THE Tyde taryeth no Man.
A MOSTE PLEAsant and merry commedy, right pythie and full of delight.
Compiled by George Wapull.
¶Fowre persons may easily play it.
- 1. The Prologue, Hurtfull help, the Tenaunt, Faithfull few for one.
- 2. Paynted prafyte, No good Neighbourhood, the Courtyer, Wastefulnesse, Christianitye, Correction for another.
- 3. Corage the Uice, Debtor, for another.
- 4. Frayued furtheraunce, Gréedinesse the Marchaunt, Wantonnesse the Woman, the Seriaunt, Authority and Dispayre, for another.
¶Imprinted at London, in Fleetestreate, beneath the Conduite, at the Signe of Saynt Iohn Euaungelist, by Hugh Iackson. 1576.
The Prologue.
AS the worme which in the timber is bred,
The selfe same timber doth consume and eate:
And as the moth which is commonly fed,
In the cloth with her bred, and the same doth frete.
So many persons are a damage great,
To their own countrey, which hath them relieued,
And by them their own countrey ofte times is gréeued.
¶So many citties and townes are defamed,
By reason that some inhabitauntes is ill:
So that for ones facte, the whole towne is blamed,
Although the residue to good doe their will.
Yet the fact of this one, the others good name doth spill,
And thus a reproch to his own towne ingendreth,
And the good name of the whole town he hindereth.
¶To what ende these wordes we haue spoken,
In our matter shalbe more playnely exprest,
Which the Tide tarieth no man, to name hath token,
For that it is moste agréeable and best.
Because that no man from his pleasure will rest,
But ech man doth take the time of his gayne,
Although the same be to others great payne.
¶For so gréedy is the person auaricious,
Whome Saint Austen doth well liken to hell,
For that they both are so much insacious,
That neyther of them know when they are well.
And Ambrosius doth verify and tell,
How that couetous persons do lack that they haue,
And therefore not satisfyed till they are in graue.
¶But where such people are, small loue there doth rest,
But gréedy desyre supplieth the place:
The symple ones commonly, by such are opprest,
For they nothing way, any néedy mans case.
[Page]But with gréedy grype, their gayne they imbrace,
No kind of degrée that they will forbeare,
Neyther any time they will let slip or spare.
¶And although that here a Courtyer is named,
Yet thereby is not ment the Courtyer alone:
But all kindes of persons, who their suites haue framed,
Or to any such gréedy guttes, haue made their mone.
Being driuen to their shiftes, to haue ought by lone,
How gréedinesse at such times, doth get what he can,
And therefore still cryeth, Tyde tarieth no man.
¶Which prouerbe right well might be applyed,
To a better sence then it is vsed:
There is time to aske grace, this may not be denyed,
Of thy sinfull life so greatly abused.
Let not that time then be refused,
For that tyde most certayne will tarry no man,
Thus taking the prouerbe, we rightly do scan.
¶Thus worshipfull Audyence, our Authour desyreth,
That this his acte you will not depraue:
But if any fault be, he humbly requireth,
That due intelligence thereof he may haue,
Committing himselfe to your discretions graue,
And thus his Prologue he rudely doth end,
For at hand to approche, the Players intend.
Finis.
Courage the Vice entreth.
TO the Barge to,
Come they that will go,
Why sirs I say whan:
It is high tyde,
We may not abide,
Tide taryeth no man.
If ye will not go,
Why then tell me so,
Or else come away straight:
If you come not soone,
You shall haue no roome.
for we haue almost our frayte
There are Usurers great,
Who their braynes doe beat,
In deuising of guyles:
False dealers also,
A thousand and mo,
Which know store of wyles.
Crafty cutpurses,
Maydens mylchnurses,
Wiues of the stampe:
Who loue mo then one,
For lying alone,
Is yll for the crampe.
Husbandes as good,
As wigges made of wood:
We haue there also,
With seruauntes so sure,
As packthred most pure,
Which men away thro.
There are such a sight,
I cannot resite,
The halfe that we haue:
And I of this Barge,
Haue the greatest charge,
Their liues for to saue.
Corage contagious,
Or courage contrarious,
That is my name:
To which that I will,
My mind to fulfill,
My maners I frame.
Corage contagious,
When I am outragious,
In working of yll:
And Corage contrary,
When that I doe vary,
To compasse my will.
For as in the Bée,
For certayne we sée,
Swéete honey and sting:
So I in my mind,
The better to blind,
Two corages bring.
And as with the sowre,
Ech day and hower,
The Phisition inuenteth:
To mingle as méete,
Something that is swéete,
Which his pacient contēteth.
Euen so some while,
To collour my guile,
Do geue corage to good:
For I by that meane,
Will conuey very cleane,
And not be vnderstood.
Now syr to showe,
Whether we do goe,
Will doe very well,
We meane to preuayle,
And therefore we sayle,
To the Diuell of hell.
[Page]And though it be farre,
Yet welcome we are,
When thether we come:
No chere there is,
Whereof we shall misse,
But be sure of some.
I Corage do call,
Both great and small,
To the Barge of sinne:
Where in they doe wallow,
Tyll hell doe them swallow,
That is all they do win.
When come ye away,
Thus still I doe say,
As lowde as I can:
Take time while time is,
Least that you doe misse,
Tyde taryeth no man.
With catching and snatching
Waking and watching,
Running and ryding:
Let no time escape,
That for you doth make,
For Tyde hath no byding.
But ebbing and flowing,
Comming and going,
It neuer doth rest:
Therefore when you may,
Make no delay,
For that is the best.
¶Hurting helpe, Paynted profite, Fayned furtheraunce.
Helpe.
¶By the masse syrs soe where he is.
Profyte.
¶I tould thée that heare we should him not misse.
Helpe.
¶Good mayster Corage most hartely good euen.
Salute corage
Corage.
¶In fayth my friendes welcome, all thrée by saynt Steuen.
Iesus good Lord how doe ye fare?
Couer your heads, why are you bare?
And how syrs, now syrs, leade you your liues,
Which of all you thrée, now the best thriues?
Helpe.
¶Tush man none of vs can doe amisse,
For we doe alwayes take time while time is.
And where euer we goe like counsayle we giue,
Telling all men that here they shall not still liue.
Corage.
¶Therein hurtefull Helpe, thou doste very well,
The Tyde taryeth no man, thou must alwayes tell.
Helpe.
¶Indéede hurtefull Helpe, that is my name,
But I would not that all men should know the same.
For I am a broker the truth is so,
Wherefore if men in me hurtfulnesse should know,
There are few or none that with me would deale,
Therefore this word hurtfull I neuer reueale.
[Page]My name I say, playne Helpe to be,
Wherefore ech man for helpe doth come vnto me,
Good mayster Helpe, helpe to that or this,
And of good reward you shall not misse.
Profite.
¶And as thou from Helpe, hurtfull doste throw,
So paynted, from Profyte, I must forgoe,
For if any man know me, for profyte but paynted,
Men will but little with me be acquaynted.
My mayster who a good gentleman is,
Thinketh me as profitable as he can wish.
So that playne Profite, be thinketh my name,
And before his face, my deedes shew the same.
Further.
¶Farewell my maysters for I may hence walke,
For I sée you two will haue all the talke.
Fayne a going out.
Corage.
¶What fayned Furtheraunce are you so coy,
Will you neuer leaue the trickes of a boy,
Come agayne I say, least I doe you fet,
And say what thou wilt, here shall no man let.
Further.
¶Fet mée?
Corage.
¶Yea fet thée.
Further.
¶Marry doe what thou dare.
Corage.
¶That will I not spare.
Out quickly with his dagger.
Helpe.
¶Good syr hold your hand, and beare with his rudenesse,
Corage.
¶Nay I cannot nor will not suffer his Lewdenesse.
Further.
¶Tush a sigge for him, let him doe what he can.
Corage.
¶Alas syr who are you, but a Marchauntes man,
Good syr what you are, we know right well,
Who is your mayster, and where you doe dwell,
You professe that your mayster you doe greatly further.
And yet for his goodes, you would him gladly murther.
Further.
¶If so I doe wish, it is long of thée,
For thou therevnto baste encouraged mée.
Profyte.
¶What husht I say, no more of these wordes,
For appeaching oft, the appeacher disturbes.
[Page]Be friendes agayne as you were at the first,
Let ech man say the best, and leaue out the worst.
Further.
¶ [...] for my part doe therevnto consent.
And shake handes.
Corage.
¶Then geue me thy hand if thou be content.
Now are we friendes, as at first we were,
Therefore straight way thy mind let vs here.
Further.
¶Truely I meane to doe euen as doe the rest,
For in mine opinion that is the best,
And as hurting helpe, hath hurting forgone,
And paynted profyte, is profyte alone,
So I fayned furtheraunce, henceforth doe minde,
To be furtheraunce playne, leauing fayned behind:
Other mens furtheraunce to séeke I will say,
Yet will I séeke mine owne as much as I may.
Corage.
¶Else werte thou vnwise, yea and a very foole,
Thou learnedst none otherwise, I trow in my schoole.
I am a schoolemayster for you thrée most fytte,
Who indued you with courage, instead of great wytte.
Helpe.
¶To be our mayster wilt thou take in hand,
Why we are as good as thou, thou shalt vnderstand.
Corage.
¶Alas pore knaues, what could you thrée doe,
If you haue not courage belonging thereto.
Helpe.
¶And what can courage doe without helpe,
As much as a Kitling or suckling whelpe.
Corage.
¶And by hurtfull helpe, what am I the better,
Being holpe to a hurt, I am no great getter.
Helpe.
¶It is folly with thée thus to contend,
We are as good as thou, and so I doe ende.
Corage.
¶Since that by wordes I can no maystry haue,
I would prooue what my manhood wyll doe syr knaue.
Profite.
¶Why arte thou blind, mayest thou not sée,
That agayne thee one, we are here thrée.
Corage.
¶And what can thrée doe agaynst one,
I hauing courage, and they hauing none.
Therefore courage will claw you or you goe hence,
Now defend your selues I will sée your fence.
Helpe.
[Page]¶What Corage I say thy hand now stay.
Corage.
¶Will you then consent to that which I say.
Helpe.
¶There is no remedy but we must consent,
Sometimes it is good a fooles minde to content:
Therefore I am content to be thine inferiour,
And I will from henceforth take thée for superiour.
Corage.
¶And so will the residue I trow also.
Profyte.
¶If you say I syr, we will not say no.
Corage.
¶Well syrs, then I will shew you my minde,
But fyrse I will discribe you, ech one in his kinde.
Thou helpe arte a broker, betwéene man and man.
