French scene
Messenger.
I pray you all gyue your audyence,
1
And here this mater with reuerence,
2
By fygure a morall playe.
3
The Somonynge of Eueryman called it is,
4
That of our lyues and endynge shewes
5
How transytory we be all daye.
6
This mater is wonders precyous;
7
But the entent of it is more gracyous,
8
And swete to bere awaye.
9
The story sayth: Man, in the begynnynge
10
Loke well, and take good heed to the endynge,
11
Be you neuer so gay!
12
Ye thynke synne in the begynnynge full swete,
13
Whiche in the ende causeth the soule to wepe,
14
Whan the body lyeth in claye.
15
Here shall you se how Felawshyp / and Iolyte,
16
Bothe / Strengthe / Pleasure / and Beaute,
17
Wyll fade from the as floure in Maye;
18
For ye shall here how our Heuen Kynge
19
Calleth Eueryman to a generall rekenynge.
20
Gyue audyence, and here what he doth saye.
21
Scene 2
God speketh.
God.
I perceyue, here in my maieste,
22
How that all creatures be to me vnkynde,
23
Lyuynge without drede in worldly prosperyte.
24
Of ghostly syght the people be so blynde,
25
Drowned in synne, they know me not for theyr God.
26
In worldely ryches is all theyr mynde;
27
They fere not my ryghtwysnes, the sharpe rod.
28
My lawe that I shewed, whan I for them dyed,
29
They forget clene / and shedynge of my blode rede. [signature A.ii]
30
I hanged bytwene two theues, it can not be denyed;
31
To gete them lyfe I suffred to be deed;
32
I heled theyr fete / with thornes hurt was my heed.
33
I coude do no more than I dyde, truely;
34
And nowe I se the people do clene for-sake me.
35
They vse the seuen deedly synnes dampnable,
36
As pryde, coueytyse, wrath, and lechery
37
Now in the worlde be made commendable;
38
And thus they leue of aungelles the heuenly company.
39
Euery man lyueth so after his owne pleasure,
40
And yet of theyr lyfe they be nothynge sure.
41
I se the more that I them forbere
42
The worse they be fro yere to yere.
43
All that lyueth appayreth faste;
44
Therefore I wyll, in all the haste,
45
Haue a rekenynge of euery mannes persone;
46
For, and I leue the people thus alone
47
In theyr lyfe and wycked tempestes,
48
Veryly they will become moche worse than beestes,
49
For now one wolde by enuy another vp ete;
50
Charyte they do all clene forgete.
51
I hoped well that euery man
52
In my glory sholde make his mansyon,
53
And therto I had them all electe;
54
But now I se, lyke traytours deiecte,
55
They thanke me not for the pleasure that I to them ment,
56
Nor yet for theyr beynge that I them haue lent.
57
I profered the people grete multytude of mercy,
58
And fewe there be that asketh it hertly.
59
They be so combred with worldly ryches
60
That nedes on them I must do iustyce,
61
On euery man lyuynge without fere.
62
Where arte thou, Deth, thou myghty messengere?
63
Scene 3
Dethe.
Dethe.
Almyghty God, I am here at your wyll,
64
Your commaundement to fulfyll.
65
God.
Go thou to Eueryman
66
And shewe hym, in my name,
67
A pylgrymage he must on hym take,
68
Whiche he in no wyse may escape;
69
And that he brynge with hym a sure rekenynge
70
Without delay or ony taryenge.
71
Dethe.
Lorde, I wyll in the worlde go renne ouer-all
72
And cruelly out-serche both grete and small.
73
Euery man wyll I beset that lyueth beestly
74
Out of Goddes lawes, and dredeth not foly.
75
He that loueth rychess I wyll stryke with my darte,
76
His syght to blynde, and fro heuen to departe–
77
Excepte that almes be his good frende–
78
In hell for to dwell, worlde without ende.
79
Loo, yonder I se Eueryman walkynge.
80
Full lytell he thynketh on my comynge;
81
His mynde is on flesshely lustes and his treasure,
82
And grete payne it shall cause hym to endure
83
Before the Lorde, Heuen Kynge.
84
Eueryman, stande styll! Whyder arte thou goynge
85
Thus gayly? / Hast thou thy Maker forgete?
86
Scene 5
Eueryman.
Eueryman.
Why askest thou?
87
Woldest thou wete?
88
Dethe.
Ye, syr. I wyll shewe you:
89
In grete hast I am sende to the
90
Fro God out of his mageste.
91
Eueryman.
What, sente to me?
92
Dethe.
Ye, certaynly.
93
Thoughe thou haue forgete hym here,
94
He thynketh on the in the heuenly spere,
95
As, or we departe, thou shalte knowe.
96
Eueryman.
What desyreth God of me?
97
Dethe.
That shall I shewe the:
98
A rekenynge he wyll nedes haue
99
Without ony lenger respyte.
100
Eueryman.
To gyue a rekenynge longer layser I craue;
101
This blynde mater troubleth my wytte.
102
Dethe.
On the thou must take a long iourney;
103
Therfore thy boke of counte with the thou brynge,
104
For tourne agayne thou can not by no waye.
105
And loke thou be sure of thy rekenynge,
106
For before God thou shalte answere, and shewe
107
Thy many badde dedes, and good but a fewe;
108
How thou hast spente thy lyfe, and in what wyse,
109
Before the chefe Lorde of paradyse.
110
Haue ado that thou were in that waye,
111
For wete thou well thou shalte make none attournay.
112
Eueryman.
Full vnredy I am suche rekenynge to gyue.
113
I knowe the not. What messenger arte thou?
114
Dethe.
I am Dethe that no man dredeth–
115
For euery man I reste — and no man spareth;
116
For it is Goddes commaundement
117
That all to me sholde be obedyent.
118
Eueryman.
O Deth, thou comest whan I had the leest in mynde!
