An excellent new Commedie, Intituled : The Conflict of Conscience Contayninge, A most lamentable example, of the dolefull desperation of a miserable worldlinge, termed, by the name of Philologvs, who forsooke the trueth of Gods Gospel, for feare of the losse of lyfe, & wordly goods |
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 | An excellent new Commedie, Intituled : The Conflict of Conscience |  |
Sceane. 3.
Hypocrisie.TIRANNY. AVARICE.
O Louing
Father and mercifull God,
We through our sinnes thy punishment deserue,
And haue prouoked to beat with thy rod:
Ue stubborne Children, which from thee doo swerue:
We loathed thy worde, but now we shall sterue:
For Hypocrisie is placed againe in this lande,
And thy true Gospell as exile doth stande.
We through our sinnes thy punishment deserue,
And haue prouoked to beat with thy rod:
Ue stubborne Children, which from thee doo swerue:
We loathed thy worde, but now we shall sterue:
For Hypocrisie is placed againe in this lande,
And thy true Gospell as exile doth stande.
This is thy iust iudgement for our offence,
Who hauyng the light, in darknesse did straie,
But now if thou wouldest of thy fatherly beneuolence:
Thy purposed iudgements in wrath for to stay:
The part of the prodigall Sonne we would play:
And with bitter teares before thee would fall,
And in true repentaunce for mercy would call.
In our prosperitie we woulde not regard,
The wordes of the Preachers, who threatned the same,
But flattering our selues, thought yu wouldest haue spared
Us in thy mercy, and neuer vs blame:
But so much prouoked thee, by blasphemynge thy name:
Indeede to deny, that in words we mayntaine,
That from thy Iustice thou couldst not refraine.
Who hauyng the light, in darknesse did straie,
But now if thou wouldest of thy fatherly beneuolence:
Thy purposed iudgements in wrath for to stay:
The part of the prodigall Sonne we would play:
And with bitter teares before thee would fall,
And in true repentaunce for mercy would call.
In our prosperitie we woulde not regard,
The wordes of the Preachers, who threatned the same,
But flattering our selues, thought yu wouldest haue spared
But so much prouoked thee, by blasphemynge thy name:
Indeede to deny, that in words we mayntaine,
That from thy Iustice thou couldst not refraine.
So that Romish Pharao a Tirant most cruell,
Hath brought vs againe into captiuytie,
And instead of the pure floud of thy Gospell:
Hath poysoned our soules with diuelish Hypocrisie:
Unable to maintaine it, but by murthering Tiranny:
Seeking rather the fleece, then the health of the Sheepe,
Which are appointed for him for to keepe.
Hath brought vs againe into captiuytie,
And instead of the pure floud of thy Gospell:
Hath poysoned our soules with diuelish Hypocrisie:
Unable to maintaine it, but by murthering Tiranny:
Seeking rather the fleece, then the health of the Sheepe,
Which are appointed for him for to keepe.
Tyranny.
Loe Auarice, harke what a Traitor is heere,
Against our holy Father this language to vse:
I might haue harde more if I would him forbeare:
But for greefe my eares burne to heare him abuse
His tongue in this maner: wherfore no excuse,
Shall purchase fauour but that with all speede,
By Sword I will render, to him his due meede.
Against our holy Father this language to vse:
I might haue harde more if I would him forbeare:
But for greefe my eares burne to heare him abuse
His tongue in this maner: wherfore no excuse,
Shall purchase fauour but that with all speede,
By Sword I will render, to him his due meede.
Wherfore, thou miscreant, while thou hast time,
Pray to the Saintes, thy spokesmen to bee,
That at Gods hand, from this thy great crime:
By their intercession, thou may be set free:
Pray to the Saintes, thy spokesmen to bee,
That at Gods hand, from this thy great crime:
By their intercession, thou may be set free:
Auarice.
Nay hearest thou Tyranny, be ruled by mee:
First cut of his head, and then let him pray,
So shall he be sure, vs not to bewray.
Hypocrisie.
O wicked Tyranny, thou impe of the Deuill,
Too ioyfyll tidinges, to thee haue I brought,
For now thou are imbouldened, to practise all euill:
Tiranny.
Marry thou shalt not giue mee thy seruice for nought:
But for thy paines to please thee I thought.
Hypocrisie.
Thou art nothing so ready to doo any good,
As thou art to shed poore Innocents bloud.
Nay Tyranny suffer this raskall to prate,
Till some man come by, and then he is gone,
Then wilt thou repent it, when it is to late:
Dispatch him therfore, while we are alone:
Hypocrisie.