Whereby much deceyte thou vsest now and than,
Profite is one, who by seruice in sight,
Doth cause his mayster to thinke him most right.
A profytable seruaunt, he thinketh him to be,
Because he is profytable, while he doth him see.
And fayned Furtheraunce, doth fayne him to further,
His mayster and others, whome fayne he would murther.
Thus in séeking welth you all doe agrée,
And yet you professe others friendes for to bée.
Profite.
¶Ne quisque sapit, qui sibi non sapit,
This saying I redde, when as I went to schoole,
One not wise for himselfe, is but a very foole.
Helpe.
¶By my troth, and of that opinyon am I,
And in that opinyon I meane for to dye.
Further.
¶Tush why spend you tyme in speaking of that,
While thereon you talke, in vayne is your chat.
For who helpes not himselfe, before any other,
I coumpt him a foole, if he were my brother.
And as I count him, all people doe so,
Therefore cease this talke, and hence let vs go.
For some of vs may chaunce to meete with a chiding,
Because that so long from home we are biding.
Profyte.
¶By S. Anne I thinke therein thou say well,
For I know thereof I am like to here tell.
Corage.
¶Why man a little while breaketh no square.
[...]elpe.
[Page]¶Tush helpe hath excuse, to collour that care.
[...]urther.
¶Yea but already we haue tarryed to long.
[...]elpe.
¶Why then ye were best goe without a song.
[...]urther.
¶Nay I will tarry to sing, though therefore I should dye.
[...]rofite.
¶My helpe to singing, I did neuer denye.
[...]orage.
¶Why then syrs haue at it coragiously.
The Song.
FYrst Corage causeth mindes of men,
to wish for good or ill:
And some by Corage now and then,
at Tiborne make their will.
Helpe, Profite, and Furtheraunce do fayne,
Where Corrage doth catch in any mans brayne.
¶Then helpe in hope to haue his pray,
full secretly doth wayte:
And as the time doth serue alway,
he throweth forth his bayte.
Helpe, Profite, &c.
¶Profite prolongeth not the time,
to please his paynted mind:
He passeth not though mayster pyne,
so he his pleasure find.
Helpe, Profite. &c.
¶And Furtheraunce, thou last of all,
he came into the rowte:
He wayeth not his maysters thrall,
nor séekes to helpe him out.
Helpe, Profite, &c.
Finis.
[...]ro. Fur.
¶Now Corage farewell for we must be gone.
[...]elpe.
¶Nay syrs you two shall not go alone,
[Page]For I doe meane to beare you company,
And so shall we be euen a whole trinity.
Therefore Corage adowe.
They three go out.
Corage.
¶Syr here was a trinity in a witnesse,
A man might haue shapte thrée knaues by their likenesse.
A trinity much like to the trinity of late,
Where good wife Gull, brake her good mans pate.
In came her man to make vp the number,
Who had his nose shode, with the steale of a scumber.
But in fyne, these thrée began to agrée,
And knit them selues vp in one trinity.
And after they loued like brother and brother,
For very loue, they did kill one another.
And then they were buried, I doe well remember,
In Stawtons strawne hat, vij. mile from December.
Where they had not lyen the space of a day,
But fower of those thrée, were thence run away.
The Constable came, with a backe on his bill,
And because they were gone, he did them kill.
I Corage so cleft their Cushions a sunder,
To sée how they bled, it made me to wonder.
I my selfe was smitten twise to the ground,
I was very sore hurt, but I had not a wound.
I buskeled my selfe as though fight I would,
And tooke me to my legges as fast as I could.
And so with much payne hither I did come,
But husht syrs I say, no moe wordes but mum.
Greedines
enter.
¶Tushe talke not of that, for in vayne you doe prate,For there are none but fooles, that welthines doe hate.
Corage.
¶What Gréedinesse I say, why what is the matter,
Mayster welthinesse I would say, whereon doe you clatter [...]
Greedines
¶What old friend Corage, arte thou so nere hand,
Marry I will shew thée, how the matter doth stand.
As I walked along, through by the stréete,
By such wayes as mine affayres did lie:
It was my chaunce with a preacher to méete,
[Page]Whose company to haue I did not deny,
And as we two together did walke,
Amongest other communication we had,
The Preacher brake out with reprocheable talke:
Saying that we cittizens were all to bad,
Some of vs he sayeth are gréedy guttes all:
And [...]uell members of a common welth,
He sayeth we care not whome we bring to thrall,
Neyther haue we regard vnto our soules health,
His talke I confesse my conscience did nip,
Wherefore no longer I would him abide,
But sodenly I gaue him the slip,
And crossed the way to the other syde.
So alone I let mayster Preacher walke,
And here by chaunce I stombled in.
[...]orage.
¶And arte thou so foolish for any such talke,
To cease or stay thy welth for to win.
[...]reedines
¶Serra, he cried out of excessiue gayne,
Saying when any of our wares haue néede,
Then doe we hoyst them vp to their payne,
And commonly make them pay for their spéede.
[...]orage.
¶I perceiue that fellow was hote of the spirite,
He would not haue you take time while time is,
If ye follow his councell, he will begger you quite,
But what aunswere diddest thou geue him to this?
[...]reedines
¶Why thou knowest my quallity is such,
That by contrary talke, I vse no man to blame,
For although often my dooinges they touch,
Yet my talke alwayes to the tyme I frame.
When he sayd excessiue gayners were ill,
I sayd for them it was a shame.
And in all thinges else, I pleased his will:
And so I fayned my selfe without blame.
[...]orage.
¶Thou doste wisely therein, I commend thée therefore,
For what euer thou thinke, yet say as they doe,
So shalte thou haue their fauoures euermore,
[Page]And that wa [...] no blame thou shalt come vnto.
Greedines
¶Yea but truely his wordes did my conscience prick,
Of me he did so vnhappely gesse,
I promise shée he touched me vnto the quick,
For that in gayning I vsed excesse.
My conscience doth tell me, I haue done amisse,
And of long time I haue gone astray,
And a thousand witnesses the conscience is,
As Salust in moste playne wordes doth say.
Corage.
¶Why do [...]tish patch, arte thou so vnwise,
To quayle for the saying of such a knaue,
Thou knowest all the world will thée despyse,
And a begging thou mayst goe, if that naught thou haue.
And how shalt thou haue ought,
If thy gayne be not great?
Consider this well in thy minde,
Remember thy house, and thy wife that peate,
Must still be kept in their costly kinde:
Therefore take the time, while the time doth serue,
Tyde taryeth no man, this thou doste know,
If thy goods decay, then mayst thou sterue,
So dooing thou séekest thine own ouerthrow.
Greedines
¶In déede as thou sayest, it doth me behooue,
Not so rashly to lay my gayning aside,
Least so my selfe a foole I doe prooue,
By shooting from my profyte so wyde:
I consider my welth is now at good stay,
Which I would be loth should be impared,
For once rich, and after in decay,
Is a miserable thing, as Hyemes hath declared.
Therefore I meane thy councell to take,
Least of that misery I know the smart,
Then is it to late any mone to make,
Or from such foolishnesse to reuart.
Therefore Corage adew vnto thée,
For it behooueth me hence to departe.
Exiun [...].
[...]orage.
[Page]¶Adew Welthinesse till agayne we see,
Adew great gréedinesse with all my hart,
Hath not Corage contagious now shewd his kinde,
By encouraging Gréedinesse vnto euill:
Which late was drawing to a better minde,
And now agayne doth follow the Deuill.
Enter Helpe, and no good Neighbourhood.
[...]elpe.
¶Loe thée Neighbourhood, where Corage doth stand.
[...]orage.
¶What no good Neighbourhood, geue me thy hand.
[...]eighbor.
¶Those two fyrst syllables, might be put out,
And then thou hittest my name without doubt.
[...]orage.
¶Why is not no good Neighbourhood thy name?
[...]eighbor.
¶Put away no good, and sée how it will frame.
For if thou doe put away no good,
There resteth no more but neighborhood.
[...]orage.
¶Then is it neighbourhood, neither good nor bad,
Nay though we leaue the fyrst, it is good the next we had.
For leauing out no, put good to the rest,
Then is it good neighbourhood, thus I thinke is best.
[...]eighbor.
¶Nay I will haue them both two left out,
Because of my name men should stand in doubt:
For if no good neighbourhood I be named,
Then of all men I shall be blamed.
And if that good, to neighbourhood I haue,
Men will say I doe it prayse to craue.
So I will leaue out both no and good,
And will be indifferent sole Neighbourhood.
[...]orage.
¶Then Neighborhood be it, if so it shall be,
And neighborhood, what is thine errand to me?
[...]eighbor.
¶Syr my comming, is for occasions two,
The fyrst is for your councell, what were best to doe,
In a matter which I haue lately begon,
If I shall procéede, or else leaue it vndone.
The second is, if I shall procéede,
[Page]That you will stand my friend if I néede.
Corage.
¶Ass [...]re thy selfe thereof without doubt,
Therefore shew me the matter thou goest about.
Neighbor.
¶I thanke you syr euen with all my harte,
And I trust also that Helpe will doe his parte.
Helpe.
¶Doubt not but that I to thee will be cleauing,
Therefore procéede and shew him thy meaning.
Neighbor.
¶Then syr this is the matter, if it shall please you giue eare,
I haue a neighbour who dwelleth to me somewhat neare.
Who hath a Tenement, commodyous and feate,
To which Tenement I beare a loue very greate.
This man my neighbour as far as I can learne,
Hath in his Tenement but a short tearme,
Fower or fyue yeares or there about,
Which tearme you know, will soone be worne out.
Now syr might I in reuersion, a lease thereof haue,
I would giue the Landlord, euen what he would craue.
Corage.
¶And who is the Landlord, thereof can you tell?
Neighbor.
¶Mayster Gréedinesse, a man whome you know right well,
He is one which neuer did mony hate.
Corage.
¶Why then speake in time, least thou be to late,
The Tyde taryeth no man the prouerbe hath sayde.
Therefore sée no time herein be delayde,
Mayster Helpe here shalbe to thee a stay,
For with mayster gréedinesse, he beareth great sway.
Helpe.
¶I will doe for him what lyeth in me.
Neighbor.
¶And then to your paynes I will gladly sée.
Corage.
¶Doubt not then, but thou shalt haue thy mind.
Neighbor.
¶As you say, I wish that I may it find▪
But I doubt that of my purpose I shall misse,
By reason of one thing, and that is this:
My foresayd neighbour which now holdeth the same,
Hath bene there a long dweller of good name and fame.
