Chapter X: Part 10

_Audite, viri Ismaelitæ, non dico Israelitæ;_
_Audite, inquam, viri Madianitæ, Ascalonitæ;_
_Ammonitæ, Gabaonitæ, audite verba quæ loquar._

_Opus evangelii est cibus perfectorum;_
_Sed quia non estis de genere bonorum,_
_Qui caterisatis[774] categorias cacodæmoniorum,_

_Ergo_
_Et reliqua vestra problemata, schemata,_
_Dilemmata, sinto anathemata!_
_Ineluctabile argumentum est._

A confutacion responsyue, or an ineuytably prepensed answere to all waywarde or frowarde altercacyons that can or may be made or obiected agaynst Skelton laureate, deuyser of this Replycacyon, &c.

Why fall ye at debate 300
With Skelton laureate,
Reputyng hym vnable
To gainsay replycable
Opinyons detestable
Of heresy execrable?

[Sidenote: Tota erras via, si doctos poetas (illis autem non desunt charismata) arguis de inscitia. h. il.]

Ye saye that poetry
Maye nat flye so hye
In theology,
Nor analogy,
Nor philology, 310
Nor philosophy,
To answere or reply
Agaynst suche heresy.
Wherfore by and by
Nowe consequently
I call to this rekenyng

[Sidenote: David rex et propheta per divum Hieronymum matriculatur in nobili catalogo poetarum lyricorum, ut patet infra, &c. hæc il.]

Dauyd, that royall kyng,
Whom Hieronymus,
That doctour glorious,
Dothe bothe write and call 320
Poete of poetes all,
And prophete princypall.

[Sidenote: Vos igitur omnes irrisores contemptoresque poetarum erubescite cum ignominiosa vercundia, exitiosaque confusio operiat facies vestras. hæc il.]

This[775] may nat be remorded,
For it is wele recorded
In his pystell _ad Paulinum_,
_Presbyterum divinum_,
Where worde for worde ye may
Rede what Jerome there dothe say.

_David, inquit, Simonides[776] noster, Pindarus, et Alcæus, Flaccus quoque, Catullus, atque Serenus, Christum lyra personat, et in decachordo psalterio ab inferis excitat resurgentem. Hæc Hier._

_The Englysshe._

Kyng Dauid the prophete, of prophetes principall,
Of poetes chefe poete, saint Jerome dothe wright, 330
Resembled to Symonides,[777] that poete lyricall
Among the Grekes most relucent of lyght,
In that faculte whiche shyned as Phebus bright;
Lyke to Pyndarus in glorious poetry,
Lyke vnto Alcheus, he dothe hym magnify.

Flaccus nor Catullus with hym may nat compare,
Nor solempne Serenus, for all his armony
In metricall muses, his harpyng we may spare;
For Dauid, our poete, harped so meloudiously
Of our Sauyour Christ in his decacorde psautry, 340
That at his resurrection he harped out of hell
Olde patriarkes and prophetes in heuen with him to dwell.

Returne we to our former processe.

Than, if this noble kyng
Thus can harpe and syng
With his harpe of prophecy
And spyrituall poetry,
As saynt Jerome saythe,
To whom we must gyue faythe,
Warblyng with his strynges
Of suche theologicall thynges, 350

[Sidenote: Fama matriculata, i. scripta in quadam chartula immortalitatis et schedula gratiæ inmarcescibilis, &c. h. il.]

Why haue ye than disdayne
At poetes, and complayne
Howe poetes do but fayne?
Ye do moche great outrage,
For to disparage
And to discorage
The fame matryculate
Of poetes laureate.
For if ye sadly loke,
And wesely rede the Boke 360
Of Good Aduertysement,
With me ye must consent
And infallibly agre
Of necessyte,
Howe there is a spyrituall,
And a mysteriall,
And a mysticall

[Sidenote: Energia Græce, Latine efficax operatio, internoque quodam spiritus impulsu inopinabiliter originata, &c.]

Effecte energiall,
As Grekes do it call,
Of suche an industry, 370
And suche a pregnacy,
Of heuenly inspyracion
In laureate creacyon,
Of poetes commendacion,

[Sidenote: Est deus in nobis; agitante calescimus illo.]

That of diuyne myseracion

[Sidenote: Sedibus ætheriis spiritus iste venit. h. Ovi.]

God maketh his habytacion
In poetes whiche excelles,
And soiourns with them and dwelles.

[Sidenote: Dona Dei, carmen nitidum, facundia præstans,]

By whose inflammacion
Of spyrituall instygacion 380

[Sidenote: Mittitur ex astris, a superisque datur. hæc Bapt. Man.]

And diuyne inspyracion,
We are kyndled in suche facyon
With hete of the Holy Gost,
Which is God of myghtes most,
That he our penne dothe lede,

[Sidenote: Tarda nescit molimina Spiritus Sancti gratia. hæc Hierony.]

And maketh in vs suche spede,
That forthwith we must nede
With penne and ynke procede,
Somtyme for affection,
Somtyme for sadde dyrection, 390
Somtyme for correction,

[Sidenote: Lingua mea calamus scribæ velociter scribentis. h. psal.]

Somtyme vnder protection
Of pacient sufferance,
With sobre cyrcumstance,
Our myndes to auaunce
To no mannes anoyance;
Therfore no greuance,
I pray you, for to take,
In this that I do make
Agaynst these frenetykes, 400
Agaynst these lunatykes,
Agaynst these sysmatykes,
Agaynst these heretykes,
Nowe of late abiured,
Most vnhappely vred:
For be ye wele assured,
That frensy nor ielousy
Nor heresy wyll neuer dye.

[Sidenote: Hæc psalmista.]

_Dixi iniquis, Nolite inique agere; et delinquentibus, Nolite exaltare cornu._

_Tantum pro tertio._

_De raritate poetarum, deque gymnosophistarum, philosophorum, theologorum, cæterorumque eruditorum infinita numerositate, Skel. L. epitoma._

[Sidenote: Quæ fiunt inter sociabus[778] sicut Achates, h. Gag. &c.]

_Sunt infiniti, sunt innumerique sophistæ,_
_Sunt infiniti, sunt innumerique logistæ,_
_Innumeri sunt philosophi, sunt theologique,_
_Sunt infiniti doctores, suntque magistri_
_Innumeri; sed sunt pauci rarique poetæ._
_Hinc omne est rarum carum: reor ergo poetas_
_Ante alios omnes divino flamine flatos._
_Sic Plato divinat, divinat sicque Socrates;_

[Sidenote: Lege Valerium Maximum de insigni veneratione poetarum.]

_Sic magnus Macedo, sic Cæsar, maximus heros_
_Romanus, celebres semper coluere poeta[s]._

Thus endeth the Replicacyon of Skel. L. &c.

[768] _Honorificatissimo, &c._] The portion of this piece given on the present page forms the title-page of the original edition by Pynson, n. d.

[769] _suæ_] Ed. “tuæ.” (Compare p. 179, l. 1., where Skelton uses “_sua_” for “ejus.”)

[770] _enbolned_] Ed. “enbolmed.”

[771] _idolatria_] For “idololatria:” see Du Cange in v.

[772] _Ye are vnhappely vred_] On the punctuation of this passage, see notes.

