Chapter XII: Introduction (10)

JOSEPH. Now, Lord, this noise that I do hear,
With this great solemnity,
Greatly amended hath my cheer;
I trust high news shortly will be.
_There the Angels sing "Gloria in excelsis" again._

MARY. Ah! Joseph, husband, come hither anon;
My child is born that is King of bliss.
JOSEPH. Now welcome to me, the maker of mon,
With all the homage that I con;
Thy sweet mouth here will I kiss.
MARY. Ah! Joseph, husband, my child waxeth cold,
And we have no fire to warm him with.
JOSEPH. Now in mine arms I shall him fold,
King of all kings by field and by frith;
He might have had better, and Himself would,
Than the breathing of these beasts to warm him with.

MARY. Now, Joseph, my husband, fetch hither my child,
The Maker of man, and high King of bliss.
JOSEPH. That shall be done anon, Mary so mild,
For the breathing of these beasts hath warmed [Him] well, i-wis.
[_Angels appear to the shepherds._]

FIRST ANGEL. Herd-men hend,
Dread ye nothing
Of this star that ye do see;
For this same morn
God's Son is born
In Bethlehem of a maiden free.

SECOND ANGEL. Hie you thither in haste;
It is His will ye shall Him see
Lying in a crib of poor repast,
Yet of David's line come is He.
[_The Shepherds approach and worship the Babe._]

FIRST PASTOR. Hail, maid, mother, and wife so mild!
As the angel said, so have we fand.
I have nothing to present with thy child
But my pipe; hold, hold, take it in thy hand;
Wherein much pleasure that I have fand;
And now, to honour thy glorious birth,
Thou shalt it have to make thee mirth.

SECOND PASTOR. Now, hail be thou, child, and thy dame!
For in a poor lodging here art thou laid,
So the angel said and told us thy name;
Hold, take thou here my hat on thy head!
And now of one thing thou art well sped,
For weather thou hast no need to complain,
For wind, ne sun, hail, snow and rain.

THIRD PASTOR. Hail be thou, Lord over water and lands!
For thy coming all we may make mirth.
Have here my mittens to put on thy hands,
Other treasure have I none to present thee with.

MARY. Now, herdmen hend,
For your coming,
To my child shall I pray,
As He is heaven King,
To grant you His blessing,
And to His bliss that ye may wend
At your last day.

_There the shepherds singeth again and goth forth of the place,
and the two prophets cometh in and saith thus:_

FIRST PROPHET. Novels, novels,
Of wonderful marvels
Very high and diffuse unto the hearing!
As Scripture tells,
These strange novels
To you I bring.

SECOND PROPHET. Now heartily, sir, I desire to know,
If it would please you for to show
Of what manner a thing.
FIRST PROPHET. Very mystical unto your hearing,--
Of the nativity of a King.

SECOND PROPHET. Of a King? Whence should he come?
FIRST PROPHET. From that region royal and mighty mansion,
The Seed celestial and heavenly wisdom,
The Second Person and God's own Son,
For our sake now is man become.

This goodly sphere
Descended here
Into a Virgin clear,
She undefiled.

* * * * *

By whose work obscure
Our frail nature
Is now beguiled.
_Second Prophet._ Why, hath she a child?

FIRST PROPHET. Eh! trust it well;
And never-the-less
Yet is she a maiden even as she was,
And her Son the King of Israel.

SECOND PROPHET. A wonderful marvel
How that may be,
And far doth excell
All our capacity:
How that the Trinity,
Of so high regality,
Should joined be
Unto our mortality!

FIRST PROPHET. Of his own great mercy,
As ye shall see the exposition,
Through whose humanity
All Adam's progeny
Redeemed shall be out of perdition.

Sith man did offend,
Who should amend
But the said man, and none other?
For the which cause He
Incarnate would be
And live in misery as man's own brother.

SECOND PROPHET. Sir, unto the Deity,
I believe perfectly,
Impossible to be there is nothing;
Howbeit this wark
Unto me is dark
In the operation or working.
FIRST PROPHET. What more reprief
Is unto belief
Than to be doubting?

SECOND PROPHET. Yet doubts oft-times hath derivation.
FIRST PROPHET. That is by the means of communication
Of truths to have a due probation
By the same doubts reasoning.
SECOND PROPHET. Then to you this one thing:
Of what noble and high lineage is she
That might this veritable prince's mother be?

FIRST PROPHET. Undoubted she is come of high parage,
Of the house of David and Solomon the sage;
And one of the same line joined to her by marriage;
Of whose tribe
We do subscribe
This child's lineage.

SECOND PROPHET. And why in that wise?
FIRST PROPHET. For it was the guise
To count the parent on the man's line,
And not on the feminine,
Amongst us here in Israel.

SECOND PROPHET. Yet can I not espy by no wise
How this child born should be without nature's prejudice.
FIRST PROPHET. Nay, no prejudice unto nature, I dare well say;
For the King of nature may
Have all at His own will.
Did not the power of God
Make Aaron's rod
Bear fruit in one day?

SECOND PROPHET. Truth it is indeed.
FIRST PROPHET. Then look you and read.
SECOND PROPHET. Ah! I perceive the seed
Whereupon that you spake.
It was for our need
That He frail nature did take,
And His blood He should shed
Amends for to make
For our transgression;
As it is said in prophecy
That of the line of Judee
Should spring a right Messee
By whom all we
Shall have redemption.

FIRST PROPHET. Sir, now is the time come,
And the date thereof run,
Of His nativity.
SECOND PROPHET. Yet I beseech you heartily
That ye would show me how
That this strange novelty
Were brought unto you.

FIRST PROPHET. This other night so cold,
Hereby upon a wold,
Shepherds watching their fold,
In the night so far
To them appeared a star,
And ever it drew them nar;
Which star they did behold
Brighter, they say, in fold,
Than the sun so clear
In his midday sphere,
And they these tidings told.

