Chapter 4

What prodigy can I do?Hell, I hope, will lend its aid thereto,And get of it fair gain.If but a little longer I may here reign,Hell-mouth will be filled till it split.’Twere a pity this good inn to quit,For all who live in riot and wantonnessAnd win a profit of very idleness,Gamblers, fighters, daughters of the game,Bawds and all they who use the same,Of these there be here a goodly retinue,And ’tis of them my profit doth accrue.Wherefore in this house as for this time I will lie.Now will I go ask of mine host in hieAt what cost we twain lodge here.If I do stay, I will have good cheerAnd all things wholly to my pay.Betide what betide I will as I mayKeep mischief stirring here and there.Within a year I would see a hundred stabbed, I swear,So that Lucifer shall not lack company in Hell.As a doctor of physic I will disguise me well.Good Doctor Gallipot shall not want for renown.I shall know where to find hidden treasure in every town.This will spread my fame over all.And whatsoever among folk may befallIt will be known to me just as it was.More than a thousand shall run after me ere there passA month, my practice will be so sly.So I will get treasure with the which none can vie.My love Emma will eke love me the bet.An if the Highest doth me no let,Ere a year more than a thousand souls I shall have won;If He otherwise wills, then my baking is done.

What prodigy can I do?

Hell, I hope, will lend its aid thereto,

And get of it fair gain.

If but a little longer I may here reign,

Hell-mouth will be filled till it split.

’Twere a pity this good inn to quit,

For all who live in riot and wantonness

And win a profit of very idleness,

Gamblers, fighters, daughters of the game,

Bawds and all they who use the same,

Of these there be here a goodly retinue,

And ’tis of them my profit doth accrue.

Wherefore in this house as for this time I will lie.

Now will I go ask of mine host in hie

At what cost we twain lodge here.

If I do stay, I will have good cheer

And all things wholly to my pay.

Betide what betide I will as I may

Keep mischief stirring here and there.

Within a year I would see a hundred stabbed, I swear,

So that Lucifer shall not lack company in Hell.

As a doctor of physic I will disguise me well.

Good Doctor Gallipot shall not want for renown.

I shall know where to find hidden treasure in every town.

This will spread my fame over all.

And whatsoever among folk may befall

It will be known to me just as it was.

More than a thousand shall run after me ere there pass

A month, my practice will be so sly.

So I will get treasure with the which none can vie.

My love Emma will eke love me the bet.

An if the Highest doth me no let,

Ere a year more than a thousand souls I shall have won;

If He otherwise wills, then my baking is done.

¶ How Emma doth a little lament her sinful life.

Emma thus dwelling in Antwerp and being ware of the evil of her life, since for her sake marvelous much wickedness was daily done of Moonen’s contriving, said with herself thus:

O memory and wit, took ye but thoughtUpon the life that now I lead,It would appear a thing of naught.The brightness of Heaven ye have left and soughtThe path of Hell, that is foul indeed.Wellnigh each day doth some wight bleedOr come even to his death for my sake.And I wot well that Moonen doth this mischief breed.He is not of the best, I undertake;Though he saith little I may not him mistake:He is a fiend or but little more.O aunt, mine aunt, the foul words that ye spakeWill make of me a damned whore,For whom God holds no grace in store.Oh, woe is me and wellaway!For any returning I bewandered too wide.Mary I was wont to serve each dayWith prayers or what else to her pay;Now my devotions be wholly laid aside.And eke he will me roundly chideIf I do cross myself, whereof he is not fain;Whereby it is right easily descriedThat he is evil, who crossing doth disdain.How shall I repent? Alas, ’tis plainThat I be stept whither is no retreating.Hola, yonder I have spied twainTo whom I yesterday did grant a merry meeting.I must go forth and give them pleasant greeting.

O memory and wit, took ye but thought

Upon the life that now I lead,

It would appear a thing of naught.

The brightness of Heaven ye have left and sought

The path of Hell, that is foul indeed.

Wellnigh each day doth some wight bleed

Or come even to his death for my sake.

And I wot well that Moonen doth this mischief breed.

He is not of the best, I undertake;

Though he saith little I may not him mistake:

He is a fiend or but little more.

O aunt, mine aunt, the foul words that ye spake

Will make of me a damned whore,

For whom God holds no grace in store.

Oh, woe is me and wellaway!

For any returning I bewandered too wide.

Mary I was wont to serve each day

With prayers or what else to her pay;

Now my devotions be wholly laid aside.

And eke he will me roundly chide

If I do cross myself, whereof he is not fain;

Whereby it is right easily descried

That he is evil, who crossing doth disdain.

How shall I repent? Alas, ’tis plain

That I be stept whither is no retreating.

Hola, yonder I have spied twain

To whom I yesterday did grant a merry meeting.

I must go forth and give them pleasant greeting.

After this she sat her down to drink with her potmates,among the which Moonen so wrought that again one of them met his death. And he who did it was led of Moonen beyond the city walls where at the devil’s prompting he slew yet another, in the hope, as Moonen had told, that he should thus possess him of great store of money; whereat Moonen rejoiced exceedingly saying:

Now by Lucifer’s subtlest engine in Hell,These silly folk I befool them well.One to another doth tell that I am my Lord So and so.All that aileth the people I fully know,Wherefore after me doth go great press of folk.I give them counsel as good as ever was spoke;Then I round it in the ear of many a goodwifeHow they may plague their husbands out of their life.Whereon the good man getteth such gobbets to his meatThat ere eight days he is snug in his winding sheet.This merry cheat I have more than once playedAnd thereof Lucifer, I ween, is not evil apaid.630Likewise I take my good pleasureIn getting folk to seek out hidden treasure.Thereby one got his bane but yesterday.I told him where treasure had been hid awayUnder the stay which did his stable found:I said an he would delve deep in the groundHe would find many a pound of good red gold.The fool straightway did as I told,But when he had wholly digged awayThe pillar’s foundation which was the stayThat held the stable firm in place,Down it fell from top to baseAnd good my nuncle was buried under.I shall perform still greater wonderIf from above I may have leave.Men shall me for a god receive;And Hellwards they shall pack in troops.

Now by Lucifer’s subtlest engine in Hell,

These silly folk I befool them well.

One to another doth tell that I am my Lord So and so.

All that aileth the people I fully know,

Wherefore after me doth go great press of folk.

I give them counsel as good as ever was spoke;

Then I round it in the ear of many a goodwife

How they may plague their husbands out of their life.

Whereon the good man getteth such gobbets to his meat

That ere eight days he is snug in his winding sheet.

This merry cheat I have more than once played

And thereof Lucifer, I ween, is not evil apaid.

630Likewise I take my good pleasure

In getting folk to seek out hidden treasure.

Thereby one got his bane but yesterday.

I told him where treasure had been hid away

Under the stay which did his stable found:

I said an he would delve deep in the ground

He would find many a pound of good red gold.

The fool straightway did as I told,

But when he had wholly digged away

The pillar’s foundation which was the stay

That held the stable firm in place,

Down it fell from top to base

And good my nuncle was buried under.

I shall perform still greater wonder

If from above I may have leave.

Men shall me for a god receive;

And Hellwards they shall pack in troops.

After Emma and Moonen had lived wellnigh six year in Antwerp at the sign of the “Golden Tree”, where marvelous much wickedness was done of them, it fell out that Emma was minded once more to see her eme and likewise her friends in the land of Guelders, and she prayed Moonen that he should thereto consent and fellow her on the journey thither, whereon he spake thus:

Emma, to your prayer I would not say no.Ye say your friends ye would liefly see?EMMAYea, that I would, if ye grant it so.MOONENTo your prayer, my love, I would not say no.EMMAMine aunt at Nimmegen, mine eme at Venlo;Sin I saw them be passed years four and three.MOONENWherefore to your prayer I will not say no.And these your friends ye shall straightway see.EMMAThey know not what hath befallen meNor where I be, no more than if earth had me swallowed.Ever mine eme with love hath me followed;I wot full many a tear he hath wept.MOONENThe old shave-crown’s prayers me oft have keptWhen I was minded to rend her limb and lith.Ere now I had broken her neck, but therewithThe old man’s prayers to the lady in whiteHave stopped me quite; wherefore, despiteMy will, not yet is she utterly caught.EMMAWhat say ye, Moonen?MOONENNought, dear, nought.I give you leave, as ye require,To see the friends to whom is your desire.Go pay the reckoning with mine host of the TreeAnd on the morrow thine eme we shall go seeOr thine other friends, as ye shall request.To this I am prest.EMMAThen straight am I dress’dTo ask how it stands in our accountAnd pay it all wholly.MOONENSo do, and the amountSee that ye pay without question of the odd doit.—I shall get no loss from this exploit,’Tis no harm to visit her eme, the priest.If I could catch him bare-breeched, at the least,And so have him wholly at my desire,I would shortly break the old shave-poll’s swire.Were he away, the lass were mine without fail.But my purpose is wholly without avail,Save only the OmnipotentGiveth thereto his full consent.

