Hic iterum intrat CALISTO.

CAL. Mother, as I promised to assoil thy doubt, Here I give thee an hundred pieces of gold. CEL. Sir, I promise you I shall bring it about, All thing to purpose, even as ye would; For your reward I will do as I should. Be merry, fear nothing, content ye shall be. CAL. Then, mother, farewell; be diligent, I pray thee. [Exit Celestine. How sayest, Sempronio, have I done well? SEM. Yea, sir, in my mind, and most according. CAL. Then wilt thou do after my counsel? After this old woman will thou be hieing, To remember and haste her in everything. SEM. Sir, I am content, as ye command me. CAL. Then go, and bid Parmeno come, I pray thee. [Exit Sempronio. Now God be their guides! the posts[57] of my life, My relief from death, the ambassadors of my wealth! My hope, my hap; my quietness, my strife; My joy, my sorrow; my sickness, my health. The hope of this old woman; my heart telleth That comfort shall come shortly, as I intend. Or else come, death, and make of me an end.

Enter PARMENO.

PAR. In faith, it maketh no force nor matter mich, CAL. What sayest, Parmeno, what sayest to me? PAR. Marry, I say plainly, that yonder old witch And Sempronio together will undo thee. CAL. Ah, ill-tongued wretch, will ye not see? Thinkest thou, lurden, thou handlest me fair? Why, knave, wouldest thou put me in despair? [Exit Calisto. PAR. Lo, sirs, my master, ye see, is angry; But this it is, tell fools for their profit, Or warn them for their wealth, it is but folly; For strike them on the heel, and as much wit Shall come forth at their forehead to perceive it. Go thy way, Calisto, for on my charge Thy thrift is sealed up, though thou be at large. Oh, how unhappy I am to be true; For other men win by falsehood and flattery: I lose for my truth: the world doth so ensue, Truth is put back, and taken for folly. Therefore now I will change my copy. If I had done, as Celestine bad me, Calisto to his mission still would have had me. This giveth me warning from henceforward How to deal with him for all thing as he will: I will [be] the same forward or backward. I will go straight to him, and follow him still: Say as he saith, be it good or ill; And sith these bawds get good provoking lechery, I trust flattery shall speed as well as bawdry.

Hic exeat PARMENO et intret MELIBAEA.

MEL. I pray you, came this woman here never sin'?[58] In faith, to enter here I am half adrad; And yet why so? I may boldly come in: I am sure from you all I shall not be had. But, Jesus, Jesus, be these men so mad On women, as they say? how should it be? It is but fables and lies, ye may trust me.

Intret CELESTINA.

CEL. God be here! MEL. Who is there? CEL. Will ye buy any thread? MEL. Yea, marry, good mother, I pray you come in. CEL. Christ save you, fair mistress, and God be your speed; And health be to you and your kin; And Mary, God's mother, that blessed virgin, Preserve and prosper your womanly personage, And well to enjoy your youth and pucellage! For that time pleasures are most escheved;[59] And age is the hospital of all manner sickness, The resting-place of all thought unrelieved; The sport of time, past the end of all quickness: Neighbour to death; a dry stock without sweetness: Discomfort, disease all age alloweth; A tree without sap, that small charge boweth. MEL. I marvel, mother, ye speak so much ill Of age, that all folk desire effectuously. CEL. They desire hurt for themselves as all of will; And the cause why they desire to come thereby, Is for to live; for death is so loathly. He that is sorrowful would live to be sorrier, And he that is old would live to be older. Fair damsel, who can show all the hurts of age? His weariness, feebleness, his discontenting; His childishness, frowardness of his rage; Wrinkling in the face, lack of sight and hearing; Hollowness of mouth, fall of teeth, faint of going; And, worst of all, possessed with poverty, And the limbs arrested with debility. MEL. Mother, ye have taken great pain for age, Would ye not return to the beginning? CEL. Fools are they that are past their passage, To begin again, which be at the ending; For better is possession than the desiring. MEL. I desire to live longer; do I well, or no? CEL. That ye desire well, I think not so; For as soon goeth to market the lamb's fell As the sheep's;[60] none so old but may live a year; And there is none so young but, ye wot well, May die in a day. Then no advantage is here Between youth and age; the matter is clear. MEL. With thy fabling and thy reasoning, i-wis, I am beguiled; but I have known thee ere this: Art not Celestine, that dwelleth by the river side? CEL. Yea, forsooth. MEL. Indeed, age hath arrayed[61] thee! That thou art she, now can scant be espied. Me thinketh by thy favour thou shouldest be she: Thou art sore changed, thou mayest believe me. CEL. Fair maiden, keep thou well this time of youth; But beauty shall pass at the last, this is truth: Yet I am not so old as ye judge me. MEL. Good mother, I joy much of thine accointenance,[62] And thy motherly reasons right well please me. And now I thank thee here for thy pastance. Farewell, till another time, that hap may chance, Again that we two may meet together. Mayhap ye have business, I know not whither. CEL. O angelic image! O heart so precious! Oh, how thou speakest, it rejoiceth me to hear. Knowest thou not by the divine mouth gracious, That against the infernal fiend Lucifer We should not only live by bread here, But by our good works, wherein I take some pain: If ye know not my mind now, all is in vain. MEL. Show me, mother, hardily all thy necessity, And, if I can, I shall provide the remedy. CEL. My necessity! nay, God wot, it is not for me: As for mine, I left it at home surely. To eat when I will, and drink when I am dry; And I thank God ever one penny hath been mine, To buy bread when I list, and to have four for wine. Before I was widow, I cared never for it, For I had wine enough of mine own to sell; And with a toast in wine by the fire I could sit, With two dozen sops the colic to quell; But now with me it is not so well, For I have nothing but that is brought me In a pitcher-pot of quarts scant three. Thus I pray God help them that be needy; For I speak not for myself alone, But as well for other, however speed I. The infirmity is not mine, though that I groan, It is for another that I make moan, And not for myself: it is another way, But what I must moan, where I dare not say. MEL. Say what thou wilt, and for whom thou lest.[63] CEL. Now, gracious damsel, I thank you then, That to give audience ye be so prest, With liberal readiness to me old woman, Which giveth me boldness to show what I can Of one that lieth in danger by sickness Remitting his languor to your gentleness. MEL. What meanest thou, I pray thee, gentle mother? Go forth with thy demand, as thou hast done. On the one part thou provokest me to anger, And on the other side to compassion: I know not how thy answer to fashion. The words which thou speakest in my presence Be so misty, I perceive not thy sentence. CEL. I said I left one in danger of sickness, Drawing to death for ought that I can see: Now choose you or no to be murderess, Or revive him with a word to come from thee? MEL. I am happy, if my word be of such necessity, To help any Christian man, or else gods forbid: To do a good deed is liking to God, For good deeds to good men be allowable, And specially to needy above all other; And ever to good deeds ye shall find me agreeable, Trusting ye will exhort me to none other. Therefore, fear not, speak your petition, good mother, For they that may heal sick folk, and do refuse them, Surely of their death they cannot excuse them. CEL. Full well and graciously the case ye consider, For I never believed that God in vain Would give you such countenance and beauty together, But charity therewith to relieve folk in pain; And as God hath given you, so give him again. For folks be not made for themselves only, For then they should live like beasts all rudely, Among which beasts yet some be pitiful,[64] The unicorn humbleth himself to a maid;[65] And a dog in all his power ireful, Let a man fall to ground, his anger is delayed:[66] Thus by nature pity is conveyed. The cock, when he scrapeth, and happeth meat to find, Calleth for his hens: lo! see the gentle kind! Should human creatures then be of cruelness? Should not they to their neighbours show charity, And specially to them wrapped in sickness, When[67] they that may heal them cause the infirmity? MEL. Mother, without delay, for God's sake show me, I pray thee heartily, without more praying, Where is the patient that so is paining.[68] CEL. Fair damsel, thou mayest well have knowledge hereto: That in this city is a young knight, And of clear lineage, called Calisto, Whose life and body is all in thee, I plight. The pelican, to show nature's right, Feedeth his birds,—methinketh I should not preach thee! Thou wotest what I mean, as nature should teach thee. MEL. Ha, ha, is this the intent of thy conclusion? Tell me no more of this matter, I charge thee. Is this the dolent[69] for whom thou makest petition? Art thou come hither thus to deceive me? Thou bearded dame, shameless thou seemest to be! Is this he that hath the passion of foolishness? Thinkest, thou ribald, I am such an one of lewdness? It is not said, I see well, in vain: The tongue of man and woman worst members be; Thou brute bawd, thou great enemy to honesty, certain; Cause of secret errors: Jesu, Jesu, benedicite Some good body take this old thief from me, That thus would me deceive with her false sleight! Go out of my sight now! get thee hence straight! CEL. In an evil hour came I hither, I may say; I would I had broken my legs twain. MEL. Go hence, thou brothel, go hence, in the devil way! Bidest thou yet to increase my pain? Wilt thou make me of this fool to be fain? To give him life, to make him merry, And to myself death, to make me sorry? Wilt thou bear away profit for my perdition, And make me lese the house of my father, To win the house of such an old matron As thou art, shamefullest of all other? Thinkest thou that I understand not, thou false mother, Thy hurtful message, thy false subtle ways? Make amends to God, thou livest too long days! Answer, thou traitress, how darest be so bold? CEL. The fear of thee maketh me so dismayed, That the blood of my body is almost cold. Alas! fair maiden, what hast thou said To me poor widow? why am I denied? Hear my conclusion, which is of honesty; Without cause ye blame this gentleman and me. MEL. I say I will hear no more of that fool: Was he not here with me even now? Thou old witch, thou bringest me in great dole: Ask him what answer he had of me, and how I took his demand, as now know mayest thou, More showing is but lost, where no mercy can be. Thus I answered him, and thus I answer thee. CEL. The more strange she maketh, the gladder am I: There is no tempest, that ever doth endure. [Aside. MEL. What say'st thou, what say'st, thou shameful enemy? Speak out. CEL. So 'feard I am of your displeasure; Your anger is so great, I perceive it sure, And your patience is in so great an heat, That for woe and fear I both weep and sweat. MEL. Little is the heat in comparison to say To the great boldness of thy demeaning. CEL. Fair maiden, yet one word, now I you pray: Appease with patience, and bear my saying. It is for a prayer, mistress, my demanding, That is said ye have of Saint Appoline, For the toothache, whereof this man is in pain. And the girdle there thou wearest about thee, And so many holy relics it hath touched, That this knight thinketh his boot thou may'st be. Therefore let thy pity now be avouched; For my heart for fear like a dog is couched. The delight of vengeance whoso doth use, Pity at their need shall them refuse. MEL. If this be true, that thou say'st to me now, Mine heart is lightened, perceiving the case: I would be content well, if I wist how, To bring this sick knight unto some solace. CEL. Fair damsel, to thee be health and grace: For if this knight and ye were acquainted both two, Ye would not judge him the man that ye do. By God and by my soul, in him is no melancholy: With grace endued in freedom as Alexander, In strength as Hector, in countenance merry: Gracious, envy in him reigned never. Of noble blood, as thou knowest, and if ye ever Saw him armed, he seemeth a Saint George. Rather than to be made in nature's forge, An angel thou would'st judge him, I make a vow. The gentle Narcissus was never so fair, That was enamoured on his own shadow; Wherefore, fair maid, let thy pity repair: Let mercy be thy mother, and thou her heir. This knight, whom I come for, never ceaseth. But crieth out of pain, that still increaseth. MEL. How long time, I pray thee, hath it holden him? CEL. I think he be twenty-four years of age; I saw him born, and holp for to fold him. MEL. I demand thee not thereof: thine answer assuage; I ask thee how long in this painful rage He hath lain? CEL. Of truth, fair maiden, as he says, He hath be in this agony this eight days. But he seemeth, [as] he had lain this seven year. MEL. Oh, how it grieveth me the ill of my patient, Knowing his agony and thy innocency here. Unto mine anger thou hast made resistance, Wherefore thy demand I grant in recompense. Have here my girdle: the prayer is not ready; To-morrow it shall be: come again secretly. And, mother, of these words passed between us Show nothing thereof unto this knight, Lest he would report me cruel and furious. I trust thee now be true, for thoughts be light. CEL. I marvel greatly thou dost me so atwite Of the doubt, that thou hast of my secretness: As secret as thyself I shall be doubtless. And to Calisto with this girdle Celestina Shall go, and his leady heart make whole and light. For Gabriel to our lady with Ave Maria Came never gladder than I shall to this knight. Calisto, how wilt thou now sit upright? I have showed thy water to thy physician: Comfort thyself: the field is half-won. [Aside. MEL. Mother, he is much beholden unto thee. CEL. Fair maiden, for the mercy thou hast done to us This knight and I both thy beadfolks shall be. MEL. Mother, if need be, I will do more than thus. CEL. It shall be needful to do so and righteous; For this thus begun must needs have an end, Which never can be without ye condescend. MEL. Well, mother, to-morrow is a new day:[70] I shall perform that I have you promised. Show to this sick knight in all that I may. Bid him be bold in all things honest, And though he to me as yet be but a guest, If my word or deed his health may support, I shall not fail; and thus bid him take comfort. [Exit Melibaea. CEL. Now, Christ comfort thee, and keep thee in thy need! Now say you, now is not this matter carried clear? Cannot old Celestina her matter speed? A thing not well handled is not worth a bean. Now know ye by the half tale what the whole doth mean: These women at the first be angry and furious: Fair weather cometh after storms tempestuous. And now to Calisto I will me dress, Which lieth now languishing in great pain, And show him that he is not remediless; And bear him this to make him glad and fain; And handle him, so that ye shall see plain, That I am well worthy to bear the name, For to be called a noble arch dame. [Exit.