And well he is beloued both of yong and old,
Wherefore not onely the neighbours with him will holde▪
But also the Landlord, I am in great doubt,
[Page]Wilbe therefore vnwilling to put him out,
And [...] but a straunger among them God wote.
Helpe.
¶Marry syr it is much the better for that,
For if thou werte more straunge, and borne out of the land.
Thou shouldest sooner haue it I dare take in hand,
For among vs now, such is our countrey zeale,
That we loue best with straungers to deale.
To sell a lease deare, whosoeuer that will,
At the french, or dutch Church let him set vp his bill.
And he shall haue chapmen, I warrant you good store,
Looke what an English man bids, they will giue as much more.
We brokers of straungers, well know the gayne,
By them we haue good rewardes for our payne.
Therefore though thou be straunge, the matter is not great,
For thy money is English, which must worke the feate.
Neighbor.
¶In déede my money as a neighbour will agrée,
With any man wheresoeuer it be.
And I my selfe would be a neighbour to,
And therefore the [...]ather I doe that I doe,
For if it were not to be a neighbour by them,
I wisse I would not take a house so nye them.
Helpe.
¶I dare say ech man would be glad at his harte,
To haue all his neighboures such as thou arte.
What matter is it, if thou thy selfe be sped,
Though thou take thy neighbours house ouer his head.
Corage.
¶Tush that is no harme, but rather it is good,
For he doth it only for pure neighbourhood.
Sée yonder commeth one, if thou canst make him thy friend,
Then mayest thou shortly bring thy purpose to end.
¶Furtheraunce entereth
Further.
¶Now Mayster Corage how doe you fare.
Corage.
¶Euen glad to sée that you so merry are:
Furtheraunce you must pleasure a friend of myne.
Further.
¶Thereto I am ready at ech tide and tyme,
To doe for him what in me doth lye.
[Page]Therefore let me know your mind by and by.
Corage.
¶Serra, of thy mayster a lease he would haue,
And therein thy friendship it is, he doth craue.
Neighbor.
¶Syr, if that herein my friend you will stand,
I will giue you therefore euen what you will demaund.
Further.
¶Then Neighbourhood thou shalt shortly sée,
That I can doe somewhat betwéene my mayster and thée.
Thou couldest neuer speake better to spéede,
For of money now he standeth in neede.
To pay for a purchase of certayne land,
Which néedes he must discharge out of hand.
Therefore this time for thée well doth fall,
If that thou haue money to tempt him withall.
Neighbor.
¶Tush man for money I will not spare,
Further.
¶Then néedest thou no whit for to care,
And if thou take payne now to walke home,
There shalt thou fynd him sitting alone.
Corage.
¶Cocks passion man hye thée away,
Thou knowest the Tyde for no man will stay.
Neighbor.
¶Why syr but will you not walke with vs thither?
Further.
¶No, doe Helpe and you goe before together,
And I warrant you I will not long be behind you,
For though I be absent, yet I will mind you.
Neighbor.
¶Then syr adew till we méete agayne,
Doubt not but I will consider your payne.
Come Helpe shall we goe.
Helpe.
¶It is time I trow.
Exiunt.
Further.
¶Ah syr this geare doth trimly fall out,
I know this lease, which he goeth about:
Wherefore I will worke so on both the sydes,
That of both parties I will obtayne brybes,
I will shew the old Tenaunt how one goeth about,
To take his house and to thrust him out.
Wherefore he will largely grease me in the hand,
Because his friend therein I shall stand.
The other here did promise me playne,
[Page]That he would reward me for my payne.
Therefore Corage farewell vnto [...]hée,
For how this geare will frame, I will sée.
Corage.
¶Farewell Furtheraunce, my gentle friend,
A man may séeke Hell, and such two not find.
I meane a friend, so worthy to trust,
And a neighbour, that is so honest and iust.
Of honesty I trow, he is méetely well sped,
That will take his neighbours house ouer his hed.
I thinke there is no man, within this place,
But he would gladly such neighboures imbrace.
Where two such neighboures dye out of one towne,
The Deuill shall be sure, to haue one black Gowne.
As well he is worthy, if I might be iudge,
For in their affayres, he dayly doth trudge.
Good councell he giues them, both morning and euening,
What meanes they shal worke, to their neighbors greeuing.
He teacheth them how, to pill and to poule,
In hope after death, to haue body and soule.
Tush what meane I thus, of soule for to speake,
In vayne with such talke, my braynes I doe breake.
For soule there is none, when the body is dead,
In such kinde of doctryne, my schollers I leade.
Therefore say I, take time, while time is,
For after this life, there is nothing but blisse.
There is no soule, any payne to abide,
The Teachers contrary, from truth are far wide.
Willing to win worship, enter Courtyer like.
Courtyer.
¶Oh so my hart is filled with doubt,
Which way I may worke, my worship to win:
Shall I leaue of Courtyers, so iolly a rout,
And eke of Ladies a company so trim.
And shall I home to my cottage rude,
There to liue like a countrey clowne:
[Page]Truely I know not which way to conclude,
To get my selfe worship and renowne.
To win worship I would be right glad,
Therefore (willing to win worship) is my name:
In the countrey there is none such to be had,
And the Court doth aske, great cost for the same.
So that what I shall doe, I know not yet,
I consider it is toward a good time:
Wherein tryumphing is vsed, as is moste fit,
And where Courtyers must shew themselues, braue and sine.
But this I conclude, as forced I am,
The Court for to leaue, and homeward to packe:
For where is the money? here is the man.
If man he may be, that money doth lacke.
Corage.
¶Syr are you so foolish, the Court for to leaue?
When the time is, that worship you should win:
For in times of tryumphing, we alwayes perceaue▪
The Courtyers worship, doth fyrst begin.
Therefore do you from such foolishnesse stay,
And Fortune may chaunce, giue you as you wish.
Courtyer.
¶But the whéeles of Fortune, as Socrates doth say,
Are like the snares, wherewith men take fish.
And in an other place, Plautus doth shew,
A saying in Laten, and that is this:
Festo die si quid prodigeris,
Profesto egere liceat nisi pepereris.
If on the Holiday, wasting thou doe vse,
On the worke day thou mayest beg, vnlesse well thou get:
So in tryumphing, like effect insues,
That next after, waste, indigence is set.
Corage.
¶Then Perianders wordes you accoumpt least,
Who vnto honour, an incorager is:
Honor (sayeth he) Immortalis est,
Now syr I pray you, how like you this?
Courtyer.
¶Those wordes to be true, I must néedes confesse,
For honour in déede, is an immortall fame:
[Page]And now is the time the same to possesse,
But I haue not wherewith to atchiue the same.
For money is he that the man must decke,
And though I haue attire both cos [...]ly and gay,
Yet vnlesse it be new, I shall haue but a ge [...]k,
Therefore much better for me be away.
[...]orage.
¶Tush man for money be thou not sad,
You Courtyers I know haue Iewels good store,
And in [...]ey for Iewels will alwayes be had,
Therefore for that matter care thou no more.
[...]ourtyer.
¶Yea but how it is had, I partely doe know,
And what excessiue interrest is payde,
Therefore you may say the more i [...] my woe,
Would God that I had it neuer assay [...]e,
[...]orage.
¶Well, what euer it cost, it must néedes be had,
Therefore withstand not thy fortunate chaunce,
For I will count thée foole, worse then mad,
If thou wilt not spend money, thy selfe to aduaunce,
Now is the time of hap good or ill:
Uenture it therefore while it is hote,
For the Tyde will not tarry for any mans will,
Neuer shalte thou spéede, if now thou spéede not.
[...]ourtyer.
¶Truely this talke doth encorage me so much,
That to sée the Court agayne, I doe pretend,
But I pray thée doest thou know any such,
As vse vpon gages money to lend?
[...]orage.
¶Why man for that matter you néede not to doubt,
Of such men there are ynow euery where,
But sée how luckely it doth fall out.
Sée yonder two friendes of mine doe appeare.
There is a broker betwéene man and man,
When as any bargaynes they haue in hand,
The other a Marchauntes man now and than,
In borrowing money, thy friendes they may stand.
Helpe and Furtheraunce enter.
Helpe.
[Page]¶So are we in déede, and what of that?
Who is it that with by would any thing haue?
Courtyer.
¶Euen I a Gentleman whome money doe lack,
And therein your friendship would gladly craue.
Helpe.
¶Therein we can helpe you if your pleasure it be,
And will do or else we were greatly to blame,
Prouided alwayes that to our paynes you doe sée,
And also put in a good pawne for the same.
Courtyer.
¶A pawne sufficient I will therefore lay,
And also your paynes I will recompence well.
But I must néedes haue it out of the way,
Although my Landes therefore I do sell.
Helpe.
¶You shall haue it syr so soone as you will,
And therein you shalbe friendly vsed,
For in friendly vsing this fellow hath skill,
pointing to Furtheraunce.
Therefore his counsel must not be refused.
He is seruaunt vnto a Marchaunt man,
Who is partly ruled after his minde.
Courtyer.
¶In déede as you say, helpe me he can,
I doubt not but his friendship I shall fynd.
Doubt you not syr, but in pleasuring me,
I will recompence your paynes with the moste.
Further.
¶What I can doe for you, soone you shall sée,
It is but folly thereof for to boast.
Courtyer.
¶Well then it is time that hence we were packing▪
For fayne an end thereof I would know.
Helpe.
¶Why syr no dilligence in vs shalbe lacking,
For we are ready, if that you be so.
Courtyer.
¶Why then that we go I thinke it were best,
Thinke you your mayster is now at home?
Further.
¶Ye I know well at home he doth rest,
And I gesse that now he is sitting alone,
Therefore no longer here let vs stay.
Courtyer.
¶Then sir adew for I will leade the way.
Speaking to Corage & goeth out with Furtherance, & Helpe.
[...]orage.
[Page]¶Now may you sée how Corage can worke,
And how he can encorage, both to good and bad:
The Marchaunt is incouraged, in gréedinesse to lurke,
And the Courtyer to win worship, by Corage is glad.
The one is good, no man will denay,
I meane corage to win worship and fame:
So that the other is ill, all men will say,
That is corage to gréedinesse, which getteth ill name.
Thus may you sée Corage contagious,
And eake contrarious, both in me do rest:
For I of kind, am alwayes various,
And chaunge, as to my mind séemeth best.
Betwéene man and wife, sometimes I doe showe,
Both my kindnesse, when my pleasure it is:
The goodwife giueth her husband a blow,
And he for reward, doth giue her a kisse.
