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 The spider and the file. 
 
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 Library 
 
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 tine Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924013130095 
 
@$F jSj^pnfFF jSorbfe* 
 
 LIST OF PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 ;„,„ For the First Year 1867-8. 
 
 1. The Proverbs and Epigrams of John Heywood. Reprinted irom the Original 
 
 Edition of 1562. 
 
 2. The Works of John Taylor the Water Poet. Reprinted from the Folio Edition 
 
 of 1630. Fart J. 
 
 For the Second Year 1868-9. 
 
 3. The Works of John Taylor the Water Poet. Reprinted from the Folio of 
 
 1630. Part II. 
 
 4. The Works of John Taylor the Water Poet. Reprinted from the Folio of 
 
 1630. Part III. {Completing the volume.') 
 
 5. Zepheria. Reprinted from the Original Edition of 1594. 
 
 For the Third Year 1869-70. 
 
 6. The EKATOMHAeiA or Passionate Centurie of Love, by Thomas WatsonI 
 
 Reprinted from the Original Edition oi (circa) 1581. 
 
 7. Works of John Taylor the Water Poet, not included in the Folio Volume of 
 
 1630. Reprinted from the Original Editions. First Collection. 
 
 For the Fourth Year 1 870-1. 
 
 a.. A HandefuU of Pleasant Delites, by Clement Robinson, and divers othersj 
 
 "''^^^Seprinted from the Original Edition of 1584. 
 q. Juvenilia : Poems by George Wither, contained in the collections of hij 
 Juvenilia which appeared in 1626 and 1633. Part I. 
 
 10. Juvenilia : Poems by George Wither. Part II. 
 
 For the Fifth Year 187 1-2. 
 
 11. Juvenilia: Poems by George Wither, contained in the collections of his| 
 
 Juvenilia which appeared in 1626 and 1633. Part III. 
 
 1 2. Miscellaneous Works of George Wither. Reprinted from the Original Editions^ 
 
 First Collection. 
 
 For the Sixth Year 1872-3. 
 
 13. Miscellaiilious Works of George Wither. Reprinted from the Original Editions^ 
 
 Sec&m Collection. 
 
 14. Worfs of John Taylor the Water Poet, not included in the Folio Volume ol 
 
 1630. Reprinted from the Original Editions. Second Collection. 
 
 For the Seventh Year 1873-4. 
 
 15. Flo vfvers of Epigrammes, ovt of si'.ndrie authours selected, as well auncient as lat( 
 
 writers. By Timothe Kendall. Reprinted from the Original Edition of 1577. 
 
 16. Miscellaneous Works of George Wither. Reprinted from the Original Edition: 
 
 Tihird Collection. 
 
 \ 
 
THE 
 
 SPIDER AND THE FLIE. 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 Reprinted from the Edition of 1556. 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE SPENSER SOCIETY. 
 1894. 
 
Printed by Charles E. Simms, 
 Manchester. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 THE Council of the Spenser Society has allotted 
 to me a task, of which the rather depressing nature 
 will, I trust, in some measure excuse the wholly inadequate 
 performance. In truth, but for two special circumstances 
 I should have shrunk from coming forward, in the character 
 of the last and the least worthy of the Society's Presidents, to 
 introduce the volume which is to conclude the series of its 
 Publications. The very first, however, of these Publications 
 consisted of a reprint, from the original edition of 1562 
 (with which was collated the second edition of 1566), of 
 John Heywood'S Proverbs and Epigrams ; and an Intro- 
 ductory notice in this volume, besides announcing that a 
 ^5. Glossary — since unfortunately lost — had been prepared, 
 held out the prospect that the Society might ultimately 
 place the complete works of John Heywood in the hands of 
 its members. This was at the hopeful date of 1 867 ; and 
 when, many years afterwards, I first became connected with 
 the Spenser Society, I conceived the ambition of carrying 
 out a scheme which abler hands than mine had not found 
 the opportunity of accomplishing. Before, however, in 
 my own case the requisite leisure had offered itself, the 
 abhorred shears were preparing to cut short the Spenser 
 Society's own existence ; and I was glad to be allowed to 
 associate myself with its farewell volume, the issue of which 
 will, unless I mistake, contribute to enhance the fame of a 
 
 b 
 
ii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 writer entitled to a place of his own among the worthies of 
 our literature. 
 
 John Heywood (the meagre records of whose personal 
 career I have elsewhere^ endeavoured to summarise and 
 do not propose here to re-examine), after he came up to 
 town from Oxford, led the life of a wit. But a wit in those 
 days was not as such promoted to be a Master in Chancery 
 or a Commissioner of Wine Licences ; and the greater part 
 of our author's days was accordingly spent, more or less 
 professionally, in the devising of entertainment — or shall I 
 say entertainments ? — for the Court and for the houses of 
 the great nobles. Wits and artists are not as a rule 
 implacable partisans ; and thus it came to pass that, 
 although "at the Duke of Northumberland's board, merry 
 John Heywood was allowed to sit at the table's end," he 
 devoted himself, ever since he had (probably by Sir Thomas 
 More) been recommended to the favour of King Henry 
 VIII., with special zeal to the service of the Princess 
 Mary, and clung to it in evil times as well as in good — 
 from the troubled season of her early womanhood to the 
 loneliness of her deathbed. It was to these services, in 
 which the efforts of the minstrel or jester were blended 
 with more or less conscious literary endeavour, that the 
 compositions owe their origin for which, as is but right and 
 just, Heywood is chiefly remembered. Although he was 
 by no means the inventor of the species known by the 
 name of interludes, and although his own pieces so designed 
 vary widely among themselves as to the degree in which 
 they approach the dramatic form proper, yet he " marked 
 an epoch in the history of the drama." ' 
 
 ' Dictionary of National Biography, vol. xxvi. (iSgi.) 
 ' See the interesting passage concerning Heywood in the (posthumous) 
 second volume often Brink's Geschichte der englischen Litteratur ilS^i). 
 
INTRODUCTION. iii 
 
 But it would most certainly have been impossible for him 
 to contribute as he did to the emancipation of our early- 
 drama from the swaddling-clothes with which it had been 
 contented through so prolonged an infancy, had it not been 
 for his possessing, in no ordinary degree, the literary gift of 
 flexibility. If this Protean power be thought proper to the 
 jester, it is at all events accompanied in Heywood by a 
 touch of that melancholy pathos which, like more than one 
 jester of other times, he is not loth to reveal.^ (I have 
 elsewhere confessed that I fail to recognise in the portrait 
 of Heywood which appears in so many of the cuts illus- 
 trating The Spider and the Flie the expression of sadness 
 discerned in it by sympathetic eyes.) Leaving, how- 
 ever, aside set efforts of pathos like the Ballad of tlie 
 Green Willow, it is only necessary to turn over the Proverbs 
 and Epigrams themselves, in order to become aware of the 
 various aspects of mind and character which reflect them- 
 selves in Heywood's literary work. As for the Proverbs,^ 
 nothing could be more cumbrous than the inductive 
 machinery to which the author resorts in order to impart 
 the semblance of coherence to the aphoristic philosophy 
 which he is desirous of discharging ; although at the close 
 this machinery is, if I may so say, " wound up " with no 
 inconsiderable skill. But in the Epigrams we are freed 
 from all this paraphernalia, and are served, on "a thin, 
 trim trencher," with a light, palatable, and here and there 
 pungent, "banquet." If nothing else from their aathor's 
 hand were preserved, these Epigrams would suffice to show 
 -that he was possessed of a measure of wit and humour 
 such as— and this I take to be the root of the matter — no 
 
 ' See, e.g.. No. loo of Thefift hundred of Epigrammes (" Of Heywood"). 
 ' Mr. Julian Sharman's edition of these, from the impression of 1^4^, with 
 notes and general introduction (London, 1874), is well known. 
 
iv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 difference of times or manners can altogether obscure ; and, 
 moreover, that there was in him a vein of sentiment occa- 
 sionally approaching poetical power. The former of these 
 propositions will of course be contested by those who 
 decline to acknowledge as decidedly droll what cannot be 
 proclaimed as warranted to shake " both our sides ; " while 
 the other assertion is more largely based upon subjective 
 impression, and must therefore stand for what it is worth.' 
 At any rate, these Epigrams prove Heywood to have been 
 an adept in that effective combination of vigour and light- 
 ness of touch which is characteristic of true comic genius : 
 he is without the pedantry which besets the efforts of many 
 more amply endowed humourists, and knows that his 
 proper engine for shooting folly as it flies, or vice as it 
 creeps along, is a cross-bow rather than a catapult. " This 
 write I," he says in the Preface to his Prouerbes, 
 
 " Not to teache, but to touche ; for why, 
 Men know this as well or better than I." 
 
 It forms no part of my present purpose to indicate how 
 this kind of genius was pre-eminently fitted to accomplish 
 for the developement of the national comic drama an advance 
 of the importance of which (especially as modesty was 
 unmistakably among his qualities ^) we may fairly suppose 
 John Heywood to have remained unaware. That his 
 
 ' I will hazard a single instance of the kind to which I refer {Episramma 
 vpon Prouerbes, 51) : 
 
 " Of weeping. 
 Better children weepe than olde men, say wyse men. 
 But olde men weepe when children laugh, — now and then." 
 » " Were I, in portiaiying persons dead or alive. 
 As cunnyng and as quicke to touche them at full. 
 As in that feate I am ignorant and dull." 
 
 —Dialogue of Prouerbes, O'c, Part I., c. 7. 
 And in the lines To the Reader concluding the Epigrammes vpon Prouerbes he 
 terms himself simpliciter " the woorst writer." 
 
INTRODUCTION. v 
 
 Interludes owed something to French examples may be 
 readily granted ; but if he borrowed, it was, after Chaucer's 
 fashion, with so light and free a hand that the first pro- 
 ducer himself could not have begrudged the transfer. More 
 especially those three of his Interludes (or four, if the. 
 pleasing but less broadly humorous Play of the Weather be 
 included), in which the step from dialogue to dramatic 
 sketch may be said to have been fairly taken, display a 
 genuine power of characterisation within the inevitable 
 limits of a farcical framework, and — within the same limits 
 — z. flow of style hitherto unknown to our drama. Beneath 
 jest and laughter, which he spares to neither sex and pours 
 out with equal heartiness upon clerical objects of his satire 
 and upon lay, lie the foundations of a solid good sense, 
 which as a matter of course coincide with the principles of 
 a healthy morality. But the superstructure is light and 
 agreeable ; for in his Interludes, as in his Proverbs and 
 Epigrams, he is so little of a pedant that he does not even 
 profess to be an instructor. 
 
 Now, in literary as in other biography, paradoxes are 
 " against kind ; " and if our natural feeling revolts against 
 historical portraits in which virtuous princes or other heroes 
 suddenly become at a particular point in their lives monsters 
 of turpitude and corruption, so our critical instinct should 
 be on its guard against too readily accepting literary 
 verdicts of an analogous centaur-like import. John Hey- 
 wood, whose vivacity, humour, and sound sense in the 
 works already mentioned have been generally recognised 
 by literary historians, is with almost the same consensus of 
 judgment declared by them to have written one of the 
 dullest works in our language — to wit, the allegory in verse 
 which is here presented to the members of the Spenser 
 
vi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Society. No doubt, at the outset, this one caveat should be 
 lodged against any such judgment : that nothing is easier 
 than to denounce as unreadable a work which you have 
 never read. And I hope, before concluding this brief 
 Introduction, to offer one or two considerations tending to 
 show that some at least of the critics of The Spider and the 
 Flie have spoken without their book. The mere length of 
 the poem is nothing to the purpose, if the character of the 
 subject and the style are not in themselves inadequate to 
 such fulness of treatment. " Who now reads" through the 
 very Faerie Queene, of which the existing fragment has 
 been calculated to be as long as the Iliad and the Odyssey 
 together, with the ^neid thrown in ; so that Hallara was 
 induced to question " whether it is a source of regret that 
 Spenser did not complete his original design ? " Nor, 
 although the attempt might not be inappropriate in 
 connexion with a publication of this. Society, can I 
 undertake to discuss the reasons which, unless where 
 it is pervaded and animated by high imaginative 
 genius, have antiquated the allegorical form of 
 poetic composition itsejf, of which, in its relation to 
 our literature, a connected history still remains to be 
 written. Heywood's " largest and most laboured per- 
 formance" is condemned not because of its length, or 
 because it is an allegory, but because, to quote. Warton's 
 words,^ " perhaps there never was so dull, so tedious, and 
 trifling an apologue ; without fancy, meaning, or moral. 
 . . . Our author seems to have intended a fable on the 
 burlesque construction ; but we know not when he would 
 be serious and when witty." He goes on to quote with 
 approval the judgment of Harrison, the author of the 
 
 " History of English Poetry (W. C. Hazlitt's edition, 1871), iv., 85 seqq. 
 
INTRODUCTION. vii 
 
 Description of Britaine prefixed to Holinshed's Chronicle, 
 who says that in his book of The Spider and the Flie 
 Heywood " dealeth so profoundlie, and beyond all measure 
 of skill, that neither he himselfe that made it, neither anie 
 one that readeth it, can reach unto the meaning thereof." 
 
 These censures are, in the notes to the edition of Warton 
 now before me, supported by the dictum of Ellis, in his 
 Historical Sketch of English Poetry, that this parabolic tale 
 is " utterly contemptible," and by the following MS. notCj 
 contributed by the learned annotator of Warton, the anti- 
 quarian Thomas Park : — 
 
 "Herbert says: 'We are to consider the author here, as he 
 really was, a Catholic ; partial in vindicating the Catholic cause 
 and the administration by Queen Mary, whom he characterises by 
 the maid, with her broom (the civil sword), executing the com- 
 mands of her master (Christ) and her mistress (holy church). By 
 the flies are to be understood the Catholics, and by the spiders 
 the Protestants. How justly the characters are supported I have 
 neither leisure nor inclination to examine.' " 
 
 Now, leaving aside for the moment the question of 
 literary treatment and style, I venture to point out that 
 before a critic puts on the black cap it is only fair that he 
 shall mquire into the meaning and purpose of the work 
 which he may afterwards feel constrained to condemn. 
 Neither Warton nor his authority Harrison appears to have 
 taken the trouble to do this, the former rushing at once 
 into purely literary criticism, and the latter, like Ellis after 
 him, contemptuously giving up the game. Herbert — I 
 presume the bibliographer, William Herbert — seems, like a 
 schoolboy reading a tale, to have gone so far as to turn 
 over one or two of the chapters towards the end of the 
 poem, and more especially the " Conclusion with an exposi- 
 tion of the Auctor touching onepeece of the latter part of this 
 
viii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 parable" Had he bestowed a rather closer attention upon 
 even so much as the heading just quoted, he could hardly 
 have failed to notice that the explanation which he has 
 thought sufficient for the whole applies only to a part of 
 the poem ; and had he read the " Conclusion " itself with 
 ordinary care, he would have perceived his statement as to 
 the poem at large, that " by the flies are to be understood 
 the Catholics, and by the spiders the Protestants," to be, if 
 not absolutely incorrect, at least practically misleading. 
 
 I desire, then, to ask the particular attention of the 
 reader to the first few lines of the Conclusion in question, 
 where a clue is offered, by pursuing which, in however 
 tentative and imperfect a fashion, something like an insight 
 into the "plat" or plan of Hey wood's work will, I think, 
 be without difficulty obtained : 
 
 " I haue, good readers, this parable here pende, 
 After olde beginning newly brought to ende. 
 The thing, yeres mo then twentie since it begoon ; 
 To the thing, yeres mo then ninetene, nothing doon. 
 The frewte was greene ; I durst not gather it than. 
 For feare of rotting before riping began. 
 The losse, it on the frewterer's hande lying, 
 Had, in that mistery, mard his occupying. 
 This worke among my poore workes thus hath it past : 
 Begon with the first, and ended with the last." 
 
 In other words, The Spider and the Flie, which was 
 actually printed in 1556, was begun in 1536, but laid aside 
 in the following year. Whether or not the "definitive" 
 version of the poem was actually completed in the year of 
 its publication, it cannot have received its finishing touches 
 much before that date.^^ It was not till 1555 that the 
 submission of England to Rome — or the reconciliation of 
 
 ' The poem contains, so far as I know, no incidental internal evidence as 
 
INTRODUCTION. ix 
 
 England with Rome — for which Queen Mary had laboured 
 since her accession in 1553, was actually achieved ; nor till 
 1554 that her marriage with Philip, of which Heywood 
 speaks as an accomplished fact, was concluded. Wyatt's 
 rebellion, which led directly to a series of executions 
 (including that of Lady Jane Grey and her husband) that 
 may be regarded as supplementary to the execution of 
 the Duke of Northumberland and two of his followers in 
 August, 1553, had been suppressed in February, 1 554. The 
 death on the scaffold of the Duke of Northumberland, the 
 head of the Protestant plot against the succession of Mary, 
 is unmistakeably referred to in the crushing of the Head 
 Spider under the foot of the Maid : 
 
 " And as vnder that mayde spider dide but one, 
 So vnder this maide, save one (in effect) none ; " — 
 
 a passage which, were it not for the allusion to the royal 
 marriage, might suggest the conclusion that it was actually 
 written between the execution of Northumberland and the 
 
 to the date of its compositipn. In c. 36 an aged fly delivers himself of the 
 following autobiographical statement : — 
 
 " I am a fly 
 
 Of suche age as spiders few or none can boste. 
 My father's hand writing for witnes haue I, 
 That I was bred in the yere of the great froste 
 Before the great sweat ; when many flies were croste 
 Out of the book of lyfe, who of extrenie colde 
 Were frosen to death, midaged, yonge and olde." 
 The learning of my friend Mr. James Tzdt enables me, indeed, to state that 
 this must have been either in 1506 or in 1517. in both of which years there 
 was, according to Hecker, a visitation of the Sweating Sickness. Though as 
 a rule these visitations were preceded by rainy winters, in January, 1506, a. 
 great frost occurred, during which the Thames was frozen over {Chronicle of 
 the Greyfriars of London, Camden Society's Publications, 1852, p. 28); and a 
 similar frost, with the same result, took place in January, 1517 (Wriothesley's 
 Chronicle, ib., vol. i., 1875,, p. 10). (This was, by the way, about a year after 
 the birth of the Princess Mary. ) But, even if we knew to which of these two 
 sequences of frost and epidemic the veteran alludes, this would not carry us 
 much further, 
 
 C 
 
X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 supplementary executions, as I have called them, which 
 ensued a few months later. 
 
 But, however this may be, it evidently behoves us, if 
 desirous of understanding the conception or design of the 
 poem as a whole, to do what so far as I am aware not one 
 of the commentators upon it have condescended to do, viz., 
 go back to " years more than twenty " from the date of its 
 pubhcation — the year 1556. Now the year 1536 was a 
 most memorable year in English history — that of the 
 popular ri.sing provoked by the proceedings of Henry VIII. 
 against the smaller monasteries, and known by the desigrfa- 
 tion, given to it by the insurgents themselves, of the 
 Pilgrimage of Grace. This insurrection, which undoubtedly 
 was essentially religious in its character, overbore all 
 attempts to quell it ; nor was it until the following year 
 that the King found himself in a position to break his 
 promises to the insurgents, and take vengeance upon their 
 leaders.^ A strict adherence to the evidence of dates would 
 imply that Heywood began his allegory of Tke Spider and 
 the Flie under the impression made upon him by the 
 accounts which had reached him of this singular insurrec- 
 tion. The Pilgrimage of Grace was, in the words of a 
 distinguished English historian,^ an attempt of " the masses, 
 who could neither read nor write," to take into their hands 
 the redress of grievances, both actual and imaginary. From 
 these events and transactions, then, the mind of Heywood, 
 who at this very time (1537) is known to have been in 
 
 ' It is a curious fact, which, however, has no bearing upon the argument, 
 that "in 1558, five days before Queen Mary's death, there was granted to" 
 [Heywood], "under the description of 'John Heywood, gentleman,' the 
 manor of Bulmer in Yorkshire, lately the property of Sir John Bulmer, who 
 had become attainted for his complicity in the Pilgrimage of Grace." — See J. 
 Sharman, u.s.. Introduction, p. xlv. 
 
 =■ Mr. S. R. Gardiner. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xi 
 
 personal attendance at the Court, and upon the Princess 
 Mary in particular,^ must have derived the first suggestion 
 (whatever modifications it may have afterwards under- 
 gone) of 
 
 " Such a flight of flies in scattred ray 
 
 As shadowed the Sonne, from thearth to the skie. 
 
 No kind of flie a hue, but was there that day, 
 
 Tag and rag, like lions ; raging now rage they. 
 
 Flesh flies, butterflies, land flies, water flies, 
 
 Bees, humblebees, waspes, hornets, gnats of all sies." ^ 
 
 Now, I do not so much as insinuate that " the graund Cap- 
 taine standing amid mong this rout." was first intended to 
 be Robert Aske, or that the " copweb " fort manned by the 
 spiders was originally meant for Skipton Castle, which 
 alone in Yorkshire held out for the Crown, or that any other 
 incidents of the insurrection may have suggested the Hector- 
 and-Andromache scene (with a diflferences) which furnishes 
 a natural domestic incident in the poem. These are con- 
 jectures of detail which it is manifestly easier to hazard 
 than to verify. But I think that there can be no doubt as 
 to the starting-point of Heywood's allegory ; and, con- 
 sidering the first issue of the Rebellion, I further think that 
 a very natural explanation presents itself, why, " nineteen 
 years" before 1556, in the year 1537, when the successful 
 Roman Catholic insurrection was being avenged in detail 
 by the King, his servant should have postponed the design 
 of making a movement with which he was in accord, while 
 he could not profess to regret its defeat, the subject of an 
 elaborate literary composition. 
 
 I say, "postponed"; but we know how in an imaginative 
 
 ' See Sir F. Madden's Privy Purse Expenses of the Princess Mary (1831), 
 p. 12. 
 = C. 52. 3 C. 67. For an earlier family scene see c, 5. 
 
xii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 brain a theme dwells, and modifies itself, and matures. 
 Heywood lived on, as a courtier in his degree, through the 
 remainder of the troublous reign of Henry VIII. ; and, as 
 his sympathies at least remained stedfastly true to the old 
 form of faith, he had to conform with what grace he could to 
 the harsh exigences of the new. When the young Edward 
 VI. came to the throne, he is said to have continued to hold in 
 favour his elder sister's attached follower — whose " opinions" 
 were not, perhaps, taken into account with his "conceits" 
 or jests, since we have even seen him allowed a place at the 
 board of the Duke of Northumberland — the Earl of War- 
 wick of the earlier years of the Protestant reign. That 
 reign had not long endured, before another insurrection 
 broke out in the South West, which resembled the Pilgrim- 
 age of Grace both in its intensity and in the general nature 
 of the griefs which cried aloud in it. But the rising that 
 shortly afterwards, in the same year, 1649, broke out in 
 Norfolk, was certainly due to civil and social, rather than 
 to religious, discontent. Mr. Froude' has well described 
 the sentiments which agitated the multitude that organised 
 itself into "Ket's rebellion." It was, he says, 
 
 " A feeling of burning indignation at the non-English conduct of 
 the gentlemen. The peasant, whose pigs, and cow, and poultry 
 had been sold or had died, because the commons were gone where 
 they had fed — the yeoman dispossessed of his farm — the farm 
 servant out of employ, because where ten ploughs had turned the 
 soil one shepherd now watched the grazing of the flocks — the 
 artisan smarting under the famine prices which the change of cul- 
 ture had brought with it: — all these were united in suffering; 
 while the gentlemen were doubling, trebling, quadrupling their 
 incomes with their sheepfarms, and adorning their houses with 
 splendour hitherto unknown." 
 
 " History of England, &c., ch. xxvi. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xiii 
 
 Without recalling other names or incidents belonging to 
 the strange and interesting history of this insurrection, I 
 merely remind the reader of the camp on Household Hill, 
 outside Norwich, where Robert Ket the Tanner established 
 his headquarters, and where, under the Oak of Reforma- 
 tion, in the midst of his camp, he administered justice upon 
 the country gentlemen brought up before him on the charge 
 of robbing the poor. It is sufficiently obvious that this 
 circumstance was in HeywOod's mind when he causes the 
 Ant, taken prisoner by the army of flies, " most beggarly, 
 most bold," under their Grand Captain, to be brought by a 
 company of them — 
 
 " hauing cast a halter about " [his] " neck, 
 
 To their tree of reformacion standing by ; 
 
 They fellie forst him, with many a chorlish check. 
 
 A ladder to that tree was set, at a beck. 
 
 Where he in hast halde vp ; and, the halter tide, 
 
 ' Tume the theefe of the ladder,' thousands cride." ' 
 
 Nor is the allegory rendered less apt by the circumstance, 
 that in the poem the prisoner is granted a " quiet heryng " 
 and ultimately reprieved — just as Ket, even when there was 
 a cry to hang some obnoxious captive, allowed no attempt 
 at summary punishment. It is even possible that in the 
 treatment of the Ant, who appears as mediator, there is an 
 allusion to the King's herald, who on July 31st made his 
 appearance under the Oak of Reformation, and ultimately 
 escaped unhurt. 
 
 Furthermore, special note should be taken of what has 
 been already pointed out, viz., that the nobleman who in 
 the end suppressed this rising was no other than the Earl 
 of Warwick, afterwards Duke of Northumberland, the 
 personage that, as has also been already seen, is at the 
 
 • C. S3- 
 
xiv INTRODUCTION. 
 
 close of the poem unmistakably identified with the chief 
 enemy of the Flies, the " Head Spider," or '* Spider-le- 
 Graund." ^ 
 
 While religious differences doubtless largely contributed 
 to bring about this unhappy insurrection, and to intensify 
 and embitter the sentiments which sustained it, yet the 
 essential character, both of this particular rising and of the 
 whole series of popular movements which convulsed English 
 life in Edward's reign, was that of a social agitation. On 
 this head there is no necessity of enlarging. The late Mr. 
 Brewer, towards the close of his monumental work on the 
 earlier half of the reign of Henry VIII.,^ argues that 
 the Reformation itself may be said to have owed its origin 
 to the rise and influerrce of the middle classes in England ; 
 and, without going so far as this, it is certain that the men 
 who for better or for worse laid the foundations of Eliza- 
 bethan England, were the new gentry, against whom neither 
 the old nobility nor the rustic multitude — the familiar allies 
 of the Pilgrimage of Grace — could prevail. 
 
 This aspect of the civil strife which distracted the country 
 from the middle of Henry VIII.'s reign to the middle of 
 Elizabeth's was, I feel certain, likewise the aspect that 
 reflected itself more especially in the general conception of 
 Heywood's allegory. To the quarrel between Catholics and 
 Protestants he can hardly be said, before he comes to the 
 Conclusion which winds up the poem, to make any allusion 
 either direct or indirect, except in passages which may 
 fairly be described as purely incidental in character. 
 
 ' See c. 60 : 
 
 " At this hurlie burlie, that spider le graund, 
 
 In his cheyre fretting fewriouslie he frownith. 
 
 His look was commission, silence to command." 
 " Vol. ii., p. 472 seqq. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xv 
 
 In the Preface he has recourse to an elaborate inductive 
 device, constructed after the fashion of the scheme or plot 
 which holds together his handbook of Proverbial Philosophy, 
 in order to show that the matter is not so simple as it may 
 seem of 
 
 " Scanning who is the spider, who the flie." 
 
 This would have been an unnecessarily audacious assertion, 
 had he intended the simple solution adopted by his com- 
 mentators. As the narrative progresses from its pleasant, 
 quasi-Chaucerian opening through what must be allowed to 
 be its least interesting portion — for I am prepared to grant 
 that the first two dozen or so chapters of the poem are 
 anything but light reading — no reference to the religious 
 question intervenes in the long-drawn series of arguments 
 between the captive fly and his jailor, for which scholastic 
 philosophy and legal quibbling alternately supply the 
 materials. Nor (as may be worth mentioning) is the 
 argument concerning the definition of freewill, incidentally 
 introduced into this wrangle, concerned with the new shades 
 of significance imported by the theological disputes of the 
 Reformation into a question of far greyer growth. Readers 
 of Chaucer will remember a far more striking — if, perhaps, 
 in effect equally unsatisfactory — appeal to a time-honoured 
 statement of a perennial problem. ' 
 
 After the action of the poem has been quickened by its 
 issue being allowed to include that question of "conscience" 
 or, as one might say, feeling, which philosophers and lawyers 
 are bound to ignore = — and after two arbitrators have been 
 
 ' See TroUus and Creseide, bk. iv. 
 
 * " Lawe and custorae those twaiiie of thy laide three 
 
 (Namely lawe) somewhat resoned here haue byn. 
 
 But of conscience (saue that name namde we) 
 
 No word was touchte, since we did firste begin." — C, 22. 
 
xvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 appointed to reduce the quarrel to simpler terms, there is 
 still no attempt to explain the allegory as representing a con- 
 flict between forms of religious faith. In a quite subsidiary 
 (though, no doubt, rather enjoyable) episode where a " tart 
 taunting spider'' and a "sharpe saucy fly," stand forth to 
 "chop logike" with one another "in rude reasoning of this 
 case," and to prove the two sides in it that have been asser- 
 ting their " honestie " equal, to be equally ^whonest, the 
 "quareling spider," it will be noticed, launches at the 
 " cockyng flie " (and not vice-versd) the chance charge : 
 
 " I durst ley my life, thou art an hereticke." 
 Whereupon, to be sure, the fly retorts : 
 
 " I defie . . . the wretch that so seith ! 
 Harke, I will euin in your eare confesse my feith." ' 
 
 But I merely instance this inversion of the supposed reli- 
 gious significance of the allegory, in order to insist upon its 
 more important general bearing, which in the same chapter 
 of the poem, is most emphatically brought out. If the 
 reader will be at the pains to peruse the whole of this 
 chapter, he will perceive the substance of the conflict to lie 
 between the "spiders letting farms, and flies holding farms"; 
 between the 
 
 "Flies looking like lams ; spiders like lyons looke; 
 As though poore flies were made for rich spiders all ; 
 Of which, though foolish flies the suflfrance may brooke, 
 Wise flies cannot brooke it ; for thei finde in booke 
 This demaund written : ' When Adam dolve and Eve span, 
 Who was in those golden dales a gentleman ? 
 
 None as who saie. And were there none now (say wee), 
 The worlde shuld be as good now, as it was then. 
 If yemen flies were put in autoritee, 
 
 ' C. 44. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xvii 
 
 We wold rule as well as spiders gentiemen. 
 
 Shall Jak sauce now rule flie ? Sir, by these bones ten, 
 
 We shall sure be rulde, in all kinds of lawse, 
 
 As well by Jak sause as by maister John dawse." 
 
 And, earlier in the same chapter, the fly asserts that the 
 real idolatry, of which he and his fellows are guilty, is that 
 of bowing down to spiders : 
 
 " For we, therin, woorship false imagery." 9< i^X 
 It is perhaps needless to add, that of all prejudices the last 
 with which Heywood, in this or in any other of his works 
 can be charged, is that of superstitious reverence for the 
 clerical order as such.^ 
 
 Here, then, in the very heart of the poem, its true 
 meaning is to be divined. Its purport is a representation 
 of the social conflict between an actual ascendency of 
 power and wealth and a "murmering muttring"^ — and 
 suffering — multitude. 
 
 This conflict the poet views, according to his kind, 
 humorously, — in other words, from a point of view in which 
 serious purpose and sympathetic sentiment by no means 
 exclude satire. But, although he occasionally allows his 
 anti-democratic tendencies to find expression in the form 
 of an epigram,3 his treatment of the problem of reconciling 
 
 ' " Sum darks (of whom this little ant not le^t clark) 
 Can fine lies as finely as fine true tales tell." — C. 58. 
 " C. SI. 
 3 E.g. C. 22 : 
 
 "No diff'rence in othe, the worthe of a pease, 
 Betwene a thowsond flyes and a thousande fleas." 
 Or, more laboriously, C. 39 : 
 
 " Put case, a duke of estate honorable 
 Affirming a tale on his honour for trew, 
 A duck stepth foorth, and saith it is a fable : — 
 Were it not a case, trow you, as strange as new. 
 That dewke and that duck of one credits to vew ? " 
 
 d 
 
xviii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the conflicting interests of the few and the many is, on the 
 
 whole, serious and well-balanced. Comparatively early in 
 
 the course of the poem, he indicates the solution of the 
 
 problem — a strong monarchy — which the personality and 
 
 action of the Maid (Queen Mary) exemplify at its close. 
 
 A very well-sustained argument On forms of government; 
 
 conducted at this stage between the spider and 'the fly, in 
 
 which it has been satisfactorily shown that there are defects 
 
 in every form, suggests the conclusion, that as tyranny is 
 
 the worst of all, so the rule of the true King is the best. 
 
 But between oligarchy and democracy the scales are fairly 
 
 enough held, — just as it is shown with much truth that in 
 
 the giving of "verdict and judgment," "one wily learned 
 
 spider," as judge, may be not less unjust than may be," twelve 
 
 unlearned blunt flies as j.urymen." ' So againj when in a later 
 
 passus the Ant, appointed as one of the arbiters in the 
 
 dispute, strives to conduct it on an equitable basisj the 
 
 argument as to the relative credit -due to -gentlemen, and 
 
 yeoman, — "worship," with its derived or indirect contribu^ 
 
 tories, being compared with square "honesty^". — is carried on 
 
 fairly as well as ingeniously.'^ The writer is quite. awake ,te 
 
 the advantage: attaching, in a civil cpnflict,. to order as 
 
 against numba^s ;3 and, which is of .more importance, he 
 
 understands the real feebleness of the action of crowds, 
 
 each component member of which trusts to liis escaping 
 
 individual responsibility .4 Finally, the poet is so far from 
 
 regarding with cynical indifference the issue of the social 
 
 conflict which he illustrates, that, in a truly Solonian spirit, 
 
 he reserves his profoundest contempt for the politicat-^or 
 
 ' C. 27. ' C. 38. 3 See C. 52. 
 
 * " And though they gesse, that manie of them shall die. 
 Yet, if ech one think sure that scape he shall. 
 As I think, all so think assewredlie." — C. 59. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xix 
 
 shall we say social — indifference, which, in order to secure 
 personal immunity from the consequences of choosing a 
 side, prefers to wait on Providence, and to be "in" with the 
 ultimate, majority.': I shall not he accounted a Philistine 
 for saying, that the expression, ;of such a sentiment by a 
 hanger-on of the Tudor monarchy furnishes a comfortable 
 proof that the political spirit of Englishmen is unquench- 
 able. 
 
 I have endeavoured to show, however imperfectly, what 
 is the nature of the essential — or, to put it plainly, the 
 moral — interest attaching to this underrated, and indeed 
 contemned, poem ; and I am disposed to think this 
 interest the reverse of common or mean. The literary 
 merits, on the other hand, which may be claimed for TAe 
 Spider and the Flie are, perhaps, of no very high order, 
 although: — in my judgment, at least — the reverse of 
 despicable. The process of. the action of the poem, and 
 the not unskilfully contrived sequence of its successive 
 parts, are sufficiently displayed in the 7«^/r? prefixed to it 
 by its author. They, exhibit, as it appears to me, a lucidity 
 by no means common to allegorical, compositions, and, 
 after the first and all too scholastic portion of the argument 
 hasi been exhausted, a very notable variety of treatment. 
 Nay, even episodes are introduced with some expenditure 
 of skill. The 1 appointment of the arbiters (the Ant and 
 the Butterfly) almost amounts to the provision of a play 
 within the play ; and, indeed, the Ant's oration conveys the 
 
 • "These IndifFerentes (or newters) that part most take, 
 That strongest is, or strongest like to be ; 
 And, which side they leane to, such nombre they malce, 
 That they beare the bell awaie, and most apt we se 
 To cleaue to the ill part, euine of properte : 
 Which properte proueth, in sortes last or furst. 
 That of all sortes this last saide sort is wmst." — C, 63. 
 
XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 moral of the poem as it were in nuce.^ But the dialogues 
 between the two flies who in the midst of the turmoil 
 assert the right of individual criticism is episodical proper, 
 and one of the most freshly conceived passages in the 
 poem.2 I have already referred to this, as well as to the 
 incidental introduction of the motive of domestic pathos, 
 which, together with the equally incidental narrative 
 passages summing up the immediate results of the cam- 
 paign, 3 alone lends any colour to the ascription of a 
 burlesque purpose to the allegory. 
 
 As for the style of the work in general, its prosaic 
 colouring may be readily allowed ; and I dare say that 
 some critics may account this concession a sufficient justi- 
 fication for throwing aside a composition in verse in which 
 there is so little that can be called poetical. But no7i cuivis 
 contingit. Heywood belonged to an epoch of literary 
 productivity in which poetic "distinction" was not accounted 
 the sole criterion of effective verse. His syntax has the 
 more or less involved character peculiar to that of all — or 
 nearly all — the English writers of his age, and, except 
 where genius exerts its illuminating power, of so many 
 even in the greater age which succeeded it. His style is at 
 the same time sufficiently differentiated from that of other 
 writers, vyhether or not of his own generation, by features 
 proper to himself. On the one hand, a certain cautiousness 
 of intellectual temperament, in conjunction with a desire to 
 find expression for varying ways of thought and moods of 
 mind, leads him to indulge excessively in parenthesis ; and 
 (as it is, I think, alike unnecessary and inexpedient to show 
 by examples) the effect of his style suffers accordingly. 
 
 ' C. 57. The Ant's speech in this chapter is not unworthy of Menenius 
 Agrippa. 
 = C. 63 ; cf. C. 58. 3 Cc. S, 66-68 ; C. 70. 
 
INTRODUCTION. xxi 
 
 By way of compensation, he is, as might be exjpected, very 
 fond of quoting proverbs ; and even the earlier, and less 
 lively, half of the poem is thus preserved from unrelieved 
 dulness.i But this familiarity with the close-packed diction 
 of the people enables him at the same time to enliven his 
 own by touches reproducing its inimitably terse phraseology, 
 and to present us with a garnish of epithets and expletives, 
 which, in the phrase of modern criticism, we could "ill 
 afford to lose." ^ 
 
 The versification — including the metrification — of this 
 poem, in fine, must be judged by some more competent 
 authority. To my ear, the cadence of its stanzas, though 
 no doubt laboured and with no pretension to elegance, is 
 anything but unpleasant, and has a certain characteristic 
 sobriety or "sadness" which well suits the theme. It is 
 marked, moreover, by an abundant use of alliteration, which 
 adds an appropriate archaic flavour, and aptly reminds us of 
 the onomatopoeic dexterity of the author of the Interludes. 
 Indeed, among the dramatis persona of this allegory itself 
 we meet with such effective double-barrelled appellations as 
 "Antony Ant" and "Bartilmew" (Bartholomew) "Butterfly," 
 
 ' " Thornes pricke yonge" (C. 5). 
 " For woulde I neuer so willingly will 
 
 To weare powles steeple for a turkey hat." (C. 15). 
 " Trew men in at doores, theeues in at windowes " (C. 21). 
 And, later in the poem : 
 
 " Most prowde, most foole (as flies proueibes conceiue " (C 44). 
 " So manie heds, so many witts " (C, 55). 
 " Mark this mark : 
 Th'old prouerbe sayth : ' Manie hands make light wark'" (C 56). 
 » " Hucker macker " (C. 6). 
 " Not worth an inion" (C. 23). 
 " Costerde-monger " (f. 30). 
 "Rake-hels"(C. 44). 
 "Tag and rag" (C. 52). 
 " Mermaides, thone halfe flesh, thother fishe" (C. 63). 
 
xxii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the' arbiters chosen By the spiders and the flies res- 
 pectively to settle their contention ;i and all through the 
 poem alliteration is abundantly employed to emphasise 
 metre and meaning.^ 
 
 I must now leave it to the reader to decide for himself^ 
 whether he agrees with me, that in the fallowing poem 
 Heywood, who like every author of original power has a 
 style of his own, is true to its essential characteristics. 
 Such effort as is demanded for reading The Spider and the 
 FUe from cover to cover, seems to me, even apart from the 
 interest attaching to the matter and to the historical signifi- 
 cance of the work, more than counterbalanced by the 
 enjoyment derivable from the author's mannen This manner 
 is, as a whole, both grave arid sustained ; but there lurks in 
 it an animating irony; while, in many passages of the book, 
 it is diversified by vivacious sallies of satirical humour,, 
 and by aptly 'vcAxo6.\xzqA gnomes of popular mother-wit. 
 
 In conclusion; a word must be said of the woodcuts which 
 have been with successful fidelity reproduced in the present 
 reprint. I have already touched on the " portrait " which 
 forms the. .frontispiece of the book, and was re-engraved in 
 the 1562 edition of the Epigrams upon Proverbs, reprinted 
 for the Spenser Society. The author is habited in a furred 
 gown, which has been thought to resemble a M.A. gown 
 nearly enough to mark the wearer as an Oxford graduate ; 
 the cap on his head is, however, more like a doctor's hat or 
 an ordinary cap than a Master's " mortar-board." In his 
 
 ' C. 28. 
 
 ' So, in C. 2, " sodayne sorow, from setled solas ;" "long liking life" and 
 "dredfuU doubtfuU doutes ; " and in C. 56, in his humorous " rude" speech to 
 the flies, the butterfly addresses them as " a sort of captayne coblers," who 
 "like capon cockers cock. '' Again, in the subtle discussion in C. 38, as to the 
 difference between the regard due to authority and to that due to persons in 
 aiUhorily, they are said to differ oA far as " lerico and lersei in ioining iar." 
 
INTRODUCTION. xxiii 
 
 girdle he wears a dagger, possibly (though I have doubts 
 as to this) representing the "dagger of lath" which, as is 
 well known, was the jester's professional emblem. In the 
 woodcuts prefixed to the successive chapters of the poem, 
 the progress of its action is very quaintly and ingeniously 
 illustrated by an amusing series of variations, representing 
 the several scenes enacted in the author's window and in 
 the "copweb" covering its centre, while his own figure, in a 
 succession of more or less conventional attitudes, supplies a 
 kind of unity and proportion to the argument. About the 
 middle of the volume, however, as the action of the poem 
 developes, the engravings assume a larger size and take a 
 more ambitious turn; and round the Tree of Reformation- 
 are grouped the contending hosts of the Spiders and the 
 Flies, with their arms, and standards, and artillery. The 
 battle-piece, to match the narrative of the flies' assault upon 
 the spiders' castle in Cap. 66, constitutes the artist's most 
 magnificent effort. Towards the close of the poem we are 
 presented with the "portrait" of the Maid who set her foot 
 upon the spider, and 
 
 " he was foorthwith gon." 
 
 In this buxom personage, at least, nobody is likely to 
 descry an expression of melancholy; and the tragic issue of 
 all this dolorous debate is more aptly marked by the 
 tailpiece with Melpomene's awful head, which appears for 
 the last time over the word "Finis." 
 
 A. W. WARD. 
 
 Manchester, 
 February iJtA, 1894. 
 
THE PREFACE. 
 
 Parable : is properlie one thing, 
 That of an other doth conceiuing bring. 
 Yea : (oftentims) as parables are fcand, 
 One fcore of things : by one, be vnderftand. 
 Eche one of all : fcanned and vfed well, 
 Maie teache the fcanner good : to take & tel. 
 
 Contrarilie : fcanned and vfed ill, 
 
 Like il likewife, the fruite a mounteth untill. 
 
 Wherfore, before entrance to fcanning here : 
 
 In prefent parable here to appere, 
 
 Firft to induct (for to conduct) the waie : 
 
 How readers and fcanners : redilie maie : 
 
 Right fcanning (in right reading) here purchafe. 
 
 Good readers : reade and fcan (rightlie) this cafe. 
 
 There chaunft at once : at one fayre glaffe to bee, 
 
 Them felues tatire at once, fayre women three. 
 
 Where one an other enuide : till all were dreft. 
 
 Who might (when all weare dreft) feme dreffed beft. 
 
 But in the time of trimming of their geare : 
 
 There foreheads ftriking vp : broyding their heare : 
 
 Lacing and laying it : with euerie thing : 
 
 Lookte in the glaffe : directing trim trimming. 
 
 In all this time : thefe women euerychone, 
 
 Behelde eche other : but them felues not one : 
 
 That in the glaffe : vpon her felfe caft iye, 
 
 Good or ill tiring (in her felfe) tefpie. 
 
 One heare ley low : one other lay to hie : 
 
 On this fide : or on that fide : cleane awrie. 
 
 But herevpon : when eche had other efpide : 
 
 In tire atired : all a wrie or wide, 
 
 A ii Lorde 
 
THE PREFACE. 
 
 Lord in all three : what inward fport there was, 
 
 Eche one to fe an other, in that glas. 
 
 All three fore fweld : but be it bed or wurft : 
 
 Twayne muft vent vpward ftreight : or both muft burft, 
 
 While margret went a fide : her pins to fet, 
 
 Marian and margerie : back they both get. 
 
 To touch thatire, of margaret thus worne. 
 
 Betwene them twaine, to laugh that third to fcorne. 
 
 Marion faide to Margerie : fe you not, 
 
 How Meg is dreft, yes Madge (quoth fhe) god wot. 
 
 Might not a beetill blind beaft : bring to paffe : 
 
 To drelfe her felfe as well at any glaffe. 
 
 Yes madge : and with one lie : I can now fe : 
 
 What fpots (vnfene to her) in her face be. 
 
 Ye Mall (quoth Madge) I thinke I fliould il hie me : 
 
 To dreffe my felfe fo ill : the glaffe fo nie me, 
 
 God hath done his part : fhe hath a good face. 
 
 Which gift of God, her felfe doth ill difgrace, 
 
 Marion at this : ftepping fro margerie, 
 
 Margret to Margerie : ftepth by and bie. 
 
 And ftreight of Marion ; margret faith in hand : 
 
 How fer from frame : Marions a tyre doth ftand, 
 
 Madge and Meg finding faute : at marion more, 
 
 Then Madge and Marion : found at Meg before. 
 
 The thirde corfe was : that madge did ftart a fide : 
 
 Whearwith Marion to Meg : haftelie hide. 
 
 And Margeries atyre : they fet a broche. 
 
 As yll (or woorfe (the worfe her to reproche,) 
 
 Then £he was tierde in deede. Thus all thefe three : 
 
 Deuided thrife in twaine, did thrife agree : 
 
 Eche 
 
THE PREFACE. 
 
 Eche twayne, the thirde to mocke and gefte vpone : 
 
 Tyll euerie one, had mocked euerichone. 
 
 Eche mocking others faute : they fautie all, 
 
 Eche mockers mocke, moft on her felfe did fall. 
 
 This done, one of thefe three to the glaffe went : 
 
 No face but hers, then being reprefent. 
 
 Where : when (he did her felfe onlie behold, 
 
 Her filent fight : her fore foUie fo told : 
 
 That marking firft her felfe, her felfe fhe a tierde, 
 
 And then the reft, (in theyr atyre) defierde, 
 
 That eche vpon her felfe : wolde fet fure iye, 
 
 Ere fhe caft iye on other, low or hie. 
 
 They doing fo : all weare atired fo. 
 
 That whether a part, or they together go : 
 
 Had they bene willing : they had bene vnable, 
 
 Sparke or fpek to fpie : difcommendable : 
 
 Ech in others atire. Which women and glaffe. 
 
 Are a glaffe. this booke, and readers to compaffe. 
 
 In fcanning fence to towch men in this booke : 
 
 As glaffe lookers lookte : if booke readers looke : 
 
 He vpon him : and he on him : to fcan : 
 
 Sence moft and beft, naie moft and worft thei can : 
 
 Scanning who is the fpider : who the flie : 
 
 Neither of either : to him felfe taplie : 
 
 Scanning no whit : by fcanning here to fe : 
 
 In cafe fpiders : in cafe Hies : all fcand male be, 
 
 Glaffe looking : and booke reading : in fuch wife, 
 
 May well be fcand, one lyke vaine exeriife. 
 
 Who that this parable doth thus define. 
 
 This parable thus, is his and not mine. 
 
 A iii To 
 
THE PREFACE. 
 
 To this, this one thing I muft mind you to minde. 
 
 Concerning fpiders, flies, and eke thants kinde. 
 
 Wheare I : their naturall operacion : 
 
 With the largeft enlarge : tenlarge foundacion : 
 
 Wheron I frame this top ftorie i here to fee, 
 
 As both : both in length and breadth : male moil agree. 
 
 This (for this caufe) ftrecht the more long and wide, 
 
 I praie you beare with me : wheare it is fpide. 
 
 Wherin : my faut maie feme fumwhat the lefle, 
 
 That wifer men then I (in like procefle,) 
 
 Haue done the Uke, and late : one wife and olde : 
 
 In an old booke did reade (as he me told,) 
 
 That when fo euer fpiders>i flies, and ants fpeake. 
 
 Their approprid properties, they likewife breake. 
 
 Which if them felues do : ye will graunt I hope : 
 
 That I (doing it for- them) may haue like fcope. 
 
 Thus wifhing wifhinglie : in reading this. 
 
 Readers : to reade and fcan : all fentencis : 
 
 As we firft marke and mend our felues : and then, 
 
 To marke : to mend : the fautes of other men : 
 
 Without more fcanniog here : I now herein, 
 
 End circumflauace, the fubllaunce to begin. 
 
 F I N I S . 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 THe Introduction to the matter, ftiowing how the flie 
 chaunfed to fall in the fpiders copweb. Cap. primu 
 
 T[The lamentacion of the flie, with declaracion (partlie) of 
 the propertie of Fortune, and of his owne eftate paft and 
 prefent. Cap. 2. 
 
 TfThe dreadful! wonder of the fpider, at fodaine fhakinge of 
 his copweb. Cap. 3. 
 
 T[The fpider taking comfort, entreth in quarell with the 
 flie. Cap. 4. 
 
 T[The fpider flerting into his houfe to comfort his fhoufliold, 
 the flie deuifeth what waie to efcape the daunger of the fpi- 
 der. Cap. 5. 
 
 ^The fpider being returned to the flie, after a few woordes 
 betwenethem had, the flie fewth tothe fpider to be herd fpeake 
 which he graunteth. Cap. 6. 
 
 IfThe oracion of the flie to the fpider, commending iuftice, 
 and iufl: iufticers, requiring to haue his caufe heard through- 
 lie and adiudged iuftlie. Cap. 7. 
 
 IfThe fpider graunteth the flie both to here and adiudge this 
 cafe, as maie moft agreably fl:and with reafon, law, cuflome, 
 and confcience. Cap. 8. 
 
 T[They fliand both in hope to conuince ech other by iufl: caufe, 
 the flie praying the fpiders pardon, of fuch rude fpeeche and 
 all behauiour, as he may chaunce to ouerflioote himfelfe in, 
 the which the fpider doth graunt. Cap. 9. 
 
 ^They entre into the principal argument. The flie fuppofing 
 no lawfull profe by winteffe of any ill there againft: him : the 
 fpider allegeth the contrarie. The flie (vpon occafion,) requi- 
 ring to be bailde vnder furetie, the fpider denieth it. Cap. 10. 
 
 The 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 IThe fpider chargeth the flie, firft with burglarie, which the 
 flie aniwereth vnto: than the fpider chargeth him with fingle 
 felonie, which the flie reafoneth vnto. Cap. il. 
 
 IThe fpider (in a maner) graunteth, that the flie came into 
 the copweb againfl: the flies owne will, which the fpider fo 
 graunteth, for fuch policie foorthwith appering: as feemeth to 
 wei fore againfl the flie. Cap. I2. 
 
 f The flie herewith is abafhed, but a none he gathereth hym 
 felfe to a ft:aie fliewing a reafon, that maketh a manifeft fhow 
 cleerelie to ouerthrow the fpiders^ forefaide policie. Cap. J 3. 
 
 ITThe fpider checketh the flie for his comparing aboue the fpi- 
 der in knowledge of law and cuftom. which the flie meyntey 
 heth by one reafon comunlie reported. Whervpon the fpider 
 perfeyuing the polifie for which he femed to graunt the flie to 
 cum againft his will: taketh litle or no place, that much wea- 
 kening his part he driueth the flie to draw back that graunt. 
 Chapter 14. 
 
 f They reafon a frefli to trie whether the flie cam in to the fpi- 
 ders copweb with or againfl: his will. Cap. 15. 
 
 ITThey continew in purfewte of triall whether the flie came 
 thither willinglie or vnwyllynglie fo fer, that the Flie at 
 length offreth to take a booke othe, that he came againfl: his 
 will. Cap. 16. 
 
 IFThe fpider not admitting the flie to his othe, the flie bringth 
 in the fl:rength of the affirmatiue for his part: againft the ne- 
 gatiue on the fpiders fide. Wherunto adioyned his other rea- 
 fons laide in difcharge of charge part, he hopeth accordinge to 
 Juftice promifed, to be ftreight difcharged. Cap. 17. 
 
 ITThe fpider vpon a cafe in law touching thafiirmatiue, ta- 
 keth holde to deteyne the flie ftill in pofleflion : but yet vnder 
 
 pro- 
 
THE TABLE, 
 promife of iuflice before promifed. Cap. i8. 
 
 IfThe fpider, feeing that he cannot take full hold of the flie in 
 cafe of burglarie, nor felonie: he chargeth him now with tref- 
 pas, to which the flie reafoneth. Cap. 19. 
 
 ITThe fpider (at the flies anfwering him to a queftion) char- 
 geth the flie with procuring of other flies to difturbe him in 
 his copwebs : which the flie denithe. Cap. 20. 
 
 ITThey fail in comparifon touching their euidence written 
 or unwritten. Whervnto the flie layeth prefcripcion of cuf- 
 tome : whyche he before (alleged) fuppofing therby, that 
 the fpider ought both to deliver him, and make him amendes. 
 Cap. 21. 
 
 ITThe fpider denith the flies difcription of cufl:ome, alleginge 
 the fayinge of auftcient fpiders for his interefte by cuftome. 
 wherin anone bothe (hewynge eche to geue fmall credite to o- 
 ther, the flie moueth to put the mattier in arbiterment : which, 
 (as yet,) the fpider doeth not graunt. Cap. 22. 
 
 IThe flie (after a few woordes conferning a peale) dothe 
 brieflie recapitulate, the effect paffed in the principall cafe. 
 Cap. 23. 
 
 ^The fpider putteth a cafe in a peale ill (in a parence) for the 
 flie : as the fpider drawth it, and a-none, he by example of 
 the Lordes wyll had in cortes of coppie hold, feming to leane 
 toward will : the flie laboreth to qualifie that wyll. Cap. 24. 
 
 ITThe flie cleymeth all hooles in all windowes to be flies 
 in freeholde: & that fpiders fhould builde by the fides or in the 
 toppes : which cafe to be tride by law or cuftome, they in ma 
 ner agree : but the flie mouing it to be tride at the comon law, 
 the fpider refufeth it, whervpon arifeth matter of digreflion, 
 
 B in 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 in which the flie commendeth the fpider for expedite heringe 
 herof, briefly definyng the properties of iuftice, mercie, and ti- 
 rannie. Cap. 25, 
 
 HThe flie (for caufe here appering) defyreth to repete hys 
 difl:inction of iufl:ice, mercie, and tirannie, which the fpider 
 denieth. Wherewith the flie layth to the fpider, breche of 
 promife made to hym before. In difcharge wherof, the fpyder 
 anfwereth. Cap. 26. 
 
 ITThe fpider (reducing the flie to the principal matter) moueth 
 the triall to be had in his owne lordefhip, which the flie mifli- 
 keth. Wheron enfueth a glaunce at the diuerfite of gouerne- 
 ment, betwene one fpider and twelue flies. Cap. 27. 
 
 f They agree to be tride by arbiterment, whether all or howe 
 manie hooles in all windowes belonge to fpiders, and howe 
 manie to flies. The fpider chofing for his parte, the ant or pif- 
 mere, the flie choofmge for his fide, the butterflic. Wherevpon 
 they, thone couple in one parte, andthother couple in an other 
 part, talke together forthwith. Cap. 28. 
 
 ITThe fpider to the ant, and flie to butterlie (after woordes 
 of greetinge) declare, that they are chofen theyr arbiters here 
 in : wherin the ant and butterlie promife to do their befte. 
 And they then anone draw all foure together in (or at) the 
 copweb. Cap. 29. 
 
 HThe fpider declareth, and the flie graunteth the iflue to be, 
 that all flies clayme (in freehoolde) all hooles in all windo- 
 wes to be theyrs by cufliome. And fpiders claime all hooles 
 with all partes of all windowes to bee theyr freeholde by cu- 
 ftome. And after talke betweene them therin had, the ant re- 
 quireth full inftruction of the two parties to them two arbi- 
 ters. Cap. 30. 
 
 1[They (in couples feperate againe) declare eche how he wolde 
 
 haue 
 
 10 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 haue his arbiter handle his parte : and firft is here tolde the 
 tale of the fpider to the ant. Cap. 31. 
 
 ITThe tale of the flie to the butterflie how he fliall vfe the flies 
 parte : whiche doone, the arbiters withdrawe them felues to- 
 warde the top of the windowe. Cap. 32. 
 
 f The ant & the butterflie met together in the top of the wyn- 
 dow, certaine fpiders on their one fide : and certaine flies on 
 their other fide, Tharbiters commaunde them to ftande backe 
 while they two talke together. Cap. 33. 
 
 ITThant declaring the caufe of that meeting, the fpiders and 
 flies acknowledginge the fame, and that they come to geue 
 euidece, the flies are apoynted to depart while the fpiders firft 
 flaew, what they can faie for theyr parte. Cap. 34. 
 
 f After a few woordes betweene the ant and the butterflye, 
 one fpider as mought be for all, declareth to thofe two tharbi- 
 ters, all euidence that all fpiders fortheir parte can deuife. And 
 that doone, the fpiders are commaunded awaye, and the flies 
 bidden to approche Cap. 35. 
 
 ITVpon a fhort talke betweene the arbiters, one flie : fpokes 
 file for all flies, difclofeth all euidence for their parte: where- 
 with the flies at commaundement departe afide. Cap. 36. 
 
 ITThe arbiters (in debating theuidence on both partes gyuen) 
 can not other wife agree, but that the fame weyth eue as much 
 for the tone parte as forthetother. At endewherof, they call a- 
 gayne all the fayde forte. Cap. 37. 
 
 ITThe ant fhewth to them all, that theuidence weyth to one 
 effecte on both fides. So that all refteth now vpon knowledge 
 whiche parte to credite mofte : and vpon that mocion, one 
 fpider and one flie fall in argument to trie the fame: where- 
 in is touchte (partlie) the properties of credence, woor- 
 fhip, and honeftie. They agreeing that credence ftandth vpon 
 
 B ii honeftie 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 honeftie : as thus, as euerie fpidef or flie is honeft, fo is 
 he credible. Which tallce ended, they are all againe feque- 
 ftred. (^ap. 38. 
 
 ^By thants prouocacion the butterflie repeteth thargument 
 before made : in his grofe termes, not fer from full. And they 
 twaine feeming to agree vpon the point herein, they com- 
 maunde the fpiders and flies backe againe. Cap. 39. 
 
 fThant telth them, that where theuidence for both fides goth 
 to one effect, and that in debatinge which fide is mofl credible 
 to awarde the window vnto, it is concluded, that credence 
 ftandth vpon honeftie : and that as all fpiders and flies are 
 honefl:, fo are they credible: now muft it firft be tride, whiche 
 fide ismoft honefl;: theron to iudge whiche fide is moflie cre- 
 dible. Cap. 40. 
 
 ^One fpider and one flie reafoning which fide is mofl: honeft 
 agreeing (in conclufion) thatthoneftie on both fides appeereth 
 to them two : to be one, that flie requireth the arbiters to pon- 
 der the cafe as they fhall thinke good. Cap. 41. 
 
 1[Tharbiters commaunding all to go aparte againe, they fall 
 in talking fomwhat at large touching bothe credence and ho- 
 neftie in bothe thefe fides, whiche doone, to fhew therin their 
 mindes, they call all before them agayne. Cap. 42. 
 
 ^The ant telleth them, that they two determine thoneftie on 
 bothe fides to be one. Willing them to go foorth in the mat- 
 ter, wherwith one tart taunting fpider: and one fharpe faucie 
 flie, forbearing till this time (with much payne) fpeaking or 
 rather rayling, ftande now foorth (vpon tip toes) to chop lo- 
 gike eche with other in rude reafoning of this cafe. Cap. 43. 
 
 lyWhere an other fpider and flie reafoned late before to proue 
 whiche fide of both is moft honeft, this fayd quareling fpider 
 and cocking flie, labour to proue which parte of both is mofte 
 
 diflioneft 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 diflioneft: in woordes and deedes. As by vfurpacion in win- 
 dowes and other mifbehauiour. At ende wlierof infurious 
 fumes, thence ronth the fpider one waie, and the flie flingth 
 an other. Cap. 44. 
 
 ^A.fter a few woordes, whiche the ant fpeaketh to the reft of 
 bothe forts there, they are afligned to ftande backe againe : 
 while tharbiters gather out of this rayling, fuche reafons as 
 they can. Cap. 45. 
 
 TfTharbiters confider in this faide taunting talke, that fondry 
 difhoneft abvfes there are in fodry parties on both fides, vpo 
 their agrement of conclufion wherin, thei haue before them 
 thofe other fpiders and flies againe. Cap. 46. 
 
 ^Thant declarth to thofe fpiders and flies, that .the tales of 
 thepeartefpider &flie before tolde.do chargeech others part in 
 fuch fort, that they canot fay which fide is moft difhoneft. but 
 they two adiudge clereli in difhoneft things, both fides of like 
 difhoneftie. Wherwith they all auoyded backe again, tharbi 
 ters talke to fail to apoint betwene them felues what reporte 
 finallie and fully to make. Cap, 47. 
 
 ITTharbiters being agreed on their report, thei call to them 
 againe the fpiders and the flies. C^p. 48. 
 
 HThant fhewth them, that the butterflie and he are at poynt 
 what to reporte. deuifing it to be reported before the head fpi- 
 der and the flie in the copweb : the two principall parties. And 
 to haue with them to here and witneffe theyr reporte, two fpi- 
 ders and two flies, witty and difcrete. And the reft to Itaye 
 there till theyr returne. Whych beyng agreed, they fet foorth 
 ftreight to the fayd copweb. Cap. 49. 
 
 ITThe ant affociete with the fayde fort pronounceth at length 
 (to the fpider and flie in the copweb) this briefe effect. That in 
 as much as on both fides the euidence is one, and that the cre- 
 
 B iii dence 
 
 13 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 dence is one, by thoneftie being one, they two can (in reafon) 
 no waie trie howe to laye thaccuftomed right more on thone 
 fide then on thother, they finallie leaue the cafe euen at h'ber- 
 tie, as they founde it. And fo departe to the place of abitremet 
 agayne. Cap. 50. 
 
 f Thant and butterflie fet where they had fit, thant repeteth 
 to thofe fpiders and flies, the reporte made by him at the fayde 
 copweb. At end wherof, the fpiders and flies, feeing that time 
 fpent all in vayne, eche fide amonge them felfes fall in mour- 
 muring.. Cap. 51. 
 
 Wpon the fpiders and the flies mutring murmering, foden- 
 lie there cum nie aboute them : a wonderfuU nombre of all 
 manner of flies : in theyr warlike manner. Wherat with 
 twynke of an iye (as it were) the head fpider (with a greate 
 nombre of fpiders,) hath builded a ftrong caftell in that cop- 
 web. With ordinaunce and weapons and fpiders redie in or- 
 der of defence. Cap. 52. 
 
 f This huge heape of flies light aboute tharbiters. Apprehen- 
 ding thant, cafl:ing a halter aboute his necke : drawing him to 
 their tree of reformacio'n (as they call it) to hang him ftreyght. 
 But at his fute to be hard fpeakeere he die, oft flifleeth into the 
 tree, wherwith the captaine commaundeth filence. Cap. 53. 
 
 ITThe flie in the tree : to perfwarde the flies to here the ant 
 fpeake, wadeth honefl:lie, politiklie to a lewre them, to quiet 
 heryng of the ant before they put him to death. His which tale 
 tolde, he remoueth to his place agayne. .Cap. 54. 
 
 The flies former fine tale, no whit fl:urreth the grofe flies to the 
 hearing of the ant. Whervpon the butterflie (that was an arbi- 
 ter) fleeth into the tree : laboring the flies tohauethe ant heard 
 fpeake ere he die. Cap. 55. 
 
 fThe 
 
 14 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 f The butterflie (to get thant to be heard) telth his tale in fuch 
 rude maner and matter, that anone he fetth them all (welnie) 
 together by the eares. But vppon his grofe tale grofelytolde, 
 (much more liked then the flies finer tale) thei graunt to here 
 the flie fpeake. Cap. 56. 
 
 ITThe ant prayth to be herd fpeake thorowHe before anie part 
 of his talebe adiudged. And then they toadiudgethe whole as 
 ftandth with equite. Firft alleging matter to cleare himfelfe 
 from offending the flies. Finallie geuinge them (as it femeth) 
 freendli counfell, (touchyng this fl:rife) grounded vpon this 
 common faying: before thou ought begin, haue an iye to the 
 ende. Cap. 57. 
 
 ITThant hath fet the flies in fuch feare of the fpiders, that moft 
 are redie to ronne awaie, whom to ftaie, the captaine flie de- 
 uifeth thant to fet the fpiders in like feare of them : by a tale 
 tolde on the fame grounde that he tolde this ; in paine of han- 
 ging at his returne. Cap. 58. 
 
 ITThant after entre in talke (before the hed fpider) he to hym, 
 and all the fpiders (vpon this faide grounde : ere thou ought be- 
 gin : haue a iye to the ende,) inueyth what he can to fet the 
 ipiders in feare of'the flies. Cap. 59. 
 
 ITThat hauing brought the fpiders in great feare of the mul- 
 titude of flies, the head fpider takinge greate difpleafure with 
 the ant for the fame, he anfwereth thantes tale fo that he brin- 
 geth all the fpiders in corage agayne. Geuinge (in his owne 
 name and all theyrs,) defiance to the flies. Cap. 60. 
 
 ITUpon defiace geuin by the fpider to the flies, the ant brought 
 agayne to the flies, maketh full report of all fayde at the cop- 
 web. At end wherof, two flies argue wether thant haue defer- 
 ued life or death. By keeping or breaking former comnant to 
 bring the fpiders in feare of the flies. Cap. 61 . 
 
