2 The Author's Prologue. 



^ueen'"^' ^^^ '^^ ^° SEje, the kyngc, the quene, the byshops, the 



knights,' 20 knightcs, the iudges, and the yomenne. In the which 



judges, and 



yeomen, boke is shewed theyr degrees, theyr auctorytyes, theyr 



warkes, and theyr occupations, and what they ought to 



do. And they so doynge, and executynge theyr aucto- 



24 rytyes, warkes, and occupatyons, haue a wonders great 



wWchlt'^is study and labour, of the whiche auctorytyes, occupa- 



too long to . J , , . , 



write. tions, and warkes, were at this tyme to longe to wryte. 



Wherfore I remytte that boke as myn auctour therof: 

 28 The whiche boke were necessary to be knowen of euery 



degree, that they myghte doo and ordre them selfe ac- 

 As the yeo- cordynge to the same. And in so moche the yomen in 



men defend jo 



shlir%'eak the saydc moralytyes and game of the chesse be set 



of husband- 



^- 32 before to labour, defende, and maynteyne all the other 



hyer estates, the whiche yomen represent the common 

 people, as husbandes and labourers, therfore I purpose 

 to speake fyrste of husbandrye. 



Finis. 