The goodwyfe by Corage, is hardy and stoute,
The goodman contrary, is pacient and méeke:
And suffreth himselfe to be called loute,
Yea, and worse misvsed, thrise in a wéeke.
How say you good wiues, is it not so?
I warrant you, not one that can say nay:
Whereby all men here, may right well know,
That all this is true which I doe say.
But yet Corage tels you not all that he knowes,
For then he must tell, of ech wife the name:
Which is no greate matter, the best are but shrewes,
But I will not say so, for feare I haue blame.
Greedinesse enter.
[...]eedines
¶Now Corage I say, what newes in the coste?
What good tidinges abroade, doest thou heare?
[...]rage.
¶Why what doest thou heare? hye thée home in poste,
For I sent home a Gentleman, to séeke for thée there.
[...]eedines
¶And what is the matter that with me he would haue?
Corage.
[Page]¶He must borrow some money, his worship to saue.
Greedines
¶Tush then to tarry he will be glad,
If that he come any money to borrow.
Corage.
¶Yea but take the time, while it is to be had,
And deferre not thy profite, vntill to morrow.
This Gentleman is a Courtyer braue,
And now in néede of money doth stand:
Therefore thine owne asking, of him thou mayest haue,
So that thou wilte pleasure him out of hand.
Greedines
¶And is he a Courtyer, and standeth in néede,
This to my purpose, doth rightly fall:
For the néedy Courtyers, my cofers do féede,
And I warrant thée, that pinch him I shall.
For since I know, his néede to be such,
That money he must néedes occupy:
I know I cannot aske him to much,
If I his mind will satisfy.
Therfore now Corage to thée adew.
Fayne a going out.
Corage.
¶Nay softe syr yet one word with you.
You told me not yet how you did agrée,
With no good Neighbourhood, that good man growte.
Greedines
¶Mary syr he hath gone thorow with mée,
And the old Tenaunt he will thrust oute.
But I with that matter haue naught to doe,
Let them two now for that agrée:
I know I should neuer haue come vnto,
So much as therefore he hath payed to mée.
Therefore I might be counted mad,
If I to his proffer would not haue tended:
This profitable lesson which of thée I had,
The Tyde taryeth no Man, was not vnremembred▪
Profite entreth.
Profite.
¶God spéede syr, I pray you shew me if you can,
Did you not mayster Welthinesse here about sée.
Corage.
¶Cockes passion this is the Gentlemans man,
Speaking to Greedines.
[Page]Which at home doth tarr [...] for thée,
Syr Welthinesse is not hence far away.
Turning to Profite.
[...]reedines
¶I am hée syr, what would you of me require?
[...]rofite.
¶My mayster at home for your worship doth stay,
And to speake with you he doth greatly desyre.
If it be your pleasure home to repayre,
Or if ye will, he shall hether come,
Your maysterships pleasure therefore declare,
And I know incontinent it shalbe done.
[...]reedines
¶Nay I meane homeward to hye,
For that I suppose to be the best,
And by all the meanes that in me doth lye,
I will fulfill your maysters request.
[...]rofite.
¶I trust also you will consider my payne,
Thereby I trust you shall not loose,
For perchaunce I may preferre your gayne,
By meane which with my mayster I doe vse.
[...]reedines
¶As I fynd thée ready in furthering of me,
So doubt thou not but thou shalt fynd,
Me euen as ready in pleasuring of thée,
A word is ynough, thou knowest my minde,
Therefore hence let vs now take the way.
[...]rofite.
¶My mayster thinketh vs long I dare say.
Exiunt.
[...]orage.
¶I warrant you I will not be long behind,
I know no cause why here I should stay,
A company of my schollers I know where to fynd,
Therefore toward th [...]m I will take the way.
Exiunt.
The Tenaunt tormented entreth.
Tenaunt.
¶Whether shall I goe, or which way shall I take,
To fynd a Christian constant and iust,
Ech man himselfe a Christian would make.
Yet few or none, that a man may trust.
[Page]But for the most parte fayned, inclined to lust.
As to insaciable couetousenesse, moste abhominable,
Or some other vice, moste vile and detestable.
It is well knowen, what rigour doth raigne,
In that cruell tyger, my Landlord Gréedinesse:
Who in my house, would not let me remayne,
But hath thrust me out, with spitefull spéedinesse.
Hauing no respect, to my naked néedinesse,
But altogether, regarding his gayne,
Hath bereaued my liuing from me, to my payne.
What neighbourhood is, may also be séene,
My neighbour supposed, is my deadly foe:
What cruell chaunce, like to mine hath béene,
Both my house and liuing, I must now forgoe.
What neighbour is he, that hath serued me so?
Thus crewelly to take my house, ouer my head,
Wherein these forty yeares, I haue bene harbored and [...]
And now being aged, must thus be thrust out,
With mine impotent wife, charge, and famely:
Now how I shall liue, I stand in great dout,
Leading and ending, my life in misery.
But better doe so, then as they liue, by thée uery,
Catching and snatching, all that euer they can,
Because that (say they) Tyde taryeth no Man.
But God graunt that they, in following that Tyde,
Loose not the tyde of Gods mercy and grace:
I doubt that from them, away it will slyde,
If they still pursue the contrary race.
As dayly they doe, Gods lawes to deface,
To their own soules hurte, and to their neighbours damage.
Still following the instructions, of cursed Corage.
I sée whome I séeke, is not here to be found,
I meane Christianity, constant and iust:
I doubte that in bondage he lyeth fast bound,
Or else he is dead, and lyeth buryed in dust.
But if he be liuing, to fynd him I trust,
[Page][Page]Therefore till I fynd him, I will no where stay,
Neyther in seeking of him, I will make delay.
Enter Corage.
Corage.
¶Ah syrra, I cannot choose but reioyce,
When I remember my little pretty boyes,
My schollers I meane, who all with [...]ne voyce,
Crye we loue Corage, without other choyce.
The yong ymphes I incorage and leade,
In ryotous footesteps, so trimly to treade.
That guilty, and vnguilty, often they pleade,
And being found guilty, hang all saue the head.
The virgins which are but tender of age,
Rather then their trim attyre should swage.
Their fayles for new they will lay to gage,
To euery slaue, peasaunt, and page.
The graund signyoures, which in yeares are rype,
With couetous clawes, like the gréedy grype.
Their pore brethren, from their liuinges do wype,
And euermore daunce, after Corages pype.
Corage neuer in quiet dothlye,
But the Tyde faryeth no man, still he doht crye.
Therefore worke thy will by and by,
That rich thou mayest be, when euer thou dy.
The mayd willful Wanton enter.
Wanton.
¶Of all misfortunes, mine is the worst,
Truely I thinke I was accurst:
When I was an infant, not fully nurst,
Alas for griefe, my harte it will burst.
I dayly sée women as yong as I,
Which in whyte Caps, our dore doe go by:
I am as able as they, with a man to lye,
Yet my mother doth still, my wedding denye.
[Page]She sayeth for wedding, that I am vnfit,
Maydes of fowertéene yeares she sayeth, hath no wit [...]
And so euery day she sayeth I shall tarry yet,
That would God I were put quick in the pit.
God wot we maydes, abide much misery,
And alwayes kept in, from hauing liberty:
Of euill tongues we walke in ieoberty,
Most people are now so full of ielousy:
If a yongman a mayde doe but kisse,
Now (say the people) you may sée what she is:
Where if I were a wyfe, nothing I should misse.
But liue like a Lady, in all ioyfull blisse.
I right well doe know, the peoples spight,
Because that to be pleasaunt, I haue delight:
Therefore past grace, they say I am quight,
And a wilfull wanton, my name they doe wright.
Yet I trust in God, once to sée the day,
That to recompence their spight I may:
For if euer I be marryed, and beare any sway,
Then I know what I haue to say.
Therefore good God, make me shortly a wife,
Or else shortly take away my life.
[...]
¶Alas prety Parnell, you may soone end this stryfe,
Yong men fit for husbandes, in this towne are ryfe.
And your mothers ill will, you may soone preuent,
If you will follow my councell, and intent.
[...]
¶Oh but if my mother would thereto consent,
To be marryed this night, I could be content.
[...]
¶But consent she or not, yet is it for thee,
Unto thine own preforment to sée.
Doest thou with any yong man so agré [...],
That he would consent, thy husband to bée.
[...]
¶Dyuers there are, who gladly would haue me,
And being their wyfe, would trimly bebraue me.
From all wrong they would defend and saue me,
Tush ynowe there are, which to wife doe craue me.
Corage.
[Page]¶Then deferre no time if that thou be wise,
For now to preferment, thou arte like to arise.
The Tide taryeth no man, else the prouerbe lyes,
In delaying comes harmes, thou séeest with thine eyes.
But by mariage all thy gréefe shalbe eased,
And thy ioyes shall manifold wayes be increased.
Wanton.
¶But alas my mother will so be displeased,
That I know her wrath will neuer be appeased.
Corage.
¶And wilt thou for displeasing of her,
Thine owne preferment and fortune defer?
Now arte thou youthfull, thy selfe to prefere,
And thy youthfull bewty, mens heartes may stere.
But youthfull bewty will not alwayes last,
The Tyde taryeth no man, but soone it is past.
Therefore to wedding, see thou make haste,
For now much time thou doest loose in waste.
Wanton.
¶Oh what comfortable wordes are these,
Truely your talke doth me greatly please,
I will not stin [...]e but séeke out alwayes,
Untill that I haue found some ease.
I care not what my mother doe say,
This matter I will no longer delay.
But a husband I will haue out of the way,
And then may I boldly [...]ally and play.
No man dare me then once to controule,
Least my husband chaunce for to scoule.
If any man vse to intreate me foule,
My husband will lay him ouer the noule.
It doth me good to thinke of the blisse,
Which betwéene new marryed couples is.
To sée their dallyaunce sometime ywisse,
It setteth my téeth an edge by gisse.
Truely I would gladly giue my best frock,
And all thinges else vnto my smock.
To be marryed in the morning by vj. of the clock,
I beshrew my heart if that I doe mock.
[Page]Syr you will not beléeue how I long,
To be one of the wedded throng.
My thinkes it lyeth in no tongue,
To shew the ioyes that is them among.
Corage.
¶It passeth ioy which they imbrace,
They take their pleasure in euery place.
Like Aungels they doe run their race,
In passing blisse, and great solace.
Wanton.
¶Well syr I will no longer tarry,
But some man out of hand will marry.
Although from my mothers minde I varry,
Yet your wordes in minde I carry.
Therefore good sir to you adew,
Untill agayne I méete with you.
If I spéede well, a good coate new,
To your parte may chaunce insue.