Intrat DANIO pater MELIBAEAE.

O marvellous God, what a dream had I to-night! Most terrible vision to report and hear! I had never none such, nor none yearthly wight. Alas! when I think thereon, I quake for fear; It was of Melibaea, my daughter dear. God send me good tidings of her shortly, For, till I hear from her, I cannot be merry.

Intrat MELIBAEA.

MEL. O dear father, nothing may me more displease, Nothing may do me more annoyance, Nothing may do me greater disease, Than to see you, father, in any perturbance, For me chiefly, or for any other chance. But for me I pray you not to be sad, For I have no cause but to be merry and glad. DAN. O sweet Melibaea, my daughter dear, I am replete with joy and felicity, For that ye be now in my presence here, As I perceive, in joy and prosperity; From death to life me thinketh it reviveth me; For the fearful dream that I had lately. MEL. What dream, sir, was that, I pray you heartily? DAN. Doubtless, me thought that I was walking In a fair orchard, where were places two: The one was a hot bath, wholesome and pleasing To all people that did repair thereto, To wash them and clean them from sickness also; The other a pit of foul stinking water; Shortly they died, all that therein did enter. And unto this wholesome bath methought that ye In the right path were coming apace, But before that methought that I did see A foul, rough bitch—a prick-eared cur it was— Which straking her body along on the grass, And with her tail licked her so, that she Made herself a fair spaniel to be. This bitch then (methought) met you in the way, Leaping and fawning upon you apace, And round about you did run and play, Which made you then disport and solace; Which liked you so well, that in short space The way to the hot bath anon ye left it, And took the straight way to the foul pit. And ever ye looked continually Upon that same bitch, and so much her eyed, That ye came to the foul pit-brink suddenly, Like to have fallen in, and to have been destroyed, Which when I saw, anon then I cried, Starting in my sleep, and therewith did awake; That yet for fear, methink, my body doth quake. Was not this a fearful dream and marvellous? I pray you, daughter, what think ye now to this?

Hic MELIBAEA certo tempore non loquitur, sed vultu lamentabili respicit.

Why speak ye not? why be ye now so studious? Is there anything that hath chanced you amiss? I am your father: tell me what it is. MEL. Alas, now your dream, which ye have expressed, Hath made me all pensive and sore abashed. DAN. I pray you, dear daughter, now tell me why? MEL. Sir, I know the cause of your vision, And what your dreadful dream doth signify. DAN. Thereof would I fain now have knowlition. MEL. Alas, dear father, alas, what have I done? Offended God as a wretch unworthy! DAN. Wherein? despair not; God is full of mercy.

Et genuflectat.

