University of Virginia Library

Hurting helpe, Paynted profite, Fayned furtheraunce.
Helpe.
By the masse syrs see where he is.

Profyte.
I tould thee that heare we should him not misse.

Helpe.
Good mayster Corage most hartely good euen.

Salute corage
Corage.
In fayth my friendes welcome, all three by saynt Steuen.
Iesus good Lord how doe ye fare?
Couer your heads, why are you bare?
And how syrs, now syrs, leade you your liues,
Which of all you three, now the best thriues?

Helpe.
Tush man none of vs can doe amisse,
For we doe alwayes take time while time is.
And where euer we goe like counsayle we giue,
Telling all men that here they shall not still liue.

Corage.
Therein hurtefull Helpe, thou doste very well,
The Tyde taryeth no man, thou must alwayes tell.

Helpe.
Indeede hurtefull Helpe, that is my name,
But I would not that all men should know the same.
For I am a broker the truth is so,
Wherefore if men in me hurtfulnesse should know,
There are few or none that with me would deale,
Therefore this word hurtfull I neuer reueale.
My name I say, playne Helpe to be,
Wherefore ech man for helpe doth come vnto me.
Good mayster Helpe, helpe to that or this,
And of good reward you shall not misse.

Profite.
And as thou from Helpe, hurtfull doste throw,
So paynted, from Profyte, I must forgoe,
For if any man know me, for profyte but paynted,
Men will but little with me be acquaynted.
My mayster who a good gentleman is,
Thinketh me as profitable as he can wish.
So that playne Profite, he thinketh my name,
And before his face, my deedes shew the same.

Further.
Farewell my maysters for I may hence walke,
For I see you two will haue all the talke.

Fayne a going out.
Corage.
What fayned Furtheraunce are you so coy,
Will you neuer leaue the trickes of a boy,
Come agayne I say, least I doe you fet,
And say what thou wilt, here shall no man let.

Further.
Fet mee?

Corage.
Yea fet thee.

Further.
Marry doe what thou dare.

Corage.
That will I not spare.

Out quickly with his dagger.
Helpe.
Good syr hold your hand, and beare with his rudenesse,

Corage.
Nay I cannot nor will not suffer his Lewdenesse.

Further.
Tush a figge for him, let him doe what he can.

Corage.
Alas syr who are you, but a Marchauntes man,
Good syr what you are, we know right well,
Who is your mayster, and where you doe dwell,
You professe that your mayster you doe greatly further.
And yet for his goodes, you would him gladly murther.

Further.
If so I doe wish, it is long of thee,
For thou therevnto haste encouraged mee.

Profyte.
What husht I say, no more of these wordes,
For appeaching oft, the appeacher disturbes.
Be friendes agayne as you were at the first,
Let ech man say the best, and leaue out the worst.

Further.
I for my part doe therevnto consent.

And shake handes.
Corage.
Then geue me thy hand if thou be content.
Now are we friendes, as at first we were,
Therefore straight way thy mind let vs here.

Further.
Truely I meane to doe euen as doe the rest,
For in mine opinion that is the best,
And as hurting helpe, hath hurting forgone,
And paynted profyte, is profyte alone,
So I fayned furtheraunce, henceforth doe minde,
To be furtheraunce playne, leauing fayned behind:
Other mens furtheraunce to seeke I will say,
Yet will I seeke mine owne as much as I may.

Corage.
Else werte thou vnwise, yea and a very foole,
Thou learnedst none otherwise, I trow in my schoole.
I am a schoolemayster for you three most fytte,
Who indued you with courage, in stead of great wytte.

Helpe.
To be our mayster wilt thou take in hand,
Why we are as good as thou, thou shalt vnderstand.

Corage.
Alas pore knaues, what could you three doe,
If you haue not courage belonging thereto.

Helpe.
And what can courage doe without helpe,
As much as a Kitling or suckling whelpe.

Corage.
And by hurtfull helpe, what am I the better,
Being holpe to a hurt, I am no great getter.

Helpe.
It is folly with thee thus to contend,
We are as good as thou, and so I doe ende.

Corage.
Since that by wordes I can no maystry haue,
I would prooue what my manhood wyll doe syr Knaue.

Profite.
Why arte thou blind, mayest thou not see,
That agayne thee one, we are here three.

Corage.
And what can three doe agaynst one,
I hauing courage, and they hauing none.
Therefore courage will claw you or you goe hence,
Now defend your selues I will see your fence.

Helpe.
What Corage I say thy hand now stay.

Corage.
Will you then consent to that which I say.

Helpe.
There is no remedy but we must consent,
Sometimes it is good a fooles minde to content:
Therefore I am content to be thine inferiour,
And I will from henceforth take thee for superiour.

Corage.
And so will the residue I trow also.

Profyte.
If you say I syr, we will not say no.

Corage.
Well syrs, then I will shew you my minde,
But fyrst I will discribe you, ech one in his kinde.
Thou helpe arte a broker, betweene man and man.
Whereby much deceyte thou vsest now and than,
Profite is one, who by seruice in sight,
Doth cause his mayster to thinke him most right.
A profytable seruaunt, he thinketh him to be,
Because he is profytable, while he doth him see,
And fayned Furtheraunce, doth fayne him to further,
His mayster and others, whome fayne he would murther.
Thus in seeking welth you all doe agree,
And yet you professe others friendes for to bee.

Profite.
Ne quisque sapit, qui sibi non sapit,
This saying I redde, when as I went to schoole,
One not wise for himselfe, is but a very foole.

Helpe.
By my troth, and of that opinyon am I,
And in that opinyon I meane for to dye.

Further.
Tush why spend you tyme in speaking of that,
While thereon you talke, in vayne is your chat.
For who helpes not himselfe, before any other,
I coumpt him a foole, if he were my brother.
And as I count him, all people doe so,
Therefore cease this talke, and hence let vs go.
For some of vs may chaunce to meete with a chiding,
Because that so long from home we are biding.

Profyte.
By S. Anne I thinke therein thou say well,
For I know thereof I am like to here tell.

Corage.
Why man a little while breaketh no square.

Helpe.
Tush helpe hath excuse, to collour that care.

Further.
Yea but already we haue tarryed to long.

Helpe.
Why then ye were best goe without a song.

Further.
Nay I will tarry to sing, though therefore I should dye.

Profite.
My helpe to singing, I did neuer denye.

Corage.
Finis.

Pro., Fur.
Now Corage farewell for we must be gone.

Helpe.
Nay syrs you two shall not go alone,
For I doe meane to beare you company,
And so shall we be euen a whole trinity.
Therefore Corage adewe.

They three go out.
Corage.
Syr here was a trinity in a witnesse,
A man might haue shapte three knaues by their likenesse.
A trinity much like to the trinity of late,
Where good wife Gull, brake her goodmans pate.
In came her man to make vp the number,
Who had his nose shode, with the steale of a scumber.
But in fyne, these three began to agree,
And knit them selues vp in one trinity.
And after they loued like brother and brother,
For very loue, they did kill one another.
And then they were buried, I doe well remember,
In Stawtons strawne hat, vij. mile from December.
Where they had not lyen the space of a day,
But fower of those three, were thence run away.
The Constable came, with a backe on his bill,
And because they were gone, he did them kill.
I Corage so cleft their Cushions a sunder,
To see how they bled, it made me to wonder.
I my selfe was smitten twise to the ground,
I was very sore hurt, but I had not a wound.
I buskeled my selfe as though fight I would,
And tooke me to my legges as fast as I could.
And so with much payne hither I did come,
But husht syrs I say, no moe wordes but mum.

Greedines
enter.
Tushe talke not of that, for in vayne you doe prate,
For there are none but fooles, that welthines doe hate.

Corage.
What Greedinesse I say, why what is the matter,
Mayster welthinesse I would say, whereon doe you clatter?

Greedines
What old friend Corage, arte thou so nere hand,
Marry I will shew thee, how the matter doth stand.
As I walked along, through by the streete,
By such wayes as mine affayres did lie:
It was my chaunce with a preacher to meete,
Whose company to haue I did not deny,
And as we two together did walke,
Amongest other communication we had,
The Preacher brake out with reprocheable talke:
Saying that we cittizens were all to bad,
Some of vs he sayeth are greedy guttes all:
And euell members of a common welth,
He sayeth we care not whome we bring to thrall,
Neyther haue we regard vnto our soules health,
His talke I confesse my conscience did nip,
Wherefore no longer I would him abide,
But sodenly I gaue him the slip,
And crossed the way to the other syde.
So alone I let mayster Preacher walke,
And here by chaunce I stombled in.

Corage.
And arte thou so foolish for any such talke,
To cease or stay thy welth for to win.

Greedines
Serra, he cried out of excessiue gayne,
Saying when any of our wares haue neede,
Then doe we hoyst them vp to their payne,
And commonly make them pay for their speede.

Corage.
I perceiue that fellow was hote of the spirite,
He would not haue you take time while time is,
If ye follow his councell, he will begger you quite,
But what aunswere diddest thou geue him to this?

Greedines
Why thou knowest my quallity is such,
That by contrary talke, I vse no man to blame,
For although often my dooinges they touch,
Yet my talke alwayes to the tyme I frame.
When he sayd excessiue gayners were ill,
I sayd for them it was a shame,
And in all thinges else, I pleased his will:
And so I fayned my selfe without blame.