SECOND PROPHET. What, secretly?
FIRST PROPHET. Nay, nay, hardily;
They made thereof no counsel;
For they sang as loud
As ever they could,
Praising the King of Israel.

SECOND PROPHET. Yet do I marvel
In what pile or castle
These herdmen did Him see.

FIRST PROPHET. Neither in halls nor yet in bowers
Born would He not be,
Neither in castles nor yet in towers
That seemly were to see;

But at His Father's will,
The prophecy to fulfil,
Betwixt an ox and an ass
Jesu, this King, born he was.
Heaven He bring us till!

SECOND PROPHET. Sir, ah! but when these shepherds had seen him there,
Into what place did they repair?
FIRST PROPHET. Forth they went and glad they were,
Going they did sing;
With mirth and solace they made good cheer
For joy of that new tiding;

And after, as I heard them tell,
He rewarded them full well:
He grant them heaven therein to dwell;
In are they gone with joy and mirth,
And their song it is "Noel."

_There the prophets goeth forth and_ HEROD _cometh in,
and the messenger._

NUNTIUS. Faites paix, dominies, barons de grande renom!
Paix, seigneurs, chevaliers de noble puissance!
Paix, gentils hommes, compagnons petits et grands!
Je vous command de garder, trestous, silence!
Paix, tant que votre noble Roi seit ici present!
Que nulle personne ici non fasse point de difference,
N' ici harde de frapper; mais gardez toute patience,--
Mais gardez [a] votre seigneur toute reverence;
Car il est votre Roi tout puissant.
Au nom de lui, paix tous! je vous command,
Et le roi Herod le grand-diable vous emporte!

HEROD. Qui statis in Jude et Rex Israel,
And the mightiest conqueror that ever walked on ground;
For I am even he that made both heaven and hell,
And of my mighty power holdeth up this world round.
Magog and Madroke, both them did I confound,
And with this bright brand their bones I brake asunder,
That all the wide world on those raps did wonder.

I am the cause of this great light and thunder;
It is through my fury that they such noise doth make.
My fearful countenance the clouds so doth encumber
That off-times for dread thereof the very earth doth quake.
Look, when I with malice this bright brand doth shake,
All the whole world from the north to the south
I may them destroy with one word of my mouth!

To recount unto you mine innumerable substance,
That were too much for any tongue to tell;
For all the whole Orient is under mine obedience,
And prince am I of Purgatory and chief captain of hell;
And those tyrannous traitors by force may I compel,
Mine enemies to vanquish and even to dust them drive,
And with a twinkle of mine eye not one to be left alive.

Behold my countenance and my colour,
Brighter than the sun in the midst of the day.
Where can you have a more greater succour
Than to behold my person that is so gay?
My falcon and my fashion, with my gorgeous array--
He that had the grace alway thereon to think,
Live he might alway without either meat or drink.

And this my triumphant fame most highliest doth abound
Throughout this world in all regions abroad,
Resembling the favour of that most mighty Mahound;
From Jupiter by descent and cousin to the great God,
And named the most renowned King Herod,
Which that all princes hath under subjection,
And all their whole power under my protection.

And therefore, my herald, here, called Calchas,
Warn thou every port that no ships arrive,
Nor also alien stranger through my realm pass,
But they for their truage do pay marks five.
Now speed thee forth hastily,
For they that will the contrary,
Upon a gallows hanged shall be,
And, by Mahound, of me they get no grace.

NUNTIUS. Now, lord and master, in all the hast
Thy worthy will it shall be wrought,
And thy royal countries shall be past.
In as short time as can be throught.

HEROD. Now shall our regions throughout be sought
In every place both east and west;
If any caitiffs to me be brought,
It shall be nothing for their best.
And the while that I do rest,
Trumpets, viols, and other harmony
Shall bless the waking of my majesty.
_Here_ HEROD _goeth away and the three kings speaketh in the street._

FIRST REX. Now blessed be God of his sweet sond,
For yonder a fair bright star I do see!
Now is he comen us among,
As the prophet said that it should be.

A said there should a babe be born,
Coming of the root of Jesse,
To save mankind that was forlorn;
And truly comen now is He.

Reverence and worship to Him will I do,
As God and man, that all made of nought.
All the prophets accorded and said even so,
That with his precious blood mankind should be bought.

He grant me grace,
By yonder star that I see,
And into that place
Bring me,
That I may Him worship with humility
And see His glorious face.

SECOND REX. Out of my way I deem that I am,
For tokens of this country can I none see;
Now God, that on earth madest man,
Send me some knowledge where that I be!

Yonder, me-thinks, a fair bright star I see,
The which betokeneth the birth of a child
That hither is come to make man free;
He born of a maid, and she nothing defiled.

To worship that child is mine intent;
Forth now will I take my way.
I trust some company God hath me sent,
For yonder I see a king labour on the way;

Toward him now will I ride.
Hark! comely King, I you pray,
Into what coast will ye this tide
Or whither lies your journey?

FIRST REX. To seek a child is mine intent,
Of whom the prophetes hath meant;
The time is come, now is he sent,
By yonder star here may [I] see.
SECOND REX.--Sir, I pray you, with your license,
To ride with you unto His presence;
To Him will I offer frankincense,
For the Head of all Holy Church shall He be.

THIRD REX. I ride wandering in wayes wide,
Over mountains and dales; I wot not where I am.
Now, King of all Kings, send me such guide
That I might have knowledge of this country's name.

Ah! yonder I see a sight, by seeming all afar,
The which betokens some news, as I trow;
As, me-think, a child pearing in a star.
I trust He be come that shall defend us from woe.

Two Kings yonder I see,
And to them will I ride
For to have their company;
I trust they will me abide.
Hail comely Kings and gent!
Good sirs, I pray you, whither are ye meant?

