ,i dowte not wyl condone and pardone my boldnesse1 in that that ,i chalenge the semblable lybertie whiche the translatours of this tyme iustlie chalenge4 ,for some heretofore submytting them selfe to seruytude1 haue lytle respecte to the obseruaci of the thyng which in translacy is of all other most necessary and requisite1 that is to saye1 to rendre the sence the very meanyng of the author1 not so relygyouslie addicte to translate worde for worde1 for so the sence of the author is oftentimes corrupted depraued1 and neyther the grace of the one tonge nor yet of the other is truely observed or aptlie expressed4 ,the lerned knoweth that euery tonge hathe his peculyer proprietie1 phrase1 maner of locucion1 enargies and vehemcie1 which so aptlie in any other tg can not be expressed4 ,yf ,i shal perceyue this my symple doinge to be thankefully taken1 and in good parte accepted1 it shall encorage me hereafter to attempte the translaci of some bokes dysposing of matters bothe delectable1 frutefull1 expedient to be knowen1 by the grace of ,god1 who gyuynge me quyetnes of mynde1 lybertie1 and abylytie1 shall not desyste to communicat the frute of my spare howers1 to such as are not lerned in the laten tonge3 to whome ,i dedycat the fyrste frutes of this my symple translacyon4 99 99 99 99 99 ,a declaracion of the names4 ,poliphemus sygnifieth1 valyant or noble1 and in an other sygnifi- cacion1 talcatyfe or clybbe of tong4 ,the name of a ,gyant called ,cyclops1 ha- uynge but one eye in his forhed1 of a huge stature and a myghtie personage4 ,and is aplyed here to sygnifie a great freke or a lubber1 as this ,poliphemus was1 whiche beynge a man of warre or a courtyer1 had a newe testament in his hande1 and loked buselie for some sentence or text of scrypture and that ,cannius his company espyed and sayd to h as fo- loweth4 99 99 99 99 99 ,c,the parsons names are ,cannius and ,poliphemus4 ,cannius4 what hunt ,polipheme for here8 ,poliphemus4 ,aske ye what ,i hunt for here1 and yet ye se me haue neyther dogges1 dart1 ,jauelyn1 nor huntyng staffe4 ,cannius4 ,paraduenture ye hunt after some praty nymphe of the couert4 ,poliphemus4 ,by my trouth and well coniectured1 be holde what a goodly pursenet1 or a hay ,i haue here in my hande4 ,cannius4 ,benedicite1 what a straunge syght is this1 me thinke ,i se ,bachus in a lyons skin1 ,poliphemus with a boke in his hande4 ,this is a dogge in a doblet1 a sowe with a sadle1 of all that euer ,i se it is a non decet4 ,poliphe4 ,i haue not onely paynted and garnyshed my boke with saffron1 but also ,i haue lymmed it withe ,sinople1 asaphetida1 redleed1 vermil1 and byse4 ,can4 ,it is a warlyke boke1 for it is furnished with knottes1 tassils plates1 claspes1 and brasen bullyons4 ,poliphe4 ,take the boke in your hand and loke within it4 ,canni4 ,i se it wery well4 ,truly it is a praty boke1 but me thynkes ye haue not yet trymmed it sufficiently for all your cost ye have bestowed upon it4 ,poliphe4 ,why what lackes it8 ,canni4 ,thou shuldest haue set thyne armes upon it4 ,poliphemus4 what armes ,i beseche the8 ,cnius4 ,mary the heed of ,silenus1 an olde iolthed drunkard totynge out of a hoggeshed or a tunne1 but in good ernest1 wherof dothe your boke dyspose or intreate8 dothe it teache the art and crafte to drynke a duetaunt8 ,poli4 ,take hede in goddes name what ye say lest ye bolt out a blasphemie before ye be ware4 ,cnius4 why bydde ye me take hede what ,i saye8 is there any holy matter in the boke8 ,poli4 what m it is the gospell boke1 ,i trow there is nothynge can be more holye4 ,cannius4 ,god for thy grace what hathe ,poliphemus to do withe the gospell8 ,poli4 ,nay why do ye not aske what a chrysten man hathe to do with christe8 ,cannius4 ,i can not tell but me thynkes a rousty byll or a halbard wold become such a great lubber or a slouyn as thou arte a great deale better1 for yf it were my chace to mete such one and knewe him not upon seeborde1 and he loked so lyke a knaue and a ruffy as thou dost ,i wolde take hym for a pirate or a rouer upon the see_/ and if ,i met such one in the wood for an arrante thefe1 and a man murderer4 ,poli4 yea good syr but the gospell teache vs this same lesson1 that we shuld not iudge any person by his loke or by his externall outwarde apparaunce4 ,for lyke wyse as many tymes vnder a graye freers coote a tyrannous mynde lyeth secretly hyd1 eue so a polled heed1 a crispe or a twyrled berde1 a frowninge1 a ferse1 or a dogged loke1 a cappe1 or a hat with an oystrich fether1 a soldyers cassocke1 a payre of hoose all to cut and manglyd1 may couer an euangelycall mynde4 ,cannius4 why not1 mary ,god forbyd elles1 yea many tymes a symple shepe lyeth hyd in a wolfes skynne1 and yf a man maye credite and beleue the fables of ,aesope1 an asse maye lye secretely unknowen by cause he is in a lyons skynne4 ,poliphe4 ,naye ,i knowe hym whiche bereth a shepe vpon his heed1 and a sore in his brest1 to whome ,i wold wysshe with al my hart that he had as whyte and as fauorable frendes as he hathe blacke eyes4 ,and ,i wolde wisshe also that he were as well guylt ouer and ouer as he hathe a colour mete to take guyltynge4 ,canni4 ,yf ye take hym to were a shepe vpon his heed1 that weareth a cappe of woll1 howe greuously than art thou lodyn1 or what an excedynge heuy burd bearest thou then ,i praye the