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Title: The Conuercyon of swerers

Author: Stephen Hawes

Release date: August 9, 2007 [eBook #22289]
Most recently updated: January 25, 2021

Language: English

Credits: Produced by Louise Hope, David Starner and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CONUERCYON OF SWERERS *** 







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ãẽĩõũỹ (vowel with “tilde” or overline for following m/n)




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[A.i.]




The Conuercyon of swerers









||




T(The)




He
frutefull sentẽce & the noble werkes


To our doctryne wrytẽ ĩ olde ãtyquyte


By many gret & ryght notable clerkes


Groũded on reason and hygh auctoryte


Dyde gyue vs example by good moralyte


To folowe the trace of trouth and ryght wysnes


Leuynge our synne and mortall wrechednes




By theyr wrytynge doth to vs appere


The famous actes of many a champyon


In the courte of fame renowned fayre and clere


And some endyted theyr entencyon


Cloked in coloure harde in construccyon


Specyally poetes vnder cloudy fygures


Couered the trouthe of all theyr scryptures




So hystoryagraphes all the worthy dedes


Of kynges and knyghtes dyde put in wrytynge


To be in mende for theyr memoryall medes


How sholde we now haue knowledgynge


Of thynges past / but by theyr endytynge


Wherfore we ought to prayse them doubteles


That spent theyr tyme in suche good busynes.




Amonge all other my good mayster Lydgate


The eloquent poete and monke of bury


Dyde bothe contryue and also translate


Many vertues bokes to be in memory


Touchynge the trouthe well and sentencyously


But syth that his deth was intollerable


I praye god rewarde hym in lyfe perdurable


[A.ii.]



Amonge all thynges nothynge so prouffytable


As is scyence with the sentencyous scrypture


For worldly rychesse is often transmutable


As dayly dothe appere well in vre


Þet scyens a
bydeth and is moost sure


After pouerte to attayne grete rychesse


Scyens is cause of promocion doubtles




I lytell or nought expert in poetrye


Remembrynge my youth so lyght and frayle


Purpose to compyle here full breuyatly


A lytell treatyse wofull to bewayle


The cruell swerers which do god assayle


On euery syde his swete body to tere


With terryble othes as often as they swere




But all for drede plonged in neclygence


My penne dothe quake to presume to endyte


But hope at laste to recure this scyence


Exorteth me ryght hardely to wryte


To deuoyde ydlenesse by good appetyte


For ydlenesse the grete moder of synne


Euery vyce is redy to lette ynne




I with the same ryght gretely infecte


Lykely to deye tyll grace by medecyne


Recured my sekenes my payne to abiecte


Commaundynge me by her hye power deuyne


To drawe this treatyse for to enlumyne


The reders therof by penytencyall pyte


And to pardon me of theyr benygnyte







||




R(Ryght)




Yght
myghty prỹces of euery crysten regyõ


I sende you gretynge moche hertly & grace


Right wel to gouern vpright your dominiõ


And all your lordes I greete in lyke cace


By this my lettre your hertes to enbrace


Besechynge you to prynte it in your mynde


How for your sake I toke on me mankynde




And as a lambe moost mekely dyde enclyne


To suffre the dethe for your redempcyon


And ye my kynges whiche do nowe domyne


Ouer my comons in terrestryall mancyon


By pryncely preemynence and Iuredyccyon


In your regall courtes do suffre me be rente


And my tender body with blode all besprente




Without my grace ye maye nothynge preuayle


Though ye be kynges for to mayntene your see


To be a kynge it may nothynge auayle


Buy yf my grace preserue his dygnyte


Beholde your seruauntes how they do tere me


By cruell othes now vpon euery syde


Aboute the worlde launcynge my woundes wyde




All the graces whiche I haue you shewed


Reuoule
in mynde ryght ofte ententyfly


Beholde my body with blody droppes endewed


Within your realmes nowe torne so pyteously


Towsed and tugged with othes cruelly


Some my heed some myn armes and face


Some my herte do all to rente and race


A.iii.



