Mis.A! where? alack! fair babe, ba me!Abide! too soon I shall it see!Now.Here, here! see my head, good master!Mis.Lady, help! silly darling!veni, veni!I shall help thee of thy pain;I shall smite off thy head, and set it on again.Nought.By our Lady, sir! a fair plaster!Will ye off with his head? it is a shrewd charm!As for me I have none harm;I were loth to forbear mine arm.Ye play:in nomine Patris, chop!New G.Ye shall not chop my jewels, and I may!Now.Yea, Christ's cross! will ye smite my head away?There! we're on anon; out! ye shall not assay—I might well be called a fop!Mis.I can chop it off, and make it again.New G.I had a shrewd recumbentibus, but I feel no pain.Now.And my head is all safe and whole again.Now, touching the matter of Mankind,Let us have an interlection sithen ye be come hither;It were good to have an end.Mis.Ho, ho! a minstrel! know ye any aught?Nought.I can pipe on a Walsingham whistle, I, Nought, Nought.Mis.Blow apace! thou shall bring him in with a flowte.
Mis.A! where? alack! fair babe, ba me!Abide! too soon I shall it see!
Now.Here, here! see my head, good master!
Mis.Lady, help! silly darling!veni, veni!I shall help thee of thy pain;I shall smite off thy head, and set it on again.
Nought.By our Lady, sir! a fair plaster!Will ye off with his head? it is a shrewd charm!As for me I have none harm;I were loth to forbear mine arm.Ye play:in nomine Patris, chop!
New G.Ye shall not chop my jewels, and I may!
Now.Yea, Christ's cross! will ye smite my head away?There! we're on anon; out! ye shall not assay—I might well be called a fop!
Mis.I can chop it off, and make it again.
New G.I had a shrewd recumbentibus, but I feel no pain.
Now.And my head is all safe and whole again.Now, touching the matter of Mankind,Let us have an interlection sithen ye be come hither;It were good to have an end.
Mis.Ho, ho! a minstrel! know ye any aught?
Nought.I can pipe on a Walsingham whistle, I, Nought, Nought.
Mis.Blow apace! thou shall bring him in with a flowte.
[Titivillusroars from outside.
Titivillus.I come with my legs under me!Mis.Ho! New Guise, Now-a-days, hark! or I go:When our heads were together I spake of "Si didero."New G.So! go thy way! we shall gather money unto;Else there shall no man him see.Now, ghostly to our purpose, worshipful sovereigns!We intend to gather money, if it please your negligence,For a man with a head that [is] of great omnipotence—Now.Keep your tail! in goodness, I pray you, good brother!—He is a worshipful man, sirs, saving your reverence!He loveth no groats, nor pence, nor two pence;Give us red royals if ye will see his abominable presence!New G.Not so! ye that mow not pay the tone, pay the tother—At the good man of this house first we will assay!God bless you, master! ye say us ill, yet ye will not say nay.Let us go by and by, and do them pay!Ye pay all alike? well mu[s]t ye fare!Nought.I say, New Guise, Now-a-days!Estis vos pecuniatus?I have cried a fair while, I beshrew your patus!Now.Ita vere magister; come forth now, your gatus!He is a goodly man, sirs! make space and beware!
Titivillus.I come with my legs under me!
Mis.Ho! New Guise, Now-a-days, hark! or I go:When our heads were together I spake of "Si didero."
New G.So! go thy way! we shall gather money unto;Else there shall no man him see.Now, ghostly to our purpose, worshipful sovereigns!We intend to gather money, if it please your negligence,For a man with a head that [is] of great omnipotence—
Now.Keep your tail! in goodness, I pray you, good brother!—He is a worshipful man, sirs, saving your reverence!He loveth no groats, nor pence, nor two pence;Give us red royals if ye will see his abominable presence!
New G.Not so! ye that mow not pay the tone, pay the tother—At the good man of this house first we will assay!God bless you, master! ye say us ill, yet ye will not say nay.Let us go by and by, and do them pay!Ye pay all alike? well mu[s]t ye fare!
Nought.I say, New Guise, Now-a-days!Estis vos pecuniatus?I have cried a fair while, I beshrew your patus!
Now.Ita vere magister; come forth now, your gatus!He is a goodly man, sirs! make space and beware!
[EnterTitivillusdressed devilwise, net in hand.]
Titi.Ego sum dominantium dominus, and my name is Titivillus!Ye that have good horse, to you I say,Caveatis!Here is an able fellowship to trise him out at your gates.
Titi.Ego sum dominantium dominus, and my name is Titivillus!Ye that have good horse, to you I say,Caveatis!Here is an able fellowship to trise him out at your gates.
[Loquitur adNew Guise.
Ego probo sic: sir New Guise, lend me a penny!New G.I have a great purse, sir! but I have no money:By the mass! I fail two farthings of an half-penny;Yet had I ten pounds this night that was.
Ego probo sic: sir New Guise, lend me a penny!
New G.I have a great purse, sir! but I have no money:By the mass! I fail two farthings of an half-penny;Yet had I ten pounds this night that was.
[Loquitur adNow-a-days.
Titi.What is in thy purse? thou art a stout fellow!Now.The devil have [thee]! while I am a clean gentlemanI pray God I be never worse stored than I am!It shall be otherwise, I hope, or this night pass.
Titi.What is in thy purse? thou art a stout fellow!
Now.The devil have [thee]! while I am a clean gentlemanI pray God I be never worse stored than I am!It shall be otherwise, I hope, or this night pass.
[Loquitur adNought.
