¶Here begynneth a treatyse how the hye fader of heuen sendeth dethe to somon euery creature to come and gyue a counte of theyr lyues in this worlde and is in maner of a morall playe.
Eueryman.
Felawshyp
Eueryman.
Beauty
Dyscrecyō.
strengthe.
¶Kynne.
messēgere
I Pray you all gyue your audyence.
And here this matter with reuerente
By fygure a morall playe
The somonȳg of eueryman called it is
That of our lyues and endynge shewes
How transytory we be all daye
This matter is wonderous precyous
But the intente of it / is more gracyous
And swete to bere awaye
This story sayeth man in the begynnynge
Loke well & take good hode to the endynge
Be you neuer so gaye.
ye thynke synne in the begynnynge full swete
Whiche in the ende causeth thy soule to wepe
Whan the body lyeth in claye
Here shall you se how felawshyp and solyte
Bothe strengthe / pleasure / and beaute
Wyll bade from the as floure in maye
For ye shall here / how our heuen kenge
Calleth eueryman to a generall rekenynge
Gyue audyens and here what he wyll saye
¶God speketh.
God.
¶I perceyue here in my maiestye
How that all creatures / be to me vnkynde
Lyuynge without drede / in worldely prosperytye
Of ghostly syght / the people be so blynde
Drowned in synne / they know me not for ther god
In worldely ryches is all theyr mynde
They fere not my ryght wyllenes, that sharpe tool
My lawe that I shewed / whan I for them dyed
They forgot clene / & sheddynge of my blood so redde
I hanged bytwene two theues / it cannot be denyed
[Page]To get them lyfe I suffrede to be deed
I heled theyr fete / with thornes hurt was my heed
I coulde do nomore than I dyde truely
And now I se the people do clene forsake me
They vse the seuen deedly synnes dampnable
As pryde / couetyse / wrathe / and lechery
Now in the worlde be made commendable
And thus they leue of aungeles ye heuenly cōpany
Eueryman lyueth so after his owne pleasure
And yet of theyr lyfe they be not sure
I se the more that I them forbere
The worse they are from yere to yere
All that lyueth apperyth faste
Therfore I wyll in all the haste
Haue a rekenynge of euery mannes persone
For and I leue the people thus alone
In theyr lyfe and wycked tempestes
Verely they wyll be cume moche worse than bestes
For now one wolde by enuy another vp ere
Charytye they all do clene forgete
I hoped well that eueryman
In my glorye shulde make his mansyon
And therto I had them all electe
But now I se that lyke traytours deiecte
They thanke me not for the pleasure yt I to thē mēt
Nor yet for theyr beynge that I them haue lente
I profered the people great multytude of mercy
And fewe there be that asketh it hertely
They be so cumbred with worldly ryches
That nedes on them I must do iustyce
On eueryman lyuynge without feare
Where art thou deth ye myghty messengere
¶Deth.
[Page]¶Almyghty god I am here at your wyll
your commaundemente to fulfyll
God.
¶Go thou to eueryman
And shew hym in my name
Apylgrymage / he must on hym take
Which he in no wyse may escape
And that he brynge with hym a sure rekenynge
Without delay or ony taryenge
Deth.
¶Lorde I wyll in the worlde go renouer all
And truely out serche bothe great and small
Eueryman I wyll be set that lyueth beestly
Out of goddes lawes / and dredeth not foly
He that loueth ryches I wyll stryke with my darte
His syght to blynde / and from heuen depart
Excepte that almes dedes be his good frende
In hell for to dwell / worlde without ende
Loo / yonder I se eueryman walkynge
Full lytell he thynketh on my cummynge
His mynde is on flesshely lustes / and his treasure
And great payne / it shall cause hym to endure
Before the lorde heuen kynge
Eueryman / stonde styll / whether arte yt goynge
Thus gayly Hast thou thy maker forget
¶Eueryman.
¶Why askest thou
Woldest thou were
Deth.
¶ye syr I wyll shew you
In great hast I am sende to the
From god out of his maiestye
eueryman
¶What / sende to me
Deth.
¶ye certaynly
[Page]Though thou haue forgete hym here
He thynketh on the in the heuenly spere
As or we departe thou shall knowe
euery man
¶What desyreth god of me
Deth.
¶That shall I shewe the
A rekenynge he wyll nedes haue
Without lenger respyte
euery man
¶To gyue a rekenynge longer layser I craue
This blynde mater trubleth my wytte
Deth.
¶On the thou must take a longe Iourney
Therfore thy boke of counte wt the thou brynge
For turne agayne thou can not by no waye
And loke thou be sure of thy rekenynge
For before god shalte thou answere and shewe
Thy many badde dedes and good but a fewe
How thou hast spede thy lyfe and in what wyse
Before the chefe lorde of paradyse
Haue a do that we were in that waye
For were yu well thou shalte make none attournay
euery man
¶Full vneedy I am suche rekenynge to gyue
I knowe the not what messanger arte thou
Deth.
