Did thenceforth ever enter in his minde; But crueltie, the signe of currish kinde, And sdeignfull pride, and wilfull arrogaunce; 1135 Such followes those whom fortune doth advaunce. But the false Foxe most kindly plaid his part: [_Kindly_, according to his nature.] For whatsoever mother-wit or arte Could worke, he put in proofe: no practise slie, No counterpoint of cunning policie, 1140 [_Counterpoint_, counterplot.] Ne reach, no breach, that might him profit bring, But he the same did to his purpose wring. Nought suffered he the Ape to give or graunt, But through his hand must passe the fiaunt. [_Fiaunt_, fiat.] All offices, all leases by him lept, 1145 And of them all whatso he likte he kept. Iustice he solde iniustice for to buy, And for to purchase for his progeny. [_Purchase_, collect spoil.] Ill might it prosper that ill gotten was, But, so he got it, little did he pas. 1150 [_Pas_, care.] He fed his cubs with fat of all the soyle, And with the sweete of others sweating toyle; He crammed them with crumbs of benefices, And fild their mouthes with meeds of malefices; [_Malifices_, evil deeds.] He cloathed them with all colours save white, 1155 And loded them with lordships and with might, So much as they were able well to beare, That with the weight their backs nigh broken were. He chaffred chayres in which churchmen were set, [_Chaffred_, bartered.] And breach of lawes to privie ferme did let. 1160 [_Ferme_, farm.] No statute so established might bee, Nor ordinaunce so needfull, but that hee Would violate, though not with violence, Yet under colour of the confidence The which the Ape repos’d in him alone, 1165 And reckned him the kingdomes corner stone. And ever, when he ought would bring to pas, His long experience the platforme was: And when he ought not pleasing would put by The cloke was care of thrift, and husbandry, 1170 For to encrease the common treasures store. But his owne treasure he encreased more, And lifted up his loftie towres thereby, That they began to threat the neighbour sky; The whiles the princes pallaces fell fast 1175 To ruine; for what thing can ever last? And whilest the other peeres for povertie Were forst their auncient houses to let lie, And their olde castles to the ground to fall, Which their forefathers famous over-all 1180 [_Over-all_, everywhere.] Had founded for the kingdomes ornament, And for their memories long moniment. But he no count made of nobilitie, Nor the wilde beasts whom armes did glorifie, 1185 The realmes chiefe strength and girlond of the crowne. All these through fained crimes he thrust adowne,