Titi.Hark now, I say! thou hast many a penny?Nought.No[n] nobis, Domine, non nobis; by saint Denis!The devil may dance in my purse for any penny;It is as clean as a bird's arse.Titi.Now I say, yet again,Caveatis!Here is an able fellowship to trise them out of your gates.Now, I say, New Guise, Now-a-days, and Nought,Go and search the country, anon, that be sought!Some here, some there—what if ye may catch aught—If ye fail of horse, take what ye may else!New G.Then speak to Mankind for the recumbentibus of my jewels!Now.Remember my broken head in the worship of the five vowels!Nought.Yea, good sir! and the sitica in my arm—Titi.I know full well what Mankind did to you;Mischief hat[h] informed [me] of all the matter through;I shall venge your quarrel, I make God a vow!Forth! and espy where ye may do harm!Take W[illiam] Fide if ye will have any mo—I say, New Guise! whither art thou advised to go?New G.First, I shall begin at m[aster] Huntington of Sanston;From thence I shall go to William Thurlay of Hanston,And so, forth to Pichard of Trumpington:I will keep me to these three.Now.I shall go to William Baker of Walton;To Richard Bollman of Gayton;I shall spare Master Wood of Fulbourn:He is anoli-me-tangere!Nought.I shall go to William Patrick of Massingham;I shall spare Master Allington of Bottisham,And Hammond of Swaftham,For dread ofIn manus tuas queck.Fellows, come forth! and go we hence together!New G.Sith we shall go, let us see well where and whither;If we may be take, we come no more hither;Let us con well our neck-verse that we have not a check.Titi.Go your way—a devil way—go your way, all!I bless you with my left hand: foul you befall!Come again, I warn, as soon as I you call,A[nd] bring your advantage into this place!
Titi.Hark now, I say! thou hast many a penny?
Nought.No[n] nobis, Domine, non nobis; by saint Denis!The devil may dance in my purse for any penny;It is as clean as a bird's arse.
Titi.Now I say, yet again,Caveatis!Here is an able fellowship to trise them out of your gates.Now, I say, New Guise, Now-a-days, and Nought,Go and search the country, anon, that be sought!Some here, some there—what if ye may catch aught—If ye fail of horse, take what ye may else!
New G.Then speak to Mankind for the recumbentibus of my jewels!
Now.Remember my broken head in the worship of the five vowels!
Nought.Yea, good sir! and the sitica in my arm—
Titi.I know full well what Mankind did to you;Mischief hat[h] informed [me] of all the matter through;I shall venge your quarrel, I make God a vow!Forth! and espy where ye may do harm!Take W[illiam] Fide if ye will have any mo—I say, New Guise! whither art thou advised to go?
New G.First, I shall begin at m[aster] Huntington of Sanston;From thence I shall go to William Thurlay of Hanston,And so, forth to Pichard of Trumpington:I will keep me to these three.
Now.I shall go to William Baker of Walton;To Richard Bollman of Gayton;I shall spare Master Wood of Fulbourn:He is anoli-me-tangere!
Nought.I shall go to William Patrick of Massingham;I shall spare Master Allington of Bottisham,And Hammond of Swaftham,For dread ofIn manus tuas queck.Fellows, come forth! and go we hence together!
New G.Sith we shall go, let us see well where and whither;If we may be take, we come no more hither;Let us con well our neck-verse that we have not a check.
Titi.Go your way—a devil way—go your way, all!I bless you with my left hand: foul you befall!Come again, I warn, as soon as I you call,A[nd] bring your advantage into this place!
[They go out and leaveTitivillus.
To speak with Mankind I will tarry here this tide,And assay his good purpose for to set aside;The good man, Mercy, shall no longer be his guide:I shall make him to dance another trace!Ever I go invisible—it is my jet—And before his eye, thus, I will hang my netTo blench his sight; I hope to have his foot met.To irk him of his labour I shall make a frame:This board shall be hid under the earth, privily;His spade shall enter, I hope, unreadily.By then he hath assayed he shall be very angry,And lose his patience, pain of shame!I shall menge his corn with drawk and with darnel;It shall not be like to sow nor to sell—Yonder he cometh: I pray of counsell;He shall ween grace were wane.
To speak with Mankind I will tarry here this tide,And assay his good purpose for to set aside;The good man, Mercy, shall no longer be his guide:I shall make him to dance another trace!Ever I go invisible—it is my jet—And before his eye, thus, I will hang my netTo blench his sight; I hope to have his foot met.To irk him of his labour I shall make a frame:This board shall be hid under the earth, privily;His spade shall enter, I hope, unreadily.By then he hath assayed he shall be very angry,And lose his patience, pain of shame!I shall menge his corn with drawk and with darnel;It shall not be like to sow nor to sell—Yonder he cometh: I pray of counsell;He shall ween grace were wane.
[EnterMankind.]
Man.Now, God, of His mercy, send us of His sonde!I have brought seed here to sow with my lond;While I over-delve it, here it shall stond.In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus sancti!now I will begin.This land is so hard, it maketh unlusty and irk;I shall sow my corn at winter, and let God work.Alas! my corn is lost; here is a foul work!I see well, by tilling, little shall I win;Here I give up my spade, for now and for ever.
Man.Now, God, of His mercy, send us of His sonde!I have brought seed here to sow with my lond;While I over-delve it, here it shall stond.In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus sancti!now I will begin.This land is so hard, it maketh unlusty and irk;I shall sow my corn at winter, and let God work.Alas! my corn is lost; here is a foul work!I see well, by tilling, little shall I win;Here I give up my spade, for now and for ever.
[HereTitivillusgoes out with the spade.
To occupy my body, I will not put me in dever;I will hear my evensong here or I dissever.This place I assign as for my kirk;Here, in my kirk, I kneel on my knees:Pater noster, qui es in celis—
To occupy my body, I will not put me in dever;I will hear my evensong here or I dissever.This place I assign as for my kirk;Here, in my kirk, I kneel on my knees:Pater noster, qui es in celis—
[EnterTitivillus.]
Titi.I promise you I have no lead on my heels;I am here again to make this fellow irk.Whist! peace! I shall go to his ear and tittle therein—
Titi.I promise you I have no lead on my heels;I am here again to make this fellow irk.Whist! peace! I shall go to his ear and tittle therein—
[Goes toMankind.
A short prayer thirleth heaven—of thy prayer blin!Thou art holier than ever was any of thy kin:Arise, and avent thee! nature compels!Man.I will into thi[s] yard, sovereigns! and come again soon;For dread of the colic, and eke of the stone,I will go do that needs must be done;My beads shall be here for whosomever will come.[Mankindgoes out.