119
In thy power it lyeth me to saue;
120
Yet of my good wyl I gyue the, yf thou wyl be kynde –
121
Ye, a thousande pounde shalte thou haue –
122
And dyfferre this mater tyll an other daye.
123
Dethe.
Eueryman, it may not be by no waye.
124
I set not by golde, syluer, nor rychesse,
125
Ne by pope / emperour / kynge / duke, ne prynces;
126
For, and I wolde receyue gyftes grete,
127
All the worlde I myght gete;
128
But my custome is clene contrary.
129
I gyue the no respyte. Come hens, and not tary!
130
Eueryman.
Alas, shall I haue no lenger respyte?
131
I may saye Deth gyueth no warnynge!
132
To thynke on the, it maketh my herte seke,
133
For all vnredy is my boke of rekenynge.
134
But xii. yere and I myght haue a-bydynge,
135
My countynge-boke I wolde make so clere
136
That my rekenynge I sholde not nede to fere.
137
Wherfore, Deth, I praye the, for Goddes mercy,
138
Spare me tyll I be prouyded of remedy.
139
Dethe.
The auayleth not to crye, wepe, and praye;
140
But hast the lyghtly that thou were gone that iournaye,
141
And preue thy frendes yf thou can.
142
For wete thou well the tyde abydeth no man,
143
And in the worlde eche lyuynge creature
144
For Adams synne must dye of nature.
145
Eueryman.
Dethe, yf I sholde this pylgrymage take,
146
And my rekenynge suerly make,
147
Shewe me, for saynt charyte,
148
Sholde I not come agayne shortly?
149
Dethe.
No, Eueryman; and thou be ones there,
150
Thou mayst neuer more come here,
151
Trust me veryly.
152
Eueryman.
O gracyous God in the hye sete celestyall,
153
Haue mercy on me in this moost nede!
154
Shall I haue no company fro this vale terestryall
155
Of myne acqueyntaunce, that way me to lede?
156
Dethe.
Ye, yf ony be so hardy
157
That wolde go with the and bere the company.
158
Hye the that thou were gone to Goddes magnyfycence,
159
Thy rekenynge to gyue before his presence.
160
What, wenest thou thy lyue is gyuen the,
161
And thy worldely gooddes also?
162
Eueryman.
I had wende so, veryle.
163
Dethe.
Nay, nay, it was but lende the;
164
For as soone as thou arte go,
165
Another a whyle shall haue it, and than go ther-fro,
166
Euen as thou hast done.
167
Eueryman, thou arte made! Thou hast thy wyttes fyue,
168
And here on erthe wyll not amende thy lyue;
169
For sodeynly I do come.
170
Eueryman.
O wretched caytyfe, wheder shall I flee,
171
That I myght scape this endles sorowe?
172
Now, gentyll Deth, spare me tyll to-morowe,
173
That I may amende me
174
With good aduysement.
175
Dethe.
Naye, therto I wyll not consent,
176
Nor no man wyll I respyte;
177
But to the herte sodeynly I shall smyte
178
Without ony aduysement.
179
And now out of thy syght I wyll me hy.
180
Se thou make the redy shortely,
181
For thou mayst saye this is the daye
182
That no man lyuynge may scape a-way.
183
Eueryman.
Alas, I may well wepe with syghes depe!
184
Now haue I no maner of company
185
To help me in my iourney, and me to kepe;
186
And also my wrytynge is full vnredy.
187
How shall I do now for to exscuse me?
188
I wolde to God I had neuer be gete!
189
To my soule a full grete profyte it had be,
190
For now I fere paynes huge and grete.
191
The tyme passeth. Lorde, helpe, that all wrought!
192
For though I mourne, it auayleth nought.
193
The day passeth and is almoost ago;
194
I wote not well what for to do.
195
To whome were I best my complaynt to make?
196
What and I to Felawshyp therof spake,
197
And shewed hym of this sodeyne chaunce?
198
For in hym is all muyne affyaunce;
199
We haue in the worlde so many a daye
200
Be good frendes in sporte and playe.
201
I se hym yonder, certaynely.
202
I trust that he wyll bere me company;
203
Therfore to hym wyll I speke to ese my sorowe.
204
Well mette, Good Felawshyp, and good morowe!
205
Felawshyp speketh.
Felawship.
Eueryman, good morowe, by this daye!
206
Syr, why lokest thou so pyteously?
207
If ony thynge be a-mysse, I praye the me saye,
208
That I may helpe to remedy.
209
Eueryman.
Ye, good Felawshyp, ye,
210
I am in greate ieoparde.
211
Felawship.
My true frende, shewe to me your mynde.
212
I wyll not forsake the to my lyues ende,
213
In the waye of good company.
214
Eueryman.
That was well spoken and louyngly.
215
Felawshyp.
Syr, I must nedes knowe your heuynesse;
216
I haue pyte to se you in ony dystresse.
217
If ony haue you wronged, ye shall reuenged be,
218
Thoughe I on the grounde be slayne for the, [signature B.i]
219
Though that I knowe before that I sholde dye.
220
Eueryman.
Veryly, Felawshyp, gramercy.
221
Felawship.
Tusshe! by thy thankes I set not a strawe.
222
Shewe me your grefe, and saye no more.
223
Eueryman.
If I my herte sholde to you breke,
224
And than you to tourne your mynde fro me
225
And wolde not me comforte whan ye here me speke,
226
Than sholde I ten tymes soryer be.
227
Felawship.
Syr, I saye as I wyll do in dede.
228
Eueryman.
Than be you a good frende at nede.
229
I haue founde you true here-before.
230
Felawship.
And so ye shall euermore;
231
For, in fayth, and thou go to hell,
232
I wyll not forsake the by the waye.
233
Eueryman.
Ye speke lyke a good frende; I byleue you well
234
I shall deserue it, and I maye.
235
Felawship.
I speke of no deseruynge, by this daye!
236
For he that wyll saye, and nothynge do,
237
Is not worthy with good company to go;
238
Therfore shewe me the grefe of your mynde,
239
As to your frende moost louynge and kynde.
