Part 25

_Sim Sure._ Sir, though I to you be a servant true and just. Yet doe not ye therfore your faithfull spouse mystrust. But examine the matter, and if ye shall it finde, H ii _b_ To be all well, be not ye for my wordes unkinde. 20

_G. Goodl._ I shall do that is right, and as I see cause why. But here commeth Custance forth, we shal know by and by.

Actus. v. Scæna. ii.

C. CUSTANCE. GAWYN GOODLUCKE. SYM SURESBY.

_C. Custance._ I come forth to see and hearken for newes good, For about this houre is the tyme of likelyhood, That Gawyn Goodlucke by the sayings of Suresby, Would be at home, and lo yond I see hym I. What Gawyn Goodlucke, the onely hope of my life, 5 Welcome home, and kysse me your true espoused wife.

_Ga. Good._ Nay soft dame Custance, I must first by your licence, See whether all things be cleere in your conscience, I heare of your doings to me very straunge.

_C. Custance._ What feare ye? that my faith towardes you should chaunge? 10

_Ga. Good._ I must needes mistrust ye be elsewhere entangled. For I heare that certaine men with you have wrangled About the promise of mariage by you to them made.

_C. Custance._ Coulde any mans reporte your minde therein persuade?

_Ga. Good._ Well, ye must therin declare your selfe to stande cleere, 15 Else I and you dame Custance may not joyne this yere.

_C. Custance._ Then woulde I were dead, and faire layd in my grave, Ah Suresby, is this the honestie that ye have? To hurt me with your report, not knowyng the thing.

_Sim Sure._ If ye be honest my wordes can hurte you nothing. 20 But what I hearde and sawe, I might not but report.

_C. Custance._ Ah Lorde, helpe poore widowes, destitute of comfort. Truly most deare spouse, nought was done but for pastance.

_G. Good._ But such kynde of sporting is homely[593] daliance.

_C. Custance._ If ye knewe the truthe, ye would take all in good parte. H iii 25

_Ga. Good._ By your leave I am not halfe well skilled in that arte.

_C. Custance._ It was none but Roister Doister that foolishe mome.[594]

_Ga. Good._ Yea Custance, better (they say) a badde scuse[595] than none.[594]

_C. Custance._ Why Tristram Trustie sir, your true and faithfull frende, Was privie bothe to the beginning and the ende. 30 Let him be the Judge, and for me testifie.

_Ga. Good._ I will the more credite that he shall verifie, And bicause I will the truthe know een as it is, I will to him my selfe, and know all without misse. Come on Sym Suresby, that before my friend thou may 35 Avouch the same wordes, which thou dydst to me say. _Exeant._

Actus. v. Scæna. iii.

CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE.

_C. Custance._ O Lorde, howe necessarie it is nowe of dayes, That eche bodie live uprightly all maner wayes, For lette never so little a gappe be open, And be sure of this, the worst shall be spoken[.] Howe innocent stande I in this for deede or thought,[596] 5 And yet see what mistrust towardes me it hath wrought[.] But thou Lorde knowest all folkes thoughts and eke intents And thou arte the deliverer of all innocentes. Thou didst helpe the advoutresse[597] that she might be amended, Much more then helpe Lorde, that never yll intended. 10 Thou didst helpe _Susanna_, wrongfully accused, And no lesse dost thou see Lorde, how I am now abused, Thou didst helpe _Hester_, when she should have died, Helpe also good Lorde, that my truth may be tried. Yet if Gawin Goodlucke with Tristram Trusty speake. 15 I trust of yll report the force shall be but weake, And loe yond they come sadly talking togither, H iii _b_ I wyll abyde, and not shrinke for their comming hither.

Actus. v. Scæna. iiii.

GAWYN GOODLUCKE. TRISTRAM TRUSTIE. C. CUSTANCE. SYM SURESBY.

_Ga. Good._ And was it none other than ye to me reporte?

_Tristram._ No, and here were [yªᵗ] wished [ye] to have seene the sporte.[598]

_Ga. Good._ Woulde I had, rather than halfe of that in my purse.

_Sim Sure._ And I doe muche rejoyce the matter was no wurse, And like as to open it, I was to you faithfull, 5 So of dame Custance honest truth I am joyfull. For God forfende that I shoulde hurt hir by false reporte.