Emma, to your prayer I would not say no.Ye say your friends ye would liefly see?

Emma, to your prayer I would not say no.

Ye say your friends ye would liefly see?

EMMAYea, that I would, if ye grant it so.

EMMA

Yea, that I would, if ye grant it so.

MOONENTo your prayer, my love, I would not say no.

MOONEN

To your prayer, my love, I would not say no.

EMMAMine aunt at Nimmegen, mine eme at Venlo;Sin I saw them be passed years four and three.

EMMA

Mine aunt at Nimmegen, mine eme at Venlo;

Sin I saw them be passed years four and three.

MOONENWherefore to your prayer I will not say no.And these your friends ye shall straightway see.

MOONEN

Wherefore to your prayer I will not say no.

And these your friends ye shall straightway see.

EMMAThey know not what hath befallen meNor where I be, no more than if earth had me swallowed.Ever mine eme with love hath me followed;I wot full many a tear he hath wept.

EMMA

They know not what hath befallen me

Nor where I be, no more than if earth had me swallowed.

Ever mine eme with love hath me followed;

I wot full many a tear he hath wept.

MOONENThe old shave-crown’s prayers me oft have keptWhen I was minded to rend her limb and lith.Ere now I had broken her neck, but therewithThe old man’s prayers to the lady in whiteHave stopped me quite; wherefore, despiteMy will, not yet is she utterly caught.

MOONEN

The old shave-crown’s prayers me oft have kept

When I was minded to rend her limb and lith.

Ere now I had broken her neck, but therewith

The old man’s prayers to the lady in white

Have stopped me quite; wherefore, despite

My will, not yet is she utterly caught.

EMMAWhat say ye, Moonen?

EMMA

What say ye, Moonen?

MOONENNought, dear, nought.I give you leave, as ye require,To see the friends to whom is your desire.Go pay the reckoning with mine host of the TreeAnd on the morrow thine eme we shall go seeOr thine other friends, as ye shall request.To this I am prest.

MOONEN

Nought, dear, nought.

I give you leave, as ye require,

To see the friends to whom is your desire.

Go pay the reckoning with mine host of the Tree

And on the morrow thine eme we shall go see

Or thine other friends, as ye shall request.

To this I am prest.

EMMAThen straight am I dress’dTo ask how it stands in our accountAnd pay it all wholly.

EMMA

Then straight am I dress’d

To ask how it stands in our account

And pay it all wholly.

MOONENSo do, and the amountSee that ye pay without question of the odd doit.—I shall get no loss from this exploit,’Tis no harm to visit her eme, the priest.If I could catch him bare-breeched, at the least,And so have him wholly at my desire,I would shortly break the old shave-poll’s swire.Were he away, the lass were mine without fail.But my purpose is wholly without avail,Save only the OmnipotentGiveth thereto his full consent.

MOONEN

So do, and the amount

See that ye pay without question of the odd doit.—

I shall get no loss from this exploit,

’Tis no harm to visit her eme, the priest.

If I could catch him bare-breeched, at the least,

And so have him wholly at my desire,

I would shortly break the old shave-poll’s swire.

Were he away, the lass were mine without fail.

But my purpose is wholly without avail,

Save only the Omnipotent

Giveth thereto his full consent.

¶ How Emma and Moonen journeyed to Nimmegen.

Thus Emma and Moonen journeyed to Nimmegen, where they be come on Procession Day, whereat Emma rejoiced exceedingly. And Moonen to her spake thus:

Now, Emma, even as ye of me prayed,Hither our journey we have madeTo Nimmegen; and ’tis Procession Day.Here your aunt had her dwelling, as ye say.Will ye go see her?EMMAYea, so much, mayhap;But for lodging I would not ask her, nor for a scrapTo eat nor yet a drop to drink;Thereof I would not think, lest o’er me she skinkThe flood of her reproach, and entreat me once moreEven so shamelessly as she hath done yore.’Twas the foul and wicked words she spakeMade me to these ill courses take,The which I still am in, alas!MOONENI bethink me, my love and solace,That to go thither will little bestead.Know your aunt is three years dead.EMMAWhat say ye, dead?MOONENYea, it is so.EMMAHow know ye that?MOONENEnough, I know.EMMA... This is not light to bear.MOONEN’Tis e’en so.EMMAStay, what do they there?Let us go look ere from hence we depart.See what a press of people forth doth start.Is it aught to see? Haste ye and enquire amain.MOONENNay, love, they will play somewhat on the pageant-wain.EMMAThat do they every year on this day,And as I mind, “Maskeroon” is the play.Its goodly excellence is not lightly to be told,Mine eme each year failed not it to behold.Ah, Moonen, let us hear it.MOONEN’Tis silly gabbling.Wherefore would ye give ear to such brabbling?Bah, go we to the roast meat and the wine.EMMAAh, Moonen, it was wont to be so brave and fine.I have heard mine eme say that for its teachingThe play was better than many a preaching.And in these plays oft times good ensamples there be.Ah, love, if ye would thereto agreeI would fain see it.MOONENTo consent I am not glad.—By Lucifer’s rump, I am sore adradLest in the play she behold some virtuous conditionWhereof haply she may catch contrition.By Lucifer, then were my high designs brought low.EMMAAy, Moonen, let me hear it.MOONENWell, see that ye be not slowTo come when I call, else will my wrath be great.

Now, Emma, even as ye of me prayed,Hither our journey we have madeTo Nimmegen; and ’tis Procession Day.Here your aunt had her dwelling, as ye say.Will ye go see her?

Now, Emma, even as ye of me prayed,

Hither our journey we have made

To Nimmegen; and ’tis Procession Day.

Here your aunt had her dwelling, as ye say.

Will ye go see her?

EMMAYea, so much, mayhap;But for lodging I would not ask her, nor for a scrapTo eat nor yet a drop to drink;Thereof I would not think, lest o’er me she skinkThe flood of her reproach, and entreat me once moreEven so shamelessly as she hath done yore.’Twas the foul and wicked words she spakeMade me to these ill courses take,The which I still am in, alas!

EMMA

Yea, so much, mayhap;

But for lodging I would not ask her, nor for a scrap

To eat nor yet a drop to drink;

Thereof I would not think, lest o’er me she skink

The flood of her reproach, and entreat me once more

Even so shamelessly as she hath done yore.

’Twas the foul and wicked words she spake

Made me to these ill courses take,

The which I still am in, alas!

MOONENI bethink me, my love and solace,That to go thither will little bestead.Know your aunt is three years dead.

MOONEN

I bethink me, my love and solace,

That to go thither will little bestead.

Know your aunt is three years dead.

EMMAWhat say ye, dead?

EMMA

What say ye, dead?

MOONENYea, it is so.

MOONEN

Yea, it is so.

EMMAHow know ye that?

EMMA

How know ye that?

MOONENEnough, I know.

MOONEN

Enough, I know.

EMMA... This is not light to bear.

EMMA

... This is not light to bear.

MOONEN’Tis e’en so.

MOONEN

’Tis e’en so.

EMMAStay, what do they there?Let us go look ere from hence we depart.See what a press of people forth doth start.Is it aught to see? Haste ye and enquire amain.

EMMA

Stay, what do they there?

Let us go look ere from hence we depart.

See what a press of people forth doth start.

Is it aught to see? Haste ye and enquire amain.

MOONENNay, love, they will play somewhat on the pageant-wain.

MOONEN

Nay, love, they will play somewhat on the pageant-wain.

EMMAThat do they every year on this day,And as I mind, “Maskeroon” is the play.Its goodly excellence is not lightly to be told,Mine eme each year failed not it to behold.Ah, Moonen, let us hear it.