240
Eueryman.
I shall shewe you how it is:
241
Commaunded I am to go a iournaye,
242
A longe waye harde and daungerous,
243
And gyue a strayte counte, without delaye,
244
Before the hye Iuge, Adonay.
245
Wherfore, I pray you, bere me company,
246
As ye haue promysed, in this iournaye.
247
Felawship.
That is mater in dede! Promyse is duty;
248
But, and I sholde take suche a vyage on me,
249
I knowe it well, it sholde be to my payne;
250
Also it maketh me aferde, certayne.
251
But let vs take counsell here as well as we can,
252
For your wordes wolde fere a stronge man.
253
Eueryman.
Why, ye sayd yf I had nede
254
Ye wolde me neuer forsake, quycke ne deed,
255
Thoughe it were to hell, truely.
256
Felawship.
So I sayd, certaynely,
257
But suche pleasures be set a-syde, the sothe to saye;
258
And also, yf we toke suche a iournaye,
259
Whan sholde we agayne come?
260
Eueryman.
Naye, neuer agayne tyll the daye of dome.
261
Felawship.
In fayth, than wyll not I come there!
262
Who hath you these tydynges brought?
263
Eueryman.
In dede, Deth was with me here.
264
Felawshyp.
Now, by God that all hathe bought,
265
If Deth were the messenger,
266
For no man that is lyuynge to-daye
267
I wyll not go that lothe iournaye —
268
Not for the fader that bygate me!
269
Eueryman.
Ye promysed other wyse, parde.
270
Felawship.
I wote well I sayd so, truely;
271
And yet, yf thou wylte ete & drynke & make good chere,
272
Or haunt to women the lusty company,
273
I wolde not forsake you whyle the daye is clere,
274
Trust me veryly.
275
Eueryman.
Ye, therto ye wolde be redy!
276
To go to myrthe, solas, and playe
277
Your mynde wyll soner apply,
278
Than to bere me company in my longe iournaye.
279
Felawship.
Now, in good fayth, I wyll not that waye;
280
But and thou wyll murder, or ony man kyll,
281
In that I wyll helpe the with a good wyll.
282
Eueryman.
O, that is a symple aduyse in dede. [signature B.ii]
283
Gentyll felawe, helpe me in my necessyte!
284
We haue loued longe, and now I nede;
285
And now, gentyll Felawshyp, remembre me.
286
Felawship.
Wheder ye haue loued me or no,
287
By Saynt Iohan I wyll not with the go!
288
Eueryman.
Yet, I pray the, take the labour & do so moche for me
289
To brynge me forwarde, for saynt charyte,
290
And comforte me tyll I come without the towne.
291
Felawship.
Nay, and thou wolde gyue me a newe gowne,
292
I wyll not a fote with the go;
293
But, and thou had taryed, I wolde not haue lefte the so.
294
And as now God spede the in thy iournaye,
295
For from the I wyll departe as fast as I maye.
296
Eueryman.
Wheder a-waye, Felawshyp? Wyll thou forsake me?
297
Felawship.
Ye, by my faye! To God I be-take the.
298
Eueryman.
Farewell, good Felawshyp! For the my herte is sore.
299
A-dewe for euer! I shall se the no more.
300
Felawship.
In fayth, Eueryman, fare well now at the endynge!
301
For you I wyll remembre that partynge is mournynge.
302
Eueryman.
A-lacke, shall wee thus departe in ded –
303
A, Lady, helpe! — without ony more comforte?
304
Lo, Felawshyp forsaketh me in my moost nede.
305
For helpe in this worlde wheder shall I resorte?
306
Felawshyp here-before with me wolde mery make,
307
And now lytell sorowe for me dooth he take.
308
It is sayd, 'In prosperyte men frendes may fynde,
309
Whiche in aduersyte be full vnkynde.'
310
Now wheder for socoure shall I flee,
311
Syth that Felawshyp hath forsaken me?
312
To my kynnesmen I wyll, truely,
313
Prayenge them to helpe me in my necessyte.
314
I byleue that they wyll do so,
315
For kynde wyll crepe where it may not go.
316
I wyll go saye, for yonder I se them.
317
Where be ye now, my frendes and kynnesmen?
318
Scene 6
Kynrede.
Here be we now at your commaundement.
319
Cosyn, I praye you shewe vs your entent
320
In ony wyse, and not spare.
321
Cosyn.
Ye, Eueryman, and to vs declare
322
If ye be dysposed to go ony-whyder;
323
For, wete you well, we wyll lyue and dye to-gyder.
324
Kynrede.
In welth and wo we wyll with you holde,
325
For ouer his kynne a man may be bolde.
326
Eueryman.
Gramercy, my frendes and kynnesmen kynde.
327
Now shall I shewe you the grefe of my mynde:
328
I was commaunded by a messenger,
329
That is a hye kynges chefe offycer.
330
He bad me go a pylgrymage, to my payne,
331
And I knowe well I shall neuer come agayne.
332
Also I must gyue a rekenynge strayte,
333
For I haue a grete enemy that hath me in wayte,
334
Whiche entendeth me for to hynder.
335
Kynrede.
What a-counte is that whiche ye must render?
336
That wolde I knowe.
337
Eueryman.
Of all my workes I must shewe
338
How I haue lyued and my dayes spent;
339
Also of yll dedes that I haue vsed
340
In my tyme, syth lyfe was me lent;
341
And of all vertues that I haue refused.
342
Therfore, I praye you, go thyder with me
343
To helpe to make myn accounte, for saynt charyte.
344
Cosyn.
What, to go thyder? Is that the mater?
345
Nay, Eueryman, I had leuer fast brede and water
346
All this fyue yere and more. [signature B.iii]
347
Eueryman.
Alas, that euer I was bore!
348
For now shall I neuer be mery,
349
If that you forsake me.
