ENGLISH MIRACLE PLAYS MORALITIES AND INTERLUDES SPECIMENS AND EXTRACTS POLLARD HENRY FROWDE, M.A. PUBLISHER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD LONDON, EDINBURGH NEW YORK Frontispiece} FROM A SARUM HORAE PARIS, P. PIGOUCHET FOR S. VOSTRE, 1502 ENGLISH MIRACLE PLAYS MORALITIES AND INTERLUDES SPECIMENS OF THE PRE-ELIZABETHAN DRAMA EDITED, WITH AN INTRODUCTION NOTES, AND GLOSSARY, BY ALFRED W. POLLARD, M.A. ST. JOHN'S COLLEGE, OXFOR1J FOURTH EDITION, REVISED WITH ILLUSTRATIONS OXFORD AT THE CLARENDON PRESS 1904 OXFORD PRINTED AT THE CLARENDON PRESS BY HORACE HART, M.A. PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY * /& '-. - ._. V i - . ^G ^3^ , , . REV. WALTER W. SKEAT, LITT.D., LL.D. ELRINGTON AND BOSWORTH PROFESSOR OF ANGLO-SAXON IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE THIS VOLUME IS GRATEFULLY DEDICATED IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE HELP WHICH ITS EDITOR IN COMMON WITH ALL STUDENTS OF OUR EARLIER LITERATURE HAS RECEIVED FROM HIS WRITINGS PREFACE. THE small attention devoted to the pre-Elizabethan drama in all histories of English Literature is the best excuse for the appearance of the present volume of Specimens. Of the works from which these Specimens have been drawn, the greater part are accessible to students only in the Publications of Societies or in limited editions, expensive and difficult to procure. It seemed therefore to the Editor that a volume which should bring together within a small compass illustrations of the English dramatic literature of more than two centuries, with an unpretentious introduction and commentary, might fairly escape the charge of book-making, and be useful to many lovers of literature unable to make the subject their special study. It may be added that, while no sample can ever perfectly represent the complete work from which it is taken, the peculiar difficulty in illustrating dramatic work by means of specimens hardly applies in this case. It is perhaps ungrateful for one who has derived so much pleasure from these old plays to accuse them of prolixity and lack of unity, but a very small acquaintance with them will convince the student that illustration by means of selected episodes offers no injustice to the dramatists. In writing the Introduction and Notes I have endeavoured to make the best use of the labours of my predecessors, to viii PREFACE. most of whom I have made special acknowledgment as occasion arose. I am also under obligations to Dr. Furni- vall, Mr. Henry Bradley, Miss Toulmin Smith, Miss Emily Rickey and Mr. York Powell for much kind help, and to Mr. Gurney and His Grace the Duke of Devonshire for permission to consult MSS. ALFRED W. POLLARD. May 24th, 1890. PREFACE TO FOURTH EDITION. IN preparing a second edition in 1894, and a third in 1898, the text and notes were carefully revised, and some additional notes added, mainly as the result of suggestions by Dr. Henri Logeman and Dr. Eugen Kolbing. In this fourth edition my principal debt is to Mr. E. K. Chambers, whose fine book on The Mediaeval Stage (Clarendon Press, 1 903) appeared just as I was beginning my revision. Some illustrations from fifteenth and sixteenth century sources are now added for the first time. Notes as to them will be found at the end of the Introduction. A. W. P. October, 1903. CONTENTS. FACE INTRODUCTION X1 YORK PLAY. THE BARKERS ' CHESTER PLAYS I. NOAH'S FLOOD 8 II. THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC 21 TOWNELEY PLAY SECUNDA PASTORUM 3 1 COVENTRY PLAY- XL THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION .... 44 MARY MAGDALENE 49 THE CASTELL OF PERSEVERANCE 64 EVERYMAN 77 INTERLUDE OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS 97 SKELTON'S MAGNYFYCENCE J6 HEYWOOD'S THE PARDONER AND THE JRERE . . .114 THERSYTES I26 BALE'S KING JOHN I 4 6 APPENDIX '55 MYSTERIUM RESURRECTIONIS D. N. JHESU CHRISTI . 157 LUDUS SUPER ICONIA SANCTI NlCOLAI . . . . l6a THE HARROWING OF HELL . ... . . .166 BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC . . . '73 X CONTENTS. NOTES fAGE YORK PLAY 177 CHESTER PLAYS- NOAH'S FLOOD 180 THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC 184 TOWNELEY PLAY SECUNDA PASTORUM 188 COVENTRY PLAY THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION .... 191 MARY MAGDALENE 193 THE CASTELL OF PERSEVERANCE 197 EVERYMAN 202 FOUR ELEMENTS 204 SKELTON'S MAGNYFYCENCE 207 HEYWOOD'S THE PARDONER AND THE FRERE . .210 THERSYTES 213 BALE'S KING JOHN 218 ADDITIONAL NOTES 2 24 a GLOSSARIAL INDEX . .225 INTRODUCTION. AT the outset of his enquiries almost every student of the modern drama is found instinctively peering through long centuries of darkness for some glimmerings of the brilliant torch-light of Greek tragedy. In this pious desire to connect new things with old, to link together the names of ^Eschylus and Shakespeare, the services of a motley crew are called into requisition, in which poets, philosophers, saints, mimes, jugglers, monks, nuns, bishops and tradesfolk have all to play their part; but the pedigree is like that of many a modern genealogy, clear at the beginning and the end, with a huge hiatus gaping be- tween. Under the later Roman Empire the drama died a natural death, not because the Church condemned it, but by a lust for sheer obscenity and bloodshed which made true dramatic writing impossible. Until the theatres in which men were made to die and women to prostitute themselves, not in show but in reality, had long been closed and forgotten, the stage was something too vile and horrible for any attempt to Chris- tianize it ; nor could the innate dramatic instincts of mankind again find free play amid the unhealthy surroundings of a dying civilization. Yet one piece of positive evidence has long been quoted and re-quoted to the contrary. A drama entitled Xpioroy Uuax^v, on the subject of the Passion of Christ and the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin, has been generally attributed to St. Gregoiy Nazianzene, a writer of the fourth century. Save for the absence of lyrical choruses, it is cast strictly upon the lines of Greek tragedy, and it is interesting to classical scholars because, together with a few verses from yschylus (chiefly from the Prometheus Vine/us), the writer has incorporated into his play several hundred lines of Euripides, many of which have not xii INTRODUCTION. been preserved in any other form. A cento such as this is necessarily destitute alike of dramatic appropriateness and religious feeling, and it is a pleasure to find some better reason for denying its authorship to St. Gregory than the doubt as to its strict orthodoxy, which, until quite recently, alone excited suspicion. To Dr. J. G. Brambs 1 , the latest editor of the Xpioroy nd 43. Talliaunders [Tailors] 44. Potters 45. Drapers INTRODUCTION. xxxv ( Mary, Jesus crowning her, singing with a crowd of Jesus, Mary, twelve Apostles, four angels with trum- 48. Mercers pets and four with a crown, a lance and two scourges ; four good spirits and four evil spirits, and six devils. The next cycle which we have to consider is that of the Towneley Plays, so called from the only known manuscript in which they exist having been long in the possession of the Towneley family, from whom it has now passed into the hands of Mr. Bernard Quaritch. This cycle is also frequently quoted as that of the Widkirk, Woodkirk, or Wakefield plays. The authority for the name Widkirk is a tradition of the Towneley family (recorded by Mr. Douce in the Towneley Catalogue for 1814), by which the plays are supposed to have formerly 'be- longed to the Abbey of Widkirk, near Wakefield, in the County of York.' Widkirk, however, as Prof. Skeat showed in the Athenaum of Dec. 2, 1893, is only an earlier spelling for Woodkirk, the old form naturally surviving in the mouths of the country people. Woodkirk itself is about four miles to the north of Wakefield, and here there was a cell of Augustinian Canons, in dependence on the house of St. Oswald, at Nostel. To these Canons, therefore, the plays were at one time assigned, though it would be difficult to find any reason for the attribution apart from the popular desire to trace as much medieval literature as possible to 'the monks.' With Wakefield the connection of these plays is beyond a doubt. Thus at the head of the first play in the series is written in a large hand ' Wakefelde, Barkers ' ; at the head of the second 'Glover Pag[eant]' ; at the head of the third 'Wake- feld,' and before the play of the Travellers to Emmaus ' Fysher Pageant.' There is also an allusion (in the second play of the Shepherds) to the ' shroges,' or rough moorland of Horbery, a village two or three miles to the south-west of Wakefield. Plainly, therefore, several of these plays were acted by the Trades of Wakefield, and the trend of opinion is certainly in favour of regarding the whole cycle as the trade-plays of that town. It is certain in any case that the cycle is a composite one, as five of the plays reproduce, often in a corrupted form, C 2 xxxvi INTRODUCTION. Nos. II, 20, 37, 38, 48, in the York cycle, and the plays differ greatly in style and metre. Their composition must cover a wide range of time, those in the metre of the Shepherds' Play here printed being the latest of all. They were probably added at the beginning of the fifteenth century by a new editor of very unusual humour and dramatic power. The cycle, as we have it, consists of thirty-two plays, of which two, The Raising of Lazarus and The Hanging of Judas, are inserted at the end of the MS. out of their right order. Twelve quires have been lost from the MS. at the end of the Creation, and another twelve after the Ascension, besides other prob- able losses. We can only note, therefore, that in our text there is nothing to answer to the York Plays 22, 23, 24 part i, 25-27, 29, 39, 44-47 ; but it is most probable that if a complete manuscript should ever be recovered its contents would be found to correspond very closely indeed to the York cycle. As compared with the other plays which have come down to us, these two Northern cycles are distinguished by their vigour and originality. They have little pathos, but much humour, and are especially rich in those interpolations on the Scripture narrative, in which the dramatists felt themselves freed from the restraints by which they were hampered in dealing with sacred personages. Of the origin of the Chester cycle something has already been said, and a short account of the extant MSS. will be found in the notes to the two extracts here printed. The MSS. are all of them late, but they appear to be based on a text of the beginning of the fifteenth century. The composition of the cycle probably dates from some fifty or sixty years earlier. The fame of cycles appears to have spread to Chester, and to have awakened the ambition of a local playwright. As regards metre and form the cycle shows exceptional unity. It is mainly written in eight-line stanzas, the author, as Dr. Hohlfeld points out, at the beginning of each play making a manful attempt to content himself with two rimes (aaabaaab), but soon drifting into the use of three (aaabcccb). In some of the Chester plays 1 The Departure of the Israelites from Egypt; Christ -with the Doctors in the Temple; The Harrowing of Hell ; The Resurrection, and The Judgment. INTRODUCTION. xxxvii (notably in that of Jesus in the Temple) we can trace the influence of the Yorkshire cycles, and the play on the sacrifice of Isaac was borrowed either from, or from the same original as, the Brome play, printed by Miss Toulmin Smith. But if it be true, as Professor Ten Brink suggests, that the Chester cycle is both less important and less original than those of York and Wakefield, and that its best, both of pathos and humour, appears to be borrowed, it must be allowed on the other hand that its author was possessed of an unusual share of good taste. There is less in the Chester plays to jar on modern feelings than in any other of the cycles. The humour is kept more within bounds, the religious tone is far higher, and though the plays are not spoilt by any obtrusive didacticism such as we find in the Coventry cycle, the speeches of the Expositor at the end of each play show that a real effort was made to serve the religious object to which all Miracle plays were ostensibly directed. On a comparison of the contents of this cycle with that of York we note that fresh subjects are intro- duced in the histories of Lot and of Balaam, in the play on Ezekiel, which contains prophecies of the end of the world and the Fifteen Signs of Doom, and in the very curious em- bodiment of the medieval legends on the coming of Antichrist. On the other hand, there is no play of the Exodus, the plays on the history of the Blessed Virgin are represented only by a Salutation and the Nativity of Christ (in the course of which the Emperor Octavian is introduced giving his orders for all the world to be taxed), and there is no play on the Assumption. Like those of York, the Chester plays were enacted by the members of the Trade- Gilds, not, however, on the feast of Corpus Christi, but at Whitsuntide. The fourth cycle of plays which we have to consider is con- tained in a manuscript, the greater part of which was written in the year 1468, and which now belongs to the Cottonian Collec- tion in the British Museum. On the fly-leaf of this manuscript, which was probably purchased by Sir Robert Cotton about 1630, is written in the handwriting of his librarian, Dr. Richard James, the following note : Contenta Novi Testamenti scenice expressa et actitata olim per monachos sive fratres mendicantes : vulgo dicitur hie liber Ludus Coventrice, si-ve Lucius Corporis xxxviii INTRODUCTION. Christi : scribitur metris Avglicanis. We know from numerous contemporary allusions that a cycle of Corpus Christi plays was performed by the Grey Friars at Coventry, and the identifica- tion of these plays with those of the Cottonian MS. has won a general, though rather uneasy, acceptance. The lengthy prologue to these plays contains at its end a passage A Sunday next, yf that we may, At six of the belle, we gynne oure play In N towne ; which points to the performances of a strolling company, and the upholders of the Coventry theory are driven to conjecture that the increasing popularity of the plays of the Trade-Gilds of the city (of which only two specimens have come down to us) drove the Franciscans to take their cycle elsewhere. In the present state of our knowledge it is dangerous to dogmatize I can only express my own belief that further investigation will lead to the decisive connection of this cycle, not with Coventry, but with the Eastern counties. As Prof. Ten Brink has pointed out (Gesch. der alt. Eng. Litt. 275), the dialect and scribal peculiarities of these plays belong rather to the North-East Midlands than to the neighbourhood of Coventry, and in the fifteenth century, to the early part of which the composition of this cycle must be attributed, it was in the East- Midlands that the writers of Miracle plays and Moralities were most busily at work. In language, in metre, in tone, in the elaborate stage directions, in the proclamation of the play by the wandering banner-bearers or vexillatores, this cycle appears to bear close affinities to the later Miracle plays, such as the Croxton play on the Sacrament, and the play of Mary Magdalen, and with the early Moralities such as the Caste II of Perseverance, ail of which are of East-Midland origin, and to the East-Midlands I feel sure that it will eventually be assigned '. As divided by its editor, Mr. Halliwell Phillipps, the cycle consists of forty-two plays, which, as we learn from a passage in the twenty-ninth, 1 It is worth noting in this connection that the beautiful speech of Christ on the Resurrection morning, beginning ' Earthly man that I have wrought,' is taken almost word for word from the old East-Midland dramatic poem of the Harrowing of Hell. INTRODUCTION. xxxix were not all of them performed in any one year. Comparing the plays with those of the York cycle, we note that a long didactic play on the Giving of the Law takes the place of that of the Exodus (il), that the thirteenth York play is expanded into a series of seven, dealing with the history of S. Joseph and the Blessed Virgin up to the time of the Nativity, that there is no play on the Transfiguration, and that the three York plays on the Death of Mary, her Appearance to St. Thomas, Assumption and Coronation, are represented by a single long play on the Assumption. In this cycle the didactic speeches elsewhere assigned to a 'Doctor' or 'Expositor' are delivered by an allegorical personage called Contemplacio. Death is personi- fied, and a play on the Salutation is prefaced by a long prologue in heaven, in which the speakers are (besides Deus Pater and Deus Fiiius), Veritas, Misericordia, Justicia, and Pax 1 . This tendency towards the personification of abstract ideas is a mark of late date in the history of the Miracle play, and helps to link if this cycle to the earlier Moralities, of which we shall soon Is proceed to speak. Taken as a whole 2 , these so-called Coventry plays show the least dramatic power of any of the four cycles which we have examined. Their interest is mainly didactic, and they are especially concerned with the doctrine of the Holy Trinity and of the honour due to the Blessed Virgin. But they are not without vigour, and their refusal of humorous episodes is not to be reckoned against them. 4- In the English Miracle plays which we have been examining, as in the religious dramas of other European countries, two distinct centres of interest offer themselves for examination. The student of the history of religious thought will investigate the respective influences in the composition of these plays of the Bible narrative, the Apocryphal Gospels, and the Medieval Legends. He will be interested in the position assigned to the 1 This scene, which forms one of our extracts, closely resembles one at the end of the Castell of Perseverance. A similar heavenly conference occurs in the French Mystere du Vieil Testament in a play on the sacrifice of Isaac. 2 Some exceptions must be made. Thus the plays on the Woman taken in Adultery and the Death of Herod are both vividly dramatic. xl INTRODUCTION. Blessed Virgin, in the reality with which the truths of the Christian Faith have been apprehended, and in the underlying meaning of the irreverence and prurience with which the most sacred subjects are occasionally handled. This is a line of investigation well worthy of pursuit, but which the scope of this volume absolutely forbids. Such an investigation must take as its field the whole remains of the religious drama in this country, viewed in connection with the contemporary literature both at home and abroad. Nor could its results be adequately supported except by selections at least ten times as long as those which are here presented. For us, therefore, the interest of these plays comes primarily from their dramatic side, and their importance in the history of medieval thought can only be made the subject of incidental illustration. It is this principle which has come to our help in the selection of typical extracts, which otherwise would have been a task of almost insuperable difficulty. Thus our first extract (The Creation, and Fall of Lucifer) may be taken as exemplifying the power of these primitive playwrights in developing a great historical situation ; the second, that of Noah's Flood, their development of a humorous incident (the controversy between Noah and his wife) within the limits of the Miracle play proper; while our third extract, on the Sacrifice of Isaac, exhibits the treatment of the most tragic and pathetic incident, with one exception, with which the playwrights were concerned. They may thus be taken as representing the nearest approach which the religious drama could properly make to the Histories, Comedies, and Tragedies of the great days of Elizabeth, an approach so distant as to demonstrate that had all foreign influences been excluded, the development of the drama in England would have been almost indefinitely delayed. Yet our fourth extract, the Shepherd's Play (No. 2) from the Towneley manuscript, may give us reason to believe that, however great the time which would have been needed for its unaided evolution, the seed, at least of Comedy, had reached a considerable stage of develop- ment before the influence of classical and Italian models quick- ened the progress of the drama to a speed in which the shares of its respective factors becomes difficult to distinguish. In any exhaustive treatment of the history, of the Miracle INTRODUCTION. xli play, one of the most important lines of investigation would be concerned with the characters with whom the medieval dramatist felt himself free to deal as he pleased. These characters are almost exclusively those of persons to whom neither Scripture nor legend ascribed either name or individuality. Cain's ' Garcio ' or Servant, Noah's Wife, the Detractors of the Blessed Virgin, the Shepherds, the Soldiers sent to slay the Holy Innocents, the Pharisees who brought before Christ the Woman taken in Adultery, the Woman's Lover, the Beadle of Pilate's Court, the Workmen who set up the Cross, the Soldiers who watch at the Tomb, it is in the treatment of these nameless characters that some of the most dramatic touches are be- stowed. They are obviously introduced for the sake of relief, and in the York plays it is in the intervals of the torturing and crucifixion of Christ that these interludes, all more or less humorous, are most frequently introduced. Pilate toys with his wife in open court, and to the intense amusement of the spectators is reproved by his Beadle, just before Jesus is led in fresh from the buffettings in the Hall of Annas ; the despair of Judas is followed by a scene in which a Squire is cheated of his title-deeds to Calvary-Locus; the soldiers who set up the Cross wrangle together through a hundred lines over their work. These interludes are to us at times inexpressibly painful, but dramatically they are good art, and were welcomed by their spectators as a relief to the extreme tension of feeling which the protracted exhibition of Christ's Passion could not fail to excite. On the same principle the rough sport of the Shepherds is made to introduce the touching scenes of the Manger Bed at Bethlehem, and it is to this desire for dramatic relief that we owe the story of Mak and his sheep-stealing, our first English Comedy. 5- If of all the sacred dramas of whose performance in England we possess a record the full text had been handed down to us, the field for investigation would have been so vast as to frighten rather than attract enquirers l . There is, however, at least one 1 This seems to have happened in France, where, according to Mr. Stoddart's Bibliography, fifteen MSS. containing plays or cycles, extending from 4000 to 37,000 lines apiece, are still awaiting a printer. xlii INTRODUCTION. play of which the most faint-hearted student must bitterly regret the loss. ' Once on a time V we are told, ' a play setting forth the goodness of the Lord's Prayer was played in the city of York ; in which play all manner of vices and sins were held up to scorn, and the virtues were held up to praise.' This play is alluded to by Wyclif 2 , and we have a few details respecting a gild which was formed in York for the special purpose of its maintenance. In her introduction to the York Plays, Miss Lucy Toulmin Smith describes a compotus Roll of this gild Oracionis domini, 'dated Michaelmas, 1399, which shows that there were then over 100 members and their wives, and that they possessed rents and receipts amounting to 26 $s. ii^d' The Roll contains a special mention of a ludus Accidie ' holding up to scorn* the vice of sluggardy. The gild was dissolved by Henry VIII, but in 1558 the play was performed at the ex- pense of the city in place of the Corpus Christi plays, and this happened again in 1572. In that year, however, Grindal was Archbishop of York, and demanded that a copy of the play should be submitted to him. The copy was sent, and its return requested three years later, but thenceforward we hear of it no more. The loss is irreparable, for this is the earliest Morality Play of which we have any mention, and must have been written nearly a century before the Castell of Perseverance, its earliest extant successor. Besides the play of the Lord's Prayer, we know of the performance at York of a Creed Play, which also must have been rather a Morality than a Miracle play. ' It was performed,' Miss Smith tells us, 'about Lammas-tide every tenth year, and five such performances, beginning in 1483, are recorded; the last of these, in 1535, superseded the usual Corpus Christi plays. A performance was proposed in 1568, but the question was referred to Dean Hutton, whose opinion was adverse, and we know nothing more as to the play.' The loss of these two plays of the Lord's Prayer and the Creed cannot be too deeply regretted; we may be grateful, 1 English Gilds, by Toulmin Smith, p. 137, Preamble to ordinances of Gild of the Lord's Prayer. (Quoted by Miss Toulmin Smith). 2 ' & herfore freris ban taujt in Englond J>e Paternoster in Englijcsh tunge, as men seyen in )>e playe of Yorke,' De officio pastor ali. Cap. XV. (written about 1378), ed. F. D. Matthew for E. E. T. S. INTRODUCTION. xliii however, even for the bare record of their existence, which helps us to a clearer notion of the origin and nature of the Morality play than we could otherwise obtain. In its later development the Morality became dull, narrow, and essentially sectarian, and its heavy didactics were only relieved by the insertion of scenes of low humour, of which the humourousness is far from apparent. But in its earlier days the Morality was not wholly unworthy to be ranked with the Miracle plays, to which it formed a comple- ment. The Miracle play takes as its basis the historical books of the Bible and the legends of the Church, but these alone do not furnish a complete answer to the questions 'What must I do What must I believe to be saved ?' and in the two centuries during which the popularity of the sacred drama was at its height, various plays were written in which the moral and sacramental teaching of the Church are assigned the prominence which in the Miracle play is occupied by its history. We know that in the play of the Lord's Prayer ' all manner of vices and sins were held up to scorn, and the virtues were held up to praise,' and in the contest between the personified powers of good and evil, the Seven Cardinal Virtues and the Seven Deadly Sins, for the possession of man's soul, we have the essence of the Morality play. This contest naturally involved the use of personifications, for the medieval playwright was too simple- minded to anticipate the method of Ben Jonson, by representing men and women living human lives with human relationships, and at the same time embodying a single humour or quality, to the exclusion of all others. We must not, however, regard the use of personification as involving a dramatic advance. It was essential to the scheme of the Morality, and must have been present no less in the fourteenth century plays, of which we hear at York, than in their successors. In itself, as tending to didac- ticism and unreality, personification is wholly undramatic, and the popularity of the later Morality significantly coincides with the dullest and most barren period in the history of English literature. It is remarkable that most of the early Morality plays which have come down to us, together with the contemporary Miracle plays, to which they exhibit the closest affinity, are connected with the East-Midland district, throughout which, during the xliv INTRODUCTION. fifteenth century, the popularity of the religious drama appears to have been very great. Reasons have already been assigned for connecting with this district the cycle of Miracle plays usually attributed to the Grey Friars of Coventry, and in this cycle the influence of the Morality is shown in the personifica- tions in the Council in Heaven (quoted in our specimens), and in the appearance of Death at the Court of Herod, and also in the unflinching didacticism which devoted an entire scene to an exposition of the Ten Commandments. The play of S. Mary Magdalen, from which also extracts are given in this volume, shows even stronger proofs of the influence of the Morality in the appearance of Good Angel and Bad Angel, and of the World and the Flesh as no less real personages than the Devil himself. Again, the Croxton play of the Sacrament, which should certainly be connected with the Norfolk rather than with any other Croxton, although not a Morality and introducing no personifications, is yet allied to the Morality in its endeavour to bring the sacramental teaching of the Church within the scope of the religious drama. The subject of the play and its treat- ment by the dramatist are both so painful that it is difficult to award this drama the attention which, as dealing with a modern legend and introducing almost contemporary characters, it in some respects deserves. The medieval hatred of the Jews gave rise to a succession of legends of their obtaining possession of the Consecrated Host, and by fire and sword endeavouring to torture afresh the Christ believed by devout worshippers to be there present. In a Yorkshire church a fresco has recently been uncovered in which is commemorated such an attempt on the part of some Flemish Jews in the fourteenth century. The Croxton play * deals with a miracle ' don in the forest of Aragon. In the famous cite Eraclea, the yere of ow r lord God m.cccc.lxi.' It introduces Aristorius, a Christian merchant, who for one hundred pounds procures the Host for the Jews ; Ser Isoder, his chaplain ; Jonathas, Jason, Jasdon, Masphat and Malchus, five Jews, of whom the first is the chief; a Bishop, and a Quack 1 Edited by Mr. Whitley Stokes, from the MS. in Trinity College, Dublin, in the Appendix to the Transactions of the Philological Society for 1860, 61. INTRODUCTION. xlv Doctor 1 , with Colle, his servant, who are called in to heal the hand of Jonathas, withered as a result of his sacrilege, and indulge in much buffoonery. The play has absolutely nothing to recommend it. It is without dignity, pathos or dramatic power, and its incongruous humour is of the lowest kind. Only one other point need be noted in connection with it, that its performance, although localised at Croxton (whether perma- nently or not, we cannot say), was announced throughout the neighbouring villages by vexillatores or banner-bearers, of the same kind as those who advertised the plays of the itinerant actors who represented the ' Coventry ' cycle and the Castell of Perseverance. 6. We at length approach the consideration of the earliest extant Morality play, the Castell of Perseverance, the importance of which consists not only in its antiquity, but in the completeness with which it developes the central ideas underlying all the plays of their class. Thus in the initial proclamation the second banner-bearer announces : The cause of our comynge you to declare Every man in hymself for sothe he it may fynde, Whou mankynde into this world born is ful bare And bare schal beryed be at the last ende; God hym .yevyth two aungel ful .yep and ful j'are, The good aungel and the badde to hym for to lende ; The goode techyth hym goodnesse, the badde synne and sare, Whanne the ton hath the victory the tother goth behende. Be skyll The goode aungel coveytyth evermore man's salvacion, And the badde bysyteth hym euere to hys dampnacion, And God hathe gevyn man fre arbitracion Whether he wyl hym[self] save hy[s soul?]. His comrades take up the story : Spylt is man speciously whanne he to synne assent, The bad aungel thanne bryngeth hym iiij enmys so stout, The werlde, the Fende, the foul Flesche, so joly and jent ; Thei ledyn hym fful lustyly with synnys al abowt. 1 The appearance of the Quack Doctor is particularly interesting, because of his survival in the Christmas .mummings and plays of St. George and the Dragon, which are still acted in some country villages. xlvi INTRODUCTION. To trace the spiritual history of Humanum Genus (Mankind, or the Typical Man) from the day of his birth to his appearance at the Judgment Seat of God, to personify the foes by whom his pathway is beset, the Guardian Angel by whose help he resists them, and the ordinances of Confession and Penance by which he is strengthened in his conflict, this was the playwright's object ; and, however dramatically impossible, it was certainly a worthy one. The opening pageant of Mundus, Belyal and Caro, the World, the Devil, and the Flesh, each boasting of his might ; the appearance of Humanum Genus, naked save for the chrism cloth on his head, and conscious of his helplessness ; the first struggle for his soul of his Good and Bad Angels, and the victory of the latter, make up an impressive prologue, which ends with the lament of Bonus Angelus, chanted to music : Mankynde hath forsakyn me, Alas, man, for love of the ! Ya for this gamyn and this gle Thou schalt grocchyn and grone. In the next division of the play Mankind is presented to Mundus, to whom he professes allegiance, and is confided to the care of Pleasure, Folly, and Backbiting (Voluptas, Stultitia, Detraccio), and ultimately to Belial and Caro, and the Seven Deadly Sins, each of whom enters with an appropriate speech. Then Mankind's Good Angel calls to his aid Confessio and Schrift, and with the help of Penitencia the sinner is converted and reconciled, and safely lodged in the Castle of Perseverance, there to await the fresh assaults of his enemies. These are not long delayed. In what we may call Act III, Detraccio brings the news of Mankind's conversion to Caro, and after brief counsel they report what has happened to Mundus. But if the forces of Hell are mustering, those of Heaven are not idle. Caritas, Abstinencia, Castitas, Solid tudo, Largitas, and Hu- militas, successively come on the scene, each with his exhortation. That of Solicitude is perhaps the best worth quoting, and may serve as a specimen of the rest : In besynesse man loke thou be With worth! werkes goode and thykke, To slawthe if thou cast the It schal the drawe to thoutes wyckke. INTRODUCTION. xlvii It puttyth a man to pouerte And pullyth hym to peynys prycke. Do sumwhat alwey for love of me, Thou thou schuldyst but thwyte a stycke. With bedys sumtyme the blys, Sum tyme rede and sum tyme wryte, And sum tyme pleye at thi delyte; The devyl the waytyth with dyspyte, Whanne thou art in Idylnesse. But the Deadly Sins are advancing to the attack, led by Belial, whose banner is borne by Pride, while Caro is apparently on horseback, and Gula flourishes a long lance. The Virtues meet their assault with roses *, the emblem of Christ's Passion, and the Vices are driven back. Then Mundus calls Avaritia or Covetyse to the rescue, and by him Humanum Genus is lured from the Castle. Old Age is creeping upon him, and he yields to its besetting sin : Penyman best may spede, He is a duke to don a dede; is his argument, and, despite the laments of his Good Angel and the warnings of Solicitudo and Largltas, he gives himself over to sin, and the division of the play ends with the exultation of Mundus over his fall. In Act IV (the divisions are my own) Humanum Genus receives his reward in the shape of a thousand marks. To the gift, however, there is a stipulation attached : Lene no man hereof for no karke, Thou he schuld hange be the throte, Monk nor frere, prest nor clerke, Ne helpe therwith chyrche nor cote, Tyl deth thi body delve. Thou he schuld sterve in a cave, Lete no pore man therof have, In grene gras tyl thou be grave Kepe sum what for thi selve. 1 Thus Ira, after threatening Patientia with ' styffe stones,' presently cries out: I am al beten blak and bio With a rose that on rode was rent. xlviii INTRODUCTION. The money is hid in the ground and there abides. But Death is making ready to strike Humanum Genus down, and Mundus sends Garcia to claim the money as his inheritance. What devyl ! them art not of my kyn, Thou dedyst me nevere no maner good, I hadde lever sum nyfte, or sum cosyn, Or sum man hadde it of my blod : I trowe the werld be wod is the exclamation of Humanum Genus, but he laments in vain. Bereft of his goods and in terror for his soul, he awaits Death, and amid his prayers to Misericordia and the gibes of his Bad Angel his spirit takes its flight, to become in the ' fifth Act ' the subject of an argument in heaven between Misericordia, Justitia, Veritas, and Pax, similar to the one quoted from the 'Coventry' plays. 'Lete hym drynke as he brewyit' is the plea of Justice, but Mercy appeals to Christ's Passion, and the decision of Pater sedens in trono is merciful. The Castell of Perseverance cannot escape the charge of prolixity. At a rough guess it contains about 3500 lines, nearly as many as all but the longest of Shakespeare's tragedies. The language, again, is without grace, and too often sacrifices clear- ness to the desire for alliteration. But with all its faults the play is a fine one, dealing with man's salvation in no unimpressive fashion, and distinguished by a logical development and unity of purpose, which is found in the great cycles of Miracle plays when regarded as dramatic entities, but nowhere else. As the stage directions, quoted in the short Introduction in the Notes, sufficiently show, it was intended to be presented with something of the elaborateness of the Miracle plays, and it is altogether a very noteworthy production. The manuscript of which it forms part, and which by the kindness of its owner, Mr. Gurney, and of Dr. Furnivall, I hope soon to have the honour of editing for the Early English Text Society, contains also two other plays, the examination of which need not detain us long '. They are full of interesting points, but are inferior in every way to the 1 Both of these plays, as also the Castell of Perseverance, are analysed in vol. ii. of Collier's History of English Dramatic Poetry. From having once belonged to Mr. Cox Macro they are often alluded to as the ' Macro Moralities.' INTRODUCTION. xlix play we have been considering. The first of them is called by Mr. Collier Mind, Will, and Understanding, but by Dr. Furnivall 1 A Morality of the Wisdom that is Christ. Ever- lasting Wisdom discourses to Anima on the means of grace, Mind, Wyll, and Understanding declare themselves as the three parts of the soul, and are seduced by Lucyfer in the guise of a 'proud gallant.' When they have loudly expressed their determination to be wicked Wisdom re-enters, and with Wisdom Anima, now ' in the most horrible wyse, fowlere than a fende,' and with little devils running from under her skirts. Mind, Wyll, and Understanding are converted, and Wisdom delivers a long discourse on the nine works specially pleasing to God. A curious passage on the evils of the age, especially the practice of maintenance, forms the most noteworthy portion of the text of the play, but it is probable that the spectators were best pleased with the rich dresses of the actors, and the dumb shows by which the representation was diversified. Thus in one part of the play a procession was formed of the Five Wyttes (or, as we should say, five senses] as ' five vyrgynes, with kertyllys and mantelys, and chevelers and chappelettes,' singing an anthem, ' and they goyng befor, Anima next, and her folowynge Wysdom, and aftyr hym Mynde, Wyll, and Undyrstondynge, all iii in wyght cloth of golde, cheveleryde and crestyde in sute ; ' and in another place there enters a dumb show of ' six dysgysyde in the sute of Mynde,' viz. Indignation, Sturdiness, Malice, Hasti- ness, Revenge (or Wrecks) and Discord, ' with rede berdes and lyons rampaunt on here crestes and yche a warder in his honde.' Apart from these scenic diversions the play must have been dull enough, for of dramatic action there is none, and the speeches are terribly long and didactic. The third play in Mr. Gurney's MS., called by Mr. Collier Mankind, is cast upon somewhat more dramatic lines. It consists of a struggle between Mercy and Mischief for the soul of Mankind. Mischief is aided by Nought, New Gyse and Nowadays, whose assaults Mankind repulses by a threat to ' ding ' them with his spade. But when Titivillus, a more potent devil, appears on the scene, Mankind yields to his temptations, 1 In his edition for the New Shakspere Society of a part of the play as it survives in the Digby MS. d 1 INTRODUCTION. declaring 'Of labure and preyere I am nere yrke of both.' Mischief triumphs over Mercy, and Mankind is nearly persuaded to hang himself, but is rescued and reconciled by Mercy. This play is probably of a later date than its two companions, and forms a connecting link between the earlier Moralities and their later development, of which we shall soon have to speak. Of the plays handed down to us in printed editions, that of Everyman, though now known to be only a translation from the Dutch Elkerlijk, claims the first place. It was printed at least four times early in the I5th century, twice by Richard Pynson and twice by John Skot. Though planned on a far less extensive scale than the Castell of Perseverance, it is distinguished by the same breadth of motive as the earlier play, and both in language and treatment it is thoroughly dramatic. Its plot, as Prof. Ten Brink has noted, is derived from the old Buddhist parable known to Europeans through the legend of Barlaam and Josaphat The extracts given in the present volume are so long, comprising nearly half the play, that no further analysis is needed. It is sufficient here to note its prominent introduction of Catholic teaching on the subject of the seven sacraments, and its exaltation of the priesthood. For preesthode excedeth all other thynge; To us holy scripture they do teche And converteth man fro synne heven to reche; God hath to them more power gyven Than to any aungell that is in heven. 11. 728, sqq. And again Ther is no emperour, kyng, duke ne baron, That of God hath commissyon, As hath the leest preest in the worlde beynge, For of the blessed sacramentes pure and benynge He bereth the kayes, and thereof hath cure For mannes redempcion, it is ever sure. 1L 709, sqq. Prof. Ten Brink is inclined to place this play as early as the reign of Edward IV, and it is certain that it must have been composed before the end of the I5th century. Only once again, in 'a proper new interlude of the World and the Child, otherwise called Mundus et Infans,' do we find the INTRODUCTION. li Morality concerned with issues that touch the whole of human nature. Though called a 'new interlude' when printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1522, this remarkable play, by its lan- guage, its strong alliteration, and its bragging speeches, cast almost in Herod's vein, is manifestly of a much earlier date, and cannot be assigned to a later reign than that of Henry VII. It traces the career of man through its successive stages of Infancy, Boyhood, Youth, Manhood, and Age. In Infancy he is called by his mother Dalliance, in Boyhood Mundus gives him the name of Wanton, in Youth he is called Love- Lust and Liking. When 'one and twenty winter is comen and gone' Mundus thus addresses him : 1 Now welcome, Love- Lust and Lykynge ! For thou hast ben obedyent to my byddynge I encreace the in all thynge, And myghty I make the a man. Manhode Myghty shall be thy name. Bere the prest in every game, And wayte well that thou suffre no shame, Neyther for londe nor for rente : Yf ony man wolde wayte the with blame, Withstonde hym with thy hole entent Full sharpely thou bete hym to shame With doughtynesse of dede : For of one thynge, Manhode, I warne the I am moost of bounte, For seven kynges sewen me Bothe by daye and nyght. One of them is the kynge of pryde, The kynge of envy, doughty in dede, The kynge of wrathe that boldely wyll abyde, For mykyll is his myght. The kynge of covet[ise] is the fourte : The fyfte kynge he hyght slouthe, The kynge of glotony hath no Jolyte There poverte is pyght : Lechery is the seventh kynge, All men in hym have grete delytynge, Therfore worshyp hym above all thynge, Manhode with all thy myght. 1 Quoted from the Roxburghe Club reprint of 1817. d2 Hi INTRODUCTION. Manhood promises obedience to Mundus in all things, but now Conscience comes on the scene and Manhood is persuaded, though not without considerable reluctance, to profess himself his servant. His conversion, however, is very half-hearted, for he says of Mundus, But yet wyll I hym not forsake, For mankynde he dothe mery make: Thonghe the worlde and conscyence be at debate, Yet the worlde will I not despyse, For bothe in chyrche and in chepynge, And in other places beynge, The world fyndeth me all thynge And dothe me grete servyse. Weakened by this determination to serve two masters, Mankind falls an easy victim to the wiles of Folly, and it is not until his name is changed to Age that he learns the lessons of Perse- verance, and receives from him his final appellation, Repentance. There is little action about the play, and such rough eloquence as it may have originally possessed, is sadly marred by the obvious imperfections of the form in which it has come down to us. It remains, however, a notable play, and stands a head and shoulders higher than any of its successors. 