Corage.
Thou doste wisely therein, I commend thee therefore,
For what euer thou thinke, yet say as they doe,
So shalte thou haue their fauoures euermore,
And that way no blame thou shalt come vnto.

Greedines
Yea but truely his wordes did my conscience prick,
Of me he did so vnhappely gesse,
I promise thee he touched me vnto the quick,
For that in gayning I vsed excesse.
My conscience doth tell me, I haue done amisse,
And of long time I haue gone a stray,
And a thousand witnesses the conscience is,
As Salust in moste playne wordes doth say.

Corage.
Why doltish patch, arte thou so vnwise,
To quayle for the saying of such a knaue,
Thou knowest all the world will thee despyse,
And a begging thou mayst goe, if that naught thou haue.
And how shalt thou haue ought,
If thy gayne be not great?
Consider this well in thy minde,
Remember thy house, and thy wife that peate,
Must still be kept in their costly kinde:
Therefore take the time, while the time doth serue,
Tyde taryeth no man, this thou doste know,
If thy goods decay, then mayst thou sterue,
So dooing thou seekest thine own ouerthrow.

Greedines
In deede as thou sayest, it doth me behooue,
Not so rashly to lay my gayning aside,
Least so my selfe a foole I doe prooue,
By shooting from my profyte so wyde:
I consider my welth is now at good stay,
Which I would be loth should be impared,
For once rich, and after in decay,
Is a miserable thing, as Hyemes hath declared.
Therefore I meane thy councell to take,
Least of that misery I know the smart,
Then is it to late any mone to make,
Or from such foolishnesse to reuart.
Therefore Corage adew vnto thee,
For it behooueth me hence to departe.

Exiunt.
Corage.
Adew Welthinesse till agayne we see,
Adew great greedinesse with all my hart,
Hath not Corage contagious now shewd his kinde,
By encouraging Greedinesse vnto euill:
Which late was drawing to a better minde,
And now agayne doth follow the Deuill.

Enter Helpe, and no good Neighbourhood.
Helpe.
Loe thee Neighbourhood, where Corage doth stand.

Corage.
What no good Neighbourhood, geue me thy hand.

Neighbor.
Those two fyrst syllables, might be put out,
And then thou hittest my name without doubt.

Corage.
Why is not no good Neighbourhood thy name?

Neighbor.
Put away no good, and see how it will frame.
For if thou doe put away no good,
There resteth no more but neighborhood.

Corage.
Then is it neighbourhood, neither good nor bad,
Nay though we leaue the fyrst, it is good the next we had.
For leauing out no, put good to the rest,
Then is it good neighbourhood, thus I thinke is best.

Neighbor.
Nay I will haue them both two left out,
Because of my name men should stand in doubt:
For if no good neigbourhood I be named,
Then of all men I shall be blamed.
And if that good, to neighbourhood I haue,
Men will say I doe it prayse to craue.
So I will leaue out both no and good,
And will be indifferent sole Neighbourhood.

Corage.
Then Neighborhood be it, if so it shall be,
And neighborhood, what is thine errand to me?

Neighbor.
Syr my comming, is for occasions two,
The fyrst is for your councell, what were best to doe,
In a matter which I haue lately begon,
If I shall proceede, or else leaue it vndone.
The second is, if I shall proceede,
That you will stand my friend if I neede.

Corage.
Assure thy selfe thereof without doubt,
Therefore shew me the matter thou goest about.

Neighbor.
I thanke you syr euen with all my harte,
And I trust also that Helpe will doe his parte.

Helpe.
Doubt not but that I to thee will be cleauing,
Therefore proceede and shew him thy meaning.

Neighbor.
Then syr this is the matter, if it shall please you giue eare,
I haue a neighbour who dwelleth to me somewhat neare.
Who hath a Tenement, commodyous and feate,
To which Tenement I beare a loue very greate.
This man my neighbour as far as I can learne,
Hath in his Tenement but a short tearme,
Fower or fyue yeares or there about,
Which tearme you know, will soone be worne out.
Now syr might I in reuersion, a lease thereof haue,
I would giue the Landlord, euen what he would craue.

Corage.
And who is the Landlord, thereof can you tell?

Neighbor.
Mayster Greedinesse, a man whome you know right well,
He is one which neuer did mony hate.

Corage.
Why then speake in time, least thou be to late,
The Tyde taryeth no man the prouerbe hath sayde,
Therefore see no time herein be delayde,
Mayster Helpe here shalbe to thee a stay,
For with mayster greedinesse, he beareth great sway.

Helpe.
I will doe for him what lyeth in me.

Neighbor.
And then to your paynes I will gladly see.

Corage.
Doubt not then, but thou shalt haue thy mind.

Neighbor.
As you say, I wish that I may it find,
But I doubt that of my purpose I shall misse,
By reason of one thing, and that is this:
My foresayd neighbour which now holdeth the same,
Hath bene there a long dweller of good name and fame.
And well he is beloued both of yong and old,
Wherefore not onely the neighbours with him will holde.
But also the Landlord, I am in great doubt,
Wilbe therefore vnwilling to put him out,
And I but a straunger among them God wote.

Helpe.
Marry syr it is much the better for that,
For if thou werte more straunge, and borne out of the land,
Thou shouldest sooner haue it I dare take in hand,
For among vs now, such is our countrey zeale,
That we loue best with straungers to deale.
To sell a lease deare, whosoeuer that will,
At the french, or dutch Church let him set vp his bill.
And he shall haue chapmen, I warrant you good store,
Looke what an English man bids, they will giue as much more.
We brokers of straungers, well know the gayne,
By them we haue good rewardes for our payne.
Therefore though thou be straunge, the matter is not great,
For thy money is English, which must worke the feate.

Neighbor.
In deede my money as a neighbour will agree,
With any man wheresoeuer it be.
And I my selfe would be a neighbour to,
And therefore the rather I doe that I doe,
For if it were not to be a neighbour by them,
I wisse I would not take a house so nye them.

Helpe.
I dare say ech man would be glad at his harte,
To haue all his neighboures such as thou arte.
What matter is it, if thou thy selfe be sped,
Though thou take thy neighbours house ouer his head.

Corage.
Tush that is no harme, but rather it is good,
For he doth it only for pure neighbourhood.
See yonder commeth one, if thou canst make him thy friend,
Then mayest thou shortly bring thy purpose to end.

Furtheraunce entereth
Further.
Now Mayster Corage how doe you fare.

Corage.
Euen glad to see that you so merry are:
Furtheraunce you must pleasure a friend of myne.

Further.
Thereto I am ready at ech tide and tyme,
To doe for him what in me doth lye.
Therefore let me know your mind by and by.

Corage.
Serra, of thy mayster a lease he would haue,
And therein thy friendship it is, he doth craue.

Neighbor.
Syr, if that herein my friend you will stand,
I will giue you therefore euen what you will demaund.

Further.
Then Neighbourhood thou shalt shortly see,
That I can doe somewhat betweene my mayster and thee.
Thou couldest neuer speake better to speede,
For of money now he standeth in neede.
To pay for a purchase of certayne land,
Which needes he must discharge out of hand.
Therefore this time for thee well doth fall,
If that thou haue money to tempt him withall.

Neighbor.
Tush man for money I will not spare,

Further.
Then needest thou no whit for to care,
And if thou take payne now to walke home,
There shalt thou fynd him sitting alone.

Corage.
Cocks passion man hye thee away,
Thou knowest the Tyde for no man will stay.

Neighbor.
Why syr but will you not walke with vs thither?

Further.
No, doe Helpe and you goe before together,
And I warrant you I will not long be behind you,
For though I be absent, yet I will mind you.

Neighbor.
Then syr adew till we meete agayne,
Doubt not but I will consider your payne.
Come Helpe shall we goe.

Helpe.
It is time I trow.

Exiunt.
Further.
Ah syr this geare doth trimly fall out,
I know this lease, which he goeth about:
Wherefore I will worke so on both the sydes,
That of both parties I will obtayne brybes,
I will shew the old Tenaunt how one goeth about,
To take his house and to thrust him out.
Wherefore he will largely grease me in the hand,
Because his friend therein I shall stand.
The other here did promise me playne,
That he would reward me for my payne.
Therefore Corage farewell vnto thee,
For how this geare will frame, I will see.

Corage.
Farewell Furtheraunce, my gentle friend,
A man may seeke Hell, and such two not find.
I meane a friend, so worthy to trust,
And a neighbour, that is so honest and iust.
Of honesty I trow, he is meetely well sped,
That will take his neighbours house ouer his hed.
I thinke there is no man, within this place,
But he would gladly such neighboures imbrace.
Where two such neighboures dye out of one towne,
The Deuill shall be sure, to haue one black Gowne.
As well he is worthy, if I might be iudge,
For in their affayres, he dayly doth trudge.
Good councell he giues them, both morning and euening,
What meanes they shal worke, to their neighbors greeuing.
He teacheth them how, to pill and to poule,
In hope after death, to haue body and soule.
Tush what meane I thus, of soule for to speake,
In vayne with such talke, my braynes I doe breake.
For soule there is none, when the body is dead,
In such kinde of doctryne, my schollers I leade.
Therefore say I, take time, while time is,
For after this life, there is nothing but blisse.
There is no soule, any payne to abide,
The Teachers contrary, from truth are far wide.