whiche bearest a hoole shepe and an ostryche to vpon thy heed8 ,but what saye ye to h doth not he more folyssly which beareth a byrd vpon his heed1 and an asse in his brest4 ,poliphemus4 ,there ye nypped taunted me in dede4 ,cannius4 ,but ,i wolde saye this geere dyd wonderous wel yf this gospel boke dyd so adourne the with vertue as thou hast adourned lymmed1 and gorgiously garnysshed it with many gay goodly glystryng ornamentes4 ,mary syr thou hast set it forth in his ryght colours in dede1 wolde to god it might so adourne the with good cdicis that thou myghtest ones lerne to be an honest man4 ,poli4 ,there shall be no defaute in me1 ,i tell you ,i wyll do my diligence4 ,can4 ,naye there is no doute of that1 there shall be no more faute in you now ,i dare say then was wonte to be4 ,poli4 ,yea but 7youre tarte tauntes1 and youre churlysshe checkes1 and raylynges set asyde7 tell me ,i pray the this one thynge1 do you thus disprayse1 condempne1 or fynde faute with them whiche caryeth aboute with them the newe testament or the gospel boke8 ,canni4 ,no by my fayth do ,i not good praty man4 ,poliphe4 ,call ye me but a praty one and ,i am hygher then you by ye length of a good asses heed4 ,can4 ,i thynke not fully so moche yf the asse stretch forth his eares1 but go to it skyllis no matter of that1 let it passe1 he that bare ,christ vpon his backe was called ,christofer1 and thou whiche bearest the gospell boke aboute with the shall for ,poliphemus be called the gospeller or the gospell bearer4 ,polip4 ,do not you counte it an holy thynge to cary aboute with a man the newe testament8 ,cni4 why no syr by my trouth do ,i not1 except thou graunte the very asses to be holy to4 ,poli4 ,how can an asse be holy8 ,cannius4 ,for one asse alone is able to beare thre hundreth suche bokes1 and ,i thynke suche a great lubber as thou art were stronge inoughe to beare as great a burden1 and yf thou had a hansome packesadle sette vpon thy backe4 ,poliphe4 ,and yet for all your iestynge it is not agaynst good reason to saye that ye asse was holy which bore christ4 ,cannius4 ,i do not enuye you man for this holynes for ,i had as lefe you had that holynes as ,i1 and yf it please you to take it ,i wyll geue you an holy a religious relyke of the selfe same asse whiche christ rode vpon1 and whan ye haue it ye may kysse it lycke it and cull it as ofte as ye lyst4 ,poli4 ,mary syr ,i thanke you1 ye can not gyue me a more thanckefull gyfte nor do me a greatter pleasure1 for that asse withouten any tayle was made as holye as any asse could be by the touchynge of christes body4 ,cannius4 ,undouted they touched christes body also whiche stroke and buffeted christ4 ,poliphe4 yea but tell me this one thynge ,i praye the in good ernest4 ,is it not a great sygne of holynes in a man to cary aboute the gospel boke or the newe testament8 ,cannius4 ,it is a token of holynes in dede if it be done without hypocrysie1 ,i meane if it be done without dissimulacion_/ and for that end1 intent purpose1 that it shuld be done for4 ,poliphe4 ,what the deuyl a morten tellest thou a man of warre of hypocrisie1 away with hypocrisie to the monkes and the freers4 ,cannius4 ,yea but bycause ye saye so1 tell me fyrste ,i praye you what ye call hypocrisie4 ,po4 ,when a man pretendis another thyng outwardly then he meanis secretly in his mynde4 ,cannius4 ,but what dothe the bearynge aboute of the newe testament sygnyfie4 ,dothe it not betoken that thy lyfe shulde be conformable to the gospell which thou carryest aboute with the4 ,poli4 ,i thynke well it dothe4 ,cannius4 ,wel then when thy lyfe is not conformable to the boke1 is not that playne hypocrisie4 ,poliph4 ,tell me th what you call the trewe carienge of the gospell boke aboute with a man4 ,cni4 ,sme men beare it aboute with them in theyr hdes 7as the gray freers were wonte to beare the rule of saynt ,fraunces7 and so the porters of ,lond1 ,asses horses may beare it as well as they4 ,and there be some other that carry the gospel in theyr mouthes onlie1 and such haue no other talke but al of christ and his gospell1 and that is a very poynt of a pharysey4 ,and some other carrye it in theyr myndes4 ,but in myne opynion he beares the gospell boke as he shuld do whiche bothe beares it in his hande1 cmunes of it with his mouth whan occasyon of edyfyenge of his neyghboure whan conuenyent oportunytie is mynystred to him1 and also beares it in his mynde and thynkes vpon it withe his harte4 ,poli4 ,yea thou art a mery felow1 where shall a man fynde suche blacke swnes8 ,cannius4 ,in euery cathedrall church1 where there be any deacons1 for they beare the gospel boke theyr hde1 they synge the gospell aloude1 somtyme in a lofte that the people may heare th1 althoughe they do not vnderstand it1 and theyr myndes are vp it when they synge it4 ,polphe4 ,and yet for all your sayenge all suche deacons are no saynttes that beare the gospell so in theyr myndes4 ,cannius4 ,but lest ye play the subtyle and capcious sophystryar with me ,i wyll tell you this one thynge before4 ,no man can beare the gospell in his mynde but he must nedes loue it from the bothum of his harte1 no man loueth it inwardly and from the both of his harte but he must nedes declare and expresse the gospell in his lyuinge1 outwarde maners1 behauour4 ,poli4 ,i can not skyll of youre subtyle