Part 20

_Iris._ Down to the dungeon where the devil dwelleth, Lucifer, that loathly lord, that is in bale blisses. There is woe upon woe, as Christ us telleth; All that may disease and nothing please, ever restless. There is frost, there is fire, Hope is lost and her desire; There care hath no recover; Without pity there is pain; To cry for mercy it is in vain, For grace is gone for ever. _Fumus tormentorum suorum_ _Ascendit in secula seculorum._ Lo! thus hath lost wedded confusion, Lucifer's daughter damnation In hell to have heritage. _Septum dominium peccati est mors._

_Eug._ In faith, that is a knavish way to walk. Now awhile of some mirth let us talk, For I forsake that passage.

_Iris._ Now farewell, sir, and have good day, For I must go another way; Forget not my reasons sage!

_Eug._ What! will ye go your way? B1,_r._ Ye have done a fair journey to-day.

[_Iris._] It is time for to be walking, For I am weary of your talking. [_Exit._

[_Eug._] Lo! sirs, he spake full holily, But yet I beshrew him for all his clergy; He may well be called witless Sir Will, For I trow his brain is steadfast as a windmill. But now well remembered, by books Amromes

[_Here again something appears to be missing._]

I would have a plaster for all harms,-- Some fair wench to lie in mine arms; That would avoid all strifes. It were to me _administrate nos,_ _Et restaurate nos_, also _comfortate nos_. Yea, and sometime I will take men's wives; For cuckold-makers have merrier lives Than they that do all the cost As to wed at the church-door, and there to be sworn. Perhap her husband should have an horn; Then may he curse the time that ever he was born, For all the love is lost. Clerks say that of wedlock God that knot doth knit; And yet women do venture to break it. For though their souls should lie in hell pit, They will use that sorry work; And if they so die, Atropos cometh full suddenly, And or they beware, full slily He leadeth them all down in the dark. The courtesy of England is oft to kiss, And of itself it is lechery where pleasure is. All young folk remember this-- _Intentio judicat quenquam._ B1,_v._ So great delight thou mayst have therein That afore God it is deadly sin. But farewell! yonder cometh Sir William of Trentram. [_Exit._

_St. John the Evangelist._ That lord which is principal, Conserve and keep this congregation, And cover you with his mantle perpetual. After that ye do pass with death's visitation, This prince bring you to that holy nation Where love doth dwell with virginity. And to give you plain information, In that realm dwelleth the Holy Trinity. I am that John that presently doth appear, Called "the grace of God" by interpretation, And of my doctrine if ye list to hear, Much can I show you of Christ's incarnation, And of His passion; for verily I was there. I saw Him hang on the Cross, on high, on high; His mother and I stood there under, And I heard when He cried "Eli, Eli," And saw Lungis smite His heart asunder. His laws to the people will I preach, And all that ever do follow me in peace, The kingdom of heaven their souls shall reach, There having joy that never shall cease, But now the true love, that we should to God owe, Men giveth it to richesse that is mutable; Full sore they will it repent, I trow, That ever they were of mind so unstable. If any man will have richesse ghostly, B2,_r._ I will hastily again be here, And thereof he shall have gladly; At all times I will him cheer. My coming hither was for your furtherance, And now I leave you in God's governance.

[_Exit, Enter_ ACTIO.

_Actio._ Now merry might you be! Who was that that calléd me So early to-day? One resided me with a bowl of water; Here was a shrewd matter, Suddenly one to affray! It was some knave, my brother: Beshrew him and none other For that array! I was fast asleep; Till I felt the wet Full still I lay. He brake mine old custom, For I would have lain till noon, And then have risen to play. But now to the purpose; For by the faith that now goes I love to go gay! And with other men's wives That be wanton of lives Oft do I run away. And wheresoever I go One good condition have I so-- I use never truth to say. Also I have a great disease, if ye will me leave, Even here, sirs, in the bottom of my sleeve. B2,_v._

[_Enter_ EUGENIO.

_Eug._ By God, sir, and I do lay a plaster to your coat I will heal it, I dare lay a groat!

_Actio._ Eugenio, from whence come you?

_Eug._ From thence that ye were spoke of right now; Ye shall have an office.

_Actio._ What is that? I pray you tell me!

_Eug._ By my faith, ye shall be hangman of Calais; Thereto ye be appointed, verily!

_Actio._ Then the first man that shall be hanged shalt thou be, For I tell thee I will begin with thee.