¶I am dethe that no man dredeth
For euery man I rest and none spareth
For it is goddes commaundement
That all to me sholde be obedyent
euery man
¶O deth thou cūmest what I had ye leeft in mynde
In thy power it lyeth me to saue
yet of my good wyll I gyue the yf ye wyll be kynde
ye a thousande pounde shalte thou haue
And dyfferre this mater tyll another daye
Deth.
¶Euery man it may not be by no waye
I set not by golde syluer nor rychesse
[Page]Ne by pope / emperoure / kynge / duke / ne prynces
For and I wolde receyue geftes great
All the worlde I myght gete
All my custome is clene contrary
I gyue the no respyte come hens and not tary
euery man
¶Alas shall I haue no longer respyte
I may saye deth geueth no warnynge
To thynke on the it maketh my herte secke
For all vnredy is my boke of rekenynge
But .xii. yere and I myght haue a bydynge
My countynge boke I wolde make so clere
That my rekenynge I sholde not nede to fere
Wherfore deth I praye the for goddes mercy
Spare me tyll I be prouyded of remedy
Deth.
¶The auayleth not to crye wepe and praye
But hast the lyghtly that yu were gone ye Iournaye
And proue thy frendes yf thou can
For weTe you well the tyde abydeth no man
And in the worlde eche lyuynge creature
For adams synne must dye of nature
eueryman
¶Deth yf I sholde this pylgrymage take
And my rekenynge surely make
Shewe me for saynt charyte
Sholde I not come agayne shortly
Deth.
¶No eueryman and thou be ones there
Thou must neuer more come here
Trust me veryly
eueryman
¶gracyous god in hye sete celestyall
Haue mercy on me in this moost nede
Shall I haue no company fro this vale terestyall
Dethe.
Of myne aqueyntaunce that waye me to lede
¶ye yf ony be so hardy
[Page]That wolde go with the / and bere the cumpany
Hye the that yu were gone to goddes magnyfycens
Thy rekenynge to gyue before his presence
What / wenest thou thy lyfe is gyuen the
And thy wordely gooddes also
euery man
¶I had wende so verely
Deth.
¶Ney nay / it was but lend the
For as sone as thou arte go
Another a whyle shall haue it / & than go therfro
Euen as thou hast done
Eueryman thou arte mad / yt hast thy wyttes fyue
And here on erth / wyll not amende thy lyue
For sodenly I do cume.
euery man
¶Do / wretched caytyfe whether shall I flee
That I myght scape this endles sorow
Now gentyll deth spare me tyll to morow
That I may amende me
With good aduysemente.
Deth.
¶Nay therto I wyll not consent
Nor no man wyll I respyte
But to the harte sodenly I shall smyte
Without any aduysement
And now out of syght I wyll me hye
Se thou make the redy shortely
For thou mayst saye this is the day
That no man lyuynge may scape awaye
euery man
¶Alas I may well wepe with syghes depe
Now haue I no maner of cumpany
To helpe me in my iourney / & me to kepe
And also my wrytynge is full vnredy
Now shall I do now / for to excuse me
I wolde to god I had neuer be gete
[Page]To my soule a great profyte it had be
For now I fere paynes huge and great
The tyme passeth / lorde helpe that all wrought
For though I mourne it aualeth nought
The day passeth / and is almost ago
I wot not well what to do
To whome were I best my complante to make
What and I to felawshyp therof spake
And shewed hym of this sodayne chaunce
For in hym is all myne affyaunce
We haue in the worlde so many a daye
Be good frendes in sporte and playe
I se hym yonder cartaynely
I truste that he wyll bere me cumpany
Therfore to hym wyll I speke to ease my sorow
Well met god felawshyp and good morowe.
¶Felawshyp speketh.
Felawe.
¶Eueryman good morowe by this daye
Syr why lokest thou so pyteously
If any thynge be amys / I pray the me saye
That I may helpe to remedy
euery man
¶ye good felawshyp ye
I am in greate ieoparde
Felawe.
¶My true frende / shew to me your mynde
I wyll not forsake the / vnto my lyues ende
In the way of good cumpany
euery man
¶That is well spoken and louyngly
Felawe.
¶Syr I must nedes know your heuynes.
I haue pytye to se you in any destresse
If any haue you wronged ye shall reuenged be
Though I on the grounde be slayne for the
Though that I knowe before that I shulde dye
[Page]euery man
¶Veryly felawshyp gramercy
Felawe.
¶Tusshe / be thy thankes I set not a straw
Shewe me your grefe / and say no more
euery man
¶yf I my herte shulde to you breke
And than you to turne your mynde from me
And wold not me cōforte / when you here me speke
Than shulde I ten tymes soryer be
Felawe.
¶Syr I say as I wyll do in dede
euery man
¶Than be you a good frende at nede
I haue founde you true here before
Felawe.