7- In the prologue to Everyman we are told that the drama is ' by figure a moral play.' As we have already noted, when Wynkyn de Worde printed the World and the Child, he called it, according to the fashion of the day, an Interlude. Mr. E. K. Chambers has shown (The Mediaeval Stage, Vol. II, p. 181 sq.) that this word was in use as early as the fourteenth century for any kind of dramatic performance, and that its primary meaning is that of a play in dialogue between two or more performers, not as has been generally stated a play introduced in the pauses of some other entertainment. Nevertheless this second meaning, or more generally that of a dramatic diversion, seems to have been foisted on the word, and we can connect the rise of the Interlude with the movement of the drama towards the close of the fifteenth century from the publicity of the street to the halls of colleges and schools, or of the nobility or wealthy citizens. INTRODUCTION. liii These later plays seldom greatly exceed a thousand lines in length, they required no stage accessories, and could mostly be performed by four or five players dividing the parts amongst them. In place of the whole of man's life in its relation to its eternal issues, they deal with mere fragments of it, and their moral teaching is confined to exhortations against the besetting sins of youth, and to the praise of learning and studiousness. In other plays for the sacramental teaching of the Church there is substituted the Reformation controversy, and these polemics of the stage were carried to such a length as to draw down on themselves the royal prohibition. The word Interlude reminds us of the more trivial nature of these later performances, from which, however, most of the popular ideas about Morality plays have usually been derived J . The 'Enterlude of Hycke-scorner,' which, as printed by Wynkyn de Worde, may be reckoned as one of the earliest specimens of the new Moralities, is in many respects a good example of its class. It opens with a colloquy between Pity and Contemplation, who are soon joined by Perseverance. They lament together over the wickedness of the times, and their place is then taken by Freewill and Imagination, who recount to each other the pranks they have been playing in 1 An example of this confusion is to be found in the prominence assigned in all accounts of the Morality to the character of the Vice, to whom allusion is made by Ben Jonson in his Staple of News, ii. i, and The Devil is an Ass, i. i, and by other Elizabethan writers. In the Morality proper the Vice has no part, but when the desire was felt for some humourous relief in the didactic interludes, a character probably dressed in the traditional garb of the domestic Fool was introduced and attained great popularity. The etymology of the name is doubtful, for in Heywood's Play of the Wether (1534), one of the earliest instances in which the Vice is specifically mentioned by name, he plays the part of Mery Report, who is a jester pure and simple, without any connection with any of the deadly sins. So m Jack Juggler, Jack himself is called the Vice, and in Godly Queen Hester (1561) the name is given to a jester called Hardy Dardy. In other plays, however, the part of the Vice is assigned to characters such as Sin, Fraud, Inclination, Ambition, &c., and the list given in the Devil is an Ass (Fraud or Covetonsness, or lady Vanity, or old Iniquity), confirms the theory that the obvious etymology is the true one. liv INTRODUCTION. very unseemly language. To them enters Hickscorner, a traveller, who soon proves himself a worthy comrade. He comes to blows, however, with Imagination, and Pity returns to help keep the peace. The three knaves, indignant at his intervention, bind him and go their ways. Pity is released by Perseverance and Contemplation, and goes in quest of his adversaries. Meanwhile Freewill has been imprisoned in Newgate for 'conveying' a cup, but has been delivered by Imagination. He is now confronted by Perseverance and Contemplation, who effect his conversion by their arguments. Imagination again appears on the scene, at first only to scoff, but in a little while he too is converted, and in this edifying manner the play ends. Hickscorner, it will be noted, after whom the interlude is named, disappears altogether unnoticed, and there is no single dramatic touch in the whole production. The play, however, must have enjoyed a fairly long life, for the author of an Interlude of Youth, printed by \\~aley, probably in the reign of Mary, took it as his model, and incorporated whole sentences from it into his own work. With Hickscorner and Youth may be classified 'an enterlude,' printed both by Vele and by William Copland, ' called Lusty Juuentus, lyuely describ- ing the frailtie of youth : of natur prone to vyce : by grace and good counsayll traynable to vertue.' This very dull play, only relieved by two rather good songs, was the work of a vehe- mently Protestant author. The characters are a Messenger, Lusty Juuentus, Good Counsaill, Knowledge, Sathan the deuyll, Hypocrisie, Fe low ship, Abhominable Lyuyng, God*s Merciful Promises, and their names sufficiently indicate the general course of the plot Juventus is nourished in the strictest principles of the Reformation, until by direction of Satan, Hypocrisy, under the name of Friendship, leads him first into heresy and from heresy into unclean living, from which he is finally rescued by his former friends Good Counsaill and Know- Of the second class of the later Moralities, or, as I should pre- fer to call them, didactic interludes, those namely which were written in praise, not of religion, but of learning, the Interlude of the Four Elements, by John Rastell, is the earliest now extant The only known copy which has been preserved is unfortu- INTRODUCTION. Iv nately imperfect, so that the course of the plot cannot be set forth at length, but the writer's unflinching didacticism and the expedients by which it is relieved, are sufficiently illustrated in the short extracts quoted in the present volume. Another inter- lude in praise of learning is the Wyt and Science of John Red- ford, written probably towards the end of the reign of Henry VIII, and first printed in the Shakespeare Society's Publications for 1848. Though itself so long in obtaining the honours of print, Redford's play served as a model to the anonymous author of 'a new and pleasant enterlude, intituled the Marriage of Witte and Science,' licensed in 1569-7010 its printer, Thomas Marshe. This is a really amusing play, very brightly and trippingly written, with scarcely a bad line in it. It was prob- ably composed by a schoolmaster for performance by his boys, and traces the mishaps of Wit in his endeavour to win the hand of his lady Science, the daughter of Reason and Experience. In all his adventures Wit has a charming companion and page in Will, whose talk is much wittier, in the modern sense, than his master's. The play is regularly divided into acts and scenes, and in this and other respects is so widely removed from the earlier didactic interludes, as hardly to come within the scope of the present volume. In the same way the Nice Wanton and the Disobedient Child, the latter by Thomas Ingelend, both probably written during the reign of Elizabeth, have passed too far into the regions of comedy to be treated here, though their inculcation of the necessity of discipline in youth entitles them to be ranked with the didactic interludes. Two famous names recall us to an earlier period. John Skelton and John Heywood are both of them known to English literature in other capacities than as dramatists, but Heywood put his best work into his plays, while Skelton's Magnificence (c. 1 520 ?), though learned and painstaking, and with some fine passages, is a dull and lifeless performance, which its author's fame as a satirist has caused to be somewhat overrated. The minor characters are numerous and, as nearly all of them change their names for the purpose of disguise, the thread of the play (of which a brief summary is given in the Notes) is by no means easy to follow. The same charge may fairly be brought against a play by John Haywood, which until Dr. Alois Brandl of Berlin Ivi INTRODUCTION. came to its rescue in 1898 had never provoked an editor to reprint it. The play is on the subject of Love, and its cha- racters Loving not Loved, Loved not Loving, Both Loving and Loved, Neither Loved nor Loving, &c. are such mere puppets, that the play is the most confusing the present writer has ever grappled with. Yet there is much wit in the dialogue, as for instance in this pitiful complaint of the woman Loved not Loving, concerning the too pertinacious suit of her admirer: For it doth lyke me evyn lyke as one Shold offer me servyse most humbly With an axe in his hande, contynually Besechyng me gentylly that this might be sped, To grannt hym my good wyll to stryke off my bed. The play is really little more than a disputation (interrupted by one long and not too pleasant narrative) as to the com- parative intensities of the happiness and misery to be won from love. As such it is essentially undramatic, and the only in- cident by which it is diversified, in which Neither Loved nor Lovyng pretends to have set Loved not Lovyng on fire, is but poor stuff. Heywood's other plays are much better, and it is strange that one of them, the Play of the Wether, which with some excisions, or slight alterations, would be an excellent play for a Christmas performance by boys and girls, had also to wait long for a modern editor. In this ' new and very mery interlude all maner wethers,' Jupiter deputes Mery Report to hear and re- count to him all the different prayers that the various characters offer up for different varieties of weather. Mery Report's account of his experiences gives so excellent a summary of the play that I append it below 1 , with little doubt that its length 1 Merry Report Now such an other sorte as here hath bene In all the dayes of my lyfe I haue not sene, No sewters now but women, knauys, and boys, And all theyr sewtys are in fansyes and toys. Yf that there come no wyser after thys cry I wyll to the god and make an ende quyckely. Oyes, yf that any knaue here Be wyllynge to appere For wether fowle or clere, Come in before thys flocke, INTRODUCTION. Ivii will be excused. The didactic import of this interlude is obvious, and it is thus connected with Thersites, that admirable lesson And be he hole or syckly Come shew hys mynde quyckly. All thys tyme I perceyue is spent in wast, To wayte for mo sewters, I se non make hast. Wherfore I wyll shew the god all thys procys, And be delyuered of my symple offys. Now, lorde, accordynge to your comaundement, Attendyng sewters I haue ben dylygent, And, at begynnyng as your wyll was I sholde, I come now at ende to shewe what eche man wolde. The fyrst sewter before your selfe dyd appere, A gentylman desyrynge wether clere, Clowdy, nor mysty, nor no wynde to blow, For hurt in hys huntynge ; and then, as ye know, The marchaunt sewde for all of that kynde For wether clere and mesurable wynde, As they maye best bere theyr saylys to make spede; And streyght after thys there came to me in dede An other man who namyd hym selfe a ranger, And sayd all of hys crafte be farre brought in dannger For lacke of lyvynge, whyche chefely ys wynde fall, But he playnely sayth there bloweth no wynde at al, Wherfore he desyreth, for encrease of theyr fleesys, Extreme rage of wynde trees to tere in peces. Then came a water myller, and he cryed out For water, and sayde the wynde was so stout The rayne could not fall; wherfore he made request For plenty of rayne to set the wynde at rest, And then, syr, there came a wynde myller in, Who sayde for the rayne he could no wynde wyn, The water he wysht to be banysht all, Besechynge your grace of wynde contynuall. Then came ther another that wolde banysh all this, A goodly dame, an ydyll thynge iwys ; Wynde, rayne, nor froste, nor sonshyne wold she baue, But fayre close wether her beautye to save. Then came there a nother that lyneth by laundry, Who muste haue wether hot and clere here clothys to dry. Then came there a boy, for froste and snow contynuall, Snow to make snowballys and frost for his pytfale, Iviii INTRODUCTION. against unseemly boasting, adapted by an unknown author, from a Latin dialogue by a French professor, Ravisius Textor. In Heywood's other plays, briefly mentioned and described in the Notes, no didactic purpose can be traced. They may be classified as satiric interludes, if the word satire can be rightly applied to the work of a man whose temper was as genial and sunny as that of Chaucer himself, to whose writings his own were largely indebted. In these plays Heywood breaks away altogether from the Morality, and becomes the precursor of the modern playwright, who makes it his main business to see that his audience is amused. The last play from which extracts are given in the present volume is the King John of Bishop Bale. Bale was not only a Protestant controversialist, but an antiquary, and it is charac- teristic of him that in his God's Promises and Johan Baptystes, he should have endeavoured to infuse fresh life into the Miracle play by adapting it to strictly Protestant teaching. In his King John he again endeavours to unite new and old, by welding the didacticism and personifications of the moral interlude with the history of an English king. The play apparently remained in MS. until printed by Mr. Collier in 1838, and there is no reason to imagine that it in any way influenced the rise of the English historical drama, which did not take place until more than a For whyche, god wote, he seweth full gredely. Your fyrst man wold haue wether clere and not wyndy; The seconde, the same saue cooles to blow meanly; The thyrd desyred stormes and wynde most ext[re]mely; The fourth, all in water and wolde haue no wynde; The fyft no water, but all wynde to grynde; The syxst wold haue non of all these nor no bright son; The seuenth extremely the hole son wold haue wonne; The eyght and the last for frost and snow he prayd. Byr lady we shall take shame I am afrayd! Who marketh in what maner this sort is led May thynke yt impossyble all to be sped. This nomber is smale, there lacketh twayne of ten, And yet, by the masse, amonge ten thousand men No one thynge could stand more wyde from the other, Not one of theyr sewtes agreeth wyth an other. I promyse you here is a shrewed pece of warke. INTRODUCTION. lix quarter of a century after its first composition 1 . It is thus as a curious development of the didactic interlude, and not as the forerunner of Shakespeare's chronicle-histories, that King John finds a place in the present volume. 8. The last performance of the York Miracle plays took place in 1579, when Shakespeare had attained his Roman majority. The Newcastle plays lasted ten years longer, by which time his career as a dramatist had begun. The Chester plays were acted till the end of the century ; the Beverly till 1604, when Shakespeare's work was already drawing towards its close. Even later than this we hear of a Passion Play acted before Gondomar, the Spanish ambassador, but as to this allowance must be made for foreign influence, and we may regard the Miracle play as finally dying with the death of Elizabeth. In its prolonged old age it had overlapped the noblest period of the English drama, but its direct influence had long passed away 2 , and the reminiscence of the Harrowing of Hell in the Porter's speech in Macbeth, is perhaps the most notable trace which it has left on the drama of the Shakespearian age. But the Miracle plays had fostered a love of acting in almost every county in England. They had prepared the ground from which the Shakespearian harvest was to spring in all its glorious abundance, and in this indirect manner their influence had been potent for good. The history of the Morality, in its later development as the didactic interlude, is somewhat different. During the first half of the reign of Elizabeth plays with many of the characteristic features of the later Moralities enjoyed much popularity. Such were the Triall of Treasure (printed 1 567), Like Will to Like (printed 1568), All for Money (printed 1578), The Three Ladies of London (printed 1584), and The Three Lords and Three Ladies of London (printed as late as 1590). The increasing 1 The play seems to have been revised after the accession of Elizabeth, but was probably written in the reign of Edward VI. * The influence of the old play of St. George of Cappadocia is remotely traceable in the Christmas mummings still acted in a few out-of-the-way villages in different parts of England. Ix INTRODUCTION* INTRODUCTION. Ixi individuality of the characterization in these plays was doubtless in part only a natural development, but in part also it was due to the influence of the comedies and tragedies founded on classical and Italian models. But though the didactic Interlude learnt something from these splendid rivals, it could not better the instruction, and its latent promise of a domestic drama of purely English growth was never fulfilled. For better or for worse, however, the transformed Morality at this period takes its place as one of the threads which went to make up the wondrous web of the Elizabethan drama, and as such passes out of the scope of the present volume. Here it must suffice us to have attempted to follow the dramatic element in English literature, from a date nearly coincident with the birth of Chaucer, to the time when Shakespeare was old enough to play a boy's part in some moral interlude in praise of learning at the Grammar school of Stratford-on-Avon. 9- For the idea of adding to this edition (1904) of my little book a few illustrations, mostly more quaint than beautiful, I am indebted to an American critic, who took me rather severely to task for regretting that we had no authentic representations of the costumes, &c., in these early plays. The regret, unfortu- nately, was only too well founded, for the curious cuts which are found on the title-pages (or the backs of them) of Hyck- scorner and one or two other plays printed about 1520 were copies of French or Low Country woodcuts, and therefore cannot be taken as evidence of the dresses of English players. The commonest of them, of which I give two examples taken from Wynkyn de Worde's Hyckscorner, are copied in reverse from a French edition of Terence published by Antoine Verard at Paris about 1500, and I give here reproductions of the originals from which they are taken. The little figure of Every- man on the title-page of John Skot's edition of that play, which by the kindness of Mrs. Christie-Miller is reproduced opposite page 77, is also copied from the French Terence, and the grotesque figure of Death, which accompanies it, from Guy Marchant's edition of the Compost des Bergers of 1500. To the Ixii INTRODUCTION. best of my belief the only English cut which throws any light on the English stage of this period is that here reproduced from ' The pleasant and stately morall of the Three Lordes and Three Ladies of London,' printed by R. Ihones in 1590. From its style and its worn appearance it is probable that this was made for some lost edition of a play printed some twenty years earlier. ' If I am right in my interpretation of it ' the quota- FROM 'THE THREE LORDES AND THREE LADIES OF LONDON,' 1590. tion is from a paper on ' Woodcuts in English Plays ' in my Old Picture Books (Methuen, 1902)' it relates not to the play itself, but to a performance of any morality in a private hall. On the right is a philosophical-looking person with a wand in his hand, whom I take to be the " Doctor" or " Expositor " who used to interpret to the audience the meaning of the old miracle- INTRODUCTION. Ixiii plays and moralities. On the left is a man in the ordinary dress of the sixteenth century, apparently an actor. Both these are turning their faces to a group of ladies seated on a dais, presumably as spectators. The picture is thus taken from the rear of the actors, and illustrates, though in a rather dull and conventional manner, the performances of a much earlier period than 1590.' To illustrate the Miracle Plays it has been necessary to cross the Channel and obtain what little light we can from French sources. The picture of Noah's Ark is taken from Verard's edition of the Mystere du Vieil Testament, printed about 1 500 ; those of the Shepherds, of the Fall of Lucifer, and of Justice, Mercy and Truth, from editions of the Hours of the Blessed Virgin, printed at Paris between 1490 and 1510. The excuse for borrowing from these is twofold. In the first place, these delightfully illustrated prayer-books were largely printed in Paris for the English market, there being numerous editions for our English ' Use of Sarum ' ; secondly, the names written on the labels in the picture of the Shepherds which forms our frontispiece Gobin le gay, le beau Roger, Aloris, Alison, &c. are those which they and their wives frequently bear in the contemporary French plays, and the Shepherds are bringing with them such rustic gifts as are mentioned also in our English cycles. We may thus fairly imagine that it was a scene from a Miracle play which the French artist here had in mind, and that, save for differences in national costume, it was a scene with which English playgoers were also familiar. Lastly, to illustrate Thersites there is shown a combat with a snail from Guy Marchant's Kalendrier des Bergers of 1500. At least one edition of the Kalendar of Shepherds was printed in English (of a sort) at Paris for exportation, so that here again we are not wholly on foreign ground. Moreover Thersites, as has been recently shown, is based on one of the Latin Dialogues of J. Ravisius Textor (Jean Texier), educated at and subsequently one of the professors of the College de Navarre. Now Guy Marchant's shop was just behind the College, and it is quite possible that it was from seeing this snail-picture on Marchant's counter that the Professor was inspired to write this particular Dialogue. The combat of the man-at-arms and the snail was Ixiv INTRODUCTION. a venerable medieval joke, especially levelled against the Lombards, to whom a reference will be found in the poem which accompanies the picture in the Kalendrier and which is here reproduced. Jniciuty faneff euagefii fc6rtj to^ctnc^. ^foiia. *T| tfpiinripto etat^ct6fl (i *5et6un? craf apai bed. (i bate etat 9cr0tl.^oc etat it) puncfpu i r B apub bed ,^)ia p tpfu ^ fa eta (tit et fine ' i ty ep nic^if . Ci uo8 factuty eff it) ipfo *5 if a erai FROM HEURES A LUSAIGE DE ROME PARIS, J. DUPRi, 1489 To face p. i] ENGLISH MIRACLE PLAYS, &c % gotfe THE BARKERS. THE CREATION AND THE FALL OF LUCIFER. [SCENE I. Heaven.] [DEUS.] Ego sum Alpha et O. vita, via, Veritas, primus et nouissimus. 1. I am gracyus and grete, god withoutyn begynnyng, I am maker unmade, all mighte es in me, I am lyfe and way unto welth-wynnyng, I am formaste and fyrste, als I byd sail it be. My blyssyng o ble sail be blendyng, 5 And heldand fro harme to be hydande, My body in blys ay abydande Une[n]dande withoutyn any endyng. 2. Sen I am maker unmade, and moste so of mighte, And ay sail be endeles, and noghte es but I, 10 Unto my dygnyte dere sail diewly be dyghte A place full of plente to my plesing at ply, And therewith als wyll I have wroght Many dyvers doynges be-dene, Whilke warke sail mekely contene, 15 And all sail be made even of noght. a YORK PLAYS. 3. But onely the worthely warke of my wyll In my sprete sail enspyre the mighte of me, And in the fyrste, faythely, my thoghts to full-fyll, Baynely in my blyssyng I byd at here be 20 A blys al-beledande abowte me; In the whilke blys I byde at be here Nyen ordres of aungels full clere, In lovyng ay lastande at lowte me. Tune cantant angeli : Te deum laudamus, te dominum confitemur, 4. Here undernethe me nowe a nexile I neven, 25 Whilke He sail be erthe now, all be at ones Erthe haly and helle, this hegheste be heven, And that welth sail welde sail won in this wones. Thys graunte I .yowe mynysters myne, To-whils yhe ar stabill in thoghte ; 30 And also to thaime that ar noghte Be put to my presone at pyne. \To Lucifer. 5. Of all the mightes I have made moste nexte after me, I make the als master and merour of my mighte, I beelde the here baynely in blys for to be, 35 I name the for Lucifer, als berar of lyghte. No thyng here sail the be derand In this blys sail be .yhour beeldyng, And have al welth in _youre weledyng, Ay whils j>he ar buxomly berande. 40 Tune cantant Angeli, Sanctus sanctus sanctus, dominus deus sabaoth. 6. PRIMUS ANGELUS SERAPHYN. A ! mercyfull maker, full mekill es thi mighte, That all this warke at a worde worthely has wroghte Ay loved be that lufly lorde of his lighte, That us thus mighty has made, that nowe was righte noghte ; FALL OF LUCIFER. 3 In blys for to byde in hys blyssyng, 45 Ay lastande, in luf lat us lowte hym, At beelde us thus baynely abowete hym, Of myrthe nevermore to have myssyng. 7. PRIMUS ANGELUS DEFICIENS LUCIFERE. All the myrth that es made es markide in me, The bemes of my brighthode ar byrnande so bryghte, And I so semely in syghte my selfe now I se, 51 For lyke a lorde am I lefte to lende in this lighte, More fayrear be far than my feres, In me is no poynte that may payre, I fele me fetys and fayre, 55 My power es passande my peres. 8. ANG. CHERABYN. Lord ! wyth a lastande luf we love the allone, Thou mightefull maker that markid us and made us, And wroghte us thus worthely to wone in this wone, Ther never felyng of fylth may full us nor fade us, All blys es here beeldande a-boute us, 61 To-whyls we are stabyll in thoughte In the worschipp of hym that us wroghte Of dere never thar us more dowte us. 9. PRIM. ANG. DEFIC. O ! what I am fetys and fayre and fygured full fytt ! The forme of all fayrehede apon me es feste, 66 All welth in my weelde es, I wete be my wytte, The bemes of my brighthede are bygged with the beste. My schewyng es schemerande and schynande, So bygly to blys am I broghte, 70 Me nedes for to noy me righte noghte, Here sail never payne me be pynande. B 2 4 YORK PLAYS. 10. ANG. SERAPHYN. With all the wytt at we welde we wyrschip thi wyll, Thu gloryus god that es grunde of all grace, Ay with stedefaste Steven lat us stande styll, 75 Lorde ! to be fede with the fode of thi fayre face. In lyfe that es lely ay lastande, Thi dale, lorde, es ay daynetethly delande, And who so that fode may be felande To se thi fayre face es noght fastande. 80 11. PRIM. ANG. DEFEC. LUCIFER. Owe ! certes ! what I am worthely wroghte with wyr- shyp, i-wys ! For in a glorius gle my gleteryng it glemes, I am so mightyly made my mirth may noghte mys, Ay sail I byde in this blys thorowe brightnes of bemes. Me nedes noghte of noy for to neven, 85 All welth in my welde have I weledande, Abowne y\i\\. sail I be beeldand, On heghte in the hyeste of hewven. 12. Ther sail I set my selfe, full semely to seyghte, To ressayve my reverence thorowe right o renowne, I sail be lyke unto hym that es hyeste on heghte; 91 Owe ! what I am derworth and defte. Owe ! dewes ! all goes downe ! My mighte and my mayne es all marrande, Helpe! felawes, in faythe I am fallande. SEC. ANGEL. DEFEC. Fra heven are we heledande on all hande, 95 To wo are we weendande, I warande. FALL OF LUCIFER. 5 [SCENE II. Hell.] 13. LUCIFER DEIABOLUS IN INFERNO. Owte owte ! harrowe ! helples, slyke hote at es here, This es a dongon of dole that I am to dyghte, Whare es my kynde be-come, so cumly and clere, Nowe am I laytheste, alias ! that are was lighte. My bryghtnes es blakkeste and bio nowe; 101 My bale es ay betande and brynande, That gares ane go gowlande and gyrnande. Owte ! ay walaway ! I well enew in wo nowe ! 14. SECUNDUS DIABOLUS. Owte ! owte ! I go wode for wo, my wytte es all wente nowe 105 All oure fode es but filth, we fynde us beforn, We that ware beelded in blys in bale are we brent nowe, Owte ! on the Lucifer, lurdan ! oure lyghte has thu lorne. Thi dedes to this dole nowe has dyghte us, To spille us thu was oure spedar, no For thou was oure lyghte and oure ledar, The hegheste of heven hade thu hyght us. 15. LUCIFER IN INFERNO. Walaway ! wa es me now, nowe es it war thane it was. Unthryvandely threpe yhe, I sayde but a thoghte. SECUND. DIAB. We! lurdane, thu lost us. Luc. IN INF. Khe ly, owte! alias! I wyste noghte this wo sculde be wroghte. 116 Owte on ^how ! lurdans, yhz smore me in smoke. SECUND. DIAB. This wo has thu wroughte us. Luc. IN INF. Khe ly, y\\Q ly ! SECUND. DIAB. Thou lyes, and that sail thu by. We ! lurdans, have at _yowe, lat loke. i ao 6 YORK PLAYS. [SCENE III. Heaven.] 1 6. ANGELUS CHERUBYN. A ! lorde, lovid be thi name that us this lighte lente, Sen Lucifer oure ledar es lighted so lawe, For hys unbuxumnes in bale to be brente. Thi rightwysnes [redes] to rewarde on rowe. like warke eftyr [it] is wroghte. 125 Thorowe grace of thi mercyfull myghte The cause I se itt in syghte, Wharefore to bale he es broghte. 17. DEUS. Those foles for thaire fayre-hede in fantasyes fell, And hade mayne of mighte that marked tham and made tham, 130 For-thi efter thaire warkes were, in wo sail thai well, For sum ar fallen into fylthe that evermore sail fade tham, And never sail have grace for to gyrth tham. So passande of power tham thoght tham, Thai wolde noght me worschip that wroghte tham, For-thi sail my wreth ever go with tham. 136 1 8. Ande all that me wyrschippe sail wone here, i-wys, For-thi more forthe of my worke wyrke nowe I will. Syn than ther mighte es for-marryde that mente all o-mys, Even to myne awne fygure this blys to fulfyll, 140 Mankynde of moulde will I make ; But fyrste wille I fourme, hym before, All thyng that sail hym restore, To whilke that his talents will take. 19. Ande in my fyrste makyng to mustyr my mighte, 145 Sen erthe is vayne and voyde, and myrknes emel, I byd in my blyssyng yhz aungels gyf lyghte To the erthe, for it faded when the fendes fell. FALL OF LUCIFER. 7 In hell sail never myrknes be myssande, The myrknes thus name I for nighte, 150 The day that call I this lyghte. My after-warkes sail thai be wyssande; 20. Ande now in my blyssyng I twyne tham in two, The nighte even fro the day, so that thai mete never, But ather in a kynde courese thaire gates for to go. Bothe the nighte and the day, does dewly _yhour deyver, 156 To all I sail wirke be yhe wysshyng. This day warke es done ilke a dele, And all this warke lykes me ryght wele, And baynely I gyf it my blyssyng. 160 Explicit. C&ester I. NOAH'S FLOOD. THE WAITER LEADERS AND THE DRAWERS OF DEE PLAYE. GOD. I, God, that all this worlde hath wroughte, Heaven and eairth, and all of naughte, I see my people in deede and thoughte Are sette fowle in synne; My ghoste shall not linge in mone. 5 That through fleshe-likinge is my fonne, But tell sixe skore yeaires be comen and gone, To loke if they will blynne. Man that I made I will destroye, Beaste, worme and fowle to flye; 10 For one eairth they doe me nye, The folke that are theirone; It harmes me so hurtfullye, The malice that doth nowe multiplye, That sore yt greives me hartelye 15 That ever I made mon. Therefore, Noye, my servante free, That rightious man arte, as I see, A shippe sone thou shall make thee, Of treeyes drye and lighte ; ao Littill chamberes therin thou make, And byndinge slyche also thou take, Within and without thou ne slake To anoynte yt through all thy mighte. 1. NOAH'S FLOOD. 9 Three hundreth cubettes it shall be longe, 35 And fiftie brode, to make yt stronge ; Of heighte fiftie the meete thou fonge, Thus messuer thou it aboute. One wyndowe worcke through thy wytte, A cubitte of lengthe and breade make itt, 30 Upon the syde a dore shall sit For to come in and oute. Eattinge places thou make alsoe, Three rowfed chamberes on a roe: For with waiter I thinke to slowe 35 Man that I can make; Destroyed all the worlde shalbe, Save thou, thy wiffe, and children three, And ther wiffes also with thee Shall saved be for thy sake. 40 NOYE. O, Lorde, I thanke thee lowde and still, That to me arte in suche will, And spares me and my howse to spill, As I nowe southly fynde. Thy byddinge, Lorde, I shall fulfill, 45 And never more thee greve nor grill, That such grace hath sente me till Amonght all mankinde. Have done, you men and wemen all, Hye you, leste this watter fall, 50 To- worche this shippe, chamber and hall, As God hath bedden us doe. SEM. Father, I am all readye bowne ; An axe I have, by my crowne ! As sharpe as anye in all this towne, 55 For to goe therto. CAM. I have a hacchatt wounder keeyne, To bitte well, as maye be scene, 10 CHESTER PLAYS. A better grownden, as I wene, Is not in all this towne. 60 JAFFETTE. And I can make well a pynne, And with this hamer knocke it in : Goe wee worcke boute more dynne, And I am readye bowne. NOYES WIFFE. And we shall bringe tymber too, 65 For we mone nothinge elles doe; Wemen be weeke to underfoe Any greate travill. SEMES WIFFE. Hear is a good hacckinge-stoccke, One this you maye hewe and knocke; 70 Shall none be idle in this floccke ; Ney nowe maye noe man fayle. CAMMES WIFFE. And I will goe gaither slyche, The shippe for to caulke and pyche, Anoynte yt muste be every stiche, 75 Borde, tree, and pynne. JEFFETTES WYFFE. And I will gaither chippes heare To make a fier for you in feare, And for to dighte youer dynner, Againste your cominge in. So Then Noye begineth to builde the Arcke, and speaketh Noye : NOYE. Now in the name of God, I will begyne To make the shippe that we shall in, That we maye be readye for to swyme At the cominge of the fludde : Thes bordes heare I pynne togeither, 85 To beare us saffe from the weither, That we maye rowe both heither and theither, And saffe be from the fludde. /. NOAH'S FLOOD. II Of this treey will I make the maste, Tyed with cabbelles that will laste, 90 With a saile yarde for iche blaste, And iche thinge in their kinde : With toppe-castill, and boe-spritte, With cordes and roppes, I hold all meete To sayle fourth at the nexte weete, 95 This shippe is att an ende. Wyffe, in this vessel we shall be kepte : My children and thou, I woulde in ye lepte. No YES WIFFE. In fayth, Noye, I hade as leffe thou slepte ! For all thy frynishe fare, 100 I will not doe after thy reade. NOYE. Good wyffe, doe nowe as I thee bydde. NOYES WIFFE. Be Christe ! not or I see more neede, Though thou stande all the daye and stare. NOYE. Lorde, that wemen be crabbed aye, 105 And non are meke, I dare well saye, This is well scene by me to daye, In witnesse of you ichone. Goodwiffe, lett be all this beare, That thou maiste in this place heare; no For all the wene that thou arte maister, And so thou arte, by Sante John ! Then Noye with all his familie shall make a signe as though the wroughte upon the shippe with divers instrumentes and after that God shall speak to Noye, sayinge : GOD. Noye, take thou thy meanye, And in the shippe hie that you be, For non soe righteous man to me 115 Is nowe one earth livinge; 12 CHESTER PLAYS. Of cleane beastes with thee thou take, Seven and seven, or then thou slake, He and shee, make to make, Belive in that thou bringe. "o Of beastes uncleane towe and towe, Male and femalle, boute moe, Of cleane fowles seven alsoe, The he and shee togeither; Off fowles uncleane twene and noe .more, 125 As I of beastes sayde before ; That man be saved through my lore, Againste I sende this weither. Of all meates that mone be eatten, Into the shippe loke there be getten ; 130 For that maye be noe waye forgetten, And doe all this bydene, To sustayne man and beaste therin, Tell the waiter cease and blynne. This worlde ys filled full of synne, 135 And that is nowe well scene. Seven dayes be yette cominge, You shall have space them in to bringe; After that it is my likinge, Mankinde for to anoye. 140 Fourtye dayes and fortye nightes Raine shall fall for ther unrightes, And that I have made through my mightes, Nowe thinke I to destroye. NOYE. Lorde, to thy byddinge I am bayne, 145 Seinge noe other grace will gayne, Yt will I fulfill fayne, For gracious I thee fynde; A hundred wyntter and twentye This shippe makinge taryed have I, 150 I. NOAH'S FLOOD. 13 Yf through amendment thy mercye Woulde fall to mankinde. Have donne, you men and wemen alle, Hye you, leste this waiter fall, That iich beaste were in stalle, 155 And into the shippe broughte; Of cleane beastes seven shalbe, Of uncleane two, this God bade me: The fludde is nye, you maye well see, Therefore tarye you naughte. 160 Then Noye shall goe into the Arcke with all his familye, his wife excepte^ and the Arcke must be borded round about, and one the bordes all the beastes and foules painted. SEM. Sir, heare are lions, leapardes, in, Horses, mares, oxen, and swyne; Goote and caulfe, sheepe and kine Heare sitten thou maye see. CAM. Camelles, asses, man maye fynde, 165 Bucke and doo, harte and hinde, And beastes of all maner kinde Here be, as thinketh me. JAFFETT. Take heare cattes, dogges too, Atter and foxe, fullimartes alsoe; 170 Hares hoppinge gaylie can goe, Heare have coule for to eate. NOYES WIFFE. And heare are beares, woulfes sette, Apes, oules, marmosette, Weyscelles, squirelles, and firrette, 175 Heare the eaten ther meate. SEMES WIFFE. Heare are beastes in this howse, Heare cattes make yt crousse, Heare a rotten, heare a mousse, That standeth nighe togeither. 180 1 4 CHESTER PLAYS. GAMES WIFFE. And heare are fowles lesse and more, Hearnes, cranes, and bittor, Swannes, peacokes, and them before Meate for this weither. JEFFATTES WIFFE. Heare are cockes, kites, croes, 185 Rookes, ravens, manye roes, Cuckoes, curlues, who ever knowes, Iche one in his kinde; Heare are doves, digges, drackes, Red-shonckes roninge through the lackes, 190 And ech fowle that leden makes In this shippe men maye fynde. NOYE. Wiffe, come in: why standes thou their? Thou arte ever frowarde, I dare well sweare; Come in, one Codes halfe ! tyme yt were, 195 For feare leste that we drowne. No YES WIFFE. Yea, sir, sette up youer saile, And rowe fourth with evill haile, For withouten [anye] fayle I will not oute of this towne ; 200 But I have my gossippes everyechone, One foote further I will not gone : The shall not drowne, by Sante John 1 And I may save ther life. The loven me full well, by Christe ! 305 But thou lett them into thy cheiste, Elles rowe nowe wher thee leiste, And gette thee a newe wiffe. NOYE. Seme, sonne, loe ! thy mother is wrawe : Forsooth, such another I doe not knowe. a to SEM. Father, I shall fetch her in, I trowe, Withoutten anye fayle. Mother, my father after thee sende, /. NOAH'S FLOOD. 15 And byddes thee into yeinder shippe wende. Loke up and see the wynde, 215 For we bene readye to sayle. NOYES WIFFE. Seme, goe againe to hym, I saie; I will not come theirin to daye. NOYE. Come in, wiffe, in twentye devilles waye ! Or elles stand there without. 220 CAM. Shall we all feche her in? NOYE. Yea, sonnes, in Christe blessinge and myne ' I woulde you hied you be-tyme, For of this flude I am in doubte. THE GOOD GOSSIPPE'S SONGE. The flude comes fleetinge in full faste, 225 One every syde that spreades full ferre; For feare of drowninge I am agaste; Good gossippes, lett us drawe nere And lett us drinke or we departe, For ofte tymes we have done soe; 230 For att a draughte thou drinkes a quarte, And soe will I do or I goe. Heare is a pottill full of Malmsine, good and stronge ; It will rejoyce bouth harte and tonge ; Though Noye thinke us never so longe, 235 Heare we will drinke alike. JEFFATTE. Mother, we praye you all together, For we are heare, youer owne childer, Come into the shippe for feare of the weither, For his love that you boughte ! 240 NOYES WIFFE. That will not I, for all youer call, But I have my gossippes all. 1 6 CHESTER PLAYS. SEM. In faith, mother, yett you shalle, Wheither thou wylte or [nought]. NOYE. Welckome, wiffe, into this botte. 345 NOYES WIFFE. Have thou that for thy note! NOYE. Ha, ha ! marye, this is hotte ! It is good for to be still. Ha ! children, me thinkes my botte remeves. Our tarryinge heare highlye me greves, 350 Over the lande the watter spreades j God doe as he will. A ! greate God, that arte so good, That worckes not thy will is wood. Nowe all this worlde is one a flude, 255 As I see well in sighte. This wyndowe I will shutte anon, And into my chamber I will gone, Tell this watter, so greate one, Be slacked through thy mighte. 260 Then shall Noye shutte the wyndvive of the Arcke, and for a littill space be silent, and afterwards lookinge rounde aboute shall saye : [Now* 40 dayes are fullie gone Send a raven I will anone If ought-were earth, tree or stone, Be drye in any place. And if this foule come not againe 365* It is a signe, soth to sayne, That drye it is on hill or playne, And God hath done some grace. Tune dimittet corvum et capiens columbam in manibus dicat. Ah, Lord, wherever this raven be, Somewhere is drye, well I see ; 370* * The following 47 lines occur only in MS. Harl. 2134. tMttte jfammne a <$0i> comwanbement pat quo? te commanbc et fi 5ue fee educe to teti c munbent iSt ei) tcf quant ite ^a6onbent 5 u e fa tette et> foit toute p&ne commence a apfowuow FROM LE MISTERE DU VIEL TESTAMENT PARIS, A. VRARD, c. 1500 To face p. 17] I. NOAH'S FLOOD. j; But yet a dove, by my lewtye! After I will sende. ***** Thou wilt turne againe to me, For of all fowles that may flye Thou art most meke and hend. 2 ^.* Tune emittet columbam et erit in nave alia columba ferens olivam in ore quam dimittet aliquis ex malo per funem in manus Noe ; et postea. dicat Noe. Ah lord, blessed be thou aye, That me hast confort thus to day; By this sight, I may well saye, This flood beginnes to cease. My sweete dove to me brought hase 280* A branch of olyve from some place, This betokeneth God has done us some grace And is a signe of peace. Ah lord honoured most thou be, All earthe dryes now, I see, 385* But yet tyll thou comaunde me Hence will I not hye. All this water is awaye Therfore as sone as I maye Sacryfice I shall doo in faye 290* To thee devoutlye. DEUS. Noe take thy wife anone, And thy children every one, Out of the shippe thou shalt gone, And they all with thee. 295* Beastes and all that can flie Out anone they shall hye, On earth to grow and multeplye ; I wyll that yt soe be. c 1 8 CHESTER PLAYS. NOE. Lord I thanke the through thy mighte, Thy bydding shall be done in height, And as fast as I may dighte, I will doe the honoure And to thee offer sacrifice, Therfore comes in all wise, For of these beastes that bene hise Offer I will this stower. Tune egrediens archam cum totafamilia sua acdpiet animalia sua et volucres et offeret ea et mactabitl\ NOYE. Lorde God, in magestie, That suche grace hath graunted me, Wher all was [lorne] salfe to be, Theirfore nowe I am boune, My wife, my children, and my meanye, 265 With sacrifice to honour thee Of beastes, fowles, as thou maiste see, And full devocion. GOD. Noye, to me thou arte full able, And thy sacrifice acceptable, 270 For I have founde thee true and stable ; On thee nowe muste I myne; Warrye eairth I will noe more For mannes synnes that greves me sore, For of youth mon full yore 375 Has bene inclynde to synne. You shall nowe growe and multiplye, And eairth againe to edifye, Ich beaste, and fowle that maye flye, Shalbe feared of you; 280 And fish in sea that maye fleete Shall sustaine you, I thee behett, I. NOAH'S FLOOD. 19 To eate of them ye ne lette, That cleane bene, you mon knowe ; Theras you have eaten before 385 Grasse and rootes, .since you were bore, Of cleane beastes nowe lesse and more I give you leve to eate; Save bloode and fleshe, bouth in feare, Of rouge dead carrion that is heare, 290 Eate not of that in noe manere, For that aye you shall lete. Man-slaughter also you shall flee, For that is not pleasante unto me; The that sheedeth blood, he or shee, 295 Oughte-wher amonge mankinde, That bloode fowle shedde shalbe And vengeance have, that men shall see ; Therfore beware now all ye, You falle not into that synne. 300 A forward, Noye, with thee I make, And all thy seede, for thy sake, Of suche vengance for to slake, For nowe I have my will ; Heare I behette thee a heste, 305 That man, woman, fowle, ney beste, With watter, while this worlde shall leste, I will noe more spill. My bowe betweyne you and me In the firmamente shalbe, 310 By verey tocken that you shall see, That suche vengance shall cease, That man ne woman shall never more Be wasted with watter, as hath before ; But for synne that greveth me sore, 315 Therfore this vengance was. Wher cloudes in the welckine bene, c 2 20 CHESTER PLAYS. That ilke bowe shalbe scene, In tocken that my wrath and teene Shall never thus wrocken be. 330 The stringe is torned towardes you, And towarde me is bente the bowe, That suche weither shall never shewe, And this behighte I thee. My blessinge, Noye, I geve thee heare, 325 To thee, Noye, my servante deare; For vengance shall noe more appeare, And nowe fare well, my darlinge deare. Finis. Deo gratias I per me, George Bellin. 1592. Come Lorde Jesu t come quickly e. II. THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC. [From the Histories of Lot and Abraham, the fourth of the Chester Plays, acted by the ' Barbers and the Waxe Chaundlers.' The first part of the play is occupied with the meeting of Abraham and Lot, God's covenant with Abraham, and the explanations of these events by the Expositor.] GOD. Abraham, my servante, Abraham. ABRAHAM. Loe, Lorde, all readye heare I am. 210 GOD. Take, Isaake, thy sonne by name, That thou loveste the best of all, And in sacrifice offer hym to me Uppon that hyll their besides thee. Abraham, I will that soe it be, 715 For oughte that maye befalle. ABRAHAM. My Lorde, to thee is myne intente Ever to be obediente. That sonne that thou to me hast sente, Offer I will to thee, 320 And fulfill thy comaundemente, With hartie will, as I am kente. Highe God, Lorde omnipotente, Thy byddinge done shalbe. My meanye and my children eichone 225 Lenges at home, bouth all and one, Save Isaake, my sonne, with me shall gone To a hill heare besyde. a 2 CHESTER PLAYS. Heare Abraham, torninge hym to his sonne Isaake, saith : Make thee readye, my deare darlinge, For we mustfdoe a littill thinge. 230 This woode doe on thy backe it bringe, We maye no longer abyde. A sworde and fier that I will take; [Heare Abraham taketh a sworde and fier.] For sacrafice me behoves to make : Codes byddinge will I not forsake, 235 But ever obediente be. Heare Isaake speaketh to his father, and taketh a burne of stickes and beareth after his father, and saieth: ISAAKE. Father, I am all readye To doe your byddinge moste mekelye, And to beare this woode full beane am I, As you comaunded me. 240 ABRAHAM. O Isaake, my darlinge deare, My blessinge nowe I geve thee heare, Take up this faggote with good cheare, And on thy backe it bringe. And fier with us I will take. 245 ISAAKE. Your byddinge I will not forsake; Father, I will never slake To fulfill your byddinge. \Heare they goe bouth to the place to doe sacrifice. '.] ABRAHAM. Now, Isaake sonne, goe we our waie To yender mounte, yf that we maye. 250 ISAAKE. My deare father, I will asaye To followe you full fayne. Abraham, beinge mynded to sleye his sonne Isaake, leiftes up his handes, and saith fowlowinge. ABRAHAM. O ! my harte will breake in three, To heare thy wordes I have pittye; //. THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC. 23 As thou wylte, Lorde, so muste yt be, 255 To thee I wilbe bayne. Laye downe thy faggote, my owne sonne deare. ISAAKE. All readye, father, loe yt is heare. But whye make you sucke heavye cheare ? Are you anye thinge adreade? 260 Father, yf yt be your will, Wher is the beaste that we shall kill? ABRAHAM. Therof, sonne, is non upon this hill, That I see here in this steade. Isaake, fearinge leste his ffather woulde slaye him, saith : ISAAKE. Father, I am full sore [affearde] 265 To see you beare that drawne [swerde] : I hope for all myddel earde You will not slaye your childe. Abraham comfortes his sonne, and saieth: ABRAHAM. Dreede thee not, my childe, I reade ; Our Lorde will sende of his godheade 270 Some manner of beaste into this [steade], Either tame or wilde. ISAAKE. Father, tell me or I goe Wheither I shalbe harmede or noe. ABRAHAM. Ah ! deare God ! that me is woe ! 275 Thou breakes my harte in sunder. ISAAKE. Father, tell me of this case, Why you your sorde drawne hase, And beares yt nacked in this place, Theirof I have greate wonder. 280 ABRAHAM. Isaake, sonne, peace, I praie thee, Thou breakes my harte even in three. ISAAKE. I praye you, father, leane nothinge from me, But tell me what you thinke. 24 CHESTER PLAYS. ABRAHAM. Ah ! Isaake, Isaake, I muste thee kille ! 385 ISAAKE. Alas! father, is that your will, Your owine childe for to spill Upon this hilles brinke? Yf I have treasspasede in anye degree, With a yarde you maye beate me ; 290 Put up your sorde, yf your wil be, For I am but a childe. ABRAHAM. O, my deare sonne, I am sorye To doe to thee this greate anoye : Codes commaundmente doe muste I, 295 His workes are ever full mylde. ISAAKE. Woulde God my mother were here with me! Shee woulde kneele downe upon her knee, Prainge you, father, if yt may be, For to save my liffe. 300 ABRAHAM. O ! comelye creature, but I thee kille, I greve my God, and that full ylle; I maye not worke againste his will, But ever obediente be. O ! Isaake, sonne, to thee I saie, 305 God hath commaunded me to daye Sacrifice, this is no naye, To make of thy bodye. ISAAKE. Is yt Codes will I shalbe slayne? ABRAHAM. Yea, sonne, it is not for to leane; 310 To his byddinge I wilbe bayne, And ever to hym pleasinge. But that I do this dilfull deede, My Lorde will not quite me in my nede. ISAAKE. Marye, father, God forbydde, 315 But you doe your offeringe ! Father, at home your sonnes you shall fynde, That you must love by course of kinde : //. THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC. 25 Be I onste out of your mynde, Your sorowe maie sone cease; 320 But yet you muste do Codes byddinge. Father, tell my mother for no thinge. Here Abraham wrynges his handes, and saith : ABRAHAM. For sorowe I maie my handes wringe, Thy mother I can not please. Ho ! Isaake, Isaake, blessed muste thou be ! 325 Allmoste my witte I lose for thee; The blood of thy bodye so free I am full lothe to sheede. Here Isaake askinge his father blessings one his knyes, and saith : ISAAKE. Father, seinge you muste nedes doe soe, Let it passe lightlie, and over goe; 330 Kneelinge on my kneeyes towe, Your blessinge on me spreade. ABRAHAM. My blessinge deere son, give I thee And thy mothers with hart free The blessing of the Trinitie 335 My deare sone, on thee lighte. ISAAKE. Father, I praye you hyde my eyne That I see not the sorde so keyne, Your strocke, father, woulde I not scene, Leste I againste yt grylle. 340 ABRAHAM. My deare sonne Isaake, speake no more, Thy wordes makes my harte full sore. ISAAKE. O deare father, wherefore! wherefore! Seinge I muste nedes be dead, Of on thinge I will you praie, 345 Seithen I muste dye the death to daie, As fewe strockes as you well maie, When you smyte of my heade. 26 CHESTER PLAYS. ABRAHAM. Thy meeknes, childe, makes me affraye; My songe maye be wayle-a-waie. 35 ISAAKE. O dere father, doe awaye, do awaye Your makeinge so moche mone ! Nowe, trewlye, father, this talkinge Doth but make longe taryeinge. I praye you, come and make endinge, 355 And let me hense be gone. Hence Isaake riseth and cometh to his father^ and he taketh hym, and byndeth and laieth hym upon the alter to sacrifice hym, and saith : ABRAHAM. Come heither, my childe, thou arte soe sweete, Thou muste be bounde both hande and feete. ISAAKE. Father, we muste no more meete, Be oughte that I maie see ; 360 But doe with me then as you will, I muste obaye, and that is skille, Codes commaundmente to fulfill, For nedes soe must yt be. Upon the porpose that you have sette you, 365 For south, father, I will not let you, But ever more to you bowe, While that ever I maie. Father, greete well my brethren yinge, And praye my mother of her blessinge, 370 I come noe more under her wynge, Fare well for ever and aye ; But father ! crye you mercye, For all that ever I have trespassed to thee, Forgeven, father, that it maye be 375 Untell domesdaie. ABRAHAM. My deare sonne, let be thy mones! My childe, thou greved me [n]ever ones; II. THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC. 27 Blessed be thou bodye and bones, And I forgeve thee heare ! 380 Nowe, my deere sonne, here shalt thou lye, Unto my worke nowe must I hie; I hade as leeve my selfe to die, As thou, my darlinge deare. ISAAKE. Father, if you be to me kinde, 385 Aboute my head a carschaffe bynde, And let me lightlie out of your mynde, And sone that I were speede. Here Abraham doth kisse his sonne Isaake, and byndes a charschaffe aboute his heade. ABRAHAM. Fare well, my sweete sonne of grace ! Here let Isaake kneele downe and speake. ISAAKE. I praye you, father, torne downe my face 390 A litill while, while you have space, For I am sore adreade. ABRAHAM. To doe this deed I am sorye. ISAAKE. Yea, Lorde, to thee I call and crye, Of my soule thou have mercy e, 395 Hartelye I thee praie ! ABRAHAM. Lorde, I woulde fayne worke thy will, This yonge innocente that lieth so still Full loth were me hym to kille, By anye maner a waye. 400 ISAAKE. My deare father, I thee praye, Let me take my clothes awaie, For sheedinge blude on them to daye At my laste endinge. ABRAHAM. Harte, yf thou wouldeste borste in three, 405 Thou shake never master me; 28 CHESTER PLAYS. I will no longer let for thee ; My God I maye not greeve. ISAAKE. A ! mercye, father, why tarye you soe ? Smyte of my head, and let me goe. 410 I pray you rydd me of my woe, For nowe I take my leve. ABRAHAM. Ah, sonne ! my harte will breake in three, To heare thee speake such wordes to me. Jesu ! on me thou have pittye, 415 That I have moste in mynde. ISAAKE. Nowe father, I see that I shall dye: Almightie God in magistie ! My soule I offer unto thee; Lorde, to yt be kinde. 420 Here let Abraham take and bynde his sonne Isaake upon the alter ; let hym make a signe as though he woulde cut of his head with his sorde ; then let the angell come and take the sworde by the end and state it, sainge : ANGELLUS. Abraham, my servante dere. ABRAHAM. Loe, Lorde, I am all readye here ! ANGELLUS. Laye not thy sworde in noe manere On Isake, thy deare darlinge; And do to hym no anoye. 425 For thou dredes God, wel wote I, That of thy sonne has no mercye, To fulfill his byddinge. SECUNDUS ANGELLUS. And for hys byddinge thou dose aye, And spareste nether for feare nor fraye, 430 To doe thy sonne to death to daie, Isake, to thee full deare: Therfore, God hathe sent by me, in faye! 77. THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC. 29 A lambe, that is bouth good and gaye, Into this place as thou se may, 435 Lo, have hym righte here. ABRAHAM. Ah ! Lorde of heaven, and kinge of blesse, Thy byddinge shalbe done, i-wysse ! Sacrafice here sente me is, And all, Lorde, through thy grace. 440 A horned weither here I see, Amonge the breyers tyed is he, To thee offred shall he be Anon righte in this place. Then let Abraham take the lambe and kille hym, and let God sale : GOD. Abraham, by my selfe I sweare, 445 For thou haste bene obediente ever, And spared not thy sonne to teare, To fulfill my byddinge, Thou shalbe blessed, that pleased me, Thy seed I shall so multiplie, 450 As starres and sande so manye het I, Of thy bodye cominge. Of enemyes thou shalte have power, And thy bloode also in feare, Thou haste bene meke and bonere, 455 To do as I thee bade; And of all nacions, leve thou me, Blessed ever more shall thou be, Through frute that shall come of thee, And saved be through thy seede. 460 EXPOSITOR. Lordinges, th[e] significacioun Of this deed of devocion, And you will, you witten mone, Maye torne you to moche good. 30 CHESTER PLAYS. This deed you see done here in this place, 465 In example of Jesu done it was, That for to wynne mankindes grace Was sacrifised on the roode. By Abraham I male understande The father of heaven that can fand 470 With his sonnes bloode to breake that bande, That the devill had broughte us to. By Isaake understande I maie Jesu, that was obedient aye, His fathers will to worke alwaie, 475 And death for to confounde. Here let the docter knele downe, and sate Such obedience grante us, O Lorde ! Ever to thy moste holye worde, That in the same we maie accorde As this Abraham was bayne ; 480 And then al togaither shall we That worthy kinge in heaven see, And dwell with hym in greate glorye For ever and ever, amen. Here the messinger maketh an ende. Make rombe, lordinges, and geve us waye, 485 And let Balacke come in and plaie, And Balame that well can saie, To tell you of prophescie. That Lorde that died on Good Frydaie, He save you all bouth nighte and daie ! 