EMMA

That do they every year on this day,

And as I mind, “Maskeroon” is the play.

Its goodly excellence is not lightly to be told,

Mine eme each year failed not it to behold.

Ah, Moonen, let us hear it.

MOONEN’Tis silly gabbling.Wherefore would ye give ear to such brabbling?Bah, go we to the roast meat and the wine.

MOONEN

’Tis silly gabbling.

Wherefore would ye give ear to such brabbling?

Bah, go we to the roast meat and the wine.

EMMAAh, Moonen, it was wont to be so brave and fine.I have heard mine eme say that for its teachingThe play was better than many a preaching.And in these plays oft times good ensamples there be.Ah, love, if ye would thereto agreeI would fain see it.

EMMA

Ah, Moonen, it was wont to be so brave and fine.

I have heard mine eme say that for its teaching

The play was better than many a preaching.

And in these plays oft times good ensamples there be.

Ah, love, if ye would thereto agree

I would fain see it.

MOONENTo consent I am not glad.—By Lucifer’s rump, I am sore adradLest in the play she behold some virtuous conditionWhereof haply she may catch contrition.By Lucifer, then were my high designs brought low.

MOONEN

To consent I am not glad.—

By Lucifer’s rump, I am sore adrad

Lest in the play she behold some virtuous condition

Whereof haply she may catch contrition.

By Lucifer, then were my high designs brought low.

EMMAAy, Moonen, let me hear it.

EMMA

Ay, Moonen, let me hear it.

MOONENWell, see that ye be not slowTo come when I call, else will my wrath be great.

MOONEN

Well, see that ye be not slow

To come when I call, else will my wrath be great.

Emma besought Moonen so hardly that she might hear the play that he thereto consented, though sorelyagainst his will as ye have heard. And the play began thus;

MASKEROONBrr! hierio! I, Maskeroon, Lucifer’s advocate,Make my appeal before the assizeOf Him called of men Most High and All Wise,Because He showeth to the vile human raceMore of His pity and of His graceThan to us poor spirits, damned perpetually.If all the sins that in the world there beWere wholly done by one sole manAnd then in heartfelt earnest he beganTo feel remorse, straight he to grace hath won.And we poor spirits, who have nought misdone,Save for one brief presumptuous thought,We be to the abyss down brought,Hopeless in everlasting pain.I, Lucifer’s procurator, ask againThe God of mercy wherefor of His graceComes less to us than to the raceOf men who daily sin on every side.GODMy mercy is to none deniedWho will repent him ere he dieAnd in season confess that IAm God of justice and mildheartedness.But they that grow hard in wickednessAnd will not truly them repentWith Lucifer in the pit they shall be shent,Where is wailing and hand-wringing.MASKEROONThy justice fails in many a thing,Though Thou art a just God called in every land and clime.In Abraham’s, in Moses’, and in Davids’ timeMen might Thee indeed the just name,But then didst Thou men blame and eke shameAnd punish them for uncleanness of thought.Nowadays though a child were with his mother naught,Or spurned his father underfoot and him smote,Yea, though one should thrust down his brother’s throatAll the evil that in the world is brewed,And then but repented him in mood,Straightway to him is thine abundant grace supplied.GODWherefore was it I the death diedShamefully upon the cross of tree,Were it not that man, whether young or old he be,Might get him mercy at the hands of my Father?MASKEROONWherefore shouldst Thou be wroth the rather,In as much as Thou, naked and in vain,Didst in Thy shameful death suffer such pain,That mankind should be clean of sin;Despite the which they do harden themselves inWickedness so unseemly and fellThat uneath may one it reckon and tell,And but to think on maketh the mind distraught.Such things as under the old law were not thoughtMen do now boldly perform them as soon.GODTherein thou liest not, Maskeroon:The people be indeed so hard grown in sinThat, if some amendment doth not shortly begin,My sharp sword of justice I will presently send,Which shall cut off all them that do offend,And eke My plagues, which are not light to endure.OUR LADYMy child, if mankind with plagues Thou wouldst cureIt were to me pure sorrow. Let Thy wrath be staid.Let there for man still a respite be made;Send Thou him first a sign and a token,Even as erewhile Thou hast unto him spoken:Earthquakes, twin suns, or a hairy star,That by these portents he may know how farThou art stepped beyond the measure of Thy wrath.Thus peradventure man will leave the pathOf sin, lest he be worse plagued to his cost.GODNay, Mother, that were but labor lost;I have full oft My portents shown,Whereby My wrath they might well have known;Pestilence, war, and season of dearth,The which should have brought repentance upon earthFor the sins which wrong My divinity.But the worse they are plagued the worse they be,Not thinking of wailful death for ever and aye.’Tis all: “what care I? At the last a prayer I will sayAnd the merciful God will save me from harm.”

MASKEROON

Brr! hierio! I, Maskeroon, Lucifer’s advocate,

Make my appeal before the assize

Of Him called of men Most High and All Wise,

Because He showeth to the vile human race

More of His pity and of His grace

Than to us poor spirits, damned perpetually.

If all the sins that in the world there be

Were wholly done by one sole man

And then in heartfelt earnest he began

To feel remorse, straight he to grace hath won.

And we poor spirits, who have nought misdone,

Save for one brief presumptuous thought,

We be to the abyss down brought,

Hopeless in everlasting pain.

I, Lucifer’s procurator, ask again

The God of mercy wherefor of His grace

Comes less to us than to the race

Of men who daily sin on every side.

GODMy mercy is to none deniedWho will repent him ere he dieAnd in season confess that IAm God of justice and mildheartedness.But they that grow hard in wickednessAnd will not truly them repentWith Lucifer in the pit they shall be shent,Where is wailing and hand-wringing.

GOD

My mercy is to none denied

Who will repent him ere he die

And in season confess that I

Am God of justice and mildheartedness.

But they that grow hard in wickedness

And will not truly them repent

With Lucifer in the pit they shall be shent,

Where is wailing and hand-wringing.

MASKEROONThy justice fails in many a thing,Though Thou art a just God called in every land and clime.In Abraham’s, in Moses’, and in Davids’ timeMen might Thee indeed the just name,But then didst Thou men blame and eke shameAnd punish them for uncleanness of thought.Nowadays though a child were with his mother naught,Or spurned his father underfoot and him smote,Yea, though one should thrust down his brother’s throatAll the evil that in the world is brewed,And then but repented him in mood,Straightway to him is thine abundant grace supplied.

MASKEROON

Thy justice fails in many a thing,

Though Thou art a just God called in every land and clime.

In Abraham’s, in Moses’, and in Davids’ time

Men might Thee indeed the just name,

But then didst Thou men blame and eke shame

And punish them for uncleanness of thought.

Nowadays though a child were with his mother naught,

Or spurned his father underfoot and him smote,

Yea, though one should thrust down his brother’s throat

All the evil that in the world is brewed,

And then but repented him in mood,

Straightway to him is thine abundant grace supplied.

GODWherefore was it I the death diedShamefully upon the cross of tree,Were it not that man, whether young or old he be,Might get him mercy at the hands of my Father?

GOD

Wherefore was it I the death died

Shamefully upon the cross of tree,

Were it not that man, whether young or old he be,

Might get him mercy at the hands of my Father?

MASKEROONWherefore shouldst Thou be wroth the rather,In as much as Thou, naked and in vain,Didst in Thy shameful death suffer such pain,That mankind should be clean of sin;Despite the which they do harden themselves inWickedness so unseemly and fellThat uneath may one it reckon and tell,And but to think on maketh the mind distraught.Such things as under the old law were not thoughtMen do now boldly perform them as soon.

MASKEROON

Wherefore shouldst Thou be wroth the rather,

In as much as Thou, naked and in vain,

Didst in Thy shameful death suffer such pain,

That mankind should be clean of sin;

Despite the which they do harden themselves in

Wickedness so unseemly and fell

That uneath may one it reckon and tell,

And but to think on maketh the mind distraught.

Such things as under the old law were not thought

Men do now boldly perform them as soon.

GODTherein thou liest not, Maskeroon:The people be indeed so hard grown in sinThat, if some amendment doth not shortly begin,My sharp sword of justice I will presently send,Which shall cut off all them that do offend,And eke My plagues, which are not light to endure.