FIRST REX. To seek a child is our intent,
Which betokens yonder star, as ye may see.
SECOND REX. To Him I purpose this present.
THIRD REX. Sirs, I pray you, and that right humbly,
With you that I may ride in company.
To Almighty God now pray we
That His precious person we may see.

_Here_ HEROD _cometh in again and the messenger saith:_

NUNTIUS.--Hail, lord most of might!
Thy commandement is right;
Into thy land is come this night
Three kings, and with them a great company.
HEROD. What make those kings in this country?
NUNTIUS. To seek a king and a child, they say.
HEROD. Of what age should he be?
NUNTIUS. Scant twelve days old fully.

HEROD. And was he so late born?
NUNTIUS. Eh, sir, so they showed me, this same day in the morn.
HEROD. Now, in pain of death bring them me beforn.

And therefore, herald, now hie thee in haste,
In all speed that thou were dight,
Or that those kings the country be past;
Look thou bring them all three before my sight.

And in Jerusalem inquire more of that child;
But I warn thee that thy words be mild,
For there must thou heed and craft wield
How to fordo his power, and those three kings shall be beguiled.

NUNTIUS. Lord, I am ready at your bidding,
To serve thee as my lord and king;
For joy thereof, lo, how I spring
With light heart and fresh gambolling,
Aloft here on this mould!

HEROD. Then speed thee forth hastily,
And look that thou bear thee evenly;
And also, I pray thee heartily,
That thou do commend me
Both to young and old.
[_The_ Messenger _goes to the_ Kings.]

NUNTIUS. Hail, sir kings, in your degree!
Herod, king of these countries wide,
Desireth to speak with you all three,
And for your coming he doth abide.

FIRST REX. Sir, at his will we be right bain.
Hie us, brethren, unto that lord's place;
To speak with him we would be fain;
That child that we seek, He grant us of His grace!
[_They go to_ HEROD.]

NUNTIUS. Hail, lord without peer!
These three kings here have we brought.
HEROD. Now welcome, sir kings, all in-fere!
But of my bright blee, sirs, abash ye not!

Sir kings, as I understand,
A star hath guided you into my land,
Wherein great hearting ye have found
By reason of her beams bright.

Wherefore I pray you heartily
The very truth that ye would certify,
How long it is surely
Since of that star you had first sight.

FIRST REX. Sir king, the very truth to say,
And for to show you as it is best,
This same is even the twelfth day
Sith it appeared to us to be west.

HEROD. Brethren, then is there no more to say,
But with heart and will keep ye your journey,
And come home by me this same way,
Of your news that I might know.

You shall triumph in this country,
And with great concord banquet with me,
And that child myself then will I see,
And honour him also.

SECOND REX. Sir, your commandment we will fulfil,
And humbly obey ourself theretill.
He that wieldeth all things at will
The ready way us teach,
Sir King, that we may pass your land in peace!
HEROD. Yes, and walk softly even at your own ease.

Your passport for a hundred days
Here shall you have of clear command,
Our realm to labour any ways
Here shall you have by special grant.

THIRD REX. Now farewell, king of high degree!
Humbly of you our leave we take.
HEROD. Then adieu, sir kings all three!
And while I live be bold of me.
There is nothing in this country
But for your own ye shall it take.
[_Exeunt the_ Three Kings.]

Now these three kings are gone on their way;
Unwisely and unwittily have they all wrought.
When they come again they shall die that same day,
And thus these vile wretches to death they shall be brought.
Such is my liking.
He that against my laws will hold,
Be he king or kaiser never so bold,
I shall them cast into cares cold,
And to death I shall them bring.
_There Herod goeth his ways and the three kings come in again._

FIRST REX. O blessed God, much is thy might!
Where is this star that gave us light?

SECOND REX. Now kneel we down here in this presence,
Beseeching that Lord of high magnificence
That we may see his high excellence,
If that his sweet will be.

THIRD REX. Yonder, brother, I see the star,
Whereby I know He is not far;
Therefore, lords, go we nar
Into this poor place.
_There the_ Three Kings _goes in to the jesen, to_ MARY
_and her_ Child.

FIRST REX. Hail, Lord, that all this world hath wrought!
Hail, God and man together in-fere!
For thou hast made all thing of nought,
Albeit that Thou liest poorly here.
A cupfull [of] gold here have I thee brought,
In tokening Thou art without peer.

SECOND REX. Hail be Thou, Lord of high magnificence!
In tokening of priesthood and dignity of office,
To Thee I offer a cupfull of incense,
For it behoveth thee to have such sacrifice.

THIRD REX. Hail be Thou, Lord long looked for!
I have brought Thee myrrh for mortality,
In tokening Thou shalt mankind restore
To life by Thy death upon a tree.

MARY. God have mercy, kings, of your goodness!
By the guiding of the Godhead hither are ye sent.
The prevision of my sweet Son your ways home redress,
And ghostly reward you for your present!
[_As the_ KINGS _go away, they say._]

FIRST REX. Sir kings, after our promise,
Home by Herod I must needs go.
SECOND REX. Now truly brethren, we can no less,
But I am so for-watched I wot not what to do.
THIRD REX. Right so am I; wherefore, I you pray,
Let all us rest us awhile upon this ground.
FIRST REX. Brethren, your saying is right well unto my pay.
The grace of that sweet child save us all sound!
[_While they sleep the_ ANGEL _appears._]

ANGEL. King of Taurus, Sir Jaspar,
King of Araby, Sir Balthasar,
Melchior, King of Aginar,
To you now am I sent.
For dread of Herod, go you west home;
Into those parts when ye come down,
Ye shall be buried with great renown;
The Holy Ghost thus knowledge hath sent. [_Exit._]

FIRST REX. Awake, sir Kings, I you pray!
For the voice of an angel I heard in my dream.
SECOND REX. That is full true that ye do say,
For he rehearsed our names plain.

