Part 1

Early English Dramatists

"LOST" TUDOR PLAYS WITH SOME OTHERS

#Early English Dramatists#

_Recently Recovered_

"LOST" TUDOR PLAYS

WITH SOME OTHERS

COMPRISING

_Mankind--Nature--Wit and Science_ _Respublica--Wealth and Health_ _Impatient Poverty--John the Evangelist_ _Note-Book and Word-List_

EDITED BY

JOHN S. FARMER

This edition, published in 1966, is a facsimile of the edition published by the EARLY ENGLISH DRAMA SOCIETY, LONDON in 1907

CHARLES W. TRAYLEN GUILDFORD, ENGLAND

PREFACE

Unquestionably the chief interest of this volume will centre in the three recently recovered "lost" Tudor Plays: _Wealth and_ _Health_, _Impatient Poverty_, and _John the_ _Evangelist_. It was, in truth, a unique and notable "find"--one that gladdened the world's scholarship. In June 1906 it was announced that no fewer than seventeen of the rarest pre-Shakespearean interludes, including three "lost" plays and four apparently unknown or unrecorded editions, had been unearthed in an Irish country house. Yet the owner of this quarto volume of old plays, the hammer value of which ultimately proved to be over £2600, thought so little, or knew so little, of its value that it was sent over to the London auctioneers without a cover!

It is a matter of surmise, perhaps idle enough, how these old plays got so far afield from the usual centres of early dramatic interest and effort. Still it shows that we need not despair of further "recoveries"; in the most unlikely quarters and when least expected other lost plays of the Tudor period may turn up; and, it must be confessed, if only a tithe of known plays not now traceable are restored, the gain to scholarship will be invaluable.

Public interest in this recent recovery was at once aroused; and the contest for possession, when brought to the hammer, was of the keenest. Mr. Bernard Quaritch secured every one. It is, however, a matter of profound satisfaction to know that the rarest and best items of the collection, the "lost" plays and unrecorded editions, were bought for the nation.

As a matter of record I may state that the British Museum authorities secured--the prices given are the hammer prices--_King Darius_ (unknown edition, £132); _John the Evangelist_ (lost play, £102); _The Nice Wanton_ (unknown edition, £169); _Play of the Weather_ (unknown edition, £90); _Wealth and Health_ (lost play, £95); _Lusty Juventus_ (unknown edition, £140); and _Impatient Poverty_ (lost play, £150).

America took _The Trial of Treasure_ (£160) and _Apius and Virginia_ (£101). I have not, however, as yet, been able to locate them more definitely.

Mr. T. J. Wise purchased _Cambyses_ (£169) and _Gammer Gurton's Needle_ (£180).

_Octavia_ (£82) was purchased for Mr. J. H. Wrenn.

Others were announced for sale by Mr. Quaritch in his catalogue (No. 254) dated Dec. 1906. The titles of these plays and the auction price were: _Jacob and Esau_ (£148); _The Tide Tarrieth for no Man_ (£176); _The_ _Disobedient Child_ (£233); _Youth_; and _The New_ _Custom_ (£155).

It is my good fortune in the present volume to be the first to make the three "lost" plays available for scholars. The greatest care has been taken to furnish a faithful rendering of the original texts; these have been set from rotary-bromide photographs of the unique copies now in national custody. Moreover, to meet the requirements of "textual experts" and the "higher criticism" these three plays form the first series of my _Tudor Fascimile_ _Texts_, and will shortly be available in collotype. The four "unknown" editions already noted are also being reproduced by the same process and will form Series II. of the same collection.

Space--this volume is already much over-grown--forbids further comment. Nor would it be proper here and now. The recovery is too recent to have afforded an adequate opportunity for more than the most cursory examination; indeed, my strong feeling has been that I should best serve the wishes of the subscribers to the Early English Drama Society's publications by losing no time in placing these texts before them.

The other early interludes which complete the present collection are likewise rare and more or less difficult of access.

JOHN S. FARMER.