¶And so ye shall euermore
For in fayth and thou go to hell
I wyll not forsake the by the waye
euery man
¶ye speke lyke a good frende / I beleue you well
I shall deserue it and I maye
Felawe.
¶I speke of no deseruynge / by this daye
For he that wyll saye / and nothynge do
Is not worthy with good company to go
Therfore shew me the grefe of your mynde
As to your frende moste louynge and kynde
euery man
¶I shall shewe you how it is
Commaunded I am to go a iournaye
A longe waye / herde and daungerous
And gyue a strayte counte without delaye
Before the hye Iuge adonay
Wherfore I pray you / bere me company
As ye haue promysed in this iournaye
Felawe.
¶That is matter in dede / promyse is duyte
But & I shulde take suche a vyage on me
I know it well it shulde be to my payne
Also it maketh me aferde certayne
But let vs take councell here as we can
[Page]For your wordes wold feare a stronge man
euery man
¶Why / ye sayd yf I had nede
ye wolde me neuer forsake / quycke ne deed
Though it were to hell truely
Felawe.
¶So I sayde certeynly
But suche pleasures be set asyde / the sothe to say
And also yf we toke suche a iournay
Whan shulde we cume agayne
euery man
¶Nay / nyuer agayne / tyll the day of dome
Felawe.
¶In fayth than wyll not I cume there
Who hath you these tydynges brought
euery man
¶In dede deth was with me here
Felawe.
¶No why god that all hath bought
If dethe were the messengere
For no man that is lyuynge to daye
I wyll not go that lothesom iournay
Not for the father that begat me
euery man
¶ye promysed me other wyse parde
Felawe.
¶I wot well I sayd so truely
And yet / yf ye wylte ete & drynke & make good there
Or haunte to women / that lusty cumpany
I wolde not forsake you / whyle the daye is clere
Truste me veryly
euery man
¶ye therto ye wolde be redy
To go to myrthe / solace / and playe
your mynde to folye wyll soner aply
Than to bete me cumpany in my longe iourney
Felawe.
¶Nay in good faythe / I wyll not that waye
But and thou wylte murdre / or any man kyll
In that I wyl helpe the / with a good wyll
euery man
¶O that is a symple aduyse in dede
Gentyll felawe helpe me in my necessytye
[Page]We haue loued longe and now I nede
And now gentyll felawshyp remembre me
Felawe.
¶Whether ye haue loued me or no
By saynt Iohn̄ I wyll not with the go
euery man
¶yet I pray the take the laboure & do so moche for me
To brynge me forwarde for saynt charyte
And comforte me tyll I come without the towne
Felawe.
¶Nay and thou wolde gyue me a new gowne
I wyll not one fote with the goo
But and yt had taryed I wolde not a left the so
And as now god spede the in thy iourney
For from the I wyll departe as fast as I may
euery man.
¶Whether awaye felawshyp / wylt yu forsake me
Felawe.
¶ye by my faye / to god I betake the
euery man
¶Farwell good felawshyp for the my herte is sore
Felawe.
¶A dewe for I shall neuer se the no more
euery man
¶In fayth eueryman farwell now at the ende
For you I wyll remembre yt partynge is mournȳge
A lacke shall we thus departe in dede
O lady helpe without ony more comforte
Lo felawshyp forsaketh me in my moste nede
For helpe in this worlde whether shall I resorte
Felawshyp here before with me wolde mery make
And now lytell sorowe for me doeth he take
It is sayd in prosperyte men frendes may fynde
Whiche in aduersytye be full vnkynde
Now whether for socoure shall I flee
Syth that felawshyp hath forsaken me
To my kynnesmen I wyll truely
Prayenge them to helpe me in my necessytye
I beleue that they wyll do soo
For kynde wyll crepe where it may not go
[Page]I wyll go saye / for yender I se them go
Where be ye now my frendes and kynnesmen
Kynred.
¶Here be we now at your commaundemente
Cosyn I praye you shewe vs your intente
In ony wyse and do not spare
Cosyn.
¶ye eueryman and vs to declare
yf ye be dysposed to go ony whether
For wot ye well / we wyll lyue & dye to gyther
Kynred.
¶In welthe & wo / we wyll with you holde
For ouer his kynne a man may be bolde
euery man
¶Geamercy my frendes & kynnesmen kynde
Now shall I shew you the grefe of my mynde
I was commaunded by a messengere
That is an hye kynges chefe offycere
He had me go a pylgrymage to my payne
But I know well I shall neuer cume agayne
Also I must gyue rekenynge strayte
For I haue a great enemy / that hath me in wayte
Whiche intendeth me for to hyndre
Kynred.
¶What a counte is that / whiche ye must rendre
That wolde I knowe
euery man
¶Of all my workes I must shewe
How I haue lyued / and my dayes spente
Also of yll dedes / that I haue vsed
In my tyme / syth lyfe was me lente
And of all vertues / that I haue refused
Therfore I praye you / go thether with me
To helpe to make myne accounte / for saynt charytie
Cosyn.
