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 THE LIBRARY 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 ^^s
 
 THE ATHEN^UM PRESS SERIES 
 
 G. L. KITTREDGE AND C. T. WINCHESTER 
 GENERAL EDITORS
 
 StbenRum press Series 
 SPECIMENS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 PRE-SHAKSPEREAN DRAMA 
 
 With an Introduction, Notes, and a Glossary 
 
 BY 
 
 JOHN MATTHEWS MANLY 
 
 PROFESSOR AND HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH 
 IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO 
 
 VOL. I 
 
 This is the silliest stuff that e'er I heard ! 
 
 The best in this kind are but shadows ; 
 and the worst are no worse, if imagi- 
 nation amend them. 
 
 GINN AND COMPANY 
 
 BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO LONDON 
 ATLANTA DALLAS COLUMBUS SAN FRANCISCO
 
 COPYRIGHT, 1897, BY 
 JOHN MATTHEWS MANLY 
 
 ALL RIGHTS RBSKRVBD 
 
 321.2 
 
 tEIjc athenaeum 
 
 G1NN AND COMPANY PRO- 
 PRIETORS BOSTON" U.S.A.
 
 College 
 Library 
 
 Pfc 
 
 TO 
 
 THE MEMORY 
 OF 
 
 ffrancts James CbfK) 
 
 MY 
 MASTER AND FRIEND
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 SOME four years ago it became clear that the two volumes 
 originally announced as the scope of this book would not suffice. 
 In the first place, a good many minute but not insignificant facts 
 regarding the history of almost every period of the drama had 
 come to light, making necessary a somewhat longer historical 
 sketch than was originally planned. In the second place, it 
 seemed not merely desirable, but even imperative, to illustrate 
 certain phases of the early drama which had in collections of a 
 similar character either been neglected or not sharply denned 
 against the apparently monotonous background of mediaeval 
 dramatic art. Thirdly, a somewhat different kind of annotation 
 from that hitherto provided seemed worth attempting, if these 
 volumes were to serve as an effective introduction to an art as 
 spacious and as hospitable as the mediaeval Church, and to 
 render intelligible and vital to the student forms of art so differ- 
 ent from ours in aim, in spirit, in method, in conventions, and in 
 material accessories. A plan for a three-volume edition was 
 therefore submitted to the general editors of the series and to 
 the publishers, who readily agreed to any change that would 
 make the book more useful and interesting. 
 
 At the suggestion and request of some teachers who wish to 
 use the book, the texts have been put together in two volumes, 
 and the whole of the illustrative and explanatory material reserved 
 for the third. It is hoped that this arrangement will make the 
 volumes more convenient for use. 
 
 Preceding the main body of texts will be found certain docu- 
 ments which, though, for one reason or another, not entitled to a 
 place among the main texts, are nevertheless indispensable in a 
 book of this kind. Taken together, they represent various stages 
 of the liturgical drama, without which the inter-relations of the
 
 VI PREFACE. 
 
 Scripture cycles will be altogether misunderstood. The first two 
 of them are dramatic tropes of the office of Easter. The third 
 presents a later form of the same trope, very highly developed 
 within itself, but free from the accretions by which this dramatic 
 office grew into a cyclic drama of the life of Christ. The fourth 
 has a twofold interest : it is, perhaps, the only extant example of 
 a MS. prepared for the use of a single actor and containing only 
 his part and his cues ; and it also affords an interesting glimpse of 
 the vernacular liturgical drama as presented in the churches during 
 the florescence of the craft-plays. 
 
 I should have been glad to include in this preliminary section 
 an example of the Latin cycle developed by the combination of 
 such separate plays as the Easter plays just mentioned ; but, 
 although it can hardly be doubted that such cycles existed in 
 England, no text of English origin has yet come to light. I have 
 felt less regret at my inability to include a Latin miracle-play 
 of English origin, because, although miracle-plays, in the strict 
 sense of the term, were common in England from the time of 
 their origin to the sixteenth century, there is a total lack of docu- 
 ments illustrating the stages of development of this species of 
 play, the earliest extant English example being The Play of the 
 Sacrament. 
 
 In the main body of texts, Part I is devoted entirely to the 
 craft-cycles and their congeners. It will be observed that the 
 arrangement adopted is that of the order of the subjects in cos- 
 mical history. For obvious reasons, an arrangement based on 
 the order of composition of the cycles would have been sometimes 
 impossible and sometimes misleading ; and in a book of this kind 
 it seemed more desirable to present materials for giving the stu- 
 dent some conception of the nature and effect of the cyclic drama 
 as a whole than to try to illustrate the inter-relations of the cycles, 
 a line of inquiry which demands, indeed, a more elaborate 
 equipment both of knowledge and of documents than seems to 
 have been suspected even by some serious investigators. My 
 choice of pageants was not, however, entirely determined by the 
 wish to present an artificial cycle. It seemed desirable, in the 
 first place, that all the extant cycles should be represented (the
 
 PREFACE. Vll 
 
 Newcastle Noah play has been omitted on account both of its 
 fragmentary character and its corrupt text), and, secondly, that 
 the representative pageants should each have some specific claim 
 to attention. Thus, the two Norwich pageants afford the only 
 known example of a pageant and the substitute which later took 
 its place. The Towneley Noah, with its characteristically Eng- 
 lish conception of Noah's wife, justifies itself. The Hegge Noah 
 is included both as a contrast to this and as containing in the 
 Lamech episode an English example of a farce, in the original 
 sense of the word. Whether the Brome Abraham and Isaac 
 belongs to a cycle or is an isolated play, it clearly could not be 
 omitted. The Towneley Isaac and Jacob pageants are included, 
 not only because, in ten Brink's opinion, they are the most primi- 
 tive of all the pageants, but also because of their remarkable 
 combination of intensity of conception and phrasing with a sim- 
 plicity not to say nakedness of presentation. The Chester 
 Balaam pageant affords, in the version here given, an unparal- 
 leled example of the transition stage of the Processus Prophe- 
 tarum, and, although unknown to Sepet when he wrote Les Pro- 
 phetes du Christ, confirms in an interesting manner his theory of 
 the development and influence of the pseudo-Augustinian sermon. 
 The question of the additions and excisions by which this version 
 was reduced to the ordinary form must, of course, be reserved for 
 the Notes. The Hegge Salutation and Conception contains the 
 most striking example in English of that debate between the Four 
 Daughters of God which played so commanding a part in medi- 
 aeval religious thought. The Towneley Secitnda Pastomm has 
 so long been recognized as the best extant example of individual- 
 ization of typical characters and of rapid transition from the far- 
 cical to the sublime that it is expected in every book of selections. 
 In the Coventry Plays choice was limited to two ; The Pageant 
 of the Shearmen and Taylors was selected because it illustrates 
 so admirably the way in which several originally distinct pageants 
 were, by force of circumstances, combined into one. A pageant 
 dealing with the Resurrection seemed to be absolutely demanded 
 by the importance of the Easter play in the development of the 
 cyclic drama : the example here given from the York series will be
 
 Vlll PREFACE. 
 
 found to contain reminiscences of the most primitive form of this 
 strangely fated trope. A treble interest attaches to the Chester 
 Antichrist pageant, here printed from a hitherto unpublished and 
 practically unknown MS., a prompt-book antedating by a cen- 
 tury the other MSS. of this unique play. No English cycle would 
 be complete without a pageant of the Judgment, that specifically 
 English development ; and no one, I think, can fail to be impressed 
 by the dignity and power of the specimen here presented from the 
 York Plays. 
 
 In the artificial cycle thus constructed certain subjects find, of 
 course, no representation ; but, for all that, the student can obtain 
 from it a clear and not wholly inadequate conception of the craft- 
 cycle as a form of the drama. That I have put together pageants 
 from various sources can hardly, in view of the heterogeneous 
 character of the cycles themselves and their complex inter-rela- 
 tions, be a serious objection. And any one who wishes to form 
 an idea of the distinctive characteristics of the various cycles can, 
 with the aid of the table of contents, easily bring together the 
 specimens of each. 
 
 Part II contains two religious plays totally unconnected with 
 the Scripture cycles. The Conversion of St. Paul, therefore, un- 
 interesting as it is as dramatic literature, can hardly be neglected 
 by the literary historian. The Play of the Sacrament not only 
 exhibits the Banes in their real function of a preliminary an- 
 nouncement of the play, but also claims attention by its entirely 
 and doubly unique character. 
 
 Part III affords illustrations of important phases of dramatic 
 activity heretofore too little regarded by students. No one who 
 reads the scanty records of dramatic performances in the fifteenth 
 and sixteenth centuries, with their constantly recurring notices of 
 May plays, Robin Hood plays, St. George plays, and sword plays 
 and dances, will fail to welcome the three Robin Hood plays, or, 
 in view of the clearly antique elements which form the basis of 
 the St. George plays and The Revesby Sword Play, cavil at the 
 introduction of texts so recently committed to writing. 
 
 Of the five Moralities forming Part IV little need be said. I 
 wished to print one of the unpublished Macro plays ; Dr. Fur-
 
 PREFACE. IX 
 
 nivall offered me Mankind, and I gladly accepted it. Mundus 
 et Infans and Hycke-scorner complete the representation of 
 this important class of Moralities. Every-man has so long 
 and so justly figured as the most impressive play of its kind 
 that its omission may need justification. Here I can only say 
 briefly that, in spite of its enormous influence upon general 
 European literature, this seemed justified by Logeman's proof 
 that it is not of English composition, but a translation from the 
 Dutch, by its accessibility in cheap and convenient form, and by 
 the fact that the type to which it belongs is sufficiently repre- 
 sented by the plays just mentioned. Wyt and Science is not only 
 one of the most perfect allegories extant, but also an excellent 
 example of the Morality in the service, not of religious, but of 
 secular education. Nice Wanton is, without doubt, the most 
 vividly dramatic of all the Moralities. 
 
 Hey wood's Johan-Johan, Tyb and Syr JJian I had intended to 
 print, as being the only one of his interludes possessed of real 
 dramatic movement ; but instructors will perhaps not regret to 
 see instead their old favorite, The Foure PJ\ 
 
 Kynge Johan, Roister Doister, Gammer Gurtorfs Needle, Cam- 
 bises, Gorboduc, Alexander and Campaspe, James IV, David 
 and Bethsabe, and The Spanish Tragedy need no comment to 
 render their significance clear. Marlowe finds no place here, 
 because he is too important to be represented by anything less 
 than his complete works, and they are now easily accessible. 
 
 Most of the texts here published have been either copied or 
 collated anew for this book. Collations of The Play of the Sacra 
 ment and of Mundus et Infans were made under the supervision 
 of Dr. T. K. Abbot, the Librarian of Trinity College, Dublin. 
 The copy of Mr. Wynne's MS. of the Antichrist pageant was 
 made by Mrs. Agnes Furnivall and revised by Dr. F. J. Furnivall. 
 All other copies and collations were made by Mrs. Furnivall, 
 whose accuracy has been confirmed by such tests as I have been 
 able to apply. 
 
 In printing the texts I have aimed at fidelity to my originals. 
 This ideal, however, did not seem to me impaired by the intro- 
 duction of modern usage in regard to capitals and punctuation.
 
 X PREFACE. 
 
 Upon the latter a good deal of care has been expended, and, 
 though I cannot hope to have avoided all errors, I do hope that 
 it will be found in general an aid to the reader and in ambiguous 
 passages an indication of the most probable interpretation. Atten- 
 tion has also been devoted to exhibiting the metrical structure of 
 these poems. The stanza-forms are various and in some casts 
 confused, but the effort to detach to the eye such parts as possess 
 definite stanzaic form seemed worth making, if only for the light 
 thus thrown upon the composite character of certain plays and 
 the artistic helplessness of the authors of certain others. In these 
 three matters I have introduced my own system without special 
 notification and have not recorded variations from it on the part 
 either of ancient scribes and printers or modern editors. In- 
 stances in which a different punctuation from mine indicates a 
 different interpretation will be discussed in the Notes in vol. Ill 
 when they seem of sufficient importance. In regard to the forms 
 of certain letters, it is perhaps inconsistent that I should strictly 
 reproduce ancient usage in regard to z, u, and v, and neglect it in 
 regard to s ; but I have perhaps often failed to be consistent, and 
 in this particular matter I may plead precedent as well as the 
 fact that in textual cruces I have reproduced long s in the foot- 
 notes. Stage-directions not in the original are printed in brackets. 
 When I began to print I intended to credit to previous editors 
 those supplied by them, but the attempt was soon abandoned, as 
 it became clear that too much space would be required to set 
 forth that in this instance I had changed the place and in another 
 the form of a direction supplied by one of my predecessors. 
 Such a record could, moreover, have scarcely any other interest 
 than that of curiosity, whereas it is clearly a matter of great im- 
 portance that the text should not be sophisticated by confusion of 
 ancient documents with modern conjectures. 
 
 With the modifications just noted, I may say in general that I 
 have made no un indicated alterations in the texts. When the 
 treatment of a text varies in any particular from that adopted in 
 general, a distinct account of such difference is given in the head- 
 note preceding the play ; and I believe it will always be found 
 possible for the textual critic to learn from text and footnotes
 
 PREFACE. XI 
 
 exactly the appearance of the original. Expanded contractions 
 are, of course, indicated by italics. It will be observed that 
 in the early plays I have recorded with scrupulous minuteness 
 the readings of other editions. In the later texts this seemed 
 both unnecessary and undesirable ; but I have aimed to omit no 
 variant which, the date of the text being considered, could have 
 even the slightest significance. On the earlier texts a large number 
 of conjectural emendations have been printed in various publica- 
 tions. These I have, for the sake of convenience and complete- 
 ness, attempted to collect and record. The later plays have, for- 
 tunately for the editor, not been subjected to so much ingenuity. 
 
 A warning must be issued in regard to the footnotes ; it is 
 never safe to interpret the symbols attached to variants and 
 emendations without reference to the headnote of the particular 
 play. For instance, in some plays H. means H alii well, in others 
 Holthausen ; but perhaps the greatest danger of confusion resides 
 in the symbol K., which in several plays marks the textual notes 
 of Professor Kolbing, and in one the readings of an edition by 
 the printer John Kyng, but never the emendations of Professor 
 Kittredge, whose suggestions, as being unpublished and communi- 
 cated directly to me, are always distinguished by his unabbreviated 
 surname. 
 
 A word or two in regard to the contents of vol. Ill seem 
 necessary. It will contain an Introduction, with certain appen- 
 dices, a body of Notes, and a Glossary. The Introduction will 
 trace the history of the drama on the Continent as well as in 
 England from the beginning of the tenth century to the formation 
 of the Scripture cycles, and then in England alone from that 
 time to the end of the sixteenth century. In the appendices will 
 be given a bibliography and lists of places in England at which 
 performances are known to have occurred before the Age of 
 Elizabeth, and of persons and places possessing companies of 
 players, with the nearest ascertainable dates of recorded perform- 
 ances. A map illustrating the distribution of plays in England 
 will accompany the list of performances. 
 
 The Notes will give information as to date, authorship, place 
 and mode of presentation, character of costumes, etc., when such
 
 Xll PREFACE. 
 
 information is obtainable. In the case of plays with international 
 affiliations the more important parallels and congeners will be 
 pointed out. Effort will also be made to aid the reader in involved 
 or obscure passages by explanation and paraphrase, and to empha- 
 size the dramatic elements as distinct from the literary. Elaborate 
 linguistic annotation seems inappropriate in a book intended to 
 aid the study of a form of art, and consequently the linguistic 
 notes will be confined to passages of obscure or ambiguous sig- 
 nification. Much of the linguistic information usually given in 
 notes will be found in the Glossary. 
 
 The Glossary will aim to meet the needs of the intelligent stu- 
 dent who has no training in the older forms of English. It will 
 therefore include all words obsolete as to either form or meaning 
 and words which by their strange spelling are likely to elude the 
 ingenious ; but it will not include words which ought, even in 
 their strange spelling, to be recognizable by any intelligent English- 
 man. 
 
 The material for vol. Ill has, with the exception of that 
 published recently, been in hand since the summer of 1893. I 
 therefore hope that the appearance of that volume need not be 
 postponed much longer. 
 
 The list of persons to whom my thanks are due is a long one. 
 Would that I might give them a pleasure equal to that with which 
 I remember their services and here record their names ! 
 
 First, as to texts. W. R. M. Wynne, Esq., of Peniarth, Wales, 
 not only allowed me to have copies made of two of his most 
 interesting MSS., but, with a kindness which I cannot adequately 
 acknowledge, himself brought them from Peniarth to London for 
 the use of my copyist, and allowed them to remain in the British 
 Museum for a longer time than it is pleasant to recall. Dr. F. J. 
 Furnivall, of London, with his accustomed liberality, allowed me 
 to have a copy made of his copy of Mankind, and sent me ad- 
 vance sheets of the Towneley Plays. Miss Lucy Toulmin Smith, 
 of Oxford, with the generosity of a scholar, was willing that I 
 should make use of the texts so well edited by her, and the Dele- 
 gates of the Clarendon Press kindly allowed me to reprint two 
 pageants from her edition of the York Plays.
 
 PREFACE. Xlll 
 
 Thanks for the loan of books are due to the Rev. Father Shan- 
 Jelle, S. J., of St. Joseph's School, Providence ; to W. E. Foster, 
 Esq., the obliging Librarian of the Public Library, Providence ; 
 and, most of all, to T. J. Kiernan, Esq., Superintendent of Circu- 
 lation in the Harvard College Library, whose unfailing kindness 
 and matchless knowledge of the resources of his library are grate- 
 fully remembered by so many scholars. 
 
 For helpful answers to inquiries addressed to them I have to 
 thank Dr. John Young, Keeper of the Hunterian Museum, Glas- 
 gow, and the Rev. Canon Fowler and the Rev. Canon Wordsworth, 
 of Lincoln. 
 
 Professor Barrett Wendell, of Harvard University, nearly ten 
 years ago first awakened my interest in the subject of these volumes. 
 In the Introduction he will doubtless recognize, as his own, ideas 
 which, after the lapse of so long a time, I am unable to credit to 
 their rightful owner. For inspiration, however, I should thank 
 most of all, were he still alive, my lamented teacher and friend, 
 to whom I had hoped to offer these volumes, but whose friend- 
 ship and aid I can now record only in a dedication to his 
 memory. 
 
 To Professor J. F. Jameson, of Brown University, and Pro- 
 fessor A. R. Marsh, of Harvard, I am grateful for interest in my 
 work and for notification of interesting materials which would 
 otherwise have escaped me. Professor E. S. Sheldon, of Har- 
 vard, has been tireless in answering questions in the field of Old 
 French and in helping me through many a dark and difficult 
 passage. To Professor G. L. Kittredge, of Harvard, I am in- 
 debted for aid so various that space fails me not only to record 
 the instances, but even to enumerate the kinds. With him, from 
 the very beginning of my work, I have discussed theories and 
 facts of all degrees of importance ; again and again I have re- 
 ceived from him notes of books and documents that had escaped 
 my observation ; and more recently he has done me the inestimable 
 service of reading with me all the proofs of vol. I and aiding 
 me in the establishment and punctuation of the text. Some of 
 his aid I have been able to point out specifically, but much of it 
 has been such as cannot be recorded.
 
 XIV PREFACE. 
 
 For such errors as time and criticism may disclose I, of course, 
 am alone responsible. I have striven to make them few. 
 
 In conclusion, I express the hope that these volumes may really 
 serve the purpose for which they were planned, that of helping 
 the student to follow the fortunes of the modern drama through its 
 strange and interesting nonage, to come into sympathy with the 
 aims and methods of the known and nameless artists whose work 
 is here presented, and to form some conception of the vast amount 
 of dramatic activity and the widespread dramatic interest which 
 made possible the career of Shakspere. Such results cannot be 
 attained by him who regards even the poorest of these plays as 
 a mere butt for nineteenth-century ridicule, or who forgets that 
 the old German playwright touched the root of the whole matter 
 when he said in regard to his play : " Das wassen vn das laben 
 diss vnd andren spilen stodt nit alleyn in spriichen, sender vyl 
 meer im wassen, wiircken vnd gbarden." 
 
 JOHN MATTHEWS MANLY. 
 
 BARNSTABLE, Aug. 30, 1897.
 
 CONTENTS OF VOL. I. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 DRAMATIC TROPES: I. Regularis Concordia Monachorum . . . xix 
 
 II. Winchester Troper xxi 
 
 EASTER DRAMATIC OFFICE : St. John's, Dublin xxii 
 
 FRAGMENTS OF VERNACULAR LITURGICAL PLAYS xxvii 
 
 PART I. 
 
 NORWICH WHITSUN PLAYS: Creation and Fall, I i 
 
 Creation and Fall, II 4 
 
 TOWNELEY PLAYS: Noah's Flood 13 
 
 HEGGE PLAYS : Noah and Lamech 31 
 
 BROME PLAY : Abraham and Isaac 41 
 
 TOWNELEY PLAYS : Isaac 58 
 
 Jacob 60 
 
 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS: De Mose et Rege Balaak et Balaam 
 
 Propheta (Processus Prophetarum) 66 
 
 HEGGE PLAYS : The Salutation and Conception 82 
 
 TOWNELEY PLAYS : The Second Shepherds' Play (Secunda 
 
 Pastorum) 94 
 
 COVENTRY PLAYS : The Pageant of the Shearmen and Taylors 
 
 (The Nativity and the Slaughter of the Innocents) .... 120 
 
 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS: The Resurrection 153 
 
 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS: Antichrist (Hengwrt version) . . 170 
 
 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS : The Judgment Day .... 198
 
 XVI CONTENTS. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 DIGBY PLAYS: The Conversion of St. Paul 215 
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT 239 
 
 PART III. 
 
 ROBIN HOOD PLAYS : Robin Hood and the Knight 279 
 
 Robin Hood and the Friar 281 
 
 Robin Hood and the Potter 285 
 
 ST. GEORGE PLAYS : Oxfordshire Play 289 
 
 Lutterworth Christmas Play 292 
 
 THE REVESBY SWORD PLAY 296 
 
 PART IV. 
 
 MANKIND .' 315 
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS . . 353 
 
 HYCKE-SCORNER 386 
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. By Jhon Redford 421 
 
 NICE WANTON 457 
 
 PART V. 
 
 THE FOURE PP. By John Heywood ! . 483 
 
 PART VI. 
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. By John Bale 525
 
 LITURGICAL TEXTS.
 
 DRAMATIC TROPES. 
 
 These two dramatic tropes of the service of Easter are of interest not only because 
 they are among the earliest known texts of the germ from which developed the great 
 mediaeval Easter cycle, but also because they show that before the Norman Conquest 
 the development of the drama in England had begun. 
 
 The first is printed from the Regularis Concordia Monachorum, ascribed to Duns- 
 tan or, with more probability, to Ethelwold, and usually assigned to the year 967 (on 
 both these points, see vol. III). The text is, of course, based upon W. S. Logeman's 
 edition, Anglia, XIII, 426-428, in preference to any of the older editions; but the 
 contractions and word-division of the original are not indicated. In this version, it will 
 be observed, the trope occurs in the nocturnal service, immediately after the third 
 responsory. 
 
 The second is found in two tropers originally belonging to Winchester Cathedral, the 
 earlier assigned to the years 979-1016 (and probably before Oct. 20, 980), the later to 
 the middle of the eleventh century. In the text I follow " The Winchester Troper," 
 edited by W. H. Frere for the Henry Bradshaw Society, London, 1894 ; but I have not 
 followed Frere (D 17) in putting in brackets words found in the earlier version but not 
 in the later. In the earlier MS. this trope precedes the Benedictio cerei, etc., of 
 Easter Eve, but, for all that, it appears to be here, as, in Gautier's opinion, it is in origin, 
 & trope of the Introit of the Mass. 
 
 I. 
 
 Dum tertia recitatur lectio, quatuor fratres induant se, quorum 
 unus alba 1 indutus ac si ad aliud agendum ingrediatur, atque latenter 
 sepulchri locum adeat, ibique manu tenens palmam, quietus sedeat. 
 Dumque tertium percelebratur responsorium, residui tres succe- 
 dant, omnes quidem cappis induti, turribula cum incenso 2 manibus 
 gestantes ac pedetemptim ad similitudinem querentium quid,ueniant 
 ante locum sepulchri. Aguntur enim hec ad imitationem angeli 
 sedentis in monumento atque mulierum cum aromatibus uenien- 
 tium ut ungerent corpus Ihesu. Cum ergo ille residens tres uelut 
 erraneos ac aliquid querentes uiderit sibi adproximare, incipiat 
 mediocri uoce dulcisono cantare : 
 
 Quern queritis [in sepulchre, o Christicole] ? 8 
 
 1 MS. abba. 2 Logeman, incensu. 
 
 * All -words in brackets are supplied from other versions of the flay.
 
 XX DRAMATIC TROPES. 
 
 Quo decantato fine terms, respondeant hi tres uno ore : 
 Ihesu[m] Nazarenum [crucifixum, o celicola], 
 
 Quibus ille : 
 
 Non est hie ; surrexit, sicut predixerat: 
 Ite, nuntiate quia surrexit a mortuis. 
 
 Cuius iussionis 1 uoce uertant se illi tres ad chorum dicentes : 
 Alleluia! resurrexit Dominus! 
 
 Dicto hoc, rursus ille residens, uelut reuocans illos dicat antipho- 
 nam : 
 
 Uenite, et uidete locum [ubi positus erat Dominus, alleluia ! alleluia !] 
 
 Hec uero dicens surgat, et erigat uelum, ostendatque eis locum 
 cruce nudatum, sed tantum linteamina posita quibus crux inuoluta 
 erat. Quo uiso, deponant turribula que gestauerunt in eodem 
 sepulchre, sumantque linteum et extendant contra clerutn, ac, 
 ueluti ostendentes quod surrexerit Dominus et iam non sit illo 
 inuolutus, hanc canant antiphonam : 
 
 Surrexit Dominus de sepulchre, 
 [Qui pro nobis pependit in ligno]. 
 
 Superponantque linteum altari. Finita antiphona, Prior congau- 
 dens pro triumpho Regis nostri, quod, deuicta morte, surrexit, 
 incipiat hymnum: 
 
 Te, Deum, laudamus. 
 
 Quo incepto, una pulsantur omnia signa ; post cuius finem dicat 
 sacerdos versum : 
 
 In resurrectione tua, Christe, 
 
 uerbo tenus, et initiet matutinas dicens : 
 
 Deus, in adiutorium meum intende ! 
 1 MS. iussimus ; Dugdale, Monasticon Angl., missionis.
 
 DRAMATIC TROPES. XXI 
 
 II. 
 
 ANGELICA DE CHRISTI RESURRECTIONS. 
 Quern queritis in sepulchre, [o] Christicole ? 
 
 Sanctarum mulierum responsio: 
 
 Ihesum Nazarenum crucifixum, o caelicola! 2 
 
 Angelice uocis con solatia : 
 
 Non est hie, surrexit si cut praedixerat, 
 Ite, nuntiate quia surrexit, dicentes : 
 
 Sanctarum mulierum ad omnem clerum modulatio: 
 
 Alleluia ! Resurrexit Dominus hodie, 
 
 Leo fortis, Christus filius Dei ! Deo gratias dicite, eia i 
 
 Dicat angelus : 
 
 Uenite et uidete locum ubi positus erat Dominus, alleluia ! 
 alleluia ! 
 
 Iterum dicat angelus : 
 
 Cito euntes dicite discipulis quia surrexit Dominus, alleluia! 
 alleluia ! 
 
 Mulieres 2 una uoce canant iubilantes : 
 
 Surrexit Dominus de sepulchre, 
 
 Qui pro nobis pependit in ligno, alleluia! 
 
 l The later MS. has celicole. 2 Frere has mulieri.
 
 EASTER DRAMATIC OFFICE. 
 
 This version of the Officium Sepulchriis taken from a fourteenth-century MS. Pro- 
 cessional of the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Dublin. The text is based upon 
 the facsimile given by Frere, " The Winchester Troper," plate 26 b . The four pages 
 reproduced by Frere unfortunately do not contain the very beginning of the office. I 
 have therefore supplied a few lines in brackets, mainly on the basis of a very similar 
 Orleans version of the thirteenth century (Lange, " Die lateinischen Osterfeiern," Miin- 
 chen, 1887, pp. 160 ff.). In a few instances I have called attention to deviations from 
 the forms found in other service-books, but in general it seemed best to print the text 
 without change or remark, startling as it sometimes is. 
 
 The music of the office is written on the unbarred four-line staff, and is reproduced 
 very clearly in Frere's facsimile. I may add here that plate 26 a in Frere's book is a 
 facsimile of the later MS. of the Winchester Easter trope given above, the musical 
 notation of which is in neumes. 
 
 At the top of the first of the fou. pages of the facsimile is written, not in the book- 
 hand of the rest, but in cursive script : " Condimentis aromatum vnguentes corpus 
 sanctissimum quo pr<?ciosa. This is a part of the hymn, " Heu ! plus pastor occiditur," 
 and was probably written here by some one who remembered the hymn as a whole. 
 
 [Ad faciendam similitudinem Domini sepulcri primum proce- 
 dant tres fratres induti dalmaticis] * sericis 2 capitibj uelatis 
 quasi tres Marie querentes Christum, sigule portantes pixidem 
 in manibj quasi aromatib^J, quarum prima ad ingressu#z chori 
 usque sepulcruw procedat et 8 quasi lamentando dicat : 
 
 Heu ! pius pastor occiditur,* 
 Quern nulla culpa iiJecit : 
 O mors lugendal 
 
 1 Supplied by me. 
 
 2 MS. seems to have tends or cericis. 
 8 MS. per. 
 
 * The Orleans -version has occidit ; but the musical notation makes it cleat 
 that occiditur is the right reading here.
 
 EASTER DRAMATIC OFFICE. XX111 
 
 Factoqw^ modico interuallo, intret l secunda. Maria simili modo et 
 die at : 
 
 Heu ! nequam gens ludaica, 
 
 Quam dira frendet 2 uesania, 
 Plebs execranda! 
 
 Deinde iij Maria consimili modo: 
 
 Heu ! uerus doctor 3 obijt, 
 Qui uita/w fuctis 4 contulit: 
 O res plangenda! 
 
 Ad hue paululuw procededo prima Maria dicat hoc modo: 
 
 Heu ! misere cur contingit 
 Uidere mortem Saluatoris? 
 
 Deinde secund[a] Maria : 
 
 Heu ! Consolacio nostra, 
 Ut quid mortem sustinuitl 
 
 Deinde tercia Maria : 
 
 Heu ! Redempcio nostra, 
 Ut quid taliter agere uoluit ! 
 
 Tuc se coniu#gant et procedant ad graduw chorz ante altar* 
 dicetes : 
 
 lam, iam, ecce, 5 iam properemus ad tumulum 
 
 Ungentes Dilecti corpus sanctissimum ! 
 
 Tu#c secunda. Maria dicat per se : 
 
 Nardi uetet commixtio, 
 Ne putrescat in tumulo 
 Caro beata! 
 
 1 MS. intre t (n erased, but still visible). 
 
 2 Orleans frendens. 
 
 8 Orleans has pastor here as -well as above. 
 
 4 MS. clearly has fuwctis ; Orleans has sanctis. 
 
 5 MS. efie.
 
 XXiv EASTER DRAMATIC OFFICE. 
 
 Deinde tercia Maria : 
 
 Sed nequimus hoc patrare l sine adiutorio. 
 Quisnam saxum hoc reuoluit a monument! ostio ? 
 
 Facto interuallo, angelus nixus sepulcruw appariat eis et dicat 
 hoc modo : 
 
 Quern queritis ad sepulcrum, 2 o Cristicole? 
 
 Deinde respodeant tres Marie simul : 
 
 Nazarenum crucifixum, o celicola ! 
 
 Tuc angelus dicat sic : 
 
 Surrexit, non est hie, sicut dixit; 
 Uenite et uidete locum ubi positus fuerat. 
 
 Deinde predtcte Marie sepulcruw intrent inclinantes se et pro- 
 spicientes undiq<? intra sepulcru;//, alta uoce quasi gaudendo et 
 admirantes et paruw a sepulcro recedentes dicawt simul : 
 
 Alleluya ! resurrexit Dominus ! 
 Alleluya ! resurrexit Dominus hodie ! 
 Resurrexit potens, fortis, Christus, Filius Dei! 
 
 Deinde ang<?l#s ad eas dicens : 
 
 Et euntes dicite discipulis eius et Petro quia surrexit. 
 
 In qua reu^rtant ad angelum quasi mandatuvz suu/ ad impleduw 
 parate dicentes simul : 
 
 Eya ! pergamus propere 
 Mandatum hoc perficere ! 
 
 Interim ueniant ad ingressu/# chor/' due p<?rsone nude pedes 
 sub personis apostolorum lohannis et Pet/7 indute albis sine 
 paruris cu/ tunicis, quarw lohannes amictus tunica alba pal- 
 maw in manu gestans, Petrus uefo rubea tunica indutus claues in 
 
 1 Most other versions of this line have patere, but patrare seems preferable. 
 
 2 Usually in sepulcro.
 
 EASTER DRAMATIC OFFICE. XXV 
 
 manu deferens ; et pr^dicte mulieres de sepulcro reuertentes et 
 quasi de choro simul exeurites, dicat prima Maria sequenciam : 
 
 Victime paschali laudes 
 Immolant Christia.n\. 
 
 Secunda. Maria : 
 
 Agnus redemit cues : 
 Chris tus innocens Patri 
 Reconsiliauit peccatores. 
 
 Tercia Maria dicat: 
 
 Mors et uita duello 
 Confl[i]xere l mirando : 
 Dux uite mortuus 2 
 Regnat uiuus. 
 
 Tuc obuiantes eis in medio chori predicti discipuli, interrogantes 
 simul dicant : 
 
 Die nobis, Maria, 
 
 Quid uidisti in uia ? 
 
 Tuc przma. Maria respondeat quasi monstrando: 
 
 Sepulcrum Christi uiuentis, 
 Et gloriam uidi resurgentis. 
 
 Tuc ij Maria resfondeat quasi mostrando : 
 Angelicos testes, 
 Sudarium et uestes. 
 
 Tercia Maria respondeat : 
 
 Surrexit Christus, spes nostra, 
 Precedet uos in Galileam. 
 
 Et sic pr^cedant 3 simul ad ostium chori ; et interim currant duo 
 ad monumentutfz ; ueruwptamen ille disciplws que; diligebat 
 Ihesus uenit prior ad monumetuw, iuxta euangdiuw : " Curre- 
 
 1 Every '.race ofi has disappeared. 
 
 2 MS. mortuis. 
 
 3 MS. pr^cedant.
 
 XXVI EASTER DRAMATIC OFFICE. 
 
 bant ZMtem duo siml et ille alius discipulus 1 pr^cucurrit cicius 
 Petro et uenit prior ad monumetu/*2, non tamen introiuit." 
 Uidentes discipuli sepulcruw uacuum et uerbis Marie credentes 
 reurtat se ad chorum dicentes hoc modo : 
 
 Credendum est magis soli Marie ueraci 
 Quam ludeorum turbe fallaci ! 
 
 Tune audito Christ\ resurreccione, chorus pr0sequatr alta 
 uoce quasi gaudetes et exultantes sic dicat : 
 
 Scimus Christum, surrexisse 
 
 A mortuis uere. 
 
 Tu nobis, uictor Rex, miserere ! 
 
 Qua finita, 2 executor officii incipiat : 
 Te, Deum, laudamus. 
 
 l MS. discipulis. 2 Possibly facta.
 
 FRAGMENTS OF LITURGICAL PLAYS. 
 
 The following document was published in The Academy, January u, 1890, pp. 
 27 ff., by the Rev. Professor W. W. Skeat. The MS., belonging to the library of 
 Shrewsbury School, consists of forty-two leaves five quires of eight leaves (one 
 leaf cut out) and one quire of three leaves. The first thirty-six leaves contain 
 Latin anthems; the plays begin on leaf 38. Dr. Skeat assigns the MS. to the 
 beginning of the fifteenth century. 
 
 The claim of these fragments upon the attention of scholars is even greater than 
 Dr. Skeat declared it to be. We have here, not merely fragments of a hitherto 
 unrepresented set of plays, but the only known example of a class of plays, the 
 existence of which is otherwise established, but the nature of which, and their 
 relations to the craft-cycles, could hardly be set forth with certainty but for 
 the discovery of this document. It is, indeed, a fragment, not, as Dr. Skeat 
 suggests, of the lost Beverley cycle, or any similar collection, but of a series of 
 plays performed in a church on the days and in the service celebrating the events 
 of which the plays treat. This is clearly established by the phraseology of the 
 Latin with which the second and third plays begin, the beginning of the first is, 
 as will be seen, missing. 
 
 Dr. Skeat points out the fact that many of the Latin passages are provided 
 with a musical notation and that some of them are from the Gospels. That they 
 are noted for singing arises from their being in reality parts of the troped service 
 of the Church for the days to which the plays belong. Details as to this will be 
 given in the Notes, in vol. Ill; here let it suffice to direct attention to this inter- 
 esting illustration of the manner in which, in the later stages of the liturgical 
 drama, the liturgical texts appear side by side with the vernacular additions. 
 
 As Dr. Skeat has shown, we have here a MS. prepared for the use of a single 
 actor, and containing only his part and his cues. In order to make the fragments 
 intelligible, I have, where it seemed worth while, supplied, on the basis of simi- 
 lar plays, information as to the action and speeches omitted.
 
 XXV111 FRAGMENTS OF LITURGICAL PLAYS. 
 
 I. 
 
 [OFFICIUM PASTORUM.]* 
 
 Pastores erant z'n regione eadem uigilantes et custodientes 
 gregem suum. Et ecce angelus Domini astitit iuxta. 
 illos et timuerunt timore magno? 
 
 \The Star appears and the A ngels sing.] 
 
 [n. PASTOR.] 8 We, Tib ! 
 
 in. PASTOR. Telle on! 
 
 [n. PASTOR.] Me nyght. 
 
 in. PASTOR. Brether, what may Mis be, 
 
 TAus bright to man and best? 7 
 
 [n. PASTOR.] at hand. 
 
 in. PASTOR. Whi say }e so? 
 [ii. PASTOR.] . . . . . . warand. 10 
 
 in. PASTOR. Suche si^t was neu^r sene 
 
 Before in our* lewery ; 
 Sum merueles wil hit mene 
 
 T^at mu be here in hy. 14 
 
 [11. PASTOR.] a sang. 4 
 
 1 MS. contains no heading. In the corresponding York play, to the 
 relations of -which with this Dr. Skeat has called attention, each of the 
 three shepherds speaks a stanza of twelve lines concerning the Messianic 
 prophecies before the point at which this play begins is reached. Possibly 
 this play lacks at the beginning, not only a heading similar to those of the 
 other two plays of this MS., but also a speech by the Third Shepherd ; but it 
 may be that, in view of the nature of the church service, the introductory 
 speeches were regarded as unnecessary, and that we have the beginning of 
 the flay. 2 Noted for voices. 
 
 8 Here and throughout the three plays the speaker's name in brackets is 
 supplied by Dr. Skeat. Whether sometimes the cue word does not belong to 
 another .actor is an idle question. 
 
 4 In York the First and Second Shepherds declare that they " cnn synge 
 itt alls wele as he " ; to which the Third Shepherd's reply is similar to that 
 here.
 
 FRAGMENTS OF LITURGICAL PLAYS. XXIX 
 
 in. PASTOR. 3 e ty e > bothe, by thvs, lijt, 
 
 And raues as recheles royes ! 1 
 Hit was an angel bri3t 
 
 Thai made Ms nobulh? noyes. 19 
 
 [n. PASTOR.] of prophecy. 
 
 in. PASTOR. He said a barn schuld be 
 
 In Me burgh of Bedlem born ; 
 And of //ris, mywnes me, 
 
 Oure fadres fond be forn. 24 
 
 [n. PASTOR.] lewus kyng. 
 
 in. PASTOR. Now may we se the same 
 
 Eue in our*? pase puruayed ; 
 The. angel nemed his name, 
 
 " Crist, Saueowr," he saied. 29 
 
 [n. PASTOR.] not raue. 
 
 in. PASTOR. 3 one brightnes wil vs bring 
 
 Vnto thai blisful boure ; 
 For solace schal we syng 
 
 To seke oure Saueor. 34 
 
 Transeamus usguQ Bethelem, et uidcamus hoc vcrbum. quod 
 factum est, q\\vd fecit Dominus et ostendit nobis? 
 
 [TJiey follow the Siar.] 
 
 [n. PASTOR.] to knawe. 
 
 in. PASTOR. For no-Ming thar vs drede, 
 
 But thank God of all* gode ; 
 77ns light euer wil vs lede 
 
 To fynde thai frely fode. 41 
 
 1 In this fart of York, which is in a different stanza from the rest pf the 
 flay, the resemblances to our fragment extend only to the main course of 
 the thought and an occasional phrase. 
 
 2 Noted for voices.
 
 XXX FRAGMENTS OF LITURGICAL PLAYS. 
 
 [ They enter the stable and adore the Child,] 
 
 [n. PASTOR. Now wat }e what] 1 I mene. 
 
 in. PASTOR. A ! loke to me, my Lord der*, 2 
 
 A\\e if I put me noght \n pr<?se ! 
 To suche a prince wzt/zout[en] 3 pen? 
 
 Haue I no presand thai may plese. 
 But lo ! a horn-spone haue I here 
 
 Thai may herbar an hundrith pese : 
 77ns gift I gif the w/t/z gode chere, 
 Suche dayntese wil do no disese. 
 Fare-wele now, swete swayn, 
 
 God graunt //ze lifyng lang ! 
 [i. PASTOR. And go we hame agayn, 
 
 And mak mirth as we gang !] * 54 
 
 1 After reaching Bethlehem the shepherds in York adore the Child, each 
 speaking one stanza of twelve lines. That of the Third Shepherd is iden- 
 tical -with his speech here and the speeches of the others are in the same 
 stanza-form. Dr. Skeat is, therefore, right in inferring that the -words, I 
 mene, which end the speech of the Second Shepherd in both plays, point to 
 a practical identity of those speeches. 
 
 2 Before this line in MS. there is a star referring to the words: Salua- 
 torem, Christum, Dominum, infantem pannis inuolutuw, secunduw sermo- 
 nem angelicam (sic). TJiese words are in a later hand. They belong to a 
 dramatic trope (of Christmas) which will be given in full in the discussion 
 of the origins of the drama in the Introduction. 
 
 3 Supplied by Skeat. 
 
 4 Dr. Skeat says: " I supply these two lines from the York Mysteries, 
 and assign them to the First Shepherd instead of to the Third, because the 
 MS. has here two blank lines, showing that the Third Shepherd did not 
 speak them."
 
 FRAGMENTS OF LITURGICAL PLAYS. XXXI 
 
 II. 
 
 [OFFICIUM RESURRECTIONIS.] l 
 Hie incipit Officium. Resurrecciords m die Pasche. 
 
 [Enter the three Marys on their way to the Sepulchre, .] 
 
 in. MARIA. 2 Heu / Redemcio /rrae/, 
 
 Ut quid mortem, sustinuit ! 3 
 
 [n. MARIA.] payne. 
 
 in. MARIA. Alias ! he thai men wend schuld by 
 
 AIL? Israel, bothe knyght and knaue, 
 Why suffred he so forto dy, 
 
 Sithe he may alL? sekenes saue? 
 
 Heu ! cur ligno fixus clauis 
 
 Fuit doctor tarn suauis f 
 
 Heu / cur fuit ille natus 
 
 Qui pvrfodit eiv& latus ? II 
 
 [n. MARIA.] is oght. 
 
 in. MARIA. Alias, that we suche bale schuld bide 
 
 T^at sodayn sight so forto see, 
 The best techer in world wide 
 
 WitA nayles be tacched to a tre ! 
 Alias, that euer so schuld be-tyde, 
 
 Or that so bold mo born schuld be 
 For to assay oure Saueo^r side 
 
 And open hit with-oute pite ! 20 
 
 1 The corresponding York play is printed below, pp. 153 ff. It is in a 
 different metre. The character of the York play on the appearance of 
 Christ to Magdalen suggests that it -was once connected with a play very 
 similar to this, especially when the nature of the corresponding Towneley 
 play is considered. 
 
 2 In MS. the name is written iij a m . 
 
 8 What the others probably said may be seen above, p. xxiii.
 
 XXX11 FRAGMENTS OF LITURGICAL PLAYS. 
 
 [ALL THREE.] l lam, iam, ecce, iam properemn?, ad tumu- 
 
 Vngentes Dilecti corpus sanctissimum .' 2 
 
 Et appropiantes sepulcro cantent : 
 
 [ALL THREE.] O Deus, quis reuoluet nobis lapidem 
 
 Ab hostio monumenti f' 2 24 
 
 [ii. MARIA.] ...... him leid. 
 
 in. MARIA. He Mat Mus kyndely vs has kend 
 
 Vn-to thz. hole when? he was hid, 
 Sum socoun? sone he wil vs send, 
 
 At help to lift away this lid. 29 
 
 [ They find the stone rolled away, and learn from the angels that Christ 
 is risen.'] 
 
 in. MARIA. Alleluya schal be oun? song, 
 
 Sithe Crist, oun? Lord, by angelic steuen, 
 Schew^J him as mon hen? vs among 
 
 And is Goddis Son, heghest \n heue. 33 
 
 {The Marys return and announce the Resurrection to the disciples.} 3 
 
 [n. MARIA.] ...... was gon. 
 
 [CHORUS. Die nobis, Maria, 
 
 Quid uidisti in uia f 
 I. MARIA. Sepulcrum Christi rtiuentis, 
 
 Et gloriam uidi resurgentis. 
 n. MARIA. Angelicas testes, 
 
 Sudarium et uestes. 
 in. MARIA.] Siirrexit Christus, spes nostra, 
 
 Pr&cedet vos in. Galileam. ! * 42 
 
 1 Cf. p. xxiii, above. 
 
 2 Noted for voices. 
 
 8 A red line here in MS. 
 
 * Skeat assigns these two lines to the angel (he speaks of only one angef) ; 
 but there is no reason why the -words of the angels should appear in this 
 MS. / have sr<pplied in brackets all the words from CHORUS to ill. 
 MARIA to sustain my view that the two lines belong to the Third Mary ; 
 cf. p. xxv, above.
 
 FRAGMENTS OF LITURGICAL PLAYS. XXX111 
 
 in. MARIA. Crist is rysen, wittenes we ' 
 
 By tokenes thai we haue sen Mis morn ! 
 Oure hope, oun? help, owre hele, is he, 
 
 And hase bene best, sithe we were born! 
 Yf we wil seke him for to se, 
 
 Lettes noght Mis lesson be for-lorn : 
 " But gose euew vn-to Galilee ; 
 
 Thvce schal }e fynd him jow beforn ! " 2 50 
 
 III. 
 
 [OFFICIUM PEREGRINORUM.] 3 
 Feria secunda in ebdom'a&a. Pasche discipuli insimul cantent : 
 
 [CHORUS.] 4 Infidelis incursum populi 
 
 Fugiamus, Ihesu 5 discipuli! 
 Suspenderuwt Ihesum patibulo ; 
 Nulli percent eius discipulo. 6 
 
 [The disciples depart ; Luke and Cleophas go together] 
 
 [LUKE.] 7 fast to fle. 
 
 [CLEOPHAS.] But if we fle, Mai wil vs fang, 
 
 And ful felly Mai wil vs flay ; 8 
 Agayn to Emause wil we gang, 
 
 And fonde to get Me gaynest way. 
 
 1 1 suppose this speech to have been preceded by similar ones from the 
 tther two Marys, but no cue is given in MS. 
 
 2 After this a red line in MS. 
 
 3 Skeat supplies as the heading: The Two Disciples going to Emmaus. 
 
 4 The actor was one of this Chorus, or their words would not appear 
 here. 
 
 6 MS. ihesum; corr. by Skeat. 
 
 6 Noted for voices. A red line after this verse. 
 
 7 This play does not give the name of either speaker. Skeat points out 
 that the one who appears later among the apostles is probably Cleophas ; 
 the other, Luke. 
 
 8 Qy. slay.
 
 XXXIV FRAGMENTS OF LITURGICAL PLAYS. 
 
 And make in mynd euer vs amang 
 
 Of ourv gode Maister, as we may, 
 How he was put to paynes strang, 
 
 On th2A. he tristed con him be-tray ! 1 13 
 
 I Jesus enters and talks with them.} 2 
 
 [JESUS.] but agayn. 
 
 [CLEOPHAS.] By wywmen wordis wele wit may we 
 
 Christ is risen vp in gode aray ; 
 For to our^-self thz sothe say[d] 3 he, 
 
 Where we went in this world away, 
 That he schuld dye and doluen be, 
 
 And rise fro the. dethe the thrid day. 
 And that we my^t thai si^t now se, 
 
 He wisse vs, Lord, as he wele may ! 22 
 
 [JESUS?] resou rijt. 
 
 [CLEOPHAS.] 4 Et guontam trzdiderunt eum summi sacer- 
 dotes et principes no&tri zn daTS\pnadone[m] 3 mortis et 
 crucifixerunt euro.. 
 
 Right is that we reherce by raw 
 
 The, maters that we may on mene, 
 How pr^stis and princes of our? lawe 
 
 Ful tenely toke him horn be-twen, 
 And dampned him, wz't#-oute;z awe, 
 
 For to be dede with dole, 5 be-dene ; 
 7%ai crucified him, wele we knaw, 
 
 At Caluary, wz't^ caris kene. 34 
 
 1 After this -verse a red line in MS. Probably, as Skeat suggests, Jesus 
 enters here. 
 
 2 This conversation in all the plays on this subject follows very closely 
 Luke xxiv, 17-21. 8 Supplied by Skeat. 
 
 4 Skeat does not assign the Latin to any one ; he puts CLEOPHAS oppo- 
 site the first line of the English -which follows. 
 
 5 Skeat has dele.
 
 FRAGMENTS OF LITURGICAL PLAYS. XXXV 
 
 [CLEOPHAS AND LUKE.] 1 Dixeru^t eciam se visionem angt- 
 lorum vidisse, gut dicunt eum vtuere. 
 
 [LUKE.] wraist. 
 
 [CLEOPHAS.] The wywmen gret, for he was gem ; 
 
 But $et Mai told of meruales mo : 
 7$ai saw angellJ stondyng on Me ston, , 
 
 And sayn how he was fame horn fro. 
 Sithen of oures went ful gode wone 
 
 To se thai sijt, and said right so. 
 H erf ore we murne and makw Mis mon ; 
 
 Now wot tho\i wele of alU? oure wo. 45 
 
 [LuKE?] 2 in pese. 
 
 [CLEOPHAS AND LUKE.] 3 Mane nobiscum, quoniam ad- 
 uesperascit et inclinata est tarn dies. Alleluya!* 
 
 [They approach Emmaus.~\ 
 [JESUS.] wight. 
 
 [CLEOPHAS.] & Amend oun? mournyng, maister dere, 
 
 And fond our^ freylnes for to felh?! 
 Herk, \ycQther ! help to hold him here, 
 
 Ful nobel talis wil he vs telh?! S3 
 
 [LUKE.] lent 
 
 [CLEOPHAS.] And gode wyne schal vs wont non, 
 For Mer-to schal I take entent. 
 
 1 Skeat does not indicate the speaker ; the cue following he assigns to 
 Jesus. It seems unlikely that a speech by Jesus existed between this Latin 
 and the English in -which Cleophas gives the substance of it. I therefore 
 suppose both disciples to have recited the Latin and then each to have given, 
 as was usual, the sense of it, each emphasizing different features. 
 
 2 It is impossible to decide whether to assign this to Luke or to Jesus. 
 
 3 Not indicated by Skeat. 
 
 4 Noted for voices. 
 
 5 Omitted by Skeat.
 
 XXXVI FRAGMENTS OF LITURGICAL PLAYS. 
 
 {Jesus breaks the bread, and, after giving it to them, vanishes.] 
 
 [LuKE.J ...... he went. 57 
 
 [CLEOPHAS.] Went he is, and we ne wot how, 
 
 For here is noght left in his sted! l 
 Alias! where were oure wittis now? 
 
 With wo now walk we, wil of red ! 
 
 [LUKE.] ...... [he brak] 2 oure bred. 62 
 
 [CLEOPHAS.] Oure bred he brak and blessed hit ; 
 
 On mold were neuer so mased me//, 
 Whe that we saw \\\m by vs sit, 
 
 T/iat we couthe noght consayue \\\m th&n. 66 
 
 [LUKE.] ...... ay. 
 
 \Cleophas and Luke return to the other disciples, singing :] 
 
 [CLEOPHAS AND LUKE.] Quid agamv& u&l dicamu&, 
 Ignorantes quo <?/// us, 
 QVLI Doctorem sciencie 
 Et patrem consolacionis 
 Amisimusf* 72 
 
 [LUKE.] ...... gode state 
 
 [CLEOPHAS.] We schal horn telk, wzt^-oute# trayn, 
 
 Bothe word and werk, how [that] hit was, 
 I se horn sitt samyn \n a playn. 
 
 Forth e in apert dar I not pas! 77 
 
 [ They join the other disciples] * 
 
 [LUKE?] ...... 
 
 [CLEOPHAS.] We saw hi* hoik, hide and hewe ; 
 T/tertore be still, and stint 3oure strife! 
 
 1 MS. slid ; corr. by Skeat. 
 
 2 Supplied by Skeat. 
 8 Noted far voices. 
 
 4 A red line here in MS. Skeat interprets it as I do.
 
 FRAGMENTS OF LITURGICAL PLAYS. XXXVU 
 
 Tha\. hit was Crist ful wele we knewe, 
 
 He cutt oun? bred w/t^-oute knyfe. 82 
 
 [A II the disciples sing :] 
 
 [CHORUS.] Gloria tibi, Domine, 
 
 Qui surrexisti a mortuis, 
 Cum Patre et Sancto Spiritu, 
 In sempiterna secula; Amen! 1 
 
 [Enter St. Thomas, -who refuses to believe until convinced by the appear- 
 ance of Christ^ 
 
 [CHORUS.] Frater Thoma, causa tristicie 
 Nobis tulit siimma leticie ! 
 
 {.Explicit^ 
 
 1 Noted for voices. 
 
 2 Skeat thinks a new flay begins here ; but f he Incredulity of St. 
 Thomas is not celebrated on Master Monday,
 
 PART I.
 
 NORWICH WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 These two versions of the pageant of the Grocers of Norwich are reprinted 
 from: "Norwich Pageants. The Grocers' Play. From a M.S. i'i the possession 
 of Robt. Fitch, Esq., F.G.S. [Privately printed.] Norwich, 1^5 j." The first of 
 them was composed before June 16, 1533 ; the other, in 1565. 
 
 I. 
 
 The Story of the. 1 Creac/on 2 of Eve, wz't// the. Expel- 
 lyng of Adam and Eve out of Paradyce. 
 
 PATER. Ego prtncipium, Alpha et w, in altissimis habito; 
 
 In the hevenly empery I am resydent. 
 Yt ys not semely for man, sine adjutorio, 
 
 To be allone, nor very convenyent. 
 
 I have plantyd an orcheyard most congruent 
 For hym to kepe and to tylle, by contemplac/on. 
 Let us make an adjutory of our formaczbn 7 
 
 To hys symylatude, lyke in plasmac/on. 
 
 In-to Paradyce I wyll nowe descende 
 With my mynysters angelicall of our creaczbn 
 
 To assyst us in ow^r worke thai we intende, 
 
 A slepe in-to man be sopora^bn to sende. 
 A rjbbe out of manys syde I do here take ; 
 
 Bothe flesche and bone I do thys creatur blysse ; 
 And a woman I fourme, to be his make, 
 
 Semblable to man ; beholde here she ys. 1 6 
 
 1 F. y e ; so below. 
 
 2 Perhaps this ought to be expanded as Creacyon.
 
 2 NORWICH WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 ADAM. O my Lorde God, incomprehensyble, withoute mysse, 
 
 Ys thy hyghe excellent magnyfysens. 
 Thys creature to me ys nunc ex ossibus mezs, . 
 
 And virago I call hyr in thy presens, 
 
 Lyke on-to me in naturall preemynens. 
 Laude, honor and glory to the I make. 
 Bothe father and mother man shall for hyr forsake. 23 
 
 PATER. Than my garden 1 of plesure kepe thou suer. 
 
 Of all fruts and trees shall thou etc and f ede, 
 Except thys tre of connyng, whyle ye bothe indure ; 
 
 Ye shall not touche yt, for that I forbede. 
 
 ADAM. Thy precept, Lorde, in will, worde and deede 
 Shall I observe, and thy request fulfyll 
 As thou hast comwzandyd, yt ys reason and skyll. 30 
 
 PATER. Thys tre ys callyd of connyng good and yll ; 
 That day that ye ete thereof shall ye dye, 
 Morte moriemini, yf that I do you aspye ; 33 
 
 Showe thys to thy spowse now by and bye. 
 
 I shall me absent for a time and space ; 
 A warned man may lyve ; who can it denye ? 
 
 I make the lord therof ; kepe wyll my place ; 
 
 If thou do thys, thou shall have my grace ; 
 In-to mortalite shall thou elles falle. 
 Looke thow be obedyent whan I the calle. 40 
 
 ADAM. Omnipotent God and hygh 2 Lord of all, 2 
 
 I am thy servante, bownde onder thyn obedyens, 
 And thou my creatour, one God eternall ; 
 
 What thou comwandest, I shall do my dylygens. 
 
 PATER. Here I leve the, to have experyens, 
 To use thys place in vertuse occupac/on, 
 
 For nowe I wyll retorne to myn habitac/on. 47 
 
 ADAM. O lovely spowse of Codes creaczbn, 
 
 I leve the here alone, I shall not tary longe, 
 For I wyll walke a whyle for my recreaczbn 
 
 l A stroke over n. 2 Both the h and the 11 are crossed.
 
 THE CREATION AND FALL, I. 3 
 
 And se over Paradyce, that ys so stronge. 
 
 No-thynge may hurt us, nor do us wronge ; 
 God ys ow^r protectour and soverayn 1 guyde ; 
 In thys place no yll thynge may abyde. 54 
 
 SERPENS. O gemme of felycyte and femynyne love, 
 
 Why hathe God und^r precept prv?hybyte thys frute, 
 
 That ye shuld not ete therof to your behofe ? 
 
 Thys tre ys plesant w/t^outen refute. 58 
 
 EVA. Ne forte we shuld dye, and \han be mortall ; 
 
 We may not towche yt, by Codes com;#andement. 
 SERPENS. Ne-quaq\x&m, ye shall not dye perpetuall, 
 
 But ye shuld be as godes resydent, 
 Knowyng good and yll spyrytuall ; 
 No-thyng can dere you Mat ys carnall. 64 
 
 EVA. For us than now what hold you best, 
 
 That we do not ow^r God offende ? 
 SERPENS. Eate of thys apple at my requeste. 
 
 To the, Almyghty God dyd me sende. 
 
 EVA. Nowe wyll I take therof ; and I intende, 
 To plese my spowse, therof 'to fede, 
 To knew good and yll for ow<?r mede. 71 
 
 ADAM. I have walkyd abought for my solace ; 
 
 My spowse, how do you? tell me. 
 EVA. An angell cam from God?.y grace 
 
 And gaffe me an apple of thys tre. 
 
 Part therof I geffe to the ; 
 Eate therof for thy pleasure, 
 For thys frute ys Godes own treasure. 78 
 
 PATER. Adam, Adam, wher art thou thys tyde ? 
 Before my presens why dost thou not appere ? 
 
 [A large gap in the MS. here.] 
 Musick. 
 
 Aftyr that A dam and Eve be drevyn out of Parody se, they schall speke 
 thys foloyng : 
 
 1 A stroke over n.
 
 4 NORWICH WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 ADAM. O, wzt^ dolorows sorowe we may wayle and weepe ! 
 
 Alas, alas, whye ware we soo bolde ? 
 Bye ow^r fowle presumpsyon we ar cast full depe, 
 
 Fro pleasur to payn, witA carys manye-fold. 84 
 
 EvA. 1 With wonderows woo, alas ! it cane not be told ; 
 
 Fro Paradyse to ponyschment and bondage full strong. 
 O wretchys that we are, so ever we xal be inrollyd ; 
 
 Therfor ow^r handtfj we may wrynge w/tA most dullfull 2 
 song. 88 
 
 A nd so thei xall syng, walkyng together abowt the place, viryngyng ther 
 hands : 
 
 Wythe dolorous sorowe we may wayle and wepe 
 
 Bothe 8 nyght and daye in sorowe, 4 sythys full depe. 90 
 
 [ff.B. These last 2 lines set to tnusick twice over and again, for a chorus 
 
 II. 
 
 The Storye of the Temptacz'on of Man in Paradyce, 
 beyng therin placyd, and t/iQ Expellynge of Man 
 and Woman from thence, newely renuid 6 and 
 accordynge unto tho. Skrypture, begon thys yere, 
 A 1565, A 7 Eliz. 
 
 ITEM. Yt ys to be notyd thai when the Grocers Pageant is played itnt\\-owte 
 eny other goenge befor yt, then doth the Prolocutor say in this wise : 
 
 [THE FIRST PROLOGUE.] 
 
 Lyke as yt chancyd before this season, 
 
 Owte of Codes Scripture reuealed, in playes 
 
 Was dyvers stories sett furth, by reason, 
 
 Of pageants apparellyd in Wittson dayes ; 
 And lately be fallen into decayes ; 
 
 1 F. Eve. 8 I n p. at end of preceding line. 
 
 2 F. dull full. 4 F. sory. 
 6 This note is apparently added by F. 
 6 F. renvid.
 
 THE CREATION AND FALL, II. 5 
 
 Which stories dependyd in theyr orders sett 
 
 By severall devyces, much knowledge to gett ; 7 
 
 Begynnyng in Genesis, that story repleate, 
 
 Of God his creacion of eche lyvynge thynge, 
 
 Of heaven and oi erth, of fysh smalle #</greate, 
 
 Of f owles, herbe and tre, and of all bestej crepynge, 
 Of angel, of man, w^/'ch of erth hath beynge, 
 
 And oi th& fall of angell[s], in tho. Apocalyps to se ; 
 
 W/zz'ch stories wz'th the Skriptures most justly agree. 14 
 
 Then followed this ow^r pageant, w^z'ch sheweth to be 
 Th& Garden of Eden, w^/'ch God dyd plante, 
 
 As yn the seconde chapter of Genesis ye se ; 
 
 Wherin of frutes pleasant no kynde therof shulde wante; 
 In w^/ch God dyd putt man to cherish tre and plante, 1 
 
 To dresse and kepe Me grownde, and eate what frute hym lyste, 
 
 Except //ze tre of knowledge, Godes high wyll 2 to resyste. 21 
 
 The story sheweth further, that, after man was blyste, 
 
 The Lord did create woman owte of a ribbe of man ; 
 
 W^z'ch woman was deceyvyd with the. Serpents darkned myste ; 
 By whose synn ow<?r nature is so weake no good we can ; 
 Wherfor they were dejectyd and caste from thence than 
 
 Unto dolloure and myseri 8 and to traveyle and payne 
 
 Untyll God^r spryght renuid ; 4 and so we ende certayne. 28 
 
 Note that yfther goeth eny other fageantes before yt t th* Prolocutor sayeth 
 as ys on th^ other syde and leaveth owte this. 
 
 [THE SECOND PROLOGUE.] 
 
 THE PROLOCUTOR. As in theyr former pageants is semblably 
 
 declared 
 
 Of Codes mighty creac/on in every lyvyng thynge, 
 As in the fyrst of Genesis to such it is prepared 6 
 
 1 F. [hym] taufce. 4 F. renvid. 
 
 2 F. wytt. F. prepared. 
 
 3 F. nyseri.
 
 6 NORWICH WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 As lust they have to reade to memory to brynge 
 Of pride and tawle of angells that in hell hathe beinge; 
 In ike. seconde of Genesis of mankynde hys creacion 
 Unto this Garden Eden is made full preparacion. 7 
 
 And here begynneth ow^r pageant to make the declaracion, 
 From the letter C in ike chapter before saide, 
 
 Howe God putt man in Paradyse to dresse yt in best fassion, 
 And that no frut therof from hym shuld be denayed, 
 Butt of the tre ol 'yffe that man shuld be afraide 
 
 To eat of, least that daye he eate yt he shuld dye ; 
 
 A nd of womans creacion apperinge by and bye; 14 
 
 And of Me Deavills temptacion discouv[r]inge wz't^ a lye 
 The woman beinge weakest, thai cawsed man to tast. 
 
 That 1 God dyd so offende, that even contynentlye 
 
 Owte of the place of joye was man and woman cast, 
 And into so great dolloure and misery browght at last ; 
 
 Butt that by God his spright was comforted ageyne. 
 
 This is of this ow^r pagent the some and effect playne. 21 
 
 [THE CREATION AND FALL.] 
 
 GOD THE. FATHER. I am Alpha et Homega, my Apocalyps 
 doth testyfye, 
 
 That made all of nothinge for man his sustentacion; 
 And of this pleasante garden thai I have plante most goodlye 
 
 I wyll hym make the dresser for his good recreacion. 
 
 Therfor, Man, I gyve yt the, to have thy delectacion. 
 In eatyng thou shalt eate of every growenge tre 
 Excepte the tre of knowledge, the which I forbydd the; 7 
 
 For in what daye soever thou eatest 2 thou shallt be 
 
 Even as the childe of death ; take hecle ; and thus I saye, 
 I wyll the make an helper, to comforte the alwaye. 
 
 Beholde, therfore a slepe I bryng this daye on the, 
 
 1 F. inserts [he]. '* F. eaten.
 
 THE CREATION AND FALL, II. 7 
 
 And owte of this thy ribbe, that here I do owte-take, 
 A creature for thy help behold I do the make. 
 A-ryse, and from thy slepe I wyll the nowe awake, 
 
 Andtske hyr unto the, that you both be as one 
 
 To comfort one thother when from you I am gone. 16 
 
 And,zs I saide before when that thou wert alone, 
 I n eatying thow mayst eate of every tre here is, 
 
 Butt of Me tre of knowledge of good and evyll eate non, 
 Lest that thou dye the deth by doenge so amysse. 
 I wyll departs l now wher myn habitacion is. 
 
 I leave you here. 
 
 Se tha\. ye have my wordes in most high estimacion. 
 
 Then Man and Woman speke bothe. 
 
 [MAN AND WOMAN.] We thank the, mighty God, and gyve 
 
 the honoracion. 24 
 
 Man spekethe. 
 
 [MAN.] Oh bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh eke, 
 Thou shalt be called Woman, by-caus thou art of me. 
 
 Oh gyfte of God most goodlye, that has 2 us made so lyke, 
 Most lovynge spowse I muche do here rejoyce of the. 
 WOMAN. And I lykewyse, swete lover, do much reioyce of 
 the. 
 
 God therefore be praised, such comforte have us gyve 
 
 That ech of us wz't^ other thus pleasantly do lyve. 31 
 
 MAN. To walke abowt this garden my fantasye me meve; 
 I wyll the leave alone tyll that I turne ageyne ; 
 Farewell, myn owne swete spouse, I leave the. to remayne. 
 WOMAN. And farewell, my dere lover, whom my hart 
 doth conteyn. 35 
 
 The Serpent spekethe. 
 
 [THE SERPENT.] Nowe, nowe, of my purpos I dowght nott 
 
 to attayne ; 
 
 I can yt nott abyde, in theis joyes they shulde be. 
 Naye ! I wyll attempt them to syn unto theyr payne ; 
 
 1 F. deprote. 2 F. hast.
 
 8 NORWICH WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 By subtylty to catch them the waye I do well se ; 
 
 Unto this, angell of lyght I shew mysylfe to be, 
 With hyr for to dyscemble ; I fear yt nott at all, 
 Butt that unto my haight some waye I shall hyr call. 42 
 
 Oh lady of felicite, beholde my voice so small ! 
 
 Why have God sayde to you, "Eate nott of every tre 
 
 That is within this garden " ? Therein now answere me. 45 
 
 WOMAN. We eate of all the frutte that in the grownde we se, 
 
 Excepte that in the myddest, wherof we may nott taste, 
 For God hath yt forbydd, therfor yt may nott be, 
 
 Lest that we dye the deth and from this place be caste. 
 
 THE SERPENT. Ye shall not dye //ie deth; he made you 
 
 butt agaste ; 
 Butt God doth know full well thai when you eate of yt 
 
 Your eys shall then be openyd and you shall at Me last 
 As godes both good andzvyll to knowe ye shall be fytt. 53 
 
 WOMAN. To be as God 1 indede and in his place to sytt, 
 Therto for to agre my lust conceyve somewhatt; 
 
 Besyd<?j the tre is pleasante to gett wysedome and wytt, 
 And nothyng is to be comparyd unto that. 
 THE SERPENT. Then take at my request, and eate,and 
 fere yt natt. 58 
 
 Here she takyth and eatyth, and Man cumyth in and sayeth unto hyr : 
 
 MAN. My love, for my solace I have here walkyd longe. 
 
 Howe ys yt nowe with you ? I pray you do declare. 
 WOMAN. In-dede, lovely lover, the heavenly kynge most stronge 
 
 To eate of this apple his angell hath prepare ; 
 Take therof at my hande thother frutes amonge, 
 
 For yt shall make you wyse and even as God to fare. 64 
 
 Then Man taketh and eatyth and sayethe : 
 
 [MAN.] Alack ! alacke ! my spouse, now se I nakid we ar; 
 The presence of ow*?r God we can yt nott abyde. 
 l F. Codes.
 
 THE CREATION AND FALL, II. 9 
 
 We have broke his precepte, he gave us of to care; 
 
 From God therfor in secrete in some place lett us hide. 
 WOMAN. With fygge-leavis lett us cover us, of God we 
 be nott spyede. 69 
 
 THE FATHER. Adam ! I saye, Adam ! Wher art thou now 
 this tyde, 
 
 That here before my presence thou dost nott now apere ? 
 ADAM. I herde thy voyce, oh Lorde, but yett I dyd me hide. 
 
 For that which I am naked I more greatly dyd feare. 73 
 
 THE FATHER. Why art thou then nakyd? Who so hath 
 
 cawsyd the ? 
 MAN. This woman, Lord and God, which thou hast gyven 
 
 to me. 
 
 THE FATHER. Hast thou eat of /^e frute thai I forbyd yt the? 
 Thow Woman, why hast thou done unto him thys trespace ? 
 WOMAN. The Serpente diseayvyd me with that his fayer 
 face. 78 
 
 THE FATHER. Thow Serpente, why dydst thou this wise pre- 
 
 vente my grace, 
 
 My creatures and servanter in this maner to begyle ? 80 
 
 THE SERPENTE. My kynde is so, thou knowest, and that in 
 
 every case, 
 Clene oute of this place theis persons 1 to exile. 2 
 
 THE FATHER. Cursed art for causynge my comwandement to 
 
 defyle, 
 
 Above all cattell andbezstes. Remayne thou in the. fylde; 
 Crepe on thy bely and eate duste for this thy subtyll wyle; 
 
 The womans sede shall over-corn the, thus yt 8 have I wylde. 
 Thou, Woman, bryngyng chyldren wz't^ payne shall be 
 
 dystylde, 
 
 And be subiect to thy husbonde, and thy lust shall p^rtayne 4 
 To hym. I hav determynyd this ever to remayne. 89 
 
 1 F. prisons. 8 p. yt. 
 
 2 F. excite. * F. prrtayne.
 
 IO NORWICH WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 And to the, Man, for thai my voyce thou didst disdayne, 
 
 Cursed is tht erth for ever for thy sake ; 
 Thy lyvyng shall thou gett with swett unto thy payne, 
 
 Tyll thou departe unto the erth [wherof] I dyd the make. 
 
 Beholde, theis letherin aprons unto y0#rselves now take. 94 
 
 Lo ! Man as one of us hathe bene, good and evyll to knowe; 
 Therfor I wyll exempte hym from this place to aslake, 
 
 Lest of the tre of lyfe he eate and ever growe. 
 
 Myne angell, now cum f urth and kepe the waye and porte, 
 Unto th& tre of lyfe that they do nott resorte. 99 
 
 THE AUNGELL. Departe from hence at onys from this place of 
 comforte, 
 
 No more to have axcesse or ells for to apere. 
 From this place I exile you, that you no more resorte, 
 
 Nor ever do presume ageyne for to come here. 103 
 
 Then Man and Woman depzttyth to th nether farte of 'th* pageant, and Man 
 sayeth : 
 
 [MAN.] Alack! mynowne sweteharte, how am I stroke wzt/2 fear, 
 That from God am exiled and brow^/zt to payne and woo. 
 
 Oh! what have we lost ! Why dyd we no more care, 
 
 And to what kynd of place thatt we resort and goo ? 
 WOMAN. Indede into the worlde now must we to and fro, 
 
 And where or how to rest I can nott saye at all. 
 
 I am even as ye ar, what-so-ever me be-fall. no 
 
 Then cmneth Dolor and Myserye and taketh Man by both armys and Dolor 
 sayeth : 
 
 [DOLOR.] Cum furth, O Man, take hold of me ! 
 
 Through envy hast lost thy heavenly lyght 
 By eatynge ; in bondage from hence shall be. 
 
 Now must thou me, Dolor, have always in sight. 114 
 
 MYSERYE. And also of me, Myserye, thou must taste and byte> 
 Of hardenes and of colde and eke of infirmitie ;
 
 THE CREATION AND FALL, II. II 
 
 Accordinge to desarte thy portion is, of right, 
 
 To enioye that in me that is withoute certentye. 118 
 
 ADAM. Thus troublyd, nowe I enter into Dolor and Miserie. 
 
 Nowe, Woman, must we lerne ow<?r lyvyng<?j to gett 
 With labor and with travell ; ther is no remedye, 
 
 Nor eny-thyng therfrom we se that maye us lett. 122 
 
 Then cumyth in the Holy Ghost comforting- Man and sayeth : 
 
 [THE HOLY GHOST.] Be of good cheare, Man, and sorowe 
 no more ; 
 
 This Dolor and Miserie that then thou hast taste 
 Is nott in respecte, layd up in store, 
 
 To tht joyes for the that ever shall * last. 
 
 Thy God doth not this the away to cast, 
 But to try the as gold is tryed in thz fyer ; 
 In the end, premonyshed, shalt have thy desire. 129 
 
 Take owte of the Gospell thai yt the requyre, 
 
 Fayth in Chryst Jhesu and grace thatt ensewe. 
 
 I wylbe thy guyde and pay the thy hyer 
 
 For all thy good dylygence and doenge thy dewe. 
 Gyve eare unto me, Man, and than yt ys trewe, 
 
 Thou shalt kyll affectey thai by lust in the reygne, 
 
 And put Dolor and Mysery and Envy to payne. 136 
 
 Theis armors ar preparyd, yf thou wylt turne ageyne ; 
 
 To fyght wyth, take to the, and reach Woman the same: 
 The brest plate of rightousnes Saynte Paule wyll the retayne ; 
 
 The shylde of faythe to quench, thy fyrye dartestotame; 
 
 The hellmett of salvacion the devylls wrath shall lame; 
 And th& sworde of th& spright, w^z'ch is the. worde of God, 
 All theis ar nowe the offred to ease thy payne and rodd. 143 
 
 ADAM. Oh ! prayse to the, Most Holye, thai hast wz't^ me 
 
 abode, 
 In mysery premonyshynge by this thy Holy Spright 
 
 l F. shalt.
 
 12 NORWICH WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 Nowe fele I such great cowforte, my syns they be unlode 
 
 And layde on Chrystes back, w^/ch is my joye and lyght. 
 
 This Dolor and this Mysery I fele to me no wight ; 
 No ! Deth is overcuw by fore predestinacion, 
 And we attayned wyth Chryst in heavenly consolacion. 150 
 
 Therfor, myne owne swett spous, wzt^outen cavylacion 
 Together lett us synge, andleit our haries reioyse 
 And gloryiye ower God wyth mynde, powre and voyse. 153 
 Amen. 
 
 [Old musick, Triplex, Tenor, Medius, Bass : ] 
 
 With hart andvoyce 
 Let us reioyce 
 
 Andprayse the Lord alwaye 
 
 For this our joyfull daye, 
 To se of this our God his maiestie, 
 Who 2 hath given himsellfe over us to rayne and to gov<?rne us. 
 
 Lett all our harte[s] reioyce together, 
 
 And lett us all lifte up our voyce, on of us with another. 161 
 
 1 Apparently added by F. 
 
 " F. Who the hath. Perhaps something is lost that is necessary to the 
 regularity of the stanza.
 
 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 Reprinted from advance sheets of the edition of the Early English Text Society. 
 I have not reproduced the crosses, tags, and curls usually attached in this MS. to 
 U, th, ht, t,f, and r, for they seem mere flourishes. The MS. dates from the second 
 half of the fifteenth century. In the footnotes, M. indicates Matzner's "Alteng- 
 lische Sprachproben," I, i, pp. 357 ff. 
 
 Processus Noe cum filiis. Wakefield. 
 
 NOE. Myghtfull God veray, / maker of all that is, 
 Thre persons, withoutten nay, / oone God in endles blis, 
 Thou maide both nyght & day, / beest, fovvle, & fysh ; 
 All creatures that lif may/ wroght thou at thi wish, 
 
 As thou wel myght; 
 The son, the moyne, verament, 
 Thou maide; the firmament ; 
 The sternes also full feruent 
 
 To shyne thou maide ful bright ; 9 
 
 Angels thou maide ful euen, / all orders that is, 
 To haue the blis in heuen : /this did thou more & les. 
 ffull mervelus to neuen,/yit was ther vnkyndnes, 
 More bi ioldt's seuen/ then I can well expres; 
 
 ffor why 
 
 Of all angels in brightnes 
 God gaf Lucifer most lightnes, 
 Yit prowdly he flyt his des, 
 
 And set hym euen hym by. 18
 
 14 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 He thoght hymself as worthi/ as hym that hym made, 
 In brightnes, in bewty. / Therfor he hym degrade; 
 Put hym in a low degre / soyn after, in a brade, 
 Hym and all his menye, / wher he may be vnglad 
 
 ffor euer. 
 
 Shall thay neu<?r wyn away, 
 Hence vnto domysday, 
 Bot burn^ in bayle for ay ; 
 
 Shall thay neuer dysseu^r. 27 
 
 Soyne after that gracyous Lord / to his liknes maide man, 
 That place to be restord / euen as he began, 
 Of the Trinite bi accord,/ Adam, & Eue that woman. 
 To multiplie wzt/zout discord / in paradise put he thaym, 
 
 And sithen to both 
 Gaf in cowzmaundement, 
 On the tre of life to lay no hend; 
 Bot yit the fals feynd 
 
 Made hym wz't^ man wroth, 36 
 
 Entysyd man to glotony, / styrd him to syn in pride ; 
 Bot in paradise, securly, / myght no syn abide, 
 And therfor man full hastely/ was put out, in thai tyde, 
 In wo & wandreth for to be;/ l paynes full vnrid 
 
 To knawe, 2 
 
 ffyrst in erth, sythen 8 in heli 
 W/tfc feyndz-r for to dwell, 
 Bot he his mi?rcy mell 
 
 To those that will hym trawe. 45 
 
 Oyle of mercy he hus hight, / as I haue hard red, 
 To eu^ry lifyng wight / that wold luf hym and dred ; 
 Bot now before his sight/ eu^ry liffyng leyde 
 Most party day and nyght/ syn in word and dede 
 ffull bold; 
 
 1 E. E. T. S. has In paynes. 
 
 2 MS. knowe. 
 
 8 E. E. T. S. has in sythen in ; M. reads and sythen.
 
 NOAH S FLOOD. I 5 
 
 Som in pride, ire, and enuy, 
 Som in couetyse l & glotyny, 
 Som in sloth and lechery, 
 
 And other wise many-fold. 54 
 
 Therfor I drede lest God / on vs will take veniance, 
 ffor syn is now alod/ without any repentance; 
 Sex hundreth yeris & od/ haue I, without distance, 
 In erth, as any sod, / liffyd with grete grevance 
 
 All-way ; 
 
 And now I wax old, 
 Seke, sory, and cold, 
 As muk apon mold 
 
 I widd^r away ; 63 
 
 Bot yit will I cry/ for mercy and call; 
 Noe thi seruant am I,/ Lord, ou^r-all ! 
 Therfor me and my fry, / shal w/t/z me fall, 
 Saue from velany / and bryng to thi hall 
 
 In heuen; 
 
 And kepe me from syn 
 This warld within; 
 Comly Kyng of mankyn, 
 
 I pray the here my stevyn ! 72 
 
 DEUS. Syn I haue maide all thyng/ that is liffand, 
 Duke, emperour, and kyng / wz't/z myne awne hand, 
 ffor to haue thare likyng/ bi see & bi sand, 
 Eu<?ry man to my bydyng / shuld be bowand 
 
 ffull feruent, 
 
 That maide man sich a creatoure, 
 ffarest of favoure. 
 'Man must luf me paramoure, 
 
 By reson, and repent. 8 1 
 
 Me thoght I shewed man luf/ when I made hym to be 
 All angels abuf, / like to the Trynyte; 
 
 l MS. Couetous; corr. by M.
 
 16 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 And now in grete reprufe/ full low ligts he, 
 
 In erth hywself to stuf/ with syn that displeasse me 
 
 Most of all; 
 Veniance will I take 
 In erth for syn sake, 
 My grame thus will I wake 
 
 Both of grete and small. 90 
 
 I repente full sore/ that tner maide I man, 
 
 Bi me he settz'-y no store/ and I am his soferan; 
 
 I will distroy therfor/ both beest, man, and woman, 
 
 All shall perish, les and more;/ that bargan may thay ban 
 
 That ill has done. 
 In erth I se right noght 
 Bot syn that is vnsoght; 
 Of those that well has wroght 
 
 ffynd I bot * a f one. 99 
 
 Therfor shall I fordo/ all this medill-erd 
 With fioodts that shall flo/ & ryn wz't^ hidous rerd; 
 I haue good cause therto; / ffor me no man is ferd; 
 As I say shal I do, / of veniance draw my swerd, 
 
 And make end 
 Of all that beris life, 
 Sayf Noe and his wife, 
 ffor thay wold neuer stryfe 
 
 me then 2 me offend. 108 
 
 Hym to mekill wyn / hastly will I go, 
 
 To Noe my s<?ruand, or I blyn, / to warn hym of his wo. 
 
 In erth I se bot syn,/ reynand to and fro, 
 
 Emang both more & myn, / ichon other fo 
 
 Wz't^ all thare entent; 
 All shall I fordo 
 WM floods that shall floo, 
 Wirk shall I thaym wo, 
 
 That will not repent. 117 
 
 l MS. bot. 2 MS. then ; E. E. T. S. ne.
 
 NOAH'S FLOOD. 17 
 
 \God descends and comes to Noah.~\ * 
 
 Noe, my freend, I thee cowzmaund,/ from cares the to keyle, 
 A ship that thou ordand / of nayle and bord ful wele. 
 Thou was alway well wirkand, / to me trew as stele, 
 To my bydyng obediand;/ frendship shal thou fele 
 
 To mede. 
 
 Of lennthe thi ship be 
 Thre hundreth cubettw, warn I the, 
 Of heght euen thirte, 2 
 
 Of fyfty als in brede. 126 
 
 Anoynt thi ship wzt^ pik and tar / w/t^out & als w/t^in, 
 The water out to spar/ this is a noble gyn; 
 Look no man the mar;/ thre chese 8 chambres begyn; 
 Thou must spend many a spar/ this wark or thou wyn 
 
 To end fully. 
 Make in thi ship also 
 PtfHoures oone or two, 
 And houses of offyce mo 
 
 ffor beest/f that ther must be. 135 
 
 Oone cubite on hight/ a wyndo shal thou make; 
 On the syde a doore wz'tA slyght/ be-neyth shal thou take; 
 With the shal no man fyght / nor do the no kyn wrake. 
 When all is doyne thus right, / thi wife, that is thi make, 
 
 Take in to the; 
 Thi sonnes of good fame, 
 Sem, laphet, and Came, 
 Take in also [tjhame, 4 
 
 Thare wltzs also thre. 144 
 
 ffor all shal be fordone/ that lif in land bot ye, 
 
 Wz't^ floods that from abone/ shal fall, & that plente; 
 
 It shall begyn full sone/ to rayn vncessantle, 
 
 1 Supplied by E. E. T. S. 3 MS. chefe. 
 
 2 E. E. T. S. thrirte. * Corr. by M.
 
 1 8 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 dayes seuen be done, / and induyr dayes fourty, 
 
 W/tfcoutten fayll. 
 Take to thi ship also 
 Of ich kynd beest/j two, 
 Mayll & femayll, bot no mo, 
 
 Or thou pull vp thi sayll. 153 
 
 ffor thay may the avayll/ when al this thyng is wroght; 
 Stuf thi ship wz't^ vitayll, / ffor hungre that ye parish noght, 
 Of beestz>, foull, and catayll, / ffor thaym haue thou in thoght; 
 ffor thaym is my counsayll/ that som socour be soght 
 
 In hast; 
 
 Thay must haue corn and hay, 
 And oder mete alway; 
 Do now as I the say, 
 
 In the name of the Holy Cast. 162 
 
 NOE. A ! benedicite ! / what art thou that thus 
 Tellys afore that shall be?/ Thou art full m^rvelus ! 
 Tell me, for charite, / thi name so gracius. 
 DEUS. My name is of dignyte/ and also full glorius 
 
 To knawe. 1 
 
 I am God most myghty, 
 Gone God in Trynyty, 
 Made the and ich man to be: 
 
 To luf me well thou awe. 171 
 
 NOE. I thank the, Lord so dere, / that wold vowch-sayf 
 
 Thus low to appere / to a symple knafe; 
 
 Blis vs, Lord, here;/ for charite I, hit crafe; 
 
 The better may we stere/ the ship that we shall hafe, 
 
 Certayn. 
 
 DEUS. Noe, to the and to thi fry 
 My blyssyng graunt I : 
 Ye shall wax and multiply, 
 
 And fill the erth agane, 180 
 
 l MS. knowe.
 
 NOAH'S FLOOD. IQ 
 
 When all thise fioodzs ar past/ and fully gone away. 
 NOE. Lord, homward will I hast/ as fast as that I may; 
 My [wife] 1 will I frast/what she will say, [Exit Deus .] 
 And I am agast / that we get som fray 
 
 Betwixt vs both; 
 ffor she is full techee, 2 
 ffor litill oft angre, 
 If any-thyng wrang be, 
 
 Soyne is she wroth. 189 
 
 Tune pvtget ad vxorem. 
 
 God spede, dere wife, / how fayre ye ? 
 
 VXOR. Now as euer myght I thryfe, / the wars I thee see 
 
 Do tell me belife, / where has thou thus long be ? 
 
 To dede may we dryf e / or lif for the, 
 
 ffor want. 
 
 When we swete or swynk, 
 Thou dos what thou thynk, 
 Yit of mete and of drynk 
 
 Haue we veray skant. 198 
 
 NOE. Wife, we ar hard sted/ with tythyngis new. 
 VXOR. Bot thou were worthi be cled / in Stafford blew; 
 ffor thou art alway adred, / be it fals or trew. 
 Bot God knowes I am led, / and that may I rew 
 
 ffull ill; 
 
 ffor I dar be thi borow, 
 ffrom eutfn vnto morow 
 Thou spek/j euer of sorow: 
 
 God send the onys thi fill! 207 
 
 We women may wary/ all ill husband/j. 
 I have oone, bi Mary / that lowsyd me of my band/j ! 
 If he teyn, I must tary, / how-so-eu^r it stand/j, 
 With seymland full sory, / wryngand both my hand/j 
 ffor drede. 
 
 1 Supplied by E. E. T. S, 2 g. E. T. S. tethee.
 
 2O TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 Bot yit other while, 
 
 What with gam & wz't^ gyle, 
 
 I shall smyte and smyle, 
 
 And qwite hym his mede. 216 
 
 NOE. We ! hold thi tong, ram-skyt,/ or I shall the still. 
 
 VxOR. By my thryft, if thou smyte, / I shal turne the vntill. 
 
 NOE. We shall assay as tyte./ Haue at the, Gill ! 
 
 Apon the bone shal it byte./ 
 
 VXOR. A, so, Mary ! thou smytis ill I 
 
 Bot I suppose 
 I shal not in thi det 
 fflyt of this flett! 
 Take the ther a langett 
 
 To tye vp thi hose ! [Striking him.] 225 
 
 NOE. A! wilt thou so ?/ Mary, that is myne. 
 
 VXOR. Thou shal [have] thre for two, / I swere bi Godts pyne. 
 
 NOE. And I shall qwyte the tho, / in fayth, or syne. 
 
 VXOR. Out apon the, ho !/ 
 
 NOE. Thou can both byte and whyne 
 
 W/t/fc a rerd! 
 ffor all if she stryke, 
 Yit fast will she skryke; 
 In fayth, I hold none slyke 
 
 In all medill-erd; 234 
 
 Bot I will kepe charyte, / ffor I haue at do. 
 
 VXOR. Here shal no man tary the;/ I pray the go to! 
 
 ffull well may we mys the, / as euer haue I ro. 
 
 To spyn will I dres me. / 
 
 NOE. We ! fare well, lo; 
 
 Bot, wife, 
 
 Pray for me besele, 
 To eft I com vnto the. 
 VXOR. Euen as thou prays for me, 
 
 As euer myght I thrife. 243
 
 NOAH'S FLOOD. 21 
 
 NOE. I tary full lang / fro my warke, I traw ; 
 Now my gere will I fang / and thederward draw. 
 I may full ill gang, / the soth for to knaw. 
 Bot if God help amang, / I may sit downe daw 
 
 To ken ; 
 
 Now assay will I 
 How I can of wrightry, 
 In nomine Patrzs, &> Filii, 
 
 Et Spiritus Suncti, Amen. 252 
 
 To begyn of this tree / my bonys will I bend ; 
 
 I traw from the Trynyte / socoure will be send. 
 
 It fayres full fayre, thynk me,/ this wark to my hend 1 , 
 
 Now blissid be he / that this can amend. 
 
 Lo, here the lenght, 
 Thre hundreth cubettz'-f euenly ; 
 Of breed, lo ! is it fyfty ; 
 The heght is euen thyrty 
 
 Cubett/j full stre#ght. 261 
 
 Now my gowne will I cast, / and wyrk in my cote ; 
 Make will I the mast, / or I flyt oone foote. 
 A ! my bak, I traw, will brast ! / this is a sory note ! 
 Hit is wonder that I last, / sich an old dote 
 
 All.dold! 
 
 To begyn sich a wark, 
 My bonys ar so stark, 
 No wonder if thay wark, 
 
 ffor I am full old. 270 
 
 The top and the sayll/ both will I make ; 
 The helm and the castell / also will I take ; 
 To drif e ich a nayll / will I not forsake ; 
 This gere may ntuer fayll, / that dar I vnd^rtake 
 
 Onone. 
 
 This is a nobull gyn, 
 Thise nayles so thay ryn 
 Thoro more and myn, 
 
 Thise bordz> ichon ; 279
 
 22 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 Wyndow and doore, / euen as he saide, 
 Thre ches-chambre, /thay ar well maide ; 
 Pyk & tar full sure / ther-apon laide ; 
 This will euer endure, / therof am I paide ; 
 
 ffor why 
 
 It is better wroght 
 Then I coude haif thoght 
 Hym that maide all of noght 
 
 I thank oonly. 288 
 
 Now will I hy me, / and no-thyng be leder, 
 My wife and my meneye / to bryng euen heder. 
 
 [Goes to find his wife.] 
 
 Tent hedir tydely, / wife, and consider ; 
 Hens must vs fle/all sam togeder 
 
 In hast. 
 
 VXOR. Whi, syr, what alis you? 
 Who is that asalis you ? 
 To fle it avalis you 
 
 And ye be agast. 297 
 
 NOE. Ther is garn on the reyll / other, my dame. 
 VXOR. Tell me that ich a deyll, / els get ye blame. 
 NOE. He that cares may keill, / blissid be his name ! 
 He has [spokyn ? ] * for oure seyll, / to sheld vs fro shame, 
 
 And sayd, 
 
 All this warld aboute 
 With floodz'-y so stoute, 
 That shall ryn on a route, 
 
 Shall be ou^rlaide. 306 
 
 He saide all shall be slayn /bot oonely we, 
 Oure barnes, that ar bayn, / and thare wif/j thre ; 
 A ship he bad me ordayn / to safe vs & oure fee. 
 Therfor with all oure mayn / thank we that fre, 
 Beytter of bayll. 
 
 1 No word nor gap in E. E. T. S.
 
 NOAH S FLOOD. 23 
 
 Hy vs fast ; go we thedir ! 
 VXOR. I wote neuer whedir ; 
 
 I dase and I dedir 
 
 if or ferd of that tayll. 315 
 
 NOE. Be not aferd ; haue done ; / trus sam oure gere, 
 That we be ther or none, / wzt^out more dere. 
 
 I 1 Fii.li/s. It shall be done full sone. / Brether, help to here, 
 ii FIL.IUS. ffull long shall I not hoyne/ to do my devere, 
 
 Brether Sam. 
 
 in FILIUS. Without any yelp, 
 At my myght shall I help. 
 VXOR. Yit for drede of a skelp 
 
 Help well thi dam. 324 
 
 [ They go to the A rk ; Uxor enters /V.] 
 
 NOE. Now ar we there / as we shuld be ; 
 
 Do get in oure gere, / oure catall and fe 
 
 In-to this vessell here, / my chyld^r fre. 
 
 VXOR. I was neuer bard ere, / as euer myght I the, 
 
 In sich an oostre as this. 
 In fa[i]th, I can not fynd, 
 Which is before, which is behynd. 
 Bot shall we here be pynd, 
 
 Noe, as haue thou blis ? \_Exitfrom Ark.] 333 
 
 NOE. Dame, as it is skill, / here must vs abide grace ; 
 Therfor, wife, with good will / com into this place. 
 VXOR. Sir, for lak nor for Gill /will I turne my face, 
 Till I haue on this hill/ spon a space 
 
 On my rok. 
 
 Well were he, myght get me ! 
 Now will I downe set me ; 
 Yit reede I no man let me, 
 
 ffor drede of a knok. , 342 
 
 1 Here and below MS. has the regular contracted forms of the Latin ordinal 
 numerals.
 
 24 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 NOE. Behold to the heuen, / the cateractes all, 
 Thay * an? open full euen, / grete and small, 
 And the planettw seuen / left has thare stall ; 
 Thise thoners and levyn / downe gar fall 
 
 ffull stout 
 
 Both halles and bowers, 
 Castels and towres ; 
 ffull sharp ar thise showers 
 
 That renys aboute ; 351 
 
 Therfor, wife, haue done ; / com into ship fast. 
 
 VXOR. Yei, Noe, go cloute thi shone, / the better will thai last. 
 
 I MULIER. Good mod*?r, com in sone, / for all is ou^r-cast, 
 
 Both the son and the mone. / 
 
 ii MULIER. And many wynd blast 
 
 ffull sharp ; 
 
 This floods so thay rin, 
 Therfor, moder, come in. 
 VXOR. In fayth, yit will I spyn ; 
 
 All in vayn ye carp. 360 
 
 in MULIER. If ye like ye may spyn, / mod<?r, in the ship. 
 NOE. Now is this twyys : com in, / dame, on my frenship. 
 VXOR. Whed*?r I lose or I wyn, / in fayth, thi felowship, 
 Set I not at a pyn. / This spyndill will I slip 
 
 Apon this hill 
 Or I htyr oone fote. 
 NOE. Peter ! I traw we a dote ; 
 Without any more note, 
 
 Come in if ye will. 369 
 
 VXOR. Yei, water nyghys so nere /that I sit not dry ; 
 Into ship wit A a byr, / therfor, will I hy 
 ffor drede that I drone here. / [Rushes into the ship.} 
 
 NOE. Dame, securly, 
 
 It bees boght full dere, / ye abode so long by 
 Out of ship. 
 
 1 E. E. T. S. That. 2 Q y . ye .
 
 NOAH'S FLOOD. 2$ 
 
 VXOR. I will not, for thi bydyng, 
 
 Go from doore to mydyng. 
 
 NOE. In fayth, and for youre long taryyng, 
 
 Ye shall lik on the whip. 378 
 
 VXOR. Spare me not, I pray the, / hot euen as thou thynk, 
 
 Thise grete wordw shall not flay me. / 
 
 NOE. Abide, dame, and drynk, 
 
 ffor betyn shall thou be / w/L# this staf to thou stynk. 
 
 Ar stroke good? say me./ [striking her.} 
 
 VXOR. What say ye, Wat Wynk ? 
 
 NOE. Speke ! 
 Cry me mercy, I say ! 
 
 VXOR. Therto say I nay. 
 
 NOE. Bot thou do, bi this day, 
 
 Thi hede shall I breke. 387 
 
 VXOR. Lord, I were at ese / and hertely full hoylle, 
 Might I onys haue a measse / of wedows coyll ; 
 ffor thi saull, w/t/^out lese, / shuld I dele penny doyll ; 
 So wold mo, no frese, / that I se on this sole 
 
 Of \\iiis that ar here, 
 ffor the life that thay leyd, 
 Wold thare husband/.? were dede ; 
 ffor, as euer etc I brede, 
 
 So wold I oure syre were. 396 
 
 NOE. Yee men that has wiiis,/ whyls they ar yong, 
 If ye luf youre Hit's, / chastice thare tong. 
 Me thynk my hert ryfw, / both levyr and long, 
 To se sich stryf is / wedmen emong ; 
 
 Bot I, 
 
 As haue I blys, 
 Shall chastyse this. 
 VXOR. Yit may ye mys, 
 
 Nichdll Nedy ! \_Figkting ad lib.] 405 
 
 NOE. I shall make the still as stone, / begynnar of blunder ! 
 I shall bete the, bak and bone, / and breke all in sonder.
 
 26 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 VXOR. Out, alas, I am gone ! / oute apon the, mans woncUrr ! 
 NOE. Se how she can grone / and I lig vnder ! 
 
 Bot, wife, 
 
 In this hast let vs ho, 
 ffor my bak is nere in two. 
 VxQR. And I am bet so bio 
 
 That I may not thryfe. 414 
 
 I FILIUS. A ! whi fare ye thus, / ffad^r and moder both ? 
 
 II FILI ITS. Ye shuld not be so spitus, / standyng in sich a 
 
 woth. 
 in FiLitAS 1 . Thise [strifis ? ] J are so hidus, / wz't^ many a cold 
 
 coth. 
 NOE. We will do as ye bid vs ;/ we will no more be wroth, 
 
 Dere barnes ! 
 
 Now to the helme will I hent, 
 And to my ship tent. 
 VXOR. I se on the firmament, 
 
 Me thynk, the seven starnes. 423 
 
 NOE. This is a grete flood, /wife, take hede. 
 
 VXOR. So me thoght, as I stode ; / we are in grete drede ; 
 
 Thise wawghes ar so wode. / 
 
 NOE. Help, God, in this nede ! 
 
 As thou art stere-man good, / and best, as I rede, 
 
 Of all, 
 
 Thou rewle vs in this rase, 
 As thou me behete hase. 
 VXOR. This is a parlous case : 
 
 Help, God, when we call ! 432 
 
 NOE. Wife, tent the stere-tre, / and I shall asay 
 The depnes of the see / that we bere, if I may. 
 VXOR. That shall I do ful wysely ; / now go thi way, 
 ffor apon this flood haue we/ flett many day 
 WziA pyne. 
 
 1 No word nor gap in E. E. T. S.
 
 NOAH'S FLOOD. 27 
 
 NOE. Now the water will I sownd : 
 A ! it is far to the grownd ; 
 This trauell, I expownd, 
 
 Had I to tyne. 441 
 
 Aboue all hillys bedeyn/ the water is rysen late 
 
 Cubett/j fyfteyn ; 1 / hot in a higher 2 state 
 
 It may not be, I weyn, / for this well I wate, 
 
 This forty dayes has rayn beyn ; / it will therfor abate 
 
 Full lele. 
 
 This water in hast 
 Eft will I tast ; 
 Now am I agast, 
 
 It is wanyd a grete dele. 450 
 
 Now are the weders cest / and cateractes knyt, 
 Both the most and the leest. / 
 
 VXOR. Me thynk, bi my wit, 
 
 The son shynes in the eest ; / lo, is not yond it ? 
 We shuld haue a good feest, / were thise floods flyt, 
 
 So spytus. 
 
 NOE. We have been here, all we, 
 Thre hundreth 8 dayes and fyfty. 
 VXOR. Yei, now wanys the see ; 
 
 Lord, well is vs ! 459 
 
 NOE. The thryd tyme will I prufe/what depnes we bere. 
 VXOR. How * long shall thou hufe ? / Lay in thy lyne there. 
 NOE. I may towch with my lufe / the grownd evyn here. 
 VXOR. Then begynnys to grufe / to vs mery chere ; 
 
 Bot, husband, 
 What grownd may this be ? 
 NOE. The hyllys of Armonye. 
 VXOR. Now blissid be he 
 
 That thus for vs can ordand ! 468 
 
 i MS. xv. s MS. ccc. 
 
 E. E. T. S. higher. * E. E. T. S. Now; corr. by Child.
 
 28 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 NOE. I see the toppys of hyllys he, / many at a syght ; 
 
 No thyng to let me, / the wedir is so bright. 
 
 VXOR. Thise ar of mercy / tokyns full right. 
 
 NOE. Dame, thou 1 counsell me/ what fowll best myght 
 
 And cowth 
 With flight of wyng 
 Bryng, without taryying, 
 Of mercy som tokynyng 
 
 Ayther bi north or southe ; 477 
 
 ffor this is the fyrst day / of the tent moyne. 
 VXOR. The ravyn, durst I lay, / will come agane sone ; 
 As fast as thou may, / cast hym furth ; haue done. 
 He may happyn to-day / com agane or none 
 
 With grath. 
 
 NOE. I will cast out also 
 Dowfyj oone or two. 
 
 Go youre way, go, [He sends out the birds,] 
 
 God send you som wathe ! 486 
 
 Now ar thise fowles flone / into seyr countre ; 
 Pray we fast ichon, / kneland on our kne, 
 To hym that is alone/ worthiest of degre, 
 That he wold send anone / oure fowles som fee 
 
 To glad vs. 
 
 VXOR. Thai may not fayll of land, 
 The water is so wanand. 
 NOE. Thank we God all-weldand, 
 
 That lord that made vs. 495 
 
 It is a wonder thyng, / me thynk sothle, 
 Thai ar so long taryyng, / the fowles that we 
 Cast out in the mornyng. / 
 VXOR. Syr, it may be 
 
 Thai tary to thay bryng. / 
 
 NOE. The ravyn is a-hungrye 
 
 All-way ; 
 
 l E. E. T. S. thi ; corr. by Kittredge.
 
 NOAH S FLOOD. 2Q 
 
 He is wz't^out any reson ; 
 And he fynd any caryon, 
 As p^raventure may befon, 
 
 He will not away ; 504 
 
 The dowfe is more gentill, / her trust I vntew, 
 Like vnto the turtill, / for she is ay trew. 
 V^XOR. Hence hot a litill/ she commys. Lew, lew ! 
 She bryngjj in her bill/som novels new. 
 
 Behald ! 
 
 It is of an olif tre 
 A branch, thynkys me. 
 NOE. It is soth, perde, 
 
 Right so is it cald. 513 
 
 Doufe, byrd full blist, / ffayre myght the befall ! 
 Thou art trew for to trist / as ston in the wall ; 
 Full well I it wist, / thou wold com to thi hall. 
 VXOR. A trew tokyn ist, / we shall be sauyd all ; 
 
 ffor why 
 
 The water, syn she com, 
 Of depnes plom 
 Is fallen a fathom 
 
 And more, hardely. 522 
 
 i FILIUS. Thise flood/.? ar gone, / fader, behold, 
 ii YiLrus. Ther is left right none, / and that be ye bold, 
 in YILIUS. As still as a stone / oure ship is stold. 
 NOE. Apon land here anone / that we were, fayn I wold. 
 
 My child^r dere, 
 Sem, Japhet and Cam, 
 Vfiih gle and w/t^ gam 
 Com go we all sam, 
 
 We will no longer abide here. 531 
 
 VXOR. Here haue we beyn, / Noy, long enogh, 
 tray and with teyn / and dreed mekill wogh.
 
 3<D TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 NOE. Behald, on this greyn / nowd<?r cart ne plogh 
 Is left, as I weyn, / novrder tre then bogh, 
 
 Ne other thyng, 
 Bot all is away ; 
 Many castels, I say, 
 Crete townes of aray, 
 
 fflitt has this flowyng. 540 
 
 VXOR. Thise fioodz's not afright / all this warld so wide 
 Has mevid wzt^ myght / on se and bi side. 
 NOE. To dede ar thai dyght, / prowdist of pryde, 
 Ever ich a wyght / that euer was spyde 
 
 With syn ; 
 All ar thai slayn, 
 And put vnto payn. 
 VXOR. ffrom thens agayn 
 
 May thai neuer wyn ? 549 
 
 NOE. Wyn ? No, i-wis, / bot he that myght hase 
 Wold myn of thare mys / & admytte thaym to grace. 
 As he in bayll is blis, / I pray hym in this space, 
 In heven hye w/'t^ his/ to purvaye vs a place, 
 
 That we, 
 
 With his sant/j in sight 
 And his angels bright, 
 May com to his light : 
 
 Amen, for charite. 558 
 
 Explicit processus Noe, sequitur Abraham.
 
 HEGGE PLAYS. 
 
 Printed from MS. Cott. Vesp. D. viii. I have expanded curled r and and 
 crossed h and //, because the scribe seems to have used them with a definite intention. 
 In the footnotes, H. marks the readings of the edition of the old Shakespeare 
 Society : " Ludus Coventrise, . . . ed. J. O. Halliwell. London, 1841." 
 
 I have chosen to call the plays by the name of the earliest known owner of the 
 MS., for I see no reason to connect them with Coventry, and " so-called Cov- 
 entry Plays " is a clumsy expression. 
 
 [NOAH AND LAMECH.] 
 
 NOE. God of his goodnesse and of grace grounde, 
 
 By whoys gloryous power alk thyng is wrought, 
 In whom alk-vertu plentevously l is ffounde, 
 
 Wzt^owtyn whos 2 wyl may be ryth nought, 
 Thy seruaunte-y saue, Lord, fro synful sownde 
 
 In wyl, in werk, in dede and in thouht ; 
 Oun? welth in woo lete nevyr be fownde ; 
 
 Vs help, Lord, from synne thai we be in brought, 
 Lord God fful of myght ! 
 
 Noe, Ser^J, my name is knowe ; [Addressing the audience^ 
 
 My wyff and my chyldere hen? on rowe; 
 To God we pray w/t^ hert ful lowe, 
 
 To plese hym in his syght. 13 
 
 [n me, Noe, the secunde age 
 
 Indede be-gynnyth as I ^ow say; 
 
 1 MS.'plentevoufly. 
 
 2 MS. whof ; probably for whofe.
 
 32 HEGGE PLAYS. 
 
 Afftyr Adam, wzt^outy langage, 
 
 The secunde fadyr am I, in fay. 
 But men of levyng be so owt-rage 
 
 Bothe be nyght and eke be day, 
 Thai, lesse Man synne Me soner swage, 
 
 God wyl be vengyd on vs sum way, 
 In-dede. 
 
 Ther may no man go th^rowte, 
 
 But synne regnyth in every rowte ; 
 
 In every place rownde a-bowte 
 
 Cursydnes doth sprynge and sprede. 26 
 
 VXOR NOE. Alh?-myghty God, of his gret grace, 
 
 Enspyre men wzt^ hertely wylL? 
 For to sese of here trespace ; 
 
 ffor synfulk levyng oure sowle xal spylk. 
 Synne offendyth God in his face 
 
 And a-grevyth oure Lorde ffulte ylle ; 
 It causyth to man ryght grett manace 
 
 And scrapyth hym out of lyvys bylle, 
 Thai blyssyd book. 
 
 What man in synne doth alk-wey sclepp*, 
 
 He xal gon to helle ful depp ; 
 
 Than xal he nevyr after crepp^ 1 
 
 Out of that z brennyng brook. 39 
 
 I am your wyff, your childeryn Mese be ; 
 
 On-to us tweyn it doth longe 
 Hem to teche in all<? degre 
 
 Synne to for-sakyn and werkys wronge. 
 Therfore, sere, 8 for loue of me, 
 
 Enforme hem wele evyr 4 a-monge 
 Synne to for-sake and vanyie, 
 
 Andveriu. to ffolwe, thai thai ffonge 
 Oure Lord God to plese. 
 
 l MS. cre^. 8 MS. fer*. 
 
 ^H.the. *MS. ovyr.
 
 NOAH AND LAMECH. 33 
 
 NOE. I warne 3ow, childeryn, on and alle, 
 Drede our<? Lord God in hevy[n] hall*?, 
 And in no forfete thai we ne 1 ffalk 
 
 Our Lord for to dysplese. 52 
 
 CHEM. S A ! dere fEadyr, God for-bede 
 
 Thai we xulde do in ony wyse 
 Ony werke of synful dede 
 
 Oun? Lord God that xulde a-gryse. 
 
 My name is Chem, your son of pr/se : 
 I xal werke aften? your rede ; 
 
 And also, wyff, the weylte a wyse 
 Wykkyd werkys tha\. tho\i non 8 brede, 
 Never in no degre. 
 
 Vxoff SEEM. Forsothe, 4 sere, be Goddys grace, 
 
 I xal me kepe from all? trespace 
 
 Tha\. xulde offende Goddys face, 6 
 
 Be help of Me Trynyte. 65 
 
 CHAM. I am Cham, yottr secunde son, 6 
 
 And purpose me, be Goddys myght, 
 Nevyr suche a dede for to don 
 
 That xuld 7 agreve God in syght. 
 Vxoff CHAM. I pray to God me grawnt Mis bone, 8 
 
 That he me kepe in such^ a plyght 
 Mornynge, hevenynge, mydday and none, 
 
 I to affendyn hym day nor nyght. 
 Lord God, I Me pray, 
 
 Bothe wakynge and eke in slepe, 
 
 Gracyous God, tho\\ me keppe, 
 
 Thai I nevyr in daunger crepe 
 
 On dredfulk domys-day. 78 
 
 IAPHET. laphet, th\ iij d . e sone, is my name; 
 I pray to God, wher-so we be, 
 
 1 MS. no. 6 H. fface. 
 
 2 H. Shem. 6 R. sone. 
 8 H. none. 7 H. xulde. 
 
 * H. fforsothe. 8 Curl over n in MS.
 
 34 HEGGE PLAYS. 
 
 Thai he vs borwe fro synfulk shame, 
 
 And in vertuous 1 levynge evyr-more kepe me. 
 VX[OR] IAPHET. I am jour wyff and pray Me same, 
 
 Thai God vs saue on sonde and se, 
 Vfiih no grevauns thai we }\ym grame ; 
 
 He grawnt vs grace synne to fle. 
 
 Lord God, now here oure bone 1 
 
 NOE. Gracyous God, thai best may, 
 
 With herty wyl to the we pray, 
 
 Thou saue us sekyr bothe nyght and day, 
 
 Synne thai we noon done. 91 
 
 [God speaks in heaven.] 
 
 DEUS. Ow ! what menyht this mys-levyng man, 
 
 Whiche myn hand made andbyldyd in blysse? 
 Synne so sore grevyht me, ^o, 2 in certayn, 
 
 I wol be vengyd of this grett mysse. 
 Myn aungel den?, tho\i xalt gan 
 
 To Noe thai my servaunt is ; 
 A shypp to make on hond to tan 
 
 Tho\\ byd hym swyth 8 for \\yrn and his, 
 ffrom drynchyng hem to saue ; 
 
 ffor, as I am God off myght, 
 
 I xal dystroye this wer[l]d 4 down^-ryght ; 
 
 Here synne so sore grevyht me in syght, 
 
 Thei xal no mercy haue. 104 
 
 ffecisse hom.in.em nunc penitet*> me, 
 
 Thai I made man sore doth me rewe ; 
 Myn handwerk to sle sore grevyth me, 
 
 But thai here synne here deth doth brewe. 
 Go sey to Noe as I bydde the. : 
 
 Hyw-self, his wyf, his chylderyn 6 trewe, 
 
 1 MS. vertuous. 4 MS. has werd as standard form. 
 
 2 H. ja. 6 H. poenitet. 
 8 H. swythe. 6 H. childeryn.
 
 NOAH AND LAMECH. 35 
 
 Tho viii l sovvlys in shyp to be ; 
 
 Thei xul not drede Me flodys fflowe, 
 
 Tht fflod xal harme them nowht ; 
 Of all*? ffowlys and bestys thei take a peyre 
 In shipp 2 to saue, bothe ffoule and ftayere, 
 ffrom alk dowtys and gret dyspeyr*?, 
 
 This vengeauns or it be wrought. 117 
 
 \The angel descends.} 
 
 AXGEI.VS- (aJ iVje). Noe ! Noe ! A shypp loke M<?u make, 
 
 And many a chaumbyr thou xalt haue M^rinne ; 
 Of euery kyndys best a cowpyl than take 
 
 W/t/z-in the. shypp-bord, 8 here lyvys to wynne ; 
 
 ffor God is sore grevyd wz't^ man for his synne, 
 Thai alle this wyde werd xalbe dreynt w/t/z flood, 
 
 Saff tho\i and th\ wyff xal be kept from Mis gynne, 
 And also th\ chylderyn \vith here vertuys good. 125 
 
 NOE. How xuld I haue wytt a shypp for to make ? 
 
 I am of ryght grett age, v. c. ^ere olde ; 
 It is not for me Mis werk to vndyr-take ; 
 
 ffor ffeyntnesse 4 of age my leggys gyn ffolde. 
 
 ANGELUS. This dede ffor to do be bothe blythe and 
 
 bolde ; 
 God xal enforme Me and rewle Me ful ryght ; 
 
 Of byrd and of beste take, as I Me tolde, 
 A peyr in-to Me shypp, and God xal Me qwyght. 133 
 
 NOE. I am ful redy, as God doth me bydde, 
 A shypp for to make be myght of his grace. 
 
 [Exit angelus^ 
 
 Alas ! Mat ffor synne it xal so be betydde 
 
 Thai vengeauns of flood xal werke Mis manase. 
 God is sore grevyd wzt/t oure grett tresspas, 
 
 That wz't/z wylde watyr Me werd xal be dreynt. 
 
 1 H. viij. 8 H. omits bord. 
 
 2 H. shypp. 4 MS. ffeyynneffe = ffeythnnesse.
 
 36 HEGGE PLAYS. 
 
 141 
 
 Hie transit Noe cum familia sua pro naui; quo exeunte, locum interludij 
 sub-intret statim Lameth conductus ab adolescerite et di\cai\ 2 : 
 
 LAMETH. Gret mornyng I make and gret cause I haue ; 
 
 Alas ! now I se not, for age I am blynde ; 
 Blyndenes doth*? make me of wytt forto rave ; 
 
 Whantynge of eye-syght in peyn doth me bynde. 
 
 Whyl I had syht, 8 myht nevyr man fynde 
 My pere of archerye in alL? th'\s werd a-boute, 
 
 ffor ^itt schet I nevyr at hert, [h]are, nere hynde, 
 But yf thai he deyd : of this no man haue doute. 149 
 
 " Lameth, th& good archers " my name was ovyr-alL?, 
 
 ffor thz. best archer*? my name dede ev^r sprede ; 
 Record of my boy here, wytnes th\s> he xal, 
 
 What merk thai were set me, to deth it xuld blede. 
 
 ADOLESCE^S. It is trewe, mayster, thai }e seyn indede ; 
 ffor thai tyme }e had ^oure bowe hent in honde, 
 
 If thai jour prycke had be half a myle in brede, 
 3e wolde th& pryk han hitte if ^e ny had stonde. 157 
 
 LAMETH. I xuld nevyr a ffaylid, 4 what marke thai ever were 
 sett, 
 
 Whyl thai I myght loke, and had my clere syght ; 
 And 3itt, as me thynkyht, no man xuld shete bett 
 
 Than I xuld do now if my hand were sett aryght. 
 
 Aspye som marke, boy, my bowe xal [I] 6 bende wyght, 
 And sett myn hand euyn to shete at some best ! 
 
 And I dar ley a wagour his deth for to dyght. 
 Tht marke xal I hitt, my lyff do I hest. 165 
 
 1 MS. shy^p. * MS. affaylid, H. affayled. 
 
 2 MS. di - - - ; H. dicens. 6 Supplied by H. 
 8 MS. syht y' myht ; H. syht, ther myht.
 
 NOAH AND LAMECH. 37 
 
 [The boy sees Cain.'] 
 
 ADOLESCENS. Vndyr 3011 grett busche, mayster, a best do I se ; 
 
 Take me thin hand swyth and holde it ful stylle ; 
 Now is thin hand evyn as euyr it may be ; 
 
 Drawe up thin takylk jon best for to kylle. 
 
 LAMETH. My bowe xal I drawe ryght with herty wylle ; 
 This brod arwe I shete thai best ffor to sayhV ; 
 
 Now, haue at thai busche jon best for to spylle ! 
 A sharppe schote I shote, theroi I xal not fayll?. 173 
 
 CAYM. Out ! out ! and alas ! my hert is on-sondyr ; 
 
 With a brod arwe I am ded and sclayn. 
 I dye hen? on grounde ; my hert is all? to tundyr, 
 
 With this brod arwe it is clovyn on twayn. 
 
 LAMETH. Herke, boy, cum telle me the trewth in certeyn ; 
 What man is he that, this cry doth thus make ? 
 
 ADOLESCENS. Caym thou hast kyllyd, I telle the ful pleyn*?; 
 With sharp shetyng his deth hath he take. 181 
 
 LAMETH. Haue I slayn Cayme ? Alas ! what haue I done ? 
 
 Thou stynkynge lurdeyn, what hast thou wrought? 
 Thou art the [cause] why I scle hym so sone ; 
 
 Ther-iore xal I kylh? the. here, thou skapyst nowght. 
 
 Hie Latnetk cum area suo l verberat adolescentem ad mortem, dicente adolescente : 
 
 ADOLESCENS. Out ! out ! I deye here, my deth is now 
 
 sought. 
 This theffe with his bowe hath broke my brayn. 
 
 Ther may non helpe be, my dethe is me brought ; 
 Ded here I synke down, as man thai is sclayn. 189 
 
 LAMETH. Alas ! what xal I do, wrecch^, wykkyd on woolde ? 
 
 God wyl be vengyd ful sadly on me ; 
 ffor deth of Caym I xal haue vij folde
 
 38 HEGGE PLAYS. 
 
 More peyn Man he had ///at AbelU? dede sle. 
 
 These to mennys deth fulle sore bought xal be ; 
 Vpon alle my blood God wylk venge Mis dede. 
 
 Where-fore, sore wepyng, hens wyl I fle, 
 And loke where I may best my hede sone heyde. 197 
 
 Hie recedat Lameth et statitn intrat Noe cum naui cantantesl 
 
 NOE. With doolful hert, syenge sad and sore, 
 
 Grett mornyg I make for this dredful flood ; 
 Of man and of best is dreynte many a skore. 
 
 Alii? Mis werd 2 to spylk ///ese flodys be ful wood ; 
 
 And alle is for synne of manys wylde mood 
 Thai God hath ordeyned Mis dredfulte vengeauce. 8 
 
 In Mis flood spylt is many a mawnys blood ; 
 ffor synfulk levynge of man we haue gret grevaus. 205 
 
 Alle Mis hundryd ^ere ryght here haue I wrought 
 
 This schypp for to make, as God dede byd me ; 
 Of all? maner beste-r a copyll* is in brought 
 
 W/t^-in my shypp-borde on lyve for to be. 
 
 Ryght longe God hath soferyd, amendyg to se, 
 Alle Mis hundyrd 4 }ere God hath shewyd grace. 
 
 Alas ! fro gret syn man wyl not fle. 
 God doth Mis vengeaus for oure gret trespase. 213 
 
 NOE. Alas ! for gret ruthe of Mis gret vengeau#ce ! 
 
 Gret doyl it is to se Mis watyr so wyde. 
 But ^it thankyd be God of Mis ordenauwce, 
 
 Thai we be now savyd on lyve to a-byde. 
 
 SEEM, ffor grett synne of lechery alle Mis doth betyde ; 
 Alas ! thai evyr 8 suchi? synne xulde be wrought. 
 
 77/is fflood is so gret on every a syde, 6 
 Thai alle Mis wyde werd to care is now brought. 221 
 
 1 See Notes. * H. hundryd 
 
 2 H.; MS. were. 6 MS. O vyr. 
 8 MS. vengeauce. 6 MS asyde.
 
 NOAH AND LAMECH. 39 
 
 SEEM. Be-cawse of chylderyn of God that weryn good 
 
 Dede forfete ryght sore what tyme Mat Mei were 
 Synfully coupellyd l to Caymys blood, 
 
 Therfore be we now cast in ryght grett care. 
 
 CHAM, ffor synful levynge Mis werde doth for-fare. 
 So grevous 2 vengeaus myght nevyr man se ; 
 
 Ovyr all* this werd wyde ther is no plot bare. 
 With watyr and with flood God vengyd wylL? be. 229 
 
 Vxox CHAM. Rustynes of synne is cawse of Mese wawys. 
 
 Alas ! in this fflood ///is werd xal be lorn ; 
 ffor offens to God, brakyng his lawys, 
 
 On rokkys ryght sharp is many a man torn. 
 
 IAPHET. So grevous fflodys were nevyr ^ett be-forn ; 
 Alas ! that lechery Mis vengeaus doth gynne. 
 
 It were well*? bettyr euer to be vn-born 
 Than fforto forfetyn evyr-more in that synne. 237 
 
 Vxox IAPHET. Oure Lord God I thanke of his gret grace, 
 
 That he doth us saue from Mis dredful payn*. 
 Hym for to wurchipe in euery stede and place 
 
 We beth gretly bownde with myght and with mayn. 
 
 NOE. XL ti days and nyghter hath lasted this rayn, 
 And xl ti days this grett flood begynnyth to slake. 
 
 This crowe xal I sende out to seke sum playn ; 
 Good tydyng^j to brynge this massage I make. 245 
 
 Hie emittat coruum et parura expectans iterum dicat : 
 
 This crowe on sum careyn is fall* for to ete ; 
 
 T^er-fore a newe masangere I wyll* fforth* now sende. 
 ffly fforth, tho\\ fayr dove, ovyr these waterys wete, 
 
 Andaspye afftere sum drye lond oure mornyng to amend. 
 
 Hie euolet columba; yua rede-unte* cum ramo viridj oliue,* [dicat Noe : ] 
 
 loye now may we make of myrth Mat that were frende ; 
 A grett olyve bush* Mis dowe doth us brynge ; 
 
 1 MS. compellyd ; corr. by Kittredge. 3 MS. redeuite. 
 
 2 MS. grpvoiis. * H. viride olivae.
 
 4O HEGGE PLAYS. 
 
 ffor ioye of Mis tokyn ryght hertyly we tende. 
 Ouiv? Lord God to worchep a songe lete vs syge. 253 
 
 Hie decantent has versus : 
 
 Mare vidit, et fugit : lordanis conu&rsus est retrorsum. 
 Non nob'is, Domine, non nob\& ; ^ed nomint tuo da gloriam. 
 
 Et sic recedant cunt naui.
 
 BROME PLAY. 
 
 For this text I have used primarily the edition by Miss Lucy Toulmin Smith, 
 in Anglia, VII, 316-337, and secondarily the edition (also by Miss Smith) in "A 
 Commonplace Book of the Fifteenth Century . . . Printed from the Original 
 MS. at Brome Hall, Suffolk, by Lady Caroline Kerrison. Edited with notes by 
 Lucy Toulmin Smith. London and Norwich, 1886." In the footnotes, A. indicates 
 the Anglia edition ; B., The Boke of Brome ; MS. indicates a reading found in the 
 manuscript but relegated to the footnotes by Miss Smith. H. indicates the emen- 
 dations of Holthausen, Anglia, XIII, 361. 
 
 As to the MS. Miss Smith says : " The crossed //and h are constantly used, but 
 for this date (1470 or 1480) it did not seem necessary to treat them otherwise than 
 as // and /<." 
 
 [ABRAHAM AND ISAAC.] 
 
 ABRAHAM. Fader of heuyn owwipotent, 
 
 Vfiih all my hart to the I call ; 
 Thow hast ^offe me both lond and rent, 
 And my lyvelod thow hast me sent ; 
 
 I thanke the heyly eu^r-mon? of all. 5 
 
 Fyrst off the erth tho\\ madyst Adam, 
 
 And Eue also to be hys wyffe ; 
 All other creature 1 of them too cam ; 
 And now thow hast grant to me, Abraham, 
 
 Her in thys lond to lede my lyffe. 10 
 
 In my age thou hast grantyd me thys, 
 
 That thys }owng chyld wz't^ me shall won* ; 
 I love no-thyng so myche, i-wysse, 
 Excepe 2 thin. owyn<? selffe, der Fad<?r of blysse, 
 
 As Ysaac her, my owyn* swete son. 1 5 
 
 1 B. creatures. Such differences bet-ween the two prints I shall not record 
 hereafter. 2 B. Except.
 
 42 BROME PLAY. 
 
 I haue dyu^rse chyldryn moo, 
 
 The wych I love not halffe so wyll ; 
 Thys fayer swet chyld he schereys me soo 
 In evu?ry place wer that I goo, 
 
 That noo dessece her may I fell. 20 
 
 And therfor, 1 Fadyr of heuyn, I the prey 
 
 For hys helth and also for hys grace ; 
 Now, Lord, kepe hym both nygth and day, 
 That neuer dessese nor noo fray 
 
 Cume to my chyld in noo place. 25 
 
 Now cum on, Ysaac, my owyn^ swet 2 chyld ; 
 
 Goo we horn and take owr rest. 
 ISAAC. Abraham, myn^ owyn^ fader so myld, 
 To folowe ^ow I am full prest, 8 
 
 Bothe erly and late. 
 ABRAHAM. Cume on, swete chyld, I love the best 
 
 Of all the chyldryn that eu<?r I be-gat. 32 
 
 \_Godspeaks above^ 
 
 DEUS. Myn angell, fast hey the thy wey, 
 
 And on-to medyll-erth anon tho\i goo ; 
 Abrams hart now wyll I asay, 
 
 Wether that he be stedfast or noo. 36 
 
 Sey I comwaw[n]dyd 4 hym for to take 
 
 Ysaac, hys ^owng sonne, thai he love so wyll, 
 
 And wzt& hys blood sacryfyce he make, 
 
 Yffe ony off my freynchepe he 6 wyll ffell. 40 
 
 Schow hym the wey on-to the hylle 
 Wer that hys sacryffyce schall be. 
 
 1 B. ther for. 2 B. swete. 
 
 MS. glad ; cf. Englische Studien, XIX, 150. 
 
 * A. inserts the n, but it is regularly omitted in this MS. 
 
 6 A. B. yf before he.
 
 ABRAHAM AND ISAAC. 43 
 
 I schall a-say now hys good wyll, 
 
 Whether he lovyth 1 better hys chyld or me. 
 All men schall take exampyll be hym 
 
 My cowmawmet? s how they schall kepe. 46 
 
 \The angel begins to descend.} 
 
 ABRAHAM. Now, Fader of heuyn, that formyd all thyng, 
 
 My preyenrj I make to the a-jeyn, 
 For thys day my tender offryng 
 
 Here mvst I }eve to the, certeyn. 
 A ! Lord God, all-myty Kyng, 
 
 Wat man^r best woll make the most f ayn ? 
 Yff I had ther-of very knoyng, 
 
 Yt schuld be don wz't^ all my mayne 
 Full sone anon^. 2 
 
 To don thy plesyng on an hyll, 
 
 Verely yt ys my wyll, 
 
 Dere Fad<?r, God in tr/nyte. 58 
 
 THE ANGELL. Abraham, Abraham, wyll thou rest ! 
 
 Owr Lord comandyth the for to take 
 Ysaac, thy jowng son<? that thow lovyst best, 
 
 And wz't^ hys blod sacryfyce that thow make. 62 
 
 In-to the lond of V[i]syon 8 thow goo, 
 
 And offer thy chyld on-to thy Lord ; 
 I schall the lede and schow all-soo. 
 
 Vnto Godd<?j hest, Abraham, a-cord, 66 
 
 And folow me vp-on thys gren<?. 
 
 ABRAHAM. Wolle-com to me be my Lord<?.r sond, 
 
 And hys hest I wyll not wzt^-stond ; 
 
 3yt Ysaac, my $owng sonne in lond, 
 A full der* chyld to me haue byn. 71 
 
 l A. B. lovyd. 
 
 3 For anone, H. suggests by me, to rhyme -with 58. 
 
 *Corr. 6yH.
 
 44 BROME PLAY. 
 
 I had lever, yf God had be plesyd, 
 
 For to a for-bore all tht good that I haue, 
 Than Ysaac my son* schuld a be desessyd, 
 
 So God in heuyn my sowll mot saue ! 75 
 
 I lovyd neu<?r thyng soo mych in erde, 1 
 
 And now I mvst the chyld goo kyll. 
 A ! Lord God, my conseons ys stroly steryd, 
 And }yt, my den? Lord, I am sore 2 a-ferd 
 
 To groche ony thyng a-^ens ^owr 8 wyll. 80 
 
 I love my chyld as my lyffe, 
 
 But }yt I love my God myche more, 
 For thow my hart woold make ony stryffe, 
 3yt wyll I not spare for chyld nor wyffe, 
 
 But don after my Lord^J lore. 85 
 
 Thow I love my sonne neuer so wyll, 
 
 3yt smyth* of hys hed sone I schall. 
 A ! Fad<?r of heuyn, to the I knell, 
 An hard deth<? my son schall fell 
 
 For to honor the, Lord, wz'tA-all. 90 
 
 THE ANGELL. Abraham ! Abraham ! thys ys wyll seyd, 
 And all thys comame#t? s loke thai thou kepe ; 4 
 
 But in thy hart be no-thyng dysmayd. 8 
 
 ABRAHAM. Nay, nay, for-soth, I hold me wyll plesyd 6 
 
 To plesse 7 my God to the best thai I haue. 8 95 
 
 For thow my hart be heuely sett 
 
 To see the blood of my owyn dere son^, 
 3yt for all thys I wyll not lett, [Exit angel.] 
 But Ysaac, my son, I wyll goo fett, 
 
 And cum asse fast as ever we can. 100 
 
 iMS.erthe. 6 H./OT MS. dysmasyd. 
 
 2 A. sere. (ty.: a-payd. 
 
 B. jowre. 1 MS. pelsse. 
 
 * Qy. : loke thou obay. 8 Q y . : mz y f
 
 ABRAHAM AND ISAAC. 45 
 
 Now, Ysaac, my owyiv son dere, 
 
 Wer art thow, chyld ? Speke to me. 
 YSAAC. My fayer J swet fader, I am here, 
 
 And make my pr^yrys to the. Trenyte. 104 
 
 ABRAHAM. Rysse vp, my chyld, and fast cum heder, 
 
 My gentyll barn tha\. art so wysse, 
 For we to, chyld, must goo to-geder 
 
 And on-to my Lord make sacryffyce. 108 
 
 YSAAC. I am full redy, my fader, loo ! 
 
 3evyn at 30 wr hand^j I stand rygth here, 
 And wat-so-eu^r 36 byd me doo, 
 
 Yt schall be don vti\Ji glad cher, 
 
 Full wyll and fyne. 2 
 ABRAH/I M. A ! Ysaac, my owyn son soo dew, 
 
 God^r blyssyng I ^yffe the, and myn. 115 
 
 Hold thys fagot vp-on th\ bake, 
 
 And her my-selffe fyer schall bryng. 
 YSAAC. Fader, all thys her wyll I packe ; 
 
 I am full fayn to do pwr bedyng. 
 
 ABRAH.4 M. A ! Lord of heuyn, my Inandes I wryng, 
 
 Thys chyldes wordes all to-wond my harte. 121 
 
 Now, Ysaac son, 8 goo we owr wey 
 
 On-to 3on mownte, wii/t all owr mayn. 
 YSAAC. Go we, 4 my den? fader, as fast as I may ; 
 To folow ^ow I am full fayn 
 
 All-thow I be slendyr. 
 ABRAH/I M. A ! Lord, my hart brekyth on tweyn, 6 
 
 Thys chyld^j wordes, they be so tender. 128 
 
 [ They arrive at the Mount."] 
 
 A ! Ysaac, son, a-non ley yt down, 
 
 No lenger vp-on th\ backe yt hold, 6 
 
 1 B. fader. * B. Gowe. 
 
 2 A. syne. 8 MS. tewyn ; corr. by A. 
 
 8 B. on. 6 MS. here; corr. by Kittredge (cf. v. 116).
 
 46 BROME PLAY. 
 
 For I mvst make redy bon 
 
 To honowr my Lord God as I schuld. 1 132 
 
 YSAAC. Loo, my den? fad^r, wer yt ys ! 
 
 To cher ^ow all-wey I draw me ner ; 
 But, fader, I m^rvell sore of thys, 
 
 Wy thai 36 make thys heuy chen? ; 136 
 
 And also, fader, eu<?r-more dred I : 
 
 Wer ys }owr qweke best thai 36 schuld kyll? 
 Both fyer and wood we haue redy, 
 
 But queke best haue we non on this hyll. 140 
 
 A qwyke best, I wot wyll, must be ded 
 
 ^owr sacryfyce for to make. 2 
 
 ABRAHAM. Dred the nowyth, my chyld, I the red, 
 Owr Lord wyll send me on-to thys sted 
 Summ maner a best for to take, 
 
 Throw hys swet sond. 
 YSAAC. 3 a > fad^, but my hart begynnyth to quake 
 
 To se thai scharpe sword in ^owr hond. 148 
 
 Wy bere 36 ^owr sword drawyn soo ? 
 
 Off 3owre cownaus I haue mych wonder. 
 ABRAHAM. A ! Fader of heuyn, so 8 I am woo ! 
 
 Thys chyld her brekys my harte on-sonder. 4 152 
 
 YSAAC. Tell me, my dere fader, or that 36 ses, 
 
 Ber ^e 3owr sword draw[yn] 5 for me ? 
 ABRAHAM. A ! Ysaac, swet son, pes ! pes ! 
 
 For i-wys thow breke my harte on thre. 156 
 
 YSAAC. Now trewly, su/-wat, 6 fader, 36 thynke, 
 That 36 morne thus more and more. 
 
 1 A. suggests that I fere for as I schuld. H. prefers as dewli were. 
 
 2 Lines 141, 142 reversed in MS.; corr. by A. 
 8 MS. os ; corr. by A. 
 
 * A. B. on too ; H.'s correction on basis of Chester Play. 
 6 Corr. by H. 6 B. su*-what.
 
 ABRAHAM AND ISAAC. 47 
 
 ABRAHAM. A ! Lord of heuyn, thy grace let synke, 
 
 For my hart was 1 neuer halffe so sore. 160 
 
 YSAAC. I preye jow, fad<?r, that }e wyll let me thai wyt, 
 
 Wyther schall I haue ony harme or noo. 
 ABRAHAM. I-wys, swet son, I may not tell the 3yt, 
 
 My hart ys now soo full of woo. 164 
 
 YSAAC. Dere fad<?r, I prey }ow, hyd yt 2 not fro me, 
 But sum of ^owr thowt that }e tell me. 
 ABRAHAM. A ! Ysaac, Ysaac, I must kyll the ! 
 
 YSAAC. Kyll me, fad^r? alasse ! wat haue I don^? 168 
 
 Yff I haue trespassyd a-^ens }ow owt, 
 
 Wzt^ a ^ard ^e may make me full myld ; 
 And with }owr scharp sword kyll me nogth, 
 
 For i-wys, f ad^r, I am but a chyld. 1 72 
 
 ABRAHAM. I am full sory, son, thy blood for to spyll, 
 
 But truly, my chyld, I may not chese. 
 
 YSAAC. Now I wold to God my moder wen? her on tMs s hyll! 
 Sche woold knele for me on both hyr kneys 
 
 To save my lyffe. 
 
 And sythyn that my mod<?r ys not here, 
 I prey }ow, iader, schonge -yowr chen?, 
 
 And kyll me not with jowyr knyffe. 1 80 
 
 ABRAHAM. For-sothe, son, but }yf I the kyll, 
 
 I schuld greve God rygth sore, I drede ; 
 Yt ys hys cowmawment and also hys wyll 
 
 That I schuld do thys same dede. 184 
 
 He cowmawdyd me, son, for serteyn, 
 
 To make my sacryfyce wz't^ thy blood. 
 YSAAC. And ys yt Godd<?.r wyll that I schuld be slayn? 
 
 ABRAHAM. 3 a 4 tru ly> Ysaac, my son soo good, 
 
 And ther-for my hand^j I wryng. 189 
 
 1 B. wos. A. ys ; B. yis = tAis. 
 
 * A. B. hydygth. * B. Za.
 
 48 BROME PLAY. 
 
 YSAAC. Now, fader, a^ens my Lord<?j wyll * 
 I wyll neuer groche, lowd nor styll ; 
 
 He mygth a sent me a better desteny 
 Yf yt had a be hys plecer. 2 193 
 
 ABRAHAM. For-sothe, son, but yf Y 8 ded this dede, 
 
 Grevosly dysplessyd owr Lord wyll be. 
 YSAAC. Nay, nay, fader, God for-bede 
 
 That euer 30 schuld gr^ve hym for me. 197 
 
 3e haue other chyldryn, on or too, 
 
 The wyche 36 schuld love wyll be kynd. 
 I prey jow, iader, make 36 no woo, 
 For, be I onys ded and fro jow goo, 
 
 I schall be sone owt of jowr mynd. 202 
 
 Ther-for doo owr Lordly byddyng, 
 
 And wan I am ded, than prey for me ; 
 But, good fadi?r, tell 36 my mod^r no-thyng, 
 Say 4 thai I am in a-nother cuwtre dwellyng. 8 
 
 ABRAHAM. A ! Ysaac, Ysaac, blessyd mot thow be ! 207 
 
 My hart be-gynnyth 6 stronly to rysse, 
 
 To see the blood off thy blyssyd body. 
 YSAAC. Fadyr, syn yt may be noo other wysse, 
 
 Let yt passe ouer as wyll as I. 211 
 
 But, iader, or I goo on-to my deth, 
 
 I prey 3ow blysse me with 3owr hand. 
 ABRAHX M. Now, Ysaac, with all my breth 
 My blyssyng I 3eve the. vpon thys lond 
 
 And God<?j also ther-to, i-wys. 
 Ysaac, Ysaac, son^, vp thow stond, 
 
 Thy fayer swete mowthe that I may kys. 218 
 
 1 Qy. : decre. * B. Sey. 
 
 2 Qy.: wylL 6 MS. dewllyng; corr. by A. 
 
 * B. I. 6 MS. begynnyd ; A. suggests begynnys
 
 ABRAHAM AND ISAAC. 49 
 
 YSAAC. Now for-wyll, my owyn<? fader so fyn, 
 
 And grete wyll my mod<?r in erde. 1 
 But I prey ^ow, fader, to hyd my eyne, 
 
 That I se not the. stroke of ^owr scharpe swerd, 3 
 
 That my fleysse schall defyle. 
 
 ABRAHAM. Son*?, thy wordes make me to wepe 8 full sore ; 
 Now, my den? son Ysaac, speke no more. 
 YSAAC. A ! my owyru? den? fader, were-fon? ? 
 
 We schall speke to-gedyr her but a wylle. 227 
 
 And sythyn that I must nedysse be ded, 
 
 3yt, my den? fader, to pw I prey, 
 Smyths but fewe 4 stroke at my hed, 
 
 And make an end as sone as je may, 
 
 And tery not to longe. 
 ABRAHAM. Thy meke word<?j, chyld, make me afray; 6 
 
 So, "welawey!" may be my songe, 234 
 
 Excepe aloly Codes wyll. 
 
 A ! Ysaac, my owyn swete chyld, 
 3yt kysse me a-^en vp-on thys hyll ! 
 
 In all thys war[l]d 6 ys no soo myld. 238 
 
 YSAAC. Now truly, fader, all thys teryyng 
 
 Yt doth my hart but harme ; 
 I prey }ow, fader, make an enddyng. 
 
 ABRAHAM. Cume vp, swet son, on-to my arme. 242 
 
 I must bynd thy handes 7 too, 
 
 All-thow thow be neuer soo myld. 
 YSAAC. A ! m^rcy, fader ! wy schuld ^e do soo ? 
 
 ABRAHAM. That thow schuldyst not let, 8 my chyld. 246 
 
 1 A. B. erthe. 6 A. B. afrayed. 
 
 2 A. B. sword. 6 ward is the regular form of world in this MS. 
 8 B. weep. 7 B. hands. 
 
 * A. B. feve. 8 A. B. insert [me].
 
 5O BROME PLAY. 
 
 YSAAC. Nay, i-wysse, facU?r, I wyll not let }ow ; 
 
 Do on for me 30 wr wyll, 
 And on the purpos that }e haue set $ow 
 
 For Codes love kepe yt forthe styll. 250 
 
 I am full sory thys day to dey, 
 
 But ^yt I kepe not my God to greve ; 
 Do on jowr lyst for me hardly, 
 
 My fayer swete fad^r, I jeffe $ow leve. 254 
 
 But, fad^r, I prey }ow eu^r-more, 
 
 Tell }e my mod^r no dell ; 
 Yffe sche wost yt, 1 sche wold wepe full sore, 
 
 For i-wysse, fader, sche lovyt me full wylle, 
 
 blyssyng mot sche haue ! 2 259 
 
 Now for-wyll, my moder so swete, 
 
 We too be leke no mor to mete. 
 ABRAHAM. A ! Ysaac, Ysaac ! son, thou makyst me to gret, 
 
 And wz't^ thy word^j thow dystempurst me. 263 
 
 YSAAC. I-wysse, swete fader, I am sory to greve ^ow, 
 
 I cry }ow m<?rcy of that I haue donne, 
 And of all trespasse that euer I ded meve }ow ; 
 
 Now, dere fad^r, for-^yffe me thai I haue donne. 
 
 God of heuyn be with me ! 268 
 
 ABRAHAM. A ! dere chyld, lefe of thy monys ; 
 In all thy lyffe thow grevyd me neu^r onys ; 
 Now blyssyd be thow, body and bonys, 
 
 That eu*?r thow wen? bred and born ! 
 Thow hast be to me chyld full good. 
 
 But i-wysse, chyld, thow I morne neu<?r so fast, 
 
 3yt must I ned^j- here at the last 
 In thys place sched all thy blood. 276 
 
 1 A. B. wostyt. 
 
 2 H. suggests haue mot sche, to rhyme -with 263.
 
 ABRAHAM AND ISAAC. 5 1 
 
 Ther-for, my dere son, hen? schall thou lye. 
 
 On-to my warke I must me stede, 
 I-wysse I had as leve my-selffe to dey 
 
 Yff God wyll be l plecyd wyth my dede 
 
 And myn owyn body for to offer. 
 YSAAC. A ! mercy, tader, morne ^e no more, 
 3owr wepyng make 2 my hart sore, 
 
 As my owyn deth that I schall suffer. 284 
 
 3owr kerche, fad^r, a-bowt my eyn }e wynd ! 
 
 ABRAHAM. So I schall, my swettest chyld in erde. 8 
 YSAAC. Now }yt, good fad<?r, haue thys in mynd, 
 
 And smyth me not oftyn w/t^ yowr scharp swerd, 4 
 But hastely that yt be sped. 
 
 Here Abraham leyd a cloth on Ysaacesface, thus seyyng: 
 
 ABRAHAM. Now fore-wyll, my chyld, so full of grace. 
 YSAAC. A ! iader, iader, torne downgward my face, 
 
 For of ^owr scharpe sword I am eu^r a-dred. 292 
 
 ABRAHAM. To don thys dede I am full sory, 
 
 But, Lord, thyn hest I wyll not w/t^-stond. 
 YSAAC. A ! Fader of heuyn, to the I crye, 
 
 Lord, reseyve me in-to 5 thy hand. 296 
 
 ABRAHAM. Loo ! now ys the tyme cum certeyn 
 
 That my sword in hys necke schall bite. 6 
 A ! Lord, my hart reysyth ther-ageyn, 7 
 
 I may not fynd yt 8 in my harte to smygth, 
 My hart wyll not now ther-too. 
 
 3yt fayn I woold warke my Lord^j wyll ; 
 
 But thys ^owng innosent lygth so styll, 
 
 I may not fynd yt 8 in my hart hym to kyll. 
 
 ! Fader of heuyn ! what schall I doo ? 305 
 
 1 B. omits be. 6 A, omits to. 
 
 2 H. maketh. 6 MS. synke ; corr. by H. 
 8 A. B. erthe. 1 B. the ageyn. 
 
 * A. B. sword. 8 A. B. fyndygth.
 
 52 BROME PLAY. 
 
 YSAAC. A ! mercy, fader, wy tery }e so, 
 
 And let me ley thus longe on this heth*? 
 Now I wold to God th& stroke wen? doo ! 
 Fader, I prey }ow hartely, schorte me of my woo, 
 
 And let me not loke thus aiier my degth. 310 
 
 ABRAHAM. Now, hart, wy wolddyst not thow breke on thre? 
 
 3yt schall M[0]u not make me to my God on-myld. 
 I wyll no lenger let for the, 
 For that my God a-grevyd wold be ; 
 
 Now hoold tha stroke, my owyn den? chyld. 315 
 
 Her A bro.ka.rn draw 1 Ays stroke and th^ * angell take the sword in hys hand 
 soddenly. 
 
 THE ANGELL. I am an angell, thow mayist se blythe, 
 
 That fro heuyn to the ys senth. 
 Owr Lord thanke the an C sythe 
 
 For the kepyng of hys cowmawment 319 
 
 He knowyt th\ wyll and also thy harte, 
 
 That thow dredyst hym above all thyng ; 
 And sum of thy hevynes for to departe 
 
 A fayr ram yynder I gan brynge ; 323 
 
 He standyth teyed, loo ! a-mong tht bren?j. 
 
 Now, Abraham, a-mend thy mood, 
 For Ysaac, thy pwng son thai her ys, 
 
 Thys day schall not sched hys blood ; 327 
 
 Goo, make thy sacryfece viiih }on 8 rame. 
 Now for-wyll, blyssyd Abraham, 
 
 For on-to heuyn I goo now horn ; 
 The way ys full gayn. 
 