 ITAt 
 
 15 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 ITAt ende of this laft argument. The captayne axing the ant 
 what he can faye ? whye he fhould not die, the ant after a 
 few woordes fubmitteth him to their order. Wherevpon 
 the captaine goinge to the queftion, the ant is condemde by 
 the voyce of the moft nombre. The captaine then willing hym 
 to make his laft prayers, he doth fo. Cap. 62. 
 
 f While the ant faith his prayers on the ladder, two flies 
 thinking him to be wrongfuUie caft a waie, pitteing the 
 cafe, They touche (in talke) three fortes of flies feene there 
 then. Wherin is toucht fum parte of properties of new- 
 ter flies. Cap. 63. 
 
 IThe ant hauing now made his prayers, beinge at poynt to 
 be turnd from the ladder, a flie, a far of, crieth holde. Who 
 (lighting in the tree) bringeth fuche a meffage from the hed 
 fpider, as the Ant (thereby) is repride, and caried to pri- 
 fon. Cap. 64- 
 
 ITThe captaine flie, inueith vpon matter before paft: in fuch 
 forte fo encoraging the flies againe, that anone thei all crying 
 to the captaine to march forwarde, thei brauely fet foorth. And 
 laiyng their ordinaunce to the copweb caftell, thei befege it 
 rownde. Cap. 65. 
 
 ITThe flies geue onfet in affawte vpon the caftell : the fpiders 
 defending it in furious fighte. And vpon the flaughter on both 
 fides, the flies retire to their campe. The fpiders wife and chil- 
 derne on knefe to him befeching him to take peace with the 
 flies- Cap. 66. 
 
 ITThe fpider hauing companion on his wyfe and childerne as 
 on himfelfe, he faith that he will : with the aduice of his coun- 
 cell, in their fute do all that maie be done for the beft. Cap. 67. 
 
 ITThe fpider fet with twelue of his counfaile, declaretli 'his 
 wiues and childerns fute (adioyning therunto cocideracions of 
 
 his 
 
 16 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 his owne) for peace to be taken with the flies. Requiring thofe 
 counfellers while he departe and returne) to determine what 
 waie he fhall take. Cap. 68. 
 
 ITStraight as the fpider is gone, the reft arife withdrawing a 
 fonder in three plumpes fowre in a plumpe, no one knot kno- 
 wing what the reft faith, which done : thei all fet downe again 
 againft the fpiders returne. Cap. 69, 
 
 HThe fpider fet againe with his cownfaile, in thofe three faid 
 fortes, arife thre diuers waies to take herin. The beft one wher 
 of to choofe, the fpider departeth to deuife vpon. Willing them 
 to caufe all corners of that caftell to be clenfed and all battred 
 places made ftronge againe. Cap. 70. 
 
 ITThe flies in campe be at cownfell: defiroufly deuifing: by 
 what meane to get peace beft. Whervpon the captaine inuen- 
 ting a meane to driue that to few for peace if thei will be ruled 
 by him, thei thervnto agree. And thervpon the ant is brought 
 before the flies. Cap. 71. 
 
 ITThe captaine telth the ant that the flies haue retired from 
 thaffaute: (wheare manie fpiders are flayne) to fe whether 
 the fpiders wyll few for peace, for which fince they few not, 
 the flies will affaute them agayne. But the ant they wyll 
 hang ftreyght before they go. Cap. 72. 
 
 ITThe Ant vpon foden fliorte warning of his death : beynge 
 much difmayde, laying all that he can for his life, and yet 
 can get no grace, he prayth refpight : while he be brought 
 to the fpider to fe whether he wyll grow to anie peace to faue 
 the antes life. Whiche graunted, the ant is brought before 
 the fpider. Cap. 73. 
 
 ITThant (in waie of peticion) fewinge to the fpider for peace 
 laying confideracions to prouoke him the rather therto, the 
 fpider doth attentiuelie, geue the ant hering. Cap. 74. 
 
 C ITThe 
 
 17 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 ITThe fpider (vpon thants tale tolde to him) alegith certaine 
 thinges by which he femethin doubte much to graunt peace to 
 the flies. Wherin the ant and he trauerfing fumwhat: anon 
 he graunteth peace to them vnder condicion expreft, where- 
 with thant is brought to the flies agayne. Cap. 75. 
 
 tThant declaring peace: as it is graunted, the flies in muche 
 ioye fet the ant thankfuUie at libertie, and home goeth he. 
 Whervpon the captaine commaundeth all flies to draw nere 
 to here him fpeake ere they depart. But they flee all awaye a 
 few excepte. Cap. "jS. 
 
 ITVpon a litle talke had betweene the captaine and the few 
 flies there lefte, touchinge the rewdnefle and lightnefle of the 
 common fort of flies, mifliking their former light lewde de- 
 menure, they depart. The campeson both fides, clere brooken 
 vp. Cap. "jj. 
 
 ITThant being cum to the molehill, folemlie receiued of hys 
 wyfe, and childerne: and a great numbre of ants, he telth (to 
 them all a tale difcorfinge theffect of all his trouble, had am5g 
 the fpiders and flies. Willing them diligentlie to marke, what 
 he faith. Cap. 78. 
 
 f Thant hauing faid : what he wyll faie, willeth all ants to 
 note whie he faide, that he faide. Whiche is to warne them by 
 his armes to beware, how they meddle in matters betweene 
 fpiders and flies. Cap. 79. 
 
 ITFoure flies (in the name of all flies) at the copweb, than- 
 king the fpider for pardon and peace, declaringe the condi- 
 cions and the performaitce on their parte) few to the fpi- 
 der on his parte, to performe his graunt: in laying out and 
 poffefling them of theyr limitts with halfe the hooles in the 
 window, which he graunteth bidding them a litle time ftaie. 
 in which while: he fendth the yongeft fpider of his twaine to 
 the ant, praying him to cum to him againe. To deuide and 
 
 deliuer 
 
 18 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 deliuer the hooles to the flies as the fpider will apoinct them. 
 Cap. 80. 
 
 ITVpon this meflage done, thant feinth a let of his cuming: bi 
 a hurt mifchanfing him that morning, with which anfwere, 
 the yonge fpider returneth to the olde. Cap. 8 1 . 
 
 f The fpider after a few woords to the foure flies, afllneth to 
 them al the fmal holes beneth. Halfe the holes in numbre: but 
 fcant the fixt parte of the roome. At whiche they fumwhat 
 griidge. But they muft take them or none. Cap. 82. 
 
 ITThe foure flies flowne thence, the fpider to the flie in prifon 
 leith: that in all kinds of triall that dale on both parts laide, he 
 thinketh his owne part approued beft. as he thinketh the flie 
 wolde thinke were he a fpider, contrarie iudgement wherof, 
 the flie thinketh in the fpider were he a flie. wherupon they 
 agree to change places (eche for the time) to imagin and fet 
 foorth others part the beft they can. Cap. 83. 
 
 f They hauing Chaunged places: they alege eche for his dif- 
 fembled fide. Wherin the flie anone is fo alured to pride and 
 ambyflyon in occupying (for the while) the fpiders ftatelie 
 place, that he at laft with an othe affirmeth that fpiders are 
 owners of all windowes. The fpider graunting it trew, fter- 
 teth to the flie, feeming to take end vpon the flies owne iudge 
 ment. Cap. 84. 
 
 ITThe flie out of that chaier falne flat before the fpider, perfey- 
 uing his ouerfight and daunger therin, he declareth howe 
 change of place changed his affection. In difcoorfing of which 
 cafe, he partlie toucheth the commoditie of aduerfitie, and 
 the difcommoditie of profperitie. Befeeching the fpider to re- 
 linquifhe all aduauntage therin to be taken againft him. 
 Which the fpider graunteth. Cap. 85. 
 
 ITThe fpider vpon a glaunce geuen at his defert of thanke to 
 
 C ii be 
 
 19 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 be had at the flies hand, allegeth cuftom to be hys warrant 
 to diftroy the flie : which the flie can not denie. Whervpon 
 he defireth that the cafe maie be reafoned in confcience. Which 
 the fpider now graunteth. Cap. 86. 
 
 ITThey both laie fundrie fliarpe reafons in confcience for the 
 fpiders life and death. But the fpider in conclufion draweth 
 thefe foure principles (reafon, law, cuftom, and confcience, 
 which he at beginning graunted to trie all by) fo to combine 
 that he maketh therby an aparence, to fhow the fli conuinfl:. & 
 ftreight by cuftom: he geueth iudgement of the flies death. To 
 which the flie yeldeth. Praying to fpeak with twelue flies be- 
 fore he die. And it is graunted. Cap. 87. 
 
 ITThe flie (to twelue graue flies for all flies) geueth his ad- 
 uice for a voiding their parels by their ftrife had in windowes 
 againft fpiders. the great grounde of which tale ftandeth moft 
 vpon confideration of thefe three things, wherfore they ftriue, 
 with whom they ftriue, and how they ftriue. Cap. 88. 
 
 IT As the fpider is about to kill the flie, the mayde of the houfe 
 commeth in and ftriketh downe the copweb and the fpider to 
 the ground. Cap. 89. 
 
 ITThe maide being at poinct to treade the fpider to death : the 
 fpider praiethher to here him fpeakeere he die: and then to ad- 
 iudge him iuftlie. The maide graunting to vfe him (as he dyd 
 vfe the flie) as maie beft ftand with reafon, law, cuftom, and 
 confcience. She at his requeft (for the time) withdrawing hyr 
 foote, they fall to reafoning of the cafe. Cap. 90. 
 
 1[In reafoning of both fides, the maide driueth the fpider to 
 graunthimfelfe conuinft (by cuftom eyded with the other prin 
 ciples erft faide) as he conuinft and adiudged the flie before. 
 Whervpon ftie (by cuftom) decreth the fpider to die. He then 
 defiring to fpeake with his fonne and his counfell. Which the 
 mayde graunteth. Cap. 91. 
 
 TThe 
 
 20 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 ITThe fpider to his fonne and twelue fpiders geueth his bed 
 aduife for moft quiet and bed gouernance. His tale ftan- 
 dynge, moft vp5 thefe three termes. Firft a declaracion of him 
 felfe, fecond an exhortacion to them, the third a fubmiffion for 
 himfelf. Whervnto he defireth licence to take his childe in his 
 armes : now at theyr departing, whiche the mayde graun- 
 teth. Cap. 92. 
 
 HAfter a few wofuU woordes of the fpider had to his fonne 
 (they bothe clafpynge eche other in armes verie naturally) 
 he kyffeth and bliffeth him. Wherewyth that fonne 
 with all the twelue fpiders dolefuUie departe from the fpi- 
 der. Cap. 93. 
 
 ITThe mayde (appering as woe to diftroye the fpider as he 
 is to be dyftroyde) with her foote preffeth hym to death. 
 Cap. 94. 
 
 ITThe mayde hath before her the twelue fpiders and the 
 twelue flies that had bene before in place. And vpon her (how 
 that all harms doone by thofe generacions is growne by 
 myforder, Ihe fynally deuifeth full redreffe in poynting them 
 to grow to order. Cap. 95. 
 
 ITThe twelue fpiders and twelue flies hauyng hearde theyr 
 order fet by the mayde, they thankefullie receyue it, And 
 vpon her commaundement to them, to put thys order in 
 vre amonge all fpyders and flies, they ioyfullye departe that 
 commaundement to fulfill. Cap. 96. 
 
 ITThe fpyders and flies beynge now abfent, The mayde 
 fweepyth the wyndow cleane in euerie place. As far as her 
 brome and arme wyll ftretch, which doone fhe departeth. 
 Cap. 97. 
 
 ITThe maide being gone, the auctor cumeth in. And vpon hys 
 
 beholding 
 
THE TABLE. 
 
 beholding the wyndow fayre and cleane fwept wythoute 
 anie combirus copwebs or exceffif flockes of flies he depar- 
 teth. Cap. 98. 
 
 FINIS TABVLAE. 
 
2^ 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe Introduction to the matter, fhowing howe the flie 
 chaunfed to fall in the fpiders copweb. Cap. primu. 
 
 In 
 
 24 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 nN feafon what time euery growing thinge 
 That ripeth by roote, hath liuely taken hart 
 Graffe, leafe, and flowre, in field fo florifhing 
 IjThat wintered withered ftalks, ftand in couart 
 Though weerie wythered harts, plaie than like part 
 Couertly coucht in bed, them felues to hyde 
 Yet harts of luft, the bed can not abyde. 
 
 But vp they muft, profe of that luft to make 
 
 In whiche like cherefuU tyme, it chaunced me 
 
 From fleepe one night, fo timelie to awake 
 
 That how ferre night, or how nie dale might be 
 
 It paft my reache, of fearche, fure fine to fe 
 
 But ftreight, the fearche of nature wrought the crowe 
 
 Of daunyng of the dale, warnyng to fhowe. 
 
 Vpon whiche admonifion I arofe. 
 
 But by the tyme, that I could get me out. 
 
 The daie apeereth and fo brode breaketh lofe, 
 
 Leadyng mine eye, at large to loke about 
 
 The fields, fo frefhe, that be ye out of dout 
 
 For fauour, fight, and heringe eche byrds voyfe 
 
 No chaunge could chaunce, to choofe the better choyfe. 
 
 Whiche I (reioyfynglie) herde and behelde 
 
 Tyll fuche time as the fonne, was cum in fight. 
 
 So that the dew (drawne by his powre) mufi: yelde 
 
 From therth to thaire, from whence it fell that night 
 
 And hauyng herein had mine appetight 
 
 I made return (temprately to remayne) 
 
 Out of whot fonne, to temprate houfe agayne. 
 
 Where 
 
 25 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Where as (anone) a booke I tooke in hand 
 Some thinge to reade, to fode foorth fantafie 
 And ftepping to a window, there to ftand, 
 In at a lattes hole, right fodenlie 
 Euen at a fling, faft flew there in a flie 
 That fang as flirill, and freflilie in my minde, 
 As any byrde coulde do, bredde of that kinde. 
 
 About the parler flew this flie full rounde, 
 
 And as apeerde : he fought for foode in deede, 
 
 But when in no wife, ought wolde there be founde, 
 
 In to the buttrie (haflielie) he yeede 
 
 And fl:ale in to the almerie to feede, 
 
 Where he (at pleafure) triuniipht vncontrolde, 
 
 Till he had there (at will) wrought what he wolde. 
 
 From whenfe (anone) couragiouflie he flang 
 Now here, now there, of winge he made no ftore, 
 But for a flie oh lorde how he then fang 
 Two notes aboue his higheft note before, 
 Wherin, encreaft his courage more and more, 
 He flew, he friflct, he toft, he turnde about, 
 The flie of flies, no flie I trow fo ftout 
 
 But as the firmament moft cleere and blew 
 
 The golden fonbeames bent to bewtifie 
 
 The courtaine drawfle of clowdie weeping hew 
 
 Withdraweth and chaungeth, that chriftall afure flsie 
 
 From blew to blacke : fo fareth it with the flie. 
 
 Amyd whofe ioy, at window to haue paft, 
 
 A copweb maflsth his winges and maketh him fafl:. 
 
 ' Thus 
 
 26 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Thus chaunce hath (by exchaunge) the flie fo trapt, 
 
 That fodainly he loft his Hbertee : 
 
 The more he wrange, the fafter was he wrapt 
 
 And all to thencreafe of his ieoberdee, 
 
 Which parell, when he did conceiue and fee 
 
 Suche was his rage in haft from thence to flitte 
 
 As made him feeme, welnie out of his witte. 
 
 He wafted his winges, he wagged his tayle 
 
 He fhooke his head, he frounde, he ftared wyde, 
 
 He fpurnde, he kickte, but when nought wolde auayle 
 
 To ryd him thence, but there he muft abyde, 
 
 As breath and breaft wolde beare, loudely he cryde 
 
 And wofullie as any one flie can 
 
 In folowynge foorme, this wofuU flie began. 
 
 Aii 
 
 The 
 
 27 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 HThe lamentacion of the flie, with declaracion (parth'e) of 
 the propertie of Fortune, and of his dwne eftate paft and 
 prefente. Cap. 2. 
 
 Alas 
 
 28 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 A Las, alas, alas and welawaie. 
 To crie aloude alas, what caufe haue I 
 Alas (I faie) that euer I fawe this dale, 
 My whole eftate in twinklyng of an eye 
 Is here tranfformde from myrth to miferie, 
 For frowarde fortune hath led my mys hap 
 To lay and locke me in myne ennemies lap. 
 
 Oh fodayne forowe, from fetled folas, 
 For fo fat I in folas : as me thought. 
 Oh fortune, falfe flaterer that euer was, 
 In one moment, and i.n an other wrought 
 So furious, that both thaffects foorth brought, 
 Furie, or flaterie, which is worft in thee 
 Hard for a flie, to iudge the certeintee. 
 
 Namelie for me, who all my life haue beene 
 Lapped in lap of thy fayre flattering flowres. 
 Till from thofe rofes, now thou cafteft me cleene 
 Into theafe nettles, of thy furious fhowres, 
 Wherin my lacke of practice, lacketh powres. 
 (My whole tyme hauing bene fpent in the tone) 
 To iudge in theafe two, whiche is the woorft one. 
 
 I lacke (I meane) iudgement to iudge at full, 
 Bothe theafe fayde fides : Howbeit here to declare, 
 Somwhat in bothe partes, I bothe can and wull 
 Mine entrie now, in chaunge from ioye to care, 
 Hath in this inftant taught me to compare 
 Flaterie with furie, trewth in both to trie, 
 When Fortune telleth treuth : and when Fortune doth lie. 
 
 A iii Who 
 
 29 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Who while fhe was (or rather feemde) my freende, 
 Thapparaunce of hir.pleafaunt countenaunce 
 Promifed me, my welth fhoulde haue none eende, 
 But fwifter then the ftar doth feeme to glaunce 
 That affemblaunce : turneth to diffemblaunce, 
 Myne ended welth, now turnde to endles wo, 
 Amyd monge hir falfe flaterie, proueth fo. 
 
 And putting now hir fewrie here in vre 
 
 Threatning the daunger of my life prefent, 
 
 Perfourmaunce therof doth appere as fure 
 
 As it in maner had experiment, 
 
 Hir fewrie is a glaffe right excellent 
 
 Betwene fewrie and flaterie to deuife 
 
 To take hir threats trew, and hir promefle liefe 
 
 Flaterie, and fewrie, thus in hir this gofe. 
 
 When fhe fpeaketh fayre, then hath flie luft to lie. 
 
 When (he fpeaketh foule, then trewth fhe will difclofe. 
 
 Which thinge fhowth fomwhat ftraunge, but commenlie 
 
 In man to man, mans ufe doth verifie. 
 
 In Ibue, and hate, difclofyng trewth and liefe 
 
 The felfe fhow fliowde in dailie exercife. 
 
 In fundrie thinges experience doth tell. 
 
 No friende, with friende (in friendfhip) will be plaine, 
 
 As foe, with foe, will in his fewrie fell. 
 
 Loue, to tell trewth, doth ofte for loue refraine, 
 
 Hate hideth no iote vntolde for to remaine. 
 
 Loue, lockth in trewth, leaft trewth might friends difpleafe, 
 
 Hate, lafhth out trewth, foes to difpleafe and difeafe. 
 
 Friendes 
 
 3° 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Friendes (in this cafe) will hide trewth, and fhow liefe. 
 Foes (in this cafe) will hide lies and fhew trewth, 
 Of trewth that towcheth in difpleafant wife. 
 Hate hideth nought, that memorie endewth 
 In man, and fortune, who that fully vewth, 
 How vfe of trewth, and lies herein hath gone. 
 Shall fe in both, fmall difference faue this one. 
 
 Loue caufeth friendes to hide difpleafant trowth, 
 
 To kepe their friendes in quiet while thei male. 
 
 By loue in friendes to friendes, a lothneffe growth, 
 
 In thing extreeme, the trewth extreeme to faie, 
 
 Where hiding of the trewth, harmeth no waie 
 
 Or that the trewth, is better hid then tolde 
 
 There friende, to friende, by loue will trewth with holde. 
 
 But thofe refpectes, fortune doth nought attend, 
 
 Hir hidden trewth, in pleafaunt prefent fhow, 
 
 Is to begile, fuch as on hir depend. 
 
 When from hir grace, their greefe vnknowen fhall grow 
 
 By fore purpofed, folowing ouerthrow. 
 
 In quiet calme, fhe fhadoweth fhipwracke rockes, 
 
 To make hir mariners hir mockyng ftockes. 
 
 And noting here (from hir proclaimed calme) 
 
 How fodenlie hir fliolne flormes, do arife 
 
 Of ioie longe fought, late had, the fodeine qualme 
 
 I iudge to be hir great ioy, to deuife 
 
 By hir which ioy : my forow in this wife, 
 
 Teacheth me (I fay) to fay that I haue faide, 
 
 And fo much more, as is next after laide. 
 
 What 
 
 31 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 What is long liking life, the tyme once paft, 
 Except the fame, haue bene orderlie fpent 
 Thaccounted audite dale, muft cum at laft, 
 When woorde, and deede, with thought of eche entent, 
 Shall haue a iuft account, with like iudgement 
 Wolde god for all whiche dredfull doubtfull doutes 
 That I had died euen in my fwadlynge cloutes. 
 
 For liue we neuer fo longe a time here, 
 
 The tyme determined once that hence muft wee, 
 
 Then doth all worldelie pleafure paft, apere 
 
 Euen as in deede it is, all vanitee, 
 
 Whiche pleafure hath bene longe poffeft in mee 
 
 I thinke in no creature liuynge more 
 
 That euer liued here, a flie before. 
 
 Full many a night, haue I efcaped harme, 
 When many a flie, to harme was bought and folde 
 And many a night haue I lien clofe and warme 
 When many a flie abrode hath died for colde. 
 And many a flie the flap hath iobde and iolde, 
 When I haue fafely kepte from ieobardee, 
 My felfe, and all the flies, that folowde mee. 
 
 Wherby (with flies) I was then fo efteemed 
 That few thinges pafled without my councell 
 And where I paft : there was no daunger deemed 
 Nor no caufe why, for in all thinges that fell 
 My woorke did then approue my wit fo well 
 That nowhit cared I, what flie did know it, 
 Nor yet how far or brode al flies did blow it. 
 
 32 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 I haue bene (ere this daie) thefe many daies 
 By mine experience and mother wit, 
 Highly in eftimacion many waies, 
 And where I was prefent, no flie wolde fit, 
 Nor pertely preafe, to blow or bite one bit 
 Till I were fet, for where were flelhe or filhe. 
 The choife of both was mine in euery difhe. 
 
 And I fuppofe as longe as prefent tence, 
 Maie keepe poffeft poffeflion peafably, 
 To (land in place and cafe of reuerence, 
 Is thing much pleafaunt, to all flies welny, 
 But once in chaunged cafe as now am I, 
 The preter tence, prefentlie takinge place. 
 Then hath the prefent tence loft all his grace. 
 
 Alas my ioyfull ioy of yefterdaie. 
 
 How can it cure my carefull care prefent, 
 
 Of pleafure paft, remembraunce doth alwaie 
 
 The pinche of prefent payne, right much augment. 
 
 Then in this prefent cafe this confequent, 
 
 Conclewdeth (I fay) all pleafure paft to bee 
 
 Nought els, but vaniftied vaine vanitee. 
 
 Thus lithe there now in charge of my repreefe, 
 Thofe thinges, which I haue longe time gloried in. 
 Which glory paft, encreafeth prefent greefe. 
 And as my woorthy wyt did woorfhip win, 
 So ftiall ftiew of my foly, neuer blin 
 To bruite defame, report of his diftreffe. 
 Shall toffe and turne my wyt to foolyfhnefle. 
 
 B As 
 
 33 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 As thus, the fimpleft flie whiche by my (koole, 
 Is taught (ere this) of copwebs to beware, 
 And feeth his mafter plaie fo far the foole, 
 To be my felfe now tript in the fame fnare, 
 Shall by reporte my folic full declare, 
 Whiche furely (hall amonge all flies furuiue 
 As long as any one flie is aliue. 
 
 And though, this fall, I take to be as cleane 
 
 Without my faute, as without remedie, 
 
 And pacience the medfonable meane, 
 
 To take all fautles falles, reioifinglie. 
 
 And eke where no helpe, helpeth maladie, 
 
 To make a vertue, of neceflitee, 
 
 Yet thofe two poinctes, are poynctes to high for me. 
 
 For be I faultie, or be I faultles. 
 
 Sins I, this dreadfull daunger muft endure, 
 
 I am not mortified to beare diftres, 
 
 And being cleere remediles from cure 
 
 Of all my paines, that putteth moft paine in vre. 
 
 From ftep, to ftep, ftretcht on this draining ftaier, 
 
 No fl:ep like that, ftraineth daunger of difpaier. 
 
 For where as if remedy, anie weare, 
 
 Hope (out of hande) fhoulde fet me there about, 
 
 As hope of helpe is drownde, fo I for beare 
 
 All diligens, that hence might helpe me out. 
 
 Thus though the caged byrde (with ftomake ftout : 
 
 And voife right fweete) can fing his fongs by roate, 
 
 Yet can the fettred flie, fo : fing no noate, 
 
 Example 
 
 34 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Example of my felfe, whpfe weeping eiefe, 
 
 With fobbing fighinge harte, bewaileth my payne, 
 
 Appeering fuche, by ought I can furmiefe, 
 
 As doth (in maner) ftiow my death certaine, 
 
 Namely if fo the fpider now remaine 
 
 In this his manfhion, fet here prefentlie, 
 
 Then dred I doutles, here, foorthwith to die. 
 
 Of fuch a death as moft abhorth vs flies, 
 
 Which, flies haue felt, and folke haue feene to plaine. 
 
 Of propertie the fpider hath the gife, 
 
 Firft to fucke out, and fo eate vp our braine, 
 
 To his fmall gaine : and our moft lofle and paine, 
 
 Thus hath it bene, thus is it, and thus fhalbe, 
 
 Till pittie may mitigate thextremite. 
 
 Bii 
 
 The 
 
 35 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe dreadful! wonder of the fpider at fodaine Ihakyng of 
 his copweb. Cap. 3. 
 
 What 
 
 36 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 VVhat tyme the flie, this to him felfe had faide, 
 About the houfe he caft a doleful! looke, 
 Wherwith (to breake away) he made abraide, 
 With fuch a thruft, that all the copweb fhooke, 
 At whiche the fpider ftert, and ftreight awooke 
 Out of founde fleepe, full faft trembling for feare, 
 And feintlie fpake (anone) as ye fliall heare. 
 
 Alas where am I : alas whence came I ? 
 
 Or whither fhall I ? whats this an erthe quake ? 
 
 Or Cometh the dale of doome now fodeinly ? 
 
 Nought els (I trow) but that, my houfe coulde make 
 
 In euery place to fhatter and to fhake, 
 
 What is this buzzyng blumberinge trow we : thunder ? 
 
 Holde houfe, alas my feelyng riueth a funder, 
 
 No parte hath reft, in all partes of this frame, 
 
 From roofe to groundfiU, within any roome. 
 
 Is it the diuell ? or is it our dame ? 
 
 Or is it the page ? or is it the groome ? 
 
 Or is it our maide with hir birchin broome ? 
 
 Betwene the diuel, and all thefe, laft and furft, 
 
 The diuel take me, if I can choofe the wurft. 
 
 But ill, woorfe, and woorft, diuel, and all togither 
 
 Do me affaute as it (to me) doth feeme, 
 
 Hath fortune wrought my foes at this tyme hither, 
 
 And not fo much as warnde me to mifdeeme. 
 
 Now fie on fickle fortune thus extreeme, 
 
 And I defie the garde of fuche a guider, 
 
 Alas (this day) I am but a dead fpider. 
 
 B iii Thefe 
 
 37 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Thefe woordes thus fpoken, downe anone he fanke. 
 
 Kneling a while, deuoutlie on his knee, 
 
 And then rounde on a heape, to grounde he fhranke 
 
 Like an vrchyn vnder an aple tree. 
 
 No felon, faft in fetters for his fee, 
 
 Nor ape in chaine, that euer lookte more pale, 
 
 Then lookte this fpider, after this tolde tale. 
 
 So that thefe twayne, Hand now in one eftate,^ . 
 For in like langour, both be now here led. 
 And of their Hues, both like defperate, 
 For now the fpider, is as far in dred, 
 And by that dred he is euen as neere ded. 
 As is the flie. who thinketh he feeth at eie. 
 His death aproachyng him, aparantlie. 
 
 The 
 
 38 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThe fpider takyng comfort, entreth in quarell with 
 the flie. Cap. 4. 
 
 Howbeit 
 
 39 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Howbeit anone, the fpider well efpide 
 That ennemies were there none faue onely one : 
 And him he fawe fo fafe, and furely tide. 
 That vp he ftoode to ftretche him, and anone 
 (His former feare from him now beyng gone) 
 To the top of his copweb, he ftept boldely, 
 And in thefe wordes : began to common coldely. 
 
 Who are you that lithe there ? fpeake if ye can ? 
 
 Forfooth (faide then the flie) fyr it is I, 
 
 I, be you I (quoth he) I pray you than 
 
 What I be you ? tell me that by and by. 
 
 What I am I ? forfooth fir a poore fly : 
 
 What thou falfe theefe, art thou here quoth the fpider 
 
 Thou fhalt feele caufe, to wiflie thou hadft gone wider. 
 
 And therwithall full furiouflie he flang 
 Towarde the flie, but what tyme he efpide him. 
 Oh lord how his feat feete and handes he wrang, 
 Befeching his great god, that day to guide him, 
 And from his mortall ennemie to deuide him : 
 With out whofe ayde, from which his foe : to flit, 
 He faw it paft a flies poore powre and wit. 
 
 And his dreadfuU difpayre, was muche the more 
 To fee how fpeedelie the fpider fpan, 
 All rounde about his houfe eche fyde to fhore, 
 No weauing workman in this worlde that can 
 Weaue that like web of that like ftuffe wouen than, 
 In eche weake place is wouen a weauing caft. 
 By warde, in warde, to warde the flie more fafl:. 
 
 Which 
 
 40 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Whiche done, thefe woords the fpider fowrely faide, 
 Thou auncient enemie and arrant theefe. 
 Whofe lignage alwaie hath fliewde banner fplaide 
 Againft my parentage to their great greefe, 
 And now thy felfe renewing their mifcheefe 
 With mallice of thine owne in vre to put, 
 Art ftolen in to my houfe, my throate to cut. 
 
 And neuer had my houfe, and houlholde harme 
 By any flie, fo much as now by thee, 
 I fhrew thy naked hart, I was full warme 
 Naked a bed, a fleepe fo mote I thee. 
 There as my wife : and all my children bee, 
 Where god knoweth what they do, or how they do, 
 By feare whiche thou at this time bringeft them to. 
 
 The 
 
 41 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe fpider fterting into his houfe to comfort his houfliolde, 
 the flie deuifeth what way to efcape the daunger of the fpi- 
 der. Cap. S. 
 
 And 
 
 42 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ANd with thefe woordes afide the fpider ftart, 
 Where his faide bedfelow and offpring were. 
 Saying thefe woordes : now good my owne fweete hart 
 And my two babes be ye all of good chere, 
 The prefent caufe of all your prefent fere 
 Is paft, I haue the caiteffe faft in fnare, 
 That was the caufe of all your fearefuU care. 
 
 What horefon is it hufband, (quoth he) wife 
 
 A fleftie flie as big as a humble bee, 
 
 That fliall (if I Hue) furelie leefe his life. 
 
 The youngeft fpider there, at this cride he, 
 
 Oh, father father I hertelie pray ye 
 
 Remembre when ye fliall returne againe. 
 
 To bring me fome part of that fleflie flies braine. 
 
 How fay ye to this babe (quoth the mother) 
 
 Will ye here this vrchin of eyght weekes olde, 
 
 It is a babling brat aboue all other. 
 
 Ye (quoth the father) childe hardely be bolde. 
 
 Thornes pricke yonge, that flialbe Iharpe folke haue tolde, 
 
 Which fheweth in thee^ in that thou art enclinde 
 
 To craue (thus yonge) accordyng to thy kynde. 
 
 And while the fpider dalied in this wife, 
 
 The flie (confidering this extremitee) 
 
 Did with him felfe, aduifedlie deuife. 
 
 To fcape with life, what might his beft meane bee, 
 
 Softely, as I might here, faying, I fee 
 
 Like as muche coritenfion can nought preuayle, 
 
 So: to muche cowardife might all quayle. 
 
 C ii Betwene 
 
 43 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Betwene thefe two, cowardife and contenfion, 
 The fpiders ire the rather to affwage, 
 I temprately muft tempre mine inuenfion, 
 To plead my right in reafon not in rage, 
 And fens my body lieth in iayle forgage. 
 My iayler faire and gentlie to befeeche. 
 That is (in flies) no flaterie but faire fpeeche. 
 
 From defperate feare : hope makth me now fuppofe. 
 
 If I may obteine hearyng reafonably, 
 
 I nother life nor libertee fhall lofe, 
 
 But be let lowfe from bondage by and by. 
 
 And herevpon the fpider fodeinely 
 
 From where he was, returned backe againe, 
 
 And flreight to gripe the flie began to ftraine, 
 
 The 
 
 44 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThe fpider being returned to the flie, after a few woordes 
 betwene them had, the flie fewth to the fpider to be herd fpeake 
 which he graunteth. Cap. 6. 
 
 C iii. 
 
 The 
 
 45 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 '' I " He flie (to him) lift vp both hart and handes, 
 
 X And in moft milde behauiour humblelie 
 Saide : fyr, fins I am bound here in your bandes, 
 Vnder commaundment thus affuredh'e, 
 What brute might breede to you more infamie 
 Then here (in hucker mucker) me to murder, 
 The caufe wherefore I die, publiflit no furder. 
 
 Flie : (quoth the fpider) I dare fay : the caufe 
 Is open enough, for a thowfande marke 
 Will not repaire that, which againft all laufe 
 Thou haft here broken : beholde thine owne warke, 
 Wherin to aunfwere all : that at me barke, 
 To whom thy doleful! death flialbe apparant, 
 To them thy diuelifhe deede flialbe my warant. 
 
 Sir (faide the flie) if it in deede fo be 
 
 That this my deede, aparantly appere, 
 
 So far my faute, that it may warrant ye, 
 
 To geue me death therfore with confciens cleere. 
 
 Then as my body is in prifon heere. 
 
 So with my bodie yeelde my will, will I, 
 
 Vnto your will, at will to Hue or dy. 
 
 But fyr, before we fhalbe fo fer foorth, 
 
 I you befeech right humbly as I maie, 
 
 Alow my fewte, for fuch : and fo muche woorth/ 
 
 To win your graunt (ere I be caft awaie) 
 
 To here, what I can in this matter faie. 
 
 So thou with fpeede ftiow what thou haft to breake, 
 
 I (quoth the fpider) graunt to here the fpeake. 
 
 46 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 I thanke you humblie (quoth the flie) but fur 
 
 Of a goofe with garlicke faufte : fo late I eete, 
 
 That my breath ftinketh, and fins I may not ftur 
 
 From you, for you I thinke it very meete, 
 
 To ftep from me : a loofe : to aire more fweete, 
 
 The fpider ftepping backe a little way, 
 
 The flie therwith (fomwhat lightned) did fay. 
 
 The 
 
 47 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe oracion of the flie to the fpider, commending iuftice, 
 and iuft iufticers, requiring to haue his caufe herd throughly 
 and adiudged luftlie. Cap. 7. 
 
 Maifter 
 
 48 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 M Aider fpider, note (I befeche you) this 
 Ye know right well; the vertue of luftife, 
 In euery creature here liuynge, is, 
 Both in you fpiders, and eke in vs flife, 
 And in euery other wight beyng wife, 
 The thing : which is generally pretended. 
 And where it is in deede, highly commended : 
 
 And where that vertue, lacketh in any wight. 
 
 All other vertues, there do bid adew. 
 
 What vertue can (in place) take place of right. 
 
 In fuche as to Ihew luftice, dooe efchew : 
 
 Who lacketh luftice, he can not be trew : 
 
 And who in ludginge all thinges, luftly ludgeth, 
 
 To choofe that ludge his ludge, no wife wight grudgeth. 
 
 Great letts wherin are foure, loue, hate, meede, and dreed e, 
 In all whiche iudgementes geuen, adiudgeyng geines, 
 Loue, ludgth the loued, more, then iuftice fheweth decreede, 
 Hate, ludgth the hated, leffe, then luftice conftreines : 
 Meede, ludgth the meeder, more, then luftice conteinfe, 
 Dred, in dred of the dreddid, the dredder driues 
 To ludge, more or leffe, as the dreddid contriues. 
 
 And tavoyde parfhall iudgement betwene partife. 
 Though thone partie for iudge, I wifhe none of them. 
 Yet change of minde or matter, doth oft fo rife, 
 That the iudge, is iudge, and partie one of them, 
 As you feeme iudge here, beyng the tone of them, 
 Selfe loue in whiche iudge, he thother part hatinge, 
 May iudge muche iudgement, of much vniuft ratinge : 
 
 D Ye 
 
 g 49 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Ye though the iudge, hate thother partie no deele, 
 That felfe iudge, him felfe, louyng more then enough, 
 Leffe right then enough, thother part may foone feele, 
 Selfe loue, to him felfe tender, to the reft tough. 
 Is, of iuft iuftice, neither roote, braunce, nor bough. 
 Loue (namely felfe loue) corruptibly growyng, 
 Is cheefe lodefter of lets, in iuftice fliowing. 
 
 For though corrupt loue, and hate : contrarife mere, 
 
 Woorke one like wronge, both in one like degree linkt. 
 
 Yet that loue, woorfe then that hate : I adiudge here, 
 
 It is more hard, loue to our felues to extinkt. 
 
 Then hate to other, to plucke from tharts prefmkt, 
 
 Thus, of iuftice no let ledeth intrupcion, 
 
 Like this loue (named felfe loue) growne of corrupcion. 
 
 But to the point, iudges that iuftice vfe, 
 In all, betwene them felues and all the reft. 
 To claime or holde, by wyll who doth refufe, 
 Thinges, wherof they wolde be, or be poffeft, 
 And euen as iuftice, iuftly hath adreft, 
 Both geue and take the dew extended rate, 
 Thofe are (for iudgement) woorthy mofte eftate. 
 
 Syns iuftice that fweete flowre full fayre doth grow, 
 
 In perfons fuche as of moft bafe forte bee, 
 
 That floure more fayre and fweete muft needely fhow 
 
 In thofe that ftande, aboue the meane degree, 
 
 Beynge therto knyt vnto auctoritee. 
 
 As more or leffe, who may commaunde at will, 
 
 So more or leffe, he may do good or ill. 
 
 And 
 
 5° 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 And in our cafe, were iuft iuftife clene reiect, 
 What iniuries might therby here arife. 
 Of flies factes, if fpyders wiUes weyd, theffect 
 Right foone, might wilful! will, without iuflife, 
 Draw vnto death, a hundreth thowfand flife. 
 Which : will may do (if will fhall knit the knot) 
 Whether that we flies, offend or offend not. 
 
 Howbeit I hope ye will do iuftice, fuche 
 As may with this iufl iuftice ioyne iuftly. 
 In mine accounte your wifdome is to muche, 
 To blot or blur your fame, for any fly, 
 Wherby I ftand in truft affuredly, 
 Iuft iudgement in this matter, now to haue. 
 And other thing then that, I do none craue. 
 
 Saue that this cafe, may be firft fully hard : 
 And fully perceyued, by reafonyng lykewife, 
 Whiche done, as equytee, beft afterward 
 Shall you aduyfe, my iudgement to deuife, 
 Without further apeale in enterprife, 
 I fhall (as I fay) other to liue or die. 
 Into your handes, yeelde me contentedlie. 
 
 D ii Tlie 
 
 SI 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe fpider graunteth the flie both to here and adiudge this 
 cafe, as maie moft agreably (land with Reafon, Lawe, Cu- 
 ftome, and Confcience. Cap. 8. 
 
 FHe 
 
 52 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 FLie (quoth the fpider) I efpie right well, 
 Thy braine is muche, which I right much fet by, 
 By which thy prefent fewte, the treuth to tell, 
 Thou fheweft here wittely and honeftly, 
 Requeft wherin, fhoweth fuch conuenienfy. 
 Full heringe and reafonyng, to win me to : 
 That reafon bidth me graunt, and fo I do. 
 
 And for the reft, behold me now (quoth he) 
 Wherwith, his feete to his mouth he toffis, 
 Saieing thefe woords, now flie here vnto the 
 I fweare a foUem othe, by all thefe croffis. 
 Thou (halt haue iuftice, though I fufteyne loffis, 
 As reafonably may ftand, for thy defence. 
 In reafon, lawe, cuftome, and confcience. 
 
 In cumpas of which foure principles towcht. 
 All debates, difcourft, and difcuft fliulde bee, 
 Reafon, to perceiue, mans great ground is vowcht : 
 Lawe, on reafon : muft take grounde to agree : 
 Cuftome, ftandeth (or ftioulde) on reafons decree : 
 Confcience, with reafon concurth : to withdrawe 
 Thextremitees of cuftome, and of lawe. 
 
 Vpon thefe foure (eche one) one corner pofte, 
 The ftintyng of debate, takth ftandyng ftay, 
 Wheron this building, flialbe fo enbofte. 
 That as I fware, againe I fweare I fay. 
 Without corrupcion on my part, this day, 
 Thou (halt be vfed herein, at my hand. 
 As moft with reafon, and this reft male ftand. 
 
 They 
 
 S3 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 IT They ftand both in hope to conuince ech other by iuft caufe, 
 the flie praiyng the fpiders pardon, of fuche rude fpeeche and 
 all behauiour, as he maie chaunce to ouer fhoote him felfe in, 
 the which the fpider doth graunt. Cap. g. 
 
 There 
 
 54 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 THere neuer was Fryer limiter, that duckt 
 So low, where beggyng woon him twenty cheefes, 
 As is the flie now to the fpider ruckte, 
 He makth him fewre to wyn, who euer leefes, 
 And here with all (by chaunfe) the fpider fneefes, 
 Now (quoth the flie) chaunce I to win or leefe. 
 Chrift help, and longe in helth wel mote ye fneefe. 
 
 The fpider herefore, gaue the flie fuche thanke. 
 
 As hath in vfage, courfe of curtefy. 
 
 But note thefe twaine, fo lately fo like blanke 
 
 And both now, in lyke mirth immediately, 
 
 Me thought, that chaunfed very pretyly. 
 
 The flie thinketh, reafon (hall fure make his waie, 
 
 The fpider, thinketh in reafon, furely nay. 
 
 Sir (quoth the flie) I muft you here befeeche, 
 To ratefie your pardon my protection 
 In my behauiour, namely in fuche fpeeche 
 As may (by rudenes) rightly craue correction, 
 If I fhall lacke your ayde, to this election. 
 Then may my reafonyng, for my libertee 
 Leefe my libertee, and wyn my ieoberdee. 
 
 This is encluded (flie) in my fworne othe. 
 By whiche I erfl: haue promyfde the iuftife, 
 Suche fpeeche as in thy cafe dyrectly gothe, 
 So that thou rayle not, to fer out of fife, 
 For whiche thou feemefl: a flie, as fer to wife, 
 Spare not to fpeake thy mynde : and vnto me 
 (So faide) fay what thou wilt : I pardon the. 
 
 That 
 
 55 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 That pardon I receyue, with hartie hart, 
 And hartely thanke your graunting of the fame, 
 The fhale now of this nutte, fhaled cleere apart, 
 The crackyng of this nutte : to put in frame, 
 For winning of the carnill of this game, 
 To your pardon had, your pacience praying, 
 To here for further ferchyng, further faying. 
 
 Here ftoode they both, a while in filent (lay : 
 
 The flie deuifing warely what to fpeake : 
 
 The fpider likewife, warely watcht at bay. 
 
 What great woordes, out of his mouth, fmall and weake. 
 
 Of chalenge to defence, flioulde there then breake, 
 
 Wherwith at curtefy, low and reuerent, 
 
 From circumftaunce, to fubftaunce, the flie went, 
 
 The 
 
 S6 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThey entre into the principall argument, the flie fuppofing 
 no laufull profe by witnes of any ill there againfl: him : the 
 fpider allegeth the contrarie, the flie (vpon occafion) requy- 
 ring to be bailde vnder furety, the fpider denieth it. 
 Cap. lo. 
 
 Maifter 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 M Aider fpider, the pith now to aduaunce : 
 I pray you declare plainly (quoth the flic, 
 How can (by law) in reafon this mifchaunce 
 Support in you : to kepe me cruellie, 
 To lie in prifon, here thus piteouflie, 
 And with your fetters fettring me thus fad, 
 No laufull proofe of caufe, by witnes part. 
 
 No laufull proofe (quoth he) flie faift thou fo ? 
 What proofe can reafon (how in law more cleere, 
 Then fight of him that one inche can not go, 
 From prefent place : where plainely doth appeere, 
 Suche an acte done : as thou haft now done heere. 
 I thinke the falfeft flie, of all thy kin, 
 Woulde iudge for haynous, thy thus breakynge in. 
 
 But put the cafe, that I atached you. 
 
 In this my lordfhip, faft in iaile to fit. 
 
 But as fufpect, no act aproued now. 
 
 Yet might I keepe ye faft, leaft ye might flit, 
 
 Tyll ye were founde giltie, or els a quit. 
 
 Except this cafe run right, and law runth wronge, 
 
 For this is lawe, and lawe it hath bin long. 
 
 Keepe (quoth the flie) I pray you in fufpence, 
 The firft aleged cafe : of thefe laft twayne. 
 Till in this laft, law ley experience, 
 Wherby it may apeere, ye may detaine, 
 A flie : fufpect of crime, not proued plaine, 
 But vnder furety, out of common layle, 
 The prifoner fliall at fute, be let to bavle. 
 
 Let 
 
 58 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Let flies to baile : friend flie (quoth the fpider) 
 Nay by my fathers foule, that will not bee, 
 Except he here, wilbe fuche a byder. 
 That he will fit faft by the feete for thee. 
 And take thy turne :him will I take furetee, 
 Nay (quoth the flie) that trieth a freende to muche, 
 I haue good freendes, but fure I haue none fuche. 
 
 To binde a flie herein, body for body. 
 Were bond fufficient : for a thing thus fleight. 
 Well (quoth the fpider, fly call thou me noddy. 
 Except I proue this a thinge of much weight. 
 But thou alluredft me in way of refeight. 
 Of one flie here, now fafl:ned faft in laile. 
 To go lay fait on an other flies taile. 
 
 Eii 
 
 The 
 
 59 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe fpider chargeth the flie, firft with burglarie, which the 
 flie anfwereth vnto : than the fpider chargeth him with fiti- 
 gle felony, which the flie reafoneth vnto. Cap. 1 1. 
 
 This 
 
 60 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 THis reafon dryueth vs now (quoth the flie) 
 Straight to your reafon, before fufpenfed, 
 Wherein mine act apeering euidently 
 So huge, and heynous offence commenfed, 
 As by that reafon, it is pretenfed. 
 Then lawe and reafon both, will that I faile, 
 Of light furety, to borow me to baile. 
 
 But in mine act apparantly committed. 
 Although the deede, I nowhit do deny, 
 Yet how can lawe, by any wight well witted. 
 Lay in my faute, offenfiue fact therby. 
 Flie (quoth the fpider) that can (and will) I, 
 And thy reproche, to broche foorthwith at large, 
 I lay (in lawe) burglary to thy charge. 
 
 That charge is foone difcharged, fir faide he, 
 The breache of houfes, in the tyme of night, 
 Shewth euidence where thofe offenders be. 
 But not onely : the fonne doth fhine full bright, 
 Ere flies a mornings, cum abrode in fight, 
 But alfo at eeue, ere the fonne be fet, 
 Eche flie to his lodgeyng, againe will get. 
 
 By this, this breache, can be no burglary. 
 
 And ere I now came here, all men might fee 
 
 The fonne apeeryng vniuerfally. 
 
 Though it (at thy commyng) were day with thee, 
 
 Yet was it night (quoth the fpider) with mee, 
 
 I was a fleepe, and no day yet had feene 
 
 Thefe two longe houres, had not this mifchaunce beene. 
 
 E iii Sir 
 
 6i 
 
THE SPIDER. 
 
 Sir (quoth the flie) admit that ye now were 
 
 A fleepe, till that the fonne were fixe howres hie, 
 
 Coulde any reafon, fhow reafon to beare, 
 
 You to affirme, or firmely verifie, 
 
 The day for night, till time ye day efpie, 
 
 So were it a thing, eafy to be doone, 
 
 With a winke, to make it midnight at noone. 
 
 Why fly, at noone : midnight is it with mee. 
 
 If I at noone be a fleepe : ye (quoth the flie) 
 
 But if ye againft one noone fleeper (hall fee, 
 
 Ten thoufand noone wakers, night from noone to trie. 
 
 Ye fhall poorely proue, this night noone burglarie. 
 
 And flept ye till noone : yet in courfe of the funne. 
 
 Ye are not ignorant, how the day doth runne 
 
 Well faid (faid the fpider)and put the cafe. 
 That I in this cafe, yeelde thee the maifl:rie. 
 Yet fliall this other cafe (I trow) take plafe, 
 I here arreft thee flie, of felonie. 
 Which caufe of arreft thou canft not denie. 
 For breakyng in here thus, and neuer knocke. 
 As good or better, were to picke the locke. 
 
 I brake into this houfe now (quoth the flie, 
 Like as a theefe doth breake into newgate, 
 Sauyng that the theefe, doth moft commonlie 
 Pretend at his entrie there, more eftate. 
 For breake a theefe in there : erely or late. 
 He hath as many leaders as a bride. 
 With weyters, attendant on eueri^ fide. 
 
 And 
 
 62 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 And yet no theefe is there of all the rout, 
 That into that houfe breakth fo willinglie, 
 But he wolde rather go ten mile about, 
 To fliun the vanitee of vaine glorie, 
 Then be refeiued fo honorablie. 
 Acounting his life : no daie the fhorter, 
 In taking paine to be his owne porter. 
 
 And as the theefe, full fer againfl: his will. 
 Doth breake in there, fo brake I now in heere. 
 For theefe or flie, what one hath wit fo ill. 
 To preafe to rob where he hath knowlage cleere. 
 By robry : to fteale ought, nought can apeere. 
 Nor no commoditee there confequent. 
 But death, or perpetuall prifonment. 
 
 The 
 
 63 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe fpider (in a maner) graunteth, that the flie cam into 
 the copweb againft the flies owne will, which the fpider fo 
 graunteth, for fuch policy foorthwith appering: as feemeth to 
 weigh fore againfb the flie. Cap. 1 2. 
 
 So 
 
 64 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 So mote I thee good felow flie (faid he) 
 
 That allegacion recheth here, fo fer and nere, 
 
 That in aparance, it concludeth me, 
 
 For glad or willinglie, who wolde cum where 
 
 As he fhoulde cleerely know, his cumming were 
 
 An euident and vndouted induction, 
 
 To his infallible fall of deftruction, 
 
 Wherby it feemeth, I can no way auoyde 
 
 Thy cummyng here, to be againft thy will, 
 
 But now the flie, fo fer is ouer ioyde. 
 
 That by no maner meane, he can fit flill, 
 
 He ftretcht, and fet a hem right fharpe and fhrill, 
 
 Wherat the fpider, fmirke, and fmothlie fmiled. 
 
 To fee the feely flie, fo fer begiled. 
 
 And yet fhowde he, femblaunce of falfitee, 
 So as it might apeere, that he did fmile 
 (For ioie) vpon the flies behalfe, that he 
 So wittily wounde out of this exile, 
 Which fet the flie, in glorie for the while. 
 In fight wherof : the fpiders pleafure had. 
 From laughing looke, to lowring looke full fad. 
 
 Thefe woords he fowrely faide, though I now yeelde, 
 
 Grauntyng that thou camfl here vnwillingly, 
 
 Yet fliall the flie {at one fl:roke) leefe the feelde, 
 
 In all the reft hereof immediatly. 
 
 Euen with the fame weapon, thou wanft this by. 
 
 As thus, by the daunger that flies here finde. 
 
 Thou proueft to cum hither againft thy minde. 
 
 F This 
 
 6S 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 This well excufeth thy commyng hither. 
 But (quoth the fpider) for thy goyng hence, 
 When we haue fcanned thefe woords togither. 
 Thy reafon is hardly woorth forty pence. 
 It is a perfect proofe in euidence. 
 For my parte, and encludeth breefe conclucion, 
 Of condemnacion, to thy cohfucion. 
 
 For though thy cummyng, were againft thy will, 
 What hope to helpe thee henfe : doth that implie, 
 Sins death here had : or imprifonment ftill, 
 Is all thy proofe, thy fo cumming to trie. 
 Now (quoth the fpider) fpeak^ out good man flie. 
 This verdit thus geuen by your owne confent, 
 Who can blame me, theron to geue iudgement. 
 
 The 
 
 66 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 HThe flie herewith is abafhed, but a none he gathereth him 
 felfe to a ftay fhewing a reafon, that maketh a manifeft Ihow 
 cleerely to ouerthrow the fpiders forefaide polycie. Cap. 13. 
 
 Fii 
 
 The 
 
 (57 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THe flie at this, fet fuche a perfmg figh, 
 As made the hart in his poore carkas quake. 
 And clapt his hand, fo hard vpon his thigh. 
 That of that copweb, euery part did fhake, 
 And time it was for him, now to awake, 
 Suche a chokyng checke, to a. flie in cloifter, 
 A meane wit maie deeme, it was a chokyng oifter. 
 
 The fpider yeldyng to the flies fore faiyng, 
 Was a caft beyonde the flies expectacion. 
 Wheron the flie fpiyng the fpiders inuaiyng, 
 Thus far againft the flie, in aprobacion, 
 He feemed to take great difcontentacion. 
 With him felfe, to fee his owne woords geue ftate. 
 To the fpider, to geue him this blinde mate. 
 
 Howbeit anone, iley in him felfe he toke, 
 Saiyng thefe woordes, both with good Hart and wit. 
 Good maifter fpider, if ye rightly loke. 
 In all yet paft, all knotts betwene vs knit, 
 ludgement with iuftice : fliall feare me nowhit. 
 Flie (quoth the fpider) tell me that tale foone, 
 We haue well begonne, but nothing nigh doone. 
 
 And yet euen now : for all thy braggyng boft, 
 Tacounte this cafe, if we now condifend, 
 The paiment of thacounte wilbe thy coft. 
 For though thou burglary do here defend, 
 And felony, that doth hereon depend. 
 Yet for my purpofe, thine owne confeflion 
 Hath peafably, put me in pofTelTion. 
 
 What 
 
 68 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 What though thou didft vnwillingly this deede, 
 Yet thy felfe confeffing as thou doeft here, 
 Death or dealy prifonment to profeede, 
 What helpeth I fay, thy proofe to ftand cleere. 
 Sins not with ftandyng though that proofe apeere. 
 Thy felfe haft confeft here thy felfe to be, 
 Deade, or dead prifoner, at leaft : with me. 
 
 In deede fir (faide the flie) euen as ye faie. 
 
 Except my woords for my now hither cuming, 
 
 Male haue expocicion fum other waie. 
 
 Then it feemeth they fhall haue, after your fuming. 
 
 Better for me were to exercife muming, 
 
 Then that my fpeech Ihoulde ftiow me fuche an elfe. 
 
 To make myne owne woordes condemne mine owne felfe. 
 
 But fins my reafon, ioynde with your confent, 
 Approueth my cumige here againft my will. 
 By fore knowne death (I fay) or prifonment, 
 Then is my reafon, to the pointe not ill. 
 For as ye haue graunted, and muft graunt ftill, 
 Difcharge me (at full) it dooeth and muft do. 
 Of burglary, and felony, both two. 
 
 And thus this one reafon of mine (ye fee) 
 
 Aunfwereth all your reafons (faue one) wherby, 
 
 Ye lay to me, that I acknowlage mee 
 
 (In maner) by agreement here to dy, 
 
 Or till I die, here in prifon to ly. 
 
 But once mine anfwere to thofe woords fpoken. 
 
 If luftice holde, this prifon is broken. 
 
 F iii For 
 
 69 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 For though I acknowlage to know before, 
 Suche daunger, as witneffeth my confeffion, 
 Yet lieth the right or the wronge, ftill in ftore, 
 The which mull trie, whether your poffeflion, 
 Of me here be laufull, or oppreffion, 
 But haue I knowne parelles here, neuer fo longe, 
 Doth that knowlage proue you to do no wronge. 
 
 If that were true, euety theefe might fay. 
 
 In place where as robberies accuftomed were, 
 
 That he might by cuftome rob there alway. 
 
 Be caufe cuftome auouchth that theeues rob there. 
 
 I fee this example offendeth your ere, 
 
 And fo it may : for it proueth by proofe clere, 
 
 That I am imprifoned wrongfully here. 
 
 The 
 
 70 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThe fpider checketh the flie, for his comparing aboue the fpi- 
 der in knowlage of law and cuftome, which the fly main- 
 teyneth by one reafon commonly reported : Wherupon the 
 fpider perceiuing the policie, for which he feemed to graunt 
 the flie to cum againft his will, taketh little or no place, that 
 much weaking his part, he driueth the flie to draw backe that 
 graunt. Cap. 14. 
 
 This 
 
 71 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THis IS a good bragge, flie (quoth the fpider, 
 To fet in the fore frunt of thy battell, 
 And a meete reafon, for an out rider, 
 That wolde by facyng, his ennemies expell, 
 And be ye fure it doth wonderfly well, 
 To fee a flie, thinke him felfe prefumtuoufly, 
 Better feene : in law and in cuflom : then I. 
 
 For footh (quoth the flie) no difpleafure taken, 
 My lernyng of reafon, ought to paffe yours. 
 In weftminfter hall, I am not forfaken, 
 But may be a termer all tymes and howrs. 
 And that in aparance, pafTeth your powrs. 
 For as common report, male be a proofe, 
 There neuer cumth copweb, in that hall roofe. 
 
 The buzzing beyng in weftminfter hall 
 Of a flefli flie, euery man may forbere 
 As well as my prefens. And fure I fhall 
 Proue it as hard, for thee to get out here. 
 As thou woldft proue for me to get in there: 
 And ere we depart, I (hall turne that lorney. 
 From perfonall aparence to attorney. 
 
 And which of our lerninges alfo is beft, 
 Shall cum to triall when we cum to ende, 
 And my replicacion as yet (hall reft, 
 Vnto your anfwere, by which ye pretende 
 To proue me : by extorcion to offende, 
 Wherin in effect, ye fay that I laie, 
 No reafon of right, your body to ftaie. 
 
 72 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 In whiche, what matter I haue to aledge, 
 
 By reafon, conciens, cuftome and law, 
 
 Not only to keepe you here as in pledge, 
 
 But alfo your body to death to draw, 
 
 That corfey woulde curftly your ftomake gnaw. 
 
 How be it for an eafe to your panting hart, 
 
 I fhall (for a feafon) fet that apart. 
 
 And partly perufe, by way of retret. 
 
 Sum part of this matter graunted before. 
 
 Nay fir (quoth the flie) that were but a let. 
 
 Let vs here retret, or repete no more. 
 
 Till time that iudgement do try our hole ftore. 
 
 By gis flie, thou fpeakeft like a foole (quoth he) 
 
 The fooner we take ende, the woorfe for the. 
 
 But I perceiue thou wouldfl pas ouer this, 
 Therby to win, all betwene vs yet pafte, 
 Wherin I graunt thine aduauntage growen is. 
 By meane of my grauntyng in ouer much hafte 
 That thou art here agaynfl: thy will now plafte, 
 Whiche graunt I graunted, to make thine ownegrounde 
 Proue the, in prifon here rightfully bounde. 
 
 And yet my wordes in this graunt throughly weyde, 
 
 Wey not this abfolutely graunted to be. 
 
 To thy wordes for cummyng againft thy wyll leyde, 
 
 I fayde they (in aparance) concluded me. 
 
 And that as it femde I muft graunt it to the. 
 
 Which woordes import not ful power to be able, 
 
 To binde this thus graunted, ireuocable. 
 
 G But 
 
 73 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But fins thou haft found this feate ftertyng hole, 
 To hyde thy head in, thus promptly prouided, 
 I will yet once againe, quicken this cole. 
 Whether will or not will, the hyther guyded. 
 Why fir (quoth the flie) then am I deryded. 
 Not a whit (quoth the fpider) be content, 
 And olde tale, mifrecknyng is no payment. 
 
 And if thou thinke it an hinderaunce to thee, 
 This part of proces to call backe againe, 
 When thou canft take like aduauntage of mee, 
 I graunt thee, like libertee to obtaine. 
 Agreede (quoth the flie) for when he fawe plaine. 
 The fpider, thus bent determinately. 
 He thought it foly him to contrary. 
 
 They 
 
 74 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThey reafon a freflie, to trie whether the flie came into the 
 fpiders copweb againft his will or not. Cap. 15. 
 
 Gii 
 
 Flie 
 
 7-S 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 FLie (quoth the fpider) go we to the pith. 
 Thou faift thou camft hither againft thy wyll. 
 And thy onely reafon to proue it with, 
 Is, fore knowlage of death, or this as ill, 
 Perpetuall prifoner, here to lie ftill. 
 Concludyng as no wyght were fo vnwife. 
 Willingly to cum, ^yhere knowen parels arife. 
 
 Contrary wherof is feene euery day, 
 
 In feyng dayly that theeues euery chone, 
 
 Committing robries in any high way, 
 
 Do know affuredly twenty to one, 
 
 If they be had, they fhall hang therupone, 
 
 And yet if they totter twenty togyther. 
 
 Still do theeues rob there, now who leadth them thyther. 
 
 That do them felues (quoth the flie) and caufe why, 
 Eche theefe thinkth to fcape thens, as hath fcapte mo. 
 Thynke they fo (faide he) then why may not I 
 Thinke, that thou thoughtft likewife from henfe to go. 
 Nay fir (quoth the flie) I coulde not thinke fo, 
 Neuer was there flie in this net, thus mafljed, 
 That euer fcapte, as fer as I haue afked. 
 
 Well flie (qoth he) if thou this part wilt faue, 
 Anfwere well thefe queftions that follow heere. 
 Haft thou had free will : as other flies haue ? 
 Ye fir. Is not (quoth he) thine eye fight cleere ? 
 Yes fir. Did euer franfy in the apeere ? 
 Nay fir. Be thy winges good and eche other lym } 
 Ye fir. And all thy body lufty and trym ? 
 
 Ye 
 
 76 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Ye fir. Then (quoth the fpider) it ftiould feeme 
 
 Thou art thine owne leader ? Ye (quoth the flie) 
 
 Dyd any wight (quoth he) vfe meanes extreeme 
 
 To bring the ? None that I can verefie. 
 
 Did I fend for the ? Nay fir verelie. 
 
 And yet thou art here, art thou not quoth he ? 
 
 Yes fir. Againft my will, I affure ye. 
 
 Well then (quoth the fpider) thou grauntft to haue had 
 Free will, and that thou haft good fight of eye, 
 Lufty lims to lead the, and neuer waft mad, 
 Compelde to cum, as who fay forfyblye. 
 Or to be fent for, thy felfe dofte denye. 
 And yet thorow facyng, thou faineft heere, 
 To cum now hyther, againft thy will cleere. 
 
 Whiche the falfe demeanour, confyder who wyll. 
 Doth well aproue the a crafty kynde theefe. 
 Lyeng and ftealeng, wyll together ftyll. 
 Oh (quoth the flie) this augmenteth my greefe, 
 Thus to be chargde, with defertles repreefe, 
 I am a trew flie, fure I can no falfe knacks, 
 Alas mafter fpyder ye be to capacks. 
 
 As by this exfample may well be tryde. 
 
 Put cafe free wyll, and your lims led you now, 
 
 To pas fum narow bridge by fum high waies fide. 
 
 And in that paflage, fhould chaunce (god faue you) 
 
 To flyp into the diche, and breake your brow, 
 
 Or els (in a good howre be it fpoken) 
 
 Ye were in perell your necke to be broken. 
 
 G iii And 
 
 77 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 And that while ye were in that diche fcrallyng, 
 And fcratting in the myre to faue your life. 
 The lorde of that foyle, woulde in that falling 
 Atache you of theft, and then wolde be rife 
 To charge you, as ye charge me, in this ftrife, 
 Againft your will, ye were not thyther brought, 
 But your will it felfe : brought your felfe vnfought 
 
 How woulde ye anfwere this fir (quoth the fly) 
 
 I woulde (quoth the fpider) fay that my will 
 
 Led me not to fall in, but to pas by. 
 
 What if that fayenge liked him fo ill, 
 
 That he wolde fay, he might call ye theefe ftill. 
 
 In that for your pafting, vnder or ouer, 
 
 Ye were of your will, let in neyther nother. 
 
 Then were I dryuen (quoth the fpider) to moue. 
 
 Sum parte of the difrens betwene thefe three, 
 
 Will, powre, and chaunce, wherin I might foone proue, 
 
 That although my will be neuer fo free. 
 
 Yet in actiue thinges, will can not bring mee, 
 
 To accomplifli thofe actes, for powre or chaunce, 
 
 Mufl ioyne with will, ere outward acte avaunfe. 
 
 For woulde I neuer fo willingly will, 
 To weare powles fteeple for a turkey hat, 
 Yet fins I might in deede, eate a hors mill, 
 As foone ashaue powre, fo to pranke with that, 
 That will were as wife, as will of a wat, 
 My will : may will freely, this to optaine. 
 But will aboue powre, thus wilde, is in vayne. 
 
 Will 
 
 78 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Will without powre, as in thinges actuall. 
 
 Can woorke nought, and where powre and will both bee, 
 
 Chaunce doth right oft, both powre and will apall, 
 
 Aboue powre and againft will, oft we fee, 
 
 That contrary to powrs and willes decree, 
 
 Chaunce chaunceth fo, as when by powre and will 
 
 We are preft foorth, chaunce charmith vs to (land Rill. 
 
 Exfample hereof, let vs here now make. 
 By the faide bridge and diche, that yOu eirft leyde, 
 At which though powre and will, wold vntertake 
 To bring me ouer, chaunce might fe me fteyde, 
 And both from powre and will, fo fer conueyde. 
 In goyng ouer that bridge, that chaunces tryp, 
 Might pop me in to that diche : euen at a whip. 
 
