FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:[89]The full title of this play is rather instructive:—"Of Gentylnes & Nobylyte: a dyaloge betwen the marchaunt, the knyght & the plowman dysputyng who is a verey gentylman & who is a noble man and how men shuld come to auctoryte, compiled in maner of an enterlude with divers toys & gestis addyd therto to make mery pastyme and disport."[90]The Pardoner and the Frereis dated 5 April, 1533;Johan Johan, 12 February, 153¾.[91]And eke, yf thou dysturbe me anythynge,Thou art also a traytour to the Kynge,For here hath he graunted me vnder his brode sealeThat no man, yf he love hys hele,Sholde me dysturbe or let in any wyse[92]If the reference in l. 636 of thePlay of the Wether(see note) is to be pressed, this would be an exception, giving us between 1523 and 1533 as the date of composition.[93]Dr. Swoboda erroneously places Edward VI.'s birth in August, a slip of some importance as to some extent spoiling his argument thatThersitesmust have been written for a performance at an earlier date. But perhaps even in October it would not be quite correct to say "All herbs are dead," while the reference to a New Year's gift, though not quite decisive, makes it probable that the play was written for a Christmas entertainment. In any case it is intrinsically probable that a play acted at an improvised festivity on the birth of an heir to the throne would be an old one, rather than specially written for the occasion.[94]If no man will with me battle take,A voyage to hell quickly I will make,And there I will beat the devil and his dame,And bring the souls away: I fully intend the same.After that in Hell I have ruffled so,Straight to old Purgatory will I go,I will clean that so purge round aboutThat we shall need no pardons to help them out.[95]Dr. Swoboda, who speaks of the plays from the press of William Rastell as printed by his father (John), was apparently unaware that neitherThe Pardoner and the FrerenorJohan Johanbears Heywood's name, and takes his authorship of them for granted.[96]It is not contended that the payment was for the performance ofThersites, only that it shows that Heywood was a likely man to be called on to produce a play about this period.[97]See notes to ll. 263 and 482. I quote here the end of the French farce in order to give the "wax" episode in full.Le Cousin.Or ca cousin iay penseDung subtil affaire,Dont vous serez riche a iamas.Pernet.Riche, cousin?Le Cousin.Certes, sire, vous fault chaufferEt faire ung subtil ouuraige,Qui vous gardera de dommaige,Cousin, beau sire.Pernet.Me fault il donc chauffer la cire,Tandis que vous banqueterez?Corbieu, ien suis marry,Je croy que ce paste est bon.Le Cousin.Chauffez & mettez du charbonLymaige sera proffittable.Pernet.Vous irayge signer la table?Je scay bien le benedicite.Le Cousin.Faictes ce que iay recite.Dea! cousin! ne perdez point de temps.Pernet.Cest vng trespouure passetempsDe chauffer la cire quant on digne!Regardez elle est plus molle que laine,En la chauffant rien naqueste.Le Cousin.Conclus & conqueste!Auec la femme ie banqueste,Combien que ie ne soye le sireEt son mary chauffe la cire.

[89]The full title of this play is rather instructive:—"Of Gentylnes & Nobylyte: a dyaloge betwen the marchaunt, the knyght & the plowman dysputyng who is a verey gentylman & who is a noble man and how men shuld come to auctoryte, compiled in maner of an enterlude with divers toys & gestis addyd therto to make mery pastyme and disport."

[90]The Pardoner and the Frereis dated 5 April, 1533;Johan Johan, 12 February, 153¾.

[91]And eke, yf thou dysturbe me anythynge,Thou art also a traytour to the Kynge,For here hath he graunted me vnder his brode sealeThat no man, yf he love hys hele,Sholde me dysturbe or let in any wyse

[91]

And eke, yf thou dysturbe me anythynge,Thou art also a traytour to the Kynge,For here hath he graunted me vnder his brode sealeThat no man, yf he love hys hele,Sholde me dysturbe or let in any wyse

And eke, yf thou dysturbe me anythynge,

Thou art also a traytour to the Kynge,

For here hath he graunted me vnder his brode seale

That no man, yf he love hys hele,

Sholde me dysturbe or let in any wyse

[92]If the reference in l. 636 of thePlay of the Wether(see note) is to be pressed, this would be an exception, giving us between 1523 and 1533 as the date of composition.

[93]Dr. Swoboda erroneously places Edward VI.'s birth in August, a slip of some importance as to some extent spoiling his argument thatThersitesmust have been written for a performance at an earlier date. But perhaps even in October it would not be quite correct to say "All herbs are dead," while the reference to a New Year's gift, though not quite decisive, makes it probable that the play was written for a Christmas entertainment. In any case it is intrinsically probable that a play acted at an improvised festivity on the birth of an heir to the throne would be an old one, rather than specially written for the occasion.

[94]If no man will with me battle take,A voyage to hell quickly I will make,And there I will beat the devil and his dame,And bring the souls away: I fully intend the same.After that in Hell I have ruffled so,Straight to old Purgatory will I go,I will clean that so purge round aboutThat we shall need no pardons to help them out.

[94]

If no man will with me battle take,A voyage to hell quickly I will make,And there I will beat the devil and his dame,And bring the souls away: I fully intend the same.After that in Hell I have ruffled so,Straight to old Purgatory will I go,I will clean that so purge round aboutThat we shall need no pardons to help them out.

If no man will with me battle take,

A voyage to hell quickly I will make,

And there I will beat the devil and his dame,

And bring the souls away: I fully intend the same.

After that in Hell I have ruffled so,

Straight to old Purgatory will I go,

I will clean that so purge round about

That we shall need no pardons to help them out.

[95]Dr. Swoboda, who speaks of the plays from the press of William Rastell as printed by his father (John), was apparently unaware that neitherThe Pardoner and the FrerenorJohan Johanbears Heywood's name, and takes his authorship of them for granted.

[96]It is not contended that the payment was for the performance ofThersites, only that it shows that Heywood was a likely man to be called on to produce a play about this period.

[97]See notes to ll. 263 and 482. I quote here the end of the French farce in order to give the "wax" episode in full.Le Cousin.Or ca cousin iay penseDung subtil affaire,Dont vous serez riche a iamas.Pernet.Riche, cousin?Le Cousin.Certes, sire, vous fault chaufferEt faire ung subtil ouuraige,Qui vous gardera de dommaige,Cousin, beau sire.Pernet.Me fault il donc chauffer la cire,Tandis que vous banqueterez?Corbieu, ien suis marry,Je croy que ce paste est bon.Le Cousin.Chauffez & mettez du charbonLymaige sera proffittable.Pernet.Vous irayge signer la table?Je scay bien le benedicite.Le Cousin.Faictes ce que iay recite.Dea! cousin! ne perdez point de temps.Pernet.Cest vng trespouure passetempsDe chauffer la cire quant on digne!Regardez elle est plus molle que laine,En la chauffant rien naqueste.Le Cousin.Conclus & conqueste!Auec la femme ie banqueste,Combien que ie ne soye le sireEt son mary chauffe la cire.

[97]See notes to ll. 263 and 482. I quote here the end of the French farce in order to give the "wax" episode in full.

Le Cousin.Or ca cousin iay penseDung subtil affaire,Dont vous serez riche a iamas.Pernet.Riche, cousin?Le Cousin.Certes, sire, vous fault chaufferEt faire ung subtil ouuraige,Qui vous gardera de dommaige,Cousin, beau sire.Pernet.Me fault il donc chauffer la cire,Tandis que vous banqueterez?Corbieu, ien suis marry,Je croy que ce paste est bon.Le Cousin.Chauffez & mettez du charbonLymaige sera proffittable.Pernet.Vous irayge signer la table?Je scay bien le benedicite.Le Cousin.Faictes ce que iay recite.Dea! cousin! ne perdez point de temps.Pernet.Cest vng trespouure passetempsDe chauffer la cire quant on digne!Regardez elle est plus molle que laine,En la chauffant rien naqueste.Le Cousin.Conclus & conqueste!Auec la femme ie banqueste,Combien que ie ne soye le sireEt son mary chauffe la cire.