_Ga. Good._ Well, I will no longer holde hir in discomforte.

_C. Custance._ Nowe come they hitherwarde, I trust all shall be well.

_Ga. Good_. Sweete Custance neither heart can thinke nor tongue tell, 10 Howe much I joy in your constant fidelitie, Come nowe kisse me the[599] pearle of perfect honestie.

_C. Custance._ God lette me no longer to continue in lyfe, Than I shall towardes you continue a true wyfe.

_Ga. Goodl._ Well now to make you for this some parte of amendes, 15 I shall desire first you, and then suche of our frendes, As shall to you seeme best, to suppe at home with me, Where at your fought fielde we shall laugh and mery be.

_Sim Sure._ And mistresse I beseech you, take with me no greefe, I did a true mans part, not wishyng you repreefe.[600] 20

_C. Custance._ Though hastie reportes through surmises growyng, May of poore innocentes be utter overthrowyng, Yet bicause to thy maister thou hast a true hart, And I know mine owne truth, I forgive thee for my part.

_Ga. Goodl._ Go we all to my house, and of this geare no more. 25 Goe prepare all things Sym Suresby, hence, runne afore. H iv

_Sim Sure._ I goe. _Ex._

_G. Good._ But who commeth yond, M. Merygreeke?

_C. Custance._ Roister Doisters champion, I shrewe his best cheeke.[601]

_T. Trusty._ Roister Doister selfe[602] your wower is with hym too. Surely some thing there is with us they have to doe. 30

Actus. v. Scæna. v.[603]

M. MERYGREEKE. RALPH ROISTER. GAWYN GOODLUCKE. TRISTRAM TRUSTIE. C. CUSTANCE.

_M. Mery._ Yond I see Gawyn Goodlucke, to whome lyeth my message, I will first salute him after his long voyage, And then make all thing well concerning your behalfe.

_R. Royster._ Yea for the pashe of God.

_M. Mery._ Hence out of sight ye calfe, Till I have spoke with them, and then I will you fet[--] 5

_R. Royster._ In Gods name.

_M. Mery._ What Master Gawin Goodluck wel met And from your long voyage I bid you right welcome home.

_Ga. Good._ I thanke you.

_M. Mery._ I come to you from an honest mome.

_Ga. Good._ Who is that?

_M. Mery._ Roister Doister that doughtie kite.

_C. Custance._ Fye, I can scarce abide ye shoulde his name recite. 10

_M. Mery._ Ye must take him to favour, and pardon all past, He heareth of your returne, and is full yll agast.

_Ga. Good._ I am ryght well content he have with us some chere.

_C. Custance._ Fye upon hym beast, then wyll not I be there.

_Ga. Good._ Why Custance do ye hate hym more than ye love me? 15

_C. Custance._ But for your mynde[604] sir, where he were would I not be[.][605]

_T. Trusty._ He woulde make us al laugh.

_M. Mery._ Ye nere had better sport.

_Ga. Good._ I pray you sweete Custance, let him to us resort.

_C. Custance._ To your will I assent.

_M. Mery._ Why, suche a foole it is,[606] As no man for good pastime would forgoe or misse. 20

_G. Goodl._ Fet him to go wyth us.

_M. Mery._ He will be a glad man. _Ex._

_T. Trusty._ We must to make us mirth,[607] maintaine[608] hym all we can. And loe yond he commeth and Merygreeke with him. H iv _b_

_C. Custance._ At his first entrance ye shall see I wyll him trim. But first let us hearken the gentlemans wise talke. 25

_T. Trusty._ I pray you marke if ever ye sawe crane so stalke.

Actus. v. Scæna. vi.

R. ROISTER. M. MERYGREEKE. C. CUSTANCE. G. GOODLUCKE. T. TRUSTIE. D. DOUGHTIE. HARPAX.

_R. Royster._ May I then be bolde?

_M. Mery._ I warrant you on my worde, They say they shall be sicke, but ye be at theyr borde.

_R. Royster._ Thei wer not angry then[?]

_M. Mery._ Yes at first, and made strange But when I sayd your anger to favour shoulde change, And therewith had commended you accordingly, 5 They were all in love with your mashyp by and by. And cried you mercy that they had done you wrong.