18 BURY STREET, W.C.

CONTENTS

PAGE

MANKIND 1

NATURE. BY HENRY MEDWALL 41

THE PLAY OF WIT AND SCIENCE. BY JOHN REDFORD 135

RESPUBLICA 177

AN INTERLUDE OF WEALTH AND HEALTH 273

AN INTERLUDE OF IMPATIENT POVERTY 311

THE INTERLUDE OF JOHN THE EVANGELIST 349

NOTE-BOOK AND WORD-LIST 369

[MANKIND

_c._ 1475

A MORALITY PORTRAYING THE LIFE OF NE'ER-DO-WEELS IN LATE PLANTAGENET AND EARLY TUDOR TIMES]

[#The Names of the Players:#

MERCY MANKIND MISCHIEF NEW GUISE NOUGHT NOW-A-DAYS TITIVILLUS]

MANKIND

[_Enter_ MERCY.]

_Mercy._ The very Founder and Beginner of our first creation, Among us sinful wretches He oweth to be magnified; That, for our disobedience, He had none indignation To send His own Son to be torn and crucified. Our obsequious service to Him should be applied: Where He was Lord of all, and made all thing of nought, For the sinful sinner, to have him revived, And, for his redemption, set His own Son at nought. That may be said and verified: Mankind was dear bought; By the piteous death of Jesu he had his remedy; He was purged of his default--that wretchedly had wrought-- By His glorious passion, that blessed lavatory. O sovereigns! I beseech you your conditions to rectify; And, with humility and reverence, to have a remotion To this blessed Prince, that our nature doth glorify; That ye may be participable of His retribution. I have be[en] the very mean for your restitution: Mercy is my name, that mourneth for your offence. Divert not yourself in time of temptation, That ye may be acceptable to God at your going hence; The great mercy of God, that is of most pre-eminence, By meditation of our Lady, that is ever abundant To the sinful creature that will repent his negligence: I pray God, at your most need, that Mercy be your defendant. In good works I advise you, sovereigns! to be perseverant; To purify your souls that they be not corrupt; For your ghostly enemy will make his avaunt, Your good conditions if he may interrupt. O! ye sovereigns that sit, and ye brothern that stand right up, Pryke not your felicities in things transitory! Behold not the earth, but lift your eye up! See how the head the members daily do magnify. Who is the head? forsooth! I shall you certify: I mean our Saviour that was likened to a lamb; And His saints be the members, that daily He doth satisfy With the precious river that runneth from His womb. There is none such food by water, nor by land; So precious, so glorious, so needful to our intent; For it hath dissolved Mankind from the bitter bond Of the mortal enemy, that venomous serpent: From the which, God preserve you all at the last judgment! For, sikerly, there shall be a strerat examination: The corn shall be saved; the chaff shall be brent-- I beseech you heartily have this premeditation.

[_Enter_ MISCHIEF.]

_Mischief._ I beseech you heartily leave your calculation! Leave your chaff! leave your corn! leave your dalliation! Your wit is little; your head is mickle; ye are full of predication! But, sir! I pray [you] this question to clarify: Driff, draff! mish, mash! Some was corn, and some was chaff; My dame said my name was Raff. Unshut your lock and take an halfpenny!

_Mer._ Why come ye hither, brother? ye were not desired.

_Mis._ For a winter corn thresher, sir! I have hired. And ye said: the corn should be saved and the chaff should be fired; And he proveth nay, as it showeth by this verse: Corn serveth breadibus, chaff horsibus, straw firibusque. This is as much to say, to your lewd understanding, As: the corn shall serve to bread at the next baking; chaff horsibus, et reliqu[i]d, The chaff to horse shall be good produce; When a man is for-cold the straw may be brent; And so forth, etc.

_Mer._ Avoid, good brother! ye been culpable To interrupt thus my talking delectable.

_Mis._ Sir! I have nother horse nor saddle; Therefore, I may not ride.

_Mer._ Hie you forth on foot, brother! in God's name!

_Mis._ I say, sir! I am come hither to make you game; Yet, bade ye me not go out in the devil's name, And I will abide.

[_A leaf of the manuscript has probably been lost_ _at this point. It commences again by the_ _entry of_ NEW GUISE, NOUGHT _and_ NOW-A-DAYS _with a band of minstrels._]

_New Guise._ And ho, minstrels! play the common trace; Lay on with thy bales till his belly brest!

_Nought._ I put case: I break my neck--how than?

_New G._ I give no force, by saint Anne!

_Now-a-days._ Leap about lively! thou art a white man; Let us be merry while we be here!

