The Ship of fools

Barclay, Alexander 1509

The Shyp of Folys of the Worlde

This is the English adaptation of Brant’s Narrenschiff which satirises examples of late fifteenth century folly. Originally written by the distinguished humanist Sebastian Brant (1458-1521) in 1494 and published in Basel with Albrecht Dürer's woodcuts, the Narrenschiff was one of the most successful published works of its age. Often cited as being one of the first international bestsellers, the work’s comic woodcuts are considered a major contributor to its popularity.

One of these woodcuts depicts a backgammon game.

The english text refers to the Irish game (yresshe game).

Here begynneth the foles and first inprofytable bokes.

I am the firste fole of all the hole nauy

To kepe the pompe, the helme and eke the sayle

For this is my mynde, this one pleasoure haue I

Of bokes to haue grete plenty and aparayle

I take no wysdome by them : nor yet auayle

Nor them preceyue nat : and then I them despyse

Thus am I a foole and all that sewe that guyse

That in this shyp the chefe place I gouerne

By this wyde see with folys wanderynge

The cause is playne, and easy to dyscerne

Styll am I besy bokes assemblynge

For to haue plenty it is a plesaunt thynge

In my conceyt and to haue them ay in honde

But what they mene do I nat vnderstonde

But yet I haue them in great reuerence

And honoure sauynge them from fylth and ordure

By often brusshynge, and moche dylygence

Full goodly bounde in pleasaunt couerture

Of domas, satyn, or els of veluet pure

I kepe them sure ferynge lyst they sholde be lost

For in them is the connynge wherin I me bost.

But if it fortune that any lernyd men

Within my house fall to disputacion

I drawe the curtyns to shewe my bokes then

That they of my cunnynge sholde make probacion

I kepe nat to fall in altercacion

And whyle they comon my bokes I turne and wynde

For all is in them, and no thynge in my mynde.

Tholomeus the riche causyd longe agone

Ouer all the worlde good bokes to be sought

Done was his commaundement anone

These bokes he had and in his stody brought

Whiche passyd all erthly treasoure as he thought

But neuertheles he dyd hym nat aply

Unto theyr doctryne, but lyued unhappely.

Lo in lycke wyse of bokys I haue store

But fewe I rede, and fewer understande

I folowe nat theyr doctryne nor theyr lore

It is ynoughe to bere a boke in hande

It were to moche to be it suche a bande

For to be bounde to loke within the boke

I am content on the fayre couerynge to loke

Whe sholde I stody to hurt my wyt therby

Or trouble my mynde with stody excessyue

Sythe many ar whiche stody right besely

And yet thery shall they neuer thryue

The fruyt of wysdom cans they nat contryue

And many to stody so moche are inclynde

That utterly they fall out of theyr mynde

Eche is nat lettred that nowe is made a lorde

Nor eche a clerke that hath a benefyce

They are nat all lawyers that plees doth recorde

All that are promotyd are nat fully wyse

On suche chaunce nowe fortune throwys hir dyce

That thoughe one knowe but the yresshe game

Yet wolde he haue a gentyllmannys name

So in lyke wyse I am in suche case

Thoughe I nought can I wolde be callyd wyse

Also I may set another in my place

Whiche may for me my bokes excercyse

Or else I shall ensue the comon gyse

And say concedo to euery argument

Lyst by moche speche my laty sholde be spent

I am lyke other Clerkes whiche so frowardly them gyde.

That after they ar onys come vnto promocion

They gyue them to plesour theyr stody set asyde.

Theyr Auaryce couerynge with fayned deuocion.

Yet dayly they preche : and haue great derysyon

Against the rude Laymen : and al for Couetyse.

Though theyr owne Conscience be blynded wt that vyce.

But if I durts trouth playnely vtter and expresse.

This is the special cause of this Inconuenyence.

That greatests foles, and fullest of lewdnes

Hauynge least wyt : and symplest Science

Ar fyrst promoted : and haue greatest reuerence

For if one can flater, and bere a hawke on his Fyst

He shalbe made Person of Honyngton or of Clyst.

But he that is in Stody ay ferme and diligent.

And without al fauour prechyth Chrystys lore

Of al the Comontye nowe adayes is sore shent.

And by Estates thretened to Pryson oft therfore.

Thus what auayle is it, to us to Stody more :

To knowe outher scripture, trouth, wysedom, or vertue

Syns fewe, or none without fauour dare them shewe.

But O noble Doctours, that worthy ar of name :

Consyder our olde faders : note wel theyr diligence :

Ensue ye theyr steppes : obtayne ye such fame,

As they dyd lyuynge : and that by true Prudence.