Exiunt
Corage.
¶Alas wilfull wanton, my pretty peate,
My wordes haue set her in such a heate.
Now toward wedding her loue is so greate,
That scarce she can neither drinke nor eate.
Now I Corage in her doe begin,
So that for her mother she cares not a pin.
Now all her mind is a husband to win,
To be vnwedded she thinketh it sin.
How say you my virgines euery one.
Is it not a sinne to lye alone?
When .xij. yeares of age is gone,
I dare say you thinke so euery one.
Helpe entereth.
Helpe.
¶Nay now let him shifte for himselfe if he will,
Since I am payed the thing I did séeke:
Alas good Gentleman, he is serued but ill,
In fayth he is in now by the wéeke.
He hath naught but that, for which he hath payed,
[Page]The lone of his money he hath dearly bought,
I warrant you it might be boldly sayd,
His cardes being tolde, he hath wonne right nought.
[...]e.
¶And how so Helpe? is he so pincht I say?
By my troth that is a sport for to heare.
[...]
¶Serra, he standes bound forty poundes to pay,
But little more then thirty away he did beare,
For what with the marchauntes duety for lone,
Item for writing vnto the scrybe:
The third part into my pouch is gone,
And the marchauntes man, hath not lost his brybe.
So that amongest vs fower, almost ten poundes,
Is clearely dispersed and spent:
The Gentleman sweareth, harte, blood, and woundes,
Repenting that after thy councell he went.
[...]
¶Yea but syrs, my parte is the least,
Who am the Captayne of all the route.
[...]
¶Tush man for that matter, set thy heart at rest,
For that which we haue, thou shalt not be without,
But syrra, seest thou not who doth yonder appeare,
By my troth me thinkes two knaues they are.
Profite and Furtheraunce, enter together.
[...]r.
¶Indéede whosoeuer vnto thée is neare,
For a knaue he néedeth not to séeke farre.
[...]
¶Sirs I will tell troth to make you agrée,
By gesse I thinke, you are Knaues all thrée.
[...]
¶In déede thrée we are, we are no lesse,
And you are the fourth to make vp the messe.
[...]
¶Well for that matter, we will not greatly striue,
But syrs what wind now did you hether driue?
[...]
¶I fayth to shew thée what luck we haue had,
By (Willing to win Worship) that lusty lad.
To make talke thereof, now it is no time,
But if thou wilt go with vs, we will giue thée the wine.
Profite.
[Page]¶And as my mayster pleased you two, and the scribe,
So of Gréedinesse the Marchaunt, I had a bribe.
So that none of vs went vacant away,
But of one of the parties, had honestly our pay.
Helpe.
¶Yea but of them both, I had my bribes,
My maysters, the Broker can play of both sides.
He is almost payd as well for his trotting.
As is the Scribe, for his writing or blotting.
Yea and yet both parties are not content,
For I dare say the gentleman, his bargayne doth repent.
Further.
¶Marry syr can you blame him, that so hath bene rung,
He may say he hath payde, to heare a faire tongue.
And now without his man he is gone,
His man geues him leaue for to walke alone.
Profite.
¶Let me alone, I warrant thée some excuse I will haue,
And the worst fall I know, I shalbe but called knaue.
But yet sirs after him, I will hye,
And by the way I will inuent some lye.
Corage.
¶Nay softe Profyte, you must not go so,
You must helpe to sing a parte or you goe.
Profite.
¶So it be short, I am well content.
Corage.
¶And all the residue thereto do consent.
The Song.
WE haue great gayne, with little payne,
And lightly spend it to:
We doe not toyle, nor yet we moyle,
As other pore folkes do.
We are winners all thrée,
And so will we bée,
Where euer that we come a:
For we know how,
To bend and bow,
And what is to be done a.
¶To knéele and crouch, to fill the pouch,
We are full glad and fayne:
We euer still, euen at our will,
Are getters of great gayne.
We are winners. &c.
¶It is our will, to poule and pill,
All such as doe vs trust:
We beare in hande, good friendes to stand,
Though we be most vniust.
We be winners. &c.
¶Full far aboutes, we know the routes,
Of them that riches had:
Whome through deceite, as fysh t [...] bayte,
We made their thrift forth gad.
We are winners. &c.
Finis.
[...]
¶Now Cole profite, in fayth gramarcy for thy song.
[...]
¶Much good do it thée, but I am afeard I tarry to long.
Therefore friendes adue, for I will be gone.
[...]
¶Nay softe Profite, leaue vs not behind,
For hence to depart, we also do minde.
[...]
¶Then thrée knaues on a cluster, get you together,
Néedes knaues you must go, for so you came hether.
[...]
¶But here we found thée, a Knaue most of all,
And so we leaue thée, as thou doest vs call.
[...]
¶Now so is the purpose, and this is the case,
Good cosen Cutpurse, if you be in place.
I beséech you now, your businesse to plye,
I warrant thée I, no man shall thée espye.
If they doe, it is but an howers hanging,
But such a purse thou mayest catch, worth a yeres spending.
I warrant thée encouraging thou shalt not lack,
Come hyther, let me clap thée on the back.
[Page]And if thou wilt now follow my request,
At Tyborne I may chaunce clap thée on the brest.
So that of clapping, thou shalt haue store,
Here clapping behind, and at Tyborne before.
But cosen Cutpurse, if ought thou do get,
I pray thée let me haue part of thy cheate.
I meane not of thy hanging fare,
But of thy purse, and filched share.
Well syrs it is time, that hence I doe pack me,
For I am afrayde, that some men doe lack me.
For some are perhaps, about some good déede,
And for lack of corage, they dare not procéede.
Exiunt.
The Courtyer entreth.
Courtyer.
¶As with the poyson, which is moste delectable,
The heart of man, is soonest infected:
So the foe moste hurteth, who séemeth most amiable,
And of all wise men, is to be detected.
At this time this saying I haue elected,
For that they which friendship, to me professed,
In steade thereof, my hurte haue addressed.
They promised me, my friendes for to stand,
And to helpe me to that which I did craue:
Untill that I had obligated my land,
And then was I subiect to euery knaue.
Ech man then a porcion would haue,
The Marchaunt for lone, the Broker for his payne,
And the scrybe for wryting, ech man had a gayne.
Ninubula pluuia imbrem parit,
A mizeling shower ingendreth great wet,
Which saying officium prouerbia non tarit,
Many a little maketh a great.
So euery of them, by me wrought his feate,
And euery of these brybes, being cast to account,
To a good porcion I féele do amount.
[Page]But what vilany is there in such,
Who knowing a man, of their helpe to haue néede▪
Will incroch vpon him, so vnreasonable much,
Their owne gréedy desires to féede.
Iu [...]enall I remember, doth teach them in déede,
Whose wordes are these, both open and playne,
The vicious man only, séeketh his own gayne:
Yea twice vicious, may they be named,
Who doe auarice so much imbrace:
But what is their aunswere, when they are blamed▪
Say they, we haue here but a little space.
Therefore we haue néede to be getting a pace,
Wherefore should we gayning lay away,
The Tyde taryeth no Man, this is all they can say.
Corage entereth.
Corage.
¶And as soone as she had supped vp the broth,
The ladle she layd vpon his face:
Woman quoth he, why arte thou so wroth?
Knaue quoth she, get thée out of this place.
And smyteth the gentleman.
Courtyer.
¶Why friend, arte thou not well in thy wit,
Wherefore smitest thou me in such sorte?
Corage.
¶Iesus Gentleman, are you here yet,
I thought long or this you had bene at the Courte.
Therefore you must pardon mine offence,
For I little thought it had bene you.
Courtyer.
¶Thy company is so good, I will get me hence,
Therefore cursed Corage adue.
Corage.
¶And in fayth will you néedes begon,
What man you might tarry a while.
Courtyer.
¶In thy company I haue tarryed to long,
For I perceaue thou art full of guile.
Exiunt.
Corage.
¶Farewell frost, will you néedes be gone,
Adue since that you will néedes away:
In fayth this sporte is trimsy alone,
[Page]That I can thus, a gentlemán fray.
Greedinesse and Helpe enter together.
Greedines
¶Oh Helpe, might I once sée that day,
Tush I would not care, who I did wrong.
Helpe.
¶Doubt not, you néede not that for to fray.
You shall sée that day, or that it be long.
Corage.
¶What day is that, wh [...]reof you doe speake [...]
May not a body your councell know.
Helpe.
¶Mary syr, this day whereof we doe intreate,
Is a day of some notable show.
When the Courtyers in their brauery shalbe,
Before their Prince, some shew to make:
If such a day, Welthinesse might sée,
He hopeth then, some money to take.
For without cost, they may not be braue,
And many lacke money, as he doth suppose:
Wherefore at some, a good hand he would haue,
I warrant thée, by none he hopeth to lose.
Corage.
¶Tush man doubt not, such dayes there will come,
That matter thou néedest not to feare.
Greedines
¶To here of such [...] I would [...]yde and run,
So glad I would be▪ of such dayes to heare.
Oh with these Courtyers, I loue to deale well,
Or with other yong Gentlemen, who haue pounds or lands▪
For whether I doe lend them, or my wares to them sell.
I am sure to win largely, at their handes.
And specially, where in néede they doe stand,
Then in fayth I doe pinch them home:
When I sée they must néedes haue money out of hand,
And that other shifte, to worke they haue none.
Helpe.
¶Why that is the way syr to come alofte,
Great welth thereby, I know you doe get.
Greedines
¶I warrant thée no time, I driue of,
Neyther for any mans saying, the same will I let.
[Page]Well syrs I must now leaue of this talke,
And I must bid you both twayne adue.
Fayne a going out.
[...]orage.
¶Softe mayster Gréedinesse whether do you walke,
What syr I pray you, one word with you.
[...]reedines
¶Towardes Powles Crosse, from hence I doe goe,
Perchaunce some profite there I may meete.
[...]orage.
¶To Powles Crosse, what there will you doe,
Do you the Preachers wordes so well like.
Greedines
¶Tush for the preaching I passe not a pin,
It is not the matter wherefore I do go:
For that goeth out whereas it comes in,
But herein my meaning, to thée I will show.
You know that many thether doe come,
Wherefore perchaunce, such may be my hap:
Of my ill debtors there to spye some,
Whome without delay, by the héeles I will [...]lap.
Helpe.
¶Why syr, and will you arest them there?
While they at sermon preaching be.
Greedines
¶Will I quoth you, wherefore should I feare,
It is best taking them, while I may them sée.
Corage.
¶Yea bir Lady syr, full wisely you say,
Take them while you may them get:
Or else perchaunce it wilbe many a day,
Or on them agayne your eye you shall set.