Le Cousin.Or ca cousin iay pense

Dung subtil affaire,

Dont vous serez riche a iamas.

Pernet.Riche, cousin?

Le Cousin.Certes, sire, vous fault chauffer

Et faire ung subtil ouuraige,

Qui vous gardera de dommaige,

Cousin, beau sire.

Pernet.Me fault il donc chauffer la cire,

Tandis que vous banqueterez?

Corbieu, ien suis marry,

Je croy que ce paste est bon.

Le Cousin.Chauffez & mettez du charbon

Lymaige sera proffittable.

Pernet.Vous irayge signer la table?

Je scay bien le benedicite.

Le Cousin.Faictes ce que iay recite.

Dea! cousin! ne perdez point de temps.

Pernet.Cest vng trespouure passetemps

De chauffer la cire quant on digne!

Regardez elle est plus molle que laine,

En la chauffant rien naqueste.

Le Cousin.Conclus & conqueste!

Auec la femme ie banqueste,

Combien que ie ne soye le sire

Et son mary chauffe la cire.

the play of the wether

The play of the wetherA new and a verymery enterlude ofall maner wethersmadeby John Heywood,The players names.Jupiter a god.Mery reporte the vyce.The gentylman.The marchaunt.The ranger.The water myller.The wynde myller.The gentylwoman.The launder.A boy the lest that can play.

A new and a verymery enterlude ofall maner wethersmadeby John Heywood,

The players names.

The Play of the Wether

JupyterA ii

RYght farre to longe, as now, were to recyteThe auncyent estate wherein our selfe hath reyned,What honour, what laude, gyven us of very ryght,What glory we have had, dewly unfayned,Of eche creature, which dewty hath constrayned;5For above all goddes, syns our father's fale,We, Jupiter, were ever pryncypale.If we so have beene, as treuth yt is in dede,Beyond the compas of all comparyson,Who coulde presume to shew, for any mede,10So that yt myght appere to humayne reason,The hye renowne we stande in at this season?For, syns that heven and earth were fyrste create,Stode we never in suche tryumphaunt estateAs we now do, whereof we woll reporte15Suche parte as we se mete for tyme present,Chyefely concernynge your[98]perpetuall comforte,As the thynge selfe shall prove in experyment,Whyche hyely shall bynde you, on knees lowly bent,Sooly to honour oure hyenes, day by day.20And now to the mater gyve eare, and we shall say.Before our presens, in our hye parlyament,Both goddes and goddeses of all degreesHath[99]late assembled, by comen assent,For the redres of certayne enormytees,25Bred amonge them, thorow extremyteesAbusyd in eche to other of them all,Namely, to purpose, in these moste specyall:Our forsayde father Saturne, and Phebus,Eolus and Phebe, these foure[100]by name,30Whose natures, not onely, so farre contraryous,But also of malyce eche other to defame,Have longe tyme abused, ryght farre out of frame,The dew course of all theyr constellacyons,To the great damage of all yerthly nacyons:35Whyche was debated in place sayde before;A iibAnd fyrste, as became, our father moste auncyent,With berde whyte as snow, his lockes both colde & hore,Hath entred[101]such mater as served his entent,Laudynge his frosty mansyon in the fyrmament,40To ayre & yerth as thynge moste precyous,Pourgynge all humours that are contagyous.How be yt, he alledgeth that, of longe tyme past,Lyttell hath prevayled his great dylygens,Full oft uppon yerth his fayre frost he hath cast,45All thynges hurtfull to banysh out of presens.But Phebus, entendynge to kepe him in sylens,When he hath labored all nyght in his powres,[102]His glarynge beamys maryth all in two howres.Phebus to this made no maner answerynge,50Whereuppon they both then Phebe defyed,Eche for his parte leyd in her reprovyngeThat by her showres superfluous they have tryed[103];In all that she may theyr powres be denyed;Wherunto Phebe made answere no more55Then Phebus to Saturne hadde made before.Anone uppon Eolus all these dyd fle,Complaynynge theyr causes, eche one arow,And sayd, to compare, none was so evyll as he;For, when he is dysposed his blastes to blow,60He suffereth neyther sone-shyne, rayne nor snowe.They eche agaynste other, and he agaynste al three,—Thus can these iiii in no maner agree!Whyche sene in themselfe, and further consyderynge,The same to redres was cause of theyr assemble;65And, also, that we, evermore beynge,Besyde our puysaunt power of deite,Of wysedome and nature so noble and so fre,From all extremytees the meane devydynge,To pease and plente eche thynge attemperynge,70They have, in conclusyon, holly surrendrydA iiiInto our handes, at mych as concernyngeAll maner wethers by them engendryd,The full of theyr powrs, for terme everlastynge,To set suche order as standyth wyth our pleasynge,75Whyche thynge, as of our parte, no parte requyred,But of all theyr partys ryght humbly desyred,To take uppon us. Wherto we dyd assente.And so in all thynges, with one voyce agreable,We have clerely fynyshed our foresayd parleament,80To your great welth, whyche shall be fyrme and stable,And to our honour farre inestymable;For syns theyr powers, as ours, addyd to our owne,Who can, we say, know us as we shulde be knowne?But now, for fyne,[104]the rest of our entent,85Wherfore, as now, we hyther are dyscendyd,Is onely to satysfye and contentAll maner people whyche have been offendydBy any wether mete to be amendyd,Uppon whose complayntes, declarynge theyr grefe,90We shall shape remedye for theyr relefe.And to gyve knowledge for theyr hyther resorteWe wolde thys afore proclaymed to be,To all our people, by some one of thys sorte,[105]Whome we lyste to choyse here amongest all ye.95Wherfore eche man avaunce, and we shal seWhyche of you is moste mete to be our cryer.

RYght farre to longe, as now, were to recyte

The auncyent estate wherein our selfe hath reyned,

What honour, what laude, gyven us of very ryght,

What glory we have had, dewly unfayned,

Of eche creature, which dewty hath constrayned;5

For above all goddes, syns our father's fale,

We, Jupiter, were ever pryncypale.

If we so have beene, as treuth yt is in dede,Beyond the compas of all comparyson,Who coulde presume to shew, for any mede,10So that yt myght appere to humayne reason,The hye renowne we stande in at this season?For, syns that heven and earth were fyrste create,Stode we never in suche tryumphaunt estate

If we so have beene, as treuth yt is in dede,

Beyond the compas of all comparyson,

Who coulde presume to shew, for any mede,10

So that yt myght appere to humayne reason,

The hye renowne we stande in at this season?

For, syns that heven and earth were fyrste create,

Stode we never in suche tryumphaunt estate

As we now do, whereof we woll reporte15Suche parte as we se mete for tyme present,Chyefely concernynge your[98]perpetuall comforte,As the thynge selfe shall prove in experyment,Whyche hyely shall bynde you, on knees lowly bent,Sooly to honour oure hyenes, day by day.20And now to the mater gyve eare, and we shall say.

As we now do, whereof we woll reporte15

Suche parte as we se mete for tyme present,

Chyefely concernynge your[98]perpetuall comforte,

As the thynge selfe shall prove in experyment,

Whyche hyely shall bynde you, on knees lowly bent,

Sooly to honour oure hyenes, day by day.20

And now to the mater gyve eare, and we shall say.

Before our presens, in our hye parlyament,Both goddes and goddeses of all degreesHath[99]late assembled, by comen assent,For the redres of certayne enormytees,25Bred amonge them, thorow extremyteesAbusyd in eche to other of them all,Namely, to purpose, in these moste specyall:

Before our presens, in our hye parlyament,

Both goddes and goddeses of all degrees

Hath[99]late assembled, by comen assent,

For the redres of certayne enormytees,25

Bred amonge them, thorow extremytees

Abusyd in eche to other of them all,

Namely, to purpose, in these moste specyall:

Our forsayde father Saturne, and Phebus,Eolus and Phebe, these foure[100]by name,30Whose natures, not onely, so farre contraryous,But also of malyce eche other to defame,Have longe tyme abused, ryght farre out of frame,The dew course of all theyr constellacyons,To the great damage of all yerthly nacyons:35

Our forsayde father Saturne, and Phebus,

Eolus and Phebe, these foure[100]by name,30

Whose natures, not onely, so farre contraryous,

But also of malyce eche other to defame,

Have longe tyme abused, ryght farre out of frame,

The dew course of all theyr constellacyons,

To the great damage of all yerthly nacyons:35

Whyche was debated in place sayde before;A iibAnd fyrste, as became, our father moste auncyent,With berde whyte as snow, his lockes both colde & hore,Hath entred[101]such mater as served his entent,Laudynge his frosty mansyon in the fyrmament,40To ayre & yerth as thynge moste precyous,Pourgynge all humours that are contagyous.