 Take vp thy son soo free. [.Ejraf.] 332 
 
 ABRAHAM. A ! Lord, I thanke the of thy gret grace, 
 Now am I yeyed 4 on dyuers wysse ; 
 
 1 B. drew. * B. the. 8 A. jou. * Qy. .- for ethed = eased. 

 
 ABRAHAM AND ISAAC. 53 
 
 A-rysse vp, Ysaac, my den? sune, a-rysse ; 
 
 A-rysse vp, swete chyld, and cum to me. 336 
 
 YSAAC. A ! mercy, fader, wy smygth ^e nowt ? l 
 
 A ! smygth on, iader, onys wz'U }owr knyffe. 
 ABRAHAM. Pesse, my swet son, 2 and take no thowt, 8 
 
 For owr Lord of heuyn hath grant th\ lyffe 
 
 Be hys angell now, 341 
 
 That thovi schalt not dey this day, 4 sune, truly. 
 YSAAC. A ! fad^r, full glad than wer I, 
 I-wys, fader, I sey, i-wys, 
 Yf thys tale wer trew. 
 
 ABRAHAM. An hundyrd tymys, my son fayer of hew, 
 For joy th\ mowth 6 now wyll I kys. 347 
 
 YSAAC. A ! my dere fader, Abraham, 
 
 Wyll not God be wroth that we do thus ? 
 ABRAHAM. Noo, noo ! har[de]ly, my swyt son, 
 
 For ^yn same rame he hath vs sent 6 
 
 Hether down to vs. 7 352 
 
 3yn best schall dey hen? in th\ sted, 
 
 In the wor/^schup 8 of owr Lord a-lon ; 
 Goo, fet hym hethyr, my chyld, in-ded. 
 YSAAC. Fad^r, I wyll goo hent hym be the hed, 
 
 And bryng 30 n best wz't^ me a-non. 357 
 
 {Isaac catches the ram.] 
 
 A ! scheppe, scheppe, blyssyd 9 mot thoM be, 
 That euer thow wen? sent down heder ! 
 Thow schall thys day dey for me, 
 In the worchup of the holy Trynyte. 
 
 1 MS. not ?yt ; corr. by H. 
 
 2 A. B. sir. < B. dey. 
 
 8 H. proposes dowt. 6 B. mowt. 
 
 6 H. proposes : For he hath sent us }yn same rame. 
 
 7 Qy. : Noo, noo, swyt son, for 3yn same rame 
 
 He hath sent hether down to vs. 
 
 8 MS. worpschup; corr. by A. 9 B. blessed.
 
 54 BROME PLAY. 
 
 Now cum fast and goo we to-ged^r 
 
 To my Fader of heuyn. 1 
 Thow thoM. be neuer so jentyll and good, 
 3yt had I \euer thow schedyst tK\ blood, 
 
 I-wysse, scheppe, than I. 366 
 
 Loo ! iader, I haue browt her*? full smerte 
 
 Thys jentyll scheppe, 2 and hym to }ow I ^yffe ; 
 But, Lord God, I thanke the. 3 wz'tA all my hart, 
 For I am glad that I schall leve 
 
 And kys onys my dere moder. 
 ABRAHAM. Now be rygth myry, my swete chyld, 
 For thys qwyke best thai ys so myld 
 
 Hen? I schall present be-fore all other. 374 
 
 YsAAC; And I wyll fast be-gynne to blowe ; 
 Thys fyer schall brene a full good spyd. 
 But, fader, wyll I stowppe down*? lowe, 
 3e wyll not kyll me wzt^ ^owr sword, I trowe ? 
 
 ABRAHAM. Noo, har[de]ly, swet son, haue no dred, 
 
 My mornyng ys past. 
 YSAAC. 3 a ' but I woold thai sword wer in a gled, 4 
 
 For, i-wys, fader, yt make me full yll a-gast. 382 
 
 /fere A brah&m mad kys offryng, knelyng and seyyng thus : 
 
 ABRAHAM. Now, Lord God of heuen in Trynyte, 
 
 All-myty God omnipotent, 
 My offeryng I make in the worchope of the, 
 
 And w/'t^ thys qweke best I the present. 
 
 Lord, reseyve thow myn intent, 
 
 As [thow] art God and grownd of owr grace. 388 
 
 1 Qy. : To my fad^r in hy. 
 
 2 As two lines in A. B., the first ending here. From here my numbering 
 is one line behind Miss Smith's. 
 
 3 B. ye. 
 
 4 A. B. glad = gled.
 
 ABRAHAM AND ISAAC. 55 
 
 \God speaks from above '.] 
 
 DEUS. Abraham, Abraham, wyll mot thow sped, 
 
 And Ysaac, th\ jowng son the by ! 
 Trvly, Abraham, for thys dede 
 I schall mvltyplye jowrej bothers sede 
 As thyke as sterrw be in the skye, 
 
 Bothe more and lesse ; 
 And as thyke as gravell in the see, 
 So thyke mvltyplyed }owr sede schall be ; 
 
 Thys grant I }ow for ^owr goodnesse. 397 
 
 Off }ow schall cume frowte gret [won], 
 
 And euer be in blysse w/t^-owt }ynd. 
 For $e drede me as God a-lon 
 And kepe my cowmawment^J eu^ryschon, 
 
 My blyssyng I ^effe, wer-so-eu^r ^e wend. 1 402 
 
 ABRAHAM. Loo ! Ysaac, my son, how thynke $e 
 
 Be thys warke that we haue wrogth ? 
 Full glad and blythe we may be, 
 
 A^ens /^e wyll of God that we grucched nott, 
 
 Vp-on thys fayer hetth. 
 
 YSAAC. A ! fader, I thanke owr Lord euery dell, 
 That my wyt servyd me so wyll 
 
 For to drede God more than my detth. 410 
 
 ABRAHAM. Why! dere- wordy son, wer thow a-dred? 
 
 Hardely, chyld, tell me thy lore. 
 YSAAC. 3 a b e m y feyth, fad^r, now haue 2 I red, 
 I wos neuer soo afrayd be-fore 
 As I haue byn at }yn hyll. 
 But, be my feyth, fader, I swere 
 I wyll neu^r-more cume there 
 
 But yt be a-^ens my wyll. 418 
 
 l A. B. goo ; corr. by H. 2 A. B. hath.
 
 56 BROME PLAY. 
 
 ABRAHAM. 3 a CVLfn on wzt ^ me > m y owyn swet son, 
 And horn-ward fast now let vs goon. 
 
 YSAAC. Be my feyth, fad^r, ther-to I grant, 
 I had neu^r so good wyll to gon horn, 
 
 And to speke wz't^ my der<? moder. 
 ABRAHAM. A ! Lord of heuyn, I thanke the, 
 For now may I led horn wz'tA me 
 Ysaac, my ^ownge sonw so f re, 
 
 The gentyllest chyld a-bove all other,! 
 
 Thys may I wyll a-voee. 428 
 
 Now goo we forthe, my blyssyd son. 
 YSAAC. I grant, fader, and let vs gon, 
 For be my trowthe wer I at home, 
 I wold neiu?r gon owt vnder that forme. 
 I pray God ^effe vs grace eu<?r-mo, 
 And all thow that we be holdyng to. 434 
 
 [Exeunt. Enter Doctor I\ 
 
 DOCTOR. Lo ! sov^reyns and sorys, now haue we schowyd 
 
 Thys solom story 2 to grete and smale ; 
 It ys good lernyng to lernd and lewyd 
 And the. wysest of vs all, 
 
 Wyth-owtyn ony berryng. 
 For thys story schoyt }owe [her] 
 How we schuld kepe to owr po[we]re 
 
 Godd*y co/mawmets w/t^-owt grochyng. 442 
 
 Trowe 36, sores, and . God sent an angell 
 
 And cowmawndyd ^ow pwr chyld to slayn, 8 
 Be }owr trowthe ys ther ony of jow 
 
 That eyther wold groche or stryve ther-ageyn ? 
 How thyngke }e now, sorys, ther-by ? 
 
 1 MS. erthe ; corr. by A. 
 
 3 A. B. hove hath schowyd after story ; corr. by H. 
 
 8 A. B. to smygth of ^owr chyldes hed ; corr by H.
 
 ABRAHAM AND ISAAC. 5? 
 
 I trow ther be iij or iiij or moo. 
 And thys women that wepe so sorowfully 
 Whan that hyr chyldryn dey them froo, 
 
 As nater woll 1 and kynd, 
 Yt ys but folly, I may well awooe, 
 To groche a-^ens God or to grevo. pw, 
 For }e schall neuer se hym myschevyd, wyll I know, 
 
 Be lond nor watyr, haue thys in mynd ; 455 
 
 And groche not a-^ens owr Lord God 
 
 In welth or woo, wether that he jow send, 
 Thow 36 be neuer so hard be-stad ; 
 
 For when he wyll, he may yt a-mend, 
 Hys comawment^J trevly 2 yf ^e kepe wz't^ goo[d] 8 hart, 
 
 As thys story hath now schowyd }ow be-for[n]^, 4 
 And feytheffully serve hym qwyll ^e be qvart, 
 
 That 36 may piece God bothe euyn and morne. 
 
 Now Jesu. that weryt the crown of thorne, 
 
 Bryng vs all to heuyn blysse ! 465 
 
 Finis. 
 
 1 woll twice in MS. 3 So A. B. 
 
 2 B. treuly. * Corr. by H.
 
 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 For information as to the text, see above, p. 13. The fragmentary condition o 
 the first piece, Isaac, is due to the loss of two leaves of the MS. at this place. 
 
 
 I. 
 
 [ISAAC.] 
 
 [ISAAC.] Com nere, son, and kys me, 
 
 That I may feyle the smell of the. 
 
 The smell of my son is lyke 
 
 To a feld with flouris, or hony bike. 
 
 Where art thou, Esaw, my son ? 
 
 IACOB. Here, fad^r, and a.skzs youre benyson. 
 
 ISAAC. The blyssyng my fad^r gaf to me, 
 
 God of heuen & I gif the : 
 
 God gif the plente grete 
 
 Of wyne, of oyll, and of whete ; io 
 
 And graunt thi childre all 
 
 To worship the, both grete and small ; 
 
 Who-so the blyssys, blyssed be he ; 
 
 Who-so the waris, wared be he. 
 
 Now has thou my grete blyssyng, 
 
 Loue the shall all thyne ofspryng ; 
 
 Go now whed^r thou has to go. 
 
 IACOB. Graunt mm:y, s/>, I will do so. 
 
 Recedet locob. [Esau advances^ 
 
 ESAW. Haue ete, fad<?r, of myn huntyng, 
 
 And gif me sythen your blyssyng. 20
 
 ISAAC. 59 
 
 ISAAC. Who is that? 
 
 ESAW. I, youre son, 
 
 Esaw, bryngz'j you venyson, 
 
 ISAAC. Who was that was right now here 
 
 And broght me bruet of a dere ? 
 
 I ete well, and blyssyd hym ; 
 
 And he is blyssyd, ich a lym. 
 
 ESAW. Alas ! I may grete and sob. 
 
 ISAAC. Thou art begylyd thrugh lacob 
 
 That is thyne awne german brother. 
 
 ESAW. Haue ye kepyd me none other 30 
 
 Blyssyng then ye set hym one ? 
 
 ISAAC. Sich another haue I none ; 
 
 Bot God gif the to thyn handband 
 
 The dew of heuen & frute of land ; 
 
 Other then this can I not say. 
 
 ESAW. Now, alas and walo-way ! 
 
 May I with that tratoure mete, 
 
 My faders dayes shall com wz't^ grete, 
 
 And my moders also ; 
 
 May I hym mete, I shall hym slo. 40 
 
 [Esau retires. Rebecca advances I\ 
 
 REBECCA. Isaac, it were my deth 
 
 If lacob weddeth in kynd of Heth ; 
 
 I will send hym to Aran, 
 
 There my brothere dwellys, Laban ; 
 
 And there may he s^rue in peasse 
 
 Till his brothers 1 wrath will seasse. 
 
 Why shuld I apon a day 
 
 Loyse both my sonnes ? better nay. 
 
 ISAAC. Thou says soth, wife ; call hym hed^r, 
 
 And let vs tell hym where & whed^r 50 
 
 That he may fle Esaw, 
 
 That vs both hetz> bale to brew. 
 
 i E. E. T. S. brother's.
 
 6O TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 REBECCA. lacob, son ! thi fad<?r & I 
 Wold speke w/'tA the ; com, stand vs by ! 
 
 \_Jacob advances^ . 
 
 Out of contry must thou fle, 
 
 That Esaw slo not the. 
 
 IACOB. Whederward shuld I go, dame? 
 
 REBECCA. To Mesopotameam ; 
 
 To my brothere, and thyn erne, 
 
 That dwellys besyde Jordan streme ; 60 
 
 And ther may thou with hym won, 
 
 To Esaw, myne other son, 
 
 fforget, and all his wrath be dede. 
 
 IACOB. I will go, fad^r, at youre rede. 
 
 ISAAC. Yei, son, do as thi mod^r says ; 
 
 Com kys vs both, & weynd thi ways. 
 
 Et osculat\u. 
 
 IACOB. Haue good day, szr and dame ! 
 
 ISAAC. God sheld the, son, from syn and shame ! 
 
 REBECCA. And gif the grace good man to be, 
 
 And send me glad tythingw to * the. 70 
 
 Explicit Isaac. 
 
 II. 
 
 [JACOB.] 3 
 
 IACOB. Help me, Lord, Adonay, 
 
 And hald me in the right way 
 
 To Mesopotameam ! 
 
 ffor I cam neu^r or now where 8 I am ; 
 
 I cam neu^r here in this centre. 
 
 Lord of heuen, thou help me ! 
 
 ffor I haue maide me, in this strete, 
 
 Sore bonys & warkand feete. 
 
 i Qy.: fro. 
 
 3 E. E. T. S. Sequitr lacob. 
 
 8 Qy.: change now where to where now/or metre.
 
 JACOB. 6 1 
 
 The son is downe, what is best ? 
 
 Her purpose I all nyght to rest ; 10 
 
 Vnder my hede this ston shal ly ; 
 
 A nyghtis rest take will I. 
 
 [He sleeps. God appears and speaks.] 
 
 DEUS. lacob, lacob, thi God I am, 
 
 Of thi forfad<?r Abraham, 
 
 And of thi fader Isaac. 
 
 it shall the blys for thare sake. 
 
 This land that thou slepys in 
 
 I shall the gif, and thi kyn ; 
 
 I shall thi seede multyply, 
 
 As thyk as powder on erth may ly ; 20 
 
 The kynd of the shall sprede wide, 
 
 ffrom eest to west on eu^ry syde, 
 
 ffrom the south vnto the north, 
 
 All that I say, I shall forth, 
 
 And all the folkz'j of thyne ofspryng, 
 
 Shal be blyssyd of thy blyssyng. 
 
 lacob, haue thou no kyns drede ! 
 
 I shall the clethe, I shall the fede ; 
 
 Whartfull shall I make thi gate ; 
 
 I shal the help erly and late ; 30 
 
 And all in qwart shall I bryng the 
 
 Home agane to thi countre. 
 
 I shall not fay 11, be thou bold, 
 
 Bot I shall do as I haue told. 
 
 Hie vigilet. 
 
 IACOB. A ! Lord, what may this mene ? 
 
 What haue I herd Jin slepe, and sene? 
 
 That God leynyd hym to a stegh 
 
 And spake to me, it is no leghe ! 
 
 And now is here none othere gate 
 
 Bot God/j howse and heuens yate. 40
 
 02 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 Lord, how dredfull is this stede ! 
 
 Ther I layde downe my hede, 
 
 In Godz'-r lovyng I rayse this stone, 
 
 And oyll will I putt theron. 
 
 Lord of heuen, that all wote, 
 
 Here to the I make a hote : 
 
 If thou gif me mete and foode, 
 
 And close to body, as I behoued, 
 
 And bryng me home to kyth and kyn 
 
 By the way that I walk in, 50 
 
 Without skathe and in quarte, 
 
 I promyse to the vittA stedfast hart, 
 
 As thou art Lord and God myne 
 
 And I lacob, thi trew hyne, 
 
 This stone I rayse in sygne to-day 
 
 Shall I hold holy kyrk for ay; 
 
 And of all that newes me 
 
 Rightwys tend shall I gif the. 
 
 [A n interval of about twenty years."] 
 Hie egredtatvx Jacob de A ran in terram natinitafi.s sue, 
 
 [lACOB.] A ! my Fader, God of heuen, 
 
 That saide to me thrugh thi Steven, 60 
 
 When I in Aran was dwelland, 
 
 That I shuld turne agane to land 
 
 Ther I was both fed and born*?, 
 
 Warnyd thou me, Lord, befonu?, 
 
 As I went toward Aran 
 
 With my staff, and passyd lordan ; 
 
 And now I com agane to kyth 
 
 With two ostes of men me with. 
 
 Thou hete me, Lord, 1 to do well wzt& me, 
 
 To multyplye my seede as sand of see ; 70 
 
 Thou saue me, Lord, thrugh vertew, 
 
 ffrom veniance of Esaw, 
 
 1 Qy. : omit Lord.
 
 JACOB. 63 
 
 That he slo not, for old greme, 
 
 These moders w/t^ thare barne-teme. 
 
 RACHELL. Oure anguysh, sir, is many-fold, 
 
 Syn that oure messyngere vs told 
 
 That Esaw wold you slo, 
 
 With foure hundreth men and mo. 
 
 IACOB. ffor soth, Rachell, I haue hym sent 
 
 Of many beest/.y sere present. 80 
 
 May tyde he will oure giftz> take, 
 
 And right so shall his wrath slake. 
 
 Where ar oure thyngz>, ar thay past lordan? 
 
 LYA. Go and look, sir, as ye can. 
 
 Hie scruteiur sup&clectile, et lucteha aagetus cum eo. 
 
 DEUS. The day spryngzV ; now lett me go. 
 
 IACOB. Nay, nay, I will not so 
 
 Bot thou blys me or thou gang ; 
 
 If I may, I shall hold the lang. 
 
 DEUS. In tokynyng that thou spekw w/t^ me 
 
 I shall toche now thi thee, 90 
 
 That halt shall thou eu/?miore, 
 
 Bot thou shall fele no sore. 
 
 What is thy name, thou me tell? 
 
 IACOB. lacob. 
 
 DEUS. Nay, bot Israeli. 
 
 Syn thou to me sich strengthe may kythe, 
 
 To men of erth thou must be stythe. 
 
 IACOB. What is thy name ? 
 
 DEUS. Whi askz'j thou it ? 
 
 ' Wond^rfull,' if thou wil wyt. 
 
 IACOB. A, blys me, Lord ! 
 
 DEUS. I shall the blys, 
 
 And be to the full pr^pyce, loo 
 
 And gyf the my blyssyng for ay ; 
 
 As lord and he that all may, 
 
 I shall 1 grayth thi gate, 
 
 1 Qy. insert goodly.
 
 64 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 And full well ordeyn thi state. 
 
 When thou has drede, thynk on me, 
 
 And thou shal full well saynyd be. 
 
 And look thou trow well my sayes ; 
 
 And farewell now, the day dayes. 
 
 JACOB. Now haue I a new name, Israeli ; 
 
 This place shall [hight] 1 Fanuell, no 
 
 ffor I haue seyn in this place 
 
 God of heuen face to face. 
 
 RACHELL. lacob, lo ! we haue tythand 
 
 That Esaw is here at hand. 
 
 Hie diuidit tvxmas in tres fartes. 
 
 IACOB. Rachell, stand thou in the last eschele, 
 
 ffor I wold thou were sauyd wele ; 
 
 Call loseph and Beniamin, 
 
 And let theym not fro the twyn. 
 
 If it be so that Esaw 
 
 Vs before all to-hew, 120 
 
 Ye that ar here the last 
 
 Ye may be sauyd if ye fle fast. 
 
 Et vadcit lacob osculand \o\ Esaw; venit lacob, flecfA genita exorando Deum ; et 
 leuando, occmrit illi Esaw in amplexibus. 
 
 IACOB. I pray the, Lord, as thou me het, 
 
 Thou 2 saue me and my gete. 
 
 ESAW. Welcom, brother, to kyn and kyth, 
 
 Thi wife and childre that comes the with. 
 
 How has thou faren in far land? 
 
 Tell me now som good tythand. 
 
 IACOB. Well, my brother Esaw, 
 
 If that thi men no bale me brew. 130 
 
 DiAt strut's suis. 
 
 ESAW. Wemo ! felows, hold youre hend, 
 Ye se that I and he ar frend, 
 
 1 Supplied by E. E. T. S. 2 MS. that.
 
 JACOB. 65 
 
 And frenship here will we fulfill, 
 
 Syn that it is Godts will. 
 
 IACOB. God yeld you, brothere, that it so is 
 
 That thou thi hyne so wold kys. 
 
 ESAW. Nay, lacob, my dere brothere, 
 
 I shall the tell all anothere : 
 
 Thou art my lord thrugh destyny. 
 
 Go we toged<?r, both thou and I, 140 
 
 To my fad^r and his wife, 
 
 That lofys the, brother, as thare lyfe. 
 
 Explicit lacob.
 
 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 Reprinted from "The Chester Plays. Reedited from 'the MSS. by the late 
 Dr. Hermann Deimling, Part I, E. E. T. S., 1892. '\ I have printed only MS. Harl. 
 2124, because, although written in 1607, it represents, I believe, a more primitive 
 form of this play than the other MSS. The Duke of Devonshire's MS. (written by 
 Edward Gregorie, 1591) was not collated by Deimling; consequently I do not 
 know which version of our play it presents, but Pollard's partial collation seems 
 to indicate that it would agree with the others. Only occasionally have I recorded 
 the readings of the other MSS. For convenience I have used Deimling's symbols; 
 thus, H.= Harl. 2124 (partly written by James Miller, 1607), B.= Bodley 175 (writ- 
 ten by Wm. Bedford, 1604), W. = Brit. Mus., Addit. 10,305 (written by George 
 Bellin, 1592), h.= Harl. 2013 (written by George Bellin, 1600). D. indicates 
 Deimling's text, which agrees with H., unless otherwise specified. I have made 
 no changes without notification, except in punctuation, capitals, and mode of indi- 
 cating stanza-structure. 
 
 Pagina Quinta de Mose et Rege' Balaak et Balaam 
 Propheta. The Cappers. 
 
 DEUS. Moyses, my servaunte life and dere, 
 And all the people that be here, 
 You wott in Egipte when you were, 
 
 Out of thralldome I you broughte. 
 I wyll, you honour no God saue me, 
 Ne mawmentrye none make yee, 
 My name in vayne nym 1 not yee, 
 
 For that me lykes naughte. 
 
 I will, you hold your holy daye, 
 And worshipp also, by all waye, 
 Father and mother all that you maye, 
 And slaye no man no-where. 
 
 l H. myn ; B. W. h. nam.
 
 PROCESSUS PROPHETARUM. 67 
 
 Fornication you shall flee ; 
 No mens goods steale yee ; 
 Ne in no place abyde ne bee 
 
 Fake wytnes for to beare. 16 
 
 Your neigheboures 1 wyves covettes noughte, 
 Servant ne good that he hath boughte, 
 Oxe ne asse, in deede ne thoughte, 
 
 Nor any-thinge that is his, 
 Ne wrongefullie to haue his thinge 
 Agayne his will and his lykinge. 
 In all these doe my byddinge, 
 
 That you doe not amisse. 24 
 
 Tune princeps Sinagogcs statuet eum * in loco et quasi pro populo loquatur ad 
 Dominum et May sen. 
 
 PRINCEPS SINAGOG^E. Ah ! good Lord, much of mighte, 
 Thou comes w/th so great lighte ! 
 We bene so afraide of this sighte, 
 
 No man dare speake ne see ; 8 
 God is so grym wz'th us to deale, 
 But Moyses, master, with us thou mele, 
 Els we dyen many and feele, 
 
 So afrayde bene all wee. 32 
 
 Tune Moyses stans super montem loquatur ad populum. 
 
 MOYSES. Gods folke, drede you noughte ; 
 To prove you wz'th, God hath this wrought, 
 To make you afrayd in deede and thoughte, 
 
 Aye for to avoyde synne. 
 By this sight you may now see 
 That he is pereles of postye ; 
 Therfore his teachinge look done yee, 
 
 Thereof that you not blyn. 40 
 
 1 D. neightboures. 
 
 2 H. eu ; D. prints &mm, but suggests eo ; Zupitza suggested se. 
 MS. looke ; corr. by D.
 
 68 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 Pj?/yvcEPS SixAGOGsE. Ah ! highe Lord, God almighte, 
 That Moyses shynes wondrous bright ! 
 I may no way for great lighte 
 
 Now looke upon hym. 
 
 And horned he semes in our sighte ! Exodus, 34. 29. 
 
 Sith he came to the hyll, dight 
 Our lawe he hase, I hope, aright, 
 
 For was he never so grym. 48 
 
 .J/0YSES. You, Gods folke of Israeli, 
 Hearkens to me that loven heale ; 
 God bade you sholde doe, everye deale, 
 
 As that I shall saye. 
 Six dayes boldelye worches all, 
 The seaventh Sabaoth you shall call ; 
 That daye for ought that may befall 
 
 Hallowed shalbe aye. 56 
 
 That doth not this deede deade shall be. 
 In houses fire shall no man see. 
 First fruytes to God offer yee, 
 
 For so hym-selfe bade. 
 Gould and silver offers also, 
 Purple, bisse, and other moe, 
 To hym that shall save you from woe 
 
 And helpe you in yor neede. 64 
 
 .EXPOSITOR. Lordinges, this comaundment 
 Was of the Old Testamente, 
 And yet is used wz'th good entent 
 
 W/th all that good bene. 
 This storye all if we shold fong, 
 To playe this moneth it were to longe ; 
 Wherfore most frutefull there amonge 
 
 We taken, as shall be sene. J2 
 
 Also we read in this storie, 
 God in the Mownt of Synai
 
 PROCESSUS PROPHETARUM. 69 
 
 Toke Moises these comaundment/j verelye, 
 
 Wrytten wzth his owne hande 
 In tables of ston, as reade I ; 
 But when men honoured mawmentry, 
 He brake them in anger hastelye, 
 
 For that he wold not wonde. 80 
 
 But afterward sone, leeve ye me, 
 
 Other tables of stone made he, 
 
 In w^zch God bade wrytten shold be 
 
 His wordes that were before, 
 The which tables shryned were 
 After as God can Moyses leare ; 
 And that shryne to them was deare 
 
 Thereafter evermore. 88 
 
 Tune Moyses descendet de monte, et ex altera parte mantis dicet rex Balaac 
 equitando. 
 
 BALAACK REX. I, Balaack, king of Moab land, 
 All Israeli and I had in 1 hand, 
 I am so wroth, I wold not wond 
 
 To slaye them, ech wighte ; 
 For their God helpes them stiflye 
 Of other landes to haue mastrye, 
 That it is booties, witterlie, 
 
 Against them for to fighte. 96 
 
 What nation soever dose them noye, 
 Moyses prayes anone in hye, 
 Therefore haue they sone the victorie 
 
 And other men 2 haue the worse, 
 Therfore how will I wroken be, 
 I am bethought, as mot I the ! 
 Balaam I will shall come to me 
 
 That people for to curse, 104 
 
 1 D. I had it in my ; B. W. h. and I hand in. 
 
 2 D. has they after men.
 
 7O CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 For sworde ne knife may not avayle 
 These ilke shroes for to assaile ; 
 That fowndes to fight he shall faile, 
 
 For sicker is hym no boote. 
 
 All nations they doe any, \Cast up. j 1 
 
 And my-selfe they can destroie, 
 As ox that gnawes biselie 
 
 The grasse right to the roote. 112 
 
 Who-so Balaam blesses, i-wis, 2 
 Blessed sickerlie that man is ; 
 Who-so he curses, fareth amisse : 
 
 Such loos over all hase he. Numbers, 22. 6. 
 
 Therfore goe fetch hym, bachler, 
 That he may curse the people here ; 
 For, sicker, on them in no manner 
 
 Mon we not wroken be. 120 
 
 MILES. Syr, on your errand I will gone ; 
 Yt shall be well done, and that anone, 
 For he shall wreak you on your fone, 
 
 The people of Israeli. 
 
 BALAACK. Yea, looke thou het hym gold gret wone, 
 And riches for to lyve upon, 
 To destroy them if he can, 
 
 The freakes that be so fell. 1 28 
 
 Tune ibit ad Balaam. 
 
 MILES. Balaam, my lorde greetes well thee 
 And prayes the right sone at hym to be, 
 To curse the people of ludy, 
 
 That do hym great anoye. 
 BALAAM. Forsooth, I tell the, bacheler, 
 That I may haue no power 
 But if Gods will were ; 
 
 That shall I witt in hye. 136 
 
 1 Not in H. ; supplied from the other MSS. 
 
 2 D. I wis.
 
 PROCESSUS PROPHETARUM. Jl 
 
 1 [Tune ibit Balaam ad consulendum Dominum in oration*, et sedens* dicat Deus. 
 Balaam prayeth to God one his Anees.] 
 
 DEUS (in supremo loco). Balaam, I comaund the, 
 King Balaak his bydding that thou flee ; 
 That people that is blessed of me 
 
 Curse thou not by no waye. 
 BALAAM. Lord, I must doe thy byddinge, 
 Though e it be to me unlykeing ; 
 For, truly, much wynninge 
 
 I might haue had to-daye. 144 
 
 DEUS. Thoughe the folke be my foe, 
 Thou shalt haue leaue thydder to goe, 
 But looke that thou doe right soe 
 
 As I haue thee taughte. 
 BALAAM. Lord, it shall be done in height, 
 This asse shall beare me aright. 
 Goe we together anone, sz'r knight, 
 
 For now leave I haue coughte. 152 
 
 Tune eguitabunt versus regent, et eundo dicat Balaam I 
 
 Now, by the law I leve upon, 
 Sith I haue leaue for to gone, 
 They shalbe cursed every one, 
 
 And I ought wyn maye. 
 If Balaak hold that he has heighte 
 Gods hest I set at light ; 
 Warryed they shalbe this night 
 
 Or that I wend awaye. 160 
 
 Tune angelus obuiabit Balaam cum gladio extracto in manu, et stabit 
 
 Goe forth, Burnell, goe forth, goe ! 
 What the dyvell ! my asse will not goe ; 
 Served she me never soe. 
 
 1 Not in H. ; supplied from the other MSS. 
 3 B. scedens ; W. sedentes ; h. omits.
 
 72 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 What sorrow so her dose nye ? 
 Rise up, Burnell ! make thee bowne, 
 And helpe to beare me out the towne ; 
 Or, as brok I my crowne, 
 
 Thou shalt full sore abye ! 1 68 
 
 Tune per cut let asinam, et loquetur aliquis in asina. 
 
 ASINA. Maister, thou dost evell, witterly, 
 So good an ass as me to nye, 
 Now hast thou beaten me thry 
 
 That beare thee thus aboute. 
 BALAAM. Burnell, whye begiles thou me, 
 When I haue most nede to the ? 
 ASINA. That sight that I before me see 
 
 Makes me downe to lowte. 176 
 
 Am I not, master, thyne owne ass, 
 
 That ever before ready was 
 
 To beare the whether thou woldest pas ? 
 
 To smyte me now yt is shame. 
 Thou wottest well, master, pardy, 
 Thou haddest never ass like to me, 
 Ne never yet thus served I thee ; 
 
 Now I am not to blame. 184 
 
 Tune Balaam videns angelum. evaginatum gladium kabentettt, adorans dicat : 
 
 BALAAM. Ah ! Lord, to thee I make avowe, 1 
 I had no sight of thee erre now ; 
 Lyttle wist I it was thou 
 
 That feared my asse soe. 
 
 ANGELUS. Why hast thou beaten thy asse thry? 
 Now I am comen thee to nye, 
 That changes thy purpose falcelye, 
 
 And woldest be my foe. 192 
 
 1 D. a vowe.
 
 PROCESSUS PROPHETARUM. 73 
 
 And the ass had not downe gone, 
 I wold haue slayne the here anone. 
 BALAAM. Lord, haue pittye me upon, 
 
 For sinned I haue sore ! 
 Is it thy will that I forth goe ? 
 
 ANGELUS. Yea ; but looke thou doe this folk no woe 
 Otherwise then God bade thee tho 
 
 And saide to thee before. 200 
 
 Tune Balaam et miles ibunt, Balaack venit in obuiam. 
 
 BALAACK. Ah ! welcome, Balaam, my frend 1 
 For all myne anguish thou shalt end, 
 If that thy will be to wend, 
 
 And wreake me of my foe. 
 
 BALAAM. Nought may I speake, so haue I win, 
 But as God puttes me in, 
 To forby all and my kin ; 
 
 Therfore, sure, me is woe. 208 
 
 BALAACK. Come forth, Balaam, come wz'th me I 
 For on this hill, so mot I thee, 
 The folke of Israeli thou shalt see ; 
 
 And curse them, I thee praye. 
 Thou shalt haue riches, golde and fee, 
 And I shall aduance thy dignytye, 
 To curse men, cursed they may be 
 
 That thou shalt see to-day. 216 
 
 Tune adducens secum Balaam in montem et ad australem partent respiciens 
 dicat ut seguitur?- 
 
 BALAAM. How may I curse them in this place, 
 The people that God blessed hase ? 
 In them is both might and grace, 
 And that is alwayes scene. 
 
 l This stage direction seems to indicate that a speech of Balaac's has 
 dropped out, perhaps the stanza contained in the other version: 
 Lo ! Balaam, thou seest here 
 Godis people all in feare,
 
 74 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 Wytnes I may none beare 
 Against God that thus 1 can were 
 His people that no man may deare 
 
 Ne treble wz'th no teene. 224 
 
 I saye these folkes shall haue their will, 
 That no nation shall them gryll ; 
 The goodnes that they shall fulfill 
 
 Nombred may not be ; 
 Their God shall them kepe and save. 
 No other repreve shall they non 2 have ; 
 But such death as they shall haue 
 
 I praye God send me. 232 
 
 BALAACK. What the devill 8 eyles the, poplart ? 
 Thy speach is not worth a fart, 
 Doted I wot well thou art, 
 
 For woodlie thou has wrougt. 
 I bade thee curse them, every one, 
 And thou blest them, blood and bone ; 
 To this north syde thou shalt anon, 
 
 For here thy deed is nought. 240 
 
 Tune adducet eum ad borealem partem, 
 
 BALAAM. Herken, Balaack, what I say ; 
 God may not gibb by no waye, 
 That he saith, is veray, 
 For he may not lye. 
 
 Cittie, castell, and riuer ; 
 
 Looke now how likes thie. 
 Curse them now at my prayer, 
 As thou wilte be to me full dere 
 And in my realme most of power 
 
 And greatest under me. 
 
 Tune Balaam versus austruni : dicat Balaham : 
 1 D. this. 2 So B. W. h. ; H. has may I not. 3 D. devilles.
 
 PROCESSUS PROPHETARUM. 75 
 
 To bless his folk he me sent ; 
 Therfore I saie, as I am kent 
 That in this land, verament, 
 
 Is used no mawmentry : Numbers, 23. 19. 248 
 
 To lacobs blood and Israeli 
 God shall send ioy and heale ; 
 And as a lyon in his weale 
 
 Christ shalbe haunsed hye, 
 And rise also in noble araye 
 As a prynce to wyn great paye, 
 Overcome his enemyes, as I say, Numbers, 24. 9. 
 
 And them bowndly bye. 256 
 
 BALAACK. What the devill is this ? Thou cursest them naught, 
 Nor blessest them nether, as me thought. 
 BALAAM. Syr kinge, this I thee beheight 
 
 Or that I come here. 
 
 BALAACK. Yet shalt thou to an-other place, 
 Ther Gods power for to embrace. 
 The dyvell geve the hard grace 
 
 But thou doe my prayer ! 264 
 
 A d occidentalem partem. 
 
 BALAAM. Ah ! Lord, that here is fayre wonning, 
 Halls, chambers of great lyking, 
 Valleyes, woodes, grass springing, 
 
 Fayre yerdes 1 and eke river ! Numbers, 24. 5, 6. 
 
 I wot well God made all this 
 His folk to lyue in ioye and blisse. 
 That warryeth them, warried is ; 
 
 That blesseth 2 them, to God is deare. 272 
 
 BALAACK. Popelard ! thou preachest as a pie ; 
 The deuill of hell thee destroy ! 
 I bade thee curse myne enemye ; 
 Therfore thou came me to. 
 
 1 D. yordes. ' 2 D. blessest
 
 76 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 Now hast thou blessed them here thry, 
 For thou meanes me to nye. 
 BALAAM. So tould I the before twye, 
 
 I might none other doe. 280 
 
 BALAACK. Out ! alas ! what dyvell ayles thee ? 
 
 I haue het thee gold and fee 
 
 To speake but wordes two or three, 
 
 And thou makes much distance. 
 Yet once I will assay thee, 
 If any boote of bale will be ; 
 And if thou falcely now faile me, 
 
 Mahound geue thee mischance ! 288 
 
 Tune Balaam ad ctelum respiciens prophetandol 
 
 BALAAM. Orietur Stella ex lacob, et exurget Homo de Is- 
 raeli, et confringet omnes duces alienigenarum^- et erit 
 omnis terra possessio z eius. 
 
 Now one thinge I will tell you all, Numbers, 24. 18. 
 
 Hereafter what shall befall : 
 
 A starre of lacob springe shall, 
 A man of Israeli ; 
 
 He shall overcome and haue in band 
 
 All kinges, dukes of strang land, 
 
 Arid all the world haue in his hand, 
 
 As lord to dight and deale. 296 
 
 [The other prophets enter, attended by the Expositor^* 
 
 ESAYAS. I saye a mayden meeke and mylde 
 Shall conceave and beare a childe, 
 Cleane, wzthout workes wilde, 
 To wyn mankinde to wayle ; 
 
 1 D. alieginarum. 
 
 2 D. professio, but suggests possessio. 
 
 3 // is, hmvever, possible even likely that all -were present on the stage 
 from the beginning.
 
 PROCESSUS PROPHETARUM. 77 
 
 Butter and hony shall be his meate, Isaiah, 7. 14 ff. 
 
 That he may all evill forgeat, 
 Our soules out of hell to get, 
 
 And called Emanuell. 304 
 
 EXPOSITOR. Lordinges, these wordes are so veray 
 That exposition, in good faye, 
 None needes, but you know may 
 
 This word Emanuell. ' 
 Emanuell is as much to saye 
 As " God wz'th us night and day " ; 
 Therfore that name for ever and aye 
 
 To his sonne cordes wondrous 1 well. 312 
 
 EZECHIELL. 2 Vidi portam. in domo Domini clausam et 
 dixit angelus ad me, " Porta hcec non aperietur sed 
 clausa erit " et ct. Ezechiel capitulo 2. 
 
 I, Ezechiell, sothlie see Ezekiel, 44. 2. 
 
 A gate in Gods house on hye ; 
 Closed it was, no man came nye ; 
 
 Then told an angell me : 
 " This gate shall no man open, i-wis, 8 
 For God will come and goe by this, 
 For him-self it reserved is, 
 
 None shall come there but hee." 3 2 
 
 EXPOSITOR. By this gate, lords, verament, 
 
 I understand in my intent 
 
 That way the Holy Ghost in went 
 
 When God tooke flesh and bloode 
 In that sweet mayden Mary. 
 She was that gate, witterly, 
 For in her he light graciouslie 
 
 Mankind to doe good. 328 
 
 . 
 
 1 Qy, : omit wondrous. 
 3 In D. this precedes EZECHIELL. 
 8 D. I wis.
 
 78 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 IHEREMIA. Deducant^ oculi met lacrimas per diem et noc- 
 tem, et non taceant; contritions magna contrita est 
 virgo filia pop\\li mei et plaga et ct. 
 
 My eyes must run and sorrow aye lerem. 14. 17. 
 
 Wzthout ceasing, night and daye, 
 For my daughter, soth to saye, 
 
 Shall suffer great anye ; 
 And my folke shall doe, in faye, 
 Thinges that they ne know may 
 To that mayden, by many waye, 
 
 And her sonne, sickerlie. 336 
 
 EXPOSITOR. Lordinges, this prophesie, i-wis, 2 
 Touches the Passion nothing amisse, 
 For the prophet see well this 
 
 What shall come, as I reade : 
 That a childe borne of a maye 
 Shall suffer death, sooth to saye ; 
 And they that mayden shall afray, 
 
 Haue vengeance for that deede. 344 
 
 IONAS. Clamaui de tribulacione mea ad Dominum et ex- 
 audiutt ; de centre inferi clamavi et exaudisti vocem 
 meam et proiecisti me. 
 
 I, lonas, in full great any Ion. 2. 2. 
 
 To God I prayed inwardlie, 
 
 And he me hard through his mercy 
 
 And on me did his grace. 
 In myddes the sea cast was I 
 For I wrought inobedyentlie, 
 But in a whalles bellye 
 
 Three dayes saved I was. 352 
 
 EXPOSITOR. Lordinges, what this may signifie 
 Christ expoundes apertelie, 
 As we reade in the Evangely 
 
 That Christ him-self can saie : 
 
 1 D. Deducunt. . 2 D. I wis.
 
 PROCESSUS PROPHETARUM. 79 
 
 Right as lonas was dayes three 
 In wombe of whall, so shall he be 
 In earth lyinge, as was he, 
 
 And rise the third daye. 360 
 
 DAUID. De summo ccelo egressio eius, et occursus eius ad 
 jm[m]z/m eius. Psal. 
 
 I, Davyd, saie that God almighte Psalm, 18. 7. 
 
 From the highest heaven to earth will light, 
 And thidder againe wz'th full might, 
 
 Both God and man in feare ; 
 And after come to deeme the righte. 
 May no man shape them 1 of his sight 
 Ne deeme 2 that to mankind is dighte, 
 
 But all then must apeare. 368 
 
 EXPOSITOR. Lordes, this speach is so veray 
 That to expound it to your pay 
 It needes nothing in good faye, 
 
 This speach is so expresse. 
 Each man by it knowe may 
 That of the Ascention, soth to saie, 
 David prophesied in his daye, 
 
 As yt rehearsed was. 376 
 
 IOELL. Effundam de spiritu meo super omnem carnem, et 
 
 prophetabimt filij vestri. 
 
 I, loell, saie this sickerlye : loel, 2. 28. 
 
 That my Ghost send will I 
 Upon mankinde merciably 
 
 From heaven, sitting in see ; 
 Then shold [yjour childre prophesie, 
 Ould men meet swevens, 8 wytterly, 
 Yong se sightes that therby 
 
 Many wise shall be. 384 
 
 EXPOSITOR. Lordinges, this prophet speakes here 
 In Gods person, as it were, 
 
 l Kittredge suggests scape then. 2 gy. ; doome. 3 H. sweens; corr. by D.
 
 8O CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 And prophesies that he will apeare 
 
 Ghostlie to mankinde. 
 This signes non other, in good faye, 
 But of his deede on Whitson-day, 
 Sending his Ghost, that we ever may 
 
 On hym haue sadlie mynd. 392 
 
 MICHEAS. J Tu, Bethlem, terra luda, nequaguam minima 
 es in principibus luda ; ex te enitn exiet Dux qui reget 
 populum. meum Israeli. 
 
 I, Micheal, through my mynde Mich. 5. 2 ; Matth. 2. 6. 
 
 Will saye that man shall sothlie finde 
 That a childe of kinges kinde 
 
 In Bethlem shall be borne, 
 That shall be duke to dight and deale, 
 And rule the folke of Israeli, 
 Also wyn againe mankindes heale, 
 
 That through Adam was lorne. 400 
 
 EXPOSITOR. Lordinges, two thinges apertlie 
 You may see in this prophesie : 
 The place certifies thee sothlie 
 
 Where Christ borne will be ; 
 And after his ending, sickerlie, 
 Of his deedes of great mercy, 
 That he shold sit soveraynly 
 
 In heauen, thereas is he. 408 
 
 Moe prophets, lordinges, we might play, 
 But yt wold tary much the daye ; 
 Therfore six, sothe to say, 
 
 Are played in this place. 
 Twoo speakes of his Incarnation, 
 Another of Christe[s] Passion, 
 The fourth of the Resurrection. 
 
 416 
 
 1 H. seems to have In : corr. by D. 
 
 a D. points out that a line is missing- in MS.
 
 PROCESSUS PROPHETARUM. 8 1 
 
 The fifte speakes expreslie 
 
 How he from the highest heavenlye 
 
 Light into earth us to forby, 
 
 And after thydder steigh 
 With oure kinde to heaven-blisse. 
 More loue might he not shew, i-wis,i 
 But right there-as hym-selfe is 
 
 He haunshed our kinde on high. 424 
 
 The sixt shewes, you may see, 
 His Goste to man send will he, 
 More stidfast that they shalbe 
 
 To loue God evermore. 
 Thus that beleve 2 that leven we 
 Of Gods deedes that had pittye 
 One man, when that he made them free, 
 
 Is prophesied here before. 432 
 
 BALAACK. Goe we forth ! it is no boote 
 Longer with this man to moote ; 
 For God of I ewes is crop and roote, 
 
 And lord of heaven and hell. 
 Now see I well no man on lyue 
 Gaynes wz'th him for to stryve ; 
 Therefore here, as mot I thryue, 
 
 I will no longer dwell. 440 
 
 EXPOSITOR. Lordinges, much more matter 
 Is in this story then you see here ; 
 But the substance, w/thout were, 
 
 Is played you beforne. 
 And by these prophesies, leav you me, 
 Three kinges, as you shall played see, 
 Presented at his Nativitye 
 
 Christ, when he was borne. 448 
 
 Finis paginee quintet. 
 1 D. I wis. 2 D. beleven.
 
 HEGGE PLAYS. 
 
 Printed from MS. Cott. Vesp. D. viii ; see p. 31, above. H. denotes the readings 
 of Halliwell's edition. P. denotes the readings of Pollard, who printed the first 
 139 lines in " English Miracle Plays, Moralities and Interludes, ed. A. W. Pollard, 
 Oxford, 1890 (2d ed. 1895)." K. denotes the readings of Kolbing, Englische Studien, 
 XXI, 166. The few unnoted variants are confined, I think, to cases in which my 
 copyist did not regard the curl or stroke as sufficient to indicate final -e. 
 
 [THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION.] 
 
 CONTEMPLAC/O. ffowre thowsand sex vndryd foure ^ere, 1 ! telle, 
 
 Man ffor his offens and ffowle foly 
 Hath leyn 2 yeres in the. peynes of helle, 
 
 And were wurthy to ly ther'\n. endlesly ; 
 
 But thanne xulde perysche your grete mercye. 8 
 Good Lord, haue on man pyte, 
 
 Haue mende of th& prayoar seyd by Ysaie : 
 Lete mercy meke thin hyest mageste. 8 
 
 Wolde God thou woldyst breke th\n hefne myghtye, 
 
 And com down here in-to erth 
 And levyn ^erej thre and threttye, 
 
 Thyn famyt ffolke wM th\ fode 4 to fede. 
 
 To staunche Meir 6 thryste lete th\ syde blede ; 
 ffor erste 6 wole not be mad redempczbn. 
 
 Cum vesyte 7 vs in tMs tyme of nede ; 
 Of th\ careful creatures, Lord, haue compassyon. 8 16 
 
 1 K. omits 3ere. 6 MS. th\. 
 
 a MS. loyn. 6 H. P. erst. 
 
 8 H. mercy. 7 H. vysite ; P. vesite. 
 
 * H. ffode. 8 A curl over on.
 
 THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION. 83 
 
 A ! woo to vs wrecchis 1 that wrecchis be, 
 
 ffor God hath addyd ssorwe 2 to sorwe. 
 I prey the, Lord, thi sowlys 8 com se, 
 
 How thei ly and sobbe bothe cue and morwe. 4 
 
 Wzt^ th\ blyssyd blood from balys 5 hem borwe, 
 Thy careful creaturys cryenge in captyvyte ; 
 
 A ! tary not, gracyous Lord, tyl it be to-morwe ! 
 The devyl hath dysceyved hem be his iniquite. 24 
 
 " A ! " quod leremye, " who xal gyff wellys to my eynes 
 
 That I may wepe bothe day and nyght 
 To se oure bretheryn in so longe peynes ? " 
 
 Here myschevys a-mende may th\ mechi? myght. 
 
 As grett as the. se, Lord, was Adamys contryssyon ryght. 
 ffrom oure hed is falle 6 the. crowne ; 
 
 Man is comeryd in synne ; I crye to th\ syght, 
 Gracyous Lord ! gracyous Lord ! gracyous Lord, come downe ! 32 
 
 VIRTUTES. Lord, plesyth " it th'me hyj domynac/on 
 
 On man, that thou. made, to haue pyte ! 
 Patryarchys and pr<?phetys han mad supplycac/on ; 
 
 Oure offyse is to presente here prayeres to the. 
 
 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, them made so gloryous, 
 
 Whos synne hath mad \\yrn a devyl in helle, 
 He mevyd man to be so contraryous. 
 
 Man repentyd ; and he in his obstynacye doth dwelle. 
 
 Hese grett males, good Lord, repelle, 
 And take man on-to thi grace ; 
 
 Lete thi mercy make \\yrn -with au#gelys dwelle, 
 Of Locyfere to restore the place. 48 
 
 1 K. strikes out wrecchis. 2 H. ssorowe. 3 P. sowles. 
 
 * H. P. morewe; both eue & morwe is written in another hand over the 
 cincelled -words: ffor syknes & sorwe. 5 MS. babys; corr. by H. 
 
 6 H. P. ffalle. ' K. plese.
 
 84 HEGGE PLAYS. 
 
 PATER. Propter miseriam inopum 
 Et gemitum pauperum 
 Nw\c exurgam. 1 
 
 ffor the wretchydnes of the nedy 
 
 And the. porys lamentaczbn 
 Now xal I ryse thai am almyghty. 
 
 Tyme is come of reconsyliaczon ; 
 
 My pwphetys with prayers haue made supplicac/on, 
 My contryte creaturys crye alL? for comforte, 
 
 All my aungellys in hefne, wzt^-owte cessac/on, 
 They crye that grace to man myght exorte. 59 
 
 VERITAS. Lord, I am th\ dowtere, Trewth, 
 
 Thou wylt 2 se I be not lore ; 
 Thyn vnkynde creature to save wen? rewthe ; 
 
 The offens of man hath grevyd the sore. 
 
 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 to-gedyr dwelle. 67 
 
 Thi 8 Trewthe, Lord, xal leste w/t^-owtyn ende ; 
 
 I may in no wyse ffro the go. 
 That wretche 4 that was to the so vnkende, 
 
 He may not haue to moche 6 wo. 
 
 He dyspysyd the and plesyd th\ ffo. 
 Thou art his creatowr and he is th\ creature ; 
 
 Thou hast lovyd Trewthe, it is seyd, evyr-mo ; 
 Ther-iore in peynes lete hym evyr-more endure. 75 
 
 MISERICORDIA. O ffadyr of Mercy, and God of Comforte, 
 
 That counsell* 6 us in eche trybulaczbn, 
 Lete your dowtere, Mercy, to }ow resorte ; 
 
 And on man, that is myschevyd, haue compassyon. 
 
 1 MS. exergam ; corr. by H. * H. P. wrecche. 
 
 2 H. P. wilt. 6 H. P. meche. 
 
 8 H. P. Thy. 6 K. emends to counsellest.
 
 THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION. 85 
 
 Hym grevyth fful gretly his transgressyon ; 
 AIL? hefne and erthe crye ffor Mercy ; 
 
 Me semyth ther xuld be non excepczon, 
 Ther prayers ben offeryd so specyally. 83 
 
 Trewthe x 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 ! 
 
 Thu seyst, Veritas mea et ^/isericord/a mea cum ipso ; 
 Suffyr not thi sowlys than in sorwe to slepe ; 
 
 That helle hownde that hatyth th& byddyth 2 \\yrn ho ! 
 Th\ love, man, no lengere lete hym kepe. 91 
 
 IUSTICIA. Mercy, me merveylyth 8 what ^ow movyth ! 
 
 3e know wel I am your system, Ryght-wysnes. 
 God is ryghtful 4 and ryghtffulnes lovyth ; 
 
 Man offendyd hym that is endles ; 
 
 Therfore his endles punchement may nevyr sees. 
 Also he forsoke his Makers that made hym of clay, 
 
 And Me devyl to his mayster he ches. 
 Xulde he be savyd? Nay, nay, nay ! 99 
 
 As wyse as is God he wolde a be ; 
 
 This was the abhomynabyl presumption. 
 It is seyd 36 know wel th\s of me 
 
 That the Ryghtwysnes of God hath no diffyniczbn ; 
 
 Therffore lette 5 this be oure conclusyon*? : 
 He that sore synnyd, ly stylle in 6 sorwe. 
 
 He may nevyr make a seyth be 7 resontf ; 
 Whoo myght thanne thens hym borwe? 107 
 
 M.ISERICORDIA.. Systyr Ryghtwysnes, }e are to vengeable. 
 
 Endles synne God endles may restore ; 
 Above alL? hese werkys God is mercyabyl. 
 
 1 MS. Threwthe. 5 H. P. late. 
 
 2 K. emends to bydde. 6 A stroke over n. 
 
 3 H. mervelyth. ^ H. proposes subtyl/br seyth be. 
 * H. P. ryghtfful.
 
 86 HEGGE PLAYS. 
 
 7%ow he for-sook God be synne, be feyth he for-sook 
 hym never tho. mor<? ; 
 
 And /^ow he pr^sumyd nevyr so sore, 
 ^e must consyder //ze frelnes of mankende. 
 
 Lerne, 1 and }e lyst, //zis is Goddys lore, 
 7%e Mercy of God is wzt^-owtyn ende. 115 
 
 PAX. 2 To span? your speches, systerej, it syt ; 
 
 It is not onest, in Vertuys to ben dyscenczbn. 
 The Pes of God ovyr-comyth alh? wytt. 
 
 T/iow 8 Trewth and Ryght sey grett reson^, 
 
 3ett Mercy seyth best to my pleson ; 
 ffor yf mannys sowle xulde abyde in helle, 
 
 Be-twen God and man evyr xulde be dyvysyon, 
 And than myght not I, Pes, dwelle. 123 
 
 There-fore me semyth best, je thus acorde, 
 
 Than hefne and erthe }e xul qwenve : 
 Putt bothe your sentens in oure Lorde 
 
 And in his hy^ wysdam lete hyn deme, 
 
 This is most syttynge, 4 me xuide seme, 
 And lete se how we ffowre may ahV abyde. 
 
 Thai mannys sowle it 6 xulde p*?rysche it wore sweme, 
 Or thai ony of vs ffro others xulde dyvyde. 131 
 
 VERITAS. In trowthe, hereto I consente ; 6 
 
 I wole prey oure Lorde it may so be. 
 IUSTICIA. I, Rygtwysnes, 7 am wele contente, 
 
 ffor in hym is very equyte. 
 
 WliSERicoRDiA.. And I, Mercy, ffro this, counsel wole 
 
 not fle, 
 Tyl Wysdam hath seyd I xal ses. 
 
 PAX. Here is God now ; here is Vnyte ; 
 Hefne and erth is plesyd wz't^ Pes. 1 39 
 
 [They appear before the Son.] 
 
 1 H. P. Lerne ; MS. Lome. 4 H. fyttynge. 
 
 2 A stroke over AX. 6 K. strikes out it. 
 H. Thou. 
 
 6 Qy.: I, Trowthe, herevnto I (or do) consente. 
 ' H. P. Ryghtwysnes.
 
 THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION. 8/ 
 
 FFILIUS. I thynke Me thoughtys of Pes, and nowth of 
 Wykkydnes ! 
 
 This I deme to ses your contraversy : 
 If Adam had not deyd, peryschyd had Ryghtwysnes, 
 
 And also Trewth^ had be lost ther-by, 
 
 Trewth and Ryght wolde chastyse ffoly ; 
 ^iff a-nother deth come not, Mercy xulde perysch* ; 
 
 Z/fcan Pes were exyled ffynaly : 1 
 So tweyn dethis must be, jow fown? to cheryschtf. 147 
 
 But he thai xal deye, 36 must knawe 
 
 That in hym may ben non iniquyte, 
 Thai helle may holde hym be no lawe, 
 
 But thai he may pas at hese lyberte. 
 
 Qwere swyche on is, provyde 2 and se, 
 And hese deth for mannys deth xal be redempc/on ; 
 
 Alle hefne and erth seke now ^e. 
 Plesyth it $ow this conwclusyon? 155 
 
 [ They seek ; and, returning, say : ] 
 
 VERITAS. I, Trowthe, haue sowte th& erthe wzt^-owt and 
 w/t^-inne, 
 
 And in sothe ther kan non be fownde 
 Thai, is of o day byrth wzt^-owte synne, 
 
 Nor to thai deth wole be bownde. 
 
 M.ISERICORDIA.. I, Mercy, haue ronne thz. hevynly re- 
 
 gyon rownde, 
 And ther is non of thai, chary te 
 
 Thai ffor man wole suffre a deddly wounde ; 
 I can nott wete how this xal be. 163 
 
 IUSTICIA. Sun? 8 I can fynde non sumcyent, 
 
 ffor servauntys vnprofytable we be ech<? on ; 
 Hese * love nedyth to be ful ardent 
 
 That for man to helle wolde gon. 
 
 1 H. ffynyaly. In MS. this looks like Our*. 
 
 2 MS. H. his prvyde. * MS. He ; H. Hes.
 
 88 HEGGE PLAYS. 
 
 PAX. That God may do, is non but on ; 
 Therivre Mis is be hys avyse 
 
 He thai }aff this couselk, lete hyw ^eve Me comforte 
 
 alon, 
 ffor Me conclusyon in hym of alk Mese lyse. 171 
 
 FFILIUS. It peyneth me thai man I made ; 1 
 
 Thai is to seyn, peyne I must suffre sore. 2 
 A counsel of Me Trinite must be had, 
 
 Whiche of vs xal man restore. 
 
 PATER. In your wysdam, son, man was mad thore, 
 And in wysdam was his temptaczon ; 
 
 T/ierior, sone, sapyens ^e must ordeyn here-fore, 
 And se how of man may be salvac/bn. 8 1 79 
 
 FILIUS. ffadyr, he thai xal do Mis must be both God and 
 man. 
 
 Lete me se how I may were thai wede ; 
 And syth<? in my wysdam he be-gan, 
 
 I am redy to do Mis dede. 
 
 Sp/-ff/rus SANCTUS. I, the Holy Cost, of $ow tweyn 
 
 do precede ; 
 This cha'rge I wole take on me ; 
 
 I, Love, to your lover xal ^ow lede : 
 TMs is Me assent of our/? Vnyte. 187 
 
 M.ISERICORDIA. Now is Me loveday mad of us fowre 
 fynialy ; 
 
 Now may we leve in pes, as we were wonte ; 
 Misericordia et Veritas obviauerunt sibi, 
 
 lusticia et Pax osculate 4 sunt. 191 
 
 Et hie osculabunt pariter omnes. 
 
 PATER, ffrom vs, God, augel Gabryel, thovi xalt be sende 
 
 Into Me countre of Galyle, 
 The name of Me cyte Nazareth is kende, 
 
 1 H. mad. 8 H. salvation. 
 
 2 MS. fore ; corr. by H. * H. osculatae.
 
 THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION. 89 
 
 To a mayd ; weddyd to a man is she, 
 
 Of whom Me name is loseph, se, 
 Of Me hous of Davyd bore. 
 
 The name of Me mayd ffre 
 Is Mary, thai xal al restore. 199 
 
 FFILIUS. Say thai she is wztA-owte wo and ful of grace, 
 
 And that I, Me Son of the Godhed, of here xal be bore. 
 Hy^e Me, M0u were there a-pace, 
 
 Ellys we xal be there the be-ffore, 1 
 
 I haue so grett hast to be man thore 
 In that mekest and purest virgyne. 
 
 Sey here, she xal restore 
 Of }ow aungellys Me grett ruyne. 207 
 
 SPSXITUS SAJVCTVS. And if she aske Me how it myth be, 
 
 Telle here, I, Me Holy Cost, xal werke al this ; 
 Sche xal be savyd thorwe cure Vnyte. 
 
 In tokyn, here bareyn cosyn Ely^abeth is 
 
 Qwyk wz't^! childe in here grett age, i-wys. 
 Sey here, to vs is no-thynge impossyble. 
 
 Here body xal be so ful-fylt wz't/z blys 
 That she xal sone thynke Mis sownde credyble. 215 
 
 GABRIEL. In thyn hey inbassett, 2 Lord, I xal go, 
 
 It xal be do -with a thought ; 
 Be-holde now, Lord, I go here to, 
 
 I take my fflyth 8 andbyde nowth. 219 
 
 {Gabriel descends to Mary.] 
 
 Ave, Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum! 
 Heyl, fful of grace, God is with the ! 
 
 Amonge alk women blyssyd art thu ! 
 Here Mis name Eva is turnyd Ave ; 
 
 That is to say, w/t^-owte sorwe ar ^e now. 224 
 
 Thow sorwe in }ow hath no place, 
 3ett of ioy, lady, }e nede more , 
 
 i H. before. 2 H. inbasset. H. flyth.
 
 90 HEGGE PLAYS. 
 
 Therfore I adde and sey " ful of grace," 
 
 ffor so ful of grace was nevyr non bore. 
 
 ^ett who hath grace, he nedyth kepyng sore ; 
 Therfore I sey " God is wz't/* the," 
 
 Whiche xal kepe ^ow endlesly thore. 
 So amonge alte women blyssyd are ^e. 232 
 
 MARIA. A ! mercy, God ! Mis is a mervelyous herynge ; 
 
 In Me augelys wordys I am trobelyd her; 
 I thynk, 'how may be Mis gretynge?' 
 
 Aungelys dayly to me doth aper, 
 
 But not in Me lyknes of man ; tha\. is my fer ; 
 And also thus hy}ly to comendyd be, 
 
 And am most vn-wurthy. 1 I can not answers ; 
 Grett shamfastnes and grett dred is in me. 240 
 
 GABRYEL. Mary, in Mis take }e no drede, 
 
 ffor at God grace ffownde haue }e, 
 ^e xal conceyve in jor wombe, indede, 
 
 A childe, Me sone of Me Trynyte. 
 
 His name of }ow leju clepyd xal be ; 
 He xal be grett, Me son of the Hyest, clepyd of kende ; 
 
 And of his ffadyr Davyd the Lord xal }eve \\yrn Me se, 
 Reynyng in Me hous of lacob, of which^ regne xal be non 2 
 
 ende. 248 
 
 MARIA. Aungel, I sey to $ow : 
 
 In what manere of wyse xal Mis be? 
 ffor knowyng of man I haue non now ; 
 
 I haue evyr-mor* kept, and xal, my virginyte. 
 
 I dowte not Me wordys 36 hau[e] 8 seyd to me, 
 But I aske how 4 it xal be do. 
 
 GABRYEL. The Holy Cost xal come fro above to the, 
 And Me vertu of hyz Hyest xal schadu Me so ; 256 
 
 1 H. unwirthy. 8 H. han. 
 
 2 MS. illegible. - H. says how is omitted in MS.
 
 THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION. 9 1 
 
 Therfore that Holy Cost of Me xal be bore, 
 
 He xal be clepyd the. Son of God sage. 
 And se, Ely^abeth, jour cosyn thore, 
 
 She hath conseyvid a son in hyre age ; 
 
 This is the sexte monyth of here passage, 
 Of here thai clepyd was bareyn ; 
 
 No-thynge is izpossyble to Goddys vsage. 
 They thynkyth longe to here what 36 wyl seyn. 264 
 
 ffere th/? aungel makyth a lytyl restynge, and Mary be-holdyth hym., and 
 th? aungel seythe : 
 
 Mary, com of and haste the, 
 
 And take hede in thyn entent 
 How 1 the Holy Gost, blyssyd he be ! 
 
 A-bydyth Min answere and thin assent. 
 Thorwe wyse werke of dyvinyte 
 
 The Secunde P^rsone, verament, 
 Is mad man by fratirnyte z 
 
 WYt^-inne Mi-self, in place present. 272 
 
 fferther-more, take hede this space 
 
 How 1 all<? the blyssyd spyrytys of vertu 
 That are in hefne by-ffore Goddys face, 
 
 And alle the gode levers and trew 
 That are here in Mis erthely place, 
 
 Thyn owyn kynrede Me sothe ho knew, 
 And Me chosyn sowlys Mis tyme of grace 
 
 Thai are in helle and byde ther rescu, 280 
 
 As Adam, Abraham and Davyd, in-fere, 
 
 And many othere of good reputac/on, 
 Thai Min answere desyre to here 
 
 And Min assent to Me Incarnac/bn, 
 In whichi? M<m standyst as preserver, 8 
 
 Of alk? man-kende savaczbn. 
 
 l MS. H. Whow. 2 H. fraternyte. 3 MS. persevere.
 
 92 HEGGE PLAYS. 
 
 Gyff me myn answers now, lady derc, 
 
 To alk these creature comfortac/on. 288 
 
 MARIA. WitA alk mekenes I clyne to this a-corde, 
 
 Bowynge down my face with alk benyngnyte. 
 Se hen? the hand-mayden of our<? Lorde ; 
 
 Aftyr thi worde be it don to me ! 
 
 GABRYEL. Gramercy, my lady ffre ! 
 Gramercy of your answers on hyght ! 
 
 Gramercy of your grett humylyte ! 
 Gramercy, 36 lanterne off l lyght ! 296 
 
 ffere the Holy Gost discendit with iij bemys to O\a Lady, the Sene of 
 the Godhed next 2 with iij bemys to the Holy Gost, the Fadyr Godly 
 unfti iij bemys to the Sone ; and so entre alfe thre to hers bosom ; and 
 Mary seyth : 
 
 MARIA. A ! now I ffele in my body be 
 
 Parfyte God and parfyte man, 
 Havyng al 8 schapp<? of chyldly carnalyte. 
 
 Evyn al at onys, thus God be-gan ; 300 
 
 Nott takynge ffyrst o membyr and sythe a-nother, 
 
 But parfyte childhod y& haue anon. 
 Of jour hand-mayden now ye haue mad your modyr, 
 
 Wz't^-owte peyne, in fflesche and bon. 
 
 Thus conceyved nevyr woman non 
 That evyr was beynge in this lyff ; 
 
 O my hyest ffadyr, in your tron^, 
 It is worthy, your Son now my son haue a pmxigatyff ! 308 
 
 1 can not telle what ioy, what biysse, 
 
 Now I fele in my body. 
 Aungel Gabryel, I thank }ow for thys ; 
 
 Most mekely recomende me to my Faderar mercy ! 
 
 To haue be the. modyr of God fful lytyl wend I. 
 Now my cosyn Ely^abeth ffayn wold I se, 
 
 Now sche hath conseyvid as je dede specyfy. 
 Now blyssyd be the hy$ Trynyte ! 316 
 
 1 H. of. 2 MS. nest ; H. vest. 8 H. alle.
 
 THE SALUTATION AND CONCEPTION. 93 
 
 GABRYEL. ffan?-weyl, turtyl, Goddys dowten? den? ! 
 
 ffare-wel, Goddys modyr, I the honowre ! 
 ffar^-wel, Goddys sustyr and his pleynge fere ! 
 
 ffar<?-wel Goddys chawmere and his bowr* ! 320 
 
 MARIA, ffare-wel, Gabryel, specyalye ! 
 
 ffare-wel, Goddys masangen? expresse ! 
 I thank ^ow for $our traveyl hye ; 
 
 Gramercy of jour grett goodnes, 324 
 
 And namely of your comfortabyl massage ! 
 
 ffor I vndyrstande, by inspyraczbn, 
 Thai 36 knowe by syngulen? pr^vylage 
 
 Most of my sonys Incarnaczbn. 
 I pray }ow take it in-to vsage, 
 
 Be a-custom ocupaczbn, 
 To vesyte me ofte be mene passage ; 
 
 $our presence is my comfortaczon. 332 
 
 GABRIEL. At your wyl, lady, so xal it be. 
 
 3e gentyllest of blood and hyest of kynrede 
 Thai reynyth in erth in ony degre, 
 
 Be pryncypal incheson of the Godhede, 336 
 
 I comende me on-to 3ow, tho\i trone of the Trinyte, 
 
 O mekest mayde, now the. modyr of leju ; 
 Qwen of hefne, lady of erth, and empres of helle be 36 ; 
 
 Socour to alk synful thai wole to 3ow sew ; 
 
 Thor 1 your body beryth the babe 2 our<? blysse xal renew : 
 To 3ow, modyr of mercy, most mekely I recomende, 8 
 
 And, as I began, I ende, with an " Ave !," new, 
 Enionyd 4 hefne and erth ; vfiih thai I ascende. 344 
 
 Aue, Maria, gr&iia plena ! ) 
 
 . . f A ngzli cantando istam sequenciam. 
 
 Dommus tecum, utrgo serena ! ) 
 
 1 H. Thoro. 
 
 2 Qy. Thour the babe your body beryth ; but Kittredge assumes ellipsis of 
 that after body, wliiih seems better. 
 
 8 Qy. me comende. 4 H. Enjoynd. 5 MS. fefena.
 
 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 For information as to the text, see above, p. 13. The notes marked K. are from 
 Kolbing's papers in Englische Studien, XVI, 278 ff. and XXI, 162 ff. 
 
 This play is preceded in the MS. by another on the same subject, which was per- 
 haps played in alternation with this. At the end of the first the MS. has " Explicit 
 Vna pagina pastorom" followed by " Incipit A lia eoruadem." 
 
 [THE SECOND SHEPHERDS' PLAY.] 
 
 [Enter First Shepherd alone,'] 
 
 I. 1 PASTOR. Lord, what ! these weders ar cold ! / and I am 
 
 yll happyd ; 
 
 I am nere-hande dold, / so long haue I nappyd ; 
 My legys thay fold, / my fyngers ar chappyd ; 
 It is not as I wold, / for I am al lappyd 
 
 In sorow, 
 
 In stormes and tempest, 
 Now in the eest, now in the west. 
 Wo is hym has neu^r rest 
 
 Myd-day nor morow ! g 
 
 Bot we sely shepardes * / that walkys on the moore, 
 In fayth, we are nere-handyj / 8 outt of the doore ; 
 No wonder, as it standys, / if we be poore, 
 ffor the tylthe of oure landy^ / lyys falow as the floore, 
 As ye ken. 
 
 1 MS. Primus ; similarly below. 
 * Qy. husbandys ; cf. 22. 
 8 K. inserts ay.
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS' PLAY. 95 
 
 We ar so hamyd, 
 ffor-taxed and ramyd, 
 We ar mayde hand-tamyd 
 
 With thyse gentlery men. 18 
 
 Thus thay refe vs cure reste, / Oure Lady theym wary ! 
 These men that ar lord-fest/ thay cause the ploghe tary. 
 That men say is for the best, / we fynde it contrary ; 
 Thus ar husbandyj opprest / in po[i]nte 1 to myscary 
 
 On lyfe. 
 
 Thus hold thay vs hunder, 
 Thus thay bryng vs in blonder ; 
 It were greatte wonder 
 
 And euer shuld we thryfe. 27 
 
 2 ffor may he gett a paynt slefe / or a broche now on dayes, 
 Wo is hym that hym grefe / or onys agane says ! 
 Dar noman hym reprefe, / what mastry he mays ; 
 And yit may noman. lefe / oone word that he says, 
 
 No letter. 
 
 He can make purveance, 
 With boste and bragance, 
 And all is thrugh mantenance 
 
 Of men that are gretter. 36 
 
 Ther shall com a swane / as prowde as a po, 
 He must 8 borow my wane, / my ploghe also ; 
 Then I am full fane / to graunt or he go. 
 Thus lyf we in payne, / anger, and wo, 
 
 By nyght and day. 
 He must haue if he langyd, 
 If I shuld forgang it ; 
 I were better be hangyd 
 
 Then oones say hym nay. 45 
 
 1 E. E. T. S. 
 
 2 K. -wishes to reverse the order of this stanza and the next. 
 8 K. wishes to read will.
 
 96 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 It dos me good, as I walk / thus by myn oone, 
 Of this warld for to talk / in maner of mone. 
 To my shepe wyll I stalk / and herkyn anone ; 
 Ther abyde on a balk / or sytt on a stone 
 
 ffull soyne. 
 ffor I trowe, pmle, 
 Trew men if thay be, 
 We gett more compane 
 
 Or it be noyne. 54 
 
 [Enter Second Shepherd soliloquizing^ 
 
 II. PAST<?/?. Benste and Dommus I/what may this bemeyne ? 
 Why fares this warld thus ? / Oft haue we not sene ! 
 Lord, thyse weders J are spytus / and the weders full kene ; 
 And the frosty.? so hydus / thay water myn eeyne, 
 
 Noly. 
 
 Now in dry, now in wete, 
 Now in snaw, now in slete ; 
 When my shone freys to my fete, 
 
 It is not all esy. 63 
 
 Bot as far as I ken, / or yit as I go, 
 
 We sely wedmen / dre mekyll wo ; 
 
 We haue sorow then and then, / it f allys oft so. 
 
 Sely Capyle, oure hen, / both to and fro 
 
 She kakyls ; 
 Bot begyn she to crok, 
 To groyne or [to clo]k, 2 
 Wo is hym is of 8 oure cok, 
 
 ffor he is in the shekyls. 72 
 
 These men that ar wed / haue not all thare wyll ; 
 When they ar full hard sted, / thay sygh full styll ; 
 God wayte thay ar led / full hard and full yll ; 
 In bower nor in bed / thay say noght ther-tyll. 
 
 1 Qy. winters for this weders, or windes for the other; cf. 1. 128. 
 a E. E. T. S. 8 Qy, om it i s of.
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS' PLAY. 97 
 
 This tyde, 
 
 My parte haue I fun, 
 I know my lesson. 
 Wo is hym that is bun, 
 
 ffor he must abyde. 81 
 
 Bot now late in oure lyfys /a mmiell to me, 
 That I thynk my hart ryfys / sich wonders to see ; 
 What that destany dryfys, / it shuld so be ! 
 Som men wyll have two wyfys, / and som men thre, 
 
 In store ; 
 
 Som ar wo that has any ; 
 Bot so far can I, 
 Wo is hym that has many, 
 
 ffor he felys sore. 90 
 
 Bot, yong men, of wowyng, 1 / for God that you boght, 
 Be well war of wedyng / and thynk in youre thoght : 
 " Had I wyst" is a thyng /it seruys of noght. 
 Mekyll styll mowrnyng / has wedyng home broght, 
 
 And grefys, 
 
 With many a sharp showre ; 
 ffor thou may each in an owre 
 That shall [savour] 2 fulle sowre 
 
 As long as thou lyffys. 99 
 
 ffor, as euer red I pystyll, / I haue oone to my fere, 
 
 As sharp as a thystyll, / as rugh as a brere ; 
 
 She is browyd lyke a brystyll, / wz't^ a sowre-loten chere ; 
 
 Had she oones wett hyr whystyll, / she couth syng full clere 
 
 Hyr pater noster. 
 She is as greatt as a whall ; 
 She has a galon of gall ; 
 By hym that dyed for vs all, 
 
 I wald I had ryn to I had lost hir. 108 
 
 1 But Kittredge suggests that it is equivalent to yong men a-wowyng. 
 
 2 The word in brackets is illegible in the MS ; supplied by E. E. T. S.
 
 98 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 I. PASTOR. God looke oner the raw ! / ffull defly ye stand. 
 
 ii. PASTOR. Yee, the dewill in thi maw, / so tariand ! 
 
 Sagh thou awro of Daw? / 
 
 I. PASTOR. Yee, on a ley-land 
 
 Hard I hym blaw ; / he coz#mys here at hand, 
 
 Not far ; 
 Stand styll. 
 ii. PASTOR. Qwhy? 
 i. PASTOR, ffor he commys, hope I. 
 ii. PASTOR. He wyll make vs both a ly 
 
 Bot if we be war. 117 
 
 {Enter Third Shepherd soliloquizing, .] 
 
 ill. PASTOR. Crystys crosse me spede / and Sant Nycholas ! 
 Ther-of had I nede, / it is wars then it was. 
 Whoso couthe take hede / and lett the warld pas, 
 It is euer in drede / and brekyll as glas, 
 
 And slythys. 
 
 This warld fowre neuer so, 
 Wz't^ meruels mo and mo, 
 Now in weyll, now in wo, 
 
 And all thyng wrythys. 126 
 
 Was neu^r syn Noe floode / sich fioodys seyn, 
 Wyndyj- and ranys so rude / and stormes so keyn ; 
 Som stamerd, som stod, / in dowte, as I weyn ; 
 Now God turne all to good ! / I say as I mene, 
 
 ffor ponder : 
 
 These fioodys so thay drowne, 
 Both in teyldys and in towne, 
 And berys all downe, 
 
 And that is a wonder. 135 
 
 We that walk on the nyghtys / oure catell to kepe, 
 We se sodan syghtyj / when othere men slepe. 1 
 Yit me thynk my hart lyghtyj ; / I se shrewys pepe. 
 
 1 Originally slepys ; altered in red ink.
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS PLAY. 99 
 
 Ye ar two all l wyghty-r ; / I wyll gyf my shepe 
 
 A turne. 
 
 Bot full yll haue I ment ; 
 As I walk on this bent, 
 I may lyghtly repent, 
 
 My toes if I spurne. 144 
 
 A, sir, God you saue, / and master myne ! 
 
 A drynk fayn wold I haue / and somwhat to dyne. 
 
 I. PASTOff. Crystyj curs, my knaue, / thou art a ledyr 
 
 hyne ! 
 
 II. PASTOR. What ! the boy lyst rave ? / Abyde vnto syne ; 
 
 We haue mayde it. 
 Yll thryft on thy pate ! 
 Though the shrew cam late, 
 Yit is he in state 
 
 To dyne, if he had it. 153 
 
 in. PASTOS. Sich seruandys as I, / that swettys and swynkys, 
 Etys oure brede full dry, / and that me forthynkys ; 
 We ar oft weytt and wery / when master-men wynkys ; 
 Yit cozmys full lately / both dyners and drynkys. 
 
 Bot nately 
 
 Both oure dame and oure syre, 
 When we haue ryn in the myre, 
 Thay can nyp at oure hyre, 
 
 And pay vs full lately. 162 
 
 Bot here my trouth, master, / for the fayr that ye make, 
 
 I shall do therafter, / wyrk as I take ; 
 
 I shall do a lytyll, s/r, / and emang tuer lake ; 
 
 ffor yit lay my soper / neu^r on my stomake 
 
 In feyldys. 
 
 Wherto shuld I threpe ? 
 Wz't^ my staf can I lepe, 
 And men say " Lyght chepe 
 
 Letherly for-yeldys." 17! 
 
 1 Kittredge suggests talL
 
 IOO TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 I. PASTOR. Thou were an yll lad / to ryde on wowyng 
 Wit/i a man that had / hot lytyll of spendyng. 
 n. PASTOR. Peasse, boy, I bad ; / no more iangling, 
 Or I shall make the full rad, / by the heuens 1 kyng ! 
 
 Vfiih thy gawdys. 
 
 Wher ar oure shepe, boy ? We skorne. 
 in. PASTOR. Sir, this same day at morne 
 I thaym left in the corne, 
 
 When thay rang lawdys ; 180 
 
 Thay haue pasture good, / thay can not go wrong. 
 
 I. PASTOR. That is right. By the roode ! / thyse nyghtys ar long ! 
 Yit I wold, or we yode, / oone gaf vs a song. 
 
 II. PASTOR. So I thoght as I stode, / to myrth vs emong. 
 
 in. PASTOR. I grauntt. 
 
 I. PASTOR. Lett me syng the tenory. 
 
 II. PASTOR. And I the tryble so hye. 
 
 in. PASTOR. Then the meyne fallys to me ; 
 
 Lett se how ye chauntt. 2 189 
 
 TUHC intrat Mak, in clamide se super togma vestitus. 
 
 MAK. Now, Lord, for thy naymes sevyn, 8 /that made both 
 
 moyn & starnes 
 
 Well mo then I can neuen, / thi will, Lorde, of me tharnys ; 
 I am all vneuen ; / that moves oft my harnes. 
 Now wold God I were in heuen, / for there 4 wepe no barnes 
 
 So styll. 
 
 i. PASTOR. Who is that, pypys so poore ? 
 MAK. Wold God ye wyst how I foore ! 
 Lo, a man that \valkys on the moore, 
 
 And has not all his wyll ! 198 
 
 II. PASTOR. Mak, where has thou gon 5 ? / tell vs tythyng. 
 in. PASTOR. Is he cowmen? Then ylkon/ take hede to his 
 thyng. 
 
 IE. E. T. S. heuen's. 
 
 3 The song -was probably sung; but it is not given in the MS. 
 
 MS. vij. * MS. the. 5 MS. gom.
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS' PLAY. IOI 
 
 Et accijfo. clamidem ai> ifso. 
 
 MAK. What ! ich be a yoman, / I tell you, of the king; 
 The self and the same, / sond from a greatt lordyng, 
 
 And sich. 
 
 ffy on you ! goyth hence 
 Out of my presence ! 
 I must haue reuerence ; 
 
 Why, who be ich ? 207 
 
 I. PASTOR. Why make ye it so qwaynt? Mak, ye do 
 
 wrang. 
 
 II. PASTOff. Bot, Mak, lyst ye saynt ? / I trow that ye lang. 
 in. PASTOR. I trow the shrew can paynt, / the dewyll myght 
 
 hyw hang ! 
 MAK. Ich shall make complaynt / and make you all to 
 
 thwang 
 At a worde, 
 
 And tell euyn how ye doth. 
 I, PASTOff. Bot, Mak, is that sothe? 
 Now take outt that sothren tothe, 
 
 And sett in a torde ! 216 
 
 n. PASTOR. Mak, the dewill in youre ee ! / a stroke wold I 
 
 leyne you. 
 HI. PASTOR. Mak, know ye not me? /by God, I couthe 
 
 teyn you. 
 
 MAK. God looke you all thre ! / me thoght I had sene you, 
 Ye ar a fare compane. / 
 I. PASTOS. Can ye now mene you ? 
 
 n. PASTOX. Shrew, iape ! 
 Thus late as thou goys, 
 What wyll men suppos ? 
 And thou has an yll noys 
 
 Of stelyng of shepe. 225 
 
 1 MS. teyle ; but the letters le have been -written over the original by a 
 later hand.
 
 IO2 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 MAK. And I am trew as steyll, / all men waytt ! 
 
 Bot a sekenes I feyll / that haldyj me full haytt, 
 
 My belly farys not weyll, / it is out of astate. 
 
 in. PASTOR. Seldom lyys the dewyll / dede by the gate. 
 
 MAK. Therfor 
 ffull sore am I and yll 
 If I stande stone styll ; 
 I ete not an nedyll 
 
 Thys moneth and more. 234 
 
 I. PASTOX. How farys thi wyff ? by my hoode, / how farys 
 
 sho? 
 
 MAK. Lyys walteryng, by the roode, / by the fyere, lo ! 
 And a howse full of brude / she drynkys well to ; 
 Yll spede othere good / that she wyll do 
 
 Bot so ! 
 
 Etys as fast as she can, 
 And ilk yere that commys to man 
 She bryngys furth a lakan, 
 
 And som yeres two. 243 
 
 Bot were I not more gracyus / and rychere be far, 1 
 I were eten outt of howse / and of harbar ; 
 Yit is she a fowll dowse / if ye com nar ; 
 Ther is none that trowse / nor knowys a war 
 
 Then ken I. 
 
 Now wyll ye se what I profer ? 
 To gyf all in my cofer 
 To-morne at next to offer 
 
 Hyr hed-mas peny. 252 
 
 II. PASTOR. I wote so forwakyd / is none in this shyre : 
 I wold slepe, if I takyd / les to my hyere. 
 
 in. PASTOK. I am cold and nakyd / and wold haue a fyere. 
 i. PASTOR. I am wery for-rakyd, / and run in the myre. 
 Wake thou ! 
 
 l E. E. T. S. befar.
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS* PLAY. IO3 
 
 II. PAST ox. Nay, I wyll lyg downe by, 
 
 ffor I must slepe truly. 
 
 in. PASTO/?. As good a mans l son was I 
 
 As any of you. 261 
 
 Bot, Mak, com heder I betwene / shall thou lyg downe. 
 MAK. Then myght I lett you, bedene, / of that ye wold 
 rowne, 2 
 
 No drede. 
 
 ff ro my top to my too, 
 Manus tuas commendo, 
 Poncio Pilato, 
 
 Cryst crosse me spede ! 268 
 
 Tune surgit, pastor ibus dormienfibvLS, et elicit : 
 
 Now were tyme for a man / that lakkys what he wold 8 
 
 To stalk pr^uely than / vnto a fold 
 
 And neemly to wyrk than / and be not to bold, 
 
 ffor he might aby the bargan, / if it were told, 
 
 At the endyng. 
 Now were tyme for to reyll ; 
 Bot he nedys good counsell 
 That fayn wold fare weyll, 
 
 And has bot lytyll spendyng. 277 
 
 Bot abowte you a serkyll / as rownde as a moyn, 4 
 To I haue done that I wyll, / tyll that it be noyn, 
 That ye lyg stone styll / to that I haue doyne, 
 And I shall say thertyll / of good wordjs a foyne 
 On hight : 
 
 1 E. E. T. S. man's. 
 
 2 E. E. T. S. notes that two lines are missing and refers to a similar 
 stanza (No. 15) in the first Shepherds' Play. In both cases lines have been 
 lost, I think. 
 
 8 From this point on, Pollard's numbering is 1 1 ahead of E. E. T. S., 
 possibly because he miscounted the stanzas by one and did not notice that 
 the immediately preceding stanza contains only 7 lines. 
 
 * K. corrects the spelling of these four rhyme-words by omitting y.
 
 IO4 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 Ouer youre heydy-r my hand I lyft, 
 Outt go youre een, fordo your syght ; 
 Bot yit I must make better shyft 
 
 And it be right. 286 
 
 Lord, what ! thay slepe hard ! / that may ye all here. 
 
 Was I neuer a shepard, / hot now wyll I lere ; 
 
 If the flok be skard, / yit shall I nyp nere. 
 
 How ! drawes hederward ! / Now mendys oure chere 
 
 ffrom 1 sorow. 
 A fatt shepe I dar say ! 
 A good flese dar I lay ! 
 Eft-whyte when I may, 
 
 Bot this will I borOW. \Makgoes home.'] 2)$ 
 
 How, Gyll, art thou in ? / gett vs som lyght. 
 
 VXOR EIUS. 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 
 
 So farys ! 
 
 A huswyff that has bene 
 To be rasyd thus betwene ! 
 Here may no note be sene 
 
 ffor sich small charys. 304 
 
 MAK. Good wyff, open the hek ! / seys thou not what I 
 
 bryng ? 
 VXOR. I may thole the dray the snek. / A, com in, my 
 
 swetyng ! 
 
 MAK. Yee, thou thar not rek / of my long standyng. 
 VXOR. By the nakyd nek / art thou lyke for to hyng. 
 
 MAK. Do way ; 
 I am worthy my mete, 
 ffor in a strate can I gett 
 More then thay that swynke and swette 
 
 All the long day. 313 
 
 l MS. ffron.
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS* PLAY. 1 05 
 
 [He shows her the sheep.] 
 
 Thus it fell to my lott, / Gyll, I had sich grace. 
 VXOR. It were a fowll blott / to be hanged for the case. 
 MAK. I haue skapyd, lelott, / oft as hard a glase. 
 VXOR. Bot so long goys the pott / to the water, men says, 
 
 At last 
 
 Comys it home broken. 
 MAK. Well knowe I the token, 
 Bot let it neu^r be spoken ; 
 
 Bot com and help fast. 322 
 
 I wold he were slayn, / I lyst well etc ; 
 This twelmo[n]the 1 was I not so fayn / of oone shepe mete. 
 VXOR. Com thay or he be slayn / and here the shepe blete 
 MAK. Then myght I be tane ; / that were a cold swette ! 
 
 Go spar 
 
 The gaytt doore. 
 VXOR. Yis, Mak, 
 
 ffor and thay com at thy bak 
 MAK. Then myght I by, for all the pak, 
 
 The dewill of the war. 331 
 
 VXOR. A good bowrde haue I spied, / syn thou can none ; 
 
 Here shall we hym hyde / to thay be gone, 
 
 In my credyll abyde, / lett me alone, 
 
 And I shall lyg besyde / in chylbed, and grone. 
 
 MAK. Thou red ; 
 And I shall say thou was lyght 
 Of a knaue childe this nyght. 
 VXOR. Now well is me day bright, 
 
 That euer was I bred ! 340 
 
 This is a good gyse / and a far cast ; 
 Yit a woman avyse / helpys at the last ! 
 I wote neuer who spyse : / agane go thou fast. 
 MAK. Bot I com or thay ryse, / els blawes a cold blast ! 
 I wyll go slepe. 
 
 1 Corr. by K.
 
 IO6 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 \_Mak returns to the shepherds, and resumes his place.'] 
 
 Yit slepys all this meneye, 
 And I shall go stalk pr^uely, 
 As it had neu^r bene I 
 
 That caryed thare shepe. {Sleeps.} 349 
 
 I. PASTOR. Resurrex a mortru\s ! / Haue hald my hand. 
 ludas carnas dom'mus \ / I may not well stand : 
 My foytt slepys, by Ihesus, 1 / and I water fastand. 
 I thoght that we layd vs / full nere Yngland. 
 
 n. PASTO/?. A ye ! 
 Lord, what ! I haue slept weyll ; 
 As fresh as an eyll, 
 As lyght I me feyll 
 
 As leyfe on a tre. 358 
 
 in. PASTOR. Benste be here-in ! / so my [body] 2 
 
 qwakys, 
 
 My hart is outt of skyn, / what -so it makys. 
 Who makys all this dyn ? / So my browes blakys. 
 To the do wore wyll I wyn. / Harke felows, wakys ! 
 
 We were fowre : 
 Se ye awre of Mak now? 
 I. PASTOR. We were vp or thou. 
 ii. PASTOR. Man, I gyf God a-vowe, 
 
 Yit yede he nawre. 367 
 
 in. PASTOS. Me thoght he was lapt / in a wolfe skyn. 
 
 I. PASTOR. So are many hapt / now, namely within. 
 
 in. PASTOff. 8 When we had long napt, / me thoght vtiih 
 
 agyn 
 A fatt shepe he trapt / bot he mayde no dyn. 
 
 n. PASTOR.* Be styll ; 
 Thi dreme makys the woode ; 
 It is bot fantom, by the roode. 
 i. PASTOX. Now God turne all to good, 
 
 If it be his wyll ! 376 
 
 l MS. ihc. Kittredge; E. E. T. S. [hart?]. 
 
 E. E. T. S. ii. PASTOR. * E. E. T. S. in. PASTOR.
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS* PLAY. IO/ 
 
 II. PASTOR. Ryse, Mak ; for shame ! / thou \Jgys right 
 
 lang. 
 
 MAK. Now Crystyj holy name / be vs emang ! 
 What is this, for Sant lame? / I may not well gang ! 
 I trow I be the same. / A ! my nek has lygen wrang 
 
 Enoghe, 
 
 Mekill thank ! syn yister euen. 
 Now, by Sant Strevyn, 
 I was flayd wz'tA a swevyn, 
 
 My hart out of-sloghe : 385 
 
 I thoght Gyll began to crok / and trauell full sad, 
 Welner at the fyrst cok, / of a yong lad 
 ffor to mend cure flok. / Then be I neuer glad ; 
 I haue tow on my rok / more then euer 1 had. 
 
 A, my heede ! 
 
 A house full of yong tharnes, 1 
 The dewill knok outt thare harnes ! 
 Wo is hym has many barnes, 
 
 And therto lytyll brede ! 394 
 
 I must go home, by youre lefe, / to Gyll, as I thoght. 
 I pray you looke my slefe / that I steyll noght ; 
 I am loth you to grefe / or from you take oght. \_Exit.} 
 
 in. PASTOR. Go furth, yll myght thou chefe ! / Now wold 
 I we soght, 
 
 This morne, 
 
 That we had all oure store. 
 I. PASTOR. Bot I will go before ; 
 Let vs mete, 
 n. PASTOR. Whore? 
 
 in. PASTOR. At the crokyd thorne. 403 
 
 MAK. Vndo this doore ! who is here ? / how long shall I 
 
 stand ? 
 VXOR EIUS. Who makys sich a bere ? / now walk in the 
 
 wenyand ! 
 
 l E. E. T. S. tharmes.
 
 IO8 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 MAK. A, Gyll, what chere ? / it is I, Mak, youre husbande. 
 VXOR. Then may we se 1 here / the dewill in a bande, 
 
 Syr Gyle ; 
 
 Lo, he commys wz't^ a lote 
 As he were holden in the throte. 
 I may not syt at my note 
 
 A hand-lang while. 412 
 
 MAK. Wyll ye here what fare she makys / to gett hir a 
 
 glose ? 
 
 And dos noght bot lakys / and clowse hir toose. 
 VXOR. Why, who wanders, who wakys, / who cowmys, who 
 
 gose? 
 Who brewys, who bakys ? / what makys me thus hose ? 
 
 And than, 
 
 It is rewthe to beholde, 
 Now in hote, now in colde. 
 ffull wofull is the householde 
 
 That vfantys a woman. 421 
 
 Bot what ende has thou mayde / w/tA the hyrdys, Mak? 
 MAK. The last worde that thay sayde / when I turnyd my 
 
 bak, 
 
 Thay wold looke that thay hade / thare shepe all the pak. 
 I hope thay wyll nott be well payde / when thay thare shepe 
 lak, 
 
 Perde. 
 
 Bot how-so the gam gose, 
 To me thay wyll suppose, 
 And make a fowll noyse, 
 
 And cry outt apon me. 430 
 
 Bot thou must do as thou hyght. / 
 
 VXOR. I accorde me thertyll, 
 
 I shall swedyll hym right / in my credyll. 
 
 If it were a gretter slyght, / yit couthe I help tyll. 
 
 I wyll lyg downe stright ; / com' hap me. 
 
 1 E. E. T. S. be ; emend, by Kittredge.
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS' PLAY. 
 
 MAK. I wyll. 
 
 VXOR. Behynde ! 
 Com Coll and his maroo, 
 Thay will nyp vs full naroo. 
 MAK. Bot I may cry out haroo, 
 
 The shepe if thay fynde. 439 
 
 VXOR. Harken ay when thay call ; / thay will com onone. 
 Com and make redy all / and syng by thyn oone ; 
 Syng lullay thou shall, / for I must grone 
 And cry outt by the wall / on Mary and lohn, 
 
 ffor sore. 
 
 Syng lullay on fast 
 When thou heris at the last ; 
 And bot I play a fals cast, 
 
 Trust me no more. 448 
 
 ill. PASTOR. A, Coll, good morne ! / Why slepys thou nott ? 
 I. PASTOR. Alas, that euer was I borne ! / we haue a fowll 
 
 blott. 
 
 A fat wedir haue we lorne. / 
 in. PASTOR. Mary, Godys forbott ! 
 
 ii. PASTOR. Who shuld do vs that skorne?/ that were a 
 fowll spott. 
 
 I. PASTOR. Som shrewe. 
 I haue soght w/tA my dog/J 
 All Horbery Shrogyj, 
 And of fefteyn l hogys 
 
 ffond I bot oone ewe. 457 
 
 in. PASTOR. Now trow me, if ye will ; / by Sant Thomas 
 
 of Kent, 
 
 Ayther Mak or Gyll / was at that assent. 
 I. PASTOR. Peasse, man, be still ! / I sagh when he went ; 
 Thou sklanders hym yll ; / thou aght to repent 
 Goode spede. 
 
 i MS. XT.
 
 IIO TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 ii. PASTOR. Now as eu<?r myght I the, 
 If I shuld euyn here de, 
 I wold say it were he 
 
 That dyd that same dede. 466 
 
 in. PASTOR. Go we thed^r, I rede, / and ryn on oure feete. 
 Shall I neuer ete brede / the sothe to I wytt. 
 I. PASTOR. Nor drynk in my heede / with hym tyll I mete, 
 n. PASTOR. I wyll rest in no stede/ tyll that I hym grete, 
 
 My brothere. 
 Gone I will hight : 
 Tyll I se hym in sight 
 Shall I neuer slepe one nyght 
 
 Ther I do anothere. 475 
 
 in. PASTOR. Will ye here how thay hale? /Oure syre lyst 
 
 croyne. 
 
 I. PASTOR. Hard I neu^r none crak / so clere out of toyne ; 
 Call on hym. 
 
 n. PASTOR. Mak ! / vndo youre doore soyne. 
 MAK. Who is that spak / as it were noyne 
 
 On loft ? 
 
 Who is that ? I say. 
 
 in. PASTOR. Goode felowse, were it day. 
 MAK. As far as ye may, 
 
 Good, spekyj soft, 484 
 
 Ouer a seke womans 1 heede / that is at mayll-easse ; 
 I had leuer be dede / or she had any dyseasse. 
 VXOR. Go to an othere stede, / I may not well qweasse. 
 Ich fote that ye trede / goys thorow my nese 
 
 So hee ! 
 
 i. PASTOR. Tell vs, Mak, if ye may, 
 How fare ye, I say ? 
 MAK. Bot ar ye in this towne to-day ? 
 
 Now how fare ye ? 493 
 
 Ye haue ryn in the myre / and ar weytt yit ; 
 I shall make you a fyre / if ye will syt. 
 
 i E. E. T. S. woman's.
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS PLAY. Ill 
 
 A nores wold I hyre, / thynk ye on yit ; 
 
 Well qwytt is my hyre, / my dreme this is itt, 
 
 A seson. 
 
 I haue barnes, if ye knew, 
 Well mo then enewe, 
 Bot we must drynk as we brew, 
 
 And that is bot reson. 502 
 
 I wold ye dynyd or ye yode ; / me thynk that ye swette. 
 
 \i. PASTOR. Nay, nawther mendys oure mode / drynke nor 
 
 mette. 
 
 MAK. Why, sir, alys you oght bot goode ? / 
 in. PASTOR. Yee, oure shepe tha\. 
 
 we gett 
 Ar stollyn as thay yode ; / oure los is grette. 
 
 MAK. Syrs, drynkys I 
 Had I bene thore, 
 Som shuld haue boght it full sore. 
 I. PASTOR. Mary, som men trowes that ye l wore, 
 
 And that vs forthynky-y. 511 
 
 n. PASTOR. Mak, som men trowys / that it shuld be ye. 
 in. PASTOR. Ayther ye or youre spouse, / so say we. 
 MAK. Now if ye haue suspowse / to Gill or to me, 
 Com and rype oure howse / and then may ye se 
 
 Who had hir. 
 If I any shepe fott, 
 Aythor cow or stott, 
 And Gyll, my wyfe, rose nott 
 
 Here syn she lade hir, 520 
 
 As I am true and lele, / to God here I pray 
 That this be the fyrst inele / that I shall ete this day. 
 I. PASTOR. Mak, as haue I ceyll, / avyse the, I say ; 
 He lernyd tymely to steyll / that couth not say nay. 
 
 1 K. inserts it.
 
 112 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 VXOR. I swelt ! 
 Outt, thefys, fro my wonys ! 
 Ye com to rob vs, for the nonys. 
 MAK. Here ye not how she gronys? 
 
 Youre hartys shuld melt. 529 
 
 VXOR. Outt, thefys, fro my barne ! / negh hym not thor. 
 MAK. Wyst ye how she had fame, / youre hartys wold be 
 
 sore. 
 
 Ye do wrang, I you warne, / that thus commys before 
 To a woman that has fame / bot I say no more ! 
 
 VXOR. A, my medyll ! 
 I pray to God so mylde, 
 If euer I you begyld, 
 That I ete this chylde 
 
 That lyg/J in this credyll. 538 
 
 MAK. Peasse, woman, for Godys payn, / and cry not so : 
 
 Thou spyllys thy brane / and makyj me full wo. 
 
 II. PASTOR. I trow oure shepe be slayn. / What finde ye 
 
 two? 
 in. PASTOR. All wyrk we in vayn ; / as well may we go. 
 
 Bot hatters, 
 I can fynde no flesh, 
 Hard nor nesh, 
 Salt nor fresh, 
 
 Bot two tome platers. 547 
 
 Whik catell bot this, / tame nor wylde, 
 
 None, as haue I blys, / as lowde as he smylde. 
 
 VXOR. No, so God me blys / and gyf me ioy of my chylde ! 
 
 I. PASTOR. We haue m^rkyd amys ; / I hold vs begyld. 
 
 ii. PASTOR. Syr, don. 
 Syr, Oure Lady hym saue ! 
 Is youre chyld a knaue ? 
 MAK. Any lord myght hym haue, 
 
 This chyld to his son ; 556
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS' PLAY. 113 
 
 When he wakyns he kyppys / that ioy is to se. 
 
 in. PASTOR. In good tyme to hys hyppys / and in cele ! 
 
 Bot who was his gossyppys / so sone rede ? 
 
 MAK. So fare fall thare lyppys ! / 
 
 I. PASTOR. Hark now, a le 1 
 
 MAK. So God thaym thank, 
 Parkyn, and Gybon Waller, I say, 
 And gentill lohn Home, in good fay, 
 He made all the garray, 
 
 With the greatt shank. 565 
 
 li. PASTOK. Mak, freyndyj will we be, / ffor we ar all oone. 
 MAK. We ! now I hald for me, / for mender gett I none, 
 ff are-well all thre ! / all glad were ye gone. \Tke skepiterds go out.] 
 in. PASTOR, ff are wordyj may ther be, / bot luf is ther none 
 This yere. 
 
 I. PASTOR. Gaf ye the chyld any-thyng? 
 
 II. PASTOR. I trow, not oone farthyng. 
 ill. PASTOR, ffast agane will I flyng, 
 
 Abyde ye me there. [Goes back to the house.'] 574 
 
 Mak, take it to no grefe, / if I com to thi barne. 
 
 MAK. Nay, thou dos me greatt reprefe / and fowll has thou 
 
 fame. 
 
 ill. PASTOR. The child will it not grefe,/ that lytyll day-starne. 
 Mak, with youre leyfe, / let me gyf youre barne 
 
 Bot sex * pence. 
 
 MAK. Nay, do way ; he slepys. 
 in. PASTOR. Me thynk he pepys. 
 MAK. When he wakyns he wepys ; 
 
 I pray you gO hence. \The other shepherds come back.'} 583 
 
 ill. PASTOR. Gyf me lefe hym to kys, / and lyft vp the 
 
 Clowtt. [Seeing the 
 
 What the dewill is this ? / he has a long snowte. 
 i MS. vj.
 
 114 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 I. PASTOR. He is nu?rkyd amys ; / we wate ill abowte. 
 
 II. PASTOR. Ill spon weft, iwys./ ay commys foull owte. 
 
 Ay, so ! 
 
 He is lyke to cure shepe ! 
 II. PASTOR. How, Gyb ! may I pepe ? 
 I. PASTOR. I trow, kynde will crepe 
 
 Where it may not go. 592 
 
 n. PASTOR. This was a qwantt gawde / and a far cast. 
 
 It was a hee frawde. / 
 
 in. PASTOR. Yee, syrs, wast. 
 
 Lett bren this bawde, / and bynd hir fast. 
 
 A ! fals skawde, / hang at the last ! 
 
 So shall thou. 
 
 Wyll ye se how thay swedyll 
 His foure feytt in the medyll? 
 Sagh I neuer in a credyll 
 
 A hornyd lad or now. 60 1 
 
 MAK. Peasse byd I ! what, / lett be youre fare ! 
 I am he that hym gatt, / and yond woman hym bare, 
 i. PASTOR . What dewill shall he hatt ? / Mak ? Lo 
 
 God, Mak/j ayre ! 
 n.- PASTOR. Lett be all that. / Now God gyf hym care, 
 
 I sagh. 
 
 VXOR. A pratty childe is he 
 As syttys on a womans kne ; 
 A dyllydowne, pmle, 
 
 To gar a man laghe. 610 
 
 in. PASTOR. I know hym by the eere-marke ; / that is a 
 
 good tokyn. 
 
 MAK. I tell you, syrs, hark ! / hys noyse was brokyn ; 
 Sythen told me a clerk / that he was forspokyn. 
 I. PASTOR. This is a fals wark ; / I wold fayn be wrokyn ; 
 
 Gett wepyn ! 
 
 VXOR. He was takyn w/t^ an elfe, 
 I saw it myself ; 
 
 l E. E. T. S. waman's.
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS' PLAY. I I 5 
 
 When the clok stroke twelf 
 
 Was he forshapyn. 619 
 
 ii. PASTOR. Ye two ar well feft / sam in a stede. 
 
 I. PASTOR. 1 Syn thay manteyn thare theft, / let do thaym 
 
 to dede. 
 
 MAK. If I trespas eft, / gyrd of my heede i 
 WzU you will I be left. / 
 in. PASTOR.^ Syrs, do my reede : 
 
 ffor this trespas 
 We will nawther ban ne flyte, 
 ffyght nor chyte, 
 Bot haue done as tyte, 
 
 And cast hym in canvas. 628 
 
 [They toss Mak in a sheet,] 
 
 [i. PASTOR.] Lord, what ! I am sore, / in poynt for to bryst. 
 In fayth, I may no more ; / therfor wyll I ryst. 
 
 II. PASTOR. As a shepe of sevyn 3 skore / he weyd in my 
 
 fyst. 
 ffor to slepe ay-whore / me thynk that I lyst. 
 
 in. PASTOR. Now I pray you, 
 Lyg downe in this grene. 
 i. PASTOR. On these thefyj yit I mene. 
 in. PASTOR. Wherto shuld ye tene ? 
 
 Do 4 as I say you? . 637 
 
 A ngelus cantat " Gloria in exelsis " ; posted dicat : 
 
 ANGELUS. Ryse, hyrd-men heynd ! / for now is he borne 
 That shall take fro the feynd / that Adam had lorne : 
 That warloo to sheynd / this nyght is he borne ; 
 God is made youre freynd / now at this morne. 
 
 He behestys, 
 At bedlem go se, 
 
 1 E. E. T. S. in. PASTOR ; see Notts. 
 
 2 E. E. T. S. i. PASTOR. 
 
 3 MS. vij. 
 
 4 E. E. T. S. So.
 
 Il6 TOWNELEV PLAYS. 
 
 Ther lygys that fre 
 In a cryb full poorely 
 
 Betwyx two bestys. 646 
 
 I. PASTOR. This was a qwant stevyn / that euer yit I hard. 1 
 It is a meruell to neuyn, / thus to be skard. 
 li. PASTOR. Of Godys son of heuyn / he spak vpward. 
 All the wod on a leuyn / me thoght that he gard 
 
 Appere. 
 
 in. PASTOR. He spake of a barne 
 In Bedlem, I you warne. 
 I. PASTOR. That betokyns yond starne ; 
 
 Let vs seke hym there. 655 
 
 n. PASTOR. Say, what was his song? / hard ye not how he 
 
 crakyd it, 
 
 Thre brefes to a long ? / 
 
 in. PASTOR. Yee, mary, he hakt it ; 
 
 Was no crochett wrong, / nor no-thyng that lakt it. 
 
 I. PASTOR, ffor to syng vs emong, / right as he knakt it, 
 
 I can. 
 
 II. PASTOR. Let se how ye croyne ; 
 Can ye bark at the mone ? 
 
 in. PASTOR. Hold youre tonges, haue done ! 
 
 I. PASTOR. Hark alter, than ! 664 
 
 II. PASTOR. To Bedlem he bad / that we shuld gang ; 
 I am full fard / that we tary to lang. 
 
 ill. PASTOR. Be mery and not sad, / of myrth is oure sang, 
 Euer-lastyng glad / to mede may we fang, 
 
 W/t/!outt noyse. 
 
 I. PASTOR. Hy we iheder for-thy, 
 If we be wete and wery, 
 To that chyld and that lady ! 
 
 We haue it not to lose. 673 
 
 1 That euer yit I hard -was originally he spake vpward, from 1. 649, but 
 this has been crossed out -with red ink. K. changes a qwant stevyn to the 
 qwantest stevyn ; but -why not change that euer to as euer, if emendation 
 must be made ?
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS* PLAY. 117 
 
 II. PASTO/?. We fynde by the prophecy / let be youre 
 
 dyn 
 
 Of Dauid and Isay/ and mo then I myn, 
 Thay pr<5>phecyed by clergy / that in a vyrgyn 
 Shuld he lyght and ly, / to slokyn oure syn 
 
 And slake it, 
 Oure l kynde from wo ; 
 ffor Isay sayd so : 
 EC ce 2 virgo 
 
 Concipiet a chylde that is nakyd. 682 
 
 in. PASTOR, ffull glad may we be / and abyde that day 
 That lufly to se, / that all myghtyj may. 
 Lord, well were me / for ones and for ay, 
 Myght I knele on my kne / som word for to say 
 
 To that chylde. 
 Bot the angell sayd, 
 In a cryb wos he layde, 
 He was poorly arayd, 
 
 Both men^r 8 and mylde. 691 
 
 I. PASTOR. Patryarkes that has bene / and pr^phetyj be- 
 
 forne, 
 
 Thay desyryd to haue sene / this chylde that is borne. 
 Thay ar gone full clene ; / that haue thay lorne. 
 We shall se hym, I weyn, / or it be morne, 
 
 To tokyn. 
 
 When I se hym and fele, 
 Then wote I full vveyll 
 It is true as steyll 
 
 That propheiys haue spokyn : 700 
 
 To so poore as we ar / that he wold appere, 
 ffyrst fynd, and declare / by his messyngere. 
 n. PASTOR. Go we now, let vs fare ; / the place is vs nere. 
 
 1 K. inserts To kepe, or To fre, before Oure. 
 * E. E. T. S. Citfc ; corr. by K. 
 8 K. suggests meke.
 
 I I 8 TOWNELEY PLAYS. 
 
 in. PASTOR. I am redy and yare ; / go we in-fere 
 
 To that bright. 
 Lord, if thi wyll it 1 be, 
 We ar lewde all thre : 
 Thou grauntt vs somkyns gle 
 
 To comforth thi wight. 709 
 
 [ They enter the stable] 
 
 I. PASTOR. Hayll, comly and clene ! / hayll, yong child ! 
 Hayll, Maker, 2 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 ; 
 Lo, he laghys, my swetyng ! 
 A wel fare 8 metyng ! 
 I haue h olden my hetyng. 
 
 Haue a bob of cherys ! 718 
 
 u. PASTOR. Hayll, sufferan Sauyoure, / ffor thou has vs 
 
 soght ! 
 
 Hayll, frely foyde and floure, / that all thyng has wroght ! 
 Hayll, full of fauoure, / that made all of nnght ! 
 Hayll ! I kneyll and I cowre. / A byrd haue I broght 
 
 To my barne. 
 Hayll, lytyll tyne mop ! 
 Of cure crede thou art crop : 
 I wold drynk on thy cop, 
 
 Lytyll day-starne ! 727 
 
 in. PASTOR. Hayll, derlyng dere, / full of godhede ! 
 I pray the be nere / when that I haue nede. 
 Hayll ! swete is thy chere ! / My hart wold blede 
 To se the sytt here / in so poore wede, 
 Vfiih no penys. 
 
 1 E. E. T. S. wylles. 
 
 2 K. inserts born. 
 
 8 E. E. T. S. welfare.
 
 THE SECOND SHEPHERDS' PLAY. 119 
 
 Hayll ! put furth thy dall ! 
 I bryng the bot a ball : 
 Haue and play the with-all, 
 
 And go to the tenys. 736 
 
 MARIA. The Fader of heuen, / God omnypotent, 
 
 That sett all on seuen, / his Son has he sent. 
 
 My name couth he neuen / and lyght or he went. 
 
 I conceyuyd hym full euen, / thrugh myght as he merit ; 
 
 And now he is borne. 
 He kepe you fro wo ! 
 I shall pray hym so. 
 Tell, furth as ye go, 
 
 And myn on this morne. 745 
 
 I. PASTOR, ffarewell, lady, / so fare to beholde, 
 
 With thy childe on thi kne ! / 
 
 ii. PASTOR. Bot he lygys full cold. 
 
 Lord, well is me ! / now we go, thou behold. 
 
 in. PASTOR, ffor so the, all redy ! / it semys to be told 
 
 Full oft. 
 
 i. PASTOR. What grace we haue fun ! 
 ii. PASTOR. Com furth, now ar we won. 
 in. PASTOR. To syng ar we bun : 
 
 Let take on loft ! 754 
 
 Explicit pagina Pas/arum.
 
 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 Reprinted from " A Dissertation on the Pageants or Dramatic Mysteries 
 Anciently performed at Coventry ... by Thomas Sharp. Coventry, 1825." In 
 the notes S. indicates such of Sharp's readings as I have changed. The date of 
 the MS. is given at the end of the play. 
 
 It will aid the reader if he bears in mind that in this play iv and v are often 
 interchanged, and that such words as holy, home are sometimes spelt wholle, whom. 
 In general, the sound will be a better guide to the meaning than the spelling. The 
 is a frequent spelling for they, and occurs occasionally for them ; in such cases I 
 have added a letter in brackets to aid the reader. 
 
 [THE PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS.] 
 
 ISAYE. The Sofferent thatt seithe ev<?re seycrette, 
 
 He saue you all and make you p^rfett and stronge,* 
 
 And geve us 2 grace wz't^ his marce forto mete ! 
 For now in grett mesere mankynd ys bownd ; 
 The sarpent hathe gevin vs soo mortall a wonde 
 
 That no creature ys abull vs forto reyles 
 
 Tyll thye right vncion of Jvda dothe seyse. 7 
 
 Then schall moche myrthe and joie in-cresse ; 
 
 And the right rote in Isaraell sprynge, 
 Thatt schall bryng forthe the greyne off whollenes ; 
 
 And owt of danger he schall vs bryng 
 
 In-to thatt reygeon where he ys kyng 
 Wyche abowe all othur far dothe a-bownde, 
 And thatt cruell Sathan he schall confownde. 14 
 
 Where-fore I cum here apon this grownde 
 To comforde eyuere 9 creature off birthe ; 
 
 1 Qy. sounde. 2 S. gevenwj. 8 S. ey^me.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 121 
 
 For I, Isaye the pr<?fet, hathe fownde 
 
 Many swete matters whereof we ma make myrth 
 
 On this same wyse ; 
 
 For, thogh that Adam be demid to deythe 
 W/t^ all his childur, asse Abell and Seythe, 
 Yett Ecce virgo consepeet, 
 
 Loo, where a reymede schall ryse ! 23 
 
 Be-holde, a mayde schall conseyve a childe 
 
 And gett vs more gr*zce then eyu^r men had, 
 And hir meydin-[h]od nothing defylid. 
 Sche ys deputyd to beare the Sun, Almyghte God. 
 
 Loo ! sufferntis, 1 now ma you be glad, 
 For of this meydin all we ma be fayne ; 
 
 For Adam, that now lyis in sorrois full sade, 
 Hir gloreose birth schall reydeme hym ageyn 
 From bondage and thrall. 
 
 Now be myrre eyu^re mon, 1 
 
 For this dede bryffly in Isaraell schalbe done, 
 
 And before the Fathur in trone, 
 
 Thatt schall glade vs all. 36 
 
 More of this matter fayne wolde I meve, 
 
 But lengur tyme I haue not here for to dwell. 
 That Lorde thai ys marcefull his marce soo in vs ma pmre 
 For to sawe owre sollis from the darknes of hell ; 
 And to his blys 
 
 He vs bryng 
 Asse he ys 
 
 Bothe lord and kyng, 
 
 And shall be eyu^rlastyng, 
 
 In secula secutorum, amen / a 46 
 
 1 A curl over n. 
 
 2 These six lines (41-46) as two in S., the first ending -with king.
 
 122 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 [Exit Isaiah ; enter Gabriel to Mary.] 
 
 GABERELL. Hayle, Mare, full of grace ! 
 
 Owre Lord God ys wz't^ the ; a 
 Aboue all wemen 2 thai eyuer wasse, 
 
 Lade, blesside mote thow be ! 50 
 
 MARE. All-myght Fathur and King of blys, 
 
 From all dysses tko\i saue me now ! 
 For inwardely my spretis trubbuld ys, 
 
 Thatt I am amacid and kno nott how. 54 
 
 GABERELL. Dred the nothyng, meydin, of this ; 
 
 From heyvin a-bowe hyddur am I sent 
 Of ambassage from that Kyng of blys 
 
 Unto the, lade and virgin reyu^rent ! 
 
 Salutyng the here asse most exselent, 
 Whose vertu aboue all othur dothe abownde. 
 Wherefore in the grace schalbe fownde ; 
 For thow schalt conseyve apon this grownd 
 
 The Second P^rsone of God in trone ; 
 
 He wylbe borne of the alone ; 
 
 Wzt^-owt sin tho\i schalt hy*# see. 8 
 
 Thy grace and thi goodnes wyl neyuer be gone, 
 
 But eyuer to lyve in v^rgenete. 67 
 
 MARE. I marvell soore how thatt mabe. 
 
 Manus cuwpany knev I neyu^r yett, 
 Nor neyu<?r to do, kast I me, 
 
 Whyle thatt owre Lord sendith me my wytt. 71 
 
 GABERELL. The Wholle Cost in the schall lyght, 
 
 And schado thy soil soo w/t^ vertu 
 From the Fathur thatt ys on hyght. 
 
 These wordis, turtill, the[y] be full tru. 75 
 
 1 Lines 47, 48 as one in S. 
 
 a Curl aver n. 
 
 8 Lines 64, 65 as one in S.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. I2J 
 
 This chylde that of the schalbe borne 
 
 Ys the Second P<?rsone in Trenete ; 
 He schall saue that wase forlorne 
 
 And the fyndis powar dystroie schall he. 79 
 
 These wordis, lade, full tru the[y] bene, 
 
 Andiurihur, lade, here in thy noone lenage 
 Be-holde Eylesabeth, thy cosyn clene, 
 
 The wyche wasse barren and past all age, 83 
 
 And now vfitk chyld sche hath bene 
 
 Syx monethis and more, asse schalbe sene ; 
 
 Where-for, discomforde Me not, Mare ! 
 
 For to God onpossibull nothyng mabe. 87 
 
 MARE. Now, and yt be thatt Lordis wyll 
 
 Of my bodde to be borne and forto be, 
 Hys hy pleysuris forto full-fyll 
 
 Asse his one. hande-mayde I submyt me. 91 
 
 GABERELL. Now blessid be Me tyme sett 
 
 That thovi wast borne in thy degre ! 
 For now ys the knott surely knytt, 
 
 And God conseyvide in Trenete. 95 
 
 Now fare-well, lade off myghtis most ! 
 
 Vnto the God-hed I the be-teyche. 
 MARE. Thatt Lord the gyde in eyu<?re cost, 
 
 And looly he leyde me and be my leyche ! 99 
 
 Here the angell defartytk, anAJosej? cumyth in and seyth: 
 
 JOSOFF. Mare, my wyff so dere, 
 How doo ye, dame, and whatt chere 
 
 Ys with you this tyde ? 
 MARE. Truly, husebonde, I am here 
 
 Owre Lordis wyll forto abyde. 104
 
 124 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 JOSOFF. What ! I troo thatt we be all schent ! 
 Sey, womon ; l who hath byn here sith I went, 
 
 To rage wyth thee ? 
 
 MARE. Syr, here was nothur man 1 nor mans eyvin, 
 But only the sond of owre Lorde God in heyvin. 
 JOSOFF. Sey not soo, womon ; for schame, ley be ! no 
 
 Ye be vtiih chyld soo wondurs grett, 
 Ye nede no more theroi to tret 
 
 Agense all right. 
 
 For sothe, this chylde, dame, ys not myne. 
 Alas, that eyuer wz't^ my nynee 
 
 I suld see this syght ! 116 
 
 Tell me, womon ; 1 whose ys this chyld ? 
 MARE. Non but youris, husebond soo myld, 
 
 And thatt schalbe seyne, [ywis]. 
 JOSOFF. But myne ? alias ! alas ! why sey ye soo ? 
 Wele-awey ! womon, now may I goo, 
 
 Be-gyld as many a-nothur ys. 122 
 
 MARE. Na, truly, sir, ye be not be-gylde, 
 Nor yet wz't^ spott of syn I am not defylde ; 
 
 Trust yt well, huse-bonde. 
 
 JOSOFF. Huse-bond, in feythe ! and thai acold ! 
 A ! weylle-awey, Josoff, as thow ar olde ! 
 Lyke a fole now ma I stand 
 
 And truse. 2 
 
 But, in feyth, Mare, thovi art in syn ; 
 Soo moche ase I haue cheyrischyd /^e, dame, and all th\ 
 
 kyn, 
 Be-hynd rny bake to serve me thus ! 132 
 
 All olde men, insampull take be me, 
 How I am be-gylid here may you see ! 
 To wed soo yong a chyld. 
 
 1 Curl over n. z Lines 128, 129 as one in S.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 12$ 
 
 Now fare-well, Mare, I leyve the here alone, 
 [Wo] worthe the, dam, and thy warkis ycheone ! 
 For I woll noo-more be be-gylid 1 
 
 For frynd nor fooe. 2 
 Now of this ded I am soo dull, 
 And off my lyff I am soo full, 
 
 No farthur ma I goo. 3 142 
 
 [Lies down to sleep ; to him enters an angel^ 
 
 i. ANGELL.* Aryse up, Josoff, and goo whom ageyne 
 
 Vnto Mare, thy wyff, that ys so fre. 
 To comford hir loke tha\. thow be fayne, 
 
 For, Josoff, a cleyne meydin ys schee : 
 Sche hath conseyvid wzt/z-owt any trayne 
 
 The Seycond Person in Trenete ; 
 ]hesu schalbe hys name, sarten, 
 
 And all thys world sawe schall he ; 
 
 Be not agast. 6 
 
 JOSOFF. Now, Lorde, I thanke the wz't/* hart full sad, 
 For of these tythyngis I am soo glad 
 
 That all my care awey ys cast ; 
 
 Wherefore to Mare I woll in hast. 155 
 
 [Returns to Mary] 
 
 A ! Mare, Mare, I knele full loo ; 
 
 Forgeve me, swete wyff, here in this lond ! 
 Marce, Mare ! for now I kno 
 
 Of youre good gou<?rnance and how yt doth stond. 159 
 
 Thogh 6 thatt I dyd the mys-name, 
 Marce, Mare ! Whyle I leve, 
 Wyll I neyu<?r, swet wyff, the greve 
 
 In ernyst nor in game. 5 
 MARE. Now, that Lord in heyvin, sir, he you forgyve ! 
 
 i S. be gylid be. 2 138, 139 as one in S. 
 
 8 Lines 141, 142 as one in S. 
 
 * S. ANGELL j ; so below for both angels and shepherds, 
 6 These two lines as one in S. 6 S. Thoght.
 
 126 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 And I do for-geve yow in hys name 
 
 For euermore. 1 
 JOSOFF. Now truly, swete wyff, to you I scythe same. 167 
 
 But now to Bedlem must I wynde 
 
 And scho my-self, soo full of care ; 
 And I to leyve you, this grett, behynd, 
 
 God wott, the whyle, dame, how you schuld fare. 171 
 
 MARE. Na, hardely, husebond, dred ye nothyng ; 
 
 For I woll walke with you on the wey. 
 I trust in God, all-mighte kyng, 
 
 To spede right well in owre jurney. 175 
 
 JOSOFF. Now I thanke you, Mare, of your goodnes 
 
 That ye my wordis woll nott blame ; 
 And syth that to Bedlem we schall vs dresse, 
 
 Goo we to-gedur in Goddis wholle name. 170 
 
 [They set out, and travel a while J] 
 
 Now to Bedlem have we leygis three ; 
 
 The day ys ny spent, yt drawyth toward nyght ; 
 Fayne at your es, dame, I wold that ye schulde be, 
 
 For you grone 2 all werely, yt semyth in my syght. 1 83 
 
 MARE. God haue marcy, Josoffe, my spowse soo dere ; 
 
 All pr^fettis herto dothe beyre wyttnes, 
 The were tyme now draith nere 
 
 That my chyld wolbe borne, wyche ys Kyng of blis. 187 
 
 Vnto sum place, Josoff, hyndly me leyde, 
 
 Thatt I moght rest me w/t^ grace in this tyde. 
 
 The lyght of the Fathur ou<?r hus both spreyde, 
 
 And the grace of my sun wz't^ vs here a-byde ! 191 
 
 JOSOFF. Loo ! blessid Mare, here schall ye lend, 
 
 Cheff chosyn of owre Lorde and cleynist in degre ; 
 
 And I for help to towne woll I wende. 
 
 Ys nott this the best, dame? whatt sey ye? 195 
 
 1 Lines 165, 166 as one in S. a S. groue ; possibly for growe?
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. I2/ 
 
 MARE. God haue marce, Josoff, my huse-bond soo meke ! 
 
 And hartely I pra you, goo now fro me. 
 JOSOFF. That schalbe done in hast, Mare so swete ! 
 
 The comford of the Wholle Cost leyve I wz'tA the. 199 
 
 Now to Bedlem streyght woll I wynd 
 
 To gett som helpe for Mare soo free. 
 Sum helpe of wem#zen God may me send, 
 
 That Mare, full off grace, pleysid ma be. 203 
 
 [In another part of the place a shepherd begins to speak.'} 
 
 I. PASTOR. Now God, that art in Trenete, 
 
 Thow sawe my fellois and me ! 
 
 For I kno nott wheyre my scheepe nor the[y] be, 
 
 Thys nyght yt ys soo colde. 
 Now ys yt nygh the myddis of the nyght ; 
 These wedurs ar darke and dym of lyght, 
 Thatt of them can hy haue noo syght, 
 
 Standyng here on this wold. 21 1 
 
 i 
 
 But now to make there hartis lyght, 
 Now wyll I full right 
 
 Stand apon this looe, 1 
 And to them cry wz't^ all my myght, 
 
 Full well my voise the[y] kno : 
 
 ! fellois ! hoo ! hooe ! hoo ! 217 
 
 [Two other shepherds appear (in the street).] 
 
 ii. PASTOR. Hark, Sym, harke ! I here owre brothur on the 
 
 looe ; 
 
 This ys hys woise, right well I knoo ; 
 There-fore toward hym lett vs goo, 
 
 And folio his woise a-right. 
 See, Sym, se, where he doth stond ! 
 I am ryght glad we haue hym fond ! 
 Brothur, where hast thow byn soo long, 
 
 And hit ys soo cold this nyght ? * 225 
 
 1 Lines 213, 214 as one in S. 2 S. And this nyght hit ys soo cold.
 
 128 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 i. PASTOR. E ! fryndis, ther cam a pyrie of wynd w/'tA a 
 
 myst suddenly, 1 
 
 Thatt forth off my weyis went I 
 And grett heyvenes then 2 made I 
 
 And wase full sore afryght. 8 
 Then forto goo wyst I nott whyddur, 
 But trawellid on this loo hyddur and thyddur ; 
 I wasse so were of this cold weddur 
 
 Thatt nere past wasse my might. 233 
 
 in. PASTOR. Brethur, now we be past thai fryght, 
 And hit ys far wz't/z-in the nyght, 
 Full sone woll spryng the day-lyght, 
 
 Hit drawith full nere the tyde. 
 Here awhyle lett vs rest, 
 And repast owreself of the best ; 
 Tyll thatt the sun ryse in the est 
 
 Let vs all here abyde. 241 
 
 There the scheppytdis drawys furth there meyte and doth eyte and drynk ; 
 and asse the\_y\ drynk, the\_y] fynd the star, and sey thus : 
 
 in. PASTOR. Brethur, loke vp and behold ! 
 
 Whatt thyng ys yondur thatt schynith soo bryght ? 
 Asse long ase eyu^r I haue wachid my fold, 
 Yett sawe I neyuer soche a syght 
 
 In fyld. 4 
 
 A ha ! now ys cum the tyme tha\. old fathurs hath told, 
 Thatt in the wynturs nyght soo cold 
 A chyld of meydyn 5 borne be he wold 
 
 In whom all pr^feciys schalbe fullfyld. 250 
 
 I. PASTOR. Truth yt ys wz'U-owt naye, 
 Soo seyd the pr^fett Isaye, 
 
 Thatt a 6 chylde schuld be borne of a made soo bryght 
 
 1 Curl aver n. * Lines 245, 246 as one in S. 
 
 3 S. in. 6 Curl over n. 
 
 S. afrayde. 6 5. has I.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. I2Q 
 
 In wentur ny the schortist dey 
 
 Or elis in the myddis of the nyght. 255 
 
 II. PASTOR. Loovid be God, most off myght, 
 That owre grace ys to see thatt syght ; 
 Pray we to hym, ase hit ys right, 
 
 Yff thatt his wyll yt be, 
 
 That we ma haue knoleyge of this syngnefocacion 
 And why hit aperith on this fassion ; 
 And eyii(?r to hym lett vs geve lawdacion, 
 
 In yerthe whyle thatt we be. 263 
 
 There the angelis syng " Glorea in exsehis Deo." 
 
 in. PASTOR. Harke ! the[y] syng abowe in the clowdis 
 
 clere ! 
 
 Hard I neyuer of soo myrre a quere. 
 Now, gentyll brethur, draw we nere 
 
 To here there armonye. 
 
 I. PASTOR. Brothur, myrth and solas ys cum hus among ; 
 For be the swettnes of ther songe, 
 Goddis Sun ys cum, whom we haue lokid for long, 
 
 Asse syngnefyith thys star that we do see. 
 n. PASTOR. " Glare, glorea in exselsis" that wase th&c 
 songe ; 
 
 How sey ye, fellois, seyd the[y] not thus ? 
 I. PASTOR. Thatt ys welseyd ; now goo we hence 
 To worschipe thatt chyld of hy manyffecence, 
 And that we ma syng in his presence 
 
 " Et in tarra pax omyntbus" 277 
 
 There the schepfardis syngis "Ase I tnvt Rodde," J and Josoff seyth : 
 
 JOSOFF. Now, Lorde, this noise thai I do here, 
 
 With this grett solemnete, 
 Gretly amendid hath my chere ; 
 
 I trust hy nevis schortly wolbe. 281 
 
 1 For the song, see p. 151.
 
 I3O COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 There the angellis syng " Gloria in exsellsts'" agtyne. 
 
 MARE. A ! Josoff, husebond, cum heddur anon ; 
 
 My chylde ys borne thai ys Kyng of blys. 
 JOSOFFE. Now welcuw to me, the Makar of mon, 
 Wii/t all the omage thatt I con ; 
 
 Thy swete mothe here woll I kys. 286 
 
 MARE. A ! Josoff, husebond, my chyld waxith cold, 
 
 And we haue noo fyre to warme hym wz't^. 
 JOSOFF. Now, in my narmys I schall hym fold, 
 
 Kyng of all kyngis be fyld and be fryth ; 
 He myght haue had bettur, and hymselfe wold, 
 
 Then the breythyng of these bestis to warme hym vfi\Ji. 292 
 
 MARE. Now, Josoff, my husbond, fet heddur my chyld, 
 
 The Maker off man and hy Kyng of blys. 
 JOSOFF. That schalbe done anon, Mare soo myld, 
 
 For the brethyng of these bestis hath warmyd [hym] 
 
 well, i-wys. 296 
 
 \_A ngels appear to the shepherds^ 
 
 I. ANGELL. Hyrd-men x hynd, 
 Drede ye nothyng 2 
 
 Off thys star thatt ye do se ; 
 For thys same morne 
 Godis Sun ys borne 8 
 
 In Bedlem of a meydin fre. 302 
 
 II. ANGELL. Hy you thyddur in hast ; 
 
 Yt ys hys wyll ye schall hym see 
 Lyinge in a cribbe of pore reypaste, 
 
 Yett of Davithis lyne cumon l ys hee. 306 
 
 \_The shepherds approach and -worship the Babe.] 
 
 I. PASTOR. Hayle, mayde-mothur and wyff soo myld ! 
 Asse the angell seyd, soo haue we fonde. 
 
 1 Curl over n. 
 
 2 Lines 297, 298 as one in S. 
 8 Lines 300, 301 as one in S.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 13! 
 
 I haue nothyng to present witA th\ chylde 
 
 But my pype ; hold, hold, take yt in thy hond ; 
 Where-in moche pleysure tha\. I haue fond ; 
 
 And now, to oonowre thy gloreose byrthe, 
 
 Thovv schallt yt haue to make the myrthe. 313 
 
 II. PASTOR. Now, hayle be thow, chyld, and thy dame ! 
 
 For in a pore 1 loggyn here art thow leyde, 
 Soe the angell seyde and tolde vs thy name ; 
 
 Holde, take thow here my hat on thy hedde ! 
 
 And now off won thyng thow art well sped, 
 For weddur thow hast noo nede to complayne, 
 For wynde, ne sun, hayle, snoo and rayne. 320 
 
 in. PASTOR. Hayle be thow, Lorde ouer watur <z</landis ! 
 
 For thy cuwyng all we ma make myrthe. 
 Haue here my myttens to pytt on th'\ hondis, 
 
 Othur treysure haue I non to present the with. 324 
 
 MARE. Now, herdmen hynd, 
 For youre comyng 
 
 To my chylde schall I prae, 
 Asse he ys heyvin kyng, 
 To grant you his blessyng, 
 And to hys blys tha\. ye may wynd 
 
 At your last day. 331 
 
 There the scheppatdis syngith * ageyne andgothforthe of Replace; and 
 the ij. pro/ettis citmyth in and seyth thus : 
 
 I. P/?OFETA. Novellis, novellis 
 Of wonderfull m^rvellys, 8 
 
 Were hy and defuce vnto the heryng ! 
 Asse scripture tellis, 
 These strange novellis 
 
 To you I bryng. 4 337 
 
 1 S. apore. 
 
 2 For this song, see p. 152. 
 
 3 Lines 332, 333 as one in S. 
 
 4 Lines 335, 337 as one in S.
 
 132 . COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 ii. P/?0FETA. Now hartely, sir, I desyre to knoo, 
 
 Yff hytt wolde pleyse you forto schoo, 
 Of what maner a thyng. 
 
 I. P/e<?FETA. Were mystecall vnto youre heryng, 
 Of the natevete off a kyng. 342 
 
 n. Py?OFETA. Of a kyng ? Whence schuld he cum ? 
 
 I. P/fOFETA. From thatt reygend ryall and mighty 
 
 mancion, 
 The sede seylesteall and heyvinly vysedome, 
 
 The Second Person and Godis one Sun, 
 For owre sake now ys man be-cum. 1 347 
 
 This godly spere 
 Desendid here z 
 Into a virgin clere. 
 Sche, on-defyld 8 
 
 Be whose warke obskevre 
 Owre frayle nature 
 Ys now begilde 5 
 
 II. Ptf0FETA. Why, hathe sche a chylde? 355 
 
 I. PXOFETA. E ! trust hyt well ; 
 
 And never the las 6 
 
 Yet ys sche a mayde evin asse sche wasse, 
 And hir sun the kyng of Isaraell. 359 
 
 n. P^OFETA. A wondur-full marvell 
 
 How thatt ma be, 7 
 And far dothe exsell 
 
 All owre capasete : 7 
 How that the Trenete, 
 
 Of soo hy regallete, 7 
 Schuld jonyd be 8 
 
 Vnto owre mortallete ! 7 367 
 
 1 Curl over m. 6 Lines 353, 354 as one in S. 
 
 2 Lines 348, 349 as one in S. 6 Lines 356, 357 as one in S. 
 
 8 Lines 350, 351 as one in S. 7 This and the preceding line as one in S. 
 * Line missing. 8 S. be jonyd.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 133 
 
 I. PKOFETA. Of his one grett marce, 
 
 As ye shall se the exposyssion, 1 
 Throgh whose vmanyte 
 All Adamus pn?gene l 
 
 Reydemyd schalbe owt of pmlyssion. 372 
 
 Syth man * did offend, 
 Who schuld amend 1 
 
 But the seyd mon 2 and no nothur? 
 For the wyche cawse he 
 Incarnate wold be l 
 
 And lyve in mesere asse manus one brothur. 378 
 
 n. P.S0FETA. Syr vnto the deyite, 
 I beleve parfettle, 1 
 
 Onpossibul to be there ys nothyng ; 
 How be yt this warke 
 Vnto me ys darke l 
 
 In the opp^racion or wyrkyng. 
 
 I. P^OFETA. Whatt more reypriff 
 Ys vnto belyff 
 
 Then 2 to be dowtyng ? 8 387 
 
 II. P/?OFETA. Yet dowtis oftymzw hathe derevacion. 
 
 I. P.S0FETA. Thatt ys be the meynes of comenecacion 2 
 Of trawthis to haue a dev prtfbacion 
 
 Be the same dowts reysoning. 
 
 n. P.S0FETA. Then to you thys won thyng : 
 Of whatt nobull andhy lenage ys schee 
 Thatt myght this wrabull 4 praicis modur be? 394 
 
 I. P-ffOTETA. Ondowtid sche ys cum of hy parrage, 
 Of the howse of Davith and Salamon the sage ; 
 And won off the same lyne joynid to hir be mareage ; 
 
 1 This and the preceding line as one in S. 
 
 2 Curl over n. * Qy. renable, see Notes. 
 8 Lines 385-387 as one in S.
 
 134 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 Of whose trybe 
 We do subscrybe 1 
 This chy[l]dis lenage. 2 400 
 
 ii. P/fOFETA. And why in thatt wysse ? 
 i. PKOFE.TA. For yt wasse the gysse 
 
 To conte the parant on the manys lyne, 
 
 And nott on the feymy[ny]ne, 
 
 Amonst vs here in Isaraell. 
 
 n. P/fOFETA. Yett can I nott aspy be noo wysse 
 How thys chylde borne schuldbe wzt/z-ow[t] naturis prejudyse. 
 
 I. P/eoFETA. Nay, no prejvdyse vnto nature, I dare wellsey; 
 For the kyng of nature may 
 
 Hawe all at his one wyll. 8 
 Dyd not Me powar of God 
 Make Aronis rod 
 Beyre frute in on day? 4 413 
 
 II. P/fOFETA. Truth yt ys in-ded. 
 
 I. P/fOTETA. Then loke you and rede, 
 n. P/?0FETA. A ! I p^seyve the sede 
 
 Where apon thatt you spake. 6 
 Yt wasse for owre nede 
 
 Tha\. he frayle nature did take, 5 
 And his blod he schuld schede 
 
 Amens forto make 5 
 
 For owre transegression ; 
 
 Ase yt ys seyd in pwfece 
 
 Thai of the lyne of Jude 6 
 
 Schuld spryng a right Messe, 
 
 Be whom all wee 
 
 Schall 6 haue reydemcion, 6 427 
 
 I. PXOFETA. Sir, now ys the tyme cu*, 
 
 date there-of run, 7 
 Off his Natevete. 
 
 1 S. subscryve. * Lines 411-413 as one in S. 
 
 * Lines 398-400 as one in S. 6 This and the preceding line as one in S. 
 
 * Lines 409, 410 as one in S. 6 S. schalld. 7 Curl over n.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 135 
 
 II. P/fOFETA. Yett I beseke you hartele 
 
 Thai ye wold schoo me how l 
 Thatt this strange nowelte 
 
 Were broght vnto you. 1 434 
 
 I. P.ff0FETA. This othur nyght soo cold 
 Hereby apon a wolde 
 Scheppardis wachyng there fold, 
 
 In the nyght soo far 
 
 To them aperid a star, 
 
 And eyuer yt drev them nar ; 
 Wyche star the[y] did behold 
 Bryghter, //&e[y] sey, M folde 
 
 Then the sun so clere 
 
 In his mydday spere, 
 And the[y] these tythyngis tolde. 445 
 
 li. P-ffOTETA. What, seycretly? 
 i. P/eoFETA. Na, na, hardely ; 
 
 The[y] made there-of no conseil ; 
 For the[y] song ase lowde 
 Ase eyuer the[y] cowde, 
 
 Presyng the kyng of Isaraell. 451 
 
 II. P^OFETA. Yett do I marvell 
 In what pyle or castell 
 
 These herdmen 2 dyd hym see. 
 
 I. P/e<?FETA. Nothur in hallis nor yett in bowris 
 
 Borne wold he not be, 
 Nothur in castellis nor yet in towris 
 
 That semly were to se ; 458 
 
 But att hys Fathurs wyll, 
 The pr^feci to full-fyll, 
 
 Be-twyxt an ox and and an as 
 
 Ih<?ju, this kyng, borne he was. 
 Heyvin he bryng us tyll ! 463 
 
 1 This and the preceding line as one in S. 2 Curl aver n.
 
 136 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 ii. P/?<?FETA. S/r, a ! but when these sheppardis had seyne 
 
 hym there, 
 
 In-to whatt place did the[y] repeyre ? 
 I. P/J0FETA. Forthe the[y] went and glad Me[y] were, 
 
 Going the[y] did syng ; 
 With myrthe and solas />&e[y] made good chere 
 
 For joie of thai new tything ; 469 
 
 And aftur, asse I hard the[m] tell, 
 
 He reywardid them full well : 
 
 He graunt them hevyn ther-\n to dwell ; 
 
 In ar the[y] gon viiih joie and myrthe, 
 And there songe hit ys " Neowell." 474 
 
 There the ptofettis gothefurthe and Erod cumyfh in, and the messenger. 
 
 NoNCEOSE. 1 Faytes pais, dnyis, 2 baronys de grande rey- 
 
 nowme ! 
 
 Payis, seneoris, schevaleris de nooble posance ! 8 
 Pays, gentis homos, 4 cowpaneonys petis eg~ance ! 6 
 Je vos command dugard treytus 6 sylance. 
 Payis, tanque vottur nooble Roie syre ese pr<?sance ! 7 
 Que nollis 8 p^rsone ese non fawis p^rwynt 9 dedfferance, 
 Nese 10 harde de frappas ; n mayis gardus to to 12 paceance, 
 
 1 In reading this proclamation I have had the aid of both Professor Kit- 
 tredge and Professor Sheldon. As this aid, however, was given a year or two 
 ago in the form of a pretty lively oral discussion of the most perplexing of 
 the difficulties, and as I unfortunately neglected to take any notes at the 
 time, I find myself unable, except in one or two cases, to remember to which 
 of the two each suggestion belongs. Of course they are not responsible for 
 any mistakes that may appear here. I have printed the text with no change 
 except in punctuation. The footnotes deal with all difficulties that seem 
 beyond the scope of even a beginner in French. 
 
 3 Sheldon suggests that this is the pi. of O.F. dame, damne, influenced by 
 the spelling of some form of 'Lai. dominus. 
 
 3 puissance. 8 nulle. n frapper. 
 
 4 The second o is probably only a careless form o/e. 
 
 5 et grands. 9 Kittredge : ici non fasse point. 
 
 6 de garder trestous. 10 Ne se. 12 gardez tote. 
 t roi seit ici present.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 1 37 
 
 Mayis gardus J voter seneor to cor 2 reyu<?rance ; 
 
 Car elat vottur Roie to to puysance. 3 
 
 Anoft de leo, 4 pase tos ! je vose cumwande, 
 
 E lay Roie erott la grandeaboly vos vmport. 6 485 
 
 ERODE. Qui statis 6 in Jude et Rex Iseraell, 
 
 And the myghttyst conquerowre Mat eyu<?r walkid on 
 ground ; 
 
 For I am evyn he thatt made bothe hevin and hell, 
 
 And of my myghte powar holdith vp this world rownd. 
 Magog and Madroke, bothe Me[m] did I confownde, 
 
 And wi\Ji this bryght bronde there bonis I brak on-sund^r, 
 
 Thatt all the wyde worlde on those rappis did wonder. 492 
 
 I am the cawse of this grett lyght and thunder ; 
 
 Ytt ys throgh my fure thai the[y] soche noyse dothe 
 
 make. 
 My feyrefull contenance Me clowdis so doth incu//zbur 
 
 Thai oftymus for drede ther-ol the verre yerth doth 
 
 quake. 
 
 Loke, when I w/t^ males this bryght brond doth schake, 
 All the whole world from the north to thz sowthe 
 I ma them dystroie wztA won worde of my mowthe ! 499 
 
 To reycownt vnto you myii innevmerabull substance, 
 
 Thatt were to moche for any tong to tell ; 
 For all the whole Orent ys vnd^r myn obbeydeance, 
 
 And pry nee am I of purgatorre and cheff capten of hell ; 
 
 And those tyraneos trayturs be force ma I compell 7 
 Myne enmyis 8 to vanquese #</evyn to dust them dryve, 
 And -with a twynke of myn iee not won to be lafte alyve. 506 
 
 1 A preposition before the indirect object seems unnecessary. 
 
 2 tote. 3 Sheldon : Car il est votre roi tout puissant. 
 4 A (= au) nom de lui (Sheldon suggests loi instead o/lui). 
 
 6 Sheldon suggests that the line properly ends -with grand (modifying Erott 
 and rhyming -with 484), diable vos emporte ! being merely an unattached 
 pleasantry addressed to the audience. 
 
 6 Qui statis is in red in S. 
 
 7 Curl over m. 8 Curl over n.
 
 138 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 Behold my contenance and my colur, 
 
 Bryghtur then the sun in the meddis of the. dey. 
 
 Where can you haue a more grettur succur 
 
 Then to behold my person that ys soo gaye ? 
 