_Eug._ Nay, sir, but hark what I shall thee say. Here was one late this same day That dispraised richesse worldly. He said he that doth forsake prosperity, And take him to wilful poverty, He shall have joy eternally.

_Actio._ What was he?

_Eug._ A doctor, as seemed me; He spake as holily As though God had been his cousin.

_Actio._ Yea, but was he not mired with hypocrisy?

_Eug._ No, man; he spake so ghostly B3,_r._ He had almost changed my mood. I had thought to give away my good And then ask myself for charity.

_Actio._ Why, wouldest thou have been so witty? Nay, thou art a fool and thou wilt for any egging Give away thine own good, and go thyself a-begging, For so will not I do yet, trust me!

_Eug._ Sir, he promised most largely That I should in joy live ever, Where I shall die never. Thus also he said verily, That I should feel there no ill, And have all that I desire will, And see God in His majesty. Also he promised me a greater hire That I should have all that I would desire.

_Actio._ I rede thee lay that thought away; For mayst thou not see all day That they that useth sport and play Liveth at ease merrily? They have most heartiest rest And fareth of the best That thus spendeth their lives in jollity.

_Eug._ Well, then, my wit I will renew, For I trow thou sayest full true. If I do it, and afterward rue it As to give away my good, I trow I should it forethink. B3,_v._ Without a cup then might I drink, For that purse that sowneth not trink His master weareth a thread-bare hood.

_Actio._ Yea, yea, man, that is true indeed. But let us go walk a space, For Evil Counsel hither will speed; That person, I trow, he be void of all grace.

_Eug._ Go we hence then in time; Hastily we will come again, For John will be here by prime; His sermon would I hear fain.

[_They go out and_ EVIL COUNSEL _entereth_.

_Evil Counsel._ By your leave, let me come near. What doth all this company here? Whereafter is your gaping? By our lady and master! I have sought nigh and far; For sith I came from Rochester I have spent all my winning. By our lady! I will no more go to Coventry, For there knaves set me on the pillory, And threw eggs at my head So sore that my nose did bleed Of white wine gallons thirty. Some time in London did I dwell; I was prentice with Evil Counsel, And so men calleth me. I hope again to go thither, If summer were come and fair weather, And live full merrily. I have sought England through and through, B4,_r._ Village, town, city, and borough; With many a thousand bequainted I am, As ill-tongued churls and many a proud gentleman, That shrewdly roundeth many a pistle When they in young wives' ears doth whistle Of matters pertaining to Venus' acts; With fair flattering words and pretty knacks Both men and women they bring to lechery, Through me, Evil Counsel, to live in advoutry. In Cornwall I have been and in Kent, Westminster, St. Catherine's, and in Unthrift's Rent, There I rested very lately. Now fain would I have a master [_Enter_ IDLENESS. That would do by my counsel, For though he spend and be a waster To get money I can teach him the craft well.

_Idleness._ What art thou, tell me, that speaketh this?

_Evil C._ Marry, sir, a man that would have a service; Great need have I thereto.

_Idle._ Why, what service canst thou do?

_Evil C._ Both steal and lie, and on your errand go To fet another man's wife to your bed.

_Idle._ If I of such things may be sped, I am glad that we be met.

_Evil C._ In England shall nothing me let. With you will I bide for ever. B4,_v._ But master, have ye any wife?

_Idle._ Yea, more than twenty-five, by my life; But some other men keepeth them for me.

_Evil C._ Marry, sir, no force; it costeth you the less money, But you have good cheer when you come.

_Idle._ Yea, at meat I am merry, and at bed if I list to play.

_Evil C._ Then their husbands be out of the way, Or else ye come not there.

_Idle._ Yes, yes, daily! and make good cheer, And not spied at all, I have such policy.

_Evil C._ I am glad that ye be so witty; And sir, if you will have a fresh lusty trull I will get her you, or a house-wife that can spin a pound of wool.

_Idle._ Then will we drink wine at the full, In one place if thou canst help me.

_Evil C._ I pray you tell me; what is she?

_Idle._ An artificer's wife--a pretty woman.

_Evil C._ Sir, I will go to my brother Temptation And then to Wanton Youth I will make a station; For between us three Of her your pleasure ye shall have hardely.

_Idle._ Shall I go with you also? C1,_r._

_Evil C._ Yea, sir, and it please you so to do. How say you? Have not they merry lives That may kiss and bass other men's wives. Lo! youth is full of jollity. But when saw you your brother Sensuality?