Whyche was debated in place sayde before;A iib

And fyrste, as became, our father moste auncyent,

With berde whyte as snow, his lockes both colde & hore,

Hath entred[101]such mater as served his entent,

Laudynge his frosty mansyon in the fyrmament,40

To ayre & yerth as thynge moste precyous,

Pourgynge all humours that are contagyous.

How be yt, he alledgeth that, of longe tyme past,Lyttell hath prevayled his great dylygens,Full oft uppon yerth his fayre frost he hath cast,45All thynges hurtfull to banysh out of presens.But Phebus, entendynge to kepe him in sylens,When he hath labored all nyght in his powres,[102]His glarynge beamys maryth all in two howres.

How be yt, he alledgeth that, of longe tyme past,

Lyttell hath prevayled his great dylygens,

Full oft uppon yerth his fayre frost he hath cast,45

All thynges hurtfull to banysh out of presens.

But Phebus, entendynge to kepe him in sylens,

When he hath labored all nyght in his powres,[102]

His glarynge beamys maryth all in two howres.

Phebus to this made no maner answerynge,50Whereuppon they both then Phebe defyed,Eche for his parte leyd in her reprovyngeThat by her showres superfluous they have tryed[103];In all that she may theyr powres be denyed;Wherunto Phebe made answere no more55Then Phebus to Saturne hadde made before.

Phebus to this made no maner answerynge,50

Whereuppon they both then Phebe defyed,

Eche for his parte leyd in her reprovynge

That by her showres superfluous they have tryed[103];

In all that she may theyr powres be denyed;

Wherunto Phebe made answere no more55

Then Phebus to Saturne hadde made before.

Anone uppon Eolus all these dyd fle,Complaynynge theyr causes, eche one arow,And sayd, to compare, none was so evyll as he;For, when he is dysposed his blastes to blow,60He suffereth neyther sone-shyne, rayne nor snowe.They eche agaynste other, and he agaynste al three,—Thus can these iiii in no maner agree!

Anone uppon Eolus all these dyd fle,

Complaynynge theyr causes, eche one arow,

And sayd, to compare, none was so evyll as he;

For, when he is dysposed his blastes to blow,60

He suffereth neyther sone-shyne, rayne nor snowe.

They eche agaynste other, and he agaynste al three,—

Thus can these iiii in no maner agree!

Whyche sene in themselfe, and further consyderynge,The same to redres was cause of theyr assemble;65And, also, that we, evermore beynge,Besyde our puysaunt power of deite,Of wysedome and nature so noble and so fre,From all extremytees the meane devydynge,To pease and plente eche thynge attemperynge,70

Whyche sene in themselfe, and further consyderynge,

The same to redres was cause of theyr assemble;65

And, also, that we, evermore beynge,

Besyde our puysaunt power of deite,

Of wysedome and nature so noble and so fre,

From all extremytees the meane devydynge,

To pease and plente eche thynge attemperynge,70

They have, in conclusyon, holly surrendrydA iiiInto our handes, at mych as concernyngeAll maner wethers by them engendryd,The full of theyr powrs, for terme everlastynge,To set suche order as standyth wyth our pleasynge,75Whyche thynge, as of our parte, no parte requyred,But of all theyr partys ryght humbly desyred,

They have, in conclusyon, holly surrendrydA iii

Into our handes, at mych as concernynge

All maner wethers by them engendryd,

The full of theyr powrs, for terme everlastynge,

To set suche order as standyth wyth our pleasynge,75

Whyche thynge, as of our parte, no parte requyred,

But of all theyr partys ryght humbly desyred,

To take uppon us. Wherto we dyd assente.And so in all thynges, with one voyce agreable,We have clerely fynyshed our foresayd parleament,80To your great welth, whyche shall be fyrme and stable,And to our honour farre inestymable;For syns theyr powers, as ours, addyd to our owne,Who can, we say, know us as we shulde be knowne?

To take uppon us. Wherto we dyd assente.

And so in all thynges, with one voyce agreable,

We have clerely fynyshed our foresayd parleament,80

To your great welth, whyche shall be fyrme and stable,

And to our honour farre inestymable;

For syns theyr powers, as ours, addyd to our owne,

Who can, we say, know us as we shulde be knowne?

But now, for fyne,[104]the rest of our entent,85Wherfore, as now, we hyther are dyscendyd,Is onely to satysfye and contentAll maner people whyche have been offendydBy any wether mete to be amendyd,Uppon whose complayntes, declarynge theyr grefe,90We shall shape remedye for theyr relefe.

But now, for fyne,[104]the rest of our entent,85

Wherfore, as now, we hyther are dyscendyd,

Is onely to satysfye and content

All maner people whyche have been offendyd

By any wether mete to be amendyd,

Uppon whose complayntes, declarynge theyr grefe,90

We shall shape remedye for theyr relefe.

And to gyve knowledge for theyr hyther resorteWe wolde thys afore proclaymed to be,To all our people, by some one of thys sorte,[105]Whome we lyste to choyse here amongest all ye.95Wherfore eche man avaunce, and we shal seWhyche of you is moste mete to be our cryer.

And to gyve knowledge for theyr hyther resorte

We wolde thys afore proclaymed to be,

To all our people, by some one of thys sorte,[105]

Whome we lyste to choyse here amongest all ye.95

Wherfore eche man avaunce, and we shal se

Whyche of you is moste mete to be our cryer.

Here entrethMery-reporte.

Mery-reporte.Brother,[106]holde up your torche a lytell hyer!Now, I beseche you, my lorde, loke on me furste.I truste your lordshyp shall not fynde me the wurste.100Jupyter.Why! what arte thou that approchyst so ny?Mery-reporte.Forsothe, and please your lordshyppe, it is I.Jupyter.All that we knowe very well, But what I?Mery-reporte.What I? Some saye I am I perse I.[107]But, what maner I so ever be I,105I assure your good lordshyp, I am I.Jupyter.What maner man arte thou, shewe quickely.A iiibMery-reporte.By god, a poore gentylman, dwellyth hereby.Jupyter.A gentylman! Thyselfe bryngeth wytnes naye,Both in thy lyght behavour and araye.110But what arte thou called where thou dost resorte?Mery-reporte.Forsoth, my lorde, mayster Mery-reporte.Jupyter.Thou arte no mete man in our bysynes,For thyne apparence is of to mych lyghtnes.Mery-reporte.Why, can not your lordshyp lyke my maner115Myne apparell, nor my name nother?Jupyter.To nother of all we have devocyon.Mery-reporte.A proper lycklyhod of promocyon!Well, than, as wyse as ye seme to be,Yet can ye se no wysdome in me.120But syns ye dysprayse me for so lyghte an elfe,I praye you gyve me leve to prayse my-selfe:And, for the fyrste parte, I wyll begynIn my behavour at my commynge in,Wherin I thynke I have lytell offendyd,125For, sewer, my curtesy coulde not be amendyd;And, as for my sewt your servaunt to be,Myghte yll have bene myst for your honeste;For, as I be saved, yf I shall not lye,I saw no man sew for the offyce but I!130Wherfore yf ye take me not or I go,Ye must anone, whether ye wyll or no.And syns your entent is but for the wethers,What skyls[108]our apparell to be fryse[109]or fethers?I thynke it wisdome, syns no man forbad it,135With thys to spare a better—yf I had it!And, for my name, reportyng alwaye trewly,What hurte to reporte a sad mater merely?As, by occasyon, for the same entent,To a serteyne wedow thys daye was I sent,140Whose husbande departyd wythout her wyttynge,A specyall good lover and she hys owne swettynge![110]To whome, at my commyng, I caste suche a fygure,Mynglynge the mater accordynge to my nature,That when we departyd,[111]above al other thynges,145She thanked me hartely for my mery tydynges!And yf I had not handled yt merely,A ivPerchaunce she myght have taken yt hevely;But in suche facyon I conjured and bounde her,That I left her meryer then I founde her!150What man may compare to showe the lyke comforteThat dayly is shewed by me, Mery-reporte?And, for your purpose, at this tyme ment,For all wethers I am so indyfferent,[112]Without affeccyon, standynge so up-ryght,155Son-lyght, mone-lyght, ster-lyght, twy-light, torch-light,Cold, hete, moyst, drye, hayle, rayne, frost, snow, lightnyng, thunder,Cloudy, mysty, wyndy, fayre, fowle, above hed or under,Temperate or dystemperate, whatever yt be,I promyse your lordshyp, all is one to me.160Jupyter.Well, sonne, consydrynge thyne indyfferency,And partely the rest of thy declaracyon,We make the our servaunte and immediatelyWell woll thou departe and cause proclamacyon,Publyshynge our pleasure to every nacyon,165Whyche thynge ons done, wyth all dylygens,Make thy returne agayne to this presens,Here to receyve all sewters of eche degre;And suche as to the may seme moste metely,We wyll thou brynge them before our majeste,170And for the rest, that be not so worthy,Make thou reporte to us effectually,So that we may heare eche maner sewte at large.Thus se thow departe and loke uppon thy charge!Mery-reporte.Now, good my lorde god, our lady be wyth ye!175Frendes, a fellyshyppe,[113]let me go by ye!Thynke ye I may stande thrustyng amonge you there?Nay, by god, I muste thruste aboute other gere!