_R. Royster._ For why, no man, woman, nor childe can hate me long.[609]

_M. Mery._ We feare (quod they) he will be avenged one day, Then for a peny give all our lives we may. 10

_R. Royster._ Sayd they so in deede[?]

_M. Mery._ Did they? yea, even with one voice He will forgive all (quod I) Oh how they did rejoyce.

_R. Royster._ Ha, ha, ha. 13

_M. Mery._ Goe fette hym (say they) while he is in good moode, For have his anger who lust, we will not by the Roode. 15

_R. Royster._ I pray God that it be all true, that thou hast me tolde, And that she fight no more.

_M. Mery._ I warrant you, be bolde Too them, and salute them. [_advance towards Goodl., etc._]

_R. Royster._ Sirs, I greete you all well.

_Omnes._ Your maistership is welcom.

_C. Custance._ Savyng my quarell. For sure I will put you up into the Eschequer.[610] 20

_M. Mery._ Why so? better nay: Wherfore?

_C. Custance._ For an usurer.[611]

_R. Royster._ I am no usurer good mistresse by his armes.

_M. Mery._ When tooke he gaine of money to any mans harmes?

_C. Custance._ Yes, a fowle usurer he is, ye shall see els[--] I i

_R. Royster_ [_aside to M._] Didst not thou promise she would picke no mo quarels? 25

_C. Custance._ He will lende no blowes, but he have in recompence Fiftene for one,[611] whiche is to muche of conscience.

_R. Royster._ Ah dame, by the auncient lawe of armes, a man Hath no honour to foile his handes on a woman.

_C. Custance._ And where other usurers[612] take their gaines yerely, 30 This man is angry but he have his by and by.

_Ga. Goodl._ Sir, doe not for hir sake beare me your displeasure.

_M. Mery._ Well, he shall with you talke therof more at leasure. Upon your good usage, he will now shake your hande.

_R. Royster._ And much heartily welcome from a straunge lande. 35

_M. Mery._ Be not afearde Gawyn to let him shake your fyst.

_Ga. Goodl._ Oh the moste honeste gentleman that ere I wist. I beseeche your mashyp to take payne to suppe with us.

_M. Mery._ He shall not say you nay and I too, by Jesus. Bicause ye shall be friends, and let all quarels passe. 40

_R. Royster._ I wyll be as good friends with them as ere I was.

_M. Mery._ Then let me fet your quier that we may have a song.

_R. Royster._ Goe.

_G. Goodluck._ I have hearde no melodie all this yeare long.

_M. Mery_ [_to the musicians whom he has called in_]. Come on sirs quickly.

_R. Royster._ Sing on sirs, for my frends sake.

_D. Dough._ Cal ye these your frends? 45

_R. Royster._ Sing on, and no mo words make.

_Here they sing._[613]

_Ga. Good._ The Lord preserve our most noble Queene of renowne, And hir virtues rewarde with the heavenly crowne.

_C. Custance._ The Lorde strengthen hir most excellent Majestie, Long to reigne over us in all prosperitie.

_T. Trusty._ That hir godly proceedings the faith to defende,[614] 50 He may stablishe and maintaine through to the ende.

_M. Mery._ God graunt hir as she doth, the Gospell to protect,[615] Learning and vertue to advaunce, and vice to correct.[616]

_R. Royster._ God graunt hir lovyng subjects both the minde and grace, Hir most godly procedyngs worthily to imbrace. I i _b_ 55

_Harpax._ Hir highnesse most worthy counsellers[617] God prosper, With honour and love of all men to minister.

_Omnes._ God graunt the nobilitie[618] sir to serve and love, With all the whole commontie as doth them behove. 59

AMEN.