 My f awcun and my f assion, w/t^ my gorgis araye, 
 
 He thatt had the grace, all-wey ther-on to thynke, 
 
 Lyve he 1 myght all-wey w/t^-owt othur mey te or drynke. 5 1 3 
 
 And thys my tryomfande fame most hylist dothe a-bownde 
 Throgh-owt this world in all reygeons abrod, 
 
 Reysemelyng the fau^r of thatt most myght Mahownd ; 
 From Jubytor be desent and cosyn to the grett God, 
 And namyd the most reydowndid king Eyrodde, 
 
 Wyche thatt all pryncis hath und^r subjeccion 
 
 And all there whole powar vndur my pr^teccion. 520 
 
 And therefore, my hareode, here, callid Calcas, 
 
 Warne thow eyu^r[e] porte thatt noo schyppis a-ryve, 
 Nor also aleond stranger throg my realme pas, 
 
 But the[y] for there truage do pay markis fyve. 
 Now spede the forth hastele, 
 For the[y] thatt wyll the contrare 
 Apon a galowse hangid schalbe, 
 And, be Mahownde, of me the[y] gett noo grace ! 528 
 
 NONCIOS. Now, lord and mastur, in all the hast 
 
 Thy worethe wyll ytt schall be wroght, 
 And thy ryall cuntreyis schalbe past 
 
 In asse schort tyme ase can be thoght. 532 
 
 ERODE. Now schall owre regeons throgh-owt be soght 
 
 In eyu<?r[e] place bothe est and west ; 
 Yff any katyffis to me be broght, 
 
 Yt schalbe nothyng for there best 
 
 And the whyle thatt I do resst, 
 Trompettis, viallis and othur armone 
 Schall bles the wakyng of my mai<?ste. 539 
 
 i S. the.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 139 
 Here Erod goth awey and the iij Kyngis speykyth in th* strete. 
 
 i. REX. Now blessid be God of his swet sonde, 
 
 For yondur a feyre bryght star I do see ! 
 Now ys he comon 1 vs a-monge, 
 
 Asse the pr0fet 2 seyd thatt yt schuld be. 543 
 
 A seyd 3 there schuld a babe be borne, 
 
 Comyng of the rote of Jesse, 
 To sawe mankynd that wasse for-lorne ; 
 
 And truly comew now ys he. 547 
 
 Reyu^rence and worschip to hym woll I do 
 
 Asse God and man, thatt all made of noght. 
 All the pr<?fettis acordid and seyd evyn soo, 
 
 That wit/t hys pr^sseos blod mankynd schuld be boght. 551 
 
 He grant me grace, 
 
 Be yonder star thai I see, 4 
 And in-to thatt place 
 
 Bryng me 5 
 
 Thatt I ma hym worschipe w/tA umellete 
 And se hys gloreose face. 557 
 
 ii. REX. Owt off my wey I deme thatt I am, 
 
 For toocuns of thys cuntrey can I non see ; 
 Now, God, thatt on yorth madist man, 
 
 Send me sum knoleyge where thatt I be ! 561 
 
 Yondur, me thynke, a feyre, bryght star I see, 
 
 The wyche be-tocunyth the byrth of a chyld 
 Thatt hedur ys cum to make man fre ; 
 
 He borne of a mayde, 6 and sche nothyng defyld. 565 
 
 To worschip thatt chyld ys myn in-tent ; 
 
 Forth now wyll I take my wey. 
 I trust sum cuzpany God hathe me sent, 
 
 For yonder I se a kyng labur on the wey ; 569 
 
 1 Curl over m. * Lines 552, 553 as one in S. 
 
 2 S. prrfettis. 5 Lines 554, 555 as one in S. 
 
 3 S. Aseyd. 6 S. amayde.
 
 I4O . COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 To-warde hym now woll I ryde. 
 
 Harke ! cumly kyng, I you pray, 
 In-to whatt cost wyll ye thys tyde, 
 
 Or weddur lyis youre jurney ? 573 
 
 I. REX. To seke a chylde ys myne in-tent 
 Of whom the protetis hathe ment ; 
 
 The tyme ys cum, now ys he sent, 
 
 Be yondur star here ma [you] 1 see. 
 
 II. REX. Sir, I prey you, -with your lysence, 
 To ryde with you vnto his presence ; 
 
 To hym wyll I offur frank-in-sence, 
 
 For the hed of all Whole Churche schall he be. 581 
 
 III. REX. I ryde wanderyng in veyis wyde, 
 
 Ouer montens and dalis ; I wot not where I am. 
 Now, Kyng off all kyngis, send me soche gyde 
 
 Thatt I myght haue knoleyge of thys cuntreys name. 585 
 
 A ! yondur I se a syght, be semyng all afar, 
 
 The wyche be-tocuns sum nevis, ase I troo ; 
 Asse me thynke, a chyld peryng in a stare. 
 
 I trust he be cu* that, schall defend vs from woo. 589 
 
 To kyngis yondur I see, 
 
 And to them woll I ryde 
 Forto haue there cuwpane ; 
 
 I trust /#e[y] wyll me abyde. 2 
 Hayle, cu#zly kyngis augent ! 8 
 Good surs, I pray you, whedd^r ar ye ment? 595 
 
 I. REX. To seke a chylde ys owre in-tent, 
 
 Wyche be-tocuns yonder star, asse ye ma see. 
 
 II. REX. To hym I purpose thys present. 
 
 III. REX. Surs, I pray you, and thatt ryght vmblee, 
 
 Wz't^ you thatt I ma ryde in cuwpane. 
 
 [? ALL.] To all-myghte God now prey we 
 
 Thatt hys pressiose persone we ma se. 602 
 
 l Supplied by S. 2 Lines 590-593 as two in S. s Qy. and gent
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 
 
 Here Erode cumytk in ageyne and the messengere seyth : 
 
 NUNCIOS. Hayle, lorde most off myght ! 
 Thy comwandement ys right ; 
 In-to thy land ys comyn this nyght 
 
 iij kyngis and w/t^ them a grett cuwpany. 
 EROD. Whatt make those kyngis in this cuntrey? 
 NONCIOS. To seke a kyng and a chyld, the[y] sey. 
 
 ERODE. Of whatt age schuld he bee ? 
 
 NONCIOS. Skant twellve deyis old fulle. 610 
 
 EROD. And wasse he soo late borne ? 
 
 NONCIOS. E, syr, soo the[y] schode me thys same dey in 
 
 the morne. 
 EROD. Now, in payne of deyth, bryng them me beforne ; 
 
 And there-fore, harrode, now hy the in hast, 
 In all spede thatt thou were dyght 
 
 Or thatt those kyngis the cuntrey be past ; 
 Loke thow bryng them all iij before my syght ; 61 7 
 
 And in Jerusalem * inquere more of that chyld. 
 
 But I warne the that thy wordis be mylde, 
 
 For there must 2 thow hede and crafte wey[lde] 
 
 How to for-do his powere ; and those iij kyngis shalbe begild. 621 
 
 NONCIOS. Lorde, I am redde att youre byddyng 
 To sarve the ase my lord and kyng ; 
 For joye there-of, loo, how I spryng 
 With lyght hart and fresche gamboldyng 
 
 Alofte here on this molde ! 
 ERODE. Then sped the forthe hastely, 
 And loke ihat thow beyre the eyvinly ; 
 And also I pray the hartely 
 Thatt thow doo comand me 
 
 Bothe to yong and olde. 8 631 
 
 1 S. Jerusalem 2 5. mast. 
 
 Lines 629-631 as two in S., the first ending with doo.
 
 142 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 [ The messenger goes to the kings. ~\ 
 
 NUNCIOS. Hayle, syr kyngis, in youre degre ; 
 
 Erood, kyng of these cuntreyis wyde, 
 Desyrith to speyke w/t^ you all thre, 
 
 And for youre comyng he dothe abyde. 635 
 
 I. REX. Syr, att his wyll we be ryght bayne. 
 
 Hy us, brethur, vnto thatt lordis place ; 
 To speyke with hym we wold be fayne ; 
 
 Thatt chyld thatt we seke, he grant us of his grace ! 639 
 
 [They go to Herod.'] 
 
 NUNCIOS. Hayle, lorde wz't^-owt pere ! 
 
 These iij kyngis here have we broght. 
 ERODE. Now welcuw, syr kyngis, all in-fere ; 
 
 But of my bryght ble, surs, bassche ye noght ! 643 
 
 Sir kyngis, ase I vndurstand, 
 
 A star hathe gydid you into my land, 
 
 Where-in grett harting 1 ye haue fonde 
 
 Be reysun of hir beymj bryght. 
 Wherefore I pray you hartely 
 The vere truthe thatt ye wold s^rtefy, 
 How long yt ys surely 
 
 Syn of that star you had furst syght. 651 
 
 I. REX. Szr kynge, the vere truthe to sey 
 
 And forto schoo you ase hit ys best, 
 This same ys evin the xij th dey 
 
 Syth yt aperid to vs to be west. 655 
 
 ERODE. Brethur, then ys there no more to sey, 
 But wz't/z hart and wyll kepe ye your jurney 
 And cum whom by me this same wey, 
 Of your nevis thatt I myght knoo. 
 
 1 S. harie.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 143 
 
 You schall tryomfe in this cuntre 
 
 And with grett conquorde bankett \vzth me, 
 
 And tnatt chyld myself then woll I see 
 
 And honor hym also. 663 
 
 ii. REX. Szr, youre comwandement we woll fullfyll 
 And humbly abaye owreself there-tyll. 1 
 He thatt weldith all thyng at wyll 
 
 The redde way hus teyche, 2 
 S/r kyng, thatt we ma passe your land in pes ! 
 ERODE. Yes, and walke softely eyvin at your one es ; 669 
 
 Youre pase-porte for a C deyis 
 
 Here schall you haue of clere cumwand, 
 Owre reme to labur any weyis 
 
 Here schall you haue be spesschall grante. 673 
 
 in. REX. Now fare-well, kyng of hy degre, 
 
 Humbly of you owre leyve we take. 
 ERODE. Then adev, sir kyngis all thre ; 
 And whyle I lyve, be bold of me ! 
 There ys nothyng in this cuntre 
 
 But for youre one ye schall yt take. 679 
 
 [Exeunt the three kings] 
 
 Now these iij kyngis ar gon on ther wey ; 
 
 On-wysely and on-wyttely haue the[y] all wroghte. 
 When the[y] cum ageyne, the[y] schall dy that same dey, 
 
 And thus these vyle wreychis to deyth //*e[y] schalbe broght, 
 
 Soche ys my lykyng. 
 He that agenst my lawis wyll hold, 
 Be he kyng or keysar neyu^r soo bold, 
 I schall them cast in-to caris cold 
 
 And to deyth I schall them bryng. 688 
 
 There Erode goth his weyis and the iij kyngis cum in ageyne. 
 
 I. REX. O blessid God, moche ys thy myght ! 
 
 Where ys this star thatt gawe ys lyght ? 690 
 
 i Qy, there-to. 2 Q y . s h ow .
 
 144 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRIST I PLAYS. 
 
 II. REX. Now knele we downe here in this presence, 
 Be-sekyng that Lord of hy mangnefecens * 
 That we ma see his hy exsellence 
 
 Yff thatt his swet wyll be. 2 694 
 
 in. REX. Yondur, brothur, I see the star, 
 Where-by I kno he ys nott far ; 
 Therefore, lordis, goo we nar 
 
 Into this pore place. 698 
 
 There the iij kyngis gois in to thejesen, to Mare and hir child. 
 
 i. REX. Hayje, Lorde thatt all this worlde hath wroght ! 
 
 Hale, God and man to-gedur in-fere ! 
 For thow hast made all thyng of noght, 
 
 Albe-yt thatt thow lyist porely here ; 
 A cupe-full 8 golde here I haue the broght 
 
 hi toconyng thow art w/t^-owt pere. 704 
 
 II. REX. Hayle be thow, Lorde of hy mangnyffecens ! 4 
 In toconyng of p?vste[h]od and dyngnete of offece 
 
 To the I offur a cupe full off in-sence, 
 
 For yt be-hovith the to haue soche sacrefyce. 708 
 
 in. REX. Hayle be thow, Lorde longe lokid fore ! 
 
 I haue broght the myre for mortalete, 
 In to-cunyng thow schalt mankynd restore 
 
 To lyff be thy deyth apon 8 a tre. 712 
 
 MARE. God haue marce, kyngis, of yowre goodnes ; 
 
 Be the gydyng of the godhed hidd^r are ye sent ; 
 The pr0vyssion off my swete sun your weyis whom 6 reydres, 
 
 And gostely reywarde you for youre present ! 716 
 
 [As the kings go away, they say :] 
 
 I. REX. Syr kyngis, aftur owre primes 
 Whome be Erode I mvst nedis goo. 
 
 1 S. maugnefecens. * S. maugnyffecens. 
 
 2 S. wylbe. 6 Curl over n. 
 8 S. inserts [of]. 6 Curl over m.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 145 
 
 II. REX. Now truly, brethur, 1 we can noo las. 
 
 But I am soo for-wachid - I wott not wat to do. 720 
 
 in. REX. Ryght soo am I ; where-fore I you pray, 
 
 Lett all vs rest vs awhyle upon Ms grownd. 
 I. REX. Brethur, youer seying ys right well vnto my pay. 
 
 The grace of thatt swet chylde saue vs all sownde ! 724 
 
 [While they sleep, the angel appears.} 
 
 ANGELLZAS 1 . Kyng of Tawrus, Sir Jespar, 
 Kyng of Arraby, S/r Balthasar, 
 Melchor, Kyng of Aginare, 
 
 To you now am I sent. 
 For drede of Eyrode, goo you west whom ; 
 In-to those parties when ye cum downe, 
 Ye schalbe byrrid wz't^ gret reynowne ; 
 
 The Wholle Cost thus knoleyge hath sent. [*(.] 732 
 
 I. REX. Awake, sir kyngis, I you praye, 
 
 For the voise of an angell I hard in my dreyme. 
 
 ii. REX. Thatt ys full tru thatt ye do sey, 
 
 For he reyherssid owre names playne. 736 
 
 in. REX. He bad thatt we schuld goo downe be west 
 
 For drede of Eyrodis fawls be-traye. 
 I. REX. Soo forto do yt ys the best ; 
 
 The child that we haue soght, gyde vs the wey ! 740 
 
 Now fare-well, the feyrist, of schapp so swete ! 
 
 And thankid be Jhtf.ru of his sonde, 
 That we iij to-ged^r soo suddenly schuld mete, 
 
 Thatt dwell soo wyde and in straunge lond, 744 
 
 And here make owre presentacion 
 
 Vnto this kyngis son clensid.soo cleyne 
 And to his mod^r for ovre saluacion ; 
 
 Of moche myrth now ma we meyne, 
 Thatt we soo well hath done this obblacion. 749 
 
 1 S. berthur. 2 5. far wachid.
 
 146 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 II. REX. Now farewell, Sz'r Jaspar, brothur, to yoeu, 
 
 Kyng of Tawrus the most worthe ; 
 Szr Balthasar, also to you I bow ; 
 
 And I thanke you bothe of youre good cuwzpany 
 
 Thatt we togeddur haue had. 
 He thatt made vs to mete on hyll, 
 I thanke hym now and eyuer I wyll ; 
 For now may we goo wzt^-owt yll, 
 
 And off owre offerynge be full glad. 1 758 
 
 in. REX. Now syth thatt we mvst nedly goo 
 For drede of Erode thatt ys soo wrothe, 
 Now fare-well brothur, and brothur also, 
 I take my leve here at you bothe 
 
 This dey on fete. 2 
 
 Now he thatt made vs to mete on playne 
 And off ur 8 to Mare in hir jeseyne, 
 He geve vs grace in heyvin a-gayne 
 
 All to-geyd^r to mete ! 767 
 
 \They go out, and Herod and his train occupy the pageant .] 
 
 NlWClOS. Hayle, kyng, most worthist in wede ! 
 
 Hayle, manteinar of curtese 4 throgh all this world wyde ! 
 Hayle, the most myghtyst that eyuer bestrod a stede ! 
 
 Ha[y]ll, 5 most monfullist mon in armor man to abyde ! 
 
 Hayle, in thyne hoonowre ! 
 Thesse iij kyngis thai forthe were sent 
 And schuld haue cum ageyne before the here present, 
 Anothur wey, lorde, whom the[y] went, 
 
 Contrare to thyn honowre. 776 
 
 ERODE. A-nothur wey ? owt ! owt ! owtt ! 
 
 Hath those fawls traytvrs done me this ded ? 
 I stamp e ! I stare ! I loke all abowtt ! 
 
 l S. fayne. 2 s. fote. S. offurde. 
 
 4 The contraction here is really that for er, but it has already occurred 
 about a dozen times in -words like togedsr. 6 Corr. by S.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 147 
 
 Myght I them take, I schuld them bren at a glede ! 
 1 rent ! I rawe ! and now run I wode ! 
 A ! thatt these velen trayturs hath mard this my mode ! 
 
 The[y] schalbe hangid yf I ma cum them to ! 783 
 
 Here Erode ragis in th* pagond and in the strete also. 
 
 E ! and thatt kerne of Bedlem, he schalbe ded 
 
 And thus schall I for-do his pr^fece. 785 
 
 How sey you, sz'r knyghtis ? ys not this the best red, 
 Thatt all yong chyldur for this schuld be dede, 
 
 Wyth sworde to be slayne ? 
 Then schall I, Erod, lyve in lede, 
 And all folke me dowt and drede, 
 And offur to me bothe gold, rychesse and mede ; 
 
 Thereto wyll the[y] be full fayne. 792 
 
 I. MYLES. My lorde kyng, Erode be name, 
 
 Thy wordis agenst my wyll schalbe ; 
 To see soo may yong chyldur dy ys schame, 
 
 Therefore consell ther-to gettis tho\i non of me. 796 
 
 ii. MYLES. Well seyd, fello, my trawth I plyght. 
 
 Sz'r kyng, p^rseyve right well you may, 
 Soo grett a mord^r to see of yong frute 
 
 Wyll make a rysyng in th\ noone cuntrey. 800 
 
 ERODE. A rysyng? Owt ! owt ! owt ! 80 1 
 
 There Erode ragis ageyne and then seyth thus: 
 
 Owt ! velen wrychis, har apon you I cry ! 
 
 My wyll vtturly loke that yt be wroght, 
 Or apon a gallowse bothe you schall dy, 
 
 Be Mahownde most myghtyste, that me dere hath boght, 805 
 
 I. MYLES. Now, cruell Erode, syth we schall do this dede ! 
 
 Your wyll nedefully in this realme mvste be wroght ; 
 All the chyldur of that age dy the[y] mvst nede ; 
 
 Now with all my myght the[y] schall be vpsoght. 809
 
 148 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 II. MYLES. And I woll sweyre here apon your bryght swerde, 1 
 All the chyld^r thatt I fynd, sclayne /^e[y] schalbe ; 
 
 Thatt make many a mod^r to wepe and be full sore aferde 2 
 
 In owre armor bryght when the[y] hus see. 813 
 
 ERODE. Now you have sworne, forthe that ye goo, 
 
 And my wyll thatt ye wyrke bothe be dey and nyght, 
 
 And then wyll I for fayne trypp lyke a doo. 
 
 But whan the[y] be ded I warne you bryng [t]ham be-fore 
 
 my syght. 817 
 
 \Herod and his train go away, and Joseph and Mary are, while asleep, 
 addressed by an angel.'] 
 
 ANGELLt/6". Mare and Josoff, to you I sey, 
 
 Swete word from the Fathur I bryng you full ryght : 
 Owt of Bedlem in-to Eygype forth goo ye the. wey 
 And wz't/z you take the King, full of myght, 
 
 For drede of Eroddis redtf ! 
 JOSOFF. A-ryse up, Mare, hastely and sone ; 
 Owre Lordis wyll nedys mvst be done, 
 
 Lyke ase the angell vs bad. 825 
 
 MARE. Mekely, Josoff, my none spowse, 
 
 Towarde that cuntrey let vs reypeyre ; 
 Att Eygyp 8 to sum cun 8 off howse, 
 
 God grant hus grace saff to cum there ! 829 
 
 Here the -weinen cum in wythe there chyldiir, syngyng them ; * and Mare 
 and Josoff goth aiuey cleyne. 
 
 I. WOMON. I lolle my chylde wondursly swete, 
 And in my narmwj I do hyt kepe, 
 
 Be-cawse thatt yt schuld not crye. 
 
 II. WOMAN. Thatt babe thatt ys borne in Bedlem, so meke, 
 
 He saue my chyld and me from velany ! 834 
 
 in. WOMAN. Be styll, be styll, my lyttull chylde ! 
 That Lorde of lordis saue bothe the and me ! 
 
 1 S. sworde. *~ 8 S. sum tocun ; emend, by Kittredge. 
 
 2 Two tines in S. 4 For the song, see p. 151.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. 149 
 
 For Erode hath sworne wit/i wordis wyld 
 
 Thatt all yong chyldur sclayne /^e[y] schalbe. 838 
 
 i. MYLES. Sey, ye wyddurde wyvis, whydd^r ar ye a-wey? 
 
 What beyre you in youre armus nedis mvst we se. 
 Yff the[y] be man- chyldur, 1 dy the[y] mvst this dey, 
 
 For at Eroddis wyll all thyng mvst be. 842 
 
 II. MYLES. And I in handis wonys them 2 hent, 
 
 Them forto sley noght woll I spare ; 
 We mvst full-fyll Erodis comwandement, 
 
 Elis be we asse trayturs and cast all in care. 846 
 
 i. WOMAN. Sir knyghtis, of youre curtessee, 
 Thys dey schame not youre chevaldre, 
 But on my chyld haue pytte 
 
 For my sake in this styde ; 
 For a sympull sclaghtur yt were to sloo 
 Or to wyrke soche a chylde woo, 
 Thai can nod^r speyke nor goo, 
 
 Nor neuer harme did. 854 
 
 II. WOMAN. He thatt sleyis my chyld in syght, 
 Yff thatt my strokis on hym ma lyght, 
 Be he skwyar or knyght, 
 
 I hold hym but lost. 
 Se, thow fawls losyngere, 
 A stroke schalt thow beyre me her*? 
 
 And spare for no cost. 86 1 
 
 in. WOMAN. Sytt he neyu<?r soo hy in saddull, 
 But I schall make his braynis addull, 
 Ana 7 here \viih my pott-ladull 
 
 Wz't^ hym woll I fyght. 
 
 I schall ley on hym a[s] thogh 8 I wode were, 
 W/t^ thys same womanly geyre ; 
 There schall noo man steyre, 
 
 Wheddur thatt he be kyng or knyght. 869 
 
 1 Curl over n. 2 Curl over m. 3 S. athog.
 
 I5O COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 i. MYLES. Who hard eyuer soche a cry 
 
 Of wemen thatt there chyldur haue lost, 
 And grettly reybukyng chewaldry 
 
 Throgh-owt this reme in eyu^re 1 cost, 
 
 Wyche many a mans lyff ys lyke to cost ? 
 For thys grett wreyche tha\. here ys done 
 I feyre moche wengance ther-oft woll cum. 876 
 
 n. MYLES. E ! brothur, soche talis may we not tell ; 
 
 Where-fore to the kyng lett vs goo, 
 For he ys lyke to beyre the pmjll, 
 
 Wyche wasse the cawser that we did soo. 
 
 Yett must the[y] all be broght hym to 
 Wz't^ waynis and waggyns fully fryght ; 
 I tro there wolbe a carefull syght. 883 
 
 \They go to Herod.] 
 
 I. MYLES. Loo ! Eyrode, kyng, here mast thow see 
 
 How many M' thatt we haue slayne. 
 
 II. MYLES. And nedis thy wyll full-fyllid must be ; 
 
 There ma no mon sey there-ageyne. 887 
 
 [Enter Nuntius.~\ 
 
 Nuncios. Eyrode, kyng, I schall the tell, 
 
 All thy dedis ys cum to noght ; 
 This chyld ys gone in-to Eygipte to dwell. 
 
 Loo ! sz'r, in thy none land what wondurs byn wroght ! 891 
 
 EROD. Into Eygipte? alas, for woo ! 
 
 Lengur in lande here I canot abyde ; 
 Saddull my palfrey, for in hast wyll I goo, 
 Aftur yondur trayturs now wyll I ryde, 
 
 Them for to sloo. 
 Now all men hy fast 
 In-to Eygipte in hast ! 
 All thatt cuntrey woll I tast, 
 
 Tyll I ma cum them to. 900 
 
 1 S. eyuey.
 
 PAGEANT OF THE SHEARMEN AND TAYLORS. !$! 
 
 Fynes lude de taylars and scharmen. 
 
 Tys * matter / nevly correcte be Robart Croo / the xiiij* dey 
 of marche / fenysschid in the yere of owre lorde god / MCCCCC 
 & xxxiiijte / then beyng mayre mastur Palmar / also mastris of 
 the seyd fellyschipp Hev Corbett / Randull Pynkard and / John 
 Baggeley. 
 
 Theise Songes / belonge to / the Taylors- and Shearemens 
 Pagant. / The first and the laste the Shepheards singe / and the 
 second or middlemost the Women singe. 
 
 THOMAS MAWDYCKE / die decimo tertio Maij anno Aomim mil- 
 lessimo quingentesimo nonagesimo primo. / Praetor fuit ciuitatis 
 Couentriae D. Mathaeus 2 Richardson, tune Consoles / Johanes 
 Whitehead et Thomas Crauener. 
 
 SONG I. 
 
 As I out rode this enderes night, 
 
 Of thre ioli sheppardes I saw a sight, 
 
 And all a-bowte there fold a star shone bright ; 
 
 They sange terli terlow ; 
 
 So mereli the sheppards ther pipes can blow. 
 
 SONG II. 
 
 Lully, lulla, thow littell tine child, 
 By by, lully, lullay, thow littell tyne child, 
 By by, lully, lullay/ 
 
 1 S. T[h]ys. 2 S. Mathaens.
 
 152 COVENTRY CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 O sisters too, 
 How may we do l 
 
 For to preserve Mis day 
 This pore yongling 
 For whom we do singe l 
 
 By by, lully, lullay ? 6 
 
 Herod, the king, 
 In his raging, 1 
 
 Chargid he hath this day 
 His men of might 
 In his owne sight x 
 
 All yonge children to slay, 12 
 
 That wo is me, 
 Pore child, for thee, 1 
 
 And ever morne and may 2 
 For thi parting 
 Nether say nor singe, 1 
 
 By by, lully, lullay. 1 8 
 
 SONG III. 
 
 Doune from heave, from heave so hie, 
 Of angeles Mer came a great companie, 8 
 With mirthe and ioy and great solemnitye, 
 
 The[y] sange terly terlow, 
 So mereli the sheppards th&v pipes ca blow. 5 
 
 1 This and the preceding as one line in S, 
 
 2 S. say ; corr. by Kittredge. 
 8 Curl over m.
 
 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 Reprinted from " York Plays . . . ed. [Miss] Lucy Toulmin Smith, Clarendon 
 Press, 1885." In the footnotes, Y. indicates this edition, which, unless the contrary 
 is stated, represents the MS. ; Ha. indicates J. Hall's review, Englische Studien, IX, 
 484 ff. ; He. indicates "Studien zu den York Plays, von O. Herttrich. Breslau, 
 1886"; Ho. indicates F. Holthausen's emendations, A rchiv fur das Studium der 
 newren Sprachen, LXXXV, 411 ff., LXXXVI, 280 ff., and " Philologische Studien ; 
 Festgabe fur Eduard Sievers, Halle, 1896," 30 ff . ; K. indicates E. Kolbing's emen- 
 dations, Englische Studien, XX, 179 ff . ; T. indicates the corresponding play in the 
 Towneley cycle, but its readings are only occasionally recorded. 
 
 [THE RESURRECTION.] 
 
 [Enter Pilatus, Cayphas, and A nna with attendants^ 
 
 PIL. Lordingis, listenys nowe vnto me, 
 I comaunde 3011, in ilke degre ; 
 Als domesman chiffe in th\s> centre, 
 
 For counsaill kende, 
 Atte my bidding 3011 awe to be 
 
 And baynly bende. 6 
 
 And, sir Cayphas, chiffe of clergye, 
 Of youre counsaill late here in hye, 
 By cure 1 assente sen we dyd dye 
 
 Ihesus this day, 
 7%at we 2 mayntayne and stand Merby 
 
 Th-&\. werke all-way. 12 
 
 CAYPH. Jis, sir, />fcat dede schall we mayntayne ; 
 By lawe it was done all be-dene, 
 
 l He. K. joure. 2 K. Yff 36.
 
 154 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 3e wotte youre-selue, with-outen wene, 
 
 Als wele as we. 
 His sawes are nowe vppon hym sene, 
 
 And ay schall be. 18 
 
 ANNA. The. pepull, sir, 1 in Mis same steede 
 Be-fore 3011 saide with a hole hede 
 That he was worthy to be dede, 
 
 And Merto sware. 
 Sen all was rewlid by right[w]is 2 rede, 
 
 Nevyn it nomore. 24 
 
 PIL. To neuyn me thinketh it nedfull thyng ; 
 Sen he was hadde to beriyng, 
 Herde we nowthir of olde ne jing 
 
 Tidynges s be-twene. 
 CAYPH. Centurio, sir, will tidingis bringe 4 
 
 Of all be-dene. 30 
 
 We lefte hym Mere for man moste wise, 
 If any rebelles 5 wolde ought rise 
 Oure rightwise dome for to dispise 
 
 Or it offende, 
 To sese Mame till Me nexte assise 
 
 And Man make ende. 36 
 
 [Enter Centurio.] 
 
 CENT. \To himself.'] A ! blissid Lorde Adonay, 
 What may Mes meruayles signifie 
 That her was schewed so oppinly 
 
 Vn-to oure sight 
 This day whanne Mat Me man gune dye 
 
 That Ihesus highte ? 42 
 
 1 Y. sirs. 8 Y. Thithynges ; Ho. Tithynges. 
 
 2 Corr. by Ha. 6 T. has rybaldes. 
 * Y. bringe thidingis ; Ho. bringe tiding.
 
 THE RESURRECTION. 155 
 
 Itt is a misty thyng to mene ; 
 
 So selcouth a sight was neuere sene, 
 
 7%at 1 oure princes and prestis be-dene 
 
 Of this affray 
 I woll go weten, with-outen wene, 
 
 What th&i can saye. 48 
 
 [He salutes Pilate and the priests."} 
 
 God saue 3011, sirs, on ilke a side ! 
 Worschippe and welthe in worldis wide 
 With mekill mirthe myght 36 abide 
 
 Both 2 day and nyght ! 
 PIL. Centurio, welcome this tide, 
 
 Oure comely knyght ! 54 
 
 3e haue bene miste vs here 8 among. 
 
 CENT. God giffe you grace grathely to gang ! 
 
 PIL. Centurio, [ojure frende full lang, 
 
 What is your will ? 
 CENT. I drede me Mat 36 haue done wrang 
 
 And wondir ill. 60 
 
 CAYPH. Wondir ill ? I pray Me, why ? 
 
 Declare it to Mis company. 
 
 CENT. So schall I, sirs, telle }ou trewly, 
 
 With-owten trayne : 
 Tht rightwise mane Manne mene I by 
 
 7%at 36 haue slayne. 66 
 
 PIL. Centurio, sesse of such sawe. 
 7%ou arte a lered man in Me lawe, 
 And if we schulde any witnes drawe 
 
 Vs to excuse, 
 To mayntayne vs euermore Me 4 awe 
 
 And no3t reffuse. 72 
 
 1 K. inserts to. 
 
 2 Y. Boght ; corr. by K. The -whole line is in a later hand than the 
 rest of the MS. 
 
 * K. reads here vs. * Ho. reads ye.
 
 156 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 CENT. To mayntayne trouthe is wele worMi ; 
 I saide 3011, whenne I sawe hym dy, 
 T^at he was Goddis sone Almyghty 
 
 7%at hanged 1 More ; 
 ^itt sale I soo, and stande Merby 
 
 For-euermore. 78 
 
 CAYPH. 3 a s ' ir i such reasouns may ^e rewe. 
 ^e schulde noght neueyn such note enewe 2 
 But 36 couthe any tokenyngis trewe 
 
 Vnto vs tell. 
 CENT. Such woundirfull cas neuere }it }e knewe 
 
 As now befell. 84 
 
 ANNA. We pray Me, tell vs of what thyng. 
 CENT. All elementis, both olde and jing, 
 In ther maneres Mai made mornyng 
 
 In ilke a stede ; 
 And knewe, be countenaunce, Mat Mer kyng 
 
 Was done to dede. 90 
 
 The sonne for woo he waxed all wanne ; 
 7%e mone and sterres of schynyng blanne ; 
 The. erthe tremeled and also manne 8 
 
 Be-gan to speke ; 
 Tho. stones Mat neuer was stered or Manne 
 
 Gune 4 a-sondir breke ; 96 
 
 And dede-men rose, both grete and small. 
 
 PIL. Centurio, be-ware with-all ! 
 
 3e wote oure clerkis Me clipsis Mei call 
 
 Such sodayne sight. 
 Both sonne and mone Mat sesonne 6 schall 
 
 Lak of Mer light. 102 
 
 1 Y. hangeth ; corr. by K. 4 Qy. omit Gun^. 
 
 2 T. has notes newe. 6 Ho. sesoune. 
 
 8 T. And erthe it tremlyd as a man ; qy. And erthe it tremeled as the man.
 
 THE RESURRECTION. I 57 
 
 CAYPH. 3 a an d ^ dede men rose bodily, 
 7%at myght be done thurgh so[r]cery ; l 
 T^erfore we sette no thyng Merby, 
 
 To be abaiste. 
 CENT. All Mat I tell, for trewthe schall I 
 
 Euermpre traste. 108 
 
 For 2 this ilke werk Mat 36 did wirke 
 Nought allone the. sonne was mirke, 
 But howe youre vaile raffe in youre kirke 
 
 That witte I wolde. 
 PIL. Swilke tales full sone will make vs irke 
 
 And Mei be talde. 114 
 
 ANNA. Centurio, such speche withdrawe ; 
 
 Of all Mes wordes we haue none awe. 
 
 CENT. Nowe, sen $e sette noght be my sawe, 
 
 Sirs, haue gode day ! 
 God 8 graunte you grace Mat 36 may knawe 
 
 The. soth alway. 120 
 
 ANNA. With-drawe Me faste, sen Mou Me dredis, 
 
 For we schall wele mayntayne oure dedis. {Exit Centun'o.] 
 
 PIL. Such wondir reasouns as he redis 
 
 Was neuere beforne. 
 CAIPH. To neven Mis noote no more vs nedis, 
 
 NowMere even ne morne. 126 
 
 7>fcerfore loke nomanne make ille * chere. 
 All Mis doyng may do no dere ; 
 But to be-ware }itt of more were 
 
 7%at folke may fele, 
 We pray you, sirs, of Mes sawes sere 
 
 Avise 3ou wele. 132 
 
 1 Corr. by K. ; but socery occurs often. 8 Supplied by K. 
 
 2 Y. In ; T. Not for. * Y. ilke ; corr. by Ho.
 
 158 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 And to this tale takes hede in hye, 
 
 For lesu saide even opynly 
 
 A thyng Mat greues all this Jury, 
 
 And ri^te so may, . 
 
 Thai he schulde rise vppe bodily 
 
 With-in 1 the thirde day. 138 
 
 And be it so, als motte I spede, 
 His lattar deede is more to drede 
 Than, is the firste, if we take hede 
 
 Or tente therio. 
 To neuyn this noote me thynke maste nede 
 
 And beste to do. 144 
 
 ANNA, ^a, sir, all if- 2 thai he saide soo, 
 He has no myght to rise and goo. 
 But if his menne stele hym vs froo 
 
 And bere away, 
 Th at were tille us and other moo 
 
 A foule [ajffraye ; 8 150 
 
 For Manne wolde thoi saie, euere-ilkone, 
 Thai he roose by hym-selffe allone ; 
 T^erfore latte hym be kepte anone 
 
 With knyghtes hende, 
 Vnto thre daies be comen and gone 
 
 And broght till ende. 1 56 
 
 PIL. In certayne, sirs, right wele }e saie ; 
 For this ilke poynte nowe [to] 4 purvaye, 
 I schall ordayne, if that 5 I may, 
 
 He schall not ryse, 
 Nor none schalle wynne hym thtns away 
 
 On no-kyns wise. 162 
 
 1 Kittredge suggests On. 3 K. T. enffraye. * Y. 
 
 Y. if all. 6K.; Y. if; Ho. it if.
 
 THE RESURRECTION. I 59 
 
 [He speaks to the soldiers^ 
 
 Sir knyghtis, //fcat are in dedis dowty, 
 Chosen for chiffe of cheualrye, 
 As we ay in youre force affie 
 
 Bo/^e day and nyght, 
 1 Wendis and kepis Jesu body 
 
 With all youre myghte ; 1 68 
 
 And for thyng //#at euere be maye 
 Kepis hym wele to th& thirde day, 
 And lads noman take 2 hym away 
 
 Oute of Mat stede ; 
 For, and Mei do, suthly I saie, 
 
 3e schall be dede. 174 
 
 i. MILES. Lordingis, we saie 3011 for certayne, 
 We schall kepe hym with myght 8 and mayne ; 
 Th&r schall no traitoures with no trayne 
 
 Stele hym vs froo. 
 Sir knyghtis, takis gere th?A. moste may gayne, 
 
 And lates vs goo. 1 80 
 
 II. MIL. 3^ s > certis, we are all redy bowne ; 
 We schall hym kepe till oure rennowne. 
 
 [The soldiers go to the Sepulchre^ 
 
 On ilke a side latte vs sitte doune 
 
 Now all in-fere, 
 And fownde 4 we schall to 5 crake his croune, 
 
 Whoso comes here. 1 86 
 
 [The soldiers sit down and fall asleep^ 
 
 Tune "lesu resurgente." 6 
 
 1 K. prefixes Ye. 3 Y. myghtis ; corr. by K. 
 
 2 Y. takis ; corr. by Ho. * K. ; Y. sone. 5 Qtn. Y. 
 
 6 Miss Smith says: " The marginal note in later hand here, ' tune angelus 
 cantat Resurgens.' See lines 383-386." This is supported by T., which has: 
 " Tune cantabunt angeli ' Jesus resurgens.' "
 
 I6O YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 [Enter the three Marys going to the 
 
 I. MAR. Alias ! to dede I wolde be dight, 
 So woo in worlde * was neuere wight ; 
 Mi sorowe is all for Mat sight 
 
 Th at I gune see, 
 Howe Criste, my maistir, moste of myght, 
 
 Is dede fro me. 192 
 
 Alias, Mat I schulde se his pyne, 
 Or yit Mat I his 2 liffe schulde tyne ! 
 Of ilke a myscheue he is 8 medicyne 
 
 And bote of all, 
 Helpe and halde to ilke a hyne 
 
 On hym wolde call. 4 198 
 
 n. MAR. Alias ! who schall my balis bete, 
 Whanne I thynke on his woundes wete ? 
 Jesu, Mat was of loue so swete 
 
 And neuere did ill, 
 Es dede and grauen vnder Me grete 
 
 With-outen skill. 204 
 
 in. MAR. With-owten skill Me Jewes ilkone 
 7%at louely lorde has newly slone, 5 
 And trespasse did he neuere none 
 
 In no-kyn steede. 
 To whome nowe schall I make my mone, 
 
 Sen he is dede? 210 
 
 I. MAR. Sen he is dede, my sisteres dere, 
 
 Wende we will on mylde manere, 
 
 With oure a-noynementis f aire and clere 
 
 T^at we haue broght, 
 To noynte his wondis, on sides sere 
 
 Jewes hym wroght. 216 
 
 
 1 Y. werke ; T. warld ; pointed out by He. 
 8 Ho. my. 8 Ho. T. was. 
 
 * MS. Mat on hym on wolde call ; corr. by Y. 
 K. T.; Y.slayne.
 
 THE RESURRECTION. l6l 
 
 II. MAR. 1 Goo we same, my sisteres free. 
 Full sare 2 vs longis his corse to see, 
 But I wotte noght howe beste may be ; 
 
 Helpe haue we none, 
 And who schall nowe here of vs thre 
 
 Remove the. stone ? 222 
 
 in. MAR. 7%at do we noght but we wer moo, 
 
 For it is huge and heuy also. 
 
 I. MAR. Sisteris ! a ^onge child, as we goo 
 
 Makand mornyng, 
 I see it sitte wher we wende to, 
 
 In white clothyng. 228 
 
 n. MAR. Sisters, sertis, it is noght to hide, 
 
 The heuy stone is putte beside ! 
 
 in. MAR. Sertis, for thyng Mat may be-tyde 
 
 Nere will we wende, 
 To layte Mat luffely and with hym bide 
 
 7%at was cure ffrende. 234 
 
 \Theyapproach nearer the Sepulchre^ 
 
 ANGEL. 3 e niournand women in youre /bought, 
 Here in Mis place whome haue 36 sought ? 
 I. MAR. Jesu, Mat unto 8 dede was 4 brought, 
 
 Oure Lord so free. 
 ANG. Women, certayne here is he noght ; 
 
 Come nere and see. 240 
 
 He is noght here, the soth to saie ; 
 The place is voide Mat he in laye. 
 The sudary here se 36 may, 
 Was on hym laide. 
 He is resen and wente his 6 way, 
 
 As he jou saide. 246 
 
 1 Y. ; MS. Prima Maria ; see Notes. * T. ; Y. is. 
 
 2 Y. faire ; T. sore ; pointed out by He. 5 MS. repeats his. 
 8K. T.; Y.to.
 
 1 62 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 Euen as he saide, so done has hee ; 
 He is resen thurgh grete poostee. 
 He schall be foune in Galile, 
 
 In flesshe and fell. 
 To his discipilis nowe wende ^e, 
 
 And thus, Mame tell. 252 
 
 i. MAR. Mi sisteres dere, sen it is soo, 
 
 7%at he is resen dede thus froo, 
 
 As the aungell tolde me and yow too, 
 
 Oure lorde so free, 
 Hens 1 will I neuer goo 
 
 Or I hym see. 258 
 
 n. MAR. Marie, vs thare no lenger lende ; 2 
 
 To Galile nowe late vs wende. 
 
 i. MAR. Nought tille I see Mat faithfull frende, 
 
 Mi lorde andleche. 
 T^erfore all Mis, my sisteres hende, 
 
 forth preche. 8 264 
 
 in. MAR. As we haue herde, so schall we saie. 
 
 Marie oure sistir, haue goode daye ! 
 
 i. MAR. Nowe verray God, as he wele maye, 
 
 Man most of myght, 4 267 a 
 
 He wisse you, sisteres, wele in youre waye 
 
 And rewle $ou right ! 269 
 
 [Exeunt second and third Marys.] 
 
 Alias ! what schall nowe worMe on me ? 
 My kaytiffe herte will breke in three 
 Whenne I thynke on Mat body free, 
 
 How it was spilte, 
 Both feete and handes nayled tille a tre, 
 
 Withouten gilte ! 275 
 
 1 He. wishes to insert f urthe. 
 
 2MS. layne; corr.by\. 
 
 Ho. T. Loke Mat je preche. 
 
 * Line missing in MS. ; supplied by Y. from T.
 
 THE RESURRECTION. 163 
 
 With-outen gilte Me trewe was tane, 
 
 For trespas did he neuere nane. l 
 
 Thz woundes he suffred, many ane, 8 
 
 Was for my misse ; 
 It was my dede 8 he was for slayne * 
 
 And no-thyng his. 281 
 
 How might I, but I loued Mat swete, 
 7%at for my loue tholed woundes wete 
 And sithen be grauen vndir Me grete, 
 
 Such kyndnes kithe ? 
 Th&r is no-thing to Mat we mete 
 
 May make me blithe. 287 
 
 [Tke soldiers awaken.'] 
 
 1. MIL. What ! oute ! alias ! what schall I saie ? 
 
 Where is Me corse Mat here in laye? 
 
 n. MIL. What ayles Me, man? Is he awaye 
 
 7%at we schulde tente ? 
 i. MIL. Rise vppe and see. 
 n. MIL. Harrowe ! for ay 
 
 I telle vs schente. 293 
 
 in. MiL. 6 What deuill is Mis ? what aylis ^ou twa 6 
 
 Such noyse and crye Mus for to ma ? 7 
 
 I. MIL. For he is gone. s 
 
 in. MIL. 9 Alias ! wha ? 
 
 II. MIL. He Mat here laye. 9 
 IV. MIL. Whe ! harrowe ! deuill ! 10 how swa 298 
 
 Gat he away ? 10 298 a 
 
 1 Y. none. 5 On this stanza, see Notes. 
 
 2 Y. one. 6 Y. twoo. 
 
 8 He. T. gylt. 7 Y. to make too ; T. to may. 
 
 * K ; Y. for-slayne. 8 T. ; Y. Why is he gone? 
 
 9-9 T. ; Y. Alias whare is he Mat here laye ? 
 10-10 T.; Y. whare is he away ?
 
 164 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 in. MiL. 1 What ! is he /^us-gatis fro vs wente, 
 T/tat fals traitour Mat here was lente, 
 And we trewly here for to tente 
 
 Had vndir-tane? 
 Sekirlie, 2 I telle vs schente 
 
 Holy, ilkane. 304 
 
 i. MiL. 8 Alias ! what schall we do this day 
 7%at thus this warlowe is wente his waye ? 
 And sauely, sirs, I dare wele sale, 
 
 He rose allone. 
 II. MIL. Witte sir Pilate of this affraye, 
 
 We mon be slone. 310 
 
 in. MIL. Why, 4 canne none of vs no bettir rede? 
 iv. MIL. J^er is not ellis but we be dede. 
 II. MIL. Whanne that he stered oute of this steede, 
 None couthe it kenne. 
 
 I. MIL. Alias ! harde happe was on my hede 
 
 Amonge all menne. 316 
 
 Fro sir Pilate witte of this dede, 
 T^at we were slepande whanne he ^ede, 
 He will 6 forfette, with-outen drede, 
 All that we haue. 
 
 II. MIL. Vs muste 6 make lies, for thz.1 is nede, 
 
 Oure-selue to saue. 322 
 
 in. MIL. 3 a > ^at rede I 7 wele, also 8 motte I goo. 
 
 iv. MIL. And I assente Merto alsoo. 
 
 ii. MIL. An hundereth, schall I saie, and moo, 
 
 Armed 9 ilkone, 
 Come and toke his corse vs froo 
 
 And 10 vs nere slone. 11 328 
 
 1 MS. ; changed by Y. to n. MIL., but see Notes. 
 
 2 K, inserts sirs. ' Y. I rede I ; T. He. red I. 
 8 T. ; Y. in. MIL. 8 T. so ; Ho. als. 
 
 4 K. omits Why. T. K. Welle armed. 
 
 T. We mon ; preferred by He. 1 He. Had. 
 
 Ho. bus. li T. ; Y. slayne.
 
 THE RESURRECTION. 165 
 
 I. MIL. Nay, certis, I halde Mere none so goode 
 As saie Me soth even as it stoode, 
 Howe Mat he rose with mayne and mode 
 
 And wente his way. 
 To sir Pilate, if he be wode, 
 
 TMs dar I saie. 334 
 
 n. MIL. Why, dare Mou to sir Pilate goo 
 With thes tydingis and saie hym soo ? 
 I. MIL. So rede I, for, 1 if he vs sloo, 
 
 We dye but onys. 
 in. MIL. Nowe, he Mat wrought vs all Mis woo, 
 
 Woo worthe his bonys ! 340 
 
 iv. MIL. Go we Manne, sir knyghtis hende, 
 Sen Mat 2 we schall to sir Pilate wende. 
 I trowe Mat we shall parte no frende 8 
 
 Or Mat we passe. 
 I. 4 MIL. And I schall hym 6 saie ilke word tille ende 
 
 Even as it was. 346 
 
 [They go to Pilate.'] 
 
 Sir Pilate, prince withouten pere, 
 Sir Cayphas and Anna, in-fere, 
 And all ^e lordyngis Mat are here, 
 
 To neven by name, 
 God saue }ou all, on sidis sere, 
 
 Fro synne and schame ! 352 
 
 PiL. 3 e are welcome, oure knyghtis kene ! 
 Of mekill mirthe nowe may ^e mene ; 
 Therfore some tales telle vs be-twene, 
 
 Howe }e haue wroght. 
 I. MIL. Oure wakyng, lorde, with-outen wene, 
 
 Is worthed 6 to no}!. 358 
 
 1 Inserted by K. ; Ho. inserts do after he. 
 
 2 Om. T. 5 Om. T. K. 
 
 Y. frendes ; corr. by K.from T. 6 He. T. worthe. 
 * Sfeaker added by late hand.
 
 1 66 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 CAYPH. To noght? alias ! Sesse of such sawe ! 
 ii. MIL. The. prophete Jesu, Mat }e wele knawe, 
 Is resen and gone, for all oure awe, 
 
 With mayne and myght. 
 PIL. T^erfore Me deuill hym-selffe Me drawe, 
 
 Fals recrayed knyght ! 364 
 
 Combered cowardis I you call! 
 
 Haue 36 latten hym goo fro you all ? 
 
 in. MIL. Sir, Mer was none Mat did but small 
 
 When Mat he $ede. 
 iv. MIL. We wer so ferde, downe ganne we falle 
 
 And dared for drede. 370 
 
 ANNA. Hadde }e no streng[t]he hym to gayne-stande ? 
 Traitoures ! 3 e m yght haue boune in bande 
 Bothe hym and Mame Mat }e Mer fande, 
 
 And sessid Mame sone. 
 i. MIL. T^at dede all erthely men leuand 
 
 Myght no^t haue done. 376 
 
 n. MIL. We wer so radde euer-ilkone, 
 Whanne Mat he putte beside Me stone, 
 We wer so stonyd we durst stirre none, 
 
 And so abasshed. 
 PIL. What ! rose he by hym-selfe allone ? 
 
 I. MIL. 3 a s * r ^at 1 be ^e traste. 382 
 
 iv. MIL. We herde never sen we were borne, 
 Nor all oure faderes vs be-forne, 
 Suche melodic, mydday ne morne, 
 
 As was made Mere. 
 CAYPH. Alias ! Manne is oure lawes lorne 
 
 For-euere-mare. 388 
 
 n. MIL. What tyme he rose good tente I toke ; 
 The. erthe Mat tyme tremylled and quoke. 
 
 1 K. omits that.
 
 THE RESURRECTION. 1 67 
 
 All kyndely force Man me for-soke, 
 
 Tille he was gone. 
 in. MIL. I was a-ferde, I durste not loke, 
 
 Ne myght had none ; 394 
 
 I myght not stande, so was I starke. 
 
 PIL. Sir Cayphas, }e are a connyng clerke, 
 
 If we amisse haue tane oure merke, 
 
 I trowe same l faile ; 
 T^erfore what schalle wor//e nowe 2 of this werke, 
 
 Sais your counsaille. 400 
 
 CAYPH. To saie the beste, forsothe, I schall, 
 
 That schall be prophete 3 to vs all : 
 
 ^one knyghtis behoues Mere wordis agayne 4 call, 
 
 Howe he is miste : 
 We nolde for thyng Mat myght be-fall 
 
 no man wiste. 406 
 
 ANNA. Now, sir Pilate, sen Mat it is soo, 
 7%at he is resynne [in-]dede us froo, 
 Comaundis }oure knyghtis to saie wher th\ goo 
 
 T^at he was tane 
 With xxti ml. men, and mo, 
 
 And Mame 5 nere slayne. 412 
 
 And therto of our tresorie 
 Giffe to Mame a rewarde for-thy. 
 PIL. Nowe of Mis purpose wele plesed am I, 
 And forther Mus : 6 
 
 [To the soldiers.] 
 
 Sir knyghtis, Mat are in dedis dowty, 
 
 Takes tente to vs, 418 
 
 1 Ho. sanz. 3 Of course a bad spelling of profit. 
 
 2 Om. K. * K. gayne. 5 He. Mai. 
 6 He. T. It shalbe thus, which is probably right.
 
 1 68 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 And herkenes what //#at ^e shall saie 
 To ilke a man, 1 both ny^t and daye : 
 That 2 ten m 1 . men in good araye 
 
 Come jou vntill, 
 With forse of armys bare hym awaye 
 
 Agaynst your will. 424 
 
 Thus schall ^e saie in ilke a lande, 
 And //fcerto, on /^at same comenaunde, 
 A thousande pounde haue in youre hande 
 
 To your rewarde ; 
 And frenschippe, sirs, }e vndirstande, 
 
 Schall not be spared. 430 
 
 CAIPH. S Ilkone youre state we schall amende ; 
 
 And loke }e saie as we ^ou kende. 
 
 I. MIL. In what contre so ^e vs sende, 
 
 Be nyght or daye, 
 Wherso we come, wherso we wende, 
 
 So schal we saie. 436 
 
 PIL. 3 a > an d where-so }e tarie in ilke contre, 
 Of oure doyng in no degre 
 Dois //fcat nomanne the wiser be, 
 
 Ne freyne be-forne ; 
 Ne of the sight /^at }e gonne se, 
 
 Nevynnes it 4 now/^ere even ne morne ; 442 
 
 For we schall mayntayne }ou alwaye, 
 And to the pepull schall we saie 
 It is gretely agaynste oure lay 
 
 To trowe such thing. 
 So schall thei deme, both nyght and day, 
 
 All is lesyng. 448 
 
 1 Y. aman. & Late hand. 
 
 2 Om. K. 4 Ho. omits Nevynnes it.
 
 THE RESURRECTION. 169 
 
 Thus schall the. sothe be bought and solde, 
 And treasoune schall for trewthe be tolde ; 
 7/fcerfore ay in youre hartis }e holde 
 
 TMs counsaile clene. 
 And fares nowe wele, both younge and olde, 
 
 Haly be-dene ! 454
 
 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 Printed from MS. Hengwrt 229, the property of W. R. M. Wynne, Esq. The 
 date of the MS. is, according to Dr. Furnivall, 1475 or a little later ; Mr. Warner, 
 of the British Museum, assigns it to the end of the fifteenth century. It is, there- 
 fore, at least a century older than the oldest of the five complete MSS. of this 
 collection. Another claim to interest is indicated in a note by Dr. Furnivall : " Mr. 
 Wynne's MS. must have been owned by some player or manager, who doubled it 
 up and carried it about in his pocket, used it with hot hands, and faded its ink. 
 I suppose it 's the only copy of the kind." 
 
 Mr. Wynne, whose kindness I cannot adequately acknowledge, wishes the print 
 to represent the MS. as exactly as possible. I have accordingly given the text 
 without change, except that I have not attempted to reproduce the forms of the 
 letters long/", for example and that I have supplied the punctuation, there 
 being none in the MS. Final II is usually crossed, and final m and n flourished, 
 but it seemed unnecessary to indicate these ; only exceptional peculiarities are 
 pointed out. The capitals, it will be observed, are those of the MS. Such correc- 
 tions and additions as seemed absolutely necessary for the ordinary reader have 
 been supplied in the footnotes, where will also be found a sufficient number of 
 readings from the other MSS. to indicate in a general way the relations of this MS. 
 to the two classes established by Deimling. A full collation seemed unnecessary, 
 in view of the nature of this book and of the likelihood that we shall ere long have 
 the second part of Deimling's edition. Suffice it to say here that this MS. is more 
 closely related to H. than to B. W. h. 
 
 In the footnotes, Wr. indicates Wright's edition (2 vols., Shakespeare Society, 
 1843); W. indicates Dr. Furnivall's reading of MS. Addit. 10,305, the basis of 
 Wright's text; H. indicates MS. Harl. 2124; cf. p. 66, above. The occasional 
 remarks on the different ways in which the same word has been read are intended to 
 help the reader to a conception of the actual appearance of the MS. 
 
 [ANTICHRIST.] 
 1 Incipit paginaXX . . . 2 De salla . . 
 
 Primo equitando incipiat A nt . . . : * 
 
 p. i. De celso trono poli, pollens clarior sole 
 
 Age vobis 6 monstrare descendi vos iudicare 
 
 1 All Latin is -written in big letters. 
 
 2 In Wr. it is XXIV, but the MS. he follows calls it XXIII. 
 
 3 Qy. fallacia. 4 Antechristus. 
 * Wr. Age vos ; both -words almost illegible in MS.
 
 ANTICHRIST. 
 
 Reges et principes sunt subditi sub me viuentes ; 
 
 Sites l sapientes vos, semper in me credentes, 
 
 Et faciam flentes gaudere atque dolentes ; 
 
 Sic omnes gentes gaudebunt in me sperantes. 
 
 Descendi presens Rex pius et perlustrator ; 
 
 Prinnceps eternus Vocor, cristus, vester Saluator. 8 
 
 All ledys in londe, now bese light, 
 
 That wyllyn be Rulyde throghe out the Right : 
 
 Youre 2 Savyor nowe in youre sight 
 
 Here may ye sauely see ; 
 Messyas, criste 2 and most of might, 
 That in the 2 lawe wos youe behyght, 
 All monkynde loy to dyght 
 
 Is comyn, for I am hee. 16 
 
 Off me was spokyn in prophecye 
 Off Moyses, davyd and ysaye ; 
 I am 8 he they call messye, 
 
 fforbyer of Israeli. 
 That 4 levyn on me stydfastly, 
 I shall them saue frome all Any, 
 And siche 6 joye Right as haue I 
 
 hem 6 I thinke to dele. 24 
 
 De me enim dicitur Ezechiel tricesimo sexto : 
 " Tollam vos de gentibns, et congregabo vos de 
 vniuersis terris, et reduam." 1 vos in terram vtstram." 
 
 But one hath lyggydd 8 hym here in londe, 
 Ihmi he hight, I vnderstond, 
 To fforther falsed 9 he confounde 10 
 
 1 Wr. Sitis ; almost illegible in MS. 
 
 2 The beginning of these lines almost illegible. 
 
 8 I am is almost illegible. 4 Wr. Those that. 5 Wr. omits siche. 
 
 6 This is the only example of hem (= them) in this MS. 
 1 The correct reading, reducam, is written belcnv this -word in MS. 
 8 Corrected in MS. from laykyd. 9 Wr. falsehoode. 
 
 1 Read can (= gan) fonde ; Wr. has can founde.
 
 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 And ferde withe ffantasye. 
 His wykydne} he wolde not wonde J 
 Till he wos takyn and putt in bonde l 
 And Slayne throghe virtue of my sonde. 1 
 
 This ys sothe sycurlye. 32 
 
 My peple of lues he cothe twynne, 
 p. 2. That theyr land come they neu^r in ; 
 Then on theym nowe most I myn 
 
 And Restoure theym agayn. 
 To bylde this temple wyll I not blyn, 
 And as god hon#ryd be therin ; 
 And endless wele I shall them wyn, 
 
 All that to me bene bayne. 40 
 
 De me etiam 2 </icitur in psalmo: " Adorabo ad 
 templum Sanctum tuum in timore tuo" 
 
 One thing me gladys, be ye bolde, 
 
 As Danyell, the prophett, ffore me tolde, 
 
 All women in worlde me loue shulde 
 
 when I were comyn Rowland. 8 
 This prophesye I shall well holde, 4 
 which ys most lykyng to yonge & olde; 
 I thinke to ff aast mo#ye folde 6 
 
 And theyr ffayrnesse to ffounde. 48 
 
 Also he told them, 4 leue ye me, 
 That I of giftis shulde be free, 
 whiche prophesye don shalbe 
 
 When I my Realme 4 haue wonnen, 6 
 And that I 4 shulde 4 graunte 4 men poste, 7 
 Ryvyd Riches, lond and ffee ; 
 
 1 The o in these words looks like e. 2 Perhaps emtn as in Wr. 
 
 8 Wr. has 1. 48 as both 44 and 48 ; H. gives the correct reading: When I 
 were come in land. 6 Wr. I thinke faste manye to holde. 
 
 4 Almost illegible. 
 
 6 H. has nommen ; the word is so uncertain in MS. that it was at first 
 read memory. 7 Wr. mercy; H. agrees with MS.
 
 ANTICHRIST. 
 
 That shall J be done, 1 that ye shall see, 
 
 Whan I am hether comen. 2 56 
 
 Danielis 1 tercio decimo : " dabit eis potestatem 
 mult . - 1 et terram diuidet gratuitam." 
 
 Whatt saye ye, kingis that here ben lente? 
 Ar not my wordys at youre Assente ? 
 That 1 1 am 1 criste omnypotente, 
 
 Leve ye not thus Ichon 1 ? 
 PRIMUS REX. We leuen, lorde, wz't^out lett, 
 That crist he ys not comyn yet. 
 Yff thowe be he, thowe shalbe sett 
 
 In temple as god Alon. 64 
 
 SECUNDUS REX. Iff thowe be crist, callyd messye, 
 That from oure bale shall vs bye, 
 Doe 1 byfore us some maistrye, 
 
 A signe 1 that we may see. 
 TERCIUS REX. Then will I leue that hitt ys so 
 yf thowe do wonders or thow goo ; 
 So that thow saue vs of oure woo, 
 
 Then honoryd shall thowe be. 72 
 
 QUARTUS REX. ffowle haue we levyd mony a yen? 
 And of oure wenyng bene in were ; 
 And thowe be crist now comyn here, 
 
 Then may thowe stynt all striffe. 
 AxTECffXfSTiss. That I am Crist, and Crist wilbe, 
 By verrey signes sone shall ye see, 
 ffor dede 3 men thrughe my poste 
 
 Shall Ryse from dethe to lyue. 80 
 
 Now wyll I turne all thrughe my myght 
 Trees downe, the Rote vp Right, 
 That ys marvell to youre sighte, 
 
 1 Almost illegible. 2 The line is almost illegible. 
 
 8 This -was at first read as alle ; Wr. has dead.
 
 174 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 And ffrute groing vpon : 
 So shall they growe and Multiplie J 
 Throghe my might and my maistrey, 
 I putt you out of hereysye 
 
 to here 2 me Apon. 88 
 
 and bodyes that ben dede and slayne, 
 Yff I may Rayse theym vp Agayne, 
 Thow honorys me w/tA myght & mayn ; 
 
 Then shall no mon yow gryue. 
 fforsothe then after will I dee 
 And Ryse Agayn thrughe my poostye. 
 Yff I may do thus mar^ulosly, 
 
 I Redd yow on me leue. . 96 
 
 Men buryed in graue, as ye may see, 
 
 What Maistrye ys nowe, hope ye, 
 
 To Rayse theym vp thrughe my postye 
 
 And all thrughe my none Accorde? 
 Whyther I in my godhede be, 
 By euery signe ye shall se. 
 Ryse vp, ye dede men, & honures me 
 
 And knoys me for youre lorde. 104 
 
 7"nc Resurgendo dicat primus Mortuus. 
 
 A ! lord, to the I aske mercye ; 
 I wos dede, but nowe lyue I ! 
 Nowe wot I well and wytterly 
 
 That Crist ys hyther comyn. 
 
 p. 4. SECUNDUS MORTUUS. Hym honore we and all Men, 
 Devotly kneling on oure knen. 
 Wurshipte be thowe then, Amen ! 
 
 Crist, that oure name has nomen. 8 112 
 
 1 A stroke through the second 1. 
 2 Corrected in margin to leeve. 
 8 Wr. Christe our name is comen.
 
 ANTICHRIST. 175 
 
 ANTECRISTUS. That I shall fulfill holly wrytt, 
 Ye shall wott and knowe well hyt ; 
 ffor I am wall of welle and wytt l 
 
 And lord of euery londe ; 
 And as the prophet Sophanye 
 Spekis of me full wytturlye, 
 I shall Reherse here Redylye 
 
 That Clerkys shall vnderstond : 1 20 
 
 Sophonie tercio : expectame 2 in die Resurrecc'wnis 
 mee in futurum, quia iudici\\m 8 ut congregem gentes 
 et colligam Regna. 
 
 Nowe will I dye that ye shall see, 
 And Ryse agayne thrughe my poostye. 
 I wyll in graue that ye put me 
 
 And wurship me Alon ; 
 ffor in this temple a tombe ys made, 
 There in my bodye shalbe leyde. 
 Then wyll I Ryse as I haue sayde, 
 
 Take tente to me ychon, 1 28 
 
 And after my Resurreccion, 
 
 Then wyll I sytt wz't^ gret Renovne, 
 
 And my gost sende to yow downe 4 
 
 In forme of fyer full sone. 
 I dye ! I dye ! ndwe am I dede ! 133 
 
 REX. Nowe si the this worthy lorde ys dede 
 And his 4 grace ys withe us lede, 
 To * take hys body it ys my Rede 5 
 
 And burye it in a graue. 
 
 SECUNDZ/S REX. fforsothe and so to us he saide, 
 In a toumbe he wolde be laide. 
 
 1 Wr. wall [of] wayle and witte ; read welle of wele and wytt. 
 
 2 Read expecta me. * Almost illegible. 
 
 3 Wr. also omits meum. 6 This was at first read as bedde.
 
 1/6 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 No we goo we for the all at a brayde ! 
 
 ffrome dyssese he may us saue. 141 
 
 Tune transeunt ad A ntechristum. 
 
 TERCIUS REX. Take we the bodye of this swete 
 
 And ley it low vndre the greet ! 
 
 Nowe, Icrde, comforde us, we the biseke, 
 
 And send vs of thy grace. 
 p. 5. QUARTUS REX. And if he Rise sone 1 thrughe his 
 
 myght 
 
 ffrome dethe to lyve, as he hyght, 
 Hym wyll I honour day and nyght 
 
 As god in tuerj place. 149 
 
 Tune recedent de tumulo jyue ad terrain, ft dicat 
 
 REX. Nowe wot I well that he ys dede, 
 ffor nowe in greve we haue hym layde. 
 Yff he 2 Ryse as he hasse sayd, 
 
 He ys 2 of fulgret 8 myghte. 
 SECUNDUS REX. I can not leffe hym apon 
 But yf he Ryse hym selffe alon, 
 As he hass sayde to monyon, 
 
 And shoo hym here in syght. 157 
 
 TERCIUS REX. Tyll that oure sauyore be Ryson 
 
 agayne, 
 In fayth, my hart may not be fayne 
 
 t 4 
 
 But I hym see withe yee. 
 
 QUARTUS REX. I most morne withe All my mayne 
 Till Crist be Rison vp Agayn. 
 Off that myracle make us fayne, 
 
 Ryse vp, 2 lorde, that we may see. 164 
 
 1 A curve aver n. 2 Almost illegible. 8 Read ful gret. 
 
 4 The MS. (W.) printed by Wr. also omits this line ; Wr. supplied it from 
 H., as follows: My body eke will not be bayne.
 
 ANTICHRIST. 
 
 Tune A nte christar leuat caput snnm surgens a mortuis. 
 
 ANT-ECHRISTUS. I Rise nowe ! Reverence dose to me ! 
 God glorify, fyrst, last, in 1 degre. 
 IE I be crist, nowe levys ye, 2 
 
 And warchis after the wyse ! 8 
 PRIMES REX. A ! lord, welcome most thowe be ! 
 That thow art god, nowe leue we. 
 Therefore go sit vp in thy see, 
 
 And kepe cure sacrvf yse. 1 72 
 
 Tune transient ad A nfechristum. 
 
 SECUNDUS REX. Forsoth in seyte thowe shaltbe sett, 
 And honoryd bothe with lambe & gete, 4 
 As moseyes lawe that lastyth yet, 
 
 As he as 5 sayd<? beffore. 6 
 
 TERCIUS REX. O gracius lorde, go sytt downe then, 
 And we shall, kneling on oure knen, 
 wurship the as thyn owne men 
 
 And worche after thy lore. 180 
 
 Tune assendit A ntechristus ad . . . J 
 
 p. 6. Ex TERCius 8 REX. Hethur we be comyn with 
 
 good entent 
 
 To make oure sacryfice, lord excellent, 
 Withe this lambe that I haue here hente, 
 
 Knelyng the before. 
 Thowe graunte vs grace to do & saye 
 
 1 Wr. glorified, created of; H. glorified, greatest of. The latter is probably 
 correct and the original of the reading of our MS. Dr. Furnivall, however, 
 thinks MS. really has glorify kreatyd in. 
 
 2 Wr. H. ye me. 3 Wr. my will. 
 * Wr. honoured with lande (for laude) greate. 
 
 6 Wr. hath ; read has. 
 
 6 This line in another hand, which Dr. Furnivall thinks later. 
 
 7 Wr. cathedram. In MS. this stage direction follows Et Tercius Rex, 
 on the same line. 
 
 8 H. has Primus ; Wr. has no speaker's name.
 
 1/8 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 That it be plesing to the aye, 
 To thy blysse that come we may 
 
 And never fro it be loore. 188 
 
 AxTE.CffxrsTUS. I lord, I god, I hyght lustyce, 
 I crist, that made the dede to Rise, 
 Here I Receyue youre sacryfyce, 
 And blesse you ffleshe and fell 
 
 Tune transiunt de A ntechriste. 
 
 Ye kyngis, also to you I tell, 
 
 I wyll nowe send my holly goost 
 
 To knowe me lord, of myghtist 1 most, 
 
 off heven, yerthe and hell. 196 
 
 Tune emittit spiritrtm dicetu : 
 
 " Dabo vobis cor nvvum et spritum novum In 
 media Vestri." 
 
 QUARTUS REX. A, god ! a, lorde, mycle of myght ! 
 This holye gost is in me pight ; 
 Me thinks my hart ys verry light 
 
 Sithe it come into me. 
 
 PRIMES REX. Lord, we the honor day and nyght, 
 ffor thowe shewys vs in sight, 
 Right as moyses vs behyght. 
 
 Honoryd most thowe bee ! 204 
 
 Yet worthie werkis to youre will 
 Off prophcie I will 2 fullfill : 
 As Danyell prophycied you till 
 
 That londys 8 I shulde devyse, 
 That phrophecye it shalbe done, 
 That ye shall se Right sone. 
 Wurshipis me all that ye mone, 
 
 And do after the wise. 212 
 
 1 Read myghtis, as in Wr. 2 Wr. shall. 8 Wr. baundes.
 
 ANTICHRIST. 1 79 
 
 Ye kyngis, I shall avaunte 1 you All, 
 And, for youre Regnis be but Small, 
 Citie}, castells shall you befall, 
 
 with Towne^ and Towre^ gay, 
 7. And make you lordis of lordishipis ffere, 2 
 And well it ffalles -for my power ; 
 And loke ye do as I you lerr, 8 
 
 And harkens what I say. 4 220 
 
 I am verey god of myght ; 
 
 All thinge I made thrugh my myght, 
 
 Son and mone, day and nyght ; 
 
 To blisse I may you bring. 
 Therfor, kyngis noble 5 and gay, 
 Yoken 6 youre peple 5 that 7 I saye, 
 That I am crist, god verey, 
 
 And tell theym such tything. 8 228 
 
 My peple 5 of Iwes were put me frome ; 
 Therfor gret Ruthe I haue theym on. 
 Whythur they wyll leue me vpon 
 
 I wyll fulsone Assaye ; 
 ffor All that wyll leue me vpon 
 Wordely welthe shall theym fall on, 
 And to my blysse shall they come 
 
 To dwell withe me for Aye. 10 236 
 
 And the giftes that I behighte 
 Ye shall haue, as ys good Right, 
 Hens or I goo oute of youre sight ; 
 Ichon shall knowe 11 \\is doole : 
 To the I gyffe lambardye ; 
 And to the, denmarke and hungrye ; 
 
 1 Wr. advanse ; read avaunce; MS. clearly has t not c. 
 
 2 H. fayre. ? H. what. 
 
 8 H. bad. 8 225-228 are not in Wr. (W.) 
 
 * 217-220 are not in Wr. (W.) W This stanza is not in Wr. (W.) 
 
 8 A stroke through 1. u H. haue ; Wr. knowe. 
 6 H. Token.
 
 l8O CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 And take patmouse 1 & Italye, 
 
 And Rome hit shall be hyse. J 244 
 
 SECUNDUS REX. Grawnt marsye, lorde, youre gifte 
 
 to day! 
 
 Honor the we wyll Alway, 
 ffor we were nevyr so Rych, in ffay, 
 
 Ne non of all oure kynde. 
 
 8 ANTECffRfsrus: Therefor be true and stydfast Aye 
 And levys trulye on my laye, 
 ffor I wyll harken on you to day 
 
 Stydfast yf I you ffynd. 252 
 
 Tune sedeat A ntechristus ; et veniant Enoke et Elysas, Quorum dicat 
 enoke : 
 
 Almyghtye god in maiestye, 
 
 That made the hevon and yerthe to be, 
 
 ffyre, water, ston and tree 
 
 And mon Als, throghe thy myght, 
 The poyntys of thy prevytye 
 Any erthely mon to see 
 p. 8. Is impossible, as thynk/j me, 
 
 To ony worldely wighte. 260 
 
 Gracius lorde, that arte so gud, 
 
 That who 4 so long in fleshe and blude 
 
 Hasse grauntyd lyue and hevonly ffode, 
 
 Lett never oure though t& be fylyde; 
 But gyue vs, lorde, might & mayn, 
 Or*- we of this shrewe be slayne, 
 To convert thy peple 6 Agayne, 
 
 That he hasse thus begylyd. 268 
 
 1 Wr. take thou Ponthous. 
 
 2 H. Wr. thyne; I cannot suggest the emendation required by the rhyme. 
 8 In the left margin opposite 249, 250, 251 are three -words, which Dr. Fur- 
 
 nivall suggests may be the names of actors. From the analogy of the other 
 Chester Plays (cf. the Balaam pageant, p. 70, above, and that of the Three 
 Kings) I should rather infer that they are stage directions. These words 
 in transcript look like hoore ande offod. 
 * Qy. us. 6 A stroke through 1.
 
 ANTICHRIST. l8l 
 
 Sythe the wondis begynnyng 
 I haue lyvyd in grett lyking, 
 Thrugh helpe of highe hevon kyng, 
 
 In paradyce, -with out Anye, 
 Tyll we hard tokening 
 Off this theeffys commyng, 
 That nowe in erthe ys Reynyng 
 
 And goddzs folke l distryes. 2 276 
 
 To paradyce takyn I wos that tyde 
 
 This theffys comyng to Abyd, 
 
 And helye, my brother, here me bysyde, 
 
 wos after sende to me. 
 wythe this Champion we most Chyde, 
 That nowe in worlde walkys wyde, 
 To disspr^ve h/j pompe and 8 pryde 
 
 And payre all hzs poostye. 284 
 
 HELYAS. 4 O lorde, that Maddist Althinge, 
 
 And long hasse lent vs lyving, 
 
 Lett nevure 5 the Devyle power 3 spryng 
 
 This man hass hym w/'t^ in. 
 God gyve you grace, bothe olde & yonge, 
 To knowe discayte in hys doynge, 
 That ye may come to that lykynge 
 
 Off blisse that nevere shall blyn. 292 
 
 I warne you, all men, wytterly, 
 
 This hys Ennoke, I am helye, 
 
 Ben comyn thys herroarj 6 to distrye 
 
 That he to you nowe shewe}. 
 He callis hym selffe crist & messye ; 
 He lye}, forsothe, App^rtelye : 
 
 1 A stroke through L 
 
 2 Wr. And doth Godes folkes destroye ; of course the final s is te be 
 stricken out ; whether doth is to be inserted may admit of doubt, considering 
 the numerous instances of 3. s.fr. Ind. without either s or th. 
 
 3 Almost illegible. 6 This -was at first read as us dure. 
 
 4 A curve over as 6 \Vr. his errores.
 
 1 82 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 300 
 
 He ys the Devull you to Anye ; 
 
 And for non other hym knoys ! 
 
 p. 9. TERTIUS REX. A ! men, 1 what speke ye of helye 
 And 1 ennoke ? they ben 2 in companye. 
 Off oure blude they ben wetterlye, 
 
 And we be of theyre kynde. 
 
 QUARTUS REX. We Redon in bokys of oure lawe 
 That they to hevon were I drawe ; 
 And yet ben ther, ys the comyn sawe, 
 
 Wrytyn as men may ffynde. 308 
 
 ENNOKE. We be the men, forsoth I wysse, 
 
 Be comyn to tell ye don Amysse 
 
 And bring youre sowlys to hevon blisse, 
 
 Yff it were ony bote. 
 
 HELYAS. This devuls lym that comyn ys, 
 That saye} hevon and yerthe ys hys, 
 Nowe been we Redye, leve ye this, 
 
 Agaynst hym for to Mote. 316 
 
 PRIM CAS REX. Yff that we Redye 8 wytt monn, 
 By preues of Disputacion, 
 That ye haue skyll and Reason, 
 
 Wzt/i you we will Abyde. 
 SECUAT>US REX. And if youre skyllys may do hym 
 
 downe, 
 
 To dye withe you we wilbe bowne, 
 In hope of Sawle 4 saluac/oan, 
 
 What so euer betyd. 324 
 
 ENNOKE. To do hym downe we shall Assay, 
 Thrugh myght of Ihesu borne of A maye, 
 By Right and Reason, as ye shall say, 
 
 And that ye shall well here ; 
 And for that cause hyther were we sent 
 
 1 Almost illegible. * Wr. heare. 
 
 2 Wr. bene bouth. * Wr. omits sawle.
 
 ANTICHRIST.' 183 
 
 By Ihtf.ru crist owwipotente, 
 
 And that ye shall not all be shente : 
 
 He thought 1 you all full dere. 332 
 
 Bese glade, therefor, and makts gud chere, 
 And do, I Redd, 2 as I you lere ; 
 ffor we ben comyn in gud manure 
 
 To saue you eu^rychon. 
 And drede you noght for that falsse fynde, 
 ffor ye shall se hym cast Behynde 
 Or we dep#rte and from hym wynde, 
 
 And shame shall hym light on. 340 
 
 Et sic transibunt Ennoke et Helyas Ad A wtechristuwz, yuorum dicat 
 Ennoke : 
 
 p. 10. 8 Say, thowe verey devuls lyme, 
 That sittz'j so grisly and 4 grym, 
 ffrom hym thowe come & shall to hym, 
 ffor mony A sowle thowe decevys. 5 
 Thowe hasse deceyuyd men mony a day, 
 And made the peple 6 to thy pay, 
 And wychyd theym into A wrang wey 
 
 Wykkydly wz't/; thy wylys. 348 
 
 A! fals fayteors, from me ye fflee ! 
 Am I not most in maiestye ? 
 What men dar meyn theym thus to me 
 
 Or make such distaunce ? 7 
 HELIAS. ffye on the, fayture, fye on the, 
 The devuls owne nurre ! 
 Thrughe hym thowe preches & hast postye 
 
 A whyle thrughe sufferawnce. 356 
 
 You ypocritw, thai so cryn, 
 losells, lurdans, lowdelye you lyne ! 
 
 l Wr. bought. 2 Wr. And I doe read. 
 
 8 In left margin a later hand has written some words which in Dr. 
 Furnivall's transcript look like : hore ha sde son s m. * Wr. and so. 
 
 5 Read begylys. 6 A stroke through 1. " A stroke over un.
 
 184 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 To spyll my lawe you Asspyne. 1 
 
 That speeche ys gud to spare ! 
 You that my true fayth desyne 2 
 And nedeles my folke devyen, 8 
 ffrom hens hastely but ye hyne, 
 
 To you comys sorowe & care. 364 
 
 ENNOKE. Thy sorowe and care cum on thy hede, 
 ffor falsly thrughe thy wykkyd Redde 
 
 The peple 4 ys put to pyne. 5 
 I wolde the 6 body were from the 6 hede, 
 XX mylys from hit layde 
 
 Tyll I hit broght Agayn. 370 
 
 . Oute on the, wysarde, 7 w/tA thy 
 wylis ! 
 ffor falsly my peple thowe begylus ; 
 
 I shall the hastely honge ! 
 n. And that lurdayn thai stondys the bye, 
 He putty s my folke to gret Anye 
 
 Withe his false flaterand tong. 376 
 
 But I shall teche you curtesye, 
 youre sauyor to knowe anon in hye, 
 ffals Theffe^ with youre herysye, 
 
 And if ye darr Abyde ! 380 
 
 HELYAS. Yes, forsothe, for All thy pryde, 
 
 Thrughe grace of God Almyght 
 Here we purpose for to Abyde, 
 And all the werld, that ys so wyde, 
 Shall wondre on the on euery syde, 
 
 Sone in all mennys sight. 8 386 
 
 1 Wr. spine. 
 
 2 MS. clearly has f, but read defyne (= defy) with Wr. H. 
 8 This -was at first read as denyen ; Wr. has devyne. 
 
 * A stroke through \. 5 Wr. paine. 6 \y r . thy. 7 Wr. rasarde. 
 8 The stanza lacks the first two lines in Wr. also.
 
 ANTICHRIST. 185 
 
 ANTE.CHRISTUS. Out on you, theffys bothe ij ! 
 Iche man may se ye be soe 
 
 All by youre Araye ; 
 Muffelyd in mantyls, non such I knowe ; 
 I shall make you lowte full loo 
 Or I departe you all froo, 
 
 To knowe me lorde for Aye. 393 
 
 ENNOKE. We ben no theffys, I the tell, 
 Thowe fals fend comyn from hell ! 
 Wythe the we purpous more to mell, 
 
 My felow and I in fere, 
 To knowe thy power and thy myght, 
 As we these kyngis have behight ; 
 And thereto we ben Redy dighte, 
 
 That all men no we may here. 401 
 
 My myght ys most, I tell to the ; 
 I dyed, 1 Rose, thrughe my poostye, 
 That all these kyngis sawe -with theyr ee, 
 
 And eu<?ry mon and wiffe ; 
 And myracles 1 and marvels I did Also. 
 I consell you, therefor, bothe ij, 
 To wurship me and no moo, 
 
 And lett vs nowe no more stryue. 409 
 
 HELYAS. They were no myracles but nruzrvells 2 thingzj 
 That thowe shewyd to these kyngis 
 
 3 
 
 Thrughe the fendys crafte. 
 p. 12. And as the floure nowe springys, 
 ffallith, fadithe 4 and hyngys, 
 So do thy loy nowe 5 Ragnes 
 
 That shalbe from the Rafte. 416 
 
 1 A stroke through L * Wr. faith. 
 
 2 Wr. marvayles. 6 Wr. So thy joye it; H. So thy joye now it. 
 
 3 This line, missing also in Wr., is supplied by H. : into falsehood 
 thou them bringes.
 
 1 86 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 AxTECffRfsrus. Oute on the, theffe, that setter so 
 styll ! 
 
 Why wylte thoM not one wurde speke theym tyll, 
 
 i 
 
 That comyn me to Reprove ? 2 
 
 DOCTOR. O Lorde, maistre ! what shall 1 say then? 
 ANTECHXIS'J'US. I beshrewe bothe thy kenne, 8 
 Arte thowe nowe for to kenn ? 
 
 In faythe, I shall the greve ! 423 
 
 Off my godhed I made the wysse 
 And sett the euer at Micle 4 price ; 
 Nowe I wolde fele thy gud advyce, 
 
 And here what thowe wolde saye. 
 These lowlers they wolde full fayne me greue, 
 And nothing on me will they leue, 
 But euer ben Radye me to Repreue 
 
 And all the peple 4 of my lawe. 6 43 1 
 
 DOCTOR. O Lord, that art so mycle of myghte, 
 Me thynke thowe shullest not Chyde nor fyghte, 
 But curs theym, lorde, thrugh thy myght, 
 
 Then 6 shall they fan? full yll ; 
 for those that thowe Blesses they shall well spede, 
 And those that thowe cursys they be best dede : 
 This ys my cocell and my Rede 
 
 Yendre herytykw to spy 11. 439 
 
 ANTECRYSTUS. . The same I purposyd, lerne 7 
 
 thowe me ; 
 
 All thing I knowe thrugh my postye ; 
 But yet I thoghte thy witt to see, 
 What wos thyn entent. 
 
 1 This line, missing in Wr. also, is supplied by H. : but lett them 
 speak all thei will. 2 Read repreve. 
 
 8 Later hand has written in margin knees ; H. has knenne. 
 
 4 A stroke through 1. 6 Read laye. 
 
 6 AUnost illegible. 7 Read leeve, with Wr.
 
 ANTICHRIST. l8/ 
 
 Hit shalbe downe 1 ful sicurlye, 
 The sentence gyvon full openly, 
 with my mouthe trulye, 
 
 Apon theym shalbe hente. 447 
 
 My curse I gyue you to mend your Melys, 
 ffrom youre hede vnto youre helys ! 
 
 walke ye furthe youre 2 way ! 
 ENOKE. Ye ! thowe shalt nevur com in Celts, 
 ffor falsly with thy wylus 8 
 
 The peple 4 ys put in pyne. 6 453 
 
 p. 13. ANTECRISTUS. Out on you, Thevys! why far ye 
 
 thus? 
 
 Whither hade ye leuer haue payne or blisse ? 
 I may you saue from all Amys ; 
 
 I made the day and yke the nyght, 
 And All thing that ys on yerthe groyng, 
 fflowre} freshe that fayr can spryng, 
 Also I made all other thing, 6 
 
 They sterrus that be so bryght. 461 
 
 HELYAS. Thowe list ! vengeance on the befall ! 
 Oute on the, wreche ! wrothe the I shall. 
 Thowe callis the kyng & lord of all ; 
 
 A ffynde ys the withein ! 465 
 
 AWECHRISTUS. Thowe liest falsly, I the tell ! 
 Thowe wilbe dampnyd into hell. 
 I made the, mon, of fleshe & fell, 
 
 And all That ys lyvyng ; 
 ffor other god 7 haue you non ; 
 Therefor wurship me Alon, 
 The wyche hasse made the water and ston, 
 
 And all at my lykyng. 473 
 
 1 Wr. done. 4 A stroke through 1. 
 
 2 Instead of youre, Wr. has in twentie devilles. 
 
 8 After this H. has: all this people thou begyles and puttes them all to 
 <p:iine. 8 Wr. paine. 6 This line is not in Wr. 7 Wr. Codes ; H. godds.
 
 1 88 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 ENNOKE. fforsothe thowe lyes fulfalsly ! l 
 Thowe art A ffende commyn to Any 
 Goddw peple that stondz'j us bye ; 
 
 In hell I wolde thoM were. 
 
 H ELY AS. ffye on the, felon ! fye on the ! fye ! 
 ffor All thy wychecrafte & socerye, 2 
 To mote 3 with the I am Redye, 
 
 That All the peple may here. 481 
 
 Out on you, harlottys ! whens come 
 ye ? 
 
 Where 4 haue you other god then 5 me? 
 ENNOKE. Yes ; crist, god in trenyte, 
 
 Thow ffalse ffayture Attaynte ! 
 That send his 6 son from hevon see, 
 That for mon kynd dyed on Rode tree, 
 That shall fullsone make the to flee, 
 
 Thowe ffeaytir false and ffaynte ! 489 
 
 p. 14. AKTECffKlsrus. Rybaldz'j Riuelid 7 out of Raye, 
 What ys the trenyte to saye ? 
 HELYAS. Thre persons, as thowe leue may, 
 
 In on godhede in ffere : 
 ffather and son, that ys no nay, 
 And the holly goost, stryrring Aye : 
 That ys one god verey ; 
 
 Ben all thre namyd hen?. 497 
 
 Out on you, thevys ! what say ye? 
 Wyll ye haue bothe one 8 god And iij e ? 
 
 Howe darr ye so say? 
 Maddmen, therefor levys 9 on me 
 
 1 Wr. omits ful. 2 Wr. sorcerye; but cf. p. 157, 1. 104. 
 
 8 This looks a little more like mote than mete ; Wr. has mote. 
 
 * Wr. also has this form of whether. 
 
 6 Wr. any other godes but. 
 
 6 MS. has a second his, under-dotted for omission by a later hand. 
 
 1 Wr. ruled. 
 
 8 A stroke over e. 9 Wr. Madmen, maddmen, leeve.
 
 ANTICHRIST. 189 
 
 That am one god, so is not he ! 
 Then may ye lyue in loye & lee, 
 
 All tbz's londe I darr lay. 504 
 
 ENNOKE. Nay, tyrand ; vnd<?rstond thou this : 
 But 1 beginnyng hzj godhed ys 
 And also boute 1 ending, ywys ; 
 
 Thus fully levon we. 
 And thowe, that genderyd 2 wos Amys, 
 Hasse 3 beginnyng & nowe that 4 blisse, 
 And 8 ende shall haue no drede there ys 
 
 ffull 6 ffoule, as men shall se. 512 
 
 Whrecchys, golys, 7 ye ben blent ! 
 Goddis son I am, from hym sente. 
 Howe darr you maynten youre entente, 
 
 Sithe he and I ben won ? 8 
 Haue I not, sithe I cam hym froo, 
 Made the dede to speke 9 and goo ? 
 And tho 10 men I sende u my goste Also 
 
 That levyd 12 me Apon. 520 
 
 HELYAS. fye on the, felone ! fye on the ! fye ! 
 ffor thrughe his myght & his 13 maistrye, 1 * 
 By sufferaunce 15 of god Allmyghtye, 
 
 The people 16 ys blent thrughe the. 
 Yff tho 17 men be Raysyd, witterlye, 
 W/t^outen the devuls ffantasye, 
 Here shall be prevyd App^rtely, 
 
 That all men shall see. 528 
 
 1 Wr. Without. W Wr. to. 
 
 2 Wr. ingendred. u Wr. sente. 
 
 8 Wr. haste. & Wr. leeve. 
 
 * Wr. this. 13 Wr. omits his. 
 
 5 Wr. An. 14 This was at first read marsaye, 
 
 6 Wr. Fully. 15 A stroke over aun. 
 
 7 Wr. glowes. 16 A stroke through 1. 
 
 Wr. one. W Wr. thoes ; W. thees. 
 
 9 Wr. rise.
 
 IQO CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 p. 15. AmvcifRfsrus. A! 1 ffolys, I Redd you leue me 
 
 Apone, 
 
 That myracles haue shewyd 2 manyon 
 To the peple eu<?rychone, 
 
 To put theme out of Doute. 
 Therefor, I Rede you, hastely 
 Converter to me most myghty ; 
 I shall you saue from Anye, 
 
 And 1 that I am Aboute. 536 
 
 ENNOKE. Nowe, of thy Myracles I wold see. 
 HELIAS. Therfor comyn hether be we, 
 To se 3 what ys thy grete postye, 
 
 And some therof to lere. 
 
 ANTECffRfsrus. Sone may ye se if you will byde ; 
 ffor I wyll nother fyght nor chyde. 
 Off 1 * all the worlde that ys so wyde 
 
 Therin ys not my pere. 544 
 
 ENNOKE. Bryng ffurthe those men here in our syght 
 That thoM hase Raysyd Agayn 6 the Ryght ; 
 Yf thowe be of so 6 mycle might 
 
 To make theym ete and drynke, 
 ffor verey god we wyll the knowe, 
 such A sygne yf thow wyll shewe, 7 
 And do the Reu^rence on A Rowe, 
 
 All at thy lykyng. 552 
 
 ANTEC7//?AST/s. Wrecches dampnyd all be ye, ' 
 But noght for that yt fallyth me, 
 As gracius god, Abyding be 
 
 Yf ye wyll mende youre liffe. 
 Ye dede men, Ryse thrughe my postye, 
 And 8 ete and drynke that men may see, 
 
 ' Almost illegible. 6 Wr. againste. 
 
 2 Wr. showed to. 6 Wr. omits so. 
 
 8 Wr. Doe for To se. 7 This was at first read showe. 
 
 * Perhaps for Off* ; Wr. Of. 8 \y r . Come.
 
 ANTICHRIST. 19! 
 
 And proue me worthest in deyte ; l 
 
 So shalle we stynt All stryffe. 560 
 
 PRIMUS MORTUUS. Lorde, thy bydding I will do Aye, 
 
 And for to etc I will Assaye. 
 
 SECUNDUS MORTUU-s 1 . 2 And I also, all that I maye, 
 
 Wyll do thy byddyng here. 
 16. HELIAS. Hand here brede, bothe two ; 
 But I most blesse hyt or I goo, 
 That the fende, mankynd/j ffoo, 
 
 One hit haue no powere. 568 
 
 Thys brede I blesse now with my honde 
 In Ih^jus name, I vnderstonde, 
 The wych ys lorde of see and londe 
 
 And kyng in hevon so hye : 
 In nomine patris, that all hathe wroghte, 
 Et filii virginis, that dere vs boughte, 
 Et spyrytus sanctt, ys all my thoghte, 
 
 One god and parsons thre. 576 
 
 PRIMUS 8 MORTUU^. 2 Alas! put that 4 oute of my 
 
 syghte ; 
 
 To loke on yt I am not light, 
 That Pryntte that ys vpon yt 6 pight 
 
 Hit puttythe me to grett ffere. 
 
 SECUNDUS MORTUU^. 2 To loke on hit I am not light, 
 That brede to Me yt ys so bryght, 
 And ys my ffoe bothe day and nyght 
 
 And puttys me to grete dere. 6 584 
 
 ENNOKE. Nowe, ye men that haue donne mis, 7 
 Ye seey 8 well what hz'j powere ys. 
 
 1 Wr. worthye of dietie. 
 
 2 MS. mortuuK.r. 5 vpon yt is almost illegible. 
 
 3 MS. Primus?^. 7 Wr. amisse. 
 
 4 Wr. that bread. 8 \y r . see. 
 
 8 Written aver another word ; Wr. has dreade ; dere is right.
 
 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 Convert/.? to hym, I Rede I wysse, 
 
 That you on Rode haue l boughte. 
 TERCIUS REX. A ! 2 now we knowyn apertly 
 We haue ben broghte in herysye ; 
 \iiih you to dethe we will for thy, 
 
 And neuer eft turne ourre thought. 592 
 
 QUART CAS" REX. Nowe, Ennoke and helye, it ys no 
 
 nay, 
 
 Haue 8 tayntyd the Tyrant, this same day. 
 Blest be Ihesu borne of A may, 
 On hym I leue A pon ! 4 
 
 REX. Thowe fayture, that ferde 5 viiiA fan- 
 tesye, 
 
 socerye, wycchrafte 6 & nygrymancye, 
 Thowe hasse vs led 7 in heresye, 
 
 ffye on thy werkys ychon ! 600 
 
 p. 17. SECWDUS REX. Ihesu, for thy mycle grace, 
 fforgeve vs all oure tresspas, 
 And bryng us to the hye hevynly place 
 
 As thowe art god And mon ! 
 Nowe am I wyse made thrughe thy myght ; 
 Blessyd be thowe, 8 Ihmi, day and nyght ! 
 This 9 grysely grome graythzj hym* to fyght 
 
 To sle 9 us here Anon. 608 
 
 TERCit/5 1 REX. Off oure lyvys lett us not Reche, 
 Thoghe we be slayne of such A wreche 
 ffor Ihesu sake, that may vs leche, 9 
 
 Oure sowlys to bryng to blysse ! 
 QUARTUS REX. That wos well sayde & so I sente ; 10 
 
 1 Wr. hath, and so Dr. Furnivall reads here. 
 
 2 Wr. And, which Dr. Furnivall is inclined to see here. 
 
 8 Wr. You have. 7 le above the line. 
 
 4 Wr. has the same line. 8 Wr. omits thowe. 
 
 5 Wr. Thou feature, fere. 9 Almost illegible. 
 
 6 Error of scribe. 10 Wr. assente.
 
 ANTICHRIST. 1 93 
 
 To dye, for sothe, ys myn intent 
 ffor Christes l loue l own/potende, 1 
 
 In cause that ys Ryghtwyse. 616 
 
 ANTECRISTUS. A ! 2 falsse faytures, turne you nowe ? 
 Ye shalbe slayne, I make A vowe ; 
 And those Traytours that turnyd you, 
 
 I shall make theym vnfayn, 
 That all other by verey sight 
 Snail knowe that I am most of myght, 
 ffor wit/1 this sworde nowe wyll I fyght ; 
 
 ffor all ye shalbe Slayne. 624 
 
 Tune Antechristus occidet Enoke et Elia-m et omnes 3 converses cum 
 gladio, et Redebit ad chathedram ; cui* dicat Michaell cum gladio in 
 maim sua dextra : B 
 
 MICHAELL. Antecrist, nowe ys comyn thy day ; 
 Reigne no longer thowe ne maye ! 
 He that hath iaad the Alwey, 
 
 Nowe hym thowe most go to. 
 No mo men shalbe shente 6 by the ; 
 My lorde wyll, dede that tho\\ be ; 
 He that hath gyvon the thz's 7 poste 
 
 Thy soule shall vnder foo. 632 
 
 In syn Ingendirt furst tho\\ wos, 
 In syn Als 8 lade thy lyfe thowe hasse, 
 p. 1 8. In Syn nowe An ende thowe mas, 
 
 That marryd hasse monyon. 
 Thowe hasse euer s^ruyd sathanas 
 And had hys power in eu^ry place ; 
 Thercfo 9 thowe gayttys nowe no grace, 
 
 v/iiA hym thowe most gon. 10 640 
 
 1 Almost illegible. 6 Wr. slayne. 
 
 2 This was at first read as Ve, -which may be a bad spelling of the ex 
 clamation we ; Wr. has A ! 7 Wr. his. 
 
 a Wr. omnes reges. 8 Wr. omits Als. 
 
 * Wr. cum. 9 Error of scribe. 
 
 6 Wr. in dexter a sua. io In Wr. lines 63 7-640 follow 648.
 
 194 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 iij yere and An halffe on, wytterlye, 
 Thowe hasse hadde leue to distrye 
 Goddz'j people l wykkydlye 
 
 Thrughe thy fowle Reede ; 
 Nowe thowe shalt knowe and wytt in hye 
 That more ys goddys Maystrye 2 
 Then eke the devuls & thyn therebye, 
 
 ffor 8 nowe shalt thowe be dede. 648 
 
 Tune Mychaell occidet* A ntechristum, et in Occidendo dicat 6 Ante- 
 christiu Help ! Help ! 
 
 Help ! sathanas and lucyfer, 
 Belsabub, bolde bacheler, 7 
 Ragnayll, 8 thowe art my dere ! 
 
 Nowe fare I wondre evull ! 
 Alas ! Alas ! were is my powere ? 
 Alas, my wytt ys in A were ! 
 Nowe bodye and sowle, bothe in fere, 
 
 And all gose to the Devyll ! 656 
 
 Tune morietur Antechristus, et veniant 9 duo Demones, quorum dicat 
 primus demon : 10 
 
 Anon ! maister, Anon ! anon ! 
 
 ffrom hell grounde I herde the groune ; 
 
 I thoghte I wolde not come myself Alon 
 
 ffor wurship of thyn Astate. 
 Wzt^ vs to hell thowe shalt gon. 
 ffor this deth we make gret mon, 
 To wyn moo sowlys into oure won ; ai 
 
 But nowe hit ys to late. 664 
 
 SECUJVDUS DEMON. W/'t^ me thowe shall ; fro me 
 
 thowe come ; 
 Off me shall come thy last Dome, 
 
 1 A stroke through 1. 7 Wr. balacher. 
 
 2 Wr. magistie ; W. magistrie. 8 Wr. Ragnell, Ragnell. 
 8 Wr. omits ffor. 9 Wr. venient. 
 
 4 Wr. occidit. 10 Wr. et dicunt ut sequitv 
 
 6 Wr. clamat ; W. clamav!.'- n - Wr. pon. 
 
 6 Wr. helpe twice more
 
 ANTICHRIST. 1 95 
 
 ffor thowe hasse well deseruyd ! 
 And thrughe my might & my poste 
 Thowe hasse lyuyd in dignyte 
 
 And mony a Sawle deceyuyd. 670 
 
 p. 19. PRIMES DEMON. This body was getton by myn 
 
 Assente 
 
 In clene horedom verament ; 
 Off mother wombe or that he wente, 
 
 I wos hym wz't^ in, 
 
 And taghte hym* Ay wzt^ 1 myn entente 
 Syne, by wyche he shalbe shente ; 
 ffor he dyd my comawndemente 
 
 His sowle shall neuer blyn. 678 
 
 SECUJVD us DEMON. Nowe, felow, in faythe, gret 
 
 mon we may make 
 
 ffor this lorde of a state 2 that stond in 8 styde ; 
 Mony A fatt morsell we haue had for his sake 
 
 Off Sowlys that shulde haue be sauyd ; in hell 
 
 be tk\& * hyd. 5 682 
 
 A nirnam eius (imc captatf 
 
 PRIM us DEMON. His sowle -witA sorowe in honde 
 
 haue I hente ; 
 
 He 7 penawnce and payne sone shall he fele ; 
 To Lucyffer, that lord, yt shalbe presente, 
 
 That bren shall as a bronde ; his sorow shall 
 
 not kele. 8 686 
 
 SECUWDUS DEMON. This proctor of prophecye hasse 
 
 procuryd monyon 
 On his lawe for to leue, and lost 9 for his sake. 
 
 1 Wr. eever/or Ay w/t4. ? Wr. (H.) Yea. 
 
 2 Wr. of estate. Wr. (H.) feele. 
 8 Wr. in this. 9 Wr. (H.) lose. 
 * Read thei. 
 
 6 Wr. shoulde bene hange in hel by the head. 
 
 6 Wr. from H. : Tune aufertur corpus Antechristi a demonibus. W. 
 lacks lines 683-694 ; Wr. prints them from H:
 
 196 CHESTER WHITSUN PLAYS. 
 
 Theyre sowlys ben in sorowe, And h/V shalbe sone. 
 Such maisters l thrughe my myght moion I 2 
 
 make. 690 
 
 PRIM us DEMON. Vfiih lucyfer, that lorde, long shall 
 
 he lenge ; 
 
 In a sete Ay with sorowe wz't^ hym shall he sytt. 
 SE.CUNGUS DEMON. Ye, by the halse 8 in hell shall 
 
 he henge, 
 In a dugen full depe, ryght in hell pytt. 694 
 
 DEMON. To hell wyll I hye with out ony 
 f ayle, 4 
 With this present of pryce thedure 5 to bryng. 
 
 DEMON. Thowe take hym by the tope & 
 I by the tayle ; 
 An soryfull song, in faythe, shall he senge. 698 
 
 6 PRIMES DEMON. A! felowe, A doule 7 loke that 
 
 thowe 8 dele 
 To all this fayr compayny, hence or 9 thovn 
 
 wynde ! 10 
 SECUATDUS DEMON. Ye, sorowe and care euer shall 
 
 they sele ; n 
 In hell shall they dwell at theyr last ende ! 702 
 
 Tune ibunt demones Ad infernum ad Animam 1 * A ntecluisti ; et surge&t 
 ennoke et helyas, quorum Dicat Ennoke : 
 
 p. 20. ENNOKE. A ! lorde, that all 18 shall lede 
 And bothe deme u the quycke and dede, 
 
 1 Wr. (H.) maystryes. 8 Wr. (H.) thou now. 
 
 2 Wr. (H.) do I. 9 Wr. (H.) er. 
 
 8 Wr. (H.) heeles. 10 Wr. (H.) wend. 
 
 < Wr. (W.) fay[l]e. u MS. clearly sele ; but read fele. 
 
 6 Wr. (W.) theither. 12 R ea d cum anima. 
 
 6 These four lines with the stage direction after 702 are not in W 
 II. apparently lacks only tlie stage direction. !8 H. alle the world. 
 
 7 Wr. (H.) dole. w H. deme both.
 
 ANTICHRIST. 1 97 
 
 That Reu^rence the, thowe on theym Rede 
 
 And theym thrughe Right Releuyd! 1 
 I wos dede and Right here slayne, 
 But thrughe thy myghte, lord, 2 & thy mayne 
 Thowe hasse me Raysyd vp Agayne. 
 
 The wyll I loue and leue ! 710 
 
 HELYAS. Ye, lorrde, blessyd most tho\i be ! 
 My fleshe nowe gloryfyed I see. 
 Witt/J ne 8 sleightte 4 ageeynste 4 the 
 
 Conspyryd 4 may be no way. 
 Alle that levon in the stydfastly 
 Thow helpis, lorde, ffrom all Any, 
 ffor dede I wos and nowe lyue I. 
 
 Honuryd 4 be thowe Aye ! 5 718 
 
 MYCHAELL. Ennoke and helye, com ye Anon ; 
 My lorde wyll that ye 4 with 4 me gon 
 To hevens 4 blysse, botthe 4 blude & bon, 
 
 ULuer mo there to be. 6 
 
 Ye 4 have 4 ben 4 long, for ye ben wyse, 
 Dwellyng 4 in erthlye paradyce ; 
 But 4 to heven, 4 there hym selffe ys, 
 
 Nowe 4 shall ye goe withe me. 726 
 
 Tune ibit Angelus adducens ennok et Helyam ad celum cantans : " Gau- 
 dtte iusti in domino," &c. 7 
 
 Explicit. 
 
 1 So Wr. ; but read releeve with H. 4 Almost illegible. 
 
 2 Wr. omits lord. 5 \Vr. ever. 
 * Wr. Witte ner ; with no is possible. 
 
 6 The *vhole line is almost illegible. 
 
 ~ Wr. Tune abducens eos (W. omnes) ad cehim cantabit (W. cantebif) 
 angelns (W. angellus) : " Gaudete iusti in Domino."
 
 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 For information as to the source of the text and the meaning of the symbols, see 
 p. 153- 
 
 [THE JUDGMENT DAY.] 1 
 The Merceres. 
 
 Deus incipit. 
 
 [DEUS.] Firste when I Mis worlde hadde wroght, 
 
 Woode and wynde and wateris wan, 
 And all-kynne thyng Mat nowe is oght, 
 
 Fulle wele me Moght Mat I did Manne ; 
 Whenne Mei were made, goode me Mame 2 Moght. 
 
 Sethen to my liknes made I man ; 
 And man to greue 8 me gaffe he noght : 
 
 J^erfore me rewis Mat I began. 4 8 
 
 Whanne I had made man at my will, 
 
 I gaffe hym wittis hym-selue to wisse, 
 And Paradise I putte hym till, 
 
 And bad hym halde it all as his. 
 But of Me tree of goode and ill 
 
 I saide, " What tyme Mou etis of Mis, 
 Manne, Mou spedes Mi-selue to spill, 
 
 T^ou arte broght oute of all 5 blisse." 16 
 
 1 Supplied by Y. 8 K. -wishes to read plese. 
 
 2 Ho. i/iai. 5 K. inserts thi. 
 
 4 Y. has I the worlde began ; K. omits either the worlde or T^erfore.
 
 THE JUDGMENT DAY. I 99 
 
 Belyue brak manne my bidding ; , 
 
 He wende haue bene a god Merby, 
 He wende haue wittyne of all-kynne thyng, 
 
 In worlde to haue bene als wise as I : 
 He etc the appill I badde schulde hyng ; 
 
 Thus was he begilid thurgh glotony. 
 Sithen both hym and his ospring 
 
 To pyne I putte Mame all for-thy, 24 
 
 To lange and late me Moghte it goode l 
 
 To catche Mois caitiffis oute of care. 
 I sente my sone, with full blithe moode, 
 
 Till erMe to salue Mame of Mare sare ; 
 For rewMe of Mame he reste on roode 
 
 And boughte Mame with his body bare ; 
 For Mame he shedde his harte bloode : 2 
 
 What kyndinesse myght I do Mame mare? 32 
 
 Sethen aftirwarde he heryed hell, 
 
 And toke oute Mois wrechis Mat ware Mare-inne ; 
 Th&r faughte Mat free with feendis feele 
 
 For Mame Mat ware sounkyn for synne. 
 Sethen in erthe Man gonne he dwelle, 
 
 Ensaumpill he gaue Mame heuene to wynne, 
 In tempill hym-selffe to teche and tell, 
 
 To by Mame blisse Mat neuere may blynne. 40 
 
 Sethen haue Mei founde me full of mercye, 
 
 Full of grace and for-giffenesse ; 
 And Mei als wrecchis, wittirly, 
 
 Has ledde Mer liffe in lithirnesse ; 
 Ofte haue Mei greued me greuously : 
 
 Thus have Mei quitte me my kyndinesse ; 
 7%er-fore no lenger, sekirlye, 
 
 Thole will I Mare wikkidnesse. 48 
 
 l K. 'reads yoode. 2 Ho. ; Y. harte and bloode.
 
 2OO YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 Men seis Me worlde but vanite, 
 
 3itt will no-manne be ware Mer-by ; 
 like a day Mer mirroure may Mei se, 
 
 3itt thynke Mei no^t Mat Mei schall dye. 
 All Mat euere I saide schulde be 
 
 Is nowe fulfillid thurgh prophicie ; 
 Ther-fore nowe is it tyme to me 
 
 To make endyng of mannes folie. 56 
 
 I haue tholed mankynde many a ^ere 
 
 In luste and likyng for to lende, 
 And vnethis fynde I ferre or nere 
 
 A man Mat will his misse amende ; 
 In erthe I see butte synnes seere : 
 
 Therfore myne aungellis will I sende 
 To blawe Mer bemys, Mat all may here. 
 
 The tyme is comen I will make ende. 64 
 
 Aungellis, blawes youre bemys belyue, 
 
 like a creatoure for to call ! 
 Leerid and lewde, both man and wiffe, 
 
 Ressayue Mer dome Mis day thei schall, 
 like a leede Mat euere hadde liffe ; 
 
 Bese none for-getyn, grete ne small. 
 Ther schall Mei see Me woundes fyve 
 
 7%at my sone suffered for Mem all. 72 
 
 And sounderes Mame be-fore my sight ! 
 
 All same in blisse schall Mei not be. 
 My blissid childre, as I haue hight, 
 
 On my right hande I schall Mame see ; 
 Sethen schall ilke a weried wight 
 
 On my lifte side for ferdnesse flee, 
 day Mer domys Mus haue I dight, 
 
 To ilke a 2 man as he hath serued me. 80 
 
 
 1 K. rejects a.
 
 THE JUDGMENT DAY. 2OI 
 
 I. 1 ANG. Loued be Mou, Lorde, of myghtis moste, 
 
 7%at aungell made to messengere ! 
 Thy will schall be fulfillid in haste, 
 
 7/&at heuene and erthe and helle schall here. 
 
 \He makes the proclamation.] 
 
 Goode and ill, euer ilke a gaste, 2 
 
 Rise, fecche 8 youre flessh, Mat was youre feere ! 
 For all Mis worlde is broght to waste. 
 
 Drawes to youre dome ! it neghes nere. 88 
 
 n. ANG. like a creature, both olde and yhing, 
 
 Be-lyue I bidde ^ou Mat }e ryse ; 
 Body and sawle with jou 36 bring, 
 
 And comes be-fore Me high justise ! 
 For I am sente fro heuene kyng 
 
 To calle $ou to Mis grette assise ; 
 T^erfore rise vppe, and geue rekenyng 
 
 How ^e hym serued vppon sere wise. 96 
 
 [ The dead rise and speak."] 
 
 i. ANIMA BONA. Loued be Mou, Lorde, Mat is so schene, 
 
 7/fcat on Mis manere made vs to rise, 
 Body and sawle to-gedir, clene, 
 
 To come before Me high justise. 
 Of oure ill dedis, Lorde, Mou not mene, 
 
 That we haue wroght vppon sere wise ; 
 But graunte vs for thy grace bedene 
 
 we may wonne in paradise. 104 
 
 n. AN. BONA. A ! loued be Mou, Lorde of all, 
 T^at heuene and erthe and all has wroght, 
 with Myne aungellis wolde vs call 
 Oute of oure graues, hidir to be broght. 
 
 1 1 have not followed Y. always in the abbreviations of the names. 
 
 2 Y. euery ilke agaste; He. euery ilke a gaste. 
 
 s Y. Rise and fecche ; K. rejects the first youre.
 
 2O2 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 Ofte haue we greued th& grette and small, 
 
 Ther-aftir, Lorde, Mou deme vs noght ! 
 Ne suffir vs neuere to fendis to be thrall, 
 
 T^at of te in er/^e with synne vs soght ! 112 
 
 i. ANIMA MALA. Alias, alias ! that we were borne ! 
 
 So may we synfull kaytiffis say. 
 I here wele be //zis hydous home 
 
 Itt drawes full nere to domesday. 
 Alias ! we wrecchis th-&.\. ar for-lorne, 
 
 7/fcat never 3itt serued God to paye, 
 But ofte we haue his flessh for-sworne ; 
 
 (Alias, alias, and welaway ! ) 1 20 
 
 What schall we wrecchis do for drede, 
 
 Or whedir for ferdnes may we flee, 
 When we may bringe forthe no goode dede 
 
 Before hym thzk oure juge schall be ? 
 To aske mercy vs is no nede, 
 
 For wele I wotte dampned be we. 
 Alias, that we swilke liffe schulde lede 
 
 T^at dighte vs has Mis destonye ! 128 
 
 Oure wikkid werkis thzi will vs wreye, 
 
 7%at we wende never schuld haue bene weten ; 
 7%at we did ofte full pryuely, 
 
 Appertely may we se them, wreten. 
 Alias, wrecchis, dere mon we by ! 
 
 Full smerte with helle-fyre be we smetyn. 
 Nowe mon neuere saule ne body dye, 
 
 But with wikkid peynes euermore be betyne. 136 
 
 Alias ! for drede sore may we quake ; 
 
 Oure dedis beis oure dampnacioune. 
 For oure mys menyng l mon we make ; 
 
 Helpe may none excusacioune. 
 
 1 Y. mys-meuyng; Ho. mys-menyng ; but mys is a noun, and mon a verb.
 
 THE JUDGMENT DAY. 2O3 
 
 We mon be sette for our synnes sake 
 
 For-euere fro oure saluacioune, 
 In helle to dwelle with feendes blake, 
 
 Wher neuer schall be redempcioune. 144 
 
 ii. AN. MALA. Als carefull caitiffis may we ryse, 
 
 Sore may we ringe oure handis and wepe ; 
 For cursidnesse and for covetise 
 
 Dampned be we to helle full depe. 
 Rought we neuere of Goddis seruise, 
 
 His comaundementis wolde we no^t kepe ; 
 But ofte than, made we sacrafise 
 
 To Satanas when othir slepe. 1 152 
 
 Alias ! now wakens all oure were ; 
 
 Oure wikkid werkis may we not hide, 
 But on oure bakkis vs muste 2 Mem bere, 
 
 Thei wille vs wreye on ilke a side. 
 I see foule feendis Mat wille vs feere, 
 
 And all for pompe of wikkid pride. 
 Wepe we may with many a teere ; 
 
 Alias, Mat we Mis day schulde bide ! 160 
 
 Before vs playnly bese fourth brought 
 
 TAe dedis Mat vs schall dame be-dene. 
 That eres has herde or harte has Moght 
 
 Sen any tyme Mat we may mene, 
 That fote has gone or hande has wroght, 
 
 That mouthe has spoken or ey has sene, 8 
 This day full dere thanne bese it boght. 
 
 Alias, vnborne and we hadde bene ! * 168 
 
 ill. ANG. Standis noght to-gedir ! parte you in two ! 
 All sam schall 36 noght be in blisse. 
 
 1 T. othere can slepe ; Ho. othir did (or can) slepe. 
 
 2 Ho. bus; but T. also has must. 
 8 T. interchanges 164 and 166. 
 
 4 He. prefers T. : Alias vnborne then had I bene ! Ho. rejects this.
 
 2O4 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 Oure Lorde 1 of heuene woll it be soo, 
 
 For many of yowe has wroght amys. 
 Ye 2 goode, on his right-hande }e goe, 
 
 Th& way till heuene he will you wisse ; 
 3e weryed wightis, 36 flee hym frdo 
 
 On his lefte-hande, as none of his. 176 
 
 DEUS. S TMs woffull worlde is brought till ende ; 
 
 My Fadir of heuene he woll it be. 
 T^erfore till erMe nowe will I wende, 
 
 Mi-selue to sitte in mageste. 
 To deme my domes I woll descende ; 
 
 T^is body will I bere with me ; 
 How it was dight, mannes mys to mende, 
 
 All mankynde Mere schall it see. 184 
 
 [Jesus descends to earth in a cloud, and, before assuming the Judgment Seat, 
 speaks :] 
 
 DEUS. Mi postelis and my darlyngis dere, 
 
 7%e dredful dome Mis day is dight. 
 Both heuen and erthe and hell schall here 
 
 How I schall hold Mat I haue hight, 
 That ^e schall sitte on seetis sere 
 
 Be-side my-selffe, to se Mat sight, 
 And for to deme folke ferre and nere 
 
 Aftir Mer werkyng wronge or right. 192 
 
 I saide also whan I you sente 
 
 To suifre sorowe for my sake, 
 All Mo Mat wolde Mame right repente 
 
 Schulde with you wende and wynly wake ; 
 And to youre tales who toke no tente 
 
 Shulde fare to fyre with fendis blake. 
 
 1 Y. My fadir ; the text is from T. (by He.) 
 Y. TAe. 
 
 8 Miss Smith points out that this is not God the Father, -who appeared at 
 the beginning of the pageant, but God the Son.
 
 THE JUDGMENT DAY. 2O5 
 
 Of mercy nowe may no^t be mente ; 
 
 Butt, aftir wirkyng, welth or wrake. 200 
 
 1 My hetyng haly schall I fullfille ; 
 
 Therfore comes furth and sittis me by 
 To here the. dome of goode and ill. 
 i. APOSTOLUS. 2 I loue the, Lord God all-myghty ; 
 
 Late and herely, lowde and still, 
 To do thy bidding bayne am I ; 
 
 I obblissh me to do th\ will 
 With all my myght, als is worthy. 208 
 
 II. APOST. 8 A ! myghtf ull God, here is it sene 
 
 Thou will fulfille th\ forward right, 
 And all th\ sawes thoM will maynteyne. 
 
 I loue the, Lorde, with all my myght, 
 T^at for 4 vs Mat has erthely bene 
 
 Swilke dingnitees has dressed and dight. 
 DEUS. Comes fourthe ! I schall sitte }ou betwene, 
 
 And all fulfille Mat I haue hight. 216 
 
 Hie ad sedem iudicti cum cantu angelorum. 
 [Meanwhile the devils prepare to attend the Jrtdgment.] 
 
 I. DIABOLUS. Felas, arraye 5 vs for to fight, 
 
 And go we faste oure fee to fange ; 
 The. dredefull dome ///is day is dight, 
 
 I drede me Mat we dwelle full longe. 
 ii. DIAB. We schall be sene euere in Mer sight, 
 
 And warly waite, ellis wirke we wrange ; 
 For if the. domisman do vs right, 
 
 Full grete partie with vs schall gang. 224 
 
 1 Marginal note in later hand: What they shall haue for y folly. 
 
 2 In margin : Hie caret O soverand Savyor de novo facto. 
 8 In margin : de novo facto. 
 
 4 Y. T^er-fore ; Ha. Thou for vs that has not ; Ho. (and K.) as above, 
 but both seem to take the (212) as def. article instead of prtnoun. 
 6 K. inserts we.
 
 2O6 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 in. DIAB. He schall do right to foo and frende, 
 
 For nowe schall all the soth be sought. 
 All weried wightis with vs schall wende, 
 
 To payne endles thei schall be broght. 1 228 
 
 DEUS. like a creature, takes entent 
 
 What bodworde I to you 2 bringe : 
 This, wofull worlde away is wente, 
 
 And I am come as crouned kynge. 
 Mi Fadir of heuene he has me sente 
 
 To deme youre dedis and make ending. 
 Comen is the day of jugement ; 
 
 Of sorowe may ilke a synfull synge. 236 
 
 The day is comen of kaydyfnes, 8 
 
 All //tarn to care that are vnclene, 
 The day of bale and bittirnes, 
 
 Full longe abedyn has it bene ! 
 The day of drede to more and lesse, 
 
 Of care, 4 of trymbelyng and of tene, 
 That ilke a wight' Mat weried is 
 
 May say, Alias, this day is sene ! 244 
 
 Here may }e se my woundes wide, 
 
 The whilke I tholed for youre mysdede, 
 Thurgh harte and heed, foote, hande and hide, 
 
 Nought for my gilte butt for youre nede. 
 Beholdis both body, bak, and side, 
 
 How dere I bought youre brotherhede ! 
 Thes bittir peynes I wolde abide ; 
 
 To bye you blisse, thus wolde I bleede. 252 
 
 1 " In margin : Hie caret de novo facto, Alas that I was borne, dixit 
 prima anima mala et ijda anima mala, de novo facto. And indeed four 
 lines are -wanting to the stanza, as shown by the rimes, though there is no 
 blank" Y. 
 
 2 K. inserts shall from T. 
 
 3 Ho. corrects the spelling to kaytyfnes. 
 
 4 Y. : " The copyist first -wrote ire (a reminiscence of dies irae)."
 
 THE JUDGMENT DAY. 2O/ 
 
 Mi body was scourged with-outen skill ; 
 
 As theffe full thraly was [I] 1 thrette ; 
 On crosse Mei hanged me on a hill, 
 
 Blody and bloo, as I was bette, 
 With croune of thorne throsten full ill ; 
 
 This spere vnto my side was sette ; 
 Myne harte bloode spared Mei noght 2 to spill : 
 
 Manne, for thy loue wolde I not lette. 260 
 
 The Jewes spitte on me spitously, 
 
 77zei spared me nomore than a theffe. 
 When Mei me strake,! stode 3 stilly ; 
 
 Agaynste Mam did I no-thyng greve. 
 Behalde, mankynde, Mis ilke is I, 
 
 77/at for Me suffered swilke mischeue : 
 Th us was 1 dight for thy folye ; 
 
 Man, loke, thy liffe was me 4 full leffe. 268 
 
 Thv& was I dight Mi sorowe to slake ; 
 
 Manne, Mus behoued the borowed to 5 be. 
 In all my woo toke I no wrake ; 
 
 Mi will itt was for the loue of the. 
 Man, sore aught the for to quake, 6 
 
 T/iis dredfull day Mis sight to see. 
 All Mis I suffered for Mi sake ; 
 
 Say, man, what suffered Mou for me? 276 
 
 Mi biissid childre on my right hande, 
 
 Youre dome Mis day je thar not drede, 
 For all youre comforte is command, 
 
 Youre liffe in likyng schall ^e lede. 
 
 1 Supplied by Y.from T. 
 
 2 Ho. from T. ; Y. has spared noght thei for to. 
 
 3 Y. stode full stilly ; omission suggested in footnote, 
 
 4 Y. was to me ; omission suggested in footnote. 
 
 5 K.from T.; Y. to borowed. 
 
 6 T. has Man, for sorow aght the to qwake.
 
 2O8 YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 Commes to the. kyngdome ay lastand 
 
 Thai 3ou is dight for youre goode dede. 
 Full blithe may 36 be where 36 stande, 
 
 For mekill in heuene schall be youre mede. 284 
 
 Whenne I was hungery, 36 me fedde ; 
 
 To slake my thirste youre harte was free ; 
 Whanne I was clothles, 36 me cledde, 
 
 3e wolde no sorowe vppon me see ; 
 In harde prisoun l whan I was stedde, 
 
 Of my paynes 2 36 hadde pitee ; 
 Full seke whan I was brought in bedde, 
 
 Kyndely 36 come to coumforte me. 292 
 
 Whanne I was wikke 8 and werieste, 
 
 3e herbered me full hartefully ; 
 Full gladde Manne were 36 of youre geste, 
 
 And pleyned my pouerte piteuously ; 
 Be-lyue 36 brought me of the. beste, 
 
 And made my bedde full esyly. 
 T^erfore in heuene schall be youre reste, 
 
 In joie and blisse to be me by. 300 
 
 i. ANIMA BONA. Whanne hadde we, Lorde, Mat all has 
 wroght, 
 
 Meete and drinke Me with to feede, 
 Sen we in erMe hadde neuere noght 
 
 But thurgh Me grace of thy godhede ? 
 II. AN. BONA. Whanne waste Mat we Me clothes brought ? 
 
 Or visite Me in any nede ? 
 Or in Mi sikenes we Me sought? 
 
 Lorde, when did we [to] Me Mis dede? 308 
 
 DEUS. Mi blissid childir, I schall 3ou saye 
 What tyme Mis dede was to me done : 
 
 l He. from T. ; Y. presse. 
 
 - V. paynes corrected in MS. from penaunce. T. has penaunce, -which K. 
 prefers. 
 
 8 Ho. wishes to substitute -mlle/rom T., -which he says equals wilde.
 
 THE JUDGMENT DAY. 2O9 
 
 When any that nede hadde, nyght or day, 
 
 Askid 3011 helpe and hadde it sone ; 
 Youre fre hartis saide Mem neuere nay 
 
 Erely ne late, mydday ne none ; 
 But als ofte sithis as Mei wolde praye, 
 
 7#ame thurte but bide, and haue Mer bone. 316 
 
 3e cursid caytiffis of Kaymes kynne, 
 
 T^at neuere me comforte in my care, 
 I and ^e for-euer will twynne, 
 
 In dole to dwelle for-euermare. 
 Youre bittir bales schall neuer blynne 
 
 7%at 36 schall haue whan }e come Mare. 
 7%us haue $e serued for youre synne, 
 
 For derffe dedis }e haue done are. 324 
 
 Whanne I had mistir of mete and drynke, 
 
 Caytiffis, ^e cacched me fro youre $ate ; 
 Whanne }e were sette as sirs on benke, 
 
 I stode Mer-oute werie and wette ; 
 Was none of yowe wolde on me thynke, 
 
 Pyte to haue of my poure state : 
 7%er-fore till hell I schall you synke, 
 
 Weele are }e worthy to go Mat gate. 332 
 
 Whanne I was seke and soriest, 
 
 3e visitte me noght, for I was poure ; 
 In prisoune faste when I was feste, 
 
 Was none of you loked howe I fore ; 
 Whenne I wiste neuere where to l reste, 
 
 With dyntes $e draffe me fro your dore ; 
 Butte euer to pride Manne were ^e preste ; 
 
 Mi flessh, my bloode, ofte je for-swore. 340 
 
 Clothles whanne I was ofte, and colde, 
 At nede of you 2 jede I full naked, 
 
 IT.; Y. where for to. 
 
 2 K. thinks this unintelligible and suggests, on basis of T., For you nere- 
 hand, etc.
 
 2IO YORK CORPUS CHRISTI PLAYS. 
 
 House ne herborow, helpe ne holde, 
 
 Hadde I none of you, thot I quaked. 
 Mi mischeffe sawe ye many-folde ; 
 
 Was none of you my sorowe slaked, 
 Butt euere for-soke me, yonge and aide. 
 
 Theriore schall 36 nowe be for-saked. 348 
 
 i. ANIMA MALA. Whan had ///ou, Lorde, that all thyng has, 
 
 Hungir or thirste, sen thou God is ? 
 Whan was that l thou in prisonne was ? 
 
 Whan was thou naked or herberles ? 
 n. AN. MALA. Whan was it we sawe the seke, alias ? 
 
 Whan kid we the this vnkyndinesse ? 
 Werie or wette to late the passe, 
 
 When did we the this wikkidnesse ? 356 
 
 DEUS. Caitiffis, 2 als ofte als it be-tidde 
 
 That nedfull aught askid in my name, 
 3e herde them noght, youre eris 36 hidde, 
 
 Youre helpe to thame was no3t at hame, 
 To me was that vnkyndines kyd ! 
 
 T^ere-fore ye bere 8 this bittir blame. 
 To the lest of myne when 36 oght did 4 
 
 To me 36 did the selue and same. 6 364 
 
 Mi chosen childir, comes vnto me ! 
 
 With me to wonne nowe schall 36 wende ; 
 There joie and blisse schall euer be 
 
 Youre liffe in lyking schall 36 lende. 
 3e cursed kaitiffis, fro me 36 flee, 
 
 In helle to dwelle with-outen ende ; 
 Ther 36 schall neuere butt sorowe see 
 
 6 And sitte be Satanas the fende. 372 
 
 1 Inserted by Ho. from T. 
 
 2 Y. Caistiffis. 
 
 T.; Y. omits ye ; Ho. ye beres. 
 
 * He. from T. ; Y. To leste or moste whan je it did. 
 
 6 T. ; Y. and the same. 
 
 6 In margin: nota, miseremini mei, etc.
 
 THE JUDGMENT DAY. 211 
 
 Nowe is fulfillid all my for-Moght, 
 
 For endid is all erthely thyng. 
 All worldly wightis Mat I haue wroght 
 
 Aftir Mer werkis haue nowe wonnyng : 
 Thei Mat wolde synne and sessid noght, 
 
 Of sorowes sere now schall Mei syng ; 
 And Mei Mat mendid Mame whils Mei moght, 
 
 Schall belde and bide in my blissing. 380 
 
 Et sic facit finem cum melodia angelorum transiens a loco ad locum.
 
 PART II.
 
 DIGBY PLAYS. 
 
 Reprinted from " The Digby Mysteries, ed. by F. J. Fumivall, New Shakspere 
 Society, 1882." In the footnotes, F. indicates this edition, which represents the 
 MS. unless the contrary is stated; S. indicates " Die Digby-Spiele. Diss. v. K. 
 Schmidt, Berlin, 1884." The MS. is assigned to the last decade of the fifteenth 
 century. I have disregarded scribal flourishes and tags. 
 
 [THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL.] 1 
 {First Station.'} 
 
 [Enter POETA as PROLOGUE.] 
 
 POETA. 2 Rex glorie, Kyng omnipotent, 
 
 Redemer of thz world by thy 3 pouer diuine, 
 And Maria, that, pure vyrgy[], 1 quene most excellent, 
 
 Wyche bare tha\. blyssyd babe, lesu, thai for vs sufferd 
 pyne, 4 
 
 Vnto whoys goodnes I do inclyne, 
 Besechyng that. Lord, of hys pytous influens, 
 To pr^serue & gou^rne thys wyrshypfull audyens. J 
 
 Honorable frend^j, besechyng yow of lycens 
 
 To precede 5 owr pr^cesse, we may, vnder your cor- 
 
 recczon, 
 [Show] the conu^rsyon of Seynt Paule, as the Byble gyf 
 
 experyens. 
 
 Whoo lyst to rede the booke Actum Appostolorum, 
 Ther shall he haue the very notycyon ; 
 
 1 Supplied by F. * F. payne. 
 
 2 Beside this a later hand wrote Myles Blomefylde. 
 
 8 F. the. 5 Misunderstood by S., p. 24.
 
 2l6 DIGBY PLAYS. 
 
 But, as we can, we shall vs redres, 
 
 Brefly with yowr fauo#r begynyng owr prices. [Exit.} 14 
 
 Daunce. 1 
 
 Here entryth Saule, goodly besene in the best wyse lyke an aunterous knyth, 
 thus sayyng : 
 
 SAULUS. Most dowtyd man I am lyuy#g vpon the ground, 
 Goodly besene with many a riche garnement ; 2 
 
 My pere on lyue I trow ys nott found ; 
 
 Thorow thz. world, fro Me oryent to /^e occydent, 
 My fame ys best knowyn vndyr the fyrmament ; 
 
 I am most drad of pepull vnyu^rsall, 
 
 They dare not dysp[l]ease me 3 most noble. 2 1 
 
 Saule ys my name, I wyll thai ye notyfy, 
 
 Whych conspyreth the dyscyplys with thret? & menace ; 4 
 
 Be-fore th& prynces of presto most noble & hye 5 
 I bring them to punyshemewt for ther trespace. 
 We wyll them nott suffer to rest in no place, 
 
 For they go a-bou^te to pr^che & gyff exemplis, 
 
 To destroye our lawes, sinagoges and templis. 28 
 
 By the god Bellyall, I schall make pr^gresse 
 
 Vnto the princes, both Caypha and Anna, 
 Wher I schall aske of them, in suernes, 
 
 To pursue thorow all Dammask & Liba, 
 
 And thus we schall soone after than 6 
 Bryng them that, so do lyff in-to Jerusalem, 
 Both man and child that I fynd of them. 35 
 
 Her cummyth Sale to Caypha & Anna,jtirestes qfthe tempytt. 
 
 Nobyll prelates and prince of regalyte, 
 
 Desyryng and askyng of yor benyngne wurthynes 
 
 1 In a later hand. * F. thretes and menace. 
 
 2 F. garlement. 6 p. hye and noble. 
 F. my. 
 
 6 This unrhymed line may, as Kittredge suggests, have taken the place 
 of the original.
 
 THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 
 
 Yor letters & epystolys of most sou^rente 
 
 To subdue rebellyous 1 that wyll, of frawardnes, 
 A-gaynst our lawes rebell or transgresse, 
 
 Nor wyll not inclyne but mak obiecc[z']on, 2 
 
 To pursue all such I wyll do pr^tecczon. 42 
 
 CAYPHA. To yor desyer we gyf pi?rfyth sentens, 
 
 Accordyng to yor petyczbns that ye make postulac/on, 
 
 By- cause we know your trewe delygens 
 To pursue all tho that do reprobaczon 
 A-gayns ow#r lawes by ony redarguaczbn ; 
 
 Wherefor shortly we gyf in commandment 
 
 To put down them that be dy[s]obedyent. 2 49 
 
 ANNA. And by thes letturs, that be most reuerret, 
 
 Take them in hand, full agre ther-to. 
 Costreyn all rebellys by owur hole assent ; 
 
 We gyf yow full power so to doo ; 
 
 Spare not, hardly, for frend nor foo ; 
 All thos ye fynd of that lyfe in thys realme, 
 Bounde loke ye bryng them in-to Jerusalem. 56 
 
 Her Saule resayuyth ther letters. 
 
 SAULUS. Thys precept here I take in hande 
 
 To fullfyll after yowr wylles both, 
 Wher I shall spare wz't^-in this, londe 
 
 Nother man nor woman, to this I make an oth, 
 
 But to subdue I wyll not be loth. 
 Now folow me, knytys & seraantes trewe, 
 In-to Damaske as fast as ye can sewe. 63 
 
 L MiLES. 3 Vnto your co#zmaudmet I do obeysaunce ; 
 
 I wyll not gaynsay nor make delaczbn, 
 But w/'t^ good mynd & harty plesaunce 
 
 1 F. rebellyons. 2 Corr. by if. 
 
 8 F. Primus miles ; similarly below.
 
 2l8 DIGBY PLAYS. 
 
 I shall yow succede & make p^rambulaczbn 
 
 Thorow-oute Damaske \vi\Jt all delectaczbn, 
 And all that l rebell & make resystens, 
 ffor to oppres I wyll do my delygens. 70 
 
 n. MILES. And in me shalbe no neclygens, 
 
 But to thys precept my-self I shall applye, 
 To do yor behest with all cowuenyens, 
 
 WYt/z-owt eny frowardnes or eny obstynacy, 
 
 Non shall appere in me, but, verely, 
 With all my mynd I yow insure, 
 To resyst tho rebelk-r I wyll do my cure. 77 
 
 SAULUS. Truly to me yt ys grett consolaczbn 
 
 To here thys report that ye do avazms. 
 ffor yowr sapyencyall wytter I gyf co;;zmedac/on ; 
 
 Eu<?r at my nede I haue founde yow constant. 
 
 But, knytes & seruauntes, 2 that be so plesaunt, 
 I pray yow anon my palfray ye bryng, 
 To spede my iurney wzt^-owt lettyng. 84 
 
 Here goyth Sale forth a lytyll a-syde for to make hym redy to ryde, the 
 serujtant thus seyng : 
 
 . How, hosteler, how! A peck of otys & a botell 
 of haye ! 
 
 Com of a-pase, or I wyll to a-noth^r inne ! 
 What, hosteler ! why cowmyst not thy way? 
 Hye the. faster, I beshrew th\ skynne ! 
 STABULARYJAS. I am non hosteler, nor no hostelers kynne, 
 But a ientylmanys seruuant, i[f] thou dost know ! 
 Such crabyysh \vordes do aske a blow. 91 
 
 . I cry yow mercy, sir ! I wyst well suw-what ye 
 were, 
 
 Qvither a gewtylman or a knaue, me thynkyth by your 
 physnomy ! 
 
 1 F. thoo, emend, by Kittredge. 
 
 2 F. servmzntes; hereafter I shall follow F.
 
 THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 2IQ 
 
 Yf on loke yow in the. face thai neu^r se yow ere, 
 
 Wold thynk ye were at the next dore by. 
 
 In good fayth, I wenyd yow had bene an hosteler, verely : 
 I sye suche a-nother ientylman wz't/z yow a barowfull bare 
 Of horsdowng & dogg^J tord<?j & sych other gere. 98 
 
 And how yt happenyd, a marvelous chance be-tyde : 
 
 Yowr felow was not suer of foote, & yet he went very 
 brode, 1 
 
 But in a cow-tord both dyd ye slyde, 
 
 And, as I wene, yor nose ther-\n rode, 
 Yor face was be-payntyd wz'tA sowters code. 
 
 I sey neuer sych a sy^t, I make God a-vow ; 
 
 Ye were so be-grymlyd & yt had bene a sowe. 105 
 
 STAB. -In fayth, thovi neuer syest me tyll Mis day ! 
 
 I haue dwellyd w/'t^ my master thys vij ^ere & more ; 
 ffull well I haue pleasyd hym, he wyll not say nay, 
 
 And mykyll he makyth of me therfore. 
 
 SERUtAS. By my trowth, Man be ye changyd to a new 
 
 lore? 
 
 A s^ruand ye are, & thai a good, 
 Ther ys no better lokyth owt of a hood. 112 
 
 STAB, ffor soth, & a hood I vse for to were, 
 
 ffull well yt ys lynyd \viih sylk & chamlett ; 
 Yt kepyth me fro the cold, thai the wynd doth me not dere, 
 
 Nowther frost nor snow thai I therby do sett. 
 
 SERUCA?. Yea, yt ys a dobyll hood & thai a fett ! 
 He was a good man thai made yt, I warant yow ; 
 He was noth^r horse ne mare, 2 nor yet yokyd sow ! 119 
 
 Here commyth \hejyrst knyth to th^ stabyl-grom, sayng'. 
 
 I. MILES. Now, stabyll-grom, shortly bryng forth away 
 The best horse, for owr lorde wyll ryde ! 
 
 1 Substituted in MS. for wyde. 
 
 2 MS. nare; corr. by F.
 
 22O DIGBY PLAYS. 
 
 STAB. I am full redy ; here ys a palfray, 
 
 There can no man a better bestryde ; 
 
 He wyll cowducte owwr lorde & gyde 
 Thorow the world ; he ys sure & abyll ; 
 To bere a gentyllman he [is] l esy & pr^phetabyll. i 26 
 
 Her th* knyth cummyth to Saule roirfi a horse. 
 
 i. MILES. Behold, sir Saule, your palfray ys com, 
 
 Full goodly besene, as yt ys yowr desyer, 
 To take yowar vyage thorow euery regyon. 
 
 Be nott in dowt, he wyll spede yor mater ; 
 
 And we, as yor seruauntes, with glad chere 
 Shall gyf attendance, we wyll nott gaynsay, 
 But folow you where ye go be ny^t or day. 133 
 
 SAULUS. Vnto Damask I make my pr^gressyon, 
 
 To pz/rsue all rebellyous, beyng froward & obstynate, 
 
 Agayns our lawes be ony transgressyon. 
 
 Wz't^ all my delygens my-self I wyll prvparate 2 
 Cocernyng my purpose to oppres & separate ; 
 
 Non shall reioyce that doth offend, 
 
 But vtterly to repr^ue with mynde & intende. 140 
 
 Her Sale rydyth forth with hys seruantes a-bmut th^ place, [&>] l owt of 
 the Jface]. 1 
 
 CAYPHA. Now Saule hath takyn hys worthy wyage 
 To pursue rebellyous, of what degre Mei be ; 
 
 He wyll non suffer to raygne nor haue passage 
 Wz't^-in all thys regyon, we be in sertayn[te]. 
 Wherefor I cowmende hys goodly dygnyte, 
 
 That he thus aluay takyth in hande 
 
 By hys power to gou^rne thus all thys lande. 147 
 
 ANNA. We may lyue in rest by hys consolaczbn ; 
 
 He defendyth vs ; where-for we be bownde 
 To loue hym intyrely w/t^ our hartte-r affecc/on, 
 
 And honour hym as champyon in euery stownde. 
 
 1 Supplied by F. 2 F. pr<fpare.
 
 THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 221 
 
 Ther ys non suche lyuyng vpon the. grownde 
 That may be lyke 1 hym nor be hys pere, 
 Be est nor west, ferre nor nere. 1 54 
 
 POET A (si placet). 
 
 COA^CLUSYON. 
 
 Daimce.* 
 
 [POETA.] ffynally, of this stac[/]on thus we mak a conclusyon, 
 Besechyng thys audyens to folow & succede, 
 
 WYt^ all your delygens, Mis gen^rall pr^cessyon. 
 To vnderstande Mis matter, wo lyst to rede 
 The Holy Bybyll for Me better spede, 
 
 Ther shall he haue Me p^rfyth intellygens. 
 
 And Mus we comyt yow to Crystys magnyfycens. 161 
 
 ffinis istius stacitmis et altera sequitur, 
 
 {Second Station.^ 
 
 [PROLOGUE.] 
 
 POETA. Honorable frend^r, we beseche yow of audyens 
 To here or intenc/on & also or presses. 
 
 Vpon or matter, be yor fauorable lycens, 
 A-nother part of Me story we wyll redres : 
 Here shalbe brefly shewyd w/t^ all o//r besynes, 
 
 At thys pagent, Saynt Poullys couercyon. 
 
 Take ye good hede & ther-to gyf affecc/on. [Exit.} 168 
 
 Here coramyth Saule rydyng in, with hys serumtes. 
 
 SAUL*/.?. My purpose to Damask fully I intende ; 
 
 To pursewe the dyscypulys my lyfe I apply, 
 ffor to breke down the chyrchys thus I codescende, 
 
 Non I wyll suffer that [they] 3 shall edyfey ; 
 
 1 A late hand has added to above the line. 
 
 2 In later hand. 
 8 Supplied by F.
 
 222 DIGBY PLAYS. 
 
 P<?rchaunce owur lawes than my^te [peyre] 1 ther-by, 
 And the pepull also turne & cowuerte, 
 Whych shuld be gret heuynes vnto my hart. 175 
 
 Nay, thai shall nott be butt layd a-part ! 
 
 Th& prynces haue gouyn me full potestac/bn. 
 
 All that I fynd, th\ shall nott start, 
 
 But bounde, to Jerusalem, wz't/z furyous vyolac/on, 
 Be-for Cesar, Caypha & Annas [haue] pr^sentac/on. 
 
 Thus shalbe subduyd tho wretchys of thai lyfe, 
 
 That non shall in-ioy, nother man, chy[l]de nor wyfe. 182 
 
 Here commyth a feruent \_flame\ until gret tempest, and Saule faulyth 
 down of hys horse ; tha/ done, Godhed spekyth in heuyn. 
 
 Saule ! Saule ! why dost thou me pursue ? 
 
 Yt ys hard to pryke a-gayns Me spore ! 
 I am th\ Savyowr, thai ys so tnve, 
 
 Whych made heuyn & erth & eche creature. 
 
 Offende nott my goodnes ; I wyll tht recure ! 
 SAULUS. O Lorde, I am a-ferd, I trymble for fere. 
 What woldyst I ded ? Tell me here ! 189 
 
 DEUS. A-ryse & goo thovi wyth glad chere 
 
 In-to the cyte a lytyll be-syde, 
 And I shall the socor in euery dere, 
 
 That no maner of yll xal be-tyde ; * 
 
 And I wyll ther for the pr^uyde 
 By my grete goodnes what tho\\. shalt doo. 
 Hy the. as fast theth^r as thou mast goo. 196 
 
 SAULt/5 1 . O mercyfull God, what aylyth me? 
 
 I am lame, my legg<?J be take me fro ; 
 My sygth lykwyse, I may nott see ; 
 
 I can nott tell whether to goo. 
 
 My men hath forsake me also. 
 Whether shall I wynde, or whether shall I pas? 
 Lord, I beseche the, helpe me, of thy grace. 203 
 
 1 Supplied by Kittredge. 2 p. xalbe-tyde.
 
 THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 223 
 
 I. MILES. * Syr, we be here to help the in th\ nede 
 
 Wzt^ all our affyance ; we wyll not seise. 2 
 SAULUS. Than, in Damask, I pray yow, me lede, 
 
 I' 3 God^-y name, accordyng to my pr^myse. 
 
 II. MILES. To put forth yowz*r hand loke ye dresse ! 
 Cuw on yowr way ; we shall yow bryng 
 In-to the. cyte wzt/i-owt taryng. 210 
 
 Here the knyghtes lede forth Sale in to a place, &* Cryst apperyth to 
 A nnanie, sayng : 
 
 DEUS. Ananie ! Ananie ! where art //z<?u, Ananie ? 
 
 ANAN. 4 Here, Lord, I am here, trwly ! 212 
 
 DEUS. Go thy way & make th\ curse, 
 
 As I shall assyng Me by myn aduysse, 
 Into Me strete qui dicitur rectus, 
 
 And in a certayn house, of warantyse, 
 
 Ther shall ye fynd Saule in humble vyse, 
 As a meke lamb, that a wolf before was namyd. 
 Do my behest ; be nothyng a-shamyd ! 219 
 
 He wantyth hys syth, by my punyshment co;zstrayned. 
 Prayeng vnto me, I assure, ///ou shalt hym fynd. 
 
 Wzt^ my stroke of pyte sore ys he paynyde, 
 
 Wantyng hys sygth, for he ys truly blynyde, 
 ANAN. Lord, I am aferd, for aluay i my mynd 
 
 I here so myche of hys iuryous cruelte, 
 
 TAat, for spekyng of th\ name, to deth he wyll put me. 226 
 
 DEUS. Nay, Ananie ; nay, I assure tht ! 
 
 He wulbe glad of thy cu/#myng. 
 ANAN. A ! Lord, but I know of a certayn[te] 
 
 That thy seyntev in Jerusalem to deth he doth bryng. 
 
 Many yllys of hym I haue be kennyng, 
 
 1 F. ] us miles ; so below. 
 
 2 MS. apparently serse; corr. by F. 
 
 8 But the stroke for n may have been omitted. 
 4 F. Ananias, here and below.
 
 224 DIG-BY PLAYS. 
 
 ffor he hath the pour of the princes alle 
 
 To saue or spylle, do which he schall. 233 
 
 DEUS. Be nothyng a-drad, he ys a chosen wessell, 
 
 To me assyngned by my godly elecczbn. 
 He shall here my name be-fore the kyng^y & chyld^r of Israeli, 
 
 By many sharpe shour^j sufferyng correcczbn, 
 
 A gret doctor, of benyngne conplecczbn, 
 The trwe precher of the hye deuynete, 
 A very pynacle of Me fayth, I ensure the. 240 
 
 ANAN. Lorde, thy co/mandmet I shall fullfyll ; 
 
 Vn-to Saule I wyll take my waye. 
 DEUS. Be nothyng i dowte for good nor yll ! 
 
 Fare-well, Ananie ; tell Saule what I do say. 
 
 Et exiat Deus. 
 
 ANAN. Blyssyd Lord, defende me, as thou. best may ! 
 Gretly I fere hys cruell tyrany ; 
 But to do th\ precept my-self I shall applye. 247 
 
 Here A nanias goth toward Saule. 
 
 I. MILES. I maruayle gretly what yt doth mene, 
 
 To se owr master in thys hard stounde. 
 The wonder grett lythtys thai were so shene 
 
 Smett hym doune of hys hors to the grownde ; 
 
 And me thowt that I hard a sounde 
 Of won spekyng w/tA voyce delectable, 
 Whych was to [vs] wonderfull myrable. 254 
 
 II. MILES. Sertenly thys ly}t was ferefull to see, 
 
 The sperkys of fyer were very feruet ; 
 Yt inflamyd so greuosely about Me coutre 
 
 That, by my trowth, I went we shuld a ben bret. 
 