Well may the Couetous be lykened to a drone,
Which of the Bees labours, will spoile and wast make,
And yet to get hony, no labour will take.
Which of the Bees labours, will spoile and wast make,
And yet to get hony, no labour will take.
The Coueitous lykewise, from poore men extort,
Their gaines to encrease, they onely doo seeke:
And so they may haue it of them a great sorte:
What meanes they vse for it, they care not a leeke:
Yet will these mysers scarce once a weeke:
Haue one good meale, at their owne table,
So by Auarice, to help them selues they are vnable.
Their gaines to encrease, they onely doo seeke:
And so they may haue it of them a great sorte:
What meanes they vse for it, they care not a leeke:
Yet will these mysers scarce once a weeke:
Haue one good meale, at their owne table,
So by Auarice, to help them selues they are vnable.
Auarice to a Fire may well compared bee,
To the which the more you adde, the more still it craue,
So lykewise the Couetous minde we doo see:
Though riches abound, doo wish still more to haue
And to be short, your reuerences to saue:
To a filthy Swyne, such mysers are comparable,
Which while they be dead are nothing profytable.
To the which the more you adde, the more still it craue,
So lykewise the Couetous minde we doo see:
Though riches abound, doo wish still more to haue
And to be short, your reuerences to saue:
To a filthy Swyne, such mysers are comparable,
Which while they be dead are nothing profytable.
Auarice.
Nay farewell Tyranny, I came hither too soone,
I perceiue already, I am to well knowne:
I were not best in their clawes for to come:
Unlesse I were willing to be cleane ouerthrowne:
Tyranny.
By the preaching of Gods word, al this mischife is growen:
Which if Hypocrisie might happely expell,
All we in safetie and pleasure might dwell.
Which if Hypocrisie might happely expell,
All we in safetie and pleasure might dwell.
Stay therefore, while from Hypocrisie we heare,
Auarice.
Dispatch then this Marchant, least our counsell he tell,
Hypocrisie.
I am content for Gods cause, this crosse for to beare.
It is best killyng him, now his mynde is set well.
Hypocrisie.
Your scoffing and mocking God seeth eche deal:
Tyranny.
Yea, doest thou persist, vs still thus to check,
Thy speach I will hinder, by cutting of thy neck.
Hypôcrisie.
Nay, holde thy hand Cadby, thou hast kild mee enough
What neuer the sooner for a mery worde?
I meant not good earnest, to your maship I vow:
I dyd but iest, and spake but in boord:
Therfore of friendship, put vp agayne thy sword:
Tyranny.
Nay caytiffe presume not, that thou shalt goe scotfree,
Therfore hold still and I will soone dispatch thee.
Hypocrisie.
What? I pray thee Tyranny know fyrst who I am,
Ye purblinded fooles, doo your lyps blinde your eyes?
Why, I was in place long before you came:
But you could not see the wood for the trees:
But in faith father Auarice I will pay you your fees:
For the great goodwill which you to mee beare,
And in time wyll requight it againe doo not feare.
Auarice.
Content your selfe, good master Hypocrisie.
The wordes which I spake I spake vnaware.
Tyranny.
Holde thy hand Hypocrisie, I pray thee hartely:
So lyke a mad man with thy friendes doo not fare.
Hypocrisie.
For nether of you both, a pin doo I care:
Goe shake your eares both, like slaues as you bee,
And looke not in your neede to be holpen of mee.
Tyranny.
What Master Hypocrisie, will you take snuffe so soone?
Auarice.
I sweare to your maistership, by the man in the Moone,
That to your person I entended no harme:
Hypocrisie.
But that I am wearie, I would both your tongs charme
See how to my face they doo mee deride,
I will not therfore in your companies abide.
Auarice.
Why master Hipocrisie, what would you that I doo?
For my offence, of mercie I you praye.
Hypocrisie.
With thee I am at one, but of that Marchant to,
I looke for some amendes, or els I will away:
Tyrannye.
The presumptuous fooles parte heerein thou doest play,
What? of thy Master, dooest thou looke for obaysance,
I will not once intreate thee, if thou wilt get thee hence.
Hypocrisie.
Nimia familiaritas parit contemptum,
The olde prouerbe by mee is verefied,
By too much famyliaritie contemned be some:
Euen so at this present to mee it betide:
For of long time Hypocrisie hath ruled as guide:
While now of later daies, through Heretikes resistaunce
I retained Tyranny to yeeld mee asistaunce.