Willing to win worship, enter Courtyer like.
Courtyer.
Oh so my hart is filled with doubt,
Which way I may worke, my worship to win:
Shall I leaue of Courtyers, so iolly a rout,
And eke of Ladies a company so trim.
And shall I home to my cottage rude,
There to liue like a countrey clowne:
Truely I know not which way to conclude,
To get my selfe worship and renowne.
To win worship I would be right glad,
Therefore (willing to win worship) is my name:
In the countrey there is none such to be had,
And the Court doth aske, great cost for the same.
So that what I shall doe, I know not yet,
I consider it is toward a good time:
Wherein tryumphing is vsed, as is moste fit,
And where Courtyers must shew themselues, braue and fine.
But this I conclude, as forced I am,
The Court for to leaue, and homeward to packe:
For where is the money? here is the man.
If man he may be, that money doth lacke.

Corage.
Syr are you so foolish, the Court for to leaue?
When the time is, that worship you should win:
For in times of tryumphing, we alwayes perceaue,
The Courtyers worship, doth fyrst begin.
Therefore do you from such foolishnesse stay,
And Fortune may chaunce, giue you as you wish.

Courtyer.
But the wheeles of Fortune, as Socrates doth say,
Are like the snares, wherewith men take fish.
And in an other place, Plautus doth shew,
A saying in Laten, and that is this:
Festo die si quid prodigeris,
Profesto egere liceat nisi pepereris.
If on the Holiday, wasting thou doe vse,
On the worke day thou mayest beg, vnlesse well thou get:
So in tryumphing, like effect insues,
That next after waste, indigence is set.

Corage.
Then Perianders wordes you accoumpt least,
Who vnto honour, an incorager is:
Honor (sayeth he) Immortalis est,
Now syr I pray you, how like you this?

Courtyer.
Those wordes to be true, I must needes confesse,
For honour in deede, is an immortall fame:
And now is the time the same to possesse,
But I haue not wherewith to atchiue the same.
For money is he that the man must decke,
And though I haue attire both costly and gay,
Yet vnlesse it be new, I shall haue but a geck,
Therefore much better for me be away.

Corage.
Tush man for money be thou not sad,
You Courtyers I know haue Iewels good store,
And money for Iewels will alwayes be had,
Therefore for that matter care thou no more.

Courtyer.
Yea but how it is had, I partely doo know,
And what excessiue interrest is payde,
Therefore you may say the more is my woe,
Would God that I had it neuer assayde.

Corage.
Well, what euer it cost, it must needes be had,
Therefore withstand not thy fortunate chaunce,
For I will count thee foole, worse then mad,
If thou wilt not spend money, thy selfe to aduaunce,
Now is the time of hap good or ill:
Uenture it therefore while it is hote,
For the Tyde will not tarry for any mans will,
Neuer shalte thou speede, if now thou speede not.

Courtyer.
Truely this talke doth encorage mee so much,
That to see the Court agayne, I doe pretend,
But I pray thee doest thou know any such,
As vse vpon gages money to lend?

Corage.
Why man for that matter you neede not to doubt,
Of such men there are ynow euery where,
But see how luckely it doth fall out.
See yonder two friendes of mine doe appeare.
There is a broker betweene man and man,
When as any bargaynes they haue in hand,
The other a Marchauntes man now and than,
In borrowing money, thy friendes they may stand.

Helpe, and Furtheraunce enter.
Helpe.
So are we in deede, and what of that?
Who is it that with vs would any thing haue?

Courtyer.
Euen I a Gentleman whome money doe lack,
And therein your friendship would gladly craue.

Helpe.
Therein we can helpe you if your pleasure it be,
And will do or else we were greatly to blame,
Prouided alwayes that to our paynes you doe see,
And also put in a good pawne for the same.

Courtyer.
A pawne sufficient I will therefore lay,
And also your paynes I will recompence well,
But I must needes haue it out of the way,
Although my Landes therefore I do sell.

Helpe.
You shall haue it syr so soone as you will,
And therein you shalbe friendly vsed,
For in friendly vsing this fellow hath skill,
pointing to Furtheraunce.
Therefore his counsel must not be refused.
He is seruaunt vnto a Marchaunt man,
Who is partly ruled after his minde.

Courtyer.
In deede as you say, helpe me he can,
I doubt not but his friendship I shall fynd.
Doubt you not syr, but in pleasuring me,
I will recompence your paynes with the moste.

Further.
What I can doe for you, soone you shall see,
It is but folly thereof for to boast.

Courtyer.
Well then it is time that hence we were packing,
For fayne an end thereof I would know.

Helpe.
Why syr no dilligence in vs shalbe lacking,
For we are ready, if that you be so.

Courtyer.
Why then that we go I thinke it were best,
Thinke you your mayster is now at home?

Further.
Ye I know well at home he doth rest,
And I gesse that now he is sitting alone,
Therefore no longer here let vs stay.

Courtyer.
Then sir adew for I will leade the way.

Speaking to Corage & goeth out with Furtherance, & Helpe.
Corage.
Now may you see how Corage can worke,
And how he can encorage, both to good and bad:
The Marchaunt is incouraged, in greedinesse to lurke,
And the Courtyer to win worship, by Corage is glad.
The one is good, no man will denay,
I meane corage to win worship and fame:
So that the other is ill, all men will say,
That is corage to greedinesse, which getteth ill name.
Thus may you see Corage contagious,
And eake contrarious, both in me do rest:
For I of kind, am alwayes various,
And chaunge, as to my mind seemeth best.
Betweene man and wife, sometimes I doe showe,
Both my kindnesse, when my pleasure it is:
The goodwife giueth her husband a blow,
And he for reward, doth giue her a kisse.
The goodwyfe by Corage, is hardy and stoute,
The goodman contrary, is pacient and meeke:
And suffreth himselfe to be called loute,
Yea, and worse misvsed, thrise in a weeke.
How say you good wiues, is it not so?
I warrant you, not one that can say nay:
Whereby all men here, may right well know,
That all this is true which I doe say.
But yet Corage tels you not all that he knowes,
For then he must tell, of ech wife the name:
Which is no greate matter, the best are but shrewes,
But I will not say so, for feare I haue blame.

Greedinesse enter.
Greedines
Now Corage I say, what newes in the coste?
What good tidinges abroade, doest thou heare?

Corage.
Why what doest thou heare? hye thee home in poste,
For I sent home a Gentleman, to seeke for thee there.

Greedines
And what is the matter that with me he would haue?

Corage.
He must borrow some money, his worship to saue.

Greedines
Tush then to tarry he will be glad,
If that he come any money to borrow.

Corage.
Yea but take the time, while it is to be had,
And deferre not thy profite, vntill to morrow.
This Gentleman is a Courtyer braue,
And now in neede of money doth stand:
Therefore thine owne asking, of him thou mayest haue,
So that thou wilte pleasure him out of hand.

Greedines
And is he a Courtyer, and standeth in neede,
This to my purpose, doth rightly fall:
For the needy Courtyers, my cofers do feede,
And I warrant thee, that pinch him I shall.
For since I know, his neede to be such,
That money he must needes occupy:
I know I cannot aske him to much,
If I his mind will satisfy.
Therfore now Corage to thee adew.

Fayne a going out.
Corage.
Nay softe syr yet one word with you.
You told me not yet how you did agree,
With no good Neighbourhood, that good man growte.

Greedines
Mary syr he hath gone thorow with mee,
And the old Tenaunt he will thrust oute.
But I with that matter haue naught to doe,
Let them two now for that agree:
I know I should neuer haue come vnto,
So much as therefore he hath payed to mee.
Therefore I might be counted mad,
If I to his proffer would not haue tended:
This profitable lesson which of thee I had,
The Tyde taryeth no Man, was not vnremembred.

Profite entreth.
Profite.
God speede syr, I pray you shew me if you can,
Did you not mayster Welthinesse here about see.

Corage.
Cockes passion this is the Gentlemans man,
Speaking to Greedines.
Which at home doth tarry for thee,
Syr Welthinesse is not hence far away.

Turning to Profite.
Greedines
I am hee syr, what would you of me require?

Profite.
My mayster at home for your worship doth stay,
And to speake with you he doth greatly desyre.
If it be your pleasure home to repayre,
Or if ye will, he shall hether come,
Your maysterships pleasure therefore declare,
And I know incontinent it shalbe done.

Greedines
Nay I meane homeward to hye,
For that I suppose to be the best,
And by all the meanes that in me doth lye,
I will fulfill your maysters request.

Profite.
I trust also you will consider my payne,
Thereby I trust you shall not loose,
For perchaunce I may preferre your gayne,
By meane which with my mayster I doe vse.

Greedines
As I fynd thee ready in furthering of me,
So doubt thou not but thou shalt fynd,
Me euen as ready in pleasuring of thee,
A word is ynough, thou knowest my minde,
Therefore hence let vs now take the way.

Profite.
My mayster thinketh vs long I dare say.

Exiunt.
Corage.
I warrant you I will not be long behind,
I know no cause why here I should stay,
A company of my schollers I know where to fynd,
Therefore toward them I will take the way.