 But now, serys, lett vs relente 
 Agayne to Caypha & Anna, to tell Mis chauce 
 How yt be-fell to vs thys greuaus. 261
 
 THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 225 
 
 Her Saule ys in contemplation. 1 
 
 SAULCSS. Lord, of Mi coufort moch I desyre, 
 
 ThoM my^ty Prince of Israeli, Kyng of pyte, 
 Whyche me hast punyshyd as Mi presoner 
 
 That nother etc nor dranke thys dayes thre ; 
 
 But, gracyos Lorde, of Mi vysytacyon I thanke the ; 
 Thy s^ruant shall I be as long as I haue breth, 
 Thowgh I therfor shuld suffer dethe. 268 
 
 Here commytk Anania to Saule, sayeng: 
 
 ANAN. Pease be in thys place & goodly mansyon ! 
 
 Who ys w/t/j-in ? Speke, in Crystys holy name ! 
 SA[u]Lf/.y. 2 I am here, Saule. Cum in, on Goddes benyson ! 
 
 What ys your wyll ? Tell, wzt^-owten blame. 
 
 ANAN. ffrom Almyghty God, s^rtanly, to the sent I am, 
 And Ananie men call me wher-as I dwell. 
 SAUL&T.S. What wold ye haue? I pray yow me tell. 275 
 
 ANAN. Gyfe me yowr hand for yor awayle ! 
 
 For, as I was covzmauwdyd, by hys gr<zcyos sentens 
 
 I byd 8 the be stedfast, for M0u shalt be hayle. 
 
 ffor thys same cause he sent me to th\ presens ; , 
 Also he bad the remember hys hye excellens, 
 
 Be Me same tokyn that he dyd Me mete 
 
 Toward Me cyte, when he apperyd in Me strete. 282 
 
 Ther mayst M0u know hys power celestyall, 
 
 How he dysposyth euery-thyng as hym lyst ; 
 No-thyng may wzt^stand hys my^te essencyall. 
 
 To stond vp-ryght, or els doun to thryste, 
 
 Thys ys hys powwr, yt may not be myste, 
 ffor who thai yt wantyth, lackyth a frende. 
 Thys ys Me massage thai he doth Me sende. 289 
 
 SAULUS. Hys marcy to me ys ryght welcom ; 
 I am ryght glad thai yt ys thus. 
 
 1 MS. comtemplac/on ; corr. by F. 2 Corr. by F. * F. & bad.
 
 226 DIGBY PLAYS. 
 
 Hie aparebit Spvf&us Sanrtus super eian [in the form of a dove}. 
 
 ANAN. Be of good chere & p^rfyte iubylaczon, 
 
 Discendet super te Spirytus Sanctus, 
 
 Whych hath wz't/z hys 1 grace illumynyd vs. 
 Put fo[r]th 2 th\ hond & goo wyth me ; 
 A-gayne to thy syght here I restore the. 296 
 
 SAULUS. Blyssyd Lord, thankys to yow euer be ! 
 
 The swame ys fallyn from my eyes twayne ; 
 Where I was blynyd & cowd nott see, 
 
 Lord, thoM hast sent me my syght agayne. 
 
 ffrom sobbyng & wepyng I can not refrayne 
 My pensyue hart, full of cowtrycczon ; 
 ffor my offence my body shal haue punycyon ; 303 
 
 And, where I haue vsed so gret p^rsecucyon 
 
 Of th\ descyplys thorow all Jerusalem, 
 I wyll [aid] 2 & defende ther pr^dycacyon 
 
 That th[e]y 2 dyd tech on all zVHs reme : 
 
 Wherefor, Ananie, at the watery streme 
 Baptyse me, hartely I th& praye, 
 A-mong your nu;byr that I electe & chosen be may. 310 
 
 ANAN. On-to this well of mych vertu 
 
 We wyll vs hye wz't^ all our delygens. 
 SAUL*/.?. Go yow be-fore, & after I shall sewe, 
 
 Laudyng & praysyng our Lord^-r benevolens. 
 
 I shall neuer offend hys my^ty magnyfycens, 
 But aluay obserue hys preceptys & kepe. 
 ffor my gret vnkyndnes my hart doth wepe. 317 
 
 ANAN. Knele ye down vpon thys grownde, 
 
 Receyuyng thys crystenyng wzt^ good intent, 
 
 Whyche shall make yow hole of yor dedly woud, 
 That was infecte wz't^ venom nocent. 
 
 1 MS. hys hys; corr. by F. 
 
 2 Corr. by F.
 
 THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 22/ 
 
 Yt purgyth synne ; and iendes pourv? 1 so fraudelent 
 It putyth a-syde, where thys doth at-tayne, 
 In euery stede, he may not obtayne. 324 
 
 I crysten yow vtiih mynd full p^rfyght, 
 
 Reseyuyng yow in-to owur relygyon, 
 Euer to be stedfast & neuer to flyt, 
 
 But euer constant wzt^-owt varyacyon. 
 
 Now ys fullfyllyd all our obseruacyon ; 
 Concludyng, thou. mayst yt ken, 
 In nomine Patris et Filii et Sforitus Sa.ncti, Amen ! 331 
 
 SAULUS. I am ryght glad as foule on flyte 
 
 That I haue receyuyd Mis blyssyd sacremet. 
 
 ANAN. Com on yor way, Saule ; for nothyng lett ! 
 
 Take yow sum coum forth for yowr bodyes noryschmet. 
 Ye shall abyde wz't^ the dyscyplys, verament, 
 
 Thys many dayes in Damask cyte, 
 
 Vn-tyll the tyme more p^rfyt ye may be. 338 
 
 SAULUS. As ye cowmande, holy father Ananie ; 
 
 I full[y] assent at yow[r] 2 request, 
 To be gydyd & rulyd as ye wyll haue me, 
 
 Evyn at yo#r pleasur, as ye thynk best. 
 
 I shall not offend for most nor lest. 
 Go forth yovfur way ; I wyll succede 
 In-to what place ye wyll me lede. 345 
 
 COA^CLUSYO[N]. 
 
 Daunce? 
 
 POETA. Thus Saule ys couertyd, as ye se expres, 
 
 The very trw s<?ruant of our Lord lesu ; 
 Non may be lyke to hys pertyjt holynes, 
 
 So nobyll a doctor, constant & trwe ; 
 
 Aftyr hys cou^rsyon neu<?r mutable, but styll insue 
 
 1 F. poures. 2 Corr. by F. 
 
 8 F. has no note as to the hand.
 
 228 DIGBY PLAYS. 
 
 The lawys of God to teche euer more more, 
 
 As Holy Scryptur tellyth, 1 who-so lyst to loke ther-iorz. 352 
 
 Thus we comyte yow all to the Trynyte, 
 
 Conkludyng thys staczon as we can or may, 
 Vnder the correccyon of them thai letteryd be ; 
 
 How-be-yt vnable, as I dare speke or say, 
 
 The cowpyler here-of shuld translat veray 
 So holy a story, but wz't^ fauorable correccyon 
 Of my fauorable 2 masters of the* benygns supplexion. 359 
 
 ffinis istius secun< stacio-ais et seqititur tarcia. 
 
 [Third Station.]* 
 [PROLOGUE.] 
 
 POETA. The myght of the Fadir<?j potenciall deite 
 
 Preserue thys honorable & wurshypfull cowgregaczon 
 
 That here be present of hye & low degre, 
 
 To vnderstond thys pagent at thys lytyll stac/on, 
 Whych we shall precede wz't^ all or delectac[i]on, 4 
 
 Yf yt wyll plese yow to gyf audyens fauorable. 
 
 Hark wysely ther-to ; yt ys good & pr^fetable. [Exit.] 366 
 
 {Cay j >ha and Anna, to whom enter the knights.} 
 
 I. MILES. Nobyll pr^later, take hede to owwr sentens ! 
 
 A wundyrfull chauce fyll & dyd be-tyde 
 Vn-to owr master, Saull, when he departyd hens, 
 
 In-to Damaske prposyd to ryde : 
 
 A m^ruelous ly^t fro thelemewt dyd glyde, 
 Whyche smet doun 5 hym to grunde, both horse & man, 
 
 the ferfulest wether tha\. euer I in cam. 373 
 
 1 F. tellyd. 4 Corr. by F. 
 
 2 Qy. honorable. 6 MS. doum ; corr. by F. 
 8 Supplied by F.
 
 THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 22Q 
 
 II. MILES. It rauysshid hym and hys spirits did be-nome ; 
 
 A swete, dulcet voyce spake hym vnto 
 And askyd wherfor he made suche p^rsecucyon 
 
 A-geynst hys dyscyplys & why he dyd soo. 
 
 He bad hym in-to Damaske to Ananie goo, 
 And ther he shuld reseyue baptym, truly. 1 
 And now clene a-geyns owr lawys he ys trwly. 380 
 
 CAYPHA. I am sure thys tale ys not trw ! 
 
 What ! Saule conuertyd from our law? 
 He went to Damask for to pursue 
 
 All the dyscyplys that dyd w/t^-draw 
 
 Fro owr fayth, thys was hys sawe. 
 How say ye, Anna, to thys mater? This ys a mervelos 
 
 chans ; 
 I can not beleve that thys ys of assurans. 387 
 
 ANNA. No, Caypha ; my mynde trwly do [I] z tell : 
 
 That he wyll not turne in no maner wyse, 
 But rather to deth put & expell 
 
 All myscreaunfcsy & wretchys thai doth aryse 
 
 Agaynst or lawes by ony enterpryse. 
 Say the trwth wz't^-[owt] 2 ony cause frawdelent, 
 Or els for yor talys ye be lyke to be shent ! 394 
 
 I. MILES. 8 Ellys owr bodyes may [ye] put to payn ! 
 All that we declare I sye yt w/t my nye ; 
 Nothyng offendyng, but trwly do iustyfye. 397 
 
 CAYPHAS. By the gret God, I do maruayle gretly ! 
 
 And thys be trw that ye do reherse, 
 He shall repent hys rebellyous treytory, 
 
 That all shalbe ware of hys falsnes. 
 
 We wyll not suffer hym to obtayne dowtles, 
 ffor meny p^rellys that myght be-tyde 
 By hys subtyll meanys on euery syde. 404 
 
 l Qy. duly. 2 Supplied by F. 
 
 8 Apparently four lines are missing here.
 
 23O DIGBY PLAYS. 
 
 ANNA. The law ys cowmyttyd to owr aduysmet ; 
 
 Wherfor we wyll not se yt decay, 
 But rather vphold yt, help & agme#t, 
 
 That ony reprofe to vs fall may 
 
 Of Cesar, themprour, by ny$t or day. 
 We shall to such matters harke & attende, 
 Accordyng to the lawes our wyttes to spende. 41 1 
 
 1 Here to enter a dyvel* wz'tA thunder df fyre, &> to avatmte 8 hym-sylfe, 
 , saying asfolmvyth ; &>, hys speck spokyn, to syt downe in a chayre. 
 
 BELYALL. Ho ! ho ! beholde me, the my^te prince of the 
 paries in-fernall ! 
 
 Next vnto Lucyfer I am in magestye ; 
 By name I am nominate the god Belyall ; 
 
 Now of more my^te nor of more excellencye ! 
 
 My powre ys princypall & now of most soferaynte. 
 In the temple & synogog^J who deneyth me to honore, 
 My busshop^j thorow my motyon the\ wyl \\jrn sone devoure. 418 
 
 I have movyd my prelates, Cayphas & Ana, 
 
 To persevf & put downe by powre ryall, 
 Thorow tht sytyes of Damask & Liba, 
 
 All soch as do worship //ze hye God sup^rnall. 
 
 Ther deth ys cospyryd w/t^-owt any fauoure at all ; 
 My busshopys hathe chosyne won most rygorus 
 Them to p^rsew, howse name ys Saulus. 425 
 
 Ho ! thus as a god, most hye in magestye, 
 
 I rayne & I rule ou<?r creature humayne. 
 W/t^ sou^rayne sewte sow^te to ys my deyte ; 
 
 Mans mynd ys applicant as I lyst to ordeyne. 
 
 My law styll encreasyth ; wherof I am fayne; 
 Yet of late I haue hard of no newys truly, 
 Wherfor I long tyll I speke \viih my messeg^r Mi?rcurye. 432 
 
 1 From here through the stage direction following 1. 502 is by a later 
 hand, written on three separate inserted leaves. 
 
 2 In margin : Diabolus. 8 F. avauwce.
 
 THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 23! 
 
 Here shall entere a- wither devyll, colly d Mercury, unt'h ajyeryng, cam- 
 myng in hast, cryeng S roryng, r> shal say asfolowyth : 
 
 1VL4/?CURY. Ho ! ow3t ! ow^t ! alas thys sodayne chance ! 
 
 Well may we bewayle tMs cursyd adu^wture ! 
 BELYAL. Marcurye, what aylys* tho\i ? Tell me thy grevaimce ! 
 
 Ys ther any that hath wrowjte vs dyspleasure ? 
 
 M.ERC. Dyspleasure i-nowgh, theroi ye may be sure ! 
 Our law at lengthe yt wylbe clene downe layd, 
 For yt decayth sore, & more wyl, I am a-frayd. 439 
 
 BEL. Ho ! how can that be ? Yt ys not possyble ! 
 
 Co[]syder, 1 tho\i foole, the long cotynuance. 
 Decaye, q0d a? Yt ys not credyble ! 
 
 Of fals tydyng^y tho\i makyst here vtterance. 
 
 Behold how the peple hath no pleasau#ce 
 But in syn & to folow our desyere, 
 Pryde & voluptuosyte ther hartej doth so fyre. 446 
 
 Thow^e on do swauer away from our lore, 
 
 Yet ys our powre of suche nobylyte 
 To have hym a-gayne & twoo th erf ore 
 
 That shal pr^ferre the. prayse of owre maiestye. 
 
 What ys the tydynges ? Tell owt ! Lett vs see ! 
 Why arte tho\a amasyd so ? Declare afore vs 
 What fury ys fallyn that troblyth the. thus ! 453 
 
 MERCURY. Ho ! ow^t ! ow3te ! He that I most trustyd to 
 And he that I thow^te wold haue ben to vs most specyall 
 
 Ys now of late turnyd & our cruell foo ; 
 Our specyall frynd, our chosen Saull, 
 Ys be-cowme s^ruante to the. hye God etemall. 
 
 As he dyd ryde on our enemyes p^rsecutyon, 
 
 He was sodenly strykyn by the hye pr<?vysyon, 460 
 
 And ^now ys baptysyd, & pranys he hath made 
 
 Neuifr to vary ; & soch grace he hath opteynyd 
 That ondowtyd hys fayth from hym can not fade. 
 
 1 Corr. by F.
 
 232 DIGBY PLAYS. 
 
 Wherfor to co/wplayne I am cowstraynyd, 
 
 For moch by hym shuld we haue pr<?vaylyd. 
 BELYAL. Ho ! ow^t ! owjt ! What ! haue we loste 
 Our darlyng most dere whom we lovyd moste ? 467 
 
 But ys yt of trowth thai tho\\ doyst here specyfye ? 
 
 M^JfCURY. Yt ys so, ondow^tyd. Why shuld I fayne ? 
 For thow3te I can do non other but crye ! 
 
 Here \hei shal rare <5r> crye, & then Belyal shal saye : 
 
 BELYAL. Ow^te ! This grevyth vs worse Man hell- 
 payne ! 
 
 7%e coursyon of [a] synner, certayne, 
 Ys more payne to vs & p^rsecutyon 
 Than all the. furyes of tht infernal! dongyon. 474 
 
 MERCURY. Yt doyth not avayl vs thus to lament, 
 But lett vs pr0vyd for remedy shortlye. 
 
 Wherfor let vs both by on assent 
 
 Go to the busshopys & moue them pryvelye 
 
 Thai by some sotyl meane th\ may cause hym to dye. 
 
 Than shal he in our law make no dysturbauce, 
 
 Nor here-after cause vs to haue more greuauce. 481 
 
 BELYAL. Wei sayd, M^rcurye ! Thy cowncel ys pr^fytable. 
 
 Ho, Saul ! tho\\ shalt repent thy vnstablenes ! 
 Thou hadyst ben better to haue byn cowfyrmable 
 
 To our law ; for thy * deth, dowtles, 
 
 Yt ys cospyryd to reward thy falsnes. 
 Thowgh on hath dyssayvyd vs, yet now-a-days 
 Twenti 2 doyth gladly folow oure layes : 488 
 
 Some by pryde, some thorowgh envye, 
 
 Ther rayneth thorow my myght so moch dysobedyauce ; 
 Ther was neu^r a-mong crystyans lesse charyte 
 
 Than ys at this howre ; & as for cowcupysence, 
 
 [He] rayneth as a lord thorow my violence ; 
 
 l F. thys. 2 p. xxti
 
 THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 233 
 
 Glotony & wrath euery man doth devyse ; 
 
 And most now ys praysyd my cosyn Covytyce. 495 
 
 Cum, Mercury, let vs go & do as we haue sayd ; 
 
 To delate yt any lenger yt ys not best. 
 M/?CURY. To bryng yt a-bowjt I wold be wel apajd ; 
 
 Tell yt be done let vs not rest. 
 
 i 
 
 BELYAL. Go we than shortly ! Let vs departe 
 
 Hys deth to devyse, syth he wyl not revart. 502 
 
 Here thei shal vanyshe away with afyrye flame &* a tempest? 
 8 Her apperyth Saule in a 4 disciplis ivede, sayng : 
 
 SAULUS. 5 That Lord that ys shaper of see & of sond 
 
 And hath wrowth w/t/t hys woord all thyng at hys wyll, 
 
 Saue thys semely 6 thai here syttyth or stonde, 
 ffor his meke marcy, thai we do not spyll ! 
 Grant me, good Lord, thy pleasur to fulfyll, 
 
 And send me suche speche that I the. trwth say, 
 
 My entenczons proph[i]table 7 to meve yf I may. 509 
 
 Welbelouyd frend^j, ther be vij mortall synnes, 
 
 Whych be provyd pryncypall & prince of poysonnes : 
 
 Pride, thai of bytternes all bale begynnes, 
 
 Wzt/z-holdyng all fayth, yt fedyth & foysonnes, 
 As Holy Scryptur beryth playn wyttnesse : 
 
 Inicium omnium peccatorum supzrbya 8 est, 
 
 That often dystroyeth both most & lest. 9 . 516 
 
 1 Indicated by F. 
 
 2 Here ends the insertion by the late hand. 
 
 *From here through \. 516 was originally written immediately after 
 1. 411, but was crossed out there and repeated here by the late hand. Both 
 stanzas are rejected by S. In the footnotes L. indicates the reading of the 
 later copy. 
 
 4 L. hys. 7 Corr. by F. 
 
 6 Om. by L. 8 L. subia. 
 
 L. asembly. 9 L. man & best
 
 234 DIGBY PLAYS. 
 
 Off all vyces & foly pride ys the roote. 
 
 Humylyte may not rayn ner yet indure ; 
 Pyte, alak, that ys flower & boot, 
 
 Ys exylyd wher pride hath socour. 
 
 Omms qtii se exaltat humiliabituf : 
 Good Lord, gyf vs grace to vnderstond & p^rseuer, 
 Thys wurd as thoM bydyst to fulfyll euer, 52*3 
 
 Who-so in pride beryth hym to hye, 
 
 WYt// mys[c]heff T shalbe mekyd, as I mak mensyon ; 
 And I therfor assent & fully certyfy 
 
 In text, as I tell, the trw entencyon 
 
 Of p^rfy^t goodnes & very-locucyon : 
 Noli, tibi dico, in altum sap&re, sed time, 
 Thys ys my consell, bere the not to hye, 530 
 
 But drede alway synne & folye, 
 
 Wrath, enuy, couytys, and slugyshnes ; 
 Exeu#t owt of thy sy^t glotony & lechery, 
 
 Vanytye & vayneglory and fals idylnes. 
 
 Thes be the branchys of all wyckydnes ; 
 Who tha\. in hym thes vyces do roote, 
 He lackyth all grace & bale ys Me boote. 537 
 
 " Lern at my-self, for I am meke in hart," 
 
 Owr Lorde to hys s^ruanter thus he sayth, 
 " ffor meknes I sufferyd a spere at my hart ; 
 
 Meknes all vyces anullyth & delayeth, 
 
 Rest to soulys [ye] shall fynd yt, 2 in fayth : 
 Discite a me, quia mitis sum, et corde humilis ; 
 Et inveniefa requiem animabus vestris." 544 
 
 So owwr Sauyowr shewyth vs example 8 of meknes, 
 
 Thorow grace of hys godnes mekly ys 4 groundys ; 
 Trwly yt wyll vs saue fro Me synnes sekenes, 
 
 1 Corr. by F. 8 p. exampls. 
 
 2 F. yt shall fynd. * Qy. yt.
 
 THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 235 
 
 ffor J pryde & hys progeny mekenes confoundys : 
 Quanta maior es, tanto humilia te in omnibus, 
 
 The gretter tho\i art, the lower loke thu be, 
 
 Bere the neu^r Me hyer for tK\ degre. 551 
 
 ifro sensualyte of fleshe thy-self loke tho\\ lede, 
 
 Vnlefully therin vse not thy lyfe ; 
 Whoso therin delyteth, to deth he must nede ; 
 
 It consumyth natur, the body sleyth w/t^-owt knyf ; 
 
 Also yt styntyth nott but manslawt<?r & stryf : 
 Omnzs fornicator aut tmmundus nan h-^oet hereditatem 
 
 Christ/, 
 No shall in heuyn posses that be so vnthryfty.- 558 
 
 ffle fornycac[i]on, nor be no letchour, 
 
 But spare yor speche & speke nott theron : 
 
 Ex habundancia cordis os loquitur ; 
 
 Who movyth yt oft, chastyte louyth non, 
 
 Of th& hartey habundans the tunge makyth locuc/bn, 
 
 What manys mynde ys laboryd, therof yt spekyth; 
 
 That ys of suernes, as Holy Scryptur tretyth. 565 
 
 Wherfor I reherse thys wz't^ myn owyn mowthe : 
 
 Caste viuentes templum Dei sunt. 
 Kepe clene your body from synne vncuth, 
 
 Stabyll yor syghtej & look ye not stunt, 
 
 ffor of a s^rtaynte I know, at a brunt, 
 Oculus est nuncius peccati, 
 That the iey ys euer the messenger of foly 572 
 
 Enter Seruus sacerdotum. 
 
 Whate ! Ys not thys Saule thai toke hys vyage 
 In-to lerusalem, 2 the dyscyplys to oppresse ? 
 Bounde he wold bryng them yf ony dyd rage 
 Vpon Cryst, ^is was hys processe 
 To the. prince of pr<?stys, he sayde dowtles, 
 
 1 MS. ffror; corr. by F. 
 
 2 F. faints out that this is a mistake for Damascus, but see Notes.
 
 236 DIGBY PLAYS. 
 
 Thorow all Damask & also lerusalem 
 
 Subdwe all templys tha\. he founde of them. 579 
 
 SA[U]LUS.! Yes, sertaynly, Saule ys my proper name, 
 
 That had in powr the full dominion 
 To hyde yt fro you yt were gret shame 
 
 And mortall synne, as in my opynyon, 
 
 Vnder Cesar & pristes of the relygeon 
 And templys of lues, that be very hedyous, 
 A-gayns almyghty Cryst, thai kyng so pr^cyous. 586 
 
 To Anna & Caypha ye must make yor recurse ; 
 Com 2 on yor way, & make no delacz'on ! 
 SAULLTS. I wyll yow succede, for better or wors, 
 To the prync^y of pristes -with all del.ectaczbn. 
 
 [They go to Anna and Caypha..} 
 
 Holy pristes of hye potestacz'on, 
 Here ys Saule ! Lok on hym wysely ; 
 He ys a-nother man than he was, verely. 593 
 
 SAULUS. I am Me smaant of Ihesu Almyghty, 
 
 Creator & maker of see & sonnd, 
 Whiche ys kyng conctypotent of heuyn glory, 
 
 Chef cowfort & solas both to fre & bonde, 
 
 A-gayns whos power nothyng may stonde ; 
 Emperowr he ys both of heuyn & hell, 
 Whoys goodnes & grace al thyng doth excell. 600 
 
 Recedit paulisp&e. 
 
 CAYPHA. Vn-to my hart thys ys gret admyraczbn, 
 
 That Saule ys thus m<?rvelously changyd ; 
 I trow he ys bewytchyd by sum co/ziuraczbn, 
 
 Or els the devyll on hym ys auengyd. 
 
 Alas ! to my hart yt ys dessendyd 
 That he ys thus takyn fro or relygyon ! 
 How say ye, Anna, to thys couercyon ? 607 
 
 1 Corr. by F, 2 MS. Con ; corr. by F.
 
 THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL. 237 
 
 ANNA, ffull nwvelously, as in my cowcepc/on, 
 
 Thys wnderfull case how yt be-fell, 
 To se thys chaunce so sodenly don, 
 
 Vn-to my hart yt doth grete yll. 
 
 But for hys falsnes we shall hym spyll ; 
 By myn assent to deth we wyll hym bryng, 
 Lest thai more myschef of hym may spryng. 614 
 
 CAYPHA. Ye say very trew, we myjt yt all rewe ! 
 
 But shortly in thys we must haue aduysemewt, 
 ffor thus a-gayns vs he may nott cotynew, 
 
 P^rauentur than of Cesar we may be shent. 
 
 ANNA. Nay, I had leuer in fyer he were brent 
 Than of Cesar we shuld haue dysp[l]easure 1 
 ffor sych a rebell and subtyle fals treator. 621 
 
 CAYPHA. We wyll command the gates to be kept aboute 
 
 And the wall^j suerly on euery stede, 
 That he may not eskape no-where ow3te ; 
 
 For dye he shall, I ensuer yow indede. 
 
 ANNA. Thys traytoar rebellyous, evyll mut he spede, 
 That doth this vnhappynes a-gayns all ! 
 Now euery costodyer kepe well hys wall ! 628 
 
 The gatys be shytt, he can not eskape ; 2 
 
 Eu^ry place ys kepte well & sure, 
 That in no wyse he may, tyll he be take, 
 
 Gett owt of the. cyte, by ony cowiecture. 
 
 Vpon that caytyf & fals traytor 
 Loke ye be auengyd vitih deth mortall, 
 Attdiudge hym as ye lyst to what end he shall. 635 
 
 [ They go out ; an angel appears to Saulus.] 
 
 ANGELUS. Holy Saule, I gyf yow monycyon, 
 
 The princes of lues entende, s^rtayn, 
 To put yow to deth, but by Goddes pr^vysyon 
 
 l Corr. by F. 2 F. note skape,
 
 238 DIGBY PLAYS. 
 
 He wyll ye shall lyue lenger, and optayn, 
 
 And after thy deth tho\\. shalt rayng 
 Above in heuyn, wz'tfc owr Lord^r grace. 
 Co#uay yowr-self shortly in-to a-nother place. 642 
 
 SAULUS. That Lordes pleasur euer mut be down 
 Both in heuyn & in hell, as hys wyll ys ! 
 
 In a beryng-baskett or a lepe, a-non 
 
 I shall me co[]uay l wtt/t help ol the dyscyplys, 
 For euery gate ys shett & kept wz't^ multytud of pe- 
 pull[ys] ; 
 
 But I trust in owr Lord, that ys my socor, 
 
 To resyst ther malyce & cruell furor. 649 
 
 COM:LUSYO[N]. 
 [EPILOGUE.] * 
 
 POETA. Thus leve we Saule wzt^-in Me cyte, 
 
 The gates kep by cowmandmewt of Caypha & Anna ; 
 
 But the dyscyplys in the ny^t ouer the wall, truly, 
 
 As the Bybull sayeth : dim\f]serunt l eumsummittentes* 
 
 in sporta; 
 And Saule after that, in lerusalem, vera, 
 
 loyned hym-self & ther accompenyed 
 
 Wz't/j Me dyscyplys, wher Mei were vnfayned. 656 
 
 Thys lytyll pagent thus coclud we 
 
 As we can, lackyng lytturall scyens ; 
 Besechyng yow all, of hye & low degre, 
 
 Owr sympylnes to hold excusyd & lycens, 
 
 That of Retoryk haue no intellygens ; 
 Co/myttyng yow all to owr Lord Ihesus, 
 To whoys lawd ye syng : Exultet celum laudibus ! 663 
 
 Jjfinis cofajuercionis 1 Sancti Pauli. 
 1 Corr. by F. 2 Supplied by F. 8 p. summittens.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 The basis of the text is the edition by Whitley Stokes, Publications of the Philo- 
 logical Society, 1860-61, collated with the MS. in the Library of Trinity College, 
 Dublin. The MS. is assigned to the end of the fifteenth century. In the footnotes, 
 S. indicates the readings of Stokes's edition, which represents the MS. unless the 
 contrary is expressly stated ; H. indicates the emendations of Holthausen, Englische 
 Studien, XVI, 150!., and Anglia, XV, 198 ff. 
 
 [THE BANES OF THE PLAY.] 
 
 PRIMUS VEXILLATOR. Now the. Father & the Sune & the 
 Holy Goste, 
 
 That all this wyde worlde hat[h] 1 wrowg[h]t, 1 
 Save all thes semely, 2 bothe leste & moste, 
 
 And bry[g]e 1 yow to the blysse thai he hath yow to 
 bowght ! 
 
 We be ful purposed wz't/z hart & vrttA thowght 
 Off oun? mater to tell the. entent, 
 
 Off the marvellw that wer wondurfely wrowght 
 Off the holi & bleyssed Sacrament. 8 
 
 SECUXDUS. Sid[s]eyns, & yt lyke yow to here the purpoos 
 of this play, 
 
 That [ys] J re-presentyd now in yower syght 
 Whych in Aragon was doon, 3 the sothe to saye, 
 
 In Eraclea, that famous cyte, aryght, 
 
 Ther-in wowneth a m^rchante off mekyll myght, 
 Syr Arystorye was called hys name, 
 
 Kend full fere v/ith mani a wyght, 
 Full fer in the worlde sprong hys fame. 16 
 
 l Corr. by S. * S. femely. 5. ; MS. doon.
 
 24O THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 PRIMUS. A-non to hym l ther cam a Jewe, 
 
 Vfiih grete rychesse for the nonys, 
 And wonweth in the cyte of Surrey, //ns 2 full trewe, 
 
 Yn wyche 8 had gret plete off p;-<?cyous stonys. 20 
 
 Off th\s Cristen nvrchante he freyned 4 sore, 
 
 Wane he wolde haue had hys entente. 
 Twenti pownd 5 and iru?rchandyse mor 
 
 He prtfferyd for the holy Sacrament. 24 
 
 SECUNDUS. But the Christen merchante theroff sed nay, 
 
 Be-cause hys profer was of so lityll valewe ; 
 An hundder pownd G but he wolde pay, 
 
 No lenger theron he shuld pursewe. 28 
 
 But mor off ther purpos they gun#e 7 speke, 
 
 The holi Sacramente for to bye ; 
 And all for [that] //ze[i] wolde 8 be wreke, 
 
 A gret sume off gold be-gune down ley. 32 
 
 PRIMUS. Thys Crysten m^rchante cosentyd, the sothe to 
 sey, 
 
 And in the nyght affter made hym delyu^rance. 9 
 Thes Jewes all grete joye made they, 
 
 But off thys betyde a stranger chano? : 36 
 
 They grevid our Lord gretly on grownd, 
 And put hym to a new^ 10 passyon ; 
 
 1 MS. hyn ; corr. by S. 2 S. supplies [ys]. 
 
 8 S. supplies [he], but the final -e of wyche contains he. In MS. at the 
 beginning of this line the first four -words of the next line -were written by 
 mistake and then crossed out. 
 
 * MS. freynend ; corr. by S. 
 
 6 MS. xxti li ; S. xxti pownd. 
 
 MS. An c li ; S. An c pownd. 
 ? S. gune; MS. gune. 
 
 8 MS. woldr; S. composed a new line: And all on the sauyowr of the 
 world to be wreke ; the corrections above are by H. 
 
 9 MS.; S. deliu^rance. 
 
 10 The word in MS. is said to look like nell<?, but cf. 723.
 
 THE BANES OF THE PLAY. 24! 
 
 With daggers gouen hym many a greuyos woud ; 
 
 Nayled hym to a pyller ; w/t# pynsons plukked hym 
 
 doue. 40 
 
 SECUNDUS. And sythe thay toke thai blysed Brede so 
 sowwde 
 
 And in a cawdron they ded hym boyle, 1 
 In a clothe full just they yt woude, 
 
 And so they ded hym sethe in oyle ; 44 
 
 And than thay putt hym to a new tormentry, 
 
 In an hoote ouyn 2 speryd hym fast. 
 There he appyred wz't/z woutfdw blody ; 
 
 The ovyn refe a-sondre & all tobrast. 
 
 PRIMUS. Thus in ouer lawe they wer made stedfast ; 
 The holy Sacremet sheuyd them grette faueur ; 
 
 In contrycyon th[e]yr herds wer cast, 
 And went & shewyd ther lyues to a cofesour. 52 
 
 Thus be maracle off //ze Kyng of hevyn 
 
 And by myght & power govyn to the. presto's mowthe 
 In an howshold wer con[v]^rtyd 3 i-wys elevyn.* 
 
 At Rome this 5 myracle ys knowen well kowthe. 
 
 SECUNDUS. Thys marycle at Rome was presented, for 
 
 sothe, 
 Yn the yere of ou<?r 6 Lord a Mlcccclxi 7 
 
 That the Jewes that 8 holy Sacrament dyd with* 
 In the forest seyd of Aragon. 60 
 
 Be-low thus God at a tyme showyd hym there, 
 
 Thorwhe hys m^rcy & hys mekyll myght ; 
 Vnto the Jewes he gan 10 appere 
 
 That thei shuld nat lesse hys hevenly lyght. 
 
 1 MS. boylde ; corr. by S. 6 MS. apparently y s y s ; corr. by S. 
 
 2 MS. hoote ob ouyn ; corr. by S. 6 S. you r . 
 
 8 Corr. by S. 1 g. M'ccCc.c.lxi. 
 * S. I wyll wys xi. 8 5. wt. 
 
 9 H. suggested the addition 0/nothe ; but later 627 made him doubtful. 
 10 MS. gayn ; S. [did a-]gayn.
 
 242 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 PRIMUS. So therfor, frendz>, w/t/z all your myght 
 Vnto youer gostly father shewe your synne ; 
 
 Beth in no wanhope daye nor nyght. 
 No maner off dowghtzj that. Lord put in ; 68 
 
 ffor thai the dowgthtz> //ze Jewys than in stode, 
 
 As ye shall se pleyd, both more & lesse, 
 Was yff the Sacrament wer flesshe & blode ; 
 
 Therfor they put yt to suche dystresse. 
 
 SECUNDUS. And yt place yow, thys gaderyng thai 
 
 here ys, 
 At Croxston on Monday yt shall be sen ; 
 
 To see l the conclusyon of this lytell pr^cesse 
 Hertely welcuw shall yow bene. 76 
 
 Now Jh^ni yow sawe from 2 trey 8 & tene, 
 
 To * send vs hys hyh^ ioyes of hevyne, 
 There myght ys wz't/zouton mynd 5 to mene ! 
 
 Now, mynstrell, blow vp wz't^ a mery stevyn ! 80 
 
 Explicit. 
 
 Here after foloweth the Play of the Conversyon 
 of Ser Jonathas the Jewe by Myracle of the. 
 Blyssed Sacrament. 
 
 ARISTORIUS MERCA-TOR. Now Cryst, thai ys ou<?r Creatour, 
 from shame he cure vs ; 
 
 He 7 maynteyn vs vfiih myrth that meve vpon the mold ; 
 Vnto hys endlesse joye myghtly he restore vs, 
 
 All tho that in hys 8 name in peas well them hold ; 
 
 1 H. wishes to read say. 4 Qy- And. 
 
 2 MS. froii ; corr. by S. 5 Qy. end, or mynn. 
 * S. treyn ; corr. by H. 
 
 A list of dramatis personae is given at the end of the play, p. 276. 
 7 MS. be; corr. by S. 8 S. thys.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 243 
 
 For of a merchante most myght therof my tale ys told, 
 In Eraclea ys now suche, woso l wyll vnder-stond, 
 
 For off all Aragon I am most myghty of sylu<?r & of 
 
 gold, 
 ffor, & yt wer a coutre to by, now wold I nat wond. 8 
 
 Syr Arystory is my name, 
 
 A merchante myghty of a royall araye ; 
 fful wyde in this, worlde spryngyth my fame, 
 
 Fen? kend & knowen, tht sothe for to saye. 
 
 In all man^r of londz'-r, wz't^out ony naye, 
 My m^rchandyse renneth, thz sothe for to tell ; 
 
 In Gene & in Jenyse & in Genewaye, 
 In Surrey 2 & in Saby & in Saleru I sell ; 16 
 
 In Antyoche & in Almayn moch ys my myght, 
 
 In Braban & in Brytayn I am full bold, 
 In Calabre & in Coleyn ther ryng^ 8 I full ryght, 
 
 In Dordrede & in Denmark [I] be thz chyffe cold, 4 
 
 In Alysander I haue abudaw[n]se 5 in the wyde world, 
 In France & in Farre fresshe be my flower[is], 5 
 
 In Gyldre & in Galys haue I bowght & sold, 
 In Hamborowh^ & in Holond moch^ m^rchantdyse ys owm ; 24 
 
 In Jerusalem & in Jherico a-mo#g the Jewes jentle, 
 
 Amo[n]g 5 tho Caldeys & Cattlyng/j kend ys my komyng ; 
 
 In Raynes 6 & in Rome to Seynt Petyrs temple 
 
 I am knowen certenly for bying & sellyng ; 28 
 
 In Mayn & in Melan full mery haue I be ; 
 
 Owtof Naveru to Naples moch good ys that I bryng ; 
 In Pondere & in Portyngale moche ys my gle ; 
 
 In Spayne & in Spruce moche ys my spedyng ; 
 
 In Lombardy & in Lachborn, there ledde ys my lykyng ; 
 
 1 S. w[h]oso. 2 MS. surgery; S. surry. 3 S. suggests reygne. 
 
 4 H. reads I haue be the chyffe told; told is probably right. 
 6 S. 6 H. reads Raymes.
 
 244 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 In Taryfe & in Turkey, there told ys my tale ; 
 
 And in the. dukedow of Oryon moche have I in weldyng : 
 And thus thorowght all this world sett ys my sale. 36 
 
 No man in thys world may weld more rychesse; 
 
 All I thank God of hys grace, for he yt 1 me sent ; 
 And as a lordts pere thus lyve I in worthynesse. 
 
 My curat waytheth 2 vpon me to knowe myn intent, 
 
 And me at my weldyng, & all ys me lent 
 My well for to worke in thys worlde so wyde. 8 
 
 Me dare they nat dysplese by no condescent, 4 
 And who-so doth, he ys nat able to, a-byde. 44 
 
 PRESBYTER. No ma shall you tary ne t[r]owble 5 thys tyde, 
 
 But ev^ry maw delygently shall do yow plesance ; 
 And I vnto my connyng to the, best shall hem guyde 
 
 Vnto 6 God/j plesyng to s^rue yow to utterance ; 7 
 ffor ye be worthy & notable in substance of good, 
 
 Off merchants of Aragon ye have no pere, 
 And ther-of thank God thai dyed on the roode, 
 
 That was your makers & hath yow dere. 52 
 
 ARISTORIUS. For soth, syr pryst, yovver talkyng ys good ; 
 
 And therfor affter your talkyng I wyll atteyn 
 To wourshyppe my God that dyed on the roode, 
 
 Neu*?r 8 whyll thai I lyve ageyn thai wyll I seyn. 
 
 But, Petyr Powle, my clark, I praye the goo wele pleyn 
 Thorowght all Eraclea, 9 that thow ne wonde, 9 
 
 And wytte yff ony m^rchante be come to this reyn 
 Of Surrey or of Sabe or of Shelys-down. 60 
 
 CLERICUS. At you^r wyll for to walke I wyl nat say nay, 
 Smertly to go serche at the watem syde ; 
 
 1 S. yt. 4 MS. condestent ; corr. by S. 
 
 2 H. corrects to wayteth. 6 S. 
 
 8 In S. misprinted wydc. 6 Qy. Vnder. 
 
 T S. attrueance; H. proposes accrueance. 
 8 MS. ; S. Ever, but, as H. faints out, Neuer is right. 
 *> H. proposes both vp and down, cf. 1. 66.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 245 
 
 Yff ony pleasant bargyn be to your paye, 
 
 As swyftly as I caw I shall hym to yow guyde. 
 Now wyll I walke by thes pathes wyde, 
 
 And seke the haven both vp and down 
 
 To wette yf ony unkowth l shyppes therin do ryde, 
 
 Of Surrey or of Saby [or] 2 of Shelys-down. 68 
 
 Now shall th* mercAanAs man with-drawe hym and the /ewe Jonathan shall 
 make hys lest? 
 
 JONATHAS. Now, almighty Machomet, marke 4 in th\ mageste, 
 
 Whose 5 lawes tendrely I have to f ulfyll, 
 After my dethe bryng me to thy hyh* see, 
 
 My sowle for to save yff yt be thy wyll ; 
 
 For myn entent ys for to fulfyll 
 As my gloryus God the to honer. 6 
 
 To do agen thy entent, yt shuld gr[e]ue me yll 
 Or agen thyn lawe for to reporte ; 76 
 
 For I thawke the hayly tha\. hast me sent 
 
 Gold, 7 syluer & pr<?syous stonys, 
 And abuddance of spycz'j tho\i hast me lent, 
 
 A[s] 2 I shall reherse before yow onys : 
 
 I have amatyst/J ryche for the nonys 
 And baryll/j that be bryght of ble, 
 
 And saphyre semely I may show yow attonys 
 And crystalys clere for to se ; 84 
 
 I have dyamant/j dere-wourthy to 8 dresse, 
 
 And emerawdz'-r, ryche I trow they be, 
 Onyx and achat/j 9 both more & lesse. 
 
 Topa^yons, smaragdzV of grete degre, 
 
 Perlys precyous grete plente ; 
 
 l MS. on knowth ; corr. by S. 2 3. 
 
 s H. reads best ; / can suggest nothing better than host (= boast). 
 
 * Qy. moste. 6 S. whoses ; see Notes. 
 
 6 H. faints out that honer does not rhyme with reporte ; possibly beste 
 should be added after honer, and resiste substituted for reporte ; for rhyme, 
 cf. 1. 142. " S. prints godd, but emends to gold in his Glossary. 
 
 8 MS. appears to have do before to. 9 MS. Machatw; corr. by S.
 
 246 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 Of rubes ryche I have grete renown ; 
 
 Crepawdz'j & calcedonyes semely to se, 
 A[nd] l curyous carbuclys here ye fynd mown ; 92 
 
 Spycz'-r I hawe both grete & smale 
 
 In my shyppes, the sothe for to saye, 
 Gyngere, lycoresse and canyngalle, 
 
 And iygis fatte to plese yow to paye, 
 Peper and saffyro & spycis smale, 
 
 And datz'-y wole dulcett for to dresse, 
 Almu;zdis and reys, full euery male, 
 
 And reysones both more & less^ ; loo 
 
 Clowys, greynis 2 & gynger grene, 
 
 Mace, mastyk that myght ys, 
 Synymone, suger, as yow may 3 sene, 
 
 Long 4 peper and Indas lycorys, 
 
 Orengw a[nd] 1 apples of grete ?pryce, 
 Pungarnetz'j 5 & many other spycts 
 
 To tell yow all I have now, i-wys, 6 
 And moche other m<?rchandyse of e[v]*ry l sondry spycis. 108 
 
 Jew Jonathas thys ys my name, 7 
 
 Jazon & Jazdon th&\ waytyn on my wyUV, 
 Masfat & Malchus they do the same, 
 
 As ye may knowe, yt ys bothe rycht & skylk. 
 
 I telle yow alk, bi dal and by hylle, 
 In Eraclea ys noon so moche of myght. 
 
 Werfor ye owe tenderli to tende me tylle, 
 For I a#z chefe merchant*? of Jewes, I telle yow be ryght. 116 
 
 But, Jazon & Jazdon, a mater wolld^ 8 I mene, 
 Mer-velously 9 yt ys ment in mynde, 
 
 1 S. 45. leng. 
 
 2 MS. grenyis ; corr. by S. 6 MS. ; S. pumgarnetir. 
 * S. mayw. * S.I wyse. 
 
 7 MS. Jew Jonathas ys my ys name ; corr. by S. 
 
 8 MS. wolldw- ; corr. by S. 
 
 9 H. ; S. retains reading of MS., mer velensly.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 247 
 
 The beleve of thes Crysten men ys false, as I wene, 
 
 For //2e[i] beleve on a cake, me thynk yt ys onkynd, 
 And alte they seye how the prest dothe yt bynd, 
 
 And be the myght of hys word make yt l flessh & blode, 
 And thus be a conceyte //ze[i] 2 wolde make vs 
 blynd, 
 
 And how thai yt shuld be he thai deyed upon the. rode. 1 24 
 
 JASON. Yea, yea, master, a strawe for talis ! 
 
 That ma not f alle 3 in my beleve ; 
 But myt 4 we yt gete onys wz't/nn our pales, 
 
 I trowe we shuld sone affter putt yt in a preve. 6 
 
 JASDON. Now, be Machomete so myghty, thai ye doon 
 
 of 6 meue 
 I wold I wyste how thai we myght yt gete ; 
 
 I swer 7 be my grete god, & ellys mote I nat cheue 
 But wyghtly the[r]on 2 wold I be wreke. 132 
 
 MASPHAT. Yea, I dare sey feythfulli thai ther feyth [ys 
 fals :] 8 
 
 That was neuer he that on Caluery was kyld, 
 Or in bred for to be blode yt ys ontrewe als ; 9 
 
 But yet wiih ther wyles the\ wold we were wyld. 
 
 MALCUS. Yea, I am myghty Malchus, thai boldly am 
 
 byld ; 
 That brede for to bete byggly am I bent. 
 
 Onys out of ther hand/j & yt myght be exyled, 
 To helpe castyn yt in care wold I consent. 140 
 
 JONAT[H]AS. Z Well, syrse, than kype cusel, I cuwmande 
 
 yow all, 
 
 And no word of all thys be wyst. 
 But let us walke to see Arystories halk, 
 
 1 S. y*. 4 H. corrects the spelling to myght. 
 
 25. 5 S. ; MS. praye. ? S. seuer. S. als[o]. 
 
 3 H. ; S. manot sale. 6 3. of[t]. 8 S. [ys so].
 
 248 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 And affter-ward more couselli amowg vs shall l caste. 
 
 Wz't// hym to bey & to sel I am of powere prest ; 
 A hargyn vnith hym to make I wyll assaye ; 
 
 ffof gold & syluer I am nothyng agast 
 But that, we shall get that, cake to ower paye. 148 
 
 Her shall jer Ysodyr, the prest, speke -with* .rer Ary start, seyng on thyc 
 ivyse to hym ; &*Jonatkas goo don s of his stage. 
 
 PRESBITER. Syr, be your leue, I may [no] 4 le#gere dwell ; 
 
 Yt ys fer paste none, yt ys tyme to go to cherche, 
 There to saye myn evynsong, forsothe as I yow tell, 
 
 And syth come 5 home ageyne, as I aw wont to werche. 152 
 
 ARISTORIUS. Sir Isydor, I praye yow, walke at yowr wylk, 
 
 ffor to serfe God yt ys well done ; 
 And syt[h] 6 com<? agen & ye shall suppe your fylk, 
 And walke tha to your 7 chamber, as ye ar wont to doon. 1 56 
 
 Her shall the marchanAs man 8 mete with the femes. 
 
 JONAT[H]AS. G A ! Petre Powle, good dctye & wele i-mett ! 9 
 
 Wer ys thy 10 master, as I the pray ? 
 CLERICUS. Lon[g] 6 from hym haue I not lett 
 
 Syt[h] 6 I cam irom hym, the. sothe for to saye. 
 
 Wat tidyng wz'tA yow, ser, I yow praye, 
 Affter my master that, ye doo fraye? 
 
 Haue ye ony bargen that, wer to hys paye? 
 Let me haue knowlech ; I shall wete hym to seyn. 164 
 
 JHONATHAS. I haue bargenes royaUV & ry[c]h 6 
 
 ffor a marchante \vitA to bye and sell ; 
 In all thys lond is ther non lyke 
 
 Off abudano? of good, as I will tell. 168 
 
 1 S. inserts [be]. 65. 
 
 2 S. out. 7 S. yor. 
 
 8 H. corrects the spelling to down. 8 MS. marchant men ; corr. by S. 
 * S. [nat]. 9 MS. I mett ; S. imett. 
 
 5 MS. cone ; corr. 6y S. 10 S. they.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 249 
 
 Her shall th* clerk goon to svc A ristori, saluting him thus : 
 
 CLERICUS. All hayll, master, & wel mot yow be ! : 
 
 Now tydyngtf can I yow tell : 
 Z/fce grettest marchante in all Surre 
 Ys come wz't^ yow to bey & sell, 
 
 This tale ryght well he me told. 2 
 Sir Jonat[h]as 3 ys hys nam, 
 A marchant of ryght gret fame ; 
 He wolldtf sell yow, w/t^-out blame, 
 
 P[l]ente 8 of clothe of golde. 177 
 
 ARISTORIUS. Petre Powle ; I can thz thanke ! 
 
 I prey thz. rychely araye myn hall? 
 As owyth for a marchant of the banke ; 
 
 Lete non defawte be fownd at all*?. 
 
 CLERICUS. Sekyrly, master, no m[o]re 8 ther shall. 
 Styffly about 1 thynke to stere, 
 
 Hasteli 4 to hange your parlowr wz't^ pall, 
 As longeth for a lordis pere. 185 
 
 Here shall thejewe merchants &" his men come to th* Cristeu merchante. 
 
 JONATHAS. All haylle, syr Aristorye, semele to se, 
 
 The myghtyest nvrchante off Arigon ! 
 Off yower welfare fayn wet wold we, 
 
 And to bargeyn wz't^ you t&is day am 5 I bou. 189 
 
 ARISTORIUS. Sir Jonathas, ye be weltecuw vnto myn halk ! 
 
 I pray yow come vp & sit bi me, 
 And tell<? me wat good ye haue to selk, 
 
 And yf ony bargeyn 6 mad may be. 193 
 
 JONATHAS. I haue clothe of gold, pm:yous stons & spyc^ 
 
 plente. 
 Wyth yow a bargen wold I make ; 
 
 1 S. for MS. yowbe. 
 
 2 MS. this 1 1 \J\ ryght nell heme tell ; corr. by S. Perhaps the fourth 
 word should be now; cf. p. 240, 1. 38. * H. ; S. hasterli. 
 
 8 S. 5 s. ; MS. an. 
 
 6 S. bargeny ; bargen ymade seems unlikely.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 I wold bartre wyth yow in pryvyte 
 
 On lytell^thyng, 1 ye wylle me yt take 
 
 Prevely in this, stownd 
 And I woll? sure yow be thys lyght, 
 Neu<?r dystrie yow daye nor nyght, 
 But be sworn to yow full ryght 
 
 And geve yow twenti pownde. 2 202 
 
 ARISTORIUS. Sir Jonathas, sey me for my sake, 
 
 What man^r of marchandis ys yt 8 ye mene ? 
 JONATHAS. Yowr God, thai ys full mytheti, in a cake, 
 
 And thys good anoon shall yow seen. 
 
 [ARISTORIUS.] 4 Nay, in feyth, thai shall not bene. 
 I wollnot for an hundder 5 pownd 
 
 To stond in fere my Lord to tene 
 And ior so lytelL? a walew in cowscyence 6 to stond bownd. 210 
 
 JONATHAS. Sir, th& entent ys if I myght knowe or vnder- 
 take 
 
 Yf thai he were God alk-myght ; 
 Off all my mys I woll amende make 
 
 And doon hym wourshepe bothe day nyght. 214 
 
 ARISTORIUS. Jonathas, trowth I shall thz tell : 
 
 I stond in gret dowght to do thai dede, 
 To yow thai bere all 7 for to sell 
 
 I fere me thai I shuld stond in drede ; 
 
 ffor, & I vnto the chyrche yede, 
 And preste or clerke myght me aspye, 
 
 To tht bysshope th\ wolde go telk thai dede 
 
 me of eresye. 8 222 
 
 JONATHAS. Sir, as for thai, good shyffte may ye make, 
 And, for a vaylle, to walkyn on a nyght 
 
 1 H. inserts yf. 6 H. reads hunderd. 
 
 2 MS. xxti li. ; S. xx^ pownd. 6 S. ; MS. cowstyene. 
 S. yt. 7 Q y . bereall = beryl. 
 
 4 S. 8 S. tresye ; H. apostasye, but cf. 1. 777.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 2$ I 
 
 Wan prest & clerk to rest ben take ; 
 
 Than shall ye be spyde of no wyght. 
 
 ARISTORIUS. Now sey me, Jonathas, be this lyght ! 
 Wat payment therior wollde yow me make ? 
 
 JONATHAS. Forty pownd, 1 & pay yt fulryght, 
 Evyn for thai Lorde 2 sake. 230 
 
 ARISTORIUS. Nay, nay, Jonathas, there-agen ; 
 
 I w[o]ld s not for an hunder 4 pownd. 
 JONATHAS. Sir, hir ys [yojw^r 3 askyng toolde pleyn, 
 
 I shall yt tell in this stownd. 234 
 
 {Counts out the money '.] 
 
 Here is an hunder pownd, 6 neyther mor nor lesse, 
 
 Of dokettw good, I dar well saye ; 
 Tell yt er yow from me passe. 
 
 Me thynketh yt a royally araye ! 238 
 
 But fyrst, I pray yow, tell me thys : 
 
 Off thys thyng whan shalte I hafe delyu^rance? 
 ARISTORI. To-morowe be-tymes ; I shallnot myse ; 
 
 This nyght therfor I shall^ make pwrveance. 242 
 
 Syr Isodyr he ys now at chyrch, 
 There seyng hys evynsong, 
 As yt ys 6 worshepe for to werche ; 
 
 He shall sone cum home, he wyll nat be long, 
 
 Hys soper for to eate ; 
 And when*? he ys buskyd to hys bedde, 
 Ryght sone [t]here-after he 7 shalbe spedd. 
 No speche among yow ther be spredd ; 
 
 To kepe your toung/> ye nott lett. 251 
 
 JONATHAS. Syr, almyghty Machomyght be w/L& yow ! 
 And I shalL? cum agayn ryght sone. 
 
 1 MS. xl li. ; S. xl pownd. * S. has C. 
 
 2 H. reads lordes. 6 MS. has C. li. ; S. has C. pownd. 
 S. 6 S. As yt hys ; H. As yt [ys] hys. 7 H. ye.
 
 252 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 ARYSTORIUS. Jonathas, ye wott what I haue sayd, & how 
 
 I shalli? warke l for that we haue to donn. 255 
 
 Here goeth the Jewys away &" th^ prtste commyth home. 
 
 PRESBITER. Syr, almyghty God mott be yow^r gyde 
 
 And glad yow where-soo ye rest ! 
 ARISTORIUS. Syr, ye be welcom home thys tyde ! 
 
 Now, Peter, gett vs wyne of the best. 259 
 
 CLERICUS. Syr, here ys a drawte of Romney Red, 
 
 Ther ys no better in Aragon, 
 And a lofe of lyght bred, 
 
 Yt ys holesom, as sayeth th& fesycyon. 263 
 
 ARYSTORIUS. Drynke of, 2 ser Isoder, & be of good chere ! 
 
 Thys Romney ys good to goo w/tA to reste ; 
 Ther ys no precyouser fer nor nere, 
 
 For alh? wykkyd metys yt wylh? degest. 267 
 
 PRESBITER. Syr, thys wyne ys good at a taste, 
 
 And ther-of haue I drunke ryght welk. 
 To bed to gone thus haue I cast 
 
 Euyn strayt after thys mery mele. 271 
 
 Now, ser, I pray to God send yow good nyght, 8 
 
 ffor to my chamber now wylL? I gonne. 
 ARISTORIUS.' S*?r, w/t# yow be God almyght, 4 
 
 And sheld yow euer from yowr fone ! 275 
 
 [Exit the priest] Here shall A ristorius call hys clarke to hys present. 
 
 Howe, Peter ! In the ys all my trust, 
 In especyall? to kepe my conselh? : 
 
 1 S. walke. 
 
 2 H. reads therof, as in 269 ; but of is off. 
 8 S. rest ; emend, by H. 
 
 4 S. reads almyght[est], and says: " The scribe had added a y and ex- 
 punged it imperfectly!' 1 This seems to justify H. in retaining the MS. 
 reading.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 2 53 
 
 ffor a lytyll? waye walkyn I must. 
 
 I wyll* not be long ; trust as I the tell*. 279 
 
 [He goes toward the church^ 
 
 Now pr<?uely wyll* I p*rsew my pace, 
 
 My bargayn thys nyght for to fulfyll*. 
 Ser Isoder shall*? nott know of thys case, 
 
 For he hath oftyn sacred, as yt ys skylk. 
 
 The chyrche key ys at my wyll* ; 
 Ther ys no-thyng* thai me shall* tary, 
 
 I wyll* nott abyde by dale nor hyll* 
 Tyll* yt be wrowght, by Saynt Mary ! 287 
 
 Here shal he enter th^ chyrche & take th* Hoost. 
 
 Ah ! now haue I all* my# entent ; 
 
 Vnto Jonathas now wyll<? I fare ; 
 To full*fyll* my bargayn haue I ment, 
 
 For tha\. mony wyll* amend my fare, 
 As thynketh me. 
 
 \Exitfrotn church,] 
 
 But now wyll<? I passe by thes pathes playne ; 
 To mete w/t Jonathas I wold fayne. 
 Ah ! yonder he comwzyth in certayne ; 
 
 Me thynkyth I hym see ! 296 
 
 Welcom, Jonathas, gentyUV & trew, 
 
 ffor welk & tr[e]wly l thou kepyst thyn howre ; 
 Here ys the Host, sacred newe. 
 
 Now wylL? I home to halle & bowre. 300 
 
 JONATHAS. And I shall kepe thys trusty treasure 
 
 As I wold doo my gold and fee. 
 Now in thys clothe I shall* the couer, 
 
 That no wyght shall* the see. 304 
 
 i S.
 
 254 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 Here shall A ry story goo hys waye &*Jonathas & kys seruauniis shall goo 
 to the tabyll thus sayng: 
 
 JONATHAS. Now, Jason & Jasdon, ye 1 be Jewys jentylk, 
 
 Masfat & Malchus, that myghty arn in mynd, 
 Thys merchant from the Crysten temple 
 
 Hath<? gett vs thys bred that 2 make vs thus blynd. 
 
 Now, Jason, as jentylk as euer was the lynde, 
 Into the forsayd parlowr preuely take thy pase ; 
 
 Sprede a clothe on the tabyll thai ye shalk Mere fynd, 
 And we shanV folow after to carpe of thys case. 312 
 
 Now the Jewys goon &= lay the Ost on the tabyll, sayng: 
 
 JONATHAS. Sym, I praye yow alh?, harkyn to my sawe ! 
 
 Thes Crysten men carpyn of a rrwvelows 3 case ; 
 They say thai this ys Ihi.ru thai was attaynted in ow^r lawe 
 
 And thai thys ys he thai crwcyfyed was. 316 
 
 On thes wordys there law growndyd hath he 
 
 That he sayd on Sherethursday at hys soper : 
 He brake the brede & sayd Accipite, 
 
 And gave hys dyscyplys them for to chere ; 
 
 And more he sayd to them there, 
 Whyle they were aMe together & sum, 
 
 Syttyng at the table soo clere, 
 Comedite, \Jioc esf\ corpus meum. 324 
 
 And thys powre he gaue Peter to pr^clame, 
 
 And how the same shuld be suffycyent to all? pr^chors ; 
 The bysshoppys & curatz'-r saye the same, 
 
 And soo, as I vnderstond, do all<? hys pr^genytors. 328 
 
 JASON. Yea, sum men in thai law reherse a-nother : 
 
 They say of a maydyn borne was hee, 
 And how Joachyms dowghter shuld be hys mother, 
 
 Ana 1 how Gabrelh? apperyd & sayd Aue ; 
 
 1 Qy- y l - 2 S. inserts wold. MS. ; S. marvelous.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 255 
 
 And with thai worde she 1 shuld conceyuyd be, 
 And thai in hyr shuld lyght the Holy Cost, 
 
 Ageyns ow^r law thys ys false heresy, 
 And ye.it they saye he ys of myght/j most. 336 
 
 JASDON. They saye that Ih&ru to be ow^r kyng^, 
 
 But I wene he bowght yt 2 full*? dere. 
 But they make a royalk aray of hys vprysyg ; 
 
 And that in euery place ys pr^chyd farre & nere, 
 
 And how he to hys dyscyples agayn dyd appere, 
 To Thomas and to Mary Mawdelen, 
 
 And syth how he styed by hys own powre 5 8 
 And thys, ye know well, ys heresy fulte playn. 344 
 
 MASPHAT. Yea, & also they say he sent them wytt & wys- 
 
 dom 
 
 ffor to vnderstond euery langwage ; 
 When the. Holy Cost to them came, 4 
 
 They faryd as dronk men of pymente or v^rnage ; 
 And sythen how that he lykenyd hym-self a lord of 
 
 p<zrage, 
 On hys fatherys ryght hond he hym sett. 
 
 They hold hym wyser than euer was Syble sage, 
 And strenger than Alexander, that alk th& worde 6 ded 
 
 gett. 352 
 
 MALCHUS. Yea, yet they say as fals, I dare laye my hedde, 
 
 How they that be ded shall com agayn to Judgement, 
 And ow^r dredfulk Judge shalbe thys same brede, 
 
 And how lyfe eu^rlastyng them shuld be lent. 
 
 And thus they hold, all at one 6 consent, 
 Be-cause that Phylyppe sayd for a lytylk glosse 
 
 To turne vs from owr beleve ys ther entent, 
 ffor that he sayd judecare vtuos <&- mortuos. 360 
 
 1 H. wishes to read he. * So MS. ; S. [dyd] come. 
 
 2 S. y l . 5 S. wor[l]de ; but worde is a common spelling. 
 8 H. corrects the spelling to power. 6 MS. ; S. on.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 JONATHAS. Now, ser/j, ye haue rehersyd the substance of 
 ther * lawe. 
 
 But thys bred I wold myght be put in a prete. 
 Whether Mis be he that in Bosra of vs had awe. 
 
 Ther staynyd were hys clothys, //s may we belefe ; 
 
 Thys may we know, then? had he grefe, 
 For ow^r old bookys veryfy thus, 
 
 Thereon he was jugett to be hangyd as a thefe, 
 Tine (is ' 2 [_de~\ Bosra vestibus. 368 
 
 JASON. Yff thai thys be he that on Caluery was mad red, 
 
 Onto my mynd, I shalte kenne yow a conceyt good : 
 Surely wz't/z ow^r daggars we shalte ses on 3 thys bredde, 
 
 And so wz't^ clowtz'j we shall know yf 4 he haue eny 
 
 blood. 
 JASDON. Now, by Machomyth so myghty, thai meuyth 
 
 in my mode ! 
 Thys ys masterly ment, thys matter thus to meue ; 
 
 Andwiih ow^r strokys we shall*? fray hym as he was on 
 
 the rode, 
 That he was on don viiih grett repreue. 376 
 
 MASPHAT. Yea, I pray yow, smyte ye in the myddys of 
 the. cake, 
 
 And so shalk we smyte theron woundys fyve ; 
 We wylh? not spare to wyrke yt wrake 
 
 To prove in thys brede yf ther be eny lyfe. 380 
 
 MALCHUS. Yea, goo w.e to, than, & take ow<?r 5 space, 
 
 Andlooke owr daggam be sharpe & kene ; 
 Andvt\\cn eche man a stroke smytte hase, 
 
 In the mydylk parl thereof ow^r master shalk bene. 
 
 JONATHAS. When ye haue alk smytyn, my stroke 
 shalbe sene ; 
 
 1 MS. oi"; corr. by S. 4 MS. ys. ; corr. by S. 
 
 2 S. Tinctio ; corr. by H. 6 MS. yow^ ; emend, by S. 
 8 S. seson ; cf. 390.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 2$? 
 
 With /^is same dagger that ys so styf & strong 
 
 In the myddys of thys prynt I thynke for to prene ; 
 On lashe I shall? hym<? lende or yt be long. 388 
 
 Here sAalk the iiij Jewys pryk ther daggers in iiij yua[r]ters, 1 thus sayng : 
 
 JASON. Haue at yt ! Haue at yt, w/t/z all? my myght ! 
 
 Thys syde I hope for to sese ! 
 JASDON. And I shall w/t thys blade so bryght 
 
 Thys other syde freshely a-feze ! 
 
 MASPHAT. And I yow plyght I shall*? hym not please, 
 For with thys punche I shall? hym pryke. 
 
 MALCHUS. And -with thys angus 2 I shall*? hym not ease, 
 A-nother buffett shalk he lykke. 396 
 
 JONATHAS. Now am I bold wz't^ batayle hym to bleyke, 
 
 77's mydle part alle for to prene ; 
 A stowte stroke also for to stryke, 
 
 In the. myddys yt shalbe sene ! 400 
 
 Here the Ost must blede. 
 
 Ah ! owt ! owt ! harrow ! what deuyll? ys thys ? 
 
 Of thys wyrk I am in were ; 
 Yt bledyth as yt were woode, i-wys ; 
 
 But yf ye helpe, I shall dyspayre. 404 
 
 JASON. A fyre ! a fyre ! & that in hast ! 
 
 Anoon a cawdron full? of oyle ! 
 JASDON. And I shalle helpe yt wer in cast, 
 
 All the. iij howro fo[r] l to boyle ! 408 
 
 [Malchus goes to get the oil.] 
 
 MASPHAT. Yea, 3 here is a furneys stowte & strong, 
 And a cawdron therin dothe hong ! 
 Malcus, wher art thow so long, 
 
 To helpe thys dede were dyght ? 
 
 IS. 
 
 2 Kittredge suggests dagger ; H. anguish. 
 
 8 An attempt seems to have been made to cancel the a of yea in MS.
 
 258 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 MALCUS. Loo, here ys iiij galons off oyle clere ! 
 Haue doone l fast ! blowe up the fere ! 
 Syr, bryng that ylke cake nere, 
 
 . Ma#ly, \\iik all yowre mygthe. 416 
 
 JONATHAS. And I shall bryng thai ylke cak[e] 2 
 And throw yt in, I undertake. 
 Out ! out ! yt werketh me wrake ! 
 
 I may not awoyd yt owt of my hond ! 
 I wylle goo drenche me in a lake, 
 And \n woodnesse I gynne to wake ! 3 
 
 I rene, I lepe, ou<?r this lond ! 423 
 
 Her he renneth wood, with the Ost in hys hond. 
 
 JASON. Renne, felawes, renne, 4 for Cokkts peyn! 
 Fast 5 we had ow^r mayster agene ! 
 
 [They catch Jonathan.] 
 
 Hold pn?stly 6 on thys pleyn 7 
 
 And taste bynd hyme to a poste. 
 JASDON. Here is an hamer & naylys iij, I s[e]ye. 2 
 Lyffte vp hys armys, felawe[s], on hey, 
 Whylk I dryue thzs nayles, I yow praye, 
 
 strong strokz'j fast. 431* 
 
 MASPHAT. 9 Now set on, felouse, wzt^t mayne & myght, 
 And pluke hys armes awey in hyght ! 10 
 Wat ! I se u he twycche, felovse, a-ryght ! 
 Alas, balys breweth ryght badde ! 
 
 i MS. ; S. doon. 25. 8 H. proposes rake. 
 
 4 MS. reme ; corr. by S. 6 H. inserts that. 
 
 6 S. prcstly [1], but MS. is fairly clear. 
 
 7 S. feleyn [?] ; MS. has pleyn with an elaborate curl and stroke over 
 n ; H. proposes sely sweyn. 
 
 8 The line numbering in S. is wrong from here on ; six lines are twice 
 numbered as five. 
 
 9 MS. Malspas ; corr. by S. 1 S. fyght ; possibly sight was intended. 
 11 S. reads yse, and suggests yfe.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 259 
 
 Here skalfe thay pluke the arme, & th* hand shalfe fang* sty lie wi/h th* 
 Sacrament. 
 
 MALCHUS. 2 Alas, alas, what deuyll ys thys? 
 Now hat[h] 3 he but oon hand, i-wyse ! 
 ffor sothe, mayster, ryght woo me is 
 
 Thai ye this harme hawe hadde. 439 
 
 JONATHAS. Ther ys no more ; I must enduer ! 
 
 Now hastely to ow^r chamber lete us go[n], 
 Tylk I may get me sum recuer ; 
 
 And ther-for [I] charge yow euery-choon 
 
 That yt be conselk? that we haue doon. 444 
 
 [They go out.} 
 Here shalte the lechys man come into the place sayng : 
 
 COLLE. Aha ! here ys a fayer felawshyppe, 
 Thewh* I be nat shapyn, 4 [yn] I lyst to sleppe. 
 I haue a master I wolld he had the pyppe, 
 
 I tell yow \n consel. 
 He ys a ma off all<? syence, 
 But off thryfte I may wz't^ yow dyspece ! 
 He syttyth 5 wz't^ sum tapstere in the. spence ; 
 
 Hys hoode there wyll he selk. 452 
 
 Mayster Brendyche of Braban, 
 I tell<? yow he ys that same ma, 
 Called the. most famous phesy[cy]an 3 
 
 That euer sawe vryne. 
 He seeth as wele at noone as at nyght, . 
 And suwtyme by a candelleyt 
 Can gyff a judgyment 6 aryght 
 
 As he that hathe noon 7 eyn. 460 
 
 1 MS. sang ; emend, by S. ; his proposal of hang (in Glossary) can 
 derive no support from " a-fingred/or ahungered." 
 
 2 Wanting in MS.; S. fives [Malchas]. 3 S. 
 
 * S. Sh[]pyn p , the reading adopted was suggested by Dr. F. N. Robinson. 
 
 MS. sytthyt; corr. by S. 
 
 6 MS. Judyyment ; corr. by S. 
 
 ' MS. nood, which S. thinks may mean use [of].
 
 26O THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 He ys ail-so a boone-setter, 
 I knowe no man go the better ; 
 In euery tau^rne he ys detter, 
 
 Yt ys a good tokenyng. 
 But eu^r I wonder he ys so long ; 
 I fere ther gooth sum-thyng a- wrong, 
 For he hath dysa[rv]yde l to be hong, 
 
 Godsewd nevu?r warse tydyng ! 468 
 
 He had a lady late in cure ; 
 I wot be th\s she ys full sure ; 
 There shall? neuer Crysttn creature 
 
 Here hyr tell no tale. 
 And I stode here tylle mydnyght, 
 1 cowde not declare a-ryght 
 My masteris cuyng in-syght 
 
 That he hat[h] 2 in good ale. 476 
 
 But 8 what deuyll ayleth 4 hym so long to tare ? 
 
 A seekma myght soone myscary. 
 
 Now all? the deuyllys of hell hym wari ! 
 
 God g[ra]nte 2 me my boon ! 
 I trowe best, we mak a crye : 
 Yf any maw can hym 8 aspye, 
 Led hym to //ze pyller[ye]. 2 
 
 In fayth, yt shall be don. 484 
 
 Here shalle he stand vp &* make proclamation, ftyng tkyt : 
 
 COLLE. Yff therbe eyther ma# or woma 
 That sawe Master Brudyche of Braban, 
 Or owyht of hym tel can, 
 
 Shall wele be quit hys mede ; 6 v 
 He hath a cut berd & a flatte noose, 
 A therde-bare gowne & a rent hoose ; 
 He spekyt[h] 2 neuer good mater*? nor prpoose ; 
 
 To the. pyllere ye hym led[e]. 2 492 
 
 1 H. 3 S. By. 6 MS. I ; emend, by S. 
 
 2S. <S. dyleth. 6 MS. mew ; corr. by S.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 26 1 
 
 [The master has entered during the Proclamation^ 
 
 MASTER BRUNDYCHE. What, thu boye, what janglest here ? 
 COLL. A ! master, master, but to your reiurrence ! 
 I wend neuer to a seen yowr goodly chere, 
 
 Ye tared hens so long. 
 
 MASTER BRUNDYCHE. What hast thow sayd in my absense ? 
 COLL. Nothyng, master, but to yowr reu^rence, 
 I haue told all Mis audiense, 
 
 And some lyes among. 500 
 
 But, master, I pray yow, how dothe yowr pa[c]yent 1 
 
 That ye had last vnder yowr medycamente? 
 
 MASTER BRUNDYCHE. I warant she neu<?r fele a-noyment. 2 
 
 COLL. Why, ys she in hyr graue ? 
 MASTER BRUNDYCHE. I haue gyven hyr a drynke made full 
 
 well 
 
 Wyth scamoly and w/t^ oxennell, 8 
 Letwyce, sawge and pympernelle. 
 
 COLL. Nay, than she ys full*? saue. 508 
 
 ffor, now ye ar cum, I dare welte saye 
 Betwyn Douyr & Calyce the ryght wey 
 Dwellth non so cunyng, be my fey, 
 
 In my judgyment. 
 MASTER BRUNDYCHE. Cunyng? Yea, yea ; & w/tA prat- 
 
 tise 
 
 I haue sauid many a manys lyfe. 
 COLLE. On wydowes, maydese and wy[v]se l 
 
 Yowr connyng yow haue nyh^ spent. 516 
 
 MASTER BRUNDYCHE. Were ys bowgtt w/t^ 4 drynke profyt- 
 
 able. 
 COLL. Here, master, master, ware how ye tugg ! 
 
 IS. 
 
 2 S. gives MS. as a noynment; my collation shows a noyntment. 
 8 S. emends to oxymell. 
 
 * S. emends to browghtt that, but, as the stanza (or rather, fragment) 
 is unintelligible to me, I give the readings of MS.
 
 262 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 The devylh?, I trowe, w/tA-in shrugge, 
 
 For yt gooth rebylk-rable. 520 
 
 MASTER BRUNDYCHE. Here ys a grete congregacyon, 
 
 And alle benot hole, w/t^out negacyon. 
 
 I wold haue certyfycacyon ; 
 
 Stond vp & make a proclamation. 
 
 Haue do faste, 1 and mak no pausa[c]yon, 2 
 
 But wyghtly mak a declaration 
 
 To alk people thai helpe w[o]lde 2 haue. 527 
 
 Sic interim 3 proclamacionent faciet. 
 
 COLL. All manar off me thai haue any syknes, 
 
 To Master Brentberecly 1'oke thai yow re-dresse. 
 
 What dysease or syknesse thai euer ye haue, 
 
 He wyll neu^r leue yow tylle ye be in yow[r] 2 graue. 
 
 Who hat[h] 2 Me canker, the collyke, or Me laxe, 
 
 The tercyan, Me quartans, or Me brynny[n]g 2 axs, 
 
 ffor wormys, for gnawywg, gryndy[n]g 2 in Me wombe or i 
 
 Me boldyro, 
 
 Alle maner red eyn<?, bleryd eyn, & the rnyegrym also, 
 For hedache, bonache, & therto Me tothache, 
 The colt-euyll, 4 & the brostyn men he wyll undertak, 
 All tho thai [haue] 2 the poose, Me sneke, or Me tyseke, 
 Thowh 5 a man w[e]re 2 ryght heyle, he cowd soone make 
 
 hym seke. 
 
 Inquyre to Me Colkote, for ther ys hys loggyng, 
 A lytylL? be-syde Babwelk Mylk, yf ye wyll haue und[er]- 
 
 stodyng. 2 541 
 
 MASTER BRUNDYCHE. Now, yff therbe ether ma or woman 
 That nedethe helpe of a phesyscion 6 
 COLL. Mary, master, thai I tell can, 
 And ye wyll vnderstond. 
 
 l S. dofaste ; corr. by H. 2 S. 
 
 8 S. gives this reading -with a query ; there is no comment in my collation. 
 
 4 S. Coltugll [?] ; emend, by New Eng. Diet. 
 
 5 MS. ; S. Thowgh. 6 MS. ; S. phesyscian.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 263 
 
 MASTER BRUNDYCHE. Knoest any abut Mis plase ? 
 COLL. Ye, thai I do, master, so haue [I] l grase ; 
 Here ys a Jewe, hyght Jonathas, 
 
 Hath lost hys ryght bond. 549 
 
 MASTER BRUNDYCHE: ffast to hym I wold inquere. 
 COLL. ffor God, master, the. gate ys here. 2 
 MASTER BRUNDYCHE. Than to hym I wylk go nere. 
 
 {Approaches thejews^ 
 
 My master, wele mot yow be ! 
 JONATHAS. What doost here, felawe ? what woldest thu 
 
 hanne ? 
 MASTER BRUNDYCHE. Syr, yf yow nede ony surgeon or 
 
 physycyan, 
 Off yow[r] 8 dyse[se] 3 help yow welle I cane, 
 
 What haftz'j or hermes * so-euer they be. 557 
 
 JONATHAS. Syr, thu art ontawght to come in thus [on-]henly* 
 Or to pere in my presence thus malep^rtly. 
 Voydeth 6 from my syght, & thai wyghtly, 
 
 ffor ye be mysse-a-vysed. 
 
 COLL. Syr, the hurt of yowr hand ys knowen full* ryfe, 
 And my master haue 7 sauyd many a manes lyfe. 
 JONATHAS. I trowe ye be cum to make sum stryfe. 
 
 Hens fast, lest thai ye be chastysed. 565 
 
 COLL. Syr, ye know welle yt can nott mysse, 
 
 Men that be masters of scyens be pr^fytable. 
 
 In a pott yf yt please yow to pysse, 
 He can ielle yf yow be curable. 
 [JONATHAS.] 8 Avoyde, fealows, I loue not yow^r bable ! 
 
 1 S. [yow] ; H. suggests so haue [I] grase, or saue yowr grase. 
 
 ^ S. for MS. hyre. 
 
 S. 
 
 4 S.for MS. hermet. 
 
 6 S. ; H. retains henly regarding it as heanlfce. 
 * S. for MS. voydoth. 
 
 7 H. reads hath. 8 Supp. by S.
 
 264 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 Brushe them hens bothe, & that anon ! 
 
 Gyff them ther reward thai they were gone ! 572 
 
 Here shalfe th^ iiij Jewys belt a-way the lecht <5r hys matt. 
 
 JONATHAS. Now haue don, felawys, & that anon, 
 
 For dowte of drede what after befalls ! 
 I am nere masyd, my wytt? ys gon ; 
 
 Therfor of helpe I pray yow alk. 576 
 
 And take yowr pynsonys thai ar so sure, 
 
 And pluck owt the naylys won & won ; 
 Also in a clothe ye yt cure 
 
 And throw yt in the cawdron, & thai anon. 580 
 
 Here shalfe Jason pluck owt the naylys &* shake the hand in-to the cawdron. 
 
 JASON. And I shall? rape me redely anon 
 
 To plucke owt the naylys that stond so fast, 
 And bear thys bred & also thys bone 
 
 And in-to the cawdron I wyll<? yt cast. 584 
 
 JASDON. And I shalk viiih thys dagger so stowte 
 
 Putt yt down that yt myght plawe, 
 Andsteare the clothe rounde abowte 
 
 That no-thyng ther-of shalbe rawe. 588 
 
 MASPHAT. And I shalte manly, \\iih all* my myght, 
 
 Make the fyre to blase & brenne, 
 And sett ther-vnder suche a lyght 
 
 That yt shall? make yt ryght thynne. 
 
 Here skalfe th* ca-wdron b\o]yle, 1 apperyng to be as blood. 
 
 MALCHAS. Owt ! & harow ! what deuylk? ys here-in ? 
 Alk thys oyle waxyth redde as blood, 
 
 And owt of the cawdron yt begynwyth to rinn. 2 
 I am so aferd I am nere woode. 596 
 
 1 S. 2 MS. run or rnn ; corr. by S.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 265 
 
 Here shalfe Jason <& hys compeny goo to serJonatAas sayng: 
 
 JASON. Ah ! master, master, what there ys wzt^ yow, 
 
 I can not see owr werke wyll avayle ; 
 I beseche yow avance yow now 
 
 Sum-whatt w/t^ yowr counsayle. 600 
 
 JONATHAS. The best counsayle that I now wott, 
 
 That l I can deme, farre & nere, 
 [Ys] 2 to make an ovyn as redd hott 
 
 As euer yt can be made w/th fere ; 
 
 And when ye see yt soo hott appere, 
 Then throw yt in-to the ovyn fast, 
 
 Sone shalte he stanche hys bledyng chere, 
 When ye haue done, stoppe yt, be not agast ! 608 
 
 JASDON. Be my fayth, yt shalbe wrowgh[t], 
 
 And that anon, in gret hast. 
 Bryng on fyryng, sen's ; here 3 ye nowght ? 
 
 To hete thys ovyn be nott agast ! 612 
 
 MASPHAT. Here ys straw & thornys kene ; 
 
 Com<? 4 on, Malchas, & bryng on fyre, 
 ffor that shall hete yt welh?, I wene ; 
 
 Here thei kyndylk the fyre. 
 
 Blow on fast, that done yt were ! 
 
 MALCHAS. Ah, how ! thys fyre gynnyth to brenne clere ! 
 Thys ovyn ryght hotte I thynk to make. 
 
 Now, Jason, to the cawdron 5 that ye stere 
 And fast fetche hether that ylke cake ! 620 
 
 Here shalk Jason goo to the cawdron &* take owtthe Osiitnth hys pyn sonys 
 & cast yt in-to the ovyn. 
 
 JASON. I shalk w/'t/z thes pynsonys, wzt^-owt dowt, 
 Shake thys cake owt of thys clothe, 
 
 1 MS. ys that ; S. [and] that; cf. next note. 
 
 2 Supplied by S. ; but the scribe merely -wrote it in the -wrong line, 
 8 S. emends to fere ; but, as H. faints out, MS. is correct. 
 
 * S. collar; corr. by Kittredge. 6 3. inserts [see].
 
 266 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 And to the ovyn I shall yt rowte 
 
 And stoppe hym there, thow he be loth. 
 
 Thys cake I haue cawght here, in good sothe, 
 The hand ys soden, the fleshe from the bonys, 
 
 Now in-to the ovyn I wyll ther-wz't#. 
 Stoppe yt, Jasdon, for the nonys ! 628 
 
 JASDON. I stoppe thys ovyn, wythowtyn dowte, 
 
 With clay I clome yt vppe ryght fast, 
 That non heat shall cum l owte. 
 
 I trow there shalte he hete & drye in hast ! 632 
 
 Here the enuyn must ryve asunder, &" blede mvt at th* cranys, &* an image 
 appere owt with -wound\& bledyng. 
 
 MASPHAT. Owt ! owt ! here is a grete wonder ! 
 
 Thys ovyn b[l]edyth owt on eu^ry syde ! 
 MALCHAS. Yea, tht ovyn on peacys gynnyth to ryve 
 asundre ; 
 
 Thys ys a nwvelows case thys tyde ! 636 
 
 Here shalk the image speke to thejuys sayng thus : 
 
 JHESUS. O mirabiles Judei, attendite et -videte 
 
 Si est dolor similis 2 dolor meus / 638 
 
 Oh ye merveylows Jewys, 
 
 Why ar ye to yow^r kyng onkynd, 
 And 3 so bytterly bowt yow to my blysse ? 
 
 Why fare ye thus fule w/t^ yowr frende ? 
 
 Why peyne yow me & straytly me pynde, 4 
 And I yow^r loue so derely haue bowght ? 
 
 Why are ye so vnstedfast in yor mynde ? 
 Why wrath ye me ? I greve yow nowght. 646 
 
 Why wyll<? ye nott beleue that I haue tawght, 
 
 And forsake yowr fowle neclygence, 
 And kepe my comwandementw in yow^r thowght, 
 
 And vnto my godhed to take credence? 650 
 
 1 S. inserts ther. 8 H. inserts I. 
 
 % Probably a careless mistake for sicut. 4 H. -wishes to read bynde.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 267 
 
 Why blaspheme yow me ? Why do ye thus ? 
 
 Why put yow me to a newe tormentry, 
 And I dyed for yow on the crosse ? 
 
 Why consyder not yow what I dyd crye ? 
 
 Whylle that I was wzt# yow, ye ded me velanye. 
 Why remember ye nott my bitter chaunce, 
 How yow^r kynne dyd me awance 
 ffor claymyng of myn enherytaunce ? 
 I shew yow the streytnesse of my greuance, 
 
 And a.lle to meue yow to my mercy. 660 
 
 JONATHAS. Tu es protector vite mee ; a quo trepidabo? 
 
 thu, Lord, whyche art my defendowr, 
 ffor dred of the I trymble & quake. 
 
 Of thy gret mercy lett vs receyue 1 the showre ; 
 
 And mekely I aske mercy, ame/zdys to make. 665 
 
 Here shall they knele down alls on ther kneys, sayng : 
 
 JASON. Ah ! Lord, w/t# sorow & care & grete wepyng 
 
 AIL? we felawys lett vs saye thus, 
 W/t^ condolent harte & grete sorowyng : 
 
 Lacrimis nostris conscienciam nostram baptizemus ! 669 
 
 JASDON. Oh thow blyssyd Lord of mykylk myght, 
 Of thy gret mercy, thow hast shewyd vs the path, 
 
 Lord, owt of grevous slepe & owt of dyrknes to lyght, 
 
 Ne grauis sompnus irruat. 673 
 
 MASPHAT. Oh Lord, I was very cursyd, for I wold know 
 th\ crede. 
 
 1 can no men[d]ys 2 make, but crye to the thus : 
 O gracyows 3 Lorde, forgyfe me my mysdede ! 
 
 lamentable hart : miserere mei^ Deus ! 677 
 
 MALCHAS. Lord, I haue offendyd the in many a sundry 
 
 vyse, 
 That styckyth at my hart as hard as a core. 
 
 i MS. ; S. receue. 2 S. 8 MS. ; S. gracyous.
 
 268 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 Lord, by the water of contryc[i]on lett me aryse : 
 
 Asparges me, Dornine, ysopo, et mundabor. 681 
 
 JHESUS. All ye that desyryn my seruantw for to be 
 
 And to fulfylh? the preceptw of my lawys, 
 The intent of my cowmandemet knowe ye : 
 
 Ite et ostendite -vos sacerdotibus mezs. 
 
 To all yow tha\. desyre in eny wyse 
 To aske mercy, to graut yt redy I am. 
 
 Remember & lett yowv?r wyttts stiff yce, 
 Et tune non auertam a vobis faciem meam. 689 
 
 1 Jonathas, on thyn hand thow art but lame, 
 
 And //zz's 2 thorow thyn own cruelnesse. 
 ffor thyn hurt 3 tho\\. mayest />i-selfe blame, 
 
 Thow woldyst preve thy powr me to oppresse ; 
 
 But now I consydre thy necesse ; 
 Thow wasshest thyn hart w/t^ grete 4 contryc[i]on ; 
 
 Go to the cawdron, th\ care shalbe the lesse, 
 And towche thyn hand to thy saluac[i]on. 697 
 
 Here shall rer Jonathas put Ays hand in-to the cawdron, and yt shalbe 
 hole agayn ; & then say as fo\lo\wyth : 8 
 
 JONATHAS. Oh thow my Lord God & Sauyow<?r, osanna ! 
 
 Thow Kyng of Jewys & of Jerusalem! 
 O thow myghty, strong Lyon of luda, 6 
 
 Blyssyd be the tyme thai thou. were 7 in Bedlem .' 
 
 Oh thovi myghty, strong, gloryows & gracyows Oyle- 
 
 streme, 
 Thow myghty Conquerrowr of infernalk tene, 
 
 I am quyt of moche combrance thorowgh thy meane, 
 That euer blyssyd mott tho\i bene ! 705 
 
 Alas tha\. euer I dyd agaynst thy wylk, 
 In my wytt to be soo wood 
 
 1 Before Jonathas, S. has . . , the meaning of -which is not explained. 
 
 2 MS. ys; S. [thys] ys. 63. 
 
 MS. ; S. hart. 6 MS. ; S. Jwda. 
 
 4 MS. ; S. gret. 7 Qy. insert born.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 269 
 
 That I with 1 ongoodly wyrk shuld soo gryll ! 
 
 A^ens my mysgou^rnaunce thow gladdyst me w/t^ good : 
 I was soo prowde to prove the on th& roode, 
 
 And thou haste sent me lyghtyng tha\. late was lame ; 
 To bete the & boyle the I was myghty in moode, 
 
 And now thou. hast put me from duresse and dysfame. 713 
 
 But, Lord, I take my leve at thy hygh presens 
 
 And put me in thy myghty mercy. 
 The bysshoppe wyll I goo fetche to se ow^r offens, 
 
 And onto hym shew ow^r lyfe, how that we be gylty. 717 
 
 Here shall the master Jew goo"* to the byshopp, & 1 hys men knele styll. 
 
 JONATHAS. Hayle, father of grace ! I knele vpon my knee 
 
 Hertely besechyng yow & interely 
 A swemfulk syght all<? for to see 
 
 In my howse apperyng verely : 
 
 The holy Sacrament, 3 the whyche we haue done tor- 
 
 metry 
 A ndther we haue putt hym to a newe passyon, 
 
 A chyld apperyng -with wondys blody : 
 A swemfulL? syght yt ys to looke vpon. 725 
 
 EPISCOPUS. Oh Jhtf.ru, Lord, fulte of goodnesse ! 
 
 WM the wylk I walke wzt# all<? my myght 
 Now, alltf my pepulL?, wzt^ me ye dresse 
 
 ffor to goe see that swymfulk syght. 729 
 
 Now, alk ye peple that here are, 
 
 I cowzmande yow, euery man, 
 On yow^r feet for to goo, bare, 
 
 In the devoutest wyse that ye can. 733 
 
 Here shalle. the bysshope enter into thejewys howse & say: 
 
 O Jhesufili Dei, 
 
 How thys paynfulltf passyon ranch eth my hart ! 
 Lord, I crye to the, miserere mei, 
 
 l MS. So ; corr. by S. 2 MS. ; S. go. 8 5. inserts [to].
 
 2/O THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 ffrom thys rufulk syght tho-u. wylt reu^rte. 
 
 Lord, we all? wz't/J sorowys smert 
 ffor thys vnlefulk work we lyue in langow^r ; 
 
 Now, good Lord, in thy grace let vs be gertt, 1 
 And si thy sou<?reyn marcy send vs thy socow^r ; 7>i 
 
 And for thy holy grace forgyfe vs ow^r errowr. 
 
 Now lett thy pete spryng & sprede ; 
 Thowgh we haue be vnrygh[t]full<?, 2 forgyf vs o?*r rygore, 
 
 And of ow<?r lamentable hartzs, good Lord, take 
 
 hed[e]. 2 745 
 
 Here shalfe the ii[a\ge 2 change agayn on-to brede, 
 
 Oh thu largyfluent Lord, most of lyghtnesse, 
 
 On-to owr prayers thow hast applyed ; 
 Thu hast receyued them w/t// grett swettnesse, 
 
 ffor all* ow<?r dredfulL? dedys t/w\i hast not vs denyed. 
 
 ffulltf mykylk owte thy name for to be magnyfyed 
 W/t/J mawsuete myrth and gret swettnes, 
 
 And as owr gracyows God for to be gloryfyed, 
 ffor thu shewyst vs gret gladnes. 753 
 
 Now wyll* I take thys holy Sacrament 
 
 W/t^ humble hart & gret devoc[i]on, 
 And alk we \\y\\e gon \vtl/i on consent 
 
 And bear yt to chyrche w/t/z sole[m]pne 2 pr<7cessyon ; 
 
 Now folow me, all^ & sume ! 
 And all* tho that bene here, both more & lesse, 
 
 Thys holy song, O sacrum 8 Dominum, 
 Lett vs syng all \\i\Jt grett swetnesse. 761 
 
 Here shalfe the firyst, jer Isoder, aske Ays ;aster what this menyth. 
 
 [PRESBITER.] 2 Ser Arystory, I pray yow, what menyth all^ 
 
 thys ? 
 Sum myracle, I hope, ys wrowght be Goddrr myght ; 
 
 l MS. grett ; corr. by S. 2 S. 8 MS. scacrum ; corr. by S.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 2/1 
 
 The bysshope co#zmyth [in] J processyon with a gret meny 
 of Jewys ; 
 
 I hope sum myracle ys shewyd to hys syght. 
 
 To chyrche in hast wylk I rune full ryght, 
 ffor thether, me thynk, he begynnyth to take hys pace. 
 
 The Sacramet so semly is borne in syght, 
 I hope that God hath shewyd of hys grace. 769 
 
 ARYSTORIUS. To tell yow the trowth I wyll* nott lett : 
 
 Alas that euer thys dede was dyght ! 
 An onlefulk bargayn [I] * began for to beat ; 
 
 I sold yon same Jewys ow<?r Lord iulle ryght 
 
 For couytyse of good as a cursyd wyght. 
 Woo the whyle that bargayn I dyd euer make ! 
 
 But yow be my defensour in owr dyocesans syght, 
 ffor an heretyke I feare he wyll^ me take. 777 
 
 PRESBITER. ffor sothe, nothyng wellavysed was your wytt, 
 Wondrely was yt wrowght of a man of dyscresc[i]on 
 
 In suche p^rayle your solle for to putt ; 
 
 But I wyll<? labor for your absolucyon. 781 
 
 Lett vs hye vs fast that we were hens, 
 
 And beseche hym of hys benygne grace 
 That he wyll? shew vs hys benyvolens 
 
 To make a-mendys 3 for yower trespas. 785 
 
 Here shall the merchant &= hys prest go to the chyrche & the bysshop shalle. 
 entre* the chyrche &> lay the Os[f] l u[p}on' i the auter, sayng thus : 
 
 [EPISCOPUS.] Estate fortes in bello et pugnate cum 5 antico 
 
 serpente, 
 
 Et accipite regnum eternum, et cetera. 
 My chyldern, be ye 6 strong in bataylk gostly 
 
 For to fyght agayn the fell serpent, 
 That nyght and day ys euer besy ; 
 
 To dystroy owr sollys ys hys intent. 
 
 IS. 3 S. a menyn. 6 MS. co ; corr. by S 
 
 2 H. 4 MS. ; S. enter. * MS. ye be ; corr. by S.
 
 272 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 Look ye be not slow nor neclygent 
 To arme yow in the vertues seuyn ; 
 
 Of synnys forgetyn l take good avysement 
 And knowlege them to yowr confessor full* euyn ; 795 
 
 ffor that serpent, the deuylL?, ys fulh? strong 
 
 Meruelows myscheves 2 for man to mene, 
 But that the Passyon of Cryst ys meynt vs among, 
 
 And that ys in dyspyte of hys infernally tene. 
 
 Beseche ow^r Lord & Sauyow<?r so kene 
 To put doun that serpent, cuwberer of man, 
 
 To wzt//draw hys furyous froward doctryn by-dene, 
 ffulfyllyd of the. fend callyd Leuyathan. 803 
 
 Gyff lawrehV to that Lord of myght 
 
 That he may bryng vs to the joyous fruyc[i]on 
 
 ffrom 8 vs to put the fend to flyght, 
 
 That neu^r he dystroy vs by hys temptac[i]on. 807 
 
 PRESBITER. My ffather vnder God, I knele vnto yow<?r kne, 
 In yowr myhty mys<?ncord to tak vs in remembrance ; 
 
 As ye be materyall to owr degre, 
 
 We put vs in yow<?r moderat ordynance, 
 
 Yff yt lyke yow<?r hyghnes to here ow^r greuauce ; 
 
 We haue offenddyd sorowfully in a syn mortally, 
 
 Wherfor we fere vs owr Lord wylk take vengaunce 
 
 ffor owr synnes both grete and small<?. 815 
 
 EPISCOPUS. And in fatherhed, that longyth to my dygnyte, 
 
 Vn-to yow^r grefe I wyll? gyf credens. 
 Say vjhat ye wylte, in ///e name of the Trynyte, 
 
 Agayn[s]t 4 God yf ye haue wroght eny incouenyence. 819 
 
 ARISTORIUS. Holy ffather, I knele to yow vnder benedycite. 
 
 I haue offendyd in the syn of couytys ; 
 I sold our Lordys body for lucre of mony 
 
 And delyu^ryd to the wyckyd wz't/z cursyd advyce. 
 
 l MS. fog. . tyn ; S. forgottyn. MS. ffonn ; corr. by S. 
 
 3 S. myschevos. 4 S.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 2/3 
 
 And for that pr^sumpc[i]on gretly I agryse 
 That I presumed to go to the auter 
 
 There to handylte the. holy sacryfyce, 
 I were worthy to be putt in brenyg fyre. 827 
 
 But, gracyous lord, I can no more 
 
 But put me to Goddys mercy & to yow^r grace. 
 My cursyd werkys for to restore, 
 
 I aske penaunce now in thys place. 831 
 
 EPISCOPUS. Now for thys offence that thoM hast donne 
 A^ens the Kyng of hevyn & Emperow^r of helk, 
 whylk thoM lyuest good dedys for to done 
 And neu^r-more for to bye nor selk ; 
 Chastys thy body as I shall the telL?, 
 
 fastyng & prayng & other good wyrk, 
 To wztAstond the temtacyon of fendz'j of hell ; 
 And io calte to God for grace looke thovi neu^r be irke. 839 
 
 Also, thoVi preste, for thy neclygens, 
 
 That thou were no wyser on thyn office, 
 Thou art worthy inpresu[n]ment 1 for thyn offence ; 
 
 But beware eu<?r herafter & be mor wyse. 843 
 
 And alk yow creaturys 2 & curatys 3 that here be, 
 
 Off thys dede yow may take example 
 How that yor pyxys lockyd ye shuld see 
 
 And be ware of the key of Goddys temple. 847 
 
 JONATHAS. And I aske crystendom with great devoc[i]on, 
 
 With repentant hart in all degrees. 
 I aske for vs all a general!*? absoluc[i]on, 
 
 Here tbejuys must knele al down. 
 
 ffor that we knele all vpon ow<?r knees ; 85 1 
 
 ffor we haue greuyd ow^r Lord on grovnd 
 And put hym to a new paynfulk? passion, 
 
 IS. 2 Qy. vicarys ; or prechorys, cf. above, L 326. 
 
 8 S. proposes curatys wyth creaturys.
 
 2/4 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 Wz't^ daggars styckyd hym wtt/i greuos wo[u]nd^, 1 
 
 New nay lyd hym to a post, & wz't# pynsonys pluckyd 
 
 \\yrn down. 855 
 
 JASON. And syth we toke that blyssyd Bred so sownd 
 
 And in a cawdron we dyd hym boyle, 
 In a clothe fulk just we hym woude 
 
 And so dyd we seth hym in oyle. 859 
 
 JASDON. And for that we myght not 2 ou^rcom hym vritA 
 tormentry, 
 
 In an hott ovyn we speryd hym fast. 
 Ther he apperyd with wo[u]ndzj all bloody ; 
 
 The ovyn rave asunder & all to-brast. 863 
 
 MASPHAT. In hys law to make vs stedfast, 
 
 There spake he to vs woordz'j of grete favor ; 
 
 In contrycyon owr hart/j he cast 
 
 And bad take vs to a confessor. 867 
 
 MALCHUS. And therfor all we wz't# on consent 
 
 Knele onto yow^r hygh sou^reynte ; 
 ffor to be crystenyd ys ow^r intent, 
 
 Now all ow^r dedys to yow shewyd haue we. 871 
 
 Here shall th# bysshoppe crysten \hejewys itnth gret solempnyte, 
 
 EPISCOPUS. Now the Holy Cost at thys tyme mot yow 
 blysse 8 
 
 As ye knele all* now in hys name, 
 And wz't^ the water of baptyme I shall*? yow blysse 8 
 
 To saue yow alk from the fendis blame. 
 
 Now, that fendys pown? for to make lame, 
 In the. name of Me Father, thz Son & the Holy Cost, 
 
 To saue yow from the deuyllys flame, 
 I crysten yow all<?, both lest & most. 879 
 
 is. 
 
 2 S. omits not ; but, as H. points out, it is correct. 
 * H. proposes lysse for one blysse.
 
 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 2/5 
 
 JONATHAS. Now owr father & byshoppe that we well* 
 know, 
 
 We thank yow interly, both lest & most. 
 Now ar we bownd to kepe Crystis lawe 
 
 And to s*rue the Father, //ze Son & the Holy Cost. 
 
 Now wyll* we walke by contre & cost, 
 Owr wyckyd lyuyg for to restore ; 
 
 And trust in God, of myghtz'j most, 
 Neuer 1 to offend as we have don before. 2 887 
 
 Now we take ow*r lea[v]e 3 at lesse & more, 
 
 Forward on ow*r vyage we wyll* vs dresse ; 
 God send yow all as good welfare 
 
 As hart can thynke or towng expresse. 891 
 
 ARYSTORIUS. In- to my contre now wyll* I fare 
 
 For to amende myn wyckyd lyfe, 
 And to kep[e] 8 thz people owt of care 
 
 I wyll teach e thys lesson to man & wyfe. 895 
 
 Now take I my leave in thys place, 
 
 I wyll* go walke, my penauce to fullfyll* ; 
 Now, God, a^ens whom I haue done thys trespas, 
 
 Graunt me forgyf nesse [yf] 8 yt be thy wyll* ! 899 
 
 PRESBITER. ffor joy of thys me thynke my hart do wepe, 
 That yow haue gyuyn yow all*? Crystis s^ruauntw to be, 
 
 Hym for to s*rue w/t/; hart full* meke, 
 
 God, full* of pacyens & humylyte, 903 
 
 And the conu*rsac[i]on of all* thes fayre men, 
 
 Wt't/i hart/V stedfastly knett in on, 
 Godd/j lawys to kepe & hym to serue by-dene, 
 
 As faythfull* Crystyanys eu*rmore for to gone. 907. 
 
 EPISCOPUS. God omnypotent euermore looke ye s*me 
 deuoc[i]on & prayre whyll* thai ye may ; 
 
 MS. npure r ; corr. by S. 3 MS. befer; corr. by S. S.
 
 2/6 THE PLAY OF THE SACRAMENT. 
 
 Dowt yt not he \vylle yow preserue 
 
 ffor eche good prayer thai ye sey to hys pay ; 
 .<4#*/ therfor in tuery dew tyme loke ye nat delay 
 
 ffor to serue the Holy Trynyte, 
 
 And also Mary, that swete may ; 
 
 And kepe yow in p^rfyte loue & charyte. 915 
 
 Crysii's commandement/j x there bee ; 
 
 Kepe well* them ; doo 1 as I yow tell<?. 
 Almyght God shall* yow please in eu*ry degre, 
 
 And so shall* ye saue yow*r sollys from hell* ; 
 
 ffor there ys payn & sorow cruelU?, 
 And'm heuyn ther ys both joy & blysse, 
 
 More then eny towng can tell, 
 There angellys syng w/t^ grett swetnesse ; 923 
 
 To the whyche blysse he bryng vs 
 
 Whoys name ys callyd Jh*jus, 
 And in wyrshyppe of thys name gloryows 
 
 To syng to hys honor Te Deum laudamus. 927 
 
 FFINIS. 
 
 Thus endyth the Play of the Blyssyd Sacrament, whyche 
 myracle was don in the forest of Aragon, in the famous cite 
 Eraclea, the yere of ow*r Lord God. M^ccc.lxi., to whom be 
 honow*r, Amen ! 
 
 The namys & number of the players : 
 
 Jh[es]us. 2 Jason, Judeus ijus. 
 
 Episcopus. Jasdon, Judeus iijus. 
 
 Aristorius, christianus mercator. Masphat, Judeus iiij 118 , 
 
 [Isoder, presbiter.] Malchus, Judeus v^*. 
 
 Clericus. Magister phisicus. 
 
 Jonathas, Judeus i m s. CohV, seruus. 
 
 IX may play yt at ease. 
 
 R. C. 
 l H. proposes too. 2 S.
 
 PART III.
 
 ROBIN HOOD PLAYS. 
 
 The first is printed from a copy made for Professor Child by Henry Bradshaw, 
 Esq. The original, formerly among Sir John Fenn's papers and now the property 
 of Dr. W. Aldis Wright, " is evidently," says Dr. Wright, "the last leaf, or rather 
 half leaf, of a folio MS. For this reason it is clear that the memoranda [acknowl- 
 edgments of payments] on the blank page are later in date than the writing of the 
 ballad [i.e., play]." This would date the play before 1475. Besides the copy by 
 Bradshaw, I have used a collation made by Dr. Wright. The play was first cor- 
 rectly printed in Child's " English and Scottish Popular Ballads," III, 90 f. 
 
 The second and third are really two plays, though printed as one in both the old 
 editions : Copland's (about 1550) and White's of 1634. They are printed separately 
 in Child's "English and Scottish Popular Ballads," III, 127 f., 114 f., Boston 
 [1888]. In the footnotes, Co. indicates the readings of Copland as given in 
 Ritson's " Robin Hood," 1795, II, 199 ff. ; R. indicates Ritson's edition; W. indi- 
 cates the variants of White's edition as given by Child. 
 
 I. 
 
 [ROBIN HOOD AND THE KNIGHT.] 
 [Enter a Knight to the Sheriff^ 
 
 [KNYGHT.] Syr Sheryffe, for thy sake 
 Robyn Hode wull Y take. 
 
 [SHERIFF.] I wyll the gyffe golde and fee ; 
 This be-heste tho u holde me ! 
 
 [The Knight goes to Robyn ffode.] 
 
 [KNYGHT.] Robyn Hode, fayre l and fre, 5 
 
 Vndre this lynde shote we ! 
 
 [ROBYN.] With the shote Y wyll, 
 Alle thy lustes to full-fyll. 
 
 [They shoot.} 
 
 [KNYGHT.] Have at the pryke ! 
 
 [ROBYN.] And Y cleue the styke. 10 
 
 1 Wright, ffayre.
 
 28O ROBIN HOOD PLAYS. 
 
 [KNYGHT.] Late vs caste the stone. 
 [ROBYN.] I graunte well, be Seynt John ! 
 
 [They cast the stone ; Robyn is again successful.] 
 
 [KNYGHT.] Late vs caste the exaltre. 
 r ROBYN.] Have a foote be-fore the ! 
 
 [Then they wrestle.] 
 
 Syr knyght, ye haue a falle. 1 5 
 
 [KNYGHT.] And I the, Robyn, qwyte shall : 
 Owte on the ! I blowe myn home. 
 
 [ROBYN.] Hit ware better be vnborne. 
 Lat vs fyght at outtraunce. 
 
 [KNYGHT.] He that fleth, God gyfe hym myschaunce ! 20 
 
 [Robyn slays the Knight.] 
 
 [ ROBYN.] Now I haue the maystry here. 
 Off I smyte this sory swyre ; 
 This knyghtys clothis wolle I were, 
 And in my hode his hede woll bere. 
 
 [He disguises himself. Meantime the Sheriff has attacked Robyn Hade's 
 men and a fierce battle is in progress. Robyn meets a man coming 
 front the scene of the battle.] 
 
 [ROBYN.] Welle mete, felowe myn ! 25 
 
 What herst thou. of gode Robyn ? 
 
 [MAN.] Robyn Hode and his menye 
 W/tfc the Sheryff takyn be. 
 
 [ROBYN.] Sette on foote, w/'t^ gode wyll, 
 And the Sheryffe wull we kyll. 30 
 
 [They come in sight of the battle.] 
 
 [ROBYN.] Be-holde wele ffrere Tuke, 
 Howe he dothe his bowe pluke. 
 
 [Oft the battle-field the Sheryff speaks.] 
 
 [SHERYFF.] 3eld yow, syrs, to the Sheryff[e], 
 Or elles shall yor bowes clyffe ! 
 
 [ONE OF ROBYN'S MEN.] Now we be bownden alle in 
 
 same; 35
 
 ROBIN HOOD AND THE FRIAR. 28 1 
 
 Frere [Tjuke, 1 tMs is no game. 
 
 [SHERYFF.] Cc^mje 1 thou. forth, thoM fals outiawe : 
 ThoM shall b[e] l hangyde and ydrawe ! 
 
 [FRERE TUKE.] Now, alias ! what shall we doo? 
 We [mjoste l to the prysone goo. 40 
 
 [SHERYFF.] Opy[n] x the yatis faste anon, 
 An[d] 1 [d]oo 2 theis 3 thevys ynne gon. 
 
 [ The part of the play in which Robyn follows his men and finally releaset 
 them is missing.] 
 
 II. 
 [ROBIN HOOD AND THE FRIAR.] 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Now stand ye forth, my mery men all, 
 And harke what I shall say ; 
 Of an adventure I shal you tell, 
 The which befell this other day. 
 
 As I went by the hygh-way, 5 
 
 With a stout frere I met, 
 And a quarter-staffe in his hande ; 
 Lyghtely to me he lept, 
 And styll he bade me stande. 
 
 There were strypes two or three, 10 
 
 But I cannot tell who had the worse, 
 But well I wote the horeson lept within me, 
 And fro me he 4 toke my purse. 
 Is there any of my mery men all 
 
 That to that 6 frere wyll go, 1 5 
 
 And bryng hym to me forth-withall, 
 Whether he wyll or no? 
 
 LYTELL JOHN. Yes, mayster, I make God avowe, 
 To that frere wyll I go, 
 
 And bring him to you, 20 
 
 Whether he wyl or no. 
 
 1 MS. damaged. 
 
 2 Bradshaw, [d]oo ; Wright reads [lajte, and says, " There are traces 
 9/te." 8 Bradshaw, theis ; Wright, thois. 
 
 * W. omits he. 6 W.'the.
 
 282 ROBIN HOOD PLAYS. . 
 
 [Exeunt omnes ; enter Fryer Tucke, with three dog's.'] 
 
 FRYER TUCKE. Deus hie ! Deus hie ! God be here ! 
 Is not this a holy worde for 1 a frere ? 
 God save all this company ! 
 
 But am not I a jolly fryer ? 25 
 
 For I can shote both farre and nere, 
 And handle the sworde and buckler, 
 And this quarter-staffe also. 
 If I mete with a gen ty 1m an or yeman, 
 
 I am not afrayde to loke hym upon, 30 
 
 Nor z boldly with him to carpe ; 
 If he speake any wordes to me, 
 He shall have strypes two or thre 
 That shal make his body smarte. 
 
 But, maisters, 3 to shew you the matter 35 
 
 Wherfore and why I am come hither, 
 In fayth, I wyll not spare : 
 I am come to seke a good yeman, 
 In Bernisdale men sai is his habitacion, 
 
 His name is Robyn Hode ; 40 
 
 And if that 4 he be better man than I, 
 His servaunt wyll I be, and serve him truely; 
 But if that I be better 5 man than he, 
 By my truth, my knave shall he be 
 And leade these dogges all three. 45 
 
 \_Robyn enters and seizes him by the throat.] 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Yelde the, fryer in thy long cote ! 
 
 FRYER TUCKE. I beshrew thy hart, knave, thou hurtest 
 my throt[e]. 
 
 ROBYN HODE. I trowe, fryer, thou beginnest to dote ! 
 Who made the so malapert and so bolde 
 
 To come into this forest here, 50 
 
 Amonge my falowe-dere ? 
 
 1 W. word of. * W. omits that. 
 
 2 W. not. 5 W. be a better. 
 8 Co. W. maister ; corr. by R.
 
 ROBIN HOOD AND THE FRIAR. 283 
 
 FRYER. Go louse the, ragged knave ! 
 If thou make mani wordes, I will geve the on the eare, 
 Though I be but a poore fryer. 
 
 To seke Robyn Hode I am com here, 55 
 
 And to him my hart to breke. 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Thou lousy frer, what wouldest thou with 
 
 hym? 
 He never loved fryer, nor none of freiers kyn. 
 
 FRYER. Avaunt, ye 1 ragged knave, 
 Or ye shall have on the skynne ! 60 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Of all the men in the 2 morning thou art 
 
 the worst ; 
 
 To mete with the I have no lust, 
 For he that meteth a frere or a fox in the morning, 
 To spede ill 8 that day he standeth in jeoperdy : 
 Therfore I had lever 4 mete with the devil of hell 6 65 
 
 Fryer, I tell the as I thinke 
 Then mete with a fryer or a fox 
 In a mornyng or I drynk. 
 
 FRYER. Avaunt, thou ragged knave ! this is but a mock ; 
 If thou 6 make mani words, thou 6 shal have a knock. 70 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Harke, frere, what I say here : 
 Over this water thou shalt me bere, 
 The brydge is borne away. 
 
 FRYER. To say naye I wyll not ; 
 
 To let the of thine oth it were great pitie and sin ; 75 
 
 But up on a fryers backe, and have even in ! 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Nay, have over ! 
 
 [Gets on the Fryer's back.'} 
 
 FRYER. Now am I, frere, within, and thou, Robin, with- 
 out, 
 To lay the here I have no great doubt. 
 
 1 W. omits ye. 4 W. rather. 
 
 2 W. a. 6 w. omits of hell. 
 
 Co. elL 6 Co. you ; W. y u ; y u shalt.
 
 284 ROBIN HOOD PLAYS. 
 
 [Throws him into the stream.] 
 
 Now am I, frere, without, and thou, Robyn, within ! 1 80 
 
 Lye ther, knave ! Chose whether thou wilte sinke 2 or swym. 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Why, thou lowsy frere ! what hast thou 
 done ? 8 
 
 FRYER. Mary, set a knave over the shone. 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Therfore thou shalt abye. 
 
 [Runs at the Fryer] 
 
 FRYER. Why, wylt thou fyght a plucke ? 85 
 
 ROBYN HODE. And God send me good lucke ! 
 FRYER. Than have a stroke for Fryer Tucke ! 
 
 \Theyfizht) 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Holde thy hande, frere, and here me speke ! 
 
 FRYER. Say on, ragged knave, 
 Me semeth ye begyn to swete. 90 
 
 ROBYN HODE. In this forest I have a hounde, 
 I wyl not give him for an hundreth pound ; 
 Geve me leve my home to blowe, 
 That my hounde may knowe. 
 
 FRYER. Blowe on, ragged knave, without any doubte, 95 
 
 Untyll bothe thyne eyes starte out. 
 
 [Robyn blows ; his men enter.} 
 
 Here be 4 a sorte of ragged knaves come in, 
 
 Clothed all in Kendale grene, 
 
 And to the they take their way nowe. 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Peradventure they do so. 100 
 
 FRYER. I gave the leve to blowe at thy wyll, 
 Now give me leve to whistell my fyll. 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Whystell, frere, evyl mote 5 thou fare ! 
 Untyll bothe thyne eyes stare. 6 
 
 1 Co. W. R. Now art thou, Robyn, without, and I, frere, within ; corr. 
 by Child. 4 w. is. 
 
 2 W. choose either sinke. 5 might. 
 
 8 Co. donee. Co. starte.
 
 ROBIN HOOD AND THE POTTER. 285 
 
 [The Fryer -whistles ; his men enter.] 
 
 FRYER. Now, Cut and Bause ! 105 
 
 Breng forth the clubbes and staves, 
 And downe with those ragged knaves ! 
 
 \Theyfight) 
 
 ROBYN HODE. How sayest thou, frere ? wylt thou be my 
 
 man, 
 
 To do me the best servyse thou can ? 
 
 Thou shalt have both golde and f ee ; no 
 
 And also here is a lady free, 
 I wyll geve her unto the, 
 And her chapplayn I the make 
 To serve her for my sake. 1 1 4 
 
 FRYER. Go home, ye knaves, and lay crabbes in the fyre, 1 1 9 
 For my lady and I wil daunce in the myre, 
 For veri pure joye. 1 1 20 
 
 III. 
 
 [ROBIN HOOD AND THE POTTER.] 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Lysten to [me], 2 my mery men all, 121 
 
 And harke what I shall say ; 
 Of an adventure I shall you tell 
 That befell this other daye. 
 
 With a proude potter I met, 125 
 
 And a rose-garlande on his head, 
 The floures of it shone marvaylous freshe ; 
 This seven yere and more he hath used this waye, 
 Yet was he never so curteyse a potter 
 
 As one peny passage to paye. 130 
 
 Is there any of my mery men all 
 That dare be so bolde 
 To make the potter paie passage, 
 Either silver or golde ? 
 
 l These two lines as one in R. and W. / have omitted four lines of the 
 Friar's speech, before 1. 119. 2 Supplied by R. ; W. omits to, also.
 
 286 ROBIN HOOD PLAYS. 
 
 LYTELL JOHN. Not I, master, for twenty pound redy tolde, 135 
 For there is not among us al one 
 That dare medle with that potter, man for man. 
 I felt his handes not long agone, 
 But I had lever have ben here by the ; 
 
 Therfore I knowe what he is. 140 
 
 Mete him when ye wil, or mete him whan ye shal, 
 He is as propre a man as ever you medled l withal. 
 
 ROBYN HODE. I willlai with the, Litel John, twenti pound 
 
 so read, 
 
 If I wyth that potter mete, 
 I wil make him pay passage, maugre his head. 145 
 
 LETTEL JOHN. I consente therto, so eate I bread .' 
 If he pay passage, maugre his head, 
 Twenti pound shall ye have of me for your mede. 
 
 [Exeunt all but Robyn. Enter the Potter's Boy, Jacket] 
 
 JACKE. Out, alas, that ever I sawe this daye ! 
 For I am clene out of my wave 150 
 
 From Notyngham towne ; 
 If I hye me not the faster, 
 Or I come there the market 2 wel be done. 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Let me se, are the 3 pottes hole and 
 sounde ? 
 
 JACKE. Yea, meister, but they will not breake the ground. 155 
 
 ROBYN HODE. I wil them breke, for the cuckold thi 
 
 maisters sake ; 
 
 And if they will 4 breake the grounde, 
 Thou shalt have thre pence for a pound. 
 
 [Dashes the pots to the ground^ 
 
 JACKE. Out, alas ! what have ye done? 
 If my maister come, he will breke your crown. 160 
 
 1 Co. medle. 
 
 2 Co. maryet. 
 8 W. thy. 
 
 < Co., R. will not.
 
 ROBIN HOOD AND THE POTTER. 28/ 
 
 [Enter the Potter. ,] 
 
 THE POTTER. Why, thou horeson, art thou here yet ? 
 Thou shouldest have bene at market. 
 
 JACKE. I met with Robin Hode, a good yeman ; 
 He hath broken my pottes, 
 And called you kuckolde by your name. 165 
 
 THE POTTER. Thou mayst be a gentylman, so God me save, 
 But thou semest a noughty knave. 
 Thou callest me cuckolde by my name, 
 And I swere by God and Saynt John, 
 
 Wyfe had I never none : 170 
 
 This cannot I denye. 
 But if thou be a good felowe, 
 
 I wil sel mi horse, mi harneis, pottes and paniers to, 
 Thou shalt have the one halfe, and I will have the other. 
 If thou be not so content, 175 
 
 Thou shalt have strypes, if thou were my brother. 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Harke, potter, what I shall say : 
 This seven yere and more thou hast used this way, 
 Yet were thou never so curteous to me 
 As one penny passage to paye. 1 80 
 
 THE POTTER. Why should I paye passage to thee ? 
 
 ROBYN HOODE. For I am Robyn Hode, chiefe governoure 
 Under the grene-woode tree. 
 THE POTTER. This seven yere have I used this way up and 
 
 downe, 
 
 Yet payed I passage to no man, 185 
 
 Nor now I wyl not beginne, to l do the worst thou can. 
 
 ROBYN HODE. Passage shalt thou pai here under the 
 
 grene-wode tre, 
 Or els thou shalt leve a wedde 2 with me. 
 
 THE POTTER. If thou be a good felowe, as men do the call, 
 Lay awaye thy bowe, 190 
 
 And take thy sword and buckeler in thy hande, 
 And se what shall befall. 
 
 l W. omits to : R. reads so. 2 Co. wedded ; W. wed : corr. by R.
 
 288 ROBIN HOOD PLAYS. 
 
 ROBIN HODE. Lyttle John, where art thou? 
 
 LYTTEL [JOHN]. 1 Here, mayster, I make God avowe. 
 I tolde you, mayster, so God me save, 195 
 
 That you 2 shoulde fynde the potter a knave. 
 Holde your buckeler faste in your hande, 
 And I wyll styfly by you stande, 
 Ready for to fyghte ; 
 
 Be the knave never so stoute, 200 
 
 I shall rappe him on the snoute, 
 And put hym to flyghte. 
 
 The rest is wanting. 
 
 i Supplied by R. Co. your.
 
 ST. GEORGE PLAYS. 
 
 The first is printed from Notes and Queries, Fifth Series, II, 503-505, to 
 which it was communicated by the Rev. Frederick George Lee. Mr. Lee says : 
 " The text was taken down by myself from the lips of one of the performers in 
 1853. I first saw it acted in the Hall of the old Vicarage House at Thame, in the 
 year 1839. . . . The man from whom I took [it] down had performed at Brill in 
 the year 1807, and his father had done the same at Thame Park in the previous 
 century. Nothing whatsoever has been altered or added by myself [except stage 
 directions]." 
 
 The second is printed from W. Kelly's " Notices of Leicester," London, 1865, 
 PP- 53~5- It was performed near Lutterworth, at Christmas, 1863. 
 
 I. 
 
 [OXFORDSHIRE ST. GEORGE PLAY.] 
 Dramatis Personae. 
 
 OLD FATHER CHRISTMAS. GIANT BLUNDERBORE. 
 
 ST. GEORGE OF ENGLAND. OLD DR. BALL. 
 
 KING ALFRED. LITTLE JACK. 
 
 KING ALFRED'.S QUEEN. THE OLD DRAGON. 
 
 KING WILLIAM. THE MERRY ANDREW. 
 
 OLD KING COLE (with a -wooden leg). MORRIS-MEN. 
 
 All the mummers come in singing and walk round the place in a circle, 
 and then stand on one side. 
 
 Enter 1 KING ALFRED and his QUEBN, arm in arm. 
 
 I am King Alfred, and this here is my bride. 
 
 I Ve a crown on my pate and a sword by my side. 
 
 Stands apart. 
 1 / such flays enter means " advance from the circle of flayers."
 
 290 ST. GEORGE PLAYS. 
 
 Enter KING COLE. 
 
 I am King Cole, and I carry my stump. 
 
 Hurrah for King Charles ! down with old Noll's Rump ! 
 
 Stands apart. 
 Enter KING WILLIAM. 
 
 I am King William of blessed me-mo-ry, 5 
 
 Who came and pulled down the high gallows tree, 
 And brought us all peace and pros-pe-ri-ty. 
 
 Stands apart. 
 Enter GIANT BLUNDKRBORB. 
 
 I am Giant Blunderbore, fee, fi, fum, 
 Ready to fight ye all, so I says, " Come " ; 
 
 Enter LITTLE JACK. 
 
 And this here is my little man Jack 10 
 
 A thump on his rump and a whack on his back ! 
 
 Strikes him twice. 
 
 I '11 fight King Alfred, I '11 fight King Cole, 
 
 I 'm ready to fight any mortal soul ; 
 
 So here I, Blunderbore, takes my stand, 
 
 With this little devil, Jack, at my right hand, 15 
 
 Ready to fight for mortal life. Fee, fi, fum ! 
 
 The GIANT and LITTLE JACK stand apart. 
 Enter ST. GEORGE. 
 
 I am St. George of Merry Eng-land, 
 Bring in the morres-men, bring in our band. 
 
 MORRES-MEN come forward and dance to a tune from fife and drum. 
 The dance being ended, ST. GEORGE continues : 
 
 These are our tricks, Ho ! men, ho ! 
 
 These are our sticks, whack men so ! 20 
 
 Strikes THE DRAGON, who roars, and comes forward. 
 THE DRAGON speaks. 
 
 Stand on head, stand on feet ! 
 Meat, meat, meat for to eat ! 
 
 Tries to bite KING ALFRED.
 
 OXFORDSHIRE ST. GEORGE PLAY. 2QI 
 
 I am the Dragon, here are my jaws ; 
 
 I am the Dragon, here are my claws. 
 
 Meat, meat, meat for to eat ! 25 
 
 Stand on my head, stand on my feet ! 
 
 Turns a summersault and stands aside. 
 A II sing, several times repeated : 
 
 Ho ! ho ! ho ! 
 Whack men so ! 
 
 The drum and fife sound. They all fight, and after general disorder, 
 fall down. 
 
 Enter OLD DR. BALL. 
 
 I am the Doctor, and I cure all ills, 
 
 Only gullup my portions, 1 and swallow my pills ; 30 
 
 I can cure the itch, the stitch, the pox, the palsy and the gout, 
 
 All pains within and all pains without. 
 
 Up from the floor, Giant Blunderbore ! 
 
 Gives him a pill, and he rises at once. 
 
 Get up, King ; get up, Bride ; 
 
 Get up, Fool, and stand aside. 35 
 
 Gives them each a pill, and they rise. 
 
 Get up, King Cole, and tell the gentlefolks all 
 There never was a doctor like Mr. Doctor Ball. 
 Get up, St. George, old England's knight, 
 
 Gives him a pill. 
 
 You have wounded the Dragon and finished the fight. 
 
 All stand aside but THE DRAGON, who lies in convulsions on the floor. 
 
 Now kill the Dragon and poison old Nick ; 40 
 
 At Yule-tyde, both o' ye, cut your stick ! 
 
 THE DOCTOR forces a large pill down THE DRAGON'S throat, who there- 
 upon roars, and dies in convulsions. 
 
 Then enter FATHER CHRISTMAS. 
 
 I am Father Christmas ! hold, men, hold ! 
 
 Be there loaf in your locker, and sheep in your fold, 
 
 A fire on the hearth, and good luck for your lot, 
 
 Money in your pocket, and a pudding in the pot ! 45 
 
 1 Lee suggests potions, which is right.
 
 ST. GEORGE PLAYS. 
 He sings : 
 
 Hold, men, hold ! 
 Put up your sticks, 
 End all your tricks ; 
 Hold, men, hold ! 
 
 Chorus (all sing, while one goes round with a hat for gifts), 
 
 Hold, men, hold ! 50 
 
 We are very cold, 
 Inside and outside, 
 We are very cold. 
 If you don't give us silver, 
 
 Then give us gold 55 
 
 From the money in your pockets 
 
 Some of the performers show signs of fighting again. 
 
 Hold, men, hold ! 
 
 Song and chorus. 
 
 God A'mighty bless your hearth and fold, 
 
 Shut out the wolf, and keep out the cold ! 
 
 You gev' us silver, keep you the gold, 60 
 
 For 't is money in your pocket. Hold, men, hold ! 
 
 Repeat in chorus. 
 
 God A'mighty bless, &c. 
 
 Exeunt omnes. 
 II. 
 
 LUTTERWORTH CHRISTMAS PLAY. 
 
 Dramatis Personae. 
 
 KING OF ENGLAND ; in robes, wearing the crown. 
 PRINCE GEORGE, HIS SON ; in robes, -with sword by his side. 
 CAPTAIN SLASHER ; in military costume, with sword and pistol. 
 TURKISH CHAMPION ; ditto. BEELZEBUB. 
 
 A NOBLE DOCTOR. A CLOWN. 
 
 Enter CAPTAIN SLASHER. 
 
 [CAPT. S.] I beg your pardon for being so bold, 
 I enter your house, the weather 's so cold.
 
 LUTTERWORTH CHRISTMAS PLAY. 2Q3 
 
 Room, a room ! brave gallants give us room to sport, 
 
 For in this house we do resort, 
 
 Resort, resort for many a day. 5 
 
 Step in, the King of England, 
 
 And boldly clear the way ! 
 
 Enter KING OF ENGLAND. 
 
 [KiNG OF E.] I am the King of England that boldly does 
 
 appear ; 
 I come to seek my only son, my only son is here. 
 
 Enter PRINCE GEORGE. 
 
 [PRINCE G.] I am Prince George, a worthy knight ; 10 
 
 I '11 spend my blood for England's right, 
 England's right I will maintain, 
 I '11 fight for old England once again. 
 
 Enter TURKISH KNIGHT. 
 
 [TURK. KN.] I am the Turkish Champion, 
 From Turkey's land I come ; 1 5 
 
 I come to fight the King of England 
 And all his noble men. 
 
 CAPTAIN SLASHER. 
 
 [CAPT. S.] In comes Captain Slasher, 
 Captain Slasher is my name ; 
 
 With sword and pistol by my side 20 
 
 I hope to win the game. 
 
 KING OF E. I am the King of England, 
 As you may plainly see ; 
 These are my soldiers standing by me. 
 
 They stand by me your life to end, 25 
 
 On them doth my life depend. 
 
 PRINCE G. I am Prince George, the champion bold, 
 And with my sword I won three crowns of gold ; 
 I slew the fiery dragon and brought him to the slaughter 
 And won the King of Egypt's only daughter. 30 
 
 TURK. KN. As I was going by St. Francis' School.
 
 294 ST - ^EORGE PLAYS. 
 
 I heard a lady cry, " A fool ! a fool ! " 
 
 " A fool ! " was every word ; 
 
 That man 's a fool, 
 
 Who wears a wooden sword. 35 
 
 PRINCE G. A wooden sword? you dirty dog ! 
 My sword is made of the best of metal free. 
 If you would like to taste of it, 
 I '11 give it unto thee. 
 
 Stand off, stand off, you dirty dog ! 40 
 
 Or by my sword you '11 die ; 
 I '11 cut you down the middle 
 And make your blood to fly. 
 
 They fight ; PRINCE GEORGE falls, mortally mounded. 
 
 KING OF E. Oh horrible ! terrible ! what hast thou done ? 
 Thou hast ruined me, ruined me, 45 
 
 By killing of my only son ! 
 Oh, is there ever a noble doctor to be found, 
 To cure this English champion 
 Of his deep and deadly wound ? 
 
 Enter NOBLE DOCTOR. 
 
 [DOCTOR.] Oh yes, there is a noble doctor to be found, 50 
 To cure this English champion 
 Of his deep and deadly wound. 
 
 KING OF E. And pray what is your practice ? 
 
 DOCTOR. I boast not of my practice, neither do I study 
 
 in the practice of physic. 55 
 
 KING OF E. What can you cure ? 
 
 DOCTOR. All sorts of diseases, 
 Whatever you pleases : 
 I can cure the itch, the pitch, 
 
 The phthisic, the palsy, and the gout ; 60 
 
 And if the devil 's in the man, 
 I can fetch him out. 
 My wisdom lies in my wig. 
 I torture not my patients wjth excations 
 Such as pills, boluses, solutions, and embrocations ; 65
 
 LUTTERWORTH CHRISTMAS PLAY. 2Q5 
 
 But by the word of command 
 
 I can make this mighty prince to stand. 
 
 KING. What is your fee ? 
 
 DOCTOR. Ten pounds, is true. 
 
 KING. Proceed, noble doctor ; 70 
 
 You shall have your due. 
 
 DOCTOR. Arise, arise ! most noble prince, arise, 
 And no more dormant lay ; 
 And with thy sword 
 Make all thy foes obey. 75 
 
 The PRINCE arises. 
 
 PRINCE G. My head is made of iron, 
 My body is made of steel, 
 My legs are made of crooked bones, 
 To force you all to yield. 
 
 Enter BEELZEBUB. 
 
 BEEL. in comes I, old Beelzebub ; 80 
 
 Over my shoulder I carry my club, 
 And in my hand a frying-pan, 
 Pleased to get all the money I can. 
 
 Enter CLOWN. 
 
 CLOWN. In comes I, who 's never been yet, 
 With my great head and little wit : 85 
 
 My head is great, my wit is small, 
 I '11 do my best to please you all. 
 
 Song by all. 
 
 And now we are done and must be gone, 
 
 No longer will we stay here ; 
 But if you please, before we go, 90 
 
 We '11 taste your Christmas beer. 
 
 Exeunt omnes.
 
 [THE REVESBY SWORD PLAY.] 
 
 Printed from The Folk-Lore Journal, VII, 338-53, where it is published by 
 T. F. Ordish. In the footnotes, O. indicates this edition. I have made no unin- 
 dicated alteration except in capitals, punctuation, and the abbreviation of the 
 names of the speakers. Although the play contains, as Ordish points out, 
 many different elements, I have indicated in the title chosen for it only its 
 most prominent feature. 
 
 OCTOBER YE 20, 1779. 
 
 The Morrice Dancers (named in Dramatis Personae) acted 
 their merry dancing, &c., at Revesby, in their ribbon dresses, &c., 
 and two men from Kirtley, without any particular dresses, sung 
 the song of Landlord and Tenant. 1 
 
 John Ironmonger acted the LANDLORD, and 
 John Clarkson " " TENANT. 
 
 Dramatis Persona. 
 
 Men. 
 
 THE FOOL 
 PICKLE HERRING . 
 BLUE BREECHES 
 PEPPER BREECHES 
 GINGER BREECHES 
 MR. ALLSPICE 
 
 John Johnson. 
 Richd. Johnson. 
 Henry Johnson. 
 John Tomlinson. 
 Chas. Hodgson. 
 Thos. Harness. 
 
 Women. 
 CICELY 
 
 FIDLER, or MR. MUSICK MAN, 
 
 John Fisher. 
 
 John Johnson, jun r . 
 
 1 This song is omitted here because it has nothing to do -with the play 
 and is a not very interesting specimen of the de'bat, examples of -which will 
 be given in vol. III.
 
 THE PLOW BOYS, OR MORRIS DANCERS. 2Q? 
 
 THE PLOW BOYS, or MORRIS DANCERS. 
 Enter FOOL. 
 
 You gentle Lords of honour, 
 
 Of high and low, I say, 
 We all desire your favour 
 
 For to see our pleasant play. 4 
 
 Our play it is the best, kind sirs, 
 
 That you would like to know ; 
 And we will do our best, sirs, 
 
 And think it well bestowd. 8 
 
 Tho' some of us be little, 
 
 And some of a middle sort, 
 We all desire your favour 
 
 To see our pleasant sport. 12 
 
 You must not look on our actions, 
 
 Our wits they are all to seek, 
 So I pray take no exceptions 
 
 At what 1 am a-going to speak. 16 
 
 We are come over the mire and moss ; 
 
 We dance an Hobby Horse ; 
 
 A Dragon you shall see, 
 
 And a wild Worm for to flee. 
 
 Still we are all brave, jovial boys 
 
 And takes delight in Christmas toys. 22 
 
 We are come both for bread and beer, 
 
 And hope for better cheer 
 
 And something out of your purse, sir, 
 
 Which I hope you will be never the worse, sir. 
 
 Still we are all brave, jovial boys 
 
 And takes delight in Christmas toys. 28
 
 298 THE REVESBY SWORD PLAY. 
 
 Come now, Mr. Musick Man, play me my delight. 
 FIDLER. What is that, old father ? 30 
 
 FOOL. Ah ! boy, times is hard ! I love to have money in 
 
 both pockets. 
 
 FID. You shall have it, old father. 
 FOOL. Let me see it. 
 
 THE FOOL then calls in his five sons : first PICKLE HERRING, then BLUE 
 BRITCHES, then GINGER BRITCHES, PEPPER BRITCHES, and last calls out : 
 
 Come now, you Mr. Allspice ! 35 
 
 They foot it once round the room, and the man that is to ride the Hobby 
 Horse goes out, and the rest sing the following song : 
 
 Come in, come in, thou Hobby Horse, 
 
 And bring thy old fool at thy arse ! 
 
 Sing tanter[a]day, sing tanter[a]day, 
 
 Sing heigh down, down, with a derry down a ! 39 
 
 Then THE FOOL and the Horse fights about the room, -whilst the following 
 song is singing by the rest : 
 
 Come in, come in, thou bonny wild Worm ! 
 
 For thou hast ta'en many a lucky turn. 
 
 Sing tanteraday, sing tanteraday, 
 
 Sing heigh down, down, with a derry down ! 43 
 
 The wild Worm is only sprung three or four times, as the man walks 
 round the room, and then goes out, and the Horse and THE FOOL fights 
 again, -whilst the following song is sung: 
 
 Come in, come in, thou Dragon stout, 
 
 And take thy compass round about ! 
 
 Sing tanteraday, sing tanteraday, 
 
 Sing heigh down, down, with a derry down ! 47 
 
 Now you shall see a full fair fight 
 
 Between our old Fool and his right. 
 
 Sing tanteraday, sing tanteraday, 
 
 Sing heigh down, down, with a derry down ! 51 
 
 Now our scrimage is almost done ; 
 Then you shall see more sport soon.
 
 THE PLOW BOYS, OR MORRIS DANCERS. 299 
 
 Sing tanteraday, sing tanteraday, 
 
 Sing heigh down, down, with a derry down ! 55 
 
 FOOL. Up well hart, 1 and up well hind ! 
 
 Let every man then to his own kind. 
 
 Sing tanteraday, sing tanteraday, 
 
 Sing heigh down, down, with a derry down ! 59 
 
 ' Come, follow me, merry men all ! 
 Tho' we have made bold for to call, 
 It is only once by the year 
 That we are so merry here. 
 Still we are all brave, jovial boys, 
 And takes delight in Christmas toys. 65 
 
 Then they all foot it round the room and follows THE FOOL out. They 
 all re-enter, and lock their swords to make tlte glass, THE FOOL running 
 about the room. 
 
 PICKLE HERRING. What is the matter now, father ? 
 
 FOOL. Why, I tell the[e] what, Pickle Herring. As a I was 
 a-looking round about me through my wooden spectacles 
 made of a great, huge, little tiney bit of leather, placed 
 right behind me, even before me, I thought I saw a feat 70 
 thing 
 
 P. H. You thought you saw a feat thing? What might this 
 feat thing be, think you, father? 
 
 FOOL. How can I tell, boy, except I see it again? 
 
 P. H. Would you know it if you see it again ? 75 
 
 FOOL. I cannot tell thee, boy. Let me get it looked at. 
 
 PICKLE HERRING, holding up the glass, says : 
 
 [P. H.] Is this it, father ? 
 
 THE FOOL, looking round, says : 
 
 [FooL.] Why, I protest, Pickle Herring, the very same 
 thing ! But what might thou call this very pretty thing? 
 P. H. What might you call it ? You are older than I am. 8c 
 FOOL. How can that be, boy, when I was born before you? 
 P. H. That is. the reason that makes you older. 
 
 l O. hark.
 
 3OO THE REVESBY SWORD PLAY. 
 
 FOOL. Well, what dost thou call this very pretty thing ? 
 
 P. H. Why, I call it a fine large looking-glass. 
 
 FOOL. Let me see what I can see in this fine large looking- 85 
 glass. Here's a hole through it, I see. I see, and I 
 see ! 
 
 P. H. You see and you see ? and what do you see ? 
 
 FOOL. Marry, e'en a fool, just like the[e] ! 
 
 P. H. It is only your own face in the glass. 90 
 
 FOOL. Why, a fool may be mistain sometimes, Pickle Her- 
 ring. But what might this fine large looking-glass cost 
 the[e] ? 
 
 P. H. That fine large looking-glass cost me a guinea. 
 
 FOOL. A guinea, boy ? Why, I could have bought as good 95 
 a one at my own door for three half-pence. 
 
 P. H. Why, fools and cuckolds has always the best luck ! 
 
 FOOL. . That is as much to say thy father is one. 
 
 P. H. Why, you pass for one ! 
 
 THE FOOL, keeping the glass all the -while in his hands, says: 
 
 FOOL. Why was thou such a ninnie, boy, to go to ware a 100 
 guinea to look for thy beauty where it never was ? But 
 I will shew thee, boy, how foolish thou hast wared a 
 deal of good money. 
 
 Then THE FOOL flings the glass upon the floor, jumps upon it ; then the 
 dancers every one drawing out his own sword, and THE FOOL dancing 
 about the room, PICKLE HERRING takes him by the collar and says : 
 
 P. H. Father, father, you are so merrylly disposed this 
 
 good time there is no talking to you ! Here is very bad 105 
 
 news. 
 FOOL. Very good news ? I am glad to hear it ; I do not 
 
 hear good news every day. 
 P. H. It is very bad news ! 
 
 FOOL. Why, what is the matter now, boy ? 1 10 
 
 P. H. We have all concluded to cut off your head. 
 FOOL. Be mercyfull to me, a sinner ! If you should do as 
 
 you have said, there is no such thing. I would not lose 
 
 my son Pickle Herring for fifty pounds.
 
 THE PLOW BOYS, OR MORRIS DANCERS. 3<DI 
 
 P. H. It is your son Pickle Herring that must lose you. It 1 15 
 
 is your head we desire to take off. 
 FOOL. My head ? I never had my head taken off in all my 
 
 life ! 
 
 P. H. You both must and shall. 
 FOOL. Hold, hold, boy ! thou seem'st to be in good ear- 1 20 
 
 nest ; but I '11 tell thee where I : 11 be buryed. 
 P. H. Why, where will you be buried but in the churchyard, 
 
 where other people are buried ? 
 FOOL. Churchyard ? I never was buried there in all my 
 
 life ! 125 
 
 P. H. Why, where will you be buried ? 
 FOOL. Ah ! boy, I am often dry ; I will be buried in Mr. 
 
 Mirfin's ale-celler. 
 P. H. It is such a place as I never heard talk off in all my 
 
 life. 130 
 
 FOOL. No, nor nobody else, boy. 
 P. H. What is your fancy to be buried there ? 
 FOOL. Ah ! boy, I am oftens dry, and, when they come to 
 
 fill the quart, I '11 drink it off, and they will wonder what 
 
 is the matter. 135 
 
 P. H. How can you do so when you will be dead ? We shall 
 
 take your head from your body, and you will be dead. 
 FOOL. If I must die, I will dye with my face to the light,for 
 
 all you ! 
 
 Then THE FOOL, kneeling down, with the swords round his neck, says : 
 
 FOOL. Now, gentlemen, you see how ungratefull my chil- 140 
 dren is grown ! When I had them all at home, small, 
 about as big as I am, I put them out to good learning : 
 I put them to Coxcomb Colledge, and then to the Uni- 
 versity of Loggerheads ; and I took them home again 
 this good time of Christmas, and I examin'd them all 145 
 one by one, all together * for shortness. And now they 
 are grown so proud and so presumptions they are a-going 
 to kill their old father for his little means. So I must 
 dye for all this ? 
 
 i O. altogether.
 
 3<D2 THE REVESBY SWORD PLAY. 
 
 P. H. You must dye, father. 150 
 
 FOOL. And I will die for all the tother. But I have a little 
 something, I will give it amongst you as far as it goes, 
 and then I shall dye quietly. 
 P. H. I hope you will. 
 
 FOOL. So, to my first son, Pickle Herring, l 155 
 
 I '11 give him the roaned nag, 
 And that will make the rogue brag. 
 And to my second son, 
 
 I '11 give him the brindled cow. 
 
 And to my third son, 160 
 
 I '11 give him the sanded sow ; 
 And hope I shall please you all enow. 
 And to my fourth son, 
 
 I '11 give him the great ruff dog, 
 For he always lives like a hog. 165 
 
 And to my fifth son, 
 
 I '11 give him the ram, 
 And I '11 dye like a lamb. 
 
 Then they draw their swords, and THE FOOL falls on the floor, and the 
 dancers walk once round THE FOOL ; and PICKLB HERRING stamps -with 
 his foot andlw*. FOOL rises on his knees again ; and PICKLE HERRING 
 says : 
 
 P. H. How now, father ? 
 
 FOOL. How now, then, boy ? I have another squeak for 1 70 
 
 my life ? 
 P. H. You have a many. 
 
 Then, the dancers pitting their swords round 'THE FOOL'S neck again, 
 
 FOOL. So I must dye ? 
 P. H. You must dye, father. 
 
 FOOL. Hold! I have yet a little something more to leave 175 
 amongst you, and then I hope I shall dye quietly. So 
 to my first son, Pickle Herring, 
 
 I '11 give him my cap and my coat, 
 A very good sute, boy. 
 
 l Lines 156-185 as prose in O.
 
 THE PLOW BOYS, OR MORRIS DANCERS. 303 
 
 And to my second son, 180 
 
 I '11 give him my purse and apparel, 
 But be sure, boys, you do not quarrel. 
 
 As to my other three, 
 
 My executors they shall be. 
 
 Then, PICKLE HERRING puting his hand to his sword, 
 
 FOOL. Hold, hold, boy ! Now I submit my soul to God. 185 
 
 P. H. A very good thought, old father ! 
 
 FOOL. Mareham churchyard, I hope, shall have my bones. 
 
 Then the dancers -walk round THE FOOL -with their swords in their 
 hands, and PICKLE HERRING stamps with his foot and says : 
 
 [P. H.] Heigh, old father ! 
 
 FOOL. Why, boy, since I have been out of this troublesome 
 
 world I have heard so much musick of fiddles playing 190 
 and bells ringing that I have a great fancy to go away 
 singing. So, prithee, Pickle Herring, let me have one 
 of thy best songs. 
 
 P. H. You shall have it, old father. 
 
 FOOL. Let me see it. 195 
 
 They sing. 
 
 Good people all, I pray you now behold, 
 
 Our old Fool's bracelet is not made of gold, 
 
 But it is made of iron and good steel, 
 
 And unto death we '11 make this old Fool yield. 1 99 
 
 FOOL. I pray, forbear, my children small ; 
 
 For, as I am lost as parent to you all, 
 
 O, let me live a while your sport for to advance, 
 
 That I may rise again and with you have a dance. 203 
 
 THE SONS sing. 
 
 Now, old father, that you know our will, 
 
 That for your estate we do your body kill, 
 
 Soon after death the bell for you shall toll, 
 
 And wish the Lord he may receive your soul. 207
 
 304 THE REVESBY SWORD PLAY. 
 
 Then THE FOOL falls down, and the dancers, with their swords in 
 their hands, sings the following song '. 
 
 Good people all, you see what we have done : 
 
 We have cut down our father like the J evening sun, 
 
 And here he lies all in his purple gore, 
 
 And we are afraid he never will dance more. 21 1 
 
 FOOL rises from the floor and says : 
 
 [FooL.] No, no, my children ! by chance you are all mistaen ! 
 
 For here I find myself, I am not slain ; 
 
 But I will rise, your sport then to advance, 
 
 And with you all, brave boys, I '11 have a dance. 215 
 
 Then the Foreman and CICELY dances down and the other two couple 
 stand their ground. After a short dance called "Jack,the brisk young- 
 Drummer," they all go out but THE FOOL, FIDLER, and CICELY. 
 
 FOOL. Hear you, do you please to hear the sport of a fool? 
 
 CICELY. A fool ? for why ? 
 
 FOOL. Because I can neither leap, skip, nor dance, but cut 
 a caper thus high. \He capers.'} Sound, music ! I must 
 be gon ; the Lord of Pool draws nigh. 220 
 
 Enter PICKLE HERRING. 
 