reasonynges1 ye are to fyne for me4 ,can4 ,th ,i wyll commune with you after a grosser maner1 and more playnly4 yf thou dyddest beare a tankard of good ,reynyshe wyne vpon thy shulders onelye1 what other thynge were it to the then a burden4 ,poliphe4 ,it were none other thynge truly1 it is no great pleasure so beare wyne4 ,cannius4 ,what and yf thou dranke asmoche as thou coudest well holde in thy mouthe1 after the manner of a gargarisme spyt it out agayne4 ,po4 ,that wolde do me no good at all1 but take me not with suche a faute ,i trow1 for the wyne is very bad and if ,i do so4 ,canni4 ,but what and yf thou drynke thy skynne full as thou art wont to do1 wh thou comest where good wyne is4 ,poliphe4 ,mary there is nothyng more godly or heuynly4 ,cannius4 ,it warmes you at the stomacke1 it settes your body in a heate1 it makes you loke with a ruddy face1 and setteth your hart vpon a mery pynne4 ,poliphe4 ,that is suerly so as ye saye in dede4 ,canni4 ,the gospell is suche a lyke thynge of all this worlde1 for after that it hathe ones persed entered in the veynes of the mynd it altereth1 transposeth1 and cleane changeth vpsodowne the whole state of m1 and chaungeth hym cleane as it were into a nother man4 ,polip4 ,ah ha1 nowe ,i wot wherabout ye be1 belyke ye thke that ,i lyue not accordynge to the gospell or as a good gospeller shulde do4 ,cannius4 ,there is no man can dyssolue this questi better then thy selfe4 ,poli4 ,call ye it dissoluynge8 ,naye and yf a thynge come to dyssoluynge gyue me a good sharpe axe in my hande and ,i trow ,i shall dyssolue it well inoughe4 ,canni4 ,what woldest thou do1 ,i praye the1 and yf a man shulde say to thy teth thou lyest falsely1 or elles call the by thy ryght name knaue in englysshe4 ,poli4 ,what wolde ,i do quod he1 that is a question in dede1 mary he shulde feele the wayghte of a payre of churlyshe fystes ,i warrant the4 ,canni4 ,and what and yf a man gaue you a good cuffe vpon the eare that shulde waye a pounde8 ,poliphe4 ,it were a well geuen blowe that wolde aduauntage hym4 xx4 by my trouthe and he escaped so he myght say he rose vpon his ryght syde1 but it were maruayle ,i cut not of his head harde by his shulders4 ,canni4 ,yea but good felowe thy gospell boke teacheth the to geue gentle answers1 and fayre wordes agayne for fowle1 and to hym that geueth the a blowe vpon the ryght cheke to holde forth the lyfte4 ,poliphe4 ,i do remembre ,i haue red suche a thinge in my boke1 but ye must pardone me for ,i had quyte forgotten it4 ,can4 ,well go to1 what saye ye to prayer ,i suppose ye praye very ofte4 ,poli4 ,that is euyn as very a touche of a pharesey as any can be4 ,cannius4 ,i graunt it is no lesse th a poynte of a pharesey to praye longe and faynedly vnder a colour or pretce of holynes1 that is to saye when a man prayeth not fr the bothum of his hart but with the lyppes only and from the tethe outward1 and that in opyn places where great resort of people is1 bycause they wold be sene4 ,but thy gospel boke teacheth the to praye contynually1 but so that thy prayer come from the bothu of the hart4 ,poli4 ,yea but yet for all my sayenge ,i praye sumtyme4 ,can4 ,when ,i beseche the when ye art a slepe8 ,poli4 ,when it cometh in to my mynde1 ones or twyse may chaunce in a weke4 ,can4 what prayer sayst thou8 ,poliphe4 ,the lordes prayer1 the ,pater noster4 ,canni4 ,howe many tymes ouer8 ,poli4 ,onis1 ,i trowe it is often inoughe1 for the gospell forbyddeth often repetynge of one thynge4 ,canni4 ,can ye saye your pater noster through to an ende haue youre mynde runnynge vpon nothynge elles in all that whyle8 ,poli4 ,by my trouthe and ye wyll beleue me ,i neuer yet assayed nor proued whether ,i coulde do it or no4 ,but is it not sufficient to saye it with my mouthe8 ,can4 ,i can not tell whether it be or no4 ,but ,i am sure god here vs not excepte we praye from the bothum of our harte4 ,but tell me another thyng ,i wyll aske the4 ,doest thou not fast very often8 ,poli4 ,no neuer in all my lyfe tyme and yf it were not for lacke of meate4 ,can4 ,and yet thy boke alowes and commendes hyghly bothe fastynge and prayer4 ,polip4 ,so coulde ,i alowe them but that my belly can not well affare nor a way with fastyng4 ,cannius4 ,yea but ,paule sayth they are not the seruauntes of ,iesus ,christe whiche serue theyr belly make it theyr god4 ,do you eate fleshe euery day8 ,po4 ,no neuer when ,i haue none to eate1 but ,i neuer refuse it when it is set before me1 and ,i neuer aske question not for cscience but for my belly sake4 ,can4 ,yea but these stronge sturdy sydes of suche a chuffe and a lobbynge lobye as thou arte wolde be fed well inoughe with haye and barke of trees4 ,poliphe4 ,yea but chryste sayd1 that which entereth in at the mouthe defyleth not the man4 ,canni4 ,that is to be vnderstand thus yf it be measurably taken1 and without the offendinge of our christian brother4 ,but ,paule the disciple of chryst had rather peryshe sterue with hunger then onys to offende his weyke brothren with his eatynge1 and he exhorteth vs to followe his example that in all thynges we maye please all men4 ,poli4 ,what tel ye me of ,paule1 ,paule is ,paule and ,i am ,i4 ,cannius4 ,do you gladly helpe to releue the poore and the indygent with your goodes8 ,poli4 ,howe can ,i helpe them whiche haue nothynge to gyue them1 and