_Idle._ Sir, I left him on the plain of Salisbury. He told me that he would lift Some good fellow from his thrift; And as I trow somewhat he will get To make with the penny. Many one for their good do labour and sweat; But he doth not so; he getteth it lightly.

_Evil C._ Sir, he did me a shrewd turn, as I you tell.

_Idle._ I pray thee show me how it befel.

_Evil C._ The last day, sir, I wist The puttock that he ware on his fist Would have trod my hen, And up I caught a rottock And hit him on the buttock That there lay in a thenne.

_Idle._ Whereby knowest thou that it was he?

_Evil C._ For he had a bell about his cue, And thereby each him knew. I bid him hold in the wind, C1,_v._ Till at the last he had his mind; God give him an ill pew.

_Idle._ And what meat did thou give him? Say on hardely!

_Evil C._ Sir, a fair piece of bacon, And a black bowl full of barley.

_Idle._ By Jesu, this is a gentle meat for a hawk; To keep birds thou art very conning. Thy thrift, I trow, is laid a sonninge; But tell me now where is thy wonning?

_Evil C._ Sir, at the stews is my most abiding; Otherwise going and sometime riding; And if the ground be slipper and sliding, In faith I fall down mosellinge.

_Idle._ What, some pleasure then there appears; Beshrew your head between your ears!

_Evil C._ Nay, sir, it shall be yours and theirs; For when a man hath enow Let him part with his neighbours.

_Idle._ It is thy destiny, I trow, For to be clad all in briars, And ride the horse with four ears.

_Evil C._ Nay, sir, not afore you For I love ill to waiter; C2,_r._ A ride in a saddle, but ye shall ride in a halter.

_Idle._ In good faith, knave, thou shalt bear me a stripe.

_Evil C._ And thou shalt have another an I can hit thee aright.

_Idle._ Why smitest thou not? Come off!

_Evil C._ Nay, I trow ye do but scoff. But I would not for an hundred pound fight with thee.

_Idle._ Why so? Tell me!

_Evil C._ For I never fought with man but he died; And so should you and ye did my strokes abide.

_Idle._ Marry, I had liever thou were tied; Thou art as manly as ill chieving; Thou were a good bold fellow to go a thieving.

_Evil C._ Well, let us go to Unthrift's a while hence, And let some other keep residence; For I dare lay thereon forty pence We shall have a sermon or night.

_Idle._ I trow then he will come hither That laid first _In principio_ together.

_Ambo._ Go we, for we two will go thither, Thereas we will make merry, by this light!

[_They go out. Enter_ ACTIO _and_ EUGENIO.

_Actio._ A, sir, I have been long away; I said I would see you by the light day. C2,_v._

_Eug._ There hath be a fair array. Where we two have be, There was laying of the law, And all was not worth a new straw, So God help me!

_Actio._ Sir, I saw the wench that did your neck claw, That bare in her hand a gay gewgaw; Methought it was like a paw Of a whiting; She held me with a tale of titmary tally, Till my thrift was gone as quit as a dally. God wot, it is a nice thing.

_Eug._ Peace, man! ye shall hear a sermon i-fashion Of the eagle that riseth full high; If he do hear thy exclamation He will make thee to fly.

_Actio._ Not in a string, I trow. Peace! for he is come now. [_Enter_ ST. JOHN.

_St. John._ O men unkind, wretched and mortal, Hearken to this parable that I shall tell.

_Eug._ The hearing thereof give you I shall.

_Actio._ And I to do by your counsel, if ye say well.

