University of Virginia Library

The kyng
sitting in a chaire speaketh to his coūsell.
Of these my lordes we woulde be glad to here,
Which is most worthy honoure to attayne
By your high reasons we thynke it maye appeare,
To speake therefore we praye you, your sentences plaine
And as ye determine, so shall wee certaine,
Aduaunce to honoure, and to promotion applye
Alwayes the best, and that bee most worthye.

Primus generosus.
The first gētleman

Secundus Generosus.
Nabuchodonozor, Senacherib, and Salmanasar,
Nero Dyoclisian Maxentius also,
All these prynces of hye honoure were,
Of ryches, power and wysdome allso
Of noble bloode, yet these and many mo,
For lacke of vertue, to vice dyd fall,
To theyre owne distruction & theyre subiectes all.

Tertius Generosus.
But then as me semeth, yt were expedyent,
Amonge all vertues apperteyninge to a prince,
That same to knowe by sume reason vrgente,
which is so necessary to the prouince,
That wythout yt in no wyse he can conuince,
Neyther synne nor synners that vniustly deale,
Nor in good order kepe his common weale,

Primus Generosus.
In myne opynion that is Iustice
A vertu as excellent as may be.
For all thinges it orderith in such wyse,
That where it is, is peace and tranquillitie,
Good order, hygh honour, wealth and plentye,
And where it fayleth in the prince or kynge,
The common weale decayeth withoute tariynge

Secundus Generosus.
Besyde Iustice there muste bee diligence,
In hys owne personne that same to put in vre,
Or els some tyme suche coloured sentence
Vnder cloke of Iustice ye maye be sure
Craftely shall procede from them that haue the cure
which in processe, may brynge to downfall,
The kynge, hys realme & hys subiectes all.
The iudgement of Salamon, in his owne person,
Betwene two women of lyuinge vnchaste,
So feared Israell that vtterlye noone
Durste once rebell, but they thought it waste
In anye wyse to attempt eyther fyrst or laste
Any thynge of displeasure to hys maiestye royall
Fearyng hys wysedome and Iustice so equall.

Tertius Generosus.
If by hys lieutenante had been done the same,
Hys honoure shoulde neuer haue spronge so farre
Nor so much renowned by noble fame,
As it is now & that both here & there
Nor yet hys subiectes to such awe and feare,
He coulde haue dryuen by no meanes at all
As he dyd by hys iustice personall
And ouer thys many a noble man,
At the prynces wyll and commaundymente,
To employe iustice, dyd the best they can
And yet the commons vnneth coulde be content
And why? for in their mynde they thyncke verament
That either for riches & honour Iustis will doe
And he onely, for the zeale that to Iustis he hath to
Wherfore noble prince, if in youre owne person will ye
Employe Iustis the more youre honour shallbe

Kyng Assewerus

One of ye gētyll mē must answere whyche you will
Aman.
I am Aman sonne of Amadathy,
Of the stocke of Agag borne lyniallye,

Assuerus.
your learnyng and reason pleaseth vs well
And ye seeme to be of discretion
we beare ye therfore our fauour and zeale
So that withoute meanes of intercession
we make you our chaunceloure, take hede to this lesson.
See ye doe iustice and trueth euer approue
Or to your destruction, we shall you soone remoue

Aman
My duty is more nowe then euer it was,
Truly to serue youre moste noble grace,
Both nyghte & day, here and in euery place.

Assewerus
(et exeat)
My lordes as nowe, thus standes the case,
we are comfortles, for lacke of a Queene,
which shoulde be our ioye, & chefe solace,
And to say truth, it hath not been oft seene,
But the prince with a princes matched hath beene
Leaste defaulte of issue shoulde be, whiche God defende
therfore youre counsells firste had, to marry we do intēd

Primus generosus.
Then let your officers peruse this realme,
And of fayre maidens that be virgins pure,
Of most goodly personages that may be sene
Gather a great number, that we may make reporte
Vnto your grace, then may ye be sure
To chose the beste, when ye haue them seene
And that is fittest to be your quene.

Assewerus
Call to vs Aman our trusty chaunceler.

Here entrith Amā with māy mē awaitīg on hym.
Aman.
If it please your grace I am here,

Assuerus.
Aman this is the councel of my lordes all,
That our officers in hast we shoulde sende
To pervse this region vdiuersall
From the begynnynge vnto the ende
To seke faire maidens, where so thei may be kende
And of most goodly personages that maye be sene
To the intent among them we may chose a quene
This is our minde, more to speake it shal not nede,
In all that ye may, see it bee done in dede.

Here the kynge entryth the trauers & aman goeth out.
Here entreth Mardocheus and a maiden with him.

Hester.
Noble Mardocheus my father moste kynde,
To that ye shall saye I wyll applye my mynde.

Mardocheus.
Than yf the kinge chose you to his queene
It is of hys goodnes, bountie and grace
And for none youre merites, the truthe to bee seene
Therefore to hym repaye muste you needes obedience
Trew loue and kyndnes, aboue personnes all
Not forged nor fayned, but with affection cordiall.
Breake not the course that queenes haue hadde
In this noble region most part of all,
They haue aye bene good, and none of theym badde,
To their prince euer sure, iust and substanciall
And good to the commons when they dyd call
By mekenes for mercye, to temper the fyre
Of rigors iustice in fume or in yre

Hester.
Thys counsell is perfecte and also so pure
I graunt it therfore, and promyse you sure
It is my whole mynde and hartye desyre
That same to fulfyll, as reason shall requyre.