490 Fare well, my lordinges; I goe my waie, I maye no longer abyde. finis. Deo gratias t per me, Georgi Bellin. 1592. Come, Lorde Jesu, come quicklye. Anno 1592. utoaurn meum intende* omine ad admuancJtim.^1o:ia FROM HEURES A LUSAIGE DE ROME PARIS, P. PIGOUCHET FOR S. VOSTRE. 1497 To fact p. 31] Cotonelep SECUNDA PASTORUM. [Abridged.] PRIMUS PASTOR. Lord, what these weders ar cold, and I am ylle happyd; I am nere-hande dold, so long have I nappyd; My legys thay fold, my fyngers ar chappyd, It is not as I wold, for I am al lappyd In sorow. 5 In stormes and tempest, Now in the eest, now in the west, Wo is hym has never rest Myd-day nor morow. Bot we sely shepardes, that walkys on the moore, In fayth we are nere-handys outt of the doore; 10 No wonder, as it standys, if we be poore, For the tylthe of oure landys lyys falow as the floore, As ye ken. We ar so hamyd, 15 For-taxed and ramyd, We ar mayde hand-tamyd, Withe thyse gentlery men. Thus they refe us oure rest, Oure Lady theym wary ! These men that ar lord-fest, thay cause the ploghe tary. 20 That men say is for the best we fynde it contrary, Thus ar husbandys opprest, in pointe to myscary, On lyfe. 32 TO WNELE Y PL A YS Thus hold thay us hunder, Thus thay bryng us in blonder, 25 It were greatte wonder, And ever shuld we thryfe. For may he gett a paynt slefe or a broche now on dayes, Wo is hym that hym grefe, or onys agane says, Dar no man hym reprefe, what mastry he mays, 30 And yit may no man lefe oone word that he says, No letter. He can make purveance, With boste and bragance, And alle is thrughe mantenance 35 Of men that are gretter. Ther shalle com a swane as prowde as a po, He must borow my wane, my ploghe also, Then I am fulle fane to graunt or he go. Thus lyf we in payne, anger, and wo, 40 By nyght and day; He must have, if he langyd ; If I shuld forgang it, I were better be hangyd Then oones say hym nay. 45 It dos me good, as I walk thus by myn oone Of this warld for to talk in maner of mone. To my shepe wylle I stalk and herkyn anone, Ther abyde on a balk or sytt on a stone Full soyne. 50 For I trowe, parde, Trew men if thay be, We gett more compane Or it be noyne. \The second and third shepherd arrive, each with his com- plaint. To cheer themselves they sing a catch, and are SECVNDA PASTORUM. 33 then joined by MAK a neighbour of ill repute for thievery. After some talk they all betake them to sleep, the shepherds making MAK lie down between them so as to keep him under guard. Despite this precaution his thoughts are set on sheepstealing : he rises, while the shepherds sleep, and says .] MAK. Now were tyme for a man, that lakkys what he wold, 280 To stalk prevely than unto a fold, And neemly to wyrk than, and be not to bold, For he myght aby the bargan, if it were told At the endyng. Now were tyme for to reylle; 285 Bot he nedes good counselle That fayn wold fare weylle, And has bot lytylle spendyng. Bot abowte you a serkylle, as rownde as a moyn, To I have done that I wylle, tylle that it be noyn, That ye lyg stone stylle, to that I have doyne, 291 And I shall say thertylle of good wordes a foyne. On hight Over youre heydys my hand I lyft, Outt go youre een, fordo your syght, 295 Bot yit I must make better shyft, And it be right. Lord, what thay slepe harde, that may ye alle here, Was I never a shepard, bot now wylle I lere. If the flok be skard, yit shalle I nyp nere. 300 How ! drawes hederward : now mendys cure chere Fro sorow. A fatt shepe I dar say, A good flese dar I lay, Eft-whyte when I may, 305 Bot this wille I borow. 34 TO WNELE Y PLA VS. \He steals the sheep and goes home with if.] How, Gylle, art thou in? Gett us som lyght. UXOR Ejus. Who makys sich dyn this tyme of the nyght ? I am sett for to spyn: I hope not I myght Ryse a penny to wyn: I shrew them on hight. 310 So farys A huswyff that has bene To be rasyd thus betwene : There may no note be sene For sich smalle charys. 315 MAK. Good wyff, open the hek. Seys thou not what I bryng? UXOR. I may thole the dray the snek. A, com in, my swetyng. MAK. Yee, thou thar not rek of my long standing. UXOR. By the nakyd nek art thou lyke for to hyng. MAK. Do way : 320 I am worthy my mete, For in a strate can I gett More then thay that swynke and swette All the long day. Thus it felle to my lotte, Gylle, I had sich grace. 325 UXOR. It were a fowlle blot to be hanged for the case. MAK. I have skapyd, Jelott, oft as hard a glase. UXOR. Bot so long goys the pott to the water, men says, At last Comys it home broken. 330 MAK. Welle knowe I the token, Bot let it never be spoken ; Bot com and help fast. I wold he were flayn ; I lyst welle ete : This twelmothe was I not so fayn of oone shepe mete. SECUNDA P AST O RUM. 35 UXOR. Com thay or he be slayn, and here the shepe blete 336 MAK. Then myght I be tane : that were a colde swette. Go spar The gaytt doore. UXOR. Yis, Mak, For and thay com at thy bak 340 MAK. Then myght I far, by alle the pak, The dewille of the war. UXOR. A good bowrde have I spied, syn thou can none. Here shall we hym hyde, to thay be gone. In my credylle abyde. Lett me alone, 345 And I shalle lyg besyde in chylbed and grone. MAK. Thou red; And I shalle say thou was lyght Of a knave childe this nyght. UXOR. Now welle is me, day bright, 350 That ever I was bred. This is a good gyse and a far cast ; Yit a woman avyse helpys at the last ! I wote never who spyse : agane go thou fast. MAK. Bot I com or thay ryse, els blawes a cold blast. 355 I wylle go slepe. Yit slepys alle this meneye And I shall go stalk prevely, As if it had never bene I That caryed thare shepe. 360 [Mak resumes his place between the shepherds. They awake and go to look after their flocks ; while Mak returns home. A sheep is missed, and Mak is suspected. They go to his house. Bidding them tread softly, he offers them drink : ] MAK. I wold ye dynyd or ye yode, methynk that ye swette SECUNDUS PASTOR. Nay, nawther mendys oure mode drynke nor mette. 36 TO WNELE Y PLA YS. MAK. Why, sir, alys you oght hot goode? 5^ TERCIUS PASTOR. Yee, oure shepe that we gette Ar stollyn as thay yode. Oure los is grette. MAK. Syrs, drynkys ! Had I bene thore, Some shuld have boght it fulle sore. 520 PRIMUS PASTOR. Mary, som men trowes that ye wore. And that us forthynkes. SECUNDUS PASTOR. Mak, som men trowys that it shuld be ye. TERCIUS PASTOR. Ayther ye or youre spouse ; so say we. MAK. Now if ye have suspowse to Gille or to me, 535 Come and rype oure howse, and then may ye se Who had hir. If I any shepe fott, Aythor cow or stott And Gylle, my wyfe, rose nott 530 Here syn she lade hir. As I am true and lele, to God here I pray, That this be the fyrst mele that I shalle ete this day. \The shepherds search the house, Gyll upbraiding them and keeping tliem away from the cradle. They find nothing and take their leave, rather ashamedly. As they go a thought strikes one of them /] PRIMUS PASTOR. Gaf ye the chyld any thyng ? SECUNDUS PASTOR. I trow not oone farthyng. TERCIUS PASTOR. Fast agayne wille I flyng, Abyde ye me there. 585 Mak, take it no grefe, if I com to thi barne. MAK. Nay, thou dos me greatt reprefe, and fowlle has thou fame. SECUNDA PASTORUM. 37 TERCIUS PASTOR. The child wille it not grefe, that lytylle day starne. Mak, with youre leyfe, let me gyf youre barne Bot vj pence. 590 MAK. Nay, do way : he slepys. TERCIUS PASTOR. Me thynk he pepys. MAK. When he wakyns he wepys. I pray you go hence. TERCIUS PASTOR. Gyf me lefe hym to kys, and lyft up the clowtt. 595 What the dewille is this? he has a long snowte PRIMUS PASTOR. He is merkyd amys. We wate ille abowte. SECUNDUS PASTOR. Ille spon weft, i-wis, ay commys foulle owte. Ay so? He is lyke to oure shepe. 600 TERCIUS PASTOR. How, Gyb ! May I pepe ? PRIMUS PASTOR. I trow, kynde wille crepe Where it may not go. SECUNDUS PASTOR. This was a qwantt gawde and a far cast. It was a hee frawde. TERCIUS PASTOR. Yee, sirs, wast. 605 Lett bren this bawde and bynd hir fast. A ! fals skawde, hang at the last So shalle thou. Wylle ye se how thay swedylle His foure feytt in the medylle? 610 Sagh I never in a credylle A hornyd lad or now. MAK. Peasse byd I : what ! lett be youre fare ; I am he that hym gatt, and yond woman hym bare. PRIMUS PASTOR. What dewille shall he hatt? Mak? lo God! Makys ayre ! 6J5 38 TOWNELEY PLAYS. SECUNDUS PASTOR. Lett be alle that. Now God gyf hym care, I sagh. UXOR. A pratty child is he As syttys on a woman's knej A dyllydowne, perde. 620 To gar a man laghe. TERCIUS PASTOR. I know hym by the eere marke : that is a good tokyn. MAK. I telle you, syrs, hark: hys noyse was brokyn. Sythen told me a clerk, that he was forspokyn. PRIMUS PASTOR. This is a false wark. I wold fayn be wrokyn. 625 Gett wepyn. UXOR. He was takyn with an elfe; I saw it myself. When the clok stroke twelf Was he forshapyn. 630 SECUNDUS PASTOR. Ye two ar welle feft, sam in a stede. TERCIUS PASTOR. Syn thay manteyn thare theft, let do thaym to dede. MAK. If I trespas eft, gyrd of my heede. With you wille I be left. PRIMUS PASTOR. Syrs, do my reede. 635 For this trespas, We wille nawther ban ne flyte, Fyght nor chyte, Bot have done as tyte, And cast hym in canvas. \They toss Mak. Lord, what I am sore, in poynt for to bryst. 640 In fayth I may no more, therfor wylle I ryst. SECUNDUS PASTOR. As a shepe of vij skore he weyd in my fyst. For to slepe ay whore, me thynk that I lyst. SECUNDA PASTORUM. 39 TERCIUS PASTOR. Now I pray you, Lyg downe on this grene. 645 PRIMUS PASTOR. On these thefys yit I mene. TERCIUS PASTOR. Wherto shuld ye tene So, as I say you ? A ngelus cantat ' Gloria in Excelsis ' : posted dicat. ANGELUS. Ryse, hyrdmen heynd, for now is he borne, That shall take fro the feynd that Adam had lorne: 650 That warloo to sheynd, this nyght is he borne, God is made youre freynd : now at this morne He behestys, At Bedlem go se, Ther lygys that fre 655 In a cryb fulle poorely, Betwyx two bestys. PRIMUS PASTOR. This was a qwant stevyn that ever yit I hard. It is a marvelle to nevyn thus to be skard. SECUNDUS PASTOR. Of Godys son of hevyn he spak up ward. 660 Alle the wod on a levyn me thoght that he gard Appere. TERCIUS PASTOR. He spak of a barne In Bedlem, I you warne. PRIMUS PASTOR. That betokyns yond starne; 665 Let us seke hym there. SECUNDUS PASTOR. Say, what was his song? hard ye not how he crakyd it? Thre brefes to a long. TERCIUS PASTOR. Yee, mary, he hakt it. Was no crochett wrong, nor no thyng that lakt it. 40 TO WNELE Y PL A YS. PRIMUS PASTOR. For to syng us emong, right as he knakt it, 6>o I can. SECUNDUS PASTOR. Let se how ye croyne. Can ye bark at the mone? TERCIUS PASTOR. Hold youre tonges, have done. PRIMUS PASTOR. Hark after, than. 675 SECUNDUS PASTOR. To Bedlem he bad that we shuld gang: I am full fard that we tary to lang. TERCIUS PASTOR. Be mery, and not sad : of myrth is oure sang, Ever lastyng glad to mede may we fang, Withoutt noyse. 680 PRIMUS PASTOR. Hy we theder for-thy; If we be wete and wery, To that chyld and that lady We have it not to lose. SECUNDUS PASTOR. We fynde by the prophecy let be youre dyn 685 Of David and Isay, and mo then I myn; Thay prophecyed by clergy, that in a vyrgyn Shuld he lyght and ly, to slokyn oure syn And slake it, Oure kynde from wo; 690 For Isay sayd so, Ecce virgo Concipiet a child that is nakyd. TERCIUS PASTOR. Fulle glad may we be, and abyde that day That lufly to se, that alle myghtys may. 695 Lord welle were me, for ones and for ay, Might I knele on my kne som word for to say To that chylde. SECUNDA PASTORUM. 41 Bot the angelle sayd In a cryb was he layde; 700 He was poorly arayd, Both mener and mylde. PRIMUS PASTOR. Patryarkes that has bene, and prophetys beforne, Thay desyryd to have sene this chylde that is borne. Thay ar gone fulle clene, that have thay lorne. 705 We shalle se hym, I weyn, or it be morne, To tokyn. When I see hym and fele, Then wote I fulle weylle It is true as steylle 710 That prophetes have spokyn, To so poore as we ar that he wold appere, Fyrst fynd, and declare by his messyngere. SECUNDUS PASTOR. Go we now, let us fare : the place is us nere. TERCIUS PASTOR. I am redy and yare : go we in fere To that bright. 716 Lord, if thi wylles be, We are lewde alle thre, Thou grauntt us somkyns gle To comforth thi wight. \They enter the stable, 720 PRIMUS PASTOR. Haylle, comly and clene : haylle, yong child ! Haylle, maker, as I meyne, of a madyn so mylde. Thou has waryd, I weyne, the warlo so wylde, The fals gyler of teyn, now goys he begylde. Lo, he merys ; 725 Lo, he laghys, my swetyng, A welfare metyng, I have holden my hetyng, Have a bob of cherys. 42 TO WNELE Y PLA YS. SECUNDUS PASTOR. Haylle, sufferan savyoure, for thou has us soght : 730 Haylle, frely foyde and floure, that alle thyng has wroght. Haylle, fulle of favoure, that made alle of noght ! Haylle ! I kneylle and I cowre. A byrd have I broght To my barne. Haylle, lytylle tyne" mop, 735 Of oure crede thou art crop: I wold drynk on thy cop, Lytylle day starne. TERCIUS PASTOR. Haylle, derlyng dere, fulle of godhede, I pray the be nere when that I have nede. 740 Haylle ! swete is thy chere : my hart wold blede To se the sytt here in so poore wede, With no pennys. Haylle! put furthe thy dalle, I bryng the bot a balle : 745 Have and play the with alle, And go to the tenys. MARIA. The fader of heven, God omnypotent, That sett alle on seven, his son has he sent. My name couthe he neven and lyght or he went. 750 I conceyved hym fulle even, thrugh myght as he ment ; And now is he borne. He kepe you fro wo : I shalle pray him so; Telle furth as ye go, y 55 And myn on this morne. PRIMUS PASTOR. Farewelle, lady, so fare to beholde, With thy chylde on thi kne. SECUNDUS PASTOR. Bot he lygys fulle cold. Lord, welle is me : now we go, thou behold. SECUNDA PASTORUM. 43 TERCIUS PASTOR. For sothe alle redy, it semys to be told Fulle oft. 761 PRIMUS PASTOR. What grace we have fun. SECUNDUS PASTOR. Com furth, now as we won. TERTIUS PASTOR. To syng ar we bun: Let take on loft. 765 Explicit pagina pastorum. Cotoentrp XI. THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION. CONTEMPLACIO. Ffowre thowsand sex undryd foure I telle, Man ffor his offens and ffowle foly, Hath loyn ^eres in the peynes of helle, And were wurthy to ly therin endlesly, 4 But thanne xulde perysche .your grete mercye. Good Lord, have on man pyte, Have mende of the prayour seyd by Ysaie, Lete mercy meke thin hyest mageste*. 8 Wolde God thou woldyst breke thin hefne myghtye, And com down here into erthe, And levyn ^eres thre and threttye, Thyn famyt fiblke with thi fode to fede. xa To staunche thi thryste lete thi syde blede, Ffor erst wole not be mad redempcion. Cum vesite us in this tyme of nede, Of thi careful creatures, Lord, have compassyon ! 16 A! woo to us wrecchis that wrecchis be, Ffor God hath addyd ssorwe to sorwe; I prey the, Lorde, thi sowles com se, How thei ly and sobbe, both eve and more we, 20 With thi blyssyd blood ffrom balys 1 hem borwe, Thy careful creaturys cryenge in captyvytd, 1 babys, MS. XI. THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION. 45 A ! tary not, gracyous Lord, tyl it be to-morwe, The devyl hath dysceyved hem be his iniquite*. 24 A ! quod Jeremye, who xal gyff wellys to myn eynes, That I may wepe bothe day and nyght, To se oure bretheryn in so longe peynes ? Here myschevys amende may thi meche myght ! 28 As grett as the se, Lord, was Adamys contryssyon ryght. Ffrom oure hed is ffalle the crowne, Man is comeryd in synne, I crye to thi syght, Gracyous Lord ! Gracyous Lord ! Gracyous Lord, come downe ! 33 VIRTUTES. Lord ! plesyth it thin }\\gh domynacion, On man that thou made to have pyte, Patryarchys and prophetys han mad supplycacion, Oure offyse is to presente here prayeres to the. 36 Aungelys, archaungelys, we thre That ben in the fyrst ierarchie, Ffor man to thin hy mageste*, Mercy ! mercy ! mercy ! we crye. 40 The aungel, Lord, thou made so gloryous, Whos synne hath mad hym a devyl in helle, He mevyd man to be so contraryous, Man repentyd, and he in his obstynacye doth dwelle. Hese grete males, good Lord, repelle, 45 And take man onto thi grace, Lete thi mercy make hym with aungelys dwelle, Of Locyfere to restore the place. 48 PATER. Propter miseriam inopum, et gemiium pauperum nunc exurgatn. Ffor the wretchydnes of the nedy, And the porys lamentacion, Now xal I ryse that am Almyghty, Tyme is come of reconsyliacion, 52 46 COVENTRY PLAYS. My prophetys with prayers have made supplicacion, My contryte creaturys crye alle for comforte, Alle myn aungellys in hefne, withowte cessacion, They crye that grace to man myght exorte. 56 VERITAS. Lord, I am thi dowtere, Trewthe, Thou wilt se I be not lore, Thyn unkynde creatures to save were rewthe, The oflfens of man hath grevyd the sore. 60 Whan Adam had synnyd, thou seydest yore, That he xulde deye and go to helle, And now to blysse hym to restore, Twey contraryes mow not togedyr dwelle. 64 Thy trewthe, Lord, xal leste withowtyn ende, I may in no wyse ffro the go, That wrecche that was to the so unkende, He may not have to meche wo. 68 He dyspysyd the and plesyd thi ffo, Thou art his creatour and he is thi creature, Thou hast lovyd trewthe, it is seyd evyr mo, Therfore in peynes lete hym evyrmore endure. 72 MISERICORDIA. O ffadyr of mercye and God of comforte, That counselle[st] us in eche trybulacion, Lete .your dowtere Mercy to j>ow resorte, And on man that is myschevyd have compassyon. 76 Hym grevyth fful gretly his transgressyon, Alle hefne and erthe crye ffor mercy; Me semyth ther xuld be non excepcion, Ther prayers ben offeryd so specyally. 80 Threwthe sseyth she hath evyr be than, I graunt it wel she hath be so, And thou seyst endlesly that mercy thou hast kept ffor man Than mercyabyl lorde, kepe us bothe to, 84 Thu seyst veritas mea et mhericordia mea cum ipso, Suffyr not thi sowlys than in sorwe to slepe, FROM HEURES A LUSAIGE DE ROME PARIS, HARDOUIN, C. 1506 To face p. 47] XI. THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION. 47 That helle hownde that hatyth the byddyth hym ho! Thi love, man, no lengere lete hym kepe. 88 JUSTICIA. Mercy, me merveylyth what yo\v movyth, Ye know wel I am .your sister Ryghtwysnes, God is ryghtfful and ryghtffulnes lovyth, Man offendyd hym that is endles, 92 Therefore his endles punchement may nevyr sees ; Also he forsoke his makere that made hym of clay, And the devyl to his mayster he ches, Xulde he be savyd ? nay ! nay ! nay ! 96 As wyse as is God he wolde a be, This was the abhomynabyl presumpcion, It is seyd, ye know wel this of me, That the ryghtwysnes of God hath no difrynicion. ico Therffore late this be oure conclusyon, He that sore synnyd ly stylle in sorwe, He may nevyr make a seyth be resone, Whoo myght thanne thens hym borwe? 104 MISERICORDIA. Syster Ryghtwysnes, ye are to vengeabyl, Endles synne God endles may restore, Above alle hese werkys God is mercyabyl, Thow he forsook God be synne, be feyth he forsook hym never the more. 108 And thow he presumyd nevyr so sore, Ye must consyder the frelnes of mankende, Lerne, and ye lyst, this is Goddys lore, The mercy of God is withowtyn ende. iu PAX. To spare jour speches, systeres, it syt ; It is not onest in vertuys to ben dyscencion, The pes of God ovyrcomyth alle wytt. Thow Trewthe and Ryght sey grett reson, n6 Ye.it Mercy seyth best to my pleson; Ffor yf mannys sowle xulde abyde in helle, 48 CO VENTR Y PLA YS. Betwen God and man evyr xulde be dyvysyon, And than myght not I Pes dwelle. 120 Therefore me semyth best ye thus acorde ; Than hefne and erthe ye. xul qweme, Putt bothe your sentens in cure Lorde, And in his hygh wysdam lete hym deme. 124 This is most syttynge me xulde seme, And lete se how we ffowre may alle abyde, That mannys sowle it xulde perysche it wore sweme, Or that ony of us ffro othere xulde dyvyde. 128 VERITAS. In trowthe hereto I consente, I wole prey oure lorde it may so be. JUSTICIA. I Ryghtwysnes am wele contente, Ffor in hym is very equyte". 132 MISERICORDIA. And I Mercy ffro this counsel wole not fie, Tyl wysdam hath seyd I xal ses. PAX. Here is God now, here is unyte", Hefne and erthe is plesyd with Pes. [11. 1-48. Tiberius Caesar denounces all who murmur against his gods.] Her entyr Syrus, the fader of Mary Maudleyn. SYRUS. Emperor and kyngges and conquerors kene, Erlys, and borons, and knytes that byn bold, Berdes in my bower, so semely to sene, I commaund yow at onys my hestes to hold. 53 Behold my person, glysteryng in gold, Semely besyn of all other men : Cyrus is my name, be cleffys so cold, I command you all obedyent to beyn ; 56 Wo-so woll nat, in bale I hem bryng, 57 And knett swyche caytyfys in knottes of care. Thys castell of Maudleyn is at my wylddyng, With all the centre, bothe lesse and more, 60 And Lord of Jerusalem, who agens me don dare? Alle Beteny at my beddyng be; I am sett in solas from al syyng sore, And so xall all my posteryte. Thus for to leven in rest and ryalte, 65 I have her a sone that is to me ful trew, 66 No comlyar creatur of Goddes creacyon, To amyabyll douctors, full brygth of ble, Ful gloryos to my syth an ful of delectacyon. Lazarus my son, in my respeccyon. 70 Here is Mary, ful fayr and ful of femynyte, And Martha, ful [of] beute and of delycyte, Ful of womanly merrorys and of benygnyte, 50 MARY MAGDALEN. They have fulfyllyd my hart with consolacyon. 74 Now Lazarus, my sonne, whech art ther brothyr, 79 The lordshep of Jerusalem I gyff the after my dysses, And Mary thys castell, alonly, an non othyr ; And Martha xall have Beteny, I sey exprese: Thes gyftes I graunt yow withowtyn les, 83 Whyll that I am in good mynd. 84 LAZARUS. Most reverent father ! I thank yow hartely 85 Of yower grett kyndnes shuyd onto me ! Ye have grauntyd swych a lyfelod, worthy Me to restreyn from all nessesyte. 88 Now, good lord, and hys wyll it be, Graunt me grace to lyve to thy plesowans, And a-gens hem so to rewle me Thatt we may have joye withoutyn weryauns. 92 MARY MAUDLEYN. Thatt God of pes and pryncypall counsell, 93 More swetter is thi name than hony be kynd ! We thank yow, fathyr, for your gyftes ryall, Owt of peynes of poverte us to on-bynd ; 96 Thys is a preservatyff from streytnes, we fynd, From wordly labors to my coumfortyng; For thys lyfflod is abyll for the dowtter of a kyng, 99 Thys place of plesauns, the soth to seye. 100 MARTHA. O ye good fathyr of grete degre, 101 Thus to departe with your ryches, Consederyng ower lowlynes and humylyte, Us to save from worldly dessetres : Ye shew us poyntes of grete jentylnes, 105 So mekly to meynteyn us to your grace. Hey in heven a-wansyd mot yow be In blysse, to se that lordes face, Whan ye xal hens passe ! MARY MAGDALEN. 51 CYRUS. Now I rejoyse with all my mygthtes; no To enhanse my chyldryn, it was my delyte : Now wyn and spycys, ye jentyll knyttes, On-to thes ladys of jentylnes. [11. 114-139. Tiberius Caesar sends orders to Herod to search out rebels. 11.140228. Herod hears from his 'philosophers 'a prophecy of Christ's Incarnation and ' rages.' He receives Tiberius' orders and sends them on to Pilate. 11. 229-264. Pilate receives the orders and declares he will execute them.] Syrus takyt his deth. SYRUS. A ! help ! help ! I stond in drede 365 Syknes is sett onder my syde ! A ! help ! deth wyll aquyte me my mede ! A ! gret Code ! thou be my gyde ; 368 How I am trobyllyd both bak and syde, Now wythly help me to my bede. A ! this rendyt my rybbys ! I xall never goo nor ryde ! The dent of deth is hevyar than led. 272 A ! Lord, Lord ! what xall I doo this tyde ? A ! gracyows God ! have ruth on me, In thys word no lengar to abyde. I blys yow, my chyldyrn, God mot with us be ! 376 Her avoydyt Syrus sodenly, and than \comy f\ sayyng, Lazarus. LAZARUS. Alas, I am sett in grete hevynesse ! 377 Ther is no tong my sorow may tell, So sore I am browth in dystresse ; In feyntnes I falter, for this fray fell ; 380 Thys dewresse wyl lett me no longar dwelle, But, God of grace, sone me redresse. A ! how my peynes don me repelle ! Lord, with-stond this duresse ! 284 E 2 52 MARY MAGDALEN. MARY MAGLEYN. The in-wyttissymus God that ever xal reyne, 285 Be his help, an sowlys sokor ! To whom it is most nedfull to cumplayn ; He to bryng us owt of ower dolor 388 He is most mytyest governowr, From soroyng us to restr[a]yne. 390 MARTHA. A ! how I am sett in sorowys sad, That long my lyf y may nat indeure ! Thes grawous peynes make me ner mad ! Under clower is now my fathyris cure, 294 That sumtyme was here ful mery and glad. Ower lordes mercy be his mesure, And defeynd hym from peynes sad ! 397 LAZARUS. Now, systyrs, ower fatherys wyll we woll exprese : 298 Thys castell is owerys, with all the fee MARTHA. As hed and governower, as reson is : And on this wyse abydyn with yow wyll wee; 301 We wyll natt desevyr, whatt so be-falle. MARIA. Now, brothyr and systyrs, welcum ye be. And ther-of specyally I pray _yow all. 304 Her xal entyr the Kyng of the word, then the Kyng of the flesch, and then the dylfe, with the seven dedly synnes, a bad angyll an an good angyl, thus seyyng the word. [THE KING OF THE WORLD.] I am the word, worthyest that evyr god wrowth, 305 And also I am the prymatt portatur Next heveyn, yf the trewth be sowth, And that I jugge me to skryptur; 308 And I am he that lengest xal induer, And also most of domynacyon; MAR Y MAGDALEN. 53 Yf I be hys foo, woo is abyll to recure? For the whele of fortune with me hath sett his sentur. 313 Her xal entyr the Kynge of flesch with slowth, gloteny, lechery. I, kyng of flesch, florychyd in my flowers, 334 Of deyntys delycyows I have grett domynacyon, So ryal a kyng was nevyr borne in bowrys, Nor hath more delyth ne more delectacyon. Here xal entyr the prynse of dylles in a stage, and Helle ondyrneth that stage, thus seyyng the dylfe. SATAN. Now I, prynse, pyrked, prykkyd in pryde, 358 Satan ower sovereyn, set with every cyrcumstanse, For I am a-tyred in my tower to tempt yow this tyde; As a kyng ryall I sette at my plesauns, 361 With wroth [and] invy at my ryall retynawns; The boldest in bower I bryng to a-baye; Mannis sowle to besegyn and bryng to obeysauns, Pa [with] tyde and tyme I do that I may, 365 For at hem I have dysspyte that he wolde have the joye That Lycyfer, with many a legyown, lost for ther pryde; The snares that I xal set wher never set at Troye, So I thynk to besegyn hem be every waye wyde; 309 I xal getyn hem from grace, wher-so-ever he abyde, That body and sowle xal com to my hold. Hym for to take, 372 Now my knythtes so stowth, 373 With me ye xall ron in rowte, My consell to take for a skowte, Whytly that we wer went for my sake. 376 WRATH. With wrath or wyhylles we xal hyrre wynne. ENVY. Or with sum sotyllte sett hur in synne. 378 54 MARY MAGDALEN. DYLFE. Com of than, let us begynne To werkyn hur sum wrake. 380 Her xal the deywl go to the word with his compeny. SATAN. Heyle word, worthyest of a-bowndans ! 381 In hast we must a conseyll take; Ye must aply yow with all your afyauns, A woman of whorshep ower servant to make. [11. 384-469. The World recommends recourse to the Flesh, who sends his servant Luxuria (or Lechery) to Mary as she sits mourning her father's death. Luxury persuades Mary to amuse herself at Jeru- salem.] Here takyt Mary hur wey to Jerusalem with Luxsurya, and they xal resort to a taverner, thus seyyng the taverner. I am a taverner wytty and wyse, 47 That wynys have to sell gret plente. Of all the taverners I bere the pryse That be dwellyng withinne the cete; 473 Of wynys I have grete plente, Both whyte wynne and red that [ys] so cleyr: 475 Here ys wynne of mawt and Malmeseyn, Clary wynne and claret, and other moo, Wyn of Gyldyr and of Galles, that made at the grome [?], Wyn of wyan and vernage, I seye also ; Ther be no better, as ferre as _ye can goo. 480 LUXSURYA. Lo, lady, the comfort and the sokower, 481 Go we ner and take a tast, Thys xal bryng your sprytes to fawor. Taverner, bryng us of the fynnest thou hast. 484 TAVERNER. Here, lady, is wyn, a repast 485 To man and woman, a good restoratyff; Ye xall not thynk your mony spent in wast, From stodyys and hevynes it woll yow relyff. 488 MARY MAGDALEN. 55 MARY. I-wys ye seye soth, ye grom of blysse ; To me ye be courtes and kynde. 490 Her xal entyr a galaunt thus seyyng. GALAUNT [CURIOSITY]. Hof, hof, hof, a frysch new galaunt, 491 Ware of thryst, ley that a-doune ! What ! wene ye, syrrys, that I were a marchant, Because that I am new com to town? 494 With sum praty tasppysster wold I fayn rown; LUXSURYA. Lady, this man is for _yow, as I se can ; 507 To sett yow i sporttes and talkyng this tyde. MARY. Cal hym in, taverner, as ye my love wyll han, And we xall make ful mery, yf he wolle abyde. 510 [11. 511-587. Mary departs with the gallant and Satan rejoices over her fall. We next see Mary sleeping in an arbour, and then Simon the leper preparing for his feast. Then a good angel appears to Mary and says :] GOOD ANGYLL. Woman, woma,n, why art thou so on- stabyll? 588 Ful bytterly thys blysse it wol be bowth; Why art thou a_yens God so veryabyll? Wy thynkes thou nat God made the of nowth? In syn and sorow thou art browth, 592 Fleschly lust is to ye full delectabyll ; Salve for thi sowle must be sowth, And leve thi werkes wayn and veryabyll. 595 Remembyr, woman, for thi pore pryde, 596 How thi sowle xal lyyn in helle fyr ! A ! remembyr how sorowful itt is to abyde Withowtyn eynd in angur and ire ! 599 Remember the on mercy, make thi sowle clyr! I am the gost of goodnesse that so wold ye gydde. 56 MARY MAGDALEN. MARY. A! how the speryt of goodnesse hat promtyt me this tyde, And temtyd me with tytyll of trew perfythnesse. Alas ! how betternesse in my hert doth abyde ! 604 I am wonddyd with werkes of gret dystresse, 605 A! how pynsynesse potyt me to oppresse, That I have synnyd on every side. lord ! wo xall put me from this peynfulnesse ? 608 A ! woo xall to mercy be my gostly gyde ? 1 xal porsue the prophett, wherso he be, For he is the welle of perfyth charyte; 6n Be the oyle of mercy he xal me relyff. With swete bawmys I wyl seken hym this syth, And sadly folow his lordshep in eche degre. 614 Hert xal entyr the prophet with his desyplys, thus seyyng Symont leprus. Now ye be welcom, mastyr, most of magnyfycens, 615 I beseche yow benyngly ye wol be so gracyows Yf that it be lekyng onto yower hye presens Thys daye to com dyne at my hows. 618 IESUS. God a mercy, Symontt, that thou wylt me knowe ! I woll entyr thi hows with pes and unyte; 620 I am glad for to rest, ther grace gynnyt grow; For withinne thi hows xal rest charyte, 622 And the bemys of grace xal byn illumynows. 623 But syth thou wytystsaff a dyner on me, With pes and grace I entyr thi hows. SYMOND. I thank yow, master, most benyng and gracyus, That yow wol of your hye soverente; 627 To me itt is a jbye most speceows, Withinne my hows that I may yow se ! Now syt to the bord, mastyrs alle. 630 MARY MAGDALEN. 57 Her xal Mary folow alonge, with this lamentacyon. MARY. O I, cursyd caytyff, that myche wo hath wrowth Ayens my makar, of mytes most; 632 I have offendyd hym with dede and thowth, But in his grace is all my trost, 634 Or elles I know well I am but lost, Body and sowle damdpnyd perpetuall. Pet, good lord of lorddes, my hope [is] perhenuall, 637 With the to stond in grace and fawour to se, Thow knowyst my hart and thowt in especyal ; Therfor, good lord, after my hart reward me. 640 Her xal Mary wasche thefett of the prophet with the terres of hur yys, whypyng hem with hur herre, and than anoynt hym with a precyus noyttment. IESUS DIGIT. Symond, I thank ye speceally 641 For this grett repast that her hath be; But Symond, I telle the fectually I have thynges to seyn to the. 644 Symond, behold, this woman in all wyse 665 How she with teres of hyr better wepyng She wassheth my fete, and doth me servyse, And anoyntyt hem with onymentes, lowly knelyng, 668 And with her her, fayer and brygth shynnyng, She wypyth hem agayn with good entent; But Symont, syth that I entyrd thi hows, 671 To wasshe my fete thou dedyst nat aplye, Nor to wype my fete thou wer nat so faworus; Wherfor in thi conscyens thou owttyst nat to replye. 674 But, woman, I sey to the werely, I forgeyffe the thi wrecchednesse, And hoi in sowle be thou made therby. 58 MARY MAGDALEN. [11. 678-1 133. Mary gives thanks : seven devils are cast out of her, and in the next scene we see Satan punishing his angels with blows for their ill-success. The history of the sickness and raising of Lazarus is then enacted, and at 1. 924 Part I of the play comes to an end. Part II begins with a boasting speech of the King of Marcylle ; then we hear the devils crying out because Hell has been harrowed, upon which follows the scene in the garden of Joseph of Arimathea on the morning of Christ's Resurrection.] Here devoyd all the three Maryys ; and the kynge of Marcyll xall begynne a sacryfyce. REX MERCYLL. Now, lordes and ladyys of grett a-prise, A mater to meve yow is in my memoryall, 1134 This day to do a sacryfyce With multetude of myrth before ower goddes all, 1136 With preors in aspecyall before his presens, Eche creature with hartt demure. 1138 REGINA. To that lord curteys and keynd, 1139 Mahond, that is so mykyll of myth, With mynstrelly and myrth in mynd, Lett us gon ofer in that hye kyngis syth. n 4 a Here xal enter an hethenpreste and his boye. PRESBYTER. Now, my clerke, Hawkyn, for love of me Loke fast myn awter wer araydj 1144 Goo, ryng a bell to or thre ! Lythly, chyld, it be natt delayd, 1146 For here xall be a grett solera nyte. Loke, boy, thou do it with a brayd ! 1148 [The boy is impudent, and the priest obeys the stage direction 'bete him.' Enter the King.] REX DICITT. Now, prystes and clerkys, of this tempyll cler 1I? 8 Yower servyse to sey, lett me se. MARY MAGDALEN. 59 PRESBYTER. A, soveryn lord, we shall don ower devyr. Boy, a boke a-non thou bryng me! 1181 Now, boy, to my awter I wyll me dresse; n8a On xall my westment and myn aray. BOY. Now than the lesson I woll expresse, Lyke as longytt for the servyse of this day: 1185 Leccyo mahowndys^ viri fortissimi sarasenorum. Glabriosum ad glumandum glumardinorum, Gormondorum alocorum, stampatinantum cursorum, Cownthtes fulcatum, congruryandum tersorum Mursum malgorum, Mararagorum. 1190 ******** Howndes and hogges, in hegges and helles, 1198 Snakes and toddes mott be yower belles; Ragnell and Roffyn, and other, in the wavys, Grauntt yow grace to dye on the galows. 1201 PRESBYTER. Now, lordes and ladyys, lesse and more, Knele all don with good devocyon; 1203 Yonge and old, rych and pore, Do yower oferyng to sentt Mahownde, And ye xall have grett pardon, 1206 That longyth to this holy place; And receyve ye xall my benesown, And stond in Mahowndes grace. 1209 REX DICITT. Mahownd, thou art of mytes most, 1210 In my syth a gloryus gost; Thou comfortyst me both in contre and cost With thi wesdom and thi wytt; 1213 For truly, lord, in the is my trost. 1214 Good lord, lett natt my sowle be lost ! All my cownsell well thou wotst. Here in thi presens as I sett, 1217 Thys besawnt of gold, rych and rownd, iai8 I ofer ytt for my lady and me, 60 MARY MAGDALEN. That thou mayst be ower counfortes in this stownd, Sweth Mahound, remembyr me. 1221 [11. 1222-1375. After two scenes representing the receipt of the news of Christ's Resurrection by Pilate and Tiberius Caesar, the angel Raphael is sent from heaven to Mary Magdalen.] ANGELUS. Abasse the noutt, Mary, in this place; 1376 Ower lordes preceptt thou must ful-fyll, To passe the see in shortt space On-to the lond of Marcyll. 1379 Kyng and quene converte xall ye, And byn amyttyd as an holy apostylesse; Alle the lond xall be techyd alonly be the; Goddes lawys on-to hem ye xall expresse. 1383 Therfor hast yow forth with gladnesse, Goddes commaundement for to fulfylle. 1385 MARI MAWDLEYN. He that from my person vij dewlles mad to fle, 1386 Be vertu of hym alle thyng was wrowth; To seke thoys pepyll I wol rydy be. As thou hast commaunddytt, in vertu they xall be browth. With thi grace, good lord, in deite, 1390 Now to the see I wyll me hy, Sum sheppyng to asspy. Now spede me, lord, in eternall glory 1 Now be my spede, allmyty trenite! 1394 Here xall entyre a shyp with a mery song. SHEPMAN. Stryke ! skryke ! lett fall an ankyr to grownd ! Her is a fayer haven to se ! 1396 Connyngly in, loke that ye sownd; I hope good harbarow have xal wee ! 1398 Loke that we have drynke, boy, thou. MARY MAGDALEN. 6 1 [The shipman's boy is as impudent as the priest's, with a like result.] MAUDLEYN. Master of the shepe, a word with the. 1423 MASTER. All redy, fayer woman, whatt wol^e? MARY. Of whense is thys shep ? tell ye me ; And yf ye seyle with-in a whyle. 1426 MASTER. We wol seyle this same day, 1437 Yf the wynd be to ower pay. This shep that I of sey Is of the lond of Marcyll. 1430 MARY. Syr, may I natt with yow sayle ? 1431 And ye xall have for yower awayle. MASTER. Of sheppyng the xall natt faylle ; For us the wynd is good and saffe. 1434 Yond ther is the lond of Torke, I wher full loth for to lye. Now xall the shep-men syng. Of this cors we thar nat a-baffe, 1437 Yender is the lond of Satyllye. 1438 Stryk ! beware of sond ! Cast a led, and in us gyde ! Of Marcyll this is the kyngges lond. 1441 Go a lond, thow fayer woman, this tyde, To the kyngges place ; yonder may ye see. Sett of, sett of, from lond. THE BOY. All redy, master, at thyn hand. 1445 Her goth the shep owt of the place. [Mary Magdalen goes to the King and preaches to him.] REX. Herke, woman, thow hast many resonnes grett; 1537 I thyngk, on-to my goddes aperteynyng they beth. But thou make me answer son, I xall the frett, And cut the tonge owt of thi hed. 1530 62 MARY MAGDALEN. MARY. Syr, yf I seyd amys, I woll return agayn. 1531 Leve yower encomberowns of perturbacyon, And lett me know what yower goddes byn, And how they may save us from treubelacyon. 1534 REX. Hens to the tempyll that we war, 1535 And ther xall thow se a solom syth. Com on all, both lesse and more, Thys day to se my goddes myth. 1538 Here goth the Kynge with all his a-tendaunt to the tempyll. Loke now, qwatt seyyst thow be this syth ? 1539 How pleyeaunttly they stond, se thow how ! Lord, I besech thi grett myth, Speke to this chrisetyn that here sestt thou. 1543 Speke, god lord, speke ! se how I do bow ! Herke, thou pryst ! qwat menytt all this ? What ! speke, good lord ! speke ! what eylytt the now ? Speke, as thow artt bote of all blysse ! 1546 PRYSBYTER. Lord, he woll natt speke whyle chriseten her is. MARY. Syr kyng, and it pleze yower gentyllnesse, 1548 Gyff me lycens my prayers to make On-to my God in heven blysch, Sum merakyll to shewyn for yower sake. REX. Pray thi fylle, tyll thi 1 knees ake. 1552 MARY. Dominus, illuminacio mea, quern timebo ! Dominus, protecctor vite mee, a quo trepedabo ! Here xal the mament tremyll and quake. Now, lord of lordes, to thi blyssyd name sanctificatt, Most mekely my feyth I recummend. 1556 Pott don the pryd of mamentes violatt ! Lord, to thi lover thi goodnesse descend; 1558 1 then, MS. MARY MAGDALEN. 63 Lett natt ther pryd to thi poste pretend, Wher-as is rehersyd thi hye name Jhesus. Good lord, my preor I feythfully send ; Lord, thi rythwysnesse here dyscus ! 1562 Here xall comme a clowd from heven, and sett the tempyl one a fyer, and the pryst and the clerk xall synke. [The remainder of the play shows the voyage of the King and Queen to the Holy Land, the wonderful restoration to life of the Queen and her baby by the aid of Mary Magdalen, the feeding of Mary in the wilderness by angels, her death, and her ascension.] 6e Cagteil of HUMANUM GENUS. After oure forme faderes' kende This nyth I waus of my moder born ; Fro my moder I walke, I wende, Ful feynt and febyl I fare you beforn. I am nakyd of lym and lende, (5) As mankynde is schapyn and schorn, I not wedyr to gon ne to lende, To helpe my-self mydday ny morn, For schame I stonde and schende. I waus born this nyth in blody ble (10) And nakyd I am as ye may se. A! Lord God in trinite, Whow mankende is unchende ! Where-to I waus to this werld browth, I ne wot but to woo and wepynge. (15) I am born and have ryth nowth To helpe my self in no doynge. I sfYjonde 1 and stodye, al ful of thowthj Bare and pore is my clothynge, A sely crysme my hed hath cawth, (20) That I tok at myn crystenynge; Certes I have no more. Of erthe I cam, I wot ryth wele, And as erthe I stande this selej 1 sonde, MS. THE CASTELL OF PERSEVERANCE. 65 Of mankende it is gret dele, (35) Lord God, I cry thyne ore. Two 1 aungels bene a-synyd to me: The ton techyth me to goode, On my ryth syde ye may hym se, He cam fro Criste that deyed on rode. (30) A-nother ordeynyd her to be, That is my foo be fen and node, He is a-bout in every degra To 2 drawe me to the dewylys wode, That in helle ben thycke. (35) Swyche to hath every man on lyve, To rewlyn hym and hys wyttes fyve, Whanne man doth evyl the ton wolde shryve, The tother drawyth to wycke. But syn these aungelys be to me falle, (40) Lord Jhu to .you I bydde a bone, That I may folwe be strete and stalle The aungyl that cam fro hevene trone. Now lord Jhu, in hevene halle, Here, whane I make my mone ! (45) Coryows Criste, to you I calle. As a grysly gost I grucche and grone, I wene ryth ful of thowth. A ! Lord Jhu, wedyr may I goo ? A crysyme I have and no moo! (50) Alas! men may be wondyr woo Whanne thei be fyrst forth browth. BONUS ANGELUS. Ya. forsothe and that is wel sene, Of woful wo man may synge-, For iche creature helpeth hym self bedene, (55) Save only man, at hys comynge, 1 Ij, MS. a Do, MS. 66 THE CAST ELL OF PERSEVERANCE. Nevyr-the-lesse turne the fro tene And serve Jhu, hevene kynge, And thou shalt, be grevys grene, Fare well in all thynge. (60) That lord thi lyfe hath lante! Have hym alway in thi mynde, That deyed on rode for mankynde, And serve hym to thi lyfes ende, And sertes thou schalt not wante. (65) MALUS ANGELUS. Pes aungel, thi wordes are not wyse, Thou counselyst hym not a-ryth. He schal hym drawyn to the werdes servyse, To dwelle with caysere, kynge and knyth. That in londe be hym non lyche. (70) Cum on with me, stylle as ston : Thou and I to the werd schul goon, And thanne thou schalt sen a-non Whow sone thou schalt be ryche. BONUS ANGELUS. A! pes aungel, thou spekyst folye! (75) Why schuld he coveyt werldes goode, Syn Criste in erthe and hys meynye All in povert here thei stode? Werldes wele, be strete and stye, Faylyth and fadyth as fysch in flode, (80) But hevene ryche is good and trye, Ther Criste syttyth, bryth as blode, Withoutyn any dystresse. To the world wolde he not flyt, But forsok it every whytt; (85) Example I fynde in holy wryt, He wyl bere me wytnesse. THE CASTELL OF PERSEVERANCE. 6~7 Dividas et paufertatem ne dederis m\iht\ dfte. MALUS ANGELUS. Pa, _ya, man, leve hym nowth, But cum with me be stye and strete. Have thou a gobet of the werld cawth, (90) Thou schalt fynde it good and swete. A fayre lady the schal be tawth, That in bowre thi bale schal bete. With ryche rentes thou schalt be frawth, With sylke sendel to syttyn in sete. (95) I rede late bedys be : If thou wylt have wel thyn hele, And faryn wel at mete and mele, With goddes servyse may thou not dele But cum and folwe me. (100) HUMANUM GENUS. Whom to folwe wetyn I ne may: I stonde in stodye and gynne to rave, I wolde be ryche in gret aray, And fayn I wolde my sowle save. As wynde in watyr I wave: (105) Thou woldyst to the werld I me toke, And he wolde that I it forsoke, Now so God me helpe, and the holy boke, I not wyche I may have. MALUS ANGELUS. Cum on, man ! where of hast thou care ? Go we to the werld, I rede the, blyve; (in) For ther thou schalt now 1 ryth wel fare, In case if thou thynke for to thryve, No lord schal be the lyche. Take the werld to thine entent, (115) And late thi love be ther on lent, With gold and sylvyr and ryche rent A-none thou schalt be ryche. 1 mow, MS. F 2 68 THE CASTELL OF PERSEVERANCE. HUMANUM GENUS. Now syn thou hast be-hetyn me so I wyl go with the and a-say; (12) I ne lette for frende ner fo, But with the world I wyl go play, Certes a lytyl throwe. In this world is al my trust To lyv[y]n in lykyng and in lust: (125) Have he and I onys cust, We schal not part I trowe. BONUS ANGELUS. A ! nay, man ! for Cristes blod ! Cum agayn be strete and style ! The werld is wyckyd and ful wod, (130) And thou schalt levyn but a whyle, What coveytyst thou to wynne? Man, thynke on thyn endynge day, Whanne thou schalt be closyd under clay, And if thou thenke of that a-ray, (135) Certes thou schalt not synne. Homo memento finis et in eternu non peccabis. MALUS ANGELUS. Pa, on thi sowle thou schalt thynke al be tyme; Cum forth, man, and take non hede, Cum on and thou schalt holdyn hym inne. Thi flesch thou schalt foster and fede (140) With lofly lyvys fode. With the werld thou mayst be bold, Tyl thou be sexty wynter hold; Wanne thi nose waxit cold Thanne mayst thou drawe to goode. (145) HUMANUM GENUS. I vow to God, and so I may Make mery a ful gret throwe I may levyn many a day, I am but yonge, as I trowe. THE CAST ELL OF PERSEVERANCE. 69 For to do that I schulde. (15) Myth I ryde be sompe and syke, And be ryche and lord lyke, Certes, thanne schulde I be fryke And a mery man on molde. MALUS ANGELUS. Yys, be my feyth, thou schalt be a lord, And ellys hange me be the hals. (156) But thou muste be at myn a-cord, Other whyle thou muste be fals A-monge kythe and kynne. Now go we forth swythe a-non, (160) To the werld us must gon, And bere the manly evere a-mong, Whanne thou cornyst out or inne. HUMANUM GENUS. Fys, and ellys have thou my necke But I be manly be downe and dyche, (165) And thou I be fals I ne recke, With so that I be lord lyche I folowe the as I can. Thou schalt be my bote of bale, For were I ryche of holt and hale, (170) Thanne wolde I jeve nevere tale Of God ne of good man. BONUS ANGELUS. I weyle and I wrynge and make mone This man with woo schal be pylt. I sye sore and grysly grone, (175) For hys folye schal make hym spylt. I not weder to gone, Pipe up mu\sic\ Mankynde hath forsakyn me ! Alas, man, for love of the ! Ya., for this gamyn and this gle (180) Thou schalt grocchyn and grone. 70 THE CAST ELL OF PERSEVERANCE. MUNDUS. Welcum, syr, semly in syth ! Thou art welcum to worthy wede, (185) For thou wylt be my servaunt day and nyth, With my servyse I schal the foster and fede; Thi bak schal be betyn with besawntes bryth; Thou schalt have byggynges be bankes brede; To thi cors schal knele kayser and knyth, Where that thou walke be sty or be strete, And ladys lovely on lere. (190) But goddys servyse thou must forsake, And holy to the werld the take, And thanne a man I schal the make That non schal be thi pere. HUMANUM GENUS. Fys, Werld, and ther-to here myn honde To forsake God and hys servyse, (196) To medys thou yeve me howse and londe, That I regne rychely at myn emprise. So that I fare wel be strete and stronde, Whil I dwelle here in werldly wyse, (aoo) I recke nevere of hevene wonde, Nor of Jhu, that jentyl justyse ! Of my sowle I have no rewthe, What schulde I recknen of domysday So that I be ryche and of gret a-ray ? (205) I schal make mery whyl I may, And ther-to here my trewthe. MUNDUS. Now sertes, syr, thou seyst wel! I holde the trewe ffro top to the too 1 But thou were ryche it were gret dele, (210) And all men that wyl fare soo. Tune ascendat Humanum Genus ad Mundum. Cum up, my serwaunt, trow as stele, Thou schalt be ryche whereso thou goo, THE CAST ELL OF PERSEVERANCE. 71 Men schul servyn the at mele With mynstralsye, and bemys bio, (215) With metes and drynkes trye. Lust and lykynge schal be thin ese, Lovely ladys the schal plese, Who so do the any disese, He schal ben hangyd hye. (220) Lykynge, be-lyve ! Late slothe hym swythe In robys ryve With ryche aray. Folye, thou fonde, (225) Be strete and stronde Serve hym at honde Bothe nyth and day. VOLUPTAS. Trostyly, Lord, redy! (230) Je vous pry, Syr, I say. In lyckynge and lust He schal rust, Tyl dethys dust (235) Do hym to clay. STULTICIA. And I, folye, Schal hyen hym hye, Tyl sum enmye Hym over-goo. (24) In worldes wyt, That in folye syt, I thynke yyt Hes sowle to sloo. HUMANUM GENUS. Mankynde I am callyd be kynde, With cursydnesse in costes knet, (246) 72 THE CASTELL OF PERSEVERANCE. In sowre swettenesse my syth I sende, With sevene synnys sadde be-set. Mekyl myrthe I move in mynde, With melody [al] 1 my mowth is met, (250) My prowd power schal I not pende Tyl I be putte in peynys pyt, To helle hent fro hens. In dale of dole tyl we are downe We schul be clad in a gay gowne. (255) I see no man but the use somme Of these vij dedly synnys, For comonly it is seldom seyne. Who so no[l] 2 be lecherous Of other man he schal have disdeyne, (260) And ben prowde or covetous, In synne iche man is founde. Ther is pore nor ryche, be londe ne lake, That alle vij wyl forsake, But with on or other he schal be take (265) And in here bytter bondes bownde. BONUS ANGELUS. So mekyl the werse, wele a woo, That evere good aungyl waus ordeynyd thel Thou art rewlyd after the fende, that is thi foo, And no thynge, certes, aftyr me! (270) Wele away, weder may I goo? Man doth me bleykyn blody ble, Hes swete sowle he wyl now slo, He schal wepe al hes game and gle At on dayes tyme, (275) Pe se wel all, sothly in syth, I am a bowte, both day and nyth, To brynge hys sowle into blis bryth, And hym self wyl it brynge to pyne. 1 at, MS. now, MS. THE CAST ELL OF PERSEVERANCE. 73 MALUS ANGELUS. No, good aungyl, thou art not in sesun, Ffewe men in the ffeyth they fynde, (281) For thou hast schewyd a ballyd resun, Goode syre, cum [get thee me] behynde, Trewly man hathe non chesun On thi god to grede and grynde, (285) Ffor that schuld cunne Cristis lessoun In penaunce hes body he muste bynde, And forsake the worldes [mynde] 1 . Men arn loth on the to crye, Or don penaunce for here folye; (290) Therfore have I now maystrye Wei ny over al mankynde. BONUS ANGELUS. Alas, mankynde Is bobbyt and blent as the blynde, In feyth I fynde (295) To Crist he can nowt be kynde. Alas, mankynne Is soylyd and saggyd in synne, He wyl not blynne Tyl body and sowle parte a-twynne. (300) Alas, he is blendyd ; A-mys man's lyf is i-spendyd, With fendes fendyd; Mercy, God, that man were a-mendyd! CONFESSIO What ! man's aungel goode and trewe, (305) Why syest thou and sobbyst sore ? Sertes, sore it schal me rewe, If I se the make mornynge more. May any bote thi bale brewe, Or any thynge thi stat astore? (310) For all felyschepys, olde and newe, Why makyst thou grochynge under gore, 1 MS. mende. 74 THE CAST ELL OF PERSEVERANCE. With pynynge poyntes pale? Why waus al this gretynge gunne, With sore syinge undyr sunne? (3*5) Tell me, and I schal, if I cunne, Brewe the bote of bale. BONUS ANGELUS. Of byttyr balys thou mayste me bete, Swete Schryfte, if that thou wylt. For mankynde it is that I grete : (320) He is in poynt to be spylt. He is set in sevene synnys sete, And wyl, certes, tyl he be kylt With me he thynkyth nevere more to mete, He hath me forsake and I have no gylt ! (325) No man wyl hym amende ! Therfore, Schryfte, so God me spede, But if thou helpe at this nede, Mankynde getyth nevere other mede But peyne withowtyn ende. (33) ****** HUMANUM GENUS. A sete of sorwe in me is set, Sertys, for synne I sye sore, Mone of mercy in me is met, Ffor werldys myrthe I morne more. In wepynge wo my wele is wet, (335) Mercy, thou muste myn fatt a-store. Ffro cure lordys lyth thou hast me let, Sory synne, thou grysly gore. Owte on the, dedly synne ! Synne, thou haste mankynde schent, (340) In dedly synne my lyfe is spent; Mercy, God omnipotent, In youre grace I be-gynne. Ffor, thou mankynde have don a-mys, And he wyl falle in repentaunce, (345) THE CAST ELL OF PERSEVERANCE. 