scant inoughe for my selfe4 ,cannius4 ye myght spare somthynge to helpe th with yf thou woldest playe the good husband in lyuynge more warely1 in moderatynge thy superfluous expenses1 and in fallynge to thy worke lustely4 ,poliphemus4 ,nay then ,i were a fole in dede1 a penyworth of ease is euer worth a peny1 and nowe ,i haue found so moch pleasure in ease that ,i can not fall to no labour4 ,canni4 ,do you kepe the commaundementes of god8 ,polip4 ,nowe ye appose me1 kepe the cmaundementes quod he1 that is a payne in dede4 ,cannius4 ,art thou sory for thy synnes and thyne offences1 doest thou ernestly repent the for th4 ,poliphemus4 ,christ hath payed the raunsome of synne and satisfied for it alredy4 ,cannius4 ,howe prouest thou then that thou louest the gospell and fauoris the word of god as thou bearest men in hande thou doest4 ,poliphemus4 ,i wyll tell you that by by1 and ,i dare saye you wyl confesse no lesse your selfe then that ,i am an ernest fauorer of the worde then ,i haue told you ye tale4 ,there was a certayne gray frere of the order of saynt ,fraunces with vs whiche neuer ceased to bable and rayle agaynste the newe testament of ,erasmus1 ,i chaunsed to talke with the gtylman pryuatly where no man was present but he and ,i1 and after ,i had communed awhyle with hym ,i caught my frere by the polled pate with my left hande and with my right hde ,i drew out my daggar and ,i pomelled the knaue frere welfauardly aboute his skonce that ,i made his face as swollen and as puffed as a puddynge4 ,cannius4 what a tale is this that thou tellest me4 ,poliphemus4 ,how say you is not this a good and a sufficient proue that ,i fauer the gospell4 ,i gaue hym absolucion afore he departed out of my handes with this newe testament thryse layde vpon his pate as harde as ,i myght dryue yt ,i made thre bunches in his heed as bygge as thre egges in the name of the father1 the sone1 the holy goost4 ,can4 ,now by my trouth this was well done lyke a ryght gospeller of these dayes4 ,truly this is as they saye to dyffende the gospell with the gospell4 ,poliphe4 ,i met another graye frere of the same curryshe couent1 that knaue neuer had done in raylynge agaynst ,erasmus1 so sone as ,i had espyed hym ,i was styrred and moued with the brenninge zele of the gospell that in thretenyng of him ,i made hym knele downe vpon his knees and crye ,erasmus mercie and desyred me to forgyue hym1 ,i may saye to you it was hyghe tyme for hym to fall downe vpon his marybones1 and yf he had not done it by and by ,i had my halbarde vp redy to haue gyuen hym betwyxt the necke and the heade1 ,i loked as grymme as modie ,mars when he is in furyous fume1 it is trewe that ,i tell you1 for there was inoughe sawe the frere and me yf ,i wolde make a lye4 ,cannius4 ,i maruayle the frere was not out of his wyt4 ,but to retourne to oure purpose agayne1 dost thou lyue chastly8 ,poliphemus4 ,peraduenture ,i maye do here after when ,i am more stryken in age4 ,but shall ,i confesse the trouthe to the8 ,canni4 ,i am no preest man1 therfore yf thou wylt be shryuen thou must seke a preest to whome thou maye be lawfully confessed4 ,poliphe4 ,i am wont styl to cfesse my selfe to god1 but ,i wyl confesse thus moche to the at this tyme ,i am not yet become a perfyte gospeller or an euangelical man1 for ,i am but yet as it were one of ye cmune people1 ye knowe wel perde we gospellers haue iiii4 gospels wrytten by the 4iiii4 euangelystes1 suche gospellers as ,i am hunt busely1 and chefely for 4iiii4 thynges that we may haue4 ,unde4 to prouyde dayntie fare for the bellie1 that nothynge be lackynge to that parte of the body whiche nature hath placed vnder the belly1 ye wote what ,i meane1 and to obtayne and procure suche liuinge that we may lyue welthely and at pleasure without carke care4 ,and fynally that we maye do what we lyst without checke or controlment1 yf we gospellars lacke none of all these thynges we crye and synge for ioye1 amonge our ful cuppes ,io ,io we tryumphe and are wonderfull frolycke1 we synge and make as mery as cup and can1 and saye the gospell is a lyue agayne ,chryst rayneth4 ,cannius4 ,this is a lyfe for an ,epycure or a god belly and for no euangelicall persone that professeth the gospell4 ,poli4 ,i denye not but that it is so as ye saye1 but ye knowe well that god is omnipotent and can do al thynges1 he can turne vs wh his wyll is sodenly in to other maner of men4 ,cannius4 ,so can he transforme you in to hogges and swyne1 the whiche maye soner be done ,i iudge th to chaunge you into good men for ye are halfe swynyshe hoggyshe alredy1 your lyuynge is so beastlie4 ,poliphe4 ,holde thy peas m wolde to god there were no men that dyd more hurt in the world then swyne1 bullockes1 asses1 and camelles4 ,a m may se many men now adayes more crueller then lyons1 more rauenynge th wolues1 more lecherous then sparous1 and that byte worse then mad dogges1 more noysom th snakes1 vepers and adders4 ,cannius4 ,but nowe good ,polipheme remembre and loke vpon thy selfe for it is hyghe tyme for the to laye a syde thy beastly lyuynge1 and to be tourned from a brute and a sauage beast in to a man4 ,poliphemus4 ,i thanke you good neyghbour ,cannius for by saynt ,mary ,i thynke your counsayle is good_/for the prophetes of this tyme sayth the worlde is almost at an end1 and we shall haue domes