Here entrith pursiuante with manye maydens.
Purseuaunt.
I haue here of maydens a fayre companye
Of comlye stature and goodly visage
which to the king I thynke by and by
For to present, and to hys counsell sage,
For their promotion, wealth and marriage,
Saue before wyth Mardocheus the Iew,
I muste speake for Hester, that is so fayre of hew.

Mardocheus.
She is here redy, and doth attende,
The kynges commaundiment to fullfyll,
And at youre pleasure forth shall she wende,
wyth out resystance, and by her good wyll.

Pursyuaunt.
Then shall I brynge her the kynge vntyll.
Come on lady Hester, and followe me
To the kynge shall ye goe with youre cumpany.

Here Aman metythe thē in ye place
Aman.
Syr pursiuaunt haue ye these maydens broughte,
For the kynge lyke as ye had in commaundement.

Pursyuaunte
yea syr and for them, farre haue I soughte,
Both in vyllage towne and tenemente,
I truste I haue done trew seruice and dylligente.

Aman
So are ye bounde by very dewty
Of youre allegeaunce and fydelytye,
Se that ye follow vs wyth youre hole cumpany.

Pursyuaunt.
As ye haue sayed so shall it be.

Aman.
Pleasyth it youre grace, accordynge your mynde
we haue made serche all youre regyon,
For goodly maydens of nature fyne and kynde,
Thē thei go to the kynge.
And of them haue founde in myne opynyon
A number ryght fayre and of complexion
So puer and of so fayre visage.
That they surmounte all other in personage.

Assuerus.
Are they also of suche competent age
Of suche demeanour and grauitie,
That they be fytte for oure mariage.

Aman.
Vppon a profe youre grace shall heare and see,
As well theyr wysedome as theyr beautye.

Assuerus.
Sertis they be fayre and goodly eche one,
And as it maye seme by theyr fyrst countenaunce
Both by looke and gesture, nature and complexion,
In theym shoulde be kyndnes, myrth, and dalyaunce
wysedome, sadnes, and in loue perseueraunce,
Constauncie knit wyth comlines, ioy to encrease
Vertue with good demenour, pleasure to put in presse.
But ye fayre damsell of the highest stature,
And of most ripe age, as shoulde seame
Of all this companye of most fynest nature.
Tell vs your linage, for as yet we deame,
your lookes be so lusty, and in loue so breme
If that your demenour hereafter be sene
To that accordynge, ye shalbe our quene.

Hester.
Moste noble Prince as for my linage,
Nor yet my countrey, sertis I can not saye
My parentes dicessed in myne none age,
So that I neuer harde yet vnto thys daye
what coste or countrey, what lande or laye,
I was bred in, broughte forth or borne,
It is to me vnknowen, as aye hath bene beforne,
Notwithstandyng, I haue had foode and fostring
Of Mardocheus all my lyfe dayes,
whom I called father in my yonge age,
And so intend to do eftsons and alwaies,
whome for his frendshippe I haue good cause to prayse,
Besechinge youre grace and that moste mekely,
To my sayd foster father good lorde for to be

Assewerus
Call in Mardocheus, that we may see his face.

Mardocheus.
I am here to attende vpon youre grace.

Assewerus
Mardocheus what call you, youre daughter.

Mardocheus.
If it please youre grace her name is Hester
Assuringe you, she is a virgin puer,
A pearle vndefiled and of conscience cleare
Sober, sad, ientill, meke and demure,
In learninge and litterature, profoundely seene,
In wisdome, eke semblante to Saba the Quene
Fytt for any prince to haue in marriage,
If his pleasure agree to her personage,

Assewerus.
ye say ryghte well, then we thynke it expedient,
Some what to proue by communication
Her lernynge and her language eloquent
And by some probleme of hye dubitation,
To knowe her aunswere and consultation
Howe saye you Hester haue you ought reade or seene
Of vertues that be best, and fittest for a queene.

Hester.
To speake before a king, it is no childes playe,
Therfore I aske pardon, of that I shall saye

Assuerus.
We pardone you what soeuer ye saye,

Hester.

Assewerus.
Then I doute not, but the wysdome of vs two
Knytte both to gether in parfytte charyte
All thynges in thys realme shall cumpas so,
By truth and Iustice, law and equitye,
That we shall quenche all vice and deformitie

Hester.
Then at my beginning I beseche youre grace
That I may shew my mynd, whyle I haue time & space

Assuerus.
Speake at your libertie, I wyll heare it gladlye.

Hester.

Assuerus.
Of these matters another tyme moore at large,
We shall speake, and of dyuers other mo.
Aman, see our seruauntes doe accomplishe their charge,
To awayte vpon oure Queene, and that also
In haste vnto oure waredrobe see ye goe,
For riche apparell of golde and pall
As well for her selfe, as for her ladyes all,

Aman.
Than if it please you to licence the Queene,
As to her pleasure awhyle shall beseeme

Here departith ye queene & Aman & all ye maidens.
Assuerus.
And we for a season thys busynesse wyll cease,
And oure selfe repose for our pleasure and ease.