75 Crist schal hym bryngyn to bowre of blys, If sorwe of hert lache hym with launce. Lordyngys, _ye se wel alle thys Mankynde hathe ben in gret bobaunce, I now for-sake the, synne, i-wys, (35) And take me holy to penaunce : On Crist I crye and calle. A mercy ! schryfte ! I wyl no more I Ffor dedly synne myn herte is sore: Stuffe mankynde with thyne store, (355) And have hym to thyne halle. CONFESSIO. Schryffte may no man for-sake : Whanne mankynde cryeth I am redy, Whanne sorwe of hert the hathe take Schryfte prefytyth veryly. (360) Who-so for synne wyl sorwe make Crist hym heryth, whanne he wyl crye. Now, man, lete sorwe thyn synne slake 1 , And torne not a-geyn to thi ffolye; Ffor that makyth dystaunce, (365) And, if it happe the turne a-geyn to synne, Ffor Goddes love, lye not longe therinne : He that dothe alway evyl, and wyl not blynne, That askyth gret venjaunce. HUMANUM GENUS. Now, syr Schryfte, where may I dwelle To kepe me fro synne and woo? (371) A comly counseyll ye me spelle, To fende me now fro my foo. If .these vij synnys here telle That I am thus fro hem goo, (375) The werld, the flesche and the devyl of hell Schul sekyn my soule for to sloo 1 MS. slawe. 76 THE CAST ELL OF PERSEVERANCE. Into balys bowre. Therfore, I prey you, putte me Into sum place of surete, (380) That thei may not harmyn me With no synnys sowre. CONFESSIO. To swyche a place I schal the kenne, Ther thou mayst dwelle withowtyn dystaunse And al wey kepe the fro synne, (385) In to the Castell of Perseveraunce. If thou wylt to hevene wynne And kepe the fro werldyly dystaunce, Goo yone castell and kepe the therinne Ffor [it] is strenger thanne any in Fraunce; (390) To yone castel I the sende. That castel is a precyous place, Fful of vertu and of grace, Who so levyth there hes lyvys space No synne schal hym schende. (395) HUMANUM GENUS. A, Schryfte, blessyd mote thou be ! This castel is here but at honde; Thedyr rathely wyll I tee, Sekyr over this sad sonde. Good perseveraunce God sende me, (400) Whyle I leve here in this londe ! Ffro fowle fylthe now I fle, Fforthe to faryn now I fonde To yone precyous port, Lord, what man is in mery lyve (45) Whanne he is of hes synnys schreve I Al my dol adoun is dreve, Christe is my counfort. ttnettmtreatpre fcott) p type faderoftieuenfenfietlj fcetfcetofa* tnon euerp creature to come ana gptteacowtteof t&ewljHtcs m lljis mo;ioe/anfi 10 in matter oCattuvaupuqft, FROM AN EDITION BY JOHN SHOT (c. 1530) 77] C. Here begynneth a treatyse how ye hye | fader of heven sendeth dethe to so|mon every creature to come and | gyve a counte of theyr lyves in | this worlde, and is in in maner | of a morall playe .*J*. [Woodcut of ' Everyman ' and of Death carrying a coffin ; between them at the back stands a cross.] MESSENGER. I pray you all gyve your audyence And here this mater with reverence, By fygure a morall playe. The somonynge of Everyman called it is, That of our lyves and endynge shewes 5 How transytory we be all daye. This matter is wonders precyous, But the entent of it is more gracyous And swete to bere awaye. The story sayth : man, in the begynnynge 10 Loke well and take good heed to the endynge, Be you never so gay, Ye thynke synne in the begynnynge full swete, Whiche in the ende causeth the soule to wepe, Whan the body lyeth in claye. 15 Here shall you se how Felawshyp, and lolyte, Bothe Strengthe, Pleasure and Beaute, Wyll fade from the as floure in maye. For ye shall here how our heven kynge Calleth Everyman to a general rekenynge. ao Gyve audyence and here what he doth saye. 78 EVERYMAN. GOD spekyth: GOD. C. I perceyve here in my maieste How that all creatures be to me unkynde, Lyvynge without drede in worldly prosperyte ; Of ghostly syght the people be so blynde, 25 Drowned in synne they know me not for theyr god; In worldlye ryches is all theyr mynde. I se, the more that I them forbere, 42 The worse they be fro yere to yere, All that lyveth appayreth faste, Therfore I wyll in all the haste 45 Have a rekenynge of every mannes persone. They be so combred with worldly ryches 60 That nedes on them I must do justyce, On every man lyvynge without fere. Where arte thou, Deth, thou mighty messengere ? DETHE. DETHE. Almighty God, I am here at your wyll, Your commaundement to fulfylle. 65 GOD. Go thou to Every man, And shewe hym in my name A pylgrymage he must on hym take, Whiche he in no wyse may escape, And that he brynge with him a sure rekenynge 70 Without delay or ony taryenge. DETHE. Lorde I wyll in the worlde go renne over all And cruelly out serche bothe grete and small. Every man wyll I beset that lyveth beestly Out of Goddes lawes and dredeth not foly. 75 He that loveth rychesse I wylle stryke with my darte, His syght to blynde and fro heven to departe, EVERYMAN. 79 Except that almes be his good frende, In hell for to dwell, worlde without ende. Loo yonder I se Everyman walkynge, 80 Full lytell he thynketh on my comynge ! His mynde is on flesshely lustes and his treasure, And grete payne it shall cause hym to endure Before the lorde, heven kynge. Everyman, stande styll. Whyder arte thou goynge, 85 Thus gayly? hast thou thy Maker forgete? EVERYMAN. EVERYMAN. Why asketh thou? Woldest thou wete? DETHE. Ye, syr, I wyll shewe you : In grete hast I am sende to the 90 Fro God, out of his mageste. EVERYMAN. What, sente to me? DETHE. Ye, certaynly. Thoughe thou have forgete hym here, He thynketh on the in the hevenly spere, 95 As, or we departe, thou shalte knowe. EVERYMAN. What desyreth God of me? DETHE. That shall I shewe the: A rekenynge he wyll nedes have, Without ony lenger respyte. 100 EVERYMAN. To gyve a rekenynge longer layser I crave, This blinde mater troubleth my wytte. DETHE. On the thou must take a longe journey, Therfore thy boke of counte with the thou bryng, For tourne agayne thou can not by no waye ; 105 And loke thou be sure of thy rekenynge, For before God thou shalte answere and shewe Thy many badde dedes and good but a fewe, 80 EVERYMAN. How thou hast spente thy lyfe, and in what wyse, Before the chefe lorde of paradyse. no Have ado we were in that waye, For, wete thou well, thou shalte make none attournay. EVERYMAN. Full unredy I am suche rekenynge to gyve. I knowe the not. What messenger arte thou? DETHE. I am Dethe, that no man dredeth. 115 For every man I rest and no man spareth, For it is Goddes commaundement That all to me sholde be obedyent. EVERYMAN. deth, thou comest whan I had thee leest in mynde ! In thy power it lyeth me to save, 120 Yet of my good wyl I gyve thee, yf thou wyl be kynde. Ye, a thousande pounde shalte thou have, And dyfferre this mater tyll another daye. DETHE. Everyman, it may not be by no waye. 1 set not by golde, sylver, nor rychesse, 125 Ne by pope, emperour, kynge, duke ne prynces, For, and I wolde receyve gyftes grete, All the worlde I myght gete; But my custom is clene contrary. I gyve the no respyte, come hens and not tary. 130 EVERYMAN. Alas ! shall I have no lenger respyte ? I may saye deth gyveth no warnynge ! To thynke on the it maketh my herte seke, For all unredy is my boke of rekenynge. But, xii yere and I myght have abydynge, 135 My countynge boke I wolde make so clere, That my rekenynge I sholde not nede to fere. Wherfore, deth, I praye the, for Goddes mercy, Spare me tyll I be provyded of remedy. DETHE. The avayleth not to crye, wepe and praye. 140 But hast the lyghtly that thou were gone the journaye, EVERYMAN. 8 1 And preve thy frendes, yf thou can. For, wete thou well, the tyde abydeth no man, And in the worlde eche lyvynge creature For Adams synne must dye of nature. 145 EVERYMAN. Dethe, yf I sholde this pylgrymage take, And my rekenynge suerly make, Shewe me, for saynt charyte, Sholde I not come agayne shortly? DETHE. No, Everyman, and thou be ones there, 150 Thou mayst never more come here, Trust me veryly. EVERYMAN. O gracyous God, in the hye sete celestyall, Have mercy on me in this moost nede, Shall I have no company fro this vale terestryall 155 Of myne acqueynte, that way me to lede? DETHE. Ye, yf ony be so hardy That wolde go with the and bere the company. Hye the, that thou were gone to Goddes magnyfycence, Thy rekenynge to gyve before his presence. 160 What, wenest thou thy lyve is gyven the And thy worldely goodes also? EVERYMAN. I had wende so veryle. DETHE. Nay, nay, it was but lende the, For as sone as thou arte go 165 Another a whyle shall have it and than go 1 ther fro, Even as thou hast done. Everyman, thou art made ! Thou hast thy wyttes fyve, And here on erthe wyll not amende thy lyve ! For sodeynly I do come. 170 EVERYMAN. O wretched caytyfe, wheder shall I flee, That I myght scape this endles sorowe? 1 than thou go, Ed, against the sense. G 82 EVERYMAN. Now, gentyll deth, spare me tyll to morowe, That I may amende me With good advysement. 175 DETHE. Naye, therto I wyll not consent, Nor no man wyll I respyte, But to the herte sodeynly I shall smyte Without ony advysement. And now out of thy syght I wyll me hy, 180 Se thou make the redy shortely, For thou mayst saye this is the daye That no man lyvynge may scape awaye. EVERYMAN. Alas I may well wepe with syghes depe, Now have I no maner of company, 185 To helpe me in my journey and me to kepe, And also my wrytynge is butt unredy. How shall I do now for to exscuse me? I wolde to God I had never be gete ! To my soule a full grete profyte it had be, 190 For now I fere paynes huge and grete ! The tyme passeth, Lorde helpe that all wrought! For though I mourne it avayleth nought. The day passeth and is almoost ago, I wote not well what for to do. 195 To whome were I best my complaynt to make? What and I to Felawshyp therof spake, And shewed hym of this sodeyne chaunce? For in hym is all myne affyaunce, We have in the worlde so many a daye 300 Be good frendes in sporte and playe. I se hym yonder certaynely, I trust that he wyll bere me company, Therfore to hym wyll I speke to ese my sorowe. Well mette, good Felawshyp, and good morowe. 205 EVERYMAN. 83 FELAWSHYP speketh. FELAWSHYP. Everyman, good morowe by this daye. Syr, why lokest thou so pyteously? If ony thynge be amysse I praye the me saye, That I may helpe to remedy. EVERYMAN. Ye, good Felawshyp, ye, 210 I am in greate jeoparde. FELAWSHYP. My true frende, shewe to me your mynde, I wyll not forsake the to thy lyves ende, In the way of good company. EVERYMAN. That was well spoken and lovyngly. FELAWSHYP. Syr, I must nedes knowe your hevynesse. I have pyte to se you in ony dystresse. 217 If ony have you wronged ye shall revenged be, Though I on the grounde be slayne for the, Though that I knowe before that I sholde dye. 220 EVERYMAN. Veryly, Felawshyp, gramercy. FELAWSHYP. Tusshe, by thy thankes I set not a strawe, Shewe me your grefe and saye no more. EVERYMAN. If I my herte sholde to you breke, And than you to tourne your mynde fro me, 225 And wolde not me comforte whan ye here me speke, Then sholde I ten tymes soryer be. FELAWSHYP. Syr, I saye as I wyll do in dede. EVERYMAN. Than be you a good frende at nede, I have founde you true herebefore. 230 FELAWSHYP. And so ye shall evermore, For, in fayth, and thou go to hell I wyll not forsake the by the waye. EVERYMAN. Ye speke lyke a good frende, I byleve you well, I shall deserve it, and I maye. 235 G 2 84 EVERYMAN. FELAWSHYP. I speke of no deservynge, by this daye, For he that wyll saye and nothynge do Is not worthy with good company to go. Therfore shewe me the grefe of your mynde As to your frende moost lovynge and kynde. 240 EVERYMAN. I shall shewe you how it is : Commannded I am to go a journaye, A longe waye, harde and daungerous, And gyve a strayte counte, without delaye, Before the hye Juge Adonay. 245 Wherfore, I pray you, here me company, As ye have promysed, in this journaye. FELAWSHYP. That is mater in dede ! Promyse is duty, But and I sholde take suche vyage on me, I knowe it well, it sholde be to my payne; 250 Also it make[s] me aferde, certayne. But let us take counsell here as well as we can, For your wordes wolde fere a stronge man. EVERYMAN. Why, ye sayd, yf I had nede, Ye wolde me never forsake, quycke ne deed, 255 Though it were to hell, truely. FELAWSHYP. So I sayd certaynely, But suche pleasures be set a syde, the sothe to saye, And also, yf we toke suche a journaye, Whan sholde we come agayne? 260 EVERYMAN. Naye, never agayne, tyll the daye of dome. FELAWSHYP. In fayth, than wyll not I come there. Who hath you these tydynges brought? EVERYMAN. In dede, deth was with me here. FELAWSHYP. Now, by God that all ha the bought, 265 If deth were the messenger, For no man that is lyvynge to daye I wyll not go that lothe journaye, Not for the fader that bygate me. EVERYMAN. 85 EVERYMAN. Ye promysed other wyse, parde. 270 FELAWSHYP. I wote well I say so, truely, And yet yf thou wylte etc and drynke and make good chere Or haunt to women the lusty company, I wolde not forsake you, whyle the day is clere, Trust me veryly. 275 EVERYMAN. Ye, therto ye wolde be redy: To go to myrthe, solas and playe Your mynde wyll soner apply, Than to here me company in my longe journaye. FELAWSHIP. Now, in good fayth, I wyll not that waye, But and thou wylt murder, or ony man kyll, 281 In that I wyll helpe the with a good wyll. EVERYMAN. O that is a symple advyse in dede! Gentyll felawe, helpe me in my necessyte: We have loved longe, and now I nede ! 285 And now, gentyll Felawshyp, remember me. FELAWSHYP. Wheder ye have loved me or no, By saynt John I wyll not with the go. EVERYMAN. Yet I pray the, take the labour and do so moche for me, To brynge me forwarde, for saynt charyte, 290 And comforte me tyll I come without the towne. FELAWSHYP. Nay, and thou wolde gyve me a newe gowne, I wyll not a fote with the go; But and thou had taryed I wolde not have lefte the so, And, as now, God spede the in thy journaye, 295 For from the I wyll departe as fast as I maye. EVERYMAN. Wheder a-waye, felawshyp? wyll thou forsake me? FELAWSHYP. Ye, by my faye ! To God I betake the. 86 EVERYMAN. EVERYMAN. Farewell, good Fellawshyp ! For the my herte is sore! Adewe forever, I shall se the no more. 300 FELAWSHYP. In fayth, Everyman, fare well now at the ende, For you I wyll remembre that partynge is mournynge. EVERYMAN. Alacke shall we thus 1 departe in dede A lady ! helpe ! without ony more comforte ? Lo Felawshyp forsaketh me in my moost nede 2 . 305 For helpe in this worlde wheder shall I resorte? Felawshyp here before with me wolde mery make, And nowe lytell sorowe for me dooth he take. It is sayd in prosperyte men frendes may fynde Whiche in adversyte be full unkynde. 310 Nowe whither for socoure shall I flee, Syth that Felawshyp hath forsaken me? To my kynnes men I wyll truely, Prayenge them to helpe in my necessyte. I beleve that they wyll do so, 315 For kynde wyll crepe where it may not go. [The 147 lines here omitted are summed up in the following speech.] EVERYMAN. O to whome shall I make my mone For to go with me in that hevy journaye? Fyrst Felawshyp sayd he wolde with me gone; 465 His wordes were very plesaunt and gaye, But afterwarde he lefte me alone. Than spake I to my kynnesmen all in dyspayre, An[d] also they gave me wordes fayre ; They lacked no fayre spekynge, 470 But all forsake me in the endynge. 1 For thus, the Ed. reads this. ' From 1. 305 we have the help of Pynson's text. EVERYMAN. 87 Than wente I to my Goodes, that I loved best, In hope to have comforte, but there had I leest; For my Goodes sharpely dyd me tell That he bryngeth many into hell. 475 Than of my selfe I was ashamed, And so I am worthy to be blamed. Thus may I well my selfe hate. Of whome shall I now conseyll take ? I thinke that I shall never spede 480 Tyll that I go to my Good Dede. But, alas, she is so weke That she can nother go nor speke. Yet will I venter on her now. My Good Dedes, where be you? 485 GOOD DEDES. Here I lye, colde in the grounde, Thy synnes hath me sore bounde That I can nat stere. EVERYMAN. O Good Dedes, I stande in great 1 fere, I must you pray of counseyll, 490 For helpe now sholde come ryght well. GOOD DEDES. Everyman, I have understandynge That ye be somoned a counte to make Before Myssyas, of Jherusalem kynge, 494 And you do by me the journay with you wyll I take. EVERYMAN. Therfore I come to you my moone to make. I praye you that ye wyll go with me. GOOD DEDES. I wolde full fayne, but I can nat stand veryly. EVERYMAN. Why, is there onythynge on you fall ? GOOD DEDES. Ye, syr, I may thanke you of all. 500 If ye had parfytely chered me, Your boke of counte nowe full redy had be. Loke, the bokes of your workes and dedes eke 1 om. Skot. 88 EVERYMAN. Ase howe they lye here under the fete, To your soules hevynes. 505 EVERYMAN. Our Lorde Jesus helpe me, For one letter here I can nat se. GOOD DEDES. There is a blynde reckenynge in tyme of dystres. EVERYMAN. Good dedes, I praye you helpe me in this nede, Or elles I am for ever dampned in dede, 510 Therfore helpe me to make my rekenynge Before the Redemer of all thynge, That kynge is, and was, and ever shall. GOOD DEDES. Everyman, I am sory of your fall, And fayne wolde I helpe you, and I were able. 515 EVERYMAN. Good Dedes, your counseyll I pray you gyve me. GOOD DEDES. That shall I do veryly, Thoughe that on my fete I may nat go. I have a syster that shall with you also, Called Knowlege, whiche shall with you abyde, 520 To helpe you to make that dredefull rekenynge. KNOWLEGE. Everyman, I wyll go with the and be thy gyde, In thy moost nede to go by thy syde. EVERYMAN. In good condycyon I am now in every thynge, And am holy 1 content with this good thynge 535 Thanked be 2 God my creatoure. ****** [EVERYMAN is taken to CONFESSION and does penance for his sins.] GOOD DEDES. Every man, pylgryme, my specyall frende, Blessyd be thou without ende, 630 For the is preparate the eternall glorye. 1 hole, Skoi. 3 by, Skot. EVERYMAN. 89 Ye have me made hole and sounde, Therfor I wyll byde by the in every stounde. EVERYMAN. Welcome, my Good Dedes ! Now I here thy voyce I wepe for very swetenes of love. 635 KNOWLEGE. Be no more sad, but ever rejoyce. God seeth thy lyvynge in his trone above, Put on this 1 garment, to thy behove, Which is wette with your teres, Or elles before God you may it mysse, 640 Whan ye to your journeys ende come shall. EVERYMAN. Gentyll Knowlege, what do you yt call? KNOWLEGE. It is called the garment of sorowe, Fro payne it wyll you borowe, Gentry cy on it is, 645 That getteth forgyveness, He pleaseth God passynge well. GOOD DEDES. Everyman, wyll you were it for your hele? EVERYMAN. Now blessyd be Jesu, Maryes sone, For nowe have I on true contrycyon, 650 And lette us go now without taryenge. Good Dedes, have we clere our rekenynge? GOOD DEDES. Ye, in dede, I have them 2 here. EVERYMAN. Than I trust we nede not fere. Now, frendes, let us not parte in twayne. 655 KNOWLEGE 3 . Nay, Everyman, that wyll we nat certayne. GOOD DEDES. Yet must thou leade* with the Thre persones of grete myght. 1 Skot only, rest thy. cm. Skol. 8 The editions all assign this line and also 1. 666 to Kynrede, but surely wrongly, since Kynrede left the stage at 1. 366. 4 led, Skot. 90 EVERYMAN. EVERYMAN. Who sholde they be? GOOD DEDES. Dyscrecyon and Strength they hyght, 660 And thy Beaute may not abyde behinde. KNOWLEGE. Also ye must call to mynde Your Fyve Wyttes, as for your counseylours. GOOD DEDES. You must have them redy at all houres. EVERYMAN. Howe shall I gette them hyder? 665 KNOWLEGE. You must call them all togyder, And they wyll here you incontynent. EVERYMAN. My frendes, come hyder and be present, Discrecyon, Strengthe, my Fyve Wyttes and Beaute. BEAUTE. Here at your wyll we be all redy, 670 What wyll ye that we shulde do? GOOD DEDES. That ye wolde with Everyman go, And helpe him in his pylgrymage. Advyse you, wyll ye with him or not in that vyage? STRENGTH. We wyll brynge hym all thyder 675 To his helpe and comforte, ye may byleve me. DYSCRECYON. So wyll we go with hym all togyder. [EVERYMAN receives the last Sacrament :] FYVE WITTES. Peas, for yonder I see Everyman come, Whiche hath made trewe satysfaccyon. GOOD DEDES. Me thynke, it is he indede, 770 EVERYMAN. Now Jesu be our l alder spede ! I have receyved the sacrament for my redempcyon, And than myne extreme unccyon. Blessyd be all they that counseyled me to take it ! And now frendes, let us go without longer respyte. 1 your, Skot. EVERYMAN. 91 I thanke God that ye have taryed so longe. 776 Now set eche of you on this rodde his honde, And shortely folowe me. I go before there I wolde be. God be our 1 gyde! 780 STRENGTHS. Everyman, we will nat fro you go, Tyll ye have gone this vyage longe. DYSCRECYON. I, Dyscrecyon, wyll byde by you also. KNOWLEGE. And though this pylgrymage be never so stronge I wyll never parte you fro. 785 STRENGTH. Everyman, I will be as sure by the As ever I was 2 by Judas Machabe. EVERYMAN. Alas, I am so faynt I may not stande, My lymmes under me doth folde. Frendes, let us nat tourne agayne to this lande, 790 Nat for all the worldes golde, For into this cave must I crepe, And torne to the erthe, and there slepe 8 . BEAUTE. What in to this grave, alas ! EVERYMAN. Ye, there shall we consume, more and lesse ! 795 BEAUTE. And what, sholde I smoder here EVERYMAN. Ye, be my fayth, and never more appere! In this worlde lyve no more we shall, But in heven before the hyest lorde of all. BEAUTE. I crosse out all this ! adewe by saynt Johan I I take my cappe 4 in my lappe, and am gone. 80 1 EVERYMAN. What, Beaute, whyder wyll ye? 1 your, Skot. * dyd, Shot. * And tourne to erth and there to slepe, Skot. Mr. Hazlitt assigns this line and the next but one to Beauty, and 11. 794, 796 to Everyman. * cappe, Skot only, rest tappe. 92 EVERYMAN. BEAUTE. Peas! I am defe, I loke not behynde me, Nat and thou woldest gyve me all the golde in thy chest. EVERYMAN. Alas ! wherto may I truste ? 805 Beaute gothe fast awaye fro me. She promysed with me to lyve and dye. STRENGTH. Everyman, I wyll the also forsake and denye, Thy game lyketh me nat at all. EVERYMAN. Why than ye wyll forsake me all! Sio Swete Strength, tarry a lytel space 1 ! STRENGTH. Nay, syr, by the rode of grace, I wyll hye me from the fast, Though thou wepe till 2 thy hert brast. EVERYMAN. Ye wolde ever byde by me, ye sayd. 815 STRENGTH. Ye, I have you ferre ynoughe conveyed. Ye be olde ynoughe, I understande, Your pylgrymage to take on hand. I repent me that I hyder came. EVERYMAN. Strengthe, you to dysplease I am to blame, Yet promyse is dette, this ye well wot 3 . 821 STRENGTH. In fayth, as for that 4 I care not! Thou arte but a foole to complayne, You spende your speche and wast your brayne ; Go thryst 6 the into the grounde ! 825 EVERYMAN. I had wende surer I sholde you have founde, But I se well 6 he that trusteth in his strength She hym deceyveth 7 at the length, For Strength and Beaute forsaketh me, Yet they promysed me fayre and lovyngly 8 . 830 1 Strength, tary I pray you a lytell space, Pynson. a wepe to thy herte to brast, Skot. 3 Wyll ye breke promyse that is dette (losing the rime), Skot. * as for that, om. Skot. 5 trusse, Pynson. B om. Skot. 7 Is greatly disceyved, Pynson. * stedfast to be, Pynson. EVERYMAN. 93 DISCRETION. Everyman, I wyll after Strengthe be gone; As for me, I wyll leve you alone. EVERYMAN. Why, Dyscrecyon, wyll ye forsake me? DYSCRECYON. Ye, in good 1 fayth, I wyll go fro the, For whan Strength goth before 835 I folowe after ever more. EVERYMAN. Yet I pray the, for love of the Trynyte, Loke in my grave ones pyteously. DYSCRECYON. Nay, so nye wyll I not come ! Now farewell, fellowes 2 , everychone. 840 EVERYMAN. O all thynge fayleth save God alone, Beaute, Strengthe and Dyscrecyon ; For whan Deth bloweth his blast They all renne fro me full fast. FYVE WYTTES. Everyman, my leve now of the I take, I wyll folowe the other, for here I the forsake. 846 EVERYMAN. Alas, then may I wayle and wepe, For I toke you for my best frende. FYVE WYTTES. I wyll no lenger the kepe, Now farewell, and there an ende. 850 EVERYMAN. O Jesu helpe : all hath forsaken me. GOOD DEDES. Nay, Everyman, I wyll byde with the, I wyll not forsake the in dede, Thou shalte fynde me a good frende at nede. EVERYMAN. Gramercy, Good Dedes, now may I true frendes se; 855 They have forsaken me everychone I loved them better than my Good Dedes alone, Knowlege, wyll ye forsake me also? 1 om. Shot. om. Skot. 94 EVERYMAN. KNOWLEGE. Ye, Everyman, when ye to Deth shall go, But not yet for no maner of daunger. 860 EVERYMAN. Gramercy, Knowlege, with all my herte. KNOWLEGE. Nay yet I will not from hens departe, Tyll I se where ye shall be come. EVERYMAN. Me thynke, alas, that I must be gone To make my rekenynge and my dettes paye, 865 For I se my tyme is nye spent awaye. Take example, all ye that this do here or se, How they that I love best do forsake me, Excepte my Good Dedes that bydeth truely. GOOD DEDES. All erthly thynges is but vanyte, 870 Beaute, Strength and Dyscrecyon do man forsake, Folysshe frendes and kynnes men that fayre spake, All fleeth save Good Dedes and that am I. EVERYMAN. Have mercy on me, God moost myghty, And stande by me, thou moder and mayde, holy Mary. GOOD DEDES. Fere not, I wyll speke for the. 876 EVERYMAN. Here I crye, God mercy. GOOD DEDES. Shorte our ende and mynyshe our payne, Let us go and never come agayne. EVERYMAN. Into thy handes, lorde, my soule I commende. Receyve it, lorde, that it be nat loste ! 88 1 As thou me boughtest, so me defende, And save me fro the fendes boost, That I may appere with that blessyd hoost That shall be saved at the day of dome. 885 In manus tuas, of myghtes moost, For ever commendo spiritum meum. EVERYMAN. 95 KNOWLEGE. Nowe hath he suffred that we all shall endure, The good dedes shall make all sure. Now hath he made endynge, 890 Me thynketh that I here aungelles synge, And make grete joy and melody, Where every mannes soule receyved shall be. THE AUNGELL. Come excellente electe spouse to Jesu ! Here above thou shalte go, 895 Bycause of thy synguler vertue. Now the soule is taken the body fro Thy rekenynge is crystall clere; Now shalte thou into the hevenly spere, Unto the whiche all ye shall come 900 That lyveth well before the daye of dome. DOCTOUR. This morall 1 men may have in mynde : Ye herers take it of worth, olde and yonge, And forsake Pryde, for he disceyveth you in the ende, And remembre Beaute, Five Wyttes, Strength and Dyscrecyon, 905 They all at the last do Everyman forsake, Save his Good Dedes there doth he take. But beware, and they be small, Before God he hath no helpe at all. None excuse may be there for Everyman ! 910 Alas ! howe shall he do than ? For after dethe amendes may no man make, For than mercy and pyte doth hym forsake, If his rekenynge be not clere when he doth come, God wyll saye Ite maledicti in ignem efemum. 915 And he that hath his accounte hole and sounde Hye in heven he shall be crounde, Unto whiche place God brynge us all thyder That we may lyve body and soule togyder! 1 memoiyall, Pynson. 96 EVERYMAN. Therto helpe the Trinyte! Amen, saye ye, for saynt charyte! FINIS. C Thus endeth this morall playe of every man C Imprynted at London in Poules chyrche yarde by me John Skot 1 C- Imprynted at London in Flete trete | by me Rycbarde Pynson | pijnter to the kynges moost noble grace. 3lnter!uHe of tfre jfout Clements THE MESSENGER. Thaboundant grace of the power devyne, Whiche doth illumyne the world invyron, Preserve this audyence and cause them to inclyne To charyte, this is my petycyon ; For by your pacyens and supportacyon 5 A lytyll interlude, late made and preparyd, Before your presence here shall be declaryd, Whiche of a few conclusyons is contrivyd, And poyntes of phylosophy naturall ; But though the matter be not so well declaryd 10 As a great clerke coude do, nor so substancyall, Yet the auctour hereof requiryth you all, Though he be ygnorant *, and can lytyll skyll, To regarde his only intent and good wyll, Whiche in his mynde hath oft tymes ponderyd, 15 What nombre of bokes in our tonge maternall Of toyes and tryfellys be made and impryntyd, And few of them of matter substancyall ; For though many make bokes, yet unneth ye shall In our Englyshe tonge fynde any warkes 20 Of connynge, that is regardyd by clerkes. The Grekes, the Romayns, with many other mo, In their moder tonge wrot warkes excellent. Than yf clerkes in this realme wolde take payn so, 1 yngnorant, Text, H 98 INTERLUDE OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS. Consyderyng that our tonge is now suffycyent 25 To expoun any hard sentence evydent, They myght, yf they wolde, in our Englyshe tonge Wryte workys of gravyte" somtyme amonge ; For dyvers prengnaunt wyttes be in this lande, As well of noble men as of meane estate, 30 Whiche nothynge but Englyshe can understande. Than yf connynge Laten bokys were translate Into Englyshe, wel correct and approbate, All subtell sciens in Englyshe myght be lernyd, As well as other people in their owne tonges dyd. 35 But now so it is that in our Englyshe tonge Many one there is, that can but rede and wryte, For his pleasure wyll oft presume amonge New bokys to compyle and balates to indyte, Some of love or other matter, not worth a myte : 40 Some to opteyn favour wyll flatter and glose, Some wryte curyous termes nothyng to purpose. Thus every man after his fantesye Wyll wryte his conseyte, be it never so rude, Be it vertuous, vycyous, wysedome or foly; 45 Wherfore to my purpose thus I conclude, Why shold not than the auctour of this interlude Utter his owne fantesy and conseyte also, As well as dyvers other now a dayes do. [After the Messenger's speech there enter Natura Naturata (created Nature), Humanity and Studious Desire. Nature discourses 'of the situation, of the four elements, that is to say, the earth, the water, the air and fire, and of their qualities and properties, and of the generation and corruption of things made of the commixtion of them.' Humanity thanks her humbly and is left in the hands of Studious Desire for further instruction.] STUDYOUS DESIRE. Now, Humanyte, call to your memory The connynge poyntes that Nature hath declaryd, INTERLUDE OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS. 99 And though he have shewed dyvers pointes and many Of the elementis so wondersly formed, Yet many other causys there are wolde be lernyd, 330 As to knowe the generacyon of thynges all Here in the yerth, how they be ingendryd, As herbys, plantys, well sprynges, ston and metall. HUMANYTE. Those thynges to knowe for me be full expedient, But yet in those poyntes which Nature late shewyd me, My mynde in them as yet is not content, 336 For I can no maner wyse parceyve nor see, Nor prove by reason why the yerth sholde be In the myddes of the fyrmament hengyng so small, And the yerth with the water to be rounde withall. 340 STUDYOUS DESIRE. Methynkyth myselfe as to some of those pointes I coude gyve a suffycyent solucyon ; For, furst of all, thou must nedys graunt this, That the yerth is so depe and botom hath non, Or els there is some grose thyng hit stondyth upon, Or els that it hangyth, thou must nedes consent, 346 Evyn in the myddes of the fyrmament. HUMANYTE. What than? go forth with thyne argument. STUDYOUS DESIRE. Than marke well, in the day or in a wynters nyght, The sone, and mone, and stems celestyall, 350 In the est furst they do apere to thy syght And after in the west they do downe fall, And agayne in the morowe, next of all, Within xxiiij. houres they be come just To the est pointes again, where thou sawist them furst. Than yf the erthe shulde be of endles depnes, 356 Or shulde stande upon any other grose thynge, It shulde be an impedyment, dowtles, 100 INTERLUDE OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS. To the sone, mone and stems in theyr movynge, They shulde not so in the est agayne sprynge. Therfore in reason it semyth moste convenyent 360 The yerth to hange in the myddes of the fyrmament. HUM. Thyne argument in that poynt doth me confounde, That thou hast made, but yet it provytht not ryght That the yerth by reason shulde be rounde; For though the fyrmament with his sterris bryght 365 Compas aboute the yerth eche day and nyght, Yet the yerthe may be playne, peradventure, Quadrant, triangle, or some other fygure. STUDYOUS DESYRE. That it cannot be playne I shall well prove the, Because the sterris that aryse in the oryent 370 Appere more soner to them that there be, Than to the other dwellynge in the Occident. The eclypse is therof a playne experymente, Of the sone or mone, which, whane it doth fall, Is never one tyme of the day in placys all ; 375 Yet the eclyps generally is alwaye In the hole worlde as one tyme beynge; But whan we that dwell here see it in the mydday, They in the west partis see it in the mornynge, And they in the est beholde it in the evenyng; 380 And why that sholde be so no cause can be found, But onely by reason that the yerthe is rownde. HUMANYTE. That reason proveth the yerth at the lest One wayes to be rownde I cannot gaynesay, As for to accompt from the est to the west ; 385 But yet, not withstondynge all that, it may Lese hys rowndenesse by some other waye. STUDYOUS DESYRE. Na, no dowte yt is rownde everywhere, Whiche I coulde prove thou shouldest not say nay, Yf I had therto any tyme and leser; 390 INTERLUDE OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS. IOI But I knowe a man callyd Experyens, Of dyvers instrumentys is never without, Cowde prove all these poyntys, and yet by his scyens Can tell how many myle the erthe is abowte, And many other straunge conclusions no dowte 395 Hys instrumentys cowde shew them so certayn That every rude carter shold them persayve playn. Hu. Now wolde to God I had that man now here For the contembtacyon of my mynde ! STU. Yf ye wyll, I shall for hym enquere, 400 And brynge hym heder yf I can hym fynde. Hu. Then myght I say ye were to me ryght kynde. STU. I shall assay, by God that me dere bought, For cunnyng is the thynge that wolde be sought. SENSUAL APPETYTE. Aha ! now god evyn, fole, god evyn ! It is even the, knave, that I mene. 408 Hast thou done thy babelyng? STU. Ye, peradventure, what then ? 410 SEN. Than hold downe thy hede lyke a prety man, and take my blyssyng. Benedicite! I graunt to the this pardon, And gyve the absolucion For thy soth saws; stande up, Jackdaw I I beschrew thy faders sone. 415 Make rome, syrs, and let us be mery, With huffa galand, synge tyrll on the bery, And let the wyde worlde wynde! Synge fryska joly, with hey troly loly, For I se wel it is but a foly 420 For to have a sad mynd : For rather than I wolde use suche foly, To pray, to study, or be pope holy, 102 INTERLUDE OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS. I had as lyf be ded. By [Jupiter] I tell you trew ! 425 I speke as I thynke now, else I beshrew Evyn my next felowes bed ! Master Humanyte", syr, be your leve, I were ryght loth you to greve, Though I do hym dyspyse ; 430 For yf ye knewe hym as well as I, Ye wolde not use his company, Nor love hym in no wyse. Hu. Syr, he looketh lyke an honest man, Therfore I merveyll that ye can 435 This wyse hym deprave. SEN. Though he loke never so well, I promyse you he hath a shrewde smell. Hu. Why so? I prey you tell. SEN. For he saveryth lyke a knave. 440 Sxu. Holde your pease, syr, ye mistake me ! What ! I trowe, that ye wolde make me Lyke to one of your kyn. SEN. Harke, syrs, here ye not how boldly He calleth me knave agayne by polycy? 445 The devyll pull of his skyn ! I wolde he were hangyd by the throte, For, by the messe, I love hym not, We two can never agre ; I am content, syr, with you to tary, 450 And I am for you so necessary, Ye can not lyve without me. Hu. Why, syr, I say, what man be ye ? SEN. I am callyd Sensuall Appetyte, All craturs in me delyte 455 INTERLUDE OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS. 103 I comforte the wyttys fyve, The tastyng, smellyng, and herynge j I refresh the syght and felynge To all creaturs alyve. For whan the body wexith hongry, 460 For lacke of fode, or ellys thursty, Than with drynkes pleasaund I restore hym out of payne, And oft refresshe nature agayne With delycate vyand. 465 With plesaunde sounde of armonye The herynge alwaye I satysfy, I dare this well reporte; The smellynge with swete odour, And the syght with plesaunte fygour 470 And colours I comforte; The felynge, that is so plesaunte, Of every member, fote or hande, What pleasure therin can be By the towchynge of soft and harde, 475 Of hote or cold, nought in regarde, Excepte it come by me. Hu. Than I cannot see the contrary, But ye are for me full necessary, And ryght convenyent. 480 STU. Ye, syr, beware, yet, what ye do, For yf you forsake my companye so, Lorde Nature wyll not be contente. Of hym ye shall never lerne good thyng, Nother vertu, nor no other connynge, 485 This dare I well say. SEN. Mary, avaunt, knave ! I the defye ! Dyde Nature forbyde hym my company? What sayst thou therto? Speke openly. 104 INTERLUDE OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS. Hu. As for that I know well nay. 490 SEN. No, by [Jove] ! I am ryght sure ; For he knoweth well no creature Without me can lyve one day. Hu. Syr, I pray you, be contente, It is not utterly myne intente 495 Your company to exyle ; But onely to have communycacyon And a pastyme of recreacyon With this man for a whyle. STU. Well, for your pleasure I wyll departe. 500 Hu. Now go, knave, go ! I beshrew thy hart The devyll sende the forwarde 1 SEN. Now, by my trouth, I mervell gretly That ever ye wolde use the company So myche of suche a knave ; 505 For yf ye do non other thynge, But ever study and to be musynge, As he wolde have you, it wyll you brynge At the last unto your grave ! Ye shulde ever study pryncypall 510 For to comfort your lyfe naturall With metis and drynkes dilycate, And other pastymes and pleasures amonge, Daunsynge, laughynge, or plesaunt songe; This is mete for your estate. 515 Hu. Because ye sey so, I you promyse That I have musyd and studyed such wyse, Me thynketh my wyttes wery; My nature desyreth some refresshynge, And also I have ben so longe fastynge, 520 That I am somwhat hongry. INTERLUDE OF THE FOUR ELEMENTS. 105 SEN. Well than, wyll ye go with me To a taverne, where ye shall se Good pastaunce, and at your lyberte Have what so ever ye wyll ? 535 Hu. I am content so for to do, Yf that ye wyll not fro me go But kepe me company stylL SEN. Company, quod a? ye, that I shall, poynt devyse, And also do you good and trew servyce, 530 And therto I plyght my trouthe ! And yf that I ever forsake you, I pray God the devyl take you ! Hu. Mary, I thanke you for that othe! SEN. A myschyfe on it ! my tonge, loo, 535 Wyll tryp somtyme, whatsoever I do, But ye wot what I mene well. Hu. Ye, no force ! let this matter passe ; But seydest evin now thou knewyst where was A good taverne to make solas? 540 Where is that? I prey the tell. SEN. Mary, at the dore evyn hereby; Yf we call any thynge on hye, The taverner wyll answere. Hu. I prey the, than, call for hym nowe. 545 SEN. Mary, I wyll ! How, taverner, how ! Why doste thou not appere? g>fcelton'0 Magnyfycence | A goodly interlude and a mery | Devysed and made by | Mayster Skelton, Poet Laureate. Here FANCY cometh in. MAGN. What tydynges with you, syr, that you loke so sad? 1868 FAN. When ye knowe that I knowe, ye wyll not be glad FOL. What, brother braynsyke, how farest thou ? 1870 MAGN. Ye, let be thy japes, and tell me howe The case requyreth. FAN. Alasse, alasse, an hevy metynge ! I wolde tell you, and yf I myght for wepynge. FOL. What, is all your myrthe nowe tourned to sorowe? Fare well tyll sone, adue tyll to morowe. Here goth FOLYE away. MAGN. I pray the, Largesse, let be thy sobbynge. FAN. Alasse, syr, ye are undone with stelyngand robbynge! Ye sent us a supervysour for to take hede : Take hede of your selfe, for nowe ye have nede. 1880 MAGN. What, hath Sadnesse begyled me so? FAN. Nay, madnesse hath begyled you and many mo; For Lyberte is gone and also Felycyte. MAGN. Gone ? Alasse, ye have undone me ! SKELTON'S MAGNYFYCENCE. 107 FAN. Nay, he that ye sent us, Clokyd Colusyon, And your payntyd Pleasure, Courtly Abusyon, And your demenour with Counterfet Countenaunce, And your survayour, Crafty Conveyaunce, Or ever we were ware brought us in adversyte And had robbyd you quyte from all felycyte. 1890 MAGN. Why, is this the Largesse that I have usyd? FAN. Nay, it was your fondnesse that ye have usyd. MAGN. And is this the credence that I gave to the letter ? FAN. Why, coulde not your wyt serve you no better? MAGN. Why, who wolde have thought in you suche gyle? FAN. What ? Yes, by the rode, syr, it was I all this whyle That you trustyd, and Fansy is my name; And Foly, my broder, that made you moche game. Here cometh in ADVERSYTE. MAGN. Alas, who 1 is yonder, that grymly lokys? FAN. Adewe, for I wyll not come in his clokys. 1900 MAGN. Lorde, so my flesshe trymblyth nowe for drede ! Here MAGNYFYCENCE isbeten downe, and spoylyd from all his goodys and rayment. ADVER. I am Adversyte, that for thy mysdede From God am sent to quyte the thy mede, Vyle velyarde, thou must not nowe my dynt withstande, Thou must not abyde the dynt of my hande : Ly there, losell, for all thy pompe and pryde; Thy pleasure now with payne and trouble shalbe tryde. The stroke of God, Adversyte, I hyght; I pluke downe kynge, prynce, lorde and knyght, 1 ' why.' Text. 108 SKELTON'S MAGNYFYCENCE. I rushe at them rughly, and make them ly full lowe, And in theyr moste truste I make them overthrowe. Thys losyll was a lorde, and lyvyd at his lust, 1912 And nowe, lyke a lurden, he lyeth in the dust : He knewe not hymselfe, his harte was so hye; Now is ther no man that wyll set by hym a flye : He was wonte to boste, brage and to brace; Nowe dare he not for shame loke one in the face : All worldly welth for hym to lytell was; Nowe hath he ryght nought, naked as an asse : Somtyme without measure he trusted in golde, 1920 And now without mesure he shall have hunger and colde. Lo, syrs, thus I handell them all That folowe theyr fansyes in foly to fall : Man or woman, of what estate they be, I counsayle them beware of Adversyte. Of sorowfull servauntes I have many scores : I vysyte them somtyme with blaynes and with sores ; With botches and carbuckyls in care I them knyt; With the gowte I make them to grone where they syt ; Some I make lyppers and lazars full horse; 1930 And from that they love best some I devorse; Some with the marmoll to halte I them make; And some to cry out of the bone ake; And some I vysyte with brennynge of fyre; Of some I wrynge of the necke lyke a wyre; Arid some I make in a rope to totter and waiter; And some for to hange themselfe in an halter; And some I vysyte to batayle, warre and murther, And make eche man to sle other; To drowne or to sle themselfe with a knyfe; 1940 And all is for theyr ungracyous lyfe. Yet somtyme I stryke where is none offence, Bycause I wolde prove men of theyr pacyence. SKELTON'S MAGNYFYCENCE. 109 But nowe a dayes to stryke I have grete cause, Lydderyns so lytell set by Goddes lawes. Faders and moders that be neclygent, And suffre theyr chyldren to have theyr entent, To guyde them vertuously that wyll not remembre, Them, or theyr chyldren, ofte tymes I dysmembre; Theyr chyldren, bycause that they have no mekenesse; I vysyte theyr faders and moders with sekenesse; 1951 And yf I se therby that they wyll not amende, Then myschefe sodaynly I them sende; For there is nothynge that more dyspleseth God Than from theyr chyldren to spare the rod Of correccyon, but let them have theyr wyll; Some I make lame, and some I do kyll; And some 1 I stryke with a franesy; Of some of theyr chyldren I stryke out the eye; And where the fader by wysdom worshyp hath wonne, I sende ofte tymes a fole to his sonne. 1961 Wherfore of Adversyte loke ye be ware, For when I come, comyth sorowe and care : For I stryke lordys of realmes and landys, That rule not by mesure that they have in theyr handys, That sadly rule not theyr howsholde men; I am Goddys preposytour, I prynt them with a pen; Because of theyr neglygence and of theyr wanton vagys, I vysyte them and stryke them with many sore plagys. To take, syrs, example of that I you tell, 1970 And beware of Adversyte by my counsell, Take hede of this caytyfe that lyeth here on grounde; Beholde, howe Fortune of hym hath frounde ! For though we shewe you this in game and play, Yet it proveth eyrnest, ye may se, every day. For nowe wyll I from this caytyfe go, And take myscheffe and vengeaunce of other mo, 1 syme, Text. HO SKELTON'S MAGNYFYCENCE. That hath deservyd it as well as he. Howe, where art thou? come hether, Poverte; Take this caytyfe to thy lore. 1980 Here cometh in POVERTE. POVER. A, my bonys ake, my lymmys be sore ; Alasse, I have the cyataca full evyll in my hyppe ! Alasse, where is youth that was wont for to skyppe ? I am lowsy, and unlykynge, and full of scurfife, My colour is tawny, colouryd as a turffe : I am Poverte, that all men doth hate, I am baytyd with doggys at every mannys gate; I am raggyd and rent, as ye may se; Full fewe but they have envy at me. Nowe must I this carcasse lyft up : 1990 He dynyd with delyte, with Poverte he must sup. Ryse up, syr, and welcom unto me. Hie accedat ad levandum MAGNYFYCENCE et locabit eum super locum stratum. MAGN. Alasse, where is nowe my golde and fe? Alasse, I say, where to am I brought? Alasse, alasse, alasse, I dye for thought ! POVER. Syr, all this wolde have bene thought on before : He woteth not what welth is that never was sore. MAGN. Fy, fy, that ever I sholde be brought in this snare ! I wenyd ones never to have knowen of care. POVER. Lo, suche is this worlde ! I fynde it wryt, 2000 In welth to beware, and that is wyt. MAGN. In welth to beware, yf I had had grace, Never had I bene brought in this case. POVER. Nowe, syth it wyll non other be, All that God sendeth, take it in gre; SK ELTON'S MAGNYFYCENCE. ill For, thoughe you were somtyme a noble estate, Nowe must you lerne to begge at every mannes gate. MAGN. Alasse, that ever I sholde be so shamed ! Alasse, that ever I Magnyfycence was named ! Alasse, that ever I was so harde happed, 2010 In mysery and wretchydnesse thus to be lapped ! Alasse, that I coude not myselfe no better gyde ! Alasse, in my cradell that I had not dyde ! POVER. Ye, syr, ye, leve all this rage, And pray to God your sorowes to asswage : It is foly to grudge agaynst his vysytacyon. With harte contryte make your supplycacyon Unto your Maker, that made both you and me And, whan it pleaseth God, better may be. MAGN. Alasse, I wote not what I sholde pray ! 2020 POVER. Remembre you better, syr, beware what ye say, For drede ye dysplease the hygh deyte. Put your wyll to his wyll, for surely it is he That may restore you agayne to felycyte, And brynge you agayne out of adversyte. Therfore poverte loke pacyently ye take, And remembre he suffered moche more for your sake, Howe be it of all synne he was innocent, And ye have deserved this punysshment. 3029 MAGN. Alasse, with colde my lymmes shall be marde ! POVER. Ye, syr, nowe must ye lerne to lye harde, That was wonte to lye on fetherbeddes of downe; Nowe must your fete lye hyer than your crowne : Where you were wonte to have cawdels for your hede, Nowe must you monche mamockes and lumpes of brede ; And where you had chaunges of ryche aray, Nowe lap you in a coverlet, full fayne that you may; 112 SKELTON'S MAGNYFYCENCE. And where that ye were pomped with what that ye wolde, Nowe must ye suffre bothe hunger and colde : With courtely sylkes ye were wonte to be drawe ; 2040 Nowe must ye lerne to lye on the strawe; Your skynne that was wrapped in shertes of Raynes, Nowe must ye be storm ybeten with showres and raynes ; Your hede that was wonte to be happed moost drowpy and drowsy, Now shal ye be scabbed, scurvy and lowsy. MAGN. Fye on this worlde, full of trechery, That ever noblenesse sholde lyve thus wretchydly! POVER. Syr, remembre the tourne of Fortunes whele, That wantonly can wynke, and wynche with her hele. Nowe she wyll laughe, forthwith she will frowne 2050 Sodenly set up, and sodenly pluckyd downe : She dawnsyth varyaunce with mutabylyte ; Nowe all in welth, forthwith in poverte : In her promyse there is no sykernesse ; All her delyte is set in doublenesse. MAGN. Alas, of Fortune I may well complayne ! POVER. Ye, syr, yesterday wyll not be callyd agayne: But yet, syr, nowe in this case, Take it mekely, and thanke God of his grace ; For nowe go I wyll begge for you some mete; 2060 It is foly agaynst God for to plete; I wyll walke nowe with my beggers baggys, And happe you the whyles with these homly raggys. Discedendo*- dicat ista verba. A, howe my lymmys be lyther and lame ! Better it is to begge than to be hangyd with shame, Yet many had lever hangyd to be, 1 Difidendo, Text. SKELTON'S MAGNYFYCENCE. 113 Then for to begge theyr mete for charyte : They thynke it no shame to robbe and stele, Yet were they better to begge a great dele; For by robbynge they rynne to in manus tuas quecke, But beggynge is better medecyne for the necke; 2071 Ye, mary, is it, ye, so mote I goo : A Lorde God, howe the gowte wryngeth me by the too ! t&e Ipartionet ana t&e jFme, A mery playe betwene the pardoner and the frere the curate and neybour Pratte. THE FRERE. Deus hie, the Holy Trynyte, Preserve all that nowe here be ! Dere bretherne, yf ye wyll consyder The cause why I am come hyder, Ye wolde be glad to knowe my intent. e For I com not hyther for monye nor for rent, I com not hyther for meate nor for meale, But I com hyther for your soules heale, I com not hyther to poll nor to shave, I com not hyther to begge nor to crave, 10 I com not hyther to glose nor to flatter, I com not hyther to bable nor to clatter, I com not hyther to fable nor to lye, But I com hyther you[r]e soules to edyfye ! For we freres are bounde the people to teche, 15 The gospell of Chryst openly to preche, As dyd the appostels, by Chryst theyr mayster sent To turne the people and make them to repent. But syth the appostels fro heven wolde not come, We freres now must occupy theyr rome. 20 We freres are bounde to serche mennes conscyens, We may not care for grotes nor for pens, THE PARDONER AND THE FRERE. 