Certaine Songs to be song by _those which shall use this Comedie or Enterlude_

THE SECONDE SONG[619]

Who so to marry a minion Wyfe, Hath hadde good chaunce and happe, Must love hir and cherishe hir all his life, And dandle hir in his lappe. 4

If she will fare well, yf she wyll go gay, A good husbande ever styll, What ever she lust to doe, or to say, Must lette hir have hir owne will. 8

About what affaires so ever he goe, He must shewe hir all his mynde, None of hys counsell she may be kept fr[o]e,[620] Else is he a man unkynde. 12

THE FOURTH SONG.[621]

I mun be maried a Sunday I mun be maried a Sunday, Who soever shall come that way, [I ii] I mun be maried a Sunday. 4

Royster Doyster is my name, Royster Doyster is my name, A lustie brute[622] I am the same, I mun be maried a Sunday. 8

Christian Custance have I founde, Christian Custance have I founde, A Wydowe worthe a thousande pounde, I mun be maried a sunday. 12

Custance is as sweete as honey, Custance is as sweete as honey, I hir lambe and she my coney, I mun be maried a Sunday. 16

When we shall make our weddyng feast, When we shall make our weddyng feast, There shall bee cheere for man and beast, I mun be maried a Sunday. 20 I mun be maried a Sunday, etc.

The Psalmodie.[623]

_Placebo dilexi_, Maister Roister Doister wil streight go home and die, Our Lorde Jesus Christ his soule have mercie upon. Thus you see to day a man, to morow[624] John.[625] Yet saving for a womans extreeme crueltie, 5 He might have lyved yet a moneth or two or three, But in spite of Custance which hath him weried, I ii. _b_ His mashyp shall be worshipfully buried. And while some piece of his soule is yet hym within, Some parte of his funeralls let us here beginne. 10 _Dirige._ He will go darklyng to his grave. _Neque lux, neque crux, nisi solum_ clinke,[626] Never gentman so went toward heaven I thinke.[627] Yet sirs as ye wyll the blisse of heaven win, When he commeth to the grave lay hym softly in, 15 And all men take heede by this one Gentleman, How you sette your love upon an unkinde woman: For these women be all suche madde pievish elves, They wyll not be woonne except it please them selves. But in faith Custance if ever ye come in hell, 20 Maister Roister Doister shall serve you as well. Good night Roger old knave, Farewel Roger olde knave. Good night Roger olde knave, knave, knap. _Nequando. Audiui vocem. Requiem æternam._

The Peale[628] of belles rong by the parish Clerk, _and Roister Doisters foure men_

THE FIRST BELL A TRIPLE.[629]

When dyed he? When dyed he?

THE SECONDE

We have hym, We have hym.

THE THIRDE

Royster Doyster, Royster Doyster.

THE FOURTH BELL

He commeth, He commeth.

THE GREATE BELL

Our owne, Our owne.

FINIS.

FOOTNOTES:

[328] Cf. Prol. to _Jack Juggler_.

[329] Cf. the "lerned men" in the Prol. to the English _Andria_, circa 1520.

[330] The northern plural.

[331] To be the bell-wether, to excel.

[332] Cf. Camden's _Proverbs_, p. 264; Ray's _Proverbs_, p. 132.

[333] _Roger bon temps_: a mad rascal, a merry greek; _Gringalet_: a merry grig ... rogue, etc. (Cotgrave).

[334] A. has 'know.'

[335] See _Like well to Like_, Dodsley, 3: 337.

[336] Cf. Robert the Ryfelar, etc., in _Pierce Plowman_; Peter Piebaker, etc., in _Thersytes_; Margery Mylkeducke, etc., in Skelton.

[337] Cf. More's lines to Davy the dycer (_Works_, p. 1433ª.)

[338] See Appendix _C_.

[339] Cf. Ben Jonson's _New Inn_, II. ii.

[340] Cf. Hankin boby in _Thersytes_; Handy-dandy in _P. Plowman_; Huddy-peke in _Four Elements_, in Skelton, etc.; _ib._ hoddy poule (= "dunder-head," Dyce).

[341] "This ointment is even shot-anchor," Heywood's _Four PP_. (= last resort).

[342] Cf. ll. 47, 49; for the whole scene cf. Plautus, _Miles Glor._ v. 31 _sqq._: _Et adsentandumst quicquid bic mentibitur_; also Ter. _Eunucbus_, II. ii, 252 _et seq._

[343] Cf. Palsgrave, 542: "I face as one dothe that brauleth."

[344] boasting.

[345] Of course 'kinges' if written before July 7, 1553; probably changed to 'Queen' (= Elizabeth) by the printer. (Fleay conjectures, _Hist. Stage_, p. 59, that _R. D._ was revived March 8, 1561; the play having been rewritten from an Edward VI. interlude. _Gen. Ed._)

[346] The 'n' transferred from 'myne' (my nowne). Cf. _nuncle_, etc.