[773] _The_] Ed. “To.”

[774] _caterisatis_] Qy. “catarrhizatis?”

[775] _This_] Ed. “Thus.”

[776] _Simonides_] Ed. “Siphonides.”

[777] _Symonides_] Ed. “Symphonides.”

[778] _sociabus_] Qy. “sociatos?”

MAGNYFYCENCE, A GOODLY INTERLUDE AND A MERY, DEUYSED AND MADE BY MAYSTER SKELTON, POET LAUREATE.[779]

_These be the Names of the Players_:

FELYCYTE.
LYBERTE.
MEASURE.
MAGNYFYCENCE.
FANSY.
COUNTERFET COUNTE[NAUNCE].
CRAFTY CONUEYAUNCE.
CLOKYD COLUSYON.
COURTLY ABUSYON.
FOLY.
ADUERSYTE.
POUERTE.
DYSPARE.
MYSCHEFE.
GOODHOPE.
REDRESSE.
[SAD] CYRCUMSPECCYON.
PERSEUERAUNCE.

MAGNYFYCENCE.

_Felicite._ Al thyngys contryuyd by mannys reason,
The world enuyronnyd of hygh and low estate,
Be it erly or late, welth hath a season,
Welth is of wysdome the very trewe probate;
A fole is he with welth that fallyth at debate:
But men nowe a dayes so vnhappely be vryd,
That nothynge than welth may worse be enduryd.
To tell you the cause me semeth it no nede,
The amense therof is far to call agayne;
For when men by welth, they haue lytyll drede 10
Of that may come after; experyence trewe and playne,
Howe after a drought there fallyth a showre of rayne,
And after a hete oft cometh a stormy colde.
A man may haue welth, but not, as he wolde,
Ay to contynewe and styll to endure;
But yf prudence be proued with sad cyrcumspeccyon,
Welthe myght be wonne and made to the lure,
If noblenesse were aquayntyd with sober dyreccyon;
But wyll hath reason so vnder subieccyon,
And so dysordereth this worlde ouer all, 20
That welthe and felicite is passynge small.
But where wonnys Welthe, and a man wolde wyt?
For welthfull Felicite truly is my name.

_Lyberte._[780] Mary, Welthe and I was apoynted to mete,
And eyther I am dysseyued, or ye be the same.

_Fel._ Syr, as ye say, I haue harde of your fame;
Your name is Lyberte, as I vnderstande.

_Lyb._ Trewe you say, syr; gyue me your hande.

_Fel._ And from whens come ye, and it myght be askyd?

_Lyb._ To tell you, syr, I dare not, leest I sholde be maskyd 30
In a payre of fetters or a payre of stockys.

_Fel._ Here you not howe this gentylman mockys?

_Lyb._ Ye, to knackynge ernyst what and it preue?

_Fel._ Why, to say what he wyll, Lyberte hath leue.

_Lyb._ Yet Lyberte hath ben lockyd vp and kept in the mew.

_Fel._ In dede, syr, that lyberte was not worthe a cue:
Howe be it lyberte may somtyme be to large,
But yf reason be regent and ruler of your barge.

_Lyb._ To that ye say I can well condyssende:
Shewe forth, I pray you, here in what you intende. 40

_Fel._ Of that I intende to make demonstracyon,
It askyth lesure with good aduertysment.
Fyrst, I say, we owght to haue in consyderacyon,
That lyberte be lynkyd with the chayne of countenaunce,
Lyberte to let from all maner offence;
For lyberte at large is lothe to be stoppyd,
But with countenaunce your corage must be croppyd.

_Lyb._ Then thus to you—

_Fel._ Nay, suffer me yet ferther to say,
And peraduenture I shall content your mynde. 50
Lyberte, I wote well, forbere no man there may,
It is so swete in all maner of kynde;
Howe be it lyberte makyth many a man blynde;
By lyberte is done many a great excesse;
Lyberte at large wyll oft wax reklesse:
Perceyue ye this parcell?

_Lyb._ Ye, syr, passyng well:
But, and you wolde me permyt
To shewe parte of my wyt,
Somwhat I coulde enferre, 60
Your consayte to debarre,
Vnder supportacyon
Of pacyent tolleracyon.

_Fel._ God forbyd ye sholde be let
Your reasons forth to fet;
Wherfore at lyberte
Say what ye wyll to me.

_Lyb._ Brefly to touche of my purpose the effecte;
Lyberte is laudable and pryuylegyd from lawe,
Judycyall rygoure shall not me correcte— 70

_Fel._ Softe, my frende; herein your reason is but rawe.

_Lyb._ Yet suffer me to say the surpluse of my sawe;
What wote ye where vpon I wyll conclude?
I say, there is no welthe where as lyberte is subdude;
I trowe ye can not say nay moche to this;
To lyue vnder lawe, it is captyuyte;
Where drede ledyth the daunce, there is no ioy nor blysse;
Or howe can you proue that there is felycyte,
And you haue not your owne fre lyberte
To sporte at your pleasure, to ryn and to ryde? 80
Where lyberte is absent, set welthe asyde.

_Hic intrat MEASURE._

_Meas._ Cryst you assyste in your altrycacyon!

_Fel._ Why, haue you harde of our dysputacyon?

_Meas._ I parceyue well howe eche of you doth reason.

_Lyb._ Mayster Measure, you be come in good season.

_Meas._ And it is wonder that your wylde insolence
Can be content with Measure presence.

_Fel._ Wolde it please you then—

_Lyb._ Vs to informe and ken—

_Meas._ A, ye be wonders men! 90
Your langage is lyke the penne
Of hym that wryteth to fast.

_Fel._ Syr, yf any worde haue past
Me other fyrst or last,
To you I arecte it, and cast
Therof the reformacyon.

_Lyb._ And I of the same facyon;
Howe be it, by protestacyon,
Dyspleasure that you none take,
Some reason we must make. 100

_Meas._ That wyll not I forsake,
So it in measure be:
Come of, therfore, let se;
Shall I begynne or ye?

_Fel._ Nay, ye shall begynne, by my wyll.

_Lyb._ It is reason and skyll,
We your pleasure fulfyll.

_Meas._ Then ye must bothe consent
You to holde content
With myne argument; 110
And I muste you requyre
Me pacyently to here.

_Fel._ Yes, syr, with ryght good chere.

_Lyb._ With all my herte intere.

_Meas._ Oracius to recorde, in his volumys olde,
With euery condycyon measure must be sought:
Welthe without measure wolde here hymselfe to bolde,
Lyberte without measure proue a thynge of nought;
I ponder by nomber, by measure all thynge is wrought,
As at the fyrst orygynall by godly opynyon, 120
Whych prouyth well that measure shold haue domynyon:
Where measure is mayster, plenty dothe none offence;
Where measure lackyth, all thynge dysorderyd is;
Where measure is absent, ryot kepeth resydence;
Where measure is ruler, there is nothynge amysse;
Measure is treasure: howe say ye, is it not this?

_Fel._ Yes, questyonlesse, in myne opynyon,
Measure is worthy to haue domynyon.

_Lyb._ Vnto that same I am ryght well agrede,
So that lyberte be not lefte behynde. 130

_Meas._ Ye, lyberte with measure nede neuer drede.