THIRD REX. He bade that we should go down by west,
For dread of Herod's false betray.
FIRST REX. So for to do it is the best;
The Child that we have sought guide us the way!

Now farewell, the fairest, of shape so sweet!
And thanked be Jesus of his sond,
That we three together so suddenly should meet,
That dwell so wide and in strange lond,

And here make our presentation
Unto this King's Son, cleansed so clean,
And to his Mother, for our salvation;
Of much mirth now may we mean,
That we so well have done this oblation.

SECOND REX. Now farewell, Sir Jaspar, brother, to you,
King of Taurus, the most worthy!
Sir Balthasar, also to you I bow,
And I thank you both of your good company
That we together have had.
He that made us to meet on hill,
I thank Him now, and ever I will;
For now may we go without ill,
And of our offering be full glad.

THIRD REX. Now sith that we must needly go,
For dread of Herod that is so wroth,
Now farewell brother, and brother also,
I take my leave here at you both,
This day on feet.
Now He that made us to meet on plain,
And offer to Mary in her jesayne,
He give us grace in heaven again
All together to meet.
[_They go out, and_ HEROD _and his train occupy the pageant._]

NUNTIUS. Hail King, most worthiest in weed!
Hail, maintainer of courtesy through all this world wide!
Hail, the most mightiest that ever bestrode a steed!
Hail, most manfullest man in armour man to abide!
Hail in thine honour!
These three kings that forth were sent,
And should have come again before thee here present,
Another way, lord, home they went,
Contrary to thine honour.

HEROD. Another way! Out! out! out!
Hath those false traitors done me this deed?
I stamp! I stare! I look all about!
Might I them take I should them burn at a gleed!
I rend! I raw! and now run I wood!
Ah! that these villain traitors hath marred this my mood!
They shall be hanged if I may come them to!
_Here Herod rages in the pageant and in the street also._

Eh! and that kerne of Bethlehem, he shall be dead,
And thus shall I fordo his prophecy.

How say you, sir Knights? is not this the best rede,
That all young children for this should be dead,
With sword to be slain?
Then shall I Herod live in lede
And all folk me doubt and drede,
And offer to me both gold, riches and meed;
Thereto will they be full fain.

FIRST MILES. My lord king, Herod by name,
Thy words against my will shall be;
To see so many young children die is shame,
Therefore counsel thereto gettest thou none of me.

SECOND MILES. Well said, fellow, my truth I plight.
Sir King, perceive right well you may,
So great a murder to see of young fruit
Will make a rising in thine own country.

HEROD. A rising? Out! out! out!
[_There Herod rages again and then saith thus:_]

Out! villain wretches, haro upon you I cry!
My will utterly look that it be wrought,
Or upon a gallows both you shall die,
By Mahound most mightiest, that me dear hath bought.

FIRST MILES. Now, cruel Herod, sith we shall do this deed,
Your will needfully in this realm must be wrought;
All the children of that age die they must need;
Now with all my might they shall be upsought.

SECOND MILES. And I will swear here upon your bright swerd,
All the children that I find, slain they shall be;
That make many a mother to weep and be full sore aferd,
In our armour bright when they us see.

HEROD. Now you have sworn, forth that ye go,
And my will that ye work both by day and night,
And then will I for fain trip like a doe;
But when they be dead I warn you bring them before my sight.
[HEROD _and his train go away, and_ JOSEPH _and_ MARY
_are, while asleep, addressed by an_ ANGEL.]

ANGEL. Mary and Joseph, to you, I say,
Sweet word from the Father I bring you full right;
Out of Bethlehem into Egypt forth go ye the way,
And with you take the King, full of might,
For dread of Herod's rede!
JOSEPH. Arise up, Mary, hastily and soon;
Our Lord's will needs must be done,
Like as the angel us bade.

MARY. Meekly, Joseph, mine own spouse,
Toward that country let us repair;
At Egypt to some kind of house,
God grant us His grace safe to come there!
_Here the women come in with their children, singing
them; and_ MARY _and_ JOSEPH _go away clean._

FIRST WOMAN. I lull my child, wondrously sweet,
And in mine arms I do it keep,
Because that it should not cry.
SECOND WOMAN. That Babe that is born in Bethlehem, so meek,
He save my child and me from villainy!

THIRD WOMAN. Be still, be still, my little child!
That Lord of lords save both thee and me!
For Herod hath sworn with wordes wild
That all young children slain they shall be.

FIRST MILES. Say ye, whither, wives, whither are ye away?
What bear you in your arms needs must we see.
If they be man-children, die they must this day,
For at Herod's will all thing must be.

SECOND MILES. And I in hands once them hent,
Them for to slay nought will I spare;
We must fulfil Herod's commandement,
Else be we as traitors and cast all in care.

FIRST WOMAN. Sir knights, of your courtesy,
This day shame not your chivalry,
But on my child have pity
For my sake in this stead;
For a simple slaughter it were to slo
Or to work such a child woe,
That can neither speak nor go,
Nor never harm did.

SECOND WOMAN. He that slays my child in sight,
If that my strokes on him may light,
Be he squire or knight,
I hold him but lost.
See, thou false losenger,
A stroke shalt thou bear me here,
And spare for no cost.

THIRD WOMAN. Sit he never so high in saddle,
But I shall make his brains addle,
And here with my pot-ladle
With him will I fight.
I shall lay on him as though I wood were,
With this same womanly gear;
There shall no man steer,
Whether that he be king or knight.

FIRST MILES. Who heard ever such a cry
Of women that their children have lost?
And greatly rebuking chivalry
Throughout this realm in every coast,
Which many a man's life is like to cost;
For this great wreak that here is done
I fear much vengeance thereof will come.