350
Kynrede.
A, syr, what ye be a mery man!
351
Take good herte to you, and make no mone.
352
But one thynge I warne you, by Saynt Anne –
353
As for me, ye shall go alone.
354
Eueryman.
My Cosyn, wyll you not with me go?
355
Cosyn.
No, by our Lady! I haue the crampe in my to.
356
Trust not to me; for, so God me spede,
357
I wyll deceyue you in your moost nede.
358
Kynrede.
It auayleth not vs to tyse.
359
Ye shall haue my mayde with all my herte;
360
She loueth to go to feestes, there to be nyse,
361
And to daunce, and a–brode to sterte.
362
I wyll gyue her leue to helpe you in that iourney,
363
If that you and she may a-gree.
364
Eueryman.
Now shewe me the very effecte of your mynde:
365
Wyll you go with me, or abyde be-hynde?
366
Kynrede.
Abyde behynde? / Ye, that wyll I, and I maye!
367
Therfore farewell tyll another daye.
368
Eueryman.
Howe sholde I be mery or gladde?
369
For fayre promyses men to me make,
370
But whan I haue moost nede they me forsake.
371
I am deceyued; that maketh me sadde.
372
Cosyn.
Cosyn Eueryman, farewell now,
373
For veryly I wyll not go with you.
374
Also of myne owne an vnredy rekenynge
375
I haue to accounte; therfore I make taryenge.
376
Now God kepe the, for now I go.
377
Scene 7
Eueryman.
A, Iesus, is all come here-to?
378
Lo, fayre wordes maketh fooles fayne;
379
They promyse, and nothynge wyll do, certayne.
380
My kynnesmen promysed me faythfully
381
For to a-byde with me stedfastly,
382
And now fast a-waye do they flee.
383
Euen so Felawshyp promysed me.
384
What frende were best me of to prouyde?
385
I lose my tyme here longer to abyde.
386
Yet in my mynde a thynge there is:
387
All my lyfe I haue loued ryches;
388
If that my Good now helpe my myght,
389
He wolde make my herte full lyght.
390
I wyll speke to hym in this dystresse.
391
Where arte thou, my Gooddes and ryches?
392
Scene 8
Goodes.
Who calleth me? Eueryman? / What, hast thou haste?
393
I lye here in corners, trussed and pyled so hye,
394
And in chestes I am locked so fast,
395
Also sacked in bagges. Thou mayst se with thyn eye
396
I can not styre; in packes, lowe I lye.
397
What wolde ye haue? Lyghtly me saye.
398
Eueryman.
Come hyder, Good, in al the hast thou may,
399
For of counseyll I must desyre the.
400
Goodes.
Syre, & ye in the worlde haue sorowe or aduersyte,
401
That can I helpe you to remedy shortly.
402
Eueryman.
It is another dysease that greueth me;
403
In this worlde it is not, I tell the so.
404
I am sent for, an other way to go,
405
To gyue a strayte counte generall
406
Before the hyest Iupyter of all.
407
And all my lyfe I haue had ioye & pleasure in the,
408
Therfore, I pray the, go with me;
409
For parauenture, thou mayst before God Almyghty
410
My rekenynge helpe to clene and puryfye, [signature B.iiii]
411
For it is sayd euer amonge
412
That 'money maketh all ryght that is wronge.'
413
Goodes.
Nay, Eueryman, I synge an other songe.
414
I folowe no man in suche vyages;
415
For, and I wente with the,
416
Thou sholdest fare moche the worse for me.
417
For bycause on me thou dyd set thy mynde,
418
Thy rekenynge I haue made blotted and blynde,
419
That thyne accounte thou can not make truly –
420
And that hast thou for the loue of me!
421
Eueryman.
That wolde greue me full sore,
422
Whan I sholde come to that ferefull answere.
423
Vp, let vs go thyder to–gyder.
424
Goodes.
Nay, not so! I am to brytell, I may not endure.
425
I wyll folowe no man one fote, be ye sure.
426
Eueryman.
Alas, I haue the loued, and had grete pleasure
427
All my lyfe–dayes on good and treasure.
428
Goodes.
That is to thy dampnacyon, without lesynge,
429
For my loue is contrary to the loue euerlastynge.
430
But yf thou had me loued moderately durynge,
431
As to the poore gyue parte of me,
432
Than sholdest thou not in this dolour be,
433
Nor in this grete sorowe and care.
434
Eueryman.
Lo, now was I deceyued or I was ware;
435
And all I may wyte my spendynge of tyme.
436
Goodes.
What, wenest thou that I am thyne?
437
Eueryman.
I had went so.
438
Goodes.
Naye, Eueryman, I saye no.
439
As for a whyle I was lente the;
440
A season thou hast had me in prosperyte.
441
My condycyon is mannes soule to kyll;
442
If I saue one, a thousande I do spyll.
443
Wenest thou that I wyll folowe the?
444
Nay, fro this worlde not, veryle.
445
Eueryman.
I had wende otherwyse.
446
Goodes.
Therfore to thy soule Good is a thefe;
447
For whan thou arte deed, this is my gyse –
448
Another to deceyue in this same wyse
449
As I haue done the, and all to his soules reprefe.
450
Eueryman.
O false Good, cursed thou be,
451
Thou traytour to God, that hast deceyued me
452
And caught me in thy snare!
453
Goodes.
Mary, thou brought thy selfe in care,
454
Wherof I am gladde.
455
I must nedes laugh; I can not be sadde.
456
Eueryman.
A, Good, thou hast had longe my hertely loue;
457
I gaue the that whiche sholde be the Lordes aboue.
458
But wylte thou not go with me in dede?
459
I praye the trouth to saye.
460
Goodes.
No, so God me spede!
461
Therfore fare well, and haue good daye.
462
Scene 9
Eueryman.
O, to whome shall I make my mone
463
For to go with me in that heuy iournaye?