daye 7as they call it7 shortely4 ,cannius4 ,we haue therfore more nede to prepare our selues in a redines agaynst that day1 and that with as moche spede as maye be possible4 ,poliphemus4 as for my part ,i loke and wayte styll euery day for the myghty hande and power of christ4 ,cannius4 ,take hede therfore that thou1 when christ shall laye his myghty hande vpon the be as tendre as waxe1 that accordynge to his eternall wyll he maye frayme fashyon the with his hande4 ,but wherby ,i praye the dothe these prophetes coniecture gather that the worlde is almost at an ende4 ,poliphe4 ,bycause men 7they saye7 do the selfe same thinge nowe adayes that they dyd1 and were wont to do which were lyuynge in the worlde a lytle whyle before the deluge or ,noyes floode4 ,they make solempne feastes1 they banket1 they quaffe1 they booll1 they bybbe1 they ryot men mary1 wome are maryed1 they go a catterwallynge and horehuntinge1 they bye1 they sell1 they lend to vserie1 and borowe vpon vserie1 they builde1 kges keepe warre one agaynst another1 preestes studie howe they maye get many benefyces and promocis to make them selfe riche and increase theyr worldly substaunce1 the diuynes make insolible sillogismus and vnperfyte argumtes1 they gather conclusyons1 monkes and freers rne1 at rouers ouer all the world1 the comyn people are in a mase or a hurle burle redy to make insurrections1 and to conclude breuelie there lackes no euyll miserie nor myschefe1 neyther hger1 thyrst fellonie1 robberie1 warre1 pestilence1 sedici1 derth1 and great scarsytie and lacke of all good thynges4 ,and howe say you do not all these thynges argue and sufficientlie proue that the worlde is almost at an ende8 ,cannius4 ,yea but tell me ,i praye the of all thes hoole hepe of euyls and miseries whiche greueth the moste8 ,poliphemus4 ,whiche thynkes thou1 tell me thy fansie and coniecture8 ,cannius4 ,that the ,deuyll 7god saue vs7 maye daunce in thy purse for euer a crosse that thou hast to kepe h for the4 ,poliphe4 ,i pray god ,i dye and yf thou haue not hyt the nayle vpon the head4 ,now as chaunceth ,i come newly from a knotte of good companye where we haue dronke harde euery man for his parte1 ,i am not behynde with myne1 and therfore my wytte is not halfe so freshe as it wyll be1 ,i wyll dyspute of the gospell with the whan ,i am sobre4 ,canni4 ,when shal ,i se the sobre8 ,poli4 ,when ,i shall be sobre4 ,cannius4 ,wh wyll that be8 ,poliph4 ,when thou shalt se me1 in the meane season god be with you gentle ,cannius and well mot you do4 ,cannius4 ,and ,i wyshe to you a gayne for my parte that thou ware in dede as valiaunt or pusaunt a felowe as thy name soundeth4 ,poliphe4 ,and bycause ye shall lose nothynge at my hande with wyshynge ,i pray god that ,cannius maye neuer lacke a good can or a stoope of wine or bere1 wherof he had his name4 ,f ,i ,n ,i ,s 99 99 99 99 99 ,c,the dialoge of thynges and names4 ,a declaracion of the names4 ,beatus1 is he whiche hathe abun dance of al thinges that is good1 and is parfyte in all thynges commen- dable or prayseworthy or to be desyred of a good man4 ,somtyme it is ta- ken for fortunate1 ryche1 or noble4 ,bonifacius1 fayre1 full of fauor or well fauored4 99 99 99 99 99 ,c,the parsons names are ,beatus and ,bonifacius4 ,beatus4 ,god saue you mayster ,boniface4 ,bonifacius4 ,god saue you god saue you agayne gtle ,beatus4 ,but ,i wold god bothe we were such1 and so in very dede as we be called by name1 that is to say thou riche ,i fayre4 ,beatus4 ,why do you thynke it nothynge worth at al to haue a goodly glorious name4 ,bonifacius4 ,truely me thynke it is of no valure or lytle good worthe1 onles a man haue the thynge itselfe whiche is sygnified by the name4 ,beatus4 ,yea you maye well thynke your pleasure1 but ,i am assured that the most part of all mortall men be of another mynde4 ,bonifa4 ,it may wel be ,i do not denye that they are mortal1 but suerly ,i do not byleue that they are me1 which are so beastly mynded4 ,bea4 ,yes good syr and they be men to laye your lyfe1 onlesse ye thynke camels and asses do walke about vnder the fygure and forme of men4 ,boni4 ,mary ,i can soner beleue that then that they be men whiche esteme and passe more vpon the name1 then the thynge4 ,bea4 ,i graunte in certayne kyndes of thinges moost men had rather haue the thynge then the name1 but in many thynges it is otherwyse and cleane ctrary4 ,bo4 ,i can not well tell what ye meane by that4 ,bea4 ,and yet the example of this matter is apparant or sufficiently declared in vs two4 ,thou arte called ,bonifacius and thou hast in dede the thynge wherby thou bearest thy name4 ,yet if there were no other remedy but eyther thou must lacke the one or the other1 whether had you rather haue a fowle and deformed face or elles for ,boniface be called ,maleface or horner8 ,boni4 ,beleue me ,i had rather be called fowle ,thersites then haue a monstrous or a deformyed face1 whether ,i haue a good face or no ,i can not tell4 ,bea4 ,and euen so had ,i for yf ,i were ryche and there were no remedy but that ,i must eyther forgoo my rychesse1 or my name ,i had rather be called ,irus whiche was a poore beggers name then lacke my ryches4 ,boni4 ,i agree to you for asmoch as ye speake the trouth1 and as you thynke4 ,bea4 ,iudge all them to be of the same mynde that ,i am of whiche are indued