But through ouer much lenytie, he thinks himself checkmate
With mee his good patron, Master Hypocrisie.
Tyranny.
Lyst I pray thee Auarice, how this rascall can prate:
And with mee Tyranny doth chalenge equalytie:
Where hee of himselfe hath neither strength nor hability
But thou to him riches, and I strength doo giue,
So that I must be his master, though it doth him greeue.
Auarice.
Two Dogges oftentimes one bone would faine catch,
Euen so Hypocrisie for the preheminence dooth snatch:
Which Tiranny gapes for, ye may, perceiue:
But I must obtaine it, for of mee they retaine
All kinde of riches, their states to mayntaine,
To yeelde to mee therfore they must be both faine.
Hypocrisie.
Was Iudas Christes master, because he bare the purs
Nay rather of all, he was least regarded,
Haue not men of honor, Stewards to disburse:
All such summes of mony, wherwith they be charged:
Yet aboue their maister their honor is not enlarged:
Euen so, thee Auarice, my Steward I account,
To pay that whereto my charges amount.
Nay rather of all, he was least regarded,
Haue not men of honor, Stewards to disburse:
All such summes of mony, wherwith they be charged:
Yet aboue their maister their honor is not enlarged:
Euen so, thee Auarice, my Steward I account,
To pay that whereto my charges amount.
And to thee Tirranny, this one word I obiect,
Whether was Ioab or Dauid the King?
When Ioab was glad his ease to reiect:
The Ammonyts in Rabah, to confusion to bring:
When Dauid with Bethseba at home was sleeping:
Was not Ioab his seruant, in warfare to fight,
And so art thou mine, mine enimies to quight.
Whether was Ioab or Dauid the King?
When Ioab was glad his ease to reiect:
The Ammonyts in Rabah, to confusion to bring:
When Dauid with Bethseba at home was sleeping:
Was not Ioab his seruant, in warfare to fight,
And so art thou mine, mine enimies to quight.
Tiranny.
Nay then at the hole god giue you good night:
Shall Tiranny to Hypocrisie in any point yeelde?
Hypocrisie.
With this one word I will vanquish thee quight:
That thou shalt be glad to giue mee the feelde:
The ende to be preferred all learned men wild:
Sith therfore Hypocrisie of Tiranny is ende,
I must haue the preferment, for which I contende.
Tiranny.
I will make you both graunt that I am the chiefe,
Or els with my sword your sides I will pearce,
Hypocrisie.
That were sharp reasonyng indeede, with a mischiefe:
Auarice.
I wyll yeelde him my right if that hee be so fearce,
The nature of Hypocrites, heerein we rehearce:
Which being conuinced by the text of Gods worde,
The ende of their spowting is Fyre and Sword.
Which being conuinced by the text of Gods worde,
The ende of their spowting is Fyre and Sword.
But if you wil needs be chiefe, God speed wel ye plough
I will be none that shall follow your traine,
For if I should, I know well inough:
That to fly the Countrie, we all should be faine:
Then were my labour done but in vaine,
You know not so much as I doo Tiranny,
Therfore I aduise you be ruled by mee.
I will be none that shall follow your traine,
For if I should, I know well inough:
That to fly the Countrie, we all should be faine:
Then were my labour done but in vaine,
You know not so much as I doo Tiranny,
Therfore I aduise you be ruled by mee.
Tiranny.
Inter amicos omnia sunt communia they say,
Among friendes there is reconed no propertie,
But what the one hath of his owne, thother may:
Haue the vse of the same, at his owne lybertie:
Euen so among vs it is of a suretie:
For what the one hath of his owne proper right,
It is thine to vse by day or by night.
Auarice.
Indeede you say trueth,the ende is worth all,
Such thinges as to get the ende are referred,
And by this reason to you I proue shall:
That I before Hypocrisie must be preferred:
The conclusion of my reason is this inferred:
Sith Hypocrisie was inuented to augment priuat gaine,
I am the end of Hypocrisie, this is plaine.
Hypocrisie.
Actum est de Amicitia, the bargen is dispatched,
And we two in friendship, are vnited as one.
Auarice.
In the same knot, with you let mee also be matched:
And of mony I warrant you, you shall want none:
Hypocrisie.
I agree, what say you? shall he be one?
Tyran.
I iudge him needefull in our company to bee:
And therfore, for my part, he is welcome to mee.
And therfore, for my part, he is welcome to mee.
Let vs now speedely on our businesse attende,
And labour eche one to bring it about.
Hypocrisie.