464
Fyrst Felawshyp sayd he wolde with me gone;
465
His wordes were very pleasaunt and gaye,
466
But afterwarde he lefte me alone.
467
Than spake I to my kynnesmen, all in dyspayre,
468
And also they gaue me wordes fayre;
469
They lacked no fayre spekynge,
470
But all forsake me in the endynge.
471
Than wente I to my Goodes that I loued best,
472
In hope to haue comforte; but there had I leest,
473
For my Goodes sharpely dyd me tell
474
That he bryngeth many in to hell.
475
Than of my selfe I was ashamed,
476
And so I am worthy to be blamed;
477
Thus may I well my selfe hate.
478
Of whome shall I now counseyll take?
479
I thynke that I shall neuer spede
480
Tyll that I go to my Good Dede.
481
But, alas, she is so weke
482
That she can nother go nor speke;
483
Yet wyll I venter on her now.
484
My Good Dedes, where be you?
485
Scene 10
Good Dedes.
Here I lye, colde in the grounde.
486
Thy synnes hath me sore bounde,
487
That I can not stere.
488
Eueryman.
O Good Dedes, I stande in fere!
489
I must you pray of counseyll,
490
For help now sholde come ryght well.
491
Good Dedes.
Eueryman, I haue vnderstandynge
492
That ye be somoned a–counte to make
493
Before Myssyas, of Iherusalem kynge;
494
And you do by me, that iournay with you wyll I take.
495
Eueryman.
Therfore I come to you my moone to make.
496
I praye you that ye wyll go with me.
497
Good Dedes.
I wolde full fayne, but I can not stande, veryly.
498
Eueryman.
Why, is there ony thynge on you fall?
499
Goode Dedes.
Ye, syr, I may thanke you of all.
500
If ye had parfytely chered me,
501
Your boke of counte full redy had be.
502
Loke, the bokes of your workes and dedes eke
503
Ase how they lye vnder the fete,
504
To your soules heuynes.
505
Eueryman.
Our Lorde Iesus help me!
506
For one letter here I can not se.
507
Good Dedes.
There is a blynde rekenynge in tyme of dystres.
508
Eueryman.
Good Dedes, I praye you helpe me in this nede,
509
Or elles I am for euer dampned in dede;
510
Therfore helpe me to make rekenynge
511
Before the Redemer of all thynge,
512
That Kynge is, and was, and euer shall.
513
Good Dedes.
Eueryman, I am sory of your fall,
514
And fayne wolde I help you, and I were able.
515
Eueryman.
Good Dedes, your counseyll I pray you gyue me.
516
Good Dedes.
That shall I do veryly.
517
Thoughe that on my fete I may not go,
518
I haue a syster that shall with you also,
519
Called Knowlege, whiche shall with you abyde,
520
To helpe you to make that dredefull rekenynge.
521
Scene 11
Knowlege.
Eueryman, I wyll go with the and be thy gyde,
522
In they moost nede to go by thy syde.
523
Eueryman.
In good condycyon I am now in euery thynge,
524
And am holy content with this good thynge,
525
Thanked be God my creature.
526
Good Dedes.
And whan she hath brought you there
527
Where thou shalte hele the of thy smarte,
528
Than go you with your rekenynge & your Good Dedes togyder,
529
For to make you ioyfull at herte
530
Before the Blessyd Trynyte.
531
Eueryman.
My Good Dedes, gramercy!
532
I am well content, certaynly,
533
With your wordes swete.
534
Knowlege.
Now go we togyder louyngly
535
To Confessyon, that clensynge ryuere.
536
Eueryman.
For ioy I wepe; I wolde we were there!
537
But, I pray you, gyue me cognycyon
538
Where dwelleth that holy man, Confessyon.
539
Knowlege.
In the house of saluacyon;
540
We shall fynde hym in that place,
541
That shall vs comforte, by Goddes grace.
542
Lo, this is Confessyon. Knele downe & aske mercy,
543
For he is in good conceyte with God Almyghty.
544
Eueryman.
O gloryous fountayne, that all vnclennes doth claryfy,
545
Wasshe fro me the spottes of vyce vnclene,
546
That on me no synne may be sene.
547
I come with Knowlege for my redempcyon,
548
Redempte with herte and full contrycyon;
549
For I am commaunded a pylgrymage to take,
550
And grete accountes before God to make.
551
Now I praye you, Shryfte, moder of saluacyon,
552
Helpe my Good Dedes for my pyteous exclamacyon.
553
Scene 12
Confessyon.
I knowe your sorowe well, Eueryman.
554
Bycause with Knowlege ye come to me,
555
I wyll you comforte as well as I can.
556
And a precyous iewell I wyll gyue the,
557
Called penaunce, voyder of aduersyte;
558
Therwith shall your body chastysed be,
559
With abstynence & perseueraunce in Goddes seruyture.
560
Here shall you receyue that scourge of me,
561
Whiche is penaunce stronge that ye must endure,
562
To remembre thy Sauyour was scourged for the
563
With sharpe scourges, and suffred it pacyently;
564
So must thou or thou scape that paynful pylgrymage.
565
Knowlege, kepe hym in this vyage,
566
And by that tyme Good Dedes wyll be with the.
567
But in ony wyse be seker of mercy,
568
For your tyme draweth fast; and ye wyll saued be,
569
Aske God mercy, and he wyll graunte truely.
570
Whan with the scourge of penaunce man doth hym bynde,
571
The oyle of forgyuenes than shall he fynde.
572
Eueryman.
Thanked be God for his gracyous werke!
573
For now I wyll my penaunce begyn.
574
This hath reioysed and lyghted my herte,
575
Though the knottes by paynful and harde, within.
576
Knowlege.
Eueryman, loke your penaunce that ye fulfyll,
577
What payne that euer it to you be;
578
And Knowlege shall gyue you counseyll at wyll
579
How your accounte ye shall make clerely.
580
Eueryman.