Within theyr hartys they planted theyr scyence

And nat in plesaunt bokes. But nowe to fewe suche be.

Therefore in this Shyp let them come rowe with me.

THE ENUOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY TRANSLATOUR

EXORTYNGE THE FOLES ACCLOYED WITH THIS VICE

TO AMENDE THEYR FOLY.

Say worthy doctours and clerkes curious :

What moueth you of bokes to haue such nomber.

Syns dyuers doctrines throughe way contrarious.

Doth mannys mynde distract and sore encomber.

Alas blynde men awake, out of your slomber

And if ye wyl nedys your bokes multyplye

With diligence endeure you some to occupye.

Here begin the fools and first unprofitable books.

I am the first fool of all the whole navy,

To keep the poop, the helm and eke the sail.

For this is my mind, this one pleasure have I :

Of books to have great plenty and aparayle.

I take no wisdom by them : nor yet avail

Nor them preceive not : and then I them despise.

Thus am I a fool and all that sew that guise.

That in this ship the chief place I govern,

By this wide sea with fools wandering,

The cause is plain, and easy to discern ;

Still am I busy books assembling.

For to have plenty it is a pleasant thing,

In my conceit, and to have them ay in hand,

But what they mean do I not understand.

But yet I have them in great reverence

And honour, saving them from filth and ordure,

By often brushing, and much diligence,

Full goodly bound in pleasant coverture

Of damask, satin, or else of velvet pure :

I keep them sure, fearing lest they should be lost,

For in them is the cunning wherein I me boast.

But if it fortune that any learned men

Within my house fall to disputation

I draw the curtain to show my books then,

That they of my cunning should make probation

I care not to fall in altercation

And while they commune, my books I turn and wind

For all is in them, and nothing in my mind.

Ptolomeus the rich caused, long agone.

Over all the world good books to be sought ;

Done was his commandment anon.

These books he had and in his study brought

Which passed all earthly treasure as he thought

But nevertheless he did him not apply

Unto their doctrine, but lived unhappily.

Lo in lickewise of books I have store

But few I read, and fewer understand

I follow not their doctrine, nor their lore

It is enough to bear a booke in hand ;

It were too much to be in such a band

For to be bound to look within the book ;

I am content on the fair covering to look.

Why should I study to hurt my wit thereby,

Or trouble my mind with study excessive ?

Sith many are which study right busily

And yet thereby shall they never thrive :

The fruit of wisdom can they not contrive.

And many to study so much are inclined

That utterly they fall out of their mind.

Each is not lettered that now is made a lord,

Nor each a clerk that hath a benefice ;

They are not all lawyers that pleas do record,

All that are promoted are not fully wise ;

On such chance now fortune throws her dice,

That though one know but the Irish game

Yet would he have a gentleman's name.

So in likewise, I am in such case,

Though I naught can I would be called wise ;

Also I may set another in my place

Which may for me my books excercise ;

Or else I shall ensue the common guise.

And say concedo to every argument

Lest by much speech my Latin should be spent.

I am like other clerks which so frowardly them guide.

That after they are honest come unto promotion

They give them to pleasure their study set aside.

Their avarice covering with feigned devotion.

Yet daily they preach: and have great derision

Against the rude laymen: and all for covetyse.

Though their own conscience be blinded with that vice.

But if I durst trouth plainly utter and express.

This is the special cause of this inconvenience.

That greatest fools, and fullest of lewdness

Having least wit: and simplest science

Are first promoted: and have greatest reverence

For if one can flatter, and bear a hawk on his fist

He shall be made Parson of Honiton or of Clyst.

But he that is in study ay firm and diligent.

And without all favour preacheth Christus lore

Of all the comontye nowadays is sore shent.

And by estates threatened to prison oft therefore.

Thus what avail is it, to us to study more:

To know other scripture, truth, wisdom, or virtue

Since few, or none without favour dare them shew.

But O noble Doctors, that worthy are of name:

Consider our old fathers: note well their diligence:

Ensue ye their steps: obtain ye such fame,

As they did living: and that by true prudence.

Within their hearts they planted their science

And not in pleasant books. But now too few such be.

Therefore in this ship let them come row with me.

THE ENVOY OF ALEXANDER BARCLAY TRANSLATOR

EXHORTING THE FOOLS ACCLOYED WITH THIS VICE

TO AMEND THEIR FOLLY.

Say worthy doctors and clerks curious :

What moveth you of books to have such number.

Since divers doctrines through ways contrarious.

Doth man's mind distract and sore encumber.

Alas, blind men awake, out of your slumber

And if ye will needs your books multiply

With diligence endeavour you some to occupy.

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