Mery-reporte.Brother,[106]holde up your torche a lytell hyer!Now, I beseche you, my lorde, loke on me furste.I truste your lordshyp shall not fynde me the wurste.100

Mery-reporte.Brother,[106]holde up your torche a lytell hyer!

Now, I beseche you, my lorde, loke on me furste.

I truste your lordshyp shall not fynde me the wurste.100

Jupyter.Why! what arte thou that approchyst so ny?

Mery-reporte.Forsothe, and please your lordshyppe, it is I.

Jupyter.All that we knowe very well, But what I?

Mery-reporte.What I? Some saye I am I perse I.[107]But, what maner I so ever be I,105I assure your good lordshyp, I am I.

Mery-reporte.What I? Some saye I am I perse I.[107]

But, what maner I so ever be I,105

I assure your good lordshyp, I am I.

Jupyter.What maner man arte thou, shewe quickely.A iiib

Mery-reporte.By god, a poore gentylman, dwellyth hereby.

Jupyter.A gentylman! Thyselfe bryngeth wytnes naye,Both in thy lyght behavour and araye.110But what arte thou called where thou dost resorte?

Jupyter.A gentylman! Thyselfe bryngeth wytnes naye,

Both in thy lyght behavour and araye.110

But what arte thou called where thou dost resorte?

Mery-reporte.Forsoth, my lorde, mayster Mery-reporte.

Jupyter.Thou arte no mete man in our bysynes,For thyne apparence is of to mych lyghtnes.

Jupyter.Thou arte no mete man in our bysynes,

For thyne apparence is of to mych lyghtnes.

Mery-reporte.Why, can not your lordshyp lyke my maner115Myne apparell, nor my name nother?

Mery-reporte.Why, can not your lordshyp lyke my maner115

Myne apparell, nor my name nother?

Jupyter.To nother of all we have devocyon.

Mery-reporte.A proper lycklyhod of promocyon!Well, than, as wyse as ye seme to be,Yet can ye se no wysdome in me.120But syns ye dysprayse me for so lyghte an elfe,I praye you gyve me leve to prayse my-selfe:And, for the fyrste parte, I wyll begynIn my behavour at my commynge in,Wherin I thynke I have lytell offendyd,125For, sewer, my curtesy coulde not be amendyd;And, as for my sewt your servaunt to be,Myghte yll have bene myst for your honeste;For, as I be saved, yf I shall not lye,I saw no man sew for the offyce but I!130Wherfore yf ye take me not or I go,Ye must anone, whether ye wyll or no.And syns your entent is but for the wethers,What skyls[108]our apparell to be fryse[109]or fethers?I thynke it wisdome, syns no man forbad it,135With thys to spare a better—yf I had it!And, for my name, reportyng alwaye trewly,What hurte to reporte a sad mater merely?As, by occasyon, for the same entent,To a serteyne wedow thys daye was I sent,140Whose husbande departyd wythout her wyttynge,A specyall good lover and she hys owne swettynge![110]To whome, at my commyng, I caste suche a fygure,Mynglynge the mater accordynge to my nature,That when we departyd,[111]above al other thynges,145She thanked me hartely for my mery tydynges!And yf I had not handled yt merely,A ivPerchaunce she myght have taken yt hevely;But in suche facyon I conjured and bounde her,That I left her meryer then I founde her!150What man may compare to showe the lyke comforteThat dayly is shewed by me, Mery-reporte?And, for your purpose, at this tyme ment,For all wethers I am so indyfferent,[112]Without affeccyon, standynge so up-ryght,155Son-lyght, mone-lyght, ster-lyght, twy-light, torch-light,Cold, hete, moyst, drye, hayle, rayne, frost, snow, lightnyng, thunder,Cloudy, mysty, wyndy, fayre, fowle, above hed or under,Temperate or dystemperate, whatever yt be,I promyse your lordshyp, all is one to me.160

Mery-reporte.A proper lycklyhod of promocyon!

Well, than, as wyse as ye seme to be,

Yet can ye se no wysdome in me.120

But syns ye dysprayse me for so lyghte an elfe,

I praye you gyve me leve to prayse my-selfe:

And, for the fyrste parte, I wyll begyn

In my behavour at my commynge in,

Wherin I thynke I have lytell offendyd,125

For, sewer, my curtesy coulde not be amendyd;

And, as for my sewt your servaunt to be,

Myghte yll have bene myst for your honeste;

For, as I be saved, yf I shall not lye,

I saw no man sew for the offyce but I!130

Wherfore yf ye take me not or I go,

Ye must anone, whether ye wyll or no.

And syns your entent is but for the wethers,

What skyls[108]our apparell to be fryse[109]or fethers?

I thynke it wisdome, syns no man forbad it,135

With thys to spare a better—yf I had it!

And, for my name, reportyng alwaye trewly,

What hurte to reporte a sad mater merely?

As, by occasyon, for the same entent,

To a serteyne wedow thys daye was I sent,140

Whose husbande departyd wythout her wyttynge,

A specyall good lover and she hys owne swettynge![110]

To whome, at my commyng, I caste suche a fygure,

Mynglynge the mater accordynge to my nature,

That when we departyd,[111]above al other thynges,145

She thanked me hartely for my mery tydynges!

And yf I had not handled yt merely,A iv

Perchaunce she myght have taken yt hevely;

But in suche facyon I conjured and bounde her,

That I left her meryer then I founde her!150

What man may compare to showe the lyke comforte

That dayly is shewed by me, Mery-reporte?

And, for your purpose, at this tyme ment,

For all wethers I am so indyfferent,[112]

Without affeccyon, standynge so up-ryght,155

Son-lyght, mone-lyght, ster-lyght, twy-light, torch-light,

Cold, hete, moyst, drye, hayle, rayne, frost, snow, lightnyng, thunder,

Cloudy, mysty, wyndy, fayre, fowle, above hed or under,

Temperate or dystemperate, whatever yt be,

I promyse your lordshyp, all is one to me.160

Jupyter.Well, sonne, consydrynge thyne indyfferency,And partely the rest of thy declaracyon,We make the our servaunte and immediatelyWell woll thou departe and cause proclamacyon,Publyshynge our pleasure to every nacyon,165Whyche thynge ons done, wyth all dylygens,Make thy returne agayne to this presens,

Jupyter.Well, sonne, consydrynge thyne indyfferency,

And partely the rest of thy declaracyon,

We make the our servaunte and immediately

Well woll thou departe and cause proclamacyon,

Publyshynge our pleasure to every nacyon,165

Whyche thynge ons done, wyth all dylygens,

Make thy returne agayne to this presens,

Here to receyve all sewters of eche degre;And suche as to the may seme moste metely,We wyll thou brynge them before our majeste,170And for the rest, that be not so worthy,Make thou reporte to us effectually,So that we may heare eche maner sewte at large.Thus se thow departe and loke uppon thy charge!

