Chapter XII: Part 12

MANKIND. The text is given on pp. 1-40. This curious picture of
real life and ne'er-do-weels in late Plantagenet and early Tudor
times is one of the unique Macro plays, and existed, until
quite recently, in manuscript only. With this manuscript and
its history I have dealt fully in another part of this volume
(_see_ Macro Plays and MSS.). During the last ten years _Mankind_
has been three times reprinted--by Dr. Brandl (_Quellen_, etc.,
1904), by Prof. Manly (_Specimens of the Pre-Shakespearean_
_Drama_, 1904), and by the _Early English Text Society_ (Extra
Series xci, 1904). The last-named text in all probability more
nearly approaches fidelity to the original than the others; but
as the amanuensis, to all appearance, was the same for all three,
and was responsible for the confessedly untrustworthy texts which
Dr. Brandl and Prof. Manly have been compelled to use without an
opportunity of a new collation with the original manuscript, one
cannot but entertain some misgiving as to the accuracy of the
Early English Text Society's version. Especially is this the case
in view of the fact that, so far as I can learn, the E.E. text,
as set by the printers from the copy supplied to them, does not
seem to have been compared with the original MS. The manifold
errors too, alike in the otherwise admirable introductory
sketches, in the footnotes, and in the glossary, are not
reassuring. Quotation after quotation, reference after reference,
are incorrectly given. For example, in # 2, pp. xi.-xix., there
are no less than twelve errors of this description that have
casually come to my notice; while, having occasion to use the
glossary references more frequently, I have found its usefulness
much more largely impaired. Taking a column here and there at
random, these are the results:--page 196, col. 1, 2 errors; 199,
col. 2, 1 error; 200, col. 2, 5 references wrong; 210, col. 1, 4
errors. Why, too, Monk _Hyngston_ (xix.) instead of _Hyngham_?
And, in reference to this strange inaccuracy, I must add that
the same Society's edition of _Respublica_ is no better; indeed,
it is worse! One page alone of the Notes (p. 66) contains no
less than four wrong references, and the weight of Mr. Magnus's
argument for an attribution of the play to Udall is marred by
such unaccountable misquotation of names as _Mengrade_ for
_Merry-greek_ and _Mumblecourt_ for _Mumblecrust_ (both on page
xxi.). Under the circumstances, and being unable to obtain access
to the original manuscript, my own text must be taken for what
it is ultimately proved. I have, of course, always given greater
weight to the E.E.T.S. version, because it is the copy nearest
to the original (the Brandl and Manly texts are copies of this
copy), but in many cases Dr. Brandl and Professor Manly have done
what service they could, and good service often, in suggested
and amended readings and restorations. As no good purpose could,
under the circumstances, have been served in dealing with all
the minutiæ of this kind in an uncertain text, I have confined
my remarks in this respect to the more important points raised.
By punctuation, often and _in toto_, I differ from all three,
jointly and severally; varying the interpretation. These I have
noted. But one conclusion is obvious. The texts of these Macro
plays as they stand are not all that scholars can desire; and it
is to be hoped that permission may be obtained for a collotype
facsimile of the whole of the plays. The cost would be great,
but I have no doubt that consideration can be satisfactorily
solved. _Corrigenda, Suggested Readings,_ _Restorations, etc._
[In the following pages the attributions are indicated by F =
Early Eng. Text Society's Editors; M = Professor Manly; B =
Dr. Brandl; and _Ed._ = the present editor.] The "Names of the
players" do not appear in the original manuscript--"our _first_
creation" (3,_b_), original _syest_ or _syrst_ (F)--"to _have_
him revived" (3,_c_), original _hade_--"By _meditation_ of our
Lady" (4,_a_), read _mediation_ (M)--"make his _avaunt_" (4,_b_),
_a-vaunce_ in MS.--"that _venomous_ serpent" (4,_d_), original
_vemynousse_--"leave your _calculation_" (5,_a_), _calcacyon_
in F.: I follow M and B in present reading--[_A leaf of_ _the
manuscript, etc._] (6,_a_), in the manuscript the next speech
is to Mercy, but I have followed Prof. Manly's suggestion, also
quoted by Dr. Furnivall. He says: "These lines begin a new
leaf in the MS. They seem highly inappropriate in the mouth of
Mercy.... Moreover, it is clear from ["we three" (7,_a_), and
"all three" (7,_c_)] that the entrance of New Gyse, Now-a-days,
and Nought was immediately preceded by Mercy's use of the words
forming their names. I therefore suppose that at least one
leaf of MS. (containing their entrance) has been lost at this
point, and suggest that the command to the minstrels be assigned
to New Gyse"--"have traced somewhat _to fell_" (7,_a_), _to
fylde fell_ in MS.: I have followed the Manly text, which is
based on a suggestion of Prof. Kittredge's, that _fylde_ was
written by mistake, and that the copyist then, observing that
_fylde_ neither rhymed nor made sense, added the right word, but
neglected to erase _fylde_--"Christ's curse _have ye_" (7,_b_),
_hade_ in MS. = had ye = have ye--"I had the _cup in_ my hand"
(7,_b_), MS. has _cup ready in_: so also F and B; M as in present
text--"Say _no[ugh]t_ again" (7,_c_), I have followed Manly: B
and F have _not_ as in MS.--"shall find us _sh[r]ews_" (7,_c_),
_schewys_ in MS.--"that brought you _hither_" (7,_c_), _brethern_
in MS., _hither_ being M's emendation with a suggestion that
possibly _brether_ is the right word: F and B follow MS.--"Ye
betray _many men_" (7,_d_), "_a man_" struck out (F)--"_my_
denomination" (8,_a_), "_by_" written over in MS. (F)--"a little
force" (8,_a_), _faus_ in MS.--"full of English Latin" (8,_a_),
a marginal note says: "to have this English made in Latin: I am
a-ferde yt wyll brest: 'It ram be' [? MS.], quod the bocher on-to
me, 'When I stale a leg a motun [gh]e are a stronge cunnynge
clerke, I prey,' etc."--"_here is a pardon by limit_" (8,_c_),
I have omitted _lo_ before "here" by mistake: "pardon by limit"
is in original, _pardon bely mett_--"the demonical frayry"
(8,_d_), M supposes a line lost here, but there is no indication
of such in the MS.--"of _their_ own Christ" (9,_b_), _her_ in
MS.--"Alas! what was thy fortune" (10,_d_), here a marginal note
in the MS. occurs, "I may both syth and sobbe; þis ys a pituose
remembrance, O In my soull, so sotyll in thy substance." Prof.
Manly says "this may be a part of the three lines necessary to
restore the versification." He indicates a line missing before
the line beginning "Alas! what was thy fortune," and two lines
missing after the line ending "that stinking dunghill"--"[MANKIND
_approaches_ MERCY" (11,_a_), F adds "and kneels to him"--"In
_sinful_ guiding" (11,_b_), _sympull_ in MS. which is followed
by F; M has _sinful_--"_Vita hominis est_ milicia" (11,_d_),
nnilicia in MS.--"Measure yourself," etc. (12,_b_), this line is
in margin in MS.--"_I trow_ and ye were" (12,_d_), _It row_ in
MS.: the same miscript occurs at 13,_a_--"_Mo than a_ good sort"
(13,_b_), M suggests emending to "Methink a"--"To _them_ ye will
go" (13,_b_), _hem_ in MS.; I follow M: B suggests _hom_--"by
Saint _Quintin_" (13,_c_), _Sent_ _Qisyntyn_ in MS.--"I am even
_very weary_" (13,_c_), _wery wery_ in MS.--"be there again
to-morrow" (13,_c_), M, for the sake of the rhyme, suggests
_to-morne_--"patience of Job _in_ tribulation" (14,_a_), so in
M: the MS. has &--"my own sweet son" (14,_a_), against this
line in the margin in another hand is, "_ita factum est_"--"To
pervert _your_ conditions" (14,_b_), _þer_ in MS.: F suggests
for _þi_; M reads your; B suggests _your_--"all their _means_"
(14,_b_), _nnenys_ in MS.--"_intermise_ yourself not" (14,_c_),
scratched through in MS. and "_intro-mytt_" written over in
another hand--"of the _cunning that I can_" (15,_a_), _co[=m]ynge
