I ought nat to leave therfore
U oulloir je ne doy pas laisser pour tant

to undertake thyng that ought to be prayse
E mprendre chose qui fait a priser

without takyng hede to their disprayse.
S ans garde prendre a leur despriser.

Some shall say this is yvell writte
A ulcun diront cecy est mal escript

the others aftervarde, bendyng the browes
L es aultres appres, bandant lez sourcilz

shall there fynde right great faute of spirite
I trouueront tresgrant faulte desprit

other shall wey all, as folkes subtyles
A ultres peseront tout, comme gens subtilz.

upon this gyveng their sentence and advyse.
S ur ce donnant leur sentence et aduis.

Say every one what so ever he wyll
D ie ung chescun ce que dire uouldra

in the spite of the dyvell, and of yvel wyll.
E n despit du diable, et de mal uoulloir.

Se they may, that I have put me in dever
U eoir ilz pouront, que ma mis en debuoir

to do well, do better that can
A bien faire, face mieulz qui scara

of me certes nat reproved he shalbe.
D e moy certes ja reprins nen sera.

Jesus than us graunt well to do
I hesus doncques nous ottroy bien faire

without willyng, neither him nor other displease.
S ans uoulloir, na lui na aultre desplaire.

ENDE OF THE FYRST BOKE.

Page 1018

HERE FOLOWETH THE SECONDE BOOKE
of this lytell worke, in the whiche
shalbe treated of communycations,
and other thynges
necessary to the lernyn
of the sayd French
tonge.

Page 1019

A LAUDE AND PRAYSE
TO THE KYNGE, THE QUENE, AND TO THE PRINCESSE
NOBLE GRACE, FOR A PREAMBLE OR
PROLOGUE TO THE SAYD
BOKE.

To the right hye, right christen, and most redouted imperiall myght,
and
A la treshaulte, trescrestien, et tresredoutee imperialle