 P. H. I am the Lord of Pool, 
 
 And here begins my measure, 2 
 And after me a fool, 
 
 To dance a while for pleasure 
 In Cupid's school. 225 
 
 FOOL. A fool, a fool, a fool, 
 
 A fool I heard thou say, 2 
 
 But more the other way, 
 For here I have a. tool 
 
 Will make a maid to play, 
 Although in Cupid's school. 
 
 Come all away ! 232 
 
 1 O. ye. 
 
 2 O. has these two lines as one.
 
 THE PLOW BOYS, OR MORRIS DANCERS. 305 
 
 Enter BLUE BRITCHES. 
 
 BLUE B. I am the Knight of Lee, 
 
 And here I have a dagger, 
 Offended not to be. 
 
 Come in, thou needy beggar, 
 And follow me ! 237 
 
 Enter GINGER BRITCHES. 
 
 GINGER B. Behold, behold, behold 
 
 A man of poor estate ! 
 Not one penny to infold ! 240 
 
 Enter PEPPER BRITCHES. 
 
 PEPPER B. My money is out at use, or else I would. 
 
 Enter MR. ALLSPICE. 
 
 ALLSPICE. With a hack, a hack, a hack, 
 See how I will skip and dance 
 
 For joys that we have found ! 
 
 Let each man take his chance, 245 
 
 And we will all dance around. 
 
 Then they dance the sword dance which is called " Nelly's Gig " ; then 
 they run under their swords, which is called " Runing Battle " ; then 
 three dancers dances with three swords, and the Foreman jumping 
 over the swords ; then THE FOOL goes up to CICELY. 
 
 FOOL. Here comes I that never come yet, 
 
 Since last time, lovy ! 
 I have a great head but little wit. 
 
 Tho' my head be great and my wits be small, 250 
 
 I can play the fool for a while as well as [the] best of ye all. 
 1 My name is noble Anthony ; 
 I am as meloncholly as a mantle-tree. 
 I am come to show you a little sport and activity, 
 
 And soon, too ! 255 
 
 Make room for noble Anthony 
 And all his good company ! 
 Drive out all these proud rogues, and let my lady and I have 
 
 a parl . j Exeuni att but FooL and C ICE LY.] 
 
 1 Lines 253-266 as prose in O.
 
 306 THE REVESBY SWORD PLAY. 
 
 CICELY. O, ye clown ! what makes you drive out my men 
 
 so soon? 261 
 
 FOOL. O, pardon, madam, pardon ! and I 
 
 Will never offend you more. 
 I will make your men come in as fast 
 
 As ever they did before. 265 
 
 CICELY. I pray you at my sight, 
 
 And drive it not till night, 1 
 That I may see them dance once more 
 
 So lovely in my sight. 1 269 
 
 FOOL. A-faith, madam, and so I will ! 
 
 I will play the man l 
 And make them come in 
 
 As fast as ever I can. l 273 
 
 But hold, gip ! Mrs. Clagars, 
 
 How do you sell geese ? l 
 CICELY. Go, look, Mister Midgecock ! 
 
 Twelve pence apiece. l 277 
 
 FOOL. Oh, the pretty pardon ! 
 
 CICELY. A gip for a frown ! 
 FOOL. An ale-wife for an apparitor ! 
 
 CICELY. A rope for a clown ! 
 FOOL. Why, all the devise in the country 
 
 Cannot pull this down ! l 283 
 
 I am a valiant knight just come from the seas : 2 
 
 You do know me, do you ? 
 
 I can kUl you ten thousand, tho' they be but fleas. 
 I can kill you a man for an ounce of mustard, 
 Or I can kill you ten thousand for a good custard. 
 
 I have an old sheep skin, 
 
 And I lap it well in, 290 
 
 Sword and buckler by my side, all ready for to fight ! 
 
 1 As one line in 0. 2 Two lines in O.
 
 THE PLOW BOYS, OR MORRIS DANCERS. 307 
 
 Come forth, you whores and gluttons all ! for, had it not been 
 in this country, I should not have shewen my valour 
 amongst you. But sound, music ! for I must be gone. 294 
 
 [Exit FOOL.] 
 Enter PICKLE HERRING. 
 
 P. H. In first and formost do I come, 
 
 All for to lead this race, 
 Seeking the country far and near 
 
 So fair a lady to embrace. 298 
 
 So fair a lady did I. never see, 
 
 So comely in my sight, 
 Brest in her gaudy gold 
 
 And silver shining bright. 302 
 
 She has fingers long, and rings 
 
 Of honor of beaten gold : 
 
 My masters all, behold ! 
 It is now for some pretty dancing time, 
 And we will foot it fine. 307 
 
 BLUE B. I am a youth of jollitree ; 
 
 Where is there one like unto me ? 
 
 My hair is bush'd very thick ; 
 
 My body is like an hasel stick ; 311 
 
 My legs they quaver like an eel ; 
 
 My arms become my body weel ; 
 
 My fingers they are long and small : 
 
 Am not I a jolly youth, proper and tall? 315 
 
 Therefore, Mister Musick Man, 
 
 Whatsoever may be my chance, 
 It is for my ladie's love and mine, 
 
 Strike up the morris dance. 319 
 
 Then they foot it once round. 
 
 GINGER B. I am a jolly young man of flesh, blood and bone ; 
 Give eare, my masters all, each one ! 321
 
 308 THE REVESBY SWORD PLAY. 
 
 And especially you, my lady dear, 
 
 I hope you like me well. 
 Of all the gallants here 
 
 It is I that doth so well. 325 
 
 Therefore, Mister Musick Man, 
 
 Whatsoever may be my chance, 
 It is for my ladie's love and mine, 
 
 Strike up the morris dance. 329 
 
 Then they foot it round. 
 
 PEPPER B. I am my father's eldest son, 
 
 And heir of all his land, 
 And in a short time, I hope, 
 
 It will fall into my hands. 333 
 
 I was brought up at Lindsey Court 
 
 All the days of my life. 
 Here stands a fair lady, 
 
 I wish she was my wife. 337 
 
 I love her at my heart, 
 
 And from her I will never start. 
 Therefore, Mr. Musick Man, play up my part. 
 FOOL (rushing in). And mine, too ! 341 
 
 Enter ALLSPICE, and they foot it round. PICKLE HERRING, suter to 
 CICELY, takes her by the hand, and -walks about the room. 
 
 P. H. Sweet Ciss, if thou wilt be my love, 
 
 A thousand pounds I will give thee. 
 CICELY. No, you 're too old, sir, and I am too young, 
 
 And alas ! old man, that must not be. 345 
 
 P. H. I '11 buy the[e] a gown of violet blue, 
 
 A petticoat imbroidered to thy knee ; 
 Likewise my love to thee shall be true. 
 
 CICELY. But alas ! old man, that must not be. 349 
 
 P. H. Thou shalt walk at thy pleasure, love, all the day, 
 If at night thou wilt but come home to me ;
 
 THE PLOW BOYS, OR MORRIS DANCERS. 309 
 
 And in my house bear all the sway. 
 
 CICELY. Your children they '11 find fault with me. 353 
 
 P. H. I '11 turn my children out of doors. 
 
 CICELY. And so, I fear, you will do me. 
 P. H. Nay, then, sweet Ciss, ae'er trust me more, 
 
 For I never loved lass before like the[ej. l 357 
 
 Enter FOOL. 
 
 FOOL. No, nor behind, neither. 
 Well met, sweet Cis, well over-ta'en ! 
 
 CICELY. You are kindly wellcome, sir, to me. 
 FOOL. I '11 wipe my eyes, and I '11 look again ! 
 
 Methinks, sweet Cis, I now the[e] see ! 362 
 
 CICELY. Raf, what has thou to pleasure me? 
 
 FOOL. Why, this, my dear, I will give the[e], 
 And all I have it shall be thine. 
 
 CICELY. Kind sir, I thank you heartelly. 366 
 
 P. H. (to THE FOOL). Stand back, stand back, thou silly old 
 
 swain ! 
 
 This girl shall go with none but me. 
 FOOL. I will not ! 
 P. H. Stand back, stand back, or I '11 cleave thy brain 
 
 Tken PICKLB HERRING goes up to Cis, and says: 
 
 O, now, sweet Cis, I am come to thee ! 371 
 
 CICELY. You are as wellcome as the rest, 
 
 Wherein you brag so lustilly. 
 FOOL. For a thousand pounds she loves me best ! 
 
 I can see by the twinkling of her ee. 375 
 
 P. H. I have store of gold, whereon I boast ; 
 
 Likewise my sword, love, shall fight for the[e]; 
 When all is done, love, I '11 scour the coast, 
 
 And bring in gold for thee and me. 379 
 
 1 O. like the before ; emend, by Kittredge.
 
 3IO THE REVESBY SWORD PLAY. 
 
 CICELY. Your gold may gain as good as I, 
 
 But by no means it shall tempt me ; 
 For youthfull years and frozen age 
 
 Cannot in any wise agree. 383 
 
 Then BLUE BRITCHES goes up to her, and says'. 
 
 [BLUE B.] Sweet mistress, be advised by me : 
 
 Do not let this old man be denyed, 
 But love him for his gold in store ; 
 
 Himself may serve for a cloak, beside. 387 
 
 CICELY. Yes, sir, but you are not in the right. 
 
 Stand back and do not council me ! 
 For I love a lad that will make me laugh 
 
 In a secret place, to pleasure me. 
 FOOL. Good wench ! 392 
 
 PICKLE HERRING. Love, I have a beard as white as milk. 
 
 CICELY. Ne'er better for that, thou silly old man ! 
 P. H. Besides, my skin, love, is soft as silk. 
 
 FOOL. And thy face shines like a dripping pan. 396 
 
 P. H. Rafe, what has thou to pleasure her ? 
 
 FOOL. Why a great deal more, boy, than there 's in 
 
 the[e]. 
 P. H. Nay then, old rogue, I thee defye. 
 
 CICELY. I pray, dear friends, fall not out for me ! 400 
 
 P. H. Once I could skip, leap, dance, and sing ; 
 
 Why will you not give place to me ? 
 FOOL. Nay, then, old rogue, I thee defye ; 
 
 For thy nose stands like a Maypole tree. 404 
 
 Then goes up GINGER BRITCHES * to CISLEY and says : 
 
 [GINGER B.] Sweet mistress, mind what this man doth say, 
 
 For he speaks nothing but the truth : 
 Look on the soldier, now I pray ; 
 
 See, is not he a handsome youth ? 408 
 
 i O. Breeches.
 
 THE PLOW BOYS, OR MORRIS DANCERS. 311 
 
 CICELY. Sir, I am engaged to one I love, 
 
 And ever constant I will be, 
 There is nothing that I prize above. 
 
 P. H. For a thousand pounds, she 's gone from me ! 
 FOOL. Thou may lay two ! 413 
 
 CICELY (to PICKLE HERRING). Old father, for your reverend 
 years, 
 
 Stand you the next man unto me ; 
 Then he that doth the weapon bear ; 
 
 For I will have the hind man of the three ! 417 
 
 FOOL (to PICKLE HERRING). Old father, a fig for your old gold ! 
 
 The soldier, he shall bear no sway ! 
 But you shall see, and so shall we, 
 
 'Tis I that carries the lass away ! 421 
 
 Then the dancers take* y -ijld of their swords, and foots it round the room ; 
 then every man makes his obeisance to the master of the house, and the 
 whole concludes. 
 
 FINIS.

 
 PART IV
 
 [MANKIND.] 
 
 For the opportunity to print this specimen of the " Macro Moralities" I am 
 indebted to the courtesy of Dr. Furnivall, who allowed me to have a copy made 
 from his copy of the original MS. The original MS., now the property of J. H. 
 Gurney, Esq., was written apparently in the reign of Edward IV (cf. 1. 684), a 
 few miles east or northeast of Cambridge (cf . 11. 499 ff .), and was once the prop- 
 erty of a monk named Hyngham (cf. verse at end of play). I have disregarded 
 the flourishes of , //, r, etc. 
 
 \_Dramatis Personae. 
 
 MANKYNDE. MERCY. 
 
 NEW GYSE. NOW-A-DAYS. 
 
 NOUGHT. MYSCHEFF. 
 TITYVILLUS.] 
 
 \Enter Mercy.} 
 
 MERCY. The very fownder & begynner of owv?r fyrst crea- 
 czbn, 
 
 A-monge ws synfull wrechys he oweth to be magnyfyede, 
 Tha\. for ow^r dysobedyenc[e] he hade non indygnac/on 
 
 To sende hys own son to be torn & crucyfyede ; 
 
 Ow^r obsequyouse s^ruyce to hym xulde be aplyede ; 
 Where he was Lorde of all & made all thywge of nought, 
 
 For the synfull synner to late l hym revyuyde 
 And 2 for hys redempcyon sett hys own son at nought. 
 
 may be seyde & veryfyede : Mankynde was dere bought; 
 By the pytouse deth of Ihesu he hade hys remedye ; 
 He was purgyde of hys defawte, #at wrechydly hade 
 
 wrought, 
 By hys gloryus Passyon, /^at blyssyde lauatorye. 
 
 1 MS. lade. 2 Qy. omit And, and insert he before sett.
 
 316 MANKIND. 
 
 O souerence, I be-seche you yow^r co;zdycyo#s to 
 
 rectyfye 
 Ande with humylite & reu^rence to haue a remocyon 
 
 To Mis blyssyde prynce Mat o\\er natun? doth gloryfye, 
 That ye may be partycypable of hys retrz bucyon. 1 6 
 
 I haue be the. very mene for yow^r restytucyon ; 
 
 Mercy ys my name, Mat mornyth for yo\v<?r offence. 
 Dyverte not yow^r-sylffe in tyme of temtacyon, 
 
 That ye may be acceptable to Code at yow<?r goyng<? 
 
 hence. 
 The grett Mercy of Code, //rat ys of most preemmy- 
 
 nence, 
 
 Be medyacyon l of Owv?r Lady, Mat ys euer habu#dante a 
 To Me synfull creature Mat wyll repent hys ne[g]ly- 
 
 gence, 
 I prey Code, at yow^r most nede that M^rcy be yower de- 
 
 fendawnte ! 24 
 
 In goode werkys I a-wyse yow, souerence, to be perseu^r- 
 ante, 
 
 To puryfye yow^r sowlys that Mei be not corupte ; 
 For yower gostly enmy wyll make hys a-vante, 3 
 
 Yow^r goode codyczons yf he may interupte. 
 
 je sou^rens that sytt, & 36 brothern that stonde ryghte 
 
 wppe, 
 Pryke not yow^r felycytes in thynges transytorye ! 
 
 Be-holde not Me erth^, but lyfte yow^r ey wppe ! 
 Se how Me hede Me members dayly do magnyfye ! 32 
 
 Who ys Me hede, forsoth, I xall yow certyfye : 
 
 1 mene ow^r Sauyow^r, that was lykynnyde to a lambe ; 
 Ande hys sayntey be Me members, that dayly he doth satysfye 
 
 Wz't# Me precyose reu^r that ruwnyth from hys wombe ; 
 Ther ys non such foode be water ner by lande, 
 So pr^cyouse, so gloryouse, so redefull to ow*?r entent, 
 
 1 MS. medytacyon. 2 MS. habuwdance. 8 MS. a-vance.
 
 MANKIND. 317 
 
 For yt hath dyssoluyde Makynde from the bitter bonde 
 Of the. mortall enmye, [the] venymouse l s^rpente ; 40 
 
 From the, wyche Code presume yow all at the last Iugemet, 
 For sekyrly ther xall be a streat 2 examynacyon ; 
 
 The corn xall be sauyde, the chaffe xall be brente : 
 
 I be-sech yow hertyly, haue this premedytacyon^. 44 
 
 {.Enter Myscheffe^ 
 
 MYS. I be-seche yow hertyly, leue yow^r calc[ul]acyon ! 
 Leue yow^r chaffe, leue yow^r corn, leue yow^r dalyacyon ! 
 Yow^r wytt ys lytyll, yow^r hede ys mekyll, ye are full of 
 predycacyon ! 
 
 But, ser, I prey this questyon to claryfye : 
 Dryff-draff, mysse-masche, 
 Sume was corn & sume was chaffe, 
 My dame seyde my name was Raffe, 
 
 On-shett yow^r loke & take an halpenye ! 52 
 
 MERCY. Why conu? ^e hethyr, broker ? 3 e werv? not dysyryde. 
 MYS. For a wynter corn-threscher, ser, I haue hyryde ; 
 Ande }e sayde the corn xulde be sauyde & the chaffe xulde 
 be fyryde, 8 
 
 Ande he pr<?uyth nay, as yt schewth be this werse : 
 Corn seruit bredibus, chaffe horsibv&, straw fyrybusq\\e. 
 Thys ys as moche to say, to yow^r leude wndyrstondynge, 
 As, the. corn xall serue to brede at the. nexte bakynge ; 
 
 Chaff horsibus fir- 5 reliquid, 
 The chaff to horse xall be goode produce ; 
 Whew a ma# ys for-colde, the. straw may be brent, 
 And so forth, &c. 63 
 
 MERCY. A-voyde, goode broker ! ^e ben culpable 
 To interupte thus my talkyng* delectable. 
 MYS. Ser, I haue no/^er horse nor 4 sadyll, 
 Therfor I may not ryde. 
 
 1 MS. vemynouse. 8 MS. feryrde. 
 
 a MS. sterat. * MS. for.'
 
 3 I 8 MANKIND. 
 
 MERCY. Hye yow forthe on fote, brother, in Codes name! 
 Mvs. I say, ser, 1 am cuwme hedyr to make yow game, 
 ^et bade }e me not go out in tho, deullys name, 
 
 Ande I wyll a-byde. 71 
 
 MERCY. 1 Ande how, mynstrellys ! pley the comyn trace. 
 
 Ley on wz't^ th\ bowys 2 tyll his bely breste. 73 
 
 NOUGHT. I put case I breke my neke ; 8 how than? 
 
 NEW. I gyff no 4 force, by Sent Tanne ! 
 
 Now. Leppe 5 a-bout lyuely ! tho\i art a wyght man ; 
 
 Let ws be mery wyll we be here ! 
 NOUGHT. Xall I breke my neke to show yow sporte ? 
 Now. Therfor euer beware of thi reporte ! 
 NOUGHT. 1 be-schrew ye all ! her ys a schrewde sorte ; 
 
 Haue th&c at th&m, wzt^ a mery chere ! 81 
 
 Her tkei daunce. Mercy sayth : 
 
 MERCY. Do wey ! dowey ! this, reuell, sers, do wey ! 
 Now. Do wey ! goode Adam, do wey ! 
 Thys ys no parte of th\n pley. 
 
 NOUGHT. 3y s > mary, I prey yow ! for I loue not Mis 
 
 rewelynge. 
 
 E.uer forth, goode fader, I yow prey ; 
 Be a lytyll }e may assay. 
 A-non of w/tA yow<?r clothes yf }e wyll pray. 
 
 Go to, for I haue hade a praty scottlynge. 89 
 
 MERCY. Nay, brother, I wyll not d^unce. 6 
 
 NEW. Yf }e wyll, ser, my brother wyll make yow to prawnce. 
 
 1 These lines begin a new leaf in the MS. They seem highly inappro- 
 priate in the mouth of Mercy, cf. especially \. 73. Moreover, it is clear 
 from 11. 98, in that the entrance of New Gyse, Nowadays, and Nought 
 was immediately preceded by Mercy's use of the words forming their 
 names. I therefore suppose that at least one leaf of MS. (containing their 
 entrance) has been lost at this point, and suggest that the command to the 
 minstrels be assigned to New Gyse. 2 MS. bollys. 
 
 MS. reke. 4 MS. us. 5 MS. Leffe. 
 
 MS. dawunce ; but it often has the Vd-contr action for a.
 
 MANKIND. 
 
 Now. Wz't^ all my herte, ser, yf I may yow a-vflnce ; 
 3e may assay be a lytylk trace. 
 
 NOUGHT. 3 e > ser > W 7^ 3 e do we ^ ' ? 
 Trace not wz't/z /^em, be my cownsell ; 
 For I haue tracyed suwwhat to fell, 1 
 
 I tell [yow] yt ys a narow space. 97 
 
 But, ser, I trow, of ws thre I herde you speke. 
 NEW. Cryste,y curse haue }e 2 /^er-for, for I was in slepe ! 
 Now. A[nd] I hade the cuppe 8 in my honde redy to goo to 
 met. 
 
 Therfor, ser, curtly grett yow well. 
 MERCY. Few word^y ! few & well sett ! 
 NEW. Ser, yt ys the new gyse & the new iett : 
 Many word^j & schortely sett, 
 
 Thys ys the new gyse, euery dele. 105 
 
 MERCY. Lady, helpe ! How wrechys delyte in thvc synn- 
 
 f ull 4 weys ! 
 
 Now. Say no[ugh]t ageyn the new gyse now-a-days. 
 ThoM xall fynde ws sch[r]ewys at all assays ; 
 
 Be ware, }e may son lyke a bofett ! 
 
 MERCY. He was well occupyede that browte yow hether ! 5 
 NOUGHT. I harde yow call New Gyse, Now-a-days, Nought, 
 
 all the?, thre to-gether. 
 Yf 36 sey that I lye, I xall make yow to slyther ; 
 
 So take yow here a trefett ! 113 
 
 MERCY. Say me yower namys ; I know yow not. 
 
 NEW. New Gyse I ! 
 
 [Now.] Now-a-days [I] ! 
 
 1 MS. fylde fell. Kittredge suggests that fylde -was -written by mistake, 
 and that the copyist then, observing that fylde neither rhymed nor made 
 sense, added the right -word but neglected to erase fylde. 
 
 2 MS. hade ; corr. by Kittredge, who thinks the scribe may have caught 
 up hade from the following line. I had conjectured had he. 
 
 8 MS. has redy here as well as later in the line. . 
 
 * MS. has three strokes each for nn and u. 
 
 6MS, brethern : possibly we ought to read brether.
 
 32O MANKIND. 
 
 [NOUGHT.] I Nought ! 
 
 MERCY. Be Jh^ju Cryst, thai me dere bowte, 
 
 3e be-tray many men ! 
 NEW. Be-tray? Nay, nay, ser, nay, nay ! 
 We make them both fresch & gay. 
 But of yow^r name, ser, I yow prey, 
 
 That we may yow ken ! 121 
 
 MERCY. Mercy ys my name & my 1 denomynacyon ! 
 
 I coseyue }e haue but a lytyll fors 2 in my commenycacyon. 
 
 NEW. Ey, ey, yow^r body ys full of Englysch Late ! 8 
 
 Now. I prey yow hertyly, worschypfull clerke 125 
 
 I haue etu a dysch full of curdes, 
 
 Ande I haue schetu yow^r mowth full*? of turd^J ; 
 
 Now opyn yow^r sachell vtith Late[n] 4 wordw, 
 
 And sey me /Ais in clerycall maner ! 
 Also I haue a wyf, her name ys Rackell ; 
 Betwyx her & me was a gret batell, 
 Ande fayne of yow I wolde her[e] tell 
 
 Who was tho. most master. 133 
 
 NOUGHT. Thy wyf, Rachell, I dar<? ley xxti lyse ! 
 Now. Who spake to the, foil? Than art not wyse ! 
 Go & do that 5 longyth to thin offyce : 
 
 OscularQ.fuvidamen.tum ! 
 
 NOUGHT. Lo, master ! lo, 6 here ys a pardon bely mett, 7 
 Yt ys grawntyde of Pope Pokett : 
 Yf $e wyll putt yow^r nose in hys wyffor sokett, 
 
 3e xall haue xl*y days of pardon. 141 
 
 1 By -written over in MS. 2 MS. looks like fans. 
 
 8 A note in the margin says, Haue Mis Englysch made in Laytin : 
 
 I am a-ferde yt wyll brest ; 
 
 " I rausch," quod the baeger on-to me, 
 
 When I stall a leg a motun, 
 
 Ye an? a strongs cunyg<? clerke. 
 
 I trey, &c. 
 
 * MS. late ; corr. by Kittredge. 6 MS. to. 
 
 MS. doyt. 7 MS. melt; yy. be lymett.
 
 MANKIND. 321 
 
 MERCY. Thys ydyll l language $e xall repent ! 
 
 Out of this place I wolde }e went. 
 
 NEW. Goo we hens 2 all thre wz't^ on assent ; 
 
 My fadyr ys yrke of ow^r eloquence, 
 7#er-for I wyll no lenger tary. 
 Code brynge yow, master, & blyssyde Mary 
 To the number of th& demonycall frayry ! 148 
 
 Now. Eu*r wynde ! euer reyn ! 
 
 Thow I cuwme new a-geyn. 
 
 7/fce deull put out both your*? eyen ! 
 
 Felouse, go we hens tyght ! 
 NOUGHT. Go we hens, a deull wey ! 
 Her ys the dore, her ys the wey ! 
 Farwell, ientyll laffrey, 
 
 I prey Code gyf yow goode-nyght ! 1 56' 
 
 Extant. 
 
 MERCY. Thankyde be Code, we haue a fayer dylyu^rance 
 
 Of thes iij onthryfty geste-r. 
 They know full lytyll what ys ther ordynace ; 
 
 I preve by reson th&\ be wers then bestej : 160 
 
 A best doth after hys naturall instytucyon ; 
 
 3e may coseyue by ther dysporte & be-hauor, 
 7%er ioy ande delyte ys in derysyon 
 
 Of [t]her owyn Cryste to his dyshonar. 164 
 
 Thys codycyon of leuyng, yt ys preiudycyall ; 
 
 Be wan? thtr-oi, yt ys wers th&n ony felony or treson. 
 How may yt be excusyde be-for the. lustyce of all, 
 
 Whe for euery ydyll 4 worde ws 6 must yelde a reson ? 1 68 
 
 1 MS. yeyll, cf. 1. 168. 
 
 2 MS. haue ; corr. by Kittredge. 
 
 * There is no indication in MS. of the loss of this line. 
 
 * MS. yeyll, cf. 1. 142. 
 
 6 Perhaps this should be amended to we ; but, as the construction us 
 must is common, I retain the MS. reading.
 
 322 MANKIND. 
 
 They haue grett ca[u]se th&r-ior ; /Ae[i] wyll take no thought ; 
 
 But how thz.n whe# the angell of hewyn xall blow Me 
 
 tru/#pe 
 Ande sey to thz transgressers that wykydly hath wrought : 
 
 " Cum forth on-to yow^r luge & $elde yow^r a-cownte " ? 1 72 
 
 The xall I, Mercy, be-gyn sor to wepe ; 
 
 NoMer comfort nor cownsell thzr xall no# be hade, 
 But such as th&i haue sowyn, such xall thei repe ; 
 
 Th\ be wanton now, but thtn xall thz\ be sade. 176 
 
 The goode new gyse now-a-days I wyll not dysalow ; 
 
 I dyscomende the, vycyouse gyse, I prey haue me excusyde, 
 I nede not to speke of yt, yow^r reson wyll tell it yow, 
 
 Take thai 1 ys to be takyn & leue that 1 ys to be 
 
 refusyde ! 180 
 
 , [Enter Mankynde.~\ 
 
 MANK. Of the erth & of the gler 2 we haue ow^r pr0pagacyon : 
 
 By the pr<?uydens of Code //ms be we deryvatt, 
 To whos mercy I recomewde th\s holl cogrygacyon ; 
 
 I hope on-to hys blysse ye be all predestynatt ! 
 
 Eu^ry maw for hys degre, I trust, xall be partycypatt, 
 Yf we wyll mortyfye ow^r carnall codycyon 
 
 And o\ver volutarye dysyres, thai euer be pervertonat, 
 To renuce Mes & yelde ws wnd^r Codes provycyon. 188 
 
 My name ys Mankynde : I haue my composycyon 
 
 Of a body & of a soull, of codycyon cotrarye ; 
 Betwyx the. tweyn ys a grett dyvisyon ; 
 
 He thai xulde be as soiette, 8 now he hath the victory. 
 
 Thys ys to me a lamentable story, 
 To se my flesch of my soull to haue gou^mance : 
 
 Wher th& goode-wyff ys master the. goode-ma may be 
 
 sory. 195 
 
 1 MS. yt. 
 
 2 MS. cler; emend, by Kittredge; but possibly cley. 
 
 8 MS. seietle; Collier, H. E. D. P., II, 213 has sojecte.
 
 MANKIND. 323 
 
 Alasse ! what was thy fortune & tJn chaunce 1 
 
 To be assocyat wz't^ my flesch, that stynkynge dunge- 
 hyll! 
 
 Lady, helpe ! Sou^rens, yt doth my soull myche yll 
 To se Me flesch prosp^rouse & Me soull trodyn wnd^r fote. 
 
 I xall go to yondyr man, & assay hym I wyll ; 
 I trust of gostly solace he wyll be my bote. 201 
 
 [Goes to Mercy. .] 
 
 All heyll, semely father ! }e be welcom to Mis house ! 
 
 Of Me very wysdaum }e haue partycypacyon. 
 My body wzV* my soull ys eu^r querulose ; 
 
 I pray yow for sent charyte of yower supportacyon. 205 
 
 I be-seche yow hertyly of yower gostly comforte ; 
 
 I am onstedfast in lywyng ; my name ys Mankynde ; 
 My gostly enmy, Me deull, wyll haue a grett dysporte, 
 
 In synnfull 2 gydynge yf he may see me ende. 
 
 MERCY. Cryst sende yow goode comforte ! je be wel- 
 
 cum, my frende ! 
 Stonde wppe on yower fete ; I prey yow aryse. 
 
 My name ys Mercy ; ^e be to me full hende. 
 To eschew vyce I wyll yow avyse. 213 
 
 MANK. O Mercy, of all grace & virtue }e are Me well ! 
 
 I haue herd*? tell of ryght worschypfull clerks, 
 3e be approxymatt to Code & nere of hys cosell, 
 
 He hat[h] instytut you aboue all hys werk<?.r. 217 
 
 1 Marginal note in MS. : 
 
 I may both syth & sobbe, tMs ys a pituose reme*brence 
 & in my soulk sosotyll in thy substance. 
 
 This may be a part of the three lines necessary to restore the -versifica- 
 tion. I have indicated by dots the places -where, in my opinion, the lines 
 are missing. 
 
 2 MS. has thret strokes each for nn and u.
 
 324 MANKIND. 
 
 ! yower louely worker to my soull are swetere ///en hony ! 
 
 MERCY. The temtacyon of the. flesch }e must resyst 
 
 lyke a ma, 
 For ther ys euer a batell betwyx the soull & the body : 
 
 Vita hom\nis est militia super terram. 221 
 
 Oppresse yower gostly enmy & be Crystes own knyght ; 
 
 Be neuer a cowarde ageyn yower adu^rsary. 
 If ^e wyll be crownyde, 36 must ned^r fyght. 
 
 Intende well & Code wyll be yow adiutory. 225 
 
 Remembre, my frende, the. tyme of cotynuance, 
 
 So helpe me Code, yt ys but a chery-tyme ! 
 Spende yt well ; s^rue Code wz't^ hertes affyance ; 
 
 Dystempur not yower brayn with goode ale nor with wyn; 229 
 
 ' Mesure ys tresur*?,' Y for-byde yow not the vse ; 
 
 Mesure yow^r-sylf, euer be-ware of excesse ; 1 
 The sup^rfluouse gyse I wyll that }e refuse ; 
 
 Whe natur ys suffysyde, a-non thai }e sese ! 233 
 
 Yf a ma haue an hors & kepe hym not to hye, 
 
 He may then reull hym at hys own desyere ; 
 Yf he be fede ou^r-well, he wyll dysobey 
 
 Ande, in happe, cast his master in the myre. 237 
 
 NEW. 3 e sa y trew, ser ; $e ar<? no fay tour ! 
 
 1 haue fede my wyff so well tyll sche ys my master ; 
 
 I haue a grett wonde on my hede ; lo ! & theron leyth a 
 playster 
 
 Ande a-no/^er ther I pysse 2 my peson. 
 
 Ande my wyff were yovfer hors, sche wolde yow all to-sane. 8 
 3e fede yower hors in mesur ; 36 ar a wyse man ! 
 I trow * & $e were the kynges palfrey-ma, 6 
 
 A' goode horses 6 xulde be geson. 7 245 
 
 1 These two lines as one in MS. 2 MS. pyose. 
 
 8 This appears to be the reading of the MS ; qy. to-lam. 
 * MS. It row. 5 MS. niarv? (1). 
 
 6 MS. A goode horse; emend, by Kittredge. " MS. gesunwwa.
 
 MANKIND. 325 
 
 MANK. Wher spekys this, felow ? Wyll he not com* nere? 
 
 MERCY. All to son*, my brother, I fere me, for yow. 
 He was here ryght now, by hym that bowte me dere ! 
 
 WitA other of hys felouse, thei kan moche sorow ! 249 
 
 They wyll be here ryght son*? if I owt departs. 
 
 Thynke on my doctryne ; that, xall be yower defence ; 
 Lerne wyll I am here, sett my word*?j in herte ; 
 
 Wtth-in a schorte space I must nedes hens. 253 
 
 Now. The sonner, the leuer, & that be ewyn a-non ! 
 I trow 1 yower name ys do-lytyll, }e be so longe fro horn ! 
 If 30 wolde go hens, we xall cum eu*?rychon, 
 
 Me thynk a full goode sorte. 2 
 3e haue leu*?, 3 I dare well say ; 
 To [tjhem }e wyll, go forth yower wey ; 
 Men haue lytyll deynte of yower pley, 
 
 Be-cause }e make no sporte. 261 
 
 NOUGHT. Yow*?r potage xall be for-colde, ser ; whe# wyll 
 
 36 go dyn*?? 
 
 I haue sen*? a ma lost xxti noblys in as lytyll tyme, 
 3et yt was not I, be Sent Gis, certeyn, 4 
 
 For I was neuer worth a pottfull a' wortes sythyn I wos 
 
 borne ! 
 
 My name ys Nought, I loue well to make mery ; 
 I haue be seche 6 with the 6 comyn tapster of Bury ; 
 I pleyde so longe the foil that I am ewyn very wery, 
 
 3yt xall I be ther ageyn to-morne ! 7 269 
 
 MERCY. I haue moche can? for yow, my own frende ; 
 
 Yow^r enmys wyll be here anon, thei made ther zvaunte. 8 
 Thynke well in yower hert yower name ys Makynde ; 
 
 1 MS. It row. 
 
 2 MS. Mo the. a goode sorte; emend, by Kittredge. 
 SMS. leuer. 
 
 4 This -word is illegible in MS. ; the last four letters look like ntyn. 
 6 MS. sechew. r MS. to morow. 
 
 6 MS. Je. 8 MS. avarice.
 
 326 MANKIND. 
 
 Be not wnkynde to Code, I prey yow ; be hys s<?ruante. 
 
 Be stedefast in co#dycyon ; se je be not varyant ; 
 Lose not thorow foly that, ys bowte so dere. 
 
 God wyll proue yow son*? ; ande, yf thai 36 be constant, 
 Of hys blysse p^rpetuall }e xall be partener. 277 
 
 ^e may not haue yower intent at yower fyrst dysyer ; 
 Se the. grett pacyence of lob in 1 tr/bulacyon : 
 
 Lyke as the. smyth trz'eth ern in the feer, 
 
 So was he lede by Codes vysytacyon. 281 
 
 He was of yower nature & of yower fraylyte ; 2 
 
 Folow the. steppys of hym, my own swete son, 3 
 Ande sey, as he seyde, in yower trobyll & adu^rsyte : 
 Dominus dedit, Dominus abstulit, sicat placuit; sit #0men 
 
 Domini benedictum. 285 
 
 More-ou^r, in specyall I gyue yow in charge, 
 
 Be-war of Newgyse, Now-a-days & Nought, 
 
 Nyse in ther a-ray, in language thei be large ; 
 
 To pmierte yower 4 condycyons all ther menys xall be 
 
 sowte. 289 
 
 Code son, intyrmyse 5 yower-sylfi not in ther cuwpeny ; 
 
 Thei harde not a masse ///i[s] twelmonyth, I dar^ well 
 
 say; 
 Gyff them non audyence, thei wyll tell yow many a lye ; 
 
 Do truly yower labours & kepe 6 yower haly-day ; 
 
 Be-war<? of Tytivillus, for he lesyth no 7 wey, 
 That goth in-vysybull & wyll not be sen ; 
 
 He wyll ronde in yower ere & cast a nett be-for 
 
 yower ey. 8 
 He ys worst of them all, Code let hym neuer then ! 297 
 
 i MS. & ; corr. by Kittredge. 2 MS. frayylyte. 
 
 8 Beside this line another hand has -written ita factum est. 
 
 * MS. Mer. 
 
 6 Over this another hand has written intromytt not. 
 
 MS. kefe. 1 MS. us. 8 MS. eyn.
 
 MANKIND. 327 
 
 Yff 36 dysples Code, aske mercy a-non ; 
 
 Ellys Myscheff wyll be redy to brace yow in hys brydyll. 
 Kysse me now, my den? darlynge, Code sche[l]de yow from 
 yower fon ! l 
 
 Do truly yower labur<f & be neu<?r ydyll. 301 
 
 The blyssynge of Code be with yow & with all yower 2 wor- 
 
 schypfull me ! 
 MANK. Ame ! for sent charyte, Amen ! 303 
 
 Now, blyssyde be Ih<?ju, my soull ys well sacyatt 
 
 With the. mellyfluouse doctryne of this worschypfull ma# ! 
 
 The rebellyn of my flesch, now yt ys sup<?ratt, 
 
 Thankyd 3 be Code of the. conynge that I kan ! 4 307 
 
 Her wyll I sytt & tytyll in this papyr 
 
 The incomparable astat of my pwmycyon ! 
 Worschypfull souerence, I haue wretyn hen? 
 
 The gloryuse remewbrance of my nobyll condycyon. 311 
 
 To haue remo[r]s & memory of my-sylff, thus wretyn yt ys, 
 To defende me from all sup^rstycyous charmys : 
 
 Memento, homo, guod cinis es et [in] cinere[m~\ reti&cteris ; 
 
 Lo ! I ber on my bryst the. bagge of myn armys ! 315 
 
 \Enter New Gyse at the back of the stage.] 
 
 NEW. The wether ys colde, Code send ws goode ferys ! 
 Cum sancto sanctus eris, & cum p&ruerso 5 penterteris, 
 Ecce quam 6 bonum & quam e iocundum? quod the. deull to 
 
 the frerys, 
 
 Ifabitarefratres in uno? 
 
 MANK. Ther a felow speke ; wzth hym I wyll not mell. 
 Thys erth with my spade I xall assay to delffe ; 
 
 1 MS. son ; corr. by Kittredge. * MS. co#zmynge that I kam. 
 
 2 Qy. omit, or read yow. 6 MS. pexuerse. 
 
 8 MS. Thankynge. 6 MS. quivcn. ~ MS. locundie. 
 
 8 MS. vino, perhaps intentionally ; but vnion, -which is very near the 
 MS. form, would rhyme with fusyon.
 
 328 MANKIND. 
 
 To eschew ydullnes l I do thai myn own selffe ; 
 
 I prey Code sende 2 hys fusyon ! 323 
 
 [Enter Novu-a-days, Nought.} 
 
 Now. Make rom, sers, for we haue be longe ! 
 
 We wyll cum gyf yow a Crystemes songe. 
 
 NOUGHT. Now I prey all tht yemandry thai ys here 
 
 To synge with ws with a mery chere : ^ He . , 337 
 
 Yt ys wretyn with a coll ! Yt ys wretyn with a cole ! 8 
 
 Cantant omnes '. 
 
 Holyke ! holyke ! holyke ! holyke ! holyke ! holyke ! 336 
 
 NEW. Ey, Mankynde, Code spede yow with yower spade ! 4 
 
 I xall tell yow of a maryage ; 
 
 I wolde yower mowth & hys ars that Mis 5 made 
 
 Wer maryede iuwctly together ! 
 MANK. Hey yow hens, felouse, with bredynge ! 
 Leue yower derysyon & yower iapyng^ ! 
 I must ned<?J labure, yt ys my lyvynge. 
 
 Now. What, ser I we cam^ but late 6 hethyr. 344 
 
 Xall all this corn grow here 
 That }e xall haue the nexte jer? 
 Yf yt be so, corn hade nede be dere, 
 
 Ellys je xall haue a pore lyffe. 
 NOUGHT. A-lasse, goode fadere, Mis labor fretyth yow to 
 
 tho. bon<? ; 
 
 But for yower croppe I take grett mone, 
 3e xall n&uer spende yt a-lonne, 
 
 I xall assay to geett yow a wyffe. 352 
 
 How many acres suppose je here, by estymacyon ? 
 NEW. Ey ! how je tome th& erth wppe & down ! 
 
 1 MS. yeullnes. 2 MS. thai before hys. 
 
 8 NEW. and Now. reply -with the same line ; each of the four lines of the 
 vulgar song is similarly treated. < MS. space. 
 
 5 MS. ys. corr. by Kittredge. 6 MS. eat; corr. by Kittredge.
 
 MANKIND. 329 
 
 I haue be in my days in many goode town, 
 
 3ett saw I neuer such a-no/^er tyllynge ! 
 MANK. Why stonde je ydyll? Yt ys pety that je wer* 
 
 born ! 
 
 Now. We xall bargen with yow & notker moke nor scorne : 
 Take a goode carte in herwest & lode yt with yower corne, 
 
 Ande what xall we gyf yow for thz. levynge ? 360 
 
 NOUGHT. He ys a goode, starke laburer, he wolde fayn do 
 
 well, 
 
 He hath mett with the goode ma# Mercy in a schroude sell ; 
 For all th\s he may haue many a huwgry mele. 
 
 3yt well ^e se, he ys polytyke : 
 Here xall be goode corn, he may not mysse yt ; 
 Yf he wyll haue reyn, he may ou^r-pysse yt ; 
 Ande 1 yf he wyll haue compost, 2 he may ou<?r-blysse yt 
 
 A lytyll with hys ers lyke. 368 
 
 MANK. Go & do yower labr Code lett yow never the ! 
 Or wz't^ my spade I xall yow dynge, by the. Holy Tr/nyte ! 
 Haue 36 non other ma# to moke but euer me ? 
 
 3e wolle haue me of yower sett ! 
 Hye yow forth lyvely, for hens I wyll yow dryffe ! 
 
 [He beats them with his spade^\ 
 
 NEW. Alas, my iewelhv ! 8 I xall be schent of my wyff. 
 Now. A-lasse ! & I am lyke neuer for to thryue, 
 
 I haue such a buffett ! 376 
 
 MANK. Hens, I say, Newgyse, Now-a-days & Nowte ! 
 Yt was seyde be-forn, all the. menys xulde 4 be sought 
 To p^ruerte my condycions & brynge me to nought. 
 
 Hens, thevys, je haue made many a lesynge ! 
 NOUGHT. Marryde I was for colde, but now am I warme ! 
 3e are ewyll avysyde, ser, for }e haue don^ harme. 
 By Cokkys body sakyrde, I haue such a peyn in my arme 
 
 I may not chonge a ma a ferthynge ! 384 
 
 1 MS. Arde. MS. lewellw. 
 
 2 MS. compasse ; corr. by Kittredge. * MS. xall.
 
 33O MANKIND. 
 
 MANK. Now I thanke Code, knelynge on my kne : 
 
 B[l]yssyde be hys name, he ys of hye degre ! 
 
 By ///is spade, 1 of hys grace thai he hath sente me, 
 
 Thre 2 of myn enmys I haue putt to flyght ; 
 3yt this instrument, sou<?rens, ys not made to defende. 
 Dauide seyth : N&c in hasta? nee in gladio sahtat Dominus. 4 
 NOUGHT. No, mary, I be-schrew yow, Yt ys in spadibMS \ 
 Therfor Crystes curse cum on yo\\w hedybus, 
 
 To sende yow lesse myght ! 393 
 
 Extant. 
 
 MANK. I pr<?mytt yow, /^es felouse wyll no-mon? cum here ; 
 For summe of Mem, certewly, were su-wme-what to rere ! 
 My fadyr, Mercy, a-vysyde me to be of a goode chere 
 
 And agayn my enmys. maly for to fyght. 397 
 
 I xall covycte 5 Mem, I hope, eu^rychon ; 
 
 3et I say a-mysse, I do yt not a-lon ; 
 
 Wit/t the helpe of Me grace of Code I re[s]yst my fon 
 
 Ande Mer malycyuse herte. 
 
 Wzt# my spade I wyll depute, my worschypfull 6 sou<?rence, 
 Ande lyue eu<?r wz't^ labur^ to corecte my insolence. 
 I xall go fett 7 corn for my londe ; I prey yow of pacyence, 
 
 Ryght son*? I xall reverte. 405 
 
 [Exit : enter Myscheff.} 
 
 [Mvs.] Alas ! alasse, thai euer I was wrought ! 
 Alasse Me whyll ! I [am] wers //2e[n] nought ! 
 Sythyn I was here, by hym //6at me bought, 
 
 I am utterly on-don ! 
 
 I, Myscheff, was her^ at the begy/mynge of the game 
 And arguyde \\iih Mercy, Code gyff hym schame ! 
 He hath taught Mankynde, wyll I haue be vane, 
 
 To fyght maly a-geyn hys fon ; 413 
 
 1 MS. By Me fesyde ; corr. by Kittredge. 
 
 2 MS. iij. 6 MS. covytte. 
 
 8 MS. hastu. 6 MS. worschyppull. 
 
 * MS. 5ns. "' MS. sett.
 
 MANKIND. 331 
 
 For with hys spade, that was hys wepyn, 
 New Gyse, Now-a-days, Nought, hath all to-betyn. 
 I haue grett pyte to se //zem wepyn. 
 Wyll 36 lyst? I hen? them crye ! 
 
 [Enter New Gyse, Now-a-days, Nought^ 
 
 A-lasse ! a-lasse ! cuw hether, I xall be yow^r borow ! 
 A-lac ! a-lac ! ven ! ven ! cu#z hethere. witA sorowe ! 
 Pesse, fayer babys ! 36 xall haue a nappy 11 to-morow ! 
 
 Why grete 36 so? why? 421 
 
 NEW. A-lasse, master ! a-lasse my przvyte ! 
 MYS. A ! wher ? A-lake ! fayer babe, ba me ! 
 A-byde to son*?, I xall yt se. 
 
 Now. Hen?, here ! se my hede, goode master ! 
 MYS. Lady, helpe ! Sely darlynge, ven, ven! 
 I xall helpe the. of th\ peyn ; 
 I xall smytt of th\ hcde & sett yt on agayn. 
 
 NOUGHT. By Ow^r Lady, ser, a fay^r playster ! 429 
 
 Wyll 36 of \\itA hys hede ? Yt ys a schreude charme ! 
 As for me I haue non harme ! 
 I were loth to for-bere myn arme ; 
 
 3e pley, in nomine Patrz's, choppe ! 
 NEW. 3 e xa ^ not choppe my iewellys, & I may ! 
 Now. 3 e > Cristes 1 crose ! 2 wyll 36 smyght my hede a-wey? 
 Ther wer on anon ! 8 Oute ! 36 xall not assay ! 
 
 I myght well be callyde a foppe ! 437 
 
 MYS. I kan choppe yt of & make yt a-gayn. 
 
 NEW. I hade a schreude recumbentibus, 4 but I fele no peyn. 
 
 Now. Ande my hede ys all saue & holl agayn. 
 
 Now, towchynge the mater of Ma#k) nde, 
 Lett ws haue an interreccyon sythen 36 be cum hethere. 
 
 Yt were goode to haue an ende. 443 
 
 1 MS. Craftes. 
 
 2 For cross, or, perhaps, curse, cf. 1. 802 
 8MS. wher on & on ; corr. by Kittredge. 
 * MS. Kcumtentibus.
 
 332 MANKIND. 
 
 MYS. How, how ! A mynstrell ! Know 36 ony ou[gh]t? 
 NOUGHT. I kan pype in a Walsyngham l wystyll, I, 
 
 Nought, Nought. 
 MYS. Blow a-pase ! Thou, xall brynge hym in vitih a flewte. 8 
 
 \Tytiv-ullu3 shouts outside.] 
 
 TYT. I com wzt^ my legges vnder me ! 
 MYS. How ! Newgyse, Now-a-days, herke or I goo : 
 Whe# ovffr hechtt wen? to-gether<? I spake of. Si dedero* 
 NEW. 3 e 4 g ^i we y> we xa ^ gather mony on-to. 
 
 Ellys Mer 6 xall no-man hym se. 45 1 
 
 Now gostly to ovfer purpos, worschypfull sou^rence : 
 
 We intende to gather mony, yf yt plesse yower n<?clygence, 
 
 For a ma v/M a hede tha\. of grett omwipotens 
 
 Now. Kepe yovter tayll, in goodnes I prey yow, good 
 
 broker ! 
 
 He ys a worschypfull 6 ma, sers, sauyng^ yower reu^rens ; 
 He louyth no grot?j nor pens or 7 to-pens, 
 Gyf ws rede reyallys yf 36 wyll se hys abhomynabull pr<?sens. 
 NEW. Not so ! 3 e ^ a t mow n t pay /^e ton, pay Me 
 
 toMer. 459 
 
 At Me goode-ma of Mis house fyrst we wyll assay. 
 
 Code blysse yow, master ! 3 e sa y ^ > T ^> 3 e * ? e w y^ no * se y 
 
 nay. 
 Lett ws go by & by, & do Mem pay. 
 
 3e pay all a-lyke, well must 36 fare ! 
 NOUGHT. I sey, New Gyse, Now-a-days ! Estis vos pecu- 
 
 niatus f 
 
 I haue cryede a fayer wyll, I beschrewyow^r patus ! 
 Now. Ita uere, magister ; cumwe forth now yower gatus ! 
 
 He ys a goodly ma, sers ; make space & be-warc ! 467 
 
 1 MS. has the contraction for au. 5 MS. Mei. 
 
 2 Qy. flowte. 6 MS. worschyppulL 
 MS. Tidedere ; corr. by Kittredge. 7 MS. of. 
 
 * MS. 30.
 
 MANKIND. 333 
 
 [Enter Titivillus, arrayed like a devil and -with a net in his hand.] 
 
 TIT. Ego sum dominantium 1 dominus, & my name ys 
 
 Titivillus ! 
 
 3e thai haue goode hors, to yow I sey caueatis ; 
 Here ys an abyll felyschyppe to tryse hym out at yoww gatw. 
 
 Ego probo sic : Ser New Gys, lende me a peny ! 471 
 
 LooMitur ad Newgyse. 
 
 NEW. I haue a grett purse, ser, but I haue no monay ; 
 By Me masse, I fayll ij farthyng^r of an halpeny. 
 3yt hade I ten pownd 2 Mis nyght thai wos. 
 TIT. What ys in th\ purse ? Mou art a stout felow. 3 
 
 Loquitva ad Now-a-days. 
 
 Now. The. deull haue [the] qwyll, I am a clen ientyllma// ! 
 I prey Code, I be neu^r wers storyde Mew I am. 
 
 Yt xall be otherwyse, I hope, or this, nyght passe. 478 
 
 TYT. Herke now, I say tho\i hast many a peny. 
 
 Loquitur ad Nought. 
 
 NOUGHT. No\n\ nobis, domine, non nobis, by sent Deny ! 
 7%e deull may dawnce in my purse for ony peny, 
 Yt ys as clen as a byrd^j ars. 
 
 TIT. Now I sey 3et a-geyn caueatis ; 
 
 Here ys an abyll felyschyppe to tryse hew of yower gater. 
 
 Now, I say, New Gyse, Now-a-ddyj & Nought, 
 
 Go & serche Me centre, anon Mat [yt] be sow3te, 
 
 Suwme here, suwme Mer, what yf 36 may cache owjte ! 487 
 
 Yf 36 fayll of hors, take what 36 may ellys. 
 
 NEW. The speke to Makynde for Me recuwbentibj of 
 
 my iewellys. 
 Now. Remewbre my brokyn hede, in the worschyppe of Me 
 
 v voli ellys ! * 
 
 1 MS. duancum. 3 Q y . m an. 
 
 2 MS. x h . 4 Q y _ the vij (or xx) devellys.
 
 334 MANKIND. 
 
 NOUGHT. 3 e goode ser, tye sytica J in my erme ! 
 TIT. I know full well what Mankynde dyde to yow, 
 Myschyff hat[h] informyde of all the maters thorow ; 
 I xall venge yow<?r quarell, I make Code a-vow. 
 
 Forth & espye wen? }e may do harme. 495 
 
 Take w[ith yow] Fyde 2 yf ^e wyll haue ony mo. 
 
 I say, New Gyse ! wether art thou avysyde to go ? 497 
 
 NEW. Fyrst I xall begyn at M [aster] Hutyngton of 
 
 Sanston ; 3 
 
 Fro thens I xall go to Wyllam 4 Thuolay of Hanston ; 
 Ande so forthe to Pycharde of Triw/pyngton : 
 
 I wyll kepe me to /^es thre. 5 
 
 Now. I xall goo to Wyllyluzm 4 Baken? of Walton ; 6 
 To Rycherde Bollmaw of Gayton ; 
 I xall span? Master Woode of Fullburn, 
 
 He ys a noli me tangere / 505 
 
 NOUGHT. I xall goo to Wyllyam Patryke of Massyngham ; 4 
 
 I xall span? Master Alyngton of Botysam 
 
 Ande Hamonde of Soffeham. 4 
 
 Felous, cum forth, & go we hens to-gethyr, 
 
 For drede of in manus tuas, qweke ! " 
 NEW. Syth we xall go, lett ws se 8 well ware & wether ; 
 Yf we may be take, we com no-more hethyr ; 
 
 Lett ws con 9 well ow^r neke-verse //^at we haue not a 
 
 cheke. 10 513 
 
 TIT. Goo yower wey, a deull wey, go yow^r wey, all ! 
 I blysse yow wz't# my lyfte hond ; foull yow be-fall ! 
 Com a-geyn, I werne, as son^ as I yow call, 
 
 A[nde] brynge yow<?r a-vantage in-to //zis place. 
 
 1 Qy. the syatica (= sciatica). 4 MS. has the contraction for au. 
 
 2 MS. lake w . . . Fyde. 6 MS. iij. 
 
 8 MS. sansten. 6 MS. Waltom. 
 
 7 The stanza-structure can t>( restored by interchanging 11. 509, 510. 
 
 8 MS. be. 9 MS. com. n MS. choke.
 
 MANKIND. 335 
 
 To speke with Mawkynde I wyll tary here this tyde, 
 
 Ande assay hys goode purpose for to sett a-syde. 
 
 The goode man, Mercy, xall no lenger be [be] hys syde ; 
 
 I xall make hym to dawnce a-no//er trace! 521 
 
 Eui?r I go invysybull, yt ys my rett, 
 
 Ande be-for hys ey thus I wyll hange my nett 
 
 To blench hys syght ; I hope to haue hys fote wett. 
 
 To yrke hym of hys labur I xall make a frame. 
 Thys borde xall be l hyde wnd^r tha erth preuely ; 
 Hys spade xall enter, I hope, on-redyly ; 2 
 Be then he hath a-wayde, 8 he xall be uery angry 
 
 Ande lose hys pacyens, peyn of schame. 529 
 
 I xall menge hys corne with draw & with durnell, 
 Yt xall not be lyke to sow 4 nor to sell. 
 Yondyr Jie cow/myth, I prey of cownsell ; 
 
 He xall wene grace were wane. 5 533 
 
 [Enter Mankynde.] 
 
 MANK. Now, Code, of hys mercy, sende ws of hys sonde ! 
 I haue brought seed her to sow with my londe ; 
 I wyll ron dylew<?r, thai 6 here yt xall stonde. 
 
 In nomine Patris 6 Filii' &" Sfiir[t"]tus Sancti, now I 
 
 wyll be-gyn. 8 
 
 Thys londe ys so harde, yt makyth wn-lusty & yrke, 
 I xall sow my corn at wynter & lett Code werke. 
 A-lasse, my corn ys lost ! Here ys a foull werke. 
 
 I se well, by tyllynge lytyll xall I wyn. 541 
 
 Here I gyf wppe my spade for now & for euer ; 
 
 Here. Titivillits goth out with th<? spade. 
 
 To occupye my body, I wyll not putt me in deuer. 9 
 I wyll here my ewynsonge here or I dysseu<?r ; 
 
 1 MS. he. 2 MS. oner redyly. 
 
 8 Unintelligible; read, perhaps, assayde. 4 MS. sew. 
 5 A later hand has added -what looks like Cruis. 6 MS. yt. 
 
 1 MS. filius. 8 MS. le-fyn. 
 
 9 MS. eeuer.
 
 336 MANKIND. 
 
 Thys place I assyng*? as my kyrke. 
 Her in my kerke I knell on my kneys. 
 Pater noster, qui es in cells. 
 
 [Enter Tytyvillus.] 
 
 TYT. I promes yow I haue no lede on my helys, 
 
 I am here a-geyn to make Mis felow yrke. 549 
 
 I-wyst, pesse ! I xall go to hys ere & tytyll Mer-in. 
 
 [Goes to Mankynde.'} , 
 
 A schorte preyere thyrlyth ! hewyn ; of Mi preyere blyn ; 
 ThoM art holyer then euer was ony of Mi kyn ; 
 
 A-ryse & avent Me, nature compellys. 553 
 
 MANK. I wyll in-to Mi[s] 3erde, sou^rens, & cum a-geyn 
 
 son<? ; 
 
 For drede of Me colyke & eke of the stone 
 I wyll go do that* nedes must be don. 
 
 My bedes 3 xall be here for who-su/me-eu(?r wyll cuwme. 557 
 
 Exiat. 
 
 TIT. Mankynde was besy in hys prayere, }et I dyde 4 hym 
 
 aryse ; 
 
 He is coveyde, be Cryst ! from hys devyn s^ruyce. 
 Whether ys he, trow 36 ? I-wysse, I am wonder wyse : 
 
 I have sent hym forth to schyte lesynges. 
 Yff 36 haue ony syluer, in happe pure brasse, 
 Take a lytyll pow[d]er of Parysch & cast oner hys face, 
 Ande ewyn in Me howll-flyght let hym passe, 
 
 Titivillus kan lerne yow many praty thyng^y ! 565 
 
 I trow Makynde wyll cu#/ a-geyn son, 
 Or ellys, I fer me, ewynsonge wyll be don. 
 Hys bedes xall be trysyde a-syde, & Mat a-non. 
 
 3e xall [se] a goode sport 5 yf 36 wyll a-byde. 
 Mankynde cuwmyth a-geyn, well fare he ! 
 
 1 MS. thyr lyth. * MS. ledes. 6 MS. spert. 
 
 2 MS. yt. 4 MS. eyde.
 
 MANKIND. 337 
 
 I xall answers hym ad omnia quare. 
 
 Ther xall be set a-broche a clerycall mater ; 
 
 I hope of hys purpose to sett hym a-syde. 573 
 
 [Enter Mankynde.] 
 
 MANK. Ewynsong* hath be in //fce saynge, I trow, a fayer 
 
 wyll; 
 
 I am yrke of yt, yt ys to longe be on myle. 
 Do wey ; I wyll no-more so oft on th& chyrche-style ; l 
 
 Be as be may, I xall do a-noMer. 
 Of labure & preyer I am nere yrke of both ; 
 I wyll no-more of yt, thowgh 2 Mercy be wroth. 
 My hede ys uery heuy, I tell yow for soth, 
 
 I xall slepe 3 full my bely & he were my "brother \ 581 
 
 TIT. Ande euer }e dyde, for me kepe now yower sylence ! 
 
 Not a werde, I charge yow, peyn of xl pens ! 
 
 A praty 4 game xall be schowde 5 yow or }e go hens. 
 
 3e may here hym snore, he ys sade on 6 slepe. 
 I-wyst, pesse ! The deull ys dede ! I xall go ronde in hys 
 
 ere : 
 
 Alasse, Mankynde, alasse ! Mercy stown 7 a mere ; 
 He ys run a-way fro hys master, thzr wot no maw where ; 
 
 More-ouer he stale both a hors & a nete. 589 
 
 But jet I herde say he brake hys neke as he rode 8 in 
 
 Frawnce ; 
 But I thynke he rydyth ouer the galous 9 to lern for to 
 
 daunce, 
 
 By-cause of hys theft. That ys hys gou<?rnance ; 
 Trust no-more on hym, he ys a marryde ma#. 
 Mekyll sorow with thi spade be-forn thon hast wrought ; 
 A-ryse & aske mercy of Newgyse, Now-a-days, & Nought. 
 
 1 Lines 576-579 are added in a note at botton of page in MS. 
 
 2 MS. then ; corr. by Kittredge. 6 MS. & ; corr. by Kittredge. 
 8 MS. skope. 7 That is, has stolen. 
 
 * MSi pauty. 8 MS. reke ab herode ; corr. by Kittredge. 
 
 6 MS. schende. 8 MS. galouf.
 
 338 MANKIND. 
 
 77/ei c\itn ; a-vyse the for the. best ; lett ther goode wyll be 
 
 sought ; 
 And th\ own wyff brechell l & take the a lemma. 597 
 
 For-well, eu^rychon, for I haue don my game, 
 
 For I haue brought Mankynde to myscheff & to schame. 599 
 
 [Exit TityvUlus^ 
 
 MANK. Whope ! who ! Mercy hath brokyn hys neke-kycher, 
 
 a vows, 
 
 Or he hangyth by the neke hye wppe on the. gallouse. 
 A-dew, fayer mastere ! I wyll hast me to the. ale-house, 
 Ande speke wz't^ Newgyse, No\v-a.-days & Nought, 
 A[nde] geett me a lemma \vtiA a smattrynge face. 
 
 [Enter New Gyse.] 
 
 NEW. Make space ! for Cokk<?.y body sakyrde, make space ! 
 A ha ! well ! on ! ron ! Code gyff hym ewyll grace ! 
 
 We were nere Sent Patrykes wey, by hym thai me 
 
 bought ! 607 
 
 I was twychyde by the neke, the game was be-gu#ne ; 
 A grace was, the. halter brast a-sondre ecce stgnum. ! 
 The halff ys a-bowte my neke. We hade a rere rune ! 
 
 Be-ware ! quod the goode-wyff, whe sche smot of hen? 
 
 husbond^-y hede, beware ! 
 
 Myscheff ys a cowvicte for he coude hys neke-verse ; 
 My body gaff a swynge whe I hynge wppon the casse. 2 
 A-lasse ! he wyll hange such a lyghtly man & a fers 
 
 For stelynge of an horse, I prey Code gyf hym cure ! 615 
 
 Do wey tMs halter ! What deull doth Makynde here, 
 
 sorow ! 
 
 A-lasse, how my neke 8 ys sore, I make 4 a-vowe ! 
 MANK. ^e be welcom, Newgyse ! Ser, what chere vti\Ji 
 
 yow ? 
 NEW. Well, s<?r, I haue no cause to morn. 
 
 l Qy. brethell. 2 So MS. MS. nekes. * MS. made.
 
 MANKIND. 339 
 
 MANK. What was ther abowte yoww neke, so Code yow 
 
 a-mende ? 
 
 NEW. In feyth, Sent Andrys holy bende ; 
 I haue a lytyll dyshes as yt plesse Code to sende, 
 
 With a ru#nynge rynge-worme. 623 
 
 {Enter Now-a-days] 
 
 Now. Stonde a rom, I prey Me, broMer myn ! 
 
 I haue laburyde all Mis nyght ; wew xall we go dyn ? 
 
 A chyrche her be-syde xall pay for ale, brede & wyn ; 
 
 Lo ! here ys stoffe wyll serue. 
 
 NEW. Now, by the holy Mary, tho\i art better marchande 
 Maw I ! 
 
 [Enter Nought.] 
 
 NOUGHT. A-vante, knavys ! lett me go by ! 
 
 I kan not gret & I xulde sterue ! 630 
 
 {Enter Myscheff] 
 
 MYS. Hen? cuzwmyth a man of armys ; why stonde ye so 
 
 styll ? 
 
 Of murder & mawslawter I haue my bely-fyll. 
 Now. What, Myscheff, haue ye bem? in presun, & yt be 
 yow^r wyll ? 
 
 Me semyth }e haue sco[w]ryde a payer of fetters. 
 MYS. I was chenyde by Me armys, lo ! I haue Mem hen? ; 
 The chenys I brast a-sundyr & kyllyde Me iaylen?, 
 3e, ande hys fayer wyff halsyde in a corners. 
 
 A ! how swetly I kyssyde thai l swete mowth of hers ! 638 
 
 Whe I hade do, I was myn owyn bottler, 
 
 I brought a-wey wit/i me both dysch & dublen?. 
 
 Here ys a-now for me ; be of goode chen?. 
 
 ^et well fare Me new chesance ! 
 MANK. I aske mercy of New Gyse, Now-a-days, & 
 
 Nought. 
 Onys wzt& my spade I remember that I faught ; 
 
 i MS. the.
 
 34O MANKIND. 
 
 I wyll make yow a-mencU?.r yf I hurt yow ought, 
 
 Or clyde ony grevawnce. 646 
 
 NEW. What a deull lykyth ye to be of this dysposycyon? 
 MANK. I drempt Mercy was hange, this was my vysyon, 
 Ande that to yow iij I xulde haue recors & remocyon. 
 
 Now I prey yow hertyly of yower goode wyll ; 
 I crye yow mercy of all thai I dyde a-mysse. 
 Now. [Aside] I sey, New Gys, Nought ! Tytivillus made 
 
 all this ; 
 As sekyr as Code ys in hewyn, so yt ys. 
 
 NOUGHT. Stonde wppe on yower feet ! Why stonde 
 
 }e so styll ? 654 
 
 NEW. Master Myscheff, we wyll yow exort 
 Mankynde name in yower bok for to report. 
 MYS. I wyll not so ; I wyll sett a corte ; 
 A[nde] do yt in l forma z'urys, desarde ! 
 
 Nmv-a-days tnak proclamacyon. 
 
 Now. Oy yt ! Oy y}t ! Oyet ! 
 
 All maner of men & comu women, 
 
 To the cort of Myschyff others cum or sen ; 
 
 Mankynde xall retorn, he ys one of ow^r me ! 
 
 MYS. Nought, cum forth ! thou xall be stewerde. 663 
 
 NEW Master Myscheff, hys syde gown may be solde ; * 
 He may haue a iakett 8 ther-of & mony tolde. 
 MANK. I wyll do for the. best, so I haue no colde. 
 
 Holde, I prey yow, & take yt with yow, 
 Ande let me haue yt a-geyn in ony 4 wyse. 
 
 Nought scrtltit], 
 
 NEW. I p/vmytt yow a fresch iakett after the new gyse. 
 MANK. Go & do that longyth to yower offyce 
 
 A[nde] spare that }e mow ! 6 67? 
 
 [Exit New Gyse] 
 
 1 MS. se. 8 MS. rakett. 5 MS. may. 
 
 2 MS. tolde. 4 MS. mony for in ony.
 
 MANKIND. 341 
 
 NOUGHT. Holde, Master Myscheff, & rede this \ 
 MYS. Here ys blottybus in blottis 
 Blottorum blottib\J& tstis. 
 
 Be-schrew yow^r erys, a l fayer hande ! 
 Now. 3 e ? yt y s a goode rennynge fyst ; 2 
 Such an hande may not be myst ! 
 NOUGHT. I xulde hauc don better, hade I wyst. 
 
 MYS. Take hede, sers, yt stonde you on hande ! 679 
 
 Garici tota 8 generalis, 
 
 In a place ther goode ale ys, 
 
 Anno regni regitalis 
 
 Edwzrdi millatene,* 
 
 On ^estern-day in Feuerere, the }ere passyth 5 fully, 
 Do 6 Nought hath wrytyn, here ys ower Tulli, 
 Anno regni regis nulli. 686 
 
 Now. What how, Newgyse ! ThovL makyst moche [taryyng]. 
 Tha\. iakett xall not be worth a ferthynge. 
 
 [.Enter New Gyse}. 
 
 NEW. Out of my wey, sers, for drede of fyghtynge ! 
 
 Lo ! here ys a feet tayll, lyght to leppe a-bowte ! 
 NOUGHT. Yt ys not schapyn worth a morsell of brede ; 
 Ther ys to moche cloth, yt weys as ony lede ; 
 I xall goo & mede yt, ellys I wyll lose my hede. 
 
 Make space, sers ; lett me go owte. [Exit.] 694 
 
 MYS. Mankynde, cum hether, God sende yow the gowte ! 
 ^e xall goo [to] all thz. goode felouse in the. cutre a-boute, 
 On-to the goode-wyff whew the goode-ma ys owte ; 
 " I wyll," say 36 ! 
 
 i MS. &. 2 MS. syft. 
 
 8 A stroke aver o. 
 
 * An m written above n ; the first part of the word may be nulla. 
 
 6 Qy- passyd. 
 
 6 Qy. Lo ; or, as Kittredge suggests, So.
 
 342 MANKIND. 
 
 MANK. 1 I wyll, ser. 
 
 NEW. Then? arn but sex dedly synnys ; lechery ys non, 
 As yt may be verefyede be ws brethellys eu^rychon. 
 ^e xall goo robbe, stell & kyll, as fast as ye may gon ; 
 
 " I wyll," say 36 ! 
 
 MANK. 1 I wyll, ser. 702 
 
 Now. On Sundays, on tht morow, erly be-tyme, 
 ^e xall wzt^ ws to the all-house, erly to go dyn^ ; 
 And forber 2 masse & matens, ow<?rs & prime ; 
 
 " I wyll," say 36 ! 
 
 MANK. 1 I wyll, ser. 
 
 MYS. 3 e mus t haue be yower syde a longe da pacem, 
 As trew-me ryde be the wey, for to on-brace them ; 
 Take the monay, kytt ther throter, tans ouer face them ; 8 
 
 " I wyll," say 36 ! 
 
 MANK.* I wyll, ser. 710 
 
 [Enter Nought.'] 
 
 NOUGHT. Here ys a ioly iakett ; how say 36? 
 
 NEW. It ys a goode iake[tt] of s[er]u[i]ce for a manys 
 
 body. 
 Hay, doo ye \ hay, whoppe, whoo ! go yower wey lyghtly ; 
 
 3e are well made for to ren ! 
 
 MYS. Tydyng<?j ! tydyng^j ! I haue a-spyede on ! 
 Hens vttft yower stuff, fast we were gon ! 
 I be-schrew the last xall com to hys horn ! 
 
 [ALL.] Ame ! 5 718 
 
 [Enter Mercy.] 
 
 MERCY. What, how, Mankynde ! fle 6 />fcat felyschyppe, I 
 
 yow prey. 
 MANK. I xall speke w/'t^ [the] a-noMer tyme, to-morn 
 
 or the. next day ; 
 
 l MS. has only M. 2 MS. A for bef. 
 
 * Read trus I (or, perhaps, thus) overpass them ! 
 
 * MS. Ma. 5 MS. Amew dicawt omwes. 
 
 * MS. sle ; corr. by Kittredge.
 
 MANKIND. 343 
 
 We xall goo forth to-gether to kepe my faders ^er-day. 
 
 A tapster ! a tapster ! stow, stall, stow ! 
 MYS. A myscheff go with here, I haue a foull fall ! 
 Hens a-wey fro me, or I xall be-schyte yow all ! 
 NEW. What how, ostler ! hostler ! lende ws a foot-ball. 
 
 Whoppe,whow ! a-now, a-now, a-now ! 726 
 
 MERCY. My mynde ys dysp^rsyde, my body trywmelyth as 
 
 Me aspen leffe ; 
 The terys xuld trekyll down by my chekys, were not 
 
 yower reuerence ; 
 Yt -were to me solace Me cruell vysytacyon of deth. 
 
 WztA-out rude behav^r I kan [not] expresse ///is inco- 
 
 venyens ; 
 
 Wepynge, sythynge & sobbynge were my suffycyens ; 
 All naturall nutriment to me as caren ys odybull ; 
 
 My inwarde aff[l]ixyon yeldyth me tedyouse wn-to 
 
 yower presens ; 
 I kan not bere yt ewynly, Mankyde ys so flexibull. 734 
 
 Man on-kynde, wher-eu^r M0u be ! for all Mis world was 
 
 not apprehe#syble 
 
 To dyscharge Min orygynall offence, thraldom & captyuyte, 
 
 Tyll Codes own welbylouyde son was obedient & passyble, 
 
 Eu^ry droppe of his bloode wos schede to purge thi 
 
 iniq/te. 
 
 I dyscomende & dysalow this oftyn mutabylyte ! x 
 To eu^ry creature Mou art dyspectuose & odyble. 
 
 Why art thoM so on-curtess, so incowsyderatt ? A-lasse, 
 
 who is me ! 
 As Me fane that. t#myth viith Me wynde, so M0u art co- 
 
 u^rtyble. 742 
 
 In trust ys treson, Mis 2 pranes ys not credyble ; 
 
 Thys 3 penu?rsyose ingratytude I can not rehers ; 
 To go ouer all Me holy corte of hewyn, Mou art despectyble, 
 
 l MS. imutabylyte. 2 Q y . th\. 3 Q y . thy.
 
 344 MANKIND. 
 
 As a nobyll v<?rsyfyer makyth mencyon in this verse : 
 " Lex et natura, Christus et omnia l iura 
 
 Damnant in-gratum ; lugetur eumforo. natum" 748 
 
 O goode Lady & MoMer of Mercy, haue pety & compasyon 
 Of the wrechydnes of Mankynde, that ys so wanton & 
 
 so frayll ! 
 Lett mercy excede iustice ; den? MoMer, a[d]mytt this supply- 
 
 cacyon, 
 Equyte 2 to be leyde oner, pety 8 '& mercy to prevayll ! 752 
 
 To sensuall lyvynge ys repr^uable, that ys now-a-days, 
 
 As be the comprehence of this mater yt may be specy- 
 
 fyede. 
 
 New Gyse, Now-a-days, Nought, with ther allectuose ways 
 They haue p<?rvertyde Mankynde, my swet sun, I haue 
 
 well espyede. 756 
 
 A ! with thes cursyde caytyfs, 4 and I may, he xall not long 
 
 indur ! 
 I, Mercy, hys father gostly, wyll precede forth & do my 
 
 propyrte. 
 Lady, helpe ! This maner of lyvynge ys a detestabull 
 
 plesure ; 
 Vanitas vanitatum, all ys but vanyte ! 760 
 
 Mercy xall neuer be convicte of hys oncrtes cowdycyon ; 
 Wit/i wepynge terys, be nyjte & be day, I wyll goo & neu^r 
 
 sease ; 
 Xall I not fynde hym ? Yes, I hope. Now Code be my 
 
 protecyon ! 
 My predylecte son, wher be ye? Mankynde, vbi esf 764 
 
 MYS. My prepotent father, whe je sowpe, sowpe owt yower 
 
 messe. 
 3e an? all to-glosyede 8 in yower termys, }e make many a lesse. 
 
 l MS. sit oiat ; corr. by Kittredge. 2 MS. O quyte. 
 
 * MS. perty corr. by Kittredge. 4 MS. cayftys. 6 MS. gloryede.
 
 MANKIND. 345 
 
 Wyll }e here ? he cryeth ouer Mankynde vbi es ! 
 NEW. Hie, hyc, hie, hie, hie, hie, hie, hie ! * 
 Thai ys to say, hen?, hen?, here, ny 2 dede in the cryke. 
 Yf ^e wyll haue hym, goo & syke, syke, syke ! 
 
 Syke not ouer-longe, for losynge of yower mynde ! 771 
 
 Now. Yf 36 wyll haue Mankynde, how, domine, dowme, 
 
 domzne ! 
 
 3e must speke to th& schryue for a cape corpus, 8 
 Ellys 30 must be fayn to retorn -with non est inventus. 
 
 How sey 36, ser? My bolte ys schotte. 
 NOUGHT. I am doynge of my nedyng*y ; be-ware how 36 
 
 schott ! 
 
 Fy, fy, fy ! I haue f owll a-rayde my f ote ! 
 Be wyse for schottynge with yower takyllys, for, Code wott, 
 
 My fote ys fowly ou^r-schott. 779 
 
 MYS. A parlement ! a p#Hemet ! Cum forth, Nought, 
 
 be hynde ! 
 
 A cownsell be-lyue ! I am a-ferde Mercy wyll hym fynde. 
 How sey 36 ?& what sey }e ? How xall we do -wiih Ma- 
 kynde ? 
 
 NEW. Tysche, a flyes weyng<? ! Wyll 36 do well ? 
 He wenyth Mercy were honge for stelynge of a mere ; 
 Myscheff, go sey to hym that Mercy sekyth eu^ry-were, 
 He wyll honge hym-selff, I wndyrtake, for fere. 
 
 MYS. I assent /-fcer-to ; yt ys wyttyly seyde & well. 787 
 
 Now. I ! Wyppe yt in th\ cote, a-non yt wer don ! 
 Now, Sent Gabryelkj modyr saue th& clowtes 4 of th\ schon ! 
 All the bokys in th& worlde, yf //&ei hade be wndon, 
 Cowde 5 not a cownselde ws bett. 
 
 Hie exit Myscheff. . 
 
 1 A line 'rhyming -with 771 is needed to complete the stanza. 
 
 2 MS. my ; corr. by Kittredge. 
 
 8 MS. cepe coppus, -which may be intentional. 
 
 4 MS. cloMes. 
 
 6 MS. Howde. 
 
 6 Apparently he returns immediately with Mankynde.
 
 346 MANKIND. 
 
 MYS. How, Mankynde ! cum & speke with Mercy ! He ys 
 
 here fast by. 
 
 MANK. A roppe ! a rope ! a rope ! I am not worthy. 
 MYS. A-non, a-non, a-non ! I haue yt her<? redy ; 
 
 With a tre also that I haue gett. 795 
 
 Holde the tre, Now-a-days ! Nought, take hede & be wyse ! 
 NEW. Lo ! Mankynde, do as I do ; this ys the 1 new 
 
 gyse. 
 Gyff the roppe iust to thy 2 neke, this ys myn a-vyse. 
 
 MYS. Helpe /^i-sylff, Nought ; lo ! Mercy ys her/?. 
 He skaryth ws with a balef, 3 we may no lengen? tarye. 
 NEW. Qweke, qweke, qweke ! A-lass, my thrott ! I be- 
 
 schrew yow, mary ! 
 A ! mercy, Crystej coppyde curse go with yow, and Sent 
 
 Dauy ! 
 A-lasse, my wesant }e wer suw-what to nere ! 803 
 
 Extant. 
 
 MERCY. A-ryse, my precyose, redempt son ! 3 e be to me 
 
 full den?. 
 He ys 4 so tymerouse, me semyth hys vytall spryt doth 
 
 expy[re] 
 MANK. Alasse ! I haue be so bestyally dysposyde, I dare 
 
 not a-per<?. 
 To se yower solacyose 5 face I am not worthy to 
 
 dysyer. 807 
 
 MERCY. Blower crymynose compleyt wondyth my hert as a 
 
 lance. 
 Dyspose yow^r-sylff mekly to aske mercy, & I wyll 
 
 assent, 
 me nethyr golde nor tresun?, but yower hu;byll obey- 
 
 syance, 
 The voluntary subieccyon of yower hert, & I am cotent. 81 1 
 
 1 MS. th\. 4 MS. He ys ys. 
 
 2 MS. pye. 5 MS. solycyose. 
 MS. bales.
 
 MANKIND. 347 
 
 1 MANK. What ! Aske mercy ^et onys a-geyn ? Alas yt 
 were a wyld 2 petysyon ! 3 
 
 Ewyr to offend & euer to aske mercy, thai ys a puerilite. 
 Yt ys so abhomiabyll to rehers my wekit * transgresion, 
 
 I am not worthy to haue mercy, be no possibilite. 815 
 
 MERCY. O Makend, my singler solas, th\s is a lamentabyll 
 
 excuse. 
 The dolorus fares s of my hert, how the\ begyn to a- 
 
 mownte ! 
 O blyssed Ihesu, help /^ou //zis synfull synner to reduce : 6 
 
 Ira hec tymutaes dexire excelsi -veint Impios et non suntJ 8 1 9 
 
 A-ryse & aske mercy, Ma^kend, & be associat to me ! 
 
 Thy deth schall be my hewynesse ! Alas, tys pety yt 
 
 schuld be Mus ! 
 
 Thy obstinacy wyll exclude [the] fro thz gloria p<?r[p]etuite. 
 3et, for my lofe ope 8 thy lyppys & sey miserere mei, 
 
 Deus ! 823 
 
 MANK. The egall lustyse of God wyll not p^rmytte sych a 
 
 synfull wrech 
 
 To be reuyu[y]d & restoryd a-geyn ; yt were impossibyll. 
 MERCY. The Justice of God wyll as I wyll, as hym-sylfe 
 
 doth pre-cyse : 9 
 N0/<? 10 mortem, peccator'is, inquit, 11 yff he wyll [be] 
 
 reducyble. 827 
 
 1 The copyist remarks that the p age beginning here seems to be in a dif- 
 ferent hand from what precedes. The remark probably applies to the 
 whole remaining part of the play ; certainly from here on the spelling is 
 very different. 
 
 2 / take this to be vild (= vile.) 3 MS. pety syn. 
 4 MS. appears to have werut, but is almost illegible. 
 6 MS. seres. 
 
 MS. redeme ; corr. by Kittredge, cf. 1. 827. 
 i So MS. : see Notes, vol. III. 8 MS. ofe. 
 
 9 Precyse does not rhyme qy. preche or, as Kittredge suggests, pr#cysely 
 teche. 
 
 1 MS. Mole. n MS. apparently inquis.
 
 348 MANKIND. 
 
 MANK. 7%a, mercy, good Mercy ! What ys a maw wyth- 
 
 owt Mercy ? 
 
 Lytyll ys our parte of paradyse where M^rcy ne were. 
 Good Mercy, excuse /^e ineuetabyll obiecc/on of my gostly 
 
 enmy ; 
 The prowerbe seyth, /^e trewth tryith Me sylfe. Alas, I 
 
 haue mech care ! 831 
 
 MERCY. God wyll not make ^ow preuy on-to l hys last iuge- 
 
 me#t : 
 
 lustyce & Equite xall be fortyfyid, J wyll not denye ; 
 Trowthe 2 may not so cruelly precede in hys streyt argument 3 
 But that M^rcy schall rewle the mater wzt^-owte con- 
 
 trouersaye. 835 
 
 Ryse * now & go with me in thys deambulatorye. 
 
 Inclyne yowur capacite, my doctrine ys coueniet. 5 
 Synne not in hope of M^rcy ; That ys a cryme notorie ! 6 
 
 To truste oumnoche in a pmice yt ys not expedient, 839 
 
 In hope whew 36 syn 7 to haue mm:y; be-ware of that awen- 
 
 ture ; 
 The 8 good Lord seyd to the. lecherus woman of Cha- 
 
 nane, 
 The holy gospell ys the awtorite, as we rede in Scrypture, 
 
 " Vade et tarn amplius 9 noli peccare" 843 
 
 Cryst pr^seruyt this synfull womaw takyn in a-wowtry, 
 
 He seyde to here /Aeis wordes : " Go & syn no-more." 
 
 1 MS. peruyon to. 
 
 2 MS. Growthe. 
 
 8 MS. apparently acgmmes; corr. by Kittredge. 
 
 * MS. Byse. 
 
 6 MS. My doctrine ys coueniet Inclyne yowur capacite. 
 
 MS. notaries. 
 
 1 MS. }e thynke after syn ; corr. by Kittredge. 
 
 8 MS. Then. 
 
 9 MS. ism amperhees.
 
 MANKIND. 349 
 
 So to yow : Go & syn no-more ; be-ware of weyn cowfidews 
 
 of Mercy ; 
 Offend not a prince on trust of hys fauowr, as I l seyd 
 
 before. 847 
 
 Yf 36 fele yo#r-sylfe trappyd in th& snare of yor gostly 
 
 enmy, 
 
 Aske mercy a-non ; be-ware of the. co#tynuance ; , 
 
 Whyll a wond ys fresch yt is pr^wyd curabyll be surgery, 
 T/iat, yf yt procede ouyrlong*, yt ys cawse of gret grev- 
 
 anc^. 2 851 
 
 MANK. To aske mercy & to haue, Ms ys a lyberall pos- 
 
 sescion ! 
 Schall Mis expedyci#j 3 petycion euer be a-lowyd, as je 
 
 haue in-syght? 
 MERCY. In Mis presente lyfe nwcy ys plente tyll deth 
 
 makyth hys dywysion ; 
 But wha# 36 be go, vsyue ad minimum quzdrantem * JQ 
 
 scha[ll] rekyn Mis ryght. 855 
 
 Aske mercy & haue, whyll Me body wz'tA the. sow[l]e hath 
 
 hys annexio ; 
 Yf 36 tarye tyll yor dysesse, 36 may hap of your desyre 
 
 to mysse ; 
 Be repentant here, trust not the. ower of deth ; thynke on /^is 
 
 lessu : 
 Ecce 6 nunc tempus acceptabile* ecce nunc dies salut\s \ 859 
 
 All the wertu in the wor[l]d yf 36 myght comprehend, 
 
 'Your merytej were not premyabyll to tho. blys a-boue, 
 Not to Me holest 7 ioy of heuyn of yor proper efforte to 
 
 ascend ; 
 W/'tfc M^rcy 36 may, I tell yow no fabyll, Scrypture 
 
 doth prove. 8 863 
 
 1 MS. he. 6 MS. Este. 
 
 2 MS. grewang*. 6 MS. aucptabile. 
 
 8 MS. expediciw. 7 Qy. loliest or lest. 
 
 * MS. qwadrute[m]. 8 MS. prewe.
 
 350 MANKIND. 
 
 MANK. O Mercy, my solatij 1 solas & synguler recreatory, 
 My praiilecte specyall, }e are worthy to haue my lowe ; 
 
 For, wyth-owte deserte & menys supplicatorie, 
 
 3e be-cow pacient to my inexcusabyll 2 reproue. 867 
 
 A ! yt siremyth s my brest to thynk how on-wysely I haue 
 
 wroght ! 
 Tytiuilly, thai goth invisibele, hyng^ hys nett be-fore my 
 
 eye, 
 And, by hys fantasticall visionys sedulously * sowght, 
 
 He 5 Newgyse, Now-a-days, Nought causyd me to obey. 871 
 
 MERCY. Makend, }e were obliuyous of my doctrine mary- 
 torye ; 
 
 I seyd be-fore, Titiuilly wold a-say yow a bronte. 6 
 Be-ware fro hens-forth of hys fablys delusory, 
 
 The prowerbe seyth : lacula p&rfectitm non ledunt? 875 
 
 3e haue iij adu^rsarys, he ys master of [t]hem all, 
 
 That ys to sey, the dewell, tht world, 8 tho. flesch ; & [I] 
 
 /^e tell 
 That 9 Newgyse, Now-a-days & Nought, th& world we may 
 
 [t]hem call ; 
 And propy[r]lly Titiuilly syngnyf[ie]th the fend of helle ; 879 
 
 The flesch, Mat ys the. vnclene cowcupisens of ysur body; 
 
 These be your iij gostly enmys in whom 36 haue put your 
 
 cofidens ; 
 Thei browt yow to Myscheffe to coclude ^our temperull glory, 
 
 As yt hath be schewyd th\s worschypfyll 10 audiens. 883 
 
 1 MS. suati7 ; corr. by Kittredge, cf. ). 807. 
 
 2 MS. inexousobyll ; inexorable may be better. 
 
 8 Kittredge suggests sore nyeth (= noieth) ; streinyth -would be closer 
 to MS. 
 
 < MS. sedeculy. 6 MS. Be. 
 
 ' After bronte is apparently an a. 
 1 MS. periectnmmus ledictr; corr. by Kittredge. 
 8 MS. would. MS. The. 
 
 10 MS. worschyppyll.
 
 MANKIND. 351 
 
 Remewbyr how redy I was to help }ow ; fro sweche I was 
 
 not dangerous ; 
 
 Wherfore, good sunne, absteyne fro syn eu^r-more after thz'j. 
 ^e may both saue & spyll yower sowle, thai ys so precyvs 
 
 Liber e velle, liber e -velle^ God may not deny, i-wys. 887 
 
 Beware of Titiuilly \\iih hys net & of all hys enmys 2 wyll, 
 Of jour synfull delectacion thai grewyth jour gostly 
 
 swbstans. 
 $our body ys your enmy, let hym not haue hys wyll. 
 
 Tflke your lewe whan 36 wyll, God send 30 w good per- 
 
 seu^rans ! 8 891 
 
 [MANK.] Syth I schall departe, blyse me, fad^r her thtn I go. 
 
 God send ws all plente of hys gret mercy ! 
 MERCY. Ztominus 4 custodi\a~\t-te ab omni malo 5 
 
 / nomine Patrts [et~\ Filii*> et Spir\\.us Sanrtz". Amen! 895 
 
 Hie exit MarJtende. 
 
 Wyrschep[f]yll sofereyns, I haue do my pr^pirte ; 
 
 Mankynd ys deliu<?ryd by my sun^rall 7 patrocynye. 
 God pres^rue hym fro all wyckyd captiuite 
 
 And sed hym grace hys sensuall condicion to mortifye ! 899 
 
 Now, for hys lowe thai for vs receyuyd hys humanite, 
 Serche 8 your condicyos w/tA dew examiwaciow ! 
 
 Thynke & remembyr thz world ys but a wanite, 
 
 As yt ys pr<?wyd daly by diu^rse mutacyon. 903 
 
 Makend ys wrechyd, he hath sufficyent prowe ; 
 
 There-fore God [kepe] 3ow all, per suam mtsericordiam, 
 Thai ye may be pleseray 9 wiih the angell[es] abowe, 
 
 And hawe to jour porcyon vitam eternam. Amen ! 907 
 
 1 MS. Libere welle leibere welle ; corr. by Kittredge. 
 
 2 Possibly enuius. 6 MS. filiis. 
 
 8 MS. jvrseutfrnas. 7 Kittredge suggests special. 
 
 * MS. famine. MS. Serge. 
 
 6 MS. mali. 9 Perhaps partakers.
 
 352 MANKIND. 
 
 FYNIS. 
 
 C . . uber fi q 1 cul . . costu forte queretr 
 
 h . y . gham <\uod omtche dices sup oia costa. 1 
 
 1 This is almost entirely effaced. At the end of Mind, Will and Under- 
 standing, the same lines occur in this form : 
 
 O liber, siquis cui costas qw^retur, 
 Hyngham quod monacho dices super omnia. costi. 
 Query: 
 
 liber, si quidem cui constes forte queretur, 
 Hyngham quod monacho dices super omnia constas. 
 
 (Kittredge.)
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 Printed from the Roxburghe Club reprint (London, 1817). A collation with the 
 original, in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, shows only two errors in this 
 reprint. The editions of Collier (Coll.) and Hazlitt (Haz.), in Dodsley's "Old 
 Plays," are quoted in the footnotes only for important variants and emendations. 
 Punctuation, capitals, and division into stanzas are mine ; other deviations from 
 the Roxburghe reprint (R.) are indicated as they occur. 
 
 [Dramatis Personae. 
 
 MUNDUS, also called THE WORLDE. 
 
 INFANS, also called WANTON, LUST AND LYKYNGE, MANHODE, SHAME, 
 and AGE. 
 
 CONSCYENCE. FOLYE. PERSEUERAUNCE.] 
 
 Here begynneth a propre newe Interlude of the 
 worlde and the chylde / otherwyse called [Mundus 
 & Infans] 1 & it sheweth of the estate of Chyldehode 
 and Manhode. 2 
 
 \_Mundus, seated on his throne] 
 
 MUNDUS. Syrs, seace of your sawes, what-so befall, 
 And loke ye bow bonerly to my byddynge, 
 
 For I am ruler of realmes, I warne you all, 
 And ouer all f odys 3 I am kynge, 
 
 For I am kynge and well knowen in these realmes rounde. 
 I haue also paleys * ypyght ; 
 
 1 These brackets are in R. 
 
 2 Beneath this title R. has a -wood-cut representing a crowned king seated 
 on a throne and holding as symbols of his power a sceptre and a ball sur- 
 mounted by a cross. Above the cut is his name, Mundus. 
 
 8 Coll. suggests folys. 
 
 4 A -word, perhaps princely, has fallen out.
 
 354 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 I haue stedes in stable stalworthe and stronge, 
 
 Also stretes and strondes full strongely ydyght ; 8 
 
 For all the Worlde l wyde, I wote well, is my name ; 
 
 All rychesse, redely, it renneth in me, 
 All pleasure worldely, both myrthe and game. 
 
 My-selfe semely in sale I sende with you to be, 1 2 
 
 For I am the Worlde, I warne you all, 
 
 Prynce of powere and of plente. 
 He that cometh not whan I do hym call, 
 
 I shall hym smyte with pouerte, 16 
 
 For pouerte I parte in many a place 
 
 To them that wyll not obedyent be. 
 I am a kynge in euery case ; 
 Me thynketh I am a 2 god of grace, 20 
 
 The floure of vertu foloweth me. 
 
 Lo ! here I sette semely in se ! 
 I commaunde you all obedyent be, 
 
 And with fre wyll ye folowe me. 24 
 
 [Enter Infans.'] 
 
 INFANS. Cryst, our kynge, graute you clerly to know the 
 
 case ! 
 
 To meue of this mater that is in my mynde, 
 Clerely [to] declare it Cryst graunte me grace ! 27 
 
 3 
 
 Now, semely syrs, beholde on me 
 
 How mankynde doth begynne : 
 I am a chylde, as you may se, 
 
 Goten in game and in grete synne. 3 1 
 
 Fourty 4 wekes my moder me founde, 
 
 Flesshe and blode my fode was tho ; 
 
 1 R. storlde. 
 
 2 R. omits a ; original has it, so also Coll., Haz. 
 8 A line out? * R. xl.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 355 
 
 Whan I was rype from her to founde, 
 
 In peryll of dethe we stode bothe two. 35 
 
 Now l to seke dethe I must begyn, 
 
 For to passe that strayte passage ; 
 For body and soule that shall than twynne 
 
 And make a partynge of that maryage. 39 
 
 Fourty wekes I was frely fedde 
 
 Within my moders wombe ; 2 
 Full oft of dethe she was adred 
 
 Whan that I sholde parte her from. 43 
 
 Now in to the Worlde she hathe me sent, 
 
 Poore and naked as ye may se ; 
 I am not worthely wrapped nor went, 
 
 But powerly prycked in pouerte. 47 
 
 Now in to the Worlde wyll I wende, 
 
 Some comforte of hym for to craue. 
 
 [Goes to Mundus] 
 
 All hayle, comely crowned kynge ! 
 
 God, that all made, you se and saue ! 51 
 
 MuND. 8 Welcome, fayre chylde ! What is thy name ? 
 INF. I wote not, syr, withouten blame ; 
 But ofte tyme my moder, in her game, 
 
 Called me Dalyaunce. 
 MUND. Dalyaunce, my swete chylde? 
 It is a name that is ryght wylde, 
 For, whan thou waxest olde, 
 
 It is a name of no substaunce. 59 
 
 But, my fayre chylde, what woldest thou haue? 
 INF. Syr, of some comforte I you craue, 
 Mete and clothe my lyfe to saue ; 
 
 And I your true seruaunt shall be. 
 
 1 R. Oow. 2 R. possessyon. 
 
 8 Here and below R. spells the speakers' 1 names in full.
 
 356 MUNDUS ET. INFANS. 
 
 MUND. Now, fayre chylde, I graunte the thync askynge ; 
 
 I wyll the fynde whyle thou art yinge, 
 
 So thou wylte be obedyent to my byddynge. 
 
 These garmentes gaye I gyue to the ; 67 
 
 And also I gyue to the a name 
 
 And clepe the Wanton, in euery game, 
 
 Tyll xiiij yere be come and gone, 
 
 And than come agayne to me. 
 WANTON. Gramercy, Worlde, for myne araye ! 
 For now I purpose me to playe. 
 MUNDUS. Fare-well, fayre chylde, and haue good-daye ! 
 
 All rychelesnesse is kynde for the. 75 
 
 WANTON. A ha ! Wanton is my name ! 
 I can many a quaynte game : 
 Lo, my toppe I dryue in same, 
 
 Se, it torneth rounde ! 
 I can with my scorge-stycke 
 My felowe vpon the heed hytte, 
 And wyghtly from hym make a skyppe, 
 
 And blere on hym my tonge. 83 
 
 If brother or syster do me chyde, 
 I wyll scratche and also byte ; 
 I can crye and also kyke 
 
 And mocke them all be rewe. 
 If fader or moder wyll me smyte, 
 I wyll wrynge with my lyppe 
 And lyghtly from hym make a skyppe 
 
 And call my dame shrewe. 91 
 
 A ha ! a newe game haue I founde ! 
 Se this gynne, it renneth rounde ; 
 And here another haue I founde ; 
 
 And yet mo can I fynde. 
 I can mowe on a man ; 
 And make a lesynge well I can,
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 357 
 
 And mayntayne it ryght well than, 
 
 This connynge came me of kynde. 99 
 
 Ye, syrs, I can well gelde a snayle ; 
 And catche a cowe by the tayle, 1 
 
 This is a fayre connynge ; 
 I can daunce and also skyppe ; 
 I can playe at the chery-pytte ; 
 And I can wystell you a fytte, 
 
 Syres, in a wylowe 2 ryne. 106 
 
 Ye, syrs, and euery daye 
 
 Whan I to scole shall take the waye, 
 
 Some good mannes gardyn I wyll assaye, 
 
 Perys and plommes to plucke. 
 I can spye a sparowes nest. 
 I wyll not go to 8 scole but whan me lest, 
 For there begynneth a sory fest 
 
 Whan the mayster sholde lyfte my docke. 114 
 
 But, syrs, whan I was seuen yere of age, 
 I was sent to the Worlde to take wage, 
 And this seuen yere I haue ben his page 
 
 And kept his commaundement. 
 Now I wyll wende to the Worlde, that worthy emperou[r]. 
 
 [He approaches Mundus.] 
 
 Hayle, lorde of grete honour! 
 
 This vij yere I haue serued you in hall and in boure 
 
 With all my trewe entent. 122 
 
 MUND. Now, welcome, Wanton, my derlynge dere ! 
 A newe name I shall gyue the here : 
 Loue, Lust, Lykynge, in-fere, 
 
 These thy names they shall be, 
 All game and gle and gladnes, 
 All loue-longynge in lewdnes. 
 
 l Line missing? 2 R. whylowe. 3 R. fo.
 
 358 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 This seuen yere forsake all sadnes, 
 
 And than come agayne to me. 130 
 
 LUST-AND-LYKYNG. A ha ! now Lust and Lykyng is my 
 name ! 
 
 I am as fresshe as flourys in Maye ; 
 I am semely shapen in same, 
 
 And proudely apperelde in garmentes gaye ; 134 
 
 My lokes ben full louely to a ladyes eye, 
 
 And in loue-longynge my harte is sore sette ; 
 Myght I fynde a fode that were fayre and fre, 
 
 To lye in hell tell domysdaye for loue 1 I wolde not let, 
 
 My loue for to wynne. 
 All game and gle, 
 All myrthe and melody e, 
 All reuell and ribaudye, 2 
 
 And of bost wyll I neuer blynne. 143 
 
 But, syrs, I am now 8 xix wynter olde ; 
 I-vvys, I waxe wonder bolde. 
 Now I wyll go to the Worlde, 
 
 A heygher seyence to assaye. 
 For the Worlde wyll me auaunce, 
 I wyll kepe his gouernaunce ; 
 For he is a kynge in all substaunce, 
 
 His plesynge wyll I praye. 4 151 
 
 [fie approaches Mundus^\ 
 
 All hayle, mayster, full of myght ! 
 
 I haue you serued bothe day and nyght ; 
 
 Now I come 5 as I you behyght, 
 
 One and twenty wynter is comen and gone. 
 MUND. Now, welcome, Loue, Lust and Lykynge ! 
 For thou hast ben obedyent to my byddynge, 
 
 1 R. foue ; Kittredge suggests the omission of for loue. 
 
 2 R. ryotte; Kittredge suggests: All ryotte and reuellrye. 
 8 So in original ; R. now am ; Coll., Haz. now I am. 
 
 4 The order of\\. 150, 151 is reversed in R. 
 
 5 K. comen.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 359 
 
 I encreace the in all thynge 
 
 And myghtly I make the a man. 159 
 
 Manhode myghty shall be thy name ; 
 
 Bere the prest in euery 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 dough tynesse of dente ! 1 167 
 
 For of one thynge, Manhode, I warne the : 
 
 I am moost of bounte, 
 
 For seuen kynges sewen me, 
 
 Bothe by daye and nyght ; 
 One of them is the kynge of Pryde ; 
 The kynge of Enuy, doughty in dede ; 
 The kynge of Wrathe, that boldely wyll abyde, 
 
 For mykyll is his myght ; 175 
 
 The kynge of Couetous ' 2 is the fourt[h]e ; 
 The fyfte kynge he hyght Slouthe ; 
 The kynge of Glotony hath no iolyte 
 
 There pouerte is pyght ; 
 Lechery is the seuenth kynge, 
 All men in hym haue grete delytynge, 
 Therfore worshyp hym aboue all thynge, 
 
 Manhode, with all thy myght. 183 
 
 MANH. Yes, syr kynge, without lesynge 
 
 It shall be wrought ! 
 Had I knowynge of the fyrst kynge, 8 
 
 Well ioyen I mought. 187 
 
 1 R. dede. 
 
 2 The author evidently pronounced this Covetyse (cf. 11. 412, 441) ; but, 
 as this spelling occurs many times and Couetys only once, it seems best to 
 retain the spelling of the text. 
 
 3 After kynge, R. repeats without lesynge from 1. 184.
 
 360 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 MUND. The fyrste kynge hyght Pryde. 
 
 MANH. A, lorde ! with hym fayne wolde I byde. 
 
 MUND. Ye, but woldest thou serue hym truely in euery tyde? 
 
 MANH. Ye, syr ; and therto my trouthe I plyght. 
 That I shall truely Pryde present 
 I swere by Saynt Thomas of Kent ; 
 To serue hym truely is myn entent, 
 
 With mayne and all my myght. 195 
 
 MUND. Now, Manhode, I wyll araye the newe 
 In robes ryall, ryght of good he we ; 
 And I praye the pryncypally be trewe ; 
 
 And here I dubbe the a knyght, 
 And haunte alwaye to chyualry ! 
 I gyue the grace and also beaute, 
 Gold and syluer, gret plente, 
 
 Of the wronge to make the ryght. 203 
 
 MANH. Gramercy, Worlde and emperour ! 
 Gramercy, Worlde and gouernoure ! 
 Gramercy, comforte in all coloure I 1 
 
 And now I take my leue ; fare-well ! 
 MUND. Farewell, Manhode, my gentyll knyght ! 
 Fare-well, my sone, semely in syght ! 
 I gyue the a swerde 2 and also strength and myght, 
 
 In batayle boldly to bere the well. 211 
 
 MANH. Now I am dubbed a knyght hende, 
 
 Wonder wide shall waxe my fame ! 
 To seke aduentures now wyll I wende, 
 
 To please the Worlde in gle and game. 215 
 
 MUND. Lo, syrs, I am a prynce, peryllous 8 yprovyde,* 
 
 I-preuyd full peryllous 8 and pethely i-pyght, 
 As a lorde in eche londe I am belouyd ; 
 
 Myne eyen do shyne as lanterne bryght -, 219 
 
 1 Possibly for doloure, but perhaps correct as it stands. 
 
 2 R. aswerde. * R. yprobycie 
 8 Probably pereles, see Notef.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 361 
 
 I am a creature comely, out of care ; 
 
 Emperours and kynges they knele to my kne ; 
 Euery man is a-ferde whan I do on hym stare, 
 
 For all mery medell-erthe maketh mencyon of me ; 223 
 
 Yet all is my l hande-werke, both by downe and by dale, 
 Bothe the see and the lande 2 and foules that fly ; 
 
 And I were ones moued, I tell you in tale, 
 
 There durst no 8 sterre stere, that stondeth in the sky, 227 
 
 For I am lorde and leder so in that londe, 
 
 All boweth to my byddynge bonerly aboute ; 
 Who that styreth -with ony stryfe or wayteth me with 
 
 wro/zge, 
 I shall myghtly make hym to stamer and stowpe, 
 
 For I am rychest in myne araye, 
 I haue knyghtes and toures, 
 I haue ladyes bryghtest in bourys. 
 Now wyll I fare on these flourys ; 
 
 Lordynges, haue good-day e ! lExit.] 236 
 
 MANH. Peas, now peas, ye felowes all aboute ! 
 
 Peas now, and herkeri to my sawes ! 
 For I am lorde bothe stal worthy and stoute ; 
 
 All londes are ledde by my lawes. 240 
 
 Baron was there neuer borne that so well hym bare, 
 A better ne a bolde[r] nor a bryghter of ble ; 
 
 For I haue myght and mayne ouer countrees fare, 
 
 And Manhode myghty am I namyd in euery couwtre ; 244 
 
 For Salerne and Samers and Ynde the loys, 4 
 
 Caleys, Kente, and Cornewayle I haue conquered clene, 
 
 Pycardye and Pountes and gentyll Artoys, 
 
 Florence, Flaunders and Frauce, and also Gascoyne, 
 All I haue conquered as a knyght. 
 
 1 R. is at my. 
 
 2 Perhaps Bothe the see and the sande, the common alliterative phrase. 
 8 R. do ; corr. by Collier. * Haz. reads Andaluse.
 
 362 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 There is no emperour so kene 
 That dare me lyghtly tene, 
 For lyues and lymmes I lene, 
 
 So mykyll is my myght ; 253 
 
 For I haue boldely blode full dyspyteously spylde, 1 
 
 There many hath lefte fyngers and fete, both heed and 
 face. 
 
 I haue done harme on hedes and knyghtes haue I kyld ; 
 
 And many a lady for my loue hath sayd ' alas.' 257 
 
 Brygaunt ernys 2 I haue beten to backe and to bonys, 
 
 And beten also many a grome to grounde ; 
 Brestplates I haue beten as Steuen was with stonys ; 
 So fell a fyghter in felde 3 was there neuer yfounde. 
 
 To me no man is makyde ; 
 For Manhode myghty, that is my name, 
 Many a lorde haue I do lame ; 
 Wonder wyde walketh my fame, 
 
 And many a kynges crowne haue I crakyd. 266 
 
 I am worthy and wyght, wytty and wyse, 
 I am ryall arayde to reuen vnder the ryse, 
 I am proudely aparelde in purpure and byse, 
 
 As golde I glyster in gere ; 
 I am styffe, stronge, stalworthe and stoute, 
 I am the ryallest redely that renneth in this route, 
 There is no knyght so grysly that I drede nor dout, 
 
 For I am so doughtly dyght ther may no dint me dere. 4 274 
 
 And the kynge of Pryde, full prest, with all his proude pr^sens, 
 And the kynge of Lechery louely his letters hath me sent, 
 And the kynge of Wrathe full wordely, with all his entent, 
 They wyll me mayntayne with mayne and all theyr 
 myght ; 5 
 
 1 R. pyteously dyspylde. 
 
 2 R. Brygaunt Ernys; Coll. Brygaunt Ermys; Haz. Brigand harness. 
 
 3 R. in a felde. 
 
 4 Qy- after dyght, read no dint may me dere. 
 6 Qy. with mayne & with myght.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 363 
 
 The kynge of Couetous, and the kynge of Glotony, 
 The kynge of Slouthe, and the kynge of Enuy, 
 All those sende me theyr leuery. 
 
 Where is now so worthy a wyght ? 
 
 A wyght? 
 
 Ye, as a wyght wytty, 
 Here in this sete sytte I ; 
 For no loues lette I 
 
 Here for to sytte. 287 
 
 [Enter Conscyence^ 
 
 CONSC. Cryst, as he is crowned kynge, 
 
 Saue all this comely company, 
 And graunte you all his dere blessynge, 
 
 That bonerly bought you on the roode-tree ! 291 
 
 Now praye you prestly on euery l syde 
 
 To God omnypotent 
 To set our enemy sharpely on-syde, 
 
 That is, the deuyll and his couent, 295 
 
 And all men to haue a clere knowynge 
 i Of heuen blysse, that hye toure. 
 Me thynke it is a nessarye 2 thynge 
 
 For yonge and olde, both ryche and pore, 299 
 
 Poore Conscyence for to knowe ; 
 
 For Conscyence clere it is my name. 
 Conscyence counseyleth both hye and lowe, 
 
 And Conscyence comenly bereth grete blame, 
 
 Blame ? 
 
 Ye, and oftentymes set in shame. 
 
 Wherfore I rede you men, bothe in ernest and in game, 
 Conscyence that ye knowe. 307 
 
 For I knowe all the mysterys of man, 
 They be as symple as they can ; 
 
 l R. enery. 2 Probably intentional.
 
 364 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 And in euery company where I come 
 
 Conscyence is out cast. 
 All the worlde dothe Conscyence hate ; 
 Mankynde and Conscyence ben at debate, 
 For yf mankynde myght Conscyence take 
 
 My body wolde they brast, 
 
 Brast? 1 
 
 Ye, and warke me moche wo. 
 MANHODE. Say, how felowe ! who gaue the leue this way 
 
 to go? 
 What ! wenest thou I dare not come the to ? 
 
 Say, thou harlot! whyder in hast? 320 
 
 CONSC. What ! let me go, syr ; I knowe you nought ! 
 MANHODE. No, bychyde brothell? Thou shalt be taught! 
 For I am a knyght, and I were sought ; 
 
 The Worlde hath auaunced me, 
 
 CONSC. Why, good syr knyght, what is your name ? 
 MANH. Manhode, myghty in myrthe and in game ; 
 All powere of Pryde haue I tane ; 
 
 I am as gentyll as iay on tre. 328 
 
 CONSC. Syr, thoughe the Worlde haue you to mahode , 
 
 brought, 
 
 To mayntayne maner[s] ye were neuer taught : 
 No ; Conscyence clere ye knowe ryght nought, 
 
 And this longeth to a knyght. 
 
 MANH. Conscyence ! what the deuyll, man, is he ? 
 CONSC. Syr a techer of the spyrytualete. 
 MANH. Spyrytualyte ! what the deuyll may that be ? 
 
 CONSC. Syr, all that be leders in-to lyght. 336 
 
 MANH. Lyght ? Ye, but herke, felowe, yet ! Lyght fayne 
 
 wolde I se. 
 
 CONSC. Wyll ye so, syr knyght? Than do after me. 
 MANH. Ye, and it to Prydes pleasynge be, 
 I wyll take thy techynge. 
 
 1 In R, this word is in the following line.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 365 
 
 CONSC. Nay, syr ; beware of Pryde, and you do well, 
 For pryde Lucyfer fell in-to hell ; 
 Tyll domysday ther shall he dwell, 
 
 Withouten ony out-comynge : 344 
 
 For pride, syr, is but a vayne glorye. 
 
 MANH. Peas, thou brothell, and lette those wordes be! 
 
 For the Worlde and Pryde hath auaunced me ; 
 
 To me men lewte full lowe. 
 
 CONSC. And to beware of pryde, syr, I wolde you counsayll ; l 
 And thynke on Kynge Robert of Cysell, 
 How he for pryde in grete pouerte fell 
 
 For he wolde not Conscyence knowe. 352 
 
 MANH. Ye, Conscyence, go forthe thy waye, 
 For I loue Pryde and wyll go gaye ; 
 All thy techynge is not worthe a straye, 
 
 For Pryde I clepe my kynge. 
 CONSC. Syr, there is no kynge but God alone, 
 That bodely bought vs with payne and passyon 
 Bycause of mannes soule redempcyon, 
 
 In Scrypture thus we fynde. 360 
 
 MANH. Saye, Conscyence, syth thou woldest haue Pryde 
 
 fro me, 
 
 What sayest thou by the kynge of Lechery? 
 With all mankynde he must be, 
 
 And with hym I loue to lende. 2 
 CONSC. Nay, Manhode, that may not be ; 
 From Lechery fast you fle, 
 For in combraunce it wyll brynge the 
 
 And all that to hym wyll wende.* 368 
 
 MANH. Saye, Conscyence, of the kynge of Slouthe ! 
 He hath behyght me mykell trouthe ; 
 And I may not forsake hym for ruthe, 
 For with hym I thynke to rest. 
 
 i R. counsayll you. * R. lynge. 8 R. lynde.
 
 366 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 CONSC. Manhode, in Scrypture thus we fynde, 
 That Slouthe is a traytour to heuen kynge ; 
 Syr knyght, yf you wyll kepe your kynde, l 
 
 Frome 2 Slouthe clene you cast. 376 
 
 MANH. Say, Conscyence, [of] the kynge of Glotonye ! 
 He sayth he wyll not for-sake me ; 
 And I purpose his saruaunt to be, 
 
 With mayne and all my myght. 
 CONSC. Thynke, Manhode, on substaunce, 
 And put out Glotonye for combraunce, 
 And kepe with you Good-Gouernaunce, 
 
 For this longeth to a knyght. 384 
 
 MANH. What ! Conscyence, frome all my maysters thou 
 
 woldest haue me ; 
 But I wyll neuer forsake Enuy, 
 For he is kynge of company, 
 
 Bothe with more and lasse. 
 CONSC. Nay, Manhode, that may not be ; 
 And ye wyll cherysshe Enuy, 
 God wyll not well pleased be 
 
 To comforte you in that case. 392 
 
 MANH. Ey, ey ! from fyue kynges thou hast counseyled me ; 
 But from the kynge of Wrathe I wyll neuer fle, 
 For he is in euery dede doughty, 
 
 For hym dare no man rowte. 
 CONSC. Nay, Manhode, beware of Wrathe, 
 For it is but superfluyte that cometh and goeth ; 
 Ye, and all men his company hateth, 
 
 For ofte they stonde in doubte. 400 
 
 MANH. Fye on the, fals, flatterynge frere ! 
 Thou shake rewe the tyme that thou came here ; 
 The deuyll mote set the on a fyre, 
 That euer I with the mete ! 
 
 1 R. kynge ; corr. by Collier. 2 R. Rrome.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 367 
 
 For thou counseylest me from all gladnes 
 And wolde me set vnto all sadnes, 
 But, or thou brynge me in this madnes, 
 
 The deuyll breke thy necke ! 408 
 
 But, syr frere, euyll mote thou thye ! 
 Frome vi kynges thou hast conseyled me ; 
 But that daye shall thou neuer se 
 
 To counsayll me frome Couetous, 1 
 
 CONSC. No, syr, I wyll not you from Couetous brynge, 
 For Couetous I clepe a kynge : 
 Syr, Couetous in good doynge 
 
 Is good in all wyse. 416 
 
 But, syr kynght, wyll ye do after me, 
 And Couetous your kynge shall be ? 
 MANH. Ye, syr, my trouthe I plyght to the 
 
 That I wyll warke at thy wyll. 
 CONSC. Manhode, wyll ye by this worde stande ? 
 MANH. Ye, Conscyence, here my hande ! 
 I wyll neuer from it fonge, 2 
 
 Neyther loude ne styll. 424 
 
 CONSC. Manhode, ye must loue God aboue all thynge ; 
 His name in ydelnes ye may not mynge ; 
 Kepe your holy daye from worldly doynge ; 
 
 Your fader and moder worshyppe aye ; 
 Coueyte ye to sle no man ; 
 Ne do no lechery with no woman ; 
 Your neyboures good take not be no waye ; 8 
 
 And all false-wytnesse ye must denaye ; 432 
 
 Neyther ye must not couete no mannes wyfe, 
 Nor no good that hym be-lythe, 
 This couetys shall kepe you out of stryfe : 
 These ben the commaundementes ten. 
 Manhode, 4 and ye these commaundementes kepe, 
 
 1 See note on L 176. 3 Qy. take not than. 
 
 2 Qy- wande. 4 R. Mankynde.
 
 368 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 Heuen blysse I you behete, 
 
 For Crystes commaundementes [ben] all l full swete 
 
 And full necessary to all men. 440 
 
 MANH. What ! Conscyence, is this thy Couetous ? 2 
 CONSC. Ye, Manhode, in all wyse ! 
 And coueyte to Crystes seruyse, 
 
 Bothe to matyns and to masse ! 
 Ye must, Manhode, with all your myght 
 Mayntayne Holy Chyrches ryght, 
 For this longeth to a knyght, 
 
 Playnly in euery place. 448 
 
 MANH. What ! Conscyence, sholde I leue all game and gle ? 
 CONSC. Nay, Manhode, so mote I thye ; 
 All myrthe in measure is good for the, 
 
 But, syr, measure is in all thynge. 
 MANH. Measure, Conscyence ? what thynge may measure 
 
 be? 
 
 CONSC. Syr, kepe you in charyte, 
 And from all euyll company 
 
 For doubte of foly doynge. 456 
 
 MANH. Folye? what thynge callest thou folye? 
 CONSC. Syr, it is Pryde, Wrathe, and Enuy, 
 Slouthe, Couetous and Glotonye, 
 
 Lechery the seuente is : 
 These seuen synnes I call folye. 
 
 MANH. What, thou lyest ! 3 To this 
 Seuen the Worlde delyuered me, 
 And sayd they were kynges of grete beaute 
 
 And most of mayne and myghtes ; 465 
 
 But yet I pray the, syr, tell me : 
 May I not go arayde honestly? 
 
 1 Haz. emends all to are. 2 See note on 1. 176. 
 
 8 The stanza is abnormal, it can be reduced to the usual form by 
 omitting, What, thou lyest.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 369 
 
 CONSC. Yes, Manhode, hardely, 
 
 In all maner of degre. 
 
 MANH. But I must haue sportynge of playe. 
 CONSC. Sykerly, Manhode, I say not naye, 
 But good gouernaunce kepe both nyght and daye, 
 
 And mayntayne mekenes and all mercy. 473 
 
 MANH. All mercy, Conscyence ? what may that be ? 
 
 CONSC. Syr all dyscrecyon that God gaue the. 
 
 MANH. Dyscressyon I knowe not, so mote I the ! 
 
 CONSC. Syr, it is all the wyttes that God hath you sende. 1 477 
 
 MANH. A, Conscyence, Conscyence ! now I knowe and se 
 
 Thy cunnynge is moche more than myne ; 
 But yet I pray the, syr, tell me : 
 
 What is moost necessary for man in euery tyme? 481 
 
 CONSC. Syr, in euery tyme beware of folye, 
 
 Folye is full of false flaterynge ; 
 In what occupacyon that euer ye be, 
 
 Alwaye, or ye begyn, thynke on the endynge, 
 
 For blame. 
 
 Nowe fare-well, Manhode ; I must wende. 
 MANH. Now fare-well, Conscyence, myne owne frende ! 
 CONSC. I pray you, Manhode, have God in mynde 
 
 And beware of Folye and Shame. 490 
 
 MANH. Yes, yes ! Ye, come wynde and rayne, 
 God let hym neuer come here agayne ! 
 Now he is forwarde, 2 I am ryght fayne, 
 
 For in faythe, syr, he had nere counsayled me all amys. 494 
 
 [Exit Conscyence.} 
 
 A, a! now I haue be-thought me! Yf I shall heuyn wyn, 
 Conscyence techynge I must begyn, 
 And clene forsake the kynges of synne, 
 That the Worlde me taught, 
 
 1 Qy. hath sent the, 2 Kittredge suggests frowarde.
 
 370 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 And Conscyence seruaunt wyll I be, 
 And beleue, as he hath taught me, 
 Upon one God and persones thre 
 
 That made all thynge of nought. 502 
 
 For Conscyence clere I clepe my kynge 
 And [me] his knyght in good doynge, 
 For, ryght of reason as I fynde, 
 
 Conscyence techynge trewe is. 1 
 The Worlde is full of boost, 
 And sayth he is of myghtes moost ; 
 All his techynge is not worthe a toost, 2 
 
 For Conscyence he dothe refuse. 510 
 
 But yet wyll I hym not forsake, 
 
 For mankynde he doth mery make. 
 
 Thoughe the Worlde and Conscyence be at debate, 
 
 Yet the Worlde wyll I not despyse ; 
 For bothe in chyrche and in chepynge 
 And in other places beynge, 
 The Worlde fyndeth me all thynge 
 
 And dothe me grete seruyse. 518 
 
 Now here full prest 
 
 I thynke to rest ! 8 
 
 Now myrthe is best ! 521 
 
 [Enter Folye,] 
 
 FOLYE. What, hey how, care awaye ! 
 My name is Folye ! Am I 4 not gaye ? 
 Is here ony man that wyll saye naye ! 
 
 That renneth in this route ! 
 A, syr, God gyue you good cue ! 
 MANH. Stonde vtter, felowe ! Where doest MOM thy cur- 
 
 tesy preue ? 
 FOLYE. What ! I do but clawe myne ars, syr, be your leue. 
 
 I praye you, syr, ryue me this cloute. 529 
 
 1 R. is trewe. 8 R. to ro rest. 
 
 2 R. coost ; corr. by Kittredge. * R. I am.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 MANH. What, stonde out, them sayned l shrewe ! 
 FOLYE. By my 2 faythe, syr, there the cocke crewe, 
 For I take recorde of this rewe 
 
 My thedome is nere past. 
 MANH. Now, trewely, it may well be so. 
 FOLYE. By God, syr, yet haue I felowes mo, 
 For in euery countre where I go 
 
 Some man his thryfte hath lost. 537 
 
 MANH. But herke, felowe ; art thou ony craftes man ? 
 FOLYE. Ye, syr, I can bynde a syue and tynke a pan ; 
 And, therto, a coryous bukler-player I am. 
 
 Aryse, felowe ; wyll thou assaye ? 
 MANH. Now, truely, syr, I trow thou canst but lytell skyl 
 
 of playe. 
 
 FOLYE. Yes, by Cockes bones, that I can ! 
 I wyll neuer fle for no man 
 
 That walketh by the waye. 545 
 
 MANH. Felowe, thoughe thou haue kunnynge, 
 I counsayll the leue thy bostynge, 
 For here thou may thy felowe fynde, 
 
 Whyder thou wylte at longe or shorte. 
 FOLYE. Come, loke, and thou darest ; aryse and assaye ! 
 MANH. Ye, syr, but yet Conscyence byddeth me naye. 
 FOLYE. No, syr, thou darest not, in good faye, 
 
 For truely thou faylest no false herte. 553 
 
 MANH. What sayst thou? haue I a false herte? 
 FOLYE. Ye, syr, in good faye. 
 MANH. Manhode wyll not that I saye naye ! 
 Defende the, Folye, yf thou 3 maye, 
 
 For, in feythe, I purpose to wete what thou art. 558 
 
 \They fight^ 
 
 How sayste thou now, Folye ? hast thou not a touche ? 
 FOLYE. No, ywys, but a lytell on my pouche ; 
 
 l Collier suggests fayned. 2 R. By by. 3 R. tyou.
 
 372 MUNDUS ET 1NFANS. 
 
 On all this meyne I wyll me wouche, 
 
 That stondeth here aboute. 
 MANH. And I take recorde on all this rewe 
 Thou hast two touches, though I saye but fewe. 
 FOLYE. Ye, this place is not without a shrewe, 
 
 I do you all out of doute. 1 566 
 
 MANH. But herke, felowe ; by thy faythe, where was thou 
 
 bore ? 
 
 FOLYE. By my faythe, in Englonde haue I dwelled yore, 
 And all myne auncetters me before ; 
 
 But, syr, in London is my chefe dwellynge. 
 MANH. In London? Where, yf a man the sought? 
 FOLYE. Syr, in Holborne I was forthe brought ; 
 And with the courtyers I am betaught ; 
 
 To Westmynster I vsed to wende. 574 
 
 MANH. Herke, felowe ! why doost thou to Westminster 
 
 drawe ? 
 
 FOLYE. For I am a seruaunt of the lawe ; 
 Couetous is myne owne felowe, 
 
 We twayne plete for the kynge ; 
 And poore men that come from vplande, 
 We wyll take theyr mater in hande, 
 Be it ryght or be it wronge, 
 
 Theyr thryfte with vs shall wende. 582 
 
 MANH. Now here, felowe! I praye the whyder wendest 
 
 thou tha ? 
 
 FOLYE. By my feyth, syr, into London I ran 
 To the tauernes to drynke the wyne ; 
 
 And than to the innes I toke the waye, 
 And there I was not welcome to the osteler, 
 But I was welcome to the fayre tapester, 
 And to all the housholde I was ryght dere, 
 
 For I haue dwelled with her 2 many a daye. 590 
 
 1 R. dewe. 
 
 2 Qy- fo r with her, rea< t there, or with them.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 373 
 
 MANH. Now, I praye the, whyder toke thau. the waye 
 
 than ? * 
 
 FOLYE. In fey the, syr, ouer London-brydge I ran, 
 And the streyght waye to the stewes I came, 
 
 And toke lodgynge for a nyght ; 
 And there I founde my brother, Lechery : 
 There men and women dyde folye, 
 And every man made of me as worthy 
 
 As thoughe I hadde ben a knyght. 598 
 
 MANH. I praye the yet tell me mo of thyne aduentures. 
 FOLYE. In feythe, euen streyght to all the freres, 
 And with them I dwelled many yeres ; 
 
 And they crowned Folye a kynge. 
 
 MANH. I praye the, felowe, whyder wendest thou tho? 
 FOLYE. Syr, all Englande to and fro, 
 In-to abbeys and in- to nonneryes also ; 
 
 And alwaye Folye dothe felowes fynde. 606 
 
 MANH. Now, herke, felowe ! I praye the, tell me thy name. 
 FOLYE. I-wys, I hyght bothe Folye and Shame. 
 MANH. A ha ! thou arte he that Conscyence dyd blame, 
 
 Whan he me taught. 
 
 I praye the, Folye, 2 go hens and folowe not me. 
 FOLYE. Yes, good syr, let me your seruaunt be ! 
 MANH. Naye, so mote I thye, 
 
 For than a shrewe had I caught! 614 
 
 FOLYE. Why, good syr, what is your name ? 
 MANH. Manhode myghty, that bereth no blame. 
 FOLYE. By the roode, and Manhode mystereth in euery 
 game 
 
 Somdele to cherysshe Folye ; 
 For Folye is felowe with the Worlde, 
 And greteiy beloued with many a lorde, 
 And yf ye put me out of your warde, 
 
 The Worlde ryght wroth wyll be. 622 
 
 1 R. than tiis waya. 2 R. folyc.
 
 374 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 MAXH. Ye, syr, yet had I leuer the Worlde be wrath 
 Than lese the cunnynge that Conscyence me gaue. 
 FOLYE. A cuckowe for Conscyence, he is but a dawe ! 
 
 He can not elles but preche. 626 
 
 MANH. Ye ; I praye the, leue thy lewde claterynge, 
 
 For Conscyence is a counseler for a kynge. 
 
 FOLYE. I wolde not gyue a strawe for his techynge, 
 
 He dooth but make men wrothe. 630 
 
 But wottest thou what I saye, man ? 
 
 By that ylke trouthe that God me gaue, 
 Had I that bychyde Conscyence in this place, 
 I sholde so bete hym with my staff e 
 
 That all his stownes sholde stynke. 
 MANH. I praye the, Folye, go hens and folowe not me. 
 FOLYE. Yes, syr, so mote I thye, 
 Your seruaunt wyll I be ; 
 
 I axe but mete and drynke. 639 
 
 MANH. Peace, man ! I may not haue the for thy name ; 
 For thou sayst thy name is bothe Folye and Shame. 
 FOLYE. Syr, here in this cloute I knyt Shame, 
 
 And clype me but Propre Folye. 
 MANH. Ye, Folye, wyll thou be my trewe seruaunt ? 
 FOYLE. Ye, syr Manhode ; here my hande ! 
 MANH. Now let vs drynke at this comnaunt, 
 
 For that is curtesy. 647 
 
 FOLYE. Mary, mayster, ye shall haue in hast. 
 [Aside] A ha ! syrs, let the catte wynke ! 
 For all ye wote not what I thynke, 
 I shall drawe hym suche a draught of drynke 
 
 That Conscyence he shall awaye cast. 652 
 
 Haue, mayster, and drynke well, 
 And let vs make reuell, reuell ! 
 For I swere by the chyrche of Saynt Myghell 
 I wolde we were at stewes.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 375 
 
 For there is nothynge but reuell-route ; 
 And we were there, I haue l no doubte 
 I sholde be knowen all aboute, 
 
 Where Conscyence they wolde refuse. 660 
 
 MANH. Peas, Folye, my fayre frende ! 
 
 For, by Cryste, I wolde not that Conscyence sholde me here 2 
 
 fynde. 
 FOLYE. Tusshe, mayster, thereof speke no-thynge, 
 
 For Conscyence cometh no tyme here. 2 
 MANH. Peace, Folye ; there is no man that knoweth me. 
 FOLYE. Syr, here my trouthe I plyght to the, 
 And thou wylte go thyder with me, 
 
 For knowlege haue thou no care. 668 
 
 MANH. Pease ! but it is hens a grete waye. 
 FOLYE. Parde, syr, we may be there on a daye. 
 Ye, and we shall be ryght welcome, I dare well saye, 
 
 In Estchepe for to dyne ; 
 
 And than we wyll with Lombardes at passage playe, 
 And at the Popes Heed swete'wyne assaye ; 
 
 We shall be lodged well a-fyne. 675 
 
 MAXH. What sayest thou, Folye ; is this the best? 
 FOLYE. Syr, all this is manhode, well thou knowest. 
 MANH. Now, Foly, go we hens in hast ; 
 
 But fayne wolde I chaunge my name, 
 For well I wote yf Conscyence mete me in this tyde, 
 Ryght well I wote he wolde me chyde. 
 FOLYE. Syr, for fere of you his face he shall hyde : 
 
 I shall clepe you Shame. 683 
 
 MANH. Now, gramercy, Folye, my felowe in-fere ! 
 Go we hens ; tary no lenger here ; 
 Tyll we be gone me thynke it seuen yere, 
 I haue golde and good to spende. 
 
 i R. had. 2 Q y . there.
 
 3/6 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 FOLYE. A ha ! mayster, that is good chere. 
 [Aside} And or it be passed halfe a yere, 
 I shall the shere ryght a lewde frere, 
 
 And hyther agayne the sende. 691 
 
 MANH. Folye, go before and teche me the waye. 
 FOLYE. Come after, Shame, I the praye, 
 And Conscyence clere ye cast awaye. 
 
 [Aside} Lo, syrs, this Folye techeth aye, 
 For where Conscyence cometh with his cunnynge, 
 Yet Folye full fetely shall make hym blynde : 
 Folye before and Shame behynde, 
 
 Lo, syrs, thus fareth the worlde alwaye ! 699 
 
 [Exit-Folye.] 
 
 MANH. [Sings] l Now I wyll folowe Folye, 
 For Folye is my man ; 
 Ye, Folye is my felowe 
 
 And hath gyuen me a name : 
 Conscyence called me Manhode, 
 
 Folye calleth me Shame. 705 
 
 [Sfaks] Folye wyll me lede to London to lerne reuell ; 
 Ye, and Conscyence is but a flaterynge brothell, 
 
 For euer he is carpynge of care. 
 
 The Worlde and Folye counseylleth me to all gladnes ; 
 Ye, and Conscyence counseylleth me to all sadnes, 2 
 Ye, to moche sadnes myght brynge me in-to madnes. 
 
 And now haue good-daye, syrs; to London to seke 
 
 Folye wyll I fare. 712 
 
 [Enter Conscyence^ 
 
 CONSC. Saye, Manhode, frende, whyder wyll ye go? 
 MANH. Nay, syr, in faythe, my name is not so. 
 Why, frere, what the deuyll hast thou to do 
 Whyder I go or abyde ? 
 
 1 This is not indicated as a song in R., and is printed as three long lines. 
 
 2 R. sadnts.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 377 
 
 CONSC. Yes, syr, I will counsell you for the best! 
 MANH. I wyll none of thy counsell, so haue I rest ! 
 I wyll go whyder me 1 lest, 
 
 For thou canst nought elles but chyde. 720 
 
 [Exit Mankode.'} 
 
 CONSC. Lo, syrs, a grete ensample you may se : 
 
 The freylnes of Mankynde, 
 How oft he falleth in folye 
 
 Throughe temptacyon of the fende ; 724 
 
 For, whan the fende and the flesshe be at one assent, 
 
 Than Conscyence clere is clene out cast ; 
 Men thynke not on the grete iugement 
 
 That the sely soule shall haue at the last ; 728 
 
 But wolde God, all men wolde haue in mynde 
 
 Of the grete daye of dome, 
 How he shall gyue a grete rekenynge 
 
 Of euyll dedes that he hath done. 732 
 
 But natheles, 2 syth it is so, 
 
 That Manhode is forthe with Folye wende, 
 To seche Perseueraunce now wyll I go, 
 
 With the grace of God Omnypotent. 736 
 
 His counseylles ben [with God] in-fere ; 
 Perssueraunce counsell is moost dere ; 
 Nexte to hym is Conscyence clere 
 
 From synnynge. 
 
 Now in-to 3 thys presence, to Cryst I praye 
 To spede me well in my iournaye ! 
 Fare-well, lordynges, and haue good daye ; 
 
 To seke Perseueraunce wyll I wende. 744 
 
 [Exit Conscyence ; enter Perseueraunce.] 
 1 R. my. 2 R. nedeles ; Haz. [it is] nedeles. 8 Qy. in.
 
 378 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 PERS. Now Cryst, our comely Creature, l clerer than crystal 
 clene, 
 
 That craftly made euery creature by good recreacyon, 
 Saue all this company that is gathered here, bydene, 
 
 And set all your soules in-to good saluacyon ! 748 
 
 Now good God, that is moost wysest and welde 2 of wyttes, 
 
 This company counsell, comforte and glad, 
 And saue all this multytude 8 that semely here syttes ! 
 
 Now, good God, for his mercy, that all men made, 752 
 
 Now Mary, Moder, mekest that I mene, 
 
 Shelde all this company from euyll conuersacyon, 4 
 
 And saue you from our enemy, as she is bryght and clene, 
 And at the last day of dome delyuer you from euerlast- 
 
 ynge dampnac[y]on ! 756 
 
 Syrs, Perseueraunce is my name ; 
 
 Conscyence [my] borne broder is ; 
 He sente me hyder mankynde to endoctryne, 
 That they sholde to no vyces enclyne, 
 
 For ofte mankynde is gouerned amys 
 
 And throughe foly mankynde is set in shame. 
 . Therfore in this presens to Cryst I praye, 
 Or that I hens wende awaye, 
 Some good worde that I may saye 
 
 To borowe mannes soul from blame. 766 
 
 [Enter Manhode B old and broken] 
 
 AGE. Alas, alas, that me is wo ! 
 
 My lyfe, my lykynge I haue forlorne ; 
 My rentes, my rychesse, it is all ygo ; 
 
 Alas the daye that I was borne ! 770 
 
 1 This spelling of Creator is too common to change. 
 
 2 Welde (= weldy) seems more likely than welder or welle. 
 
 8 R. symylytude ; apparently a confusion of semely (= assembly) and 
 multitude. 
 
 4 R. Inuersacyon. 
 
 6 Henceforth called Age.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 379 
 
 For I was borne Manhode, moost of myght, 
 
 Styffe, stronge, both stalworthy and stoute ; 
 The Worlde full worthely hath made me a knyght, 
 
 All bowed to my byddynge bonerly aboute ; 774 
 
 Than Conscyence clere, comely and kynde, 
 
 Mekely he met me in sete there I sate, 
 He lerned me a lesson of his techynge, 
 
 And the vij deedly synnes full lothely he dyde hate : 778 
 
 Pryde, Wrathe and Enuy and Couetous in kynde, 
 
 The Worlde all these synnes delyuered me vntyll, 
 
 Slouthe, Glotony, 1 and Lechery, that is full of false flaterynge, 
 All these Conscyence reproued both lowde and sty 11. 782 
 
 To Conscyence I helde vp my hande 
 To kepe Crystes commaundementes, 2 
 He warned me of Folye, that tray tour, and bade me beware ; 
 
 And thus he went his waye. 
 But I haue falsly me forsworne, 
 Alas the daye that I was borne ! 
 For body and soule I haue forlorne, 
 
 I clynge as a clodde in claye. 790 
 
 In London many a daye 
 
 At the passage I wolde playe, 
 
 I thought to borowe and neuer paye ; 3 
 
 Than was I sought and set in stockes. 
 
 In Newgate I laye vnder lockes ; 
 
 If I sayd ought, I caught many knockes, 
 
 Alas ! where was Manhode tho? 
 Alas, my lewdenes hath me lost ! 
 Where is my body so proude and prest? 
 I coughe and rought, my body wyll brest, 
 
 Age dothe folowe me so. 
 
 1 R. couetous, Glotony being omitted, 
 i Qy. commaunde. 3 Line out ?
 
 380 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 I stare and stacker as I stonde, 
 I grone grysly 1 vpon the grounde ; 
 Alas ! Dethe, why lettest thou me lyue so longe? 
 I wander as a wyght in wo 
 
 And care. 
 
 For I haue done yll, 
 Now wende I wyll 
 My-selfe to spyll, 
 
 I care not whyder nor where ! 810 
 
 PERS. Well ymet, syr ! well ymet! and whyder awaye? 
 AGE. Why, good syr, wherby do ye saye? 
 PERS. Tell me, syr, I you praye, 
 
 And I with you wyll wende. 
 AGE. Why, good syr, what is your name? 
 PERS. Forsothe, syr, Perseueraunce, the same. 
 AGE. Syr, ye are Conscyence brother that me dyd 
 blame, 
 
 I may not with you lende. 2 818 
 
 PERS. Yes, yes, Manhode, my frende in-fere. 
 AGE. Nay, syr, my name is in another maner, 
 For Folye his owne selfe was here 
 
 And hath clepyd me Shame. 
 PERS. Shame! 3 Nay, Manhode, let hym go, 
 Folye and his felowes also ; 
 For they wolde the brynge in-to care and wo, 
 
 And all that wyll folowe his game, . 826 
 
 AGE. Ye, game who-so game, 
 Folye hath gyuen me a name ; 4 
 
 So where-euer I go 
 He clypped me Shame. 
 
 Now Manhode is gone, 5 
 
 Folye hath folowed me so. 832 
 
 1 R. glysly. 4 R. aname. 
 
 2 R. lynge. 5 Qy. go. 
 8 R. has Shame in a line by itself.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 381 
 
 Whan I fyrst from my moder cam, 
 The Worlde made me a man, 
 And fast in ryches I ran 
 
 Tyll I was dubbed a knyght : 
 And than I met with Conscyence clere, 
 And he me set in suche manere 
 Me thought his techynge was full dere 
 
 Bothe by daye and nyght : 840 
 
 And than Folye met me, 
 
 And sharpely he beset me, 
 
 And from Conscyence he fet me, 
 
 He wolde not fro me go ; 
 Many a daye he keped me, 
 And to all folkes he cleped me 
 
 For 1 Shame, 
 And vnto all synnes he set me. 
 
 Alas, that me is wo ! 849 
 
 For I haue falsely me forsworne ; 
 
 Alas that I was borne ! 
 
 Body and soule I am but lorne ; 
 
 Me lyketh neyther gle nor game. 853 
 
 PERS; Nay, nay, Manhode, saye not so ! 
 Be-ware of Wanhope, 2 for he is a fo. 
 A newe name I shall gyue you to, 
 
 I clepe you Repentaunce ; 
 For, and you here repente your synne, 
 Ye are possyble heuen to wynne, 
 But with grete contrycyon ye must begynne 
 
 And take you to abstynence. 86 1 
 
 For, thoughe a man had do alone 
 The deedly synnes euerychone, 
 And he with contrycyon make his mone 
 To Cryst our heuyn kynge, 
 
 1 R. Fro. ; Coll., Haz. omit. 
 
 2 R. Wanhode; corr. by Kittredge; Coll., Haz. Manhode.
 
 382 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 God is also gladde of hym 
 
 As of the creature that neuer dyde syn. 
 
 AGE. Now, good syr, how sholde I contrycyon begyn? 
 
 PERS. Syr, in shryfte of mouthe without varyenge ; 869 
 
 And another ensample I shall shewe you to : 
 Thynke on Peter and Poule and other mo, 
 Thomas, James, and Johan also, 
 
 And also Mary Maudeleyn ; 
 For Poule dyde Crystes people grete vylany, 
 And Peter at the Passyon forsoke Cryst thry, 1 
 And Maudelayne lyued longe in lechery, 
 
 And Saynt Thomas byleued not in the Resurreccyon, 877 
 
 And yet these to Cryst are derlynges dere, 
 
 And now be sayntes in heuen clere ; 
 
 And therfore, thoughe ye haue trespased here, 
 
 I hope ye be sory for your synne. 
 AGE. Ye, Perseuerance, I you plyght, 
 I am sory for my synne both daye and nyght ; 
 I wolde fayne lerne with all my myght 
 
 How I sholde heuyn wynne. 885 
 
 PERS. So 2 to wynne heuyn v nessarye thynges there ben 
 That must be knowen to all mankynde ; 
 The v wyttes doth begynne, 
 
 Syr, bodely and sprytually. 
 AGE. Of the v wyttes I wolde haue knowynge. 
 PERS. Forsoth, syr, herynge, seynge, and smellynge, 
 The remenaunte, tastynge and felynge, 
 
 These ben the v wyttes bodely. 893 
 
 And, syr, other v wyttes ther ben. 
 AGE. Syr Perseueraunce, I knowe not them. 
 PERS. Now, Repentaunce, I shall you ken, 
 They are the power of the soule : 
 
 1 R. thryes. a Haz. emends to Sir,
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 383 
 
 Clere in mynde, there is one, 
 Imagynacyon and all reason, 
 Understondynge and compassyon, 
 
 These belonge vnto Perseueraunce. 901 
 
 AGE. Gramercy, Perseueraunce, for your trewe techynge ! 
 But, good syr, is there ony more behynde 
 That is necessary to all mankynde 
 
 Frely for to knowe ? 
 
 PERS. Ye, Repentaunce, more there be 
 That euery man must on byleue, 
 The xij artycles of the byleue 1 
 
 That mankynde must on trowe : 909 
 
 The fyrst, that God is in one substaunce, 
 And also that God is in thre persones, 
 Begynnynge and endynge without varyaunce, 
 
 And all this worlde made of nought ; 
 The seconde, that the Sone of God, sykerly, 
 Toke flesshe and blode of the Vyrgyn Mary 
 Without touchynge of mannes flessh[l]e 2 companye, 
 
 This must be in euery mannes thought ; 91 7 
 
 The thyrde, that that same God Sone, 
 
 [Was] born of that Holy Vyrgyn, 
 
 And she after his byrthe mayden as she was beforne 
 
 And clerer in all kynde ; 
 
 Also the fourth e, that same Cryst, God and man, 
 He suffred payne and passyon 
 Bycause of mannes soule redempcyon, 
 
 And on a crosse dyde hynge ; 925 
 
 The fyfte artycle I shall you tell, 
 Than the Spyryte of Godhed went to hell, 
 And bought out the soules that there dyde dwell, 
 By the power of his owne myght ; 
 
 1 R. fayth. 2 Corr. by Kittredge.
 
 384 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 
 
 The vi artycle I shall you saye, 
 Cryst rose vpon the thyrde daye, 
 Very God and man withouten naye, 
 
 That all shall deme and dyght ; 933 
 
 He sent mannes soule ] in-to heuen, 
 Alofte all the aungelles euerychone, 
 There is the Fader [and] the Sone, 
 
 And sothfast Holy Goost ; 2 
 The eyght artycle we must beleue on, 
 That same God shall come downe, 
 And deme mannes soule at the daye of dome, 
 
 And on mercy than must we trust ; 941 
 
 The ix artycle, with-outen stryf e, 
 
 Euery man, mayden, and wyfe, 
 
 And all the bodyes that euer bare lyfe 
 
 And at the daye of dome body and soule shall pere ; 8 
 Truely the x artycle is, 
 All they that hath kepyd Goddes seruyce, 
 They shall be crowned in heuen blysse 
 
 As Crystes seruauntes, to hym full dere ; 949 
 
 The xi artycle, the sothe to sayne, 
 
 All they that hath falsely to God guyded * them, 
 
 They shall be put in-to hell-payne, 
 
 There shall be no synne couerynge ; 
 Syr, after the xii we must wyrche, 
 And beleue in all the sacramentes of Holy Chyrche, 
 That they ben necessary to 5 both last and fyrste, 
 
 To all maner of mankynde. 957 
 
 Syr, ye must also here and knowe the commaudemetes x. 
 Lo, syr, this is your beleue and all men ; 
 Do after it and ye shall heuen wyn, 
 Without double, I knowe. 
 
 1 R. sonle. * R. gayded. 
 
 2 These two lines as one in R. 6 Qy f om it to. 
 8 Qy. omit And and body and soule.
 
 MUNDUS ET INFANS. 385 
 
 AGE. Gramercy, Perseueraunce, for your trewe techynge, 
 For in the spyryte of my soule wyll I fynde 
 That it is necessary to all mankynde 
 
 Truely for to knowe. 965 
 
 Now, syrs, take all ensample by me, 
 How I was borne in symple degre ; 
 The Worlde ryall receyued me 
 
 And dubbed me a knyght ; 
 Than Conscyence met me ; 
 So after hym came Folye ; 
 Folye falsely deceyued me, 
 
 Than Shame my name hyght. 973 
 
 PERS. Ye, and now is your name Repentaunce 
 
 Throughe the grace of God Almyght ; 
 And therfore, withoute ony dystaunce, 
 
 I take my leue of kynge and knyght ; 
 And I praye to Jhesu whiche [h]as made vs all, 
 Couer you with his mantell perpetuall ! 979 
 
 Amen ! 
 
 Here endeth the Interlude of Mundus et Infans. Imprynted 
 at London in Fletestrete at the sygne of 'the Soime by me vuynkyn 
 de worde. The yere of our Lorde M.CCCCC. and .xxij. The 
 .x-vij. daye of July.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 The basis of the text is a collation of the reprint by Hawkins, " The Origin of 
 the English Drama, Oxford, 1773," I, 69-111, with the original edition by 
 Wynkyn de Worde (indicated in the footnotes by W.). Hawkins interchanged 
 and v, to conform to modern usage, and in this I have followed him, as the colla- 
 tion made for me does not go into detail on this particular point. In the foot- 
 notes I have tried to record all really important variants in both Hawkins (Haw.) 
 and Hazlitt's Dodsley (Haz.), but no note is made of insignificant variations in 
 spelling. 
 
 [Dramatis Personae. 
 