MEL. Then on my knees now I fall down, And of God chiefly asking forgiveness; And next of you; for into oblivion I have put your doctrine and lessons doubtless. DAN. Fear not, daughter, I am not merciless; I trust ye have not so greatly offended, But that right well it may be amended. MEL. Ye have fostered me up full lovingly In virtuous discipline, which is the right path To all grace and virtue; which doth signify By your dream the fair, pleasant, wholesome bath: The foul pit, whereof ye dreamed, which hath Destroyed so many, betokeneth vice and sin, In which, alas, I had almost fallen in. The prick-eared cur and the foul bitch, Which made herself so smooth and fair to see, Betokeneth an old quean, a bawdy witch, Called Celestina, that woe might she be! Which with her fair words aye so persuaded me, That she had almost brought me hereunto, To fulfil the foul lust of Calisto. DAN. Alas, dear daughter, I taught you a lesson, Which way ye should attain unto virtue: That was every morning to say an orison, Praying God for grace all vice to eschew. MEL. O dear father, that lesson I have kept true; Which preserved me, for though I did consent In mind, yet had he never his intent. DAN. The virtue of that prayer, I see well one thing, Hath preserved you from the shame of that sin; But because ye were somewhat consenting, Ye have offended God greatly therein; Wherefore, daughter, ye must now begin Humbly to beseech God of His mercy For to forgive you your sin and misery. MEL. O blessed Lord, and father celestial, Whose infinite mercy no tongue can express, Though I be a sinner, wretch of wretches all, Yet of thy great mercy grant me forgiveness. Full sore I repent, my sin I confess: Intending henceforth never to offend more: Now humbly I beseech thy mercy therefore. DAN. Now that is well said, mine own fair daughter; Stand up therefore, for I know verily, That God is good and merciful ever To all sinners which will ask mercy, And be repentant and in will clearly To sin no more. He of His great goodness Will grant them therefore His grace and forgiveness. Lo, here ye may see, what a thing it is To bring up young people virtuously, In good custom; for grace doth never miss To them that use good prayers daily, Which hath preserved this maid undoubtedly, And kept her from actual deed of shame: Brought her to grace: preserved her good name. Wherefore, ye virgins and fair maidens all, Unto this example now take good heed; Serve God daily; the sooner ye shall To honesty and goodness no doubt proceed; And God shall send you ever his grace at need To withstand all evil temptations, That shall come to you by any occasions. And ye, fathers, mothers, and other, which be Rulers of young folks, your charge is doubtless To bring them up virtuously, and to see Them occupied still in some good business; Not in idle pastime or unthriftiness, But to teach them some art, craft, or learning, Whereby to be able to get their living. The bringers-up of youth in this region Have done great harm because of their negligence, Not putting them to learning nor occupations: So, when they have no craft nor science, And come to man's state, ye see the experience, That many of them compelled be To beg or steal by very necessity. But if there be therefore any remedy, The heads and rulers must first be diligent To make good laws, and execute them straitly, Upon such masters that be negligent. Alas! we make no laws, but punishment, When men have offended. But laws evermore Would be made to prevent the cause before. If the cause of the mischiefs were seen before, Which by conjecture to fall be most likely, And good laws and ordinance made therefore To put away the cause, that were best remedy. What is the cause, that there be so many Thefts and robberies? It is because men be Driven thereto by need and poverty. And what is the very cause of that need? Because they labour not for their living; And truth is, they cannot well labour indeed, Because in youth of their idle upbringing. But this thing shall never come to reforming, But the world continually shall be nought, As long as young people be evil up-brought. Wherefore the eternal God, that reigneth on high, Send his merciful grace and influence To all governors, that they circumspectly May rule their inferiors by such prudence, To bring them to virtue and due obedience, And that they and we all by his great mercy May be partners of his blessed glory.

AMEN.[71]



EVERYMAN: A MORAL PLAY.



_EDITIONS.

For a list of the editions, see Hazlitt_ ut infra. _A facsimile of the title-page of one of the editions by Skot is here given. Neither of the editions by Pynson has the title_.



HAWKINS'S PREFACE.

This morality, or moral play, was published early in the reign of Henry VIII.,[72] and is given from a black-letter copy,[73] preserved in the library of the church of Lincoln. It was communicated to the editor with the greatest politeness by the Rev. Dr Stinton, chancellor of that church. The design of it was to inculcate great reverence for old mother church and her Popish superstitions.

As the most ingenious Dr Percy has given an analysis of this and the following moralities, they are, with his permission, prefixed to the present edition:—"The subject of this piece is the summoning of man out of the world by death; and its moral, that nothing will then avail him but a well-spent life and the comforts of religion. This subject and moral are opened in a monologue spoken by the Messenger (for that was the name generally given by our ancestors to the prologue on their rude stage). Then God is represented, who, after some general complaints on the degeneracy of mankind, calls for Death, and orders him to bring before his tribunal Everyman, for so is called the personage who represents the human race. Everyman appears, and receives the summons with all the marks of confusion and terror. When Death is withdrawn, Everyman applies for relief in this distress to Fellowship, Kindred, Goods, or Riches, but they successfully renounce and forsake him. In this disconsolate state he betakes himself to Good Deeds, who, after upbraiding him with his long neglect of her, introduces him to her sister Knowledge, and she leads him to the holy man Confession, who appoints him penance; this he inflicts upon himself on the stage, and then withdraws to receive the sacraments of the priest. On his return he begins to wax faint; and, after Strength, Beauty, Discretion, and Five Wits, have all taken their final leave of him, gradually expires on the stage; Good Deeds still accompanying him to the last. Then an angel descends to sing his requiem; and the epilogue is spoken by a person called Doctor, who recapitulates the whole, and delivers the moral.

DOCTOR.

'This moral men may have in mind; Ye hearers, take it of worth old and young, And forsake pride, for he deceiveth you in the end, And remember Beauty, Five Wits, Strength, and Discretion. They all at the last do Everyman forsake; Save his Good Deeds there doth he take: But beware, and they be small, Before God he hath no help at all.'

"From this short analysis it may be observed that Everyman is a grave, solemn piece, not without some rude attempts to excite terror and pity, and therefore may not improperly be referred to the class of tragedy. It is remarkable that in this old simple drama the fable is conducted upon the strictest model of the Greek tragedy. The action is simply one, the time of action is that of the performance, the scene is never changed, nor the stage ever empty. Everyman, the hero of the piece, after his first appearance, never withdraws, except when he goes out to receive the sacrament, which could not well be exhibited in public; and during this, Knowledge descants on the excellence and power of the priesthood, somewhat after, the manner of the Greek chorus. And, indeed, except in the circumstance of Everyman's expiring on the stage, the 'Samson Agonistes' of Milton is hardly formed on a severer plan."[74]

The woodcuts accompanying this and the succeeding piece (Hickescorner), occur in the original editions by Skot, and presumably were also in those by Pynson.



DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

MESSENGER. KNOWLEDGE. GOD. CONFESSION. DEATH. BEAUTY. EVERYMAN. STRENGTH. FELLOWSHIP. DISCRETION. KINDRED. FIVE WITS. GOODS. ANGEL. GOOD DEEDS. DOCTOR.



HERE BEGINNETH A TREATISE HOW THE HIGH FATHER OF HEAVEN SENDETH DEATH TO SUMMON EVERY CREATURE TO COME AND GIVE ACCOUNT OF THEIR LIVES IN THIS WORLD, AND IS IN MANNER OF A MORAL PLAY.



MESSENGER.

I Pray you all give your audience, And hear this matter with reverence, By figure a moral play; The Summoning of Everyman called it is, That of our lives and ending shows, How transitory we be all day: This matter is wonders[75] precious, But the intent of it is more gracious, And sweet to bear away. The story saith: man, in the beginning Look well, and take good heed to the ending, Be you never so gay: Ye think sin in the beginning full sweet, Which in the end causeth thy soul to weep, When the body lieth in clay. Here shall you see how Fellowship and Jollity, Both Strength, Pleasure, and Beauty, Will fade from thee as flower in May; For ye shall hear, how our Heaven King Calleth Everyman to a general reckoning: Give audience, and hear what he doth say.

GOD[76] speaketh.

I perceive here in my Majesty, How that all creatures be to me unkind, Living without dread in worldly prosperity: Of ghostly sight the people be so blind, Drowned in sin, they knew me not for their God; In worldly riches is all their mind, They fear not my rightwiseness, the sharp rod; My law that I showed, when I for them died, They forget clean, and shedding of my blood red; I hanged between two, it cannot be denied; To get them life I suffered to be dead; I healed their feet, with thorns hurt was my head: I could do no more than I did truly, And now I see the people do clean forsake me: They use the seven deadly sins damnable, As pride, covetise, wrath, and lechery, Now in the world be made commendable: And thus they leave, of angels the heavenly company, Every man liveth so after his own pleasure, And yet of their life they be nothing sure: I see the more that I them forbear The worse they be from year to year; All that liveth appaireth[77] fast, Therefore I will in all the haste Have a reckoning of every man's person; For, and I leave the people thus alone In their life and wicked tempests, Verily they will become much worse than beasts; For now one would by envy another up eat; Charity they do all clean forget. I hoped well that every man In my glory should make his mansion, And thereto I had them all elect; But now I see, like traitors deject, They thank me not for the pleasure that I to them meant, Nor yet for their being that I them have lent; I proffered the people great multitude of mercy, And few there be that asketh it heartly; They be so cumbered with worldly riches, That needs on them I must do justice, On every man living without fear. Where art thou, Death, thou mighty messenger?