Exiunt.
The Tenaunt tormented entreth.
Tenaunt.
Whether shall I goe, or which way shall I take,
To fynd a Christian constant and iust,
Ech man himselfe a Christian would make.
Yet few or none, that a man may trust.
But for the most parte fayned, inclined to lust.
As to insaciable couetousenesse, moste abhominable,
Or some other vice, moste vile and detestable.
It is well knowen, what rigour doth raigne,
In that cruell tyger, my Landlord Greedinesse:
Who in my house, would not let me remayne,
But hath thrust me out, with spitefull speedinesse.
Hauing no respect, to my naked needinesse,
But altogether, regarding his gayne,
Hath bereaued my liuing from me, to my payne.
What neighbourhood is, may also be seene,
My neighbour supposed, is my deadly foe:
What cruell chaunce, like to mine hath beene,
Both my house and liuing, I must now forgoe.
What neighbour is he, that hath serued me so?
Thus crewelly to take my house, ouer my head,
Wherein these forty yeares, I haue bene harbored and fed
And now being aged, must thus be thrust out,
With mine impotent wife, charge, and famely;
Now how I shall liue, I stand in great dout,
Leading and ending, my life in misery.
But better doe so, then as they liue, by theeuery,
Catching and snatching, all that euer they can,
Because that (say they) Tyde taryeth no Man.
But God graunt that they, in following that Tyde,
Loose not the tyde of Gods mercy and grace:
I doubt that from them, away it will slyde,
If they still pursue the contrary race.
As dayly they doe, Gods lawes to deface,
To their own soules hurte, and to their neighbours damage,
Still following the instructions, of cursed Corage.
I see whome I seeke, is not here to be found,
I meane Christianity, constant and iust:
I doubte that in bondage he lyeth fast bound,
Or else he is dead, and lyeth buryed in dust.
But if he be liuing, to fynd him I trust,
Therefore till I fynd him, I will no where stay,
Neyther in seeking of him, I will make delay.

Enter Corage.
Corage.
Ah syrra, I cannot choose but reioyce,
When I remember my little pretty boyes.
My schollers I meane, who all with one voyce,
Crye we loue Corage, without other choyce.
The yong ymphes I incorage and leade,
In ryotous footesteps, so trimly to treade.
That guilty, and vnguilty, often they pleade,
And being found guilty, hang all saue the head.
The virgins which are but tender of age,
Rather then their trim attyre should swage.
Their tayles for new they will lay to gage,
To euery slaue, peasaunt, and page.
The graund signyoures, which in yeares are rype,
With couetous clawes, like the greedy grype.
Their pore brethren, from their liuinges do wype,
And euermore daunce, after Corages pype.
Corage neuer in quiet doth lye,
But the Tyde taryeth no man, still he doth crye.
Therefore worke thy will by and by,
That rich thou mayest be, when euer thou dy.

The mayd willfull Wanton enter.
Wanton.
Of all misfortunes, mine is the worst,
Truely I thinke I was accurst:
When I was an infant, not fully nurst,
Alas for griefe, my harte it will burst.
I dayly see women as yong as I,
Which in whyte Caps, our dore doe go by:
I am as able as they, with a man to lye,
Yet my mother doth still, my wedding denye.
She sayeth for wedding, that I am vnfit,
Maydes of fowerteene yeares she sayeth, hath no wit:
And so euery day she sayeth I shall tarry yet,
That would God I were put quick in the pit.
God wot we maydes, abide much misery,
And alwayes kept in, from hauing liberty:
Of euill tongues we walke in ieoberty,
Most people are now so full of ielousy:
If a yongman a mayde doe but kisse,
Now (say the people) you may see what she is:
Where if I were a wyfe, nothing I should misse,
But liue like a Lady, in all ioyfull blisse.
I right well doe know, the peoples spight,
Because that to be pleasaunt, I haue delight:
Therefore past grace, they say I am quight,
And a wilfull wanton, my name they doe wright.
Yet I trust in God, once to see the day,
That to recompence their spight I may:
For if euer I be marryed, and beare any sway,
Then I know what I haue to say.
Therefore good God, make me shortly a wife,
Or else shortly take away my life.

Corage.
Alas prety Parnell, you may soone end this stryfe,
Yong men fit for husbandes, in this towne are ryfe.
And your mothers ill will, you may soone preuent,
If you will follow my councell, and intent.

Wanton.
Oh but if my mother would thereto consent,
To be marryed this night, I could be content.

Corage.
But consent she or not, yet is it for thee,
Unto thine own preforment to see.
Doest thou with any yong man so agree,
That he would consent, thy husband to bee.

Wanton.
Dyuers there are, who gladly would haue me,
And being their wyfe, would trimly bebraue me.
From all wrong they would defend and saue me,
Tush ynowe there are, which to wife doe craue me.

Corage.
Then deferre no time if that thou be wise,
For now to preferment, thou arte like to arise.
The Tide taryeth no man, else the prouerbe lyes,
In delaying comes harmes, thou seest with thine eyes.
But by mariage all thy greefe shalbe eased,
And thy ioyes shall manifold wayes be increased.

Wanton.
But alas my mother will so be displeased,
That I know her wrath will neuer be appeased.

Corage.
And wilt thou for displeasing of her,
Thine owne preferment and fortune defer?
Now arte thou youthfull, thy selfe to prefere,
And thy youthfull bewty, mens heartes may stere.
But youthfull bewty will not alwayes last,
The Tyde taryeth no man, but soone it is past.
Therefore to wedding, see thou make haste,
For now much time thou doest loose in waste.

Wanton.
Oh what comfortable wordes are these,
Truely your talke doth me greatly please,
I will not stinte but seeke out alwayes,
Untill that I haue found some ease.
I care not what my mother doe say,
This matter I will no longer delay.
But a husband I will haue out of the way,
And then may I boldly dally and play.
No man dare me then once to controule,
Least my husband chaunce for to scoule.
If any man vse to intreate me foule,
My husband will lay him ouer the noule.
It doth me good to thinke of the blisse,
Which betweene new marryed couples is.
To see their dallyaunce sometime ywisse,
It setteth my teeth an edge by gisse.
Truely I would gladly giue my best frock,
And all thinges else vnto my smock.
To be marryed in the morning by vj. of the clock,
I beshrew my heart if that I doe mock.
Syr you will not beleeue how I long,
To be one of the wedded throng.
My thinkes it lyeth in no tongue,
To shew the ioyes that is them among.

Corage.
It passeth ioy which they imbrace,
They take their pleasure in euery place.
Like Aungels they doe run their race,
In passing blisse, and great solace.

Wanton.
Well syr I will no longer tarry,
But some man out of hand will marry.
Although from my mothers minde I varry,
Yet your wordes in minde I carry.
Therefore good sir to you adew,
Untill agayne I meete with you.
If I speede well, a good coate new,
To your parte may chaunce insue.

Exiunt.
Corage.
Alas wilfull wanton, my pretty peate,
My wordes haue set her in such a heate.
Now toward wedding her loue is so greate,
That scarce she can neither drinke nor eate.
Now I Corage in her doe begin,
So that for her mother she cares not a pin.
Now all her mind is a husband to win,
To be vnwedded she thinketh it sin.
How say you my virgines euery one,
Is it not a sinne to lye alone?
When .xij. yeares of age is gone,
I dare say you thinke so euery one.

Helpe entereth.
Helpe.
Nay now let him shifte for himselfe if he will,
Since I am payed the thing I did seeke:
Alas good Gentleman, he is serued but ill,
In fayth he is in now by the weeke.
He hath naught but that, for which he hath payed,
The lone of his money he hath dearly bought,
I warrant you it might be boldly sayd,
His cardes being tolde, he hath wonne right nought.

Corage.
And how so Helpe? is he so pincht I say?
By my troth that is a sport for to heare.

Helpe.
Serra, he standes bound forty poundes to pay,
But little more then thirty away he did beare,
For what with the marchauntes duety for lone,
Item for writing vnto the scrybe:
The third part into my pouch is gone,
And the marchauntes man, hath not lost his brybe.
So that amongest vs fower, almost ten poundes,
Is clearely dispersed and spent:
The Gentleman sweareth, harte, blood, and woundes,
Repenting that after thy councell he went.

Corage.
Yea but syrs, my parte is the least,
Who am the Captayne of all the route.

Helpe.
Tush man for that matter, set thy heart at rest,
For that which we haue, thou shalt not be without,
But syrra, seest thou not who doth yonder appeare,
By my troth me thinkes two knaues they are.

Profite and Furtheraunce, enter together.
Corage.
Indeede whosoeuer vnto thee is neare,
For a knaue he needeth not to seeke farre.

Helpe.
Sirs I will tell troth to make you agree,
By gesse I thinke, you are Knaues all three.

Corage.
In deede three we are, we are no lesse,
And you are the fourth to make vp the messe.

Helpe.
Well for that matter, we will not greatly striue,
But syrs what wind now did you hether driue?

Further.
I fayth to shew thee what luck we haue had,
By (Willing to win Worship) that lusty lad.
To make talke thereof, now it is no time,
But if thou wilt go with vs, we will giue thee the wine.