 HYCKE-SCORNER. PYTE. 
 
 IMAGYNACYON. CONTEMPLACYON. 
 
 FREWYLL. PERSEVERAUNCE.] 
 
 [Enter Pyte alone.'} 
 
 PYTE. Now Ihesu the gentyll, that bought 1 Adam fro hell, 
 
 Save you all, soveraynes, and solas you sende ; 
 And, or 2 this mater that I begynne to tell, 
 
 I praye you of audyence tyll I have made an ende ; 
 For I saye to you my name is Pyte, 
 
 That ever yet hath ben mannes frende. 
 In the bosome of the Seconde Persone in Trynyte 
 
 I sprange as a plante, mannes mysse to amende. 
 
 You for to helpe I put to my honde, 
 
 Recorde I take of Mary that wepte teres of blode ; 
 I, Pyte, within her herte dyde stonde, 
 
 Whan she sawe her sone on the rode. 
 
 1 So W. ; Haw. Haz. brought. a Haz. of.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 387 
 
 The swerde of sorowe gave that lady [a] wounde, 
 Whan a spere clave her sones herte a-sondre ; 
 
 She cryed out and fell to the grounde ; 
 
 Though e she was woo, hyt was lytell wonder. 16 
 
 This delycate colour, 1 that goodly lady, 
 
 Full pale and wanne she sawe her sone, all deed, 
 Splayed on a crosse with the fyve welles of pyte, 
 
 Of purple velvet poudred with roses reed. 
 
 Lo ! I, Pyte, thus made your erande to be spede, 
 Or elles man for-ever sholde have ben forlore ; 2 
 
 A mayden so layde hys life to wedde ; 
 Crowned as a kynge, the thornes prycked hym sore. 24 
 
 Charyte and I of true love ledes the double rayne ; 
 
 Who-so me loveth dampned never shall be. 
 Of some vertuous company I wolde be fayne ; 
 
 For all that wyll to heven nedes must come by me, 
 
 Chefe porter I am in that hevenly cyte. 
 And now here wyll I rest me a lytell space, 
 Tyll hyt please Ihesu of his grace 
 Some vertuous felyshyp for to sende. 32 
 
 [Enter Contemplacyon, soliloquizing] 
 
 CONT. Chryste, that was crystened, crucyfyed and crowned, 
 In his bosum true love was gaged with a spere ; 
 
 His vaynes braste and brosed, and to a pyller bounde, 
 
 With scourges he was lashed, the knottes the skyn tare ; 
 On his necke to Calvary the grete crosse he bare ; 
 
 His blode ran to the grounde, as Scrypture doth tel, 
 
 His burden was so hevy that downe under it he fell. 39 
 
 Lo ! I am kyn to the Lorde which is Goddes Sone ; 
 My name is wryten formest in the boke of lyfe ; 
 
 1 Haz. inserts had ; qy. creature ; the original reading may, however, be 
 right, and, as Kittredge suggests, possibly 11. 17 and 19 should change 
 places. 2 W. forlorne ; Haz. forlore.
 
 388 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 For I am perfyte Contemplacyon, 
 
 And brother to Holy Chyrche, that is our Lordes wyfe. 43 
 
 Johan Baptyst, Anthony, and Jherome, with many mo, 
 Folowed me here in holte, hethe, and in wyldernes ; 
 
 I ever with them went where they dyde go, 
 
 Nyght and daye towarde the waye of ryghtwysenes. 47 
 
 I am the chefe lanterne of all holynes, 
 
 Of prelates and preestes I am theyr patron ; 
 No armure so stronge in no dystresse, 
 
 Habergyon, helme, ne yet no jeltron. 51 
 
 To fyght with Sathan I am 1 the champyon 
 
 That dare abyde and manfully stonde ; 
 Fendes fle away where they se me come. 
 
 But I wyll shewe you why I came to this londe : 55 
 
 For to preche and teche of Goddes soth sawes 
 
 Ayenst vyce, that dothe rebell ayenst hym and hys lawes. 
 
 PYTE. God spede, good brother ! Fro whens came you 
 now? 
 
 CONT. Syr, I came frome Perseveraunce to seke you. 
 
 PYTE. Why, syr, knowe you me ? 
 
 CONT. Ye, syr, and have done longe ; your name is Pyte. 
 
 PYTE. Your name fayne wolde I knowe. 62 
 
 CONT. In-dede I am called Contemplacyon, 
 
 That useth to lyve solytaryly ; 
 In wpdes and in wyldernesse 3 I walke alone 
 
 Bycause I wolde saye my prayers devoutly. 
 
 I love not with me to have moche company, 
 But Perseveraunce of te' with me doth mete 
 
 Whan I thynke on thoughtes that is full hevenly, 
 Thus he and I togyder full swetely doth slepe. 70 
 
 1 W. ; Haw. Haz. am I. 
 
 2 W. ; Haw. wyldenesse; Haz. wildness.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 389 
 
 PYTE. I thanke God that we be mette tcgyder. 
 
 CONT. Syr, I trust that Perseveraunce shortly wyll come 
 
 hyder. 
 
 PYTE. Than I thynke to here some good tydynge. 
 CONT. I warant you, brother, that he is comynge. 74 
 
 \Perseveraunce enters, and addresses the audience^ 
 
 PERS. The eternal God, that named was Messyas, 
 
 He gyve you grace to come to his glorye, 
 Wher ever l is joye, in the celestyall place, 
 
 Whan you of Sathan wynneth the vyctorye ! . 
 
 Every man ought to be gladde to have [me] in company, 
 For I am named good Perseveraunce, 
 That ever is guyded by vertuous governaunce. 81 
 
 I am never varyable, but doth contynue, 
 
 Styll goynge upwarde the ladder of grace, 
 And lode 2 in me planted is so true, 
 
 And fro the poore man I wyll never tourne my face. 85 
 
 Whan I go by my-selfe, ofte I do remembre 
 
 The grete kyndnes 8 that God shewed unto man, 
 
 For to be borne in the moneth of Decembre, 
 
 Whan the daye waxeth shorte and the nyght longe : 
 Of his goodnesse that Champyon stronge 
 
 Descended downe fro the Fader of Ryghtwysnes, 
 
 And rested in Mary, the floure of mekenes. 92 
 
 Now to this place hyder come I am 
 To seke Contemplacyon my kynnesman. 
 
 CONT. What, brother Perseveraunce? Ye be welcome ! 95 
 
 PERS. And so be you also, Contemplacyon. 
 
 CONT. Loo ! here is our mayster, Pyte. 
 
 PERS. Now truly, ye be welcome in-to this countre ! 
 
 PYTE. I thanke you hertely, syr Perseveraunce. 
 
 1 Haz. Wherever. 2 Q V . love. 3 W. knydnes.
 
 390 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 PERS. Mayster Pyte, one thynge is com to my remembraunce : 
 
 What tythynges here you now ? 
 
 PYTE. Syr, suche as I can I shall shewe you : 102 
 
 I have herde many men complayne pyteously ; 
 
 They saye they be smyten with the swerde of poverty 
 
 In every place where I do go. 
 Fewe frendes poverte dooth fynde, 
 And these ryche men ben unkynde, 
 
 For theyr neyghboures they wyll nought do. 
 Wydowes dooth curse lordes and gentyll-men, 
 For they constrayne l them to mary with theyr men, 
 
 Ye, wheder they wyll or no. ill 
 
 Men mary for good, and that is dampnable, 
 
 Ye, with olde women that is fyfty and beyonde. 
 
 The peryll now no man drede wyll, 
 
 All is not Goddes lawe that is used in londe ; 
 Beware wyll they not tyll Deth in his honde 
 
 Taketh his swerde and smyteth asonder the lyfe vayne 
 
 And with his mortall stroke cleveth the herte atwayne. 118 
 
 They trust so in Mercy, the lanterne of bryghtnesse, 
 That no-thynge do they drede Goddes Ryghtwysnes. 2 
 
 PERS. O Ihesu, syr, here is a hevy tydynge ! 
 
 PYTE. Syr, this is trewe that I do brynge. 
 
 CONT. How am I beloved, Mayster Pyte, where ye come? 
 
 PYTE. In good faythe, people have now small devocyon; 
 And as for with you, brother Contemplacyon, 125 
 
 There medleth fewe or none. 
 
 CONT. Yes, I trust that prestes love me wele. 
 
 PYTE. But a fewe, i-wys, and some never a dele. 8 
 
 CONT. Why, syr, without me they maye not lyve clene ! 
 
 PYTE. Nay, that is the leest thought 4 that they have of 
 
 f yf tene, 1 30 
 
 And that maketh me full hevy. 
 
 1 Misprinted contrayne in Haw. 8 \y. adele. 
 
 2 Misprinted ryghtwynes in Haw. * W. though ; Haw. Haz. thought.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 391 
 
 CONT. How, trowe you that there be no remedy? 
 
 PYTE. Full harde ; for synne is now so grevous and yll 
 That I thynke that it be growen to an impossyble. 
 And yet one thynge maketh me ever mournynge, 135 
 
 That prestes lack utterance to showe theyr cunnynge ; 
 And, al the whyle that clerkes do use so grete synne, 
 Amonge the lay people loke never for no mendynge. 
 
 PERS. Alas ! that is a hevy case 
 That so grete synne is used in every place ; 
 I praye God hyt 1 amende ! 141 
 
 PYTE. 2 Now God, that ever hath ben mannes frende, 
 Some better tydynges soone us sende ; 
 
 For now I must be gone. 
 Fare-well, good bretherne 3 here, 
 A grete erande I have elles-w'here, 
 
 That must nedes be done. 
 I trust I wyll not longe tary ; 
 Theder wyll I hye me shortely, 
 
 And come agayne whan I have done. 150 
 
 PERS. Hyder agayne I trust you wyll come ; 
 Therfore God be with you ! 
 
 PYTE. 2 Syr, nedes I must departe now ; 
 Ihesu me spede this daye ! {Exit.} 
 
 PERS. Now, brother Contemplacyon, let us go our waye. 1 55 
 
 [Exeunt ; enter Frewyll^\ 
 
 FREWYLL. Aware, felowes, and stande a-roume ! 
 How saye you, am not I a goodly persoune ? 4 
 
 I trowe you knowe not suche a geste. 
 What ! syrres, I tell you, my name is Frewyll ; 
 I may chose wheder I do good or yll, 
 
 But, for all that, I wyll do as me lyst. 161 
 
 J- W. ; Haw. it. 3 w. ; Haw. brethrene. 
 
 2 These two speeches are assigned to Contemplacyon by W. Haw. and 
 Haz., but see Notes. * W. personue.
 
 392 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 My condycyons ye knowe not, perde ; 
 
 I can fyght, chyde and be mery ; 
 
 Full soone of my company ye wolde be wery 
 
 And you l knewe all ! 
 
 What ! fyll the cup and make good chere ; 
 I trowe I have a noble here ! 
 Who lente hyt me ? By Cryste, a frere ; 
 
 And I gave hym a fall ! 169 
 
 Where be ye, syr ? be ye at home ? 
 
 [Searching his pockets."] 
 
 Kockes passyon, my noble is tourned to a stone ! 
 Where laye I last? Beshrewe your herte, Jone ! 
 
 Now, by these bones, she hath begyled me ! 
 Let se ! a peny my souper, a pece of flesshe x pence, 
 My bedde ryght nought : let all this expence 
 
 Now, by these bones, I have lost an halfpeny! 176 
 
 Who laye there ? My felowe Imagynacyon. 
 He and I had good communycacyon 
 
 Of syr Johan and Sybbell, 179 
 
 How they were spyed in bedde togyder, 
 And he prayed her ofte to come thyder, 
 
 For to synge lo-le, lo-lowe ! 
 They twayne togyder had good sporte ; 
 But at the stewes syde I lost a grote, 
 
 1 trowe I shall never ythe ! 185 
 
 My felowe promysed me here to mete ; 
 But I trowe the horesone be a-slepe 
 
 With a wenche some-where. 
 How, Imagynacyon ! come hyder ! 
 And you thryve, I lose a feder ! 
 
 Beshrowe your herte, appere ! 191 
 
 i W. ; Haw. Haz. ye.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 393 
 
 [Enter Imagynacyon.} 
 
 I MAG. What, how, how! who called after me? 
 FREWYLL. Come nere ! Ye shall never i-the ! 
 
 Where have ye be so longe ? 194 
 
 I MAG. By God, with ma hyt is l all wronge, 
 
 I have a payre of sore buttockes ; 
 All in irons was my songe, 
 
 Even now I satte gyved in a payre of stockes. 198 
 
 FREWYLL. Cockes passyon, and how so? 
 
 I MAG. Syr, I wyll tell you what I have do : 200 
 
 I mette with a wenche, and she was fayre, 
 And of love hertely I dyde praye her, 
 
 And so promysed her monaye. 
 Syr, she wynked on me and sayd nought, 
 But by her loke I knewe her thought ; 
 Than Sn-to loves daunce we were brought, 
 
 That we played the pyrdewy. 
 I wote not what we dyde togyder, 
 But a knave catchpoll nyghed us nere, 
 
 And so dyde us aspye. 210 
 
 A strype he gave me ; I fled my touche ; 
 
 And frome my gyrdle he plucked my pouche, 
 
 By your leve, he lefte me never a peny. 
 Loo, nought have I but a buckyll, 
 And 2 yet I can imagen thynges sotyll, 
 
 For to get monaye plenty. 
 In Westminister Hall every terme I am ; 
 To me is kynne many a grete gentyll-man ; 
 
 I am knowen in every countre. 219 
 
 And I were deed, the lawyers thryfte were lost, 
 For this wyll I do yf men wolde do cost : 
 
 1 W. ; misprinted it in Haw. 
 
 2 Haw. Ane ; no note in my collation.
 
 394 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 Prove ryght wronge, and all by reason, 
 And make men lese bothe hous and londe ; 
 
 For all that they can do in a lytell season. 224 
 
 Peche men of treason prevyly I can, 
 And, whan me lyst, to hange a trewe man. 
 
 If they wyll me monaye tell, 
 Theves I can helpe out of pryson ; 
 And into lordes favours I can get me soone, 
 
 And be of theyr prevy counseyll. 230 
 
 But, Frewyll, my dere broder, 
 Sawe you nought 1 of Hyckscorner ? 
 He promysed me to come hyder. 
 
 FREWYLL. Why, syr, knowest thou hym ? 
 
 I MAG. Ye, ye, man ; he is full nye of my kynne, 235 
 
 And in Newgate we dwelled togyder, 
 For he and I were bothe shakeled in a fetter. 
 
 FREWYLL. Syr, laye you beneth, or on hye on the seller ? 2 
 
 I MAG. Nay, ywys, amonge the thyckest of yemen of the 
 coller. 
 
 FREWYLL. By God, than ye were in grete fere ! 240 
 
 IMAG. Syr, had I not be, cc had be thrast in an haltere. 
 
 FREWYLL. And what lyfe have they there, al that grete 
 sorte ? 
 
 IMAG. By God, syr, ones a yere som taw halts of Burporte ; 
 Ye, at Tyburne there stondeth the grete frame, 
 And some take a fall that maketh theyr neck lame. 245 
 
 FREWYLL. Ye, but can they than go no more ? 
 
 IMAG. O no, man ; the wrest is twyste so sore ; 
 For as soone as they have sayd in manus tuas ones, 
 By God, theyr brethe is stopped at ones. 
 
 FREWYLL. Why, do they praye in that place there ? 250 
 
 IMAG. Ye, syr ; they stonde in grete fere, 
 And so fast tangled in that snare, 
 Hyt falleth to theyr lotte to have the same share. 
 
 i Haz. ; W. not. * W. Haw. Haz. seller.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 395 
 
 FREWYLL. That is a knavisshe syght to se them totter on 
 a beme. 
 
 I MAG. Syr, the horesones coude not convaye clene ; 255 
 
 For, and they coude have caryed by crafte, as I can, 
 In processe of yeres eche of them sholde be a gentyll-man. 
 Yet, as for me, I was never thefe. 
 
 If my handes were smyten of, I can stele with my tethe ; 
 For ye knowe well there is crafte in daubynge. 260 
 
 I can loke in a mannes face and pycke his purse ; 
 And tell newe tydynges that was never trewe, ywys, 
 For my hood is all lyned with lesynge. 
 
 FREWYLL. Ye, but wente ye never to Tyburne a pylgrym- 
 age? 
 
 IMAG. No, ywys, nor none of my lynage ; x 265 
 
 For we be clerkes all, and can our necke-verse, 
 And with an oyntment the iuges ha#de I can grece 
 That wyll hele sores that be uncurable. 
 
 FREWYLL. Why, were ye never founde reprovable? 269 
 
 IMAG. Yes, ones I stall a hors in the felde, 
 
 And lepte on hym for to have ryden my waye ; 
 
 At the last a bayly me mette and behelde 
 
 And badde me stonde, than was I in a fraye. 273 
 
 He asked wheder with that horse I wolde gon, 
 
 And than I tolde hym hyt was myne owne ; 
 
 He sayd I hadde stollen hym, and I sayde naye ; 
 
 " This is," sayd he, " my brothers hacknaye " ; 
 
 For, and I had not sensed me without fayle, 
 
 By Our Lady, he wolde have lad me strayte to iayle ; 
 
 And than I tolde hym the horse was lyke myne, 280 
 
 A browne baye, a long mane, and dyde halte behyne, 
 
 Thus I tolde hym that such an-other hors I dyde lacke, 
 
 And yet I never sawe hym nor came on his backe. 
 
 So I delyvered hym the hors agayne ; 
 
 And whan he was gone, than was I fayne ; 285 
 
 1 W. lygnages ; Haw. lynages ; Haz. lineage.
 
 396 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 For, and I had not scused me the better, 
 
 I knowe well I sholde have daunsed in a fetter. 
 
 FREWYLL. And sayd he no more to the but so ? 
 
 IMAG. Yes, he pretended me moche harme to do ; 
 But I tolde hym that mornynge was a grete myste, 290 
 
 That what horse hyt was I ne wyste ; 
 Also I sayd that in my heed I had the megryne 
 That made me dasell so in myne eyen 
 That I myght not well se : 
 And thus he departed shortely frome me. 295 
 
 FREWYLL. Ye, but where is Hycke-scorner now ? 
 
 IMAG. Some of these yonge men hath hydde hym in 
 Theyr bosomes, I warraunt you, 1 
 Let us make a crye, that he may us here ! 
 
 FREWYLL. How, how! 2 Hycke-scorner appere ! 300 
 
 I trowe thou be hyde in some cornere. 
 
 HYCKE-SCORNER [without]. A-le 3 the helme! a-le ! 8 vere ! 
 shot of ! vere sayle ! vera ! 
 
 FREWYLL. Cockes body ! herke, he is in * a shyppe on 
 the see ! 
 
 [Enter Hycke-scorner. ,~\ 
 
 HYCKE. God spede ! God spede ! Who called after me ? 
 
 IMAG. What! brother, welcome, by this precyous body ! 305 
 I am gladde that I you se ; 
 Hyt was tolde me that ye were hanged. 5 
 But out of what countre come ye ? 
 
 HYCKE. Syr, 6 I have ben in many a countre ; 
 As, in Fraunce, Irlonde, and in Spayne, 310 
 
 Portyngale, Sevyll, also in Almayne, 
 Freslonde, Flaunders, and in Burgoyne, 
 Calabre, Poyle, 7 and Erragoyne, 
 
 1 These two lines ought perhaps to be printed as one. 
 
 3 W. ; Haw. Haz. How now. 
 
 8 W. Haw. ale; Haz. ale (= heel). 
 
 * Haw. Haz. omit in. 
 
 5 Qy. That ye were hanged hyt was told me. 
 
 6 W. ; Haw. Haz. Syrs. 1 Haz. Fugle.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 397 
 
 Brytayne, Byske, and also in Gascoyne, 
 
 Naples, Grece, and in myddes of Scotlonde, 
 
 At Cape 1 Saynt Vyncent, and in the Newe-founde Ilonde ; 316 
 
 I have ben in Gene and in Cowe, 
 Also in the londe of Rumbelowe, 
 
 Thre myle out of hell ; 
 At Rodes, Constantyne, and in Babylonde, 
 In Cornewale, and in Northumberlonde, 
 
 Where men sethe russhes in gruell ; 322 
 
 Ye, syr, in Caldey, Tartare, and Inde, 
 
 And in the Londe of Women, that fewe men dothe fynde : 
 
 In all these countres have I be. 
 
 FREWYLL. Syr, what tydynges here ye now on the see ? 326 
 
 HYCKE. We mette of shyppes a grete nave, 
 
 Full of people that wolde in-to Irlonde, 
 And they came out of this countre ; 
 
 They wyll never-more come to Englonde. 330 
 
 IMAG. Whens were the shyppes of them ? Knowest thou 
 none? 
 
 HYCKE. Herken, and I wyll shewe you theyr names eche 
 
 one : 
 
 Fyrst was the Regent with the Myghell, of Brykylse, 
 The George, with the Gabryell and the Anne, of Foye, 
 The Starre of Salte-Asshe, with the Ihesus of Plumoth, 335 
 
 Also the Hermytage with the Barbara of Darmouth, 
 The Nycolas and the Mary Bellouse of Brystowe, 
 With the Elyn of London and James also. 
 Grete was the people that was in them, 
 
 All true relygyous and holy women : 340 
 
 There was Trouthe and his kynnesmen, 2 
 With Pacyence, Mekenes, and Humylyte, 
 And all true maydens wyth theyr vyrgynyte, 
 Ryall prechers, Sadnes, and Charyte, 
 
 1 Haw. Haz. comma after Cape (= Cape of Good Hope). 
 
 2 W. Haw. kynnesman ; Haz. kinsmen.
 
 398 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 Ryght Conscyence, and Fayth, with Devocyon, 345 
 
 And all true monkes that kepe theyr relygyon, 1 
 
 True byers and sellers, and almes-dede 2 doers, 
 
 Pyteous people, that be of synne destroyers, 
 
 With Just Abstynence and good counseyllers, 
 
 Mourners for synne, with Lamentacyon, 350 
 
 And good ryche men that helpeth folke out of pryson, 
 
 True Wedlocke was there also, 
 
 With yonge men that ever in prayer dyde go : 
 
 The shyppes were laden with suche unhappy company ; 
 
 But at the laste God shope a remedy, 355 
 
 For they all in the see were drounde, 
 
 And on a quycke-sonde they strake to grounde, 
 
 The see swallowed them everychone, 
 
 I wote well alyve there scaped none. 
 
 IMAG. Lo ! now my herte is gladde and mery ; 360 
 
 For joye now let us synge " dery, dery ! " 
 
 HYCKE. Felowes, they shall never more us withstonde, 
 For I se them all dr[o]wned in the Rase of Irlonde. 
 
 FREWYLL. Ye, but yet herke, Hycke-scorner : 
 What company was in your shyppe that came over? 365 
 
 HYCKE. Syr, I wyll ayd 3 you to understande ; 
 There were good felawes above fyve thousande, 
 And all they ben kynne to us thre : 
 There was Falshode, Favell, and Sotylte, 4 
 
 Ye, theves and hores, with other good company, 370 
 
 Lyers, bacbyters, and flaterers the whyle, 
 Braulers, lyers, getters, and chyders, 
 Walkers by nyght, with grete murderers, 
 Overthwarte gyle[rs], 5 and joly carders, 
 
 Oppressers of people, with many swerers ; 375 
 
 There was False Lawe, with Oryble Vengeaunce, 
 
 1 W. Haw. relyon ; Haz. religion. 
 
 2 W. dede; Haw. dedes; Haz. deed. 
 8 W. Haw. sayd; corr. by Haz. 
 
 4 W. fotylte; Haw. jolyte; Haz. jollity. 
 
 5 Corr. by Haz.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 399 
 
 Froward Obstynacyon, with Myschevous Governaunce, 
 
 Wanton wenches, and also mychers, 
 
 With many other of the devylles offycers ; 
 
 And Haterede, that is so myghty and stronge, 380 
 
 Hath made a-vowe for-ever to dwell in Englonde. 
 
 IMAG. But is that true that thou doste shewe now? 
 
 HYCKE. Syr, every worde as I do tell you. 
 
 FREWYLL. Of whens is your shyppe ? of London ? 
 
 HYCKE. Ye, ywis, frome thens dyde she come ; 385 
 
 And she is named the Envy, 
 I tell you, a grete vessell and a myghty ; 
 The owner of her is called Yll Wyll, 
 Brother to Jacke Poller of Shoters Hyll. 
 
 IMAG. Syr, what offyce in the shyppe bare ye? 
 
 HYCKE. Mary, I kepte a fayre shoppe of baudrye : 391 
 
 I had thre wenches that were full praty, 
 
 Jane true, Ann 1 thryftles, and wanton Sybble ; 
 
 If ye ryde her a journay, she will make you wery, 
 
 For she is trusty at nede. 
 If ye wyll hyre her for your pleasure, 
 I warraunt, tere her shall ye never, 
 
 She is so sure in dede ; 
 Ryde and you wyll ten tymes a daye, 
 I warraunt you she wyll never saye naye, 
 
 My lyfe I dare lay to wedde. 401 
 
 IMAG. Now plucke up your hertes, and make good chere, 
 
 These tydynges lyketh me wonder wele. 
 Now vertu shall drawe arere, arere ! 
 
 Herke, felous, a good sporte I can you tell : 405 
 
 At the stues we wyll lye to-nyght, 
 
 And, by my trouth, yf all go aryght, 
 
 I wyll begyle some praty wenche 
 
 To gette me monaye at a pynche. 
 
 How saye you? shall we go thyder? 410 
 
 i W. Haw. Haz. and.
 
 4OO HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 Let us kepe company all togyder, 
 
 And I wolde that we had Goddes curse 
 
 If we some-where do not get a purse ! 413 
 
 Every man here his dagger naked in his honde, 
 And, if we mete a treue man, make hym stonde, 
 
 Or elles that he here a strype ! 
 If that he struggle and l make ony werke, 
 Lyghtly stryke hym to the herte, 
 
 And throwe hym into Temmes quyte ! 419 
 
 FREWYLL. Naye, thre knaves in a lease is good at nale ! 
 . But, thou lubber, Imagynacyon, 
 
 That cukcolde, thy fader, where is he become ? 
 At Newgate dothe he ly styll at gayle ? 423 
 
 I MAG. Avant, horsone ! thou shalt bere me a strype ! 
 
 Sayst thou that my moder was a hore ? 
 FREWYLL. Naye, syr, but the last nyght 
 
 I sawe syr Johne and she tombled on the flore. 427 
 
 IMAG. Now, by Kockes herte, thou shake lose an arme ! 
 HYCKE. Naye, syr, I charge you, do hym no harme. 
 IMAG. And thou make to moche, I wyll breke thy heed, 
 
 to ! 430 
 
 HYCKE. By Saynt Mary, and I wyst that, I wolde be ago ! 
 IMAG. Aware ! aware ! the horsone shall aby ! 
 His preest wyll I be, by Cockes body ! 
 
 HYCKE. Kepe pease, lest knaves blode be shedde. 
 . FREWYLL. By God. if his was nought, myn was as 
 
 badde ! 435 
 
 IMAG. By Kockes herte, he shall dye on this dager ! 
 HYCKE. By Our Lady, than wyll ye be straungled in a 
 
 halter. 
 IMAG. The horesone shall etc hym as fer as he shall 
 
 wade ! 
 HYCKE. Beshrewe your herte ! and put up your blade ! 
 
 1 Haw. ond ; no note in my collation.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 4<DI 
 
 Shethe your whytell ! or by Hyz l that was never borne 440 
 
 I wyll rappe you on the costarde with my home ! 
 What ! wyll ye playe all the knave ? 
 
 IMAG. By Kockes herte, and thou a buffet shalte have ! 
 
 [Imagynacyon and Hycke-scorner fight .] 
 
 FREWYLL. Lo, syrres, here is a fayre company, God us 
 
 save 
 
 For, yf ony of us thre be mayre of London, 445 
 
 I-wys, ywys, I wyll ryde to Rome on my thorn ! 
 
 Alas ! a ! se ! is not this a 2 grete feres ? 
 
 I wolde they were in a myll-pole above the eres ; 
 
 And than, I durst warraunt, they wold departe anone. 
 
 HYCKE. Helpe ! helpe ! for the passyon of my soule ! 450 
 He hath made a grete hole in my poule, 
 That all my wytte is set to the grounde. 
 Alas, a leche for to helpe my wounde ! 
 
 IMAG. Naye, ywys, horesone, I wyll bete the or I go ! 
 
 FREWYLL. Alas, good syr ! what have I do ? 455 
 
 IMAG. Ware! make rome ! he shall have a strype, I 
 trowe ! 
 
 [Enter Pyte.~\ 
 
 PYTE. Peas, peas, syrres ! I commaunde you ! 
 
 IMAG. Avaunt, old churle ! Whens comest thou? 
 And thou make to moche, I shall breke thy browe 
 And sende the home agayne ! 460 
 
 PYTE. A ! good syr, the peas I wolde have kepte fayne ; 
 Myne offyce is to se no man slayne, 
 And, where they do amyse, to gyve them good counseyl 
 Synne to forsake, and Goddes lawe them tell. 
 
 IMAG. A ! syr, I wende thou haddest ben drowned and 
 
 gone 
 
 But I have spyed that there scaped one. 466 
 
 HYCKE. Imagynacyon, do by the counseyll of me : 
 Be a-greed with Frewyll, and let us good felowes be ; 
 
 1 Haz. changes to Jis. . 2 Qy, are not these.
 
 4O2 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 And than, as for this chorle, Pyte, 
 Shall curse the tyme that ever he came to londe ! 
 I MAG. Brother Frewyll, give me your honde ! 
 
 And all myne yll wyll I forgyve the. 472 
 
 FREWYLL. Syr, I thanke you hertely. 
 But what shall we do with this chorle, Pyte ? 
 
 I MAG. I wyll go to hym, and pyke a quarell, 475 
 
 And make hym a thefe and saye he dyde stele 
 Of myne forty pounde in a bagge. 
 
 FREWYLL. By God, that tydynges wyll make hym sadde ! 
 And I wyll go fetche a payre of gyves, 
 For, in good faythe, he shall be sette fast by the heles. 480 
 
 HYCKE. Have ado lyghtly, and be gone, 
 And let us twayne with hym alone ! 
 
 FREWYLL. Now, farewell ; I beshrewe you everychone ! 
 
 Hfcrfc] 
 
 HYCKE. Ho, ho! Farewell, you shrewe 1 , and no mo! 484 
 
 I MAG. Thou lewde felowe, sayst thou that thy name is 
 
 Pite ? 
 Who sente the hyder to controll me ? 
 
 PYTE. Good syr, hyt is my properte 
 For to dyspyse synfull lyvynge. 
 And unto vertu men to brynge 
 
 If that they wyll do after me. 490 
 
 IMAG. What, syr, art thou so pure holy? 
 A ! se ! this caytyfe wolde be praysed, trowe I. 2 
 And you thryve this yere, I wyll lose a peny ! 
 Lo ! syrres, outwarde he bereth a fayre face, 
 But, and he mette with a wenche in a prevy place, 495 
 
 I trowe he wolde shewe her but lytell grace, 
 By God, ye maye trust me ! 
 
 HYCKE. Loo ! wyll ye not se this caytyves menynge ? 
 He wolde destroye us all, and all our kynne ! 
 
 1 W. Haw. Haz. Frewyll you threwe; emend, by Kittredge. 
 2W. Haw. Haz. I trowe.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 403 
 
 Yet had I lever se hym hanged by the chynne 500 
 
 Rather than that sholde be brought aboute. 
 And with this dager thou shalte have a cloute, 
 Without thou wylte 1 lyghtly be gone ! 
 
 IMAG. N aye, brother, laye honde on hym soone ! 504 
 
 For he japed my wyfe and made me cukolde, 
 And yet the traytour 2 was so bolde 
 
 That he stale forty pounde of myne in monaye. 
 HYCKE. By Saynt Mary, than shall he not scape ! 
 We wyll lede hym streyght to Newgate ; 
 
 For-ever there shall he lye ! 510 
 
 [Enter Frewyll.] 
 
 FREWYLL. A, se ! a, se, syrres, what I have brought ! 
 
 A medycyne for a payre of sore shynnes. 
 At the Kynges Benche, syrres, I have you sought ; 
 
 But, I praye you, who shall were these [rynges] ? 514 
 
 HYCKE. By God, this felowe that maye not go hence, 
 
 I wyll go gyve hym these hose-rynges ; 
 Now, yfaythe, they be worth forty pence, 
 
 But to his hondes I lacke two bondes. 
 IMAG. Holde, horesone, here is an halter! 
 Bynde hym fast and make hym sure. 520 
 
 PYTE. O men, let Trouth, that is the trewe man, 
 
 Be your guyder, or elles ye be forlore ; 8 
 Laye no fals wytnes, as nye as ye can, 
 
 On none, for afterwarde ye wyll repent hyt full sore. 524 
 
 FREWYLL. Naye, naye, I care not therfore ! 
 
 HYCKE. Ye, whan my soule hangeth on the hedge, cast stones! 4 
 For I tell the playnly, by Kockes bones, 
 Thou shalte be guyded and layd in irons, 
 They fared even so. 
 
 1 W. Haw. Haz. have an unnecessary be here. 
 
 2 Haw. traytove ; not noticed in collation. 
 
 3 W. Haw. Haz. forlorne. 
 
 * Haz. hedge-cast, -which is unintelligible to me.
 
 404 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 PYTE. Awaye, 1 syr ! what have I do? 
 
 IMAG. Well, well ; that thou shalte knowe or thou go. 530 
 
 PYTE. O syrres, I se hyt can not be amended. 
 
 You do me wronge, for I have not offended. 
 
 Remembre God, that is our heven Kynge, 
 
 For he wyll rewarde you after your deservynge, 534 
 
 Whan Deth with his mace dooth you areest ; 
 
 We all to hym owe fewte 2 and servyce. 
 Fro the ladder of lyfe downe he wyll the threste ; 
 
 Than maystershyp may not helpe nor grete offyce. 538 
 
 FREWYLL. What! Dethe, and he were here, he sholde syt 
 
 by the ! 
 
 Trowest thou that he be able to stryve with us thre ? 
 Nay, nay, nay ! 
 
 IMAG. Well, felawes, now let us go our waye, 
 
 For at 3 Shoters Hyll we have a game to playe. 542 
 
 HYCKE. In good fayth, I wyll tary no lenger 4 space. 
 FREWYLL. Beshrewe hym for me that is last out of this 
 place ! 
 
 [Exeunt I magynacyon, Frewyll and Hycke-scorner^\ 
 
 PYTE. Lo, lordes, they may curs the tyme they were borne 
 For the wedes that over-groweth the corne ; 
 They troubled me gyltelesse, and wote not why ; 
 For Goddes love, yet wyll I suffre pacyently. 548 
 
 We all may say weleaway 
 For synne that is now-adaye ; 5 
 Loo, vertue is vanysshed for ever and aye : 6 
 Worse was hyt never ! 
 
 1 Haz. changes Awaye to Well-a-way. 
 
 2 Haz. prints fea'ty. 
 W. Haz. ; Haw. a. 
 
 * W. lender ; Haw. Haz. lenger. 
 
 6 These two lines as one in W. Haw. Haz. 
 
 8 W. Haz. ; Haw. ever daye.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 405 
 
 We have plente of grete othes 
 And clothe ynoughe in our clothes, 
 But charyte many men lothes : 
 
 Worse was hyt never! 
 Alas ! now is lechery called love, indede, 
 And murdure named manhode in every nede 5 
 Extorsyon is called lawe, so God me * spede : 
 
 Worse was hyt never ! 560 
 
 Youth walketh by nyght with swerdes and knyves, 
 And, ever amonge, true men leseth theyr lyves ; 
 Lyke heretykes we occupy other mennes wyves 
 
 Now-a-dayes in Englonde. 
 
 Baudes be the dystryers of many yonge women, 
 And full lewde counseyll they gyve unto them ; 
 How you do mary, beware, you yonge men, 
 
 The wyse never taryeth to longe. 568 
 
 There be many grete scorners, 
 
 But for synne there be fewe mourners ; 
 
 We have but fewe true lovers 
 
 In no place now-a-dayes. 
 There be many goodly gylte knyves ; 2 
 And, I trowe, 8 as well 4 apparaylled wyves, 
 Yet many of them be unthryfty of theyr lyves 
 
 And all set in pryde to go gaye. 576 
 
 Mayers on synne dooth no correccyon, 
 Gentyll-men 6 bereth trouthe adowne, 
 Avoutry is suffred in every towne, 
 
 Amendyment is there none. 
 
 And Goddes commaundementes we breke them all y 
 Devocyon is gone many dayes syn ; 
 Let us amende us, we trewe Crysten men 
 
 Or Deth make you grone ! 584 
 
 1 W. Haz. ; Haw. we. 8 W. ; Haw. Haz. knowe. 
 
 2 W. knyues; Haw. Haz. knaves. * W. ; Haw. Haz. many. 
 * W. Haw With gentyll men ; Haz. changes With to While.
 
 4O6 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 Courtyers go gaye and take lytell wages, 
 
 And many with harlottes at the taverne hauntes, 
 
 They be yemen of the wrethe that be shakled in gyves, 
 
 On themselves they have no pyte. 
 God punyssheth full sore with grete sekenesse, 
 As pockes, pestylence, purple [s] and axes ; 
 Some dyeth sodeynly that deth full peryllous ; 
 
 Yet was there never so grete poverte. 592 
 
 There be some sermones made by noble doctoures, 
 But truly the fende dothe stoppe mennes eres ; 
 For God nor good man some people not feres : 
 
 Worse was hyt never ! 
 All trouth is not best sayd, 
 And our prechers now-adayes be halfe afrayde. 
 Whan we do amende, God wolde be well apayde : 
 
 Worse was hyt never ! 600 
 
 \Enter Contemplacyon and Perseveraunce.] 
 
 CONT. What, mayster Pyte ; how is hyt with you ? 
 
 PERS. Syr, we be sory to se you in this case now. 
 
 PYTE. Bretherne, 1 here were thre peryllous men, 
 Frewyll, Hycke-scorner and Imagynacyon ; 
 
 They sayd I was a thefe and layd felony upon me, 605 
 
 And bound me in irons as ye maye se. 
 
 CONT. Where be the traytours become nowe ? 
 
 PYTE. In goode faythe, I can not shewe you. 
 
 PERS. Brother, let us unbynde hym of his bondes. 
 
 CONT. Unlose the fete and 2 the hondes. 610 
 
 [They release Pyte.} 
 
 PYTE. I thanke you for your grete kyndnes 
 That you two shewe in this dystresse ; 
 For they were men without ony mercy, 
 That delyteth all in myschefe and tyranny. 
 
 PERS. I thynke they wyll come hyder agayne, 615 
 
 Frewyll and Imagynacyon, bothe twayne ; 
 
 1 Haw. Brethrene. 2 Q y . i nser t \,
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 407 
 
 Them wyll I exorte to vertuous lyvynge 
 
 And unto vertu them to brynge 
 
 By the helpe of you, Contemplacyon. 
 
 CONT. Do my counseyll, brother Pyte : 620 
 
 Go you and seke them throughe the countre, 
 In vyllage, towne, bourghe and cyte, 
 
 Throughe-out all the realme of Englonde ; 
 Whan you them mete, lyghtly them arest 
 And in pryson put them faste, 
 
 Bynde them sure in irons stronge, 
 For they be so faste l and sotyle 
 That they wyll you begyle 
 
 And do true men wronge. 629 
 
 PERS. Brother Pyte, do as he hath sayd ; 
 
 In every quarter loke you aspye, 
 And let good watche for them be layde 
 
 In all the haast that thou can, and that pryvely ; 
 For, and they come hyder, they shall not scape 
 For all the crafte that they can make. 635 
 
 PYTE. Well, than wyll I hye one as fast as I maye 
 
 And travayle throughe every countre ; 
 Good watche shall be layde in every waye 
 
 That they stele not into sentwary. 639 
 
 Now fare-wele, bretherne ; and praye for me, 
 
 For I must go hens, in-dede. 
 
 PERS. Now God be your good spede ! 2 
 
 CONT. And ever you defende, whan you have nede ! 
 
 PYTE. Now, bretherne 3 bothe, I thanke you. [Exit.} 644 
 
 [Enter Frewytt.~\ 
 
 FREWYLL. Make you rome for a gentylman, syrs, and pease! 
 Duegarde, 4 seygnours, tout le preasse ! 
 
 1 Qy. false. 3 Haw. brethrene. 
 
 2 W. spende. 4 Haz. prints Dieu garde.
 
 408 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 And of your jangelynge yf ye wyll sease 
 
 I wyll tell you where I have be. 1 
 Syrres, I was at the taverne and dronke wyne ; 
 Methought I sawe a pece that was lyke myne, 
 And, syr[res], all my fyngers were arayed with lyme, 
 
 So I convayed 2 a cuppe manerly. 652 
 
 And yet, ywys, I played all the fole ; 
 For there was a scoler of myne own scole, 
 
 And, syr[res], the horesone aspyed me. 
 Than was I rested and brought in pryson ; 
 For woo than I wyste not what to have done, 
 
 And all bycause I lacked monaye. 
 But a frende in courte is worth a peny in purs ; 
 For Imagynacyon, myne owne felowe, i-wys, 
 
 He dyde helpe me out full craftely : 66 1 
 
 Syrres, he walked thrughe Holborne 
 
 Thre houres after the sonne was downe, 
 
 And walked up towarde Saynte Gyles in the Felde ; 
 
 He hoved styll, and there behelde, 665 
 
 But there he coude not spede of his praye ; 
 
 And strayght to Ludgate he toke the waye, 
 
 Ye wote well that potycaryes wake 8 very late, 
 
 He came to a dore, and pryvely spake 
 
 To a prentes for a peny-worth of uforbyum, 670 
 
 And also for a half-peny-worth of alom plomme ; 
 
 This good servaunte served hym shortely, 
 
 And sayd, " Is there ought elles that you wolde bye? " 
 
 Than he asked for a mouthfull of quycke brymstone ; 
 
 And, doune in-to the seller whan the servant was gone, 675 
 
 Asyde as he kest his eye, 
 
 A grete bagge of monaye dyde he spye, 
 
 Therin was an hondred pounde. 
 
 He trussed hym to his fete and yede his waye rounde ; 
 
 He was lodged at Newgate at the Swanne, 680 
 
 l W. Haw. Haz. bene. W. Haw. Haz. walke. 
 
 * Haw ; W. conuayued.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 409 
 
 And every man toke hym for a gentyll-man ; 
 
 So on the morowe he delyvered me 
 
 Out of Newgate by this polyce ; 
 
 And now wyll I daunce an[d] make ryall chere ! 
 
 But I wolde Imagynacyon were here, 685 
 
 For he is pereles at nede. 
 
 Labour to hym, syrres, yf ye wyl your maters spede. 
 
 Now wyll I synge and lustely sprynge ! 
 
 But whan my feters on my leges dyde rynge, 
 
 I was not gladde, perde ! but now : Hey, trolly, lolly ! 690 
 
 Let us se who can descaunt on this same. 
 
 To laughe and gete monaye, 1 hyt were a good 2 game ! 
 
 What ! whome have we here ? 
 
 A preest, a douctoure, or else a frere ! 694 
 
 What, mayster doctour Dotypoll, 
 
 Can not you preche well in a blacke boll, 
 
 Or dispute ony dyvynyte? 
 If ye be cunnynge I wyll put hyt in a prefe : 
 Good syr, why do men etc mustarde with befe ? 
 
 My 8 questyon can you assoyle me ? 700 
 
 PERS. Peas, man ! thou talkest lewdly ; 
 And of thy lyvynge, I reed, amende the ! 
 FREWYLL. Avaunt, catyfe ! dost thou thou me? 
 
 I am come of good kynne, I tell the : 
 My moder was a lady of the stewes blode borne, 
 And, knyght of the halter, my fader ware an home ; 
 Therfore I take hyt in full grete scorne 
 
 That thou sholdest thus cheke me. 708 
 
 CONT. Abyde, felowe ; thou ca[n]st 4 lytell curtesye ! 
 
 Thou shalte be. charmed or thou hens pase, 
 For thou troubled Pyte and layd on hym felony. 
 
 Where is Imagynacyon, thy felawe that was? 712 
 
 1 W. Haw. manaye; Haz. money. 8 W. Haw. Haz. By. 
 
 2 Misprinted goed in W. * W. Haw. cast ; Haz. hast.
 
 4IO HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 FREWYLL. I defye you bothe ! Wyll you arest me ? 
 
 PERS. Naye, naye, thy grete wordes maye not helpe the. 
 Fro us thou shalte not escape. 7 1 5 
 
 FREWYLL. Make rome, syrres, that I maye breke his pate ! 
 I wyll not be taken for them bothe. 
 
 CONT. Thou shalt abyde, whether thou be leve or lothe ! 
 
 [Seines him.] 
 
 Therfore, good sone, lysten unto me, 
 
 And marke these wordes that I do tell the : 720 
 
 Thou hast folowed thyne one wyll many a daye 
 
 And lyved in synne without amendement ; 
 Therfore in thy conceyte assaye 
 
 To axe God mercy, and kepe his commaundement ; 
 Than on the he wyll have pyte 
 And brynge the to heven, that ioyfull cyte. 726 
 
 FREWYLL. What, horesone, wyll ye have me now a fole? 
 Naye, yet had I lever be captayne of Calays ; 
 
 For, and I sholde do after your scole 
 
 To lerne to pater to l make me pevyss[h]e, 
 Yet had I lever loke with a face full thevysshe : 
 
 And therfore prate no lenger here 
 
 Leest my knaves fyste hytte you under the yere ! 733 
 
 What, ye dawes, wolde ye reed me 
 
 For to lese 2 my pleasure in youth and jolyte, 
 
 To basse and kysse my swete trully mully, 
 
 As Jane, Gate, Besse, and Sybble, [to] ? 
 I wolde that hell were full of suche prymmes ! 
 Than wolde I renne thyder on my pynnes 
 
 As fast as I myght go. 740 
 
 PERS. Why, syr, wylte 3 thou not love vertu 
 And forsake thy synne for the love of God Almyghty ? 742 
 
 1 Qy. wolde. 8 Misprinted whylte in Haw. 
 
 2 W. Haw. lesese.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 411 
 
 FREWYLL. What, God Almyghty ? By Goddesfast at Salys- 
 bury, 
 
 And I trowe Eester-day fell on Whytsonday that yere, 
 There were v score save an hondred in my company, 
 
 And at Pety Judas we made ryall chere. 
 There we had good ale of Myghelmas bruyng, 
 There heven-hye lepynge and spryngynge ; 748 
 
 And thus dyde I 
 
 Lepe out of Burdeaus unto Caunterbury, . 
 
 Almost ten>myle bytwene ! 751 
 
 CONT. Frewyll, forsake all this worlde wylfully here 
 And change by-tyme ! Thou oughtest to stonde in fere, 
 For Fortune wyll tourne her whele to 1 swyfte, 
 That clene fro thy welthe she wyll the lyfte. 755 
 
 FREWYLL. What, lift me ? Who ? And Imagynacyon 
 
 were here now, 
 
 I-wys, with his fyst he wolde all to-cloute you. 
 Hens, horesone[s], tary no lenger here, 
 For by Saynt Pyntell the apostell I swere 
 
 That I wyll dryve you bothe home, 760 
 
 And yet I was never wonte to fyght alone ; 
 Alas, that I had not one to bolde me ! 
 Than you sholde se me playe the man shamfully. 
 Alas, hyt wolde do me good to fyghte ! 
 
 How saye you, lordes, shall I smyte? 765 
 
 Have amonge you, by this lyght ! 
 Hens, horesones! and home at ones ! 
 Or with my wepen I shall breke your bones ! 
 A vaunt, you knave[s], walke, by my counseyll! 
 
 PERS. Sone, remembre the grete paynes of hell ; 770 
 
 They are so horryble that no tonge can tell ; 
 Beware lest thou thyder do go ! 
 
 FREWYLL. Naye, by Saynt Mary, I hope, not so ! 
 I wyll not go to the devyll whyle I have my lyberte ; 
 
 i W. Haw. to ; Haz. so.
 
 4 1 2 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 He shall take the laboure to fet me and he wyl have me ! 775 
 
 For he that wyll go to hell by his wyll voluntary, 1 
 
 The devyll and the worlewynde go wyth hym ! 
 
 I wyll you never fro thens tydynges brynge ; 
 
 Go you before and shewe me the waye, 
 
 And as to folowe you I wyll not saye naye, 780 
 
 For, by Goddes body, and you be in ones, 
 
 By the masse, I wyll shytte the dore at ones, 
 
 And than be ye taken in a pytfall ! 
 
 CONT. Now, Ihesus soone defende us frome that hole ! 
 For Qiti est in inferno, nulla est redemptio : 785 
 
 Holy Job spake these wordes full longe ago. 
 
 FREWYLL. Nay, I have done and you lade 2 out Latyn 
 
 with scopes ! 8 
 
 But therewith can you cloute me a payre of botes ? 
 By Our Lady, ye sholde have some werke of me ; 
 I wolde have them well underlayd and easely, 790 
 
 For I use alwaye to go one 4 the one syde. 
 
 And trowe ye how? By God, in the stockes I sate tyde 6 
 
 I trowe a thre wekes, and more a lytell stounde ; 
 And there I laboured sore daye by daye, 
 And so I tred my shone inwarde, in good faye. 
 
 Lo, therefore, methynke, you must soule them rounde ! 796 
 
 If you have ony newe botes, a payre I wolde by ; 
 
 But I thynke your pryce be to hye. 
 
 Syr, ones at Newgate I bought a payre of sterrups,* 
 
 A myghty payre and a stronge ; 800 
 
 A hole yere I ware them so longe, 
 
 But they came not fully to my knee, 
 
 And to cloute them hyt cost not me a peny. 
 
 Even now, and ye go thyder, ye shall fynde a grete hepe ; 
 
 And you speke in my name, ye shall have good chepe. 805 
 
 - 1 W. ; Haw. Haz. voluntarily. * Haz., of course, on. 
 
 Haz. laid. 6 \V. Haw. tyd(e)-; Haz. till. 
 
 ' W. ; Haw. Haz. scope. ' W. ; Haw. sterrup.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 4 1 3 
 
 PERS. Syr, we came never there, ne never shall do. 
 
 FREWYLL. Mary, I was taken in a trap there, and tyde 
 
 by the to, 
 
 That I halted a grete whyle and myght not go. 
 I wolde ye bothe sate as fast there ; 809 
 
 Than sholde ye daunce as a bere, 
 
 And all by gangelynge of your chaynes. 
 CONT. Why, syr, were ye there ? 
 
 FREWYLL. Ye, and that is sene by my braynes ; 813 
 
 For, or I came there, I was as wyse as a woodcock, 
 
 And, I thanke God, as wytte as a haddocke. 
 
 Yet I trust to recover, as other dose ; 
 
 For, and I had ones as moche wytte as a gose, 
 
 I sholde be marchaunt of the banke. 
 
 Of golde than I sholde have many a franke ; 
 
 For yf I my^t make iii good vyages to Shoters Hyl, 820 
 
 And have wynde and weder at my wyll, 
 
 Than wolde I never travell the see more. 
 
 But hyt is harde to kepe the shyppe fro the shore, 
 
 And yf hyt happe to ryse a storme ; 
 
 Than throwen in a rase, 1 and so aboute borne, 825 
 
 On rockes or brachis for to ronne, 
 
 Elles to stryke grounde at Tyborne, 
 
 That were a myschevous case ! 
 
 For that rocke of Tyborne is so peryllous a place 
 
 Yonge galauntes dare not venture into Kente, 830 
 
 But whan theyr monaye is gone and spente, 
 
 With theyr longe botes 2 they rowe on the baye, 
 
 And ony man-of-warre lye by the waye, 
 
 They must take a bote and throwe the helme a-le ; 3 
 
 And full harde hyt is to scape that grete jeopardye, 835 
 
 For at Saynt Thomas of Watrynge and they stryke a sayle, 
 
 Than must they ryde in the haven of hempe * without fayle. 
 
 1 Haz. raft. 2 Haz. prints boots. 
 
 8 W. Haw. Haz. ale; in spite of the rhyme, Haz. explains it as heel. 
 
 * Haz. hemp ; W. Haw. hepe.
 
 414 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 And were not these two jeopordous place in-dede, 
 
 Ther is many a marchaunt that thyder wolde spede. 
 
 But yet we have a sure canell J at Westmynster, 840 
 
 A thousande shyppes of theves therin may ryde sure ; 
 
 For yf they may have ankerholde and grete spendynge, 
 
 They may lyve as mery as ony kynge. 
 
 PERS. Good s wote, syr, there is a pyteous lyvynge ! 
 Than ye drede not the grete mayster above ? 845 
 
 Sone, forsake thy mysse for his love, 
 And than mayst thou come to the blisse also. 
 
 FREWYLL. Why, what wolde you that I sholde do ? 
 
 CONT. For to go towarde heven. 3 
 
 FREWYLL. Mary, and you wyll me thyder brynge, 4 
 I wolde do after you. 
 
 PERS. I praye you remembre my wordes now : 852 
 
 Frewyll, bethynke the that thou shalte dye, 
 
 And of the houre thou art 6 uncertayne, 
 Yet by thy lyfe thou mayst fynde a remedy ; 
 
 For, and thou dye in synne, all laboure is in vayne, 
 
 Than shall thy soule be styll in payne, 
 Loste and dampned for evermore, 
 
 Helpe is past, thoughe thou wolde fayne, 
 Than thou wylte curse the tyme that thou were bore. 860 
 
 FREWYLL. Syr, yf ye wyll undertake that I saved shall 
 
 be, 
 I wyll do all the penaunce that you wyll sette me. 
 
 CONT. If that thou for thy synnes be sory, 
 Our Lorde wyll forgyve them the. 6 864 
 
 FREWYLL. Now of all my synnes I axe God mercy ; 
 
 Here I forsake synne and trust to amende ; 
 I beseche Ihesu, that is moost myghty, 
 
 To forgyve all that I have offende. 868 
 
 1 Haz., of course, channel. * Qy. me brynge therto. 
 
 2 HAZ. prints God. 8 Haz.; W. Haw. are, which is possible. 
 * Qy. Towarde heven for to go. 6 W. Haw. Haz. the them.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 415 
 
 PERS. Our Lorde now wyll shewe the his mercy ; 
 
 A new name thou nede none have, 
 For all that wyll to heven hye, 
 By his owne frewyll he must forsake folye, 
 
 Than i he sure and save. 873 
 
 CONT. Holde here a newe garment, 
 
 And here-after lyve devoutly, 
 And for thy synnes do ever repente, 
 
 Sorowe for thy synnes is very remedy. 
 
 And, Frewyll, ever to Vertue applye ; 
 Also to Sadnes gyve ye attendaunce, 
 Let hym never out of remembraunce. 
 FREWYLL. I wyll never frome you, syr Perseveraunce ; 88 1 
 
 With you wyll I abyde bothe daye and nyght, 
 
 Of mynde never to be varyable, 
 And Goddes cowmandementes to kepe them ryght 
 
 In deed and worde, and ever full stable. 
 
 PERS. Than heven thou shalte have, without fable, 
 But loke that thou be stedfaste, 
 And let thy mynde with good wyll laste ! 888 
 
 [Enter Imagynacyon.] 
 
 IMAG. Huffe ! huffe ! huffe ! who sent after me? 
 I am Imagynacyon, full of jolyte ; 
 
 Lorde, that my herte is lyght ! 
 Whan shall I perysshe ? I trowe, never ! 
 By Cryst, I recke not a feder ! 
 
 Even now I was dubbed a knyght. 894 
 
 Where ? At Tyburne. Of the coller. 
 And of the stewes I am made controller, 
 
 Of all the houses of lechery ; 
 There shall no man playe doccy there, 
 At the Bell, Hertes Home, ne elles-where, 
 
 Without they have leve of me. 900
 
 41 6 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 But, syrres, wote ye why I am come hyder ? 
 
 By Our Lady, to gyder 1 good company togyder. 
 
 Sawe ye no[ugh]t of my felawe, Frewyll? 
 
 I am aferde lest he be serchynge on a hyll ; 
 
 By God, than one of us is begyled ! 905 
 
 What felawe is this that in this cote is fyled? 
 
 Kockes deth ! whome have we here? 
 
 What ! Frewyll, myn owne fere? 
 
 Arte thou out of thy mynde ? 
 
 FREWYLL. God graunte the waye to heven I maye fynde, 910 
 For I forsake thy company. 
 
 IMAG. Goddes armes ! my company? and why? 
 
 FREWYLL. For thou lyvest to synfully. 
 
 IMAG. Alas ! tell me how hyt is with the ! 
 
 FREWYLL. Forsake thy synne for the love of me. 915 
 
 IMAG. Kockes herte ! arte thou waxed made? 
 
 FREWYLL. Whan I thynke on my synne, it makes me ful 
 sade. 
 
 IMAG. Goddes woundes ! who gave the that counsell ? 
 
 FREWYLL. Perseveraunce and Contemplacyon, I the tell. 
 
 IMAG. A vengeaunce on them ! I wolde they were in hell ! 920 
 
 FREWYLL. Amende, Imagynacyon, and mercy crye ! 
 
 IMAG. By Goddes sydes, I hadde lever be hanged 
 
 on hye ! 
 
 Naye, that wolde I not do ; I hadde lever dye. 
 By Goddes passyon, and I hadde a longe knyfe, 
 I wolde bereve these two horesones of theyr lyfe ! 925 
 
 How, how ! z twenty pounde 8 for a dagger ! 
 
 CONT. Peas, peas, good sone, and speke softer ! 
 And amende or Deth drawe his draught, 
 For on the he wyll stele full softe, 
 He gyveth never no man warnynge, 
 And ever to the he is comynge : 
 Therfore remembre the well. 932 
 
 1 W. Haw. togyder ; Haz. to gather. 
 
 2 Haz. modernizes to how, not ho. 
 8 W. ; Haw. Haz. pounds.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 4 1 7 
 
 IMAG. A ! horesone, if I were jayler of hell, 
 
 I-wys, some sorowe sholde thou fele ; 
 For to the devyll I wolde the sell, 
 
 Than sholde ye have many a sory mele. 936 
 
 I wolde never gyve you mete ne drynke ; 
 
 Ye sholde faste, horesones, tyll ye dyde stynke 
 
 Even as a roten dogge, ye, by Saynt Tyburne of 
 
 Kent! 
 
 PERS. Imagynacyon, thynke what God dyd for the : 
 On Good Frydaye he hanged on a tre, 
 
 And all his precyous blode spent ; l 942 
 
 A spere dyde ryve his herte a-sonder ; 
 
 The gates he brake up with a clappe of thunder, 
 
 And Adam and Eve there delyvered he. 945 
 
 IMAG. What devyll, what is that to me? 
 By Goddes fast, I was ten yere in Newgate, 
 And many more felawes with me sate, 
 Yet he never came there to helpe me ne my company. 
 
 CONT. Yes, he holpe the, or thou haddest not ben here 
 now. 
 
 IMAG. By the masse, I can not sewe 2 you ; 951 
 
 For he and I never dranke togyder, 
 
 Yet I knowe many an ale-stake ; 
 Neyther at the stues, I wyste 8 \\ytn never come 4 thyder. 
 
 Gooth he arrayed in whyte or in blacke ? 955 
 
 For, and he out of pryson hadde holpe me, 
 I knowe well ones I sholde hym se ; 
 I praye you, what gowne wereth he ? 5 
 
 PERS. Syr, he halpe you out by his myght. 
 
 1 W. Haw. Haz. And spent all his precyous blode. 
 
 2 W. Haw. Haz. shewe. 
 8 Haz. i-wis. 
 
 * W. ; Haw. Haz. he never came. 
 
 6 W. Haw. Haz. What gowne wereth he, I praye you ?
 
 41 8 HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 I MAG. I can not tell you, by this lyght ! 960 
 
 But me thought that I laye there to longe ; 
 And the horesone fetters were so stronge 
 That hadde almost brought my necke out of joynt. 
 
 PERS. Amende, and thou shalt knowe hym, sone, 1 
 That delyvered the out of pryson ; 965 
 
 And, yf thou wylt forsake thy mysse, 
 Surely thou shalt come to the blysse 
 And be inherytoure of heven. 968 
 
 IMAG. What, syr, above the mone? 
 
 Naye, by the masse ; then sholde I fall soone ! 
 
 Yet I kepe not to clymme so hye ; 
 But to clymme for a byrdes neste, 
 There is none bytwene eest and weste 
 
 That dare therto ventre better than I ! 974 
 
 But to ventre to heven what and my fete slyppe? 
 
 I knowe well than I sholde breke my necke, 
 
 And, by God, than hadde I the worse syde ! 
 
 Yet had I lever be by the nose tyde 
 
 In a wenches ars somewhere 
 
 Rather than I wolde stande in that grete fere, 980 
 
 For to go up to heven. Naye, I praye you lette be. 
 
 FREWYLL. Imagynacyon, wylte thou do by the counseyll 
 of me? 
 
 IMAG. Ye, syr, by my trouthe, what-somever it be. 
 
 FREWYLL. Amende yet, for my sake ; 
 Hyt is better be-tyme than to late ! 
 How saye you, wyll you Goddes hestes fulfyll? 
 
 IMAG. I wyll do, syr, even as you wyll. 987 
 
 But, I praye you, let me have a newe cote 
 Whan I have nede, and in my purse a grote 
 Than wyll I dwell with you styll. 
 
 1 W. Haw. Haz. Amende, sone, and thou shalt knowe hym.
 
 HYCKESCORNER. 419 
 
 FREWYLL. Beware, for whan thou arte buryed in the 
 
 grounde, 
 Fewe frendes for the wyll be founde : 
 
 Remembre this styll ! 993 
 
 I MAG. No-thynge drede I so sore as deth ; 
 
 Therefore to amende I thynke hyt be tyme. 
 Synne have I used all the dayes of my breth, 
 
 With pleasure, lechery and mysusynge, 997 
 
 And spent amys my v wyttes ; therfore I am sory. 
 Here of all my synnes I axe God mercy. 
 
 PERS. Holde ! here is a better clothynge for the. 1000 
 
 And loke that thou forsake thy foly ; . 
 
 Be stedfast, loke that thou fall never. 
 
 IMAG. Now, here I forsake my synne for-ever. 
 
 FREWYLL. Syr, wayte thou now on Perseveraunce, 
 For thy name shall be called Good Remembraunce ; 1005 
 
 And I wyll dwell with Contemplacyon, 
 And folowe hym where-ever he become. 
 
 CONT. Well, are ye so bothe agrede ? 
 
 IMAG. Ye, syr, so God me spede ! 1009 
 
 PERS. Syr, ye shall wete on me soone, 
 
 And be Goddes servaunt daye and nyght ; 
 And in every place where ye become 
 
 Gyve good counseyle to every wyght ; 1013 
 
 And men axe your name, tell you Remembraunce, 
 
 That Goddes lawe kepeth truly every daye, 
 And loke that ye forget not Repentaunce ; 
 
 Than to heven ye shall go the nexte waye, 1017 
 
 Where ye shall se in the hevenly quere 
 
 The blessyd company of sayntes so holy, 
 That lyved devou[t]ly whyle they were here : 
 
 Unto the whiche blysse I beseche God Almyghty
 
 42O HYCKESCORNER. 
 
 To brynge there your soules that here be present 
 
 And unto vertuous lyvynge that ye maye applye, 
 Truly for to kepe his commaundemente. 1 1024 
 
 Of all our myrthes here we make an ending ; 2 
 
 Unto the blysse of heven Ihesu your soules brynge ! 1026 
 
 AMEN. 
 
 Enprynted 
 
 by me Wynkyn de 
 
 Worde. 
 
 1 Haz. commandments. 2 W. Haw. Haz. ende.
 
 THE PLAY OF WYT AND SCIENCE. 
 
 BY JHON REDFORD. 
 
 Printed from the edition by J. O. Halliwell (Shakespeare Society, 1848). In 
 the footnotes, H. indicates this edition. The MS., formerly the property of B. H. 
 Bright, Esq., is now in the British Museum. The play is incomplete at the 
 beginning ; a reconstruction of the plot of the missing part will be found in vol. 
 Ill of this book. 
 
 [Dramatis Personae. 
 
 WYT. STUDY. 
 
 SCIENCE. DYLYGENCE. 
 
 REASON. INSTRUCCION. 
 
 EXPERYENCE. TEDIOUSNES. 
 
 CONFYDENCE. IDELLNES. 
 
 HONEST RECREACION, SHAME. 
 
 CUMFORT, QUYCKNES, STRENGTH. 
 FAME, RYCHES, FAVOR, WOORSHYP.] 
 
 REASON. Then in remembrance of Reson hold yee 
 A glas of Reson, wherein beholde yee 
 Youre-sealfe to youre-selfe. Namely when ye 
 Cum neere my dowghter, Science, then see 
 That all thynges be cleane and try eke abowte ye, 
 Least of sum sloogyshnes she myght dowte ye. 
 Thys glas of Reason shall show ye all ; 
 Whyle ye have that, ye have me, and shall. 
 Get ye foorth, now ! Instruccion, fare-well ! 
 
 INSTR. 1 Syr, God keepe ye ! 
 
 Heere all go out save Resone. 
 1 H. gives the name of each speaker in full.
 
 422 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 REASON. And ye all from parell ! 10 
 
 If anye man now marvell that I 
 Woolde bestowe my dowghter thus baselye, 
 Of truth I, Reson, am of thys mynde 
 Where partyes together be enclynde 
 
 By gyftes of graces to love ech other, 15 
 
 There let them joyne the tone wyth the toother. 
 Thys Wyt such gyftes of graces hath in hym 
 That makth my dowghter to wysh to wyn hym : 
 Yoong, paynefull, tractable and capax, 
 
 Thes be Wytes gyftes whych Science doth axe. 20 
 
 And as for her, as soone as Wyt sees her, 
 For all the world he woold not then leese her. 
 Wherfore, syns they both be so meete matches 
 To love ech other, strawe for the patches 
 
 Of worldly mucke ! Syence hath inowghe 25 
 
 For them both to lyve. Yf Wyt be throwhe 
 Stryken in love, as he synes hath showde, 
 I dowte not my dowghter well bestowde. 
 Thende of hys jornay wyll aprove all. 
 
 Yf Wyt hold owte, no more proofe can fall ; 30 
 
 And that the better hold out he 1 may, 
 To refresh my soone, Wyt, now by the way 
 Sum solas for hym I wyll provyde. 
 An honest woman dwellth here besyde 
 
 Whose name is cald Honest Recreacion ; 35 
 
 As men report, for Wytes consolacion 
 She hath no peere ; yf Wyt were halfe deade, 
 She cowld revyve hym, thus is yt sed. 
 Wherfore, yf monye or love can hyre her, 
 To hye after Wyt I wyll desyre her. 40 
 
 [Exit Reason.'] Confydence citmth in with a pycture of Wyt. 
 
 [CoNF.] Ah ! syr, what tyme of day yst, who can tell? 
 The day ys not far past, I wot well, 
 For I have gone fast and yet I see 
 
 iH.ye.
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 423 
 
 I am far from where as I wold be. 
 
 Well, I have day inowgh yet, I spye ; 45 
 
 Wherfore, or I pas hens, now must I 
 
 See thys same token heere, a playne case, 
 
 What Wyt hath sent to my ladyes grace. 
 
 [Examines his packet^ 
 
 Now wyll ye see a goodly pycture 
 
 Of Wyt hymsealfe, hys owne image sure, 50 
 
 Face, bodye, armes, legges, both lym and joynt, 
 
 As lyke hym as can be, in every poynt ; 
 
 Yt lakth but lyfe. Well I can hym thanke, 
 
 Thys token in-deede shall make sum cranke ; 
 
 For, what wyth thys pycture so well faverde, 55 
 
 And what wyth those sweete woordes so well saverd 
 
 Dystyllyng from the mowth of Confydence, 
 
 Shall not thys apese the hart of Science ? 
 
 Yes ; I thanke God I am of that nature 
 
 Able to compas thys matter sure, 60 
 
 As ye shall see now, who lyst to marke yt, 
 
 How neately and feately I shall warke yt. 
 
 [Exit Confydence. ~\ Wyt cumth in without Instruction, -with Study, &c . 
 
 [WYT.] Now, syrs, cum on ; whyche is the way now, 
 Thys way or that way ? Studye, how say you ? 
 
 [Study considers.] 
 
 Speake, Dylygence, whyle he hath bethowghte hym. 65 
 
 DYL. That way, belyke ; most usage hath wrowht hym. 
 STUD. Ye, hold your pesse ! Best we here now stay 
 
 For Instruccion ; I lyke not that waye. 
 WYT. Instruccion, Studye ? I weene we have lost hym. 
 
 Instruccion cumth in. 
 
 [INSTR.] Indeade, full gently abowte ye have tost hym ! 70 
 What mene you, Wyt, styll to delyghte 
 Runnynge before thus, styll owt of syghte, 
 And therby out of your way now quyghte ?
 
 424 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 What doo ye here excepte ye woold fyghte ? 
 
 Cum back agayne, Wyt, for I must choose ye 75 
 
 An esyer way then thys, or ells loose ye. 
 
 WYT. What ayleth thys way? Parell here is none. 
 
 INSTR. But as much as your lyfe standth upon ; 
 Youre enmye, man, lyeth heere before ye, 
 Tedyousnes, to brayne or to gore ye ! 80 
 
 WYT. Tedyousnes ? Doth that tyrant rest 
 In my way now? Lord, how am I blest 
 That occacion so nere me sturres 
 For my dere hartes sake to wynne my spurres ! 
 Ser, woold ye fere me with that fowle theeafe, 85 
 
 Wyth whome to mete my desyre is cheafe ? 
 
 INSTR. And what woold ye doo, you havyng nowghte 
 For your defence ? for thowgh ye have cawghte 
 Garmentes of Science upon your backe, 
 Yet wepons of Science ye do lak. 90 
 
 WYT. What wepons of Science shuld I have ? 
 
 INSTR. Such as all lovers of ther looves crave, 
 A token from Ladye Science wherbye 
 Hope of her favor may spryng, and therbye 
 
 Comforte, whych is the weapon dowteles 95 
 
 That must serve youe agaynst Tedyousnes. 
 
 WYT. Yf hope or comfort may be my weapen, 
 Then never with Tedyousnes mee threten ; 
 For, as for hope, of my deere hartes f aver 
 And therby comfort inowghe I gather. 100 
 
 INSTR. Wyt, here me ! Tyll I see Confydence 
 Have browght sum token from Ladye Science, 
 That I may feele that she favorth you, 
 Ye pas not thys way, I tell you trew. 
 
 WYT. Whych way than ? 
 
 INSTR. A playner way, I told ye, 105 
 
 Out of danger from youre foe to hold ye. 
 
 WYT. Instruccion, here me ! Or my swete hart 
 Shall here that Wyt from that wreche shall start 
 One foote, thys bodye and all shall cracke !
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 425 
 
 Foorth I wyll, sure, what-ever I lacke ! no 
 
 DYL. Yf ye lacke weapon, syr, here is one. 
 
 WYT. Well sayde, Dylygence, thowe art alone ! 
 How say ye, syr ; is not here weapon ? 
 
 INSTR. Wyth that weapon your enmy never threton, 
 For wythowt the returne of Confydence 115 
 
 Ye may be slayne, sure, for all Dylygence. 
 
 DYL. God, syr ! and Dylygence, I tell you playne, 
 Wyll play the man or my master be slayne ! 
 
 INSTR. Ye ; but what! sayth Studye no wurde to thys? 
 
 WYT. No, syr ; ye knowe Studyes ofyce is 120 
 
 Meete for the chamber, not for the feeld. 
 But tell me, Studye, wylt thow now yeld ? 
 
 STUD. My hed akth sore ; I wold wee returne ! 
 
 WYT. Thy hed ake now ? I wold it were burne ! 
 Cum on ; walkyng may hap to ese the. 125 
 
 INSTR. And wyll ye be gone, then, wythout mee ? 
 
 WYT. Ye, by my fayth ; except ye hy ye after, 
 Reson shall know yee are but an h after. 
 
 Exceat Wyt, Study and Dylygence. 
 
 INSTR. Well, go your way ! Whan your father, Reson, 
 Heerth how ye obay me at thys season, 130 
 
 I thynke he wyll thynke hys dowghter now 
 May mary another man for you. 
 When wytes stand so in ther owne conceite, 
 Best let them go, tyll pryde at hys heyghte 
 
 Turne and cast them downe hedlong agayne, 135 
 
 As ye shall see provyd by thys Wyt playne. 
 Yf Reson hap not to cum the rather, 
 Hys owne dystruccion he wyll sure gather.; 
 Whgrefore to Reson wyll I now get me, 
 Levyng that charge whereabowt he set mee. 140 
 
 Exceat Instruction. Tedyousnes cumth in with a vyser over hys hed. 
 
 [TEDY.] Oh the body of me ! 
 What kaytyves be those
 
 426 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 That wyll not once flee 
 
 From Tediousnes nose, 
 But thus dysese me 145 
 
 Out of my nest, 
 When I shoold ese mee 
 
 Thys body to rest ! 
 That Wyt, that vylayne, 
 
 That wrech, a shame take hym ! 150 
 
 Yt is he playne 
 
 That thus bold doth make hym, 
 Wythowt my lycence 
 
 To stalke by my doore 
 To that drab, Syence, 155 
 
 To wed that whore ! 
 But I defye her ; l 
 
 And for that drabes sake, 
 Or Wyt cum ny her, 
 
 The knaves hed shall ake ; 160 
 
 Thes bones, this mall, 
 
 Shall bete hym to dust 
 Or Jthat drab shall 
 
 Once quench that knaves lust ! 
 But, hah! mee thynkes 165 
 
 I am not halfe lustye ; 
 Thes jo[y]ntes, thes lynkes, 
 
 Be ruffe and halfe rustye ; 
 I must go shake them, 
 
 Supple to make them! 170 
 
 Stand back, ye wrechys ! 
 Beware the fechys 
 Of Tediousnes, 
 Thes kaytyves to bles ! 
 
 Make roome, I say ! 175 
 
 Rownd evry way, 
 Thys way, that way ! 
 What cares 2 what way ? 
 
 1 H. here. Qy. What care I or Who cares.
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 427 
 
 Before me, behynd me, 
 
 Rownd abowt wynd me ! 1 80 
 
 Now I begyn 
 
 To swete in my skin ; 
 
 Now am I nemble 
 
 To make them tremble. 
 
 Pash bed! pash brayne ! 185 
 
 The knaves are slayne, 
 
 All that I hyt ! 
 
 Where art thow, Wyt? 
 
 Thow art but deade ! 
 
 Of goth thy hed 190 
 
 A' the fyrst blow ! 
 
 Ho, ho ! ho, ho ! 
 
 Wyt spekyth at the doore. 
 
 [WYT.] Studye ! 
 
 STUD. Here, syr ! 
 
 WYT. How, doth thy hed ake ? 
 
 STUD. Ye, God wot, syr, much payne I do take i 
 
 WYT. Dylygens ! 
 
 DYL. Here, syr, here ! 
 
 WYT. How dost thow ? 195 
 
 Doth thy stomak serve the to fyght now ? 
 
 DYL. Ye, syr, wyth yonder wrech, a vengans on 
 
 hym! 
 That thretneth you thus. Set evyn upon hym ! 
 
 STUD. Upon hym, Dylygence ? Better nay ! l 
 
 DYL. Better nay, Studye ? Why shoold we fray ? 2 200 
 
 STUD. For I am wery; my hed akth sore. 
 
 DYL. Why, folysh Studye, thow shalt doo no more 
 But ayde my master wyth thy presens. 
 
 WYT. No more shalt thow nether, Dylygence. 
 Ayde me wyth your presence, both you twayne, 205 
 
 And for my love myselfe shall take payne ! 
 
 1 Lines 199-201 erased in MS. 
 
 2 Kittredge suggests that fray may be a misreading 0/stay.
 
 428 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 STUD. Syr, we be redye to ayde you so. 
 
 WYT. I axe no more, Studye. Cum then, goe ! 
 
 Tedyiousnes rysyth up. 
 
 [TEDY.] Why, art thow cum ? 
 
 WYT. Ye, wrech, to thy payne ! 
 
 TEDI. Then have at the ! 
 
 WYT. Have at the, agayne' 210 
 
 Here Wyt fallyth downe and dyeth, 
 
 TEDI. Lye thow there ! Now have at ye, kaytyves ! 
 Do ye fle, ifayth ? A ! horeson theves ! 
 By Mahowndes bones, had the wreches taryd, 
 Ther neckes wythowt hedes they showld have caryd ! 
 Ye, by Mahowndes nose, myght I have patted them, 215 
 
 In twenty gobbetes I showld have squatted them, 
 To teche the knaves to cum neere the snowte 
 Of Tediousnes ! Walke furder abowte 
 I trow now they wyll. And as for thee, 
 
 Thow wylt no-more now troble mee. 220 
 
 Yet, lest the knave be not safe inowghe, . 
 
 The horeson shall bere me another kuffe. [Strikes him.} 
 
 Now ly styll, kaytyv, and take thy rest, 
 
 Whyle I take myne in myne owne nest. 224 
 
 Exceat Tedy\ousnes\. 
 
 Here cumth in Honest Recreation, Cumfort, Quycknes, and Strenght, 
 and go and knele abtrwt Wyt ; and at the last verce reysyth hym up upon 
 hysfeete, and so make an end. 
 
 [While they kneel, they sing this song:] * 
 
 Gyve place, gyve place to Honest Recreacion; 
 
 Gyve place, we say, now for thy consolacion. 226 
 
 When travelles grete in matters thycke 
 Have duld your wyttes and made them sycke, 
 
 1 The song inserted here occurs in MS. among the songs that follow 
 the play. It clearly belongs here, however, as it has the superscription: 
 " The fyrst song in the play of Science."
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 42Q 
 
 What medson than your wyttes to quycke ? 
 Yf ye wyll know, the best phisycke 
 
 Is to geve place to Honest Recreacion ; 
 
 Gyve place, we say, now for thy consolacion! 232 
 
 Where is that Wyt that we seeke than? 
 Alas, he lyeth here pale and wan ! 
 Helpe hym at once now, yf we can. 
 O Wyt, how doest thow ? Looke up, man ! 
 
 O Wyt, geve place to Honest Recreacion ; 
 
 Gyve place, we say, now for thy consolacion ! 238 
 
 After place gyvyn, let eare obay ; 
 
 Gyve an eare, O Wyt, now we the pray ; 
 
 Gyve eare to that we syng and say ; 
 
 Gyve an eare, and healp wyll cum strayghteway ; 
 
 Gyve an eare to Honest Recreacion ; 
 
 Gyve an ere, now, for thy consolacion ! 244 
 
 After eare gyvyn, now gyve an eye ! 
 Behold thy freendes abowte the lye : 
 Recreacion I, and Comfort I, 
 Quicknes am 1, and Strength herebye. 
 
 Gyve. an eye to Honest Recreacion ; 
 
 Gyve an eye, now, for thy consolacion ! 250 
 
 After eye gyvyn, an hand gyve ye ! 
 Gyve an hand, O Wyt, feele that ye see ; 
 Recreacion feele, feele Comfort fre, 
 Feele Quicknes here, feale Strength to the ! 
 
 Gyve an hand to Honest Recreacion ; 
 
 Gyve an hand, now, for thy consolacion ! 256 
 
 Upon his feete woold God he were ! 
 To rayse hym now we neede not fere. 
 Stay you hys handes, whyle we hym l bere ; 
 Now all at once upryght him rere ! 
 
 l H. here.
 
 43O JHON REDFORD. 
 
 O Wyt, gyve place to Honest Recreation ; 
 
 Gyve place, we say, now for thy consolacion ! 262 
 
 A nd than Honest Recreacion sayth asfolcrwyth : 1 
 
 HON. REC. Now, Wyt, how do ye ? Wyll ye be lustye ? 
 WYT. The lustier for you needes be must I. 
 HON. REC. Be ye all hole yet after your fall ? 
 WYT. As ever I was, thankes to you all. 
 
 Reson cummth in, and sayth asfolowyth : 
 
 [RESON.] Ye myght thanke Reson that sent them to ye ; 
 But syns the[y] have [do] that the[y] shoold do ye, 
 Send them home, soonne, and get ye forwarde. 
 
 WYT. Oh father Reson, I have had an hard 270 
 
 Chance synce ye saw me ! 
 
 RESON. 2 I wot well that 
 
 The more to blame ye, 3 when ye wold not 
 Obay Instruccion, as Reson wyld ye. 
 What marvell thowgh Tedyousness had kyld ye ? 
 But let pas now, synce ye ar well agayne. 275 
 
 Set forward agayne Syence to attayne ! 
 
 WYT. Good father Reson, be not to hastye ; 
 In honest cumpany no tyme wast I. 
 I shall to youre dowghter all at leyser. 
 
 RESON. Ye, Wyt, is that the grete love ye rayse her? 280 
 I say, yf ye love my dowghter Science, 
 Get ye foorth at once, and get ye hence. 
 
 A I go out save Honest.* 
 Here Comfort, Quiknes and Strength go out. 
 
 1 In H. this and the stage direction preceding the song form a single 
 sentence. For the sake of clearness, 1 have broken the sentence and in- 
 serted the song bet-ween the parts. 
 
 2 MS. Reson cumth in ; corr. by H. 
 
 8 H. says " This sentence is repeated in the MS. by mistake, but part 
 of the previous line seems to be -wanting " ; but I see no reason for tJie latter 
 statement. 
 
 * H. adds [RECREACION]. But it should seem that the scribe began to 
 write: Al go out save Honest Recreacion, Reason and Wyt, but halfw ay 
 through the sentence decided upon another form of expressing the same 
 fact, and then neglected to erase -what he had -written.
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 431 
 
 WYT. Nay, by Saynt George, they go not all yet! 
 RESON. No ? wyll ye dysobey Reson, Wyt ? 
 WYT. Father Reson, I pray ye content ye, 285 
 
 For we parte not yet. 
 
 RESON. Well, Wyt, I went ye 
 
 Had bene no such man as now I see. 
 
 Fare-well ! Exceat. 
 
 HON. REC. He ys angry. 
 WYT. Ye, let hym be ! 
 
 I doo not passe ! 
 
 Cum now, a basse ! 290 
 
 HON. REC. Nay, syr, as for bassys, 
 From hence none passys 
 But as in gage 
 Of mary-age. 
 
 WYT. Mary, evyn so. 295 
 
 A bargayne, lo ! 
 
 HON. REC. What, wythout lycence 
 Of Ladye Science ? 298 
 
 WYT. Shall I tell you trothe ? 
 
 I never lovde her. 
 HON. REC. The common voyce goth 
 
 That mariage ye movd her. 302 
 
 WYT. Promyse hath she none. 
 Yf we shalbe wone, 
 
 Wythout mo wurdes grawnt ! 
 HON. REC. What, upon this soodayne ? 
 Then myghte ye playne 
 
 Byd me avawnt ! 308 
 
 Nay, let me see 
 In honeste 
 
 What ye can doo 
 To wyn Recreacion ; 
 Upon that probacion 
 
 I grawnt therto. 314
 
 432 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 WYT. Small be my dooinges, 
 But apt to all thynges 
 
 I am, I trust. 
 
 HON. REC. Can ye dawnce than? 
 WYT. Evyn as I can, 
 
 Prove me ye must. 320 
 
 HON. REC. Then for a whyle 
 Ye must excyle 
 
 This garment cumbryng. 1 
 WYT. In-deede, as ye say, 
 This cumbrus aray 
 
 Woold make Wyt slumbryng. 326 
 
 HON. REC. Yt is gay geere 
 Of Science cleere, 
 
 Yt seemth her aray. 
 WYT. Whose-ever it were, 
 Yt lythe now there ! [Takes off his gown.] 
 
 HON. REC. Go to, my men, play ! 332 
 
 Here [the minstrels play and Honest Recreacion and Wyt] dawnce? 
 and in the ntene-whyle Idellnes cumth in andsytth downe, and when the 
 galyard is doone, Wyt sayth as/olowyth, andsofalyth downe in Idellnes 
 lap. 
 
 WYT. Sweete hart, gramercys ! 
 
 HON. REC. Why, whether now ? Have ye doone, synce ? 
 WYT. Ye, in fayth, with wery bones ye have possest me ; 
 Among thes damselles now wyll I rest me. 
 HON. REC. What, there ? 
 
 WYT. Ye, here ; I wylbe so bold. 
 
 IDLE. Ye, and wellcum, by hym that God sold ! 
 HON. REC. Yt ys an harlot, may ye not see ? 
 IDLE. As honest a woman as ye be ! 340 
 
 HON. REC. Her name is Idlenes. Wyt, what mene you ? 
 IDLE. Nay, what meane you to scolde thus, you quene, 
 you? 
 
 1 H. cum bryng; but cf. 1. 325. 
 
 2 H. Here tliey dawnce.
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 433 
 
 WYT. Ther, go to ! Lo ! now for the best game ! 
 Whille I take my ese, youre toonges now frame ! 
 
 HON. REC. Ye, Wyt ; by youre fayth, is that youre 
 
 facion ? 345 
 
 Wyll ye leave me, Honest Recreacion, 
 For that common strumpet, Idellnes, 
 The verye roote of all vyciousnes ? 
 
 WYT. She sayth she is as honest as ye. 
 Declare yourselves both now as ye be! 350 
 
 HON. REC. What woolde ye more for my declaracion 
 Then evyn my name, Honest Recreacion ? 
 And what wold ye more her to expres 
 Then evyn her name, to, Idlenes 
 
 Dystruccion of all that wyth her tarye ? 355 
 
 Wherfore cum away, Wyt ; she wyll mar ye ! 
 
 I DEL. Wyll I mar hym, drabb, thow calat, thow ! 
 When thow hast mard hym all-redye now ? 
 Cawlyst thow thysealfe Honest Recreacion, 
 
 Ordryng a poore man after thys facion, 360 
 
 To lame hym thus and make his lymmes fayle 
 Evyn wyth the swyngyng there of thy tayle ? 
 The dyvyll set fyre one the ! for now must I, 
 Idlenes, hele hym agayne, I spye. 
 
 I must now lull hym, rock hym, and frame hym 365 
 
 To hys lust agayne, where thow dydst lame hym. 
 Am I the roote, sayst thow, of vyciousnes ? 
 Nay ; thow art roote of all vyce dowteles ! 
 Thow art occacion, lo ! of more evyll 
 
 Then I, poore gerle, nay, more then the dyvyll ! 370 
 
 The dyvyll and hys dam can not devyse 
 More devlyshnes then by the doth ryse. 
 Under the name of Honest Recreacion, 
 She, lo ! bryngth in her abhominacion ! 
 
 Mark her dawnsyng, her maskyng, and mummyng 375 
 
 Where more concupyscence then ther cummyng? 
 Her cardyng, her dycyng, dayly and nyghtlye 
 Where fynd ye more falcehod then there ? Not lyghtly.
 
 434 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 Wyth lyeng and sweryrig by no poppetes, 
 
 But teryng God in a thowsand gobbetes. 380 
 
 As for her syngyng, pypyng and fydlyng, 
 
 What unthryftynes therin is twydlyng ! 
 
 Serche the tavernes and ye shall here cleere 
 
 Such bawdry as bestes wold spue to heere. 
 
 And yet thys is kald Honest Recreacion, 385 
 
 And I, poore Idlenes, abhomynacion ! 
 
 But whych is wurst of us twayne, now judg, Wyt. 
 
 WYT. Byrladye, not thow, wench, I judge yet. 
 
 HON. REC. No ? Ys youre judgment such then that ye 
 Can neyther perseve l that best, how she 390 
 
 Goth abowte to dyceve you, nor yet 
 Remembre how I savyd youre lyfe, Wyt? 
 Thynke you her meete wyth mee to compare 
 By whome so manye wytes curyd are ? 
 
 When wyll she doo such an act as I dyd, .- r 395 
 
 Savynge your lyfe when I you revyved ? 
 And as I savyd you, so save I all 
 That in lyke jeoperdy chance to fall. 
 When Tediousnes to grownd hath smytten them, 
 Honest Recreacion up doth quyken them 400 
 
 Wyth such honest pastymes, sportes or games 
 As unto myne honest nature frames, 
 And not, as she sayth, with pastymes suche 
 As be abusyd lytell or muche, 
 
 For where honest pastymes be abusyd, 401; 
 
 Honest Recreacion is refused ; 
 Honest Recreacion is present never 
 But where honest pastymes be well usyd ever. 
 But in-deede Idlenes, she is cawse 
 
 Of all such abuses ; she, lo ! drawes 410 
 
 Her sort to abuse myne honest games, 
 And therby full falsly my name defames. 
 Under the name of Honest Recreacion 
 She bryngth in all her abhomynacion, 
 
 l MS. peseve ; corr. by H.
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 435 
 
 Dystroyng all wytes that her imbrace, 415 
 
 As youre-selfe shall see wythin short space. 
 
 She wyll bryng you to shamefull end, Wyt, 
 
 Except the sooner from her ye flyt. 
 
 Wherefore cum away, Wyt, out of her pawse ! 
 
 Hence, drabb ! let hym go out of thy clawse ! 420 
 
 IDLE. Wyll ye get ye hence? or, by the mace, 
 Thes clawes shall clawe you by youre drabbes face ! 
 
 Hox. REC. Ye shall not neade ; syns Wyt lyethe as wone 
 That neyther heerlh nor seeth, I am gone. Exceat. 
 
 IDLE. Ye, so ? fare-well ! And well fare thow, toonge ! 425 
 Of a short pele this pele was well roong, 
 To ryng her hence, .and hym fast asleepe 
 As full of sloth as the knave can kreepe ! 
 How, Wyt! awake! How doth my babye? 
 
 Neque vox neque sensus, byr Ladye ! 430 
 
 A meete man for Idlenes, no dowte. 
 Hark my pygg, how the knave dooth rowte ! 
 Well, whyle he sleepth in Idlenes lappe, 
 Idlenes marke on hym shall I clappe. 
 
 Sum say that Idlenes can not warke ; 435 
 
 But those that so say, now let them marke ! 
 I trowe they shall see that Idlenes 
 Can set hersealfe abowt sum busynes ; 
 Or, at the lest, ye shall see her tryde, 
 N other idle nor well ocupyde. 440 
 
 [She marks Wyt.} 
 
 Lo ! syr, yet ye lak another toye ! 
 Wher is my whystell to call my boye ? 
 
 Here she wkystleth, and Ingnorance cumth in. 
 
 [!NGN.] I cum ! I cum ! 
 
 IDLE. Coomme on, ye foole ! 
 
 All thys day or ye can cum to scoole ? 
 
 I NGN. Um ! mother wyll not let me cum. 445 
 
 IDLE. I woold thy mother had kyst thy bum !
 
 436 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 She wyll never let the thryve, I trow. 
 
 Cum on, goose ! Now, lo ! men shall know 
 
 That Idlenes can do sumwhat, ye, 
 
 And play the scoolemystres, to, yf neade bee. 450 
 
 Mark what doctryne by Idlenes cummes ! 
 
 Say thy lesson, 1 foole. 
 
 INGN. Upon my thummes ? 
 
 IDEL. Ye, upon thy thummes ; ys not there thy name ? 
 
 INGN. Yeas. 
 
 IDLE. Go to, than ; spell me that same. 454 
 
 Where was thou borne ? 
 
 INGN. Chwas i-bore in Ingland, mother sed. 
 
 IDLE. In Ingland? 
 
 INGN. Yea. 
 
 IDLE. And whats 2 half Ingland? 
 
 Heeres ing ; and heeres land. Whats tys ? 
 
 INGN. Whats tys ? 
 
 IDEL. Whats tys? horeson, whats tys? 
 
 Heeres ing ; and heeres land. Whats tys? 459 
 
 INGN. Tys my thum. 
 
 IDEL. Thy thum ? Yng, horeson, ing, ing ! 
 
 INGN. Yng, yng, yng, yng. 
 
 IDEL. Foorth ! Shall I bete thy narse, now? 
 
 INGN. Um-m-m 
 
 IDEL. Shall I not bete thy narse, now ? 
 
 INGN. Um-um-um 
 
 IDEL. Say " no," foole, say " no." 
 
 INGN. Noo, noo, noo, noo, noo ! 465 
 
 IDEL. Go to, put together : yng ! 
 
 INGN. Yng. 
 
 IDEL. No ! 
 
 INGN. Noo. 
 
 IDEL. Forth now! What sayth the dog? 
 
 1 It -will aid the reader to follow this exemplification of the syllabic 
 method if he bears in mind from the start that the name of Ignorance 
 is pronounced Ing-no-ran-s-y. 
 
 2 H. prints what 's here only.
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 437 
 
 I NGN. Dog barke. 
 
 IDLE. Dog barke ? Dog ran, horeson, dog ran ! 
 
 I NGN. Dog ran, horson, dog ran, dog ran. 
 
 IDEL. Put together : ing ! 
 
 I NGN. Yng. 
 
 IDEL. No ! 
 
 I NGN. Noo. 
 
 IDEL. Ran ! 
 
 INGN. Ran. 470 
 
 IDLE. Foorth now ; what seyth the goose r 
 
 INGN. Lag ! lag ! 
 
 IDLE. Hys, horson, hys ! 
 
 ING[N]. Hys, hys-s-s-s-s. 
 
 IDLE. Go to, put together : yng. 
 
 INGN. Ing. 
 
 IDLE. No. 
 
 INGN. Noo. 
 
 IDLE. Ran. 
 
 INGN. Ran. 
 
 IDLE. Hys. 
 
 ING[N]. Hys-s-s-s-s-s-s. 
 
 IDLE. No[w], who is a good boy? 
 
 INGN. I, I, I, I, I, I. 475 
 
 IDLE. Go to, put together : ing. 
 
 INGN. Ing. 
 
 IDLE. No. 
 
 INGN. Noo. 
 
 IDEL. Ran. 
 
 INGN. Ran. 
 
 IDEL. His. 
 
 INGN. Hys-s-s-s-s-s. 
 
 IDEL. I. 
 
 INGN. I. 
 
 IDEL. Ing-no-ran-his-I. 
 
 INGN. Ing-no-ran-hys-s-s-s. 
 
 IDLE. I. 
 
 INGN. I.
 
 438 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 I DEL. Ing. 
 
 I NGN. Ing. 
 
 I DEL. Foorth ! 
 
 I NGN. Hys-s-s-s. 480 
 
 IDEL. Ye, no, horeson, no. 
 INGN. Noo, noo, noo, noo. 
 
 IDLE. Ing-no. 
 INGN. Ing-noo. 
 
 IDLE. Forth now! 
 
 INGN. Hys-s-s-s-s. 
 
 IDEL. Yet agayne ; ran, horeson, ran, ran. 
 INGN. Ran, horson, ran, ran. 
 IDLE. Ran, say ! 
 
 INGN. Ran-say. 
 
 IDLE. Ran, horson! 
 INGN. Ran, horson. 
 
 IDLE. Ran. 
 
 INGN. . Ran. 485 
 
 IDLE. Ing-no-ran. 
 INGN. Ing-no-ran. 
 
 IDEL. Foorth, now ! What sayd the goose ? 
 INGN. Dog barke. 
 
 IDLE. Dog barke? Hys, horson, hys-s-s-s-s-s, 
 INGN. Hys-s-s-s-s-s-s. 
 
 1 IDLE. I ; Ing-no-ran-hys-I. 490 
 
 INGN. Ing-no-ran-hys-I-s-s-s. 
 IDLE. I. 
 
 INGN. I. 
 
 IDLE. How sayst, now, foole? Is not there thy name? 
 INGN. Yea. 
 
 IDLE. Well than ; can me that same ! 
 
 What hast thow lernd ? 
 
 i H. has: IDLE I. 
 
 INGN. Ing-no-ran-hys-I. 
 
 Ing-no-ran-hys-I-s-s-s. 
 
 and says that the -whole speech assigned to INGN. " should possibly be givtn 
 to IDLE., but the MS. is apparently carelessly -written in this place."
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 439 
 
 INGN. Ich can not tell. 
 
 IDLE. " Ich can not tell " ? thou sayst evyn very well, 495 
 For, yf thow cowldst tell, then had not I well 
 Towght the thy lesson which must be tawghte, 
 To tell all when thow canst tell ryghte noght. 
 
 INGN. Ich can my lesson. 
 
 IDLE. Ye ; and therfore 
 
 Shalt have a new cote, by God I swore ! 500 
 
 INGN. A new cote? 
 
 IDLE. Ye, a new cote by-and-by. 
 
 Of wyth thys old cote ; " a new cote " crye ! 
 
 INGN. A new cote, a new cote, a new cote ! 
 
 IDLE. J Pease, horson foole ! 
 
 Wylt thow wake hym now ? Unbuttun thy cote, foole ! 
 Canst thow do nothyng ? 
 
 INGN. I note how choold be. 1 505 
 
 IDLE. " I note how choold be " ? A foole betyde the ! 
 So wysly hyt spekyth ; cum on now ; whan ? 
 Put bak thyne arme, foole ! 
 
 [ Takes off Ingnorance's coat.] 
 
 INGN. Put backe ? 
 
 IDLE. So, lo ! now let me see how thys geere 
 Wyll trym this jentle-man that lyeth heere, 510 
 
 Ah ! God save hyt, so sweetly hyt doth sleepe ! 
 Whyle on your back thys gay cote can creepe, 
 As feete as can be for this one arme. 
 
 [Puts Wyfs gown on 1 'ngnorance .] 
 
 INGN. Oh ! cham a-cold. 
 
 IDLE. Hold, foole ! keepe the warme, 
 
 And cum hyther ; hold this hed here ; softe now, for wakyng ! 515 
 Ye shall see wone" here browght in such takynge 
 That he shall soone scantlye knowe hymsealfe. 
 Heere is a cote as fyt for this elfe 
 As it had bene made evyn for thys bodye. 
 
 [ Puts Ingnorance's coat on Wyt."] 
 1-1 As three lines in H., ending, now, nothyng, be.
 
 44 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 So! It begynth to looke lyke a noddye ! 520 
 
 INGN. Um-m-m-m 
 
 IDLE. What aylest now, foole ? 
 
 INGN. New cote is gone! 
 
 IDLE. And why is it gone ? 
 
 INGN. 'Twool not byde on. 
 
 IDLE. " 'Twool not byde on " ? 'Twoold if it cowlde ! 
 But raarvell it were that byde it shoold, 
 
 Sciens garment on Ingnorance bak ! 525 
 
 But now lets se, syr ; what do ye lak ? 
 Nothyng but evin to bukell heere this throte, 
 So well this Wyt becumthe a fooles cote ! 
 
 INGN. He is I now ! 
 
 IDLE. Ye ; how lykste hym now ? 
 
 Is he not a foole as well as thow ? 530 
 
 INGN. Yeas. 
 
 IDLE. Well, than, won foole keepe another ! 
 
 Geve me this, and take thow that brother. 
 
 INGN. Um-m 
 
 IDLE. Pyke the home, go ! 
 
 INGN. Chyll go tell my moother ! [Exit.] 
 
 IDLE. Yea, doo! 
 
 But yet to take my leve of my deere, lo ! 535 
 
 Wyth a skyp or twayne, heere lo ! and heer lo ! 
 And heere agayne ! and now this heele 
 To bles his weake brayne ! Now are ye weele, 
 By vertu of Idellnes blessyng toole, 
 Cunjurd from Wyt unto a starke foole ! 540 
 
 [Exit Idlenes.] 
 Confydence cumth in with a swoord by his syde ; and sayth as folcnuyth : 
 
 [CoNF.] I seake and seake, as won on no grownde 
 
 Can rest, but lyke a masteries hownde 
 
 Wandryng all abowt seakyng his master. 
 
 Alas ! jentle Wyt, I feare the fasster 
 
 That * my tru servyce clevth unto thee, 545 
 
 1 H. Thy ; perhaps it -would be better to read Thys.
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 441 
 
 The slacker thy mynd cleevth unto mee ! 
 
 I have doone thye message in such sorte 
 
 That I not onlye, for thy comfort, 
 
 To vanquishe thyne enmy have browght heere 
 
 A swoord of comfort from thy love deere, 550 
 
 But also, furder, I have so enclynd her 
 
 That upon my wurdes she hath assynd her 
 
 In her owne parson half-way to meete thee, 
 
 And hytherward she came for to greete thee. 
 
 And sure, except she be turned agayne, 555 
 
 Hyther wyll she cum or be long, playne, 
 
 To seake to meate the heere in this cost. 
 
 But now, alas ! thy-selfe thow hast lost, 
 
 Or, at the least, thow wylt not be fownd. 
 
 Alas ! jentle Wyt, how doost thow woonde 560 
 
 Thy trusty and tru servant, Confydence, 
 
 To lease my credence to Ladye Science ! 
 
 Thow lesyst me, to ; for yf I can not 
 
 Fynd the shortly, lenger lyve I ma not, 
 
 But shortly get me evyn into a corner 565 
 
 And dye for sorowe throwhe such a scorner ! Exceat. 
 
 Here the[y] cum in with vyols. 
 
 FAME. Cum syrs, let us not dysdayne to do 
 That the World hath apoynted us too. 
 
 FAVOR. Syns to serve Science the World hath sent us, 
 As the World wylth us, let us content us. 570 
 
 RYCHES. Content us we may, synce we be assynde 
 To the fayrest lady that lyvth, in my mynde ! 
 
 WOORSHYP. Then let us not stay here muet and mum, 
 But tast we thes instrumentes tyll she cum. 574 
 
 Here the\_y\ syng " Excedynge Mesure" * 
 
 Exceedyng mesure, wyth paynes continewall, 
 
 Langueshyng in absens, alas ! what shall I doe, 
 Infortunate wretch, devoyde of joyes all, 
 
 1 In MS. this song immediately follows " The fyrst song in the play of 
 Science," and is headed " The ij song."
 
 442 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 Syghes upon syghes redoublyng my woe, 
 And teares downe f allyng fro myne eyes toe ? 
 
 Bewty wyth truth so doth me constrayne 
 
 Ever to serve where I may not attayne ! 581 
 
 Truth byndyth me ever to be true, 
 
 How-so-that fortune faverth my chance. 
 Duryng my lyfe none other but you 
 
 Of my tru hart shall have the governance ! 
 
 O good swete hart, have you remembrance 
 Now of your owne, whych for no smart 
 Exyle shall yow fro my tru hart ! 588 
 
 [While they sing, Experyence and Science enter.] 
 
 EXPER. Dowghter, what meanyth that ye dyd not syng? 
 
 SCIENCE. Oh mother, for heere remaynth a thynge ! 
 Freendes, we thanke you for thes your plesures, 
 Takyn on us as chance to us measures. 
 
 WOORSHYPPE. Ladye, thes our plesures, and parsons too, 
 Ar sente to you, you servyce to doo. 
 
 FAME. Ladye Science, to set foorth your name 595 
 
 The World, to wayte on you, hath sent me, Fame. 
 
 FAVOR. Ladye Science, for your vertues most plentye 
 The World, to cherysh you, Favor hath sent ye. 
 
 RYCHES. Lady Science, for youre benefytes knowne 
 The World, to mayntayne you, Ryches hath thrown. 600 
 
 WOORSHYP. And as the World hath sent you thes three, 
 So he sendth mee, Woorshypp, to avawnce your degre. 
 
 SCIENCE. I thank the World ; but cheefly God be praysed, 
 That in the World such love to Science hath raysed ! 
 But yet, to tell you playne, ye iiij ar suche 605 
 
 As Science lookth for lytell nor muche ; 
 For beyng, as I am, a lone wooman, 
 Neede of your servyce I nether have nor can. 
 But, thankyng the World and you for your payn, 
 I send ye to the World evyn now agayne. 610 
 
 WOORSHYPPE. Why, ladye, set ye no more store by 
 mee,
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 443 
 
 Woorshypp ? Ye set nowght by yourself e, I se ! 
 
 FAME. She setthe nowght by Fame ; wherby I spye her, 
 She carethe not what the World sayth by her. 
 
 FAVOR. She setthe nowght by Favor ; wherby I trye her, 61 5 
 She caryth not what the World sayth or dooth by her. 
 
 RYCHES. She setth nowght by Ryches ; whych dooth 
 
 showe 
 She careth not for the World. Cum, let us goe ! 
 
 [ The four go out.] 
 
 SCIENCE. In-deede, smalle cawse gevyn' to care for the 
 
 Worldes favering, 
 Seeyng the wyttes of [the] Worlde be so waveryng. 620 
 
 EXPER. What is the matter, dowghter, that ye 
 Be so sad ? Open your mynd to mee. 
 
 SCIENCE. My marvell is no les, my good moother, 
 Then my greefe is greate, to see of all other 
 The prowde scorne of Wyt, soone to Dame Nature, 625 
 
 Who sent me a pycture of hys stature, 
 Wyth all the shape of hymselfe there openyng, 
 Hys amorous love therby betokenyng, 
 Borne toward me in abundant facion ; 
 
 And also, furder, to make ryght relacion 630 
 
 Of this hys love he put in commyshion 
 Such a messenger as no suspicion 
 Cowld growe in mee of hym, Confydence. 
 
 EXPER. Um! 
 
 SYENCE. Who, I ensure ye, wyth such vehemence 
 
 And faythfull behavoure in hys movynge 635 
 
 Set foorth the pyth of hys masters lovynge 
 That no lyvyng creature cowld conjecte 
 But that pure love dyd that Wyt dyrect. 
 
 EXPER. So ? 
 
 SCIENCE. Now, this beinge synce the space 
 Of three tymes sendyng from place to place 640 
 
 Betwene Wyt and hys man, I here no more 
 Nether of Wyt, nor his love so sore.
 
 444 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 How thynk you by thys, my nowne deere mother ? 
 
 EXPER. Dowghter, in this I can thynke none oother 
 But that it is true thys proverbe old : 645 
 
 Hastye love is soone hot and soone cold ! 
 Take hede, dowghter, how you put youre trust 
 To lyght lovers, to hot at the furst ! 
 For had this love of Wyt bene growndyd 
 
 And on a sure fowndashyon fowndyd, 650 
 
 Lytell voyde tyme wold have bene betwene ye 
 But that this Wyt wolde have sent or seene ye. 
 
 SCIENCE. I thynke so. 
 
 EXPER. Ye ; thynke ye so or no, 
 
 Youre mother, Experience, proofe shall showe 
 That Wyt hath set hys love I dare say 655 
 
 And make ye warrantyse another way. 
 
 Wyt cuntth before. 
 
 [WYT.] But your warrantyse warrant no trothe ! 
 Fayre ladye, I praye you be not wrothe 
 Tyll you here more ; for, deere Ladye Science, 
 Had your lover, Wyt, ye, or Confydence, 660 
 
 Hys man, bene in helth all this tyme spent, 
 Long or this tyme Wyt had cumme or sent; 
 But the trothe is they have bene both sykke, 
 Wyt and hys man, ye and wyth paynes thycke 
 Bothe stayde by the way, so that your lover 665 
 
 Could neyther cum l nor send by none other. 
 Wherefore, blame not hym, but chance of syknes. 
 
 SCIENCE. Who is this ? 
 
 EXPER. Ingnorance, or his lykenes. 
 
 SCIENCE. What, the common foole ? 
 
 EXPER. Yt is much lyke hym. 
 
 SCIENCE. By my soothe, his toong servth him now trym ! 670 
 What sayst thow, Ingnorance ? Speak agayn ! 
 
 WYT. Nay, ladye, I am not Ingnorance, playne, 
 But I am your owne deere lover, Wytt, 
 
 l MS. cumne ; corr. by H.
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 445 
 
 That hath long lovd you, and lovth you yet ; 
 
 Wherefore, I pray the now, my nowne swetyng, 675 
 
 Let me have a kys at this our meetyng. 
 
 SCIENCE. Ye, so ye shall anone, but not yet 
 Ah, syr, this foole here hath got sum wyt ! 
 Fall you to kyssyng, syr, now-a-dayes ? 
 Your mother shall charme you ; go your wayes ! 680 
 
 WYT. What nedth all this, my love of long growne ? 
 Wyll ye be so strang to me, your owne ? 
 Youre aquayntance to me was thowht esye ; 
 But now your woordes make my harte all quesye, 
 Youre dartes at me so strangely be shott. 685 
 
 SCIENCE. Heere ye what termes this foole here hath got? 
 
 WYT. Well, I perseve my foolyshnes now ; 
 Indeede, ladyes no dasterdes alowe ; 
 I wylbe bolde wyth my nowne darlyng ! 
 Cum now, a bas, my nowne proper sparlyng ! 690 
 
 SCIENCE. What wylt thow, arrand foole ? 
 
 WYT. Nay, by the mas, 
 
 I wyll have a bas or I hence pas ! 
 
 SCIENCE. What wylt thow, arrande foole ? Hence, foole, 
 I say ! 
 
 WYT. What ! nothyng but foole and foole all this day? 
 By the mas, madam, ye can no good. 695 
 
 SCIENCE. Art a-sweryng, to ? Now, by my hood, 
 Youre foolyshe knaves breeche vj strypes shall bere ! 
 
 WYT. Ye, Codes bones! foole and knave to? be ye there? 
 By the mas, call me foole once agayne, 
 And thow shalt sure call a bio or twayne. 1 700 
 
 EXPER. Cum away, dowghter, the foole is mad. 
 
 WYT. Nay, nor yet nether hence ye shall gad ! 
 We wyll gre better, or ye pas hence. 
 I praye the now. good swete Ladye Science, 
 
 All this strange maner now hyde and cover, 705 
 
 And play the goodfelowe wyth thy lover ! 
 
 1 H. says that the scribe here began to -write the preceding speech of 
 Science, but erased it.
 
 44^ JHON REDFORD. 
 
 SCIENCE. What goodfelowshyppe wold ye of me, 
 Whome ye knowe not, nether yet I knowe ye ? 
 
 WYT. Know ye not me ? 
 
 SCIENCE. No ; how shoold I know ye ? 
 
 WYT. Booth not my pycture my parson shoo w ye ? 710 
 
 SCIENCE. Your pycture ? 
 
 WYT. Ye, my picture, ladye, 
 
 That ye spake of. Who sent it but I ? 
 
 SCIENCE. Yf that be youre pycture, then shall we 
 Soone se how you and your pycture agree. 
 Lo, here ! the pycture that I named is this. 715 
 
 WYT. Ye, mary, myne owne lykenes this is. 
 You havyng this, ladye, and so lothe 
 To knowe me, whych this so playne showthe ? 
 
 SCIENCE. Why, you are nothyng lyke, in myne eie. 
 
 WYT. No? How say ye? [.TO Experience.] 
 
 EXPER. As she sayth, so say I. 720 
 
 WYT. By the mas, than are ye both starke blynde ! 
 What dyference betwene this and this can ye fynd? 
 
 EXPER. Marye, this is fayer, plesant and goodlye, 
 And ye are fowle, dysplesant and uglye. 
 
 WYT. Mary, avawnt, thow fowle ugly whoore ! 725 
 
 SCIENCE. So! lo! now I perseve ye more and more. 
 
 WYT. What ! perseve you me as ye wold make me, 
 A naturall foole ? 
 
 SCIENCE. Nay, ye mystake me ; 
 
 I take ye for no foole naturall, 
 But I take ye thus, shall I tell all ? 730 
 
 WYT. Ye, marye, tell me youre mynd, I pray ye, 
 Wherto I shall trust. No more delay ye. 
 
 SCIENCE. I take ye for no naturall foole, 
 Browght up among the innocentes scoole, 
 
 But for a. nawgty vycious foole, 735 
 
 Browght up wyth Idellnes in her scoole. 
 Of all arrogant fooles thow art one ! 
 
 WYT. Ye, Goges bodye ! 
 
 EXPER. Cum, let us be gone ! 
 
 [ The two go out.}
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 447 
 
 Wvr. My swerd ! is yt gone ? A vengeance on them ! 
 Be they gone, to, and ther hedes upon them? 740 
 
 But, prowde quenes, the dyvyll go wyth you both ! 
 Not one poynt of curtesye in them go the. 
 A man is well at ease by sute to payne him 
 For such a drab, that so doth dysdayne hym ! 
 So mokte, so lowted, so made a sot, 745 
 
 Never was I erst, synce I was begot ! 
 Am I so fowle as those drabes wold make me ? 
 Where is my glas that Reson dyd take me ? 
 Now shall this glas of Reson soone trye me 
 
 As fayre as those drabes that so doth belye me. . 750 
 
 Hah ! Goges sowle! what have we here? a dyvyll? 
 This glas, I se well, hath bene kept evyll. 
 Goges sowle ! a foole, a foole, by the mas ! 
 What a very vengeance aylth this glas? 
 
 Other this glas is shamefully spotted, 755 
 
 Or els am I to shamefully blotted ! 
 Nay, by Goges armes, I am so, no dowte ! 
 How loke ther facis heere rownd abowte ? 
 All fayre and cleere they, evrychone ; 
 
 And I, by the mas, a foole alone, 760 
 
 Deckt, by Goges bones, lyke a very asse ! 
 Ingnorance cote, hoode, eares, ye, by the masse, 
 Kokescome and all ; I lack but a bable ! 
 And as for this face, [it] is abhominable, 
 
 As black as the devyll! God, for his passion ! 765 
 
 Where have I bene rayde affter this fassyon ? 
 This same is Idlenes, a shame take her ! 
 This same is her wurke, the devill in hell rake her ! 
 The whoore hath shamd me for-ever, I trow ! 
 I trow? Nay verely, I knowe ! 770 
 
 Now it is so, the stark foole I playe 
 Before all people ; now see it I maye. 
 Evrye man I se lawhe me to scorne ; 
 Alas, alas, that ever I was borne !
 
 448 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 Yt was not for nowght, now well I se, 775 
 
 That those too ladyes dysdayned me. 
 
 Alas ! Ladye Science, of all oother 
 
 How have I rayled on her and her moother ! 
 
 Alas ! that lady I have now lost 
 
 Whome all the world lovth and honoryth most ! 780 
 
 Alas ! from Reson had I not varyd, 
 
 Ladye Science or this I had maryd ; 
 
 And those fower gyftes which the World gave her 
 
 I had woon, to, had I kept her favor ; 
 
 Where now, in-stede of that lady bryght 785 
 
 Wyth all those gallantes seene in my syght, 
 
 Favor, Ryches, ye, Worshyp and Fame, 
 
 I have woone Hatred, Beggry and Open Shame. 
 
 Shame cumth in wyth a whyppe. \_Reasonfollows hint.'] 
 
 WYT. Out upon the, Shame ! what doost thowe heere ? 
 
 RESON. Mary, I, Reason, bad hym heere appeere. 790 
 
 Upon hym, Shame, wyth stryppes inow smitten, 
 While I reherce his fawtes herein wrytten : 
 Fyrst, he hath broken his promyse formerly 
 Made to me, Reson, my dowghter to marye ; 
 Nexte, he hath broken his promyse promisyd 795 
 
 To obay Instruccion, and him dyspised ; 
 Thurdlye, my dowghter Science to reprove, 
 Upon Idlenes he hath set his love ; 
 Forthlye, he hath folowed Idellnes scoole 
 
 Tyll she hath made him a verye stark foole ; 800 
 
 Lastlye, offendyng both God and man, 
 Sweryng grete othes as any man can, 
 He hath abused himselfe, to the grete shame 1 
 Of all his kynred and los of his good name. 
 
 Wherfore, spare him not, Shame ; bete him well there ! 805 
 
 He hath deservyd more then he can beare. 
 
 l H. greteshame.
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 449 
 
 Wyt knelith dtnune. 
 
 [WYT.] Oh father Reson, be good unto me ! 
 Alas, thes strypes of Shame will 1 undo me ! 
 
 RESON. Be still a while, Shame ! Wyt, what sayst thow? 
 
 WYT. Oh syr, forgeve me, I beseech you! 810 
 
 RESON. Yf I forgeve the thy ponyshment, 
 Wylt thow than folow thy fyrst entent 
 And promyse made, my dowghter to marye ? 
 
 WYT. Oh syr, I am not woorthy to carye 
 The dust out where your dowghter shoold syt. 815 
 
 RESON. I wot well that ; but yf I admyt 
 The, unwoorthy, agayne to her wooer, 
 Wylt thow then folow thy sewte unto her ? 
 
 WYT. Ye, syr, I promyse you, while lyfe enduryth. 
 
 RESON. Cum neere, masters ; heere is wone ensuryth 820 
 
 . Here cumth Instruction, Studye and Diligens in. 
 
 In woordes to becum an honest man ! 
 Take him, Instruccion ; do what ye can. 
 
 INSTR. What, to the purpose he went before ? 
 
 RESON. Ye, to my dowghter prove him once more. 
 Take him, and trym hym in new aparell, 825 
 
 And geve that to Shame there to his farewell. 
 
 INSTR. Cum on your way, Wyt ; be of good cheere ; 
 After stormy clowdes cumth wether clere ! 
 
 Instrucion, Study, Wyt and Dyligens go out. 
 
 RESON. Who lyst to marke now this chance heere doon, 
 May se what Wyt is wythout Reson. 830 
 
 What was this Wyt better then an asse 
 Being from Reson strayde, as he was ? 
 But let pas now, synce he is well poonyshyd, 
 And thereby, I trust, meetely well monyshyd. 
 Ye, and I lyke him never the wurs, I, 835 
 
 Thowgh Shame hath handled hym shamefullye ; 
 For, lyke as, yf Wyt had prowdly bent hym 
 
 1 Written over wold in MS,
 
 45O JHON REDFORD. 
 
 To resyst Shame, to make Shame absent hym, 
 
 I wold have thowght than that Wyt had bene 
 
 As the sayeng is, and daylye scene 840 
 
 Past Shame once, and past all amendment : 
 
 So, contra[r]ye, syns he dyd relent 
 
 To Shame, when Shame ponysht him evyn yll, 
 
 I have, I say, good hope in him styll. 
 
 I thynke, as I thowght, yf joyne thei can, 845 
 
 My dowghter wel bestowd on this man. 
 
 But all the dowte now is to thynke how 
 
 My dowghter takth this ; for I may tell yow, 
 
 I thynk she knew this Wyt evyn as weele 
 
 As she seemd heere to know him no deele, 850 
 
 For lak of knoledge in Science there is none ; 
 
 Wherfore, she knew him, and therupon 
 
 His mysbehavor perchance evyn strykyng 
 
 Her hart agaynst him, she now myslykyng, 
 
 As women oft-tymes wylbe hard-hartyd 855 
 
 Wilbe the stranger to be revertyd. 
 
 This must I helpe ; Reson must now walke, 
 
 On Wytes part wyth my Science to talke. 
 
 A neere way to her know I, wherebye 
 
 My soonnes cummyng prevent now must I. 860 
 
 Perchance I may bryng my dowghter hyther ; 
 
 Yf so, I dowght not to joyne them together. 
 
 Exceat Reson. Confydence cumth in. 
 
 [CONF.] I thanke God, yet at last I have fownd hym ; 
 I was afrayde sum myschance had drownd him, 
 My master, Wyt, wyth whome I have spoken, 865 
 
 Ye, and deliverd token for token, 
 And have anoother to Science agayne, 
 A hart of gold, syngnifyeng playne 
 That Science hath wun Wytes hart for-ever, 
 Whereby, I trust, by my good endever 870 
 
 To that good ladye, so sweete and so sortly, 
 A maryage betwene them ye shall see shortlye.
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 451 
 
 Confydens exceat. Instruction cumth in wyth \Vyt, Study and Dylygence. 
 
 [INSTR.] Lo ! syr, now ye be entryd agayne 
 Toward that passage where dooth remayne 
 
 Tedyousnes, your mortall enmy ; 875 
 
 Now may ye choose whether ye wyll trye 
 Your handes agayne on that tyrant stowte, 
 Or els walkyng a lytell abowte. 
 
 WYT. Nay ; for Codes pashion, syr, let me meete him ! 
 Ye se I am able now for to greete him. 880 
 
 This sword of cumfort, sent fro my love, 
 Upon her enmy needes must I proove ! 
 
 INSTR. Then foorth there ; and turne on your ryght hand 
 Up that mownt before ye shall see stand. 
 
 But heere ye ! Yf your enmye chance to ryse, 885 
 
 Folowe my cowncell in anye wyse ; 
 Let Studye and Dyligence flee ther towche, 
 The stroke of Tediousnes, and then cowche 
 Themselves, as I told ye, ye wot how. 
 
 WYT. Ye, syr, for that how, marke the proofe now ! 890 
 
 INSTR. To mark it, indeede, here wyll I abyde, 
 To see what chance of them wyll betyde ; 
 For heere cumth the pyth, lo ! of this iornaye, 
 That mowntayne before which they must assaye 
 Is cald in Laten Mons Pernassus, 895 
 
 Which mowntayne, as old auctors dyscus, 
 Who attaynth ones to sleepe on that mownt, 
 Ladye Science his owne he may cownt. 
 But, or he cum there, ye shall see fowght 
 
 A fyght with no les polycye wrowght 900 
 
 Then strenghth, I trow, if that may be praysed. 
 
 TEDI. Oh ! ho ! ho ! 
 
 INSTR. Hark ! 
 
 TEDI. [enterittf] Out, ye kaytyves ! 
 
 INSTR. The feend is raysyd! 
 
 TEDI. Out, ye vilaynes ! be ye cum agayne ? 
 Have at ye, wretches !
 
 452 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 WYT. Fie, syrs, ye twayne ! 
 
 TEDI. Thei fle not far hens ! 905 
 
 . DYLI. Turne agayne, Studye ! 
 
 STUDYE. Now, Dylygence! 
 
 INSTR. Well sayde ! Hold fast now ! 
 
 STUDYE. He fleeth ! 
 
 DYLI. Then folowe ! 
 
 INSTR. Wyth his owne weapon now wurke him sorow! 
 Wyt lyth at reseyte ! 
 
 TEDI. (dyeth} Oh ! ho ! ho ! 
 
 INSTR. Hark! he dyeth ! 
 
 Where strength lakth, policye ssupplieth. 910 
 
 Heere Wyt cu-mth in and bryngth in the tied upon his swoorde, and sayth 
 asfolowyth : 
 
 WYT. I can ye thanke, syrs ; this was well doone ! 
 STUDYE. Nay, yours is the deede ! 
 
 DYLI. To you is the thank ! l 
 
 INSTR. I can ye thank, all ; this was well doone ! 
 WYT. How say ye, man ? Is this feelde well woonne? 
 
 Confydence cumth running in. 
 
 [CONF.] Ye, by my fayth, so sayth your deere hart. 915 
 
 WYT. Why where is she, that here now thow art? 
 
 CONF. Upon yonder mowntayne, on hye, 
 She saw ye strike that hed from the bodye ; 
 Wherby ye have woonne her, bodye and all ; 
 In token whereof reseve heere ye shall 920 
 
 A gowne of knoledge, wherin you must 
 Reseve her here strayght. 
 
 WYT. But sayst thow just ? 
 
 [CoNF.] 2 So just I say that, except ye hye ye, 
 Or ye be redye, she wylbe by ye. 
 
 WYT. Holde ! Present unto her this hed heere, 925 
 
 And gyve me warning when she cumth nere. 
 
 [Exit Confydence.'] 
 I Qy. insert alone after thank. 2 SufflU.i by H.
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 
 
 453 
 
 Instruccion, wyll ye helpe to devyse 
 
 To trim this geere now in the best wyse ? 
 
 INSTR. Geve me that gowne, and cum wyth me, all ! 
 
 DYLI. Oh, how this gere to the purpose dooth fall ! 930 
 
 Confidens cuinth running in. 
 
 [CoNF.] How, master, master ! Where be ye now ? 
 WYT. Here, Confydence ; what tydynges bryngst thow ? 
 CONF. My ladye at hand heere dooth abyde ye ; 
 Byd her wellcum ! What, do ye hide ye ? 934 
 
 Here IVyt, Instruccion, Studye, and Diligence syng " H^eHcum, my 
 nowne" and Syence, Experience, Reson and Confidence cum in at 
 L[eff\, and answer evre second verse: J 
 
 Wellcum, myne owne ! 
 Wellcum, myne owne ! 
 
 936 
 
 WYT and his Cumpanye. 
 
 SCIENCE and hir Cumpanye. 
 
 ladye deere, 
 Be ye so neere 
 
 To be knowne ? 
 My hart yow cheere 
 Your voyce to here , 
 
 Wellcum, myne owne ! 942 
 
 As ye rejoyse 
 To here my voyce 
 
 Fro me thus blowne, 
 So in my choyce 
 
 1 show my voyce 
 
 To be your owne. 948 
 
 Then drawe we neere 
 To see and heere 
 
 My love long growne ! 
 Where is my deere ? 
 Here I apeere 
 
 To see myne owne. 954 
 
 i Here as before I have removed tJie song from the latter part of the vol- 
 ume and inserted it in the middle of the stage direction. The song is 
 headed: " The thyrd Song." 
 
 WYT and his Cumpanye.
 
 454 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 SCIENCE and hir Cumpanye. To se and try 
 
 Your love truly 
 
 Till deth be flowne, 
 Lo! here am I, 
 That ye may spie 
 
 I am your owne. 960 
 
 WYT and his Cumpanye. Then let us meete, 
 
 My love so sweete, 
 
 Halfe-way heere throwne ! 
 SIENS and hir Cumpanye. I wyll not sleete 
 
 My love to greete. 
 
 Wellcum, myne owne ! 966 
 
 WYT and his Cumpanye. Wellcum, myne owne ! 
 
 ALL sing : Wellcum, myne owne ! 968 
 
 A nd when the song is doone, Reson sendyth Instruction, Studye, and Dy It- 
 fence, and Confidens out; and then, standyng in the myddell of the place, 
 Wyt sayth asfolowyth : 
 
 WYT. Wellcum, myne owne, wyth all my hole harte, 
 Whych shalbe your owne till deth us depart ! 
 I trust, ladye, this knot evyn syns knyt. 
 
 SCIENCE. I trust the same ; for syns ye have smitt 
 Downe my grete enmye, Tedyousnes, 
 Ye have woon me for-ever, dowghtles, 
 Althowgh ye have woon a clogg wyth-all ! 975 
 
 WYT. A clogg, sweete hart ? what ? 
 
 SCIENCE. Such as doth fall 
 
 To all men that joyne themselves in mariage, 
 In kepyng ther wyves ; a carefull cariage ! 
 
 WYT. Careful? Nay, ladye, that care shall imploye 
 No clogg, but a key of my most joye. 980 
 
 To kepe you, swete hart, as shall be fyt, 
 Shalbe no care, but most joy to Wyt ! 
 
 SCIENCE. Well, yet I say, marke well what I saye ! 
 My presence brynghth you a clogg, no naye, 
 
 Not in the kepynge of me onelye, 985 
 
 But in the use of Science cheeflye ;
 
 WYT AND SCIENCE. 455 
 
 For I, Science, am, in this degree, 
 
 As all, or most part, of woomen bee : 
 
 Yf ye use me well, in a good sorte, 
 
 Then shall I be youre joy and comfort ; 990 
 
 But yf ye use me not well, then dowt me, 
 
 For, sure, ye were better then wythout me ! 
 
 WYT. Why, ladye, thinke you me such a wyt, 
 As being avansyd by you, and yet 
 
 Wold mysuse ye ? Nay, yf ye dowt that, 995 
 
 Heere is wone lovth thee more then sumwhat, 
 Yf Wyt mysuse ye at any season, 
 Correct me then your owne father, Reson. 
 
 RESON. Ho, dowghter, can ye desyre any more ? 
 What neede thes dowtes? Avoyde them therfore ! 1000 
 
 EXPER. Byrlakyn, syr, but, under your favor, 
 This dowgt our dowghter doth well to gather 
 For a good warnyng now at begynnynge 
 What Wyt in the end shall looke for in wynning, 
 Whych shalbe this, syr: yf Science here, 1005 
 
 Whych is Codes gyft, be usyd meere 
 Unto Codes honor, and profyt both 
 Of you and your neybowre, whych goth 
 In her, of kynd, to do good to all, 
 
 This scene to, Experience, I, shall 1010 
 
 Set you forth, Wyt, by her to imploye 
 Doble encrece to your doble joye ; 
 But yf you use her contrarywyse 
 To her good nature, and so devyse 
 
 To evyll effectes to wrest and to wry her, 1015 
 
 Ye, and cast her of and set nowght by her, 
 Be sure I, Experience, shall than 
 Declare you so before God and man 
 That thys talent from you shalbe taken 
 And you ponysht for your gayne forsaken. 1020 
 
 WYT. " Once warne[d], half-armd," folk say, namely whan 
 Experience shall warne a man, than 
 Tyme to take heede. Mother Experience,
 
 JHON REDFORD. 
 
 Towchyng youre dowghter, my deere hart, Siens, 
 
 As I am sertayne that to abuse her 1025 
 
 I brede myne owne sorow, and well to use her 
 
 I encrece my joy, and so to make yt 
 
 Codes grace is redye yf I wyll take yt : 
 
 Then, but ye cownt me no wyt at all, 
 
 Let never thes dowtes into your hed fall ; 1030 
 
 But, as yourself, Experience, cleryng 
 
 All dowtes at lenght, so, tyll tyme aperyng, 
 
 Trust ye wyth me in God ; and, swete hart, 
 
 Whyle your father, Reson, takth wyth parte, 
 
 To reseve Codes grace as God shall send it, 1035 
 
 Dowte ye not our joy, tyll lyves 1 end yt! 
 
 SCIENCE. Well, than, for the end of all dowtes past 
 And to that end whiche ye spake of last, 
 Among our weddyng matters heere rendryng, 
 Thend of our lyves wold be in remembryng ; 1040 
 
 Which remembrance, Wyt, shall sure defend ye 
 From the mysuse of Science and send ye 3 
 The gayne my mother to mynd did call, 
 Joy wythout end, that wysh I to all ! 1044 
 
 RESON. Well sayd ! and as ye, dowghter, wyshe it, 
 That joy to all folke in generall, 
 
 So wysh I, Reson, the same ; but yet 
 Fyrst in this lyfe wysh I here to fall 
 To our most noble Kyng and Quene in especiall, 
 
 To ther honorable Cowncell, and then to all the rest, 
 
 Such joy as long may rejoyse them all best! 1051 
 
 All say Amen. 
 
 Heere cumth in f more wyth violes and syng, " Remembre me," s and at 
 the last quere all make cur[t]sye, and so goe forth syngyng. 
 
 Thus endyth the Play of Wyt and Science, made by Master 
 fhon Redford. 
 
 1 Qy. insert end (noun). % H. you. 8 This song is not given in MS.
 
 A PREATY INTERLUDE 
 CALLED, NICE WANTON. 
 
 Wherein ye may see 
 
 Three braunc[h]es of an yll tree : 
 The mother and her chyldren three, 
 
 Twoo naught, and one godlye. 
 
 Early sharpe that wyll be thorne ; 
 
 Soone yll that wyll be naught ; 
 To be naught, better vnborne ; 
 
 Better vnfed than naughtely taught. 
 
 Ut magnum magnos, pueros puerilia l decent. 
 
 Personages. 
 
 THE MESSENGER. 
 
 BARNABAS. INIQUITIE. 
 
 ISMAEL. BAILY ERRAND.S 
 
 DALILA. XANTIPE. 
 
 EULALIA. WORLDLY SHAME. 
 
 DANIEL, THE IUDGE. 
 
 Anno Domini, 
 M.D.LX. 
 
 1 K. puerilia. 
 
 2 K. deocus ; emend, by Kittredge ; Haz. prints doctus, with no note. 
 8 This and INIQUITE on the same line in K.
 
 Printed from the copy in the British Museum. Whether Hazlitt, in his edition 
 of Dodsley's " Old Plays," printed from this copy or from that belonging to the 
 Duke of Devonshire, I do not know. If he printed from the latter, the varia- 
 tions between his reading of the original and that of my copyist may perhaps 
 be accounted for ; but if so, both copies have been trimmed too close. In some 
 instances I have omitted to point out that Hazlitt has silently corrected spell- 
 ings and restored dropped letters ; but I believe I have neglected nothing impor- 
 tant in his text or his notes. His edition is indicated by Haz. ; the old edition 
 by K. In K. the names of the speakers are always spelled in full ; the abbre- 
 viations are mine. 
 
 This play was licensed to the printer, John Kyng, in 1560; but the last stanza 
 shows that it was written before the death of Edward VI.
 
 [NICE WANTON.] 
 
 THE PROLOGUE. 
 
 THE MESSENGER. The prudent prince, Salomon, doth say, 
 " He that spareth the rod, the chyld doth hate " ; 
 
 He wold youth shuld be kept in awe alwaye 
 
 By correction in tyme at reasonable rate, 4 
 
 To be taught to fear God and theyr parents obey, 
 
 To get learning and qualities, thereby to maintain 
 
 An honest quiet lyfe, correspondent alway 
 
 To Gods law and the kynges ; for it is certayne 8 
 
 If chyldren be noseled in idlenes and yll 
 
 And brought vp therin, it is hard to restrayne 
 
 And draw them from naturall wont euyll, 
 
 As here in thys interlude ye shall se playne 12 
 
 By two chyldren brought vp wantonly in play, 
 
 Whom the mother doth excuse whew she should chastise : 
 
 They delyte in daliaunce and mischief alway ; 
 
 At last they ende theyr lyues in miserable wyse. 16 
 
 The mother, perswaded by Worldly Shame 
 
 That she was the cause of theyr wretched lyfe, 
 
 So pensife, so sorowfull for theyr death she became, 
 
 That in despaire she would slea her-self with a knife. 20 
 
 Then her sonne, Barnabas, by interpretacyon, 
 
 The sonne of comfort, her yll l purpose do 2 stay, 
 
 1 K. all ; Haz. ill. 
 
 2 Haz. do[th] ; perhaps a mistake for to.
 
 460 NICE WANTON. 
 
 By the Scriptures he geueth her godly consolation ; 
 
 And so concludeth. All these partes wyll we l playe. 24 
 
 [*#.] 
 
 Barnabas commeth. 
 
 BARN. My mayster in my lesson yester-day 
 
 Dyd recite this text of Ecclesiasticus : 
 " Man is prone to euil irom hys youth," did he say ; 
 
 Which sentence may wel be verified in vs, 28 
 
 My-selfe, my brother, and sister Dalila, 
 
 Whom our parentes to theyr cost to scoole do fynde. 
 I tary for them here ; time passeth away, 
 
 I loose my learnyng ; they ever loyter behynde. 32 
 
 If I go before, they do me threate 
 
 To complayne to my mother ; she for theyr sake, 
 Being her tender tidlynges, wyll me beate. 
 
 Lorde, in thys perplexitye, what way shall I take ? 36 
 
 What wyl become of them ? Grace God them sende 
 To apply their learnyng and theyr maners amend ! 
 
 Ismael &" Dalila come in syngyng : 
 
 Here we comen ! and here we louen! 8 
 
 And here we will abide, abyde ay! 8 40 
 
 BARN. Fye, brother, fye ! and specyally you, sister Dalila! 
 Sobrenes becommeth maydes alway. 
 
 DAL. What, ye dolt! Ye be euer in one songe! 
 
 ISM. Yea, sir, it shall cost you blowes ere it be longe! 
 
 BARN. Be ye not ashamed the treauandes to play, 45 
 
 Losing your time and learning, <fthat euery day? 
 Lernyng bringeth knowledge of God and honest liuing to get. 
 
 DAL. Yea, mary, I warrant you, Master Hodypeke! 
 
 BARN. Learne a-pace, syster, and after to spyn and sowe, 
 And other honest huswifely poyntes to knowe. 50 
 
 1 K. me ; Haz. we. 2 Haz. lonen. 8 Haz. abide-a.
 
 NICE WANTON. 461 
 
 ISM. Spyn, quod ha ? Yea, by the masse, and with youre 
 
 heles vp-wynd, 
 For a good mouse-hunt is cat after kynd. 1 
 
 BARN. " Lewd spekyng corrupteth good maners," S. Paule 
 
 doeth sai. 
 
 Come, let vs go, if ye wil to scole thys day. 
 I shal be shent for taryng so longe. 55 
 
 Barnabas goeth oute. 
 
 ISM. Go, get the hence, thy mouth full of horse-donge! 
 Now, prety syster, what sport shall we deuyse? 
 Thus paltyng to scole, I thynke vs vnwyse ; 
 In sommer dye for thryst, in wynter for colde, 
 And styl to Hue in feare of a churle, who would ? 
 
 DAL. Not I, by the masse ! I had rather he hanged were 
 Then I would syt quakyng like a mome for feare. 62 
 
 I am sonne-burned in sommer, in winter the colde 
 Maketh my limmes grosse and my beauty decay. 
 
 If I should vse it as they would I should, 
 
 I should neuer be fayre woman, I dare say. 66 
 
 ISM. No, syster, no! but I can tell 
 
 Where we shal haue good chiere, 
 Lusty companyons two or three, 
 
 At good wyne, ale and biere. 70 
 
 DAL. Oh good brother, let vs go ; 
 I wyl neuer go more to 2 scoole. 
 Shall I neuer knowe 
 What pastyme meaneth? 
 Yes, I wyll not be suche a foole. 
 
 ISM. Haue with the, Dalila! 76 
 
 1 Haz. prints after Saint Kind, and says " Old copy, Kynge " ; my 
 copyist gives the reading of the old edition as, after kyng. 
 
 2 K. re feats to ; Haz. prints to-te.
 
 462 NICE WANTON. 
 
 [They sing:} 
 
 Fare-well our scoole! 
 Away with boke and all! 
 
 \T\hey caste \aw\aye their \bo~\kes.*- 
 
 I wyll set my heart 
 
 On a mery pynne, 
 
 What-euer shall be-fall! 81 
 
 \They go out singing. Enter Eulalial\ 
 
 EUL. Lorde, what folly is in youth! 
 
 Howe vnhappy-be chyldren now-a-dayes! 
 
 And, the more pitye, to say the truth, 
 
 Theyr parentes mainteyn them in euyll wayes, 
 Which is a great cause that the world decayes, 
 
 For chyldren brought vp in ydlenes and play 
 
 Unthrifty and desobedient continue alway. 88 
 
 A neyghbour of myne hath chyldren here-by, 
 
 Ydle, desobedyent, proude, wanton and nyce. 
 
 As they come by, they do shrewed turnes daily ; 
 
 Their parentes so to suffer them, surely be not wise. 
 They laugh me to scorne whe I tel thew mine aduise ; 
 
 I wil speake to their elders and warne thew neighborly. 
 
 Neuer in better tyme! their mother is here-by. 95 
 
 [Enter Xantippe.] 
 
 [EUL.] God saue you, gossyp ! I am very f ayne 
 
 That you chaunce now to come thys way; 
 I longe to talke with you a word or twayne, 
 
 I pray you take it frendly that I shall say. 
 
 Ismael, your sonne, and your daughter, Dalila, 
 Do me shrewde turnes, dayly more and more, 
 Chide and beat my chylren, it greueth me sore. 102 
 
 They sweare, curse and scold, as they go by the. way, 
 Giuyng other yll ensample to do the same, 
 
 1 The letters in brackets were cut off by the binder.
 
 NICE WANTON. 463 
 
 To Gods displeasure, and theyr hurt an-other day. 
 
 Chastyce them for it, or els ye be to blame ! 1 06 
 
 XANT. Tusshe ! tusshe ! If ye haue no more than that to 
 
 saye, 
 
 Ye maye holde your tonge and get ye awaye. 
 Alas ! poore soules, they sit a' scoole all day 
 
 In feare of a churle ; and yf a lytle they play, no 
 
 He beateth them lyke a deuyl. When they come home, 
 Your mestresship would haue me lay on. 
 If I should beate them so oft as men complayne, 
 By the masse ! wzt^-in this month I shuld make them lame. 114 
 
 EUL. Be not offended, I pray you ; I must say more : 
 
 Your sonne is suspect lyght-fyngered to be ; 
 Your daughter hath nyce trickes three or foure ; 
 
 See to it in tyme, leaste worse ye do see. 
 
 He that spareth the rod, hateth the chyld truely; 
 Ye,t Salomon sobre correction doth meane, 
 Not to beate and bounce them to make them lame. 121 
 
 XANT. God thanke you, mestres, I am well at ease ! 
 [Aside] Such a foole to teache me, preachyng as she please ! 
 Dame, ye belye them deadly ; I know playne, 
 Because they go handsomly, ye disdayne. 
 
 EUL. Then on the other as well would I complayne ; 
 But your other sonne is good, and no thank to you ! 
 These wyl ye make naught, by swete lesu ! 128 
 
 XANT. Eulalia, 1 my chyldren naught ? Ye lye ! 
 By your malyce they shal not set a flye. 2 
 I haue but one mome, in comparison of hys brother, 
 Him the foole prayseth, and despiseth the other. 
 
 EUL. Well, Xantippe, better in time then to late ! 
 Seing ye take it so, here my leaue I take. Exit. 134 
 
 l K. Eupliade ; Haz. gives Gupliade as reading of K. and prints Gup 
 liar. a K. ffye.
 
 464 NICE WANTON. 
 
 XANT. Mary, good leaue haue ye, the gret God be 
 
 you 
 
 My chyldren or I be curst, I thinke ; 
 They be complayned on where-euer they go, 
 
 That for theyr pleasure they might drynke ; 
 Nay, by thys the poor soules be come irom scole 1 wery, 
 I will go get them meate to make them mery. 2 {Exit.} 140 
 
 Iniquitie , Ismael, and Dalila come in together, [singing : ] 
 
 Lo ! lo ! here I bryng her. 3 
 ISM. What is she, nowe ye haue her? 
 DAL. Ij 4 lusty mynyon louer? fi 
 INIQ. For no golde wyll I gyue her. 
 All together. Welcome my hony ay. 145 
 
 Here he speaketh : 
 
 INIQ. Oh my heart! 
 
 Thys wenche can synge 
 And play her parte. 
 
 DAL. I am yours (and you mine), 6 with all my heart. 149 
 
 INIQ. By the masse, it is well songe! 
 Were ye not sory ye were a mayd so longe? 
 
 DAL. Fye, Maister Iniquitie ! fye ! I am a mayd yet. 
 
 ISM. No, sister, no ; your maidenhead is sicke. 
 
 INIQ. That knaue, your brother, wyl be a blabbe styl. 
 I-wisse, Dalila, ye can say as muche by him, if ye wil ! 155 
 
 DAL. By him, quod ha ? He hath whores two or 
 
 three. 
 
 But iche tell your minion Doll, by Gogs body, 
 It skylleth not, she doth holde you as muche. 
 
 ISM. Ye lye falsly, she wyll play me no suche touche. 
 
 DAL. Not she! Yes, to do your heart good! 160 
 
 I could tell you who putteth a bone in your hood. 
 
 1 K. foules be come fro ferle. 4 Haz. A. 
 
 2 K. mercy. 5 Haz. reads loner. 
 
 * K. brynger; Haz. bring a. 6 This is perhaps spoken aside.
 
 NICE WANTON. 465 
 
 ISM. Peace, whore ! or ye beare me a boxe l on theare. 2 
 DAL. Here is mine eare, knaue, stryke and thou dare ! 
 
 [He strikes her.'] 
 
 [DAL. (to //?)] To suffer him thus ye be no man! 
 If ye wyl not reuenge me, I wyl fynd one! 165 
 
 To set so litle by me ye were not wont. 
 Well, it is no matter! Though ye do, ceteri nolunt? 
 
 INIQ. Peace, Dalila! Speake ye Laten, poore foole? 
 
 DAL. No, no, but a prouerbe I learned at scoole. 
 
 ISM. Yea, syster, you went to scole til ye were past grace. 170 
 
 DAL. Yea, so dydst thou, by thy knaues face ! 
 
 INIQ. Well, no more a-do ; let all thys go. 
 We kinsfolke must be frendes ; it must be so. 
 Come on ! come on ! come on ! 
 Here they be that wyll do vs al good. 175 
 
 He casteth dice on the bord. 
 
 ISM. If ye vse it long, your hear wil grow throught 4 
 your [hood]. 5 
 
 INIQ. Come on, knaue, with Christes curse ! 
 I must haue some of the mony 
 Thou hast pickt out of thy fathers purse. 
 
 DAL. He, by the masse, if he can get his purse 180 
 
 Now and then, he maketh it by halfe the worse. 
 
 ISM. I defie you both, whore and knaue ! 
 
 INIQ. What, ye pryncockes, begin ye to raue? 
 Come on ! 
 
 DAL. Mayster Iniquitie, by your leaue, 
 I wyll play a crowne or two here by your sleue. 185 
 
 ISM. Then be ye seruaunt to a worshypful mon ; 
 Mayster Iniquitie, a right name, by Saint John ! 
 
 1 In K. the x of this -word is broken and looks like r ; Haz. of course 
 prints box. 
 
 2 K. has an theare (= on the ear) ; Haz. reads on there. 
 8 As two lines in K. and Haz. 
 
 * Haz. through. 
 
 6 Supplied by Haz.wfio, however, does not mention that it is missingin K.
 
 466 NICE WANTON. 
 
 DAL. What can ye say by Mayster Iniquztie? 
 I loue hym and his name most hertely. 
 
 INIQ. God a mercy, Dalila, good lucke, I warrant the ! 190 
 
 i[f/]e kisseth W\er. 
 
 I wil shryue you both by-and-by. 
 
 ISM. Come on, but fyrst let vs haue a songe. 
 
 DAL. I am content, so that it be not longe. 193 
 
 Iniquitie and Dalila. singe : 
 
 INIQ. Golde lockes, 
 She must haue knockes, 
 
 Or els I do her wronge. 
 DAL. When ye haue your wyl, 
 Ye were best lye styll, 
 
 The winter nightes be longe. 199 
 
 INIQ. When I ne may 
 An-other assay, 
 
 I wyl take it for no wronge. 
 DAL. Then, by the roode, 
 A bone in your hoode 
 
 I shall put ere it be longe. 205 
 
 ISM. She macheth you, sira ! 
 
 INIQ. By Gogs bloud, she is the best whore in England ! 
 
 DAL. It is knauishly praysed, gyue me your hand. 
 
 INIQ. I woud thou haddes suche an-other. 2 
 
 ISM. By the masse, rather then xl pound, brother. 210 
 
 INIQ. Here, sirs, come on ; seuen! 
 
 They set him. 
 
 A-leauen at all ! 
 
 ISM. Do ye nycke vs ? be-knaue your noly ! 8 
 INIQ. Ten myne ! 
 ISM. Syxe * myne ! 
 