_Lyb._ What, lyberte to measure then wolde ye bynde?

_Meas._ What ellys? for otherwyse it were agaynst kynde:
If lyberte sholde lepe and renne where he lyst,
It were no vertue, it were a thynge vnblyst;
It were a myschefe, yf lyberte lacked a reyne,
Where with to rule hym with the wrythyng of a rest:
All trebyllys and tenours be rulyd by a meyne;
Lyberte without measure is acountyd for a beste;
There is no surfet where measure rulyth the feste; 140
There is no excesse where measure hath his helthe;
Measure contynwyth prosperyte and welthe.

_Fel._ Vnto your rule I wyll annex my mynde.

_Lyb._ So wolde I, but I wolde be lothe,
That wonte was to be formyst, now to come behynde:
It were a shame, to God I make an othe,
Without I myght cut it out of the brode clothe,
As I was wonte euer at my fre wyll.

_Meas._ But haue ye not herde say, that wyll is no skyll?
Take sad dyreccyon, and leue this wantonnesse. 150

_Lyb._ It is[781] no maystery.

_Fel._ Tushe, let Measure precede,
And after his mynde herdely your selfe adresse;
For, without measure, pouerte and nede
Wyll crepe vpon vs, and vs to myschefe lede;
For myschefe wyll mayster vs, yf measure vs forsake.

_Lyb._ Well, I am content your wayes to take.

_Meas._ Surely, I am ioyous that ye be myndyd thus.
Magnyfycence to mayntayne, your promosyon shalbe.

_Fel._ So in his harte he may be glad of vs. 160

_Lyb._ There is no prynce but he hath nede of vs thre,
Welthe, with Measure and plesaunt Lyberte.

_Meas._ Nowe pleasyth you a lytell whyle to stande;
Me semeth Magnyfycence is comynge here at hande.

_Hic intrat MAGNYFYCENCE._

_Magn._ To assure you of my noble porte and fame,
Who lyst to knowe, Magnyfycence I hyght.
But, Measure my frende, what hyght this mannys name?

_Meas._ Syr, though ye be a noble prynce of myght,
Yet in this man you must set your delyght;
And, syr, this other mannys name is Lyberte. 170

_Magn._ Welcome, frendys, ye are bothe vnto me:
But nowe let me knowe of your conuersacyon.

_Fel._ Pleasyth your grace, Felycyte they me call.

_Lyb._ And I am Lyberte, made of in euery nacyon.

_Magn._ Conuenyent persons for any prynce ryall.
Welthe with Lyberte, with me bothe dwell ye shall,
To the gydynge of my Measure you bothe commyttynge:
That Measure be mayster, vs semeth it is syttynge.

_Meas._ Where as ye haue, syr, to me them assygned,
Suche order, I trust, with them for to take, 180
So that welthe with measure shalbe conbyned,
And lyberte his large with measure shall make.

_Fel._ Your ordenaunce, syr, I wyll not forsake.

_Lyb._ And I my selfe hooly to you wyll inclyne.

_Magn._ Then may I say that ye be seruauntys myne,
For by measure, I warne you, we thynke to be gydyd;
Wherin it is necessary my pleasure you knowe,
Measure and I wyll neuer be deuydyd
For no dyscorde that any man can sawe;
For measure is a meane, nother to by nor to lawe, 190
In whose attemperaunce I haue suche delyght,
That measure shall neuer departe from my syght.

_Fel._ Laudable your consayte is to be acountyd;
For welthe without measure sodenly wyll slyde.

_Lyb._ As your grace full nobly hath recountyd,
Measure with noblenesse sholde be alyde.

_Magn._ Then, Lyberte, se that Measure be your gyde,
For I wyll vse you by his aduertysment.

_Fel._ Then shall you haue with you prosperyte resydent.

_Meas._ I trowe, good fortune hath annexyd vs together, 200
To se howe greable we are of one mynde;
There is no flaterer, nor losyll so lyther,
This lynkyd chayne of loue that can vnbynde.
Nowe that ye haue me chefe ruler assyngned,
I wyll endeuour me to order euery thynge
Your noblenesse and honour consernynge.

_Lyb._ In ioy and myrthe your mynde shalbe inlargyd,
And not embracyd with pusyllanymyte;
But plenarly all thought from you must be dyschargyd,
If ye lyst to lyue after your fre lyberte: 210
All delectacyons aquayntyd is with me,
By me all persons worke what they lyste.

_Meas._ Hem, syr, yet beware of Had I wyste!
Lyberte in some cause becomyth a gentyll mynde,
Bycause course of measure, yf I be in the way:
Who countyth[782] without me, is caste to fer behynde
Of his rekenynge, as euydently we may
Se[783] at our eye the worlde day by day;
For defaute of measure all thynge dothe excede.

_Fel._ All that ye say is as trewe as the Crede; 220
For howe be it lyberte to welthe is conuenyent,
And from felycyte may not be forborne,
Yet measure hath ben so longe from vs absent,
That all men laugh at lyberte to scorne;
Welth and wyt, I say, be so threde bare worne,
That all is without measure, and fer beyonde the mone.

_Magn._ Then noblenesse, I se well, is almoste vndone,
But yf therof the soner amendys be made;
For dowtlesse I parceyue my magnyfycence
Without measure lyghtly may fade, 230
Of to moche lyberte vnder the offence:
Wherfore, Measure, take Lyberte with you hence,
And rule hym after the rule of your scole.

_Lyb._ What, syr, wolde ye make me a poppynge fole?

_Meas._ Why, were not your selfe agreed to the same,
And now wolde ye swarue from your owne ordynaunce?

_Lyb._ I wolde be rulyd, and I myght for shame.

_Fel._ A, ye make me laughe at your inconstaunce.

_Magn._ Syr, without any longer delyaunce,
Take Lyberte to rule, and folowe myne entent. 240

_Meas._ It shalbe done at your commaundement.

_Itaque MEASURE exeat locum cum LIBERTATE, et maneat MAGNYFYCENCE cum FELICITATE._

_Magn._ It is a wanton thynge this Lyberte;
Perceyue you not howe lothe he was to abyde
The rule of Measure, notwithstandynge we
Haue deputyd Measure hym to gyde?
By measure eche thynge duly is tryde:
Thynke you not thus, my frende Felycyte?

_Fel._ God forbede that it other wyse sholde be!

_Magn._ Ye coulde not ellys, I wote, with me endure.

_Fel._ Endure? no, God wote, it were great payne; 250
But yf I were orderyd by iust measure,
It were not possyble me longe to retayne.

_Hic intrat FANSY._

_Fan._ Tusche, holde your pece, your langage is vayne.
Please it your grace to take no dysdayne,
To shewe you playnly the trouth as I thynke.

_Magn._ Here is none forsyth whether you flete or synke.

_Fel._ From whens come you, syr, that no man lokyd
after?

_Magn._ Or who made you so bolde to interrupe my tale?

_Fan._ Nowe, _benedicite_, ye wene I were some hafter,
Or ellys some iangelynge Jacke of the vale; 260
Ye wene that I am dronken, bycause I loke pale.

_Magn._ Me semeth that ye haue dronken more than ye haue bled.