_St. John._ Now I begin; give good audience! Two men ascended once to a temple to pray, C3,_r._ Their conversation having great difference. It was the Pharisien and the Publican, I say. Two ensamples by them perceive we may. The great pride of the Pharisee: Other men's faults he dispraised aye, And his own counsel hid under false hue. In the Publican's prayers there was than A great excellence of meekness; He despised himself, a wretched man, Thinking each creature exceeded him in goodness. His faults he did confess With great sorrow for his transgression. And in the Pharisee's prayer did express Of full pride and adulation. He prayed not, but praised himself there, Standing upright with a pert face. The mass beginneth with _Confiteor_, And endeth with _Deo gratias_. Even the reverse he did in this case. There the mass endeth, he began proudly, Making no confession of his trespass, But said _Deo gratias ago tibi_, In that he thanked God he was not to blame, But in that he thanked Him not with very meekness. Three species of sin he rehearsed by name In which all sins be comprehended express. By raveners is understand covetise; In unrightful to say pride of him than; In advoutry all lechery that men can rehearse. And thus he excused himself, and slandered the publican. I pay my tithes, he said also; C3,_v._ And so he did, but not of the best. In that cayme he was like to, For he tithed alway of the worst. Twice in the week, he said, he did fast; From meat and drink he did, but not from deadly sin; And that is the fast that pleaseth God best. But thereat hypocrites will not begin. Against God he sinned grievously, In that he justified himself so, And his even Christian slandering maliciously. _Tu testimonium perhiberis de teipso,_ _Et testimonium tuum non est verum_--I say so. Wherefore God did him divide From the nine parts of angels the tenth, so There Lucifer is falle[n] for his pride. The Gospel said, who doth hie him shall be ho. All they that praiseth themself do sin, be you sure. And so, you curséd men, do your cure; For by God's judgment, If ye forsake not your sin, be you sure You go to hell. Wherefore, repent!

_Ambo._ I cry God mercy for mine offence; My wicked life I do defy.

_Eug._ Also I am sorry of my negligence; Your doctrine I will follow full meekly.

_St. John._ This sample God sayeth us to, That we should consider it wisely. Who deemeth himself good is far therefro, And he that thinketh himself sinfullest is blessed hardely. Think now that your purpose was set cursedly, C4,_r._ In sin thus to lead lives vain Under colour of virtue, deeming yourself good. You and all they that it doth sustain Be worlde than the Pharisee; men's laws are wood; Remember this for the reverence of Him that died on rood; And to the laws of the Church abide every man, And ye shall be partners of Christ's precious blood, And blessed of God, as was the Publican. Thus if ye will be stedfast and true Jesus will then with His grace you renew. To that Lord's bliss ye shall come all a _Qui vivit per infinita seculorum secula._ Amen.

FINIS.

* * * * *

_Thus endeth the Interlude of_ ST JOHN THE EVANGELIST.

_Imprinted at London in Foster Lane by_ JOHN WALEY.

A NOTE-BOOK AND WORD-LIST

INCLUDING

CONTEMPORARY REFERENCES, BIBLIOGRAPHY, VARIORUM READINGS, NOTES, &c., together with a GLOSSARY OF WORDS AND PHRASES now Archaic or Obsolete; the whole arranged in ONE ALPHABET IN DICTIONARY FORM

A FOREWORD TO NOTE-BOOK AND WORD-LIST

_Reference from text to Note-Book is copious, and as_ _complete as may be; so also, conversely, from Note-Book_ _to text. The following pages may, with almost absolute_ _certainty, be consulted on any point that may occur in_ _the course of reading; but more especially as regards_

_Biographical and other Notes,_ _Contemporary References to Author and Plays,_ _Bibliography,_ _Variorum Readings,_ _Words and Phrases now obsolete or archaic._

_The scheme of reference from Note-Book to text assumes_ _the division, in the mind's eye, of each page into_ _four horizontal sections; which, beginning at the top,_ _are indicated in the Note-Book by the letters a, b, c, d_ _following the page figure. In practice this will be found_ _easy, and an enormous help to the eye over the usual_ _reference to page alone in "fixing" the "catchword."_ _Thus 126a = the first quarter of page 126; 40c = the third_ _quarter of page 40; and so forth._

_Abbreviations._

_M._ _Mankind._ _N._ _Nature._ _WS._ _Wit and Science._ _R._ _Respublica._ _WH._ _Wealth and Health._ _IP._ _Impatient Poverty._ _JE._ _John the Evangelist._

NOTE-BOOK AND WORD-LIST TO RECENTLY RECOVERED "LOST" TUDOR PLAYS

WITH SOME OTHERS, VIZ.:

_Mankind--Nature--Wit and Science--Respublica--Wealth_ _and Health--Impatient Poverty--John_ _the Evangelist_

A, (_a_) (_passim_), of varying usages: _e.g._ (1) I: "to God _a_ vow"; (2) "_a_ be" (R213,_d_)--"He tumbleth whom _a_ lust" (R212,_c_) = he; (3) = one; (4) "a potful _a_ worts" (M13,_c_) = of; (5) = on; (6) = have; (7) sometimes used to lengthen a line, to accent a syllable, or to make a rhyme-ending: also merely pleonastic. For examples see other volumes of this series.