 Casteth d[icf}. 1 
 
 1 Cut away in K. 
 
 2 K. in other. 
 
 8 Noll ( = noddle) -would give a sort of rhyme to all. 
 4 In K. the x is broken.
 
 NICE WANTON. 467 
 
 Haue at it, and it'were for all my fathers kyne! 
 
 It is lost, by His woundes ! and ten to one! 215 
 
 INIQ. Take the dice, Dalila; cast on! 
 
 DAL. Come on ; fyve ! 
 
 She casteth, and they set. 1 
 
 Thryue at fayrest! 
 
 ISM. Gup, whore ! and I at rest. Heloseth. 
 
 Bi Gogs bloud, I wene God and the deuyl be agenst me! 
 
 INIQ. If thone forsake the, thother wyll take the. 220 
 
 ISM. Then is he a good felow ; I would not passe, 
 So that I myght beare a rule in hell, by the masse, 
 To tosse fierbrandes at these penyfathers pates. 
 I would be porter and receiue them at the gates. 
 In boyling lead and brimston I wold sethe thez ech-one. 225 
 The knaues haue al th& mony, good felows haue none! 
 
 DAL. Play, brother; haue ye lost all your money now? 
 
 ISM. Yea, I thanke that knaue and suche a whore as y0w ! 
 Tis no matter ; 2 I wyll haue money, or I wyll swete. 
 By Gogs bloud, I wyll robbe the next I mete ! 230 
 
 Yea, and it be my father! 
 
 He goeth out. 
 
 INIQ. Thou boy! by the masse, ye wyl clyme the ladder! 
 Ah, sira, I loue a wenche that can be wylye : 
 She perceyued my mind with a twinke of myne eie. 
 If we two play booty 3 on any man, 235 
 
 We wyll make him as bare as lob anone. 
 Wei, Dalila, let se what ye haue won! 
 
 DAL. Sir, I had x shillinges when I begon, 
 And here is all, euery fart[h]yng. 
 
 They tell i[/}.* 
 
 INIQ. Ye lye lyke a whoore! ye haue won a pound. 240 
 
 DAL. Then the deuyll stryke me to the grounde! 
 
 1 K. fet. 8 K. booby ; Haz. boody, -without note. 
 
 2 K marter. 4 Haz. omits it ; the t is missing in K.
 
 468 NICE WANTON. 
 
 INIQ. I will fele your pocket, by your leaue, mestres! 
 
 DAL. A-way knaue ; not mine, by the masse! 
 
 INIQ. Yes, bi God, and geue you this to boot! 244 
 
 He getteth her a box, 
 
 DAL. Out, horeson knaue, I beshrew thy hert-root! 
 Wilt thou rob me and beat l me, to ? 
 
 INIQ. In the way of correction, but a blowe or twoo. 
 
 DAL. Correct thy dogges ! thou shalt not beate me ! 
 I wyl make your knaues flesshe cut, I warrant the. 
 Ye thynke I haue no frendes? Yes, I haue in store 2 ^ 
 
 A good felow or two, perc[h]aunce more. 
 Yea, by the masse, they shall boxe 2 you for this geare ! 
 A knaue I found the ; a knaue I leaue the here ! 
 
 She goeth oute. 
 
 INIQ. Gup, whore ! Do ye heare this iade? 
 Louing when [she] 8 is pleased ; 2 55 
 
 When she is angry, thus shrewd. 
 Thief brother, syster whore, 
 Two graffes of an yll tree! 
 I wyl tary no longer here ; 
 
 Fare-well, God be with ye ! 260 
 
 He goeth out. 
 
 \A long interval.] 
 
 Dalila commeth in ragged, her face hid or disfigured, halting on a staff e. 
 
 DAL. Alas, wretched wretche that I am ! 
 
 Most miserable caitife that euer was borne ! 
 Full of payne and sorow, croked and lame, 4 
 
 Stuft with diseases, in this world forlorne ! 264 
 
 My senowes be shronken, my flesh eaten vtiih pocks, 
 My bones ful of ache[s] and great payne ; 
 
 1 K. breat. 8 Supplied by Haz. -without note. 
 
 * The x is broken in K. 4 K. lome ; H. lorn.
 
 NICE WANTON. 469 
 
 My head is bald, that bare yelowe lockes ; 
 
 Croked I crepe to the earth agayne ; 268 
 
 Mine eie-sight l is dimme ; my hands tremble and shake ; 
 
 My stomake abhorreth all kynd of meate ; 
 For lacke of clothes great colde I take ; 
 
 When appetite 2 serueth I can get no meate ; 272 
 
 Where I was fayre and amiable of face, 
 
 Now am I foule and horrible to se : 
 Al this I haue 8 deserued for lacke of grace, 
 
 lustly for my sinnes God doth plague me. 276 
 
 My parentes did tidle me, they were to blame, 
 In-steade of correction, in yll did me maintain. 
 
 I fell to 4 naught, and shall dye with shame ! 
 
 Yet all thys is not halfe of my greife and payne: 280 
 
 The worme of my conscience, thai shall neuer dye, 
 
 Accuseth me dayly more and more. 
 So oft haue I sinned wilfully 
 
 That I feare to be damned for-euermore. 2 ^4 
 
 [Enter Barnabas^ 
 
 BARN. What wofull wight art thou, tell me, 
 
 That here most greuously doest lament? 
 Confesse the truth, and I wil comfort the 
 
 By the word of God Omnipotent. 
 
 Although your tyme ye haue mispent, 
 Repent and amend while ye haue space, 
 And God wyll restore you to health 5 and grace. 291 
 
 DAL. To tell you who I am, I dare not for shame ; 
 
 But my filthy liuing hath brought me in this case. 
 Full oft for my wantonnes you dyd me blame, 
 
 Yet to take your councel I had not the grace. 2 9S 
 
 1 K. sigth. 8 K. I haue I. 5 K. heatlh. 
 
 2 K. appetide. * K. no; corr. by Haz.
 
 47O NICE WANTON. 
 
 To be restored to health, alas, it is past, 
 
 Disease hath brought me into suche decay ! 
 Helpe me with your almose while my lyfe doth laste, 
 
 That, like a wretche as I am, I may go my way. 
 
 BARN. Shewe me your name, sister, I you pray, 
 And I wil helpe you now at your nede : 
 Both body and soule wyl I fede. 302 
 
 DAL. You 1 haue named me already, if I durst be so bold. 
 
 Your 1 sister Dalila, that wreche I am. 
 My wanton, nice toyes ye knew of olde, 
 
 Alas, brother, they haue brought me to thys shame ! 36 
 
 When you went to scole, my brother and I wold play, 
 Sweare, chide and scolde 2 with man and woman ; 
 
 To do shrewde turnes our delyte was alwaye ; 
 
 Yet were we tidied, and you beaten now and than. 3 l 
 
 Thus our parentes let vs do what we woulde, 
 
 And you, by correction, they kept 8 vnder awe; 
 
 When we grewe bigge, we were sturdye and bolde, 
 
 By father and mother we set not a strawe. 314 
 
 Small matter for me, I am past ! 
 
 But your brother and mine is in great 4 ieoperdy, 
 In daunger to come to shame at the last, 
 
 He frameth hys liuyng so wyckedly. 318 
 
 BARN. Well, siker, 5 I euer feared ye would be nought, 
 Your lewde behauiours sore greue[d] 6 my hart. 
 
 To trayn you to goodnes al meanes haue I sought, 
 
 But in vaine ; yet wyl I play a brotherly part, 322 
 
 For the 7 soul is more precyous, most derely bought 
 With the bloud of Christe dying therfore, 
 
 1 Haz. says that K. interchanges You and Your ; my copyist wrote Your 
 for You, but scratched out r. 2 K. scodle. 
 
 8 K. kepthe; possibly for kept the, -which Haz. prints without note. 
 
 * K. gread. 6 Haz. changes to sister. 
 
 Corr. by Haz. 7 K. For y e the ; Haz. no note.
 
 NICE WANTON. 471 
 
 To saue it fyrst a meane must be sought 
 
 At Gods hand by Chryste, marines onely Sauior. 326 
 
 Consider, Dalila, Goddes fatherly godnes, 
 
 Which for your good hath brought you in thys case, 
 
 Scourged you with hys rod, of pure loue doubtles, 
 
 That ones knowing your-self, ye might cal for grace. 330 
 
 Ye seme to repent, but I doubt what[h]er : 
 
 For your sinnes or for the misery ye be in. 
 Earnestly repent for your synne rather, 
 
 For these plagues be but the reward of sinne. 334 
 
 But so repent that ye sinne no more, 
 
 And then beleue with stedfast faith 
 That God wyll forgeue you for-euermore 
 
 For Chrystes sake, as the Scripture sayth. 338 
 
 As for your bodye, if it be curable, 
 
 I wyll cause to be healed, or 2 duryng your life 
 
 I wyl clothe you and fede 3 you as I am able. 
 
 Come, sister, go with me ; ye haue nede of relief. 342 
 
 Thei goo. 
 
 The iuge\Daniel\, Iniquitie, Bayly [Errand] come in ; t[he\ ittdge sitteth 
 down.* 
 
 DANIEL. As a iudge of the countrey here am I come, 
 
 Sent by the Kynges Maiestye iustyce to do, 
 Chiefly to procede in iudgement of a felon ; 
 
 I tary for the verdite of the quest ere I go. 
 
 Go, baily ; know whether they be all a-greed or no ; 
 If they be so, byd them come a-way, 
 And bring their prisoner ; I wold hear what they say. 349 
 
 1 K. whater ; Haz. whether. 
 
 2 Haz. wrongly changes to and. 
 * K. fete ; H. feed, -with no note. 
 
 4 Haz. gives this after 1. 347 in this form: Iniquity, Baily errand, comes 
 in ; the judge sitteth down. In K. it is in the margin opposite 11. 344-347 ; 
 the -words in brackets -were cut a-way.
 
 4/2 NICE WANTON. 
 
 [BAILY.] I go, my lord, I go, to soone for one, 
 He is lyke to play a cast wil breake his necke-bone. 
 I beseche your lor[d]shyp be good to hym ; 
 The man is come of good kynne. 
 
 He tellet\h\ l hym in hy\sj- eare, that 1 at//] 1 may heart.* 
 
 If your lordshyp would be so good to me 
 
 As for my sake to set hym free, 355 
 
 I could haue xx pound 4 in a purse ; 
 
 Yea, and your lordshyp a right faire horse, 
 
 Well worth ten pound. 
 
 DAN. 6 Get the a-way, thou hell-hound ! 
 
 If ye were well examined and tried, 36 
 
 Perchaunce a false knaue ye would be spyed. 
 
 Iniquitye goeth oute ; fAe iudge sp\_e\keth 1 styll. 
 
 Brybes, saith Salomon, blind the. wise mans sight, 6 
 
 That he can not se to geue iudgement right. 
 
 Should I be a bribar? Nay; he shall haue the law, 
 
 As I owe to God and the kyng obedience and awe. 365 
 
 They bring- Ismael in, bound lyke a prysoner. [The jury comes also. 
 Iniquitie whispers to Ismael.~\ 
 
 INIQ. Ye be tyed fayre ynough for runnyng away ; 
 If ye do not after me, ye wyll be hanged, I dare say. 
 If thou tell no tales, but holde thy toungue, 
 I wyl set the at lybertye ere it be longe, 
 Though thou be iudged to dye anon. 
 
 [lujDGE. 1 Come on, sirs, I pray you, come on. 
 Be you all agreed in one? 
 
 One of them spekethfor the quest. 
 
 [JuROR.] Yea, my lord, euery-chone. 373 
 
 1 Cut away. < K. pount. 
 
 2 K. the. 6 K. Daniel th[e] iudge. 
 
 8 Haz. He telleth him in his ear the rest may not hear, which cannot 
 have stood in the British Museum cofy, as may be seen by arranging in 
 lines. 6 K. light ; Haz. sight.
 
 NICE WANTON. 473 
 
 Where Ismael was indited 2 by xij men 
 
 Of felony, burglary and murdre, 
 As thinditement declareth how, where, and when, 
 
 Ye heard it read to you lately, in ordre, 
 You, with the rest, I trust, all true men, 
 Be charged vpo your othes to gyue verdyte directly 
 Whether Ismael therof be gilty or not gilty. 380 
 
 \On\efor the \_qu\est? 
 
 (JUROR.] 4 Gilty, my lord, and most gilty. 
 [I]NIQ. 5 \to is mael\ Wilt thou hange, horeson noddy? 6 
 [!]UDGE. [to Ismael] The Lorde haue mercy vpon the! 
 [IJNIQ. [to lsmael\ Tusshe, holde thy tonge, and I warrant 
 
 the! 384 
 
 [I]UDGE. [to Ismael} Thou shalt go to the place thou camst 
 
 fro, 
 Tyl to-morow ix of the clocke there to remain ; 
 
 To the place of execution then shalt thou go, 
 There be hanged to death ; and after, again, 
 Being dead, for ensample to be hanged in a chain. 
 
 Take hym away, and se it be done, 
 
 At your perill, that may fall thereupon ! 29 r 
 
 [!]SM. Though I be iudged to dye, I require respite, 
 For the kings aduantage in 7 thinges I can recite. 
 
 [!]NIQ. A-way with him, he wyll speake but of spyte. 
 [I]UDGE. Well, we will heare you say what you can ; 395 
 
 1 Cut away. 
 
 2 K. intided ; corr. by Haz. 
 
 8 Haz. rest ; letters cut away. 
 
 * The assignment of tJie speeches here is confused in K. ; One for the 
 quest is opposite 1. 381 ; Iniquitie off. 382, Judge cff. 383, Iniquitie off. 
 384, and ludge off. 385. Haz. assigns 381-383 as I do, but assigns all 
 after to the Judge, and transposes 384 and 385. My assignment merely 
 supposes thai, like the first, all the names were put one line too high. 
 
 6 T fa first letter of the next ten speakers is cut away. 
 
 6 Haz. Wilt thou hang, my lord, [this] whoreson noddy ; K. has my 
 Lord, but I regard it as an intrusion from the preceding line. 
 
 " Haz. emends to some.
 
 474 NICE WANTON. 
 
 But se that ye wrongfully accuse no man. 
 
 [IJSM. I wyll be-lye no man, but thys I may say: 
 Here standeth he that brought me to thys waye. 
 
 [!]NIQ. My lorde, he lyeth like a dampned knaue ; 
 The feare of death doth make hym raue. 400 
 
 [IJSM. His naughtye company and playe at dice 
 Dyd me first to stealyng entice ; 
 He was wz'tA me at roberies, I say it to his face ; 
 Yet can I say more in tyme and place. 1 
 
 INIQ. [*<&] Thou hast said to much, I beshrew thi hor- 
 
 sons face! 405 
 
 Hange him, my lord, out of the way ; 
 The thief careth not what he doth say. 
 [Aside] Let me be hangman, I wil teache 2 him a sleight; 
 For feare of talkyng I wil strangle him streight. 
 Tary here that lyst, for I wyl go. 410 
 
 He would go. 
 
 IUDG[E]. 3 No, no, my frend, not so ! 
 I thought alwayes ye should not be good, 
 And now it wil proue, I se, by the rood ! 
 Take him and lay him in yrons stronge. 
 We wil talke with you more ere it be longe. 415 
 
 They ta\_ke\ him in a h\al\ter ; hefi^K\teth iiAAi the\m\? 
 
 INIQ. He that layeth handes on me in this place, 
 Iche lay my brawlyng-yron on his face ! 
 By Gogs bloud, I defye thy worst ! 
 If thou shouldest hange me, I were a-curst. 
 
 I haue bene at as low an ebbe as this, 420 
 
 And quyckely a-loft again, by Gisse! 
 I haue mo frendes then ye thynke I haue; 
 I am entertained of all men lyke no slaue. 
 Yea, within this moneth, I may say to you, 
 I wyl be your seruaunt, and your maister, to, 425 
 
 l K. space. 2 K. teathe. 
 
 8 The letters in brackets are cut away.
 
 NICE WANTON. 4/5 
 
 Ye, crepe into your brest ! Wyl ye haue it so? 
 
 IUDGE. A-way with them both! leade them away! 
 At his death, tell me what he doth say ; 
 For then, be-lyke, he wyll not lye. 
 
 INIQ. I care not for you both ; no, not a fly ! 430 
 
 They lead them out. 
 
 IUDGE. If no man haue here more matter to say, 
 I must go hence some other way. 
 
 He goeth out. 
 [Enter Worldly Shame} 
 
 WORLDLY SHAME. Hah ha! though I come in rudely, be 
 
 not agast! 
 
 I must worke a feate in al the hast! 
 
 I haue caught two byrdes : I wyll set for the dame ; 435 
 
 If I catche her in my clutche, I wyl her tame ! 
 Of all thys while know ye not my name? 
 I am right worshipfull Maister Wor[l]dly Shame. 
 The matter that I come now about 
 
 Is euen thys, I put you out of dought : 440 
 
 There is one x Xantippe, a curst shrew, 
 I thynke al the world doth her knowe, 
 Suche a iade she is and so curst a quene 
 She would out-scold the deuils dame, I wene. 
 Sirs, thys fine woman had babes three : 445 
 
 Twayne the derest darlinges that might be, 
 Ismael and faire Dalila, these two ; 
 With the loute Barnabas I haue nothyng to do. 
 Al was good that these tidlynges do might, 
 Sweare, lye, steale, scolde, or fight, 450 
 
 Carde, 2 dyce, kysse, clippe, and so furth : 
 All this our Mammy would take in good worth. 
 Now, sir[s], Dalila, my daughter, is dead of th& pockes, 
 And my son hanged 3 in chaynes and waueth his locks. 
 
 1 K. none ; corr. by Haz. * Haz. emends to hangeth. 
 
 2 K. Gardes.
 
 4/6 NICE WANTON. 
 
 These newes wil I tel her, and the matter so frame 455 
 
 That she shal be thyne owne, Mayster Worldly Shame. 
 Hah ha ha! 
 
 Xantippe commeth in. 
 
 Peace, peace! she commeth hereby. 
 I spoke no word of her, no, not I ! 458 
 
 Oh Mestres Xantippe, I can tell you newes : * 
 
 The fayre wenche, your dere daughter Dalila, 
 
 Is dead of the pockes, taken at the stewes ; 
 And thy sonne Ismael, that preaty boy, 
 
 Whom, I dare say, you loued very well, 
 
 Is hanged in chaynes, euer[y] 2 man can tell. 464 
 
 Euery man saith thy daughter was a strong whore, 
 And thy sonne a strong thief and a murderer, to ; 
 
 It must nedes greue you wonderous sore 8 
 That they died so shamefully, both two. 
 
 Men wyl taunt you and mock you, for they say now 
 
 The cause of their death was euen verye you. 470 
 
 XANT. I the cause of their death ! 
 
 She wold sowne. 
 
 WORLDLY SHAME. Will ye sowne? the deuyl stop thy 
 
 breath! 472 
 
 Thou shalt die, I trow, with more shame ; 
 
 I wyl get me hence out of the way ; 
 If the whore should dye, men would me blame, 
 
 That I killed her, knaues should say. Exit. 476 
 
 XANT. Alas, alas, and weale-away! 
 
 I may curse the time that I was borne! 
 Neuer woman had suche fortune, I dare say ; 
 
 Alas, two of my chyldren be forlorne! 480 
 
 1 K. nedes ; corr. by Haz., -who gives reading of K. as neder. 
 * Corr. by Haz. 8 K. sora.
 
 NICE WANTON. 4/7 
 
 My faire daughter Dalila is dead of the pockes; 
 
 My dere sonne Ismael hanged vp in chaynes, 
 Alas, the wynd waueth his yelow lockes! 
 
 It sleaeth my heart and breaketh my braynes! 484 
 
 Why should God punish and plague me so sore, 
 
 To se my children dye so shamefully? 
 I wil neuer eate bread in this world more ; 
 
 this knife wyl I sley my-self by-and-by\ 488 
 
 She -wold stick herself e -with a knife. 
 \Enter Barnabas :] 
 
 BARN. Beware what ye do ! fye, mother, fye ! 
 
 Wyl ye spyl your-selfe for your own offence, 
 And seme for-euer to exclude Gods mercy? 
 
 God doth punysh you for your negligence ; 
 
 Wherfore take his correction with pacience 
 And thanke him hertely that, of his godnes, 
 He bringeth you in knowledge of your trespas. 495 
 
 For when my brother and sister were of yonge age, 
 You saw they were geuen to ydlenes and play, 
 
 Would apply no learnyng but Hue in outrage, 
 And men complayned on them euery day ; 
 Ye winked at theyr faultes and tidied them alway ; 
 
 By maintenaunce they grew to mischief and yll ; 
 
 So, at last, Gods iustice did them both spill. 502 
 
 In that God preserued * me, small thanke to you ! 
 If God had not geuen me speciall grace 
 
 To auoyd euil and do good, this is true 
 I had liued and dyed in as wretched case 
 As they did, for I had both suffraunce and space ; 
 
 But it is an olde prouerbe, 2 you haue herd it, I think, 
 
 That God wyl haue se, shall not wynke. 509 
 
 Yet in this we may al take comfort : 
 
 They toke great repentaunce, I heard say ; 
 
 1 K. preseruerued. 2 K. prouerke.
 
 4/8 NICE WANTON. 
 
 And, as for my sister, I am able to report 
 
 She lamented for her sinnes to her dy[i]ng-day. 
 To repent and beleue I exhorted 1 her alway. 
 Before her death she beleued that God, of his mercy, 
 For Christes sake, would saue her eternally. 516 
 
 If you do euen so, ye nede not despaire, 
 
 For God will frely remitte your sinnes all. 
 Christe hath payed the raunsom ; why shuld ye fear? 
 
 To beleue this and do well, to God for grace call ; 
 
 All worldly cares let passe and fall ; 
 And thus comfort my father, I pray you hertely ! 
 I haue a lytle to say, I wyl come by-and-by. 523 
 
 Xantippe goeth out. 
 
 Right gentle audience, by thys interlude ye may se 
 How daungerous it is for the frailtye of youth, 
 
 Without good gouernaunce, to lyue at libertye. 
 
 Suche chaunces as these oft happen, of truth ; 
 Many miscary, it is the more ruth, 
 
 By negligence of their elders and not taking payne 
 
 In tyme good learnyng and qualities to attayne. 530 
 
 Therfore exhort I 2 al parentes to be diligent 
 
 In bringing vp their children, yea, 8 to be circumspect; 
 
 Least they fall to euill, be not negligent, 
 
 But chastice them before they be sore infect ; 
 Accept their well-doing, in yll them reiect. 
 
 A yonge plant ye may platte and bowe as ye wyll ; 
 
 Where it groweth strong, there wyll it abyde styll : 537 
 
 Euen so by chyldren, in theyr tender age 
 
 Ye may worke them like waxe 4 to your own entent ; 
 
 But if ye suffer them longe to Hue in outrage, 
 
 They wil be sturdy and stiffe, and will not relent. 
 O ye chyldren, let your tyme be well spent ; 
 
 1 K. exorthed ; the x broken. 8 Haz. emends to aye. 
 
 a K. exhortyng ; corr. by Haz. 4 The x is broken.
 
 NICE WANTON. 479 
 
 Applye your learnyng and your elders obey: 
 
 It wil be your profit an-other day. 544 
 
 He knele\tK\ 1 downe. 
 
 Now for the Quenes 2 Royal Maiestie let vs pray, 
 
 That God, in whose handes is Me hert of al quenes, 2 
 
 Maye endue Her 2 Highnes wz'tA godly puissance alwaye, 
 
 That Her 2 Grace may long raign and prosper in al things, 
 In Gods word and iustice may giue light to al quenes. 2 
 
 Let vs pray for the Honorable Councel and Nobilitie, 
 
 That they may alwayes counsel in wisdow \vit/i trawquility. 
 
 God saue the Quene, the Realme, and Cominaltie! 552 
 
 He mak\eth~y- curtesy an\d~$ goeth out. 
 FINIS. 
 
 T. R. 
 
 rw n r a A SONG. 
 
 [He]re fyng 
 
 Tech als anfwea- ... , . , 
 
 \ . , J ., It is good to be mery. 
 
 [rinjg other, ' 
 
 [tha]t alwaies But who can be 4 mery? 
 
 [the] iiiSftaffe He that hath a pure conscience, 
 
 [the]y fingfi to- He may well be mery. 
 
 [ge]theiv 
 
 1 Cut away by binder. 
 
 2 It is dear from the rhymes that this play was originally composed for 
 production before a king. 8 K. relyng. 4 K. cam me. 
 
 5 Perhaps this should be iiii, but I take the last two lines to be meant 
 by the third stave. 6 K. yfing. 
 
 7 / supply letters cut off by the binder. The alignment is that given by 
 my copyist; Haz. prints some of the words in italics, and so aligns the 
 edges as to give a different idea of the amount missing; thus : 
 
 resyng, 
 answer- 
 ing other 
 t always 
 staff 
 
 , ysing to 
 other.
 
 480 NICE WANTON. 
 
 Who hath a pure conscience? tel me! 
 No man, of him-self, I ensure the. 
 Then must it folow of necessitie 
 
 That no man can be mery. 8 
 
 Puritie it-self e may purenes geue ; 
 You must aske it of God in true beleue. 
 Then wyl he geue it, and none repreue ; 
 
 And so we may be mery. 12 
 
 What is the practice of a conscience pure? 
 To loue and feare God, and other allure ; 
 And, for his sake, to helpe hys neighbour, 
 
 Then may he well be mery. 16 
 
 What shall he haue that can and wil do this? 
 
 After this life euerlasting blisse : 
 
 Yet not by desert, but by gyft, y-wisse. 
 
 There God make vs all mery ! 20 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Imprinted at London, in Paules 
 
 Churche yearde at the Sygne of 
 
 the Swane by John Kyng.
 
 PART V.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 
 
 Printed from the first edition (by Wyllyam Myddylton, London, n. d. [before 
 I 54?].>- 1 tne footnotes M. indicates this edition ; A. indicates the third edition 
 (by John Allde, London, 1569); Coll. indicates the edition by Collier, in Dodsley's 
 " Old Plays " (London, 1825). For the readings of A. I have had to rely upon 
 Collier, who, u must be admitted, is inaccurate. I have not pointed out the numer- 
 ous instances in which his text differs from mine in finale's. Hazlitt's edition 
 seems, so far as the textual notes are concerned, mainly a reprint of Collier's ; I 
 have usually disregarded it. 
 
 The playe called the fonre PP. 
 
 A newe and a' very mery enter lude of 
 
 A PALMER. 
 A PARDONER. 
 A POTYCARY. 
 A PEDLER. 
 
 Made by John Heewood. 
 [Enter Palmer J] 
 
 PALMER. Nowe God be here, who kepeth this place! 
 
 Now, by my fayth, I crye you mercy ; 
 Of reason I must sew for grace, 
 
 My rewdnes sheweth me no[w] 1 so homely. 
 Wherof your pardon axt and wonne, 
 
 I sew you, 2 as curtesy doth me bynde, 
 To tell thys whiche shalbe begonne 
 
 In order as may come beste in mynde. 8 
 
 1 A. not ; Coll. rejects no. 
 
 2 A. sue now. 
 8 M. myndy.
 
 484 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 I am a palmer, as ye * se, 
 
 Whiche of my lyfe much part hath 2 spent 
 In many a fay re and farre 3 countre, 
 
 As pylgrymes do of good intent. 12 
 
 At Hierusalem 4 haue I bene 
 
 Before Chrystes blessed sepulture ; 
 The Mount of Caluery haue I 6 sene, 
 
 A holy place, ye may be sure ; 16 
 
 To losophat and Olyuete 
 
 On fote, God wote, I wente ryght bare, 
 Many a salt tere dyde I swete 
 
 Before thys carkes coulde 6 come there ; 20 
 
 Yet haue I bene at Rome also, 
 
 And gone the stacions all arow, 
 Saynt Peters Shryne and many mo 
 
 Then, yf I tolde, all ye do know, 24 
 
 Except that there be any suche 
 
 That hath ben there and diligently 
 Hath taken hede and marked muche,- 
 
 Then can they speke as muche as I. 28 
 
 Then at the Rodes also I was ; 
 And rounde about to Amyas ; 
 At Saynt Toncomber ; and Saynt Tronion; 
 At Saynt Bothulph ; and Saynt Anne of Buckston ; 
 On the Hylles of Armony, where I see " Noes arke ; 33 
 
 With holy lob; and Saynt George in Suthwarke; 
 At Waltam ; and at Walsyngam ; 
 And at the good Rood of Dagnam ; 
 At Saynt Cornelys ; at Saynt lames in Gales ; 
 And at Saynt Wynefrydes Well in Walles ; 38 
 
 At Our Lady of Boston ; at Saynt Edmundes-byry ; 
 And streyght to Saynt Patrykes Purgatory; 
 At Rydybone ; and at the Blood of Hayles, 
 
 ' A. you, so regularly. 5 A. I have. 
 
 2 Coll. A. have. A. would. 
 
 8 A. far and faire. t A. saw. 
 * A. Jerusalem.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 485 
 
 Where pylgrymes paynes ryght muche auayles ; 
 
 At Saynt Dauys ; and at Saynt Denis ; 43 
 
 At Saynt Mathew ; and Saynt Marke in Venis ; 
 
 At Mayster lohan Shorne ; at Canterbury; 
 
 The Graet God of Katewade ; at Kynge Henry ; 1 
 
 At Saynt Sauyours; at Our Lady of Southwell; 
 
 At Crome ; at Wylsdome ; and at Muswell ; 48 
 
 At Saynt Rycharde ; and at Saynt Roke ; 
 
 And at Our Lady that standeth in the Oke : 
 
 To these with other many one 
 
 Deuoutly haue I prayed and gone, 
 
 Prayeng to them to pray for me 53 
 
 Unto the Blessed Trynyte ; 
 
 By whose prayers and my dayly payne 
 
 I truste the soner to obtay[n]e 2 
 
 For my saluacyon grace and mercy, 
 
 For be ye sure I thynke surely 8 58 
 
 Who seketh sayntes for Crystes sake 
 
 And namely suche as payne do take 
 
 On fote to punyshe their 4 frayle body 
 
 Shall therby meryte more hyely 
 
 Then by any-thynge done by man. 63 
 
 {The Pardoner has entered while the Palmer is speaking^ 
 
 PARDONER. And when ye haue gone as farre as ye can, 
 For all your labour and gostely entente 
 Yet welcome 5 home as wyse as ye wente! 
 
 PALMER. Why, sir, dyspyse ye pylgrymage? 
 
 PARDONER. Nay, for 6 God, syr, then dyd I rage! 68 
 
 I thynke ye ryght well occupyed 
 To seke these sayntes on euery syde. 
 Also your payne 7 I nat disprayse it, 
 
 1 A. Kerry. 5 A. Ye will come. 
 
 2 Corr. by Coll from A. 6 Coll. A. fore. 
 
 8 A. assuredly ; here and in several other instances Coll. calls A. the 
 seconded.; Haz. usually follows him. "' A. paynes. 
 * So Coll. from A ; M. has thy, perhaps for thys.
 
 486 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 But yet I discomende your wit, 
 
 And, or 1 we go, euen so shall ye, 73 
 
 If ye in this wyl answere me : 
 
 I pray you, shew what the cause is 
 
 Ye wente al these pylgrymages. 
 
 PALMER. Forsoth this lyfe I dyd begyn 
 
 To rydde the bondage of my syn, 78 
 
 For whiche these sayntes rehersed or this 
 I haue both sought and sene, i-wys, 
 Besechynge them to be 2 recorde 
 Of all mypayne vnto the Lorde, 
 
 That gyueth all remyssyon 83 
 
 Upon eche mans contricyon ; 
 And by theyr good mediacyon, 
 Upon myne 8 humble submyssion, 
 I trust to haue in very dede 
 For my soule helth the better spede. 88 
 
 PARDONAR. Nowe is your owne confessyon lyckely 
 To make your-self e 4 a fole quyckely, 
 For I perceyue ye wolde obtayne 
 No nother 5 thynge for all your payne 
 
 But onely grace your soule to saue. 93 
 
 Nowe marke in this what wyt ye haue 
 To seke so farre, and helpe so nye : 
 Euen here at home is remedy, 
 For at your dore my-selfe doth dwell, 
 
 Who coulde haue saued your soule as well 98 
 
 As all your wyde wandrynge shall do, 
 Though ye wente thryes to lericho. 
 Nowe, syns ye myght haue spedde at home, 
 What haue ye wone by ronnyng 6 at Rome? 
 
 PALMER. If this be true that ye haue moued, 103 
 
 Then is my wyt in-dede reproued ; 
 But let vs here fyrste what ye are. 
 
 1 A. ere ; so regularly. 8 A. my. 5 Coll. A. other. 
 
 2 Coll. bear, no note. * A. you. 
 
 So my copyist ; Coll. gives ronnying as reading of this edition.
 
 TFiE FOURE PP. 487 
 
 PARDONAR. Truly I am a pardoner. 
 
 PALMER. Truely a pardoner, that may be true ; 
 But a true pardoner doth nat ensew ! 1 08 
 
 Ryght selde is it sene or neuer 
 That treuth and pardoners dwell together ; 
 For, be your pardons neuer so great, 
 Yet them to enlarge ye wyll nat let 
 
 With suche lyes that oftymes, Cryste wot, 113 
 
 Ye seme to haue that ye haue nat. 
 Wherfore I went my-selfe to the selfe thynge 
 In euery place, and, without faynynge, 
 Had as muche pardon there assuredly 
 
 As ye can promyse me here doutefully. 118 
 
 Howe-be-it I thynke ye do but scoffe ; l 
 But yf ye hadde all the pardon ye speke 2 of, 
 And no whyt of pardon graunted 
 In any place where I haue haunted, 
 
 Yet of my labour I nothynge repent. 123 
 
 God hathe respect how eche tyme is spent, 
 And, as in his knowledge all is regarded, 
 So by his goodnes all is rewarded. 
 
 PARDONAR. By the 8 fyrste parte of this laste tale 
 It semeth you come late 4 from the ale ; 1 28 
 
 For reason on your syde so farre doth fayle 
 That ye leue [rejsonyng 5 and begyn to rayle; 
 Wherin ye forget your owne parte clerely, 
 For ye be as vntrue as I ; 
 
 And in one poynte ye are beyonde me, 133 
 
 For ye may lye by aucthoryte, 
 And all that hath 6 wandred so farre 
 That no man can be theyr controller. 
 And, where ye esteme your labour so muche, 
 I say yet agayne my pardons be 7 suche 138 
 
 1 Coll. gives scofte as reading of M.; my copyist -wrote scofte, but 
 changed the t to f. 
 
 2 So Coll from A.; M. has kepe. 6 Corr. by Coll. from A. 
 8 A. this. Coll. A. have. 
 
 4 Coll. A. ye came of late. 1 Coll. A. are; so usually.
 
 488 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 That, yf there were a thousande soules on a hepe, 
 
 I wolde brynge them all to heuen as good chepe 
 
 As ye haue brought your-selfe on pylgrymage 
 
 In the leste quarter of your vyage, 
 
 Which is 1 farre a thys side heuen, by God! 143 
 
 There your labour and pardon is od, 
 
 With smale cost and without any payne 
 
 These pardons bryngeth 2 them to heuen playne : 
 
 Geue me but a peny or two pens, 
 
 And as sone as the soule departeth hens, 1:48 
 
 In halfe an hour, or thre quarters at moste, 
 
 The soule is in heuen with the Holy Ghost. 
 
 [The Potycary has entered during the last speech^ 
 
 POTYCARY. Sende ye any soules to heuen by water? 
 
 PARDONER. If we dyd, 3 syr, what is the mater? 
 
 POTYCARY. By God, I haue a drye soule shulde thyther ! 1 53 
 I praye you let our soules go to heuen togyther. 
 So bysy you twayne be in soules helth, 
 May nat a potycary come in by stelth? 
 Yes, that I 4 wyll, by Saynt Antony! 
 
 And, by the leue of thys company, 158 
 
 Proue ye false knaues bothe, or we goo, 
 In parte of your sayenges, as thys, lo : 5 
 Thou by thy trauayle thynkest heuen to gete ; 
 And thou by pardons and relyques countest no lete 
 To sende thyne owne soule to heuen sure, 163 
 
 And all other whome thou lyste to procure : 
 If I toke an accyon, then were they blanke ; 
 For lyke theues the knaues rob 6 away my thanke. 
 All soules in heuen hauynge relefe, 
 
 Shall they thanke your craftes? nay, thanke myn chefe ! 168 
 
 No soule, ye knowe, entreth heuen gate 
 Tyll from the bodye he be separate ; 
 
 1 CoL gives reading of this ed. as as. 4 A. we. 
 
 2 Coll. A. bring. 6 So Coll., without note; M. has so. 
 8 ColL A. doo. 6 A. they rob.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 489 
 
 And whome haue ye knowen dye ho[ne]stlye 1 
 
 Without helpe of the potycary? 
 
 Nay, all that commeth to our handlynge, 175 
 
 Except ye happe to come to hangynge : 
 
 That way, perchaunce, ye shall nat myster 
 
 To go to heuen without a glyster! 
 
 But, be ye sure, I wolde be wo 
 
 If 2 ye shulde chaunce 3 to begyle me so. 178 
 
 As good to lye with me a-nyght 
 
 As hange abrode in the mone lyght! 
 
 There is no choyse to fle my hande 
 
 But, as I sayd, into the bande. 
 
 Syns of our soules the multitude 183 
 
 I sende to heuen, when all is vewed, 
 
 Who shulde but I then all-togyther 
 
 Haue thanke of all theyr commynge thyther? 
 
 PARDONER. If ye kylde a thousande in an houre 
 
 space, 
 When come they to heuen, dyenge from state of grace? 4 188 
 
 POTYCARY. If a thousande pardons about your 5 neckes 
 
 were teyd, 
 When come they to heuen yf they neuer dyed? 
 
 PALMER. Longe lyfe after good workes in-dede 
 Doth hynder mannes receyt of mede, 
 
 And deth before one dewty done 193 
 
 May make vs thynke we dye to sone ; 
 Yet better tary a thynge, then haue it, 
 Then go to sone and vaynly craue it. 
 
 PARDONER. The longer ye dwell in communicacion, 
 The lesse shall you lyke thys ymagynacyon; 198 
 
 For ye may perceyue euen at the fyrst chop 
 Your tale is trapt in such a stop 
 That, at the leste, ye seme worse then we. 
 
 POTYCARY. By the masse, I holde vs nought all thre! 
 
 1 Corr. by Coll. from A. 4 Coll. A. dyenge out of grace. 
 
 2 A. That. 5 Qy. their. 
 8 M. chaunge ; Coll. chaunce, without note.
 
 49O JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 [The Pedler has entered in time to hear the last speech.] 
 
 PEDLER. By Our Lady, then haue I gone wronge ; 203 
 
 And yet to be here I thought longe ! 
 
 POTYCARY. Brother, ye haue gone wronge no w[h]yt 
 I prayse your fortune and your wyt, 
 That can dyrecte you so discretely 
 
 To plante you in this company : 208 
 
 Thou [a] * palmer, and thou a pardoner, 
 I a potycary. 
 
 PEDLER. And I a pedler. 
 
 POTYCARY. Nowe on my f ayth full well watched ! * 
 Were 3 the deuyll were we foure hatched? 
 
 PEDLER. That maketh no mater, syns we be matched. 213 
 I coulde be mery yf that I catchyd 
 Some money for parte of the ware in my packe. 
 
 POTYCARY. What the deuyll hast thou there at thy backe? 
 
 PEDLER. Why, dost thou nat knowe that every pedler 4 
 In euery tryfull 5 must be a medler? 218 
 
 Specyally in womens tryflynges, 
 Those vse we chefe 6 aboue all thynges. 
 Whiche thynges to se yf ye be disposed, 
 Beholde what ware here is disclosed. 
 
 Thys gere sheweth it-selfe in suche bewte 223 
 
 That eche man thynketh 7 it sayth : come, bye me ! 
 Loke, were 8 your-selfe can lyke to be chooser, 
 Your-selfe shall make pryce though I be looser ! 
 Is here 9 nothynge for my father Palmer? 
 
 Haue ye nat a wanton in a corner 228 
 
 For 10 your walkyng to holy places? 
 By Cryste, I haue herde of as straunge cases! 
 Who lyueth in loue or loue wolde wynne, 
 Euen at this packe he must begynne, 
 
 l Inserted by Coll., -without note. 6 Coll. A. cheefly. 
 
 3 Qy. matched. 7 A. thinks. 
 
 3 Coll. Where, without note. 8 Coll. where, without note. 
 
 * M. pedled ; corr. silently by Coll. A. there. 
 
 6 Coll. A. In all kind of trifles. 10 Coll. For all, without note.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 49! 
 
 Where l is ryght many a proper token, 233 
 
 Of whiche by name parte shall be spoken : 
 
 Gloues, pynnes, combes, glasses vnspottyd, 
 
 Pomanders, hookes, and lasses knotted, 2 
 
 Broches, rynges, and all maner bedes, 
 
 Lace, 8 rounde and flat, for womens hedes, 238 
 
 Nedyls, threde, thymbll[s], 4 shers, and all suche knackes, 
 
 Where louers be, no suche thynges lackes, 
 
 Sypers, swathbondes, rybandes, and sleue-laces, 
 
 Gyrdyls, knyues, purses, and pyncases. 
 
 POTYCARY. Do women bye theyr pyncases of you? 243 
 
 PEDLER. Ye, that they do, I make God a-vow! 
 
 POTYCARY. So mot I thryue, then for my parte, 
 I be-shrewe thy knaues nakyd herte 
 For makynge my wyfeys pyncase so wyde! 
 
 The pynnes fall out, they can nat abyde. 248 
 
 Great pynnes must she haue, one or other ; 
 Yf she lese one, she wyll fynde an-other, 
 Wherin I fynde cause to complayne, 
 New pynnes to her pleasure and my payne! 
 
 PARDONER. Syr, ye seme well sene in womens causes : 253 
 I praye you, tell me what causeth this, 
 That women, after theyr arysynge, 5 
 Be so longe in theyr apparelynge? 
 
 PEDLER. Forsoth, women haue many lettes, 
 And they be masked 6 in many nettes : " 258 
 
 As, frontlettes, fyllettes, par[t]lettes 8 and barcelettes ; 
 And then theyr bonettes, and theyr poynettes. 
 By these lettes and nettes the lette is suche 
 That spede is small whan haste is muche. 
 
 POTYCARY. An-other cause why they come nat forwarde, 263 
 
 1 Coll. A. Wherin. 8 Coll. A. Laces. 
 
 2 A. unknotted. 4 A. has the plural. 5 A. uprising. 
 6 So Coll., without note ; the word now looks like maiked. 
 
 " So Coll., -without note; the word now looks like frettes, but the line is at 
 the top of the page and the upper half of long letters has been trimmed 
 away. 8 Coll. partlettes, without note.
 
 492 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 Whiche maketh them dayly to drawe backwarde, 
 
 And yet * is a thynge they can nat forbere : 
 
 The trymmynge and pynnynge vp theyr gere, 
 
 Specyally theyr fydlyng with the tayle-pyn, 
 
 And when they wolde haue it prycke 2 in, 268 
 
 If it chaunce to double in the clothe 
 
 Then be they 3 wode and swereth* an othe- 
 
 Tyll it stande ryght, they wyll nat forsake it. 
 
 Thus, though it may nat, yet wolde they make it. 
 
 But be ye sure they do but defarre it, . 273 
 
 For, when they wolde make it, ofte tymes marre it. 
 
 But prycke them and pynne them as myche 5 as ye wyll, 
 
 And yet wyll they loke for pynnynge styll ; 
 
 So that I durste holde you a ioynt 6 
 
 Ye shall neuer haue them at a full" poynt. 278 
 
 PEDLER. Let womens maters passe, and marke myne! 
 What-euer theyr poyntes be, these poyntes be fyne. 
 Wherfore, yf ye be wyllynge to bye, 
 Ley downe money ! come of quyckely ! 
 
 PALMER. Nay, by my trouth, we be lyke fryers : 283 
 
 We are but beggers, we be no byers. 
 
 PARDONER. Syr, ye maye showe your ware for your 
 
 mynde, 
 But I thynke ye shall no profyte fynde. 
 
 PEDLER. Well, though thys Journey 8 acquyte no coste, 
 Yet thynke I nat my labour loste ; 288 
 
 For, by the fayth of my body, 
 I lyke full well thys company. 
 Up shall this packe, for it is playne 
 I came not hyther al for gayne. 
 Who may nat play one day in a weke, 293 
 
 1 A. it. 8 A. they be. 
 
 2 Coll. A. prickt. < Coll. A. swere. 
 
 6 M. nyche ; A. nie ; Coll. suggested much as the meaning; Haz. emends 
 to nice. 
 
 6 M. toynt ; Coll. with you a joynt, without note. 
 
 7 Coll. A. ful(l) ; M. fall, -which is possible. 
 
 8 M. your ney ; Coll. journey, -without note.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 493 
 
 May thynke hys thryfte is farre to seke! 
 Deuyse what pastyme ye thynke beste, 
 And make ye sure to fynde me prest. 
 
 POTYCARY. Why, be ye so vnyuersall 
 That you can do what-so-euer ye shall? 298 
 
 PEDLER. Syr, yf ye lyste to appose l me, 
 What I can do then shall ye se. 
 
 POTYCARY. Then tell me thys: be ye perfyt in drynk- 
 ynge? 
 
 PEDLER. Perfyt in drynkynge as may be wysht by thynk- 
 yng! 
 
 POTYCARY. Then after your drynkyng how fall ye to 
 
 wynkyng? 303 
 
 PEDLER. Syr, after drynkynge, whyle the shot is 
 
 tynkynge, 
 
 Some hedes be swynking, 2 but myne wyl be synkynge, 
 And vpon drynkynge myne eyse wyll be pynkynge, 
 For wynkynge to drynkynge is alway lynkynge. 
 
 POTYCARY. Then drynke and slepe ye can well. do. 308 
 
 But, yf ye were desyred therto, 
 I pray you, tell me, can you synge? 
 
 PEDLER. Syr, I haue some syght in syngynge. 
 
 POTYCARY. But is your brest any-thynge swete? 
 
 PEDLER. What-euer my breste be, my voyce is mete. 313 
 
 POTYCARY. That answer sheweth you a ryght syngynge 
 
 man. 
 Now what is your wyll, good father, than? 
 
 PALMER. What helpeth wyll where is no skyll? 
 
 PARDONER. And what helpeth skyll where is no wyll? 3 
 
 POTYCARY. For wyll or skyll, what helpeth it 318 
 
 Where frowarde knaues be lackynge wyt? 4 
 Leue of thys curyosytie ; 
 And who that lyste, synge after me! 
 
 1 Coll. oppose, -without note. 
 
 2 A.; Coll. M. swymmyng. 
 
 8 Coll. A. wil ; M. wyt ; see next note. 
 
 * Coll. A. wit ; M. wyll ; see preceding note.
 
 494 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 
 Here they syng-e. 1 
 
 PEDLER. Thys lyketh me well, so mot J the ! 
 
 PARDONER. So helpe me God, it lyketh nat me! 323 
 
 Where company is met and well agreed, 
 Good pastyme doth ryght well in-dede ; 
 But who can syt 2 in dalyaunce 
 Men syt 8 in suche a variaunce 
 
 As we were set or ye came in? 328 
 
 Whiche stryfe thys man dyd fyrst begynne, 
 Allegynge that suche men as vse 
 For loue of God, and nat 4 refuse, 
 On fot to goo from place to place 
 
 A pylgrymage, callynge for grace, 333 
 
 Shall in that payne with penitence 
 Obtayne discharge of conscyence, 
 Comparynge that lyfe for the beste 
 Enduccyon to our endles reste. 
 
 Upon these wordes our mater grewe ; 338 
 
 For, yf he coulde auow them true, 
 As good to be a gardener 
 As for to be a pardoner. 
 But, when I harde hym so farre wyde, 
 
 I then aproched and replyed, 343 
 
 Sayenge this: that this 5 indulgence, 
 Hauyng the forsayd penitence, 
 Dyschargeth man of all offence 
 With muche more profyt then this pretence. 
 
 I aske but two pens at the moste, 348 
 
 I-wys, this is nat very great coste, 
 And from 6 all payne, without dyspayre, 
 My soule for his, kepe euen his chayre, r 
 And when he dyeth he may be sure 
 To come to heuen, euen at pleasure. 353 
 
 1 The song is not given. 2 Qy. fet. 8 Qy. set. 
 
 4 M. nat and ; Coll. A. and not. 
 
 5 A. his, -which would be very appropriate in 1. 347. 
 
 6 A. for. 7 A. for to keep even in his chair.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 495 
 
 And more then heuen he can 1 nat get, 
 
 How farre so-euer he lyste to iet. 
 
 Then is hys payne more then hys wit 
 
 To wa[l]ke ' to heuen, syns he may syt ! 
 
 Syr, as we were in this contencion, 358 
 
 In came thys daw with hys inuencyon, 
 
 Reuelynge vs, hym-selfe auauntynge, 
 
 That all the soules to heuen assendynge 
 
 Are most bounde to the potycary, 
 
 Bycause he helpeth most men to dye ; 363 
 
 Before whiche deth he sayeth, in-dede, 
 
 No soule in heuen can haue hys mede. 
 
 PEDLER. Why, do potycaries kyll men? 
 
 POTYCARY. By God, men say so now and then ! 
 
 PEDLER. And I thought ye wolde nat haue myst 368 
 
 To make men 3 lyue as longe as ye lyste. 
 
 POTYCARY. As longe as we lyste? nay, longe 4 as they 
 can ! 
 
 PEDLER. So myght we lyue without you than. 
 
 POTYCARY. Ye, but yet it is 6 necessary 
 
 For to haue a potycary ; 373 
 
 For when ye fele your conscyens redy, 
 I can sende you to heuen 6 quyckly. 
 Wh erf ore, concernynge our mater here, 
 Aboue these twayne I am best, clere ; 
 
 And, yf ye 7 lyste to take me so, 378 
 
 I am content you and no mo 
 Shall be our iudge as in thys case, 
 Whiche of vs thre shall take the best place. 
 
 PEDLER. I neyther wyll iudge the beste nor worste ; 
 For, be ye bleste or be ye curste, 383 
 
 Ye know it is no whyt my sleyght 8 
 To be a iudge in maters of weyght. 
 
 1 A. may. 6 A. but it is very. 
 
 2 M. wake ; Coll. A. walke. * A. inserts very. 
 
 8 Coll. them, without note. 7 So Coll. A. ; M. he. 
 
 4 Coll. as longe, without note. 8 M. fleyght ; corr. silently by ColL
 
 4Q6 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 It behoueth no pedlers nor proctours 
 To take on them iudgemente as doctours. 
 
 But, yf your myndes be onely set 388 
 
 To worke for soule helthe, ye be well met ; 
 For eche of you somwhat doth showe 
 That soules towarde heuen by you do growe ; 
 Then, yf ye can so well agree 
 
 To contynue togyther all thre 393 
 
 And all you thre obey on * wyll, 
 Then all your myndes ye may fulfyll: 
 As, yf ye came all to one man 
 Who shulde goo 2 pylgrymage more then he can, 
 [To Palmer] In that ye, palmer, as debite, 398 
 
 May clerely dyscharge 8 hym, parde ; 
 
 [To Pardoner} And for all other syns, ones had contryssyon, 
 Your pardons geueth hym full remyssyon ; 
 [To Potycary} And then ye, mayster potycary, 
 May sende hym to heuen by-and-by. 403 
 
 POTYCARY. Yf he taste this boxe nye aboute the 
 
 pryme, 
 
 By the masse, he is in heuen or euensonge tyme ! 
 My craft is suche that I can ryght well 
 Sende my fryndes to heuen and my-selfe to hell. 
 But, syrs, marke this man, for he is wyse 408 
 
 How 4 coulde deuyse suche a deuyce ; 
 For yf we thre may be as one, 
 Then be we 6 lordes euerychone, 
 Betwene vs all coulde nat be myste 
 
 To saue the soules of whome we lyste. 413 
 
 But, for good order, at a worde, 
 Twayne of vs must wayte on the thyrde ; 
 And vnto that I do agree, 
 For bothe you twayne shall wayt on me. 
 
 1 Coll. silently corrects to one. 2 A. inserts on. 
 
 8 M. dyscharde ; so Coll., -without note. 
 
 4 Coll. gives readiiiff of M. as Howe, and corrects the spelling to who. 
 
 5 A. were we as.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 497 
 
 PARDONER. What chaunce is this that suche an elfe 1 418 
 Commaund two knaues, besyde hym-selfe? 
 Nay, nay, my frende, that wyll nat be ; 
 I am to good to wayt on the ! 
 
 PALMER. By Our Lady, and I wolde be loth 
 To wayt on the better on 2 you both ! 423 
 
 PEDLER. Yet be ye sewer, for all thys dout, 
 Thys waytynge must be brought about. 
 Men can nat prosper, wylfully ledde ; 
 All thynge decayeth 8 where is no hedde. 
 
 Wherfore, doutlesse, marke what I say : 428 
 
 To one of you thre twayne must obey ; 
 And, synnes ye can nat agree in voyce 
 Who shall be hed, there is no choyse 
 But to deuyse some maner thynge 
 
 Wherin ye all be lyke connynge ; 433 
 
 And in the. same who can do beste, 
 The other twayne to make them preste 
 In euery thynge of hys entente 
 Holly 4 to be at commaundement. 
 
 And now haue I founde one mastry 438 
 
 That ye can do in-dyfferently, 
 And is nother sellynge nor byenge, 
 But euyn only very lyenge ; 
 And all ye thre can lye as well 
 
 As can the falsest deuyll in hell. 443 
 
 And, though afore ye harde me grudge 
 In greater maters to be your iudge, 
 Yet in lyeng I can some skyll, 
 And, yf I shall be iudge, I wyll ; 
 And, be ye sure, without flatery, 448 
 
 1 Both M. and A. assign 11. 418, 419 to the Potycary, and have 419: 
 Commaunded two knaues be, besyde hym selfe; the p resent text appeared 
 in the first edition of Dodsley ; Collier thinks M. A. may be correct. 
 
 2 Coll. silently changes to of. 
 
 8 M. decayed; Coll. A. decay. 
 
 * For some occult reason Coll. changes this to Holy.
 
 498 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 Where my consciens fyndeth the mastrye, 
 Ther shall my Judgement strayt be founde, 
 Though I myght wynne a thousande pounde. 
 
 PALMER. Syr, for lyeng, though I can do it, 
 Yet am I loth for to goo to it. 453 
 
 PEDLER. [to Palmer] Ye haue nat l cause to feare to be 
 
 bolde, 2 
 
 For ye may be here 3 vncontrolled. 
 [To Pardoner] And ye in this haue good auauntage, 
 For lyeng is your comen vsage. 
 
 [To Potycary] And you in lyenge be well spedde, 458 
 
 For all your craft doth stande in falshed. 
 Ye nede nat care who shall begyn, 
 For eche of you may hope to wyn. 
 Now speke, all thre, euyn as ye fynde : 
 Be ye agreed to folowe my mynde? 463 
 
 PALMER. Ye, by my trouth, I am content. 
 
 PARDONER. Now, in good fayth, and I assente. 
 
 POTYCARY. If I denyed, I were a nody, 
 For all is myne, by Goddes body ! 
 
 Here the Potycary hoppeth. 
 
 PALMER. Here were a hopper to hop for the rynge ! 468 
 
 But, syr, 4 thys gere goth nat by hoppynge. 
 
 POTYCARY. Syr, in this hopynge I wyll hop so well 
 That my tonge shall hop as well as 5 my hele ; 
 Upon whiche hoppynge I hope, and nat doute it, 
 To hope 6 so that ye shall hope 6 without it. 7 473 
 
 PALMER. Syr, I wyll neyther boste ne brawll, 8 
 But take suche fortune as may fall ; 
 And, yf ye wynne this maystry, 
 I wyll obaye you quietly. 
 
 1 Coll. A. no. 6 M. aswell as ; Coll. A. better than. 
 
 2 A. beholde. Coll. A. hop. 
 
 * Coll. gives reading of M. as may here, and that of A. as may lie ; he 
 prints may here lie. J M. omits it. 
 
 4 A. sirs. M. drawll ; corr. silently by Coll.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 499 
 
 And sure I thynke that quietnesse 478 
 
 In any man is great rychesse, 
 
 In any maner company, 
 
 To rule or 1 be ruled indifferently. 
 
 PARDONER. By that host thou semest a begger in-dede. 
 What can thy quyetnesse helpe vs at nede ? 483 
 
 Yf we shulde starue, thou hast nat, I thynke, 
 One peny to bye vs one potte of drynke. 
 Nay, yf rychesse mygh[t]e 2 rule the roste, 
 Beholde what cause I haue to boste ! 
 
 Lo, here be 3 pardons halfe a dosyn ! 488 
 
 For gostely ryches they haue no cosyn ; 
 And, more-ouer, to me they brynge 
 Sufficient succour for my lyuynge. 
 And here be 3 relykes of suche a kynde 
 
 As in this worlde no man can 4 fynde. 493 
 
 Knele downe, all thre, and, when ye leue kyssynge, 
 Who lyste to offer shall haue my blyssynge ! 
 Frendes, here shall ye se euyn anone 
 Of All- Hallows the blessyd iaw-bone, 
 Kys it hardely, with good deuocion ! 498 
 
 POTYCARY. This kysse shall brynge vs muche promo- 
 
 cyon. 
 
 Fogh! by Saynt Sauyour, I neuer kyst a wars ! 
 Ye were as good kysse All-Hallows ars ! 
 For, by All-Halows, me thynketh 
 That All-Halows breth stynkith. 503 
 
 PALMER. Ye iudge All-Halows breth vnknowen ; 
 Yf any breth stynke, it is your owne. 
 
 POTYCARY. I knowe myne owne breth from All-Halows, 
 Or els it were tyme to kysse the galows. 
 
 PARDONER. Nay, syrs, beholde, here may ye se 508 
 
 The great-toe of the Trinite : 
 Who to thys toe any money voweth, 
 And ones may role it in his moueth, 
 
 1 A. inserts to. 8 A. are. 
 
 2 M. myghe ; corr. silently by Coll. * A. may.
 
 5OO JOHN HEYWQOD. 
 
 All hys lyfe after, I vndertake, 
 
 He shall be ryd of 1 the toth-ake. 513 
 
 POTYCARY. I praye you torne that relyke aboute ! 
 Other 2 the Trinite had the goute, 
 Or elles, bycause it is iii toes in one, 
 God made it muche as 3 thre toes alone. 
 
 PARDONER. 4 Well, lette that passe, and loke vpon 
 
 thys ; 518 
 
 Here is a relyke that doth nat mys 
 To helpe the leste as well 5 as the moste : 
 This is a buttocke-bone of Pentecoste. 
 
 POTYCARY. By Chryste, and yet, for all your boste, 
 Thys relyke hath be-shyten the roste ! 523 
 
 PARDONER. Marke well thys relyke, here is a whipper ! 
 My f riendes 6 vnf ayned, here 7 is a slypper 
 Of one of the Seuen Slepers, be sure. 
 Doutlesse thys kys shall do you great pleasure, 
 For all these two dayes it shall so ease you 528 
 
 That none other sauours shall displease you. 
 
 POTYCARY. All these two dayes ! nay, all thys 8 two yere ! 
 For all the sauours that may come here 
 Can be no worse ; for, at a worde, 
 One of the Seuen Slepers trode in a torde. 533 
 
 PEDLER. Syr, me thynketh your deuocion is but smal. 
 
 PARDONER. Small? mary, me thynketh he hath none at 
 all! 
 
 POTYCARY. What the deuyll care I what ye thynke? 
 Shall I prayse relykes when they stynke? 
 
 PARDONER. Here is an eye-toth of the Great Turke : 538 
 Whose eyes be ones sette on thys pece of worke 
 May happely lese parte of his eye-syght, 
 But nat all 9 tyll he be blynde out-ryght. 
 
 1 Coll. A. shall never be vext with. 6 A. freend. 
 
 2 Coll. A. either. 1 A. this. 
 
 Coll. A. as much(e) as. 8 Coll. A. these. 
 
 * M. Potycary. Coll. omits all, without note. 
 
 6 M. aswell.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 5OI 
 
 POTYCARY. What-so-euer any other man seeth, 
 I haue no deuocion l to 2 Turkes teeth ; 543 
 
 For, ail-though I neuer sawe a greter, 
 Yet me thynketh I haue sene many better. 
 
 PARDONER. Here is a box full of humble-bees 
 That stonge Eue as she sat on her knees 
 
 Tastynge the frute to her forbydden : 548 
 
 Who kysseth the bees within this hydden 
 Shall haue as muche pardon, of ryght, 
 As for any relyke he kyst thys nyght. 
 
 PALMER. Syr, I wyll kysse them, with all my herte. 
 
 POTYCARY. Kysse them agayne, and take my parte, 553 
 
 For I am nat worthy, nay, lette be, 
 Those bees that stonge Eue shall nat stynge me ! 
 
 PARDONER. Good frendes, I haue ye[s]t[e] here in 8 thys glas, 
 Whiche on the drynke at the weddynge was 
 
 Of Adam and Eue vndoutedly ; 558 
 
 If ye honor this relyke deuoutly, 
 Ail-though ye thurste no whyt the lesse, 
 Yet shall ye drynke the more doutlesse, 
 After whiche drynkynge ye shall be as mete 
 To stande on your hede as on your fete. 563 
 
 POTYCARY. Ye, mary, now I can 4 ye 5 thanke ; 
 In presents of thys the reste be blanke. 
 Wolde God this relyke had come rather ! 
 Kysse that relyke well, good father! 
 
 Suche is the payne that ye palmers take 568 
 
 To kysse the pardon-bowle for the drynke sake. 
 O holy yeste, that loketh full sowr and stale, 
 For Goddes body helpe me to a cuppe of ale ! 
 The more I be-holde 6 the, the more I thurste; 
 The oftener I kysse the, more lyke to burste ! 573 
 
 But syns I kysse the so deuoutely, 
 Hyre me, and helpe me with drynke till I dye! 
 
 1 M. devacion ; Coll. devocyon, -without note. 
 
 2 Coll. A. unto. * Coll. A. con. 6 A. see. 
 * A. omits here. 6 ColL you, -without note.
 
 5O2 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 What, so muche prayenge and so lytell spede ? 
 
 PARDONER. Ye, for God knoweth whan it is nede 
 To sende folkes drynke ; but, by Saynt Antony, 578 
 
 I wene he hath sent you to muche all-redy. 
 
 POTYCARY. If I haue neuer the more for the, 
 Then be the relykes no ryches to me, 
 Nor to thy-selfe, excepte they be 
 
 More benefycyall then I can se. 583 
 
 Rycher is one boxe of [tjhis 1 tryacle 
 Then all thy relykes that do no myrakell. 
 If thou haddest prayed but halfe so muche to me 
 As I haue prayed to thy relykes and the, 
 
 Nothynge concernynge myne occupacion 588 
 
 But streyght shulde haue wrought in 2 operacyon. 
 And, as in value, I pas you an ace. 
 Here 8 lyeth muche rychesse in lytell space, 
 I haue a boxe of rebarb here, 
 
 Whiche is as deynty as it is dere. 593 
 
 So * helpe me God and hollydam, 
 Of this I wolde nat geue a dram 6 
 To the beste frende I haue in Englandes grounde 
 Though he wolde geue me xx pounde ; 
 
 For, though the stomake do it abhor, 598 
 
 It pourget[h] you clene from the color, . 
 And maketh your stomake sore to waiter, 
 That ye shall neuer come to the halter. 
 
 PEDLER. Then is that medycyn a souerayn thynge 
 To preserue a man from hangynge. 603 
 
 POTYCARY. If ye wyll taste but thys crome that ye se, 
 If euer ye be hanged, neuer truste me! 
 
 1 M. his ; Coll. this, without note. 
 
 ~ Coll. A. one. 
 
 8 Coll. So here, without note, cf. 1. 594. 
 
 4 In Coll. So is marked as " addition? upon -which Collier himself re~ 
 marks that his predecessors are mistaken, as the word is found in both 
 the old copies ; of course, it is really 1. 591 to -which so -was added {in con- 
 sequence of failure to understand the construction). 
 
 6 M. deam ; corr. silently by Coll.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 503 
 
 Here haue I diapompholicus, 
 
 A speciall oyntement, as doctours discuse, 
 
 For a fistela or a l canker 608 
 
 Thys oyntement is euen shot-anker, 
 
 For this medecyn 2 helpeth one and other, 
 
 Or bryngeth them in case that they nede no other. 
 
 Here is 8 syrapus de Byzansis, 
 
 A lytell thynge is i-nough of this, 613 
 
 For euen the weyght of one scryppull * 
 
 Shall 5 make you stronge as 6 a cryppull. 
 
 Here be 7 other : as, diosfialios, 
 
 Diagalanga, and sticados, 
 
 Blanka manna, diospoliticon, 618 
 
 Mercury sublyme, and metridaticon, 
 
 Pelitory, 8 and arsefetita, 
 
 Cassy, and colloquintita. 
 
 These be 9 the thynges that breke all stryfe 
 
 Betwene mannes sycknes and his lyfe ; 623 
 
 From all payne these shall you deleuer, 
 
 And set you euen at reste for-euer. 
 
 Here is a medecyn no mo lyke the same! 
 
 Whiche comenly is called thus by name : 
 
 Alikakabus or alkakengy, 628 
 
 A goodly thynge for dogges that be 10 mangy. 
 
 Suche be these medycynes that I can 
 
 Helpe a dogge as well as a man. 
 
 Nat one thynge here partycularly 
 
 But worketh vniuersally, 633 
 
 For it doth me as muche good when I sell it 
 
 As all the byers that taste it or smell it. 
 
 Now, syns my medycyns be so specyall, 
 
 And in u operacion so generall, 
 
 1 Coll. or for a, without note. 6 Coll. as stronge as, without note. 
 
 2 A. oyntment. 7 Coll. are, without note. 
 
 8 Coll. is a, -without note. 8 Coll. Pellitory, without note. 
 
 * Coll. scryppall. 9 A. are. ^ A. are. 
 
 6 A. WiL " Coll. in one, without note.
 
 504 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 And redy to worke when-so-euer they shall, 638 
 
 So that in ryches I am principall, 
 
 If any rewarde may entreat ye, 
 
 I besech your mashyp ] be good to 2 me, 
 
 And ye shall haue a boxe of marmelade 
 
 So fyne that ye may dyg it with a spade. 643 
 
 PEDLER. Syr, I thanke you, but your rewarde 
 Is nat the thynge that I regarde ; 
 I muste and wyll be indifferent : 
 Wherfore precede in your intente. 
 
 POTYCARY. Nowe, yf I wyst thys wysh no synne, 648 
 
 I wolde to God I myght begynne! 
 
 PARDONER. I am content that thou lye fyrste. 
 
 PALMER. Euen so am I ; and 8 say thy worste! 
 Now let vs here of all thy lyes 
 
 The greatest lye thou mayst deuyse, 653 
 
 And in the few) r st wordes thou can. 
 
 POTYCARY. Forsoth, ye be 4 an honest man. 
 
 PALMER. 6 There sayde ye muche, but yet no lye. 
 
 PARDONER. Now lye ye bothe, by Our Lady! 
 Thou lyest in bost of hys honestie, 658 
 
 And he hath lyed in affyrmynge the. 
 
 POTYCARY. Yf we both lye and ye say true, 
 Then of these lyes your parte adew! 
 And yf ye wyn, make none auaunt ; 
 
 For ye 6 are sure of one yll seruauhte. 663 
 
 \To Palmer] Ye 6 may perceyue by the wordes he gaue 
 He taketh your mashyp but for a knaue. 
 But who tolde true 7 or lyed in-dede, 
 That wyll I knowe or 8 we procede : 
 
 Syr, after that I fyrste began 668 
 
 To prayse you for an honest man, 
 
 1 Coll. masshyp. 8 Coll. A. now. 
 
 2 A. unto. 4 A. you are. 
 
 6 Coll., followed by Haz., silently transfers this speech to the Pedler ; but 
 II. 669-674 confirm M. 7 Coll. A. truthe. 
 
 8 Coll. you, -without note. 8 A. ere.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 505 
 
 When ye affyrmed it for no lye, l 
 Now, by our 2 fayth, speke euen truely, = 
 Thought ye your affyrmacion true? 
 
 PALMER. Ye, mary, I ! 3 for I wolde ye knewe 673 
 
 I thynke my-selfe an honest man. 
 
 POTYCARY. What thought ye in the contrary than ? 
 
 PARDONER. In that I sayde the contrary, 
 I thynke from trouth I dyd nat vary. 
 
 POTYCARY. And what of my wordes ? 
 
 PARDONER. I thought ye lyed. 678 
 
 POTYCARY. And so thought I, by God that dyed ! 
 Nowe haue you twayne eche for hym-selfe layde 
 That none 4 hath lyed ou[gh]t 5 but both truesayd ; 
 And of vs twayne none hath denyed, 
 
 But both affyrmed, that I haue lyed : 683 
 
 Now syns [ye] both your 6 trouth confes, 
 And that we both my lye so witnes 
 That twayne of vs thre in one agree, 7 
 And that the Iyer the wynner must be, 
 
 Who coulde prouyde suche euydens 688 
 
 As I haue done in this pretens? 
 Me thynketh this mater sufficient 
 To cause you to gyue iudgement 
 And to giue me the mastrye, 
 For ye perceyue these knaues can nat lye. 693 
 
 PALMER. Though nother 8 of vs as yet had lyed, 
 Yet what we can do is vntryed ; 
 For yet 9 we haue deuysed nothynge, 
 
 1 Collier's note is confused, but I infer that A. has for to lye. 
 
 2 Coll. A. your; but our is possible. 
 
 8 Coll. omits I, -without note. 4 A. one. 
 
 5 M. out, -which is silently omitted by Coll. 
 Coll. A. ye the. 
 
 7 Coll. A. (apparently through failure to follow the argument): 
 
 How that I lyed, doo bear witnes. 
 That twain of us may soon agree, 
 
 8 ColL A. neyther. Coll. For as yet, -without note.
 
 506 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 But answered you and geuen 1 hyrynge. 
 
 PEDLER. Therfore I haue deuysed one waye 698 
 
 Wherby all thre your myndes may saye : 
 For eche of you one tale shall tell, 
 And whiche of you telleth most meruell 
 And most vnlyke 2 to be true, 
 Shall most preuayle, what-euer ensew. 703 
 
 POTYCARY. If ye be set in 3 mervalynge, 
 Then shall ye here a meruaylouse thynge, 
 And though, in-dede, all be nat true, 
 Yet suer the most parte shall be new. 
 
 I dyd a cure no lenger 4 a-go 708 
 
 But 5 Anno Domini millesimo 
 On a woman yonge and so fayre 
 That neuer haue I sene a gayre. 
 God saue all women from 6 that lyknes ! 
 
 This wanton had the fallen-syknes, 713 
 
 Whiche by dissent came lynyally, 
 For her mother had it naturally ; 
 Wherfore, this woman to recure 
 It was more harde ye may be sure. 
 
 But, though I boste my crafte is suche 718 
 
 That in suche thynges I can do muche, 
 How ofte she fell were muche to reporte ; 
 But her hed so gydy and her helys so shorte 
 That, with the twynglynge of an eye, 
 
 Uowne wolde she falle euyn by-and-by. 723 
 
 But, or 7 she wolde aryse agayne, 
 I shewed muche practyse muche to my payne ; 
 For the tallest man within this towne 
 Shulde 8 nat with ease haue broken her sowne. 9 
 Ail-though for lyfe I dyd nat doute her, 728 
 
 Yet dyd I take more payne 10 about her 
 
 1 Coll. geven you, without note. 6 Coll. A. of. 
 
 2 Coll. A. unlikest. "> A. ere. 
 
 8 Coll. on, -without note. 8 Coll. A. Could. 
 
 4 Coll. longer, -without note. 9 Coll. swowne, -without note. 
 
 8 Coll. But in, -without note. 10 Coll. A. paines.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 5O/ 
 
 Then I wolde take with my owne syster. 
 
 Syr, at the last I gaue her a glyster, 
 
 I thrust a tampyon 1 in her tewell 
 
 And bad her kepe it for a iewell. 733 
 
 But I knewe 2 it so heuy 8 to cary 
 
 That I was sure 4 it wolde nat tary ; 
 
 For where gonpouder is ones fyerd 
 
 The tampyon 6 wyll no lenger be hyerd, 
 
 Whiche was well sene in tyme of thys chaunce, 738 
 
 For, when I had charged this ordynaunce, 
 
 Sodeynly as it had thonderd, 
 
 Euen at a clap losed her bumberd. 
 
 Now marke, for here begynneth the reuell : 
 
 This tampion 6 flew x longe myle leuell. 743 
 
 To a f ayre castell of lyme and stone, 
 
 For strength I knowe nat suche a one, 
 
 Whiche stode vpon an 7 hyll full hye 
 
 At fote wherof a ryuer ranne bye, 
 
 So depe, tyll chaunce had it forbyden, 748 
 
 Well myght the Regent there haue ryden. 
 
 But when this tampyon 8 on this castell lyght, 9 
 
 It put the castels 10 so farre u to flyght 
 
 That downe they came eche vpon other, 
 
 No stone lefte standynge, by Goddes Mother ! 753 
 
 But rolled downe so faste the hyll 
 
 In suche a nomber and so dyd fyll 
 
 From botom to bryme, from shore to shore, 
 
 Thys forsayd ryuer, so depe before, 
 
 That who lyste nowe to walke therto, 758 
 
 May wade it ouer and wet no shoo. 
 
 So was thys castell layd wyde open 
 
 That euery man myght se the token. 
 
 1 M. Coll. thampyon. 7 Coll. a, -without note. 
 
 2 Coll. inserts there from A. 8 Coll. thampyon, -without note. 
 
 8 Coll. it was to heevy, -without note. 9 Coll. A. at this castle did lyght. 
 
 4 Coll. sure was. 10 Coll. castel, -without note. 
 
 5 Coll. Thampyon, -without note. n Qy. read stones for so farre. 
 
 6 M. tampton ; Coll. thampion, -without note.
 
 5O8 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 But in a good houre maye these wordes 1 be spoken ! 
 
 After the tampyon on the walles was wroken, 763 
 
 And pece by pece in peces broken, 
 
 And she delyuered, with suche violens, 
 
 Of all her inconueniens, 
 
 I left her in good helth and luste ; 
 
 And so she doth contynew, I truste! 768 
 
 PEDLER. Syr, in your cure I can nothynge tell, 
 But to our 2 purpose ye haue sayd well. 
 
 PARDONER. Well, syr, then marke what I can say : 
 I haue ben a pardoner many a day, 
 
 And done greater 3 cures gostely 773 
 
 Then euer he dyd bodely, 
 Namely thys one whiche ye shall here, 
 Of one departed within thys seuen yere, 
 A frende of myne, and lykewyse I 
 
 To her agayne was as frendly, 778 
 
 Who fell so syke so sodeynly 
 That dede she was euen by-and-by, 
 And neuer spake with preste nor clerke, 
 Nor had no whyt of thys holy warke. 
 
 For I was thens, it coulde nat be ; 783 
 
 Yet harde I say she asked for me. 
 But when I bethought me howe thys chaunced, 
 And that I haue to heuen auaunced 
 So many soules to me but straungers 
 
 And coude nat kepe my frende from daungers, 788 
 
 But she to dy so daungerously, 
 For her soule helth especyally, 
 That was the thynge that greued me soo 
 That nothynge coulde release my woo 
 
 Tyll I had tryed euen out of hande 793 
 
 In what estate her soule dyd stande ; 
 For whiche tryall, shorte tale to make, 
 
 l // is impossible to tell from the note in Coll. -whether A. has this wordes 
 or this word, apparently the former. 
 
 - Coll. A. your. 8 A. more.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 509 
 
 I toke thys iourney for her sake, 
 
 Geue eare, for here begynneth the story, 
 
 From hens I went to purgatory, 798 
 
 And toke with me thys gere in my fyste, 
 
 Wherby I may do there what I lyste. 
 
 I knocked and was let in quyckly, 
 
 But, Lorde, how lowe the soules made curtesy! 
 
 And I to euery soule agayne 803 
 
 Dyd gyue a beck them to retayne, 
 
 And axed them thys question than : 
 
 Yf that the soule of suche a woman 
 
 Dyd late amonge them there appere. 
 
 Wherto they sayd she came nat here. 808 
 
 Then ferd I muche it was nat well ; 
 
 Alas, thought I, she is in hell! 
 
 For with her lyfe I was so acqueynted 
 
 That sure I thought she was nat saynted. 
 
 With thys it chaunced 1 me to snese ; 813 
 
 " Christe helpe ! " quoth a soule that ley for his fees. 
 
 "Those wordes," quoth I, "thou shalt nat lees!" 
 
 Then with these pardons of all degrees 
 
 I payed hys tole, and set hym so quyght 
 
 That strayt to heuen he toke his flyght. 818 
 
 And I from thens to hell that nyght, 
 
 To help this woman yf I myght, 
 
 Nat as who sayth by authorite, 
 
 But by the waye of entreate. 
 
 And fyrst [to] 2 the deuyll that kept the gate 823 
 
 I came, and spake after this rate : 
 
 " All hayle, syr deuyll ! " and made lowe curtesy. 
 
 " Welcome ! " quoth he thys 3 smillyngly. 
 
 He knew me well ; and I at laste 
 
 Remembred hym syns longe tyme paste, 828 
 
 For, as good happe wolde haue it chaunce, 
 
 1 Misprinted channced in M. 
 
 2 Coll. inserts to, without note. 
 8 Coll. A. thus.
 
 5IO JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 Thys deuyll and I were of olde acqueyntaunce, 
 
 For oft in the play of Corpus Cristi 
 
 He had played the deuyll at Couentry. 
 
 By his acqueyntaunce and my behauoure 833 
 
 He shewed to me ryght frendly fauoure. 
 
 And, to make my returne the shorter, 
 
 I sayd to this deuyll : " Good mayster porter, 
 
 For all olde loue, yf it lye in your power, 
 
 Helpe me to speke with my lorde and your." 838 
 
 " Be sure," quoth he, " no tongue can tell 
 
 What tyme thou coudest haue come so well, 
 
 For 1 thys daye Lucyfer fell, 
 
 Whiche is our festyuall in hell. 
 
 Nothynge vnreasonable craued thys day 843 
 
 That shall in hell haue any nay. 
 
 But yet be-ware thou come nat in 
 
 Tyll tyme thou may 2 thy pasporte wyn ; 
 
 Wherfore stande styll, and I wyll wyt 
 
 If I can get thy saue-condyt." 848 
 
 He taryed nat, but shortely gat it, 
 
 Under scale and the deuyls hande at it, 
 
 In ample wyse, as ye shall here, 
 
 Thus it began : " Lucyfere, 
 
 By the power of God chyefe deuyll of hell, 853 
 
 To all the deuyls that there do dwell, 
 
 And euery of them, we sende gretynge, 
 
 Under streyght 3 charge and commaundynge, 
 
 That they aydynge and assystent be 
 
 To suche a pardoner, and named 4 me, 858 
 
 So that he may at lybertie 
 
 Passe saue without hys 5 ieopardy 
 
 Tyll that he be from vs extyncte 
 
 And clerely out of helles precincte ; 
 
 And, hys pardons to kepe sauegarde, 6 863 
 
 l Coll. A. For as on. * M. maned, silently corr. by Coll. 
 
 A. maist. 5 Coll. A. any. 
 
 M. streygyt ; corr. silently by Coll. Coll. in savegarde, -without note.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 5 I I 
 
 We wyll they lye in the porters warde. 
 
 Geuyn in the fornes of our palys, 
 
 In our hye courte of maters of malys, 
 
 Suche a day and yere of our reyne." 
 
 " God saue the deuyll !" quoth I, " for, for playne, 1 868 
 
 I truste thys wrytynge to be sure." 
 
 " Then put thy truste," quoth he, " in euer, 2 
 
 Syns thou art sure to take no harme." 
 
 Thys deuyll and I walket arme in arme 
 
 So farre tyll he had brought me thyther 873 
 
 Where all the deuyls of hell togyther 
 
 Stode in a-ray in suche apparell 
 
 As for that day there metely fell : 
 
 Theyr homes well gylt, theyr clowes full clene, 
 
 Theyr taylles well kempt, and, as I wene, 878 
 
 With sothery butter theyr bodyes anoynted, 
 
 I neuer sawe deuyls so well appoynted. 
 
 The mayster deuyll sat in his iacket, 
 
 And all the soules were playnge at racket. 
 
 None other rackettes they hadde in hande 883 
 
 Saue euery soule a good fyre-brande ; 
 
 Wherwith they played so pretely 
 
 That Lucyfer laughed merely, 
 
 And all the resedew of the fendes 3 
 
 Dyd laugh full well togytther 4 lyke frendes. 888 
 
 But of my frende I sawe no whyt, 
 
 Nor durst nat axe for her as yet. 
 
 Anone all this rout was brought in silens, 
 
 And I by an vsher brought in presens. 
 
 Then to Lucyfer low as I coude 5 893 
 
 I knelyd ; which he so well alowde 
 
 1 Coll. follows A. in reading quoth I amain, and gives reading of M. as 
 quoth I for playne. 
 
 2 A. cure, possibly a misprint of eure (=ure), but perhaps a substitute 
 for it. 
 
 8 M. frendes ; corr. by Coll., from A. 
 
 * Coll. A. thereat ful wel. 
 
 6 Coll. A. : in presens Of Lucyfer: then lowe, as well as I could.
 
 512 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 That thus he beckte and, by Saynt Antony, 
 
 He smyled on me well-fauoredly, 
 
 Bendynge hys browes, as brode as barne-durres, 
 
 Shakynge hys eares, as ruged as burres, 898 
 
 Rolynge hys yes, as rounde as two bushels, 
 
 Flastynge 1 the fyre out of his nose-thryls, 
 
 Gnashynge hys teeth so vaynglorousely 
 
 That me thought tyme to fall to flatery. 
 
 Wherwith I tolde, as I shall tell : 903 
 
 " O plesant pycture ! O prince of hell, 
 
 Feurred 2 in fashyon abominable ! 
 
 And syns that is inestimable 
 
 For me to prayse the worthyly, 
 
 I leue of prays, vnworthy 3 908 
 
 To geue the prays, besechynge the 
 
 To heare my sewte and then to be 
 
 So good to graunt the thynge I craue ; 
 
 And, to be shorte, thys wolde I haue, 
 
 The soule of one whiche hyther is flytted 913 
 
 Deliuered 4 hens and to me remitted. 
 
 And in thys doynge, though al be nat quyt, 
 
 Yet some 5 parte I shall 6 deserue it ; 
 
 As thus, I am a pardoner 
 
 And ouer soules as a controller, 918 
 
 Thorough-out the erth my power doth stande, 
 
 Where many a soule lyeth on my hande, 
 
 That spede in maters as I vse them, 
 
 As I receyue them or refuse them ; 
 
 Wherby, what tyme thy pleasure is, 923 
 
 Ye shall requyre 7 any part of thys, 
 
 The leste deuyll here that can come thyther 
 
 1 Qy. Fnastynge, or Flashynge. * A. Deliver. 
 
 2 Coll. Feutred, without note. 5 Coll. Yet in some, -without note. 
 8 Coll. as unworthy, ivithoitt note. 6 A. wil. 
 
 7 M. I shall requyre; Coll., I shall requyte, -with a note implying that his 
 text contains Ye, but that he himself prefers 1. He has no textual note on 
 requyte. Any part of this seems to support my emendation rather than 
 Collier's.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 513 
 
 Shall chose a soule and brynge hym hyther." 
 
 " Nowe," 1 quoth the deuyll, "we are well pleased. 
 
 What is hys name thou woldest haue eased?" 928 
 
 " Nay," quoth I, " be it good or euyll, 
 
 My comynge is for a she-deuyll." 
 
 " What calste her? " quoth he, " thou horson ! " * 
 
 " Forsoth," quoth I, " Margery Coorson." 
 
 " Now, by our honour," sayd Lucyfer, 933 
 
 " No deuyll in hell shall witholde her; 
 
 And yf thou woldest haue twenty mo, 
 
 Were 3 nat for iustyce, they shulde goo, 
 
 For all we 4 deuyls within thys den 
 
 Haue more to do with two women 938 
 
 Then with all the charge we haue besyde. 
 
 Wherfore, yf thou our frende wyll be tryed, 
 
 Aply thy pardons to women so 
 
 That vnto vs there come no mo." 
 
 To do my beste I promysed by othe ; 943 
 
 Whiche I haue kepte, for, as the fayth goth, 
 
 At these dayes 5 to heuen I do procure 
 
 Ten women to one man, be sure. 
 
 Then of Lucyfer my leue I toke, 
 
 And streyght vnto the mayster coke ; 948 
 
 I was hadde into the kechyn, 
 
 For Margaryes 6 offyce was ther-in. 
 
 All thynge 7 handled there, discretely, 
 
 For euery soule bereth offyce metely, 
 
 Whiche 8 myght be sene to se her syt, 953 
 
 So bysely turnynge of the spyt ; 
 
 For many a spyt here hath she turned, 
 
 And many a good spyt hath she burned, 
 
 And many a spyt full hot 9 hath tested 10 
 
 1 Coll. A. Ho, ho. 6 Coll. Margerie's, -without note. 
 
 2 M. horyson ; Coll. A. whoorson. 7 Coll. thyngs, without note. 
 
 8 Coll. Wert, -without note. 8 Mis-printed woiche in Coll. 
 
 * A. the. 9 M. Coll. hoth. 
 
 5 M. thys dayes ; Coll. A. this day. 10 Coll. rested, -without note.
 
 514 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 Before the meat coulde be halfe rested ; 958 
 
 And, or l the meate were halfe rested in-dede, 
 
 I toke her then fro the spyt for 2 spede. 
 
 But when she sawe thys brought to pas, 
 
 To tell the ioy wherin she was, 
 
 And of all the deuyls, for ioy how they 963 
 
 Dyd rore at her delyuery, 
 
 And how the cheynes in hell dyd rynge, 
 
 And how all the soules therin dyd synge, 
 
 And how we were brought to the gate, 
 
 And how we toke our leue therat, 968 
 
 Be suer lacke of tyme sufferyth nat 
 
 To reherse the xx parte of that ; 
 
 Wherfore, thys tale to conclude breuely, 
 
 Thys woman thanked me chyefly 
 
 That she was ryd of thys endles deth ; 973 
 
 And so we departed on New-Market Heth. 
 
 And yf that any man do mynde her, 
 
 Who lyste to seke her there shall he fynde her! 
 
 PEDLER. Syr, ye haue sought her wonders 8 well, 
 And, where ye founde her, as ye tell, 978 
 
 To here the chaunce ye founde * in hell, 
 I fynde ye were in great parell. 6 
 
 PALMER. His tale is all muche parellous, 6 
 But parte is muche more meruaylous ; 
 
 As where he sayde the deuyls complayne 983 
 
 That women put them to suche payne 
 By 7 theyr condicions so croked and crabbed, 
 Frowardly fashonde, so waywarde and wrabbed, 8 
 So farre in deuision, and sturrynge suche stryfe, 
 That all the deuyls be wery of theyr lyfe. 988 
 
 1 A. ere. * Coll. A. had. 
 
 2 Coll. with, -without note. Coll. A. peril. 
 
 8 Coll. A. wunderous. 6 Coll. A. perilous. 
 
 7 Coll. Be, -without note, though he entirely changes the construction of 
 the passage. 
 
 8 There is no occasion to correct the spelling to rabid.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 515 
 
 This ] in effect he tolde for 2 trueth ; 
 
 Wherby muche maruell 3 to me ensueth, 
 
 That women in hell suche shrewes can be 
 
 And here so gentyll, as farre as I se. 
 
 Yet haue I sene many a myle . 993 
 
 And many a woman in the whyle, 
 
 Nat one good cytye, towne, nor borough 
 
 In Cristendom but I haue ben th[o] rough, 
 
 And this I wolde ye shulde vnderstande : 
 
 I haue sene women v hundred thousande 998 
 
 And oft with them haue longe tyme taryed, 4 
 
 Yet in all places where I haue ben, 
 
 Of all the women that I haue sene, 
 
 I neuer sawe nor knewe, in my consyens, 1003 
 
 Any one woman out of paciens. 
 
 POTYCARY. By the masse, there is a great lye ! 5 
 
 PARDONER. I neuer harde a greater, by Our Lady! 
 
 PEDLER. A greater? nay, knowe ye any so great? 
 
 PALMER. Syr, whether that I lose or get, 1008 
 
 For my parte iudgement shall be prayed. 
 
 PARDONER. And I desyer as he hath sayd. 
 
 POTYCARY. Precede, and ye shall be obeyed. 
 
 PEDLER. Then shall nat iudgement be delayd : 
 Of all these thre, yf eche mannes tale 1013 
 
 In Poules 6 Churche-yarde were set on sale 
 In some mannes hande that hath the sleyghte, 
 He shulde sure sell these tales by weyght ; 
 For, as they wey, so be they worth. 
 
 But whiche weyth beste, to that now forth! 1018 
 
 Syr, all the tale that ye dyd tell 
 I bere in mynde ; and yours as well ; 
 
 l A. thus. 2 A. of. 
 
 8 Misprinted muruell in M. 
 
 4 M. maryed (or matyed) ; Coll. A. taried ; a line has, as Collier suggests, 
 probably been lost, perhaps: Wives and widows, maids and married. 
 
 5 M. greatlye, corr. silently by Coll. 6 Coll. Poole's, without note.
 
 5l6 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 And, as ye sawe the mater metely, 
 
 So lyed ye bothe well and discretely. 
 
 Yet were your lyes with the lest, truste me; 1023 
 
 [To Potycary] For, yf ye had sayd ye had made fle 
 
 Ten tampyons out of ten womens tayles 
 
 Ten tymes ten myle to ten castels or iayles 1 
 
 And fyll 2 ten ryuers ten tymes so depe 
 
 As ten of that whiche your castell stones dyde kepe, 3 1028 
 
 [To Pardoner} Or yf ye ten tymes had bodely 
 
 Fet ten soules out of purgatory, 
 
 And ten tymes so many out of hell, 
 
 Yet, by these ten bonnes, I could ryght well 
 
 Ten tymes sonner all that haue beleued 1033 
 
 Then the tenth parte of that he hath meued. 
 
 POTYCARY. Two knaues before i lacketh ii knaues of 
 
 fyue; 
 
 Theri one, and then one, and bothe knaues a-lyue ; 
 Then two, and then two, and thre at a cast ; 
 Thou knaue, and thou knaue, and thou knaue, at laste! 1038 
 
 Nay, knaue, yf ye try me by nomber, 
 I wyll as knauyshly you accomber. 
 Your rnynde is all on your pryuy tythe, 
 For all in ten me thynketh your wit lythe. 
 
 Now ten tymes I beseche Hym that hye syttes 1043 
 
 Thy wyfes x C07/zmaudementes may serch thy v wittes ; 
 Then ten of my tordes in ten of thy teth, 
 And ten of 4 thy nose, whiche euery man seth, 
 And twenty tymes ten this wyshe I wolde, 
 That thou haddest ben hanged at ten yere olde, 1048 
 
 For thou goest about to make me a.slaue, 
 I wyll thou knowe yf I am a gentylman, 5 knaue! 
 And here is an other shall take my parte. 
 
 PARDONER. Nay, fyrste I be-shrew your knaues herte 
 Or I take parte in your knauery! i53' 
 
 1 M. tayles ; Coll. jayles, without note. * Coll. on, without note. 
 
 2 Coll. fild, without note. 5 A. gentle. 
 8 These two words are cut off at the top.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 
 
 I wyll speke fayre, by Our 1 Lady! 
 Syr, I beseche your mashyp to be 
 As good as ye can 2 be to me. 
 
 PEDLER. I wolde be glade to do you good 
 
 And hym also, be he neuer so wood ; 1058 
 
 But dout you nat I wyll now do 
 The thynge my consciens ledeth me to. 
 Both your tales I take farre impossyble 8 
 Yet take I his f a[r]ther 4 incredyble. 
 
 Nat only the thynge it-self e alloweth it, 1063 
 
 But also the boldenes therof auoweth it, 
 I knowe nat where your tale to trye, 5 
 Nor yours but in hell or purgatorye ; 
 But hys boldnes hath faced a lye 
 
 That may be tryed euyn in thys companye: 1068 
 
 As, yf ye lyste, to take thys order, 
 Amonge the women in thys border, 
 Take thre of the yongest and thre of the oldest, 
 Thre of the hotest and thre of the coldest, 
 
 Thre of the wysest and thre of the shrewdest, 1073 
 
 Thre of the chastest and thre of the lewdest, 6 
 Thre of the lowest and thre of the hyest, 
 Thre of the farthest and thre of the nyest, 
 Thre of the fayrest and thre of the maddest, 
 
 Thre of the fowlest and thre of the saddest, 1078 
 
 And when all these threes be had a-sonder, 
 Of eche thre two iustly by nomber 
 Shall be founde shrewes, excepte thys fall, 
 That ye hap to fynde them shrewes all. 
 
 Hym-selfe for trouth all this doth knowe, 1083 
 
 And oft hath tryed some of thys rowe ; 
 And yet he swereth by his consciens 
 He neuer saw woman breke paciens. 7 
 
 1 ColL A. ; M. one.. 6 M. crye ; corr. silently by Coll. 
 
 2 A. you may. 6 This line supp. by Coll. from A. 
 
 3 Coll. unpossyble, without note. 7 Coll. patiens, -without note. 
 * Corr. by Coll., without note.
 
 $l8 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 Wherfore, consydered with true entente 
 
 Hys lye to be so euident, 1 088 
 
 And to appere so euydently 
 
 That both you affyrmed it a ly, 
 
 And that my consciens so depely 
 
 So depe hath sought thys thynge to try, 
 
 And tryed it with mynde indyfferent, !O93 
 
 Thus I awarde, by way of iudgement, 
 
 Of all the lyes ye all haue spent 
 
 Hys lye to be most excellent. 
 
 PALMER. Syr, though ye l were bounde of equyte 
 To do as ye haue done to me, 1098 
 
 Yet do I thanke you of your payne, 
 And wyll requyte some parte agayne. 
 
 PARDONER. Mary, syr, ye can no les do 
 But thanke hym as muche as it cometh to ; 
 
 And so wyll I do for my parte : 1103 
 
 Now a vengeaunce on thy knaues harte! 
 I neuer knewe pedler a iudge before 
 Nor neuer wyll truste pedlynge-knaue more ! 
 
 \He sees the Potycary curtesying about the Palmer.'] 
 
 What doest thou there, thou horson nody? 
 
 POTYCARY. By the masse, lerne to make curtesy ! 1108 
 
 Curtesy before, and curtesy behynde hym, 
 And then on eche syde, the deuyll blynde hym! 
 Nay, when I 2 haue it perfytly, 
 Ye shall haue the deuyll and all of curtesy ! 
 
 But it is nat sone lerned, brother, 3 1113 
 
 One knaue to make curtesy to another ; 
 Yet, when I am angry, that is the worste, 
 I shall call my mayster knaue at the fyrste. 
 
 PALMER. Then wolde some mayster perhappes clowt ye, 
 But as for me ye nede nat doute ye ; 1 1 1 8 
 
 For I had leuer 4 be without ye 
 
 1 M. we ; corr. silently by Coll. 3 Coll. A. gentle brother. 
 
 2 Coll. A. ye. * A. rather.
 
 THE FOURE PP. 519 
 
 Then haue suche besynesse aboute ye. 
 
 PARDONER. So helpe me God, so were ye better! 
 What shulde a begger be a letter? 
 
 It were no whyt your honestie 1123 
 
 To haue vs twayne iet after ye. 
 
 POTYCARY. Syr, be ye sure he telleth you true ; 
 Yf we shulde wayte, thys wolde ensew : 
 It wolde be sayd, truste me at a worde, 
 Two knaues made 1 curtesy to a 2 thyrde. 1128 
 
 PEDLER. Now, by my trouth, to speke my mynde, 
 Syns, they be so loth to be assyned, 3 
 To let them lose I thynke it beste, 
 And so shall ye lyue beste 4 in rest. 
 
 PALMER. Syr, I am nat on them so fonde II 33 
 
 To compell them to kepe theyr bonde ; 
 And, syns ye lyste nat to wayte on me, 
 I clerely of waytynge dyscharge ye. 
 
 PARDONER. Mary, syr, I hertely thanke you. 
 
 POTYCARY. And I lyke-wyse, I make God auowe. 6 1138 
 
 PEDLER. Now be ye all euyn as ye begoon ; 
 No man hath loste nor no man hath woon. 
 Yet in the debate wherwith ye began, 
 By waye of aduyse I wyll speke as I can : 
 
 [To Palmer} I do perceyue that pylgrymage 1143 
 
 Is chyefe 6 the thynge ye haue in vsage ; 
 Wherto, in effecte, for loue of Chryst 
 Ye haue, or shulde haue, bene entyst ; 
 And who so doth with suche entent, 
 
 Doth well declare hys tyme well spent; 1148 
 
 [To Pardoner] And so do ye in your pretence, 
 If ye procure thus 7 indulgence 
 Unto your neyghbours charytably 
 For loue of them in God onely. 
 
 1 A. make. 2 Coll. the, -without note. 
 
 3 Steevens suggests affyned, but, as Collier faints out, assyned is correct. 
 
 4 Coll. A. the better. 6 A. cheefast. 
 
 5 ColL A. And likewise I, to God I vow. " A. this.
 
 52O JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 All thys may be ryght well applyed 1153 
 
 To shew 1 you both well occupyed : 
 
 For, though ye walke nat bothe one waye, 
 
 Yet, walkynge thus, thys dare I saye : 
 
 That bothe your walkes come to one 2 ende. 
 
 And so for all that do pretende, 1158 
 
 By ayde of Goddes grace, to ensewe 
 
 Any maner kynde of vertue : 
 
 As, some great almyse for to gyue, 
 
 Some in wyllfull pouertie to lyue, 
 
 Some to make hye-wayes and suche other 3 warkes, 1163 
 
 And some to mayntayne prestes and clarkes 
 
 To synge and praye for soule[s] departed, 
 
 These, with all other vertues well marked, 
 
 Ail-though they be of sondry kyndes, 
 
 Yet be they nat vsed with sondry myndes ; 1 1 68 
 
 But, as God only doth all those moue, 
 
 So euery man, onely for his loue, 
 
 With loue and dred obediently 
 
 Worketh in these vertues vnyformely. 
 
 Thus euery vertue, yf we lyste to scan, 1 1 73 
 
 Is pleasaunt to God and thankfull to man ; 
 
 And who that by grace of the Holy Goste 
 
 To any one vertue is moued moste, 
 
 That man, by that grace, that one apply, 
 
 And therin serue God most plentyfully ! 4 1 178 
 
 Yet nat that one so farre wyde to wreste, 
 
 So lykynge the same to myslyke the reste ; 
 
 For who so wresteth hys worke is in vayne. 
 
 And euen in that case I perceyue you twayne, 
 
 Lykynge your vertue in suche wyse 1183 
 
 That eche others vertue you do dyspyse. 
 
 Who walketh thys way for God wolde fynde hym, 
 
 The farther they seke hym, the farther behynde hym. 
 
 One kynde of vertue to dyspyse another 
 
 1 M. shewell ; corr. by Coll. from A. 8 Coll. A. lyke. 
 
 2 A. on. 4 A. plenteously.
 
 THE FOURE PP. $21 
 
 Is lyke as the syster myght hange the brother. 1188 
 
 POTVCARY. For fere lest suche parels to me myght 
 
 fall, 
 I thanke God I vse no vertue at all ! 
 
 PEDLER. That is of all the very worste waye ; 
 For more harde it is, as I haue harde saye, 
 
 To begynne vertue where none is pretendyd 1 193 
 
 Then, where it is begonne, the abuse to be mended. 
 How-be-it, ye be l nat all to begynne ; 
 One syne of vertue ye are entred in : 
 As thys, I suppose ye dyd saye true, 
 
 In that ye sayd ye vse no vertue ; 1 198 
 
 In the whiche wordes I dare well reporte, 
 Ye are well be-loued 2 of all thys sorte, 
 By your raylynge here openly 
 At pardons and relyques so leudly. 
 
 POTYCARY. In that I thynke my faute nat great, 1203 
 
 For all that he hath I knowe conterfete. 8 
 
 PEDLER. For his and all other that ye knowe fayned 
 Ye be nother 4 counceled nor constrayned 
 To any suche thynge in any suche case 
 
 To gyue any reuerence in any suche place ; 1 208 
 
 But where ye dout the truthe, nat knowynge, 
 Beleuynge the beste, good may be growynge, 
 In iudgynge the beste, no harme at the leste, 
 In iudgynge the worste, no good at the beste. 
 But beste in these thynges it semeth to me 1213 
 
 To take 6 no iudgement vpon ye ; 
 But, as the Churche doth iudge or take them, 
 So do ye receyue or forsake them ; 
 And so, be sure, 6 ye can nat erre, 
 But may be a frutfull folower. 1218 
 
 POTYCARY. Go ye before and, as I am true man, 
 I wyll folow as faste as I can. 
 
 1 A. are. 4 Coll. A. not. 
 
 2 Kittredge suggests beleued. 5 M. Coll. make. 
 
 8 Coll. counterfete, without note. 6 Coll. be you sure, without note.
 
 522 JOHN HEYWOOD. 
 
 PARDONER. And so wyll I, for he hath sayd so well, 
 Reason 1 wolde we shulde folowe hys counsell. 1222 
 
 PALMER. Then to our reason God gyue vs his grace, 
 That we may folowe with fayth so fermely 
 
 His commaundementes, that we may purchace 
 Hys loue, and so consequently 
 To byleue hys Churche faste and faythfully ; 
 
 So that we may, accordynge to his promyse, 
 
 Be kepte out of errour in any wyse. 1229 
 
 And all that hath scapet 2 vs here by neglygence, 
 
 We clerely reuoke and forsake it. 
 To passe the tyme in thys without offence, 
 
 Was the cause why the maker dyd make it; 
 
 And so we humbly beseche you take 8 it; 
 Besechynge Our Lorde to prosper you all 
 In the fayth of hys Churche Vniuersall ! 1236 
 
 1 Smudged over in M. 2 A. escapte. 8 Coll. you to take. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Imprynted at London in Fletestrete at the 
 
 sygne of the George by Wyllyam 
 
 Myddylton.-.
 
 PART VI.
 
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 
 
 BY JOHN BALE. 
 
 Printed from the edition. by J. P. Collier (Camden Society, 1838). Punctua- 
 tion, capitals, and arrangement of lines are, as usual, mine ; all other changes are 
 indicated in the footnotes. The statements in regard to the readings of the MS. 
 are, of course, derived from Collier's introduction and notes. Several additions 
 to the play in Bale's own hand are pointed out as they occur, but it must be 
 added that he seems to have corrected the whole play, cf. p. 530, n. i. For an 
 account of the play, see vol. III. of this book. 
 
 \Dramatis Personae, 
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. PRYVAT WELTH. 
 
 YNGLOND. DISSIMULACYON. 
 
 CLARGY. RAYMUNDUS. 
 
 SEDYCYON. SYMON OF SWYNSETT. 
 
 CYVYLE ORDER. USURPYD POWER. 
 
 STEVYN LANGTON. THE POPE. 
 
 COMMYNALTE. INTERPRETOUR. 
 
 NOBYLYTE. TREASON. 
 
 CARDYNAH, PANDULPHUS. VERYTE. 
 IMPERYALL MAJESTYE.] 
 
 [Enter Kynge Johan alone.] 
 
 K. JOHAN. 1 To declare the powres and their force to 
 enlarge, 
 
 The Scripture of God doth flow in most abowndaunce ; 
 And of sophysters 'the cauteles to dyscharge, 
 
 Bothe Peter and Pawle makyth plenteosse utterauns ; 
 
 How that all pepell shuld shew there trew alegyauns 
 
 1 1 have not followed C. in the abbreviation of the names of speakers.
 
 526 JOHN BALE. 
 
 To ther lawfull kyng, Christ Jesu dothe consent, 
 
 Whych to the hygh powres was ever obedyent 7 
 
 To shew what I am, I thynke yt convenyent : 
 
 Johan, Kyng of Ynglond, the cronyclys doth me call. 
 
 My granfather was an emp[er]owr excelent, 
 My father a kyng by successyon lyneall, 
 A kyng my brother, lyke as to hym ded fall, 
 
 Rychard Curdelyon they callyd hym in Fraunce, 
 
 Whych had over enymyes most fortynable chaunce. 14 
 
 By the wyll of God and his hygh ordynaunce, 
 
 In Yerlond and Walys, in Angoye and Normandye, 
 
 In Ynglond also, I have had the governaunce ; 
 
 I have worne the crowne and wrowght vyctoryouslye, 
 And now do purpose by practyse and by stodye 
 
 To reforme the lawes and sett men in good order, 
 
 That trew justyce may be had in every border. 21 
 
 [Enter] Ynglond vidua. 
 
 [YNGL.] Than I trust yowr Grace wyll waye a poore 
 
 wedowes cause, 
 Ungodly usyd, as ye shall know in short clause. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Yea, that I wyll swere, yf yt be trew and just. 
 
 YNGL. Lyke as yt beryth trewth, so lett yt be dyscust. 25 
 
 K. JOHAN. Than, gentyll wydowe, tell me what the 
 mater ys. 
 
 YNGL. Alas, yowr clargy hath done very sore amys 
 In mysusyng me ageynst all ryght and justyce, 
 And for my more greffe therto they other intyce. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Whom do they intyce for to do the injurye? 30 
 
 YNGL. Soch as hath enterd by false hypocrysye, 
 Moch worse frutes havyng than hathe the thornes unplesaunt, 
 For they are the trees that God dyd never plant, 
 And, as Christ dothe saye, blynd leaders of the blynd. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Tell me whom thou menyst, to satysfy my 
 
 mynd. 35
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 
 
 YNGL. Suche lubbers as hath dysgysed heads in their 
 
 hoodes, 
 
 Whych in ydelnes do lyve by other menns goodes, 
 Monkes, chanons and nones, in dyvers coloure and shappe, 
 Bothe whyght, blacke and pyed, God send ther increase yll 
 
 happe ! 
 K. JOHAN. Lete me know thy name or I go ferther with 
 
 the. 40 
 
 YNGL. Ynglond, syr, Ynglond my name is ; ye may trust me. 
 K. JOHAN. I mervell ryght sore how thow commyst 
 chaungyd thus. 
 
 [Enter] Sedwsyon. 
 
 [SED.] What, yow ij alone ? I wyll tell tales, by Jesus! 
 And saye that I se yow fall here to bycherye. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Avoyd, lewde person, for thy wordes are un- 
 
 godlye. 45 
 
 SED. I crye you mercy, sur, pray yow be not angrye ; 
 Be me fayth and trowth, I came hyther to be merye. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Thou canst with thy myrth in no wysse 
 
 dyscontent me, 
 So that thow powder yt with wysdome and honeste. 
 
 SED. I am no spycer, by the messe! ye may beleve me. 50 
 
 K. JOHAN. I speke of no spyce, but of cyvyle honeste. 
 
 SED. Ye spake of powder, by the Holy Trynyte! 
 
 K. JOHAN. Not as thow takyst yt, of a grosse capasyte, 
 But as Seynt Pawle meanyth unto the Collossyans 1 playne : 
 " So seasyne yowr speche, that yt be withowt disdayne." 55 
 
 Now, Ynglond, to the : go thow forth with thy tale, 
 And showe the cawse why thow lokyst so wan and pale. 
 
 YNGL. I told yow before the faulte was in the clergye 
 That I, a wedow, apere to yow so barelye. 
 
 SED. Ye are a Wylly Wat, and wander here full warelye ! 60 
 
 K. JOHAN. Why in the clargye? do me to understande! 
 
 YNGL. For they take from me my cattell, howse and land, 
 My wods and pasturs, with other commodyteys, 
 
 1 C. Collessyans.
 
 528 JOHN BALE. 
 
 Lyke as Christ ded saye to the wyckyd Pharyseys : 
 
 " Pore wydowys howsys ye grosse up by long prayers," 65 
 
 In syde cotys wandryng lyke most dysgysed players. 
 
 SED. They are well at ese that hath soch soth-sayers ! 
 
 K. JOHAN. They are thy chylderne, thou owghtest to say 
 then 1 good. 
 
 YNGL. Nay, bastardes they are, unnaturall, by the rood! 
 Sens ther begynnyng they ware never good to me. 70 
 
 The wyld bore of Rome, God let hym never to thee ! 
 Lyke pygges they folow in fantysyes, dreames and lyes, 
 And ever are fed with hys vyle cerymonyes. 
 
 SED. Nay, sumtyme they eate bothe flawnes and pygyn- 
 pyes. 
 
 K. JOHAN. By the bore of Rome, I trow, thou menyst 
 
 the Pope. 75 
 
 YNGL. I mene non other but hym, God geve hym a rope ! 
 
 K. JOHAN. And why dost thow thus compare hym to a 
 
 swyne 
 
 YNGL. For that he and hys to such bestlynes inclyne ; 
 They forsake Gods word, whych is most puer and cleane, 
 And unto the lawys of synfull men they leane ; 80 
 
 Lyke as the vyle swyne the most vyle metes dessyer 
 And hath gret plesure to walowe them-selvys in myre, 
 So hath this wyld bore with his Church Unyversall, 
 His sowe with hyr pygys; and monstres 2 bestyall, 
 Dylyght in mennys draffe and covytus lucre all ; 85 
 
 Yea, aper de sylva the prophet dyd hym call. 
 
 SED. Hold yowr peace, ye whore, or ellys, by masse, I 
 
 trowe, 
 I shall cawse the Pope to curse the as blacke as a crowe. 
 
 K. JOHAN. What art thow, felow, that seme so braggyng 
 bolde? 
 
 SED. I am Sedycyon, that with the Pope wyll hold 90 
 
 So long as I have .a hole within my breche. 
 
 YNGL. Command this felow to avoyd, I you beseche, 
 For dowghtles he hath done me great injury. 
 
 1 Qy. them. 2 C. monstros.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 529 
 
 K. JOHAN. A-voyd, lewd felow, or thou shalt rewe yt 
 
 truly ! 
 
 SED. I wyll not a-waye for that same wedred wytche ; 95 
 
 She shall rather kysse where-as it doth not ytche. 
 Quodcunque ligaveris, I trow, wyll playe soch a parte, 
 That I shall abyde in Ynglond, magry yowr harte. 
 Tushe, the Pope ableth me to subdewe bothe kyng and 
 
 keyser. 
 K. JOHAN. Off that thow and I wyll common more at 
 
 leyser. i oo 
 
 YNGL. Trwly of the devyll they are that do ony thyng 
 To the subdewyng of any Christen kyng ; 
 For, be he good or bade, he is of Codes apoyntyng ; 
 The good for the good, the badde ys for yll doyng. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Of that we shall talke here-after: say forth 
 
 thy mynd now, 105 
 
 And show me how thou art thus be-cum a wedowe. 
 
 YNGL. Thes vyle popych swyne hath clene exyled my 
 
 hosband. 
 K. JOHAN. Who ys thy husbond? Tel me, 1 good gentyll 
 
 Ynglond. 
 
 YNGL. For soth, God hym-selfe, the spowse of every sort 
 That seke hym in f ayth to the sowlys helth and comfort. 1 1 o 
 
 SED. He is scant honest that so many wyfes wyll have. 
 K. JOHAN. I saye, hold yowr peace, and stand asyde lyke 
 
 a knave ! 
 Ys God exylyd owt of this regyon? Tell me. 
 
 YNGL. Yea, that he is, ser, yt is the much more pete. 
 
 K. JOHAN. How commyth yt to passe that he is thus 
 
 abusyd ? 115 
 
 YNGL. Ye know he abydyth not where his word ys re- 
 
 f usyd ; 
 
 For God is his word, lyke as Seynt John dothe tell 
 In the begynnyng of his moste blyssyd gospell. 
 The Popys pyggys may not abyd this word to be hard, 
 Nor knowyn of pepyll, or had in anye regard : 1 20 
 
 1 C. telme.
 
 53 JOHN BALE. 
 
 Ther eyes are so sore they may not abyd the lyght, 
 
 And that bred so hard ther gald gummes may yt not byght. 
 
 I, knowyng yowr Grace to have here the governance 
 
 By the gyft of God, do knowlege my allegeance, 
 
 Desyeryng yowr Grace to waye suche injuryes 125 
 
 As I daylye suffer by thes same subtyll spyes, 
 
 And lett me have ryght, as ye are a ryghtfull kyng 
 
 Apoyntyd of God to have such mater in doyng ; 
 
 For God wyllyth yow to helpe the pore wydowes cause, 
 
 As he by Esaye protesteth in this same clause: 130 
 
 Querite judicium, subvenite oppresso, 
 
 Judicate pupillo, defendite viduam : 
 
 Seke ryght to poore, 1 to the weake and fat[h]erlesse, 
 
 Defende the wydowe whan she is in dystresse. 
 
 SED. I tell ye, the woman ys in great hevynes. 135 
 
 K. JOHAN. I may not in nowyse leve thi ryght undyscuste, 
 For God hath sett me by his apoyntment just 
 To further thy cause, to mayntayne thi ryght, 
 And therf or I wyll supporte the daye . and nyght ; 
 So long as my symple lyffe shall here indewer 140 
 
 I wyll se the haue no wrong, be fast and swer. 
 I wyll fyrst of all call my nobylyte, 
 Dwkis, erlyes and lords, yche one in ther degre ; 
 Next them the clargy, or fathers spirituall, 
 
 Archebysshopes, bysshoppes, abbottes, and pryers all; 145 
 
 Than the great juges and lawers every-chone, 
 So opyny[n]g to them thi cause and petyfull mone, 
 By the meanys wherof I shall their myndes vnderstande. 
 Yf they helpe the not, my-selfe wyll take yt in hande, 
 And sett such a waye as shall be to thi comforte. 150 
 
 YNGL. Than, for an answere I wyll shortly ageyne resort. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Do, Ynglond, hardly, and thow shalt have 
 remedy. 
 
 YNGL. God reward yowr Grace, I beseche hym hartely, 
 And send yow longe dayes to governe this realme in peace ! 
 
 1 C. suggests procure, but remarks that Bale did not make the change, 
 although he inserted a in weake in the same line.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 531 
 
 K. JOHAN. Gramercy, Ynglond ! and send the plentyus 
 
 increse ! 155 
 
 Go owt Ynglond, and dresefor Clargy. 
 
 SED. Of bablyng-matters, I trow, yt is tyme to cease. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Why dost thow call them bablyng-maters ? 
 Tell me. 
 
 SED. For they are not worth the shakyng of a per-tre J 
 Whan the peres are gone ; they are but dyble-dable. 
 I marvell ye can abyd suche byble-bable. 160 
 
 K. JOHAN. Thow semyst to be a man of symple dys- 
 crescyon. 
 
 SED. Alas, that ye are not a pryst to here confessyon ! 
 
 K. JOHAN. Why for confessyon? Lett me know thi fan- 
 tasye. 
 
 SED. Becawse that ye are a man so full of mercye, 
 Namely to women, that wepe with a hevy harte 165 
 
 Whan they in the churche hath lett but a lytyl farte. 
 
 K. JOHAN. I perseyve well now thow speakyst all this in 
 
 mockage, 
 
 Becawse I take parte with Englandes ryghtfull herytage. 
 Say thu what thow wylt, her maters shall not peryshe. 
 
 SED. Yt is joye of hym that women so can cheryshe. 1 70 
 
 K. JOHAN. God hathe me ordeynned in this same princely 
 
 estate, 
 For that I shuld helpe such as be desolate. 
 
 SED. Yt is as great pyte to se a woman wepe 
 As yt is to se a sely dodman crepe, 
 Or, as ye wold say, a sely goose go barefote. 175 
 
 K. JOHAN. Thou semyste by thy wordes to have no more 
 
 wytt than a coote. 
 
 I mervell thou arte to Englond so unnaturall, 
 Beyng her owne chyld : thou art worse than a best brutall. 
 
 SED. I am not her chyld ! I defye hyr, by the messe ! 
 I her sone, quoth he? I had rather she were hedlesse. 180 
 
 Thowgh I sumtyme be in Englond for my pastaunce, 
 
 l C. pertre.
 
 532 JOHN BALE. 
 
 Yet was I neyther borne here, in Spayne, nor in Fraunce, 
 But under the Pope in the holy cyte of Rome, 
 And there wyll I dwell unto the daye of dome. 
 
 K. JOHAN. But what is thy name? Tell me yett onys 
 
 agayne. 185 
 
 SED. As I sayd afore, I am Sedycyon playne : 
 In euery relygyon and munkysh secte I rayne, 
 Havyng yow prynces in scorne, hate and dysdayne. 
 
 K. JOHAN. I pray the, good frynd, tell me what ys thy 
 facyon. 
 
 SED. Serche and ye shall fynd in euery congregacyon 190 
 That long to the Pope, for they are to me full swer, 
 And wyll be so long as they last and endwer. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Yff thow be a cloysterer, tell of what order 
 thow art. 
 
 SED. In euery estate of the clargye I playe a part: 
 Sumtyme I can be a monke in a long syd cowle ; 195 
 
 Sumtyme I can be a none and loke lyke an owle ; 
 Sumtyme a chanon in a syrples fayer and whyght ; 
 A chapterhowse monke sumtyme I apere in syght ; 
 I am ower Syre John sumtyme, with a new-shaven crowne ; 
 Sumtyme the person, and swepe the stretes with a syd gowne ; 200 
 Sumtyme the bysshoppe with a myter and a cope ; 
 A graye fryer sumtyme with cutt shoes and a rope ; 
 Sumtyme I can playe the whyght monke, sumtyme the fryer, 
 The* purgatory prist, and euery mans wyffe desyer. 
 This cumpany hath provyded for me morttmayne, 205 
 
 For that I myght ever among ther sort remayne. 
 Yea, to go farder, sumtyme I am a cardynall ; 
 Yea, sumtyme a pope and than am I lord over all, 
 Bothe in hevyn and erthe and also in purgatory, 
 And do weare iij crownes whan I am in my glorye. 210 
 
 K. JOHAN. But what doeste thow here in England? Tell 
 me shortlye. 
 
 SED. I hold upp the Pope, as in other places many, 
 For his ambassador I am contymvally, 
 In Sycell, in Naples, in Venys and Ytalye,
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 533 
 
 In Pole, Spruse, and Berne, in Denmarke and Lumbardye, 215 
 In Aragon, in Spayne, in Fraunce and in Germanye, 
 In Ynglond, in Scotlond, and in other regyons elles; 
 For his holy cawse I mayntayne traytors and rebelles, 
 That no prince can have his peples obedyence 
 Except yt doth stond with the Popes prehemynence. 220 
 
 K. JOHAN. Gett the hence, thow knave, and moste pre- 
 
 sumptuows wreche, 
 
 Or, as I am trew kyng, thow shalt an halter streche ! 
 We wyll thow know yt, owr power ys of God, 
 And th erf ore we wyll so execute the rod 
 
 That no lewde pryst shall be able to mayneteyne the. 225 
 
 I se now they be at to mych lyberte ; 
 We wyll short ther hornys, yf God send tyme and space! 
 SED. Than I in Englond am lyke to have no place? 
 K. JOHAN. No, that thow arte not, and therfor avoyd 
 
 apace ! 
 SED. By the holy masse, I must lawgh to here yowr 
 
 Grace! 230 
 
 Ye suppose and thynke that ye cowd me subdewe ; 
 Ye shall never fynd yowr supposycyon trewe, 
 Thowgh ye wer as strong as Hector and Diomedes, 
 Or as valyant as ever was Achylles. 
 
 Ye are well content that bysshoppes contynew styll? 235 
 
 K. JOHAN. We are so, in-dede, yf they ther dewte fullfyll. 
 SED. Nay than, good inowgh ! Yowr awtoryte and power 
 Shall passe as they wyll ; they have sawce bothe swet and 
 
 sower. 
 K. JOHAN. What menyst thow by that? shew me thy 
 
 intente this hower. 
 SED. They are Codes vycars, they can both save and 
 
 lose. 240 
 
 K. JOHAN. Ah, thy meening ys that they maye a prynce 
 
 depose. 
 
 SED. By the rood, they may, and that wyll appere by yow ! 
 K. JOHAN. Be the helpe of God, we shall se to that well 
 inow.
 
 534 JOHN BALE. 
 
 SED. Nay, ye can not, thowgh ye had Argus eyes, 
 In abbey es they haue so many suttyll spyes ; 245 
 
 For ones in the yere they have secret vysytacyons, 
 And yf ony prynce reforme ther ungodly facyons, 
 Than ij of the monkes must forthe to Rome by-and-by 
 With secrett letters to avenge ther injury. 
 
 For a thowsand pownd they shrynke not in soch matter, 250 
 
 And yet for the tyme the prynce to his face they flater. 
 I am ever-more ther gyde and ther advocate. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Than with the bysshoppes and monkes thu 
 art checke-mate? 
 
 SED. I dwell among them and am one of ther sorte. 
 
 K. JOHAN. For thy sake they shall of me have but small 
 
 comforte. 255 
 
 Loke, wher I fynd the, that place wyll I put downe. 
 
 SED. What yf ye do chance to fynd me in euery towne 
 Where-as is fownded any sect monastycall? 
 
 K. JOHAN. I pray God I synke yf I dystroye them not all! 
 
 SED. Well, yf ye so do, yett know I where to dwell. 260 
 
 K. JOHAN. Thow art not skoymose thy fantasy for to tell. 
 
 SED. Gesse ! At a venture ye may chance the marke to 
 hytt. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Thy falssed to shew, no man than thy selfe 
 more fytt. 
 
 SED. Mary, in confessyon under-nethe benedicite. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Nay, tell yt agayne, that I may understand the. 265 
 
 SED. I say I can dwell, whan all other placys fayle me, 
 In ere-confessyon undernethe benedicite; 
 And whan I am there, the pryst may not bewray me. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Why, wyll ere-confesshon soch a secret traytor 
 be? 
 
 SED. Whan all other fayle, he is so sure as stele. 270 
 
 Offend Holy Churche, and I warrant ye shall yt fele ; 
 For by confessyon the Holy Father knoweth 
 Throw-owt all Christendom what to his Holynes growyth. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Oh, where ys Nobylyte, that he myght knowe 
 thys falshed?
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 535 
 
 SED. Nay, he is becum a mayntener of owr godhed. 275 
 
 1 know that he wyll do Holy Chyrche no wronge, 
 For I am his gostly father and techear amonge. 
 He belevyth nothyng but as Holy Chyrch doth tell. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Why, geveth he no credence to Cristes holy 
 
 gospell? 
 SED. No, ser, by the messe, but he callyth them here- 
 
 tyckes 280 
 
 That preche the gospell, and sedycyows scysmatyckes, 
 He tache them, vex them, from prison to prison he turne them, 
 He indygth them, juge them, and, in conclusyon, he burne 
 
 them. 
 
 K. JOHAN. We rewe to here this of owr nobylyte. 
 But in this be-half e what seyst of the spretuallte? 285 
 
 SED. Of this I am swer to them to be no stranger, 
 And spesyally, whan ther honor ys in dawnger. 
 
 K. JOHAN. We trust owr lawers have no such wyckyd 
 
 myndes. 
 
 SED. Yes, they many tymys are my most secrett fryndes. 
 With faythfull prechers they can play leger-demayne, 290 
 
 And with falcje colores procure them to be slayne. 
 
 K. JOHAN. I perseyve this worlde is full of iniquite. 
 As God wold have yt, here cummyth Nobylyte. 
 
 SED. Doth he so in-dede? By Owr Lord, than wyll I 
 
 hence ! 
 K. JOHAN. Thow saydest thu woldyst dwell where he 
 
 kepyth resydence. 295 
 
 SED. Yea, but fyrst of all I must chaunge myn apparell 
 Unto a bysshoppe, to maynetayene with my quarell, 
 To a monke or pryst, or to sum holy fryer ; 
 I shuld never elles accomplych my dysyre. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Why, art thow goyng? Naye, brother, thow 
 
 shalte not hence. 300 
 
 SED. I wold not be sene as I am for fortye pence. 
 Whan I am relygyouse, I wyll returne agayne. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Thow shalt tary here, or I must put the to 
 payne.
 
 JOHN BALE. 
 
 SED. I have a great mynd to be a lecherous man 
 A wengonce take yt ! I wold saye, a relygyous man. 305 
 
 I wyll go and cum so fast as evyr I can. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Tush, dally not with me ! I saye tnow shalt 
 
 abyde. 
 
 SED. Wene yow to hold me that I shall not slyppe asyde? 
 K. JOHAN. Make no more prattyng, for I saye thu shalt 
 
 abyde. 
 SED. Stoppe not my passage, I must over see at the next 
 
 tyde! 310 
 
 K. JOHAN. I will ordeyne so, I trowe, thow shalt not over. 
 SED. Tush, tush, I am sewer of redy passage at Dover. 
 K. JOHAN. The devyll go with hym ! The unthryftye 
 
 knave is gone. 
 
 Her go ovjt Sedwsion and drese for Syvyll Order, \_Enter Nobelyte.} 
 
 NOB. Treble not yowr-sylfe with no such dyssolute per- 
 
 sone ; 
 
 For ye knowe full well very ly ttell honeste 315 
 
 Ys gote at ther handes in every commynnalte. 
 
 K. JOHAN. This is but dallyaunce ; ye do not speke as ye 
 
 thynke. 
 
 NOB. By my trowthe, I do, or elles I wold I shuld synke ! 
 K. JOHAN. Than must I marvell at yow of all men 
 
 lyvynge. 
 
 NOB. Why mervell at me? tell me yowr very menyng. 320 
 K. JOHAN. For no man levynge is in more famylyerite 
 With that wycked wrech, yf it be trew that he told me. 
 NOB. What wrech speke ye of? For Jesus love, inty- 
 
 mate ! 
 K. JOHAN. Of that presumtous wrech that was with me 
 
 here of late, 
 
 Whom yow wyllyd not to vexe my-selfe. with-all. 325 
 
 NOB. I know hym not, I, by the waye that my sowll to 
 
 shall ! 
 K. JOHAN. Make yt not so strange, for ye know hym wyll 
 
 inow.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 537 
 
 NOB. Beleve me yff ye wyll ! I know hym not, I assuer 
 
 yow. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Ware ye never yett aquantyd with Sedission? 
 NOB. Syns I was a chyld, both hym and his condycyon 330 
 I ever hated for his iniquite. 
 
 [Enter Clargy.] 
 
 K. JOHAN. A clere tokyn that is of trew nobelyte ; 
 But I pray to God we fynde yt not other-wyse. 
 Yt was never well syns the clargy wrowght by practyse, 
 And left the Scripture for mens ymagynacyons, 335 
 
 Dyvydyng them-selvys in so many congrygacyons 
 Of monkes, chanons and fryers, of dyvers colors and facyons. 
 
 THE CLARGY. I do trust yowr Grace wyll be as lovyng 
 
 now 
 As yowr predysessowrs have bene to us before yow. 
 
 K. JOHAN. I wyll, suer, wey my love with yowr be-havers : 340 
 Lyke as ye deserve, so wyll I bere yow favers. 
 Clargy, marke yt well, I have more to yow to say 
 Than, as the sayeng is, the prest dyd speke a Sonday. 
 
 CLARGY. Ye wyll do us no wrong, I hope, nor injurye. 
 
 K. JOHAN. No, I wyll do you ryght in seyng yow do 
 
 yowr dewtye. 345 
 
 We know the cawtelles of yowr sotyll companye. 
 
 CLARGY. Yf ye do us wrong, we shall seke remedy. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Yea, that is the cast of all yowr company. 
 Whan kynges correcte yow for yowr actes most ungodly, 
 To the Pope, syttyng in the chayer of pestoolens, 350 
 
 Ye ronne to remayne in yowr concupysens. 
 Thus sett ye at nowght all princely prehemynens, 
 Subdewyng the order of dew obedyens. 
 But with-in a whyle I shall so abate yowr pryde 
 That to yowr Pope ye shall noyther runne nor ryde, 355 
 
 But ye shall be glad to seke to me, yowr prynce, 
 For all such maters as shall be with-in this provynce, 
 Lyke as God wyllyth yow by his Scripture evydente. 
 
 NOB. To the Church, I trust, ye wyll be obedyent.
 
 538 JOHN BALE. 
 
 K. JOHAN. No mater to yow whether I be so or no. 360 
 
 NOB. Yes, mary, is yt, for I am sworne therunto. 
 I toke a great othe whan I was dubbyd a knyght 
 Ever to defend the Holy Churches ryght. 
 
 CLARGY. Yea, and in her quarell ye owght onto deth to 
 fyght. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Lyke backes, in the darke ye always take 
 
 yowr flyght, 365 
 
 Flytteryng in fauseys, and ever abhorre the lyght. 
 I rew yt in hart that yow, Nobelyte, 
 Shuld thus bynd yowr-selfe to the grett captyvyte 
 Of blody Babulon, the grownd and mother of whordom, 
 The Romych Churche I meane, more vyle than ever was 
 
 Sodom, 370 
 
 And, to say the trewth, a mete spowse for the fynd. 
 
 [Enter Syvyll Order.] 
 
 CLARGY. Yowr Grace is fare gonne ; God send yow a 
 
 better mynd ! 
 K. JOHAN. Hold yowr peace, I say ! ye are a lytyll to 
 
 f atte ; 
 
 In a whyle, I hope, ye shall be lener sumwhatte ! 
 We shall loke to yow and to Sivyll Order also; 375 
 
 Ye walke not so secrett but we "know wher-a-bowght ye goo. 
 S. ORDER. Why, yowr Grace hath no cawse with me to 
 
 be dysplesyd. 
 K. JOHAN. All thyngs consyderyd, we have small cause 
 
 to be plesyd. 
 S. ORDER. I besech yowr Grace to graunt me a word or 
 
 too. 
 K. JOHAN. Speke on yowr pleasure, and yowr hole mynd 
 
 also. 380 
 
 S. ORDER. Ye know very well, to set all thynges in order 
 I have moche ado, and many thynges passe fro me, 
 
 For yowr common-welth, and that in euery border 
 For offyces, for londes, for lawe and for lyberte, 
 And for transgressors 1 appoynt the penalte ;
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 539 
 
 That cytes and townes maye stand in quiotose peace, 
 
 That all theft and murder, with other vyce, maye seace. 387 
 
 Yff I have chaunsed, for want of cyrcumspeccyon, 
 
 To passe the lymytes of ryght and equite, 
 I submyte my-selfe unto yowr Graces correccyon, 
 
 Desyryng pardon of yowr benygnyte. 
 
 I wot I maye fall throwgh my fragylyte ; 
 Therfore I praye yow tell me what the mater ys, 
 And amends shall be where-as I have done amyse. 394 
 
 K. JOHAN. Aganste amendement no resonnable man can 
 
 be. 
 
 NOB. That sentence rysyth owt of an hygh charyte. 
 K. JOHAN. Now that ye are here assembled all to-gether, 
 Amongeste other thynges ye shall fyrst of all consyder 
 That my dysplesure rebounyth l on-to yow all. 
 
 CLARGY. To yow non of us ys prejudycyall. 400 
 
 K. JOHAN. I shall prove yt. Yes ! how have ye usyd 
 
 Englond? 
 
 NOB. But as yt becommyth us, so fare as I understond. 
 K. JOHAN. Yes ! the pore woman complayneth her gre- 
 
 vosly, 
 
 And not with-owt a cawse, for she hath great injurye. 
 I must se to yt, ther ys no remedy, 405 
 
 For it ys a charge gevyn me from God All-myghtye. 
 How saye ye, Clargye? Apperyth it not so to yow? 
 
 CLARGY. Yf it lykyth yowr Grace, all we know that well 
 
 ynow. 
 K. JOHAN. Than yow, Nobelyte, wyll affyrme yt, I am 
 
 suer. 
 
 NOB. Ye, that I wyll, sur, so long as my lyfe endure. 410 
 K. JOHAN/ And yow, Cyvyll Order, I thynke wyll graunte 
 
 the same ! 
 
 S. ORDER. Ondowghted, sir ; yea, elles ware yt to me gret 
 shame. 
 
 1 C.rebonnyth ; Kittredge suggests redounyth, but rebounyth is possible.
 
 54O JOHN BALE. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Than for Englondes cawse I wyll be sume- 
 
 what playne. 
 
 Yt is yow, Clargy, that hathe her in dysdayne : 
 With yowr Latyne howrs, serymonyes, and popetly playes, 415 
 In her more and more Gods holy worde decayes ; 
 And them to maynteyn, unresonable ys the spoyle 
 Of her londs, her goods, and of her pore chylders toyle. 
 Rekyn fyrst yowr tythis, yowr devocyons and yowr offrynges, 
 Mortuaryes, pardons, bequests and other thynges, 420 
 
 Besydes that ye cache for halowed belles and purgatorye, 
 For juelles, for relyckes, confessyon and cowrts of baudrye, 
 For legacyes, trentalls, with Scalacely messys, 
 Wherby ye have made the people very assys ; 
 And over all this ye have browght in a rabyll 425 
 
 Of Latyne mummers and sects desseyvabyll, 
 Evyn to dewore her and eat her upp attonnys. 
 
 CLARGY. Yow wold have no Churche, I wene, by thes 
 sacred bones! 
 
 K. JOHAN. Yes, I wold have a Churche, not of dysgysyd 
 
 shavelynges, 
 
 But of faythfull hartes and charytable doynges ; 430 
 
 For whan Christes Chyrch was in her hyeste glory, 
 She knew neyther thes sectes nor their ipocrysy. 
 
 CLARGY. Yes, I wyll prove yt by David substancyally : 
 Astitit Regina a dextris tuts in vestitu 
 
 Deanrato, circKmdata varietate : 435 
 
 A quene, sayth Davyd, on thy ryght hand, Lord, I se 
 Apparrellyd with golde and compassyd with dyversyte. 
 
 K. JOHAN. What ys yowr meanyng by that same Scrip- 
 ture? Tell me. 
 
 CLARGY. This quene ys the Chyrch, which thorow all 
 
 Cristen regions 
 
 Ys beawtyfull, dectyd l with many holy relygyons : 440 
 
 Munks, chanons and fryers, most excellent dyvynis, 
 As Grandy Montensers and other Benedictyns, 
 Primostratensers, Bernards and Gylbertynys, 
 l Kittredge suggests deccyd.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 541 
 
 Jacobytes, Mynors, Whyght Carmes and Augustynis, 
 
 Sanbenets, Cluniackes, with holy Carthusyans, 445 
 
 Heremytes and ancors, with most myghty Rodyans, 
 
 Crucifers, Lucifers, Brigettis, Ambrosyanes, 
 
 Stellifers, Ensifers, with Purgatoryanes, 
 
 Sophyanes, Indianes and Camaldulensers, 
 
 Clarynes and Columbynes, Templers, Newe Ninivytes, 450 
 
 Rufyanes, Tercyanes, Lorytes and Lazarytes, 
 
 Hungaryes, Teutonykes, Hospitelers, Honofrynes, 
 
 Basyles and Bonhams, Solanons and Celestynes, 
 
 Paulynes, Hieronymytes, and Monkes of Josaphathes Valleye, 
 
 Fulygynes, Flamynes, with Bretherne of the Black Alleye, 455 
 
 Donates and Dimysynes, with Canons of S. Marke, 
 
 Vestals and monyals, a worlde to heare them barke, 
 
 Abbotts and doctors, with bysshoppes and cardynales, 
 
 Archedecons and pristes, as to ther fortune falles. 
 
 S. ORDER. Me thynkyth yowr fyrst text stondeth nothyng 
 
 with yowr reson, 460 
 
 For in Davydes tyme wer no such sects of relygyon. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Davyd meanyth vertuys by the same diversyte, 
 As in the sayd psalme yt is evydent to se, 
 And not munkysh sects ; but it is ever yowr cast 
 For yowr advauncement the Scripturs for to wrast. 465 
 
 CLARGY. Of owr Holy Father in this I take my grownd, 
 Which hathe awtoryte the Scripturs to expond. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Nay, he presumyth the Scripturs to confownd. 
 Nowther thow nor the Pope shall do pore Englond wronge, 
 I beyng governor and kyng her peple amonge. 470 
 
 Whyle yow for lucre sett forth yowr popysh lawys 
 Yowr-selvys to advaunce, ye wold make us pycke strawes. 
 Nay, ipocryts, nay ! We wyll not be scornyd soo 
 Of a sort of knavys ; we shall loke yow otherwyse too ! 
 
 NOB. Sur, yowr sprytes are movyd, I persayve by yowr 
 
 langage. 475 
 
 K. JOHAN. I wonder that yow for such veyne popych bag-* 
 
 gage 
 Can suffyr Englond to be impoveryshyd
 
 542 JOHN BALE. 
 
 And mad a begger ; yow are very yll advysyd. 
 NOB. I marvell grettly that ye say thus to me. 
 K. JOHAN. For dowghtles ye do not as becummyth 
 
 Nobelyte ; 480 
 
 Ye spare nouther lands nor goods, but all ye geve 
 To thes cormerants ; yt wold any good man greve 
 To se yowr madnes, as I wold God shuld save me ! 
 
 NOB. Sur, I suppose yt good to bylde a perpetuite 
 For me and my frendes to be prayed for evermore. 485 
 
 K. JOHAN. Tush, yt is madnes all to dyspayre in God so 
 
 sore, 
 And to thynke Christs deth to be unsufficient! 
 
 NOB. Sur, that I have don was of a good intent. 
 
 K. JOHAN. The intente ys nowght whych hath no sewer 
 
 grounde. 
 CLARGY. Yff yow continue, ye wyll Holy Chyrch con- 
 
 funde. 490 
 
 K. JOHAN. Nay, no Holy Chyrch, nor feythfull congre- 
 
 gacyon, 
 But an hepe of adders of Antechrists generacyon. 
 
 S. ORDER. Yt pyttyth me moche that ye are to them so 
 
 harde. 
 K. JOHAN. Yt petyeth me more that ye them so mych 
 
 regarde. 
 
 They dystroye mennys sowlls with damnable supersticyon, 495 
 And decaye all realmys by meyntenaunce of sedycyon. 
 Ye wold wonder to know what profe I have of this. 
 
 NOB. Well, amenment shalbe wher anythyng is amysse ; 
 For, undowtted, God doth open soche thyngs to prynces 
 As to none other men in the Crystyen provynces, 500 
 
 And therfor we wyll not in this with yowr Grace contend. 
 S. ORDER. No, but with Gods grace we shall owr myse- 
 
 dedes amend. 
 
 CLARGY. For all such forfets as yowr pryncely Mageste 
 For* yowr owne person or realme can prove by me 
 I submytte my-selfe to yow, bothe body and goods. 505 
 
 Knelt. *
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 543 
 
 K. JOHAN. We pety yow now, consyderyng yowr repent- 
 ante modes, 
 
 And owr gracyous pardone we grawnte yow upon amendment. 
 CLARGY. God preserve yowr Grace and Mageste excelent ! 
 K. JOHAN. Aryse, Clargy, aryse, and ever be obedyent, 
 And, as God commandeth yow, take us for yowr governer. 510 
 CLARGY. By the grace of God, the Pope shall be my ruler ! 
 K. JOHAN. What saye ye, Clargy? who ys yowr governer? 
 CLARGY. Ha! ded I stomble? I sayd my prynce ys my 
 
 ruler. 
 K. JOHAN. I pray to owr Lord this obedyence maye in- 
 
 dewre. 
 
 CLARGY. I wyll not breke yt, ye may be fast and suer. 515 
 K. JOHAN. Than cum hether all thre ; ye shall know more 
 
 of my mynde. 
 
 CLARGY. Owr kyng to obeye, the Scriptur doth us bynde. 
 K. JOHAN. Ye shall fyrst be sworne to God and to the 
 
 Crowne 
 
 To be trew and juste in every cetye and towne ; 
 And this to performe set hand and kysse the bocke ! 520 
 
 S. ORDER. With the wyffe of Loth we wyll not backe- 
 
 ward locke, 
 Nor turne from owr oth, but ever obeye yowr Grace. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Than wyll I gyve yow yowr chargys her in 
 
 place, 
 And accepte yow all to be of owr hyghe councell. 
 
 ALL THREE. To be faythfull, than, ye us more streytly 
 
 compell. 525 
 
 K. JOHAN. For the love of God, loke to the state of 
 
 Englond ! 
 
 Leate non enemy holde her in myserable bond ; 
 Se yow defend her as yt becummyth Nobilite ; 
 Se yow instructe l her acordyng to yowr degre ; 
 Fournysh her yow with a cyvyle honeste : 530 
 
 Thus shall she florysh in honor and grett plente. 
 With godly wysdom yowr matters so conveye 
 l C. instrutte.
 
 544 JOHN BALE. 
 
 That the commynnalte the powers maye obeye, 
 And ever be ware of that false thefe Sedycyon, 
 Whych poysenneth all realities and bryng them to perdycyon. 535 
 
 NOB. Sur, for soche wrecches we wyll be so circumspecte 
 That neyther ther falsed nor gylle shall us infecte. 
 
 CLARGY. I warrant yow, sur, no, and that shall well apere. 
 
 S. ORDER. We wyll so provyde, yff anye of them cum 
 
 here 
 To dysturbe the realme, they shall be full glad to fle. 540 
 
 K. JOHAN. Well, yowr promyse includeth no small dyffy- 
 
 culte ; 
 
 But I put the case that this false thefe Sedycyon 
 Shuld cum to yow thre and call hym-selfe Relygyon, 
 Myght he not under the pretence of holynes 
 Cawse yow to consent to myche ungodlynes? 545 
 
 NOB. He shall never be able to do yt, veryly. 
 
 K. JOHAN. God graunt ye be not deceyvyd by hypocresye ! 
 I say no more, I ; in shepes aparell sum walke 
 And seme relygeyose that deceyvably can calke. 
 Be ware of soche hypocrites as the kyngdom of hevynfro man 550 
 Do hyde for a-wantage, for they deceyve now and than. 
 Well, I leve yow here ; yche man consyder his dewtye ! 
 
 NOB. With Gods leve, no faute shall be in this companye ! 
 
 K. JOHAN. Cum, Cyvyle Order, ye shall go hence with 
 me. 
 
 S. ORDER. At your commandmente ! I wyll gladlye 
 
 wayte upon ye. 555 
 
 Here Kyng Johan and Sivile Order go owt, and Syvile Order drese hym 
 for Sedwsyon. 
 
 NOB. Me thynke the kyng is a man of a wonderfull wytt. 
 
 CLARGY. Naye, saye that he is of a vengeable craftye 
 
 wytt, 
 
 Than shall ye be sure the trewth of the thyng to hytt. 
 Hard ye not how he of the Holy Church dyd rayle? 
 His extreme thretynyngs shall lytyll hym avayle : 560 
 
 I wyll worke soch wayes that he shall of his purpose fayle. 
 
 NOB. Yt is meet a prince to saye sumwhat for his plesure.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 545 
 
 CLARGY. Yea, but yt is to moch to rayle so withowt 
 
 mesure. 
 
 NOB. Well, lett every man speke lyke as he hathe a cawse. 
 CLARGY. Why, do ye say so? Yt is tyme for me, than, 
 
 to pawse. 565 
 
 NOB. This wyll I saye, sur, that he ys so noble a prynce 
 As this day raygneth in ony Cristyen provynce. 
 
 CLARGY. Mary, yt apereth well by that he wonne in 
 
 Fraunce ! 
 NOB. Well, he lost not there so moche by martyall 
 
 chaunce 
 
 But he gate moche more in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. 570 
 CLARGY. Yea, God sped us well, Crystmes songes are 
 
 mery tales ! 
 
 NOB. Ye dysdayne soche mater as ye know full evydent. 
 Are not both Ireland and Wales to hym obedyent? 
 Yes, he holdyth them bothe in pessable possessyon, 
 And by-cause I wyll not from yowr tall make degressyon, 775 
 For his lond in Fraunce he gyveth but lytell forsse, 
 Havyng to Englond all his love and remorse ; 
 And Angoye he gave to Artur his nevy in chaunge. 
 
 CLARGY. Our changes are soche that an abbeye turneth 
 
 to a graunge. 
 We are so handled we have scarce eyther horse or male. 580 
 
 NOB. He that dothe hate me the worse wyll tell my tale ! 1 
 Yt is yowr fassyon soche kyngs to dyscommend 
 As yowr abuses reforme or reprehend. 
 You pristes are the cawse that chronycles doth defame 
 So many prynces, and men of notable name, 585 
 
 For yow take upon yow to wryght them evermore ; 
 And therfore Kyng Johan ys lyke to rewe yt sore, 
 Whan ye wryte his tyme, for vexyng of the Clargy. 
 CLARGY. I mervell ye take his parte so ernestlye. 
 NOB. Yt be-comyth Nobelyte his prynces fame to pre- 
 serve. 590 
 CLARGY. Yf he contynew, we are lyke in a whyle to starve : 
 1 C. suggests that this line belongs to Clergy.
 
 546 JOHN BALE. 
 
 He demaundeth of us the tenth parte of owr lyvyng. 
 
 NOB. I thynke yt is then for sum nessessary thyng. 
 
 CLARGY. Mary, to recover that he hath lost in Fraunce, 
 As Normandy dewkedom, and his land beyond Orleaunce. 595 
 
 NOB. And thynke ye not that a mater nessesary? 
 
 CLARGY. No, sur, by my trowth, he takyng yt of the 
 Clergy. 
 
 NOB. Ye cowde be content that he shuld take yt of us. 
 
 CLARGY. Yea, so that he wold spare the Clargy, by swet 
 
 Jesus ! 
 
 This takyng of us myght sone growe to a custom, 600 
 
 And than Holy Churche myght so be browght to thraldom, 
 Whych hath ben ever from temporall prynces free, 
 As towchyng trybute or other captyvyte. 
 
 NOB. He that defendeth yow owght to have parte of yowr 
 goodes. 
 
 CLARGY. He hath the prayers of all them that hathe 
 
 hoodes. 605 
 
 NOB. Why, ys that inowgh to helpe hym in his warre? 
 
 CLARGY. The Churche he may not of lyberte debarre. 
 
 NOB. Ded not Crist hym-selfe pay trybutt unto Ceser? 
 Yf he payd trybute, so owght his holy vycar. 
 
 CLARGY. To here ye reson so ondyscretlye, I wonder. 610 
 Ye must consyder that Crist that tyme was under, 
 But his vycar now ys above the prynces all ; 
 Therfor be ware ye do not to herysy fall. 
 Ye owght to beleve as Holy Chyrche doth teche yow, 
 And not to reason in soche hygh maters now. 615 
 
 NOB. I am vnlernyd ; my wytts are sone confowndyd. 
 