Here to receyve all sewters of eche degre;

And suche as to the may seme moste metely,

We wyll thou brynge them before our majeste,170

And for the rest, that be not so worthy,

Make thou reporte to us effectually,

So that we may heare eche maner sewte at large.

Thus se thow departe and loke uppon thy charge!

Mery-reporte.Now, good my lorde god, our lady be wyth ye!175Frendes, a fellyshyppe,[113]let me go by ye!Thynke ye I may stande thrustyng amonge you there?Nay, by god, I muste thruste aboute other gere!

Mery-reporte.Now, good my lorde god, our lady be wyth ye!175

Frendes, a fellyshyppe,[113]let me go by ye!

Thynke ye I may stande thrustyng amonge you there?

Nay, by god, I muste thruste aboute other gere!

Mery-reportegoeth out.

At thende[114]of this staf[115]the god hath a song played in his trone orMery-reportecome in.

Jupiter.Now, syns we have thus farre set forth our purpose,A whyle we woll wythdraw our godly presens,180To embold all such more playnely to dysclose,As here wyll attende, in our foresayd pretens.And now, accordynge to your obedyens,A ivbRejoyce ye in us with joy most joyfully,And we our-selfe shall joy in our owne glory! [Jupiterhere closes the curtains of his throne.]185

Jupiter.Now, syns we have thus farre set forth our purpose,

A whyle we woll wythdraw our godly presens,180

To embold all such more playnely to dysclose,

As here wyll attende, in our foresayd pretens.

And now, accordynge to your obedyens,A ivb

Rejoyce ye in us with joy most joyfully,

And we our-selfe shall joy in our owne glory! [Jupiterhere closes the curtains of his throne.]185

Mery-reportecometh in.

Mery-reporte.Now, syrs, take hede! for here cometh goddes servaunt!Avaunt! carte[r]ly keytyfs,[116]avaunt!Why, ye dronken horesons, wyll yt not be?By your fayth, have ye nother cap nor kne?Not one of you that wyll make curtsy190To me, that am squyre for goddes precyous body?Regarde ye nothynge myne authoryte?No welcome home! nor where have ye be?How be yt, yf ye axyd, I coulde not well tell,But suer I thynke a thousande myle from hell,195And on my fayth, I thinke, in my consciens,I have been from hevyn as farre as heven is hens,At Lovyn,[117]at London and in Lombardy,At Baldock,[118]at Barfolde,[119]and in Barbary,At Canturbery, at Coventre, at Colchester,200At Wansworth and Welbecke,[120]at Westchester,At Fullam, at Faleborne, and at Fenlow,At Wallyngford, at Wakefeld, and at Waltamstow,At Tawnton, at Typtre[121]and at Totnam,[122]At Glouceter, at Gylford and at Gotham,205At Hartforde, at Harwyche, at Harowe on the hyll,At Sudbery,[123]Suth hampton, at Shoters Hyll,[124]At Walsingham, at Wyttam[125]and at Werwycke,At Boston, at Brystow[126]and at Berwycke,At Gravelyn,[127]at Gravesend, and at Glastynbery,210Ynge Gyngiang Jayberd the paryshe of Butsbery.[128]The devyll hym-selfe, wythout more leasure,Could not have gone halfe thus myche, I am sure!But, now I have warned[129]them, let them even chose;For, in fayth, I care not who wynne or lose.215

Mery-reporte.Now, syrs, take hede! for here cometh goddes servaunt!

Avaunt! carte[r]ly keytyfs,[116]avaunt!

Why, ye dronken horesons, wyll yt not be?

By your fayth, have ye nother cap nor kne?

Not one of you that wyll make curtsy190

To me, that am squyre for goddes precyous body?

Regarde ye nothynge myne authoryte?

No welcome home! nor where have ye be?

How be yt, yf ye axyd, I coulde not well tell,

But suer I thynke a thousande myle from hell,195

And on my fayth, I thinke, in my consciens,

I have been from hevyn as farre as heven is hens,

At Lovyn,[117]at London and in Lombardy,

At Baldock,[118]at Barfolde,[119]and in Barbary,

At Canturbery, at Coventre, at Colchester,200

At Wansworth and Welbecke,[120]at Westchester,

At Fullam, at Faleborne, and at Fenlow,

At Wallyngford, at Wakefeld, and at Waltamstow,

At Tawnton, at Typtre[121]and at Totnam,[122]

At Glouceter, at Gylford and at Gotham,205

At Hartforde, at Harwyche, at Harowe on the hyll,

At Sudbery,[123]Suth hampton, at Shoters Hyll,[124]

At Walsingham, at Wyttam[125]and at Werwycke,

At Boston, at Brystow[126]and at Berwycke,

At Gravelyn,[127]at Gravesend, and at Glastynbery,210

Ynge Gyngiang Jayberd the paryshe of Butsbery.[128]

The devyll hym-selfe, wythout more leasure,

Could not have gone halfe thus myche, I am sure!

But, now I have warned[129]them, let them even chose;

For, in fayth, I care not who wynne or lose.215

Here the gentylman before he cometh in bloweth his horne.

Mery-reporte.Now, by my trouth, this was a goodly hearyng.I went yt had ben the gentylwomans blowynge!But yt is not so, as I now suppose,For womens hornes sounde more in a mannys nose.220Gentylman.Stande ye mery, my frendes, everychone.B iMery-reporte.Say that to me and let the rest alone!Syr, ye be welcome, and all your meyny.Gentylman.Now, in good sooth, my frende, god a mercy!And syns that I mete the here thus by chaunce,225I shall requyre the of further acqueyntaunce,And brevely to shew the, this is the mater.I come to sew to the great god JupyterFor helpe of thynges concernynge my recreacyon,Accordynge to his late proclamacyon.230Mery-reporte.Mary, and I am he that this must spede.But fyrste tell me what be ye in dede.Gentylman.Forsoth, good frende, I am a gentylman.Mery-reporte.A goodly occupacyon, by seynt Anne!On my fayth, your maship[130]hath a mery life.235But who maketh all these hornes, your self or your wife?Nay, even in earnest, I aske you this questyon.Gentylman.Now, by my trouth, thou art a mery one.Mery-reporte.In fayth, of us both I thynke never one sad,For I am not so mery but ye seme as mad!240But stande ye styll and take a lyttell payne,I wyll come to you, by and by, agayne.Now, gracyous god, yf your wyll so be,I pray ye, let me speke a worde wyth ye.Jupyter.My sonne, say on! Let us here thy mynde.245Mery-reporte.My lord, there standeth a sewter even here behynde,A Gentylman, in yonder corner,And, as I thynke, his name is Mayster HornerA hunter he is, and cometh to make you sporte.He woide hunte a sow or twayne out of thys sorte.[131]250

Mery-reporte.Now, by my trouth, this was a goodly hearyng.I went yt had ben the gentylwomans blowynge!But yt is not so, as I now suppose,For womens hornes sounde more in a mannys nose.220

Mery-reporte.Now, by my trouth, this was a goodly hearyng.

I went yt had ben the gentylwomans blowynge!

But yt is not so, as I now suppose,

For womens hornes sounde more in a mannys nose.220

Gentylman.Stande ye mery, my frendes, everychone.B i

Mery-reporte.Say that to me and let the rest alone!Syr, ye be welcome, and all your meyny.

Mery-reporte.Say that to me and let the rest alone!

Syr, ye be welcome, and all your meyny.