SECOND MILES. Eh! brother, such tales may we not tell;
Wherefore to the king let us go,
For he is like to bear the peril,
Which was the causer that we did so.
Yet must they all be brought him to,
With wains and waggons fully freight;
I trow there will be a careful sight.
[_They go to_ HEROD.]

FIRST MILES. Lo! Herod, King, here mayest thou see
How many thousands that we have slain.
SECOND MILES. And needs thy will fulfilled must be;
There may no man say there-again.
[_Enter_ NUNTIUS.]

NUNTIUS. Herod, King, I shall thee tell
All thy deeds is come to nought;
This child is gone into Egypt to dwell.
Lo! sir, in thine own land what wonders ben wrought!

HEROD. Into Egypt? alas for woe!
Longer in land here I cannot abide;
Saddle my palfrey, for in haste will I go,
After yonder traitors now will I ride,
Them for to slo.
Now all men hie fast
Into Egypt in haste!
All that country will I taste
Till I may come them to.

_Finis ludi de tailors and shearmen._

This matter newly corrected by Robert Croo, the 14th day of March, finished in the year of our Lord God 1534, then being mayor Master Palmer; also Masters of the said Fellowship, Hugh Corbett, Randal Pinkard, and John Baggeley.

These songs belong to the Tailors' and Shearmen's Pageant. The first and the last the shepherds sing, and the second or middlemost the women sing.

Thomas Mawdycke, die decimo tertio Maii, anno domini millesimo quingentesimo nonagesimo primo. Praetor fuit civitatis Conventriae D. Matthaeus Richardson, tunc consules Johannis Whitehead et Thomas Cravener.

SONG 1.

As I out rode this enderes night,
Of three jolly shepherds I saw a sight,
And all about their fold a star shone bright;
They sang terli, terlow;
So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow.

SONG 2.

Lully, lullay, thou little tiny child,
By by, lully, lullay, thou little tiny child
By by, lully, lullay!

O sisters two,
How may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor youngling,
For whom we do sing
By by, lully, lullay?

Herod the King,
In his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might,
In his own sight
All young children to slay,--

That woe is me,
Poor child for thee,
And ever mourn, and may,
For thy parting,
Neither say nor sing
By by, lully, lullay.

SONG 3.

Down from heaven, from heaven so high,
Of angels there came a great company,
With mirth and joy and great solemnity,
They sang terli, terlow,
So merrily the shepherds their pipes can blow.

_Everyman._

[From JOHN SKOT's Editions, c. 1525.]

_Everyman._

Here beginneth a treatise how the High Father of Heaven sendeth Death to summon every creature to come and give a count of their lives in this world, and is in manner of a moral play.

MESSENGER. I pray you all give your audience,
And hear this matter with reverence,
By figure a moral play.
'The summoning of Everyman' called it is,
That of our lives and ending shows
How transitory we be all day.
This matter is wondrous precious,
But the intent of it is more gracious
And sweet to bear away.
This story saith 'man, in the beginning
Look well, and take good heed to the ending,
Be you never so gay;
Ye think sin in the beginning full sweet,
Which in the end causeth thy soul to weep,
When the body lieth in clay.'
Here shall you see how fellowship and jollity,
Both strength, pleasure, and beauty,
Will fade from thee as flower in May;
For ye shall hear how our heaven king
Calleth every man to a general reckoning:
Give audience, and hear what he will say.

GOD SPEAKETH.

GOD. I perceive here in my majesty
How that all creatures be to me unkind,
Living without dread in worldly prosperity.
Of ghostly sight the people be so blind,
Drowned in sin, they know me not for their God;
In worldly riches is all their mind.
They fear not my righteousness, that sharp rod;
My law that I showed, when I for them died,
They forget clean, and shedding of my blood so red.
I hanged between two thieves, it cannot be denied,
To get them life, I suffered to be dead;
I healed their feet--with thorns hurt was my head--
I could do no more than I did, truly.
And now I see the people do clean forsake me;
They use the seven deadly sins damnable;
As pride, covetise, wrath, and lechery,
Now in the world be made commendable;
And thus they leave of angels the heavenly company.
Every man liveth so after his own pleasure,
And yet of their life they be not sure.
I see the more that I them forbear
The worse they are from year to year.
All that liveth appaireth fast,
Therefore I will in all the haste
Have a reckoning of every man's person,
For, and I leave the people thus alone
In their life and wicked tempests,
Verily they will become much worse than beasts,
For now one would by envy another up eat;
Charity they all do clean forget.
I hoped well that every man
In my glory should make his mansion,
And thereto I had them all elect,
But now I see that, like traitors deject,
They thank me not for the pleasure that I to them meant,
Nor yet for their being that I them have lent.
I proffered the people great multitude of mercy,
And few there be that asketh it heartily;
They be so cumbered with worldly riches
That needs on them I must do justice,
On every man living without fear.
Where art thou, Death, thou mighty messenger?

DEATH. Almighty God, I am here at your will,
Your commandement to fulfil.

GOD. Go thou to Everyman
And show him, in my name,
A pilgrimage he must on him take,
Which he in no wise may escape;
And that he bring with him a sure reckoning,
Without delay or any tarrying.

DEATH. Lord, I will in the world go run over all,
And truly outsearch both great and small,
Everyman I will beset that liveth beastly,
Out of God's laws, and dreadeth not folly.
He that loveth riches I will strike with my dart,
His sight to blind, and from heaven depart,
Except that alms-deeds be his good friend,
In hell for to dwell, world without end.
Lo, yonder I see Everyman walking!
Full little he thinketh on my coming!
His mind is on fleshly lusts, and his treasure,
And great pain it shall cause him to endure
Before the Lord, heaven king.
Everyman, stand still! whither art thou going
Thus gaily? Hast thou thy Maker forgot?