Greedines
¶I remember what you haue sayd,
Tyde taryeth no man, marke you that:
Wherefore no time herein shalbe delayed,
Therefore syrs adew to long I do chat.
Exiunt.
Corage.
¶Now that here is none but you and I,
I pray thée deliuer to me my part,
Dispatch and geue me it by and by:
And that I say with a willing hart.
Helpe.
¶I know no part I haue of thine,
Therefore of me thou gettest no part.
Corage.
¶I will make thée confesse a parte of mine,
Or else I will make thy bones to smart.
Helpe.
[Page]¶When the residue doe thereto agrée,
Then will I also geue thée a parte:
But if they no part will giue vnto thée,
If I giue thée any, beshrew my harte.
Corage.
¶Yea friend Helpe, are you at that poynt,
I will make you otherwise to say:
Or else I will heate you in euery ioynt,
Now mayster Helpe, how like you this play.
And sighteth to prolong the time, while Wantonnesse maketh her ready.
Helpe.
¶What hold thy hand man, arte thou so mad,
Corage.
¶To confesse me a part, I will make thée glad.
Helpe.
¶A parte thou shalt haue, when home we doe come.
Corage.
¶Upon that condicion mine anger is done.
A syrra thinke you, to make me your knaue,
And yet all the profite your selues you would haue.
Enter wastfulnesse the husband of Wantonnesse.
Wastful.
¶What ioy is like the linked life?
What hope might hold me from my wife?
Can man his tongue so frame,
Or eke dispose me from my dame?
What doth my substaunce good to mée,
I will therefore be franke and frée.
Where couples yong do méete,
That plyaunt péece so swéete.
My ioy for to declare,
Whose bewty is so rare.
In cofers lockt to lye,
To serue my wyfe and I.
Corage.
¶Then doe you wisely, I sweare by S. Anne
Take time while time is, for time will away:
The niggard is neuer counted a man.
[Page]Therefore remember to doe as you say.
Wastful.
¶I warrant thée, what I haue sayd,
Nothing I meane shalbe delayed.
I will the same fulfill,
To ease and please my will.
[...]elpe.
¶Truely syr you doe wisely therein,
For what good of hoording insues:
Undoubtedly I thinke it a sinne,
And beastes they are, which the same doe vse.
Wastful.
¶Use it who list, for me he shall, I meane to hoord no store,
I meane to serue my time withall, and then I séeke no more.
Wantonnesse enter.
Wanton.
¶Iesus husband what doe you meane,
To run abroade, and leaue me at home:
You are such a man, as I haue not séene,
I sée well, hereafter you will leaue me alone.
That so soone begin, from me to be straying,
What man, it is yet but honny moone.
Wastfull.
¶What woman would you haue me alwayes playing?
So may we shortly both be vndone.
As for pleasure there is a time,
So for profite there is the like:
Therefore I pray thée gentle wife mine,
Be contented that my profite I seeke.
Wanton.
¶Yea but husband I say consider in your mind,
That now we are yong, and plyaunt to play:
But age approaching, makes vs lame and blind,
And lusty corage doth then draw away.
Then what may substaunce vs auayle,
For age no pleasure doth regard:
Therefore good sweete harte doe not quayle,
Thinke neuer that the world is hard.
[...]orage.
¶Undoubtedly moste true it is.
The woman herein doth truely say:
[Page]Sir haue not you heard before this,
Tyde taryeth no man, but will away.
Wastfull.
¶But better it is hardly to begin,
And after in better estate to bée:
Then fyrst to be alofte full trim,
And after to fall to lower degrée.
Wanton.
¶Truely that is but a foolish toy,
At the fyrst to liue hardly and bare:
Many we sée misse that hoped ioy,
And then it prooueth, for others they spare.
Haue not many had, full sorrowfull hartes,
By losing of that which they did spare:
Had they not better haue taken their partes,
Then so for others, them selues to make bare.
And what know we, if we shall liue,
To take our partes of that we scrape:
Would it not then your harte gréeue,
To leaue your substaunce in such rate.
Wastful.
¶Yea but swéete harte, if naught we shall haue,
When hereafter we shall aged war:
Then had we better wish vs in graue,
Then néedy pouerty should vs vex.
Wanton.
¶Doubt you that such chaunce shall befall,
Truely you are greatly vnwyse:
We are able to kéepe vs from such thrall,
Wastfull.
Spend, and God will send, else the prouerbe lye [...],
¶His sending woman, we dayly do sée,
Is a staffe and a wallet vnto such:
Who such excessiue spenders bée,
Experience thereof we haue to much.
Wanton.
¶Well husband this talke is in vayne,
Therefore cease so sharply to speake:
For vnlesse such talke you doe refrayne,
I feare for vnkindnesse my harte will breake.
I little thought that you would thus,
Haue now restrayned me of my will:
[Page]But now right well I may discusse,
Shee weepeth.
That you doe loue some other gill.
Wastful.
¶Why woman doest thou thinke that I,
Haue thought all this while, as I haue sayd:
I did it onely thy mind to trye,
For pleasure in me, shall not be delayd.
While the time is, the time I will take,
What soeuer I list to say:
Of my goods no God I will make,
Therefore good wife, do thy sorrow away.
Wanton.
¶A fayth are you such a one indéede,
By gisse you made me almost afeard:
My harte in my belly was ready to bléede,
When such foolish wordes in you I heard.
Helpe.
¶I would haue counted him greatly vnwise,
If he were so foolish, as himselfe he made:
Fooles they are, which such pleasure despise,
But I knew that therein he would not wade.
And truely I am right glad to sée,
That so good an agreement betwéene you is:
For truely where couples doe so well agrée,
It may not be chosen, but there is great blisse.
I am sorry that thus we must parte you froe,
Corage it is time for vs to departe.
Wanton.
¶But yet my friendes before that you goe,
Of a song helpe vs to sing a parte.
By my troth husband we must néedes haue a song,
Will you not helpe to further the same?
Wastful.
¶Yes by my troth, so it be not long,
Or else you might count me greatly to blame.
Corage.
¶And I am con [...]ent a part for to beare.
Helpe.
¶Then be sure I will helpe in with a share.
The Song.
THough Wastfulnesse and wantonnesse,
Some men haue vs two named:
Yet pleasauntnesse and plyauntnesse,
Our names we haue now framed.
For as I one is pleasaunt, to kisse and to cully,
The other is plyaunt as euer was holly.
As youth would it haue,
So will we be braue.
¶To liue in blisse, we will not misse,
What care we for mens [...]ayings:
What ioy is this, to sporte and kisse,
But hurte comes in delayings.
The one is full ready to the others becking,
Betwéene vs there is neither chiding, nor checking.
As youth will it haue, &c.
¶Full braue and full fyne, we passe the time,
Take time while time is byding:
What ioy is thine, the same is mine,
My mind shall not be slyding.
Our goods are our owne, why should we spare,
Or for time to come, why should we care.
As youth would it haue. &c.
Corage.
¶Now friendes adue for we must depart,
Wastfull.
¶Farewell my gentle friendes withall my hart.
Wanton.
¶Well husband now I will home repayre,
To sée that your dinner dressed be.
Exiunt.
Wastful.
¶Doe so wife, and sée we haue good fare,
I meane not long to tarry after thée.
Pause.
Whose ioy may be compared to mine,
I haue a wife bewtifull and gay:
She is yong, pleasaunt, proper and fyne,
And plyaunt to please me both night and day.
For whome should I pinch, for whome should I spare,
[Page]Why should I not be liberall and frée,
How euer the world goe I doe not care.
I haue ynough for my wife and me,
And if my substaunce chaunce to decay:
I know my credite is not so ill,
But that I can borrow twenty pound alway.
To serue me at my pleasure and will,
For repayment thereof, no care I will take:
No matter it is if the same I may get,
While it lasteth, therewith I will merry make.
What skils it though that I come in debt.
While yong I am, youthfull I will be,
And passe my time in youthfull sorte:
For as my wife here sayd vnto me.
Age doth delight in no pleasaunt sport,
Wherefore since pleasure I doe loue:
In youth it behooues to take the same,
Nothing there from my heart shall moue.
But I thereto my heart will frame.
I feare me that I tarry to long,
My wife doe looke for me before this:
Therefore homeward I will be gone,
For there is ioy and heauenly blisse.
Exiunt.
The Sergeaunt and the debtor rested entereth.
Debtor.
¶What infidelity in him doth rest,
Who no time forbeareth to take his pray:
Most like the gréedy or sauadge beast,
Who in creuelty rageth both night and day.
Might he not the space of one Sermon stay,
What care or minde gaue he to Gods word,
Who at preaching thereof did me so disturbe.
Is the Sabboth day, and Paules Crosse,
A time and place to vex thy debtor?
Or hast thou Greedinesse by me had any losse?
Nay by me thou arte a hundereth pound the better,
I speake of the least and not of the greatter.
[Page]Yet I neuer denyed, my debt for to pay,
But in déede I requyred a longer day.
Sergeant.
¶Tush syr this talke is all but in vayne,
Meane you thus the time to delay?
Dispatch therefore, and please me for my payne▪
And toward the Counter, let vs away.
Debtor.
¶No haste but good, stay yet a while,
Or else take the payne with me for to walke:
About the quantity of halfe a mile,
With a friend of mine, that I might talke.
Sergeant.
¶For a Royall I will not so farre goe▪
Therefore set your heart at quyet.
Debtor.
¶I meane to please no Sergeant so,
I am no customer for your dyet.
But since to goe, you doe not intend,
You must take paynes here to tarry with me:
Untill for a friend of mine I doe send,
Which I trust shortly my bayle will be.
Sergeant.
¶Neyther will I with thée here remayne,
Therefore dispatch and let vs away:
Thinkest thou that I hauing naught for my payne,
Will eyther goe with thée, or heare for thée stay▪
Debtor.
¶And what wilt thou aske, with me here to stay▪
At one word let me that vnderstand.
Sergeant.
¶At one word ten groates thou shalt pay,
Or else to the Counter we must out of hand▪
Debtor.
¶That will I doe with a right good will,
Rather then so much thou shalt get▪
I will not so much thy minde fulfill,
If that my harte, my hand may let.
Sergeant.
¶Why then with speede let vs away,
This déede thou wilt repent I trow.
Debtor.
¶Well, wherefore now doe we stay,
I am ready hence to goe.
Sergeant.
¶Come on then.
They two go out.