with helthe or other commodities and qualities appartaynynge to the body4 ,boni4 ,that is very trewe4 ,bea4 ,yea but ,i praye the csyder and marke howe many men we se whiche had rather haue the name of a lerned and a holy man1 then to be well lerned1 vertuous1 holy in dede4 ,boni4 ,i knowe a good sorte of suche men for my part4 ,bea4 ,tell me thy ftasie ,i pray the do not suche men passe more vpon the name then the thinge8 ,boni4 ,methynke thy do4 ,bea4 ,yf we had a logician here whiche could well and clarkelie defyne what were a kynge1 what a bysshoppe1 what a magistrate1 what a philosopher is1 paduture we shuld find som amg these iolly felowes whiche had rather haue the name then the thynge4 ,boni4 ,surely so thynke ,i4 ,yf he be a kinge whiche by lawe and equyte regardes more the commoditie of his people then his owne lucre_/yf he be a bisshop which alwayes is careful for the lordes flocke cmytted to his pastorall charge_/yf he be a magistrate which frankelie and of good wyll dothe make prouysyon1 and dothe all thinge for the comyn welthes sake_/and yf he be a phylosopher whiche passynge not vpon the goodes of this worlde1 only geueth hym selfe to attayn to a good mynde1 and to leade a vertuous lyfe4 ,bea4 ,lo thus ye may perseyue what a nombre of semblable exples ye may collecte gether4 ,boni4 ,undouted a great sorte4 ,bea4 ,but ,i pray the tel me wyll you saye that all these are no men4 ,boni4 ,nay ,i feare rather lest in so sayenge it shulde cost vs our lyues1 and so myght we our selues shortelye be no men4 ,bea4 ,yf man be a resonable creature1 howe ferre dyffers this from all good reason1 that in cmodities apertayning to the body 7for so they deserue rather to be called then goodnes7 and in outwarde gyftes whiche dame fortune geues and takes awaye at her pleasure1 we had rather haue the thynge then the name1 and in the true and only goodnes of the mynd we passe more vpon the name then the thynge4 ,boni4 ,so god helpe me it is a corrupte and a preposterours iudgement1 yf a man marke and consyder it wel4 ,bea4 ,the selfe same reason is in contrarie thinges4 ,boni4 ,i wolde gladly knowe what ye meane by that4 ,bea4 ,we maye iudge lykewyse the same of the names of thynges to be eschued1 and incommodites which was spoken of thynges to be diffyred and cmodites4 ,boni4 ,nowe ,i haue considered the thynges well1 it apereth to be euen so as ye saye in dede4 ,bea4 ,it shulde be more feared of a good prynce to be a tyraunt in dede then to haue the name of a tyraunt4 ,and yf an euyll bysshop be a thefe and a robber1 then we shulde not so greatly abhorre and hate the name as the thynge4 ,boni4 ,eyther so it is or so it shuld be4 ,bea4 ,nowe gather you of the rest as ,i haue done of the prynce the bysshop4 ,boni4 ,me thynkes ,i vnderstande this gere wonderouse well4 ,bea4 ,do not all men hate the name of a fole or to be called a moome1 a sotte1 or an asse8 ,boni4 ,yeas as moche as they do any one thynge4 ,bea4 ,and how saye you were not he a starke fole that wold fishe with a gold bayte1 that wolde preferre or esteme glasse better then precious stones1 or whiche loues his horse or dogges better then his wyfe and his chyldr8 ,boni4 ,he were as wyse as waltoms calfe1 or madder then iacke of ,redyng4 ,bea4 ,and be not they as wyse whiche not assygned1 chosen1 nor yet ones appoynted by the magistrates1 but vpon theyr owne heed aduenture to runne to the warres for hoope of a lytle gayne1 ieoperdynge theyr bodyes and daungerynge theyr soules8 ,or howe wyse be they which busie th selfe to get1 gleyne1 and reepe to gyther1 goodes and ryches when they haue a mynde destitute and lackyng all goodness8 ,are not they also euen as wyse that go gorgyously apparylled1 and buyldes goodly sumptuous houses1 when theyr myndes are not regarded but neglect fylthye and with all kynde of vyce fowle corrupted8 ,and how wyse are they whiche are carefull diligent and busie1 about the helthe of theyr body neglectynge and not myndynge at all theyr soule1 in daunger of so many deedly synnes8 ,and fynally to conclude howe wyse be they whiche for a lytle shorte transytorye pleasure of this lyfe deserue euerlastynge tormentes and punyshementes8 ,boni4 ,euen reason forseth me to graunt that they are more then frtyke and folyshe4 ,bea4 ,yea but althoughe all the whole worlde be full of suche fooles1 a man can scaselye fynde one whiche can abyde the name of a foole1 and yet they deserue to be called so for asmoche as they hate not the thynge4 ,boni4 ,suerly it is euen so as ye seye4 ,bea4 ,ye knowe also howe the names of a lyar and a thefe are abhorred and hated of all men4 ,boni4 ,they are spyteful and odious names1 and abhorred of all men1 and not withe out good cause why4 ,bea4 ,i graunte that1 but althoughe to commyt adulterie be a more wycked synne then thefte yet for al that some men reioyse and shewe them selfe glad of that name1 whiche wolde be redy by and by to drawe theyr swerdes and fyghte withe a man that wolde or durst call them theues4 ,boni4 ,it is true there are many wolde take it euyll as you saye in dede4 ,bea4 ,and nowe it is commyn to that poynt that thoughe there are many vnthryftes and spdals whiche consume theyr substaunce at the wyne and vpon harlottes1 and yet so wyllynge to continewe openly that all the worlde wonders at them1 yet they wyll be