GOD

Therein thou liest not, Maskeroon:

The people be indeed so hard grown in sin

That, if some amendment doth not shortly begin,

My sharp sword of justice I will presently send,

Which shall cut off all them that do offend,

And eke My plagues, which are not light to endure.

OUR LADYMy child, if mankind with plagues Thou wouldst cureIt were to me pure sorrow. Let Thy wrath be staid.Let there for man still a respite be made;Send Thou him first a sign and a token,Even as erewhile Thou hast unto him spoken:Earthquakes, twin suns, or a hairy star,That by these portents he may know how farThou art stepped beyond the measure of Thy wrath.Thus peradventure man will leave the pathOf sin, lest he be worse plagued to his cost.

OUR LADY

My child, if mankind with plagues Thou wouldst cure

It were to me pure sorrow. Let Thy wrath be staid.

Let there for man still a respite be made;

Send Thou him first a sign and a token,

Even as erewhile Thou hast unto him spoken:

Earthquakes, twin suns, or a hairy star,

That by these portents he may know how far

Thou art stepped beyond the measure of Thy wrath.

Thus peradventure man will leave the path

Of sin, lest he be worse plagued to his cost.

GODNay, Mother, that were but labor lost;I have full oft My portents shown,Whereby My wrath they might well have known;Pestilence, war, and season of dearth,The which should have brought repentance upon earthFor the sins which wrong My divinity.But the worse they are plagued the worse they be,Not thinking of wailful death for ever and aye.’Tis all: “what care I? At the last a prayer I will sayAnd the merciful God will save me from harm.”

GOD

Nay, Mother, that were but labor lost;

I have full oft My portents shown,

Whereby My wrath they might well have known;

Pestilence, war, and season of dearth,

The which should have brought repentance upon earth

For the sins which wrong My divinity.

But the worse they are plagued the worse they be,

Not thinking of wailful death for ever and aye.

’Tis all: “what care I? At the last a prayer I will say

And the merciful God will save me from harm.”

Emma hearkening to this play bethought her of her sinful life with sad heart, with herself saying:

Lord God, how doth my blood grow warmAt the words I hear spoke on yon pageant-wain.These be reasons and arguments so plainThat pure contrition I do begin to know.MOONENWell, must we stand here forever? What say ye, ho!Wherefore to hear this brabbling be ye fain?Let us be gone, love.EMMANay, it is lost painThus to call and hale and tug at me in this way.Even so long as lasteth the playTo make me budge a step nought will avail.’Tis better than a sermon.MOONENHelp, Lucifer’s tail!I am in despair that here she should stay,Lest to repentance she catch the nearest wayWith the foolish blether to the which she giveth heed.I will bide awhile, but if she cometh not erelong with speed’Twill be my fists shall furnish arguments.MASKEROONO ruler of the heavens and the elements,God that in justice sittest enthroned,If but to Lucifer and the infernal synod were loanedThy will and power, then could weChastise mankind all utterlyUntil from sinning they shall cease.Thus only canst Thou win surceaseAnd they release, from the evils they do in Thy despight.Thy hand of justice must them smiteIf Thou wouldst make Thee known of men.GODMaskeroon, it may not be over long till thenAnd I give thee leave to plague mankind,For to good they will not be inclinedOr ere their stubborn necks I bend.OUR LADYO son, men will yet their evil ways amend.Bethink Thee ere too swift Thy hand hath struck.Bethink Thee on the breasts that gave Thee suck,Bethink Thee on the bosom that did Thee enfold,Bethink Thee on the passion Thou hast tholed,Bethink Thee of the blood-offering Thou didst make.Was it not all done for man his sakeThat to Thy Father’s mercy he might win?Thyself hast said that if a man should sinIn his sole self of sins each oneThat ever upon earth were doneAnd heartily on Thee for mercy cried,Thine arms to him would open wide.This is Thy word as man well wot.GODLady Mother, I have spoken, and repent Me not,But I say again that if a man commitAll the sins whereto he could bethink him in his wit,If he confess and repent he shall be of the chosen straightway;For liefer than one soul should go astrayI would suffer all the pain twice o’erWhich the Jews did unto Me in days of yore.O man, this it behooveth thee to know.

Lord God, how doth my blood grow warmAt the words I hear spoke on yon pageant-wain.These be reasons and arguments so plainThat pure contrition I do begin to know.

Lord God, how doth my blood grow warm

At the words I hear spoke on yon pageant-wain.

These be reasons and arguments so plain

That pure contrition I do begin to know.

MOONENWell, must we stand here forever? What say ye, ho!Wherefore to hear this brabbling be ye fain?Let us be gone, love.

MOONEN

Well, must we stand here forever? What say ye, ho!

Wherefore to hear this brabbling be ye fain?

Let us be gone, love.

EMMANay, it is lost painThus to call and hale and tug at me in this way.Even so long as lasteth the playTo make me budge a step nought will avail.’Tis better than a sermon.

EMMA

Nay, it is lost pain

Thus to call and hale and tug at me in this way.

Even so long as lasteth the play

To make me budge a step nought will avail.

’Tis better than a sermon.

MOONENHelp, Lucifer’s tail!I am in despair that here she should stay,Lest to repentance she catch the nearest wayWith the foolish blether to the which she giveth heed.I will bide awhile, but if she cometh not erelong with speed’Twill be my fists shall furnish arguments.

MOONEN

Help, Lucifer’s tail!

I am in despair that here she should stay,

Lest to repentance she catch the nearest way

With the foolish blether to the which she giveth heed.

I will bide awhile, but if she cometh not erelong with speed

’Twill be my fists shall furnish arguments.

MASKEROONO ruler of the heavens and the elements,God that in justice sittest enthroned,If but to Lucifer and the infernal synod were loanedThy will and power, then could weChastise mankind all utterlyUntil from sinning they shall cease.Thus only canst Thou win surceaseAnd they release, from the evils they do in Thy despight.Thy hand of justice must them smiteIf Thou wouldst make Thee known of men.

MASKEROON

O ruler of the heavens and the elements,

God that in justice sittest enthroned,

If but to Lucifer and the infernal synod were loaned

Thy will and power, then could we

Chastise mankind all utterly

Until from sinning they shall cease.

Thus only canst Thou win surcease

And they release, from the evils they do in Thy despight.

Thy hand of justice must them smite

If Thou wouldst make Thee known of men.

GODMaskeroon, it may not be over long till thenAnd I give thee leave to plague mankind,For to good they will not be inclinedOr ere their stubborn necks I bend.

GOD

Maskeroon, it may not be over long till then

And I give thee leave to plague mankind,

For to good they will not be inclined

Or ere their stubborn necks I bend.

OUR LADYO son, men will yet their evil ways amend.Bethink Thee ere too swift Thy hand hath struck.Bethink Thee on the breasts that gave Thee suck,Bethink Thee on the bosom that did Thee enfold,Bethink Thee on the passion Thou hast tholed,Bethink Thee of the blood-offering Thou didst make.Was it not all done for man his sakeThat to Thy Father’s mercy he might win?Thyself hast said that if a man should sinIn his sole self of sins each oneThat ever upon earth were doneAnd heartily on Thee for mercy cried,Thine arms to him would open wide.This is Thy word as man well wot.

OUR LADY

O son, men will yet their evil ways amend.

Bethink Thee ere too swift Thy hand hath struck.

Bethink Thee on the breasts that gave Thee suck,

Bethink Thee on the bosom that did Thee enfold,

Bethink Thee on the passion Thou hast tholed,

Bethink Thee of the blood-offering Thou didst make.

Was it not all done for man his sake

That to Thy Father’s mercy he might win?

Thyself hast said that if a man should sin

In his sole self of sins each one

That ever upon earth were done

And heartily on Thee for mercy cried,

Thine arms to him would open wide.

This is Thy word as man well wot.

GODLady Mother, I have spoken, and repent Me not,But I say again that if a man commitAll the sins whereto he could bethink him in his wit,If he confess and repent he shall be of the chosen straightway;For liefer than one soul should go astrayI would suffer all the pain twice o’erWhich the Jews did unto Me in days of yore.O man, this it behooveth thee to know.