A short prayer thirleth heaven—of thy prayer blin!Thou art holier than ever was any of thy kin:Arise, and avent thee! nature compels!
Man.I will into thi[s] yard, sovereigns! and come again soon;For dread of the colic, and eke of the stone,I will go do that needs must be done;My beads shall be here for whosomever will come.[Mankindgoes out.
Titi.Mankind was busy in his prayer, yet I did him arise;He is conveyed, by Christ! from his divine service.Whither is he? trow ye? I-wis, I am wonder-wise:I have sent him forth to shit lesings.If ye have any silver, in hap pure brass,Take a little pow[d]er of Paris and cast over his face;And even in the owl-flight let him pass—Titivillus can learn you many pretty things!I trow Mankind will come again soon,Or else, I fear me, evensong will be done:His beades shall be triced aside, and that anon.Ye shall [see] a good sport if ye will abide—Mankind cometh again; well fare he!I shall answer himad omnia quare.There shall he set abroach a clerical maller;I hope of his purpose to set him aside.
Titi.Mankind was busy in his prayer, yet I did him arise;He is conveyed, by Christ! from his divine service.Whither is he? trow ye? I-wis, I am wonder-wise:I have sent him forth to shit lesings.If ye have any silver, in hap pure brass,Take a little pow[d]er of Paris and cast over his face;And even in the owl-flight let him pass—Titivillus can learn you many pretty things!I trow Mankind will come again soon,Or else, I fear me, evensong will be done:His beades shall be triced aside, and that anon.Ye shall [see] a good sport if ye will abide—Mankind cometh again; well fare he!I shall answer himad omnia quare.There shall he set abroach a clerical maller;I hope of his purpose to set him aside.
[Re-enterMankind.]
Man.Evensong hath be in the saying, I trow, a fair while;I am irk of it; it is too long by one mile.Do way! I will no more, so oft, on the church stile;Be as it may, I shall do another.Of labour and prayer, I am near irk of both;I will no more of it though Mercy be wroth.My head is very heavy; I tell you, forsooth!I shall sleep, full my belly and he were my brother.
Man.Evensong hath be in the saying, I trow, a fair while;I am irk of it; it is too long by one mile.Do way! I will no more, so oft, on the church stile;Be as it may, I shall do another.Of labour and prayer, I am near irk of both;I will no more of it though Mercy be wroth.My head is very heavy; I tell you, forsooth!I shall sleep, full my belly and he were my brother.
[Mankindsleeps and snores.
Titi.And ever ye did, me keep now your silence!Not a word! I charge you, pain of forty pence!A praty game shall be showed you or ye go hence.Ye may hear him snore; he is sad a-sleep.Whist! peace! the devil is dead! I shall go rond in his ear:Alas, Mankind, alas! Mercy [has] stolen a mare;He is run away from his master, there wot no man where;Moreover, he stale both a horse and a neat.But yet, I heard say, he brake his neck as he rode in France;But I think he rideth over the gallows, to learn for to dance,Because of his theft: that is his governance.Trust no more on him; he is a marred man!Mickle sorrow with thy spade beforn thou hast wrought;Arise, and ask mercy of New Guise, Now-a-days, and Nought!They come! Advise thee for the best; let their good will be sought;And thy own wife brethel, and take thee a leman!Farewell, everyone! for I have done my game;For I have brought Mankind to mischief and to shame.
Titi.And ever ye did, me keep now your silence!Not a word! I charge you, pain of forty pence!A praty game shall be showed you or ye go hence.Ye may hear him snore; he is sad a-sleep.Whist! peace! the devil is dead! I shall go rond in his ear:Alas, Mankind, alas! Mercy [has] stolen a mare;He is run away from his master, there wot no man where;Moreover, he stale both a horse and a neat.But yet, I heard say, he brake his neck as he rode in France;But I think he rideth over the gallows, to learn for to dance,Because of his theft: that is his governance.Trust no more on him; he is a marred man!Mickle sorrow with thy spade beforn thou hast wrought;Arise, and ask mercy of New Guise, Now-a-days, and Nought!They come! Advise thee for the best; let their good will be sought;And thy own wife brethel, and take thee a leman!Farewell, everyone! for I have done my game;For I have brought Mankind to mischief and to shame.
[Titivillusgoes out.
Man.Whoop! ho! Mercy hath broken his neckercher, a vows!Or he hangeth by the neck high up on the gallows.Adieu, fair master! I will haste me to the ale-house,And speak with New Guise, Now-a-days, and Nought;A[nd] get me a leman with a smattering face.
Man.Whoop! ho! Mercy hath broken his neckercher, a vows!Or he hangeth by the neck high up on the gallows.Adieu, fair master! I will haste me to the ale-house,And speak with New Guise, Now-a-days, and Nought;A[nd] get me a leman with a smattering face.
[EnterNew Guise.]
New G.Make space! for Cock's body sacred, make space!Aha! well! on! run! God give him evil grace!We were near saint Patrick's way, by Him that me bought!I was twitched by the neck; the game was begun;A grace was; the halter brast asunder—Ecce signum!—The half is about my neck: we had a near run!"Beware!" quod the good wife when she smote off her husband's head—"beware!"Mischief is a convict, for he could his neck-verse—My body gave a swing when I hung upon the casse.Alas! who will hang such a likely man, and a fierce,For stealing of an horse? I pray God give him care!Do way this halter! what [the] devil doth Mankind here? with sorrow!—Alas, how my neck is sore, I make avow!M[an].Ye be welcome, New Guise! Sir! what cheer with you?New G.Well, sir! I have no cause to mourn.M[an].What was there about your neck? so God you amend!New G.In faith! saint Audrey's holy bend;I have a little dishele, as it please God to send,With a running ringworm.