... kam_ in MS.--"It is written, etc." (16,_a_), this song is
omitted by Manly (_see_ Holyke, _ante_) but given by F and B, the
latter in _Quellen_, pp. 50-51, not page 61 as erroneously given
by the Early English Text editors--"if he will have _compos[t]_"
(17,_c_), _compasse_ in MS.: F corrects to _compass[t]e_; M to
_compost_; B to _composte_--"By Cock's body sacred" (18,_b_),
F queries this as being _sakyide_ in MS.--"By the _aid_ of His
grace" (18,_b_), _syde_ in MS.: F suggests _ayde_ and says "MS.
fs crost there before _syde_ ... see line 400" [With the help,
&c., 19,_a_]--"_Nec in_ hasta" (18,_c_), _hastu_ in MS.: F refers
to "Non in gladio, nec in hasta.... 1 Reg. xvii. 47"--"Alack,
alack!" (19,_d_), F says (this commences leaf 127 back), "In
another hand, at top, 'Honorabyll well belouyd frende, I hertely
Recummend me on-to you'"--"Yea, _Christ's cross_" (20,_b_),
_Crastes_ in MS.: M suggests _Christ's curse_, comparing it
with "Christ's copped curse" (36,_a_)--"There! we're on anon"
(20,_b_), I may have been misled, though the MS. is by no means
clear: "Ther, wher, on & on," which _might_ be interpreted,
"There, ware! on anon! Out! ye shall not," etc., or "There! we're
one and [_i.e._ to] one. Out! ye shall not," etc.--"Know ye any
_aught_" (20,_c_), _out_ in MS.: F and B read _ou[gh]t_--"with a
_flowte_" (20,_d_), _flewte_ in MS.: M queries it for _flowte_,
which I have adopted--"Else _there_ shall" (20,_d_)? _þei_ in
MS. (F)--"he is a _worshipful_ man" (21,_a_), _worschyppull_ in
MS.--"nor pence _nor_ two pence" (21,_b_), _of_ in MS.; F, M,
and B read _or_--"Ye say _us_ ill" (21,_b_), _as_ in MS.--"The
devil have [_thee_]" (22,_a_), suggested by M--"_that be_
sought" (22,_c_), so in MS.: F and B read _that [yt] be_; though
elliptical the passage reads = that which is to be: my "pointing"
varies from other authorities--"Mischief _hat[h]_ informed
[_me_]" (22,_d_), _hat_ in MS.: [_me_] suggested by F--"Take
_W[illiam]_ Fide" (22,_d_), suggested by F: M reads _w[ith
yow]_, and B _w[yth yow]_--"begin at _m[aster]_ Huntington"
(23,_a_), supplied by M--"Huntington of Sanston ... Hammond of
Swaffham" (23,_a_ and _b_), see E.E.T.S edition--"_see_ well
where and whither" (23,_b_), _be_ in MS.--"Let us _con_ well
our neck-verse" (23,_c_), _com_ in MS.--"I bless you with my
_left_ hand" (23,_c_), _right_ struck out in MS.--"enter, I hope,
_unreadily_" (24,_a_), so in M: _ouer redyly_ in MS.--"grace
were _wane_" (24,_b_), "_cran_ (?) written after 'wane' in
another hand" (F)--"While I over-delve it" (24,_c_), _ouer
dylew yt_ in MS.--"into thi[_s_] yard" (25,_b_), supplied by
M--"pow[_d_]er of Paris" (25,_d_), supplied by M--"Ye shall
[_see_] _a_ good sport" (25,_d_), supplied by M: Brandl, however,
suggests that _a_ = have, which provides, I think on reflection,
a better reading without altering the text--"Be as _be_ may
... Mercy be wroth" (26,_a_ and _b_), "these lines are added
at the bottom of the page" (F), _be_ is _it_ in original--"I
shall _sleep_" (26,_b_),?MS. _skepe_ (F)--"rideth over the
gallows" (26,_d_), _galouf_ in MS. for _galous_--"And thy own
wife _brethel_" (27,_a_), see Brethel, _ante_ (382,_d_): F in
a footnote (p. 22) says, "Qy. _bethell_, M," but M (p. 338)
has "Qy. _brethell_"!--"Adieu, fair _master_" (27,_b_), F
suggests _master[s]_--"such a _likely_ man" (27,_d_), _lyghly_
which F reads _lygh[t]ly_ = likely--"ye have sco[u]red a pair
of fetters" (28,_d_), _scoryde_ in MS.: see _Scoured, post_,
(461,_a_)--"_that_ sweet mouth" (28,_d_), _þo_ in MS.--"do _it
[in]_ forma" (29,_c_), "fo" is struck out after _it_ in MS.:
_in_ is supplied by M--"his side-gown may be _sold_" (29,_d_),
_solde_ in F and M, but F has a note "solde MS., tolde M" which I
do not understand: M at all events is intelligible in noting the
_solde_ of his text as "MS. tolde"; but which is correct?--"spare
that ye _may_" (30,_a_), so in MS and F, which I have followed:
M reads _mow_ (to rhyme with _yow_, p. 30, line 1), and notes
his departure from the original--"beshrew your ears, _a_ fair
hand" (30,_b_), _&_ in MS. and F: M reads _a_--"Curia _tenta
generalis_" (30,_c_), _Carici_ in MS.: see Curia, _ante_
(391,_a_)--"makest much [_tarrying_]" (30,_d_), supplied by M
and adopted by F--"I can[_not_] express this inconvenience"
(32,_d_), [_not_] supplied by M and adopted by F--"_Christus_
et _omnia jura_" (33,_c_), _sit_ in MS.: emended by Kittredge
in M--"Equity to be laid over part[l]y" (33,_d_), _party_ in
MS: this line was a puzzler to M and B in consequence of the
wretchedly inaccurate copy of the text supplied to them, and
on which they had to work. The variations are characteristic:
F is direct from MS. and collated (?); M and B are copies of a
copy made by the same person at different times: these differ
alike one with the other, and with the F copy. (F) "Equyte to be
leyde ou_er_ p_ar_ty, & mercy to prevayll." (M) O quyte to be
leyde ou_er_, p_er_ty & mercy to prevayll! (B) O, quyte to be
leyde, ou_er_ p_ar_ty and mercy to prevayll! The readings adopted
or suggested are--(F) As given above. (M) Equyte to be leyde
ou_er_, pety & mercy to prevayll! (B) O, quyte to be lewyde,
ou_er_ pety _and_ mercy to prevayll! From this it will be seen
that all differ with one another and from myself in interpreting
this line: I offer mine as a suggestion--"with these cursed
_caitiffs_" (34,_a_), _cayftys_ in MS.--"nigh dead in the crick"
(34,_c_), _my_ in MS.: corrected by M and B, and adopted by F,
to _ny_--"Hic, hic, hic" (34,_c_), M says a line is wanted here
rhyming with the third line lower down to complete the stanza--"a
_cepe_ coppus" (34,_d_), so in original which says M may be
intentional: he reads _cape corpus_--"give the rope just to _thy_
neck" (35,_d_), _pye_ in MS.: restored by M and B--"_He_ _is_ so
timorous" (36,_a_), _He ys ys_ in MS.--"To see your _solicitious_
face" (36,_b_), _solaycyose_ in MS.: M reads _solacyose_; B
_solicitose_--"What! ask mercy yet once again?" (36,_c_), F says
that from this point to "good perseverance" (40,_b_) the MS. is
in another hand--"my _worst_ transgression" (36,_c_), _wernt_ or
_werunt_ in MS.: F has _werst_: M has _wekit_--"dolorous _fears_"
(36,_d_), _seris_ in MS.: F has _feris_: M has _feres_; and B
suggests _sores_--"this sinful sinner to _redeem_" (36,_d_), so
in MS.: M and B suggest _reduce_ for the rhyme's sake--"_Nam
hec ... non sunt_" (36,_d_), F "notes" this passage: "Ps.
lxxvi (lxxvii, Engl.), 11, _'hæc mutatio dexteræ Excelsi_';
'_Verte impios,_ _et non erunt_'--Prov. xii. 7"--"as Himself
doth _precise_" (37,_b_), M says "_precyse_ does not rhyme: qy.
_preche_, or, as Kittredge suggests, _precysely_ _teche_"--"_Nolo
mortem, &c._" (37,_b_), "_Nolo mortem_ _impii, sed ut convertatur
impius a vita sua, et vivat_, Ezech. xxviii. 11" (F)--"he will
[be] reducible" (37,_b_), M--"Incline your capacity," etc.
(37,_d_), in MS. this line reads, "My doctrine is convenient,
Incline your capacity": the change is due to M--"as _I_ said
before" (38,_a_), _he_ in MS. (M)--"cause of great grievan_ce_"
(38,_b_), "_ge_ in MS. altered to _ce_ or _se_" (F)--"Not to
the _lowli'st_ joy" (38,_d_), F reads _holest_, and "notes" M's
query of MS. being miswritten for _loliest_ or _lest_: B also
suggests _lo[w]l[i]est_--"Scripture doth _prove_" (38,_d_),
_prewe_ in MS. and followed by F: M has _prove_--"my _suavious_
solace" (38,_d_), to B: F has _suatius_; M has _solatius_--"my
_inexcusable_ reproof" (39,_a_), so in MS.: M suggests
_inexorable_ may be better--"fantastical visions, _sedulously_
sought" (39,_b_), _sedociusly_ in MS.: the emendment is to M: B
reads _seducively_--"_Libere velle_," _etc._ (40,_a_), _Libere_
_welle liebere welle_ (Kittredge in M)--"Dominus custodi[a]t te"
(40,_b_), _custodit se_ in MS. (M)--"my _several_ patrociny"
(40,_c_), "? MS. suuerall (several, individual). Kittredge
suggests _special_" (F)--"_Search_ your conditions" (40,_c_), in
original _Serge_--"O Liber," etc. (40,_d_), see _Macro Plays_.