_Fan._ Yet amonge noble men I was brought vp and bred.

_Fel._ Nowe leue this iangelynge, and to vs expounde
Why that ye sayd our langage was in vayne.

_Fan._ Mary, vpon trouth my reason I grounde,
That without largesse noblenesse can not rayne;
And that I sayd ones, yet I say agayne,
I say without largesse worshyp hath no place,
For largesse is a purchaser of pardon and of grace. 270

_Magn._ Nowe, I beseche thé, tell me what is thy name?

_Fan._ Largesse, that all lordes sholde loue, syr, I hyght.

_Fel._ But hyght you, Largesse, encreace of noble fame?

_Fan._ Ye, syr, vndoubted.

_Fel._ Then, of very ryght,
With Magnyfycence, this noble prynce of myght,
Sholde be your dwellynge, in my consyderacyon.

_Magn._ Yet we wyll therin take good delyberacyon.

_Fan._ As in that, I wyll not be agaynst your pleasure.

_Fel._ Syr, hardely remembre what may your name auaunce. 280

_Magn._ Largesse is laudable, so it in measure be.

_Fan._ Largesse is he that all prynces doth auaunce;
I reporte me herein to Kynge Lewes of Fraunce.

_Fel._ Why haue ye hym named, and all other refused?

_Fan._ For, syth he dyed, largesse was lytell vsed.
Plucke vp your mynde, syr; what ayle you to muse?
Haue ye not welthe here at your wyll?
It is but a maddynge, these wayes that ye vse:
What auayleth lordshyp, yourselfe for to kyll
With care and with thought howe Jacke shall haue Gyl? 290

_Magn._ What? I haue aspyed ye are a carles page.

_Fan._ By God, syr, ye se but fewe wyse men of myne age;
But couetyse hath blowen you so full of wynde,
That _colica passio_ hath gropyd you by the guttys.

_Fel._ In fayth, broder Largesse, you haue a mery mynde.

_Fan._ In fayth, I set not by the worlde two Dauncaster cuttys.

_Magn._ Ye wante but a wylde flyeng bolte to shote at the buttes:
Though Largesse ye hyght, your langage is to large;
For whiche ende goth forwarde ye take lytell charge.

_Fel._ Let se, this checke yf ye voyde canne. 300

_Fan._ In faythe, els had I gone to longe to scole,
But yf I coulde knowe a gose from a swanne.

_Magn._ Wel, wyse men may ete the fysshe, when ye shal draw the pole.

_Fan._ In fayth, I wyll not say that ye shall proue a fole,
But ofte tymes haue I sene wyse men do mad dedys.

_Magn._ Go, shake the dogge,[784] hay, syth ye wyll nedys!
You are nothynge mete with vs for to dwell,
That with your lorde and mayster so pertly can prate:
Gete you hens, I say, by my counsell;
I wyll not vse you to play with me checke mate. 310

_Fan._ Syr, yf I haue offended your noble estate,
I trow I haue brought you suche wrytynge of recorde,
That I shall haue you agayne my good lorde:
To you recommendeth Sad Cyrcumspeccyon,
And sendeth you this wrytynge closed vnder sele.

_Magn._ This wrytynge is welcome with harty affeccyon:
Why kepte you it thus longe? howe dothe he? wele?

_Fan._ Syr, thanked be God, he hath his hele.

_Magn._ Welthe, gete you home, and commaunde me to Mesure;
Byd hym take good hede to you, my synguler tresure. 320

_Fel._ Is there ony thynge elles your grace wyll commaunde me?

_Magn._ Nothynge but fare you well tyll sone;
And that he take good kepe to Lyberte.

_Fel._ Your pleasure, syr, shortely shall be done.

_Magn._ I shall come to you myselfe, I trowe, this after none.[785]
I pray you, Larges, here to remayne,
Whylest I knowe what this letter dothe contayne.

_Hic faciat tanquam legeret litteras tacite. Interim superveniat cantando COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE suspenso gradu, qui, viso MAGNYFYCENCE, sensim retrocedat; at[786] tempus post pusillum rursum accedat COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE prospectando et vocitando a longe; et FANSY animat[787] silentium cum manu._

_C. Count._ What, Fansy, Fansy!

_Magn._ Who is that that thus dyd cry?
Me thought he called Fansy. 330

_Fan._ It was a Flemynge hyght Hansy.

_Magn._ Me thought he called Fansy me behynde.

_Fan._ Nay, syr, it was nothynge but your mynde:
But nowe, syr, as touchynge this letter—

_Magn._ I shall loke in it at leasure better:
And surely ye are to hym beholde;
And for his sake ryght gladly I wolde
Do what I coude to do you good.

_Fan._ I pray, God kepe you in that mood!

_Magn._ This letter was wryten ferre hence. 340

_Fan._ By lakyn, syr, it hathe cost me pence
And grotes many one, or I came to your presence.

_Magn._ Where was it delyuered you, shewe vnto me.

_Fan._ By God, syr, beyonde the se.

_Magn._ At what place nowe, as you gesse?

_Fan._ By my trouthe, syr, at Pountesse;
This wrytynge was taken me there,
But neuer was I in gretter fere.

_Magn._ Howe so?

_Fan._ By God, at the see syde, 350
Had I not opened my purse wyde,
I trowe, by our lady, I had ben slayne,
Or elles I had lost myne eres twayne.

_Magn._[788] By your soth?

_Fan._ Ye, and there is suche a wache,
That no man can scape but they hym cache.
They bare me in hande that I was a spye;
And another bade put out myne eye,
Another wolde myne eye were blerde,
Another bade shaue halfe my berde; 360
And boyes to the pylery gan me plucke,
And wolde haue made me Freer Tucke,
To preche out of the pylery hole,
Without an antetyme or a stole;
And some bade sere hym with a marke:
To gete me fro them I had moche warke.

_Magn._ Mary, syr, ye were afrayde.

_Fan._ By my trouthe, had I not payde and prayde,
And made largesse as I hyght,
I had not ben here with you this nyght; 370
But surely largesse saued my lyfe,
For largesse stynteth all maner of stryfe.

_Magn._ It dothe so sure nowe and than,
But largesse is not mete for euery man.

_Fan._ No, but for you grete estates:
Largesse stynteth grete debates;
And he that I came fro to this place
Sayd I was mete for your grace;
And in dede, syr, I here men talke,
By the way as I ryde and walke, 380
Say howe you excede in noblenesse,
If you had with you largesse.

_Magn._ And say they so in very dede?

_Fan._ With ye, syr, so God me spede.

_Magn._ Yet mesure is a mery mene.

_Fan._ Ye, syr, a blannched almonde is no bene.
Measure is mete for a marchauntes hall,
But largesse becometh a state ryall.
What, sholde you pynche at a peeke of otes,
Ye wolde sone pynche at a pecke of grotes. 390
Thus is the talkynge of one and of oder,
As men dare speke it hugger mugger;
A lorde a negarde, it is a shame,
But largesse may amende your name.

_Magn._ In faythe, Largesse, welcome to me.

_Fan._ I pray you, syr, I may so be,
And of my seruyce you shall not mysse.

_Magn._ Togyder we wyll talke more of this:
Let vs departe from hens home to my place.