¶What to go thether / is that the matter
Nay eueryman I had leuer fast breed & water
All this fyue yere and more
euery man
¶Alas that euer I was borne
[Page]For now shall I neuer be mery
yf that you forsake me
Kynred.
¶A syr what ye be a mery man
Take good herte to you / and make no mone
But one thynge I warne you / by saynt Anne
As for me / ye shall go alone
euery man
¶My cosyn / wyll you not with me go
Cosyn.
¶No by our lady / I haue the crampe in my to
Trust not to me / for so god me spede
I wyll deceyue you / in your moste nede
Kynred.
¶It auayleth not vs to tyse
ye shall haue my mayde / with all my herte
She loueth to go to festes / there to be nyce
And to daunce / and a brode to sterte
I wyll gyue her leue / to helpe you in that iurnaye
If that you and she may agree
euery man
¶Nw shewe me the very effecte of your mynde
Wyll you go with me / or abyde behynde
Kynred.
¶Abyde behynde / ye that wyll I & I may
Therfore farwell / tyll a nother daye
eueryman
¶How shulde I be mery or gladde
For fayre promyses / men to me do make
But whan I haue moste nede / they me forsake
I am deceyued that maketh me sad
Cosyn.
¶Cosyn eueryman farwell now
For verely I wyll not go with you
Also of my owne / an vnredy rekenynge
I haue to accounte / therfore I make taryenge
Now god kepe the / for now I go
euery man
¶A Iesus is all cume hereto
Loo / fayre wordes maketh fooles fayne
They promyse / & nothynge wyll do certayne
[Page]My kynnesmen promysed me faythfully
For to abyde with me stedfastly
And now fast awaye do they flee
Euyn so felawshyp promysed me
What frende were best me of to prouyde
I lose my tyme here longer to abyde
yet in my mynde a thynge there is
All my lyfe I haue loued ryches
If that my good now helpe me / myght
It wolde make my herte full lyght
I wyll speke to hym / in this dystresse
Where arte thou my goodes and ryches.
Goodes.
¶Who calleth me (eueryman) what hast yu haste
I lye here in corners trussed and pyled so hye
And in chestes I am locked full fast
Also sacked in bagges / thou mayste se wt thyne eye
I cannot stere / in packes low I lye
what wolde ye haue / lyghtly mesaye
euery man
¶Cume hyther good / in all the hast thou may
For of councell I must desyre the
Goodes.
¶Syr & ye in the worlde haue trouble or aduersyte
Than can I helpe you / to remedye shortely
euery man
¶It is a nother dysease that greuyth me
In this worlde it is not / I tell soo
I am sende for another waye to go
To gyne a strayte accounte generall
Before the hyghest Iupyter of all
And all my lyfe / I haue had ioye & pleasure in the
Therfore I praye the go with me
For perauenture thou mayest before god almyghty
My rekenynge helpe to clene and puryfye
For it is sayd euer amonge
[Page]That money maketh all ryght / that is wronge
Goodes.
¶Nay eueryman / I synge a nother songe
I folow no man in suche byages
For and I wente with the
Thou shuldest fare moche the worse for me
For bycause on me thou dyde set thy mynde
Thy rekenynge I haue made / blotted and blynde
That thyne accounte thou cannot make truely
And that haste thou for the loue of me
euery man
¶That wolde greue me full sore
Whan I shulde cum to that ferefull answere
Vp let vs go thyther to gyther
Goodes.
¶Nay not so I am to bryttell I may not endure
I wyll folow no man one fote be thou sure
eueryman
¶Alas I haue the loued & had great pleasure
All my lyfe dayes on good and treasure
Goodes.
¶That is to thy dampnacyō without lesynge
For my loue is contrary / to the loue euerlastynge
But yf thou had me loued moderately durynge
As to the poore to gyue parte for me
Than shouldest thou not in this doloure be
Nor in this great sorow and care
euery man
¶Lo now / I was deceyued or I was ware
And all I may wyte my spendynge of tyme
Goodes.
¶What wenest thou that I am thyne
euery man
¶I had wente so
Goodes.
¶Nay eueryman I say noo
As for a whyle I was lente the
A season thou haste had me in prosperytye
My condycyons is mannes soule to kyll
yf I saue one / a thousande I do spyll
Wenest thou that I wyll folowe the
[Page]From this worlde nay verely
euery man
¶I had wende otherwyse
Goodes.
¶Therfore to thy soule good is a thefe
For whan thou arte deed this is my guyse
A nother to deceyue in the same wyse
As I haue done the / & al to his soules reprefe
euery man
¶O false good cursed thou be
Thou traytour to god / thou hast deceyued me
And caught me in thy snare
Goodes.
¶Mary thou brought thy selfe in care
Where of I am gladde
I must nedes laugh / I cannot be sad
euery man
¶A good thou hast had my hartely loue
I gaue the that whiche shulde be the lordes aboue
But wylt thou not go with me in dede
I praye the truthe to saye
Goodes.