(_b_) "azee" (R257,_b_)--"A, zee!" (R267,_a_), look! see!

ABAND, "if thou _aband_ thee" (N48,_c_), forsake, abandon. "And Vortiger enforst the Kingdome to _aband_."--Spenser, _Fairy Queen_ (1590), ii. v. 63.

ABLE, "zo chwas _able_" (R229,_b_), fit, proper, "fettled": in original _hable_--cf. _habile_. "Noye, to me thou arte full _able_, And to my sacrifice acceptable."--_Chester_ _Plays_ (c. 1400), i. 55.

ABRY, see Jack Noble.

ABUSION, "hidden their _abusion_" (R180,_a_), abuse, malpractice. "The vtter extirpation of false doctrine, the roote and chief cause of all _abusions_."--Udall, _Pref. to St. Mark_. "To print such _abusion_."--_Albion Knight_, Anon. Pl. 2 Ser. (E.E.D.S.), 131,_d_.

ADJUTORY, "God will be you[r] _adjutory_" (M12,_a_), properly an adjective = helpful; the exigencies of the rhyme has, however, apparently led to its use substantively: the original manuscript, as indicated, has "be yow _adiutory_."

ADVENTURE, see Joint.

AFFEED, "_affeed_ with them" (N70,_a_), hired, engaged with for profit: cf. _fee_ (A.S.) = property, money, annual salary, reward. "There is not a thane of them but in his house I have a servant _feed_."--Shakespeare, _Macbeth_ (1606), iii. 4.

AFFERE, "With his company myself _affere_" (N63,_d_), belong, be identified with, "of a kidney with." "He was then buryed at Winchester in royall wise, As to suche a prince of reason should _affere_."--Hardyng, _Chronicle_ (_d._ 1465), f. 106.

AFFIANCE, "Company of my _affiance_" (N78,_a_), close connection, affinity, trusted advisers or servants: see other volumes of this series.

AFINE, "well _afine_" (R261,_d_), perfectly, thoroughly; _i.e._ well a (= and) fine: a generic intensive. "Till grapes be ripe and well _a-fine_."--Chaucer, _Romaunt_ _of the Rose_ (1360), 3690.

AGAINST, "_against_ I you call" (R199,_b_), again: the converse usage (_again_ = against) was also common enough in old writers.

AGED, "some of them were _aged_ ... one by one" (R219,_b_). Mr. Magnus thinks that in these lines there must be some hint at the treatment of Bishops Gardiner and Bonner, who were imprisoned and their lands seized: see Respublica.

ALBS, "th' _albs_ and amices" (R221,_d_), a long white linen garment or robe worn by officiating priests of the Roman communion. It reached nearly to the feet, and differed from the modern surplice (Rev. H. J. Tod), inasmuch as it was worn close at the wrists, similar to a bishop's lawn sleeves now-a-days. "They (the bishops) shall have upon them in time of their ministration, besides their rochet, a surplice or _alb_, and a cope or vestment."--_Rubric of K._ _Edw. VI._ (1548).

ALE, "mend ... as zour _ale_ in summer" (R227,_b_), _i.e._ not at all: see Heywood, _Works_ (E.E.D.S.), II., 91_b_.

ALGATE, "hath pleased thy noble grace _algate_" (N48,_a_), always.

ALIANTS, "too many _aliants_ in this realm" (WH 300,_b_ and _c_), aliens. Foreign immigration seems to have become a burning question early enough: how dealt with history informs us; and posterity has, in the main, confirmed the generally judicious and far-sighted policy of welcome extended to refugees and others, with its consequent introduction of new blood, new ideas, new crafts, and the benefits arising therefrom.

ALISE DICTS (R210,_b_), _i.e._ _alias dicta_. People's manglement of both English and Latin phrases is a noteworthy characteristic of the play--see Divum, Captivity, Commediens, Enquest, Policate, etc.

ALL, "then am I _all_ safe" (R241,_d_), quite, entirely. "Woe to the bloody city! it is _all_ full of lies and robbery."--_Nah._ iii. 1. _Bible_, Auth. Vers. (1611).

ALLECTUOUS, "_allectuous_ ways" (M33,_d_), alluring, enticing: _allective_ is a commoner form. "Woman yfarced with fraude and disceipt, To thy confusion most _allective_ bait."--Chaucer, _Rem. of Love_, ver. 14.