EVERYMAN. Why askest thou?
Wouldest thou wot?

DEATH. Yea, sir, I will show you:
In great haste I am sent to thee,
From God out of his Majesty.

EVERYMAN. What! sent to me?

DEATH. Yea, certainly.
Though thou hast forgot Him here,
He thinketh on thee in the heavenly sphere,
As, or we depart, thou shalt know.

EVERYMAN. What desireth God of me?

DEATH. That shall I shew thee:
A reckoning he will needs have,
Without any longer respite.

EVERYMAN. To give a reckoning longer leisure I crave;
This blind matter troubleth my wit.

DEATH. On thee thou must take a long journey,
Therefore thy book of count with thee thou bring--
For turn again thou cannot by no way--
And look thou be sure of thy reckoning;
For before God shalt thou answer, and shew
Thy many bad deeds, and good but a few--
How thou hast sped thy life, and in what wise--
Before the chief Lord of Paradise.
Have ado that we were in that way,
For wot thou well thou shalt make none attorney.

EVERYMAN. Full unready I am such reckoning to give,
I know thee not; what messenger art thou?

DEATH. I am Death, that no man dreadeth,
For every man I rest, and none spareth;
For it is God's commandement
That all to me should be obedient.

EVERYMAN. O Death, thou comest when I had thee least in mind!
In thy power it lieth me to save;
Yet of my good will I give thee, if ye will be kind,
Yea, a thousand pound shalt thou have,
And defer this matter till another day.

DEATH. Everyman, it may not be by no way:
I set not by gold, silver, nor riches,
Ne by pope, emperor, king, duke, ne princes;
For, and I would receive giftes great,
All the world I might get--
All my custom is clean contrary;
I give thee no respite; come hence and not tarry.

EVERYMAN. Alas! shall I have no longer respite?
I may say Death giveth no warning.
To think on thee it maketh my heart sick,
For all unready is my book of reckoning.
But twelve years, and I might have abiding,
My counting book I would make so clear
That my reckoning I should not need to fear;
Wherefore, Death, I pray thee for God's mercy,
Spare me, till I be provided of remedy.

DEATH. Thee availeth not to cry, weep, and pray,
But haste thee lightly that thou were gone the journey,
And prove thy friendes if thou can;
For wot you well the tide abideth no man,
And in the world each living creature,
For Adam's sin, must die of Nature.

EVERYMAN. Death, if I should this pilgrimage take,
And my reckoning surely make,
Show me, for saint charity,
Should I not come again shortly?

DEATH. No, Everyman; and thou be once there,
Thou must never more come here,
Trust me, verily!

EVERYMAN. Gracious God, in high seat celestial,
Have mercy on me in this most need!
Shall I have no company, from this vale terrestrial,
Of mine acquaintance, that way me to lead?

DEATH. Yea, if any be so hardy
That would go with thee, and bear thee company.
Hie thee that thou were gone to God's Magnificence
Thy reckoning to give before His presence!
What! weenest thou thy life is given thee,
And thy worldly goods also?

EVERYMAN. I had weened so, verily!

DEATH. Nay, nay! it was but lent thee;
For as soon as thou art gone
Another a while shall have it, and then go therefrom
Even as thou hast done.
Everyman, thou art mad! that hast thy wittes five,
And here on earth will not amend thy life!
For suddenly I do come!

EVERYMAN. Oh, wretched caitiff! whither shall I flee,
That I might scape this endless sorrow?
Now, gentle Death, spare me till to-morrow,
That I may amend me
With good advisement.

DEATH. Nay, thereto I will not consent,
Nor no man will I respite,
But to the heart suddenly I shall smite,
Without any advisement.
And now out of sight I will me hie;
See thou make thee ready shortly,
For thou may'st say this is the day
That no man living may scape away.

EVERYMAN. Alas! I may well weep with sighes deep!
Now have I no manner of company
To help me in my journey, and me to keep;
And also my writing is full unready.
How shall I do now for to excuse me?
I would to God I had never be gete!
To my soul a great profit it had be,
For now I fear pains huge and great.
The time passeth--Lord, help, that all wrought!
For though I mourn it availeth nought;
The day passeth and is almost ago--
I wot not well what to do--
To whom were I best my complaint to make?
What and I to Fellowship thereof spake,
And showed him of this sudden chance?
For in him is all mine affiance.
We have in the world, so many a day,
Been good friends in sport and play;
I see him yonder certainly!
I trust that he will bear me company;
Therefore to him will I speak to ease my sorrow:
Well met, good Fellowship, and good morrow!

FELLOWSHIP _speaketh_.

FELLOW. Everyman, good morrow! by this day,
Sir, why lookest thou so piteously?
If anything be amiss, I pray thee, me say,
That I may help to remedy.

EVERYMAN. Yea, good Fellowship, yea,
I am in great jeopardy!

FELLOW. My true friend, show to me your mind;
I will not forsake thee unto my life's end--
In the way of good company.

EVERYMAN. That is well spoken, and lovingly!

FELLOW. Sir, I must needs know your heaviness;
I have pity to see you in any distress!
If any have you wronged, ye shall revenged be,
Though I on the ground be slain for thee,
Though that I know before that I should die!

EVERYMAN. Verily, Fellowship, gramercy!

FELLOW. Tush! by thy thanks I set not a straw!
Show me your grief, and say no more.

EVERYMAN. If I my heart should to you break,
And then you to turn your mind from me,
And would not me comfort, when you hear me speak,
Then should I ten times sorrier be.

FELLOW. Sir, I say as I will do in deed.

EVERYMAN. Then be you a good friend at need!
I have found you true here before.

FELLOW. And so ye shall evermore;
For in faith, and thou go to hell
I will not forsake thee by the way!

EVERYMAN. Ye speak like a good friend; I believe you well;
I shall deserve it, and I may.