GOD

Lady Mother, I have spoken, and repent Me not,

But I say again that if a man commit

All the sins whereto he could bethink him in his wit,

If he confess and repent he shall be of the chosen straightway;

For liefer than one soul should go astray

I would suffer all the pain twice o’er

Which the Jews did unto Me in days of yore.

O man, this it behooveth thee to know.

The longer Emma hearkened to this play, even the more she bethought of her sins, saying thus:

Now do my tears begin to flowAnd course adown my cheeks like rain.Ah, to what contrition I do now attainAt hearkening to these words; O Lord of Lords,Were it possible that should I turn me towardsThy mercy, I might have of it some part?Ere now contrition hath visited not my heart.Were it possible? Alas, I fear me nay.I be wandered too far out of the way,Not letting reason be of my will the guide.Open, O Earth, swallow me and hide,For I am not worthy to tread on thee in any wise.MOONENHelp Modicack, how the flames start from mine eyes;The lass hath got a crop full of contrition....To some merry part of the town haste weAnd there crush a cup of wine.EMMANay, let be,Foul fiend, be gone without any tarrying!Woe’s me, that ever I did such a thingAs summon you, God’s mercy all forgot.Ah, ah! repentance within me doth burn so hotIt will consume my heart. Alas, I swound!My strength hath left me.MOONENLucifer’s lights, liver and spleen confound!Now may I sputter flames and howl;Now runneth all my fair to foul;And they who prowl in Hell will give me small acclaim.Rise up in all the devils’ nameOr with hosen and shoon into the jakes ye go.EMMAO Lord, have mercy upon me!MOONENYea, stands it so?Now I perceive remorse in her doth gnaw.Up into the clouds I will her drawAnd towering high down hurl her with might and with main;If she to herself do come again,The whelp may think her luck is fair.—Here, here, ye go with me aloft in the air.

Now do my tears begin to flow

And course adown my cheeks like rain.

Ah, to what contrition I do now attain

At hearkening to these words; O Lord of Lords,

Were it possible that should I turn me towards

Thy mercy, I might have of it some part?

Ere now contrition hath visited not my heart.

Were it possible? Alas, I fear me nay.

I be wandered too far out of the way,

Not letting reason be of my will the guide.

Open, O Earth, swallow me and hide,

For I am not worthy to tread on thee in any wise.

MOONENHelp Modicack, how the flames start from mine eyes;The lass hath got a crop full of contrition....To some merry part of the town haste weAnd there crush a cup of wine.

MOONEN

Help Modicack, how the flames start from mine eyes;

The lass hath got a crop full of contrition.

...

To some merry part of the town haste we

And there crush a cup of wine.

EMMANay, let be,Foul fiend, be gone without any tarrying!Woe’s me, that ever I did such a thingAs summon you, God’s mercy all forgot.Ah, ah! repentance within me doth burn so hotIt will consume my heart. Alas, I swound!My strength hath left me.

EMMA

Nay, let be,

Foul fiend, be gone without any tarrying!

Woe’s me, that ever I did such a thing

As summon you, God’s mercy all forgot.

Ah, ah! repentance within me doth burn so hot

It will consume my heart. Alas, I swound!

My strength hath left me.

MOONENLucifer’s lights, liver and spleen confound!Now may I sputter flames and howl;Now runneth all my fair to foul;And they who prowl in Hell will give me small acclaim.Rise up in all the devils’ nameOr with hosen and shoon into the jakes ye go.

MOONEN

Lucifer’s lights, liver and spleen confound!

Now may I sputter flames and howl;

Now runneth all my fair to foul;

And they who prowl in Hell will give me small acclaim.

Rise up in all the devils’ name

Or with hosen and shoon into the jakes ye go.

EMMAO Lord, have mercy upon me!

EMMA

O Lord, have mercy upon me!

MOONENYea, stands it so?Now I perceive remorse in her doth gnaw.Up into the clouds I will her drawAnd towering high down hurl her with might and with main;If she to herself do come again,The whelp may think her luck is fair.—Here, here, ye go with me aloft in the air.

MOONEN

Yea, stands it so?

Now I perceive remorse in her doth gnaw.

Up into the clouds I will her draw

And towering high down hurl her with might and with main;

If she to herself do come again,

The whelp may think her luck is fair.—

Here, here, ye go with me aloft in the air.

After these words hath Moonen the devil caught up Emma in the air higher than is any house or church, the which her uncle and all the people beheld, wondering exceedingly and not knowing what it might mean.

¶ How Moonen cast down Emma from on high and how she was discovered to her uncle.

When Moonen the devil had caught up Emma high above all the houses, he cast her down from above into the street as he was minded to break her neck, whereat the people were sore adrad. And Sir Gysbrecht, her eme, who hearkened also to the play, marveled what it meant and who it might be that fellfrom so great height, saying and asking of them that stood by thus:

Her luck is good if her neck be not broke in twain.My heart feeleth unutterable painTo look on one in such array.Know ye her not? Who is the woman, I pray?A BURGHERI would fain see if I know her, without a doubt,But there be such press of folk hereaboutThat I may nowise come her to.Follow me close, and ye shall see what I will do.He is a fool says I am not stout to make them give ground.See ye, sir, the poor lady lieth in a swound,She be gone out of herself.THE UNCLEIt is small wonder so.Help, all the blood of my body from top to toeBe crept from me forth, as I deem.The tears do from mine eyes stream;My veins be dead and my color turned into pale;Never thus have I felt my strength fail.Ah friend, have a care of me, I you beseech.THE BURGHERStay sir, what aileth you, as by your speech?Ye be changed as if ye were but dead.THE UNCLEI would well that were my fate instead.O Atropos, grant me of my life release!THE BURGHERWherefore do ye thus?THE UNCLEOh, it is my niece,For the which my heart is fulfilled of sorrow.For her have I searched this seven year on even and on morrow.Now lieth she here with her neck broken in twain.O earth, open and swallow me amain;Here I would no longer tarry.THE BURGHERBe ye sure ’tis she?THE UNCLEShould I not know her, marry?Or mean ye that in my wit I fail?MOONENFire and brimstone, lightning and hail!I befoul my tail out of pure ire;But to a remedy I am none the nigher.Yonder is her uncle; I am to cook this but will ye tell me how?I had broken her neck long ere now,But that the prayers of this holy priestTo make hard my way have not ceased.An I might I would carry him straight to Lucifer.THE BURGHERLook, sir, I do see her somewhat stir.THE UNCLEStir! That were the boot of all my bale.’Tis true, she doth stir sikerly.EMMAAlas, what doth to me ail?Where have I been, and be now in what place?O Lord, stand I in Thy graceThat to Thy mercy I may come?Yea, but Thy care had kept me fromThe fiend, O Lord omnipotent,In lasting torment I were shent,Thrust soul and body beyond the reachAnd scope of the Lord’s realm.THE UNCLESince ye have speech,Mary, my niece, then speak to me,Who so many sighs for theeHave sighed and many a moan have made,Nor ever my questionings have staid;And now I find you in this press, as it doth seemIn sorry plight.EMMAAh, is it ye, mine eme?Ah, would God I were in that caseEven now as then I wasWhen I last saw you ere my long journey was begun.Ah, when my course of life I overrunI fear me I am damned for aye.THE UNCLENiece, ye err, I trow,For none is lost who will not yield him so.How should ye be damned? That were pity indeed.How came ye hither? I would fain know with speed;And ye were so high in air but now.I prithee tell me thereof, if ye would allow.Never saw I any so high, by my troth.EMMAMine eme, I be alas full loathTo reckon up the tale of my aventures.I gave me over wholly to the devil’s lures,And after I have gone about with him for wellnigh seven year.I may not lightly set it all clear, but thus briefly ye shall hearWhither our way of life hath us took.One could well thereof write a book.There is none evil with mine which may compare;And at the end of all this strange fareI am come hither in land my friends to behold.And even now as this way we strolledWe saw them in the market-place herePlaying the play of Maskeroon, to the which I gave ear.At every word which I there heardI caught such a contrition that it stirredHim to wrath that stood by me and he flew,Even as ye saw, high with me into air.THE UNCLEAlas and harru!How, niece, was it the fiend that was with you here?EMMAYea, eme, and ’tis now well nigh seven yearSince I yielded me to do his will and wentA wandering with him.THE UNCLEHelp, God omnipotent!Hearing this maketh me all aghast.We must drive this fiend from you at the last,If God’s kingdom ye would come to.MOONENAy, shave-crown, that may ye not do;Ye may not me from her divide.If it pleased me I would carry her hair and hideWhere is sulphur and pitch a plenty at the least.THE UNCLEWould ye, foul fiend?MOONENYea, that I would, horson priest.She is mine, she hath yielded herself all wholly,And renounced the Most High, and held with me,Wherefore in the furnace of hell she must burn.And, horson, would ye her from me turn?I will strike you down all plat.THE UNCLEFoul fiend, I will let you of that.Here in my breviary there standEight or ten lines writ in a fair nandWhich will make you grin all otherwise.MOONENAh! ah! my fell of bristles doth riseAt the words he readeth; I know nor what to do nor how.By Modicack, if she should scape me nowI shall be whipped with burning lash!Yea, in rage my teeth I gnash,And blow sparks from mouth and ears.Now in me full plain appearsThat if the Lord’s wrath we arouse in aught,All we spirits may do is less than nought.I fear me with this soul I need no longer tarry.THE UNCLEGo we, niece Mary, and I will you carryTo the deacon’s and there make up a fire.Methinks your limbs be broke, for higherHe flew with you than one can think and then let fall,Ye must be sore hurt.EMMAI count it nought at allThis pain, mine eme; though remedy be none.More by ten thousand times I would not shunThan all that pens could write for anything,If only to me God’s mercy would cling.I care not what befalls if but one dayComfort and mercy may be mine.THE UNCLEKeep you in that way,I promise you God’s kingdom to your cure.We read alday in the blessed ScriptureThat him who on God’s mercy would him castNought so avails as repentance at the last.