_Fan._ I folow euen after your noble grace. 400

_Hic discedat MAGNIFICENS cum FANSY, et intrat[789] COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE._

_C. Count._ What, I say, herke a worde.

_Fan._ Do away, I say, the deuylles torde!

_C. Count._ Ye, but how longe shall I here awayte?

_Fan._ By Goddys body, I come streyte:
I hate this blunderyng that thou doste make.

_C. Count._ Nowe to the deuyll I thé betake,
For in fayth ye be well met.
Fansy hath cachyd in a flye net
This noble man Magnyfycence,
Of Largesse vnder the pretence. 410
They haue made me here to put the stone:
But nowe wyll I, that they be gone,
In bastarde ryme, after the dogrell gyse,
Tell you where of my name dothe ryse.
For Counterfet Countenaunce knowen am I;
This worlde is full of my foly.
I set not by hym a fly,
That can not counterfet a lye,
Swere, and stare, and byde therby,
And countenaunce it clenly, 420
And defende it manerly.
A knaue wyll counterfet nowe a knyght,
A lurdayne lyke a lorde to fyght,[790]
A mynstrell lyke a man of myght,
A tappyster lyke a lady bryght:
Thus make I them wyth thryft to fyght,
Thus at the laste I brynge hym[791] ryght
To Tyburne, where they hange on hyght.
To counterfet I can by praty wayes:
Of nyghtys to occupy counterfet kayes, 430
Clenly to counterfet newe arayes,
Counterfet eyrnest by way of playes:
Thus am I occupyed at all assayes;
What so euer I do, all men me prayse,
And mekyll am I made of nowe adays:
Counterfet maters in the lawe of the lande,
Wyth golde and grotes they grese my hande,
In stede of ryght that wronge may stande,
And counterfet fredome that is bounde;
I counterfet[792] suger that is but founde; 440
Counterfet capytaynes by me are mande;
Of all lewdnesse I kyndell the brande;
Counterfet kyndnesse, and thynke dyscayte;
Counterfet letters by the way of sleyght;
Subtelly vsynge counterfet weyght;
Counterfet langage, fayty bone geyte.
Counterfetynge is a proper bayte;
A counte to counterfet in a resayte;
To counterfet well is a good consayte.
Counterfet maydenhode may well be borne, 450
But counterfet coynes is laughynge to scorne;
It is euyll patchynge of that is torne;
Whan the noppe is rughe, it wolde be shorne;
Counterfet haltynge without a thorne;
Yet counterfet chafer is but euyll corne;
All thynge is worse whan it is worne.
What, wolde ye, wyues, counterfet
The courtly gyse of the newe iet?
An olde barne wolde be vnderset:
It is moche worthe that is ferre fet. 460
What, wanton, wanton, nowe well ymet!
What, Margery Mylke Ducke, mermoset!
It wolde be masked in my net;
It wolde be nyce, thoughe I say nay;
By Crede, it wolde haue fresshe aray,
And therfore shall my husbande pay;
To counterfet she wyll assay
All the newe gyse, fresshe and gaye,
And be as praty as she may,
And iet it ioly as a iay: 470
Counterfet prechynge, and byleue the contrary;
Counterfet conscyence, peuysshe pope holy;
Counterfet sadnesse, with delynge full madly;
Counterfet holynes is called ypocrysy;
Counterfet reason is not worth a flye;
Counterfet wysdome, and workes of foly;
Counterfet countenaunce euery man dothe occupy:
Counterfet worshyp outwarde men may se;
Ryches rydeth out, at home is pouerte;
Counterfet pleasure is borne out by me: 480
Coll wolde go clenly, and it wyll not be,
And Annot wolde be nyce, and laughes, tehe wehe;
Your counterfet countenaunce is all of nysyte,
A plummed partrydge all redy to flye:
A knokylbonyarde wyll counterfet a clarke,
He wolde trotte gentylly, but he is to starke,
At his cloked counterfetynge dogges dothe barke;
A carter a courtyer, it is a worthy warke,
That with his whyp his mares was wonte to yarke;
A custrell to dryue the deuyll out of the derke, 490
A counterfet courtyer with a knaues marke.
To counterfet this freers haue lerned me;
This nonnes nowe and then, and it myght be,
Wolde take in the way of counterfet charyte
The grace of God vnder _benedicite_;
To counterfet thyr counsell they gyue me a fee;
Chanons can not counterfet but vpon thre,
Monkys may not for drede that men sholde them se.

_Hic ingrediatur FANSY properanter cum CRAFTY CONUEYAUNCE, cum famine multo[793] adinvicem garrulantes: tandem, viso COUNTERFET COUNTENAUNCE, dicat CRAFTY CONUEYAUNCE._

_Cr. Con._ What, Counterfet Countenaunce!

_C. Count._ What, Crafty Conueyaunce! 500

_Fan._ What, the deuyll, are ye two of aquayntaunce?
God gyue you a very myschaunce!

_Cr. Con._ Yes, yes, syr, he and I haue met.

_C. Count._ We haue bene togyder bothe erly and late:
But, Fansy my frende, where haue ye bene so longe?

_Fan._ By God, I haue bene about a praty pronge;
Crafty Conueyaunce, I sholde say, and I.

_Cr. Con._ By God, we haue made Magnyfycence to ete a flye.

_C. Count._ Howe coulde ye do that, and [I] was away?

_Fan._ By God, man, bothe his pagent and thyne he can play. 510

_C. Count._ Say trouth?

_Cr. Con._ Yes, yes, by lakyn, I shall thé warent,
As longe as I lyue, thou haste an heyre parent.

_Fan._ Yet haue we pyckyd out a rome for thé.

_C. Count._ Why, shall we dwell togyder all thre?

_Cr. Con._ Why, man, it were to great a wonder,
That we thre galauntes sholde be longe asonder.

_C. Count._ For Cockys harte, gyue me thy hande.

_Fan._ By the masse, for ye are able to dystroy an hole lande.

_Cr. Con._ By God, yet it muste begynne moche of thé. 520

_Fan._ Who that is ruled by vs, it shalbe longe or he thee.

_C. Count._ But, I say, kepest thou the olde name styll that thou had?

_Cr. Con._ Why, wenyst thou, horson, that I were so mad?

_Fan._ Nay, nay, he hath chaunged his, and I haue chaunged myne.

_C. Count._ Nowe, what is his name, and what is thyne?

_Fan._ In faythe, Largesse I hyght,
And I am made a knyght.

_C. Count._ A rebellyon agaynst nature,
So large a man, and so lytell of stature!
But, syr, howe counterfetyd ye? 530

_Cr. Con._ Sure Surueyaunce[794] I named me.

_C. Count._ Surueyaunce! where ye suruey,
Thryfte hathe lost her cofer kay.

_Fan._ But is it not well? howe thynkest thou?

_C. Count._ Yes, syr, I gyue God auowe,
Myselfe coude not counterfet it better.
But what became of the letter,
That I counterfeyted you vnderneth a shrowde?

_Fan._ By the masse, odly well alowde.

_Cr. Con._ By God, had not I it conuayed, 540
Yet Fansy had ben dysceyued.

_C. Count._ I wote, thou arte false ynoughe for one.