115 We freres have professed wylfull poverte, No peny in our purse have may we, Knyfe nor staffe may we none cary, 25 Excepte we shulde from the gospell vary. For worldly adversyte may we be in no sorowe, We may not care to day for our meate to-morowe ; Bare fote and bare legged must we go also, We may not care for frost nor snowe ; 30 We may have no maner care, ne thynke, Nother for our meate nor for our drynke, But let our thoughtes fro suche thynges be as free As be the byrdes that in the ayre flee ; For why our lorde, clyped swete Jesus, 35 In the gospell speketh to us thus : Through all the worlde go ye, sayth he, And to every creature speke ye of me, And shew of my doctryne and connynge; And that they may be glad of your comynge, 40 Yf that you enter in any hous any where, Loke that ye salute them and byd my peas be there; And yf that house be worthy and electe, Thylke peace there than shall take effecte ; And yf that hous be cursyd or parvert, 45 Thylke peace than shall to your selfe revert; And furthermore yf any suche there be, Which do deny for to receyve ye, And do dyspyse your doctryne and your lore, At suche a house tary ye no more, 50 And from your shoes scrape away the dust, To theyr reprefe, and I, bothe trew and just, Shall vengeaunce take of theyr synfull dede. Wherfore, my frendes, to this text take ye hede, Beware how ye despyse the pore freres, 55 Which ar in this worlde Crystes mynysters; But do them with an harty chere receyve, I 2 1 1 6 JOHN HE YWOOD. Leste they happen your houses for to leve, And than God wyll take vengeaunce in his yre. Wherfore I now, that am a pore frere, 60 Dyd enquere w[h]ere any people were, Which were dysposyd the worde of God to here ; And, as I cam hether, one dyd me tell That in this towne ryght good folke dyd dwell, Which to here the word of God wolde be glad; 65 And as sone as I therof knolege had, I hyder hyed me as fast as I myght, Entendyd by the grace of God almyght, And by your pacyens and supportacyon, Here to make a symple colacyon. 70 Wherfore I requyre all ye in this prese[nce] For to abyde and gyve dew audyence. But, fyrst of all, Now here I shall To God my prayer make, 75 To gyve ye grace All in thys place His doctryne for to take. And than kneleth downe the frere sayenge his prayers and in the meane whyle entreth the pardoner with all his relyques to declare what eche of them ben and the hole power and vertu thereof. THE PARDONER. God and saynt Leonarde sende ye all his grace, As many as ben assembled in this place ! 80 Good devoute people that here do assemble, I pray [God] 1 that ye may all well resemble The ymage after whiche you are wrought, And that ye save that Chryst in you bought. 1 Good, Text. THE PARDONER AND THE FRERE. 117 Devoute Chrysten people, ye shall all wytte 85 That I am comen hyther ye to vysytte, Wherfore let us pray thus or I begynne; Our savyoure preserve ye all from synne, And enable ye to receyve this blessed pardon, Whiche is the greatest under the son, 90 Graunted by the pope in his bulles under lede, Whiche pardon ye shall fynde whan ye are dede, That offereth outher grotes or els pens To these holy relyques whiche, or I go hens, I shall here shewe in open audyence, 95 Exortynge ye all to do to them reverence. But first ye shall knowe well that I com fro Rome, Lo here my bulles, all and some, Our lyege lorde[s] scale, here on my patent, I bere with me my body to warant, 100 That no man be so bolde, be he preest or clarke, Me to dysturbe of Chrystes holy warke, Nor have no dysdayne, nor yet scorne, Of these holy relyques which sayntes have worne. Fyrst here I shewe ye of a holy Jewes shepe 105 A bone, (I pray you take good kepe To my wordes and marke them well,) Yf any of your bestes belyes do swell, Dyppe ' this bone in the water that he dothe take Into his body, and the swellyinge shall slake. no Here is a mytten eke, as ye may se, 128 He that his hande wyll put in this myttayn, He shall have encrease of his grayn, 130 That he hath sowne, be it wete or otys, So that he offer pens or els grotes. And another holy relyke eke here se ye may, 1 Dyype, Text. Il8 JOHN HEY WOOD. The blessed arme of swete saynt Sondaye, And who so ever is blessyd with this ryght hande Can not spede amysse by se nor by lande, 136 And if he offereth eke with good devocyon He shall not fayle to come to hyghe promocyon. Here is another relyke, eke a precyous one, 153 Of All Helowes the blessyd jawbone, Which relyke without any fayle 155 Agaynst poyson chefely dothe prevayle; For whom so ever it toucheth, without dout All maner venym from hym shall issue out, So that it shall hurt no maner wyghte. Lo of this relyke the great power and myghte, 160 Which preservyth from poyson every man. Lo of saynt Myghell eke the brayn pan, Which for the hed ake is a preservatyfe To every man or beste that beryth lyfe, And further it shall stande hym in better stede, 165 For his hede shall never ake whan that he is dede, For he shall fele no maner grefe nor payn, Though with a sworde one cleve it than atwayn, But be as one that lay in a dede slepe; Wherfore to these relykes now com crouche and crepe, But loke that ye offerynge to them make, 171 Or els can ye no maner profyte take. But one thynge, ye women all, I warant you, Yf any wyght be in this place now That hath done syn so horryble that she 175 Dare not for shame thereof shryven be, Suche folke shall have no power, nor no grace, 179 To offer to my relykes in this place ! 180 And who so fyndeth herselfe out of suche blame Com hyther to me on Crystes holy name ; THE PARDONER AND THE FRERE. 119 And bycause ye Shall unto me Gyve credence at the full ; 185 Myn auctoryte Now shall ye se, Lo here! the popes bull. Now shall the frere begyn his sermon and cvyn at the same tyme the pardoner begynneth also to shew and speke of his bully s and auctorytes com from Rome. THE FRERE. Date et dabitur vobis : Good devout people this place of scrypture PARDONER. Worshypfull maysters, ye shall understand 190 F. Is to you that have no litterature, P. That pope Leo the x. hath graunted with his hand, F. Is to say in our Englysshe tonge, P. And by his bulles confyrmed under lede, F. As departe your goodes the poore folke amonge, 195 P. To all maner people bothe quycke and dede, F. And God shall than gyve unto you agayne. P. Ten thousande yeres and as many lentes of pardon, F. This in the gospell so is wryten playne, P. Whan they are dede theyr soules for to guardon, 200 F. Therfore gyve your almes in the largest wyse. P. That wyll with theyr peny or almes dede F. Kepe not your goodes : fye, fye on covetyse ! P. Put to theyr handes to the good spede F. That synne with God is most abhomynable, 205 P. Of the holy chapell of swete saynt Leonarde, F. And is eke the synne that is most dampnable P. Whiche late by fyre was destroyed and marde. F. In scrypture eke; but I say, syrs, how 120 JOHN HEY WOOD. P. Ay by the mas, one can not here aio F. What a bablynge maketh yonder felow ! P. For the bablynge of yonder folysshe frere ! [They resume their respective discourses for a little while, but at length begin to attack each other.] F. But, I say, thou pardoner, I byd the holde thy peace ! P. And I say, thou frere, holde thy tonge styl ! 252 F. What standest thou there all the day smatterynge ? P. Mary, what standyst thou there all day clatterynge? FRERE. Mary, felow, I com hyder to prech the word of God, a 55 Whyche of no man may be forbode, But harde wyth scylence and good entent, For why it techeth them evydent The very way and path that shall them lede, Even to heven gatys, as strayght as any threde; 260 And he that lettyth the worde of God of audyence Standeth accurst in the greate sentence; And so art thou for enterruptynge me. PARDONER. Nay thou art a curst knave, and that shall thou se ! And all suche that to me make interrupcyon 265 The pope sendes them excommunycacyon, By hys bulles here, redy to be redde, By bysshoppes and hys cardynalles confyrmed. And eke yf thou dysturbe me any thynge, Thou arte also a tray tour to the kynge; 270 For here hath he graunted me, under hys brode scale, That no man, yf he love hys hele, Sholde me dysturbe or let in any wyse. And yf thou dost the kynges commaundement dispise, I shall make the be set fast by the fete. 275 And where thou saydyst that thou arte more mete THE PARDONER AND THE FRERE. 121 Amonge the people here for to preche, Bycause thou dost them the very way teche How to come to heven above, Therin thou lyest, and that shall I prove, 280 And by good reason I shall make the bow, And knowe that I am meter than arte thou. For thou whan thou hast taught them ones the way, Thou carest not whether they com there, ye or nay, But whan that thou hast done all togyder, 385 And taught them the way for to com thyther, Yet all that thou canst ymagyn Is but to use vertue and abstayne fro syn, And yf they fall ones than thou canst no more, Thou canst not gyve them a salve for theyr sore; 290 But these my letters be clene purgacyon, All thoug[h]e never so many synnes they have don. But whan thou hast taught them the way and all, Yet or they com there they may have many a fall In the way, or that they com thyther, 295 For why the way to heven is very slydder; But I wyll teche them after another rate, For I shall brynge them to heven gate, And be theyr gydes and conducte all thynges, And lede them thyther by the purse strynges, 300 So that they shall not fall though that they wolde. FRERE. Holde thy peace, knave, thou art very bolde ! Thou pratest in fayth even lyke a pardoner ! PARDONER. Why despysest thou the popes mynyster? Maysters, here I curse hym openly, 305 And therwith warne all this hole company, By the popes great auctoryte, That ye leve hym and herken unto me; For tyll he be assoyled his wordes take none effecte, For out of holy chyrche he is now clene rejecte. 310 122 JOHN HEY WOOD. FRERE. My maysters, he clothe but gest and rave: It forseth not for the wordes of a knave, But to the worde of God do reverence, And here me forthe with dewe audyence. [They again resume their preaching, but after a little while break out into a fresh quarrel, upon which comes the stage-direction :] TJian the fyght. FRERE. Lose thy handes away from myn earys ! 538 PARD. Than take thou thy handes away from my heres ! Nay, abyde, thou [rascal], I am not downe yet ! 540 I trust fyrst to lye the at my fete! F. Ye, [rascal,] wylt thou scrat and byte? P. Ye, mary, wyll I, as longe as thou doste smyte! THE CURATE. PARSON. Holde your handes ! a vengeaunce on ye bothe two! That ever ye came hyther to make this ado 545 To polute my chyrche, a myschyefe on you lyght ! I swere to you, by God all-myght, Ye shall bothe repente, every vayne of your harte, As sore as ye dyd ever thynge, or ye departe. FRERE. Mayster parson, I marvayll ye wyll gyve lycence To this false knave in this audience 551 To publysh his ragman rolles with lyes. I desyred hym y-wys, more than ones or twyse, To holde his peas tyll that I had done, But he wolde here no more than the man in the mone. PARD. Why sholde I suffre the more than thou me? 556 Mayster parson gave me lycence before the, And I wolde thou knewyst it ! I have relykes here Other maner stuffe than thou dost bere ! THE PARDONER AND THE FRERE. 123 I wyll edefy more with the syght of it 560 Than wyll all the pratynge of holy wryt. For that, except that the precher hym selfe lyve well, His predycacyon wyll helpe never a dell, And I know well that thy lyvynge is nought. PARSON. No more of this wranglyng in my chyrch ! 570 I shrewe your hartys bothe for this lurche ! Is ther any blood shed here betwen these knaves? Thanked be God, they had no stavys, Nor eggetoles 1 , for than it had ben wronge! Well ye shall synge another songe ! 575 Neybour Prat, com hether I you pray. PRAT. Why, what is this nyse fraye? PARSON. I can not tell you. One knave dysdaynes another, Wherefore take ye the tone and I shall take the other, We shall bestow them there as is most convenyent 580 For suche a couple. I trow they shall repente That ever they met in this chyrche here ! Neyboure, ye be constable, stande ye nere. Take ye that laye knave and let me alone With this gentylman. By God and by saynt John 585 I shall borowe upon presthode 2 somwhat ! For I may say to the, neybour Prat, It is a good dede to punysh such, to the ensample Of suche other how that they shall mell In lyke facyon as these catyfes do. 590 PRAT. In good fayth, mayster parson, yf ye do so, Ye do but well to teche them to be ware. PARDON. Mayster Prat, I pray ye me to spare; For I am sory for that that is done; Wherfore I pray ye forgyve me sone 595 For that I have offendyd within your lybertye, 1 egoteles, Text. a prestholde, Text. 1 2 4 JOHN HE YWOOD. And, by my trouthe, syr, ye may trust me, I wyll never come hether more Whyle I lyve, and God before. PRAT. Nay, I am ones charged with the, 600 Wherfore, by saynt John, thou shalt not escape me, Tyll thou hast scouryd a pare of stokys. PARSON. Tut, he weneth all is but mockes ! Lay hande on hym, and com ye on, syr frere! Ye shall of me hardely have your hyre, 605 Ye had none suche this vii yere, I swere by God and by our Lady dere. FRERE. Nay, mayster parson, for Goddys passyon, Intreate not me after that facyon. For yf ye do it wyll not be for your honesty. 610 PARSON. Honesty or not, but thou shall se What I shall do by and by. Make no stroglynge ! com forthe soberly! For it shall not avayle the, I say. FRERE. Mary, that shall we trye even strayt-way. 615 I defy the, churle preeste, and there be no mo than thou, I wyll not go with the, I make God a-vow ! We shall se fyrst which is the stronger ! God hath sente me bonys ! I do the not fere ! PARSON. Ye, by my fayth, wylt thou be there? 620 Neybour Prat, brynge forthe that knave, And thou, syr frere, yf thou wylt algatys rave FRERE. Nay, chorle, I the defy! I shall trouble the fyrst, Thou shalt go to pryson by and by ! 625 Let me se now ! Do thy worste ! Prat with the pardoner and the parson with the frere. PARSON. Helpe! helpe! Neybour Prat! Neybour Prat! In the worship of God, helpe me som what ! THE PARDONER AND THE FRERE. 125 PRAT. Nay, deale as thou canst with that elfe, For why I have inoughe to do my selfe ! 630 Alas ! for payn I am almoste dede, The reede blood so ronneth downe aboute my hede, Nay, and thou canst, I pray the, helpe me ! PARSON. Nay, by the mas, felowe, it wyll not be! I have more tow on my dystaffe than I can well spyn ! The cursed frere dothe the upper hand wyn! 636 FRERE. Wyll ye leve than, and let us in peace departe? PARSON and PRAT. Ye, by our Lady, even with all our harte! FRERE and PARD. Than adew, to the devyll, tyll we come agayn. PARSON and PRAT. And a myschefe go with you bothe twayne. 640 Imprynted by Wyllyam Rastell the v. day of Apryll the yere of our lorde M. ccccc xxx in. Cum privilegio. A NEW ENTERLUDE CALLED THERSYTES. IT Thys Enterlude Folowynge Dothe Declare howe that the greatest boesters are not the greatest doers. IF THE NAMES OF THE PLAYERS. THERSITES A boster. MULCIBER A smyth. MATER A mother. MILES Aknyght. TELEMACHUS A childe. Thersites commeth in fyrste havinge a elubbe uppon his necke. Have in a ruffler foorth of the Greke lande, Called Thersites, if ye wyll me knowe. Abacke, geve me roume, in my way do ye not stand, For if ye do, I wyll soone laye you lowe. In Homere of my actes ye have red, I trow, 5 Neyther Agamemnon nor Ulysses, I spared to checke, They coulde not bringe me to be at theyr becke ! Of late frome the sege of Troy I retourned, Where all my harnes excepte this elubbe I lost In an olde house, there it was quyte burned, 10 Whyle I was preparinge vytayles for the hoste. I must nedes get me newe, what so ever it cost. THERSYTES. 127 I wyll go seke adventures, for I can not be ydle, I wyll hamper some of the knaves in a brydle. It greveth me to heare howe the knaves do bragge, 15 But by supreme Jupiter, when I am harnessed well, I shall make the dasters to renne into a bagge To hyde them fro me, as from the devyll of hell, I doubte not but hereafter of me ye shall heare tell, Howe I have made the knaves for to play cowch quaile. But nowe to the shop of Mulciber to go I wyll not faile. 21 Mulciber must have a shop made in the place and Ther sites commethe before it, sayinge a-loude. Mulciber, whom the Poetes doth call the god of fyer, Smith unto Jupiter kinge over all, Come foorth of thy office, I the desyre, 34 And graunte me my petiction, I aske a thynge but small. I wyl none of thy lightning, that thou art wont to make For the goddes supernall, for yre when they do shake, With whiche they thruste the gyauntes downe to hell, That were at a convention heaven to bye and sell; But I woulde have some helpe of Lemnos and Ilva, 30 That of theyr stele, by thy crafte, condatur mihi galea. MULCIBER. What, felowe Thersites, do ye speake Latyn nowe? Nay then, farewell ! I make God a vowe I do not you understande, no Latyn is in my palet. THERSITES. I say Abyde, good Mulciber! I pray the make me a sallet. 35 MULCIBER. Why, Thersites, hast thou anye wytte in thy head? Woldest thou have a sallet nowe all the herbes are dead ? Besyde that it is not mete for a smyth To gether herbes, and sallettes to medle with. 39 128 THERSYTES. THERSITES. I meane a sallet with whiche men do fyght, MULCIBER. It is a small tastinge of a marines mighte 46 That he shoulde for any matter Fyght with a fewe herbes in a platter! No greate laude shoulde folowe that victorye ! THERSITES. [I pray thee,] Mulciber, where is thy wit and memory ? 50 I wolde have a sallet made of stele ! MULCIBER. Whye syr, in youre stomacke longe you shall it fele. For stele is harde for to digest. THERSITES. Mans bones and sydes, hee is worse then a beest ! I wolde have a sallet to were on my hed, 55 Whiche under my chyn with a thonge red Buckeled shall be. Doest thou yet perceyve me? MULCIBER. Your mynde now I se, Why, thou pevysshe ladde, 60 Arte thou almost madde, Or well in thy wytte? Gette the a wallette! Wolde thou have a sallette What woldest thou do with it? 65 THERSITES. I pray the, good Mulciber, make no mo bones, But let me have a sallet made at ones ! MULCIBER. I must do somewhat for this knave! What maner of sallet, syr, woulde ye have? THERSITES. I wold have such a one that nother might nor mayne 70 Shoulde perse it thorowe, or parte it in twayne; Whiche nother gonstone, nor sharpe speare, Shoulde be able other to hurte or teare. THERSYTES. 129 I woulde have it also for to save my heade Yf Jupiter him selfe woulde have me dead ; 75 And if he, in a fume, woulde cast at me his fire, This sallet I woulde have to kepe me from his yre. MULCIBER. I perceave youre mynde, Ye shall fynde me kynde. I wyll for you prepare. 80 And then he goeth in to his shop, and maketh a sallet for hym : at the taste, he sayth. Here, Thersites, do this sallet weare, And on thy head it beare, And none shall worke the care. Then Mulciber goeth into his shop, untyll he is called agayne. THERSITES. Now woulde I not feare with anye bull to fyghte, Or with a raumpinge lyon, nother by daye nor nyghte, what greate strength is in my body so lusty, 86 Whiche for lacke of exercise is nowe almost rustye 1 Hercules in comparison to me was but a boye When the bandogge Cerberus from hell he bare awaye, When he kylled the lyons, hydra, and the bere so wylde, Compare him to me and he was but a chylde. 91 Why Sampson, I saye, hast thou no more wytte? Woldest thou be as strong as I ? come suck thy mothers tytte! Wene you that David, that lyttle elvyshe boye, Should with his slinge have take my life awaye? 95 Nay ywys, Golyath, for all his fyve stones, 1 woulde have quashed his little boysshe bones howe it woulde do my harte muche good To se some of the giauntes before Noes floud! 1 woulde make the knaves to crye creke, too Or elles with my clubbe their braynes I wyll breake I K 1 30 THERSYTES. But Mulciber, yet I have not with the do! My heade is armed, my necke I woulde have to! And also my shoulders with some good habergyn That the devyll, if he shote at me, coulde not enter in. For I am determined greate battayle to make, 106 Excepte my fumishenes by some meanes may aslake. MULCIBER. Bokell on this habergyn as fast as thou canne, And feare for the metinge of nother beast nor manne ; Yf it were possible for one too shote an oke no This habergyn wyll defende thee frome the stroke. Let them throwe mylstones at the as thick as haile, Yet the to kyll they shall their purpose faile. Yf Malverne hylles shoulde on thy shoulders light They shall not hurt the, nor suppress thy mighte, 115 Yf Bevis of Hampton, Colburne and Guy, Will the assaye, set not by them a flye, To be briefe, this habergyn shall the save Bothe by lande and water. Nowe playe the lusty knave ! Then he gocth in to his shoppe againe. THERSITES. When I consider my shoulders that so brode be, 120 When the other partes of my bodye I do beholde, I verely thinke that none in Chrystente With me to medele dare be so bolde. Now have at the lyons on Cotsolde! I wyll neyther spare for heate nor for colde, 125 Where art thou king Arthur, and the Knightes of the Rounde Table? Come, brynge forth your horses out of the stable. Lo ! with me to mete they be not able ! By the masse, they had rather were a bable ! 1 29 Where arte thou Gawyn the curtesse and Cay the crabed ? Here be a couple of knightes cowardishe and scabbed ! THERSYTES. 131 Appere in thy likenesse Syr Libeus Disconius, Yf thou wilt have my clubbe lyghte on thy hedibus. Lo ! ye maye see he beareth not the face With me to trye a blowe in thys place. 135 Howe syrray, approche Syr Launcelot de Lake! What renne ye awaie and for feare quake? Nowe he that did the a knight make Thought never that thou any battaile shouldest take. Yf thou wilt not come thy self, some other of thy felowes send, MO To battaile I provoke them, themselfe let them defende. Lo ! for all the good that ever they se, They wyll not ones set hande to fight with me. good lorde ! howe brode is my brest, And stronge with all, for hole is my chest ! 145 He that should medle with me shall have shrewde rest ! Beholde you my handes, my legges and my feete Every parte is stronge proportionable and mete. Thinke you that I am not feared in felde and strete? Yes, yes, god wote they geve me the wall, 150 Or elles with my clubbe I make them to fall. Backe knaves ! I saye to them ; then for feare they quake And take me then to the taverne and good chere me make. The proctoure and his men I made to renne their waies, And some wente to hide them in broken heys. 155 1 tell you, [yea, I,] I set not a [fly] By none of them al. Early and late I wyll walke, And London stretes stalke, 160 Spyte of them greate and small. For I thinke verely, That none in heaven so hye, K 2 132 THERSYTES. Nor yet in hell so lowe, Whyle I have this clubbe in my hande, 165 Can be able me to withstande, Or me to overthrowe. But, Mulciber, yet I must the desyre To make me briggen yrons for myne armes, And then I will love the as mine owne syre, 170 For withoute them I can not be safe frome all harmes. Those once had, I will not sette a strawe By all the worlde, for then I wyll by awe Have all my mynde, or elles, by the holye roode, I wyll make them thinke the devyll caryeth them to the wood. 175 Yf no man wyll with me battayle take, A vyage to hell quickely I wyll make, And there I wyll bete the devyll and his dame, And bringe the soules awaye, I fullye entende the same. After that in hell I have ruffled so, 180 Streyghte to olde purgatorye wyll I go. I wyll cleane that so purge rounde aboute, That we shall nede no pardons to helpe them oute. Yf I have not fyghte ynoughe this wayes, I wyll clymbe to heaven and fet awaye Peters kayes, I wyll kepe them myselfe and let in a great route. 186 What shoulde suche a fysher kepe good felowes out? MULCIBER. Have here, Thersites, briggen yrons bright, And feare thou no man manly to fyghte, Thoughe he be stronger then Hercules or Sampson, 190 Be thou prest and bolde to set him upon. Nother Amazon nor Xerxes with their hole rable The to assayle shall fynde it profytable. I warrante the they wyll fle fro thy face, As doth an hare from the dogges in a chase. 195 Would not thy blacke and rustye grym berde, Nowe thou art so armed, make anye man aferde? THERSYTES. 133 Surely if Jupiter dyd see the in this gere, He woulde renne awaye and hyde hym for feare ! He wold thinke that Typhoeus the gyant were alive 200 And his brother Enceladus, agayn with him to strive! If that Mars, of battell the god stoute and bold, In this aray shoulde chaunce the to beholde, He would yelde up his sworde unto the, And god of battayle (he would say) thou shouldest be. Now fare thou wel, go the world through, 206 And seke adventures, thou arte man good ynough. THERSITES. Mulciber, whyle the starres shal shyne in the sky, And Phaeton's horses with the sonnes charret shall fly, Whyle the mornynge shall go before none, 210 And cause the darkennesse to vanysshe away soone, Whyle that the cat shall love well mylke, And whyle that women shal love to go in sylke, Whyle beggers have lyce, And cockneys are nyce, 215 Whyle pardoners can lye, Marchauntes can by, And chyldren crye, Whyle all these laste and more, Whiche I kepe in store, 320 I do me faythfully bynde, Thy kyndnes to beare in mynde. But yet, Mulciber, one thinge I aske more, Haste thou ever a sworde now in store? I would have suche a one that would cut stones, 225 And pare a great oke down at ones 1 , That were a sworde, lo, even for the nones. MULCIBER. Truly I have suche a one in my shoppe That wil pare yron, as it were a rope. 1 once, Text. 134 THERSYTES. Have, here it is, gyrde it to thy syde. 230 Now fare thou well, Jupiter be thy guyde. THERSITES. Gramercye, Mulciber, wyth my hole harte. Geve me thy hande and let us departe. Mulciber goeth in to hys shoppe againe and Thersites saith foorth. Nowe I go hence, and put my selfe in prease. I wyll seeke adventures, yea and that I wyll not cease, If there be any present here thys nyghte 236 That wyll take upon them with me to fighte, Let them come quickly, and the battayle shall be pyghte. Where is Cacus, that knave, not worthe a grote, 239 That was wont to blowe cloudes oute of his throte, Which stale Hercules kine and hyd them in his cave? Come hether Cacus, thou lubber and false knave. I wyll teache all wretches by the to beware, If thou come hether I trappe the in a snare. Thou shalt have knocked breade and yll fare. 245 How say you, good godfather, that loke so stale Ye seeme a man to be borne in the vale, Dare ye adventure wyth me a stripe or two ? Go, coward, go, hide the, as thou wast wonte to do. What a sorte of dasterdes have we here 250 None of you to battaile with me dare appeare! Well, let all go ! whye, wyll none come in, With me to fyghte that I maye pare his skyn? 265 The mater commeth in. MATER. What saye you my sonne, wyl ye fyght ? God it defende ! For what cause to warre do you nowe pretende? THERSYTES. 135 Wyll ye committe to battayles daungerous Youre lyfe that is to me so precious? THERSITES. I wyll go ! I wyll go ! stoppe not my waye ! 270 Holde me not good mother, I hartely you pray ! If there be any lyons, or other wylde beest, What wyll not suffer the husbandman in rest, I wyll go seeche them, and byd them to a feest. 274 They shall abye bytterlye the comminge of suche a gest ! I wyll searche for them bothe in busshe and shrubbe, And laye on a lode with this lustye clubbe ! MATER. O my swete sonne, I am thy mother, Wylt thou kyll me and thou hast none other? THERSITES. No ! mother, no ! I am not of suche iniquitye, 280 That I wyll defyle my handes upon the. But be contente, mother, for I wyll not rest Tyll I have foughte with some man or wylde beast. MATER. Truely, my sonne, yf that ye take thys way, Thys shall be the conclusion, marke what I shall say ! Other I wyll drowne my selfe for sorowe, 286 And fede fyshes with my body before to morowe, Or wyth a sharpe swerde, surely I wyll me kyll, Nowe thou mayst save me, if it be thy wyll. I wyll also cut my pappes awaye, 390 That gave the sucke so manye a daye, And so in all the worlde it shall be knowen, That by my owne sonne I was overthrowen. Therefore, if my lyfe be to the pleasaunte, That whiche I desyre, good sonne, do me graunte. 295 THERSITES. Mother, thou spendest thy winde but in wast, The goddes of battayle hyr fury on me hath cast. 136 THERSYTES. I am fullye fyxed battayle for to taste. how many to deth I shall dryve in haste ! 1 wyll ruffle this clubbe aboute my hedde, 300 Or els I pray God I never dye in my bedde ! There shall never a stroke be stroken with my hande But they shall thynke that Jupiter doth thonder in the land. MATER. My owne swete sonne, I, knelynge on my knee, And bothe my handes holdinge up to the, 305 Desyre the to ceasse and no battayle make. Call to the pacience and better wayes take. THERSITES. Tushe, mother, I am deafe, I wyll the not heare ! No ! no ! yf Jupiter here him selfe nowe were, And all the goddes, and Juno his wife, 310 And lovinge Minerva, that abhorreth all stryfe, Yf all these, I saye, would desyre me to be content, They dyd theyr wynde but in vaine spente. I wyll have battayle in Wayles or in Kente, And some of the knaves I wyll all to rent. 315 Where is the valiaunt knighte, Syr Isenbrase? Appere, Syr, I praye you, dare ye not shewe your face? Where is Robin John and Little Hode? Approche hyther quickely, if ye thinke it good. I wyll teache suche outlawes wyth Chrystes curses 320 How they take hereafter awaye abbottes purses ! Whye, wyll no adventure appeare in thys place? Where is Hercules with his greate mase? Where is Busyris that fed hys horses, Full lyke a tyraunte, with dead mens corses? 325 Come any of you bothe, And I make an othe, That yer I eate any breade I wyll dryve a wayne, Ye, for neede, twayne, 330 THERSYTES. 137 Betwene your bodye and your heade. [This 1 ] passeth my braynes ! Wyll none take the paynes To trye wyth me a blowe? what a fellowe am I, 335 Whome everye man dothe flye, That dothe me but once knowe ! MATER. Sonne all do you feare, That be present here, They wyll not wyth you fyghte. 340 You, as you be worthye, Have nowe the victorye, Wythoute tastynge of youre myghte. Here is none, I trowe, That profereth you a blowe, 345 Man, woman nor chylde. Do not set your mynde To fyghte with the wynde, Be not so madde nor wylde. THERSITES. I saye, aryse, who so ever wyll fighte ! 1 am to battayle here readye dyghte. 351 Come hyther, other swayne or knyghte, Let me see who dare presente him to my syghte ! Here with my clubbe readye I stande, Yf anye wyll come to take them in hand. 355 MATER. There is no hope left in my brest, To bring my sonne unto better rest, He wyll do nothinge at my request, He regardeth me no more then a best. I see no remedye, but styll I wyll praye 360 To God, my sonne to gyde in his waye, That he maye have a prosperous journ[y]ynge, And to bee save at his returnynge. 1 Thus, Ed. 138 THERSYTES. Sonne, God above graunte thys my oration, That when in battaile thou shall have concertation 365 With your enemies, other far[r]e or nere, No wounde in them nor in you may appere, So that ye nother kyll nor be kylled. THERSITES. Mother, thy peticion I praye God be fulfylled, For then no knaves bloude shall be spilled. 370 Felowes, kepe my counsell, by the masse I doo but crake, I wyll be gentyll enoughe and no busenesse make. But yet I wyll make her beleve that I am a man ! Thincke you that I wyll fight ? no, no, but wyth the can, Excepte I finde my enemye on thys wyse 375 That he be a slepe or els can not aryse. Yf his armes and his fete be not fast bounde, I wyll not prefer a stripe, for a thousande pound. Fare well, mother, and tarrye here no longer, For after proves of chivalry I do both thyrste and hunger, I wyll beate the knaves as flatte as a conger. 381 Then the mother goeth in the place which is prepared for her. What ! how long shall I tary ? be your hartes in your hose, Will there none of you in battayl me appose? Come, prove me ! whye stande you so in doubte ? Have you any wylde bloude, that ye would have let oute ? Alacke that a man's strengthe can not be knowen, 386 Because that he lacketh ennemies to be overth[r]owen ! Here a snaile muste appere unto him, and hee muste loke /carefully uppon the snat'/e, satenge : But what a monster do I see nowe Cominge hetherwarde with an armed browe? What is it ? ah, it is a sowe ! 390 No, by [my faith], it is but a grestle, And on the backe it hath never a brystle. atfje ef fur Bupflbi) <)uoij fenfen&a % a nanfo Zp wo ff o t) pout f ?s tn M s coin f 8 le c^ffemine fairwns 8ffaifr ^ fe po one f c fetene foupe 2)e ce Beau fan ou fu repofes Cncq uee fomBate ne f c mcmgcaf a fcffe faufce quenoue ft tons ;5)i ft wttftons ct) vft0 0tctn^ pfdt 2u p opu tc note (t n u ip ongnone ^jfttc f eg C01HC8 |t f f pitons S^ "one fatffe enftrr $eSane Suf rmienf nous ft affaiffimm* 3D e no^ 6d f!onc qut (cm f ( ta rt c^a n matfot) potfe ^f ft mfuis 5e dfctt 3ap?eu5 coincsSeffue ma ftffc dme Sng Bcuf quef! 3 wffe 0s(!e jC c ma matfot) it (tips arme Sf 5e me comee emBaffonne ^c cee gene Satmee fa mnpio cfjwf 3f^ et) autone fut faite ca0oc0e ^aw ic cui5e queij ftmne quifj ftefifatf Se FROM LE COMPOST ET KALENDRIER DES BERGERS PARIS, GUY HARCHANT, 1500 (REDUCED) To fact p. 139] THERSYTES. 139 It is not a cow, ah there I fayle, For then it should have a long tayle. What the devyll ! I was blynde, it is but a snayle ! 395 I was never so afrayde in east nor in south, My harte at the fyrste syght was at my mouth. Mary, syr, fy ! fy ! fy ! I do sweate for feare ! I thoughte I had craked but to tymely here. Hens, thou beest and plucke in thy homes 400 Haste thou nothynge elles to doo But come wyth homes and face me so? Howe, how my servauntes, get you shelde and spere 405 And let us werye and kyll thys monster here ! Here MILES cometh in. MILES. Is not thys a worthye knyghte That wyth a snayle dareth not fight Excepte he have hys servauntes ayde? Is this the chaumpyon that maketh al men afraid? 410 I am a pore souldiour come of late from Calice, I trust or I go to debate some of his malyce, I wyll tarrye my tyme till I do see Betwixt hym and the snayle what the ende wyll be. THERSITES. Whye ye [rascal] knavys, regard ye not my callinge? 415 Whye do ye not come and wyth you weapons brynge? Why shall this monster so escape kyllinge? No ! that he shal not, and God be wyllinge. MILES. I promyse you, thys is as worthye a knyghte As ever shall brede oute of a bottell byte : 420 I thinke he be Dares, of whom Virgyll doth write, That woulde not let Entellus alone, But ever provoked and ever called on, 140 THERSYTES. But yet at the last he tooke a fall, And so within a whyle, I trowe I make the shall. 425 THERSITES. By [Jupiter], knaves, if I come I wyll you fetter ! Regarde ye my callinge and cryinge no better? Why, [rascals,] I saye, wyll ye not come? By the masse, the knaves be all from home ! They had better have fette me an errande at Rome ! MILES. By my trouthe, I thynke that very skante 431 This lubber dare adventure to fighte with an ant ! THERSITES. Well, seinge my servauntes come to me will not, I must take hede that this monster me spyll not, I wyll joparde with it a joynte, 435 And, other with my clubbe or my sweardes poynte, I wyll reche it suche woundes, As I woulde not have for xl M. poundes. Plucke in thy homes, thou unhappy beast, What, facest thou me ? wilte not thou be in reste ? 440 Why? wylte not thou thy homes in holde? Thinkest thou that I am a cockolde 1 ? [Nay, truly] the monster cometh towarde me styll ! Excepte I fyght manfully, it wyll me surely kyll ! Then he muste fyghte against the snayle with his dub. MILES. O Jupiter Lorde ! doest thou not see and heare How he feareth the snayle as it were a bere ? 446 THERSITES. Well, with my clubbe I have had good lucke, Nowe with my sworde have at the a plucke. And he must cast his club awaye. I wyll make the, or I go, for to ducke, And thou were as tall 2 a man as frier Tucke ! 450 1 cocklode, text. 2 tale, text. THERSYTES. 141 I saye yet agayne thy homes in drawe, Or elles I wyll make the to have woundes rawe. Arte not thou aferde To have thy bearde Pared with my swearde? 455 Here he must fighte then with his sworde against the snayle and the snayle draweth her liornes in. Ah well nowe no more ! Thou mightest have done so before ! I layed at it so sore That it thoughte it shoulde have be lore. And it had not drawen in his homes againe, 460 Surely I woulde the monster have slaine. But now farewell, I wyll worke the no more payne. Nowe my fume is paste, And dothe no longer laste, That I did to the monster cast. 465 Now in other countreis both farre and neare Mo dedes of chyvalrye I wyll go inquere. MILES. Thou nedes not seke any further, for redy I am here. I wyll debate anone, I trowe, thy bragginge chere. THERSITES. Nowe where is any mo that wyll me assay le? 470 I wyll turne him and tosse him, both toppe and tayle, Yf he be stronger then Sampson was, Who with his bare handes kylde lyons apas. MILES. What nedeth this booste ? I am here at hande, That with the will fighte; kepe the heade and stande! Surelye for al thy hye wordes I wyll not feare 476 To assaye the a towche tyll some bloude apeare, I wyll geve the somewhat for the gifte of a new yeare. 142 THERSYTES. And he begynth to fight with him, but Ther sites must ren awaye, and hyde hym behynde hys mother's backs sayinge : THERSITES. O mother, mother, I praye the me hyde! Throwe some thinge over me and cover me every syde ! MATER. O my sonne, what thynge eldyth the? 481 THERSITES. Mother, a thousande horsemen do perse- cute me ! MATER. Marye, sonne then it was time to flye ! I blame the not then, thoughe afrayde thou be. A deadlye wounde thou mightest there sone catche, 485 One against so manye is no indyfferente matche. THERSITES. No, mother ! but if they had bene but ten to one, I woulde not have avoyded, but set them uppon, But seinge they be so many I ran awaye. Hyde me, mother, hyde me, I hartely the pray. 490 For if they come hyther and here me fynde To their horses tayles they wyll me bynde, And after that fasshyon hall me and kyll me, And thoughe I were never so bolde and stoute 494 To fyghte againste so manye, I shoulde stande in doubte. MILES. Thou that doest seke giauntes to conquere, Come foorth, if thou dare, and in this place appere ! Fy, for shame, doest thou so sone take flighte? Come forth and shewe somewhat of thy myghte ! THERSITES. Hyde me, mother, hyde me, and never worde saye. 500 MILES. Thou olde trotte, seyst thou any man come thys waye, Well armed and weaponed and readye to fighte? MATER. No forsothe, Maister, there came none in my sight. THERSYTES. 143 MILES. He dyd avoyde in tyme, for withoute doubtes I woulde have set on his backe some clowtes. 505 Yf I may take him I wyll make all slowches To beware by him, that they come not in my clowches. Then he goeth oute, and the mother saith : MATER. Come foorth my sonne, youre enemy is gone, Be not afrayed, for hurte thou canst have none. Then he loketh aboute if he be gone or # in similitudinem DOMINI veniaty dalmaticatus Candida dalmatica, Candida infula infulatus, phylacteria pretiosa in capite, crucem cum labaro in dextra^ textum auro paratorium in sinistra habens, et dicat mulieribus : Nolite timere vos, ite, nunciate fratribus meis ut eant in Galileam, ibi me videbunt sicut praedixi eis. CHORUS. Alleluia! Resurrexit hodie Dominus. Quo finito, dicant OMNES insimul: Leo fortis, Christus filius Dei. Et CHORUS dicat: Te Deum laudamus, etc. Explicit. APPENDIX II. LUDUS SUPER ICONIA SANCTI NICOLAI. Ad quern he persone sunt necessarie : persona barbari qui conmisit ei tesanrum ; persona iconic ; iiii or vel sex latronnm ; Sancti Nicholai. In primis BARBARUS, rebus snis congregatis, ad ichoniam veniet, et ei res suas conmendans dicet : Nicholae, quidquid possideo, Hoc in meo misi teloneo: Te custodem rebus adibeo, Serva que sunt ibi. Meis, precor, adtende precibus; Vide nullus sit locus furibus ; Preciosis aurum cum vestibus Ego trado tibi. Profiscisci foras disposui : Te custodem rebus imposui. Revertenti redde quae posui Tua sub tutela. Jam sum magis securus solito, Te custode rebus inposito ; Revertenti vide ne merito Mihi sit querela. Illo autem profecto, fures transeuntes cum viderint hostium apertum et nnllnm custodem, omnia diripient, BARBARUS vero rediens, non invento tesauro, dicet : Gravis sors et dura! Hie reliqui plura, Sed sub mala cura. Des! quel damage! Qui pert la sue chose purque rtenrage. LUDUS SUPER ICONIA SANCTI NICOLAS. 163 Hie res plusquam centum Misi et argentum ; Sed non est inventum. Des! quel damage! Qui pert la sue chose purque ri enrage. Hie reliqui mea ; Sed hie non sunt ea. Est imago rea. Des ! quel damage/ Qui pert la sue chose purque rienrage. Deinde accedens ad imaginem, dicet ei : Mea congregavi, Tibi commendavi; Sed in hoc erravi. Hal Nicholax! Si ne me rent ma chose, tu ol comparras. Hie res meas misi Quas tibi conmisi; Sed eas amisi. Hal Nicholax! Si ne me rent ma chose, tu ol comparras. Sumto flagello, dicet : Ego tibi multum Inpendebam cultum : Nun feres inultum. Hore f end Qu'are me rent ma chose que g'ei mis ci. Tuum tester deum, Te, ni reddas meum, Flagellabo reum. Hore f end Qu'are me rent ma chose que g'ei mis ci, Tune SANCTUS NICHOLAUS, veniens ad latrones, dicet eis : Miseri, quid facitis? Non longua deperditis Erunt vobis gaudia. Gustos eram positus Vosque sum intuitus, Cum portatis omnia. M 2 1 64 APPENDIX II. Flagella sustinui, Cum ea non potui, Ut debebam, reddere: Verba passus aspera Cumque verbis verbera ; Ad vos veni propere. Reportate perdita. Erant enim omnia Sub mea custodia, Que portasti, posita. Quod si non feceritis, Suspensi eras eritis Crucis in patibulo. Vestra namque turpia Vestra latrocinia Nunciabo populo. Latrones timentes omnia reportabunt. Quibus inventis BARBARUS dicet : Nisi visus fallitur, Jo en at. Tesaurus hie cernitur. De si grant merueile en at. Rediere perdita, Jo en at. Nee per mea merita, De si grant mervegle en at. Quam. bona custodia Jo en at Qua redduntur omnia! De si grant mervegle en at. Tnnc accedent ad imaginem et suplicans, dicet ; Suplex ad te venio, Nam per te recipio Tut icei que tu gardas. Sum profectus peregre, Nicholax LUDUS SUPER 1CONIA SANCTI N ICO LAI. 165 Sed recepi integre Tut ice que tu gardas. Mens mea convaluit, Nicholaxj Nichil enim defuit De tut cei que tu gardas. Postea aparens ei beatus NICOLAUS, dicet : Suplicare mihi noli, Frater ; inmo Deo soli. Ipse namque factor poll, Factor maris atque soli, Restauravit perditum. Ne sis ultra quod fuisti. Solum laudes nomen Christi ; Soli Deo credas isti Per quern tua recepisti. Mihi nullum meritum. Cui respondens BARBARUS, dicet : Hie nulla consultacio, Nulla erit dilacio, Quin ab erroris vicio Jam recedam. In Christum Dei filium, Factorem mirabilium, Ritum linquens gentilium, Ego credam. Ipse creavit omnia, Celum, terram et maria; Per quern erroris venia Mihi detur. Ipse potens et dominus Meum delebit facinus, Cujus regnum ne terminus Consequetur. APPENDIX III. THE HARROWING OF HELL. Alle herkne)> to me nou, A strif wille I tellen ou, Of Jesu and of Satan, po Jesu wes to helle gan For to fette )>enne his 5 And bringen hem to parais ; pe deuel heuede so michel pouste, pat alle mosten to helle te; Nas non so holi prophete, Sij;)>en Adam and Eue J;en appel etc, 10 And he were at }>is worldes fine, pat he ne moste to helle pine; Ne shulde he neuer |>enne come, Nere Jesu Crist, godes sone ; For |>at wes seid to Adam and Eue, 15 pat were Jesu Crist so leue, And so wes seid to Abraham, pat wes so)>fast holi man, And so wes seid to Dauid, j>e king, pat wes of Cristes oune ofspring, 20 And to Johan, J?e Baptist, pat folewede Jesu Crist, And to Moyses, }>e holi wiht, pe heuede ]>e lawe to jeme riht, And to mani o)>er holi man, 25 Mo )>an ich telle can, pat weren alle in more wo, pan I can ou telle fro. Jesu Crist areu hem sore And seide, he wolde fette hem J>ore; 30 THE HARROWING OF HELL. 167 He lihte of his ht%e tour On-to seinte Marie hour; He wes boren for oure nede In )>is world in poure wede, In jris world he wes ded 35 For to lesen ous fram }>e qued. po Jesu heuede shed his blod For oure sinnes on J>e rod, He nam him )>e rihte wei Unto helle for soj?e to sei; 40 po he cam Jer, \>o seide he, Asse I shal nou telle }>e. DOMINUS. Harde gates haui gon, Sorewes suffred mani on; pritti winter and jjridde half jer 45 Haui woned in londe her. Almost is so michel gan, SiJ>j>en I bicam first man; Ich haue sij>)>en J>oled and wist Hot and cold, hunger and }>rist : 50 Man haj) don me shame inoh \Vi)> word and dede in here woh ; He nomen me wtyouten sake, Bounden min honden to mi bake ; He beten me, )>at I ran on blode, 55 Demden me to deje on rode ; For Adames sinne, ful iwis, Ich haue J>oled al )>is. Adam, )>ou hauest dere aboht, pat Jiou leuedest me noht; 60 Adam, j>ou hauest aboht sore And I nil suffre J>at na more ; I shal j>e bringe of helle pine And wij> Je alle mine. SATAN. Who is }>at ich here )>ore? 65 Ich him rede speke na more, For he mai so michel do, pat he shal ous come to, 168 APPENDIX III. For to ben cure fere, And fonden,hou we pleien here. 70 DOMINUS. [pou miht wel wite bi mi plei, pat mine willi haue awei !] Wost J>ou neuer, what ich am? Almost Je J>ridde winter is gan, pat jxm hauest fonded me 75 For to knowe, what I be ; Sinne found J>ou neuer nan In me as in o)>er man ; And Jxm shalt wite wel to-dai, pat mine willi haue awei, 80 Whan )>ou bileuest al )>in one, panne miht J>ou grete and grone. SATAN. Par ma fei ! ich holde mine Alle j>o, )>at ben her-inne ; Resoun wiili telle }>e, 85 per ajen miht )ou noht be. Whoso biggeth ani )>ing, It is his and his ofspring. Adam hungri cam me to, Manrede dide I him me do ; 90 For on appel ich jaf him, He is min and al his kin. DOMINUS. Satanas, it wes min, pe appel, )>at )>ou jaue him, pe appel and ]>e appel-tre 95 Bojje were maked ))ourh me. Hou mihtest Jou on ani wise Of o)>er mannes Jjing make marchandise ? Si)>)>en he wes boht wij) min, Wi)> resoun wil ich hauen him. 100 SATAN. Jesu, wel I knowe >e! pat ful sore rewejj me ; pou art louerd ouer al, Wo is him, f>at J>e knowe ne shal ! Heuene and erj>e tak to ]>e, 105 pe soules in helle lef )>ou me ! THE HARROWING OF HELL. 169 Let me haue J>at ich helde, pat )>ou hauest wel mote J>ou welde ! DOMINUS. Stille be j>ou, Satanas, pe is fallen ambes as! no Wendest )>ou, ich were ded for noht? For mi dej> is mankin boht ! pei, J>at hauen serued me, WiJ> me he shulen in heuene be ; pou shall ben in more pine, 1 1 5 pan ani, J>at )>er is her-inne. SATAN. Ne mai non me werse do, pan ich haue had hider-to. Ich haue had so michel wo, pat I ne recche, whider I go ; 120 3 if J>ou reuest me of mine, I shal reue )>e of )>ine ; I shal go fro man to man And reue f>e of mani an. DOMINUS. God wot! I shal speke J>e wi}> 125 And do }>e to holde grif> ! So faste shal I binde >e, Litel shalt }>ou reue me. [Were J>ou among men, pou woldest me reuen mani of hem.] 130 pe smale fendes, J>at ben unstronge, He shulen among men jonge, For to hauen alle hem, pat hem ne willen stonden ajen. Helle jates I come nou to 135 And ich wille, that he undo. Where is nou ]>is jateward? Me ]>inke]> he is a coward ! JANITOR. Ich haue herd wordes stronge, Ne dar I her no lengore stonde ; 140 Kepe J>e jates whoso mai, I lete hem stonde and renne awei. DOMINUS. Helle jates her I felle ! And si)>J>en wil ich herwe helle. 170 APPENDIX III. Satanas, her I }>e binde, 145 Ne shalt }>ou neuer henne winde, Her shalt thou ben in bondes ai, Til J>at come domesdai ! ADAM. Welcome, louerd, god of londe, Codes sone and godes sonde ; 1 50 Welcome, louerd, mote J>ou be, Longe haue}> ous J>oht after )>e ! Louerd, nou \>ou art comen to ous, Bring ous of )>is lo}>e hous. Louerd, vvost }>ou, what ich am? 155 pou me shope of er)>e, Adam ; For I )>in heste held noht, Dere ich haue it her aboht. Haue merci of ous, godes sone, Let ous na more her wone ; 160 Alle, ]>at her-inne be, 3ore hauen jerned after }>e; We hopen wel ]>ourh }>i coming Of oure sinnes hauen froring. EUA. Knou me, louerd, ich am Eue; 165 Ich and Adam )>e were so leue, pou jaue ous to jeme parais, We it jemeden asse unwis ! We J>in heste dide forleten, po we of f>en appel eten ; 170 So longe haue we ben her-inne, Dere haue we bet oure sinne. Louerd, god, jif ous leue, Adam and me, his wif Eue, To faren of J>is lo)>e wike 175 To J>e blisse of heuene rike! DOMINUS. Adam, ich haue 3ouen mi lif For J>e and for Eue, >i wif; Wendest J>ou, ich were ded for noht? For mi dej> wes mankin boht. 180 ABRAHAM. Louerd, Crist, ich it am, pat J>ou calledest Abraham; THE HARROWING OF HELL. 171 pou me seidest, }>at of me Shulde a god childe boren be, pat ous shulde bringe of pine, 185 Me and wi)> me alle mine. pou art t>e child, J>ou art J>e man, pat wes boren of Abraham ; Do nou j>at )>ou bihete me, Bring me to heuene up wi} J>e! 190 DOMINUS. Abraham, ich wot ful wel What )>ou seidest, euerich del ; pat mi suete moder wes Boren and shaped of }>i fles. DAVID. Louerd, ich am Dauid, ]>e king, 195 pat boren wes of \>'m ofspring ; Do me also J>ou bihete pourh J>e la we of J>e prophete; Nou J5ou art comen to ous, Bring ous fram }>is dredful hous! 200 DOMINUS. David, j>ou were boren of mi kin, For j>i godnesse art jiou min, More for \>i godnesse, pan for ani sibnesse. JOHANNES. Louerd, Crist, ich am Johan, 205 pat j>e folewede in flum Jordan; Tuelue monej> is agon, pat I jjolede martirdom; pou sendest me )>e rihte wei In-to helle for soj>e to sei, 210 pat )>ou, Crist, godes sone, Sone shuldest f>ider come, For to lesen of helle pine Alle, )>at }>ou holdest )>ine. Nou fou art comen, nou j>ou do, 215 pat jjou seidest me unto! DOMINUS. Johan, Johan, ich it wat, pat I sende )>e )>e gat; pou shall se, J>at I shal do, pat I seide er }>e to. aao 172 APPENDIX III. MOYSES. Louerd, }>ou }aue me al wij> skil pe lawe of Sinay upon J>e hil; Ich am Moyses, )>e prophete, Ich held )>e lawes, )>at J>ou hete, pat men shulde come to bete 225 pe sinne, }>at Adam Jx>hte suete. DOMINUS. Moyses, )>at ich hihte )>e In \>e olde lawe, )>ou didest me; And alle ]>e o]>er, ]>at mine ben, Shulen to blisse wi}> me ten; 230 pei, J>at nolden on me leuen, Shulen wij> Satanas bileuen ; per he shulen wonen ai, Til J>at come domesdai. [Auctor\ God, for his moder loue 235 Let ous neuer Jjider come ! Louerd, for }>i michele grace Graunte ous in heuene one place ; Let ous neuer be forloren For no sinne, Crist icoren; 240 Ah bring ous out of belle pine, Louerd, ous and alle J>ine ; And jif ous grace to liue and ende In J>i seruice and to heuene wende. Amen. APPENDIX IV. BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC. 11. 316-435. THE ANGELL. I am an angell, thou mayist se blythe, 316 That fro hevyn to the ys senth, Our lord thanke the an c. sythe, For the kepyng of hys commawment. He knowyt thi wyll and also thy harte, 320 That thou dredyst hym above all thyng, And sum of thy hevynes for to departe A fayr Ram /ynder I gan brynge, He standyth teyed, loo ! a-mong the breres 324 Now Abraham, a-mend thy mood, For Ysaac, thy jowng son that her ys, Thys day schall not sched hys blood ; Goo, make thy sacryfece with ^on Rame. 328 Now for-wyll blyssyd Abraham, For on to hevyn I goo now horn, The way ys full gayn. Take up thy son soo free. \Exit AngeL 332 ABRAHAM. A ! lord I thanke the of thy gret grace, Now am I yeyed on dyvers wysse, A-rysse up, Ysaac, my dere sunne a-rysse, A-rysse up, swete chyld, and cum to me. 336 YSAAC. A ! mercy, fader, wy smygth yo. not jyt A ! smygth on, fader, onys with _yowr knyffe. ABRAHAM. Pesse, my swet sir ! and take no thowt, For our lord of hevyn hath grant thi lyffe 340 Be hys angell now. That thou schalt not dey this day, sunne, truly. 174 APPENDIX IV. YSAAC. A ! fader, full glad than wer I I-wys! fader, I sey, i-wys ! 