offended and take peper in the noose yf a man shulde call them ruffyans or baudy knaues4 ,boni4 ,suche fellowes thynke they deserue prayse for the thynge1 and yet for all that they can not abyde the name dewe to the thinge whiche they deserue4 ,bea4 ,there is scarslye any name amonges vs more intollerable or worse can be abydden then to be called a lyar or a lyeng fellowe4 ,boni4 ,i haue knowen some or this whiche haue kylled men for suche a spytefull worde as that is4 ,bea4 ,yea yea but wolde god suche hasty fellowes dyd as well abhorre the thinge and hate lienge as well as to be called lyers1 was it neuer thy chaunce to be dysceyued of any man whiche borowinge mony of the appoyntynge the a certayne daye to repaye the sayd money and so performyd not his appoyntment nor kept his day8 ,boni4 ,yeas many tymes 7god knoweth7 and yet hath he sworne many a greuous othe and that not one tyme but many tymes4 ,bea4 ,peraduenture he wolde haue ben so honest as to haue payed it and yf he had had wherwith4 ,boni4 ,naye that is not so for he was able inoughe1 but as he thought it better neuer to paye his dettes4 ,bea4 ,and what call you this in englyshe1 is it not playne lyenge8 ,boni4 ,yes as playne as ,dunstable way1 there can not be a lowder lye then this is4 ,bea4 ,durste you be so bolde to pulle one of these good detters of yours by the sleue and saye thus to hym1 why hast thou dysceyued me so many tymes and broken promyse with me1 or to talke to hym in playne englyshe1 why doest thou make me so many lyes8 ,boni4 ,why no syr by my trouthe durst ,i not1 excepte ,i were mynded before to chage halfe a dosen drye blowes with hym4 ,bea4 ,dothe not masons ,brekelayers1 ,carpenters1 ,smythes1 ,goldsmithes1 ,taylours1 disceyue and disapoynt vs after the lyke maner daylye promysynge to do youre worke suche a daye and suche a daye without any fayle1 or further delaye1 and yet for all that they parforme not theyr promesse althoughe it stande the neuer somoche vpon hande1 or that thou shuldest take neuer so moche profyte by it4 ,boni4 ,this is a wonderous and strange vnshamefast knauerye of all that euer ,i hard of4 ,but and ye speake of breakers of promyse then ye maye reken amongest them lawyers and atturneys at the lawe1 which wyl not stycke to promyse or beare you in hande that they wyll be diligent and ernest in the furtherace and spedie expedicion of your sute4 ,bea4 ,reken quod he1 naye ye maye reken fyve hundreth mennes names besyde these of sundrye faculties and occupacions whiche wyll promyse more by an ynch of a candle then they wyll performe by a whole pounde4 ,boni4 ,why and ye call this lyenge all the worlde is full of suche lyenge4 ,bea4 ,ye se also lykewyse that no man can abyde to be called thefe1 and yet all men do not abhorre the thynge so greatly4 ,boni4 ,i wolde gladly haue you to declare your mynde in this more playnlye at large4 ,bea4 ,what difference is there betwene hym whiche stealeth thy money forthe of thy cofer1 and hym whiche forsweareth and falsely denyeth that whiche thou cmytted to his custodie to be reserued and safely kept for thy vse only1 or to suche tyme as thou arte mynded to call for it agayne4 ,boni4 ,there is as they say neyther barrell better hearing1 but that in my iudgement he is the falser knaue of the twayne whiche robbes a man that puttes his confidence and trust in hym4 ,bea4 yea but howe fewe men are there nowe adayes lyuynge whiche are contente to restore agayne that whiche they were put in truste to kepe1 or yf they deluer it agayne it is so dymynysshed1 gelded1 nypped1 and pynched1 that it is not delyuered whollye1 but some thinge cleues in theyr fyngers1 that the prouerbe may haue place where the horse walloweth there lyeth some heares4 ,boni4 ,i thynke but a fewe that dothe otherwyse4 ,bea4 ,and yet for all that there is none of al these that c abyde it ones to be called thefe1 and yet forsothe they hate not the thing so greatly4 ,boni4 ,that is as trewe as the gospell4 ,bea4 ,consyder me nowe and marke ,i beseche the howe the goodes of orphanes1 pupylls1 wardes1 and fatherlesse chyldren be cmunely ordered and vsed1 how wylles and testamentes be executed and performed1 how legacyes and bequethes be communelye payde1 ,naye howe moche cleueth and hangeth fast in the fyngers of the executors or with them that mynyster and intermedle with the goodes of the testatours4 ,boni4 ,many tymes they retayne and kepe in theyr handes all togyther4 ,bea4 ,yea they loue to playe the thefe well inoughe1 but they loue nothynge worse then to here of it4 ,boni4 ,that is very trewe4 ,bea4 ,howe lytle dyffers he from a thefe whiche boroweth money of one and other and so runneth in dette1 with this intent and purpose that yf he maye escape so or fynde suche a crafty colour or a subtyle shyft1 he intendeth neuer to paye that he oweth4 ,boni4 ,paraduenture he maye be called warer or more craftier th a thefe is in dede but no poynt better1 for it is hard chosyng of a better where there is neuer a good of them bothe4 ,bea4 yea but althoughe there be in euery place a great nombre of such makeshyftes and slypper marchauntes yet the starkest knaue of th all can not abyde to be called thefe4 ,boni4 ,god onely knoweth euery mnes hart and mynd1 and therfore they are called of vs men that are runne in dette or fer behynde the hande1 but