New G.Make space! for Cock's body sacred, make space!Aha! well! on! run! God give him evil grace!We were near saint Patrick's way, by Him that me bought!I was twitched by the neck; the game was begun;A grace was; the halter brast asunder—Ecce signum!—The half is about my neck: we had a near run!"Beware!" quod the good wife when she smote off her husband's head—"beware!"Mischief is a convict, for he could his neck-verse—My body gave a swing when I hung upon the casse.Alas! who will hang such a likely man, and a fierce,For stealing of an horse? I pray God give him care!Do way this halter! what [the] devil doth Mankind here? with sorrow!—Alas, how my neck is sore, I make avow!
M[an].Ye be welcome, New Guise! Sir! what cheer with you?
New G.Well, sir! I have no cause to mourn.
M[an].What was there about your neck? so God you amend!
New G.In faith! saint Audrey's holy bend;I have a little dishele, as it please God to send,With a running ringworm.
[EnterNow-a-days.]
Now.Stand, aroom! I pray thee, brother mine!I have laboured all this night; when shall we go dine?A church, here beside, shall pay for ale, bread, and wine;Lo! here is stuff will serve.New G.Now, by the holy Mary! thou art better merchant than I!
Now.Stand, aroom! I pray thee, brother mine!I have laboured all this night; when shall we go dine?A church, here beside, shall pay for ale, bread, and wine;Lo! here is stuff will serve.
New G.Now, by the holy Mary! thou art better merchant than I!
[EnterNought.]
Nought.Avaunt, knaves! let me go by!I can not geet, and I should starve.
Nought.Avaunt, knaves! let me go by!I can not geet, and I should starve.
[EnterMischief.]
Mis.Here cometh a man of arms; why stand ye so still?Of murder and manslaughter I have my belly fill.Now.What, Mischief! have ye been in prison? and it be your will,Meseemeth ye have sco[u]red a pair of fetters.Mis.I was chained by the arms; lo! I have them here.The chains I brast asunder and killed the jailor;Yea, and his fair wife halsed in a corner:A! how sweetly I kissed that sweet mouth of hers!When I had do, I was mine own bottler;I brought away with me both dish and doubler.Here is enou' for me: be of good cheer!Yet, well fare the new che[vi]sance!Man.I ask mercy of New Guise, Now-a-days, and Nought;Once, with my spade, I remember that I fought;I will make you amends if I hurt you aught,Or did any grievance.New G.What a devil liketh thee to be of this disposition?Man.I dreamt Mercy was hang[ed]: this was my vision;And that, to you three, I should have recourse and remotion.Now, I pray you, heartily, of your good will;I cry you mercy of all that I did amiss!Now.[Aside.] I say, New Guise, Nought! Titivillus made all this;As siker as God is in heaven, so it is!Nought.Stand up on your feet! why stand ye so still?New G.Master Mischief! we will you exhort,Mankind's name, in your book, for to report.Mis.I will not so! I will set a court—Ah! do it[in] forma juris d'hasard!
Mis.Here cometh a man of arms; why stand ye so still?Of murder and manslaughter I have my belly fill.
Now.What, Mischief! have ye been in prison? and it be your will,Meseemeth ye have sco[u]red a pair of fetters.
Mis.I was chained by the arms; lo! I have them here.The chains I brast asunder and killed the jailor;Yea, and his fair wife halsed in a corner:A! how sweetly I kissed that sweet mouth of hers!When I had do, I was mine own bottler;I brought away with me both dish and doubler.Here is enou' for me: be of good cheer!Yet, well fare the new che[vi]sance!
Man.I ask mercy of New Guise, Now-a-days, and Nought;Once, with my spade, I remember that I fought;I will make you amends if I hurt you aught,Or did any grievance.
New G.What a devil liketh thee to be of this disposition?
Man.I dreamt Mercy was hang[ed]: this was my vision;And that, to you three, I should have recourse and remotion.Now, I pray you, heartily, of your good will;I cry you mercy of all that I did amiss!
Now.[Aside.] I say, New Guise, Nought! Titivillus made all this;As siker as God is in heaven, so it is!
Nought.Stand up on your feet! why stand ye so still?
New G.Master Mischief! we will you exhort,Mankind's name, in your book, for to report.
Mis.I will not so! I will set a court—Ah! do it[in] forma juris d'hasard!
[Now-a-daysmake[th] proclamation.
Now.Oyez! oyez! oyez!All manner of men, and common women,To the Court of Mischief either come or send;Mankind shall return, he is one of our men!Mis.Nought! come forth! thou shall be steward.New G.Master Mischief! his side-gown may be sold;He may have a jacket thereof, and money told.Man.I will do for the best, so I have no cold.Hold! I pray you, and take it with you.Nought (scri[bit]).And let me have it again in any wise.New G.I promise you a fresh jacket after the new guise.Man.Go! and do that longeth to your office;A[nd] spare that ye may!
Now.Oyez! oyez! oyez!All manner of men, and common women,To the Court of Mischief either come or send;Mankind shall return, he is one of our men!
Mis.Nought! come forth! thou shall be steward.
New G.Master Mischief! his side-gown may be sold;He may have a jacket thereof, and money told.
Man.I will do for the best, so I have no cold.Hold! I pray you, and take it with you.
Nought (scri[bit]).And let me have it again in any wise.
New G.I promise you a fresh jacket after the new guise.
Man.Go! and do that longeth to your office;A[nd] spare that ye may!
[New Guisegoeth out.
Nought.Hold, Master Mischief, and read this!Mis.Here isblottibus in blottis,Blottorum blottibus istis:I beshrew your ears! a fair hand!Now.Yea! it is a good running fist;Such an hand may not be missed![Goes out.Nought.I should have done better, had I wist.Mis.Take heed, sirs, it stand you on hand!Curia tenta generalis,In a place—there good ale is!—Anno regni regitalis.Edwardi millatene,On yestern-day in Febru'ry—the year passeth fully—As Nought hath written—here is our Tulli,Anno regni regis nulli.Now.What ho, New Guise! thou makest much [tarrying];That jacket shall not be worth a farthing.
Nought.Hold, Master Mischief, and read this!