34 \ Yf thys tale wer trew. ABRAHAM. An hundyrd tymys, my son fayer of hew, For joy thi mowth now wyll I kys. YSAAC. A! my dere fader, Abraham, 348 Wyll not God be wroth Mat we do thus? ABRAHAM. Noo, noo ! harly my swyt son, For ^yn same Rame he hath us sent Hether down to us. 352 Kyn best schall dey here in thi sted. In the worthschup of owr lord a-lon. Goo fet hym hethyr, my chyld, in ded. YSAAC. Fader, I wyll goo hent hym be the hed, 356 And bryng ^on best with me a-non. A ! scheppe, scheppe ! blyssyd mot thou be, That ever thow were sent down heder, Thow schall thys day dey for me, 360 In the worchup of the holy Trynyte. Now cum fast and goo we to-geder, To my fader of hevyn. Thow thou be never so jentyll and good 364 Fyt had I lever thow schedyst thi blood, I-wysse, scheppe, than I. Loo! fader, I have browt here full smerte Thys jentyll scheppe, 368 And hym to .you I .gyffe But lord God, I thanke the with all my hart For I am glad that I schall leve, And kys onys my dere moder. 372 ABRAHAM. Now be rygth myry, my swete chyld, For thys qwyke best that ys so myld, Here I schall present before all other. YSAAC. And I wyll fast begynne to blowe 376 Thys fyer schall brene a full good spyd; But, fader, wyll I stowppe downe lowe, Ye wyll not kyll me with jowr sword, I trowe ? BROME PLAY OF ABRAHAM &> ISAAC. 175 ABRAHAM. Noo, harly, swet son have no dred, 380 My mornyng ys past, YSAAC. Ya! but I woold that sword wer in a glad, For i-wys, fader, yt make me full yll a-gast. [Here Abraham mad hys offryng, knelyng and seyyng thus: ABRAHAM. Now lord God of hevyn in Trynyte, 384 Allmyty god omnipotent, My offeryng I make in the worchope of the, And with thys qweke best I the present. Lord reseyve thow myn intent. 388 As art god and grownd of our grace. DEUS. Abraham, Abraham, wyll mot thow sped, And Ysaac, thi _yowng son the by, Truly, Abraham, for thys dede, 392 I schall multyplye ^owres botheres sede As thyke as sterres be in the skye, Bothe more and lesse; And as thyke as gravell in the see, 396 So thyke multyplyed /our sede schall be, Thys grant I jow for yowr goodnesse. Off _yow schall cume frowte gret, And ever be in blysse with owt ^ynd, 400 For y& drede me as God a-lon, And kepe my commawmentes everyschon. My blyssyng I ^effe, wer so ever yt goo. ABRAHAM. Loo, Ysaac, my son, how thynke _ye, 404 Be thys warke that we have wrogth, Full glad and blythe we may be A^-ens the wyll of God that we grucched nott, Upon thys fayer hetth. 408 YSAAC. A! fader, I thanke our lord every dell, That my wyt servyd me so wyll, For to drede God more than my detth. ABRAHAM. Why! dere- wordy son, wer thow a-dred? 412 Hardely, chyld, tell me thy lore. 176 APPENDIX TV. YSAAC. Fa, be my feyth, fader, now hath I red, I wos never soo afrayd before, As I have byn at _yyn hyll. 416 But be my feyth, fader, I swere I wyll never more cume there But yt be a-^-ens my wyll. ABRAHAM. Fa, cum on with me, my owyn swet sonn, 420 And horn-ward fast now let us goon. YSAAC. Be my feyth, fader, ther-to I grant, I had never so good wyll to gon horn, And to speke with my dere moder. 424 ABRAHAM. A ! lord of hevyn, I thanke the, For now may I led horn with me Ysaac, my _yownge sonn so fre, The gentyllest chyld above all other. 428 Thys may I wyll a-voee. Now goo we forthe, my blyssyd sonn. YSAAC. I grant, fader, and let us gon, For be my trowthe wer I at home, 433 I wold never gon owt under that forme. I prey God ^effe us grace ever mo, And all thow that \ve be holdyng to. NOTES. YORK PLAY. SUBJECT. The Creation of the Universe and the Fall of Lucifer form the subject of a play, or part of a play, in each of the four great cycles. The versions followed by the different authors and by the writer of the Cursor Mundi exhibit only trifling differences, the chief of which are recorded in the notes. The York Play on this subject may certainly claim pre-eminence over its rivals. It is full of dramatic vigour, and is pervaded by a certain homely grandeur of style, which contrasts very effectively with the baldness of the Coventry playwright or the turgidity of the Chester. DIALECT. The dialect in which the York Plays were written was the Northumbrian, but the language of the plays as they have come down to us is strongly affected by the influence of a Midland scribe. Note, however, the Northern a for o in formaste, ane, aivne, etc., the Northern form of the second person singular in thu has, thou lyes, thou -was, the plural in s after the substantival subject, Thi dedes to this dole nowe has dyghte us (1. 109), and again the imperative plural in es (the pronoun being absent), Bothe the nighte and the day, does dewly _yhour deyver. Note also the present participles in and, ande, and the Northern forms als, whilke, slyke, gyf, sail, etc. METRE. The metre of this play, like that of the fortieth and forty-fifth, consists of eight-line stanzas, of which the first quatrain rimes abab with four beats to the line, the second quatrain cddc, with three beats. Each line is alliterative on three stressed syllables at least. N 178 NOTES TO YORK PLAY. TEXT. The text of this play is taken from the editio princeps with the following title : ' York Plays. The Plays performed by the Crafts or Mysteries of York on the day of Corpus Christi in the I4th, i$th and i6th centuries, Now first printed from the unique manuscript in the Library of Lord Ashburnham. Edited with introduction and glossary by Lucy Toulmin Smith. Oxford, at the Clarendon Press, 1885.' Ego sum Alpha et O., &c. This is compounded of two texts : Rev. i. 8, ' I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending,' and John xiv. 6, ' I am the way, the truth, and the life.' The Towneley, Coventry and Chester Plays quote only from the Revelation. 5. My blyssyng o ble sail be blendyng, &*c. : it has been suggested that ' ble ' here stands absolutely for ' beauty ' ; if not, we can hardly reject Mr. Joseph Hall's transposition ' O blyssing my ble,' etc. It seems agreed that ' blendyng ' means ' a blend ' and not ' a blinding.' 17. But onely the ivorthely warke, &C.: i.e. but my spirit shall breathe my might only into the worthy work of my will. 23. Nyen ordres of aungels. The nine orders are thus summed up in the corresponding Chester play Lord, through thy mighte thou haste us wroughte Nine orderes heare, that we maye see Cherubyn and Seraphyn through thy grace, Thrones and domenaciones in blesse to be. With principates that order brighte And potestates in blissful lighte, Alsoe vertutes through thy greate mighte, Angell, also arckeangele. The Cursor Mundi says Of angels wald he served be That suld of ordres haf thris thre, He ches til him that lauerd hend The men suld mak the ordre tend. Cotton MS., 429-432. But in the Towneley Play the tenth order was originally composed of the Angels who afterwards forfeited their place, for the Primus demon in reproaching Lucifer says Thou has maide IX, there was X. So also in Ccedmon. NOTES TO YORK PLAY. 179 25. Nexile : ' an exile, s. aisle, from Lat. axilla, a detached part of the structure of the world ; here seems to be confounded with isle. 1 (Note in Miss Smith's Glossary, York Plays, p. 546.) 28. And that welth sail -welde, &c. : i.e. and [they] that shall enjoy well-being shall dwell in these habitations. 32. Be put : i. e. that they be put. 49. Markide : i. e. is made conspicuous. 71. Me nedes: Le. I have no need to trouble myself in any way. 92. Owe! deives ! all goes doivne : Lucifer's self-gratulation is here cut short by his fall from heaven. In the Cursor Mundi and in the Towneley and Chester Plays his sin is represented as more heinous than that of mere boasting. Thus in the Cursor we read 'Sette,' he said, 'mi sete I sal Gain him that heist es of all : In the north side it sal be sette, O me servis sal he non gette, Qui suld I him servis yeild ? Al sal be at myn auen weild.' Cotton MS., 457-462. And in the Plays Lucifer seats himself in God's throne. 1 06. All oure fade es but filth, ivefynde us beforn : i.e. all the food we find before us is but filth. 124, 25. Thi rightwysnes, &c.: I supply [redes] and [it] as suggested by Dr. Kolbing, and adopt his punctuation. 134. Tham thoght tham : 'Thai thoght tham' would mean 'they thought themselves,' and 'tham thoght thai weren,' 'it seemed to them they were,' but ' tham thoght tham ' is loose grammar. 142. Before: i.e. in point of time. l8o NOTES TO CHESTER PLAYS. CHESTER PLAYS. I. NOAH'S FLOOD. SUBJECT. The Building of the Ark, the entrance into it of Noah and his Wife, and the Flood, were among the most popular subjects in the Miracle Cycles. In addition to the York, Towneley, Coventry, and Chester plays, a Newcastle play acted by the Shipwrights' Gild is still preserved, and is printed in Brand's History of Newcastle, vol. ii. In the Miller's Tale of Chaucer, where a clerk persuades a foolish carpenter to pass the night in a basket slung from a window in preparation for a second flood, there are naturally many allusions to Noah. See especially lines 348-357. 'Hastow nat herd how saved was Noe, Whan that our Lord had warned him biforn That al the world with watir schulde be lorn!' 'Yis,' quod this carpenter, 'ful yore ago.' 'Hastow nought herd,' quod Nicholas, 'also The sorwe of Noe with his felaschipe, That he hadde or he gat his wyf to schipe ? Him hadde wel lever, I dar wel undertake, At thilke tyme, than alle his wetheres blake, That sche hadde hadde a schip hirself alone." The Flood is treated at great length in the alliterative poem on Noah and in the Cursor Mundi (11. 1625-2000), but there is no allusion there to the obstinacy of Noah's wife. METRE. Stanzas of eight lines, for the most part riming aaab cccb, but occasionally aaab aaab. The fourth and eighth lines have only three beats, the rest four. There is much use of alliteration. TEXT. The Chester Plays have come down to us in five manuscripts, all transcribed within fifteen years, and all late. The earliest, written in 1591 by 'Edward Gregorie, a scholar of Bunbury,' is now in the possession of the Duke of Devonshire, by whose kindness the present editor has had the use of it for this edition. The next two transcripts were made by George Bellin in 1592 and 1600 respectively. These are both in the British Museum, MS. Add. 10,305 and Harl. 2013. The fourth copy is in the Bodleian (MS. 175) ; it was written by William NOTES TO CHESTER PLAYS. 181 Bedford in 1604. The fifth and last, dated 1607, was the work of James Miller, and this also is in the British Museum (Harl. 2124). As to the relations of the five MSS. all that can be said here is that the transcripts of 1592 (here called B) and 1607 (E) show, especially in this play, most striking differences, and that the Devonshire MS. (A) is a link between them, though nearer to B than to E. Harl. 2013 and Bod. 175 belong to the same group as B and are of no great importance. For the present edition I have followed Wright's Shakespeare Society edition (1843), and take my text from B ; but with important cor- rections from A and E, and a long passage for which E is our sole authority. In 1892 the E. E. T. S. issued the first half of the late Dr. Deimling's critical edition, the text of which is based on E. I. /, God, that all this worlde hath 'wrought: 'hath* for ' have ' through the interposition of the word ' God.' 4. Are sette fowle in synne : C reads ' Are fowle sotted.' 5. My ghoste shall not linge in mone . . . but tell, &>c. : my spirit shall only (not . . . but) continue in man for six score years. Cp. Gen. vi. 3. 8. They : here and in 11. II, 201, 204, written the in B. 10. Fowle to flye: gerundial infinitive, cp. 11. 57, 58, a hacchette wounder keyne to bitte well. I 1. They doe me nye, The Folke, &>c. : 'for on earth they, the folk that are thereon, do me wrong.' This seems better than to omit (with Wright) the comma after 'nye,' when we must render : ' for they cause me to harm the folk that are thereon.' 15. Hartelye. A and E read ' inwardlie,' but see Gen. vi. 6. 17. My servante free : 'free,' i.e. noble. 19. The directions here given are paraphrased from Gen. vi. 14-16 : ' Make thee an ark of gopher wood (treeyes dry and Tight, 1. 20) ; rooms (littill chamberes, 1. 21) shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch (11. 22-24). And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: the length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits (11. 25-28). A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above (11. 29-30) ; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof (11. 31-32) 5 with lower second and third stories (three rowfed chamberes on a roe, 1. 34) shalt thou make it.' 1 82 NOTES TO CHESTER PLAYS. 21. Thou make : imperative. 27. The meete thoufonge : take thou the measure. ' Meete ' is the reading of MS. A, for 'nexte ' of B, and ' melt ' of E. The height as given in Genesis is thirty cubits, not fifty (E) or sixty (A). 31. A dore shall sit : \. e. shall be placed. This is the reading of E and rimes with ' wytte ' and ' itt.' A and B both read ' sutte,' the northern spelling of ' shutte.' 34. Three rcnvfed chamberes on a roe. These do not answer to the 'rooms' of Gen. vi. 14, but to the 'lower, second and third stories ' of verse 16. ' Rowfed ' is the reading of E, and shows 'ronette' of A and D to be a mistake for 'rovette,' a northern spelling of the same word. C reads 'round,' and gives us also 'on a roe ' instead of the senseless ' one or two ' of the other MSS. 35. Sloive: i.e. slay, is the reading of E and superior to 'flowe ' (? = flood) of the other manuscripts. 40. Saved be for thy sake : another reading from E instead of the senseless ' shall fall before thy face,' which loses the rime with ' make' in 1. 36. 42. To me arte in such will : art so minded towards me. 43. house, B ' howseholde.' 50. Hye you, leste this ivatterfall. E reads ' Helpe for aughte that may befall.' 75. Every stiche : i.e. every stick. B 'with stiche.' 93. Toppe-castill ': a ledging surrounding the masthead. 94. With cordes and roppes, I hold all meete, E ; the other MSS. read : ' Bouth cordes and roppes I have all meete.' 115. For non soe righteous man to me: (to me, i.e. in my sight) A and E. ' For non soe righte, nor non to me,' B. 113-124. Cp. Gen. vii. 1-3. I2 5~ I 33- Cp. Gen. vi. 19-21. 125. more, B 'moe.' 131. Forgetten, B 'forgotten.' 137-144. Cp. Gen. vii. 4. 145. bayne, B ' beane.' 151. Yf through amendment, &c. : i.e. to see if an explana- tion of his slowness. The ' hundred wynter and twentye ' of line 1 49 are a repetition of the ' six skore yeaires' of line 7, both being taken from Genesis vi. 3. But according to Genesis v. 32 Noah was apparently over five hundred before the Ark was NOTES TO CHESTER PLAYS. 183 begun, and according to Genesis vii. 6 only six hundred when it was finished. The writer reckons by the ' long hundred.' 152. unto, B 'to.' 155. That iich beaste were in stalle: a wish ; cf. Ch 2 . 388, 'And sone that I were speede.' 170. Fullimartes: i.e. polecats, A; 'fulmart,' E. 'Fillie, mare also,' B, which clashes with 'horses, mares,' &c. of 1. 162. 187. Cuckoes, curlues, &*c. For ' cuckoes ' we have in B ' Duckes,' but our reading is supported both by its alliteration and by the occurrence in 1. 189 of ' digges, drackes.' Who ever knoives. Perhaps we should only regard this as a loose way of saying 'for anyone who knows to see,' or 'as any one knows;' but lines 189-191 may be taken as ex- planatory of ' iche one in his kinde,' and the construction be completed by line 192. 206. But, ' unless ' ; elles, redundant. 207. Noive. A and E unite in reading Noe in preference to this (' Els rowe forth Noe whether the liste'). B thy for thee. 220. There without: substituted, to save rime and sense, on the authority of A and E, for the ' their all daye ' of B. 225. Fleetinge : i.e. floating, AE ; 'flitting,' B. 226. Spreadesfullferre(K'farre'). The transcriber of E, or his authority, not recognising that the metre of the Gossippes Song is different from that of the rest of the play, has altered these words to ' it breadeth (broadens) in haste,' in order to preserve the triple rime with ' faste ' and ' agaste.' Again in line 228 he reads : ' Good gossip, let me come in.' 233. Heare is a pottill, &*<;. This and the three following lines are omitted by E. It will be noted that they are metrically an excrescence. 238. Childer: retained by A only; other MSS. 'children.' 244. nought, B 'note.' 246. Have thou that for thy note! We are to understand that Shem has carried his mother by force into the boat, and that she is replying to her husband's sarcastic welcome with a blow. The reading 'note' (use) makes good sense, and contains a possible pun : it is supported by A and B. But there is much to be said for the 'mote' (argument, speech) which is found in E. 249. Remeves : i.e. removes, moves away, AE. 'Renewes' of B is plainly a scribes error. 257. Shutte, AB ; steake, E. 1 84 NOTES TO CHESTER PLAYS. 259. So great e one, AE ; so greate wone, B. [26l*~398*.] The following forty-eight lines are given only by E. As they closely follow the Bible narrative [Gen. viii. 6 sqq.], and supply what in the other texts is an obvious lacuna, while the naivet/ of the stage directions is an additional argument for their genuineness, I have no hesitation in printing them. 275*. Stage direction: 'Then shall he let loose a dove and there shall be in the ship another dove bearing an olive in her mouth, which some one shall let down [the verb should plainly be demittef\ by a string into the hands of Noah.' 299*. Soe be, text ' be soe.' 305*. Comes in all wise. 'Comes,' the northern imperative plural ; cp. does Y. 156. 'All wise ' : by all means. 263. Wher all was \lorne\ salfe to be. I have ventured thus to emend, despite the agreement of the MSS. in favour of 4 borne.' For ' salfe,' A ; safe, E ; MS. B reads ' false.' 268. And full devotion : so AB, but in E the line appears as ' I offer here right sone.' 270. Thy, AE ; to my, B. 276. Has, AE ; halfe, B. 278. And, AE ; on, B. 292. Lete, B leave. 293. Flee, B fleye- 296. Mankinds: the rime in 1. 300 shows that the original reading was probably ' mankynne.' 305-7. Heste, beste, leste, B heiste, beste,last. 311. Verey, AE ; every, B. 313, 4. That man ne woman, AE; in B the line limps haltingly as, ' man shall never more.' To make up for this the next line is much too long, ' Be wasted with waiter, as he hath been before.' I follow A in omitting 'he' and 'bene,' elliptical expressions being common in these plays. E reads: 'as is before.' 318. like, AE ; same, B. II. THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC. SUBJECT. Five other English miracle-plays on this subject have been handed down to us. Of these the least interesting is that of the Coventry series, in which Isaac bows at once to NOTES TO CHESTER PLAYS. 185 his fate, and the story is told as baldly as possible. Better than this, but still with the omission of much of the small incident and by-play of our text, is the short Towneley version. In the York Play the charm of the story is marred by the unhappy freak of making Isaac thirty years of age, apparently that in this also he should be a type of Christ. In a Dublin play (isth century), printed by J. P. Collier in 1836 from a manuscript in Trinity College, Dublin, the distinguishing features are the introduction of Rebecca and the longer speeches assigned to Deus. The fifth version is that first printed by Miss Toulmin Smith in Anglia, Band vii. pp. 323-337, from a 1 5th century MS. found at Brome in Suffolk. This play has especial interest for us, not only on account of its intrinsic merit, but from the strong resemblance of its lines 164-314 to the corresponding 134 lines in the Chester version. This resem- blance, sometimes of phrase, sometimes only of meaning, is interrupted by occasional passages in the Brome MS., which have no equivalents in the Chester. Apparently both editors worked upon a common original, but the Chester poet com- pressed the more freely, and in so doing greatly heightened the effect of the dialogue. But he shewed poor taste in omitting the charming scene between the Father and the Son after their agony is over, and I give this in full in an Appendix. It is possible, however, that the Chester Play has come down to us mutilated. It was plainly at one time a separate play, and when amal- gamated with that of Abraham and Lot may well have been cut down for greater convenience of performance. 230. Doe a littill thinge : i.e. 'go about a little piece of business,' but the phrase seems to have had some liturgical associations ; cp. Chaucer's Knightes Tale, 1435, of Emily's sacrifice to Diana Two fyres on the auter gan sche beete, And dide hire thinges, as men may bibolde; and in the same way, ' said his thinges ' is used for ' said his prayers.' 265. [Affearde] . . . [swerde]. Following Wright, I thus emend 'afrayde' . . . 'sworde' of the MSS. 268. You -will not slaye your childe. The fine scene which follows, perhaps the most pathetic in our older literature, was doubtless suggested to the dramatist by the consideration that 1 86 NOTES TO CHESTER PLAYS. Isaac, as a type of Christ, must have been a willing sacrifice. The author of the Cursor Mundi had no such inspiration. 'Sir,' he said, 'quer sal we take The beist of sacrifice to make, Sin we wit us now broght has nan.' He said, 'drightin sal send us an.' Wit this he stod the child nerhand And demlike [privily] he drou the brand That the child was not parceveid Ar the suerd him hade deceveid. Cotton MS., 3165-72. 271. [Steade] ; fyelde, A; feilde, B ; stydd, E. 281. I prate thee . . . even in three. Here A and E give us the true reading for B's unmetrical Isaake, sonne, peace I thee praie Thou breakes my harte in sunder. 299. If it maye be : after ' she woulde kneele downe ' the regular construction here requires ' might,' which is actually the reading of E. But the present tense is full of dramatic vividness. 300. Dr. Kolbing points out that a half stanza has here been lost, and that we may supply three lines of it from the Brcme MS. 178-80 : And sythyn that my moder ys not here I pray yow, fader, schonge yowr chere, And kyll me not with yowyr knyffe. 314. Will not guile me in my nede, B ; quite me my meede, AE ; the latter reading is perhaps slightly the better. Neither takes a very high view of Abraham's motive. 319. Onste. Wright misread this as ' ouste,' a word probably not in use at this time. A and E read ' once.' 333. My blessinge, &*c. These four lines are printed from A and E. In B (followed by Wright) they do not appear. 335. The blessing of the Trinitie. Allusion to the Holy Trinity are frequent in plays on Old Testament subjects. 336. Grylle should rime with lighte. Perhaps we should read gryghte, murmur (from gntccheri). 369. \Yinge\\ yonge, MSS. 378. Thou greyed me \n\ever ones : Dr. Kolbing's emenda- tion from Brome MS. 270 ('In all thy lyffe thou grevyd me neuer onys') ; thou greves me ever ones, B; thou greeves me every ones, A ; thou greved me but ones, E. NOTES TO CHESTER PLAYS. 187 388. And sone that I were speede : a wish, cp. C. L. 155. 391. A litill while, -while you have space. B omits the first ' while,' rather to the improvement of the sense. But the word is more likely to have dropped out in B than to have been repeated in A and E, and is needed for the sake of the metre. 397. / ivoulde fayne . . . Full loth were me : the subtle indication by the tenses that Abraham's resolution is faltering is worth noting. 411. I pray e you ryddme. This reading (from A), though less forcible than the ' I praye God rydd me ' of E, is supported by the Brome MS. The disputed word is omitted altogether in B. 435. Into this place as thou se may. Only given in E. Not a good line, but needed for the metre. 446. ever : pronounced as ' e'er.' 447. To teare, AB ; E weakly reads ' so deare.' 454. And thy bloode, AE ; and of thy bloode, B ; but the reference is plainly to Gen. xxii. 17, 'and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.' 456. To do, AE ; And do, B. 457. And of all nations, fs*c. I leave the text of this and the three following lines as it stands in B because it makes good sense, without any emendation, viz. that Abraham is to be blessed of all nations and himself to be saved by his descendant, Christ. But the text followed is plainly Gen. xxii. 18 : 'And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.' Now in 1. 458 AE omit thou, in 1. 459 they read The for Through, and in the 1. 460 omit be. And of all nations, leve thou me, Blessed evermore shall be The fruite that shall come of thee, And saved through thy seede. The stanza is thus much closer to Gen. xxii. 18, but contains a most awkward change of construction in the last line. 466. In example, AE ; An example, B. 473. Understands I mate, AE ; I maie understande, B. 476. And death for to confounde, AB ; his death to underfonge, E. Neither reading, it will be observed, supplies a rime to 1. 472. 477. Suche obedience, &>c. The remaining stanzas are not given in E. 485. Make rombe, lordinges, &c. Spoken by the herald of the next play, probably on horseback. 1 88 NOTES TO TOWNELEY PLAY. TOWNELEY PLAY. SECUNDA PASTORUM. SUBJECT. We have in all six plays treating of the Adoration of the Holy Child by the Shepherds ; two in the Towneley Cycle, which must have been used as alternatives ; one each in those of York, Chester and Coventry ; and a single play acted by the Shearmen and Taylors of Coventry, probably a part of the lost Cycle of the Trade Gilds of that town. The Shepherds of the Coventry (Grey Friars?) Cycle are distinguished irom their fellows by their superior learning, by their dulness and their abstinence from gifts. In the other plays the Shepherds are all genuine rustics, rough in their talk and manners, but full of real devotion. They talk of their sheep, eat their poor meals, wrestle (as in the Chester Play) with their lad and are ignominiously beaten, try to imitate the angels' song, and then betake them to Bethlehem, there to offer their humble gifts. All these features appear in the Towneley Play, but inwoven with them is a genuine farce, which makes it of a great importance in the history of the development of the English drama. DIALECT. In the main that of the West Riding of Yorkshire. METRE. A very vivacious stanza of thirteen, with two and three accents to a line, riming ababababcdddc. This metre runs through five of the Towneley Plays and appears in four others. Couplets, alternates, and other metres appear in the rest of the plays. There is much alliteration. TEXT. The MS. of the Towneley Plays (now in the posses- sion of Mr. Quaritch) was originally copied and collated in 1836 for the Surtees Society. The extracts here given are taken from the Early English Text Society's recent edition. II. Nere-hands outt of the doore : nearly homeless. 13. Lyysfalow : i.e. because they could not afford to cultivate them. 20. Lord-fest, ' strong in lordliness,' Morley ; perhaps rather ' attached to a lord ' (the opposite of lordless), cp. shamefast, wordfast. 28. May he gett a paynt slefe, r*c. In the days of Sumptuary Laws an embroidered sleeve would betoken a man of rank. NOTES TO TOWNELEY PLAY. 189 32. He can make purveance. Purveyance was the right of purchasing provisions and necessaries for the royal household at an arbitrary price in preference to any other buyer. The first of forty statutes against it was made by Canute, but the right was not finally surrendered till 1660. On a smaller scale it would be practised by every feudal lord. 289. Bot abowte you a serkylle. Mak (a character who is probably adapted from the favourite comic character, the con- jurer and buffoon Maugis of the Romance of the Four Sons of Aymon), like a rustic magician, draws an imaginary circle round the Shepherds, in which they are to sleep until his theft is done and his protestations of innocence ready prepared. 294. Over your heydys, r*c. : by way of a charm. 309. / hope not I myght ryse a penny to wyn : I have no expectation of making anything by getting up. 314. There may no note be sene, &c, : such small jobs prevent my having any work to show. 317. A, com in, my sivetyng : she recognizes her husband. 341. Then myght I far, by alle the pak, 6r*c. : then might I fare much the worse at the hands of all the pack. The reading ykr, by instead of by, for of text (far in Surtees ed. is corrected in errata to for) was suggested by Dr. Skeat and (independently) by Dr. Logeman. 598. We wate ill abowte : we are waiting about to no purpose. Primus Pastor has not yet discovered Mak's trick. 602. Kynde wille crepe, &*c. A proverb ; cp. Everyman, 1. 31 5. 614. I am he that hym gatt. Mak now pretends that the sheep is a changeling put in place of his child. 634. With you wt lie I be left: I will stand by your judgment. 639. And cast hym in canvas : i. e. they toss Mak in a blanket. 642. A shepe of mi skore : i. e. of seven score pounds. 655. Ther lyges thatfre. For the use of ' free ' as a substantive (= noble fellow), cp. York Play of the Entry into Jerusalem, 1. 183 And than we will go mete that free; also * To that bright ' in 1. 716 of the present play. In the York Play of the Shepherds, the Holy Child is called ' that frely foode.' 667. How he crakyd it: 'crakyd,' sang out loud (M. E. craken, to cry out : cp. ' corn-crake '), occurs in the York Play, where one of the Shepherds, after imitating the angels' song, says I have so craked in my throte That my lippes are nere drye. 190 NOTES TO TOWNELEY PLAY. 671. I can: so Pastor Primus in the York Play, says I can synge itt alls wele as hee And on a-saie itt sail be sone proved or we passe. Yf we will helpe, halde on ! late see, for thus it was. And the Shepherds all sing together. In the Chester Play, on the other hand, Pastor Primus modestly remarks, He hade a moche better voyce than I have, As hi heaven all other have so. 685. By the prophecy of David and Isay. In the Processus Prophetarum in the Towneley Plays the prophets who appear are Moses, David, the Sibyl and Daniel, but the play has some signs of being imperfect In the Coventry Play no less than twenty-seven prophets are made to bear their witness. 692. Ecce virgo, 6r>c. : Isaiah vii. 14 (in the Vulgate : ' Ecce virgo concipiet et pariet filium, et vocabitur nomen ejus Emmanuel ') For Ecce the MS. has Cite, a scribe's error. 703. Patriarkes, &c. : cp. Luke x. 24. 729. A bob of cherys. Only the Shepherds of the Coventry Cycle bring no gifts ; in the other plays some imagination is shewn in the choice of rustic presents. Thus in the first Towneley Play the gifts are a ' lytyll spruse cofer,' a ball and a bottle ; in the York, a brooch with a tin bell, ' two cobill notis uppon a band ' (cob-nuts on a riband), and a horn spoon that will hold forty peas. In the Chester Play double gifts are offered, a bottle, hood and shepherd's pipe by the ' Boys,' and a bell, spoon and cap by the Shepherds. In the Coventry Play of the Shearmen and Taylors, the gifts are a pair of mittens, a hat, and a stick for hooking down nuts or plums. 735-36. Hay lie lytyll tyne mop, Of our e crede thou art crop. These phrases are repeated from the corresponding scene in the Prima Pastorum. 747. The tenys. Tennis was a fashionable game in France at the end of the I4th century (cp. the Dauphin's gift of tennis balls to our Henry V.), and was well known in England and Scotland about the same time. In the romance of The Turke and Gawin it is alluded to as having been played by Arthur's Knights ! Thou shalt see a ten nisse ball, That never knight in Arthur's hall Is able to give it a lout. NOTES TO COVENTRY PLAY. 191 749. That sett alle on seven: that put all things in order. The phrase is repeated from the Prima Pastorum, in an earlier part of which it occurs slightly altered as ' to cast the world in seven.' In the play of Magnus Herodes the King threatens to ' sett alle on sex and seven.' 765. Let take on loft : let us deliver on high, let us sing out loudly. COVENTRY PLAY. THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION. SUBJECT. There is no counterpart to this play in any of the other cycles, and it is to this fact rather than to any special merit, whether literary or dramatic, that its selection is due. We have here a personification of the heavenly virtues of Truth, Mercy, Justice and Peace, and we thus advance a step towards the dramatic allegory of the earliest Morality Plays, such as the Castell of Perseverance, which ends with a precisely similar scene. METRE. This play is written throughout J in stanzas of eight lines, riming ababbcbc, with the occasional substitution of two more A-rimes for the Cs in the second quatrain. This very undramatic metre runs through eleven of the Coventry Plays and appears also in twelve others. The chief variation from it is a still longer stanza, riming ababababcdddc. DIALECT. The chief scribal peculiarity is the appearance of x in such words as xal, xulde, etc. According to Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps this is in harmony with the traditional attribution of the Cycle to Coventry, or its neighbourhood, but xal, xulde, etc. are usually associated with the East-Midland dialect, and I have elsewhere stated my belief in the East- Midland origin of this Cycle. TEXT. The text of this extract is taken from Mr. Halliwell- Phillipps' edition for the Shakespeare Society, the title of which runs as follows : ' Ludus Coventriae. A collection of mysteries formerly repre- sented at Coventry on the Feast of Corpus Christi. Edited by James Orchard Halliwell. London : printed for the Shakespeare Society, 1841.' 1 There are three half-stanzas of four lines each. 192 NOTES TO COVENTRY PLAY. The proofs have been read with the unique Manuscript in the Cottonian Collection at the British Museum, dated 1468. I. Ffowre thowsand sex undryd foure. (The MS. zddsyere, but see 1. 3.) As there are nearly 200 computations of the number of years between the Creation of Man and Birth of Christ it is hardly worth enquiring to whom this particular calculation should be credited. It is six hundred years longer than the reckoning of Archbishop Usher (4004 years), now usually in- serted in Bibles. According to Jewish chronologists the length of the period is 3992 years, according to the Samaritan 4293, while other calculations vary between 3483 and 6984. 7. Seydby Ysaie : Isaiah bciii. 15. 10. Into erthe : a rime is wanted to 'fede.' We should rather read ' this stede,' and explain ' erthe ' as a gloss. 13. Thi thryste : for ' thi ' we should have expected ' their.' 21. Balys. Mr. Halliwell suggested this as an emendation and in deference to his authority I have so marked it. But the word in the MS. looks to me far more like ' balys ' than ' babys.' 25. Quod Jeremy e : Jerem. ix. i. 38. That ben in thefyrst ierarchie : see note to York, 1. 23. 48. Of Locyfere to restore the place : see note to York, 1. 23. 49. Proffer mtseriam, &c. : Ps. xii. 5. 71. Thou hast lovyd trewthe : Heb. i. 9. 85. Veritas mea, &C. : Ps. Ixxxv. 10. 87. Byddyth : imperative, ' Cry " Ho " to that hell-hound who hates thee.' Cp. Chaucer, Knightes Tale, 1796-98. And when that Theseus hadde seen his sighte, Unto the folk that foughten thus echon He cryde, ' Hoo ! no more, for it is doon.' 93. Therefore his endles punchement. The argument is that because God is eternal, i.e. with an existence not conditioned by time, therefore any offence against Him partakes of His eternity, and provokes an eternal punishment. 95. The devyl to his mayster he ches. For the use of ' to ' cp. Skelton's Magnificence, 1. 1961 I sende ofte times a fole to his sone. 107. Above : i. e. in a greater degree than. 1 08. He: i.e. man. Befeyth he forsook hym never the more : i. e. though man fell into sin and so forsook God and presumed on His mercy (1. 109), none the less he retained his faith in God. NOTES TO MARY MAGDALENE. 193 114. In vertuys : i. e. among angels of the order of Virtues to which Mercy and Justice belong. 134. Tyl vjysdam : the heavenly Wisdom, or Christ. MARY MAGDALENE. SUBJECT. The importance of this play consists chiefly in its union of all the essentials of every kind of religious and didactic drama. It is a miracle play, according to the current definition, as treating of the life and death of St. Mary Magdalene. It is a mystery play, by virtue of the introduction of scenes from the life of Christ. It is a morality play, as exhibiting the contest between good and evil, and as introducing upon the stage such abstract personages as the King of the Flesh. Dr. Furnivall has divided the play, which has the least possible dramatic unity, into two parts, with twenty scenes in the first, and thirty-one in the second. The play must have been an expensive one to produce, as there are upwards of forty different characters in Part I. and twenty-six in Part II. Probably only two pageants were used for its representation, for several of the scenes appear to be inserted only to give time for a ' shift ' on the other pageant. But if any attempt were made to depict the burning temple or the incidents of the voyage of the King and Queen of Marcylle, realistically, the resources at the command of the stage manager must have been extensive. The story of the play is adapted, with very few variations, from the account of St. Mary Magdalene in the Legenda Aurea of Jacobus de Voragine, of which an English edition was pub- lished by Caxton in 1483. The identification of Mary Magdalene with Mary the sister of Lazarus was accepted by Gregory the Great, and being supported by his authority was hardly questioned until the 1 6th century. DIALECT. According to Dr. Furnivall the dialect of the play is East-Midland, probably from the neighbourhood of Lynn in Norfolk, or from Lincolnshire. The most notable dialectal and scribal forms are xal (shall) and qwat (what). METRE. The metre is very irregular. It seems to have originally been written in 8- or 9-line stanzas, and to have re- mained so now and then. Other stanzas, alternates and couplets, also occur. The line numbers which are taken from Dr. o 194 NOTES TO MARY MAGDALENE. Furnivall's edition, show them to some extent. Pt. II. is mainly in alternates. TEXT. The text here given is from Dr. Furnivall's edition of the Digby Mysteries (see Introduction) for the New Shakspere Society. The Bodleian manuscript in which these plays are preserved was the work of three different hands, but the greater part was probably written between 1480 and 1490. 54. Besyn of all other men : for the use of 'of after 'besyn' (beseen) cp. I Cor. xv. 5, 'And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve.' 55. Cyrus is my name. The following is the account of the Magdalene's parentage in the Legenda Aurea: ' Mary Magdalene had her surname of magdalo a castell | and was borne of right noble lygnage and parentes | whiche were descended of the lygnage of kynges | And her fader was named Sirus & her moder eucharye | She wyth her broder lazare & her suster martha possessed the castel of magdalo : whiche is two myles fro nazareth | & bethanye the castel whiche is nygh to Iherusalenr and also a grete parte of Iheru- salem. whiche al thise thynges they departed amonge theym in suche wyse that marye had the castelle magdalo. whereof she had her name magdalene | And lazare had the parte of the cytee of Iherusalem : and martha had to her parte bethanye.' Legenda Aurea. Second Edition (1493), f. 184, ver. 80. 55. Be cleffys so cold: a meaningless tag ; cp. ' in contree and cost/ 1. 1212. 60. Bothe lesse and more : i. e. the whole of it ; cp. 1. 1 202. For ' more ' and ' sore ' we should read ' mare ' and ' sare." 84. Why II that / am in good mynd: i. e. in my right senses, in full possession of my faculties. 89-91. Hys ivy II . . . a-gens hem. There is here a confusion of pronouns past any certain unravelling. ' Agens hem ' (i. e. with respect to them) probably refers to Lazarus' sisters. 93. Thatt God of pes. For ' Thatt 1 we should probably read ' Thou.' 106. To your grace: to your honour or credit. 269. Bak and syde : a phrase for the whole body, as in the famous drinking song, ' Back and side, go bare, go bare.' 285. In-wyttissymus. Dr. Furnivall glosses this word in his margin as ' infinitissimus,' most infinite ; but it clearly stands for ' invictissimus,' most unconquered. NOTES TO MARY MAGDALENE. 195 288. He to bryng us : the construction is altered at the end of the line and the pronoun repeated. 299. Thys castell is owerys : the reply of Martha shows that in ' ours,' Lazarus is using the royal plural. In 1. 81 the 'castell' had been given to Mary, and in 1. 303 she seems to claim it as hers. 308. And that Ijugge me to skryptur : and as to this I refer my claim to Scripture. 359. Satan ower sovereyn : ? for 'yower sovereyn.' 362. At my ryall retynawns : in my royal train. 377. We xal hyrre wynne. This is the first intimation that the attack is to be specially against the Magdalen. 476. Wynne of maw t, Qrc. Even with the aid of Henderson's Ancient and Modern Wines it is difficult to identify all the different varieties mentioned in the lists in which medieval taverners delighted. Wine of Mawt is possibly Maltese wine rather than wine made from malted barley ; Malmeseyn came from Malvasia in the Morea ; ' clarry ' wine (vin doulce et clarre") was red or white wine seasoned with honey (cp. Chaucer, Knightes Tale, 613) ; it seems to have been a mixture made as required, as opposed to ' claret ' which was manufac- tured. ' Gyldyr ' is Guelder ; ' Galles,' Galicia ; ' at the grome ' stands for ' at the Groine,' the port in Spain. ' Wyan ' is our English way of writing ' Guyenne ' ; ' Vernage ' a wine grown near Verona, and often mentioned, as in Chaucer's Merchant? s Tale. 484. Thefynnest thou hast. Note the change from the polite your and you, with which Satan addresses Mary, to his thou hast to the Taverner. So Harry Bailey speaks to the Shipman as thou and to the Prioress as you. In the dialogue in 11. 615-630 of this play, Simon addresses Christ as 'Ye' and is addressed by Him as Thou. 507. Lady, this man is for yoiv : for you, at your service, cp. Much Ado, ii. I. 387 ' My lord, I am for you, though it cost me ten nights' watching.' 590. Agens God so veryabyll. For 'against' meaning 'in regard to,' cp. Trevisa's tr. of Higden's Polych. vi. ' Merciable agenst pore men.' 610. The prophett : i.e. Christ, who, however, has not pre- viously been mentioned. 612. Be the oyle of mercy. The softening and healing properties O 2 196 NOTES TO MARY MAGDALENE. of oil have caused it to be regarded as symbolical of mercy and forgiveness ; cp. its use in the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, and the legend, narrated in the Cursor Mundi, that Seth, when Adam lay dying, was sent to Paradise to seek the oil of mercy for him. 619. That thou tuylt me knowe : because thou art minded to recognise Me. 638. With the to stand: the infinitive is probably explanatory of ' my hart and thowt ' in the next line. 670. With good entent, text ' with good in entent.' 1140. Mahond: throughout the Miracle Plays Mahomet is the common god of all heathens ; cp. in the Coventry Plays the speeches of the soldiers who guard the sepulchre : PRIMUS MILES. My head dulleth. My heart fulleth Of sleep. Saint Mahonnd, This burying ground Thou kepe. 'Secundus Miles' calls on 'Mahound Whelp' and the third soldier on ' Mahound of Might.' 1146. Lythly, chyld, it be natt delay d : i.e. it may not lightly be delayed. 1 1 86. Glabriosum, &*c. It is impossible to extract any meaning out of this Mahound's Lesson, but the gibberish seems to have been intended to carry along with it a suggestion of bad words. 1200. Ragnell and Roffyn. In the Chester Plays of Anti- christ, Antichristus at his death calls out : Helpe, Sathanas and Lucifier, Bellsabube, bolde Balacher, Ragnell, Ragnell, thou arte my deare. And in The Fall of Lucifer Primus Demon calls on Ruffyne, my frinde fayer and free Loke that thou kepe mankinde from blesse. 1377. Our lordes precept e, 6r>c. The story as given in the Aurea Legenda here shows some differences from the version adopted by the playwright. It runs as follows : ' Saint maxyme, marie magdalene : and lazar her brother martha her suster Marcelle chamberer of martha, and saint cedonye whiche was born blynde & after enlumyned of oure NOTES TO CASTELL OF PERSEVERANCE. 197 lorde | alle these to gydre and many other crysten men were taken of the mescreautes and put in to a shippe in the see without ony takell or rother for to be drowned, but by the puruyaunce of almyghty god they came all to marcelle | where as none wold receyue them to be lodged they duellyd and abode under a porche to fore a temple of the peple of that contree | And whan the blessyd marie magdalene sawe the peple assem- bled at this temple for to do sacrefyce to the ydollis she aroos vp pleasybly wyth a glad vysage & discrete tongue & well spekynge | And began to preche the faith and lawe of Jhesu cryst | and wythdrewe them fro the worshyppyng of thy- dollis.' Legenda Aurea. Second Edition (1493), f. 185. 1435. The lond of satyllye : Satalie (Attalia), part of Armenia, was the scene of one of the campaigns of Chaucer's Knight. 1540. Hoiv pleyauntly they stand ; here the king points to his idols. 1553. DomimiS) illuminacio mea : Ps. xxvii. I. THE CASTELL OF PERSEVERANCE. SUBJECT. The date of the Castett of Perseverance, which can scarcely be later than the middle of the reign of King Henry VI, is nearly a half-century earlier than that of any Morality yet printed in its entirety. A curious sketch at the beginning of the MS., reproduced in a plate facing p. 23 of Sharp's Dissertation on the Coventry Mysteries, gives us a good idea of the manner in which it was played and the machinery used for its per- formance. ' A reference to the plate,' writes Mr. Sharp, ' will shew a rude representation of a castle, raised some height from the ground, upon pillars or supports, and standing in the centre of a circle formed by two lines one within the other, in the space between which is written " + this is the watyre a bowte the place, if any dycke may be mad ther it schal be pleyed ; or ellys that it be strongly barryd al a bowte : & lete nowth over many stytelerys [marshalmen ?] be withinne the plase 1 ." Over the castle we read : " This is the castel of perseveranse that stondyth in the myddys of the place; but lete no men sytte ther for lettynge of 1 I write out the contractions in full. 198 NOTES TO CASTELL OF PERSEVERANCE. syt, for ther schal be the best of all." Beneath the castle and within the supports to it stands a bed, below which are these words : " Mankynde is bed schal be under the castel, & ther schal the sowle lye under the bed tyl he schal ryse & pleye." On each side of the castle is written the following direction: " Coveytyse copbord schal be at the ende of the castel, be the beddys feet." 'On the outside of the circle five stations for scaffolds are marked out ; beginning at the top we read : " Sowth, Caro skaffold West, Mundus skaffold Northe, Belyal skaffold North Est, Coveytyse skaffold Est deus skaffold." Underneath the circle are the following directions to the performers : " & he that schal pley belyal, loke that he have gunne powder brennyng in pypys in his hands and in his ers, etc. whanne he gothe to batayle . . . the iiij dowters schul be clad in mentelys, Mercy in wyth, rythwysnesse in red al togedyr, Trewthe in sad grene, & Pes al in blake, and they schul pleye in the place al to gedyr tyl they brynge up the sowle." ' A week before the play was acted criers were sent round to the neighbouring villages proclaiming its subject, and an- nouncing its performance 'this day sevennyt' 'at N on the grene in ryall aray.' The play begins with a conference between the World the Flesh and the Devil (Mundus, Caro and Belyal) ; and then Humanum Genus comes forth, apparently from under the bed, and begins as in our extract. From this point our quotations sufficiently indicate the course of the play until Humanum Genus enters the Castle of Perseverance, where he is besieged by the Seven Deadly Sins and defended by the Virtues in rather a dull war of words. At last Mankind is tempted forth from his Castle by wiles of Covetyse, the peculiar sin of old age. He is rewarded with a thousand marks, but a little later learns his folly on the arrival of Garcio, his heir, who demands from him everything he has. But his good angel once more draws near to his side. There is a dispute as in the Coventry Play between Misericordia, Veritas, Justicia and Pax, but God the Father (Pater sedens in trono) admits Mankind to mercy, and the play ends with a warning to the spectators 'Evyr at the begynnynge thynke on your last endinge.' [For remarks on the importance of this play see Introduction.] METRE. The greater part of the play is written in stanzas of 13 lines, riming ababababaccca, the ninth and thirteenth lines NOTES TO CAST ELL OF PERSEVERANCE. 199 having three accents, the rest four. But we find also a nine- line stanza, riming ababcdddc ; an eight-line stanza, with two accents to a line, riming aaabcccb, and other varieties. TEXT. The text of these extracts is based on a transcript from Mr. Hudson Gurney's MS., which has been very kindly placed at my disposal by Dr. Furnivall, for whom it was made some years ago, when he intended to edit it for the New Shakspere Society. 5-7. Lende . . . lende. Here, as in Chaucer, who copies the French rule as to ' rimes riches ' two words identically spelt may rime together if their meanings are different. Cp. Chaucer's Prol. The holy blisful martir for to seeke [seek] That hem hath holpen whan that they were seeke [sick], 11. 17, 1 8. 13. Whow mankende is unchende. 'Unchende' can only mean ' unkende,' unkind, unnatural ; but the spelling is sur- prising and the sense hardly what is wanted. Prof. Skeat suggests ' unhende,' unserviceable, clumsy, as a possible emen- dation, and this exactly suits the sense. 1 6. / am born and have ryth nowth: i.e. now that I am born I have nothing, etc. It seems better to construe thus than to put a comma after 'wot' in 1. 15, and connect together ' to woo and wepynge I am born.' 20. Crysme. The ' chrism ' or ' chrisom-cloth ' was properly a white cloth placed by the baptizing priest on the head of an infant to prevent the holy oil from rubbing off. It was afterwards enlarged into a white robe covering the whole body, as a token of the innocency conferred in baptism ; but the words ' my hed hath cawth' show that the reference here is to the original chrisom-cloth. 28. The ton. The apparent doubling of the article is really a survival of the old thet on, that one ; cp. 1. 38, Hey. 579, and Chaucer's Legend of Good Women, A. text, 1. 325. Techyth me to goode. The presence of the preposition is explained by the old meaning of ' teach ' = show, direct. Cp. Piers Plowman, i. 81, ' Tech me to no Tresour.' 32. Be fen and fiode : the first of nearly a dozen periphrases for ' everywhere ' ; cp. be ' strete and stronde,' ' strete and stye,' ' downe and dyche,' ' sompe and syke ' &c. 200 NOTES TO CAS TELL OF PERSEVERANCE. 43. Hevene trone : 'hevene' is a genitive; cp. next line, and 'heven kynge,' Ev. 19. 