FELLOW. I speak of no deserving, by this day!
For he that will say, and nothing do,
Is not worthy with good company to go;
Therefore show me the grief of your mind,
As to your friend most loving and kind.

EVERYMAN. I shall show you how it is:
Commanded I am to go a journey--
A long way, hard and dangerous--
And give a strait count, without delay,
Before the high judge Adonay;
Wherefore, I pray you, bear me company
As ye have promised, in this journey.

FELLOW. That is matter indeed! promise is duty;
But and I should take such a voyage on me,
I know it well it should be to my pain;
Also it maketh me afeard, certain.
But let us take counsel here as we can,
For your words would fear a strong man.

EVERYMAN. Why! ye said if I had need,
Ye would me never forsake, quick ne dead,
Though it were to hell, truly!

FELLOW. So I said, certainly;
But such pleasures be set aside, the sooth to say,
And also, if we took such a journey,
When should we come again?

EVERYMAN. Nay, never again till the Day of Doom.

FELLOW. In faith, then will not I come there;
Who hath you these tidings brought?

EVERYMAN. Indeed, Death was with me here.

FELLOW. Now, by God that all hath bought,
If Death were the messenger,
For no man that is living to-day
I will not go that loathsome journey,
Not for the father that begat me!

EVERYMAN. Ye promised me otherwise, pardie!

FELLOW. I wot well I said so, truly,
And yet if thou wilt eat and drink and make good cheer,
Or haunt to women, that lusty company,
I would not forsake you while the day is clear,
Trust me verily!

EVERYMAN. Yea, thereto ye would be ready,
To go to mirth, solace, and play;
Your mind to folly will sooner apply
Than to bear me company in my long journey.

FELLOW. Nay, in good faith, I will not that way,
But and thou wilt murder, or any man kill,
In that I will help thee with a good will.

EVERYMAN. Oh, that is a simple advice, indeed!
Gentle fellow, help me in my necessity!
We have loved long, and now I need,
And now, gentle Fellowship, remember me.

FELLOW. Whether ye have loved me or no,
By Saint John I will not with thee go!

EVERYMAN. Yet, I pray thee, take the labour and do so much for me
To bring me forward, for saint charity,
And comfort me till I come without the town.

FELLOW. Nay, and thou would give me a new gown
I will not one foot with thee go;
But and thou had tarried I would not ha' left thee so.
And as now, God speed thee in thy journey!
For from thee I will depart as fast as I may.

EVERYMAN. Whither away, Fellowship? wilt thou forsake me?

FELLOW. Yea, by my fay; to God I betake thee!

EVERYMAN. Farewell, good Fellowship! for thee my heart is sore.
Adieu! for I shall never see thee no more.

FELLOW. In faith, Everyman, farewell now at the end!
For you I will remember that parting is mourning.

EVERYMAN. Alack! shall we thus depart indeed?
Oh Lady, help! without any more comfort,
Lo! Fellowship forsaketh me in my most need.
For help in this world whither shall I resort?
Fellowship here before with me would merry make,
And now little sorrow for me doth he take.
It is said, in prosperity men friends may find,
Which in adversity be full unkind
Now whither for succour shall I flee,
Sith that Fellowship hath forsaken me?
To my kinnesmen I will, truly,
Praying them to help me in my necessity.
I believe that they will do so,
For kind will creep where it may not go.
I will go say, for yonder I see them go:
Where be ye now, my friends and kinnesmen?

KINDRED. Here be we now at your commandement:
Cousin, I pray you, show us your intent
In any wise, and do not spare.

COUSIN. Yea, Everyman, and us to declare
If ye be disposed to go any whither,
For wot ye well, we will live and die together.

KINDRED. In wealth and woe we will with you hold,
For over his kin a man may be bold.

EVERYMAN. Gramercy! my friends and kinsmen kind:
Now shall I show you the grief of my mind.
I was commanded by a messenger,
That is a high king's chief officer;
He bade me go a pilgrimage to my pain,
But I know well I shall never come again.
Also I must give reckoning strait,
For I have a great enemy that hath me in wait,
Which intendeth me for to hinder.

KINDRED. What account is that which ye must render?
That would I know.

EVERYMAN. Of all my works I must show,
How I have lived and my dayes spent;
Also of ill deeds that I have used
In my time, sith life was me lent,
And of all virtues that I have refused;
Therefore, I pray you, go thither with me,
To help to make mine account, for saint charity!

COUSIN. What! to go thither? is that the matter?
Nay, Everyman, I had liefer fast, bread and water,
All this five year and more.

EVERYMAN. Alas, that ever I was born!
For now shall I never be merry
If that you forsake me.

KINDRED. Ah, sir, what! ye be a merry man!
Take good heart to you, and make no moan;
But one thing I warn you--by Saint Anne,
As for me, ye shall go alone!

EVERYMAN. My cousin, will you not with me go?

COUSIN. No, by our Lady! I have the cramp in my toe!
Trust not to me, for so God me speed,
I will deceive you in your most need!

KINDRED. It availeth not us to 'tice;
Ye shall have my maid, with all my heart!
She loveth to go to feasts, there to be nice,
And to dance, and abroad to start;
I will give her leave to help you in that journey,
If that you and she may agree.

EVERYMAN. Now show me the very effect of your mind:
Will you go with me or abide behind?

KINDRED. Abide behind? Yea, that will I, and I may,
Therefore farewell, till another day!

EVERYMAN. How should I be merry or glad?
For fair promises men to me do make,
But when I have most need they me forsake.
I am deceived--that maketh me sad.

COUSIN. Cousin Everyman, farewell now!
For verily I will not go with you.
Also of my own an unready reckoning
I have to account, therefore I make tarrying.
Now God keep thee! for now I go.