_Fan._ By my trouthe, we had ben gone:
And yet, in fayth, man, we lacked thé
For to speke with Lyberte.

_C. Count._ What is Largesse without Lyberte?

_Cr. Con._ By Mesure mastered yet is he.

_C. Count._ What, is your conueyaunce no better?

_Fan._ In faythe, Mesure is lyke a tetter,
That ouergroweth a mannes face, 550
So he ruleth ouer all our place.

_Cr. Con._ Nowe therfore, whylest we are togyder,—
Counterfet Countenaunce, nay, come hyder,—
I say, whylest we are togyder in same—

_C. Count._ Tushe, a strawe, it is a shame
That we can no better than so.

_Fan._ We wyll remedy it, man, or we go;
For, lyke as mustarde is sharpe of taste,[795]
Ryght so a sharpe fansy must be founde
Wherwith Mesure to confounde. 560

_Cr. Con._ Can you a remedy for a tysyke,
That sheweth yourselfe thus spedde in physyke?

_C. Count._ It is a gentyll reason of a rake.

_Fan._ For all these iapes yet that ye[796] make—

_Cr. Con._ Your fansy maketh myne elbowe to ake.

_Fan._ Let se, fynde you a better way.

_C. Count._ Take no dyspleasure of that we say.

_Cr. Con._ Nay, and you be angry and ouerwharte,
A man may beshrowe your angry harte.

_Fan._ Tushe, a strawe, I thought none yll. 570

_C. Count._ What, shall we iangle thus all the day styll?

_Cr. Con._ Nay, let vs our heddes togyder cast.

_Fan._ Ye, and se howe it may be compast,
That Mesure were cast out of the dores.

_C. Count._ Alasse, where is my botes and my spores?

_Cr. Con._ In all this hast whether wyll ye ryde?

_C. Count._ I trowe, it shall not nede to abyde.
Cockes woundes, se, syrs, se, se!

_Hic ingrediatur CLOKED COLUSYON cum elato aspectu, deorsum et sursum ambulando._

_Fan._ Cockes armes, what is he?

_Cr. Con._ By Cockes harte, he loketh hye; 580
He hawketh, me thynke, for a butterflye.

_C. Count._ Nowe, by Cockes harte, well abyden,
For, had you not come, I had ryden.

_Cl. Col._ Thy wordes be but wynde, neuer they haue no wayght;
Thou hast made me play the iurde hayte.

_C. Count._ And yf ye knewe howe I haue mused,
I am sure ye wolde haue me excused.

_Cl. Col._ I say, come hyder: what are these twayne?

_C. Count._ By God, syr, this is Fansy small brayne;
And Crafty Conuayaunce, knowe you not hym? 590

_Cl. Col._ Knowe hym, syr! quod he; yes, by Saynt Sym.
Here is a leysshe of ratches to renne an hare:
Woo is that purse that ye shall share!

_Fan._ What call ye him, this?

_Cr. Con._ I trowe, that he is.

_C. Count._ Tushe, holde your pece.
Se you not howe they prece
For to knowe your name?

_Cl. Col._ Knowe they not me, they are to blame.
Knowe you not me, syrs? 600

_Fan._ No, in dede.

_Cr. Con._ Abyde, lette me se, take better hede:
Cockes harte, it is Cloked Colusyon.

_Cl. Col._ A, syr, I pray God gyue you confusyon!

_Fan._ Cockes armes, is that your name?

_C. Count._ Ye, by the masse, this is euen the same,
That all this matter must vnder grope.

_Cr. Con._ What is this he wereth, a cope?

_Cl. Col._ Cappe, syr; I say you be to bolde.

_Fan._ Se, howe he is wrapped for the colde: 610
Is it not a vestment?

_Cl. Col._ A, ye wante a rope.

_C. Count._ Tushe, it is Syr Johnn Double cloke.

_Fan._ Syr, and yf ye wolde not be wrothe—

_Cl. Col._ What sayst?

_Fan._ Here was to lytell clothe.

_Cl. Col._ A, Fansy, Fansy, God sende thé brayne!

_Fan._ Ye, for your wyt is cloked for the rayne.

_Cr. Con._ Nay, lette vs not clatter thus styll.

_Cl. Col._ Tell me, syrs, what is your wyll. 620

_C. Count._ Syr, it is so that these twayne
With Magnyfycence in housholde do remayne;
And there they wolde haue me to dwell,
But I wyll be ruled after your counsell.

_Fan._ Mary, so wyll we also.

_Cl. Col._ But tell me where aboute ye go.

_C. Count._ By God, we wolde gete vs all thyder,
Spell the remenaunt, and do togyder.

_Cl. Col._ Hath Magnyfycence ony tresure?

_Cr. Con._ Ye, but he spendeth it all in mesure. 630

_Cl. Col._ Why, dwelleth Mesure where ye two dwell?
In faythe, he were better to dwell in hell.

_Fan._ Yet where we wonne, nowe there wonneth he.

_Cl. Col._ And haue you not amonge you Lyberte?

_C. Count._ Ye, but he is a captyuyte.

_Cl. Col._ What, the deuyll, howe may that be?

_C. Count._ I can not tell you: why aske you me?
Aske these two that there dothe dwell.

_Cl. Col._ Syr, the playnesse you tell me.[797]

_Cr. Con._ There dwelleth a mayster men calleth Mesure— 640

_Fan._ Ye, and he hath rule of all his tresure.

_Cr. Con._ Nay, eyther let me tell, or elles tell ye.

_Fan._ I care not I, tell on for me.

_C. Count._ I pray God let you neuer to thee!

_Cl. Col._ What the deuyll ayleth you? can you not agree?

_Cr. Con._ I wyll passe ouer the cyrcumstaunce,
And shortly shewe you the hole substaunce.
Fansy and I, we twayne,
With Magnyfycence in housholde do remayne,
And counterfeted our names we haue 650
Craftely all thynges vpryght to saue,
His name Largesse, Surueyaunce myne:
Magnyfycence to vs begynneth to enclyne
Counterfet Countenaunce to haue also,
And wolde that we sholde for hym go.

_C. Count._ But shall I haue myne olde name styll?

_Cr. Con._ Pease, I haue not yet sayd what I wyll.

_Fan._ Here is a pystell of a postyke!

_Cl. Col._ Tusshe, fonnysshe Fansy, thou arte frantyke.
Tell on, syr, howe then? 660

_Cr. Con._ Mary, syr, he tolde vs, when
We had hym founde, we sholde hym brynge,
And that we fayled not for nothynge.

_Cl. Col._ All this ye may easely brynge aboute.

_Fan._ Mary, the better and Mesure were out.

_Cl. Col._ Why, can ye not put out that foule freke?

_Cr. Con._ No, in euery corner he wyll peke,
So that we haue no lyberte,
Nor no man in courte but he,
For Lyberte he hath in gydyng. 670

_C. Count._ In fayth, and without Lyberte there is no bydyng.

_Fan._ In fayth, and Lybertyes rome is there but small.

_Cl. Col._ Hem! that lyke I nothynge at all.

_Cr. Con._ But, Counterfet[798] Countenaunce, go we togyder,
All thre, I say.

_C. Count._ Shall I go? whyder?