MAN OF ARMS (M28,_c_), a sarcasm: Mischief is loaded with fetters.

MANITORY, "my doctrine _manitory_" (M39,_b_), warning.

MARKET, "about our _market_ depart" (R207,_d_), here generic for
business, affairs.

MARY MASS (R202,_b_), a mass in honour of the Virgin Mary:
specifically festivals held on Candlemas Day (2 February), the
assumption (15 August), and the latter Marymass, the nativity
of the Virgin (8 September). The asseveration was common in the
sixteenth century; moreover, a covert allusion to the trouble of
Queen Mary as regards the celebration of the mass in her late
brother's time may be intended.

MAS (_passim_), master: in Respublica _mace_.

MASS, see Prime.

MASSHIP, "I trow we shall his _masship_ trim" (R230,_d_),
mastership.

MAST, "_mast_ Wealth" (WH289,_d_), master.

MATINS, see Prime.

MEASURE, "_Measure is treasure_" (M12,_b_), proverbial. "Men wryte
of oold how _mesour is tresour_."--Lydgate, _Min. Poems_ (Percy
Soc.), 208 (_c._ 1430).

MEDWALL (HENRY). Mr. T. Seccombe, writing in the _Dictionary of
National Biography_, says he "flourished in 1486"; but beyond the
fact that he was chaplain to John Morton (who became Archbishop
of Canterbury in 1486, and died in 1500), little is known of
this early writer of interludes. The only work of his extant is
_Nature_ (see pp. 43-133). Bale mentions another interlude not
now extant, but ascribed to Medwall, "Of the Finding of Truth,
carried away by Ignorance and Hypocrisy." This was diversified
by the introduction of a fool, an innovation which commended
it to Henry VIII. when it was produced before him at Richmond,
Christmas 1516. Apart from this feature the piece was misliked,
and the King "departyd before the end to hys chambre."

MEEK, "Except that man himself do _meek_" (WH279,_b_), abase,
humble.

MELL, "not suffer to _mell_" (R213,_a_)--"with such-high matters to
_mell_" (R235,_b_),--"will not _mell_" (R250,_b_), meddle.

MEMBER, "I scannot _member_ his name" (R212,_d_),--"to _member_ in
my heart" (R234,_d_), remember: in original _membre_.

MEMENTO, "_Memento_, _homo_," etc. (M15,_b_): see _Job_ xxxiv. 15.

MENGE, "I shall _menge_ his corn" (M24,_a_), mix, or? scatter.

"The busy bee, her honey now she _mings_."

--Surrey, _Songs and Sonnets_ (1557), Description of Spring.

MERCHANT, "prattling _merchant_" (_passim_), fellow, chap:
frequently in depreciation.

MERE, "be used _mere_" (WS174,_a_), simply, solely, "single-eyed,"
unquestionably, downright.

"This is _mere_ falsehood."

--Shakespeare, _Winter's Tale_ (1604), iii. 2.

MET, "I hope to have his foot _met_" (M23,_d_), caught.

MICH, "cost him even as _mich_" (N67,_c_), much.

"Alle the _myche_ tresour that traytour had wonnene
To commons of the contré, clergye and other."

--_Morte Arthure_, _MS. Lincoln_, f. 66.

MISCHIEVE, "herself to _mischieve_" (IP313,_d_), harm, injure.

"Grant, I may ever love, and rather woo
Those that would _mischief_ me, than those that do."

--Shakespeare, _Timon of Athens_ (1609), iv. 3.

MISERICORDIA, "put out the _i_ of Misericordia, and without an _i_
play e'en plain trussing corda" (R243,_d_); the pun survives to
this day.

MISERY, "harlotry, _misery_, treachery" (R263,_d_), miserliness,
parsimony, coveteousness. "But Brutus, scorning his (Octavius
Cæsar's) _misery_ and niggardliness, gave unto every band a
number of wethers to sacrifice."--North, _Plutarch_ (1578), p.
215.

MISH, MASH, see Driff, draff.

MISWOMEN (IP320,_c_), a generic reproach: here = strumpets, wantons.

"Fly the _miswoman_, least she thee deceiue."

--Chaucer, _Remedy of Love_.

MO (_passim_), more.

MOME (_passim_), clown, buffoon, blockhead, fool.

MOON, "made you believe the _moon_ was a green cheese" (R265,_c_),
bamboozled or deceived you; the proverbialism is, in truth, of
respectable antiquity: also _cream cheese_.

MORROW, "on Sundays, _on the morrow_" (M31,_c_), in the morning.

MOSELLING, "I fell down _moselling_" (JE363,_d_), original
_moselynge_;? drunk (cf., muzzling, muzzy): the E.E.T.S. editors
gloss _meselynge_ = diseaseful, from _measle_, but the context
would bear my own "shot." "In _meselynge_ glotonye, with goode
metis and drynkys trye, I norche my syster Lecherye" (_Castell of
Persev._ [E.E.T.S.], 144, 2258).

MOT, MOUGHT (_passim_), might.

MOUNSIRE, "_Mounsire_ authority" (R197,_c_)--(also R224,_b_), an
early corrupted form of "Monsieur": cf. modern _Mounseer_.

MUMCHANCE (WH286,_a_), a game of hazard with cards or dice: see
Nares.