¶No so god me spede
Therfore farwell and haue good daye
euery man
¶O to whome shall I make my mone
For to go with me / in that heuy iournaye
Fyrst felawshyp / he sayd he wolde with me go
His wordes were very plesaunte and gaye
But afterwarde he lefte me alone
Than spake I to my kynnysmen all in despayre
And also they gaue me wordes fayre
They lacked no fayre spekynge
But all forsake me in the endynge
Than wente I to my goodes that I loued best
In hope to haue cumforte / but there had I leest
For my goodes sharpely dyd me tell
That he bryngeth many in hell
Than of my selfe I was a shamed
[Page]And so I am worthy tolde blamed
Thus may I well my selfe hate
Of whome shall I now councell take
I thynke that I shall neuer spede
Tyll that I go to my good dede
But able she is so weke
That she can no ther go nor speke
yet wyll [...] her now
My good dedes where be you
Good ded
¶Here I ly cold in the grounde
Thy synnes haue me so fore bounde
That I cannot stere
euery man
¶O / good dedes I stonde in feare
I must you praye of councell
For helpe now shulde cum ryght well
Good ded
¶Eueryman I haue vnderstandynge
That thou arte somoned a counte to make
Before Messya [...] of Ierusalem kynge
And you do by not that iournaye wt you wyl I take
euery man
¶Therfore I cum to you my mone to make
I pray the to go with me
Good ded
¶I wolde full fayne but I cannot stonde verely
euery man
¶Why is there any thynge on your [...]
Good ded
¶y [...] syr [...] may thanke you of all
yf ye had perfytely the redi [...]e
your boke of accounte / full redy now had be
Loke the bokes of your workes & dedes eke
Beholde how they lye vnder the fete
To your soules [...]ynes
euery man
¶Our lorde Iesus helpe me
For one letter herein can I not se
Good ded
¶There is a blynde rekenynge in tyme of dystresse
[Page]euery man
¶Good dedes I praye you helpe me in this nede
Or els I am for euer damned in dede
Therfore helpe me to make my rekenynge
Before the redemer of all thynge
That kynge is and was and euer shall
Good ded
¶Eueryman I am sory of your fall
And fayne wolde I helpe you & I were able
euery man
¶Good dedes your councell I pray you gyue me
Good ded
¶That shall I do verely
Though that on my fete I may not go
I haue a syster that shall with you also
Called knowlege / which shall with you abyde
To helpe you to make that dredfull rekenynge
Knowlege
¶Eueryman I wyll go with the / and be thy guyde
In thy moste nede to go by thy syde
euery man
¶In good condycyon I am now in euery thynge
And am holy contente with this good thynge
Thankyd be god my creature
Good ded
¶And whan he hath brought the there
Where thou shalte heale the of thy smarte
Than go thou with thy rekenȳge & thy good dedes togyther
For to make the ioyfull at the harte
Before the blessyd trynytye
euery man
¶My good dedes I thanke the hartfully
I am well contente certaynly
With your wordes swete
Knowlege
¶Now go we thether louyngly
To confessyon that clensynge ryuere
euery man
¶For ioye I wepe I wolde we were there
But I praye you to instructe me by intelleccyon
Where dwellyth that holy vertue confessyon
Knowlege
¶In the house of saluacyon
[Page]We shall fynde hym in that place
That shall vs cumforte by goddes grace
Lo [...] this is confessyon / knele downe & aske mercy
For he is in good conceyte with god almyghty
euery man
¶O gloryous foūtayne yt all vnclēnes doth clarify
Wasshe from me the spottes of vyces vnclene
That on me no synne may be sene
I cum with knowlege for my redempcyon
Redempe with herte and full of contrycyon
For I am commaunded a pylgrymage to take
And great accountes before god to make
Now I praye you shryfte mother of saluacyon
Helpe my good dedes / for my petyous exclamacyon
Confessyō
¶I know your sorowe well / eueryman
Bycause with knowlege ye cum to me
I wyll you comforte as well as I can
And a precyous Iewell I wyll gyue the
Called penaunce voyder of aduersytye
Therwith shall your body chastysed be
With abstynence & ꝑseueraunce in goddes seruyce
Here shall you receyue that scurge of me
Whiche is penaunce stronge that ye must endure
To remembre thy sauyoure was scurged for the
With sharpe scurges and suffered it pacyently
So must yt or thou scape that paynful pylgrymage
Knowlege hym and kepe hym in this vyage
And by that tyme good dedes wyll be with the
But in any wyse be sure of mercy
For your tyme draweth fast / and ye wyll saued be
Aske god mercy and he wyll graunte truely
Whan wt the scurge of penaunce man doth hȳ bynde
The oyle of forgyuenes than shall he fynde
[Page]euery man
¶Thanked be god for his gracyous werke
For now I wyll my penaunce begynne
This hath reioysed and lyghted my herte