DEATH.

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

GOD.

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

DEATH.

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

EVERYMAN.

Why askest thou? Wouldest thou wit?

DEATH.

Yea, sir, I will show you; in great haste I am sent to thee Fro God out of his Majesty.

EVERYMAN.

What! sent to me?

DEATH.

Yea, certainly: Though you have forgot him here, He thinketh on thee in the heavenly sphere; As, ere we depart, thou shalt know.

EVERYMAN.

What desireth God of me?

DEATH.

That shall I show thee; A reckoning he will needs have Without any lenger respite.

EVERYMAN.

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

DEATH.

On thee thou must take a long journey, Therefore thy book of count with thee thou bring, For turn again thou cannot by no way: And look thou be sure of thy reckoning; For before God thou shalt answer and show Thy many bad deeds, and good but a few, How thou hast spent thy life, and in what wise, Before the chief lord of paradise. Have ado that[78] we were in that way, For, wit thou well, thou shalt make none attorney.

EVERYMAN.

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

DEATH.

I am Death, that no man dreadeth; For every man I 'rrest, and no man spareth, For it is God's commandment That all to me should be obedient.

EVERYMAN.

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

DEATH.

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

EVERYMAN.

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

DEATH.

Thee availeth not to cry, weep, and pray: But haste thee lightly, that thou wert gone this journey; And prove thy friends, if thou can; For, wit thou well, the tide abideth no man, And in the world each living creature For Adam's sin must die of nature.

EVERYMAN.

Death, if I should this pilgrimage take, And my reckoning surely make, Show me, for Saint Charity, Should I not come again shortly?

DEATH.

No, Everyman, and thou be once there, Thou mayest never more come here, Trust me verily.

EVERYMAN.

O gracious God, in the high seat celestial, Have mercy on me in this most need. Shall I have no company from this vale terrestrial Of mine acquaince,[79] that way me to lead?

DEATH.

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

EVERYMAN.

I had ween'd so verily.

DEATH.

Nay, nay; it was but lend thee; For, as soon as thou art gone, Another awhile shall have it, and then go therefro, Even as thou hast done. Everyman, thou art mad, thou hast thy wits five, And here on earth will not amend thy life; For suddenly I do come.

EVERYMAN.

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

DEATH.

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

EVERYMAN.

Alas! I may well weep with sighs deep: Now have I no manner of company To help me in my journey, and me to keep; And also my writing is full unready. How shall I do now for to excuse me! I would to God I had never be got;[80] To my soul a full great profit it had be; For now I fear pains huge and great. The time passeth: Lord, help, that all wrought! For though I mourn, it availeth nought: The day passeth, and is almost ago; I wot not well what for to do. To whom were I best my complaint to make? What, and I to Fellowship thereof spake, And showed him of this sudden chance! For in him is all mine affiance; We have in the world so many a day Be good friends in sport and play, I see him yonder certainly; I trust that he will bear me company, Therefore to him will I speak to ease my sorrow, Well met, good Fellowship, and good morrow.

FELLOWSHIP speaketh.

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

EVERYMAN.

Yea, good Fellowship, yea; I am in great jeopardy.

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

That was well spoken and lovingly.

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

Verily, Fellowship, gramercy.

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

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

FELLOWSHIP.

Sir, I say as I will do in deed.

EVERYMAN.

Then be you a good friend at need; I have found you true here-before.

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

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

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

I shall show you how it is: Commanded I am to go a journey, A long way, hard and dangerous; And give a strait account without delay Before the High Judge Adonai;[81] Wherefore, I pray you, bear me company, As ye have promised in this journey.

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

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

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

Nay, never again till the day of doom.

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

Indeed, Death was with me here.

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

Ye promised otherwise, pardy.

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

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

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

Oh, that is a simple advice indeed: Gentle fellows[hip,] help me in my necessity; We have loved long, and now I need, And now, gentle Fellowship, remember me.

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

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

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

Whither away, Fellowship? will you forsake me?

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

Farewell, good Fellowship; for this my heart is sore: Adieu for ever, I shall see thee no more.

FELLOWSHIP.

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

EVERYMAN.

Alack! shall we thus depart in deed, O Lady, help, without any more comfort, Lo,[82] Fellowship forsaketh me in my most need: For help in this world whither shall I resort? Fellowship here before with me would merry make; And now little sorrow for me doth he take. It is said, in prosperity men friends may find, Which in adversity be full unkind. Now whither for succour shall I flee, Sith that Fellowship hath forsaken me? To my kinsmen I will truly, Praying them to help me in my necessity; I believe that they will do so; For kind will creep, where it may not go.[83] I will go say; for yonder I see them go: Where be ye now, my friends and kinsmen [lo?]

KINDRED.

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

COUSIN.

Yea, Everyman, and to us declare If ye be disposed to go any whither; For, wot ye well, we[84] will live and die together.

KINDRED.

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

EVERYMAN.

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

KINDRED.

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

EVERYMAN.

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

COUSIN.

What, to go thither? Is that the matter? Nay, Everyman, I had liever fast bread and water, All this five year and more.

EVERYMAN.

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

KINDRED.

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

EVERYMAN.

My cousin, will you not with me go?

COUSIN.

No, by our lady, I have the cramp in my toe: Trust not to me; for, so God me speed, I will[85] deceive you in your most need.

KINDRED.

It availeth not us to tice:[86] Ye shall have my maid with all my heart; She loveth to go to feasts, there to be nice, And to dance, and abroad to start: I will give her leave to help you in that journey, If that you and she may agree.

EVERYMAN.

No, show me the very effect of your mind; Will you go with me, or abide behind?

KINDRED.

Abide behind! yea, that will I, and I may; Therefore farewell till another day.

EVERYMAN.

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

COUSIN.

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

EVERYMAN.

Ah, Jesu, is all come hereto? Lo, fair words maketh fools fain;[87] They promise, and nothing will do certain. My kinsmen promised me faithfully, For to abide with me steadfastly; And now fast away do they flee: Even so Fellowship promised me. What friend were best me of to provide? I lose my time here longer to abide; Yet in my mind a thing there is: All my life I have loved riches; If that my Good now help me might, It would make my heart full light: I will speak to him in this distress: Where art thou, my Goods and Riches?

GOODS.

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

EVERYMAN.

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

GOODS.

Sir, and ye in the world have sorrow or adversity, That can I help you to remedy shortly.

EVERYMAN.

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

GOODS.

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

EVERYMAN.

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

GOODS.

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

EVERYMAN.

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

GOODS.

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

EVERYMAN.

Lo, now was I deceived, ere I was ware, And all, I may wete, mis-spending of time.

GOODS.

What, wenest thou that I am thine?

EVERYMAN.

I had went[88] so.

GOODS.

Nay, Everyman, I say no: As for a while I was lent thee; A season thou hast had me in prosperity; My condition is man's soul to kill, If I save one, a thousand I do spill: Weenest thou that I will follow thee? Nay, not fro this world, verily.

EVERYMAN.

I had weened otherwise.

GOODS.

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

EVERYMAN.

O false Good, cursed may thou be, Thou traitor to God, thou hast deceived me, And caught me in thy snare.

GOODS.

Marry, thou brought thyself in care, Whereof I am right glad: I must needs laugh, I cannot be sad.

EVERYMAN.

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

GOODS.

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

EVERYMAN.

Oh, to whom shall I make my moan, For to go with me in that heavy journey? First Fellowship he said he would with me gone; His words were very pleasant and gay, But afterward he left me alone. Then spake I to my kinsmen all in despair, And also they gave me words fair, They lacked no fair speaking; But all forsake me in the ending. Then went I to my Goods that I loved best, In hope to have found comfort; but there had I least: For my Goods sharply did me tell, That he bringeth many in hell. Then of myself I was ashamed, And so I am worthy to be blamed: Thus may I well myself hate. Of whom shall I now counsel take? I think that I shall never speed, Till that I go to my Good Deed; But, alas! she is so weak, That she can nother go nor speak: Yet will I venter on her now. My Good Deeds, where be you?

GOOD DEEDS.

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

EVERYMAN.