Gentylman.Now, in good sooth, my frende, god a mercy!And syns that I mete the here thus by chaunce,225I shall requyre the of further acqueyntaunce,And brevely to shew the, this is the mater.I come to sew to the great god JupyterFor helpe of thynges concernynge my recreacyon,Accordynge to his late proclamacyon.230

Gentylman.Now, in good sooth, my frende, god a mercy!

And syns that I mete the here thus by chaunce,225

I shall requyre the of further acqueyntaunce,

And brevely to shew the, this is the mater.

I come to sew to the great god Jupyter

For helpe of thynges concernynge my recreacyon,

Accordynge to his late proclamacyon.230

Mery-reporte.Mary, and I am he that this must spede.But fyrste tell me what be ye in dede.

Mery-reporte.Mary, and I am he that this must spede.

But fyrste tell me what be ye in dede.

Gentylman.Forsoth, good frende, I am a gentylman.

Mery-reporte.A goodly occupacyon, by seynt Anne!On my fayth, your maship[130]hath a mery life.235But who maketh all these hornes, your self or your wife?Nay, even in earnest, I aske you this questyon.

Mery-reporte.A goodly occupacyon, by seynt Anne!

On my fayth, your maship[130]hath a mery life.235

But who maketh all these hornes, your self or your wife?

Nay, even in earnest, I aske you this questyon.

Gentylman.Now, by my trouth, thou art a mery one.

Mery-reporte.In fayth, of us both I thynke never one sad,For I am not so mery but ye seme as mad!240But stande ye styll and take a lyttell payne,I wyll come to you, by and by, agayne.Now, gracyous god, yf your wyll so be,I pray ye, let me speke a worde wyth ye.

Mery-reporte.In fayth, of us both I thynke never one sad,

For I am not so mery but ye seme as mad!240

But stande ye styll and take a lyttell payne,

I wyll come to you, by and by, agayne.

Now, gracyous god, yf your wyll so be,

I pray ye, let me speke a worde wyth ye.

Jupyter.My sonne, say on! Let us here thy mynde.245

Mery-reporte.My lord, there standeth a sewter even here behynde,A Gentylman, in yonder corner,And, as I thynke, his name is Mayster HornerA hunter he is, and cometh to make you sporte.He woide hunte a sow or twayne out of thys sorte.[131]250

Mery-reporte.My lord, there standeth a sewter even here behynde,

A Gentylman, in yonder corner,

And, as I thynke, his name is Mayster Horner

A hunter he is, and cometh to make you sporte.

He woide hunte a sow or twayne out of thys sorte.[131]250

Here he poynteth to the women.

Jupyter.What so ever his mynde be, let hym appere.Mery-reporte.Now, good mayster Horner, I pray you come nere.Gentylman.I am no horner, knave! I wyll thou know yt.Mery-reporte.I thought ye had [been], for when ye dyd blow yt,Harde I never horeson make horne so goo.255As lefe ye kyste myne ars as blow my hole soo!Come on your way, before the God Jupyter,And there for your selfe ye shall be sewter.Gentylman.Most myghty prynce and god of every nacyon,Pleaseth your hyghnes to vouchsave the herynge260Of me, whyche, accordynge to [y]our proclamacyon,B ibDoth make apparaunce, in way of besechynge,Not sole for myself, but generallyFor all come of noble and auncyent stock,Whych sorte above all doth most thankfully265Dayly take payne for welth of the comen flocke,With dylygent study alway devysyngeTo kepe them in order and unyte,In peace to labour the encrees of theyr lyvynge,Wherby eche man may prosper in plente.270Wherfore, good god, this is our hole desyrynge,That for ease of our paynes, at tymes vacaunt,In our recreacyon, whyche chyefely is huntynge,It may please you to sende us wether pleasaunt,Drye and not mysty, the wynde calme and styll.275That after our houndes yournynge[132]so meryly,Chasynge the dere over dale and hyll,In herynge we may folow and to-comfort the cry.Jupyter.Ryght well we do perceyve your hole request,Whyche shall not fayle to reste in memory,280Wherfore we wyll ye set your-selfe at rest,Tyll we have herde eche man indyfferently,And we shall take suche order, unyversally,As best may stande to our honour infynyte,For welth in commune and ech mannys synguler profyte.285Gentylman.In heven and yerth honoured be the nameOf Jupyter, who of his godly goodnesHath set this mater in so goodly frame,That every wyght shall have his desyre, doutles.And fyrst for us nobles and gentylmen,290I doute not, in his wysedome, to provydeSuche wether as in our huntynge, now and then,We may both teyse[133]and receyve[134]on every syde.Whyche thynge, ones had, for our seyd recreacyon,Shall greatly prevayle[135]you in preferrynge our helth295For what thynge more nedefull then our preservacyon,Beynge the weale and heddes of all comen welth?Mery-reporte.Now I besech your mashyp, whose hed be you?Gentylman.Whose hed am I? Thy hed. What seyst thou now?Mery-reporte.Nay, I thynke yt very trew, so god me helpe!300For I have ever bene, of a lyttell whelpe,B iiSo full of fansyes, and in so many fyttes,So many smale reasons, and in so many wyttes,That, even as I stande, I pray God I be dede,If ever I thought them all mete for one hede.305But syns I have one hed more then I knew,Blame not my rejoycynge,—I love all thinges new.And suer it is a treasour of heddes to have store:One feate can I now that I never coude before.Gentylman.What is that?Mery-reporte.By god, syns ye came hyther,310I can set my hedde and my tayle togyther.This hed shall save mony, by Saynt Mary,From hensforth I wyll no potycary;For at al tymys, when suche thynges shall mysterMy new hed shall geve myne olde tayle a glyster.[136]315And, after all this, then shall my hedde wayteUppon my tayle, and there stande at receyte.Syr, for the reste I wyll not now move you,But, yf we lyve, ye shall smell how I love yow.And, sir, touchyng your sewt here, depart, when it please youFor be ye suer, as I can I wyll ease you.321Gentylman.Then gyve me thy hande. That promyse I take.And yf for my sake any sewt thou do make,I promyse thy payne to be requytedMore largely than now shall be recyted.325Mery-reporte.Alas, my necke! Goddes pyty, where is my hed?By Saynt Yve, I feare me I shall be deade.And yf I were, me-thynke yt were no wonder,Syns my hed and my body is so farre asonder,

Jupyter.What so ever his mynde be, let hym appere.

Mery-reporte.Now, good mayster Horner, I pray you come nere.

Gentylman.I am no horner, knave! I wyll thou know yt.

Mery-reporte.I thought ye had [been], for when ye dyd blow yt,Harde I never horeson make horne so goo.255As lefe ye kyste myne ars as blow my hole soo!Come on your way, before the God Jupyter,And there for your selfe ye shall be sewter.

Mery-reporte.I thought ye had [been], for when ye dyd blow yt,

Harde I never horeson make horne so goo.255

As lefe ye kyste myne ars as blow my hole soo!

Come on your way, before the God Jupyter,

And there for your selfe ye shall be sewter.

Gentylman.Most myghty prynce and god of every nacyon,Pleaseth your hyghnes to vouchsave the herynge260Of me, whyche, accordynge to [y]our proclamacyon,B ibDoth make apparaunce, in way of besechynge,Not sole for myself, but generallyFor all come of noble and auncyent stock,Whych sorte above all doth most thankfully265Dayly take payne for welth of the comen flocke,With dylygent study alway devysyngeTo kepe them in order and unyte,In peace to labour the encrees of theyr lyvynge,Wherby eche man may prosper in plente.270Wherfore, good god, this is our hole desyrynge,That for ease of our paynes, at tymes vacaunt,In our recreacyon, whyche chyefely is huntynge,It may please you to sende us wether pleasaunt,Drye and not mysty, the wynde calme and styll.275That after our houndes yournynge[132]so meryly,Chasynge the dere over dale and hyll,In herynge we may folow and to-comfort the cry.