_Cr. Con.[799]_ To Magnyfycence with vs twayne,
And in his seruyce thé to retayne.

_C. Count._ But then, syr, what shall I hyght?

_Cr. Con._ Ye and I talkyd therof to nyght. 680

_Fan._ Ye, my Fansy was out of owle flyght,
For it is out of my mynde quyght.

_Cr. Con._ And nowe it cometh to my remembraunce:
Syr, ye shall hyght Good Demeynaunce.

_C. Count._ By the armes of Calys, well conceyued!

_Cr. Con._ When we haue hym thyder conuayed,
What and I frame suche a slyght,
That Fansy with his fonde consayte
Put Magnyfycence in suche a madnesse,
That he shall haue you in the stede of sadnesse, 690
And Sober Sadnesse shalbe your name?

_Cl. Col._ By Cockys body, here begynneth the game!
For then shall we so craftely cary,
That Mesure shall not there longe tary.

_Fan._ For Cockys harte, tary whylyst that I come agayne.

_Cr. Con._ We wyll se you shortly one of vs twayne.

_C. Count._ Now let vs go, and we shall, then.

_Cl. Col._ Nowe let se quyte you lyke praty men.[800]

_Hic deambulat._

To passe the tyme and order whyle a man may talke
Of one thynge and other to occupy the place; 700
Then for the season that I here shall walke,
As good to be occupyed as vp and downe to trace
And do nothynge; how be it full lytell grace
There cometh and groweth of my comynge,
For Clokyd Colusyon is a perylous thynge.
Double delynge and I be all one;
Craftynge and haftynge contryued is by me;
I can dyssemble, I can bothe laughe and grone;
Playne delynge and I can neuer agre;
But dyuysyon, dyssencyon, dyrysyon, these thre 710
And I am counterfet of one mynde and thought,
By the menys of myschyef to bryng all thynges to nought.
And though I be so odyous a geste,
And euery man gladly my company wolde refuse,
In faythe yet am I occupyed with the best;
Full fewe that can themselfe of me excuse.
Whan other men laughe, than study I and muse,
Deuysynge the meanes and wayes that I can,
Howe I may hurte and hynder euery man:
Two faces in a hode couertly I bere, 720
Water in the one hande, and fyre in the other;
I can fede forth a fole, and lede hym by the eyre;
Falshode in felowshyp is my sworne brother.
By cloked colusyon, I say, and none other,
Comberaunce and trouble in Englande fyrst I began;
From that lorde to that lorde I rode and I ran,
And flatered them with fables fayre before theyr face,
And tolde all the myschyef I coude behynde theyr backe,
And made as I had knowen nothynge of the case;
I wolde begyn all myschyef, but I wolde bere no lacke: 730
Thus can I lerne you, syrs, to bere the deuyls sacke;
And yet, I trowe, some of you be better sped than I
Frendshyp to fayne, and thynke full lytherly.
Paynte to a purpose good countenaunce I can,
And craftely can I grope howe euery man is mynded;
My purpose is to spy and to poynte euery man;
My tonge is with fauell forked and tyned:
By Cloked Colusyon thus many one is begyled.
Eche man to hynder I gape and I gaspe;
My speche is all pleasure, but I stynge lyke a waspe: 740
I am neuer glad but whan I may do yll,
And neuer am I sory but whan that I se
I can not myne apyetyte accomplysshe and fulfyll
In hynderaunce of welthe and prosperyte;
I laughe at all shrewdenes, and lye at lyberte.
I muster, I medle amonge these grete estates,
I sowe sedycyous sedes of dyscorde and debates:
To flater and to flery is all my pretence
Amonge all suche persones as I well vnderstonde
Be lyght of byleue and hasty of credence; 750
I make them to startyll and sparkyll lyke a bronde,
I moue them, I mase them, I make them so fonde,
That they wyll here no man but the fyrst tale:
And so by these meanes I brewe moche bale.

_Hic ingrediatur COURTLY ABUSYON cantando._

_Court. Ab._ Huffa, huffa, taunderum, taunderum, tayne, huffa, huffa!

_Cl. Col._ This was properly prated, syrs! what sayd a?

_Court. Ab._ Rutty bully, ioly rutterkyn, heyda!

_Cl. Col._ _De que pays este vous_?

_Et faciat tanquam exiat beretrum cronice._[801]

_Court. Ab._ Decke your hofte and couer a lowce.

_Cl. Col. Say vous chaunter Venter tre dawce?_ 760

_Court. Ab._ _Wyda, wyda._
Howe sayst thou, man? am not I a ioly rutter?

_Cl. Col._ Gyue this gentylman rome, syrs, stonde vtter!
By God, syr, what nede all this waste?
What is this, a betell, or a batowe,[802] or a buskyn lacyd?

_Court. Ab._ What, wenyst thou that I knowe thé not, Clokyd Colusyon?

_Cl. Col._ And wenyst thou that I knowe not thé, cankard Abusyon?

_Court. Ab._ Cankard Jacke Hare, loke thou be not rusty;
For thou shalt well knowe I am nother durty nor dusty.

_Cl. Col._ Dusty! nay, syr, ye be all of the lusty, 770
Howe be it of scape thryfte your clokes smelleth musty:
But whether art thou walkynge in faythe vnfaynyd?

_Court. Ab._ Mary, with Magnyfycence I wolde be retaynyd.

_Cl. Col._ By the masse, for the cowrte thou art a mete man:
Thy slyppers they swap it, yet thou fotys it lyke a swanne.

_Court. Ab._ Ye, so I can deuyse my gere after the cowrtly maner.

_Cl. Col._ So thou arte personable to bere a prynces baner.
By Goddes fote,[803] and I dare well fyght, for I wyll not start.

_Court. Ab._ Nay, thou art a man good inough but for thy false hart.

_Cl. Col._ Well, and I be a coward, ther is mo than I. 780

_Court. Ab._ Ye, in faythe, a bolde man and a hardy.

_Cl. Col._ A bolde man in a bole of newe ale in cornys.

_Court. Ab._ Wyll ye se this gentylman is all in his skornys?

_Cl. Col._ But are ye not auysed to dwell where ye spake?

_Court. Ab._ I am of fewe wordys, I loue not to barke.
Beryst thou any rome, or cannyst thou do ought?
Cannyst thou helpe in fauer that I myght be brought?

_Cl. Col._ I may do somwhat, and more I thynke shall.

_Here cometh in CRAFTY CONUEYAUNCE, poyntyng with his fynger, and sayth, HEM, COLUSYON!_

_Court. Ab._ Cockys harte, who is yonde that for thé dothe call?

_Cr. Con.[804]_ Nay, come at ones, for the armys of the dyce! 790

_Court. Ab._ Cockys armys, he hath callyd for thé twyce.

_Cl. Col._ By Cockys harte, and call shall agayne:
To come to me, I trowe, he shalbe fayne.

_Court. Ab._ What, is thy harte pryckyd with such a prowde pynne?

_Cl. Col._ Tushe, he that hath nede, man, let hym rynne.

_Cr. Con._ Nay, come away, man: thou playst the cayser.

_Cl. Col.[805]_ By the masse, thou shalt byde my leyser.

_Cr. Con._ Abyde, syr, quod he! mary, so I do.