 They 
 
 79 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThey continue in purfuite of triall, whether the flie cam 
 thither willingly or vnwillingly, fo fer, that the flie (at length) 
 offreth to take a boke othe, that he cam againft his wil. C. i6. 
 
 This 
 
 80 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 THis is vnanfwearable (quoth the flie) 
 And a reafon for my part worth a pyke, 
 As chaunce agaynft wyll myght make you there lie, 
 Why myght not chaunce euen afwell in cafe lyke 
 Ley me in this copweb, as you in that dyke. 
 Flie (quoth the fpyder) thou art not alkyd 
 Whether chaunce fo myght, but whether chaunce fo dyd, 
 
 What (quoth the flie) if this man did purpofe. 
 That queftion to you, I coulde (quoth he) well 
 Make aparant proofe, on my part difclofe, 
 That into that diche, chaunce did me compell. 
 For nought is there to fteale, but aparell. 
 And all men know I nought defyre nor neede 
 Thofe ftaryng garments of mire and greene weede. 
 
 In faith (quoth the flie) and I loue as ill 
 
 To be in thefe ruflets at witfontide, 
 
 I weare your gray garment with as ill will 
 
 As ye woulde the greene, at the diches fide, 
 
 Wherfore this reafon is as well aplyde, 
 
 For my deliuery out of this place, 
 
 As for yours (god faue you) were ye in cafe. 
 
 Ye (quoth the fpider) but our two cafes 
 Be as vnlyke, as our gray and our greene, 
 Diches be common and open places. 
 Wherin to fpiders, and all folke is feene, 
 That nother now is, nor neuer hath beene, 
 For fpiders in diches, ought to defyre. 
 By flelth, gift, borowing, biyng or hyre. 
 
 H But 
 
 8i 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But what commoditee here is for thee. 
 
 That is to thee : and to all the worlde hidden, 
 
 This houfe is to clofe thou feed, in to fee, 
 
 And alfo all flies that herein haue flidden. 
 
 They haue (as thou faift) fo long here abidden, 
 
 That by returne of any meffengere, , 
 
 Tydyngs from hens (I know) thou couldft none here. 
 
 Wherfore although thou find nought here in deede, 
 Yet I thinke thou thoughtft fure, to haue founde better. 
 Sir though ye thinke, I thought better to fpeede. 
 Shall thinkyng leade you, without worde or letter, 
 To caft me away thus, the proofe no gretter. 
 Remember (quoth he) and, began to tremble. 
 The peryll of your foule, if ye diffemble. 
 
 For by the way that my foule fhall go to, 
 
 I cam hither again ft my will vnfayned, 
 
 Which cleerely declareth, I thought to do 
 
 No robry here, but fayne woulde haue refrayned, 
 
 Any part of this houfe, to haue conftarained. 
 
 Which to be trew (quoth the flie) if ye looke 
 
 To haue me fworne, I will fwere on a booke. 
 
 The 
 
 82 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThe fpider not admitting the flie to his othe, the flie bringth 
 in the ftrength of the affirmatiue for his part : againft the ne- 
 gatiue on the fpiders fide, wherunto adioyned his other rea- 
 fons leide in difcharge of charge paft, he hopeth according to 
 luftice promifed, to be ftreiglit difcharged. Cap, 17. 
 
 Hii 
 
 Why 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 VVhy haft thou (quoth he) thou vnhappy hooke, 
 No confcience to be a periurde wretche, 
 That othe (quoth he) by the way that god tooke, 
 Should : of my confcience nother make bretche. 
 Nor yet any parte of my confcience ftretche. 
 Well (quoth the fpider) yet wolde I be lothe, 
 In this cafe, to truft a flie by an othe. 
 
 Sir mine affirmaunce in thaffirmatiue, 
 
 In law and reafon, is much more credible 
 
 Then your deniall, in the negatiue, 
 
 Your nay, to my ye, muft needes be fallible. 
 
 And in cafe prefent, it is impoffible, 
 
 To aproue your parte, for how can it bee, 
 
 That you, the fecrets of my breft can fee. 
 
 It is as certaine, that you know them not. 
 As it is certaine they are knowen to me. 
 Then : if I fwere that chaunce me hither got, 
 Againft my will, were it reafon if ye, 
 Sware the contrary, beleeued ftiould be, . 
 As well as my felfe, when trewth can apeere. 
 To none but my felfe, as apeereth cleere, 
 
 I make my felfe fewere, your felfe thinketh not fo : 
 
 Which confidered, let vs now confider, 
 
 Sum parte of this paft, ere we further go, 
 
 Wherin proofe prooueth my cumming hither 
 
 To be againft my will, all togither. 
 
 Whiche fqwyre (hall fqware me, a fcantlin well bent, 
 
 For a right rewle, to fliow me innocent. 
 
 And 
 
 84 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 And in the eares, of all that ought can flcill, 
 Shall difcharge me, in all that hath bene fayde, 
 Or can be layde, cummyng againft my will, 
 How can burglary, againft me be wayde. 
 And in this felony, what can be fayde. 
 Thankyng my trewth. I may here trewly fay, 
 This wifpe, hath wyped all this woorke away. 
 
 That wifpe of yours (quoth the fpider) ftiowth want 
 Of cleanly fcowring, when all cumth togyther, 
 Proofe of your tale, I take it very fcant. 
 To make me take your prefent cummyng hither 
 To be agaynft your will, for how or whither, 
 Coulde ye thus cum, but ye myght foone deny. 
 To cum with will, as long as ye can lie. 
 
 Though I can lye, that is yet no tryall 
 
 That I haue lyde, in whiche fir (quoth the flie) 
 
 Onely except ftiffe or fterne deniall. 
 
 Ye can aledge no reafon to byde bie, 
 
 Wherin I haue allegde aprobately 
 
 Your nay, againft my ye, can in this cafe, 
 
 By no reafonable meane, rightly take place. 
 
 Now fins this parte, we haue not onely brought, 
 To ye, and nay, and that mine affirmaunce 
 Hath fullie brought, your negatiue to nought. 
 So that the fame by grounded fure fubftaunce, 
 Difchargeth (in effect) this charged chaunce, 
 Perfoormed promife of iuftice I trift, 
 Shall from this court, now fe me ftreight difmift. 
 
 H iii The 
 
 85 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 IThe fpider vpon a cafe in law touching thaffirmatiue, ta- 
 keth holde to deteine the flie ftill in poffefion : but yet vnder 
 promife of iuftice before promifed. Cap. i8. 
 
 Woulde 
 
 86 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 VVoulde ye trudge in poft haft flie, nay not fo, 
 Ye may reporte in me fmall curtefie, 
 Except I make ye drinke once ere ye go, 
 I thanke you (quoth the flie) but verelie, 
 I will not drinke, for I am now not drie. 
 Though ye will not tary to drinke (quoth hee) 
 Yet muft ye tary of necelTitee, 
 
 Put cafe your allegafions matche with mine, 
 And furder fet your ye, aboue my nay, 
 Yet will I not permute nor yet refine. 
 PoffefTion of your body here this day, 
 For your affirmatiue which ye do lay, 
 Againft my negatiue, for without witneffe, 
 Thaffirmatiue doth no tytle difpofleffe. 
 
 Thus : though poffeflion fully not fuffyce 
 To be a bar, againft your affirmatiuesj 
 Yet bryngth poffeflion claufe of warantife, 
 By which, I here may keepe you in thefe giues, 
 (You lackyng witneffe) fum part of our lines, 
 But (quoth the fpider) truth, truly to tell, 
 Thou haft (for a flie) faide excedyng well. 
 
 Concernyng cummyng here againft thy wyll, 
 
 Wheron (as yet) our matter all doth ftay, 
 
 Both partes apeere, of fo pure perfight (kill, 
 
 That we haue brought eche other, to the bay. 
 
 I thee to ye, and thou me to nay, 
 
 And as in law : thy ye, feemth to feeme gretter, 
 
 Then doth my nay, which ftiowth thy part the better. 
 
 For 
 
 87 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 For that ye, once : by witneffe well aproued, 
 
 That thou againft thy will doft here apere, 
 
 Then haft thou woon the whole (as yet) here moued, 
 
 Aprouyng thy felfe cleerely to ftand cleere 
 
 Of burglary and felony laide here. 
 
 For by what meane, can any wight make preefe, 
 
 That any wight without will is a theefe. 
 
 But for afmuche, as that point is not yit 
 
 Laufully proued, I entend to keepe 
 
 The in poffeffion, awhile here to fit, 
 
 Tyll we this matter wey, fum what more deepe, 
 
 Nay feare not flie, thou art vnwife to weepe. 
 
 For I will not all onely not deftroy thee, 
 
 (VnrightfuUy) but further : not anoy thee. 
 
 Nor of or on, geue iudgement any way, 
 
 Tyll tyme thy felfe (if thou reafonable bee) 
 
 Shalt fee, that I may iuftly do and fay, 
 
 By iuftice erft promifed vnto thee. 
 
 All that fhalbe fayde, or doone here by mee. 
 
 Whiche iuftice fhall proue me fo iuft a iudge. 
 
 That thou nor no flie, fhall haue caufe to grudge. 
 
 The 
 
 88 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 IThe fpider, feeing that he can not take full hold of the flie in 
 cafe of burglarie, nor felony: he chargeth him now with tref- 
 pas, to which the flie reafoneth. Cap. 19. 
 
 Here- 
 
 89 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 HEreunto for entree toward an ende. 
 Admit for time, thou camft againft thy minde, 
 Declaryng thy defence, well to defende 
 Burglary and felony, of eche kinde. 
 Yet thou nor no flie, is fo beetle blinde, 
 But thou and they, aparantly may fee. 
 That at the leaft, thou haft trefpaffed me, 
 
 I fay and thou doft fee, a thoufand marke, 
 Framthe not this frame, as it framde ere this fyll, 
 Were it then meete, in fuche a peece of warke, 
 I crie you mercy I thought you none yll. 
 Or els, I cam hither againft my will, 
 Shoulde be full reftitucion for the acte, 
 Without a more amendes made in compacte, 
 
 In cafe it is, and in cafe it is not, 
 As by example (quoth the flie) put cafe 
 That in fum high way, it flioulde be my lot 
 To driue a carte, in fum one fuch a plafe, 
 As from that wayes fyde, within litle fpafe, 
 There were ftandyng a houfe on a fayre greene. 
 And I perceyuyng that way muche more cleene 
 
 Then the high way, ftreight to that way I coafte, 
 
 And as I driue, the faide houfe to pas bie. 
 
 My carte wheele catchth holde of the corner poafte 
 
 Againft my will, and by violencie, 
 
 Afunder cruffheth it, to which haplie 
 
 The reft of that houfe, is fo bent and bounde. 
 
 That in defaute therof, all faith to the grounde, 
 
 In 
 
 90 
 
AND THE FLIE." 
 
 In this cafe : maifter fpider (quoth the flie) 
 
 Chaunce the chaunce by day, or chaunce it by night, 
 
 And chaunce it neuer fo vnwillinglie. 
 
 Yet law and lauful reafon, fliowth it right, 
 
 That recompence punifhe mine ouerfight. 
 
 Law maintainth no man, with or againft will, 
 
 To do an acte fo, to any mans ill. 
 
 But now put cafe, that within this high way. 
 This houfe were fet, where as my cart fhould go, 
 Whiche did fo cruflie the fame, that there it lay, 
 For houfes in high wayes encroachyng fo, 
 Call I downe one houfe, or a thoufand mo, 
 There am I bounde by reafon nor by law, 
 To recompence, the value of a ftraw. 
 
 Weyth not the law (flie) thefe cafes for fuche. 
 
 As both in the tone cafe, and in the tother. 
 
 The owners hurt to be fully as muche 
 
 In one of thefe cafes, as in an other, 
 
 His hurt is (quoth the flie) in thone and thother, 
 
 Hurtfull a like, for be he leefe or lothe, 
 
 Downe cumth his houfe, in either cafe of bothe. 
 
 But the doing diffreth, for the firft facte 
 I did againfl: the law, as lawe doth tell, 
 And euery wight is chargde with euery acte. 
 Of his owne doyng, at his owne parell. 
 Wherby the law prouideth very well, 
 Driuing my cart, by aduenture at lage. 
 The hurt in thaduenture I mufl: difcharge. 
 
 I ii But 
 
 91 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But in this lafl: fackte, the fawte (quoth the flie) 
 
 Is wholy turnde vnto the fuffrers fide, 
 
 For him felfe did an acte vnlaufuUie, 
 
 His houfe to fet vp there, whiche deede fo tride. 
 
 My felfe and eeke my carte, law doth prouyde 
 
 Harmles to fape, for fir the law is flrong, 
 
 In takyng fuch hurtes, for hurtes without wrongs 
 
 And in this lafl: cafe (quoth the flie) ftand we. 
 In all this hurt here done, I do no wrong, 
 But all the hurt ye haue, is (ye may fe) 
 By your wrong dooyng, on your felf a long. 
 What can you fpiders, fhow your felues among, 
 By any kynd of law, what wey ye may 
 Lawfully bylde, within, this my high way. 
 
 Thy 
 
 92 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 IFThe fpider (at the flies anfwering him to a queftion) char- 
 geth the flie with procuryng of other flies to difturbe him in 
 his copwebs, which the flie denithe. Gap. 20. 
 
 I iii 
 
 Thy 
 
THE. SPIDER 
 
 THy high way (flie) art thou lorde of this foyle ? 
 A poore lorde fir. but if trewth may be founde, 
 I ftand in cafe to defend this fpoyle. 
 What is thy name (quoth the fpider) fpeake rounde ? 
 Buz (quoth the flie) with curtfy to the grounde. 
 That name of buz (quoth the fpider) doth fliow thee, 
 Euen for a ringleader, to make me know thee. 
 
 Of all the flies, that herein haue bene ftayde, 
 Neuer was there one in my confcience, 
 But the firfl: worde that euer he hath fayde 
 Was bvz. whiche is aparant euidence. 
 That all flies haue thee in great reuerence, 
 Thinkyng the policy or powre of thee. 
 Shall fet them all from hens at libertee. 
 
 Wherby I may (and do) take occacion, 
 
 To thinke : that thou haft bene the foole procurer. 
 
 Of euery flie, that hath made inuafion 
 
 Into my houfe, and fuche alewde allurer, 
 
 Ought by good reafon, to be kept much furer 
 
 Then forty fliesj fuche as thou haft beforne 
 
 Entifte hither : and then laught them to (korne : 
 
 Sir (quoth the flie) trewth is my trew recorde, 
 
 I am giltles of this fufpected blame, 
 
 I haue entifte in erneft nor in borde 
 
 Any flie hither, nor it is no game, 
 
 One flie to mocke at an others harme or fhame, 
 
 Nor by entifement to bring a flie, where 
 
 As the entifer doth fticke, to cum there. 
 
 And 
 
 94 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 And though (as 1 faide) I can proue it fuche, 
 
 That this high way, is mine for free paffage, 
 
 And that euery flie hath right here as muche, 
 
 Yet was I neuer fo fet in dotage, 
 
 To fet any flie (by vndefcreete corage) 
 
 To put poffeffion of his right in vre, 
 
 To his deflruction, and your difpleafure. 
 
 If ye can proue that euer I prouokte 
 
 Any flie hither, by worde or wrighting, 
 
 Or by fine of purpofe craftely clokte, 
 
 To pofleflion here, any flie erighting, 
 
 Then, without mo words by mouth or endightyng, 
 
 In our hole cafe much doughtfuU how to try, 
 
 I yelde my felfe condemde vndoughtedly. 
 
 They 
 
 95 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThey fal in comparifon touching their euidence written or 
 vnwritten, whervnto the flie leith prefcripcion of cuftome, 
 (which he before alleged) fuppofing therby, that the fpider 
 ought both to deliuer him, and make him amendes. Cap. 21. 
 
 Well 
 
 96 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 VVell (quoth the fpyder) though this fufpicion 
 Were clerely clered : yet haft thy felfe clere, 
 Brought in an other of worfe condicion, 
 As thus : thy claime to haue thy high waie here, 
 Bringth thee fufpected, a theefe to apere. 
 This is tholde vfe alwaie : all the worlde knowes, 
 Trew men : in at doores, theeues in at windowes. 
 
 Maifter fpider : harpe no more on that ftringe. 
 I cum the fame waie that your maifterfhip doth, 
 There is fmall melodic in that harpinge, 
 Conferryng prefulents with prefent footh, 
 Chaungth ofte, the barkyng tonge to byting tooth. 
 Barke or byte who wyll, flie I dare abyde 
 To fe tytle prefent, by prefident tride. 
 
 Syr : fo dare I then : and fhall be well able, 
 
 To voide your fufpicion. and proue my gyfe. 
 
 Not onely lawful : but therto lawdable. 
 
 What euidence haue you contrary wife. 
 
 But gnats, beefe, wafpes, hornets, and all we flyfe ; 
 
 At creuis, and windowes, with bag and baggage, 
 
 Haue had egres and regres by olde vfage. 
 
 This weith as (who faie) thers none euidence 
 Showth contrary, but this waie thine male be, 
 Whiche is no profe, for thy parte worthe two pence 
 So might I claime euery thing that I fee 
 Whiche were in wryting : not forbidden mee 
 But it is not enough, not to be denide, 
 For tytels muft fpecially be fpecifyde. 
 
 K Syr 
 
 97 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Sir (quoth the flie) fpecialties in writinge 
 Specially to fpecifie : yours and mine, 
 Shoulde we be driuen : to Ihew fuche enditinge 
 That wolde (I feare) blanke both our partes in fine. 
 Our chiefe euidence that we can afine, 
 For profe or difprofe : by any decrees, 
 Standth in vertue, of unwritten veritees. 
 
 Flie, this tale weith not a flie taile (quoth he) 
 
 Canft thou fliew ought : of profe or difprofe clere 
 
 By written or vnwritten wordes to fee. 
 
 But that our poffeiTion : fhall clere apere, 
 
 As auncient as thy fucceffion heere. 
 
 Sir (quoth the flie) I fticke not to agi"e 
 
 Ye haue byn poflefte, here : as longe as we. 
 
 And longe mote be. For by the god of might, 
 
 I neuer knew flie : but was with the fame 
 
 Hartely contente as fer as by right 
 
 Your owne grounde might beare, to inlarge your frame. 
 
 But to be plaine, this is the thing we blame, 
 
 That ye thus of will, without our confente, 
 
 Vfurpe on vs : by meane of encrochement. 
 
 Good honefl flies a thowfande that I knowe, 
 
 Will faie and fweare : it was thacuftomde gife, 
 
 That fpiders builded in euery windowe. 
 
 In the top : or by the fides in fuche wife, 
 
 As the refl:e of the latefle for all flife, 
 
 By comon knowne cuftome, when we wolde fet, 
 
 Stode free at libertie : from any let. 
 
 But 
 
 98 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 But this is building of an other fife 
 
 How maie any flie : this waie eaiily get, 
 
 By any waie that his wit can deuife 
 
 Here is a frame : in fuch a facion fet, 
 
 As all were fifli : that might cum to the net. 
 
 So fer this lateffe is ouer couered. 
 
 I maruell your felfe will fe it fuffered. 
 
 The cafe of the carte : in lawe laide er this 
 (Cuftome adioinde) this waie mine owne to try) 
 Auouchth for me that you haue done amis 
 To encroche or vfurpe vnlaufuUy, 
 In my high waie, then of reafon thinke I, 
 Ye ought : in lawe, cuftome, and confcience. 
 Both let me paffe : and make me recompence. 
 
 Kii 
 
 The 
 
 99 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe fpider denith the flies difcription of cuftome, allegeyng 
 the faiynge of aunciente fpiders for his interefte by cufliome. 
 wherin anone bothe fliewynge eche to geue fmall credite to o- 
 ther, the flie moueth to put the mattier in arbiterment, which 
 (as yet) the fpider dooeth not graunte. Cap. 22. 
 
 Law 
 
 100 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 LAwe and cuftome, thofe twaine of thy laide three 
 (Namely lawe) fomewhat refoned here haue byn. 
 But of confcience (faue that name, namde we) 
 No worde was touchte, fmce we did firfte begin. 
 Tyme comth not yet, to bringe confcience in. 
 Of lawe and cuftome : to eafe rygours force 
 Confcience at laft courfe : procureth remorce. 
 
 But thy carte cafe : and al cafes laft laide, 
 In charge of trefpas thy parte to defende 
 May be determinde (for ought here yet waide) 
 As thei on lawe and cuftome do depende 
 Whiche thou doeft alledge, with me to contende. 
 But thy defcripcion of prpfcripcion here 
 In our acuftomde rightes, I denie clere. 
 
 Flie : I can bring foorth fpiders trew and olde, 
 More worftiipfull then thou canfte bringe forthe flyfe 
 To fwere that to them, their forefathers tolde 
 Tyme fer beyonde minde, cuftomes exercife 
 Aproued vs to bylde in as large fyfe. 
 As I haue bilded here, and in thy plat. 
 Ten or twelue holes, to crepe in and out at. 
 
 Towchyng cuftome, thothe of ten thowfande flyfe 
 Can (by waie of witnes) brynge nought to eafe 
 In flies credence, to fpyders, there doth ryfe 
 No dyffrence in othe, the woorth of a peafe 
 Betwene a thowfond flyes, and a thowfande fleafe. 
 Naie flie (quoth he) and fhoke him by the neb 
 There fhall no flyes othes, minifti this copweb. 
 
 K iii Where 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Where ye (quoth the flie) thinke flies perciall, 
 For witnes herein, that chalenge maie be 
 In fpiders and flies in this cafe equall. 
 Sins fpiders be parties as well as we, 
 Why flioulde not we feare percialitee, 
 As muche in you : as you thinke it in vs, 
 And trufte you as little, this (landing thus. 
 
 But reafon (faide the fpyder) ye fo do. 
 Then can this trefpas not be tride this waie ? 
 We are at ye and naie againe bothe two. 
 For you no credence geue, to that I faie 
 And I as little credite that you laie 
 Naught grauntinge eche to other : but deniall. 
 How can we twaine determine then this triall. 
 
 If (quoth the fpider) I wolde condifcende 
 
 To bylde in corners : at thine affignement, 
 
 And ftreight let the pafle, we were ftreight at ende 
 
 So were we (quoth the flie) were I contente. 
 
 At your onely woorde, my lyfe to relente 
 
 Of whiche two waies, if the tone nor the tother 
 
 Be reafonable, let vs looke out an other. 
 
 What waie (flie) by thy faithe canft thou efpie 
 
 That maie feme ipete : to make vs twaine agree. 
 
 If I be the deuifer (quoth the flie) 
 
 Then fhall you choofe one, whom it pleafeth ye, 
 
 And I an other whom it pleafeth me. 
 
 And as thei two awarde vpon the whole, 
 
 We two to bide, happie man, happie dole. 
 
 So 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 So might I haply be happie (quoth he) 
 But I coulde not be : both happie and wice. 
 This prouerbe proueth this a fooles decre, 
 A thinge affuerde, to hafarde at the dyce. 
 It bought and had, to bie at a newe pryce 
 Or bringe a certentie for any faiyng, 
 To an vncertentie : by douwtfuU daying. 
 
 All thinges confidered in this tyme and place 
 What were my wit : to put this thing in vre, 
 What coulde I win by that cafte in this cafe 
 And what couldfl thou here lefe fins thou arte fure. 
 At wyll, in my hande to die or endure. 
 The worfte of this weie were hurteles to the, 
 And the befte of this waie : fruteles to me. 
 
 The 
 
 103 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 tThe flie (after a fewe woordes concerninge appeale) doeth 
 brefelyrecapitulatetheffect paffed in the principall cafe.Ca.23. 
 
 Syr 
 
 104 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 SYr : if ye confider nothinge but winnyngfe, 
 No doubte (quoth the flie) it is fo in dede. 
 But by your promeffe : made me at beginninge, 
 Of iuftice here, I hope no hafte of fpede, 
 For gredy gettinge fhall make ye precede. 
 Contrary therto in hope of whiche dealing, 
 I did at beginninge reuoke apealyng. 
 
 But if your dealyng : deale dole otherwife 
 
 Contrarying iuftice erft graunted here. 
 
 My reuocacion of apeale lykewyfe 
 
 I wyll reuoke, and as thinges nowe apere, 
 
 I mufte reuoke th^t reuocacion clere. 
 
 Or els that iuftice here : although ye wolde. 
 
 Can not (acording to your promeffe, holde. 
 
 For fo is nowe this matter brought aboute 
 That it to iudge : neither can you nor I, 
 We both be parties fo perciall that this doute 
 Mufte be difcufte and iudgde indifferently, 
 By folke indifferent, which if ye deny, 
 In fuche fourme as I haue here erfte deuifed. 
 Then by the Iuftice whiche ye erfte promifed, 
 
 I claime thre comon lawe. where I am fure, 
 
 To faue me fafe from harme, that lawe hath grounde. 
 
 For if your euidence, be put in vre. 
 
 That is fo fleight, I fhall be gilteles founde. 
 
 And being filent, if no witnes founde 
 
 Then this bondage of prifon to difcharge 
 
 Proclamacion ftreight, fhal fet me at large. 
 
 L Nay 
 
 105 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Naie fir : ye muft paie your fees er ye go. 
 But goth my parte, flie in thine opinion, 
 No nere vnto the pyth ? for footh fyr no. 
 Your cafe in lawe : is not worth an inion. 
 Well flie (quoth he) fins thou arte a minion, 
 Of fo large learninge : I praie the teache me, 
 Sum leffon : in this tale to beleue the. 
 
 That leflbn fliewth here, not fo ferre behynde 
 In lacke of learning as of remembrance. 
 For if it lyke you, here to calle to mynde 
 By brefe recytall : the very fubflance, 
 Argude (as yet) betwene vs in this chance, 
 I doute not in the fame your felfe to fe 
 Caufe, in my former wordes to credite me. 
 
 As thus, ye remember our mattier pafte 
 
 Your felfe hath deuided into partes thre. 
 
 Burglary, felonie, and trepas lafte. 
 
 And firfte: for burglary ye faw: and mufte fe, 
 
 That flies : by nature no night theues can be. 
 
 And though we coulde : yet might your felfe in fight, 
 
 Witnes with me : to cum nowe by daie lighte. 
 
 And vnto this : touchinge the feconde charge, 
 
 Whiche chargeth me with fingle felonie, 
 
 I am aflured : you ferching at large, 
 
 Remembring my cumminge vnwillinglie. 
 
 Shall well perceiue, my pure innocencie. 
 
 In talke wherof : the trewthe mufte make vs faie. 
 
 That we at length : were driuen to ye and naie. 
 
 Wher- 
 
 io6 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Wherin I proue, that mine affirmatiue : 
 Your negatiue, fo crerely doth confute, 
 That I dare faie, any iewry alyue : 
 (You letting not the cafe fall to confute, 
 But ftande to triall, in that we difpute. 
 Shall (vpon hearinge : what this mounth vntill) 
 Geue verdite with cumming againfte my will. 
 
 And thirdely : in trefpas you charginge me 
 With the hurte of your howfe : I nothinge doute 
 The carte cafe fhall make iewry and iudge fe, 
 This trefpas on my fyde cleane fcraped out. 
 And this debate at ende fo brought aboute 
 That in this lates : lawe fhall well aproue, 
 The holes all mine, and you to bylde aboue. 
 
 Now fins of vs twaine : no one can be iudge, 
 
 Becaufe we be both extreme perciall partife 
 
 I wonder what caufe : doth caufe you to grudge, 
 
 At the arbitermetite that I deuife. 
 
 In thefe thre faide cafes there can arife, 
 
 In your recouery by the comon lawe, 
 
 None aduauntage, to the value of a ftrawe. 
 
 L ii The 
 
 107 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe fpider puth a cafe in appeale, ill (in apparence) for the 
 flie, as the fpider drawth it: and anone he by example of the 
 lordes will: had in courtes of copie holde, feming to leane to- 
 warde will : the flie laboreth to qualefie that will. Cap. 24. 
 
 Thou 
 
 loH 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 THou fhalte (quoth the fpider) in this ftrife all 
 Anfwere thy felfe by thy anfwering me, 
 To one queftion : whiche nowe demaunde I (hall. 
 My felow flie, I put this cafe to the. 
 That this fame daie, at London chaunfte to be, 
 Some man committing fuche a heinous dede, 
 That death (byiawe in London) Ihould procede. 
 
 The whiche dede: being at Louane committed, 
 Lawe (there) for that dede no death doth prouide. 
 The faughter herin, fo wilely witted, 
 To faue his lyfe, apealth to be repride. 
 From London to Louane, there to be tride. 
 Were it (flie quoth he) reafon in this cafe, 
 That this mans apeale fhoulde take any plafe. 
 
 I thinke fir (quoth the flie) it were no reafon 
 
 To graunte requefte of fuche apeale in cace 
 
 Of crymes, deferuing death, at any feafon. 
 
 But thoffender being taken in place. 
 
 Where he hid the dede, to flande to the grace, 
 
 Of lawful lawe, in that precinkte prefente. 
 
 Whiche : fo iudgeing him, I take iufte iudgemente. 
 
 Quoth the fpider god haue mercie on the. 
 Amen (quoth the flie) but why fpeake you that .' 
 I fpeake (and praie) it euen of charite. 
 Neuer was there yet, any larke or wat. 
 Before hawke or dog, flatter darde or fquat 
 Then by this anfwere : al thy matter is, 
 Thou hafte condemde thy felfe, now in all this. 
 
 L iii How 
 
 log 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 How fo ( quoth the flie) thus (quoth the fpyder) 
 
 Thou grantft, where faughters do an enterprife, 
 
 Whiche, worthy death the lawe doth cofider 
 
 Thenterprifer fhall apeale in no wife 
 
 But take fuche chaunce, as by lawe there doth ryfe 
 
 Adewe arbiterment : and nifi prius, 
 
 In ftede of twelue or twaine : one fhall nowe trie vs. 
 
 What one fhall that be ? my felfe quoth he. 
 
 Thy dede done here : hath by lawe here, death fure, 
 
 Alonely to be tride at wyll of me. 
 
 At mine erfte fewte, (faide the flie) here in vre, 
 
 Ye promifed iuftice to be fo pure, 
 
 That with or againft me, ye wolde nought do, 
 
 But as my felfe in reafon mufte gre to. 
 
 Wherin we being cumminge towarde the pointe 
 In performance of promife : to fee triall, 
 Nowe is iufte iuftice, fo lotted out of iointe, 
 That ye here vniuftely, ftande at deniall, 
 To do me iuftice. and wolde by power ryall : 
 Directe mine acquitall or condemnacion, 
 Euen as wyll in both : weith your acceptacion. 
 
 Flie : doeft thou waie my will herein thus lighte ? 
 
 In euery pety courte of copy holde. 
 
 All grauntes that paffe, pafling in their mofte mighte 
 
 PafTe to holde at lordes will, and fo enrolde. 
 
 Syr (quoth the flie) copy holders of olde, 
 
 Holde to them and theirs, at wyll of the lorde. 
 
 As with cuftome of the maner doth acorde. 
 
 But 
 
 no 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 But this terme cuftome : ftandeth not here idle 
 
 Cuftome (in many cafes) femeth to me, 
 
 To tenauntes a bukler. to lordes a bridle. 
 
 From trefpaffing wherin if tenauntes fe, 
 
 (On their partes) cuftomes kepte as thei fhoulde be. 
 
 The will of the lorde mofte wilfully bente, 
 
 Win the nought worthe a bente, by cuftoms extente. 
 
 Were this windowe your maner in freholde 
 
 And flies here your copie holders knowne clere. 
 
 And that I : being your tenaunt, ye wolde 
 
 Ley in me, breche of cuftome to apere. 
 
 Yet ftioulde not your onely will be iudge here. 
 
 For as thomage (vpon their othe) prefent, 
 
 So cuftome bindthe the lordes wyll in iudgeraent. 
 
 Flie : thinkfte thou this cafe a bukler for the ? 
 This cafe : to our cafe (quoth the flie) being fcande 
 Is nother fworde to you : nor bukler to me. 
 With fworde and bukler we maie goe or ftande, 
 Betwene bothe cafes and touche neither hande. 
 This cafe : to lordes and tenauntes : is concurrant, 
 But you are not my lorde, nor I your tenant. 
 
 The 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 IThe flie claimeth all holes in all windowes to be flies in 
 freholde: and that fpiders fhoulde buildeby the fydes or in the 
 toppes : whiche cafe to be tride by law or cuftome, thei in ma- 
 ner agree : but the flie mouing it to be tride at the comon law, 
 the fpider refufeth it : whervpon arifeth mattier of digrefllon, 
 in which the flie commendeth the fpider for expedite heringe 
 herof, brefely definyng the propertie of iuftice, mercy, and ty- 
 rannie. Cap. 25. 
 
 112 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 I take not my felfe apointed to pates, 
 As you will fet limittes and bownds fer or nere 
 But clerely I claime : all holes in all lates, 
 To be flies freholde, as male right well apere, 
 Where I difcribed when I prefcribed here. 
 Your aunciters buildinge : the fydes and the top. 
 As flife at libertee, in and out might chop. 
 
 And as lawe and cuftome or the tone of them, 
 
 Shall iudge this pointe: wherin ftandth muche parte of all. 
 
 To that will 1 ftande : refufmge none of them. 
 
 Standinge with your plefure this cafe fo ftande (hall, 
 
 Then quoth the fpider take cuftome : let lawe fall. 
 
 Lawe can little faie herein. Lawe mufte refar. 
 
 The iudgement, to cuftome to make or mar. 
 
 For trew trying of cuftome. Sir (quoth the flie), 
 The lawe (pleafe it you) male trie how cuftome weith. 
 What lawe flie ? the comon lawe fyr thinke I, 
 Where fliall we trie flie : what that lawe herein feith ? 
 In weftminfter halle fyr. Why flie by thy feith, 
 Woldfte thou place this cafe : wheron hangeth the fum. 
 Where (thou faifte) I nor no fpider male cum ? 
 
 How fer arte thou from thequitee towarde me. 
 That thou defyreft in me towarde the to growe 
 Thou woldfte bring forth a thoufande flife for the, 
 Where no one fpider : for me maie make ftiowe. 
 And fo by ftelthe woldfte win mine ouerthrowe. 
 The lawe is one grounde of fowre (quoth the fly,) 
 Whiche your former graunte, graunth to trie all by. 
 
 M And 
 
 "3 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 And though cuftome (as who faie) in refpecte 
 
 Of triall in this cafe : is it felfe lawe. 
 
 Yet (I faie) lawe, for foorme in pleding directe, 
 
 Aparence of that triall for the to drawe, 
 
 Is mete to be had. I graunte thee that, dawe. 
 
 But not without this, that we both do agre. 
 
 The pleding to be : where both prefent maie be, 
 
 It is meete (quoth the flie) and by you well weide, 
 
 (Vrgente caufe excepte) where mattier (hall procede, 
 
 Againfte any perfon : or perfons leide, 
 
 That he or thej anfwere prefently in dede. 
 
 And in greatteft crymes, this hath greatteft nede. 
 
 For in crymes mode criminal : that lawe is peine 
 
 The charged partite : (hall no counfaile obteine. 
 
 Whiche (houth that lawe : in mofte nede^ leaft helpe talow. 
 
 Wherto : if the partie be kepte in abfence. 
 
 So that he : nor no man for him maie auow, 
 
 Any vvorde in plea : pleadid for his defence, 
 
 This law is fumwhat fore, in my confcience. 
 
 Though faire tales in mine eare, peinte this a feire cace. 
 
 Yet in mine lie : this cafe hath a crabed face. 
 
 Sins ye denie me not lawe : but ye denie, 
 
 To pleade this plea : where ye prefent maie not be, 
 
 Of that denial : apeerth fo good caufe why, 
 
 That I (hall not only mofte gladly agre, 
 
 To haue it pleaded where we both (hall decre. 
 
 But alfo I reioice : that your felfe efpieth, 
 
 This gall in this cafe : and what ill tiierin lyeth. 
 
 One 
 
 114 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 One other ioie (with many forowfe) I haue. 
 
 The caufe wherof, commendth you vnfpecablie. 
 
 In leffe tyme (in maner) then my felfe could craue, 
 
 After I am broughte here : in prifon to lie, 
 
 It ftanth with your plefure : mofte charitablie, 
 
 To here, ye and determine out of hande. 
 
 How my cafe flandth, and wherto my felfe fhall ftande. 
 
 Oh (maifter fpider) the felfe dedes done in this, 
 
 Commende you more, then may pen or tunge of man, 
 
 Thatachid of fufpicion : or facte amis, 
 
 Enquerie at full had, quickely as ye can. 
 
 As iuftice iudgeth, ftreighte to difpatche him than, 
 
 Not letting him lie : tyll his lyms rot or lame, 
 
 Iuftice and mercie : both concurre in the fame. 
 
 Flie (quoth the fpider) fauour is not al lofte, 
 
 Shewde vnto the, for thou canfte confider it. 
 
 But many other flife therbe in the cofte, 
 
 In hauing lyke fauour ; the diuell fpede the whit, 
 
 Thei do ponder it : wherfore it is not fit. 
 
 When chaunce or deferte : flife into prifon ftrike. 
 
 To vfe frowarde and flexibill flife : a lyke, 
 
 Iuftice (quoth the flie) weith what, and why to do. 
 Not to whom to do, by fauor, mede, or frey. 
 The man is not the marke : that iuftife ftiooteth to. 
 The mans matter : Iuftice (hooteth at alweie. 
 Betwene god : and the diuell : Iuftice doth difpley. 
 His baner indifferently. Yeldinge eche parte. 
 In all dewe dewtife, the very dew defarte. 
 
 M ii Mercy 
 
 "5 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Mercy : ioynde with iuftice doth either remit 
 Or qualifie peines, that dewe by iuftice feme, 
 Tiranie not with iuftice, but againft it : 
 Not weiyng deferte, awardth peines moft extreme. 
 Tyranie, and mercy, thus maie we here deme 
 Tyrany : not with but againfte iuftice ftiowth, 
 Mercy with : and not againft iuftice growth. 
 
 Iuftice place I here,"" in the middes as who faie. 
 Mercy on the right hande of iuftice to ftande. 
 Tiranie on the lefte hande. now if we fweie. 
 From the ftreight lyne of iuftice : to either hande, 
 That fweie mufte nedes bringe our fweiyng to be fcande. 
 As we maie apere to fweie aparantly. 
 Either towarde mercie, or towarde tyrany. 
 
 But in leaning to any hande of thefe twaine, 
 
 From fole iuftice: when we encline to decline. 
 
 As comon welthe in this cafe maie vs mainteine, 
 
 From corrupte conftruction, this cafe to define, 
 
 I wifli that we : eche as our callinges afine, 
 
 Maie leane to that hande with mete ftriength, or vigor. 
 
 That mercie leanth vnto : rather than rygor. 
 
 The 
 
 n6 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThe flie (for caufe here appering) defireth to repete his dif- 
 tinction of iuftice, mercie, & tiranie, which the fpider denith. 
 wherwith the flie leith to the fpider, breche of a promes made 
 to him before in difcharge, wherof the fpider anfwereth. C.26. 
 
 M iii 
 
 The 
 
 1.17 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THe fpider hunge downe both his hed and his lyp. 
 Like one y* had nought: or wift nought : what to fpeke, 
 Wherwith thought the flic : I haue geuen him a nyp, 
 Thefe diflinctions : haue fliewde his parte fo weke, 
 That ftudiyng for matter : he findth none to breke. 
 But where he thought the fpider in ftudy depe. 
 He was deceiued : the fpider was a flepe. 
 
 And herwith fterting awake, fy flouth quoth he, 
 
 I had foi^ot my felfe. I herde my felfe rout 
 
 Naie fir (quoth the flie) ye had forgotten me. 
 
 The befte parte (for my parte) ye haue flepte quite biitl 
 
 Naie not all flie : for I put the out of dout 
 
 Of all thy wordes had : in my commendacion, 
 
 I herde euery woorde : and can make relacion. 
 
 But thine entre : to matter more ferious, 
 
 Brought me a flepe : but I prey the hertelie, 
 
 Whats the ppinte of that cafe fo imperious, . 
 
 The pith is the diftinction : quoth the flie, 
 
 Betwene iufliice, mercy, and tyranie. 
 
 Whiche : fins you herde not : and it muche mete to here 
 
 I fliall repete to you in forme brefe and clere. 
 
 That wolde (quoth the fpider) make me flepe againe. 
 And phifike forbidth me to fleape twife a daie, 
 Repeticion hereof I denie thee plaine. 
 Reafon, lawe, cuftome, and confcience : ye faie, 
 Shal (quoth the flie) all our prefent matter waie. 
 But touching reafon, lawe, cuftome, and confcience. 
 Two of thofe fowre principles : are gone euen fens. 
 
 Whiche 
 
 ii8 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Which two (quoth the fpider ?) thefe two (quoth the flie) 
 Reafon, and confcience, as how ilie (quoth he ? 
 As thus quoth the flie. Ye retreted latelie, 
 And reuokte a cafe : which ye had graunted me, 
 Touching cumming here : againft my will to be. 
 At whiche : when I grudged : ye made me promife. 
 To haue in the lyke cafe, lybertee lykewyfe. 
 
 And nowe when I wolde (not reuoke) but repete 
 
 This pece : for my parte, ye plainly that denie. 
 
 What reafon or confcience is here to gete, 
 
 Good reafon : and good confcience : felow flie. 
 
 But fmce reafon is fufficient this to trie, 
 
 Let confcience (I faie) ftaie : till the lafte inftante, 
 
 Leafl: narow confcience, refons wyde fcope might fcant. 
 
 And vpon perufing : let reafon ftreight iudge, 
 
 How far fled from reafon : thy felfe herin arte. 
 
 My retreted cafe (wherat thou didft erfte grudge) 
 
 Is : of matter prefent : a principall parte. 
 
 Betwene whiche : and thy cafe thou maid driue a carte. 
 
 Diflinction of termes : in our maine matter mente. 
 
 Is (a]t nexte) a very fer fet incidente. 
 
 But though thou wilte faie, thou canft draw this thy cafe. 
 To ftande with (or within) our grounde principall. 
 Yet is it nedeles, to be brought here in place. 
 Difl:inction of thefe termes : and other all. 
 I knowe : and can weie : as well as a flie fliall, 
 This degreffion : in tellyng : lofte tyme before. 
 And now in repeting : it wolde lefe tyme more. 
 
 Syr 
 
 119 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Sir: it maie lengthe tyme: but not lefe tytae: frende flie, 
 Lengthe of time: is no loffe of tyme to the in dede. 
 Lengthe of tyme is thy geine : but I lefe therbie. 
 Long tyme winth the long lyfe. And lefeth my quicke fpede, 
 Which I fhulde quikly haue : weare this quikly decrede, 
 Of this my frewtles walke : auoiding the waie. 
 To wyn weie more frewtfuU : this waie lets afaie. 
 
 From pith of this proces (flie) where we fled out, 
 Thether retrete we : more lofle of time to flee. 
 This repeticion whiche thou woldfte bringe aboute, 
 As winnig therof winth nought at lengthe to thee, 
 So lefing therof lefeth nought at lengthe by me. 
 Sins repeticion, the flie coulde not recouer. 
 He Ihoke his head, and fo lete it paffe ouer. 
 
 The 
 
 I20 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThe fpider (reducing the fly to the principal matter) moueth 
 the triall to be had in his owne lordefliip : which the flie mifli- 
 keth. wheron enfueth a glaunce at the diuerfitee of gouerne- 
 mente, betwene one fpider and twelue flife. ' Cap. 27. 
 
 N 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Ere while (by prefcripfion of old fliefe thou ledyft, 
 All holes in lattes : to be other fliefe and thine. 
 In which prefcripcion againft vs : as thou feydft, 
 Acuftomed right in windowes doth define, 
 In the top and fides : our building to afline, 
 Which I denide : faieng our forefathers old, 
 Prefcribed for vs, to byld here : where we wold. 
 
 Vpon this iffue thou fheudft thy felfe content. 
 That cuftome {hould (being pleaded in lawe) 
 ludge how the cafe ftandeth by cuftomes extent. 
 Pleading wherof : to common lawe thou didft drawe. 
 Pleading wherin : as thou faidft : and I fawe, 
 Should be in fuch place as I could not cum to : 
 I denide triall there, and denie it I do. 
 
 Which deniall to be reafon, thy felfe told. 
 And here : from purpofe principall : out fled we 
 By the digrefling. But againe to take hold. 
 And go foorth therin, now let vs further fee, 
 (Sins the common lawe) is as ynmeete for mee 
 As meete for thee (to pleade cuftome herein) 
 What other meete meane : for vs both, we may win. 
 
 What thinke you (quoth the flie) freend flie this thinke I, 
 
 Sins I will not : and thou canft not, go hence. 
 
 So that we both fhall remaine here prefently, 
 
 To here and anfwere in perfonall prefence, 
 
 Lawe, in my lordfhip : muft trie cuftomes defence. 
 
 Be ye there againe (quoth the flie) by my fay 
 
 We ftiall catch byrdes to morow : and flies to day. 
 
 Will 
 
 122 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Will is now cum in againe : and muft be cald law, 
 By thy gpound laid for copy hold at will, 
 It feemth : thou needft not care for my will a ftraw, 
 As thotwflge prefenteth (faidft thou) good or ill, 
 So doth'the lords will, in iudgement faue or fpill. 
 So fliould the lordes will do fir, I therin ment. 
 But here goth the hare away : right to preuent. 
 
 I : being nother fpider, nor fpiders peere, 
 
 Nor fpiders tenaunt, nor fpiders freend (ye fay) 
 
 I may haue quick fpeede : and faile of good fpeede heere. 
 
 Though thomage Ihuld vprightly the verdite lay, 
 
 An4 the lord (in iudgement) with the right likewife way. 
 
 Yet fum fay, fumtime, that the law is eended, 
 
 In fum cafe, in fum place : as folke are freended. 
 
 iVnd I (quoth the fpider) being nother flie. 
 
 Nor to any flie, of aliaunce or kin, 
 
 Nor taken any flies frende : why may not I 
 
 In any pleading place : faue that we be in, 
 
 Bought there (as thou dredfl: here) good fpeede to win. 
 
 This cafe fhall.kepe our cafe : as the cafe now falles. 
 
 Both from weftminfter hall : and all fuch law halles. 
 
 Thou being abrode, buzzing in euery place. 
 Where thou haft more freendlhip, or les enmitee 
 Then I haue : thou maift in eury place piirchafe 
 Freendes againft me : mo then I againft thee. 
 And when we in pleading, ioind in iffue bee. 
 Thou maift finde freendfhyp, to impanell the queft, 
 Of twelue fuch freendLy flies, as feme for thee beft. 
 
 N ii Which 
 
 123 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Whiche kinde of triall (for my parte) I lyke nat. 
 Wife lernde counfaile, coftly fine pleas firfte deuife, 
 With code and peine longe folowde. And after that, 
 Twelue vnlerned rude ignorant corrupte flife, 
 Shall flrike the ftroke, as blinde affection doth rife. 
 By excellent wittes : lawe is euer begoon, 
 And by ignorant wittes : ende of laWe ofte woon, 
 
 Whiche to helpe, were I one of the procurers, 
 
 I wolde thinke it far better to breede vp in broode, 
 
 One wife trew iudge : then<twelue folifti falfeiurers, 
 
 It is"(quoth the flie) as olde flife vnderftdbde,'-' 
 
 Not more harde (for fpiders) to fpie twelue flife good, 
 
 Then eafy (for flife) to finde one fpider noughte. 
 
 And now note we here : to what ende this -is brought] 
 
 In place of twelue flife : were one fpider plafte, ■ 
 
 To geue verdite and iudgement : of matters clere, '- <^ ' 
 Yet might thatjchangej^bring fmal good fpede: in great haftey 
 One wyly lernde fpider might hurte as muche here, 
 As twelue vnlernde blunte flife : by ought doth apere. 
 And twelue good flife fhulde (for all flife are not yll,) 
 Do more good then one yll fpider : wey whd will. 
 
 Betwene one good fpyder : and twelue ill flife, 
 Or thofe twelue flife good : and that one fpider yll, 
 Apte comparifon (quoth the fpider) doth not here ryfe. 
 But that one : and thofe twelue : draw we here vntill. 
 (To worke good or ill) of one good or ill wyll 
 And/o then befl:e or worfte, twelue or one : let vs try, 
 Thone befte forte of two : to goufirne windowes'by. * - 
 
 And 
 
 124 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 And the one fpiders parte (in this parte) He take. 
 
 And ile take parte with the twelue flife (quoth the fly) 
 
 He ley firfte (quoth the fpider your parte to fhake,) 
 
 Refons : leide by a learned clerke formerly. 
 
 For the rule of one ruler capitally. 
 
 Whofe arche articles here togither to wey, 
 
 In thefe nexte woordes here togither : I will ley.: 
 
 Exampling the gouernement of one mofte hie, 
 
 He puth the three perfons: whkhe three, are god one. 
 
 And further he bringth in (this texemplifie) 
 
 The fhip, on one keele all partes ftande ; eurychon^. 
 
 The houfe : ftandth vnder one top rafter alone. 
 
 Thofte, vnder one captaine. Befe vnder one be. - f 
 
 The cranes one crane, the hgrde one (hepherde latth he. 
 
 To this (quoth the flie) an other clerke anfwerith.. 
 
 Similitude of god and man. To man and -man, 
 
 As far wyde : as far fet: the matter varith. 
 
 And lybertee (being gods great gifte to fcan) 
 
 To take from all, no one by autoritee can. 
 
 As who faie : any one mans autoritee, 
 
 Shall not or fliulde not, lefe all mens lybertee. 
 
 Further (he faith) one mannes iudgement is fubdewde, 
 To yll affectes, foner then many can be. 
 As one booket of water (in refon vewde) 
 May foner be poifoned : we in reafon fe, 
 Then may a poole or a ponde, and more faith he, w 
 
 Though one crane gyde all, where euer cranes range, : 
 Yet : nowe this one : then that one : thei' ofte times change, 
 
 N iii Whiche 
 
 125 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Whiche exfaumple partely doth your parte apall. 
 
 For it as muche maie a fenate fignify. 
 
 As one : one tyme chofen, all times to rule all, 
 
 And where all beefe folow one bee : vnchangeably, 
 
 Yet is that bee : of a more exelenfy. 
 
 And of an other kynde : then thother beefe are. 
 
 As the Iheperde aboue the herde : he did declare. 
 
 This lafte fample moueth choice of one ruler in place, 
 
 Of a more exelent kynde, then the refte be. 
 
 The faide lernde man (quoth the fpyder) in this cace, 
 
 Repliyng to your clerkes refons, this faith he, 
 
 Firft where your clerke faith : one wightes auctorite 
 
 Can not take all from libertee, this man feith. 
 
 Tis not lybertee, to Hue as mans will weith, 
 
 But to liue in thordinance of good lawfe. 
 
 And the order of nature (faith he) afTinthe, 
 
 Sum to ferue, fum to rule, as aptenes drawfe. 
 
 The weake wit : ftronge of body, to feruice enclinthe. 
 
 The witty lernde head, reafon towarde rule combinthe. 
 
 And a kyng calde in fcripture goddes anointed, 
 
 Hath (of god) giftes aboue the refte apointed. 
 
 God promifeth to rule the hartes of kynges, 
 Whiche gifte fhowth a kyng aboue the refte, 
 And where it is more harde (by your clarkes faiynges) 
 To corrupte many : then one, fo our clarke witnefte, 
 More eafy to finde one good, then many, thus fefte, 
 Thargument of thefe two, and our clerke anone, 
 Chokte your clerke with one reafon ioinde hervpone. 
 
 Thefe 
 
 126 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Thefe thre kyndes of comon welthe he tride. 
 
 Of a kynge, of the peeres, and of comons lafte. 
 
 In whiche as there maie be : three good rulinges weide, 
 
 So maie be in thefe thre, thre yll rulinges cafte. 
 
 In rule of a kynge, tiranie may blow blafte. 
 
 In peeres. vfurping. In few comons gouernance, 
 
 All to be gouemours : maie them felues auaunce. 
 
 Now : whofe contrary is worft (faith he) thats befte. 
 But tyrane is worfte of thefe thre, ergo, 
 Rule or reigne of a kyng is befte : manifefte. 
 This is the conclufion of our clarke : and fo, 
 Thargument (in effecte) endth without worde mo. 
 Which : for rule preferde in a fenate or prince, 
 For one or many rulers, doth thy parte conuince. 
 
 Syr (quoth the flie) thefe olde clarkes darkly faiyng, 
 
 The repeting therof let vs leue of quighte. 
 
 And fall we to reafon : of weighty waiyng, 
 
 Experience, herein fene in our owne fighte. 
 
 On whofe fyde thefe or thefe lyke cafes run righte. 
 
 Beet (quoth the fpider) but ere we enter that, 
 
 Here me clere a cafe : that might difpleafe fumwhat. 
 
 In that we (in this cafe) draw nere to compare, 
 
 A fpider to a kyng : and flife to a fenate, 
 
 Coniectors that capcious or curious are, 
 
 (If caufe (hall : to them : our talke communicate) 
 
 May chaunce to coniecte : that we two derogate, 
 
 Thofe two eftates, in that we two do deuife. 
 
 To cowple kynges and peeres, with fpiders and flife. 
 
 But 
 
 127 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But witnes thou with me, as I wyll with the. 
 That for my parte I know : and for thine I trow, 
 We no whit meane thofe ftates : Imbafed to be. 
 By our talke> as a kynge in propertee to (how. 
 Lyke a fpider : or comparifon to grow. 
 In flife and a fenate. For propertee of flife, 
 Mofte rude of vs. Not fo rude : that tenterprife. 
 
 Syr (qugth the flie) as you here for your felfe faie, 
 So may you here affuredly for me fweare. 
 This example meane I : to fefpecte no waie, 
 But only thorder of rule : that thofe ftates beare. 
 And fo refembling them and vs, I whyle eare, 
 Entended, by waie of example, to treate, 
 And do fo (quoth the fpider, an ende to beate. 
 
 Then (with your fauer) haue at it (quoth the flie.) 
 
 Pafling from all former clarkely argument. 
 
 To our owne experience familierly. 
 
 For flife gouernement, lie (hew good reafon bente. 
 
 By fample of a fenate^ Standing in extente, 
 
 At this prefent daie. From hundrethes of yeres pafte. 
 
 To this daie profpering, and fo lyke to lafte. 
 
 It felfe being bjut a citee. Doth yet poffefle, 
 Kyngdomes : fer from it : in ciuile order fuche, 
 As no kynge hath one realme in more quietneife. 
 lufte iuftice goth forth there, who euer gruche. 
 Their people obedient, few other fo muche. 
 This fample of fenate : for flife rewle I faie, 
 Againfte one fpyder, or one kynge here I laie. 
 
 The 
 
 128 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 The mofte (quoth the fpider) that this makth for the, 
 Is that, that fenate : rewlth as well as a kyng. 
 To whiche one fenate (for mo there none be) 
 Many kynges, in many realmes : haue fole gouerning. 
 Eche one of whofe gouernance, all (or mofte,) prouing. 
 In both kyndes of comon welthe : fmce thei began, 
 As good as that one fenate, fcan who can fcan. 
 
 One kynges rule as good : as one fenates rule is, 
 Compareth herin (For rule) both our partes euen. 
 And many kynges rulyng fo, the nomber in this, 
 Shouth thy fide, to the worfte fhore to be dreuen. 
 And by one reafon mo, more weakenes is geuen. 
 Vnto thy parte: whiche plainly fhall apere. 
 In thefe my nexte wordes, now folowing here. 
 
 Although thofe fenatours in fondry refpectes, 
 
 Seme equall for gouernance in open fhow. 
 
 Yet in other fondry refpectes profe directes. 
 
 Show : of one amonge all : aboue all to grow. 
 
 One hath of all, chefe place, and reuerence we know. 
 
 In whofe eftate : ftaie of the refte doth mofte ftande. 
 
 Hauing voice, as muche as twaine : in his owne hande. 
 
 In many and mofte thinges. Preeminence he hath, 
 Mofte lyke to kyngly fuperiorite. 
 Two partes of three : in fenates gyding path. 
 Are drawne out of kyngly rule, in properte. 
 Without whiche : to gouerne well, it will not be. 
 Thus a fenates rewle. wherin ye your brag brought, 
 Lackyng aide of a kynges rewle (ye fe) doth nought. 
 
 O 
 
 129 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 I coulde (quoth the fly) fay more but I will not. 
 This cafe ftandth not in our cafe principally, 
 This law : or that law : what law ftande, it flcill not, 
 So the law and minifters : geue iuflice iuftely. 
 My caufe is fo iufte, that no iufte lawe feare I, 
 Nor for euery faute in lawes : or lawiers gefte, 
 To remoue lawes or lawiers, I thinke not befte. 
 
 Comipdon in lawes : or minifters of lawfe, 
 I wifli vs to redreffe : rather then remeue. 
 Either lawes or lawyers : without weighty caufe, 
 The cafe : vpon light caufe : if we fhulde ofte preue. 
 Where it fhulde eafe one : it myght twenty agreue, 
 Deuyfers in fuche thinges : may foner deuife, 
 To (hew ten mifcheues : then (hape two remedife. 
 
 Thou faift well (faide the fpider) but to reuolue, 
 
 Thimpediment in lawe of fonde flie lurers, 
 
 I can no waie other waie refolue 
 
 But wifli them : and al pelting procurers. 
 
 To be quite cut of. As lawles enurers. 
 
 Of verdites falfe or foolifti : in this or that, 
 
 Sumtymes thei care not : mofte times thei know not what. 
 
 And fure (I thinke) this fore might be falued fone. 
 Or the fmarte muche eafde, did difcrecion deuife. 
 And diligence put in vre : thinges meete to be done. 
 But to lordes : lawes lawiers homage and iurife, 
 Corrupte frendfhip : thow leydft erfte here in fuche wife. 
 As it generally apereth to repine. 
 Againft all courtes : afmuch as againft mine. 
 
 As 
 
 130 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 As niuche ? ye and fo muche more fir that excepte, 
 
 Your owne felfe, no wight in your courte I there touchte, 
 
 Your courte of all officers is fo clene fwepte, 
 
 That none officer in that courte can be couchte, 
 
 But your felfe. For your felfe hath your felfe auouchte, 
 
 Plaintif, pleader, iurer, ludge, and iailer. 
 
 Stop fly (what) from a reafoner to a railer ? 
 
 I cry you mercy. Sir if this do difpleafe, 
 
 I reuerfe and reuoke it ftreight. for I haue : 
 
 As fmall apetight, as I fliall haue fmall eafe, 
 
 To moue you. Well fince thou forgeuenes doft craue, 
 
 Stande vp fly. I forgeue euen as god forgaue. 
 
 And how our faide cafe (by cuftome) flialbe tride, 
 
 Let vs yet once againe ferche how to prouide. 
 
 Concerning that prouifion fyr (quoth to fly) 
 
 If we here (in this your prefent courte) did make, 
 
 A grement : to try this determinately. 
 
 Though I hope (as 1 hope) I flioulde no wronge take, 
 
 Yet humbly I befeche you : for my mindes fake. 
 
 Sins my hartles harte againft this triall fwels. 
 
 To graunte to trie this cafe fum way, fum where els. 
 
 Oii 
 
 Thei 
 
 1.31 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 IFThei agree to be tride by arbitermente, whether all or how 
 many holes in all windowes belonge to fpiders, and how ma 
 ny to flies, the fpider chofmg for his parte, the ant or pifmere, 
 the fly choofmge for his fide, the butterfly, whervppon thei, 
 thone couple in one parte, and thother couple in an other part, 
 talke togither forthwith. Cap. 28. 
 
 Now 
 
 132 
 
AND THE FLIE; 
 
 NOw (quoth the fpider) by this croffe of ten bonfe, 
 There Hueth not thy lyke (for a flie) I trow, 
 For tunge wit : thou arte the fly for the nonfe.- 
 But go to : let vs towarde ende fum wey grow. 
 I fhoude my minde lafte : wherfore thy minde now fhow. 
 What waie (as thou thinkfte) we may yet beft puruey, 
 To knit vp this knot, without furder deley. 
 
 The befte waie in my minde when all waife are cafte, 
 Is that one (quoth the flie) that I touched twyfe. 
 To haue bene our triall, in all cafes parte. 
 Whiche was : to put the whole in comprimife. 
 Fie : this lafte one cafe : to be tride in that wyfe. 
 I graunte thee. I thanke you (quoth the fly) praiyng, 
 That we maie name our daifemen in this daiyng. 
 
 I name (quoth the fpider) a cofin of mine. 
 Perce pifmere. called antony ante otherwife. 
 Of perfon fmall, of wit great vpright and fyne. 
 And I (quoth the flie) what euer hap fliall rife, 
 My graund fyre Bartilmew butterfly deuife. 
 Of body big : of wit and fpeche blunt, and plaine. 
 Well (quoth the fpider) agre we on thefe twaine. 
 
 Thei did fo : and forthwith there lighted by chaunce, 
 Harde by the copwebs fide, the butterfly. 
 Wherwith one of the yonge fpiders did auaunce, 
 At tholde fpiders commaundment, in hafte to hy, 
 For the ant to repeire to him by and by. 
 Spede cam fo to paffe, that at tholde fpiders hande. 
 The yonge fpider out of hande, brought thante to ftande. 
 
 O iii The 
 
 133 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe fpider to the ant, and flie to butterfly (after woordes-bf 
 gretinge) declare, that thei are chofen their arbiters herein, 
 wherin the ant and butterfly promife to do their beftpi and thei 
 then anone draw al fowre together in (or at) the cppweb. C. 29. 
 
 The 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 THe ant to the fpider made curtfy low. 
 Wherwithal the fpider to the ant did draw, 
 Smiling and becking on him, in mofte louing fhow. 
 Thei (hoke handes : manerly as euer I faw. 
 But for flife, as Stans puer ad men/am fliowth law. 
 For makyng of curtfy : or ftiaking of handes, 
 Butterflife pardon flife, bounde hande and foote in bandes. 
 
 The fpider : as of vfe in talke new entrid, 
 
 (Frendes axe of frendes : the (late of their frendes frendly,) 
 
 Axte how his cofms (thants father and mother) did. 
 
 His brothers fifters with all kyn and aly. 
 
 Thant faid thei did well. And in lyke wordes harty, 
 
 Axte him how his aunte fpider and all theirs farde. 
 
 The fpider with thankes to thant, their helthes declarde. 
 
 The fly of the butterfly, with teares tender, 
 Axte : to know his grandam butterflife eftate. 
 With all vncles and auntes, of their engender. 
 The butterfly faide well. And bid him animate, 
 To be of good chere. Falfe harte to captiuate. 
 Reafon then ebbing : teares of natures flowing. 
 To fliew their grefes as reafon might make fliowing, 
 
 The fpider to thant. And fly to butterfly, 
 
 Difcourfl:e their greues a parte : and how thei therin, 
 
 Refufmge fundry weife of ende : finally, 
 
 Chofe them twaine for arbiters : fum ende to win. 
 
 And fmce thone twaine : and thother twaine : are of kin, 
 
 Thone choofeth thon, thother chofeth thother. 
 
 Both promifde their befte, the tone and the tother. 
 
 The 
 
 I3S 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 IThe fpider declareth, and the flie graunteth thiffue to be, 
 that all flies claime (in freholde) all holes in all windowes to 
 bee theirs by cufliome : and fpiders claime all holes with all 
 partes of all windowes to be their freholde by cufl:om : and af- 
 ter talke betwene them therin had, thant requireth ful inftruc 
 tion of the two parties to them two arbiters. Cap. 30. 
 
 The 
 
 136 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 THe fpider and fly thanking the other both, 
 Thei foure thervpon drawing to gither all, 
 The fpyder : directly to the matter goth. 
 Cofin ant : and felow buterfly : ye fliall, 
 Vnderftande : that we twaine do you twaine now call, 
 Not to wey all cafes in which we contende, 
 But one. on whiche one, all feme to depende. 
 
 The fly claimth by comon cuftome beyonde minde, 
 All holes in all lates : flies freholde to be. 
 And fpiders (faith he) by cuflome are afinde, 
 To bilde in fides or in top : wherto marke ye, 
 I fay that cuftome awardthe all windowes fre, 
 At fpiders willes without that : that any flife, 
 Haue ony fuch right, by cuftomes warantife. 
 
 That this is our iffuee, we do both agre. 
 
 And vpon this iflue. we be both agreede. 
 
 That you two : by arbiterment fhall decre, 
 
 What cuflome hath herein : directely decreede. 
 
 Is it thus flie (quoth thant) yea (quoth the fly) in deede. 
 
 As confcience in you twaine : for vs twaine fhall try, 
 
 How cuftome doth ftande, fo (for my parte) ftande I. 
 
 Thou femfl:e (quoth the fpider) a cofterde monger. 
 Confcience euery handwhile thou dofl:e cry. 
 I mufl:e (quoth the flie) fe fum token ftronger. 
 Ere I can fuppofe you of that miflery. 
 I call not for confcience more comonly. 
 Then you fpeake of it feelde, flie I tolde the erfle. 
 Caufe why : that confcience at lafte ende fhulde be perfte. 
 
 P Thats 
 
 137 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Thats now (quoth the fly) if thefe two now take ende, 
 As I hope thei fhall, but here me thinkth I fmell, 
 That your cafl: is : confcience thus to fufpende, 
 Firfte till thende. And then at thende faire and well, 
 Cut confcience of: confcience fo to expell, 
 As when all is done, confcience may faufely faie, 
 And fwere : that confcience cam not here this dale. 
 
 Then confcience or I : the tone flialbe forlworne, 
 Reafon, law, cuflome, and confcience, thefe foure, 
 To be our growndes in triall : I fwarebeforne. 
 Then (quoth the fly) in lafl:e ende : of this lafte houre, ■ 
 Let confcience cum in : to faue that oth of youre. 
 What thinge can confcience do here fly faift thou ? 
 Three thinges fir ( faide the fly) whiche I will tell you, 
 
 Firflie confcience as euen balance may euenly wey, 
 What cufl:ome yeldth to fpiders, and what to.flife. 
 Seconde, confcience may wey: what reafon can ley, 
 What good and what yll, cuflrome doth exercife : 
 In either parte. Thirdly confcience may deuife. 
 To alow the good : and difalow the ill. 
 Wheron : thefe two may awarde : as confcience will. 
 
