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lie rtton, triyng at it were for an anttoare : risytk tpwarde. we have made these rulii in engliuhe : bp cmae they he at profitable, and necettary to lie lieple in every mother twige, at in latin. Sethyn me fat we wolde be god : every precher wolde do) haae kept owre rulit bathe in owre engliuhe, and latyn : what nede we, tethyn owre own be tujffi- dent vnogh : to put any other exemplit."
1509. 7^ Shyp ofFolys of Oie Worlde. In- prentyd tn the Cyte of London in Fletestre{te'] at the ttgne of Saynt George By Richarde Pynson, to hyt Cotte arid charge. Ended the yere of our Saviottr, m.d.ix. The xiiii day of Decembre.
The bibliogiaphical arrangement of this curi- ous rolume is, Fynson's seventh device on the tecto of the first leaf; and on the reverse the translator's dedication to "Thomas Comisshe, Bishop of Tine, and Suffragan Bishop of Wells," written in Latin. Beneath the dedica- tion is the following title : — " This present boke named the shvp of folys of the worlde was trans- lated in the Cfoll^ of saynt mary Oterr in the connte of Deuonsnyre : out of Laten, Frenche, and Doche into Englysshe tonge by Alexander Barclay Pieste: and at that tyme Chaplen in the sayde College, translated the yere of our Lorde god. m.ccccc.viij. Jnprentyd &c."
Through the rolume, which is written in a measoredmilar to the above, the left hand pages have the word "Folivm," and on tlie right is the number in roman capitals : they extend to cclxsiiiL The volume closes with a ballad in honour of the Virgin, of twelve eight-line stanzas, after which is the following colophon :-;—
Oar Shyp here lerytta the seea brode Bj heipe of God ahnyrht and quyetljr At Anker we lye within the rode Bat who that lysteth of them to bye In Flete strete ihaU them ()mde tinly At the George : In Rlchade Pynsonnei place Fryntcr vnto the kyn^ noble grace. Deo Gratias.
Our author's stanza is verbose, prosaic, and tedious : and for many pages together, his poe- tnr is little better than a trite homily in verse. The title promises much character and plea- santry : but we shall be disappointed, if we ex- pect to find the foibles of the crew of our ship touched by the hand of the author of the Can- terbury Talet, at exposed in the rough yet strong skdxe of Pierce Plowman. He sometimes, how- ever, has a stroke of humour : as in the follow ing stanza, where he wishes to take on board eight secondaries, or minor canons, of his college : —
Softe, FbdUa, sotte, a UUe alacke yonr pace, Tm I have space yoa to* order by degree ; I hare eygfat neygtabonn, that nnt shall have a place Within this my shyp, for they most worthy be . They may their learning receyve costlea and free, neir wales abottlng and joining to the scbooles;* Notiiintr they can, yet nought will they learn nor see, Uterefore shall they guide this one ship of fooles.
The ignorance of the English clergy is one of the cida objects of his animadversion. He says,
For if one can flatter, and beare a hawke on his list. He shal be made parson of Honington or of Cliit.
- To the collegiate drnrch <rf Saint Mary Ottery a school
waa annexed, by the mnniflcent founder, Grandison, taiabop of Bzetcr. This college was founded in the year 1KI7.
These were rich benefices in the neighbourhood of Saint Mary Ottery.
And in another place, he thus censures the fashionable reading of his age: much in the tone of his predecessor Hawes.
For goodly scripture is not worth an hawe, But tales are loved ground of ribaudry, And many are so bunded wiUi their fuly. That no scrtptor thinke they so true nor godc As is a fbolidi Jest of Robin bode.
As a specimen of hb general manner wc select his character of the student or bookworm : whom he supposes to be the first fool in the ship.
That in this ship the dilefe place I goveme. By this wide sea with foolis wandei^g. The cause is plaine and easy to disoeroe ; Still am I busy hookes assembling, For to have pleotie it is a pleasaimt thing. In my conceyt, to have them ay in hand , But what they meane do I not ondentande.
But yet I have them in great reverence
And honour, saving them tram filth and ordure ;
By often brusshing and much diligence.
Full goodly boonde in pleasaunt coverture
Of damas, sattin, or els of velvet pure :•
I keepe them sore, fearing least they should be lost.
For in them is the cunning wherein I me boast
But if it foitune that any learned man
Within my house fall to disputation,
I drawe the cnrtaynes to shewe my bokes then.
That they of my conning should make probation :
I love not to fall in altencation :
And while the commen, my bookes I tume and winde,
For all is in them, and nothing in my minde.
Ftolomeus the richc caused, lone agone. Over all the worlde good bcwkes to be sought* Done was his commaudement, &c.
Iio in likewise of bookes I have store, But few I reade, and fewer nnderatande) I folowe not their doctrine, nor their lore. It Is enouj^b to beare a booke in hande : It were too much to be in such a lande ; For to be boimde to loke within the boke I am content on the fayre coveryng to looke.
Efch is not lettred that nowe is made a lorde.
Nor eche a clerke that heth a benefice ;
They are not all lawyers that pleea do recorde,
All that are promoted are not fully wise ;
On such chance now fortune throwes her dice :
That though one knowe but the yrtsh game
Yet would he have a gentleman's name.
So In likewise, I am in such a case.
Though I nought can, I would be odled wise i
Also 1 may set another in my place
Which may for me my bookes exercise j
Or els I wUl ensue the common guise,
And say concedo to every argument,
I.est t||r much speech my Latin should be spent.
All ancient satirical writings, even those of an inferior cast, have their merit, and deserve at- tention, as they transmit pictures of familiar manners, and preserve popular customs. In this light, at least, Barclay's Ship of Fooh, which is a general satire on the times, will be found
- That monks and students were writers and binders of
books, many instances have been given, and a many more might be adduced. But two names must not be overlooked, because they were both eminent in the annals of literature and in the binding and ornamenting of books, in cold, silver, and precious stones : — Dagseus, abbot of Inniskil- ling, tn Ireland, wfac died in 587; and Ulton, the first bishop of Ardbraccan, In the county of Meath, in the same country. — In the first page of a manuscript hi/e of Coneu- bratuu, this note occurs, " Ex conjunctione dompni Wyl- lehnl Edys monasterii B. Mariie S. Modwenie Virginia de Barton super Trent monachi, dum caset studens Oxonis, MDXvii." The word con}anctlo is Ugatura. The book 1» much older than this entry.
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