[Page] Christianity must enter with a sword, with a title of pollicy, but on the other syde of the tytle, must be written gods word, also a Shield, wheron must be written riches, but on the other syde of the Shield must be Fayth.
[...]ristian.
¶Christianity I doe represent,
Muse not though the sword of pollicy I beare:
Neyther marueile not what is mine intent,
That this fayleable shield of riches I weare.
Gréedy great, will haue it so euery where,
Gréedy great for this cause I haue named,
For that the greater parte vse gréedines, which is to be blamed.
As the greater parte will, thereto must I yéeld,
Their cruell force I may not withstand:
Therefore I beare this deformed sword and shield,
Which I may be ashamed to hold in my hand,
But the Lord deliuer me from their thraldome and band,
For if the enemy assayle me, then am I in thrall:
Because I lack such Armoure, as is taught by S. Paule.
For in steade of Gods word, and the shield of fayth,
I am deformed with pollicy, and riches vayne:
And still I say, as the greater parte sayeth,
I am still a christian, and so shall remayne,
My Christianity say they, no domage doth sustaine:
But alas they are deceiuēd, their armoure is not sure,
For neyther pollicy, nor ryches, may long time indure.
Yet vpon those two, we greatly depend,
We say by pollicy, our selues we can saue,
Riches as a shield, we say will defend,
And by riches we possesse what euer we craue,
So that for riches, we sell all that we haue.
Not onely the body, and all thinges terestriall,
But also the soule, which ought be celestiall.
Faythfull few enter.
[...]aythfull.
¶Alas I lament to heare the report,
Which of vs cittizens in euery place is spread:
It is not long synce I came from the court,
[Page]Where I would haue bene glad to haue hid my head.
With the spoyle of the symple, there they say were fed,
So that for the couetous gréedines, which some cittizens vse,
A shamefull ill reporte to the whole ensues.
But I must néedes confesse some among vs there be,
For whose sakes the whole number beareth great blame:
They abuse themselues so, towardes euery degrée,
As man without reason, and past wordly shame,
Neither regard they their owne, nor their ill name.
So they may haue the chassy treasure of the world,
They passe not both with God and man to be abhord.
There is no time nor place, that they will forbeare,
When any of their helpe hath moste néede:
Then shall he pay treble for his money or ware,
Or else of them he is not like to spéede.
They nothing regard his pouerty or néede,
But who is it which yonder doth stand?
he goeth toward him
Holding the Sword of Pollicy in his hand,
Moste certayne I am, that face I should know,
Syr is not your name Christianity?
Christian.
¶Yes vndoubtedly, my name is so,
As you are faythfull few imbraser of verity.
Faythfull.
¶And shall the Sword of Pollicy, by Christianity be borne,
Truely that is contrary to your nature and kinde:
Now are you deformed like a thing forlorne,
Which maketh me suspect, of me in my minde.
Christian.
¶Oh Faythfull fewe, of me haue no doubt,
I am Christianity, though thus deformed:
And though thus abused, by the great route,
Yet by God I trust, my tytle shalbe turned.
[...]aythfull.
¶By the power of God I wil not delay,
he turneth the titles
To turne this tytle most vntrue and fayned,
And I will indue thée, and that straight way,
With such weapons, as Saynt Paule hath ordayned.
[...]hristian.
¶Alas in vayne this payne [...] take,
For as you [...] few,
[Page]So the power is but small that you can make,
To resist the greedy great ones, who are agaynst you.
[...]ythfull.
¶Si Deus nobiscum, quis contranos,
If God be with vs, who may vs resist,
Weigh not then the number, but weigh his purpose,
Who ruleth all thinges, as himselfe doth lift.
I know how Gréedinesse, with the great part is vsed,
Their pilling, pouling, pinching and spoyling:
How both the simple and others, with them are abused,
They liue by the fruites of other mens toyling.
But God is not dead, neyther is he asleepe,
Although for a time his hand he doth hold:
Yet doth he remember his little shéepe,
And will reuenge the wrong done to his folde.
Corage and Greedines enter as though they saw not Christianity.
[...]orage.
¶Let them say what they wil, doe thou as I told thée,
Trust thou not to any knaue of them all:
Not a Preacher of them all, in thy néede will vphold thée,
Try them who will, their deuotion is small.
[...]reedines
¶Thou wilt not beléeue how the Knaue did prate,
Ye cittizens repent, thus he did crye,
Looke about in time quoth hée, or it be to late,
For the vengeaunce of God at hand is full nye.
As though he knew what were in Gods minde,
Surely it is a shame, they are so suffred to lye.
[...]orage.
¶But in my talke great profyte thou doste fynde,
They are all lyers as their talke doth trye,
By my doctrine thou haste great profyte and gayne,
Great riches and substaunce, therby thou doest win:
To instruct thée dayly I take great payne,
Which way thou shalt thy riches bring in.
Greedines
¶Thou doest so in déede, and thankes I thee giue,
But syrra, now I remember a thing:
Which made me not long since▪ to laugh in my sléeue,
To me a yong Gentleman the Broker did bring,
[Page]Whose Father was dead of late as it séemed,
And his landes in Morgage to a Marchaunt was layde,
Wherefore it behooued the same were redéemed,
For the day was at hand, when the same should be payde,
And I perceauing his néede to be such,
I thought I would pinch him or that I went,
To giue mine owne asking, he did not greatly grudge,
And when I had girded him, thence I him sent.
Faythfull.
¶More shame for thée, and such as thou art,
That with life thou arte permitted, it is great pitty,
Thou arte a Christyan with a canckered heart,
And the cause of reproch to a whole citty.
Christianity by thée is greatly abused,
Of his righteous Armour, thou doest him bereaue,
And in stead thereof, by him to be vsed,
The Armour of Sathan, with him thou doste leaue.
Greedines
¶Why would you not haue me, how to inuent,
Which way were best to bring in my gayne?
Faythfull.
¶But not in such sort, to set thine intent,
That all the world of thée should complayne.
Greedines
¶I crye you mercy, I know where you are now.
In a Courtyers behalf, this oration you make,
Of late there was one, complayned how,
Excessiue gayne of him I did take.
It is the cast of them all so to say,
When prodigally their money is spent:
Or if the Prince will them not pay,
Then on the Marchaunt, some lyes they inuent.
Faythfull.
¶Arte thou not ashamed of thy Prince to speake ill?
Thine owne abused doing to excuse:
No marueyle though the citty haue all mens ill will,
When both in word and déede, thy selfe thou doest misvse.
Sed Reginum est male, audire cum besecerint,
Antisthenes doth truely this saying resite,
It is geuen to Princes (sayeth he) though they be beneuolēt,
To be euell spoken of which is agaynst all right.
[...]reedines
[Page]¶Syr you are best say no more, then you are able to proue,
Least I make you to repent your boldnesse,
For if my pacience you to much do moue,
I may chaunce turne your heate into a coldnesse.
Why I lende my money like a friend for good will,
And thereby doe helpe men at their néede.
[...]aythfull.
¶A friend thou arte in déede, though a friend but ill,
Pithagoras thy friendship, hath playnely decréede,
There be many sayth he, who no friendes do lacke,
And yet of friendship they haue but skant,
So thou arte a friend for their moneys sake,
And yet thy friendship they alwayes shall want.
[...]hristian.
¶Assuredly thou highly offendest,
For that so double in dealing thou arte:
Aristotle sayeth, by the same thou pretendest,
And not so to beare a dissembling harte.
A Christian ought not vnto riches to yéeld,
For it is a thing but fayleable and vayne,
Riches is no perpetuall shielde,
But the shield of Fayth, shall euer remayne▪
Take therefore fayth, and Gods word for thy sworde,
And arme Christianity in this wise.
Greedines.
¶Shall pollicy and riches then be abhord,
Syr they are fooles that them will despise.
I put case pouerty should me assayle,
Can Gods word and fayth me any thing ayde:
Pouerty agaynst riches can neuer auayle,
I am sure syr this may not be denayde.
Faythfull.
¶We deny not, but in this world, riches beare the sway,
Yet, it not riches to be called sure:
For in Gods power it is to make riches decay,
Whereas Gods word and fayth shall euer endure.
Greedines
¶But geue me riches, take you Gods word and fayth,
And sée which of vs shall haue the better gayne.
Christian.
¶Now Faythfull few, you here what he sayth,
Therefore to turne the tytles I must be fayne,
Faythfull.
[Page]¶Well since it will no better be,
To God let vs the cause betake:
Whome I trust, when as time he doth sée,
He will for vs, a deliueraunce make.
Corage.
¶Come Mayster Welthinesse, let vs away,
What should we here any longer doe?
Greedines
¶In déede I hold it best as you say,
Therefore your saying I agrée vnto.
They two go out.
Faythfull.
¶Sorry I am, to sée his estate,
Now neare he is, to the Founte of perdition:
God graunt him repentaunce, or it be to late,
That of his sinnes he may haue remission.
Christian.
¶But alas, he goeth the contrary way,
For of his couetousnesse, he taketh no ru [...]h▪
And Aristotle I remember doth say,
The couetous man cannot learne the truth.
Wherèfore he cannot, or will not know,
The way to reforme me Christianity:
Therefore from this place now I will goe,
To pray vnto God, to shew him the verity.
Now Faythfull few adue vnto thée,
I will pray vnto God for thy comfort and ayd:
I beséech thée make like intercession for me,
And that my reformation be not long delayd.
Exiunt.
Faythfull.
¶Doubt not thereof good Christianity,
My indeuour herein shall not be delayde:
Alas what is man not knowing the verity,
No man, but a beast he may be sayd.
Yet many there are, which in the world doth liue,
Who for Christians will néedes accoumpted be:
Though to all abhominations, their selues they doe giue,
And from no kind of vice be cleare or frée▪
Couetousnesse is accoumpted no sinne,
Usury is a science and art:
All wayes are good, whereby we may win,
Although it be to our neighbours smart.
[Page]Whereby it appeareth, from loue we are frée,
The words of the wise, we nothing regarde:
For without loue, no vertue can perfect bée,
As Plato the wyse, hath playnly declarde.
No good thing without loue, it is possible to doe,
Seneca of that opinyon hath bene:
Then how many good thinges, do they now thinke you,
In whome no loue at all there is séene.
They watch their times, the simple to snare,
No time they forbeare, their pleasures to worke:
God graunt we therefore of them may beware,
For priuily to snare vs, they dayly doe lurke.
Enter Wastfulnesse poorely.
[...]astful.
¶Oh more then wretch, which so foolishly haste spent,
Not onely thine own goods, but also other mens:
What accoumpt shall I make, for the goods to me lent,
Which neuer I am able for to recompence.