They newe agayne do hange me on the rode


They tere my sydes and are nothynge dysmayde


My woundes they open and deuoure my blode


I god and man moost wofully arayde


To you complayne it maye not be denayde


Ye nowe do tug me / ye tere me at the roote


Yet I to you am chefe refuyte and boote




Wherfore ye kynges reygnynge in renowne


Refourme your seruauntes in your courte abused


To good example of euery maner towne


So that theyr othes whiche they longe haue vsed


On payne and punysshement be holly refused


Meke as a Lambe I suffre theyr grete wronge


I maye take vengeaunce thoughe I tary longe




I do forbere I wolde haue you amende


And graunte you mercy and ye wyll it take


O my swete brederne why do ye offende


Agayne to tere me whiche deyed for your sake


Lo se my kyndenes and frome synne awake


I dyde redeme you from the deuylles chayne


And spyte of me ye wyll to hym agayne




Made I not heuen the moost gloryous mansyon


In whiche I wolde be gladde to haue you in


Now come swete bretherne to myn habytacyon


Alas good brederne with your mortall synne


Why flee ye from me / to torne agayne begynne


I wrought you I bought you ye can it not denye


Yet to the deuyll ye go nowe wyllyngly







flower



||




group of pictures






See

Me

Be		
(kynde










Agayne

My payne

Reteyne

(in mynde










My swete bloode

On the roode

Dyde the good

(my broder










My face ryght red

Myn armes spred

My woundes bled

(thynke none oder










Beholde thou my syde

Wounded so ryght wyde

Bledynge sore that tyde

(all for thyn owne sake










Thus for the I smerted

Why arte þou harde herted

Be by me conuerted

(& thy swerynge aslake










Tere me nowe no more

My woundes are sore

Leue swerynge therfore

(and come to my grace










I am redy

To graunte mercy

To the truely

(for thy trespace










Come nowe nere

My frende dere

And appere

(before me










I so

In wo

Dyde go

(se se










I

[A.iiii.]

Crye

Hy

(the






 


 






Vnto me dere broder my loue and my herte


Turmente me no more with thyn othes grete


Come vnto my Ioye and agayne reuerte


From the deuylles snare and his sutyl net


Beware of the worlde all aboute the set


Thy flesshe is redy by concupyscence


To burne thy herte with cursed vyolence




Thoughe these thre enmyes do sore the assayle


Vpon euery syde with daungerous iniquite


But yf thou lyst / they may nothynge preuayle


Nor yet subdue the with all theyr extremyte


To do good or yll / all is at thy lyberte


I do graunte the grace thyn enemyes to subdue


Swete broder accepte it theyr power to extue




And ye kynges and prynces of hye noblenes


With dukes and lordes of euery dygnyte


Indued with manhode wysdome and ryches


Ouer the comons hauynge the soueraynte


Correcte them whiche so do tere me


By cruell othes without repentaunce


Amende be tyme lest I take vengeaunce




||



Exodi vicesimo / non accipies nomen dei tui in vãnum






Vnto the man I gaue commaundement


Not to take the name of thy god vaynfully


As not to swere but at tyme conuenyent


Before a Iuge to bere recorde truely


Namynge my name with reuerence mekely


Vnto the Iuge than there in presence


By my name to gyue to the good credence




A my brederne yf that I be wrothe


It is for cause ye falsly by me swere


Ye knowe yourselfe that I am very trothe


Þet wrongfully ye do me rente and tere


ye neyther loue me nor my Iustyce fere


And yf ye dyde ye wolde full gentylly


Obeye my byddynge well and perfytely




The worldly kynges hauynge the soueraynte


ye do well obey without resystence


ye dare not take theyr names in vanyte


But with grete honoure and eke reuerence


Than my name more hye of magnyfycence


ye ought more to drede whiche am kynge of all


Bothe god and man and reygne celestyall




No erthely man loueth you so well


As I do / which mekely dyde enclyne


For to redeme you from the fendes of hell


Takynge your kynde by my godhede dyuyne


you were the fendes I dyde make you myne


For you swete bretherne I was on the rode


Gyuynge my body my herte and my blode


[A.v.]



Than why do ye in euery maner of place


With cruell othes tere my body and herte


My sydes and woundes it is a pyteous cace


Alas swete brederne I wolde you conuerte


For to take vengeaunce ye do me coherte


From the hous of swerers shall not be absent


The plage of Iustyce to take punysshement






¶Vnde. Ecclesiastici .xxxiii. Vir multum iurans implebitur iniquitate et
non discedet a domo eius plaga.