Though the knottes be paynfull & harde within
Knowlege
¶Eueryman your penaunce loke that ye fulfyll
What payne that euer it to you be
And knowlege wyll gyue you councell at wyll
How your accounte ye shall make crelery
euery man
¶O eternall god / o heuenly fygure
O way of ryghtwysenes / o goodly vysyon
Whiche descended downe in a vyrgyn pure
Bycause he wolde eueryman to redeme
Whiche Adam forfeyted by his dysobedyens
O blessyd godhede electe and hye deuyne
Forgyue me my greuous offence
Here I crye the mercy in this presence
O ghostly treasure / o raunsomer & redemer
Of all the worlde / hope and conductor
Myrrour of ioye / and founder of mercy
Whiche enlumyneth heuen and erth therby
Here my clamorous complaynte / though it late be
Receyue my prayers of thy benygnytye
Though I be a synner moste abhomynable
yet let my name be wryten in moyses table
O mary pray to the maker of all thynge
Me for to helpe at my endynge
And saue me from the power of my enemy
For deth assayleth me strongly
And lady that I may by meane of thy prayer
Of thy sonnes glory to be parte taker
By the meane of his passyon I it craue
I beseche you helpe my soule to saue
[Page]Knowlege gyue me the scorge of penaunce
My flesshe therwith shall gyue a quytaunce
I wyll now begynne yf god gyue me grace
Knowlege
¶Euery man / god gyue you tyme and space
Thus I bequethe you in the hādes of our sauyoure
Thus may you make your rekenynge sure
euery man
¶In the name of the holy trynyte
My body sore punysshyd shalbe
Take this body for the synne of the flesshe
Also thou delytest to go gaye and fresshe
And in waye of dampnacyon yu dyd me brynge
Therfore suffre nowe strokes and punysshenge
Now of penaunce I wyll wade the water clere
To saue me from hell and from the fyre
Good ded
¶I thanke god now I can walke and go
I am delyuered of my sekenesse and wo
Therfore with eueryman I wyll go and not spare
His god workes I wyll helpe hym to declare
Knowlege
¶Now eueryman be mery and gladde
your good dedes do come ye may not be sadde
Now is your good dedes hole and sounde
Goynge vpryght vpon the grounde
euery man
¶My herte is lyght and shall be euermore
Now wyll I smyte faster than I dyd before
Good ded
¶Eueryman pylgrym my specyall frende
Blessyd be thou without ende
For the is prepared the eternall glory
ye haue me made hole and sounde
Therfore I wyll abyde with the / in euery stounde
euery man
¶Welcume my good dedes now I here thy voyce
I wepe for very swetenes of loue
Knowlege
¶Be no more sad / but euer more reioyce
[Page]God seeth thy lyuynge in his trone aboue
Put on this garment / to thy behoue
Whiche with your teres is no wall wete
Lest before god / it be vnswete
Whan you to your iourneyes ende cume shall
euery man
¶Gentyll knowlege / what do ye it call
Knowlege
¶It is the garmente of sorowe
From payne it wyll you borow
Contrycyon it is
That getteth forgyuenes
It pleasyth god passynge well
Good ded
¶Eueryman wyll you were it / for your hele
euery man
¶Now blessyd be Iesu maryes sonne
For now haue I on true contrycyon
And let vs go now / without taryenge
Good dedes / haue we clere oure rekenynge
Good ded
¶ye in dede I haue it here
euery man
¶Than I trust we nede not fere
Now frendes let vs not parte in twayne
Kynred.
¶Nay eueryman / that wyll we not certayne
Good ded
¶yet must thou lede with the
Thre persones of great myght
euery man
¶Who shulde they be
Good ded
¶Dyscressyon and strengthe they hyght
And thy beautye may not abyde behynde
Knowlege
¶Also ye must call to mynde
your fyue wyttes / as for your councellers
Good ded
¶you must haue them redy / at all houres
euery man
¶How shall I get them hyther
Kynred.
¶you must call them all to gyther
And they wyll here you in contynent
euery man
¶My frendes cume hyder and be present
[Page]Dyscressyon / strength / my fyue wyttes & beautye
Beautye.
¶Here at your wyll we be redy
What wolde ye that we shalde do
Good ded
¶That ye wold with eueryman go
And helpe hym in his pylgrymage
Aduyse you / wyll ye with hym or not / in yt vyage
Strength
¶We wyll brynge hym all thether
To his helpe & cumforte / ye may beleue me
Descressiō
¶So wyll we go with hym all to gyther
euery man
¶Almyghty god / loued may thou be
I gyue the laude / that I haue hether brought
Strength / dyscressyō / beaute / & fyue wyttes lac I nought
And my good dedes / with knowlege clere
All be in cumpany at my wyll here
I desyre no more to my besynes
Strength
¶And I strength wyll stonde by you in destresse
Thoughe yu woldest in batayll fyght on ye grounde
v. wyttis.
¶And though it were throughe the worlde rounde
We wyll not departe for swete nor soure
Beautye.