78. All in povert here thei stode. The pronoun is inserted because of the intervention of ' all in povert ' between the nouns and their verb. See Abbott, Shaksp. Gram. 242, 243. 90. Have thou, &*c. : conditional ; cp. 1. 126. 98. Faryn wel at mete and mele : an allusion to the incon- venience of fasting. 115. Take the werld to thine entent : take the world as the subject of your thoughts. The construction is as in the phrase ' take to wife.' 137. Thou schalt thynke al be tyme : 'schalt' here is equiva- lent to ' you are sure to ' ; cp. Richard ///, v. 3. 201, And, if I die, no man shall pity me; i.e. 'it is certain that no man will pity me.' See Abbott, Shaksp. Gram. 315. 139. Thou schalt holdyn hym inne : you will easily keep Bonus Angelus in his place. 141. With lofly lyvys fade : with the food of a lovely life, i. e. with dainty living. 145. Goode : probably a misreading for ' Code ' (God) ; cp. ' fode,' 1. 141. 146. And so I may make mery. The sentence should end ' I will do what I please yet a while,' but Hum. Gen. slightly alters his turn of thought in 1. 148. 151. Ryde be sompe and syke. To be possessed of a horse to carry one dryshod through swamps and streams is taken as a mark of wealth. 158. Other while thou muste befals. We are tempted at first to read ' otherwise,' as if Mai. Ang. were explaining that any failure of 'acord' with him would be treacherous to Hum. Gen.'s new allies. But 1. 166 shows that 'other while' (occa- sionally) is right, though a little abrupt. 170. Holt and hale: 'hale' means a 'tent,' a 'pavilion,' and makes but poor sense in connection with 'holt,' but in these phrases everything is sacrificed to the alliteration. The dis- tinction here is between ' land ' and ' house.' 195. And ther to here myn honde. For the omission of the verb, cp. Ev. 150, 'Farewell, and there an end,' also 1. 207 of this stanza. NOTES TO CASTELL OF PERSEVERANCE. 201 201. / recke nevere of hevene wonde : I care not whether I turn aside from heaven. 231. Je vous pry. It has been contended that, inasmuch as from the reign of Edward III onward French ceased to be the language of the English Court, the fact that in the Chester and other Miracle Plays, and in the present Morality Play, the scraps of French fall exclusively to kings and courtiers, is to be disregarded, and we are to see in them traces of French literary originals. But stage traditions in such matters would be very conservative, and the coincidence is too strong to be explained away. 246. With cursydnesse in cosies knet : in my manners made up of cursedness. 259. Who so [c. A rather distracting feature in these plays is the habit of the evil characters taking to them- selves the names of their contrary virtues. Thus Clokyd Co- lusyon went by the name of Sober Sadnesse, Crafty Conveyance as Surveyance, Counterfeit Countenance as Good Demeynaunce, Courtly Abusyon as Lusty Pleasure, and Fansy as Largesse. NOTES TO SK ELTON. 209 1893. The letter: a forged letter by which Fansy had won the favour of Magnificence. 1909. I make them overthrowe : 'overthrowe' is here in- transitive. 1923. That folowe theyr fansyes in foly to fall. For the use of 'to' to express a result, cp. Gen. iii. 22, ' Man is become one of us to know good and evil.' 1938. I vysyte to bataylle. In 11. 1927, 1934 and 1951 we have ' vysyte with? and this, as Dyce suggests, is probably the true reading here. 1955. To spare the rod. The writers of Morality Plays were devout adherents of this text, see The Nice Wanton, which begins by quoting it ; compare also The Disobedient Child, who dilates on the cruelties of schoolmasters at great length, and persuades his father not to send him to school, to his own subsequent misery. But the brutality of the schoolmasters of old is well established. 1960. A fole to his sonne. For the use of 'to' cp. Mark xv. 23, ' The seven had her to wife,' and Co. 95 ' The devyl to his mayster he ches.' 1967. I am Goddys preposytour : ' preposytour,' i. e. a scholar appointed by the master to overlook the rest. ' I am pre- posyter of my boke, Duco classem! Hormanni Vulgaria, ed. 1530. \Dyce 1 s note.] 1973. Of him hathfrounde. I can find no instance of 'frown ' used with the preposition 'of,' nor does such usage seem reason- able. Dyce queries on, and probably rightly. 1989. Have envy at me. For the use of ' at ' as ' introducing what is at once the exciting cause and the object of active emotions,' cp. Metr. Horn. 78, 'The fende at him had grete envye.' 2006. For, though you were sometyme a noble estate : i. e. a person of rank ; cp. 1. 31 1, ' Syr, yf I have offended your noble estate.' 2042. Shertes of Raynes : i.e. shirts of fine linen from Rennes in France ; cp. the Romance of Eger and Gryme, 1. 305 She gave me 2 shirts of Raines in fere. 2070. In manus tuas. The beginning of the text ' In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum ' (Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit), used by repentant criminals at their execution. P 210 NOTES TO HEY WOOD. HEYWOOD'S THE PARDONER AND THE FRIAR John Heywood, if we may believe Wood's Athena, was a native of London, but he is elsewhere stated to have been born at North Mimms in Hertfordshire, where he certainly had property and was a neighbour of Sir Thomas More. He studied at Broadgate Hall, now Pembroke College, Oxford, and later on won the favour of Henry VIII and his daughter Mary. A staunch Catholic, despite his clear perception of the abuses then present in the Church, Heywood was suspected of treason during the reign of Edward VI, and narrowly escaped hanging. After the death of Mary he thought it wise to quit England, and settled at Mechlin, where he is said to have died. Heywood wrote some Centuries of Proverbs and Epigrams, and an allegory entitled The Spider and the Flie. Of dramatic or semi-dramatic works, besides the Dialogue of Witty and Witless (or Wit and Folly) first printed by the Percy Society, and that Of Gentylnes and Nobylyte (not by any means certainly his), five interludes are assigned to him, four printed by William Rastell in 1533-4, and one (The Fo^^re PP.) of which the first extant edition is some seven or ten years later, though the play itself is probably early work. The Play of Love deals with the contrarieties of lovers, The Play of the Weather with the troubles of Jupiter in bringing the elements into accord with the wishes of contending petitioners. A Play between John the husband, Tyb the wife, and Sir John the priest, takes a hen-pecked husband as its subject, while of The Foure PP. : a very mery enterlude of a Palmer, a Pardoner, a Potecary and a Pedlar, the humour consists in the rivalry of the first three characters as to which can tell the greatest lie, and the prize is won by the Palmer, who declares that in all his travels he has never yet seen 'any one woman out of patience.' Our extracts are taken from ''A merry Play between the Pardoner and the frere, the curate and the neybour Pratte. [Colophon :] Imprynted by Wyllyam Rastell, the v. day of Apryll, the yere of our lorde M. CCCCC. xxxni.,' and are reprinted from a facsimile made about the year 1830 from the original folio in the possession of the Duke of Devonshire. Sufficient is here given to render superfluous any analysis of Heywood's plot. For his con- ception of the play he was undoubtedly greatly indebted to NOTES TO HEYWOOD. 211 the characters of the Pardoner and the Frere in Chaucer's Prologue, from which he borrows freely. Further illustrations of the ill practices of the Pardoners will be found in Jusserand's English Wayfaring Life in the Middle Ages. 9. To poll nor to shave : not to bestow the tonsure, for this ceremony, being part of the rite of ordination, could only be performed by a bishop, but to shear and shave people of their money, or, as we should say, to ' fleece ' them. 23. Wylfull poverte. In the decadence of the Mendicant Orders this vow was evaded by means of an arrangement with the Pope, in whose name the Friars held property. 36. On the gospell : cp. Mark xvi. 15, and Luke x. 5-12. 79. Saint Leonard: Deacon and Martyr, roasted alive at Rome, A.D. 258. 97. I com from Rome: cp. Chaucer's Pardoner, whose mail or bag was ' bretful of pardons com from Rome al hot.' 98. All and some : ' each and all ' ; cp. Chaucer, Anelida and Arcite, 1. 26 For which the people blisful, al and somme, So cryden, etc. 104. These holy relyques. Lists of impossible or ridiculous relics formed a favourite weapon of satirists against the Par- doners. Chaucer contents himself with mentioning a veil worn by the B. Virgin, and a piece of the sail of St. Peter's boat ; but other lists, and Heywood's among them, are full of medieval light-hearted irreverence. 173-82. But one thynge, &c. These ten lines, with some verbal changes, are lifted bodily from Chaucer's Pardoner's Prologue, 11. 377-86. 192. Pope Leo X : Giovanni de' Medici, born 1475, raised to the papacy March nth, 1513, died December 1st, 1521. This allusion makes it probable, though by no means certain, that the play was composed during the pontificate of Leo X, i.e. at least ten years before it was printed. 195. As departe : for 'as' used to introduce an imperative, cp. Chaucer, Troilus, 522 'For love of God,' ful pitously he seide, 'As go we scene the paleis of Creseide.' 262. Accurst in the greate sentence. This may refer either to the Final Judgment or to the sentence of Greater Excommuni- cation, but probably to the former. 289. Yf they fall ones, &*c. There is no reference here to the P 2 212 NOTES TO HEY WOOD. subject of Article XVI of the Church of England (Of Sin after Baptism). The Pardoner does not mean that from sins against knowledge there is no recovery, but that the knowledge remains, and there would thus be no need for the Friar to repeat his instructions. 300. Andlede them thyther by the purse strynges: cp. Chaucer. Prologue, 225-232 (character of the Friar) For unto a poure order for to give Is signe that a man is well i-schrive. For if he gaf, he dorste make avaunt He wiste that a man was repentaunt. For many a man so hard is of his herte, He may not wepe although him sore smerte. Therfore in stede of wepyng and preyeres Men moot give silver to the poure freres. 552. Ragman's rolles : a long, unintelligible story. 'Ragman was the name of an old medieval game in which characters of persons, good or bad, were written on a roll, and a string with a seal appears to have been attached to each character, so that when it was rolled up the persons engaged in the game might draw characters by chance.' (Halliwell.) Hence the application to any document with many signatures and seals, such as the roll offering their allegiance to Edward I, subscribed by the Scots nobility in 1296, and always quoted as the Ragman! s Roll. But Ragman or Rageman was also a name for the Devil, and this seems to have given an almost uniformly opprobrious turn to the phrase, which is quite in keeping with our text. 557. Mayster parson gave me lycence before the. In the ' Merie Tales of Skelton,' the eighth tells us How the Fryer asked leave of Skelton to preach at Diss, which Skelton wold not grant. ' There was a fryer the whych dydde come to Skelton to have licence to preach at Diss. What woulde you preache there ? sayde skelton : dooe not you thynke that I am sufficiente to preache there in myne owne cure ? Syr, sayde the freere, I am the lymyter [ = district-beggar] of Norwych, and once a yeare one of our place dothe use to preache wyth you, to take the devocion of the people ; and if I may have your good wil, so bee it, or els I will come and preach against your will, by the authoritie of the byshope of Rome, for I have hys bulles to preache in everye place, and therfore I wyll be there on Sondaye nexte cummyng.' NOTES TO THEKSITES. 213 Skelton routed this particular friar with a stupid joke about bulls and calves, but the tale suffices to show that the leave of the parish priest was merely asked by way of form and could be dispensed with. 574. Eggetoles, Mr. Hazlitt in his modernized edition quite rightly renders ' egoteles ' of the text by edgetools. Two lines of Chaucer give the right spelling : No flesh ne wiste offence of egge or spere. Former Age, 1. 19. But yet it maketh sharpe kervynge toles. Troilus, 1. 633. 579. The tone: see CP. (28). 596. Within your lybertye : i.e. within the district in which Pratt acted as a constable. Liberty = ' a place or district within which certain privileges or franchises were enjoyed.' 620. Wylt thou be there f is that what you are after ? 635. More tow on my dystaffe, &*c. : more work than I can get through. THERSITES. The original of part of the English play of Thersites has been found in one of the Dialogi of Jean Tissier de Ravisy, better known as Ravisius Textor, Professor of Rhetoric at the College de Navarre, and from 1520 to his death in 1524 Rector of the University of Paris. (See J. Vodoz, Le theatre latin de Ravisius Textor, Winterthur, 1898, and review by Creizenach in Zeitsch. fiir Franz. Spr. und Litt., Bd. 21.) Comparison, however, of the two plays will show that the anonymous adaptor handled his materials very freely, and added much more than he took. Thus the prologue (11. 1-21), the punning passage on the two meanings of ' Sallet ' (32-69), the scriptural allusions in 11. 91-101, and the English in 11. 109-119, 121-143, 149-167, 171-187, 212-220, 314-322, 410-414, and the greater part (1. 894 to end) of the Epilogue are all new, and the entire episode (524-874) of Telemachus coming to the mother of Thersites to be cured of the worms has no counterpart in the Latin text. The anonymous English adaptor must have been an Oxford man, since the allusion to the ' proctoure and his men ' in 1. 1 54 214 NOTES TO THERSITES. points to a University performance ; and that in the next line to Broken Keys, a piece of waste land between the Castle and the City Walls (my knowledge of this is due to Mr. Falconer Madan), localizes it definitely in Oxford. The Epilogue shows that the text used by John Tysdale (who began to print about 1561) was that prepared for a performance between the birth of Edward VI on October 12, 1537, and the death of his mother, Jane Seymour, on the 24th of the same month. Whether the play was then acted for the first time, or whether (as is more likely) an old play (perhaps originally written for a New Year festival, see 1. 478) was revived with a new epilogue, cannot easily be proved. The earliest complete edition of the Dialogi of Ravisius was printed in 1530, and it is probable therefore that the English play was composed subsequently to this, though an Oxford dramatist might possibly have seen the Latin text in manuscript during the author's life. In my introduction to John Heywood's plays in Gayley's Representative English Comedies, I have raised the question whether Thersites may not have been written by Heywood. I still think this possible, but the introduction, though not published till 1903, left my hands early in 1898, and the facts which have since come to light do not strengthen the attribution. Our text, which gives substantially the whole play save for the Telemachus episode, is taken from a fac- simile-reprint made by Mr. Ashbee (1876) from the unique copy of Tysdale's edition in the library of the Duke of Devonshire. The play opens with three seven-line stanzas riming ababbcc. A fourth is begun, but after the quatrain is abandoned for couplets, which form the normal metre of the play, though occasionally relieved by quatrains and triplets. The number of accents in a line varies from two to five. Occasionally we get a line that might be read as a perfect heroic couplet, such as If Malvern hills should on thy shoulders light, They shall not hurt thee, nor suppress thy might. But the succeeding line If Bevis of Hampton, Colburn and Guy, is of a much more typical nature. 5. In Homer of my actes ye have red. The story of the attempt of Thersites to excite the Greeks against their leaders, and his reproof and chastisement by Ulysses, is given in the second book of the Iliad, but the Latin Homer is almost certainly referred to. NOTES TO THERSITES. 215 20. To play cowch quaile. Strutt in his Book of Sports mentions a game called 'Kales,' which is our Ninepins. ' Couch kale ' may have been a term used in the game = lie down ninepin. But to couch is a term in falconry (' Like a falcon towering in the skies coucheth the fowl below.' Rape of Lucrece, 506), and the reference may be to this. 21. Muldber : another name for Vulcan. 24. Office : officina, a workshop. Tysdale's edition prints the line- Come forth, of thy office I the desire, which may be forced into meaning ' I desire the help of your craft.' 30. Lemnos andllva. It was at Lemnos that Vulcan touched ground when hurled from Olympus, and here was his workshop. Ilva (Elba) is mentioned on account of its iron mines. Mr. Hazlitt proposes to read Ithalia (better Aethalia), another name for Elba, for the sake of the rime to 'galea.' 31. Condatur mihi galea : a helmet may be fashioned for me. 37. A sallet, nowe all the herbes are dead. For the play on the two meanings of 'sallet,' cp. Jack Cade's speech at the beginning of scene 10, act. iv, King Henry VI : 'Now am I so hungry, that if I might have a lease of my life for a thousand years, I could stay no longer. Wherefore o'er a brick-wall have I climbed into this garden, to see if I can eat grass, or pick a sallet another while, which is not amiss to cool a man's stomach this hot weather. And I think this word " sallet " was born to do me good : for many a time, but for a sallet, my brain- pan had been cleft with a brown bill ; and many a time, when I have been dry and bravely marching, it hath served me instead of a quart-pot to drink in ; and now the word " sallet " must serve me to feed on.' 88. Hercules. The references are to the twelfth, first, second, and fourth labours of Hercules, viz. his bringing Cerberus from the lower world, his fight with the Nemean lion, with the Lernean hydra and Erymanthian boar. 90. Bere so wylde. Bere, i.e. bear, is a misprint or mistake for bore or boar. 95. Have take: cp. 1. 102, ' have do.' 1 1 6. Bevis of Hampton, Colburne and Guy. Three old English heroes. Bevis of Southampton performed his exploits chiefly in Armenia ; Colburn, or Colbrand, was a giant of Danish 21 6 NOTES TO THERSITES. descent, slain by Guy of Warwick ; and Guy, his slayer, fought the Saracens, killed the boar of Windsor, the dun cow of Dunsmoer, and other ferocious beasts. See Drayton's Polyolbion, Books II, XII, XIII, and Copland's chapbooks of Bevis of Hampton and Guy, also Ward's Cat. of Romances, i. 471 sqq. 124. Lyons on Cotsolde. 'Cotswold lions' was a cant term for sheep. Cp. Heywood's Proverbs He semeth like a bore, the beaste should seme bolde, For he is as fierce as a lyon of Cotsolde. 130. Gawyn the curtesse, was Arthur's nephew, and was slair in error by his friend Lancelot. Cp. Carle of Car/tie, L 28. Sir Gawaine was steward in Arthur's hall, Hee was the curteous knight amongst them all. Percy Folio, vol. ii. 'Kay, the crabbed,' was Arthur's foster-brother, and a mean, unpleasant person, disliked at Court for his habit of giving nick- names. 132. Syr Libeus Disconius : Li Biaus Desconneus (Tho Fair Unknown), whose name is thus corrupted, was a son of Sir Gawain. He is the subject of an English Romance printed in the Percy Folio, vol. ii, of which the French original was written by Renauld de Beaujeu. 136. Syr Lanncelot de Lake. Lancelot was the son of Ban, King of Benwick, but was brought up by Vivienne, the Lady of the Lake, from whom he derived his epithet. 150. They geve me the wall : i.e. as a mark of respect, the road next the wall being cleaner. Cp. Scott's Fair Maid of Perth, ch. ii. ' More than once, when from chance, or perhaps from an assumption of superior importance, an individual took the wall of Simon in passing, the Glover's youthful attendant bristled up with a look of defiance.' 154. The proctoitr and his men: the police of an English University. 155. Broken Heys, now Gloucester Green, Oxford. Wood writes of it as ' full of hillocks and rubbish.' It would thus offer good cover for rogues to hide in. 181. Olde purgatorye : 'olde' is here a 'colloquial intensive' ; cp. Macbeth, ii. 3, ' If a man were porter of hell-gate, he should have old turning the key.' 183. No pardons: i.e. no pardons such as were sold by Pardoners. NOTES TO THERSITES. 217 200. Typhoeus : a monster with a hundred heads, killed by Jove's thunderbolt and buried under Etna. 20 1. Enceladus, like Typhoeus, son of Tartarus and Ge (Hell and Earth), shared his brother's rebellion and fate. 216. Why -le pardoners can lye: see preface and notes to the extract from Hey wood. 233. Let us departe: i.e. separate; cp. 'till death us depart' in the old form of the Marriage Service. 339. Cacus, a giant, son of Vulcan, dwelt in a cave on Mount Aventine, and stole some of the oxen which Hercules had taken from Geryon. For the story of his theft and its punishment see Virgil, ALneid, viii. 193-279. 246. Good godfather : apparently addressed to some one in the audience. 'Gaffer '(i.e. 'godfather') was till lately still a rustic mode of address to any elderly man. 247. A man to be borne in the -vale: i.e. of the kind who would be born in a valley. Dwellers in mountainous districts have always regarded their neighbours of the valleys as dull- witted, as the Athenians the Boeotians. 297. Goddes of battayle : Bellona. 315. All to-rent: tear in pieces ; cp. Chaucer, Parl. of Foules, 432, ' That with these foules I be al to rent.' So also ' to-torn,' ' to-shivered,' etc. 316. Syr Isenbrase : a gallant knight of whom his chronicler tells us He was lyvely large and longe, With shoulders broade and armes stronge. He fell into the hands of ' the Sowdan,' and nearly suffered martyrdom for the faith, but eventually by his prowess gained not only liberty but a kingdom. A romance of ' Syr Isenbras,' with a very humorous picture of the knight on the title-page, was published by Copland. 318. Robin John and Little Hode. Hazlitt is probably right in thinking the transposition is intentional. 324. Busyris : a king of Egypt, who sacrificed strangers to Zeus, but was slain by Hercules. 399. / had craked to tymely here : had boasted too oppor- tunely, i.e. when there was some one at hand to accept his challenges. 421. Dares. See Virgil, sEneid, v. 362-484, for the story of how Dares, after conquering the boxers of his own age, provoked 21 8 NOTES TO BALE. the veteran Entellus to fight, and drew down on himself heavy punishment. 430. They had better havefette me an errand at Rome. The allusion is probably only to the length of time which any business at the Papal Court was protracted. It is possible, however, to read the line as a threat, inasmuch as appeals to Rome, without the king's leave, were severely punishable under the statutes of Pramunire. 470. Now, where is any mo f Thersites as yet has not heard the challenge. 477. Tyll some bloude apeare. Miles challenges Thersites to try a hit with him (assaye the a towche) to see who can draw first blood, the usual terms of a match with single-sticks or quarter-staves. 503. There came none in my sight. If readiness to fight was of the essence of the description of the foe, Thersites certainly did not answer to it, and Mater's reply was strictly accurate. 882. Cowardes make speake apase : there appears to be some confusion between ' may speak ' and ' make speech.' 913. Lovely Ladie Jane : see preface to this Extract. BALE'S KING JOHN. LIFE OF BALE. John Bale was born at Cove, near Dunwich, in Suffolk, on Nov. 21, 1495. At the age of twelve he was sent to a Carmelite monastery, and subsequently studied at Jesus College, Cambridge. Although in Holy Orders, he took to himself a wife and preached against the celibacy of the clergy. He was protected by Thomas Cromwell, and given the living of Thornden in Suffolk. But on Cromwell's execution he was obliged to flee to Germany, where he remained till 1547. On his return he was made Rector of Bishopstoke, and in 1552 became Bishop of Ossory, where his stringent measures against the adherents of the old religion nearly cost him his life. On the accession of Mary he was again obliged to flee, this time to Basle, where he remained till the close of her reign. Returning to England in 1559 he was given a Prebend's stall in Canterbury Cathedra], and died peacefully in 1563, after an eventful and turbulent life. Distinguished in a century of bitter controversy for his NOTES TO BALE. 219 unseemly virulence, which earned him the epithet of ' Bilious,' Bale gave the best of his strength to polemics. While in Germany he published an attack on the monastic system entitled The Actes of Englyshe Votaries, and also Lives of Sir John Oldcastle, William Thorpe and Anne Askew and the scurrilous Pageant of Popes. Another controversial work, The Image of both Churches, appeared while he was Rector of Bishopstoke, and after his stormy experiences at Ossory he printed an account of his ' Vocacyon ' to that see. To a different category belongs his Illustrium Majoris Britannia Scriptorum Summarium (1548), an account of five hundred British authors, which though full of mistakes and largely founded on the labours of Leland, yet entitles him to the gratitude of all students of the history of English literature. But our own interest in Bale has mainly to do with his plays, of which five out of twenty-two mentioned in his Summarium, have been preserved. Of these The three Laives of Nature, Moses and Christ has been printed in Anglia, Bd. v, and The Temptacyon of our Lorde by Dr. Grosart in the 'Fuller Worthies Library.' A Tragedy or Interlude manifesting the chief promises of God unto man by all ages in the old law, from the fall of Adam to the Incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Life of John the Baptist, were published in 1538, and are said to have been greatly admired by Cromwell. They have been reprinted respectively by Dodsley and in the Harleyan Miscellany. Plays on 'God's Promises' or ' Pro- cessus Prophetarum ' have left their traces on each of the four great cycles of Miracle Plays, but Bale's sermon in seven acts has a tediousness all its own. The play on St. John the Baptist, on the other hand, is enlivened by much party spirit and invective against the Old Church. KING JOHN. Bale's fifth surviving play is of later date than its predecessors. There is a reference to Darvell Gathyron, a Welsh image supposed to possess miraculous powers, which was burnt in 1538 ; in the Interpreter's speech at the end of act i, Henry VIII is alluded to as 'our late Kynge Henrye,' and the Epilogue, beginning Englande hath a queene, thankes to the Lorde above, \Vhych maye be a lyghte to other princes all, clearly alludes to Elizabeth. On the other hand, the play is mentioned in the edition of Bale's lllustr. M. Brytan. Script. 220 NOTES TO BALE. Summarium, and must therefore have existed in some form when that work was written. The most probable supposition is that the first draught of King John should be dated about 1547, when Bale returned from abroad, and that it was revised in the reign of Elizabeth. The play opens with a speech by the King, in which he declares his determination to do justice. England, as a widow, implores his help against the clergy, but their conference is interrupted by Sedition, who is strongly clerical in his sym- pathies. Nobility, Clergy, and Civil Order, come in and discuss the state of the kingdom, and Clergy makes a hypocritical submission. Dissimulation and Sedition take counsel, and bring in Private Wealth and Usurped Power to their aid. They procure the election of Stephen Langton as Archbishop (here we touch history), and soon after we have the Pope cursing King John for his attacks on the Church. This closes act i. In the second act we find the clergy preparing to resist the King, and then follows our first extract. In a subsequent scene we are shown John's submission to Pandulph and the hard terms exacted of him, but Sedition is not satisfied, and procures a fanatic monk to murder the King. The scene in which he effects this forms our second extract. But now come on Verity and Imperial Majesty. The memory of the King is vindicated, and the play ends with compliments to Queen Elizabeth. That Bale took his views of King John and his reign from any previous historian is unlikely. Holinshed, whose History was published in 1577, distinctly tells us that all previous historians had been prejudiced against the King, and that he had been obliged to base his facts on the testimony of hostile witnesses. He inclines to Bale's view, though somewhat doubt- fully. Yet he can write of John : ' Certeinlie it would seem that the man had a princeiie heart in him, and wanted nothing but faithful subjects to have assisted him in revenging such wrongs as were done and offered by the French king and others.' Quite, too, in Bale's tone is his mention of ' The sawcie speech of proud Pandulph the pope's lewd legate to King John, in the presumptuous pope's behalf.' TEXT. The text of our extracts is taken from the edition printed in 1838 for the Camden Society, and edited by Mr. John Payne Collier, from the unique manuscript, part of which is in Bale's autograph, in the Library of the Duke of Devonshire. NOTES TO BALE. 32! 1273. Constytute. For other instances of Bale's use of this unanglicized form of the Latin past participle, see 1. 1357, convyt (convictus); 1. 1358, interdytt (interdictus) ; 1. 2141, excommunycate (excommunicatus) ; 1. 2144, intoxycate in- toxicatus). 1287. A ster apared crowne. Bale probably wrote these words intending them to mean 'a star-adorned crown.' But Mr. Bradley has pointed out to me a verse on the martyrdom of Becket in No. 46 of the Songs and Carols, edited by Thomas Wright from Sloane MS. 2593, which runs as follows Beforn his auter 1 he knelyd adoun, Ther they gunne to paryn his crown, He sterdyn the braynys up and down, Optans celi gaudia. The prefix a- (=ge-, y-) was not very uncommon in the i$th century in the formation of past participles, and ' ster apared ' may thus mean ' star-clipped.' In either case the reference is to Becket's head when covered with wounds, and Bale may have intended some kind of pun. 1288. Upon it : in consequence of it. 1289. The Pope's renowne : cp. 'the king's majesty.' 1292. Stand with: is consonant with; cp. 1. 1381 Yt stondyth not with your avantage. 1294. To helpe Jerusalem cyte. According to Holinshed's account the third, fourth, and fifth clauses of the agreement ran as follows. 3. ' Item that within three years after the nativity of our lord next ensuing he [Henry II] should take upon him the crosse and personallie passe to the Holie Land. 4. ' Provided that if upon any urgent necessitie he chanced to go into Spain to warre against the Saracens there, then so long space of time as he spent in that journie he might defer his going to the East parts. 5. ' Item he bound himselfe in the meantime by his oth, to emploie so much monie as the Templers should thinke sufficient for the finding of two hundred knights or men of armes, for one yeares terme in the defense of the Holie Land.' 1314. With the more : i.e. with the additional amount payable as compensation. 1 Text ' aunter,' by a clear mistake of the scribe. 322 NOTES TO BALE. 1318. As for ther taxe : cp. Holinshed, 'Moreover in this yeare [1207] about Candlemasse the K[ing] caused the 13 part of everie man's goods, as well of the spiritualtie as of the tem- poralitie, to be levied and gathered to his use.' 1320. Quyck in sentence : i.e. hasty of judgment. 1340. As saith Solomon: 'The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water : he turneth it whithersoever he will,' Prov. xxi. I. 1359. The bysshope of Norwyche and the bysshope of Wyn- chester. Bale seems here to be drawing on his imagination, as the Bishop of Norwich was appointed in 1210 John's Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and three years later brought 500 men to his aid, while the Bishop of Winchester also is expressly mentioned as having been of the king's party. The Bishops to whom the Pope's bull was directed were those of London, Ely and Worcester, who with Jocelyn, Bishop of Bath, and Giles, Bishop of Hereford, subsequently fled from John's vengeance over sea. 1366. Any mayntenance pretend : offer you any support. 1374. Absolucyon a pena et culpa, and also dene remyssyon. Absolution z.pana removes the penalties imposed by the Church ; absolution a culpa, or 'clean remission,' removes guilt and reconciles the sinner with God. 1385. Your cttrssys we have that ive never yet demanded, Bale, who took a great interest in Wyclifs movement, may have been thinking of the story he tells in the De Officio Regis of the man who told his priest that, since excommunication was such an excellent medicine, he might keep it for his own use. 2065. W assay le, w assay le. 'This is probably,' says Mr. Collier, ' the oldest drinking song in our language.' 2075. Now forsooth and God. Probably the word 'wold' or ' would ' has dropped out of the text (now of a truth if God so willed), or we may suspect Bale of confusing the 'for' in ' forsooth ' with the ' fore ' in the common oath 'fore or before God. 2076. Alevyn. The number appears to be dictated only by the necessities of rime and metre. 2078. Thu mayest seme for to be : a polite affirmative ; cp. Ev. 130 and note. 2082. / am taken of men for monastycall Devocyon : a very undramatic line, only to be excused as a kind of clumsy aside to NOTES TO BALE. 223 the audience. ' Taken of men for ' = interpreted by men as, taken as the type of. 2087. Malmesaye, capryck, tyre or ypocras. Malmsey or malvoise is a sweet white wine from Malvasia in the Morea ; capryck came from Capri near Naples, Tyre from Tyre in Phoenicia ; hippocras was a mixture of wine, spices and sugar, said to have derived its name from Hippocrates' Sleeve, the name for the strainer through which it was passed. For another list of wines compare the Taverner's speech in the interlude of the Four Elements Ye shall have Spanish wine and Gascon, Rose colour, white, claret, rampion, Tyre, Capric and Malvoisin, Sack, raspice, Alicant, rumney, Greek, ipocras, new-made clary, Such as ye never had; For if ye drink a draught or two, It will make you, ere ye thence go, By [Jupiter], stark mad. Also MM. 470-480, and note. 2090. / praye the drynke half to me. The dozen lines that follow show that Bale was not quite destitute of dramatic power. The poor fanatic does what he can for himself, and, when escape is hopeless, repeats the king's 'there is no remedye' in a wistful aside. The alternative account of John's death given in Higden's Polychronicon comes nearest to Bale's version. ' John, kynge of Ynglonde,' he writes, ' diede of the flix at Newerke . . . Never- theless the commune fame is that he was poysonede at the monastery of Swynyshed of White Monkes. For as hit is seide, he seide ther at a dyner that he sholde make a loofe, that tyme was worthe an halpenny, to be worthe xij d . by the ende of the yere, yf he myghte have lyve. Oon of the brethren of that place, familier with the kynge, herynge that, ordeynede poyson, and receyvynge the sacrament afore, toke that poyson to the kynge, and so they dyede bothe by the drynkynge of hit.' In Holinshed the monk poisons some of a dish of pears, and knowing himself which to avoid, escapes. In Hardyng the poison is given in plums. 2107. A masse of Scala Celt. The reference is to a chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin outside the walls of Rome on the road to Ostia, to which special indulgences were attached. 224 NOTES TO BALE. It derived its name from a vision of St. Bernard, who, while celebrating mass, saw the souls for whom he was praying ascend- ing to heaven by a ladder. See Academy, 974 (Jan. 3, 1891), where a will is quoted, dated 13 Hen. 7, in which the testator leaves money ' for j honest prest to syng att Rome att scala cely by the space of iiij yeres contynually for the soule of the seid John herwarde,' and references there given. 21 10. Provyde a gyldar, &*c. Another dramatic passage. Bale doubtless wrote it as a part of his polemic against the old religion, but the curious detail of the monk's dream suits well with his fanatic character. 2115. To the than will offer, Gr*c. ' Sedition ' speaks in con- temptuous irony. 2120. Where became the monke f Another good touch. The monk has not been mentioned by England, but the King's thoughts turn to him on the word ' betrayed.' 2127. So many masendewes, &c. Bale was probably applying his remarks to his own times, of which they were fairly true. Holinshed gives no mention of any such benefactions made by John, but alludes to his building or repairing Beaulieu Abbey and six other monasteries, as a proof that ' he was not so void of devotion towards the Church as divers of his enemies have reported.' 2134. Voluntary eworkes : cp. the XlVth Article of the Church of England, ' Voluntary works, besides, over and above, God's commandments, which they call Works of Supererogation, cannot be taught without arrogancy and impiety.' 2135. Sacrifice of the Turke : cp. Article XIII. 'Of Works before Justification.' 2171. Report what they wyll, frc. Bale here shows himself uneasily aware that his view of King John was not the one generally accepted. Holinshed, as has been noted, in summing up John's reign, alludes to the hostility of the witnesses on whom he had been obliged to rely. ADDITIONAL NOTES. [For the majority of the notes here added I am indebted to the printed suggestions of Dr. Kolbing (K.) and those privately communicated to me by Prof. Logeman (L.).] CHESTER PLAYS. I. NOAH'S FLOOD. 101-2. Reade . . . bydde, read rede . . . bede, K. 135. Ys, B.ye, E. ts. 185. Kites, B. kitte. 195. One Codes halfe, B. one Codes name, halfe, &*c., where name is plainly a marginal gloss of halfe. 209. Wrawe, read wrowe for the rime, L. 272-3*. A line has dropped out, as K. notes, but I should be sorry to supply it, as he proposes, by [7 hope, however, so it be] \ The rimes show that the whole stanza is corrupt. 285. Grasse, B. treeyes. 290. Rouge : Dr. Logeman proposes ranged, ( bitten, gnawed.' CHESTER PLAYS. II. THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC. 310. Leane, read layne, K. 336. On thee lighte: Dr. Kolbing would change to 'come the tille' to rime with 'grylle' in 1. 340. But the correction of ' grylle ' into ' gryghte ' proposed in the Notes is less violent. 446. Ever, read ere, K. 455. Bonere, 'metre would profit by reading debonerej L. 461. Th[e] : K. 's correction for thys of MSS. 472. Had broughte us to : K. would read had us with bounde to rime with confounde. The text is certainly corrupt, but the emendation is not convincing. 492. Abyde, read tarry e to rime with profhescie, K. TOWNELEY PLAY: 28-36, 37-45. Dr. Kolbing proposes to reverse the order of these two stanzas, and the improvement is so great that it can hardly b doubted that he is right. 335. Twelmothe: K. would print twelmontht, but the dropped n probably represents the pronunciation, cp. York Plays, IX. 251 (L.). Q ADDITIONAL NOTES. 521. That ye wore : K. would read that it ye wore, i. e. that it was you who did it. But Mak has just cried had I bene there, and the shepherd remarks drily som men trowes that ye wore. 582. Gafyt the chyld any thyng? the preceding lines read SEC. PAST. Mak, freyndys will we be, for we ar all oone. MAK. We ! now I hald for me, for mendys gett I none. Fare well all thre ! All glad were ye gone. TERT.PAST. Fare wordys may ther be, bot luf is ther none this yere. Dr. Logeman thinks that the gift to the 'child,' which causes Mak's downfall, is the direct result of his complaint ' for mendys gett I none.' It is possible, so I quote the lines, but the shepherd's generosity was more probably inspired by custom. 658. A qwant: K. would read the qwantest, mending the construction at the expense of the rhythm. 690. Oure kyndefrom wo : K. would prefix to free or to kepe. 702. Mener: K. would read meke. 722. Maker, as I meyne, of a madyn : K. would insert born after maker. COVENTRY PLAY : I am indebted to a correspondent for pointing out to me a passage on the subject of this play in one of Bishop Andrewes's Sermons on the Nativity, in which a reference is given to the first Sermon on the Annunciation by St. Bernard of Clairvaux (Migne's Patrologia, torn, bcxxiii. p. 387 : Opera S. Bemardi, torn. iii. 974. 9 to end). In this sermon is set forth how Man by his Fall lost all the four cardinal virtues, Truth, Justice, Pity, and Peace, but that the two latter had compassion upon his misery and besieged the Almighty with prayers for his pardon. These intercessions resulted in a heavenly conference : ' Forte enim interpellantibus tale dicitur dedisse responsum : Usquequo preces vestrae ? Debitor sum et sororibus vestris, quas accinctas videtis ad faciendam vindictam in nationibus ; lustitiae et Veritati. Vocentur, veniant, et super hoc verbo pariter conferamus. Festinant ergo legati coelestes, et ut viderunt miseriam hominum et crudelem plagam, ut propheta loquitur, Angeli pacis aware fltbant (Isa. xxxiii. 7). Qni enim fidelius quaererent aut rogarent quae ad pacem sunt, quam angeli pacis? Sane ex deliberatione communi ascendit Veritas ad constitutam diem, sed ascendit usque ad nubes : necdum plane lucida, sed subobscura et obnubilata adhuc zelo indignationis. Factumque est ut legimus in Propheta : Domine, in coelo miseruordia lua, et veritas tua usqtie ad [224 b] ADDITIONAL NOTES. nubes (Ps. xxxv. 6). Medius autem Pater luminum residebat, et utraqne pro parte sua utilius quod habebat loquebatur. Quis, putas, illi colloquio meruit interesse, et indicabit nobis ? quis audivit, et enarrabit ? Forte inenarrabilia sunt, et nou licet homini loqui. Summa tamen controversiae totins haec fuisse videtur. Eget miseratione creatura rationalis, ait Misericordia, quoniam misera facta est, et miserabilis valde. Venit tempus miserendi eius, quia iam praeteriit tempus. Econtra Veritas : Oportet, inquit, impleri sermonem, quern locutus es, Domine. Totus moriatur Adam necesse est, cum omnibus qui in eo erant, qua die vetitum pomum in praevaricatione gustavit. Utquid ergo, ait Misericordia, utquid me genuisti, pater, citius perituram ? Scit enim Veritas ipsa, quoniam misericordia tua periit, et nulla est, si non aliquando miserearis. Similiter autem e contrario et ilia loquebatur: Quis enim nesciat quod si praedictam sibi praevaricator sententiam mortis evaserit, periit, nee permanebit iam in aeternum veritas tua, Domine ? ' In the end the controversy is referred to Solomon, who ends it by the prophetic solution, ' Fiat mors bona et habet utraque quod petit.' There are numerous references to this colloquy in heaven in writers of the fifteenth century, and it forms the subject of one of the pictures in some of the French editions of the Hours of the Blessed Virgin which often illustrate the Miracle Plays. MARY MAGDALEN: 93. K. proposes pryncipall coun sail or counsell fry ncy pall, so as to secure the rhyme to ryall. 113. I might have added the stage direction Here xal they be servyd with ivyn and spyces. 301. And: K. would read all, but and on this -wise refers to the sisters' willingness to remain with Lazarus as their head. 303. Systyrs : systyr, K., but the slip may be the author's. 475. Cleyr: L. suggests cleyn to rhyme with malmeseyn. 613. Syth: perhaps we should emend to nyth. 1136. Two lines, containing a subject to his and rhymes to presens and demure, appear to have dropped out here. I200-I. Wavy s . . . galows : L. emends wowes, galowes. 1535-37. War . . . more may be corrected to -ware . . . mare. 1538. Atendaunt: atendaunts, K. 1548-50. Centylnesse . . . blysch may be corrected to gentilisse, blisse. ADDITIONAL NOTES. THE CASTELL OF PERSEVERANCE : 9. And schende : K. proposes all schende, perhaps rightly. 54. Of woful wo : L. queries of woful wel. 87. He : K. proposes //. 105. As wynde in watyr Iwavt: in previous editions, from misunderstanding a correction in the transcript of the MS., I misprinted this line / wave as wynde in wafer. K. proposes As watyr in wynde I wave, which is certainly more exact. 125. Lyven: transcript reads lyvng. K. proposed lyve. 179. Man: K. ingeniously suggests that man may stand for m. an. i. e. malus angelus ! But this rather disregards the metre. 185. To worthy wedt : K. proposes 'to [me] worthy [in] wede,' but the text (' you are welcome to a good livery ') seems simpler unemended. 222. Sloth* : K. proposes clothe, taking ' ryve ' as an adjective (abundant). 272. Man doth me bleykyn blody ble : K. proposes man doth bleykyn mi blody ble. 336. Fait : K. proposes statt (state) probably rightly. EVERYMAN : 87. Asketh, for 'askest,' cp. spareth, 1. 114. 113. Gyve : K. would add now to make a rime with thou. 133. Seke, K. syte (be sorrowful) to rime with respyte. 243. Daungerous : K. would add y-wis to make a rime with is. 301. Ende : K. endynge to rime with mournynge. SKELTON'S MAGNIFICENCE: 2043,2045. Ye: K.yt. HEYWOOD'S THE PARDONER AND THE FRERE : 608. I follow K. in assigning this line to the Frere, instead of the Pardoner. THERSITES : 139. Take: the sense is 'he who made you a knight never expected that your courage would be put to the proof, and so knighted you recklessly.' K. proposes forsake. 182. ^leane that so: K. that so cleane, perhaps rightly. [22 4 d] GLOSSARIAL INDEX. ABBREVIATIONS EMPLOYED. Ch ! . = Chester Play of the Flood. Ch*. = Chester Play of the Sacrifice of Isaac. Co. = Coventry Play. CP. = Castle of Perseverance. Ev. = Everyman. FE. = Interlude of the Four Elements. Hey. = Heywood's Parson, Pardoner, and Neighbour Prat. Hh. = Harrowing of Hell. (Appendix.) KJ. = Bale's King John. MM. = Play of St. Mary Magdalene. Sk. = Skelton's Magnificence. T. = Towneley's ' Secunda Pastorum.' Th. = Thersites. Y. = York Play of the Creation. Also adj. adjective ; adv. adverb ; num. numeral ; pr. p. present par- ticiple ; pp. past participle ; sb. substantive ; sb. pi. substantive plural. The following abbreviations are used in a particular sense : v. verb in the infinitive mood ; pr. s., pt. s. the third person singular of the present or past tense ; pr. pi., pt. pi. the third person plural of these tenses, except when the numerals i or 2 are added; imp. s., imp.pl. the second person singular or plural of the imperative mood. j^ Abrode, adv. abroad. Th. 522. Abydande, pr. p. abiding. Y. 7- A, prep, of; 'maner a way,' man- Abye, v. pay for, atone for. T. ner of way. Ch 3 . 400. 283 ; Th. 275. A/0rhe. FE. 529. Abyll, adj. sufficient. MM. 99. A for have ; a be = have been, Accompt, v. count, reckon. FE. Co. 97; God a mercy. MM. 385. 619. Acord, sb. agreement, judgment. A, for ah. Ev. 304. CP. (157). A-baffe, v. turn aside, waver. Acqueynt, sb. acquaintance. Ev. MM. 1437. 156. Abasse, imp. s. abase. MM. Adeu, Adewe = adieu, farewell. 1376. Hey. 640; Ev. 300, 800. A-baye, sb. surrender. MM. 363. Adoun, adv. down. MM. 492. Aboht, //. paid for, atoned for. Adreade, //. dismayed. Ch*. Hh. 59, 61, 158. 260. Abowndans, sb. abundance. Aferde,//. afraid. Ev. 25i;Th. MM. 381. 197- Abowne, /> etc. At, prep. to. Y. 12, 47, etc. ; T. 654- Ather,/r. for abye, suffer for. Y. 119. Bydde, v. pray. CP. (41). Byddyth, imp.pl. bid. Co. 87. Byde, pr. \ s. bid, command. Y. 22. Byde, v. abide. Y. 47. Bydene, adv. immediately. Ch 1 . 132- Bygged, //. built, made. Y. 68. Byggyngys, sb. pi. biggings, buildings. CP. (187). Bygly, adv. powerfully. Y. 70. Byleve, v. believe. Ev. 676. Byn, v. be. MM. 623, 1381 ; pr. pi. are. MM. 1533. Byrnande, pr. p. burning. Y. 5- By-sydes, adv. besides. KJ. 1356. O. Cabbelles, sb. pi. cables. Ch 1 . 90. Cam, ft. s. and //. came. CP. (23), (30); Hey. 63; KJ. 1285, 1379- Capcyouse, adj. captious. KJ. 1299. Carbuckyls, sb. pi. carbuncles. Sk. 1928. Carde, sb. 'a sure carde,' a sure proof. Th. 888. Careful, adj. full of cares. Co. 16, 23. Carshaffe, sb. kerchief. Ch". 386. Cast, sb. contrivance. T. 352. Catyfes, sb, pi. caitiffs; rascals. Hey. 590. Cawdels, sb. pi. caudels, possets. Sk. 2034. Cawth, //. caught. CP. (20), (90). Caysere, sb. kaiser, emperor. CP. (69). Caytyfys, sb. pi. caitiffs, rascals. MM. 58. Cete, sb. city. MM. 473. Charret, sb. car, chariot. Th. aio. Charys , sb. //.jobs. T. 3 1 5 . Cheiste, sb. chest, used of Noah's ark. Ch 1 . 206. Chere, sb. countenance, demean- our. Hey. 57; Th. 469. Chered,//. entertained. Ev. 501. Ches, pt. s. chose. Co. 95. Chesun, sb. enchesun, reason. CP. (284). Childer, sb. pi. (northern form\ children. Ch 1 . 238. Chriseten, sb. Christian. MM. 1547; Chrisetyn. MM. 1542. Chrystene, sb. Christendom. Th. 123. Chyldyrn,^.//. children. MM. 276. Chyte, v. chide. T. 637. Clary, sb. a sweet wine. MM. Clatter, v. talk, brag. Th. 523, Hey. 10. Cleflys, sb. pi. cliffs. MM. 55. Clergy, sb. science, learning. T. 686. Clokys, sb. pi. claws, clutches. Sk. 1900. Clowches, sb. pi. clutches. Th. 507. Glower, sb. clover. MM. 294. Clowtes, **. //. blows. Th. 505. Clowtt, sb. cloth. T. 595. Clyme, v. climb. KJ. 2108. Clyped,//. called. Hey. 35. Clyr, adj. clear. MM. 600. Coke, sb.pl. cocks. Ch 1 , 185. Colacyon, sb. homily, sermon. Hey. 70. Combred,//. cumbered. Ev. 60. Comeryd, //. cumbered. Co. 31. Comliar, adj. comelier, hand- somer. MM. 67. CommynaltS, sb. commonalty. KJ. 2155. Compane, sb. company. T. 53. Corapas, v. surround. FE. 366. Concertation, sb. conflict. Th. 365. Conger, sb. a sea eel, Th. 381. Connynge, adj. clever. FE. 327. Connynge, sb. knowledge, ability, power. FE. 21; Hey. 39- 230 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Connyngly, adv. skilfully. MM. 1397- Conaell, sb. counsel. MM. 375. Conseyll, sb. counsel. MM. 382. Conseyte, sb. conceit, imagina- tion. FE. 44. Contembtacyon,j. contentation, contentment. FE. 399. Contene, v. hold together. Y. 15- Convey, imp. s. stow away. KJ. 2099. Conveyed, //. escorted. Ev. 816. Convyt,//. convicted. KJ. 1357. Cop, sb. cup. T. 735. Cors, sb. body. CP. (188). Cors, sb. course, direction. MM. 1437- Coryows, probably a translitera- tion from Greek Kvpios, lord: ' Coryows Christe,' Lord Christ. CP. (46). Cost, sb. coast. MM. 1212. Costes, sb.pl. manners. C P. ( 2 46) . Coule, sb. cabbage. Ch 1 . 172. Counte, sb. account, reckoning. Ev. 104, 493, 502. Courese, pr. pi. course, run. Y. 155- Courtes, adj. courteous. MM. 490. Covetyse, sb. covetousness. Hey. 204. Cowch Quail, sb. ? a cry used in the game of Kales, or ninepins. Th. 20. See note. Cowde, //.//. could. KJ. 1379. Cowre,/r. I s. cower. T. 733. Crake, v. boast. Th. 371. Craked, //. boasted. Th. 399 ; pt. s. crakyd, sang noisily. T. 667. Crakynge, sb. boasting. Th. 880 ; as/r./. Th. 889. Craturs, sb. pi. creatures. FE. 455- Creke, 'to cry creke,' to yield. Th. 100. Croes, sb. pi. crows. Ch 1 . 185. Crop, sb. head. T. 736. Crosse out, v. annul, make no count of. Ev. 800. Crouche, imp. pi. kneel. Hey. 170. Crousse, adj. brisk, lively. Ch 1 . 178. Groyne, pr. 2 //. croon. T. 672. Crysme, sb. a chrisom cloth. CP. 20. Crystyndom, sb. Christendom. KJ. 1365. Cum, v. come. KJ. 1325; imp. s. KJ. 2101; CP. (71), (100), (110). Cumly, adj. comely. Y. 99. Cunne, v. learn. CP. (286); know, be able. CP. (316). Cunnyng, sb. knowledge. FE. 404. Cunsell, sb. counsel. KJ. 1282. Curlues, sb. pi. curlews. Ch 1 . 