A man moche swerynge with grete iniquite


Shall be replete and from his mancyon


The plage of vengeaunce shall not cessed be


Wherefore ye brederne full of abusyon


Take ye good hede to this dyscrypcyon


Come nowe to me and axe forgyuenes


And be penytente and haue it douteles






Augustinus. Non potest male mori qui bene vixit et vix bene moritur
quimale vixit.






Who in this worlde lyueth well and ryghtwysly


Sall deye well by ryght good knowlegynge


Who in this worlde lyueth yll and wrongfully


Shall hardly scape to haue good endynge


I do graunte mercy but no tyme enlongynge


Wherfore good brederne whyles that ye haue space


Amend your lyfe and come vnto my grace


||



My wordes my prelates vnto you do preche


For to conuerte you from your wretchednes


But lytell auaylleth you nowe for to teche


The worlde hathe cast you in such blyndnes


Lyke vnto stones your hertes hathe hardnes


That my swete wordes may not reconsyle


Your hertes harde with mortall synne so vyle




Wo worthe your hertes so planted in pryde


Wo worthe your wrath and mortall enuye


Wo worthe slouth that dothe with you abyde


Wo worthe also inmesurable glotony


Wo worthe your tedyus synne of lechery


Wo worthe you whome I gaue free wyll


Wo worthe couetyse that dothe your soulse spyll




Wo worthe shorte Ioye cause of payne eternall


Wo worthe you that be so peruerted


Wo worthe your pleasures in the synnes mortall


Wo worthe you for whome I sore smerted


Wo worthe you euer but ye be conuerted


Wo worthe you whose makynge I repente


Wo worthe your horryble synne so vyolent




Wo worthe you whiche do me forsake


Wo worthe you whiche wyllyngely offende


Wo worthe your swerynge whiche dothe not aslake


Wo worthe you whiche wyll nothynge amende


Wo worthe vyce that dothe on you attende


Wo worthe your grete vnkyndenes to me

[A.vi.]


Wo worthe your hertes withouten pyte




Wo worthe your falshode and your doublenesse


Wo worthe also your corrupte Iugement


Wo worthe delyte in worldely rychesse


Wo worthe bebate without extynguyshment


Wo worthe your wordes so moche impacyent


Wo worthe you vnto whome I dyde bote


And wo worthe you that tere me at the rote




Blessyd be ye that loue humylyte


Blessyd be ye that loue trouthe and pacyence


Blessyd be ye folowynge werkes of equyte


Blessyd be ye that loue well abstynence


Blessyd be ye vyrgyns of excellence


Blessyd be ye which loue well vertue


Blessyd be ye whiche do the worlde eschue




Blessyd be ye that heuenly Ioye do loue


Blessyd be ye in vertuous gouernaunce


Blessyd be ye whiche do pleasures reproue


Blessyd be ye that consyder my greuaunce


Blessyd be ye whiche do take repentaunce


Blessyd be ye remembrynge my passyon


Blessyd be ye makynge petycyon




Blessyd be ye folowynge my trace


Blessyd be ye louynge trybulacyon


Blessyd be ye not wyllynge to trespace


Blessyd be ye of my castycacyon


Blessyd be ye of good operacyon

||


Blessyd be ye vnto me ryght kynde


Blessyd be you whiche haue me in your mynde




Blessyd be ye leuynge yll company


Blessyd be ye hauntynge the vertuous


Blessyd be ye that my name magnefy


Blessyd be ye techynge the vycyous


Blessyd be ye good and relygyous


Blessyd be ye in the lyfe temperall


Whiche applye yourselfe to Ioye celestyall




The brytyll worlde ryght often transmutable


Who wyll in it his lyfe in tyme well spende


Shall Ioye attayne after inestymable


For in the worlde he must fyrst condyscende.


To take grete payne as his power wyll extende


Agaynst the worlde the flesshe and the deuyll


By my grete grace for to withstande theyr euyll




For who can be a gretter fole than he


That spendeth his tyme to hym vncertayne


For a breuyat pleasure of worldly vanyte


Than after that to haue eternall payne


Who of the worlde delyteth and is fayne


Shall after sorowe and cry ve ve


In an other worlde quante sunt tenebre




Who is wyser than he that wyll applye


In the worlde to take payne by due dylygence


After shorte payne to come to grete glorye


Whiche is eterne moost hye of excellence


Where he shall se my grete magnyfycence

[A.vii.]