Mis.Here isblottibus in blottis,Blottorum blottibus istis:I beshrew your ears! a fair hand!
Now.Yea! it is a good running fist;Such an hand may not be missed![Goes out.
Nought.I should have done better, had I wist.
Mis.Take heed, sirs, it stand you on hand!Curia tenta generalis,In a place—there good ale is!—Anno regni regitalis.Edwardi millatene,On yestern-day in Febru'ry—the year passeth fully—As Nought hath written—here is our Tulli,Anno regni regis nulli.
Now.What ho, New Guise! thou makest much [tarrying];That jacket shall not be worth a farthing.
[Re-enterNew Guise.]
New. G.Out of my way, sirs! for dread of fighting!Lo! here is a feat tail, light to leap about!Nought.It is not shapen worth a morsel of bread;There is too much cloth; it weighs as any lead.I shall go and mend it; else I will lose my head—Make space, sirs! let me go out!
New. G.Out of my way, sirs! for dread of fighting!Lo! here is a feat tail, light to leap about!
Nought.It is not shapen worth a morsel of bread;There is too much cloth; it weighs as any lead.I shall go and mend it; else I will lose my head—Make space, sirs! let me go out!
[Noughtgoes out.
Mis.Mankind, come hither! God send you the gout!Ye shall go to all the good fellows in the country about;Unto the good-wife when the good-man is out—"I will," say ye!Man.I will, sir!New G.There arn'[t] but six deadly sins; lechery is none;As it may be verified by us brethels everyone.Ye shall go rob, steal, and kill, as fast as ye may gone—"I will," say ye!Man.I will, sir!Now.On Sundays, on the morrow, early betime,Ye shall with us to the ale-house early, to go dine;A[nd] forbear mass and matins, hours and prime—"I will," say ye!M[an].I will, sir!Mis.Ye must have by your side a long dapacem,As true men ride by the way, for to unbrace them;Take their money, cut their throats; thus over face them—"I will," say ye!Man.I will, sir!
Mis.Mankind, come hither! God send you the gout!Ye shall go to all the good fellows in the country about;Unto the good-wife when the good-man is out—"I will," say ye!
Man.I will, sir!
New G.There arn'[t] but six deadly sins; lechery is none;As it may be verified by us brethels everyone.Ye shall go rob, steal, and kill, as fast as ye may gone—"I will," say ye!
Man.I will, sir!
Now.On Sundays, on the morrow, early betime,Ye shall with us to the ale-house early, to go dine;A[nd] forbear mass and matins, hours and prime—"I will," say ye!
M[an].I will, sir!
Mis.Ye must have by your side a long dapacem,As true men ride by the way, for to unbrace them;Take their money, cut their throats; thus over face them—"I will," say ye!
Man.I will, sir!
[Re-enterNought.]
Nought.Here is a jolly jacket—how say ye?New G.It is a good jake of fence for a man's body—Hi, dog! hi! whoop, ho! go your way lightly!Ye are well made for to ren!Mis.Tidings! tidings! I have espied one!Hence with your stuff! fast we were gone!I beshrew the last shall come to his home!Amen![Dicant omnes.
Nought.Here is a jolly jacket—how say ye?
New G.It is a good jake of fence for a man's body—Hi, dog! hi! whoop, ho! go your way lightly!Ye are well made for to ren!
Mis.Tidings! tidings! I have espied one!Hence with your stuff! fast we were gone!I beshrew the last shall come to his home!Amen![Dicant omnes.
[EnterMercy.]
Mer.What ho, Mankind! flee that fellowship, I you pray!Man.I shall speak with [thee] another time; to-morn or the next day.
Mer.What ho, Mankind! flee that fellowship, I you pray!
Man.I shall speak with [thee] another time; to-morn or the next day.
[To the others.
We shall go forth together to keep my father's year-day:A tapster! a tapster! stow, statt, stow!Mis.A mischief go with [thee]! here I have a foul fall.Hence! away from me! or I shall beshit you all!New G.What ho, ostler! ostler, lend us a foot-ball!Whoop! ho! anow, anow, anow![They go out.Mer.My mind is dispersed; my body tir-trimmeleth as the aspen leaf;The tears should trickle down by my cheeks, were not your reverence!It were to me solace, the cruel visitation of death!Without rude behaviour I can[not] express this inconvenience:Weeping, sighing, and sobbing, were my sufficiance;All natural nutriment, to me, as carene, is odible;My inward affliction yieldeth me tedious unto your presence;I cannot bear it evenly that Mankind is so flexible.Man unkind, wherever thou be! for all this world was not apprehensibleTo discharge thine original offence, thraldom and captivity,Till God's own well-beloved Son was obedient and passible:Every drop of His blood was shed to purge thine iniquity.I discommend and disallow this often mutability!To every creature thou art dispectuous and odible—Why art thou so uncurtess, so inconsiderate? alas, woe is me!As the vane that turneth with the wind, so thou art convertible!In trust is treason: thy promise is not credible;Thy perversious ingratitude I cannot rehearse;To go over, to all the holy court of heaven thou art dispectable,As a noble versifier maketh mention in his verse:"Lex et natura, Christus et omnia juraDamnant ingratum; lugetur eum fore natum."O, good Lady, and Mother of Mercy! have pity and compassionOf the wretchedness of Mankind, that is so wanton and so frail!Let mercy exceed justice, dear Mother! admit this supplication!Equity to be laid over part[l]y, and mercy to prevail!Too sensual living is reprovable, that is now-a-days,As by the comprehence of this matter it may be specified.New Guise, Now-a-days, Nought, with their allectuous waysThey have perverted Mankind, my sweet son, I have well espied.A! with these cursed caitiffs, and I may, he shall not long endure;I, Mercy, his father ghostly, will proceed forth and do my property.Lady, help! this manner of living is a detestable pleasure;Vanitas vanitatum: all is but a vanity!Mercy shall never be convict of his uncurtess condition;With weeping tears, by night and by day, I will go and never cease.Shall I not find him? Yes, I hope; now, God be my protection!My predelict son! where be ye? Mankind!Ubi es?