NAM, "_Nam hæc est mutatio, dexteræ Excelsi: vertit_ _impios, et
non sunt_" (M36,_d_), see _Psalm_ lxxvii. 11, and _Prov._ xii. 7.

NAMNOT, NAMMOT (R267,_d_), am not: the double negative, _ne am not_.

NARSE (WS153,_b_), arse: the transference of the _n_ of the
indefinite article, and a similar process in respect to the
_n_ of "mine," "thine," etc. is not infrequent in _M.E._; cf.
"naunt," "nuncle," "nam," "newt," "nickname," etc.

NATURE. The text will be found on pages 41-133, together with a
reduced facsimile of the title-page of the unique copy now in the
British Museum (C34,_e_54). Bound up with it, at the end of the
volume, are two duplicate leaves. In several places (see 105,_c_;
106,_d_; 112,_d_; 114,_a_) the lower margins have suffered by
cutting; otherwise it is a good copy, but without date, place,
or printer's name. It is well printed, probably by John Rastell,
between 1510-20, and is in excellent preservation. When printing
my own text, I was not aware that a fragment comprising two
complete and well-preserved pages had been discovered in an album
consisting entirely of "Specimens of the English Printers from
Caxton to Robert Barker," which Sir John Fenn had collected for
the completion of Ames-Herbert's _Typographical Antiquities_,
and which was offered for sale by Mr. Bernard Quaritch in his
Catalogue, No. 237 (pp. 97-99), the price affixed being £280. For
the foregoing particulars I am indebted to _Materialen zur Kunde
des alteren_ _Englischen Dramas_, so ably edited by Prof. Bang of
Louvain University and other well-known English, American, and
Continental scholars. I have, so far, been unable to trace the
subsequent history of this volume; but I am not without hopes,
later on, of being in a position to supply full and detailed
particulars. What more nearly concerns the present purpose is
the fact that in vol. xii. of _Materialen_ are given facsimiles
of parts of each of these two pages, by means of which two out
of the four lines cut away, each on different pages, have been
restored, viz. at 112,_d_ and 114,_a_--a fortunate and happy
circumstance (see _Corrigenda,_ _etc., infra_). Another fragment
was known to exist at the Bodley. This is mentioned by Mr. Greg
in his _Handlist of English Plays_; but no particulars are
furnished, and on enquiry at the Bodley no trace of the fragment
could at first be found. I, thereupon, made search, and at last
unearthed it, finding it buried in a mass of uncatalogued early
printed scraps. This was after delving through a dozen volumes of
similar miscellaneous material, so let it now be ear-marked for
future reference. The Bodley shelf-mark is Rawl. 4^o 598 (12).
It came into the Bodleian with the Rawlinson collection of MSS.
and printed books in 1755. The fragment (Aiiii) is small, and is
apparently of the same edition as the British Museum copy, and
the extra leaves. As the Quaritch fragment is also undoubtedly
of similar parentage, it is unlikely that the play was printed
more than once. The Bodley fragment comprises (_a_) "But, if
Reason tickle ..." (last line p. 49) down to "... that from above
is sent" (p. 50, 11th line of text from bottom); and (_b_) "No
well-advised body ..." (page 51, 11 lines from top) down to "It
shall not skill as for this intent" (p. 52, 2 lines from top).
By this it will be seen that this recovery does not serve to
restore either of the two missing lines, not restored by the
other fragments. _Nature_ was produced before Archbishop Morton
in Henry VII.'s reign (see 51,_c_; 88,_b_); and Bale states that
it was translated into Latin. A period of nearly three days
seems to have elapsed between the representation of Parts I.
and II. (see 90,_d_). Other allusions I have dealt with in this
Note-Book as they occur. Of the author little is known save what
is revealed by the play, and Bale's mention (see _Medwall_).
From the former it is evident, however, as Prof. Gayley first
pointed out, that he must have possessed a remarkably vivid
imagination, or have enjoyed a closer acquaintance than might
be expected of one of his cloth with the seamy side of London
life; for there are few racier or more realistic bits of
description in our early literature than the account given by
Sensuality of Fleyng Kat and Margery, of the perversion of the
hero by the latter, and of her retirement when deserted to that
house of "Strayt Religyon at the Grene Freres hereby," where
"all is open as a gose eye." Dr. Gayley remarks that though "the
plot is not remarkable, nor the mechanism of it, for almost
the only device availed of is that of feigned names, still the
author's insight into the conditions of low life, his common
sense, his proverbial philosophy, his humorous exhibition of
the morals of the day, and his stray and sudden shafts at the
foibles of his own religious class, would alone suffice to
attract attention to this work. And even more remarkable than
this in the history of comedy is Medwall's literary style; his
versification excellent and varied, his conversations witty,
idiomatic, and facile. Indeed, he is so far beyond the ordinary
convention that he writes the first bit of prose to be found
in our drama." _Nature_ has only once before been reprinted in
modern times, in Prof. Brandl's admirable _Quellen_ series. The
present text is taken direct from the British Museum copy, and
has been re-collated with the original in proof: mere misprints
I have, as a rule, not noted. It is proper to point out that
the "Humility" of the "Names of the Players" (p. 42) appears in
the text, except in one instance, as "Meekness"; likewise that
"Good Occupation" is the "Good Business" of the text; "Pride"
also is occasionally given as "Pry. Co." _Corrigenda, Amended
Readings, etc._: The _Names of the Players_ (42,_b_ and _c_),
these are from the end of play--"things here _below_" (44,_b_)
_by low_ in original--"To _the_ which end" (50,_b_), original
_ye_--"nor _yet_ so furious" (51,_b_), original _yt_--"_point_
oversight" (51,_c_), original has _point of_; my mistake--"use
thee as a _servant_" (52,_b_), original _servand_--"As _far_ as"
(57,_d_), original _for_--"And let thy _word_ be _cousin_ to
thy deed" (59,_a_), original _world_ ... _consyn_--"_See_ that
ye commit" (59,_b_), original _So_--"to every man's _guise_"
(60,_b_), original _ges_--"my chief _counsellor_" (60,_c_),
original _conselour_--"_Sens._ Lord! ye say well" (61,_b_),
between this and the previous line Dr. Brandl points out that
a line has been dropped, but there is no break in the original
copy--"To put him_self_" (61,_c_), in original _selse_--"[_He
goeth out...._]" (64,_d_), considerable confusion exists in the
original from this point to the end of the next page. The lines
beginning "Worldly Affection," "Come hither!" are assigned to
_The World_, whereas it is clear that _The World_ goes out, and
_Mankind_, calling to _Worldly_ _Affection_ (who comes in),
continues his speech, addressing the new comer. From this point
the speeches now given, rightly I think, to _Worldly_ _Affection_
are in original to _The World_, except the last on page 65,
which appears as a continuation of _Mankind's_ speech. I may
remark that Dr. Brandl differs--"[_Pride_]. Who dwelleth here"
(66,_c_), in original _Pry. Co._--"worn gilt _spurs_ ... cutted
_whores_" (66,_d_), original _sperys_ ... _horys_--"How say ye,
_sirs_" (67,_a_), original _syrst_: Brandl suggests reading
_fyrst_--"_Allez ... vous avant!_" (69,_c_), original _Ale
seygniour ale vouse auant_"--"judge in common _pleas_" (71,_c_),
original, _place_--"Sir! bid him welcome," etc. (72,_b_), in
original the catch-cue to "_Sens._" is repeated here; the present
interpolated "direction" makes the action clear--_Man._ Me?"
(73,_a_), in original _Man._ is misprinted as part of text, _Man
me?_--"The _world_ told me" (73,_c_), read _World_--"Where they
_shall_" (93,_b_), original misprinted _shalbe_--"Sirs, God speed
_ye_!" (112,_d_), original _you_--"[_A line has been shaved away
at the_ _foot of the page_]" (112,_d_), this is now restored from
the Quaritch fragment, "_Had I set a done_ (= adown) _my gear_."
A line similarly shaved off at 114,_a_ is also restored by "I
_wene he wyll be dede_"--"great _scorn_ and disdain" (120,_c_),
original _storn_--"mind and good _will_" (121,_b_), Dr. Brandl
suggests reading _lust_--"to the uttermost" (122,_d_), Dr. Brandl
suggests _uttermest_--"He _speaketh_ sometime" (126,_a_), so
in original, Dr. Brandl prints _seeketh_--"[_Help_] to reform"
(128,_d_), this word is cut away at the foot of the page: the
same mishap has occurred at "in this case" (130,_a_).