Here entreth Pride syngynge poorely arayed.
To men that be heuy, & wold faine be mery
Though they feele smarte:
Of chāce such rekning, yt with their mouth thei sing,
Though thei wepe in their hart.
somtime thei daūce, with mery coūtenaūce,
when they had leuer slepe:
Eke thei laugh & grin, whē by this sunne I wyn
In the heart they wepe.
who so will accord, with this double world
Muste vse suche artes:
Outwardly kinde, in his heart a fende,
A knaue in two partes.
Outward honestie, inward infidelitie,
Bothe rydes on a mule:
In peace he is bolde, but in war he is colde,
That soouest wyll recoyle.
Manye bee that profers, but fewe that offers,
Deuoutelye in theyr hearte:
They saye they can doe all, but when neede doeth befall,
They begynne to starte.
He that is double, loues alwaye trouble,
And at no tyme wyll cease:
And yet he wyll not fight, by daye nor yet by nyghte,
In warre nor in peace.
But such men by battail, may get corne and cattell
Bullyon and plate:
And yf they once get it, let vs no moore craue it,
By GOD we comme to late.
Eyther to begge or borowe, except shame or sorowe,
Dyspleasure and hate.
Syrs my name is pryde, but I haue layde asyde,
All my goodlye araye:
ye wynne I lye, there is a cause why,
That I goe not gaye.
I tell you at a worde, Aman that newe lorde,
Hathe bought vp all goood clothe,
And hath as many gownes, as would serue ten townes
Be ye neuer so lothe:
And any manne in the towne, doe by him a good gowne,
He is verye wrothe.
And wyll hym strayte tell, the statute of apparell,
Shall teache hym good:
wherefore by thys daye, I dare not goe gaye
Threde bare is my hoode.
Pryde was wonte to be, a man of iolytye,
Of hye countenaunce and face:
And since Aman raygned, no man hym retayned,
Allmoste in any place.
For Aman that elfe, woulde no man but hym selfe,
Shoulde be proude in dede.
For as men say, all pryde he taketh away,
well, God sende him good spede.

Adulation.
And as for Adulation, must chaunge his occupation
It is not worth a pease.

Pryde.
why so?

Adulation.
For my lorde Aman, doeth al that he can
I assure you without doubt:
To take vp al flatteres, & al crafty clatterers
That dwell fourtye myle aboute.

Pryde.
yea but the lawe shal, byorder substnacial,
Punyshe all those:

Adulation.
yea, I wil tel you one thing, law now & flatteryng
Aye together gose.

Pryde.
why so?

Adulation.
For al law est & west, & adulation in his chest
Aman hathe locked faste:
And by his crafti patterīg, hath turned law into flattering,
So that fyrst and laste,
The cliant must pay, or the lawyer assaye
The lawe for to clatter:
And whē ye wene he saide right, I assure you by this light
He doth not els but flatter.

Pride.
why so?

Adulation.
For yf Aman wynkes, the lawyers shrynckes,
And not dare saye yea nor naye.
And yf he speake the lawe, the other calles hym daw
No more then dare he say.
So that was law yisterday, is no lawe thys daye,
But flatterynge lasteth alway, ye may me beleue.

Pryde.
Dyuines yt do preache, me thynkes they should teache
And flatterynge reproue.

Adulation.
Syr they haue lefte prechyng, & take them to flatterīge
Moste parte of them all.

Pryde.
I marueyle of that.

Adulation.
Do ye maeueyle? mary I wyll you tell,
A cause substantiall.
when they preached, and the truthe teached,
Sume of them caughte a knocke,
And they yt should assisted, I wote not how they were brysted,
But they dyd nothynge but mocke.
And that sawe they, and gate them away,
As faste as myghte be.
They solde theyr woll, and purchased a bull,
wyth a pluralyte.
And lefte predication, and toke adulation,
And what by mendation, and dyspensation,
They gat the nomynation, of euery good benefyce.
So better by flatterynge, then by preachynge,
To wealthe they dyd aryse.
But yet ye muste beware.

Pryde.
where of?

Adulation.
That they do not square, farre beyonde the marke
For yf yt be a good fee, Aman sayeth that longeth to me
Be yt benefyce or parke
If he espy to yt prōotiō, he wyll streyt geue him a portiō
A lappe of a thowsande markes,
He shalbe purged cleane, he shall singe neither treble nor meane,
Nor yet speake one worde.

Pride.
Is he well seene in adulation?

Adulation.
He is wardē of ye occupatiō, without all iestīge boorde
And no man so hardy, but by hys auctorite,
The same to vse.

Here entryth Ambytion.
No, for yf he doe, he were better no,
Hys braynes he wyll confewse.

Pride.
Why who arte thow?

Ambytion.
He that can tell how, Aman vseth to wurke.

Pride.
Is not Ambytion thy name?

Ambytion.
yes for god ye same, I was wonte to be a great clarke
But syn Aman bare rewle, neyther horse nor mule,
But ys as wyse as I

Adulation.
How so?

Ambytion.
For all rewlers & lawes, were made by fooles & dawes
He sayeth verely.
Ordynances & foundation, without consyderation,
He sayeth were deuysed.
Therfore hys imagination, bringes all out of fashion
And so all is dysguised.
Sum tyme where was plenty, now ye barnes be empti
And many men lackes bread.
And wher somtyme was meat, there now is none to get
But all be gone and dead.
Beggers now do banne, and crye out of Aman,
That euer he was borne.
They swere by the roode, he eatyth vp all their foode,
So that they gett no good, neyther euen nor morne.
And many that be pore, though not from doore to doore
A begginge they dyd goe:
yet had they releefe, bothe of breade and beefe,
And dryncke also.
And nowe the dore standes shet, and no man can we get,
To worcke neither to fyghte.
wherefore yf warre should chaunce, eyther wyth Scotland or Fraunce,
Thys geare woulde not goe ryght.