O Good Deeds, I stand in great fear; I must you pray of counsel, For help now should come right well.

GOOD DEEDS.

Everyman, I have understanding, That thou art summoned account to make Before Messias of Jerusalem King; And you do by me, that journey with[89] you will I take.

EVERYMAN.

Therefore I come to you my moan to make: I pray you, that ye will go with me.

GOOD DEEDS.

I would full fain, but I cannot stand verily.

EVERYMAN.

Why, is there anything on you fall?

GOOD DEEDS.

Yea, sir, I may thank you of all; If ye had perfectly cheered me, Your book of account full ready now had be. Look, the books of your works and deeds eke! Behold how they lie under the feet, To your soul's heaviness.

EVERYMAN.

Our Lord Jesus help me, For one letter herein can I not see.

GOOD DEEDS.

Here is a blind reckoning in time of distress!

EVERYMAN.

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

GOOD DEEDS.

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

EVERYMAN.

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

GOOD DEEDS.

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

KNOWLEDGE.

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

EVERYMAN.

In good condition I am now in every thing, And am wholly content with this good thing, Thanked be God my Creature.[90]

GOOD DEEDS.

And when he hath brought thee there, Where thou shalt heal thee of thy smart, Then go thou with thy reckoning and thy good deeds together. For to make thee joyful at the heart Before the blessed Trinity.

EVERYMAN.

My Good Deeds, I thank thee heartfully: I am well content certainly With your words sweet.

KNOWLEDGE.

Now go we together lovingly To Confession, that cleansing river.

EVERYMAN.

For joy I weep: I would we there were; But I pray you to instruct me by intellection,[91] Where dwelleth that holy virtue Confession?

KNOWLEDGE.

In the house of salvation; We shall find him in that place, That shall us comfort by God's grace. Lo, this is Confession: kneel down, and ask mercy; For he is in good conceit with God Almighty.

EVERYMAN.

O glorious fountain that all uncleanness doth clarify, Wash from me the spots of vices unclean, That on me no sin may be seen; I come with Knowledge for my redemption, Redempt with heart and full contrition, For I am commanded a pilgrimage to take, And great accounts before God to make. Now I pray you, Shrift, mother of salvation, Help hither my good deeds for my piteous exclamation.

CONFESSION.

I know your sorrow well, Everyman: Because with Knowledge ye come to me, I will you comfort as well as I can; And a precious jewel I will give thee, Called penance, voider[92] of adversity: Therewith shall your body chastised be With abstinence and perseverance in God's service; Here shall you receive that scourge of me, Which is penance strong that ye must endure, Remember thy Saviour was scourged for thee With sharp scourges, and suffered it patiently: So must thou, ere thou pass thy pilgrimage. Knowledge, keep him in this voyage, And by that time Good Deeds will be with thee; But in anywise be sure of mercy, For your time draweth fast; and ye will saved be, Ask God mercy, and he will grant truly: When with the scourge of penance man doth him bind, The oil of forgiveness then shall he find.

EVERYMAN.

Thanked be God for his gracious work; For now I will my penance begin: This hath rejoiced and lighted my heart, Though the knots be painful and hard within.

KNOWLEDGE.

Everyman, look your penance that ye fulfil, What pain that ever it to you be; And I shall give you counsel at will, How your account ye shall make clearly.

EVERYMAN.

O eternal God, O heavenly figure, O way of rightwiseness, O goodly vision, Which descended down in a virgin pure, Because he would Everyman redeem, Which Adam forfeited by his disobedience, O blessed Godhead, elect and high Divine, Forgive me my grievous offence; Here I cry thee mercy in this presence: O ghostly treasure, O ransomer and redeemer! Of all the world hope and conduyter, Mirror of joy, foundation of mercy, Which enlumineth heaven and earth thereby, Hear my clamorous complaint, though it late be, Receive my prayers of thy benignity, Though I be a sinner most abominable, Yet let my name be written in Moses' table. O Mary, pray to the Maker of all thing Me for to help at my ending, And save me from the power of my enemy; For Death assaileth me strongly: And, Lady, that I may by mean of thy prayer Of your son's glory to be partiner. By the mean of his passion I it crave; I beseek you help me my soul to save. Knowledge, give me the scourge of penance, My flesh therewith shall give acquittance; I will now begin, if God give me grace.

KNOWLEDGE.

Everyman, God give you time and space! Thus I bequeath you in the hands of our Saviour; Now may you make your reckoning sure.

EVERYMAN.

In the name of all the Holy Trinity, My body punished sore shall be, Take this body for the sin of the flesh; Also thou delightest to go gay and fresh; And in the way of damnation thou did me bring, Therefore suffer now strokes and punishing: Now of penance I will wade the water clear, To save me from purgatory, that sharp fire.[93]

GOOD DEEDS.

I thank God, now I can walk and go, And am delivered of my sickness and woe; Therefore with Everyman I will go, and not spare, His good works I will help him to declare.

KNOWLEDGE.

Now, Everyman, be merry and glad; Your Good Deeds cometh now, ye may not be sad: Now is your Good Deeds whole and sound, Going upright upon the ground.

EVERYMAN.

My heart is light, and shall be evermore; Now will I smite faster than I did before.

GOOD DEEDS.

Everyman pilgrim, my special friend, Blessed be thou without end; For thee is prepared the eternal glory: Ye have me made whole and sound, Therefore I will bide by thee in every stound.

EVERYMAN.

Welcome, my Good Deeds, now I hear thy voice, I weep for very sweetness of love.

KNOWLEDGE.

Be no more sad, but evermore rejoice, God seeth thy living in His throne above; Put on this garment to thy behove, Which with your tears is now all wet, Lest before God it be unsweet, When ye to your journey's end come shall.

EVERYMAN.

Gentle Knowledge, what do ye it call?

KNOWLEDGE.

It is the garment of sorrow, From pain it will you borrow; Contrition it is, That getteth forgiveness, It pleaseth God passing-well.

GOOD DEEDS.

Everyman, will you wear it for your hele?[94]

EVERYMAN.

Now blessed be Jesu, Mary's son; For now have I on true contrition: And let us go now without tarrying. Good Deeds, have we clear our reckoning?

GOOD DEEDS.

Yea, indeed, I have here.

EVERYMAN.

Then I trust we need not to fear; Now, friends, let us not depart in twain.

KINDRED.

Nay, Everyman, that will we not certain.

GOOD DEEDS.

Yet must thou lead with thee Three persons of great might.

EVERYMAN.

Who should they be?

GOOD DEEDS.

Discretion and Strength they hyght,[95] And thy Beauty may not abide behind.

KNOWLEDGE.

Also ye must call to mind Your Five Wits[96] as for your councillors.

GOOD DEEDS.

You must have them ready at all hours.

EVERYMAN.

How shall I get them hither?

KINDRED.

You must call them all together, And they will hear you incontinent.

EVERYMAN.

My friends, come hither, and be present, Discretion, Strength, my Five Wits and Beauty.

BEAUTY.

Here at your will we be all ready; What will ye that we should do?

GOOD DEEDS.

That ye would with Everyman go, And help him in his pilgrimage: Advise you, will ye go with him or not in that voyage?

STRENGTH.

We will bring him all thither To help and comfort him, ye may believe me.

DISCRETION.

So will we go with him altogether.

EVERYMAN.

Almighty God, loved may Thou be; I give Thee laud[97] that I have hither brought Strength, Discretion, Beauty, Five Wits: lack I nought: And my Good Deeds, with Knowledge clear, All be in my company at my will here; I desire no more to my business.[98]

STRENGTH.

And I Strength will by you stand in distress, Though thou wouldest in battle fight on the ground.

FIVE WITS.

And though it were thorow the world round, We will not depart for sweet ne for sour.

BEAUTY.

No more will I unto death's hour, Whatsoever thereof befall.

DISCRETION.

Everyman, advise you first of all, Go with a good advisement and deliberation; We all give you virtuous monition That all shall be well.

EVERYMAN.

My friends, hark what I will you tell; I pray God reward you in His heavenly sphere: Now hearken all that be here; For I will make my testament Here before you all present: In alms half my good I will give with my hands twain In the way of charity with good intent, And the other half still shall remain: I it bequeath to be returned there it ought to be. This I do in despite of the fiend of hell, To go quit[99] out of his peril[100] Ever after this day.

KNOWLEDGE.

Everyman, hearken what I will say; Go to priesthood, I you advise, And receive of him in any wise The holy sacrament and ointment[101] together, Then shortly see ye turn again hither, We will all abide you here.

FIVE WITS.