Her luck is good if her neck be not broke in twain.My heart feeleth unutterable painTo look on one in such array.Know ye her not? Who is the woman, I pray?

Her luck is good if her neck be not broke in twain.

My heart feeleth unutterable pain

To look on one in such array.

Know ye her not? Who is the woman, I pray?

A BURGHERI would fain see if I know her, without a doubt,But there be such press of folk hereaboutThat I may nowise come her to.Follow me close, and ye shall see what I will do.He is a fool says I am not stout to make them give ground.See ye, sir, the poor lady lieth in a swound,She be gone out of herself.

A BURGHER

I would fain see if I know her, without a doubt,

But there be such press of folk hereabout

That I may nowise come her to.

Follow me close, and ye shall see what I will do.

He is a fool says I am not stout to make them give ground.

See ye, sir, the poor lady lieth in a swound,

She be gone out of herself.

THE UNCLEIt is small wonder so.Help, all the blood of my body from top to toeBe crept from me forth, as I deem.The tears do from mine eyes stream;My veins be dead and my color turned into pale;Never thus have I felt my strength fail.Ah friend, have a care of me, I you beseech.

THE UNCLE

It is small wonder so.

Help, all the blood of my body from top to toe

Be crept from me forth, as I deem.

The tears do from mine eyes stream;

My veins be dead and my color turned into pale;

Never thus have I felt my strength fail.

Ah friend, have a care of me, I you beseech.

THE BURGHERStay sir, what aileth you, as by your speech?Ye be changed as if ye were but dead.

THE BURGHER

Stay sir, what aileth you, as by your speech?

Ye be changed as if ye were but dead.

THE UNCLEI would well that were my fate instead.O Atropos, grant me of my life release!

THE UNCLE

I would well that were my fate instead.

O Atropos, grant me of my life release!

THE BURGHERWherefore do ye thus?

THE BURGHER

Wherefore do ye thus?

THE UNCLEOh, it is my niece,For the which my heart is fulfilled of sorrow.For her have I searched this seven year on even and on morrow.Now lieth she here with her neck broken in twain.O earth, open and swallow me amain;Here I would no longer tarry.

THE UNCLE

Oh, it is my niece,

For the which my heart is fulfilled of sorrow.

For her have I searched this seven year on even and on morrow.

Now lieth she here with her neck broken in twain.

O earth, open and swallow me amain;

Here I would no longer tarry.

THE BURGHERBe ye sure ’tis she?

THE BURGHER

Be ye sure ’tis she?

THE UNCLEShould I not know her, marry?Or mean ye that in my wit I fail?

THE UNCLE

Should I not know her, marry?

Or mean ye that in my wit I fail?

MOONENFire and brimstone, lightning and hail!I befoul my tail out of pure ire;But to a remedy I am none the nigher.Yonder is her uncle; I am to cook this but will ye tell me how?I had broken her neck long ere now,But that the prayers of this holy priestTo make hard my way have not ceased.An I might I would carry him straight to Lucifer.

MOONEN

Fire and brimstone, lightning and hail!

I befoul my tail out of pure ire;

But to a remedy I am none the nigher.

Yonder is her uncle; I am to cook this but will ye tell me how?

I had broken her neck long ere now,

But that the prayers of this holy priest

To make hard my way have not ceased.

An I might I would carry him straight to Lucifer.

THE BURGHERLook, sir, I do see her somewhat stir.

THE BURGHER

Look, sir, I do see her somewhat stir.

THE UNCLEStir! That were the boot of all my bale.’Tis true, she doth stir sikerly.

THE UNCLE

Stir! That were the boot of all my bale.

’Tis true, she doth stir sikerly.

EMMAAlas, what doth to me ail?Where have I been, and be now in what place?O Lord, stand I in Thy graceThat to Thy mercy I may come?Yea, but Thy care had kept me fromThe fiend, O Lord omnipotent,In lasting torment I were shent,Thrust soul and body beyond the reachAnd scope of the Lord’s realm.

EMMA

Alas, what doth to me ail?

Where have I been, and be now in what place?

O Lord, stand I in Thy grace

That to Thy mercy I may come?

Yea, but Thy care had kept me from

The fiend, O Lord omnipotent,

In lasting torment I were shent,

Thrust soul and body beyond the reach

And scope of the Lord’s realm.

THE UNCLESince ye have speech,Mary, my niece, then speak to me,Who so many sighs for theeHave sighed and many a moan have made,Nor ever my questionings have staid;And now I find you in this press, as it doth seemIn sorry plight.

THE UNCLE

Since ye have speech,

Mary, my niece, then speak to me,

Who so many sighs for thee

Have sighed and many a moan have made,

Nor ever my questionings have staid;

And now I find you in this press, as it doth seem

In sorry plight.

EMMAAh, is it ye, mine eme?Ah, would God I were in that caseEven now as then I wasWhen I last saw you ere my long journey was begun.Ah, when my course of life I overrunI fear me I am damned for aye.

EMMA

Ah, is it ye, mine eme?

Ah, would God I were in that case

Even now as then I was

When I last saw you ere my long journey was begun.

Ah, when my course of life I overrun

I fear me I am damned for aye.

THE UNCLENiece, ye err, I trow,For none is lost who will not yield him so.How should ye be damned? That were pity indeed.How came ye hither? I would fain know with speed;And ye were so high in air but now.I prithee tell me thereof, if ye would allow.Never saw I any so high, by my troth.

THE UNCLE

Niece, ye err, I trow,

For none is lost who will not yield him so.

How should ye be damned? That were pity indeed.

How came ye hither? I would fain know with speed;

And ye were so high in air but now.

I prithee tell me thereof, if ye would allow.

Never saw I any so high, by my troth.

EMMAMine eme, I be alas full loathTo reckon up the tale of my aventures.I gave me over wholly to the devil’s lures,And after I have gone about with him for wellnigh seven year.I may not lightly set it all clear, but thus briefly ye shall hearWhither our way of life hath us took.One could well thereof write a book.There is none evil with mine which may compare;And at the end of all this strange fareI am come hither in land my friends to behold.And even now as this way we strolledWe saw them in the market-place herePlaying the play of Maskeroon, to the which I gave ear.At every word which I there heardI caught such a contrition that it stirredHim to wrath that stood by me and he flew,Even as ye saw, high with me into air.

EMMA

Mine eme, I be alas full loath

To reckon up the tale of my aventures.

I gave me over wholly to the devil’s lures,

And after I have gone about with him for wellnigh seven year.

I may not lightly set it all clear, but thus briefly ye shall hear

Whither our way of life hath us took.

One could well thereof write a book.