Adulation.
And where is all this become?

Ambition.
As for yt dominus vobiscū, I dare say nothinge but mū,
Not tyll an other tyme.

Pryde.
All this is out of season, and nothing done by reason,
Nor yet by good ryme.

Adulation.
How say you ambition, haue ye not prouision, for to
get promotion, as ye were wonte to do?

Ambition.
No by my holydame, for my lorde Aman
Handelles all thynge so,
That euery office and fee, what so euer it bee,
That maye bee sene and founde:
By his wit he wyl it featche, and or it fal he wil it catche
That neuer commeth to the grounde.
So that I repent, that euer I went,
Vnto the scoles:
For his large commission, maketh me Ambition
To dwell amonge fooles.

Pryde.
And is there no remedye?

Adulation.
None that I can spye, whyle he doeth raygne.

Ambition.
Then lette vs make merye, euen tyll we dye,
And dryue pyne awaye:

Pryde.
I hearde once a Fryer, as trewe a lyer,
As anye in the countrey:
Hee preached veramente, that oure testamente,
Alwaye readye shoulde bee.

Adulation.
For at oure deathe, we shall lacke breathe,
And than fare well wee.

Ambition.
Then mayster Pryde, begynne thys tyde,
Let vs here youre fashion.

adulation.
and ye shall here nexte, euen the playne texte,
Of me adulation

Pryde.
Then by and by, ye shall heare playnely,
wythout impedimente,
The tenour of my wyll, if ye take heede therevntyll
This is my testament.
Al my presumptuous pryde, whether he goe or ryde,
Nowe or elles than:
My heart and corage, for power and language
I geue it vnto Aman.
Let him kepe of my pryde what he wil, the reste deulde,
amonge hys whole Garde:
and when they haue it all, what they wyll dooe withall,
aduyce them afterwarde.
If pryde haue a fall, let them be content withall
as I am nowe:
For as for Pryde, lasteth but a tyde,
I assure you.
If to it longe shame, let them a goddes name,
Take them bothe:
For as I feare mee, so muste it needes bee,
Bee they neuer so lothe.

Adulation.
and I adulation, of the same fashion,
at thys tyme present,
To recorde euerye man, geue vnto aman,
By thys my testament.
All my subteltie, & forged fydelite,
To hym and hys espyes.
I wot they wyll it vse, trew men to confewse,
And that craftely.
And yf they do in dede, I pray god they may spede,
Euen as honestly,
As he that from steylyng, goth to sent thomas watryng
In his yong age.
So they from pytter pattour, may cume to tytter totur
Euen the same pylgrimage.

Ambition.
And I Ambytion, had a comission,
By force of a bull,
To gett what I could but not as I wolde,
Neyther of lambe nor woll.
Thē bull nor the calfe, coulde please the one halfe,
Of my feruente desire.
But euer I thought by god, there was I woulde haue had
when I was neuer the nere.
Therfore all my ambition, to gether in a comission,
Vnder my seale,
I geue it to aman, to the intent that Sathau,
Maye loue hym well:
That whyle he is here, he maye styll desyre,
and yet neuer the nere: Sometyme to bee,
and when he goeth hence, he maye with him dispence,
By a large facultye.
That for his sines seuen, or he come to heauen,
wyth out bourde or game.
Sumtyme or tyde, he may for his pryde,
Suffer some shame.

Pride.
Nowe by wades myll, euerye mans wyll
Is wonderouslye well:

Adulation.
And by my holydome, I wene it be wysedome,
For folke often chat, howe men dye in estate,
But so shall not wee:

Ambition.
No by sainct An, but yet my Lorde Aman,
Neuer the better shalbe:

Pryde.
No forse so god me saue, yf we our wyll myght haue
we woulde he shoulde neuer thee.
Nowe made is our testament, I praye you be content
Some myrthe to deuyse.

Adulation.
Let vs beginne with singynge, and conclude with drinkynge,
It is the newe gyse:

Ambition.
Then let vs beginne a songe, that wyl last euen as long
As hence to the tauerne dore.

(Et exeunt.)
Thei depart singyng, and Aman entreth.
Aman.
Moste noble prynce, and of highest wysedome
I do not doubte of youre considartion,
But that you know what I haue bene, eke what I am,
Bothe in wyll and woorde, and occupation,
Of assured thoughte without adulation,
And as glad to doe seruice vnto your grace
As euer I was to liue anye tyme or space.
And for the same great malice I do sustayne,
Both of your nobles and communaltie
To my greate greuaunce and merueylous payne,
And eke further, I feare the ieoperdye
Of my lyfe, goodes, credence and honestie,
To cease their malyce, vnlesse you put in vre
your power royall, I can not longe endure.
The sclaūderous reportes, the lyes yt be made
The fained dectractions and contumilious
The rimes the railinges, so farre sette abrode
Both payntyd and printyd in moste shamefull wyse
And god to recorde all is but leasinges and lyes.
was neuer made on man lyke as is on me
Only for aplyment of law and equite.
In so much that of late now in dede
Before all the commins vpon myne and me,
Moste dānable reportes ware sett a brode,
To my dyshonour and shamefull villany,
And all that were there of that cūpanye,
As I myghte see by theyre countenaunce and voice,
That same alowed and greatly dyd reioyce
wherfore noble prince I beseche youre grace,
Let me be remoued another to haue my place