Yea, Everyman, hie you that ye ready were: There is no emperor, king, duke, ne baron, That of God hath commission, As hath the least priest in the world being; For of the blessed sacraments pure and benign He beareth the keys, and thereof hath cure For man's redemption, it is ever sure, Which God for our soul's medicine Gave us out of his heart with great pain, Here in this transitory life for thee and me: The blessed sacraments seven there be, Baptism, confirmation, with priesthood good, And the sacrament of God's precious flesh and blood, Marriage, the holy extreme unction, and penance; These seven be good to have in remembrance, Gracious sacraments of high divinity.

EVERYMAN.

Fain would I receive that holy body, And meekly to my ghostly father I will go.

FIVE WITS.

Everyman, that is the best that ye can do; God will you to salvation bring, For good priesthood exceedeth all other thing; To us holy scripture they do teach, And converteth man fro sin heaven to reach; God hath to them more power given Than to any angel that is in heaven: With five words he may consecrate God's body in flesh and blood to take, And handleth his Maker between his hands,[102] The priest bindeth and unbindeth all bands Both in earth and in heaven; He[103] ministers all the sacraments seven: Though we kiss thy feet, thou wert worthy: Thou art the surgeon that cureth sin deadly, No remedy may we find under God, But all only priesthood. Everyman, God gave priest[s] that dignity, And setteth them in His stead among us to be; Thus be they above angels in degree.

KNOWLEDGE.

If priests be good, it is so surely, But when Jesu heng on the cross with great smart, There he gave us out of his blessed heart The same sacrament in great torment. He sold them not to us, that Lord omnipotent; Therefore Saint Peter the Apostle doth say, That Jesus' curse hath all they, Which God their Saviour do buy or sell, Or they for any money do take or tell, Sinful priests giveth the sinners example bad, Their children sitteth by other men's fires, I have heard, And some haunteth women's company, With unclean life, as lusts of lechery; These be with sin made blind.

FIVE WITS.

I trust to God, no such may we find: Therefore let us priesthood honour, And follow their doctrine for our soul's succour; We be their sheep, and they [our] shepherds be, By whom we all be kept in surety. Peace! for yonder I see Everyman come, Which hath made true satisfaction.

GOOD DEEDS.

Methink it is he indeed.

EVERYMAN.

Now Jesu Christ be your alder[104] speed! I have received the sacrament for my redemption, And then mine extreme unction; Blessed be all they that counselled me to take it: And now, friends, let us go without longer respite; I thank God that ye have tarried so long. Now set each of you on this rod your hand, And shortly follow me; I go before, there I would be: God be our guide.

STRENGTH.

Everyman, we will not fro you go, Till ye have gone this voyage long.

DISCRETION.

I Discretion will bide by you also.

KNOWLEDGE.

And though this pilgrimage be never so strong, I will never part you fro: Everyman, I will be as sure by thee, As ever I was by Judas Maccabee.

EVERYMAN.

Alas! I am so faint I may not stand, My limbs under me do fold: Friends, let us not turn again to this land, Not for all the world's gold; For into this cave must I creep,

BEAUTY.

And turn to the earth, and there to sleep.

EVERYMAN.

What, into this grave? Alas!

BEAUTY.

Yea, there shall ye consume more and less.

EVERYMAN.

And what, should I smother here? Yea, by my faith, and never more appear; In this world live no more we shall, But in heaven before the highest Lord of all.

BEAUTY.

I cross out all this: adieu, by Saint John; I take my cap in my lap, and am gone.

EVERYMAN.

What, Beauty? whither will ye?

BEAUTY.

Peace! I am deaf, I look not behind me, Not, and thou wouldst give me—all the gold in thy chest.

EVERYMAN.

Alas! whereto may I now trust? Beauty doth fast away hie: She promised with me to live and die.

STRENGTH.

Everyman, I will thee also forsake and deny, The game liketh me not at all.

EVERYMAN.

Why then ye will forsake me all: Strength, tarry, I pray you, a little space.

STRENGTH.

Nay, sir, by the rood of grace, I will hie me from thee fast, Though thou weep till thy heart brast.

EVERYMAN.

Ye would ever bide by me, ye said.

STRENGTH.

Yea, I have you far enough conveyed: Ye be old enough, I understand, Your pilgrimage to take on hand; I repent me, that I hither came.

EVERYMAN.

Strength, you to displease I am to blame; Yet promise is debt;[105] this ye well wot.

STRENGTH.

In faith, as for that I care not: Thou art but a fool to complain; Thou spendest thy speech and wasteth thy brain: Go, thrist[106] thee into the ground.

EVERYMAN.

I had ween'd surer I should you have found: But I see well, he that trusteth in his Strength, Is greatly deceived at the length; Both Strength and Beauty hath forsaken me, Yet they promised me steadfast to be.

DISCRETION.

Everyman, I will after Strength be gone; As for me, I will leave you alone.

EVERYMAN.

Why, Discretion, will ye forsake me?

DISCRETION.

Yea, in faith, I will go fro thee; For when Strength is gone before, Then I follow after evermore.

EVERYMAN.

Yet, I pray thee, for love of the Trinity, Look in my grave once piteously.

DISCRETION.

Nay, so nigh will I not come. Now farewell, fellows everichone.[107]

EVERYMAN.

Oh, all thing faileth, save God alone, Beauty, Strength, and Discretion; For, when Death bloweth his blast, They all run fro me full fast.

FIVE WITS.

Everyman, of thee now my leave I take; I will follow the other, for here I thee forsake.

EVERYMAN.

Alas! then may I both wail and weep; For I took you for my best friend.

FIVE WITS.

I will no lenger thee keep: Now farewell, and here an end.

EVERYMAN.

Now, Jesu, help! all hath forsaken me.

GOOD DEEDS.

Nay, Everyman, I will abide with thee, I will not forsake thee indeed; Thou shalt find me a good friend at need.

EVERYMAN.

Gramercy, Good Deeds, now may I true friends see They have forsaken me everychone; I loved them better than my good deeds alone: Knowledge, will ye forsake me also?

KNOWLEDGE.

Yea, Everyman, when ye to death shall go; But not yet for no manner of danger.

EVERYMAN.

Gramercy, Knowledge, with all my heart.

KNOWLEDGE.

Nay, yet I will not from hence depart, Till I see where ye shall be come.

EVERYMAN.

Methinketh, alas! that I must be gone To make my reckoning, and my debts pay; For I see my time is nigh spent away. Take ensample, all ye that this do hear or see, How they that I loved best now forsake me; Except my Good Deeds, that bideth truly.

GOOD DEEDS.

All earthly things is but vanity, Beauty, Strength, and Discretion do man forsake, Foolish friends and kinsmen, that fair spake; All fleeth save Good Deeds, and that am I.

EVERYMAN.

Have mercy on me, God most mighty, And stand by me, thou mother and maid Mary.

GOOD DEEDS.

Fear not, I will speak for thee.

EVERYMAN.

Here I cry, God mercy!

GOOD DEEDS.

Short our end and minish our pain: Let us go, and never come again.

EVERYMAN.

Into thy hands, Lord, my soul I commend, Receive it, Lord, that it be not lost; As thou me boughtest, so me defend, And save me fro the fiend's boast, That I may appear with that blessed host That shall be saved at the day of doom: In manus tuas, of might most, For ever commendo spiritum meum. [Everyman dies.

KNOWLEDGE.

Now hath he suffered that we all shall endure: The Good Deeds shall make all sure; Now hath he made ending, Methinketh that I hear angels sing, And make great joy and melody, Where Everyman's soul shall received be.

THE ANGEL.

Come, excellent elect spouse to Jesu, Here above thou shalt go. Because of thy singular virtue: Now thy soul is taken thy body fro, Thy reckoning is crystal clear; Now shalt thou into the heavenly sphere, Unto the which all ye shall come That liveth well, after the day of doom.

DOCTOR.

This memory all men may have in mind; Ye hearers, take it of worth, old and young, And forsake pride, for he deceiveth you in the end, And remember Beauty, Five Wits, Strength, and Discretion, They all at last do Everyman forsake, Save his Good Deeds; [them he] there doth take: But beware, for, and they be small, Before God he hath no help at all; None excuse may be there for Everyman: Alas, how shall he do then? For after death amends may no man make, For then mercy and pity doth him forsake; If his reckoning be not clear, when he doth come, God will say, Ite, maledicti, in ignem aeternum; And he that hath his account whole and sound, High in heaven he shall be crowned; Unto which place God bring us all thither, That we may live body and soul together; Thereto help the Trinity: Amen, say ye, for Saint Charity.[108]

FINIS.