We shall go forth together to keep my father's year-day:A tapster! a tapster! stow, statt, stow!
Mis.A mischief go with [thee]! here I have a foul fall.Hence! away from me! or I shall beshit you all!
New G.What ho, ostler! ostler, lend us a foot-ball!Whoop! ho! anow, anow, anow![They go out.
Mer.My mind is dispersed; my body tir-trimmeleth as the aspen leaf;The tears should trickle down by my cheeks, were not your reverence!It were to me solace, the cruel visitation of death!Without rude behaviour I can[not] express this inconvenience:Weeping, sighing, and sobbing, were my sufficiance;All natural nutriment, to me, as carene, is odible;My inward affliction yieldeth me tedious unto your presence;I cannot bear it evenly that Mankind is so flexible.Man unkind, wherever thou be! for all this world was not apprehensibleTo discharge thine original offence, thraldom and captivity,Till God's own well-beloved Son was obedient and passible:Every drop of His blood was shed to purge thine iniquity.I discommend and disallow this often mutability!To every creature thou art dispectuous and odible—Why art thou so uncurtess, so inconsiderate? alas, woe is me!As the vane that turneth with the wind, so thou art convertible!In trust is treason: thy promise is not credible;Thy perversious ingratitude I cannot rehearse;To go over, to all the holy court of heaven thou art dispectable,As a noble versifier maketh mention in his verse:"Lex et natura, Christus et omnia juraDamnant ingratum; lugetur eum fore natum."O, good Lady, and Mother of Mercy! have pity and compassionOf the wretchedness of Mankind, that is so wanton and so frail!Let mercy exceed justice, dear Mother! admit this supplication!Equity to be laid over part[l]y, and mercy to prevail!Too sensual living is reprovable, that is now-a-days,As by the comprehence of this matter it may be specified.New Guise, Now-a-days, Nought, with their allectuous waysThey have perverted Mankind, my sweet son, I have well espied.A! with these cursed caitiffs, and I may, he shall not long endure;I, Mercy, his father ghostly, will proceed forth and do my property.Lady, help! this manner of living is a detestable pleasure;Vanitas vanitatum: all is but a vanity!Mercy shall never be convict of his uncurtess condition;With weeping tears, by night and by day, I will go and never cease.Shall I not find him? Yes, I hope; now, God be my protection!My predelict son! where be ye? Mankind!Ubi es?
[Mischiefre-enters with his companions.
Mis.My prepotent father! when ye sup, sup out your mess!Ye are all to-gloried in your terms; ye make many a lesse.Will ye hear? he cryeth over Mankind,Ubi es?New G.Hic, hic, hic! hic, hic, hic! hic, hic!* * * * *That is to say: here! here! here! nigh dead in the crick.If ye will have him, go and seek, seek, seek!Seek not over long, for losing of your mind!Now.If ye will have Mankind—ho,domine, domine, domine!—Ye must speak to the shrive for acepe coppus;Else ye must be fain to return withnon est inventus.How say ye, sir? my bolt is shot!Nought.I am doing of my needings; beware how ye shoot!Fie, fie, fie! I have foul arrayed my foot!Be wise for shooting with your tackles, for, God wot!My foot is foully over-shit.Mis.A parlement! a parlement! come forth, Nought, behind!A counsel, belive! I am afeared Mercy will him find.How say ye? and what say ye? how shall we do with Mankind?New G.Tush, a fly's wing! will ye do well?He weeneth Mercy were hung for stealing of a mare.Mischief! go say to him that Mercy seeketh everywhere;He will hang himself, I undertake, for fear.Mis.I assent thereto; it is wittily said, and well.Now.I whip it in thy coat! anon it were done!Now, saint Gabriel's mother save the clothes of thy shoon!All the books in the world, if they had be undone,Could not a counselled us bet.
Mis.My prepotent father! when ye sup, sup out your mess!Ye are all to-gloried in your terms; ye make many a lesse.Will ye hear? he cryeth over Mankind,Ubi es?
New G.Hic, hic, hic! hic, hic, hic! hic, hic!* * * * *That is to say: here! here! here! nigh dead in the crick.If ye will have him, go and seek, seek, seek!Seek not over long, for losing of your mind!
Now.If ye will have Mankind—ho,domine, domine, domine!—Ye must speak to the shrive for acepe coppus;Else ye must be fain to return withnon est inventus.How say ye, sir? my bolt is shot!
Nought.I am doing of my needings; beware how ye shoot!Fie, fie, fie! I have foul arrayed my foot!Be wise for shooting with your tackles, for, God wot!My foot is foully over-shit.
Mis.A parlement! a parlement! come forth, Nought, behind!A counsel, belive! I am afeared Mercy will him find.How say ye? and what say ye? how shall we do with Mankind?
New G.Tush, a fly's wing! will ye do well?He weeneth Mercy were hung for stealing of a mare.Mischief! go say to him that Mercy seeketh everywhere;He will hang himself, I undertake, for fear.
Mis.I assent thereto; it is wittily said, and well.
Now.I whip it in thy coat! anon it were done!Now, saint Gabriel's mother save the clothes of thy shoon!All the books in the world, if they had be undone,Could not a counselled us bet.
Hic exitMischief[apparently meetingMankindas he is going out, and salutes him].
Mis.Ho, Mankind! Come and speak with Mercy; he is here, fast-by!Man.A rope! a rope! a rope! I am not worthy.Mis.Anon, anon, anon! I have it here ready;With a tree also that I have get.Hold the tree, Now-a-days! Nought! take heed and be wise!New G.Lo, Mankind! do as I do! this is thy new guise;Give the rope just to thy neck: this is mine advice.Mis.Help thyself, Nought! lo, Mercy is here!He scareth us with a bales; we may no longer tarry.New G.Queck, queck, queck! alas, my throat! I beshrew you, marry!A, Mercy! Christ's copped curse go with you, and saint Davy!Alas, my weasand! ye were somewhat too near!