Assuerus.
Aman we harde wyth deliberation,
Vttered and pronounsed by language cleane,
A very elygante and prudente oracion
Of you as euer to fore was seene
By whose tenour we knowe what ye meane,
And haue ye no doughte so shall we for you prouide
That youre enemies shall domage you on no syde.
we knowe ryght well the wordes enuious to be
One agaynste an other for fee and office
But that to regarde in no wyse nede ye,
As longe as ye obserue trueth and iustyce,
From the which we woulde that in no wyse
ye shoulde degresse for if ye do in dede,
youre owne distruction shortly ye shall brede,
But for youre comforte harke what I shall tell,
And for more assistance in this that ye do feare,
we make you lieutenaunte to rewle Israell,
Take heare these robes see ye do them weare,
Eke this golden wande in youre hande to beare,
A token of honour and of estate ryall,
God sende you contynuaunce and well to do with all,

Aman.
Noble prynce accordinge as I am bounde,
I will do you seruice tyll deathe me confounde,

Assuerus.
For a season we wyll to our solace
Into our orcharde or some other place,

Here the kynge entreth the trauerse & Hardy dardy entreth the place.
Hardydardy.
A prouerbe as men say a dogge hath a day,
when so euer that it chaunce
He that wyll drinke wine and hath neuer a vine,
Muste sende or goe to fraunce.
And yf he do not, endure he cannot,
He muste nedes shrynke,
Shrinke yea say that againe, for it is a greate paine,
To be with out drynke.
In such case am I, I swere by goddes pety,
I lacke both drynke and meate.
But as I say, a dogge hath a day,
For now I truste to get.
My tyme is come for to get some,
If I be not lett.
It is the common worde Aman is a lorde.
And Aman is of price,
And hath perdye all this cuntrie
At his rwele and deuice.
And I trust to be one of his yemanry,
To weare his bage and marke.
An office I wold beare and it noughte elles wheare,
But the keper of his parke.

Aman.
Me seames ye are not fytte.

Hardy dardy.
ye wene I lacke wytte it may well be so,
yet afole when it doth happe may somtyme chaunce to stoppe a gappe
when wyse men wyll not mell.

Aman.
Fooles largely will bourde and tell al theyr thought.

Hardy dardy.
And wyse men well not speke one worde till all become to nought

Aman.
Fooles will tell all and that trobleth sore,

Hardy dardy.
And wyse men will say nought at al till al be gone & more

Aman.
Fooles to Idlenes all wayes be preste.

Hardy dardy.
And wyse men vse such busines it were better they were at rest

Aman.
Fooles let the reformation, of common wele.

Hardy dardy.
And wyse men be so full of imaginacion,
they wot not how they deale.

Aman.
whyse men wolde do ryght,
And foles say nay.

Hardydardy.
And fooles be fayne to fyght when wise men rūne away

Aman.
Fooles spend all tyll they haue nought

Hardydardy.
And wise men carry all tyll they dare no more craue.

Aman.
ye are a foole ye do but clatter.

Hardydardye.
Many go to scole tyll they can flatter

Aman.
Leaue youre clatter, leste ye cume tardy.

Hardydardy.
It makes no matter for my name is Hardydardy

Aman.
Is youre name Hardydardy.

Hardydardy.
yea yt is it verily, I wold if it plese ye,
Be one of your yomanrie.

Aman.
As for that let it passe we take you for our solace.
And mirthe sumtime to ken.

Hardydardy.
I wene by goddes grace one foole in a place,
Doth well amonge wise men
ye must nedes laughe amonge & if a foole singe a songe.
I holde you than a grote.
Some wise man muste be fayn sumtime to take ye paine
To do on a fooles cote.
And than perchaunce it is not redie.

Aman.
well ye can speake merely wherwith I am contente
Sirs tarrie you a seasone se that farre ye not walke,
I will to the kinge secretly to talke.
Moste victorius prince & of higheste honour
Primate of the worlde and president chefe,
By whose wisedome and pollityke demeanoure,
All the worlde at this day takes relefe,
Both kynge page and lorde yea in sentence brefe,
No realme nor region able were to stande,
Onles your councell with them be at hande.
who compelleth lordes to mainteine their nobilite,
who lerneth knyghtes theyr feates marciall.
Or who religion subdewith to humilite,
who haue craftes and laborers the worlde ouer all,
In ciuill cytie or village ryall.
Compelleth eche man to hys order and place,
But only the wisedome and polyce of your grace,
your strength defendith your wisdome saueth all,
youre plentye releuithe almoste euery man
Such is your honour and order ryall
That none other councell at this day canne,
Reache nor attaine to know how or whan,
Lyke good order or honorable guise,
As you by wisdume dayly do device,
So is it your grace from very base parage,
And poore estate me to hye honour haue brought,
For none my vertues nor wisdome sage,
But onely youre gooddes haue made me of nought,
God is mi iudge it is ther fore mi thoughte,
And dayly study aboue all worldly treasure
That thing to do, that is your wealth and plasure.
And yf it please your grace therfore to here,
One thynge as I shall make rehersall,
whan I haue saide I thinke it shall apeare,
To your pleasure and proffitte substanciall,
And to be playne this is it fyrste of all.
A greate number of Iewes with in this realm do dwell
A people not goode, nor for youre common weale,
They be dispersed ouer all youre prouince,
with in them selfe dwellyng, deseuered from our nation,
By theyr new lawes they think to conuince,
And eke draw vnto theyr conuersation,
And vnto theyr ceremonyes and faction
Of our people as many as may be,
Intendyng to sub dew all gentilite,
More ouer the preceptes of your law,
They refuse and haue in great contempte
They wyll in no wise liue vnder awe,
Of any prince but they wil be exempte,
wherby good order may sone be interempte,
And occasion is as I do feare me
your subiectes to rebell in hope of lyke liberte.
And youre grace knoweth it is expediente,
Theyre mallyce to increase thus by sufferaunce,
For by that may chaunce greate inconuenience,
And to all your realme importune perturbaunce,
For theyre possessions be of substaunce
So greate and so large that I feare at the length,
They wyll attempte to subdewe you by strengthe.
My councell therfore to auoide ieoperdy,
If that your grace by your power ryall,
Shall geue sentence and plainly decree,
To slea these Iewes in your realme ouer all,
None to escape let your sentence be generall,
ye shall by that wynne to say I dare be bolde,
To your treasure .x. thousande pound of golde,