¶No more wyll I vnto dethes houre
What so euer therof befall
Discressiō
¶Eueryman aduyse you fyrst of all
Go with a good aduysement / & delyberycyon
We all gyue you vertues monycyon
That all shall be well
euery man
¶My frendes herken what I wyll tell
I pray god rewarde you / in his heuenly spere
Now herken all that be here
For I wyll make my testament
Here before you all presente
In almes half my good I wyll gyue wt my handes twayne
In the waye of charytye with good entent
[Page]And the other halfe styll shall remane
In quyet to be returned there it ought to be
This I do in despyte of the fende of hell
To go quyte out of his parell
Euer after and this daye.
Knowlege
¶Eueryman herken what I saye
Go to pryesthode I you aduyse
And receyue of hym in ony wyse
The holy sacramente / and oyntment to gyther
Than shortely se ye turne agayne hyder
We wyll all abyde you here.
v. wyttes.
¶ye eueryman hye you / that ye redy were
Theyr is no emperour / kynge / duke / ne baron
That of god hath commyssyon
As hath the leest pryest in the worlde beynge
For of the blessyd sacramentes pure & benynge
He bereth the keyes & therof hathe he cure
For mannes redempcyon it is euer sure
Whiche god for our soules medycyne
Gaue vs out of his harte with great pyne
Here in this transytory lyfe / for the and me
The blessyd sacramentes seuen there be
Baptym / confyrmacyon / with pryesthode good
And ye sacrament of godds precyous flesshe & blode
Maryage the holy extreme vnccyon and penaunce
These .vii. be good to haue in remembraunce
Gracyous sacramentes of hye dyuynyte
euery man
¶Fayne wolde I receyue that holy body
And mekely to my ghostly father I wyll go
v. wyttes.
¶Eueryman that is the best that ye can do
God wyll you to saluacyon brynge
For good pryesthod excedeth all other thynge
[Page] [...][Page] [...][Page]To vs holy scrypture they do teche
And conuerteth man from synne heuen to reche
God hath to them more power gyuen
Than to ony angell that is in heuen
With .v. wordes he may consecrate
Goddes body in fresshe and bloode to make
And handeleth his maker bytwene his handes
The pryest byndeth and vnbyndeth all bandes
Bothe in erth and in heuen
Thou mynysters all the sacrementes seuen
Though we kysse thy fete thou were worthy
Thou arte surgyon that cureth synne deedly
No remedy we fynde vnder god
But all onely pryesthode
Eueryman god gaue pryest that dygnyte
And setteth them in his stede amonge vs to be
Thus be they aboue angelles in degre
Knowlege
¶If pryestes be good it is so surely
But whan Iesu henge on ye crosse wt great smarte
There he gaue out of his blessyd herte
The same sacrament in great tourment
He solde them not to vs that lorde omnipotent
Therefore saynt Peter the apostle doth saye
That Iesus curse hathe all they
Which god theyr sauyour do bye or sell
Or they for ony money do take or tell
Synfull pryestes gyueth the synners example bad
Theyr chyldren sytteth by other mēnes fyres I haue herde.
And some haunteth womens company
With vnclene lyfe as lustes of lechery
These be with synne made blynde
v. wyttes.
¶I trust to god no suche may we fynde
[Page]Therfore let vs pryesthode honoure
And folow theyr doctryne for our soules socoure
We be ther shepe and they shepeherdes be
By whom we all be kepte in suertye
Peas for yender I se eueryman cume
Which hath made true satysfaccoon
Good ded
¶Me thynketh it is he in dede
euery man
¶Now Ihesu cryst be your alder spede
I haue receyued the sacramente for my redempcyō
And thou myne extreme vnccyon
Blessyd be all they that counceyled me to take it
And now frendes let vs go without longer respyte
I thanke god that ye haue taryed so longe
Now set eche of you on this rodde your honde
And shortly folwe me
I go before there I wolde be / god be our guyde
Strength
¶Eueryman we wyll not from you go
Tyll ye haue gone this vyage longe
Descressiō
¶I dyscressyon wyll byde by you also
Knowlege
¶And though this pylgrimage be neuer so stronge
I wyll neuer parte you fro
Eueryman I wyll be as sure by the
As euer I dyd by Iudas machabe
euery man
¶Alas I am so faynt I may not stande
My lymmes vnder me do folde
Frendes let vs not turne agayne to this lande
Not for all the worldes golde
For into this caue must I crepe
And turne to the erth & there to slepe
Beautye.
¶What into this graue alas
euery man
¶ye there shall you consume more & lesse
Beautye.
¶And what shulde Ismoder here
[Page]euery man
¶ye be my fayth and neuer more appere
In this worlde lyue no more we shall
But in heuen before the hyest lorde of all
Beautye.
¶I crosse out all this / adewe by faynte John̄
I take my cap in my lap and am gone
euery man
¶What beautye whether wyll ye.
Beautye.