NE, "_ne_ would" (N124,_a_), not, neither.

NEAT, "a horse and a _neat_" (M26,_c_), an ox, bullock, cow,
heifer: now rare.

NEC, "_nec_ in hasta," etc. (M18,_c_), see 1 Reg. xvii. 47--"Non in
gladio, _nec_ in hasta...."

NECK-VERSE, "he could his _neck-verse_" (M27,_d_), a verse on which
one's neck depends, in allusion to hanging: originally "a Latin
verse printed in black letter (usually the beginning of the 51st
Psalm), formally set before one claiming benefit of clergy, ...
by reading which he might save his neck" (_O.E.D._). See other
volumes of this series.

NEEDINGS (M34,_d_), "relieving nature," doing that is necessary.

NEGLIGENCE, (_a_) "if it please your _negligence_" (M21,_a_),
_i.e._ if an "interval" will be acceptable: this usage = a
pleasing relaxation of attention, or absence of restraint, was
common enough.

(_b_) "Committed to my _negligence_" (N83,_a_), in sarcasm.

NEMBLE, "now am I _nemble_" (IP337,_d_), nimble: cf. trimble =
tremble.

NEMESIS (R., _passim_), the embodiment of retributive justice; this
passage serves the _O.E.D._, being nearly half a century earlier
than the first given by Dr. Murray.

NESH, "tender and _nesh_" (IP337,_b_), succulent, juicy.

NEST, see Feather.

NEW GUISE, see Guise.

NEW JET, see Jet.

NEW YEAR, "in _the worship of the new year_" (IP334,_c_), _i.e._ at
the next jollification.

NIL, see Suffer.

NINE STOCKS, "sit in _nine stocks_" (R220,_d_). Mr. Magnus thinks
the meaning of this somewhat obscure sentence to be that the
culprit shall be sentenced to the stocks nine times running; note
the exigency of a rhyme to _mine locks_.

NINNAT (R., _passim_), ne will not.

NOLD, "The skitb[r]ains _nold not_" (R267,_b_)--"for she _nolde_
suffer" (N45_a_), would not be--n[e w]o[u]ld: cf. Namnot, etc.

NOLI ME TANGERE, "He is a _noli-me-tangere_" (M23,_b_), generic for
anybody or anything repellant, an awkward tempered person. "He
was wont to say of them that they were of the tribe of Dan, and
were _noli me tangere's_."--R. Naunton, _Frag. Reg._ (_c._ 1630),
18 (1870).

NOLO, "_Nolo mortem peccatoris, inquit_" (M37,_b_): see _Ezekiel_
xxviii. 11--"_Nolo mortem impii, sed ut_ _convertatus impius a
vita sua, et vivat._"

NOMINATION, "that is my _nomination_" (R199,_d_), name,
designation. "Because of these two effectes ... hath it the
_nomination_ of kayes."--Frith (_d._ 1533), _Workes_, p. 58.

NON, see Inventus.

NONAGE, "the _nonage_ of this gentleman" (N53,_d_), legal minority.
"My parents deceased in mine _nonage_."--_Godly Queen Hester_,
Anon. Pl., 2 Ser. (E.E.D.S.), 257,_c_.

NONNY, see Hey.

NOURICE, "thy tender _nourice_" (N46,_d_), nurse. "Flatterers ben
the devil's _nourices_ that nourish his children with milke of
losengrie."--Chaucer, _Cant._ _Tales_ (1383), Persones Tale.

NYMPHS, "at her _nymphs_" (R251,_b_), _i.e._ handmaidens, waiting
women.

OAR, see Boat.

OBEDIENT, "subdued to reason as his _obedient_" (N55,_d_), one
subject to authority, a subordinate: an earlier instance of the
substantive use of _obedient_ than that recorded in the _O.E.D._
by a century and a quarter.

OBSTINANT, "if he be _obstinant_" (IP346,_b_), obstinate: the
_O.E.D._ records the word as a substantive, earmarking it "rare,"
and giving a single quotation only, but the adjectival form is
absent.

OCCUPY, "a merchant's place to _occupy_" (IP339,_b_), formerly
_occupy_ was almost as hard-worked a verb as the modern American
_fix_. Amongst other senses it meant, take possession, seize,
enter upon, hold, have in possession, enjoy, reside in, tenant,
stay, abide, employ, busy about, engage, make use of, etc.

ODIBLE, "as carene is _odible_" (M32,_d_)--"dispectuous and
_odible_" (M33,_b_), hateful, odious. "His face was so hatefull
and so _odyble_."--Lydgate, _Chron._ _Troy_ (1412-20), III. xxiv.

OLD BOY, "play ever ... _the old boy_" (N75,_b_), as one who has
become skilled, clever, knowing through practice and experience;
foreshadowing the slang usage: cf. "olde souldier, _veteranus_"
(Huloet., 1552).

OM (_passim_), them--'em.

ONT (_passim_), on it--on[i]t.

OPRAY, OPRY, "_opray_ counsel" (N71,_c_)--"such _opry_" (N71,_c_),
not in _O.E.D._:? = _operary_, practical.

ORGANS, "Piers Pickpurse playeth at _organs_" (R240,_a_), _i.e._
as if fingering an organ: formerly organs (pl.) denoted a single
instrument.

OSCULARE, "_osculare fundamentum_" (M8,_c_), the modern vulgar jeer
wrapped up in Latin.

OTHER (_passim_), either.

OVERBLISS, "he may _overbliss_ it" (M17,_c_), overbless: Nought
sarcastically says that Mankind may treat his land too well by
using it as a jakes.

OWETH, "he _oweth_ to be magnified" (M3,_b_), ought. "Forgotten was
no thing That _owe_ be done."--_Chaucer's_ _Dreme_ (_c._ 1500),
1405.

OWL-FLIGHT, "in the _owl-flight_" (M25,_d_), when owls go abroad,
dusk; here under cover of night. "He ran away by nyght In the
_owle flyght_ Lyke a cowarde Knyght."--Skelton, _Dk. Albany_
(_c._ 1529), 312.

OYEZ (_passim_). "Hear ye": a call (usually three times given) to
command silence and attention.

PAINFUL, "_painful_ ministers" (R234,_b_), "Young, _painful_,
tractable" (WS137,_d_), careful, diligent, painstaking: cf.
_careful_ = full of care; _hateful_ = full of hate, etc.
"Vertuous sermons and _painefull_ preaching."--Stapleton, tr.
_Bede's Hist. Ch. Eng._ (1565), 79.

PALE, "four kine to my _pale_" (R229,_a_), an enclosed space,
limit: here = holding.

PARDON, "forty days of _pardon_" (M8,_c_), an indulgence, a papal
warrant of forgiveness of "faults": see other volumes of this
series.

PARIS GATES (N67,_a_),? the entrance to Paris Garden; see Halliwell
and Nares.

PARLEMENT, "A _parlement_, a _parlement_," (M35,_a_), conference,
consultation, talk.

"He sent to his barrons a _parlement_ to hold."

--_Robert de Brunne,_ p. 244.

PARTICIPABLE, "be _participable of_" (M3,_d_), partakers of.

PARTY, see Mankind, _Amended Readings._

PASH, PASSHE (_passim_), (_a_) the Passover, Easter-tide, properly
Pasch.