Assuerus.
My lorde Aman we haue harde ryght well,
All your oration which is so elegante,
And so well towched that nedes we muste fele,
And perceyue your minde your wordes be so pregnante,
And as touchinge the Iewes which be so valiaunte,
Both of goodes and greate pocession,
we do agree vnto theyre suppression.
we ryghte well perceiue that vnto them drawe,
Much of our people and ientile nation,
which to our honour and also to our lawe
Muste nedes be a greate derogation,
A meane to bringe all out of facion
To quenche them therefore we be contented well,
In token wherof holde here a ringe and seale.

Aman.
Of your sentence there shall not lacke one clause,
But all shall be done and that without pause,
The Pursiuauntes call to vs shortely.

Pursyuauntes.
If it lyke you we are here.

Aman.
These letters deuised we wolde ye shoulde aplye,
To bere furth and that dylligently,
with as much haste as may be,
To the rewlers of euery towne and citie,
Streightly commaunding theim all that they maye
The same to execute at their prefixed day.

Purseuaunt.
To his hye pleasure we shall make vs preste,
And tyll it bee done, we wyll take no reste,

Aman.
We be glad we haue attained our purpose,
I trust it shall abate the hie corage
Of Mardocheus, and eke all those
That be hys clyantes brynge to repentaunce:

Hardydardye.
Mary syr they be lyke to take penaunce,
It woulde greue any man yonge or olde of age
without his head to goe on pylgrimage

Aman.
Thei haue deserued it, and they shall haue it,
It is for theym accordynge:

Hardydardye.
If I shoulde bewray, that some men doe saye,
It were a mad bourdynge.

Aman.
Say what ye lyste.

Hardydardy.
So woulde I, yf wiste ye wolude not angrye

Aman.
ye haue libertie, as ye pleased be,
To stande or tumble:

Hardydardy.
Men say in dede, ye shall lose your head,
And that woulde make you stumble.

Aman.
why so?

Hardardy.
Thei say it is conuenient, should be fulfilled ye testament
Of Ambition, Adulation and Pride:
They gaue you all their pryde and flatterynge,
And after that saint thomas watring there to rest a tide
And men thynke at hoste, with them was the holy ghoste,
Theyre testament was made so holily,
wherfore all that they sayed cannot be take or sayed,
But as a prophesie.

Aman.
well ye are verely, disposed merely,
Now for to talke.
And I am suerly minded secretely,
For my solace to walke.

Et exeat.
Here entreth a Iew and speaketh.
O lorde what a thinge is crudelite,
whan to it is annexed couetous and Pride,
It distroyeth both towne and contrey
Eke all regions on euery syde,
All is for him to lyttell his mouthe is so wide,
His rigour rauenous spares not to spill,
Both man and chylde to haue his owne will:
This rauenous wolfe Aman I do meane,
That hath perswaded the kynge to kill and slea,
And from all this prouince to auoid cleane,
All men and women and children that be,
Iewes borne and of the Iewes consanguinite,
The precept is set vp men to remember
And it shalbe executed the .xiii. day of December,
Alas that euer shoulde fortune suche rage,
From so cankered a caytyfe to procede,
It is his mynde my head I ley to gage,
All those to sley, I assure you in deede
That wyll not by flattery hys presumptions fede,
He woulde be glorified aboue creatures all,
And yet I trust as Lucifer depe he shal fal.

Another Iewe.
The Mantuans thought it a greate punishmente,
To be proscribed from theyre goodes and lande,
As reciteth Virgill that Poet eloquente,
Much more is our payne ye may vnderstande,
That shall lose our lyues vnles god take in hande,
Vs to delyuer or els we not canne,
Auoide the murder of this carnifex Aman:

An other Iew.
He shall by this murder our goodes wynne,
And him selfe enlarge his pride to auaunce,
And when he hath all he shall be new to begynne,
Euer more to gett by some other chaunce.