 Thefe two fly (as my meaning was to take them,) 
 We chofe daifemen : to try this by reafon clere. 
 But, (not arbiters,) chauncelers thou doft make them. 
 By confcience to iudge, how much cuftome doth here. 
 And what good or ill, in cufliome doth apere. i 
 Lafl:e cafe of whiche twaine (by thee craftely couchte,) 
 In thiffue that we ioine on : is no whit touchte. 
 
 The 
 
 138 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 The pointe that we pitche on : to try out the foth, 
 By reafon (not fcrupulous confcience,) is this. 
 Not what cuftpme is, but what cuftome doth. 
 How good or how ill : cuftome it felfe is, 
 Is an other farder cafp. (Which fly, I wis, 
 When we (hall try (by confcience with reafon) 
 It wyll bringe ftnall brag for.thy fide to feafon. 
 
 For fine : cofin ant, and good man butterfly, 
 What entrefte cuftome doth geue to him and me. 
 How muche or how little : in windowfe low or hy. 
 As you by reafon agre, fo I agre. 
 To this axte the butterfly (fly) what fay ye .' 
 Since : who may not as he will, mufte as he may, 
 I fay (faide the fly) as maifter fpider doth fay. 
 
 There faidft thou wyfely (faide the fpider) and note. 
 Thou fhalte by that faiyng no damage fuftaine. 
 If reafon win thee this cafe euery iote, 
 Confcience (by reafon) mufte me ftreighte conftraine, 
 Tobey reafons awarde, at handes of thefe twaine. 
 And pas thei with me, I promife mine aflente, 
 To vfe the gaine, as confcience yeldth extente. 
 
 So faide and fo done (quoth the butterfly) in feith, 
 (Son fly) this is of maifter fpider well waide. 
 Yea fyr (quoth the fly) I here well what he feith, 
 God rewarde his maifterfliip : it is well faide. 
 Pleafeth you (quoth thant euidence may be laide. 
 By your felues or other : wherby we twaine maie, 
 Perceiue (in reafon) wherto cuftome doth waie. 
 
 Pii Ye 
 
 139 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Ye (quoth the fpider) cofin cum we hither. 
 
 Thei as far as thei lift : withdrew them felues quight 
 
 The butterfly and fly : drawing togither, 
 
 As far, not as thei lifte, as far as thei might, 
 
 Thei two telling their tales, as I fhall refight. 
 
 Whiche two tales though I : as in one time hid here. 
 
 Yet firft thone : and then thother : muft here apere. 
 
 Though two eares in one inftant two tales here may, 
 One tunge : in one inftant : two tales can not tell, 
 Since thone of thefe two tales : muft ftande here in ftay, 
 Till thother be tolde, I thinke it will do well. 
 The flife and the butterflife talke to expell. 
 Or fufpende. tyll the fpiders talke with the ant. 
 Ye may vnderftande : whiche is nexte aparant. 
 
 The 
 
 140 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThei (in couples feperate againe) declare eche how he wolde 
 haue his arbiter handle his parte : and firfte is here tolde in 
 Their perfons the tale of the fpider to the ant. Cap. 31. 
 
 Cofm 
 
 Ml 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 COfin ant (quoth the fpider) that ye be wyfe, 
 It is to me knowne. Wherto all folke do know 
 That vnto the wife, few wordes at full fuffife. 
 And' to your wifdome : I doubte not your fliow 
 Of friendfhip, naturally to me to grow. 
 For ye know : as we differ far in ftature, 
 So we in kinred : ioine nie by nature. 
 
 Prefident wherin fought, what olde recordes cary, 
 
 Shall fhew no recorde of folemne folemnitee, 
 
 That euer fpider and ant : did yet mary, 
 
 Whiche growth (I faie) of kinred. not of emnitee 
 
 Did I (in you) by ingrate endemnitee 
 
 Doute here : wifdomes iudgement : or natures kyndnes, 
 
 I were a beafte : of beetill heded blindenes. 
 
 Whiche two : in their workinges : to geue or take righte. 
 
 Nature workth friendely, wifdom workth furely. 
 
 Though right in eche caufe : feme the pofte of mod mighte. 
 
 Yet wante of wifdom (whofe polycy purely) 
 
 In fentence or femblance : fterne or demurely 
 
 Shulde fet forth that righte, mighte in conclufion quicke, 
 
 Thwighte that myll pofte of righte : to a poding pricke. 
 
 As if Croffum caput, lyke an affe in a cafe. 
 Setting forth a right, homly in rewde termes bare. 
 A witty lernde head : that righte in that place, 
 Did finely pronounce : thofe two tales fhulde declare, 
 Forty pence diffrence, in righte to compare. 
 One tale in two tellers : with one entente tolde. 
 May differ in fhow : as doth braffe and fine golde. 
 
 And 
 
 142 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 And wifdomes fure driftes had : if natures friendfliip lacke, 
 
 To take, here, and tell, that tale : in friendly wyfe, 
 
 That righte with that wifdome : may yet runne to wracke 
 
 Thus : wifdome to worke furely : by polifife 
 
 And nature : to worke friendely : both mufte arife,! 
 
 To ioine in one : in friendes by friendes required, 
 
 To obteine thinges: at handes of friendes defired. ^ 
 
 Whiche policy and friendlhip: where thei are knit, 
 Againft partife : to try thinges in itrife growing. 
 Thei call crafte : and corrupfion euery whit. 
 But policy and friendftiip : with partife fhowing. 
 Thofe partife praife both : with open mouth blowing. 
 Both ftanding againft folkes : folkes daily accufe them, 
 Both ftanding with folkes, folkes hourely ufe them. 
 
 But to fhow our cafe : out of accufacion. 
 In putting policy and friendfhip : in vre, 
 Marke this Ihorte circumftance : in aprobacion. 
 Comprimife, the ende of caufes to alure. 
 Two fortes of election : in courfe doth procure. 
 In choice of the chofen partife : (here meane I,) 
 To arbitrate all debates indifferently. 
 
 One is : that the two partife in ftrife meued 
 
 Do choofe arbyters : to them both indiffrent. 
 
 Thother is : that either party greued, 
 
 Doth chofe for him felfe : fuch as he knowth bente, 
 
 To take ende : or leaue ende, as he will alTente. 
 
 The firfte waie of both (though it the befte waie be) 
 
 It can not be had : betwene the fly and me. 
 
 In 
 
 143 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 In this cafe prefent, amonge fpiders and flife 
 
 We all : can no one : indifferent prouide. 
 
 Affinitee, or affection, doth fo deuife, 
 
 That all be partife : on thone or thother fide. 
 
 But might (and (hulde) this cafe this firfte wey be tride, 
 
 Then might ye honeftly : leane parcially 
 
 To neither fide, by frindfhip nor policy. 
 
 Howbeit this other cafe, bringth this other caufe. 
 The flie, for him felfe. And my felfe, for me. 
 This choife haue chofen : fo that this thus drawfe 
 Another my felfe : I choofe you here to be. 
 Wherby : in all frendly polify (ye fe,) 
 Of honeftie to flicke to my fide iufte, 
 Not only ye male, but alfo ye mufte. 
 
 And (as I faide) I doubte not but ye wyll, 
 And pray ye do. But promyfe formerly, 
 Of knowne rewarde at ende, to flee the yll 
 Of fufpecte bribry : though I prefently, 
 Rate not rewarde : yet if hereafter I, 
 May you requite : in pleafure one or other, 
 Then thinke your felfe, as nie it as an other. 
 
 Syr faid the ant : your rated rewlde rewarde, 
 Now : or at ende : if I herein apeafe you. 
 Is not the thing : that I fo muche regarde, 
 But at the ende as ye fe how I eafe you, 
 I fay no more : but vfe me as it pleafe you. 
 Cofin : well faide (faide then the fpider) and fith 
 This pointe is pafte, paffe we now to the pith. 
 
 All 
 
 144 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 All holes in all windowes (as the fly feith,) 
 
 Are flyfe freholde. And that we fpiders holde, 
 
 Right nought by righte, but fides and toppes on heith. 
 
 And we (fay I) holde all, thus to be tolde. 
 
 Holes, fides, and toppes, brode, narow, depe, and fliolde. 
 
 Vpon whiche iffue : you two mufte firfl: here, 
 
 And after iudge whiche fide bringth profe mofte clere. 
 
 Wherin for me, of auncient parentage, 
 Ye fliall here fpiders fpeake : bothe fage and wife. 
 And on the flies behalfe : here now in gage. 
 There wyll cum foorth a forte of forkte tailde flife 
 That will not fl:icke to tell, a hundred thowfande life. 
 And faie : and fwere that thei fay true : howbeete, 
 Ye wyll (I doute not) trufle them as is meete. 
 
 And whan ye herein : haue done what ye male 
 
 To make our euidence fhine clere in fliow. 
 
 And darkened theirs, your wifdome fliall fure wey, 
 
 The groffe rude butterfly : to ende to grow. 
 
 What waie ye wyll. And thus for hie and low. 
 
 After wordes great and many : where few mighte feme fit, 
 
 Into your handes, the matter I commit. 
 
 Vncle (quoth the ant) I perceiue your minde, 
 At full. And fliall at full : do all my befte. 
 Wherin to do you good : if I can noughte finde. 
 Yet fliall ye (for me) ftande harmeles at lefl:e. 
 Vpon this conclufion thefe twaine did refl:e. 
 And now : betwene the fly and the butterfly, 
 What waie was had : enfueth enfuingly. 
 
 Q The 
 
 145 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 UThe tale of the fly to the butterfly how he fhall vfe the flyfe 
 parte: whiche done the arbiters withdrawe them.felues to- 
 warde the top of the windowe. • Cap. 32. 
 
 Good 
 
 146 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 GOod graundfather : fince we two (faide the fly) 
 One flefli and blood : by natures woorkyng are, 
 In that I : from you : defende linially 
 As in degrees : our petigrees declare, 
 And that nature : naturally takth care. 
 To fee fucfeffe : of her fucfeded burdes, 
 I wyll not length this peece : with peinted wurdes. 
 
 But natures zeale I fet : to interfeffe 
 To you, for me, without moe woordes of me. 
 To do your belle : in this my depe diftrefle. 
 Wherin : what waie to wOorke : as I befte fe. 
 That fliall I fhow. But ere we fo far be, 
 Here me difclofe (for cue purpofed caufe,) 
 A neceffary brefe conceiued claufe. 
 
 We here and fee : giftes of nature are diuere. 
 Sum be faire, fum tall, fum hau^^flxengthffum wit. 
 Sum : in fcience : excellent contriuers. 
 Sum haue fmall wit, and haue much truth with it. 
 With many mo : then now : to moue were fit. 
 And this moue I : to moue here onely now, 
 Diffrence in giftes : betwene the ant and yow. 
 
 The ant hath gifte of right good wit (no doute.) 
 
 And therto (for an ant) lernde excellently. 
 
 And you haue gifte : of pleines fterne and ftoute. 
 
 Not being geuen fo much ingenioufly : 
 
 To lerned judgement : and yet this know I 
 
 No wighte can proue : from hence to Englandes eende. 
 
 That euer ye brake promife with your freende. 
 
 Q ii But 
 
 147 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But that ye wolde (and durfte perfourme the fame. 
 
 And this : to this : in you righte well is knowne. 
 
 A grounde once in your head, faftned in frame, 
 
 Let lerned lawiers pype vp trumpets blowne 
 
 Of rules in lawe : to rule you as their owne. 
 
 Yet fhall their reafons no whit make ye ftarte, 
 
 From that grownde on your (or on your friendes) parte. 
 
 Whiche propertee : is worth ten thowfande marke. 
 
 In you to me, in cafe of comprimife, 
 
 For whiche : againfte the ant that cunning clarke, 
 
 Mine arbiter : I did you here deuife. 
 
 To holde your holde : in blunte affured wife. 
 
 Either this matter wholly to recouer. 
 
 Or faue (at leafte) my fide from geuing ouer. 
 
 The ant is fharpe and fine. As ye are blunte and grofe. 
 
 The ant hath circumfpection : ye haue none. 
 
 You pacftaffe plaine : the ant crafty and clofe. 
 
 The ant fciuile, you fturdy as the ftone. 
 
 This faide brefe blunte and fharpe comparifone : 
 
 Shall Ihow who fliouth mofte brag to ftinte this ftrife. 
 
 The blunte whetting whetftone, or Iharpe whetted knife. 
 
 To this the butterflie faide : fly fon mine. 
 
 The groffe blunte whetting whetftone : feare thou not. 
 
 To matche this whetted pen knife : fharpe and fine, 
 
 Tell thou to me plainly : what is the knot 
 
 That I fhall knit or vnknit in this plot. 
 
 And thant fhall with a tabor take a wat, 
 
 As fone as make me fhrinke from thee : in that. 
 
 Sir 
 
 148 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Sir (faide the fly) our iffue whiche ye herde 
 
 To rype remembrance, here yet once againe. 
 
 I faie all holes in windowes, are referde, 
 
 In tenure of freholde, to vs tapertaine. 
 
 All fpiders : in fides and in toppes to remaine. 
 
 Whiche he denith : affirming thei and he, 
 
 Holde all partes in all windowes : in tenure fre. 
 
 In whiche two fides, you two the truthe mufte trie. 
 And then determine, as reafon can decre. 
 Vpon whiche fyde : this fhall by cuftome lie. 
 Wherin ye fhall haue flies : to fpeake for me 
 Sage, wife, lernde, and well fpoken as can be. 
 And for the fpiders parte, it is no doute, 
 Of fpiders there will be : a fpitefuU route. 
 
 The knot herein : whiche I wolde haue you knit. 
 
 Is this. Either do me good, or do none yll. 
 
 If : in this matter ye can win no whit. 
 
 Then lefe righte nought : but let it flande euen flyll. 
 
 As it erfl:e ftode. And if thante no way wyll. 
 
 Geue any place, cum harken in your eare. 
 
 Wherin he whifpred woordes, what I wifl: neare. 
 
 Wherat the fpider cafl:e iye, to them both. 
 
 Wherwith : the butterfly from the fly flieth. 
 
 And the ant from the fpider away goth. 
 
 Eche one of whom (anone) the other efpieth, 
 
 And eche of both to other haftely hieth. 
 
 The fpider : fl;reighte into his houfe fl:epte fl:outely. 
 
 The fly : fell on kneeze to his booke deuoutely. 
 
 Q iii The 
 
 149 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Thant and the butterfly, together drew. 
 
 To thextreme parte of the window : on the top fyde. 
 
 And after fainting in their maner dew, 
 
 Both ftudiyng : how thentree fliulde be firfte aplide. 
 
 Thei both : cafting their eies aboute efpide. 
 
 On thone fide : fpiders aproching : fixe or feuen, 
 
 And on thother fide, flife ten or a leuen. 
 
 Neither forte the other : oughte faluted thei. 
 But bothe fortes to tharbiters : made curtfy low. 
 The ante praide both partes in their aproche to fteie, 
 Tyll the butterfly and he (in talke) mighte know. 
 And agre : what waie of proceding fhoulde grow. 
 With this thei all, ftepped backe and there ftaide. 
 Whervpon : thant to the butterfly faide. 
 
 The 
 
 ISO 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 The ant and the butterflie being met in the top of the win- 
 )w, certaine fpiders on their one fide, and certaine flies on 
 eir other fide, whom tharbiters caufe to ftande backe while 
 ei two talke together. Cap. 33. 
 
 Before 
 
 151 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 BEfore we furder wade maifter butterflie, 
 No maifter fir : I am but a yeman (quoth he) 
 Thats no matter (faide thante) as the cafe doth lie, 
 But : gentilman or yeman : what euer ye be, 
 Since we two come hither : thefe two to agre. 
 Let vs be agrede : on the nexte and befte waie, 
 To bringe them agrede, in matter here to faie. 
 
 Our waie wherin (as thinketh me) is this. 
 We both mufte banifli all parcialitee. 
 That by corrupte affection, engendred is. 
 By affinitee, or confanguinitee, 
 So that we clerely cleue vnto equitee. 
 As of thefe two : neither of either (hall, 
 Proue vs : or either of vs : vnequall. 
 
 Nay (by my fathers fowle) faide the butterfly, 
 
 I wyll play no whit of venum mecum his parte, 
 
 Holde with the hare and run with the hounde : will not I, 
 
 Such reafons : as out of this blunte braine maie ftarte, 
 
 For my frende, run thei right : run thei ouertharte. 
 
 Out wyll I powre them : and in gods name, 
 
 For your friende, as ye fee caufe, do you the fame. 
 
 Thefe two tales (in thefe two perfons) femde here tolde. 
 
 In thone of plainnes : in thother of policy. 
 
 The butterfly fpake his thoughte (as he muche wolde.) 
 
 Thant contrary talked diffimilately. 
 
 His mouing the butterfly tendiffrency, 
 
 (Him felfe fhowing a (how to be indiffrent, 
 
 Semde moued, for this crafty couerte entent. 
 
 The 
 
 152 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 The antes drifte was : the butterflie to driue. 
 From affectionate Handing : on the flies fyde, 
 Indifferently to ftande. While him felfe contriue, 
 To be parciall with the fpider. whiche aplide, 
 Might (thought the ant) to the butterflie vnfpide. 
 Draw him to withdraw : fum parte of affection. 
 Fore bent in his brefte, for the flies protection. 
 
 But when the butterflie : lyke a ftiffe nekte cur, 
 (As ye haue herde) made anfwere vnto the ant. 
 So that this waie wolde not : the butterflie ftur, 
 Thant (on this plaine fonge hauing fliifte of defcant, 
 Axed the butterflie : cum we this infliant ? 
 To helpe the fpider and flie to take ende, 
 Ye fir (faide the butterflie :) that I entende. 
 
 If I : for the fpider : and you for the flie : 
 Show our felues : not arbiters but partife, 
 Reafoning : eche for eche : affectionately, 
 What ende betwene vs twaine : for them can ryfe ? 
 More then them felues: in them felues can deuife : 
 I cannot tell (quoth the butterflie) howbeit, 
 Harke what waie is befl;e, we take (after my wit.) 
 
 You, reafoning for your frende : and I for my freende, 
 
 Vpon our euidance : to this iffue leide. 
 
 If my reafons feme better then yours at eende. 
 
 You : alowing them aboue your owne, here weide, 
 
 Or your the better reafons : in my head fl:eide. 
 
 I alowing them lykewife : aboue mine owne, 
 
 Reafon may fet ende, and time fliow ende, wel growne. 
 
 R Vpon 
 
 153 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Vpon this : thei both were agrede anone. 
 
 The fpiders and flies on both fides : to call nere. 
 
 Both being agrede : that the ant fhoulde propone, 
 
 The fpiders : now ftanding on the righte hande to here, 
 
 The flies : on the leafte fide, as nie did apere. 
 
 Both ant and butterflie (eche in a chaire fet) 
 
 To declare the cafe, the ant his tunge hath whet 
 
 Thant 
 
 154. 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThant declaringe the caufe of that metinge, the fpiders and 
 flies acknowlageing the fame, and that thei come to geue eui- 
 dence, the flies are apointed to departe while the fpiders firfte 
 ftiew, what thei can faie for their parte. Cap. 34. 
 
 Rii 
 
 Kinf- 
 
 IS5 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Klnfefolke fpiders : and friendes flies: I doute no whit, 
 But in this terrible trembling tragedy, 
 Betwene the fpider : and flie : in copweb knit 
 Ye know : the mifchaunce mifchaunced lately, 
 And how thofe chaunces chaunced to chaunce, wherby, 
 The fpiders palefle is depely periflhed, 
 And the flies perfon deadly perilled. 
 
 Alfo (I fuppofe) ye know that we twaine, 
 
 I for the fpider : and he for the flie. 
 
 Are chofen arbiters. Suche ende tobteine: 
 
 As euidence fhall fhow : both fides to trie. 
 
 Whiche to fliowe (I deme) ye apere prefently. 
 
 Saide one fpider firfl:e : and then one flie : all this. 
 
 We know, and to geue euidence : our cumming is. 
 
 This knowne (quoth thant) douting whether ye know. 
 
 How far our auctoritee ftretcheth here. 
 
 To meddle in this matter, here me fhow. 
 
 Nomber and weighte of flrifes cloudy and clere, 
 
 Betwene thefe twaine : many and great apere. 
 
 Of all whiche : auctoritee haue we none. 
 
 To touche in this talke, faue only this one. 
 
 The flie claimeth all holes in all windowfe. 
 
 To pas and repas : to be free for flies all. 
 
 Alegeing that fpiders (by all olde fhowfe,) 
 
 In toppes and fides : haue place efpeciall. 
 
 The fpider claimth the whole : in genefall. 
 
 To hering wherof, we our awarde wolde knit. 
 
 What parte : eche parte fhall haue : from all to nowhit. 
 
 Sir 
 
 156 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Sir (faide the fpider and flie) that erfte had feide, 
 
 This know we, and haue purueide euidence : 
 
 As clere for eche parte, as eche parte can fe weide. 
 
 Then (quoth the ant) for our intelligence, 
 
 Will ye friende butterfllie : that the flies go hence ? 
 
 Whyle we here the fpiders fpeake : ye (quoth he) 
 
 Cofins flies : flande backe till ye called be. 
 
 The flies ftepte backe : the fpiders forwarde drew. 
 Standidg before thofe two : in their cheires fet 
 Declaracion : to whom : what thei herein knew. 
 Was deuifde : and determinde. Ere thei there met. 
 Wherein : for entre to let lenger let, 
 The butterflie : ftreight entring as here enfeuth, 
 Thant prouoketh the fpiders to fpeake the treuth. 
 
 After 
 
 157 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 IT After a few wordes betwene the ant & butterflie, one fpider 
 as mought be for all, declareth to thofe two tharbiters all eui- 
 dence that all fpiders for their parte can deuife: and that done, 
 the fpiders are commanded awaie, and the flies bidden to a- 
 proche. Cap. 35. 
 
 Maifters 
 
 158 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 MAifters (or lordes) fpiders : what ftiall I call ye ? 
 In things here now to talke: harke wel this one thing: 
 At my blunte behauour, barke ye or ball ye. 
 If ye bringe in foviftry : or booke laming, 
 To blynde mine eies with : I geue you plaine warning, 
 Tom troth will not be wownde that waie. And therby, 
 Be warnde : to talke trewly and homlily. 
 
 Thei wyll do fo (quoth the ant) I dare faie 
 
 So will the flies than (quoth thother) I dare fweare. 
 
 Then (quoth thant) without more delated delaie, 
 
 What ye fpiders can fpeake, fpeak^e while we geue- eare. 
 
 With this, one fpider (as all agrede weare,) 
 
 Standing formofl:e, and as a bolte vprighte, 
 
 Soberly faide, with curtfy lowe as he mighte. 
 
 May it (maifters) lyke you : a fpider am I, 
 Of fuche yeres, as no liuing flies yeres may, 
 Witnes (by remembrance) my full age for why ? 
 I tooke lyfe in this worlde, (olde fpiders wolde fay) 
 Iufl:e in the leape yere : before the yll male day. 
 My parentes (as I am) weare blacke nebde and balde. 
 The longe lyued flocke : of fpiders thei were calde. 
 
 By parte : of my whiche parentes, this I gather. 
 In their tymes, worfhipfuU fpiders (though I fey it,) 
 My father : graundfather : and great graundfather : 
 Wolde faie : as thei harde elder fpiders wei it, 
 That euery window : hunge it, flode it, or ley it. 
 All partes of the fame : in lowefl: and hiefl:. 
 Were fpiders freholde, both fardefk and nieft. 
 
 And 
 
 159 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 And euer haue bene (faide thei) at will to beelde, 
 In parte : or in all : and that thei coulde not know : 
 That euer flie (of right) any parte there heelde. 
 Thefe few woordes of forefathers fpiders : make fliow, 
 In all partes : of all windowes : the right to grow, 
 On our parte. The contrary wherof to waie, 
 No fpider : hath herde any fpider : oughte faie. 
 
 Say all ye fpiders thus (quoth thants) ye (quoth they.) 
 Haue ye herde (quoth the butterflie) any wighte 
 Say oughte herein : fauing fpiders ? quoth they, ney. 
 Haue ye (quoth thant) ought els in this to recighte ? 
 Ye (quoth one fpider) ftanding behinde all quighte, 
 I haue a counter verfe to finge : in this place 
 Whiche ftialbe countred, with the flies face to face. 
 
 Ye fhall (quoth the butterflie) finge that verce anone. 
 
 But we mufl:e here the flies indiffrently. 
 
 As we haue herde you. Till whiche tyme be ye gone. 
 
 Thei ftepping backe : the flies forthwith foberly, 
 
 Stode in their place. Tharbiters glaunfingly. 
 
 Ere the flies ought faide, in their repairing nere. 
 
 Had betwene them felues : thefe woords, which ye flial here. 
 
 The 
 
 1 60 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 IfVpon a fhorte talke betwene the arbiters, one flie : fpokes 
 flie for all flies, difclofeth all euidence for their parte : wher 
 with the flies at commaundemente departe afide. Cap. 36. 
 
 The 
 
 161 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THe fpiders tale (q. thant) femth a choking choke plum 
 Againft flies. Ere ye (quoth the butterflie) gruche, 
 Againft any parte, audum altum paltum. 
 This terme fet far from the laten : and mo fuche, 
 Lernde in the fcoole of ignorance, he fpake muche : 
 And vnderftoode littell. But this being fliaide. 
 An auncient flie : ftoode foorth, and thus to them faide. 
 
 My maifters arbiters I am a fly. 
 Of fuche age, as fpiders few or none maie bofl:e. 
 My fathers hande writing (for witnes) haue I, 
 That I was bred, in the yere of the great frofle, 
 Before the great fweat. When many flies were crofl:e, 
 Out of the booke of lyfe. Who by extreme colde, 
 Were frofen to death : midaged, yonge, and olde. 
 
 In all whiche daies : to this dale, I haue herde flies faie : 
 All holes in all windowes, where thei ftoode or ftande. 
 Haue bene (and be) flies freholde : as their high waie, 
 To pas and repas. And that the fpiders bande. 
 Owners of the fydes and toppes onely : are fcande. 
 Wherto, I nor no flie (I dare verify), 
 Euer herde any flie, fay contrary. 
 
 Flies (quoth the butterflie) take ye this tale trew ? 
 
 Ye (quoth thei. know ye ought (quoth thant) but by flife ? 
 
 Nay (quoth thei.) Foorth (quoth the butterflie) purfew. 
 
 Can you (or any of you) ought els deuife : 
 
 Wherby furder light in your right, maie arife .' 
 
 Ye fir: faide one flie : then fl:anding all behinde, 
 
 To the fpiders teethes : anone, yle tell my minde. 
 
 That 
 
 162 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 That (hall ye do (quoth thant) but friende butterflie, 
 
 Wyll ye firfte require them to withdraw afide ? 
 
 Whyle you and I : fum parte of this pafte maie trie. 
 
 Hence (quoth the butterflie) wherwith thens thei hide. 
 
 Thei twaine then onely there, them felues thei aplide. 
 
 Eche one with other : togither to confowlt', 
 
 What frewt: out of this erft faide, their braines could bowlt. 
 
 Ere either of other : did herein ought breake, 
 Thant deuifde, what waie befte to enter it. 
 The butterflie fl;udied not what woordes to fpeake, 
 But to fpeake with voice clere, he coughte and he fpit : 
 Till his voice was much more clere then his wit. 
 And yet fer from witles : but plaine blunte grofenes, 
 Showde his woordes : ofte tymes to fhow witles lofenes. 
 
 Sii 
 
 The 
 
 163 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe arbiters (in debating theuidence on both partes geuen) 
 can not otherwife agree, but that the fame weith euen as 
 muche for the tone parte as for the tother, at ende wherof thei 
 call againe all the faide forte. Cap. 37. 
 
 Say 
 
 164 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 SAy (faide thant) your opinion vprightly : 
 What weith this euidence on both fides thinke you ? 
 To try whiche fide fhowth befte (quoth the butterflie,) 
 Thefe woordes as niuche matter : for flife do alow, 
 As for fpiders, fo do thai (quoth thant) auow, 
 As muche matter in woordes to alow, in lykewife, 
 In fpiders for fpiders, as in flife for flife. 
 
 And more (for thone halfe : welny that fpiders claime. 
 The flife do graunte. But fpiders graunte vnto flife. 
 No parte of theirs, whiche is to the flife a maime. 
 The flies owne tale : fides : and toppes of windowes trife : 
 To be the fpiders, by cuftoms warantife. 
 Wherto : the fpiders tale for the flife parte waide, 
 Weith no heare breede in windowes for the flies aide. 
 
 Spiders (quoth the butterflie) fliew them felues here. 
 More fiding to their fide : then flies to their are. 
 As flies indiffrantly make cuftome to apere, 
 Sides : and toppes of windowes : for fpiders fliare. 
 And that flies (by cuftome) the holes : theirs do clare 
 So flioulde fpiders : endiffrantly confither. 
 To leie (as flies do) both cuftoms togither. 
 
 Spiders (quoth thant) take thofe cuftomes far vnlike. 
 
 Theirs to grow of righte, flies : of vfurpacion. 
 
 If (quoth the butterflie) the flies do here pike : 
 
 That quarell to fpiders, in cuftomes vfacion. 
 
 That is tit for tat, in this altricacion. 
 
 So that for any thinge : any parte can get. 
 
 Both partes in all thinges yet, on euen hande are fet. 
 
 S iii But 
 
 i6s 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But to trie : how good or how ill : cuftom is, 
 Is no parte of our charge, ye know we muft tri : 
 How muche or how little : cuftom doth in this. 
 Perferring or debarring : cleime of eche parti 
 Wherin, for all laide here yet againe fay I 
 Flies leie (where reafon and equalneffe be giders,) 
 As much for flies, as fpiders leie for fpiders. 
 
 Well (quoth thant) as we both hearde both partes aparte, 
 
 So now let vs both : both partes together here. 
 
 How we both : betwene both parts : can the hare ftarte. 
 
 Both agreede that all on both parts fhoulde apere. 
 
 Thei did fo. And all on both fides fetled nere, 
 
 The ant declaring the pith : of all yet wroughte, 
 
 Entre to niatter more, thant induction broughte. 
 
 Thant 
 
 i66 
 
AND THE FLIE. . 
 
 ITThant fliewth to them all, that theuidence weith to one 
 effecte on both fides, fo that all refteth now vpon knowlage 
 whiche parte to credite moft : and vpon that mocion, one fpi- 
 der and one flie fall in argument to trie the fame: wherin is 
 touchte (partly) the properties of credence, woorfhip, and ho- 
 neftie: thei agreeing that credence ftandth vpon honeftie, as 
 thus, as euery fpider or flie is honeft, fo is he credible. Which 
 talke ended, thei are all againe fequeftred. Cap. 38. 
 
 Friendes 
 
 167 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 FRiendes all : ye all erfte aflembled in partes twaine, 
 Before vs twaine here for both partes haue declarde : 
 By the mowthes of twaine, two tales : which two containe, 
 One effecte. For the matter felfe in regarde, 
 The onely diffrence in both : being confarde, 
 Is this. What one fpider for all fpiders laith, 
 The felfe fame fentence, one flie : for all flies faith. 
 
 As thus : that fpider faide all fpiders haue laide, 
 All holes in all windowes : to be fpiders freholde. 
 Whiche felfe faiyng : that faide flie (for all flies) faide. 
 In few woordes at full then, theffecte to vnfolde. 
 Both partes prefent, to this tale is to be tolde, 
 Sum mattier to trie : what apparence male rife, 
 Whiche parte we fhall credite mofle, fpiders or flife. 
 
 With this, a- well fpoken fpider fl:epte in place. 
 Saiyng : if comparifon in credence growe. 
 Then mufte ye with vs fpiders rule this cace, 
 Spiders haue bene and be worftiipfull ye knowe. 
 And flies honefte (quoth a witty flie) I trowe .' 
 And of credence : the propertie of maiefl:ee, 
 Stanth not more by worfliip : then by honeftee, 
 
 Nor fo muche nother : as all kyndes of flies thinke, 
 No : no colour of caufe of credence : can fl:ande. 
 Where as woorfhip with honeftie : doth not linke. 
 And honeftie without worfliip (flcilfully fliande.) 
 Male haue : and mufte haue : credence at euery hande. 
 If ye fpiders woorftiippes : for credence do here ley, 
 Flies honefties : Ihall fpiders woorftiippes outwey 
 
 Weare 
 
 i68 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Weare this gaie couchte cafe (quoth the fpider) graunted, 
 
 More credence for flies : then for fpiders might be gefte, 
 
 Which (houth you to deme : as you it auaunted, 
 
 That no fpider : but all flies, are honefte. 
 
 And all fpiders worfhipfull : wherin ye expreffe : 
 
 Caufe of credence : in flies honefties : to grow. 
 
 Much more, then in fpiders worfhipes : there may fhowe. 
 
 Credence, honeftie, and worfhip, thus take I. 
 Credence in this woorde trufte : plainly terme we maie 
 ]^oneftie, vertue, morally and ciuily. 
 Worfhip, reuerence, or eftimacion to faie. 
 Honour : is alfo reuerence : as vfe doth waie. 
 Honour and worfliip : both one in vfe take we, 
 Saue : honour is reuerence, in the higher degre. 
 
 Now note : that the full caufe of credence or truft, 
 Springth and fpreadth out of vertue or honeftee. 
 And honour, or worfhip : is dewly difcufl. 
 Dew, where vertue or honeftie is. then fee. 
 Who is not honeft, woorfliipfull : he can not bee. 
 For : woorfliip : and honeftie : thone and thother, 
 The tone of the twaine, dependth on the tother. 
 
 What (quoth the flie) meaneth this circumquaquie. 
 This (quoth the fpider) where ye (in your lafte faiyng,) 
 Seperate in funder : woorfhip and honeftie, 
 Woorfhip : to fpiders, and honeftie : to flies laiyng. 
 Flies credence aboue fpiders, tauaunce in waiyng, 
 Woorfhip : and honeftie : I ioine fo : that here, 
 WoorfhipfuU fpiders : be honefte fpiders clere. 
 
 T Honeft 
 
 169 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Honed fpiders are woorfhipfull (quoth the flie.) 
 By honeftie. And credible to, no naie. 
 But where fpiders honeftie ftandeth awrie, 
 Woorfliip and credence, ftande awrie to 1 faie. 
 So (quoth the fpider) be honeftie awaie, 
 The flies credit : ftandth a crooke euen as far. 
 As the fpiders. But let vs touche this cafe nar. 
 
 Graunt : hers a fpider of honeftie no whit, 
 
 To whom : admit a flie of great honeftee. 
 
 The fpider (not the flie) to auctoritee knit. 
 
 Is not that fpider : in auctorifed degree, 
 
 More woorfliipfuU and credible taken to bee. 
 
 Then that inferior flie ? (quoth the flie no. 
 
 Which ye fhall here, but firft here how your woordes go. 
 
 Credence, honor, woorfliip, or reuerence. 
 
 To vertue or honeftie, ye firft auoucht due. 
 
 Lafte, auctoritee ye bringe in afliftence. 
 
 Thunhoneft auctorifed, therby tenfue. 
 
 In woorihip and credence. Ye (quoth he thats true. 
 
 And in touching that firft of thefe two cafes, 
 
 I forgat this lafte, but both muft haue there plafes. 
 
 As honor, or woorfhip, and credence do depend, 
 
 Vpon all that are honeft : by honeftee, 
 
 So woorfliip and credence : in lyke cafe to bend, 
 
 On all in auctoritee, by auctoritee. 
 
 Naie (quoth the flie) (quoth the fpider) friende tell mee, 
 
 Is not auctoritee, to be woorfliippid .'' 
 
 Yes maifter (quoth the flie) or els god forbid. 
 
 All 
 
 170 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 All auctoritee : not againft the great god, 
 
 In fpiders vnder him plafte : as potentates : 
 
 In them and there fubftitutes, that god hath bod : 
 
 To be woorihipt and obeide, in humble rates. 
 
 But auctoritee : and auctorifed ftates, 
 
 Caufe of woorfhip due to both, differ as far, 
 
 As lerico and lerfei, in ioining iar. 
 
 Auctoritee, for it felfe, woorlhippid is. 
 
 Thauctorifed, for good vfe of auctoritee, 
 
 Are duely reuerenft. which good vfe if thei mis. 
 
 Woorfhip or reuerence, to them geuen none fhould bee. 
 
 Yet there is (quoth the fpider) we daily fee. 
 
 Before thauctorifed : curtfy made as low. 
 
 To the ill as to the good, and more low fum trow. 
 
 That curtfy (quoth the flie) rightly directed, 
 Runth to thauctoritee : in the auctorilid. 
 Not the auctorifed perfon, refpected : 
 Thauctoritie in the perfon : here reuerenfid. 
 Thauctoritie for the perfon, not woorfhippid. 
 Nor the perfon for him felfe : lacking honeftie, 
 Becaufe he lackth honed vfe of auctoritie. 
 
 Spiders in auctoritie : without honeftie. 
 
 No woorfhip in them felues (I faie) is tauouche : 
 
 Flies in honeftie, without auctoritie : 
 
 By that honeftie, woorfhip in them felues : doth couche. 
 
 And credence in both thefe partes : is tride by like touche. 
 
 Thus vnhoneft fpiders : being auctorifed, 
 
 Be : (for them felues) woorfhiped, nor credited. 
 
 T ii Beet 
 
 171 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Beet (quoth the fpider) but then to this put cace 
 One fpider : and one flie, of one honeftie are. 
 Thoneft fpider plaflie : in auctorifed place, 
 Thoneft flie not. Doth not that fpiders ftate declare, 
 More woorfliip and credit ; then that flie can compare .' 
 More woorfliip .' yes : but more credence, no faie I, 
 Profe wherof enfueth, (quoth the fly) by and by. 
 
 Honefliie (I faie as your felfe erfle here faide.) 
 
 Is the roote : that credence and woorfliip : both twaine: 
 
 Grow on. So that our woorfliip and credence waide. 
 
 On woorfliipfull auctoritee, do not remaine. 
 
 But on our honefl: vfe therof : thus our chaine 
 
 That lingth vs to credence : is not auctoritie, 
 
 But good vfe of auctoritie, by honefliie. 
 
 Wherin I conclude : flies of mofl:e bafe degree : 
 Hauing lyke honeftie : to fpiders mofte hie, 
 Haue in lyke wife : lyke credence of equitee. 
 Not lyke reuerent woorfliip (I faie) for whie. 
 Spiders vflng auctoritee honefl:lie. 
 For place and perfon both : where cafe fo enfufe, 
 Flies : to fpiders, humble reuerence muft vfe. 
 
 What is (quoth the fpider) the diffrence in fliow. 
 
 Of one degre of credence : in thefe two tolde ? 
 
 This (quoth the flie.) By this exfaumple to know. 
 
 Two fpiders webs wouen : admit here to be folde. 
 
 For fl:uff'e and all thinge, both as one to beholde. 
 
 Saue thone : aboue thother, more faire gloffe doth beare. 
 
 More plefant to the eie, both one to the weare. 
 
 Yet 
 
 172 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Yet hath that gloffy web eftimacion more 
 
 Then thother though both webs of one weauing bee 
 
 And fo for one credence : in the. two before 
 
 Spiders auctoritee : vfed with honeftee 
 
 Thei fliine : in bewtie : of a dowble degree. 
 
 So that though credence felfe, be one in thefe both, 
 
 Yet that gloffe in that one, that other out goth. 
 
 Then (quoth the fpider) it ferueth for fumwhat, 
 
 Honeft fpiders : in auctoritee to ftande : 
 
 Aboue honeft flies, ye : but it ferueth nat : 
 
 (Quoth the flie) for your parte of the pointe to hande, 
 
 To proue more credence, in honeft fpiders fcande : 
 
 Then in honeft flies : for in equall honeftee 
 
 Standeth equall credite, on both fides : ye fee. 
 
 Whiche : you (my maifters) hauing feene : beeing wife, 
 
 And that: which parte hath credence more: whiche hath lefle, 
 
 Of fpiders or flies : is the thing to deuife. 
 
 We praie you : your iudgement therin to exprefle. 
 
 If we (quoth tharbiters) in this cafe adrefle. 
 
 Our felues to geue iudgement : will ye that abide ? 
 
 Ye ye (in pilates voice) all on both fides cride. 
 
 Let them all (to the butterflie faide the ant) 
 Departe. while we herein feke an ende to finde. 
 Contente (quoth the butterflie) at your inftant : 
 Trudge hence ye flies (quoth he) as ye are afmde. 
 At winke of the ant : awaie the fpiders winde. 
 Thei all herevpon being gon foorth foorthwith, 
 Thei two : herein proceded as folowith. 
 
 T iii By 
 
 173 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITBy thants prouocacion the butterflie repeteth thargument 
 before made, in his grofe termes, not fer from full and thei 
 twaine feeming to agre vpon the point herein, thei comaunde 
 the fpiders and ilies backe againe. Cap. 39. 
 
 Will 
 
 174 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 VVill ye (quoth the ant) repete vs this talke laft ? 
 I woulde : but I will not (quoth the butterflie) 
 For I can not : though my harte for it fliould braft. 
 I forbad here : all fpouting in fouoftrie. 
 Now thei fpeut : in fpeUting who may fpeut moft hie 
 Saue now a woorde and tan a woorde : here and tere, 
 Vengeance the whit, I am for their woordes the nere. 
 
 Tell (quoth the ant) as ye perceiue euen in grofe : 
 What the pith is. As I (quoth he) had a glance, 
 Beginning of their comnicafhin arofe, 
 Wherin thei argde : and fell at arging (lance, 
 In comparifon, who (hould haue moft credance : 
 Of fpiders or flies. The flie. flies honeft rate, 
 Tooke more credable, than fpiders woorlhipfuU ftate. 
 
 The fpider : then caft a compas rownde about. 
 That honeftnes, is vertoufnes, and woorfliipfulnes, 
 Due where honeflnes : or vertufnes, bearth rout. 
 So that woorfliipfulnes : and honeftnes. 
 Do pende ech on other, by that fpiders ges. 
 Of fpiders and flies : by his almaftiin geft, 
 Honeft are woorfliipfuU, woorfliipfuU are honeft. 
 
 The flie to this : faid fpiders : by honeftie, 
 
 Be woorfliipfuU and credible to. And than, 
 
 The fpider brought in : a toy of toritie, 
 
 Thunhoneft fpider therin : therby to fcan, 
 
 In credance and woorfhip : eche where and whan, 
 
 More : then the flie : he being and honeft one : 
 
 Haning to that honeftie, toritee none. 
 
 The 
 
 175 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 The flie to this : for worfhip and credance : faide, 
 Though toritee for it felfe : woorfhipfuU bee, 
 Yet winth it no woorfhip (in any wighte laide :) 
 To him felfe : for him felfe, outfepted that hee : 
 Vfe therin vfafhin of faide honeftee. 
 But in mifufe of torilsee : the flie tolde, 
 Woorfhip or credance : no wight felfe can holde. 
 
 Then the fpider legde, one fpider : and flie one : 
 
 Thei both, in one gree : of honefl:ie beeing. 
 
 That fpider in toritee, that flie in none. 
 
 Whether woorfhip : and credance were not greeing : 
 
 More to that fpider : then to that flie fleeing. 
 
 More woorfhip, he graunted : bycaufe honeftee, 
 
 And toritee ioinde. But more credance, no faide hee. 
 
 For honeflie : and not noritee, is roote, 
 Saide he. Wheron all branches of credance fpring. 
 Then no honefl:ie, no credance : had in boote. 
 Lyke honeftie, lyke credance : in euery thing. 
 The fpider then axte, what diffrance : in fhewing : 
 Of one gree of credance : in thefe fore tolde twaine 
 Whiche by a web faumple, the flie anfwered plaine. 
 
 Two fpiders webbes of one fluffe and woorkemanfliip : 
 Saue thone aboue thother hath gloffe more gaie : 
 To the eie. but for weare, thei differ not a chip. 
 Yet doth that gloflie web : beare the bell awaie. 
 And fo the fpider : to his honeflie in flaie : 
 Hauing toritee aboue lyke honefl flie, 
 Credance fhinth in the fpider, more bewteouflie. 
 
 Well 
 
 176 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Well faide (faide the ant) though thefe termes be but bafe ! 
 Yet aproue thei well : that you perceiue the pith : 
 Which : concerning credence, concludth in this cafe : 
 That the woorfte flie, and the beft fpider therwith : 
 Where one degree of honeftie concurith, 
 There one degre of credence, concurth likewife. 
 Wheron, harke here what a ftrange cafe doth arife. 
 
 Put cafe a duke of eftate honorable. 
 Affirming a tale, on his honour for trew : 
 A duck ftepth foorth : and faith it is a fable. 
 Were it not a cafe (trow you) as ftrange as new : 
 That dewke : and that duck : of one credite to vew ? 
 The dewkes and ducks honeftie (quoth he) being one. 
 There credence is one : by graunted grownde erft gone 
 
 From which grownd (maifter ant) by my fatherkin. 
 I will not ftarte, but ftande and fticke euen faft : 
 As vnto this my bodie, fticketh this ikin : 
 Well (quoth thant) being at this point : with this paft, 
 Furder to procede in this cafe : what way to caft, 
 Let vs haue thefe fpiders : and flies : againe here. 
 At bek of both, all before both did apere; 
 
 Thant 
 
 177 
 
■THE SPIDER 
 
 lIThant telth them, that where theuidence for both fides goth 
 to one effect, and that in debating whiche fide is mofl: credible 
 toawarde the window vnto, it is concluded, that credence 
 ftandth vppon honeftie : and that as all fpiders and flies are 
 honefl:, fo are thei credible : now muft it firft be tride, whiche 
 fide is moft honeft. theron to iudge whiche fide is mofl:e cre- 
 dible. Cap. 40. 
 
 178 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 AT your laft Handing here, (q. thant) the cafe flood : 
 On triall in credence : of fpiders and flife. 
 Theuidence for both : being one : and lyke good, 
 On which part of both, moft credence might arife. 
 Wherin determinate triall to deuife, 
 One cowple of you : one fpjder and one flie, 
 Reafoned (birlakin) pretily wittily. 
 
 Brefe pith, wherof (to prefent purpofe,) was this. 
 Honeftie ye agrede : of credence is the grownd. 
 Concluding for all : as ech wightes honeftie is 
 More or les, fo more or les credence : is bownde. 
 All fpiders and flies, of one honeftie fownde, 
 Are of one credence. In that credence doth bende. 
 All wholly vpon honeftie to depende. 
 
 Then : as theuidence : on which fide to ley beft : 
 
 Where credence lith moft, we thought beft to haue tride, 
 
 So muft we now, for credence : fee fum wei geft : 
 
 Which fide bringth moft honeftie teftifide, 
 
 And therby moft credit.. To this, or that fide, 
 
 Beit (quoth the butterflie) now let vs fee furs : 
 
 Who fliall here win boote, in winning here his fpurs. 
 
 Another fpider and flie, to the helme ftood. 
 A cumly cowple : as were of thefe two kinds. 
 Their maner fliowd their bringing vp > to be good. 
 Curtfy low : to tharbiters, as curtfy binds. 
 Behauir moft defent : in vttring their minds : 
 As their talke was : of honeftie : to deuife, 
 So deuifed thei their talke, honeftly likewife. 
 
 U ii One 
 
 179 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 1[0ne fpider and one flie refoning which fide is moft honeft, 
 agreing in conclufion, that thoneftie on both fides apeereth to 
 them two, to be one, that flie requireth tharbiters to ponder 
 the cafe as thei Ihall thinke good. Cap. 41. 
 
 To 
 
 180 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 TO fpeake (quoth this fpider) trewth honeftly here, 
 Brefely : m honeftie : both parts to compare, 
 Equalitee doth therin : to me apere. 
 As right many fpiders : right honeft there are. 
 So r^ht many flies : right honeftie declare. 
 As honeftie (it felfe) is one qualitee, 
 So both parts qualifide lyke, lyke honeft bee. 
 
 Sir (faide this flie) this is of you qualifide, 
 Right honeftly. Whervpon (with your affent, 
 (Vnder reforrhaeion) I wolde fe here tride, 
 One thing : herein to try : what diffrent extent, 
 Standth in one degre, of honeftie here ment 
 In both vs forefaide partife, fpiders and flife. 
 Which : in few woordes, I fhall now to you deuife. 
 
 Flies : mo then fpiders, twenty to one there are. 
 Put then in eche one perfon, lyke honeftee : 
 In one fpider, and ten flies : to compare. 
 Showth not here : that moft nomber : in quantitee, 
 To fhow here : the moft fhow of that qualitee ? 
 It Ihowth moft (quoth the fpider) and to (how how, 
 Marke this fhorte example that I fhall fhow you. 
 
 One flowre : before two mirrours : being fet here. 
 
 Thone mirrour crakt : in ten peces fundry : 
 
 Thother whole. This flowre in thefe glafles fliall apere, 
 
 At the whole glafle, as it is : one flowre only. 
 
 The crakt glas, fhowth ten flowrs aparently. 
 
 For of thofe ten peeces of glafle euerychone, 
 
 Ech one peece, (in it felfe) fliowth one flowre alone. 
 
 U iii So 
 
 i8i 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 So : this feire flowre honeftie : in one fj^der plafte : 
 And ten flies, eche one pofeffed of lyke fame. 
 For honeftie felfe, there is no more purchafte : 
 In the ten flies, then in thone fpider to name. 
 The only diffrence (I fay) in fliow doth frame : 
 Ten flowrs in the crackte glas : as thus to refpekt : 
 Ten flowrs in forme, and one flowr in effect. 
 
 That whole glaffe doth fhow one flowr : and is no mo : 
 
 That crackte glaffe : making fhow of flowrs : halfe a fcore 
 
 Thers yet but one flowr, at both thefe glaffes lo. 
 
 As in both thefe parts, one honeftie : no more. 
 
 Well (quoth the flie) yet as I haue faide before : 
 
 One honeftie : in one fpider, and in ten flife. 
 
 Moft fhow of that honeftie : in thofe flife rife. 
 
 Which fhow fhowth (thoneftie in all being one) 
 A bewty : fhining of more exelenfy : 
 In thofe ten flies, then in thone fpider alone. 
 Sir (faid the fpider) to fpeake indiffrently, 
 Euen fo take it I : and euen fo graunt it I. 
 My mafters (to tharbiters) the flie then feide, 
 Wey you : how honeflie : is here to be weide. 
 
 Tharbiters 
 
 182 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITTharbiters commaunding all to go aparte againe, thei fall 
 in talkyng fomwhat at large touching both credence and ho- 
 neftie in both thefe fides, which cloon6 to Ihew therin their 
 mindes, thei call all before them againe. Cap. 42. 
 
 Tharbiters 
 
 1.83 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THarbiters : willing both parts to ftep backe ftreight, 
 Brother butterflie (faid the ant) here ye fe : 
 Honeftie on both thefe parts : to peife in weight, 
 if mo honeft flies then honeft fpiders be : 
 Yet of both parts : eche one lyke of honefte, 
 The nombre more, and les : as thefe two declare, 
 Both numbers : of one honeftie, thei compare. 
 
 For thoneftnes felfe, (quoth he) to that thei grew. 
 But thoneftnes in thofe flies : Ihewth more exalent : 
 As twenty flowrs in the broken glaffe : to vew : 
 Show of thone flowre in the whole glas : far out went 
 Ye, in (how (quoth thant) with you I do confent. 
 But by their equall degree of that qualitee, 
 This fpider, and thefe flies, equally honeft bee. 
 
 Well then good maifter ant (quoth the butterflie. 
 We gre : that the fhow, of one honeftnes here : 
 Vpon the ten flies parte : ftiowth more fhininglie : 
 Then on the one fpiders fide : in fhow can pere. 
 And for thoneflie felfe, to draw to ende nere. 
 You anfwering one demaunde : demaunded by me, 
 Befl part to fprinfpall purpofe, we fhall foone fe. 
 
 Is not this argnicafhin of honeiflnes, 
 
 To fe who are moft honeft, fpiders or flies .' 
 
 To try therby the fide mofl credabill to ges, 
 
 In thone euidence : that both fides did deuife, 
 
 Eche fide for it felfe ? yes (quoth thant that none deuife. 
 
 But graunth it. Since (quoth the butterflie) thats trowth, 
 
 Harke what proofe to purpofe : vpon this cafe growth. 
 
 Let 
 
 184 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Let vs here demit : one fpider and ten flife. 
 All lyke honeft : who feing two few at law. 
 That one fpider, for thone fide, a witnes life, 
 Thofe ten flife, to thother fide : witnefies draw. 
 I neuer wift wight : that euer herde or faw : 
 But fuch ten flies euidance : more credably weide, 
 Then fuch one fpiders euidance weide in eide. 
 
 Not fo (quoth thant) for put cafe this forefaide forte : 
 
 In witnefling one woorde : in one tale erft told : 
 
 To them all : thone fpider doth after reporte, 
 
 That woorde was there and then faide. And flies hold, 
 
 It was not faid : in this cafe knowth yong and old : 
 
 This one fpider mufl: haue in thafirmatiue. 
 
 More credit then ten flies in the negatiue. 
 
 Maifl:er ant : Flies want of credance : ftandth not here, 
 In the weakenes of credance in the flife, 
 But in weakenes of credance in the cafe clere, 
 Negentiue, againfl: firmentiue, weakely life. 
 Forgetting, and remembring, thus this cafe trife : 
 We mai foner forget : that we herde laft day, 
 Then remember that we harde not, any way. 
 
 But for both parts here : put afirmentiue cafe. 
 
 This one fpider affarmth here : firmentiuely. 
 
 That I lay (lafl: night) in Northumberland place. 
 
 Thefe ten flies fale : in Wefl:murland place lay L 
 
 In this affarmafliin : deemaftiin to try. 
 
 Which part hath here : moft credance in your deming? 
 
 The flies (quoth the ant) aparently feming, 
 
 X But 
 
 185 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But fince honeftie and not credence : is now, 
 
 The thing : to towch here in place and cafe prefent; 
 
 And that (for thoneftie felfe,) I proue to yow : 
 
 One degree of honeftie : in both fides bent, 
 
 That one : and thofe ten : haue one honeft extent. 
 
 Agre we for that part : thus to refolue. 
 
 Which refolucion, let me to them reuolue. 
 
 Beit (quoth he) but when talke of credance cumth in, 
 
 lie arg as I did now : for credance againe. 
 
 Do (quoth thant) if ye fe therby ought to win. 
 
 All oft eril cald, thei cald again to them twaine. 
 
 To whom the ant (as aptly did apertaine.) 
 
 In woordes : for the matter brefly coucht and caft, • 
 
 Pronounft to all, what thei two there paiTed laft. 
 
 Thant 
 
 i86 
 
AND THE PLIE. 
 
 HThant telth them, that thei two determine honeftie on both 
 fides to be one. Willing them to go foorth in the mattier, 
 wherwith one tart taunting fpider, and one (harpe fancy fly, 
 forbearing till this time (with much peine) fpeaking or rather 
 railing, ftande now foorth. (vpon tip toes) to chop logike ech 
 with other in rude reafoning of this^cafe. Cap. 43. 
 
 Xii 
 
 Of 
 
 187 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 OF fpiders and flies : which parte is moft honeft, 
 The triall : is the thing : we now (land vpon, 
 Wherin : for flies, one : his opinion expreft. 
 That as flies in nomber are twenty to one : 
 Aboue fpiders, all on both fides euerychone : 
 Being like honeft, moft honeftie doth rife. 
 To the flies parte : where the moft nombre life. 
 
 To this one fpiders tale : of the two glafles toucht, 
 Thexample fliowing more ftiow of honeftee : 
 In the more : then in the les nomber auoucht, 
 Yet both partes being honeft in one degree, 
 Both partes of lyke honeftie, thei toke to bee. 
 And fo to adiudge : we two hauing agrede, 
 Agre you : how herein furder to procede. 
 
 With this, before all thefe fpiders and flies here flockt, 
 Vp ftoode and out ftart : that cowple of hare breins : 
 The fpider and fly, that erft there bragde and cockt 
 Vpon both their forheds : fo fwelled the veins : 
 That their thus long filence : was fene their great peins. 
 In cockyng currifli countenance : nowhit to feke, 
 Staring ech on other, thei ftode cheke to cheke. 
 
 Auctoritee thei toke, none was to them geeuin. 
 
 Of good maner voide : in taunting fmarte fmatrers. 
 
 Plainnes : without honeftie, thei vfed eeuin. 
 
 Thei both : to fide againft fide, weare no flatrers: 
 
 But lyke laife : in cheritrefe fuch chatrers. 
 
 That being now bent to chat, there toonges to ftop, 
 
 With an axe : as foone : their heds of, ye may chop. 
 
 Their 
 
 i8B 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Their talke, whether to repete or to repreffe. 
 Rude railyng therin, brought me fumwhat to dout. 
 But finally, vpon my fliow to profeffe : 
 The (how of this matter : thus fer gone about, 
 I thought it meete : to fhow the fhow throughout. 
 Namely the cafe framed no more fer nor hy : 
 Then of a poore fpider, and a more poore fly. 
 
 Thefe all (I fay) (landing before thefe two fet, 
 Both bending their browfe : in cafe reherfed erft, 
 This formoft fpider and flie : in furius fret, 
 Frowning ech on other, this profeffe thei perft. 
 And vengeable venumly, ech other verft. 
 Before thei cam to end, how beit thei began, 
 In cownterfet coldnes : this matter to (kan. 
 
 Xiii 
 
 Where 
 
 1^9 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 f Where an other fpider and flie reafoned late before to proue 
 which fide of both is moft honeft, this faide quareling fpider 
 and cockyng flie, labour to proue which parte of boch is mofb 
 difhoneft, in woordes and dedes. as vfurpacion in windowes 
 and other mifbehauiour. at ende wherof in furious fumes, 
 thence renth the fpider one waie, and the flie flingth an other. 
 
 Cap. 44. 
 
 Maifters 
 
 190 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 M aiders (quoth the fpider) without circumftance : 
 At reafoning on which parte mod honeftie life : 
 Of fpiders or of flies, in continuance, 
 Your iudgement : both parts of lyke honeflie trife. 
 Which honeftie fo tride, now contrariwife. 
 For a pithy purpofe : let vs here now fee. 
 On which fide of both : lyth moft difhoneftee. 
 
 Diftioneftie : dare ye ftir that, (quoth this fly ?) 
 
 What difhoneftie know you by flies fur ? 
 
 More then flies know by fpiders. Flie what know I ? 
 
 Woords and dedes. Such and fo many will I ftur, 
 
 As fliall : by difliorteftie, flies honeftie blur. 
 
 And firft for woordes, honeftie : honeftly to fcan, 
 
 Honeftie fpeakth well. Ye (quoth the flie what than ? 
 
 This than (quoth the fpider) take flies ten thowfande : 
 
 Where fo euer thei flee, go, ftand, lie, or fit. 
 
 Few of the nomber haue taken vpon hande : 
 
 To geue any good fpider any good woorde yeet, 
 
 Except in flattery : which woords fliow euery whit : 
 
 As much diftioneftie : in fals feire femblance. 
 
 As fliowth in fury, fowle woordes of more greuance. 
 
 When flies flockt togither, vpon their alebenche 
 Begin to hizs or bizs, in their kind of talke, 
 No lordes, no lawfe, can their bizfmg bable quenche. 
 And fo many woordes, fo many lies : ftill walke. 
 If one diuell with an other : for lies fhould calke : 
 Thei could neuer finde the like, oh (quoth the flie : 
 Your maifterftiip talkth wonderfoole honeftlie. 
 
 If 
 
 191 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 If ye gaue eare to your felfe, ye might foone know : 
 
 Spider or flie : who fpeakth moft ill of vs twaine. 
 
 Speake not fpiders as ill of flies : as ye trow. 
 
 As fllies fpeake of fpiders ? yes it fhouth to plaine. 
 
 Wherin thefe termes muft we vfe : vpon great paine. 
 
 When either of other part : talke out of meafure, 
 
 The knaue fly railth. Maifter fpider fpeakth his pleafure. 
 
 But graunt : diflioneft woordes ech part of other, 
 Do fpeake a like much : which fhowth like diflioneftee, 
 In both thefe parts : the tone parte to the tother. 
 Of flies diflioneft woords, the caufe is to fee : 
 The diflioneft deedes, of you fpiders to bee. 
 Example wherof : to proue this cafe moft clere. 
 Doth in this window (for all windowes) apere. 
 
 All holes wherin : being ours in comon right. 
 
 Late comonly ours, now feuerally yours. 
 
 Looke where ye fet in foote, by right or by mighty 
 
 Lyke as the diuell faith : fo fai you : all is ours. 
 
 For : as this window fliowth your vfurped pours : 
 
 So : in all windowes where fo euer ye cum. 
 
 Ye grafpe vp all : and flies may fai nought : but mum. 
 
 Thus when we fpeake (I fay) if our fpech ill be, 
 
 Of your ill deedes : cum our ill woordes : euerychone. 
 
 Do you none ill deedes : to vs good fir (quoth he ?) 
 
 Yes fir (quoth the flie) flies to fpiders do one, 
 
 In our curtfy made to you : downe to grownd gone : 
 
 Moft finfuUy we commit idolatry. 
 
 For we therin, woorfhip falfe imagery. 
 
 falfe 
 
 192 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Fals imagery (quoth he ?) ye are a fals khaue. 
 
 A right liuerey (quoth he) turnde'on the wrong fide. 
 
 But liuerey and wages : that fpiders vouchfaue : 
 
 To geue flies, of one fiibftance are verifide. 
 
 Knaue vp : or take vp flie : thy wandring woordes wide. 
 
 Truly to try : how truth the touch flone may touch, 
 
 On whofe fide ; moft difhonefl:ie, is tauouch. 
 
 All diflioneft woordes : in flies of fpiders had. 
 
 Cum of difhoneft deedes : in fpiders to flife. 
 
 Thus faift thou, which faiyng Ihowth thee drunke or mad. 
 
 What ill or wrong deedes : do we to you deuife .' 
 
 Our owne windowes to vfe, as our owne will aplife. 
 
 Your dedes were not ill ; were all windowes your own, 
 
 But no woordes; faue your own, ftiow windowes fo known. 
 
 The tops : and top fides : of all windowes all yours : 
 We haue graunted and wold graunt : weare ye content. 
 To graunt likewife all holes in all windowes ours. 
 But fpiders muft haue all, ye may nought relent. 
 And in your hauing all : marke thexperiment. 
 How the worlde before went, and fince how it goth : 
 (For comon welth) in fpiders : and in flies both. 
 
 When you in toppes and fides there : kept your eflate : 
 
 And we in the holes : as ftood with our degre. 
 
 Spiders and flies : in all windowes fituate, 
 
 Dweld ech by other in welth and vnite. 
 
 But fince (lyke a forte of rake hels as ye be) 
 
 Ye lifte ech at other : and all at vs lifte. 
 
 There is in you, nor vs : either loue or thrifte. 
 
 Y But 
 
 bb 193 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But you : we : and our windowes to : all go to wracke. 
 By your couetous cutthrotes : the diuell choke ye. 
 Wilt thou wrech (quoth he) ley all this on our backe ? 
 Growne by our ftriues, nay flie and flies : He yoke ye : 
 With more then halfe part of the ill : to fmoke ye. 
 It is and hath ben faid : thers no good accofde : 
 In place, where as euery knaue will be a lofde. 
 
 Which is terbox to your fide : for out of dout, 
 
 Your cockapert pride : and your couetous harts. 
 
 Haue brought : more then three parts of our ils about 
 
 Your rude rebelins difobedient parts : 
 
 Much vnto our (and much more to your own) fmarts : 
 
 Kicking and wincing at euery good order, 
 
 Hath diftroide good order in euery border. 
 
 Good order : loft by pride and couetoufnes, 
 
 In graunt. but how : loft by vs I nay loft by yow. 
 
 Flies may be couetous, but as for riches : 
 
 Flies get none :. Except here and there one talow : 
 
 Yes (quoth the fpider) many flies are rich now : 
 
 In occupiyng in windowes vnder vs. 
 
 By price of things reifde there : in fowle ouefplus. 
 
 Where flies : of fpiders (by wrong quoth he) are dryuen : 
 To hyre our owne : kept from vs (we faie) by might. 
 Fines incums : and rents, fo great and many gyuen, 
 With fuch ftreight' reftreint : of our accuftomd right, 
 That one of thofe or all, eat vp our geins quight. 
 Which exacte exactions : in fpiders began, 
 Ere flies in fale of any wares, from thold rate fan. 
 
 As 
 
 194 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 As I am trew ientilman, thou lifte on vs. 
 
 As ye are a trew ientilman : euen fo I ly. 
 
 But as ye are a fals ientil man to difcus, 
 
 Your falfhod and my truth, may ioine iolily. 
 
 He proue llreight (quoth the fpider) that thou lyeft, I, 
 
 For rents : and warfe reifde, thou faift fpiders begoon. 
 
 But marke how vnhoneftly that ly doth roon. 
 
 Fiue foote to two : in windowes of this reme : 
 Ye flies hold yet, in leafe at vnreifed rent. 
 All holders wherof : fell their wares : as extreme, 
 As though their fermes at the moft reifed rent went. 
 Now who beginth here : the firft extort extent > 
 The flies (quoth the flie) but yet fpiders begun : 
 To reife rents before: as leafes did out run. 
 
 And as leafes fall fliill, fo reife thei rent ftill. 
 
 And fl:ill (of their goodnes) will reife : I dout not. 
 
 In new leafes : of fuch couenants to fulfill, 
 
 As the flies geins : no great priui tithes ihaCil lot. 
 
 The lewd lords : their landlords : in reckning the (hot, 
 
 The lot of alowance : in both parts to ley^ 
 
 The fpiders haue the creme, the flies haue the whey. 
 
 But fpiders : letting farms, and flies holding farms. 
 Thone letting farms hie, thother felling vitels dere. 
 And of all ware fellers : ech fliifteth from harms. 
 By reifing his ware, as other wares apere. 
 But all that on their pencions (or pence) liue mere : 
 In windowes : without lande to let, or ware to fell. 
 Where euer thei dwell : mai thinke thei dwell in hell. 
 