_Court. Ab._ He wyll come, man, when he may tende to.

_Cr. Con._ What the deuyll, who sent for thé? 800

_Cl. Col._ Here he is nowe, man; mayst thou not se?

_Cr. Con._ What the deuyll, man, what thou menyst?
Art thou so angry as thou semyst?

_Court. Ab._ What the deuyll, can ye agre no better?

_Cr. Con._ What the deuyll, where had we this ioly ietter?

_Cl. Col._ What sayst thou, man? why dost thou not supplye,
And desyre me thy good mayster to be?

_Court. Ab._ Spekest thou to me?

_Cl. Col._ Ye, so I tell thé.

_Court. Ab._ Cockes bones, I ne tell can 810
Whiche of you is the better man,
Or whiche of you can do most.

_Cr. Con._ In fayth, I rule moche of the rost.

_Cl. Col._ Rule the roste! ye, thou woldest[806]
As skante thou had no nede of me.

_Cr. Con._ Nede! yes, mary, I say not nay.

_Court. Ab._ Cockes ha[r]te, I trowe thou wylte make a fray.

_Cr. Con._ Nay, in good faythe, it is but the gyse.

_Cl. Col._ No, for, or we stryke, we wyll be aduysed twyse.

_Court. Ab._ What the deuyll, vse ye not to drawe no swordes? 820

_Cr. Con._ No, by my trouthe, but crake grete wordes.

_Court. Ab._ Why, is this the gyse nowe adayes?

_Cl. Col._ Ye, for surety, ofte peas is taken for frayes.
But, syr, I wyll haue this man with me.

_Cr. Con._ Conuey yourselfe fyrst, let se.

_Cl. Col._ Well, tarry here tyll I for you sende.

_Cr. Con._ Why, shall he be of your bende?

_Cl. Col._ Tary here: wote ye what I say?

_Court. Ab._ I waraunt you, I wyll not go away.

_Cr. Con._ By Saynt Mary, he is a tawle man. 830

_Cl. Col._ Ye, and do ryght good seruyce he can;
I knowe in hym no defaute
But that the horson is prowde and hawte.

_And so they[807] go out of the place._

_Court. Ab._ Nay, purchace ye a pardon for the pose,
For pryde hath plucked thé by the nose,
As well as me: I wolde, and I durste,
But nowe I wyll not say the worste.

_COURTLY ABUSYON alone in the place._

What nowe, let se,
Who loketh on me
Well rounde aboute, 840
Howe gay and howe stoute
That I can were
Courtly my gere:
My heyre bussheth
So plesauntly,
My robe russheth
So ruttyngly,
Me seme I flye,
I am so lyght,
To daunce delyght; 850
Properly drest,
All poynte deuyse,
My persone prest
Beyonde all syse
Of the newe gyse,
To russhe it oute
In euery route:
Beyonde measure
My sleue is wyde,
Al of pleasure, 860
My hose strayte tyde,
My buskyn wyde,
Ryche to beholde,
Gletterynge in golde.
Abusyon
Forsothe I hyght:
Confusyon
Shall on hym lyght,
By day or by nyght
That vseth me; 870
He can not thee.
A very fon,
A very asse,
Wyll take vpon
To compasse
That neuer was
Abusyd before;
A very pore
That so wyll do,
He doth abuse 880
Hym selfe to to,
He dothe mysse vse
Eche man take a fe[808]
To crake and prate;
I befoule his pate.
This newe fonne iet
From out of Fraunce
Fyrst I dyd set;
Made purueaunce
And suche ordenaunce, 890
That all men it founde
Through out Englonde:
All this nacyon
I set on fyre
In my facyon,
This theyr desyre,
This newe atyre;
This ladyes haue,
I it them gaue;
Spare for no coste; 900
And yet in dede
It is coste loste
Moche more than nede
For to excede
In suche aray:
Howe be it, I say,
A carlys sonne,
Brought vp of nought,
Wyth me wyll wonne
Whylyst he hath ought; 910
He wyll haue wrought
His gowne so wyde
That he may hyde
His dame and his syre
Within his slyue;
Spende all his hyre,
That men hym gyue;
Wherfore I preue,
A Tyborne checke
Shall breke his necke. 920

_Here cometh in FANSY, craynge_, Stow, stow!

All is out of harre,
And out of trace,
Ay warre and warre
In euery place.
But what the deuyll art thou,
That cryest, Stow, stow?

_Fan._ What, whom haue we here, Jenkyn Joly?
Nowe welcom, by the God holy.

_Court. Ab._ What, Fansy, my frende! howe doste thou fare?

_Fan._ By Cryst, as mery as a Marche hare. 930

_Court. Ab._ What the deuyll hast thou on thy fyste? an owle?

_Fan._ Nay, it is a farly fowle.

_Court. Ab._ Me thynke she frowneth and lokys sowre.

_Fan._ Torde, man, it is an hawke of the towre:
She is made for the malarde fat.

_Court. Ab._ Methynke she is well becked to catche a rat.
But nowe what tydynges can you tell, let se.

_Fan._ Mary, I am come for thé.

_Court. Ab._ For me?

_Fan._ Ye, for thé, so I say. 940

_Court. Ab._ Howe so? tell me, I thé pray.

_Fan._ Why, harde thou not of the fray,
That fell amonge vs this same day?

_Court. Ab._ No, mary, not yet.

_Fan._ What the deuyll, neuer a whyt?

_Court. Ab._ No, by the masse; what sholde I swere?

_Fan._ In faythe, Lyberte is nowe a lusty spere.

_Court. Ab._ Why, vnder whom was he abydynge?

_Fan._ Mary, Mesure had hym a whyle in gydynge,
Tyll, as the deuyll wolde, they fell a chydynge 950
With Crafty Conuayaunce.

_Court. Ab._ Ye, dyd they so?

_Fan._ Ye, by Goddes sacrament, and with other mo.

_Court. Ab._ What neded that, in the dyuyls date?

_Fan._ Yes, yes, he fell with me also at debate.

_Court. Ab._ With thé also? what, he playeth the state?

_Fan._ Ye, but I bade hym pyke out of the gate,
By Goddes body, so dyd I.

_Court. Ab._ By the masse, well done and boldely.

_Fan._ Holde thy pease, Measure shall frome vs walke. 960

_Court. Ab._ Why, is he crossed than with a chalke?

_Fan._ Crossed! ye, checked out of consayte.

_Court. Ab._ Howe so?

_Fan._ By God, by a praty slyght,
As here after thou shalte knowe more:
But I must tary here; go thou before.

_Court. Ab._ With whom shall I there mete?

_Fan._ Crafty Conueyaunce standeth in the strete,
Euen of purpose for the same.

_Court. Ab._ Ye, but what shall I call my name? 970

_Fan._ Cockes harte, tourne thé, let me se thyne aray:
Cockes bones, this is all of Johnn de gay.

_Court. Ab._ So I am poynted after my consayte.

_Fan._ Mary, thou iettes it of hyght.

_Court. Ab._ Ye, but of my name let vs be wyse.

_Fan._ Mary, Lusty Pleasure, by myne aduyse,
To name thyselfe, come of, it were done.

_Court. Ab._ Farewell, my frende.