_Nought._ Shall I break my neck to show you sport?

_Now._ Therefore, ever beware of thy report!

_Nought._ I beshrew you all! here is a shrewd sort; Have there at them, with a merry cheer!

[_Here they dance._ MERCY _saith_,

_Mer._ Do way! do way this revel, sirs! do way!

_Now._ Do way, good Adam! do way! This is no part of thy play.

_Nought._ Yes, marry! I pray you; for I love not this revelling; Come forth, good father! I you pray; By a little ye may assay. Anon, off with your clothes! if ye will pray. Go to! I have had a pretty scottling.

_Mer._ Nay, brother! I will not dance;

_New G._ If ye will, sir! my brother will make you to prance.

_Now._ With all my heart, sir! if I may you avance; Ye may assay by a little trace.

_Nought._ Yea, sir! will ye do well? Trace not with them, by my counsel! For I have traced somewhat to fell; I tell [you] it is a narrow space. But, sir! I trow, of us three I heard you speak.

_New G._ Christ's curse have ye, therefore! for I was in sleep.

_Now._ A[nd] I had the cup in my hand, ready to go to meat-- Therefore, sir! curtly, greet you well!

_Mer._ Few words! few, and well set!

_New G._ Sir! it is the new guise and the new jet. Many words and shortly set-- This is the new guise every deal.

_Mer._ Lady, help! how wretches delight in their simple ways!

_Now._ Say no[ugh]t again the new guise now-a-days! Thou shall find us sh[r]ews at all assays: Beware! ye may soon lick a buffet.

_Mer._ He was well occupied that brought you hither!

_Nought._ I heard you call New Guise, Now-a-days, Nought: all these three together. If ye say that I lie, I shall make you to slither: Lo, take you here a trepitt!

_Mer._ Say me your names! I know you not.

_New G._ [_Now, and Nought, in turn_]. New Guise, I! Now-a-days, [I]! I, Nought!

_Mer._ By Jesu Christ! that me dear bought; Ye betray many men.

_New G._ Betray? nay, nay, sir! nay, nay! We make them both fresh and gay. But, of your name, sir, I you pray! That we may you ken.

_Mer._ Mercy is my name and my denomination. I conceive ye have but a little force in my communication.

_New G._ Ay, ay! your body is full of English Latin.

_Now._ I pray you heartily, worshipful clerk! I have eaten a dishful of curds, And I have shitten your mouth full of turds. Now, open your satchel with Latin words, And say me this, in clerical manner: Also, I have a wife; her name is Rachael; Betwixt her and me was a great battle; And fain, of you, I would hear tell Who was the most master.

_Nought._ Thy wife, Rachel, I dare lay twenty lice!

_Now._ Who spake to thee? fool! thou art not wise; Go and do that longeth to thine office: _Osculare fundamentum!_

_Nought._ Lo, master! here is a pardon by limit; It is granted of Pope Pockett: If ye will put your nose in his wife's socket, Ye shall have forty days of pardon.

_Mer._ This idle language ye shall repent; Out of this place I would ye went.

_New G._ Go we hence, all three, with one assent; My father is irk of our eloquence; Therefore, I will no longer tarry. God bring you, master, and blessed Mary! To the number of the demonical frayry--

_Now._ Come wind: come rain! Though I come never again; The devil put out both your eyne! Fellows! go we hence tight!

_Nought._ Go we hence, a devil way! Here is the door; here is the way! Farewell, gentle Geoffrey! I pray God give you good night! [_Exiunt sil._

_Mer._ Thanked be God! we have a fair deliverance Of these three unthrifty guests: They know full little what is their ordinance. I preve by reason they be worse than beasts: A beast doth after his natural institution; Ye may conceive, by their disport and behaviour, Their joy and delight is in derision Of their own Christ, to His dishonour. This condition of living, it is prejudicial; Beware thereof! it is worse than any felony or treason. How may it be excused before the justice of all When, for every idle word, we must yield a reason? They have great ease; therefore, they will take no thought; But how then, when the angel of heaven shall blow the trump, And say to the transgressors that wickedly have wrought: "Come forth unto your Judge, and yield your account!" Then shall I, Mercy, begin sore to weep; Nother comfort nor counsel, there shall none be had; But, such as they have sown, such shall they reap; They be wanton now; but, then, shall they be sad. The good new guise, now-a-days, I will not disallow; I discommend the vicious guise--I pray have me excused-- I need not to speak of it; your reason will tell it you: Take that is to be taken, and leave that is to be refused!