Mis.Ho, Mankind! Come and speak with Mercy; he is here, fast-by!
Man.A rope! a rope! a rope! I am not worthy.
Mis.Anon, anon, anon! I have it here ready;With a tree also that I have get.Hold the tree, Now-a-days! Nought! take heed and be wise!
New G.Lo, Mankind! do as I do! this is thy new guise;Give the rope just to thy neck: this is mine advice.
Mis.Help thyself, Nought! lo, Mercy is here!He scareth us with a bales; we may no longer tarry.
New G.Queck, queck, queck! alas, my throat! I beshrew you, marry!A, Mercy! Christ's copped curse go with you, and saint Davy!Alas, my weasand! ye were somewhat too near!
[All butMercyandMankindgo out.
Mer.Arise, my precious redempt son! ye be to me full dear.He is so timorous; meseemeth his vital spirit doth expi[re].Man.Alas! I have be so bestially disposed; I dare not appear;To see your solicitous face, I am not worthy to desire.Mer.Your criminous complaint woundeth my heart as a lance.Dispose yourself meekly to ask mercy, and I will assent.Yield me neither gold nor treasure, but your humble obeisance,The voluntary subjection of your heart, and I am content.Man.What! ask mercy yet once again? alas! it were a wild petition.Ever to offend, and ever to ask mercy—that is a puerility.It is so abominable to rehearse my worst transgression;I am not worthy to have mercy, by no possibility.Mer.O, Mankind! my sing'ler solace! this is a lamentable excuse!The dolorous fears of my heart, how they begin to amount!O, blessed Jesu! help thou this sinful sinner to redeem!Nam hæc est mutatio, dexteræ Excelsi; vertit Impios, et non sunt.Arise! and ask mercy, Mankind! and be associate to me.Thy death shall be my heaviness; alas! 'tis pity it should be thus.Thy obstinacy will exclude [thee] from the glorious perpetuity.Yet, for my love, ope thy lips and say,Miserere mei, Deus!Man.The egal justice of God will not permit such a sinful wretchTo be revived and restored again: it were impossible.Mer.The justice of God will, as I will, as Himself doth precise:Nolo mortem peccatoris, inquit, and if he will [be] reducible.Man.Then, mercy, good Mercy! what is a man without mercy?Little is our part of paradise were mercy ne where.Good Mercy! excuse the inevitable objection of my ghostly enemy;The proverb saith: the truth tryeth thyself. Alas! I have much care!Mer.God will not make you privy unto His last judgment:Justice and equity shall be fortified, I will not deny;Truth may not so cruelly proceed in his straight argumentBut that mercy shall rule the matter, without controversy.Arise now, and go with me in this deambulatory.Incline your capacity; my doctrine is convenient.Sin not in hope of mercy; that is a crime notory;To trust overmuch in a prince, it is not expedient.In hope, when ye sin, ye think to have mercy—beware of that adventure!The good Lord said to the lecherous woman of Canaan—The holy gospel is the authority, as we read in Scripture—"Vade! et jam amplius noli peccare!"Christ preserved this sinful woman taken in advoutry;He said to her these words: "Go, and sin no more!"So to you; Go, and sin no more! Beware of vain confidence of mercy!Offend not a prince on trust of his favour! as I said before.If ye feel yourself trapped in the snare of your ghostly enemy,Ask mercy anon: beware of the continuance!While a wound is fresh it is proved curable by surgery;That, if it proceed over long, it is cause of great grievance.Man.To ask mercy and to have—this is a liberal possession:Shall this expeditious petition ever be allowed, as ye have in sight?Mer.In this present life mercy is plenty, till death maketh his division;But when ye be go,usque ad minimum quadrantem—ye sha[ll] reckon this right.Ask mercy and have, while the body with the sou[l] hath his annexion;If ye tarry till your decease, ye may hap of your desire to miss;Be repentant here; trust not the hour of death; think on this lesson:Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile! ecce nunc dies salutis!All the virtue in the wor[l]d, if ye might comprehend,Your merits were not premiable to the bliss above;Not to the lowli'st joy of heaven, of your proper effort to ascend;With Mercy ye may: I tell ye no fable—Scripture doth prove.Man.O, Mercy! my suavious solace and singular recreatory!My predelict special! ye are worthy to have my love;For, without desert and means supplicatory,Ye be compatient to my inexcusable reproof.A! it swimmeth my heart to think how unwisely I have wrought!Titivilly, that goeth invisible, hung his net before my eye;And, by his fantastical visions, sedulously sought,By New Guise, Now-a-days, Nought, caused me to obey.Mer.Mankind! ye were oblivious of my doctrine manitory;I said before: Titivilly would assay you a bront.Beware from henceforth of his fables delusory!The proverb saith:Jacula prefata minus ledunt.Ye have three adversaries—he is master of them all—That is to say, the devil, the world, the flesh, and the fell;The New Guise, Now-a-days, and Nought, the world we may them call;And, prope[r]ly, Titivilly signifies the fiend of hell;The flesh, that is the unclean concupiscence of your body.These be your three ghostly enemies in whom ye have put your confidence;They brought you to Mischief to conclude your temporal glory:As it hath be showed before this worship[f]ul audience.Remember how ready I was to help you; from such I was not dangerous;Wherefore, good son! abstain from sin evermore after this!Ye may both save and spoil your soul, that is so precious:Libere velle, libere velle!God may not deny, I wis.Beware of Titivilly with his net, and of all his envious will;Of your sinful delectation that grieveth your ghostly substance:Your body is your enemy: let him not have his will.Take your leave when ye will; God send you good perseverance![Man]. Sith I shall depart, bless me, father! hence then I go—God send us all plenty of His great mercy!Mer. Dominus custodi[a]t te ab omni malo!In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.Amen![Hic exitMankind.
Mer.Arise, my precious redempt son! ye be to me full dear.He is so timorous; meseemeth his vital spirit doth expi[re].
Man.Alas! I have be so bestially disposed; I dare not appear;To see your solicitous face, I am not worthy to desire.