There is none evil with mine which may compare;

And at the end of all this strange fare

I am come hither in land my friends to behold.

And even now as this way we strolled

We saw them in the market-place here

Playing the play of Maskeroon, to the which I gave ear.

At every word which I there heard

I caught such a contrition that it stirred

Him to wrath that stood by me and he flew,

Even as ye saw, high with me into air.

THE UNCLEAlas and harru!How, niece, was it the fiend that was with you here?

THE UNCLE

Alas and harru!

How, niece, was it the fiend that was with you here?

EMMAYea, eme, and ’tis now well nigh seven yearSince I yielded me to do his will and wentA wandering with him.

EMMA

Yea, eme, and ’tis now well nigh seven year

Since I yielded me to do his will and went

A wandering with him.

THE UNCLEHelp, God omnipotent!Hearing this maketh me all aghast.We must drive this fiend from you at the last,If God’s kingdom ye would come to.

THE UNCLE

Help, God omnipotent!

Hearing this maketh me all aghast.

We must drive this fiend from you at the last,

If God’s kingdom ye would come to.

MOONENAy, shave-crown, that may ye not do;Ye may not me from her divide.If it pleased me I would carry her hair and hideWhere is sulphur and pitch a plenty at the least.

MOONEN

Ay, shave-crown, that may ye not do;

Ye may not me from her divide.

If it pleased me I would carry her hair and hide

Where is sulphur and pitch a plenty at the least.

THE UNCLEWould ye, foul fiend?

THE UNCLE

Would ye, foul fiend?

MOONENYea, that I would, horson priest.She is mine, she hath yielded herself all wholly,And renounced the Most High, and held with me,Wherefore in the furnace of hell she must burn.And, horson, would ye her from me turn?I will strike you down all plat.

MOONEN

Yea, that I would, horson priest.

She is mine, she hath yielded herself all wholly,

And renounced the Most High, and held with me,

Wherefore in the furnace of hell she must burn.

And, horson, would ye her from me turn?

I will strike you down all plat.

THE UNCLEFoul fiend, I will let you of that.Here in my breviary there standEight or ten lines writ in a fair nandWhich will make you grin all otherwise.

THE UNCLE

Foul fiend, I will let you of that.

Here in my breviary there stand

Eight or ten lines writ in a fair nand

Which will make you grin all otherwise.

MOONENAh! ah! my fell of bristles doth riseAt the words he readeth; I know nor what to do nor how.By Modicack, if she should scape me nowI shall be whipped with burning lash!Yea, in rage my teeth I gnash,And blow sparks from mouth and ears.Now in me full plain appearsThat if the Lord’s wrath we arouse in aught,All we spirits may do is less than nought.I fear me with this soul I need no longer tarry.

MOONEN

Ah! ah! my fell of bristles doth rise

At the words he readeth; I know nor what to do nor how.

By Modicack, if she should scape me now

I shall be whipped with burning lash!

Yea, in rage my teeth I gnash,

And blow sparks from mouth and ears.

Now in me full plain appears

That if the Lord’s wrath we arouse in aught,

All we spirits may do is less than nought.

I fear me with this soul I need no longer tarry.

THE UNCLEGo we, niece Mary, and I will you carryTo the deacon’s and there make up a fire.Methinks your limbs be broke, for higherHe flew with you than one can think and then let fall,Ye must be sore hurt.

THE UNCLE

Go we, niece Mary, and I will you carry

To the deacon’s and there make up a fire.

Methinks your limbs be broke, for higher

He flew with you than one can think and then let fall,

Ye must be sore hurt.

EMMAI count it nought at allThis pain, mine eme; though remedy be none.More by ten thousand times I would not shunThan all that pens could write for anything,If only to me God’s mercy would cling.I care not what befalls if but one dayComfort and mercy may be mine.

EMMA

I count it nought at all

This pain, mine eme; though remedy be none.

More by ten thousand times I would not shun

Than all that pens could write for anything,

If only to me God’s mercy would cling.

I care not what befalls if but one day

Comfort and mercy may be mine.

THE UNCLEKeep you in that way,I promise you God’s kingdom to your cure.We read alday in the blessed ScriptureThat him who on God’s mercy would him castNought so avails as repentance at the last.

THE UNCLE

Keep you in that way,

I promise you God’s kingdom to your cure.

We read alday in the blessed Scripture

That him who on God’s mercy would him cast

Nought so avails as repentance at the last.

After this Sir Gysbrecht is gone with his niece to all the most learned priests in the town of Nimmegen, but none of them, howsoever learned or expert or holy or devout, when they heard her story, durst undertake to absolve her or to prescribe to her penance for her sins, the which were fearful and against kind, whereat both they were sore downcast.

¶ How Sir Gysbrecht journeyed to Cologne with his niece.

The next day at early morn Sir Gysbrecht made preparations as if he would celebrate mass taking the precious holy sacrament in his hand and set out with Emma his niece on the way to Cologne. And Moonen the devil followed them from afar but he darenot approach nigh nor draw near to Emma in any wise on account o£ the power of the holy sacrament. Nevertheless he threw sometimes the half of an oak tree or another from above at them, minded to break both their necks, but our Lord would not allow it for she used daily to read a prayer in honor of our Blessed Lady. Thus they traveled so long and much that they came to Cologne where she confessed to the Bishop. But there no man knew what counsel to give her for her sin was so against kind and great that the Bishop had not power to absolve her.

¶ How Emma and her Uncle journeyed to Rome and how Emma confessed her to the Pope.

After this Emma and her eme departed them from the Bishop and leaving Cologne journeyed to Rome, where they be come after much travail and journeying. And Emma has made confession to the Pope with weeping eyes, saying:

O God’s vice-gerent, yea, God on earth, as we be told,A sinner worse than I earth doth not hold;Shut out from the bar of Heaven I be.THE POPEWherefore, my child?EMMAThe devil’s amieI have been yea more than seven yearAnd with him have wandered far or nearEven at our will, and know ye for truthWhatso man and wife do we have done in sooth.Now say ye not that to fear me I do well?THE POPEWhat, child, and was it the fiend out of hell?And wist ye that, when ye together went,The fiend he was?EMMAYea, father reverent.THE POPEHow could ye with the fiend have adoIf ye wist ’twas he?EMMAFather, ’twas merry days for us two,And the broad gold and all the rich fareThe which he gave me, be ye well ware’Twas these tempted me, wherefore I am now shamed.There was nought in the whole world that I namedHe did not give it me straight even as I willed.But this with the sorrow whereof I now most am filled,And the which hath my heart cleft clean in twain,’Tis that so many folk were slainWhithersoever we be come in our way.More than two hundred, reverend father, I say,Be for my sake miserably dead,One time or another.THE POPEAlmighty Godhead!For such misdeeds ye may well live in sorrow.EMMAO father, if it may be, be to me borrowAnd give me penance or ere we part,I reck not how heavy.THE POPEI scarce have heartTo tent so deep into the mercy of the Lord.What, that ye should with the fiend be at accord!Such crimes in confession I have not heard tell!And furthermore by your wiles ye have sent pell-mellSo many the way their life they should lose!I may scarce know what penance to chooseHeavy enough for such mortal sin.To dwell with the fiend was but a bestial life to be in.O Godhead, whereof doth not begin or end the grace,Wilt Thou guide me as in this case,Beneath the which my wit doth bow and bend!O Judge enthroned in justice, do Thou sendThine inspiration from on high!Hola, my course I clear descry;Me were full loath that damned ye be.The priest was with you, summon hither to me.Your penance ye shall hear without all doubt.EMMAWhere be ye, eme?THE UNCLEI stand here without,And full of care till it doth appearHow it shall go with her.THE POPENow ye my judgment hear:It were a thing right pitiful to seeThat any should be damned, if cure there be,Nor doth God unmoved behold such things.See, here be three iron rings;The greatest ye shall her neck lock round,The other two, without sigh or sound,Lock on her arms, both fast and strong.And let her bear them how so longIt be that they wear away and fall.1080Then shall her sins be forgiven all.Nor till then shall she be of them quit.THE UNCLE’Twill be full long, as to my wit,Ere of themselves they fall to ground,For they be of weight so many a poundThat in an hundred year they will wear neverA farthing thickness.THE POPEYet may she so perseverHeartily in a state of penitenceThat the rings will of themselves fall henceFrom neck and arms and leave them bare.But see ye lock them fast.THE UNCLEFather, I swearThey shall be locked so stout and stark,If they come off ’twill be God’s mark.O priest and clerk above each earthly state,With your good favor we will take our leave straight,And go again our gate back to the landWhence we be come.THE POPEMay He whose handDispenseth mercy soften your affliction.EMMAAdieu, holy Father.THE POPEDaughter, go in God’s protection,And keep ye wholly in penitence,For above with the Highest ExcellenceIs pure penitence held more dearThan ought that we may read or hear.