Gentylman.Most myghty prynce and god of every nacyon,

Pleaseth your hyghnes to vouchsave the herynge260

Of me, whyche, accordynge to [y]our proclamacyon,B ib

Doth make apparaunce, in way of besechynge,

Not sole for myself, but generally

For all come of noble and auncyent stock,

Whych sorte above all doth most thankfully265

Dayly take payne for welth of the comen flocke,

With dylygent study alway devysynge

To kepe them in order and unyte,

In peace to labour the encrees of theyr lyvynge,

Wherby eche man may prosper in plente.270

Wherfore, good god, this is our hole desyrynge,

That for ease of our paynes, at tymes vacaunt,

In our recreacyon, whyche chyefely is huntynge,

It may please you to sende us wether pleasaunt,

Drye and not mysty, the wynde calme and styll.275

That after our houndes yournynge[132]so meryly,

Chasynge the dere over dale and hyll,

In herynge we may folow and to-comfort the cry.

Jupyter.Ryght well we do perceyve your hole request,Whyche shall not fayle to reste in memory,280Wherfore we wyll ye set your-selfe at rest,Tyll we have herde eche man indyfferently,And we shall take suche order, unyversally,As best may stande to our honour infynyte,For welth in commune and ech mannys synguler profyte.285

Jupyter.Ryght well we do perceyve your hole request,

Whyche shall not fayle to reste in memory,280

Wherfore we wyll ye set your-selfe at rest,

Tyll we have herde eche man indyfferently,

And we shall take suche order, unyversally,

As best may stande to our honour infynyte,

For welth in commune and ech mannys synguler profyte.285

Gentylman.In heven and yerth honoured be the nameOf Jupyter, who of his godly goodnesHath set this mater in so goodly frame,That every wyght shall have his desyre, doutles.And fyrst for us nobles and gentylmen,290I doute not, in his wysedome, to provydeSuche wether as in our huntynge, now and then,We may both teyse[133]and receyve[134]on every syde.Whyche thynge, ones had, for our seyd recreacyon,Shall greatly prevayle[135]you in preferrynge our helth295For what thynge more nedefull then our preservacyon,Beynge the weale and heddes of all comen welth?

Gentylman.In heven and yerth honoured be the name

Of Jupyter, who of his godly goodnes

Hath set this mater in so goodly frame,

That every wyght shall have his desyre, doutles.

And fyrst for us nobles and gentylmen,290

I doute not, in his wysedome, to provyde

Suche wether as in our huntynge, now and then,

We may both teyse[133]and receyve[134]on every syde.

Whyche thynge, ones had, for our seyd recreacyon,

Shall greatly prevayle[135]you in preferrynge our helth295

For what thynge more nedefull then our preservacyon,

Beynge the weale and heddes of all comen welth?

Mery-reporte.Now I besech your mashyp, whose hed be you?

Gentylman.Whose hed am I? Thy hed. What seyst thou now?

Mery-reporte.Nay, I thynke yt very trew, so god me helpe!300For I have ever bene, of a lyttell whelpe,B iiSo full of fansyes, and in so many fyttes,So many smale reasons, and in so many wyttes,That, even as I stande, I pray God I be dede,If ever I thought them all mete for one hede.305But syns I have one hed more then I knew,Blame not my rejoycynge,—I love all thinges new.And suer it is a treasour of heddes to have store:One feate can I now that I never coude before.

Mery-reporte.Nay, I thynke yt very trew, so god me helpe!300

For I have ever bene, of a lyttell whelpe,B ii

So full of fansyes, and in so many fyttes,

So many smale reasons, and in so many wyttes,

That, even as I stande, I pray God I be dede,

If ever I thought them all mete for one hede.305

But syns I have one hed more then I knew,

Blame not my rejoycynge,—I love all thinges new.

And suer it is a treasour of heddes to have store:

One feate can I now that I never coude before.

Gentylman.What is that?

Mery-reporte.By god, syns ye came hyther,310I can set my hedde and my tayle togyther.This hed shall save mony, by Saynt Mary,From hensforth I wyll no potycary;For at al tymys, when suche thynges shall mysterMy new hed shall geve myne olde tayle a glyster.[136]315And, after all this, then shall my hedde wayteUppon my tayle, and there stande at receyte.Syr, for the reste I wyll not now move you,But, yf we lyve, ye shall smell how I love yow.And, sir, touchyng your sewt here, depart, when it please youFor be ye suer, as I can I wyll ease you.321

Mery-reporte.By god, syns ye came hyther,310

I can set my hedde and my tayle togyther.

This hed shall save mony, by Saynt Mary,

From hensforth I wyll no potycary;

For at al tymys, when suche thynges shall myster

My new hed shall geve myne olde tayle a glyster.[136]315

And, after all this, then shall my hedde wayte

Uppon my tayle, and there stande at receyte.

Syr, for the reste I wyll not now move you,

But, yf we lyve, ye shall smell how I love yow.

And, sir, touchyng your sewt here, depart, when it please you

For be ye suer, as I can I wyll ease you.321

Gentylman.Then gyve me thy hande. That promyse I take.And yf for my sake any sewt thou do make,I promyse thy payne to be requytedMore largely than now shall be recyted.325

Gentylman.Then gyve me thy hande. That promyse I take.

And yf for my sake any sewt thou do make,

I promyse thy payne to be requyted

More largely than now shall be recyted.325

Mery-reporte.Alas, my necke! Goddes pyty, where is my hed?By Saynt Yve, I feare me I shall be deade.And yf I were, me-thynke yt were no wonder,Syns my hed and my body is so farre asonder,

Mery-reporte.Alas, my necke! Goddes pyty, where is my hed?

By Saynt Yve, I feare me I shall be deade.

And yf I were, me-thynke yt were no wonder,

Syns my hed and my body is so farre asonder,

Entreth theMarchaunt.

Mayster person,[137]now welcome by my life!330I pray you, how doth my maistres, your wyfe?[138]Marchaunt.Syr, for the presthod and wyfe that ye alledgeI se ye speke more of dotage then knowledge.But let pas, syr, I wolde to you be sewterTo brynge me, yf ye can, before Jupiter.335[Mery-reporte.] Yes, Mary, can I, and wyll do yt in dede.Tary, and I shall make wey for your spede. [Goes toJupyter.]In fayth, good lorde, yf it please your gracyous godshyp,I muste have a worde or twayne wyth your lordship.B iibSyr, yonder is a nother man in place,340Who maketh great sewt to speke wyth your grace.Your pleasure ones knowen, he commeth by and by.[139]Jupyter.Bryng hym before our presens, sone, hardely.Mery-reporte.Why! where be you? shall I not fynde ye?Come a-way, I pray god, the devyll blynde ye!345Marchaunt.Moste myghty prynce and lorde of lordes all,Right humbly besecheth your majesteYour marchaunt-men thorow the worlde all,That yt may please you, of your benygnyte,In the dayly daunger of our goodes and lyfe,350Fyrste to consyder the desert of our request,What welth we bryng the rest, to our great care & stryfe,And then to rewarde us as ye shall thynke best.What were the surplysage of eche commodyte,Whyche groweth and encreaseth in every lande,355Excepte exchaunge by suche men as we be?By wey of entercours, that lyeth on our hande[140]We fraught from home, thynges wherof there is plente;And home we brynge such thynges as there be scant.Who sholde afore us marchauntes accompted be?360For were not we, the worlde shuld wyshe and wantIn many thynges, whych now shall lack rehersall.And, brevely to conclude, we beseche your hyghnesThat of the benefyte proclaymed in generallWe may be parte-takers, for comen encres,365Stablyshynge wether thus, pleasynge your grace,Stormy, nor mysty, the wynde mesurable.That savely we may passe from place to place,Berynge our seylys for spede moste vayleable;[141]And also the wynde to chaunge and to turne,370Eest, West, North and South, as best may be set,In any one place not to longe to sojourne,For the length of our vyage may lese our market.Jupyter.Right well have ye sayde, and we accept yt so,And so shall we rewarde you ere we go hens.375But ye muste take pacyens tyll we have harde mo,[142]That we may indyfferently gyve sentens.There may passe by us no spot of neglygence,But justely to judge eche thynge, so upryghteB iiiThat ech mans parte maye shyne in the selfe ryghte.[143]380Mery-reporte.Now, syr, by your fayth, yf ye shulde be sworne,Harde ye ever god speke so, syns ye were borne?So wysely, so gentylly hys wordes be showd!Marchaunt.I thanke hys grace. My sewte is well bestowd.Mery-reporte.Syr, what vyage entende ye nexte to go?385Marchaunt.I truste or myd-lente to be to Syo.[144]Mery-reporte.Ha, ha! Is it your mynde to sayle at Syo?Nay, then, when ye wyll, byr lady, ye maye go,And let me alone with thys. Be of good chere!Ye maye truste me at Syo as well as here.390For though ye were fro me a thousande myle space,I wolde do as myche as ye were here in place,For, syns that from hens it is so farre thyther,I care not though ye never come agayne hyther.Marchaunt.Syr, yf ye remember me, when tyme shall come,395Though I requyte not all, I shall deserve some.ExeatMarchaunt.Mery-reporte.Now, farre ye well, & god thanke you, by saynt Anne,I pray you, marke the fasshyon of thys honeste manne;He putteth me in more truste, at thys metynge here,Then he shall fynde cause why, thys twenty yere.400