Mardocheus.
yet at the laste all shall cume to mischaunce,
For both him and his god shall make tame,
And for theyre pride and pyllage, sende them worldly shame:

Hester.
Mardocheus wyth youre cumpanye,
we haue harde youre lamentation,
To our grefe and displeasure verely,
yet we truste by meke supplication,
Fyrste vnto god by humble oration
Aud than to the king by desyre cordyall
A meane to fynde, for to sauegarde ye all
Call in the chapell to the intent they maye
Syng some holy himpne to spede vs this day
than the chappell do singe.
After this prayer and our former abstynens
To the good Lorde I call for cumforte
To inspyre the prynce, & his mynd incence
That I may optayne now at my resorte
To redeme the Iewes, all the hole sorte
Eke to dysclose the falsed fauell and fraude.
Of this cruell Aman to thy prayse & laude

Assuerus.
O goodly Hester our most noble Quene,
Of personage pearles and in wisdome alone,
In corage and countenaunce none lyke is seene,
So discrete in dallyance was neuer none,
where is your comfort, care can bee none,
Loe here our wand, approch nere to this place,
That we may kisse you, and in our armes embrace,
here thei kysse.
what aske you ladye, and what do you demaunde
Halfe our realme is yours, yf ye commaunde,

Hester.
Noble prince and our espouse most deare,
Since that to aske ye haue geuen me libertie,
I besech your grace, with heart most entier
That it may please you this day to dine with me
Eke my lord Aman I woulde be glad to see
At the same banket for to take repaste

Assuerus.
Call vs in Aman that we may go in haste,

Aman.
I am here ready to atende vpon your grace.

Assuerus.
Then let vs go while we haue tyme and space.
Lady Hester our moste beloued Quene,
So pewer and so exauisite is thys repaste,
Both of wine and meate that no better may beene,
Here must bee prepared a banket in ye place
youre mirth eke and manners so pleasaunte to attaste,
That for to departe we make no maner haste,
Eke our presence we knowe is to youre pleasure,
Farre better than golde or any worldly treasure.
wherfore as we sayde we wolde ye shoulde demande
And at your pleasure, your petition make
The one halfe of our reame, yf ye it cummaund
we shall with departe, only for your sake
and of it to you, a playne surender make
and the more ye aske, wyth louinge intente
the more we shall geue, and the better be contente

Hester.
Noble prynce your hye magnyficens
your bounte, and espieciall grace
So ofte and so kyndlye doeth incense,
To make request som profite to purchase,
So yt lenger delay were in me great trespase,
and by yt also your grace right wel may it thinke
That finally your loue vnto my heart did sinke.
Wherfore this fauoure sence I haue obtayned
Of your grace to haue any my requeste
This I do aske with true harte vnfayned
and wyth charitie, of all vertues best,
That throw all your reame both east and west
As manye as bee of the Iewyshe nation,
your grace wil them pardon at my supplication
Assurynge you I am of that nacion,
Borne and eke brede in Ierusalem,
yet I and all they by one condempnation,
To deathe are determined throughe all this realme,
No remedy: lesse your pardon vs redeme,
we woulde rather we myght be solde in bondage,
Than thus to peryshe, by fury and outrage

Assuerus.
what is he, or what is hys authoritie,
That is so bolde thys acte to attempt?

Hester.
It is Aman that by cruell enuy
Is oure mortall enymye and wold vs enterrupt
That our lyfe and godes from vs were adempte
Then wold he rule all and if he myght to all get
And all shoulde not suffice, so hie his heart is set.
Hys pompe and his pryde, so muche is in dede,
That yf he had all, it coulde him not suffice,
At thys tyme hys treasure youres doeth execede,
And yet content is he in no wyse,
But to gette moore daylye he doeth deuise,
The commons he extorteth tyll they bee lame
He takes the profyt and ye beare the name.
But better it were that he shulde suffer payne
Than thus by crafte, your honour to dystaine
By his false leasinges, he putteth other in blame
Deludinge youre grace, when he lyst to fayne
And no man so worthy for to suffer payne,
As he him selfe that by hys poyson and gall,
Hath deceyued you, and eke youre commons all.

Assuerus.
He signified vnto me that the Iewes did
Not feede the poore by hospitalitie
Their possessions he sayde, were all but hydde,
Amonge them selues lyuyng voluptuouslye,
Thinkyng the same might be verely,
Much better employed for the common weale,
where now it litle profitteth or neuer a deale.

Hester.
Noble prince as for hospitalitye.
Of the Iewes dwellinge in your regyon
It is with them as alwayes hath bene
Sins the beginning oftheir possession
which god to them gaue, of his mere mocion,
Eke great knowledge both of cattell and of grayne
That none to them like houshold coulde maintayne,
Is not of Abraham the hospytallyte,
In scripture noted and of noble fame,
But one honoringe when he receiued three,
The trenite fygured in the same,
Both Isaake and Iacob had a lyke name,
Of whom the twelue tribes descended be,
which euer dyd maintaine hospitallyte.
Sinse god therfore hath begunne theyre housholde.
And ay hath preserued theyre hospitallite,
I aduise noman to be so bolde,
The same to dissolue what so euer he be,
Let God alone for he shall orderly,
A fine ad finem, both here and there
Omnia disponere suauiter.

Assuerus.
O kaytiffe moste crafty o false dissembler,
with thy flatteringe tonge thou haste deceyued me,
All noble princes by me may be ware,
whom they shall truste and put in auctorite,
Eke whom they shall promote to ryches and dignite.
But we shall teache the good for thine ingratitude,
And by the all other theyre prince to delude.

Aman.
O lady Hester moste noble princesse,
Of thine honour and goodnes soueraine,
Extende to me that pitie or els doutles,
To deathe I am dressed and mortall payne,
I wotte I haue deserued it for certaine,
And againste the my offence is great,
wherefore vneth I dare thy goodnesse entreate,
But trueth is, the merite of thys is better
And God it more accepteth a thousande fold
Agaynst whome the offence is greater
And of them that of iniurie coulde not tell me
wherefore to speake somewhat it makes me bolde
To encrease thy merite and rewarde heauenlye
Saue my life and I thy seruaunte shall be.