O God’s vice-gerent, yea, God on earth, as we be told,A sinner worse than I earth doth not hold;Shut out from the bar of Heaven I be.

O God’s vice-gerent, yea, God on earth, as we be told,

A sinner worse than I earth doth not hold;

Shut out from the bar of Heaven I be.

THE POPEWherefore, my child?

THE POPE

Wherefore, my child?

EMMAThe devil’s amieI have been yea more than seven yearAnd with him have wandered far or nearEven at our will, and know ye for truthWhatso man and wife do we have done in sooth.Now say ye not that to fear me I do well?

EMMA

The devil’s amie

I have been yea more than seven year

And with him have wandered far or near

Even at our will, and know ye for truth

Whatso man and wife do we have done in sooth.

Now say ye not that to fear me I do well?

THE POPEWhat, child, and was it the fiend out of hell?And wist ye that, when ye together went,The fiend he was?

THE POPE

What, child, and was it the fiend out of hell?

And wist ye that, when ye together went,

The fiend he was?

EMMAYea, father reverent.

EMMA

Yea, father reverent.

THE POPEHow could ye with the fiend have adoIf ye wist ’twas he?

THE POPE

How could ye with the fiend have ado

If ye wist ’twas he?

EMMAFather, ’twas merry days for us two,And the broad gold and all the rich fareThe which he gave me, be ye well ware’Twas these tempted me, wherefore I am now shamed.There was nought in the whole world that I namedHe did not give it me straight even as I willed.But this with the sorrow whereof I now most am filled,And the which hath my heart cleft clean in twain,’Tis that so many folk were slainWhithersoever we be come in our way.More than two hundred, reverend father, I say,Be for my sake miserably dead,One time or another.

EMMA

Father, ’twas merry days for us two,

And the broad gold and all the rich fare

The which he gave me, be ye well ware

’Twas these tempted me, wherefore I am now shamed.

There was nought in the whole world that I named

He did not give it me straight even as I willed.

But this with the sorrow whereof I now most am filled,

And the which hath my heart cleft clean in twain,

’Tis that so many folk were slain

Whithersoever we be come in our way.

More than two hundred, reverend father, I say,

Be for my sake miserably dead,

One time or another.

THE POPEAlmighty Godhead!For such misdeeds ye may well live in sorrow.

THE POPE

Almighty Godhead!

For such misdeeds ye may well live in sorrow.

EMMAO father, if it may be, be to me borrowAnd give me penance or ere we part,I reck not how heavy.

EMMA

O father, if it may be, be to me borrow

And give me penance or ere we part,

I reck not how heavy.

THE POPEI scarce have heartTo tent so deep into the mercy of the Lord.What, that ye should with the fiend be at accord!Such crimes in confession I have not heard tell!And furthermore by your wiles ye have sent pell-mellSo many the way their life they should lose!I may scarce know what penance to chooseHeavy enough for such mortal sin.To dwell with the fiend was but a bestial life to be in.O Godhead, whereof doth not begin or end the grace,Wilt Thou guide me as in this case,Beneath the which my wit doth bow and bend!O Judge enthroned in justice, do Thou sendThine inspiration from on high!Hola, my course I clear descry;Me were full loath that damned ye be.The priest was with you, summon hither to me.Your penance ye shall hear without all doubt.

THE POPE

I scarce have heart

To tent so deep into the mercy of the Lord.

What, that ye should with the fiend be at accord!

Such crimes in confession I have not heard tell!

And furthermore by your wiles ye have sent pell-mell

So many the way their life they should lose!

I may scarce know what penance to choose

Heavy enough for such mortal sin.

To dwell with the fiend was but a bestial life to be in.

O Godhead, whereof doth not begin or end the grace,

Wilt Thou guide me as in this case,

Beneath the which my wit doth bow and bend!

O Judge enthroned in justice, do Thou send

Thine inspiration from on high!

Hola, my course I clear descry;

Me were full loath that damned ye be.

The priest was with you, summon hither to me.

Your penance ye shall hear without all doubt.

EMMAWhere be ye, eme?

EMMA

Where be ye, eme?

THE UNCLEI stand here without,And full of care till it doth appearHow it shall go with her.

THE UNCLE

I stand here without,

And full of care till it doth appear

How it shall go with her.

THE POPENow ye my judgment hear:It were a thing right pitiful to seeThat any should be damned, if cure there be,Nor doth God unmoved behold such things.See, here be three iron rings;The greatest ye shall her neck lock round,The other two, without sigh or sound,Lock on her arms, both fast and strong.And let her bear them how so longIt be that they wear away and fall.1080Then shall her sins be forgiven all.Nor till then shall she be of them quit.

THE POPE

Now ye my judgment hear:

It were a thing right pitiful to see

That any should be damned, if cure there be,

Nor doth God unmoved behold such things.

See, here be three iron rings;

The greatest ye shall her neck lock round,

The other two, without sigh or sound,

Lock on her arms, both fast and strong.

And let her bear them how so long

It be that they wear away and fall.

1080Then shall her sins be forgiven all.

Nor till then shall she be of them quit.

THE UNCLE’Twill be full long, as to my wit,Ere of themselves they fall to ground,For they be of weight so many a poundThat in an hundred year they will wear neverA farthing thickness.

THE UNCLE

’Twill be full long, as to my wit,

Ere of themselves they fall to ground,

For they be of weight so many a pound

That in an hundred year they will wear never

A farthing thickness.

THE POPEYet may she so perseverHeartily in a state of penitenceThat the rings will of themselves fall henceFrom neck and arms and leave them bare.But see ye lock them fast.

THE POPE

Yet may she so persever

Heartily in a state of penitence

That the rings will of themselves fall hence

From neck and arms and leave them bare.

But see ye lock them fast.

THE UNCLEFather, I swearThey shall be locked so stout and stark,If they come off ’twill be God’s mark.O priest and clerk above each earthly state,With your good favor we will take our leave straight,And go again our gate back to the landWhence we be come.

THE UNCLE

Father, I swear

They shall be locked so stout and stark,

If they come off ’twill be God’s mark.

O priest and clerk above each earthly state,

With your good favor we will take our leave straight,

And go again our gate back to the land

Whence we be come.

THE POPEMay He whose handDispenseth mercy soften your affliction.

THE POPE

May He whose hand

Dispenseth mercy soften your affliction.

EMMAAdieu, holy Father.

EMMA

Adieu, holy Father.

THE POPEDaughter, go in God’s protection,And keep ye wholly in penitence,For above with the Highest ExcellenceIs pure penitence held more dearThan ought that we may read or hear.

THE POPE

Daughter, go in God’s protection,

And keep ye wholly in penitence,

For above with the Highest Excellence

Is pure penitence held more dear

Than ought that we may read or hear.

Thus hath Emma received her penance from the Pope. And her eme straightway let make the rings so fast about her neck and arms that in her lifedays they might not be done off but by the will and the miracle of our dear Lord.

¶ How Emma journeyed from Rome and how she became a nun at the cloister of Converted Sinners at Maestricht.

Whenas Emma hath put on the rings like as ye have heard she departed her with her eme from Rome the city and they two journeyed so long until they were come to Maestricht where Emma was holpen of her uncle to be a nun in the cloister of the Converted Sinners. And after he had thereto holpen her he took his leave of her and journeyed to his own country where he lived yet twenty-four year after he had holpen his niece to come into the cloister, the which he visited each year so long as he lived.

¶ How the angel of God did off the rings from Emma’s neck and hands.

Emma dwelling in the aforesaid cloister lived so holily and did such strong penance that the merciful Christ forgave her utterly her sins, sending his angel to her where she lay and slept, the which did off the rings, whereat Emma rejoiced greatly, saying:

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