[347] Cf. _Like will to Like_,329; Leland calls Udall _niveum ... sodalem_; Cooper's ed. XXVII.

[348] Heywood's _Prov._; _Lear_, V. iii, 15.

[349] _R. R. D._ addresses _M._ with 'thou' 'thee,' whereas _M._ uses--on the whole--'you, ye' (to _R. R. D._); cf. Skeat's _William of Palerne_, XLI. note; Zupitza's _Guy_, v. 356, note.

[350] Cf. _Miles_, v. 1063.

[351] The first half line is not assigned to _R. R. D._ in E. and A.; but it should be. _Gen. Ed._

[352] certainly; cf. 'hardily,' Chauc. _C. T. Prol._ v. 156.

[353] E. has the comma after 'offende.'

[354] E. misprints _he_ for 'ye'; corrected by C. and H.

[355] An oath = by God's armes; cf. V. vi, 22.

[356] Cf. _Thersytes_, Dodsley, 1, 403.

[357] Cf. _Phil Soc. Dict._ s.v. A _prep._ § 11; C. and H. drop the 'a.'

[358] The quotation marks are the editor's.

[359] E., 'Whom.'

[360] never; C., 'ne're'; H., 'ne'er.'

[361] Middle Engl. comparative; cf. _near_, _ner_, etc.

[362] Cf. Plautus, _Miles_, 965.

[363] 'an.'

[364] Cf. Heywood's _Proverbs_, I. ch. 11 (72); 300 _Epigrams_, 158.

[365] _mastership_; see l. 116, etc.; cf. 'ientman,' III. v, 8; 'gemman,' etc.

[366] Cf. Plaut. _Miles_, 1061.

[367] Cf. _ib._: _Neu ecastor nimis uilist tandem._

[368] Cf. _ib._ 68, _et passim_; and Terent. _Eunuch._ V. viii, 62.

[369] Cf. Plaut. _Miles_, 1264, and the whole of the first scene.

[370] Cf. 'Ko I,' 'Ko she,' III. iii, 21, 35; 'Ko you,' III. iv, 131; _Pericles_, II. i. 82; "Die Ke-tha?" 'company quotha?' _Four Elements_ [Dodsley, 1, 23].

[371] Cf. _Thersites_, [Dodsley, 1, 399, 400].

[372] E., 'Cuy.'

[373] _diabolicae staturae_; see _Guy of Warwick_, v. 9945, etc.

[374] _Brutus_, of the British, Welsh or Arthurian story, hence generally a hero [Murray].

[375] 'Alie' = Hali, Haly, Holy? _or_ Alye = _affinis_ = of the neighbouring country?

[376] Cf. Plaut. _Miles_, 777; Achilles, _ib._ 1054.

[377] _Tertius e caelo cecidit Cato_, Juven. _Sat._ 2, 40.

[378] Cf. Plaut. _Miles_, 65.

[379] Cf. "a prince of highe parage," _Chester Plays_, 1, 157.

[380] Cf. Caxton's "faytes of armes" (_Prol. Eneydos_), the _M. L._ "facta guerrae, armorum."

[381] E., 'They' (not 'That,' as A. reads).

[382] love; cf. III. iv, 99. Baby-talk? or the language of the Dutch 'minions'? Hazlitt says: a colloquialism still in use. But the dictionaries are silent.

[383] R. uses 'you'; cf. I. ii, 8.

[384] Cf. Palsgrave, 477, "Je revolve."

[385] Cf. I. iv, iii, etc., C. & H. 'To.'

[386] Not in E.; added by C. In E., the comma is after 'while.'

[387] Cf. I. ii, 44; IV. vi, 7.

[388] Cf. Reinhardstoettner, _Plautus_, etc., 671: _Capitano Spavento viene con li musici per far una mattinata a Isabella_.

[389] specimen.

[390] On Mumblecrust, etc., see Appendix _D_.

[391] Interrupting Mage.

[392] Better fare than usual. See Harrison's _Description of Engl._ in Holinshed's _Chron._ 1, 168 (ed. 1587).

[393] Note the fondness for proverbs, a trait taken from life and often to be found in later plays.--Sherwood: To whurre, whurle (or yarre) as a dog, _Gronder comme un chien_. Cooper: scolding. It is perhaps = whirr, whirret (slashing, slash)?