Profite.
And as my mayster pleased you two, and the scribe,
So of Greedinesse the Marchaunt, I had a bribe.
So that none of vs went vacant away,
But of one of the parties, had honestly our pay.

Helpe.
Yea but of them both, I had my bribes,
My maysters, the Broker can play of both sides.
He is almost payd as well for his trotting.
As is the Scribe, for his writing or blotting.
Yea and yet both parties are not content,
For I dare say the gentleman, his bargayne doth repent.

Further.
Marry syr can you blame him, that so hath bene rung,
He may say he hath payde, to heare a faire tongue.
And now without his man he is gone,
His man geues him leaue for to walke alone.

Profite.
Let me alone, I warrant thee some excuse I will haue,
And the worst fall I know, I shalbe but called knaue.
But yet sirs after him, I will hye,
And by the way I will inuent some lye.

Corage.
Nay softe Profyte, you must not go so,
You must helpe to sing a parte or you goe.

Profite.
So it be short, I am well content.

Corage.
Finis.

Corage.
Now Cole profite, in fayth gramarcy for thy song.

Profite.
Much good do it thee, but I am afeard I tarry to long.
Therefore friendes adue, for I will be gone.

Helpe.
Nay softe Profite, leaue vs not behind,
For hence to depart, we also do minde.

Corage.
Then three knaues on a cluster, get you together,
Needes knaues you must go, for so you came hether.

Profite.
But here we found thee, a Knaue most of all,
And so we leaue thee, as thou doest vs call.

Corage.
Now so is the purpose, and this is the case,
Good cosen Cutpurse, if you be in place.
I beseech you now, your businesse to plye,
I warrant thee I, no man shall thee espye.
If they doe, it is but an howers hanging,
But such a purse thou mayest catch, worth a yeres spending.
I warrant thee encouraging thou shalt not lack,
Come hyther, let me clap thee on the back.
And if thou wilt now follow my request,
At Tyborne I may chaunce clap thee on the brest.
So that of clapping, thou shalt haue store,
Here clapping behind, and at Tyborne before.
But cosen Cutpurse, if ought thou do get,
I pray thee let me haue part of thy cheate.
I meane not of thy hanging fare,
But of thy purse, and filched share.
Well syrs it is time, that hence I doe pack me,
For I am afrayde, that some men doe lack me.
For some are perhaps, about some good deede,
And for lack of corage, they dare not proceede.

Exiunt.
The Courtyer entreth.
Courtyer.
As with the poyson, which is moste delectable,
The heart of man, is soonest infected:
So the foe moste hurteth, who seemeth most amiable,
And of all wise men, is to be detected.
At this time this saying I haue elected,
For that they which friendship, to me professed,
In steade thereof, my hurte haue addressed.
They promised me, my friendes for to stand,
And to helpe me to that which I did craue:
Untill that I had obligated my land,
And then was I subiect to euery knaue.
Ech man then a porcion would haue,
The Marchaunt for lone, the Broker for his payne,
And the scrybe for wryting, ech man had a gayne.
Ninubula pluuia imbrem parit,
A mizeling shower ingendreth great wet,
Which saying officium prouerbia non tarit,
Many a little maketh a great.
So euery of them, by me wrought his feate,
And euery of these brybes, being cast to account,
To a good porcion I feele do amount.
But what vilany is there in such,
Who knowing a man, of their helpe to haue neede:
Will incroch vpon him, so vnreasonable much,
Their owne greedy desires to feede.
Iuuenall I remember, doth teach them in deede,
Whose wordes are these, both open and playne,
The vicious man only, seeketh his own gayne:
Yea twice vicious, may they be named,
Who doe auarice so much imbrace:
But what is their aunswere, when they are blamed,
Say they, we haue here but a little space.
Therefore we haue neede to be getting a pace,
Wherefore should we gayning lay away,
The Tyde taryeth no Man, this is all they can say.

Corage entereth.
Corage.
And as soone as she had supped vp the broth,
The ladle she layd vpon his face:
Woman quoth he, why arte thou so wroth?
Knaue quoth she, get thee out of this place.

And smyteth the gentleman.
Courtyer.
Why friend, arte thou not well in thy wit,
Wherefore smitest thou me in such sorte?

Corage.
Iesus Gentleman, are you here yet,
I thought long or this you had bene at the Courte.
Therefore you must pardon mine offence,
For I little thought it had bene you.

Courtyer.
Thy company is so good, I will get me hence,
Therefore cursed Corage adue.

Corage.
And in fayth will you needes begon,
What man you might tarry a while.

Courtyer.
In thy company I haue tarryed to long,
For I perceaue thou art full of guile.

Exiunt.
Corage.
Farewell frost, will you needes be gone,
Adue since that you will needes away:
In fayth this sporte is trimsy alone,
That I can thus, a gentleman fray.

Greedinesse and Helpe enter together.
Greedines
Oh Helpe, might I once see that day,
Tush I would not care, who I did wrong.

Helpe.
Doubt not, you neede not that for to fray,
You shall see that day, or that it be long.

Corage.
What day is that, whereof you doe speake?
May not a body your councell know.

Helpe.
Mary syr, this day whereof we doe intreate,
Is a day of some notable show.
When the Courtyers in their brauery shalbe,
Before their Prince, some shew to make:
If such a day, Welthinesse might see,
He hopeth then, some money to take.
For without cost, they may not be braue,
And many lacke money, as he doth suppose:
Wherefore at some, a good hand he would haue,
I warrant thee, by none he hopeth to lose.

Corage.
Tush man doubt not, such dayes there will come,
That matter thou needest not to feare.

Greedines
To here of such dayes, I would ryde and run,
So glad I would be, of such dayes to heare.
Oh with these Courtyers, I loue to deale well,
Or with other yong Gentlemen, who haue pounds or lands:
For whether I doe lend them, or my wares to them sell,
I am sure to win largely, at their handes.
And specially, where in neede they doe stand,
Then in fayth I doe pinch them home:
When I see they must needes haue money out of hand,
And that other shifte, to worke they haue none.

Helpe.
Why that is the way syr to come alofte,
Great welth thereby, I know you doe get.

Greedines
I warrant thee no time, I driue of,
Neyther for any mans saying, the same will I let.
Well syrs I must now leaue of this talke,
And I must bid you both twayne adue.

Fayne a going out.
Corage.
Softe mayster Greedinesse whether do you walke,
What syr I pray you, one word with you.

Greedines
Towardes Powles Crosse, from hence I doe goe,
Perchaunce some profite there I may meete.

Corage.
To Powles Crosse, what there will you doe,
Do you the Preachers wordes so well like.

Greedines
Tush for the preaching I passe not a pin,
It is not the matter wherefore I do go:
For that goeth out whereas it comes in,
But herein my meaning, so thee I will show.
You know that many thether doe come,
Wherefore perchaunce, such may be my hap:
Of my ill debtors there to spye some,
Whome without delay, by the heeles I will clap.

Helpe.
Why syr, and will you arest them there?
While they at sermon preaching be.

Greedines
Will I quoth you, wherefore should I feare,
It is best taking them, while I may them see.

Corage.
Yea bir Lady syr, full wisely you say,
Take them while you may them get:
Or else perchaunce it wilbe many a day,
Or on them agayne your eye you shall set.

Greedines
I remember what you haue sayd,
Tyde taryeth no man, marke you that:
Wherefore no time herein shalbe delayed,
Therefore syrs adew to long I do chat.

Exiunt.
Corage.
Now that here is none but you and I,
I pray thee deliuer to me my part,
Dispatch and geue me it by and by:
And that I say with a willing hart,

Helpe.
I know no part I haue of thine,
Therefore of me thou gettest no part.

Corage.
I will make thee confesse a parte of mine,
Or else I will make thy bones to smart.

Helpe.
When the residue doe thereto agree,
Then will I also geue thee a parte:
But if they no part will giue vnto thee,
If I giue thee any, beshrew my harte.

Corage.
Yea friend Helpe, are you at that poynt,
I will make you otherwise to say:
Or else I will heate you in euery ioynt,
Now mayster Helpe, how like you this play.

And fighteth to prolong the time, while Wantonnesse maketh her ready.
Helpe.
What hold thy hand man, arte thou so mad,

Corage.
To confesse me a part, I will make thee glad.

Helpe.
A parte thou shalt haue, when home we doe come.

Corage.
Upon that condicion mine anger is done.
A syrra th inke you, to make me your knaue,
And yet all the profite your selues you would haue.

Enter wastfulnesse the husband of Wantonnesse.
Wastful.
What ioy is like the linked life?
What hope might hold me from my wife?
Can man his tongue so frame,
Or eke dispose me from my dame?
What doth my substaunce good to mee,
I will therefore be franke and free.
Where couples yong do meete,
That plyaunt peece so sweete.
My ioy for to declare,
Whose bewty is so rare.
In cofers lockt to lye,
To serue my wyfe and I.

Corage.
Then doe you wisely, I sweare by S. Anne
Take time while time is, for time will away:
The niggard is neuer counted a man.
Therefore remember to doe as you say.

Wastful.
I warrant thee, what I haue sayd,
Nothing I meane shalbe delayed.
I will the same fulfill,
To ease and please my will.