O eternall God / O heuenly fygure,
581
O way of ryghtwysnes / O goodly vysyon,
582
Whiche dyscended downe in a vyrgyn pure
583
Bycause he wolde euery man redeme,
584
Which Adam forfayted by his dysobedyence:
585
O blessyd God-heed, electe and hye deuyne,
586
Forgyue me my greuous offence!
587
Here I crye the mercy in this presence.
588
O ghostly treasure, O raunsomer and redemer,
589
Of all the worlde hope and conduyter,
590
Myrrour of ioye, foundatour of mercy,
591
Whiche enlumyneth heuen and erth therby,
592
Here my clamorous complaynt, though it late be,
593
Receyue my prayers vnworthy in this heuy lyfe!
594
Though I be a synner moost abhomynable,
595
Yet let my name be wryten in Moyses table.
596
O Mary, praye to the Maker of all thynge,
597
Me for to helpe at my endynge;
598
And saue me from the power of my enemy,
599
For Deth assayleth me strongly.
600
And, Lady, that I may by meane of thy prayer
601
Of your Sones glory to be partynere,
602
By the meanes of his passyon, I it craue;
603
I besech you helpe my soule to saue.
604
Knowlege, gyue me the scourge of penaunce;
605
My flesshe therwith shall gyue acqueyntaunce.
606
I wyll now begyn yf God gyue me grace.
607
Knowlege.
Eueryman, God gyue you tyme and space!
608
Thus I bequeth you in the handes of our Sauyour;
609
Now may you make your rekenynge sure.
610
Eueryman.
In the name of the Holy Trynyte,
611
My body sore punysshed shall be:
612
Take this, body, for the synne of the flesshe!
613
Also thou delytest to go gay and fresshe,
614
And in the way of dampnacyon thou dyd me brynge;
615
Therfore suffre now strokes of punysshynge.
616
Now of penaunce I wyll wade the water clere,
617
To saue me from Purgatory, that sharpe fyre.
618
Goode Dedes.
I thanke God, now I can walke and go,
619
And am delyuered of my sykenesse and wo.
620
Therfore with Eueryman I wyll go, and not spare;
621
His good workes I wyll helpe hym to declare.
622
Knowlege.
Now, Eueryman, be mery and glad!
623
Your Good Dedes cometh now; ye may not be sad.
624
Now is your Good Dedes hole and sounde,
625
Goynge vpryght vpon the grounde.
626
Eueryman.
My herte is lyght, and shal be euermore;
627
Now wyll I smyte faster than I dyde before.
628
Good Dedes.
Eueryman, pylgryme, my specyall frende,
629
Blessyd be thou without ende!
630
For the is preparate the eternall glory.
631
Ye haue me made hole and sounde,
632
Therfore I wyll byde by the in euery stounde.
633
Eueryman.
Welcome, my Good Dedes! Now I here thy voyce
634
I wepe for very swetenes of loue.
635
Knowlege.
Be no more sad, but euer reioyce;
636
God seeth thy lyuynge in his trone aboue.
637
Put on this garment to thy behoue,
638
Whiche is wette with your teres,
639
Or elles before God you may it mysse,
640
Whan ye to your iourneys ende come shall.
641
Eueryman.
Gentyll Knowlege, what do ye it call?
642
Knowlege.
It is a garment of sorowe;
643
Fro payne it wyll you borowe.
644
Contrycyon it is
645
That getteth forgyuenes;
646
He pleaseth God passynge well.
647
Good Dedes.
Eueryman, wyll you were it for your hele?
648
Eueryman.
Now blessyde be Iesu, Maryes sone,
649
For now haue I on true contrycyon;
650
And lette vs go now without taryenge.
651
Good Dedes, haue we clere our rekenynge?
652
Good Dedes.
Ye, in dede, I haue it here.
653
Eueryman.
Than I trust we nede not fere.
654
Now, frendes, let vs not parte in twayne.
655
Knowlege.
Nay, Eueryman, that wyll we not, certayne.
656
Good Dedes.
Yet must thou lede with the
657
Thre persones of grete myght.
658
Eueryman.
Who sholde they be?
659
Good Dedes.
Dyscrecyon and Strength they hyght,
660
And thy Beaute may not abyde behynde.
661
Knowlege.
Also ye must call to mynde
662
Your Fyue Wyttes as for your counseylours.
663
Good Dedes.
You must haue them redy at all houres.
664
Eueryman.
Howe shall I gette them hyder?
665
Knowlege.
You must call them all togyder,
666
And they wyll here you in-contynent.
667
Eueryman.
My frendes, come hyder and be present,
668
Dyscrecyon, Strengthe, my Fyue Wyttes, and Beaute.
669
Scene 13
Beaute.
Here at your wyll we be all redy.
670
What wolde ye that we shold do?
671
Good Dedes.
That ye wolde with Eueryman go,
672
And help hym in his pylgrymage.
673
Aduyse you / wyll ye with him or not in that vyage?
674
Strength.
We wyll brynge hym all thyder,
675
To his helpe and comforte / ye may byleue me.
676
Dyscrecion.
So wyll we go with hym all togyder.
677
Eueryman.
Almyghty God, loued may thou be!
678
I gyue the laude that I haue hyder brought
679
Strength, Dyscrecyon, Beaute, & V. Wyttes. Lacke I nought.
680
And my Good Dedes, with Knowlege clere,
681
All be in company at my wyll here.
682
I desyre no more to my besynes.
683
Strengthe.
And I, Strength, wyll gy you stande in dystres,
684
Though thou wolde in batayle fyght on the grounde.
685
V. Wyttes.
And though it were thrugh the worlde rounde,
686
We wyll not departe for swete ne soure.
687
Beaute.
No more wyll I vnto dethes houre,
688
What so euer therof befall.
689
Dyscrecion.
Eueryman, aduyse you fyrst of all;
690
Go with a good aduysement and delyberacyon.
691
We all gyue you vertuous monycyon
692
That all shall be well.