 Y ii Well 
 
 1 9-5 
 
.THE SPIDER 
 
 Well (quoth the fpider) for leafes not run out, 
 Flie fermers holding fcrmes yet : as olde rent gaue, 
 Why raife thei their wares : with thother polling rout ? 
 Thei take time (quoth the flie) while thei the time haue. 
 For when your time cumth, you will fo poUe and fliaue : 
 By reifed rentes : turning hed fermers to heardes. 
 That thei know : ye will flit the fat from their beardes. 
 
 And ye hie hed fpiders : in a confpiracie : 
 
 Confpire in all windowes, to kepe fermes at heith. 
 
 Or kepe them in your own handes, to kepe things hie : 
 
 Where a flie (quoth the fpider) doble rent peith : 
 
 More than he hath paide. There experience feith : 
 
 Looke what wares : at what price : that flies folde before, 
 
 Thofe or worfe wares he felth for treble price more. 
 
 So that if fpiders reife rents, two poundes from one. 
 Three pounds fro one : at left flies reife their wanss ftreight 
 Their which robry, hering any rumor vpone, 
 Of the faute, on vs fpiders thei ley the weight 
 Roring : in raging : how we our lands do height : 
 Making them begers (when thei with that thei win, 
 Are able to purchafe the fermes thei dwell in. 
 
 Well lide : well faide : (faid the flie) I wold haue faide. 
 But now to our ground : on which our faiyng arofe. 
 For diftioneftie, on both parts to be leide. 
 Couetous and pride : being chefe grownds in grofe : 
 To proue on which part : moft diftioneftie gofe, 
 Diftioneftie by couetufnes doth rife, 
 At the leaft : as much in fpiders as in flife. 
 
 And 
 
 19& 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 And as much in flies, as in fpiders fay I, 
 
 But what remedie flie, to remoue this grefe ? 
 
 Looke thei that lift : thei fhall for me (quoth the flie) 
 
 We talke not now of grefe : to deuife relefe, 
 
 By honefl:ie, but by diflioneft mifchefe : 
 
 To charge which parte mofl: difhoneft we can ges 
 
 In all ils, namely pride and couetufnes. 
 
 Wherin : as we in couetufnes haue faide, 
 
 Let vs now : ech part apofe other in pride. 
 
 The which vice for both our fides vprightly weide, 
 
 Diflionefl:ie therin, fhalbe verifide. 
 
 To lie altogither, on the fpiders fide. 
 
 Spiders, are of flies : alway curtfy takers : 
 
 And flies to fpiders, alway curtfy makers. 
 
 And yet (I fay) in bending our knees to ball : 
 
 Flies looking like lams : fpiders lyke lions looke. 
 
 As though poore flies, were made for rich fpiders all. 
 
 Of which : though foolifli flies : the fuffrance may brooke : 
 
 Wife flies can not brooke it : for thei finde in booke : 
 
 This demaund written. When Adam dolue and Eue fpan. 
 
 Who was in thofe golden dales, a gentleman. 
 
 None as who faie. And were there none now (fay wee) 
 
 The worlde (huld be as good now, as it was then. 
 
 If yemen flies : were put in autoritee. 
 
 We wold rule as well, as fpiders gentlemen : 
 
 Shall lak fauce rule now flie .? fir by thefe bones ten : 
 
 We fliall fure be rulde : in all kinds of lawfe, 
 
 As well by lak faufe : as by maifter John dawfe, 
 
 Y iii What 
 
 197 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 What wit : or what welth : winneth your eftate ftout, 
 Looke hily r fpeake lordly : commaunde all, and do nought 
 Gai geare, goodly copwebs : to reuell with the rout, 
 Without any houfholdes. For the poore flies wrought. 
 But with difThes deinty : fer fet and dere bought. 
 One fat fpider : an other feedth in fine feaft : 
 More to fet out him felfe, then to feaft his geaft, 
 
 Thefe prowd peacoks propertife : wholly remaine. 
 
 In you prowde fpiders. And not in vs poore flife, 
 
 But moft prowde, moft foole. As flies prouerbes conteine. 
 
 Flies (quoth the fpider)in their prowde exercife. 
 
 Are to fer vnlike lords : lords lookes tenterprife. 
 
 Lordlyke to looke, flies countenance can not brooke : 
 
 But though flies looke not lordlyke : knaue like thei looke : 
 
 Shall we not finde a knaue flie : not worth two ftrawfe : 
 
 Looke more prowdly, the the beft lord in a fliere ? 
 
 Yes. And take vpon him in chop logik lawfe : 
 
 To controU vs, and our houftiolds fer and nere. 
 
 So that by pride, les dilhoneftie fliowth here : 
 
 In lordly looks : of fpiders lordlike brauery. 
 
 Then in flies knauifh deeds, by knauelyke knauery. 
 
 Of which forte of faufe malapert minions, 
 
 Thou art captaine caitif : againft vs to kicke. 
 
 And fure : thou holdft perillous opinions. 
 
 Weare thou apofed pithily to the quicke, 
 
 I durft ley my life, thou art an hereticke. 
 
 I defie (quoth the flie) the wretch that fo feith. 
 
 Harke : I will euin in your eare : confefle my feith. 
 
 The 
 
 198 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 The flie : blowing a while, in the fpiders eare : 
 The fpider : that while : brething in the flies necke, 
 Both crlde out, as thei had ben ftoong on a fpeare. 
 I am kilde (quoth the fpider) death cumth at becke. 
 This flie hath blown fliblowfe in mine eare a pecke. 
 I am poifond (quoth the flie, deth rydth in the rode. 
 This fpiders breth, makth me fwell lyke a tode. 
 
 Triacle cride thone, an eare pyke : cride thother. 
 The flie flew, the fpider crept, quight out of fight. 
 The flie flang one waie : the fpider ran an other. 
 Fewme of firy fury, in both was fene right. 
 But both being anone gone out of fight quight, 
 Thant : in reproch of their communicacion. 
 Told them all, part of his imaginacion. 
 
 After 
 
 199 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 IT After a few woordes, which thant fpeakth to the reft of both 
 fortes there, thei are afligned to ftande backe againe, while 
 tharbiters gather out of this railyng, fuch reafon as thei can. 
 
 Cap. 45. 
 
 It 
 
 200 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 IT is comonly Taid, and comonly fene. 
 Where as any nomber : of any fort be : 
 Of all fortes there be, and euermore haue bene. 
 And as in mod bafe fort : fum right good we fe, 
 So in the beft fort : as ill to decre. 
 Example wherof : no better profe enfurth, 
 In no one example, then this one procurth. 
 
 Of you : both fortes fpiders and flies : prefent here : 
 You vfe your felues honeftly. Many and molle, 
 But yet therto fe we : that here doth apere, 
 On ech one fide : one fo brimly brag and bofte, 
 That thei proue on both fides : fum knaues in the cofte : 
 I meane thefe twaine gone. Whom vpon inquering, 
 Are : in honeft audience, not worth the hering. 
 
 Forfoth (faid a fober fpider) euen in deede : 
 Thei are vnwoorthy hering : in any place. 
 Trew (quoth a wife flie) but fince it was agreede : 
 By com on counfels on both fides : to purchafe : 
 Or prouide : them to ioine with vs in this cafe, 
 It femeth vnfemely for vs to reiect : 
 Such : as our electors to vs haue elect, 
 
 It femth fo (faid the ant) and I take it fo. 
 Brother butterflie : will ye that thei depart : 
 While we twaine, to groping of this matter go. 
 Ye maifter ant (quoth he) with all my hart. 
 Thei all (once againe) from them twaine reuart. 
 While thei two deuife : fum way of availing; 
 To gather right reafon, out of rude railing. 
 
 Z Thar- 
 
 CC 201 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITTharbiters confider in this taunting talke, that fondry dif- 
 honeft abvfes there are in fondry parties on both fides, vpon 
 their agrement of conclufion wherin, thei haue before them 
 thofe other fpiders and flies againe. Cap. 46. 
 
 To 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 TO pas this laft cafe (quoth thant) as in award. 
 Which part is moft difhoneft, the cafe erft: weid : 
 Refoning which is moft honeft part : to regard : 
 Is a plaine plat : to proue this likekife leid. 
 As honeftie there is : equally difpleid, 
 To (how the tone part : as honeft as the tother, 
 So fliow both here, likfe diflioneft : thone and thother. 
 
 What kinds of fauts : we mai in the fpiders find, 
 
 The fame (or the like) we mai find in the flife. 
 
 So that (I fay) as equitee hath afinde. 
 
 One degre of diftioneftie, in both life. 
 
 Where our former talke (quoth the butterflie) trife : 
 
 Thoneftie one : in both the fides : yet ye know : 
 
 That honeftie in the flies, fliinth moft in fhow. 
 
 For that (which I told you I wold in mind bere) 
 
 Flies : fer mo in nomber, then fpiders apere. 
 
 Trew (quoth thant) and as moft nomber winth flies there, 
 
 Moft fliow of honeftie, fo moft nomber here : 
 
 Moft fhow of diftioneftie : fhowth in flies clere. 
 
 As moft nomber of thoneft : fliine moft in fame, 
 
 Moft nomber of difhoneft, ftiine moft in fhame. 
 
 Then (quoth the buterflie) as flies here nought get, 
 So loofe thei nought : wherin let vs be content : 
 To fet the hares head, againft the goofe ieblet. 
 Both fides : to adiudge lyke honeft : I aflent. 
 And I (quoth the ant) do geue the fame iudgement. 
 Herevpon thei cald all again to ftand nere, 
 To whom wherin, thant declard as enfuth here. 
 
 Z ii Thant 
 
 203 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThant dedarth in thpfe fpiders & flies, that the tales of the 
 pearte fpider and flie before tplde, do charge ech others part in 
 fuch fort, that thei can not fai which fide is moil: diflionefl:: but 
 theitwoadiudgeclefelyih diflioneft tlunges: both fides of lyke 
 difhoneftie. wherwith thei al auoided backe again, tharbiters 
 talke to fal to a point betwene themfelues what report finally 
 and fully to make. Cap. 47. 
 
 204 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ALthough the railyng of thofe railers late gone : 
 For it felfe : or them felues, vnmeete may be thought. 
 Either to be talkt vpon : or thought vpon. 
 Yet fmce the matter of their talke : fuch talke brought : 
 That as one ground of our talke, talke hath it wrought, 
 We haue wrought therto : conciderate confent. 
 To conclude therin, this extended extent. 
 
 Difhoneftie in fpiders and in flies both, 
 Apereth aproued : fo indifferently, 
 That on which fide the moll dilhoneftie goth : 
 We can not know : nor otherwife verify. 
 But like dilhoneftie, on both fides doth ly. 
 So that out of hande : to declare our decre. 
 Both parts : in dilhoneftie, haue one degre. 
 
 But for as much : as dilhoneftie here toucht : 
 
 Was : to proue or difproue honeftie before : 
 
 Which part of both : moft or leaft honeftie auoucht. 
 
 And that dilhoneftie : doth defide no more : 
 
 Then honeftie did, leaue dilhonefties lore. 
 
 And by former talke : in honeftie alone, 
 
 Take honeftie on both parts here, iudged one. 
 
 The graue nombre on both fides agrede to this. 
 
 Whervpon : thant axt who had furder to fey : 
 
 Concerning euidence : in the premiffis. 
 
 Thei all faide : thei had to fay no fuder, they, 
 
 Well faid thei both : ye all yet again awey. 
 
 Which done, thei both : ech to other their mindes brake, 
 
 What end (now at end) thei finally might take. 
 
 Z iii Brother 
 
 205 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 tTharbiters being agreed on their report, thei call to them 
 againe the fpiders and the flies. Cap. 48. 
 
 Brother 
 
 206 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 BRother butterflie (quoth thant) how thinke ye now ? 
 What makth all this euidelice for either fide ? 
 All alich for both (quoth he) now how fay you ? 
 I fei the fame (quoth thant) wherin is fpecifide, 
 To hard a triall : to iudge the befl fide tride. 
 The beft fide of both : fince doute hath thus drownd it, 
 Lets at laft, leaue it, as we at firft found it. 
 
 Agrede (quoth the butterflie) by my good footh : 
 
 Thei herewith cald againe, the fpiders and flife. 
 
 Ech hoping to here a tale, for his own tooth. 
 
 But thant being (for an ant) lerned and wife : 
 
 Otherwife weiyng, otherwife did deuife. 
 
 Of this proces part, where to report the pith. 
 
 For which (vnto them all,) he made wei forthwith. 
 
 Thant 
 
 207 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThant ftiewth them, that the butterflie and he are at point 
 what to reporte, deuifing it to be reported before the head fpi- 
 der and the flie in the copweb the two principall parties, and 
 to haue with them to here and witnes their reporte, two fpi- 
 ders and two flies ; witty and difcrete. and the reft to ftaie 
 there till their returne. Which being agreed, thei fet foorth 
 ftreight to the faid copweb. Cap. 49. 
 
 Know 
 
 208 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 KNow ye all : that we two being full agreede : 
 What, we fhall fay, we muft now full agre : 
 Where we (hall fay. Which faiyng muft be decreede, 
 Before thofe two : that did vs two decre, 
 As friendes of truft : in this autorite. 
 The fpider and flie (meane I) which two are, 
 Chefe grownds in the cafe, that we muft now declare. 
 
 The butterflie : and all the reft there : feide. 
 For that report, that was the place moft fit. 
 Let vs, with vs, (quoth thant) haue forth in eide. 
 Two fpiders and two flies : of credence and wit. 
 And all the reft, till our returne here to fit. 
 Thei two with the two twofe : folowing in order, 
 Paft on : till thei cam to the copwebs border. 
 
 The flie in copweb ftoode vp, and praier lefte. 
 Longing for meede : of preier preide ere than. 
 With deadly looke : as death had lyfe berefte. 
 But when the fpider : into place cam than, 
 Alas poore flie : how he lookte pale and wan. 
 All thofe without : vnto the fpider within, 
 At their low curtfy done, thant did thus begin. 
 
 The 
 
 dd 209 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe ant affociate with the faide fort pronbunceth at length 
 (to the fpider and flie in the copweb) this brief effect, that in as 
 much as on both fides the euidence is one, and that the cre- 
 dence is one, by thonefiiie being one, they two can (in reafon) 
 no vvaie trie, howe to ley thaccuftomed right more on thone 
 fide then on thother: they finallie leaue the cafe euin at liber- 
 tie, as they founde it: and fo departe to theplace of abitrement 
 a;jaine. Cap. 50. 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 MY great good vncle, and litle good friend : flie. 
 Where you two : chofe vs two : your arbytres late, 
 To adiudge (by reafon) the cuftome rightlie : 
 Of fpiders and flies, in all windowes fituate. 
 Which part (hould haue all : or what part we (liould rate : 
 To eyther part, what hath theron rifin fith. 
 And what in fine for fine doth rife, here the pith. 
 
 In the firft talkejaetwene you tweyne : and vs tweine, 
 
 Thiffew to try was (as ye fayde vnto vs,) 
 
 How right in all windowes (I fey) doth remaine, 
 
 To both fides, as reafon may cuftome difcus. 
 
 You : for you and all fpiders, a leging thus. 
 
 All parts in all windowes (none except) fayde ye. 
 
 Are yours : and all fpiders, as in tenure fre. 
 
 Wherin you flie, as ye then affirmed) heelde. 
 All holfe in all windowes, are flies free of olde. 
 Tops and fides, being fpiders hold free : to beelde. 
 Hed houfes or tenantrees or what ye woolde. 
 So that for the holfe only : is all the holde. 
 Which (vpon furder euidence, to confither. 
 We (as ye wyld vs to go,) went to gyther. 
 
 Where : fpiders and flies, a certeyne nombre met. 
 Before a pointed : euidence to difclofe. 
 And firft for all fpiders, one to vs there fet, 
 Sayde. As report of fpiders : hath gone and gofe. 
 All holfe in all windowes : are theirs to difpofe. 
 The flies then cald, one flie for all verifide. 
 All holfe : by all flies woordes long to flies fide. 
 
 Aa ii Thefe 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Thefe two : in their two tales : fhowing diffrence none, 
 In matter : nor in woordes, faue onely that thei : 
 Leid the fame : ech on the fide : he ftanth vpone, 
 Thei both : and thei all : ftrangers to vs (to fey, 
 This one fentence : on which of both fides to ley. 
 Both fhowing a lyke credible, to vs too, 
 That was thing difficult : for vs two to doo. 
 
 Whervpon : both parts (before vs both) cald we. 
 To try on which part, moft credence might apere. 
 Wherin one fpider : and one flie : of grauitec. 
 Reafoning on which fide moft credence fhuld fhow here, 
 Thei both : at laft graunted this, for a grownde clere. 
 As euery wights count : in honeftie doth mount, 
 So euery wights credence : amounth in acount. 
 
 For : honeftie agrede thei, to be the grownd : 
 
 (Or grownded caufe) of credence. Then were we dreuen : 
 
 To ferch on which fide, moft honeftie was fownd. 
 
 Wherin (on both fides) when all refons were geuen, 
 
 Thoneftie on both fides, in our iudgement was euen. 
 
 And fo : for credence, (hit on honeftie growing) 
 
 One honeftie, one credence : in both parts fliowing. 
 
 Thus : their euidence being one : wherunto : 
 Their credence one : by being of honeftie one. 
 To try the wrong doers : which we cam to do, 
 What wey can we (in reafon) take .' for footh none. 
 Wherin lacking power, fince our goodwill alone : 
 Can do nought, honeftly this charge to difcharge, 
 As we this cafe found here, we leaue here, at large. 
 
 Friende 
 
 212 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Friende butterflie (faid the fpider) how fai you ? 
 
 As maifter ant hath faid (faid he) fo fai I. 
 
 Then (quoth the fpider) with thanks to you both now. 
 
 We both difcharge you. Sir (quoth the butterfly) 
 
 My poore kinsflie here : that in durance doth ly. 
 
 For charge or difcharge : in euery condefliin, 
 
 I befech your mafhip handle him with fcrefhin. 
 
 I will (quoth the fpider) vfe him no warfe. 
 
 Then ftandth with reafon, law, cufbom, and confcience : 
 
 If (quoth the flie) thofe graunted grownds not reuarfe. 
 
 As : till I fe them reuerft, in experience : 
 
 I fee no caufe : to conceiue lack of credence, 
 
 Then fliall I (and all flies) lawde your equite. 
 
 Vndoutfull truft wherof, much comforteth me. 
 
 Feare not that flie (quoth he) and the flie (of trowth) 
 From dangerous dred : that he drooped in eare, 
 Hoppeth now in hope : as all outward fliow fhowth. 
 But yet for all thoutward brag : that he did beare : 
 Me thought he femde inwardly, not without feare : 
 -Leaft faire feithfuU promife of prefent plefance, 
 Might haue fowle feithles difplefant performance. 
 
 But betwene hope and drede, he lying there ftill, 
 Thant : and butterflie : the fowre fpiders and flife, 
 Tooke leaue and departed. The fame place vntill, 
 That thei laft cam fro. Where their company life. 
 To repete their doing, in this comprimife. 
 The fpider in copweb, gone that to declare. 
 In thuper part of his howfe, where his flok are. 
 
 Aa iii Thant 
 
 213 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThant and butterflie fet where they had fit, thant repeteth 
 to thofe fpiders and flies the report made by him at the fayde 
 copweb, at end wherof the fpiders and flies, feeing that time 
 fpent all in vayne, eche fide amonge them felfes fall in mour- 
 muring. Cap. 51. 
 
 tpThant 
 
 214 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 U>' 
 
 rHant and butterflie : fet where they erft had fit, 
 
 Thofe fpiders & flies : (lading where they erft ftood 
 Thant repeting this, they perceyuing in it : 
 Much time fpent on all parts : and no part take good, 
 They began generallie : to change their mood. 
 The fpiders, to gither cluftring and cluttring, 
 The flies, togither in murmering mvttnng. 
 
 ITVpon the fpiders and the flies mutring murmering, foden- 
 lie there cum nie aboute them : a wonderfull nombre of all 
 manner of flies : in theyr warlike manner. Wherat with 
 twynke of an iye (as it were) the head fpider (with a greate 
 nombre of fpiders,) hath builded a ftrong caftell in that cop- 
 web. With ordinaunce and weapons and fpiders redie in or- 
 der of defence. Cap. 52. 
 
 UJAa iiii 
 
2l6 
 
te 
 
 217 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 HErewith (euin fodenlie : at twink of an iye,) 
 Cam fuch a flight of flies : in fcattred ray, 
 As fhadowed the fonne : from thearth tO the flcie. 
 No kind of flie a liue, but was there that day. 
 Tag and rag, like lions : raging now rage thay. 
 Flefli flies, butterflies, land flies, water flies. 
 Bees, humblebees, wafpes, hornets, gnats 6f all fies. 
 
 The graund Captaine, (landing : amid mong this rought, 
 Was the flie, that flange from thence in feWrie erft told. 
 Seld hath bene feene fuch a fort. And all fo ftought. 
 Except here and there one : temprate to beholde. 
 Staues, bats, clubs, pichforks, mod begerllfe mod bold. 
 Wlierwith the fpiders that erft gaue euideliBe, 
 In the copweb, tooke fentuarie for defencd. 
 
 Where : whether this proude fpider gaue \f66td before : 
 
 Who with that pert flie : had before there prated : 
 
 Or that fpiders : of ordinarie : haue ftore : 
 
 Of all mlmicion : for warrs redie rated, 
 
 1 wot not. But without more time delated : 
 
 Ordnance of all forts round the copweb was leyde, 
 
 And all fpiders with all weapons, preft in eyde. 
 
 Daggs, handgoons, hakfe, hagbuflers, culuerins, Ilings : 
 Potgoons, fakirs, cannons, double and demie. 
 Feeld peeces, of all fewts, with al belonging things. 
 Byls, bowes, partifance, pikes, to pufh fer or nie. 
 And to occupy allj fpiders plafte aptlie. 
 Ech of them : harneft meete for his properte, 
 The reft, all in bright harnefle capape. 
 
 The 
 
 218 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 The flies, of all ordnance were not deftitute. 
 Nor furniflied ; like as the fpiders weare : 
 Ruftie rotten peeces : their terrour to brewte, 
 They fhot of, and fliot wide, of marks euerie where. 
 Drums, fiffes, flags, and wiflers, none wanted there. 
 Baners difplaide on both fides : all arms bearing, 
 In harolds books a vowde, for both fides wearing. 
 
 The flies, in nomber, aboue the fpiders far. 
 The fpidprs, in order, fer better then thaie. 
 The flies, will aduenture to make or to mar. 
 The fpiders, (not fodenlie) fobreli waie : 
 To defend or offend, the flies as they maie. 
 The fpiders, in copweb wyll bide this ieobertie. 
 The flies, in feeld wyll befeege them at libertie. 
 
 ITThis huge heape of flies light aboute tharbiters. Apprehen- 
 ding thant, cafling a halter aboute his necke: drawing him to 
 their tree of reformacion (as they call it) to hang him ftreyght. 
 But at his fute to be hard fpeake erehe die, on fli fleeth into the 
 tree, wherwith the captaine commanndeth filence. Cap. 53. 
 
 219 
 

 W 
 
 
 -luxu- r— , 'S l^tgiit^^fjr^'^'''- 
 
 
 r< 
 
 ,^^ 
 
 2^?^S^ 
 
 ^^m 
 i^^ 
 
 
 |<Jw^ 
 
 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THis innumerable flocke of flies : are now, 
 Marcht vnto tharbiters. And they there lighted, 
 They tooke thant prifoner : with an vnaduifed vow, 
 To fpight the fpiders, who had flies long fpyghted. 
 That he Ihould fl:reight be hangd, and then endited. 
 Of felonie : againft flies : as an adherent. 
 To fpiders, in their vfurpacion vrgent. 
 
 Hang him vp (quoth one) with wilde woords and wide wit. 
 A fals wretch he is. And well knowne eueri wheare. 
 And wold be knowne no where : where euer he flit. 
 He hath two names : one name here, an other theare. 
 In this place cald ant. In that place cald pifmeare. 
 And one fuffpected varlet : two names to haue. 
 Is (in common iudgment,) iudged a falfe knaue. 
 
 Then fl:ept forth a fort of fell flies, fewriouflie. 
 Who : hauing caft a halter about thants neck. 
 To their tree of reformacion ftanding by, 
 They fellie forfl: him, with mania a chorlilh check. 
 A ladder to that tree was fet, at a beck. 
 Where he in haft halde vp : and the halter tide, 
 Turne the theefe of the ladder : thoufands cride. 
 
 Small was the maruaill : though thant were much abalht : 
 
 To fe this fore fooden importable chaunce, 
 
 Who liueth in nature : but he muft be da(ht : 
 
 Both out of corage, and out of countenance. 
 
 That fliould ftreyght : be dafht out of continuance, 
 
 When none (or few) being fore warnd of deaths howre, 
 
 Can euinlie beare feeling thought, of that Iharp fhowre. 
 
 Right 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Right now in worfhip fet hie : as a iudge : 
 Euin now, Handing in fhame to be hangd hie. 
 It was to him, a feeling greefe of grudge : 
 Vnknowne to all : that haue not felinglie : 
 Felt of the fame, in their experienfie, 
 His looke and hew now, and late : fo vnlike. 
 That to the hart : a iew that fight muft ftrike. 
 
 In which agonie : calling to him his wit : 
 One wife flie : at all formar talk prefent, 
 Seming with all flies prefent in good credit. 
 He preyd to perfwade all there : to be content. 
 To here him fpeak, ere he his life fhould relent. 
 But reafon (quoth that flie) and therwithall, he. 
 To get thant that grace, gat him in to that tre. 
 
 The flie there bent to fpeake, the captaine graund. 
 By mouth of an harold : at trompet fownid. 
 In proclamacion, did filence ftreight commaund. 
 Wherat : a few words here and there in ears rownid, 
 To here that flie fpeake, their fpeche was all drownid, 
 Whervpon the captaine bidding that flie fay, 
 Thefe or thefe like few words, he faide ftreight way. . 
 
 IThe flie in the tree : to perfwarde the flies to here the ant 
 fpeake, wadeth honeftlie, politiklie to a lewre them, to quiet 
 heryng of the ant before theyput him to death. His which tale 
 tolde, he remoueth to his place agayne. Cap. 54. 
 
 Aav 
 
 223 
 
224 
 
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 nil. 
 
 I, '" ; 
 111' 
 ..p. 
 '111)1 
 
 ■Hi 
 i/l'ii 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 BRothers (and brotherlie freends) all : I dout nat : 
 Ye know me a file : and take me fuch a flie, 
 As for ant : or fpider : in anie what : 
 Wyll not be falfe, to the flock that naturallie : 
 I ought to be trew vnto : to Hue or die : 
 For this ant and all ants : what I fliall fay now, 
 Shall approue me none of them, but one of you. 
 
 Of whom : eche one : an other my felf to fey. 
 And ech one to other : (I hope,) likewife knit. 
 Let vs all as one : entring this one iourney, 
 Enter the path, as we may pas thorow it. 
 One depe-enduction wherto : iuged in my wit. 
 Is to flee rafh deedes raflilie done here. For fuch, 
 Haue vndone all : in our like caf(^ verie much. 
 
 One of which danngerous deedes (vnder correction,) 
 
 We do in this deede : thant thus to death to draw. 
 
 Without accufacion or detection : 
 
 Wherby might appere anie colour of law : 
 
 To kill him. This lo doth my confcience gnaw. 
 
 And yet more : the nombre here in ire fo fl:urd. 
 
 That they wold haue him hangd, and not fpeake one wurd. 
 
 Which deede : if we do, wheare are our like monfturs .' 
 
 Firft to apprehend an ant vndetected : 
 
 By any colour, that anie worde confturs. 
 
 To be eyther detected, or fuflpected : 
 
 And not onlie ftreyght vnto deth, directed : 
 
 But dy, not fuffrid to fpeake, defame of vs : 
 
 That perpetuall tromp, will blow : in (hame of vs. 
 
 Wherfore 
 
 226 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Wherfore for vs (and not for him) as I feide : 
 
 I few to you, as he hath fewde to mee. 
 
 To here him fpeake, Which fpeche of you herd and weyde, 
 
 As you fhalbe a grede, fo (hall I a gree. 
 
 To hang him : or faue him, as we caufe fhall fee. 
 
 This tale thus told, downe the flie againe flitth. 
 
 And where he erft did fit, theare he agayne fitth. 
 
 The flies former fine tale, nowhit fturreth the grofe flies to the 
 hearing of the ant. Whervpon the butterflie (that was an arbi 
 ter) fleeth into the tree: laboring the flies to haue the antheard 
 fpeake ere he die. Cap. 55. 
 
 227 
 
228 
 
229 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 VVith this : a chirme in mumering there fell : 
 Amonll them all. They in flocks flocking anone, 
 Here and there a flock : like fort to like. To tell, 
 Theyr minds. And fum preyfde, fum difpreyfde the tale gone 
 This tale fliowth this flie honeft and wife (faith one) 
 He is a falfe flattring flie (feyth another) 
 He fayd well : but he ment ill (fayde fome other) 
 
 Thant hath bribid him : (quoth one) he is corrupt fewre. 
 
 An ant bribe a flie (quoth an other) wherwith ? 
 
 With one of his eggs, that is a fore alewre. 
 
 To tempt a flie, naye (quoth one) this is the pith : 
 
 He is a fpie : for the fpiders (I fe euen fith) 
 
 I herd no worde (quoth one) to fuflpect him by. 
 
 (Quoth one) all his wordes found fufTpicioufly. 
 
 So manie beds, fo manie witts. There were fene. 
 Thoneft flies : that flies tale, honeftlie did brooke. 
 The contrarie, tooke his tale contrarie clene. 
 I herd by fum flies words : and faw by theyr looke. 
 That thill fort : the good fort : againfl: their wils tooke. 
 Good flies wolde haue fufired : and haue fit euin ftill : 
 Rather then haue rifm : by force of thyll, 
 
 But forth he mufl: (they fay) that the deuill doth driue, 
 Thinges are not wrought : by wyfdome in fuch a rout : 
 Will : and not wifdom, muft fuch matters contriue. 
 All fuerte of fafte, to bring in a dout. 
 Or to fet fafte vndoubtedlie. Quight out, 
 In which fafte : fuch flies : as fat fafl: before, 
 Muft leaue hold : to take hold, on contrarie fliore. 
 
 They 
 
 230 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 They being now dreuen, they muft do as they fhall. 
 And not as they wold, and for this cafe in hand, 
 Hang the ant forthwith ; cride the moft nojnbre all. 
 The blont butterflie : that arbiter had ftand, 
 Whipt into the tree : as feerfe as a fyre brand. 
 And at filence had : vpon the trompets blaft, 
 He muft blow his blaft. Or els his hart muft braft. 
 
 f The butterflie (to get thant to beheard) telth his tale in fuch 
 rude maner and matter, that anone he fetth them all (welnie) 
 together by the eares. 13ut vppon his grofe tale grofely tolde, 
 (much more lyked then the flies finer tale) thei graunt to here 
 the ant fpeake. Cap. 56. 
 
 Aa vi 
 
 231 
 
232 
 
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 111' 
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 is: 
 
 233 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ''Vhat a fort of captayne coblers hiaue we hfere : 
 Vnder our graund capteyne, I charge euerichone : 
 Kepe fiianc^ and obedlance all in ferej 
 In the circumficiori that We go vpotte* 
 Thinke you : the victorie lith on your harids, hot one. 
 Sharmyfli ye maie : and like capbn cockers cock. 
 But we butterflies muft heare bide the fhock, 
 
 Attd why not we wafps (quoth one) as wel as you : 
 
 Why not we dors as well as bothe (quoth one dor) 
 
 Why not flies : and gnats ? (quoth one) of ech fort now : 
 
 Being a hewge heape : gxedihg all nombor, 
 
 To DUercum yonder fpider fenior : 
 
 As well as fewer great lubbufa Mark this iiiark : 
 
 The old prouferbe fayth, manie hands hiaki light Wark. 
 
 Sd light wafk theyr light h^s, for light hands made : 
 
 That ech wons light fift was bent to others eare, 
 
 Sort agayrie fort : they anone entred fuch trad^ 
 
 That I thought they wold all haue gone by thesl'rs thikfe, 
 
 Til their captaine : with cap in hand, to forbeare : 
 
 In befeching entreated them. Which heate gone» 
 
 Let the butterflie fpeake : they tride euerichoil©! 
 
 The butterflie blontlie thus entred aga^ne. 
 
 What deuyll flies be you freends be you fo haftife ? 
 
 That your freends maie not fpeake their wllsi plat & |)leine 
 
 A deuils name (I faie) your ch^ltting touUg's challif^. 
 
 I wene you eate ho (kins meate but daW p'aflifei 
 
 Peace dawpates : while I tell a thing now retouniili 
 
 In my head, which to vtter I am compounftk 
 
 Ye 
 
 234 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Ye wold haue the ant hangd, before hq be hapd. 
 
 For that thinke you moft polifie. As fcons my dere : 
 
 Ye male not here him firft ; and hang him afterward : 
 
 But euerie flie thinking him felfe flopde novv here, 
 
 Whearg this ant ftandth, and at hanging euen as nere, 
 
 Should it not fting him like ftang of an adder ? 
 
 To thinke to be turnd without fpeech from this ladder, 
 
 Wyfe flies faie : it is fin to lie on the deuill 
 
 Then here the trouth told, of this prefent poore ant. 
 
 Who that can cufe him, let him lege the euill. 
 
 But my fgule from fauafliin ; Aide to hell a flant : 
 
 If he in our bitterment, fhowd anie want : 
 
 Of confhinable diffraneie. In his woords dolt : 
 
 But betwene both parts ftood vpright as a bolt. 
 
 You all ; weing this thing in ponderafhin. 
 In hering of him what equaltie ye fhow : 
 And in not hering faim : what flaunderafliin : 
 To vs all : ihall grow, that fince ye all do know, 
 Wey it quicklie, and your minds therin out blow. 
 Downe he flew : whervpon Jhe flies faide they wold. 
 Here thant fpeake. Ajjd thervpon this tale he told. 
 
 ITTheant prayth to be herd fpeak§ thorowlie before anie parjt 
 of his tale be adiudged. And then they to adiudge the whole as 
 fl:andth with equite. Firft alleginge better to cleare himfelfe 
 from offending the flies. Finallie geuinge them (as it femeth) 
 freendli counfell, (touchyng this ftrife) grounded vpon this 
 common faying : before thou ought begiii, haue an iye to the 
 ende. Cap. S7- 
 
 235 
 
~T^^^i^' 
 
 236 
 
237 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 MY mafters flies here all in generall : 
 And eche one perticulerlie : I humblie praie, 
 What things I fhall touch, generall or fpeciall : 
 To take to the beft. And firft that I maie : 
 As remembrauncer of your remembraunce, ley 
 One fpeciall meane forth here : remembred to be. 
 Drawing herers in all things to equite. 
 
 And equite, in all things : to giue or to take : 
 (Among other vertues) is a vertew pewre. 
 Inequite, for wrong, no waie can make- 
 Where equite, is fet and fetled fewre. 
 For equite in no wife may endure : 
 Balance, to anie one fide, caft or dreuine. 
 Equite, equalUe : kepth the balance euine. 
 
 Which meane : for which equite to be obteynde. 
 
 Is : that herers : in hereing this mi cafe 
 
 Se : that difiiinitiue iudgement be refreynd, 
 
 In anie part therof : to take anie place, 
 
 Tyll the whole be herd. Which hering to purchafe, 
 
 Is my great fewt. Befeching all to fuffpende ; 
 
 Iudgement in euerie part : till all parts take ende. 
 
 Firft for me : next for you and me : laft for you : 
 I few to be hard. And firft for me, marke all. 
 From all offence by me done : to you here now, 
 Syns I cam, in this cafe that doth here fall, 
 I am clearde. By one vnfufpect for parflxall, 
 I meane that worfliipfuU maifter butterflie : 
 Who trieth me : to haue delt here indiffrentlie. 
 
 He 
 
 2J3 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 He cleerth me fins I cam. And before I cam, 
 Yf any flie (luftlie) to my charge can ley : 
 In anie thing waying the weyght of a dram, 
 By worde, or deede : either open or priuey ; 
 That euer I hurt flie I anie maner wey, 
 Then let my ponifliment here : be fo ample. 
 That all ants may therby take an example. 
 
 But being ckre fins I Cam : and more tauow : 
 Being clere till I cam : from wroorde and deede iU, 
 Alas : why will ye kill me, who hurth not yow. 
 Nor neuer did hurt you, nor neuer will. 
 Nor neuer can : though will wold ill fulfill. 
 This : for my felfe leyde, (as for my felfe proued, 
 I hope my felfe fure : from harme by you moued. 
 
 Secondly : for you ^nd me both, this meane I. 
 
 Yf ye draw the blood of me : (thus innofent,) 
 
 As the los is fmall, fo ftaught wyji ye therbyi 
 
 But (as is faide) infamie of endles extent, 
 
 Which paine fro flie : and (hame from you to preuent. 
 
 The fafe falue for both fides : is this to decre, 
 
 Saue you my life, and that faueth your honeile. 
 
 Third : and laft pbynt ; nought for me, all for you : 
 Prouyng me, not only : you no whit to hate. 
 But lAuch to loue : a tale lie tell and a vow, 
 Which : you hering and folowing : in ftedie (late, 
 Shall ftedilie fl:ey you, from harme in debate : 
 That hangth ouer your heds : much more than ye fe^ 
 Wherin for you and not for me, (I fay) here me. 
 
 Amonge 
 
 239 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Among many prefepts philofoficall : 
 
 Geuen to all perfons : to take profet by, 
 
 For tyme : place : and cafe prefent, aboue all. 
 
 One ferueth in fentence moft fmgulerly. 
 
 The woordes fhort : the matter long : the reafon by. 
 
 Which woordes and matter, on thefe woordes do depende. 
 
 Ere thou ought begin, haue an eie to the ende. 
 
 This pure prefept : as all oft in woordes fey it : 
 If all did do it, in effectuall deede. 
 So that our deeds did it : as our woords wei it, 
 Oh : what commoditee therby fliuld proceede. 
 Our full felicitee : fhuld thervpon breede. 
 As contrarily breedth : in contrary (how, 
 Infelicitee : as we feelingly know. 
 
 Who wold begin a fray : and his fo therin kill ? 
 If he lookt to thend, that fhuld hang him therfore. 
 I wene all the world, fhuld be kept from all ill : 
 Kept we this leffon well, in practifed lore : 
 To thend of beginning : to looke euermore : 
 Before we begin, for when we haue begoon, 
 The leauing of lightly, is not lightly woon. 
 
 Small things begun : without looking to their end, 
 
 Cum ofl to ill end : great loffe, and ieoperdee. 
 
 Great things : begoon than : none lie on thend tatend, 
 
 At (or ere) their beginning : we muft agree : 
 
 To be our much more difcommoditee. 
 
 As things : greatter and fmaller : differ in fife. 
 
 So diffreth here : difcommoditee likewife. 
 
 And 
 
 240 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 And of all our great thyngs : no one of more weyght, 
 Nor therby more meete : thend therin to wey : 
 At beginning, then is that bitter beyght : 
 Of wrechid war. The very locke and key, 
 That lacheth and lockth vs all, from quiet ftey. 
 Who that (in raflie roofe) beginneth to contende, 
 He repenth beginning, ere he cum to ende. 
 
 It is a thing : right far be yond an ants reche : 
 
 To blafe the plat of poyfon : generaly : 
 
 Set a broche by war, but fliort fum to feche : 
 
 Warres harme : and good, ftand bothe vnfpeakably. 
 
 Both are (I fay) vnfpeable for why. 
 
 War hath done more harme : then tale of toung can holde. 
 
 War hath done no good, and nought can not be tolde. 
 
 War hath wrought fuch wo : that all flies comunly, 
 And fpyders eke. Of which two fortes I fpeake : 
 Hauing in all times had experienfy, 
 Of raflie beginning of war : the peace to breake, 
 They feeing (in their war) their winning weake, 
 Wolde leefe half the good they had : to peace to fall : 
 Rather then ieberd in war : goods life and all, 
 
 And of both fortes in this cafe, weried in war, 
 Flies haue had euer caufe : to niiflike war mofte. 
 When fpiders and flies : haue falne at this lyke iar, 
 For quarels : wherin flies, might moft their ryght bofte : 
 Who euer had the right, the flies the feeld lofl:e. 
 To one fcore ipyders fleyne, flies flayne, twentyfcore. 
 And much of their offpring, loft for euermore. 
 
 Bb Which 
 
 A A 241 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Which fliowth (as fpiders calte, that no fedicion : 
 
 Can haue good fucfes. In flies inferior : 
 
 By ftoburne war, but by humbyll peticion : 
 
 For thing interior, or exterior. 
 
 Flies muft few : to the fpider fuperior. 
 
 They take this as a full hold : not to be remift, 
 
 Well framid flies, wyll fufifre and not refifl:. 
 
 Flies wreks in wars : in time paft : yf flies reuolue, 
 How fpiders copwebs : flies fepultures haue beene, 
 Your wife quiet retire, (hall this war difolue. 
 But yf fmart of time paft : be forgoton cleene, 
 Caft lye to parell, at lye prefentlie feene. 
 Vew yonder copweb caftell : with endifrent iye : 
 And marke whether ye be macht endifrentlye. 
 
 Behold : the batilments in euerie loope : 
 How thordinance lieth : flies fer and nere to fach. 
 Behold : how euerie peece : that lith there in groope : 
 Hath a fpider gouner : with redy fired mach. 
 Behold : on the wals : fpiders waking ware wach. 
 The wach fpider : in the towre a laruni to ftrike, 
 At a proch of any nomber, fhowing war like. 
 
 Se thenprenabill fort : in euery border. 
 
 How euerie fpider : with his weapon doth ftand. 
 
 So thorowlie harneft : in fo good order : 
 
 The capitall fpider ; with weapon in hand. 
 
 For that fort of fowdiers : fo manfully mand. 
 
 With copwebs : like cafting netts : all flies to quell, 
 
 My hart ftiaketh at the fight : be hold : it is hell. 
 
 Againft 
 
 242 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Againft whofe ftrength there, your weaknes here behold, 
 Sum haue harnes : moft haue none : all out of rey. 
 Capitaynes : practifed : politike and bold. 
 Few or none haue ye : this armie to conuey. 
 But eche in others neck : as ftieepe ftart a ftrey. 
 Ordinance meete for the fhip, ye bring to the feelde. 
 But force without order : winth victorie feelde. 
 
 And put cafe : that of you fbrtie thoufand fliije : 
 Thirtie thoufand : (hall fcape, and his window win. 
 Yet : if ech one of you : in him felfe furmife : 
 That he fhalbe one : that fhall die entring in, 
 What one flie (of all flies) wil thaffaute begin .' 
 No one, but that one that from home now come. 
 Shall thinke him felfe wifeft, that foneft goth home. 
 
 But to die all : and in this window nought geyne : 
 Of that : fayde practife of time paft : affewrth ye. 
 To venter life : and fuffer deth, are thinges tweyne. 
 Ventring of life, tobteyne right, oft fe we. 
 But to venter life : where deth hath certente, 
 For thefe kinds of right : to die : while ye may Hue, 
 No wife flie will : but right rather ouer give. 
 
 But if your harms of time paft : be forgoten. 
 Warning of prefent harms : at prefent time take. 
 Of which two meafures : if none may be moten, 
 Time paft, nor time prefent, (of which two I fpake,) 
 Let the third : time to cum : be meane, thend to make. 
 Weying that in time to cum. The end muft cum : 
 To one end of foure, which folow here in fum. 
 
 Bb ii After 
 
 243 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 After this war begoon, either both parts fliall : 
 Take ende with condifion : as both parts can gre. 
 Or continew in war, time perpetuall : 
 Or the flies (by the fpiders) conquered ftialbe, 
 Or the fpiders conquered by the flies. Now fe : 
 How : in eche one end of thefe fowre : fhall a rife, 
 Paynfull perelus penuries, to all flies. 
 
 Firfl: : if ye after a time had in conflickt : 
 Take ende with the fpider : by compoficion, 
 Befide the flies : that to death (halbe addickt : 
 The furuiuers : fhall receyue fuch condicion : 
 At the fpiders hand : as the diftribicion : 
 Shall make flies at end : bid fie on their winning, 
 And after that end : repent their beginning. 
 
 Second : this war : continuing continualy, 
 
 Euery yere, moneth, weeke, day, howre, euery minute : 
 
 Many flies fhall die. and all may feare to dy : 
 
 What flie can befure : one howres life texecute : 
 
 At poyntes of all weapons, euer had in purfute. 
 
 In vndoughted death : and doughtfuU deadly life, 
 
 This ende fheweth fmall difrens, where reafon is rife : 
 
 Thirdly : yf the fpider do conquere you flife, 
 What fo euer flie then : him felfe beA: be haues : 
 The befl: and the worfle : all in one rate fhall rife. 
 Now frank free franklin flies, then all vile bonde flaues, 
 Now flie in light windowfe, then fit in darke caues. 
 Flies beginning war : ending thus, they fhall clere, 
 Their hell or purgatory, begin euine here. 
 
 The 
 
 244 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 The fourth : yf you flies fliall the fpider conqueare, 
 Then fhall all fpiders go to wracke firft : no dout. 
 And after fliall the flies folow : eueri wheare. 
 When flies haue kild fpiders : that iley the rewde rout, 
 Then flie againfl flie : comun cuthrote mofte ftout. 
 Foure endes : in this one war : fhow (thone and thother, . 
 The lafl being worfte,) ech end wors then other. 
 
 In time pafl: : time prefent : and in time to coome : 
 Sins ye haue woon : do win : nor fhall win here ought, 
 Beter wende your Ihip a loofe : and take fea roome : 
 Then roon here on rockes, and to fhipwrak be brought : 
 It is to fer fet : and ferder to dere bought : 
 To fet : and bye thinges : with no les los in fliriues : 
 But with los : both of all your liuinges and Hues. 
 
 Here haue I fayde my minde: vnder principles few. 
 Firft : defiring you to here me thorowly. 
 Ere ye iudge any part, of what I fhould fliew. 
 And then to iudge me, by equite equaly. 
 Whervnto : for hereing in this cafe fewde I, 
 Firft for me, next for you and me, laft for you. 
 Of which profes a brigde, brefe pith aprochth now. 
 
 For me : the flies and butterflies tales : I weyde : 
 To my difcharge. Sins I cam ; of all offence. 
 And before I cam, my difcharge my felfe leyde. 
 Wherin : my cafe being giltles inofence, 
 For you and me, both in refon and confiens. 
 To faue both fides vpright, this counfell I gaue. 
 You to faue my life, your honeftie to faue. 
 
 Bb iii For 
 
 245 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 For you and not me : in your prefent quarell, 
 
 On this principle, my hole talke did depende. 
 
 Ere we ought begin : namelie thing of parell, 
 
 Wifdom wilth vs, to haue an lye to the ende. 
 
 In parelus quarelus cafe : to contende : 
 
 Chieflie this : in time paft : prefent : and to cum. 
 
 How ye fped : and be like to fpede, I flioud the fum. 
 
 But to end at beginning : you calling lye, 
 
 At this poore counfell : of poore Antonie ant. 
 
 Of fhap and good wit fmall : of good will great and hye, 
 
 I fhall reioyfe. Hoping here ftiall be no want : 
 
 Of equite : in my difcharge this inftant. 
 
 Which I humbly pray : and fo to end to fall, 
 
 I fay no more : but the great God faue you all. 
 
 This done : a noyfe began of fuch a buzzing, 
 
 Ech one flie blowing in an other flies eare, 
 
 As if ten milions of flies had ben buzzing. 
 
 And all : by this tale fo aftonide in feare, 
 
 That moft of them : their weapons could fcantly beare. 
 
 Thants perfwafions : in drede of deth : ftrake them fo, 
 
 That hundreds cride oute, home agayne let vs go. 
 
 With this mounfer graund captayne the great bragger : 
 
 Was much a mafed, and vengeably vext. 
 
 To fe thefe flies now : fo vnftedily dagger, 
 
 So late fo redie : to bring their foofe perplext. 
 
 This time (thought he) Ihould giue warning to the next. 
 
 Yf he fcaped this : at all times to be ware. 
 
 With faint fond flies, to fifke agayne a warfare. 
 
 ^He 
 
 246 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 le be gan to call : that in commun knowne gife ^ 
 In all like tumults : that flies do thus procure : 
 Of fimple flies, mofl are pardned that thus rife. 
 But captaine flies (as he is now) are hangd fure, 
 Of which prefent daunger, to put delaie in vre. 
 He wound into that tree : and filence woon, 
 The flies tencorage againe, this he be goon. 
 
 ITThant hath fet the flies in fuch feare of the fpiders, that mofl: 
 are redie to ronne awaie. whom to ftaie, the captaine flie de- 
 uifeth thant to fet the fpiders in like feare of them : by a tale 
 ' tolde on the fame grounde that he tolde this : in paine of han- 
 ging at his returne. Cap. 58. 
 
 Bb iiii 
 
 247 
 
248 
 
249 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Sirs : I fe well this tale of this ant here told, 
 To paffe this feene parel, putth you in fuch dreede, 
 That manie are minded to leaue of their hold. 
 As though leaning of now, fhould your fafgard breede. 
 As it fliould not. Nor for that it fhould in dede. 
 His tale is told nowhit But all told for this. 
 To faue him felfe, and thofe fpiders freends of his. 
 
 He feeth what and whie he faith. Which you fe nat. 
 He forefeeth : if feare driue vs to ronne awaie. 
 That we Ihall not onlie leefe this window plat, 
 But in fleeyng, like fleafe kild in chafe from raie. 
 Which fhalbe (he knowth well) our leyferleffe daie : 
 To be iaylers to ants, and he thervpon, 
 (Being his owne layler) breakth iayle and is gone. 
 
 This waie : our enemies win all, and we leefe all. 
 
 They laugh, and we wepe. They Hue, and we die. 
 
 They in fame, we in fhame. Perpetuall. 
 
 And without coft, paine, or daunger, by and by, 
 
 This ant at libertie, immediatlie. 
 
 Thus : where thats woords (how him to be your great frede, 
 
 Pyth of thants woords : proue him to be your great feende. 
 
 Sum clarks (of whom this title ant not leaft dark) 
 
 Can : fine lies : as finelie as fine trew tales, tell. 
 
 Right fide : or wrong fide : they can turne in eche woork, 
 
 And make flies take either fide : trew as gofpell. 
 
 Which turne in this tale : to appere in fequell, 
 
 I haue deuifde a waie : (hauing your confent,) 
 
 Here it : and fpeake to it as your brefts are bent. 
 
 As 
 
 250 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 As this ant clarklie (or craftelie here,) 
 
 Hath caft manie mafing mifts before your iyfe : 
 
 Of much dread by much daunger, here to a pere. 
 
 So : vpon his life or deth, let him deuife, 
 
 Vpon the fame ground : that your feare doth a rife, 
 
 A fpeech to the fpidera To (how what depe dreads, 
 
 He can draw or driue, in to their harts and heads. 
 
 Which ground is this. Ere anie wight ought begin, 
 Haue an lye to thend. The wife wight fayth : (fayth he,) 
 Wherin : (to mach the feare that you be now in,) 
 If he bring fpiders : in as much feare of ye : 
 As he hath brought you in feare of them to be, 
 Then at returne pardon him. Goods, life, and land. 
 Which if ye do not, then hang him out of hand. 
 
 Be it fo cried all : then fayd this one that all leades, 
 Choofe fortie flies : to gard this ant that here ftands. 
 Twentie : whofe hands we truft more then their heades. 
 And twentie : whofe heades we truft more then their hands, 
 All of hart truftie : both power and polifis bands. 
 And for feare of fals meafures : among all theefe, 
 Send fum, that fumwhat leaue behinde : loth to leefe. 
 
 This fayd, and thant fwome, his beft here to be bent, 
 An harold with trompet : and truce baner fpleyde : 
 For their fafe conduckt, to the fpider they fent. 
 The fpider : warnd watch, to fe their cuming fteyde. 
 It fliould (to his honour,) be reproche he fayde, 
 To treate with traytors : in order of arms, 
 But of grace, he graunth them to cum without harmss 
 
 The 
 
 SSI 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 The harold and that refte : to the captaine flie: 
 
 And all flies, the fpiders pleafure did declare. 
 
 Wherwith : to gard thant, they chofe out flies fortie. 
 
 Whome : while they were choofmg, one cople thare : 
 
 Two flife of byfie wit : as fondry flies are, 
 
 Fell to deuining : by coniecture to (how, 
 
 What fliould : in this mefage, and mefenger, grow. 
 
 How feifl: thou my frende (quoth thone flie) to this gere ; 
 
 What woldefl: thou giue to haue the Ants office now ? 
 
 Geue (quoth thother flie) not paring of a Pere. 
 
 Nor I (quoth he) but wolde rather make a vow. 
 
 To leaue all that I haue, and Hue at the plow : 
 
 Then take it. Whats thy minde therin (quoth thother ?) 
 
 That fhalt thou here (hering this, quoth he) brother. 
 
 If fo fall : that thant bringe not fpiders in feare, 
 Then feth he him felf hanged : at cuming againe. 
 And bringing fpiders in feare : when he cumth theare, 
 He is in daunger, of the head fpiders difdaine. 
 Which is a nother death. And to fcape both twaine, 
 I take it to be, a bifie, peece of warke. 
 And to fhoote at, a croked crabid marke. 
 
 For both thefe cafes (quoth thother flie) put cafe : 
 In either cafe of both, thants deth do enfew. 
 Yet in which cafe of both : deth fhall firft take place, 
 That will thant labour, fyrft and moft, to efchew. 
 Whofe firfl: parell : in handes of vs flies to vew. 
 It (hall enfors the ant : in all the force he may. 
 For feare of death by flies : the fpiders to fray. 
 
 Note 
 
 252 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Note (quoth thother flie) to this, this obiection, 
 
 Nature in the fpiders and the ant : ioyneth nie. 
 
 Which : Ihall make thant ieperd much : by affection. 
 
 In fpightful woordes : to comfort fpiders fpightfuUy. 
 
 Rather then difcomfort them : thus fearingly, 
 
 I haue feene fum, that for this like caufe vpftood, 
 
 Whofe craftie coucht tales, haue done more harme the good. 
 
 They haue done fo (quoth thother) and they do fo. 
 Where feare is fmall, by penalte being fmall : 
 But where penalte (as here) to death doth go, 
 In the ants like tales : few trip : or none at all. 
 Manie fay oft, honger perfeth the ftone wall. 
 But honger and feare : where both cum in lyke vre, 
 Feare perfeth : as depe as honger, make ye fewre. 
 
 The father his fonne : and the fonne his father : 
 
 The wife her hufband : and the hufband his wife : 
 
 The brother, his brother, all thefe we gather : 
 
 To haue feene : (compeld by feare,) where feare was rife, 
 
 Bewrey, and be trey echother. In feare of life, 
 
 Seeld fe we : fo naturall a foolilh kind elf. 
 
 But he will hang his father : to faue him felf. 
 
 Oft (quoth thother) tys fo, fum times otherwife. 
 Of flies condemd, the father and fonne, both haue : 
 Vpon their knees : fewde with flowing watred lyfe : 
 Ech him felf to be hangd : the other to faue. 
 That fute (quoth thother flie) is no comon flaue : 
 But in his apparence : fo fl:raunge a ftraunger. 
 That his prefence (this time) wyll bring no daunger. 
 
 Cc But 
 
 253 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But contrarie : in thefe like ftormes we fe oft, 
 
 Where Ants, fpiders, or flies, thants like tale muft tell. 
 
 Or they in auctorite : forft vp a loft. 
 
 Not for that their fetters vp : truft their truths well. 
 
 But (as this ant) made inftruments of parell : 
 
 There fhall feare force them : for'feare of fufpicion, 
 
 To fticke faft, to their forfers difpoficion. 
 
 They wot (or they weene,) that they be watched fo, 
 
 That if they be but fufpect : to wring or wrie. 
 
 They be vndone : I wolde rather choofe my fo, ■ 
 
 To be my iudge : in cafe iudiciallie : 
 
 Then my freend. in this fearfull forft ftate : for whie, 
 
 Feare of forcers (hall force him : more eide to rate. 
 
 To his foe: whome they loue, the his friend: whom they hate. 
 
 Yee fay well (faide thother) but I fey to this, 
 Saide fufpected fortes : in feare of auctorite, 
 Notwithftanding : fufpition danngerus is : 
 Yet fum, in faction or affection we fe, 
 Or other corruption, fo affected be. 
 Though life lie vpon it : yet by meane direct. 
 Or indirect, they woork their affections effect. 
 
 And fo for this ant : our foole caufe of talk now. 
 What euer othe in promife : he for feare make, 
 To bring fpiders in feare : to bring them to bow. 
 Yet : either for natures : or affections fake, 
 I feare, he will wililie the wrong waie take. 
 And I hope (quoth thother) his prefent parell. 
 Shall ftiflie ftreine him, to ftrengthen our quarell. 
 
 .^But 
 
 254 
 
AND THE P'LIE. 
 
 But betwene you and me : in fine thus is it. 
 You feare here the word, and I hope here the beft. 
 You in which feare : and I in which hope, let vs fit, 
 Silentlie tyll practife by profe haue exprefl:, 
 In what fcope (for what fcape,) the ants tale (hall reft. 
 The other flie beyng a greede vnto this. 
 To fe this end, both attend as meete now is. 
 
 This talke doone, fortie flies (and thant with them flew 
 Streight to the fpider : before whom thant now ftandes : 
 But how thant fleeth now, that fhall eftfoone enfew. 
 The fpider was garded : round about with bandes. 
 Sauing : a lane, made with tipftaues : and other wandes. 
 That thant to the fpider : in hering and (how, 
 Myght faie (as he did faie) at curtfie made low. 
 
 f Thant after entre in talke (before the hed fpider) he to hym, 
 and all the fpiders(vpon this faide grounde: ere thou ought be- 
 gin: haue a iye to the ende,) inueyth what he can to fet the 
 fpiders in feare of the flies. Cap. 59. 
 
 Cc I'i 
 
 = 53 
 
2S6 
 
257 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Honorable fyr maie it your honour like : 
 To confider : that in affaijes meare mundeine, 
 Polifie : and powre : do not the ftroke fo ftrike : 
 That ftrife (at ftaues end) for victorie or geyne : 
 Winth alwaie the ftrong, on the weake tobteyne : 
 But fumtime we fee : fortune, hap, or chaunce, 
 The weaker : aboue the (longer, in ftrife a vaunce. 
 
 Wherof : my felf here mirrour to behold, 
 
 Sum polifie, politike heads thinke I haue. 
 
 And of your powre at hand. Might haue ben bold. 
 
 But polifie and powre : my felf now to faue, 
 
 Chaunce wold not fuffer : but chaunce both awaie draue. 
 
 Sodenneffe of chaunce : this chaunge in me hath wrought, 
 
 From liking liuelie life, to dolefull death brought. 
 
 With halter here about my necke, as ye fe. 
 
 Refpight haue I woon, to fe you ere I die, 
 
 For two things. One to praie all to praie for me. 
 
 An other, (as I am bound naturallie :) 
 
 To warne all : of deepe daunger here prefentlie. 
 
 At lye, in hand. But ye your heads draw nere, 
 
 To here and vfe my counfell folowing here. 
 
 This fage faying, the wyfe haue faide and faie. 
 Haue an iye to the ende, ere thou ought begin. 
 Of this debate : begon then, thend here waie. 
 What fmall or no pleafure, ye can therin win. 
 And what great difpleafure, ye may be brought in. 
 Prouing you : (at beft) nought to win by this war, 
 And prouing you : (at worft) vtterlie to mar. 
 
 One 
 
 258 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 One point of foure, this ftrife cumth to of neede. 
 
 Either : after ftrife : tagree by a greement, 
 
 Or euer to ftriue and neuer be a greede, 
 
 Or you to fubdew the flies : by the fwoords dent, 
 
 Or the fllies to conquere you, by force feruent. 
 
 Now : if this beginning, fhall furder begin, 
 
 Caft a line to thend, and mete what ye fhall win. 
 
 Firft : tagree after time of ftrife tafted. 
 
 In meane time : on both fides the mortalitee, 
 
 Your copwebs, theyr cotages, worne and wafted. 
 
 All windowes vacant : of moft fertilytee. 
 
 All from good order, to fmfuU ciuilitee. 
 
 The beft end (for both fides, being extented. 
 
 The beginning (on both fides) ftialbe repented. 
 
 Next : to continew in perpetuall ftrife. 
 
 Purgatorie that (nay that is hell fay I,) 
 
 Better deade. then euer liue in feare to loofe life, 
 
 As both fides fhall liue : euermore dyingly. 
 
 Still fterting from fleape, all fleapt with waking iye. 
 
 I better like mine end : looking for end ftreight, 
 
 Then thus vpon this en dies end : ftill to weight. 
 
 Third : if you in fubiection the flies fubdew, 
 Thacount bringth fmall gaine : to that end wedded : 
 All flies ye can not kill : What (hall then enfew .' 
 As manie as ye keepe in dred, to be hedded, 
 So manie you dread : then who is moft dredded. 
 One flie put in feare, putth you in feare of ten. 
 Tell here your cardes, and tell what ye win then. 
 
 Cc ii Fourth 
 
 259 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Fourth : if the flies conquere you, oh dredfull daye. 
 
 Dead in halfe a daye : ye (halbe euerie one. 
 
 Of the three other wayes : in euerie one waye, 
 
 Both fides (in effect) like ill : end vpon. 
 
 But in this fourth, (feare wherof is my moft mone) 
 
 Where all flies fliall win all : and brauelie boll all, 
 
 All fpiders fhall leafe all, and fpiders be loft all. 
 
 If ye replie here : and faie flies (to this daie) 
 Neuer wan this way : but euer in loffe lapt : 
 In reioyneir : reioyning with you, this I faie. 
 Hit hapth in one houre, that before neuer hapt. 
 As it hapth me this houre : with flies to be trapt. 
 And that this is more like to hap this prefent. 
 Then it erft hath bene, mark this prefent bend bent. 
 
 See (I faie) echone his death here (as who faye. 
 Fiue thoufand fpiders : on thone fide to fight, 
 Againft fiftie thoufand flies, (oh fearfuU fraye) 
 A heape to a handfulL The more fide fo light : 
 The. leffe fide fo heuie : tis a heuie fight : 
 In fondrie refpectes. Wherin no one of anie. 
 Fearthe me fo much, as fo few : to fo manie. 
 
 Were they all cowardes, as thei are hardie flife. 
 Not the leaft flie there : but he dare bite his bit, 
 On the greatefl: Oxe : that in the fliambles life. 
 No weapon but the flap, fhall make him thens flit. 
 Of the which weapon : fpiders can fkill no wit. 
 But though flies : but cowardlie ftacke to the helme, 
 Yet muft the numbre : this copweb ouerwhelme. 
 
 UJTen 
 
 260 
 
AND" THE FLIE. 
 
 t4JTen to one (in war) an vnmeete matched match. 
 They will marche on, as thick, as motes in the foon. 
 Ten thoufand (in a moment) if ye dipache, 
 Twentie thoufand mo, vpon fpeare poinct will roon. 
 The defperate, dreadth : nother byll, bow, nor gon. 
 And what gaine you ? to kill ilies thick as motes ? 
 The reft entring on you ftreyght, and cut your throtes. 
 
 And though they geffe : that manie of them fhall die. 
 
 Yet : if ech one think fure that fcape he fhall, 
 
 As I think, all fo think : affewredlie. 
 
 Then that perfwafion, fhall perfwade them all. 
 
 Echone with other, ftreight in ftrife to fall. 
 
 Who maie be formoft flie : with corage hawte, 
 
 Thonfet to giue, this caftell to affawte. 
 
 Your wifdome : and your wifdoms all : I know, 
 Much more : can here confider. Then I can 
 How beit good will, wilth me : warning to fhow, 
 Of harme to cum : in this begoon to fcan. 
 Before the end, what thend maie be, and than, 
 So flee the worft, to fall (as you thinke beft,) 
 At fum poinct with the flies, to be at reft. 
 
 IThat hauing brought the fpiders in great feare of the mul- 
 titude of flies, the head fpider takinge greate difpleafure with 
 the ant for the fame, he anfwereth thantes tale fo that he brin- 
 geth all the fpiders in corage agayne. Geuinge (in his owne 
 name and all theyrs,) deflance to the flies. Cap. 60. 
 
 U>Cc iii 
 
 261 
 
262 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 rHe fpiders at thants tale, weare muche abaftit. 
 The flies (as thant fet them out) feard the fpiders fore 
 Their weapons fell from hand : they weare quight quaflit 
 Take peace with flies, they cride. At which rumorus rore, 
 The head fpider (with wheat tuflces fomde like a bore) 
 In that rage : had not his honour line therone, 
 Had thant had a thoufand Hues, he had bene gone. 
 
 At this hurlie burlie, that fpider le graund : 
 In his cheyre fretting fewriouflie he frownith. 
 His looke was commiflion : filence to commaund. 
 Whervpon : ftatelie and fternelie he entrith ; 
 A difcors. The ants laft told tale to meetwith. 
 But firft : thant to difcredit, to thants difpreyfe, 
 On thants properties, this fpider thus inueyfe. 
 
 Freendes : I perceyue the ants tale (more falfe then fine,) 
 Makth you : your owne fliadowes to dread (as it weare :) 
 To profede in war. But ftey a litle tine. 
 Lift vp your hartes all, and ech one lend one eare, 
 Tyll ye haue hard : how I this tale fhal anfweare. 
 But ere I touch the pith : of thantes tale in this, 
 Heare of what propertie, thant him felfe is. 
 
 The Ant (cumne into the world out of the Ihell,) 
 
 For a time (in his time) creepith on the ground. 
 
 As we fpiders creepe here : and his pifle as fell 
 
 In fliinging as our poyfon (welny is found.) 
 
 Which properties, woork him toward our nature wound. 
 
 Wherby Antes be and haue bene taken : in all age, 
 
 Our halfe coflns : a lide in fide halfe linage. 
 
 This 
 
 364 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 This time, is the Ant, the creping ant named. 
 In time after this time, he to more time growne, 
 Winges doth he gather. And thofe in him framed, 
 The flieing ant : thenfforth he is cald and knowne. 
 Then difperfth his nature, in two natures throwne. 
 He pertifipateth, with both thefe in this wife. 
 A creper with fpiders, and a flier with flife. 
 