That is already by mee brought to ende:
So that of your preferment you neede not to doubt:
And my comming hether was to finde you out:
That at my elbow you might be in readinesse,
To help if neede were in this waightie businesse.
So that of your preferment you neede not to doubt:
And my comming hether was to finde you out:
That at my elbow you might be in readinesse,
To help if neede were in this waightie businesse.
To tell you the Storie it were but to tedious,
Now the Pope and I together haue deuised,
Firstly to inuegle the people relygious:
For greedinesse of gaine, who will be soone prezed:
And for feare least heereafter they should be dispised:
Of their owne freewill, will maintaine Hypocrisie
So that Auarice alone, shall conquere the Cleargie.
Now the Pope and I together haue deuised,
Firstly to inuegle the people relygious:
For greedinesse of gaine, who will be soone prezed:
And for feare least heereafter they should be dispised:
Of their owne freewill, will maintaine Hypocrisie
So that Auarice alone, shall conquere the Cleargie.
Now of the chiefest of his carnall Cardinals,
He doth appoint certaine, and giue them authoritie,
To ride abrode in their pontificalles:
To see if with Auarice, they may winne the Layitie:
If not, then to threaten them with open Tyranny:
Whereby doubt not but many will forsake,
The trueth of the Gospell, and our parties take.
He doth appoint certaine, and giue them authoritie,
To ride abrode in their pontificalles:
To see if with Auarice, they may winne the Layitie:
If not, then to threaten them with open Tyranny:
Whereby doubt not but many will forsake,
The trueth of the Gospell, and our parties take.
Tyranny.
This deuice is praise worthy, how saist thou Auarice?
Auarice.
I lyke it well if it were put in vre,
Yet litle gaine to mee, shall this whole practise:
More then I had before time procure:
Hypocrisie.
The Legates are ready to ride I am sure:
Wherfore we had neede to make no small delaye,
They stay for my comming alone, I dare say,
Wherfore we had neede to make no small delaye,
They stay for my comming alone, I dare say,
Howbeit the Layitie would greatly mislike,
If they sholud know all our purpose and intent,
Yea and perhaps some meanes they would seeke:
Our forsaide businesse in time to preuent:
If they sholud know all our purpose and intent,
Yea and perhaps some meanes they would seeke:
Our forsaide businesse in time to preuent:
Tyranny.
Will you then be ruled by my arbiterment?
For the Legates defence, let hym vse me Tyranny:
Hypocrisie.
Herein your counsell is not muche vnwise,
Saue that in one thing, we had neede to beware,
Least you be knowen, we wyll you disguise,
And some graue Apparell for you wyll prepare,
But your name Tyranny, I feare all wyll marre:
Let me alone, and I wyll inuent,
A name to your nature, whiche shalbe conuenient:
Saue that in one thing, we had neede to beware,
Least you be knowen, we wyll you disguise,
And some graue Apparell for you wyll prepare,
But your name Tyranny, I feare all wyll marre:
Let me alone, and I wyll inuent,
A name to your nature, whiche shalbe conuenient:
Zeale shall your name be, how lyke you by that?
And therfore, in office, you must deale zealously:
And therfore, in office, you must deale zealously:
Tyranny.
Let me alone, I wyll pay them home pat:
Though they call me Zeale, they shall feele me Tyrranny
Hypocrisie.
Loe, here is a Garment, come dresse you handsomly:
I mary (quoth he) I lyke this very well:
Now, to the Deuyls Grace, you may seeme to geue coūsell
I mary (quoth he) I lyke this very well:
Now, to the Deuyls Grace, you may seeme to geue coūsell
Now must I apply al my Inuention,
That I may deuice Auarice to hide:
Thy name shalbe called Carefull prouision,
And euery man for his Houshold may lawfully prouide,
Thus shalt thou go cloaked, and neuer be spide:
That I may deuice Auarice to hide:
Thy name shalbe called Carefull prouision,
And euery man for his Houshold may lawfully prouide,
Thus shalt thou go cloaked, and neuer be spide:
Auarice.
Thy counsell Hipocrisie, I very well allow,
And will recompence thee, if euer I know how.
Tirranny.
Now, on a boon voyage, let vs depart,
For I well lothe any time to delaye,
Hypocrisie.
Nay, yet in signe of a mery hart,
Let vs singe before we go awaye.
Auarice.
I am content, begyn I you pray,
But to singe the Treble, we must needes haue one.
If you say so, let it euen alone.
Exeunt.
| An excellent new Commedie, Intituled : The Conflict of Conscience | |