¶Peas I am defe / I loke not behynde me
Not & thou wolde gyue me all the golde in thy chest
euery man
¶Alas wherto may I truste
Beautye goeth fast awaye and from me
She promysed with me to lyue and dye
Strenght
¶Eueryman I wyll the also forsake & denye
Thy game lyketh me not at all
euery man
¶Why / than ye wyll for sake me all
Swete strength tary a lytell space
Strength
¶Nay syr by the rode of grace
I wyll hye me from the fast
Though thou wepe tyll thy harte brast
euery man
¶ye wolde euer byde by me ye sayd
Strength
¶ye I haue you ferre ynough conuayed
ye be olde ynought I vnderstande
your pylgrymage to take on hande
I repente me that I hether came
euery man
¶Strength you to dysplease I am to blame
Wyll you breke promyse / that is dette
Strenght
¶In fayth I care not
Thou arte but a foole to complayne
you spende your speche and waste your brayne
Go thryst the into the grounde
euery man
¶I had wende surer I shulde you haue founde
He that trusteth in his strenght
She hym deceyueth at the length
[Page]Bothe strength and beautye forsaketh me
yet they promysed me fayre and louyngly
Descressiō
¶Eueryman I wyll after strength begone
As for me I wyll leue you alone
euery man
¶Why descressyon wyll ye forsake me
Discressiō
¶ye in fayth I wyll go from the
For whan strength goeth before
I folow after euermore
euery man
¶yet I pray the for the loue of the trynytye
Loke in my graue ones pyteously
Descressiō
¶Nay so nye I wyll not cume
Farewell euerychone
euery man
¶O all thynge fayleth saue god alone
Beautye / strength / and descressyon
For whan deth bloweth his blaste
They all renne from me full fast
v. wyttis.
¶Eueryman of the now my leue I take
I wyll folow the other for here I the forsake
euery man
¶Alas than may I wayle and wepe
For I toke you for my best frende
v. wyttes.
¶I wyll no lenger the kepe
Now farwell and there an ende
euery man
¶O Iesu helpe all hath forsaken me
Good ded
¶Nay eueryman I wyll byde with the
I wyll not forsake the in dede
Thou shalte fynde me a god frende at nede
euery man
¶Gramercy good ded now may I true frendes se
They haue forsaken me euerychone
I loued them better then my good dedes alone
Knowlege wyll ye forsake me also
Knowlege
¶ye eueryman whan ye to deth do go
But not yet for no maner of daungere
[Page]euery man
¶Gramercy knowlege with all my herte
Knowlege
¶Naye yet I wyll not from hens departe
Tyll I se where ye shall become
euery man
¶Me thynketh alas that I must be gone
To make may rekenynge and my dettes paye
For I se my tyme is nye spente awaye
Take example all ye that this do here or se
How they that I loued best do forsake me
Excepte my good dedes that bydeth truly
Good ded
¶All ertly thynge is but vanyte
Beaute strength and discrecyon do man forsake
Folysshe frendes and kynnesmen that fayre spake
All fleeth saue good dedes and that am I
euery man
¶Haue mercy on me god moost myghty
And stande by me thou moder & mayde holy Mary
Good ded
¶Fere not I wyll speke for the
euery man
¶Here I crye god mercy
Good ded
¶Shorte oure ende and mynysshe our payne
Let vs go and neuer come agayne
euery man
¶In to thy handes lorde my soule I commende
Receyue it lorde that it be nat lost
As thou me boughtest so me defende
And saue me from the fendes boost
That I may appere with that blessed hooft
That shall be saued at the dome
(In manus tuas) of myghtes moost
For euer (commendo spiritum meum)
Knowlege
¶Now hath he suffred that we all shall endure
The good dedes shall make all sure
Now hathe he made endynge
Me thynketh that I here angelles synge
And make great Ioye and melodye
[Page]Where euery mannes soule shall receyued be
Aungell.
¶Cume excellent electe spouse to Iesu
Here aboue thou shall go
By cause of thy synguler vertue
Now thy soule is taken thy body fro
Thy rekenynge is crystall clere
Now shalt thou into the heuenly spere
Vnto the whiche all ye shall cume
That lyueth well / before the day of dome.
Doctoure
¶This memoryall men / may haue in mynde
ye herers take it of worth olde and yonge
And forsake myde / for he deceyueth you in ye ende
And remembre beautye / fyue wyttes / strength / and discressiō
They all at ye last / do eueryman forsake
Saue his good dedes / there dothe he take
But beware / for and they be small
Before god / he hath no helpe at all
None excuse may be there / for eueryman
Alas how shall he do than
For after deth / amendes may no man make
For than mercy and yet ye doeth hym forsake
If his rekenynge be not clere / whan he do cume
God wyll saye (ite maledicti in ignem eternam.
And he that hath his accounte hole & sounde
Hye in heuen / he shall be crounde
Vnto the whiche place / god brynge vs all thether
That we may lyue / body and soule to gyther
Therto helpe the trynytye
Say ye for saynte charytye.