 When he crept hither firft (at my requeft heare,) 
 I was difeyued in his age. (As the deuill wolde.) 
 I thought him to young to haue winges, by a yeare. 
 But now, he wingd with flies, his flieing tale tolde, 
 Doth Ihow him old ynough : and a yeare to olde. 
 Marke this creeping Ant : fins wings wownd him a loft. 
 How he pleyth on both handes : as luglers do oft. 
 
 He corageth the flies now, difcoraging vs. 
 
 But didfl: thou not erft, promife me otherwife ? 
 
 Here : is thant brought to a narow ftreight, as thus. 
 
 If thant tell the fpiders : how he fraide the flies. 
 
 Then feeth he his death, at flies handes : ftreight a rife. 
 
 And if he faie he coragde the flies, that lie. 
 
 Shall make the fpiders hate him, without caufe whie. 
 
 Thant : hauing to this demaund : good anfwer none. 
 None anfwere made he : but ft:oode fl:ill filently. 
 Lo (quoth the fpider) is not thant a good one .' 
 Were he charged in law herwith : by and by, 
 This obfliinate filence, fhould fliow him gilty. 
 But thant him felfe now : thus fer forth difclofed. 
 Go we now to thants matter : erft prepofed. 
 
 His 
 
 // 265 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 His great ground is this : (wheron the whole dependth. 
 
 Vew thend of all, ere the beginning be woon. 
 
 Wherin : if he a ledge here charge : that extendth : 
 
 To vs fpiders, that we this war firft begoon. 
 
 That charge is wrong charged, for that charge muft roon : 
 
 Vnto the flies : for they enuaders here be. 
 
 And we but defenders : as all iyes may fe. 
 
 And for the foure pointes : wherof one muft thend make : 
 
 In three of which : he laide loffe indiiTrentlie, 
 
 To lot on both fides a like : I vnder take, 
 
 In few woordes : to proue that tale a lowde lewde lie. 
 
 Firft : war here taken vp condifionallie, 
 
 Flies neuer woon end of vs : after beginning. 
 
 But flies (at end) euer bad fie on their winning. 
 
 The fecond : concerning war continuall : 
 
 In weat open feelde they, in drie warme houfe we. 
 
 Betweene thefe two plats, though the diftance be fmall. 
 
 The diffrence is great. Of the yeres four partes : thre, 
 
 Or two parts at leafte,) they can not trouble ye. 
 
 In winter, fommer flies no windowes keepe. 
 
 Vnder mens houfe eaues : like eauis droppers they creepe. 
 
 The third point : in our conquering of the flies : 
 For fearing of all flies : that we make a frayde, 
 The foole, or the infant, that his ftiadow fpies : 
 Wyll oftimes crie out in feare : calling for eyde. 
 But wifer foolk weing this, thus is it weyde. 
 Like feare to be had : on their conquered knaues, 
 As hath the great Turke : feare of his galie flaues. 
 
 Laft 
 
 2O6 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Laft, to the fourth : if flies fhall fpiders conquere : 
 Then are all fpiders loft : as the ant faith iure. 
 And flies to (faie I) but as touching that feare : 
 For time paft, of practice : put memorie in vre. 
 For time to cum, let liklihod you alure. 
 To ferch that kind of conqueft : and ye fhall fe, 
 It neuer was, nor is, nor neuer like to be. 
 
 From the beginning : it is in bookes to fhow. 
 When flies (againft fpiders) haue thus rebelled. 
 They : either had miferable ouer throw : 
 In rebelling, or ftreight after refelled. 
 Namelie one : the which generallie fwelled. 
 In flies againft fpiders, the time paft fix yeare. 
 Which one (were there no mo) fhowth this cafe cleare. 
 
 This time : fondrle. But chieflie, two flockes of flife. 
 For religion : with fum other thing to that. 
 One fort by eaft, an other by weft : did rife. 
 Of opinion, contrarie : as fer and flat. 
 As in diftance, ech far from other in plat, 
 Thone fort of both : to be in right faith elect. 
 All flies (faithfullie) did beleue or coniect. 
 
 Thofe flies did much harme : fix or eight weekes anoying : 
 
 Which time : fpiders had fmall reft, and thofe flies lefle. 
 
 Spiders copwebs : went to wrack, by diftroying : 
 
 And flies welth wafted : to begerie from richeffe 
 
 Foreftore lafht out, in excreable exceffe. 
 
 Frutes then growne, much loft for helpe to get them in. 
 
 How lookte flies here .'' to thend ere they did begin. 
 
 But 
 
 267 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But what was the end of this ? for foth euen this. 
 The captayns, moft hangd. Soldiers, many flaine. 
 The reft (ought worth) geuen in praie for pilagis. 
 So that (to this daie,) they bid fie on the gaine. 
 Thus were thefe two fortes : of opinions twaine, 
 One of the twayne : ia the right way to be thought, 
 Both brought to one end, and both brought to nought. 
 
 Which fliowth : that where flies in matter of moft right : 
 
 Atempt tataine mater right : in maner wrong. 
 
 There : their wrog maner, marth their right matter quight. 
 
 For fpiders agaynft flies, great Gods law ftandth ftrong. 
 
 Which law (in leading flies) hath willed this long. 
 
 You bafe inferiors to woorke your lordes wyll, 
 
 Obey your fuperiours, be they good or yll. 
 
 Thus : were their matter as good, as it is bad. 
 And we as weake, as the ant hath made you deeme. 
 Yet fhould thill maner : in flies here now had, 
 Set that God vpon them, to ftrike ftrokes extreeme. 
 As by thexample told, the (how doth well feeme. 
 Thus : for the flies conquering of vs this daye, 
 Goddes eyde all dayes before : takth all feare awaye. 
 
 But put cafe we had not (as we haue) the Godds eide : 
 But both fides : acording to force of our powers, 
 Shuld conquere or be conquered, or (as thant faide) 
 Hap hapth in one houre, as hath hapt in no houres. 
 Which he laft a leaged, to fchape our Iharp fhowres. 
 With other his framd feares, of our confufion. 
 Yet : thant here to confute, here my conclufion. 
 
 In 
 
 268 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 In the later part of his faing (I fay) 
 
 He faith we maie be diftroide : as hap may fall. 
 
 And it muft be graunted : that hap fo fall may, 
 
 But graunt that hap fo maie : ergo hap fo fhall, 
 
 That argument hath ftrength, like a paper wall. 
 
 May fall : and fhall fall, are fer diferent marks : 
 
 To fhote at. But when the (kie faith we fhall haue larks. 
 
 For the feare, that his tongtromp (to you did fowne :) 
 By thus manie flies : to thus few fpiders feene, 
 Set ten flies with ten axes, one oke to hew downe. 
 That Oke fhall be hackt at : a good while I weene, 
 Ere it will fhrinke for flies : be it feare or greene. 
 And the leafte twig : that out of that Oke can fall, 
 (The Oke (landing ftill :) fhall flea thofe ten flies all. 
 
 And fo we Oke fpiders : againfl thefe twig flife. 
 Were they all great flies : as moft of them be gnatts. 
 And to one of vs, fortie of them do rife. 
 Yet as the giantes pawes : pat downe dandipratts, 
 So fhall we put downe : thefe dandiprat brag bratts. 
 Their moft nombre : with our moft ftrength to compare, 
 Pooding prikes they, mylpofts we : comparde are. 
 
 And where he faith : though flies thinke manie fhall dy : 
 Yet : ech flie thinking him felf fhall fcape with life, 
 They will ftriue : who fhall fet on firft : here faie I, 
 At end of that ftrife : they entred in this ftrife, 
 The foole hardie flies : now moft redie or rife : 
 To cum with the firft : fhall feele the tafte fo tough, 
 That : who cumth laft : fhall thinke he cumth time inough. 
 
 Dd Thants 
 
 269 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Thants tale (from point to point) now full anfwered, 
 All force of our feare here : it wiping a waie, 
 Tenforce you from feare : furder encoraged, 
 Heare : and beare a waie : what I fhall herin faie. 
 A few woords, hilie to your comfort this daie. 
 Which fhall fet you all : as fer out of all feare, 
 As the ants tale fet you all in feare : while eare. 
 
 Mark : all you : that in marking your enemies, 
 Their force (and not your owne) do onlie behold, 
 A deadlie dreadfull fight it is : in your iyes.. 
 But on your owne force : your iyes being round rold : 
 The felfe fight of this force : fhall you fo enbold. 
 That had you no weapons here : but hafill wands, 
 Yet might ye count, your enemies now in your hands. 
 
 Mark more : that your foes : in beholding you : 
 
 Are ftrikin in as deepe dread : your force to vew, 
 
 As you are of theirs : which fetth both fides euine. now : 
 
 Marke yet more : they haue y^ wrog part, you haue the trew. 
 
 Againft godds and manns law : this wrong thei purfew, 
 
 Both which : fo ftrike them : when they wold preuayle, 
 
 That their atempt, euer hath quaild, and fhall quaile. 
 
 So coward a fpider : where can be fene one ? 
 
 That will not liue and die : in this his knowne right 
 
 Shuld all fpiders die : (as few fhall or none) 
 
 Yet in this quarell, fpiders go to bliffe quight, 
 
 And flies to bale, without refpect of refpight. 
 
 Wherfore let the flies, the ants lefTon atend : 
 
 At their this beginning, to haue iye to thend. 
 
 U^And 
 
 270 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 t4jAnd now (at end) dere freends all, pluck vp your hartes. 
 Take your weapons in hand : and ftand vp againe. 
 Sticke to your takling : in this plat on all partes. 
 And as for the flies, (their fare to (how them plaine) 
 When euer they cum, they fhall cum to their paine. 
 Stand ftiffe to me, and ftand ftiffe to you I (hall. 
 Flies and flies kin, we defie you traytours all. 
 
 The fpider thus anfwering thants tale at length : 
 From poynt to point : no poynt therof omitted, 
 All fpiders : againe in full coorage and ftrength : 
 Thofe flies to their flock : with thant againe flitted. 
 Two of them (to the captayne knowne well witted : 
 To flie into the tree : he ftreight commaundeth, 
 And thant vnto the ladder againe, forthwith. 
 
 ITVpon defiace geuin by the fpider to the flies, the ant brought 
 agayne to the flies, maketh full report of all fayde at the cop- 
 web. At end wherof, two flies argue wether thant haue defer- 
 ued life or death. By keeping or breaking former comnant to 
 bring the fpiders in feare of the flies. Cap. 6i. 
 
 (4) Dd ii 
 
 271 
 
^^^^ 
 
 
 
 ^^^s 
 
 
 
 
 
 ^s 
 
 M^P5 
 
 fW^s^ 
 
 IH^M^ 
 
 
 HjjjaX/ 
 
 
 ^^^^ffi^ 
 
 
 
 ^^s 
 
 
 
 
 "^^^^^^^ 
 
 sS^ 
 
 tie^^M^M 
 
 &v><^ 
 
 
 272 
 
273 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 rHat Captaine wild one of thofe flies to declare, 
 What had (fince they parted) paffed in this cafe. 
 And if he ought addid : or minilhed thare, 
 The Captaine wild thother, tentrupt him in place. 
 That trewth : trewlie, might appere without deface. 
 Whervpon the flie : affigned to faie than. 
 In a folem order, the procelTe began. 
 
 Firft : thants tale told the fpiders : he did repeate. 
 And the feare : that that tale brought the fpiders in. 
 Then in repeate, the fpiders tale he did treate. 
 And what recoorage that did the fpiders win. 
 With defiance giuen flies, their alie, and kin. 
 The captayne then axt : you that went forth tell me. 
 Is this tale trew and the whole treuth ? all faide ye. 
 
 Two thinges (quoth the captayne) are to touch here on. 
 
 Firft : whether thant haue deferued to Hue or die. 
 
 The feconde, apeece of the fpiders tale gon. 
 
 Which I fliall touch foone : but firft thantes cafe lets trie. 
 
 Vpon his life or death, ftanding prefentlie. 
 
 To fe that cafe : by agrement fullie fcande, 
 
 It being (I faie) firft cafe to take in hande. 
 
 It is fo in deede (quoth one flie) in the tree. 
 Wherin : while memorie keepeth matter in minde, 
 I praie you all pacientlie to here me : 
 Vprightlie declare (as equite doth binde.) 
 Without affection : anie wrong waie to winde. 
 But enin as confcience : to fpeake : doth me compell. 
 So (hall I fpeake this tale, which I fhall now tell. 
 
 Wheare 
 
 274 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Where I haue heard wife flies talke : I haue herd leide, 
 
 In weigjjtie caufe ; weightie confiderafion. 
 
 And thers no matter : more weightie to be weide 
 
 Then that : in which : vpon confultafion 
 
 Lith^ life or death : in determinafion. 
 
 And prefentlie prefent this Ants cafe : meane I : 
 
 To waie confideratelie, and indifferentlie. 
 
 Whofe life : or whofe death : before we determin : 
 
 Which of both to determin : meete is to wey, 
 
 Your late determind condicion. pith wherin, 
 
 Was : that thant fhould bring fpiders in fuch like frey 
 
 Of vs, as he brought vs of them, and I faie : 
 
 He hath done fo. So that in my confcience, 
 
 Life and liberte muft he haue, to go hence. 
 
 And I faie naie (quoth the flie) in the tree by : 
 
 He hath not performed that condifion at full : 
 
 To haue his life, hath he not (quoth thother flie ? 
 
 To make profe a pere here : to witts quicke and dull : 
 
 That performance will wee reafon, if ye wull. 
 
 Beet (quoth thother flie,) but all flies giue an eare. 
 
 To one thing good for all : awaie to beare. 
 
 My brother flie, (and I feeming here to varie : 
 Both being on one part : feeming on parts twaine : 
 In that in this one point, we are contrarie : 
 Ech one to other : it male make you retaine : 
 And detaine a dout, whether we both remaine : 
 Conftant, on that part that we profefTe : or no. 
 But here me furder here : ere we furder go. 
 
 Dd ii Thargument 
 
 S7S 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Thargiiment of vs tweine, is onlie this one. 
 Concerning the condifion toucht formerlie : 
 Either by performance : or performance none, 
 How the ants defert ftandth, to liue or to die. 
 Thant fhould liue fayth he, thant fhuld die (fay I.) 
 Now confider : that this prefent argument, 
 Is : to principall cafe, but an incident. 
 
 Our cheife cuming is : on fpiders to make war. 
 
 By caufe we no way els, can obtaine our right. 
 
 Wherin : we ioyne with you, without iote of iar. 
 
 This remembre I you of: to fcrape out quight. 
 
 All doughtes of our trewth : in iudgement of heddes light. 
 
 For this cafe : or like cafe in cafe : vfed thus, 
 
 Showth miftruft in no wight : anie cafe to difcus. 
 
 And now we tweine to fatiffie (as we can) 
 Our felues : and to fe you the reft fatiffide, 
 Aleage brother flie : what ye can herin fcan. 
 Wherto, mine anfwere fhall forthwith be applide. 
 Thants life or death : in our iudgements to fe tride. 
 That (hall (quoth the other flie without delay, 
 Cum in vre : as brieflie, as it fuUie may. 
 
 Thant (in his charged tale) to fpiders told erft. 
 Grounded thus : ere ought begin : haue iye to thend. 
 At end of thants talke, fpiders harts it fo perft. 
 That it ftagard and ftonide all that hole bend. 
 Weapons falne to ground, this out crie they extend. 
 Shaking of their headdes : and cafting vp their iyes. 
 Take peace with the flies, take peace with the flies. 
 
 Thant 
 
 276 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Thant made fpiders of flies : as much a frayde tho, 
 As he made flies of fpiders, in tale erft told. 
 I graunt (quoth thother flie) in deede he did fo. 
 Wherto you muft graunt : that that feare did not hold, 
 For fpiders (forthwith) were againe brag and bolde. 
 Though they fo were (quoth he) thant performde cumnaut, 
 That (quoth thother flie) for trew, I can not graunt. 
 
 There is (in thants cumnant) further meaning ment : 
 Then the verie wordes therin fullie expreffe : 
 To bring fpiders : in feare of flies : by bond bent : 
 Is not all, that all flies looke fore : in fucfefle : 
 But to bring and keepe them in that fearefulneffe. 
 Bringing them in feare : not keping them in feare, 
 As fruitfuU to flies, as paring of a peare. 
 
 To anfwere this quidite (quoth thother flie) 
 
 You can haue no more of the Foxe but the fkin. 
 
 The ant hath done all that he can pofliblie. 
 
 To bring fpiders in feare : and kepe them therin. 
 
 Whofe good will not wanting, though powre cannot win : 
 
 Thing that good will wold win : yet is it not ill, 
 
 Rather then blame lacke of power, to thank good will. 
 
 Put cafe (quoth thother) thant outh you fortie pound. 
 
 Bound in obligacion, to paie at a daie. 
 
 At which daie, he cumth to you (as he is bound :) 
 
 And where he Ihould bring powre : fortie pounde to paie. 
 
 He bringth good will : and will paie you when he maie. 
 
 Whether wold ye more : (in this cafe of your) 
 
 Accept thants good will, or blame thants lacke of pour. 
 
 Dd iii What 
 
 377 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 What I wold do (quoth the other) I know nat. 
 
 But what I fhould do, that right well I know. 
 
 Thant fhowing full good will, to paie me that : 
 
 And that lacke of pour : without his faut did grow, 
 
 I (hould in trobling thant : in confciens fliow : 
 
 A rigur. ye (quoth thother flie) but in law, 
 
 To what end : wold thants good will without pour draw. 
 
 In this cafe (quoth he) commun law condemth thant. 
 In that the woordes of the bond, are fulfild no whit. 
 Performance Mrherof : in thants cafe, hath no want. 
 Which male a pere to flies, of moft fimple wit. 
 In marking thefe wordes : of this cumnant here knit : 
 Thant (paine of death) fhall bring fpiders in like feare: 
 Of flies, as he brought flies, of fpiders : here eare. 
 
 Thefe are (in thants cumnant) the wordes in effect : 
 Which bind the ant : the fpiders in feare to bring : 
 But to keepe them in feare, no woord runth direct. 
 And commun law : commonlie in euerie thing, 
 Conftrewth woordes, in their common plaine fence lieing, 
 And that thant made fpiders a fraide, ye do graunt. 
 Ergo, thant (by common law) hath kept cumnaunt 
 
 Now : to bring this cafe in courte of confience : 
 
 Declaring our meaning in thefe woordes : to be : 
 
 That thant fhould kepe fpiders in feareful fufpence, 
 
 Thant anfwering to this : that neuer ment he : 
 
 To be bounde : to that inconuenient decre. 
 
 The iudge (in this cafe and place) muft nedes aflent. 
 
 With thants meaning (againft cures) to geue iudgement 
 
 :§tin 
 
 278 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 J§J In law, confcience, and reafon, as thinkth me. 
 The defert of this ant, doth his pardon craue. 
 Landes, goods, bag, baggage, life, and liberie. 
 Freends (quoth thother flie) I haue a foule to faue : 
 Whervpon I proteaft : I no malice haue : 
 To thant But in reafon, I thinke he fhould die. 
 This faide, thofe flies to their place againe did flie. 
 
 f At ende of this laft argument. The captayne axing the ant 
 what he can faye ? whye he {hould not die, the ant after a 
 few woordes fubmitteth him to their order. Wherevpon 
 the captaine goinge to the queftion, the ant is condemde by 
 the voyce of the moft nombre. The captaine then willing hym 
 to make his lafl: prayers, he doth fo. Cap 62 
 
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THE SPIDER 
 
 THe captaine (to this) axt thant how fayft thou ? 
 What haft thou to faie, why thou fhouldft not die here 
 The talke (quoth he) for me, by the flie had now. 
 In reafon, law, and confcience, doth me clere. 
 Whofe which tale, doth much more pithilie appere. 
 For my felfe, then if my felfe had told it. 
 And as he told it, I pray all to hold it. 
 
 Wherin : as I haue kept comnant at the. full, 
 So craue I of you, to kepe cumnant with me. 
 Here ftand I : to liue or die now, as ye wuU. 
 But in killing me (a poore ant) what win ye : 
 Or what leefe I : neither profite nor honefte. 
 Honeft death, in honeft fame, (hall perfeuer. 
 Vnhoneft life, vnhoneft fhame fliall haue euer. 
 
 Then faide the captaine : freends though I now at will : 
 
 Onlie by vertue of mine auctoritee : 
 
 Might geue judgement here : this ant to faue or fpill : 
 
 Yet will I not geue it : but graunt to agree, 
 
 To fe this cafe decreede, by comun decree. 
 
 Which ftialbe tride, by thefe two wordes : ye, and no. 
 
 And ftreight to the queftion herein, let vs go. 
 
 All you that will haue the ant liue, fay ye. 
 Ye, ye : (with a loude voice) cride a great nomber tho. 
 Now (quoth the captaine) on thother fide : lets fee : 
 All that will not haue the ant to liue, faie no. 
 No, no : cride out manie, and fhowde manie mo : 
 Then weare on thother part. Then faide the captaine, 
 Ant: of thine owne death, thou hereft here iudgement plaine. 
 
 I 
 
 282 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 I commit me (quoth thant) to the'great gods will. 
 Say thy prayers (quoth the captaine) ere thou dye. 
 On the ladder, downe on knees half dead he fill. 
 Forthwith faying his deuocion deuoutlie. 
 In which while, two flies togither wondringlie : 
 Thinking thant : to be wrongfuUie caft awaie. 
 In talke betwene them felues, as folowith did faie. 
 
 ITWhiie the ant faith his prayers on the ladder, two flies 
 thinking him to be wrongfullie caft a waie, pitteing the 
 cafe, they touche (in talke) three fortes of flies feene there 
 then. Wherin is toucht fum parte of the properties of 
 newter flies. • Cap. 63. 
 
 283 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 OH freend (quoth the tone flie) what a chaunce is this? 
 An innofent ant : among fllies to be caft : 
 The deede in deede (quoth thother) damnable is. 
 I thought fure, we fhould with thants life haue pad. 
 For where fortie flies irefullie : on thant fround faft, 
 Three fcore, piteouflie lookt : as they thant wold faue. 
 And yet thant caft by voyce, great wonder I haue. 
 
 To the two fortes, that ye fpeake of (quoth the tother) 
 Thone fort geuen to faue thant : thother thant to kill, 
 A third : fort indiffrent to thone part or thother. 
 Did here (and do els wheare) moft part of all ill. 
 Whofe mifcheuous maners, partli fliow I will. 
 Gumming (comunlie) in practifed exercife. 
 Both among fpiders, and alfo among flife. 
 
 Thefe indiflfrentes (or newters) that part moft take, 
 
 That ftrongeft is, or ftrongeft like to be. 
 
 And which fide they leane to, fuch nombre they make, 
 
 That they beare the bell awaie : and moft apt we fe. 
 
 To cleaue to the ill part, euine of properte. 
 
 Which properte proueth (in fortes laft or furft,) 
 
 That of all fortes, this laft faide fort is wurft. 
 
 And yet oft : eftemid with the beft. For whie, 
 They fafliion them felues : to folow euer more : 
 Thofe that be (or like to be) I faie the moft hie. 
 But to all : late a loft : now laide on low fliore. 
 To whom : they haue made curtfie moft low before : 
 They either fe them not, or ouer looke them. 
 If chaunce once imbafe them, they male not brooke them. 
 
 Two 
 
 286 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Two buckets in a well, thone vp and thother downe. 
 
 They (land on the bucket, that ftandth on the brim. 
 
 Which bucket defending, they begin to frowne. 
 
 The bucket affending : midwaie they mete him. 
 
 And bucket for bucket : flraight thexchange made trim. 
 
 For a mong all buckets (take this a plaine matter) 
 
 They bide with no bucket : thats driuen to drink water. 
 
 They muft haue wine : with fare and chere of the beft. 
 Which : where and while it lafteth : in anie place. 
 Who male fhow gratitude in femblance fayreft : 
 Therin contend they : to geue gloffe of good grace, 
 To their viander : who maie him moft imbrace. 
 Where they may win ought : by fayre difimilate fhow, 
 There they flickar, and flatter, in fauer to grow. 
 
 But their enterteinment once drawing to ende. 
 They make none a count : of thanks from beginning : 
 Thend of their chere, endth the thanks of that bend. 
 Streight from that place : they are fpeedilie fpinning, 
 To an other hoft, good cheere : good cheape winning. 
 But to paie for boord, where euer this flock boords. 
 Their currant coine : is lowe curtfie, and fayre woords. 
 
 Which coine (to them) not coftlie ; and yet fo fcant. 
 That where and when foeuer their chere faile. 
 Then doth all curtfie, and thanks for chere had, want. 
 And not onlie good woords : in moft of them quaile. 
 But fome of the worft fort, that are geuen to raile, 
 To turne recompence on the wrong fide or (hore, 
 Geue ill wordes, for good deedes, of frendes had before. 
 
 Thefe 
 
 387 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Thefe folike freendes : otherwife feendlike fofe, 
 
 Are much like mermaides : thone halfe flefli thother fiflie. 
 
 On all texts : for all fides, they do giue fuch glofe, 
 
 As maie feetne to ferue all fides, as wit would wifhe. 
 
 By which defimulacion double deuilifhc, 
 
 They wind : in and out : here and there : to and fro. 
 
 As the Reede with the winde, euerie waie they go. 
 
 And like as we fe the Oke : in ftought ftorme of winde : 
 
 Standing ftiffe againft the wynde : ouerthrowne, 
 
 And the Reede ; wauing with the winde, ftill we finde : 
 
 Sauing it felf, in all our blaftes of winde blowne, 
 
 So in fpiders and flies : like lot oftims growne. 
 
 Trew ftiffe ftanders againft the winde : ouerthrowe, 
 
 Fals flattring folowers with the winde, ftand and growe. 
 
 Of our open knowne freendes, we maie be fure. 
 Of our open knowne fooes, we maie be ware. 
 But thefe vnnaturall neuters : here in vre, 
 Neither fure of, nor ware of, anie wightes are. 
 Either flattring lies : they fotlelie declare : 
 Or when they faie trew (if euer they faie trew.) 
 That faie they : for falfe or ill purpofe tenfew. 
 
 They are freendes to no man. But in refpect, 
 
 Them felue to take good : or to avoide harme : 
 
 Or to do harme : of reuenging effect, 
 
 They will attempt : by corrupfion to charme, 
 
 Thofe : vnder whofe winges, they maie fit clofe and warme. 
 
 To coole and controle : fuch as make anie fhow, 
 
 To bend anie waie : from the bent of their bow. 
 
 U»To 
 
 2&S 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 U3 To regard a right, a dog hath deuocion : 
 
 As much-as they. But be it right or wrong : 
 
 For loue, hate, dreade, or meede, in promocion. 
 
 If it ferue theyr turne : to make the wrong part ftrong, 
 
 That part will they fing, in all theyr fung fong. 
 
 As thefe indiffrent newter flies : haue done here, 
 
 Whofe wrongful! cleaning to the wrong, kilth thant clere. 
 
 This (quoth thother) your faying hath made me fe. 
 Wherin : I praie to the great god hartilie, 
 Be we fpiders, be we flies, what euer we be, 
 That we all male (by his grace) cut of clerelie. 
 All vnkindneffe, of newterlike indiffrencie. 
 Thant now at point : from the ladder to be rold, 
 A flie far of flinging toward them, cride holde hold. 
 
 ITThe ant hauing now made his prayers, beinge at poynt to 
 be turnd from the ladder, a flie, a far of, crieth holde. Who 
 (lighting ia the tree) bringeth fuche a meflage from the bed 
 fpider, as the Ant (thereby) is repride, and caried to pri- 
 fon. t4) Cap. 64. 
 
 00 
 
 289 
 
290 
 
291 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 VPon lighting in the tree, this faide this flie : 
 Being in fcoutwatch : a fpider fpiyng me, 
 In the head fpiders name : wild me fpeedilie. 
 To tell this to you all : if fo be that ye : 
 Put this ant to death : by curryfh crewelte. 
 He proteaftith : that his prifoner flies hed, 
 Shall ftand on a flake, before thant be all dead. 
 
 The fpiders fauour to thant, made fum flies dout : 
 How it came to pafle, whether the fpider then thought : 
 In fearing fpiders before. Thantes tale fo flout, 
 Was : more to faue his life, among flies then cought : 
 Then to feare fpiders : for which, the flies thant brought, 
 And that the tauntes : that the fpider thant gaue, 
 Weare to cloke myftrufl, that flies to thant might haue. 
 
 Or that the fpiders wife : pitteing thants cafe, 
 Obteynd it by fute, or that the fpider wold : 
 Vfe the occafion, offered there then in place. 
 To rid the flie, by that colour : and not hold. 
 His bond. By promife made to the flie,' erft told. 
 Which was : to charge and difcharge him of offence. 
 As flandth with reafon, law, cuflom, and confcience. 
 
 With this, a formall flie into the tree flew. 
 
 Beginning thus : freendes : wife flies faie (and haue 
 
 Of two inconueniences, the worfl efchew. 
 
 The worfl of which two here : a fide to be leyde, 
 
 The bell of thefe two : is here firfl to be weyde. 
 
 To faue this poore ant : to faue that pure flie, 
 
 Or to flea thant, and both ant and flie flaine therby. 
 
 Confidera- 
 
 aga 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Confideracions herin are fo great, 
 
 And fo manie : and mod of fuch weight, 
 
 That they are : in counfell more meete to treate : 
 
 Then to make an alebench talke of : to bebeight : 
 
 For babling tounges to babble on, wherfore ftreight : 
 
 Mine aduice is : that fix or eight flies moft wife, 
 
 Cloflie confult here, the beft waie to deuife. 
 
 Nay nay, (cride a thoufand) we will none of that, 
 We will be of counfell all. Yea will quoth he ? 
 That kind of counfell : is more meete to hallow at ; 
 Then to talke in. for if all of counfell be, 
 Ye can in that counfell : haue no fecrefe. 
 But (in counfel) where fecrets lacketh anie, 
 There is (ant leaft) one counfeler to manie. 
 
 We refufe that waie : cride the grofe flies againe. 
 Left great wife flies, by and fell foolifh flies fmall. 
 If ye (quoth he) take to counfell all this traine. 
 Then : nought being fecret : all your enemies fhall. 
 Be of your counfell : and bie and fell you all. 
 But fins ye will haue counfell cride at the crofle, 
 I wyll difclofe : that I wolde haue had kept cloffe. 
 
 The flie in copweb : with the fpider deteinde, 
 
 We know what he is : we neede not here to bofte him. 
 
 To kill thant : and haue that flie kild, what is gainde ? 
 
 That fhall all flies feele : after we haue loft him. 
 
 But fins the fpider : in fuch fort will hoft him : 
 
 As we hoft the ant, our beft waie doth apere. 
 
 To kepe thant (as gage for gage) prifoner here. 
 
 Ee For 
 
 393 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 For though thant (trewth being tolde before his face) 
 
 Be far to bafe : that fine flie to cognterpeife : 
 
 Yet if the fpider efteeme thant : in like cafe : 
 
 Aboue the flie : as we him aboue thant preife, 
 
 Then for deliuerie of both (without a fteife, 
 
 The fpider will (in exchaunge) chaunge as gladlie, 
 
 The flie for thant, as we will thant for the flie. 
 
 Brieflie : the beft way is here (in my mynde) 
 
 To kepe thant prifoner in ftockes fetred fafi:. 
 
 Vnder gard of certeine flies, to be afmde, 
 
 Tyll we fe fumwhat of this war, furder pad. 
 
 And if we fe caufe, we maie kill him at laft. 
 
 Or chaunge him, for fum flie that fpiders maie take. 
 
 To this mine aduice, fhow yours, an end to make. 
 
 At this : much bumbling among them all : there was. 
 
 Manie woords, litle matter, and to no purpofe. 
 
 Nombre of fentences here, I maie let pas. 
 
 As things not worth the hering here to difclofe. 
 
 And pas they muft : for neither in rime nor profe : 
 
 I can win memorie well to write with pen. 
 
 The tenth fentence geuin there, againft thant then. 
 
 And though : memorie might the nombre, haue conteind, 
 
 Yet was all confufed fo : in fuch bibble babble, 
 
 All a like lowde, and all to loude, in voyce conftreind, 
 
 That all parts of beft wit : had bene vnable : 
 
 To catch, kepe; and make, thacount explicable : 
 
 Of all fayings there faide. Wherfore (as I faie :) 
 
 Not onlie they maie, but they muft paffe awaie. 
 
 U»But 
 
 394 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Ui But finallie : all their chat chatted : anon, 
 To the flies laft tale : they all did fo agree, 
 That thant (garded) went to prifon. Whervpon, 
 Quoth the captaine : fins this is pafh by decree. 
 Being one poynt of two : erft moued by me : 
 To be moued to you, in thother poynt now, 
 Confeiue, and refeiue the thing I fhall fhow you. 
 
 ITThe captaine flie, inueith vpon matter before paft: in fuch 
 forte fo encoraging the flies againe, that anone thei all crying 
 tothecaptaine to march forwarde.thei brauely fet foorth. And 
 laiying their ordinaunce to the copweb caftell, thei befege it 
 rownde. Cap. 65. 
 
 Ee ii 
 
 29s 
 
296 
 
PP 297 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THis thing I meane which brought fpiders in fere 
 Thant moued all the fpiders : to caft their iyes, 
 Vpon vs their enmies. Whole fliow of flrength there, 
 Shovvde fo puifant (by huge nombre of vs flies,) 
 That they (much by that fight) gaue vp thenterpries, 
 Wheron the fpider, thre inuencions inueide. 
 Reuiuing the fpirits of the fpiders in eide. 
 
 Firft : the fpider to this wild the fpiders all. 
 
 To caft iye from our force. And behold their owne. 
 
 Which fight, fuch ftrength (he faide) to their harts muft call, 
 
 That a hartleffe harted fpider : fliould be growne : 
 
 Hardy to fight, till we flies be ouerthrowne. 
 
 Hafill wands in their hands : to hawberds in ours, 
 
 He macht : to ouer match vs, in our moft powrs. 
 
 Secondlie : he bad them thinke : that we do dreade : 
 The fight of them, as much as they do feare vs. 
 Thirdlie : to fet cocke on hope and run on heade. 
 Their right feene (faith he) to fight in : to death thus. 
 The moft coward will fight. And by his difcus, 
 Streight to bliffe go they, ftreight to bale go wee. 
 But : here me part the ftake : in thefe cafis three. 
 
 Firft : we them beholding : and they vs vewing. 
 
 The feare faith indiff"rentlie : on eyther fide. 
 
 Next : ech fide vewing it felfe hath enfuing : 
 
 Of like coorage : to bothe fides to be a plide. 
 
 Thirdlie : he labring right by fight to be tride : 
 
 With clere confcience on their fide, let that be weyde : 
 
 Vpoji this my next faying : when I haue feyde. 
 
 The 
 
 298 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 The fpider to thant : in this told tale : erft faide, 
 Laide to vs flies rebellion. He laying, 
 Example of plages pad. where flies difobaide, 
 The great gods commaundement. Which difobaying, 
 Hath plaged fuch flies, according to his faying. 
 Vpon his which faying : here me fomwhat faie, 
 How cafe of rebellion from our cafe doth waie. 
 
 All fubiects : in violent varience growne : 
 Againft the hie powrs, they by that great god plafl:e, 
 His woorke hath Ihowd his wyll, to bring ouerthrowne. 
 Suffre, and not refift, that muft be here enbraflie : 
 And fulfild. Or els as fuch flies, in time pafte : 
 Haue bene fcourged : for refifl:ing, fo (hall we. 
 And fo to be fcourged, well woorthie we be. 
 
 But perceyue : thefe hie powrs : muft take hie place, 
 
 As ftandth with law of the great god : rightfullie. 
 
 For otherwife, it falfifith in this cafe : 
 
 Their faide defence at godds hand, and contrarie : 
 
 Where extort pour : vfurpeth place wronfullie, 
 
 The god doth right oft : in fuch vfurpacion, 
 
 Put miraculus poure, to thexturpacion. 
 
 Oft : making thinftrumentes of the ouerthrow : 
 As fer to compare : vnder the ouerthrowne, 
 As flies vnder fpiders : in comparifon fliow. 
 And how this fpider hath vfurpedlie growne, 
 To potentate ftate, that is to vs vnknowne. 
 I neuer herd flie yet, that euer could tell : 
 Ground of title, whie his ftate fhould thus exfell. 
 
 Ee ii And 
 
 259 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 And he : an vfurper : as I thinke he is : 
 
 You thinking fo to, can we thinke that he ? 
 
 Breaking the Gods law (as he doth doing this) 
 
 Shall in thil deede : by good god, defended be : 
 
 Whome he and his offend : offending his decre, 
 
 Naie : hafell wands in our hands : the godds poure leads, 
 
 To beate backe their hawberds, to breake their owne heads. 
 
 And where he alegith : that the fpiders right : 
 Is a fafe warfant : with fafe confcience to die, 
 For all fuch fpiders : as ftiall die in that fight, 
 And that flies diyng therin : die damnably, 
 That loude luflie lie : for a lie warant I. 
 With fafe confcience (in this cafe) corage a rife : 
 To bale go all fpiders : to bliffe go all flies. 
 
 The flies : vpon hering and doing of this, 
 All ftert vp, and ftoode vp, moft coragiouflie : 
 With one voice all cride : fir captaine our mind is, 
 To giue faute to the copweb euin by and bie. 
 Wherwith : much more wilfullie then wittelie, 
 (And yet not witleffe) into a ray they got, 
 Marching toward the copweb, within goon fhot. 
 
 The watch towre ftrake a larum : thenmyes difcrieng 
 The goonners gaue fire : and firft at raundon, thay : 
 Shot of, the goonftones among the flies flying. 
 Which gald the flies curftlie : cumming on the way. 
 But foorth flying the flies now : as faft as they may. 
 Without trenching : or fuch defenfife forfballes, 
 Ordnance they ley, to batter that caftell walles. 
 
 IT t Great 
 
 300 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 IT J Great (hot, and greuous flaughter of flies, there was. 
 
 Ere they could : anie peece of the walles batter : 
 
 To make it fawtable, but fo cam to paffe : 
 
 That in (hort time, that wall they did fo (hatter : 
 
 That theyr waie laie playne, and ftreyght to the matter : 
 
 (For which they cam,) they went. To fuch a fears (ight, 
 
 As neuer fought fpiders and flies, in mannes fight. 
 
 ITThe flies geue onfet in a(rawte vpon the caftell: the fpiders 
 defending it in furious fighte. And vpon the flaughter on both 
 fides, the flies retire to their campe. The fpiders wife and chil- 
 derne on knefe to him befeching him to take peace with the 
 flies. Cap. 66, 
 
 f JEeiii 
 
 3°^i 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 IN all battred brackes : flies rageing in a ranke, 
 Ferflie flew in, all blacke as the cloudie flcie. 
 Spiders defending them. Spider nor flie fhrancke, 
 Hundreds ftrikin with gonnes, in peefes twentie. 
 Theare a leg, here an arme, there a head doth flie. 
 And peece from peece : by violence flowne round, 
 A flight flioote a fonder, and as fer from ground. 
 
 Both fides to fe : fo bufilie occupide. 
 With polaxis, partifans, hawberds, billes goons : 
 Trompets on both fides : ech tencoorage theyr fide. 
 The anoyans of the noife : thorough my head roons. 
 The foonleffe flies fathers : the fatherleffe flies loons : 
 With this thing, aboue all thing (a lacke alacke) 
 Oh what wofull widow flies, go now in blacke. 
 
 Thre quarters of an houre, this fight endewred. 
 Which time, I imagined domes daie prefent. 
 And that all the damd foules : had bene procured, 
 To cum with the deuill thither : in his band bent. 
 There to fet vp hell, to fuff.r theyr torment. 
 For dewring the time, I thinke no worldlie fight. 
 More like hell, then was fight of that hellie fight. 
 
 Terrour wherof, was to be witneffed well : 
 To fe fo manie aliue fo late, now dead. 
 Thoufandes fetting on that copweb (with hart fell) 
 Hang now there (like hearings in nettes) by the head. 
 And fpiders for their part : not fcotfree lead : 
 Here fum, and there fum, fnacht vp a mid the rout : 
 That were within halfe a houre a fore, full ftout. 
 
 At 
 
 304 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 At end of this fraie, no part faw caufe to boft : 
 
 Fiue thoufand flies, and fiue hundred fpiders fleyne. 
 
 Wherwith the flies : feeing fo manie flies lofl:, 
 
 And of theyr purpofe : could yet no part obteyne. 
 
 At retret of trompet, they retyred a meyne. 
 
 Where they before had campt. There to take a breath, 
 
 To faue their honefl:i, and kepe them from death. 
 
 The fpiders were as glad to fe the flies backes, 
 As flies were to fliow them. For what time thay : 
 (Beholding dead fpiders) ech feeth his freend lackes. 
 Few fpiders (or none) faw caufe to ioye that daie. 
 The fpiders wife : and childerne : nere dead in fraie : 
 On knees befought him, in waie of petifcion, 
 With the flies to take peace, on fum condifcion : 
 
 ITThe fpider hauing compaffion on his wj^e and childerne as 
 on himfelfe, he faith that he will : with the aduice of his coun- 
 cell, in their fute do all that maie be done for the beft. Cap. 67. 
 
 ?? 
 
 3°S 
 

 
 ?c6 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ^ I ^He fpider : in hering of this theyr requeft, 
 
 X Seeing them in fuch feare : as he faw them there, 
 That fight and hering, maie at firft fight : be geft : 
 In hulband, and fathers : that anie zele here, 
 To their deare wiues : and fwete babes, at iye and ere : 
 The fight ftiowth, and hering foundth fuch fight and found. 
 As maie their zelus harts, to death welnie wound. 
 
 What kind harted hufband : can fe his kind wife. 
 In like carefull cafe, without wo at his hart. 
 What naturall father can fe : for his life. 
 His naturall childerne, in dread quake and ftart. 
 Without his hart fmarting, in mod fmartfuU fmart. 
 I thinke, ye thinke none : and euin fo thinke I. 
 Meruell not then : though the fpider be toucht nie. 
 
 He tenderlie tendreth his childerne and wife : 
 
 Refufing to (land vp : when he bad them rife. 
 
 Till he wold graunt them (his grace) to flint this ftrife. 
 
 His fight of feare in them : and furie in flies, 
 
 Added his more perplexite : to deuife : 
 
 To vfe pittie to them : as nature draue him. 
 
 And polifie to flies, as reafon gaue him. 
 
 To this : he faide my dere wife : and fweet babes two. 
 Great ■<veare the thing : by you of me defired : 
 That I could denie, in what I can do. 
 But for this treafon, fpightfullie confpired, 
 And fo put in vre : by flies now retired. 
 Your fute therin : yf I fliould graunt out of hand. 
 As the cafe ftandth : I dout how that graunt fhould fland. 
 
 This 
 
 308 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 This cafe : touching me and all fpiders moft nie, 
 
 In me and my counfell, fhall forthwith be fcand. 
 
 Go in, and be cherfuU : and feare not : but I, 
 
 Wyll fauer and forder your fute : as maie (land : 
 
 With moft fafte of vs, and all our whole band. 
 
 They rofe and made curtfie : forthwith whervpone, 
 
 (They and he weeping) they (from him) thens are gone. 
 
 T[The fpider fet with twelue of his counfaile, declareth his 
 wiues and childerns fute (adioyning therunto cocideracions of 
 his owne) for peace to be taken with the flies. Requiring thofe 
 counfellers (while he departe and returne) to determine what 
 waie he fliall take. Cap. 68. 
 
 Ifl 
 
 309 
 

 m 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 
 
 
 ^10 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THe fpider : with his counfell, to counfell gat. 
 The flies : flocking togither, as was then neede, 
 In confultacidn : full befilie fat, 
 Eche fide for them felues, baft waie to fe decreede. 
 I gaue eare to both fides : to here them profeede, 
 Stretching my memorie : to a double charge. 
 To hold (vpon hering) both theffectes at large. 
 
 And firfl: : what I gathred on the fpiders fide. 
 That fhall ye haue : and then the talke of the fliCe. 
 The fpiders : at a bord : them felues did diuide. 
 Six on thone : fix on thother fide. To deuife : 
 (And bifide, (fuch matter as fhould there arife. 
 The head fpider : in a cheyre at the boordes end, 
 Entrith : as foloweth here after pend. 
 
 Dere freendes : our prefent parell in wordes to dilate : 
 It in deede : in hart felt : and at iye here feene. 
 Should fhow foUie. Our cafe is now to debate. 
 Our befl waie : to winde out of this daunger cleene : 
 To fl:ey our ftate, as before fl;ayde hath beene. 
 Wherin : betwene two things : I doutfuUie dout^ 
 To which one : I fliall undoutedlie, ftand flout. 
 
 My wife and children : vpon their knees all three : 
 With dead hartes : as death in their faces : did fhow. 
 As I loue theyr Hues : humblie be fought me, 
 By fome meane forthwith, to peace with flies to grow. 
 For fhould they (faid they) fe the like ouerthrow : 
 That they had fene : betwene our enmies and vs. 
 Of theyr prefent deathes, they felt feling difcus. 
 
 This 
 
 31a 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 f his pefplexth me : what one waie to take of twairte : 
 
 Nature prokth me (in pitteing thofe three) 
 
 To take peace with the flies, to ronne a maine. 
 
 Reafon prouokth me : politiklie to flee, 
 
 The fhow of defire: in peace with flies to be. 
 
 Which pittie to vfe : and policie to refufe, 
 
 How cruell flies will cock with vs, thats no newfe. 
 
 Now : on thother fide : if I pittie omit. 
 
 Nought weyng my wife : and oflpring in this cafe, 
 
 But do bend vpon policie, euerywhit : 
 
 To out face the flies : to fland face to face. 
 
 And thefe three (by dread) to die in the meane fpace, 
 
 Then am I double dead. Thone : that they death haue, 
 
 Tother to fe them die, whome my felfe might faue. 
 
 I praie this whole boorde : this cafe firfl: to feuolue, 
 
 Eche in him felfe, and then all togither fpeake. 
 
 t)euifing your befl:. Wherin while ye refolue : 
 
 Your full minds, to me (at my returne) to breake, 
 
 He go, to cheere my wife and babes, wo and weake. 
 
 They praide him to do fo : which rang in mine eare. 
 
 That they were more glad, to haue him thence theii theare. 
 
 f Straight as the fpider is gone, the reft arife withdrawing a 
 fonder in three plumpes fowre in a plumpe, no one knot kno- 
 wing what the reft faith, which done: thei all fit downe agaiii 
 againft the fpidefs returne. Gap. 69. 
 
 313 
 
3'4 
 
3 '5 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THe fpiders backe turnd, ftreight thefe twelue a rofe 
 By foure, foure, and foure, flocking into flockes three. 
 Euerie flock talking, and ftanding togither clofe. 
 Ech flocke vnto other (by ought I could fe,) 
 As fl:range, and as loth that their talke herd fliould be, 
 As all could haue bene : that that fpider that feafon, 
 Should haue heard theyr talke, had they all talked treafon. 
 
 All fhowde one maner, which fliowd them all meeuid : 
 Beating their fifl:es, beding their brows fliaking their heads 
 In feare and fewrie, all were greatly greeuid, 
 Talke of two : of which three flockes : whereto it leades, 
 I could not yet know : fofte wifpring, not fer fpreades. 
 But talke of the third flocke (ftanding fumwhat nere,) 
 Harkning fumwhat to them,) .fumwhat did I here. 
 
 Freendes (quoth one of thofe foure) we foure being one. 
 
 We maie talke (and let vs talke) franklie our mindes. 
 
 This fpider (our ring leader) to his flocke gone, 
 
 In debate of this cafe : to which he vs bindes. 
 
 Is to me not vn geaft : how he with vs windes. 
 
 But firft, not to teache : but to tell what he is, 
 
 And then what he meanth here, here me faie in thig. 
 
 The fpider is of wit, wonderus darke and deepe. 
 And double as double, as he is deepe and darke. 
 Loure where he loueth, laugh weare he hateth to creepe 
 To botum of bofum : for to fpie what fparke, 
 Kindled : with or againft him, he maie there marke. 
 Much for which purpofe : he giueth vs now a bone. 
 Of pittie : and poUifie, to gnaw vpon. 
 
 But 
 
 316 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 But exept : we fpice pittie and polifie both : 
 
 As the fefoning maie fauer in tafte to ftand : 
 
 As in his tafte and fauer : fauerlie goth, 
 
 He will gnaw our bones out of tafte : out of hand. 
 
 Which ye fhall fe ; when I this fcantlin haue fcand, 
 
 Betv/ene his politikeleffe pittie (erft faide) 
 
 And his pitteles poUfie, (here erft laide) 
 
 This dought : to bring out of dout, he hath vs fet. 
 Whether (by pitie) to faue his babes and wife : 
 He fhall feeke to flies : fum peace of them to get, 
 Or by polifie : to ftand ftiffe ftiU in ftrife, 
 And leefe : both his babes, and alfo his wiues life. 
 Firft cafe : ftjowing our daunger in general!, 
 Laft cafe : fhowing his daunger in fpeciall. 
 
 This trap (not. for mice) for fpiders is baighted. 
 To fe what bit we bite : or on what ftring we harp. 
 If his pittie here : be reftreynd or ftraighted, 
 And that (on his polifie) our tounges do carp : 
 More to faue our felues : from daunger of deth fharp : 
 Then to faue him and his, we plaing thofe parts, 
 He wyll fure fufpect, that we haue traytors harts. 
 
 And if we leaue polifie : and pittie take : 
 Concluding : that we will bide all leoberdie : 
 Rather then fee : of him or his : one finger ake. 
 He hold a hunderd pound (to an halpenie) 
 That he will take all that talke : for flatterie. 
 Though his iye on vs thefat pleafantlie pinke» 
 Yet will he thinke, that we faie not as we thinke. 
 
 Ee. iii. Thefe 
 
 317 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Thefe two : two edged cafes : take I for fuch. 
 That they maie be taken : a two edged fwoord. 
 Ech fide of both cutteth, where euer it touch. 
 But when we fhall refolue : at yonder boord, 
 Leauing thefe two waies : I haue deuifde a thoord. 
 Wherwith, a tale he told them : fo filently, 
 That (tyll he told it at boord,) no woord herd I. 
 
 But in taking end, I herd him to them faie : 
 
 The fpider will : our minds, feuerallie know. 
 
 And I the yongeft, fhall fpeake firll, (no naie.) 
 
 And fo ech other folowing : fitting a row. 
 
 Wherin : as you in coorfe to fpeake (after me) grow : 
 
 Saye you : in this deepe cafe : vpon depe waying, 
 
 Ye haue nought to faie, but taffirme my faying. 
 
 And fo fhall we (fayde he) faue our four Hues. 
 
 They aigreede. And to touch the fecond fort now, 
 
 Auncients to the firft, one of them four contriues : 
 
 To conclude. In matter what : or maner how, 
 
 From hearing I was yet kept (as I told you) 
 
 But the talker to that fiocke at end, fpake out : 
 
 Thefe woordes. This way fhal faue our four Hues : no dout. 
 
 Of the third and moil auncient fiocke likewife, 
 One at end of his taike : thefe woords a loude fpake. 
 This waie fhall faue our four Hues. Or at leaft fife : 
 Our honefties, and honeft fpiders vndertake : 
 Life much rather : then honeilie, to forfake. 
 Ye faie truth (fayde the three) and we three a gree, 
 With you to lefe life, rather then honeftce. 
 
 UJWith 
 
 3^8 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Ui With this, they all at the boord fat downe againe. 
 That they (at the fpiders returne) might appere, 
 Set as he left them : all as one to remaine, 
 (While he went to (and came fro) his flock mod dere.) 
 Who (fo finding them,) with fad and fobre cheere : 
 Sat downe in his cheyre : Whare he had fit erft. 
 And this profeffe to his purpofe, promptlie perft. 
 
 ITThe fpider fet againe with his counfaile, in thofe three faid 
 fortes, arife thre diuers waies to take herin. The bed one wher 
 of to choofe,the fpider departeth to deuife vpon. Willing them 
 to caufe all corners of that caftell to be clenfed and all battred 
 places made ftronge againe. Cap. 70. 
 
 U> Ee iiii 
 
 3'9 
 

 ■^ 
 
 >te«^^> 
 
 ^'m 
 
 320 
 
ss 321 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 AS I told you I wold go, fo haub I gone 
 To comfort my wife and mine : in your names all. 
 Affuring them : of your good hartes euerichone : 
 To pittie and releue their dread. As may fall : 
 In your moft portable parell, cum what cum fhall. 
 Which hath (and nought els could) comforted them fo, 
 That quiet they harke to here, how thend fhall go. 
 
 Now : in cafe of pittie and pollici : erft leyde, 
 Touching the two doughtes : which I was, and am in, 
 I require fullie to here : what ye haue weyde. 
 Wherin : your fentences feuerallie to win. 
 You fhall feuerallie fpeake : and the yongeft begin. 
 Wherewith that yongeft (as he erft faide he wold,) 
 In woords next folowing here, his tale he told. 
 
 In thefe two cafes : bulted, fifted, and fand, 
 To few for peace : in pittie of you and your, 
 Or (by polifie) to war ftiflie to ftand. 
 The doubtes debated here, in moft might of our. 
 Require this demaund : iudged in my moft pour. 
 Whether to take no peace, or what peace to take. 
 Labor wherin, I thinke veyne : all that we make. 
 
 If I be worthy in your counfell to Hue, 
 
 My counfell is : that all your ftudie fhalbe : 
 
 Not what peace ye fhall take, what peace ye will giue : 
 
 The flies being fraide : as much or more then we, 
 
 Wyll not they feke for peace .' yes I warant ye : 
 
 Truft not my wit : except ye haue out of hand, 
 
 Flies, fewing to take peace, as your wyll ftiall ftand. 
 
 Wherin 
 
 322 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Wherin : what your wyll fhalbe ere the flies cum, 
 Good is to dreme : to what point in peace to wade. 
 And not when they cum : to (land muet or mum : 
 In lacke of an anfwere (by you or yours made.) 
 Nedefull hafle in this cafe, doth me full perfwade : 
 From nedles haftie deuice : in thother cafes : 
 Both which (this taking place) they take no places. 
 
 This (vnder your correction,) is my full mind. 
 
 And mine (quoth the fecond) and mine (quoth the thurd.) 
 
 And mine (quoth the fourth : quoth the fift) I am inclind, 
 
 Of an other mind : then this tale hath now fturd. 
 
 For two caufes. thone : for that this touchth no wurd : 
 
 Of the cafe proponde, which is our charge to touch, 
 
 Thother, for that I haue other matter tauouch. 
 
 The pith of thefe two cafes : I take to confift. 
 Whether (by pittie : your fearfull flocke to faue,) 
 We fhall take peace with the flies : as the flies lift, 
 To our common daunger : by pride of flies braue) 
 Or politicklie fhow : that we no peace wyll haue. 
 To feare flies, and faue vs : yours and you : in parell. 
 By their feare of warres continuall quarell. 
 
 I hold : the beft one waie of thefe both : to be. 
 To faue your wife : and children : your fucfeflion. 
 And therby you. For lacking you, what are we .' 
 Who can (like you) faue vs : from oppreflion ? 
 Our benefites (by you) enforce confeffion : 
 For notable gouernance in gouernours, 
 Neuer was felt our like gouernance : to yours. 
 
 Your 
 
 3»3 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Your offpring fo toward : to rule after you : 
 As you rule before them : to their erudicion : 
 For our ineftimable welth now, and after now. 
 No fpider hath the contrarie fufpicion : 
 But all fpiders, in mofl humble fubmicion : 
 Submit them whole to you : fo loued or drad, 
 As neuer was ruler, that euer fpiders had. 
 
 Our commoditees : woon by you : being huge, 
 Huge were our loffe likwife : by your being loft. 
 You : and yours : appering here our whole refuge, 
 Pittie : or policie : which fhalbe the poft : 
 In this cafe to fticke to : my fentence bendth moft. 
 Ere daunger (by bread) : to you or yours fhall rife. 
 To cleaue here to pittie, and take peace with flife. 
 
 So fay I (fayth fecond) of that fecond fort. 
 
 And we faide the third (and fourth) which fayd : a none, 
 
 The firft of moft auncient foure : his report 
 
 Beginth. but fyrft : this tale laft gone, 
 
 He feemeth to commend (in part) where vpon, 
 
 He fhowth his mynde. But fyrft (I faie) in woords fayer, 
 
 He faith as foloweth next, of thys laft fayer. 
 
 Sayd (this faide auncient fpider) this tale told laft. 
 Sumwhat to touch (vnder pardon) I entend. 
 The tellers mind, I difpreyfe in no part paft. 
 But in fondrie parts, I can hys minde commend. 
 Namely : in that his mind is bent to defend : 
 You and yours, from the death : as he ought to do. 
 As fer as deutie deulie drawth, and we to. 
 
 But 
 
 324 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 But as thefe two doutful daungers touch our ftate : 
 
 From top to toe, (as wo faie : hie, meane, and low.) 
 
 So : from brim to botom : them both to debate, 
 
 In faithfull playne maner : (as in hert maie grow : 
 
 All darke diffimilafion, to ouerthrow, 
 
 Sotellie founding to fence depraued, 
 
 That trace (hall I treade, vnder pardon craued. 
 
 In thefe two toft termes : pitie, and policie, 
 
 To turne and tofle, recitall : of this whole cafe, 
 
 No nede. After recitall fo fondrilie, 
 
 The termes but namd, where memorie is moft bafe : 
 
 Remembraunce of the whole, thofe termes bring to place. 
 
 Which pitie : is here aplide, to faue you and yours. 
 
 And policie : here aplide, to faue vs and ours. 
 
 Befeching you : and all you before I faie. 
 
 Till all my faying be faide : iudge therin no part. 
 
 But throughlie here me without flop or ftaie, 
 
 And take in good part, my plaine trew meaning hart. 
 
 Good tales : ill taken, may make the teller fmart. 
 
 But here, I praie hering. And hauing expreft, 
 
 In folowing the effect, do as femth you beft. 
 
 But firft : thefe two termes : pittie, and policie, 
 (As I vnderftand them) here me, them define, 
 • Pittie : is an affect of all clemencie 
 That doth alway : moft clementlie encline, 
 To haue regard, to remittible difipline. 
 In matter of luftice : or anie cafe els. 
 All difpleafant fuffrance, pitie it expels. 
 
 Ff Policie ; 
 
 32s 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Policie : is the thing that circumfpectly weithe. 
 Wifelie (and wareh'e) to put things in vre. 
 As refons ferdeft fetch : in forefight purueithe, 
 An ouer : rech aboue the weake wittes cure. 
 So to put things in vre, that they maie endure : 
 As no light blaft of winde : do ouer blow them, 
 Nor lacke of firme foundacion, ouer throw them. 
 
 And policie : (right taken (as I take it) 
 In good part is taken, and conftrued euer. 
 Policie : is not as fum fpiders make it : 
 Wittie wreched wile, that doth all indeuer : 
 In wrongfuU ill, to inuent to perfeuer : 
 The name of policie there, is to be laft : 
 And to be namd falfhed : otherwife falfe craft. 
 
 Pittie : wrong named, and wrong vfed alfo : 
 Maie be and hath beoe. As where it is aplide, 
 To help one : or few, to the hurt of manie mo. 
 The pittide part : being depe offenders tride, 
 Thother part innofent. This (clere to diffide :) 
 Is either not pittie : or peuifh pittie : 
 Which (as thold faying fayith) marth the cittie. 
 
 But the right vfe of pittie is (as I geffe) 
 To pittie part, as pittie maie pittie all : 
 Without wrongfuU hurt, anie one to oppreffe. 
 This meane I : in vfe of pittie generall : 
 But touching cafe (namelie yours) efpeciall. 
 How it and fuch, from this generall cafe fwarue, 
 Shalbe touchit anone : as my meane wit maie farue, 
 
 But 
 
 326 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 But : policie, and pittie, pictured thus, 
 
 I take man and wife, and temperance (as who faie) 
 
 Minifter in this mariage, I difcus. 
 
 Knitting this cupple : in ftedie ftinted ftaie, 
 
 Policie to commaunde, and pittie to obaie. 
 
 Policie her hufband : and pittie his wife, 
 
 Politicklie to kepe al, from pittelefle ftrife : 
 
 Where policie maie bring pittie : promptlie plafte, 
 
 That hufband will not keepe that wife : out of place': 
 
 And that wife (that hufbands affent not purchafte,) 
 
 Will not prefume to take place, both to difgrace : 
 
 Her hufband : and alfo her felf to deface : 
 
 Thus poHcie and pittie : in cafe generall, 
 
 loyne (for common welth) in common gouernall. 
 
 But now : to grow toward fpecialitee, 
 
 Where I laide mifufe of pittie before : 
 
 To ftand : in not pitteing generaHtee : 
 
 By pitteing the leiTe nombre before the more. 
 
 Though that rule : leane rightlie to the right fliore : 
 
 In cafe of pittie : much mifufde generallie : 
 
 It maie (and doth) feyle : in fum cafe fpeciallie. 
 
 Sum thre or four : are in pittie to be weide : 
 More, then fum other three or four thoufand are. 
 In fondrie cafes : which policie doth eide. 
 Namelie, and properlie, now here to declare : 
 In perticuler cafe, of your prefent care. 
 To faue vs and ours, and leefe you and yours. 
 Or leefe you and yours, and faue vs and ours. 
 
 Ffii The 
 
 327 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 The loffe of foure thoufand of meane fpiders now : 
 Touching daungerous difturbance of theftate, 
 Were leffe loffe then were you foure : and chieflie you. 
 But the loffe of the whole corps, of vs to rate : 
 With loffe of you four : the mod loffe to debate. 
 This cafe : to our cafe : prefentlie directed, 
 Is nedeleffe : or booteleffe, to be refpected. 
 
 Needleffe I take the talke : as in this refpect. 
 
 Fyrft our cafe rechith not : determinatelie : 
 
 To deth of you, or vs, but it doth direct : 
 
 A dread of deth in yours : and in you therby. 
 
 Or daunger of death in vs : not deth clerly : 
 
 But dread : or daunger of deth : and deth out right, 
 
 Are oft ( and now I hope) fer diftaunt in fight. 
 
 Yours in dread, and we in daunger, of deth much : 
 All may be brought : and deth yet folow no whit. 
 Neither in yours, nor ours. And this cafe is fuch, 
 As if ye will therin : policie admit. 
 To out face flies, the corps of fpiders to knit : 
 In coragious countenance, then (hall ye fe, 
 The flies in feare, and your feare nedleffe to be. 
 
 As the talke is nedleffe : to compare the lofle : 
 
 Of vs all, with you four : for none fhalbe loft. 
 
 And other wife, bootelefle, in this talke to toffe : 
 
 In matter on this fide or that fide to boft. 
 
 The moft or leaft loffe : for all leafl: and moft : 
 
 Shall die. yf ye fhrinke and feke peace, flies will none. 
 
 Then we being fyrfl: flayne, you and yours are gone. 
 
 Will 
 
 328 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Will they flea vs and faue you, feeing this war : 
 Againft you : is chieflie or onlie begon ? 
 Naye make ye fure. Ye are the principal! bar : 
 Or beame, in their iyes : as the quarell doth roon. 
 Wherin, I perceyue no way : ought to be woon, 
 But politiclie tencorage all our whole rout, 
 A frefli a gainft the flies, in ray to (land fl:out. 
 
 We in corage, out of corage the flies are. 
 
 And we out of corage, in corage are they. 
 
 We fpiders prefing forward, back the flies bare. 
 
 Spiders drawing back, foorth prefe flies without dey. 
 
 Thus ye fe : policie here muft make the waie, 
 
 If anie way maie be made, by poflible pours : 
 
 To preferue all, both you and yours, vs and Ours. 
 
 This : vnder pardon of you and yours : erft praide : 
 Is : both my confcience, and my counfell playne. 
 And mine (quoth the next of the three) with him fl:eide. 
 And like wife ours alfo (quoth thofe other twayne.) 
 The fpiders outward wordes, fliowd fliow to retaine : 
 All their fayings : and all a like : to like well. 
 But how he likte inwardlie, I could not tell. 
 
 But : on thefe three diuers tales : a part to mufe, 
 Which one to take : or which to leaue of all three. 
 He faid he wold (and did) depart to perufe. 
 Willing them in meane time, an order to fee. 
 That cafl:ell in warlike cafe, againe to bee. 
 Wherevpon he : to his inner manfion gone, 
 To the foudiers fpiders, they went a none. 
 
 Ff iii To 
 
 it 329 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 To whom, that moft auncient fpiders reputed : 
 
 Such part hereof, as was meete for them to here. 
 
 But firft, he inuented in that he treated : 
 
 To encorage them all, to be of good chere. 
 
 And pluck vp their harts, if flies againe march nere. 
 
 Matter of which rule fuch : and the tale fo told. 
 
 That it brought the fpiders againe, brag and hold. 
 
 Then entred he : into repeticion. 
 
 Of comaundement giuen, for that fort renuing. 
 
 For clenfing and ftrengthing : in ech condicion, 
 
 As it was, before former faute in vewirig. 
 
 The parell of a fecond faute, efchewing : 
 
 To ley downe their wepons : and fet to their hands, 
 
 To fcour : and to repeire, all there, that in nede ftanda 
 
 The whole nombre (fauing referued to watch) 
 
 The watch in the watch towre : and vpon the walls,), 
 
 Ley by their weapons : ech one his place to catch ; 
 
 To ftrengthin weake places, ech one to worke falls, 
 
 StrongUe thty ftop vp, al goon hole galls. 
 
 All places fpide : in anie kinde of fauting. 
 
 Made ftronge in defence of a fecond fauting. 
 
 The dead fpiders they buried : in the caftell cloffe. 
 The dead flies hangd out in lebets openlie. 
 But to fe the fpiders : how they turne and toffe : 
 Sum making of graues : fum the fpidere burie : 
 Sum making iebets : fum hangin flies on hie : 
 Sum fpinning threeds : to repeir that caftell wall. 
 I neuer faw the like, nor I think neuer fhall. 
 
 % Which 
 
 33° 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITj^ Which : while they bring in pre eftate, now to here : 
 What the flies (in commun counfell (not priuate) 
 Be in deuifmg : what waie maie beft a pere : 
 On their part, eche partie to faue his owne pate. 
 They : being fet in counfell : it to debate : 
 In a troope : be fide the reform acion tree, 
 Thorder and thend folowth here, to here and fe. 
 