HICKSCORNER.



EDITIONS.

_Hyckescorner. [At the end:] Enprynted by me Wynkyn de Worde. 4 deg., Black letter.

Hycke scorner. [At the end:] Thus endeth the enterlude of Hycke scorner. Imprinted at London in foster laene by John Waley. 4 deg., Black letter_.



HICKSCORNER.

This piece is printed from a black letter copy in Mr Garrick's collection,[109] of which the following is a very accurate analysis, extracted from Dr Percy's "Relics of Ancient English Poetry," vol. i. p. 130:—

"Hickscorner bears no distant resemblance to comedy: its chief aim seems to be to exhibit characters and manners, its plot being much less regular than the foregoing. The prologue is spoken by Pity, represented under the character of an aged pilgrim; he is joined by Contemplation and Perseverance, two holy men who, after lamenting the degeneracy of the age, declare their resolution of stemming the torrent. Pity then is left upon the stage, and presently found by Freewill, representing a lewd debauchee who, with his dissolute companion, Imagination, relate their manner of life, and not without humour describe the stews and other places of base resort. They are presently joined by Hickscorner, who is drawn as a libertine returned from travel, and agreeably to his name scoffs at religion. These three are described as extremely vicious, who glory in every act of wickedness. At length two of them quarrel, and Pity endeavours to part the fray; on this they fall upon him, and put him into the stocks, and then leave him. Pity then descants in a kind of lyric measure on the profligacy of the age, and in this situation is found by Perseverance and Contemplation, who set him at liberty, and advise him to go in search of the delinquents. As soon as he is gone, Freewill appears again, and after relating in a very comic manner some of his rogueries and escapes from justice, is rebuked by the two holy men who, after a long altercation, at length convert him and his libertine companion, Imagination, from their vicious course of life, and then the play ends with a few verses from Perseverance, by way of epilogue.

"It would be needless to point out the absurdities in the plan and conduct of the foregoing play: they are evidently great. It is sufficient to observe that, bating the moral and religious reflections of Pity, &c., the piece is of a comic caste, and contains a humorous display of some of the vices of the age. Indeed, the author has generally been so little attentive to the allegory, that we need only substitute other names to his personages, and we have real characters and living manners."

The woodcuts prefixed to this and the foregoing play were very minutely traced and executed by a masterly hand; and there being something singular in giving the portraits of the dramatis personae, it is presumed the following will be particularly pleasing to the reader.[110]

[It appears to have been from this drama or interlude, that the saying arose of "Hickscorner's jests." (See Mr J.P. Collier's Diary, part iii. p. 13.)]



HICKSCORNER.

PITY.

Now Jesu the gentle, that brought Adam fro hell, Save you all, sovereigns, and solace you send: And, of this matter that I begin to tell, I pray you of audience, till I have made an end; For I say to you, my name is Pity, That ever yet hath been man's friend. In the bosom of the second person in Trinity I sprang as a plant, man's miss to amend; You for to help I put to my hand: Record I take of Mary that wept tears of blood; I Pity within her heart did stand; When she saw her son on the rood, The sword of sorrow gave that lady wound; When a spear clave her son's heart asunder, She cried out, and fell to the ground; Though she was woe, it was little wonder, This delicate colour [had] that goodly lady, Full pale and wan, she saw her son all dead, Splayed on a cross with the five wells of pity, Of purple velvet powdered with roses red. Lo, I Pity thus made your errand to be sped, Or else man for ever should have been forlore. A maiden so laid his life to wed, Crowned as a king the thorns pricked him sore. Charity and I of true love leads the double rein; Whoso me loveth damned never shall be. Of some virtuous company I would be fain; For all that will to heaven needs must come by me, Chief porter I am in that heavenly city, And now here will I rest me a little space, Till it please Jesu of his grace Some virtuous fellowship for to send.

CONTEMPLATION.

Christ that was christened, crucified, and crowned, In his bosom true love was gaged with a spear, His veins brast and bruised, and to a pillar bound, With scourges he was lashed, the knots the skin tare, On his neck to Calvary the great cross he bare, His blood ran to the ground, as Scripture doth tell: His burden was so heavy, that down under it he fell, Lo, I am kin to the Lord, which is God's son; My name is written foremost in the book of life, For I am perfect Contemplation, And brother to holy church that is our Lord's wife. John Baptist, Anthony, and Jerome, with many mo, Followed me here in holt,[111] heath, and in wilderness; I ever with them went where they did go, Night and day toward the way of rightwiseness: I am the chief lantern of all holiness, Of prelates and priests I am their patron; No armour so strong in no distress, Habergeon, helm, ne yet no Jeltron, To fight with Satan am I the champion, That dare abide, and manfully stand: Fiends flee away, where they see me come; But I will show you why I came to this land For to preach and teach of God's sooth saws, Ayenst vice that doth rebel ayenst him and his laws.

PITY.

God speed, good brother; fro whence came you now?

CONTEMPLATION.

Sir, I came from Perseverance to seek you.

PITY.

Why, sir, know you me?

CONTEMPLATION.

Yea, sir, and have done long; your name is Pity.

PITY.

Your name fain would I know.

CONTEMPLATION.

Indeed I am called Contemplation, That useth to live solitarily; In woods and in wildness[112] I walk alone, Because I would say my prayers devoutly; I love not with me to have much company: But Perseverance oft with me doth meet, When I think on thoughts that is full heavenly; Thus he and I together full sweetly doth sleep.

PITY.

I thank God that we be met together.

CONTEMPLATION.

Sir, I trust that Perseverance shortly will come hither.

PITY.

Then I think to hear some good tiding.

CONTEMPLATION.

I warrant you, brother, that he is coming.

PERSEVERANCE.

The eternal God, that named was Messias, He give you grace to come to his glory, Wherever is joy in the celestial place, When you of Satan winneth the victory, Everyman ought to be glad to have in company, For I am named good Perseverance, That ever is guided by virtuous governance; I am never variable, but doth continue, Still going upward the ladder of grace, And lode in me planted is so true, And from the poor man I will never turn my face: When I go by myself oft I do remember The great kindness that God showed unto man, For to be born in the month of December, When the day waxeth short, and the night long, Of his goodness that champion strong Descended down fro the Father of rightwiseness, And rested in Mary the flower of meekness. Now to this place hither come I am To seek Contemplation my kinsman.

CONTEMPLATION.

What, brother Perseverance? ye be welcome.

PERSEVERANCE.

And so be you also, Contemplation.

CONTEMPLATION.

Lo, here is our master Pity.

PERSEVERANCE.

Now truly ye be welcome into this country.

PITY.

I thank ye heartily, sir Perseverance.

PERSEVERANCE.

Master Pity, one thing is come to my remembrance; What tithings hear you now?

PITY.

Sir, such as I can I shall show you: I have heard many men complain piteously; They say they be smitten with the swerd of poverty. In every place where I do go: Few friends poverty doth find, And these rich men been unkind; For their neighbours they will nought do, Widows doth curse lords and gentle men, For they constrain them to marry with their men, Yea, whether they will or no: Men marry for good,[113] and that is damnable, Yea, with old women that is fifty and beyond: The peril now no man dread will; All is not God's law that is used in land; Beware will they not, till death in his hand Taketh his sword, and smiteth asunder the life vein, And with his mortal stroke cleaveth the heart atwain: They trust so in mercy, the lantern of brightness, That no thing do they dread God's rightwiseness.

PERSEVERANCE.

O Jesu, sir, here is a heavy tiding.

PITY.

Sir, this is true, that I do bring.

CONTEMPLATION.

How am I beloved, master Pity, where ye come?

PITY.

In good faith, people have now small devotion; And as for with you, brother Contemplation, There meddleth few or none.

CONTEMPLATION.

Yet, I trust, that priests love me well?

PITY.

But a few, i-wis, and some never a deal.

CONTEMPLATION.

Why, sir, without me they may not live clean.

PITY.

Nay, that is the least thought that they have of fifteen; And that maketh me full heavy.

CONTEMPLATION.

How, trow you that there be no remedy?

PITY.

Full hard, for sin is now so grievous and ill, That I think that it be growen to an impossible, And yet one thing maketh me ever mourning: That priests lack utterance to show their cunning; And all the while that clerks do use so great sin, Among the lay people look never for no mending.

PERSEVERANCE.

Alas, that is a heavy case, That so great sin is used in every place; I pray God it amend.

CONTEMPLATION.