693
Eueryman.
My frendes, harken what I wyll tell:
694
I praye God rewarde you in his heuenly spere.
695
Now herken, all that be here,
696
For I wyll make my testament
697
Here before you all present:
698
In almes / halfe my good I wyll gyue with my handes twayne
699
In the way of charyte with good entent,
700
And the other halfe styll shall remayne
701
In queth, to be retourned there it ought to be.
702
This I do in despyte of the fende of hell,
703
To go quyte out of his perell
704
Euer after and this daye.
705
Knowlege.
Eueryman, herken what I saye:
706
Go to Presthode, I you aduyse,
707
And receyue of hym in ony wyse
708
The holy sacrament and oyntement togyder.
709
Than shortly se ye tourne agayne hyder;
710
We wyll all abyde you here.
711
V. Wwyttes.
Ye, Eueryman, hye you that ye redy were.
712
There is no Emperour, Kynge, Duke, ne Baron,
713
That of God hath commycyon
714
As hath the leest preest in the worlde beynge;
715
For of the blessyd sacraments pure and benygne
716
He bereth the keyes, and therof hath the cure
717
For mannes recempcyon &8211; it is euer sure &8211;
718
Whiche God for our soules medycyne
719
Gaue vs out of his herte with grete pyne.
720
Here in this transytory lyfe, for the and me,
721
The blessyd sacraments vii. there be:
722
Baptym, confyrmacyon, with preesthode good,
723
And the sacrament of Goddes precyous flesshe & blod,
724
Maryage, the holy extreme vnccyon, and penaunce.
725
These seuen be good to haue in remembraunce,
726
Gracyous sacraments of hye deuynyte.
727
Eueryman.
Fayne wolde I receyue that holy body,
728
And mekely to my ghostly fader I wyll go.
729
V. Wyttes.
Eueryman, that is the best that ye can do.
730
God wyll you to saluacyon brynge,
731
For preesthode excedeth all other thynge:
732
To vs holy scrypture they do teche,
733
And conuerteth man fro synne, heuen to reche;
734
God hath to them more power gyuen
735
Than to ony aungell that is in heuen.
736
With v. wordes he may consecrate,
737
Goddes body in flesshe and blode to make,
738
And handeleth his Maker bytwene his handes.
739
The preest byndeth and vnbyndeth all bandes,
740
Bothe in erthe and in heuen.
741
Thou mynystres all the sacramentes seuen;
742
Though we kysse thy fete, thou were worthy.
743
Thou arte surgyon that cureth synne deedly;
744
No remedy we fynde vnder God
745
But all onely preesthode.
746
Eueryman, God gaue preest that dygnyte,
747
And setteth them in his stede amonge vs to be;
748
Thus be they aboue aungelles in degree.
749
Knowlege.
If preestes be good, it is so, suerly.
750
But whan Iesu hanged on the crosse with grete smarte,
751
There he gaue out of his blessyd herte
752
The seuen sacraments in grete tourment;
753
He solde them not to vs, that Lorde omnypotent.
754
Therfore Saynt Peter the apostell dothe saye
755
That Iesus curse hath all they
756
Whiche God theyr Sauyour do by or sell,
757
Or they for ony money do take or tell.
758
Synfull preestes gyueth the synners example bad:
759
Theyr chyldren sytteth by other mennes fyres, I haue harde;
760
And some haunteth womens company
761
With vnclene lyfe, as lustes of lechery.
762
These be with synne made blynde.
763
V. Wyttes.
I trust to God no suche may we fynde;
764
Therfore let vs preesthode honour,
765
And folowe theyr doctryne for our soules socoure.
766
We be theyr shepe, and they shepeherdes be
767
By whome we all be kepte in suerte.
768
Peas! For yonder I se Eueryman come,
769
Which hath made true satysfaccyon.
770
Good Dedes.
Me thyhnke it is he in ded.
771
Eueryman.
Now Iesu be your alder spede!
772
I haue receyued the sacrament for my redempycon,
773
And than myne extreme vnccyon.
774
Blessyd be all they that counseyled me to take it!
775
And now, frendes, let vs go with-out longer respyte.
776
I thanke God that ye haue taryed so longe.
777
Now set eche of you on this rodde your honde,
778
And shortely folowe me.
779
I go before there I wolde be. God be our gyde!
780
Strength.
Eueryman, we wyll not fro you go
781
Tyll ye haue done this vyage longe.
782
Dyscrecion.
I, Dyscrecyon, wyll byde by you also.
783
Knowlege.
And though this pylgrymage be neuer so stronge,
784
I wyll neuer parte you fro.
785
Strength.
Eueryman, I wyll be as sure by the
786
As euer I dyde by Iudas Machabee.
787
Eueryman.
Alas, I am so faynt I may not stande;
788
My lymmes vnder me do folde.
789
Frendes, let vs not tourne agayne to this lande,
790
Not for all the worldes golde;
791
For in to this caue must I crepe
792
And tourne to erth, and there to slepe.
793
Beaute.
What, in to this graue? Alas!
794
Eueryman.
Ye, there shall ye consume, more and lesse.
795
Beaute.
And what, sholde I smoder here?
796
Eueryman.
Ye, by my fayth, and neuer more appere.
797
In this worlde lyue no more we shall,
798
But in heuen before the hyest Lorde of all.
799
Beaute.
I crosse out all this. / Adewe, by Saynt Iohan!
800
I take my tappe in my lappe and am gone.
801
Eueryman.
What, Beaute, whyder wyll ye?
802
Beaute.
Peas! I am defe. I loke not behynde me,
803
Not & thou wolde gyue me all the golde in thy chest.
804
Scene 14
Eueryman.
Alas, wherto may I truste?
805
Beaute gothe fast awaye fro me.
806
She promysed with me to lyue and dye.
807
Strength.
Eueryman, I wyll the also forsake and denye;
808
Thy game lyketh me not at all.
809
Eueryman.