 IFThe flies in campe be at cownfell : defiroufly deuifing : by 
 what meane to get peace beft. Whervpon the captaine inuen- 
 ting a meane to driue that to few for peace if thei will be ruled 
 by him, thei thervnto agree. And thervpon the ant is brought 
 before the flies. Cap. 71. 
 
 ITji Ff iiii 
 
 33 1 
 
33- 
 
333 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THe flies difcoragld (as erfl: difclofed,) 
 They all cride to take peace fum maner of waie. 
 A warfare to fare : that fare them difpofed : 
 Rather to fafl, and to fare full hard (that day :) 
 Then fharp fauts, with fowre fawfe : to tafte more in faie. 
 Their bumbling buzing : at their capteyns crie fefl, 
 This aduifed aduice, to them he exprefl. 
 
 Freendes all : that ye all wolde haue peace, ye all fhow. 
 
 But what waie to cum to peace, none of you tell. 
 
 Two pleyne waies theare be,, to prouoke peace to grow. 
 
 One : to fubmit vs on knees (to our foes fell,) 
 
 An other, to offer them talke, war to expell. 
 
 By taking peace : vnder condifcion fuch, 
 
 As raaie extinkt (in both partes) all caufe of gruch. 
 
 But firft : yf we fubmit vs, all are vndoone. 
 Meane mercie, nay mayne miferie : fhalbe our end. 
 Flies knees : to furious fpiders, win no boone. 
 The feconde, and the beft waie is, to extend : 
 Sum talke as I tolde : which if ye condifend : 
 To folow, we muft enter talke in the fame : 
 By fum other bye meane : then in our owne name. 
 
 If we few directlie, fpiders wilbe prowde. 
 
 And we eyther get no peace : or fuch a peace. 
 
 As betwene war and that peace, fmall choyfe a vowde, 
 
 Exactions, raunfums, or fines, fhall neuer ceafe. 
 
 Bonds of good abearing : fhall haue no releafe. 
 
 Flies lands, flies goods, flies Hues, and flies libertd,' 
 
 Manie clearlie loft, and all in ieoberde. 
 
 But 
 
 334 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 But you folowing (as ye ought) my counfel, 
 
 I wyll driue thant to make fute : this fute to few : 
 
 By a tale told to him here. Which I will tell : 
 
 If ye will here it and foth it, the flies grew : 
 
 To a gree. Wherewith certaine flies for thant flew. 
 
 Who : fet and fet at ladder foote by the flife, 
 
 The Captaine (to thant:) did this tale deuife. 
 
 f The captaine telth the ant that the flies haue retired from 
 thafTaute: (wheare manie fpiders are flayne) to fe whether 
 the fpiders wyll few for peace, for which fince they few not, 
 the flies will affaute them agayne. But the ant they wyll 
 hang flreyght before they go. Cap. 72. 
 
 335 
 
336 
 
uu 33} 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ANt (pleyne and trew, fliort and (harp) a tale of me : 
 Told to thee, thou muft here. Thus ftandith the cafe. 
 A great conflict (euin now) the fpiders and we, 
 Haue had : which flew fpiders a piteous pace. 
 Tyll pittie wrought our retire, to fe what grace : 
 Might a pere in them : to few to vs for peace. 
 In giuing vs our right, this war to furfeafe. 
 
 And : that they do vs wrong intolerable, 
 
 I durfl: make thee (their frend) our iudge (for my part) 
 
 The abhominacion is enfcrewtable : 
 
 To pronounce at full, how they (by will peruart,) 
 
 Haue wrongfuUie wroong vs, to wronges of moft fmart. 
 
 Which we haue borne : and neuer theron wrokun. 
 
 Till the burden, our backs and necks hath brokun. 
 
 And when we hope (if we at anie time hope :) 
 That our breakbacke burdens : Ihall cum to ende, 
 Then fliowth thencrefe of our burdens : fo large fcope, 
 That they feme but be goon. None end fene tentende. 
 Wherin, their force forfith vs, to band in bende. 
 Rather : then bide their perpetuall fhakling. 
 To fl:and agaynfl: them, and fl;ick to our takling. 
 
 As we haue fl;ikt now here (I faie) to their payne. 
 And to avoide their more payne (I fay and fayde :) 
 Being loth : to fet a broch their blood againe, 
 We haue traynd a long time (endiffrentlie weyde :) 
 To kepe them : from thextreme extremite ftayde. 
 To fe their fewt for peace : vs to peace tatempt. 
 Which : thorow their owne faut, (we faie) is exempt. 
 
 But 
 
 338 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 But fince they few not, we will fet on a gayne. 
 
 To leaue no fpider (or els no'flie,) a Hue. 
 
 But ere we go : we haue made decre certaine : 
 
 To hang thee ftreight Ant : it booteth not to ftriue, 
 
 Get a goftlifather: that can fhortlie fhriue. 
 
 Difpatch hangman. Sum flie go : fum bell to toule. 
 
 That fpiders and flies, may praie for thants foule. 
 
 ITThe Ant vpon foden ftiorte warning of his death : beynge 
 much difmayde, laying all that he can for his life, and yet 
 can get no grace, he prayth refpight : while he be brought 
 to the fpider to fe whether he wyll grow to anie peace to faue 
 the antes life. Whiche graunted, the ant is brought before 
 the fpider. Cap. 73. 
 
 u 
 
 339 
 
34° 
 
3 41 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 NEuer was there ant, (I wene) fo aftonide,: 
 As was this ant vpon this chiefe flies tale told : 
 Had he bene an ant plenteouflie monide, 
 He wold haue geuen facks full of filuer and gold : 
 To haue bene fafe thens, but he preide them to hold : 
 And heare him fpeake once againe before he die. 
 Which graunted, this began the ant by and bie. 
 
 Maifter Captaine (and all (my maiflers) here flife :) 
 
 I befech you confider, confideratlie. 
 
 Not onlie : that none enmite doth a rife : 
 
 In me toward you : proued aprobatlie, 
 
 Before nor fmce my fuffrance, captiuatlie : 
 
 But frendfhip in aduifmg you peace to kepe, 
 
 Wheare war hath fins, brought mania flies in dead flepe. 
 
 Alfo to vewe : I humblie you infliant. 
 
 What time ye haue hangd me, what thing ye haue woon. 
 
 The carcas of a poore wretched feelie ant. 
 
 Not worth the rope that it hangth by : in the foon. 
 
 Way well (with your felues) what a threede this were fpoon 
 
 An innofent : by tiranie : to death to draw, 
 
 No flie therby winner, the worth of a fl:raw. 
 
 Note more : this thing once done, can neuer be vndoone. 
 And till it be doone, male be doone when ye will. . 
 Which being now doone : and repented as foone. 
 To late cumth that repentaunce : to auoyde thill. 
 Marke more. If you in this furie : me here kill. 
 Then the feyre flowre of flies (as ye take him) dieth. 
 As from the fpider, thretning therin erft; lieth. 
 
 Quoth 
 
 34= 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Quoth the captaine turne the ladder : thant cride (lay. 
 
 If all this aforefaide : my life will not faue, 
 
 Here this deuice : deuifed an other way, 
 
 That is : it maie like you : I your graunt to haue : 
 
 Of one poore petifTion, which I laft here craue. 
 
 Let me go : gardid to the fpiders againe, 
 
 To proue : what peace I can for my life, obtaine. 
 
 Beete fo cride the flies : who made a harold go : 
 To make mod humble fute : in behalfe of thant, 
 That he and (faue fortie flies with him) no mo, 
 Might be admitted to his fpeche : that inftant. 
 The fpider (feming to graunt it : hard and fcant,) 
 Bad him cum. Wherwith awaie the harold went, 
 Showing the flies and ant, the fpiders affent. 
 
 Fortie flies garding the ant, flew forth brauely. 
 The fpiders fort, renewde and furnifht agayne. 
 The hed fpider in the mids : (landing grauelie : 
 And (for terror) on lebets and galows remaine, 
 Flies thoufands hanging : fum in rope fum in chaine. 
 Thant : being brought before the fpider to fpeake 
 His minde (as folowith) forthwith he did breake. 
 
 IfThant (inwaie of peticion) fewinge to the fpider for peace 
 laying confideracions to prouoke him the rather therto, the 
 fpider doth attentiuelie, geue the ant hering. Cap. 74. 
 
 343 
 
344 
 
XX 
 
 345 
 
THE sp;der 
 
 RYght exelent hunkill, if I wofull wretche : 
 To call you mine vnkill : may here be fo bold, 
 Two things : to pronounce playnlie without fer fetche. 
 Is my prefent purpofe. Firfl: of which doth hold : 
 Thankes, for fauing my life. Seconde to be told, 
 Standth vpon a requeft by petifcion : 
 For parell, like the firft in condifcion. 
 
 As thus : of life : I am in like daunger now, 
 
 As I was then, (except your mercifull eyde :) 
 
 The flies : being bent to Hue and die on you, 
 
 To fawt this caftell a frefli, they haue purueyde. 
 
 And had bene here ere this : fauing that they fteyde : 
 
 To hang me firft, which hath no longer ftay : 
 
 But till I (of peace) bring them word, yea, or nay, 
 
 Nowhit. at their fute : but all togither at mine. 
 
 They refpight my life : till my returne : to trie, 
 
 What good lucke : your good loue, to me may a fine : 
 
 By enclinacion to peace, charitablie : 
 
 At my fute, for my fake. Both to faue therby, 
 
 My life : and as manie of yours : as fhall. 
 
 In this feerce force, be clapt in the necks withal. 
 
 And fince : your owne eftate ye can better wey : 
 
 What waie is beft : (for you and yours) then I can, 
 
 And that ye know : the worft peace : (as wife wightes fey:) 
 
 Is better then is the beft war, to fcan, 
 
 As profe fliowth partlie here, fince this war began : 
 
 This confidered ; confidering of your part here, 
 
 I leaue of to confider mine owne part clere. 
 
 Fyrft: 
 
 346 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Fyrft : befeching you with me, and for me now. 
 
 To confider : I am in this parell brought, 
 
 By my felfe, for my felfe, naie by you for you : 
 
 Without my feeking : by your owne requeft wrought, 
 
 And ftinted reward, coruptlie to be bought. 
 
 None ye offred, none I axid, nor none I haue : 
 
 Nor none I fought : but your fauer to vowfaue. 
 
 Secondarilie : your cafe erft arbitrated : 
 
 I forthered : (as fer as my wit might force pour :) 
 
 Which fhowde fo, when I the fame Iterated, 
 
 That I had woordes of thanke : from the mouth of your. 
 
 Thirdlie : where chaunce of war : was to me fo four : 
 
 That I (for you) was captiue and fhould haue dide. 
 
 What (and how) things grew theron, here them fpecifide. 
 
 At the flies firft approch : toward this affaut, 
 
 To a tree they drew me : ftreight to hang me there. 
 
 Axing of me, or laying to me : no faut. 
 
 But that I was your freend. In v/hich deadly fere. 
 
 One flie : erft at tharbiterment (as other were.) 
 
 I prayd to fpeake, that I might fpeake ere I dide. 
 
 Which was at laft graunted : but fyrft long denide. 
 
 My tale there, ftood on two entents in effect. 
 One : to faue mie felfe, an other to faue you : 
 And yours. And therin to fcape vnfufpect. 
 Fyrft for my felfe, I layde that no flie could avow : 
 That euer I offended flie : ere now or now. 
 Praing them (thervpon) to here and adiudge me, 
 As might moft equaliie ftand with equite, 
 
 And 
 
 347 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 And for the faftie of you : and of yours here : 
 
 To qualifie the feerce furie of the flies, 
 
 All trembling terror : that I could make apere, 
 
 That might difcorage the flies : in anie wife, 
 
 That did I at the full : to the flies deuice. 
 
 Which wrought fuch effect : and did their harts fo pall, 
 
 That they cride for peace : and wold haue fled ny all. 
 
 But the cheefe flie fteying them : then againft me, 
 Spake his pleafure theare, as you did after here. 
 He faw and faide to the flies : that they might fe : 
 My counfell giuen them, was againfl; them clere. 
 And that I put them in feare to cum here mere : 
 Onlie fqr the loue : that I to fpiders bare, 
 And to fet my felfe at liberte, from flies fnare. 
 
 Whervpon he moued, and they did confent : 
 
 That I fhuld be fent hither as fent was I, 
 
 To tell a tale, to abate your furie bent. 
 
 Wherin : if I brought you all as fearefullie : 
 
 To feare them : as I had brought them formerly : 
 
 To feare you, then fliould I be fet frank and free. 
 
 Or els (at my returne,) hangd flireyght fliould I bee. 
 
 Here : to prolong my life, nature prouokt me : 
 
 To make you a fraide of them, fumwhat to faie. 
 
 But yet againe to that : affection yokt me : 
 
 To reafon fo fayntlie, when that I did inuey, 
 
 That you (by reafon) ftreight wiped that feare away. 
 
 For which, I was no foner returnd vnneth, 
 
 Ere I had (at the flies handes) iudgement of deth, 
 
 Fyrfl: 
 
 348 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Fyrft at your requeft, for you : and not for me : 
 I cam : crauing no reward : but your good will. 
 Second : in tharbitrate cafe I wrought decre, 
 To the beft for you. As fer as I could flcill, 
 Thirdlie : for your fake : to death moft vile or ill, 
 I was then drawne : and am now drawing agairie. 
 Except my greefe : fum grace, of you obtaine. 
 
 That is : that it male like you, to flies to graunt, 
 JPeace. Such as difpaire giue no caufe to refufe, 
 And pride giue no caufe, it proudlie to auaunt. 
 But as mefurable meane : meafure endewfe : 
 So (of your grace) graciouflie them to vfe. 
 This loue toward my life : pleafe it you to (how. 
 No reward els (at your handes) craue I to grow. 
 
 This eiidid : the ant made curtfey to the ground. 
 At which the fpider gaue him a beck low boude. 
 But : before he anie woord : to thant did found, 
 He pawfde folemlie, as any fpider coude. 
 Which doone : verie louinglie : but not verie loude. 
 In maner affewred. And in woordes right graue, 
 Firft thentre : and then thend of anfwere he gaue. 
 
 ITThe fpider (vpon thants tale tolde to him) alegith certaine 
 thinges by which he femethin doubte much to graunt peace to 
 the flies. Wherin the ant and he trauerfing fumwhat: anon 
 he graunteth peace to them vnder condicion exprefi:, where- 
 with thant is brought to the flies agayne. Cap. 75. 
 
 349 
 
350 
 
351 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 COfin ant : a long matter in fhort fpeeche here, 
 Ye haue (as ye can) right wifelie declared. 
 Which : as ye grounded on three things to apere, 
 To draw me to pittie you, in cafe thus fnared, 
 So : this mine anfwere to thofe three prepared : 
 Hath in it : other three thinges. Two of which three, 
 Stand fore agaynft ye : and the third ftandth with ye. 
 
 Firft the harme (by wrong) that flies haue doone me. 
 
 Second : my will to be reuengde on the fame. 
 
 Third : the pittie I haue of you. I promife ye : 
 
 Of two thinges : betweene thefe three : which one to name, 
 
 I can (as yet) no determinacion frame. 
 
 Which is : one of thefe two : to determin at eende. 
 
 Whether to flea all my foes, or faue one freende : 
 
 Naie : whether to flea or to faue : foes and freend both, 
 And whether to flea or faue : both you and yours. 
 On this quefl:ion (quoth thant) this cafe rightlie goth : 
 But peace fauith them and theirs : vs and ours. 
 War fleath (or daungerth) all : in fliort fliarp fhowrs. 
 Ye faue all : in pitteing me : the leaft one. 
 Not pitteing me, ye flea (as femth euerychone. 
 
 But two of your three points laft toucht : here me touch. 
 
 Omitting the third, till I them haue touched. 
 
 Of your harme : your will to reuenge : as ye a vouch :) 
 
 To thone ill paft : thother ill to cum, couched : 
 
 When all is reuoluid, that can be a vouched. 
 
 Your reuengement to cum : of the flies ill paft. 
 
 May bring you more harme : and the flies away caft. 
 
 Ye 
 
 352 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Yea : caft you and yours awaie to, (I fay) it may : 
 And (vnder your pardon) to fpeake my minde plaine, 
 Your defire of furder reuengment : to way, 
 Declarth much crewelte : in you to remaine. 
 The leaft flies raunfum hath bene loffe of his braine. 
 That in time paft hath toucht here : and now in fight, 
 Thoufands of flies flaine, and hangd in prefent fight. 
 
 Thus for their yll, and your will : thill to reuenge : 
 
 Your pointing of thofe two points : difpoynted be. 
 
 In that quarell : charitee doth you chalenge : 
 
 In deadlie defiance : of all enmite. 
 
 Then pafling thefe two points, to this thyrd pas we. 
 
 Pittie : wherby charitee here to enbrafe, 
 
 A boue all cafes, pittie this pitefuU cafe. 
 
 And pittie : in you fliowde here now vnto me, 
 
 Commodite to your felfe : I thinke ftiall gaine, 
 
 If you (in this refpect of pittie) agre : 
 
 To take peace with the flies, though ye lofle fufl:aine : 
 
 My life to faue : in recompence of my payne : 
 
 Hands and harfs of Ants : old and yong : great and fmall, 
 
 To ferue you in your neede, ye are fure of all. 
 
 And contrariwife : if I here now go to wracke, 
 
 Where you fhall me flea : in that ye male me faue, 
 
 Not onlie freendfliip : of all ants ye fhall lacke. 
 
 But all creaturs lining : fhall you depraue : 
 
 And abhor, where they : fpeech or thought of you haue : 
 
 Agaynfl: you (in this cafe) leafl mite in a cheefe, 
 
 In his mofl: might : will fight, in blood to his kneefe. 
 
 Gg To 
 
 yy 353 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 To this (all that I can faie) what ye will do, 
 I humblie befeche you (foorthwith) to declare. 
 Life, or death, which one of two to truft vnto. 
 Is my deepe defire. That I male now prepare. 
 My ftomacke redie, according to my fare. 
 My minde I meane to die : or els to liue, 
 As your pleafure is, my death or life to giue. 
 
 Cofm ant (quoth the fpider) pittle toward you : 
 And anger toward them, wreaftleth in me fore. 
 The flies fpight to fpiders : to fhow what and how : 
 They haue fpighted vs : from long before : 
 Laying their fauts on our backs, and euermore : 
 By clayming our commons and fuch other like, 
 Slaundring our titles : quarels ftill they pike. 
 
 Sir (quoth the flie) fauts on both fides I haue herd, 
 Which on both parts, I wifli to be mendid. 
 The next waie wherto, is peace to be preferd. 
 By war, no part mended, all parts offended. 
 War wafteth all things : where war is thus bendid. 
 In pittie wherof, by peace all ils to mende, 
 Peace to all parts : I wifh flill an ende. 
 
 Well cofin : cheefelie : yea onlie for your fake : 
 In recompence of your pains : at my defire. 
 Pardon I geue flies : and peace thus fhall they take. 
 I will all flies, out of hand hence to retire. 
 And that they in tumult, no furder confpire. 
 But that they cleare difiblue this confpirafie, 
 And euerie flie flee home, to liue pefablie. 
 
 i§tThey 
 
 354 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 J§J They ftial now : fet you at liberie alfo 
 
 Bag, and bagage : to go ftreight home franck and free. 
 
 And in this window and all, wheare my powrs go :) 
 
 Half the hooles for theirs, I graunt to them fro me. 
 
 And the flie that this began, ftill here to be. 
 
 Standing vpon his triall in confequence, 
 
 As ftandth with reafon, law, cuftome, and confcience. 
 
 Which (as I promifed him,) I will performe. 
 This is your end. And flies warne your felowes flife : 
 To be ware henceforth, of thefe deeds enorme. 
 And by their harme here prefent, to wax fo wife : 
 That thei neuer atempt more, thus to arife : 
 Againft their beggars or betters : fuch as bee. 
 Placed thus, aboue flies in auctoritee. 
 
 Great god faue you (quoth thant) quoth thofe flies amen. 
 Low curtfie they made, and awaie they flew : 
 To the camp of flies : and there and then, 
 Prefenting thant to them, aboute thant they drew. 
 With panting harts. To perceiue, what wold enfew. 
 Wherewith : the ant at curtfie with knees low boude, 
 Thefe fweete wordes he began, in voyce right loude. 
 
 ITThant declaring peace: as it is graunted, the flies in muche 
 ioye fet the ant thankfullie at libertie, and home goeth he. 
 Whervpon the captaine commaundeth all flies to draw nere 
 to here him fpeake ere they depart. But they flee all awaye a 
 few excepte. Cap. y6. 
 
 Ggii 
 
 355 
 
!iiiiil>ii»'i»t 
 i'Hi:lliM|iii"'l"' 
 iiltr.illllllilll" 
 
 ,iiii:i;ijiiinM 
 
 ,;lHJII|ll)llll 
 
 ,:,|ii)IIIIJ)I"»"h 
 
 liiii 
 
 I 
 
 nil' 
 
 ni|l 
 nil. 
 
 ,''! 
 
 II': 
 
 ■r. 
 
 M.ll 
 
 357 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 PEace : and pardon : I bring now into your laps. 
 Vpon thefe wordes fpoke, there was fuch a fhril Ihowte 
 Holding vp their hands : cafting vp their caps, 
 Such ioying and reioyfing : the whole campe aboute : 
 As felde hath ben heard and feene, in fuch a route. 
 Long was it : ere filence wold fullie be woon. 
 But at laft it was woon : which doone thant begoon. 
 
 Peace to pronounce, in forme as it was graunted. 
 And that it was graunted onlie for his fake. 
 When he at end (to them) had it a vaunted, 
 And that he : of his gard thither : did witneffe take : 
 They all of the fame : affirmacion did make. 
 Streight waie : the halter taken from the ants necke, 
 The captaine flie gaue thant, a louelie low becke. 
 
 Praying him : to let all hard handling paft, pas. 
 
 And to confider : that in nombre fo greate. 
 
 All be not one flies broode : and wo he was, 
 
 That he had fhowde him felfe fo ill : him tentreate. 
 
 Defiring him, it to forgiue, and forgeate. 
 
 (Sir quoth thant) forgiuen and forgotten, all is : 
 
 For my part, and euer flialbe after this. 
 
 And fuch flies as erfl:, had frowninglie fafl:e him : 
 Louinglie they then, on him did fmothlie fraile. 
 The captaine and cheef flies : hauing embrafte him, 
 They geuing him thankes, in wordes of pleafant ftile : 
 Difcharging him thence, I let him paffe a while : 
 Moft iocund and ioyfullie : homward to flee. 
 While ye : the flies conclufion haue by me. 
 
 The 
 
 3S8 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 The ant being gone, the captayne forthwith : 
 
 Made proclamacion, to be herd there faie. 
 
 But thoufands (after hundreths) are gone euin fith. 
 
 Till all : within fortie, weare flowne quight awaie. 
 
 The reft, moft agaynft their will : forft to this fraie, 
 
 Gathering aboute the captayne : to heare him fpeake. 
 
 He to them : and they to him, their minds did breake. 
 
 ITVpon a litle talke had betweene the captaine and the few 
 flies there lefte, touchinge the rewdneffe and lightneffe of the 
 common fort of flies, mifliking their former light lewde de- 
 menure, they depart. The campeson both fides, clere brooken 
 vp. Cap. J7. 
 
 359 
 
360 
 
361 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 HOw like ye this rudeneffe of thefe flies (quoth he ?) 
 As yll as anie fight I haue feene (quoth one) 
 Well (quoth an other) it is no nouelte : 
 Common fort of flies (in maner euerichone) 
 As gidds cum and go, fo flies cum and are gone. 
 Oftimes when ftriuis are (by wrangling flies) begoon, 
 In the mids of the matter, awaie they roon. 
 
 Leaning flies in the briers : whom they forfl: therto, 
 
 As they forced me. But I am this time tought : 
 
 Agaynfl an other time : what I fhall do. 
 
 And we (quoth other) thither forfiblie wrought. 
 
 My mind (quoth the captaine) was to haue brought : 
 
 Our campe in order difolued. Sir (quoth one) 
 
 Ye know they that know none order, can keepe none. 
 
 I told at firft (thofe flies that forft me out) 
 
 Though I tooke (as I tooke and take) our clayme right : 
 
 Yet agaynfl: our fuperiors, to be fl:out : 
 
 To attayne our right : by force of furious fight, 
 
 A blinde flie might fe that out of the waje quight. 
 
 Which wold not be heard : but ere I agayne fl;ur : 
 
 As I now flurd, lie be hangd at mine owne dur. 
 
 And we (quoth the reft). Freendes (quoth the captaine) 
 
 I was not forft at beginning : to cum foorth. 
 
 I rather foreced other : but to be plaine, 
 
 The gayne in this iorney feene : what it is woorth, 
 
 And what daunger this and like enterprife ftoorth 
 
 He not ftur thus agayne, if I maie fit ftill : 
 
 And foorft to ftur thus, He ftur with an ill will : 
 
 Better 
 
 363 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Better fmoth woordes to geue ; then fmart ftripes to take, 
 Namelie where ftripes win nought : & wordes maie win all, 
 Againft the ftreme, ftrife againe I will not make. 
 But take at fpiders hands, as in peace may fall. 
 I fe what it is : to fpurne againft the wall. 
 Home will I in peace, and in peace a bide there, 
 Wifhing peace thinftrument, right to trie eche where. 
 
 We wifhe the fame (faide the reft) all taking flight : 
 From thence : nothing theare left : but themptie place, 
 Wherevpon : the fpider, brake vp his camp quight. 
 Which done, I fterted vp a fpeedie pace, 
 Looking out at the window : there to purchace : 
 A fight (yf I could) of the ant : cume home new. 
 What folem falutafions, ftiould there enfew. 
 
 Ggii 
 
 Thant 
 
 363 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 f Thant being cum to his molehill : folemlie refeiued of hys 
 wife, and childerne, and a great numbre of ants, he telth (to 
 them all a tale difcoorfinge theffect of all his trouble, had a- 
 monge the fpiders & flies, willing them ,diligentlie to marke, 
 what he fayth. Cap. 78. 
 
 Out 
 
 364 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Out at a lates hole, caftinge mine iye, 
 A molhill I fpide : as the emerod greene. 
 The graffe low leyde : and vnto the window nie, 
 Thant new entring the fame : who when he was feene, 
 On fo foden warning, neuer was (I weene) 
 Such a nombre of ants, as were on that hill. 
 To fhow outward tokens, of inward goodwill. 
 
 At thants firft entre, a lane of ants was made. 
 
 Euerie ant by the waie, fhaking that ants fift. 
 
 And fumwhat more then the midwaye of that glade. 
 
 His wife met him : whom he full fweetlie kill. 
 
 His babes fell on knees. Whom he deuoutlie blift. 
 
 Whervpon : all ants hauing that ant imbrafte, 
 
 Thefe wordes faide he to them : amid mong them pafte. 
 
 Dere kinffolkes : and alies manie : and freendes all. 
 What ye haue herd of me : fins I from you went, 
 That know I not. But my felfe here report fhall : 
 Of my trobulus tragidie, theffect feruent. 
 In telling which tale, mine effectuall entent : 
 Is : that ye all fliall now marke much : what I faie : 
 And all marke much more, whie I faie : that I faie. 
 
 But what I faie : mark firft. I thinke ye know all : 
 That my yong cofin fpider was with me here : 
 To cum to his father : my hunkle : at call. 
 But the caufe wherfore he wild me to appere : 
 Whether ye know or not : that know I not clere. 
 My knowledge wherof : to witnes that ye know. 
 In full and few woordes, (as I can) I fliall fhow. 
 
 Gg iii A 
 
 365 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 A notable flie : hath late chaunfed to light. 
 In that fpiders copweb. the fpider by that, 
 Charging the flie : with defert of death : by right. 
 The flie : to deferue to die, denying flat. 
 Befeching the fpider, to here him fpeake fumwhat. 
 He graunting him fpeeche. and to judge his offence. 
 Standing with reafon, law, cufl:ome, and confcience. 
 
 The fpiders chalenge to the flie, gaue great charge. 
 
 Wherto (as fer as I could there vnderfband. 
 
 The flies defence, was very lufl:y and large. 
 
 In which chalenge and defence : when all was fcand, 
 
 To cum to ende, they two could not take in hand. ' 
 
 But being dreuen to choofe arbiters tagre, 
 
 The flie choofe a butterflie, the fpider chofe me. 
 
 This one : of their manie matters tarbitrate. 
 At triall (by cufliom) on which fide to lay. 
 All holes, in that and all windows in eche ftate. 
 The flies claiming freehold : for free paffmg way. 
 The fpiders for fpiders faide : fo, all hold they. 
 Wheron : we hering all fides what could be leide, 
 We could not agree, how the cafe might be weide. 
 
 To anie one fide of both : fo that at ende. 
 In our report, (to that fpider and that flie,) 
 The cafe as we firft founde, we left it to depende. 
 The fpider and flie in copweb : thend to trie, 
 Whervpon the flies : in a fume by and bie. 
 Were fodenlie vp : in a rought, on a rore. 
 Such a flock, as I haue neuer feene before. 
 
 No 
 
 366 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 No nede to afke them wherfore their cuming was, 
 Their warlike fafhin : fhowde them bent to fight : 
 But in a moment, a bout me they compas. 
 And without worde of caufe declarde, wrong or right. 
 They drew me to a tree : ftanding nie in fight. 
 Wheare : with halter aboute my neck : on ladder fet, 
 Turne the ladder they cride, none other glace to get. 
 
 Sauing the forfayde arbiter butterflie, 
 Vpon great and longe fute, at laft obteynde. 
 Of them to here me fpeake : before I (houle die. 
 But ere I fpake (what to fpeake) feeing vnfaynd 
 Life or death lie before me,) I was conflraind : 
 (As that fliort time wolde ferue) to premeditate, 
 How to conferue my felfe, and the fpiders ftate. 
 
 As affection naturall : moued me more : 
 
 To leane to the fpiders : then toward the flies. 
 
 And of my tale : the verie carnell or core, 
 
 Muft ftand on two points (me thought in anie wife. 
 
 Thone, to perfwade no faute in me to furmife : 
 
 Againft them. Thother to make them to relent, 
 
 By enforfmg the force, of fpiders force bent. 
 
 In firft part of which tale, my fautes I clered : 
 
 That they (to touche me with) could anie waie laie. 
 
 And where : by the rede of my tale, appered, 
 
 Their deaths plaine : (as I there fooes force did difplaie.) 
 
 They thervpon all : welnie ronning awaie 
 
 I handling the tale fo, from firft part to eende, 
 
 That the moft part (fimple flies) tooke me their freende. 
 
 But 
 
 367 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But the craftie flie : capitall captiteyne, 
 Opening (to the flies) my politik intent, 
 Vnfeene to the flies : till he made them fe it plaine. 
 Him felfe feeing his daunger aboue all bent, 
 If the flies did flee, their flight then to preuent, 
 He inueyde fuch matter to them : that a none, 
 He coraged them to ftand, all former feare gone. 
 
 Whervpon : with their confent, he awarded, 
 
 That I : before the fpiders^ a tale to tell. 
 
 Should be fent forwith, with fortie flies garded. 
 
 Wherin : if I made fpiders feare flies : as well : 
 
 Or as much (in my faying ferius or fell :) 
 
 As I brought flies of fpiders before in feare, 
 
 I fbould go quight. Yf not, at returne hang theare. 
 
 I fayde I wolde do my beft. and therwithall. 
 
 Standing on the ladder, my two winges ftert out. 
 
 As in a time of our time, is naturall. 
 
 Which had : I flew garded with this garded rout. 
 
 Before the fpider, bauing looke ftraunge and flout. 
 
 But what of that : my curtfie ons low made, 
 
 I vfed wordes : my matter to perfwade. 
 
 Where : although I wolde haue told an other tale : 
 
 Yet who maie not as he will, mufl: as he maie. 
 
 Life was fweete. death was fowre : nature did me hale 
 
 To faue my life, while my life in my tounge laie ; 
 
 Short tale to make, in tale fo did I there faie : 
 
 That fpiders in feare of flies, had agony 
 
 As much, as flies of fpiders had formerly. 
 
 Where 
 
 368 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Wherwith ; the hed fpider fell in fell furie. 
 
 I feard he wold (with his wepon) haue kild me : 
 
 And fuer : all my frendes from lerfey to lurie : 
 
 Had not faued my life : but he wolde haue fpild me : 
 
 Had not his fore graunt : waranted and wild me : 
 
 To cum and go fafe, but this paffing ouer. 
 
 He entred a talke, the fpiders to recouer : 
 
 And encorage agayne. Which in fine he did. 
 Bringing me in much difdayne, and more diftruft. 
 He faide, that one both thofe parts, I difemblid. 
 Creeping with fpiders : at times when I luft, 
 And flieng with flies : othertimes, euine as luft. 
 Where I to him, ment nothing but honeftlie, 
 He reported my meaning, cleane contrarie. 
 
 Enfampled, by my creeping with fpiders furft ; 
 And laft exampled : by my fleeing with flife. 
 In refte of his tale told, he telling the wurft : 
 Againft me and my tale : that he could deuife, 
 He fuch matter layde, and layde it in fuch wife, 
 That in corage (I faie) were the fpiders agayne. 
 We with his defiance, returning a mayne. 
 
 To the flies : by one flie : all paft repeated, 
 Which : declaring me : the fpiders to haue frayde, 
 As I was wild to do, ftreyght was it treated : 
 (Vpon demaund) whether in that I there faide, 
 I fliould haue my life or not. which to be waide : 
 Betwene two flies : a ferius argument : 
 Whether I fhould liue or die, was biglie bent. 
 
 Hh The 
 
 3« 3*9 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 The one faide : that I by cumnant, ought to Hue. 
 Nai faide thother : by cumnant he ought to die : 
 The firft faide : as wordes of cumnant do giue : 
 To bring the fpider in feare, euine fo did I. 
 Thother faid, that feare heeld not permanentlie 
 And : the woordes fulfild : the meaning not fulfild, 
 The cumnant is not kept. In iudgement well Ikild, 
 
 This argument they turnd and toft till at laft, 
 The freend, quight ouerthrew thaduerfarie. 
 And yet againft me, the moft nombre ftreight paft. 
 As though thargument had ron, cleane contrarie. 
 On the ladder I ftoode, ftreight to mifcarie : 
 From which : at turning of, by the flie hangman, 
 Hold : cride a flie fer of, flinging toward vs than. 
 
 Which flie faide : the fpider had made a decree : 
 The flie in clofe prifon with him deteynde : 
 Should ftreyght leefe his life, if the flies did kill me : 
 Whervpon they repryede me to prifon cheynde. 
 With harneft flies watcht : and in ftocks remeinde. 
 Betwene hope and dread, whether to liue or die, 
 As this fide, or that fide, fhould win victorie. 
 
 Forthwith herewith, on the fpider they gaue faute. 
 
 Where fiue hundreth fpiders : and fiue thoufand flies, 
 
 Weare flaine. Abating on bothe fides corage haute, 
 
 The flies retired : peace fum waie to deuife. 
 
 The fpiders : weare defirus of peace, likewife. 
 
 But which part ftiould begin fute : that peace to moue, 
 
 Both parts fhowde as much curtfie, as litle loue. 
 
 The 
 
 370 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 The flies had me before them braging in bofl. 
 That fins fpiders to them : for peace wold not few, 
 Spiders : or flies one part of both fhould be croft : 
 Quight out of this life, none left a liue to vew. 
 And ftreyght to the ladder, agayne they me drew. 
 Protefting that I fhould die : ere they marcht thence, 
 I praying them, my lyfe might hang in fufpence, 
 
 While I weare garded againe, to the fpider. 
 
 To few to the fpider, all in mine owne name. 
 
 To fee : of what peace, hap might be prouider. 
 
 At mine humble fate : vnto him for the fame, 
 
 They graunted, and fent me. to whome when I came, 
 
 I fewde for peace, befeching it the rather, 
 
 For certeine refpects, which I then did gather. 
 
 Such as fhowd then : hie time : peace to giue and take. 
 
 As : daunger to him and his : and then for me : 
 
 Moft Innofentlie caft awaie, for his fake. 
 
 Hauing, or looking, for no comodite : 
 
 But onlie his fauer : and hereupon he : 
 
 (Seming loth to graunt : and glad to graunt in deede, 
 
 Graunted peace, in forme as forwith fhall profeede. 
 
 Vnder generall pardon : for all fautes paft, 
 
 The flies muft all awaie : and all war furfeafe. 
 
 I : fet at liberte : no longer to lie faft. 
 
 Flies in windowes, to haue halfe the holes in peafe. 
 
 The flie with him in prifon, not to releafe : 
 
 But to take an end at his hands, theare or thence, 
 
 As ftandth with reafon, law, cuftom, and confcience. 
 
 Hh ii But 
 
 371 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But note : I muft take this done all for my loue. 
 
 In recompence of paine and parell had theare : 
 
 This done, I and the flies theare, as did behoue : 
 
 Geuing thankes : and taking leaue, thence gone we weare ; 
 
 To the flies, who flockt about me geuing eare : 
 
 To here of peace. Which when I theare had declarde, 
 
 With thanks I was difcharged, of all captiue garde. 
 
 From whens I am (as you fe) hether now cum. 
 The one halfe of my whole tale : hauing difplayde. 
 For : of what I haue to faie : this is the fum. 
 But now wherfore this what (now faide) is faide : 
 As I : at beginning wild this what : well waide, 
 So wyfhe I this wherefore : to be wayd as well. 
 For faftie of all ants, which I fhall now tell. 
 
 Thant 
 
 37- 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThant hauing faid: what he wolde faie, willeth all ants to 
 note whie he faid, that he faide. Whiche is to warne them by 
 his armes to beware, how they meddle in matters betweene 
 fpiders and flies. (j^ 
 
 Hh iii 
 
 Wyfe 
 
 373 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 VVyfe ants are warnd : by other ants harmes (ants fay) 
 And you : auoiding your harms : by harms of mine, 
 The whie : of my former tale, ye then well way. 
 For of the what, that is the whie : in fine. 
 Your heareing and folowing : of which difpline 
 (With -heareing and folowing : my next wordes here fet,) 
 Defence fro my like harms, I hope ye fhall get. 
 
 My which harms : though they fhow outwardlie to grow : 
 
 By warres froward chaunce : without faut of mine owne. 
 
 Yet the high god knowth, and my confcience doth me fhow: 
 
 That thefe my harms, of thefe my two fauts are growne. 
 
 Pride, and couetoufneffe : by corrupt blafl: blowne. 
 
 Into my hart inculked : by fancie fonde. 
 
 Which to warne you of, He make you vnderftonde. 
 
 Though the fpider fent for me : ere I hence went. 
 Yet when I was fent fore, prou^e was I to go : 
 Wheare : I thought to grow : in ftate more exelent. 
 Then anie ant before had growne. and fo : 
 Pearking with fpiders : in top of the windo, 
 I thought there : with the fpiders equall to be. 
 And here, in anthils, ants a god fliould take me. 
 
 And for the mayntenance : of that proude eftate, 
 I couetouflie caft, what way to finde meane. 
 Being aboue all ants, in place fituate, 
 By preferment (at the fpiders hand,) to gleane. 
 Office, fee, all that I could, to gather vp cleane. 
 Low curtfie, great riches, mirth, eafe, loue, and laude. 
 I thought all (hould be ofFred,.me to a plawde. 
 
 But 
 
 374 
 
AND THE -FLIE. 
 
 But in fine, this was the frute of this vaine hope : 
 Loue, or laude, on no fide : on all, hate and blame. 
 For goldin cheine at my necke, an hempen rope. 
 For reuerence and prayfe, difdayne and defame. 
 Looking to win much, leafe all. As in the fame : 
 Showd my reward : at end of all, at hands all. 
 Namlie at fpiders hands, who did me thither call. 
 
 As he : in graunting peace to the flies, fhowde plaine. 
 Which peace he faide, (I faie) with flies he did take. 
 To faue my life, and to recompence of my payne. 
 And for no caufe els. But let vs here make, 
 As it in deede : had bene done all my fake. 
 Yet : the hed and taile of this tale : loyned nie. 
 Shall fhow : that I right nought did win therby. 
 
 What yf : to faue my life,' that peace he then gaue : 
 My life was out of parell : till I .came theare. 
 Brought by him : for him, to the brinke of my graue. 
 Had I kept me here, neither parell nor feare : 
 Had my hart wounded, as it did theare while eare, 
 This gift is like as if a theefe (by falfe traine>) 
 Robd me of my good, and gaue it me againe. 
 
 I loft my time theare, and I loft my thrift here. 
 In fomer (ye know) we ants worke bufilie : 
 For winter to prouide, our foode euerie yere. 
 But : lack of this fomers dayes diligentfie. 
 May make me faft two dayes in winter (happlie,) 
 And driue me (perhaps) ere winter all done be. 
 To beg of ants, that might els haue beggde of me. 
 
 In 
 
 37S 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 In all my which punifliment : at all whofe hands, 
 I take them : but as the great gods inftruments. 
 His iudgement are fecret : he vfeth his wands, 
 Sum times : in apparence of outward intents, 
 To one purpofe. when his high wifdome affents. 
 To vfe them for an other. And fure, 
 I thinke he now put fo, my trouble in vre. 
 
 For my two faide fautes. willing you to beware, 
 
 Of all ambitius : and couetus defire. 
 
 In a voiding (for my like offence) my like care. 
 
 Which if ye do, fleeing defire to afpire, 
 
 Then can ye this leffon : as I wold require. 
 
 And not doing it : vpon this warning geeuene, 
 
 Ye will therto (by my like plage) to be dreeuene. 
 
 And did we confider, but this prefent life. 
 Yet muft we line in an order here (perde :) 
 The god hath plafte vs all : to liue out of ftrife : 
 Spiders, flies, and ants, ech fort in their degre. 
 Spiders, in head parts of windows : the heads be. 
 Flies, in the mids : the bodie as it weare. 
 Ants at the low part : the feete, acounted theare. 
 
 And as a fpider : ouer matcheth a fli, 
 
 So is a flie, as fer to big for an ant. 
 
 Which femeth wrought by deuine prouidence (thinke I,) 
 
 As our degrees (are in order) difliant, 
 
 So the degrees of our ftrengths, are difcrepant. 
 
 And where all three forts : kepe quietlie their plafe. 
 
 All liue together, in quiet welthy cafe. 
 
 But 
 
 376 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 But if they (for change of place) begin to ftriue, 
 As fpiders and flies (two parts of threi) did now, 
 They male haftelie ftriue, and floulie thriue. 
 And to the fpider : in our alegeant vow : 
 In all lefuU things, all we ants alwaie bow. 
 Without greefe or gruge. but if war againe rife, 
 What fhould ants medle : betwene fpiders and fliefe. 
 
 Be warnd here againe (by my harme) of medling. 
 
 Medle we in things, of our vocacion. 
 
 One flies finger thrufth ten ants, downe hedling. 
 
 Ants are not made : to walke in warres ftacion : 
 
 Nor to medle in feuere confultacion. 
 
 Medle we in our molehils : at the windows feete : 
 
 And let fpiders and flies do : as they thinke meete. 
 
 They fhall for me, (quoth he) and for vs cride thaie. 
 
 And to their bufines, bufiHe they went. 
 
 Wherwith cum foure flies fleeing, faft as they maie. 
 
 And at low part of the window : by affent, 
 
 They lighted, and the fpider then him felfe bent, 
 
 From his houfe to his cheire : and I forwith, 
 
 Set in my place : of their woords, to note the pith. 
 
 Foure 
 
 3^ 377 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 f Foure flies (in the name of al flies) at the copweb, thanking 
 the fpider for pardon and peace, declaring the condicions and 
 the performance on their part) few to the fpider on his part, to 
 performe his graunt, in laying out & poffefling them of theyr 
 limitts with halfe the holes in the window, which he graun- 
 teth bidding them a litle time flaie, in which while : he fendth 
 the yongeft fpider of his twaine to the ant, praying him to 
 cum to him againe. To deuide and deliuer the holes to theflies 
 as the fpider will apoinct them. Cap. 80. 
 
 One 
 
 578 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ONe flie of thofe foure (made the mouth for all, 
 At curtfie to the fpider had) thefe woords had. 
 Framed in maner (to the matter) formall. 
 Right honorable fir : moft dere and moft drad. 
 All flies, (thei of your profperus eftate moft glad,) 
 Haue commaunded vs : to commend them : to you, 
 Humblie, and dewlie as deutie bidth them bow. 
 
 So thanking your gifts to them, perdon and peace. 
 Vpon thefe condicions : as they vnderftand, 
 Warres : and confpiracies, on their part to feace. 
 Than tto be fet free, out of their captiue band. 
 The flie here in prifon : to haue end at your hand, 
 As ftandth with reafon, law, cuftom and confcience. 
 Halfe holes in windowes theirs : all times from hence. 
 
 Which cumnants they receyue, and put in vre. 
 
 In what they fhould do, and in what they (hall haue. 
 
 They thervpon fend vs, to know your pleafure. 
 
 What time: and what waie : ye will take to vouchfaue. 
 
 To poinct and poffeffe them, in that ye them gaue. 
 
 Binding them : (by indifferent deuided rate,) 
 
 To wifli contenuance, of your prefent ftate. 
 
 At their curtfie made, to this : the fpider faide : 
 
 This fute I graunt : tarie my returne againe. 
 
 In he went : and herin to haue the ants aide. 
 
 To thant, he fent the leaft fpider of his twayne. 
 
 Praying thant to cum to him : and take the payne. 
 
 To be his deputie : tenfeffe the flies in fine. 
 
 With halfe the holes wheare as the fpider wold a fine. 
 
 li ii Thant 
 
 379 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Thant fpying his cofin cumming, likte it not. 
 
 Sum thankleffe office was toward againe (thought he :) 
 
 Thorow the window, I faw he quicklie gat : 
 
 One leg, and his wafte, in fwadeband rold to be, 
 
 And crutches by his fide, a two or a three 
 
 That fpider cumming to thant : where as he laie, 
 
 Thefe : or thefe like words, that fpider did firft faie. 
 
 Vpon 
 
 380 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 fVpon this meflage done, thant feind a let of his cuming: by 
 a hurt mifchanfing him that morning, with which anfwere, 
 the yonge fpider returneth to the olde. Cap. 8i. 
 
 li iii 
 
 Cofin 
 
 381 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 COfin ant, reft you mery. Cofin (quoth thant) 
 Ye be welcum. what good tidings do ye bring. 
 My father prayeth you (quoth he) at this inftant, 
 To cum to him : and for the holes deliuering, 
 Which he in windows graunted : at warres ending, 
 To be therein, his deputie of truft : 
 To fe flies poffeft, of their nombre iuft. 
 
 Good cofin (quoth the ant) it will not be. 
 In a dark houfe (right now) where candle was light, 
 The light dafling mine iyes : it fo blinded me. 
 That agaynft the fnuf of a candle : burning bright, 
 I flew, force of which fyre and fnuf : in which flight, 
 Mifchaunce (that all mifaduentours alwaie brings,) 
 Brake one of my leggs, and burnd one of my wings. 
 
 So that I now : can neither creepe nor fli. 
 
 The which : for mine owne harme greeueth me right fore, 
 
 And as fore for his fake : that now can not I 
 
 In this cafe, ferue him as I haue done before. 
 
 Thus commend me cofin : I can faie no more. 
 
 That fpider tooke his leaue : and to his father ftreight, 
 
 Totd what anfwere he had, at thant in refeight. 
 
 Who feeing the ant did not cum, forth he went : 
 With a long rod in his hand : taking his cheyre. 
 Which when I faw, to fe furder what he ment. 
 To my cheyre in my place : I did then repeyre. 
 The foure flies before him, ftoode in order feyre. 
 Whearwith (in few woords) a briefe tale there told he, 
 Which done he poffeft them, in plat here to fe. 
 
 The 
 
 382 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 1 The fpLder after a few woords to the foure flies, aflineth to 
 them al the fmal holes beneth. Halfe the holes in numbre: but 
 fcant the fixt parte of the roome. At whiche they fumwhat 
 grudge. But they muft take them or none. Cap. 82. 
 
 Freends 
 
 383 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 FReends flies : freends I faie : if ye freendlie vfe me, 
 You foure, and all flies : your frend fliall finde me. 
 And to make you vnable to accufe me, 
 In lacke to performe : as promife doth binde me, 
 Vpon your prefent fute, I haue enclinde me : 
 To affine and poflefle you : here and els wheare, 
 Of halfe the holes in windows : wheare I pour beare. 
 
 Exampled : by thefe holes : iuft halfe, as they fland. 
 Them : and none but them : to haue and to hold. 
 Wherwith : he pointed benethe with his wand. 
 To all the fmall holes, faying what flie that wold : 
 Touch anie hole theare : but thofe to them then told. 
 He fhould die therfore : which plat thus difpofed, 
 One flie (to the fpider) thefe words difclofed. 
 
 Sir (maie it like you) the meaning of all flies. 
 
 Was to haue : with halfe the holes, halfe the plat here. 
 
 And I flie (quoth the fpider) ment otherwife. 
 
 Without furder pleding : take as doth appere. 
 
 And think your felues well handled : for this is clere. 
 
 I might (yf I wold,) my graunt againe withdraw. 
 
 And that withdrawing, luftifie well by law. 
 
 At time of this graunt, I was (as who fay.) 
 Streffed by you : you prifoner (as it weare) 
 And all bonds fo forced, of no force are they : 
 Be anfwerd : and warnd, rebellion to for beare. 
 As euerie flie : had had a flea : in his eare. 
 At curtfie low made, from the fpider they flank. 
 They meruelus blank, and the fpider as crank. 
 
 What 
 
 384 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 What haue we woon now, (quoth one) as they tooke wing. 
 Wife flies faie : as good fit ftill : as rife and fall. 
 But what a fall haue we now : by our rifing ? 
 Before, we had fum part : now we haue loft all. 
 In effect, yea (quoth one) this hath bene and fhall. 
 Wheare flies (with fpiders) in this kinde of ftrife ftriue, 
 We win nought but wrechidneffe, the craft will not thriue. 
 
 Kk 
 
 The 
 
 3<: 
 
 385 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe foure flies flowne thence, the fpider to the flie in prifon 
 leith: that in all kinds of triall that dale on both parts laide, he 
 thinketh his owne part aproued beft. as he thinketh the flie 
 wolde thinke were he a fpider contrarie iudgement wherof. 
 the flie thinketh in the fpider were he a flie. wherupon they 
 agree to change places (eche for the time) to injagin and fet 
 foorth others part the befl: they can. Cap. 83. 
 
 They 
 
 386 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 THey being thus gone : the fpider fitting ftill, 
 The flie fall before him : as he erft had berte, 
 To draw to end, in hand with the flie he fyll. 
 Flie (quoth he) now haft thou in this matter fene, 
 All kinds of triall, that can be fene I wine. 
 Refon, law, and cuftom, full refoned and caft. 
 Arbiterment, and rebellion at laft. 
 
 Which rebellion (I think) thou didft deuife. 
 When thou didft rowne the butterflie in the eare. 
 Naie (quoth the flie) the trewth is clere otherwife. 
 I praidehim to praie flies ; all war to forbeare, 
 Which he will faie. flie (quoth he) faie he or fweare : 
 I truft none of you. This trithe trewth like in preefe, 
 As to axe my felow, whether I be a theefe. 
 
 But weare it fo : or not : I forgiue it thee. 
 
 In all this bybble babble : had here this daie : 
 
 What haft thou woon therby : that let vs fe. 
 
 All cafes paft here : indifferentlie to waie : 
 
 Wale more on my fide : then on thine, I dare faie. 
 
 I faie and think naie (quoth he) and fo think wold you : 
 
 Weare ye a flie, in cafe as I am here now, 
 
 And weare thou a fpider : as I am here plafte, 
 
 I think thou wouldft think as I think : and to grow : 
 
 Sum waie to end, one triall mo to tafte. 
 
 Let vs change places a while : for to know, 
 
 What change of oppinion, that change maie fhow. 
 
 I : maginning my felfe, to be a flie. 
 
 Thou : thinking thy felfe, a fpider vnfaynedlie. 
 
 Kk ii Thou 
 
 3S7 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Thou the fpider : and I the flic : to be namde. 
 Thou refoning for the fpider, all that thou maie. 
 And I for the flie : in like cafe will be framde. 
 This take I (quoth the flie) a verie good waie. 
 Place and cafe (in apparence) forthwith chaunge thay. 
 The flie : folemlie fet in the fpiders cheyre, 
 The fpider : to the flies bafe place did repeyre. 
 
 They 
 
 388 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThey hauing Chaunged places: they alege eche for his dif- 
 fembled fide. Wherin the flie anone is fo alured to pride and 
 ambyffyon in occupying (for the while) the fpiders ftatelie 
 place, that he at laft with an othe affirmeth that fpiders are 
 owners of all windowes. The fpider graunting it trew, fter- 
 teth to the flie, feeming to take end vpon the flies owne iudge 
 ment. Cap. 84. 
 
 Kkiii 
 
 The 
 
 389 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THe flie : being once fet in the fpiders place, 
 Aduaunft him felfe, fetting hands vnder his fide. 
 The fpider croucht in countenance milde and bafe : 
 Looking pale and wan, as though he fliould haue dide. 
 Which change (vpon this foden) when I efpide, 
 It prinnted in me : a wonderfuU wunder, 
 To fe partife (from their parts) fo a funder. 
 
 New matter they laide fmall. But that mod touched : 
 That had bene erft alegde. Both parts growing : 
 Litle and litle, ftoughtlie to be couched, 
 Ech to others : againft his owne part now fliowing. 
 Namelie the flie : for the fpiders part crowing. 
 With fpiderlike : fpightfuU woords : as hote and hie. 
 As be had bene the fpider, and thother the flie. 
 
 He was from the flies part : fo caried a waie, 
 
 By being fodenlie : there thus eliuate. 
 
 That : all cleyme leyde by the fpider there : that dale. 
 
 The flie ruld, for right of mofl: lawfuU right rate. 
 
 So ferforth he forgat : where and how he fate : 
 
 That vpon the cheyreboll : hard beating his fifl, 
 
 Spiders owe all windows, he fware by gods blift. 
 
 The fpider graunted it trew. fterting out ftreyte : 
 
 To the flie. faying fyr ye haue faide right well. 
 
 We neede no longer (for iudge or iudgement) weyte. 
 
 Our cheefe point in iudgement, your felfe doth here tell. 
 
 Oh fir (quoth the flie, and flat to ground he fell. 
 
 I befeche you here how (by pride here now had) 
 
 I was ftriken beetill blind, and bedlem mad. 
 
 The 
 
 390 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThe flie out of that chaier falne flat before the fpider, perfey- 
 uing his ouerfight and daunger therin, he declareth howe 
 change of place changed his affection. In difcoorfing of which 
 cafe, he partlie toucheth the commoditie of aduerfitie, and 
 the difcommoditie of profperitie. Befeeching the fpider to re- 
 linquifhe all aduauntage therin to be taken againft him. 
 Which the fpider graunteth. Cap. 85. 
 
 The 
 
 391 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THE fpider leaning to his cheyre, faide : faie on. 
 Syr (faide the flie) by veynglorious pride, 
 It ftealing : (lie and fodenlie : me vpon, 
 I was fo puft vp here : fo blindlie my felfe to gide, 
 That I neither faw yours, nor yet my owne fide. 
 I : once but fet, in place of your auctorite : 
 Tooke my felfe ftreight, in cafe of your profperite. 
 
 Which place and cafe: how they mai right iudgement blinde. 
 
 That fe I now, and neuer till now could fe. 
 
 Whearin : I being but a (hadow aflinde : 
 
 For this time to fit. yet marke (I befeche ye,) 
 
 How from a flies ftate, to a fpiders degre : 
 
 I (at moment) avaunfl my felfe to profeede. 
 
 Not with flies, but with fpiders : all I decreede. 
 
 My which blindneffe (in fum refpect) doth flreche, 
 To thofe : in places pafte, as debiteefe. 
 They keping countenance : of my like high reche : 
 Looking ech as high, when he his futer feefe, 
 As his head mafl:er, of fer higher degreefe. 
 Which flock (as I am now) where euer it flocks. 
 All made (in reafon,) reafons mocking fl:ocks. 
 
 Se more : how beaftlie blindneffe, did my bent bende : 
 
 Life, and liberte of me, and of all flies. 
 
 Here lying and bleding, except I it defende, 
 
 All that not withftanding : pride blearde both mine iyes, 
 
 Agaynfl them and my felfe, fentence to deuife. 
 
 I was a fpider I. I tooke flies as fleafe. 
 
 Pride goth before, (hame cumth after : me to feafe. 
 
 But 
 
 392 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 But pride had here, a fotell flie a lurer. 
 Which, the countenance of profperite was. 
 Ueyne liking of which ftate : was my procurer. 
 To pride and blindnefle therby, that here did pas. 
 Which pride to prefent, profperite is a glas. 
 As doth (on the other parte) aduerfite, 
 Fyrft procure : and then prefent, humilite. 
 
 Profperite (we fe) made me forget clere : 
 
 My felfe, my matter, al flies, and alfo you. 
 
 Which in aduerfite, I heeld in minde here. 
 
 To you, as deutie required : I could there bow : 
 
 Reafons for me : and all flies : I could a vow : 
 
 Our parfight fight : from blindnefle : flandth not (I fe) 
 
 In profperite, but in aduerfite. 
 
 Which Ihowth in this one change : of our two places, 
 My place of aduerfite : gaue you fuch fight. 
 That : in our reafoning of both our cafes, 
 Your faying fhowde you, to fe the verie right. 
 Your place of profperite, blinded me quight 
 As I perceiue) it doth blinde all (in like cafe. 
 Saue fuch as therin, haue efpeciall grace. 
 
 In lack wherof : I (thus gracelefle a minion, 
 Thus loudlie and lewdlie to lie,) humblie praie : 
 Neither my iudgement, nor yet mine opinion. 
 Anie woord to be iudgde, that I here did faie. 
 But (as all lies fliould) let thefe vanifli awaie. 
 Thou art (quoth the fpider) a monfter now woxe. 
 In myne iye a flie, and in mine eare a foxe. 
 
 LI. Like 
 
 id 393 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Like a foxe : wililie thou dofte here deuife, 
 For helping of thy part : and hurting of mine, 
 To take my life trew tales, and thy trew tales life. 
 And furder flaundring me : and my ftate : in fine, 
 Thou hafte here fet forth, this deuilfli diffipline. 
 Pride hideth knowledge (faift thou) by profperite, 
 Humilite fhowth knowledge, by aduerfite. 
 
 As though captife caitifs : faw all in miferie. 
 And profperus princes, faw nought. But I fe : 
 Thou art in a wrong boxe : for cafe prefentlie. 
 The flie (feeing rightnought wbon herby wold be, 
 But daunger of difpleafure, thervpon he :) 
 Paft Ouer this argument : and vpon that. 
 Said this to the fpider, at his foote laide flat. 
 
 Sir : I befech you : my blindneffe fhowde here laft. 
 For giue : and none aduauntage on me take. 
 In anie woord of mine, againft me theare paft. 
 Flie (quoth he) I forgiue thee : for pittieS fake. 
 To chaunge places againe, a fonder they brake. 
 Wherewith the fpider : in forme formall and colde, 
 Thefe woordes folowing, to the flie forthwith tolde. 
 
 The 
 
 394- 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThe fpider vpon a glaunce geuen at his defert of thanke to 
 be. had at the flies hand, alegeth cuftdm to be hys warrant 
 to difl:roy theflie: Which the fliecan not denie,. Whervpon 
 hedefireth.thatthe oafe maiebe reafoned in confcience. Which, 
 the fpider now graunteth. Cap. 86.. 
 
 Llii 
 
 Flie 
 
 .i95 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 FLie : if thou canft vfe the reafon that thou hafte. 
 Thou canft (and wilt) thanke me in manie refpects, 
 Neuer was there flie : in copweb thus plafte, 
 That had the like fauour : in the like effects : 
 That thou haft had : but nefeffite directs, 
 This to be trew : in the daie moft long here part, 
 Yet they (euermore) ring to euenfong at laft. 
 
 As who faie : things moft long after beginning : 
 Yet muft they (at laft) nedlie cum to an ende, 
 Which (after long time) wrought to haue in winning, 
 We now ftiall win which ende Ihall brieflie depende, 
 Vpon one briefe reafon that I ftiall extende. 
 Which reafon to confute thee, fhalbe fo plaine, 
 That ftreyght to yeeld thee, reafon fhall the conftraine. 
 
 Which lurkth (and I all this time haue let it lurk :) 
 
 In cuftom : one principle of the four, 
 
 On which pillers, I promifde fhould ftand all this wurk. 
 
 Which in vinfible reafon : I (to this hour) 
 
 Haue kept : to here (as I haue herd) bran and flour : 
 
 Of all that thou couldft (this daie) for thy part laie. 
 
 Which (for full conclufion, here me to thee faie. 
 
 Cuftom : one cheefe poft principall (as erft faide) 
 
 Declarth : and hath declarde this fix thoufand yere. 
 
 All flies (or anie flie) in copwebs (or copweb) ftaide : 
 
 How euer they cum theare, if they theare appere : 
 
 No reafon : in reafon and law : aledge here : 
 
 Could difcharge the thence, but ftreight there cuth a maine, 
 
 A fpider : who fleath him and fuckth out his braine. 
 
 Here 
 
 39« 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Here feeft thou thy life loft : to begin with all : 
 
 By cuftome : and for windows claimd in entrefte : 
 
 For flies generall, agreement general!. 
 
 (With theyr refceiuing it) an end hath exprefte. 
 
 Thend had I meane, vpon rebellion fefte. 
 
 But for thy life (by cuftom) canft thou ought faie : 
 
 Why thou fhould by cuftome liue ? fyr (faide he) naie. 
 
 Well (quoth the fpider) thou feeft reafon and law : 
 
 So yeeld to cuftom here, that in anie triall : 
 
 Thofe tweyne to conquere cuftom here : we neuer faw. 
 
 I haue to this (quoth the flie) no deniall. 
 
 What thing (quoth the fpider) haft thou in fepciall : 
 
 To help thee : by fide law, cuftom, and reafon : 
 
 Confcience (quoth the flie) I hope cumth in feafon. 
 
 Trew (quoth the fpider) now at end it hath place. 
 
 What hafte thou (in confcience) for thy life to lay : 
 
 Againft accuftomed cuftom in this cafe. 
 
 Inough (quoth he) if confcience beare ani fway, 
 
 Yes (quoth the fpider) be bold of that ye may : 
 
 That fourth : fhall haue full place, as firme as thofe three. 
 
 I thanke you (quoth the flie) this fliowth charite. 
 
 Lliii The 
 
 397 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 IThey both laie fundrie fharpe reafons in confcience for the 
 fpiders life and death. But the fpider in conclufion draweth 
 thefe foure principles (reafon, law, cuftom, and confcience, 
 which he at beginning graunted to trie all by) fo to combine 
 that he maketh therby an aparence,to (how the flie conuinft& 
 ftreight by cuftom: he geueth iudgement of the flies death to 
 which the flie yeldeth. Praying to fpeak with twelue flies be- 
 fore he die. And it is graunted. Cap. 87. 
 
 398 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 BY confcience I clayme here now (quoth the flie) 
 In this place (till now place of mine inprifonment,) 
 Not to be in prifon, but in feyntuarie. 
 Wheare as charged parties be inofent, 
 Of all fuch charged crimes : as to them are bent, 
 Theare doth confcience in euerie place defende, 
 ,Thofe charged parties ; difcharging them at ende. 
 
 If (quoth the fpider) theare were no difference : 
 
 Betwene a flie inofent : and arogant, 
 
 Then muft I difcharge thee (euin of confcience.) 
 
 But if innofenfie on your part here want, 
 
 Then is this claufe (for your difcharge) no warant : 
 
 But go to : make profe approbatlie appere : 
 
 How ye proue your felfe, an inofent now here. 
 
 Sir : prof: that I inofentlie hithei- cam, 
 Appeerth in my knowne cuming, againfl my will. 
 And fins I came, that I an inofent am, 
 I hope your confcience : and I know your fkill. 
 Will iudge : my fact here not ill : or not fo ill : 
 Wherby ye (with confcience) can rightfullie : 
 Either kill me, or kepe me here thus to lie. 
 
 What haue I done : in confcience ftrayte or large : 
 To make reafon, law, or cuftom, bight or bark. 
 I ieie and leide (quoth the fpider) to thy charge, 
 Brech of my houfe : not made with a thoufand mark. 
 No (quoth he) but one quarter of one hours wark. 
 Without one penie coft : or one pins worth paine, 
 Reaedifithe your houfe, in prime flate againe. 
 
 Which 
 
 399 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Which your felfe maie do : and muft naturallie. 
 
 That woorke, is your talent : giuen for exercife. 
 
 In lack wherof, (by idileneffe) ye ftreight die. 
 
 But put cafe cuftom, my fact a wrong here trife : 
 
 Yet how can confcience : death or payne deuife. 
 
 To me, for that I to you : occafion giue, 
 
 To woorke the woork : lacking which, ye can not Hue. 
 
 Though (quoth the fpider) by nature woork we muft. 
 
 Yet ift neither confcience, nor our auaile : 
 
 To woork in copwebs : haue we luft or no luft, 
 
 At wagging (in copwebs) of euerie flies taile. 
 
 So doth it (quoth the flie) confcience likewife quaile. 
 
 To hang a flie : by the neck or by the neb, 
 
 For wagging his tayle, in a fpiders copweb. 
 
 This cafe is (in confcience) very much like. 
 
 As a {yih breaking a fifhers fet net : 
 
 It fet to take the fifflie. and the fiffher did pike, 
 
 A quarell to him : and wold confcience fet, 
 
 To kill the poore fiffhe. This were fer and foule fet. 
 
 And no fouler fet : then confcience fet to be : 
 
 To kill me. for brech of this net : fet for me, 
 
 But did I (maliciouflie, do you much wrong : 
 
 And fum harme : as harme (or wrong) here ye haue none. 
 