Helpe.
Truely syr you doe wisely therein,
For what good of hoording insues:
Undoubtedly I thinke it a sinne,
And beastes they are, which the same doe vse.

Wastful.
Use it who list, for me he shall, I meane to hoord no store,
I meane to serue my time withall, and then I seeke no more.

Wantonnesse enter.
Wanton.
Iesus husband what doe you meane,
To run abroade, and leaue me at home:
You are such a man, as I haue not seene,
I see well, hereafter you will leaue me alone.
That so soone begin, from me to be straying,
What man, it is yet but honny moone.

Wastfull.
What woman would you haue me alwayes playing?
So may we shortly both be vndone.
As for pleasure there is a time,
So for profite there is the like:
Therefore I pray thee gentle wife mine,
Be contented that my profite I seeke.

Wanton.
Yea but husband I say consider in your mind,
That now we are yong, and plyaunt to play:
But age approaching, makes vs lame and blind,
And lusty corage doth then draw away.
Then what may substaunce vs auayle,
For age no pleasure doth regard:
Therefore good sweete harte doe not quayle,
Thinke neuer that the world is hard.

Corage.
Undoubtedly moste true it is.
The woman herein doth truely say:
Sir haue not you heard before this,
Tyde taryeth no man, but will away.

Wastfull.
But better it is hardly to begin,
And after in better estate to bee:
Then fyrst to be alofte full trim,
And after to fall to lower degree.

Wanton.
Truely that is but a foolish toy,
At the fyrst to liue hardly and bare:
Many we see misse that hoped ioy,
And then it prooueth, for others they spare.
Haue not many had, full sorrowfull hartes,
By losing of that which they did spare:
Had they not better haue taken their partes,
Then so for others, them selues to make bare.
And what know we, if we shall liue,
To take our partes of that we scrape:
Would it not then your harte greeue,
To leaue your substaunce in such rate.

Wastful.
Yea but sweete harte, if naught we shall haue,
When hereafter we shall aged wax:
Then had we better with vs in graue,
Then needy pouerty should vs vex.

Wanton.
Doubt you that such chaunce shall befall,
Truely you are greatly vnwyse:
We are able to keepe vs from such thrall,
Spend, and God will send, else the prouerbe lyes.

Wastfull.
His sending woman, we dayly do see,
Is a staffe and a wallet vnto such:
Who such excessiue spenders bee,
Experience thereof we haue to much.

Wanton.
Well husband this talke is in vayne,
Therefore cease so sharply to speake:
For vnlesse such talke you doe refrayne,
I feare for vnkindnesse my harte will breake.
I little thought that you would thus,
Haue now restrayned me of my will:
But now right well I may discusse,
Shee weepeth.
That you doe loue some other gill.

Wastful.
Why woman doest thou thinke that I,
Haue thought all this while, as I haue sayd:
I did it onely thy mind to trye,
For pleasure in me, shall not be delayd.
While the time is, the time I will take,
What soeuer I list to say:
Of my goods no God I will make,
Therefore good wife, do thy sorrow away.

Wanton.
A fayth are you such a one indeede,
By gisse you made me almost afeard:
My harte in my belly was ready to bleede,
When such foolish wordes in you I heard.

Helpe.
I would haue counted him greatly vnwise,
If he were so foolish, as himselfe he made:
Fooles they are, which such pleasure despise,
But I knew that therein he would not wade.
And truely I am right glad to see,
That so good an agreement betweene you is:
For truely where couples doe so well agree,
It may not be chosen, but there is great blisse.
I am sorry that thus we must parte you froe,
Corage it is time for vs to departe.

Wanton.
But yet my friendes before that you goe,
Of a song helpe vs to sing a parte.
By my troth husband we must needes haue a song,
Will you not helpe to further the same?

Wastful.
Yes by my troth, so it be not long,
Or else you might count me greatly to blame.

Corage.
And I am content a part for to beare.

Helpe.

Corage.
Now friendes adue for we must depart,

Wastfull.
Farewell my gentle friendes withall my hart.

Wanton.
Well husband now I will home repayre,
To see that your dinner dressed be.

Exiunt.
Wastful.
Doe so wife, and see we haue good fare,
I meane not long to tarry after thee.
Pause.
Whose ioy may be compared to mine,
I haue a wife bewtifull and gay:
She is yong, pleasant, proper and fyne,
And plyaunt to please me both night and day.
For whome should I pinch, for whome should I spare,
Why should I not be liberall and free,
How euer the world goe I doe not care.
I haue ynough for my wife and me,
And if my substaunce chaunce to decay:
I know my credite is not so ill,
But that I can borrow twenty pound alway.
To serue me at my pleasure and will,
For repayment thereof, no care I will take:
No matter it is if the same I may get,
While it lasteth, therewith I will merry make.
What skils it though that I come in debt.
While yong I am, youthfull I will be,
And passe my time in youthfull sorte:
For as my wife here sayd vnto me.
Age doth delight in no pleasaunt sport,
Wherefore since pleasure I doe loue:
In youth it behooues to take the same,
Nothing there from my heart shall moue.
But I thereto my heart will frame.
I feare me that I tarry to long,
My wife doe looke for me before this:
Therefore homeward I will be gone,
For there is ioy and heauenly blisse.

Exiunt.
The Sergeaunt and the debtor rested entereth.
Debtor.
What infidelity in him doth rest,
Who no time forbeareth to take his pray:
Most like the greedy or sauadge beast,
Who in creuelty rageth both night and day.
Might he not the space of one Sermon stay,
What care or minde gaue he to Gods word,
Who at preaching thereof did me so disturbe.
Is the Sabboth day, and Paules Crosse,
A time and place to vex thy debtor?
Or hast thou Greedinesse by me had any losse?
Nay by me thou arte a hundereth pound the better,
I speake of the least and not of the greatter.
Yet I neuer denyed, my debt for to pay,
But in deede I requyred a longer day.

Sergeant.
Tush syr this talke is all but in vayne,
Meane you thus the time to delay?
Dispatch therefore, and please me for my payne,
And toward the Counter, let vs away.

Debtor.
No haste but good, stay yet a while,
Or else take the payne with me for to walke:
About the quantity of halfe a mile,
With a friend of mine, that I might talke.

Sergeant.
For a Royall I will not so farre goe,
Therefore set your heart at quyet.

Debtor.
I meane to please no Sergeant so,
I am no customer for your dyet.
But since to goe, you doe not intend,
You must take paynes here to tarry with me:
Untill for a friend of mine I doe send,
Which I trust shortly my bayle will be.

Sergeant.
Neyther will I with thee here remayne,
Therefore dispatch and let vs away:
Thinkest thou that I hauing naught for my payne,
Will eyther goe with thee, or heare for thee stay.

Debtor.
And what wilt thou aske, with me here to stay?
At one word let me that vnderstand.

Sergeant.
At one word ten groates thou shalt pay,
Or else to the Counter we must out of hand.

Debtor.
That will I doe with a right good will,
Rather then so much thou shalt get:
I will not so much thy minde fulfill,
If that my harte, my hand may let.

Sergeant.
Why then with speede let vs away,
This deede thou wilt repent I trow.

Debtor.
Well, wherefore now doe we stay,
I am ready hence to goe.

Sergeant.
Come on then.

They two go out.
Christianity must enter with a sword, with a title of pollicy, but on the other syde of the tytle, must be written gods word, also a Shield, wheron must be written riches, but on the other syde of the Shield must be Fayth.
Christian.
Christianity I doe represent,
Muse not though the sword of pollicy I beare:
Neyther marueile not what is mine intent,
That this fayleable shield of riches I weare.
Greedy great, will haue it so euery where,
Greedy great for this cause I haue named,
For that the greater parte vse greedines, which is to be blamed.
As the greater parte will, thereto must I yeeld,
Their cruell force I may not withstand:
Therefore I beare this deformed sword and shield,
Which I may be ashamed to hold in my hand,
But the Lord deliuer me from their thraldome and band,
For if the enemy assayle me, then am I in thrall:
Because I lack such Armoure, as is taught by S. Paule.
For in steade of Gods word, and the shield of fayth,
I am deformed with pollicy, and riches vayne:
And still I say, as the greater parte sayeth,
I am still a christian, and so shall remayne,
My Christianity say they, no domage doth sustaine:
But alas they are deceiued, their armoure is not sure,
For neyther pollicy, nor ryches, may long time indure.
Yet vpon those two, we greatly depend,
We say by pollicy, our selues we can saue,
Riches as a shield, we say will defend,
And by riches we possesse what euer we craue,
So that for riches, we sell all that we haue.
Not onely the body, and all thinges terestriall,
But also the soule, which ought be celestiall.

Faythfull few enter.
Faythfull.
Alas I lament to heare the report,
Which of vs cittizens in euery place is spread:
It is not long synce I came from the court,
Where I would haue bene glad to haue hid my head.
With the spoyle of the symple, there they say were fed,
So that for the couetous greedines, which some cittizens vse,
A shamefull ill reporte to the whole ensues.
But I must needes confesse some among vs there be,
For whose sakes the whole number beareth great blame:
They abuse themselues so, towardes euery degree,
As man without reason, and past wordly shame,
Neither regard they their owne, nor their ill name.
So they may haue the chaffy treasure of the world,
They passe not both with God and man to be abhord.
There is no time nor place, that they will forbeare,
When any of their helpe hath moste neede:
Then shall he pay treble for his money or ware,
Or else of them he is not like to speede.
They nothing regard his pouerty or neede,
But who is it which yonder doth stand?
he goeth toward him
Holding the Sword of Pollicy in his hand,
Moste certayne I am, that face I should know,
Syr is not your name Christianity?