EVERYMAN. Ah, Jesus! is all come hereto?
Lo! fair words maketh fools fain!
They promise, and nothing will do, certain!
My kinnesmen promised me faithfully
For to abide with me steadfastly,
And now fast away do they flee;
Even so Fellowship promised me.
What friend were best me of to provide?
I lose my time here longer to abide.
Yet in my mind a thing there is--
All my life I have loved riches;
If that my Good now help me might,
It would make my heart full light.
I will speak to him in this distress:
Where art thou, my Goods and Riches?

GOODS. Who calleth me? Everyman? what! hast thou haste?
I lie here in corners, trussed and piled so high,
And in chests I am locked full fast,
Also sacked in bags--thou mayst see with thine eye--
I cannot stir; in packs low I lie.
What would ye have? lightly me say.

EVERYMAN. Come hither, Good, in all the haste thou may,
For of counsel I must desire thee.

GOODS. Sir, and ye in the world have trouble or adversity,
Then can I help you to remedy shortly.

EVERYMAN. It is another disease that grieveth me;
In this world it is not--I tell so--
I am sent for, another way to go,
To give a strait account general
Before the highest Jupiter of all.
And all my life I have had joy and pleasure in thee,
Therefore, I pray thee, go with me;
For peradventure thou mayest, before God Almighty,
My reckoning help to clean and purify;
For it is said, ever among,
That money maketh all right that is wrong.

GOODS. Nay, Everyman, I sing another song!
I follow no man in such voyages,
For and I went with thee,
Thou should'st fare much the worse for me;
For because on me thou did set thy mind,
Thy reckoning I have made blotted and blind,
That thine account thou cannot make truly,
And that hast thou for the love of me.

EVERYMAN. That would grieve me full sore,
When I should come to that fearful answer.
Up! let us go thither together!

GOODS. Nay, not so! I am too brittle, I may not endure;
I will follow no man one foot, be thou sure.

EVERYMAN. Alas! I have thee loved, and had great pleasure
All my life's days on good and treasure.

GOODS. That is to thy damnation, without leasing,
For my love is contrary to the love everlasting;
But if thou had me loved moderately, during,
As to the poor to give part for me,
Then shouldest thou not in this dolour be,
Nor in this great sorrow and care.

EVERYMAN. Lo now! I was deceived or I was ware!
And all I may wyte my spending of time.

GOODS. What! weenest thou that I am thine?

EVERYMAN. I had weened so.

GOODS. Nay, Everyman, I say no!
As for a while I was lent thee,
A season thou hast had me in prosperity.
My conditions is man's soul to kill;
If I save one, a thousand I do spill.
Weenest thou that I will follow thee
From this world? nay, verily!

EVERYMAN. I had weened otherwise.

GOODS. Therefore to thy soul Good is a thief;
For when thou art dead, this is my guise--
Another to deceive, in the same wise
As I have done thee, and all to his soul's reprief.

EVERYMAN. Oh false Good, cursed thou be!
Thou traitor to God, thou hast deceived me
And caught me in thy snare!

GOODS. Marry! thou brought thyself in care,
Whereof I am glad;
I must needs laugh, I cannot be sad.

EVERYMAN. Ah, Good, thou hast had my heartly love!
I gave thee that which should be the Lord's above.
But wilt thou not go with me indeed?
I pray thee truth to say.

GOODS. No, so God me speed!
Therefore farewell, and have good day!

EVERYMAN. Oh, to whom shall I make my moan,
For to go with me in that heavy journey?
First Fellowship, he said he would with me go--
His wordes were very pleasant and gay--
But afterward he left me alone;
Then spake I to my kinsmen, all in despair,
And also they gave me wordes fair--
They lacked no fair speaking--
But all forsake me in the ending.
Then went I to my Goods, that I loved best,
In hope to have comfort, but there had I least,
For my Goods sharply did me tell
That he bringeth many in hell.
Then of myself I was ashamed,
And so I am worthy to be blamed:
Thus may I well myself hate.
Of whom shall I now counsel take?
I think that I shall never speed
Till that I go to my Good Deed,
But alas! she is so weak
That she can neither go nor speak,
Yet will I venture on her now:
My Good Deeds, where be you?

GOOD DEEDS. Here I lie, cold in the ground;
Thy sins have me so sore bound
That I cannot stir.

EVERYMAN. Oh, Good Deeds, I stand in fear!
I must you pray of counsel,
For help now should come right well.

GOOD DEEDS. Everyman, I have understanding
That thou art summoned account to make
Before Messias, of Jerusalem King;
And you do by me, that journey with you will I take.

EVERYMAN. Therefore I come to you, my moan to make;
I pray thee to go with me.

GOOD DEEDS. I would full fain, but I cannot stand, verily!

EVERYMAN. Why? is there anything on you fall?

GOOD DEEDS. Yea, sir; I may thank you of all.
If ye had perfectly cheered me,
Your book of account full ready now had be.
Look! the books of your workes and deedes eke,
Behold how they lie under the feet,
To your soules heaviness!

EVERYMAN. Our Lord Jesus helpe me!
For one letter herein can I not see.

GOOD DEEDS. There is a blind reckoning in time of distress.

EVERYMAN. Good Deeds, I pray you help me in this need,
Or else I am for ever damned indeed;
Therefore help me to make my reckoning
Before the Redeemer of all thing,
That King is, and was, and ever shall.

GOOD DEEDS. Everyman, I am sorry of your fall,
And fain would I help you, and I were able.

EVERYMAN. Good Deeds, your counsel I pray you give me.

GOOD DEEDS. That shall I do, verily!
Though that on my feet I may not go,
I have a sister, that shall with you also,
Called Knowledge, which shall with you abide,
To help you to make that dreadful reckoning.

KNOWLEDGE. Everyman, I will go with thee and be thy guide,
In thy most need to go by thy side.