 CLARGY. Than leve soch maters to men more depely 
 growndyd. 
 
 NOB. But how wyll ye do for the othe that ye have take? 
 
 CLARGY. The keyes of the Church can all soche maters 
 of-shake. 
 
 NOB. What call ye those keyes? I pray yow hartly, tell 
 
 me! 620 
 
 CLARGY. Owr Holy Fathers power and hys hygh autoryte.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 547 
 
 NOB. Well, I can no more say ; ye are to well lernyd 
 
 for me. 
 My bysynes ys soche that here now I must leve ye. 
 
 CLARGY. I must hence also so fast as ever maye be, 
 To sewe vn-to Rome for the Churches lyberte. 625 
 
 Go owt Nobylyte and Clargy. Here Sedycyon cummyth in. 
 
 SED. Haue in onys a-geyne, in spyght of all my enymyes ! 
 For they cannot dryve me from all mennys companyes ; 
 And, thowgh yt were so that all men wold forsake me, 
 Yet dowght I yt not but sume good women wold take me. 
 I loke for felowys that here shuld make sum sporte : 630 
 
 I mervell yt is so longe ere they hether resorte. 
 By the messe, I wene the knaves are in the bryers, 
 Or ells they are fallen into sum order of fryers ! 
 Naye, shall I gesse ryght? they are gon into the stues ; 
 I holde ye my necke, anon we shall here newes. 635 
 
 [He hears Dyssymulacyori] seyng the Leteny. 1 
 
 Lyst, for Gods passyon! I trow her cummeth sum hoggherd 
 Callyng for his pygges. Such a noyse I neuer herd ! 
 
 Here cum Dyssymulacyon syngyng of the letany. 
 
 DYS. (syng) Sancte Dominice, ora pro nobis! 
 
 SED. (syng) Sancte pyld monache, I be-shrow vobis! 
 
 DYS'. (syng) Sancte Francisse, ora pro nobis! 640 
 
 SED. Here ye not? Cocks sowle, what meaneth this ypo- 
 
 crite knaue? 
 DYS. Pater noster, I pray God bryng hym sone to his 
 
 grave, 
 
 Qui es in celts, with an vengeable sancttficetur, 
 Or elles Holy Chyrche shall neuer thryve, by Saynt Peter ! 
 SED. Tell me, good felowe, makyste thu this prayer for 
 
 me? 645 
 
 DYS. Ye are as ferce as thowgh ye had broke yowr nose 
 
 at the buttre. 
 
 1 C. has only Seyng the leteny.
 
 548 JOHN BALE. 
 
 I medyll not with the, but here to good sayntes I praye 
 Agenst soch enmyes as wyll Holy Chyrche decaye. 
 
 Here syng this : 
 
 A Johanm Rege iniquo, liber a nos, Domine! 
 
 SED. Leve, I saye! or, by messe, I wyll make yow 
 
 grone ! 650 
 
 DYS. Yff thow be jentyll, I pray the leate me alone, 
 For with-in a whyle my devocyon wyll be gone. 
 
 SED: And wherfor dost thou praye here so bytterly, 
 Momblyng thy pater noster and chauntyng the letany? 
 
 DYS. For that Holy Chyrch myght save hyr patrymonye, 655 
 And to haue of Kyng Johan a tryumphant vyctorye. 
 
 SED. And why of Kyng Johan? doth he vexe yow so 
 
 sore? 
 DYS. Both chyrchys and abbeys he oppressyth more and 
 
 more 
 And take of the clergye, yt is onresonable to tell. 
 
 SED. Owte with the Popys bulles than, and cursse hym 
 
 downe to hell ! 660 
 
 DYS. Tushe! man, we haue done so, but all wyll not helpe : 
 He regardyth no more the Pope than he dothe a whelpe. 
 SED. Well, lett hym alone ; for that wyll I geve hym a 
 
 scelpe. 
 But what arte thu callyd of thyn owne munkych nacyon? 
 
 DYS. Kepe yt in counsell : Dane Davy Dyssymulacyon. 665 
 SED. What, Dyssymulacyon? Coks sowle, myn old aquen- 
 
 tence! 
 Par me fay e, mon amye, je \_suis\ l tote advoutre plesaunce. 
 
 DYS. Gramercyes, good frend, with all my very hert ! 
 I trust we shall talke more frely or we deperte. 
 
 SED. Why, vylayn horson, knowyst not thi cosyn Sedy- 
 
 cyon? 670 
 
 DYS. I have ever loved both the and thy condycyon. 
 SED. Thow must nedes, I trowe, for we cum of ij breth- 
 erne ; 
 
 1 Supplied by C.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 549 
 
 Yf thu remewber, owr fathers were on mans chylderne, 
 Thow comyst of Falsed and I of Prevy Treason. 
 
 DYS. Than Infydelyte owr granfather ys by reason. 675 
 
 SED. Mary, that ys trewe, and his begynner Antycrist, 
 The great Pope of Rome, or fyrst veyne popysh prist. 
 
 DYS. Now welcum, cosyn, by the waye that my sowle 
 shall to ! 
 
 SED. Gramercy, cosyn, by the holy bysshope Benno ! 
 Thow kepyst thi old wont, thow art styll an abbe-man. 680 
 
 DYS. To hold all thynges vp I play my part now and than. 
 
 SED. Why, what manere of offyce hast thu with-in the 
 abbey? 
 
 DYS. Of all relygyons I kepe the chyrch-dore keye. , 
 
 SED. Than of a lykelyhod thow art ther generall porter? 
 
 DYS. Nay, of munks and chanons I am the suttyll sorter. 685 
 Whyle sum talke with Besse, the resydewe kepe sylence ; 
 Thowgh we playe the knavys, we must shew a good pretence ; 
 Where-so-ever sum eate, a serten kepe the froyter ; l 
 Where-so-ever sum slepe, sum must nedes kepe the dorter. 
 Dedyst thu never know the maner of owr senyes? 690 
 
 SED. I was never with them aqueynted, by seynt Denyes. 
 
 DYS. Than never knewyst thu the knavery of owrmenyes. 
 Yf I shuld tell all, I cowd saye more than that. 
 
 SED. Now, of good felowshyppe, I beseche the shew me 
 what. 
 
 DYS. The profytable lucre cummyth ever in by me. 695 
 
 SED. But by what meane? tell me, I hartely pray the. 
 
 DYS. To wynne the peple, I appoynt yche man his place : 
 Sum to syng Latyn, and sum to ducke at grace ; 
 Sum to go mummyng, and sum to beare the crosse ; 
 Sum to stowpe downeward as the[r] heades ware stopt with 
 
 mosse ; 700 
 
 Sum rede the epystle and gospell at hygh masse ; 
 Sum syng at the lectorne with long eares lyke an asse ; 
 The pawment of the chyrche the aunchent faders tredes, 
 Sum-tyme with a portas, sumtyme with a payre of bedes. 
 1 Qy. freyter.
 
 JOHN BALE. 
 
 And this exedyngly drawt peple to devoycyone, 705 
 
 Specyally whan they do se so good relygeone. 
 
 Than have we imagys of Seynt Spryte and Seynt Savyer ; 
 
 Moche is the sekynge of them to gett ther faver ; 
 
 Yong whomen berfote, and olde men seke them brecheles. 
 
 The myracles wrought there I can in no wyse expresse. 710 
 
 We lacke neyther golde nor sylwer, gyrdles nor rynges, 
 
 Candelles nor taperes, nor other customyd offerynges. 
 
 Thowgh I seme a shepe, I can play the suttle fox ; 
 
 I can make Latten to bryng this gere to the boxe. 
 
 Tushe! Latten is alone to bryng soche mater to passe, 715 
 
 There ys no Englyche that can soche slyghtes compasse ; 
 
 And therfor we wyll no servyce to be songe, 
 
 Gospell nor pystell, but all in Latten tonge. 
 
 Of owr suttell dryftes many more poyntes are behynde ; 
 
 Yf I tolde you all, we shuld never have an ende. 720 
 
 SED. In nomine Patrts, of all that ever I hard 
 Thow art alone yet of soche a dremyng bussard ! 
 
 DYS. Nay, dowst thu not se how I in my colours jette? 
 To blynd the peple I have yet a farther fette : 
 This is for Bernard, and this is for Benet, 725 
 
 This is for Gylbard, and this is for Jhenet, 
 For Frauncys this is, and this is for Domynyke, 
 For Awsten and Elen, and this is for Seynt Partryk. 
 We haue many rewlles, but never one we kepe ; 
 Whan we syng full lowde our harts be fast aslepe. 730 
 
 We resemble sayntes in gray, whyte, blacke, and blewe, 
 Yet vnto prynces not one of owr nomber trewe, . 
 And that shall Kyng Johan prove shortly, by the rode ! 
 
 SED. But in the meane-tyme yowr-selves gett lytyll good ; 
 Yowr abbeys go downe, I heresaye, every- where. 735 
 
 DYS. Yea, frynd Sedysyon, but thow must se to that 
 gere. 
 
 SED. Than must I have helpe, by swete Saynt Benetts 
 cuppe ! 
 
 DYS. Thow shalt have a chylde of myn owne bryngyng 
 uppe.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 551 
 
 SED. Of thy bryngyng uppe? Coks sowle, what knave 
 is that? 
 
 DYS. Mary, Pryvat Welth ; now hayve I tolde the what. 740 
 I made hym a monke and a perfytt cloysterer, 
 And in the abbeye he began fyrst celerer, 
 Than pryor, than abbote of a thowsand pownd land, no wors, 
 Now he is a bysshoppe and rydeth with an hondryd hors, 
 And, as I here say, he is lyke to be a Cardynall. 745 
 
 SED. Ys he so in-dede? By the masse, than have att all ! 
 
 DYS. Nay, fyrst Pryvat Welth shall bryng in Usurpyd 
 
 Power 
 With hys autoryte, and than the gam ys ower. 
 
 SED. Tush, Usurpyd Power dothe faver me of all men, 
 For in his trebles I ease his hart now and then. 750 
 
 Whan prynces'rebell agenste hys autoryte, 
 I make ther commons agenst them for to be. 
 Twenty M d men are but a mornyng breckefast 
 To be slayne for hym, he takyng his repast. 
 
 DYS. Thow hast, I persayve, a very suttyll cast. 755 
 
 SED. I am for the Pope, as for the shyppe the mast. 
 
 DYS. Than helpe, Sedycyon, I may styll in Englond be ! 
 Kyng John hath thretned that I shall ouer see. 
 
 SED. Well, yf thow wylte of me have remedy this ower, 
 Go seche Pryvat Welth and also Usurpyd Power. 760 
 
 DYS. I can bryng but one, be Mary, Jesus mother! 
 
 SED. Bryng thow in the one, and let hym bryng in the 
 other. 
 
 Here cum in Usurpyd Power and Private Welth, syngyng on after another. 
 Usurpyd Power syng this : 
 
 Super flumina Babilonis suspendimus organa nostra. 
 
 Private Welth syng this : 
 
 Quomodo cantabimus canticum bonum in terra aliena? 
 SED. By the mas, me thynke they are syngyng of placebo / 
 DYS. Peace, for with my spcctables vadam et videbo! 
 
 Coks sowll, yt is they ! At the last I have smellyd them owt. 
 
 Her go and bryng them
 
 552 JOHN BALE. 
 
 SED. Thow mayst be a sowe, yf thou hast so good a snowt. 768 
 
 Surs, marke well this gere, for now yt begynnyth to worke : 
 False Dyssymulacion doth bryng in Privat Welth ; 
 
 And Usurpyd Power, which is more ferce than a Turke, 
 Cummeth in by hym to decaye all spyrytuall helth ; 
 Than I by them bothe, as clere experyence telth ; 
 
 We iiij by owr crafts Kyng Johan wyll so subdwe, 
 
 That for iij C yers all Englond shall yt rewe. 775 
 
 DYS. Of the clergy, frynds, report lyke as ye se, 
 That ther Privat Welth cummyth ever in by me. 
 
 SED. But by whom commyst thu ? By the messe, evyn 
 
 by the devyll, 
 For the grownd thow art of the Cristen peplys evyll ! 
 
 DYS. And what are yow, ser? I pray yow say good by 
 
 me. 780 
 
 SED. By my trowth, I cum by the and thy affynyte. 
 DYS. Feche thow in thy felow so fast as ever thow can. 
 PR. WELTH. I trow thow shalt se me now playe the 
 
 praty man. 
 
 Of me, Privat Welth, cam fyrst Usurpyd Power : 
 Ye may perseyve yt in pagent here this hower. 785 
 
 SED. Now welcum, felowys, by all thes bonys and naylys! 
 Us. POWER. Among companyons good felyshyp never 
 
 faylys. 
 
 SED. Nay, Usurpid Power, thu must go backe ageyne, 
 For I must also put the to a lytyll payne. 
 
 Us. POWER. Why, fellaue Sedysyon, what wylt thu have 
 
 me do? 790 
 
 SED. To bare me on thi backe and bryng me in also, 
 That yt may be sayde that, fyrst, Dyssymulacion 
 Browght in Privat Welth to every Cristen nacion, 
 And that Privat Welth browght in Usurpid Power, 
 And he Sedycyon, in cytye, towne and tower ; 795 
 
 That sum man may know the feche of all owr sorte. 
 
 Us. POWER. Cum on thy wayes than, that thou mayst 
 make the fort.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 553 
 
 DYS. Nay, Usurped Power, we shall bare hym all thre, 
 Thy-selfe, he and I, yf ye wyll be rewlyd by me, 
 For ther is non of us but in hym hath a stroke. 800 
 
 PR. WELTH. The horson knave wayeth and yt were a 
 croked oke. 
 
 Here they shall bare hym in, and Sedycyon saythe : 
 
 SED. Yea, thus it shuld be, mary, now thu art 1 alofte! 
 I wyll be-shyte yow all yf ye sett me not downe softe. 
 In my opynyon, by swete Saynt Antony, 
 
 Here is now gatheryd a full honest company : 805 
 
 Here is nowther Awsten, Ambrose, Hierom nor Gregory, 
 But here is a sorte of companyons moch more mery. 
 They of the Chirch than were fower holy doctors, 
 We of the Chirch now are the iiij generall proctors. 
 Here ys, fyrst of all, good father Dyssymulacion, 810 
 
 The fyrst begynner of this same congregation ; 
 Here is Privat Welthe, which hath the Chyrch infecte 
 With all abusyons, and brought yt to a synfull secte ; 
 Here ys Usurpid Power that all kyngs doth subdwe 
 With such autoryte as is neyther good ner trewe ; 815 
 
 And I last of all am evyn, sance pere, Sedycyon. 
 
 Us. POWER. Under hevyn ys not a more knave in con- 
 
 dycyon. 
 
 Wher-as thu dost cum, that commonwelth cannot thryve. 
 By owr Lord, I marvell that thou art yet alyve. 
 
 PR. WELTH. Wher herbes are pluckte upp, the wedes 
 
 many tymes remayne. 820 
 
 DYS. No man can utter an evydence more playn. 
 
 SED. Yea, ye thynke so, yow? Now Gods blyssyng 
 
 breke yowr heade ! 
 
 I can do but lawgh to here yow, by thys breade ! 
 I am so mery that we are mett, by Saynt John, 
 I fele not the ground that I do go uppon. 825 
 
 For the love of God, lett us have sum mery songe. 
 
 1 C. suggests I am ; Kittredge suggests assigning the line to Dyssymu- 
 ladon.
 
 554 JOHN BALE. 
 
 Us. POWER. Begyne thy-self than, and we shall lepe in 
 
 amonge. Here syng. 
 
 SED. I wold ever dwell here, to have such mery sporte. 
 PR. WELTH. Thow mayst have yt, man, yf thow wylt 
 
 hether resorte, 
 
 For the Holy Father ys as good a felowe as we. 830 
 
 DYS. The Holy Father? Why, pray the, whych is he? 
 PR. WELTH. Usurped Power here, which, thowgh he 
 
 apparaunt be 
 
 In this apparell, yet hathe he autoryte 
 Bothe in hevyn and erth, in purgatory and in hell. 
 
 Us. POWER. Marke well his saynges, for a trew tale he 
 
 doth tell. 835 
 
 SED. What, Usurpid Power? Cocks sowle, ye are owr 
 
 Pope? 
 Where is yowr thre crounnys, yowr crosse keys, and your 
 
 cope 
 
 What meanyth this mater ? Me thynke ye walke astraye. 
 
 Us. POWER. Thow knowest I must have sum dalyaunce 
 
 and playe, 
 
 For I am a man lyke as an-other ys ; 840 
 
 Sumtyme I must hunt, sumtyme I must Alyson kys. 
 I am bold of yow, I take ye for no straungers ; 
 We are as spirituall, I dowght in yow no daungers. 
 
 DYS. I owght to conseder yowr Holy Father-hode, 
 From my fyrst infancy ye have ben to me so good. 845 
 
 For Codes sake, wytsave to geve me yowr blyssing here 
 A petia et culpa, that I may stand this day clere. 
 
 Knelt. 
 
 SED. From makyng cuckoldes? mary, that were no mery 
 
 chere ! 
 
 DYS. A pena et culpa : I trow thow canst not here. 
 SED. Yea, with a cuckoldes wyff ye have dronke dobyll 
 
 bere. 850 
 
 DYS. I pray the, Sedycyon, my pacyens no more stere. 
 A pena et culpa I desire to be clere, 
 And than all the devylles of hell I wold not fere.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 555 
 
 Us. POWER. But tell me one thyng : dost thu not preche 
 
 the gospell? 
 
 DYS. No, I promyse yow, I defye yt to the devyll of hell. 855 
 Us. POWER. Yf I knewe thow dydest, thu shuldest have 
 
 non absolucyon. 
 
 DYS. Yf I do, abjure me or put me to execucyon. 
 PR. WELTH. I dare say he brekyth no popyshe consty- 
 
 tucyon. 
 Us. POWER. Soche men are worthy to have owr contry- 
 
 bucyon. 
 
 I assoyle the here, behynde and also beforne! 860 
 
 Now art thu as clere as that daye thow wert borne. 
 Ryse, Dyssymulacion, and stond uppe lyke a bold knyght ; 
 Dowght not of my power, thowgh my aparell be lyght! 
 
 SED. A man, be the masse, can not know yow from a 
 
 knave, 
 
 Ye loke so lyke hym, as 1 wold God shuld me save ! 865 
 
 PR. WELTH. Thow art very lewde owr father so to 
 
 deprave. 
 
 Thowgh he for his plesure soche lyght apparell have, 
 Yt is now sommer and the heate ys withowt mesure, 
 And among us he may go lyght at his owne plesure. 
 Felow Sedycyon, thowgh thu dost mocke and scoffe, 870 
 
 We have other materes than this to be commyned of. 
 Frynd Dyssymulacion, why dost thu not thy massage, 
 And show owt of Englond the causse of thi farre passage ? 
 Tush, blemysh not, whoreson, for I shall ever assyst the. 
 
 SED. The knave ys whyght-leveryd, by the Holy Trynyte ! 875 
 Us. POWER. Why so, Privat Welth, what ys the mater? 
 
 Tell me. 
 PR. WELTH. Dyssymulacion ys a massanger for the 
 
 Clargy ; 
 
 I must speke for hym, there ys no remedy. 
 The Clargy of Ynglond, which ys yowr specyall frynde, 
 And of a long tyme hath borne yow very good mynde, 880 
 
 Fyllyng yowr coffers with many a thowsande pownde, 
 Yf ye sett not to hand, he ys lyke to fall to the grownde.
 
 JOHN BALE. 
 
 I do promyse yow truly his hart ys in his hose ; 
 
 Kyng Johan so usyth hym that he reconnyth all to lose. 
 
 Us. POWER. Tell, Dyssymulacion, why art thow so 
 
 asshamed 885 
 
 To shewe thy massage? Thow art moche to be blamed. 
 Late me se those wrytyngs ; tush ! man, I pray the cum nere. 
 
 Dvs. Yowr Horryble Holynes putth me in wonderfull fere. 
 
 Us. POWER. Tush ! lett me se them, I pray the hartely. 
 
 Here Dissimulacyon shall delever the tvrytynges to Usurpyd Power. 
 
 I perseyve yt well, thow wylt lose no ceremony. 890 
 
 SED. Yet is he no lesse than a false knave veryly. 
 I wold thow haddyst kyst hys ars, for that is holy. 
 
 PR. WELTH. How dost thow prove me that his arse ys 
 
 holy now? 
 
 SED. For yt hath an hole, evyn fytt for the nose of yow. 
 PR. WELTH. Yowr parte ys not elles but for .to playe 
 
 the knave, 895 
 
 And so ye must styll contynew to yowr grave. 
 
 Us. POWER. I saye, leve yowr gawdes, and attend to me 
 
 this hower. 
 
 The bysshoppes writeth here to me, Usurped Power, 
 Desyryng assystence of myne auctoryte 
 
 To save and support the Chyrches lyberte. 900 
 
 They report Kyng Johan to them to be very harde, 
 And to have the Church in no pryce nor regarde. 
 In his parliament he demaundeth of the Clargy 
 For his warres the tent of the Chyrches patrymony. 
 
 PR. WELTH. Ye wyll not consent to that, I trow, by 
 
 SayntMary! 905 
 
 SED. No ; drawe to yow styll, but lett none from yow 
 
 cary ! 
 Us. POWER. Ye know yt is cleane agenst owr holy 
 
 decrees 
 
 That princes shuld thus contempne owr lybertees. 
 He taketh uppon hym to reforme the.tythes and offrynges, 
 And intermedleth with other spyrytuall thynges. 910
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 557 
 
 PR. WELTH. Ye must sequester hym, or elles that wyll 
 mare all. 
 
 Us. POWER. Naye, besydes all this, before juges temporall 
 He conventeth clarkes of cawses crymynall. 
 
 PR. WELTH. Yf ye se not to that, the Churche wyll haue 
 a fall. 
 
 SED. By the masse, than pristes are lyke to have a pange ; 91 5 
 For treson, murder and thefte they are lyke to hange ! 
 By Cocks sowle, than I am lyke to walke for treasone, 
 Yf I be taken ; loke to yt therfore in seasone! 
 
 PR. WELTH. Mary, God forbyd that ever yowr holy 
 
 anoynted 
 
 For tresone or thefte shuld be hanged, racked or joynted, 920 
 Lyke the rascall sorte of the prophane layete. 
 
 Us. POWER. Naye, I shall otherwyse loke to yt, ye may 
 
 trust me. 
 
 Before hym-selfe also the bysshopps he doth convent, 
 To the derogacyon of ther dygnyte excelent, 
 And wyll suffer non to the court of Rome to appele. 925 
 
 DYS. No ; he contemnyth yowr autoryte and seale, 
 And sayth in his lond he wyll be lord and kyng, 
 No prist so hardy to enterpryse any-thyng. 
 For the whych of late with hym ware at veryaunce 
 Fower of the bysshopps, and, in maner, at defyaunce, 930 
 
 Wyllyam of London, and Eustace bysshope of Hely, 
 Water of Wynchester, and Gylys of Hartford, trewly. 
 Be yowr autoryte they have hym excommunycate. 
 
 Us. POWER. Than have they done well ; for he is a 
 
 reprobate ; 
 
 To that I admytt he ys alwayes contrary : 935 
 
 I made this fellow here the arche-bysshope of Canterbery, 
 And he wyll agree therto in no condycion. 
 
 PR. WELTH. Than hath he knowlege that his name ys 
 Sedycyon. 
 
 DYS. Dowtles he hath so, and that drownnyth his opynyon. 
 
 Us. POWER. Why do ye not saye his name ys Stevyn 
 
 Langton? 940
 
 558 JOHN BALE. 
 
 Dvs. Tush ! we haue done so, but that helpyth not the 
 
 mater ; 
 
 The bysshope of Norwych for that cawse doth hym flater. 
 Us. POWER. Styke thow to yt fast, we have onys ad- 
 
 mytted the. 
 
 SED. I wyll not one jote from my admyssyon fle ; 
 The best of them all shall know that I am he. 
 Naye, in suche maters lett men be ware of me. 946 
 
 Us. POWER. The monkes of Canterbery ded more at my 
 
 request 
 Than they wold at his concernyng that eleccyon. 
 
 They chase Sedycyon, as yt is now manyfest, 
 
 In spytt of his harte ; than he for ther rebellyon 
 Exyled them all, and toke ther hole possessyon 
 
 In-to his owne hands, them sendyng over see 
 
 Ther lyvyngs to seke in extreme poverte. 953 
 
 This custum also he hath, as it is told me : 
 
 Whan prelates depart, yea, bysshope, abbott, or 
 
 curate, 
 He entreth theyr lands with-owt my lyberte, 
 
 Takyng the profyghts tyll the nexte be consecrate, 
 
 Instytute, stallyd, inducte or intronyzate, 
 And of the Pyed Monkes he entendeth to take a dyme. 
 All wyll be marryd yf I loke not to yt in tyme. 960 
 
 DYS. Yt is takyn, ser ; the some ys unresonnable, 
 A nynne thowsand marke ; to lyve they are not able. 
 His suggesteon was to subdew the Yrysh men. 
 
 PR. WELTH. Yea that same peple doth ease the Church, 
 
 now and then ; 
 
 For that enterpryse they wold be lokyd uppon. 965 
 
 Us. POWER. They gett no mony, but they shall have 
 
 clene remyssion, 
 
 For those Yrysh men are ever good to the Church ; 
 Whan kynges dysobeye yt, than they begynne to worch. 
 PR. WELTH. And all that they do ys for indulgence and 
 pardon.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 559 
 
 SED. By the messe, and that is not worth a rottyn wardon ! 970 
 Us. POWER. What care we for that? to them yt is venyson. 
 PR. WELTH. Than lett them haue yt, a Gods dere 
 
 benyson ! 
 Us. POWER. Now, how shall we do for this same wycked 
 
 kyng? 
 SED. Suspend hym and curse hym, both with yowr word 
 
 and wrytyng. 
 
 Yf that wyll not helpe, 1 than interdyght his lond 975 
 
 With extreme cruellnes ; and yf that wyll not stond, 
 Cawse other prynces to revenge the Churchys wronge, 
 Yt wyll profytt'e yow to sett them aworke amonge. 
 For clene remyssyon, one kyng wyll subdew a-nother, 
 Yea, the chyld sumtyme wyll sle both father and mother. 980 
 Us. POWER. This cownsell ys good ; I wyll now folow yt 
 
 playne. 
 Tary thow styll here tyll we returne agayne. 
 
 Here go owt Usurpid Power and Privat IVelth and Sedycyon : Usurpyd 
 Power shall drese for the Pope ; Privat IVelth for a Cardynall ; and 
 Sedycyon for a Monke. The Cardynall shall bryng in the erase, and 
 Stevyn Launton the booke, bell, andcandell. 
 
 DYS. This Usurpid Power, whych now is gon from hence, 
 For the Holy Church wyll make such ordynance 
 
 That all men shall be under his obedyens, 
 
 Yea, kyngs wyll be glad to geve hym their alegyance, 
 And than shall we pristes lyve here withowt dysturbans ; 
 
 As Codes owne vyker anon ye shall se hym sytt, 
 
 His flocke to avaunse by his most polytyke wytt. 989 
 
 He shall make prelates, both byshopp and cardynall, 2 
 
 Doctours and prebendes with furdewhodes and syde 
 
 gownes ; 
 He wyll also create the orders monastycall, 
 
 Monkes, chanons, and fryers with graye coates and shaven 
 crownes, 
 
 1 C. holpe. 
 
 2 Lines 990-1010 are an insertion in Bale's hand.
 
 560 JOHN BALE. 
 
 And buylde them places to corrupt cyties and townes ; 
 The dead sayntes shall shewe both visyons and myracles; 
 With ymages and rellyckes he shall wurke sterracles. 996 
 
 He wyll make mattens, houres, masse and evensonge, 
 To drowne the Scriptures for doubte of heresye ; 
 
 He wyll sende pardons to save mennys sowles amonge, 
 Latyne devocyons with the holye rosarye ; 
 He wyll apoynt fastynges, and plucke downe matri- 
 monye ; 
 
 Holy water and bredde shall dryve awaye the devyll ; 
 
 Blessynges with blacke bedes wyll helpe in every evyll. 1003 
 
 Kynge Johan of Englande, bycause he hatli rebelled 
 
 Agaynst Holy Churche, usynge it wurse than a stable, 
 
 To gyve up his crowne shall shortly be compelled, 
 And the Albygeane's, lyke heretykes detestable, 
 Shall be brent bycause agaynst our father they babble. 
 
 Through Domynyckes preachynge an xviij thousande are 
 slayne, 
 
 To teache them how they shall Holye Churche disdayne. 1010 
 
 All this to performe he wyll cawse a generall cowncell 
 Of all Cristendom to the church of Laternense. 
 
 His intent shall be for to supprese the gospell, 
 
 Yet wyll he glose yt with a very good pretens, 
 To subdwe the Turkes by a Cristen vyolens. 
 
 Under this coloure he shall grownd ther many thynges, 
 
 Which wyll at the last be Cristen mennys undoynges. 1017 
 
 The Popys power shall be abowe the powers all, 
 
 And eare-confessyon a matere nesssssary ; 
 Ceremonys wyll be the ryghtes ecclesyastycall ; 
 
 He shall sett up there both pardowns and purgatory ; 
 
 The gospell prechyng wyll be an heresy. 
 Be this provyssyon, and be soch other kyndes, 
 We shall be full suere allwaye to have owr myndes. 1024 
 
 [Enter Usurped Power as the Pope "jjith Privat If ~elth as a Cardinal and 
 Stdycyon as a Monk.]
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 561 
 
 POPE. Ah, ye are a blabbe ! I perseyve ye wyll tell all ; 
 I lefte ye not here to be so lyberall. 
 
 DYS. Mea culpa, mea c^llpa, gravissima mea culpa ! 
 Geve me yowr blyssyng ^r<? Deo et sancta Maria! 
 
 Knele and knoke on the tryst. 
 
 POPE. Thou hast my blyssyng. Aryse now, and stond 
 
 a-syde. 
 
 DYS. My skyn ys so thyke, yt wyll not throw glyde. 1030 
 
 POPE. Late us goo abowght owr other materes now. 
 
 Say this all thre : 
 
 [ALL.] We wayte her upon the greate holynes of yow. 
 
 POPE. For as moch as Kyng Johan doth Holy Church 
 
 so handle, 
 
 Here I do curse hym wyth crosse, boke, bell and candle : 
 Lyke as this same roode turneth now from me his face, 1035 
 
 So God I requyre to sequester hym of his grace ; 
 As this boke doth speare by my worke mannuall, 
 I wyll God to close uppe from hym his benefyttes all ; 
 As this burnyng flame goth from this, candle in syght, 
 I wyll God to put hym from his eternall lyght ; 1 040 
 
 I take hym from Crist, and, after the sownd of this bell, 
 Both body and sowle I geve hym to the devyll of hell ; 
 I take from hym baptym, with the other sacramentes 
 And sufferages of the Churche, bothe amber-dayes and lentes ; 
 Here I take from hym bothe penonce and confessyon, 1045 
 
 Masse of the v wondes, with sensyng and processyon ; 
 Here I take from hym holy water and holy brede, 
 And never wyll them to stande hym in any sted. 
 This thyng to publyshe I constytute yow thre, 
 Gevyng yow my power and my full autoryte. 1050 
 
 Say this all thre : 
 
 [ALL.] With the grace of God, we shall performe yt than. 
 POPE. Than gett yow foreward so fast as ever ye can 
 Uppon a bone vyage ; yet late us syng meryly. 
 
 SED. Than begyne the song, and we shall folow gladly. 
 
 Here they shall syxf. 1 
 1 The song is not given.
 
 562 JOHN BALE. 
 
 POPE. To colour this thyng thow shalte be callyd Pan- 
 
 dulphus ; 1055 
 
 Thow Stevyn Langton ; thy name shall be Raymundus. 
 Fyrst, thou, Pandolphus, shall opynly hym suspend 
 With boke, bell and candle ; yff he wyll not so amend, 
 Interdycte his lande, and the churches all up-speare. 
 
 PR. WELTH. I have my massage ; to do yt I wyll not 
 
 f eare. 1 060 
 
 Here go owt and dresefor Nobylyte. 
 
 POPE. And thow, Stevyn Langton, cummand the byssh- 
 
 oppes all 
 
 So many to curse as are to hym benefycyall, 
 Dwkes, erles and lords, wherby they may forsake hym. 
 
 SED. Sur, I wyll do yt, and that, I trow, shall shake hym. 
 
 POPE. Raymundus, go thow forth to the Crysten princes 
 
 all: 1065 
 
 Byd them in my name that they uppon hym fall 
 Bothe with fyre and sword, that the Churche may hym con- 
 quarre. 
 
 DYS. Yowr plesur I wyll no longar tyme defarre. 
 
 POPE. Saye this to them also : Pope Innocent the Thred 
 Remyssyon of synnes to so many men hath granted 1070 
 
 As wyll do ther best to slee hym yf they may. 
 
 DYS. Sur, yt shall be don with-owt ony lenger delay. 
 
 POPE. In the meane season I shall soch gere avaunce, 
 As wyll be to us a perpetuall furderaunce : 
 
 Fyrst, eare-confessyon, than pardons, than purgatory, 1075 
 
 Sayntes-worchyppyng than, than sekyng of ymagery, 
 Than Laten servyce, with the cerymonyes many, 
 Wherby owr bysshoppes and abbottes shall gett mony. 
 I wyll make a law to burne all herytykes, 
 
 And kyngs to depose whan they are sysmatykes. 1080 
 
 I wyll ail-so reyse up the fower beggyng orders, 
 That they may preche lyes in all the Cristen borders. 
 For this and other, I wyll call a generall cownsell 
 To ratyfye them in lyke strength with the gospell. 1084
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 563 
 
 THE INTERPRETOUR. 1 
 
 In thys present acte we have to yow declared, 
 
 As in a myrrour, the begynnynge of Kynge Johan, 
 
 How he was of God a magistrate appoynted 
 
 To the governaunce of thys same noble regyon, 
 To see mayntayned the true faythe and relygyon ; 
 
 But Satan the Devyll, whych that tyme was at large, 
 
 Had so great a swaye that he coulde it not discharge. 1091 
 
 Upon a good zele he attempted very farre 
 
 For welthe of thys realme to provyde reformacyon 
 
 In the Churche therof, but they ded hym debarre 
 
 Of that good purpose ; for, by excommunycacyon, 
 The space of vij yeares they interdyct thy[s] nacyon. 
 
 These bloudsuppers thus, of crueltie and spyght, 
 
 Subdued thys good kynge for executynge ryght. 1098 
 
 In the second acte thys wyll apeare more playne, 
 Wherin Pandulphus shall hym excommunycate 
 
 Within thys hys lande, and depose hym from hys reigne. 
 All other princes they shall move hym to hate, 
 And to persecute after most cruell rate. 
 
 They wyll hym poyson in their malygnyte, 
 
 And cause yll report of hym alwayes to be. 1105 
 
 This noble Kynge Johan, as a faythfull Moyses, 
 Withstode proude Pharo for hys poore Israel, 
 
 Myndynge to brynge yt owt of the lande of darkenesse, 
 But the Egyptyanes did agaynst hym so rebell . 
 That hys poore people ded styll in the desart dwell, 
 
 Tyll that duke Josue, whych was our late Kynge Henrye, 
 
 Clerely brought us in-to the lande of mylke and honye. 1112 
 
 As a strong David, at the voyce of Verytie, 
 
 Great Golye, the Pope, he strake downe with hys slynge, 
 Restorynge agayns to a Christen lybertie 
 
 1 Lines 1085-1119 are an insertion in Bale's hand.
 
 564 JOHN BALE. 
 
 Hys lande and people, lyke a most vyctoryouse kynge ; 
 
 To hir first bewtye intendynge the Churche to brynge, 
 From ceremonyes dead to the lyvynge wurde of the Lorde. 
 Thys the seconde acte wyll plenteously recorde. 1119 
 
 Finit Actus Primus. 
 
 \Jncipit Actus Secundus.~\ 
 
 Here the Pope 1 go mvt, and Sedycyon - and Nobylyte cunt in and say : 
 
 NOB. It petyeth my hart to se the controvercye 
 That now-a-dayes reygnethe betwyn the kyng and the clargy. 
 All Cantorbery monks are now the realme exyled, 
 The prysts and bysshopps contyneally 3 revyled, 
 The Cystean monkes are in soche perplexyte 
 That owt of Englond they reken all to flee. 1 125 
 
 I lament the chaunce, as I wold God shuld me save. 
 
 SED. Yt is gracyously sayd ; Codes blyssyng myght ye 
 
 have! 
 
 Blyssyd is that man that wyll graunte or condyssend 
 To helpe relygyon, or Holy Churche defend. 
 
 NOB. For ther mayntenance I have gevyn londes full 
 
 fayer, 1130 
 
 I have dysheryted many a laufull ayer. 
 
 SED. Well, yt is yowr owne good ; God shall reward 
 
 yow for ytt, 
 And in hevyn full hyghe for soch good workes shall ye 
 
 sytt. 
 
 NOB. Yowr habyte showyth ye to be a man of relygeon. 
 SED. I am no worse, sur ; my name is Good Perfectyon. 1135 
 NOB. I am the more glad to be aquented with ye. 
 SED. Ye show yowr-selfe here lyke a noble-man, as ye 
 
 be. 
 I perseyve ryght well yowr name ys Nobelyte. 
 
 NOB. Yowr servont and Umfrey! of trewthe, father, I 
 am he. 
 
 1 Apparently the Pope -went out after 1. 1084. 
 
 2 MS. Dyssymulatyon ; corr. by C. 
 8 C. contymeally.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. $65 
 
 SED. From Innocent, the Pope, I am cum from Rome 
 
 evyn now. 1 140 
 
 A thowsand tymes, I wene, he commendyth hym unto yow, 
 And sent yow clene remyssyon to take the Chyrches parte. 
 
 NOB. I thanke his Holynes, I shall do yt with all my harte. 
 Yf ye wold take paynes for heryng my confessyon, 
 I wold owt of hand resayve this cleane. remyssyon. 1145 
 
 SED. Mary, with all my hart, I wyll be full glad to do ytt. 
 
 NOB. Put on yowr stolle then, and, I pray yow in Codes 
 name, sytt. 
 
 Here sett dtrwne, and Nobelyte shall say benedycyte. 
 
 NOB. Benedicite. 
 
 SED. Z?[o]w[i]w[u]j.- In nomine Domini 
 
 Pape, amen .' 
 Say forth yowr mynd, in Codes name. 
 
 NOB. I have synnyd a-gaynst God ; I knowlege my- 
 
 selfe to blame : 1 1 50 
 
 In the vij dedly synnys I have offendyd sore ; 
 Codes ten commandyments I have brokyn ever-more ; 
 My v boddyly wytes I have ongodly kepte ; 
 The workes of charyte in maner I have owt-slepte. 
 
 SED. I trust ye beleve as Holy Chyrch doth teache ye, 1155 
 And from the new lernyng ye are wyllyng for to fle. 
 
 NOB. From the new lernyng! mary, God of hevyn save 
 
 me ! 
 I never lovyd yt of a chyld, so mote I the ! 
 
 SED. Ye can say yowr crede, and yowr Laten Ave Mary? 
 
 NOB. Yea, and dyrge also, with sevyn psalmes and letteny. 1 160 
 
 SED. Do ye not beleve in purgatory and holy bred? 
 
 NOB. Yes, and that good prayers shall stand my soule in 
 stede. 
 
 SED. Well than, good enowgh ; I warant my soulle for 
 yowr! 
 
 NOB. Than execute on me the Holy Fatheres power. 
 
 SED. Naye, whyll I have yow here underneth benedtcite, 
 In the Popes behalf e I must move other thynges to ye. 

 
 566 JOHN BALE. 
 
 NOB. In the name of God, saye here what ye wyll to 
 
 me. 1167 
 
 SED. Ye know that Kyng Johan ys a very wycked man, 
 
 And to Holy Chyrch a contynuall adversary. 
 The Pope wyllyth yow to do the best ye canne 
 
 To his subduyng for his cruell tyranny ; 
 
 And for that purpose this privylege gracyously 
 Of clene remyssyon he hath sent yow this tyme, 
 Clene to relesse yow of all yowr synne and cryme. 1 1 74 
 
 NOB. Yt is clene agenst the nature of Nobelyte 
 To subdew his kyng with-owt Codes autoryte ; 
 For his princely estate and power ys of God. 
 I wold gladly do ytt, but I fere his ryghtfull rode. 
 
 SED. Codes holy vycare gave me his whole autoryte : 
 Loo! yt is here, man; beleve yt, I beseche the, 1180 
 
 Or elles thow wylte faulle in danger of damnacyon. 
 
 NOB. Than I submyt me to the Chyrches reformacyon. 
 
 SED. I assoyle the here from the kynges obedyence 
 By the auctoryte of the Popys Magnifycence : 
 Auctoritate Roma in pontyficis ego absolvo te 1185 
 
 [Aside] From all possessyons gevyn to the spiritualte, 
 In nomine Domini Pape, amen! 
 Kepe all thynges secrett, I pray yow hartely. Go ^t Nobelyte. 
 
 NOB. Yes, that I wyll, sur, and cum agayne hether 
 shortly. 
 
 Here enter Clargy and Cyvyll Order * together, and Sedysyon shall go up 
 and down a praty whyle. 
 
 CLARGY. Ys not yowr Fatherhod Archbysshope of Can- 
 
 terbery? 1190 
 
 SED. I am Stevyn Langton. Why make ye here inquyry? 
 
 Knele and say both : 
 
 [CLARGY AND C. ORDER.] Ye are ryght welcum to this 
 same regyon trewly. 
 
 1 / shall mark the speeches of CIVIL ORDER -with S. ORDER or C. 
 ORDER according as MS. has Syvyll or Cyvyll.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 567 
 
 SED. Stond up, I pray yow. I trow, thu art the Clargy. 
 
 CLARGY. I am the same, sur ; and this is Cyvyle Order. 
 
 SED. Yf a man myght axe yow, what make yow in this 
 
 border? 1195 
 
 CLARGY. I herd tell yester-daye ye were cum in-to the 
 
 land ; 
 I thowght for to se yow, sum newes to understand. 
 
 SED. In fayth thow art welcum ; ys Cyvyll Order thy 
 frynd? 
 
 CLARGY. He is a good man, and beryth the Chyrch good 
 ' vnd. 
 
 C. ORDER. Ryght sory I am of the great controvarsy 1200 
 Betwyn hym and the kyng, yf I myght yt remedy. 
 
 SED. Well, Cyvyll Order, for thy good wyll gramercy ! 
 That mater wyll be of an other facyon shortly. 
 Fyrst, to begyne with, we shall interdyte the lond. 
 
 C. ORDER. Mary, God forbyde we shuld be in soche 
 
 bond! 1205 
 
 But who shall do yt, I pray yow hartyly? 
 
 SED. Pandulphus and I ; we have yt in owr legacy. 
 He went to the kyng for that cawse yester-daye, 
 And I wyll folow so fast as ever I maye. 
 Lo, here ys the bull of myn auctoryte! 1210 
 
 CLARGY. I pray God to save the Popes Holy Maieste. 
 
 SED. Sytt downe on yowr kneys, and ye shall have 
 
 absolucion 
 
 A pena et culpa, with a thowsand dayes of pardon. 
 Here ys fyrst a bone of the Blyssyd Trynyte ; 
 A dram of the tord of swete Seynt Barnabe ; 1 31 5 
 
 Here ys a fedder of good Seynt Myhelles wyng ; 
 A toth of Seynt Twyde ; a pece of Davyds harpe-stryng ; 
 The good blood of Haylys ; and Owr Blyssyd Ladys mylke ; 
 A lowse of Seynt Frauncis in this same crymsen sylke ; 
 A scabbe of Seynt Job ; a nayle of Adams too ; 1220 
 
 A maggot of Moyses; with a fart of Saynt Fandigo; 
 Here is a fygge-leafe and a grape of Noes vyneyearde ; 
 A bede of Saynt Blythe ; with the bracelet of a berewarda ;
 
 568 JOHN BALE. 
 
 The devyll that was hatcht in Maistre Johan Shornes bote. 
 
 That the tree of Jesse did plucke up by the roote ; 1225 
 
 Here ys the lachett of swett Seynt Thomas shewe ; 
 
 A rybbe of Seynt Rabart ; with the huckyll-bone of a Jewe ; 
 
 Here ys a joynt of Darvell Gathyron ; 
 
 Besydes other bonys and relyckes many one. 
 
 In nomine Domini Pape, amen ! 1 230 
 
 Aryse now lyke men, and stande uppon yowr fete, 
 
 For here ye have caught an holy and a blyssyd hete. 
 
 Ye are now as clene as that day ye were borne, 
 
 And lyke to have increase of chylderne, catell and corne. 
 
 C. ORDER. Chyldryn he can have non, for he ys not of 
 
 that loade. 1235 
 
 SED. Tushe, thowgh he hath non at home, he may have 
 
 sume abroade! 
 
 Now, Clargy, my frynd, this must thow do for the Pope, 
 And for Holy Chyrch : thow must mennys conscyence grope, 
 And as thow felyst them, so cause them for to wurke : 
 Leat them show Kyng Johan no more faver than a Turke ; 1240 
 Every-wher sture them to make an insurreccyon. 1 
 
 CLARGY. All that shall I do ; and, to provoke them more. 
 This interdyccyon I wyll lament very sore 
 In all my prechyngs, and saye throwgh his occasyon 
 All we are under the danger of dampnacyon. 1245 
 
 And this wyll move peple to helpe to put hym downe, 
 Or elles compell hym to geve up septur and crowne. 
 Yea, and that wyll make those kynges that shall succede 
 Of the Holy Chyrche to stond evermore in drede. 
 And, by-sydes all this, the chyrch-dores I wyll up-seale, 1250 
 
 And closse up the bells that they ryng never a pele ; 
 I wyll spere up the chalyce, crysmatory, crosse, and all, 
 That masse they shall have non, baptym nor beryall, 
 And thys, I know well, wyll make the peple madde. 
 
 SED. Mary, that yt wyll ; soche sauce he never had. 1255 
 
 1 There is nothing to indicate that a line rhyming with this has been 
 lost, and it seems better to suppose that the line never had a mate than to 
 emend insurreccyon to uproar.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 569 
 
 And what wylte thow do for Holy Chyrche, Cyvyll Order? 
 
 S. ORDER. For the Clargyes sake, I wyll in every border 
 Provoke the gret men to take the commonys parte. 
 With cautyllys of the lawe I wyll so tyckle ther hart, 
 They shall thynke all good that they shall passe upon, 1260 
 
 And so shall we cum to ower full intent anon ; 
 For yf the Church thryve, than do we lawers thryve, 
 And yf they decay, ower welth ys not alyve. 
 Therfore we must helpe yowr state, masters, to uphold, 
 Or elles owr profyttes wyll cache a wynter colde. 1265 
 
 I never knew lawer whych had ony crafty lernyng 
 That ever escapte yow with-owt a plentyows levyng ; 
 Therfore we may not leve Holy Chyrchys quarell, 
 But ever helpe yt, for ther fall ys owr parell. 
 
 SED. Gods blyssyng have ye ! this gere than wyll worke, 
 
 I trust. 1270 
 
 S. ORDER. Or elles sum of us are lyke to lye in the dust. 
 
 SED. Let us all avoyde ; be the messe, the kyng cum- 
 myth here ! 
 
 CLARGY. I wold hyde my-selfe for a tyme, yf I wyst 
 where. 
 
 S. ORDER. Gow we hence apace, for I have spyed a 
 
 corner. 1274 
 
 Here go owt all, and Kyngjohan cunnnyth in. 
 
 K. JOHAN. For non other cawse God hath kyngs con- 
 stytute 
 
 And gevyn them the sword but forto correct all vyce. 
 I have attempted this thyng to execute 
 
 Uppon transgressers accordyng unto justyce ; 
 
 And be-cawse I wyll not be parcyall in myn offyce 
 For theft and murder to persones spirytuall, 
 I have ageynst me the pristes and the bysshoppes all. 1281 
 
 A lyke dysplesure in my fathers tyme ded fall, 
 
 Forty yeres ago, for ponyshment of a clarke ; 
 
 No cunsell myght them to reformacyon call, 
 
 In ther openyon they were so stordy and starke, 
 
 But ageynst ther prynce to the Pope they dyd so barke
 
 5/O JOHN BALE. 
 
 That here in Ynglond in every cyte and towne 
 Excommunycacyons as thonder-bolts cam downe. 1288 
 
 For this ther captayn had a ster-apared crowne, 
 
 And dyed upon yt with-owt the kynges consent. 
 
 Than interdiccyons were sent from the Popes Renowne, 
 Whych never left hym tyll he was penytent, 
 And fully agreed unto the Popes apoyntment, 
 
 In Ynglond to stand with the Chyrches lyberte, 
 
 And suffer the pristes to Rome for appeles to flee. 1295 
 
 They bownd hym also to helpe Jerusalem cyte 
 
 With ij hundrid men the space of a yere and more, 
 
 And thre yere after to maynteyne battell free 
 
 Ageynst the Sarazens whych vext the Spanyards sore. 
 Synce my fathers tyme I have borne them groge ther- 
 fore, 
 
 Consyderyng the pryde and the capcyose dysdayne 
 
 That they have to kyngs whych oughte over them to rayne. 1302 
 
 Privat Welth cum in lyke a Cardynall. 
 
 God save you, sur Kyng, in yowr pryncly mageste ! 
 
 K. JOHAN. Frynd, ye be welcum ; what is yowr plesure 
 
 with me? 
 PR. WELTH. From the Holy Father, Pope Innocent the 
 
 Thred, 
 
 As a massanger I am to vow dyrectyd, 
 To reforme the peace betwyn Holy Chyrch and yow, 
 And in his behalfe I avertyce yow here now 
 Of the Chyrchys goods to make full restytucyon, 
 And to accepte also the Popes holy a constytucyon 1310 
 
 For Stevyn Langton, archebysshop of Canturbery, 
 And so admytt hym to his state and primacy ; 
 The monkes exilyd ye shall restore agayne 
 To ther placys and londes, and nothyng of thers retayne. 
 Owr Holy Fatheres mynde ys that ye shall agayne restore 1315 
 All that ye have ravyshyd from Holy Chyrche with the more. 
 
 1 C. hely.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 5/1 
 
 K. JOHAN. I reken yowr father wyll never be so harde 
 But he wyll my cawse as well as theres regarde. 
 I have done nothyng but that I may do well, 
 And as for ther taxe I have for me the gospel!'. 1320 
 
 PR. WELTH. Tushe, gospell or no, ye must make a 
 recompens ! 
 
 K. JOHAN. Yowr father is sharpe and very quycke in 
 
 sentence, 
 
 Yf he wayeth the word of God no more than so ; 
 But I shall tell yow in this what Y shall do : 
 
 I am well content to receyve the monkes agayne 13 2 5 
 
 Upon amendement ; but as for Stevyn Langton, playne, 
 He shall not cum here, for I know his dysposycyon, 
 He is moche inclyned to sturdynesse and sedycyon. 
 There shall no man rewle in the lond where I am kyng 
 With-owt my consent, for no mannys plesure lyvyng. 133 
 
 Never-the-lesse, yet, upon a newe behaver, 
 At the Popys request here- after I may hym faver, 
 And graunt hym to have sum other benyfyce. 
 
 PR. WELTH. By thys I perseyve ye bare hym groge and 
 
 malyce. 
 
 Well, thys wyll I say by-cause ye are so blunte : 1335 
 
 A prelate to dyscharge, Holy Chyrche was never wont, 
 But her custome ys to mynyster ponyshment 
 To kynges and princes beyng dyssobedyent. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Avant, pevysh prist ! What ! dost thow 
 
 thretten me? 
 
 I defye the worst both of thi Pope and the! 1340 
 
 The power of princys ys gevyn from God above, 
 And, as sayth Salomon, ther harts the Lord doth move ; 
 God spekyth in ther lyppes whan they geve jugement ; 
 The lawys that they make are by the Lordes appoyntment. 
 Christ wylled not his 1 the princes to correcte, 1345 
 
 But to ther precepptes rether to be subjecte. 
 The offyce of yow ys not to bere the sword, 
 But to geve cownsell accordyng to Gods word. 
 
 1 One -would be inclined to insert apostles but for 1. 1349.
 
 5/2 JOHN BALE. 
 
 He never tawght his to weare nowther sword ne sallett, 
 
 But to preche abrode with-owt staffe, scrypp or walett; 1350 
 
 Yet are ye becum soche myghty lordes this hower 
 
 That ye are able to subdewe all princes power. 
 
 I can not perseyve but ye are becum Belles prystes, 
 
 Lyvyng by ydolls, yea, the very Antychrysts. 
 
 PR. WELTH. Ye have sayd yowr mynd, now wyll I say 
 
 myn also. 1355 
 
 Here I cursse yow for the wrongs that ye have do 
 Unto Holy Churche, with crosse, bocke, bell and candell ; 
 And, by-sydes all thys, I must yow other-wyse handell : 
 Of contumacy the Pope hath yow convyt; 
 
 From this day forward yowr lond stond interdytt. 1360 
 
 The bysshope of Norwyche and the bysshope of Wyn- 
 
 ch ester, 
 
 Hath full autoryte to spred it in Ynglond here ; 
 The bysshope of Salysbery and the bysshope of Rochester 
 Shall execute yt in Scotland every-where ; 
 
 The bysshope of Landaffe, Seynt Assys and Seynt Davy 1365 
 In Walles and in Erlond shall puplyshe yt openly ; 
 Throwgh-owt all Crystyndom the bysshopps shall suspend 
 All soche as to yow any mayntenance pretend ; 
 And I cursse all them that geve to yow ther harte, 
 Dewks, erlls and lordes, so many as take yowr parte; 1370 
 
 And I assoyle yowr peple from yowr obedyence, 
 That they shall owe yow noyther fewte l nor reverence ; 
 By the Popys awctoryte I charge them yow to fyght 
 As with a tyrant agenst Holy Chyrchys ryght ; 
 And by the Popes auctoryte I geve them absolucyon 1375 
 
 A pena et culpa, and also clene remyssyon. 
 
 SED. (extra locum) Alarum ! Alarum ! tro ro ro ro ro ! tro 
 
 ro ro ro ro ! tro ro ro ro ro ! 
 Thomp, thomp, thomp ! downe, downe, downe ! to go, to go, 
 
 to go ! 
 K. JOHAN. What a noyse is thys that without the dore 
 
 is made? 
 
 1 C. sewte.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 573 
 
 PR. WELTH. Suche enmyes are up as wyll your realme 
 
 invade. 1380 
 
 K. JOHAN. Ye cowde do no more and ye cam from the 
 
 devyll of hell 
 
 Than ye go abowt here to worke by yowr wyckyd cownsell! 
 Ys this the charyte of that ye call the Churche? 
 God graunt Cristen men not after yowr wayes to worche ! 
 I sett not by yowr curssys the shakyng of a rod, 1385 
 
 For I know they are of the devyll and not of God. 
 Yowr curssys we have that we never yet demaundyd, 
 But we can not have that God hath yow commandyd. 
 
 PR. WELTH. What ye mene by that I wold ye shuld 
 
 opynly tell. 
 K. JOHAN. Why, know ye it not? the prechyng of the 
 
 gospell. 1390 
 
 Take to ye yowr traysh, yowr ryngyng, syn[g]y[n]g, pypyng, 
 So that we may have the Scryptures openyng ; 
 But that we can not have, yt stondyth not with yowr avan- 
 
 tage. 
 PR. WELTH. Ahe ! now I tell 1 yow, for this heretycall 
 
 langage, 
 
 I thynke noyther yow nor ony of yowres, iwys, 1395 
 
 We wyll so provyd, shall ware the crowne after this. 
 
 Go tnvt and drese for Nobylyte. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Yt becum not the, Codes secret workes to 
 
 deme. 
 
 Gett the hence, or elles we shall teche the to blaspheme ! 
 Oh Lord, how wycked ys that same generacyon 
 That never wyll cum to a godly reformacyon! 1400 
 
 The prystes report me to be a wyckyd tyrant, 
 Be-cause I correct ther actes and lyfe unplesant. 
 Of thy prince, sayth God, thow shalt report non yll, 
 But thy-selfe applye his plesur to fulfyll. 
 
 The byrdes of the ayer shall speke to ther gret shame, 1405 
 
 As sayth Ecclesyastes, that wyll a prince dyffame. 
 The powers are of God, I wot Powle hath soch sentence, - 
 i C. fell
 
 574 JOHN BALE. 
 
 He that resyst them, agenst God maketh resystence. 
 
 Mary and Joseph at Cyryns 1 appoyntment 
 
 In the descripcyon to Cesar were obedyent. 1410 
 
 Crist ded paye trybute for hymselfe and Peter, to, 
 
 For a lawe prescrybyng the same unto pristes also. 
 
 To prophane princes he obeyed unto dethe ; 
 
 So ded John Baptyst so longe as he had brethe. 
 
 Peter, John and Powle, with the other apostles all, 1415 
 
 Ded never withstand the powers imperyall. 
 
 [Enter Syvyll Order. ~\ 
 
 Prystes are so wycked they wyll obeye no power, 
 
 But seke to subdewe ther prynces day and hower, 
 
 As they wold do me ; but I shall make them smart, 
 
 Yf that Nobelyte and Law wyll take my parte. 1420 
 
 S. ORDER. Dowghtles we can not tyll ye be reconsylyd 
 Unto Holy Chyrche, for ye are a man defylyd. 
 
 K. JOHAN. How am I defylyd? Tel me, 2 good gentyll 
 
 mate ! 
 
 S. ORDER. By the Popes hye power ye are excomynycate. 
 K. JOHAN. By the word of God, I pray the, what power 
 
 hath he? 1425 
 
 S. ORDER. I spake not with hym, and therfore I cannot 
 
 tell ye. 
 K. JOHAN. With whom spake ye not? late me know 
 
 yowr intent. 
 
 S. ORDER. Mary, not with God sens the latter weeke of 
 Lent. 
 
 \Enter Clargy^ 
 
 K. JOHAN. Oh mercyfull God, what an unwyse clawse ys 
 
 this, 
 
 Of hym that shuld se that nothyng ware amys ! 1430 
 
 That sentence or curse that Scriptur doth not dyrect 
 In my opynyon shall be of non effecte. 
 
 CLARGY. Ys that yowr beleve? Mary, God save me 
 ' from yow ! 
 
 1 C. Cyryus. 2 C. telme.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 575 
 
 K. JOHAN. Prove yt by Scriptur, and than wyll I yt 
 
 alowe. 
 
 But this know I well, whan Baalam gave the curse 1435 
 
 Uppon Codes peple they ware never a whyt the worse. 
 CLARGY. I passe not on the Scriptur ; that is i-now 
 
 for me 
 Whyche the Holy Father approvyth by his auctoryte. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Now, alas, alas ! what wreched peple ye are 
 And how ygnorant, yowr owne wordes doth declare. 1440 
 
 Woo ys that peple whych hath so wycked techeres ! 
 
 CLARGY. Naye, wo ys that peple that hathe so cruell 
 
 rewlars ! 
 
 Owr Holy Father, I trow, cowd do no lesse, 
 Consyderyng the factes of yowr owtragyosnes. 
 
 [Enter Nobelyte.] 
 
 NOB. Com awaye, for shame, and make no more ado! 1445 
 Ye are in gret danger for commynyng with hym so ; 
 He is accursyd, I mervell ye do not waye yt. 
 
 CLARGY. I here by his wordes that he wyll not obeye yt. 
 
 NOB. Whether he wyll or no, I wyll not with hym 
 
 talke 
 Tell he be assoyllyd. Com on, my frynds, wyll ye walke? 1450 
 
 K. JOHAN. Oh, this is no tokyn of trew Nobelyte, 
 To flee from yowr kyng in his extremyte. 
 
 NOB. I shall dyssyer yow as now to pardone me ; 
 I had moche rather do agaynst God, veryly, 
 Than to Holy Chyrche to do any injurye. 1455 
 
 K. JOHAN. What blyndnes is this? On this peple, Lord, 
 
 have mercy! 
 
 Ye speke of defylyng, but ye are corrupted all 
 With pestylent doctryne or leven pharesyacall. 
 Good and x faythfull Susan sayd that yt was moche better 
 To fall in daunger of men than do the gretter, 1460 
 
 As, to leve 2 Codes lawe, whych ys his word most pure. 
 
 1 C . to ; amend, by Kittredge. 
 
 2 C. love.
 
 5/6 JOHN BALE. 
 
 CLARGY. Ye have nothyng, ///owjjgh], 1 to allege to us but 
 
 Scripture : 
 Ye shall fare the worse for that, ye may be sure. 
 
 K. JOHAN. What shulde I allege elles, thu wycked 
 
 Pharyse? 
 
 To yowr false lernyng no faythfull man wyll agree. 14^5 
 
 Dothe not the Lord say, mine, reges, intelligite:* 
 The kyngs of the erthe that worldly cawses juge, 
 Seke to the Scriptur, late that be yowr refuge? 
 
 S. ORDER. Have ye nothyng elles but this? than God 
 
 . be with ye! 
 K. JOHAN. One questyon more yet ere ye departe from 
 
 me 1470 
 
 I wyll fyrst demaund of yow, Nobelyte : 
 Why leve ye yowr prince and cleave to the Pope so sore ? 
 NOB. For I toke an othe to defend the Chyrche ever- 
 more. 
 K. JOHAN. Clergy, I am sure than yowr quarell ys not 
 
 small. 
 
 CLARGY. I am professyd to the ryghtes ecclesyastycall. 1475 
 K. JOHAN. And yow, Cyvyle Order, oweth her sum 
 
 offyce of dewtye. 
 S. ORDER. I am hyr feed man ; who shuld defend her 
 
 but I? 
 
 K. JOHAN. Of all thre partyes yt is spoken resonably : 
 Ye may not obeye becawse of the othe ye mad ; 
 Yowr strong professyon maketh yow of that same trad ; 1480 
 
 Yowr fee provokyth yow to do as thes men do ; 
 Grett thyngs to cawse men from God to the devyll to go! 
 Yowr othe is growndyd fyrst uppon folyshenes ; 
 And yowr professyon uppon moche pevyshenes ; 
 Yowr fee, last of all, ryseth owt of covetusnes; 1485 
 
 And thes are the cawses of yowr rebellyosnes ! 
 
 CLARGY. Cum, Cyvill Order, lett us departe from hence'! 
 
 K. JOHAN. Than are ye at a poynt for yowr obedyence? 
 
 S. ORDER. We wyll in no wysse be partakers of yowr yll. 
 
 1 C. yow. 2 C. intellege.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 577 
 
 Here go owt Clargy and dresse for Yiiglond, and Cyvyll Order for 
 Comtnynalte. 
 
 K. JOHAN. As ye have bene ever, so ye wyll contynew 
 
 styll. 1490 
 
 Thowgh they be gone, tarye yow with me a-whyle ; 
 The presence of a prynce to yow shuld never be vyle. 
 
 NOB. Sur, nothyng grevyth me but yowr excomynycacion. 
 
 K. JOHAN. That ys but a fantasy in yowr ymagynacyon. 
 The Lord refuse not soch as hath his great cursse, 1495 
 
 But call them to grace, and faver them never the worsse. 
 Saynt Pawle wyllyth you, whan ye are among soch sort, 
 Not to abhore them, but geve them words of comfort. 
 Why shuld ye than flee from me yowr lawfull kyng, 
 For plesure of soch as owght to do no suche thyng ? 1 500 
 
 The Chyrches abusyons, as holy Seynt Powle do saye, 
 By the princes power owght for to be takyn awaye : 
 "He baryth not the sword withowt a cawse," sayth he. 
 In this neyther bysshope nor spirituall man is free ; 
 Offendyng the lawe they are under the powers all. 1505 
 
 NOB. How wyll ye prove me that the fathers sprytuall 
 Were under the princes ever contynewally? 
 
 K. JOHAN. By the actes of kynges I wyll prove yt by- 
 
 and-by : 
 
 David and Salomon the pristes ded constitute, 
 Commandyng the offyces that they shuld execute ; 1510 
 
 Josaphat, the kyng, the mynysters ded appoynt, 
 So ded kyng Ezechias, whom God hymselfe ded anoynt ; 
 Dyverse of the princes for the pristes ded make decrees, 
 Lyke as yt is pleyn in the fyrst of Machabees. 
 Owr prists are rysyn throwgh lyberte of kyngs 1515 
 
 By ryches to pryd and other unlawfull doynges ; 
 And that is the cawse that they so oft dysobeye. 
 
 NOB. Good Lord, what a craft have you thes thynges 
 to convaye! 
 
 K. JOHAN. Now, alas, that the false pretence of super- 
 
 stycyon 
 Shuld cawse yow to be a mayntener of Sedycyon! 1520
 
 5/8 JOHN BALE. 
 
 Sum thynkyth Nobelyte in natur to consyst 
 
 Or in parentage ; ther thowght is but a myst ; l 
 
 Wher habundance is of vertu, faith and grace, 
 
 With knowlage of the Lord, Nobelyte is ther in place, 
 
 And not wher-as is 2 the wylfull contempte of thyngs *5 2 5 
 
 Pertaynyng to God in the obedyence of kynges. 
 
 Beware ye synke not with Dathan and Abiron 
 
 For dysobeyng the power and domynyon. 
 
 NOB. Nay, byd me be aware I do not synke with yow 
 
 here; 
 Beyng acurssyd, of trowth, ye put me in fere. 1 53 
 
 K. JOHAN. Why, are ye gone hence and wyll ye no 
 longar tarrye? 
 
 NOB. No-wher as yow are in place, by swete Seynt Marye ! 
 
 Here Nobelyte go owt and dresse for the Cardynall. Here enter Yng- 
 lond and Commynalte. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Blessed Lord of Heaven, what is the wretch- 
 
 ednesse 
 
 Of thys wycked worlde! An evyll of all evyls, doubtlesse! 
 Perceyve ye not here how the Clergye hath rejecte *535 
 
 Their true allegeaunce, to maynteyne the popysh secte? 
 See ye not how lyghte the lawyers sett the poure, 
 Whanne God commandyth them to obeye yche daye and 
 
 howre? 
 
 Nobylyte also, whych ought hys prynce to assyste, 
 Is vanyshed awaye as it we[re] 3 a wynter myste. 154 
 
 All they are from me ; I am now left alone, 
 And, 4 God wote, knowe not to whome to make my mone. 
 Oh, yet wolde I fayne knowe the mynde of my Commynalte, 
 Whether he wyll go with them or abyde with me. 
 
 YNGL. He is here at hond, a symple creature as maybe. 1545 
 
 K. JOHAN. Cum hether, my f rynde ; stand nere! ys thy- 
 self e he? 
 
 COM. Yf it lyke yowr grace, I am yowr pore Commynalte. 
 
 1 C. amyst. * Corr. by C. 
 
 * C. in ; emend, by Kittredge. * C. Knd.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 579 
 
 K. JOHAN. Thou art poore inowgh ; yf that be, good 
 
 God l helpe the. 
 Me thynke thow art blynd ; tell me, frynde, canst thu not 
 
 see? 
 YNGL. He is blynd in-dede, yt is the more rewth and 
 
 pytte. 1550 
 
 K. JOHAN. How cummyst thow so blynd? I pray the, 
 
 good fellow, tell me. 
 
 COM. For want of knowlage in Christes lyvely veryte. 
 YNGL. This spirituall blyndnes bryngeth men owt of 
 
 the waye, 
 And cause them oft-tymes ther kynges to dyssobaye. 
 
 K. JOHAN. How sayst thow, Commynalte? wylt not thu 
 
 take my parte? 1555 
 
 COM. To that I cowd be contented with all my hart ; 
 But, alas, in me are two great impedymentes! 
 
 K. JOHAN. I pray the, shew me what are those impedy- 
 mentes. 
 COM. The fyrst is blyndnes, wherby I myght take with 
 
 the Pope 
 
 Soner than with yow ; for, alas ! I can but grope, 1 560 
 
 And ye know full well ther are maity nowghty gydes. 
 The nexte is poverte, whych cleve so hard to my sydes 
 And ponych me so sore that my power ys lytyll or non. 
 K. JOHAN. In Codes name, tell me ! how cummyth thi 
 
 substance gone? 
 COM. By pristes, channons, and monkes, which do but 
 
 fyll ther bely 1565 
 
 With my swett and labour for ther popych purgatory. 
 
 YNGL. Yowr Grace promysed me that I shuld have 
 
 remedy 
 In that same mater whan I was last here, trewly. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Dowghtles I ded so, but, alas, yt wyll not be ! 
 In hart I lament this great infelycyte. 1570 
 
 YNGL. Late me have my spowse and my londes at lyberte, 
 And I promyse you my sonne here, your Commynallte, 
 1 Kittredge suggests: yf that be thow, God helpe the.
 
 580 JOHN BALE. 
 
 I wyll make able to do ye dewtyfull servyce. 
 
 K. JOHAN. I wold I ware able to do to the that offyce ; 
 But alas, I am not! for-why my Nobelyte, 1575 
 
 My Lawers, and Clargy hath cowardly forsake me, 
 And now last of all, to my most anguysh of mynd, 
 My Commynalte here I fynd both poore and blynde. 
 
 YNGL. Rest upon this, ser, for my governor ye shall be 
 So long as ye lyve ; God hath so apoynted me. 1580 
 
 His owtward blyndnes ys but a sygnyficacion 
 Of blyndnes in sowle for lacke of informacyon 
 In the word of God, which is the orygynall grownd 
 Of dyssobedyence, which all realmes doth confund. 
 Yf yowr Grace wold cawse Codes word to be tawght 
 
 syncerly, 1585 
 
 And subdew those pristes that wyll not preche yt trewly, 
 The peple shuld know to ther prynce ther lawfull dewty ; 
 But, yf ye permytt contynuance of ypocresye 
 In monkes, chanons and pristes, and mynysters of the 
 
 clargy, 
 Yowr realme shall never be with-owt moch traytery. 1590 
 
 K. JOHAN. All that I perseyve, and therfore I kepe owt 
 
 fryers, 
 
 Lest they shuld bryng the moch farder into the bryers. 
 They have mad labur to inhabytt this same regyon ; 
 They shall for my tyme not enter into domynyon. 
 We have to many of soch vayne lowghtes all-redy; 1595 
 
 I beshrew ther harts, they have made you ij full nedy! 
 
 Here enter Pandulphus, the Cardynall, and sayth : 
 
 PAND. What, Commynalte, ys this the counaunt 1 kepyng? 
 
 Thow toldyst me thu woldest take hym no more for thi kyng. 
 
 COM. Peccavi, mea cutya ! I submyt me to yowr 
 
 Holynes. 
 PAND. Gett the hence than shortly, and go abovvt thi 
 
 besynes ! i 600 
 
 Wayet on thy capttaynes, Nobelyte and the Clargy, 
 
 1 C. connaunt.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 581 
 
 With Cyvyll Order, and the other company ; 
 
 Blow owt yowr tromppettes and sett forth manfully ; 
 
 The Frenche kyng, Phelype, by sea doth hether apply 
 
 With the power of Fraunce to subdew this herytyke. 1605 
 
 K. JOHAN. I defy both hym and the, lewde scysmatyke! 
 Why wylt thu forsake thy prince or thi prince leve the? 
 
 COM. I must nedes obbay whan Holy Chirch com- 
 mandyth me. 
 
 Go owt Coinmynalte. 
 
 YNGL. Yf thow leve thy kyng, take me never for thy 
 
 mother. 
 PAND. Tush, care not thu for that, I shall provyd the 
 
 another! 1610 
 
 Yt ware fytter for yow to be in another place. 
 
 YNGL. Yt shall becum me to wayte upon his Grace, 
 And do hym servyce where-as he ys resydente, 
 For I was gevyn hym of the Lord Omnypotente. 
 
 PAND. 1 Thow mayst not abyde here, for-whye we have 
 
 hym curssyd. 1615 
 
 YNGL. I be-shrow yowr hartes, so have ye me onpursed ! 
 Yf he be acurssed, than are we a mete cuppell, 
 For I am interdyct ; no salve that sore can suppell. 
 
 PAND. I say, gett the hence, and make me no more 
 
 pratyng. 
 
 YNGL. I wyll not a-waye from myn owne lawfull kyng, '1620 
 Appoynted of God, tyll deth shall us departe. 
 
 PAND. Wyll ye not, in-dede? Well than, ye are lyke to 
 
 smarte. 
 
 YNGL. I smarte all-redy throw yowr most suttell practyse, 
 And am clene ondone by yowr false merchandyce, 
 Yowr pardons, yowr bulles, yowr purgatory-pyckepurse, 1625 
 
 Yowr Lent-fastes, yowr schryftes, that I pray God geve yow 
 
 his cursse ! 
 
 PAND. Thu shalt smart better or we have done with the, 
 For we have this howr great navyes upon the see 
 
 1 This and the next two speeches of Pandiilphus are in C. assigned to 
 C., -which must be intended as an abbreviation of Cardynall.
 
 582 JOHN BALE. 
 
 In every quarter, with this Loller here to fyght, 
 And to conquarre hym for the Holy Chyrchis ryght : 1 630 
 
 We have on the northe Alexander, the kyng of Scotts, 
 With an armye of men that for their townnes cast lottes ; 
 On the sowthe syde we have the French kyng with his power, 
 Which wyll sle and burne tyll he cum to London Tower ; 
 In the west parts we have Kyng Alphonso with the Spanyards, 1635 
 With sheppes full of gonepowder now cummyng hether to- 
 wards ; 
 And on the est syde we have Esterlynges, Danes and Nor- 
 
 ways, 
 With soch power landynge as can be resystyd nowayes. 
 
 K. JOHAN. All that is not true that yow have here 
 expressed. 1 
 
 PAND. By the masse, so true as I have now confessed! 1640 
 
 K. JOHAN. And what do ye meane by such an hurly- 
 burlye? 
 
 PAND. For the Churches ryght to subdue ye ma[n]fullye. 2 
 
 SED. To all that wyll fyght I proclame a Jubyle 
 Of cleane remyssyon, thys tyrant here to slee. 
 Destroye hys people, burne up both cytie and towne, 1645 
 
 That the Pope of Rome maye have hys scepture and 
 
 crowne ! 
 
 In the Churches cawse to dye, thys daye be bolde ; 
 Your sowles shall to heaven ere your fleshe and bones be 
 colde ! 
 
 K. JOHAN. Most mercyfull God, as my trust is in the, 
 So comforte me now in this extremyte ! 1650 
 
 As thow helpyst 8 David in his most hevynes, 
 So helpe me this hour, of thy grace, mercye and goodnes ! 
 
 PAND. This owtward remorse that ye show here evydent 
 Ys a grett lykelyhod and token of amendment. 
 How say ye, Kyng Johan, can ye fynd now in yowr hart 1655 
 To obaye Holy Chyrch and geve ower yowr froward part? 
 
 1 Lines 1639-1648 are an insertion in Bale's hand. 
 
 2 Corr. by C. 
 
 8 Read helpedst, or holpyst.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 583 
 
 K. JOHAN. Were yt so possyhle to hold thes enmyes 
 
 backe, 
 
 That my swete Ynglond perysh not in this sheppewracke ? l 
 PAND. " Possyble," quoth he ? yea, they shuld go bake 
 
 in-dede, 
 
 And ther gret armyse to some other quarters leade, 1660 
 
 Or elles they have not so many good blyssyngs now, 
 But as many cursyngs they shall have, I make God avowe. 
 I promyse yow, sur, ye shall have specyall faver 
 Yf ye wyll submyt yowr-sylfe to Holy Chyrch here. 
 
 K. JOHAN. I trust than ye wyll graunt some delyber- 
 
 acyon 1665 
 
 To have an answere of thys your protestacyon. 
 
 SED. Tush, gyve upp the crowne, and make no more 
 
 a-do! 
 K. JOHAN. Your spirytuall charyte wyll be better to me 
 
 than so. 
 
 The crowne of a realme is a matter of great wayght ; 
 In gyvynge it upp we maye not be to slayght. 1670 
 
 SED. I saye, gyve it up ; let us have no more a-do. 
 PAND. Yea, and in our warres we wyll no farder go. 
 K. JOHAN. Ye wyll gyve me leave to talke first with my 
 
 Clergye ? 
 SED. With them ye nede not ; they are at a poynt 
 
 alreadye. 
 K. JOHAN. Than with my lawers, to heare what they 
 
 wyll tell. 1675 
 
 SED. Ye shall ever have them as the Clergye gyve them 
 
 counsell. * 
 
 K. JOHAN. Then wyll I commen with my Nobylyte. 
 SED. We have hym so jugled he wyll not to yow agree. 
 
 1 Besides the insertions noted above, the MS. contains three additions 
 in Bale's hand, marked -with the reference-letters A, B, C. Collier says 
 that only for that marked A is the place of insertion indicated. This 
 insertion he made, but without stating precisely where ; it is, however, 
 certain that the inserted passage begins between 1. 1658 and 1. 1683 ; for 
 reasons for thinking that it begins with \. 1665 and ends with 1. 1727, see 
 Nates.
 
 584 JOHN BALE. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Yet shall I be content to do as he counsell 
 
 me. 
 PAND. Than be not to longe from hence, I wyll advyse 
 
 yC. [Exeunt Kynge Johan and Ynglond^ 1 680 
 
 SED. Is not thys a sport? By the messe, it is, I trowe ! 
 What welthe and pleasure wyll now to owr kyngedoin growe ! 
 Englande is our owne, whych is the most plesaunte grounde 
 In all the rounde worlde! Now may we realmes confounde. 
 Our Holye Father maye now lyve at hys pleasure, 1685 
 
 And have habundaunce of wenches, wynes and treasure. 
 He is now able to kepe downe Christe and his gospell, 
 True fayth to exyle, and all vertues to expell. 
 Now shall we ruffle it in velvetts, gold and sylke, 
 With shaven crownes, syde gownes, and rochettes whyte as 
 
 mylke. 1 690 
 
 By the messe, Pandulphus, now may we synge cantate, 
 And crowe confitebor with a joyfull //&// 
 Holde me, or els for laughynge I must burste. 
 
 PAND. Holde thy peace, whorson ; I wene thu art accurst ! 
 Kepe a sadde countenaunce, a very vengeaunce take the! 1695 
 SED. I can not do it, by the messe, and thu shuldest 
 
 hange me. 
 
 If Solon were here, I recken that he woulde laugh 
 Whych never laught yet ; yea, lyke a whelpe he would waugh. 
 Ha, ha, ha! "Laugh," quoth he? yea, laugh and laugh 
 
 agayne : 
 
 We had never cause to laugh more free, I am playne. 1700 
 
 PAND. I pray the, no more, for here come the kynge 
 
 agayne ! 9 [Enter Kynge Johan and Ynglond.'] 
 
 K. JOHAN. If I shoulde not graunt, here woulde be a 
 
 wondrefull spoyle, 1 
 
 Every-where the enemyes woulde ruffle and turmoyle ; 
 The losse of [the] people stycketh most unto my harte. 
 
 ENGL. Do as ye thynke best, yche waye is to my smarte. 1705 
 
 1 Lines 1702-1705 are the second of the additions mentioned, p. 583, n. I. 
 That they belong here is certain ; they end in MS. with a repetition of the 
 first half of 1. 1706: PAND. Are ye at a poynt.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 585 
 
 PAND. Are ye l at a poynt wherto ye intende to stande ? 
 SED. Yea, hardely, sir : gyve up the crowne of Englande. 
 K. JOHAN. I have cast in my mynde the great displeas- 
 ures of warre, 
 
 The daungers, the losses, the decayes both nere and farre ; 
 The burnynge of townes, the throwynge downe of buyld- 
 
 ynges, 1710 
 
 Destructyon of corne and cattell, with other thynges ; 
 Defylynge of maydes, and shedynge of Christen blood, 
 With suche lyke outrages, neythar honest, true nor good : 
 These thynges consydered, I am compelled thys houre 
 To resigne up here both crowne and regall poure. . 1715 
 
 ENGL. For the love of God, yet take some better advyse- 
 
 ment. 
 SED. Holde your tunge, ye whore, or, by the messe, ye 
 
 shall repent! 
 
 Downe on yowr marry-bones, and make no more a-do. 
 ENGL. If ye love me sir, for Gods sake, do never so ! 
 K. JOHAN. O Englande, Englande ! showe now thyselfe 
 
 a mother, 1 720 
 
 Thy people wyll els be slayne here without nomber. 
 As God shall judge me, I do not thys of cowardnesse, 
 But of compassyon in thys extreme heavynesse. 
 Shall my people shedde their bloude in suche habundaunce? 
 Naye, I shall rather gyve upp my whole governaunce. 1725 
 
 SED. Come of apace, than, and make an ende of it 
 
 shortly ! 
 ENGL. The most pytiefull chaunce that hath bene 
 
 hytherto, surely. 
 K. JOHAN. Here I submyt me to Pope Innocent the 
 
 Thred, 
 Dyssyering mercy of hys Holy Fatherhed. 2 
 
 PAND. Geve up the crowne than, yt shalbe the better 
 
 for ye ; 1 730 
 
 He wyll unto yow the more favorable be. 
 
 1 C. Ye are ; but cf. p. 584, n. i. 
 
 2 See belmv n c87, n. i.
 
 586 JOHN BALE. 
 
 Here the Kyng delevyr the crowne to the Cardynall. 
 
 K. JOHAN. To hym I resygne here the septer and the 
 
 crowne 
 
 Of Ynglond and Yrelond with the power and renowne, 
 And put me wholly to his mercyfull ordynance. 
 
 PAND. I may say this day the Chyrch hath a full gret 
 
 chaunce. 1735 
 
 This v dayes I wyll kepe this crowne in myn owne hande, 
 In the Popes behalf e upseasyng Ynglond and Yerlond. 
 In the meane season ye shall make an oblygacyon 
 For yow and yowr ayers in this synyficacyon : 
 To resay ve yowr crowne of the Pope for-ever-more 1 740 
 
 In maner of fefarme ; and, for a tokyn therfore, 
 Ye shall every yere paye hym a thowsand marke 
 With the Peter-pens, and not agenst yt barke. 
 Ye shall also geve to the bysshoppe of Cantorbery 
 A thre thowsand marke for his gret injury. 1 745 
 
 To the Chyrch besydes, for the great scathe ye have done, 
 Forty thowsand marke ye shall delyver sone. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Ser, the taxe that I had of the hole realme 
 
 of Ynglond 
 
 Amownted to no more but unto xxx ti thowsand ; 
 Why shuld I then paye so moche unto the clargy? '75 
 
 PAND. Ye shall geve yt them ; ther is no remedy. 
 K. JOHAN. Shall they pay no tribute yf the realme stond 
 
 in rerage? 
 PAND. Sir, they shall pay none ; we wyll have no soch 
 
 bondage. 
 K. JOHAN. The Pope had at once thre hundred thowsand 
 
 marke. 
 PAND. What is that to you? Ah, styll ye wyll be 
 
 starke? 1755 
 
 Ye shall pay yt, sur ; ther is no remedy. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Yt shall be performed as ye wyll have yt, 
 
 trewly. 
 
 ENGL. So noble a realme to stande tributarye, alas, 
 To the devylls vycar! suche fortune never was !
 
 KYNGE JOIIAN. 587 
 
 SED. Out with thys harlot ! Cocks sowle, she hath lete a 
 
 fart ! 1 760 
 
 ENGL. Lyke a wretche thu lyest. Thy report is lyke as 
 
 thu art. 
 PAND. Ye shall suffer the monks and chanons to make 
 
 reentry 
 
 In-to ther abbayes and to dwell ther peaceably; 
 Ye shall se also to my great labur and charge ; 
 For other thyngs elles we shall commen more at large. 1765 
 
 K. JOHAN. Ser, in every poynt I shall fulfyll yowr plesur. 
 PAND. Than plye yt apace, and lett us have the tresur. 
 YNGL . 
 
 offended. 1 
 
 SED. And I am full gladde ye are so welle amended. 1770 
 Unto Holy Churche ye are now an obedyent chylde, 
 Where ye were afore with heresye muche defyelde. 
 
 ENGL. Sir, yonder is a clarke whych is condempned for 
 
 treason. 
 The shryves woulde fayne knowe what to do with hym thys 
 
 season. 
 K. JOHAN. Come hyther, fellawe. What ! me thynke 
 
 thu art a pryste ! 1775 
 
 [Enter Treason,] 
 
 TREASON. He hath ofter gessed that of the truthe have 
 
 myste ! 
 K. JOHAN. A pryste and a traytour? how, maye that 
 
 wele agree ? 
 
 TREASON. Yes, yes, wele ynough, underneth benedicite. 
 Myself hath played it, and therfore I knowe it the better. 
 Amonge craftye coyners 2 there hath not bene a gretter. r 780 
 
 1 From here to the end is the third addition (cf, p. 583, n. i). It seems 
 likely that Bale cancelled the original ending of the flay and replaced 
 it -with these lines, which, perhaps, should also replace 11. 1729-1768, thus: 
 Dyssyring mercy of that I have offended, etc. Collier does not state whether 
 \. 1768 comes at the end of a leaf of the MS. or not. 
 
 8 C. cloyners.
 
 588 JOHN BALE. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Tell some of thy feates ; thu mayest the 
 
 better escape. 
 SED. Hem ! not to bolde yet ; for a mowse the catte 
 
 wyll gape. 
 TREASON. Twenty thousande traytour[s] I have made 
 
 in my tyme, 
 
 Undre benedicite^ betwyn hygh masse and pryme. 
 I have made Nobylyte to be obedyent 1785 
 
 To the Church of Rome, whych most kynges maye repent. 
 I have so convayed that neyther priest nor lawer 
 Wyll obeye Gods wurde, nor yet the gospell faver. 
 In the place of Christe I have sett up supersticyons : 
 For preachynges, ceremonyes ; for Gods wurde, mennys tra- 
 
 dicyons. 1 790 
 
 Come to the temple and there Christe hath no place, 
 Moyses and the paganes doth utterly hym deface. 
 
 ENGL. Marke wele, sir ; tell what we have of Moyses. 
 TREASON. All your ceremonyes, your copes and your 
 
 sensers, doubtlesse, 
 
 Your fyers, your waters, your oyles, your aulters, your ashes, 1 795 
 Your candlestyckes, your cruettes, your salte, with suche 
 
 lyke trashes ; 
 Ye lacke but the bloude of a goate, or els a calfe. 
 
 ENGL. Lete us heare sumwhat also in the paganes be- 
 
 halfe. 
 TREASON. Of the paganes ye have your gylded ymages 
 
 all, 
 
 In your necessytees upon them for to call, 1800 
 
 With crowchynges, with kyssynges, and settynge up of 
 
 lyghtes, 
 Bearynge them in processyon, and fastynges upon their 
 
 nyghtes ; 
 Some for the tothe-ake, some for the pestylence and 
 
 poxe; 
 With ymages of waxe to brynge moneye to the boxe. 
 
 ENGL. What have they of Christe in the Churche? I 
 
 praye the tell. 1805
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. $89 
 
 TREASON. Marry, nothynge at all, but the epystle and 
 
 the gospell, 
 And that is in Latyne, that no man shoulde it knowe. 
 
 SED. Peace, noughty whoreson, peace ! Thu playest the 
 
 knave, I trowe. 
 K. JOHAN. Has thu knowne suche wayes, and sought 
 
 no reformacyon ? 
 
 [TREASON.] 1 It is the ly vynge of my whole congregacyon. 1 8 1 o 
 If supersticyons and ceremonyes from us fall, 
 Farwele monke and chanon, priest, fryer, byshopp, and all ! 
 My conveyaunce is suche that we haue both moneye and 
 
 ware. 
 
 SED. Our occupacyon thu wylt marre, God gyve the care! 
 ENGL. Very fewe of ye wyll Peters offyce take. 1815 
 
 TREASON. Yes, the more part of us our Maistre hath 
 
 forsake. 
 ENGL. I meane for preachynge, - - 1 pray God thu be 
 
 curste ! 
 
 TREASON. No, no, with Judas we love wele to be purste. 
 We selle owr Maker so sone as we have hym made, 
 And, as for preachynge, we meddle not with that trade, 1820 
 
 Least Annas, Cayphas and the lawers shulde us blame, 
 Callyng us to reckenynge for preachynge in that name. 
 K. JOHAN. But tell to me, person, whie wert thu cast in 
 
 preson? 
 [TREASON.] l For no great matter ; but a lyttle petye 
 
 treason : 
 
 For conjurynge, calkynge, and coynynge of newe grotes, 1825 
 For clippynge of nobles, with suche lyke pratye motes. 
 ENGL. Thys is hygh treason, and hath bene evermor. 
 K. JOHAN. It is suche treason as he shall sure hange for. 
 TREASON. I have holy orders ; by the messe, I defye 
 
 your wurst! 
 
 Ye can not towche me but ye must be accurst. 1830 
 
 K. JOHAN. We wyll not towche the, the halter shall do 
 yt alone ; 
 
 1 Supplied by C.
 
 59O JOHN BALE. 
 
 Curse the rope therfor whan thu begynnest to grone. 
 
 TREASON. And sett ye no more by the holy ordre of 
 
 prestehode? 
 Ye wyll prove your-selfe an heretyke, by the rode ! 
 
 K. JOHAN. Come hyther, Englande, and here what I 
 
 saye to the ! 1835 
 
 ENGL. I am all readye to do as ye commaunde me. 
 
 K. JOHAN. For so much as he hath falsefyed our coyne, 
 As he is worthie, lete hym with an halter joyne. 
 Thu shalt hange no priest, nor yet none honest man, 
 But a traytour, a thefe, and one that lyttle good can. 1840 
 
 PAND. What, yet agaynst the Churche? Gett me boke, 
 
 belle and candle ! 
 
 As I am true priest, I shall ye yett better handle ! 
 Ye neyther regarde hys crowne nor anoynted fyngers, 
 The offyce of a priest, nor the grace that therin lyngers. 
 
 SED. Sir, pacyent yourselfe, and all thynge shall be well. 1845 
 Fygh, man, to the Churche that ye shulde be styll a rebell! 
 
 ENGL. I accompt hym no priest that worke such hay- 
 nouse treason. 
 
 SED. It is a worlde to heare a folysh woman reason ! 
 
 PAND. After thys maner ye used Peter Pomfrete, 
 A good symple man, and, as they saye, a profete. 1850 
 
 K. JOHAN. Sir, I did prove hym a very supersticyouse 
 
 wretche, 
 
 And blasphemouse lyar ; therfor did the lawe hym upstretche. 
 He prophecyed first I shulde reigne but xiiij years, 
 Makynge the people to beleve he coulde bynde bears ; 
 And I have reigned a seventene yeares, and more. I&55 
 
 And anon after he grudged at me very sore, 
 And sayde I shulde be exyled out of my realme 
 Before the Ascencyon, whych was turned to a fantastycall 
 
 dreame, 
 
 Saynge he woulde hange if hys prophecy e were not true. 
 Thus hys owne decaye hys folyshnesse did brue. 1860 
 
 PAND. Ye shuld not hange hym whych is a frynde to 
 the Churche.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 59 1 
 
 K. JOHAN. Alac that ye shoulde counte them fryndes of 
 
 the Churche 
 
 That agaynst all truthe so hypocritycally lurche ! 
 An yll Churche is it that hath such fryndes, in-dede ! 
 
 ENGL. Of Maister Morres suche an-other fable we reade, 1865 
 That in Morgans fyelde the sowle of a knyght made verses, 
 Apearynge unto hym, and thys one he rehearses : 
 Destruat hoc regnum Rex regum duplici plaga, 
 Whych is true as God spake with the ape at Praga. 
 The sowles departed from thys heavye mortall payne 1870 
 
 To the handes of God, returneth never agayne. 
 A marvelouse thynge that ye thus delyght in lyes ! 
 
 SED. Thys queane doth not els but mocke the blessed 
 
 storyes. 
 That Peter angred ye, whan he called ye a devyll incarnate. 
 
 K. JOHAN. He is now full sure, no more so uncomely to 
 
 prate. . 1875 
 
 Well, as for thys man, because that he is a priste 
 I gyve hym to ye ; do with hym what ye lyste ! 
 
 PAND. In the Popes behalfe I wyll sumwhat take upon 
 
 me : 
 
 Here I delyver hym to the Churches lyberte, 
 In spyght of your hart ; make of it what ye lyste ! 1880 
 
 K. JOHAN. I am pleased, I saye, because he ys pryste. 
 
 PAND. Whether ye be or no, it shall not greatly force. 
 Lete me see those cheanes ; go thy waye and have remorce ! 
 
 TREASON. God save your lordeshyppes ; I trust I shall 
 
 amende, 
 And do no more so, or els, sir, God defende! 1885 
 
 SED. I shall make the, I trowe, to kepe thy benefyce. 
 By the Marye messe, the knave wyll never be wyse! 
 
 ENGL. Lyke lorde, lyke chaplayne ; neyther barrell bet- 
 ter herynge. 
 
 SED. Styll she must trattle ; that tunge is alwayes 
 
 sterynge. 
 A wurde or two, sir, I must tell yow in your eare. 1 890 
 
 PAND. Of some advauntage I woulde very gladly heare.
 
 592 JOHN BALE. 
 
 SED. Releace not Englande of the generall interdictyon 
 Tyll the kynge hath graunted the dowrye and the pencyon 
 Of Julyane, the wyfe of Kynge Richard Cour de Lyon. 
 Ye knowe very well she beareth the Churche good mynde ; 1 895 
 Tush, we must have all, manne, that she shall leave be- 
 
 hynde ! 
 
 As the saynge is, he fyndeth that .surely bynde. 
 It were but folye suche louce endes for to lose ; 
 The lande and the monye wyll make well for our purpose. 
 Tush, laye yokes upon hym, more then he is able to beare ; 1900 
 Of Holy Churche so he wyll stande ever in feare ; 
 Suche a shrewe as he it is good to kepe undre awe. 
 
 ENGL. Woo is that persone whych is undreneth your 
 
 lawe ! 
 
 Ye may see, good people, what these same merchantes are ; 
 Their secrete knaveryes their open factes declare. 1905 
 
 SED. . Holde thy peace, callet ! God gyve the sorowe 
 
 and care ! 
 
 PAND. Ere I releace yow of the interdyctyon heare, 
 In the whych yowr realme contynued hath thys seven yeare, 
 Ye shall make Julyane, your syster-in-lawe, thys bande : 
 To gyve her the thirde part of Englande and of Irelande. 1910 
 K. JOHAN. All the worlde knoweth, sir, I owe her no 
 
 suche dewtye. 
 
 PAND. Ye shall gyve it to hir; there is no remedye. 
 Wyll ye styll withstande our Holy Fathers precepte? 
 
 SED. In peyne of dampnacyon, hys commaundement 
 
 must be kepte. 
 K. JOHAN. Oh, ye undo me, consyderynge my great 
 
 paymentes ! 1915 
 
 ENGL. Sir, disconfort not, for God hath sent debate- 
 
 mentes ; 
 
 Yowr mercyfull Maker hath shewed upon ye hys powere, 
 From thys heavye yoke delyverynge yow thys howre : 
 The woman is dead, suche newes are hyther brought. 
 K. JOHAN. For me a synnar thys myracle hath God 
 
 wrought; 1920
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 593 
 
 In most hygh paryls he ever me preserved, 
 
 And in thys daunger he hath not from me swerved. 
 
 In genua procvmbens Deum adorat, dicens '. 
 
 As David sayth, Lorde, thu dost not leave thy servaunt 
 That wyll trust in the and in thy blessyd covenaunt. 
 
 SED. A vengeaunce take it! By the messe, it is un- 
 
 happye 1925 
 
 She is dead so sone ! Now is it past remedye. 
 So must we lose all, now that she is clerely gone. 
 If that praye had bene ours, oh, it had bene alone ! 
 The chaunce beynge suche, by my trouth, even lete it go : 
 No grote no pater noster, no penye T\Q placebo. 193 
 
 The devyll go with it, seynge it wyll be no better ! 
 
 ENGL. Their myndes are all sett upon the fylthie luker. 
 PAND. Than here I releace yow of yowr interdictyons 
 
 all, 
 And strayghtly commaunde yow, upon daungers that may 
 
 fall, 
 
 No more to meddle with the Churches reformacyon, 1935 
 
 Nor holde men from Rome whan they make appellacyon, 
 By God and by all the contentes of thys boke. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Agaynst Holy Churche I wyll nomore speake 
 
 nor loke. 
 SED. Go, open the churche-dores and let the belles be 
 
 ronge, 
 
 And through-out the realme see that Te Deum be songe. 1940 
 Pryck upp your candels before Saynt Loe and Saynt 
 
 Legearde ; 
 
 Lete Saynt Antonyes hogge be had in some regarde. 
 If yowr ale be sowre, and yowr breade moulde, certayne 
 Now wyll they waxe swete, for the Pope hath blest ye 
 
 agayne. 
 ENGL. Than within a whyle I trust ye wyll preache the 
 
 gospell. 1945 
 
 SED. That shall I tell the, kepe thu it in secrete coun- 
 sell:
 
 594 JOHN BALE. 
 
 It shall neyther come in churche nor yet in chauncell. 
 PAND. Goo your wayes a-pace, and see my pleasure be 
 
 done ! 
 
 K. JOHAN. As ye have commaunded, all shall be per- 
 fourmed sone. 
 
 \_KyngeJohan and England go out.] 
 
 PAND. By the messe, I laugh to see thys cleane con- 
 
 veyaunce ! T 9S 
 
 He is now full glad, as our pype goeth, to daunce ; 
 By Cockes sowle, he is now become a good parrysh clarke. 
 SED. Ha, ha, wylye whoreson, dost that so busyly 
 
 marke ? 
 
 I hope in a whyle we wyll make hym so to rave, 
 That he shall become unto us a commen slave, 1955 
 
 And shall do nothynge but as we byd hym do. 
 If we byd hym slea, I trowe he wyll do so ; 
 If we byd hym burne suche as beleve in Christe, 
 He shall not say naye to the byddynge of a priste. 
 But yet it is harde to trust what he wyll be, 1960 
 
 He is so crabbed; by the Holy Trinyte, 
 To save all thynges up, I holde best we make hym more 
 
 sure, 
 
 And gyve hym a sawce that he no longar endure. 
 Now that I remembre, we shall not leave hym thus. 
 
 PAND. Whye, what shall we do to hym els, in the name 
 
 of Jesus? 1965 
 
 SED. Marry, fatche in Lewes, Kynge Phylyppes sonne 
 
 of Fraunce, 
 
 To falle upon hym with his menne and ordynaunce, 
 With wyldefyer, gunpouder, and suche lyke myrye trickes, 
 To dryve hym to holde and scarche hym in the quyckes. 
 I wyll not leave hym tyll I brynge hym to hys yende. 197 
 
 PAND. Well, farwele, Sedicyon, do as shall lye in thy 
 [mynde]. 1 [Exit.] 
 
 l A blot makes the MS. illegible here; C. suggests intende (= intent); 
 but cf. the rhymes in 11. 719, 879, 2238, etc.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 595 
 
 SED. I mervele greatly where Dissymulacyon is. 
 
 DYS. \wtthouf\ I wyll come anon, if thu tarry tyll I pysse. 
 
 \_Enter Dyssymulacyoti.] 
 
 SED. I beshrewe your hart, where have ye bene so longe? 
 
 DYS. In the gardene, man, the herbes and wedes 
 
 amonge; 1975 
 
 And there have I gote the poyson of toade. 
 I hope in a whyle to wurke some feate abroade. 
 
 SED. I was wonte sximtyme of thy prevye counsell to be ; 
 Am I now-adayes become a straunger to the? 
 
 DYS. I wyll tell the all, undreneth benedicite, 1980 
 
 What I mynde to do, in case thu wylte assoyle me. 
 
 SED. Thu shalt be assoyled by the Most Holy Fathers 
 auctoryte. 
 
 DYS. Shall I so in-dede? by the masse, than now have 
 
 at the! 
 Benedicite. 
 
 SED. In nomine papae, amen ! 
 
 DYS. Sir, thys is my mynde : I wyll gyve Kynge Johan 
 
 thys poyson, 1985 
 
 So makynge hym sure that he shall never have foyson. 
 And thys must thu saye to colour with the thynge, 
 That a penye lofe he wolde have brought to a shyllynge. 
 
 SED. Naye, that is suche a lye as easely wyll be felte. 
 
 DYS. Tush, man, amonge fooles it never wyll be out- 
 
 smelte ! 1 990 
 
 Though it be a foule l lye, set upon it a good face, 
 And that wyll cause men beleve it in every place. 
 
 SED. I am sure, than, thu wylt geve it hym in a drynke. 
 
 DYS. Marry, that I wyll, and the one half with hym 
 
 swynke, 
 To encourage hym to drynke the botome off. 1995 
 
 SED. If thu drynke the halfe, thu shalt fynde it no scoff; 
 
 1 Above foule is written, in. Bale's hand, great. C. says " this is by no 
 means a singular instance in the course of the drama" but he does not 
 point out the others.
 
 596 JOHN BALE. 
 
 Of terryble deathe thu wylt stacker in the plashes. 
 
 DYS. Tush, though I dye, man, there wyll ryse more of 
 
 my ashes. 
 
 I am sure the monkes wyll praye for me so bytterlye, 
 That I shall not come in helle nor in purgatorye. 2000 
 
 In the Popes Kychyne the scullyons shall not brawle 
 Nor fyght for my grese. If the priestes woulde for me 
 
 yawle, 
 
 And grunt a good pace placebo with requiem masse, 
 Without muche tarryaunce I shulde to paradyse passe, 
 Where I myght be sure to make good cheare and be myrye, 2005 
 For I can not awaye with that whoreson purgatorye. 
 
 SED. To kepe the from thens, thu shalt have five monkes 
 
 syngynge 
 
 In Swynsett abbeye so longe as the worlde is durynge ; 
 They wyll daylye praye for the sowle of father Symon, 
 A Cisteane monke whych poysened Kynge John. 2010 
 
 DYS. Whan the worlde is done, what helpe shall I have 
 
 than? 
 
 SED. Than shyft for thy-self so wele as ever thu can. 
 DYS. Cockes sowle, he cometh here ! Assoyle me that 
 
 I were gone, then. 
 SED. Ego absolve te in nomine papae, amen ! 2014 
 
 [They go out ; enter Kynge Johan and England. .] 
 
 K. JOHAN. No prince in the worlde in suche captivyte 
 As I am thys howre, and all for ryghteousnesse. 
 
 Agaynst me I have both the lordes and commynalte, 
 
 Byshoppes and lawers, whych in their cruell madnesse 
 Hath brought in hyther the Frenche kynges eldest 
 sonne, Lewes. 
 
 The chaunce unto me is not so dolourrouse 
 
 But my lyfe thys daye is muche more tedyouse. 2021 
 
 More of compassyon for shedynge of Christen blood 
 
 Than any-thynge els, my sceptre I gave up latelye 
 To the Pope of Rome, whych hath no tytle good
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 59J" 
 
 Of jurisdycyon, but of usurpacyon onlye ; 
 
 And now to the, Lorde, I woulde resygne up gladlye 
 
 Flectit genua. 
 
 Both my crowne and lyfe, for thyne owne ryght it is, 
 
 If it would please the to take my sowle to thy blys. 2028 
 
 ENGL. Sir, discomfort ye not ! in the honour of Christe 
 
 Jesu, 
 
 God wyll never fayle yow, intendynge not els but vertu. 
 K. JOHAN. The anguysh of sprete so pangeth me every- 
 where 
 That incessantly I thyrst tyll I be there. 
 
 ENGL. Sir, be of good chere, for the Pope hath sent a 
 
 legate, 
 
 Whose name is Gualo, your foes to excommunycate ; 
 Not only Lewes, whych hath wonne Rochestre, 2O 35 
 
 Wynsore and London, Readynge and Wynchestre, 
 But so many els as agaynst ye have rebelled, 
 He hath suspended and openly accursed. 
 
 K. JOHAN. They are all false knaves ; all men of them 
 
 be-ware ; 
 
 They never left me tyll they had me in their snare. 2040 
 
 Now have they Otto, the emproure, so wele as me, 
 And the French kynge, Phylypp, undre their captivyte. 
 All Christen princes they wyll have in their handes ; 
 The Pope and his priestes are poyseners of all landes. 
 All Christen people be-ware of trayterouse pristes. 2045 
 
 For of truthe they are the pernicyouse Antichristes. 
 
 ENGL. This same Gualo, sir, in your cause doth stoughtly 
 
 barke. 
 K. JOHAN. They are all nought, Englande, so many as 
 
 weare that marke. 
 
 From thys habytacyon, swete Lorde, delyver me, 
 And preserve thys realme, of thy benygnyte ! 2050 
 
 [Dyssymulacyon sings without :] 
 
 DYS. Wassayle, wassayle out of the mylke payle, 
 Wassayle, wassayle, as whyte as my nayle,
 
 598 JOHN BALE. 
 
 
 
 Wassayle, wassayle, in snowe, froste and hayle, 
 Wassayle, wassayle, with partriche and rayle, 
 Wassayle, wassayle, that muche doth avayle, 
 Wassayle, wassayle, that never wyll fayle ! 2056 
 
 K. JOHAN. Who is that, Englande? 1 I praye the stepp 
 
 fourth and see. 
 ENGL. He doth seem a-farre some relygyous man to be. 
 
 [Enter Dyssymvlacyon] 
 
 DYS. Now Jesus preserve your worthye and excellent 
 
 Grace, 
 
 For doubtlesse there is a very angelyck face ! 2060 
 
 Now forsoth and God, I woulde thynke my-self in heaven ! 
 If I myght remayne with yow but yeares alevyn, 
 I woulde covete here none other felicyte. 
 
 K. JOHAN. A lovynge persone thu mayest seme for to be. 
 
 DYS. I am as gentle a worme as ever ye see. 2065 
 
 K. J OHAN. But what is thy name, good frynde ? I praye 
 the, tell me. 
 
 DYS. Simon of Swynsett my very name is per-dee, 
 I am taken of men for monastycall Devocyon ; 
 And here have I brought yow a marvelouse good pocyon, 
 For I harde ye saye that ye were very drye. 2070 
 
 K. JOHAN. In-dede, I wolde gladlye drynke. I praye 
 the come nye. 
 
 DYS. The dayes of your lyfe never felt ye suche a cuppe, 
 So good and so holsome, if ye woulde drynke it upp ; 
 It passeth malmesaye, capryck, tyre, or ypocras ; 
 By my faythe, I thynke a better drynke never was. 2075 
 
 K. JOHAN. Begynne, gentle monke ; I pray the, drynke 
 half to me. 
 
 DYS. If ye dronke all up, it were the better for ye ; 
 It woulde slake your thirst and also quycken your brayne ; 
 A better drynke is not in Portyngale nor Spayne, 
 Therfore suppe it of, and make an ende of it quycklye. 2080 
 
 l C. England.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 599 
 
 K. JOHAN. Naye, thu shalte drynke half, there is no 
 
 remedye. 
 
 DYS. Good lucke to ye, than! have at it by-and-bye! 
 [Aside] Halfe wyll I consume, if there be no remedye. 
 
 K. JOHAN. God saynt the, good monke, with all my very 
 
 harte ! 
 DYS. I have brought ye half ; conveye me that for your 
 
 parte. 2085 
 
 \_Dyssymulacion goes to another part of the stage and says :] 
 
 Where art thu, Sedicyon? by the masse I dye, I dye ! 
 Helpe now at a pynche ! Alas, man, cum awaye shortlye ! 
 
 SED. Come hyther apace, and gett thee to the farmerye ; 
 I have provyded for the, by swete Saynt Powle, 
 Fyve monkes that shall synge contynually for thy sowle. 2090 
 That, I warande the, thu shalt not come in helle. 
 
 DYS. To sende me to heaven goo rynge the holye belle, 
 And synge for my sowle a masse of Scala Celi, 
 That I may clyme up aloft with Enoch and Heli. 
 I do not doubte it but I shall be a saynt ; 2O 95 
 
 Provyde a gyldar myne image for to paynt ; 
 I dye for the Churche with Thomas of Canterberye. 
 Ye shall fast my vigyll and upon my daye be merye ; 
 No doubt but I shall do myracles in a whyle, 
 And therfore lete me be shryned in the north yle. 2100 
 
 SED. To the, than, wyll offer both crypple, halte and 
 
 blynde, 
 Mad-men and mesels, with such as are woo behynde. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 K. JOHAN. My bodye me vexeth ; I doubt much of a tym- 
 
 panye. 
 ENGL. Now, alas, alas ! your Grace is betrayed cow- 
 
 ardlye ! 
 K. JOHAN. Where became the monke that was here with 
 
 me latelye? 2105 
 
 ENGL. He is poysened, sir, and lyeth a-dyenge, surelye. 
 K. JOHAN. It can not be so, for he was here even now. 
 ENGL. Doubtlesse, sir, it is so true as I have tolde yow :
 
 6OO JOHN BALE. 
 
 A false Judas kysse he hath gyven and is gone. 
 
 The halte, sore and lame thys pitiefull case wyll mone ; 2110 
 
 Never prynce was there that made to poore peoples use[s] 
 
 So many masendewes, hospytals and spyttle-howses 
 
 As your Grace hath done, yet sens the worlde began. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Of priestes and of monkes I am counted a 
 
 wycked man, 
 
 For that I never buylte churche nor monasterye, 2115 
 
 But my pleasure was to helpe suche as were nedye. 
 
 ENGL. The more grace was yours, for at the daye of 
 
 judgment 
 Chnste wyll rewarde them whych hath done hys com- 
 
 maundement ; 
 
 There is no promyse for voluntarye wurkes, 
 
 No more than there is for sacrifyce of the Turkes. 2120 
 
 K. JOHAN. Doubtlesse I do fele muche grevaunce in my 
 
 bodye. 
 ENGL. As the Lorde wele knoweth, for that I am full 
 
 sorye. 
 K. JOHAN. There is no malyce to the malyce of the 
 
 clergye ! 
 Well, the Lorde God of heaven on me and them have mer- 
 
 cye ! 2124 
 
 For doynge justyce they have ever hated me ; 
 
 They caused my lande to be excommunycate, 
 And me to resygne both crowne and princely dygnyte, 
 
 From my obedyence assoylynge every estate ; 
 
 And now last of all they have me intoxycate ; 
 I perceyve ryght wele their malyce hath none ende. 
 I desyre not els but that they maye sone amende. 2131 
 
 I have sore hungred and thirsted 1 ryghteousnesse 
 
 For the offyce sake that God hath me appoynted, 
 
 But now I perceyve that synne and wyckednesse 
 
 In thys wretched worlde, lyke as Christe prophecyed, 
 Have the overhande ; in me it is verefyed. 
 
 1 Qy. insert for.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 6OI 
 
 Praye for me, good people, I besych yow hartely, 
 
 That the Lorde above on my poore sowle have mercy. 2138 
 
 Farwell, noble-men, with the clergye spirytuall, 
 
 Farwell, men-of-lawe, with the whole commynalte. 
 
 Your disobedyence I do forgyve yow all, 
 
 And desyre God to perdon your iniquyte. 
 Farwell, swete Englande, now last of all to the ! 
 
 I am ryght sorye I coulde do for the nomore. 
 
 Farwell ones agayne, yea, farwell for evermore! 2145 
 
 ENGL. With the leave of God, I wyll not leave ye thus, 
 But styll be with ye tyll he do take yow from us, 
 And than wyll I kepe your bodye for a memoryall. 
 
 K. JOHAN. Than plye it, Englande, and provyde for my 
 
 buryall ; 
 A wydowes offyce it is to burye the deade. 2150 
 
 ENGL. Alas, swete maistre, ye waye so heavy as leade. 
 Oh horryble case, that euer so noble a kynge 
 Shoulde thus be destroyed and lost for ryghteouse doynge 
 By a cruell sort of disguysed bloud-souppers, 
 Unmercyfull murtherers, all dronke in the bloude of marters ! 
 Report what they wyll in their most furyouse madnesse, 
 Of thys noble kynge muche was the godlynesse. 2157 
 
 Exeunt. 
 [Enter Veryte^ 
 
 VERY. I assure ye, fryndes, lete men wryte what they wyll, 
 Kynge Johan was a man both valiaunt and godlye. 
 
 What though Polydorus reporteth hym very yll 
 At the suggestyons of the malicyouse clergye, 
 Thynke yow a Romane with the Romans can not lye? 
 
 Yes ; therfore, Leylonde, out of thy slumbre awake, 
 
 And wytnesse a trewthe for thyne owne contrayes sake ! 2164 
 
 For hys valiauntnesse many excellent writers make, 
 As Sigebertus, Vincentius, and also Nauclerus; 
 
 Giraldus and Mathu Parys with hys noble vertues take; 
 Yea, Paulus Phrigio, Johan Major, and Hector Boethius.
 
 6O2 JOHN BALE. 
 
 Nothynge is allowed in hys lyfe of Polydorus, 
 Whych discommendeth hys ponyshmentes for trayterye, 
 Advauncynge very sore hygh treason in the clergye. 2171 
 
 Of hys godlynesse thus muche report wyll I : 
 
 Gracyouse provysyon for sore, sycke, halte and lame 
 
 He made in hys tyme, 1 both in towne and cytie, 
 
 Grauntynge great lyberties for mayntenaunce of the 
 
 same, 
 By markettes and fayers in places of notable name ; 
 
 Great monymentes are in Yppeswych, Donwych and Berye, 
 
 Whych noteth hym to be a man of notable mercye ; 2178 
 
 The cytie of London, through his mere graunt and premye, 
 Was first privyleged to have both mayer and shryve, 
 
 Where before hys tyme it had but baylyves onlye ; 
 
 In hys dayes the Brydge the cytizens ded contryve. 
 Though he now be dead, hys noble actes are alyve. 
 
 Hys zele is declared, as towchynge Christes religyon, 
 
 In that he exyled the Jewes out of thys regyon. 2185 
 
 [Enter Nobylyte, Clergy and Cyvyll Order.] 
 
 NOB. Whome speake ye of, sir? I besyche ye hartelye. 
 
 VERY. I talke of Kynge Johan, of late your prynce most 
 worth ye. 
 
 NOB. Sir, he was a man of a very wycked sorte. 
 
 VERY. Ye are muche to blame your prynce so to reporte. 
 How can ye presume to be called Nobilyte, 2190 
 
 Diffamynge a prynce in your malygnyte? 
 Ecclesiastes sayth : " If thu with an hatefull harte 
 Misnamest a kynge, thu playest suche a wycked parte 
 As byrdes of ayer to God wyll represent, 
 
 To thy great parell and exceedynge ponnyshment." 2I 95 
 
 Saynt Hierome sayth also that he is of no renowne, 
 But a vyle traytour, that rebelleth agaynst the Crowne. 
 
 CLERGY. He speaketh not agaynst the crowne, but the 
 man, per-dee ! 
 
 l C. repeats he made.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 603 
 
 VERY. Oh, where is the sprete whych ought to reigne 
 
 in the? 
 
 The crowne of it-selfe without the man is nothynge. 2200 
 
 Learne of the Scriptures to have better undrestandynge. 
 The harte of a kynge is in the handes of the Lorde, 
 And he directeth it, wyse Salomon to recorde. 
 They are abhomynable that use hym wyckedlye. 
 
 CLERGY. He was never good to us, the sanctifyed 
 
 Clergye. 2205 
 
 VERY. Wyll ye know the cause, before thys worshypfull 
 
 cumpanye? 
 
 Your conversacyon and lyves are very ungodlye. 
 Kynge Salomon sayth : " Who hath a pure mynde, 
 Therin delyghtynge, shall have a kynge to frynde." 
 On thys wurde cleros, whych signyfieth a lott, 2210 
 
 Or a sortynge out into a most godly knott, 
 Ye do take your name, for that ye are the Lordes 
 Select, of hys wurde to be the specyall recordes. 
 As of Saynt Mathias we have a syngular mencyon 
 That they chose hym owt anon after Christes Ascencyon. 2215 
 Thus do ye recken ; but I feare ye come of clems, 
 A very noyfull worme, as Aristotle sheweth us, 
 By whome are destroyed the honycombes of bees, 
 For poore wydowes ye robbe, as ded the Pharysees. 
 
 C. ORDER. I promyse yow, it is uncharytably spoken. 2220 
 
 VERY. Trouthe ingendereth hate ; ye shewe therof a 
 
 token. 
 
 Ye are suche a man as owght every-where to see 
 A godly order, but ye loose yche commynalte. 
 Plato thowght alwayes that no hygher love coulde be 
 Than a man to peyne hymself for hys own countreye. 2225 
 
 David for their sake the proude Philistian slewe, 
 Aioth mad Eglon hys wyckednesse to rewe, 
 Esdras from Persye for hys owne countreys sake 
 Came to Hierusalem their stronge-holdes up to make ; 
 But yow, lyke wretches, cast over both contreye and kynge, 
 All manhode shameth to see your unnaturall doynge. 2231
 
 604 JOHN BALE. 
 
 Ye wycked rulers, God doth abhorre ye all ! 
 
 As Mantuan reporteth in hys Egloges Pastorall, 
 
 Ye fede not the shepe, but ever ye pylle the flocke, 
 
 And clyppe them so nygh that scarsely ye leve one locke. 2235 
 
 Your judgementes are suche that ye call to God in vayne 
 
 So longe as ye have yowr prynces in disdayne. 
 
 Chrysostome reporteth that nobilyte of fryndes 
 
 Avayleth nothynge, except ye have godly myndes. 
 
 What profiteth it yow to be called spirytuall, 2240 
 
 Whyls yow for lucre from all good vertues fall? 
 
 What prayse is it to yow to be called Cyvylyte, 
 
 If yow from obedyence and godly order flee? 
 
 Anneus Seneca hath thys most provable sentence : 
 
 " The gentyll free hart goeth never from obedyence." 2245 
 
 C. ORDER. Sir, my bretherne and I woulde gladly knowe 
 your name. 
 
 VERY. I am Veritas, that come hyther yow to blame 
 For castynge awaye of [y]our most lawfull kynge ; 
 Both God and the worlde detesteth your dampnable doynge. 
 How have ye used Kynge Johan here now of late? 2250 
 
 I shame to rehearce the corruptyons of your state. 
 Ye were never wele tyll ye hym cruelly slayne ; 
 And now, beynge dead, ye have hym styll in disdayne. 
 Ye have raysed up of hym most shamelesse lyes, 
 Both by your reportes and by your written storyes. 2255 
 
 He that slewe Saul throwgh fearcenesse vyolent 
 Was slayne sone after at Davids just commaundement, 
 For-bycause that Saul was anoynted of the Lorde, 
 The seconde of Kynges of thys beareth plenteouse recorde. 
 He was in those dayes estemed wurthie to dye 2260 
 
 On a noynted kynge that layed handes violentlye ; 
 Ye are not ashamed to fynde fyve priestes to synge 
 For that same traytour that slewe your naturall kynge. 
 A trayterouse knave ye can set upp for a saynte, 
 And a ryghteouse kynge lyke an odyouse tyrant paynte. 2265 
 
 I coulde she we the place where you most spyghtfullye 
 Put out your torches upon hys physnomye ;
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 605 
 
 In your glasse wyndowes ye whyppe your naturall kynges. 
 
 As I sayde afore, I abhorre to shewe your doynges. 
 
 The Turkes, I dare say, are a thowsande tymes better than 
 
 yow. 2270 
 
 NOB. For Gods love, no more! Alas, ye have sayde 
 
 ynough ! 
 CLERGY. All the worlde doth knowe that we have done 
 
 sore amys. 
 C. ORDER. Forgyve it us, so that we never heare more 
 
 of thys. 
 
 VERY. But are ye sorye for thys ungodly wurke? 
 NOB. I praye to God else I be dampned lyke a Turke. 2275 
 VERY. And make true promyse ye wyll never more do so? 
 CLERGY. Sir, never more shall I from true obedyence 
 
 goo. 
 VERY. What say you, brother? I must have also your 
 
 sentence. 
 
 C. ORDER. I wyll ever gyve to my prynce due reverence. 
 VERY. Well than, I doubt not but the Lorde wyll con- 
 
 descende 2280 
 
 To ,forgyve yow all, so that ye mynde to amende. 
 Adewe to ye all, for now I must be gone. 
 
 [Enter Imperyall Majesty e.~\ 
 
 IMP. MAJ. Abyde, Veryte, ye shall not depart so sone ! 
 Have ye done all thynges as we commanded yow? 
 
 VERY. Yea, most gracyouse prynce, I concluded the 
 
 whole even now. 2285 
 
 IMP. MAJ. And how do they lyke the customs they have 
 
 used 
 
 With our predecessours, whome they have so abused, 
 Specyally Kynge Johan? thynke they they have done well? 
 VERY. They repent that ever they folowed sedicyouse 
 
 counsell, 
 
 And have made promes they wyll amende all faultes. 2290 
 
 IMP. MAJ. And forsake the Pope with all hys crueil 
 assaultes?
 
 606 JOHN BALE. 
 
 VERY. Whie do ye not bowe to Imperyall Majeste? 
 Knele and axe pardon for yowr great enormyte ! 
 
 NOB. Most godly governour, we axe your gracyouse 
 
 pardon, 
 
 Promysynge nevermore to maynteyne false Sedicyon. 22 95 
 
 CLERGY. Neyther Pryvate Welthe, nor yet Usurped 
 
 Poure 
 
 Shall cause me disobeye my prynce from thys same houre ; 
 False Dissymulacyon shall never me begyle ; 
 Where I shall mete hym, I wyll ever hym revyle. 
 
 IMP. MAJ. I perceyve, Veryte, ye have done wele your 
 
 part, 2300 
 
 Refowrmynge these men ; gramercyes with all my hart ! 
 I praye yow take paynes to call our Commynalte 
 To true obedyence, as ye are Gods Veryte. 
 
 VERY. I wyll do it, sir ; yet shall I have muche a-doo 
 With your popish prelates ; they wyll hunte me to and fro. 2305 
 IMP. MAJ. So longe as I lyve, they shall do yow no 
 
 wronge. 
 VERY. Than wyll I go preache Gods wurde-your com- 
 
 mens amonge. 
 
 But first I desyre yow their stubberne factes to remytt. 
 IMP. MAJ. I forgyve yow all, and perdon your frowarde 
 
 wytt. 
 OMNES UNA. The heavenly Governour rewarde your 
 
 goodnesse for it! 2310 
 
 VERY. For Gods sake obeye, lyke as doth yow befall, 
 For in hys owne realme a kynge is judge over all 
 By Gods appoyntment, and none maye hym judge agayne 
 But the Lorde hymself ; in thys the Scripture is playne. 
 He that condempneth a kynge, condempneth God, without 
 
 dought; 2315 
 
 He that harmeth a kynge, to harme God goeth abought ; 
 He that a prynce resisteth, doth dampne Cods ordynaunce, 
 And resisteth God in withdrawynge hys affyaunct 
 All subjectes offendynge are undre the kynges judgement, 
 A kynge is reserved to the Lorde Omnypotent 2326
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 607 
 
 He is a mynyster immedyate undre God, 
 Of hys ryghteousnesse to execute the rod. 
 I charge yow, therfore, as God hath charge * me, 
 To gyve to your kynge hys due supremyte, 
 
 And exyle the Pope thys realme for-evermore. 2325 
 
 OMNES UNA. We shall gladly doo accordynge to your 
 
 loore. 
 VERY. Your Grace is content I shewe your people the 
 
 same ? 
 IMP. MAJ. Yea, gentle Veryte, shewe them their dewtye, 
 
 in Gods name. 
 
 To confyrme the tale that Veryte had now 
 The seconde of Kynges is evydent to yow : 2330 
 
 The younge man that brought the crowne and bracelett 
 Of Saul to David, saynge that he had hym slayne, 
 
 David commaunded, as though he had done the forfett, 
 
 Strayght-waye to be slayne ; Gods sprete ded hym 
 
 constrayne 
 To shewe what it is a kynges bloude to distayne. 
 
 So ded he those two that in the fyelde hym mett, 
 
 And unto hym brought the heade of Isboset. 2337 
 
 Consydre that Christe was undre the obedyence 
 Of worldly prynces so longe as he was here, 
 
 And alwayes used them with a lowly reverence, 
 
 Payinge them tribute, all his true servauntes to stere 
 To obeye them, love them, and have them in reverent 
 feare. 
 
 Dampnacyon it is to hym that an ordre breake 
 
 Appoynted of God, lyke as the Apostle speake. 2 344 
 
 No man is exempt from thys, Gods ordynaunce, 
 
 Bishopp, monke, chanon, priest, cardynall nor pope ; 
 
 All they by Gods lawe to kynges owe their allegeaunce. 
 
 Thys wyll be wele knowne in thys same realme, I hope. 
 Of Verytees wurdes the syncere meanynge I grope : 
 
 l Perhaps charged, but see Notes.
 
 608 JOHN BALE. 
 
 He sayth that a kynge is of God immedyatlye ; 
 
 Than shall never pope rule more in thys monarchic. 2351 
 
 CLERGY. If it be your pleasure we wyll exyle hym 
 
 cleane, 
 
 That he in thys realme shall nevermore be seane, 
 And your Grace shall be the supreme head of the Churche ; 
 To brynge thys to passe, ye shall see how we wyll wurche. 2355 
 
 IMP. MAJ. Here is a nyce tale! He sayth, if it be my 
 
 pleasure, 
 
 He wyll do thys acte to the Popes most hygh displeasure ; 
 As who sayth, I woulde for pleasure of my persone, 
 And not for Gods truthe, have suche an enterpryse done. 
 Full wysely convayed ! the crowe wyll not chaunge her 
 
 hewe. 2360 
 
 It is marvele to me and ever ye be trewe. 
 I wyll the auctoryte of Gods holy wurde to do it, 
 And it not to aryse of your vayne, slypper wytt. 
 That Scripture doth not, is but a lyght fantasye. 
 
 CLERGY. Both Daniel and Paule calleth hym Gods 
 
 adversarye, 2365 
 
 And th erf ore ye ought as a devyll hym to expell. 
 
 IMP. MAJ. Knewe ye thys afore, and woulde it never 
 
 tell? 
 
 Ye shoulde repent it, had we not now forgyven ye ! 
 Nobylyte, what say yow? Wyll ye to thys agree? 
 
 NOB. I can no lesse, sir, for he is wurse than the Turke, 2370 
 Whych none other wayes but by tyrannye doth wurke. 
 Thys bloudy bocher with hys pernycyouse bayte 
 Oppresse Christen princes by frawde, crafte and dissayte, 
 Tyll he compell them to kysse hys pestylent fete, 
 Lyke a levyathan syttynge in Moyses sete. 2375 
 
 I thynke we can do unto God no sacrifyce 
 That is more accept, nor more agreynge to justyce, 
 Than to slea that beaste and slauterman of the devyll, 
 That Babylon boore, whych hath done so muche evyll. 
 
 IMP. MAJ. It is a clere sygne of a true Nobilyte, 2380
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 609 
 
 To the wurde of God whan your conscyence doth agree; 
 
 For, as Christe ded saye to Peter, Caro et sanguis 
 
 Non revelavit tibi, sed Pater meus celestis : 
 
 Ye have not thys gyfte of carnall generacion, 
 
 Nor of noble bloude, but by Gods owne demonstracyon. 2385 
 
 Of yow, Cyvyle Order, one sentence woulde I heare. 
 
 C. ORDER. I rewe it that ever any harte I ded hym 
 
 beare. 
 
 I thynke he hath spronge out of the bottomlesse pytt, 
 And in mennys conscyence in the stede of God doth sytt, 
 Blowynge fourth a swarme of grassopers and flyes, 2390 
 
 Monkes, fryers and priestes, that all truthe putrifyes. 
 Of the Christen faythe playe now the true defendar, 
 Exyle thys monster and ravenous devourar, 
 With hys venym wormes, hys adders, whelpes and snakes, 
 Hys cuculled vermyne, that unto all myschiefe wakes ! 2395 
 
 IMP. MAJ. Than, in thys purpose ye are all of one 
 
 mynde? 
 CLERGY. We detest the Pope, and abhorre hym to the 
 
 fynde. 
 IMP. MAJ. And ye are wele content to disobeye hys 
 
 pryde? 
 NOB. Yea, and his lowsye lawes and decrees to sett 
 
 asyde. 
 IMP. MAJ. Than must ye be sworne to take me for your 
 
 heade. 2400 
 
 C. ORDER. We wyll obeye yow as our governour in Gods 
 
 steade. 
 IMP. MAJ. Now that ye are sworne unto me your pryn- 
 
 cypall, 
 
 I charge ye to regarde the wurde of God over all, 
 And in that alone to rule, to speake and to judge, 
 As ye wyll have me your socour and refuge. 2405 
 
 . CLERGY. If ye wyll make sure, ye must exyle Sedicyon, 
 False Dyssymulacyon, with all vayne supers tycyon, 
 And put Private Welthe out of the monasteryes ; 
 Than Usurped Power maye goo a-birdynge for flyes.
 
 6lO JOHN BALE. 
 
 IMP. MAJ. Take yow it in hande, and do your true dily- 
 
 gence, 2410 
 
 Iche man for hys part ; ye shall wante no assystence. 
 
 CLERGY. I promyse yow here to exyle Usurped Powre, 
 And yowr supremyte to defende yche daye and howre. 
 
 NOB. I promyse also out of the monasteryes 
 To put Private Welthe, and detect hys mysteryes. 2415 
 
 C. ORDER. False Dissymulacyon I wyll hange up in 
 
 Smythfylde, 
 With suche supersticion as your people hath begylde. 
 
 IMP. MAJ. Than I trust we are at a very good conclu- 
 
 syon, 
 
 Vertu to have place, and vyce to have confusyon. 
 Take Veryte with ye for every acte ye doo, 2420 
 
 So shall ye be sure not out of the waye to goo. 
 
 Sedicyon intrat. 
 
 SED. \sings\ Pepe ! I see ye ! I am glad I have spyed ye ! l 
 
 NOB. There is Sedicyon ; stand yow asyde a-whyle, 
 Ye shall see how we shall catche hym by a wyle. 
 
 SED. No noyse amonge ye? Where is the mery chere 2425 
 That was wont to be, with quaffynge of double bere? 
 The worlde is not yet as some men woulde it have. 
 I have bene abrbade, and I thynke I haveplayde the knave. 
 
 C. ORDER. Thu canst do none other, except thu change 
 thy wunte. 
 
 SED. What myschiefe ayle ye that ye are to me so 
 
 blunte? 2430 
 
 I have sene the daye ye have favoured me, Perfectyon. 
 
 CLERGY. Thy-selfe is not he, thu art of an other com- ' 
 
 plectyon. 
 
 Sir, thys is the thiefe that first subdued Kynge John, 
 Vexynge other prynces that sens have ruled thys regyon, 
 And now he doth prate he hath played the knave, 2 435 
 
 That the worlde is not yet as some men woulde it have. 
 It woulde be knowne, sir, what he hath done of late. 
 
 1 The music is printed in C.
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 6 1 1 
 
 IMP. MAJ. What is thy name, frynde? To us here inty- 
 
 mate. 
 SED. A sayntwary ! a sayntwary ! for Gods dere passion, 
 
 a sayntwarye! 
 
 Is there none wyll holde me, and I have made so manye? 2440 
 IMP. MAJ. Tell me what thy name is. Thu playest the 
 
 knave, I trowe. 
 SED. I am wyndelesse, good man, I have muche peyne 
 
 to blowe. 
 IMP. MAJ. I saye, tell thy name, or the racke shall the 
 
 constrayne. 
 
 SED. Holy Perfectyon my godmother called me playne. 
 NOB. It is Sedicyon, God gyve hym a very myschiefe! 2445 
 C. ORDER. Under heaven is not a more detestable thiefe. 
 SED. By the messe, ye lye! I see wele ye do not knowe 
 
 me. 
 IMP. MAJ. Ah, brother, art thu cum? I am ryght glad 
 
 we have the. 
 
 SED. By bodye, bloude, bones, and sowle, I am not he ! 
 CLERGY. If swearynge myghte helpe, he woulde do 
 
 we[le] 1 ynough. 2450 
 
 IMP. MAJ. He scape not our handes so lyghtly, I war- 
 
 ande yow. 
 CLERGY. Thys is that thiefe, sir, that all Christendome 
 
 hath troubled, 
 
 And the Pope of Rome agaynst all kynges maynteyned. 
 NOB. Now that ye have hym, no more but hange hym 
 
 uppe! 
 C. ORDER. If ye so be content, it shall be done ere I 
 
 suppe. 2455 
 
 IMP. MAJ. Loo.! the Clergye accuseth the, Nobylyte 
 
 condempneth the, 
 
 And the Lawe wyll hange the. What sayst now to me? 
 SED. I woulde I were now at Rome at the sygne of the 
 
 Cuppe, 
 For heavynesse is drye. Alas, must I nedes clymbe uppe? 
 
 1 Corr. by C,
 
 6l2 JOHN BALE. 
 
 Perdon my lyfe, and I shall tell ye all, 2460 
 
 Both that is past and that wyll herafter fall. 
 
 IMP. MAJ. Aryse ; I perdon the, so that thu tell the 
 
 trewthe. 
 
 SED. I wyll tell to yow suche treason as ensewthe. 
 Yet a ghostly father ought not to bevvraye confessyon. 
 IMP. MAJ. No confessyon is but ought to discover 
 
 treason. 2465 
 
 SED. I thynk? it maye kepe all thynge save heresye. 
 IMP. MAJ. It maye holde no treason, I tell the verelye, 
 And therfore tell the whole matter by-and-bye. 
 Thu saydest now of late that thu haddest played the knave, 
 And that the worlde was not as some men woulde it have. 2470 
 SED. I coulde playe Pasquyll, but I feare to have re- 
 buke. 
 IMP. MAJ. For utterynge the truthe feare neyther bysh- 
 
 opp nor duke. 
 SED. Ye gave injunctyons that Gods wurde myghte be 
 
 taught ; 
 
 But who observe them? Full manye a tyme have I laught 
 To see the conveyaunce that prelates and priestes can fynde. 2475 
 IMP. MAJ. And whie do they beare Gods wurde no 
 
 better mynde? 
 SED. For, if that were knowne, than woulde the people 
 
 regarde 
 No heade but their prynce ; with the Churche than were it 
 
 harde ; 
 
 Than shoulde I lacke helpe to maynteyne their estate, 
 As I attempted in the Northe but now of late, 2480 
 
 And sens that same tyme in other places besyde, 
 Tyll my setters-on were of their purpose wyde. 
 A vengeaunce take it, it was never well with me 
 Sens the cummynge hyther of that same Veryte ! 
 Yet do the byshoppes for my sake vexe hym amonge. 2485 
 
 IMP. MAJ. Do they so in-dede? well, they shall not do 
 
 so longe. 
 SED. In your parlement commaunde yow what ye wyll,
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 613 
 
 The Popes ceremonyes shall drowne the gospell styll. 
 
 Some of the byshoppes at your injunctyons slepe, 
 
 Some laugh and go bye, and some can playe boo-pepe. 2490 
 
 Some of them do nought but searche for heretykes, 
 
 Whyls their priestes abroade do playe the scysmatykes. 
 
 Tell me, in London how manye their othes discharge 
 
 Of the curates there ; yet is it muche wurse at large. 
 
 If your true subjectes impugne their trecheryes, 2 495 
 
 They can fatche them in, man, for Sacramentaryes, 
 
 Or Anabaptystes ; thus fynde they subtyle shyfte 
 
 To proppe up their kyngedome, suche is their wyly dryfte. 
 
 Get they false wytnesses, they force not of whens they be, 
 
 Be they of Newgate, or be they of the Marshallsee. 2500 
 
 Paraventure a thousande are in one byshoppes boke, 
 
 And agaynst a daye are readye to the hooke. 
 
 IMP. MAJ. Are those matters true that thu hast spoken 
 
 here? 
 SED. What can in the worlde more evydent wytnesse 
 
 bere? 
 
 First of all consydre the prelates do not preache, 2 55 
 
 But persecute those that the holy Scriptures teache ; 
 And marke me thys wele, they never ponnysh for popery, 
 But the gospell-readers they handle very coursely ; 
 For on them they laye by hondred poundes of yron, 
 And wyll suffer none with them ones for to common. 2510 
 
 Sytt they never so longe, nothynge by them cometh 
 
 fourth e 
 
 To the truthes furtherance that any-thynge ys wourthe. 
 In some byshoppes howse ye shall not 1 fynde a Testament, 
 But yche man readye to devoure the innocent. 
 We lyngar a tyme and loke but for a daye 2515 
 
 To sett upp the Pope, if the gospell woulde decaye. 
 
 CLERGY* Of that he hath tolde hys-selfe is the very 
 
 grounde. 
 IMP. MAJ. Art thu of counsell in this that thu hast 
 
 spoken? 
 
 1 MS. repeats shall not.
 
 614 JOHN BALE. 
 
 SED. Yea, and in more than that, if all secretes myght 
 
 be broken ; 
 
 For the Pope I make so muche as ever I maye do. 2520 
 
 IMP. MAJ. I praye the hartely, tell me why thu doest so. 
 SED. For I perceyve wele the Pope is a jolye fellawe, 
 A trymme fellawe, a ryche fellawe, yea, and myry fellawe. 
 IMP. MAJ. A jolye fellawe how dost thu prove the Pope? 
 SED. For he hath crosse keyes, with a tryple crowne and 
 
 a cope, 2525 
 
 Trymme as a trencher, havynge his shoes of golde, 
 Ryche in hys ryalte and angelyck to beholde. 
 
 IMP. MAJ. How dost thu prove hym to be a fellawe 
 
 myrye ? 
 
 SED. He hath pipys and belles, with kyrye, ky rye, kyrye. 
 Of hym ye maye bye both salt, creame, oyle and waxe, 2530 
 
 And after hygh masse ye may learne to beare the paxe. 
 IMP. MAJ. Yea? and nothynge heare of the pystle and 
 
 the gospell? 
 SED. No, sir, by the masse, he wyll gyve no suche 
 
 counsell. 
 IMP. MAJ. Whan thu art abroade, where doest thy 
 
 lodgynge take? 
 
 SED. Amonge suche people as God ded never make: 2535 
 Not only cuckoldes, but suche as folow the Popes lawes 
 In disgysed coates, with balde crownes lyke jacke-dawes. 
 IMP. MAJ. Than every-where thu art the Popes altogyther. 
 SED. Ye had proved it ere thys, if I had not chaunced 
 
 hyther. 
 
 I sought to have served yow lyke as I ded Kynge John, 2540 
 But that Veryte stopte me, the devyll hym poyson ! 
 
 NOB. He is wurthie to dye and there were men nomore ! 
 C. ORDER. Hange up the vyle knave, and kepe hym no 
 
 longar in store ! 
 IMP. MAJ. Drawe hym to Tyburne ; lete hym be hanged 
 
 and quartered. 
 SED. Wliye, of late dayes ye sayde I shoulde not be so 
 
 martyred. 2545
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 615 
 
 Where is the pardon that ye ded promyse me? 
 
 IMP. MAJ. For doynge more harme thu shalt sone par- 
 doned be. 
 Have hym fourth, Cyvyle Ordre, and hang hym tyll he be 
 
 dead, 
 And on London Brydge loke ye bestowe hys head. 
 
 C. ORDER. I shall see it done and returne to yow 
 
 agayne. 2 55 
 
 SED. I beshrewe your hart for takynge so muche payne ! 
 Some man tell the Pope, I besyche ye with all my harte, 
 How I am ordered for takynge the Churches parte, 
 That I maye be put in the holye letanye 
 
 With Thomas Beckett, for I thynke I am as wurthye. 2 555 
 
 Praye to me with candels, for I am a saynt alreadye. 
 O blessed Saynt Partryck, I see the, I, verylye! [Exeunt.} 
 
 IMP. MAJ. I see by thys wretche there hath bene muche 
 
 faulte in ye ; 
 Shewe your-'selves herafter more sober and wyse to be. 2 559 
 
 Kynge Johan ye subdued, for that he ponnyshed treason, 
 Rape, theft and murther in the holye spirytualte ; 
 
 But Thomas Beckett ye exalted without reason, 
 
 Because that he dyed for the Churches wanton lyberte, 
 That the priestes myght do all kyndes of inyquyte, 
 
 And be unponnyshed. Marke now the judgement 
 
 Of your ydle braynes, and, for Gods love, repent! 2566 
 
 NOB. As God shall judge me, I repent me of my rude- 
 
 nesse. 
 CLERGY. I am ashamed of my most vayne folyshenesse. 2568 
 
 NOB. I consydre now that God hath for sedicyon 
 
 Sent ponnyshmentes great : examples we have in Brute, 
 
 In Catilyne, in Cassius and fayer Absolon, 
 
 Whome of their purpose God alwayes destytute, 
 And terryble plages on them ded execute 
 
 For their rebellyon. And therfore I wyll be ware, 
 
 Least his great ve.ngeaunce trappe me in suche lyke snare. 2575
 
 6l6 JOHN BALE. 
 
 CLERGY. I pondre also that sens the tyme of Adam 
 The Lorde evermore the governours preserved : 
 
 Examples we fynde in Noe and in Abraham, 
 
 In Moyses and David, from whome God never swerved. 
 I wyll therfor obeye least he be with me displeased. 
 
 Homerus doth saye that God putteth fourth hys shyelde 
 
 The prynce to defende whan he is in the fyelde. 2582 
 
 C. ORDER. Thys also I marke : whan the priestcs had 
 
 governaunce 
 
 Over the Hebrues, the sectes ded first aryse 
 As Pharisees, Sadducees, and Esse[n]es, whych wrought 
 
 muche grevaunce 
 
 Amonge the people by their most devylysh practyse, 
 Tyll destructyons the prynces ded devyse, 
 To the quyetnesse of their faythfull commens all, 
 As your Grace hath done with the sectes papistycall. 2589 
 
 IMP. MAJ. That poynt hath in tyme fallen in your mem- 
 oryes. 
 
 The Anabaptystes, a secte newe rysen of late, 
 The Scriptures poyseneth with their subtle allegoryes, 
 
 The heades to subdue after a sedicyouse rate. 
 
 The cytie of Mynster was lost through their debate.' 
 They have here begunne their pestilent sedes to sowe, 
 But we trust in God, to increace they shall not growe. 2 S9^ 
 
 CLERGY. God forbyd they shoulde, for they myght do 
 muche harme ! 
 
 C. ORDER. We shall cut them short if they do hyther 
 swarme. 
 
 IMP. MAJ. The adminystracyon of a princes governaunce 
 Is the gifte of God and hys hygh ordynaunce, 2600 
 
 Whome with all your power yow thre ought to support 
 In the lawes of God to all hys peoples confort : 
 First yow, the Clergye, in preachynge of Gods worde, 
 Than yow, Nobilyte, defendynge with the sworde, 
 Yow, Cyvyle Order, in executynge justyce. 2605
 
 KYNGE JOHAN. 6l? 
 
 Thus, I trust, we shall seclude all maner of vyce, 
 
 And, after we have establyshed our kyngedome 
 
 In peace of the Lorde and in hys godly fredome, 
 
 We wyll confirme it with wholesom lawes and decrees, 
 
 To the full suppressynge of Antichristes vanytees. 2610 
 
 Hie omnes rex osculatur. 
 
 Farwele to ye all : first to yow, Nobilyte 
 Than to yow, Clergye, than to yow, Cyvylyte ; 
 And above all thynges remembre our injunctyon! 
 
 OMNES UNA. By the helpe of God yche one shall do hys 
 
 f Unctyon . {Exit Imperyall Majestye. ] 2614 
 
 NOB. By thys example ye may see with your eyes 
 
 How Antichristes whelpes have noble princes used. 
 
 Agayne ye may see how they with prodigyouse lyes 
 
 And craftes uncomely their myschiefes have excused ; 
 Both nature, manhode and grace they have abused, 
 
 Defylynge the lawe and blyndynge Nobilyte, 
 
 No Christen regyon from their abusyons free. 2621 
 
 CLERGY. Marke wele the dampnable bestowynge of their 
 
 masses, 
 
 With their foundacyons for poysenynge of their kynge. 
 Their confessyon-driftes all other traytery passes. 
 
 A saynt the[y] l can make of the inoste knave thys 
 
 daye .lyvynge, 
 
 Helpynge their market ; and, to promote the thynge, 
 He shall do myracles. But he that blemysh their glorye 
 Shall be sent to helle without anye remedye. 2628 
 
 C. ORDER. Here was to be seane what ryseth of Sedicyon, 
 And howe he doth take hys mayntenaunce and grounde 
 
 Of ydle persones, brought upp in supersticyon, 
 
 Whose daylye practyse is alwayes to confounde 
 
 Such as myndeth vertu and to them wyll not be bounde. 
 
 Expedyent it is to knowe their pestylent wayes, 
 
 Consyderynge they were so busye now of late dayes. 2635 
 
 1 Corr. by C.
 
 6l8 JOHN BALE. 
 
 NOB. Englande hath a quene, thankes to the Lorde 
 
 above ! 
 
 Whych maye be a lyghte to other princes all 
 For the godly wayes whome she doth dayly move 
 
 To her liege people, through Gods wurde specyall. 
 
 She is that Angell, as Saynt Johan doth hym call, 
 
 That with the Lordes scale doth marke out his true ser- 
 
 vauntes, 
 Pryntynge in their hartes his holy wourdes and covenauntes. 2642 
 
 CLERGY. In Danyels sprete she hath subdued the Papistes, 
 With all the ofsprynge of Antichristes generacyon ; 
 
 And now of late dayes the sect of Anabaptistes 
 
 She seketh to suppresse for their pestiferouse facyon. 
 She vanquysheth also the great abhomynacyon 
 
 Of supersticyons, witchecraftes and hydolatrye, 
 
 Restorynge Gods honoure to hys first force and bewtye. 2649 
 
 C. ORDER. Praye unto the Lorde that hir Grace may con- 
 
 tynewe 
 The dayes of Nestor to our sowles consolacyon ; 
 
 And that hir ofsprynge may lyve also to subdewe 
 
 The great Antichriste, with hys whole generacyon, 
 In Helias sprete to the confort of thys nacyon ; 
 
 Also to preserve hir most honourable Counsell, 
 
 To the prayse of God and glorye of the gospell ! 1 2656 
 
 1 After this line, MS. has Pretium xx s , not in Bale's hand, but con- 
 temporary. 
 
 Thus endeth the ij playes 
 of Kynge Johan. 
 
 END OF VOL. I.
 
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