How wastfully haue I, with wantonnesse my wife,
Consumed our goods, substaunce and treasure,
That would to God I were out of my life,
For the remembraunce thereof, is gréefe without measure.
My wyfe and I now, are asunder dispersed,
Ech of vs, to séeke our liuing alone:
Alas our woe may not be rehearsed,
Unto whome now should we make our mone.
In taking the time, to toward we weare,
We were afeard to long to abide:
Corages councell in mind we did beare,
He sayd that for no man would tarry the tyde.
But well away now, which way shall I run,
I know it is folly vnto God to call:
For God I know my peticion will shun,
And into perdition I am now like to fall.
Dispayre, dispayre.
Dispayre enter in some ougly shape, and stand behind him.
[Page]Why should I dispayre, since God doth behold,
The sinner with mercy as the Scripture doth say.
Dispaire.
¶But thy prodigall sinnes are so manifold,
That God of mercy, doth thée vtterly denay.
Therefore to ende thy life it is best,
Thy calling for mercy, is all but in vayne:
By ending thy life, thou shalt be at rest,
But if longer thou liue, great shall be thy payne.
Wastfull.
¶Well then will I seeke some place where I may,
Finish my life with Cord, or with knyfe:
The dispatch thereof, I will not delay?
Farewell now all the world, but chéefely my wife.
fayne a going out.
Faythfull few plucketh him agayne.
Faythfull.
¶Softe stay a whyle, and be not so rash,
Thinkest thou God vnmercifull to be:
Wilt thou trust dispayre, euen at the fyrst dash,
Hast thou no fayth in Gods mercy so frée,
Call vpon god with repentaunce and fayth,
By such wayes and meanes as I will instruct thée.
Wastfull.
¶I beléeue God is mercifull, as the Scripture sayeth.
They both kneele, and Wastfull sayeth after Faythfull.
Faythfull.
¶Well follow mée, and I will conduct thée.
Oh heauenly Father pardon my offence.
Wastfull.
¶Oh heauenly father, pardon mine offence.
Faythfull.
¶And graunt that thy mercy may to me repayre.
Wastfull.
¶And graunt that thy mercy may to me repayre,
Faythfull.
¶Also O Father banish thou hence.
Wastfull.
¶Also O Father banish thou hence.
Faythfull.
¶That wicked Monster of Dispayre,
Wastfull.
¶That wicked Monster of Dispayre.
Dispayre flyeth, and they arise.
Faythfull.
¶How féelest thou now, thy conscience and minde.
Hoyest thou not, of gods mercy and grace?
Wastfull.
¶Well God be praysed that here I thée finde,
How happy was I to approch this place.
Dispayre is now fled, I perfectly know,
[Page]And in Gods mercy I fyrmely doe trust,
Therefore O Lord deliuer me from thrall:
And pardon me a sinner, most vile and vniust.
[...]ythfull.
¶That is very well sayd, if so thou doe thinke,
And now frame thy selfe, thy life to amend,
Let dispayre no more into thy mind sincke:
But to be a new man, doe thou now pretend.
And as hertofore thy mind for to please,
Thou haste learned the Tyde will tarry no man,
So now it behoueth for thy greater ease,
That saying, after Gods will for to scan.
Take time while time is, thus I doe meane,
Amend thy life whilst here thou haste space:
To Gods mercifull promises sée that thou leane,
So shalt thou enioy the Tide of his grace.
Wastful.
¶To follow your councell, I will doe my indeuour,
I will séeke the same in all poyntes to performe:
The effect of your wordes I will forget neuer,
And now I will hence, my wife to reforme.
That she and I, in manner now,
May amend our liues, to Gods glory and prayse:
Wherefore good syr vnto you adue,
I beséech the Lord to send thée good dayes.
Exiunt.
[...]aythfull.
¶Sée how the time takers their fact doth repent,
Who no time will spare in pleasing their will:
And although the beginning haue a pleasaunt sente,
Yet of the ending, the taste is as ill.
For who euer it be that without measure,
Doth consume his substaunce in prodigall sorte:
Although he had aboundaunce of treasure,
Yet will he be a begger, and that in time shorte.
I marueile where Authority is,
Who should sée a helpe for the simple oppressed:
Many thinges there are greatly amisse,
Which by his meanes must néedes be redressed.
His absence greatly disquieteth my minde,
[Page]I will not cease séeking, vntill him I do finde.
Exiunt.
Enter Corage weeping.
Corage.
¶Out alas this tydinges are ill,
My friend mayster Gréedinesse, hath ended his dayes,
Dispayre vpon him hath wrought his will,
And desperately now he is gone his wayes.
As one enraged and out of his wit,
No remembraun [...]e of God he would haue:
Alas pore man he had a great fit,
Before that well he was layde in his graue.
Why but is Gréedines dead in good sadnesse,
reasoning with himselfe.
My thinkes these newes are not true which you tell:
Yes truely he dyed in a great madnesse,
And went with the Tyde boate straight into hell.
Why foole, Gréedinesse will neuer dye,
So long as couetous people do liue:
Then you belike doe thinke that I doe lye,
I am as honest a man as any in your sléeue.
I am sure he is dead, or one in his likenesse,
For when he was buryed I stood by:
And some sayd he dyed of the new sicknesse,
Therefore syr thinke not that I doe lye.
For I am as sorry for the death of the man,
As any man that liueth this day:
Wherefore I must néedes wéepe if I can.
But husht some body is comming this way.
Enter Authority and Faythfull few.
Faythfull.
¶Surely Authority the same is euen he,
I warrant you syr, you néede not to doubt.
Authori.
¶Then wyll we handle him kindly thou shalt sée.
Therefore sée that from vs hée escape not out.
Corage.
¶God saue your honour, and prosper your estate,
I am glad to sée you approch this place:
Those which say ill of you, I vtterly doe hate,
I aunswere for your honour in euery case.
Autho.
¶Ah crafty caytife, why dissemblest thou so?
[Page]Doest thou thinke that vs thou mayest so blind,
Thy contagious dooinges we right well do know,
And eake thy property, nature and kind.
Thou arte an encorager to all kindes of vice,
The Aged to auaryce, and greedy desyre,
The yonger sorte lack none of thine aduice,
To all such acts as the Deuill doth require.
[...]orage.
¶Loe Syr, I thought you did me mistake,
I know right well, the man whome you meane,
To fetch him heather, good spéede I will make,
I warrant you, I wil shortly be here agayn.
Fayne to go out
[...]ythfull.
¶Nay softe he is here, whome that we would haue,
Therefore you néede not him for to fetch.
[...]orage.
¶Yes I will fetch him, for he is a very knaue,
And almes it is, that a rope he should stretch.
Still fayn to go out.
[...]uthori.
¶Upon thy selfe, iust iudgement thou doest giue,
Iuuenall sayeth, Citties are well gouerned,
Whereas such rebelles are now suffered to liue,
But after their desertes, are iustly punished.
[...]orage.
¶They which are Rebelles, it behooueth in déede,
That they be corrected and punished so,
For they doe much harme in euery stéede,
But I am none such, I would you should know.
[...]uthori.
¶Thou shalt know what thou art, or hence we depart,
Faythfull few vpon him lay holde.
Corage.
¶By gis sir, then I will cause him to smart,
Therefore to touch me, be not so bold.
Faythfull
¶Syr sée where commeth Correction also.
Correction enter.
Autho.
¶Draw neare Correction and thine office doe,
Take here this caytife vnto the Iayle.
Correcti.
¶Syr to doe your commaundement I will not fayle,
Come on Syrra and let vs away.
Corage.
¶Nay softe a whyle your wisedome stay.
Hold me when you haue me, but you haue me not yet,
And perchaunce ere you haue me, your nose I will slit.
Correcti.
[Page]¶Thinkeit thou with bragges to make me afeard.
And beginneth to lay handes on him.
Corage.
¶You are best stand further, least I shaue your beard.
They striue, he draweth his dagger and fyghteth.
Correcti.
¶In fayth sir, now I wil geue you the check, & catcheth him
Corage.
¶Oh gods passyon, wilt thou breake my neck?
Is there no man here that hath a curst wife,
If he will in my stead, he shall end his life.
Correcti.
¶Tush let vs hence, thy talke is in vayne.
Corage.
¶Sithēns there is no remedy, best is a short payne.
Exit.
Faythfull
¶When all malifactors are duely thus punished,
According to the good and godly lawes,
Then shall Christianity duely be burnished,
And to prayse God, we shall haue cause.
Autho.
¶O Faythfull few, doubt not but as we,
Are able Christianities estate to reforme:
So his reformation in short time thou shall sée,
For we for his estate doe lament and mourne.
Of our selues we are not able to compasse this thing,
But by this sword of Gods power, which to vs is [...]:
Wherefore Faythfull few, haue thou no doubting,
But we therevnto doe gladly consent.
For to Socrates saying, some respect we haue,
W [...]o sayeth a citty is not to be praysed,
For he greatnesse or buildings, gorgious and braue,
But for the good inhabitauntes, which therein are placed.
So we accoumpt those countreyes but ill,
Which vicious persons doth mainteine and norish,
Although they haue all thinges at their will,
And although in treasure they aboundauntly florish.
Faythfull
¶Oh noble Authority, by this your occasion,
Great tranquillity to vs shall befall:
We shalbe a ioy to ech godly nation,
When Christianity is deliuered from thrall.
For better it were vnchristened to be,
[...][Page][Page][Page]Then our Christianity for to abuse:
The Iewish Infidell to God doth more agrée,
Then such as Christianity do so misuse.
But sée yonder where he doth appeare,
Whome abused armour doth greatly oppresse.
Christianity enter in as at the fyrst.
[...]hour.
¶O Christianity vnto vs draw neare,
That we thy abused estate may redresse.
And as fréely as this power vnto vs is lent,
Here we now by force of the same:
To thée faytfull few do here condiscent,
That thou Christianities estate shalt frame.
In such good forme, fashion, and shape,
As the same shall not be turned agayne:
But shall continue in a Godly rate,
From henceforth euermore to remayne.
[...]thfull.
¶God graunt that so it may be kept,
As all Christians it may become:
And for my part i [...] shall not be slept,
But my duty shall straight way be done.
he turneth the titles.
[...]ristian.
¶Now God be praysed who thus agayne,
Hath restored me to my former estate:
And hath extinguished from me all payne,
God graunt that now [...] not founde vngrate.
And God graunt that all Christians may me duly imbrase,
In such sorte as Gods will it is:
So shall they be sure of a resting place,
In Heauen where raigneth all ioy and blisse.
FINIS.
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