187. Curssys, sb. pi. curses. KJ. 1385. Curteys, adj. curteons. MM. "37- Gust.//, kissed. CP. (126). Cyataca, sb. sciatica. Sk. 1982. Cyte, sb. city. KJ. 1274. Dale, sb. dole, bounty. Y. 78. Dalle, sb. fist. T. 744. Damdpnyd, //. damned, con- demned. MM. 636 ; dampned, Ev. 310. Dar, pr. i s. dare. T. 303. Dasters, sb. pi. dastards. Th. 17. Daynetethly, adv. finely. Y. 78. Debate, vb. abate, diminish. Th. 412,469. Ded, pt. s. did. KJ. 1280. Ded, //. dead. Hh. in; Hey. 631. Dede, sb. deed. MM. 633. Dedyst,//. 2 s. didst. MM. 672. Dee, sb. Dieu, God ; ' per dee,' par dieu. KJ. 2081. Deed,//, dead. Ev. 255. Defe, adj. deaf. Ev. 803. Defte, adj. clever, dexterous. Y. 92. Delande,/n/. dealing, distribut- Dele, sb. part, bit. Y. 158. Dele, sb. pity. CP. (210). Dele, v. deal, have part with. CP. (99)- GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Delectabyll, adj. delightful. MM. 593. Dell, sb. part, bit, whit. Hey. 563. Delycows, adj. delicious. MM. 335- Delycyte, sb. delicacy. MM. 72. Demdeu, pt. s. condemned. Hh. 56. Deme, v. judge. 0.124. Demenour, sb. director. Sk. 1887. Dent, sb. blow. MM. 272. Departe, v. (i) depart, go away, separate. Ev. 96. 296; Th. 233. Hey. 549. (ii) divide, e.g. 'depart your goodes' = divide your wealth. Hey. 96. (iii) part with, e. g. departe with your riches. MM. 102. Depnes, sb. deepness. FE. 356. Deprave, v. depreciate, slander. FE. 436. Dere, adj. precious. Y. n. Dere, sb. harm, injury. Y. 64. Derand, pr. p. harming. Y. 37. Derworth, adj. precious. Y. 92. Descend, v. make descend. MM. 1558. Desevyr, v. separate. MM. 301. Dessetres, sb. distress. MM. 104. Desyplys, sb. pi, disciples. MM. 614. Devoyd, pr. pi. go out. MM. 1132,3- Devyne, adj. divine. FE. i. Devyr, sb. devoir, duty. MM. 1 180. Dew, adj. due, fitting. Hey. 72 ; dewe. H. 314. Dewes, int. the deuce. Y. 92. Dewks, sb.pl. dukes. KJ. 1368. Dewresse, sb. duresse, hardship. MM. 281 ; duresse. MM. 284. Dewylys, sb. pi. devils. CP. (34). Deyver, sb. devoir, duty. Y. 156. Deje. v. die. Hh. 56. Diewly, adv. dewly. Y. n. Diffynicion, sb. definition, limit. Co. 100. Digges, sb. pi. ducks. Ch l . 189. Dighte, v. make ready, prepare. Ch l . 79, 301. Dilfull, adj. sorrowfull. Ch". Disese, sb. discomfort. CP. (219). Do, //. done. KJ. 1354; Th. 102. Does, imper.pl. do. Y. 156. Dold, adj. stupid. T. 2. Dole, sb. sorrow, trouble. CP. (407) ; Y. 98. Dome, sb. doom, judgment. Ev. 261, 885, 901. Don, adv. down. MM. 1203. Don, pr. pi. do. MM. 61. Dore, sb. door. KJ. 1377. Dowtles, adv. doubtless. FE. 358. Douctors, sfrt pi. daughters. MM. 68. Dowtter, sb. daughter. MM. 79. Doyne,//. done. T. 291. Drackes, sb.pl. drakes. Ch 1 . 189. Drawe,//. drawn over, covered. Sk. 2040. Dray, v. draw. T. 317. Dresse, v. direct. MM. n8a. Dreve, //. driven. CP. (407). Dyd, v. did. Ev. 474. Dyghte,//. prepared. Th. 351; Y. n, 109. Dynt, sb. blow. Sk. 1904. Dysceyved,/^. deceived. Co. 24. Dyscus, imper. s. spread abroad. MM. 1562. Dyspare, sb. despair. Ev. 468. Dysses, sb. decease. MM. 80. Dystaunce, sb. distance, estrange- ment. CP. (384). Dystres, sb. distress. Ev. 508. Dyvers, adj. several. FE. 49, 328. F. Ech, adj. each. Ch 1 . 191. Ben, sb. pi. eyes. T. 295. Eft-whyte, v. requite again, re- store. T. 305. Eftyr, adv. after. Y. 125; efter, Y. 131. Egge-toles, sb. pi. edge-tools. Hey. 574- Eke, conj. also. Ev. 503; Hey. 208, 210. Eldyth,/r. *. aileth. Th. 480. 2 3 2 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Elfe, sb. oaf, lubber. Hey. 629. Ellea, adv. else. Ch l . 66, 207 ; MM. 635 ; Th. 101, etc. Elvysshe, adj. simple. Th. 74. Emel, prep, among. Y. 146. Emprise, sb. enterprise. CP. (198). Encomberowns, sb. encum- brance, MM. 1533. Enew, adj. enough. Y. 104. Enhanse. v. exalt. MM. 611. Enmys, sb. pi. enemies. KJ. 1378. Enquere, v. enquire. FE. 400, Hey 61. Entendyd, pp. minded, deter- mined. Hey. 68. Entent, sb. will, purpose, mean- ing. Sk. 1946; MM. 670; Ev. 8. CP.(iis.) Envy, sb. ill-will. Sk. 1989. T&&, pr. s. is. Y. a, 10, etc.; art. Y. 74. Est, sb. the east. FE. 351, 355. Estate, sb. class or order in the commonwealth. KJ. 2143. Everychone, every one. Ev. 840, 856. Evyn, sb. evening. FE. 407. Excommunycate, pp. excom- municated. KJ. 2141. Exorte, v. go forth. Co. 56. Expoun, v. expound. FE. 26. Exprese, adv. expressly. MM. 82. Exprese, v. express, read out, declare. MM. 298, 1184, 1383. Eylytt,/r. s. aileth. MM. 15^5. Eynd, sb. end. MM. 599. Eynes, sb. pi. eyes. Co. 25. Facyon, sb. fashion. Hey. 590, 609. Fade, . make faded. Y. 60, 132. Pall, sb. case, plight. Ev. 514. Famyt,//. famished. Co. II. Fand, v. find. Ch 2 . 470. Fane, adj. fain, glad. T. 39. Fang, v. take. T. 679. Fantasyes, sb. pi. fancies. Y. I2<);fanteye. FE. 43. Fard, pp. feared, afraid. T. 677. Fare, v. go. T. 714 ; pr. i s. P. (4) ; faren, v. Hh. 175. Farmerye, sb. infirmary. KJ. 2102. Fame, //. fared. T. 587. Faryn, v. go. CP. (403). Fastande, pr. p. fasting. Y. So. Fatherys, sb. gen. case, father's. MM. 298. Fatt, sb. fate. CP. (336). Faver, v. favour. KJ. 1330. Fawor, sb. fervour. MM. 483. fawour. MM. 638. Faworus, adj. desirous. MM. 673. Faye, sb. faith. Ch 1 . 290; Ch 2 . 433 ; Ev. 298. Fayer, adj. fair. MM. 669. Fayn, adv. gladly. MM. 495 ; fayne. Ch 1 . 147 ; Ch*. 252 ; Ev. 515. Fayne, v. feign. Th. 910. Fayre, adj. fair. Y. 65 ; adv. Ev. 872. Fayrear, comp. adj. fairer. Y. 53. Fayrhede, sb. fairness, beauty. Y. 66. Fay thly, adv. faithfully. Y. 19. Fe, sb. possessions. Sk. 1993. Feare, sb. companion; in fere, together. Ch 1 . 78, 289; Ch". 454- Fearefully, adv. timorously. Th. 387. s. d. Fectually, adv. effectually, truly. MM. 643. Fede, //. fed. Y. 76. Fee, sb. money, goods. MM. 299. Felande, pr. p. feeling. Y. 79. Felawe, sb. fellow. Ev. 284. Felde, sb. field. Th. 149. Felescheppys, sb.pl. fellowships. CP. (311). Fell, pr. I s. fell, lay low. KJ. 1392. Fell, adj. cruel. MM. 280. Felyng, sb. feeling. Y. 60. Femynyte, sb. womanliness. MM. 71. Fende, sb. fiend. CP. (269) ; Ev. 883 ; fendes. CP. (303) ; Hh. GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 233 Fende, v, protect. CP. (373). Fendyd, //. prevented, hindered. CP. (303). Fere, v. make afraid. Ev. 253. Fere, sb. companion. Hh. 69 ; in fere, together. T. 715 ; feres, 53. Ferre, adv. far. Ev. 816. Fest, adj. fast, fixed. T. 20 ; feste, pp. fastened. Y. 66. Fet, v. fetch. Th. 185. Fete, sb. pi. feet. MM. 667. Fett, sb.pl. feet. MM. 640, i. Fette, v. fetch. Hh. 5, 30 ; //. fetched. Th. 430. Fetys, adj. neat, well-made, ele- gant. Y. 55. 65. Fier, sb. fire. Ch 1 . 78. Fine, sb. end. Hh. n. Firrette, sb. ferret. Ch l . 175. Fleete, v. float. Ch 1 . 281. Fleetinge, pr. p. floating. Ch 1 . 225. Fles, sb. flesh. Hh. 194. Fleshe-likinge, sb. fleshly lust. Ch 1 . 6. Fleye, v. flee. Ch 1 . 293. Florychyd, pp. flourished. MM. 334- Fludde, sb. flood. Ch 1 . 84 \flude, Ch 1 . 224. Flum, sb. river. Hh. 206. Flyt, v. remove, turn aside. CP. (84). Flyte, v. scold. T. 636. Fode, sb. food. Y. 76. Fole, sb. fool. FE. 407 ; Y. 129. Folwe, imp. s. follow. CP. (100). Folysshe, adj. foolish. H. 213 ; Ev. 872. Fonde, adj. foolish. CP. (225). Fonde, pr. i s. try. CP. (403). Fonded, //. tried, made trial of. Hh. 75 Fondnesse, sb. folly. Sk. 1892. Fondon, v. find. Hh. 70. Fonge, imp. s. take. Ch 1 . 27. Forme, sb. pi. foes. Ch 1 . 6. Foo, sb. foe. CP. (32). Forbode, //. forbidden. Hey. 256. Force, no force, no matter. FE. 538. Fordo, imp. pi. destroy. T. 295. Forgang, v. forego. T. 43. Forgete, //. forgotten. Ev. 86. 94- Forgeyffe, pr. \ s. forgive. MM. 676. Forleten, //. forego, abandon, Hh. 169. Forloren, //. altogether lost, cast away. Hh. 239. Formarryd, pp. completely spoilt. Y. 139. Formaste, sup. adj. foremost, first. Y. 4. Forme, adj. first. CP. (i). Forseth, pr. s. it forseth not, it matters not. Hey. 312. For-shapyn,//. transformed. T. 630. For-spoken, //. bewitched. T. 624. Fortaxed,//. overtaxed. T. 16. Forthi, adv. therefore. Y. 131, 136. Forthy, adv. therefore. T. 68 1. Forthynkes, pr. s. repents, grieves. T. 521. Forward, sb. covenant, agree- ment. Ch 1 . 301. Forwhy, adv. because. Hey. 630. Fote, sb. foot. FE. 473; Ev. 293. Fott, pt. i s. fetched. T. 528. Fourme, v. form. Y. 142. Fowle, adv. foully. Ch 1 . 4. Fowle, sb. a fowl. Ch 1 . 306. Foyde, sb. child. T. 731. Foyne, sb. for fone, few. T. 292. T?T&,prep. from. Y. 95. Franesy, sb. frenzy. Sk. 1958. Frawth,//. laden. CP. (94). Fray, sb. fear. MM. 280. Frel-nes, sb. frailty. Co. no. Frend, sb. Ev. 629, 655; frendes, Hey. 54. Freres, sb.pl. friars. Hey. 15. Fro, prep. from. Ev. 644. Froring, sb. help. Hh. 164. Fryke, adj. bold, brave. CP. Frynde, sb. friend. KJ. 2080. Frynishe, adj. polite, formal. Ch 1 . loo. 234 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Frysch, adj. fresh. MM. 491. Full, v. foul. Y. 60. Fullimartes, sb. pi. polecats. Ch 1 . 170. Fumishenes, sb. irritability. Th. 107. Fun,//*. found. T. 762. Furst, adv. first. FE. 351, 355. Fygure, sb. form, image. Y. 140. Fygured,//. formed. Y. 65. Fynnest, sup. adj. finest. MM. 484. 65. Fyr, sb. fire. MM. 597. Fytt, adj. fit, pretty. Y. G. Gaf,//. 2 s. gavest. T. 582. Qaither, v. gather. Ch 1 . 73, 77. Galand, sb. galant. FE. 417. Gan, pp. gone. Hh. 4, 47, 74. Gar, v. cause. T. 621 ; gares, pr. s. Y. 103; gard, pt. s. T. 661. Gat, sb. gate, road. Hh. 218; gaits. Hey. 43 ; Y. 155. Gawde, sb. trick. T. 604. Gayne, v. avail. Ch 1 . 146. Gaynesay, v. contradict. FE. 384- Gaytt dore, sb. outer door. T. 339- Gentlery men, sb. pi. gentry. T. 18. Gere, sb. array. Th. 198. Gest, v. jest. Hey. 311. Gete,//. begotten. Ev. 189. Gotten, //. got. Ch 1 . 130. Getteth, pr. s. obtains. Ev. 646. Getyn, v. get. MM. 370. Geve, v. give. KJ. 1346; Th. 478; pr. i j. Ch 1 . 288; //. KJ. 1341 ; imp. s. Th. 233. Gevyn, //. given. KJ. 1274, 1339- Ghoste, sb. spirit. Ch 1 . 5. Glad, sb. gladnesse. T. 679. Glase, sb. slippery place, diffi- culty? T. 327. Gle, sb. joy. Y. 82. Gleteryng, sb. glittering. Y. 82. Glose, v. speak smoothly. FE. 41 ; Hey. 10. Go, pp. gone. Ev. 165. Gobet, sb. piece, morsel. CP. (9)- God, adj. good. MM. 1203, 1543 ; FE. 407. Goddes, sb. goddess. Th. 297 ; sb.pl. gods. Th. 310. Gon, gone, v. go. Ch 1 . 202 ; Ch". 227; MM. 1142; Ev. 465. Gon-stone, sb. bullet. Th. 72. Goo, imp. s. go. MM. 1145. Good, sb. goods. Ev. 121. Goon, v. go. CP. (72). Goote, sb. goat. Ch 1 . 158. Gore, sb. a gusset, 'under gore,' under the clothes, privily. CP. (3i a). Gore, sb. filth. CP. (338). Goat, sb. spirit. MM. 601, 1211 ; CP. (47). Gostly, adv. spiritual. MM. 609. Gothe, v. goes. Ev. 806, 835. Gowlande, pr. p. howling. Y. 103. Gramercy, many thanks. Ev 221, 861. Gravyte, sb. seriousness. FE. 28. Grawous, adj. grievous. MM. 2 93- Gre, sb. pleasure ; take in gre, take in good part. Sk. 2005. Grede, v. cry aloud. CP. (285). Grestle, sb. young pig. Th. 391. Grete, v. weep. CP. (320); Hh. 82. Grete, adj. great. Y. I. Gretter, comp. adj. greater. T. 36. Gretynge, sb. weeping. CP. (3i4)- Grevys, sb. pi. groves. CP. (59). Grill, v. grumble. Ch 1 . 46. Grith, sb. peace, treaty. Hh. 126. Grocchyn, vb. grumble, murmur. CP. (181) \grochynge, murmur- ing) groaning. CP. (312). Groge, sb. grudge. KJ. 1298, !33 2 - Grom, sb. man. MM. 489. Grome, sb. for Groine, a port in Spain. MM. 478. GLCSSARIAL INDEX. Grose, adj. gross, substantial. FE. 345, 357. Grotes, sb. pi. groats. Hey. 22, 93, IS*- Grucche, v. murmur, grumble. CP. (47). Grudge, v. grumble. Sk. 2016. Grunde, sb. ground. Y. 74. Grylle, v. be terrified. Ch 3 . 340. Grysly, adj. horrible, dreadful. CP. (47); *fr.CP.(i75). Guardon, v. guerdon, reward. Hey. 200. Gunne, pp. begun. CP. (314). Gydde, v. guide. MM. 601. Gyde, sb. guide. Ev. 522, 780. Gyde, imp. s. guide. MM. 1440. Gyf, imp. pi. give. Y. 147 ; pr. i s. Y. 160. Gyldar, sb. gilder. KJ. 2 1 10. Gyler, sb. beguiler. T. 724. Gylt, sb. guilt. CP. (325). Gynnyt, pr. s. begins. MM. 6 2 1 . Gyrnande, pr. p. grinning. Y. 103. Gyrth, v. protect. Y. 133. Habergyn, sb. coat of mail. Th. 104, 108, in. Hade, pt. i s. had. Ch 1 . 99. Haile, sb. health. Ch 1 . 198. Hakt, pt. s. 'chopped away at,' and so ' had his will of,' ' master- ed'? T. 668. Hale, sb. tent, pavilion. CP. (170). Hall, v. haul, drag. Th. 493. Hals, sb. neck. CP. (156). Haly, adv. wholly. Y. 27. Hamer, sb. hammer. Ch 1 . 62. Hamyd,//. crippled. T. 15. Han, v. have. MM. 509; //. Co. 35. Happe, v. wrap. Sk. 2063. Happyd,//. circumstanced. Sk. 2010 ; wrapped, up. T. I. Harbarow, sb. harbourage. MM. 1398. Hard, //. I s. heard. T. 658, 667 ; harde,pt. I s. KJ. 2084 ; pp. Hey. 257. Hardely, adv. surely. Hey. 605. Harnes , sb. armour, accoutrements. Th. 9. Harnessed,//, armed. Th. 16. Harrowe, inter/, a cry for help. Y. 97. Hart, sb. heart. MM. 74, 640 ; FE. 501 ; harte. Ch 1 . 234 ; KJ. 2098 ; hartt. MM. 1 138 ; harts, hartys, hearts. KJ. 1340. Hey. 57. Hast, sb. haste. MM. 382. Hast, v. hasten. Ev. 141 ; imp. s. MM. 1384. Hat, pr. s. has. MM. 602. Hatt, v. be called. T. 614. Haunt, v. frequent. Ev. 273. Havi, have I. Hey. 43. Haveth,/r. s. has. Hh. 152. He, pron. pi. they. Hh. 53, 55 ; MM. 366, 370. Heale, sb. health. Hey. 8. ; hele. Hey. 273. Heare, adv. here. Ch 1 . 156, 180, etc. Hearnes, sb. pi. herons. Ch 1 . 182. Hed, sb. head. MM. 1530 ; FE. 427; headake, headache. Hey. 163. Hede, sb. head. FE. 411. Hede,^.heed. CP. (138). Hey. 54* Heder, adv. hither. FE. 401. Hedibus, sb. comic Latinized da- tive plural for ' heads '. Th. 1 33. Hee, adj. high. T. 605. Hefne, sb. heaven. Co. 9. Hegges, sb. pi. hedges. MM. 1198. Hegheste, sup. adj. highest. Y. 27. Heiste, sb. promise. Ch 1 . 305. Hek, sb. inner door. T. 316. Heldand,/r./. descending, alight- ing. Y. 6 ; heledande. Y. 95. Hele, sb. health. CP. (96) ; Ev. 648. Helowes, sb. pi. hallows, saints. Hey. 154. Hely, adj. holy. KJ. 1308. Hem, pron. them. MM. 57, 91, 670 ;CP. (375); Hh.6. 2 3 6 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Hend, adj. meek, gentle. Ch 1 . 276. Henne, adv. kence. Hh. 146. Hens, adv. hence. Ev. 130, 862 ; Hey. 94 ; Th. 400 ; MM. 109, 1535- Hent, pp. seized. CP. (253). Her, adv. here. MM. 66, 643, 1396, I597J CP. (31); Hh. 140, 143. Her, sb. hair. MM. 669. Here, pass. pron. their. Co. 28, 36 ; CP. (266). Here, v. hear. Ev. 19, 236, 634, 667, 867 ; Hey. 62, 65, 210, 314, 555 ; T. 298. Herers, sb. hearers. Ev. 903. Heres, sb. pi. hairs. Hey. 539. Herre, sb. hair. MM. 640, I. Herynge, sb. hearing. FE. 467. Herwe, sb. harrow. Hh. 145. Hese, pass. pron. his. Co. 45. Het,/r. i s. promise. Ch 2 . 451. Hete, pt. 2 s. orderedst. Hh. 224. Hether, adv. hither. Hey. 63. Hetyng, sb. promise. T. 728. Hevede, //. s. had. Hh. 7. Heviar, comp. adj. heavier. MM. 272. Hevynes, sb. heaviness. MM. 488 ; Ev. 505. Hey, adj. high. MM. 107. Heydes, sb.pl. heads. T. 294. Heyle, imp. s. hail. MM. 381. Heynd, adj. gentle. T. 649. Heys, sb. hedges. Th. 155. Heje, adj. high. Hh. 31. Hie, imp. s. hasten. Ch 1 . 115. Hied, //.//. hastened. Ch 1 . 223. Hight, sb. height. T. 295, 310. Hihte,//. I s. ordered. Hh. 227. Hof, interj. ho ! MM. 491. Hoi, adj. whole. Th. 145 ; MM. 677. Hole, adj. whole. Ev. 632 ; FE. 377; Hey. 306; Th. 192. Holsome, adj. wholesome. KJ. 2087. Holy, adv. wholly. CP. (192); Ev. 525. Hondo, sb. hand. CP. (228^; Ev. 777. Hondon, sb. pi. hands. Hh. 54. Hoost, sb. host. Ev. 884. Horse, adj. hoarse. Sk. 1930. Hote, sb. heat. Y. 97. How, how. Hh. 70. How, sb. a yearling sheep. T. 301 . Howe, interj. ho! Sk. 1979. Hower, sb. hour, season. KJ. 1349- Hows, sb. house. MM. 618, 620, 622. Hunder, adv. under. T. 24. Hur, pron. her. MM. 378, 380. Hy, v. hasten. MM. 1391 ; Ev. 1 80. Hydande, pr. p. hiding. Y. 6. Hyder, adv. hither. Ev. 665, 669, 819; Hey. 4, 67, 255. Hye, v. hasten. Ev. 159, 813; imper. pi. Ch 1 . 49. Hye, adj. high. MM. 6i7;CP. (239) ; on Aye, aloud. FE. 543- Hyed, //. s. hastened. Hey. 67. Hyen, v. hasten. CP. (239). Hyest, sup. adj. highest. Ev. 799. Hyght, pr. i s. am called. Sk. 1908; Ev. 660; //. act. Y. 112. Hyng, v. hang. T. 319. Hyrre, pron. her. MM. 377. Hys, pass. pron. his. KJ. 2133. I. I, prep. in. MM. 508. Ich,/;w/. I. Hh. 65. Iche, adj. each. Ch 1 . 91, 92, 279. Ichone, each one. Ch 1 . 108. Icoren, pp. chosen. Hh. 240. lich, adj. each. Ch 1 . 155. no, sb. isle. Y. 26. like. adj. each. Y. 125, 158. Incontynent, adv. incontinently, at once. Ev. 667. Indeure, v. endure. MM. 292; induer, MM. 308. Indifferent, adj. equal, fair. Th. 486. Indyte, v. indite, write. FE. 39. Ingendryd,//. engendered. FE. 33 2 - Inch, adv. enough. Hh. 51. GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 2.37 Inquire, v. enquire, search out. Th. 467. Interdytt, pp. interdicted. KT. 1358. Intoxycate, pp. poisoned. KT. 2144. Invy, sb. envy. MM. 362. Invyron,/r. round about. FE. 2. Inwyttissymus, adj. invictissi- mus, most unconquered. MM. 285. Iwis, adv. certainly. Hh. 57; iwys, Y. 8 1 ; CP. (350) ; MM. 489; KJ. 1393; i-wysse, Ch 3 . 438. Jentylness, sb. gentleness. MM. 105, 114. Joparde, v. jeopard, risk. Th. 435- Joynte, sb. joint, limb. Th. 435. Kayser, sb. Caesar, Emperor. CP. (188). Kende, sb. kind, nature. CP. ( i ). Kenne, v. show. CP. (383). Kente,//. taught. Cb". 222. Kepe, sb. heed, care. Hey. 106. Kinde, sb. nature. Ch 1 . 92. Knakt, pt. s. performed cleverly. T. 670. Knet, pp. knitted, compounded of. CP. (246). Knett, v. knit. MM. 58. Knocked, //. knocked bread, bread made of flour only roughly ground. Th. 245. Knyth, sb. knight. CP. (69) ; Knythtes,pl. MM. 673 ; Knyttes. MM. us. Kylt,//. killed. CP. (323). Kynd, sb. nature. MM. 94; kynde. Y. 99; CP. (245); T. 602, 690 ; kinship. Ev. 315. Kynnesmen, sb. pi. kinsmen. Ev. 313- Lache, v. catch. CP. (347). Lackes, sb. pi. lakes. Ch 1 . 190. Laghe, v. laugh. T. 621. Langyd, pt. s. longed, desired. T. 42. Lante, //. lent, given. CP. (61). Lappyd, //. lapped, enveloped. Lastand, pr. p. lasting. Y. 34, 46. Lat, imp. s. let, do. Y. 46, 120. Late, v. let. Co. 101 ; CP. (96), (222). Lawe, adj. low. Y. 122. Lay, v. wager. T. 304. Layser, si>. leisure. Ev. 101. Laytheete, sup. adj. most loath- some. Y. zoo. Lazars, sb. lepers. Sk. 1930. Leane, v. conceal. Ch". 283, 310. Lease, comp. adj. less. Ch 1 . 287. Led, sb. lead. MM. 272; a sounding-lead. MM. 1440 ; lede, a leaden seal. Hey. 71, 195. Leden, sb. speech. Ch 1 . 191. Lef, imp. s. leave. Hh. 106. Lefe, v. believe. T. 31. Leffe, adj. glad. Ch 1 . 99. Leiste, sb. pleasure, desire. Ch 1 . 207. Lekyng, adj. liking, pleasing. MM. 617. Lele, adj. leal, loyal. T. 532. Lely, adv. leally, truly. Y. 77. Lende, v. abide, linger. Y. 53; CP. 7. Lende, //. lent. Ev. 164. Lende, sb. loin. CP. (5). Lengar, comp. adj. longer. MM. 276; lenger. Co. 100, 131, 849. Lenges, imp. pi. remain. Ch 1 . 226, Longest, sup. adj. longest. MM. 39- Lengore, comp. adj. longer. Hh. 140. Lent, //. granted, given. CP. (116). Lere, v. learn. T. 299. 238 GLOSSARIAL INDEX, Lere, sb. countenance, features. CP. (190). Les, sb. deceit. MM. 83. Lese, v. lose. FE. 387. Lesen, v. loose, release. Hh. 36, 213. Leser. sb. leisure. FE. 390. Lest, sup. adj. least. FE. 383. Leste, v. last. Co. 65. Let, v. hinder, delay. Hey. 273 ; Ch s . 407; //. hindered. CP. (337). Lete, v. let, allow. Co. 8 ; CP. (363); imp. s. KJ. 2114; lett bren, cause to burn. T. 606. Lette, v. refrain, abstain from doing. CP. (121) ; imp. pi. ye ne lette. Ch l . 283. Lettyth, pr. s. hinders ; lettyth of audience, hinders from being heard. Hey. 261. Leve, v. believe. CP. (88) ; leven, Hh. 232. Leve, v. live. CP. (401) ; leven. MM. 65; levyn. Co. n ; CP. (131), (394)5 levyth, lives. CP. (394). Leve, adj. dear. Hh. 16, 166 ; lever, more willingly. Sk. 2066. Leve, imper. s. leave. MM. 595. Leve, sb. leave, permission, FE. 428; Hh. 173. Levedest, //. 2 s. believedst. Hh. 60. Levyn, sb. lightning. T. 66 1. Lewd, adj. common, simple. T. 718. Lewtye, sb. loyalty, faith. Ch 1 . 276. Ley, imper. s. lay. MM. 492. Lidderyns, sb. pi. rascals Sk. 1946. Lighte, //. s. alighted. Hh. 31. Linge, v. linger. Ch 1 . 5, 297. Litterature, sb. knowledge of let- ters, learning. Hey. 192. Lofly, adj. lovely. CP. (141). Loke, v. look. Ev. 503 ; imp. s., Hey. 42. Lokys,/r. s. looks. Sk. 1899. Lond, sb. land. MM. 1430 ; KJ. 1327 ; londe. CP. (70) ; londes, pi. KJ. 1312. Longyth, pr. s. belongs. MM. 1185, 1207. Lore, sb. teaching. Ch 1 . 127; Hey. 49. Lore, pp. lost. Co. 58 ; Th. 459. Lome, pp. lost. T. 650 ; Y. 108. Lose, imp. s. loose. Hey. 538. Losell, sb. rascal. Sk. 1905; /?//, Sk. 192. Lothe, adj. loathsome. Ev. 268 ; Hh. 154, 175. Louerd, sb. lord. Hh. 103, 149, 165. Loven, /r. //. love. Ch 1 . 205. Lowte, v. bow before. Y. 24, 46. Loyn, //. lain. Co. 3. Luf, sb. praise. Y. 46, 57. Lufly, adj. lovely. Y. 43. Lurden, sb. clown. Sk. 1914; Y. 1 08 ; lurdans, Y. 120. Lust, sb. pleasure. CP. (125), (217); Sk. 1912. Lybertye, sb. liberty, jurisdiction. Hey. 596. Lyche, adj. like. CP. (70), (114). Lydderyns, sb. pi. rascals. Sk. !945- Lye, v . used transitively for ' lay*. Hey. 541. Lyf, adj. glad. FE. 424. Lyfelod, sb. livelihood. MM. 87, 99- Lyg, pr. 2 pi. lie. T. 291, 346. Lyges, pr. s. lies. T. 655. Lyght, //. delivered. T. 348. Lykes me, v. impers. I like. Y. !59- Lykyng, sb. delight. CP. (125), (217). Lyth, sb. light. CP. (337). Lyther, adj. bad, inactive. Sk. 2066. Lythly, adv. lightly. MM. 1 146. Lyvys, sb. gen. life's. CP. (141). Lyyn, v. lie. MM. 597. Mad, //. made. Co. 14 ; //. J. MM. 1386. Made, adj. mad. Ev. 168. Maintenance,^, support. T. 35. GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Maiste, pr. a s. makest. Ch 1 . no. Maiste,/;-. 2 s. mayst. Ch 1 . 267. Maistre, sb. master. KJ. 2166. Makar, sb. maker, creator. MM. 632. Make, sb. mate, partner. Ch 1 . 119. Males, sb. malice. Co. 45. Malmsine, sb. Malmsey wine. Ch 1 . 233. Mament, sb. Mahomet. MM. 1545, 1557- Mammockes, sb. pi. leavings, fragments. Sk. 2035. Maner, sb. manner. Ev. 185 ; no maner wyghte, no kind of man. Hey. 159; cp. 167. Mankin, sb. mankind. Hh. 112. Mannis, sb. gen. mans. MM. 364; mannys. KJ. 1328. Manrede, sb. homage, vassalage. Hh. 90. Manteyn, pr. pi. maintain. T. 632. Marde,//. marred, ruined. Hey. 209. Markide,//. designed, noted. Y. 49. 58. Marmoll, sb. ulcer. Sk. 1932. Marrande,/r./. marring. .92. Marters, sb. pi. martyrs. KJ. 2170. Mary, sb. by the Blessed Virgin, an oath. FE. 487. Mas, sb. the Mass. Hey. an. Mase, sb. mace. Th. 323. Masendewes, sb. pi. maisonsdieu, houses of charity. KJ. 2127. Massenger, sb. messenger. KJ. 1304. Mastry, sb. mastery, masterful behaviour. T. 30. Mater, sb. matter. Ev. 102, 248. Mawt, sb. Malta. MM. 476. May, sb. maid, virgin. T. 695. Mayne, sb. main, strength. .92. Mayntenance, sb. support. KJ. 1366. Mays, pr. s. makes. T. 30. Maystries, sb. masteries ; to try maystries, to try conclusions. Th. 515. Meanye, sb. company. Ch 1 . 113, 265 ; Ch 2 . 225. Meche, adj. great. Co. 28, 68. Mede, sb. meed, reward. T. 679 ; CP. (329) ; to medys, by way of reward. CP. (197). Medylle, sb. middle. T. 610. Meete, adj. meet, fitting. Ch 1 . 94- Meke, v. make meek. Co. 8. Mekill, adj. great. .41. Mekly, adv. meekly. MM. 106. Mekyl, adj. much. CP. (249). Mele, sb. meal. CP. (97). Mell, v. meddle. Hey. 589. Memoryall, sb. memory, thought. MM. 1134. Mende, sb. mind. Co. 7. Mene, pr. i s. mean, think. T. 647. FE. 408. Mener, adj. handsome. T. 702. Meneye, sb. company. T. 357. Mente,//. //. thought. Y. 139. Menytt, pr. s. meaneth. MM. J 544- Merakyll, sb. miracle. MM. I55i- Meroyabyl, adj. merciful. Co. 107. Merour, sb. mirror. Y. 34. Merrorys, sb. pi. mirrors, i. e. shining qualities. MM. 73. Mery, adj. merry. FE. 416. Merys, pr. s. grows merry. T. 725. Mesels, sb. pi. lepers. KJ. 2116. Messe, sb. the sacrament of the Mass. FE. 448. Messuer, imper. s. measure. Ch 1 . 28. Mesure, sb. reward. MM. 296. Met, adj. meet. CP. (250), (333). Mete, sb. meat. T. 321. Mete, adj. meet, fitting. Th. 38. Meve, v. move. MM, 1134; mevyd, pp. Co. 43. Meynye, sb. company. CP. (77). Michel, adj. much, great. Hh. 7, 47, 67, 119. Mightefull, adj. powerful. Y. 58. Mightes, sb. pi. powers. Y. 33. Mo, comp. adj. more. T. 686; 240 GLOSS A RIAL INDEX. FE.22;Hey. 6i6;Th. 66, 467, 470 ; Sk. 1978. Moche, adv. much. KJ. 1326. Mockes. sb. pi. jests. Hey. 603. Mode, sb. mood. T. 5, 14. Moder, sb. mother. Hh. 193. Moe, comp. adj. more. Ch 1 . 122. Molde, *>. mould, earth. CP. (164). lion, sb. man. Ch 1 . 275. mont, dative. Ch 1 . 5. Mon, pr. 2 //. may. Ch 1 . 284. Mone, pr. pi. may. Ch 1 . 129, cp. Ch 1 . 66 ; Ch'. 463. Mone, sb. moon. T. 673 ; FE. 374; Hey. 555. Mone, v. moan. KJ. 2125 ; sb. T. 47 ; Ev. 461. Moneth, sb. month. Hh. 207. Mony, sb. money. MM. 487. Mop, sb. young creature. T. 735. Moo, comp. adj. more. MM. 477. Cot, pr. 2 //. : 276. must. MM. 107, Mow, v. may. Co. 64. Moyn, sb. moon. T. 289. Mustyr, v. show. Y. 145. Myche, adv. much. FE. 505 ; adj. MM. 631. Myddel earde. sb. the middle re- gion, the world. Ch 7 . 267. Myddes, sb. midst. FE. 361. Mykyll, adj. great. MM. 1140. Myle, sb. mile. FE. 394. Myn, pr. i s. mind. T. 685, cp. 756. Myne, v. mind, think. Ch 1 . 272. Mynstrelly, sb. minstrelsy. MM. 1141. Mynyshe, v. diminish, lessen. Ev. 878. Myrkness, sb. darkness. Y. 146. Mys, v. fail. Y. 83. Myschevyd, //. hurt. Co. 76. Mytes, sb. pi. mights, powers. MM. 632, 1210. Myth, sb. might. MM. 1140, 1541 ; v. CP. (151). N. Na, adv. no. Hh. 66. Nacked, adj. naked. Ch a . 279. Nam, pt. s. took. Hh. 39. Nan, adj. none. Hh. 77. Nas,_/0r ne was. Hh. 9. Nat, adv. not. MM. 57, etc. Natt, adv. not. MM. 1431. Nawther, conj. neither. T. 514. Ne, conj. nor. Ch 1 . 18, etc. Neemly, adv. nimbly. T. 282. Ner, conj. nor. CP. (121). Ner, adv. nearly. MM. 293, 482. Nere.y^rne were. Hh. 14. Nerehande, nearly. T. 2 ; nere- handes, T. 10. Neven, v. name, proclaim, speak. Y. 25, 85 ; nevyn. T. 659, 750. Nexile, sb. an aisle. Y. 25. See note. Ney, conj. neither, nor. Ch 1 . 72, 306. Nil, for ne will, will not. Hh. 62. Nolden,y0r ne wolden, would not. Hh. 232. Nomen, pt.pl. seized. Hh. 53. Non, adj. none. CP. (138). None, sb. noon. Th. 210. Nones, 'for the nones,' for the occasion. Th. 217. TSot,pron. naught. KJ. 2146. Not, for ne wot, know not. CP. Note, sb. use. Ch 1 . 246. Note, sb. labour, work. T. 314. Nother, conj. neither. Ev. 483 ; FE. 485, 506 ; Hey. 32 ; Th. 72, 85, etc. Noutt, adv. not. MM. 1377. Nowth, pron. naught. MM. 59 r . Nowther, conj. neither. KJ. 1347- Noy, v. annoy, distress. Y. 71, 83- Noyn, sb. noon. T. 290 ; noyne, T. 54- Noys, sb. nose. T. 623. Noy flier, conj. neither. KJ. 1374. Noyttment, sb. ointment. MM. 640, 641. Nyce, adj. foolish. Th. 215. Nye, adv. nigh. Ev. 839. Nye, sb. harm. Ch 1 . 11. Nyp, sb. approach thievishly. T. GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 241 Nyse, adj. foolish. Hey. 577. Nyth, sb. night. CP. (184). O. O,prep. of. Y.5, 90. Obeysauns, sb. obedience. MM. 364. Occident, sb. west. FE. 372. Of, adv. off. MM. 379, 1444; FE. 446 ; Th. 885 ; KJ. 2095. Ofer, v. offer, sacrifice. MM. 1219. Oferyng, sb. sacrifice. MM. 1204. OS, prep. of. Ch 1 . 125. Oke, sb. oak. Th. 109, 226. O-mys, adv. amiss. Y. 139. On, adj. one. CP. (265), (275); Hh. 44, 91. On-bynd, v. unbind. MM. 96. Onder, prep, under. MM. 266. One, prep. on. Ch 1 . 1 1, 117. Ones, adv. once. Ev. 150, 837 ; Hey. 283, 289, 553, 600; Th. 67* i43t 518 ; KJ. 2160. Onest, adj. honest. Co. 114. On-lyve, adj. alive. CP. (36). Onstabyll, adj. unstable. MM. 588. Onto, prep. unto. MM. 61 7. Ony, adj. any. Ev. 71, 100, 157, 218. Onymentes, sb. pi. ointments. MM. 668. Onys, adv. once. MM. 52 ; CP. (126); Th. 29. Gone, adj. own. T. 46. Oones, adv. once. T. 45. Opteyn, v. obtain. FE. 41. Or, prep, ere, before. Ch 1 . 103, 118; Hey. 87, 94. 295 ; Th.449. Oration, sb. prayer. Th. 364. Ore, sb. grace, favour. CP. (26). Oryent, sb. the East. FE. 370. Other, conj. either. Th. 73, 286, 352, etc. Other whyle, adv. occasionally. CP. (158). Otys, sb. pi. oats. Hey. 131. On, pron. you. Hh. 2, 28. Oughte wher, adv. anywhere. Ch 1 . 296. Ous, pron. us. Hh. 36. Overall, adv. everywhere. Ev. 72. Owles, sb.pl. owls. Ch 1 . 174. Owt, prep. out. MM. 96. Owte, an exclamation of pain. Y. 104. P. Pacyens, sb. pacience. Hey. 69. Palet, sb. palate. Th. 34. Parais, sb. Paradise. Hh. 6, 167. Parceyve, v. perceive, understand. Th. 5 8; FE.337- Parde, for pardieu. Ev. 270; per dee, KJ. 2081. Parfytely, adv. perfectly. Ev. Parsayve, v. perceive. FE. 397. Partriche, sb. partridge. KJ. 2168. Parvert, adj. perverted, repro- bate. Hey. 45. Passande. pr. p. surpassing. Y. 56. Passeth, pr. s. surpasses. KJ. 2088. Passynge, adv. surpassingly. Ev. 647. Pastaunce, sb. pastime. EF. 524. Pay, sb. pleasure. MM. 1428. Paynt, pp. painted. T. 28 ; payntyd, feigned. Sk. 1886. Payre, v. fade, deteriorate. Y. 54. Peas, sb. peace. Ev. 768, 803; Hey. 42 ,554. FE.44I. Pen, sb. pin. Sk. 1967. Pende. v. suspend. CP. (251). Pens, sb. pence. Hey. 22, 93, 132. Peple, sb. people. KJ. 1369. Pepyll, sb. people. MM. 1388. Per, prep, by ; per dee, par Dieu. KJ. 2081. Perdon, v. pardon. KJ. 2157. Peres, sb. pi. peers. Y. 56. Perfyth, adj. perfect MM. 61 1. Perfythnesse, sb. perfection. MM. 603. Perhenuall, adj. perennial. MM. 637. Perpetuall, adv. perpetually. MM. 636. Perse, v. pierce. Th. 71. Persecute, pr. pi. pursue. Th. 482. 242 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Pes, sb. peace. Co. 115; MM. 93,625; CP. (66), (75). Peynes, sb. pi. pains. MM. 96. Peynfulnesse, sb. painfulness. MM. 608. Pine, sb. pain. Hh. 12, 63. Placys, sb. //. places, benefices. KJ. 1312. Pleien, pr. I //. play. Hh. 70. Flesauns, sb. pleasure. MM. 100, 361. Pleson, sb. pleasure. Co. 116. Plesowans, sb. pleasure. MM. 90. Plete, v. plead. Sk. 2061. Plejeauntly, adv. pleasantly. MM. 1540. Ploghe, sb. plough. T. 38. Ply, v. turn. Y. 12. Plye, imp. s. apply oneself to. KJ. 3164. Po, sb. peacock. T. 37. Pocyon, sb. potion, drink. KJ. 2083. Poll, v. cut short the hair, fleece. Hey. 9, Pomped, //. pampered. Sk. 2038. Pore, adj. poor. MM. 596 ; porys, of the poor. Co. 51. Porsue, v. pursue. MM. 610. Portatur, messenger, angel. MM. 306. Post, imp, x. put. MM. 1558. Poste, sb. might. MM. 1559. Pottill, sb. pottle, flask. Ch l . 233- Potyt, pr. s. strives ? MM. 606. Pouste, sb. power. Hh. 7. Povert, sb, poverty. CP. (78). Poynt, sb. point ; tnpoynt, about, ready to. CP. (321). Prease, sb. readiness. Th. 234. Predycacyon, sb. preaching. Hey. 563. Prefytyth, pr. s. profits. CP. (360). Prengnaunt, adj. pregnant. FE. 29. Preor, sb. prayer. MM. 1561 ; preors. MM. 1137. Preparate, //. prepared. Ev. 631. Preposytour, sb. officer, prefect. Sk. 1967. Prese, sb. misprint for presence. Hey. 71. Presens, sb. presence. MM. 1137. Presone, sb. prisons. Y. 32. Prest, adj. forward, ready. Th. 191, 878. Pretend, v. offer. KJ. 1366. Prove, v. prove, try. Ev. 142. Prist, sb. priest. KJ. 1337 ; pristes. KJ. 1279. Promtyt, //. prompted. MM. 602. Proves, sb. pi. proofs. Th. 380. Provyd, v. provide. KJ. 1394. Prykkyd, pp. adorned, set out. MM. 358. Prynse, sb. prince. MM. 358. Pryse, sb. prize. MM. 472. Pryst, sb. priest. MM. 1544; prystes. MM. 1178 ; KJ. 1351. Punchement, sb. punishment. Co. 93. Purveance, sb. ' purveyance.' T. Pyche, v. pitch, tar. Ch 1 . 74. Pyghte, //. pitched. Th. 238. Pylt, //. pushed, knocked. CP. (174). Pynande,/r./. torturing. Y. 72. Pyne,. pine, suffer torture. Y. 32. Pyninge poyntes, sb. pi. tor- turing pricks. CP. (313). Pynne, sb. pin. Ch 1 . 61. Pynsynesse, sb. pensiveness. MM. 606. Pyrked, //. proud, conceited. MM. 358. Quecke, adj. quick. Sk. 2070. Qued, adj. evil. Hh. 36. Quod,/.r/./. quoth, said. Co. 25 ; FE. 529. Quycke, adj. quick, living. Ev. 255 ; Hey. 197. Quyte, v. pay, requite. Sk. 1902. Qwantte, adj. quaint. T. 604, 658. Qwatt, int. pron. what? MM. 1539. 1544- Qweme, v. please. Co. 123. GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Kamyd, pp. overreached. T. 16. Bathely, adv. quickly. CP. (398). Baumpinge, //. ramping. Th. 85. Bayle, sb. a rail, a small bird. KJ. 2168. Baynes, sb. the town of Rennes. Sk. 2043. Beade, sb. counsel. Ch 1 . 101. Beade, pr. i s. counsel, advise. Ch'. 269. Becche, v. reck, care. Hh. 120. Becure, v. recover. MM. 311. Bed, imp. s. advise. T. 347. Bede, v. counsel, advise. CP. (96), (iu);Hh. 66. Bedshonckes, sb. pi. redshanks. Ch 1 . 190. Befe, pr. pi. deprive. T. 19. Beke,/r. i s. reckon. KJ. 1315. Belyff, v. relieve. MM. 488, 612. Belykes, sb.pl. relics. Hey. 560. Bendyt, pr. s. rends. MM. 271. Benne, v. run. Ev. 72, 846 ; Th. 17,154, etc. ; Hh. 142. Beprefe, sb. reproof. Hey. 52 ; T. 587- Beprefe, v. reprove. T. 30. Besonnes, sb. pi. reasons, argu- ments. MM. 1527. Bespeccyon, sb. regard. MM. 70. Bessayve, v. receive. Y. 90. Bestoratyff, sb. restorative. MM. 486 ; return, payment. MM. 651. Bestore, v. refresh. Y. 143. Bestryne, sb. restrain. MM. 290. Bether, adv. rather. KJ. 1344. Betynawns, sb. retinue. MM. 362. Beve, v. deprive. Hh. 122. Bewle, v. rule. MM. 91 ; KJ. I 3 2 7 Bewthe, sb. pity. CP. (203). Bey lie, v. ramble. T. 285. Bightwysnes, sb. righteousness. Y. 124. Bihte, adj. right, direct. Hh. 39, 201. Bike, sb. kingdom. Hh. 176. Bod, sb. rood. Hh. 38. Bodde, sb. rood. Ev. 777. Bode, sb. rood, the holy cross. Ev. 8i2;CP. (so);Sk. 1896. Bombe, sb. room. Ch a . 485. Borne, sb. room. FE. 415 ; Hey. 20. Bon, v. run. MM. 374. Boninge, pr. pt. running. Ch 1 . 190. Boode, sb. the holy cross. Th. 174,-Ch 3 . 468. Botten, sb. rat. Ch 1 . 179. Bowe, sb. row, line ; on rowe, in order, duly. Y. 124. Bowfed, //. roofed. Ch 1 . 34. Bown, v. whisper. MM. 495. Bowte, sb. company. MM. 374. Buffle, v. shake. Th. 300. Buffled,//. swaggered. Th. 180. Baffler, s&. swaggering bully. Th. i. Bughly, adv. roughly. Sk. 1910. Buth, sb. pity. MM. 274. Byall, adj. royal. MM. 95, 361. Byalte, sb. royalty. MM. 65. Bybbya, sb. pi. ribs. MM. 271. Byche, adj. rich. CP. (74). Byche, sb. kingdom. CP. (81). Bydy, adj. ready. MM. 1388. Bype, imp. pi. rip, ransack. T. 526. Byst, v. rest. T. 641. Byth, adj. right. CP. (23), (48), etc. Byve, v. dress, robe. CP. (223). S. Sadly, adv. soberly, steadfastly. MM.6i4;Sk. 1966. Saffe, adj. safe. Ch 1 . 86; MM. Saggyd,//. oppressed, encumbered. CP. (298). Sagh, //. i J. saw. T. 6 1 1 . Sagh,/M s. say. T. 617. Sake, sb. cause. Hh. 53. Ball,/*/, shall. Y. 10, 15, 16, etc. Ballet, sb. helmet. Th. 35, 43, etc; sallett, KJ. 1347. Ballet, sb. a salad. Th. 37, 39. Sam, adv. together. T. 631. 244 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Santificatt, //. sanctified. MM. 55S. Save, adj. safe. Th. 363. Saveryth, pr. s. savours. FE. 440. Say,//, said. Ev. 271. Saynt, adj. holy. Ev. 148, 290, 921. Saynt, v. give health to. KJ. 2098. Schemerande,/r./. shimmering, Y. 69. Schende, v. destroy. CP. (395) ; used intransitivelyO) CP. (9). Schent, pp. destroyed. CP. (34). Schewyng, sb. appearance. Y. 69. Schreve,//. shriven. CP. (406). Schryfte, sb. absolution after confession. CP. (319). Schul, v. shall. CP. (72). Schynande,/r./. shining. Y. 69. Serat, v. scratch. Hey. 542. Scyens, sub. science, knowledge. FE. 393. Se, v . see. Co. 19 ; MM. 507 ; Ev. 1 6, 42 ; Hey. 611 ; Th. 59, 99- Se, sb. sea. Co. 29. See, sb. sea. MM. 1391. Sees, v. cease. Co. 93. Sei, v. say. Hh. 40. S eldest, ft. 2 s. saidest. Hh. 216. Sekyn, v. seek. CP. (377). Sekyr, adj. safe. CP. (399). Sele, sb. time, opportunity. CP. CM)- Sely, adj. good, innocent. T. 10; CP. (20). Semely, adj. seemly, comely. Y. 52 ; semly. CP. (182). Sen, v. see. CP. (73). Sen, adv. since. Y. 9. Sendel, sb. thin silk. CP. (95). Sene, gerund, see. MM. 51 ; pp. seen. CP. (53). Sens, adv. since. KJ. 2128. Sentence, sb. proposition. FE. 26; judgment. KJ. 1320; the greater sentence, probably ' the Day of Judgment," but possibly ' the greater excommunication.' Sentens, sb. opinion. Co. 123. Sentt, adj. saint, holy. MM. 1 205. Sentur, sb. centre. MM. 312. SerkyUe, sb. circle. T. 289. Sertes, adv. certes, certainly. CP. (307); sertys, CP. (208), (332). Sestt,/r. 2 s. seest. MM. 1542. Set, v. value at ; set not a straws, Ev. 222 ; cp. Th. 172 ; set not a Jlye, Th. 117; sett the shakyng of a rod, KJ. 1383 ; set by, Sk. 1915, 1945. Sete, sb. seat. CP. (95). Sett, pr. i s. sit. MM. 1217; sette, MM. 361. Seven, set on seven, put things in order. T. 749. Sewte, sb. suit. KJ. 1370. Sey, v. say. MM. 1179; pr. i s. MM. 675 ; seye, pr. 2. pi. MM. 489. Seyd, pt. i s. said. MM. 1531. Seyle,/r.//. sail. MM. 1427. Seyn, gerund, say. MM. 644. Beys,pr. 2 pi. seest. T. 316. Seyst, pt. 2 s. sawest. Th. 501. Seyth, sb. atonement. Co. 103. Seyyst, pr. 2 s. saist. MM. 1 539- Shelde, sb. shield. Th. 405. Shepe, sb. ship. MM. 1423, 1429. Sheppyng, sb. shipping. MM. 1392, 1431. Sheynd, v. reprove, shame. T. 651. Sholde, v. should. Ev. 137, 146. Shope, //. a s. createdst. Hh. 156. Shorte, v. shorten. Ev. 878. Shortely, adv. quickly, without delay. Ev. 778. Shote, v, shoot. Th. 105, 109. Shrew, pr. i s. curse. T. 310; Hey. 573. Shrewde, adj. malicious, ill. FE. 438 ; Th. 146. Shryve, v. absolve after confes- sion. CP. (38) ; pp. shryven. Hey. 176. Shuld, should. KJ. 1387. GLOSSAR1AL INDEX 345 Shuyd,//. shewed. MM. 86. Sibnesse, sb. kinship. Hh. 204. Sitbthen, adv. since. Hh. 48. Sitten, v. sit. Ch 1 . 164. Skante, adv. hardly. Th. 431. Skard, pp. scared. T. 300, 659. Skawd, sb. scold. T. 607. Skille, sb. wisdom. Ch'. 362. Skowte, sb. enterprise, scheme MM. 375. Skryke, ? misprint for 'stryke.' MM. 1395. Slake, v. slacken. Ch a . 247; imp. s. Ch 1 . 1 8. Sle, v. slay. Sk. 1939. Slefe, sb. sleeve. T. 28. Slo, v. slay. CP. (273). Slokyn, v. slacken. T. 687. Sloo, v. slay. CP. (244), (377\ Slowches, sb. lazy fellows. Th. 506. Slowe, v. slay. Ch 1 . 35. Slyche, sb. plaster. Ch 1 . 17, 73. Slydder, adj. slippery. Hey. 296. Slyke, adj. such. Y. 97. Smoder, v. smother. Ev. 796. Smore, pr. 2 //. smother. Y. 117. Snek, sb. latch. T. 317. Soche, adj. such. KJ. 1366. Sokor, sb. succour. MM. 286 ; sokower, MM. 481. Solas, sb. solace, pleasure. MM. 63 ; Ev. 277. Somekyl, adv. somewhat. CP. (267). Somkyns, some kind of. T. 719. Somoned, //. summoned. Ev. 493- Sompe, sb. swamp. CP. (151). Son, sb. sun. Hey. 90. Son, adv. soon. MM. 1529. Sond, sb. sand. MM. 1439. Sonde, sb. messenger. Hh. 150. Sonde, sb. message, errand. CP. (397)- Sone, sb. sum. FE. 374. Sone, adv. soon. CP. (74); KJ. 2146. Sonest, sup. adv. soonest. Th. Sorde, sb. sword. Ch a . 291. Soroyng, pp. sorrowing. MM. 290. Sort, sb. company, crew. Th. 250; KJ. 2169. Sortes, adv. certes, certainly CP. (65). Sorwe, sb. sorrow. Co. 18. Soth, sb. truth. MM. 100. Sotbfast, adj. truthful. Hh. 18. Sotyllte, sb. subtlety. MM. 378. Southly, adv. soothly, truly. Ch 1 . 44. Sowlys, sb. gen. s. soul's. MM. 286. Sownd, v. take soundings. MM. I 397- Sowth, pp. sought. MM. 307, Soyne, adv. soone. T. 50. Spar, v. fasten. T. 338.* Spares, pr. 2 s. sparest. Ch 1 . 43. Speceows,a<#. special, particular. MM. 628. Spede, sb. progress. Hey. 205. Spede, v. help, forward. Ev. 771 ; CP. (327). Speede, //. sped, despatched. Ch'. 388. Spelle, v. tell, relate. CP. (372). Spere, sb. sphere. Ev. 899. Spill, v. destroy. Ch 1 . 43, 308; Ch 4 . 287 ;Y. no. Sprete, sb. spirit. Y. 18. Sprytes, sb.pl. spirits. MM. 483. Spyll, v. kill. Th. 434. Spylt,//. destroyed. CP. (176), (3 31 )- Spyttle-howses, sb. pi. hospitals. KJ. 2127. Stale, adj. antiquated. Th. 246. Stale,//, s. stole. Th. 241. Standes,/r. 2 s. standest. Ch 1 . 193. Starke, adj. stiff. KJ. 1283. Starne, sb. star. T. 588, 665. Stat, sb. state, condition. CP. (31)- Stavya, sb. pi. staves, cudgels. Hey. 573. Steade, sb. place. Ch. 207, 264. Stele, sb. steel. CP. (ua). 2 4 6 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Stere, v. stir. Ev. 488. Sterris, sb.pl. stars. T. 658. Steven, sb. voice. Y. 75. Steylle, sb. steel. T. 710. Stiche, sb. stick. Ch l . 75. Stodyys, sb. pi. studies. MM. 488. Stokys, sb. pi. stocks. Hey. 602. Ston, sb. stone. CP. (71). Stond, pr. s. stands. KJ. 1358. Stondyth,/r. s. stands. FE. 345; stondyth not, is not consistent with. KJ. 1391. Stordy, adj. sturdy. KJ. 1283. Stott, sb. young bull. T. 529. Stounde, sb. time, occasion. Ev. 633- Stower, sb. store. Ch l . 307*. Stownd, sb. time, occasion. MM. 1230. Stowth, adj. stout. MM. 373. Strate, sb. strait ; ' in a strate,' at a pinch. T. 322. Straytway, adv. straightway, im- mediately. Hey. 615. Strayte, adj. strict. Ev. 244. Strete and stalle, CP. (42); strete and stronde, CP. (199), (226) ; strete and stye, CP. (7) ; strete and style, CP. (12) ; alliterative phrases with general meaning ' everywhere.' Streytnes, sb. straitened circum- stances. MM. 97. Sty, sb. a narrow lane, contrasted with strete, a highway, in the phrases stye and strete, CP. (89), (189) ; strete and sty, CP. (7). Stylle, adv. silently. CP. (71). Substancyall, adj. full of matter. FE. ii, 18. Sucke, adj. such. Ch 1 . 259. Suete, adj. sweet. Hh. 193. Sum, adj. some. MM. 495. Supportacyon, sb. tolerance, for- bearance. FE. 5 ; Hey. 69. Surely, adv. safely. Ev. 147. Suspowse, sb. suspicion. T. 525. Swane, sb. swain, fellow. T. 37. Swearde, sb. sword. Th. 435, 455. Swedylle, pr. pi. swaddle, wrap. T. 605. Sweme, sb. sorrow. Co. 127. Swerde, sb. sword. Th. 288. Swyche, adj. such. MM. 58, 87 ; CP. ( 3 6)/ Swynke, v. labour. T. 323. Swythe, adv. quickly. CP. ( 160). Sye, v. sigh. CP. (175), (222), (333) ; ytst, CP. (306) ; syinge, CP. (315). Syke, sb. stream. CP. (151). Sykenesse, sb. sureness. Sk. 2054. Symple, adj. simple, foolish. Ev. 283. Syn, adv. since. CP. (40), (77), ("9)- Syt, pr. s. sitteth. CP. (242); is becoming. Co. 113. Syth., adv. since. MM. 624; Ev. 312; Hey. 19. Syth, sb. sight. MM. 69, 613, etc. Syyng, sb. sighing. MM. 63. T. Take, v. give. T. 765 ; take of worth, regard highly. Ev. 904. Tale, sb. count, reckoning. CP. (170- Talents, sb. pi. desires, inclin- ations. Y. 144. Tane,//. taken. T. 337. Tappe, sb. ? Ev. 801. Taspysster, sb. fern, tapster, bar- maid. MM. 495. Tast, sb. taste. MM. 482. Tastinge, sb. trial, proof. Th. 46, 343- Tawth, //. taught, given in charge, committed. CP. (92). Te, v. go, run. Hh. 8 ; tee. CP. (398). Techyd, pp. taught. MM. 1382. Techyth, pr. s. shows, directs. CP. (28). Teene, sb. sorrow. Ch 1 . 319. Tell, adv. till. Ch 1 . 7, 134. Telle, v. reckon. Co. I. Temtyd, //. tempted. MM. 603. Ten, v. go, run. Hh. 231. Tene, sb. sorrow. CP. (57). Tene,/r. 2 D/. trouble. T. 648. GLOSSAR1AL INDEX. 247 Tenya, sb. tennis. T. 747. Teres, sb. pi. tears. MM. 666. Terestryall, adj. terrestrial. Ev. 155- Termys, sb.pl. phrases. FE. 42. Teyn, sb. sorrow. T. 724. Than, adv. then, Co. 81, 86 ; Ev. 166; Hey. 44, 289; KJ. 2096, etc. Thane, conj. than. Y. 113. Thar, v. need (used impersonally). Y. 64.; T. 318; MM. 1437. Thare, pron. their. T. 360. The, pron. they. Ch 1 . 8; CP. 6), nj. than. . 51 Thenne, adv. thence. Hh. 13. (256), etc. Then, conj. than. Th. 514. Ther, adv. where. MM. 621. Ther, pron. their. MM. 79. Tho, adv. then, when. Hh. 4. Tho, dent. adj. those. Hh. 84. Thole, v. suffer. T. 317 ; //. tholed. Hh. 49, 58; pt. i s. tholede. Hh. 208. Thore, adv. there. Hh. 65. Thorowe, prep, through. Y. 84. Thou, conj. though. CP. (344). Thought, sb. sadness, anxiety. Sk. 1995. Thowth, sb. thought. MM. 633 ; CP. (48). Thoys, dem. adj. those. MM. 1388. Thred, num. adj. third. KJ. 1 Z3- Threde, sb. thread. Hey. 260. Threpe, pr. a pi. chide, dispute. Y. 114. Threttye, num. thirty. Co. n. Thridde, num. adj. third. Hh. 45, 74- Thrist, sb. thirst. Hh. 50. Thritti, num. thirty. Hh. 45. Throwe, sb. while, time. CP. (133), (147). Thryfe, v thrive. T. 27. Thryst, v. thrust. Ev. 825. Thryst, sb. thirst. MM. 492 ; thryste. Co. 13. Thu,/n>. thou. KJ. 2078, 2100, 2105. Thyder, adv. thither. Ev. 675, 918. Thy Ike, adj. that. Hey. 44, 46. Thynkes, pr. 2 s. thinkest. MM. Til?,//, to. Ch 1 . 47. To, num. two. MM. 68; CP. (34)- Tocken, sb. token. Ch 1 . 31 1, 318. Toddes, sb.pl. toads. MM. 1199. To-dyghte, //. committed to. Y. 9 8. Togyder, adv. together. Ev. 666, 677; Hey. 285. Toke, pt. took. Ev. 848. Token, sb. parable. T. 331. To medys, conj. provided that. CP. (197). Ton, adj. the one. CP. (28), (38). Tone, adj. the one, though used with the definite article, ' the tone.' Hey. 579. Tong, sb. tongue. MM. 278; tonge. Ch 1 . 234; MM. 1530. Too, sb. toe. CP. (209). Torke, sb. Turkey. MM. 1435. Tother, the, i.e. that other. CP. (39)- Towe, num. two. Ch 1 . 121. To-whyls, adv. whilst. Y. 6a. Traysh, sb. trash. KJ. 1389. Treey, sb. tree. Ch 1 . 89. Tremyll, v. tremble. MM. 1554. Treubelaoyon, sb. tribulation. MM. 1534. Trew, adj. true. MM. 66, 603. Trobylled, //. troubled. MM. 269. Trone, sb. throne. Ev. 637 ; CP. Trost, sb. trust. MM. 634, 1214. Trotte, sb. old woman. Th. 501. Trow, adj. true. CP. (2 1 a). Trye, adj. pure, refined. CP. (81), (216). Tryfellys, sb.pl. trifles. FE. 17. Twyne,/n i s. separate. Y. 153. Tyde, sb. time, MM. 273, 1442. Tympanye, sb. dropsy. KJ. 2117. Tyne, adj. tiny. T. 735. Tyte, adv. quickly; as tyte, as quickly as may be. T. 638. Tytte, sb. teat. Th. 73. Tytyll, sb. title, name. MM. 603. 248 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. U. UnbuxTimnes, sb. disobedience. Y. 123. Unchende, adj. unkind, unnatural ? or for unhend, uncourteous. CP. (13). Underfoe, v. undertake. Ch. 1 67. 412. TJnderfonge, v. undergo. Ch a . Unkende, adj. unnatural. Co. 67. Unkynde, adj. unnatural. Co. 59; Ev. 23; unkind. Ev. 310. TTnlykynge, adj. in poor condi- tion. Sk. 1984. Unneth, adv. scarcely. FE. 19. TJnrightes, sb. unrighteousness. Ch 1 . 142. Unthryvandly, adv. in vain, un- thrivingly. Y. 114. TJnyte, sb. unity. MM. 620. V. Vagys, sb. pi. strayings. Sk. 1947. Vayne, sb. vein. Hey. 548. Velyarde, sb. old man, dotard. Sk. 1903. Vengeabyl, adj. vengeful. Co. 105. Venter, v. venture. Ev. 484. Vernage, sb. wine of Verona. MM. 480. Veryabyll, adj. variable. MM. 59> 595- Violatt, //. violated, polluted, foul. MM. 1557. Vyage, sb. voyage, Ev. 249, 674. 782. Vyand, sb. food. FE. 465. W. Walter, v. welter, roll about. Sk. 1936. "Wane, sb. wain, waggon. T. 38. "War, comp. adj. worse. Y. 113. War, v. were. MM. 1535. Warande, pr. i 5. warrant Y. 96; KJ. 2105. Ware, imp. s. beware. MM. 492. Ware, . wear. KJ. 1324. Warke, sb. work. Y. 15, 17, etc. warkes. FE. 20. Warloo, sb. warlock, wizard. T. 6 5 I > 7 2 3- Warrye, v. curse. Ch 1 . 273; wary. T. 19 ; waryd. T. 723. Wassayle, s. wassail, 'good health.' KJ. 7165. Wast, sb. waste. MM. 487. Wat, pr. i s. know. Hh. 217. Waus,/A was. CP. (314). Waxit, pr. s. waxeth, grows. CP. 044)- Waye, pr. 2 //. weigh. K J. 2 1 66 ; wayeth. KJ. 1321. Wayn, adj. vain. MM. 595. Wede, sb. attire. CP. (183); Hh. 34- Weder, adv. wither. CP. (177), (270. Weders, sb. pi. weathers, storms. T. i. Wedyr, adv. whither. CP. (49). Weeke, adj. weak. Ch 1 . 67. Weelde, sb. power. Y. 67. Weendande, pr. p. wending. Y. 96. Weete, sb. wet, rain. Ch 1 . 95. Wei, sb. way. Hh. 39, 209. Weither, sb. weather. Ch 1 . 323, 876. Weither, sb. wether. Ch s . 441. Weke, adj. weak. Ev. 482. Welde, v. wield, rnle, enjoy. Y. 28, 73; Hh. 108. Welde, sb. power. Y. 86. Wele, sb. wealth, well-being. CP. (79). (335)- Wele, adv. well. KJ. 2137, 2145. Weledyng, sb. wielding, rule. Y. 39 ; weledande, pr. p. Y. 86. Well, pr. \ s. boil, seethe. Y. 104, 13 r. Welth, sb. well-being, salvation. Y. 3, 28, 85. Wemen, sb.pl. women. Ch 1 . 48, 67. Wende, pp. thought. Ev. 163. Wendest,/r. 2 s. weenest, think- est. Hey. 179. Wene, v. think. CP. (48); cp. Ch 1 . in; MM. 493; wenest, Ev. 161. GLOSSARIAL INDEX. 249 Wente,//. gone. Y. 105. Wepyn, sb.pl. weapons. T. 626. Wer, pt. 2 s. wast. MM. 673. Werd, sb. world. CP. (72); werdes, CP. (68). Were, v. wear. Ev. 648; Th. 55. 129- Werely, adv. verily. MM. 675. Wery, v. weary, grow tired. FE. 518. Weryauns, sb. variance. MM. 92. Werye, v. war against. Th. 406. Wes,//. s. was. Hh. 4. Westment, sb. vestment. MM. 1183. Wete, v. know. Y. 67; Ev. 88, 112, 143. 'Wete, sb. wheat. Hh. 131. Weth,//. with. FE. 522. Wetyn, v. know. CP. (101). Wexith, pr. s. waxes, becomes. FE. 460. Weyle, v. wail. CP. (173). Weylle, adv. well. T. 287, 709. Weyn, pr. i s. ween. T. 706. Weyscelles, ^.//.weasels. Ch 1 . 175- "Whan, adv. when. Ev. 641 ; whane, CP. (45). What, adv. how. T. I, 298 ; CP. (405). Wheeler, adv. whether. Ev. 287. Wheeler, adv. whither. Ev. 297. 306. Wher, pt. pi. were. MM. 369 ; imp. subj. MM. 1436. Where, conj. whereas. Hey. 276. Whyder, adv. whither. Ev. 802. Who, pron. whoever. MM. 61. Whorshep, sb. worship. MM. 384- Who-w, adv. how. CP. (13), (74) Whypyng, pr. p. wiping. MM. 640. Whytly, adv. quickly. MM. 376. Whytt, sb. bit, atom. CP. (85). Wiht, sb. wight, man. Hh. 23. Wike, sb. town, place. Hh. 175. Winde, v. escape. Hh. 146. Wist, //. known. Hh. 40. Wite, v. know. Hh. 71. With so that, conj. provided that. CP. (167). Wo, pron. who. MM. 608. Wod, sb. wood. T. 661. Wode, adj. mad, furious. CP. (34) 5 Y. 105. Wold, wolde, would. Hey. 558 ; KJ. 1387; Ev. 274. Wole, woll, will. Co. 14; MM. 488. Won, v. dwell. Y. 28. Wonde, v. turn aside from. CP. (201). Wonders, adv. wondrously. Ev. 7 ; -wondersly, FE. 329. Wondydd, pp. wrapped, en- veloped in. MM. 605. Wone, v. dwell. Y. "137; Hh. 1 60; wonen, Hh. 233; waned, Hh. 46. Wones, sb. pi. places, dwellings. Y. 28. Wondyr, adv. wonderfully. CP. (50- Woo, pron. who. MM. 609. Wood, adj. mad. Ch 1 . 254. Worche, v. work. Ch 1 . 50 ; KJ. 1382. Word, sb. world. MM. 305, 381. Worthely, adj. worthy. Y. 17. Wo so, pron. who so. MM. 57. Wost, pt. 2 s. knewest. Hh. 73. Wot, v. know. Ev. 821 ; -wote. Ev. 195, 271 ; wote,/r. s. Th. 150; -wolst. MM. 1216. Wounder, adv. wondrously. Ch 1 . Wrake, sb. harm. MM. 380. Wrawe, adj. angry. Ch 1 . 209. Wrocken, pp. wreaked. Ch 1 . 320. Wrokyn,//. avenged. T. 625. Wrowth, //. wrought. MM. 305. 631, 1387- Wrytynge, sb. account. Ev. 187. Wurkes, sb. pi. works. KJ. 2134. Wyche,//w*. which. CP. (107). Wycke, sb. wickedness. CP. (39)- Wyhylles, sb. pi. wiles. MM. 377- 250 GLOSSARIAL INDEX. Wylddyng, sb. wielding, power. MM. 59. Wylfull, adj. voluntary. Hey. 33- Wyn, sb. wine. MM. 485. Wynche, v. kick. Sk. 2049. Wynde, v. turn, (go its own way). FE. 418. Wyndowe, sb. window. Ch l . 29. Wyrk, v . work. T. 282. "Wyrschlp, sb. worship. Y. 81. "Wyse, sb. manner. MM. 665. Wyshyng, pr. p. guiding. Y. '57- Wyssande, pr. p. guiding. Y. 152- Wythly, adv. actively, swiftly. MM. 270. Wytt, sb. knowledge, understand- ing Co. 115; MM. 1213; -wytte, Ch 1 . 29. "Wytte, know. Hey. 85. Wytystsaff, pr. 2 s. vouchestsafe. MM. 624. X. Xall,//. j. shall. MM. 64, etc. Xulde, //. s. should. MM. Y. Y,/r. i. KJ. 1322; MM 292. Ya, adv. yea, yes. CP. (53). Yarde, sb. stick, rod. Ch a . 290. Yarde, //. made ready. Ch 1 . 91. Yare, adj. ready, prepared. T. 715. Y-beten,//. beaten. Sk. 2043. Ydoll.,^.//. idols. KJ. 1352. Yeinder, adj. yonder. Ch 1 . 214. Yender, adj. yonder. Ch a . 250 ; MM. 1438. Yer, adv. ere, before. Th. 328. Yerth., sb. earth. FE. 332, 340. Yf, conj. if. FE. 24. Yinge, adj. young. Ch 8 . 369. Yle, sb. aisle. KJ. 2114. Ylle, adv. ill. T. i. Ymagyn, v. imagine. Hey. 287. Ynough, adv. enough. Th. 207 ; ynoughe. Ev. 816. Yode, //. //. went, ran. T. 5 1 7. Yone, adj. yonder. CP. (391), (404). Yower, pron. your. MM. 86. Yre, sb. ire, wrath. Hey. 59; Th. 77. Yrons, sb. pi. irons. Th. 170, 188. Ya,pr. s. is. KJ. 1313. Ywys, adv. iwis, certainly. Th. 96, 510; Hey. 553. Yys, sb. pi. eyes. MM. 640. Yya, adv. yes. CP. (155), (164). Z. 3af,//. gave. Hh. 91. 5ates, sb. pi. gates. Hh. 135. Jateward, sb. porter. Hh. 137. seme, v. guard, take care of. Hh. 24, 167. }er, sb. year. Hh. 45. gerned, //. yearned. Hh. 162. 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