Why, than, ye wyll forsake me all?
810
Swete Strength, tary a lyttel space.
811
Strengthe.
Nay, syr, by the rode of grace!
812
I wyll hye me from the fast,
813
Though thou wepe to thy herte to-brast.
814
Eueryman.
Ye wolde euer byde by me, ye sayd.
815
Strength.
Ye, I haue you ferre ynoughe conueyde.
816
Ye be olde ynoughe, I vnderstande,
817
Your pylgrymage to take on hande.
818
I repent me that I hyder came.
819
Eueryman.
Strength, you to dysplease I am to blame.
820
Wyll ye breke promyse that is dette?
821
Strength.
In fayth, I care not.
822
Thou arte but a foole to complayne;
823
You spend your speche and wast your brayne.
824
Go thryst the in to the grounde.
825
Scene 15
Everyman.
I had wende surer I sholde you haue founde.
826
He that trusteth in his Strength,
827
She hym deceyueth at the length.
828
Bothe Strength and Beaute forsaketh me;
829
Yet they promysed me fayre and louyngly.
830
Dyscrecion.
Eueryman, I wyll after Strength be gone.
831
As for me, I wyll leue you alone.
832
Eueryman.
Why, Dyscrecyon, wyll ye forsake me?
833
Dyscrecion.
Ye, in faytyh, I wyll go fro the,
834
For whan Strength goth before
835
I folowe after euer more.
836
Eueryman.
Yet, I pray the, for the loue of the Trynyte,
837
Loke in my graue ones pyteously.
838
Dyscrecion.
Nay, so nye wyll I not come.
839
Fare well, euerychone!
840
Scene 16
Eueryman.
O, all thynge fayleth, saue God alone –
841
Beaute, Strength, and Dyscrecyon;
842
For whan Deth bloweth his blast,
843
They all renne fro me full fast.
844
I wyll folowe the other, for here I the forsake. 846
Eueryman.
Alas, than may I wayle and wepe,
847
For I toke you for my best frende.
848
V. Wyttes.
I wyll no lenger the kepe.
849
Now fare well, and there an ende.
850
Scene 17
Eueryman.
O Iesu, helpe! All hath forsaken me.
851
Good Dedes.
Nay, Eueryman, I wyll byde with the.
852
I wyll not forsake the in dede;
853
Thou shalte fynde me a good frende at nede.
854
Eueryman.
Gramercy, Good Dedes! Now may I true frendes se.
855
They haue forsaken me, euerychone;
856
I loued them better than my Good Dedes alone.
857
Knowlege, wyll ye forsake me also?
858
Knowlege.
Ye, Eueryman, whan ye to Deth shall go;
859
But not yet, for no maner of daunger.
860
Everyman.
Gramercy, Knowlege, with all my herte.
861
Knowlege.
Nay, yet I wyll not from hens departe
862
Tyll I se where ye shall be-come.
863
Eueryman.
Me thynke, alas, that I must be gone
864
To make my rekenynge and my dettes paye,
865
For I se my tyme is nye spent awaye.
866
Take example, all ye that this do here or se,
867
How they that I loued best do forsake me,
868
Except my Good Dedes that bydeth truely.
869
Good Dedes.
All erthly thynges is but vanyte:
870
Beaute, Strength / and Dyscrecyon do man forsake,
871
Folysshe frendes and kynnesmen that fayre spake –
872
All fleeth saue Good Dedes, and that am I.
873
Eueryman.
Haue mercy on me, God moost myghty,
874
And stande by me, thou moder & mayde, Holy Mary!
875
Good Dedes.
Fere not; I wyll speke for the.
876
Eueryman.
Here I crye God mercy.
877
Good Dedes.
Shorte our ende and mynysshe our payne;
878
Let vs go and neuer come agayne.
879
Eueryman.
In to thy handes, Lorde, my soule I commende;
880
Receyue it, Lorde, that it be not lost.
881
As thou me boughtest, so me defende,
882
And saue me from the fendes boost,
883
That I may appere with that blessyd hoost
884
That shall be saued at the day of dome.
885
In manus tuas, of myghtes moost
886
For euer, Commendo spiritum meum.
887
Knowlege.
Now hath he suffred that we all shall endure;
888
The Good Dedes shall make all sure.
889
Now hath he made endynge;
890
Me thynketh that I here aungelles synge
891
And make grete ioy and melody
892
Where Euerymannes soule receyued shall be.
893
Scene 18
The Aungell.
Come, excellente electe spouse, to Iesu!
894
Here aboue thou shalte go
895
Bycause of thy synguler vertue.
896
Now thy soule is taken thy body fro,
897
Thy rekenynge is crystall-clere.
898
Now shalte thou in to the heuenly spere,
899
Vnto the whiche all ye shall come
900
That lyueth well before the daye of dome.
901
Scene 19
Doctour.
This morall men may haue in mynde.
902
Ye herers, take it of worth, olde and yonge,
903
And forsake Pryde, for he deceyueth you in the ende;
904
And remembre Beaute, V. Wyttes, Strength, & Dyscrecyon,
905
They all at the last do Eueryman forsake,
906
Saue his Good Dedes there dothe he take.
907
But be-ware, for and they be small,
908
Before God he hath no helpe at all:
909
None excuse may be there for Eueryman.
910
Alas, how shall he do than?
911
For after dethe amendes may no man make,
912
For than mercy and pyte doth hym forsake.
913
If his rekenynge be not clere whan he doth come,
914
God wyll saye, 'Ite, maledicti, in ignem eternum.'
915
And he that hath his accounte hole and sounde,
916
Hye in heuen he shall be crounde.
917
Vnto which place God brynge vs all thyder,
918
That we may lyue body and soule togyder.
919
Therto helpe the Trynyte!
920
Amen, saye ye, for saynt charyte.
921
Thus endeth this morall playe of Eueryman.
Imprynted at London in Poules
chyrche yarde by me
Iohan Skot.