[_Enter_ MANKIND.]

_Mankind._ Of the earth and of the clay we have our propagation; By the providence of God thus we be derived: To whose mercy I recommend this whole congregation. I hope unto His bliss ye be all predestinate: Every man, for his degree, I trust shall be participate; If we will mortify our carnal condition, And our voluntary desires that ever be pervertionate-- To renounce these and yield us under God's provision. My name is Mankind; I have my composition Of a body and of a soul, of condition contrary. Betwixt the twain is a great division: He that should be s[u]bject, now he hath the victory. This is to me a lamentable story: To see my flesh, of my soul to have governance; Where the good wife is master, the goodman may be sorry. Alas! what was thy fortune and thy chance To be associate with my flesh, that stinking dunghill? Lady, help! Sovereigns! it doth my soul much ill To see the flesh prosperous, and the soul trodden under foot. I shall go to yonder man; and assay him I will; I trust of ghostly solace he will be my boot.

[MANKIND _approaches_ MERCY.

All hail, seemly father! ye be welcome to this house; Of the very wisdom ye have participation. My body with my soul is ever querulous; I pray you, for Saint Charity! of your supportation. I beseech you, heartily, of your ghostly comfort; I am unsteadfast in living; my name is Mankind; My ghostly enemy, the devil, will have a great disporte In sinful guiding, if he may see me end.

_Mer._ Christ send you good comfort! ye be welcome, my friend! Stand up on your feet! I pray you, arise! My name is Mercy; ye be to me full hend: To eschew vice I will you advise.

_Man._ O, Mercy! of all grace and virtue ye are the well: I have heard tell, of right-worshipful clerks, Ye be approximate to God and near of His counsel; He hath institute you above all His works-- Oh! your lovely works to my soul are sweeter than honey.

_Mer._ The temptation of the flesh ye must resist, like a man; For, there is ever a battle betwixt the soul and the body: _Vita hominis est milicia super terram._ Oppress your ghostly enemy, and be Christ's own knight; Be never a coward again your adversary; If ye will be crowned, ye must needs fight! Intend well; and God will be you[r] adjutory! Remember, my friend! the time of continuance; So, help me God! it is but a chery-time. Spend it well! serve God with heart's affiance! Distemper not your brain with good ale, nor with wine! Measure is treasure; I forbid you not the use; Measure yourself! ever beware of excess! The superfluous guise, I will that ye refuse: When nature is sufficed, anon that ye cease. If a man have an horse, and keep him not too high, He may then rule him at his own desire; If he be fed over well he will disobey; And, in hap, cast his master in the mire.

_New G._ Ye say true, sir! ye are no faitour; I have fed my wife so well till she is my master. I have a great wound on my head; lo! and thereon layeth a plaster; And another--there! I piss my peson. And my wife were your horse, she would you all to-samne. Ye feed your horse in measure: ye are a wise man! I trow and ye were the king's palfry-man, A good horse should be gesumme.

_Man._ Where speaks this fellow? will he not come near?

_Mer._ All too soon, my brother! I fear me for you. He was here right now--by Him that bought me dear!-- With other of his fellows; they can much sorrow. They will be here right soon, if I out depart. Think on my doctrine! that shall be your defence; Learn while I am here! set my words in heart! Within a short space I must needs hence.

[NOW-A-DAYS _and_ NOUGHT _return._]

_Now._ The sooner the liever; and that be even anon! I trow your name is Do-little--ye be so long from home; If ye would go hence we shall come, everyone, Mo than a good sort! Ye have liever, I dare well say! To them ye will go forth your way-- Men have little dainty of your play Because ye make no sport.