[394] Cf. III. iii, 102; Heywood's _Proverbs_, 1, ch. 2 (p. 6); Camden's _Proverbs_, 276, 277, etc.

[395] Apparently vv. 17, 18.

[396] Heywood's _Proverbs_, 2, ch. 7. Patten: a wooden shoe that made a great clattering.

[397] Wager; cf. _G. G. N._, I. iii, 20; I. iv, 47.

[398] entering.

[399] Sherwood: _Une vieille charougne_. A tough toothlesse trot, etc.

[400] The same song is alluded to in _A pore Helpe_ (Hazlitt's _Early Pop. Poetry_, 3, 253).

[401] stitch.

[402] Cf. _whippit_ (in Halliwell): to jump about, etc. In _A Treatise shewing ... the Pryde and Abuse of Women Now a Dayes_ (c. 1550): "With whippet a whyle lyttle pretone, Prancke it, and hagge it well," etc.

[403] E. has comma.

[404] Murray's earliest quotation for 'here away,' etc., is from 1564.

[405] Sherwood: _Bon mesnagier_.

[406] bring to an end.

[407] yield it you = reward.

[408] I had; I wot. The dialect (generally southern, but occasionally also northern) used by rustic characters in the earlier plays; _e.g._ in _G. G. N._, _Trial of Treasure_, _Like will to Like_, etc.

[409] Cf. _G. G. N._ v. 211; Heywood, _Prov._ 2, ch. 7; Camden, _Prov._ 268.

[410] mincing, coy.

[411] Cf. the whispering scene in the _Trial of Treasure_.

[412] Cf. the slave of Polymachæroplagides in Plaut. _Pseudolus_.

[413] Hazlitt: intentional nonsense for '_nobis miscebetur_[!] _miserere_.' Liturgical words muttered indistinctly and used here jocosely. Heywood: "betweene you and your Ginifinee _Nycebecetur_" (_Prov._ 1, ch. 11, p. 57 = 'What's her name?' _Nescio quid dicitur?_).

[414] Cf. 'spoke,' V. v, 5; and 'take,' III. iii, 135.

[415] make (Hazlitt).

[416] avise, advise.

[417] R.'s oaths are generally not so strong; I count in _G. G. N._ 48 oaths beginning with, By Gog's, Cocks, etc.

[418] For the rhyme's sake; cf. Wilson's _Rhetorique_, 202: _Reticencia_, A whisht or warning to speake no more.

[419] These lines are assigned to R. in E.

[420] Cf. Sherwood: _Grison_, gray with age, ... grizle.

[421] This part of the scene is the reverse of Plaut. _Miles_, v. 1000 _seq._, where Pal. has difficulties in keeping Pyrg. from falling in love with the servant.

[422] Cf. _G. G. N._ p. 252.

[423] 'Is it not she?' cf. v. 88; II. iv, 14. Elliptical construction, cf. Heywood, _Johan_, ll. 26 and 624.

[424] friendly (Cotgr.).

[425] Cf. Chaucer's _Miller's Tale_, 3268, Skelton, etc.

[426] C., 'to' spare.

[427] Cf. the first scene in Plaut. _Miles_. Instead of the blue spider, etc., Thersites kills Cotswold Lions, fights against a snail, as Horribilicribrifax against a cat, and Sir Thopas (in _Endymion_) against the 'monster' Ovis.

[428] _Pouldre blanche_: a powder compounded of Ginger, Cinnamon, and Nutmegs (Cotgrave). Cf. _Blaunche laund_ in the _Story of Fulk Fitz Warine_; the Lady of Blanchland in the poem on _Carle off Carlile_ in Percy's _Folio Ms._ 3, 279, etc.

[429] Cf. Plaut. _Miles_, I. i, 26.

[430] Northern dialect for 'bush.'

[431] In the series of the 'blue spider' and the 'gozeling.' Cf. "the King of Cockneys on _Childermas-day_," Brand's _Pop. Ant._ 1, 536, etc.

[432] by the holy blood? (Hazlitt: _quasi_ semblety, semblance.)

[433] Cf. _Custrel_ in _Phil. Soc. Dict., Coustillier_ in Cotgr.