not theues for that soundeth vnswetely and lyke a playne song note4 ,bea4 ,what skyllys it howe they be called amge men yf they be theues afore god4 ,and where you say that god onely knoweth euery mannes hart and mynde1 euen so euery man knoweth his owne mynde1 whether in his wordes doynges he entende fraude1 couyn1 dysceyte1 and thefte or no4 ,but what say ye by hym whiche when he oweth more then he is worthe1 wyll not stycke to lashe prodygallye and set the cocke vpon the hoope1 and yet yf he haue any money at all lefte to spende that a waye vnthryftely1 and when he hathe played the parte of a knauyshe spendall in one cytie deludinge and disceyuyng his creditours1 ronnes out of this countre and getteth hym to some other good towne1 and there sekynge for stragers and newe acquayntace whom he may lykewyse begyle1 yea and playeth many suche lyke partes and shameful shiftes4 ,i praye the tell me dothe not suche a greke declare euydentlye by his crafty dealynge and false demeanour1 what mynde is he of8 ,boni4 yes suerly as euydentlye as can be possible4 ,but yet suche felowes are wonte to colour and cloke theyr doynges vnder a craftie pretence4 ,bea4 ,with what ,i beseche the8 ,boni4 ,they saye to owe moche and to dyuers persones is communely vsed of great men1 yea and of kynges also as well as of them1 and therfore they that intende to be of that disposycyon wyll beare out to the harde hedge the porte of a gentylman and soo they wyll be taken and estemed for gentilmen of the commune people4 ,bea4 ,a gentylman and why or to what entent and purpose a gentylman8 ,boni4 ,it is a straunge thynge to be spoken howe moche they thynke it is mete for a gentylman or a horseman to take vpon hym4 ,bea4 ,by what equytie1 authoritie1 or lawes4 ,boni4 ,by none other but by the selfe same lawes that the ,admiralles of the sees chalenge a proprietie in all suche thynges as are cast vpon the shoore by wracke1 althoughe the ryghte owner come forthe and chalenge his owne goodes4 ,and also by the same lawes that some other men saye all is theyrs what soeuer is founde aboute a thefe or a robber wh he is tak4 ,boni4 ,such lawes as these are the arrantest theues that are myght make them selues4 ,bea4 yea and ye may be sure they wold gladly with al theyr harts their bodies make suche lawes yf they coulde mayntayne them or were of power to se them executed1 and they myght haue some thynge to laye for theyr excuse if they could proclayme opyn warre before they fell to robbynge4 ,boni4 ,but who gaue that pryuylege rather to a horseman then to a foteman1 or more to a gentylman th to a good yeman4 ,bea4 ,the fauoure that is shewed to men of warre1 for by suche shyftes and thus they practyse before to be good men of warre that they maye be more redy hansome to spoyle theyr enemyes when they shall encounter with th4 ,boni4 ,i thynke ,pyrhus dyd so exercyse and breake his yonge souldyers to the warres4 ,bea4 ,no not ,pyrrhus but the ,lacedemonians dyd4 ,boni4 ,mary syr hange vp suche practysers or soldyers and theyr practisyng to4 ,but howe come they by the name of horsemen or gentylmen that they vsurpe suche a great prerogatyue8 ,bea4 ,some of them are gentylm borne and it cometh to them by auncestrie1 some bye it by the meanes of maystrys money1 and other some gette it by certayne shyftes4 ,boni4 ,but maye euery man that wyl and lyst come by it by shyftes8 ,bea4 ,yea why not1 euery man maye be a gentylman nowe adayes very well and yf theyr condicions and maners be accordynge4 ,boni4 ,what maners or condicions must suche one haue ,i beseche the8 ,bea4 ,yf he be occupyed aboute no goodnesse1 yf he can ruffle it and swashe in his satens and his silkes and go gorgiously apparelled1 yf he can ratle in his rynges vpon the fyngers endes1 yf he can playe the ruffyan and the horemonger and kepe a gaye hoore gallantlye1 yf he be neuer well at ease but when he is playenge at the dyse1 yf he be able to matche as moche an vnthryfte as hym selfe with a newe payre of cardes1 yf he spende his tyme lyke an epycure vpon bankettinge1 sumptuous fare1 and all kynde of pleasures1 yf he talke of no rascalles nor beggars1 but bragge1 bost1 face1 brace1 and crake of castelles1 towers1 and skyrmysshes1 and yf all his talke be of the warres and blody battels1 and playe the parte of crackinge ,thraso throughly1 such gaye grekes1 lusty brutes and ionkers may take vpon them to be at defyaunce withe whome they wyll and lyst1 thoughe the gentylman haue neuer a fote of lande to lyue vpon4 ,boni4 ,call ye them horsmen4 ,mary syr suche horsemen are wel worthy to ryde vp the gallowes1 these are gentylmen of the ,iebet of all that euer ,i haue harde of4 ,bea4 ,but yet there be not afewe suche in that parte of ,germany called ,nassen or ,hessen4 ,f ,i ,n ,i ,s ,trslated by ,edmonde ,becke ,and prynted at ,cantorbury in saynt ,paules parishe by ,joh ,mychell4 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 99 ,transcriber's note3 ,the following typographical errors were corrected4 soldyers cassocke1 a payre of hoose all to cut and manglyd1 may couer an euangelycall mynde4 hoose was hoofe ,poliphe4 ,naye ,i knowe hym whiche bereth a shepe vpon his heed1 and a sore in his brest sore was fore orphanes1 pupylls1 wardes1 and fatherlesse chyldren be cmunely ordered and vsed1 how wylles cmunely was cmuuely