[551] _mantycore_] MS. “mantyca.” [552] _Hole_] First written “Thow _hole_.” [553] _loke_] MS. “kloke;” but the _k_ seems to have been purposely blotted out. SKELTON LAWRYATE DEFENDER AGENYST LUSTY GARNYCHE WELLE BE SEYN CRYSTEOUYR CHALANNGER, ET CETERA. I haue your lewde letter receyuyd, And well I haue yt perseyuyd, And your skryke I haue aspyed, That your mad mynde contryuyd. Sauynge your vsscheres rod, I caste me nat to be od With neythyr of yow tewyne: Wherfore I wryght ageyne; How the fauyr of your face Is voyd of all good grace; 10 For alle your carpet cousshons, Ye haue knauyche condycyonns. Gup, marmeset, jast ye, morelle! I am laureat, I am no lorelle. Lewdely your tyme ye spende, My lyuyng to reprehende;[554] And wyll neuer intende Your awne lewdnes to amende: Your Englyshe lew[d]ly ye sorte, And falsly ȝe me reporte. 20 Garnyche, ye gape to wyde: Yower knavery I wyll nat hyde, For to aswage your pride. Whan ye war yonger of age, Ye war a kechyn page, A dyshwasher, a dryvyll, In the pott your nose dedde sneuyll; Ye fryed and ye broylyd, Ye rostyd and ye boylyd, Ye rostyd, lyke a fonne, 30 A gose with the fete vponne; Ye slvfferd[555] vp sowse In my lady Brewsys howse. Wherto xulde I wryght Of soche a gresy knyght? A bawdy dyscheclowte, That bryngyth the worlde abowte With haftynge and with polleynge, With lyenge and controlleynge. At Gynys when ye ware 40 But a slendyr spere, Dekkyd lewdly in your gere; For when ye dwelt there, Ye had a knauysche cote Was skantly worthe a grote; In dud frese ye war schrynyd, With better frese lynyd; The oute syde euery day, Ye myght no better a way; The insyde ye ded calle 50 Your best gowne festyvalle. Your drapry ȝe ded wante, The warde with yow was skante. When ye kyst a shepys ie, ... [556]mastres Andelby, ... Gynys vpon a gonge, ... sat sumwhat to longe; ... hyr husbandes hed, ... malle of lede, ... that ye ther prechyd, 60 To hyr loue ye nowte rechyd: Ye wolde haue bassyd hyr bumme, So that sche wolde haue kum On to your lowsy den; But sche of all men Had yow most in despyght, Ye loste hyr fauyr quyt; Your pyllyd garleke hed Cowde hocupy there no stede; She callyd yow Syr Gy of Gaunt, 70 Nosyd lyke an olyfaunt, A pykes or a twybyll; Sche seyd how ye ded brydell, Moche lyke a dromadary; Thus with yow sche ded wary, With moche mater more That I kepe in store. Your brethe ys stronge and quike; Ye ar an eldyr steke; Ye wot what I thynke; 80 At bothe endes ye stynke;