 Yet fhall your reuengment, fliow malice more ftrong : 
 
 If ye both deteyne : and kill me thervpone : 
 
 Cum that wrong here in vre : confcience is gone : 
 
 As fer from you : as from him : that had now fworne 
 
 The death of an inofent, but laft might borne. 
 
 You 
 
 400 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 You not offended (as ye will not I hope) 
 
 This laft principle of thefe foure : confcience : 
 
 (It geuing me (aboue thother three) full fcope) 
 
 Of aduantage : as cuftom giueth affiftence. 
 
 To your part, in prefent charge of mine offence : 
 
 I muft make my (hoote anker : to make my waie, 
 
 As you make (and I graunt) cuftom yours (no naie.) 
 
 Spare not (quoth the fpider) that anker Ihoote ought : 
 
 The bed thou canft therwith to take ankerhold. 
 
 I thanke you (quoth he) and wold craue (if I mought,) 
 
 Your anfwere in confcience : full to vnfold, 
 
 To one queftion of me : in few woordes told. 
 
 Thy queftion (quoth the fpider) propone thou, 
 
 And mine anfwere to it, thou fhalt haue euin now. 
 
 This is then fir : I put cafe quoth the flie : 
 
 My yong maifter fpider your fon : went a ftraie : 
 
 Wandring here and theare (at aduenture meane I,) 
 
 Wherwith : flilie : one laide a thing in the waie : 
 
 Wherat the babe fell, and it thus brought to bay, 
 
 Thother: for falling theare, kild it out of hand. 
 
 Thinke ye : confcience wold warrant this deede to ftand ? 
 
 Naie (quoth he) confcience is the doer of right. 
 Mittigating ferce force of extremitees, 
 That geueth or taketh right : by rigorus might. 
 Confcience (quoth the flie) my iudgement fo decrees. 
 And my cafe : with this cafe : in all points a grees. 
 No difference betwene them : to be loft or woon, 
 Sauing : that I am not your mafterfhips foon, 
 
 Mm For 
 
 2,e 401 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 For in like cafe put : I wanderid aboute here : 
 
 Inofentlie, as that inofent there did. 
 
 And by thefe copwebs : caft in my waie thus nere, 
 
 In this babe exampling, I am examph'd. 
 
 Inofentlie as he was, I am maflcid. 
 
 Think if I weare your childe : what ye could think than : 
 
 Confcience, or no confcience this to fcan. 
 
 In faith flie (quoth the fpider) to tell the trouth, 
 No confcience (or hard confcience) I take this. 
 Nay no confcience (quoth the flie) trouth fo fhowth. 
 So that conciens, on my fide clerlie is : 
 As cuftom is of yours : and ye know I wis : 
 That cuftom a lone : doth oft, and maie euer : 
 Vfe iudgment of abufe : and confcience neuer. 
 
 Well faide flie (faide he) had I no more to faie : 
 To this that thou now feift : then I haue yet faide, 
 Then hadft thou here woon the victorie this daie. 
 But reafon, law, cuftiom, and confcience, erfl leide : 
 How I graunted thee hering : in thofe four weide, 
 Thou fhalt here in few woords. arid we there vpone, 
 Shall the more clerli, conclude this cafe anone. 
 
 The woords of my graunt tadiudge thee : thus they draw. 
 As ftandth with reafon, law, cuftom, and confcience. 
 Not with reafon, cuftom, confcience, or law : 
 This, and, and this or, flie : make much difference. 
 That and, implith all foure plafte : in afllftence. 
 That or, importh one : or anie one of all. 
 And here is the gap flie : wherein lith the gall. 
 
 And 
 
 402 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 And a pointe for flies learning : at fpiders hand. 
 Though ye : flies learning aboue fpiders compare : 
 But here learne of me flie : this coniunctiue and, 
 Conioynth : thefe four faide terms : ioyntlie to prepare, 
 Triall in this cafe : as they all maie declare : 
 The tone with the tother ; all in properte. 
 Knit befl: in knot, of conioyned vnite. 
 
 Well (quoth the flie) then concience ftialbe one, 
 
 Ye (quoth the fpider) and cufl:om a nother. 
 
 Syr then will thofe two, fall at a fraie a none. 
 
 Yf they do : reafon fhall fliikill them brother : 
 
 To make them a gree. Where ech impoungth other : 
 
 But bring confcience : thy champion armd compleete : 
 
 How confcience chalength cufl:om : let vs weete. 
 
 Sir : I cuming (as I cam) vnwillinglie. 
 
 And none offenfife harme : in me doth appere, 
 
 Confcience chargeth cuflom, with tirranie. 
 
 In killing (or keping) me : inofent here. 
 
 Which cafe, reafon recordith for cafe clere. 
 
 This charge (quoth the fpider) to difcharge plaine. 
 
 Here what cuftom faith, to concience againe. 
 
 Cuftom faith : all windows are fpiders of right. 
 Then confcience muft faie : that flies haue done wrong. 
 Through windows (without leaue) to take theyr flight. 
 To make confcience graunt this, reafon is flirong. 
 Till fpiders (quoth he) time prefent, and paft long. 
 Do proue windows theirs : as they neuer did yeet, 
 Confcience and reafon, denith this eueri wheet. 
 
 Mm ii But 
 
 403 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But admit we : that all windows were your owne : 
 
 Flies (without your leaue) paffing offenfiflie. 
 
 Though cuftotn a lege : for thofifence : death here growne. 
 
 Yet confcience (in this cafe) fethe death tirrannie. 
 
 Reafon graunting it, to fhow tiranniouflie. 
 
 It weare to much here : to fine by the purs. 
 
 But to fine by the polle, what feend could poUe wurs ? 
 
 Thou thinkft (quoth the fpider) confcience thinkth itflrauge: 
 
 That flies : by cuftom, fhould die for this offence. 
 
 But confcience : with reafon raunging in raunge, 
 
 In caufe of cuftoms vfage : as confcience : 
 
 Maie haue with reafon herein : full conference, 
 
 Reafonablie reafoning : this prefent cafe, 
 
 Confcience (by reafon) fhall giue cuftom plafe. 
 
 I fay (as I erft faide) when a flie or flies : 
 
 In this : or anie window : in copwebs light, 
 
 Anie fpider : that within that window lies, 
 
 Shall kill him, and fuck out his (or their) braine quight. 
 
 Which : begoon by nature, cuftom folowth right. 
 
 Nature confeiuing : but for this her (harp law. 
 
 Flies wold haue mard all : for lack of orderlie aw. 
 
 And as nature in fpiders : wrought this defence, 
 So reafon in man : was driuen to woork the fame. 
 Caims generation making refiftence : 
 Againft all men : that quiet order wold frame, 
 (As you againft vs do) then thofe men to tame : 
 And defende the quiet : in their quiet caufe, 
 Reafon to thvnquiet, gaue our like fliarp laufe. 
 
 But 
 
 404 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 But reafon to them wrought not this : to thentent : 
 To catch them : and kill them : tiranioufly, 
 But to faue them : by terror in their iyes bent : 
 To prouoke them to flee thoccacion : wherby : 
 They might flee theyr ill, felt therby formerly. 
 Which : as reafon in man did (and doth) confither, 
 So did nature in vs, both concur togither. 
 
 Nature in vs, reafon (I faie) fo a lowde. 
 That this law of nature in vs, laide on flies, 
 Reafon : to man : for order in man, hath vowde. 
 For breaking a wall bi night : man as fone dife. 
 As flies for copwebs brech by dale, which exerfife : 
 Confcience (by reafon) not kicking at : for man 
 Confcience (by reafon) kickth not at. for flies than : 
 
 Reafon in man : woorkth man to woorke (quoth the flie) 
 
 Sharpe lawes : more to faue the good : then to flea thill, 
 
 Nature in fpiders, woorkth fharpe lawes : cruellie : 
 
 Not to faue the good, but good and ill to kill, 
 
 Onlie killing all : on all, to feede their fill. 
 
 Thou lieft (quoth he) we woorke copwebs euerie wheare, 
 
 To faue flies by feare, copwebs to for beare. 
 
 Thus : reafon hath concience and cufliom agrede. 
 
 Wherto : law not repugnant, all the world knowes. 
 
 Whervpon (without more parting) to profede, 
 
 Concordance of thefe principles : here fo fhowes. 
 
 That here, here thine end flie : for here thine ende growes. 
 
 By cuftom (it eidid with thefe other faid three,) 
 
 Thy prefent death, I prefentlie here decree. 
 
 Mm iii The 
 
 40.S 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 The flie farde as though he wold haue fpoken more. 
 
 But : his hart wunderlie faynted, and fayled. 
 
 His iudgment of death : aftonide him fo fore, 
 
 (In that he faw his fpeech : right nought preuayled : 
 
 To be (from death) deliuered or bayled,) 
 
 That downe he fank vpon his knees and hands. 
 
 Requefting the fpider, in cafe as next ftands. 
 
 Good maifter fpider : fins the cafe ftands thus, 
 That die I muft, follie were it for me here : 
 To pleade this cafe furder : it paft by difcus : 
 All pleading : or reafoning, I geue ouer clere. 
 Submitting and committing : my life moft dere. 
 Into your hands, befeching you ere I di, 
 To graunt me : one petiffion : mo craue not I : 
 
 That is that I (before you) my minde maie faie, 
 
 To twelue flies, which fpeech I promife faithfullie : 
 
 Eyther with you, or not againft you fhall waie. 
 
 I graunt (quoth the fpider) and by and bie, 
 
 I know not whether by chaunce, or purpoflie. 
 
 A dofen flies : aboute the copwebs fide plafte weare. 
 
 To whom : this folowing, the flie faid then and theare. 
 
 The 
 
 406 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ^The flie (to twelue graue flies for all flies) geueth his ad- 
 uice for a voiding their parels by their flirife had in windowes 
 againft fpiders. the great grounde of which tale fliandeth mofl: 
 vpon confideration of thefe three things, wherfore they ftriue, 
 with whom they fliriue, and how they flriue. Cap. 88. 
 
 Cofins 
 
 407 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 COfins and contrie flies : ech one of you all, 
 A nother my felfe : as ech of all flies are. 
 I haue (at fute) pbteind, you hither to call, 
 Minding : my confcience to you to declare, 
 In fuch a time : and fuch a thing, to prepare, 
 As the time, mofl: meete to make you credit me. 
 And the thing, mofl: meete to you : told to be. 
 
 Firft : as touchinge time, no time in my time pafl.. 
 When I was more profperous (and fo more fraile :) 
 Then I this time am : yet all times firft and laft : 
 Your truft in my trewth, did not anie time faile. 
 But what time fliould credence : fet vp fo his faile .' 
 As this time : when life time fliall no more time hold. 
 But till time this my tale (to be told) be told. 
 
 In all forts of feckts : of ciuile diflipline : 
 
 Of all times in life : of anie flie I trow. 
 
 In time of his knowne death : cumming ftreight like mine, 
 
 Credence of his woord (he feende not foole in fliow) 
 
 To credit his matter : muft that time moft grow. 
 
 What vanite weare this : in ought to deuife : 
 
 Lieing now a dieing, to lie and deuife life. 
 
 Of all times : for credit (I faie none like this. 
 And fecondlie : touching the thing, here to tell : 
 Hering therof, no dout moft meete for you is. 
 Which thing, is the ftrife of furius force fell : 
 Betwene fpiders and flies, wherin to exepell : 
 And kill all occafions in time to cum. 
 Of my laft will (in my laft woords) here the fum. 
 
 What 
 
 408 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 What waie is herein beft : for fpiders to take : 
 
 That can them felues tell : much better then can I, 
 
 I am a flie : no fpider nor fpiders make : 
 
 To controle the fpiders part, but hartily, 
 
 I pray the great God : their harts to molify : 
 
 As temperance maie temper their cleime : touching this, 
 
 To geue right, and take right, as moft rightfull is. 
 
 But : in right of either part : to determin ought : 
 What thei for their part : or you for yours fhould haue, 
 Shift that among you : for it forfith me nought. 
 Me femth, I here the matok digging my graue. 
 The crowne of the whole world : who it me now gaue. 
 His good will muft I thanke : but for ought to win, 
 I take not the gift, worth the point of a pin- 
 
 And wheare you (and all flies) are as fure to die, 
 As am I now : your times to you vnknowne fure. 
 Aduantage of you : in my knowne death haue I, 
 In hauing fome time of remors : to procure, 
 Forgeuenefle of former life, led in lewde lure. 
 Wheare you maie (without remors) fodenlie go : 
 And where the tree faith, theare lithe it : clarks fay fo. 
 
 But : for profitable purpofe toward you : 
 
 In purpofe purpofed to you here by me. 
 
 Your imaginafioris : I praie : to draw you now, 
 
 Into my perfon : as in my cafe to be. 
 
 To woork affection : to win effect in ye: 
 
 To confceiue and refceiue things : that I fhall moue. 
 
 Which : to your behofe, behouinglie behoue. 
 
 Nn Three 
 
 3/ 409 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Thre principles. Whereon my tale to contriue : 
 
 And to profeede vpon, are thefe to prepofe. 
 
 Wherfore we ftriue : with whom we ftriue : how we ftriue. 
 
 Wherfore we ftriue : ye know the caufe therof gofe, 
 
 For hooles in windows, which quarels to difclofe : 
 
 Our cumming to them : and going from them fought, 
 
 Shall fliow our winning fmall : or rather rightnought. 
 
 Firft for our cumming to them : who can diffcriue : 
 
 How manie flies haue preafte : poffeffion to win, 
 
 That neuer could get poffeffion a Hue. 
 
 But maimd and kild downe right : at their entre in. 
 
 And fuch as do cum in (where fpiders do fpin) 
 
 Moft wife flie : deuifing to fit there moft faft, 
 
 Maie thinke his firft hour (or ech hour) there : his laft. 
 
 Few flies (I thinke) haue fcapt longer here then I, 
 My which time being fpent : betwene hope and feare, 
 Yet at laft (for all my ftiifts) lo where I lie. 
 Where no raunfum : my redemption, maie reare. 
 But my life, remedileffe I muft forbeare. 
 Cum with daunger, bide with feare, depart with deth. 
 To haftie a iorney to take with one breth. 
 
 In this faide firft principle : what we ftriue fore, 
 Commodite therin : profe doth thus witneffe : 
 The more flies haue of it : flies daunger the more. 
 The leffe flies haue of it : flies daunger the leffe. 
 Then is nowhit beft : for who doth ought poffeffe : 
 Ech peniworth of pleafure : of fuch poffeft ware, 
 Bringth more then counterpaife : of daunger and care. 
 
 Beggers 
 
 410 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Beggers flies ; before theeuis flies maie fing (we faie) 
 
 Rich flies before trew flies here, do weepe (we fee.) 
 
 The richefl winning flie : in windows to waie : 
 
 If anie winning there : anie riches be, 
 
 As the beft thing woon theare is but flies liberte 
 
 What is the winning : woon and kept with fuch ftrife. 
 
 That hourlie winth deth : or deadlie feare of life. 
 
 It is a winning : better loft then woon. 
 And fo : thefe windows are : wherefore we ftriue. 
 With whom we ftriue now : fecondli to roon : 
 With our biggers to contend : we here contriue, 
 A mach : as much vnmeete for vs to thriue, 
 As maie be macht. for two things here to trie. 
 Firft thing their pour, moft thing their pollifie, 
 
 To their much pour : our pour oftimes thought more : 
 
 By nomber : manie fmall making a greate. 
 
 There pollifie (keping their pour in ftore :) 
 
 Hath moft times erft, brought vs our felues to beate. 
 
 What winning is in this macht mache to geate .' 
 
 None. Wherfore with whome we ftriue (I thinke it beft,) 
 
 To leaue of ftrife : and Hue by lofTe in reft. 
 
 Now : thirdlie : how or in what maner we ftriue : 
 
 To tell plaine trouth : in my worft time to lie, 
 
 Spice of rebellion our ftrife fliowth to contriue 
 
 Spiders are plafte a boue fuperiorlie 
 
 And flies beneth them plafte inferiorlie. 
 
 Then maie it feme, as they aboue vs haue" plafe, 
 
 So haue they aboue vs like rule in like cafe. 
 
 Nn ii Which 
 
 411 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Which cafe graunted : in ftriuing ageinft them thus : 
 
 Our matter : Handing in ftate of mofb right : 
 
 Yet is our maner wrong : and fedicius. 
 
 No law alowth flies : to win their right by fight, 
 
 Betwene priuate flies, and law inibbitth quight : 
 
 Anie flies to fight : againft their hygh heades, 
 
 But rather fuffer, as obedience leades. 
 
 Wherefore we flriue : ye fe trifils thei are. 
 
 With whom we ftriue : their pollifie pafleth our pour. 
 
 How we flriue : doth fedicion declare. 
 
 Three parts without melodie, in the part of our. 
 
 Our part hath a face here : no crab more four. 
 
 To moue flies (hens forward) to turne their faces, 
 
 From ftrife with fpiders, in quareling cafes. 
 
 To which : you drawing your imaginacion : 
 As though ye flood in my flate : at this prefent, 
 Your owne confent mufl giue confirmacion : 
 My woords herin pafl, to haue a trew extent. 
 And furder tiie fhoote anker : experiment : 
 What ye loft at fpiders hands : late before this, 
 A full ratificafion, of my tale : that is. 
 
 And if that anie flie : will demaunde of me : 
 
 What meane flies maie vfe beft : their right to obtayne, 
 
 Myne anfwere is : not in harnes capa pe : 
 
 Befeeging (fted of befeeching) to conftraine : 
 
 Nor ftur : with euerie flie : fturd by bedlem braine, 
 
 Sturdilie ftanding : with bills in foull fighting, 
 
 But humblie fewing, with bills of faire wrighting. 
 
 By 
 
 412 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 By ought (in anie law) that euer I wift : 
 
 Thus may flies few, for right and not onHe male, 
 
 But few fo : flies mufb : forbiddin to refift : 
 
 Their higher powrs : by violence (anie waie) 
 
 Which waie not helping flies : their waie is to praie : 
 
 Vnto the great god. To woorke fpiders confent, 
 
 To geue-and take right : in right rated extent. 
 
 But furder (in this cafe) wheare anie flies go : 
 
 Of long time : of late time : and this time is feene : 
 
 Yea : fene, hard and felt : in our prefent wrought wo : 
 
 That we are wrong doers, and euer haue bene. 
 
 Our woorks herin witnefling fo : that I wene : 
 
 No flie fo foolifh : but he doth vnderftand, 
 
 Our harme : for wrong woorking : we haue at gods hand. 
 
 This to be trew I thinke and haue thought 
 
 Which (mafter fpider) maie fufpicion clere, 
 
 In your fuffpecting me, for late tumult wrought. 
 
 But on my deth I take (which I fhall take here) 
 
 I neuer a vowde (nor a lowde) to draw nere : 
 
 Anie nombre : by lawles vfurped powrs, 
 
 But as prefablie Iloode, with gods peace and yours. 
 
 But for fine : friends : in your beholding my deth : 
 As thimage of your owne deths : pleinly to purport, 
 In that : one howrs quarter : ye are fure vneth : 
 To fcape the fame : to get ought by pour extort, 
 Or get or kepe ought : in anie wrongfuU fort. 
 That fight : with thinking of my woords in the refte, 
 Maie : henfforth of flrife here: bring your fide furfefte. 
 
 Nn iii Beholde 
 
 413 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Behold your deths in me, by vncerteine life. 
 
 Behold your dread in me : your liues a count : to make. 
 
 Behold wherefore ye ftriue : and that deth endth your ftrife, 
 
 Behold with whom and how ye ftriue : (as I fpake.) 
 
 Behold the loofing gaine, that winth loffe to take. 
 
 Beholding thefe winnings : with the ieberdees, 
 
 Showth holes in windows (to behold) vanitees. 
 
 And : fo all holes in windows : to take and vfe : 
 That none offenfife ftrife : flies abufe procure, 
 But peafablie : as dew obedience endufe : 
 To put (hauing or craning of right) in vre. 
 This craue I of you : for loue to you moft pure. 
 And thus (paying you to praie for me at ende,) 
 To the almightie lord, my fprit I commende. 
 
 The flies (vnto thefe woords) no woord could fpeake. 
 But yeelded teares : like drops in Aprill fhowrs. 
 Sauing in outcrie : as they thence did breake, 
 They cride farewell : (of flies) the flour of flowrs. 
 But well : the laft hour hath no folowing howrs 
 The hour is cum : wherin the flie muft die. 
 For which : he weitth, at fpiders foote proftratlie. 
 
 As 
 
 414 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITAs the fpider is about to kill the flie, the mayde of the houfe 
 commeth in and ftriketh downe the copweb and the fpider to 
 the ground. Cap. 89. 
 
 The 
 
 4»S 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THe fpider toward the flie, furiouflie drawfe. 
 And being ftept to the flie : fl:aying in flop, 
 As he wold haue perft the flies hed : with his pawfe, 
 The maide of the houfe, to the window did chop. 
 Setting her brome, hard to the copwebs top. 
 Where : at one flroke with her brome : flriken rounde, 
 The copweb and fpider, flie fl:rake to the grounde. 
 
 The 
 
 416 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 HThe maide being at poinct to treade the fpider to death : the 
 fpider praiethher to here himfpeakeere hedie: and then to ad- 
 iudge him iuftlie. the maide graunting to vfe him (as he dyd 
 vfe the flie) as maie beft ftand with reafon, law, cuftum, and 
 confcience. She at his requeft (for the time) withdrawing hyr 
 foote, they fall to reafoning of the cafe. Cap. go. 
 
 3f 417 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 THe maide (by mine abfence) to be the more bold, 
 To woorke her will, as £he cam in, I went out. 
 And lookte in at the window : her to behold. 
 She fwept downe the copweb : the flie flew about 
 The parler round. Neuer more luftie nor flout. 
 The fpider on the grounde : vnder the maides foote, 
 To treade him to death, and was aboute to doote. 
 
 But the fpider (on knees) lift vp his hands hie. 
 
 Befeching her (of milde maidenlie pittie. 
 
 To be content to here him fpeake ere he die : 
 
 And to declare. Firft what he had doone, and then whie : 
 
 He did thofe deedes : and fo to iudge him iuftlie. 
 
 And that flie wold (in meane time) her foote withdraw. 
 
 Sight wherof : made his hed ake, and his flomock gnaw. 
 
 To banifli (quoth the maide) all perfhall pretence, 
 He heare and iudge thee, as thou didft the flie heere. 
 As fliandth with reafon, law, cufliom, and confcience. 
 So fhalt thou haue good, bad, hie, low, fer or neere. 
 And fince : feare of my foote : abateth thy cheere, 
 Leaft thou mightft take harme : of thine owne conceight, 
 That I withdraw : and fo withdrew it flireight. 
 
 In 
 
 418 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 irin reafonmg of both fides, the maide driueth the fpider to 
 graunthimfelfeconuinft (bycuftom eyded with the other prin 
 ciples erft faide) as he conuinft and adiudged the flie before. 
 Whervpon fhe (by cuftom) decreth the fpider to die. He then 
 deliring to fpeake with his fonne and his counfell. Which the 
 mayde graunteth. q 
 
 Ooii 
 
 Fcire 
 
 419 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 FEyre and good maiftres maidinlie maide (quoth he) 
 Leauing the brim : to the botum to wade, 
 What deedes I haue done here : you haue fene and fe. 
 ^yh^ch are : the copwebs in windows here made. 
 Of all fpiders, the naturall trafe to trade. 
 \yhich to be impungde, we neuer herde nor faw, 
 In reafon, cuftom, confcience, nor law. 
 
 Spider (quoth the maide) know ye that I hard : 
 All : this daie betwene ypu and the flie here faide. 
 Wherin I faw : the caufe wherfore ye iard : 
 Was not for that ye : copwebs here wrought and laide, 
 But for the place ye wrought them in : as thus waide : 
 You : to beelde in top and top fide : the flie heelde, 
 You heelde the whole yours : in all places to beelde. 
 
 The flie heelde : that all flies hold all holes in freeholde. 
 
 You (for all fpiders) heelde that frehold all yours. 
 
 In reafon, law, and cufl:om, ech to other told, 
 
 Your minds in this matter : (at leafte) fiue long hours. 
 
 At end wherof, it paft both your witts and pours : 
 
 To take end your felues, but weare driuine to deuife. 
 
 Arbiters : to take an end by comprimife. 
 
 Which matter : as both fides writhed it and wounde it, 
 Your arbiters theare : the ant and butterflie, 
 Weare driuen to leaue it, at large as they founde it. 
 Whervpon ye finalli : burdenuflie : 
 Burdend the flie, with cufliom : therby to die. 
 Which he could not denie : and for his defence. 
 He gat the cafe to be reafond, in confcience. 
 
 Wherin 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Wherein (by nature in you : and reafon in man,) 
 Ye fet a difcoorfe : reafonabli founding, 
 With reafon : and confcience : that cuftom to fcan. 
 Whearvpon appeerde : infallible grounding, 
 To bring the flie iuftlie, to his confounding. 
 And : had not bene your vfurping : in this plafe, 
 Confcience : with cuftom : had ftand in this cafe. 
 
 Cuftom graunteth : and confcience not denithe : 
 Difturbing your copwebs : wrought in top pofte. 
 The flie (for thoffence) accuftomable dithe. 
 But copwebs vpon copwebs : pirld in ech cofte : 
 All parts of windows to be fo enbofte : 
 That no flie can paffe : without deths entrupfion. 
 Confcience conftruth that cuftom : corrupfion. 
 
 In taking the flies part here : I take myne owne. 
 I : being mayde of the houfe, my charge it is : 
 To fe copwebs corrected. Thus ouer growne, 
 And fo will I do (fpider) be fure of this, 
 Well (quoth the fpider) yf I haue done a mis, 
 Redrefi'e mine ill doing : and let me go free. 
 Naie naie fpider (quoth the maide) that maie not be. 
 
 Swept I thefe fuperfluus copwebs now hence : 
 Letting thee paffe : in this window to remaine, 
 Cuftom : hath fo corrupted thi confcience : 
 That wheare is now one copweb, there (hould be twaine. 
 Well (quoth he) fins ye like not (as apperth pleine) 
 What I haue done, yet here why : I haue done it. 
 Which fhall (I hope) appeafe your Ire eueriwhit. 
 
 Oo iii The 
 
 421 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 The whi (or wherfore) I did that I haue done, 
 Was : that flies (beyond nombre) did here refort : 
 Blowing meate here (raw and rofte) beyond the mone. 
 Which wrought your mafter and maiftres in fpeech fhort : 
 To rebuke you fore, to your deepe difcomfort. 
 Which to redres : I, in pitteing of you, 
 Set nets to catche flies : as I do now. 
 
 Here is (quoth the maide) one trewth told, and one lie. 
 That flies haue my meate here outrageouflie blowne, 
 That is trulie faide : and it for trew graunt I. 
 But that thou didft fet nets here : all ouergrowne : 
 Ought for my pleafure : and not all for thine owne, 
 Thats a falfe tale. To which : pollifie thee drawfe. 
 To win fauer at my handes, clere without caufe. 
 
 But weare it as trew as it is fals : yet thou : 
 And thy familie : do me difpleafure more : 
 Then pleafure in this : for your nie approch now. 
 Is : to my maflier and maifl:res : an iye fore. 
 Aboue the flies blowing : by degreefe a fcore. 
 They both : lothe leffe to haue (be it flefh or fifli. 
 Ten flies in their meate, then one fpider in their difli. 
 
 And in their difli woldft thou and thine fureli be : 
 
 If I (rather to late then in time dew) 
 
 Tooke thee not vp : as is my charge in dewte : 
 
 Executing mine office, did I efchew : 
 
 To correct fuch pride in thee : as neuer grew : 
 
 In fpider erft, then my mafter and maiftres : 
 
 Of my rebuke, had iuft caufe of encres. 
 
 And 
 
 422 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 And hafte thou bene neuer fo feruifable : 
 
 In doing thy dewtie : in manie things right. 
 
 Yet : this thy vfurppacion abhominable, 
 
 Hath drowned thy thanke of thofe dew done deedes : quight, 
 
 Which is to be witneft, in all the worlds fight. 
 
 All reafons : in law, cuftom, and confcience weide, 
 
 Againft the flie, are now againft thy felfe leide. 
 
 And as thou madeft cuftom thi fhootanker cheefe, 
 (Conioyning thereto : reafon, law, and confcience,) 
 Of the flies death (by right) to make perfight preefe, 
 From firft age of the world : had in confequence, 
 So bring I cuftom : fet like fer time from hence. 
 Cuftom : is thi warrant : to fucke the flies braine. 
 Whereto : marke how cuftom warrantth me againe. 
 
 From the beginning : it is thaccuftomd gies. 
 
 When fpiders in windowes their copwebs fo make : 
 
 That they to fer offende : their beholders iyes, 
 
 The maide of the houfe with her brome : at a ftrake, 
 
 Swepth downe thofe copwebs, and thofe fpiders take. 
 
 Vnder her foote. And for anie interfeffe, 
 
 Thofe fpiders (with her foote) to deth ftie doth prefTe. 
 
 Which cuftom is vnderpropped (as I faide) 
 With reafon, with law, and with confcience : for me, 
 As ftronglie in my cafe, as for thee in thine laide. 
 Nov)^ fpeake fpider canft thou deni this (quoth ftie ?) 
 Nay for foth : I can not denie it (quoth he) 
 But am driuen to graunt it : and euin fo I do. 
 Your mercifull hands, I commit me into. 
 
 Thou 
 
 4*3 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Thou (halt haue (quoth fhe) mercie euin as much : 
 At my hands, as the flie fhould haue had at thine. 
 Caft of all veine hope : fins thy fortune is fuch, 
 Thy felfe framing fortune : to thy this ruine. 
 Make pacience thy falue, for this fore in fine. 
 And make thee redie fpider : for finallie, 
 I affuredlie affure thee, thou Ihalt die. 
 
 The change of his chere at thefe woords made me fe, 
 
 How the dread of deth, could lambs of lions make. 
 
 This lionlike fpider : erft feeree as could be, 
 
 Feare, did all his furie : full fer then aflake; 
 
 His hart : in a purfnet was eafie to take. 
 
 Change (by chance) brought him) at twinke of an iye,) 
 
 From twig top of the tree, at the rote to lie. 
 
 Thefe two things are meete things (as me thinkth) to note. 
 The fpider right now fo hie : euin now fo low. 
 The flie right now at eb, euin now a flote. 
 The tromp of his fame, neuer fo hie did blow. 
 Thothers tromp of fhame, as hie in founde doth fhow. 
 Which blafts of which tromps (in mine eare) blew this blafl: 
 Fickill fortune, will neuer leaue her old cafl. 
 
 But to the matter : the fpider praide the maide, 
 To fpeake with his fon and heyre : before he dide : 
 And with his counfell. She was content ((he faide) 
 Chaunce being meffenger, chaunde thither ftreight hide : 
 His fon : and twelue councellers, hard by his fide. 
 Wherevpon : he theare and then difcoorft his minde, 
 In matter fuch, as ye next this male finde. 
 
 The 
 
 424 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 ITThe fpider to his fonne and twelue fpiders giueth his beft 
 aduife for moft quiet and beft gouernance. His tale ftandinge 
 moft vpon thefe three terms, firft a decleracion of him felfe, 
 fecond an exhortacion to them, the third a fubmiflion for him 
 felf, whervnto he defireth licece to take his child in his armes : 
 now at their departing, which the maide graunteth. Cap. 92. 
 
 7>h 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 MY dere childe, my nere freendes, and councellors late: 
 My ftiort time : not a lowing long talke with you, 
 When I wold moft long : and moft deeplie debate : 
 (Mine eftate paft and prefent) with you all now : 
 My talke moft fhort : and therby moft Height talow : 
 I muft : and (fins I muft) will deuice to tell. 
 Charging my child : and praing you, to waie it well. 
 
 This fliort tale : fliortned by fhort time (as I fey,) 
 For a ground : of ferme framed foundacion : 
 Vpon thefe three principles, I will here ley. 
 The firft : of my felf, a declaracion. 
 The fecond : to you, an exhortacion. 
 The third, for my felfe : a fubmiflion : 
 For remiffion, of my ill condiflion. 
 
 Firft : I declare and confeffe my former life, 
 
 Cheefe : in time and place of mine auctorite : 
 
 To wring to the worfe (by right or wrong in ftrife) 
 
 All flies or fpiders : that wold ftand againft me : 
 
 Their diftruction, was my felicite. 
 
 My difpleafure : (as I vfde it in quarell,) 
 
 Was : as iudgment of death, or dethUke parell. 
 
 Mine ambicius defire, here to declare : 
 In winning in windows, no one fo nie all. 
 (Which I might haue kept : quietlie to my ftiare.) 
 When my winning was moft, I thought it to fmall. 
 The fliooting at all : was my marke principall, 
 And now : fliooting at all, I haue loft all quight. 
 The meane : is the merie part : being foong right, 
 
 And 
 
 426 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 And of the two extreme parts : (as I take it) 
 
 The bafe : is better then the treble : to fing. 
 
 Treble profperite, reafon doth make it : 
 
 Worfe then bafe aduerfite, it approuing : 
 
 In the flies bafe : and my treble ftate : erft mouing. 
 
 Profperite, (as that flie faide) makth vs blinde. 
 
 Aduerfite, (I feele) giueth fight by kinde. 
 
 When I had all : that could welnie begot, 
 Reftreint of libertie, had bene my hell paine. 
 Now I haue nought, I weare content with lot : 
 To fit and beg : faft locked in a chaine. 
 I neuer to obtaine : more eftate or gaine : 
 But onlie life and liuing : fuch as wold, 
 Mainteine a beggers life, bafelie to hold. 
 
 But life, liberte, lands and all, muft I loofe. 
 And I confeffe me to leefe all, worthili. 
 Euerie wight is worthie to haue : as he doofe. 
 Lands, life, and goods, of manie flies : had haue I. 
 And now muft I leaue life, lands, and goods, femblablie. 
 This long learnd leafon, I late had forgottun. 
 Our mefurs mette to other, fhal to vs be mottun. 
 
 But in this meafure, here me meafure right. 
 
 How wrong iudgers, wrong iudgements : in this text laie. 
 
 Sum expounde it fo largelie, that in their fight : 
 
 Wheare aucthorifed iudges : ponifhment waie : 
 
 Mefuring harme : to harme doers : thill to ftay : 
 
 If anie ill : cum to thofe iudges : eft fone, 
 
 That iudge thill to be done, for thill to them done. 
 
 Pp ii But 
 
 427 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 But : thofe judgements grow of this condiflion : 
 
 Malice arogant, or ingnorance infolent. 
 
 Mothers : of erronius expofiffion. 
 
 This text hath a limit : how fer it hath bent : 
 
 Such harms as chance iudges : or fuch as affent : 
 
 To procure ponifliment : to fuch as are nought, 
 
 Thofe harms : vnto them : for that, are not wrought. 
 
 Judgements of the great god, are fecret (we know :) 
 A iudge vfing iuftice : of iufl trew dealing : 
 The god male ponifli, for other things that grow. 
 Which he knowth, and we know not : (by reuealing) 
 And oftimes the good : (their glorie enfealing : 
 He ponifhth fum here, as flandeth with his will. 
 Whofe mefures he knowth, (of mans mefurs) leaft ill. 
 
 But : for fuch falfe mefurers : as I haue bene : 
 This mefure is made, and dewlie put in vre. 
 At hands of the great god, oft directlie fene. 
 Right mefure motun, for wrong motun mefure. 
 And (oftimes) he doth his inflruments procure 
 As now this maide : right mefurer to me is, 
 As I to other, haue mefurde wrong ere this. 
 
 This declaracion : one part of thefe thre. 
 What I haue partlie bene, hath made you here. 
 Whereby : what cafe I am in, here you fe. 
 Which fight and hereing, male be mirror clere : 
 To looke in : all times of the dale and the yere. 
 For fpiders hie : and fpiders vnderneth. 
 To kepe with life, that I haue loft with deth : 
 
 And 
 
 428 
 
AND THE FLIE, 
 
 And fo to do, I fliall you all exhort. 
 
 And firft my fonne, mark mine aduice to thee, 
 
 (That fliall fuccede me ftreight in place of fuch port. 
 
 As I firft began : in fuperiorite.) 
 
 In few woords (which fmart fmall time limitth me. 
 
 For the which while (my child to me moft dere :) 
 
 Thy weeping leaue, and ley thine eare to here. 
 
 Thofe things ; that thou haft herd me here declare, 
 
 By which : thou feeft thy father caft awaie, 
 
 To faue thy felfe (my child) fe thou prepare : 
 
 To flee the fame : by temperate ftedie ftay. 
 
 The contrarie of my demenure ay : 
 
 Shall ay defend thee fo in euerie cafe, 
 
 As thou both loued and drad, fliall kepe thi plafe. 
 
 Againft my fotletee, vfe thou fimplicitee. 
 Againft my wrong vfurping, vfe thou right. 
 Againft my pride, vfe thou humilitee. 
 Againft my wrath, vfe charite : in fight. 
 Againft my hate, in loue haue thou delight. 
 Againft thefe ills : and other folowing mee. 
 Note thefe next ills : not to folow, but to flee. 
 
 Wheare truth is taken treafon : and traitors in truft : 
 Wheare faith is framd fancie : and fancie feind feith : 
 Where lofels ouer lords : ley lawes at their luft : 
 Where witleffe : as wifefte : the wittie out weith : 
 Where mercie to the meeke : meare malice difmeith : 
 Where dawcocks : in doctrine : haue dominacion, 
 There doth deuifion, bring defolacion. 
 
 Pp iii Let 
 
 429 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Let truth be the bage, in whom thou truft doft take. 
 
 Let not firme faith be left : for fikill fancie, 
 
 Let rewld lords : rewle rewleffe lofels, when they crake. 
 
 Let wife wifdom, ouer wey witleffe follie. 
 
 Let malice paffe : vfe mefurable mercie. 
 
 Let thunlearnd : in doctrine : to the learnd : giue plafe. 
 
 Let paftors be plafte, as I place them in cafe. 
 
 In place of a ftiepherd, place not a fhepe. 
 
 In place of a Ihepe, place not a fhephard. 
 
 In no place : place a wolfe, the flocke to kepe : 
 
 The flieepe or the Wolfe, to the fhepherds place prefard : 
 
 By faintneffe : or ferceneffe, the flocks muft be mard. 
 
 Place thou thy fhepherds : fuch fhepherds to be, 
 
 As from the Iheepe : and wolfe, vfe the meane decre. 
 
 Offenders penitent (for offences paft, 
 
 Sauing of whom : offendth not the Handing flate, 
 
 Nor encorageth other : to offend the more faft) 
 
 Correct, as mercie maie rigor moderate. 
 
 But to this, make this a ground inuiolate. 
 
 Vpon fturdie flif ftanders : in violenfie, 
 
 Draw thy fword of iufVice, fharpned fharplie. 
 
 And marke (my fon) thefe points that I now cum to : 
 
 In commun order, of thy gouerning. 
 
 Who : honeftlie doth, as other honeft do : 
 
 And faith as thofe honeft faie : or faith nothing-. 
 
 Axe him not what he thinkth, for marke this othing : 
 
 Whofe deede and his thought : repungnantlie varie, 
 
 His woord and his thought : iar likewife contrarie. 
 
 Loue 
 
 430 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Loue to be loued, and hate to be hated. 
 
 Of thofe that loue good : and hate ill, otherwife, 
 
 Hauing hate of thill : for iuftice iiiftlie rated. 
 
 Hate fo, be thou glad to haue, and by iuftice, 
 
 Continew that hate : in infeffant fife. 
 
 In whom (by their fauts) to thee fautlefle it drawfe : 
 
 To continew : by their continewed caufe, 
 
 Touching right or wrong : of both muft thou choofe one, 
 
 As thus : eyther to do wrong : or to take wrong, 
 
 Rather take it then do it : fe thou do none. 
 
 The wrong that I haue done (the flies here among) 
 
 Of myne ill : their ill : hath bene partlie a long. 
 
 Anfwere mine ill all (alas) ftreight muft I do. 
 
 And as much of theirs, as mine hath forft them to. 
 
 Of fpider or flie : fewde to : for ought in grant. 
 
 Ere thou graunt, loke what, where, & why thou graunteft it 
 
 But graunts once paft thee (at futers futes inftant,) 
 
 Performe them full : without reftreint anie whit. 
 
 Performance of promife, perfitelie doth knit : 
 
 Such credence : to all : (they performing the fame) 
 
 As winth them faft freendftiip, and perpetuall fame. 
 
 Thy councell choofe, in thefe condifcions bent. 
 
 Few, wife, fecret, expert, temperate, and trew. 
 
 Satiffide with fufficiencie, and diligent. 
 
 All fale of iuftice : and all offers tefchew : 
 
 That fhall to thee, or commun welth hindrance brew. 
 
 Their taking wherof : feming winning to bee : 
 
 May leefe them with all theirs, and all thine with thee. 
 
 Here 
 
 431 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Here haue I geuen thee fon : fuch exortacion, 
 
 As weake wit : and fhort time will fuffer in mee. 
 
 Which : if thou vfe, at thy fathers contemplacion, 
 
 Behold then (my fon) thyne owne profperitee. 
 
 Yf not, behold thy fathers aduerfitee. 
 
 As rightlie and rightfully on thee to light, 
 
 As on thy father, thou feeft it now light right. 
 
 Now : to you of his counfell : marke what I deuies. 
 
 In you, lithe the putting in vre of all this. 
 
 You are his hands, his feete, his eares, and his iyes : 
 
 Hering, feeling, or feeing, in him fmall is : 
 
 To walke or to woorke with : you woorking amis : 
 
 You are the myrrors : that all lookers looke in. 
 
 As you woorke, they woorke : but you muft iirfl: begin, 
 
 In which woorke, this walke, I exorte you to take. 
 Walke in amite, woorke in vnite. 
 The anfwere of futers, expeditelie make. 
 Serch their fubieftions : how they male agree : 
 To be graunted, with honorable honefte. 
 Offenders againft you, when ye will chalenge, 
 Neuer draw his fword : your quarels to reuenge. 
 
 Thefe be the great grounds : prefentlie brought in minde. 
 
 They pafling two parts : of my promifed thre. 
 
 Me to declare, you to exort, in fuch kinde, 
 
 As male fliow caufe of repentance in me. 
 
 For ils paft : and for thills to cum : in ye. 
 
 Warning to a voide. thirdli and laftlie now. 
 
 To witneffe my fubmiiTion, I fhall pray you. 
 
 Firft 
 
 432 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Firft to the great god, I humblie and wholie : 
 
 Submitte me : euine fo befeching his mercie : 
 
 For all my great fin : and all ofFenfife foUie : 
 
 Againft him committed. Secondarilie : 
 
 Of all the whole worlde here : I generallie, 
 
 Axe forgeueneffe. Where : and in what : mine offence : 
 
 To craue forgeueneffe : chargith my confcience, 
 
 Thirdlie (and fpeciallie) good maiftres maide : 
 
 Your difpleafure toward me : to bring appeafed, 
 
 I praye : your beningnite to be difplaide. 
 
 To forgiue my gilt : which hath you difpleafed. 
 
 And not onlie difpleafed, but difeafed. 
 
 Namelie now : in ftreyning your arms long and fmall, 
 
 To clenfe your window, of vncumlie copwebs all. 
 
 Fourthlie and finallie, remiffion fought : 
 
 By fubmiffion, to all fpiders and flife : 
 
 That I in this window haue offended ought : 
 
 In taking or geuing the hooles in fuch fife : 
 
 Or ftretched my copwebs here : in fuch wide wife : 
 
 As flreightned anie part : of their lawfull right, 
 
 Of them, on knees : I praye forgeueneffe in fight. 
 
 Here end I : fauing fix woords here to be faide : 
 Vnto my child : I : (him in mine arms haning :) 
 Pronounfed in your hering (good maiftres maide :) 
 Your lifence wherto, is mine humble crauing. 
 Without woord of anie ill, in deprauing. 
 Content (quoth fhe) wherwith in arms he tooke him, 
 Saying thefe woordes, while fhe did ouer looke him. 
 
 Qq After 
 
 3' 433 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 IT After a few wofull woordes of the fpider had to his fonne 
 (they bothe clafpynge eche other in armes vene naturally) 
 he kyffeth and"^ bliffeth him. Wherewyth that fonne 
 with all the twelue fpiders dolefullie departe from the fpi- 
 der. '^^P- 93- 
 
 Oh 
 
 434 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 OH depe defired fight, of thee my childe dere : 
 Behold thy father, how he beholdeth thee. 
 To thy mother, and brother, thou flialt appere : 
 After this weeping time : worne out of you three, 
 To your comforts oftimes : but no time more to me, 
 Our departings differ, nothing more (vnneth) 
 You fro me to life, I from you to death. 
 
 Now here in fight, as I Ihould neuer be hence. 
 Streight hence from fight, as I had neuer bene here. 
 Well : farewell : vfe to thy mother obedience. 
 To thy brother, let brotherlie loue appere. 
 Commend me to them both (my luels dere) 
 I blifle thee : kiffe thou me : they did fo : and fo, 
 Lothlie he lofed his arms, and leete him go. 
 
 Qqii 
 
 The 
 
 435 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 tThe mayde (appeering as woe to diftroye the fpider as he 
 is to be dyftroyde) wyth her foote preffeth hym to death. 
 Cap. 94. 
 
 The 
 
 43 ^> 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 THe water ran downe the cheekes, of them both two : 
 The maide pitteing both, wept as faft thaie. 
 But for that fhe muft do : more then (he wold do, 
 The fpider had bene forgeeuen, and gone his waie. 
 But they gone weeping awaie, (without delaie :) 
 The fpider laying proftrate : fhe thervpon. 
 Setting her foote on him, he was foorthwith gon. 
 
 Qqiii 
 
 The 
 
 437 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe mayde hath before her the twelue fpiders and the 
 twehie flies that had bene before in place. And vpon her fhow 
 that all harms doone by thofe generacions is growne by 
 myforder, fhe fynally deuifeth full redreffe in poynting them 
 to grow to order. Cap. 95. 
 
 Vpon 
 
 438 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 VPpon this execucion done, fhe hath now : 
 Before her, thefe twelue fpiders with thofe twelue flife 
 That erft weare there : they erft menfioned to you. 
 Vnto which nombre, (he did theare deuife, 
 Certaine precepts geeuen : in woords weightie and wife. 
 Which to repeate : as rightlie as I can, 
 I will. And in this wife her tale began. 
 
 To traine the time and tarie you (quoth (he) 
 
 In talke of your forefauts, foUi it weare. 
 
 The (mart : both doth and will, (till tell it ye. 
 
 But what thing brought that frhart : eche when and wheare) 
 
 That : heare to here, eche one ley to his eare. 
 
 Which thing brieflie to tell : brief end to forder, 
 
 Was onlie in you all, this thing : miforder. 
 
 As god orderlie created creatures all : 
 
 So weare they created, to orderlie entent. 
 
 To vfe them felues, ech creature in his call. 
 
 Of which created fort : the creator ment, 
 
 Spiders and flies twayne, to order to relent. 
 
 The lacke wherof on your fides : witneffeth weele. 
 
 To haue wrought difpleafure on all fides, euerideele. 
 
 On all fides I faie : meaning thefe fides therby. 
 Your fides, my fide, my mafter and mafters fide. 
 Firft for your fides : the fmart (howth feelingly. 
 On my fide : fuch rebukes as I a bide, 
 Of them for you, feeming your fauts to hide. 
 And on their fides : their moft difplefaunt fight, 
 To fe fpiders and flies, out of order quight. 
 
 Spiders 
 
 439 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 Spiders fpinning in windows welnie, in their facis. 
 Spightfullie haue fponne. And flies innumerablie : 
 To blow their meate : haue made their commun tracis. 
 Thus : lacke of order on your two fides proue I : 
 To haue brought all fides : to Hue difplefantlie. 
 To my m afters and maiftres greefe, greatli growne. 
 Whofe which greefe : to me, is more then mine owne. 
 
 By whofe appointment vnder them as now : 
 I (hauing here the cure,) muft haue the care. 
 To affine redrefle : for which I fent for you. 
 To you : and to all yours in you, to declare : 
 Order, to eafe all fpiders and flies that are. 
 And all other : fuch as haue bene anoide, 
 By lacke of order, which ye ere this diftroide. 
 
 That fpiders and flies : are the creatures of god, 
 And all his creatures : in their creacion good, 
 I know and aknowledge. Or els gods forbod. 
 I hate neither the fpiders : nor the flies brood. 
 I loue all : as behoueth maidenlie mood. 
 All his creatures in an order, we muft loue : 
 That orderlie vfe them felues : as doth behoue. 
 
 And fuch as be ill : yet maie we not hate : 
 The perfons, but the ill in the perfons feene. 
 This learnd I of a preacher : that preached late : 
 And of my felfe (I thanke god) I haue not beene : 
 So much giuen to hate (anie perfon I meene 
 Be they fpiders : be they flies : what euer they be :) 
 But I can vfe all, as ftandth with charite. 
 
 And 
 
 440 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 And charitablie fuch an order to fet : 
 
 To fet you in reft : and the fayde reft therby, 
 
 All fauts in all part : to forgeue and forget, 
 
 That will I you all to do. And orderly : 
 
 Echone to vfe him felfe ordinarilie : 
 
 And eche vfe other : in euerie kind of caufe, 
 
 As thold knowne well ordered cuftome, dewli drawfe. 
 
 And that is- this : ye fpiders in tip of top : 
 
 Or in top fides of windows : copwebs ftiall make 
 
 Aboue the rech of my broome : to crufh or crop 
 
 Anie part therof : not fet like an ale ftake, 
 
 Proudlie to brag your felues : and bring flies in brake, 
 
 But in place to lie : moft hie and moft hiddin. 
 
 Spiders thus plafte, cuftoms order hath biddin. 
 
 Flies in the bodie of the window fhall pafle. 
 
 Not by thoufands at once : fediciouflie, 
 
 But thorough hooles of lattes : or broken glafle : 
 
 Not blowing henfforth (fo fawfmalapertlie :) 
 
 My mafters and maiftres meate : as yeares latlie : 
 
 They haue done, but pafle and repafle in nombre 
 
 And vfage fuch as fliall no houfe accombre. 
 
 This auncient order (in few woordes) here geeuene, 
 
 Is all that I axe : in you to be vfed. 
 
 In lacke wherof, in all forow you are dreeuene. 
 
 In vfe therof, in folace you in clufed. 
 
 Myforder : bringing you thus confufed, 
 
 Let order : by your leaning of miforder, 
 
 Quietneffe on your fides, and all fides forder. 
 
 Rr By 
 
 3 k 441 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 By order (from miforder) you to redeeme, 
 
 (From forowes of all forts to folace fo forted,) 
 
 Is caufe of my cuming. Not by meanes extreeme, 
 
 But by moft milde meanes : that male be imported : 
 
 In order to fet you : and fe you comforted 
 
 To kepe order. Wherin you obeying mee, 
 
 We may liue in loue all : eche in his degree. 
 
 Eche in his degree (I faie) mark that point well. 
 
 Your lacke of lining fo, (ye fee) mard you all. 
 
 Cheeflie you fpiders : vfurping to excell : 
 
 In gouernance : out of your place naturall. 
 
 Which for few yeares paft, brought and kept flies fo thrall, 
 
 That you (welnie) brought flies : to graunt to agree. 
 
 You : as head gouernous generall bee. 
 
 In which vfurpacion : ye offended, 
 Nature, reafon, my mafter, maiftres, and me. 
 Gouernours, nature hath commonlie bended : 
 Ouer fuch kinds to gouerne, as them felues be. 
 Beaft buer beaflis, fouU ouer fowls, as we fe 
 Man ouer men. And in feare and aw is than, 
 Thunreafonable beafte, to reafonable man. 
 
 Nature ye offend : in planted plaine profe here, 
 To take rule of other kinds, then your kind is. 
 Reafon : ye offend, in that ye here appere, 
 To take vpon you, the vfe of mine offis. 
 Me : ye offend in the fame : and vnto this, 
 My mafter and maifbres ye offend. As thus, 
 lied rule here, is their gift by cuftoms difcus. 
 
 But 
 
 442 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 Kut leaue this, and take that : mine order erft told. 
 Keepe you your places, and let me keepe mine. 
 As nature : and cuftom : willeth you of old. 
 While reafon : and cuftom : do me clere encline : 
 My mafters and maiftres will : to woork in fine : 
 As I vnder them : and you vnder me, 
 May louelie liue (I faie) ech in dew degree. 
 
 The fpiders and flies : perceyuing by her ftaie : 
 That flie (in this matter) had faide what flie wold. 
 All reioyfing, one fpider aflinde to faie : 
 In fuch maner : as good maner : might him bold, 
 This effect in thefe woords, to this maide he told. 
 At beginning of whofe talke fhe fet her iye. 
 And layde her eare toward him diligentlie. 
 
 Rrii 
 
 The 
 
 443 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe twelue fpiders and twelue flies hauyng herde theyr 
 order fet by the mayde, they thankefullie receyue it. And 
 vpon her commaundement to them, to put thys order in 
 vre amonge all fpyders and flies, they ioyfuliye departe that 
 commaundement to fulfill. Cap. 96. 
 
 Moft 
 
 44 + 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 MOft excelent maide, and maiftres of ours. 
 Your milde and motherlie precepts : geuen vs thus, 
 In order old ; reuiued now : at hand of yours, 
 Lack wherof (as ye faide) the forowes in vs : 
 Haue witneft that, of them, the caufe in difcus. 
 Your woords wherin told : to our deedes therin felt, 
 Do inftruct vs, with a doble witneffe delt. 
 
 And double or treble (yea quatreble) caufe : 
 With manie caufes mo : then I can now tell : 
 Haue we : to kepe order as your will vs dravvfe, 
 Spiders and flies haue liued, like as in hell. 
 Sins new miforder : did thold order expell. 
 Thus : our bound dutie obaiyng your precept. 
 Is your pleafure, but our profits, to fe kept. 
 
 Which : I promife for vs, and all fpiders els : 
 To be obferued. As ferfoorth as we male. 
 And I (quoth one flie) for all flies as he tels : 
 Promife : for order to walke the fame waie. 
 Reioyfing all, that euer we faw this daie. 
 Praying the great god : for you now and euer. 
 In profperus profperite, to perfeuer. 
 
 Well freends (quoth the maide) to enter order now : 
 Depart. And plant this in all fpiders and fliefe. 
 In top of windows, fpiders exercife you. 
 And flies the hooles : moderateli excercife. , 
 In mofb ioyfuU ioy, that both forts can deuife. 
 From thence mofl ioyfullie : they all flang and flew, 
 While the mayde vfde her will there, as doth enfew. 
 
 Rr iii The 
 
 445 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 IThe fpiders and flies beynge now abfent, The mayde 
 fweepyth the'wyndow cleane in euerie place. As far as her 
 brome and arme wyll ftretch, which doone fhe departeth. 
 Cap. 97. 
 
 The 
 
 4^6 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 THe fpiders and flies (for the time) being gon, 
 The maide fwept that window, cleane in all places. 
 In all corners : that her broome might light vpon, 
 Ech copweb (with her broome) (he full defaces : 
 No wem feene : in cafemunds, nor cafemund cafes. 
 Vpon her cleare clenfing wherof : out went ftie, 
 And in cam I, her woorkmanfhip there to fe. 
 
 The 
 
 447 
 
THE SPIDER 
 
 ITThe maide being gone, the auctor cumeth in. And vpon hys 
 beholding the wyndow fayre and cleane fwept wythoute 
 anie comberus copwebs or exceffiue floclces of flies he depar- 
 teth. Cap. 98. 
 
 Beholdinf 
 
 448 
 
AND THE FLIE. 
 
 BEholding the window : feeing euerie roome : 
 Cleane and emptie, faue three flies amid that plat: 
 And in the top (without reche of the maids broome) 
 Corners of copwebs vnneth fene, and to that : 
 All thinges in quiet cafe : fo that I could nat 
 Of anie matter : be anie furder winner, 
 I went from the window, to the boorde to dinner. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Ss 
 
 The 
 
 3/ 
 
 449 
 
Cl)e conclulion toitl) an e;ppo* 
 
 OtRon of tfte SluctortoucSinff one ptece 
 
 of t^e lattec pact of tlj(0 
 
 parable^ 
 
 IHaue, (good readers) this parable here pende : 
 (After olde beginning) newly brought to ende. 
 The thing, yeres mo then twentie fince it begoon. 
 To the thing : yeres mo then ninetene, nothing doon. - 
 The frewte was grene : I durft not gather it than, 
 For feare of rotting : before riping began. 
 The loffe, (it on the frewterers hande lying :) 
 Had (in that miftery) mard his occupying. 
 This worke (among my poore workes) thus hath it paft : 
 Begon with the firft, and ended with the laft. 
 At ende wherof (as at beginning) I pray. 
 All readers that reade it (in al that we may.) 
 Ech one reader : to fcan this parable fo, 
 As our mofl fcanning : diligently may go ; 
 (In fpeech of fpiders and flies fautes : here fhowne :) 
 To confiderate weying, of fautes of our owne. 
 And them (by grace) tamend, for concord growing, 
 As fpiders and flies : grow to, here in fhowing. 
 But, fauts and fauters : erft repented, and paft. 
 Which fauts (I hope) none : on him felf can now caft : 
 Figured here in the fpiders cruelte : 
 Touching deedes and deathes of thofe : that fo paft be : 
 Let vs rather (when fnemorie them to mind Calls,) 
 Lament their falfe facktes : then rSoyce their foule falls, 
 And praie for them, as we hope they pray for vs. 
 That they and we : by goddes'mercifull difcus. 
 May (after ftrife together in life carnall,) 
 Liue and loue together : in life eternall. 
 
 And 
 
 450 
 
THE CONCLVSION. 
 
 And for the chief fpider and flie : vnderftand : 
 
 Spider that dide : and flie that fcapte, at maydes hand, 
 
 As in that figure : both : moft charitablie : 
 
 Thone in deede dieing : thother redie to die, 
 
 So (hould we : not onlie die, but alfo liue. 
 
 As gods prefeptes, (paine of endeleffe deth) do giue. 
 
 Ye fe alfo : that this fygure here implies. 
 
 For ftrife in windowes : betweene fpiders and flies. 
 
 The plat of all the world, and people therin. 
 
 In which world : which people : if all now begin : 
 
 And henfforth : endeuer them deuring theyr Hues : 
 
 By counfell of thofe two : to cut of all (Iriues : 
 
 By outing of : all caufe of fl:rife ,: , in all parties : 
 
 As they both : (eche in his lafl: tale) did deuife, 
 
 The firft tale : in chapter four fcore and eight here : 
 
 The fecond : in foure fcore and twelue : doth a pere : 
 
 Thaduice in both turnd to : it to here and hold : 
 
 Turning their perfons to oures (in thofe tales told,) 
 
 Then fliall we firft fe, and after feele : what frewte, 
 
 Our right doing (againft wrong) fhall execute. 
 
 Which : fmce ye male turne : and behold as a glaffe, 
 
 Tedius Iteracion therof I let paffe. 
 
 As I (for tedioufneffe and other caufes,) 
 
 Omit (to remit) the nombre of claufes. 
 
 To thofe : learnd and geuen (in enterpretacion,) 
 
 More them am I, vnto moralifacion. 
 
 I leaue to the learnd : the corps of this matter : 
 
 How beete (as I can) I craue leaue to fmatter : 
 
 In vttring my fancie : vnder fubmiffion, 
 
 Touching the taking of one expofiflion : 
 
 Ss ii In 
 
 45' 
 
THE CONCLVSION. 
 
 In one peece herof : one fence tenterpretate : 
 
 Of apt aplicafion to fence literate : 
 
 In this the laft faide part, of this faide fygure. 
 
 That maide I meane : putting her office in vre. 
 
 Sweping downe copwebs in euerie border, 
 
 That fhe (in that window) faw fet out of order. 
 
 Setting all flies at their lawfull libertie. 
 
 And fpiders alfo, tavoyde all ieobertie. 
 
 They bilding in windowes : without her broms rech, 
 
 (Where bilding within it : brought much of this brech) 
 
 Keeping them felues within their boundes : as they ought, 
 
 Harme flie none did them, none faide, nor none thought. 
 
 But fpiders : hauing paft their boundes : as they had,) 
 
 And flies : hauing flowne more brode : then order bad, 
 
 Thone : to nie her maflers and mai fires iye (ho wing : 
 
 Thother : her mafters and maiftres meate blowing : 
 
 She thought it her dutie : it being her charge. 
 
 To do fum execucion : for warning large : 
 
 Both to fpiders and flies : the flockes euerichone. 
 
 By executing of fpiders, onlie one. 
 
 And : faue cuflom of iuftice : forft her therto, 
 
 Loth was fhe : exeeufion on him to do. 
 
 Her brome not fword of rigor, (doble edgid blade) 
 
 But the branche of mercie : that milde maiden made. 
 
 Finallie : vpon her benigne behauer : 
 
 Appeafing all this furie : with all this fauer. 
 
 In fpiders and flies : without ftripes to ftint ftrife. 
 
 All plafte in right place : to place profperus life, 
 
 Ech one in him felfe : in moft ioyfuU ioy ioyde. 
 
 And eche one to other, their ioyes they imploide. 
 
 All 
 
 452 
 
THE CONCLVSION. 
 
 All ioying in her : as their redempfion, 
 
 Of reft, long erft had in exfempfion. 
 
 All bent (as all weare bounde) in all that they maie, 
 
 That maide (in her office) to loue and obaie. 
 
 Wherwith : as this parable here taketh ende, 
 
 So I : (with a few wordes therin) an ende intende. 
 
 Of this laft peece : pleine interpretacion, 
 
 Lighteth in the lap of imaginacion. 
 
 Which : of force, in weying the fence literall, 
 
 Clerelie conueithe the fence alligoricall, 
 
 To our fufferaigne Ladie, Queene Marie, and niaide. 
 
 At gods bringing whom to her crowne, may be laide : 
 
 Our lyke ftrife riffen : and more then like to rife, 
 
 Then fhowth here rifen : betweene fpiders and flies. 
 
 Whofe fworde like a brome : that fwepth out filth cleane : 
 
 Not a fword that fileth the houfe : by blodie meane. 
 
 This mercifuU maiden tooke in hand to fweepe. 
 
 Her window : this realme. Not to kill, but to keepe : 
 
 All in quiet. On her bringing vs therto. 
 
 As that maide (all fpiders and flies) fhowth to do. 
 
 And as vnder that mayde : fpider dide but one. 
 
 So vnder this maide : faue one, (in effect) none. 
 
 And as that one : vnder that one maide did die : 
 
 Repentaunt, fo this other repentauntlie : 
 
 Vnder this other maide : the deth meeklie tooke. 
 
 All fin : with all finfuU errours, he forfooke. 
 
 Of god : craning forgiueneffe principallie, 
 
 And then of the world. And mofl fpeciallie : 
 
 Of this mayde his maftres. Who (clerlie) him forgaue, 
 
 As that maide did that fpider, when he did craue. 
 
 Ss iii And 
 
 433 
 
THE CONCLVSION. 
 
 And as that maide : lothlie forft by, iuft cuftutn : 
 
 Was dreuin to bring that one : texcucion to cum, 
 
 So this maide : faue like that maide : by force was dreuine, 
 
 Was with that maide : (for pitie) more then euine. 
 
 And as tliat maidins moft quarell was addikt : 
 
 For that :.fpiders and flies : in that window kikt : 
 
 Againft the will of her mafter and maiftres. 
 
 So did this maide : her cheefe quarell addres : 
 
 To vs (or to fuch of vs) as the prefept : 
 
 Of her mafter and maiftres : had not kept. 
 
 And as that maide tooke thofe fautes much more to hart : 
 
 In refpect of her mafters and maiftres part : 
 
 Then for her owne part, (her part being not fmall : 
 
 In that the redres : fhe was charged with all,) 
 
 So : ynder her mafter and maiftres, this meyde : 
 
 Being theyr like inftrument : to fe thinges weyde. 
 
 She weyde that. With more greefe to fe them offendid, 
 
 Then for ought : that on her owne part dependid. 
 
 Her mafter Chrift, the head mafter principall. 
 
 Her maiftres, mother hollie church catholicall. 
 
 And as that one maide: with that one ftroke of herbroome: 
 
 Clenfed her window clere in euerie roome : 
 
 Setting flies at liberte : in their right rate : 
 
 Plafing fpiders likewife in accuftumd ftate : 
 
 Poynting both partes : path of direct direction : 
 
 To trace and treade in : as weltjies protection. 
 
 So this one mayde : with this one ftroke of her fword : 
 
 From long thrall thraldom, hath fet vs clere a bord. 
 
 Poynting vs our places (and pathes) of old knowne : 
 
 Great gides, both to goftlie and worldlie welth growne. 
 
 Thus 
 
 454 
 
THE CONCLVSION. 
 
 Thus fer goth this figure : and this expofifcion : 
 
 Betweene that mayde, and this maide. The condifcion, 
 
 On her part fulfild. Whervpon let vs here 
 
 Plaie our parts in this part : all parts to apere : 
 
 To this maide, as fpiders and flies to that maide. 
 
 Let our baners of obedience be difplaide. 
 
 Of loue, the bage. of reioyfmg, the right roote. 
 
 And of our owne welthis, the right and full boote; 
 
 Loue we her, and obey we her, as we ought : 
 
 And alfo our fuffrayne Lorde : Philip : to her brought : 
 
 By god : as god brought her to vs. Which twaine : 
 
 Conioyned one : in matrimoniall trayne : 
 
 Both one alfo : in auctorite regall : 
 
 Thefe two thus made one : bothe one here we call. 
 
 Which two thus one, reioyfe we eueriechone. 
 
 And thefe two thus one, obey we all as one. 
 
 Effectuallie : as thofe fpiders and flies, 
 
 Figuratiuelie, that one recongnies, 
 
 Befeching god that brought them, to keepe them here : 
 
 In long profperus raigne. And of his mercie mere : 
 
 So to bliffe vs : that on this bleffed ftocke, 
 
 He bring fuch impes : as ouer their faythfuU flocke : 
 
 As their progenitors do raygne prefentlie, 
 
 They (after them) maie raigne perpetuallie. 
 
 And for gift of thefe two thus one : to vs geuine, 
 
 To yeld the three and one thankes : (as we are dreuine. 
 
 And alfo them, conclude we this euen thus. 
 
 Thanke we god for them, and god and them for vs. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 455 
 
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