(_b_) "_Pash_ head! _pash_ brain" (WS143,_b_), smash, dash to
pieces.

"And _pash_ the jaws of serpents venomous."

--Marlowe, 1 _Tamburlaine_ (1590), i. 1.

PASS, "I do not _pass_" (WS147,_c_), care, reck, mind: see other
volumes of this series.

PASSEIVE, "we _passeive_" (R212,_a_), perceive.

PASSIBLE, "obedient and _passible_" (M33,_a_), able to feel
or suffer. "Therein he assumed human nature, mortal, and
_passible_."--Chr. Sutton, _Godly Meditations_ (1622), p. 24 (ed.
1849).

PATROCINY, "my several _patrociny_" (M40,_c_), patronage,
protection, defence, support. "To take hym and his pore causis
into your _patrocynye_ and protection."--Wolsey, _Lett. to
Gardener_ (1529) in Strype, _Eccl. Mem._, I. App. xxxiii. 92.

PATUS, "I beshrew your _patus_" (M21,_c_), head: mock Latin.

PAUL'S STEEPLE, etc. (_passim_), Paul's (Poules, Paules, Powlys,
Pawles, etc.), _i.e._ St. Paul's Cathedral in London, a favourite
lounge and business resort in the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries,--hence frequent allusions in old writers.

PEAK, "bold to _peak_ in" (R255,_d_), peep. "That other pries and
_peekes_ in euery place."--Gascoigne, _Steele Glas._ (1576), 68
(Arber).

PEASON, (_a_) "_peason_ knaves" (R213,_c_), peasant knaves: a
generic reproach = low fellow, rascal, "villain." Possibly also
with an eye on the chief food staple of the lower classes in
Tudor times, pease (or peason) and beans.

(_b_) see Peson.

PEERS, "with all their old _peers_" (IP346,_c_), associates,
companions: _perers_ in original. "Children sittynge in Cheepynge
... cryinge to her _peeris_."--Wyclif, _Matt._ xi. 16 (1382).

PERMOUNTED, "how ye beeth _permounted_" (R256,_c_), ? a portmanteau
word _promoted_ + _mounted_.

PERSECUTED, "how shall this redress be well _persecuted_"
(R269,_c_), pursued (Magnus).

PERSWAGED, "cham _perswaged_" (_passim_), persuaded.

PERVERSIOUS, "this _perversious_ ingratitude" (M33,_b_), perverse.

PERVERTIONATE, "that ever be _pervertionate_" (M10,_c_), perverse.

PERZENT, "whom itch do _perzent_" (R211,_a_), represent.

PESON, "piss my _peson_" (M12,_c_), what _peson_ means is somewhat
obscure. The recorded meanings are (1) = pl. of pease; (2) a
staff-like instrument used for weighing purposes before scales
were employed, and so, maybe, a staff. The context, however,
would seem to suggest _peason_ as a shortened or popular name of
the _peasecod doublet_, a long-breasted garment carried down to
a long peak in front, having the lower part stiffly quilted and
projecting.

PESTEL, "a _pestel_ on him" (R199,_a_), _i.e._ a _pestilence_.

PETTICOAT, "_have at thy petticoat_" (R270,_d_); cf. "I'll pay him
o' th' _petticoat_."--_Misogonus_, Anon. Pl., 2 Ser. (E.E.D.S.),
157,_b_. "I dare jeopard a groat, If he may reach them, will have
on the _petticoat_."--_Jacob_ _and Esau_, 2 Anon. Pl., 2 Ser.
(E.E.D.S.), 77,_c_.

PEW, "God give him an ill _pew_" (JE363,_c_), in original pue: a
rare transferred usage of the common word = "station, situation,
allotted place" (O.E.D.). "Ye lat me peyne here in a peynfull
_pewe_, That is a place of grete doloures."--_Pety Job_ (_c._
1400) 555, in 26 _Pol. Poems_, 139.

PIE, "hands be in the _pie_" (R191,_d_), the modern "finger in the
pie" is more modest; the present example is the earliest given in
the _O.E.D._

PIKE, "_pike_ thee home" (WS157,_a_)--"they bad me _pike_ me home"
(R256,_a_), walk, be off, get home. Mr. Magnus glosses the
Respublica example, "pick." "He bad them then go _pyke_ them
home."--_Ane_ _Ballat of Matrymonie_ (_c._ 1570) in Laing, _Pop.
Poet._ _Scotland_, ii. 77.

PIP, "God send them both the _pip_" (R215,_c_), properly a disease
peculiar to poultry and the like, but frequently used jocosely by
old writers for various diseases in human beings, specifically,
however, of the pox. "I have a master: I wolld he had ye
_pyppe_."--_Play Sacram_ (_c._ 1460), 525.

PISS, see Rods.

PLAIN, "did not ich _plain_ me to you?" (R229,_d_), complain,
lament, bewail.

"Erles & barons at ther first samnyng,
For many maner resons _pleyned_ of the king."

--_Robert de Brunne_, p. 312.

PLAYERS (THE NAMES OF THE). The following references to Players'
Names in this volume and the Play in which they occur may be of
service.

Abstinence (N); Abundance (IP); Actio (JE); Adulation (R);
Avarice (R).

Bodily Lust (N).

Charity (N); Chastity (N); Colhazard (IP); Comfort (WS);
Confidence (WS); Conscience (IP).

Diligence (WS).

Envy (N and IP); Eugenio (JE); Evil Counsel (JE); Experience (WS).

Fame (WS); Favour (WS).

Garcon (N); Gluttony (N); Good Occupation (N).

Hance (WH); Health (WH); Honest Recreation (WS); Humility (N).

Idleness (WS); Idleness (JE); Ill-Will (WH); Impatient Poverty
(IP); Ingnorancy (WS); Innocency (N); Insolence (R); Instruction
(WS); Irisdision (JE).

Justicia (R).

Liberality (N); Liberty (WH).

Man (N); Mankind (M); Mercy (M); Mischief (M); Misericordia (R);
Misrule (IP); Mundus (N).

Nature (N); Nemesis (R); New Guise (M); Nought (M); Now-a-days
(M).

Oppression (R).

Patience (N); Pax (R); Peace (IP); People (R); Poverty (IP);
Pride(N); Prologue (R); Prosperity (IP).

Quickness (WS).

Reason (N and WS); Remedy (WH); Respublica (R); Riches (WS).

St. John the Evangelist (JE); Science (WS); Sensuality (N); Shame
(WS); Shamefacedness (N); Shrewd Wit (WH); Sloth (N); Strength
(WS); Study (WS); Sumner (IP).

Tediousness (WS); Titivillus (M).

Veritas (R).

Wealth (WH); Wit (WS); Worldly Affection (N); Worship (WS); Wrath
(N).

PLETTE, "whom should I _plette_" (IP341,_d_), plead.

"About eftsoones for to _plete_,
And bring on you advocacies new?"

--Chaucer, _Troilus and Creseide_, ii.

PLEYSERIS, "ye may be _pleyseris_ with the angels above" (M40,_d_),
so in original: Manly suggests _partakers_.

POLICATE, "such a _policate_ wit" (R213,_b_), polished: ? a
compound of _polished_ + _delicate_, or a corruption of _politic_
= sharp, clever, well-devised.

POLL, "I see you would _poll_ me" (R220,_c_), plunder, pillage, rob.

POPULORUM, "by his precious _populorum_" (R259,_b_) A coinage of no
special worth save a bare record.

PORT, "Wealth hath great _port_" (WH279,_d_), carriage, mien,
bearing, state. "With another _port_."--_Jacob_ _and Esau_,
Anon. Pl., 2 Ser. (E.E.D.S.), 72,_c_. "Keep house, and _port_,
and servants as I should."--Shakespeare, _Taming of the Shrew_
(1593), i. 1.