_Nought._ Your pottage shall be for-cold, sir! when will ye go dine? I have seen a man lost twenty nobles in as little time; Yet it was not I, by saint Quintin! For I was never worth a potful a' worts sithen I was born. My name is Nought; I love well to make merry; I have be sithen with the common tapster of Bury. I played so long the fool that I am even very weary: Yet shall I be there again, to-morrow. [_Exeunt._

_Mer._ I have much care for you, my own friend! Your enemies will be here anon; they make their avaunt. Think well in your heart--your name is Mankind-- Be not unkind to God, I pray you! be His servant! Be steadfast in condition! see ye be not variant! Lose not, through folly, that is bought so dear. God will prove you soon; and, if that ye be constant, Of His bliss perpetual ye shall be partner. Ye may not have your intent at your first desire; See the great patience of Job in tribulation: Like as the smith trieth iron in the fire, So was he tried by God's visitation. He was of your nature, and of your fragility: Follow the steps of him, my own sweet son! And say, as he said, in your trouble and adversity: _Dominus dedit, Dominus abstulit, sicut sibi placuit; sit nomen Domini benedictum!_ Moreover, in special, I give you in charge: Beware of New Guise, Now-a-days and Nought! Nice in their array, in language they be large; To pervert your conditions all their means shall be sought. Good son! intermise yourself not in their company! They heard not a mass thi[s] twelvemonth, I dare well say; Give them none audience! they will tell you many a lie; Do truly your labour, and keep your holyday! Beware of Titivillus--for he leseth no way-- That goeth invisible and will not be seen; He will rond in your ear, and cast a net before your eyne; He is worst of all: God let him never thene! If ye displease God, ask mercy anon; Else Mischief will be ready to brace you in his bridle. Kiss me now, my dear darling! God shie[l]d you from your fone! Do truly your labour, and be never idle! The blessing of God be with you, and with all these worshipful men!

_Man._ Amen! for saint Charity, Amen! Now, blessed be Jesu! my soul is well satiate With the mellifluous doctrine of this worshipful man. The rebellion of my flesh, now it is superate, Thanking be [to] God, of the cunning that I can. Here will I sit, and tittle in this paper The incomparable estate of my promotion. Worshipful Sovereigns! I have written here The glorious remembrance of my noble condition, To have remo[r]se and memory of myself: thus written it is To defend me from all superstitious charms: _Memento, homo, quod cinis es, et in cinerem reverteris._ Lo! I bear on my breast the badge of mine arms.

[NEW GUISE _enters, but remains in the background._]

_New G._ The weather is cold; God send us good fires! _Cum sancto sanctus eris, et cum perverso, perverteris._ _Ecce quam bonum et quam jocundum_, quod the devil to the friars, _Habitare fratres in unum_.

_Man._ I hear a fellow speak; with him I will not mell. This earth with my spade I shall assay to delve; To eschew idleness I do that mine own self; I pray God send it His fusion!

[_Enter_ NOW-A-DAYS _and_ NOUGHT.]

_Now._ Make room, sirs, for we have be long! We will come give you a Christmas song.

_Nought._ Now, I pray all the yemandry, that is here, To sing with us with a merry cheer: [NOUGHT _sings_. _It is written with a coal, it is written with a coal_--

_New G. and Now._ _It is written with a coal, it is written, etc._

_Nought._ _He that shitteth with his hole, he that shitteth with his hole_--

_New G. [and] Now._ _He that shitteth with his hole, etc._

_Nought._ _But he wipe his arse clean, but he, etc._--

_New G. [and] Now._ _But he wipe his arse clean, but he, etc._

_Nought._ _On his breech it shall be seen, on his breech, etc._--

_New G. [and] Now._ _On his breech it shall be seen, on his breech, etc._

_Cantant omnes._ _Holyke, holyke, holyke! holyke, holyke, holyke!_

_New G._ Hey, Mankind! God speed you with your spade! I shall tell you of a marriage: I would your mouth and his arse, that is made, Were married junctly together!

_Man._ Hie you hence, fellows! with breeding; Leave your derision and your japing! I must needs labour; it is my living.

_Now._ What, sir! we came but late hither-- Shall all this corn grow here That ye shall have the next year? If it be so, corn had need be dear; Else ye shall have a poor life.

_Nought._ Alas, good father! this labour fretteth you to the bone; But, for your crop I take great moan; Ye shall never spend it alone-- I shall assay to get you a wife. How many acres suppose ye here, by estimation?

_New G._ Hey! how ye turn the earth up and down! I have be, in my days, in many good town, Yet saw I never such another tilling!

_Man._ Why stand ye idle? it is pity that ye were born!