Christian.
Yes vndoubtedly, my name is so,
As you are faythfull few imbraser of verity.

Faythfull.
And shall the Sword of Pollicy, by Christianity be borne,
Truely that is contrary to your nature and kinde:
Now are you deformed like a thing forlorne,
Which maketh me suspect, of me in my minde.

Christian.
Oh Faythfull fewe, of me haue no doubt,
I am Christianity, though thus deformed:
And though thus abused, by the great route,
Yet by God I trust, my tytle shalbe turned.

Faythfull.
By the power of God I wil not delay,
he turneth the titles
To turne this tytle most vntrue and fayned,
And I will moue thee, and that straight way,
With such weapons, as Saynt Paule hath ordayned.

Christian.
Alas in vayne this payne you doe take,
For as you faythfull, in number are few,
So the power is but small that you can make,
To resist the greedy great ones, who are agaynst you.

Faythfull.
Si Deus nobiscum, quis contra nos,
If God be with vs, who may vs resist,
Weigh not then the number, but weigh his purpose,
Who ruleth all thinges, as himselfe doth lift.
I know how Greedinesse, with the great part is vsed,
Their pilling, pouling, pinching and spoyling:
Now both the simple and others, with them are abused,
They liue by the fruites of other mens toyling.
But God is not dead, neyther is he a sleepe,
Although for a time his hand he doth hold:
Yet doth he remember his little sheepe,
And will reuenge the wrong done to his folde.

Corage and Greedines enter as though they saw not Christianity.
Corage.
Let them say what they wil, doe thou as I told thee,
Trust thou not to any knaue of them all:
Not a Preacher of them all, in thy neede will vphold thee,
Try them who will, their deuotion is small.

Greedines
Thou wilt not beleeue how the Knaue did prate,
Ye cittizens repent, thus he did crye,
Looke about in time quoth hee, or it be to late,
For the vengeaunce of God at hand is full nye.
As though he knew what were in Gods minde,
Surely it is a shame, they are so suffred to lye.

Corage.
But in my talke great profyte thou doste fynde,
They are all lyers as their talke doth trye,
By my doctrine thou haste great profyte and gayne,
Great riches and substaunce, therby thou doest win:
To instruct thee dayly I take great payne,
Which way thou shalt thy riches bring in.

Greedines
Thou doest so in deede, and thankes I thee giue,
But syrra, now I remember a thing:
Which made me not long since, to laugh in my sleeue,
To me a yong Gentleman the Broker did bring,
Whose Father was dead of late as it seemed,
And his landes in Morgage to a Marchaunt was layde,
Wherefore it behooued the same were redeemed,
For the day was at hand, when the same should be payde.
And I perceauing his neede to be such,
I thought I would pinch him or that I went,
To giue mine owne asking, he did not greatly grudge,
And when I had girded him, thence I him sent.

Faythfull.
More shame for thee, and such as thou art,
That with life thou arte permitted, it is great pitty,
Thou arte a Christyan with a canckered heart,
And the cause of reproch to a whole citty.
Christianity by thee is greatly abused,
Of his righteous Armour, thou doest him bereaue,
And in stead therof, by him to be vsed,
The Armour of Sathan, with him thou doste leaue.

Greedines
Why would you not haue me, how to inuent,
Which way were best to bring in my gayne?

Faythfull.
But not in such sort, to set thine intent,
That all the world of thee should complayne.

Greedines
I crye you mercy, I know where you are now.
In a Courtyers behalf, this oration you make,
Of late there was one, complayned how,
Excessiue gayne of him I did take.
It is the cast of them all so to say,
When prodigally their money is spent:
Or if the Prince will them not pay,
Then on the Marchaunt, some lyes they inuent.

Faythfull.
Arte thou not ashamed of thy Prince to speake ill?
Thine owne abused doing to excuse:
No marueyle though the citty haue all mens ill will,
When both in word and deede, thy selfe thou doest misvse.
Sed Reginum est male, audire cum besecerint,
Antisthenes doth truely this saying resite,
It is geuen to Princes (sayeth he) though they be beneuolēt,
To be euell spoken of which is agaynst all right.

Greedines
Syr you are best say no more, then you are able to proue,
Least I make you to repent your boldnesse,
For if my pacience you to much do moue,
I may chaunce turne your heate into a coldnesse.
Why I lende my money like a friend for good will,
And thereby doe helpe men at their neede.

Faythfull.
A friend thou arte in deede, though a friend but ill,
Pithagoras thy friendship, hath playnely decreede,
There be many sayth he, who no friendes do lacke,
And yet of friendship they haue but skant,
So thou arte a friend for their moneys sake,
And yet thy friendship they alwayes shall want.

Christian.
Assuredly thou highly offendest,
For that so double in dealing thou arte:
Aristotle sayeth, by the same thou pretendest,
And not so to beare a dissembling harte.
A Christian ought not vnto riches to yeeld,
For it is a thing but sayleable and vayne,
Riches is no perpetuall shielde,
But the shield of Fayth, shall euer remayne.
Take therefore fayth, and Gods word for thy sworde,
And arme Christianity in this wise.

Greedines
Shall pollicy and riches then be abhord,
Syr they are fooles that them will despise.
I put case pouerty should me assayle,
Can Gods word and fayth me any thing ayde:
Pouerty agaynst riches can neuer auayle,
I am sure syr this may not be denayde.

Faythfull.
We deny not, but in this world, riches beare the sway,
Yet, it not riches to be called sure:
For in Gods power it is to make riches decay,
Whereas Gods word and fayth shall euer endure.

Greedines
But geue me riches, take you Gods word and fayth,
And see which of vs shall haue the better gayne.

Christian.
Now Faythfull few, you here what he sayth,
Therefore to turne the tytles I must be fayne,

Faythfull.
Well since it will no better be,
To God let vs the cause betake:
Whome I trust, when as time he doth see,
He will for vs, a deliueraunce make.

Corage.
Come Mayster Welthinesse, let vs away,
What should we here any longer doe?

Greedines
In deede I hold it best as you say,
Therefore your saying I agree vnto.

They two go out.
Faythfull.
Sorry I am, to see his estate,
Now neare he is, to the Founte of perdition:
God graunt him repentaunce, or it be to late,
That of his sinnes he may haue remission.

Christian.
But alas, he goeth the contrary way,
For of his couetousnesse, he taketh no ruth:
And Aristotle I remember doth say,
The couetous man cannot learne the truth.
Wherefore he cannot, or will not know,
The way to reforme me Christianity:
Therefore from this place now I will goe,
To pray vnto God to shew him the verity.
Now Faythfull few adue vnto thee,
I will pray vnto God for thy comfort and ayd:
I beseech thee make like intercession for me,
And that my reformation be not long delayd.

Exiunt.
Faythfull.
Doubt not thereof good Christianity,
My indeuour herein shall not be delayde:
Alas what is man not knowing the verity,
No man, but a beast he may be sayd.
Yet many there are, which in the world doth liue,
Who for Christians will needes accoumpted be:
Though to all abhominations, their selues they doe giue,
And from no kind of vice be cleare or free.
Couetousnesse is accoumpted no sinne,
Usury is a science and art:
All wayes are good, whereby we may win,
Although it be to our neighbours smart.
Whereby it appeareth, from loue we are free,
The words of the wise, we nothing regarde:
For without loue, no vertue can perfect bee,
As Plato the wyse, hath playnly declarde.
No good thing without loue, it is possible to doe,
Seneca of that opinyon hath bene:
Then how many good thinges, do they now thinke you,
In whome no loue at all there is seene.
They watch their times, the simple to snare,
No time they forbeare, their pleasures to worke:
God graunt we therefore of them may beware,
For priuily to snare vs, they dayly doe lurke.

Enter Wastfulnesse poorely.
Wastful.
Oh more then wretch, which so foolishly haste spent,
Not onely thine own goods, but also other mens:
What accoumpt shall I make, for the goods to me lent,
Which neuer I am able for to recompence.
How wastfully haue I, with wantonnesse my wife,
Consumed our goods, substaunce and treasure,
That would to God I were out of my life,
For the remembraunce thereof, is greefe without measure.
My wyfe and I now, are asunder dispersed,
Ech of vs, to seeke our liuing alone:
Alas our woe may not be rehearsed,
Unto whome now should we make our mone.
In taking the time, to toward we weare,
We were afeard to long to abide:
Corages councell in mind we did beare,
He sayd that for no man would tarry the tyde.
But well away now, which way shall I run,
I know it is folly vnto God to call:
For God I know my peticion will shun,
And into perdition I am now like to fall.
Dispayre, dispayre.
Dispayre enter in some ougly shape, and stand behind him.
Why should I dispayre, since God doth behold,
The sinner with mercy as the Scripture doth say.