POTESTATE, "a worthy _potestate_" (N71,_b_), potentate, chief
authority. "And whanne thei leeden you unto synagogis and to
magistratis and _potestatis_; nyle ye be bisy how or what ye
schulen answere, or what ye schulen scye."--Wycliffe, _Luke_ xii.

POTICARY (N125,_a_), apothecary: see Heywood, _The_ _Four P.P._

PRECISE, "as Himself doth _precise_" (M37,_b_), to determine with
precision: cf. Fr. _preciser_.

PRECLAIR, "_preclair_ pre-eminence" (IP347,_d_), illustrious,
eminent. "That puissant prince _preclair_." Lyndesay, _Monarche_.

PREYS, "the gubbins of booties and _preys_" (R183,_d_), spoil,
plunder.

PRYKE, "_pryke_ not your felicities" (M4,_b_), fix.

PRIME, "mass and matins, hours and _prime_" (M31,_c_)--"by _prime_"
(JE360,_c_), the first of the canonical hours, succeeding to
lauds.

PRIVITY, see Jewels.

PROMIDENCE, "climbing up aloft for promidence" (R212,_d_),?
prominence, predominance.

PROUT, "zo thick _prout_ whorecop" (R256,_b_)--"maketh us _prout_"
(R256,_c_), proud: in original _prowte_ and _prout_ respectively;
A.S. prut.

PUDDINGS, see Dogs.

PURVEY, PURVEYED, "_purvey_ such a lad" (N68,_b_; also
65,_c_)--"hath _purveyed_ me" (N43,_c_), provide, plan, contrive:
specifically to supply provisions.

PUTTOCK (JE363,_b_), properly the common kite, but also applied to
other birds of prey.

QUALIFIED, "would not be _qualified_" (R224,_c_), appeased,
mollified, calmed. "Whan the quene was thus _qualyfyed_"--tr.
_Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist._ (_c._ 1540), 210 (Camden, No. 29).

QUORUM, see Justices of Quorum.

RAIL, "if thou _rail_ too far" (N52,_b_), wander, roam. "I _rayle_,
I straye abrode, _je trace, je tracasse_. He doth naught els but
_rayle_ here and there."--Palsgrave, _Lang. Franc._ (1530), 678,
I.

RAISE, "is that the great love ye _raise_ her" (WS147,_a_), bear:
cf. the now (except as regards cattle) rare sense of _raise_ =
beget.

RAT, "we have smelled a _rat_" (R187,_a_), one of the earliest
instances of this proverbial saying.

RATHER, "later or _rather_" (R188,_c_), earlier. "Aftir me is
comun a man, which was maad bifor me; for he was _rather_ than
Y."--Wyclif (1388), _John_ i. 30.

RAUGHT, "_raught_ to Cumberland" (R254,_a_), reached.

REBATED, "openly _rebated_" (R197,_a_): see Respublica, _Var.
readings_, etc.

RECH, "For other wealth I not _rech_" (WH278,_c_), strive or reach
out for.

RECREATORY, "my singular _recreatory_" (M38,_d_), source of
comfort, "joy": the only quotation in the _O.E.D._

RECUMBENTIBUS, "a shrewd _recumbentibus_" (M20,_b_)--"speak to
Mankind for the _recumbentibus_ of my jewels" (M22,_c_), "a
knock-down blow" (_O.E.D._), but the second example does not
quite fit this sense which seems to refer to the position of the
object attacked, rather than the act of attacking.

RED CAP, "him that wears the _red cap_" (WH303,_c_). Remedy seems
to have worn a red cap:? as the symbol of spiritual authority.
The term is of rare occurrence; only two examples of so early a
date are quoted in the _O.E.D._, both from State papers--(_a_)
"Captaine _Redde Cappe_, one of the rebelles of the last yere"
(1549); (_b_) = _red-hat_ = cardinal (1539).

REDE, "by my _rede_" (N121,_d_), counsel. Also as verb.

REDFORD (JOHN), musician, poet, and writer of interludes, was,
according to Hawkins, organist and almoner of St. Pauls.
Tusser, in his autobiographical poem, mentions him as master
of the children of St. Paul's about 1535. As a musician, his
instrumental works are well known, consisting mainly of florid
counterpoint upon a plain song. As master of the children
at St. Paul's, it was part of his duty to provide dramatic
entertainments. A quaint specimen of his skill in this respect
is afforded by his "Wit and Science." This is preserved among
the additional MSS. at the British Museum (No. 15,233), the
memorandum book in which it is written, and of which the original
binding is still in excellent condition, containing some musical
sketches (possibly memoranda only), and fragments of two other
moralities, one of them in Redford's name. The date of his death
is unknown, but as Sebastian Westcott was master of the children
of St. Paul's in 1559, probably Redford had died before that date.

The fragments of other interludes, probably both by Redford,
included in add. MSS 15,233, are as follows:--

[_Fragment No. 1._]

* * * * *
D. Marye, Tom, such poyntes God send him mani!

T. Well, go to, mok on! your mokes bere can I,
Tyll we shall once be evin, I truste.

G. Nay, Tom, all Malles lay in the dust,
And syns we have droonke all of one cup,
Shake handes lyke freends! all quarelles give up!

D. Ye, by my sowle, and syns the payne is past,
Let us be merye, and care awey cast.

I. What els, Tom, syns we have leve to play?
Let us be merye all thys long daye!
_Fynis, quod Master Jhon Redford._
_Here the syng_ Hey nony nonye,
_and so go forth syngyng_.

In the MS. this fragment is cancelled with a pen.

[_Fragment No. 2._]

The other fragment of an interlude (cancelled in the MS.) is as
follows:--

CORAGE.

Shall we three joyne in unitee
To cheere these gestes?

KYNDNES.

By my trothe, ye.
Clennes _cumth in and_ Con. _steylyth away_.
Not so, my friends, here me speake. Mum!

CORAGE.

Where is Concupiscence becum?

CLENNES.

My presens hath put her to flyght!
Where Clennes doth in place apeere,
Ther is Concupiscence gone quighte.

This is not signed by Redford; it is only conjecturally his.

The other works of Redford's in the MS. book (additional MSS.
15,233) appear to be separate poems, with titles (some apparently
inserted in his reprint by Halliwell Phillips). The numbers to
the right refer to the pages in Halliwell Phillips's reprint.

1. Lamentation of boys learning the prick song.
(14 stanzas of 4 lines each) 62

2. "Nolo Mortem peccatoris: hoec sunt verba
Salvatoris." (23 stanzas of six lines each) 68

3. "Long have I been a singing man."
(8 stanzas of six lines each) 80

4. "Will and Power." (3 stanzas of seven lines each) 86

5. "The Pleasure of Godliness."
Besides some irregular opening lines.
(22 stanzas of six lines each) 92

6. "The goodness of all God's gifts."
(11 stanzas of seven lines each) 97

7. "The sinfulness of man."
(8 stanzas of eight lines each) 100

REDUCIBLE, "he will be _reducible_" (M37,_b_), reclaimable.

REFRAIT, "harp both on _refrait_" (N59,_d_), refrain, burden. "Of
ther song the _refreit_ was of pees."--Lydgate in _Pol. Poems_
(1443), II., 211 (Rolls).

REMORD, "thou ought to remord" (IP316,_b_), feel remorse. "_Remord_
and rew, and pondir weill my parte."--A. Scott, _Poems_ (_c._
1560), xiii. 38 (S.T.S.).

REMOTION, "to you ... have recourse and _remotion_" (M3,_d_),
inclination to.

REN (_passim_), run.

REPORTURE, "to make _reporture_" (N100,_c_), mention, report. "To
hyr I wyll goo and make _reportur_."--_Digby_ _Myst._ (_c._
1485), III., 2084 (1882).

RESIDED, "one _resided_ me with a bowl of water" (JE358,_a_). I
have been unable to arrive at any satisfactory explanation of
this passage.