Mayster person,[137]now welcome by my life!330I pray you, how doth my maistres, your wyfe?[138]

Mayster person,[137]now welcome by my life!330

I pray you, how doth my maistres, your wyfe?[138]

Marchaunt.Syr, for the presthod and wyfe that ye alledgeI se ye speke more of dotage then knowledge.But let pas, syr, I wolde to you be sewterTo brynge me, yf ye can, before Jupiter.335

Marchaunt.Syr, for the presthod and wyfe that ye alledge

I se ye speke more of dotage then knowledge.

But let pas, syr, I wolde to you be sewter

To brynge me, yf ye can, before Jupiter.335

[Mery-reporte.] Yes, Mary, can I, and wyll do yt in dede.Tary, and I shall make wey for your spede. [Goes toJupyter.]In fayth, good lorde, yf it please your gracyous godshyp,I muste have a worde or twayne wyth your lordship.B iibSyr, yonder is a nother man in place,340Who maketh great sewt to speke wyth your grace.Your pleasure ones knowen, he commeth by and by.[139]

[Mery-reporte.] Yes, Mary, can I, and wyll do yt in dede.

Tary, and I shall make wey for your spede. [Goes toJupyter.]

In fayth, good lorde, yf it please your gracyous godshyp,

I muste have a worde or twayne wyth your lordship.B iib

Syr, yonder is a nother man in place,340

Who maketh great sewt to speke wyth your grace.

Your pleasure ones knowen, he commeth by and by.[139]

Jupyter.Bryng hym before our presens, sone, hardely.

Mery-reporte.Why! where be you? shall I not fynde ye?Come a-way, I pray god, the devyll blynde ye!345

Mery-reporte.Why! where be you? shall I not fynde ye?

Come a-way, I pray god, the devyll blynde ye!345

Marchaunt.Moste myghty prynce and lorde of lordes all,Right humbly besecheth your majesteYour marchaunt-men thorow the worlde all,That yt may please you, of your benygnyte,In the dayly daunger of our goodes and lyfe,350Fyrste to consyder the desert of our request,What welth we bryng the rest, to our great care & stryfe,And then to rewarde us as ye shall thynke best.What were the surplysage of eche commodyte,Whyche groweth and encreaseth in every lande,355Excepte exchaunge by suche men as we be?By wey of entercours, that lyeth on our hande[140]We fraught from home, thynges wherof there is plente;And home we brynge such thynges as there be scant.Who sholde afore us marchauntes accompted be?360For were not we, the worlde shuld wyshe and wantIn many thynges, whych now shall lack rehersall.And, brevely to conclude, we beseche your hyghnesThat of the benefyte proclaymed in generallWe may be parte-takers, for comen encres,365Stablyshynge wether thus, pleasynge your grace,Stormy, nor mysty, the wynde mesurable.That savely we may passe from place to place,Berynge our seylys for spede moste vayleable;[141]And also the wynde to chaunge and to turne,370Eest, West, North and South, as best may be set,In any one place not to longe to sojourne,For the length of our vyage may lese our market.

Marchaunt.Moste myghty prynce and lorde of lordes all,

Right humbly besecheth your majeste

Your marchaunt-men thorow the worlde all,

That yt may please you, of your benygnyte,

In the dayly daunger of our goodes and lyfe,350

Fyrste to consyder the desert of our request,

What welth we bryng the rest, to our great care & stryfe,

And then to rewarde us as ye shall thynke best.

What were the surplysage of eche commodyte,

Whyche groweth and encreaseth in every lande,355

Excepte exchaunge by suche men as we be?

By wey of entercours, that lyeth on our hande[140]

We fraught from home, thynges wherof there is plente;

And home we brynge such thynges as there be scant.

Who sholde afore us marchauntes accompted be?360

For were not we, the worlde shuld wyshe and want

In many thynges, whych now shall lack rehersall.

And, brevely to conclude, we beseche your hyghnes

That of the benefyte proclaymed in generall

We may be parte-takers, for comen encres,365

Stablyshynge wether thus, pleasynge your grace,

Stormy, nor mysty, the wynde mesurable.

That savely we may passe from place to place,

Berynge our seylys for spede moste vayleable;[141]

And also the wynde to chaunge and to turne,370

Eest, West, North and South, as best may be set,

In any one place not to longe to sojourne,

For the length of our vyage may lese our market.

Jupyter.Right well have ye sayde, and we accept yt so,And so shall we rewarde you ere we go hens.375But ye muste take pacyens tyll we have harde mo,[142]That we may indyfferently gyve sentens.There may passe by us no spot of neglygence,But justely to judge eche thynge, so upryghteB iiiThat ech mans parte maye shyne in the selfe ryghte.[143]380

Jupyter.Right well have ye sayde, and we accept yt so,

And so shall we rewarde you ere we go hens.375

But ye muste take pacyens tyll we have harde mo,[142]

That we may indyfferently gyve sentens.

There may passe by us no spot of neglygence,

But justely to judge eche thynge, so upryghteB iii

That ech mans parte maye shyne in the selfe ryghte.[143]380

Mery-reporte.Now, syr, by your fayth, yf ye shulde be sworne,Harde ye ever god speke so, syns ye were borne?So wysely, so gentylly hys wordes be showd!

Mery-reporte.Now, syr, by your fayth, yf ye shulde be sworne,

Harde ye ever god speke so, syns ye were borne?

So wysely, so gentylly hys wordes be showd!

Marchaunt.I thanke hys grace. My sewte is well bestowd.

Mery-reporte.Syr, what vyage entende ye nexte to go?385

Marchaunt.I truste or myd-lente to be to Syo.[144]

Mery-reporte.Ha, ha! Is it your mynde to sayle at Syo?Nay, then, when ye wyll, byr lady, ye maye go,And let me alone with thys. Be of good chere!Ye maye truste me at Syo as well as here.390For though ye were fro me a thousande myle space,I wolde do as myche as ye were here in place,For, syns that from hens it is so farre thyther,I care not though ye never come agayne hyther.

Mery-reporte.Ha, ha! Is it your mynde to sayle at Syo?

Nay, then, when ye wyll, byr lady, ye maye go,

And let me alone with thys. Be of good chere!

Ye maye truste me at Syo as well as here.390

For though ye were fro me a thousande myle space,

I wolde do as myche as ye were here in place,

For, syns that from hens it is so farre thyther,

I care not though ye never come agayne hyther.

Marchaunt.Syr, yf ye remember me, when tyme shall come,395Though I requyte not all, I shall deserve some.ExeatMarchaunt.

Marchaunt.Syr, yf ye remember me, when tyme shall come,395

Though I requyte not all, I shall deserve some.

ExeatMarchaunt.

Mery-reporte.Now, farre ye well, & god thanke you, by saynt Anne,I pray you, marke the fasshyon of thys honeste manne;He putteth me in more truste, at thys metynge here,Then he shall fynde cause why, thys twenty yere.400

Mery-reporte.Now, farre ye well, & god thanke you, by saynt Anne,

I pray you, marke the fasshyon of thys honeste manne;

He putteth me in more truste, at thys metynge here,

Then he shall fynde cause why, thys twenty yere.400

Here entreth theRanger.

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