Mer.Your criminous complaint woundeth my heart as a lance.Dispose yourself meekly to ask mercy, and I will assent.Yield me neither gold nor treasure, but your humble obeisance,The voluntary subjection of your heart, and I am content.
Man.What! ask mercy yet once again? alas! it were a wild petition.Ever to offend, and ever to ask mercy—that is a puerility.It is so abominable to rehearse my worst transgression;I am not worthy to have mercy, by no possibility.
Mer.O, Mankind! my sing'ler solace! this is a lamentable excuse!The dolorous fears of my heart, how they begin to amount!O, blessed Jesu! help thou this sinful sinner to redeem!Nam hæc est mutatio, dexteræ Excelsi; vertit Impios, et non sunt.Arise! and ask mercy, Mankind! and be associate to me.Thy death shall be my heaviness; alas! 'tis pity it should be thus.Thy obstinacy will exclude [thee] from the glorious perpetuity.Yet, for my love, ope thy lips and say,Miserere mei, Deus!
Man.The egal justice of God will not permit such a sinful wretchTo be revived and restored again: it were impossible.
Mer.The justice of God will, as I will, as Himself doth precise:Nolo mortem peccatoris, inquit, and if he will [be] reducible.
Man.Then, mercy, good Mercy! what is a man without mercy?Little is our part of paradise were mercy ne where.Good Mercy! excuse the inevitable objection of my ghostly enemy;The proverb saith: the truth tryeth thyself. Alas! I have much care!
Mer.God will not make you privy unto His last judgment:Justice and equity shall be fortified, I will not deny;Truth may not so cruelly proceed in his straight argumentBut that mercy shall rule the matter, without controversy.Arise now, and go with me in this deambulatory.Incline your capacity; my doctrine is convenient.Sin not in hope of mercy; that is a crime notory;To trust overmuch in a prince, it is not expedient.In hope, when ye sin, ye think to have mercy—beware of that adventure!The good Lord said to the lecherous woman of Canaan—The holy gospel is the authority, as we read in Scripture—"Vade! et jam amplius noli peccare!"Christ preserved this sinful woman taken in advoutry;He said to her these words: "Go, and sin no more!"So to you; Go, and sin no more! Beware of vain confidence of mercy!Offend not a prince on trust of his favour! as I said before.If ye feel yourself trapped in the snare of your ghostly enemy,Ask mercy anon: beware of the continuance!While a wound is fresh it is proved curable by surgery;That, if it proceed over long, it is cause of great grievance.
Man.To ask mercy and to have—this is a liberal possession:Shall this expeditious petition ever be allowed, as ye have in sight?
Mer.In this present life mercy is plenty, till death maketh his division;But when ye be go,usque ad minimum quadrantem—ye sha[ll] reckon this right.Ask mercy and have, while the body with the sou[l] hath his annexion;If ye tarry till your decease, ye may hap of your desire to miss;Be repentant here; trust not the hour of death; think on this lesson:Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile! ecce nunc dies salutis!All the virtue in the wor[l]d, if ye might comprehend,Your merits were not premiable to the bliss above;Not to the lowli'st joy of heaven, of your proper effort to ascend;With Mercy ye may: I tell ye no fable—Scripture doth prove.
Man.O, Mercy! my suavious solace and singular recreatory!My predelict special! ye are worthy to have my love;For, without desert and means supplicatory,Ye be compatient to my inexcusable reproof.A! it swimmeth my heart to think how unwisely I have wrought!Titivilly, that goeth invisible, hung his net before my eye;And, by his fantastical visions, sedulously sought,By New Guise, Now-a-days, Nought, caused me to obey.
Mer.Mankind! ye were oblivious of my doctrine manitory;I said before: Titivilly would assay you a bront.Beware from henceforth of his fables delusory!The proverb saith:Jacula prefata minus ledunt.Ye have three adversaries—he is master of them all—That is to say, the devil, the world, the flesh, and the fell;The New Guise, Now-a-days, and Nought, the world we may them call;And, prope[r]ly, Titivilly signifies the fiend of hell;The flesh, that is the unclean concupiscence of your body.These be your three ghostly enemies in whom ye have put your confidence;They brought you to Mischief to conclude your temporal glory:As it hath be showed before this worship[f]ul audience.Remember how ready I was to help you; from such I was not dangerous;Wherefore, good son! abstain from sin evermore after this!Ye may both save and spoil your soul, that is so precious:Libere velle, libere velle!God may not deny, I wis.Beware of Titivilly with his net, and of all his envious will;Of your sinful delectation that grieveth your ghostly substance:Your body is your enemy: let him not have his will.Take your leave when ye will; God send you good perseverance!
[Man]. Sith I shall depart, bless me, father! hence then I go—God send us all plenty of His great mercy!
Mer. Dominus custodi[a]t te ab omni malo!In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.Amen![Hic exitMankind.
(Epilogue.)
Worship[f]ul sovereigns! I have do my property;Mankind is delivered by my several patrociny.God preserve him from all wicked captivity;And send him grace, his sensual conditions to mortify!Now for His love, that for us received His humanity,Search your conditions with due examination!Think and remember: the world is but a vanity,As it is proved daily by d[i]verse transmutation,Mankind is wretched; he hath sufficient proof;Therefore, God [keep] you allper suam misericordiam,That ye may be pleyseris with the angels above,And have to your portionvitam eternam.Amen!
Worship[f]ul sovereigns! I have do my property;Mankind is delivered by my several patrociny.God preserve him from all wicked captivity;And send him grace, his sensual conditions to mortify!Now for His love, that for us received His humanity,Search your conditions with due examination!Think and remember: the world is but a vanity,As it is proved daily by d[i]verse transmutation,Mankind is wretched; he hath sufficient proof;Therefore, God [keep] you allper suam misericordiam,That ye may be pleyseris with the angels above,And have to your portionvitam eternam.Amen!
Finis.
O liber, si quis cui constas forte queretur,Hyngham, quem monacho dices, super omniaconsta[s].