RESPUBLICA. The text is given on pp. 177-272. The original forms
one of the Macro plays in manuscript, now the property of Mr.
J. H. Gurney of Keswick Hall, near Norwich: see Macro Plays
and Manuscripts, _ante_. _Respublica_ has been three times
previously printed in modern times--(_a_) by Mr. John Payne
Collier in _Illustrations of Old English Literature_, I. (1866),
B. M. press-mark, 2326, _c_; (_b_) by Prof. Brandl in _Quellen_,
etc. (1904); and (_c_) by the Early English Text Society (Extra
Series xciv.), edited by Mr. Leonard A. Magnus, LL.B., "from Mr.
Gurney's unique Macro MS. 115" (1905), B. M. press-mark, Ac.
9926/60. I do not know how Mr. Collier got his copy; Dr. Brandl
states his copy was made for him by Dr. Emeke, "and we both have
collated it." Whether the copy was made direct from the original
manuscript, or whether it was (as in the case of _Mankind_)
(_q.v._) a copy of a copy, or further, whether the collation of
the proof-sheets was with the original or with the copy is not
stated: still even the last is _something_ towards assurance, for
the ways of the modern "comp." and the oversight of the average
"reader" are, at times, passing strange. Yet Mr. Magnus by his
remark, "Prof. Brandl had to make his edition from a copy of the
manuscript," seems to infer that the German editor was unable
to get into close contact with the original. This uncertainty
is unfortunate, for were we sure of the contrary, there would
have been immediate and well-founded confidence in the fidelity
of Prof. Brandl's text. But worse remains. Mr. Magnus, beyond
saying that "the manuscript has been kindly lent by the owner,"
nowhere, so far as I can read, mentions that the copy of the same
as prepared for the printers had, when in proof, been compared
with the original manuscript. My own experience in collating
the three copies of _Mankind_ (_q.v._), made respectively for
the E.E.T.S., Prof. Manly, and Prof. Brandl, does not tend to
reassure one. Indeed, the sampling of Mr. Manly's printed sheets
in another direction has convinced me that though the text
may be, and probably is, substantially accurate, yet it would
be folly to waste valuable time in furnishing, for this play,
even the simplest of textual notes and criticism. Knowing, by
experience, the weighty trustworthiness of Prof. Brandl's work in
respect to other plays, I commenced by modernising his text, at
the same time collating it with that of Collier, only to find,
when I came to compare it with the E.E.T. Society's edition,
just the same obviously careless miscripts and blunders that
I found when collating _Mankind_. This estimate was confirmed
when I tested the value of the work done on _Respublica_, apart
from the text, in the same fashion that I tested the worth of
_Mankind_. Taking pages xviii. (four lines from bottom) to xxii.
(two lines from top) of Mr. Magnus' _Introduction_ (E.E.T.S.,
Extra Series xciv.), to prove the accuracy of the quotations and
references, what is the result? In 124 lines there are no fewer
than forty errors in quotation, reference figures, and the like,
or more than one mistake for every three lines!!! I fear little
faith can be placed in the accuracy of the text of the play when
such a result is forthcoming in respect to the very structure of
the setting. Nor is this an isolated or specially selected weak
spot: these particular pages attracted attention as providing
an obviously distinctive chance of checking the work done. Turn
again to the glossary references, and taking a column haphazard,
the second column of page 79, and the same process of verifying
the printed page shows five blunders in thirty-four entries from
_Cale_ to _Creature_. Or, take page 66 of the notes, and one
reaps four blunders in twelve lines (Notes, l. 439-l. 581)! I
cannot therefore help feeling uncertain about the text of the
play itself, and as I have been unable, as yet, to get access
to the original, I prefer to save useless labour by sending
forth my own text without comment of any kind. As a matter of
course the E.E.T.S. version is no doubt nearest the original,
and, in doubtful cases I have, equally of course, followed it in
preference to the Collier or Brandl versions; but it must not
be taken as worth more than it really is. I can only once again
express a sincere hope that some one will in the near future be
allowed to reproduce these invaluable Macro Plays in facsimile.
_Respublica_ is noteworthy in more respects than one. Obviously
written by a Catholic, it is the Reformation in its social and
political, and not in its doctrinal, aspect that forms the pivot
of the action of the play. The calmest judgments of posterity
incline to the view that the mainspring of the revolt against the
Papacy in England rested more on zeal as the tool of worldliness
than, as elsewhere, on worldliness as the tool of zeal. A king
whose character was despotism itself personified, unprincipled
ministers, a rapacious aristocracy, a servile Parliament, such
were the instruments by which England was delivered from the yoke
of Rome. The work which had been begun by Henry, the murderer
of his wives, was continued by Somerset, the murderer of his
brother, and completed by Elizabeth, the murderer of her guest.
By Reformers and Catholics alike, religion was made the tool of
spoliation, rapine, and oppression. The Reformation left the
country morally and materially bankrupt, and Catholic though
Mary was, much seems to have been expected of her by the nation
at large. Indeed, the great mass of the people cared little or
nothing for the factional strife of either camp, except so far as
it affected them from a social point of view. Hence the _motif_
of _Respublica_ and its curiously moderate tone. It would really
seem that Queen Mary was possessed of a softness not usually
credited to her, and that she succumbed to political faction
as her brother before her and her sister after her succumbed.
It is, therefore, this aspect--the social aspect--of the great
upheaval with which the author of _Respublica_ is concerned,
and no more pithy or pungent contemporary narrative or satire
exists. Apart from the regrettable shortcomings of Mr. Magnus'
volume in other respects, he has done useful yeoman service
to English scholarships by tracing and emphasising, point by
point, the action of the play in its relation to political
events, practically identifying the play as a stage version
of the events of the reign of Edward VI. I can only refer my
readers to his altogether admirable analysis--a statement of
fact and resumé which happily is not and cannot be marred by
the evil influence of inaccuracy of reference and quotation.
Further, if Mr. Magnus' essay be read in conjunction with that
portion of Hallam's _Constitutional History of_ _England_,
which concerns this period--Macaulay's famous review of the same
will serve admirably--and with Book II. of Burnett's _History of
the Reformation_, the key will be found to emphasise the points
made by Mr. Magnus, and to illustrate and explain the political
and social allusions with which _Respublica_ abounds. On the
question of authorship, Mr. Magnus also attempts an attribution,
suggesting Udall, the author of _Ralph Roister Doister_. His
facts and inferences are, to my mind, inconclusive; as he himself
admits. Identity of phraseology, tricks of style, similarity of
orthography, and the like, are at best uncertain grounds to form
the basis of Tudor attributions. Very shortly the _corpus_ of
pre-Shakespearean drama now in progress will enable the student
to tackle his subject to more purpose than heretofore.

RESTED, "would have _rested_ me" (IP316,_c_), a contracted form of
_arrest_.

RESTORITY, "it is _restority_" (R222,_c_), restorative; note the
exigency of the rhyme.

RICEPUDDING-CAKE (R. _passim_), Respublica (_q.v._).

RINGWORM, "a _running ringworm_" (M28,_a_), _i.e._ the mark of the
halter round New Guise's neck.

RODS, "_rods in piss_" (R219,_b_), a reckoning in store.

ROND, "_rond_ in your ear" (M14,_c_), whisper.

ROOM, "to have with him a _room_" (N49,_d_; 50,_a_), post,
office, station, position. "To have and enjoy that office and
_room_."--Holinshed, _Scotland_ (an. 1543).

ROYALS, "give us _red royals_" (M21,_b_), _i.e._ give us gold, not
coppers: _red_ = gold is frequently found in old writers, though
it is now only used in thieves' slang. The _royal_ was a gold
coin of varying value, from 10s. to 30s.: see other volumes of
this series. "Ich shall not mis of _red ones_ to haue store."--T.
Howell, _Poems_ (1568), i. 91 (Grosart).