Dispaire.
But thy prodigall sinnes are so manifold,
That God of mercy, doth thee vtterly denay.
Therefore to ende thy life it is best,
Thy calling for mercy, is all but in vayne:
By ending thy life, thou shalt be at rest,
But if longer thou liue, great shall be thy payne.

Wastfull.
Well then will I seeke some place where I may,
Finish my life with Cord, or with knyfe:
The dispatch thereof, I will not delay,
Farewell now all the world, but cheefely my wife.

fayne a going out.
Faythfull few plucketh him agayne.
Faythfull.
Softe stay a whyle, and be not so rash,
Thinkest thou God vnmercifull to be:
Wilt thou trust dispayre, euen at the fyrst dash,
Hast thou no fayth in Gods mercy so free,
Call vpon god with repentaunce and fayth,
By such wayes and meanes as I will instruct thee.

Wastfull.
I beleeue God is mercifull, as the Scripture sayeth.

They both kneele, and Wastfull sayeth after Faythfull.
Faythfull.
Well follow mee, and I will conduct thee.
Oh heauenly Father pardon my offence.

Wastfull.
Oh heauenly father, pardon mine offence.

Faythfull.
And graunt that thy mercy may to me repayre.

Wastfull.
And graunt that thy mercy may to me repayre,

Faythfull.
Also O Father banish thou hence.

Wastfull.
Also O Father banish thou hence.

Faythfull.
That wicked Monster of Dispayre,

Wastfull.
That wicked Monster of Dispayre.

Dispayre flyeth, and they arise.
Faythfull.
How feelest thou now, thy conscience and minde,
Hopest thou not, of gods mercy and grace?

Wastfull.
Well God be praysed that here I thee finde,
How happy was I to approch this place.
Dispayre is now fled, I perfectly know,
And in Gods mercy I fyrmely doe trust,
Therefore O Lord deliuer me from thrall:
And pardon me a sinner, most vile and vniust.

Faythfull.
That is very well sayd, if so thou doe thinke,
And now frame thy selfe, thy life to amend,
Let dispayre no more into thy mind sincke:
But to be a new man, doe thou now pretend.
And as hertofore thy mind for to please,
Thou haste learned the Tyde will tarry no man,
So now it behoueth for thy greater ease,
That saying, after Gods will for to scan.
Take time while time is, thus I doe meane,
Amend thy life whilst here thou haste space:
To Gods mercifull promises see that thou leane,
So shalt thou enioy the Tide of his grace.

Wastful.
To follow your councell, I will doe my indeuour,
I will seeke the same in all poyntes to performe:
The effect of your wordes I will forget neuer,
And now I will hence, my wife to reforme.
That she and I, in manner new,
May amend our liues, to Gods glory and prayse:
Wherefore good syr vnto you adue,
I beseech the Lord to send thee good dayes.

Exiunt.
Faythfull.
See how the time takers their fact doth repent,
Who no time will spare in pleasing their will:
And although the beginning haue a pleasaunt sente,
Yet of the ending, the taste is as ill.
For who euer it be that without measure,
Doth consume his substaunce in prodigall sorte:
Although he had aboundaunce of treasure,
Yet will he be a begger, and that in time shorte.
I marueile where Authority is,
Who should see a helpe for the simple oppressed:
Many thinges there are greatly amisse,
Which by his meanes must needes be redressed.
His absence greatly disquieteth my minde,
I will not cease seeking, vntill him I do finde.

Exiunt.
Enter Corage weeping.
Corage.
Out alas this tydinges are ill,
My friend mayster Greedinesse, hath ended his dayes,
Dispayre vpon him hath wrought his will,
And desperately now he is gone his wayes.
As one enraged and out of his wit,
No remembraunce of God he would haue:
Alas pore man he had a great fit,
Before that well he was layde in his graue.
Why but is Greedines dead in good sadnesse,
reasoning with himselfe.
My thinkes these newes are not true which you tell:
Yes truely he dyed in a great madnesse,
And went with the Tyde boate straight into hell.
Why foole, Greedinesse will neuer dye,
So long as couetous people do liue:
Then you belike doe thinke that I doe lye,
I am as honest a man as any in your sleeue.
I am sure he is dead, or one in his likenesse,
For when he was buryed I stood by:
And some sayd he dyed of the new sicknesse,
Therefore syr thinke not that I doe lye.
For I am as sorry for the death of the man,
As any man that liueth this day:
Wherefore I must needes weepe if I can.
But husht some body is comming this way.

Enter Authority and Faythfull few.
Faythfull.
Surely Authority the same is euen he,
I warrant you syr, you neede not to doubt.

Authori.
Then wyll we handle him kindly thou shalt see,
Therefore see that from vs hee escape not out.

Corage.
God saue your honour, and prosper your estate,
I am glad to see you approch this place:
Those which say ill of you, I vtterly doe hate,
I aunswere for your honour in euery case.

Autho.
Ah crafty caytife, why dissemblest thou so?
Doest thou thinke that vs thou mayest so blind,
Thy contagious dooinges we right well do know,
And eake thy property, nature and kind.
Thou arte an encourager to all kindes of vice,
The Aged to auaryce, and greedy desyre,
The yonger sorte lack none of thine aduice,
To all such acts as the Deuill doth require.

Corage.
Loe Syr, I thought you did me mistake,
I know right well, the man whome you meane,
To fetch him heather, good speede I will make,
I warrant you, I wil shortly be here agayn.

Fayne to go out
Faythfull.
Nay softe he is here, whome that we would haue,
Therefore you neede not him for to fetch.

Corage.
Yes I will fetch him, for he is a very knaue,
And almes it is, that a rope he should stretch.

Still fayn to go out.
Authori.
Upon thy selfe, iust iudgement thou doest giue,
Iuuenall sayeth, Citties are well gouerned,
Whereas such rebelles are now suffered to liue,
But after their desertes, are iustly punished.

Corage.
They which are Rebelles, it behooueth in deede,
That they be corrected and punished so,
For they doe much harme in euery steede,
But I am none such, I would you should know.

Authori.
Thou shalt know what thou art, or hence we depart,
Faythfull few vpon him lay holde.

Corage.
By gis sir, then I will cause him to smart,
Therefore to touch me, be not so bold.

Faythfull
Syr see where commeth Correction also.

Correction enter.
Autho.
Draw neare Correction and thine office doe,
Take here this caytife vnto the Iayle.

Correcti.
Syr to doe your commaundement I will not fayle,
Come on Syrra and let vs away.

Corage.
Nay softe a whyle your wisedome stay.
Hold me when you haue me, but you haue me not yet,
And perchaunce ere you haue me, your nose I will slit.

Correcti.
Thinkest thou with bragges to make me afeard.

And beginneth to lay handes on him.
Corage.
You are best stand further, least I shaue your beard.

They striue, he draweth his dagger and fyghteth.
Correcti.
In fayth sir, now I wil geue you the check,

& catcheth him
Corage.
Oh gods passyon, wilt thou breake my neck?
Is there no man here that hath a curst wife,
If he will in my stead, he shall end his life.

Correcti.
Tush let vs hence, thy talke is in vayne,

Corage.
Sithens there is no remedy, best is a short payne.

Exit.
Faythfull
When all malifactors are duely thus punished,
According to the good and godly lawes,
Then shall Christianity duely be burnished,
And to prayse God, we shall haue cause.

Autho.
O Faythfull few, doubt not but as we,
Are able Christianities estate to reforme:
So his reformation in short time thou shalt see,
For we for his estate doe lament and mourne.
Of our selues we are not able to compasse this thing,
But by this sword of Gods power, which to vs is lent:
Wherefore Faythfull few, haue thou no doubting,
But we therevnto doe gladly consent.
For to Socrates saying, some respect we haue,
Who sayeth a citty is not to be praysed,
For the greatnesse or buildings, gorgious and braue,
But for the good inhabitauntes, which therein are placed.
So we accoumpt those countreyes but ill,
Which vicious persons doth mainteine and norish,
Although they haue all thinges at their will,
And although in treasure they aboundauntly florish.

Faythfull
Oh noble Authority, by this your occasion,
Great tranquillity to vs shall befall:
We shalbe a ioy to ech godly nation,
When Christianity is deliuered from thrall.
For better it were vnchristened to be,
Then our Christianity for to abuse:
The Iewish Infidell to God doth more agree,
Then such as Christianity do so misuse.
But see yonder where he doth appeare,
Whome abused armour doth greatly oppresse.

Christianity enter in as at the fyrst.
Authour.
O Christianity vnto vs draw neare,
That we thy abused estate may redresse.
And as freely as this power vnto vs is lent,
Here we now by force of the same:
To thee faytfull few do here condiscent,
That thou Christianities estate shalt frame.
In such good forme, fashion, and shape,
As the same shall not be turned agayne:
But shall continue in a Godly rate,
From henceforth euermore to remayne.

Faythfull.
God graunt that so it may be kept,
As all Christians it may become:
And for my part it shall not be slept,
But my duty shall straight way be done.

he turneth the titles.
Christian.
Now God be praysed who thus agayne,
Hath restored me to my former estate:
And hath extinguished from me all payne,
God graunt that now I be not founde vngrate.
And God graunt that all Christians may me duly imbrase,
In such sorte as Gods will it is:
So shall they be sure of a resting place,
In Heauen where raigneth all ioy and blisse.