With many aungelles whiche for theyr solace


Insacyately do beholde my face




Regarde no Ioye of the erthly consystory


For lyke as Phebus dothe the snowe relente


So passeth the Ioyes of the worlde transytory


Tyme renneth fast tyll worldly lyfe be spente


Consyder this in your entendemente


Blessed be they that my worde do here


And kepe it well, for they are to me dere




Therfore good brederne your hertes enclyne


To loue and drede me that am omnipotent


Bothe god and man in Ioye celestyne


Beholde my body all to torne and rente


With your spytefull othes cruell and vyolent


I loue you ye hate me ye are to harde herted


I helpe you ye tere me lo how for you I smerted




Mercy and peace dyde make an vnyte


Bytwene you and me but trouthe & ryghtwysnesse


Do nowe complayne byddynge my godheed se


How that ye breke the lege of sothfastnesse


They tell me that by Iustyce doubtelesse


I must take vengeaunce vpon you sykerly


That by your swerynge, agayne me crucefye




For at the request of good mercy and peace


I haue forborne you longe and many a daye


Þet more and more your synnes do encrease


Wherfore my Iustyce wyll no more delaye

||


But take vengeaunce for all your proude araye


I warne you ofte ye are nothynge the better


But ye amende my vengenaunce shall be gretter






¶ Contra iuratores christi in celo crucifigentes. per
bernardũ dicit dominus. Nonne satis pro te vulneratus sum? nonne satis
pro te afflictus sum? desine amplius peccare. quia magis
aggrauat vulnus peccati quam vulnus lateris mei.






Am not I wounded for the suffycyent


Haue I not for the ynoughe afflyccyon


Leue more to synne by good amendement


The wounde of synne to me is more passyon


Than the wounde of my syde for thy redempcyon


Thoughe I do spare I shall you desteny


But ye amende to brenne eternally




With my blody woundes I dyde your chartre seale


Why do you tere it / why do ye breke it so


Syth it to you is the eternall heale


And the releace
of euerlastynge wo


Beholde this lettre with the prynte also


Of myn owne seale by perfyte portrature


Prynte it in mynde and ye shall helthe recure




And ye kynges and lordes of renowne


Exorte your seruauntes theyr swerynge to cease


Come vnto me and cast your synne adowne


And I my vengeaunce shall truely releace


With grace and plente / I shall you encrace

[A.viii.]


And brynge you whiche reuolue inwardly


This is my complaynte to eternall glory.





AMEN.



¶The Auctour as foloweth.





¶Go lytell treatyse deuoyde of eloquence


Tremblynge for dreade to approche the maieste


Of our souereynge lord surmountynge in excellence


Put under the wynge of his benygnyte


Submyttynge the to his mercyfull pytie.


And beseche hys grace to pardon thy rudnesse


Whych of late was made to eschewe ydlenesse.





¶Thus endeth the conuersyon of swerers, made and compyled by Stephen
Hawys, groome of the chambre of our souerigne lorde Kyng Henry the
seuenth. Enprynted at London, in Fletestrete, at the sygne of the Sonne,
by Wynken de Worde, Prynter vnto the moost excellent prynses, my lady
the kynges graundame, the yere of our Lord a MCCCCCIX. the first yere of
the reigne of our souerayne lord kyng Henry the VIII.



 


||




W.C. initials, Wynkyn de Worde symbol




 
 





 Notes on the Text



Capital U/V is shown as “V” for consistency, although the
letterform is closer to “U”. Thorn Þ appears several times at the
beginning of lines, and once in an abbreviation; “th” is used everywhere
else. A series of lines on page A.iiii. verso, starting with “ye
neyther loue me nor my Iustyce fere”, have initial lower-case “y”. The
first of these may have been necessary to avoid collision with the
Þ of the previous line:




initial Y and Þ




In verse, nasal abbreviations such as ã and ẽ appear
only in lines with large initial drop caps. Other
abbreviations—mainly in the Latin passages—are shown in this
e-text as superscripts: qui,
christi. The word shown as þou was
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