Now God, that ever hath been man's friend, Some better tidings soon us send! For now I must be gone. Farewell, good brethren here; A great errand I have elsewhere, That must needs be done: I trust I will not long tarry; Thither will I hie me shortly, And come again, when I have done.

PERSEVERANCE.

Hither again, I trust, you will come; Therefore God be with you.

CONTEMPLATION.

Sir, needs I must depart now; Jesu me speed this day.

PERSEVERANCE.

Now, brother Contemplation, let us go our way.

FREEWILL.

Aware, fellows, and stand a-room: How say you? am not I a goodly person? I trow, you know not such a guest: What, sirs, I tell you, my name is Freewill, I may choose whether I do good or ill; But for all that I will do, as me list: My conditions ye know not, perde, I can fight, chide, and be merry; Full soon of my company ye would be weary, And ye knew all. What, fill the cup, and make good cheer! I trow I have a noble here: Who lent it me? By Christ, a frere; And I gave him a fall. Where be ye, sir? be ye at home? Cock's passion, my noble is turned to a stone. Where lay I last? Beshrew your heart, John; Now, by these bones, she hath beguiled me: Let see; a penny my supper, a piece of flesh ten-pence; My bed right nought: let all this expense— Now, by these bones, I have lost a halfpenny. Who lay there? my fellow Imagination; He and I had good communication Of Sir John and Sybil, How they were spied in bed together; And he prayed her oft to come hither, For to sing lo, le, lo, lowe. They twain together had good sport; But at the stews' side I lost a groat: I trow I shall never i-the.[114] My fellow promised me here to meet, But I trow the whoreson be asleep With a wench somewhere. How, Imagination, come hither, And you thrive, I lose a feather; Beshrew your heart, appear.

IMAGINATION.

What, how, how, who called after me?

FREEWILL.

Come near, ye shall never i-the, Where have ye be so long?

IMAGINATION.

By God, with me it is all wrong, I have a pair of sore buttocks, All in irons was my song, Even now I sat gyved in a pair of stocks.

FREEWILL.

Cock's passion, and how so?

IMAGINATION.

Sir, I will tell you what I have do: I met with a wench, and she was fair, And of love heartily I did pray her, And so promised her money: Sir, she winked on me, and said nought, But by her look I knew her thought; Then into love's dance we were brought, That we played the pyrdewy: I wot not what we did together, But a knave catchpole nighed us near, And so did us aspy; A stripe he gave me, I fled my touch, And from my girdle he plucked my pouch: By your leave he left me never a penny: Lo, nought have I but a buckle, And yet I can imagine things subtle For to get money plenty; In Westminster Hall every term I am, To me is kin many a great gentleman, I am knowen in every country; And I were dead, the lawyers' thrift were lost: For this will I do, if men would do cost, Prove right wrong, and all by reason, And make men lese both house and land, For all that they can do in a little season, Peach men of treason privily I can, And when me list, to hang a true man. If they will be money tell, Thieves I can help out of prison, And into lords' favours I can get me soon, And be of their privy council. But, Freewill, my dear brother, Saw you nought of Hickscorner? He promised me to come hither.

FREEWILL.

Why, sir, knowest thou him?

IMAGINATION.

Yea, yea, man; he is full nigh of my kin, And in Newgate we dwelled together; For he and I were both shackled in a fetter.

FREEWILL.

Sir, lay you beneath or on high on the seller?[115]

IMAGINATION.

Nay, i-wis, among the thickest of yeomen of the collar.[116]

FREEWILL.

By God, then you were in great fear.

IMAGINATION.

Sir, had I not been, two hundred had been thrust in an halter.

FREEWILL.

And what life have they there, all that great sort?

IMAGINATION.

By God, sir, once a year some taw halts of Burport:[117] Yea, at Tyburn there standeth the great frame. And some take a fall that maketh their neck lame.

FREEWILL.

Yea, but can they then go no more?

IMAGINATION.

Oh, no, man; the wrest is twist so sore, For as soon as they have said In manus tuas once, By God, their breath is stopped at once.

FREEWILL.

Why, do they pray in that place there?

IMAGINATION.

Yea, sir, they stand in great fear, And so fast tangled in that snare, It falleth to their lot to have the same share.

FREEWILL.

That is a knavish sight to see them totter on a beam.

IMAGINATION.

Sir, the whoresons could not convey[118] clean; For, and they could have carried by craft as I can, In process of years each of them should be a gentleman. Yet as for me I was never thief; If my hands were smitten off, I can steal with my teeth; For ye know well, there is craft in daubing:[119] I can look in a man's face and pick his purse, And tell new tidings that was never true, i-wis, For my hood is all lined with lesing.[120]

FREEWILL.

Yea, but went ye never to Tyburn a pilgrimage?

IMAGINATION.

No, i-wis; nor none of my lineage, For we be clerks all, and can our neck verse, And with an ointment the judge's hand I can grease, That will heal sores that be incurable.

FREEWILL.

Why, were ye never found reprovable?

IMAGINATION.

Yes, once I stall a horse in the field, And leapt on him for to have ridden my way: At the last a baily me met and beheld, And bad me stand; then was I in a fray: He asked, whither with that horse I would gone; And then I told him it was mine own: He said I had stolen him; and I said nay: This is, said he, my brother's hackney. For, and I had not excused me, without fail, By our lady, he would have lad me straight to jail; And then I told him the horse was like mine, A brown bay, a long mane, and did halt behine, Thus I told him, that such another horse I did lack; And yet I never saw him, nor came on his back: So I delivered him the horse again. And when he was gone, then was I fain: For and I had not excused me the better, I know well I should have danced in a fetter.

FREEWILL.

And said he no more to thee but so?

IMAGINATION.

Yea, he pretended me much harm to do; But I told him that morning was a great mist, That what horse it was I ne wist: Also I said, that in my head I had the megrin, That made me dazzle so in mine eyen, That I might not well see. And thus he departed shortly from me.

FREEWILL.

Yea, but where is Hickscorner now?

IMAGINATION.

Some of these young men hath hid him in Their bosoms, I warrant ye: Let us make a cry, that he may us hear.

FREEWILL.

How now, Hickscorner, appear; I trow thou be hid in some corner.

HICKSCORNER.

Ale[121] the helm, ale, veer, shoot off, veer sail, veer-a.

FREEWILL.

Cock's body, hark, he is a ship on the sea.

HICKSCORNER.

God speed, God speed; who called after me?

IMAGINATION.

What, brother, welcome by this precious body; I am glad that I you see, It was told me that you were hanged; But out of what country come ye?

HICKSCORNER.

Sirs, I have been in many a country; As in France, Ireland, and in Spain, Portingal, Sevile, also in Almaine; Friesland, Flanders, and in Burgoine, Calabria, Pugle,[122] and Erragon,[123] Britain, Biske, and also in Gascoine, Naples, Greece, and in middes of Scotland; At Cape,[124] Saint Vincent, and in the new found island,[125] I have been in Gene[126] and in Cowe, Also in the land of Rumbelow,[127] Three mile out of hell; At Rhodes, Constantine, and in Babylon[128] In Cornwall, and in Northumberland, Where men seethe rushes in gruel; Yea, sir, in Chaldsea, Tartary, and India, And in the Land of Women, that few men doth find: In all these countries have I be.

FREEWILL.

Sir, what tidings hear ye now on the sea?

HICKSCORNER.

We met of ships a great navy, Full of people that would into Ireland; And they came out of this country: They will never more come to England.

IMAGINATION.

Whence were the ships of them? knowest thou none?

HICKSCORNER.

Harken, and I will show you their names each one: First was the Regent, with the Michael of Brikilse; The George, with the Gabriel, and the Anne of Fowey; The Star of Saltash, with the Jesus of Plymouth; Also the Hermitage, with the Barbara of Dartmouth, The Nicolas and the Mary Bellouse of Bristow, With the Ellen of London and James also: Great was the people that was in them, All true religious and holy women: There was Truth and his kinsmen, With Patience, Meekness, and Humility, And all true maidens with their virginity, Royal preachers, sadness and charity, Right conscience and faith, with devotion, And all true monks that keep their religion, True buyers and sellers, and alms-deed doers, Piteous people, that he of sin destroyers, With just abstinence and good councillors, Mourners for sin, with lamentation, And good rich men that helpeth folk out of prison, True wedlock was there also, With young men that ever in prayer did go, The ships were laden with such unhappy company, But at the last God shope[129] a remedy, For they all in the sea were drowned, And on a quicksand they strake to ground; The sea swallowed them everychone, I wot well alive there scaped none.