Hester.
Aman this matter so heinous is in dede
That of our honour we wyll nother speake nor speede

Aman.
Alas then am I vtterlye marred
I must streighte die it can not be deferred.

Assuerus.
O thou kaytyffe canste thou not be contente,
with the mischeffe by the done before,
But the quene wylt oppresse, we beinge presente
what nede we call for euidence moore
Make him sure and fast and therto bind him sore
we will that oure counsell shortlye deuice,
How we shalbe bestow him accordynge to iustice

Arbona.
There is in the house of thys traitour Aman
A paire of galowes of fiftie cubites hie
Vpō them he had thought either now or than
To haue caused Mardocheus to die.

Assuerus.
Leade him hence, and vpon them by and by
See that ye hange him, and so stoppe his breathe
without fauoure see he suffer deathe.

Hardydardye.
Other folkes be tardye, as wel as hardy dardy
By this reckeninge
A syr besyde belles, bacon and somewhat els,
Must nedes haue hanginge.

Assewerus.
Hanginge doe serue, when they that deserue,
Are false feytoures

Hardy dardy.
And it commes to lottes, of heringes and sprottes
which be no traytours
To hange in the smoke, til they chaunge their cloke
From white to redde.

Assewerus.
But such do no wronge, wherfore they do not honge
Tyl they be ded.

Hardy dardy.
ye speake somwhat like, for it toucheth the quicke
To be hanged in good heale

Assewerus.
yet none nede to care, that is wyse and ware
And truly wyll deale

Hardydardy
Haue ye not rede, of Naso Ouide,
That eloquent Poet,
Nor Valery, which telles merely,
The proper feates,
How the smith Perillus, like a tuta vilus
Made a bull of bras
He had thought iwis, to haue pleased king Phalaris
But yet he did much wurse,

Assuerus.
why so?

Hardydardye.
I wene by god he made a rodde,
For his owne ars,
Phalaris coulde not get with in the bull to shett,
Lo here beginnes the game,
wherefore in dede he toke for nede,
Perillus maker of the same.
In he did him turne and made the fier to burne
And greatly to increase,
He cast him in such heate and eke in such sweate,
He fried him in his greace,

Assewerus.
what meane you by this.

Hardydardy.
I wyll tell you by gis my hole intencion.
I meane my master is the fyrste taster,
Of his owne inuencion.
The gallhouse he made both hye and brode,
For Mardocheus he them mente,
And now he is faine him selfe for certaine,
To play the fyrste pagente.

Assuerus.
He that deserues payne is worthy certaine,
Euen for to haue it.

Hardydardy.
Therfore god sende all those, that will steale mens clothes,
That once they may goe naked.

Arbona.
If it please your grace this traitoure Aman,
we haue put to deathe as was youre cummaundyment.

Assuerus.
Then shall we streighte as well as we canne,
Bestowe his goodes for he made no testamente.
Lady hester this is our intent
The house of Aman with all his treasure,
we geue it you, do with all youre pleasure.

Hester.
I thanke your grace with harte entyre,
Nowe dare I be bolde to shewe you the playnesse,
Of my minde, since Mardocheus is heare
If it please your grace the truth is doutles,
All be it or now I dyd it not confesse,
This Mardocheus is for certayne,
My fathers brother, no longer I wyll it leyne
A gentyll man he is, for lynyallye
He is borne of the stocke of Beniaminy,

Assuerus.
we be ryghte gladde we know his linage,
Hys truth to vs before was knowen well,
we wyll him aduaunce accordynge hys parage,
Holde Mardocheus here is our rynge and seale,
It is our truste ye wyll with iustice deale,
we commytte therfore vnto youre wyse discrescion,
Of all thys prouince iudgemente and corection.

Mardocheus.
I thanke youre grace trustinge ye shall not heare,
In all thynges but as iustice doth requyre,

Hester.

Assuerus.
Stande ye vp Lady, and approche ye neare
your petition we graunte it gladlye,

Hester.
Than if it please your graee to heare,
This epistle is made to the sealyng readye.

Assuerus.
Let it be red that it maye by and by
Be sealed and consigned, and so furthe sent
and than I truste ye shall be content.

Scriba.
Here the Scrybe doeth rede ye kīges letter.

Assuerus.
This is well se it be sealed anon,
And that euery citie of them may haue one,
Now madam I truste ye be contente.

Hester.
yea and that veramente,
May it now please you your selfe to repose?

Assuerus.
Very well saue fyrst we wol disclose,
Parte of our mynde which we thinke necessary,
If it be well hard we truste it shall edifye,
My Lordes by this fygure ye may well se,
The multitude hurte by the heades necligence,
If to his pleasure so geuen is he,
That he will no paine take nor dilligence,
who careth not for his cure ofte loseth credence,
A prouerbe of olde sume time in vsage,
Few men that serue but for theyre owne aduauntage.

Hester.
And yet the seruantes that bee vntrue,
A whyle in the world theyr lyfe may they leade,
yea theyr welth and worshippe dayly renewe,
But at the length I asswre you in dede,
Theyr fauell and falsehed wyll come abrede,
whiche shall be to them more bytter than gall,
The hygher they clyme the deper they fall,

Assewerus.
Let vs then cesse thys conuocatione,
And this tyme dyssolue this congregation.

Hester.
That lyke as here they haue lyued deuoutly,
So god graunt them in heauen to lyue eternally,

Assewerus.
To the which we committe all this company.